frustrating! I hear it all in my medical practice about why a person is not exercising
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Podcast Video [3:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (79)
drjohnhong 
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Trans Fatty Acids are talked about a lot because it is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. What are they? Organic chemistry means carbon has to be involved because it is the base of the molecule, such as fatty acids. Fatty acids consist of a string of carbons (like a string of pearls) with oxygen and hydrogen towards the end of the chain. If the fatty acid is saturated, that means the carbons’ free bonding sites are all bonded to hydrogen atoms (saturated with hydrogens). In general saturated fats are not healthy for you. Unsaturated fatty acids mean some of the carbon atoms double bond to each other – and therefore let go of some hydrogen atoms (so not saturated with hydrogen atoms). When two carbon atoms are double bonded, there are 2 formations possible: cis and trans. Cis means in the 2 carbons that are double bonded, their 1 remaining hydrogen atoms are on the same side of the chain. Trans means in the 2 carbons that are double bonded, their 1 remaining hydrogen atoms are on the opposite sides of the chain.
Saturated fats are linked to heart disease. Cis fats are unsaturated and tend to be a healthy type of fat. However, Trans fatty acids are considered to be worse than saturated fats because of it appears to increase the risk coronary heart disease (CHD) events, such as heart attacks. Trans fats are called partially hydrogenated oils because once there were 2 double bonded carbons, and it was changed to only 1 double carbon – so the other double bonded carbon because single bonded and 2 hydrogen were added (i.e. hydrogenated)
Saturated fats have no health benefits, so why are they used? Taste and the palatable nature of it, that is why. Trans fats are stable in fried cooking, and they have a long shelf life. They are often used in deep-fried fast foods, margarine, baked goods, packaged snacks, crackers, though naturally found as well in meat and dairy. Such fun foods that have a high percentage of trans fats include: French fries, breaded fish burgers, breaded chicken nuggets, enchildas, pies, danishes, doughnuts.
Americans average 2-3% of total calories to trans fatty acids, which is about 2-7grams a day. It appears if trans fats are virtually eliminated from the American diet and replaced by cis fatty acids, CHD events would be reduced by 22%.
There aren’t any randomized clinical trials because it would be unethical to study this since there is enough evidence to show trans fatty acids increases CHD events. How does CHD go up? Lipids are negatively affected by trans fats, so good cholesterol HDL goes down, bad cholesterol LDL goes up and becomes more dense, and triglycerides worsen. Lpa and B-100, lipoproteins which are kind of like subcholesterol particles, both increase as well with trans fats. Inflammatory chemicals in the body increase with trans fats, such as TNF, C-RP, IL-6, which are associated with atherosclerosis, cardiac sudden death, diabetes, and congestive heart failure.
One meta-analysis showed with only a 2% increase in trans fat to the diet was associated with a 23% increased risk of CHD. 23% isn’t that much, but considering only a 2% increase in consumption of trans fat, it spells “unhealthy”. Dieticians note there is no benefit to trans fat, so without any benefits, the risks are not worth it.
Denmark showed in 2004 that making the food industry lower the trans fatty acids did not significantly change the quality, cost, or availability of food. Also saturated fats were not used more to replace the trans fatty acids.
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Podcast Video [2:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (123) drjohnhong food, weight, cardiovascular Comments (0) » |
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Obesity and fructose - how are they related? 2/3 of Americans are overweight or obese. It is getting worse the past couple of decades. High fructose is very common over the past couple of decades as well. High fructose is added to most sweet drinks and foods.
Fructose is a simple sugar similar in structure to glucose (the main sugar). Metabolism is
unique – mostly done by the gut organs. Digested into glucose, glycogen, lactate, or lipids. Does use insulin – so initially was studied in type II diabetics to see if was good alternative to sugar (glucose or sucrose). Initially digested appeared to be beneficial. Low dose fructose increase glucokinase and lowers liver production of glucose.
However, later in metabolism shown to associate with Metabolic Syndrome X: insulin resistance (diabetes or glucose intolerance) , bad cholesterol (high LDL and triglycerides), increased body fat, and high blood pressure. Increased uric acid as well that increases risk of gout and kidney stones. Nurses’ Health Study 1999 showed high-fructose correlated with high c-peptide levels (~insulin). Stimulates sympathetic nervous system which is why people might get a “boost” with high sugar/fructose.
Unlike sucrose (2 glucoses combined), fructose doesn’t signal to brain that the body is full – so overeating is common. High-fructose corn syrup in mice – drink more of this than sucrose sweetened water
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Podcast Video [2:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (140) drjohnhong Uncategorized, obesity, diabetes, food, weight Comments (0) » |
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