How Sweet It Is
Our love affair with anything sweet is undeniable. We indulge in soft drinks, fruit drinks, energy drinks, and a host of snacks that are loaded with sweeteners. Our justification is the label across the face of the product package that says, “FAT FREE.” As it turns out, that may not be true after all. New research released by Dr. Robert Lustig, Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of California in San Francisco, reveals that fully one third of the calories consumed as the sugar fructose are converted to cholesterol. And not just any cholesterol, but the worst kind: VLDL, the lipid that easily attaches to blood vessel walls to begin plaque formation.
Truth be told, that may not be the worst part of eating fructose. Your body processes fructose in much the same way as alcohol, but only the liver metabolizes fructose. In addition to VLDL, the liver makes uric acid and substances that cause liver inflammation (hepatitis). Risk increases for gout, hypertension, insulin resistance, and interference with the feedback mechanism that controls appetite (leptin resistance). If this looks like metabolic syndrome, that is because it is.
Even if you do not consume sweetened drinks, you probably eat fructose. All you have to do is buy processed or fast food. As food companies have reduced the fat content in foods, they have added sugar to improve the taste, usually in the form of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). It is in almost every processed food on the grocery shelf, from bread to catsup.
The next time you go grocery shopping, check the labels that go into your shopping cart. Eliminating or even reducing your consumption of fructose can go a long way to improving your health.
Kristi B. Weber is the LMG Laboratory Director and a Free-Lance Medical Writer
What’s Cooking? Shrimp and Mixed Vegetables en Papillote
One of my favorite ways to cook is en papillote, or in parchment paper. It’s a great way to cook one or two servings, and you can just toss out parchment – no dishes! Anything you cook in parchment comes out so full of flavor, it’s steaming and simmering in it’s own juices. People always seem intrigued and impressed by the little folded paper package they’re presented with. Once you’ve tried it a few times, you’ll see why I cook like this several nights a week. Of course, There are several different ways for folding a variety of foods into parchment packages.
Tonight’s dinner was shrimp and mixed veggies en papillote, and it’s so simple.
3 oz medium – large shrimp fresh or frozen, but tailed and de-veined
1/2 cup asparagus spears
1/2 cup broccoli
1/2 cup green beans
1/2 cup sliced red bell peppers
3/4 tbs olive oil
salt and pepper
one minced garlic clove or other seasonings (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350°
Tear out a 16″ – 20″ piece of parchment paper and place horizontally it on the counter. In the center, set the shrimp. Place veggies around the sides and on top of the shrimp. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper, minced garlic and seasonings. Fold the parchment – top third folded down, bottom third folded up, then twist the ends like you would twist a candy wrapper.
Bake in the oven about 20 minutes. Unwrap and serve with noodles, rice, or grains. total cal 263.0, total protein 23.5 g, total carbohydrates 18.7 g, total fat 11.6g
Dr. Dino Ramzi Joins Lacamas Medical Group
Dr. Ramzi was raised in Montreal and received his medical education at McGill University. He interned at St. Mary’s Hospital Centre and completed a Family Medicine residency at Montreal General.
Dr. Ramzi came to the US in 1996 to take a teaching position at Emory University and subsequently obtained a Master’s in Public Health. He became the medical director at Community Clinic, Inc. in Rockville, MD, in 2005. Dr. Ramzi joined Lacamas Medical Group in 2010.
Dr. Ramzi’s approach to patient care is patient centered— that is, to ethically combine the best scientific evidence available with the patient’s particular circumstances to come up with a recommendation to improve overall wellbeing.
Dr. Ramzi and his wife moved to the Northwest in 2008. They live in Camas where they enjoy exploring the community, music, literature, and travelling. They love living in the most beautiful place they have ever visited and can frequently be found eating out around town. They both volunteer at the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington.
Zumba! ~ My Hips Don’t Lie, and Neither Do my Abdominal Muscles
It’s been two weeks since I’ve joined the gym. I’ve taken several different classes including my favorite, Zumba! Of course, it appeals to the dancer in me – I can let go and really make it fun, but even a complete novice could get into it. The footwork is simple enough, and like aerobics you can take it to different levels. Unlike aerobics you are shaking and rolling your hips the entire time. The next day I can feel it in my abs and my sides. If I take this class (the offered) twice a week (along with the rest of my fitness regime) I will have abs of steel.
