HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope that each of you had a wonderful Holiday Season.  The Holidays move so fast that we should actually sit down, take a deep breath and reflect from time to time.

With that said, let's move on to the New Year!  

(Nice segue, huh?)

The upcoming year should be an exciting one in health care, but it will not be without a few pitfalls.  There are continual strides being made by some groups to restrict your ability to see the doctor of your choice.  These groups have even proposed bills to try and force your doctor to treat you the way they deem necessary.  They are trying to sneak it into the HIPPA privacy laws.  That is a FEDERAL PROGRAM.

If these groups are successful at keeping your health care dollars through legislation, you will receive little or no care for your injuries, and if your doctor needs to step outside of their guidelines, for any reason, he or she will be prosecuted under Federal Law as a criminal!  If that happens you may be asking your mechanic or hair stylist for health care advice because your doctor will probably be doing something else. The stakes are that high!  As always, I will keep all of you posted on breaking health care news via email, so if your email changes, please let me know.

In spite of the negative issues of health care, there are positives as well.  There has been considerable research published recently in relation to nutrition and health.  I think that science is truly beginning to look at common sense approaches to the obesity problem in this country.  I have brought some of this research to you in this news letter. 

Additionally, the mind-body relationship in trauma, injury and metabolic processes continues to be supported by solid medical research.  I have been establishing treatment protocols for treating things like allergies, chronic pain, fibromyalgia and even circulatory problems for the past several years.  I am happy happy to say that, so far, it looks like I was right.  The brain, when stimulated properly, is able to alter body function on a consistent basis.  I will be bringing you more information about that next month.

Until then, enjoy this issue of Dr. Frisch's ENews and make sure to start the New Year with at least one resolution!

Dr. Frisch

The Success of New Years Resolutions?

What is it about the coming new year that encourages people to make promises to themselves regarding faults or bad behaviors?  I often wonder why someone needs a starting point to begin anything.  If we know that we are messy, somewhat lazy, or unmotivated, why don't we just begin the changes immediately?  Why do we need a projected starting point like January 1st?  A research study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology may help shed some light on why resolutions may be of benefit¹.

The study was performed at the University of Scranton.  It measured the differences of problem-solving success when those who made resolutions were compared with those who didn't make resolutions, even though they had a problem to change as well.  The problems were varied, with the most common complaints being weight loss, exercise and quitting smoking.  This sounds familiar, doesn't it?

A sample size of 282 people were followed 6 months into a new year.  About half of the people made New Year's resolutions, while the other half did not.  The two groups of people were similar in demographic characteristics, problems and behavioral goals.

At 6 months, 46% of those individuals who had made a resolution were successful at achieving their goal, while only 4% of the individuals who did not make a resolution were successful at changing a similar, undesirable behavior.

What Does This Mean?....

The results of this study indicate that when an individual plans for a change, structures a way to achieve it, and then implements the action, their brain and body work differently that some who just wants a change.  The well thought out resolution invokes a thought and behavior process that does not rely on emotional stimulus, like 'rah, rah' hype, or constant thoughts about the change (self-generated awareness).

"Actions Speak Louder Than Words"

The person who has a plan, sets a target date and then begins action will have a greater success rate than someone who wants the same change, but doesn't implement a plan.  The brain process that allows the change stimulates 'action' mechanisms, rather than just 'thought and emotional desire' mechanisms.

This study was a pretty good look at why we make resolutions and even why they might work.  This research, however, makes me wonder if there are people who are constantly self-motivated and live their lives in the 'thought-to-action mode'?  What is different about them when compared to the average Joe or Jane on the street? Wouldn't that be a nice research study for 2006?  I think that we could all benefit a bit from that data!

1. Norcross, J C, Mrykalo, M S, Blagys, M D. 2002. Auld lang syne: success predictors, change processes, and self-reported outcomes of New Year's resolvers and nonresolvers. J Clin Psychol. Apr 58(4). 397-405.

Metabolism and Obesity

"High Carbs, Low Carbs, No Carbs, High Protein, Low Protein, Low Fat, and No Fat.  Who is right and where will it all end?"

I'm not sure that there will be an end to the argument.  I suspect that people have talked about how to properly eat for multitudes of generations.  One thing is becoming obvious, however.  When there is a profit to be made, someone will fill that void.

I have been a long-time fan of higher protein and lower carbohydrate eating.  If you noticed, I did not say 'diet'.  I personally hate the word diet as it implies deprivation and hardship.  An eating plan is about consistency and how you want to live your life, not what is necessarily easy or fast.

A recent British review (2005) published in the International Journal of Obesity discussed the effect of low-carbohydrate eating on energy metabolism¹.  

Studies were reviewed in an attempt to determine whether low-carbohydrate diets were more beneficial at long-term weight loss when compared to low-fat diets for the treatment of obesity.  The results were somewhat surprising!

Studies using low-carbohydrate diets showed a more rapid weight loss in a shorter time period than did low-fat diets.  After 12 months, however, there was no difference between the low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets on weight loss!

Both styles of eating reduced risk factors for heart disease.  The low-carbohydrate diets did reduce serum triglycerides and increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels when compared to the low-fat diets, but both were equal in lowering blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, and LDL (bad) cholesterol.

