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Superfoods List

Superfoods list

I get asked a lot about superfoods. Are they really as super as they sound? What are the top superfoods everyone should be eating? What makes a food a superfood exactly?

So guess what I did? I answered all your pertinent questions on the topic of superfoods here.

Superfoods List

Superfoods List

The healthiest foods

The media seem to go crazy over the superior superfood so we assume they must be the world’s healthiest foods. Do I agree? Find out here. 

In modern times we all want to get maximum output for minimum input. We don’t have time to read food labels although, I always advise that you do. You’d be surprised at what’s inside our food exactly.

Superfoods seems to satisfy our appetite for maximising what we can get out of a bite of superfood as opposed to consistently eating well and taking ownership of our health.


That to one side, there’s benefits to knowing a thing or two about the 7 superfoods I highlight here.     [tweetthis]There’s benefits to knowing a thing or two about the 7 #superfoods highlighted here. [/tweetthis]


 

Superfood

You may be surprised to learn what these foods can do to your body as a whole. It goes beyond anti-ageing or ageing well but you need to know the science. The science is not all that complicated either, so you might be introducing new foods to your breakfast table, new foods into your children’s packed lunch or adding that little something to your take out order you never did before. Remember, balance is key.

We all want a quick fix but the fact is we couldn’t exist on superfoods even if we tried – and why would we want to? It’s not personalised and it’s not necessarily as good for us as it might be for the next person. They’re not all as exotic as they sound either…

Alkaline Foods Diet

Alkaline Foods Diet

Is plant based healthy? Alkaline food is it all a lie? The alkaline diet myth is threefold. Before we reveal it, let’s break down the alkaline diet

In simple terms — Hollywood celebs on the alkaline foods diet aren’t saying much. So is it working short or long term — at all?

The Alkaline Diet

Let’s look closely at this science. The premise: the alkaline diet – also known as the alkaline ash diet or acid alkaline diet – can help you lose weight. Also, this weight loss is seemingly healthy. So gut health and hormonal balance are positively  maintained. Seemingly.

The acid alkali method claims acid-forming diets lead to indigestion (acid indigestion). This eventually creates a condition known as ‘acidosis’ or ‘chronic acidosis’ which acidify body tissue. What awful acidic food are culprit to avoid on the alkaline acid diet?

The science behind the alkaline diet

The science behind the alkaline diet

There are three basic claims of the alkaline foods diet hypothesis. If we eat acid-forming foods, we get sick. If we eat alkaline-forming foods, we’ll be healthy. Also we will be protected against disease.


Food For Thought: High serum Parathyroid i.e. serum PTH is linked with low bone mineral density, high bone turnover, and an increased risk of (osteoporotic) fractures. How does high serum PTH arise and can we reverse this by diet alone?


The Alkaline Diet Myth

  • One is that alkaline foods diet affects the pH of our blood.
  • Number two would be that our urine pH is an accurate indicator of our health. By extension, we can use these urine test strips to test whether our blood is acidic by measuring our urine acidity. Secondly, by extension, we can use these urine test strips to determine our health.
  • The third claim is that acid-forming diets contribute to modern disease.

 

 

Alkaline Foods Diet

Alkaline Foods Diet

 

  1. Because the pH range of our blood is so tightly controlled by our body it is not possible to alter blood pH just by what we eat. In fact, even slight changes in the pH or acidity of our blood can lead to serious consequences. This includes death. You will not find any reliable medical studies or textbooks that claim that what we eat affects the pH of our blood, as claimed in the alkaline diet hypothesis.
  2. The pH of our urine is not related to the pH of our blood. However, the pH of our urine, does indicate potential kidney function. You will actually find some studies that claim urine pH is an accurate indicator of health. Some claim that our urine pH is a good reflection of our serum pH.
    There are far more studies that have found the pH of our urine does not in any way reflect the pH of our blood. In these studies urine pH isn’t a reliable indicator of anything other than how well our kidneys are functioning. This is because one of their main jobs is to buffer the blood and remove any excess acid that might accumulate from protein digestion. The pH of our urine is not related to the pH of our blood. 
  3. Alkaline foods diet basics.
    Acid forming foods
    : High PRAL Score Foods – Meat and meat products, high protein cheese – Parmesan Cheese, processed cheese, low fat cheddar. Alkaline foods: whole fruits and vegetables and certain whole grains, which are low in caloric density.  5 high quality studies debunk myth 3 by proving that if you eat more protein, you will pee out more acid and calcium, but the amount of calcium in your body does not change. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, Nutrition Journal,  American Journal of Kidney Diseases, July 2009, The Bone Journal 2009  These studies found a strong positive association between protein intake and bone health. There have also been controlled trials where they have experimentally induced protein deficiency i.e. dramatically restricted protein intake in subjects and that has led to deterioration of bone mass, microarchitecture, and strength; the hallmarks of osteoporosis.

