Strong Medicine October 2009- Eric Serrano MD

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homogenized or non-homogenized Milk- and Omega 3

I enjoy reading and appreciate your great insights. Would you please advise which type of milk is better - homogenized or non-homogenized?
 
Also, I would appreciate your opinion about using omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil. I've read that:
 "As you increase your intake of omega-3 essential fatty acids by consuming fish oil, you actually increase your need for even more antioxidant protection because fish oil is very perishable. Antioxidants are necessary to ensure that the fish oil doesn't oxidize and become rancid inside your body. Oxidation leads to the formation of those unhealthy free radicals. Unique antioxidants -- including astaxanthin and a novel marine flavonoid -- may protect you from damaging free radicals. Krill Oil carries omega-3s in the form of phospholipids20- liposomes or little packages that deliver fatty acids directly to your body's cells. Scientific evidence to date has shown that the safest and most effective carriers of EPA and DHA (two essential omega-3 fats) are these phospholipids. Unfortunately, inferior fish oil and krill oil brands lack this phospholipid complex. Instead they contain omega-3 fatty acids in the less-beneficial form of free triglycerides".
 
Would you please comment, on the statements in the preceding paragraph? Is it true that any kind of high quality fish oil supplements without such antioxidants as astaxanthin can be harmful? Also, is it really significant that omega-3s would be in the form of phospholipids? How about these fish oil supplements 


Thank you for your compliments. I need to define each process for you and you can then decide:

  
1.  Homogenization means making the big fat droplets smaller, supposedly to make it easier to digest. NOT TRUE, the real reason is so people don't have to look at the "nasty" fat on top of the liquid portion of the milk. When you homogenize fat you release xanthine oxidase, which is an enzyme that damages your arteries, and this is strike number one. In addition, it does make digestion simpler but it also damages the fat soluble vitamins, sometimes making them harder to digest and absorb.

2.  Pasteurization means sterilization, which means killing all the good and bad bacteria within the milk. With conventional milk, this is good, but with good organic sources, this isn't necessary. When conventional goes bad you cannot drink it, but when raw milk sours, it is actually fermented because of all the good bacteria in it, it becomes a keifer which is good for you.

No to your last question, about fish oils, which I love. The Krill oil is a great supplement and it has the phospholipids. A few people cannot consume krill if they are allergic to shellfish or shrimp, so I have seen allergic reactions to krill oils.

It is true that fish oils can get oxidized in your blood, but so do the phospholipids, and that is why you must have a balanced diet and a balanced fat consumption. I don't recommend fish oils by themselves and that is why I created Alpha Omega, which is a blend of omega 3, 9 and 6. Our body was meant to consume all of them and with the excess consumption of 6 we do create imbalances that require the correction, but again you need all of them for your body to work correctly.

Back to your question: are krill oils better than fish oils?  Yes sometimes, depending on the person--but are they better than a balanced omega 9, 3, 6 combination, no.

Nutrition for Young Ahtletes

My 11 year-old son trains in several sports year round that require strength, speed and flexibility.  I make a concerted effort to provide him with at least six to eight ounces of grass-fed beef each day.  However, I am wondering if that is adequate and if the timing of the meal makes a difference (i.e., before or after his workout).  He has noticeably well-developed lean muscle relative to his peers, but he also has unusually low body fat, which seems to be his natural state.  I do make a point to order the 75% lean beef to maximize his saturated fat intake.
 
Any suggestions to optimize his diet to promote healthy physical development given his rigorous training schedule?
 
 
Congratulations, because you are doing a great job with your son, especially with his eating habits.  My kids are not allowed to play video games, and they must go outside and play and you are on the right pathway.

Timing is everything in supplementation and sports performance, and what you eat before, during, after, and three days before makes a huge difference.

Patricia, I want to make sure that you allow your son to rest between seasons and don't push him into playing when he doesn't want to.  I have some parents in my office that want to live their life through their kids and don't give the child a break.

Patricia, if you want to increase his performance and you are doing power sports then use MR100 with two teaspoons of honey about one hour before the game.  If you are doing aerobic or endurance types of sports then let him have slow-digesting carbohydrates approximately two hours before games, for example sweet potatoes, brown rice, or Johns power bars, with some fat, so it will even slow it more.

In addition, what he eats during the week will make a huge difference long term, so make sure he eats organic fats.  Stay away from cereals, and concentrate on organic red meat, fish, fowl, vegetables, eggs, fruits, and nuts, and add Alpha Omega daily.

Every sport is different and different sports require different strategies and you are on the right pathway.

Grapeseed Oil for Cooking?

How come no one ever mentions grapeseed oil as a great alternative for cooking? It's at least as good if not better than olive oil and tastes wonderful too (assuming one is buying an expeller pressed organic product that is not overly filtered).

I've found it wonderful for cooking, and it's now the only one I use due to allergies to Olive Oil. You're so right about Canola--they renamed it for a reason--to confuse consumers into thinking it was good for you!! 

In case no one else noticed, it seemed to me that Organic Canola Oil seemed to be everywhere, when it was nearly impossible to buy any organic oil for less than $15 for 8 ounces. Seriously. They had tons of it, and cheap, too--gee, wonder why?

Please answer about grapeseed oil- also, is the stuff in the cans OK to use compared to the bottles? One of my favorite brands recently switched, and I'm not happy, but don't feel safe using it without some input from an unbiased source.

 

Great question and suggestions.  Grapeseed oil is an oil that comes from grapes, but it is not used a lot because of cost and how little oil grapes have.  

Jan, to answer your question I wouldn't use Grapeseed oil for cooking due to the high amounts of Omega-6, even though it has a high smoke point.  When you heat omega-6's they still break down and don't do what they are supposed to do, and that is why I didn't mention it before you brought it up.  I do agree it is an excellent choice for salads, and for supplementation of omega-6 and maybe to cook low temperature items.

One oil that I didn't mention that I would use is avocado oil, extremely high in omega-9 and actually tastes good, but again cost and availability make a difference.

By all means continue the usage of Grapeseed oil but again don't cook high temperatures items with it.

 

Improving Endurance Race Performance

I am a competitive cyclist, and many of my friends are either competitive cyclists or tri athletes. I often train for races and ride for fun with longer  rides of 50-100 miles. In addition, many road races are 35 miles long, which takes about 1hr and a half  to complete. This is more of an endurance sport  with short sprints and hill climbs. I also mountain bike and while that is usually shorter distances, there are a lot of hard hill climbs and sprints in there, and it can be an endurance sport as well.

My question is about what to eat before races. Many of my fellow athletes are still big on the carb loading and I notice for longer races or rides,  there are always stops with bananas, candy bars, and carbs. I have seen people  doing 100 miles or more on a road bike but fueling up with sugar and carbs. That doesn't seem right.

My own personal research and experience is that it is better to fuel up with good quality protein and good fats (like from grass-fed meats, butter, and nuts), and to help those short sprints or hill climbs out with a carb or glucose-based snack, such as GU, etc.
What is the best pre-ride/race meal to have? What are the best snacks to take on the road (GU, energy bars  (etc). What works best for endurance  and what works for short bursts of energy?

 
Why are you asking me, when you already know the answer? You have done a great amount of research for you to come up with that conclusion and you are correct. I can't go into a lot of details because it will take me two days but Iam going to make it simple so you can even come up with your own conclusion.

Your body can store around 400 grams of carbohydrates, which you will use in a  longer distance race. The body prefers to burn not only carbohydrates, but also fat and proteins, and the best source of energy is fat-not carbohydrates.

The problem is that we continue consuming carbs during the race, so your body will continue burning carbohydrates because you are providing them during the race. Wouldn't it  be better if you can save those carbs for when you need them--for example  the last sprint and use fat the rest of the time? Well you can, but the body must be trained to burn fats, and it will take a long time to explain this in detail.

