Tague Nutrition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Leawood, Kansas – Board-certified bariatric physician Rick Tague, M.D., M.P.H. & T.M., has been spotlighted as a leader in non-surgical medical weight loss and will appear in the May 14, 2012 issue of Newsweek magazine.

Dr. Tague is the founder and medical director of The Center for Nutrition and Preventive Medicine, P.A. with locations in Kansas City (Leawood, KS) and Topeka, KS.

Tague was selected by a research team from a search of qualified physicians in good standing with leading and accredited organizations practicing within the medical weight loss specialty. Dr. Tague will appear in a special “Health Issue” of Newseek, featuring a special report on “Obesity in America”. This feature spotlights only “top individuals or group practices” as identified by Newsweek“leading the way in their field of practice”.

Dr. Tague is an honors graduate of Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, with an M.D. degree and a Masters in Public Health degree. He is board certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine and the American Board of Family Practice. He is also a member of the AOA Honor Medical Society.

Dr. Tague began his nutrition, weight loss and bariatric medicine practice in 1996 and has served over 10,000 patients pursuing weight loss and metabolic health. Dr. Tague’s professional focus is on medically-managed weight loss, clinical nutrition, appetite, and metabolism.

From all of us at the Center for Nutrition & Preventive Medicine – Congratulations Dr. Tague!

View the complete press release here »

Brain Shrinkage and “Cognitive Decline”

Mental function, unfortunately, does deteriorate with age and is associated with the unpleasant reality of “brain shrinkage”.  Known in research studies as “cognitive decline”, this process is now known to begin at least by age 45.  In fact, research shows that reasoning ability declines 3.5% over the 10 years from our mid 40’s to mid 50’s.  And, it gets worse.  The decline increases to as much as 9.6% per 10 years in our 60’s.

Brain scans confirm that the brain normally shrinks 0.5% per year.  In Alzheimer’s, it shrinks 2.5% per year.  In those with the common form of mild cognitive decline, it appears to shrink about 1% per year.

We now believe that the decline in mental function is a very long-term process, occurring over at least 20-30 years.  So, if prevention and management is to have an optimal effect, interventions must be made earlier rather than later.  Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition, and exercising regularly, while avoiding obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are believed to be very important.

Key nutrients are also believed to have a significant impact on risk of mental decline with age.  Homocysteine, for example, is a metabolism by-product in our blood that has been associated with mental decline and risk of dementia.  It is a known risk factor.  We know, however, that taking vitamin B-12, B-6, and Folate will lower the blood level of homocysteine significantly.  We also now know that the rate of brain atrophy can be reduced up to 53% for those with high homocysteine simply by taking these vitamins.

Recent research has confirmed that supplementing with B-12 and Folate promotes improvement in mental function within 24 months, in both immediate and delayed memory performance.  In fact, individuals with the highest blood levels of B-12 are 6 times less likely to experience brain shrinkage compared to those with low blood levels.

Also of interest, obese individuals have smaller brains than their normal weight peers.  And individuals with metabolic syndrome are 20% more likely to have mental decline on memory tests.  An elevated C-reactive protein is also associated with cognitive decline.  Again, weight control, a healthy lifestyle, and proper nutrition are keys to keeping your brain healthy.

Nutrition and Health Facts For Brain Preservation:

1.  Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oil and flax oil, in the blood, are associated with improved mental function, particularly immediate recall.
2.  Excessive calorie intake seems to double the risk of mild mental impairment, particularly in those over age 70.
3.  Take true Folate, B-12, and B-6 in their natural forms, in proper doses to lower homocysteine.
4.  Low levels of Vitamin D are found in those with Alzheimer’s.  Higher vitamin D levels are associated with improved memory test scores.
5.  L-carnitine treatment increases mental function in older adults.
6.  Green tea consumption is associated with improved mental function.
7.  Ginkgo biloba complexed with phosphatidylserine in supplement form resulted in improved memory performance and increased speed of memory task performance.  Combining the two supplements seems to potentiate cognitive effects.
8.  Gingko biloba has consistent evidence that chronic supplementation improves selective attention, some executive processes and long-term memory.

