There is a prevailing philosophy that if you suffer from GERD your stomach produces too much acid. The problem with acid reducing medications, of course, is that the stomach is supposed to be acidic! Acid in the stomach is needed to break down protein. If the protein is not completely broken down and gets into the blood stream, your body can develop an allergy against that protein. This can cause both food allergies and autoimmune disease.

Yet, here is the bigger problem…symptoms of GERD can be extremely irritating to the esophagus lining. GERD that persists for an extended period of time can cause changes in the esophageal lining which can lead to a pre-cancerous condition called Barrett’s esophagus. Rates of esophageal cancer are increasing in industrialized nations at a rate faster than any other cancer. This is primarily because many follow the Standard American Diet (SAD), have stressful lifestyles, and lack physical activity. Because many do not know what is causing their GERD or they want the quick fix, they turn to drugs for help in reducing their symptoms.

Drugs used for GERD fall into several categories; H2 receptor antagonists (Tagament, Zantac), proton pump inhibitors (Prilosec, Prevacid), and antacids (Tums and baking soda). All of these drugs decrease the acidity of your stomach. The problem with H2 receptor agonists (Tagament, Zantac) is that while these relieve symptoms, they may do nothing to stop the reflux. Proton pump inhibitors (Prilosec, Prevacid) do however actually stop the production of acid in your stomach. Then, nature takes over and in response to the low-acid environment created by the drug, the stomach secretes large amounts of the hormone gastrin (a hormone that stimulates the proton pumps to create acid). This is another formula for digestive tract cancers, because high levels of gastrin are associated with esophageal, pancreatic, and stomach cancer. All this being said there are times when the aforementioned pharmaceuticals may be appropriate to treat GERD. Discuss this with your doctor, get the crisis under control, then start working to get your body healthier and hopefully reduce medications as they are no longer needed.

Nutrition and Lifestyle Tips to Help
Relieve the Symptoms of GERD

1. Do not lie down within three hours of eating. Being vertical allows gravity to help your stomach contents to stay where they belong.
2. Avoid items that cause the LES to relax:
   • Peppermint
   • Chocolate
   • Soda
   • Coffee
   • Tea (herbal teas are OK)
   • Smoking
   • Alcohol
   • Bad fats especially fried foods. Instead, eat cold pressed organic olive, flaxseed, coconut, palm and sesame oils, organic butter, avocados, fresh nuts, and fatty fish. At high temperature cooking coconut and palm oil are best.
3. Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Aleve, Motrin, and other pain pills destroy the lining of your stomach and esophagus. Use these only when absolutely necessary. If you are having chronic pain or headaches, try to determine the “cause” of the pain so you won’t have to rely on these medications.
4. Work to rebuild the lining of the esophagus and stomach. One of the best natural products is licorice extract. The extract is more effective than plain licorice because in the amounts needed to experience positive changes there is a substance called glycyrrhizinic acid that may increase blood pressure. This substance is removed in the extract. The extract is called “DGL” (deglycyrrhizinated licorice). Most people experience significant relief within a few days. Take 700-800mg 2-3 times per day between meals. Other useful products to aide in a healthy digestive tract are:
   • Ulcinex by Metagenics. (Chinese herbs that promote stomach health)
   • Saccharomyces Boulardii by Orthomolecular (5 billion CFU), 2 times per day taken with food.
   • Zinlori 75 by Metagenics. 1 tab 2x/day • Endefen. 1 scoop 2x/day mixed in water or juice.
   • EPA/DHA 500-1000mg per day with food.
5. Osteopathy and GERD What does Osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT) have to do with GERD? OMT is a very effective means of treating a hiatal hernia which is a frequently overlooked cause of GERD. A hiatal hernia is when the top part of your stomach pushes up through your diaphragm. An osteopath can use soft tissue manipulation to reduce hiatal hernias which can fix this quite efficiently. Another way OMT can help is through spinal manipulation. Many who suffer from GERD and/or stomach ulcers develop pain between the shoulder blades. This is because the nerve supply is the same to both areas.OMT to the upper back can “reconnect” the nerve supply to the esophagus and stomach and make healing more efficient.
6. Lose weight if you’re overweight. The extra weight puts pressure on your stomach contents and can actually “push” the contents back up into the esophagus.
7. Eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies. These foods contain the vitamins and minerals needed for digestive health. The fiber and minerals also act as an acid buffer.
8. Guard your stress levels. Stress plays a significant role in the state of your digestive health. Learn to control your stress by practicing stress reduction daily. This can be in the form of prayer, exercise or whatever you enjoy and can commit to on a daily basis.

GERD can pose serious risks to your health over time. Don’t ignore what you’re body is trying to tell you! It is often a symptom of a much greater problem involving diet, lifestyle, stress and the digestive tract as a whole. Do something today to be healthier than you were yesterday. Start by setting up an appointment to get professional guidance on improving your lifestyle habits.

How can we help?

• ALCAT test identifies 200 foods which could cause digestive issues
• Dahn Yoga for stress & weight management
• Meal planning for weight loss & other conditions
• Osteopathic manipulation
• Biofeedback
• IV nutritional therapy to give the nutrients needed to heal
• Specialized gastrointestinal testing to measure gut health

Call today for an appointment (702)871‐7004

What is Osteoarthritis (OA)?

OA, also known as degenerative joint disease (DJD), is identified as the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage. Cartilage cushions the ends of bones in each joint of the body. Cartilage breakdown causes bones to rub against each other, causing pain and loss of movement.

The causes of OA can be related to age, weight, joint injuries from accidents, or overuse injuries. Stiffness from OA usually occurs in the morning and doesn’t last more than an hour. This stiffness can re-occur at night. The pattern of OA will usually only affect one side and is common at the ends of the fingers, the hips, knees, and spine.

According to the American College of Rheumatology, 70% of people over the age of 70 have x-ray evidence of osteoarthritis. A physical exam accompanied by x-rays will diagnose a patient with OA. Decreased range of motion and tenderness of the involved painful joint will be present on examination. X-rays can reveal osteophytes, or bone spurs, at the joints, joint space narrowing, and increased bone density or thickening.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)?

RA is a disorder that affects the entire body. It is characterized by the inflammation of the joint lining, which causes pain, stiffness, warmth, redness and swelling. The disease process of RA is autoimmune. Patients with autoimmune diseases have antibodies in their blood that target their own body tissues which as a result causes the inflammation.

It is not known what triggers the onset of RA. Infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi have long been suspected, as well as environmental factors. Symptoms of RA come and go depending on the degree of tissue inflammation. The hands and wrists are most affected. Inflammation and pain are symmetrical (occurring on both sides) and are present upon rising for longer periods of time than OA. Other symptoms include fatigue, loss of energy, lack of appetite, low-grade fever, muscle and joint aches, and stiffness.

RA is medically diagnosed by a combination of the presentation of the joints involved, joint stiffness in the morning, the presence of blood rheumatoid factor (Rh factor), as well as x-ray findings of soft tissue swelling, joint space narrowing, and joint deformities. Rh factor is an antibody that can be found in 80% of patients with RA according to medical author William Shiel Jr, MD. Patients who do not have a positive Rh factor are referred as having “seronegative” RA. Seronegative arthritis’s include Ankylosing Spondylitis, Reiter’s syndrome, Psoriatic, Enteropathic, and Reactive. However, more studies show that testing the combination of Rh factor with the antibody cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) has more value than testing Rh factor alone.1

According to American College of Rheumatology, approximately 95% of patients with a positive CCP will develop RA in the future. When patients are negative for CCP but have a positive RF, then the clinical signs and symptoms are more vital in determining whether they have RA or some other inflammatory condition.1

What can you do?

1.Measure Your Inflammation

Thermal imaging or thermography specifically and visually measures inflammation. Thermography uses an infrared camera to measure your body’s surface temperature and displays it as a digital thermal image called a thermogram. Whether your pain is chronic or acute, thermography can help provide a precise and objective measurement of your condition. Contrary to most diagnostic tests, thermal imaging is pain free, noninvasive and usually taking less than 20 minutes. Most importantly, it emits absolutely NO radiation. Thermography is the only diagnostic method that can visualize your pain and pathology. Thermography helps detect early signs of arthritis and differentiate between OA and RA. X-rays, ultrasound, MRI and CT scans are all tests that measure structures of your body (anatomy). Thermography has the unique ability to measure your physiological (chemical) changes and metabolic processes.

2. Acupuncture

A number of studies have looked at acupuncture in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, the two most common types of arthritis. The most recent review article involved 3,498 people with OA in 16 trials and found that using acupuncture points designed to improve arthritic conditions was superior to sham acupuncture (using points not intended for arthritic treatment) for short term improvements in pain and function.1

3. Nutritional & Toxic Element Analysis

Ask yourself “Why isn’t my body healing and repairing as it has before?” What’s different? Joints are nonessential tissues. You don’t “need” them to survive. Maybe there is something more important developing and the body isn’t wasting nutrients on joint health at this time. Addressing the inflammation would be an obvious step to take control of the pain. But if you identify nutritional deficiencies in the body and environmental toxins that may be burdening the body, you will likely have a better outcome. A healthy body heals more efficiently. You cannot correct it without a health professional that does metabolic testing to determine exactly what your body needs.

Many researchers, according to a Johns Hopkins Health Alert posted January 11, 2010 in Arthritis, now believe that vitamin D may one day play a key role in preventing the development and progression of arthritis. They have been looking at the effect of vitamin D on rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis and the data is quite suggestive of linking low blood levels of vitamin D to chronic pain conditions, including various types of bone and joint pain, muscle pain, rheumatic diseases and osteoarthritis.

You’re never deficient in just one vitamin and you’re not going to find your “miracle” in one pill. Getting a thorough blood work-up, thermography and nutrient testing will shed light on dietary changes you need to make, target areas you may need to supplement and help to objectively monitor your progress.

Don’t let chronic pain get in the way of your lifestyle. Aches and pains are a way of your body expressing that there is an underlying issue present. There may be, or probably is, a more serious problem or problems developing, we may just be seeing the tip of the iceberg. Your symptoms may be caused by a more serious condition that we can’t see yet which is why thorough testing is so important.

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The Class IV High Power Laser Therapy from Avicenna has given many people pain relief from arthritis and other neuro-musculoskeletal disorders.

This technology has over 80% success rate in treating failed surgery cases, carpal tunnel syndrome, neuropathy, neck & back pain, and many other conditions.

The laser allows your body to stimulate blood flow, repair cells, grow tissue, and block pain receptors from firing! Our treatments are safe, painless, side-effect free and done right in our office.

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Dahn yoga classes are offered every Tuesday & Thursday from 4:30-5:30pm.
Yoga has been shown clinically to have benefits in people suffering from arthritis.

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The ALCAT test can identify what foods, additives, chemicals, and herbs that are creating inflammation in your body. The micronutrient test from Spectracell measures 34 vitamins, minerals, and amino acids inside your cells!

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Don’t continue to suffer in pain any longer. Schedule your appointment today to identify what imbalances are occurring inside your body and start treatment to eliminate your pain!

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Optimal Health Primary Care 10120 S. Eastern Ave. #100 Henderson, NV 89052 (702) 871-7004 www.optimalhealthpc.com

What are you to do? On the flip side, low-dose aspirin is said to be beneficial for warding off a second heart attack or stroke in those people with obvious cardiovascular disease. But is it? The research is showing that aspirin seems to be much more effective in reducing the chances of non-fatal events than in reducing death. Indeed, among large long-term trials after a person has a heart attack there is no evidence that aspirin saves lives. It may prevent future mild heart attacks (which would not have resulted in death anyway) but it doesn’t prevent deadly heart attacks.

The failure of aspirin to reduce mortality despite a reduction in non-fatal events in many studies suggests that aspirin may hide or conceal, rather than prevent, vascular events. Epidemiological data suggest that 25% of non-fatal myocardial infarctions are silent…you have virtually no symptoms. Aspirin, even at low doses, is a pain reducer and it may cause upset stomach or indigestion. So if one is taking daily low dose aspirin that person may not feel the pain of a mild heart attack due to the pain reducing effects of aspirin or may think the pain is from indigestion.

Not convinced yet? Aspirin increased the risk of sudden death in every longterm study after myocardial infarction that reported such events. This increase was from 4.4% on placebo to 5.6% on aspirin in the PARIS study; from 2.0% to 2.7% in the Aspirin Myocardial Infarction study (AMIS); and from 2.0% to 2.4% in the PARIS-II study. This could reflect an increased risk of sudden death among concealed, and therefore untreated, events. Another possible mechanism by which aspirin may convert non-fatal events into fatal ones is by increasing the risk of hemorrhage.

The reality is that “while aspirin used for primary prevention may reduce the risk of nonfatal ischemic events, these benefits are offset by higher bleeding, leaving no net effect on vascular mortality”. Lancet 2009; 373:1849-1860.

Hope is not lost. There are many preventive lifestyle habits that are under your control that have been proven to benefit heart health. Read on to find out some of the most important changes you can make to be heart healthy!

Triglycerides and Heart Health

Research is showing that triglyceride levels are as or more important than cholesterol levels when it comes to heart disease. High triglycerides alone increased the risk of heart attack nearly three-fold. Triglyceride levels are directly influenced by what you eat. Anything that raises your blood glucose will raise triglycerides as well. Avoidance of sugars and other refined carbohydrates are important in reducing blood glucose and triglyceride levels. Don’t forget exercise! Exercise is the way you “burn off” the glucose and triglycerides!