Your real question is what you should consume before the race and my answer is the day before pizza is the best fuel source, proteins, carbs and fats, and before the race HONEY PLUS and  a special combination of BRANCH CHAIN AMINO ACIDS, Taurine, Glutamine, Niacin, B complex vitamins (100% MR).  I don't know your body weight, but try this in practice, take 4 scoops of 100% MR with 16 ounces of water and add two to three tablespoons of raw honey and let me know what happens; you can consume this during the race and if you want to have something before your race, an hour before, use the same but add two teaspoons of organic coconut oil and let me know what happens. Scott Can help you make adjustments to the protocols as needed. Please fill him in on your training schedule, body weight, estimated body fat %, current diet etc.

Congratulations in keeping up that level, it is excellent!

Alpha Omega Works!

How was Muscle Synthesis Developed?

I have competitively power lifted in the past, but now I just lift weights seriously for personal gain and health.

I have used a product with 23 Freeform Crystalline Amino Acids as primarily pre- and post-workout and on  non-workout days twice a day (as a meal replacement) in between my three meals. I just don't feel like eating an additional 2 plus meals with my  schedule. I am simply trying to be lean and gain muscle.
 
I am interested in your Muscle Synthesis but notice it does not contain as many amino acids. Is there a benefit to taking what I do now over yours, and if not, could you explain why ?  At face value it would seem that a full spectrum would be better, but I have not done any research and always have an open mind and ask questions rather than assume an  incorrect conclusion.

 When I was working on my Muscle Synthesis formula, I looked at muscle biopsies, amino acid concentrations of different sources of proteins including liver, beef, milk, whey, casein etc.. If you compare the proteins, they have certain ratios which are different, and which actually do different things in the body. After two years, and spending a lot of money, I came up with the formula after trial and error with athletes and found the ones that gave them the best results. You cannot assume that just because it has all the aminos, it is  better.  Casein and whey will be the same, it is not only the amount, but the ratios and structure of the proteins.

The reason Muscle Synthesis is better than the other is simple--results. Try this: take a week off your aminos, and then try mine for a month, but do not change your workouts, eating habits, sleeping or anything, and let me know what happens. Then do the same again and take a week off and go back to your brand and let me know what you think. Amino acids, free-form are very expensive, so it they are very cheap, beware.

Tough Skin Conditions

I developed a localized scleroderma on my back when I was 5 years old.  It was dormant for many years until about 30 years later.  (My sister thinks I may have gotten the scleroderma because we lived near a sugar cane field in Hawaii that used a lot of pesticides.)  I think it came back after I got a flu shot but I can't be sure if that is the reason.  It has continued to enlarge ever since then.  It seems to be aggravated by certain foods but I can't isolate which ones.  Do you have any information on scleroderma and what can be done for it?

Also, do you have any information about cold laser therapy and if it can be used to heal a Morton's neuroma or scleroderma?


My apologies for taking so long to answer your question. Scleroderma means hardening of the skin, not that it only affects the skin, but that is usually the first symptom.  I am assuming that you have seen a rheumatologist or dermatologist and you know for sure it is scleroderma.

We don't know the cause of scleroderma but it is definitely worsened by allergies, because it is an immune system disruption, meaning our own body is the enemy. You have noticed that some foods make your symptoms worse and I agree with your statement.  I also agree with the pesticides. Have you been tested for food allergies and pesticides? That will be my first choice, but before you do that, the worst sinners for allergies are eggs, dairy, wheat and tomatoes, so start by eliminating those four first.

I would also eliminate protein shakes and bars, because they might make the condition worse and start taking high dosages of fish oil, with alpha linolenic and GLA together, call Scott at (614 868 7521) for the Alpha Omega, and start taking 4 capsules per day.  Again you must eliminate the food allergens and also take vitamin D, around 2000IU per day, which should help.

A Mortons Neuroma is a pain, and it hurts like hell, and the laser might help but it will not take the pain away totally.  Although I have patients that swear by the laser, it comes back. Have you had an MRI of your foot? How do you know it is a Mortons Neuroma, and how much pain are you having? I don't think the neuroma is related to the scleroderma but every thing is possible.

Good luck.

Increased rate of Diabetes

What is the reason for products being advertised as "petroleum-free"? Is it a health issue or an environmental one, or both? I have heard that statement concerning items ranging from lip balm to vinegar, and wonder what the connection is.

Also, do you think that people are more receptive to health information and changing their habits now or ten years ago? It seems like the general consumer is suspicious of everything these days, and I have a hard time convincing my family (other than my husband and daughters) that eating healthy is worth the extra investment in time and money. There is an "eat now, pay later" mentality that is hard to shake!


Sometimes I try to follow every rule out there when it comes to food, but this one is so hard to understand, because it just means that it doesn't contain petroleum; an oil or petroleum compound. It might be talking about the oils in it, or the container or just means that they did not use oil products at all, which is good.

Petroleum oils are oils that we put in our automobiles, and are not good for our bodies, nor beneficial in any way. It is just basically another selling point, which although weak, points out nothing more than 'no petroleum.'

In things like lip balm, it is a good idea to avoid petroleum, because you end up eating about 90% of what you put on your lips. Do you really want to be eating something that is made for your car?

In foods, it just means it is ONE of the ingredients that is not synthetic, but doesn't mean the rest of the ingredients are OK. Read your labels carefully.

Regarding your question about people being more conscious about eating healthy now compared to ten years ago; I think people are more conscious now, and when they see friends and family members sick and dying, people are more aware of how disease can be prevented just by eating better and healthier. I am 45 years old and I feel great most of the time, but I actually ate poorly for a period of time, just to prove a point. I felt awful -- tired and sick all the time!

It is sad that your husband does not see the implications and complications of making bad choices for  himself, but make him look around, or visit some of the public schools, and he will see what is happening to kids that are not only eating unhealthy, but not exercising. These kids are the future diabetics, heart disease, and cancer, that will eventually break our healthcare system, because we spend it in medicines instead of prevention.

In my office, for every three patients one diabetic walks in-that is a full one-third of my patients-and I have over 10,000 patients. Not very good odds. I can try to help people, but they need to listen and  actually implement those health changes.
 

Salt intake and Blood Pressure?

I bought the beef bacon. It is delicious but it is salty tasting. I think that I am high risk for HBP because of my family history. Is it possible to boil the bacon in order to lessen the salt content?

 
I don't think salt is as bad as you think Catherine. African Americans are more susceptible to salt intake if they are obese, smoke and have a poor diet, if you don't have any of the above, and you drink plenty of water, I will continue having my bacon if I like it.

When I started practicing medicine many years ago, yes I am old, the normal blood pressure readings were 150 over 90, yes you read that right, 150 over 90.

What happens is that the drug companies can only capture just about 3% of the population with that number and they can't allow that, so we have to lower that number so they can make more money because it means more prescriptions.

Catherine, the number just got lower last year, now normal is 120 over 80, so be prepared for more prescriptions. When I am looking at a patient I look at the body habits, symptoms- including headaches, family history, smoking, and stress, then I decide if that patient has high blood pressure after I add all of the above.

Catherine, I saw a patient last week, a fireman who is in great shape, and the blood pressure at my office was 190 over 100. I know this fireman really well and his blood pressure at my house (he is a good friend) is 122 over 78 but just by walking into my office his blood pressure changes that much. Catherine remember that you must continue eating organic, exercising and believing in GOD, and if you are doing all these things and drinking plenty of water and consuming vegetables that are rich on potassium and magnesium, I wouldn't worry about salt, so go for it.


Dear Dr. Serrano,

I have hypertension, polycythemia vera and atrial fibrillation.  Could you give me your perspective on these disorders?

Right now I'm working very hard to lose weight and walk about everyday.

Thank you for your help.

 
You didn't give me enough information with the exception of what you have, which are actually related.

I am assuming you have been worked up about the polycythemia vera which is a condition of having too much blood. This is due to different reasons: hereditary, too much iron or medications.  This concentration can increase your blood pressure and at the same time worsen atrial fibrillation or irregular heart rate.

If I were you I would change my diet to a low-carb diet, low dairy and lots of organic eggs and organic, red low-fat meat.  Be sure to include plenty of vegetables and certain fruits, including berries, avocados, passion fruit, kiwis, sweet potatoes and nuts.

