NEW STUDY ON SATURATED FAT AND HEART DISEASE LINK

It’s a long-held belief that saturated fat (the type found in butter, meat, and cheese) is to blame for an increased risk of heart disease and other cardiac events. A new analysis by international scientists recently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, however, indicates that this may not actually be the case. The study suggests that other dietary factors may hold more of the blame than saturated fats when it comes to causing heart attack and stroke. The belief that saturated fat increases the risk for heart disease is grounded in the fact that saturated fat contains high levels of LDL cholesterol, the kind of cholesterol that increases an individual’s risk of heart attack. This new study, however, claims that the kind of LDL [ ] The post NEW STUDY ON SATURATED FAT AND HEART DISEASE LINK appeared first on Jeremy E. Korman, M.D., F.A.C.S..
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FDA BANS TRANS FAT

The FDA took a huge step towards bettering the health of our country this week when they announced that all food manufacturers must remove artificial trans fats from their products within the next three years. Trans fats have long been a part of the American diet—first introduced in the early 1900s—and that makes the FDA’s decision even more significant. While trans fats were originally pitched as less harmful than saturated fats, it has since become clear that they are actually directly linked to high body weight, heart disease, memory loss, and high cholesterol. Trans fat is a thicker, longer-lasting product with enhanced flavor that is cheaper to use in food production than other fats like lard or butter. Because of this, food manufacturers really like [ ] The post FDA BANS TRANS FAT appeared first on Jeremy E. Korman, M.D., F.A.C.S..
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THE COST OF OBESITY

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FOOD ADDICTIONS & BREAKING THE CYCLE

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What’s a “Non-Food” and Why Do We Eat Them?

            So much of what is on our supermarket shelves and in fast food restaurants is not actually food, but rather artificial chemicals meant to “enhance” the look and taste of processed foods, or to extend their shelf-life. For example, a Burger King strawberry shake contains over forty ingredients, from benzyl acetate to isobutyl butyrate, but not one of them is “strawberry.” Let’s examine a few of these chemical additives, how they can adversely affect the body and how to avoid them. MSG One of the most well-known food additives is MSG. it is added to foods to lend an “umami,” or deep savory flavor. It can trigger migraines and other adverse reactions like sweating and nausea in some people and should be avoided. Preservatives [ ] The post What’s a Non-Food and Why Do We Eat Them? appeared first on Jeremy E. Korman, M.D., F.A.C.S..
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“The New Normal”: Training for Your First Race

Many of my patients find that they would like to start an exercise regimen after surgery and subsequent weight loss. Some go on to run 5ks, 10ks, and even marathons! This is one of the many positive changes individuals experience following surgery – fitness may become their “New Normal.” There are many benefits to jogging or running. Apart from the weight loss that occurs as a result of the caloric burn from the exercise itself, there is an additional metabolic bump from the increased muscle mass. Muscle burns more calories than fat, at a ratio of 2.5 to 1. Over time this can add up. As you burn fat and build muscle, you are turning your body into a metabolic machine. Additionally, there are cardiovascular, or heart-health benefits. While running may not make one completely immune to heart disease, it does decrease the risk of cardiac events by lowering blood pressure and heart rate. Finally, weight-bearing activities like running can help to increase bone density, thereby lower
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Popular Diets and How They Compare to Weight Loss Surgery

If you are interested in losing weight, there is no shortage of trendy diets from which to choose. But before you start your weight loss journey, you should understand the short-term and long-term pros and cons of each of these “fad” diets. My patients generally have goals to lose 30 pounds or more, so let’s take a look at each of these diets and how they may affect this particular population. Gluten-Free This has quickly become one of the trendiest diets, with approximately one-third of Americans describing themselves as “gluten-free.” Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, rye and barley. It gives breads and doughs their chewy texture. For many years, this diet was adopted only by those with Celiac Disease, an autoimmune disorder in which the ingestion of gluten causes an inflammatory immune response in the intestine. This leads to symptoms that range from intestinal distress to malnutrition, and it can cause weight gain. In individuals with Celiac Disease, avoidi
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