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The Happiest Place on Earth? Not with fake Lemonade…

Angie Lustrick, CN, CPT — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 01:49:07 +0000

My much younger siblings come into town once a year for a California vacation. I spend part of the time doing their nutritional analysis and testing. I am proud of the progress that they each have made over the last few years considering they have been dealing with the social hazards of being a teenager or young adult. We go swimming, I cook healthy foods for them, and provide some treats that stay within the realms of reasonableness.
Then we decided to take a day trip to the happiest place on earth; I know that Disney does not have the best choices for the average American trying to stay on a healthy eating plan so I prepare. We ate a good breakfast and brought protein bars for snacking and tuna packets (simply add to a side garden salad!) knowing that the entrée choices will be less than desirable when we get to lunch time. But as I went to the snack bar with them I was FLOORED at the “lemonade” they were serving. Any one that knows me and Angie’s World knows that I am appalled at the injection of corn in our diets. With high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, maltodextrin, and citric acid in everything from soda (no surprise) to salad dressing and crackers (always a surprise). But this latest discovery was disturbing. The lemonade had NO lemons in it…NONE, NADA!! It contained three ingredients that were all corn…Corn Syrup, Maltodextrin and citric acid!! In fact, the label touted it as a good thing in a big bubble that stated: Contains no fruit juice! (like it was a good thing!)
Now I know that lemonade can be full of sugar and not the best choice for hydration but at the very least it should have lemons in it and maybe some cane sugar but ALL CORN! This food staple has been subsidized to the point of poor quality even for our livestock to eat. This product (I don’t even want to classify it as produce anymore) makes our bodies store fat just like cattle that they are getting ready to slaughter and they want them as heavy as possible! Then I see people making the choice for lemonade probably thinking they are making a better choice than soda and I am sad for them. Sad that you have to have some knowledge in chemistry and biology to eat healthfully these days. In Disney’s defense, they do offer fruit stands where you can purchase apples, oranges, bottled water and a few other healthy things. I do wish they would become more proactive and
start offering some better choices in their prepared food selections. Perhaps offering organic choices and food with real grilled chicken (not processed chicken product). I would be willing to pay for such products and so would a lot of others that are gaining knowledge about their eating choices. Come on Mickey, even if you aren’t concerned about people’s health at least recognize this is a market that you could capture and that you would help people to purchase more of your products while in the park as opposed to having to haul our own around!
Perhaps Mickey can create his own food line that only is made from real food… Now, that would make it the happiest and healthiest place on earth!

Gluten-Free? Diet Craze or Epidemic?

Angie Lustrick, CN, CPT — Tue, 25 May 2010 20:36:34 +0000

More and more products are now advertising that they are gluten-free. What does “gluten free” mean anyway? Good question! Gluten is the protein found in wheat. Any wheat containing product will also have gluten in it. As a nutritionist, I am noticing many people are confused with the emphasis on the recent gluten-free craze. Because we have seen the Atkins Diet, and low-fat diets, and many other diet plans, it is easy to dismiss the gluten-free acronym as just another diet. The truth is, gluten sensitivity is becoming epidemic in the world. Symptoms are often seen within 20 minutes of eating wheat containing foods, but may take up to 6 hours. These symptoms can include: headache, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, anemia, congestion, itchy ears, phlegm, malabsorption of nutrients, moodiness, and the list goes on and on. HOWEVER – gluten sensitivity may be asymptomatic (no symptoms at all!). But prolonged exposure can lead to serious health consequences. Gluten sensitivity at its extreme is diagnosed as celiac disease. But can also show up as colitis, crohns disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. Long term exposure to wheat in sensitive individuals is directly linked to elevated liver enzymes and/or cirrhosis, faulty thyroid function, and alzheimer’s disease.
So how come so many of us are having problems with wheat nowadays?
The underlying reason, in my opinion, is genetically modified wheat. When we genetically modify a food, we change its chemical structure. This new structure is unfamiliar to our bodies and our bodies react to it. This causes autoimmune responses. Wheat was the first genetically modified food, thus we are now seeing reactions to this food. Next, we will most likely see allergic responses to corn and soy – two other foods that are genetically modified.
The big problem I see with these modified foods is that once you eat them, your body sends signals against that particular food. Meaning, if you eat a genetically modified wheat product, your body now will react to ALL wheat that you consume – regardless if it is modified. Your body views it as an intruder.

Unlike normal food allergies, a person can’t eat gluten in moderation. Any bite or sip of a gluten containing product will cause harm to a sensitive person’s body regardless how long they have avoided gluten. This is very scary considering that wheat is in so many of our foods, cosmetics, lotions and shampoos. If you are gluten sensitive, I would advise you to google gluten-containing foods because it will freak you out just how many products have gluten in it. For example: soy sauce, ketchup, artificial maple syrup, chips, breaded items, frozen entrees, pasta, and salad dressing may contain gluten.

So how do you know if you have a sensitivity if you don’t have any symptoms? There are two ways to find out. One is a blood test by your doctor. The other is by doing a non-invasive (no needles!) sensitivity screening at my office.

It’s That Time of Year Again!

Angie Lustrick, CN, CPT — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:49:28 +0000

By Wilma Young, CPT

You know the drill. It’s Thanksgiving, then Christmas and then of course a Happy New Year, right? But when we let ourselves have a little too much “celebration” and too little activity we feel a bit sluggish and in some need of a fast fix. My advice to you is RESIST!!! Resist the urge to go the “quick fix” route. The only way you can lose weight quickly is in an unhealthy way…starvation, too little protein, and skipping breakfast. Doing these things leads to unhealthful weight loss and irritability and then our family and friends pay the price of a grumpier “you”! This route will not bring you to a healthy body weight that can be sustained for a long period and then next year you could be right back in the same boat with even more to lose. Let’s get off this roller coaster once and for all. I am going to suggest that THIS year you do it differently, that THIS year you will make the consistent healthy choices that will prolong your life, that THIS year you will give yourself more energy and a stronger body and set yourself up for a happier you all year long. If you just commit to one change per week and stick with it you will impact your life not only physically but you will empower yourself spiritually. This year will be the year that you invest in yourself! Besides, aren’t you worth it?