OBESOGENS are chemicals that disrupt our hormones. They are also known as Endocrine Disruptors. As the names imply, they contribute to metabolic problems, including obesity and diabetes. They do it by altering our microbiome and by causing cell membrane toxicity, which leads to insulin resistance, among many other problems. There are over 800 chemicals in the environment, most of which may be found in our tissues and bloodstream. And they may be addictive. So, if you are trying to lose weight, make sure you address the above issues. (See below).
Hugo Rodier, MD
Exposure to chemicals in the womb and child weight gain
“NBC News (10/25/23, Mogg) “Babies exposed to a set of common chemicals while in the womb may be at higher risk of gaining weight rapidly during early childhood, a recent study suggests.” The study, “published last week in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, identified a link between exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in utero and a rapid increase in a child’s body mass index from birth to 9 years of age.” Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and polychlorinated biphenyls in particular pose the “biggest concern.”
~14% of adults/children addicted to ultra-processed foods
“USA Today (10/23/23, Al-Arshani) “An analysis of 281 studies in 36 countries…found that your inability to put down the ice cream, chips and candy may have less to do with your self-control and more to do with the addictive quality of ultra-processed foods.” Investigators found, “using the same guidelines for measuring substance abuse…that 14% of adults and 12% of children were addicted to ultra-processed foods.” The findings were published in the BMJ.”
Quality of carbohydrates in weight management
Healio Minute, October 20, 2023
“Carbohydrates from refined grains and starchy vegetables were linked to weight gain. Carbohydrates from whole grains, fruit and non-starchy vegetables were associated with less weight gain, and weight loss. The quality of carbohydrates [matters] in long-term weight management — particularly in those with excessive body weight. People should limit their intake of added sugar, sugar-sweetened beverages, refined grains and starchy vegetables and instead consume more whole grains, fruit and non-starchy vegetables.”
Comment: adding processed foods (based on genetically-modified soy AND high fructose corn sugar) to refined grains messes up your microbiome’s metabolism AND detoxification. AND immune system. See below.
Microbiome associated with colorectal cancer
Healio Minute, October 12, 2023
“The gut microbiome is linked to colorectal lesions, and future development of lesions, according to a presenter at UEG Week. Microbiome biomarkers may improve noninvasive tests for colorectal cancer. “The microbiome has been linked to colorectal cancer both directly by inducing renal toxicity or long-standing inflammation, but also indirectly through many different mechanisms.”
Comment: other “mechanisms” include metabolism and immune-detox issues. See metabolism, or obesity issues above. Warberg won the Nobel prize in 1931 for noting that processed sugars feed cancer. Remember that junk food contains obesogens.
Microbiome and women’s health beyond digestive symptoms
Healio Minute, October 12, 2023
“The microbiome includes bacteria that metabolize estrogen and influence circulating estrogen levels. Symptoms of dysbiosis can include bloating, gas, nausea and constipation with or without diarrhea.”
Comment: “dysbiosis” is the medical term for an unbalanced microbiome. Working on it will improve most, if not all, your health issues. Problems with estrogen metabolizing and/or detoxification are associated with gynecologic issues, including breast cancer, PMDD, endometriosis, and ovarian/uterine fibroids and cancer.
Red meat increases risk of developing T2D later in life
“CNN (10/19/23, Rogers) “A study by Harvard researchers suggests having just two servings of red meat per week increases risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life, and the risk further increases with greater consumption (American J. of Clinical Nutrition.) NPR (10/19/23, Aubrey) reports that study participants “who consumed high amounts of red meat also had higher BMIs. They consumed more calories and were less physically active compared to those who consumed the least red meat. HealthDay (10/19/23, Reinberg) reports, “People who ate the most red meat had a 62% higher risk for type 2 diabetes, compared with those who ate the least.”
Comment: meat is yummy. At least cut back. You could factor in animal and planet welfare. We may have to pry meat from your dead-cold hands. Your body, your choice.
Precision Medicine Has Been Overhyped
Hannah Docter-Loeb. September 28, 2023, J. Scientific American
“A new book argues that genomics is overshadowing environmental and social solutions to better health for all. During the past two decades or so, personalized medicine has gotten a lot of hype. The promise is this: researchers can use a person’s genetic data to help guide disease treatment and, in some cases, extend that person’s life expectancy when they are sick. The concept seems to make a lot of sense—nobody wants impersonal or imprecise medicine, and advocates point to success stories such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, a personalized immunotherapy that has proved useful against certain cancers. But as James Tabery (professor of philosophy at University of Utah) argues in his new book, Tyranny of the Gene, genetically customized drug regimens aren’t as effective as they are made out to be.”
Comment: the genetic revolution was fueled by the prospects of making money. It ignored the science of EPIGENETICS (the environment and our diets may trump genetic tendencies.) I advise my patients not to waste their money on genetic testing. Are doctors recommending such tests getting kickbacks?
Artificially sweetened drinks and higher depression risk
Healio Minute, September 29, 2023
“Artificial sweeteners and artificially sweetened beverages were linked to a high risk for depression. Reducing consumption of ultra-processed foods by at least three servings daily lowered that risk, according to the results of research published in JAMA Network Open. Recent research has indicated that diet may influence mental health — specifically, the risk for depression (Chatpol Samuthpongtorn, MD, a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard Medical School.) Although ultra-processed foods have been previously connected to health outcomes such as mortality, diabetes and CVD, there is not much evidence on associations between depression and ultra-processed foods.”
Comment: I am irritated that they write “diet may” influence mental health. I guess they didn’t get the ancient memo on “mente sana in corpose sano.” More irritating still, is the comment that “there is not much evidence to support” the established fact that junk food leads to junk thoughts. All of us only see what we look at.
Doxycycline as “morning-after pill” against STDs
“The AP (10/2/23, Stobbe) “U.S. health officials plan to endorse a common antibiotic as a morning-after pill that” can be taken to help prevent “some increasingly common sexually transmitted diseases.” The CDC on Monday released a new guideline, “and officials will move to finalize it after a 45-day public comment period.” It “comes after studies found some people who took the antibiotic doxycycline within three days of unprotected sex were far less likely to get chlamydia, syphilis or gonorrhea compared with people who did not take the pills after sex. STAT (10/2/23, Branswell, Subscription Publication) reports, “Studies have shown the so-called ‘doxy PEP’ regimen – a single, 200-milligram dose taken no later than 72 hours after unprotected sex – can reduce acquisition of chlamydia and syphilis by nearly 80%, and gonorrhea by about 50%.” Some studies into this use of the drug “were stopped early because they were so clearly effective.”
Comment: put this pill in your wallet/purse to keep the condom company.
