me. i hope you enjoyed it and are learning to be more of a healthy you. welcome to "a healthy you." i'm carol alt. i find health issues caused by gluten to be about the worst of any food, so i've devoted this entire show to what it is, what it does, and where you can find it. but first, check this out. recently we've been hearing a lot about gluten. celebrities are getting on the gluten-free bandwagon. >> i want to look out for the children. so tonight, i'm proud to launch a new campaign to educate kids on the dangers of wheat. move over, mcgruff the crime dog! it's time for mcgnaw the gluten-free beaver.

>> gluten triggers an inflammatory response in the body which damages the line of the intestine. that is problematic can lead to malabsorption in nutrients and did digestive issues. >> you have to suffer from celiac, gluten issues, or can it be bad if you don't have celiac. according to my next guest, all carbs, all carbs, even the ones considered healthy, can damage your brain in so many different ways from celiac to depression. yes, even alzheimer's. but why? "new york times" best selling author and board certified neurology is here to explain why grains are hazardous to our health and what we can do to avoid them. i've been waiting to have you on

my show since i read your book. it's probably the most comprehensive book i have read on disease ever. >> i appreciate that. there's a lot of information there. who knew. what we eat has a big roll in our health. it goes back to that. >> down to our dna. >> the foods we eat playing a role in metabolism. the food we eat is instructing dna. the food is giving instructions to your dna every moment in terms of expressing good genes or bad genes, genes that will code for health or genes that will lead to disease. >> in other words, our dna tells us something could happen but the food we eat we eat tells us

when that happens. >> it's like the keys on the piano, depends how you choose to play a certain song. burt baccarat plays a song, it may be different. you choose how your life is played based on your foods. >> our foods tell us whether or not we're going to lead a good, clean, healthy life. >> hwe've talked about a heart smart diet and eating foods good for strong, healthy bones, it's time we recognize brain diseases so devastating in western cultures are preventible and based on the crappy food we're eating. >> particularly grains. >> particularly grains for a number of reasons. you mentioned the gluten issue. but beyond that, grains are a carbohydrate-dense food and need to come off the table. absolutely.

>> when we're talking about grains, we mean breads, pastas, cakes, cookies, crackers, seriously -- >> we lost half your viewers. they are saying i'm not watching this anymore. >> people say, well, i didn't have any wheat. i had pasta for dinner -- >> gluten-free pasta. >> not even gluten-free. i had pasta for dinner. and i roll my eyes because it's like, well, what makes you think that pasta -- well, it's not bread. many people, and believe me i was one of those people, so i know, before i started this education process of learning how to eat. because we're not educated in schools to figure out how to eat and what's healthy for us. >> and you're not educated in medical school either. that's what's really heart-wrenching. but your point is well taken. we're told eat four to six servings of fruit every day. that's what we're supposed to do, right? it's good for health. that's a major carbohydrate load and it's devastating for the brain. when you have higher blood sugar, you are increasing your risk dramatically for

alzheimer's. that's a disease for which there is no treatment, as you and i have this conversation, and it is preventible. that's the mission. >> you have a special interest in that because your father was diagnosed with alzheimer's, isn't that correct? >> that's true. he was diagnosed with that problem many years ago. he just celebrated his 97th birthday. >> it's heartbreaking when people say, what did we do wrong, and you know what they did wrong. what do you say in that moment? >> here's what happens. i deal with alzheimer's in my office. and the young family members say what can i do to not end up like mom or dad. i say get the carbs off your plate. you have to exercise. we talked a moment ago about how we can change our gene expression. turns out one of the most powerful factors to turn on good genes is aerobic exercise. you can grow back cells in your brain's memory center. who knew? by getting aerobic exercise.

we were told, you had your 100 billion brain cells, if you drank a beer, you lose 20,000 brain cells. who knew what you'd end up like what do you know, you can grow back a new brain. that's pretty empowering. >> when we come back, we'll talk more about this. avo: waves don't care what age you are. take them on the way you always have. live healthy and take one a day men's 50+. a complete multivitamin with 7 antioxidants to support cell health. age? who cares. if you're looking to buy a car,t this?? now is the time and truecar is the way. just go to truecar.com to lock in guaranteed savings... without negotiation. thank you!

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from td ameritrade. welcome back. mo welcome back. most of us believe that we can live our lives however we choose and when medical problems arise, we can turn to our doctors for a quick fix in the form of the latest greatest new pill. this convenient scenario forced an illness centered approach on the part of physicians as they now play their role as a purveyor of pills. but this approach is tragically flawed on two counts. this is focused on illness, not wellness. second, the treatment themselves are often fraught with dangerous consequences. doctor, this is a quote from your book. >> it is. >> we were just talking about alzheimer's and the families that come to you and say, what can we do to prevent? and the first thing you do after you give them your book, "grain

