Heart disease now has a new face - it’s young, fit and female. Journal of American College of Cardiology reports that deaths caused by heart disease in women under 45 years old have been increasing by 1.3 percent each year since 1997.
The typical cardiac patient has historically been a middle-aged or older male; females have been left out of heart disease research studies, which have led to the perception that it does not pertain to women. Female-oriented vascular conditions such as microvascular disease and pregnancy-related heart troubles are less understood than coronary-artery disease which triggers heart attacks in men. Meanwhile 4 in 10 women do not recognize heart disease’s most life threatening sign until it is too late – a heart attack!
The number of young women (under 45) who die from coronary heart disease each year is roughly comparable to the number of women who die of breast cancer, yet there are numerous breast cancer awareness organizations and little in the way of heart disease education. Thus this month’s article will investigate and educate women on risk factors and screening steps.
Doctors are not making the connection between suspicious symptoms and a significant cardiac event in female patients. A recent study presented 800 physicians with patient profiles in which the heart risk levels were identical, but the genders differed. Even when a woman’s risk was the same as a man’s, doctors were more likely to classify her case as low risk.
Women develop different type of heart disease than men and the symptoms and complexity is yet to be researched. Heart disease in women strikes multiple smaller arteries while men more commonly develop a single large plaque that clearly blocks a single artery.
Another reason women with heart disease are being inadequately examined and tested may have to do with the under-recognized connection between the reproductive organs and heart health. Irregular menstrual cycle and hormonal imbalances play a role in coronary vessels tightening and thus making you more susceptible to heart disease and heart attacks.
Pregnancy and pregnancy-related complications such as pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and gestational diabetes can trigger heart disease by increasing blood clotting and risks of high blood pressure. New moms are often told that these conditions are pregnancy-specific and are resolved after birth of their child. New research now shows that they can have an impact years after the pregnancy.
1. Know your numbers
By age 30 get your blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar levels checked annually.
2. Know your risks
Abnormal cholesterol levels
High blood pressure
Drug or tobacco use
Diabetes
Family history
Obesity
Pregnancy
Birth control pills
Poor diet
Lack of exercise
3. Get Checked
Based on your numbers, many doctors will use online tools to assess your risk level and determine what tests you need. Ask your doctor about female-focused Reynalds Risk Score (reynoldsriskscore.org) which accounts for all the risks as well as factors that can be particularly troubling in women, such as certain cholesterol types and inflammatory markers specific to females.
Signs, symptoms, and risk factors for heart disease can be subtle or seemingly harmless and prevention is extremely valuable. Educate yourself on risks, take care of your body, and ask your doctor for a checkup. Call me if you have any questions 949.922.3465 or if you'd like to get more information
Showing posts with label chiropractor newport beach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chiropractor newport beach. Show all posts
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Recovery and Rejuvenation Post-holidays...
Recovery and Rejuvenation Post-holidays…
Holidays can be a heavy burden on anyone’s body. Average individuals can gain anywhere from 2-6 pounds and they begin to feel the effects of large consumption of food, alcohol, rich sweets, lack of exercise, and dehydration. The good news is you’re not alone in the overindulgence during the holidays.
A detoxification or cleansing program can not only be a great start to the New Year, but also help you rid yourself of all the toxins you have collected throughout the year and during the holidays. To keep all of your organs functioning at their best, an annual internal cleansing is beneficial. The food we consume contains a range of harmful toxin substances that can cause fatigue, headaches, indigestion, musculoskeletal pain, inflammation, skin breakouts, bloating and last but definitely not least weight gain. Are you suffering from these symptoms? Are you at your 100% optimal health? Could you use a little push? Are you feeling sluggish, irritable, or unable to focus? Have you gained a few pounds over the holidays and would like to get healthy again?
If you are ready to make the commitment for better health and optimal wellness…
Your body is overwhelmed with all the toxins, having to unload the toxins, and boost your immune system at the same time; it can get weak and tired. Personally I have gone through multiple cleanses within the past few years and have had amazing results. Just recently through my research I came across a company that offers cleansing of all 8 major organ systems in the same 21 day purification program. Many of my patients have started cleansing beginning of 2009 and more are joining. If you are interested in the program, have questions or more importantly want your optimal health back, give us a call at 949.922.2404
In the mean time…
Hydrate:
Drink a ton of water, and non-caffeinated herbal teas.
The recommended amount is no longer eight glasses a day. It is your body weight divided by 2 in oz. of water. For example, if you weigh 100 lbs/2=50 oz of water.
To make it a fun experience, add a slice of cucumber or strawberry to your water.
Exercise:
There is no substitution for an active life style. Make it your goal in 2009 to get fit, lose weight, become healthy and strong. Learn to love moving your body. Play outside. Need help? Visit www.workingyourbody.com
Fiber, Fruits and Veggies:
Eat plenty of fiber found in brown rice, fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat foods that are naturally detoxifying such as beets, radishes, artichokes, cabbage, broccoli, and seaweed.
Keep it simple:
Lower your intake of dairy products, red meat, sugar, complex carbohydrates, processed food, and diet drinks. Going for smaller portions is a great start to a healthy purification without starvation.
Relax:
Enjoy a nice walk outside, take a long bath, try a yoga pose, and breathe!
