The Sequoia Advisor

IN THIS ISSUE                                                       July 1^st 2011

• Aging Gracefully
• Protein is Not Just for Muscles
• NVA Osteoporosis Resource Center Update!
  
• The Truth About Dry Cat Food
• Bone Health Podcasts Coming Soon!
   

Feel Better... Live Better

Aging Gracefully
By Woody McMahon

Would you like to reduce stress and improve your bone health but
don't know where to start? I provide an easy to follow program called
Be Bone Strong! that helps improve your bone health, posture, balance
and strength while reducing fracture risk. Contact me anytime for a
no cost consultation at 703-628-2880 or email to
woody@sequoiahealth.com.

Protein is Not Just for Muscles
by Woody McMahon

The Importance of Protein
If you are having trouble with your bones, weight or any other health
condition, one of the difficulties may be a lack of complete protein. As
you get older, many health conditions can be tied to a lack of good quality
protein. Weight gain is usually caused by stress overeating of simple
carbohydrates which are very low in protein. The typical American breakfast
of coffee, toast, bagel, doughnut or cereal can add to the problem because it
contains minimal amounts of protein. If you avoid drinking milk or eating
eggs for breakfast, your protein deficiency can be magnified even further.

How Your Body Uses Protein
Protein foods are digested in the stomach and broken down into smaller
units called amino acids. Your body then uses the amino acids to build new
tissues as well as repair old ones. Some of the amino acids are converted
into hormones such as adrenalin and insulin. If excess protein is consumed
then it is either used as energy or stored as fat. Excess protein intake
(like the Atkins diet) is very stressful on your body and can cause
dehydration and kidney damage.

Protein as the Builder
Protein is one of the major structural building blocks of the body. It can
be found in many different areas including the bone, brain, skeletal
muscles, red blood cells, skin, hair and nails, the heart and blood vessels
and other major organs. Scientists estimate that about 50% of the human
body's dry weight is made up of protein. Getting the correct balance of
protein is essential for a healthy heart, strong bones, powerful muscles
and an efficient and balanced immune system.

Protein Increases Bone Strength
Protein is the essential building block for bone matrix and stronger
bones. You already know about the importance of calcium but the matrix is
the place where calcium goes to be stored. A lack of matrix means less
places to store calcium resulting in weaker bones that are more susceptible
to fracture. Calcium by itself cannot make bones stronger. It takes
adequate and high quality protein to build the matrix and keep bones
fracture free.

Muscles Need Protein
Muscles need protein to repair themselves after weight training or any other
strenuous exercise. New muscle tissue is formed from the amino acids that
are created by the digestion of dietary protein. Together exercise and high
quality protein can combine to help repair damaged muscle tissue as well as
build new muscle and slow the muscle loss associated with aging.

Good Protein Sources
Getting the correct amount and type of protein is important for good
health. Both too little and too much protein can have unwanted health
consequences. Trying to include foods that contain complete sources of
protein at every meal helps ensure an adequate supply of amino acids. A
complete protein is one that contains all 9 essential amino acids.
Essential amino acids are ones that the body "can't live without." Some of
the best sources of protein can be found in the meat group: fish, chicken,
beef, lamb and pork; the dairy group: milk, eggs, plain yogurt and cheese;
the plant group: beans and lentils and the nut group: nuts and seeds.

Strenuous Exercise Doesn't Mean You Need Extra Protein
Contrary to popular belief, people who exercise vigorously or are trying
to put on muscle mass don't need to consume extra protein. Studies show
that weight-trainers who don't eat extra protein (either in food or protein
powders) still gain muscle at the same rate as weight-trainers who
supplement their diets with protein. A very high protein diet can strain
the kidneys and liver and prompt excessive loss of the mineral calcium and
water.

Calculating Your Protein Amount
The amount of protein you need in your diet depends on your weight, age,
activity levels and health.

To see a more accurate guide to your daily protein needs, use this simple
protein calculator:

http://www.healthcalculators.org/calculators/protein.asp

Try these healthy lifestyle changes for 30 days. Feel what it is like to be
a part of the health solution rather than a health burden. If you need
additional suggestions and advice on living a healthier lifestyle, email or
call me for a no cost consultation, at 703-628-2880 or email to
woody@sequoiahealth.com.

Osteoporosis Support News

Posture Perfect! at St. Thomas a' Becket in Reston!

The Northern Virginia Osteoporosis Resource Center is scheduled to
open sometime early this September. It will be one the first of its kind
offering BoneSafe^TM clinics, Personal Training, Yoga, Tai Chi classes and
consultations for people with osteoporosis, osteopenia and other
bone health problems.