brain" and you say, food plays a huge part in your health. >> i think it's really important to understand -- to hear what carol just said, food can prevent alzheimer's. we've really got to get our arms around the notion that this is a preventable disease. it's not a disease that we treat just the symptoms. that doesn't even work. it is preventable. that's peer-reviewed, good science that tells us, for example, that if you choose to become a diabetic by making improper dietary choices, you double your risk for that disease for which there is no treatment. you can reduce your risk by watching your blood sugar. that is done by reducing your carbohydrate intake. it's that simple. >> something you just said, i'm going to say it back to you because it's so true and people don't understand how powerful food is and the choices that they make because you said you choose to have diabetes. a lot of people just feel, oh, i just woke up one day and it just befell me. i don't think they're

understanding how inflammatory certain foods can be and you wrote an entire book about grains because, for you -- by the way, grains is the first thing i gave up when i changed my diet. my sinus infections went away. i never got a cold, a flu, pms, you name it, it went away. i learned early on how powerful it was to actually say no to something. and that was pasta, my favorite, pizza bread and -- >> this is well beyond the gluten story. >> absolutely. >> not just a tennis player improved his game when he went gluten-free. >> no. >> these gluten rich foods are pounding your body with carbohydrates and that is devastating. those are like coffin nails. you have to get that out of your body. you have to eat more fat. if you stop eating the carbs, you're going to eat more fat. it's crazy -- >> because people say, what else can i eat? hello. proteins and fats. >> you want to focus on eating fat. that goes against the grain, pun intended. it goes against everything we've been told over the years.

fat-free this, fat-free cookies, fat-free everything. that's the surest way to bump your carbs, raise your blood sugar and open the door for alzheimer's. it doesn't just happen. yes, there's a genetic component. yes, we inherit a bit of a risk. but these are much bigger straws on camel's back. you have to get carbs out of your life. you've got to welcome butter back to the table, olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, seeds, grass-fed beef, wild fish. these are high-fat foods and your brain is desperate for that. >> you have an unusual take on diabetes. i always was told because my father-in-law is diabetic, i was told what you have to do is you have to limit eating your sweets around your meal. and that when you inject the insulin, if you don't feel so good, eat some candy. this was the old thinking in diabetes. >> it's still what people are told. first of all -- >> how can they after they have a book like yours still think this, even doctors? >> my mission -- the word doctor

means healer, it means teacher. what i'm suggesting to you right now is brand new, it's revolutionary. it's only how humans have eaten for about 2 million years. so it's hot off the press. >> it's old revolutionary thinking. >> yeah. we've some full circle. we've got to get people back to eating for our genome. giving our genes what they need. i don't mean our levis, i mean our dna genes. that's what's important to learn about food. it's information. and you don't have to become a type 2 diabetic. it's all in the foods that you choose to eat. diabetes is a sure-fire way to increase your risk for alzheimer's, for which there is no treatment. and in a nutshell, that's what i'm saying here. don't wait for the other shoe to drop. you have to take control today, change your diet and change your brain's destiny. it's not that difficult. people have to realize that what's on their plate is determining their health destiny and what i bring to the table is

your brain's destiny. this isn't just for adults at risk for alzheimer's. this is for the 6.5 million american children who have been diagnosed with adhd. two-thirds of them in this country today are being given amphetamines. and that's okay with mom and dad and also with doctors. we have no clue -- >> otherwise, they'll be kicked out of school. >> we have no clue what the long-term consequences of that is going to be for these poor kids. >> alzheimer's, diabetes, adhd. if we're here any longer, we're going to hit all of the diseases out there and attribute them to grains. but please stand by once more. up next, we'll talk about the secret places where gluten can be found. i'm randy and i quit smoking with chantix. for 33 years i chose to keep smoking... ...because it was easier to smoke than it was to quit. along with support, chantix (varenicline) is proven to help people quit smoking. it's a non-nicotine pill. chantix reduced the urge for me to smoke.

it actually caught me by surprise. some people had changes in behavior, thinking or mood, hostility, agitation, depressed mood and suicidal thoughts or actions while taking or after stopping chantix. if you notice any of these, stop chantix and call your doctor right away. tell your doctor about any history of mental health problems, which could get worse while taking chantix. don't take chantix if you've had a serious allergic or skin reaction to it. if you develop these, stop chantix and see your doctor right away as some could be life threatening. tell your doctor if you have a history of heart or blood vessel problems, or if you develop new or worse symptoms. get medical help right away if you have symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. use caution when driving or operating machinery. common side effects include nausea, trouble sleeping and unusual dreams. i did not know what it was like to be a non-smoker. but i do now. ask your doctor if chantix is right for you.

