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The American thyroid Association states, “An estimated 20 millio Americans have some form of thyroid disease. Up to 60 percent of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition. Women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems. One woman in eight will develop a thyroid disorder during her lifetime.
Did you know that the average primary care doctor’s office visit is less than 11 minutes? How can anyone get to the root cause and treat a whole person in that amount of time?
You may have 45,990 unique chemical exposures from personal care products. Are they safe? The American woman uses 12 personal care products per day with 126 unique ingredients and men use 6, multiply that by 365 days per year and you have a large exposure that your liver and kidneys have to process. Your brain, hormone systems and nervous system have to cope with them as well. Cosmetics and personal care products are the least regulated products and not much attention is paid to health conce s from prolonged chemical exposure.
What’s fishy about your fish oil? The standard bottles boast over 2,000 mg in a capsule. However when your read the fine print, the part of the oil that has the benefits of decreasing inflammation, lowering cholesterol and preventing clotting and other health benefits are the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) components. When you read the label, the EPA and DHA are usually 720mg or less.
Any diet can be associated with weight loss; the question is will it leave you metabolically better or worse. There is still controversy about low fat versus low carbohydrate diets. After reviewing the literature and comments and conclusions of researchers, there is evidence to suggest that weight loss for the first 6 months is better in men and women on low carbohydrate diets than low fat diets. All conclude that there are no long-term studies on safety or efficacy of either low fat or low carbohydrate diets.
Not feeling like yourself anymore? Are you perhaps feeling fat, flabby, flaky, foggy, fatigued or forgetful? When you go doctors, they say you’re stressed, getting old or this is “normal for your age.” You may be prescribed some medication with side effects that are scarier than the symptoms. You ask yourself, “Does it really have to be this way?” There is a better way to combat the signs and symptoms of aging, illness and degenerative disease.. What’s your biological age?
Weight loss is not just a matter of calories in and calories out. There are many factors that contribute to weight loss or weight gain. Addressing only the calories leaves you vulnerable to a disappointing weight loss or weight regain. It can leave you in a metabolic mess. Let's explore the less well known keys to weight loss success. Weight loss success factors: DISMISS Weight
Feeling fat, fatigued, forgetful, foggy, slow and constipated? These are symptoms of an underactive thyroid. The health of your thyroid is affected by your diet. If you have these symptoms, following an underactive thyroid diet may heal your thyroid gland and prevent the need for thyroid hormones. Certain nutrients are essential for proper thyroid function. Iodine is needed for the production of thyroid hormones Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3) in the thyroid gland. Selenium-based proteins help to convert T4 into the more active T3 hormone..
Men’s hormones go through fluctuations at different stages of life. Just think of a teenage boy when testosterone is ramping up and their minds and bodies are not accustomed to their effects. The surges are erratic and can result in feelings of being powerful and confident and performing actions without carefully considering the consequences. Too much gives them acne and fast growth of facial hair and they become impulsive, aggressive and fertile with sexual desire. As the body’s production levels off, there is a period of stability, strength, self esteem, control and well being.
Hardened arteries, weak, brittle bones, cancer and heart disease are major contributors of aging. Research suggests that Vitamin K can have an impact of preventing or reversing these effects. Vitamin K, like other vitamins found in nature is really a group of compounds. The different forms or types of Vitamin K come from have specific actions in the body. K 1 otherwise known as phylloquinones are found in green leafy vegetables and are responsible for blood clotting.r
Got PMS? Bloating, weight gain, mood swings, cramps, headaches, tension, anger,anxiety, irritability, cravings, increased appetite, tender breasts and fluid retention are hallmarks of premenstrual syndrome fondly known as PMS. These symptoms generally peak a week or two before your period and then go away only to start again. Don’t underestimate the impact that this can have on your life, productivity, relationships and wellbeing. It affects about 40% of women of childbearing age.
There is no shortage of diet books from A to Z: Atkins to Zone and everything in between, yet there is still an obesity epidemic! You can lose weight on any diet but you have to ask the questions: Will it leave you Slim downmetabolically better or worse? How likely is it you will gain the weight back? Can you stick to it? I urge anyone trying to lose weight to take a practical approach and gain an understanding of their own unique metabolism, preferences, habits, triggers, genetics and lifestyle. To be slim and healthy requires a lifestyle and a mindset change.
Getting forgetful and having difficulty with attention is a common complaint, especially in middle age. While many factors contribute to this, both men and women suffer from cognitive decline and memory lapses when they have low estrogen or testosterone hormones. Studies have indicated that the timing – younger vs. older age and type of hormone – bioidentical hormone replacement therapy vs. synthetic hormone replacement therapy makes a difference.
