Monthly Archives: May 2012

Metabolism, Stress, Cold Hands & Feet

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I’ve been asked about (and have experienced) cold hands and feet on occasion. It’s not just a way of life, as it can be for some, but a true symptom of an underlying cause. External environment aside, the body isn’t meant to have cold hands or feet and stress is its most important factor. No, not running-from-a-lion stress (although that can be included), but dietary, physical, and mental (and thus all resulting in hormonal) stress can very easily be the cause.

You can live without an arm or a leg but you can’t live without a liver! (Paul Chek)

Paul is right. In a state of stress (or shock) the body will pull blood from the non-important areas of the body to bring it back into center where all of the vital organs reside. These vitals keep the body ticking; not-so-much the fingers, feet, or knee caps. The body knows exactly what it is doing and, as individuals, we must be responsible to keep an eye and ear out to understand, interpret and then react accordingly to what’s going on.

The temperature of [the] fingers, toes, and nose helps to interpret the balance between stress and thyroid; [the] fingers should be less cold as [the] metabolic rate comes up. In extreme hypothyroidism, the hands and feet can be very cold while the oral temperature looks o.k.; then as the metabolic rate increases, the difference between fingers and mouth decreases. (Ray Peat)

Thanks, Ray. He hit the nail even more on the head by correlating stress and thyroid function – metabolic rate, homeostasis, the epicenter of all-things-regulating-healthy-bodily-functions. Peat looks at the heart rate and body temperature as instruments in determining thyroid (metabolic) health.

It’s not rocket science to notice cold hands and feet, meaning you don’t need a thermometer to tell ya what you can experience through awareness. Why does it happen? Well, I can go on about diet, physical, and mental stressors, but I think I’ll be barking about what you intuitively already know. Instead, here are a few questions to get you pointed in a perspective direction…

  • What time of day do you experience cold hands and feet? Upon waking, before/after lunch, before/after dinner, before/after exercise, before/after bed.
  • What is your heart rate at the same times mentioned above?
  • Do you notice cold hands and feet or an increased/decreased heart rate when consuming certain foods/drinks, in between meals (note the duration), doing certain activities (exercise, showering, sleeping, work, school, sex), or pertaining to certain sleeping patterns (sleeping “on time” or enough)?

This perspective approach can be taken with ANYTHING, not just cold hands and feet. Lifestyle Journals are the new black.

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Understanding fat: Getting, gaining, storing, being, losing, burning

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In order to understand how to lose fat, there must be a darn good understanding of how and why fat storage occurs…

The body stores fat for a few reasons. Believe it or not, all fat storage is beneficial. Aside from the body using fat for warmth, brain mass, cell wall stability, steroid (sex) hormone production, metabolic, rate, digestion regulation, intestinal lining, detoxification, sunlight absorption, and vitamin absorption, fat storage also serves as a natural “band-aid” in response to all types of physical or mental stress…

  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Toxin and chemical exposure/consumption
  • Sluggish detoxification organs
  • Blood sugar handling issues
  • Indigestible, intolerant, allergenic, or nutrient-void foods
  • Dehydration or Over-hydration
  • Excess exercise
  • Irregular sleeping patterns
  • Self unhappiness
  • Unrealistic expectations
  • Strict deadlines
  • Experienced shames 
  • Lack of self-responsibility

Without this “band-aid” action, the body would not be able to survive. So, when fat storage occurs do not get angry, upset or try to beat yourself up in the gym or through diet restrictions – take it as a sign that your body is keeping itself alive, become aware of what your body is telling you, take the necessary (not drastic) steps to understand what is happening and why, and, most importantly, appreciate the majesty of that occurrence.


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Reduce stress and disease by removing morons

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So I’m reading through an article on Epilepsy and I come across this excerpt in the article – had to blog it…

By manipulating the diet and environment, [humans] can be made more or less [disease]-prone, and it happens that the changes that affect the brain affect all other organs, in ways that are now fairly well understood. Examining the cellular events associated with a [disorder] is useful for therapy and prevention of [disorders]… It is now clearly established that stress can cause brain damage, as well as other diseases. Now that our public health establishment has eliminated smoking from public places, maybe they can find a way to reduce stress and disease by removing morons from positions of power.

-Ray Peat

Dr. H.E. Sigerist on Health

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Health is promoted by providing a decent standard of living, good labor conditions, education, physical culture, means of rest and recreation… health is not simply the absence of disease; it is something positive, a joyful attitude toward life and a cheerful acceptance of the responsibilities that life puts upon the individual.

Dr. Henry E. Sigerist, Medical Historian and Social Visionary

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Sunday wrap-up May 27th

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Miss any posts this week?

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What is a lactose intolerance?

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A “Lactose intolerance” is a term full of hype with very little understanding as to what may be causing such an intolerance. Maybe it’s cool to say I’m lactose intolerant just like it’s cool to say I’m gluten intolerant because that’s what CNN decided to feature this week. What’s with all the not-asking-questions and just taking a diagnosis as fact? Why can’t we all enjoy a daily big-ass bowl of ice cream or even an occasional gallon challenge?

The body must produce the digestive enzyme Lactase in order to digest the milk sugar Lactose. This is an essential piece of the dairy sugar digestive process, BUT there are plenty of mishaps, obstacles, hurdles that can prevent the body from producing said enzyme. Ahem…

Heating/Pasteurization – Denatures the milk, which can cause issues when digesting “dead” nutrients (heat kills things, duh).

Additives – Carrageenan, lechitin, and gums can irritate the intestinal lining/mucosa layer, which can prevent the body from absorbing nutrients.

