2024year

New Year's greetings

Ikeda acupuncture

There are only a few left this year.
We would like to express our deep gratitude for your special request this year as well.

Next year, we will continue to provide treatment that satisfies everyone.
We ask for your continued support.

　Next year, we will provide medical treatment from January 6 (Monday).

The New Normal of the Body Episode 25 How to Eat Dietary Fiber?

Dietary fiber has the following advantages and disadvantages:

Pros
Regulates bowel movements and prevents constipation

Because it adsorbs and excretes lipids, sugars, sodium, etc., it can be expected to be effective in preventing and improving lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension
Low in calories and can prevent obesity

Disadvantages

Eating too much soluble fiber can cause diarrhea, and eating too much insoluble fiber can cause constipation.
Aggravate
Excessive intake can lead to the absorption of minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.
It may interfere

The target for dietary fiber intake is 18g or more for women and 21g for men (both aged 18~64) according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's "Dietary Intake Standards for Japan" (2020 edition).
If you take fiber supplements, follow the appropriate amount and check compatibility with your body.

The New Normal of the Body Episode 24 Gluten-free and Healthy?

What is gluten-free

"Gluten-free" is a diet that restricts the intake of foods containing gluten, that is, foods made from wheat. The trigger for attention was the practice of famous overseas athletes and famous models, and the effect of improving physical fitness appeared.
Currently, there are more menus and processed foods that claim to be gluten-free in Europe and the United States, and gluten-free foods made with soybeans instead of wheat are available in Japan.

Can it be a weight loss method?
Diet, Japanese trap?

"Diet" is translated into Japanese as a dietary method. Therefore, the gluten-free diet in foreign countries is a "diet" that avoids gluten.
However, in Japan, "diet" is strongly recognized as a word for weight loss, so many people misunderstand that it is aimed at losing weight.
Even if you don't think of it as a weight loss method, many people recognize it as effective as one of the health methods.
No scientific evidence has yet been found that it has any effect on healthy people practicing it.
The case of improving physical condition and losing weight may be due to the improvement of poor physical condition caused by "celiac disease" and gluten intolerance.
There are a wide variety of proteins such as gluten in wheat, such as bread, noodles, cakes, cookies, and Japanese sweets, as well as batters for fried foods such as fried chicken, tempura, and tonkatsu, and curry roux, white sauce, and meat sauce.
I thought I was gluten-free and thin, but in fact I just refrained from cookies and sweets..., and if I avoided wheat, I could eat a lot less... There is also a possibility that .

Disadvantages of gluten-free

Lactose intolerance is common in Japan. Some people get stomach pain when they drink milk.
Similarly, it seems that there are a certain number of people who consume gluten and affect their digestive system.
Gluten-free is effective for such people, but if you go gluten-free easily, you will completely eliminate wheat foods, which can easily lead to an imbalance in nutritional balance and pose health risks.
It should be avoided at your own discretion and should be done under the guidance of a doctor.
In addition, if healthy people take gluten-free without knowing the actual situation, they may lack B vitamins and dietary fiber, which can cause weight gain and cause other health problems.

The New Normal of the Body Episode 23 Zero-calorie artificial sweeteners

　Do you ever choose soft drinks or sweets that claim to be zero calories?
By the way, if I were to line up "zero calories" and non-"zero calories", I would involuntarily choose "zero calories".
You are probably well aware that these zero-calorie foods contain a substitute for sugar called "artificial sweeteners".
Recently, it has been said that artificial sweeteners may not be good for the body.

WHO views and recommendations

In particular, in July 2023, the WHO issued a notice titled "Aspartame"Artificial sweeteners may be carcinogenic(especially liver cancer)" was put forward and became a hot topic.
On the other hand, not long before that, in May 2023, the WHO issued a recommendation on artificial sweeteners.

(1) Using artificial sweeteners instead of sugar does not have a weight loss effect in the long run.
(2) Long-term consumption of artificial sweeteners may have undesirable health effects.

By the way, this recommendation does not extend to personal care products and hygiene products that contain artificial sugars such as toothpaste, skin cream, and medicines.
It also does not contain low-calorie sugar or sugar alcohols derived from the sugar itself.

