Dr. Haendiges' Daily Dose Medical Weight Loss Newsletter

The Grocery Store Battleground

podcast@americabethin.com (Dr. Michelle Haendiges) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:57:02 +0000

Over the past few months, I have written a lot of what you should not eat, what you should avoid and why you should avoid it. I have heard from several readers that they want to hear more of what they should eat. Over the next few weeks I am going to be talking a lot about shopping, label reading and of why a grocery store is some of the most interesting real estate in our environment. Everything, from the color of the signs to the music playing in the background, is designed to get us to buy things or items that we really don't want to buy. Did you know that 70% of the people that go into the grocery store with a list buy one extra item for ever three items on their list? It is the true dedicated list builder that leaves there with nothing extra in their basket. I, for one, always pick up extra items. There is a design to have you wait in line for so long before they open up the next cashier. You might be more apt to buy some goodies, gum, or Masters Degree reading in the National Enquirer. I also have to admit that for some reason my eyes always check out the titles of those rag magazines. In fact, as I am writing this I feel so ashamed, I will often pick it up and read it if the title is enticing enough. I am thankful and happy to admit that I have never bought one of those magazines in my adult life.

Lights Out Everyone!

podcast@americabethin.com (Dr. Michelle Haendiges) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:00:14 +0000

When I asked that someone who is near and dear to me, why do you smoke, the answer is "Because I like to smoke." Well, that answer is brutally honest in their mind. However, it is a lie. This is very misleading. This person, name unmentioned, does not smoke because they enjoy smoking, rather they enjoy not smoking. Nicotine is powerfully addictive. What the smoker is saying is that I don't like the way I feel when I don't smoke. It helps me calm my nerves, it takes the edge off, and therefore, I enjoy smoking. If the nicotine level decreases below a certain threshold in the smoker's body, that person will become more irritable, anxious, tense, and even show some physical signs such as sweating and heart palpitation. You are darn skippy, they do enjoy smoking. They sure don't like it when they are not smoking. It is quite miserable to not smoke (for a short time). There is a fear that the smoker's life will become as miserable as the first few days of not smoking. This does not occur. There will be those occasional urges of wanting a cigarette. Remember, this is the usual way out in a time of stress, "I have to have a cigarette!" This is the default. The smoker is able to get away from everyone for a few minutes and go outside to smoke.

Would You Share a Cigarette With Your Toddler?

podcast@americabethin.com (Dr. Michelle Haendiges) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:08:17 +0000

As an Obstetrician, I found it amazing that people would actually smoke while they are pregnant. However, I don't think people actually pick up the cigarette thinking, "I am going to hurt my baby now!" In fact, when I thought about it, what is the real difference between smoking in a closed up car or feeding the kids so much junk food? There's really not much difference at all. It comes down to education. Many of the mothers-to-be have grown up around cigarette smoke and just take it as a part of life. I think it really needs to be explained as to why it makes such a huge difference. When marketers are able to convince our young mothers that a Pop Tart is a healthy choice because it is baked, there is something wrong with our educational system. We have got to do a better job of getting the message out there. It is difficult. I have really poured my heart out in the Daily Dose. I am desperate for people to get this message. Please pass this information on to one, two, or your entire list of contacts. Invite them to join.

Cancer... The C Word and Smoking

podcast@americabethin.com (Dr. Michelle Haendiges) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:59:02 +0000

The Center for Disease Control, the CDC, in Atlanta, Georgia, states that there are 151,322 cancer deaths annually that are directly attributed to smoking. Men who smoke are 22 times more likely to die from lung cancer than their non-smoking counterparts. Women are not off the hook. Women are 12 times more likely to die from lung cancer than their non-smoking counterparts.

Since the 1950's the association of smoking and premature death has been studied extensively. The gene that is involved in this deadly disease is really the target of the carcinogens that are in tobacco smoke. The gene is the p54 gene. This is a normally very protective gene that will protect the body from cancer. However, once it is mutated, it will actually feed the cancer. The carcinogens that are in tobacco smoke will actually cause the mutation of the gene and then turn on the cancer. As I reported earlier this week, the American Cancer Society has proof that the low-tar cigarettes offer no relief from the cancer risk. In fact, this type of low-tar cigarette was actually responsible for cancers that reached further into the lung tissue.

