Tags: milk, Soy, thyroid, Today Show
Milk Alternatives Discussed on the Today Show Posted on March 23rd, 2010
Yesterday the popular Today Show featured a segment on alternative milks. Good for them. As a health educator with 27 years of experience dealing with people with food allergies, many people are allergic or intolerant to milk. This can manifest in watery eyes, weight gain or digestive and respiratory problems. It is interesting to note that Sweden has the highest milk consumption in the world and the highest rate of osteoporosis. Useful alternatives are rice milk, almond milk, hemp milk and coconut milk. I am not in favor of soy milk because of its estrogenic effect – an increase in estrogen activity. Soy consumption can suppress thyroid function plus block the absorption of iron and B vitamins. Soy infant formulas are now banned in Britain, Germany and Israel. Calcium is an essential mineral and necessary for bone health but calcium can also be derived from a variety of food sources such as nuts, vegetables and certain grains or a by taking a calcium supplement. The piece was well done and offered a wide range of milk alternatives but many of them also have downsides. Skim milk, one of the “featured milks” on the program also has its downside. It is still cows’ milk – minus the excess fat. Skim milk can still cause problems for milk-intolerant people. Find out the truth for yourself. First thing in the morning when your stomach is empty, sit down to a glass of milk, wait 20 minutes and note any of the reactions described above. This is called a “challenge test” which I describe in more detail in my book “The Body Knows – how to tune in to your body and improve your health.”
Tags: airborne allergies, caffeine, New York City, pollution, Today Show
Hoda Kobt Suffers Like Many Others Posted on February 20th, 2010
Are you like Hoda with bags under your eyes? Recently I observed that Hoda Kobt, peppy host along with Kathy Lee Gifford of the Today Show, displays a common complaint shared by men and women – an extra set of luggage – right under the eyes.
Fatty deposits under the eyes which appear at a “certain age” are related to menopause or andropause (male menopause) sun damage, genetics or food allergies. Hoda Kobt now in her mid-forties is probably entering peri-menopause – a stage in life when estrogen levels start to decline and skin starts to sag. Bags under the eyes have other causes too. Hoda lives in New York City where poor air quality and pollution can lead to toxicity – thus an extra load on the kidneys. Airborne inhalants such as dust, dust mites, cats and feathers can all be contributing factors to eye puffiness. But I wouldn’t be surprised if that morning cup of coffee that she sips along with her side-kick Kathy Lee could be a contributing factor especially if it’s laced with cream. Dairy products are well known common allergens and contribute to fluid retention especially under the eyes. Bill Clinton is another example of eye puffiness, something that in my observation appeared to worsen after the Monica Lewinski debacle. Helpful strategies are: avoid dairy products, remove cats, dogs and feathers from the sleeping environment, purchase an air filter and schedule some acupuncture treatments to support the liver and kidneys – the body’s flushing system. Failing this, Blepharoplasty, a very successful surgical procedure to remove lower eye puffiness could be considered.