Allergens – A consumer can be allergic to the diet of the cow: grass for properly-raised cattle and grains, corn, soy, sawdust, or concrete for commercially-raised cattle. If a cow is eating sawdust I think there’s a bit more to worry about than an invidiual allergy to the stuff.

Gluten intolerance – Gluten can burn (create holes) through the mucosa layer, which lines the stomach and intestines. The protein can also flatten the Villi that line the small intestine due to irritation and inflammation, causing nutrient malabsorption (since the Villi literally grab and absorb food into the intestinal wall). The body can only do so much given the damage when digesting a digestive-enzyme specific food.

Intestinal bacteria imbalance (Dysbiosis) - A higher bad to good bacteria ratio can create bloating and inflammation (amongst other things). At this point, it’s tough to digest any food (not just dairy).

These are just a few perspectives. A Lactose Intolerance tends to be a symptom of a bigger cause. What’s that cause? That’s up to you to figure out.

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Over-Simplifying Ray Peat

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If you’re familiar with some of my previous physical-health-related posts you may have picked up on what I’m for or against. Much of my current health stance stems off of the work of Dr. Raymond Peat, his research via Hans Seyle & Gilbert Ling, and Peat’s blogging army of Josh Rubin, Matt Stone, Danny Roddy, Rob Turner, Tracie Hittman, & C02 Factor (to name a few). For the sake of getting-to-know-the-basics, below is a short-summary of Peat’s stance via Chris Rosenfelt, a Peat-a-tarian, as Roddy boasts…

“Dr. Peat believes that energy and structure are interdependent, therefore providing proper oxidative energy to the simplest, smallest unit of living matter, the cell. Cells form tissues, tissues form organs and organs form the human body, obviously this is in its very simplistic form but if you take care and provide the proper nutrients/energy to the cell then it should have a “ripple effect” throughout the organism.

So Dr. Peat’s philosophy is just about maintaining proper oxidative energy through the use of protective hormones and elements such as thyroid, pregnenolone, progesterone, testosterone, carbon dioxide, glucose, saturated fats and not letting the potentially negative hormones and elements (if chronically activated) like cortisol, adrenaline, estrogen, PUFA’s, ACTH, lactic acid, carbon monoxide, parathyroid, prolactin, TSH, protein kinase C, etc… get out of control in the body.”

What does this all mean [without context]?

Peat approaches health by breaking the body down into its simplest form: a cell. Providing a cell with the appropriate energy (fuel/nutrient-dense food) and the appropriate environment (pro-anabolic hormone, anti-stress hormone, excreting bacterial endotoxin, eating anti-inflammatory foods) will encourage the tissues, organs, muscles, bones, and blood (which are all made up of cells) to follow suit (hence the ripple effect). Sounds pretty simple, huh?!

Peat researches hormones and how diet/lifestyle can either help or hinder their appropriate release. I suggest starting with Roddy’s blog to get a general idea of what Peat promotes.

Regarding any diet changes or implementation – do your own research, figure out what works for you in the interim AND long run (the long run is HUGE), and consult a trained professional.

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The struggle effect via John Kim

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…neither having developed the love nor attainment of mastery in life, it is commonplace for people to struggle rather than to experience effortless flow. Without the natural flow, it is easy to struggle and suffer. When focused on struggling and suffering, it is easy to lose mindfulness. Without mindfulness, the way to developing insights to one’s own issues becomes limited. Without insights, it is easy to repeat one’s mistakes over and over again.

Tao of Healing: The integral way of healing
John Kim, MD

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Question: Nothing I do is ever good enough

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I often feel like I’m not good at anything – nothing I do is ever good enough for anyone’s standards, including my own. How can I stop this negative thinking?

Perspective:

Well, this seems to mainly be a matter of your own approval. While others can influence or sway your judgement, you are making the decisions are the end of the day – not anyone else. I wouldn’t necessarily classify it as “negative thinking,” rather “influenced thinking.” Try not to think negatively of your decisions because it’ll only manifest into more negativity. By taking a positive perspective on your thoughts, beliefs, actions, and reactions it can help you define what is “real” and what can be changed for the better. Always learn from the negatives by shifting them into positives.

Here are a few questions that may open some doors…

  • Define: “good enough”
  • Why do others have an influence on your decisions?
  • Define which people have an influence on your decisions (usually this is a family member or a peer whom you look up to) and why you allow them to hold such an influence.
  • What’s more important: Making yourself happy or making others happy?
  • Are you more upset with others for influencing or with yourself for allowing an influence (the true reality)?
  • Do you lack confidence in your own decisions? If so, why?
  • Do you disapprove of yourself? If so, why?
  • Trace back in your past to when and why this started happening. This will help define the cause – the “influenced thinking” is a symptom.

Self-approval can only be achieved through valuing and confiding in self – not through neglecting self, not through pleasing others, and not through appeasing others.

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Can an Ancient Chinese text still hold water?

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Tao Te Ching – Chapters 8-10

The supreme good is like water,
which nourishes all things without trying to.
It is content with the low places that people disdain.
Thus it is like the Tao.

In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don’t try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy.
In family life, be completely present.

When you are content to be simply yourself
and don’t compare or compete,
everybody will respect you.

Fill your bowl to the brim
and it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife
and it will blunt.
Chase after money and security
and your heart will never unclench.
Care about people’s approval
and you will be their prisoner.
Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity.

Can you coax your mind from its wandering
and keep to the original oneness?
Can you let your body become
supple as a newborn child’s?
Can you cleanse your inner vision
until you see nothing but the light?
Can you love people and lead them
without imposing your will?
Can you deal with the most vital matters
by letting events take their course?
Can you step back from you own mind
and thus understand all things?

Giving birth and nourishing,
having without possessing,
acting with no expectations,
leading and not trying to control:
this is the supreme virtue.

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