February Newsletter 2013
Coffee – if a little does some good, how about a lot? Last
fall, The AMAA Journal (Vol. 25) published an article on the benefits of coffee, which in my opinion, went overboard in recommending twelve cups per day. The article stated that drinking twelve cups of coffee per day (compared with the current three-cup average) can help prevent ailments such as Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular and liver disease, cancer and diabetes. In this study, breast cancer risk was reduced by up to fifty-seven per cent when compared to non-coffee drinkers, and Type II diabetes risk was reduced by up to sixty-seven per cent. The researchers attribute these benefits to all the antioxidants. There are over a thousand compounds in coffee, and according to the article: “Only a handful of these compounds have been individually investigated by scientists” and “Coffee is the single greatest source of antioxidants in the American diet.” Two of these antioxidant compounds are polyphenolic and chlorogenic acid, and each could modify key enzymes to improve intracellular signaling and instruct vital cells to enhance tissue repair, immunity and preserve homeostasis. Coffee compounds also act to raise levels of detoxifying enzymes that protect against DNA damage. Subjects in the study who consumed up to three cups a day showed an increase in the metabolic activity of beneficial gastrointestinal bifodobacteria, which then improved mineral absorption, strengthened immunity and lowered blood pressure. Improvements in liver function and adipocytes inhibit the processes that can result in diabetes. Coffee antioxidants are potent scavengers of oxygenated free radicals, helping to protect the blood brain barrier; which in turn may reduce the risk of blood-borne pathogens, drugs, cells and other substances from getting into the brain. Finally, researchers claim
that, “Coffee consumption was associated with the reduction in death from all causes.” This statement refers to both caffeinated and decaffeinated. Vendors must use care in how the beans are soaked and roasted, in order to get the best effects. All roasting will destroy some of the polyphenols, the most important of which is the chlorogenic acid. Green coffee was given credit for having the most benefits, and you can buy green coffee bean supplements, for
those who don’t like coffee or are unable to tolerate it. There is a new patented roasting process in which the beans are first soaked in water, then roasted, and then soaked again in the original water. The polyphenols are readily absorbed by the water, and then easily reabsorbed by the roasted beans when they are soaked for the second time. The idea being that the same benefits would be derived even though less coffee is consumed.
My analysis of this research is this: since it was a study of other studies, it is possible that only those that showed coffee in a positive light were selected for this one, thus skewing the results from the beginning. Twenty-nine references from a wide range of dates (1993-2012) could indicate discriminatory selection of data. I could not establish who paid for the study. For most, excessive consumption of coffee often comes with side effects: jitters,
high blood pressure, stomach acid problems, irritated bowel issues, kidney problems, increased stone formation in kidneys or gall bladder, and cyst formation in the breasts. When the subject comes up in conversation, most women tell me that when they became pregnant, the first sign was intolerance to coffee. That might be a clue if you want to take the hint.
If you really like coffee, you will ignore the last paragraph and happily drink coffee. I wouldn’t blame you.
How can I GAIN weight? No one writes about how to do it (at least not like this)! While there are many, healthy, nutritionally sound methods for those struggling with underweight issues, as some people do; those will not be covered here. My approach to weight gain is to look at
it from the opposite point of view of weight loss. In other words, whatever you would do to lose weight, just do the opposite in order to gain it. Following is a list of things that you can do to gain weight, simply ‘flip’ the suggestions for the opposite effect, to lose weight. To gain weight, eat foods that are very high in calories, each bite providing abundant fuel for energy and hopefully nutrition too. To lose weight, eat foods that are high in volume, but low in calories, satisfying both appetite and nutritional needs.
How to Gain Weight (in no time!)
► Eat a big bowl of high fat ice cream just before bed. Add cookies or fudge to increase the effectiveness. Eating just before bed gives your body time to put all the calories into weight gain. During the night, there is no chance to exercise the calories off as there is with the normal activities of daytime.
► Skip breakfast so you will be extra hungry later and eat more.
► Consume lots of deep-fat fried foods, especially in the evening, especially donuts.
► Distract yourself while eating, like reading or watching TV at the same time. You will usually end up eating more.
