Potential Weight Loss and Vision Benefits Found in Eggs: Amino Acid Leucine

[Guest guest]

http://www.prohealthnetwork.com/library/bulletinarticle.cfm?ID=2341

 

Potential Weight Loss and Vision Benefits Found in Eggs: Amino Acid

Leucine ProHealthNetwork.com

 

12-06-2004

 

Research Published in December Journal of the American College of

Nutrition (JACN) Supplement

NEW YORK, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- A scientific review article

published in today's [12/01/04] Journal of the American College of

Nutrition supplement reports that leucine, an essential amino acid

found in high quality protein like eggs, potentially provides a

weight loss advantage during dieting by helping to reduce loss of

lean tissue, promote loss of body fat, and stabilize blood glucose

levels.

 

In another paper published in the JACN supplement, research shows

that two antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin, may significantly

reduce the risk of cataract and age-related macular degeneration

(AMD).

 

In the research, eggs are cited as an important dietary source of

leucine as well as lutein and zeaxanthin and, in the case of the

latter two, research shows lutein and zeaxanthin in eggs to be more

bioavailable than from other food sources.

 

High Quality Protein Promotes Weight Loss

 

" We found that increasing high-quality protein in the diet, like

that found in eggs, dairy products and meats, provides a metabolic

advantage due to a high content of the branched chain amino acid

(BCAA) leucine, " says article author Donald K. Layman, Ph.D.,

Professor of Nutrition, Department of Food Science and Human

Nutrition and Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine,

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. According to Layman,

both the amount of high quality protein consumed, as well as the

time of day it is consumed, may play an important role in weight

loss.

 

Layman found that unlike other essential amino acids, leucine plays

several key roles in metabolism. " Leucine is key to the metabolic

advantage of a higher protein diet because of its unique roles in

regulation of muscle protein synthesis and insulin signaling, " says

Layman. According to his research, eating more protein rich foods

like eggs and limiting carbohydrates helps burn body fat and control

hunger and cravings, leading to weight loss.

 

When limiting calories, Layman recommends daily intake of protein

above 1.5 g/kg of body weight (or above 102 grams of protein daily

for a 150-pound person); whereas the current Dietary Reference

Intake (DRI) for protein is about half that, set at 0.8 g/kg of body

weight (or 55 grams of protein daily for a 150-pound person).

 

Layman's research also suggests that increased use of high quality

protein at breakfast, in particular, maybe important for the weight

loss advantage of a higher protein diet. In a 10-week study, Layman

showed that eating a high quality protein breakfast while losing

weight helps maintain lean muscle mass, which is critical to long-

term weight loss and maintenance.

 

The study, which investigated the efficacy of two 1,700-calorie

weight loss diets among women aged 45 to 57 years, found that women

who ate the higher protein breakfast foods including eggs, low fat

dairy and lean meats (containing 10 grams leucine daily) lost

slightly more weight, but of the weight lost, nearly twice as much

was fat compared to those eating a carbohydrate rich breakfast

(containing 5 grams leucine daily).

 

According to Layman, the findings may provide hope to those battling

obesity, which has been linked to increased risk of diabetes, heart

disease and other chronic diseases.

 

Eggs Promote Eye Health

 

Also published in today's JACN supplement is a review paper

discussing two antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin, and the

protective role they play in reducing the risk of cataract and age-

related macular degeneration (AMD).

 

" Lutein and zeaxanthin, are concentrated in the macular region of

the retina and the eye lens, where they protect the eye from harmful

ultraviolet light, " says article author Jeffrey Blumberg, Ph.D.,

Professor of Nutrition and Senior Scientist at the USDA Human

Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.

 

Blumberg says studies have shown that diets rich in lutein may cut

the risk of cataracts by up to 20 percent and age-related macular

degeneration by up to 40 percent. Although broccoli, kale and other

dark green leafy vegetables are good sources of lutein, one egg yolk

provides approximately 200 micrograms of lutein, and studies have

shown that lutein from eggs is 200 to 300 percent more bioavailable

than lutein from vegetable sources.

 

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world and affect

more than 20 million Americans age 65 and older. Age-related macular

degeneration is the leading cause among seniors of irreversible

blindness in the United States.