Artificial sweeteners “What is "erythritol"?

"Erythritol" is said to contain very small amounts of fruits and vegetables, but when added as an artificial sweetener, it is concentrated up to about 1000 times the natural level.
Erythritol is hardly metabolized in the body and is excreted in the urine.
Therefore, it is said to be a "zero-calorie" or "non-nutritious" sweetener, and even a "natural" sweetener, and its popularity is rapidly increasing.

Erythritol makes your blood sticky! ?

When this adhesion increases, a small clot of blood called a "blood clot" is formed in the blood vessels, and when it becomes blocked, it causes a disease called cerebral infarction or myocardial infarction.
Even in healthy people, when they consumed ice cream or soft drinks with artificial sweeteners, erythritol remained in their blood for several days to a level that made it easier for blood clots to form.
Meaning...
Considering that erythritol is excreted in the urine, in the case of people with poor kidneys, it is possible that erythritol will remain in the body for a longer period of time because the excretion function from the urine is reduced.
People with bad kidneys may need to be especially careful in that sense.

The New Normal of the Body Episode 22 Eating More Than 10 Eggs a Day Does Not Change Cholesterol Levels

Eggs are high in cholesterol, so many people seem to refrain from them. However, recent studies have shown thatIt has been found that eating eggs every day does not have much effect on cholesterol levels.

Most of the cholesterol is synthesized in the body
Eggs have a high cholesterol content, containing 204 mg in one medium size (for 55 g of content).
Japan people consume about 300 mg of cholesterol from their diet, with eggs accounting for the largest proportion.
In the former Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's "Japan Dietary Intake Standards 2010 Edition", the target amount of cholesterol from the diet is less than 750 mg for men and less than 600 mg for women per day, and caution has been called not to consume too many eggs.
However, evaluating epidemiological studies around the world has found that egg intake is not associated with atherosclerotic disease.
Even if we looked at the data of Japan, we did not see a difference in mortality between those who ate two or more eggs a day and those who ate very little.
Cholesterol is also synthesized in the body, and only 1/3 ~ 1/7 of the cholesterol obtained from the diet is compared to that amount.
In addition, as the amount of food we take from our diet increases, the amount of synthesis in the body decreases, and if it is insufficient, it is adjusted in our body to increase the amount of synthesis.
Based on these findings, the target amount of cholesterol from the diet is no longer set from the "2015 edition of the Dietary Intake Standards for Japan", which is reviewed every five years.
In the United States, too, cholesterol standards have disappeared.
From this time on, I began to hear that "you don't have to refrain from eggs".

Eat a balanced and healthy diet
Indeed, if dietary cholesterol does not directly affect blood cholesterol levels, it seems okay to eat a lot of eggs.
However, there are individual differences, and some people are affected by the amount of cholesterol in their diet, and not everyone should worry about the amount. Also, people with dyslipidemia (such as those with high LDL cholesterol levels) should not overeat not only eggs but also foods high in cholesterol in general.
On the other hand, studies have also shown that people who eat one egg every day have a lower risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease compared to those who eat very little.
In addition, studies in Japan have shown that eating more than one egg a day does not increase the risk of developing diabetes.
In the elderly, refraining from eggs to limit cholesterol can lead to protein deficiency and undernutrition. It seems that there is no need to refrain from eggs unnecessarily.

Notice of closure during the year-end and New Year holidays

Notice of closure during the year-end and New Year holidays

12 moon 29 Sun Closed
　　 30 Day (Mon) Morning session Medical treatment
　 31 Sun (Tue) Morning session Medical treatment
1 moon 1 Sun (Wed) Closed
　　　 2 Sun (Thu) Closed
3 days (Fri) Closed
　　　 4 Sun (Sat) Closed
5 days (Sun) Closed
6 (Mon) Morning session Medical treatment
　 10 Sun (Fri) Morning session Medical treatment

We are forever grateful for your exceptional kindness throughout this year.
With all the family members, we wish you a happy New Year.
I would like to pray for you.
Ikeda Acupuncture and Moxibustion Clinic

Common sense of the body Episode 21 Development of a DASH diet that can be continued without difficulty

　High hurdles to sodium reduction

There are various causes of high blood pressure, such as stress, smoking, and obesity, but too much salt in your daily diet is also one of the main causes.
The Japan Society of Hypertension recommends a daily salt intake of less than 6 g, but it is not easy to achieve this target for Japan people who naturally have a high salt intake.
Furthermore, in a survey conducted by Maruha Nichiro among customers, more than 30% of respondents answered that "I think low-sodium foods are not delicious" as an image of sodium reduction, and it was found that there are high hurdles in implementing and continuing a low-sodium diet based on the image that it is not tasty and expensive.

