When bigger isn't better
When it comes to battling obesity, it looks like restaurants are becoming public enemy No. 1. In fact, this has become such an issue that the FDA recently launched a huge study to figure out exactly what role restaurants (both sit-down and fast-food) play in promoting this new epidemic. When it was all said and done, their report confirmed what you and I already knew -- that the fattening foods and oversized portions at restaurants ARE contributing to our nation's ever-expanding waistline.
All I can think is, "Good lord, is this what we pay taxes for?" I could have saved them a ton of time and money.
It's not rocket science. All you have to do to figure out that our favorite restaurants are some of the major players in the obesity epidemic is look at the nutritional information on a restaurant's Web site -- and then consider the billions of dollars that the restaurant industry rakes in every year.
Between their huge, heaping portions, their calorie-laden menu choices, and their trans fats, most restaurants out there -- and not just the fast food ones we talked about on Tuesday -- are a bigger pants size and a heart attack (not to mention diabetes, arthritis -- the list goes on and on) waiting to happen.
Now, as a step toward fighting back, the FDA is hoping to put a limit on portion sizes, and as a result, your calorie intake. And they also want restaurants -- especially fast-food chains like Burger King and McDonald's -- to focus their menus on more nutritional choices and to include more information about the nutritional values of different foods on their packaging and menus.
But the logic here is a little flawed.
No matter how many healthy items you tack onto a fast food menu, as long as the unhealthy items are still there, those are the foods that will be most popular. Let's face it -- they taste good, no matter how chemically enhanced that flavor is. And no matter how small you make the portions, if people want more of something then they'll order it -- plain and simple.
So guess what? It's up to you.
As despicable (and disgusting) as I think most of their menus are, I'm hesitant to heap all the blame on the restaurants. Because they can't make you walk through the doors.
When it comes to keeping yourself healthy, your own willpower and determination should be your first line of defense. All those other things -- healthy food, vitamins, and exercise -- are just tools. Important tools, yes -- but they're only valuable if you use them.
High blood sugar could mean a higher risk of death
Blood sugar isn't just for diabetics anymore: We all need to keep a close eye on our levels. But people who are seriously ill -- especially those who've suffered a heart attack, stroke, or another cardiovascular-related condition -- need to be especially careful.
In a recent study, researchers tracked 216,000 intensive-care patients. The risk of death was highest in patients who'd suffered heart problems and in patients with previously undiagnosed diabetes, which may have been caught -- and treated -- earlier had those people been monitoring their blood sugar levels.
The researchers found that even the slightest abnormality in blood sugar could increase a person's death risk. Patients who had suffered a stroke faced the highest risk of death -- in some cases 15 times higher than the other patients. Based on their findings, the researchers suggested that doctors consistently monitor the blood sugar levels of intensive care patients.
I couldn't agree with them more. But I think that blood sugar monitoring should extend beyond the intensive care unit to pretty much every home in America. With eating habits what they are these days, we're all at risk for elevated levels that could spell trouble down the road.
I'm going to tell you something that the vast majority of doctors just don't know: Your risk for diabetes increases when your blood sugar reaches levels reach 75 (which isn't shockingly high), and it keeps increasing for every additional point.
The good news is that high blood sugar (and Type 2 diabetes) is preventable. The bad news is that it takes some work, and it can mean restricting yourself from foods you might crave. Exercise is also important -- it speeds up your metabolism and helps your body to process glucose better.
For more information on fighting off diabetes, check out my report "The Diabetes 'Food Cures' Concealed in Your Cupboard." It's free if you're a subscriber. Go to www.AmericasCountryDoctor.com.
Until next time,
Dr. Alan Inglis
House Calls
