Nutrition, Lifestyle, Aging and Chronic Illness.

Nutrition, Lifestyle, Aging and Chronic Illness.

Normal Changes Related to Aging:

In the course of the human life span, several normal changes occur in the body that may result in reduced function and various mental health and medical conditions.

Changes in Health Related to Aging:

These may be aggravated by a combination of genetic factors, lifestyle choices, physical and mental stress, environmental influences, medical and mental disease. There is a strong interest in identifying modifiable factors that can improve and maintain optimum health over the years. See Summary: Changes in Health Related to Aging

 

 

Prevention of Chronic Illness:

The focus has been shifting from only the cure of illness to prevention and encouraged the study of healthy lifestyle, balanced diet, exercise, avoiding smoking and substance use, healthy sleep habits, positive social relationships and treatment of medical and mental health conditions.

There is an interesting book published in 1934 by a pioneer of the Health Reform movement: Are Waerland : In the Cauldron of Disease, which raised concerns about the increasing excess consumption of sugar and denatured food product, and laid the early foundations of linking and diet and chronic illness.

Metabolic Syndrome:

 

In the last 20 years, there has been further per capita increase in consumption of sugars and processed foods in Europe and North America. There has now been more specific understanding of the underlying processes linking diet, lifestyle and chronic illness, the role of metabolic syndrome, and specific strategies strategies to mitigate impact of those factors. Two useful books, highlighting. those issues is by a doctor Robert H. Lustig: FAT Chance: 2012 a New York Times best seller, and Metabolical: 2021:The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine.

There has been increased incidence of  Metabolic Syndrome, which is a Constellation of Several Conditions that together increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, stroke, and cardiovascular problems, including heart attack. The features of metabolic syndrome are hypertension (high blood pressure), high blood sugar, dyslipidemia (abnormal levels of cholesterol and fat in the blood), and excess abdominal fat. Metabolic syndrome affects between 30% and 40% of adults by age 65. It is often asymptomatic and the diagnosis depends on blood tests and other clinical measures. Dietary and lifestyle changes are the first choice for treating metabolic syndrome, Medical symptoms may require medications. There may be Mental Health Symptoms as the condition worsens.

The Role of Visceral Fat:

How to Reduce Visceral Fat, Insulin ...

New research has shown that the most accurate Biomarker for Metabolic Syndrome and predictor of General Medical Health is Visceral or Abdominal Obesity including Non Fatty Liver Disease. Dr. Sean O’Mara Minnesota has utilized Abdominal MRI Scans for the identification of Visceral Obesity and has developed an effective treatment programs in his clinic to reverse some of the complications of Metabolic Syndrome. This involves Low Carbohydrate, High Protein Carnivore type Diet, and Peak Effort Exercise, that has resulted in unexpected findings and helped to develop effective treatment strategies with health benefits.

Nutrition and mental Health:

The role of nutrition and mental health has has long been ignored and underestimated, KETO diets were around since 1921 for treatment of seizure disorder recently popularized by Dr. Atkins. There has been increase interest in Keto  or low-carb high protein diets for the management of schizophrenia, Bipolar disorders, Depression, ADHD,  to improve mental wellness and resilience.

Dr. Georgia Ede is  a Harvard-trained, board-certified psychiatrist specializing in nutritional and metabolic psychiatry. Her passion is empowering people with psychiatric conditions to reduce or eliminate the need for medications by changing how they eat. But which changes are worth making, and why? Answering that question is what her work is all about. She  created Diagnosis:Diet in 2012 to help discover the powerful connection between  psychiatric or medical diagnosis and  diet, and to provide the information and inspiration needed to take control of your health. WHY is your body malfunctioning? Is there anything you can do beyond medications and operations to help restore it to good health? If you have a physical or mental healthproblem, the first place to look is your DIET. 

 

Her website and resources are invaluable: https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/, Her best interview is on UTube, The Diary of a CEO:  https://www.­youtube.com/watch?v=B7tnfSPySb0

Useful research summary for Keto Diet in Mental Health is Clinical-Rationale-for-KD-in-MH

Her book Change your Diet, Change your Mind, available from her website