Recommendations:

1.  Lifestyle factors:  Control your weight, blood pressure, cholesterol (preferably without statin medications which can impair memory), fitness level.
2.  Nutrition factors:  Eat health promoting foods such as recommended in our CARING maintenance diet.
3.  Supplement Core Nutrients:  A quality multivitamin, such as Metabolism Essentials, along with Ultra Omega 3 make sense for almost all adults.  (Folate, B-12, and B-6 in research based amounts are included.)
4.  Supplement Strategically:  Discuss with your nutritionist if Green Tea, Acetyl L-Carnitine, Memory Support (Ginkgo biloba + Phosphatidylserine) are appropriate for you.

Blessings of Optimum Health,
Rick Tague, MD, MPH

A common misconception of gastric bypass surgery is that it works by malabsorption of food calories.  In fact, only 5-10% of the weight loss from gastric bypass surgery is the result of malabsorption.  However, the surgery does effectively reduce appetite and intake by 1,418 calories per day.  It is recommended that most dieters use safer, non-surgical methods of appetite control while controlling their weight.

To learn more information about our non-surgical methods of appetite control schedule a free, no-obligation consultation, educational materials and a free body-composition analysis.  In Topeka call 785-273-4443, or in Kansas City call 913-814-8222.

I heard an intriguing quote this week, “America is not about prevention… We would much rather build a hospital at the bottom of a cliff than build a fence at the top.”  What a sad commentary on our society and our health care system!

While attending Tulane Medical School, I also had the privilege of attending the Tulane School of Public Health.  As a student there, a similar analogy proved to be one of the most important lessons I learned from Tulane.

One of my professors of public health and tropical medicine, Neal Halsey, M.D., used to describe preventive medicine as being like approaching a river that was full of struggling bodies floating downstream toward a certain death.  Imagine tired, panicky people floating down the rapid river above Niagara Falls, unable to swim to shore.  So, the “obvious” thing for you to do is to swim out into the water, grab somebody, and bring them back to shore and safety.  Then, swim out again and grab another body and bring them back to safety.  And so on…

Quickly you realize that there are far too many bodies in the river for you to save them all.  So, you recruit everyone within earshot to join you in rescuing as many people as possible.  Unfortunately, even after recruiting as many bystanders as possible, there are still not enough rescuers to save all that are perishing.

So, you continue to swim out and rescue as many as possible before exhausting yourself to a near death experience.  And, because you and your fellow rescuers are so engaged in saving the perishing from certain death, no one has time to walk upstream along the river to find out why people keep jumping into the dangers and perils of the river!  If only one person would have walked upstream and told people of the tragedy that would lie ahead if they entered the river, far more lives could have been saved, with far less effort and resources.

That story is, in fact, our story in America.  Well trained, well meaning physicians and other health care providers (and our government and insurance companies) have historically focused on the admirable and understandable goal of “rescuing the sick” out of the river that is taking them toward death INSTEAD of going upstream, identifying what is causing the drowning, and PREVENTING the problem in the first place.  (Immunizations, hygiene, seat belts, air bags, etc are welcome exceptions!)

Unfortunately, now the whole financial integrity of the health care system relies on the necessity of a certain number of people becoming sick with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and infections.  If those illnesses disappeared completely, hospitals and doctors’ offices would be empty.  This “unspoken secret” creates a conflict of interest with many health care providers, unfortunately.  Although the provider cares about you, they won’t necessarily want you to get so perfectly healthy that you need no prescriptions and no further health care services!  I hate to say that, but I’ve seen it in the real world far too often.  Doctors and hospitals struggle with a conflict of interest when it comes to your health and your need for health care services.

In fact, it seems our entire “health care” system is built on the foundational priorities of identifying illnesses and then designing effective, but costly, treatment plans.  An example of a conflict would be when a hospital contemplates whether to have “flu shot clinics” because if they prevented a flu epidemic the hospital just might not be able to make ends meet this year!  Believe me, those conversations really do happen!

Now you know why prevention, promoting wellness and “optimum health” has not been the #1 top priority for medical care providers during the past 100 years.  Optimum health and prevention of disease and disability should be the pursuit of every conscientious American who cares for themselves and wants to play a personal role in resolving the health care crisis in America.

Let Optimum Health through an intentional nutrition and fitness plan always be your goal.  Prevention of illnesses, being fit, trim, and energetic will always follow.  Find people who are passionate about health and surround yourself with them and absorb their influence and counsel.  You are worth it!  Nutrition, weight control, fitness, stress management, avoiding toxins, adequate sleep, you get the idea.  Caring for yourself in advance of illness is always the right thing to do!

