Obesity and heart disease are associated. Obesity is also a risk factor for numerous other diseases. Among the other diseases are: liver, kidney, pancreas, arthritis, diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure and some cancers.  Cancers that have an association with obesity are: breast, uterine, kidney, and gastrointestinal.  (Obesity is defined as 25% to 30% body fat…less for men, more for women.)

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported 17 years ago that 70% of cardiovascular (heart & stroke) disease was due to obesity.  The diabetes association predicts that two third of diabetics will die of heart disease.

In the United States two thirds of the population is now considered obese. Fifteen percent of the children are obese. What is causing this epidemic of obesity?

Many factors are involved, but the American Obesity Association sums it up best: “Once attributed to mainly a lack of will power, obesity is now understood from a complex interaction of genetic, metabolic, behavioral and environmental factors.”

It sounds complicated but the increase boils down to two factors, diet and lack of exercise. Diet is a huge factor and it is not always the amount of food consumed but frequently the kind of food.  Fast food, high in trans fats, low in enzymes and minerals otherwise found in good fresh vegetables, short change your body.  If you add excess sugar,  weird diets without exercise,  this increases obesity.

Contrary to popular belief otherwise elimination of all fats will actually increase fat gain.  The consumption of diet sodas is also shown to  increase weight gain. Why?

When all fats are eliminated, deficiencies in essential fats occur…omega 3’s, L-carnitine and lipase enzymes that burn fat. The oil soluble vitamins A, D and E are poorly assimilated.  In addition, when sugar (that becomes glucose) is abundant, the body burns it first and stores the harder to metabolize fats.

In the case of sodas, they typically contain 9 to 12 teaspoons of sugar.  The diet ones (aspartame sweetened) are even worse because they increase the appetite and craving for food. They appear to change fat metabolism negatively. Even worse, according to Neurosurgeon and researcher, Dr. Russell Blaylock, aspartame greatly increases brain tumors and kills brain cells by overexciting them. (If you have Parkinson’s disease, your  shakes will increase!)

Aspartame is a stimulant that is so potent that it over excites neuron cells to death. There are also studies which show a higher incidence of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and brain tumors associated with it.  Heating aspartame (in sugar free cocoa) is even more hazardous to your health.  Some people even report migraine headaches after drinking aspartame laced beverages.

According to exercise physiologist and researcher, Covert Bailey, it is nearly impossible for weight watchers to lose weight and keep it off without exercise.

There are two kinds of exercise and the best exercise incorporates “aerobic” (with oxygen) rather anaerobic (without oxygen).  What is the difference?

The difference involves the metabolism or processing of energy in the body. Inside every cell are mitochondria which are the energy factories for all tissues.  When there is no oxygen present there is a minimal amount of available energy (ATP) to burn.  This energy is good for quick bursts of energy and uses the ATP that is easily accessed.  Glucose and D-Ribose (a good sugar) form the ATP. (adenosine tri phosphate)

When sustainable energy is needed it must come from fats (70% of energy should come from fats). The problem comes when the long chain fats do not get converted into ATP. If glucose (sugar) is readily available, the fats are stored.  If you understand this, sugar and high glycemic starches, which easily convert to glucose, increase obesity. Fats are not burned but stored into your fat beds.

The metabolism and burn of fats requires oxygen, certain minerals, enzymes and amino acids in order to create the ATP energy…more complex than glucose burn.

Minerals, even small amounts, are extremely important to the biochemistry of the body. Among the most important minerals that relate to fat metabolism are chromium, calcium, zinc, selenium, manganese, and magnesium.  All these minerals are important to fat metabolism but chromium and calcium clearly have studies that show their importance.

In the case of chromium, deficiencies of it are becoming more frequent. It is often depleted by high fructose fruit drinks and sodas.  A number of good studies show a relationship to low chromium with the incidence of type II diabetes. In type II diabetes there is plenty of insulin to metabolize the glucose, but it does not get into the cell where it helps production of cellular energy).

Chromium is part of this process. It is also better assimilated with the B vitamin, niacin. Good research shows that elevated blood sugar (glucose) can be significantly lowered in up to 90% of the people, with chromium picolinate…the organic form of chromium that is best used by the body.

The population of the U.S. is deficient in chromium, some say as much as 9 out of 10 people are lacking in sufficient chromium.

Calcium is another mineral that is important to the metabolism of fat. Bottom Line Health reports on a study done at the University of Tennessee.  “Overweight people who ate 3 servings of yogurt daily for 12 weeks lost 22% more weight, 61% more body fat and 81% more abdominal fat than people who ate a similar number of calories but no dairy products.”

To summarize: Aerobic exercise, the slow, sustained type is better than the fast, hard exercise that uses up all the oxygen…leaving none for the metabolism of fats. Exercise does burn calories. The body, depending on genetics, needs essential fatty acids, lipase enzymes and certain minerals to efficiently burn fat. Whole, fresh vegetables and whole grain foods are best. Organic minerals and vitamins are essential.  Reduced consumption of adulterated foods (trans fats, artificial additives) and sugar is needed…Denis Van Loan D.D.S.