Good luck with your New Year Resolutions, and Detoxification Programs and Happy 2009!
Holidays can be a heavy burden on anyone’s body. Average individuals can gain anywhere from 2-6 pounds and they begin to feel the effects of large consumption of food, alcohol, rich sweets, lack of exercise, and dehydration. The good news is you’re not alone in the overindulgence during the holidays.
A detoxification or cleansing program can not only be a great start to the New Year, but also help you rid yourself of all the toxins you have collected throughout the year and during the holidays. To keep all of your organs functioning at their best, an annual internal cleansing is beneficial. The food we consume contains a range of harmful toxin substances that can cause fatigue, headaches, indigestion, musculoskeletal pain, inflammation, skin breakouts, bloating and last but definitely not least weight gain. Are you suffering from these symptoms? Are you at your 100% optimal health? Could you use a little push? Are you feeling sluggish, irritable, or unable to focus? Have you gained a few pounds over the holidays and would like to get healthy again?
If you are ready to make the commitment for better health and optimal wellness…
Your body is overwhelmed with all the toxins, having to unload the toxins, and boost your immune system at the same time; it can get weak and tired. Personally I have gone through multiple cleanses within the past few years and have had amazing results. Just recently through my research I came across a company that offers cleansing of all 8 major organ systems in the same 21 day purification program. Many of my patients have started cleansing beginning of 2009 and more are joining. If you are interested in the program, have questions or more importantly want your optimal health back, give us a call at 949.922.2404
In the mean time…
Hydrate:
Drink a ton of water, and non-caffeinated herbal teas.
The recommended amount is no longer eight glasses a day. It is your body weight divided by 2 in oz. of water. For example, if you weigh 100 lbs/2=50 oz of water.
To make it a fun experience, add a slice of cucumber or strawberry to your water.
Exercise:
There is no substitution for an active life style. Make it your goal in 2009 to get fit, lose weight, become healthy and strong. Learn to love moving your body. Play outside. Need help? Visit www.workingyourbody.com
Fiber, Fruits and Veggies:
Eat plenty of fiber found in brown rice, fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat foods that are naturally detoxifying such as beets, radishes, artichokes, cabbage, broccoli, and seaweed.
Keep it simple:
Lower your intake of dairy products, red meat, sugar, complex carbohydrates, processed food, and diet drinks. Going for smaller portions is a great start to a healthy purification without starvation.
Relax:
Enjoy a nice walk outside, take a long bath, try a yoga pose, and breathe!
Good luck with your New Year Resolutions, and Detoxification Programs and Happy 2009!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Childhood Obesity...
What would you say is the biggest problem facing our children today? It is heartbreaking to know that childhood obesity is the most common nutritional disorder as well as a growing global epidemic in developed countries. It is also considered to be the underlying factor causing a variety of chronic illnesses in the Western World. In the United States, childhood obesity is growing at a dangerous pace; one out of three kids is considered overweight or obese. Recognizing this problem and attempting to tackle it should be a priority as health impact of obesity is staggering, and can cause a wide spectrum of illnesses including but not limited to depression, low self esteem, diabetes, cardiovascular problems, high cholesterol, hypertension, sleep apnea etc…
Childhood obesity becomes important because its likelihood to persist in adulthood is very high and these children become victims of disorders linked to obesity as they grow older. Interactions between genetic, biological, psychological, sociocultural and environmental factors are typically blamed for childhood obesity yet early interventions or preventative educational methods are rarely discussed. As a family wellness chiropractor specialized to work with children and pregnant women, I believe that prevention and education is an essential part of avoiding such disorder in your children and it should start early on. Prior to conception, parents should be aware of risks of high birth weight, maternal diabetes, and obesity in the family. Educate yourself about healthy habits and active lifestyles; learn how to implement and practice that knowledge in your family and especially with your children can help lower the chances of having an overweight and unhealthy family. Here are some recommendations:
‘Best for Baby, Best for Mom’:
There are enormous amounts of research done on the advantages of breastfeeding, one of which is its ability to decrease the chances of obesity in children. Increasing the length of breastfeeding time plays an important role in lowering the risk of childhood and adolescence obesity. One of many benefits of breastfeeding is that babies have an internal and innate ability to control their intake and thus will stop when no longer hungry.
‘Motion is Life’:
Many of our kids lack enough physical activity to warrant the amount of caloric intake they are consuming. Replacing children’s physical activity with video games, computer, and television contributes to this shift of inactivity in today’s world. Encourage kids to be physically active every day. If you eat at home together with your kids and watch TV a few times a week encourage your family and the children to reduce TV/computer time, and go for a walk or bike ride instead and have more home cooked meals available.
‘You Are What You Eat’:
Start good habits early. Offer your children a wide variety of healthy foods, to shape up their food preferences as well as educating them on what is healthy and natural. Let them be involved with healthy food choices while packing your lunch. Unfortunately the days of family meals together, as well as healthy portions of vegetables and fruits are gone, and replaced with fast food, high caloric junk, high sugar, and lots of eating out.
Your parenting style is linked directly to your child’s mind and body health. Main goal as parents or family practitioners should be to encourage healthy behaviors for the entire family, give your kids healthy options with good life style habits, natural food, and activities to promote potential development of obesity and its associated risks in your family. If you are live in Southern California and would like and evaluation of your child's health, or nutritional guidance, give us a call @ 949.922.3465 for a free evaluation.