In addition I know you are taking medications including coumadin, and you must be careful with some vegetables and interactions, but your diet must be very high on fish and vitamin B1. Both help with the atrial fibrillation, and the best fish oils are Alpha Omega because they have also olive oil and GLA, which will help with the condition above. The number for these products is 614-868-7521.

Before you start an exercise program make sure you have a cardiac stress test and be sure to drink lots of fluids when you exercise. You can also donate blood if your levels are not too high.

What to eat before training 

What is an easily digestible food source I can consume before training?  I have a hard time keeping anything down if I eat within a couple hours before training, but then I end of tired and hungry while I am working out and performance drops.

Good question and this has been an issue I have solved for patients over many years.  You want something that is easily digestible, but also a combination of ingredients that will help with performance and body comp improvements.  This is a difficult balance, but over the past couple years I have finally found a combo that meets the needs of all of my patients.

60 minutes before training take 6 scoops of Get Lean Protein assuming you are an adult male as this is the first flight of nutrients to optimize the body for training.  30 min before take 100% MR and Muscle Synthesis and this will force the body to use more stored fat as fuel during exercise while providing an alternative energy source/building blocks for muscles during training.  When doing this over the past several months my patients saw big increases in muscle mass, reductions in body fat and improved performance.  Not a single complaint about stomach upset or fatigue which is common with many protein combinations.

Immediately following training take the 100% MR and Muscle Synthesis which start a hormonal and muscular repair sequence to nearly eliminate muscle soreness the following day.  This accelerated rate of recovery is very important as the harder you push the training, the greater the emphasis must be on recovery to avoid over training.

30 min following the post workout amino loading take the get lean again which is done to ensure the raw materials within the 100% MR and Muscle Synthesis can be fully utilized before introducing any other items that can distract this important process. Remember timing is everything!

Dear Dr. Serrano,

I have PCOS, trouble with weight gain, irregular menstruation and infertility.

I am a vegetarian and I recently have been trying to follow the Okinawa diet that recommends soy and fish. Before adding fish, eggs, and yogurt in my diet, I was a vegan. I have been vegetarian since '91 but didn't struggle with being overweight until I had my second child. I used to be an aerobic instructor though and that probably compensated.

The only diets I have had success with are raw diets but I can't stick to it for long and then gain it all back. Thanks for your help!

Vegetarians present many problems because they are missing vitamins and minerals. I see so many of them in my office with difficulties including PCOS, iron deficiency and B12 with severe depression.

R. G. to answer your question, I need more information. For example, what kind of vegetarian are you? Do you eat pasta or wheat? I see you added eggs and dairy as most vegetarians do not eat vegetables but a lot of grains. R. G. the worst condition for a PCOS person is hyperinsulinemia and high androgens, which end up making you fat and actually will make it difficult getting pregnant. R. G. you also added soy, which makes your situation worse by gaining weight and also maybe changing your periods and even making you depressed. I am going to make some recommendations base on the information that you given me:

1.                              You are going to continue gaining weight if you don't stop consuming carbohydrates all the time

2.                              start adding supplements that have good fat in them, like nuts etc, and if you don't consume grass-fed butter or good fish sources buy Alpha Omega

3.                              add chromium pycolinate and gymnema sylvestre to your diet

4.    add one to three tablespoons of organic vinegar per day

5.    start lifting weights so you become more insulin sensitive and you can start losing weight; sorry, aerobics do burn calories but don't add muscle

6.    raw is good but again if you are consuming carbohydrates in large quantities you are going to continue gaining weight

7.    60%of my PCOS patients are fructose intolerant, yes fruits, and juices, sorry, keep fructose low

8.    if consuming carbohydrates, make sure that they come from sweet potatoes, rice, vegetables, and corn and consume 80% of them after your workout

 I hope these suggestions help, I am sorry I couldn't make more suggestions, but I didn't have enough info to make more suggestions
 

The Right Protein Choices to Minimize Toxins

You mentioned and suggest that fat (bad fat) in red meat and other meats is the culprit in the cause of colon cancer.  Is there any other cause with regard to red meat that doesn't exist in other forms of meat? 

Also you mention and suggest correct proportions-balance of fats and not overcooking them or eating damaged fats. I really have no idea whether I do have the proper balance or not - so I will list a typical day of my diet. 

I rarely, if ever, eat any processed food or trans fats, and I do not eat dairy other than eggs and grass-fed butter to cook my eggs and to add to rice while cooking.

I started using organic coconut oil, organic olive oil and grass-fed butter when I started buying the grass-fed beef earlier this year.  Grass-fed beef is so much more tasty than just organic beef.

Prior to this, I ate well but I have tried to bring it up a notch as I learn more.  Also, even at my age, my workouts have gotten better, and I feel better since my most recent diet changes.

Breakfast- 2 organic free-range eggs scrambled with 12 oz of organic chicken thighs (skinned & boned), 1/2 cup brown rice, 3/4 cup peas.  All scrambled together using 1-2 teaspoons organic coconut oil (unrefined) and grass-fed butter.  2 prunes (unsulphered), and sometimes 1/2 -3/4 cup blueberries.

Snack- Some free form (full spectrum -23) aminos mixed in water.

Lunch- 10-11 oz. 75% grass-fed ground beef patties cooked in 1-2 teaspoons organic coconut oil. I try to cook the patties medium rare).  1/2 cup organic brown rice with 3/4-1 cup organic tomato sauce mixed in, and 4-5 oz spinach, quick blanched in boiling water. Then a prune for something sweet.

Snack- Some Aminos 20 mixed in water. (100% MR and Muscle Synthesis)

Snack- Protein drink in water (egg white protein) with small piece of fruit, such as a prune or kiwi.

Dinner- Organic chicken breasts baked in oven. Sometime I will add a fried egg. Very large salad mixed organic baby greens  with 1/3 cup organic walnuts, and 1/2 organic pear, 6-7 baby broccoli stalks.  All lightly splashed with organic balsamic vinegar and organic olive oil.

So that is a good average daily diet. What is your opinion?

Thank you!

The only reason is that red meat is considered a cause of colon cancer, is that it has more fat intramuscularly, which was done through breeding, and the feeding of corn and grains for (supposedly) better taste.
 
With more fat, more toxins can be stored within the fat cells. Remember fats are an storage form of energy but also serve as a way to separate toxins from the rest of the body. That is why some obese people have a hard time losing weight initially, and then all the suddenly they lose a lot; the toxins that were in their fat are released and causes damage in the body initially, and the body can't lose the weight, but once the toxins clear, the weight starts moving.

You are doing an excellent job with your fats, although I would increase the monounsaturated fats just slightly.  For your free-form aminos, try Muscle Synthesis, which have an specific ratio of free-form amino acids, and they do not compete with each other. 

Food Pyramid wrong?

Dear Dr. Serrano,

Thank-you for your expertise.  I am a 54 year old female.

Three years ago I began to educate myself on healthy eating.  I always thought I ate pretty well but with study, I realized I was being fooled by the food pyramid and the media.  I began by cutting out preservatives, corn oil, most grains, and sugar.  I started eating grass-fed beef, chicken, coconut oil, olive oil, butter, filtered water, fresh veggies and some fruit. A typical day consists of a green smoothie (kale, celery, apple, cilantro) for breakfast, an egg and perhaps a slice of sprouted bread.

Lunch could be a salad with a bit of raw cheese, pepitas, red onion, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and fresh organic greens, an afternoon snack of bananas and almond butter, I may fill in with whole wheat crackers, an apple etc.  Dinner.. a hamburger and veggies.

 I occasionally have something sweet, I drink herbal tea, have coffee now and then. My health is good except that I have a lot of pain when I exercise.  I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 10 years ago.  I am very active, on my feet for several hours a day, which doesn't bother me.  I am 5 feet 9 inches tall and weigh 123. Before I started on this diet I weighed 140. I feel very healthy but I am stumped as to why I have so much pain when I exercise.  I walked the other day for 20 minutes and 30 hours later the pain began with muscle tension everywhere.  I am taking a good quality magnesium, coQ10 and a multi-vitamin. Do you have any insight into what the problems is? I know it's important to exercise but this widespread pain is a drag. It can hang on for days.

