First off, I want to send out a big “Thank You” to all our fans who pre-ordered my upcoming book, “Eating Well, Living Better: A Grassroots Gourmet™ Guide to Good Health and Great Food.” The book will be available June 16^th in bookstores and for download worldwide (Rowman and Littlefield, publishers). However, I wanted to share some exciting news; because of the extraordinary response to pre-orders we reached #16 in the Amazon.com bestsellers, special diet cookbooks sub-category-before the book is even out! So a heartfelt, “Thanks!”

I also wanted to share at this time some very interesting and recent data that is right in line with our Grassroots Gourmet™ (GG) philosophy. An underlying principle of the GG approach is to favor natural, local foodstuffs wherever and whenever possible. As we note in the book, although many hunter-gather tribes (HGT) can consume upwards of 60% of their diet from meat, they tend to as a whole have a significantly better cardiovascular health profile than those consuming a typical Western diet. That holds true even though the typical Western diet is only roughly 15% protein and a significant portion of the meat consumed by HGT is of the dreaded red variety. A study published in the journal Hypertension (May 21, 2012) gives further support to this finding and provides some possible insight as to the mechanisms involved.[1]

This study looked at measures arterial distensibility. Normal arteries are quire resilient. As the heart forces blood forward (a time period known as systole) as it beats, normal arteries actually stretch somewhat, absorbing and storing this energy. After the heart ejects blood, the main pumping chambers refill with blood (a time period known as diastole). During diastole the normal arteries rebound, returning to their normal diameter, releasing the stored energy and propelling blood forward. It has long been known that those at risk of cardiovascular disease exhibit stiffer arteries. Their arteries no longer flex; they are stiff and rigid more resembling steel pipes in form and function than flexible, supple arteries.

Two measures of the degree of stiffness of the arteries are known as the pulse wave velocity (PWV) and the augmentation index (AI). These measures were obtained in pygmies from Cameroon who existed on the tradition HGT diet. They were compared to pygmies who had migrated to a more urban area and thus undergone dietary changes. They were also compared the Bantou farmers who shared the same environment as the HGT pygmies, but not the same diet. Additionally, the lipid profile as assessed by HDL (“good cholesterol”) and LDL (“bad cholesterol”) levels was also obtained.

In summary, the study found that the HGT pygmies had a better cholesterol profile (lower LDL, higher HDL) than the Bantou farmers who lived in the same environment. This favorable lipid profile is similar to data seen in other HGT studies; even though there is a considerable percentage of the diet that is based on red meat consumption. The HGT pygmies also showed less arterial stiffness than the other groups as measured by PWV and independent of other known factors. The authors concluded that the HGT “lifestyle is associated with low atherosclerosis risk translated by lower aortic stiffness attributed at least partly to low weight and blunted effects of aging and blood pressures on [traditional pygmies] arterial structure and function.”[2]

I am by no means suggesting we do away with every modern convenience, get naked and frolic through the jungle. That’s what ‘Survivor’ is for.  The study is observational and correlative, not causal. It does however, along with a body of other concurrent evidence, reinforce some of the fundamental principles that underlie our GG philosophy. Human beings are far too complex, our dietary choices too far ranging and our relationship with food too intricate to simply label things like red meat “bad.”  I truly hope that you will enjoy the book and use its resources, its information and its humor to guide you on a positive lifestyle change. If you do, please subscribe to the blog for updates like the one aforementioned and recipes at www.whatscookingwithdoc.comand like us on Facebook. For those looking for the book, it can be ordered from Amazon.com at Dr. Mike’s Book at Amzaon.com

Firstly, traditional Southern cooking while delicious; in certain hands is not exactly a paragon of healthful eating. It can be given to excesses in certain ingredients (read here FAT and SUGAR) and in the quantity of said ingredients (read here LOTS of fat and sugar). And the cuisine of Ms. Deen has less restraint in these areas than her muumuu.

Secondly, while promoting her cookery, which includes all the ingredients for a diabetes pot pie-except the supplemental insulin; she developed diabetes herself. Did she come clean and announce her condition? No. Did she address the dietary aspects of living with diabetes? No. Did she start to modify her program and address portion sizes-or even her own size? No. Did she at least mention if that you’re going to consume more sweets than Orson Wells on a 3 day candy-land bender you might want to look into an exercise program? No.The one thing it seems Paula was doing during the ensuing years before she made a public announcement regarding diabetes was securing for herself a lucrative contract as a spokesperson for…ready…a diabetes drug!

While she was hiding her sweet side she was busy promoting her latest children’s cookbook at the time;  Paula Deen’s Cookbook for the Lunch-Box Set. This little gem offered cheesecake for breakfast and chocolate cake for lunch. Don’t take my word for it, Barbara Walters noted when Ms. Deen visited The View, “You tell kids to have cheesecake for breakfast. You tell them to have chocolate cake and meatloaf for lunch. And french fries… Everything you have here is enormously fattening.”

But hearken, ye of jaded view, now she is promoting a ‘healthy twist on her classic recipes.’ What qualifies someone to be an ‘expert’ in healthy cuisine on the television, I have no idea. It does not seem any medical, nutritional, physiological or dietetic knowledge is prerequisite. Like the sage on a recent television show telling people to eat with their non-dominant hand to slow down and consume less. And spill half their food in their lap; your date will be so impressed at the calories you saved by hiding your food in your crotch. Oh, and put carbonated water in your wine to cut calories. Why are you drinking it in the first place? You can also piss in my glass and that will limit consumption of any wine. Along with leaving a steaming dump on my plate; I guarantee that will compel me to eat less. But while it may work, none of that means it is a well advised strategy.