Anemia’s Influence on Heart Health

Anemia occurs when your body has a below-normal level of hemoglobin, which in turn prevents your body from getting enough oxygen. This lower level of oxygen causes your heart to work harder. These effects on your heart can make you 41% more susceptible to heart disease or worsen existing heart disease. The death rate is especially high in anemic people with heart failure who also have kidney disease and/or diabetes. There are many types of anemia. Getting a CBC, Serum Iron and Ferritin performed can help guide the treatment for anemias. B12 and Folic acid supplementation may be of benefit but there could be more underlying issues causing the anemia.

Reduce Inflammation for Heart Protection

Reducing inflammation helps decrease cholesterol and the tendency to form blood clots. In the case of atherosclerosis, the inflammation process in blood vessels and the kidney can lead to a build-up of cells and damage to tissues that can constrict the passage of blood through vessels. Be sure to review our June 2010 Issue on Inflammation to find out what you can do reduce inflammation.

Important Nutrients for the Heart

(General dosages for 150lb adult)
Supplements are not a replacement for a healthy diet! However, they can serve to enhance the quality or nutrient density of your diet.

1. CoQ10: found in highest concentrations in heart tissue. Helps overall heart strength and stability. 300mg per day of Ubiquinone or 100mg per day of Ubiquinol.
2. Vitamin K2: can reduce arterial calcifications by 50%, decrease the risk of cardiovascular death by 50%.
3. Vitamin E: powerful antioxidant especially valuable to those with high platelets and increased inflammation. 400IU of mixed tocopherols per day.
4. Fish Oil: protects heart function and helps reduce inflammation. 500-1000mg per day
5. B12 and Folic Acid: helps with homocysteine removal, iron metabolism and reduced anemia. B12: 2000mcg per day; Folic Acid: 800mcg per day
6. L-Carnitine: increases energy production in heart tissue and helps make red blood cells.
7. Vitamin C: works with Vitamin E as a powerful antioxidant reducing inflammation in the system.

Heart disease is not something you want to treat lightly. Remember, the first sign of heart disease is often sudden death. You can see warning signs creeping up in your blood work long before an event occurs….that is, if you’re being tested properly! Get tested today to get a baseline to monitor that your treatment choice is working for you.

We offer Dahn Yoga classes every Tuesday & Thursday from 4:30- 5:30pm It will improve your emotional & physical health!

We recommend products from MdPrescriptives. Go to www.MdPrescriptives.com to sign up and start receiving high quality and reasonably priced pharmaceutical grade products!

Don’t Guess About Your Health…
Schedule an Appointment Today!
Optimal Health Primary Care
(702) 871-7004
www.optimalhealthpc.com

Flu Prevention

Flu shots now available
IV Nutrition will boost immune system to prevent & fight infection

The US Government defines “older adulthood” at 65 years of age because they’re eligible for Medicare and Social Security. Many people choose to retire in their 50’s while others choose to continue to work and lead active lives into their 80’s and beyond.

Age is a number. Health is a condition.

Does your health confirm your age? What is the quality of life? With increasing age, chronic illness becomes a key factor. Researchers are predicting that, for the first time in many generations, the average life expectancy of Americans will be decreasing in the next few years. Reason? The current obesity epidemic. Obesity rates have been rising by about 50% per decade since 1980, to the point where nearly every third American is now excessively fat. Childhood obesity is also rising at an alarming rate.

(New England Journal of Medicine, March 17, 2005)

What is age?

All body cells are preprogrammed to reproduce and die. At the rate most cells reproduce, you have a new body every 7 years. The food you eat contains the “tools” your body uses to make new cells. Unfortunately, due to suboptimal diets, often the new cells are not as ‘new’ as they should be resulting in progressive decline of function. The body favors short‐term survival over long‐term health. This short‐term survival was achieved by prioritizing the allocation of scarce micronutrients to important body functions necessary for survival. Micronutrient deficiencies that trigger this “triage response” would accelerate cancer, aging, and neural decay but would leave critical metabolic functions, such as ATP production, intact to protect the heart, brain, etc. Ask yourself…Why isn’t the body healing and repairing like it used to? You don’t just wake up one day and you’re diabetic.

Drugs do not increase life span.

At times they may delay or avert a premature death or crisis. Blood pressure drugs are used so that you don’t have a heart attack or stroke today. Antidepressants are used so that you aren’t depressed today. Diabetes drugs are used so you don’t have high glucose and have a seizure today. Drugs taken for chronic conditions and even for acute disease are to avert a disaster or problem today. However, the cause of the original condition is rarely considered and then there are the added side effects of the drugs. As these side effects take hold … what is your quality of life?

“BEING OLD IS LESS A CHRONOLOGICAL AGE THAN A STATE OF MIND AND PHYSICAL STATUS”

While we always suggest you get tested to determine exactly what you need to supplement, the following nutrients are supported by good research to warrant recommending for the aging population as a whole. Keep in mind, supplements will not overcome a very poor diet. They are meant to increase the nutritional quality of our food.

Multiple Vitamin and Mineral (MVM)

MVM may boost mood in elderly. In one study, Folate and vitamin B12 levels ↑ significantly in the MVM group but ↓ in the placebo group. Significant differences were also reported for symptoms of depression scores between the groups, with beneficial effects observed for patients in the supplementation group regardless of the initial level of depression of the individual.

One‐a‐day MVMs usually do not provide sufficient amounts of many nutrients such as vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C. Even if they did, simple biochemistry explains you can only absorb a limited amount of certain vitamins and minerals at one sitting. With three‐ to six‐per‐day multiples, intake should be spread out at two or three meals each day, instead of taking them all at one sitting. A quick guide to determine the quality of your supplement is:

1. Check the form of Vitamin D: Should be cholecalciferol not ergocalciferol
2. Check the form of Vitamin E: Should be “d‐alpha” not “dl‐alpha”
3. Check the “other ingredients”. Are there artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, hydrogenated fat, nickel, tin?

Vitamin D3: Older people with insufficient levels of vitamin D may be at an ↑ risk of dying from heart disease than those with adequate levels of the vitamin. Researchers followed 3,400 Americans for 7 years. Those with low vitamin D levels were 3x more likely to die from heart disease and 2.5x more likely to die from any cause. Another study showed, high levels of vitamin D to be associated with 33% ↓ risk of developing cardiovascular disease, 55% ↓ risk type 2 diabetes, 51% ↓ metabolic syndrome

B12/Folate: Anemia should not be accepted as an inevitable consequence of aging. A cause is found in approximately 80% of elderly patients. B12 and folic acid depend on adequate intake and intestinal absorption rate. Both are necessary for red and white blood cell production. Folic acid is necessary to make certain precursors of DNA and the synthesis of several amino acids. B12 is necessary for making the active form of folic acid. Incidence of B12 deficiency in the elderly may be as high at 15%. The B12 content in most multiple vitamins is not sufficient to adequately raise B12 levels. Many medications deplete many b‐vitamins. Those with higher B‐12 levels 6X less likely to experience brain shrinkage. Neurology, Sep 2008;
71: 826 ‐ 832.

CoQ10 in the form of Ubiquinol: It is necessary for cellular energy production and is a powerful antioxidant. Highest concentration is in the heart.

Below, is a list of supplements and dosages we would recommend for everyone age 50 and over. It is however most important that you test yourself to determine exactly what you are deficient in. Do you need more protein in your diet? Do you need to back off the carbohydrates? What is your vitamin D level? Set up an appointment today to get on your way to optimal health by testing to determine your dietary and supplement needs.

Supplements for the Aging*

Omega 3 f.a.: 1000mg/day
Essentials 5 in 1: 4/day
Vitamin D3: 5000IU/day
Calcium MCHC: 750mg/day
Magnesium: 200mg/day
B12: 1000mg/day
Folic acid: 400mcg
CoQ10: 100mg/day

*General recommendations for 150lb adult
We recommend products from www.mdprescriptives.com

Don’t Guess About Your Health … Schedule A Nutritional Evaluation Today!

We provide this monthly newsletter free of charge. Please contact our office to subscribe to our newsletter and monthly email announcements.

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Federal law requires us to notify you of the following:

1. Your individual health status and any required health care treatments can only be properly addressed by a professional healthcare provider of your choice. Remember: There is no adequate substitution for a personal consultation with your chosen health care provider. Therefore, we encourage you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.
2. The Constitution guarantees you the right to be your own physician and to prescribe for your own health.

Quickly Identify a Quality Supplement

Look at the “other ingredients” usually 
at the bottom of the label.

Artificial colors and sweeteners are used
to make the product look better or taste 
better. Avoid the artificial sweeteners 
and colors:

• Aspartame
• Saccharin
• Sucralose
• FD&C blue, yellow, red, etc
• “Lakes” (colors)

Fillers are used in supplements to make 
the production easier and faster.

Unfortunately, these fillers can 
compromise the effectiveness of the 
nutrients in the supplement. Fillers are 
often called “flowering agents” on the 
label. Binders are used for bulk and 
stabilization of the product. Lubricants 
are used to allow the powder form to 
process through the machines more 
easily. Some common lubricants, 
fillers and binders include:

• gelatin
• hydrogenated oil (strictly avoid)
• magnesium stearate
• maltodextrin
• microcrystalline cellulose
• modified cellulose (for example hydroxypropyl methylcellulose)
• polyethylene glycol
• polyvinyl alcohol
• crospovidone (PPVP or polyvinylpolypyrrolidone)
• potassium sorbate
• talc
• sodium benzoate
• sodium stearyl fumarate
• stearic acid
• xanthum gum

It’s almost impossible to find a supplement without any lubricants, fillers and binders. It’s a good rule of thumb, to purchase supplements that contain no more than 2 of these ingredients listed on the label.

We recommend supplements from MD Prescriptives. They are a pharmaceutical grade company that uses the finest raw materials to make their supplements. Their products are formulated based on the most recent scientific clinical research. 

Go to www.MDPrescriptives.com and go to patient registration to start your account.

For various reasons, certain toxic metals are added to poor quality supplements.  Some common toxic elements you should avoid that you’ll see actually printed on the label are:

• titanium dioxide
• aluminum
• nickel
• tin
• silver

Vitamin D and Vitamin E

Look at the source of Vitamin D and Vitamin E.  The Vitamin D should be D3 or cholecalciferol.  It should not be the synthetic form D2 or ergocalciferol.  The Vitamin E should be d-alpha tocopherol with mixed tocopherol.  Mixed tocopherols are the best.  It should not be the synthetic form dl-alpha tocopherol.

Megadose

A supplement that is labeled “megadose” does not mean that it is any better. Your body can only absorb so much of a nutrient and the rest is eliminated from your body as a waste product. For example, you can only absorb about 500mg of Calcium at a given time.

Thoughts on Fish Oils

Fish oils are known for getting oxidized easily. To stop this, and to stop the oils from going rancid, manufacturers of fish oil products add preservatives to them. The best quality supplements contain only vitamin E as the preservative and are free of all artificial preservatives. The good thing about vitamin E is that it has a high nutritional value also; however, it also acts as a powerful anti-oxidant.

In general, it’s a good rule of thumb to keep all of your fat soluble supplements (Vitamins A, D, E, and K and GLA, EPA, ALA, DHA) in the refrigerator.

When is the best time to take a supplement?

The best time to take the majority of supplements is with meals. Supplements serve to enhance the nutritional density of your food and there are enzymes and other properties in food that enhance the absorption of the nutrients.

Do I Need More Than Just a Multiple Vitamin?

Even if you ate a perfect diet, USDA data has shown that even if you ate a “perfect diet”, our food supply is simply not as nutritious as it was 30 years ago.  Supplementing your diet can help to correct these short-comings.  The only way to know if the supplements you’re taking are working or to know exactly what vitamins/minerals and dosages you need is to get tested.  Vitamin, mineral and antioxidant deficiencies have been shown to suppress the function of the immune system which can contribute to degenerative processes such as arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.  Schedule your appointment today to have your micronutrient levels evaluated.

Optimal Health Primary Care

Our bio-scan measures your anti-oxidant score to determine your body’s defense level.

We utilize SpectraCell Laboratory’s patented MicroNutrient test to measure the level and function of 34 vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other essential micronutrients within your white blood cell.  Analysis can reveal a person’s functional nutrient status over a much longer period than conventional serum testing. We offer customized Intravenous Nutrition that supports many conditions. Below is a short list that has responded well:

• Headaches/Migraines
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Parkinson’s disease
• Hepatitis (viral/alcoholic)
• Diabetes
• Respiratory Infections/Flu
• Fibromyalgia
• Allergies

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Optimal Health Primary Care
(702)871-7004
www.optimalhealthpc.com

Dahn Yoga classes are offered every Tuesday and Thursday at 4:30pm

We are exposed daily to high levels of toxins (i.e. chemicals, pesticides, water contaminants, food preservatives, heavy metals and electromagnetic radiation) through our food, water, air, body and home products. These toxins lodge in the bowel, liver, kidneys, lymphatic system and especially fat tissue. The toxic build up prevents the normal uptake and utilization of nutrients, carbohydrates and proteins. It reduces the body’s oxygen uptake and creates an acidic, septic, low-energy state, prone to disease.

Toxic build up contributes to inflammatory conditions like:

• Allergies and sinus conditions
• Skin conditions (such as acne, eczema and psoriasis)
• Joint pain, arthritis
• Chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia
• Digestive problems (such as irritable bowel syndrome, constipation and inflammatory bowel disease.)
• Hormonal imbalance (such as PMS, PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids and menopausal symptoms)
• Weight gain
• Alzheimer’s, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterolCancer

Detoxification aids the body to function optimally by stimulating the body’s natural means of processing and eliminating. It reverses the body’s acidic state and oxygenates the cells so they can function optimally.