I am impressed with your lifestyle and your regimens, and also disappointed with your diagnoses of fibromyalgia.  In my office, I have a large questionnaire for people with fibromyalgia because the disease is so complicated and we know so little about its origin, but based on what I know, I will try to give you some answers.

Be sure you are sleeping correctly and without problems. This has an impact on fibromyalgia.

-Increase your protein intake
-Start the Alpha Omega essential fatty acid complex which includes GLA
-Check for lead, mercury levels
-Meds are you taking, if any?
-CoQ10 should be at least 300 mgs
-Check your vitamin d levels
-Probiotics are really important, a good one is from Ortho molecular.
-I would like to know about your past medical history and your prior diets.
-Check with immuno labs for food allergies.
-Check for adrenal insufficiency.

Health Benefits of Red Meat?
 

Dear Dr. Serrano,

I enjoy the grass-fed beef from US Wellness. I am a serious weightlifter and have been for many years. As a part of my higher protein diet I try to eat a variety of protein types. I have read so much about the link between eating red meat and the increase in contracting colon cancer. As part of my diet, I usually eat 2/3 pound of the 75% ground beef per day. My question is, is this healthy and will it increase my risk of colon cancer?

 I am 48 years old. I try to live and eat healthy and hearing this link repeatedly does give me concern. Thank you in advance for you answer

My mother just died of colon cancer, so I know how concerning it is to have colon cancer in your mind.

I have read almost every study done in the medical literature about fats and cancer, and the only common source of cancer and fat is corn oil.  In addition, when they talk about cancer and animal fat, they are talking about lard, which isn't organic, it has been processed and it just plain nasty.

If you eat damaged fats or over cooked fats, or you consume a lot of trans fats, then I see a problem, but if your source of fats are organic, and in balance, meaning the right amount of mono, poly and saturated fats and vegetables; your cancer risk from fats is extremely low.

I am 46 so I am way younger than you are, I had to say that, and eat red meat every day.  When I was competing, I ate meat two to three times per day with a low carbohydrate diet.  I felt great!  Now I eat less meat, not because I am worry, but because my 5 kids eat it all.  Congratulations in your healthy life style.

 The Best Way To Cook

Dear Dr. Serrano,

Relating to the column on cooking and nutritional loss, can you give us a little more information on that subject. Specifically what is the best preparation for eggs for minimal loss and for beef is there one method broiling vs. grilling , etc that is better again for minimal loss. I would assume that rare/medium rare would be better than medium or well done???


Which way is the best way to cook so you can retain all the nutrients in your meals, and the answer is depends, because there are nutrients that are absorbed better after cooking and others are worse or better before cooking. For example, broccoli has a lot of nutrients that, once steamed or heated, will be better absorbed. However, there are also other foods that you not only want to cook for your protection but you must, like hamburger, because the way is processed before it gets to your house. It also gets more difficult because some foods you don't want to consume or cook the same way all the time because then it can create digestive or allergic problems, for example the egg, which everybody likes fried, boiled, or scrambled, and you always order it the way you like it. If you cook it the same way it will probably cause allergies, or digestive problems, so it is better to consume eggs different all the time. I can give you some guidelines but all of them are just based on experience and maybe a little science:

1-pork, hamburger and chicken, always cook
2-chicken if organic still cook
3-vegetables, some of them you must cook, others not, so I will consume them raw and cooked
4-nuts, always raw if possible but sometimes no options
5-grains, always cook
6-beans, cook
7-fruits, either way
8-eggs, either raw or cook, only raw if you know where they are coming from
9-milk, I prefer raw but it can be hard to get a hold of it
10-meats, seafood, either way if organic, or you know where it comes from
11-honey-raw

Try not to over heat or cook the meats because it will destroy some of the nutrients.

 

High LDL levels

Hi Dr. Serrano,

I recently went for blood work that showed I had elevated total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Is there any reason to be concerned about grass-fed beef, butter, cheese and  raw milk? I am 53 and going through menopause. My HDL is good.

You did not give me your numbers so I can't give you any recommendations. My criteria is very different than most doctors. Usually, when your LDL is high it can be due to a high consumption of commercially raised cheeses or dairy products combined with a lot of carbohydrates and low Chromium. Cut out any commercially raised beef or dairy products, and eat only   grass-fed beef and raw dairy. Avoid starchy and sugary carbohydrates.

Because of the above and with out looking at your numbers, I would say these steps should help. Please let me know how you do. 

Beating the YO YO Diet

I do not for the life of me know how to lose weight and keep it off since sensible eating & exercise do not seem to work. Is there something wrong with me, something I am missing, or something you can help me with?

Your testing with high bilirubin and the Gilbert's Syndrome is usually resolved with high vitamin concentrates with riboflavin and niacin, but you must check with a test called Spectra Cell, and it will give you the answer. About your allergies and outgrowing them - how did you do that? Did you come up with that conclusion, or you don't feel anything any more? You don't have to feel a thing externally, but it will affect your body, so you must be careful about how you came up with that conclusion - and how did you get tested, with blood or skin?

You also said you have been eating well, but later you stated you have been in a low caloric diet for 1.5 years, which is not good for females. Even tough you stated again you went to 1500 calories, which again is too low for a woman your size and with your workout history. You will never lose weight because you are in starvation mode due to your severe limiting of calories. Sorry, you must completely come off your diet, and start eating healthy, using the proper testing for your allergies to really find out what you are allergic to, and also add good fats to your diet, and again you are not going to lose weight if you don't go off and start from scratch.

I don't know what diet you are using now, but I am assuming the South Beach Diet, and again you are going to gain weight because of the starvation you have put your body through, so make sure you increase your caloric intake with good organic food. Keep your intake of grains and fruits low, but not the caloric intake and you will see a difference, with your height, weight and your workouts you must at least consume 2800 calories.

My advice is to start cycling calories until your body gets out of the starvation mode. To do that, eat low caloric for two days and then go high for two days and then low again for two. Do that for two weeks then switch to low caloric days to one, and two high, then one low, then 2 high, until you are in your baseline, which is about 2800 calories, when eating your low caloric days and that will take about 3 months.

You must also lift weights, which is better than aerobics because it keeps your muscle up and prevents starvation mode.

Good luck

Cancer Prevention Concerns

I enjoy the grass-fed beef. I am a serious weightlifter and have been for many years. As a part of my higher protein diet I try to eat a variety of protein types. I have read so much about the link between eating red meat and the increase in contracting colon cancer. As part of my diet, I usually eat 2/3 pound of the 75% ground beef per day. My question is this healthy and will it increase my risk of colon cancer?

I am 48 years old. I try to live and eat healthy and hearing this link repeatedly does give me concern.

My mother just died of colon cancer, so I know how concerning it is to have colon cancer in your mind. I have read almost every study done in the medical literature about fats and cancer, and the only common source of cancer and fat is corn oil. In addition, when they talk about cancer and animal fat, they are talking about lard, which isn't organic, it has been processed and it is just plain nasty. If you eat damaged fats or over cooked fats, you consume a lot of trans-fats, then I see a problem. However, if your source of fats are organic, and in balance, meaning the right amount of mono, poly and saturated fats and vegetables your cancer risk from fats is extremely low.

I am 46, so I am way younger than you are, I had to say that, and eat red meat every day. When I was competing, I ate meat two to three times per day with a low carbohydrate diet, and I felt great. Now I eat less meat, not because I am worried, but because my 5 kids eat it all!

Congratulations in your healthy life style.


Solutions to Eczema

Dr. Serrano:

I would like to know what nutritional and supplement recommendations you would have for someone with eczema.

My husband has been suffering with it off and on for years and I have suggested to him many times that it could be his diet, but he is skeptical.