Blessings of Optimum Health!
Rick Tague, MD, MPH & TM

For many years now, the State of Kansas has placed a number of restrictions on various weight loss treatments.  Since many weight loss medications are controlled by the Drug Enforcement Administration, there are both federal and state regulations that must also be followed.

Currently, only authorized physicians with D.E.A. certification may prescribe these controlled medications in Kansas in qualifying patients, and certain monitoring must take place on an ongoing basis, with at least monthly visits.

In addition, there are the practical considerations of wanting a physician knowledgeable and ethical in the area of bariatric medicine (the field of weight management).  The following are suggestions we offer and the standards that Dr. Tague maintains in his programs:

1. Select a physician who is a bariatric physician and knowledgeable in the comprehensive approach to obesity, including medication therapy and various nutritional treatments.
2. Select a physician who is going to give you an appropriate physical exam, perform a complete medical history, and ascertain whether you are or are not a good candidate for medication therapy or intense nutritional therapies.
3. If you are a good candidate for treatment, an EKG and appropriate laboratory testing should be done in accordance with the Standards of Bariatric Practice.
4. Interview the physician or a staff member, and if they are not willing to discuss their qualifications to treat your weight you may wish to select another physician.
5. There are indications and contraindications (reasons to prescribe and not to prescribe) for any medication, including appetite suppressants.  If a physician is willing to write you a prescription for a weight loss treatment without a thorough history and exam you may wish to consult another physician. Furthermore, select a physician who is fully authorized to prescribe the weight control medications, if they are needed, by the State Board of Healing Arts and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
6. Select a physician who is a member of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, attends their conferences, and regularly receives up to date information in the field of bariatrics.
7. Select a physician who is board certified by the American Board of Bariatric Medicine.  This is the credentialing organization for physicians specializing in medical weight management.
8. Finally, very importantly, select a physician with as much experience as possible in this field.
   - Ask your physician how many patients he/she treats regularly for obesity.  (The Center for Nutrition has treated thousands of patients for overweight conditions in the past 17 years.)
   - How many years have they been in this area of medicine?  (Dr. Tague started in the field in 1993.)  Then ask for statistics on that physician’s weight loss patients.  How much are they losing, and are they being successful for 1-2 years or longer?  Experience is truly a great teacher.  Don’t be hesitant to ask these tough questions!

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Rick Tague, M.D., M.P.H. & T.M. is board certified by the American Board of Bariatric Medicine and American Board of Family Practice. He is a graduate of Tulane School of Medicine with degrees in Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Tague is also a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society.

Are you prepared to face the “Winter Blues”?

Everyone tends to feel a little “blah” when the days are short and cold, but for some people seasonal change brings with it something more serious than the blues: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is a form of depression that 20% of Americans struggle with.

If you experience some of the following symptoms during the fall and winter months, you may be affected by SAD:

Depression
Irritability
Anxiety
Increased appetite
Carbohydrate cravings
Sleepiness/fatigue
Social withdrawal

Genetics, age, and your body’s natural chemical makeup can all play a role, however the specific cause of SAD is unknown. A few other factors that can also contribute include:

Your biological clock
The reduced level of sunlight in the fall and winter months may disrupt your body’s internal clock, which lets you know when you should sleep or be awake. This disruption can lead to feelings of depression.

Serotonin levels
Reduced sunlight can cause a drop in serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that’s associated with mood and helps control hunger.  Serotonin drops can increase appetite and also trigger depression.

Melatonin levels
The change of season can disrupt the balance of the natural hormone melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood.  Melatonin supplementation may be needed.

Vitamin D deficiency
SAD symptoms often improve during the spring/summer months when more sunlight is available, and your body can manufacture higher levels of Vitamin D. Several studies have shown that persons with SAD that receive optimal Vitamin D experience relief of their symptoms. In fact, one study showed that SAD patients taking Vitamin D for just 5 days reported feeling more enthusiastic, inspired, alert, active, and attentive. Those that did not receive the Vitamin D experienced more stress, health complaints, nervousness, and irritability. All of Dr. Tague’s Nutrition Solutions’ protocols include as a priority keeping our patients Vitamin D levels optimal, especially during the winter months.