Who Should Detoxify?

It is not a question of whether you’ve been exposed to toxins – the question is how much impact they are having on your health. So, anyone who desires well-being, correction of disease or prevention of disease should detoxify seasonally. More specifically those who want to optimize hormone therapy, weight loss, cholesterol, diabetic/ sugar control should follow a basic detoxification protocol and repeat seasonally.

How to Detoxify?

There are two parts to effective detoxification. The first step is to reduce toxic exposures and the second step is to enhance the body’s ability to eliminate toxins through the bowel, liver, lymphatic system, kidney and skin.

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First Step: reduce toxic exposures to substances:

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Step 2: Increase elimination of toxins: Basic detoxification Protocol takes 4 weeks

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Expected Results:

1. Regular  bowel movements, more energy, decreased arthritic pains
2. Decreased  cholesterol 20-30%
3. Decreased  sugars 20-30%
4. Weight  loss 10-20 pounds

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Jeffrey L. Brown, D.O.

What is Inflammation?

Inflammation (Latin, inflammare, to set on fire) is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as infection, pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process. It is characterized by an influx of white blood cells, redness, heat, swelling, pain, and dysfunction of the organs involved. Although, inflammation is a beneficial first response, if it persists it leads to chronic disease. Chronic inflammation has been linked to conditions like:

• Adrenal insufficiency
• Aortic Valve Stenosis
• Pancreatitis
• Heart Attack
• Allergies
• Fibromyalgia
• Eczema/Psoriasis
• Cancer
• Alzheimer’s
• Fibrosis
• Stroke
• Lupus, immune diseases
• Anemia
• Congestive Heart Failure
• Surgical Complications
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Arthritis
• Kidney Failure
• Ulcerative Colitis

How Do You know if You Have Inflammation?

Anyone who shows signs or symptoms of or has been diagnosed with any of the conditions listed above has chronic inflammation. For some it may be detected only in blood tests such as CRPhs, HgbA1C, triglycerides, white cell count and anti-oxidant function on tests such as SPECTROX from Spectracell.

How to Decrease Inflammation?

Whether you have been diagnosed with a condition linked to inflammation or simply want to decrease your risk of developing an inflammatory condition, you can lower inflammation levels through 1) hormone restorative therapy especially with anti-inflammatory hormones (i.e. DHEA, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol), 2) optimizing nutritional status, 3) removing toxins (reducing intestinal inflammation), and reducing 4) mind and body stressors.

Hormones and Inflammation:

It is well known that as hormones decline with age, inflammation and disease increase. The main anti-inflammatory hormones in the body are DHEA, cortisol, progesterone and testosterone which all decline naturally over time, except for cortisol. When stress is high, the decline is more rapid.

Action 1) Measure and optimize your hormones. Hormone levels may be in the “normal range” and yet far from optimal levels that maintain the organs and prevent disease. By restoring optimal levels of hormones, our body’s anti-inflammation ability increases.

Nutrition and Inflammation:

Optimizing nutrient status is the most powerful method to control and reduce inflammation. As all inflammation begins in the intestines, anti-inflammatory food choices are a great place to start.

Action 2) The food you eat is the most important part of reducing inflammation. Anti-inflammatory diets emphasize plant-based organic proteins and super-foods (i.e. aloe, coconut, acai, bee pollen, hemp) as described in the “China Study”, by T. Colin Campbell and “Superfoods” by David Wolfe.

Inflammation Reducing Diet

Plant Based
Duration: 2-3 months to life

• Eat: Vegetables, whole grains, nuts/seeds
• Eat 8 different colors of vegetables per day in soups, salads, roasted, and stewed. Organic preferred. The more raw food the better. Eat lots of crucifers. Refer to Cleansing Vegetable list.
• Avoid meat, fish, dairy, eggs.
• Avoid Fried, charred, overcooked, microwaved, canned and boxed foods.
• Green Superfood Dense Foods. Refer to Superfoods list.
• Maintain a plate ratio for each meal of 50% vegetables cooked or raw, 25% complex carbohydrates, 25% lean protein (either meat, fish or plant protein such as hemp, rice, lentil). Eat 4 meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack with this plate ratio.

Action 3) Take a few carefully selected supplements (usually a multivitamin with minerals and fish oil) without preservatives (i.e.) Magnesium stearate and dyes.

Action 4) Measure nutritional status to determine adequacy of your program, absorption and utilization which can be done through the micronutrient test by Spectracell.

Toxins and inflammation:

Toxins are a major contributor to inflammation. There are three main approaches to reducing the body’s burden of toxins.

Action 5) Reduce exposure to gases, paints, glues, preservatives, dyes, heavy metals, plastics, phthalates, bisphynol-A, electromagnetic radiation, etc.

Action 6) Enhance elimination of toxins from your body by optimizing the function of our bowels, liver, lymphatic system, kidney and skin. Consider doing our detoxification program quarterly.

Action 7) Maintain hydration by drinking ½ of your body weight in ounces of pure water per day, as this is critical to elimination of toxins. Mind stress/ body stress and inflammation When we are under mental stress or body pain over prolonged periods of time, the sympathetic nervous system fires and utilizes hormones (i.e. cortisol, DHEA, progesterone) and nutrients (i.e. B vitamins, Magnesium, Vitamin C) much faster than usual.

Action 8 ) Breathe deeply and consciously to increase oxygenation, increase pH and reduce inflammation. When we are aware of our breathe oxygenation increases. Exercise in the aerobic range where you can breathe and talk easily. In this range your body is oxygenated and anti-inflammatory.

Action 9) Get 7 hours of deep uninterrupted sleep. Researchers have found that the more sleep we get the less inflammation and disease we have.

Action 10) Simplify your life by reducing commitments, news, activities.

Cleansing Vegetables

• Alfalfa sprouts
• Artichokes
• Arugula
• Asparagus
• Bean Sprouts
• Beets
• Bell Peppers
• Bok Choy
• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chard
• Collard greens
• Cucumber
• Eggplant
• Endive Lettuce
• Green beans
• Hot Peppers
• Jicama
• Kale
• Leeks
• Lentils
• Lettuce (Spring Mix)
• Mushrooms
• Napa Cabbage
• Okra
• Olives (5-6 day)
• Onions
• Peas
• Radishes
• Rapinni
• Snow Peas Spinach
• Spring onion
• Tomato
• Watercress
• Edamame
• Zucchini
• Yellow squash
• Legumes/beans
• Chick peas

*Lentils & Peas up to ¾ cup cooked combined with 2 cup vegetables cooked.

Superfoods/highly anti-inflammatory

• Raw cacao
• Hemp seed
• Gogi Berry
• Aloe vera
• Bee Pollen/ honey/royal jelly/propolis
• Kelp
• Spirulina (brackish)
• Blue green algae (lake)
• Marine phytoplankton
• Maca
• Coconut
• Acai
• Chlorella
• Camu-camu
• Incan berries
• Dulse
• Resveratrol
• Oat grass
• Barley grass
• Wheat grass
• Tumeric
• Ginger
• Curcumin(from turmeric)
• Rosemary
• Basil
• Cherries
• Rutin
• Boswellia (an Ayurvedic herb)

• PESTICIDES
• REDUCE EXPOSURE TO PESTICIDES & BPA
• NEW TREATMENT OPTIONS

Bisphenol-A

There’s quite a buzz about environmental contaminants these days…particularly from plastics. Bisphenol-A (BPA) is thought to bind to estrogen receptors and mimicsome of the hormone’s physiologic activities. Much of the public debate on the effects of BPA ingestion in humans has focused on reproductive health. In various studies, BPA has been associated with permanent changes to the genital tract, cancerous changes in breast tissue, enlarged prostate, early puberty, weight gain and decline in testicular testosterone. Turns out, this is a bigger problem than once thought.

According to a study based on the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we can add Liver disease, Diabetes and Heart Disease to the list. Elevated urinary levels of BPA significantly raise the chances of having diabetes or a history of cardiovascular events.

A one-standard-deviation rise in BPA concentrations was associated with a 63% increased risk of having been diagnosed with coronary heart disease, a 40% greater likelihood of having had a “heart attack,” and a 39% increased risk of diabetes. In the NHANES cohort of more than 1400 patients, the same degree of BPA elevation was also associated with abnormally high liver enzymes.

Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that BPA was detected in the urine of 93% of tested participants, in the same overall NHANES database, who were six years old or older. This finding would indicate widespread exposure to BPA in the US population.

BPA is found in polycarbonate plastic used to make baby bottles and sports bottles; epoxy resins used to line the inside of food cans; is a precursor to flame retardant materials used in clothing; is in dental sealants for cavity prevention. Bisphenol A has been used as an inert ingredient in pesticides (although in the US this has apparently been halted), as a fungicide, and PVC stabilizer.

PESTICIDES

A number of pesticides which are commonly found in our food have been identified as likely to cause disturbance to natural hormones in our bodies. Hormone disruptors from pesticides can cause problems at very low doses. Some block the body’s natural hormones from working, while others mimic the action of natural hormones. Unless labeled “organic”, commercially grown fruits and vegetables contain pesticides.

Pesticides can also contain barium, cadmium, arsenic, mercury and lead. Barium toxicity may cause abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Cadmium can cause edema, kidney stones, chronic fatigue syndrome, impotence, arthritis and high blood pressure. Lead and arsenic are associated with high blood pressure, diabetes, liver disorders, memory/concentration disorders and various anemias.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture found that even after washing, some fruits and vegetables consistently carry much higher levels of pesticide residue than others.Based on an analysis of more than 100,000 U.S. government pesticide test results, researchers at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C., have developed the “dirty dozen” fruits and vegetables, that they say you should always buy organic, if possible, because their conventionally grown counterparts tend to be laden with pesticides. The cost can be about 50% more – but are well worth the money.

The “Dirty Dozen” Must-buy organic foods:

Cleaning up your environment…it’s a very overwhelming task at times. What we are left with is to do all we can for ourselves and our families to avoid the negative factors and incorporate as many of the positive factors as we can. We never know what is going to push us over the edge into poor health. Not everyone who eats refined sugar gets diabetes, and not every smoker gets cancer. It becomes a statistical game in which the person who does the most good usually wins. We know what each individual chemical can do to our bodies. We don’t know exactly how the multitude of environmental chemicals will react in the body. We should be thankful that our bodies were designed to handle a certain amount of assaults. This is why we must be diligent and do what we can to be a little healthier today than we were yesterday.

Reduce Your Exposure to Pesticide and BPA

1. Get BPA free water bottles
2. Do not cook in plastic
3. Do not store hot food in plastic containers
4. Avoid clothing with flame retardant chemicals
5. Drink water filtered with a Reverse Osmosis system
6. Avoid using plastic bottles to feed your infant
7. Avoid canned foods: fresh and frozen are best
8. Don’t use pesticide sprays around your home
9. Consume organic foods as much as possible
10. Use a good produce wash

Come to our seminar to learn about alternatives.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

Come join us Thursday, April 14th for our “Healthy Home & Wellness Seminar” at 5:30pm to learn alternatives to the products we currently use at home and on ourselves that are toxic.

We are now offering an oral chelating product called cardioprim. It will clean out the plaque build up in your body. You will have less pain, improved vision,hearing, energy, stamina, and memory.

We offer testing to check heavy metal levels in our bodies, as well as how well our bodies are able to detoxify! If you are not feeling well, this might be one of the causes!
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Don’t Guess About Your Health…Schedule an Appointment Today!

Not being sick and feeling fine does NOT mean you are healthy!
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OPTIMAL HEALTH PRIMARY CARE | 10120 S EASTERN AVE | SUITE 150 | henderson | NV | 89052

Come to our healthy home & wellness workshop March 10th & every 2nd Thursday of the month to learn about toxins in your home & alternatives to use

A classic study published in Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide (Tiburon,
CA: Future Medicine Publishing, 1995),

in which a team of researchers tested 3 chemicals on a group of rats, applying one at a time; no ill effects were observed. When they combined and administered 2 at a time, a decline in health was noted and when 3 chemical were given at once, the rats died within 2 weeks. Cancer cells develop because of damage to DNA. DNA is in every cell and directs all the cell’s activities. When DNA becomes damaged it is often able to repair itself. In cancer cells, the damage is not repaired.

Every person is different…the risk of developing cancer depends on many factors, such as the length and intensity of exposure to a carcinogen, the person’s overall health, and the person’s family history. Whether studying, diagnosing or treating cancer, one must not neglect the “environmental” component to this multi-factorial disease.

The following is a check list one should be aware of and their potential to adversely affect ones health.

• Electromagnetic field exposure
• Immune-suppresive drugs
• Microwaved foods
• Ionizing radiation
• Irradiated Foods
• Antibiotics & Drugs
• Nuclear radiation
• Food Additives
• Mercury
• Pesticide/herbicide
• Vaccinations
• Chronic Stress
• Polluted water
• Bacteria, Virus, Parasites
• Diesel Exhaust
• Chlorinated water
• Arsenic
• Aluminum
• Bisphenol A
• Lead
• Formaldehyde
• Radon
• MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether) – Gasoline additive
• Parabens
• Tetrachlorethylene
• Phthalates
• Cadmium
• Tobbaco, Smoking – Including second hand smoke
• Fluoridated water
• Hormone therapies

With the world of the modern internet, you can search and study these toxic elements for yourself. Cleaning up your diet many times is not enough. One must test to determine:

1. Are you being unwittingly exposed to toxic elements?

2. is your body excreting those toxic elements properly?