You are right, and he is wrong. Like usual, women are always right. Diet is the must important factor on the skin and the skin is the window to your health. The worse your skin is, the worse your health is. Of course, this is in addition to your gastrointestinal system.

The first thing I tell any body that has eczema is to find out what the person is allergic to, by doing an elimination diet or getting tested for allergies. I also start the patient on vinegar, and it could be balsamic or apple cider, one teaspoon three times per day, and if these two do not work, then I add probiotics. If I was your husband I would definitely listen to you. By the way, the top three foods that you need to start with are WHEAT, DAIRY and EGGS, and just in case, Peanuts also.

 

Cholesterol and Heart Attacks?

Dr. Serrano,
 
I am a 57 year old male, 5'11", 160 lbs.; physically active and in excellent health. My diet consists of hormone/antibiotic free chicken and some grass-fed beef. One or two times a month splurging on pizza or barbecue. I eat lots of fruits and vegetables and try to limit consumption of processed foods, refined sugar, wheat and rice. I do eat 4-5 eggs per week and some cheese.
 
I also take quite a few supplements including high-quality fish oil, cod liver oil, Ubiquinol, Resveratrol, Acetyl-L-Carnitine/L-Carnosine/DMAE, B-12 and other B vitamins, Curcumin, He Shou Wu  and multi-vitamins.
 
My fasting cholesterol levels have always tended to be a little "high" with overall levels 210-220 and LDL 110-130. HDL has been 50+ and triglycerides under 75. However, over the past six months I have two significantly higher LDL readings, 153 and just recently 158. In this latest test my overall cholesterol was 231, HDL 59 and triglycerides 68.
 
My physician is concerned and suggested taking prescription-strength niacin. So far I have resisted this.
 
I would appreciate any advice you might offer.
 
Thank you for taking the time to answer questions. It is a very valuable service you provide and much appreciated.
 

As you know, I don't believe cholesterol is the culprit of heart attacks, but because the media has done so much damage, I will try to help you. The first thing I would do is check your testosterone levels, total and free, and your thyroid levels, before doing any thing else. Then avoid dairy or sweets for two weeks.  And after that, just once a week have dairy and sweets. I would bet your levels are off.

Also, Niacin is not bad at all, it is a natural vitamin that will lower your numbers, and will make a difference; the only side effect is flushing, and this is only a vasodilatation of the vessels, which is totally benign.

I would also recommend taking chromium pycolinate 400mcgs per day.

Cooking with the Right Oils

I am a culinary student enjoying the journey of cooking great foods with age old traditions.

However, I know there are many benefits of eating a diet full or organic fruits and vegetables, grass fed meats, and whole foods. The quality of the food we eat and cook is not something that is discussed in school.

What I am not completely clear on is -- what are the BEST OILS & FATS 
to use when cooking. It is commonly believed that canola oil and corn oil are the best neutral oils to cook with and I am not sure about that.

What do you suggest for cooking, marinating, and salad dressings? I  believe that oils and fats for cooking will differ from those used without cooking....?


I hope I see you in NY in your own restaurant as a master chef, because I think you are going to be awesome.

To answer your question, it depends on what you want to achieve.

Besides canola and corn oil, which you should not use to cook because they become rancid when heated, peanut oil is another neutral oil, but it must be only used with medium temperatures otherwise it will become rancid.

A good alternative is coconut oil; it is neutral, stable at high temperatures and has a great consistency, but it must be organic and minimally processed. Olive oil is perfect for temperatures that are low to medium, but it is not neutral tasting, as you know, but great for enhancing the flavor of certain plates.

If you are going to cook at low heat and want a distinct flavor, I would also suggest butter, because it has a great taste and it will not turn rancid.

Be sure that your sources of fats are always organic; this is one of the few times that I would not consume any thing but organic. Fats are storage warehouses in the body of the animal or plants and when they can't clean those toxins out of the system, the toxins are put away in the fat cells.  Always make sure that you also use minimally processed and cold pressed oils when possible; they have more flavor and are softer to the palate.

Eczema problems

My three year old has eczema. The doctor put her on creams that only made the situation worse. I was told that fish oil would help. I put it in her juice, but she didn't like the taste. Then someone suggested flax oil. I have been using that with good results. Recently I read an article stating that flax oil causes cancer. Is this true?

I have two questions.

Was your baby breast fed?

Did you take fish oils during your pregnancy?

The fish oils might help if she has an omega 3 deficiency, but what if she has a GLA deficiency or a monounsaturated polyunsaturated imbalance?

Flax seed doesn't cause cancer, but any polyunsaturated fat might increase the chances if it comes from canola or corn oil. If you are getting good results with the flax oil then continue it, but I would also stop dairy for a while and add GLA to make sure it is completely gone.  The Alpha Omega has a great balance of molecularly distilled fish oils in addition to GLA.  However the capsules might be too big for someone her age. You might have to open up the caps and put the contents in apple sauce. There are many omega 3 supplementation options out there and you will get what you pay for, beware as many brands contain high toxin levels because manufacturers will not pay the high price of filtration.  The presence of toxins poses many problems and is common especially in brands that offer for example 500 caps at $15 per bottle.  At that cost there is no way they can get the right raw materials. 

More Eczema Problems

I would like to know what nutritional and supplement recommendations you would have for someone with eczema. My husband has been suffering with it off and on for years and I have suggested to him many times that it could be his diet but he is skeptical.

You are right, and he is way wrong (like usual - women are always right)! Diet is the most important factor on the skin. The skin is the window to your health; the worse your skin is, the worse your health is. Of course, this is in addition to your gastrointestinal system.

The first thing I recommend to anybody with eczema is to find out what the person is allergic to, by doing an elimination diet or getting tested for allergies. I also start the patient on vinegar, and it could be balsamic or apple cider, one teaspoon three times per day, and if these two do not work I add probiotics. Contact Scott@infinityfitness.com for details.

The Alpha Omega can help in many ways. 

Janet if I were your husband I would definitely listen to you. By the way, the top three foods that you need to start with [for an elimination diet] are WHEAT, DAIRY and EGGS, and just in case, peanuts as well.

Best Protein Powder Options?

Dr. Serrano

I like to consume protein several times per day, but find it hard to sit down for all of my meals.  I have tried some protein powders in the past, but all made my stomach upset at some point or caused fatigue.  Any suggestions?

Yes- I have run into this for years and over a couple years of research I figured out that many of the common ingredients used in protein powders just do not agree with a large percentage of the population.  Symptoms can be fatigue, bloating, stomach upset and more, if you are experiencing these sings then you can also bet that the body is not absorbing the ingredients very well.  Poor digestion has a negative residual impact that can cause consistent bloating if material builds up.  This makes it hard to absorb anything you consume which can negative impact your health and performance.

The Get Lean Protein Protein contains ingredients which may be hypoallergenic and this is especially important for those who are allergic to soy and milk based proteins which make up a majority of the protein products available on the market.  I prefer that people eat real food whenever possible, but understand that a times a quick protein drink is the best alternative.  Get Lean Protein has 0 sugar and the carb content is primarily dietary fiber which is very important as it helps with protein uptake, gut function and to keep you feeling satisfied.  I put together a special blend of pea and rice protein due to their special properties.  Colostrum and L Glycine help with body composition, energy and performance. So far the feedback has been very good since the Get Lean was released in mid July, I was not surprised as for several months the trials were all positive with my patients in the office. 

What to eat before training 

What is an easily digestible food source I can consume before training?  I have a hard time keeping anything down if I eat within a couple hours before training, but then I end of tired and hungry while I am working out and performance drops.

Good question and this has been an issue I have solved for patients over many years.  You want something that is easily digestible, but also a combination of ingredients that will help with performance and body comp improvements.  This is a difficult balance, but over the past couple years I have finally found a combo that meets the needs of all of my patients.

60 minutes before training take 6 scoops of Get Lean Protein assuming you are an adult male as this is the first flight of nutrients to optimize the body for training.  30 min before take 100% MR and Muscle Synthesis and this will force the body to use more stored fat as fuel during exercise while providing an alternative energy source/building blocks for muscles during training.  When doing this over the past several months my patients saw big increases in muscle mass, reductions in body fat and improved performance.  Not a single complaint about stomach upset or fatigue which is common with many protein combinations.