Diet that promotes salt excretion DASH diet

The DASH diet is a dietary method proposed in the United States in the 1990s to prevent and improve high blood pressure, and has two main characteristics.
● Minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium), dietary fiber, protein (blood vessels
Keep it strong)
● Reduces saturated fatty acids and cholesterol

By combining these nutrients to increase and reduce, it encourages the body to excrete excess salt.

Development of DASH food for Japan

The DASH diet has the advantage of being highly sensitive, as it can be expected to have a significant effect when combined, even if each nutrient alone has a weak antihypertensive effect.
However, the American-style DASH diet, which uses a lot of low-fat dairy products, nuts, cereals, fruits and vegetables, is not always easy for Japan people to implement, so we started developing a more familiar and accessible DASH diet for Japan.

The DASH diet for Japan was developed mainly based on the following points.
1) The menu is composed mainly of Japanese food. Use broth and spices to create a satisfying seasoning.
2) Ingredients and seasonings are mainly used that are familiar to Japan people.
3) It should be in a form that can be easily eaten by middle-aged and elderly people without difficulty.
4) Combine salt reduction to maximize antihypertensive effects.

Common Sense of the Body Episode 21 [Shocking! ] 5 foods that are worse for you than cigarettes

"Tobacco" is synonymous with negative health effects,
In fact, if you continue to eat the foods introduced this time, in some cases
There are foods that can be more harmful to health than cigarettes.
If you are concerned about your health, you may be considering additives.
There are many other dangerous foods hidden around you.

Well this time
Here are 5 foods that may cause illness if you continue to eat.
From a preventive medical point of view, it is not recommended to consume these foods.

1. Milk
Casein, which makes up about 80% of the protein in milk, damages the intestines.
Casein is sent undigested into the intestines and causes inflammation in the intestines.
The intestinal mucosa is not connected, the barrier is broken, and a hole opens in the intestine.
And substances that should not enter the body enter the blood.
In addition, you may not be able to absorb the necessary nutrients,
Intestinal immunity can also go crazy.
This is called leaky gut syndrome.
This causes chronic allergic symptoms and immune abnormalities.
In addition, a morphine-like substance called cazomorphine is released from the casein in milk.
This is addictive, and it happens that you like milk and can't quit.
In addition, milk is rich in calcium,
Calcium in milk, unfortunately, is not absorbed.
Calcium is originally absorbed by the body
After ionization in the stomach, it is absorbed in the intestines and used as nutrients.
However, much of the calcium in milk is bound to casein, so it does not ionize.
It is not absorbed.

2. Bread
Bread contains gluten.
Gluten is a protein found in large quantities in wheat and rye.
Gluten is difficult to digest, and undigested products that cannot be digested can damage the intestines.
The principle is the same as casein.
This causes a hole in the intestines, leading to immune disorders and allergies.
Pastry bread is the worst.
In addition to gluten, it contains a large amount of additives and sugar.
It causes blood sugar spikes and plummets, increasing the risk of diabetes and arteriosclerosis.
Gluten is found in other than bread, as well as in noodles, ramen, pasta, etc.

3. Ham
Ham and bacon contain a coloring agent called sodium nitrite.
This is a food additive that gives it a pink color.
Sodium nitrite is combined with a substance called amine contained in meat,
It turns into a carcinogen called nitrosamine.
It is said that if you continue to take it, the risk of getting cancer increases.
There is a simple way to prevent it.
Just blanch the ham for about 15 seconds one by one to reduce the colorant.
Eat ham and sausages after blanching.

