8Mar

Stem cells, could in a sense, be called the building blocks of the human machine. Varying stem cells serve varying functions. Stem cells produced alter over the course of one’s life. Last but not least, where these stem cells are found also differs depending on their function.

Why is This Relevant?

For those seeking any form of stem cell treatment abroad, it makes sense to have a basic understanding of some of the types of stem cells out there as well as their relevance in treatment!

3 Types of Stem Cells

We’re going to delve into 3 types of stem cells as well as how they are used in treatments today.

Embryonic

These stem cells, known as embryonic stem cells are derived from the inside of a group of cells called a blastocyst. This is what eventually advances to the cells that make our tissues and further, our organs.

Extracted cells are nurtured under laboratory conditions. These grown cells possess the versatile abilities of the original embryonic stem cells that they are harvested from.

These cells can be used to grow pretty much any part of the human body sans the umbilical cord as well as the placenta.

Tissue Specific

These stem cells also go by the name somatic stem cells as well as adult stem cells on occasion. These stem cells are localized and are generally able to grow and form the tissue type of the area they are found in.

One example is bone marrow cells. These can be used to grow all types of blood components but not organs such as the intestines, heart or lungs.

In a functioning human body, such tissue specific and localized stem cells give aid in growth as well as repair of the organ and other tissue in the place where they are found.

That being said, these are hard to locate and not as conducive to growth in a lab controlled culture setting as their embryonic counterparts.

IPS Cells

IPS stands for Induced pluripotent stem cells. These are engineered under laboratory conditions by inducing various tissue specific cells to behave as embryonic stem cells do.

Though IPS cells are currently used extensively for research, their application for treatment due to engineering techniques is still being debated.

What Good Are All These?

The question remains, how are all these stem cells used for treatment? There are a number of ways that these cells contribute to treatment both directly and indirectly.

Research and Development

Stem cells are used extensively for research. Research areas include human growth and development, genetic diseases (both degenerative and otherwise) and the study of various non-genetic yet deadly illnesses.

They are also used to help try out novel methods of treatment before opening to human testing.

Treatment 

The unique ability of stem cells to evolve into tissues specific to locality makes them the perfect option to treat a number of illnesses and ailments.

Some examples of treatments that employ the use of stem cells include extensive burn treatment, disorders and maladies associated with blood as well as certain forms of organ malfunction or failure or orthopedic conditions.

Winding Down

With more and more research being done in the area of stem cell therapy, it will not be long before these treatments will be available the world over and provided by highly reliable and qualified medical practitioners.

For the moment, practitioners in some parts of the world have had more experience with stem cell therapy than others.

Traveling for Treatment

Besides it being hard to find a reliable practitioner for stem cell therapy in the U.S., it is also extremely costly. Places like Mexico offer affordable stem cell treatments and therapies to patients visiting from other countries. They also boast other medical services such as bariatric surgery, dental care and cosmetics at a far less cost than back home!

Don’t Panic

Don’t panic. Receiving treatment abroad is easier and cheaper that at home! If you’re worried about all the planning and organizing, we’ve got that bit covered. All you need to do is decide on what treatment you’re looking for, scout your options and get in touch!

6Mar

Here’s your chance to go post op bariatric grocery shopping with your RHN – Registered Holistic Nutritionist Sheri.

Let’s go grocery shopping together !  We will first shop like we are “one year post op bariatric surgery” and then we will do a 2nd spin around the supermarket pretending that we are getting ready for our pre.op/ post op guidelines.  I am going to keep it simple and if you have questions, please reach out to me by responding to this email or commenting below.  Sure, we could get super complicated and really dive deep into nutrition but this isn’t about going to nutritionist college – this is about giving simple guidelines to people who are just starting to read labels and make sense of all this nutrition jargon…. let’s do it !

Grocery shopping while following a pre op diet, or post op guidelines can be super difficult but let’s make it fun.  In your local grocery store is a whole new world of flavours that adhere to your new way of life.  It is not something that comes naturally and it’s something you need to work a bit for.  You can’t believe that you are going to get out of the operating room just instinctively knowing how you are supposed to eat.  You need to read and research and learn and try to make sense of all the nutritional information that’s out there.  Keep an open mind when learning the bariatric ropes.  Reach out to me when you have questions.  That’s why I am here – to support you while you are on this journey and this journey is a lifelong one.  Let’s become “foodie friends for life”. 