Immediately following training take the 100% MR and Muscle Synthesis which start a hormonal and muscular repair sequence to nearly eliminate muscle soreness the following day.  This accelerated rate of recovery is very important as the harder you push the training, the greater the emphasis must be on recovery to avoid over training.

30 min following the post workout amino loading take the get lean again which is done to ensure the raw materials within the 100% MR and Muscle Synthesis can be fully utilized before introducing any other items that can distract this important process. Remember timing is everything!

Raising Testosterone Levels with Proper Diet

I've been eating grass- fed beef as much as I can for the past couple years versus the corn-fed variety.

Being in my early 40's, I was wondering if there is any research about grass-fed beef and benefits to men from a hormone basis? Does it do anything for the testosterone level or the HGH levels?

 
Yes, I have information in meat and hormones but it was done with conventional meat. Meat with conventional source increases insulin levels, testosterone levels and nothing in growth hormone.

Now I want to make sure that you understand that monounsaturated fats increase testosterone. Weight lifting also increases testosterone and aerobics decreases them. GH is not affected by meat, but it might increase GH if consumed without carbohydrates.

I want you to understand that the increase in insulin was done in diabetics and with non organic meat, although I think in a "normal person" it will not increase insulin, but it will increase your testosterone levels. If I wanted to increase my testosterone levels I would do these things:

1-lift weights, include high volume low rest between sets
2-increase your fat intake, especially saturated and monounsaturated fats and decrease polyunsaturated fats.  3-use butter instead of canola oil or corn oil
4-use fat loading days in combination with workout days and also include carbohydrate loading days.  This is a complex topic and appropriate plans need to be made to fit your specific needs.  Contact scott@infinityfitness.com for a customized plan using these techniques.
5-decrease aerobics
6-load with fish oils- The Alpha Omega I have designed is excellent as an essential fat source.  Minimize flax oil consumption.
7-decrease sugar intake

What are Normal Testosterone Levels?

I am  72 year old man and I would like to find out the proper testosterone level for a man my age.

I loved your question, straight and to the point! Ranges in medicine are not black and white, because they do not take into consideration variables such as biochemical individuality.

Everyone is different as to what is the optimal range for them.  So to answer your question, I will give you the values used in the laboratory. But, they don't matter if you have symptoms of low testosterone such as: a lowered sex drive, prostate problems, impotence, heart problems, depression or decreased stamina. If you have some or all of the above
symptoms, your levels may be low even though they are within the normal values.

240 to 800 -1000 ng/dl is the normal range for the total testosterone, and free testosterone should be 8 to 25 pg/ml.

George, if your levels are on the low side of the ranges, and you have the symptoms, then you may still have low levels for you. Remember these numbers are just averages and not individual numbers.

Cholesterol levels with a high protein diet?

I have a question about the current article regarding the high-protein diet and the impact on cholesterol levels.

I am 53 years old, 145 pounds, moderately active but not an athlete. My total cholesterol is back down around 170 now, but in the past it was up to 245+/- on the hi-pro diet (two separate diet cycles), which included good amounts of grass fed ground beef. I nearly always avoid carbs such as sweets (and I never consume sugared soft drinks) and avoid breads, but do have rice, pasta, some crackers, etc.

I watch fat but don't heavily restrict it. One would think that I didn't need to go on the hi-pro diet. But I was doing this for fitness and for stabilizing my carb cravings, which I do have to fight, and so that I would feel less hungry between meals while at work.


You do not have a low carbohydrate diet because you still consume simple carbohydrates, so your cholesterol will not go down. If your cholesterol is that high then you must look at a number of factors:

1-Amount of cheese or milk? You did not address this.
2-You think you eat low carbohydrate but in reality you do not eat low carbohydrate diet.
3-Mixing the diet that you have without limiting your carbs and eating fats it will always show with high cholesterol, that by the way is meaningless, unless you look at triglycerides, HDL, LDL and VLDL
4-It doesn't matter how active you are exercise really doesn't do a thing to your cholesterol, but to the triglycerides
5-Obviously when your cholesterol was 175, you were using a different approach, and the real question is what were you doing when your cholesterol was 175 and how were you feeling?

Do one set of Cholesterol ranges fit for everyone?

I switched to grass-fed beef last year and have eaten this meat exclusively. Because of food sensitivities I cannot eat fish, most pasteurized dairy and wheat.

My daily diet consists of coconut milk and coconut oil, grass fed beef and chicken, eggs, raw nuts, some butter, a little swiss cheese and lots of fresh vegetables and some fruit. The only grain I can tolerate is rice. I eat no processed or pre-packaged food and no sodas of any kind. Because of this diet, my cholesterol recently tested at the following:

Total cholesterol: 284
HDLC: 90
Triglyceride: 91
Low Density Lipoprotein: 176
Very Low Density Lipoprotein: 18
Hemolysis Index: Normal
My other blood results are all in the normal to excellent range.

I am 51 years old, female and post menopausal. My weight is stable -- not skinny -- but stocky and muscular. I have no medical conditions, and I take no prescription medicine.

My doctor told me that my good cholesterol cancels out my bad cholesterol, however, my total cholesterol is high and he would like to see it lower.

In the past, I have tried the low-fat/no-fat type of eating and found it very difficult to maintain my energy level and clarity of mind. Also, my weight would fluctuate. My hair would get dry and my skin would be rough, and I'd get skin rashes. I cannot tolerate a lot of whole grain foods so I would end up feeling hungry and unsatisfied throughout a busy day.

Right now I feel great, take daily exercise and have lots of energy. However, I feel under constant assault by the current low cholesterol fad and wonder if I'm doing something wrong.

Would you please advise me on my total cholesterol profile?

What are your thoughts about today's idea of "one size fits all" cholesterol numbers for everyone?


Thank you for your detailed letter.

Yes, your numbers are fantastic and I agree with your physician about the HDL and LDL. Your diet is actually very good, but I hope you are taking Omega 3 oils such Alpha Omega which I formulated because you are not consuming enough essential fats in your diet and you require greater amounts than the one provided by grass-fed beef.

Joan there is the reason why your cholesterol is "high" relating to menopause and your body is reading that certain hormones are low such as estrogen and progesterone, so I am sure at one point in time you were having hot flashes or other symptoms related to menopause, and as you remember those hormones, estrogen and progesterone, come from cholesterol; consequently, the body will make extra cholesterol so it can manufacture more cholesterol derived hormones, but in your case it is not doing it, so it keeps making extra cholesterol.

Joan to fix this problem, which I think is not a major problem because laboratory values are just guidelines and not a diagnosis I would check your thyroid, estrogen, progesterone, DHEA and if you are under stress, I will check your cortisol levels, which will show most of them low to borderline low and that will explain why your cholesterol is 284.

Joan you must also consume raw nuts as another source of good dietary fat

Strategies or Continued Fat Loss

I've been eating grass-fed meats, raw dairy, high omega-3 eggs from a local farmer, and organic produce for almost 4 years now. I am a 46-year old woman who is covered with cellulite from my shoulders to my knees and need to loose approximately 20 pounds. I'm 5'8", and currently weigh 176 Lbs. and take no meds. I don't eat tons of grains or fruits. Mostly sprouted bread and one chocolate chip cookie after dinner. I eat more eggs, raw cheese and beef or chicken than anything else. Protein and fat keep my blood sugar balanced so that's what I eat.

Until just recently, I spent 9 years caring for my invalid mom who had lots of serious health issues, so sleep and stress were huge issues for me. Now, I have a chance to be more physically active with way less stress and better sleep. I'm doing 1/2 hour yoga most days, 45-minute spinning video several days a week, some surfing and leisurely bike riding.