Childhood obesity becomes important because its likelihood to persist in adulthood is very high and these children become victims of disorders linked to obesity as they grow older. Interactions between genetic, biological, psychological, sociocultural and environmental factors are typically blamed for childhood obesity yet early interventions or preventative educational methods are rarely discussed. As a family wellness chiropractor specialized to work with children and pregnant women, I believe that prevention and education is an essential part of avoiding such disorder in your children and it should start early on. Prior to conception, parents should be aware of risks of high birth weight, maternal diabetes, and obesity in the family. Educate yourself about healthy habits and active lifestyles; learn how to implement and practice that knowledge in your family and especially with your children can help lower the chances of having an overweight and unhealthy family. Here are some recommendations:
‘Best for Baby, Best for Mom’:
There are enormous amounts of research done on the advantages of breastfeeding, one of which is its ability to decrease the chances of obesity in children. Increasing the length of breastfeeding time plays an important role in lowering the risk of childhood and adolescence obesity. One of many benefits of breastfeeding is that babies have an internal and innate ability to control their intake and thus will stop when no longer hungry.
‘Motion is Life’:
Many of our kids lack enough physical activity to warrant the amount of caloric intake they are consuming. Replacing children’s physical activity with video games, computer, and television contributes to this shift of inactivity in today’s world. Encourage kids to be physically active every day. If you eat at home together with your kids and watch TV a few times a week encourage your family and the children to reduce TV/computer time, and go for a walk or bike ride instead and have more home cooked meals available.
‘You Are What You Eat’:
Start good habits early. Offer your children a wide variety of healthy foods, to shape up their food preferences as well as educating them on what is healthy and natural. Let them be involved with healthy food choices while packing your lunch. Unfortunately the days of family meals together, as well as healthy portions of vegetables and fruits are gone, and replaced with fast food, high caloric junk, high sugar, and lots of eating out.
Your parenting style is linked directly to your child’s mind and body health. Main goal as parents or family practitioners should be to encourage healthy behaviors for the entire family, give your kids healthy options with good life style habits, natural food, and activities to promote potential development of obesity and its associated risks in your family. If you are live in Southern California and would like and evaluation of your child's health, or nutritional guidance, give us a call @ 949.922.3465 for a free evaluation.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Back to School Kind of Pain...
As summer ends, fall brings with it fashionable rain-jackets, beautiful weather, as well as heavy backpacks for our children. If you have children, you may notice that it almost seems like they may need a pack mule to carry all of their heavy text books and supplies. If your child is one of them, you could be setting him or her up for future posture problems, irregular gait cycles, scoliosis, chronic fatigue, and a long list of health problems. We often wonder why our young adults slouch, have poor posture, don’t stand up tall, or sit straight. Poor posture habits follow a trend, children carry huge overloaded backpacks, adults have very fashionable-yet-heavy purses or lug briefcases to work, and most of us spend too many hours hunched over a computer.
If your children are suffering from poor posture that is exacerbated by heavy bags, they are not alone. Poor posture is not only habitual, but also is a result of low self-esteem, existing scoliosis or increased spinal curves. Whatever the case maybe in your child, you should also be aware that poor posture can cause degenerative problems in the spine, chronic pain, muscle aches, poor circulation and can affect their breathing. The trouble with heavy backpacks is kids are saddled with them during their growing phase. Visualize a bowling ball strapped to the top of a little pine tree; the pine tree will grow in that same bent over position.
How can you tell if your child is developing posture problems?
Simply look at them from the back and the side. If you are looking at them from the back, see if their head tilts more to one side (remember this would be very subtle), also note if one shoulder is higher than the other. Remember the difference would be very subtle but important to note because it could indicate a problem. Have your kids bend over the knees and see if one shoulder blade comes up higher than the other. Now look at them from the side, and make sure their shoulders are not rounding forward a lot. Also their ear, shoulder, hip, knee, and outer portion of ankle should line up in a straight line on each side.
What kind of problems might poor posture in kids lead to?
Structural problems can lead to chronic pain and tightness in the neck and mid-back. Uneven or asymmetric stress on the spine can cause additional strain to certain parts of the spine as they grow and a degenerating spine is a result of that as they age. Spinal strain can also put pressure on spinal cord, nerves, and central nervous system causing migraine headaches, digestive difficulties, chronic fatigue, asthma, and etc…
What can be done?
Check their backpacks. Unfortunately most kids will not compromise their fashion for rolling backpacks, so here are a few tips to picking a good backpack. First try it on; the straps should feel snug and a close fit to the shoulders. Make sure the backpack is centered and not below the waist, to minimize the uneven pressure on their growing spine. Encourage your children to buckle up the strap around the waist (even-though it’s known not to be the most fashionable). The middle strap will help the backpack fit better and keeps it in place. Check their backpacks to make sure they are only carrying the essential textbooks and remove what’s unnecessary. Limiting the weight of the backpack load to 10% of their body weight is helpful. Last but not least, encourage them to keep their backpacks on both shoulders, and not on one!
