Welcome to another episode of Green Wisdom Health. Today, we dive deep into a pervasive issue affecting many of us today—fatigue and lack of energy. We explore the underlying causes of this modern malaise, discuss holistic approaches to regain vitality and enthusiasm for life, and tell you why being fat is good!
“Being FAT, faithful, available, and teachable are key to improving your health and energy levels.” – Dr. Stephen Lewis
Today on Green Wisdom Health:
How sedentary lifestyles and chronic pain are significant contributors to fatigue, which can be managed by increasing physical activity gradually and addressing pain through natural anti-inflammatory remedies and dietary changes.
The importance of detoxification in combating fatigue. Regularly detoxifying your body helps alleviate chemical sensitivity and clear metabolic waste that may impair energy production.
Taking nutrient-rich supplements and incorporating anti-inflammatory nutrients, essential fatty acids, and minerals is critical in managing inflammation and supporting overall cellular function.
The impact of air pollution and recognizing environmental factors like air pollution that contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, can exacerbate feelings of fatigue.
There is a significant connection between gut health and motivation. Robust gut health, facilitated by a diet rich in fibers like arabinogalactan and regular use of probiotics, can significantly impact energy levels and motivation.
The importance of sleep quality and establishing a consistent sleep routine, aiming for 7-9 hours of quality sleep, supports energy restoration and mental health.
How the connection between anemia and iron levels and regularly checking Ferritin levels can prevent anemia-associated fatigue by ensuring adequate iron and oxygen delivery to cells.
How managing stress and adrenal fatigue by adopting stress-reduction techniques and using adaptogenic herbs can mitigate the impact of elevated cortisol levels on sleep and energy.
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The Comprehensive Lab Panel contains 12 tests with accompanying biomarkers. This panel includes Dr. Lewis’ consultation, functional medicine report, and supplement recommendations. Lab costs and fees cannot be refunded Labs are unavailable in NY, NJ, and RI. No discounts or points towards this lab panel. We do not accept insurance as this allows us to keep your test prices more affordable.
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Bloating is a very common condition that most people experience at some point. When you’re bloated, your stomach feels tight, full, and sometimes painful.
Often, we feel bloated after a large meal, and the discomfort is only short-term. Other times, bloating is related to an underlying health condition, and can cause severe symptoms that negatively affect quality of life.
Keep reading to find out more about bloating, its common causes, and how you can prevent it.
What Is Bloating?
Bloating refers to an excess of gas in the gut. Gasses such as oxygen, CO2, methane, and nitrogen enter the gut as you swallow air, and through the fermentation of foods in your large intestine.
A number of factors can cause increased gas in the gut.
Constipation. This is one of the most common causes of bloating. The longer the stool sits in the colon, the more time it has to ferment, resulting in more gas.
Food intolerances. Certain foods, such as lactose or gluten intolerance can cause gas and bloating.
Volume of food. Eating too much or eating too quickly can also cause uncomfortable gas and bloating.
Foods high in fat. Fatty foods are often high in sodium resulting in gas and bloating.
Poor gut health. Imbalances of the gut microbiome, aka the ecosystem of bacteria that lives in your gut.
Physical and mental factors. Stress, anxiety, weight gain, and changes during the menstrual cycle can also alter gut health and cause gas and bloating.
In some cases, bloating is caused by severe medical issues like infection, bowel obstruction, liver disease, or cancer. If you are experiencing chronic and painful bloating, it is important to identify the underlying cause with a medical expert.
How Can You Prevent Bloating?
1 – Avoid foods that cause bloating
Bloating treatment typically begins with changing your diet. Limiting foods that trigger bloating is essential. Certain foods contain high amounts of non- or poorly digestible compounds that lead to increased gas. These foods include:
Beans and lentils. Swap these for grains, meats, or quinoa. If you are going to eat beans, try soaking them or choosing easier-to-digest varieties such as pinto or black beans.
Carbonated drinks. Instead, choose flat water or herbal tea to avoid gas.
Wheat. This can be tricky to avoid, but you can incorporate several gluten-free alternatives into your diet, such as pure oats, quinoa, buckwheat, almond flour, and coconut flour.
Broccoli and cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower and brussel sprouts. While nutritious, these can trigger bloating for some. Instead, consume more spinach, sweet potato, and water-based vegetables like cucumber.
Onions and garlic. To avoid excess gas, add flavor to your food with fresh herbs, or the green parts of scallions and chives.
Dairy. If your bloating is caused by lactose intolerance, swap for lactose-free products such as coconut, almond, or cashew milk.
Sugar alcohols. Xylitol, sorbitol, and mannitol are all heavily associated with excess gas. Swap for sweeteners that are easier to digest, such as stevia, monk fruit, or honey.
Avoid salty foods too often. High sodium intake has also been found to lead to water retention and the gut and bloated sensations.
Reduce consumption of fatty foods. High amounts of fat in the intestine also retain gas, leading to bloating. This is why you may feel bloated and uncomfortable after a fatty meal. These include fried foods, fast food, chips, chocolate, and pastries.
2 – Anti-bloating lifestyle changes
Lifestyle changes to prevent bloating also include eating foods that support regular bowels and prevent constipation. To reduce constipation, increase fiber consumption. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds are all high in fiber and will help to keep things moving.