Before I started on grass-fed foods, I had lost 50 pounds quite rapidly due to Wellbutrin & Weight-Watchers. My hair was falling out and my nails breaking, so even though I was eating and felt full, obviously my body was starving. I figured some of the weight I gained was due to my body hoarding in case of another "famine" but I thought after 4 years of eating plenty of healthy foods, it might have recovered by now.

How active do I need to be to get this cellulite off and get back to a decent weight? Do I need to something different with my meals? I usually eat 3 meals with snacks. I really appreciate any help you can give me!!! I don't want to waste time doing all the "wrong" things. Life's too short.

I want to wish you the best, because I am going through the same situation and I know how hard it is to take care of a parent. You are an incredible person, and I hope I get to meet you personally some day.  Taking care of your mom puts your life on hold and it is extremely difficult to keep up with your own health.

I also want to say congratulations on your weight loss, impressive, and a great job you must continue. I don't have enough data to give you an exercise program.
You are 46 years old and based on what you are telling me you were obese in the past and having a very stressful life due to your mom, causing the problems you are having now. You are going to think that I am crazy but the best way to lose your weight, is not only eating right but also lifting weights and doing Interval cardio routines. HIIT is high intensity interval training but again I don't have enough information to make any recommendations right now so I am going to give you some guidelines to help you lose more weight, and I am going to give you two phone numbers of trainers that can create lifting programs for a person like you.
 

You are going to have a long life, because you are an incredible person with a humongous drive. I am also assuming because you stated you surf and spin that you are in descent shape and I am going to base those guidelines on that:

1-Before you start your exercise program, please get your blood checked for Thyroid deficiency, including TSH, T4, T3, insulin, lipid screen, cbc, DHEA, hormones, vitamin D, B12 and folate, zinc and selenium, Hgb1Ac, and lead and mercury, due to your symptoms.

2-start lifting weights- I strongly encourage you to seek out professional help in this area.  Scott offers a consultation service which takes care of every detail.

3-use your spinning to do Interval Training

4-rotate fruits, never consume fruit juices

5-Use a low carb diet but start loading with a carbo load day or a dietary fat load day.

6-Rotate all food sources especially proteins

7-Supplement with 100% MR , Muscle Synthesis and Alpha Omega to assist with fat loss, recovery from exercise and performance.

8- No cheeses for now; unless it is part of a dietary fat load

9- No sweets-

10- Consume water and no soda or juices of any kind.  Teas are ok if unsweetened.

Thank you and good luck.

Eating Refined Foods Causes Pain

For the past 6 months whenever I eat breads, pastas, etc. my fingers get very sore and as soon as I stop eating them the soreness goes away - I have experimented with this several times and the outcome is always the same. I definitely do well on a high protein diet, however, my last blood work showed that within a year, my cholesterol went from 160 to 195 and trig. from 43 to 76.
 

I always tell my patients listen to your body because it knows best. Your body is telling you that you may have Celiac disease and if you continue this routine of eating the wheat sources, you are going to develop arthritis. I would immediately stop eating any wheat, start taking molecularly distilled Omega 3 fish oils that also contain GLA and CLA.  Alpha Omega  contains the ingredients I just mentioned in the correct ratios and has worked very well for others in the same situation as you.   As a matter of full disclosure I formulated the Alpha Omega and do benefit from the related sales.    The molecular distillation is done to remove toxins and is very important for many reasons to ensure proper utilization of the raw materials.
 

Seminars

Dr. Serrano I have seen video clips from several of your seminars and it they are great, what can I expect at the one you are doing in June?

I have an agenda based on new research and interesting topics that the hosts propose, but I leave a majority of the seminar open for questions which can take me in many different directions.  I know that most of the people who attend the seminars are not just looking for basics, but innovative protocols and facts that they can take with them and put to good use.  Over the years trainers who have attended present cases of tough clients and ask me how I would approach fixing problems and this enables me to lay out all of the details; explaining why I do certain things.

Training has become a large focus of the seminars in addition to nutrition, supplementation, injury rehab, etc.  I like to demonstrate new techniques and take people form the audience to explain how I would treat an injury.  At a recent seminar I picked someone from the audience who was having tremendous shoulder pain and dysfunction.  I spent 30 minutes treating him and then built a rehab program that I was able to demonstrate right then and there.

If you plan on attending please email Scott@infinityfitness.com for details and please send questions or topics you would like covered at the seminar. 

Nutrition Tactics to Correct Injuries

Dr. Serrano

I dislocated my right elbow a couple weeks ago. It was a complete dislocation with no fractures. A reduction was done in the ER. I was in a half cast for 2 weeks and I will now start physical therapy. I was told that the elbow was one of the stiffest joints, but I was still surprised to find I had little motion with my arm. I am fortunate to have access to qrass-fed meats, but I wonder if there are certain foods or supplements that would help with the healing of my arm. Any advice you could give me would be appreciated.

Actually the elbow is three joints in one, so it must be treated with a lot of therapy. The elbow flexes, extends, rotates or circumducts, so when you rehab it you must do all these movements. I do not know what dislocated your elbow and how, although I will like to know because that gives me an idea which part of the elbow you dislocated (the olecranon or the radial head? ) because it involves ligaments.

Your question about supplementation is very easy to answer:

1-pancreatic enzymes
2- Alpha Omega which is a filtrated fish oil that also contains CLA, GLA, Lethicin and Vitamin E
3-MSM, with glucosamine and chrondoitine
4-chicken collagen or any type of collagen with vitamin C

Please let me know what kind of injury it was, and I will give you the rehab exercises.

By the way, eat a lot of grass-fed, very important for joint integrity.
 

                         High Cholesterol and Bp?
Hi Dr. Serrano,

My husband has medically controlled high cholesterol and blood pressure and a calcified aortic valve (possibly from rheumatic fever as a child) that frequently causes chest pressure and shortness of breath.  I know that grass-fed beef has omega 3 and CLA, but it also has a concentrated amount of saturated fat.  Should my husband eat this food in moderation, and, if so, how much or how often is common for guys who are almost 60 with his condition? 

He eats very little meat and dairy, choosing soy products instead because this was such a scare for him.  His digestion has improved and his numbers are good.

Eat organic grass fed beef, because as I have mentioned in previous articles, it is not the fat, but the source of the fat.  If he is getting saturated fats from bad sources, then he is going to get toxins in it. Go for the organic grass fed red meat, but again, the key question is how is he feeling? If he is feeling good with high energy levels, then there is nothing to worry about. If he is feeling low energy levels, then we may need to look at other parts of his diet.

In addition I wouldn't use soy at all because the estrogenic and insulinogenic properties.

Hormone free milk?

Dear Dr. Serrano,

Could you explain the difference between grass-fed hormone free milk and hormone free milk?

Hormone free milk . . . wow, tricky, tricky. The industry is always trying to make some money the easy way, this one doesn't mean it is organic, is just means that the cows they used are in a building eating grain and chemicals but are not getting hormones, and I hate them for that; however, it is marketing.

Grass fed hormone free milk means that the cows are eating grass and grazing like they are supposed to be and not in "prison", they are healthier and have better distribution of fats and proteins than the above.

IT ALSO MEANS THAT CHEMICALS, TOXINS ARE NOT FED TO THE ANIMAL, AND BY THE SAME TOKEN YOU ARE NOT CONSUMING ALL OF THE ABOVE.

Target Heart Rate for Fat Loss?

Those who are looking to increase endurance performance also see a big improvement when amino loading with 100% MR and Muscle Synthesis, I thought I would mention this since it is related more closely to the cardio format.  Even you crazy people who pedal on those spinning bikes will do very well. 

Blood Type Diet?

Dear Dr. Serrano,

I've been hearing about all of the wonderful health benefits of CLA from eating grass-fed beef, especially the organ meats like liver.  I'm a blood-type A which says to stay away from red meat, would grass-fed beef liver be okay lightly cooked or should I stick with chicken liver?  Is chicken liver as beneficial since it doesn't have the CLA that grass-fed beef does?
 
Thank you for your time,

I used the blood type diet, but it only works about 33% of the time. The diet doesn't take into consideration many things like sex, height, activity levels and etc.