There’s no question that reducing your exposure to these toxic elements will go far in the realm of prevention but you can go a step further. Certain blood tests may aid in making a cancer diagnosis, monitor treatment, or monitor effects of the cancer on the body. Keeping those tests within normal range may not mean you won’t get cancer but you can optimize your chances of prevention and survival by keeping them in normal range. There are numerous tests that could be discussed but the tests displayed on the next page can be used to determine the health of your immune system, find infection and inflammation that could be ravaging your system and other ominous signs to be aware of.

Certain blood tests may aid in making a cancer diagnosis, monitor treatment, or monitor effects of the cancer on the body.

Keeping these test values within normal range may not mean you won’t get cancer but you can optimize your chances of prevention by keeping them in range.

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ESR: Erythrocyte Sed Rate

• Clinical Range: 0.00-20.00 mm/HR
• Healthy Range: 0.00-6.00 mm/HR

Measures inflammatory process. Never diagnostic of a specific disease. Changes are more significant than a single abnormal occurrence.

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CK: Creatine Kinase

• Clinical Range: 24-173 u/l
• Healthy Range: 64-133 u/l

High levels indicate tissue breakdown. Cancer: Prostate, breast, ovary, colon, small cell carcinoma of lung

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CRP: C-Reactive Protein

• Clincal Range: 0.00-4.90 mg/L
• Healthy Range: 0.00 – 1.50 mg/L

High levels indicate nonspecific tissue injury & inflammation, begins in 4-6 hours, more intense increase rise than ESR. Very useful in monitoring response to treatment. May be a useful tumor marker since a high CRP is often present when CEA and other tumor markers are not increased.

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Alkaline Phosphatase

• Clinical Range: 25-150 IU/L (adults 20-59)
• Healthy Range: 40-120 IU/L (adults 20-59)

As a tumor marker, only three laboratory markers were consistently abnormal, in screening for metastatic carcinoma of breast, prior to clinical detectability of
metastases – alkaline phosphatase, GGT and CEA (carcinoembryonicantigen).

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Ferritin

• Clinical Range: 22-322 ng/ml
• Healthy Range: 30-218 ng/ml

Malignancies: poor prognosis with increased ferritin. Malignant lymphoma. In the absence of cancer, can indicate iron overload.

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WBC

• Clincal Range: 4.00-10.50 k/cumm
• Healthy Range: 5.00-8.00 k/cumm

High levels can indicate cancer,leukemia, infection and chronic inflammation. Low levels indicate a compromised immune system.

Neutrophils

• Clinical Range: 40-74%
• Healthy Range: 55-65%

Bacterial and viral infections, cancer and many other conditions will most commonly elevate neutrophils initially. With more severe problems or infections, the neutrophil stores and productive capacity of bone marrow may be incapable of keeping up with demand. This may result in lowering levels of neutrophils. This may be an ominous sign.

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LDH: Lactate Dehydrogenase

• Clinical Range: 100-250 mu/mL
• Healthy Range: 120-160 mu/mL

High levels indicate cell destruction.

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Albumin

• Clinical Range 3.6-4.8 gm/dL
• Healthy Range: 4.10-4.50 gm/dL
• Panic range: < 2.0 gm/dL

Albumin is a simple protein with many uses widely distributed throughout the body. It’s important in nutrient transport and waste removal. There is an INCREASED MORTALITY RISK with a low albumin. Albumin <3.5 with a 1500 or less absolute lymphocyte count is an ominous sign.

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Uric Acid

• Clinical Range: 2.40-8.20 mg/dL
• Healthy Range: 4.10-6.00 mg/dL

High levels typically associated with gout. High levels can be associated with multiple myelomas, lymphoma, leukemia and chronic inflammation.

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GGT: Gamma Glutamyltransferase

• Clinical Range: 6-65 mu/mL
• Healthy Range: 22-39 mu/mL

Increased levels associated with increased risk for cancer. High levels may also be associated with liver disease, alcoholism, and gall bladder
disease.

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One blood test alone does not determine a diagnosis.

Don’t Guess About Your Health …We offer the latest test in cancer screening. Ask for the ‘FirstMark Onc’ test which measures cancer-associated products in the blood.

At Optimal Health Primary Care we get to the root of the problem. We have tests that measure heavy metals, phthalates and parabens in your body. These substances are from environmental products found in your home and could have detrimental affects to your health. We not only detect these toxic substances, we also have treatments to rid your body of them.

It has been long held that in order to lose weight, you must create a calorie deficit. If you cut back 500 calories a day, you should lose about 1lb per week. Also, if you exercise to burn off 500 calories a day you should lose approximately 1lb per week. Do both, you could lose 2lb per week. This is the basic premise behind the “calories in, calories out” theory. The problem with this way of thinking is that it’s based on the assumption that all calories are burned with 100% efficiency and that the body does not waste energy (calories) no matter what the source.

We consume three types of calories (macronutrients) that can be burned for energy: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. As most know, you can add your carbohydrates, fat and protein consumed per day to get your total calorie intake for that day. Portion control can be quite time consuming and dictates unrealistic rules which set most people up for failure. In addition, when most people start counting their calories and following a low calorie diet, it slows their metabolism and in addition their protein intake drops too low which increases their susceptibility to infections, joint, bone and muscle disorders.

Less than 9% of all diets are successful long term. In order to have successful weight loss, you must understand what your food is made of and how it’s used by the body. Protein can come from plant based sources like beans, seeds, nut, sprouts and quinoa or it can come from animal based sources like fish, eggs, chicken, turkey and red meats. Carbohydrates are found in breads, potatoes, pasta, rice, fruits and veggies. Fat comes from your cooking oils such as olive oil, canola oil, butter and coconut oil/butter but also comes from avocados, nuts, sees, and meats.

Three Types of Calories

Carbohydrate is good for nothing but burning. It’s like gasoline – you can either burn it now or you will store it in your tank to burn later. With carbohydrates, it is a fact that if you consume more than your body can use, your body storesthem for later (which contributes to weight gain). When carbohydrates are stored in your liver and muscles, it is called glycogen. When the liver and muscles cells cannot store anymore glycogen, it is turned into fat. When your body needs a quick boost of energy, it converts glycogen into energy. When it needs a prolonged burst of energy, it converts fat to energy.

Protein and fat, however, have many uses in the body in addition to generating energy. Protein is used to build muscle cells, to create and repair cell membranes in all cells, and to create enzymes that make it possible for all your body functions to occur. Fat transports certain nutrients that are not soluble in water, acts as a precursor to a number of hormones, insulates nerve cells to ensure that electrical charges are carried properly, and, like protein, is used to create and repair cell membranes. Furthermore, fat and protein can both be broken down and recombined into whatever form the body needs.

So you might consume muscle protein from a cow, and the body might break it down and rearrange it to make a digestive enzyme, or incorporate it into the membrane of a brain cell, or use it to make hemoglobin. Protein and fat are like wood – you can certainly burn it for energy, but you can also use it to build a house, or grind it up and make paper out of it.

When fats are burned, they produce ketones. Ketones are fat molecules that are incompletely burned. These ketones can be burned for further energy by certain organs or can be excreted through the urine, breath and sweat. In fact, the heart and brain in particular will suck up ketones to use as fuel whenever they are present. But if more ketones are produced than can be used by the body, which is usually when fat is the primary source of calories, then the body excretes them. There is no storage mechanism for excess ketones. It’s like burning wood and tossing out most of the charcoal because there’s no place to keep it – a waste of energy. If you are overweight, wasting energy is exactly what you want to do.

Get Your Head Around These Concepts:

1. We observe that people who consume fewer calories have an adverse result of a slower metabolism thus burning fewer calories. The theory behind this is the body has a survival mechanism that is trying to conserve energy and therefore prolonging the chances of survival during famine. On the contrary, we also observe that people who consume more calories actually burn more calories (increase their metabolism), but only on low-carbohydrate diets. Remember, carbohydrates are either burn for energy or are stored. The body won’t waste carbohydrates
2. We realize that portion control is an issue for many people. If you feel portion control may be what’s holding back your weight loss, we suggest you do control your carbohydrate intake. Most importantly, cut out the carbohydrates that provide little nutritional value such as white sugar, white flours, donuts, chips, pop, fruit juice, products with high fructose corn syrup. Limit all breads, pastas and rice (even the healthier versions) but do consumer lots of whole fruits and vegetables. Cut out your highly saturated fatty meats such as bacon, sausage and other cured meats.
3. We would be remiss, if we did not include exercise in the weight loss equation. It increases your body’s percent of lean muscle versus percent of body fat. Therefore, since muscle is metabolically more active, you will burn more calories even while you are resting.
4. What are you made of? Weight scales determine only the total body mass. They do not tell you whether that mass is fat, muscle or water. Body composition is more important than your total weight in determining fitness and health. Ask for a Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) to determine your percentage of body fat, lean muscle mass and metabolic rate.
5. Lose weight in a healthy way by making the necessary lifestyle changes in order to have long term success with weight loss. Set up an appointment today to learn about your individual needs for safe, effective, long term weight loss.

2010 was a tough year for a lot of people financially, emotionally, spiritually, and physically.  I pray that 2011 will be a better year for everyone!

We  are proud to be practicing functional medicine at Optimal Health  Primary Care. Functional medicine is an integrative, science-based  healthcare approach that treats illness and promotes wellness by  focusing on the bio-chemically unique aspects of each patient, and then individually tailoring interventions to restore physiological,  psychological, and structural balance.  We are focused on treating the cause of the problem, not just masking symptoms.

Last  month I completed my board certification requirements and now I am a  diplomate of the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine.

My  question to you is “Are you healthy, or are you not sick?” At Optimal Health Primary Care we have been proud to offer you many services to  achieve optimal health.

In 2011, we  are excited to offer you additional services to help early detection  of disease, prevention of disease, and reversal of disease.

• First, we are offering a new blood test that screens for cancer. It looks for a marker that is a product of various types of cancer cells  (at least 20) and is often found to be elevated in cancer patients  during the early stages of the disease.It is called the You Test You Cancer Assessment. Anyone with a family history of cancer or is concerned about getting cancer should get this done.
• Second, in addition to the saliva testing to examine hormones, we are also offering estrogen metabolism tests to assess risk of breast cancer. Certain  ratios of  estrogen metabolism have been identified as a risk for breast  cancer,  and those ratios can be modulated by lifestyle factors and  supplementation

I believe those are exciting early detection tests.

Other New Services:

• Wellness & Anti-Aging
  We are offering Dahn Yoga classes  every Tuesday and Thursday to help your body cope with stress and improve overall health. We also have a Reiki master to help with stress, fatigue, and pain every Tuesday and Friday.
• IV therapy & Blood Draw
  Blood drawing for most insurances in our office for routine blood work. You no longer have to wait in line at Quest or LabCorp.
• Intravenous Nutritional Therapy.
  It  has been shown to benefit people suffering from fatigue, migraines, fibromyalgia, acute muscles spasms, acute asthmaexacerbation’s, chronic sinusitis, upper respiratory infections, and many other conditions. The nutrients bypass the gut so you get more concentrated nutrition directly into the tissues. You will definitely feel the difference!

We have been offering the micronutrient test that looks at 34 different vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and anti-oxidant function. Low anti-oxidants and nutrients make your body susceptible to disease. Too many of you are stressed and suffer from or will suffer from adrenal fatigue.

The staff and I at Optimal Health Primary Care work hard to ensure that your experience at the office is a very pleasant one.  Please let us know what we can do to improve our service if you are unhappy with something.

At Optimal Health Primary Care our goal is to help you feel your best.  I am excited to offer you the latest in prevention, detection, and treatment of disease.  If your goal is to achieve optimal health, then we are happy to give you all the tools you need to achieve your goal!

Happy 2011!

Visit our Online store with Metagenics.

BY DR. RHONDA HENRY

The turkey has graced holiday tables since the days of the Pilgrims. A Thanksgiving dinner wouldn’t be complete to most of us without the delectable golden brown with its gravy and dressing. This bird has become big business and a year-round bestseller. About 100 million a year are raised for their meat, about 170 times the estimated population of wild turkeys.

Most of the turkeys are raised on big corporation turkey ranches because it has become economically unfeasible for the small rancher to survive. Turkey ranchers differ somewhat in their methods of production and the selection of antibiotics and medicines to be used. Their first consideration is the approach, which will yield the biggest and most healthy bird with the least investment. Only in this way can the venture be profitable. Some ranchers report as little as 5 cents profit per bird, so production costs must be kept at a minimum. Fortunately, birds of high quality are available. As with so many foods, knowing the source is the key.

Consider for a moment all the various things that happen to turkeys before they reach our table. The first step in raising turkeys is the breeder ranch where several thousand hens are kept strictly for the purpose of laying the eggs. The hens are artificially inseminated every 2 weeks. This process is used because it increases the fertility rate and also because present day birds are so large that mating is difficult and hazardous.

After the eggs are laid, they are carefully graded according to weight and sent on to the hatchery. Here they are put into incubators for the 30-days necessary to hatch them. The 1-day-old poults are sent on to the breeder ranch for a growth period of 7 to 8 weeks. From here they are ready to go to the processing plant, they are 21-28 weeks old.

While this procedure is quite standard, the differences arise in the antibiotics that are added to the feeds and the antibiotic injections that are given. Turkeys are very susceptible to disease. For this reason, many turkey ranchers add antibiotics to the feed just as a routine precaution and give additional injections if diseases strikes.