Do you want to become rusty, crusty, fat and inflamed or try slowing the aging process and live being slim, sharp, sexy and supercharged? Aging is inevitable but how quickly you age and the quality of your life as you age is largely dependent on the choices you make. Understanding the hormonal and metabolic processes that accelerate aging can enable you to intervene and by implementing them you will be slowing the aging process. The secret is to eat, drink and be merry and rest and recover. Eat
Want to turn that spare tire into a six-pack? While I am a proponent of the tried and true, natural approach to a slow and steady weight loss using a healthy diet, portion control and exercise, sometimes it takes a long time and people get discouraged. Stubborn fat around the midline is one of the most common complaints I get in my anti aging medicine practice. People have a harder time losing the weight when they get older despite diet and exercise. Others come to me demoralized that after months of deprivation, they could only lose a few pounds and they just give up.
When it comes to exercise, do you have a hard time finding the time or get stopped by lack of equipment or desire to join a gym? Can you find 7 minutes in your schedule? Just imagine that in only 7 minutes you can get all of the benefits of a long aerobic and resistance training workout without the use of any equipment or need to go to a gym. Your body weight is used as resistance. No weights are necessary. It can be done ANYWHERE! The secret is intensity and intervals.
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Tendons are bands of tissue that connect muscle to bone and ligaments connect bone to bone. Without them you can’t move. Collagen provides structure and strength while mucopolysaccharides hold them together to allow them to stretch, flex, bend and retain resilience against injury. Both tendons and ligaments are limited and slow in their ability to repair. Unleashing their ability to heal can be done with nutrients. There are substances that cause inflammation of the tendons and ligaments. One of the major culprits is called interleukin 1 Beta which is found to damage tendons and ligaments.
Are you getting fat for no reason? It could be your thyroid. Hypothyroidism and weight loss go hand in hand. Your thyroid gland regulates metabolism. Metabolism is breaking down the food you eat to produce energy and the breakdown products are used to build new cells and tissues. Every cell is affected the thyroid hormone level in your body. When thyroid hormones are low you will suffer from hypothyroidism and weight loss will become difficult if not impossible. Hypothyroidism and Weight Loss: How thyroid affects carbohydrate metabolism
Imagine the shock of a weight loss expert gaining weight. It can happen to anyone and the answer is always getting to the root cause and recommitting. Don’t judge, berate or punish yourself with negative self talk. It only serves to hurt and not help. Let your vision of vibrant health, being slim and looking great in a fabulous outfit draw you closer to your goal. You owe it to yourself to care for your body like a precious classic of immeasurable value. So when you need to lose weight, be conscientious, commit and create an environment that supports you It’s not just calories that countr
Wouldn’t it be nice to indulge during the holidays and either lose or not gain weight? How about green tea? It’s green for the holiday season, warm, has no calories and has a lot of positive benefits. I reviewed the research on green tea for weight loss and the results are mixed. One study showed a possible benefit using a standardized extract containing 25% epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a type of catechin.
2015-1 Hormone Replacement Options for Men and Women If your levels of hormones are low you may be considering some hormone replacement options and want to know the pros and cons of each. There are several options available and the two most important hormone replacement options are the route of administration and the form or type of hormone used, which I will explain below. Hormone Replacement Options by Route of Administration The way you take a hormone can affect the absorption and blood levels, and can have different side effects. The most common forms are outlined below.
With the Affordable Care Act in full swing, many consumers are surprised by the changes in coverage hidden in the fine print or couched in terms that are confusing. There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a policy. Even if you are covered, getting reimbursed can be challenging. Here are a few things to consider and some tips to get the most out of your coverage. Terminology
Any functional medicine menopause doctor knows that just giving hormones to women experiencing symptoms may not be enough. What you eat, drink, think, how much you sleep and exercise and your environmental exposures can all affect your hormones.
The news has again been filled with reports of the dangers of hormone replacement therapy. The latest study published in the journal of the American Medical Association on October 20, 2010 looked at the same people from the infamous Women’s Health Initiative (WHI). The news isn’t that different, they just followed the study participants longer and found the cancers to be more aggressive. Here’s a perspective:
Aging and Weight Loss: What you must know to fight the battle of the bulge. Suffering from middle age spread? Are finding that the things that you used to do to lose weight just don’t work anymore? Aging and weight loss are tied together in a hormonal and environmental symphony, which strikes some unharmonious cords as a person ages. Aging and weight loss are like a see saw, as your age goes up, weight loss is slowed down. Aging is accompanied by loss of muscle mass. Muscle burns calories and the less muscle you have the less calories you burn and the more fat you store.
