Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Nonalcoholic Beverages, Weight Loss Science, Beetroot Benefits, and Female Longevity

Transcript

Nonalcoholic Beverages, Weight Loss Science, Beetroot Benefits, and Female Longevity · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

• 0:00
  Good morning and welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Doctor Chow.
• 0:04
  I'm your host, Doctor Chi-Ming Chow.
• 0:07
  In today's episode, we're diving into a topic that's becoming increasingly relevant in our
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  health-conscious society: nonalcoholic beer and mocktails.
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  These beverages are gaining popularity, but they're not for everyone.
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  Let's explore why.
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  Several years into her sobriety, Logan Denzer from Los Angeles decided to try nonalcoholic
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  beer and mocktails while others around her continued to drink alcoholic beverages.
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  She found these alternatives to be an excellent solution to feeling out of place in social
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  settings where alcohol is prevalent.
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  Millions of Americans share her sentiment, including those recovering from addiction,
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  people trying to cut down on their drinking, and the rising number of young adults who are
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  forgoing alcohol altogether.
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  This shift has fueled a booming industry of nonalcoholic options.
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  Recent research underscores the health benefits of drinking less or not at all.
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  Alcohol is linked to various health issues, including cancers and injuries.
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  However, health experts caution that nonalcoholic beverages are not suitable for
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  everyone, particularly those who may find that these drinks trigger cravings for alcohol.
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  These nonalcoholic, or NA, drinks are designed to mimic alcohol in many ways, including
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  appearance, smell, and taste.
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  Doctor Molly Bowdring from Stanford University highlights that these beverages are not a
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  one-size-fits-all solution.
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  Individual experiences vary greatly.
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  While some people can enjoy NA drinks without issue, for others, these beverages might
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  trigger a desire for alcohol.
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  It's crucial to understand your own experience with these drinks.
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  The concept of 'zebra striping' has emerged, where people alternate between alcoholic and
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  nonalcoholic beverages during social events.
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  This approach allows individuals to extend their evenings without consuming excessive
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  alcohol.
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  The market for nonalcoholic wines, beers, and spirits has surged, with retail sales reaching
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  eight hundred twenty-three million dollars last year.
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  Retiree Ann Kopp Mitchell provides a personal anecdote, sharing how she enjoys both alcoholic
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  and nonalcoholic beverages depending on the occasion.
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  She appreciates being able to participate in social drinking without overindulging.
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  It's a way to maintain the social patterns she enjoys without the guilt of overconsumption.
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  While a typical beer contains about five percent alcohol by volume, nonalcoholic drinks
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  are allowed to have up to zero point five percent, roughly the same as a ripe banana.
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  People often choose these drinks when they want to avoid intoxication, such as before
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  exercising or driving.
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  The growing presence of mocktails on restaurant menus is seen as a positive health trend.
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  However, it's important to be mindful of the sugar content, particularly in mocktails made
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  with soda and sweet syrups.
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  The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to no more than about six
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  teaspoons a day for women and nine teaspoons a day for men.
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  For individuals with drinking problems, the picture is more complex.
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  Some people in treatment for alcohol use disorder have had mixed success using
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  nonalcoholic beverages to reduce or stop their drinking.
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  These drinks can contain alcohol-related cues, potentially triggering cravings for
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  full-strength alcohol.
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  Logan Denzer initially avoided nonalcoholic beverages when she first got sober, concerned
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  that the taste would remind her of alcohol.
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  Over time, she became more open to them, but she acknowledges that they're not suitable for
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  everyone, especially those who are new to recovery or on shaky ground.
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  Experts agree that nonalcoholic drinks are more appropriate for those further along in their
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  recovery journey.
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  It's vital to be aware of how these beverages impact you personally.
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  Even for those not dealing with alcoholism, it's essential to have an honest appraisal of
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  your health risks, much like assessing your risk for other health conditions based on
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  family history.
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  Remember, understanding yourself and your own health needs is key.
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  That's all for our first segment today.
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  Stay tuned as we continue to explore more fascinating health topics.