 

In addition, a number of preliminary studies have found that lutein

is available in both breast milk and the umbilical cord plasma. This

suggests that mothers transfer lutein to their fetuses and newborns,

providing them with this beneficial antioxidant. Future studies

should continue investigating the potential beneficial role of

lutein and maternal nutrition.

 

The December 2004 JACN Supplement contains proceedings from the

First International Scientific Symposium on Eggs and Human Health:

Transition from Restrictions to Recommendations, sponsored by the

Egg Nutrition Center.

 

 

SOURCE Egg Nutrition Center

[Guest guest]

This posting of Victoria's brought me back to my original reason for

posting on the subject of amino acids - we must remember that one of

the main reasons that we are suffering from protien defficiencies is

because we do not digest or metabolise proteins properly. A person

with good digestion and good metabolism has no problems digesting and

metabolisng proteins. Such a person also can live and thrive on much

less protein - the reason why some people eat huge amounts of protein

yet suffer from yin defeciency is because they can not make good use

of the proteins they eat. This explains why many advanced practioners

can live on simple vegetable proteins. Whereas others can not

maintain suffecient yin balance although they may eat more protein

than thay can possibly use.

In the old texts authoraties classified differant types of animal

proteins according to the organ syndromes of the individual. One

reason why many have difficulty switching to a vegetarian diet from a

meat eating diet is because of this problem of poor protein digestion

and metabolism - a large percentage of these people will suffer great

stress from protein defeciencies - everyone has seen such cases where

vegetarian diet stresses the individual - this will have many

components but the protein issue is one that must be solved before

they will begin to stabalise on this regime - in the past people used

a systematic transition concept for achieving yin balance - for

diseased people stomach/spleen defeciencies can be a big barrier to

further success - solving this problem is the first place to start

for many cases.

 

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " victoria_dragon "

<victoria_dragon> wrote:

>

>

> http://www.prohealthnetwork.com/library/bulletinarticle.cfm?ID=2341

>

> Potential Weight Loss and Vision Benefits Found in Eggs: Amino Acid

> Leucine ProHealthNetwork.com

>

> 12-06-2004

>

> Research Published in December Journal of the American College of

> Nutrition (JACN) Supplement

> NEW YORK, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- A scientific review article

[Guest guest]

Your post seems to describe me. Is there a certain kind of practitioner that

can be found that does this? Both acupuncturist I saw were excellent in their

acupuncture treatment but they failed to make any connection with amino acid

and protein insufficiency. I guess they don't know or use this protocol.

What kind of acupuncturist does this therapy?

 

Liz D.

 

 

-

 

Chinese Traditional Medicine

12/7/2004 12:28:47 PM

[Chinese Traditional Medicine] Re: " Potential Weight Loss and Vision Benefits Found

in Eggs: Amino Acid Leucine "

 

 

 

 

This posting of Victoria's brought me back to my original reason for

posting on the subject of amino acids - we must remember that one of

the main reasons that we are suffering from protien defficiencies is

because we do not digest or metabolise proteins properly. A person

with good digestion and good metabolism has no problems digesting and

metabolisng proteins. Such a person also can live and thrive on much

less protein - the reason why some people eat huge amounts of protein

yet suffer from yin defeciency is because they can not make good use

of the proteins they eat. This explains why many advanced practioners

can live on simple vegetable proteins. Whereas others can not

maintain suffecient yin balance although they may eat more protein

than thay can possibly use.

In the old texts authoraties classified differant types of animal

proteins according to the organ syndromes of the individual. One

reason why many have difficulty switching to a vegetarian diet from a

meat eating diet is because of this problem of poor protein digestion

and metabolism - a large percentage of these people will suffer great

stress from protein defeciencies - everyone has seen such cases where

vegetarian diet stresses the individual - this will have many

components but the protein issue is one that must be solved before

they will begin to stabalise on this regime - in the past people used

a systematic transition concept for achieving yin balance - for

diseased people stomach/spleen defeciencies can be a big barrier to

further success - solving this problem is the first place to start

for many cases.

 

 

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " " <Rabbitbrain@e...> wrote:

>

> Your post seems to describe me. Is there a certain kind of

practitioner that

> can be found that does this? Both acupuncturist I saw were

excellent in their

> acupuncture treatment but they failed to make any connection with

amino acid

> and protein insufficiency. I guess they don't know or use this

protocol.

