Sucralose

Everyone wants to put on their blinders when it comes to sugar substitutes.

“Zero grams of sugar” sounds perfect!

But that teaser should always be a red flag until you read the ingredient list. Does it contain sucralose?

A new study shows that sucralose raises such serious health concerns that one of the lead researchers said, “it is something you should not be eating.”

The research showed that sucralose breaks DNA and contributes to leaky gut syndrome. A key metabolite of sucralose increases activities of genes related to oxidative stress and inflammation.

This is not just some nutritionist on a rant about artificial sweeteners. This research was done at the Biomedical Engineering Department at North Carolina State University.

And for now? Check that ingredient list.

Lab Meat

Would you eat lab-grown meat?

The USDA just approved two companies to sell “chicken” that’s cultivated in a lab rather than coming from a live animal.

The companies (GOOD Meat and UPSIDE Foods) begin with stem cells taken from chickens and then grow them with nutrients in a bioreactor. These companies officially call it “cell-cultured” chicken.

Sound tasty??

You may have heard talking points in the news that this product is nutritionally equivalent to real chicken or that it will leave a smaller carbon footprint. But I think it raises more questions than answers. Like…

• Does it actually provide the same nutrients as real meat?
• Will it be digested in the same way or cause digestive problems?
• Is there any chance it could trigger food reactions or allergies?

Lab-grown chicken will be sold in restaurants first – beginning in San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

Muscle fat linked to cognitive decline

This was just discovered, but it makes sense.

Researchers measured muscle fat in 1,600+ adults in their 70s and tracked their cognitive function over 10 years. They found that increases in muscle fat from year 1 to year 6 were associated with greater cognitive decline over time.

This is the first time muscle fat has been linked to brain health, but I say it makes sense because muscle fat also correlates with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, which both increase dementia risk.

And ALL of these things relate to metabolism.

The takeaway here is that we MUST address metabolic health if we want to preserve brain health over the years.

Sauna

Did you know?

Sauna bathing produces similar benefits as aerobic exercise, and a post-workout sauna compounds exercise benefits.

A journal review that just came out in Mayo Clinic Proceedings said that sauna bathing is so beneficial for the cardiovascular system that it’s a good alternative for people who cannot exercise because of physical limitations.

So how is it done?

Sauna bathing is especially common in Finland and other Nordic countries, and here’s how they do it:

• The sauna is dry, with a temperature of 150 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
• A session involves short bursts of 5-20 minutes in the sauna, alternating with intervals of cooling off in a pool or cold shower.
• Sessions are done 1-3 times a week.

Saunas will make you sweat! If you do decide to try it, take it slowly at first and listen to your body. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, take time to cool down, and leave if you feel dizzy or unwell. Remember – none of this is medical advice!

I’m all for working smarter, not harder, and sauna is one of those practices that packs a big benefit with a little effort.