The main antibiotics added to the feed are Terramycin, Aureomycin and bacitracin. For a continuous feeding program, they are allowed 20 grams per ton. Larger amounts are allowed for short periods of time to combat disease. Feeds containing these antibiotics are used by most ranchers. However, a few still-existing smaller ranchers try to raise the turkeys without the continuous antibiotic use.

Disease prevention and control is not the only reason for the use of the antibiotics. Scientists have discovered that animals grow faster when they are fed antibiotics along with their meals, so, many of the ranchers use feeds that have the added antibiotics as much for a growth stimulant as for a disease prevention.

Since the amount which can be added into the feed is limited by Government regulations, ranchers often counter the disease through the use of injections if the turkeys contract a disease. The rancher is allowed to administer antibiotics directly to the birds and is expected to abide by the regulations as labeled on the container.

Herein seems to lie the biggest problem in the turkey industry. While an effort has been made to establish safety limits for the use of the drugs, there is not an adequate inspection. One might conclude that we must place the ranchers on the “Honor System” where antibiotic injections are concerned. Periodic checks are made of course, but it would be impossible to completely police the use of the drugs. The specifications on the containers indicate how much time must lapse after giving the injections before the turkey can be put on the consumer market.

Some Ranchers inject the birds only if disease is a problem, other Ranchers inject the birds as a matter of course at every stage of the growth period. The turkey feed is planned carefully for nutritional content. As one grower quipped, “I watch my turkeys’ diet more closely than my own.”

The poults in their first week are fed a pre-starter feed which contains 28 percent protein. The formula is changed 6 times during the growth process from the pre-starter feed to the fattening mash. Always, prime consideration is given to the nutritional value of the feed. Turkey ranchers know that healthy, undiseased birds are the only ones they can be sure to sell.

After the birds are sent to the poultry processing plant, they are inspected by Federal inspectors. If the inspection is done carefully, turkeys that are diseased or that have had antibiotics administered too near marketing time can be spotted. The turkeys are opened up so the inspector can inspect the entrails as well as the turkey. In this way, most diseases can be quickly spotted. The Federal processing plants I checked with use no preservatives in their processing. Any turkey that has been preserved will be labeled as such. If they are not labeled, they have been killed, inspected, chilled and sold as fresh birds, or frozen and sold as frozen.

The only question one might raise in regard to the raising and processing of turkey sis in the use of the drugs. Since every turkey sold for meat cannot be first sent to a lab for analysis, it is a matter of obvious concern.
Check your source and find a turkey rancher who limits the use of antibiotics to the pre-starter feed. This is given for just the first week of the turkey’s life and should leave no traces in the meat of the bird.

Better yet, you may be fortunate enough to locate a rancher who specializes in organically raised birds which will be fed carefully and NOT be given antibiotics at all. That would assure a happy holiday dinner and further help prevent human reactions. Purchasing antibiotic and hormone free turkeys are available at most larger grocery chains or you may go to any Kosher butcher and be assured that you are getting a safe turkey.

NOVEMBER SPECIAL OFFER
FREE INTRODUCTION NUTRITIONAL CONSULTATION
with DR. RHONDA HENRY
Doctor of Nutritional Science
now working along with Dr. Jeffrey Brown
to enhance your personal health/nutrition
(87% of those visiting a doctor are due to their diets)
As an Ex-311 pounder and 30 years in practice -
Dr. Henry has been through it!
Call her personally to set-up your appointment
leaving your e-mail so that her Intake Questionnaire
can be completed and brought in at set-appointment.
ISN’T IT TIME YOU INVESTED IN YOU?
Dr. Henry’s Office/Fax: 702-269-8120

• Do you need coffee and colas to keep you going throughout the day?
• Do you feel run don and stressed, and struggle to keep up with life’s daily demands?
• Are you exhausted for several days after a hike or workout at the gym?
• Is the “war on terrorism” making you feel worried, tired, or depressed?
• Have you lost your job, home, or?????
• If so, you may be suffering from adrenal fatigue -

One million Americans miss work everyday because of stress-related disorders.

And that’s on a good day. Although it’s too early to project numbers, it’d be safe to guess that the number of Americans who have missed work since the September 11th attack has skyrocketed. Then there is the recession (or depression). Why? Because people are scared, worried, nervous, and stressed. Our nation is fighting a war on terrorism that is horrifying and unfathomable … and we’re all feeling the effects. And the government is spending our money as though it never has to be paid back.

Even before the war, though, we were fighting a different war of monstrous proportions that is largely unrecognized by the medical establishment. The problem is called adrenal fatigue, and it’s the primary cause of “burn-out,” common diseases, syndromes and chronic illnesses, in which fatigue is one of the primary symptoms, and stress is the primary cause.

Adrenal Fatigue – The invisible epidemic

These people often go from doctor to doctor complaining of various signs and symptoms that are often ignored by the physicians they consult. Even worse, they find themselves unfairly and inappropriately branded as hypochondriacs, chronic complainers, neurotics or worse.

But now there’s hope for everyone who has ever:

• Felt tired for no reason
• Had trouble getting up in the morning
• Felt run down and stressed
• Craved salty or sweet snacks
• Struggled to keep up with life’s demands

You don’t have to limp through life with adrenal fatigue and the many health problems it leads to. You can learn how to keep your adrenal glands functionally optimally with nutritional support and a few lifestyle changes.

Stress is inevitable … but you can learn how to neutralize it so it doesn’t affect your health.

Most people would agree that unless you live on an enchanted island, life is filled with one stress after another. Anxiety about your job, an argument with your spouse, a poor night’s sleep, travel, family illness, even a positive experience like a new job or marriage – all contribute to STRESS. I refer to this as DIS-stress. Why? Stress is a motivator, dis-stress brings on illness!

Whether it’s physical, emotional or psychological, chronic, unrelieved daily dis-stress can trigger chemical changes that contribute to adrenal fatigue and to a variety of illnesses – that may even shorten your life.

Luckily, Mother Nature provided us the adrenal glands – a twin set of organs responsible for helping your body respond to stress, cope with it, and survive it. Yet, how you bounce back from the stress of an illness, a devastating accident, heartbreak, or disappointment, all depends on the health and efficiency of your adrenal glands.

The adrenal glands – Mother Nature’s tool for removing stress.

The adrenal glands are no bigger than a walnut and weigh less than a grape. They sit like a pyramid on top of each kidney, in the back, near the bottom of the ribs on each side of the spine. The adrenals are the major steroid factories of the body producing or contributing to the production of about 150 vital hormones essential to your body’s health and energy production.

Factors affecting the adrenals

Financial pressures, psychological stress, lack of relaxation, negative attitudes, unwanted unemployment, fear, coffee, caffeine, marital stress, lack of good food, lack of, or excessive exercise, wound healing, death of a loved one, emotional stress, allergies, over exertion, smoking, lack of sleep, poor eating habits, sugar and white flour products, toxins, infection: acute and chronic.

The hormones secreted by your adrenals influence all of the major physiological processes in your body. They closely affect the utilization of carbohydrates and fats, the conversion of fats and proteins into energy, the distribution of stored fat (especially around your waist and at the sides of your face), normal blood sugar regulation, and proper cardiovascular and gastrointestinal function.

Healthy adrenal glands secrete very precise amounts of steroid hormones. The secretion of these hormones helps minimize negative and allergic reactions to drugs, alcohol, food and environmental allergens. But because the adrenals are so responsible to any change in your inner physical, emotional and psychological environment, it’s easy for them to get out of balance. This means that to much physical, emotional, environmental and/or psychological stress can deplete your adrenals, causing a decrease in the output of adrenal hormones, particularly cortisol. This decrease results in adrenal fatigue or hypoadrenia (hypo meaning lower and adrenia meaning related to the adrenals).

In addition, if your adrenal glands have no opportunity to fully recover from chronic or simultaneously occurring stresses, usually the result is adrenal fatigue.

What is adrenal fatigue?

Adrenal fatigue is any decrease in the ability of the adrenal glands to carry out their normal functions. This happens when your body is overwhelmed, when stress overextends the capacity of your body to compensate and recover. Consequently, the adrenals become fatigued and are unable to continue responding adequately to further stress.

Typically what happens to many people is that they get into a vicious cycle of relying on coffee, colas and other stimulants to keep them going throughout the day. Eventually, they get a second wind and end up working very late into the night. It becomes harder and harder for them to get going in the morning, so they drink more caffeine, perpetuating the cycle.

But that’s only the beginning. Adrenal fatigue manifests as a collection of signs and symptoms, known as a”syndrome.” Its chief symptom is fatigue, but once the adrenal buffer is gone, you become susceptible to a long list of health complaints including respiratory infections, asthma, allergies, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and other immune disorders.

Common symptoms of adrenal fatigue:

• Erratic or abnormal blood sugar levels … hypoglycemia
• Allergies
• Arthritic pain
• Asthma
• Decreased immune response
• Premenstrual tension
• Difficulty during menopause
• Increased fears, anxiety, and depression
• Confusion, poor concentration and memory recall
• Insomnia
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Adult-onset diabetes
• Auto-immune disorders
• Alcoholism

Adrenal fatigue shows up in a variety of ways.

The rarest and most extreme form is called Addison’s disease, named for Sir Thomas Addison, who first described it in 1850. It is life threatening if untreated and can result in permanent damage to the adrenal glands. Addison’s disease affects 4 out of 100,000 people. About 70% of all cases are the result of auto-immune disease, while the other 30% result from a variety of causes, including severe dis-stress.

The more common form of adrenal fatigue has been called by a number of names including non-Addison’s hypadenia, sub-clinical hypoadrenia, neurasthenia, adrenal neurasthenia, and adrenal apathy. It is not a readily identifiable entity like measles or a growth on the end of your finger. People with adrenal fatigue often look and act relatively normal. They may not have any obvious signs of physical illness, yet they are not well and live with a general sense of unwellness or ‘gray’ feelings.

How do you know if you have adrenal fatigue?

Anyone, from birth to old age and from any race or culture, can suffer from adrenal fatigue. People vary greatly in their ability to respond to and withstand dis-stress. But if you’ve suffered from a serious or repeated injury, illness, infectious disease, allergies, inadequate nutrition, intense social, emotional or physical pressures, or are exposed to a toxic environment you probably have adrenal fatigue. I with exception check the adrenals of every patient, in this day and age, it’s a must as far as I’m concerned.

You can make a full recovery from adrenal fatigue.

Don’t worry! (Worry only contributes to more dis-stress!) You can make a full recovery from adrenal fatigue, and you can start on the path today! All you have to do is support your adrenal glands nutritionally and make some changes in your lifestyle. Here’s how:

How well you live, depends largely on how well your adrenal glands function.

First of all, in order for the adrenals to work efficiently, you have to support them nutritionally. And the good news about adrenal fatigue is that you can do most of what is necessary to recover and regain your adrenal health yourself. There are no magic pills for adrenal fatigue, but there are key lifestyle changes and nutritional supplements that will greatly facilitate your recovery.

How can I keep my adrenal glands healthy?

The guidelines are very similar to the overall principles of good health, and working preferably with a knowledgeable person in the field of natural health would be an excellent first step. A moderate lifestyle with high-quality food, regular exercise and plenty of rest, combined with a healthy mental attitude will go a long way toward keeping your adrenal glands strong and resilient. However, because modern life is so stressful, certain nutritional supplements are also important to both maintaining healthy adrenal glands and helping depleted adrenal glands recover.

Instead of taking lots of different individual supplements, it makes more sense to simply take a nutritional supplement designed specifically for the adrenals that combines all the necessary nutrients.
Eating well and eating on time.

When your adrenal glands are fatigued, cortisol levels drop lower than normal. This makes it more difficult for your body to maintain normal blood sugar levels. As a result, people with adrenal fatigue tend to also have low blood sugar. If you have adrenal fatigue, when you eat is almost as important as what you eat. Low blood sugar is in itself a stressful situation that further drains your adrenals. Therefore, avoid letting your blood sugar levels drop too low by eating natural, high-quality food at frequent, regular intervals. This will make difference to your adrenal health as well as to your energy level.

Foods that feed your adrenal glands

• Eat a wide variety of whole, natural foods.
• Combine fat, protein, and starchy carbohydrates (such as whole grains) at every meal and every snack. This combination provides a steady source of energy over a longer period of time because they are converted into glucose at different rates. Also, these 3 sources put less strain on every part of your body including your adrenals.
• Eat lots of brightly colored veggies, which are especially rich in vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants.
• Salt food to your taste using a salt with a combination of sodium and potassium chloride
• Eat mainly whole grains as starchy carbohydrate sources.
• Combine grains with beans, seeds or nuts to form a complete protein.
• Avoid fruit in the morning.
• Mix 1-2 tablespoons of essential oils into grains, vegetables, and meats daily.
• Eat only the highest quality foods. Stay away from junk and processed foods and you’ll begin to feel better in no time.
• Increase your intake of vitamin c, magnesium, and pantothenic acid during times of dis-stress. Food sources of calcium include: dairy products, sesame seeds (unhulled), and products made from them such as tahini and humus, deep green vegetables such as kale, collard, Swiss chard, parsley, and broccoli; beans; nuts; and sea vegetables sch as kelp. Food sources of magnesium include: brown rice, beans, nuts, seeds, and sea vegetables such as kelp (the highest source). Food sources of pantothenic acid include: brewer’s yeast, organ meats, legumes, and eggs
  Note: Allergy testing is often a good idea, since eating foods that you are allergic to creates even more problems.
• Include plenty of fiber. When you are experiencing adrenal fatigue, mild constipation is present. Increasing the amount of fiber in your diet not only improves bowel motion and re-establishes normal bowel function, but it also helps strengthen your adrenal function.