News flash! You can safely get rid of your hot flashes! Estrogen is not so bad after all. A study in JAMA journal of the American Medical Association April 2011 found that estrogen alone had a reduced risk of breast cancer and their risk of stroke declined after stopping the medication.
We think of screening exams such as pap, mammography, PSA and other tests as preventive medicine, however, these as well as many others are really early detection. To truly prevent an illness, you must seek early signs of its development and/or take precautions to prevent it.
Still struggling with your New Year’s resolution to lose weight? Snowed or iced in and can’t get to the gym? I will share with you tips that require little effort. These are taken from an article I wrote for Sillk Purse Women and apply to men as well. You can read it here or on their website Ten Easy Tips To Whittle Your Waist Away.
Co Q 10, also known as ubiquinol or ubiquinone, is essential for the mitochondria to produce energy. The mitochondria are in every cell of your body. They generate energy to keep cells alive. If mitochondria are not functioning properly illness and cell death occurs. Co Q10 benefits the mitochondria in every cell of the body and has been used to prevent or reverse many illnesses. The well know Co Q10 benefits are: Provides energy to the heartr Useful in chronic fatiguer Promotes gum healthr Prevents migraine headachesr
Just as a car needs the right type of gas, properly inflated tires, a sturdy frame, proper maintenance and a responsive driver to run smoothly without trouble, people need a number of things and can easily learn how to live healthier. It is a matter of understanding what your unique needs are. No one is standard and finding out what you need to do to thrive will enable you to understand how to live healthier. 1. How to Live Healthier with a Genetic Roadmap
Nothing is as anti aging and youthful as a toned body. It exudes health and wellness. The right amount of exercise can leave you energized, invigorated and feeling fit and healthy. However, unless you build up slowly and are consistent, you may be prone to muscle pain, soreness and stiffness. Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) develops 24-48 hours after strenuous exercise. It is characterized by pain, stiffness, loss of strength and limited range of motion with elevated levels of creatinine kinase in the blood which is an enzyme found in muscle that is released when it breaks down.
Why can’t you lose weight? Getting weight off and keeping it off tends to be a challenge for many people. Understanding your genetics and metabolism can help you choose among several weight loss options. Genetic pre disposition
Weight loss can be a very tough and emotional experience. It can take time and patience and some people feel deprived for a long time before they reach their goal. What I like about the HCG diet success is that people lose weight faster, stay motivated and achieve a lot of other physical and emotional benefits. This diet is fast and effective and in the right hands safe. I want to share with you some of the HCG diet success stories. HCG diet success: Dropped weight and blood pressure and faster recovery
Why exercise? Inactivity is a fast-growing public health conce that is a major contributor to obesity, heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, frailty, falls, fractures and lack of self esteem. There is an "inactivity epidemic," with tremendous physical and financial costs. -Recent evidence indicates physical inactivity is the leading cause of death in the US and the 4th leading cause of death globally.rn-More than half of adults (56%) do not meet the recommendations for sufficient physical activity.r
You are only as young as your oldest part, so what’s aging you? Is it your bones? Do you exercise; are you weak in one area? It’s that weak part that will fracture with a fall. Perhaps you are losing your balance. The changes are so subtle that you hardly notice until you try to recover from a fall. It might be too late and you will fracture your weakest part. What about your brain? Are names more difficult to remember and do you have a harder time learning or paying attention? You may be declining in other areas, however the changes are so gradual that you can’t perceive it.
Looking for the best anti aging skin care regime? The best anti aging skin care products are not necessarily what you put on your skin as what you put in your mouth. Oxidation and sun exposure cause wrinkles, sun exposure and hormone imbalances cause age spots, smoking, toxins and hormone disruptors also cause oxidation and inflammation. Inflammation can manifest as rashes, dryness, breakouts, dullness, wrinkling, sagging and a whole host of skin disorders. Here are some tips to keep your skin soft, smooth and resilient.
A spoonful of sugar may help the medicine go down, however the average American consumes about 150 pounds of sugar a year, and is thought to be responsible for the epidemic of obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a combination of 2 or more of the following: high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high triglycerides and increased waist to hip ratio (belly fat) and low HDL. Sugar is not so sweet when it comes to health effects. It can age you fast.
Are you feeling fat, flabby, flaky, foggy, fatigued or forgetful, maybe even frumpy?