Finally do not ignore if they are complaining of neck or lower back pain; as they shouldn’t have any pain. Get your child evaluated here to check their spine and make sure there are no structural asymmetries and to prevent health problems from occurring in the future. Call us at 949.515.4006 Your children’s posture and health are worth the extra attention.
If your children are suffering from poor posture that is exacerbated by heavy bags, they are not alone. Poor posture is not only habitual, but also is a result of low self-esteem, existing scoliosis or increased spinal curves. Whatever the case maybe in your child, you should also be aware that poor posture can cause degenerative problems in the spine, chronic pain, muscle aches, poor circulation and can affect their breathing. The trouble with heavy backpacks is kids are saddled with them during their growing phase. Visualize a bowling ball strapped to the top of a little pine tree; the pine tree will grow in that same bent over position.
How can you tell if your child is developing posture problems?
Simply look at them from the back and the side. If you are looking at them from the back, see if their head tilts more to one side (remember this would be very subtle), also note if one shoulder is higher than the other. Remember the difference would be very subtle but important to note because it could indicate a problem. Have your kids bend over the knees and see if one shoulder blade comes up higher than the other. Now look at them from the side, and make sure their shoulders are not rounding forward a lot. Also their ear, shoulder, hip, knee, and outer portion of ankle should line up in a straight line on each side.
What kind of problems might poor posture in kids lead to?
Structural problems can lead to chronic pain and tightness in the neck and mid-back. Uneven or asymmetric stress on the spine can cause additional strain to certain parts of the spine as they grow and a degenerating spine is a result of that as they age. Spinal strain can also put pressure on spinal cord, nerves, and central nervous system causing migraine headaches, digestive difficulties, chronic fatigue, asthma, and etc…
What can be done?
Check their backpacks. Unfortunately most kids will not compromise their fashion for rolling backpacks, so here are a few tips to picking a good backpack. First try it on; the straps should feel snug and a close fit to the shoulders. Make sure the backpack is centered and not below the waist, to minimize the uneven pressure on their growing spine. Encourage your children to buckle up the strap around the waist (even-though it’s known not to be the most fashionable). The middle strap will help the backpack fit better and keeps it in place. Check their backpacks to make sure they are only carrying the essential textbooks and remove what’s unnecessary. Limiting the weight of the backpack load to 10% of their body weight is helpful. Last but not least, encourage them to keep their backpacks on both shoulders, and not on one!
Finally do not ignore if they are complaining of neck or lower back pain; as they shouldn’t have any pain. Get your child evaluated here to check their spine and make sure there are no structural asymmetries and to prevent health problems from occurring in the future. Call us at 949.515.4006 Your children’s posture and health are worth the extra attention.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Improve your posture, Improve your life...
Your posture is like a double sided mirror. As you may have heard your mom tell you to sit up straight at the dinner table or at your computer desk, it can influence a lot more than just your appearance. Your spine holds your nervous system which in turn controls your entire body. Now imagine your posture being a representative of how your spine and nerves are being stretched. Poor posture will cause an interference with the nervous system and can cause a variety of disease.
Improving your posture is going to take some work especially with the habits of today’s modern living, but in the long run will increase your chances of living a healthier life. If the health of your nervous system is not your priority, you must be warned research has shown that erect posture has also been linked success in the business world and taking off a few years off your real age. So if success or looking younger is your priority, read on.
To discuss what things can be done to improve your posture, the need to understand what good posture is becomes important. Your spine has three major curves that hold your body erect and create an “S” shaped curvature throughout the spine. This “S” curve is designed much like a spring to absorb the compressive load and is able to handle tensile loads by optimally balancing muscles on the front and back of the spine. With a sedentary lifestyle or sitting for prolonged hours, your body adapts to the hunched-over posture your spine will resemble a “C” curve instead of the nice “S.” This not only increases your risk of injury but is also responsible for a long list of symptoms. Are you suffering from headaches, muscle aches and imbalances, tingling and numbness in the extremities, carpal tunnel syndrome, joint pain or dysfunctions, sciatica, chronic fatigue syndrome, and most importantly, poor posture? The reason may just be that.
If someone is observing you from the side, your ear, shoulder, hip, and ankle should all line up in a straight line. Now this becomes complicated if you have rounded shoulders and a forward head posture. If you are being looked at from the front, your feet must not be turned out or in noticeably. There should be not rotation or tilt in your head, and your chin and belly button, should be in a straight line.
Exercise is the most basic and well known remedy to improving your posture. For those of you who are gym rats, you do take your poor posture with you to the gym. Working out with a good posture is in a sense more important than having good posture while you sit at your desk. When you do exercises that place your spine in more of a “C” type curve, it is making you more prone to injury.
Most people suffer from what is called an “Anterior Weight Bearing” or a forward head posture. In simple terms, your head is more forward than the rest of your body and from the side your ear and shoulder do not line up. To correct this posture, while you are seated at your chair before starting to do hours and hours of work at your desk, you can tuck your chin in and retract your chin back towards your neck and hold that position for three full breaths. You can start at five repetitions, and build up from there. In order to correct shoulders that are rounded forward, you can extend your arms out and up to about shoulder height, bent at the elbows. Imagine a pencil in between your shoulder blades and your job is to squeeze that pencil in between your scapulas. You should feel a stretch along your chest and the front of your shoulders. Hold for three full breaths and repeat 5 times.
