Wednesday, April 25, 2012
More and More Athletes Turning to the ALCAT Test
Many professional athletes are turning to a new coach. It's not a conventional coach, it's not even a human coach; rather, it's a coach that instructs them in personalized dieting, a coach to help increase strength and normalize weight. It's a simple blood test for food and chemical sensitivity called the ALCAT Test. Proponents claim that the ALCAT identifies adverse cellular reactions to foods and chemicals associated with inflammation. Experts agree inflammation causes chronic health problems including obesity.
So why is this of interest to elite athletes? According to Roger Deutsch, test co-developer and author, Your Hidden Food Allergies are Making you Fat, "...avoidance of reactive foods might unblock insulin receptors, so food is burnt for energy and not stored as fat; decrease immune mediated muscle degradation and fatigue, and increase overall metabolic and respiratory function. The results will be individual but all these things can arise from incompatible food triggers."
Two of the most notable athletes to have taken the ALCAT Test are Minnesota Twins' First Baseman Justin Morneau and Boston Red Sox's Designated Hitter David Ortiz. Morneau is a former American League MVP and four time MLB All-Star. Morneau's experience was chronicled in the StarTribune wherein he states he was planning to 'do everything I can humanly do to make myself feel better.' The StarTribune also states: "While making the medical rounds last fall, Morneau also took the ALCAT Test to see if he had food allergies. He learned his body was sensitive, if not allergic to, sugars, gluten and dairy." Morneau then lost 14 pounds in just a few weeks by following his new diet.
Athletes are always seeking new ways to enhance performance, and diet plays an essential role in their ability to do so. Morneau states, "It's not like I'll choke or die from eating those things, but my body reacts poorly to them. It treats them as something I'm allergic to and fights the inflammation instead of the inflammation from an injury."
The Red Sox David Ortiz was recently featured in a separate article titled, The Skinny on Big Papi's Diet featured on ESPN.com. Even though Ortiz took the ALCAT Test for different reasons than Morneau, he had a similar experience, dropping 20 pounds in two months. Ortiz took the test because his "cholesterol had risen to dangerously high levels." Since taking the test, and following its dietary guidelines, Ortiz said, "The results have been almost immediately noticeable." He goes on to say, "I feel great" and "I can feel the difference when I swing a bat and when I work out, I don't get as tired."
Studies have shown dietary modification and food sensitivity testing to be a viable treatment modality for a number of chronic health problems. Major League Baseball isn't the only professional sport that has utilized the ALCAT Test. Joe Rowgowski, Strength and Conditioning Coach for the NBA's Orlando Magic, has been quoted as saying, "I've seen very good results with the ALCAT Test and often recommend it to the athletes I work with." In addition, Elite European Soccer Club, Juventus, was recently featured in a study titled Rational Management of Food Intolerance in an elite soccer club. This study was presented at the International Society of Sports Nutrition: 8th Annual ISSN Conference and Expo in 2011.
So what does all of this mean? This means your fork may actually be the best tool available for maximum performance. For the elite athlete, with all the available supplements, PEDs (performance enhancing drugs) and training methods perhaps it is indeed as simple as Hippocrates said, "Let food be thy medicine." For the elite athlete or the occasional weekend warrior the best medicine may actually be finding out what foods are right for you.
Cell Science Systems, Corp. (CSS), located in Deerfield Beach, Florida, is a life sciences company and the worldwide market leader in food sensitivity testing as the manufacturer of the ALCAT Test. CSS operates a State of Florida and US government (CLIA) licensed laboratory; as well as an FDA registered, ISO certified, cGMP, medical device manufacturing facility. It is the sole owner of ALCAT Europe, GmbH, near Berlin, Germany, a European Union supported clinical and research facility of ALCAT testing services in the European Community. The ALCAT test identifies cellular reactions to over 350 foods, chemicals and herbs. These inflammatory reactions are linked to chronic health problems like obesity and diabetes, as well as skin, heart, joint, and digestive disorders.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Gluten For Dummies: Real Tips From a Nutritionist
By: Heather Bauer, RD, CDN
Gluten Free" is everywhere: supermarkets, magazines, and celebrity diets. Is it good for you? Does it have real health advantages? Can it help you lose weight and stay healthy? As a nutritionist to celebrities and professionals alike, I get these questions constantly. With all the hype, it's easy to forget that there is an actual medical reason for cutting out the gluten.
What is gluten, anyway?
Gluten is a protein found in certain types of grain -- wheat, rye, barley -- that can cause an autoimmune reaction in in the small intestine, resulting in symptoms ranging from stomach pain to nutrient malabsorption.
People that suffer from this are often diagnosed with celiac disease, which affects more than 3 million Americans nationwide. The most effective solution is a strict, gluten-free diet.
Just how many people can't tolerate gluten?
A much wider audience is suffering from milder symptoms of gluten intolerance than previously realized -- nearly 18 million Americans. Those with even the slightest bit of intolerance are turning their focus to gluten-free foods to alleviate these uncomfortable side effects.
Should I go gluten-free?
Stocking up on every food item that touts the "gluten-free" label seems like a no-brainer -- but that's not always the best-case scenario. Gluten binds foods like pretzels and cake together. Without it, food companies are forced to add extra fat and sugar to make up for the lack of texture and flavor. Hello, extra calories!
Gluten-free foods can be quite expensive, too (bread at $6?). These products may be the remedy to your GI issues but could be causing a thickening waistline and a thinning wallet.