> What kind of acupuncturist does this therapy?

>

> Liz D.

 

These are radical new concepts that can not be thought of

as 'traditional' therapy at all. Many traditions did understand the

issues - but of course did not have the isolated amino acid concept

as those substances were not available. I mentioned before

traditional concepts that related to this concept - long cooked meat

broths as an example.

 

This work is being done by people from many disciplines. It is an

emerging new concept in Japan where the work is being done by

traditional practioners. Also in China a new theraputics is being

evolved that takes as its base traditional theories and develops a

new theraputic. As example much research is being done in China

on 'natural' hormone therapy - also they are investigating new

theraputics based on light - heat (FAR Infrared therapy)-

manipulation - electricity - etc. We have not even begun to develop a

system of medicine that will fit with the emerging new syndrome

patterns - the modern lifestyles - and the aspiritions of modern

people (theories of what constitute disease and health are shifting).

I have heard of yoga teachers (teachers to the rich and famous) that

are using many of these modern theraputics to achieve higher and

higher levels of human functioning.

 

Most traditional practioners will not have any idea what you are

talking about if you bring up these subjects. Also many will have

prejudice against it (first they know nothing of it so how can they

possibly understand how it fits into their system) plus many believe

that we need nothing more than what tradition has left us. Everything

else is superfluous. Many think the modern age is a mistake and has

nothing to offer. This is a serious mistake - and indicates a closed

mind. This obstacle to inovation is inherant in human nature - there

are always those who do not want to expand their understanding - but

for those looking for solutions to very difficult and intractable

problems the whole world of knowledge and experience must be made

available.

 

Great practioners are patient oriented not medicine,theraputics,or

theory oriented. Each patient faces his or her own challenges and as

a practioner one must do what is necessary to achieve the objectives

of the patient - not of any particular medical theory. The great

theories must be living and adapatable - they have evolved through

many stages in history and they will continue to develop as long as

we suffer.

[Guest guest]

> This work is being done by people from many disciplines. It is an

> emerging new concept in Japan where the work is being done by

> traditional practioners. Also in China a new theraputics is being

> evolved that takes as its base traditional theories and develops a

> new theraputic. As example much research is being done in China

> on 'natural' hormone therapy - also they are investigating new

> theraputics based on light - heat (FAR Infrared therapy)-

> manipulation - electricity - etc. We have not even begun to

develop a

> system of medicine that will fit with the emerging new syndrome

> patterns - the modern lifestyles - and the aspiritions of modern

> people (theories of what constitute disease and health are

shifting).

 

I want to add some comments to this. What the modern Chinese are

doing is gathering all the information they can from all over the

world on healing, and incorporating the best and most useful of the

knowledge into their medical system. They are well on the way to

developing the most advanced medical system the world has ever seen.

 

By and large, the Chinese are NOT paradigm rigid. They don't think

in terms of either/or. The reason TCM has continued not only to

exist for hundreds of years but grow is that when the Chinese start

to encounter cases that don't fit the established paradigm (model),

instead of tossing out the old model, they expand it to include the

new cases. The most famous example of this is when China developed

the Virulent Heat model of what is called infectious diseases in

response to new diseases which were appearing as China began to have

more contact with far-away lands. For centuries the old 6 Stages of

Cold-Induced Illnesses had worked fine. When the Chinese began to

encounter illnesses that didn't fit this pattern, instead of tossing

it out (either/or thinking), they retained it but developed a new

model to understand and treat the new diseases that were appearing.

This is wise because most infectious illnesses do still fit the Cold-

Induced model whereas others are best understood and treated using

the Virulent Heat Evil model.

 

Individual Chinese may be paradigm-rigid, but the trend in the

culture is to enlarge the paradigm whenever something arises that

doesn't fit. Through the centuries the Chinese have walked a line

between honoring and using the tried and proven, and developing and

embracing the new as it arises. They've walked the line very well.

 

BTW, there are list members who are in China (as well as list

members from all over the world).

 

When you mentioned that the ancient Chinese didn't know about amino

acids but used long-cooked broths for some things, you're touching

on something that comes up time and time again in Chinese medicine.

