Nutrition & Science

In the conclusion of Dr. Sean Bourke’s post on sodium (salt) and its impact on blood pressure the real culprit of hypertension is revealed – and it’s not coming from your salt shaker!

Sodium (salt) is often associated with hypertension (high blood pressure) and is therefore commonly considered “bad.” But sodium is an essential electrolyte. Why suddenly the bad rap? And is salt really so bad for us? Dr. Sean Bourke suggests we dig a bit deeper and look at the data around blood pressure and salt.

This feature from 60 Minutes last night is not to be missed. Dr. Sanjay Gupta discusses the dangers of excess sugar consumption with Dr. Robert Lustig and other scientists in the field. Dr. Lustig provided an exclusive lecture to the JumpstartMD staff in 2011 and this new information is invaluable to our patients.

The conclusion of Dr. Sean Bourke’s post discussing whether or not the simplistic notion that “a calorie is a calorie,” is truly accurate when it comes to weight loss, weight gain and weight maintenance.

“A calorie is a calorie,” no matter the source, is physics. The body is biology. Describing how much energy could be generated by burning a food speaks to the simplistic idea that “we are what we eat,” but says absolutely nothing about a more accurate evolution of that phrase, “we are what our bodies do with what we eat.”

A calorie is a calorie – plain and simple. But is that really true? Having spent the last several years at JumpstartMD helping people achieve weight management goals they never previously thought possible, CEO & Co-founder, Dr. Sean Bourke thinks there is more to the story.

Dr. Peter Attia is a Renaissance man and “self-experimenter” who has spent the last 2 years examining the role of nutrition as it relates to all aspects of personal performance.

BEWARE! …of what you consume – Halloween candy adds up quickly. Don’t get tricked by your treats! Check out this comparison of the calories, grams of fat and grams of carbohydrates in different types of Halloween candy.

Halloween is upon us, and with it comes everything pumpkin. As we all know, Halloween is not only for kids and does not only involve candy. At this time of year, we are confronted with lots of yummy and waistline-sabotaging treats, including pumpkin ales and pumpkin lattes! We’ve done some research, and discovered some pretty scary numbers.

As the fall chill sneaks into the air, the leaves begin to turn, and we start thinking of Halloween costumes and Thanksgiving dinner. We naturally start to crave the warming comfort foods that are prevalent at this time of year. Here is a guide to help you make some good seasonal choices – and try to avoid the diet pitfalls. Just remember, this is the beginning of the holiday season, so set yourself up now to maintain a healthy diet in the face of social challenges.