Foods to Avoid:

• Sugar and white flour products are ironically the foods that many people suffering from adrenal fatigue love to eat. Unfortunately, eating them in excess leads to hypoglycemic symptoms which only aggravates the adrenal glands even more.
• Chocolate is rich in magnesium and caffeine. If you find yourself craving it, do yourself a favor and supplement your diet with 400 mg of magnesium citrate instead. I don’t believe in taking individual nutrients, but for the best results your supplements should be synergistic (work together) with the best balance for your individual needs.
• Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils (found in vegetable shortenings, margarine and commercial peanut butters) use up the enzymes your body normally uses to metabolize the good fats and oils that help form cell membranes and nerve sheaths.
• Deep fried foods product a double whammy: you get the problems associated with eating unhealthy fats and plus the ingestion of free radicals which are produced when oils break down the heat.
• Coffee, other caffeine drinks, and alcohol which stimulate over-stimulated adrenals.

If you just start to make some of these changes you’ll begin to see the difference almost immediately! Your overall health will improve, and you’ll have more energy to accomplish your goals … without the help of stimulants or caffeine (which will only worsen the condition over the long run).

Dr. Rhonda Henry, Doctor of Nutritional Science may be reached by calling 702-269-8120 or at Optimal Health 702-871-7004. As an ex-311 pounder it may interest you to visit my website: www.drhenry.com. I develop individual health profiles by balancing your body chemistry using both Eastern and Western modalities – Naturally! Now working along with Dr. Brown, patients have the availability of experiencing what true Integrative Health is all about. We look forward to hearing from you when you are ready for a Health Experience. If your club or organization are looking for speakers – why not give us a call.

Plan for Tomorrow’s Good Health – TODAY!

Federal Law requires that we warn you of the following:

1. Your individual health status and any required health care treatments can only be properly addressed by a professional healthcare provider of your choice. Remember: There is no adequate substitution for a personal consultation with your chosen health care provider. Therefore, we encourage you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.
2. The Constitution guarantees you the right to be your own physician and to prescribe for your own health.

Have you long suspected you had thyroid problems but your test results came back “normal”? Maybe you’re not being testing thoroughly! Commonly a routine thyroid screening only involves testing the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). TSH is produced by the pituitary gland in response to low circulating levels of thyroid hormone (T4). The TSH alone cannot be used to screen for secondary hypothyroidism and usually requires a measurement of thyroid hormone levels to be adequately interpreted. A screening of T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine) in addition to TSH are helpful in determining thyroid function. T4 and some T3 are produced by the thyroid. T4 converts to T3 outside the thyroid in most all tissue with the liver and kidney doing the most conversion. Most of the T3 (80%) is produced outside the thyroid. T3 is most responsible for increasing metabolic rate.

When T4 becomes T3, this causes energy to be made in each living cell. T4 can also become Reverse T3 (RT3) which reduces the energy production in the cell. Just as a car needs an accelerator and brakes for proper function, the same is true for the body. The body needs T3 (the accelerator) and RT3 (the brake) to manage its energy needs.

If you have a low TSH, it could mean several things:

• normal thyroid function with optimal T3 and T4
• overactive thyroid gland with high T3 and T4
• Secondary Hypothyroidism with low T3 and T4 indicates pituitary gland dysfunction

If you have a high TSH, it could mean:

• Under-active thyroid gland with low or normal T3 and T4
• Rare is pituitary gland tumor

Is It Really the Thyroid?

Because 80% of T3 is produced outside the thyroid, what appears, clinically, to be low thyroid function could actually have nothing to do with the thyroid gland. Many environmental factors, illnesses and drugs affect conversion of T4 to T3.

Many environmental exposures can affect your thyroid function. See the side bar for environmental aspects you should be aware of. As mentioned previously, maintaining good iodine status is one way to support thyroid function and combat these environmental exposures but there are other minerals and amino acids necessary for adequate thyroid hormone production.

Would you like to be tested properly to determine how your thyroid’s doing? Set up an appointment today. You can’t base your health on how you feel. Get tested today to get the facts on your health status.

At A Glance…

Factors that Affect Thyroid Health

1. Get tested properly. Make sure your doctor is doing more than just a TSH.
2. Avoid eating large amounts of processed soy products.
3. Avoid low calorie diets…this can lower your metabolic rate.
4. Vitamin D, cobalt and riboflavin deficiency.
5. Diets low in protein can reduce your ability to make thyroid hormone.
6. Be sure to use iodized sea salt.
7. Get BPA free water bottles like the CamelBak Better Bottle. www.REI.com
8. Do not cook in plastic. Do not store hot food in plastic containers. Wait until the food cools or use glass containers.
9. Avoid pesticide sprays around your home. Visit www.organicgardening.com for safe tips on pest repellants. 
10. Visit www.naturalhomemagazine.com for help on reducing synthetic/chemical based paints, cleaners, and décor.
11. Avoid chemical bug repellants.

August 2009

Traditionally, iodine has been known as an element necessary for thyroid hormone production. Most people think this is the sole purpose of iodine. You may be surprised to find that iodine is found in each of the trillions of cells in your body. Without an adequate iodine supply, life itself would not be possible.

Iodine is not only a key player in thyroid hormone production, but it is also responsible for production of all of the other hormones in the body. It also exhibits potent antibacterial, antiparasitic, antiviral, and anticancer properties, which gives iodine a key role in the immune system. Iodine is an important factor in alleviating fibrocystic breasts and ovarian cysts. Other disorders that may have an iodine deficient component: ADD/ADHD, atherosclerosis, breast diseases, excess mucous production, fatigue, goiter, hemorrhoids, headaches, high blood pressure, infections, keloids, liver diseases, ovarian disease, prostate disorders and vaginal infections.
Sound too good to be true? The World Health Organization claims that iodine deficiency is the world’s greatest single cause of preventable mental retardation. They estimate that there are 300 million school-aged children worldwide who are iodine deficient. Iodine is primarily found in seawater in very small amounts. It can also be found in sea organisms such as seaweed which is one of the most abundant sources.
Iodine overdose can be a problem but is extremely rare. Definitely not worth the iodine phobia as expounded in main stream medicine. Excess iodine in doses greater than 1 gram per day has been associated with hyperthyroid symptoms. Iodized salt is the typical source of iodine for most people. Only 10% of iodine is bioavailable from the typical table iodized salt used. In our salt phobic society, the potential for iodine deficiency weighs more heavily than any possibility for iodine overdose.

How much do you need?

We do not recommend anyone supplement iodine on their own. Best results are found when working with a holistic healthcare professional that will test to determine your status. In addition, you are most likely not deficient in just one mineral. Work must be done to balance any other nutrient deficiencies and/or lifestyle habits contributing to those deficiencies.

Think you might be iodine deficient?

Incorporate iodized sea salt into your diet. Sea salt contains half the sodium of regular table salt. For further help, set up a consultation with one of our healthcare providers. Testing is the only way to know exactly what you need to supplement and the dose that’s appropriate for you.

Are you taking a lot of supplements already?

How do you know you need them or if the dose is right for you? We can help you with that. Set up a consult today to get you on the road to better health!

Whether you are gardening on a hot summer day or exercising even at moderate intensity, dehydration can creep up on everyone…not just athletes. Daily average fluid loss in sedentary adults ranges from 2-3 liters per day. Athletes who train 2 hours per day can easily lose an additional 2 liters resulting in a total fluid loss of up to 5 liters per day.

Dehydration increases your core temperature causing cardiovascular strain in the form of increased heart rate, increased blood pressure and lower cardiac output (the volume of blood pumped by the heart in one minute). Outward signs of dehydration are obvious thirst, muscle cramps, weakness, decreased athletic performance, difficulty with focus, headache, nausea, fatigue, reduced urine output, dark urine and dizziness. In athletes, even 4% dehydration can result in 20-30% decrease in work performance. The problem with these “warning signs” is that they are not truly a “warning” at all. By the time you experience these symptoms, dehydration has already occurred. If you are dehydrated going into a physical activity, no amount of water you drink during the activity is going to make up for not drinking enough water on a daily basis. Voluntary fluid intake during physical activity usually replaces only 50% of the sweat loss.

Most mineral losses in sweat are minor. A good diet and general supplementation with a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement will do the job. If you are not sure where you stand with regard to mineral status, getting tested will help you fine tune your regime. Sodium and chloride losses however, can be significant. Marathon runners performing in heated conditions can lose up to 10 grams of sodium in one event. Losses of sodium and chloride through sweat have been associated with muscle cramps and fatigue. It is rarely necessary to supplement potassium because of fluid loss via sweat. Although salt supplementation is usually not necessary, if you are on a self imposed salt restrictive diet, you may need to supplement ¼ – ½ teaspoon of iodized sea salt to recover from sodium and chloride losses through sweat.

To avoid dehydration, drink water before you feel thirsty. A general recommendation for adults is to drink ½ of your body weight in ounces. For instance, if you weigh 100lbs, you should be drinking 50oz of water. You need enough water per day to urinate every 2-4 hours. Normal urine color should be pale yellow. Be aware that medications (especially diuretics), caffeine and alcohol consumption will increase your fluid needs.

Exercise requirements: 2 hours prior to exercise drink 16-24 ounces of water; 15 minutes prior to exercise drink 3-6oz.; during exercise drink 4-6oz for every 15-20 minutes.
Recovery after exercise: measure yourself before and after exercise to determine your individual needs. It is recommended you drink water until your pre-workout weight is attained (generally 16oz of water per pound of body weight lost).

Your blood and other fluids help to remove waste products and to bring nutrients to tissues for repair. Replacing lost fluids as quickly as possible after a workout or a day of heavy gardening will speed up your recovery.

Federal Law requires that we warn you of the following:

1. The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only.
2. Your individual health status and any required health care treatments can only be properly addressed by a professional healthcare provider of your choice. Remember: There is no adequate substitution for a personal consultation with your chosen health care provider. Therefore, we encourage you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

Make your own 
Sport Drink!

1/4 CUP EVAPORATED CANE JUICE DISSOLVED IN HOT WATER
1/4 TEASPOON OF IODIZED SEA SALT
1/4 CUP ORGANIC ORANGE JUICE (OR OTHERS)
ADD ENOUGH FILTERED WATER TO MAKE 1 QUART

What about Sport Drinks and other beverages?

The average Joe’s workout does not need a sport drink for rehydration unless you’re a serious athlete and the duration of your workout is over 60 minutes. Many of the “enhanced” waters and sport drinks contain additional calories and sugars that “average” exercisers do not need. We would rather those “extra” calories come from fresh fruits and vegetables. Water is sufficient for their workouts along with a proper diet.

For high intensity, hot climate or long duration workouts, when choosing a sport drink or enhanced beverage, the fluid should contain some carbohydrate (not too much) and some sodium chloride. The carbohydrate helps to maintain training intensity because it is the primary energy fuel used during exercise events. Sodium chloride is necessary not for replacement of lost levels rather it helps to stimulate water uptake and retention as well as carbohydrate uptake.

What kind of carbohydrate? In general, you want to look for combinations of sucrose, glucose, and fructose sugars. In fact, they are most effective when they are consumed as a combination. Studies have shown that combining the different carbohydrates helps athlete’s burn 55% more carbohydrates than those with glucose solution only. In addition, you want to take a look at the ingredient list to determine the source of the sucrose, glucose and fructose. Less refined sources would be fruit juice, honey, or evaporated cane juice. Ask yourself, “Are there any artificial sweeteners?”. Although “reduced calorie”, artificial sweeteners have never been shown to help anyone lose weight. Many top selling sport drinks contain only high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners. Drinking more than 60 grams of fructose will inhibit performance and result in diarrhea.

Some may think juice to be nutritious, but it isn’t the best choice for hydration. Juice is primarily fructose and as explained above can reduce the rate of water absorption so cells don’t get hydrated very quickly.

How much carbohydrate? Both fluid and carbohydrate requirements can be met by consuming 20-40oz per hour of beverages containing 4-8% carbohydrate. This works out to about 36 grams of carbohydrate in 20-40oz.

For the average exerciser, if you’re tired of water, a simple electrolyte powder might be beneficial. You won’t necessarily need any carbohydrate content, so keep your eye out for electrolyte powders that are easy to carry in your gym back and can simply be added to your own water. If you think you might need a little extra energy to get you through a particularly tough workout, try a honey stick. Honey sticks are equal parts sucrose and fructose. Sucrose will be absorbed quickly while the fructose portion burns a little slower so your blood glucose doesn’t bottom out. Honey sticks can be purchased at your local health food store.

Don’t Guess About Your Health…
Schedule a Consultation Today!

With mercury scares abound, many consumers feel they are making a healthier choice by choosing farm raised fish over the wild-caught variety. Many are not aware that farm-raised fish have their own problems.
Are there any nutritional differences? 
We’re glad you asked! FDA statistics on the nutritional content (protein and fat-ratios) of farm versus wild salmon show that the fat content of farmed salmon is excessively high–30-35% by weight. Wild salmon have a 20% higher protein content and a 20% lower fat content than farm-raised salmon. Farm-raised fish contain much higher amounts of pro-inflammatory omega 6 fats and less usable omega 3 fats than wild fish. Normally, we tend to get too many omega 6’s in our diets and need more of the omega 3’s. Balance is the key, neither of the fats is “good” or “bad” but “variety” is what you should look for. When a food is eaten that contains high amounts of omega 6s in proportion to its content of omega 3s, the omega-6 fats use up certain enzymes which produce a pro-inflammatory condition.

