blog number 3 - exercise, blood lipids and brain activity Booth et al. Waging war on physical inactivity: using modern molecular ammunition against

Booth et al. Waging war on physical inactivity: using modern molecular ammunition against an ancient enemy J Applied Physiology 93: 3-30, 2002

Physical inactivity, as shown in 61 studies involving 2,200 subjects, decreased blood HDL (remember high-density lipoprotein is the so called good fat) cholesterol by 4.4%, which would be an approximate reduction in risk for coronary heart disease by 4% in men and 6% in women. Physical inactivity was found to accentuate a fall in blood HDL cholesterol when fat content in the diet is decreased compared with physically active group. Physical inactivity in the absence of simultaneous dietary interventions resulted in mean increases in Triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol of 3.8, and 1.0%, respectively.

“Physical inactivity markedly increases fasting and postprandial (after meal) triglyceride-rich lipoprotein levels.”

Imagine what would happen if we could convince people to value eating lots of fiber (100 grams per day), game meats and convincing them to exercise vigorously. The result would be better than any drug study EVER conducted. This is guaranteed and I challenge anyone to conduct the randomized control trial. I will volunteer my time and expertise!

Exercise and Gallbladder Function

“Change et al. demonstrated that low levels of physical activity are associated with gallstone formation. Sedentary behavior, as assessed by the time spent sitting, was positively associated with the risk of cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal) in a prospective study of 60,290 women. In the same study, an average of 2-3 h of recreational exercise per week appeared to reduce the risk of cholecystectomy by ~20%”.

“There are multiple suggestions for the mechanism(s) by which physical inactivity produces gallstones. Leitzmann et al. speculates that there are probably several metabolic pathways by which physical inactivity may increase the risk of gallstone disease, independent of the effect of physical inactivity on body weight”.

“For example, physical inactivity could increase the risk for gallstones by increasing glucose intolerance even in the absence of weight loss, raising billary cholesterol levels, thus preventing cholesterol from precipitating in the bile, increasing serum triglyceride levels, increasing exposure to ovarian hormones, and slowing colonic transient time, all factors related to an increase risk of developing gallstones.” (And a plethora of other illnesses including cancer!)

“Heaton indicated that physical inactivity is a plausible cause of gallstones because its metabolic consequences are similar to those of obesity, including insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia.” (Insulin resistance is intricately involved with virtually every illness)

Exercise and Brain Function

“There is extensive research documenting the relationship between physical and neuronal activity. Twelve percent of the recorded CA 1 pyramidal cells (an area in the brain called the hippocampus) were selectively active while the rat (experimentations using rats) was wheel running. The discharge frequency of pyramidal cells and interneuron’s was sustained as long as the rat ran continuously in the wheel.”

What this means is that exercise improves brain health and homeostasis (total health) in several ways. There is no doubt that aerobic activity is required for proper cardiovascular health and that cardiovascular health is required for brain health. It is not possible to have proper blood flow to the brain without a healthy cardiovascular system.

There is no doubt that proprioception is required for homeostatic afferent neurology (afferent means going in and in contrast efferent means going out - there is 40 times the amount of information going back into your brain than going out) and that homeostatic afferent neurology is required for homeostatic brain stimulation and health. It is not possible to have proper afferent nerve flow to the brain without a healthy proprioceptive system. It is not possible to have a healthy proprioceptive system without proper spinal movement (exercise and subluxation-free).

Peter Thibodeau, DC

Eat Well, Think Well, Move Well

                                                                Insulin and Glycation

Oxidation and free radicals have become movie stars over the last few years, but sadly glycation has been virtually ignored. Glycation is the same as oxidation except substitute the word glucose. When you glycate something you combine it with glucose. Glucose combines with almost anything; it's a very sticky molecule. 

Glucose especially binds or sticks to proteins. The glycation of proteins is very significant. If these conjugates stick around a while it produces what are called advanced glycated end products. This acronym is very meaningful; it translates to A.G.E.'s.

Glycation damages proteins to the extent that white blood cells will come around and phagocytize it in order to get rid of it. The result of getting rid of this protein is that you are forced to synthesize more and this puts more of a strain on your ability to repair and maintain your body. 

An even worse scenario is that some glycated proteins can't turn over very rapidly, like the proteins in collagen and nerve tissue. These glycated proteins cannot be disposed of, so the protein accumulates, and the A.G.E.'s accumulate and they continue to do cellular damage. Some of the glycated proteins are deposited in the collagen that makes up the matrix of arteries. A.G.E.'s are so toxic that we know that there are hundreds of receptors for A.G.E.'s on every macrophage. The real problem is what happens when these macrophages combine an A.G.E. product. 

It sets up an inflammatory reaction in the arterial collagen and this of course is one of the causes of cardiovascular disease. The same inflammation is also implicated in arthritis, headaches and virtually all other inflammatory diseases. High carbohydrate diets lead to insulin resistance and high blood glucose levels. High blood glucose levels leads to glycated proteins and A.G.E.'s which make the person very pro-inflammatory.  HIGH CARBS AND STRESS!

Peter Thibodeau, DC

www.thibodeauwellnessscience.com