Notes From Dr. Powell

Steer Clear of Fad Diets

With all the focus on weight in our society, it isn't surprising that millions of people fall prey to fad diets and bogus weight-loss products. Conflicting claims, testimonials and hype by so-called "experts" can confuse even the most informed consumers. The bottom line is simple: If a diet or product sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There are no foods or pills that magically burn fat. No super foods will alter your genetic code. No products will miraculously melt fat while you watch TV or sleep. Some ingredients in supplements and herbal products can be dangerous and even deadly for some people.  

A Note From Dr. Ray Powell, MD "Stress Affects Your Body Weight"

I looked at myself when I was 38 years old and I was amazed, I was 250 pounds. I was at least 75 overweight, I hated myself. I looked at my wife and wondered how she could have been attracted to me. My back was always killing me and I could not even keep up with my 5 kids. I was in my second year of my Emergency Medicine Residency. Yes, a doctor who is morbidly obese. How can that happen? Aren’t doctors supposed to know how to stay healthy? Aren’t they taught everything there is about nutrition? The reality of it is that I, like most of us, had been hit with multiple stressors over several years. But life as we all live it is never stress free. When we are stressed two things immediately get pushed aside, how we eat and how we move our bodies (exercise). As I looked at myself in the mirror one day and said, ‘I can’t do this anymore’. I realized after 6 years of medical training I had no clue what to do about my nutrition. Should I do a ‘Low-Carb Diet’? ‘Low-Fat Diet’? ‘High-Protein Diet’? Most doctors, according to a recent Congressional hearing, get less than 3 hours of nutritional education in their entire medical training. So I tried Atkins (Low Carb), Sugar-Busters, Slim Fast, and essentially lost a little bit of weight but then put it right back on. I started to research everything I could find about nutrition and the science of Obesity and how to treat it. Obesity has been defined by just about every medical organization including the World Health Organization as a Chronic Relapsing Medical Disease and I have it. I have learned about treating myself and thousands of patients for Obesity. The science of nutrition, what is the right combination of Protein, Carbohydrates and Fats, and how much and when it should be eaten. It is not as easy as many people think. If it were we would not have a world that has become obese. After I realized how little I knew about my own nutrition and treating patients for Obesity for several years, I realized that all these patients had one thing in common: they needed to be shown what, when, and how to eat.

Liquid Calories

So you heard my Metabolic Minute about the liquid calories that we drink and that we are the only animal that drinks calories once we are weaned.  We do most of it for pure pleasure and not for nutrition.

What I have found when you put yourself out there on the radio and you make a statement or comment you almost instantly get people letting you know how smart they are and that you forgot this or that.

So as I racked my brain and searched the internet and I did find two animals that do drink their calories but it is for nutrition and not just for pleasure.

I am sure someone will come up with other animals that drink calories and if they are right I will add them in to this blog.

So the two animals are:

         1.  The Common Vampire Bat is found in the tropics of Mexico, Central America, and South             America.

The eating habits of this bat are said to be the most unique of all mammals. Vampire Bats feed off of blood, and this liquid diet is called Hematophagy. They are able to use receptors from the nose to help them find food. You may be wondering how they can live on blood, and it has to do with Draculin in the saliva. This substance ensures the blood from their prey doesn’t end up clotting in the body of the Vampire Bat.

         2.  The Hummingbird:

A hummingbird must consume approximately 1/2 of its weight in sugar daily, and the average hummingbird feeds 5-8 times per hour. In addition to nectar, these birds also eat many small insects and spiders, and may also sip tree sap or juice from broken fruits.

Thanks for listening to my Metabolic Minutes and you have any constructive friendly comments do not hesitate to email me directly at Drpowell@physiciansplan.net

 

5-HTP an Enhanced Formula

Our 5-hydroxytryphan (5HTP) formula is specially designed to help reduce cravings, improve overall mood, improve sleep patterns, and with addition of Vitamin B6, L-tyrosine, and L-glutamine helps improve other functions within the body. This natural supplement can be used by any of our patients that are on any of our programs. It can also be used as a “stand alone” supplement for patients that cannot or choose not to use the prescription appetite suppressant medications. Stop by your nearest Physician's Plan and ask for our 5-HTP handout today!

 

A Note From Dr. Powell- Liquid Calories

Have you ever thought about how many calories you drink in a day? Hidden calories, that are of no nutritional value, can add up quickly. Your body stores these extra calories as fat. We are essentially the only animal (with a few exceptions) that continues to consume liquid calories after weaned from our mothers. Particularly, drinking these calories for pure pleasure, not nutrition. Think about it: what does an adult zebra, gorilla, bear, deer, elk, raccoon, cow, sheep, or a chicken drink? That's right: WATER. Do you ever see a zebra drinking a sugary soda? Or how about a gorilla with an energy drink? Or what about a bear drinking a beer or a glass of wine? Nope, they all drink water only. So think about all the calories we drink in this country: sodas with 140 calories per can; or what about the calories in a 44oz super-sized soda with 513 calories; the specialty coffees that can range from 190 to 470 calories; a glass of orange juice (a regular household glass holds 8oz ounces) can easily be 100 calories; and don't forget the cow milk that we drink at over 148 calories per glass. What about a beer that can be 80 to 250 calories per bottle or a glass of wine at 160 calories?! Don't forget the daiquiris and margaritas that can be over 400 calories! When I review with my new patients about their liquid calories, many do not realize how many calories they are drinking. Now I'm a realist, I'm not going to tell someone to stop all of their liquid calories at once unless they want to. And I'm not going to tell them to give up all their liquid pleasures forever. What I tell them is this, "It's not about giving anything up, it's about how much and how often" How many liquid calories do you drink?

One Woman's Weight Loss Journey...

"My Journey:

In a nutshell I think the program has educated me to a clearer understanding of what my food selections do and how they drive so many other parts of the body and mind.

The beginning was a recommendation from a friend who saw how really unhappy I was and suggested that I give you a try. My unhappiness revolved around life issues (menopause, divorce, low income, work, etc.) and physical issues (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, low energy, sleeplessness, depression, weight gain, etc.) which all totaled up to one very frustrated woman that felt totally out of personal control. 

As I'm sure that you know, being over weight throws everything into a vicious circle. One issue leading to another and another until you just don't know what to do. Unfortunately, food has always been a comfort when things are out of control. That of course just makes matter worse.

Your dedication to educating your program impressed me enough to stop for a moment and listen. That has allowed me to have quite a different journey than the one that I was on. The program made sense to me. The joke is that it is not "rocket science", but make no mistake in knowing that it is science. I learned why my body needed food and what the different ratio of carbs/protein/fats, etc. were and how they worked together for my gain or my loss. I love that I am now able to apply this learned information to my daily selections in foods. Remarkably I can actually read a label...in the store...of anything and discern whether to buy it or not. The science of how higher protein consumption lowers my hunger and prolongs the time in between meals has been one of my favorite nuggets of gold. And most importantly is the knowledge and determination to keep my blood sugar level by eating every 2-3 hours something of nutritional value.

Because of that alone, I now have all the energy that I need to do whatever the day brings on. It has made a remarkable difference to be physically and mentally in the driver's seat. I now live on an entirely different planet!  My B.P. & Cholesterol levels are so low my personal Dr. said she should give me a medal for doing so well. I tell her it was all in the "sneal".

My appreciation, Sam"