Great Interview with clinical nutritionist, Dr Rakowski

I read this interview a while back now and thought to share some extracts from it but it slipped my mind.  I just rediscovered it so I thought I'd finally get around to sharing.

Firstly, Dr Rakowski is the clinic director of the Natural Medicine Center in Houston, Texas, and his patient base includes professional athletes, healthy people wanting to improve their quality of life, and critically ill patients looking for new, natural treatments that offer hope.

Here are some of Dr Rakowski's answers to questions posed to him during a break in a nutritional seminar he was giving...

KG: What makes your seminars on nutrition different from others?
RR: I think that when others teach seminars on nutrition, they often get lost in the details – they don’t show the big picture. There’s a reason why nutrition works, and the reason is people are malnourished. The reason people are malnourished is we have depleted the soil over the past half century by using fertilizers that contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It takes 17 elements to make a healthy plant, and we only put three back in. So what happens is this malnutrition in the plants becomes malnutrition in the animals and becomes malnutrition in humans.

KG: Are there additional problems with the pesticides we use?
RR: Here is the problem. When plants become progressively weak from being malnourished, they can’t defend themselves against bugs, so we give them pesticides. And we use a billon tons of pesticides – a billion tons! – in one country. Well, it takes a lot of energy in humans to detoxify; the food we are eating doesn’t have it, and the result is emotional and physical problems. But instead of looking at nutrition, our nation turns to drugs.

KG: The idea that all you need to do in regard to nutrition is to eat healthy is not true?
RR: It certainly won’t be sufficient for anyone who is doing something with their body other than sitting at a computer all day long. If you’re trying to compete on an elite level, the person who has the best nutrient status and the least amount of toxins is going to win, all things else being equal. I agree that we should get most of our nutrients from food. Taking supplements in the absence of a good diet is still a poor diet with supplements. What you want is a great diet, but even with that the literature suggests that a great diet is not sufficient to reestablish depleted systems – that a sick body can’t bounce back without supplementation.


KG: Isn’t it better to get nutrition from food sources whenever possible because supplements are not as readily absorbed by the body?
RR: Are there differences in the absorption of supplements? Absolutely. But you take any mineral out there, the body absorbs minerals better with certain amino acids attached to them. It’s like the fast pass through the expressway. You get a mineral tied to the amino acid and you’ll absorb it better. Certain amino acids tend to target certain cell types in the body more effectively.

KG: There is so much information available about nutrition. Do you believe that people now are more knowledgeable about nutrition?
RR: It’s very chic to know about nutrition. The nutrition market is exploding, but where there is opportunity, there will be opportunists. With increasing nutrition knowledge, we have advanced nutrition science, high-level manufacturing with quality assurance, and good products that are helping sick people get better faster. But the opportunists will make big bucks by putting a label on supplements that look good but are pure garbage because they are barely absorbed.

KG: The International Olympic Committee reported that over 14.8 percent of the 634 nutritional supplements they tested from 215 different suppliers were tainted with substances that would show up on a drug test. Does this surprise you?
RR: I’m surprised that number is not much higher. There is a group called Consumer Labs that went to health food stores and found that half the stuff sold didn’t have what the label claimed and a high portion was tainted.

RR: They must do their due diligence and find the good suppliers. The baseline certification is called GMP certification, good manufacturing practices. There are several organizations that do this type of testing.

KG: For the average person, is there any specific book on nutrition you would recommend?
RR: You don’t need a book. Jack LaLanne said it best, “If God made it, it’s OK. If man made it, don’t touch it. Now what food isn’t tainted? Almost none, so you have to go with whole, organic produce, grass-fed beef and free-range chickens.


KG: What are the basic supplements the average person needs?
RR: Everyone needs a multivitamin, plant nutrients and omega 3's.  You need a multivitamin, because you are not getting enough of these nutrients from food. And omega-3s, because our food supply is deficient in omega-3s and can reduce heart attacks, strokes and cancer by 13 different mechanisms.  New data suggests that it may take as many as 13 servings of fruits and vegetables to prevent cancer.  Almost no person ingests this amount. 

KG: Why is Oprah fat?
RR: Why is everyone else fat? Stress…toxins…malnutrition. I guarantee you, you give me Oprah and let me completely control her diet and exercise for a year and she’ll be a different Oprah. I wish that Oprah would recognize that her acceptance of obesity has the potential to jeopardize the health of our country and world.

KG: Do you like the work Arnold Schwarzenegger is doing promoting good health in this country?
RR: It’s funny. One politician wanted to make Arnold the head of health in this country. Have you seen a picture of Arnold lately? There’s a phrase, “A true master is always on top of his game.” Arnold has man boobs right now, and I would challenge him to get rid of them, because he can. But he’s leading the political life – he even has a cigar smoking area. Pathetic.