Diet Secret Of The Stars Exposed

There are three potential mechanisms through which a higher dietary protein intake can positively impact bone health.

1) Protein contains various amino acids that are integral to bone.
2) Eating more protein increases IGF-1 levels and IGF-1, in turn, increases bone growth and bone mass.
3) Eating more protein lowers levels of serum parathyroid hormone – serum PTH – and we know that high levels of serum parathyroid hormone are associated with low bone mineral density, high bone turnover, and an increased risk of (osteoporotic) fractures.


 

Hungry All The Time

Why Hungry All The Time

HUNGRY all the time? After a meal do you FEEL FULL or STILL HUNGRY.. moments later? Trying to lose weight?Following a strict diet? May be DOING A DETOX or cleanse? The weight is not shifting, however.

Being on a healthy eating plan may be a radical change or too many changes all at once. Sometimes we’re pretty good at sticking to this. But when stubborn fat like belly fat sticks, we lose our motivation. Excess “water weight” or feeling bloated  is exceptionally uncomfortable. It also affects our posture and can strain muscles in our upper back.

Here are some reasons why and how you can change this pattern and find your successful weight loss solution.

Hungry All The Time

  1. You did not include enough fibre in your meal – gluten free diets that are prescribed for individuals with gluten intolerance or allergies need to make sure their uptake of dietary fibre (soluble, insoluble) is adequate and supplement accordingly.
    Hungry All The Time

    Hungry All The Time

  2. BPA – BPA is the lining often found in cans that prevent corrosion. BPA is also found in some plastics, like water bottles and other food packaging materials. If you are obese and leptin-resistant, your body is not getting a clear message from the leptin that you are full; you feel hungry because your body still thinks you are starving so your chances of experiency true satiety are merely reduced. So if you are tackling obesity by trying to lose weight, the chances are you might be leptin resistant and as BPA increases leptin levels in the body, and leptin is meant to decrease hunger, this tactic will not work for you.
  3. LEPTIN RESISTANCE  – Do you have a problem where you HAVE TO EAT immediately BEFORE BED to fall asleep — even if you’re not hungry? Do you  wake up in the middle of the night and have to eat again to fall back to sleep? these may be signs of leptin resistance which can be treated directly Leptin, adiponectin, and resistin are produced by the adipose tissue. The protein leptin, a satiety hormone, regulates appetite and energy balance of the body. Leptin resistance is a hallmark of obesity, but its etiology is unknown, and its clinical measurement is elusive.
  4. Your genes – DNA testing for weight loss is a science that makes the way your body reaches its healthy weight loss goal unique. You are as unique as your DNA. Safe, Clinical, Practical, Effective = your weight loss Naturopathic Portfolio  Fat metabolism, obesity and satiety are governed by the genetic influence of APOA2 -265 T>Cgenetic-makeup
  5. You are not eating the right balance of fat, protein and carbohydrate based on your personal weight magnet genetic test report
  6. 90% of human illness can be traced to an unhealthy gut. The role of diet-induced intestinal inflammation as an early biomarker and mediator of obesity, and insulin resistance warrants further study. If your dietary intake is feeding the “bad bacteria” in your gut, this physiological process may be key to putting a halt on your unsuccessful weight loss that has so far been frustrating.
  7. Nutrients from your food or diet are not being fully absorbed. Side effects of malabsorption are that heavy feeling you get in your gut. Bloating, fatigue and ultimately a reduction in digestive enzyme activity are not a recipe for burning fat. Fat burning may be your healthy weight loss goal. Ultimately, this inability to break down food  can lead to an accumulation of stubborn unwanted fat.

DNA Test For Weight Loss – Results

Stubborn Belly fat

Why spend 5 hours in the gym? Imagine achieving your optimal MET (metabolic equivalent) taking the dog for a walk?!
Our laboratory DNA test analyses 4 genes that have been clinically proven to affect your response to diet and exercise.
Stubborn fat e.g. belly fat is a different kind of fat. The result of our DNA Diet may help you. Here’s how:

Is it safe?

YOU GAIN sensible advice so you won’t sacrifice important nutrients or indeed your own time by exercising unnecessarily.