4. Energy drinks
Energy drinks include:
It often contains an additive called sodium benzoate.
Sodium benzoate prevents food spoilage,
As a preservative to prevent mold and bacteria from growing
It is an additive used in many foods.
It is often used in drinking water for health drinks,
It is also used in a well-known health drink.
Taking only sodium benzoate in large amounts
It is a factor that harms health, but there are other terrible things.
Along with sodium benzoate, vitamin C and other ingredients
Sometimes the highly toxic benzene is produced.
Benzene is a substance that is carcinogenic and has a risk of causing leukemia.
Never take supplements with healthy drinks.

5. Margarine
butter made from animal fats is bad for the body,
Margarine, which is made from vegetable oil, is said to be good for the body.
Is it true?
Margarine contains trans fatty acids.
Trans fatty acids increase LDL cholesterol
It is said to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
2003In the year, the WHO issued a recommendation to refrain from less than 1% per day.
In response to this, the use of trans fatty acids has been banned in the United States since 2018.
Bread and margarine are a staple for breakfast.
It's scary to think that I would continue this life forever.

How was it?
Maybe there were some things that I ate on a daily basis.
Looking at the five commonalities, [easy and easy] [inexpensive] [often seen in commercials]
It is an image that there are many such things.

Diet is the most important investment in your health.
What you don't eat is more important than what you eat!
That's how you protect your body.
Please choose foods that will please your body.

The New Common Sense of the Body Episode 20 What you should be careful about is not calories, but "sugar" excess

To improve and prevent diabetes, it is necessary to eat a diet that pays attention to "calorie intake"・・・・・・
I think there are many people who have thought about it.
In fact, the conventional diet for diabetes was based on a "calorie-restricted diet" in which 50~60% of the calorie intake was calculated from the standard body weight.

However, in recent years,A new concept that has attracted attention is the "carbohydrate-restricted diet".
It is a diet that limits carbohydrates, including rice and bread, and instead allows you to eat as much protein, fat, and vegetables as you want.
Starting a carbohydrate-restricted diet has the advantage of lowering blood sugar levels quickly.
There is a physiological fact that only carbohydrates directly raise blood sugar levels, so it is natural that blood sugar levels will drop by suppressing them.
AndBy continuing to restrict carbohydrates, the need for drug administration will be reduced, and the amount of insulin will be reduced to control blood sugar.

However,Excessive carbohydrate restriction is also prohibited. This is because a certain intake of carbohydrates and fats is necessary for a healthy body.
By the way, it is said that the amount of sugar that adults should consume per day is 250~300g, so let's consider the daily sugar intake based on less than half of that amount, 130g.

The New Normal of the Body Episode 19: Diabetes and Acupuncture

What is diabetes?
Diabetes includes type 1 diabetes, which may be related to autoimmune abnormalities, and type 2 diabetes, which develops due to genetics and lifestyle habits, and diabetes mainly refers to type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes(diabetes)is glucose in the blood(blood sugar)It is a disease that is more than normal.
In the early stages, there are almost no subjective symptoms, but if blood sugar levels are left high, blood vessels and nerves throughout the body will gradually be damaged, causing various complications.

The causes of diabetes can be genetics, high-calorie, high-fat diet, lack of exercise, etc., which can be caused by "insufficient action of insulin".
Insulin is a hormone produced by the β cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas and has the function of lowering blood sugar levels.
In diabetes, it is important to improve the "lack of insulin action" and control blood sugar levels well.
This will help prevent the progression of the disease and prevent complications.

If you have these symptoms, you may have diabetes.
?I feel thirsty.
?The frequency and amount of urine are high
?Weight loss sharply
?The whole body feels sluggish and tired easily
?Vision disorders such as blurred eyes
?Sugar comes out in the urine

What can you do with acupuncture and moxibustion?
In the early stages of diabetes, when drug therapy has not yet been achieved, and acupuncture and moxibustion can be used very effectively.
The effects of diet and exercise therapy are effectively demonstrated, and acupuncture and moxibustion treatment can often be used to control blood sugar, preventing disease progression and complications.
It can also be expected to relieve unpleasant symptoms such as dry mouth, polyuria, and fatigue.