Whether shopping for your pre.op nutritional plan or post op guidelines, print and bring the list along with you to the grocery store.  Please make sure that you eat something and drink something prior to entering the grocery store.  It will make shopping a whole lot easier and more comfortable for you.  Armed with a full tummy and your pre.op or post op list, let’s start at the produce department.  That’s the best place to begin.  You aren’t feeling rushed or tired yet and this is where all the vitamins and nutrients live in green and red and orange colours.  Because I am shopping for pre.op and post op foods, I am going to get some carrots and broccoli, onions, garlic, cauliflower and kale which I am going to use in a big pot of vegetable soup which I will eat during my pre.op diet.  If I am recently post op, I can also use this same recipe for a big pot of vegetable soup and depending on the stage I am at, I can blend it or puree it to the correct consistency.  You can add all kinds of low starch vegetables to your soup depending on what your likes are. 

Next we are moving to the deli counter which has some good options and a lot of really bad options.  Please do say “yes” to minimally processed meats and cheeses and please say “no” to the pre-made macaroni salads and coleslaw filled with mayonnaise and sugar.  Here there are a lot of sugars and refined carbohydrates and very empty calories. 

Let’s take our shopping cart to the meat department now.  Purchase your lean meats, fish and seafood and you can even request that your butcher cut your purchases into five ounce portions so it’s even easier to prep when you get home.  It’s a super idea to have lots of protein options available at home.  You pick a protein/ defrost it and then prepare it with a nice fresh or frozen green vegetable.  Your lunch or dinner is ready to serve !

Let’s try to stay on the outside of the supermarket as best we can because we all know that the sugars and carbs and refined “carbage” is awaiting all of us in the supermarket aisles.  As tempting as it may be – almost nothing that you need will be on the inside of the supermarket aisles.  Go down them only if there is something that you need on your grocery list such as coffee or peanut butter or coconut oil or stevia.  If you don’t need something that is down the aisles, then skip them. 

So now that we have skipped the inner aisles of the grocery store, we can now proceed to the dairy section where we can get ourselves some eggs, whole milk (no skimmed milk please) or almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk or any one of the many milk or milk substitutes available to us today (with zero sugars added).  We are also going to choose some high quality greek yogurt with zero sugar added and some high quality cottage cheese (not the low fat kind).  If we want a sweeter yogurt, we can add some frozen berries and stevia to it. 

In my supermarket, the last wall is the freezer department and stocking up with low carb frozen vegetables and low sugar berries are always an excellent idea.  They are versatile and easy to use when fresh is not available. 

So to recap –  looking down into my shopping cart, on this trip I have purchased low carb fresh veggies and low sugar berries, some minimally processed deli meat, cheese, chicken, fish, shrimp, almond milk, greek yogurt, cottage cheese and some frozen blueberries.  Now it’s time to go home and food prep for the week to come.  I have my bariatric protein powders at home so I can add that to the blender with some berries, almond milk and greek yogurt and mix myself up a shake each morning.  If I want another option, I can have a scrambled egg with some spinach.  For lunch I will prepare a big vegetable soup and bring that along with me to work and for dinners I will have a portion of protein with some baked vegetables.  For snacks I can have yogurt with blueberries or cottage cheese with raspberries. 

What an empowering feeling to be able to check out at the grocery store and know that the foods in my shopping cart will promote excellent health and are in line with my weight loss goals !

About the Author: Sheri Burke is a Registered Nutritionist and Bariatric Coordinator at International Patient Facilitators in Tijuana and Cancun, Mexico. She has worked with bariatric surgery patients for 10 years and especially enjoys providing nutritional guidance to pre and post bariatric patients.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two teens and cooking up a nutritional storm in the kitchen.

For high quality specialized plant protein for bariatric patients Bariatric Expert Protein Powders

Time for a “bariatric expert” multivitamin ?  Here is a perfect way for bariatric patients to get it now on Amazon:  Bariatric Expert MultiVitamins.

Eat Like a Bariatric Expert with our Nutrition Plans.

Feel free to share your victories and struggles in our Facebook Group. I would love to connect with you.

Stay motivated with Bariatric Wristbands – post your results online !