Why are we storing fat around our middle, stubborn fat around our thighs, our hips or upper arms? Stubborn belly fat is a different kind of fat that leads to all kinds of health complications. Taking this DNA test doesn’t just highlight WHY diets have failed us in the past….

Belly fat is a more dangerous fat

Belly fat is a more dangerous fat

 

Feeling discomfort, low in energy, lacking confidence that comes with stubborn fat and being tired all the time?

DNA Test For Weight Loss

DNA Diet Test analyses for healthy weight loss at Susannah Makram Clinics gives clear:

(1) % values for optimal fats, carbs, proteins to consume daily for healthy weight loss.
(2) Suggestion for which proteins, carbs, fats you should consume daily for your healthy weight loss
(3) Clear instructions on how to achieve your optimal MET on a day by day, week by week basis

Our genes might hold the key to understanding why diets have failed in the past. We call the study of how this works epigenetics.

Why take the DNA Diet Test for Weight Loss at Susannah Makram Clinics

From your buccal swab sample we have used a process, called the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). This copies the DNA of your genes many times over. This means we can generate sufficient quantities to analyse your genetic material. This is not uncomfortable at all and is all over very quickly!


The DNA Diet test for weight loss lets us identify unique DNA sequences in some of your genes. You get these results within 7-10 working days in hard copy or email, however you prefer to receive them.


Identifying unique DNA sequences

Certain changes (polymorphisms) in these genes have been studied in detail. Evidence correlates these polymorphisms with your weight management and response to specific food. See these in your DNA Test For Weight Loss Results. (e.g. below)


 

DNA Test For Weight Loss

Taking the buccal swab sample

  • The term ‘Buccal swab’ refers to a DNA collection process involving cells taken from the cheek (from the inside mouth area).
  • Buccal Swabs are sterile. Therefore, it is essential to preserve a sterile test environment. They are produced for medical use. Unless you are allergic to cotton, they should not cause an irritation.
  • An advantage of a Buccal swab is that it allows you to take a DNA sample, in a non invasive way, that is accurate.
  • Buccal swabs should be taken when your mouth is empty. It is best if you swallow first, then swab the inside of your cheek for approximately 30 seconds. The feel is an impression as hard as if you were brushing your teeth.
  • Having a cold should not cause contamination or interferences to your Buccal Swab Sample of DNA testing

Your DNA Test For Weight Loss Results Explained

Not only will the test determine the percentage quantity of fat, protein and the amount of carbohydrate you should be eating but also the type of fat exactly and what type of carbohydrate exactly.

whatisacarb2

whatisafat

Four primary diet and lifestyle factors

i) exercise, ii) obesity risk, iii) sensitivity to carbohydrates and iv) sensitivity to saturated fats.

Your DNA Test For Weight Loss makes a complete assessment of weight management, both environmental factors (diet and lifestyle) and previous medical history need to be considered in conjunction with the accompanying genetic profile.


Only gene variants that have a beneficial, moderate or high impact on metabolic processes are analysed. These are described in detail in your report. Your report is delivered to you once the laboratory investigation on your buccal swab test has been processed. These gene variants will have impact or a mild impact to your personalised nutrition The required alteration or tweaking is made to your Naturopathic Portfolio

Gene Name for each Area of Activity is reported. The areas of activity of interest in the DNA Test for Weight Loss are:

DNA Weight Loss

DNA Weight Loss

Metabolism and Absorption    FABP2 Ala54Thr PPARG Pro12Ala     ADRB2 Arg16Gly     ADRB2 Gln27Glu   APOA5 T>C
Fat metabolism, obesity and satiety    APOA2 -265 T>C
Regulation of metabolism and feeding behaviour    MC4R T>C
Insulin sensitivity and regulation of energy intake  FTO T>A   TCF7L2 C>T
Exercise responsiveness     ADBR3 Trp64Arg
Circadian rhythms     CLOCK T>C
Fat storage      PLIN G>A
Inflammation     TNFA -308 G>A
Taste sensitivity    TAS1R2       SLC2A2 (encoding GLUT2)
Addictions and Overeating      DRD2

Genetic variations for each named gene are stated. Your Results and Gene Impact are in printed out for you in the list above.

Each gene tested has an impact score in your DNA Weight Loss Report

NO IMPACT
LOW IMPACT
MEDIUM IMPACT
HIGH IMPACT

These results are only a guideline. You are as unique as your DNA.  Eat. Drink. Take. Make. Your Naturopathic Portfolio is Safe, Clinical, Practical, Effective.


Safe, clinical, practical and effective.


Call  020 7060 3181