Total Health Hawaii, LLC

Dr. George K. Kosmides, DC, CCN, CMUA Dir.

93 Banyan Drive Hilo, HI 96720

Phone: (808) 747-5832 Fax: (818) 436-6125

www.TotalHealthofHawaii.com

Sugar Linked to Birth Defects

LONDON (UPI) — Researchers found pregnant women who eat foods with a high glycemic index such as cornflakes may increase the chance of birth defects. University of California researchers compared the diet of 454 mothers of children with neural tube defects like spina bifida, with 462 mothers who had healthy babies. The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found the risk of birth defects doubled in women who ate lots of foods that give a quick sugar hit such as potatoes, white rice, white bread and some soft drinks — and among obese women it quadrupled.

Andrew Russell, chief executive of the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus in London, said the research should be treated with caution and that further studies are needed. “Neural tube defect research is very complicated, and theories abound about the significance of sugars, proteins, vitamins and other micronutrients,” he told the BBC. “The idea that a sugar surge in the maternal blood could cause spina bifida, while not impossible, would need quite a lot of corroboration because there are so many other things that feed into the metabolic process.”

What candy (which is sugar) can do to you and to your kids:
Sugar is one of the most dangerous habits and addictions in our lives today. It is a proven fact that sugar increases insulin levels, which can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, premature aging, obesity, tooth and gum decay, stomach problems, mental disturbances and many other physical and mental problems.

Sugar use also creates blood sugar imbalances in the body. When blood sugar drops too low after eating a high-sugar food, the fuel supply to the body is impaired, with adverse effects on mental function, physical energy and emotional stability. Symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can range anywhere from headaches, irritability and shaking when hungry to explosive anger, panic attacks, or crying easily for no apparent reason. Sugar can affect the quality of your life and your health dramatically. Many studies have shown that sugar is very effective in weakening the immune system and is a source of fuel for feeding cancer and tumors.

• Sugar can suppress the immune system.
• Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children.
• Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
• Sugar can lead to alcoholism.
• Sugar can cause arthritis.
• Sugar can cause asthma.
• Sugar greatly assists the uncontrolled growth of Candida Albicans (yeast infections).
• Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.
• Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
• Sugar can increase cholesterol.
• Sugar can impair the structure of DNA.
• Sugar intake is higher in people with Parkinson’s disease.
• Sugar can damage the pancreas.
• Sugar can increase the body’s fluid retention.
• Sugar is enemy #1 of the bowel movement.
• Sugar can cause headaches, including migraine.
• Sugar plays a role in pancreatic cancer in women.
• Sugar can adversely affect school children’s grades and cause learning disorders.
• Sugar can cause depression.
• Sugar can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.
• Sugar can lead to the formation of kidney stones.
• Sugar can be a risk factor of gallbladder cancer.
• Sugar can be intoxicating, similar to alcohol.
• Sugar can worsen the symptoms of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• High sucrose intake could be an important risk factor in lung cancer.
• Sugar increases the risk of polio.
• High sugar intake can cause epileptic seizures.
• Sugar causes high blood pressure in obese people.
• Sugar can lead to prostate cancer.
• Sweet food items increase the risk of breast cancer.
• Sugar is a risk factor in cancer of the small intestine.
• Sugar causes constipation.
• Sugar can increase the risk of stomach cancer.
• Sugar can cause renal (kidney) cell carcinoma.
• Sugar can cause liver tumors.
• Too much sugar can kill your sex life.
• Sugar can cause fatigue, moodiness, nervousness and depression.
• Sugar is common choice of obese individuals.
• High fructose consumption has been linked to liver disease.
• Sugar adds to the risk of bladder cancer.

The concern is not only about kids, according to the National Confectioners Association, “40 percent of American adults admit to stashing a few pieces of candy from the trick-or-treat bowl, and the candy association also found that:

• 41% admit that they sneak sweets from their own candy bowl.
• 62% of adults plan to give candies because “it’s a personal favorite” or a household tradition (55%).
• 90% of parents admit they sneak “goodies” from their kids’ trick-or-treat bags.

Albumin in Urine

The presence of high levels of albumin in urine is indicative of malfunctioning kidneys.

Proteins have often been referred to as the building blocks of the body. The body needs various types of protein to maintain optimal health. Albumin and immunoglobulin are both proteins that play an integral role in the coagulation of blood and maintenance of body fluids. These also help in fighting off infections. A person diagnosed with abnormal amounts of urine needs immediate medical attention.

Persistently high levels of albumin in urine are indicative of a pathological condition called albuminuria. In general, the presence of excessive amounts of serum proteins in urine is medically referred to as proteinuria.