The body requires red meat for two reasons,  iron and vitamin B12. The best source is red meat period. When humans used to live in the non supermarket time they were forced to hunt, because agriculture was not available either, and some days the humans eat a lot, and other days none, because they have to hunt it, and they will pick fruits, nuts etc from the floor, as they hunt, that is why I believe every body should eat meat, and I don't like vegetarians either, they are scarier than any thing else.

Seriously, liver has RNA, DNA, proteins and a lot of good stuff that is why the male king lion eats the liver first then the rest of the group can eat the rest of the carcass, liver is a super high concentrate of vitamins, minerals, and proteins that everybody should eat, but from organic sources, because it is the filter of the toxins in the body. 

Meat Controversy in my house!

I live in North Palm Beach, FL.  I am a young mom of two preteens and have a die-hard, meat-eating husband. We are in a whirlwind of disagreement since I just spent a week in a "raw food" health institute in West Palm Beach where I learned the "detriments" of meat eating which leads to degeneration, as they taught. We ate vegan raw food the entire time there, and my friend dropped 50 points in her cholesterol in 3 weeks. She also became somewhat anemic....... I personally had no adverse effects, and lost 5 lbs in one week. I weigh 110 and am 5'6", so that was a lot for me.

 In light of learning of all the recommendations leading to avoiding read meat for consumption, as well as ethical reasons, I started to eat vegetarian when I came home from the stay. So, I have been eating vegan these past two months, with no problems, and my family is very upset. They don't want to join me. This has gone on for two months now. I found U.S. Wellness Meats and read about the farm, grass fed beef, etc, and now am awaiting an order of meat from John, who spoke with me recently. I'm grateful he has healthier food than conventional beef! I figured that if my beautiful family insists upon eating meat, I will at least get them healthy meat. But I still feel as though I am buying them clogged arteries and high cholesterol. Can you tell me how this may be wrong? Can proper omegas and CLA's be gotten from Fish Oil?

Where in all this does cholesterol and heart disease come in?  Why does the book "The China Study" have such great implication and strong, researched argument against meat eating if it is really safe? Who is right? What gives???

I would like to know the truth and eat what is healthy! I truly appreciate your help! Thanks for your time!

I  am very familiar with the Raw Institute, even though I have not been there myself. I will try to answer your questions without letting you know I dislike the vegan diet.

Your friend losing 50 points of cholesterol doesn't mean a thing. Cholesterol is the most important antioxidant in the body but it is great selling point for the pharmaceutical industry. Cholesterol is the mother of 90% of your hormones and also it is in every cell in your body. Do you know that your body makes 60% of your cholesterol? Did you know that your without the water, is almost all fat?
Did you know that if your cholesterol is less than 155 after 55 or 60 the chances of dying of cancer or suicide increase by 3000%?

Cholesterol lowering doesn't mean a thing unless you have extreme numbers and that is your body telling you something is going on in your body. Did you know that if your cholesterol is high, it may mean that your hormones are low, and because it has to produce more hormones it has to dump more cholesterol into the blood so it can make the hormones necessary to be alive? Did you know that normal cholesterol levels 10 years ago were 250 and now the doctors want to lower that number to 150?

If the body was really made to only eat vegetables, which I can tell you it is not, then we wouldn't make a hormone or an enzyme called elastin. Only carnivores produce this enzyme hormone, and guess what, humans do. Now if you go back to prehistoric era, you have never seen a man building a garden, but there is plenty of evidence they used to kill or cut so they could eat. The reason they needed meat and skin was to protect themselves from the elements and other animals. Agriculture didn't exist until the Egyptians took over the world. They could feed people in one place due to agriculture, but before that time we were mostly nomads, meaning we moved with the food and the seasons. Yes, we ate vegetables, fruits and nuts, but we never stopped hunting to grow vegetables. The best way to really follow vegetarians, is by following a culture that is pure vegetarian, and we still haven't found one, and the closest one is the people from India and they are not pure vegans.

Your body requires B12, vitamin D and other natural sources of necessary or essential nutrients that are provided by meat or fish, and sorry, but vegetables will not give you any of those nutrients. Also where are you going to get the fat that you require to be alive? I would like to know how much energy, and sex drive you feel in 6 months, please let us know.

The problem is the quality of the meat, and not the meat itself, if I give poison to my meat, what do you think you are eating? If you find a dead animal that was poisoned with a lethal dose and you eat it, you are going to get sick, this of course is an extreme but that is what we are doing with our children when we eat the commercially grown meats and nonorganic vegetables. Also where are your vegetables coming from, are they from a hydro farm, are they fresh, who picked the vegetables, what type of soil was used, did they use artificial fertilizers, and who touched them before you ate them?

we have to eat meat, fish and eggs to promote survival, if not you will get sick, trust me on this one.

Yes you can get adequate omega 3 intake and CLA when taking the Alpha Omega, I prefer that some omega 3 come from the diet as well.  Grassfed beef is an excellent source of omega 3 as are many fish.  Look closely most Essential fatty acid combinations do not include enough CLA to be a factor.
 

Meat consumption and cholesterol?

I know you are a busy man and have probably had similar questions like mine, but mine is specific to the needs of my husband. His doctors have been trying to put him on a statin for years now.  Both of us are trying to avoid these drugs as we feel uncomfortable with the possible side effects.

My husband's recent blood work showed his triglycerides at 102, his total cholesterol at 198, his HDL at 43 (which is up from last years reading by 6 points), his LDL at 135 (same as last years) and his homocysteine is at 7.0 which went down from 11.3 from last years tests.  His chol/hdl radio is 4:6.

We have changed his diet and deleted breads, pastas, sugars and most grains, increased his fruit and vegetables, added grassfed beef to his diet along with lean sources of natural protein.  Also, he is walking almost everyday and taking supplements such as a multivitamin, cod liver oil, a supplement to manage his homocysteine levels which includes folic acid, some B vitamins and TMG, L-Carnitine, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, CoQ10 and alpha lipoic acid.  We try to eat organic and if he does consume dairy it is in the form of organic yogurt.

The main question here is can my husband safely eat grassfed beef products in regard to his cholesterol health and is there anything you would suggest he do differently?

Great question, and I am going to be blunt . . . no way, no way will I prescribed statins to your husband for a cholesterol of only 198. What other risk factors does he have? Hypertension, blood sugars, obesity, family history? Plus the big question is, how he feels; is he feeling sick, tired, depressed? If the answer is no, then I would do this:

1-eliminate cheeses or dairy products, that will lower it more, but he doesn't need to lower his cholesterol
2-to change his ratio, just use chromiun pycolinate 400 to 600mcgs per day
3- continue with your great diet.

Dr. Serrano

High Cholesterol

I recently went for blood work that showed I had elevated total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Is there any reason to be concerned about eating grass fed beef and butter and also raw milk? I am 53 and going through menopause. My HDL is good.

You did not give me your exact numbers; consequently, I cannot give you any recommendations. My criteria are very different than most doctors. Usually when your LDL is high it can be due to a high consumption of cheeses or diary products combined with a lot of carbohydrates and low Chromium. Because of the above and without looking at your numbers, I wouldn't stop beef but I would stop dairy.

Comparing Essential Fatty Acid Products

DR. Serrano there are many fish oil products on the market with more epa and dha per capsule than yours, what makes your alpha omega so much better than all of the others? Peter San Francisco

Solutions for Cravings

Dr. Serrano for years I have had cravings, mostly for junk food like pizza, cup cakes you name it.  On many occasions I give in which is why I am over weight.  What can I do to prevent cravings?  Is there a supplement I can take to make this go away?  My husband has the same problem, but I seem to have it much worse around my cycle.  How much of this is mental?  Sherry  Tacoma

Please submit questions for Dr. Serrano by emailing scott@infinityfitness.com  The questions should not be of a medical nature requesting specific advice for conditions.  He will answer questions as quickly as possible based on availability of

Give consideration to my consultation service which provides customized training and nutrition programs so that you can make the best use of your time and effort. 

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