by Wally Bishop | Jul 24, 2023 | Healthy Food
In our last blog, we discussed how your diet and genetics work together. Today we want to talk about a major culprit of disease – Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs). There are many suspected contributors to disease and illness, and the one I am presenting is not the only cause. However, I believe it is a big one. Read this thoroughly, do your own research, and then make your own conclusions.
Disease and Advanced Glycation End Products
Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) are glycotoxins, a diverse group of highly oxidant compounds with pathogenic significance in diabetes and several other chronic diseases.
They are a group of compounds that are combinations of sugars, proteins, and other large molecules. They can be formed in the body, when food is cooked at high temperatures, or aged for a long time, such as in hard cheese. AGEs accelerate aging at the cellular level and have been linked to a range of conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, vascular disease, nerve damage, kidney disease, vision problems, cancers, and even Alzheimer’s disease.
One study conducted on mice showed that a diet high in AGEs, resembling the Western diet, led to the accumulation of AGEs in the brain, along with the formation of a component of Alzheimer’s plaques. These mice also experienced cognitive and motor decline. Conversely, mice fed a low AGE diet remained free from these conditions. Clinical studies in humans have also indicated that higher blood AGE levels resulting from a high AGE diet increase the risk of cognitive decline.
Choosing Wisely: Foods and AGE Content
To make informed dietary choices, it is crucial to understand which foods contain the highest and lowest levels of AGEs. Fats, dairy products, and meats tend to have the highest AGE content, while carbohydrates are relatively low in AGEs. Processed foods also have higher AGE levels compared to natural or homemade foods.
Let’s get real for a moment and look at a few typical foods Americans eat every day high in AGEs. Grilled meats, hot dogs, donuts, pastries, French fries, BBQ, breaded meats, potato chips, corn chips, crackers, and even baked potatoes with butter and cream are big providers of AGEs. When you eat these, you are greatly increasing your risk for future disease and illness.
There are very few AGEs in plant-based foods like vegetables, legumes, raw nuts, seeds, and fruits. Therefore, a diet rich in vegetables, legumes, fruits, raw nuts, and seeds minimizes AGE-related damage. Consequently, it is advisable to limit sugar consumption as much as possible, as fructose (found in agave nectar, syrup, and high-fructose corn syrup).
Sugar is very harmful and forms AGEs ten times faster than glucose!
A life of wellness is about balance, not perfection. Because certain foods have high amounts of AGEs, it doesn’t mean you can never consume them. Just be smart about it. Limit your intake and eat as nutritiously as you can! If you’d like to see how Vive Shake can be part of your healthy diet and lifestyle, contact us today at info@viveshake.com or 877-878-3009. Next time, we’ll continue our discussions on AGEs and discuss how even cooking methods can impact them.
Vive Shake and the recommendations contained on this site and our blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. They are for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.
by Wally Bishop | Jul 17, 2023 | Healthy Food
Last time, we talked about how accurate Hippocrates was when he said, “Let food be thy medicine.” Today we want to talk about how your genetics and diet work together.
The Ostrich Syndrome
It would be easy to bury our heads in the sand and just eat what we want. However, we cannot afford to ignore the impact of our diet on our overall health. The common justifications for poor food choices, such as “I’m going to die anyway, so I might as well enjoy my food” or “It’s in my genetics, so I can eat whatever I want,” are nothing but excuses. The truth is, we cannot hide from the consequences of our dietary habits.
Go Beyond Genes to Diet
While genetics may play a role in some cases, studies have long indicated that most disease-causing genes remain dormant until we trigger them through a poor diet, exposure to toxic chemicals, or unmanaged stress. The conditions we create within our bodies provide the perfect environment for these genes to become active and lead to illness. However, it is essential to note that the vast majority of diseases are influenced by diet and behavior rather than purely genetic factors.
Americans are getting sicker, and our crap foods and stressed lifestyles have a lot to do with it.
To illustrate this point, let’s consider the rising prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in America. It is alarming that the United States is in the top ten for death rates due to Alzheimer’s, while Finland tops the list. Furthermore, America also has high rates of heart disease and diabetes. On the other hand, countries with lower rates of Westernization, such as those in Asia, Eurasia, the Middle East, and Africa, also have lower rates of these diseases. Interestingly, 30% of people with Alzheimer’s also have heart disease, and 29% have diabetes. These statistics call for a closer examination of our diets rather than relying solely on drugs to find a cure.
When you’re incorporating healthy foods into your diet, consider adding Vive Shake to your wellness routine. For more information on how Vive Shake can help improve your health, contact us today at info@viveshake.com or 877-878-3009. Next week, we’ll talk about the Western diet and its impacts on our health.
Vive Shake and the recommendations contained on this site and our blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. They are for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.
by Wally Bishop | Jul 10, 2023 | Healthy Food
In this blog series, we’re going to talk about how Healthy Food Means a Healthy You. Today we want to talk about how the foods you eat can specifically impact diseases. Please have an open mind and read this series in its entirety. Many things can cause an unhealthy state in our body, but the combinations of certain foods can create the perfect storm to accelerate the disease process.
You Can Reduce Your Chances of Disease
Science has provided us with numerous studies that demonstrate the potential for a significant reduction in the prevalence of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, IBS, heart disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancers. The key lies in understanding how certain combinations of foods can either promote or inhibit the disease process.
For example, a 2016 study from the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that diet and exercise were linked to lower levels of plaque and “brain tangles” that contribute to Alzheimer’s.