• “Under normal circumstances, the large-sized proteins cannot pass through glomeruli. Glomeruli are the intertwined clusters of capillaries in kidneys. These act as filtering screens for blood. Healthy kidneys retain the proteins and remove only the wastes from protein-rich blood. The presence of abnormal amounts of albumin in a urine sample is basically indicative of malfunctioning kidneys”

Albumin in Urine: Symptoms

Before I move on to the circumstances under which the levels of albumin may go way beyond the normal range, let me provide you with information on the symptoms of albuminuria. It is usually difficult to detect the symptoms of albuminuria in the initial stages. However, one may experience certain symptoms in event of leakage of large amounts of albumin into the urine.

· Foamy urine is one of the most common symptoms of albuminuria.

· High levels of urine albumin may also manifest in the form of edema.

· Low energy levels or fatigue may also be experienced by the patient.

· If kidney function deteriorates, one could even gain weight.

Elevated levels of urine albumin can make women susceptible to premature delivery during pregnancy.

Albumin in Urine: Causes

Ideally albumin should not be present in urine, but when the kidneys are not working properly, albumin might pass through the glomeruli and find its way into the urine. High albumin levels are indicative of damaged or defective glomeruli in one's kidneys. Thus, determining the levels of urinary albumin can help in diagnosing whether an individual is suffering from any renal disease or not. Generally people suffering from type 1 diabetes are at an increased risk of developing albuminuria. Other conditions that may have an adverse effect on the kidney function and cause albuminuria include hypertension, liver cirrhosis, heart failure or systemic lupus erythematosus. Medication side effects are also a predominate cause of kidney damage.

Albumin in Urine: Diagnosis and Treatment

The levels of urine albumin can be monitored with the help of diagnostic tests. A routine dipstick test can be performed to see if the big protein molecules are retained in the blood, while the kidneys filter out just the smaller impurities. Sometimes proteins can appear in the urine due to high levels of protein in blood which is why doctors may check the protein levels in blood as well. As mentioned earlier, pregnant women with high urine albumin levels are likely to have premature deliveries. Elevated levels of urine albumin may cause blood vessel problems, which may consequently hamper the fetal growth and trigger a premature delivery. Thus, urine tests must be conducted at regular intervals to check the levels of urine albumin during pregnancy.

Ordering a microalbumin urine test so as to monitor the levels of urine albumin, when suspecting deterioration of kidney function. Testing the urine sample for albumin and checking the albumin creatinine ratio can help assess the condition of the patient's kidneys to a great extent. In case of a healthy individual, the level of urinary albumin in a random urine sample must lie within the range of 0 to 8 mg/dl. If the urine sample has been collected over a period of 24 hours, the level of albumin must not go beyond 150 mg. If the urinary albumin levels go beyond the normal range, it is indicative of malfunctioning kidneys.

If the kidney is damaged, albumin levels in urine will be high even if the blood levels are normal. Wondering how to reduce albumin in urine? Well, treating the underlying cause would certainly prove beneficial.

Kidney malfunction is bound to have an adverse effect on the bodily processes that are vital to the overall healthy functioning of the body. Since albuminuria is a sign of kidney problems, monitoring the levels of urine albumin can help in timely diagnosis and treatment of kidney disorders. Needless to say, a timely diagnosis and supportive treatment coupled with lifestyle-related changes can arrest the progression of renal disease and help to avert the fatal repercussions of kidney dysfunction.

Shrimp with Fresh Green Beans and Hamakua Vine-Ripened Tomatoes

10-15 Shrimp

2 cups fresh green beans chopped

3-4 small vine ripened tomatoes

1 T ghee

Shrimp naturally have a flavorful, salty taste.  Heat the ghee in a pan. Add shrimp. Saute in the green beans and tomatoes. 

Purple Sweet Potato Salad

Bring 10 small potatoes to a boil in a pot of water. Once it boils for a few minutes, turn off heat and leave pot covered for 20 minutes.  After 20 minutes, check potatoes with a fork to see if they are cooked.

Dice about 2 tablespoons of fresh chives.

Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil 

1 pinch of celtic sea salt (optional)

Serve warm or cold.

The natural sweetness of the potatoes make a nice compliment with a savory main dish.

Pictured here with baked chicken and Spanish brown rice. 

Chicken breast with Daikon and Shiitake brown rice

Shiitake brown rice | Add a 5 inch piece of kombu to the rice pot with 1/2 cup shiitake mushrooms. Add assorted vegetables of your choice (optional)

Chicken breast with Daikon

2 chicken breasts

1 c sliced daikon

1 T grated ginger

1 T low sodium shoyu

Saute in pan and simmer for 20 minutes.

serves 4