Improving your posture and re-creating the normal “S” curve in your spine can increase your range of motion, optimize your nerve function, reduce tension in your neck, shoulders, and jaw, expand your lung capacity, relieve muscle aches and sciatica, and most importantly make you look and feel younger!
Correcting your posture or rebuilding it may take some work, but you have to be aware that if you have a structurally rotated, or translated, or shifted spine, then exercises alone will not improve your posture.
A hand full of chiropractic doctors here in California focus their doctorate studies in Postural Correction. Consult with one if you suffer from poor posture and it is affecting your health. Check out our website for more information: www.nonadjavid.com If you live in Orange County, we offer free spinal screenings as well as free posture analysis in our office in Newport Beach. Call us at 949.922.3465 to make an appointment
Improving your posture is going to take some work especially with the habits of today’s modern living, but in the long run will increase your chances of living a healthier life. If the health of your nervous system is not your priority, you must be warned research has shown that erect posture has also been linked success in the business world and taking off a few years off your real age. So if success or looking younger is your priority, read on.
To discuss what things can be done to improve your posture, the need to understand what good posture is becomes important. Your spine has three major curves that hold your body erect and create an “S” shaped curvature throughout the spine. This “S” curve is designed much like a spring to absorb the compressive load and is able to handle tensile loads by optimally balancing muscles on the front and back of the spine. With a sedentary lifestyle or sitting for prolonged hours, your body adapts to the hunched-over posture your spine will resemble a “C” curve instead of the nice “S.” This not only increases your risk of injury but is also responsible for a long list of symptoms. Are you suffering from headaches, muscle aches and imbalances, tingling and numbness in the extremities, carpal tunnel syndrome, joint pain or dysfunctions, sciatica, chronic fatigue syndrome, and most importantly, poor posture? The reason may just be that.
If someone is observing you from the side, your ear, shoulder, hip, and ankle should all line up in a straight line. Now this becomes complicated if you have rounded shoulders and a forward head posture. If you are being looked at from the front, your feet must not be turned out or in noticeably. There should be not rotation or tilt in your head, and your chin and belly button, should be in a straight line.
Exercise is the most basic and well known remedy to improving your posture. For those of you who are gym rats, you do take your poor posture with you to the gym. Working out with a good posture is in a sense more important than having good posture while you sit at your desk. When you do exercises that place your spine in more of a “C” type curve, it is making you more prone to injury.
Most people suffer from what is called an “Anterior Weight Bearing” or a forward head posture. In simple terms, your head is more forward than the rest of your body and from the side your ear and shoulder do not line up. To correct this posture, while you are seated at your chair before starting to do hours and hours of work at your desk, you can tuck your chin in and retract your chin back towards your neck and hold that position for three full breaths. You can start at five repetitions, and build up from there. In order to correct shoulders that are rounded forward, you can extend your arms out and up to about shoulder height, bent at the elbows. Imagine a pencil in between your shoulder blades and your job is to squeeze that pencil in between your scapulas. You should feel a stretch along your chest and the front of your shoulders. Hold for three full breaths and repeat 5 times.
Improving your posture and re-creating the normal “S” curve in your spine can increase your range of motion, optimize your nerve function, reduce tension in your neck, shoulders, and jaw, expand your lung capacity, relieve muscle aches and sciatica, and most importantly make you look and feel younger!
Correcting your posture or rebuilding it may take some work, but you have to be aware that if you have a structurally rotated, or translated, or shifted spine, then exercises alone will not improve your posture.
A hand full of chiropractic doctors here in California focus their doctorate studies in Postural Correction. Consult with one if you suffer from poor posture and it is affecting your health. Check out our website for more information: www.nonadjavid.com If you live in Orange County, we offer free spinal screenings as well as free posture analysis in our office in Newport Beach. Call us at 949.922.3465 to make an appointment
Monday, July 28, 2008
Got Fat?
Not all fats are bad. Some fats are so good in fact that we all need them for proper health of body and mind. There are a myriad of things that can be cured with one small change in diet. Joint pain, muscle pain, memory problems, digestion ailment, obesity, and arthritis are all states of inflammation. Inflammation is caused by the imbalance of essential fatty acids due to poor diets that many indulge in. Only 20% of Americans have a proper intake of these good fats. Are you one of them?
The average diet conscious person assumes all fats are bad but that is not all true. Everyone needs some fats in their diet and that includes you. Some over indulge in the wrong fats and some are careful to avoid them at all costs. Whichever side of the fence you are on it can only help to include more of the proper fats in your diet. Essential Fatty Acids, as their name implies, are essential and extremely important to health and wellness of human body. They are essential yet our bodies cannot produce them therefore the responsibility is ours.
If you have any kind of pain or dis-ease, you can assume that there is an underlying inflammation in your body, it can be on the that annoying pain in your back or the after dinner indigestion. Think of Essential Fatty Acids as natural anti-inflammatory. Food such as red meat and dairy products contain substances that can cause or stimulate inflammatory responses in your body. Nutritious foods such as fish, flaxseed, and walnuts contain substances that are anti-inflammatory, and can in turn reduce your pain or rid you of a dis-ease.
Let’s take a closer look at these fatty acids. Two main families of Essential Fatty Acids are Omega-3’s and Omega-6’s.