“Essentially everyone living north of Texas needs supplemental Vitamin D to maintain optimal Vitamin D, which is mandatory for optimal health. Available in our online Nutriton Store  or Center for Nutrition clinics, most adults should take 2 capsules of natural Vitamin D-3 per day and have blood levels monitored periodically. Wishing you optimal health….” Rick Tague MD

Dr. Tague’s Nutrition Solutions program can help you beat this years “Winter Blues”! Whether you have 10 lbs or 100 lbs, our mission is to empower you to reach optimal weight, metabolic health, and wellness. Sign up today for a Free Consultation!

I have tremendous respect and concern for individuals seeking to enhance their health through weight loss and positive nutrition.  In fact, serving them is my passion.  And I know from years of working with such clients that weight reduction and maintenance is a very difficult task if one is not empowered with all the right tools and strategies.  People typically need assistance to be successful.  Why?  Can’t they just exercise “self-control” and be successful?

My pastor offered an interesting and insightful definition of self-control in his message last weekend.  He defined it as “stepping back from pleasure” to seek a higher purpose.  And we all need more self-control.  I get that.  Let’s all seek to grow in self-control. But is it really the answer for ultimate weight management?

And how pleasurable is it to be overweight anyway?  Are those who are overweight really seeking pleasure?  If so, they are on the entirely wrong path.  To have health risks, to get short of breath going up a flight of stairs, to struggle playing sports with children or grandchildren, to have achy knees, or to have to buy progressively larger clothes is anything but pleasant.  No, being overweight is not about pleasure.  Even eating those unhealthy foods is typically more about satisfying an unwanted craving or appetite than it is about lacking self-control.  Eating just for pleasure does happen, but is not typical.  It is far more common to eat in response to appetite and internal cravings.  Rather than eating to pursue pleasure or eating due to a lack of self-control, most eating of common snacks and improper foods is simply seeking to resolve the unpleasant and uncomfortable cravings deep within us.  See the difference?

I often explore with those beginning a weight loss journey what role self-control has in the process.  The typical belief is that their success must surely be all about self-control.  After all, they’ve always been told it’s just a simple matter of “pushing themselves away from the table” and “getting up off the couch”.  And surely those actions are directly related to self-control and only self-control, right?

Self-control, although an admirable character trait, is not a great answer for weight reduction.  If it were, why would some of the most disciplined, controlled individuals I’ve ever met, have some of the most difficult weight reduction challenges?  Physicians, trial attorneys, CEO’s, health educators, dietitians, professional athletes, and close friends with outstanding and disciplined character have all been clients of mine pursuing weight reduction.  These individuals could all give lectures on self-control, yet they gained weight and could not lose it without assistance.  You see, self-control might appear to be the solution, but it is only a partial key, at best, to an overall successful strategy.

Think about your motives for eating.  Do you have cravings and appetite struggles that you don’t want and find impossible to suppress with self-control?  If so, you are not alone.  Unhealthy food cravings are there for a reason, and the reason is not a character flaw.  Nutrient deficits, sleep deficiency, excessive stress, certain medications, and hormone disorders are just a few of the possible proven reasons for unwanted food cravings.  Self-control is great, but always seek resolution of unwanted cravings at their source of origin rather than trying to muster superhuman levels of self-control to manage them.  Think through any unwanted cravings or excessive appetite you may have.  If the source is not obvious, seek professional help.  Our Free Consultation is designed to help you assess your motives for eating and outline a success strategy.

Wishing you optimal health….Rick Tague, M.D., M.P.H.

Posted by: Rick Tague, M.D., M.P.H., & T.M.