My advice: Seek out foods that are naturally gluten-free, instead of trying to eat something that's trying to be something it's not.
5 gluten-free carbs that won't break the bank or widen your waistline:
Oatmeal -- I get this question all the time: "Is oatmeal gluten-free?" The answer is yes, naturally it is. That being said, oats are usually processed in food facilities that also contain wheat products so the chance of cross contamination is high. However, there are companies that have isolated, specialized farms that produce gluten-free grains without this concern. Bob's Red Mill has an entire line of oat products ranging from quick rolled or steel cut oats to GF oat flour. Pick your pleasure!
Polenta -- This freshly-ground corn product actually yields a lot of options. Trader Joe's offers an organic variety that works great as a substitute for pasta or used as a pie crust in an egg white and spinach quiche.
Since polenta is gluten-free to start with, you won't find any extra sugar or fat. A 1/4 tube serving is only 70 calories and provides two grams of protein.
Buckwheat -- People usually group buckwheat into the cereal grain category, but it's actually a fruit seed related to rhubarb and is packed with magnesium and phosphorous.
Replace rice side dishes with buckwheat or add to soups instead of using noodles. Besides its hearty flavor, buckwheat satisfies hunger with six grams of protein and five grams of fiber per one cooked cup serving.
Wheat free tortillas -- Going Gluten-free can make sandwiches and wraps difficult. Using a low calorie, wheat free tortilla makes an excellent substitution. French Meadow bakery uses tapioca starch and rice flour to make a delicious wrap at only 120 calories.
Amaranth -- One of the lesser-known grains, amaranth contains more protein than wheat in a form that is more readily available to the body. When compared to other grains, it's also the front runner in calcium, iron and an important amino acid called lysine. You can find amaranth in one of my favorite fiber bars by Oskri.
Try all of these alternatives and see how gluten-free works for you. It might make you feel fuller, healthier, and refreshed. But don't let it rule your life.
As I've written about extensively in my books The Wall Street Diet and Bread is the Devil, it's important to live your life, not your diet.
Gluten Free" is everywhere: supermarkets, magazines, and celebrity diets. Is it good for you? Does it have real health advantages? Can it help you lose weight and stay healthy? As a nutritionist to celebrities and professionals alike, I get these questions constantly. With all the hype, it's easy to forget that there is an actual medical reason for cutting out the gluten.
What is gluten, anyway?
Gluten is a protein found in certain types of grain -- wheat, rye, barley -- that can cause an autoimmune reaction in in the small intestine, resulting in symptoms ranging from stomach pain to nutrient malabsorption.
People that suffer from this are often diagnosed with celiac disease, which affects more than 3 million Americans nationwide. The most effective solution is a strict, gluten-free diet.
Just how many people can't tolerate gluten?
A much wider audience is suffering from milder symptoms of gluten intolerance than previously realized -- nearly 18 million Americans. Those with even the slightest bit of intolerance are turning their focus to gluten-free foods to alleviate these uncomfortable side effects.
Should I go gluten-free?
Stocking up on every food item that touts the "gluten-free" label seems like a no-brainer -- but that's not always the best-case scenario. Gluten binds foods like pretzels and cake together. Without it, food companies are forced to add extra fat and sugar to make up for the lack of texture and flavor. Hello, extra calories!
Gluten-free foods can be quite expensive, too (bread at $6?). These products may be the remedy to your GI issues but could be causing a thickening waistline and a thinning wallet.
My advice: Seek out foods that are naturally gluten-free, instead of trying to eat something that's trying to be something it's not.
5 gluten-free carbs that won't break the bank or widen your waistline:
Oatmeal -- I get this question all the time: "Is oatmeal gluten-free?" The answer is yes, naturally it is. That being said, oats are usually processed in food facilities that also contain wheat products so the chance of cross contamination is high. However, there are companies that have isolated, specialized farms that produce gluten-free grains without this concern. Bob's Red Mill has an entire line of oat products ranging from quick rolled or steel cut oats to GF oat flour. Pick your pleasure!
Polenta -- This freshly-ground corn product actually yields a lot of options. Trader Joe's offers an organic variety that works great as a substitute for pasta or used as a pie crust in an egg white and spinach quiche.
Since polenta is gluten-free to start with, you won't find any extra sugar or fat. A 1/4 tube serving is only 70 calories and provides two grams of protein.
Buckwheat -- People usually group buckwheat into the cereal grain category, but it's actually a fruit seed related to rhubarb and is packed with magnesium and phosphorous.
Replace rice side dishes with buckwheat or add to soups instead of using noodles. Besides its hearty flavor, buckwheat satisfies hunger with six grams of protein and five grams of fiber per one cooked cup serving.
Wheat free tortillas -- Going Gluten-free can make sandwiches and wraps difficult. Using a low calorie, wheat free tortilla makes an excellent substitution. French Meadow bakery uses tapioca starch and rice flour to make a delicious wrap at only 120 calories.
Amaranth -- One of the lesser-known grains, amaranth contains more protein than wheat in a form that is more readily available to the body. When compared to other grains, it's also the front runner in calcium, iron and an important amino acid called lysine. You can find amaranth in one of my favorite fiber bars by Oskri.
Try all of these alternatives and see how gluten-free works for you. It might make you feel fuller, healthier, and refreshed. But don't let it rule your life.
As I've written about extensively in my books The Wall Street Diet and Bread is the Devil, it's important to live your life, not your diet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