The ideal ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 s in our body is 2:1. Unfortunately with all the free radicals, preservatives, food additives, sugar substitutes, added hormones and other synthetic ingredients in today’s dietary world most of us are lacking Omega 3’s. Today, our ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 averages about 20:1 or worse which spells inflammation, dis-ease and much more.
Western diets are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids and have excessive amounts of omega-6 fatty acids. This is not the proper balance our bodies need. Increased levels of omega-6 fatty acids promote inflammation and in turn many diseases, including cardiovascular, cancer, autoimmune and increasing omega-3 levels will have suppressive effects on inflammation and symptoms of such pathologies.
Thousands of research studies have shown the benefits of increasing Omega-3 levels in the human body. A lowered ratio of 2:1 (close to normal ratio) slowed down rectal cell proliferation in patients with colorectal cancer, and a ration of 4:1 did not make a difference. Another study shows a ratio of 3:1 will suppress inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, has beneficial effects on patients with asthma, and reduces symptoms related ADD/ADHD, as well as fibromyalgia.
Now we know the need for Omega 3’s but where can we find them? Fish oil, cod liver oil, and flaxseed oil contain high-quality amounts of omega-3. Fish oil is considered the best source for anti-inflammation and helps with a variety of symptoms however the brand of these supplements is somewhat important. Due to pollution of our oceans, the source of which the fish came from is extremely important; risk of ingesting troublesome levels of mercury is increased with generic Fish Oil supplements.
Be sure to consult your doctor about the brand you are taking or ask what companies are well researched, and tested. The one I personally take and recommend is from Nutri-West and is very well researched. This high quality, superb supplement can rid you of your moodiness, or joint pain and much more.
Therapeutic dose of omega-3 fatty acids depends on severity of your symptoms, origin of your pain, and much more. Consult your doctor to make sure there are no contraindications in you taking fish oil supplements. You can call me at 949.922.3465 if you have any questions, or if you'd like a free consultation.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Zero Calories & Weight Gain...
The incidence of people who are obese has increased dramatically in the past 30 years. This suggests that this is not only an epidemic, but it has environmental factors that origins tied into it. This alarming epidemic of weight gain is apparent and can be found across all age groups, ethnic groups and social strata all over the United States. One major factor that is correlated to the current obesity epidemic is the wide scale introduction of non-caloric, high-intensity sweeteners.
I dedicate this article to calorie conscious individuals or diet and non-calorie food seekers. I recently read an article that described research done on adult rats that were given differential experience with a sweet taste that either predicted increased caloric content (natural sugar) or did not predict increased calories (synthetic sugars). What was found through this research was that reducing the correlation between sweet taste and the cloric content of foods using artificial sweeteners in rats resulted in increased caloric intake, thus increasing body weight, and adiposity or fat. This also causes diminished caloric compensation and distorted responses to sweet tasting diets.
In simple terms this research teaches us the important relation between sweet taste and prediction of caloric content of food. We use sweet taste to predict the caloric contents of foods. If you use sweet non-caloric substances, you may degrade this predictive relationship which then leads to positive energy balance; this means increased food intake!
The best way to go about this is to avoid all artificial and chemical sweetener sustitutes. Synthetic sugar has no food value. Some of these additives have toxic byproducts that are harmful to human body and many of them have been linked with altered cephalic (brain) function, cancer and a list of other side effects. Dangerous additives under FDA approval include: Aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, acesulfame K, and Neotame.
Call me to make an appointment for a nutritional consultation 949.922.3465
Most baked goods that you guy in the store contain these substances. If you are a fan of diet beverages, zero-calorie drinks, splenda or other artificial sweeteners and you think you are being 'healthy' or on a 'healthy and low calorie diet' think twice! A healthy alternative to satisfy your sweet tooth can be found in delicious friuts. There are no sustitute for exercise and a healthy, organic and natural diet.
I dedicate this article to calorie conscious individuals or diet and non-calorie food seekers. I recently read an article that described research done on adult rats that were given differential experience with a sweet taste that either predicted increased caloric content (natural sugar) or did not predict increased calories (synthetic sugars). What was found through this research was that reducing the correlation between sweet taste and the cloric content of foods using artificial sweeteners in rats resulted in increased caloric intake, thus increasing body weight, and adiposity or fat. This also causes diminished caloric compensation and distorted responses to sweet tasting diets.
In simple terms this research teaches us the important relation between sweet taste and prediction of caloric content of food. We use sweet taste to predict the caloric contents of foods. If you use sweet non-caloric substances, you may degrade this predictive relationship which then leads to positive energy balance; this means increased food intake!
The best way to go about this is to avoid all artificial and chemical sweetener sustitutes. Synthetic sugar has no food value. Some of these additives have toxic byproducts that are harmful to human body and many of them have been linked with altered cephalic (brain) function, cancer and a list of other side effects. Dangerous additives under FDA approval include: Aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, acesulfame K, and Neotame.