26Feb

There are so many options out there for the newest greatest way to eat.  The most popular options at this very moment in time are Vegan, Keto, Paleo, HFLC, Raw Food, South Beach, Whole30 – what do we follow ? Which one will work for us? – how exhausting…. even for myself, a nutritionist.

What I can tell you for sure is that each very healthy nutritional plan will include whole, live, natural, good quality food. They will include lots of fresh fruit and veg and they will have many options that will not raise our blood sugar levels.  They will also have an assortment of healthy fats, and healthy proteins and no garbage.

There are plenty of reasons why some of the nutritional plans out there will fail us but the number one reason you are unable to stick with your plan or your plan is just not working is because that plan is not the correct plan for you.  Would you expect the Williams sisters and the Olsen twins to eat the same meal plan ?  Then why do you think that a specific diet is right for you just because it worked for somebody who has a life that is very different from yours ?

I don’t believe that there is one perfect, without a doubt, single best diet for each and every person to follow now and forever.  Some people are tall and thin and others are short and stocky. Some people eat meat every day and others don’t eat any meat at all.  Some people have a never ending flow of money for food while others are on an extremely tight budget.  There are people who eat only processed foods while others eat only natural, whole foods.  Some people are devout followers of a specific type of diet while others have very little knowledge of dietary practices.  Some people have loads of free time and others have no time at all.

Here’s a perfect example – Imagine if I said to a client… “look, I know the you have a very small amount of money to spend on food each month but I want you to sell you car or maybe one of your kids.  Then you will be able to purchase 100% organic, natural, whole foods that you need to eat with my program – because that’s what you need to do to get healthy”. 

Another example goes like this – Imagine if I told you … “animal foods? Sure, I get that you have ethical obligations but this is what you need to eat.  It is how the cavemen ate and so you need to suck  it up and eat a steak”. 

Wouldn’t that be just a tad extreme and wouldn’t it be unfair to the people who need help with their nutrition goals but do not fit into my narrow plan for them ?  If a specific dietary plans works for you personally, that’s just super and I am pleased that you have found something to reach your goals but for me to suggest that because it worked for you (and at one point in your life) that it will also work for the masses ?  That’s not right. 

So how is it that more than one diet can actually work if they are so different ?  My answer is going to be:  They are just not as different as you think that they are.  They are actually more similar than they are different.  When these nutritional plans are done correctly, they all are going to accomplish the exact same thing.  They promote a more active lifestyle, they assist in eliminating nutrient deficiencies,  they assist in controlling food intake and appetite, they focus on good quality food and they raise the nutrition awareness. 

What all of this means is that the best nutritional plan to do is the one that works best for you.  It is a plan that you can follow not only on your best day but also on your worst day.  It needs to take into account your time availability, income level, food availability, stress level, work situation, life demands and family.  This sort of nutrimental plan is not as clear cut as “eat like a caveman” or “don’t eat meat”.  It is always going to be the approach that works for YOU in the long run.

10 DAY BARIATRIC DETOX

BARIATRIC KETO PLAN

BARIATRIC RESET PROGRAM

PRE AND POST OP NUTRITION

About the Author: Sheri Burke is a Registered Nutritionist and Bariatric Coordinator at International Patient Facilitators in Tijuana and Cancun, Mexico. She has worked with bariatric surgery patients for 10 years and especially enjoys providing nutritional guidance to pre and post bariatric patients.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two teens and cooking up a nutritional storm in the kitchen.

For high quality specialized plant protein for bariatric patients Bariatric Expert Protein Powders

Time for a “bariatric expert” multivitamin ?  Here is a perfect way for bariatric patients to get it now on Amazon:  Bariatric Expert MultiVitamins.

Eat Like a Bariatric Expert with our Nutrition Plans.

Feel free to share your victories and struggles in our Facebook Group. I would love to connect with you.

Stay motivated with Bariatric Wristbands – post your results online !

19Feb
We all believe that after we have bariatric surgery “POOF” the feeling of being hungry will just disappear and never come back again – at least that’s what we have read online so why shouldn’t it be true ?  Once you are no longer in the honeymoon period and you are fully recovered and eating solids again, one day that hungry feeling can come back.  What can we do to make sure that we have continued success and satisfy our hunger ?
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During the first year post surgery, patients feel that they are satisfied after a very small meal but as time goes on they sometimes notice that their appetite has come back and that they are able to eat a larger portion at mealtime.  A question I often get from clients is “what should I eat so I don’t feel hungry either after a meal or between meals? What can I do”?
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Let’s turn this into a discussion about what bariatric patients can do to be certain that they are satisfied, hit their goals during the first two years post surgery and also maintain their weight which they worked so hard to lose in the first place.
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Protein Needs To Come First.

