Month: March 2015

Categories
Nosh

Here's What Happens When You Drink Coffee In The Morning On An Empty Stomach

As I’ve mentioned here before, I can’t stand coffee. But I’ve seen the research, and whether I choose to partake or not (and I don’t), there are a number of health advantages to drinking coffee. As with most things in life, however, timing is important. Millions of people around the world start their day with a cup of java. But despite its many benefits, drinking coffee (even decaf) on an empty stomach can cause (or aggravate) a number of health problems.
Most of those problems start off in the intestines and digestive tract, but their effects go far beyond the stomach.

Gastrointestinal Issues

There’s hydrochloric acid in our stomachs, which we need to digest our food. But coffee kicks hydrochloric acid production into overdrive, especially when there’s no food in the stomach to cushion the blow. If that happens often enough, the body may gradually lose interest in producing hydrochloric acid on its own. As a result, digestion slows down. Certain bacteria in our guts love to gorge on undigested proteins and other food, and when they do, they gleefully produce hydrogen sulfide (the same stuff that gives rotten eggs their lovely smell), which in turn produces some pretty nasty farts.
But farting is only the beginning. As stomach acids increase, so does the likelihood of developing heartburn, indigestion, and irritation to the intestines. If that goes on for long enough, it can lead to acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, and ulcers.
In case you were wondering, caffeine is not the culprit here (other sources of caffeine don’t produce the effects I just mentioned). In fact, studies on the gastrointestinal effects of coffee have found that decaf is actually worse than regular coffee. There are a number of other compounds in coffee—various acids, enzymes, and oils—that can do the real damage.

Nutritional Problems

A study done at Yokohama City University School of Medicine in Japan found that coffee facilitates what’s euphemistically called “gastric emptying,” meaning that it gets food out of your stomach more quickly than it would on its own. When food doesn’t spend as much time in your intestines as it should, vitamins and minerals don’t get absorbed properly, possibly leaving us with nutritional deficiencies. Again, it’s not just the caffeine; decaf is at least as bad.
There is one area, however, where caffeine plays a role. It speeds up the process of getting liquids out of the body by flushing them through the kidneys, causing frequent trips to the bathroom. That doesn’t give the kidneys enough time to absorb calcium, magnesium, zinc, or other important minerals. Magnesium is especially a problem, because according to some estimates, only 20 to 25 percent of Americans are getting anywhere near enough of it. Magnesium deficiency has been clinically associated with a wide variety of negative health conditions, including anxiety and depression (more on that below), asthma, blood clots, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, migraines, infertility, osteoporosis, and even tooth decay.

Anxiety and Depression

People who “need” their coffee first thing in the morning are drinking up because they want the jolt of caffeine. But caffeine also increases anxiety and depression in a number of ways.

  • It can boost levels of the stress hormones cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine.
  • It interrupts the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that’s associated with senses of calm and well-being. Some of the most popular antidepressants (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, and others) are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which work by keeping serotonin levels in the brain high.
  • It messes with levels of another important chemical, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is associated with calming and lowered stress levels.
  • It accelerates secretion of B vitamins and interferes with absorption of what’s left. B vitamins are extremely important for mood regulation, relaxation, and stress management.

Bottom line

If you need something to get you going first thing in the morning, consider something other than coffee—especially if you have a history of any stomach or gastrointestinal problems.

Categories
Health x Body Wellbeing

Think E-Cigarettes Are Safe? Think Again…They Actually Are Linked To This Terrible Disease

To this very day, smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. We can argue all day about a lot of things related to health and wellness—everything from Atkins to Zumba—but this one fact is about as far from controversial as it gets: Smoking cigarettes is basically the worst thing you can possibly do for your health.
Here’s the thing, though. We don’t really like hearing that we shouldn’t do something, or that something is bad for us. Instead of taking the often difficult path of eliminating that habit or substance entirely, a lot of us look for a “better” alternative. Enter e-cigarettes and the popular vaping trend.
Electronic cigarettes have exploded in popularity over the past few years. The percentage of individuals claiming to have ever used one increased nearly tenfold from 2010 to 2013 (1.8 percent up to 13 percent), while current users went from 0.3 percent to 6.8 percent in that same time frame. Young adults (ages 18-24) are most likely to use e-cigarettes, and although the majority of current users also continue to smoke traditional cigarettes, a solid 32.5 percent do not.
All of those statistics to say: A lot of people are vaping, but there is something very, very important to understand about this troublesome trend.
E-cigarettes may appear “cleaner,” but tests have shown that their vapor contains known carcinogens and toxins (think formaldehyde and diacetyl, among others), and we have no idea what kind of effect they are going to have long-term. My guess? Not great.
Harvard researchers seem to agree with that hunch, with a 2015 press release linking the diacetyl found in many e-cigarettes to an irreversible respiratory disease. (Honestly, though, are you actually surprised that a hobby that involves inhaling artificially flavored smoke is not totally awesome for your lungs?)
The respiratory disease in question is called bronchiolitis obliterans, or “popcorn lung.” It got its colloquial name after workers at a microwave popcorn manufacturing plant developed the disease from exposure to diacetyl-containing artificial butter flavorings. Five of those eight plant employees who originally got bronchiolitis obliterans have since died of respiratory-related diseases.
If you think of a lung like a tree, where the branches get smaller as they get closer to the center (trunk), “popcorn lung” affects the very smallest of the lung’s “branches,” thus compromising air movement. Severe cases require lung transplantation, but even milder forms of it can cause coughing and shortness of breath and compromise activities of daily living.
The Harvard study was met with fierce opposition by proponents of e-cigarettes, however, who pointed out that the amount of risky diacetyl in e-cigarettes is hundreds of times lower than what’s in actual cigarettes. They expressed concern that such sensationalized headlines lashing out at e-cigarettes would only lead to individuals deciding they might as well go back to smoking traditional cigarettes. Let’s be very clear about this: The only time someone “might as well” go back to lighting up in any context is the literal apocalypse.
Here’s the thing, though. Diacetyl and popcorn lung are not likely the end of vapers’ concerns. E-cigarettes are currently unregulated, which is a huge problem. Regulating organizations are not perfect, but when there is absolutely no oversight of a product, manufacturers can do whatever they want. They can literally put anything inside those e-cigarettes, and not only would we not know about it, but it would be perfectly legal.
In the end, inhaling any amount of addictive and toxic chemicals is not going to be advisable. You don’t have to be a cardiothoracic surgeon to draw that conclusion. Our lungs have to filter out so much junk on a daily basis (I’m looking at you, pollution), so why not give them a little bit of a break when we can?
You’ll save money. You’ll breathe better. And you won’t be cursing yourself 15 years from now if the research goes the way of traditional cigarettes and shows some very, very unsettling health concerns.
Is a little bit of flavored smoke really worth that risk?