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  Our next segment today focuses on the reality television show "The Biggest Loser" and the new
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  Netflix docuseries "Fit for TV." These programs are under scrutiny for their controversial
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  weight-loss methods.
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  Doctor Spencer Nadolsky, an obesity specialist in Holland, Michigan, is speaking out against
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  the approaches depicted in these shows.
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  He emphasizes that obesity is a biological disease, not a simple issue of willpower.
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  As Doctor Nadolsky points out, the science is clear: weight regain is largely driven by
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  biological factors, particularly appetite.
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  When people lose weight through lifestyle changes alone, without surgery or medications,
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  their bodies often respond by increasing hunger.
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  This biological drive makes it difficult for many to maintain weight loss over the long
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  term.
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  Doctor Nadolsky highlights that after significant weight loss, there is a decrease in
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  non-exercise activity thermogenesis.
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  This means that spontaneous movements, like fidgeting, decrease, which can lower the
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  overall calorie burn.
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  To counteract this, individuals must consciously increase their physical activity to
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  maintain their metabolic rate.
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  However, this is challenging when the body is biologically inclined to conserve energy.
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  One of the key issues is metabolic adaptation, where the basal metabolic rate decreases more
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  than expected after weight loss.
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  This makes weight maintenance particularly difficult, as fewer calories are burned even
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  when muscle mass is preserved.
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  Doctor Nadolsky argues that this adaptation, combined with increased appetite, leads to
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  weight regain in most cases without the aid of medications or surgery.
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  In the docuseries, the experiences of past contestants, like Daniel Cahill, who lost an
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  astounding two hundred thirty-nine pounds, are revisited.
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  Despite his initial success, he struggled with weight regain over time, underscoring the
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  challenges of maintaining weight loss through lifestyle changes alone.
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  Doctor Nadolsky suggests that true aftercare for weight loss should involve a
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  multidisciplinary approach, including medications like GLP-1 receptor agonists or, in
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  some cases, surgical interventions.
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  These tools can help manage the biological drive to eat more, which is often the primary
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  factor in weight regain.
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  The docuseries criticizes the notion perpetuated by celebrity trainers, like Jillian
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  Michaels, that weight loss is solely about willpower.
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  Doctor Nadolsky argues that this perspective ignores the biological complexities of obesity
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  and is not supported by large-scale studies.
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  He stresses the importance of acknowledging that obesity is a chronic disease that requires
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  ongoing treatment, similar to other chronic conditions like hypertension.
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  It's crucial for us to understand that obesity is influenced by both biology and the
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  environment.
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  While lifestyle changes are important, they must be supported by biological interventions
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  when necessary.
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  The combination of these approaches offers the best chance for sustainable weight loss and
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  improved health outcomes.
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  In a recent study published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, researchers at the
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  University of Exeter explored the effects of drinking beetroot juice on blood pressure among
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  older adults.
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  This study is particularly intriguing as it highlights the potential of dietary nitrates,
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  found in beetroot juice, in improving vascular health.
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  The researchers conducted their study with seventy-five participants, split into two
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  groups based on age.
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  Thirty-nine participants were under the age of thirty, while thirty-six were in their sixties
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  and seventies.
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  These participants underwent two separate two-week phases.
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  One group consumed nitrate-rich beetroot juice daily, and the other group received a placebo
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  version without nitrates.
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  A wash-out period was included between phases to reset the participants' systems.
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  The findings were quite promising, especially for the older adults who consumed the
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  nitrate-rich beetroot juice.
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  These individuals showed a reduction in blood pressure, which was not observed in the placebo
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  group.
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  This suggests that the dietary nitrates in beetroot juice can indeed play a role in
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  lowering blood pressure for older adults.
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  The study also delved into the microbiome of the participants, examining the bacteria
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  present in their mouths before and after the treatment.
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  Older adults who consumed the nitrate-rich juice had fewer mouth bacteria called
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  Prevotella, which is linked to inflammation, and more helpful bacteria like Neisseria.
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  This shift in the oral microbiome could contribute to the observed health benefits.