KG: What do you think about asking your doctor for advice on nutrition?
RR: What do MOST MDs know about nutrition? MOST don’t study it. What do MOST know about exercise? “Go for a walk”? This is not where we need to be.

Dr Rakowski has highlighted several of the reason that I advocate supplementation and distribute Nature's Sunshine products.  They are 'the highest quality Herbal, Vitamin, Mineral and Nutritional supplements worldwide'. They use over 300 tests and procedures to ensure the premium quality of their products and are backed by a 100 percent premium quality guarantee.  They test for purity and potency of ingredients and finished products are also tested to assure that all label claims are met.  Raw materials, including herbs, are tested for unwanted contamination such as arsenic, lead, aluminum and cadmium, as well as bacterial infestation.
All their products are organically grown, not synthetic, and most of them are chelated, which means bound to a specific amino acid, so they act like real food and are readily absorbed by the body thus effective!

 I, like the good doctor, recommend that everyone take the Daily Essentials of a Super Supplemental Vitamins and Minerals and Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids, as well as Food Enzymes to help breakdown the food they eat, so that all the nutrients can be absorbed.  I also recommend that each of my clients complete the Healthy Starter pack protocol, at the start of any new exercise and nutrition lifestyle, and at regular intervals, to clease the body of toxins and cellualr waste. 

As the doctor points out, 'a great diet is not sufficient to reestablish depleted systems – that a sick body can’t bounce back without supplementation'.  That is why Nature's Sunshine has developed the Healthy Lifestyle Analysis and Body Systems products.  The questionaire can determine which of your body systems are deficient and recommend a specific product to rebuild that system.

Reducing fat deposits on the hips and butt in women

I was reading an article recently by Charles Poliquin on disruptions in the female endocrine system and how it can cause fat accumulation on the butt and thighs.  Given that losing subcutaneous fat off that region is one of the primary goals of most women, I thought I might share the following extract from the article...

improper levels of the right elements in the gut flora can impact the amount of fat on your legs. Let me explain. One of the ways the body excretes the bad types of endogenous estrogens, and xeno-estrogens is through a process called glucuronidation. In this chemical process, there is binding of the given estrogen to glucuronic acid via a glycosidic bond. The human body also uses this detoxification process to excrete a large variety of molecules, including many pollutants and pharmaceuticals to name a few. The problem is that when you have bad gut flora there is an abundance of this enzyme called Beta-glucuronidase. This enzyme has the nasty habit of breaking the bond between the nasty estrogen and its escort the glucuronic acid, which means that the bad estrogen goes back into circulation. When the gut flora is optimal, the activity of the beta-glucuronidase diminishes.

Now, why do you get poor gut flora? Oral contraceptives use, frequent antibiotic use, intestinal pathogens, stress and a host of other factors can be blamed. The point being: bad gut flora can lead to fat legs.

You don't have to understand all the biochemistry, just the take home point at the end.  Given that a lot of women, particularly young, career focussed women, take the pill, get sick a lot and take antibiotics, suffer from stomach issues and are highly stressed, they may want to start supplementing with good bacteria.
As stated previously, I recommend Natures Sunshine health supplements.  Here is the link for their Bifidophilus product.
http://naturessunshine.eu/uk/optimiseperformanceandwellbeing/index.asp?act=moreinfo&id=103&subcat=

I would also recommend that everyone but particularly women that fit this description, take the Healthy Lifestyle Analysis on the website.  I'm fairly certain these women will come out needing the Nutri-Calm stress relief product.

'15 Foods That Will Help You Lose Belly Fat'... my comments

There has been a lot of promotion online, by nutritionist and personal trainers like Joel Marion, Craig Ballantyne and Jesse Cannone, of Josh Bezoni's '15 Foods That Kill Belly Fat Fast' report.  I have reproduced the list here and added my own comments.  I agree with a lot of what he has to say...  

15 Foods That Kill Belly Fat Fast

1. Avocados: These little suckers are loaded with two nutrients that are KEY to killing belly fat: hunger-crushing fiber (11 to 17 grams per avocado!), and monounsaturated fats, which studies have shown to actually “spot reduce” belly fat. Zowie!

2. Peanut Butter: Okay, not just peanut butter, but mostly any seeds and nuts (these are the best): pistachios, walnuts, almonds (or almond butter), pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and flax seeds. Why? They keep you full and satisfied for long periods of time, and they’re stuffed with healthy, belly-burning fats and minerals.

3. Crisco: KIDDING! Just seeing if you were paying attention. That stuff is deadly. Healthy oils like olive oil, coconut oil and brand names like Udo’s Oil and Barlean’s Oil (I like the swirl flavors) actually help you burn fat by supplying healthy oils your body needs to burn body blubber.

These first three points all relate to 'good' fats.  I am a huge fan of omega 3 fatty essential fatty acids! If you haven't already read it (or if you have), click now on this link to read the blog I wrote in the last year on how amazing these are for your health. The most important point in relation to this subject, omega 3s increases metabolic rate and leads to a reduction in fat mass and increases in lean mass!

4. These Veggies: I’ve got to thank my buddy Mike Geary for this one. Turns out certain vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, and cabbage contain special phytonutrients, such as indole-3-carbinol (I3C), which help to fight against environmental estrogens that can add belly fat. Mom was right…eat your veggies!

My clients who have received and read my guides to eating for weight loss will know that I endorse eating unrestricted amounts of certain vegetables, including the ones mentioned above, even when on a fat loss programme.

5. Omelets: Eggs aren’t bad, they’re nutrient-dense and loaded with belly-burning protein, vitamins B6, B12, A, D, E, and K, folate, choline, lutein, calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. Plus, they keep you full for long periods of time. Choose eggs that come from free-range chickens. You’ll get more healthy nutrients.

I am a big fan of eggs.  I carry hard boiled eggs around with me to snack on every day I'm at work. Another big fan is is certified nutritionist and personal trainer, Mike Geary.  Read his blog on eggs here. 
I advovate a version of the Poliquin 'Meat and Nut Breakfast'. I am not as hardline as Monsieur Poliquin.  What my rules basically boil down to are eating a no carb, high protein, high essential fat breakfast.  Recently this has, for me, meant having a four white and two yolk omlette for breakfast, with half an avocado (See no. 1) 

6. Dark Chocolate: That is not a typo. Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants (nearly eight times the number found in strawberries) and it contains stimulants that can have a positive effect on fat burning, including theobromine and caffeine. It also contains a nice dose of oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated fat. Make sure to choose the 78% or higher cocoa levels for best results.
Most of my clients and, certainly, my fiancee know that I love dark chocolate! 

7. Oatmeal: Packed with fiber and whole-grain goodness, you can’t go wrong. Just be sure to avoid the processed, high-sugar junk out there and stick to slow-cook oats. Add a dash of cinnamon, some walnuts, berries, and a natural sweetener to taste. BAM! Good stuff.
Just not first thing in the morning. Have the protein and fat breakfast then this mid-morning.

8. Green Tea: Not only does it contain a potent antioxidant, many scientific studies have linked green tea to increased fat burning, including a report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that found green tea extract boosted the daytime metabolism of test subjects by 35- 43%.

9. Beans: Black beans, navy beans, refried beans, and lima beans all have 6 or more grams of fiber per ½ cup. Fiber can clean your system of pounds of “toxic waste” and reduce your belly bulge in a big way. (See “Sneaky Trick #5” for details.)

10. Berries: Strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are loaded with fiber (which slows sugar absorption), and they’re packed with vitamins that can fight cravings (cravings can come from vitamin deficiencies).

11. Cinnamon: Researchers have found that cinnamon contains a type of antioxidant that increases insulin sensitivity and effectively helps to stabilize blood sugar. Bottom line…you’ll store less belly fat.

I add Chinese 5 Spice to my omlette in the morning and pure cinnamon powder to my after workout shake for this very reason.

12. Chilli Peppers: Studies have shown that the active ingredient in chili peppers and powder, something called capsaicin, increases calorie-burning, stabilizes blood sugar levels (which decreases fat storage), and is a potent antioxidant. Add some of this “spice” to your life.

13. Yogurt: Most regular yogurt is bad for your belly. It’s loaded with belly-bulging sugar (real or artificial) that you want to avoid it. However, Greek yogurts like Stoneyfield Farms Oikos Greek Yogurt (plain) are loaded with probiotics that fight belly bulge. (See “Sneaky Trick #6.”)

14. Wild Salmon: Hands-down one of the best belly-blasting foods because of its protein and high omega-3 fatty acid content. This is like a “double shotgun approach” to killing belly fat. Many people are deficient in omega-3s and when they add them to their diet the fat can really start coming off.

15. Giant Turkey Legs: You got me. I’m pulling your leg. (Get it?) I’m not just talking about turkey meat (white preferred), but any lean protein source is a good belly-blasting food. This includes wild salmon, free-range chicken, whey protein powders, and most especially grass-fed beef because it contains natural CLA—a fat that studies have actually shown to burn fat. The interesting thing about protein is your body will burn off as much as 30% of its calories after you eat it.

There you go!  That is my take on Josh Bezoni's '15 Foods That Kill Belly Fat Fast' report. Pretty spot on if you ask me!