Are Diet Soft Drinks Bad for You?

ScienceDaily (Jan. 31, 2012) — A new study finds a potential link between daily consumption of diet soft drinks and the risk of vascular events.

Individuals who drink diet soft drinks on a daily basis may be at increased risk of suffering vascular events such as stroke, heart attack, and vascular death. This is according to a new study by Hannah Gardener and her colleagues from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and at Columbia University Medical Center. However, in contrast, they found that regular soft drink consumption and a more moderate intake of diet soft drinks do not appear to be linked to a higher risk of vascular events. The research appears online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine published by Springer.

In the current climate of escalating obesity rates, artificially sweetened soft drinks are marketed as healthier alternatives to sugar-sweetened beverages, due to their lack of calories. However, the long-term health consequences of drinking diet soft drinks remain unclear.

Gardener and team examined the relationship between both diet and regular soft drink consumption and risk of stroke, myocardial infarction (or heart attack), and vascular death. Data were analyzed from 2,564 participants in the NIH-funded Northern Manhattan Study, which was designed to determine stroke incidence, risk factors and prognosis in a multi-ethnic urban population. The researchers looked at how often individuals drank soft drinks -- diet and regular -- and the number of vascular events that occurred over a ten-year period.

They found that those who drank diet soft drinks daily were 43 percent more likely to have suffered a vascular event than those who drank none, after taking into account pre-existing vascular conditions such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes and high blood pressure. Light diet soft drink users, i.e. those who drank between one a month and six a week, and those who chose regular soft drinks were not more likely to suffer vascular events.

Gardener concludes: "Our results suggest a potential association between daily diet soft drink consumption and vascular outcomes. However, the mechanisms by which soft drinks may affect vascular events are unclear. There is a need for further research before any conclusions can be drawn regarding the potential health consequences of diet soft drink consumption."

There are many nutrients that can help to improve overall mood and depressive symptoms. A recent study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at vitamin D intake from foods and supplements in 81,189 postmenopausal women from the Women’s Health Initiative. It found that women with higher amounts of vitamin D in their diet may lower their risk of having depressive symptoms by as much as 20%.   Vitamin D is thought to affect the function of dopamine and norepinephrine neurotransmitters involved in depression. They conclude that “improvement of vitamin D status holds promise for the prevention of depression, the treatment of depression, or both.”

Taking a deeper look at vitamin D, we know that it is a fat-soluble vitamin known as the “sunshine vitamin.”  Our bodies can produce vitamin D when our skin is exposed to ultraviolet sunlight. Vitamin D can also be obtained from our foods and is primarily found in oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines and other animal sources such as liver, beef, veal, and eggs. Other food options for vitamin D sources include foods that have been fortified with vitamin D such as cereals, yogurt, milk, and orange juice.

Dietary intake of vitamin D may not be enough to maintain a healthy level of vitamin D in the body and therefore regular   supplementation may be needed to support adequate levels. In addition, it is important to have your serum vitamin D levels monitored as vitamin D can accumulate in the liver and fat cells. Groups of people that are more at risk for vitamin D deficiency include breastfed infants, older adults, people with limited sun exposure (such as Minnesotans in the winter), people with dark skin, obese people, gastric bypass patients, and people with medical conditions that cause fat malabsorption, such as those with liver disease, Crohn’s disease, and cystic fibrosis.

There are a variety of effective natural therapies for the treatment of depression and vitamin D may play an essential role. Call Partners in Healing at 763-546-5797 and make an appointment with your Naturopathic Doctor (Dr. Nate or Dr. Nita   Champion) to have your vitamin D levels checked to ensure healthy levels for disease prevention and to optimize the health of your mind, body, and overall mood!

By Nate Champion, ND & Nita Champion, ND

We now know that key areas of the brain show significant changes when people are in states of depression.  The affected brain areas regulate working memory, decision-making, information processing, mood regulation and energy management (i.e., metabolism) in the body. We also know that those brain circuits and brain chemicals are highly sensitive to social interactions. For example, research shows that the same areas of the brain that are active when someone is experiencing intense physical pain are active when a person has been rejected or cut off from a major social relationship.  In other words, our social experiences change the structure of the brain.  In turn, those structural and chemical changes in the brain enable new perceptions, new thoughts and new behaviors to emerge.  At PIH, we offer a variety of mind-body therapies (e.g., psychological therapies,  alternative therapies, and nutrition-based  therapies) through which your brain-behavior  connections can be changed to help put you back in charge of your life.  We also collaborate with medical professionals outside of PIH who are part of your care team. Our primary goal is to help you make positive change “with your brain in mind.”

