Tag Archives: sodium

January 12, 2010 · 2:00 AM

Does Diet Influence Risk of Stroke?

Harvard researchers suggest that our food consumption does indeed influence our risk of suffering a stroke.  This matters since stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S.

Scientists looked carefully at 121 different studies—published between 1979 and 2004—on the relationship between dietary factors and stroke.  High blood pressure is a major modifiable risk factor for stroke, so it also was considered.  Dietary factors included fats, minerals, animal protein, cholesterol, fish, whole grains, fiber, carbohydrate quality, fruits and vegetables, antioxidants, B vitamins, and dietary patterns.

I quote their conclusions:

Diets low in sodium and high in potassium lower blood pressure which will likely reduce stroke risk.

Consumption of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, folate, and fatty fish are each likely to reduce stroke risk.

A prudent or traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern, which incorporates these individual dietary components as well as intake of legumes and olive oil, may also prevent stroke.

Evidence is limited or inconsistent regarding optimal levels of dietary magnesium, calcium, antioxidants, total fat, other fat subtypes, cholesterol, carbohydrate quality, or animal protein for stroke prevention.

A diet low in sodium, high in potassium, and rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, cereal fiber, and fatty fish will likely reduce the incidence of stroke.

Take Home Points

The article abstract does not address the optimal intake amount of these various foods, vitamins, and minerals.  That’s probably not known with any certainty.

The traditional Mediterranean diet incorporates many of these stroke-preventing foods.  The Advanced Mediterranean Diet helps people lose weight while teaching how to eat Mediterranean-style.

The very low-carb Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet includes these stroke-preventing foods and minerals, except for whole grains and a tendency to be low in potassium.  The KMD is high in total fat and animal protien, and potentially high in cholesterol; this study indicates those issues are nothing to worry about in terms of future strokes.

I’ll use articles such as this to recommend long-term food consumption for followers of any future Diabetic Mediterranean Diet.

Steve Parker, M.D.

Reference:  Ding, E.L, and Mozaffarian, D.  Optimal dietary habits for the prevention of stroke. Seminars in Neurology, 26 (2006): 11-23.

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October 21, 2009 · 6:17 PM

My Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet: Day 51 + Low Sodium Diet

The Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet is naturally low in sodium

The Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet is naturally low in sodium

Weight: 155 lb

Transgressions: ate 2 oz nuts instead of 1

Exercise: none

Comments

An emergency at the hospital interfered with my dinner plans.  I had to eat something in a hurry, so I drank two tablespoons of olive oil at home, then ate two cheese sticks and a handful of walnuts on my way to the hospital. 

My nutrient analysis of Weeks 5-7 revealed an average daily sodium intake of 1,55o mg.  That total doesn’t include my salt shaker usage during cooking and at the table.  I’ve got to draw the line somewhere.    I might use a quarter of a teaspoon daily from the salt shaker, taking my sodium up to 2,100 mg daily.

The Institute of Medicine (U.S.) recommends an upper limit of 2,300 mg sodium for the general population, in an effort to keep blood pressure under control and thereby prevent cardiovascular disease and death.  A teaspoon—6 g—of table salt has 2,325 mg of sodium.  Most people in the U.S. eat at least 3,000–4,000 mg sodium daily.  It may be physiologically impossible to keep sodium intake under 2,300 mg/day over the long run.   

–Steve

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October 21, 2009 · 10:09 AM

Recap of My Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet: Weeks 5-7

 

Drilling down into the data

Drilling down into the data

Body Stats

My weight is 155 lb now compared with160.5 at the end of Week 4.  I seem to have plateaued around 155 over the last few weeks.  Waist circumference is 34.25 inches, down an inch over the last three weeks.  This is a pretty good weight for me.

What am I eating? 

Ninety percent of my food consists of:

eggs (3/day), mozarella string cheese sticks, nuts (almonds, mixed, peanuts), steak, sausage, hamburger, chicken, canned tuna, canned sardines, tomatoes, onions, avocadoes, cucumbers, baby spinach, celery, romaine lettuce, red wine (7 fl oz/day), extra virgin olive oil, sugar snap peas, butter, Italian vinaigrette dressing, mayonnaise (on tuna), salt, pepper.  [You and I should eat greater variety of vegetables and nuts.]

Nutrient Analysis  (thanks to NutritionData.com)

Average daily calories: 1,800

Macronutrient percentages: 8% carbohydrate, 30% protein, 53% fat, 9% alcohol

Daily digestible carbohydrates: 25 g

Daily fats: 110 g total fat, 31 g saturated fat, 52 g monounsaturated fats

Daily cholesterol: 800 mg (mostly from eggs)

Daily fiber: 7-10 g

Daily sodium: 1,500 mg (not counting salt from shaker)

Any potential micronutrient deficiencies? 

Yes.  Considering the amounts of the various foods I’m eating, the un-supplemented Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet on many, if not most, days would be deficient in vitamins D, E, K, thiamin, folate, and pantothenic acid, and the minerals calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, copper, manganese.  Less often, there are deficiencies of zinc and vitamins A, C, B12, riboflavin, and B6.  [I’m using table salt from the shaker but not tracking it; sodium deficiency is very unlikely.]

These potential deficiencies are based on the % Daily Values recommended by U.S. government authorities for an adult eating 2,000 calories daily.  Someone following the Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet but eating a different mixture of foods could have a better or worse micronutrient profile.

Version 1.01 of the Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet from the outset recommended one daily Centrum multivitamin/multimineral supplement, plus extra vitamin D 400 IU/day, and elemental calcium 500-1,000 mg/day.  These would prevent a large majority of these potential deficiencies. 

I started a daily magnesium supplement a week ago to suppress nocturnal leg cramps.  It’s working well.

Implications

I’m in the midst of revising my recommended supplements and will post them here within the next few days.  I’m likely to add magnesium, potassium, table salt, and fiber. 

Remember, this is not a life-long eating plan; it’s a temporary weight-loss program.  Natural sources of vitamins and minerals along with phytonutrients will be added later.

Steve Parker, M.D.

Disclaimer:  All matters regarding your health require supervision by a personal physician or other appropriate health professional familiar with your current health status.  Always consult your personal physician before making any dietary, nutritional supplement, or exercise changes.

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