Gluten could be causing your heartburn

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Dr. Brad Shook

Heartburn-acid-reflux-gerd-gluten-autoimmune

Call it acid reflux, heartburn, or GERD, but having stomach acid splash back up into your esophagus is painful and distressing. Although researchers cite various causes, one that many doctors overlook is gluten, the protein found in wheat, spelt, rye, barley, and other wheat-like grains.

Studies link gluten with acid reflux

Research shows acid reflux symptoms more commonly affect those with celiac disease, an autoimmune disease triggered by gluten. One study found 30 percent of celiac disease patients had GERD compared to less than 5 percent of those not diagnosed with the disease. Another study found almost 40 percent of children with celiac disease suffer from esophagitis, inflammation of the esophagus and heartburn.

Gluten-free diet found to relieve heartburn

Fortunately, researchers also found a gluten-free diet relieved symptoms of GERD rapidly and persistently. Some people have found they also need to give up grains, processed foods, or other foods to which they are intolerant (such as dairy) to completely relieve acid reflux.

GERD could be autoimmune

Some research shows that stomach acid is not acidic enough to immediately damage the esophagus. Instead, it triggers an inflammatory reaction within the tissue of the esophagus, causing damage.

What does gluten have to do with this? Gluten has been shown to be very pro-inflammatory in many people, and has been linked with 55 autoimmune diseases. It’s possible acid reflux could be yet another inflammatory disorder triggered by gluten.

Antacids increase health risks

Most people relieve acid reflux by taking an antacid to neutralize stomach acid, with sales of the drug topping $10 billion annually. Not only does this fail to stop stomach acid from washing back up into the esophagus (one study showed protein-pump inhibitors actually induce acid reflux), it also impairs nutrient absorption.

Antacids may increase food poisoning risk

Stomach acid is vital to the absorption of minerals and vitamins, and protects the stomach from bacteria, fungus, and infection. Chronic use of antacids has been linked to increased risk for bacterial infections, candida (yeast) overgrowth, and food poisoning.

Antacids may increase osteoporosis risk

Chronic antacid use also impairs absorption of minerals, including calcium, which can increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

Proper testing for gluten intolerance vital

With one in five people now believed to be suffering from gluten sensitivity, it’s important to know whether you are too, and whether undiagnosed gluten intolerance is contributing to heartburn.

The conventional tests to screen gluten intolerance are notoriously inaccurate. For cutting-edge testing, please contact my office.

Filed under: Auto-immune disorders, functional medicine, IBS, Nutrition | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Dr. Oz’s Functional Medicine Warriors and Weight Loss

Posted on January 23, 2012 by bshook

Functional Medicine is science based prevention.  Recently Dr. Oz had a panel of functional medicine doctors on his show, and they shared with the world the future of true health care.  No longer are we simply looking at diagnosing a disease then treating symptoms, now pioneers of functional medicine look to identify the drivers of disease processes and seek to help you support, reverse or cure many chronic diseases with lifestyle, dietary and science based clinical nutrition.  Much of the investigation into your condition is done through advanced diagnostic testing which is not like standard lab testing, but rather is much more comprehensive and broad in scope.

Dr. Shook has trained hundreds of hours in functional medicine and concentrates in helping people with obesity and several other chronic and degenerative conditions.  Fitness and weight loss has always been a personal passion of Dr. Shook’s, and he uses some of the latest techniques and new technology to help people lose weight in ways that are unlike anything else one the market today.  By approcahing obesity and being overweight from a functional medicine perspective, weight loss becomes more achievable than ever before.

Dr. Shook has helped numerous people lose from half up to two pounds per day with his unique program that is all natural, safe, effective and more affordable than other programs on the market today.  If you would like to learn about Dr. Shook’s physician supervised program and see if you are a candidate, then register for one of his weight loss webinars or watch one one demand right now.  don’t wait for the latest weight loss fad to come along, get started on a program that is guaranteed today.

Watch Dr. Shook’s weight loss webinar now and let this year be your best year ever.  Watch video testimonials and register here.