By Dr. Nate Champion, ND

With Fall’s cooler weather, we often resume our “normal” schedules, such as children heading back to school. This is also a common time where the body’s immune system is “weakened” from all the junk food and toxins we’ve consumed all summer. The end result is often becoming acutely ill and this is one of the more frequent times throughout the year where folks “catch a cold”. This acute illness is actually an innate cleansing process where the body is trying to eliminate toxins, purging them from our body!

The good news is there is much that can be done to help support and strengthen your immune system and in turn, your overall health! Some simple ways this can be achieved is through reducing stress in our lives and staying physically active. This can include a simple walk around the block or participating in a local yoga class. The goal is to just get moving! Getting adequate sleep is also imperative. Sleep deprivation suppresses immune system function and has been linked to many mental and physical health problems.

Another way to help enhance immune function is eliminating harmful, unhealthy, and high sugar foods. These include refined, processed foods (white carbohydrates, pastries, desserts, junk food, fast food, sugary drinks, etc.) that are often stripped of their nutrients and high in both calories and sugar. Sugar suppresses the immune system, promotes insulin resistance, inflammation, and leads to weight gain. Focus on eating whole foods and a more plant-based diet. Whole foods are simply foods that are closest to their natural state and have not been processed and refined. Focus more on 100% whole grains such as quinoa, millet, oats, etc. and limiting your wheat intake, along with eating brightly colored and green leafy vegetables that are high in antioxidants. Try some healthy snacks like blueberries, goji berries, chia seeds, raw nuts and seeds (walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, etc.), and baked kale chips.

So as the seasons change, stay healthy by getting adequate sleep, becoming more physically active, and choosing foods that support and enhance health! There are many other effective ways and strategies to enhance our immune function & improve health.  To learn more about putting these ideas to work for you, call our office today @ 763-546-5797 to schedule a consultation with Dr.’s Nate or Nita Champion, our Naturopathic  Doctors. 

Naturopathic Medicine focuses on whole-patient wellness, where   medicines are tailored to each person’s specific needs and where attention is paid to finding underlying causes, rather than chasing symptoms.  They focus on all aspects of family health, from prenatal care through geriatric care.  Their practice emphasizes prevention and effective self-care strategies. Naturopathic doctors cooperate with all branches of medical science, making referrals as indicated and when appropriate. 

 (Brought to you by Deborah Simmons, PhD, LMFT)

I have long wondered how nutrition affects our fertility.  This study from The Journal of Reproductive Medicine lends credence to the notion that our high-carbohydrate diet may well explain why some women suffer from unexplained infertility.  My colleagues at Partners in Healing, Dr. Nate Champion and Dr. Nita Champion, specialize in naturopathic medicine and nutrition.  Contact us at 763-546-5797 or info@pih-mpls.com for a holistic team approach to fertility treatment.

Increased Celiac Disease Prevalence in Women With Unexplained Infertility

ScienceDaily (Aug. 18, 2011) — A recent study demonstrated increased rates of celiac disease in women who present with unexplained infertility.

Published in the May-June 2011 issue of The Journal of Reproductive Medicine, the study evaluated 191 female patients presenting with infertility. Each participant underwent serologic screening for celiac disease as well as routine infertility testing. The 4 patients who had positive serum test results were advised to seek evaluation with a gastroenterologist. All 4 patients were confirmed to have celiac disease. They then underwent nutritional counseling to change over to a gluten-free diet.

Among the 188 patients who completed testing, the prevalence of undiagnosed celiac disease was 2.1%. While this rate was not significantly higher than the expected 1.3%, the diagnosis of celiac disease in women with unexplained infertility was found to be significantly higher at 5.9% (3 of 51 women). Interestingly, all 4 patients found to have celiac disease conceived within a year of diagnosis.

Though the study numbers are small, the findings suggest that, at least for some women with infertility, dietary measures may help bolster fertility. "Diagnosing celiac disease in an infertile woman would be particularly beneficial if the low-cost (and low-risk) therapy of pursuing a gluten-free diet could improve chances for conception," says lead author Janet Choi, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at the Center for Women's Reproductive Care at Columbia University. Co-author Dr. Peter Green, director of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University Medical Center, said that these results should be added to the increasing body of knowledge concerning the impact of undiagnosed celiac disease on women's reproductive health.