Call me to make an appointment for a nutritional consultation 949.922.3465
Most baked goods that you guy in the store contain these substances. If you are a fan of diet beverages, zero-calorie drinks, splenda or other artificial sweeteners and you think you are being 'healthy' or on a 'healthy and low calorie diet' think twice! A healthy alternative to satisfy your sweet tooth can be found in delicious friuts. There are no sustitute for exercise and a healthy, organic and natural diet.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Hot Flashes and Hot Natural Remedies...(Dong Quai)
Dong Quai:
Dong Quai is the most commonly prescribed herb and is believe to relief a variety of 'female complaints' from menstural cramps to menopausal hot flashes. The amount of research doneon Dong Quai is minimal. In a study with 71 women with hot flashes, Dong Quai wasn't so popular. It showed no difference from placebo. It can be concluded that Dong Quai is not neneficial for menopausal hot flashes or vaginal dryness, or even mood swings if consumed on its own; yet it is considered to be a valuable female herb around the world, and is used in multi-botanical formulations.
To Menopausal Women: Whatever decision you make as to which herb, or what diet whether its to promote wellness, or rid you of that moodiness, or hot flash; it is critical for you to speak to your Health Care Providers. If you are in Orange County, Call us for a free consultation 949.922.3465. Good Luck!
Dong Quai is the most commonly prescribed herb and is believe to relief a variety of 'female complaints' from menstural cramps to menopausal hot flashes. The amount of research doneon Dong Quai is minimal. In a study with 71 women with hot flashes, Dong Quai wasn't so popular. It showed no difference from placebo. It can be concluded that Dong Quai is not neneficial for menopausal hot flashes or vaginal dryness, or even mood swings if consumed on its own; yet it is considered to be a valuable female herb around the world, and is used in multi-botanical formulations.
To Menopausal Women: Whatever decision you make as to which herb, or what diet whether its to promote wellness, or rid you of that moodiness, or hot flash; it is critical for you to speak to your Health Care Providers. If you are in Orange County, Call us for a free consultation 949.922.3465. Good Luck!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Hot Flashes and Hot Natural Remedies...(Red Clover)
Red Clover:
Red Clover is very similar to Soy products as to their not-so-real fame to reduce hot flashes and more. Most studies show minimal effect in women with various symptoms vs. placebo individuals
Similar to Soy, Red Clover is also shown to be beneficial with osteoporosis, lipid profiles, and possibly cognition, although once again the evidence is limited. Red Clover has a positive reputation as far as safety, and has the fewest number of adverse events in published literature. The side effects reported are mild and include headache, myalgia, and nausea.
If you are tired of your menopausal symptoms or side effects of the medication that you take, I may be able to help you. Call me at 949.922.3465 to get more information, or if you have any questions.You can also visit my website to learn more.
Red Clover is very similar to Soy products as to their not-so-real fame to reduce hot flashes and more. Most studies show minimal effect in women with various symptoms vs. placebo individuals
Similar to Soy, Red Clover is also shown to be beneficial with osteoporosis, lipid profiles, and possibly cognition, although once again the evidence is limited. Red Clover has a positive reputation as far as safety, and has the fewest number of adverse events in published literature. The side effects reported are mild and include headache, myalgia, and nausea.
If you are tired of your menopausal symptoms or side effects of the medication that you take, I may be able to help you. Call me at 949.922.3465 to get more information, or if you have any questions.You can also visit my website to learn more.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Hot Flashes and Hot Natural Remedies...(Soy)
Isoflavones (Soy):
Soy foods and supplements are the most commonly used natural products to eliminate symptoms of menopause because of their high concentrations of phytoestrogens. In a study done in 2004, 50 women were randomly given soy protein or placebo for three months. The study showed no difference between the group that consumed soy supplements vs. the group that did nothing (placebo). Although soy is a popular one and is heavily studied, there are no clear data from clinical trials that show major reduction in women with menopausal symptoms (only minimal effects and that's only on hot flashes).
Although Soy's fame can not be associated with relieving symtoms of menopause, it has proven itself to have multiple other benefits. Positive effect on lipid profiles, cholestrol reduction, bone conserving effects, calcium retention, cardiovascular benefits and improving cognitive functions are a few of the reasons why Soy is so popular. There is also research available that suggest 15-50% less indidents of breast and endometrial tumors were found in animals that were fed Isoflavones.
Although positive research on elimination of menopausal symptoms with soy is questionable, considering all the other benefits, it would seem that soy in the diet of menopausal women, not withstanding a soy allergy, is beneficial.
Are you interested in learning more about what you are experiencing with Menopause? Are you tired of medication and their side effects? Are you ready to do something natural and holistic for your menopausal symptoms without compromising your health? Call me at 949.922.3465 or visit my website to learn more.
Soy foods and supplements are the most commonly used natural products to eliminate symptoms of menopause because of their high concentrations of phytoestrogens. In a study done in 2004, 50 women were randomly given soy protein or placebo for three months. The study showed no difference between the group that consumed soy supplements vs. the group that did nothing (placebo). Although soy is a popular one and is heavily studied, there are no clear data from clinical trials that show major reduction in women with menopausal symptoms (only minimal effects and that's only on hot flashes).
Although Soy's fame can not be associated with relieving symtoms of menopause, it has proven itself to have multiple other benefits. Positive effect on lipid profiles, cholestrol reduction, bone conserving effects, calcium retention, cardiovascular benefits and improving cognitive functions are a few of the reasons why Soy is so popular. There is also research available that suggest 15-50% less indidents of breast and endometrial tumors were found in animals that were fed Isoflavones.