You can read more about The NV Osteoporosis Resource Center at:
http://sequoiahealth.com/osteo resource center

We just started another Posture Perfect! class at St. Thomas a' Becket.
More classes are forming soon so please call Woody McMahon at
703-628-2880 or email to woody@sequoiahealth.com for more
information, class times and reservations.

Pets and People 

After all, the bags say it's "complete and balanced," it's easy to feed,
and most cats seem to like it. Unfortunately, dry pet foods, even the
high-priced premium and veterinary brands, are the equivalent of junk food
for pets. Feeding dry food to cats is no different than feeding sugared
cereals to kids.

Cats are obligate carnivores. This means they need meat to survive. They
cannot get enough nutritional support from plant-based proteins such as
grains and vegetables, because, unlike humans and dogs, they lack the
specific enzyme that processes plant-based proteins metabolically. They
need little or no carbohydrates in their diet. Feeding foods high in
carbohydrates leads to any number of degenerative diseases, including
diabetes, kidney disease, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Many pet owners feed dry food because it can be left out during the day
without spoiling while the cat is left at home alone. This method of free
choice feeding is one of the leading contributors to obesity in cats.
Cats, by nature, are hunters, and it does not make sense that they should
need access to food 24 hours a day. Meal feeding twice a day mimicks their
natural hunting behavior much closer, and by feeding controlled portion
sizes twice a day rather than leaving food out all day long, calorie
intake, and weight, can be controlled without the cat going hungry.

Dry food is the leading cause behind most urinary tract problems in cats.
While cats who eat only dry food will generally drink more water, they
still don't get enough moisture to support all their bodily functions and
essentially live in a constant state of low level dehydration, which can
lead to bladder and kidney problems.

Due to the high carbohydrate content, dry food dumps unnaturally high
levels of sugar into the cat's bloodstream, which can lead to an imbalance
of its natural metabolic process. In extreme cases, this can, and often
does, lead to diabetes.

Dry food does not clean pet's teeth. Most cats don't chew their kibble
long enough for any of the scraping action that is the theory behind this
myth to kick in. What little they do chew shatters into small pieces. Some
pet food manufacturers offer a "dental diet" that is made up of larger
than normal sized kibble to encourage chewing, but in my years at
veterinary practices, I've seen many cats swallow even those larger size
pieces whole. Additionally, dry food leaves a carbohydrate residue in the
cat's mouth that actually encourages growth of tartar and plaque.

The one best thing you can do for your cat is eliminate all dry food from
his diet and feed a meat based, grain-free canned or raw diet which is
consistent with the needs of a carnivore.

You may find that some cats are very difficult to switch from their dry
food, further supporting the junk food analogy. They're literally addicted
to the carbs and additives used in these diets - not much different from a
sugar or carb addiction in humans. During the manufacturing process,
substances called "digests" (fermented by-products of meat processing with
no nutritional value) are sprayed on the outside of the kibble to make it
more palatable to the cat. Most cats wouldn't touch dry food if it wasn't
for these flavor enhancers. For these hard-core addicts, you will need to
transition them to a healthier diet somewhat slowly. Never let a cat go
without food for more than 24 hours.

(c) Ingrid King 2010- 2011

Marodyne LIV Tablet Update

Sara and I are just about ready to start recording our 24 Podcasts
for the LIVe Again! Podcast series. For your education, this
series will come FREE with every LIV Tablet. This is a great bone
health audio series that really helps to simplify, demystify and
make your bone health program much easier.

LIVe Again! is a complete, effective and easy to follow healthy
lifestyle program designed to take the guesswork and worry out
of improving the health of your bones.

Each Marodyne LIV Tablet will come with the 24 Podcasts that
you can listen to while using your tablet. The information provided
is a powerful bone health program that you can follow with
confidence.

There will also be additional information on the LIVTherapy.com
website to help you create the best and most complete bone
health program possible. I will be testing and collecting data on
the Marodyne in my office. I will also be supporting a colleague of
mine who is selling the LIV Tablet by offering a free bone health
consultation to anyone who buys the device from him.

Woody

Woody McMahon
The Sequoia Advisor

Sequoia Health and Fitness, Inc.
483A Carlisle Drive
Herndon, VA
20170

Required Disclaimer: The material provided herein should not be construed
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health-care advice or instruction. The material is provided with the
understanding that the publisher is not engaged in the practice of medicine
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advise or recommend to its readers treatment or action with regard to
matters relating to their health or well-being other than suggesting that
readers consult appropriate health-care professionals in such matters. No
action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication. The
material and opinions provided herein are believed to be accurate and sound
at the time of publication, based on the best judgment available to the
authors. However, readers who rely on material in this publication to
replace the advice of health-care professionals, or who fail to consult
with health-care professionals, assume all risks of such conduct. The
publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions.

Copyright (c) 2006-2011 by Sequoia Health and Fitness, Inc.

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