The problem is farm-raised fish do not spend their lives vigorously swimming through cold ocean waters or leaping up rocky streams. They spend their lives as “couch potatoes”, lazily circling in crowded pens fattening up on pellets of fish chow…not the normal life or feed of the wild variety. For example, farm-raised Coho salmon has been found to have approximately 2.7 times the total fat as wild samples.

Antibiotics & Pesticides
Disease and parasites, which would normally exist at relatively low levels in fish scattered around the oceans, can run rampant in densely packed oceanic feedlots. To survive, farmed fish are vaccinated as small fry. Later, they are given antibiotics or pesticides to ward off infection.

PCB’s
Research published by the Environmental Working Group on July 30, 2003, indicates that levels of carcinogenic chemicals called PCBs found in farmed salmon purchased from U.S. grocery stores are much higher than levels of PCBs found in wild salmon that they pose an increased risk for cancer.

Synthetic Pigment Colors Flesh Pink in Farm Raised Salmon
In the wild, salmon absorb carotenoids from eating pink krill. On the aqua farm, their rich pink hue is supplied by canthaxanthin, a synthetic pigment manufactured by Hoffman-La Roche. Fish farmers can choose just what shade of peach their fish will display from the pharmaceutical company’s trademarked SalmoFan, a color swatch similar to those you’d find in a paint store. Without help from Hoffman LaRoche, the flesh of farmed salmon would be a pale halibut grey.

There is debate on whether the canthaxanthin when added to the fish food poses any human health risk. Canthaxanthin has been linked to retinal damage in people when taken as a sunless tanning pill. This led the British to ban its use as a tanning agent. It is still available in the U.S.

In summary, wild caught fish are going to be more nutritious than your farm raised variety. All of us should try to minimize our exposures to antibiotics, PCB’s and pesticides in our environment. Refusing to buy farm raised fish can be one step in that direction.

Mediterranean Salmon

2 servings

• 2 – 6-8oz pieces of Salmon
• 1 Organic Orange
• 1 Mango, diced
• 4 slices of Avocado
• 2 tsp fresh or dried Parsley

Preheat oven to 3750. Grease a small baking dish. Place salmon in the dish, squeeze the juice of the orange onto the salmon. Cover and bake salmon for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and add the mango, avocado and parsley. Cover and bake for another 10 minutes.

Simple Trout:

• 4 servings
• 2 whole trout fillets [4 halves]
• Earth Balance Spread
• Salt and pepper, to taste

This may look rather bland and simple but you will be amazed at how good this really is. Try to get a really nice and fresh piece of fish.

In a deep skillet, heat about 2 tablespoons of the EB spread. Salt and pepper the flesh side of one piece of the fish. Saute, flesh-side down until lightly browned. Turn fish to continue cooking with the skin side down. Cover and cook until the flesh flakes easily with a fork [usually 10 minutes]. Repeat this process for the rest of the fish.

Halibut Delight

Serves 4

• Earth Balance Spread
• Halibut (about 4, 6oz pieces)
• 2 Fresh Lemons, sliced
• ½ Sweet Vidalia Onion, sliced
• Salt, to taste
• 2 Tbl Dill

Preheat oven to 350o.
In a heated saucepan, add 2-3 tablespoons of Earth Balance Spread and the juice of 2 lemon slices. Brown 2 pieces of the Halibut on both sides. Repeat for the other 2 pieces. [Keep adding more Earth Balance Spread if needed]
Arrange the browned fish in an oiled casserole dish. Sprinkle with salt, cover with lemon and onion slices. Sprinkle with dill. Cover and cook in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Check the fish for doneness by using a fork to gently flake the fish. When it flakes easily, it is done. You can also put extra lemon slices on the dinner table.

What are artificial sweeteners?
Artificial sweeteners are low calorie substances used to replace sugar and other caloric sweeteners. Some common artificial sweeteners include: Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet); Acesulfame K (Sunette, Sweet One); Saccharin; Sucralose (Splenda); Xylitol; Sorbital; Maltilol

Where are artificial sweeteners found?
Artificial sweeteners are found in many foods. Some common products that contain artificial sweeteners include, but are not limited to, chewing gum [some gums contain 3-4 artificial and non-artificial sweeteners], chewable vitamins, drinks, toothpaste, mouth wash, cereals, candy, and “sugar free” items. Check your ingredient labels.

Why should I avoid artificial sweeteners?

Saccharin has had a very controversial past. The FDA tried to ban it in 1977 because some animal studies showed that it caused cancer (mainly bladder cancer, but also uterine, ovarian, skin, and others). Saccharin stayed on the market because of pressure from the diet food industry (and the dieters themselves). However, it carried a warning label that stated it had been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals until the late 1990s. In 2000, the National Cancer Institute [NCI] stated that people who were heavy saccharin users (six or more servings of saccharin or two or more 8-ounce servings of diet drink daily) had “some evidence of an increased risk of bladder cancer, particularly for those who heavily ingested the sweetener as a tabletop sweetener or through diet sodas.” Because of this study and other research with laboratory animals, it was decided that saccharin was not a major risk factor for bladder cancer in humans. We cannot explain this “logic”.

Research in animals has shown that Sucralose, commonly known as Splenda, can cause many problems such as shrunken thymus glands (up to 40 percent shrinkage), enlarged liver and kidneys, atrophy of lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus, reduced growth rate, decreased red blood cell count, hyperplasia of the pelvis, extension of the pregnancy period, aborted pregnancy, decreased fetal body weights and placental weights, and diarrhea.

Aspartame, which is sold commercially as Equal and NutraSweet consists of three components: Aspartic acid, Methanol, and Phenylalanine. These components break down into formaldehyde, formic acid and diketopiperazine, a chemical which can cause brain tumors. All of these substances are known to be toxic to humans. A seven-year study in which rats were given the equivalent of four to five bottles a day for a human indicated that aspartame consumption correlates with high rates of leukemias, lymphomas, and other cancers in rats. However, the carcinogenic effect of aspartame was found at levels as low as 20 milligrams a day for humans, which is far less than current daily limits in America at 50 milligrams and the UK at 40 milligrams.

Independent research finds problems with aspartame. An analysis of peer reviewed medical literature using MEDLINE and other databases was conducted by Ralph G. Walton, MD, Chairman, The Center for Behavioral Medicine, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine. Dr. Walton analyzed 164 studies which were felt to have relevance to human safety questions. Of the 90 non-industry-sponsored (independent) studies, 83 (92%) identified one or more problems with aspartame. Of the 74 aspartame industry-sponsored studies, all 74 (100%) claimed that no problems were found with aspartame. There appears to be more controversy over the safety of aspartame than any other artificial sweetener. As of 1995 when the FDA was quoted as saying they stopped accepting adverse reaction reports on aspartame, over 75% of the adverse reactions reported to the FDA Adverse Reaction Monitoring System (ARMS) were due to aspartame. In addition, the FDA believes that only about 1% of adverse reactions [whether drug or food product related] are actually reported.

Are there any artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes that are safe?

Substitute Stevia, an herbal leaf that tastes like an artificial sweetener. The crude Stevia leaves and herbal powder (green) are reported to be 10-15 times sweeter than table sugar. The refined extracts of Stevia called steviosides claim to be 200-300 times sweeter than table sugar. It does not affect glucose levels like sugar nor does it have the side effects of artificial sweeteners, and it is safe for diabetics. As with any food, Diabetics should always check their glucose when consuming a new food product. Some substances can cause certain individuals’ glucose to spike, whereas it may not affect others. Stevia is virtually calorie free and totally natural, and it can be found in most health stores.

Mixed Communication?

What is a person to believe? You hear from the natural healthcare community that artificial sweeteners are bad and then you hear from the FDA that artificial sweeteners are safe. Are we getting all worked up over nothing? The fact that on average, in the US, men have a 1 in 2 lifetime risk of developing cancer and women, a 1 in 3 risk is not what we would consider…“nothing”. In fact, in 1999 cancer was the 2nd leading cause of death in the US, exceeded only by heart disease. [National Institutes of Health [NIH] and NCI Science Education Teachers Handbook Grades 9-12, 1999]. Cancer is now the #1 cause of death. Billions of tax payer dollars are used each year to fund cancer research. In fact, The NCI’s investment in kidney cancer research has increased from $19.2 million in fiscal year 2000 to an estimated $30.5 million in fiscal year 2005. THIS IS ONLY ONE TYPE OF CANCER!!! Only about 10% of those dollars goes to prevention. However, the NCI’s idea of “prevention” is more testing/early detection…it has nothing to do with actual prevention at all. Early detection is not “prevention” nor does it correlate with decrease in mortality. You have to watch these cancer “statistics” carefully. While cancer diagnosis is increasing, the NIH and NCI will state that cancer deaths are reducing. However, the Journal of American Medical Association [Vol. 283 No. 22, June 14, 2000] stated that “Although 5-year survival is a valid measure for comparing cancer therapies in a randomized trial, our analysis shows that changes in 5-year survival over time bear little relationship to changes in cancer mortality. Instead, they appear primarily related to changing patterns of diagnosis.” Basically, they may be detecting it earlier with their “testing” but overall outcome [death] is virtually unchanged. We have increased consumption of artificial sweeteners over the last 70 years, greatly increased funding of cancer research, cancer diagnosis continues to rise as well as mortality rates. Still think we’re getting all worked up over “nothing”? Please don’t misinterpret…artificial sweeteners aren’t the only culprit in the cancer battle but they absolutely put a large “chink” in your armor. How much abuse can your body take before it gives into disease?

SIMPLE LOGIC: Are You Losing Weight?

The pressing issue is understanding the fact that artificial sweeteners have not helped us keep our weight down. According to Consumers’ Research Magazine “There is no clear-cut evidence that sugar substitutes are useful in weight reduction. On the contrary, there is some evidence that these substances may stimulate appetite.” In fact, it was found in research funded by The National Institute of Child Health and Development, National Institute of Digestive Diseases and Kidney Disorders, and Purdue School of Liberal Arts, that drinking diet soft drinks might actually be part of the problem. Professors in the Department of Psychological Sciences found that artificial sweeteners may interfere with the body’s natural ability to “count” calories. Our bodies’ ability to match how many calories we need with how many calories we take in is partially based on how sweet a food is. The sweeter and denser it is, the higher it is in calories. Our bodies use this as a gauge to tell us when to stop eating.

So, we have increased obesity, consumption of artificial sweeteners, greatly increased funding of cancer research, cancer diagnosis continues to rise as well as mortality rates. We hope after reading this article that you are starting to get worked up over “nothing”.

Don’t Guess About Your Health … Schedule a Complete Physical Today!

(April 2010 Newsletter)

Everyone should take a multiple vitamin-mineral (MVM) supplement. One double-blind study of healthy volunteers published in Psychopharmacology2000;150:220–5, found that an MVM supplement significantly reduced anxiety and perceived stress levels, and possibly improved energy and the ability to concentrate.

Preliminary and double-blind trials have shown that women who use an MVM containing folic acid, beginning three months before becoming pregnant and continuing through the first three months of pregnancy, have a significantly lower risk of having babies with neural tube defects (e.g., spina bifida) and other congenital defects.

In another double-blind trial, school children received a daily low-potency vitamin-mineral tablet containing only 50% of the USRDA for most essential vitamins and minerals for three months. Dramatic gains in certain measures of IQ were observed in about 20% of the supplemented children. These gains may have been due to the correction of specific nutrient deficiencies (for example, iron) found in these children.

The primary purpose of an MVM supplement is to provide a convenient way to get a good variety of nutrients from a single product. They are not meant to replace a healthy diet. They only serve to enhance the nutritional quality of your diet.

Micronutrients that should be included in a complete MVM are vitamin A (or beta-carotene), vitamin B-complex (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and/or niacinamide, vitamin B6, folic acid (folate), vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, and biotin), vitamin C, vitamin D3, and vitamin E (as d-alpha tocopherol or mixed tocopherols), and the minerals calcium, magnesium, zinc, iodine, selenium, copper, manganese, chromium, and molybdenum.

Phosphorus is another essential dietary mineral, but is so abundant in the diet that it does not need to be included in an MVM formula. The only exception is for elderly people, whose diets tend to be lower in phosphorus or have impaired digestion. Calcium interferes with phosphorus’ absorption, so older people who are taking a calcium supplement might benefit from taking additional phosphorus.

Both potassium and iron are efficiently recycled by the body. If potassium is included in an MVM, it usually has only trivial amounts. Most people get enough potassium from their diets if they include at least two servings per day of broccoli, bananas, sweet potatoes or avocados. MVMs may contain iron, but these should be taken only by people who have been diagnosed as having, or being at high risk of iron deficiency, or who have a history of frequent iron deficiency.

Some nutrients may be beneficial at levels above what is possible to obtain from diet and an MVM alone. Nutrients that may be useful to most people in larger amounts include vitamin C, folic acid and B-12, magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin E, and calcium.

Many MVMs contain other usually insignificant amounts of flavonoids, choline, inositol, quercetin, herbs and various amino acids. These are usually negligible amounts but are otherwise harmless.

What about “one-per-day” multiples?

One-per-day MVMs do not provide sufficient amounts of many nutrients such as vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C. One-per-day MVMs should therefore not be viewed as a way to “cover all bases” in the way that high-potency MVMs, requiring three or more pills per day, are viewed.

