Category: Nutrition Tips

Everything with getting one’s health back and staying healthy boils down to Risk vs. Benefits.  For example, patients will ask…”if I add more veggies/fruits to my diet won’t I be getting more chemicals into me …and that’s bad. Right?”  Well the ‘knee jerk’ response would be- Yes, but there was an interesting finding in “Food and Chemical Toxicology Journal (2012 Dec; 50(12):4421-7) as well as the Journal of Nutrition, (2005; 135 (11):2639-2643). The authors observed by adding 1 extra serving of vegetables and fruits to our diets that 20,000 cancer cases per year could be prevented as opposed to just 10 cases of cancer per year being caused by increased pesticide intake.  Now don’t get me wrong… chemical ingestion is a problem in the American diet.  This is evident by the fact (also verified by one of my patients who works in the chemical food business) that other countries do not allow many of these “chemicals” into their food supplies. This is a “home grown” problem for the U.S… So, look at labels of “processed” foods but have peace of mind that just adding 1 extra serving of plant based foods has a greater Benefit when compared to its Risk!

For many decades in my practice one of the first dietary changes I had recommended to patients was the elimination of wheat from their diets so they may observe any changes in their complaints . Initially this was done mainly for digestive problems and sinus congestion because early studies had shown evidence that it increased the immune responses within the body. But as more and more patients got off wheat it became obvious that other conditions improved: chronic joint and muscle pain, depression, skin problems, headaches, even blood sugar problems. Most patients noticed improvements in their health within a few weeks of quitting it, though there were some who didn’t notice a change.

Fast forward to today and there maybe another reason to avoid wheat, even if you don’t feel better right away. In the recent book “Grain Brain,” neurologist and nutritionist David Perlmutter talks about how eating wheat can contribute to brain diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, dementia and even ALS. These diseases may not show up until after decades of eating wheat, when the damage has already been done. Wheat causes problems for the brain primarily through inflammation. The gluten molecule — there are actually several, not just one — first inflames the lining of the bowel, which enables it to enter the bloodstream. Once there, it sets off alarms throughout the immune system. The body’s attempts to attack it causing “collateral damage” to the tissues, including the brain. It appears genetics may also play a role in who is sensitive and in determining which tissues are affected.

We consume so much of it. We eat wheat products at almost every meal, either in the form of bread, snacks, crackers, pasta, cereal and pizza (there is actually extra gluten in pizza dough, used to thicken it, which allows the chef to twirl the pizza dough in the air to spread it out). And this does not include what is in other processed foods-soups, condiments, etc.

Gluten sensitivity is not just a fad. More and more evidence is accumulating about the downside of this extremely common protein and the fact that celiac disease and gluten sensitivity are on the increase. The reason for this increase is not clear, and the debate continues about its cause. So be honest with yourself, take inventory of your daily and weekly eating habits….you maybe surprised!!!

DID YOU KNOW……….that the same great whole food supplements that you take from Standard Process are now available through our office for your pet? It’s true. Standard Process, the “gold standard” of whole food supplementation, manufactures the same quality product for your cat, dog, and horse. And you can order them through our office!

For your cats, SP offers feline cardiac support, enteric (digestive) support, liver support, immune system support, kidney support, and whole body support.

For your dogs, they offer adrenal, cardiac, dermal (skin), enteric, flex (joints), liver, immune system, musculoskeletal, kidney, thyroid, and whole body support.And for the horses, they offer GI tract support, immune support, metabolic support, mobility support, performance support for inflammatory responses, muscle soreness, and oxidative stress.

All of these supplements are completely natural and are made in accordance with the needs of the specific animal, i.e., cats are carnivores, dogs are omnivores, and horses have very complicated systems. All of these are specifically addressed in Standard Process’s whole food products.

So, if you want your pets as healthy and comfortable as you, give them the gift of the benefits of Standard Process whole food supplementation. We can order these supplements for you and they are very reasonably priced.

Beetroot juice has been shown to help people lower their blood pressure within six hours. The reason it works so fast is that beets contain dietary nitrate, which your body converts to a gas that expands blood vessels and aids blood flow This simple smoothie from nutritionist Dana White, R.D., contains a heart-health trifecta of nitrate, magnesium and potassium. You can find cooked beets in your supermarket produce case or salad bar — or roast your own!PINEAPPLE – BEET BLASTPrep time: 5 minutes Serves 21/2 cup sliced, cooked beets1 1/2 cups frozen pineapple chunks1/4 cup celery leaves1 cup vanilla almond milk1/2 cup fresh orange juiceCombine all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth. Divide between 2 chilled glasses. (Makes 3 cups)As seen in Prevention magazine – August, 2013

The old saying that “a calorie is a calorie” is completely false! Even if you only eat 800 calories a day, if those calories are from sugary, starchy foods you are going to gain weight. If your food intake comes primarily from fructose and grains, you are at increased risk for obesity and pre-diabetes, which includes both insulin and leptin resistance, fatty liver, high blood pressure and high triglycerides. Insulin and leptin resistance in turn form the foundation for virtually every chronic disease you can think of, including heart disease and cancer. The answer is to turn the food pyramid totally upside down. Dramatically reduce or, ideally, eliminate virtually ALL grains and sugars, especially fructose. This in itself will go a long way toward preventing excess fat. But to be truly effective, you want to be sure you are replacing those refined carbs with vegetables and healthful fats. NOW you are entering a diet that wil allow your body to shift from burning carbs to burning FAT as its primary fuel. At this point, weight loss is not the only benefit you’ll reap. Research has shown that this type of diet is an effective prevention and even treatment strategy for cancer.Intermittent fasting is another powerful key that will help you transition your body from obtaining the majority of its fuel from glucose stored as glycogen in your muscles and liver, to the fat stored in your tissues. This is one of the most effective ways known to burn off excess body fat and eliminate sugar cravings. Check with our office to find out about a variety of lifestyle wellness programs and dietary guidelines that we offer.