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  Doctor Marc Siegel, a senior medical analyst, explained that nitrates are converted to nitric
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  oxide by the body, a molecule crucial for vascular health.
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  Nitric oxide promotes vessel dilation, reducing blood pressure by improving the flexibility of
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  blood vessels, decreasing resistance, and lowering inflammation.
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  Professor Andy Jones from the University of Exeter emphasized that the study illustrates
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  how nitrate-rich foods can alter the oral microbiome, potentially leading to reduced
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  inflammation and lower blood pressure in older adults.
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  This opens up new opportunities for improving vascular health through nutrition.
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  Lee Beniston, an associate director at the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research
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  Council, noted that this research exemplifies how bioscience can help us understand the
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  complex connections between diet, microbiome, and healthy aging.
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  By uncovering the effects of dietary nitrate on oral bacteria and blood pressure, the study
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  paves the way for nutritional strategies aimed at enhancing vascular health in older
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  populations.
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  It's important to note, however, that while the study's results are encouraging, more research
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  is needed to fully understand the long-term benefits and implications of dietary nitrates.
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  As always, individuals with high blood pressure or other medical conditions should consult with
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  their healthcare providers before making any significant dietary changes.
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  Our final segment today delves into the keys to female longevity, as highlighted by Doctor
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  Vonda Wright, a renowned orthopedic surgeon and author.
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  With her new book, "Unbreakable: A Woman’s Guide to Aging With Power," Doctor Wright aims
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  to shift the narrative around aging, particularly for women.
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  She emphasizes that while women live longer than men on average, the focus should not only
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  be on living longer but also on living better.
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  In her book, Doctor Wright explores the unique aspects of female aging, noting that women
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  experience aging differently from men due to hormonal changes.
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  She introduces the concept of the "critical decade," which spans from thirty-five to
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  forty-five years old.
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  During this period, women are encouraged to focus on disease prevention and strength
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  building, rather than accepting the myth that their best days are behind them.
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  Doctor Wright emphasizes the importance of a mindset shift.
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  She encourages women to identify their core values and use them to shape their health
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  goals.
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  Many women, she notes, prioritize independence and mental clarity.
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  Understanding these values can help women make informed decisions about their health and aging
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  process.
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  One of the critical scientific findings Doctor Wright discusses is the role of estrogen in
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  female aging.
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  Estrogen is vital for many bodily functions, and its decline during perimenopause can
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  accelerate aging, affecting bone density, brain function, and cardiovascular health.
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  Doctor Wright advises women to base their hormone optimization decisions on factual
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  information rather than fear.
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  Diet also plays a significant role in female longevity.
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  Doctor Wright advises women to focus on "recomposing" their bodies—building lean muscle
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  and minimizing body fat.
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  She advocates for a diet high in protein and low in simple carbohydrates and sugars, which
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  can lead to chronic inflammation and health issues.
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  Whole foods are preferred, and her book includes recipes and meal plans to guide women
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  in making healthier dietary choices.
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  Regarding physical activity, Doctor Wright uses the acronym "FACE" to guide women towards
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  longevity.
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  "F" stands for flexibility, "A" for aerobic exercise, "C" for carrying a load, and "E" for
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  equilibrium or balance.
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  These components are crucial for maintaining physical health and preventing injuries as
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  women age.
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  Doctor Wright also highlights the importance of mental resilience as part of the aging process.
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  Physical activity, particularly strength training, can enhance mental toughness, making
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  women feel more capable and confident.
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  Participating in challenging physical activities can also foster a sense of
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  invincibility and mental strength.
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  Ultimately, Doctor Wright's message is one of empowerment.
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  She encourages women to invest daily in their health, recognizing their worth and the
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  importance of prioritizing their well-being.
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  It's about aging with power and embracing the strength that comes with it.
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  That's all for today's episode of Morning Medical with Doctor Chow.
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  I hope you found our discussions enlightening and informative.
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  Remember, your health is your wealth, and taking proactive steps today can lead to a
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  healthier tomorrow.
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  Until next time, stay healthy and take care.