Pressure and Fire

podcast@americabethin.com (Dr. Michelle Haendiges) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:52:11 +0000

When a smoker takes a drag off a cigarette, this raises the blood pressure by 5-10 mm Hg for about 30 minutes. When the person also takes a big sip of their morning coffee, then the blood pressure can actually go up even more and have a longer duration. How many people do you think will actually do both in the morning? The answer is, "many". However, given this fact, people with hypertension are NOT more likely to be smokers. I find that fact a little surprising. One thought is that smokers tend to be thinner than non-smokers. This feeds back to the addiction model. We all have some component of addictive behavior. If you are addicted to eating, you might feed your addiction with a fork. This is a hand to mouth reflex that brings a lot of pleasure. One might get that fix by eating and another might get that fix by smoking. We all have some inborn need for the hand to mouth connection. This is also a proven fact.

Is Your House On Fire?

podcast@americabethin.com (Dr. Michelle Haendiges) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:05:46 +0000

When it comes to long term health, there are really two categories of people. There are the smokers and the non-smokers. It is a well known statistical fact that the group of people that live longer are the non-smokers. I don't say this to strike fear in the smokers but to just state a fact. On average, a smoker dies about 8 years sooner than a non-smoker. A major cause of heart disease and lung disease is still smoking. 90 percent of all lung cancers are associated with smoking. Now, given that fact, how is it possible for someone to ever pick up a cigarette and begin this habit? The risks of all diseases that are associated with cancer increase with the number of cigarettes that are smoked per day. This is just the simple dose response curve that we do see in any addiction.

Your Liver Produces More Cholesterol Than You Eat

podcast@americabethin.com (Dr. Michelle Haendiges) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:46:33 +0000

Did you know that your liver will actually produce much more cholesterol than what you can eat in a day? In fact, cholesterol is the backbone for most of your hormones, including estrogen and testosterone. There is still a lot of hype about cholesterol with a push for more and more cholesterol lowering medications. It is important to understand the difference between the good and the bad cholesterol.

Tigers and Lions and Bears... Oh MY!

podcast@americabethin.com (Dr. Michelle Haendiges) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:30:59 +0000

By far one of my favorite movies of all time is the Wizard of Oz. It has so many stories and events that are related to our everyday life. Dorothy had to worry about "real" creatures that would harm her in the Wizard of Oz. As they started down the Yellow Brick Road, Dorothy and the gang were afraid of many things but still hoping to get to the Wizard. In fact, for many of us, we are just walking down the Yellow Brick Road of life, not really aware of our current threats. We know that we are not going to face real Lions and Tigers and Bears. However, our enemies and threats are deeply hidden and much more dangerous. One of the biggest threats that we have to worry about is inflammation. This silent enemy robs us of our dreams, our health and our happiness. I think Life is really not so much about the goal but more of the experience. In this life, if we are chronically under attack by inflammation, our entire system is chronically being broken down. This happens slowly, so slow in fact we don't even know it is happening. I have had the pleasure to witness the detox of so many people in my office. This daily dose goes out to so many people that I am not able to see face to face in my office. I want to share the message with those people. This is why I write the Daily Dose.

I Can't Breathe!

podcast@americabethin.com (Dr. Michelle Haendiges) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:19:03 +0000

First of all, I want to thank you for all the notes. I was offline last week for technical reasons. It sure was nice to hear from all of you. I am so glad that you are finding this information helpful! Keep giving me feedback. I love it.

Asthma is truly a chronic medical condition that affects over 20 million Americans a year. Of those affected, unfortunately, there are 5,000 deaths a year. The actual problem occurs when the tiny passages in the lungs become swollen and restricted. There is a reduction in the air that is able to go through secondary to a bronchial muscle spasm creating an obstruction in the airway. What occurs then is a reaction and a further increase in the inflammation. This inflammation will produce mucous and this mucous further decreases the passageway for air. For most people, asthma is a chronic yet treatable condition. There are things that can be done to help alleviate the symptoms.

Almanac of Health or Chronic Disease

podcast@americabethin.com (Dr. Michelle Haendiges) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:18:40 +0000

I choose, for you and I, health. Let's not be a statistic.

Over the weekend I really studied the outcomes of disease on our population. As I have opened my practice up to everyone, including men and children, I am truly amazed by how much disease manifests itself in our daily lives. Over 133 million Americans, or greater than 45% of our population, have at least one chronic condition. As I sat out in the sun and thought about these issues, I really became even more motivated to inspire the people that I come in contact with to realize that there is a much better way to live. We really don't have to be a victim to our bodies. Or, in reality, our bodies do not have to be a victim to us. However, we need to understand what is going on.