Categories
Lifestyle

She Had Itchy Red Bumps All Over Her Skin, But Couldn't Figure Out Why. Until She…

Gluten is a protein that’s found in wheat, barley, and rye. With dozens of studies identifying gluten as the culprit behind a huge number of health issues (including acne, attention deficit disorder, depression, fatigue, headaches, stomach problems, and even some cancers), it’s no wonder that about one-third of Americans are now taking steps to avoid it. The market, of course, has responded positively: Sales of gluten-free foods have more than doubled in the last five years, and a number of market research firms expect them to do the same over the next five.
But here’s the billion-dollar question: Should you be going gluten free? As with most health-related questions, the answer is complicated. For people with legitimate medical conditions, the answers is a definite “yes.” For everyone else, not so much.

The Case for Gluten-Free

About one in 133 Americans—roughly 3 million of us—has celiac disease, which is a serious autoimmune condition. In people suffering from celiac disease, gluten causes the immune system to attack the small intestines and prevents the body from properly absorbing nutrients from food.
Another 18 million Americans may be what’s called non-celiac gluten sensitive. For those people, gluten doesn’t cause physical damage to the intestines, so eating it isn’t as dangerous. But many of its symptoms mimic those of celiac disease.
A much smaller number—about 1 million people—have an allergy to wheat, which contains gluten. Untreated (or undiagnosed, which is the case for the majority of people with all of these conditions) gluten-related issues can cause a dizzying array of symptoms, including:

  • Skin problems. Acne, eczema, hives, psoriasis, and itchy skin are common, as is a condition called keratosis pilaris (rough, dry patches of skin and tiny bumps on the arms, legs, or butt).
  • Digestive problems. Gluten messes with the function of the intestines, causing pain, cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation. It may also cause or aggravate lactose intolerance (trouble digesting dairy products), which in turn can produce some of the symptoms just mentioned.
  • Nutrition problems. When gluten damages the intestines, it leaves them less able to absorb vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients from food.
  • Balance problems. People with any kind of gluten issues often complain of dizziness or attacks of vertigo.
  • Mood problems. Poor nutrient absorption can cause anxiety, depression, sadness, and other mood issues.
  • Pain problems. Digestive system problems are often associated with chronic migraines or other severe headaches. Celiac disease is also associated with fibromyalgia.
  • Energy problems. Not getting enough nutrients from your food could cause iron deficiency or anemia, which will leave you feeling constantly run down.
  • Inflammation problems. Gluten issues can cause swelling of the joints in fingers, hips, knees, and elsewhere.
  • Thinking problems. People with gluten issues frequently complain that they feel foggy or confused after eating.
  • Behavior problems. Gluten can be associated with attention deficit disorder and other behavioral conditions.

The Case Against Gluten-Free

Thanks to the explosion in the number of gluten-free foods on the market—and to the prominent placement of the phrase “gluten free!” on food packages and restaurant menus—63 percent of Americans believe that a gluten-free diet will improve their physical and/or mental health, according to a national study done by Consumer Reports. The top benefits that survey participants attributed to ditching gluten? General health, better digestion and gastrointestinal function, lower cholesterol, stronger immune system, and weight loss.
Unfortunately, the truth about going gluten-free isn’t nearly so appetizing. In fact, a gluten-free diet may have the exact opposite effect of what you expect. For example:

  • Vitamins and minerals. Many grains are enriched with iron, folic acid, calcium, and other nutrients. Avoiding grains could cause deficiencies.
  • Fiber. We get a lot of our daily intake of fiber from grains. Less grain means less fiber, which could lead to constipation.
  • Bacteria. Eliminating gluten may decrease the number of good bacteria in our intestinal tract. That could weaken the immune system.
  • Fat and more. Do some package label comparisons. You’ll find that gluten-free alternatives tend to be higher in fat, calories, sugar, and sodium than the regular products.
  • Arsenic. Gluten-free products often use rice flour as a replacement. Consumer Reports tested more than 60 products that contained rice and found measurable levels of arsenic in almost every one.
  • Your wallet. Gluten-free products cost more—often a lot more—than their gluten-y cousins.

Bottom Line

If you suspect that you or someone in your family has celiac disease or another type of gluten issue, do not diagnose it yourself or put yourself (or anyone else) on a gluten-free diet. To diagnose celiac disease, your provider will need to do a blood test and possibly an intestinal biopsy. To diagnose other gluten-related conditions, you may also need to see a dietician or nutritionist.