Although positive research on elimination of menopausal symptoms with soy is questionable, considering all the other benefits, it would seem that soy in the diet of menopausal women, not withstanding a soy allergy, is beneficial.
Are you interested in learning more about what you are experiencing with Menopause? Are you tired of medication and their side effects? Are you ready to do something natural and holistic for your menopausal symptoms without compromising your health? Call me at 949.922.3465 or visit my website to learn more.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Hot Flashes and Hot Natural Remedies...(Black Cohosh)
Recently I had a few patients ask me about Menopause symptoms, and natural remedies that are out there, whether they are safe and effective.. Here is a summary of my research on three most common herbs that are out there.
Black Cohosh is one of them.
Black Cohosh is a plant native to North America and it is the most widely studied herb for menopausal symptoms after isoflavones (soy). Most research done shows effectiveness of Black Cohosh, but the exact mechanism of action of this botanical is not clear. There are some older studies that suggest Black Cohosh has estrogenic activity (and link it to cancer), but all the newer studies found no effect on LH & FSH levels, Sex hormones, and estradiols; in simple terms newer research shows no link between cancer and Black Cohosh. A study done in 2003 done by University of Illinois at Chicago (National Institute of Health Center for Botanical Dietary Supplements Research in Women’s Health) demonstrates that Black Cohosh relieves hot flashes and improves mood through its act on seretonin receptors and NOT through estrogenic activity. in 2003, Amercican Association for Cancer Research raised concerns about metastatic activities of Black Cohosh due to an abstract presented on infected mice (transgenic mouse model). This was never published, and its value is questionable. To the contrary, both in vitro investigations with breast cancer cells and in vivo data show no stimulation of estrogen-dependent mammary gland tumors with black cohosh.
Safety and efficacy of Black Cohosh determined by various research articles have been summarized in a table. This shows very promising results for women suffering from menopausal symptoms primarily hot flashes and mood swings.
Black Cohosh is proven safe when used up to six months, although if under a physician's supervision, women can continue taking the supplements and have close to no side effects. Some of these side effects associated with Black Cohosh are: Gastric complaints which are temporary, headaches (with higher dosage), vomiting, and dizziness. Black Cohosh is contraindicated in women who are pregnant or lactating. No drug interactions have been documented except that it interferes with effectiveness of Hormone Replacement Therapy and Oral Contraceptives.
So far we've been able to eliminate Black Cohosh's risk and association with Cancer, the only other negative claim with Black Cohosh is Liver Toxicity. The cases of liver failure that have been reported the purity and composition of the products taken by individuals is under question; but it's been enough to put a warning on the supplements. In summary, Black Cohosh is a great option as an alternative therapy for relief menopausal symptoms, with an overall positive safely profile for up to six months.
Are you experiencing symptoms associated with Menopause? Are you tired of taking medication and want to try natural remedies? Call me for a complimentary consultation to discuss the symptoms you are experiencing 949.922.3465. You can also visit my website to get more information.
Black Cohosh is one of them.
Black Cohosh is a plant native to North America and it is the most widely studied herb for menopausal symptoms after isoflavones (soy). Most research done shows effectiveness of Black Cohosh, but the exact mechanism of action of this botanical is not clear. There are some older studies that suggest Black Cohosh has estrogenic activity (and link it to cancer), but all the newer studies found no effect on LH & FSH levels, Sex hormones, and estradiols; in simple terms newer research shows no link between cancer and Black Cohosh. A study done in 2003 done by University of Illinois at Chicago (National Institute of Health Center for Botanical Dietary Supplements Research in Women’s Health) demonstrates that Black Cohosh relieves hot flashes and improves mood through its act on seretonin receptors and NOT through estrogenic activity. in 2003, Amercican Association for Cancer Research raised concerns about metastatic activities of Black Cohosh due to an abstract presented on infected mice (transgenic mouse model). This was never published, and its value is questionable. To the contrary, both in vitro investigations with breast cancer cells and in vivo data show no stimulation of estrogen-dependent mammary gland tumors with black cohosh.
Safety and efficacy of Black Cohosh determined by various research articles have been summarized in a table. This shows very promising results for women suffering from menopausal symptoms primarily hot flashes and mood swings.
Black Cohosh is proven safe when used up to six months, although if under a physician's supervision, women can continue taking the supplements and have close to no side effects. Some of these side effects associated with Black Cohosh are: Gastric complaints which are temporary, headaches (with higher dosage), vomiting, and dizziness. Black Cohosh is contraindicated in women who are pregnant or lactating. No drug interactions have been documented except that it interferes with effectiveness of Hormone Replacement Therapy and Oral Contraceptives.
So far we've been able to eliminate Black Cohosh's risk and association with Cancer, the only other negative claim with Black Cohosh is Liver Toxicity. The cases of liver failure that have been reported the purity and composition of the products taken by individuals is under question; but it's been enough to put a warning on the supplements. In summary, Black Cohosh is a great option as an alternative therapy for relief menopausal symptoms, with an overall positive safely profile for up to six months.
Are you experiencing symptoms associated with Menopause? Are you tired of taking medication and want to try natural remedies? Call me for a complimentary consultation to discuss the symptoms you are experiencing 949.922.3465. You can also visit my website to get more information.
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