Good Health - What You Need to Know!

                                                                                                                 


Recently I attended a presentation by a Board Certified Internal Medicine, Anti-Aging, Regenerative and Functional Medicine physician.  I will share with you the information I took away from the program.  Nothing new  was presented, that is if you keep up with the information coming forth from nutrition and alternative medicine, but if you don't,
you might find the information new and  informative.

This  physician would be considered a maverick by mainstream medicine because she  (yes, the doctor was female) provides the ultimate form of preventative healthcare through nutrition testing and counseling, detoxification programs, weight loss programs, bio-identical hormone replacement, and nutraceuticals.

Traditional doctors focus on treating diseases after they occur and use  man-made pharmaceuticals  and surgical procedures to treat disease, a  totally different approach than  Functional Medicine.

The physician stated that 95% of US health care dollars is spent on  treating diseases and 5% on preventing them and that the US is rated number 17 in the list of countries whose citizens have the best health.

The goal of Functional Medicine is to detect abnormalities early in order to prevent disease, balance hormones, make nutrition the foundation for health, and achieve optimal lab values rather the just normal values.

Calcium
Milk was identified as the worst food for the body in terms of weight, cancer, allergies, calcium,  and acidity.  The calcium in dairy is hard for the body to absorb.  If it stays in the blood stream it contributes to the build                                

up of plaque and leads to cardiovascular disease.

The doctor had a lot to say about calcium and her recommendations are:
Achieve optimal vitamin D levels.
Perform resistance training, walking is not enough.
Consider hormone replacement with bio-identical hormones.
Don't take calcium with fiber because it prevents absorption.
Do not use  Tums as a source of calcium because it neutralizes the acid needed to absorb the calcium
The best  calcium  supplement is calcium citrate.
Consume 1200 grams per day from food and supplement.
Don't use over the counter supplements (pharmaceutical grade supplements are only available from a  licensed health care provider )
Consume plants that provide calcium:  kale, collard greens, broccoli, seeds, almonds,
Almond milk is less acidic, the calcium is better absorbed,  and is preferred over rice milk.
Take calcium with Vitamin K because it prevents the calcium from ending up in your arteries ( the primary source of vitamin K is green leafy vegetables).
Stop excess alcohol, smoking, and caffeine.


If you do not take in enough calcium it will be  leached from the bones in order to keep the body alkaline.  Not a good thing for the bones.    Also, the casein (milk protein) in dairy products is associated with  tumors in rats.   The results of  The China Study  (released in 2006),  lead the researchers  to conclude that any type of animal protein could promote cancer but plant protein did not.   A plant based diet is recommended for optimal health.  Animal proteins can promote cancer and keep the body's ph too acidic and diseases thrive in an acidic environment.  Plants are alkaline and  contribute to a healthy internal environment.

The doctor was emphatically against the use of  biophosphonates ( Fosamax, Boniva)  for the treatment of osteoporosis because they are associated with increased risk for fractures of the femur and jaw bone with tooth extractions.   She stated Forteo is associated with an increased risk of osteo-sarcoma and decreased parathyroid function.


Hormone Replacement Therapy
The doctor promoted hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with bio-identical hormones.   Balanced levels of estrogen, progesterone,  and testosterone are necessary for optimal health. An imbalance will cause weight gain and cognitive decline.   As we age all hormones decrease,  except cortisol and insulin which increases.  Increased levels of these hormones contribute to the development of many chronic diseases.

The doctor's Golden Rules for HRT  are:
Never take oral estrogen (increases risk of breast and uterine cancer, blood clots and stroke) Use topical.
Never take without also taking progesterone.
Never use with birth control pills.
Test levels of hormones with saliva, not serum.
Proper nutrition activates the bodies hormones.

Hormone replacement therapy may not be working if the body is toxic.   The body accumulates toxins, like heavy metals,  through  cleaning products, plastic, nonstick cookware,  etc.  Many of the lotions and potions we use contain chemicals that mimic bad estrogen (estrone) when absorbed into the body.  Increased estrone levels are believed to be the cancer promoting componenst of estrogen (remember Premarin- pregnant mare urine? Not anything like a woman's hormones.)

Another hormone, Progesterone, builds bone, decreases blood pressure and stimulates scalp hair growth. Testosterone another hormone that  needs to be balanced with estrogen, maintains muscles, promotes bone health, and  healthy sex drive.  It may also help prevent cardiovascular disease and inhibit breast cancer.


Insulin and Cortisol 

Elevated insulin and cortisol (the stress hormone)  levels cause a break down in the bodies ability to function at an optimal level.   An imbalance in these hormones leads to obesity, diabetes,  heart disease, premature aging, high blood pressure, inflammatory response, and  poor immune function.

The doctor recommends blood glucose levels be assessed using the A1C Hemoglobin test rather than the  fasting glucose level which is most often used.  The A1C test shows blood sugar levels over a 3 month period where as the fasting glucose only tells you what the blood sugar level is at the moment your blood is drawn.

Glycemic Index
Avoid blood sugar spikes. For better control of blood sugar levels, combine carbohydrates with a protein and fat to slow the absorption and prevent sudden increases, followed by severe dips in the blood sugar level.

Protein
The China Study showed a correlation between animal protein and cancer.  Choose plant proteins like hemp, which is as near a complete a protein as you will find.  Combine rice and pea proteins to obtain a  complete protein and avoid whey protein.  Also, the kidneys tolerate a plant  proteins better than animal protein.

Gluten
Testing that is commonly performed to determine wheat allergy does not adequately  assess for sensitivity because the test only looks at a small number of wheat proteins.  The doctor recommends a more expanded panel to accurately assess.  If you have any autoimmune diseases, thyroid, arthritis, hepatits, inflammatory bowel disease, the doctor recommends avoiding gluten.


Healthy Choices
Make vegetables 50% of your diet.
Consume plant based proteins
Avoid whey protein, use hemp, rice or pea protein for shakes.
No soda.
Use organic foods when possible.
Avoid genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Avoid corn, wheat, soy, sugar.
Use healthy fats like olive oil, coconut oil.
Use pharmaceutical grade supplements, not over the counter.
Drink water that is purified by reverse osmosis.
Consume only two fruits a day if weight is a problem.
Avoid nonstick cookware.  Use stainless steel or cast iron.
Get proper amount of sleep (weight gain is associated with insufficient sleep)


Well, that is it.  I hope you find something useful here.  By the way, this is  informational  only and is not to be considered  medical advice.  Always talk to a health care professional about what is right for you.

Good health to you!