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Overtraining: Too much of a good thing

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Dr. Brad Shook

Overtraining-adrenal cortisol-belly fat

Mary was a mother of two who began a vigorous exercise program of weight lifting and running, one to two hours a day, six days a week. Not only did she fail to lose weight, she actually gained weight, and found herself battling fatigue, irritability, and constant colds and flus. As it turns out, Mary was exercising too much.

Overtraining weakens the body

While regular exercise is vital to good health, studies show overtraining can actually deplete hormones, depress immunity, lead to bone loss, increase the risk of injuries, slow healing, increase inflammation, and cause a general feeling of burn-out.

Sufficient recovery between exercise sessions and exercising at an appropriate intensity will get you fitter faster without compromising health.

Overtraining and high cortisol

Overtraining causes your body to pump out extra cortisol, a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands that helps us cope with stress. High cortisol can cause bone loss, and muscle breakdown, create belly fat, increase sugar cravings, and lead to insulin resistance, a pre-diabetic condition that causes high blood sugar.

Overtraining and low cortisol

Some people who overtrain suffer from low cortisol, which can lead to weight gain, fatigue, low blood sugar (with dizziness, light-headedness, and irritability), muscle weakness, difficulty recovering from workouts, and poor immune strength.

American life is already stressful

Clearly, neither high nor low cortisol produces the desired effects of an exercise regime, and both cause a chronic inflammatory state that ages you quickly. Throw in other factors of modern American life—stressful lifestyles, too little sleep, poor diets, too many sweets and caffeine—and overtraining can be the tipping point into cortisol-driven disorders.

Symptoms of overtraining

How much exercise is too much? This varies from person to person. Overtraining for one person can be another person’s warm up. An adrenal salivary panel will show you your cortisol levels, but it’s especially important to pay attention to signals from your body, which is harder than it sounds for the driven athlete accustomed to pushing the envelope.

Symptoms of overtraining include persistent tiredness, worsening strength and stamina, sleep disturbances, slow recovery, aching joints or limbs, injuries, and frequent illness, to name a few.

Exercise should boost energy, not drain it

Appropriate exercise boosts your energy and your sense of well-being. And while some muscle soreness is normal, you should experience energy, mental focus, and a good mood during recovery periods between workouts.

Ask us about an adrenal cortisol panel to help you establish and appropriate intensity level for your workouts.

Filed under: Fatigue, functional medicine, Health and Fitness, Physical Stress, Resistance Training, The Role of Stress, Uncategorized, Weight Loss | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

Statins increase risk of diabetes 50%

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Dr. Brad Shook

A new study found older women who take cholesterol-lowering statin drugs increase their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by almost 50 percent.

Statins diabetes cholesterol naturally

Researchers say it isn’t clear why the drug raises the risk of diabetes, and that the findings could be applied to men.

Many people don’t realize that inflammation, not a statin deficiency, underlies high cholesterol, and that the condition usually can be managed naturally.

The study looked at data of more than 150,000 women ages 50-79 for over 12 years. Interestingly, the risk was greater for Asian women and women of a healthy body mass index.

Statins most commonly prescribed drugs

Darlings of the health care industry, statins are the most commonly prescribed drug, accounting for $20 billion of spending a year. About one in four Americans over 45 take statins, despite such common side effects as muscle weakness and wasting, headaches, difficulty sleeping, stomach upset, and dizziness.

Beware low cholesterol

As a result, lab ranges for healthy cholesterol are skewed too low. Not only do statin users grapple with side effects and raise their risk of diabetes, but they also risk symptoms of low cholesterol. Cholesterol is necessary for brain and nerve health and to manufacture hormones, including the sex hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

Low cholesterol can imbalance hormones and increase the risk for anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders.

In functional medicine, we don’t like to see cholesterol go below 150 mg/dL.

Statins do not address cause

Although statins lower cholesterol, they do not address the underlying cause of high cholesterol, which is typically inflammation. The body uses cholesterol to patch up damage caused by inflammation. In fact, research shows inflammation is the primary cause of heart attacks and strokes, not high cholesterol.