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we welcome back. did you know that just because something is wheat-free doesn't mean it's gluten-free and that gluten can be hiding in beauty products, medications, even hair care products? that's scary, right, especially if you don't know you have a gluten allergy or sensitivity. many times you don't know until you stop eating glutens. i spoke with my sister, christiane alt, a gluten aficionado. we grew up eating so much bread and pasta and actually breadcrumbs on top of macaroni and cheese. >> who's to say you can't eat that now and still be gluten-free? the thing about being gluten-free is a lot of people cut wheat out of their diet and say they're gluten-free. but gluten isn't just wheat. you have gluten in other things as well like barley and malt and things like that.

so you can't have smelt and everyone thinks they are eating healthy because they aren't eating wheat. wheat isn't the only place that gluten hides. i was amazed to find out when i went gluten-free that it can hide in some of the simplest things you wouldn't think of, like soy sauce. you go to a chinese restaurant or have sushi, having a gluten-free piece of fish and you're dipping it in the soy sauce. and soy sauce has wheat in it. >> tell me other places, speaking of hidden gluten, that people could find gluten and may not know they're getting gluten. >> one ketchup will have it where another brand won't. one mustard will have it where another brand of mustard won't. it hides in ice cream. ice cream isn't just milk and sugars. there are other modifiers and food starches and things -- and binders. you'll find it in bullion, you'll have a nice cup of -- like chicken bullion and it could have gluten in it. >> modified starches, cornstarch -- >> if it says modified cornstarch, you're okay. if it said modified food starch,

you should call the company and find out what they use. >> it's in skin care -- >> makeup >> it's in shampoos. it's in makeup, skin care. it's in food substance. you eat really great food. >> you look like you enjoy great feet. >> you i look like i do. >> it takes a few things to watch. >> with the internet it is easy because i will type in what i want to eat and gluten free and all the webs and tweets come up and everything comes up about

that product. if you still have a question, there is telephone numbers to call and ask the company directly. they are always changing their formulas of food. i am glad i asked you, you became my bible on gluten. >> i think it is so interesting that gluten is about everywhere it is impossible to avoid it unless you do your own sleuthing. what do you think? >> you have to do your homework. she said something that was empowering talking about inflammation being caused by being exposed to gluten and alzheimer's disease is inflammation of the brain of the she did not know she had the issues until she went gluten free. who knew? you have to try gluten free. and thinks that are wheat free or gluten free, you don't know. i make this point: just because something could be gluten free it is still very likely going to be something that is high in

carbohydrates the you have to avoid the gluten-free i'll. >> avoid gluten free aisle? >> absolutely. what will you find? food does not come in packages. what will you fine? gluten free pasta, cakes, crackers, dough, bread. >> and they do, in fact, go through the normal process so it is a mix anyway. >> in an article in the new england journal of medicine they found 75 percent of oatmeal is contaminate with gluten for the reason you bring up. >> shop the outside aisles. >> the notion it is hard to be gluten free i say if you are dedicated, you eat vegetables that grow above the ground and grass-fed beef if you are not a

vegetarian and fish. >> you can be thin and beautiful. >> i work at it. health a luxury. it is not guaranteed. >> it is a choice. >> absolutely, a choice. >> that is what is empowering about this program, you give people this information and, hopefully, you lead the horse to water they will drink. >> you are giving the information and i appreciate you being here. >> sharing. sharing the information. >> next, we have "ask carol." they're delicious, and an excellent source of fiber to help support regularity. wife: mmmm husband: these are good! marge: the tasty side of fiber. from phillips.

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welcome back. today's "ask carol" is noto muk ca welcome back, "ask carol," is a chance for a viewer to tell white house he find out about food labeled organic. i am told that individuals have a monopoly on "organic" and he may the rules. >> this is a trend in our society. it seems one organization or another claims ownership to something you are doing oariesting. for example, i received a truthful e-mail from a well-known wine company. they admitted they were bombarded with parched earth chemicals and said they know long are use them. you would think if they suddenly met the bureaucratic standards of "organic" ground has been saturated, probably for decades with bad chemicals.

the chemicals are, in turn, absorbed by the roots of the vine and are in the wine itself. several years ago the "wall street journal" did an in-depth article on families in china would were extremely sick, some severe forms of cancer. the illness was a direct result of eating food grown in a garden which was contaminated by chemicals not directly applied but accumulated in the soil. if they met the standard of organic the chemicals were still in the end environment. it is time for a new standard that actually works. the media recently did a piece saying the not treat dead city of organic food is no different than nonorganic food. that is diminishing the point. that was never the issue. the issue with organic versus not organic is people want to know about toxic chemical content in the fiber of the food itself, not the chemicals on 9 exterior of the items. as i see it those toxins request and do accumulate gradually in

increments building up the lead and more and benzene, et cetera, ingested, you will not kill anyone in the same day but the liver can only detox so much and spread out over time the toxins can accumulate faster than a healthy system can get rid of them. how about a pesticide-free label? that means zero, nothing, no toxins, no exceptions? we need new testing. not the soil testing. we need testing designed specifically for pesticide chemical run off for the sail, our food, and the water table itself. jason at 7-7-7, i could not have said that any better myself. thanks for writing. >> if you would like me to answer a question on health, fitness or beauty message me on facebook or send a tweet. hope you enjoyed the joe and you

are learn to be more of a healthy new. rial day, everybody. a heartfelt thank you to our troops for their service. "mediabuzz" with howie kurtz begins right now. on the buzz-meter this sundm >> mainstream media ripping the obama administration for the bungling of the scandal at the v.a. hospitals. outrage that the white house says the president learned about it from the press. it is lunacy to have shinseki investigate anything. lunacy. >> the president needs to step up. heads go need to real. >> what tooks everyone so long to address it? >> were the media too slow to jump on the disclosures of secret wasting lists? why has the story now getting such traction when other