The other really fun looking things were the Zumba sticks. They are 2.5 lb weights with shakers on either end. A Zumba upper body toning class would be intense. We only did one song with them, which was fine. I didn’t get a pair of sticks, so I used a pair of the light weights, which were 3.5 lbs. I”ll make a point of getting a pair of sticks, next class. I still had a blast. You know the class is fun when you’re grinning the entire time. Also, my instructor told me that we burned 750 calories in class. Good thing, because I ate cake to celebrate my brother’s birthday that night!
I think I did pretty good last week. I went to the gym five out of seven days. My goal next week is to work out six out of seven days. My trainer, T-Pain, told me that it’s important to rest for a day. I purchased ten more sessions with him. Three is just the tip of the iceberg. I’d like to do three days of resistance training and cardio and three days of classes. I hope I make it to the strength/cardio aerobics class tomorrow. I’ll count it as arms, since half of the class uses weights.
**Looking to take classes in Washougal? Camas? Vancouver or Portland?
Out of Shape Athlete
Hi, I’m Rachel, and I’m an out-of-shape athlete. Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I took tons of dance classes. Then I went to college where I took a few dance classes, but was less active than before. I graduated, got a desk job, ate Ben and Jerry’s, got fat. Got pregnant, ate more Ben and Jerry’s, gained 100 pounds. Had baby, lost that 100 pounds, and guess what, still fat. Oh, people are nice, they don’t say I’m fat, but I’m overweight for sure, and easily obese when you actually sit down and look at the numbers. Being fat sucks – I’m tired, I can’t keep up with my daughter, my back hurts. I’m over it. I’ve made a commitment to spend the next year getting healthy. I joined the gym (paid a year in advance with my tax return – I figure that I am a good investment), and I’m going to start eating healthier. And I’m going to share it all right here. I’ll share my true weight and measurements, how to make yummy food that’s also good for you, how my workouts are going, anything that has to do with a healthier lifestyle.
To start out with, here are my measurements
Height: 5′2″, weight 187lbs
Circumference: neck 15.25″, chest 42.9″, upper arm 13.5″, forearm 11″, waist 42.1″, hip 44.25″, thigh 24.5″, calf 16″
Current body fat, calculated by skinfold: bicep 12%, tricep 37%, subscapula (below shoulder blade) 45%, Iliac crest (hip) 30%
I’ve been a member of “the gym” for 10 days now. As of today, I’ve had 3 personal training sessions, taken 2 classes (interval step and hip hop) and come in by myself 4 times. My muscles remember. They remember the good hurt, that soreness after a hard work out. They love to be stretched and pushed to their limit. It feels good to get fit.
~Rachel
Headed to Haiti
With the support of our community, and in conjunction with Project Helping Hands, Lacamas Medical Group has raised enough money to send three people to Haiti. Scott Jonason, PA-C; Jenn Kauffman, MA; and Justine Mings, RN will be headed to Haiti for two weeks towards the end of March. One of our providers, Dr. Tan Pinney has recently returned from Haiti.
Team 1, accompanied by Dr. Pinney left on February 4th. To say the first trip has had its challenges is an understatement. The trip was put on hold until then due to the immense response from the medical groups from around the world. They literally had too many medical professionals trying to get into Haiti, and not enough functioning hospiatals or clinics to utilize them. Additionally, the only airport in Haiti has such a back log of airplanes, that they cancelled any commerical carrier until the 16th of February. So, Team 1 was forced to find an alternate route. To that end, they have secured travel to the Dominican Republic and then traveld by bus to Haiti.
Team 2 has also been put in a holding pattern. The medical needs of the Haitians will go on long after the initial wave of volunteers has been exhausted. To that end, we are committed to travel to Haiti to provide medical assistance.
The Times, They Are A-changin’
Toward the end of March, there will be some staff changes, here at Lacamas Medical Group. Dr. Dhingra has decided to pursue opportunities closer to her home. We fully support her decision, as she will be able to spend more time with her family. She will be missed by her patients and co-workers, but we wish her the best.
Of course, this leaves a spot open for a new full time provider. Dr. Dino Ramzi will join LMG on March 29, 2010. We think that that he will be an excellent addition to LMG, and look forward to getting to know him.