Whenever I hear someone talk about health habits, I hear: eat right, exercise and manage your stress. While these are all important components, there is more to good health. We are all interconnected and affected by our environment and our relationships. Oftentimes I am asked what is the one thing that is most important and the answer is always attitude. People are shocked as they think I will say some magic pill or supplement or hormone. However it's attitude that drives everything.
Do you want to decelerate the aging process? Aging can mean hardening of your arteries, high blood pressure, loss of memory, muscle and bone, as well as frailty and ailments. What if you have something that could delay and possibly reverse those? You do, it’s anti aging exercise. Beat bone, balance and muscle mass loss that can lead to frailty, weakness, falls and fractures. Anti aging exercise such as weight training and weight bearing exercise that requires balance and coordination can not only prevent these but it can also reverse these processes.
One of Oprah's viewers diagnosed her as having a problem with her thyroid. That was one factor in her constant struggle with weight. Your thyroid is the main hormone of metabolism and it affects your energy, weight, mood, temperature, fertility, menstrual cycles, hair growth, bowel movements, sleep and more. It's a hormone that is sometimes misunderstood and it is suggested that the range of normal be changed. I will shed some light on the symptoms and tests. These are the most common symptoms and is not a complete list: Symptoms of Overactive Thyroid- Hyperthyroidism
Magnesium is a miraculous mineral that is responsible for activating over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body. You need it to make ATP, the energy molecule as well as for proper heart, nerve and muscle function. Magnesium is necessary for protein synthesis, blood sugar control, and blood pressure regulation as well as bone formation. Half the magnesium in our bodies is found in our bones and prevents bone loss. Magnesium plays a role in detoxification and is used to make the master antioxidant glutathione. It is a very important mineral with a variety of essential functions.
The Right Whey Many people want to add protein to their diets without a lot of fat and calories. High protein diets have been shown in medical nutrition studies to enhance weight loss and lower inflammation and cholesterol. This makes protein shakes a quick, easy meal or snack without the added sugar of protein bars. The most complete, absorbable and beneficial protein is whey. It is an excellent nutrition supplement. Consider why you want to add protein to your diet as there are several types of whey proteins and each has a purpose. Why Whey?
Do you often slack off on the healthy habits you commit to? It’s easy to say that you are doing better than someone else or you are not doing so badly. What if you had a more definitive answer to what your risks are? Medicine has evolved a great deal. Risk was measured by your personal and family history and a few measures. Blood sugar and cholesterol were the major metabolic markers measured in blood to determine risk of heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s. There are many more sophisticated markers and now your genetic blueprint can better determine your risk.
Nutrition is an integral part of our health and well being. It has become complex because our food supply has changed, how much we eat, additives, preservatives, processing and genetic modification make food ingestion a chemical science with our bodies being the laboratory.
When big clumps of hair come out as they brush, wash or comb their hair, patients come running to me in a panic, afraid they will become bald. Balding is fairly common in men and can start in their 20’s. Most women’s hair will thin when they are entering perimenopause or menopause but they don’t go bald. While biotin is known as the hair vitamin and has little to no downside, it most likely will not turn a thinning mane into a thick one. Hormones, stress and nutrition play a big role in helping to grow hair. The Stress Hair Connection: Telogen effluvium
Obesity is an epidemic and at the root cause of many chronic illnesses. Even being overweight can set you on a path of disease that can kill you. Fat causes inflammation, which leads to everything from Alzheimer’s, cancer, diabetes, heart attacks, joint degeneration and pain, stroke, and so much more. Developing any or all of these can be a costly, time consuming and painful endeavor. These illnesses can kill you or permanently change the quality of your life forever.
Sleep can make you slim, sharp, sexy and supercharged. It raises the anti aging medicine hormone called growth hormone which helps you rejuvenate and repair tissue, keeps you slim and sharp and helps you sleep. During sleep you have higher melatonin levels, an antioxidant hormone that induces sleep and studies indicate it may reduce the risk of skin and breast cancer as well as diabetes. Sleep improves memory, creativity, performance of complex tasks, and the ability to find patterns and shortcuts with math and life situations. Dreaming is also important for memory and processing life events.
To supplement or not to supplement, that is the question. The answer as to what, when, how much and how long is a more complex subject. Many companies’ promises fall flat and are overstated, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t believe anything. As with any product or promise, looking at the facts, your individual situation and proof provided by studies is important to determine what is right for you. I will share with you the frequently asked questions I get about supplements. Are supplements necessary?