The marketplace is full of seemingly “healthy” food options for those trying to watch their weight and health.  But what do these products really offer us, if anything?
Don’t be deceived by terms such as reduced calorie, reduced fat, low fat, light, lite, diet, fat-free, or low-calorie.  These terms may or may not have significance in terms of your actual health.
I took my teenage children to the grand opening of a new frozen yogurt business in Topeka this summer.  I was pleased that they had the option of having just berries, walnuts, almonds, etc.  My 16 year old, who is likewise health conscious, was pleased to see that they had “fat-free” options on their yogurt.  Jamie was feeling good that she could choose a “healthier” option as well.
This led to a nutrition lesson, which my children will tell you is a common occurrence when we are eating out!  You see, “fat-free” is one of the most misleading titles of food on the market.  In the 1970’s, there was a public health initiative to get everyone to eat “low fat” to avoid heart disease.  As a result, fats in foods (which can be healthy or unhealthy), were replaced with sugars.  And fat free, became, in reality, high sugar!
So, my nutrition lesson included a couple of points.  First, there is an assumption that low fat or “fat-free” is a good thing.  The truth is that lowering overall fat intake as a primary goal has never been shown to give health benefits.  It does not result in either weight loss or lower risk of heart disease.
The second point is that “fat-free”, when applied to sweet or snack items, can be interpreted as “high carbohydrate” or “high sugar”.  I’ve learned to just say “high sugar” whenever I see those fat-free labels, then I try to find a nutrition label to read, and I’ve never been wrong.
Modern research has confirmed that if you can replace carbohydrates with fats, even “saturated” fats, there is no harm done.  So, don’t look for “fat-free” or “low fat” foods.  Consider nutrient content and your personal nutrition goals.  Some fat in the diet is essential.
Similarly, “lite” products may also still have excessive amounts of harmful sugars and harmful fats, even if calories have been slightly reduced.
When choosing food options, be proactive in your approach.  I intentionally choose 2 fruits per day, several vegetable servings per day, 4-5 of my favorite meal replacements (Chocolate RTD Shakes, Cinnamon Treats, Comfort Bars, and our Cream of Vegetable Soup are common items for me), 3-4 servings of lean protein, and a few other categories like monounsaturated fats from avocados and olives are typical.
The point is to plan in advance, be assertive, be proactive, be intentional.  And if you take your teens to a yogurt shop, choose one where you can get the berries and nuts, which are part of my daily maintenance plan anyway…
Blessings of health,
Rick Tague MD

You may have seen the above recent headline in the news.  The correct answer is a definite “Yes or No!”  Most vitamin formulas are 10-20 years out of date and unfortunately put well-meaning vitamin takers at unnecessary risk!  Further, many supplement consumers are not well informed on what their specific needs are for nutrient supplementation, resulting in bad decisions on what to take.  It is no wonder that research shows that some consumers put themselves at increased risk, even though their motive is to lower risk of disease!

Vitamins are powerful substances with the power of life and health or death.  Just because vitamins are non-prescription, don’t think they are not powerful.  The word vitamin comes from combining the words “vital” and “amine” to describe natural nutrient compounds that have the chemical structure known as “amines”.  Vitamins are absolutely essential and vital for life, including metabolic and biochemical reactions.  If they are not present in the correct amounts, the proper body chemistry will not continue.  Disease (or lower quality of life) or death will occur.

Vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients must be supplied from diet or supplements.  We’ve known that for years.  That is why the government mandates things like Vitamin D supplementation of milk and folic acid supplementation of bread products.

But can there be a down side to nutrient supplementation?  Absolutely.  You see, just like medications that can either be toxic or lifesaving depending on who is taking what and in what dose, nutritional supplements also must be used in the right people, at the right times, for the right reasons, in the right amounts, and in the right form.

Iron is one example.  Iron deficiency is one of the most common worldwide nutrient deficiencies.  This deficiency can cause anemia, fatigue, depression, difficultly concentrating and food cravings.  However, in excess, iron will increase the risk of cancer, heart disease, liver disease, and multi-organ failure.  Do not take iron supplementation unless you have been diagnosed with iron deficiency!

The point is, you need to take the correct amount and form of nutrients for your particular situation.  Vitamin E should always be in its natural state as “mixed tocopherols” and not over 200 IU per day.  Synthetic “folic acid” should NEVER be taken in a multivitamin, EVER.  We now know it increases the risk of cancer in supplement form.  Vitamin B-6 intake is associated with 36% reduction in colon cancer risk and 51% reduction in risk of postmenopausal breast cancer when over 3.4 mg per day is consumed.  However, 40 mg or more per day is associated with increased risk of heart disease!  Proper doses of vitamins are essential.

Research is clear that you must have nutrient intake that is “in the zone” for achieving optimal health.  Too much or too little of these powerful little nutritional compounds puts you at unnecessary risk of illness and death.

Remember, nutrition is the single most powerful driving force for optimal health.  Quality of life, mood, bone health, cancer risk, heart disease risk, muscle strength, and body fat are just a few of the physical aspects of human wellness that are impacted by proper nutrient intake.  My professional passion is assisting individuals in their pursuit of optimal health through the power of proper nutrition.  Metabolism Essentials Multi (7 years in its making) can compliment almost any diet plan and has research-based amounts of the needed vitamins and minerals for optimal health.  Visit the Nutrition Store on our website to order your bottle today!