Hypothyroidism, a condition estimated to affect more than 20 million Americans, raises cholesterol. Many find a gluten-free diet lowers cholesterol, as gluten is inflammatory for so many people.

Research also shows diets low in fat and high in carbohydrates increase the “bad” form of LDL (there are two to look at) and decrease the protective HDL.

Lowering cholesterol naturally

Functional medicine is highly effective for the person wanting to lower cholesterol naturally.

Management includes an anti-inflammatory diet, exercise, and rooting out causes of inflammation. These include hypothyroidism, autoimmune disease, bacterial infections in the digestive tract, poor blood-sugar handling, or other chronic health issues.

By addressing the cause of high cholesterol not only do you avoid the dangerous risks and unpleasant side effects of statins, but also you journey into your golden years with improved energy and well-being.

Filed under: Depression, Diabetes, Insulin Resistance, functional medicine, Health and Fitness, New Research, Nutrition, Thyroid Disorders | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Detox Diet Plan for the New Year

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Dr. Brad Shook

Detox weight loss diet plan

Now that the food comas, sugar hangovers, and holiday binges are over, it’s a good time to “clean house” with a detox diet. A detox diet calms inflammation, stimulates repair and recovery, and boosts energy. A detox diet should never involve frequent hunger or lack of nutrients, factors that only stress the body further.

Finding food intolerances

Many people don’t realize they have food intolerances. These foods trigger an immune reaction and cause such symptoms as low energy, rashes, joint pain, digestive issues, headaches, anxiety, depression, and more. They also prevent weight loss. The foods people most commonly react to are gluten, grains, dairy, eggs, and nuts.

Other inflammation triggers

Other common immune triggers include nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, etc.), legumes, coffee, and, of course, foods high in sugar. Don’t forget, sugary foods include sweet fruits and natural sweeteners, such as honey, maple syrup, and agave.

The hunger-free diet plan

At this point you might be saying, “There is nothing left to eat!” On the contrary, the detox diet resembles what our ancestors ate prior to the industrialization of food, and there is plenty to eat. In fact, it is important not to get too hungry as the low blood sugar caused by chronic hunger causes inflammation. Eat frequently enough to sustain energy and avoid crashing.

Healthy diet plan foods

Grass-fed and organic meats, wild fish, plenty of vegetables, healthy fats, and fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, make up the detox diet, along with plenty of water and non-caffeinated herbal teas.

Good fats are key to success

An appropriate amount of good fats ward off hunger and sustain energy. Include healthy fats such as coconut oil, avocado, olive oil, ghee (butter oil), and salmon. Avoid processed vegetable oils and strictly avoid hydrogenated oils, or trans fats.

Rewards outweigh difficulties

Yes, the diet is difficult at first. It requires planning and preparation. Initially you may experience sugar and carb cravings, low energy as your body adapts to burning fat instead of sugar for fuel, and such detox symptoms as headaches, rashes, or joint pain. Please call our office for guidance if so.

However people who stick with the diet inevitably feel such a boost in energy and well being that they come to enjoy the diet.

A great weight-loss diet plan

Many find the detox diet is the best weight loss diet yet. Cutting out sweets and high-carb foods naturally promotes weight loss. More importantly, however, the detox diet becomes a weight loss diet plan by reducing inflammation, stabilizing blood sugar, and restoring balance to the adrenals, our stress-managing glands.

Reintroducing foods

After 30 to 90 days of the detox diet, you may wish to add in some of the foods you eliminated, one at a time every 72 hours to see whether you react in any way to them. This will help you build a healthier lifelong diet. However many find a gluten-free and even grain-free diet builds lasting health.

Support with detox supplements

I can help you enhance the effects of the detox diet with nutritional compounds to aid in cleansing and ease the symptoms of transition. They support the liver, the digestive tract, blood sugar balance, and stress handling. Just call my office for advice.

