The Defy Aging Newsletter

Anti-aging psychology, holistic health, and wellness

a biweekly e-mail newsletter for helping you think, feel, look, and be more youthful and live with purpose.

November 20, 2008 Number 199

This issue:

If you are fat, it's not your fault

Action to take

Consider the Zone diet and fish oil supplements.

Why

More and more anti-aging experts are concluding that if you just take one supplement it should be fish oil. Anti-aging experts are increasingly identifying inflammation as the key mechanism in disease and aging. They also emphasize the importance of good management of blood sugar levels for good health and avoiding diseases like diabetes.

Dr. Barry Sears has been researching nutrition for decades. He introduced his findings in 1995 with his best selling book, Enter the Zone. It emphasized the importance of balancing blood sugar levels by balancing the intake to carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to keep insulin levels in check. The diet is comparable to the Mediterranean diet but with fewer grains and fewer simple carbohydrates because of their high glycemic index.

In his newest book, Toxic Fat, he explains how we have a nutritional "perfect storm." In the early 1970's, Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz led a revolution in American farming that emphasized larger farms and greatly increasing production and exports by growing more corn and soy beans. Sears relates that corn oil (which is now ubiquitously used as a sweetner in beverages and processed foods) and soybean oil greatly increase our intake of Omega 6 fatty acids.

Meanwhile Americans' consumption of fish declined and mothers no longer give their children cod liver oil. The result is a severe imbalance in the ratio of Omega 3 fatty acids (as in fish oil) to Omega 6 fatty acids. This along with the general decline in our diet (more processed foods, fast foods, and junk foods), results in a build up of toxins in our fat cells (including our brains, which have a lot of fat).

His solution is healthier eating (the Zone diet) and fish oil supplements (as fish oil blocks the damage from excess Omega 6 fatty acids). Unlike most diet advocates, he has lots of well designed research to support his recommendations. I highly recommend his newest New York Times best seller, Toxic Fat. If you don't have time to read it or want hear Dr. Sears explain it, listen to my (free) podcast on www.webtalkradio.net, which also is archived on my site, www.AgelessLifestyles.com.

Quotes

"Catchy slogans, such as eat less and exercise more," quite simply, are not working because they don't address the fundamental cause of obesity.

~Barry Sears

Humor

You know you are on a diet when cat food commercials make you hungry.

~Andy Bumatai

I have a great diet. You're allowed to eat anything you want, but you must eat it with naked fat people.

~Ed Bluestone

Reprint this article from:

THE DEFY AGING NEWSLETTER

Anti-Aging Psychology

Holistic Health and Wellness

This newsletter article may be reprinted in E-zines, newsletters, newspapers, and magazines provided the content is not edited and the attribution below is given. Formatting may be changed and you may use one of the web site pictures of the author to accompany the article.

"Dr. Michael Brickey, The Anti-Aging Psychologist, teaches people to think, feel, look and be more youthful. He is an inspiring keynote speaker and Oprah-featured author. His works include:  Defy Aging, 52 baby steps to Grow Young, and Reverse Aging (anti-aging hypnosis CDs). Visit www.NotAging.com for a free report on anti-aging secrets and a free newsletter with practical anti-aging tips."