Does Meat Cause Cancer?

In the United States there is a fairly common belief based on dubious research and media hype that vegetarian diets are healthier and protective against cancer. I would like to set that myth to rest, because to date, the studies have not been clear on this.

Let’s start with a close look at the popular 2005 book The China Study.

If you have read this book, you know that on the surface it appears to make quite a case against consuming animal protein. It asserts that higher animal protein intakes were clearly associated with increased risk of cancer.

Kidney Failure —The Unknown Epidemic

Most of us are aware of all the health problems that can result from insulin resistance like heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension, But lost in the shuffle is another silent killer that is on the rise — chronic kidney disease. At LMI we’ve noticed a growing number of patients with kidney problems.

Our experience reflects both a national and international trend. Kidney disease is increasing in young and old alike in the U.S. and around the world.^1,2 And that’s why I feel compelled to warn you about it — and tell you how to keep your kidneys healthy.

Here’s some background. You have two kidneys, whose job is to remove wastes from the blood and to excrete them via urine; they then return cleaned blood to the body. The kidneys keep water and minerals at healthy levels and produce important hormones.

C-Reactive Protein — Should You Get it Tested?

If you ask your primary care doctor to check your C-reactive protein (CRP), there is a high likelihood you will be told it is not necessary. Even though we know that CRP is a risk factor for heart disease¹ and more and more doctors are testing CRP levels in patients who they consider to be at high risk, testing CRP is not yet recommended for routine lab testing.

If you ask me, it’s time that changed. At LMI, we do screen routinely for CRP. Let me tell you why.

How Now, Brown… Fat?

There are no short cuts to weight loss. In my experience, I still find that the most effective way to help people lose weight is with the combination of a healthier diet and exercise along with addressing underlying metabolic imbalances — such as insulin resistance, thyroid gland function and stress levels (because stress hormones impact both insulin resistance and thyroid hormones).

However, there have been recent discoveries, and much discussion¹ about the role that so-called brown fat may play in weight loss. Brown adipose tissue — brown fat — is common to many mammals.

Mushroom Pâté Almondine

Mushrooms are a good source of B-vitamins and are a wonderful base to this savory pâté. With only 7 net carbs per serving, this is yet another great way to enjoy a flavorful snack while keeping your blood sugar in check. Enjoy it as a dip with assorted vegetables or with low-carb crackers.

Serves: 6

Saturated Fat: What to Do?

One of the biggest areas of dietary confusion today is whether saturated fat is bad for us or not. For the most part, conventional medical thought remains firmly in the “saturated fat is bad for you” corner, while a growing number of people feel that not only is the jury still out on saturated fat intake, it may even have health benefits.

Are You Ready for Bathing Suit Season?

We have only six short weeks left until Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer — and bathing suit season for most people. If your New Year’s resolution to lose weight hasn’t worked as well as you had hoped, don’t despair. There’s still time to look better at the beach. And I can tell you how to do it.

Your Brain on Statins

I was recently made aware of huge news on statin drugs from the labs at Iowa State University, where a researcher has confirmed something I have long suspected regarding cholesterol-lowering drugs — that they could seriously harm brain health.

Lose Weight with No Hunger

In traditional approaches to dieting, one of the tools that seems to improve weight loss is food journaling, writing down everything you eat. This method works because it helps control the mindless eating that people do — just popping something in your mouth even if you aren’t hungry. In fact, one study found that food journaling every day led to twice as much weight loss among dieters.¹

While food journaling may help control mindless eating, as a dietitian I have observed that it doesn’t help people who are just flat out hungry. Out of all the dieting side effects, I find there is nothing that will undo a diet faster than hunger!

Falling Off the Diet Bandwagon? Read This

A New York Times article this week confirmed my worst fears – stress is sending Americans to candy stores in droves.¹

While at first glance this little headline, “When Economy Sours, Tootsie Rolls Soothe Souls” seems amusing, from my perspective it unwittingly brings up two important issues in healthcare today: