How carbs cause heartburn and medication makes it worse.

Digestive complaints such as heartburn or GORD (gastro oesophageal reflux disease) are often the first disorders to improve when you switch to LCHF.  Eating excessive amounts of carbohydrates has been found to be particularly bad for the "good" bacteria in the gut, leaving room for the "bad" microorganisms to flourish and the situation is often made worse by the use of protein pump inhibitors (PPIs), the medications often prescribed to treat GORD. 

Two new studies have found that PPIs alter gut bacteria in ways that could explain some of the problems associated with the drugs.  Researchers at the University of Groningen and Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands, as well as the Broad Institute of Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, have discovered that, among other things, PPI users have less gut bacterial diversity.  The researchers, who published their results in the journal Gut, found that these differences existed even when PPI users did not have gastrointestinal conditions, thereby confirming that they are caused by the drugs rather than the disease.

Researchers at King's College London, Cornell University and Columbia University obtained similar results from studies in which individuals' gut bacteria were analyzed before and after patients took PPIs for four to eight weeks.

PPIs may limit the gut's diversity by reducing its natural acidity and creating an environment that is either more or less favourable to certain microbes.  Because your gut bacteria influence your intestinal absorption of calcium and other vitamins and minerals, these drug-induced changes could explain why people who take PPIs are more likely to fracture certain bones and have nutritional deficiencies. 

The good news is that you can start restoring your "good" bacteria in as little as 24 hours when you start following a LCHF diet and very quickly get rid of GORD and the need for PPIs altogether.

If you'd like to know more and get support to lose weight and manage chronic health conditions contact:

Helen Chauhan, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach

Iris Family Medicine, 1486 High St, Glen Iris  

Tel 9509 2144

Email helen@helenchauhan.com.au

Get Rid Of Joint Pain Once & For All

According to the Medibank Better Health Index, the rate of "wear and tear" arthritis, traditionally associated with older people, has doubled amongst 25 – 39 year olds since 2007 and is particularly prevalent amongst women.  In an article featured in The Age this week, Medibank's Chief Medical Officer attributed this increase to rises in both obesity and high impact exercise such as jogging.  That's not good news if you're exercising to lose weight.

What the article didn't mention is that there is a very effective way to simultaneously manage your weight and avoid osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis.  The solution lies in reducing the inflammation caused by the chronically high blood insulin levels associated with insulin resistance. 

The more carbohydrates you eat, the more insulin your body has to produce to maintain a stable blood sugar and get glucose (energy) into your cells.  If you have high levels of insulin in your blood stream, you will store more fat, have difficulty burning fat and will feel more hungry.  It is this hormonal imbalance that explains why calorie counting and exercising to lose weight is often ineffective for people with high insulin levels and insulin resistance.  Since insulin is also highly inflammatory, it impairs recovery after exercise and can contribute to injuries and joint pain and is linked to arthritis and osteoporosis. 

When you eat a low carbohydrate high fat diet, your body adapts to burn fat rather than glucose for energy.  As your insulin levels fall, your body can use the energy stored in your fat cells and you start to lose weight and reduce inflammation.  It takes up to 6 weeks for your body to become fully 'fat-adapted', and during that time exercise may feel more draining.  However, once you are burning fat for fuel, you will recover more quickly after exercise and won’t need energy drinks to sustain you.

So make the switch; cut carbs and burn fat for fuel to lose weight and get rid of joint pain once and for all.

If you'd like to know more or access support to lose weight and reduce inflammation contact:

Helen Chauhan, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach

Iris Family Medicine, 1486 High St, Glen Iris  

Tel 9509 2144

Email helen@helenchauhan.com

Your Essential Guide to Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is the term used to describe a cluster of disorders that are estimated to account for 75% of global health care costs.  If you are suffering from 3 or more of the following conditions, it is likely that you have metabolic syndrome:

• Abdominal obesity
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Heart disease
• Pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes
• High triglycerides
• Low HDL cholesterol
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Certain types of cancer
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
• Dementia

It used to be thought that all of these problems began with weight-gain; if you eat too much and don't get enough exercise you'll get fat and develop health problems.  On the face of it, that would appear to be true, but when you take a closer look at exactly who has metabolic syndrome, the picture isn't so clear.  In fact, 40% of normal weight adults are suffering from metabolic syndrome and 20% of overweight adults are otherwise healthy.  So if being overweight is not the cause of metabolic syndrome, what is?

The answer is high blood insulin levels or hyperinsulinaemia.  Insulin is hormone created in the pancreas that acts as a nutrient sensor to allow the preservation of stored energy.  In other words, insulin promotes the storage of energy from food in the liver, muscles and fat cells.  It must be present for fat storage and it prevents the breakdown of stored fat in the body.  The foods that stimulate the body to produce the most insulin are those that contain sugars and refined carbohydrates.  Insulin is essential for life; we can't live without it.  In a healthy individual who has not eaten for several hours, blood insulin levels will be very low.   After a meal, blood insulin levels will increase naturally to ensure that the energy absorbed by the body can be stored for future use.  When this job is done, insulin levels will drop back down again and stay low until the next meal.   However, for a number of reasons, insulin levels can become chronically raised.  For some people, this is caused by a genetic tendency towards insulin resistance but for many, their insulin levels are high for extended periods of time simply because they consume lots sugar and processed carbohydrates and snack frequently.  Chronically high levels of insulin, or hyperinsulinaemia cause inflammation throughout the body, and if hyperinsulinaemia persists, it will eventually trigger metabolic syndrome.  

The good news is that metabolic syndrome can be managed and even reversed through simple dietary changes.  By cutting out sugar and the highly processed carbohydrates found in processed food, ditching the snacks and increasing the length of time between your meals you can reduce your insulin levels and reclaim your health.    

If you'd like support to lose weight and manage chronic health conditions contact:

Helen Chauhan, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach

Iris Family Medicine, 1486 High St, Glen Iris  

Tel 9509 2144

Email helen@helenchauhan.com.au

Stop Counting Calories & Start Controlling Your Hunger Hormones

One of the reasons calorie-restricted diets tend to fail is because they make you really hungry and can increase food cravings.  This is because calorie-restricted diets change the hormones that control hunger and satiety so that when you lose weight, your body will fight to put the weight back on.  Your hormones drive you to eat more and you are caught in a trap of yo-yo dieting.

A low carbohydrate / ketogenic diet works very differently as it suppresses appetite in a number of different ways.  When you start eating more fat and cut out the precessed carbs and sugar you tend to stop experiencing the blood sugar swings that most people eating a standard western diet will suffer.   You experience less intense hunger and your cravings for carb-heavy meals disappear.   

Once your body starts to burn fat for fuel and your blood ketone levels rise , your appetite will be suppressed in more subtle and significant ways because ketones can control hunger and satiety hormones. Studies have shown that ketones impact cholecystokinin (CCK), a hormone which makes you feel full, and ghrelin, the “hunger hormone.”

Your intestines release CCK after you eat.  It is a powerful regulator of food intake; if you inject people with CCK, they will cut their meals short.  When you lose weight, your body will secrete less CCK, so you will want to eat more than before you started dieting.  However, a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that being in nutritional ketosis (when you are burning fat for fuel) raised CCK to pre-weight loss levels thereby reducing the risk of over-eating and post-diet weight gain.

Ghrelin, the “hunger hormone” increases appetite. It’s released from your stomach and intestines, with blood levels reaching their highest point when you have not eaten for a long time. When you eat a meal, ghrelin levels drop.  If you inject a person with ghrelin, they eat much more.  Usually, when people lose weight, their ghrelin levels increase making them feel more hungry. However, several studies of dieters following a ketogenic diet have shown that ketosis completely suppresses the increase in ghrelin levels that usually occur with weight loss. In fact, one study showed that individuals with ketone levels higher than 0.3mmols had lower ghrelin levels after they lost weight compared with their baseline at the start of the trial.

Increased appetite following weight loss is one of the key factors in weight regain.  A low-carbohydrate, high fat (ketogenic) diet helps you to control your hunger hormones instead of fighting against them.

If you'd like to know more or access support to lose weight and control your appetite contact:

Helen Chauhan, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach

Iris Family Medicine, 1486 High St, Glen Iris  

Tel 9509 2144

Email helen@helenchauhan.com

Substitute For Success; Family Meals Made Simple

Cooking for a family can be challenging and if you add different dietary requirements to the mix things can get complicated!  To keep things simple, plan meals that suit everyone.

Here are a few of my favourite LCHF substitutions that the whole family will enjoy.

Pasta & Noodles

Spiralized vegetables are a fantastic substitute for pasta and noodles.  I recommend investing in a good quality vegetable spiralizer as in my experience the cheap potato-peeler style versions you see online don't work and are a waste of money.  This style is my favourite style available  from Amazon or if you're in Australia you can get it here.

Simply spiralize a low carb vegetable such as zucchini, pan fry it in butter for one minute (or use a microwave) and serve with a sauce of your choice.  Remember, creamy sauces contain more fat so are more filling when you're not eating all the carbs in traditional pasta.  If you buy ready made sauces, check the ingredients carefully as they often contain added sugar.

Another option is Konjac or Shirataki Noodles.  Made from an asian root vegetable that is extremely low carb, these are a really handy thing to have in your pantry as they have a long shelf-life.  They don't need to be cooked, just rinse them thoroughly and warm in a bowl of hot water.  You can buy them in health food shops and some supermarkets or google "buy konjac online" to find your local online supplier.

Rice & Potatoes

Cauliflower is a low-carb superhero.  It's incredibly versatile and a perfect substitute for rice or potatoes.  To make rice, whiz some raw cauliflower in a food processor until it resembles rice.  Place it in a microwave-proof dish and cover and cook on full power for a few minutes.  Alternatively, stir-fry it with butter.  Add other vegetables or spices to make fried rice or pilau rice.

For a mashed-potato substitute, steam some cauliflower until it is soft.  Transfer it to a food processor and a nob of butter, a dollop of cream and some salt and pepper.  Whizz at high speed until it is smooth. 

The Quick & Easy Guide To Going LCHF

Switching to a low carbohydrate high fat diet doesn't have to be difficult.  The key to success is planning ahead so you get rid of the foods that you need to avoid and always have the foods that you need close to hand.

So to start with, get rid of the following:

• Confectionary, lollies & milk chocolate
• Potato chips
• Soft drink & juices
• Margarine
• All forms of sugar (white, brown, honey, agave syrup, corn syrup etc)
• Bread
• Pasta
• Rice
• Potatoes
• Breakfast cereals
• All products labelled "low fat" or "no fat"
• Ice-cream
• Biscuits, cookies & crackers

Then go shopping for:

• Butter
• Cream
• Eggs
• Bacon
• Meat
• Fatty fish (salmon, mackerel etc)
• Cheese
• Plain Greek Yoghurt
• Vegetables that grow above the ground
• Avocados
• Nuts (Macadamias, pecans, walnuts & almonds are great)
• Olive oil & coconut oil
• Strawberries, raspberries & blueberries

Now you've got what you need for some great LCHF meals:

Breakfast

• Eggs & bacon with spinach & avocado
• An omelet with cheese 
• Boiled eggs with some canned tuna
• Greek yoghurt with sprinkle of nuts & berries
• A piece of cheese with some ham or salami

Lunch & Dinner

• Meat, fish or chicken dishes with vegetables and a rich full-fat sauce. Instead of potato, try mashed cauliflower.
• Stews, soups or casseroles with low-carb vegetables such as bolognese sauce with zucchini strips.

Snacks

When you eat a low carbohydrate diet with more fat and a bit more protein you will probably not need to eat as often. Don’t be surprised if you no longer need to snack, but if you do want something, they these ideas.

• Rolled-up cheese or ham with some cucumber or other salad vegetables
• Olives
• Nuts
• A piece of cheese
• A boiled egg from the refrigerator

The most important thing to remember is not to fear fat.  Eating natural fats will help you to stay full for longer and will reduce food cravings.

The secret of LCHF success; five foods you need in your pantry.

One of the most important first steps in moving to a low carbohydrate, healthy fat lifestyle is clearing out your pantry.  You can keep sugar-free canned foods like tuna, sardines, and tomatoes but throw or give away your flour, sugar, pasta, rice, ready-made sauces and stock up on these essentials.

1. Coconut products     The humble coconut has become one of the heroes of LCHF eating and it features in a huge range of recipes.  Coconut oil is stable at high temperatures so can be used for roasting and frying.  Coconut cream or milk will help you to boost your fat intake and coconut flakes make a delicious snack.  Try using desiccated coconut instead of breadcrumbs on chicken or fish.

2. Herbs & Spices     When you're eating real food, you'll want to be sure that your herb and spice shelf is well stocked so you can naturally enhance the flavour of your food.  Himalayan rock salt is rich in minerals and I also recommend cracked pepper, turmeric, ground cumin, paprika, ground coriander, chilli powder, cinnamon, garlic and ginger.

3. Nuts     Whether you eat them as a snack or use them in your LCHF cooking, nuts are a versatile ingredient and a valuable source of protein and healthy fat.  Keep a bag of almonds on hand to grind up to make almond flour for baking.  Try gently roasting raw cashews in a little olive oil then tossing them in turmeric for a tasty prebiotic snack that your gut bacteria will love.   

4. Seeds     Now that grains are off the menu, seeds are a natural substitute.  Homemade seed crackers are a quick and very easy to make, so you don't have to miss out on crackers with your cheese or dips.  A handful of toasted seeds will add crunch to your salad and chia seeds are an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids.

5. Chocolate     Yes, chocolate.  Make sure you have raw cocoa for baking and making LCHF hot chocolate and treat yourself to a few squares of 85% dark chocolate when you feel the need.   We want to reduce carbs, not fun, and a little dark chocolate reduces stress and helps to keep us sane.

This simple creamy coconut and chia pudding is delicious for breakfast.

Ingredients (Serves 4)

1 cup coconut cream

4 tablespoons chia seeds

Fresh or frozen berries to serve (optional)

Directions

Stir the chia seeds and coconut together and leave for 30 minutes until the chia seeds have swollen and softened.  Add fresh or defrosted berries to serve.

Five fridge essentials for LCHF success

Making a change to you way that you eat can seem daunting.  It's particularly hard if you've been following a certain set of rules for a long time and are now having to work out how to turn everything that you knew upside down!  If, like me, bread, cereals, rice and pasta have been staples in your diet for decades, the thought of cutting them out is terrifying, not least because you have to work out what to replace them with.

One of the keys to LCHF lies in planning.  Now, when I say planning, I don't mean devising complicated meal plans or spending hours in the kitchen getting to grips with difficult recipes.  The most important part of LCHF is making sure that you have access to the right food when you need it, and that means having the right food in the fridge.

So on that note, here are my 5 fridge essentials for LCHF success

1.  Meat and  Fish     Any type of meat or fish is fine including beef, pork and chicken.  If you're buying prepared meats such as sausages, make sure that they don't contain bread or added sugar.  It's good to make friends with your local butcher who will be able to tell you what's what.  Fatty fish such as salmon are great and stay away from anything with breadcrumbs.

2.  Eggs     One of the mosts versatile and complete foods you can buy, and yes, you can eat as many as you want.  Always buy cage free as happy hens lay healthier eggs.

3.  Vegetables     Veggies will fill a large part of the gap on your plate once the starchy foods are gone.  One of the many amazing things about LCHF is that veggies take on a new lease of life when they're cooked with healthy fats.  Some of my favourites include spinach, mushrooms, avocados, eggplants and asparagus and not forgetting zucchini and cauliflower which transform perfectly into noodles, rice and mash.  

4.  Butter     Using butter in your cooking makes food taste better and helps to fill you up.  Since vitamins A, D, E & K are fat soluble, adding butter to your vegetables will help you to absorb more of these valuable nutrients. 

5.  Cream     Use cream to make simple, delicious sauces, as an accompaniment for a berry dessert and to transform your coffee into a french style cafe creme.  I love creme fraiche (a yoghurt-style, fermented cream) which has a wonderful tangy taste.

Now you're ready to whip together quick and easy meals like this.

Zucchini Noodles with Crispy Bacon Croutons (Serves 4)

Ingredients

• 4 medium zucchini 
• A large knob of butter
• 1/2 a cup of cream or creme fraiche
• 8 rashers of streaky bacon cut into small pieces
• 1 tbsp of olive oil
• Salt & pepper

Method

1. Cut the zucchini into noodles using a vegetable spiral slicer, mandolin or peeler
2. Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the bacon pieces and fry until crispy
3. Melt the butter in a large frying pan, then add the zucchini noodles.  Cook for 2-3 minutes,    turning gently, until they are soft but not soggy.
4. Add the cream or creme fraiche and gently heat through.  Season with salt and cracked pepper.
5. Serve the noodles in bowls and sprinkle with the crispy bacon pieces.