Because one-per-day formulas typically do not contain even the minimum recommended amounts of some of the nutrients listed here, multiples requiring several capsules or tablets per day are preferable. With three- to six-per-day multiples, intake should be spread out at two or three meals each day, instead of taking them all at one sitting. The amount of vitamins and minerals can be easily increased or decreased by taking more or fewer of the multiple.

Which is better—capsule or tablet?

Multiples are available as a powder or liquid inside a capsule or that you can mix with water or juice to drink, or as a tablet. Capsules are usually not as large as tablets, and thus some people find capsules easier to swallow.
With liquids and powders that you drink, you need to be concerned about the “other ingredients” in the product. See below for more details.

One concern people have with tablets is whether they will break down sufficiently to allow the nutrients to be absorbed. Properly made tablets will dissolve readily in the stomach. To test your supplement, simply put the supplement into a glass of clear vinegar. This creates an acidic environment much like that of your stomach. Stir the solution occasionally. If the supplement disintegrates within 30 minutes, it should dissolve in your stomach, too. If the supplement does not completely dissolve, choose another brand. Also, many people suffer from gastrointestinal discomfort and take antacids or proton pump inhibitors (i.e.nexium, protonix, prilosec). These medications affect the acidity in your stomach. As a result, your ability to absorb certain nutrients and to breakdown tablets will be diminished. For this reason, I personally prefer the capsule or liquid form of vitamins.

How To Quickly Tell If You’re Taking A Quality MVM

If you are taking a pharmaceutical grade supplement, you can be sure the raw materials used, the form of vitamins, and the manufacturing are of the highest quality. In addition, you can be sure there are no contaminants. If you are buying your supplements at the grocery store then continue reading this paragraph. If you are buying them from a compound pharmacy or healthcare provider, then you can skip to the next paragraph. Check to see if the bottle has GMP or other certification. Look at the source of Vitamin D and Vitamin E. The Vitamin D should be D3 or cholecalciferol. It should not be the synthetic form D2 or ergocalciferol. The Vitamin E should be d-alpha tocopherol or mixed tocopherol. Mixed tocopherols are the best. It should not be the synthetic form dl-alpha tocopherol.

Look at the “other ingredients” at the bottom of the label. Are there artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin or sucralose? Are there artificial colors or dyes such as FD&C blue #1 or yellow #6? How about artificial preservatives? If it contains any of these ingredients, put it back on the shelf.

Acceptable sweeteners are sucrose, fructose, stevia or xylitol. Monitor yourself for a few days when you start to take a new MVM. If you have stomach upset, it could be the sweetener being used.

When is the best time to take a multiple?

The best time to take vitamins or minerals is with meals. Multiples taken between meals sometimes cause stomach upset and may not be absorbed as well.

Do I Need More Than Just a Multiple Vitamin?

Even if you ate a perfect diet, USDA data has shown that our food supply is simply not as nutritious as it was 30 years ago. Supplementing your diet can help to correct these short-comings. The only way to know if the supplements you’re taking are working or to know exactly what vitamins/minerals and dosages you need to take is to get tested. Nutrient levels are affected by your nutritional intake, and your ability to absorb the nutrients. Using blood work and other diagnostic tools, we do an in-depth analysis of your system. The testing will tell us where the problem areas are occurring or just developing. This will help us treat and prevent potential problems in the future. We can develop a custom vitamin, made just for you based on your test results. This ensures that you are not getting too much or too little of the nutrients your body requires. Obtaining essential information and then implementing that information is the key to achieving optimal health!

(March 2010 Newsletter)

Contrary to the popular paradigm, allergies are not caused by allergens such as pollens, house mites, dust or other such substances. While it is true that these types of things trigger allergic symptoms, the underlying cause is a malfunctioning immune system. The allergen simply triggers an incorrect immune system response. In a sense, the immune system identifies the harmless allergen as an invader and tries to kill it. The allergic symptoms many of us are so familiar with, runny noses, watery eyes, etc., are direct signs of our immune systems trying to kill these harmless substances. This type of immunological chaos cannot be separated from the stress put on our immune systems from infections (in many cases sub-clinical infections). Many auto-immune diseases can be viewed as a severe form of allergy where the immune system attacks its owner. The immune system gone wrong.

To be quite honest, there really isn’t anything you can do about it if all you’re doing is chasing symptoms. You take antihistamines to suppress the symptoms. Would you simply turn your fire alarm off, if your house was on fire? This would eliminate that annoying sound [symptom] but it does not eliminate the real cause of the problem…the house is on fire! As a last resort, you try the allergy shots. However, allergy shots [as well as vaccines], try to trick the immune system and can have further implications. Tricking the immune system is not a good thing. Allergy shots seem to be more effective against allergy triggers that float in the air, including Tree pollens, Grass pollens, Weed pollens, and Cat dander. But, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, when it comes to other types of allergy triggers — such as food allergies and skin reactions — there is not enough research to support allergy shots. In starting allergy shot treatments, you have to go thru the skin tests and then you start the immunotherapy [allergy shots] which can take several years to complete and are only effective for a few years. The real question you need to be asking yourself is, “Why am I so reactive to my environment?”…”What is it about my immune system that causes me to over-react to these triggers?”.

The best place to start is by getting some basic testing to determine your state of optimal health. For example, you want to make sure you’re getting enough protein. What does protein have to do with it? One reason is that the battle against germs/allergens/invaders is a protein-based battle, because the immune system utilizes many protein-based substances to fight off the invasion. The immune system rapidly produces more protein-based substances to defend the body. If you are already protein deficient, you’re immune system will have a hard timing winning the battle. Good foundational testing will determine your nutrient and minerals deficiencies. By correcting these deficiencies thru proper diet and supplementation, your immune system will have the tools to function properly, it won’t over-react and it will have the ammunition to properly fight off invaders.
In the mean time, there are several things you can do to help get you thru the “allergy season”. Air filters are a great way to reduce your exposure to the allergen. By getting a good HEPA filter air purifier and at least keep it in your bedroom at night when sleeping [be sure to keep the door shut]. A better night sleep means more efficient repair cycles.

Dairy products are usually a big culprit in the field of allergies. Sometimes, even a little bit can set off a big reaction. Normally, dairy may not bother you…but during “allergy season”, it can create an overload affect which sets your immune system into high gear. Concerning children, a study in Pediatric-Allergy-Immunology, August, 1994, stated that “Formula-fed babies, at the age of three months, were secreting low levels of serum antibodies to bovine proteins contained in their formula…most formula fed infants developed symptoms of ALLERGIC rejection to cow milk proteins before one month of age. About 50-70% experienced rashes or other skin symptoms, 50-60% gastrointestinal symptoms, and 20-30% respiratory symptoms. The recommended therapy is to avoid cow’s milk.“ We see similar reactions in adults as well.

There are many good and natural products out there for the symptomatic relief of seasonal allergies. One of those products is “D-Hist” by Orthomolecular. A good dosage to start with is 6 per day for a 150lb adult. Some of our patients with severe allergies have found that doubling that dose works better for them. Another great product is Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine. Try 8000-10,000mg of Vitamin C when you have a flare-up. Orthomolecular has a powdered form of vitamin C where 1 tablespoon will give you over 7000mg. We always recommend using only pharmaceutical grade supplements to ensure quality, accuracy and safety.

We encourage you to try these natural products, eliminate dairy and incorporate an air purification system in your home. These are proven, natural methods for the symptomatic relief of allergies without the side-effects. However, wouldn’t it be better to stop these problems before they become more serious? Wouldn’t it be better to scientifically/objectively find out exactly what was causing the problem to begin with? We do food allergy testing to see what foods/beverages/artificial colorings & sweeteners are causing inflammation in the body. Nutritional testing is also done to check for deficiencies which could be a cause of your susceptibility to allergies and/or infections.

Feeling well and being healthy are within your reach. Our goal is to help you feel your best! Contact our office today!

Don’t Guess About Your Health… Schedule a Nutritional Evaluation Today!

Our office provides this monthly newsletter free of charge. If you would like to sign up to receive our monthly newsletter and announcements via email, please contact our office.

(February 2010 Newsletter)

A little golden bee tells us nearly every time we turn on the TV that lowering your cholesterol will give you a healthy heart. Over the years high cholesterol has been the scapegoat for a plethora of heart/age related problems and foods containing higher amounts of cholesterol (like nutritious eggs) have gotten a bad rap. But cholesterol is not necessarily the demon made out by the media. In fact it is an essential part of our cellular makeup, is necessary for fat digestion, the utilization of vitamin D and hormone production. While optimal cholesterol levels are best, high cholesterol can work as a protector for your heart if underlying conditions arise. Low levels however, are dangerous.

High Cholesterol -
1. Is Associated With Longevity Among The Elderly
2. Protects The Body Against Infections
3. Reduces The Risk Of Death From Heart Failure/Heart Attacks
4. Protects The Heart From Stress/Injury

Low Cholesterol –
1. Puts you at greater risk for infection/diseases
2. Is Linked To Malabsorption/Malnutrition
3. Decreases Vitamin D Production
4. Reduces the metabolism of fat soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K.

A large study at the UCLA Department of Medicine and Cardiomyopathy Center in Los Angeles followed more than one-thousand patients with severe heart failure for 5 years. At the end of the study 62% of patients with cholesterol levels below 129mg/l died while the mortality rate for patients with levels above 223 mg/l was only about 30%.

In 1994 the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Yale University reported that elderly people with low cholesterol were twice more likely to die from a heart attack than those with high cholesterol. Nearly every study to date has also found that high cholesterol doesn’t increase the risk of heart attack for women at all. In fact, mortality has been proven inversely associated to both total and LDL cholesterol. This goes against the traditional theory that LDL is your “bad cholesterol” causing plaque build-up followed by cardiovascular disease or heart attacks.

While it’s true that LDL can build on artery walls when too many bad fats are consumed, it has also been shown to bind and inactivate dangerous bacterial toxins and be a vigilant crusader against infections. For example, the bacterium Staphylococci produces a very toxic substance called Staphylococcus aureus a-toxin which can quickly destroy a wide variety of human cells. If you add even minute amounts of this toxin to a test tube of red blood cells, the cells hemolyze (meaning the red blood cells burst). However, if you add LDL to the mix, their destruction practically ceases.

These protective attributes were shown again in a study at the University of Pittsburg which found that all forms of white blood cells were significantly lower in otherwise healthy young and middle aged men whose LDL cholesterol values were below 160mg/l than men with LDL levels greater than 160mg/l. This led them to conclude that there are differences in immune system function between men with low and high cholesterol.

In a similar finding, researchers at the Division of Epidemiology at the University of Minnesota found that low cholesterol levels were associated with an increased risk of dying from gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases. To further study this finding, they followed 100,000 “healthy” people for 15 years and found that those who had low cholesterol levels at the beginning of the study were far more likely to be admitted to the hospital for an infectious disease than those who started with high cholesterol. Their conclusion – low cholesterol makes you vulnerable to infectious diseases.

Doctors are quick to vouch for the benefits of high HDL which delivers cholesterol to the adrenals, ovaries, and testes, is important for the synthesis of steroid hormones and transports cholesterol away from the arteries and into the liver for excretion or re-utilization. It also has valuable protective properties against the onset of cardiovascular diseases as well as dementia. But they fail to understand the potential life-saving benefits of other forms of cholesterol recommending a cholesterol lowering drug instead of finding the cause behind heightened values.

Along with LDL, VLDL is also considered bad for your health and has been dubbed your “very bad cholesterol” due to its buildup on artery walls. But VLDL lipoproteins can also play a part in protection because they are carriers of the largest amounts of Triglycerides through the body. Triglycerides have been proven to rise as a normal immune system response to infection and are especially important at reducing endotoxins produced by gut bacteria.

These bacteria and other microorganisms are now being linked to chronic heart failure which may help redeem cholesterol. A study from the Martin Luther University in Germany found that the strongest predictor of death for patients with chronic heart failure was the concentration of cytokines in the blood. Cytokines are secreted by white blood cells as they battle invading organisms. As seen in all of the above cases, high cholesterol is not necessarily a bad thing and can be a great mode of protection.

If you already have healthy cholesterol levels this does not mean you should strive to obtain high cholesterol, but with so much research proving the benefits of high cholesterol, why are young/middle aged men warned so adamantly about the risk factors for future coronary heart disease associated with high cholesterol? This is where cholesterol is likely made a scapegoat. Think of it this way, high cholesterol is a marker of the problem not a cause. For example cytokines = increased immune system response = higher cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol is a building block for hormones that regulate blood sugar, blood pressure, stress, balance minerals and the many functions of progesterone and estrogen. So if you eat a poor diet high in carbs, bad fats and sugars, if you are under stress which causes your blood pressure to rise or if your immune system is weak from battling an infection your cholesterol levels in turn will also seek new heights. If you simply take a statin to bring down your high cholesterol, has the true issue been addressed? Worse – what will happen without the boost of cholesterol to balance out your other problems? Before submitting to quick-fix medications for high cholesterol get a comprehensive blood test and get to the source of the problem.

According to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines, 50% of people who have a heart attack have normal cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol is carried throughout the body in little balls called lipoproteins. It is the lipoproteins, NOT the cholesterol in them that leads to clogging of the arteries. Standard cholesterol testing only gives a small part of the picture leaving many people with “normal” cholesterol numbers unaware that they are still at risk for a heart attack or stroke.

We offer the Lipoprotein Particle Profile, an advanced test that accurately assesses your risk for heart disease by measuring the size/density and number of your LDL and HDL lipoprotein particles.

Ask for the LPP test today to determine your risk of having a heart attack or stroke!