The Chinese were and are extraordinary observers. They also were

and are pragmatists. Even though they didn't have (and didn't need)

a modern Western vocabulary and perspective to describe and label

things, they nevertheless came up with very effective treatments

from their keen observations.

 

What this means is that time and time again there are cases where

even though a condition has only been given a name in the West

recently and understood within the Western pardigm only recently,

there are ways to treat it within TCM. For the readers who are

Western health care professionals, this is part of why you're

encouraged to learn the various TCM syndromes and how to treat them.

When a patient comes in with something which is very hard to treat

using what is available in allopathic medicine or has a condition

which is poorly understood (or even not yet identified in the West -

like CFIDS prior to 1984), you can do a TCM diagnosis and cautiously

try TCM treatments for TCM imbalances. In more cases than not, there

is something that will at least help if not cure. In some cases

there will be a cure.

 

The TCM perspective is very different from the Western allopathic

perspective, but TCM is an extremely well-developed and holistic

system. Even though the ancient Chinese didn't know about amino

acids and other things, they knew that certain conditions - like

some cases of Spleen and Stomach Deficiency, Spleen Qi Deficiency,

Food Stagnation) - would respond to long-cooked broths.

 

BTW, they didn't know about iodine and the thyroid's need for

iodine, but they knew that many cases of goiter responded to the use

of kelp. They knew this centuries before it was discovered in the

West.

 

Another reason why Western health care professionals who are

interested in TCM and incorporating it into their practices are

encouraged to become comfortable with being able to diagnose from a

TCM perspective (as well as a Western perspective) is that few

Western-defined medical conditions correspond one-to-one to TCM

imbalances. For example, peptic ulcers can have one or more of 6

different TCM imbalances underlying them. This is why the TCM

treatment for clients with peptic ulcers can be very different. The

Western-defined diagnosis is the same, but the TCM diagnosis differs

among the clients. The TCM treatment that helps one may do nothing

for a second and may even make a third sicker because the TCM

imbalances are different.

 

There is help available to MDs, DOs, and others who are interesting

in learning and incorporating TCM in their practices. People have

researched and figured out the possible TCM imbalances that usually

can underlie many common medical conditions. As an intermediate step

to becoming comfortable with one's abilities to analyze TCM

imbalances, one can go through the list of possibles and find the one

(s) that fit. In the beginning stages of using TCM, this is a lot

easier than considering all TCM imbalances and wondering if one has

missed a possibility. When one feels comfortable enough to do the

TCM diagnosis before consulting the list of possibles for a

condition, and discovers that what one analyzed is indeed a

possible, this can be a great confidence builder. (There will be a

few cases where a possible isn't listed because it's rare in that

particular condition, but you've identified it anyway because you've

developed proficiency in TCM analysis.)

[Guest guest]

Victorias observations in message 6318 are beautifully stated. The

fact is that human beings have understood all of the basics of being

a human for thousands of years, our nature and our challenges, but

the concepts of how to deal with challenges are constantly evolving.

It isn't that we are going 'beyond' the old Master's we are simply

trying to expand on their understanding. 'New' theraputics has always

been going on and will continue until we solve the problems once and

for all - we are nowhere near that.

 

Someone asked about TCM psychology - since traditionaly the Chinese

did not see the mind as differant from the body there is no

distinction between the various aspects of ourselves. Body. mind, and

spirit are treated according to the same principles. Subhuti

Dharmananda discusses many of these issues at his web site. One such

paper is 'Disease Prevention and Restoring Harmony: Control the

Emotions' - another paper is 'Acupuncture and Herbs for Mind and

Brain Disorders'

 

www.itmonline.org

www.itmonline.org/journal/arts/emotions.htm

www.itmonline.org/journal/arts/hrbrain.htm

 

Any not knowing Dharmananda should check his web site as he is a real

master herbalist and has studied herbs from all traditions his

comments on the TCM medicines is extensive (one of the best). He is a

prolific writer and has done a wonderful contribution to the science

of blending old and new concepts. He like Bob Flaws is an authentic

authority on the history of medical arts and sciences. His paper on

Ginseng is the best and most comprehensive with suggestions on dosing

which is a return to old ideas. One could spend weeks at his site

following threads.