The Dangers of Cupcakes, it’s not just the sugar!

Dr. Corie Edwards

When we think of Celiac disease we often focus on the pain and suffering felt by our patients.  Classic celiac disease symptoms can be severe, like diarrhea, gas and bloating.  Less obvious symptoms can range from iron deficiency, fatigue, joint pain, dermatitis herpetiformis, osteopenia, liver and biliary tract disorders, anxiety, peripheral neuropathy, seizures or migraines, menstrual dysfunction, and infertility.

A Portrait of Genetic Risk Factors

Cardiovascular disease is a leading contributor to morbidity and mortality, with 17.3 million deaths annually worldwide. Partly genetically-inherited, it is a particular risk for adults over age 60. Cardiovascular disease – coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease, and atherosclerosis -- are heavily influenced by factors such as insulin resistance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and coagulation properties.

The heart and the brain may seem separate at first glance, but doctors know everything is connected. Heart and brain health are important to help patients to both survive, and thrive. One of the key players in the health of these two systems is a protein by the name of Apolipoprotein E (ApoE).

Is it Right for Everyone?

Most people who think about healthy foods think about coconut oil. With the surge of interest you can now find it in every store. But the question most people should be asking is if it is right for everyone. FABP2 is a gene that is involved in fat absorption through the digestive tract by encoding for a protein that is crucial for the effective binding of fatty acids².

The escalating population prevalence of obesity and its serious implications for public health are now generally accepted. Throughout the last twenty years, the industrialized world has transitioned from low calorie density food to high calorie density food. The ease of resource distribution, the invention of trans-fats which prolonged shelf life of food, the recent unlimited availability of low-cost calorie-dense food, along with increasing sedentary lifestyle, has played a major role in the adult obesity pandemic.

Leptin is a hormone that signals the very important message, “I am not hungry”. In a culture that has easy access to tempting foods, why would anyone ever want to stop eating? The answer to this question lies in the body’s ability to feel full. Leptin is produced primarily by adipose tissue and, when the systems works the way it should, the body increases leptin levels which triggers a decrease in appetite¹.

Goldilocks: “like porridge, leptin needs to be juuuuust right.”

Leptin is a hormone secreted primarily in white adipose fat cells and plays a role in regulating energy balance by curbing or stimulating hunger. Often referred to as the "satiety hormone," leptin works by signaling the need to start or stop eating.