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We all know that protein rich foods are always the main point in each meal or snack.  We also know that we need to eat approximately 60 grams of protein per day.  What’s so darn special about protein and why does it fill us up more quickly and keep us feeling satisfied longer ? High quality protein rich foods such as seafood, poultry, meat and some dairy foods such as cheese and yogurt, eggs, beans and other plant-proteins help us eat and feel satisfied longer when compared to carbohydrates.
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If you find yourself eating larger amounts in one sitting, it’s a good idea to take a look at what exact types of foods you are consuming by keeping a food journal for a few days.  Is it the carbohydrates at meals making you crave more after you eat ?  Especially the processed kinds that are dry and crispy like crackers, popcorn and chips etc.  These types of foods are not going to fill you up and they are considered grazing foods.  When your meals are high in carbs, going back to your protein based meals is going to help you feel better and more full and satisfied for a longer period of time post meals.  Try replacing carbohydrate foods with protein foods and see how you feel.
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We Need to Eat More Fiber.

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Protein and Fiber can go hand in hand to promote satiety post eating.  If you are more satisfied after your meal, you are less likely to snack and will have better weight loss and maintenance overall.  Add high fiber foods to your menus such as carrots, broccoli, bell peppers, spinach and squash.  High fiber carbs like whole grains, pasta, quinoa – are the last type of foods that we should eat at our meal (if space allows).  A common issue post surgery is constipation and high fiber foods will also help to alleviate this problem as an added bonus.
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Liquids or Solids.

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Once surgery is behind us and we are fully recovered and back to regular life/ stresses etc, we may find that the same protein shake that we once had post surgery no longer satisfies and fills us up like it once did.  When the pouch is formed and healed and there is no inflammation any longer, liquids can pass through our pouch and not fill us up any longer.  You may have relied on your shake to keep you full but if it’s no longer doing it’s job, it may be time to exchange that shake for a more solid form of protein such as a slice of turkey or some greek yogurt.  Some patients find a higher satisfaction level when eating their meals vs drinking their meals in the form of a shake.
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No More Grazing.

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If we are picking at foods all day long we can end up eating more food that we think we are eating.  This means that if you graze, you may have poor weight loss results and a harder time maintaining your results.  When we nibble, we never achieve full satisfaction and we continue feeling hungry.  If we go back to eating regular meals instead of snacking all day and those meals are made up of protein and fiber, we will feel more satiety which is going to lead to more weight loss and better maintenance.
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Eat Meals and Snacks at the Same Time

Don’t skip meals or snacks because this can lead to night time snacking and binging.
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In conclusion, if you are not feeling satisfied with your meals and snacks post bariatric surgery it is time to take a look at what your meals consist of and possible make the changes required to get back to basics.  Always choose protein and fiber rich foods before carbohydrates and opt for solid foods for meals over meal replacements.  Journaling is a great tool to help you determine what you are eating and how that specific food makes your feel during your meal and then again afterward.  Bariatric is a journey and even once the weight is lost, the learning continues.
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About the Author: Sheri Burke is a Registered Nutritionist and Bariatric Coordinator at International Patient Facilitators in Tijuana and Cancun, Mexico. She has worked with bariatric surgery patients for 10 years and especially enjoys providing nutritional guidance to pre and post bariatric patients.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two teens and cooking up a nutritional storm in the kitchen.

Ready for a detox to break a stall, to feel your best, or drop a few lbs ?  Try our 10 day Bariatric Detox.

Wanting more information about High Fat/ Low Carb Nutrition ?  Try our Bariatric Keto Plans.

If you have a re-gain or a stall, you can reach out to the “Bariatric Food Experts” for the Bariatric Reset Program.

For high quality specialized plant protein for bariatric patients Bariatric Expert Protein Powders

Time for a “bariatric expert” multivitamin ?  Here is a perfect way for bariatric patients to get it now on Amazon:  Bariatric Expert MultiVitamins.