Detox diet plan

Foods to avoid

  • ALL sugars and sweeteners, including honey, agave, maple syrup, etc.
  • High-glycemic fruits: Watermelon, mango, pineapple, raisins, grapes, canned fruits, dried fruits, etc.
  • Nightshades: Tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplant, and other nightshades
  • Mushrooms
  • Grains: Wheat, oats, rice, barley, buckwheat, corn, quinoa, etc.
  • Dairy: Milk, cream, cheese, butter, whey.
  • Eggs or foods that contain eggs (mayonnaise)
  • Soy: Soy milk, soy sauce, tofu, tempeh, etc.
  • Alcohol
  • Lectins: Lectins promote leaky gut. Avoid nuts, beans, soy, nightshades, peanut oil, peanut butter, and soy and soy products.
  • Coffee: Many people react to coffee as if it is gluten, and it can be overstimulating.
  • Processed foods
  • Canned foods

Foods to eat

  • Most vegetables (except nightshades and mushrooms): Asparagus, spinach, lettuce, broccoli, beets, cauliflower, carrots, celery, artichokes, garlic, onions, zucchini, squash, rhubarb, cucumbers, turnips, watercress, etc.
  • Fermented foods: Sauerkraut, kimchi, pickled ginger, fermented cucumbers, coconut yogurt, kombucha, etc. You must make your own or buy one of the few brands that are genuinely fermented (not made with vinegar) and free of sugars or additives.
  • Meats: Grass-fed and organic chicken, turkey, beef, bison, lamb, etc., and wild fish.
  • Low glycemic fruits sparingly: Apricots, plums, apple, peach, pear, cherries, berries, etc.
  • Coconut: Coconut oil, coconut butter, coconut milk, coconut cream.
  • Olives and olive oil
  • Ghee (butter oil) unless severe dairy allergy
If you would like to learn about the latest science in detoxification and weight loss, join me on my next free webinar, and make the most of the new year.  You can register for my next free webinar here.

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Holiday sugar hangover cure?

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Dr. Brad Shook

Depressed overweight womanThe tin of peppermint bark is empty, the pies polished off, and the Yule log cake reduced to crumbs.

Left in their wake, however, is the sugar hangover, that annual holiday tradition that may include an upset stomach, headache, lethargy, brain fog, skin problems, join pain, mood swings, allergy symptoms, and a heap of regret.

How to recover from a sugar hangover

While alcohol hangover cures are a folklore staple, you can take solid steps to recover from your sugar hangover:

  • Quit eating sweets. Those holiday treats have sent your blood sugar levels skyrocketing and plummeting repeatedly, taxing the immune system, the brain, hormone balance, and every other system in the body.To recover, put blood sugar levels on an even keel by eating protein every two to three hours, eating a good breakfast, and avoiding starchy foods, desserts, and sweet drinks (soda, sweet coffee drinks) that spike blood sugar. Instead focus on quality proteins, leafy vegetables, and good sources of fat (olive oil, avocado, coconut oil, salmon, etc.)
  • Drink plenty of water. This is also the most popular alcohol hangover cure for a reason. Staying hydrated with clean filtered water will help flush your body of toxins and aid in recovery.
  • Support your liver. Processing all those sweets burdens your liver. Help your liver flush these toxins with such liver detox nutrients as milk thistle, dandelion, N-acetyl L-cysteine, beet root, panax ginseng, and more. Contact my office for more advice on liver detoxification.
  • Restore your gut. Sweets cause inflammation, promote overgrowth of harmful yeast and bacteria, and irritate the gastric lining. You can restore gut health by avoiding sweets and other starchy foods, temporarily adopting a strict detox diet that eliminates common immune triggers (i.e., gluten), and by eating cultured and fermented foods.
  • Move your body. A brisk walk, a swim, yoga, or some other gentle exercise will get your lymphatic system pumping and blood flowing to help flush toxins and rejuvenate cells. You may want to avoid extremely vigorous exercise until hangover symptoms subside so as not to further promote inflammation.

Why not go for a New Year’s detox?

These are some basics to help you recover from a sugar hangover and get you back on the wellness path. In fact, all of these tips will help you recover from an alcohol hangover, too. For more advanced strategies and to get started on a detox plan for the New Year, contact my office.