► Don’t stop eating until you are absolutely stuffed at every meal, and snack often in-between meals. Don’t let yourself get hungry.
► Do not drink water before meals. That will only help fill up your stomach without the added calories.
► Put butter on or in anything; a little dab? No, make it a ‘slab’.
► Eat foods that are high in carbohydrates, like potatoes, noodles, and baked goods (bread, pizza, pie crust), and eat them along with some form of fat like cheese, gravy, sauces, and sugar. These foods have highly concentrated calories and also lack fiber, making them easier to chew, which burns fewer calories. The more work it is to chew, the more calories are burned.
► Eat other high density per ounce foods like candy, candy bars, cookies, frosted cakes, lattes, milk shakes, cheese, cream, nuts, nut butters, non-lean beef, pork, sausage, bacon, pepperoni, and dehydrated foods eaten without re-hydrating them.
► Make sure you keep eating the same amounts and types of food that you ate in your 20’s.
Your metabolism slows down as you get older, so by eating the same you insure weight gain.
► Drink high calorie beverages like soda. This works really well for weight gain because it’s easy not to even notice just how many calories you’ve actually consumed. It sort of fools the body into thinking, “I haven’t really ‘eaten’ anything.”
► Fresh produce is not your friend. Be sure to eat fruit that’s either been canned in heavy syrup or frozen with sugar. Both will have more calories per bite.
► Frequently dine out at restaurants, daily if possible. Restaurant dishes tend to have high
calorie ingredients, and restaurants often serve very large portions. Again, distract yourself so that you forget that you’ve eaten a much larger than usual portion.
► When preparing to eat, be sure to wear loose fitting clothing that allows your waistline to expand without you even realizing it.
► Keep high calorie snacks available everywhere, so that you can see them and are tempted to eat them anytime, anywhere.
► Maintain a high level of stress, don’t get enough rest, and use high-calorie, unhealthy foods to comfort yourself.
New policy with the adjusting table…Due to the age of my adjustment table and the fact that it broke recently and needed repair, we have a new office policy. If you weigh 300 pounds or more, I kindly ask that you climb onto the table, instead of being lowered down by the table power mechanism. Thank you for your understanding.
fall, The AMAA Journal (Vol. 25) published an article on the benefits of coffee, which in my opinion, went overboard in recommending twelve cups per day. The article stated that drinking twelve cups of coffee per day (compared with the current three-cup average) can help prevent ailments such as Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular and liver disease, cancer and diabetes. In this study, breast cancer risk was reduced by up to fifty-seven per cent when compared to non-coffee drinkers, and Type II diabetes risk was reduced by up to sixty-seven per cent. The researchers attribute these benefits to all the antioxidants. There are over a thousand compounds in coffee, and according to the article: “Only a handful of these compounds have been individually investigated by scientists” and “Coffee is the single greatest source of antioxidants in the American diet.” Two of these antioxidant compounds are polyphenolic and chlorogenic acid, and each could modify key enzymes to improve intracellular signaling and instruct vital cells to enhance tissue repair, immunity and preserve homeostasis. Coffee compounds also act to raise levels of detoxifying enzymes that protect against DNA damage. Subjects in the study who consumed up to three cups a day showed an increase in the metabolic activity of beneficial gastrointestinal bifodobacteria, which then improved mineral absorption, strengthened immunity and lowered blood pressure. Improvements in liver function and adipocytes inhibit the processes that can result in diabetes. Coffee antioxidants are potent scavengers of oxygenated free radicals, helping to protect the blood brain barrier; which in turn may reduce the risk of blood-borne pathogens, drugs, cells and other substances from getting into the brain. Finally, researchers claim
that, “Coffee consumption was associated with the reduction in death from all causes.” This statement refers to both caffeinated and decaffeinated. Vendors must use care in how the beans are soaked and roasted, in order to get the best effects. All roasting will destroy some of the polyphenols, the most important of which is the chlorogenic acid. Green coffee was given credit for having the most benefits, and you can buy green coffee bean supplements, for
those who don’t like coffee or are unable to tolerate it. There is a new patented roasting process in which the beans are first soaked in water, then roasted, and then soaked again in the original water. The polyphenols are readily absorbed by the water, and then easily reabsorbed by the roasted beans when they are soaked for the second time. The idea being that the same benefits would be derived even though less coffee is consumed.