This means that although a more rapid weight loss may occur with the low-carbohydrate diet, the low fat diet is effective too.  Consistency is what counts.  A temporary diet will only lead to temporary weight loss.  Changing how you eat and sticking with it is a better indicator of success.

1. Erlanson-Albertsson, C, Mei, J. 2005. The effect of low-carbohydrate on energy metabolism. Int J Obesity. Sept 29. S26-30.

Obesity Slows Body Fat Use 

It has been long-contended by over-weight people that they burn less calories and have a 'slower metabolism' than their thin counterparts.  They may not be all wrong in that assumption.

Over-weight and obese individuals are often looked at with a raised eyebrow, and their desire to lose weight suspect.  This assumption, however, is wrong if some of the recent research is correct!

In December of 2005, research performed at the University of Alberta was published in the Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism¹.  This research evaluated fat-oxidation in obese men, compared to that of lean men.  Fat-oxidation is what burns fat, both during exercise and at rest.

The hypothesis of the research was that obese men would have a 'blunted' (slowed) fat-oxidation, post-exercise.  If correct, there would be a higher Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER), blunted Growth Hormone, and increased Cortisol levels.  Growth Hormone promotes energy expenditure and increased Cortisol means less energy (fat) burned.

The 30-39 year old male subjects completed baseline and vigorous exercise routines for 2 hours each session.  At the end of each session, RER, Growth Hormone, Cortisol, core body temperatures, and enzyme activity were recorded.

The results indicated that at rest, there were no differences of measures between obese and lean men.  In contrast, however, during exercise and after exercise obese men showed increased levels of Cortisol and blunted levels of Growth Hormone.  This means that the obese men were unable to burn energy at the same rate as lean men.

"Their Bodies protected fat stores."

If this sounds disheartening, it is!  Those people who are obese must work twice as hard to burn half as much.  Once a level of weight has been reached, however, the metabolism rates seem to improve.  This study did not touch on the topic of genetic, 'set points' for metabolism, but this research was enlightening.

"Play Hard!"

1. Wong, T, Harber, V. 2005. Lower excess postexercise oxygen consumption and altered growth hormone and cortisol response to exercise in obese men. 2005. J Clin Endocrinol Metab Dec 6.

Aerobic Exercise Reduces Pain

I'm sure that many of you reading this are old enough to remember when heating pads were recommended for pain, braces and slings were the first choice for injury, and any type of arthritis needed rest.  A doctor might have been run out of town for telling a patient with Osteoarthritis to get off of his or her butt and start exercising, but that is exactly what the doctor should have prescribed!

Aerobic exercise is not just for your heart and lungs.  It benefits the musculoskeletal system as well.  Remember, muscle are organs and they require fresh blood and oxygen to function properly.  

A 2005 research study performed at Stanford University^1.evaluated the relationship of aerobic exercise in 866 senior citizens and their levels of reported pain.  This was a 14-year longitudinal study with some intriguing results.

Runners' Association member (n=492) and community controls (n=374) were initially compared and then statistically analyzed yearly for pain measures.  There were subcategories within the runner's group that evaluated former runners (who no longer ran) as compared to those who still ran.  At the end of 14 years the ages of the subjects ranged from 62-76 years.

The seniors in this study were not lolly-gagging in their approach to running.  They averaged 314 minutes of aerobic exercise per week, and traveled, on average, 26 miles per week.  This was in comparison to the community controls who reported exercising, on average, 123 minutes per week and ran only about 2 miles per week.

I'm old. I can't work out that hard!"

The results of this study indicated that long-term, physically active seniors had 25% less musculoskeletal complaints of pain than did their inactive counterparts.  These findings continue to solidify the fact that men and women over 55 years of age can be vigorously active.  It not only helps them live healthier lives, but they have less pain throughout their lives as well.

"The human body, when worked hard, is the only machine that looks better and works more efficiently for longer periods of time."

1. Bruce, B, Fries, J F, Lubeck, D P. 2005. Aerobic exercise and its impact on musculoskeletal pain in older adults: a 14 year prospective, longitudinal study. Arthritis Res Ther. 7(6):R 1263-70.

A New Nutritional Approach

..         Greens First is a Doctor-developed, and research-supported method of delivering 'Super Food' nutrition to your body each and every day! Each serving has the antioxidant power of 10+ fruits and vegetables!   Vitamins are enzymes that help your body process the food that you ingest.  The poorer the food, the more the need for vitamins to gain nutritional value. What do you think happens when the nutrition is a 'Super Food' to start with?

Those of you reading this who are patients at the clinic have been hearing me talk about 'Super Foods' for quite some time.  I have actually been evaluating the Greens First line for nearly a year.  I am impressed with their products.  

Not only will users of  Greens First be getting great nutrition, it is affordable and should actually lessen the need for added supplementation.   That means less hassle to get what you were really after in the first place.

I will begin carrying this nutritional line in January of 2006.  I encourage anyone currently taking vitamins and other natural supplementation to seriously look at this product.  I don't think that you will be disappointed!

Doctors for Nutrition also carries the Greens First alternative called Red Alert...same nutrition...fruitier!

I always get excited at the start of a new year. Change is good!  I look forward to serving each of you in 2006.  Remember, you can always call or email me with any questions that you may have.

Take care,

Dr. Frisch