What are your tips for a sugar hangover cure?

Of course the best way to cure a sugar hangover is to avoid one. But if you happen to overindulge on special occasions, what are some of your tips for a sugar hangover cure?

Also, if you would like to learn more from Dr. Shook then register for his next free webinar one weight loss.  It’s that time of year when resolutions are made, and 42% of people make a weight loss resolution!  Start your year off right, and get the latest in science in research on your side from a functional medicine practitioner.  Register for Dr. Shook’s next free weight loss webinar here, before he has to stopdoing them.

Filed under: Allergies, Diabetes, Insulin Resistance, Fatigue, functional medicine, Nutrition, Weight Loss | Tagged: , , , | 4 Comments »

Really…Melatonin for Weight Loss?

Posted on December 21, 2011 by bshook

Some new research suggests that supplementation with Melatonin could help you lose weight.1 Typically, you will hear about melatonin and its involvement in helping to regulate sleep cycles, but in this case researchers discovered that it helped control weight gain without changing food intake.  Other notable findings include:

  • a significant improvement in dyslipidemia
  • a reduction in hypertriglyceridemia
  • raised high-density-lipoprotein (HDL)
  • significantly reduced low-density-lipoprotein (LDL)
All of these findings are great side-effects of melatonin, and mean that it could prove to be a great supplement for more than just sleep.
Weight loss is a challenge for everyone, and unfortunately the current state-of-the-art is inadequate, but fortunately research continues to demonstrate new discoveries that can be applied…if you ever hear about them.  I perform literature reviews, and have been a student of the latest science in exercise, fitness, health and wellness for over 20 years, which all happened by luck. Only recently (<5 yrs) have I been actively searching for more information on weight loss.  As a direct result of my search for more of the missing pieces to the weight loss puzzle, I have discovered 4 missing components to the majority of weight loss and exercise programs on the market today.
To help people get cutting edge information on weight loss, I write, and I give free webinars on various topics.  Currently, I am having a few weight loss webinars that I’m hosting and offering to the public for free, to help people with their resolutions.  In the webinar I cover the 4 missing components to 99% of weight loss and exercise programs, which to date I haven’t written about, and all of which are much more significant than melatonin on weight loss.  Since finding these 4 missing components to weight loss, I have helped numerous people lose between .5 to 1 or even 2 pounds per day in some cases. If you go to my webinar registration page, you can see video testimonials of people that have lost weight with the program.
If you are interested in attending one of my free webinars, you can visit the registration page here.  I will only be offering these webinars for a month at the longest, I have limited time with work and family obligations, but I’ll have 4 or 5 webinars before I move on to other topics like thyroid disorders and autoimmune diseases.
If you have questions or would like me to do a webinar on a specific topic, let me know, I’ll see what I can do.
Yours in health,
Dr. Brad Shook, DC DAAMLP, CSCS, NSCA-CPT

1) Agil A, Navarro-Alarcón M, Ruiz R, Abuhamadah S, El-Mir MY, Vázquez GF.  Beneficial effects of melatonin on obesity and lipid profile in young Zucker diabetic fatty rats. J Pineal Res. 2011 Mar;50(2):207-12. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-079X.2010.00830.x. Epub 2010 Nov 19.

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Can stress cause your baby’s allergies?

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Dr. Brad Shook

A calm, healthy pregnancy and postpartum period could reduce the risk of allergies in your baby, according to a new Swedish study.

Researchers found infants with lower levels of cortisol, an adrenal hormone released in response to stress, developed fewer allergies than other infants.

Stress hormone cortisol triggers allergies

The researchers believe environmental and lifestyle factors during pregnancy and early infancy raise adrenal cortisol levels, which increases the risk of allergies.

Studies show high cortisol in a pregnant mother raises levels of the hormone in the fetus.

In functional medicine, we see many women enter into pregnancy with high cortisol. Common symptoms include excess belly fat, insomnia, insulin resistance (high blood sugar), hair loss, and an irregular menstrual cycle.