My analysis of this research is this: since it was a study of other studies, it is possible that only those that showed coffee in a positive light were selected for this one, thus skewing the results from the beginning. Twenty-nine references from a wide range of dates (1993-2012) could indicate discriminatory selection of data. I could not establish who paid for the study. For most, excessive consumption of coffee often comes with side effects: jitters,
high blood pressure, stomach acid problems, irritated bowel issues, kidney problems, increased stone formation in kidneys or gall bladder, and cyst formation in the breasts. When the subject comes up in conversation, most women tell me that when they became pregnant, the first sign was intolerance to coffee. That might be a clue if you want to take the hint.
If you really like coffee, you will ignore the last paragraph and happily drink coffee. I wouldn’t blame you.
How can I GAIN weight? No one writes about how to do it (at least not like this)! While there are many, healthy, nutritionally sound methods for those struggling with underweight issues, as some people do; those will not be covered here. My approach to weight gain is to look at
it from the opposite point of view of weight loss. In other words, whatever you would do to lose weight, just do the opposite in order to gain it. Following is a list of things that you can do to gain weight, simply ‘flip’ the suggestions for the opposite effect, to lose weight. To gain weight, eat foods that are very high in calories, each bite providing abundant fuel for energy and hopefully nutrition too. To lose weight, eat foods that are high in volume, but low in calories, satisfying both appetite and nutritional needs.
How to Gain Weight (in no time!)
► Eat a big bowl of high fat ice cream just before bed. Add cookies or fudge to increase the effectiveness. Eating just before bed gives your body time to put all the calories into weight gain. During the night, there is no chance to exercise the calories off as there is with the normal activities of daytime.
► Skip breakfast so you will be extra hungry later and eat more.
► Consume lots of deep-fat fried foods, especially in the evening, especially donuts.
► Distract yourself while eating, like reading or watching TV at the same time. You will usually end up eating more.
► Don’t stop eating until you are absolutely stuffed at every meal, and snack often in-between meals. Don’t let yourself get hungry.
► Do not drink water before meals. That will only help fill up your stomach without the added calories.
► Put butter on or in anything; a little dab? No, make it a ‘slab’.
► Eat foods that are high in carbohydrates, like potatoes, noodles, and baked goods (bread, pizza, pie crust), and eat them along with some form of fat like cheese, gravy, sauces, and sugar. These foods have highly concentrated calories and also lack fiber, making them easier to chew, which burns fewer calories. The more work it is to chew, the more calories are burned.
► Eat other high density per ounce foods like candy, candy bars, cookies, frosted cakes, lattes, milk shakes, cheese, cream, nuts, nut butters, non-lean beef, pork, sausage, bacon, pepperoni, and dehydrated foods eaten without re-hydrating them.
► Make sure you keep eating the same amounts and types of food that you ate in your 20’s.
Your metabolism slows down as you get older, so by eating the same you insure weight gain.
► Drink high calorie beverages like soda. This works really well for weight gain because it’s easy not to even notice just how many calories you’ve actually consumed. It sort of fools the body into thinking, “I haven’t really ‘eaten’ anything.”
► Fresh produce is not your friend. Be sure to eat fruit that’s either been canned in heavy syrup or frozen with sugar. Both will have more calories per bite.
► Frequently dine out at restaurants, daily if possible. Restaurant dishes tend to have high
calorie ingredients, and restaurants often serve very large portions. Again, distract yourself so that you forget that you’ve eaten a much larger than usual portion.
► When preparing to eat, be sure to wear loose fitting clothing that allows your waistline to expand without you even realizing it.
► Keep high calorie snacks available everywhere, so that you can see them and are tempted to eat them anytime, anywhere.
► Maintain a high level of stress, don’t get enough rest, and use high-calorie, unhealthy foods to comfort yourself.
New policy with the adjusting table…Due to the age of my adjustment table and the fact that it broke recently and needed repair, we have a new office policy. If you weigh 300 pounds or more, I kindly ask that you climb onto the table, instead of being lowered down by the table power mechanism. Thank you for your understanding.