Eat Like a Bariatric Expert with our Nutrition Plans.

Feel free to share your victories and struggles in our Facebook Group. I would love to connect with you.

Stay motivated with Bariatric Wristbands – post your results online !

14Feb

HOMEMADE SUGAR FREE DARK CHOCOLATE -

Print Recipe
Ingredients Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil melted and cooled slightly
  • 1/4 cup granulated stevia (or to taste)
  • 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch salt

Notes

  • I highly recommend using granulated stevia which has a finer grain. If you would like to use raw or coconut sugar, you may want to grind it to a finer consistency in a coffee/spice grinder or mini food processor so that your chocolate doesn't end up gritty.
  • You can replace the granulated sweetener with 6-8 drops (or to taste) liquid stevia.
  • Or you can use the 1/4 cup sweetener that the recipe calls for, plus 1-3 drops liquid stevia (to taste), for slightly sweeter chocolate. 
  • You can replace the coconut oil with cacao butter (1/4 cup or about 1.6 ounces by weight) if you prefer, or cannot eat coconut. Either way, the chocolate needs to stay refrigerated as it will be very soft at room temperature.
  • Yield: 2x6” bars or about 9-10 mini chocolate bites
13Feb

Do you pile your plate ?

Do you go for smaller servings or do you pile up your plate ?  Which one do you do ?  

What we don’t understand is that portion sizes have more to do about our habits and less to do with actual hunger.

Are you eating far too much routinely ?  Let’s talk about portion distortion !

Be absolutely honest with yourself – who are  you ?  modest portions or piles of food on your plate ?

Is your plate clean post eating or are you leaving some on the plate ?  Habits dictate who we are in this situation.  

The majority of us today are eating much more than our grandparents or parents did.  Did you know that studies say that the average meal or snack today is 50% bigger than it was 20 years ago !  so on top of eating more refined, processed, convenience foods, we are also being told and encouraged to eat even more of it.  Those convenience foods are on every corner – cakes, cookies, chips, granola bars are always on display at the check-outs of every supermarket or store so there is no hiding from it.  We are bombarded at every single turn and the pricing of that convenience food is on sale most of the time also.  Junk food is easier to find and cheaper to purchase.  We need willpower on top of willpower on top of willpower to make healthy choices.

We don’t have an internal mechanism to tell us not to eat the food that is bad for us because in our past, obesity didn’t pose some survival threat when compared to the dangers that being underweight brought to our health.  Our body will expect more food the more that we choose to overeat.  If we are not careful, a big portion will become our norm. 

Where’s the good news then ?  well by making a reduction in your portions, you can to some degree shrink your stomach to want less food and to also expect less food.  Many studies have studied “smaller plates” and there are benefits of tricking yourself into taking a smaller portion.  If you choose to have a smaller plate you could see up to a 30% reduction in the amount of food you are going to consume.  If you are trying to avoid a re-gain or get out of a stall, maybe it’s time to purchase yourself some new kitchen plates and then begin to combine this idea with other techniques such as adding more vegetables or reducing refined carbohydrates.  

Be honest with yourself and take a good look at your plate – are there ways to make improvements ?  Do you have portion distortion ?  

About the Author: Sheri Burke is a Registered Nutritionist and Bariatric Coordinator at International Patient Facilitators in Tijuana and Cancun, Mexico. She has worked with bariatric surgery patients for 10 years and especially enjoys providing nutritional guidance to pre and post bariatric patients.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two teens and cooking up a nutritional storm in the kitchen.

Ready for a detox to break a stall, to feel your best, or drop a few lbs ?  Try our 10 day Bariatric Detox.

Wanting more information about High Fat/ Low Carb Nutrition ?  Try our Bariatric Keto Plans.

If you have a re-gain or a stall, you can reach out to the “Bariatric Food Experts” for the Bariatric Reset Program.

For high quality specialized plant protein for bariatric patients Bariatric Expert Protein Powders

Time for a “bariatric expert” multivitamin ?  Here is a perfect way for bariatric patients to get it now on Amazon:  Bariatric Expert MultiVitamins.

Eat Like a Bariatric Expert with our Nutrition Plans.

Feel free to share your victories and struggles in our Facebook Group. I would love to connect with you.

Stay motivated with Bariatric Wristbands – post your results online !