“Let Food Be Thy Medicine”
The famous physician Hippocrates emphasized the power of food as medicine, but he could not have foreseen how we would compromise its healing properties through the addition of chemicals and excessive processing. Unfortunately, many people remain unaware of the dangers lurking in the foods they consume, including our family and close friends. However, we all have choices that can decrease our risk of major illnesses and diseases.
I don’t mean to alarm anyone, but the facts surrounding this issue are compelling, and you have the right to know what you are putting into your body. What you choose to do after gaining this knowledge is entirely up to you.
My hope is that it will resonate with you enough to inspire healthy changes in your diet and lifestyle.
Everything we take in impacts our health in some way. Next time, we’ll discuss genetics vs diet. If you want to get on the right path with your health, please consider adding a whole-food, fiber-rich supplement such as Vive Shake to your wellness routine. For more information on Vive Shake, contact us today at info@viveshake.com or 877-878-3009.
Vive Shake and the recommendations contained on this site and our blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. They are for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.
by Wally Bishop | Jul 3, 2023 | Gut Flora
Last time, we discussed the benefits of fiber in improving the balance of your gut flora. In the final part of our gut flora series, we want to continue discussing fiber and how increasing your five can improve your gut flora.
Increasing Fiber Gradually
The only negative to fiber intake is increasing the intake too quickly. It can cause bloating, gas, and potentially loose stools. Therefore, individuals following a lower-fiber diet must slowly increase their fiber intake.
A simple way to increase your fiber intake is to increase it by 5 grams per week until you reach a healthy level. If you understand that fiber is the only food your healthy bacteria get, you should see that the more fiber you get, the healthier your gut flora and microbiome balance will be. I believe a minimum of 30 grams of fiber daily should be a goal for everyone. However, increasing your intake slowly will minimize any adverse side effects, such as extra gas and bloating.
Where Do I Find Fiber?
The best fiber sources are avocados, low-starch vegetables, low-sugar fruits, beans, lentils, peas, nuts, and seeds. WebMD provides a great list of high-fiber superfoods. One of the items on this list is whole grains. However, they can be higher in glycemic values, which means they can raise blood sugar and insulin levels quickly (not a good thing to happen). The best sources of grains are found in the bran and germ, such as rice bran and germ.
Fiber is the only food your gut bacteria get. Fiber is filling, satiating, soothing, and cleansing. It removes bad fats, slows blood sugar absorption, provides food for our healthy gut bacteria, makes some nutrients, and reduces the risk of heart disease and some cancers.
Ultimately, a balanced gut helps maintain a balanced immune system. This can help prevent some autoimmune conditions caused by an overactive and nervous immune system. Additionally, a healthy gut can help reduce anxiety and depression in some people!
Improve your gut flora and improve your health!
Fiber supplements can help, but food sources provide the fiber and nutrients in one beneficial package and are therefore preferred. Vive Shake is the ultimate whole food, fiber, nutrient, and antioxidant food! Contact us today at info@viveshake.com or 877-878-3009 for more information.
Vive Shake and the recommendations contained on this site and our blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. They are for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.
by Wally Bishop | Jun 26, 2023 | Gut Flora
During our series on gut flora, we’ve talked about what it is, how to balance it, and what kills it. Today we want to talk about the benefits of fiber.
Fiber acts as a prebiotic, providing food for the good bacteria in our gut. And some fibers act as postbiotics creating healthy compounds in our colon, such as short-chain fatty acids like butyrate.
Fiber and Weight Loss
The subject of fiber intake and weight loss has mixed opinions, and studies are not conclusive in either direction. However, the studies tend to more strongly support the premise that the increase of fiber does increase weight loss potential, reduce cholesterol, improve the management of type-2 diabetes, and cut the risk of heart disease and some cancers.
Two Types of Fiber – Soluble and Insoluble
Our diet has two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Both are non-digestible and provide no caloric energy that is either burned as energy or stored as fat.
Soluble fiber is soluble in water, swells, and absorbs water, becoming a gelatinous substance in our gut during the digestive process. It is soothing to the digestive tract and binds with fats helping to lower cholesterol and triglycerides and slowing down the absorption of sugars, thus reducing blood sugar levels. Ground flax seeds and chia seeds are excellent sources of soluble fiber. In addition, soluble fiber may help with diarrhea and constipation.
Insoluble fiber helps with constipation and keeps the digestive tract clean by moving the digestive process along. It’s essential to drink plenty of water when increasing your fiber intake.
Both types of fiber are filling, providing satiation leading to lower calorie consumption. However, it is essential that those looking to lose weight follow a lower glycemic diet that is higher in fiber. Fiber sources in the diet should be from low-sugar fruits like berries and low-starch vegetables like avocados, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, spinach, and winter squashes. Don’t forget the powerhouse of fiber – legumes. Legumes (beans, lentils, and peas) are the highest source of fiber in our diet.
Why Fiber is Good for You
Dietary fiber does many great things for us. I believe that fiber should be a part of everyone’s diet. There is no question that fiber from low-starch plant foods is vital to a healthy diet. A fiber-rich diet rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds offers abundant vitamins, minerals, enzymes, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and additional phytonutrients. But, unfortunately, the average American only gets 1/4 to 1/3 of their minimum daily fiber requirements. Maybe it’s one of the contributing reasons there is so much obesity, disease, and illness in our great country.
Certain fiber types can do more harm than good if you have specific digestive problems like colitis, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s. Make sure you work with a qualified health professional experienced with digestive disorders.
To see how Vive Shake can help with fiber and gut health, contact us today at info@viveshake.com or 877-878-3009. Next time, we’ll finish our gut flora series by talking about how increasing fiber improves your gut health.
Vive Shake and the recommendations contained on this site and our blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. They are for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.
