Host: Anti-Aging Psychologist Dr. Michael Brickey

Guest: Dr. Larry McCleary

Broadcast and podcast on webtalkradio.net. The podcast is also on the links below (to download, right click download and select “save target as.”)

Nutritional advice is a tower of Babble. There are many theories that have little research to support them. The US government’s Food Pyramid and recommendations reflect more of a political process than a scientific process. The marketplace is full of hype for products and services. The answers on what really fosters wellness and longevity will ultimately come from scientific research. The strength of Dr. McCleary’s advice is that it is based in research and clinical experience.

To the extent that there is any consensus among anti-aging researchers and holistic medicine practitioners, it would be a Mediterranean diet, with fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, fish and lean meats (or vegetarian protein substitutes). Dr. McCleary generally agrees with the Mediterranean diet but would minimize grains and starches, go easy on fruit juices and fruits that have high glycemic indexes, and prefer coconut oil to olive oil. Dr. McCleary developed his recommendations from a perspective of what optimizes brain functioning, what helps energy levels, and what helps with weight loss.

The closest researcher that I am aware of is Barry Sears, Ph.D., a chemist who has spent more than thirty years researching hormones, diabetes, and weight loss. Sears and McCleary agree on the importance of fish oil and that insulin is the key to weight loss. Sears advocates 30% fats, 30% protein, and 40% healthy carbohydrates. Thus, he advocates far less fat than McCleary. He believes his Zone diet can keep insulin levels stable and hormone levels in a healthy balance.

Sears believes a ketogenic diet does reduce blood insulin resistance but increases insulin resistance in the liver and increases cortisol production. Cortisol causes inflammation which Sears sees as the common denominator of most chronic diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. You will recall that McCleary’s interest in ketogenic diets came from using a ketogenic diet with children who had seizures.

Sears characterizes the Atkins diet as rich in (long chain) saturated fats and Omega 6 fatty acids. McCleary tends to favor healthier fats than the typical Atkins diet. Sears sees two destructive mechanisms of an Atkins diet. First, that its (long chain) saturated fats and Omega 6 fatty acids foster inflammation. Second, that when the brain doesn’t get its glucose, the cortisol it produces breaks down muscle tissue to help produce glucose.

Sears says that people lose weight on an Atkins diet for about six months and then gain the weight back and more because of damage from cortisol production, inflammation, and hormonal changes. You can hear my podcast with Dr. Sears in the Ageless Lifestyles archives.

McCleary suggests that while the brain’s main food is glucose, it also thrives on ketones. The question is whether the glucose and ketones in McCleary’s diet would produce enough brain fuel to not prompt cortisol production and the damage cortisol can produce.

Keep in mind that high fat diets and their increased ketone production can be hard on kidneys and need more water to excrete excess ketones. Also, be alert for any signs of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Among anti-aging researchers there seems to be some shift away from high carbohydrate diets. While the jury is still out, carefully observe how your body responds to what you eat, get periodic blood tests, and be careful.

Dr. McCleary’s website is www.DrMcCleary.com. Brickey’s other websites are www.DrBrickey.com and www.Anti-Aging-Speaker.com.

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Host: Anti-Aging Psychologist Dr. Michael Brickey

Guest: Natural Health Nutritionist Dr. Gary Null

Broadcast and podcast starting: June 8, 2009 on webtalkradio.net. After 6-15-09 the podcast is also on the links below (to download, right click download and select “save target as.”)

There is a rich literature on natural cures for headaches, digestive problems, allergies, and other health problems. But how do you tell help from hype? Is it safe and does it work? Natural Health Nutritionist Dr. Gary Null is the author of 70 books on health including his most recent book, Be a Healthy Woman, has been studying and advising millions on alternative health and natural healing for three decades. Today he shares his knowledge with us.

Dr. Null has never shared his real secret to health and longevity. With more than 70 books, more than 20 films, competing in marathons, counseling thousands, and bridging  nutrition, self-development, politics, and even pet care. I’m convinced that he has figured out how to clone himself. Dr. Null’s is a renaissance man who has an extraordinarily holistic view of health and wellness including physical, mental, and spiritual. He is into mindfulness and is a wonderful story teller.

His books excoriate  caffeine, alcohol, and meat. At a more controversial level, he advocates removing mercury fillings from teeth, chelation, magnet therapy, and questions the safety of vaccines. The sources he typically cites are experts he has interviewed. If you are looking for traditional research that footnotes lots of references, you will be frustrated. If you are looking for new ideas to consider or try, you are at a feast.

A note on his references to some people living well into Mediterranean, Eastern European, and Eastern countries living extremely long lives are controversial: The oldest well documented centenarian was Jeanne Calment, a Frenchwoman who lived to 122. There are many claims of people living much longer but researchers as skeptical as documentation is poor and their cultures revere living long which gives an incentive to exaggerate.

The concept that that the biggest factor in health and longevity is being happy is profound. Also profound is his epiphany that getting healthier starts with beliefs and values. I was also impressed with how Gary generally supported a Mediterranean diet but emphasized how you eat is as important as what you eat. Thus, slow leisurely meals with family do wonders for your health.

Dr. Null’s website is www.GaryNull.com. Dr. Brickey’s other websites are www.DrBrickey.com and www.Anti-Aging-Speaker.com.

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Host: Anti-Aging Psychologist Dr. Michael Brickey

Expert Guest: Dr. Michelle May

Broadcast and podcast starting: 7-21-08 on webtalkradio.net after 7-28-08 podcast availabe on the links below (to download, right click download and select “save target as.”)

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Host: Anti-Aging Psychologist Dr. Michael Brickey

Expert Guest: Chef Alexander Bernard

Broadcast: 4-28-08 on webtalkradio.net

after 5-8-08 availabe at the links below (to download, rightclick and select save target as…)

At home you know how fresh your food is and how it’s cooked. While one of life’s great pleasures is eating at a restaurant, how do you know whether you are getting fresh, healthy, nutritious food? What happens behind the scenes? How do you know if the Chef’s Special is the chef’s best, or yesterday’s leftovers. Is the chef loading the food with lard to make it tastier? Today’s guest, Chef Alexander Bernard knows the ins and outs of the restaurant business and will be our guide. Chef Alexander is head chef and owner of the renowned Alexander’s Restaurant in Naples Florida and is the author of the about to be released cookbook, Alexander’s Restaurant. In the first part of the show we’ll take a look at what goes on behind the scenes of a restaurant. In the second half of the show we’ll focus on practical advice on how to get nutritious, delicious foods that won’t clog your arteries or add the pounds.

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