Stress isn’t just about too much to do on too little sleep (although that is certainly a factor).

Factors that cause high adrenal cortisol

Common factors that elevate cortisol are:

  • Sugary, starchy diets that consistently spike blood sugar (which causes excess belly fat).
  • Excess caffeine.
  • Undiagnosed food intolerances. Gluten intolerance and celiac disease are particularly common.
  • Poor gut health. Gas, bloating, indigestion, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, and other digestive symptoms are signs of a poorly functioning gut.
  • Improperly managed autoimmune disease. Do you have Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism or another autoimmune disease?

Rate of childhood allergies rising

The rate of allergies has risen sharply in the United States. About 54 percent of Americans are allergic to at least one thing, an up to five-fold increase the late 1970s. The number of children with food allergies has risen 18 percent since the late 90s; witness the prevalence of peanut-free classrooms.

Manage health before pregnancy

The best thing a mother can do to reduce the risk of allergies in her child is to address her own health and nutrition before conception.

An adrenal saliva test is a good way to measure whether cortisol levels are normal. A mother’s health before conception and during pregnancy greatly influences the health of her baby.

Stress is a fact of life for us all. How have you managed to lower stress levels during pregnancy?

Filed under: Emotional Stress, functional medicine, New Research, The Role of Stress | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Not Completely True: Increased Exercise Prevents Weight Gain

Posted on December 19, 2011 by bshook

Many of us have had the idea that increased physical activity will decrease our body weight, but new research suggests otherwise.  In a recent study showed “among women consuming a usual diet, physical activity was associated with less weight gain only among women whose BMI was lower than 25. (So if you’re BMI is over 25, which is everyone considered overweight or obese, you’re likely not going to lose weight). Women successful in maintaining normal weight and gaining fewer than 2.3 kg over 13 years averaged approximately 60 minutes a day of moderate-intensity activity throughout the study”.1

So, basically, according to this study, if you eat a “usual diet” you have to exercise 60 minutes per day if you don’t want to gain weight…and you will not lose anything! I know, this is not a reassuring finding, but the good news for all of you that seem to “fit” this description, the study does have some shortcomings…

The study failed to point out the type of exercise, which is very important. Aerobic exercise like “cardio”, can cause the release of cortisol which will cause you to gain weight!  Yeah, that’s a scientific fact, cortisol will cause an increase in blood sugar and therefore insulin…putting your body in FAT STORAGE MODE…this is called over-training!  Resistance training, or “strength training” is ideal for improving overall health and increasing metabolism and aesthetics.

This study highlights the fact that mindless working-out is, well…to put it nicely, not smart.  You have to be mindful of what you are doing for exercise, and how your body responds on a biochemical level or you could be wasting your time!

There are 4 primary components that have to be addressed if you want to be successful with weight loss, and none of the commercial weight loss or exercise programs on the market have them.  If you want to learn about what’s missing from 99% of the weight loss and dieting programs on the market you can attend one of the free webinars I’m giving by clicking here.  These webinars are free for now, but I’ve got less and less time, and my family comes first, so do yourself a favor (unless you like working hard and not smart), and register for one of my webinars before I have to stop or start charging for my time.

Yours in health,

Dr. Shook

1) Lee IM, et al . Physical activity and weight gain prevention. JAMA. 2010 Mar 24;303(12):1173-9.

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The 4 Components 99% of Weight Loss Programs Are Missing

Posted on December 17, 2011 by bshook

Weight Loss isn’t just diet and exercise, just ask 99% of people that have tried those and failed because it’s to hard, or because it’s too painful.  New information shows there are at least 4 missing components needed to get people to the point where they can exercise.  I’m hosting a limited number of webinars where I will teach those of you that have, or are currently struggling with weight loss these 4 missing components.  No more yo yo dieting, and no harping on “you need to exercise more either”. Register for the free webinar.   Learn about it here.  I don’t know how many of these I’ll have before it wears me out, so register because it’s new, cutting edge information that could help you with your weight loss worries from now on.

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