Yet perhaps Ms. Deen has actually exchanged her dessert shovel for a salad fork; what’s on the menu for her kids’ show? Well, there’s cheesy quesadillas featuring butter and sour cream. There’s green eggs and ham featuring eggs, bread and processed meats like ham-oh and more butter. But the kids are alright, she serves some healthy yogurt pops for dessert. In between there is some rendition of a meatball made with several canned goods. Don’t want to miss out on your daily dose of BPAs. All this and Paula claims she is The Matron of Moderation? The only message I see from this Gordon Gekko of Gastronomy seems to be “Gluttony is Good.”

Putting Paula Deen in front of your kids to teach them healthful eating habits is like putting Bernie Madoff in charge of the Treasury. Worse it’s like giving Bernie your kid’s piggy bank-and their pancreas. Might as well put Captain Jack in charge of the rum. At least he tells you he is a pirate. He is honestly dishonest. There is that whole code thing, you know. What is Paula’s code beyond a buck? The networks continue to air her old programs with their self destructive message.  Her new ones just can’t seem to break with her tried and true formula that had brought her such success. When she is queried about the her cuisine, her response is, “All things in moderation.”

My prescription is that bit of advice be applied to her, her food and her programming. And for those particularly susceptible, like kids, I think she garners an XXX-tra large label. No one under eighteen allowed to view -it could be hazardous to their waistlines, and their health.

If you agree please ‘like’ and share on FB! Let’s try for 100 ‘likes’ before this thing airs!

Neal D. Freedman, Ph.D., Yikyung Park, Sc.D., Christian C. Abnet, Ph.D., Albert R. Hollenbeck, Ph.D., and Rashmi Sinha, Ph.D. Association of Coffee Drinking with Total and Cause-Specific Mortality. N Engl J Med 2012; 366:1891-1904.May 17, 2012

For a long time here at this  blog you have heard the data and problems with BMI measurements, the most commonly used measure to publicly communicate the definition of obesity. Other, equally easy but less commonly used measures such as waist circumference and the waist-to-hip ratio seem to correlate much better with the risk of morbidity and mortality. This is because evidence continues to accumulate that it is not just weight-which includes lean muscle mass-and fat but where the adipose tissue deposits that correlates with risk. Studies suggest that it is the dreaded “belly fat” that has the connection to death and disease. Another recent study confirms that having the big ol’ jelly belly, like Santa’s, may be a reason not sign up for next year’s Christmas account. In a study from the University of Minnesota, the waist-to-hip ratio strongly correlated with the risk of sudden cardiac death. The research evaluated data on 15,156 people who had participated in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, which enrolled individuals ages 45 to 64 at baseline in 1987 to 1989. Over a mean follow-up of 12.6 years, there were 301 cases of sudden cardiac death, defined as a death that occurred within 1 hour of symptom onset when witnessed or within 24 hours of being seen alive when unwitnessed. A waist-to-hip ratio greater than 0.85 for women and greater than 1.0 for men is considered high risk In this particular study, for those in the top quintile of waist-to-hip ratio (0.97 and higher for women and 1.01 and higher for men), the risk of sudden cardiac death was a relative 40% greater (HR 1.40, 95% CI 0.94 to 2.11) compared with those in the lowest quintile (less than 0.82 for women and less than 0.92 for men. BMI, waist circumference and waist -to-hip ratio measures of obesity were all evaluated for an association with sudden cardiac death. After adjustment for age, sex, race, study center, education level, smoking status, family history of coronary heart disease, diabetes, LDL cholesterol, hypertension, prevalent coronary heart disease, heart failure, and left ventricular hypertrophy (all known risk factors) only the waist-to-hip ratio emerged as a significant predictor of sudden cardiac death. The BMI did not correlate with risk.
Selcuk Adabag, MD, the lead author of the study remarked that it is unclear why waist-to-hip ratio appears to be more informative than waist circumference or BMI.  He hypothesized that it may have to do with the correlation between abdominal fat deposition and increased inflammation.
Adabag S, et al “Risk of sudden cardiac death in obese individuals: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study” HRS 2012; Abstract PO1-67.

http://tinyurl.com/c3cp9sd

Ancient lore held you could meet the devil at the crossroads. Seems he keeps company there with the grim reaper. A recent study published in the May 7th issue of Circulation looked at all-cause mortality based on proximity to major roadways. On this blog we have previously discussed the known association between between air pollution, particulate matter and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, this new study from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston simply based mortality risk of over 3,500 heart attack survivors on their on their distance from the major roadway: less than 330 feet; 330 to 650 feet; 650 to 3,300 feet and greater than 3,300 feet.The average age was 62 and the findings found that those living less than 330 feet away was 27% higher than those living greater than 3,300 feet away; 19% versus 13% in terms of absolute values. There was a total of almost 1,100 deaths during the 10 year study period with 63% from cardiovascular causes, 12% from cancer and 4% from respiratory causes.While the study is correlative, not causal, it does raise interesting questions. The Ancients knew the Devil dwelled at The Crossroads, we are just beginning to discover what other dangers may lay there as well.

http://tinyurl.com/7trb6z4