As well, be sure to drink adequate fluids. This looks like about 2 liters of water a day.
It should be noted that adding fiber to your diet too quickly may worsen constipation at first, so add it gradually.
It’s also important to exercise regularly. Whether it’s walking, cycling, swimming, or jogging, try spending at least 30 minutes a day moving to maintain healthy bowels.
3 – Support your gut microbiome
Probiotics are live microorganisms that provide health benefits and can help promote healthy levels of bacteria in the gut. Although more studies are needed, some research suggests probiotic consumption can reduce bloating.
You can take probiotics in pill form, or consume probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and miso. If you try supplementing with probiotics, stick with a strain for at least 4 weeks to discern whether it has a beneficial effect on you.
It should also be noted that probiotics are not always recommended for bloating, like in cases of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) for example. Working together with a qualified healthcare practitioner is recommended to avoid making matters worse – we can help!
4 – Eat smaller portions more mindfully
Eating large volumes of food in a short amount of time is almost sure to leave you feeling bloated. Your stomach becomes stretched, leading to the pooling of gasses and solids inside the gut. Eating too quickly also can cause you to swallow too much air and is a possible cause of bloating. Furthermore, if the foods contain poorly digested carbs, your body will produce more gas.
Instead, focus on eating mindfully and enjoying every mouthful. Paying attention to our hunger and fullness cues is the first step in mindful eating. Slow down, place your fork down in between bites and chew thoroughly. Avoid eating whilst distracted such as scrolling on your phone or watching TV to prevent overeating.
5 – Keep a food journal
As you can see, a wide variety of foods can influence bloating. Stop guessing and start journaling! Keeping a detailed food journal can help you determine which foods are triggers for you. After a few weeks of logging what you eat and drink, you may be able to pinpoint what exactly causes uncomfortable bloating.
Be sure to also note things like any stressors (work load, family troubles, etc.) you’re experiencing in the journal since stress can be a major contributor.
6 – Get tested for GI issues
If bloating is more than a rare occurrence for you, getting proper GI testing is necessary. As mentioned earlier, these natural treatments and lifestyle changes may not suit everyone. A common symptom of bloating could be a larger issue in your intestines such as leaky gut, SIBO, IBS, IBD, and parasites.
Functional stool testing can determine what is really going on and can help to formulate a proper treatment plan. Your natural health practitioner can then help address underlying causes and steer you in the right direction.
There are many steps you can take to reduce the discomfort of bloating. Taking a mindful approach to diet and lifestyle is a great first step. But if your bloating persists for over a week and is consistently painful, talk with us – a qualified practitioner will help get you the proper testing necessary to further identify the root cause and get you bloat free for good!
Sources:
Niu HL, Xiao JY. The efficacy and safety of probiotics in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: Evidence based on 35 randomized controlled trials. Int J Surg. 2020 Mar;75:116-127. doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.01.142. Epub 2020 Jan 31. PMID: 32014597.
Clevers E, Nordqvist A, Törnblom H, Tack J, Masclee A, Keszthelyi D, Van Oudenhove L, Simrén M. Food-symptom diaries can generate personalized lifestyle advice for managing gastrointestinal symptoms: A pilot study. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2020 Aug;32(8):e13820. doi: 10.1111/nmo.13820. Epub 2020 Feb 7. PMID: 32031756.
Misselwitz B, Butter M, Verbeke K, Fox MR. Update on lactose malabsorption and intolerance: pathogenesis, diagnosis and clinical management. Gut. 2019 Nov;68(11):2080-2091. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2019-318404. Epub 2019 Aug 19. PMID: 31427404; PMCID: PMC6839734.
McKenzie YA, Bowyer RK, Leach H, Gulia P, Horobin J, O’Sullivan NA, Pettitt C, Reeves LB, Seamark L, Williams M, Thompson J, Lomer MC; (IBS Dietetic Guideline Review Group on behalf of Gastroenterology Specialist Group of the British Dietetic Association). British Dietetic Association systematic review and evidence-based practice guidelines for the dietary management of irritable bowel syndrome in adults (2016 update). J Hum Nutr Diet. 2016 Oct;29(5):549-75. doi: 10.1111/jhn.12385. Epub 2016 Jun 8. PMID: 27272325.
If you suffer from eczema, you probably know how uncomfortable and inconvenient the condition is.
Eczema is a common skin condition characterized by itchy, dry, and irritated skin. It typically starts during infancy or childhood but can persist into adulthood and it affects people of all ethnicities and ages. Complications of eczema may include:
Sleep troubles. Persistently itchy skin can cause difficulty getting a good night’s rest.
Skin infections. Frequent scratching of affected areas can leave the skin open to bacteria.
Thick scaly skin. Scratching causes skin to harden and thicken.
Asthma and hay fever. Eczema often leads to these upper respiratory conditions, especially in children younger than 12.
Eczema can appear anywhere but is normally seen on the arms, inner elbows, cheeks, and scalp.
Thankfully, the symptoms of eczema can be managed through simple home remedies and lifestyle changes.
What Causes Eczema?
The precise cause of eczema isn’t entirely known, however, research shows a few potential causes such as an overactive immune system, the inability to produce enough of a protein called filaggrin, which helps keep the skin moisturized and healthy, as well as poor gut health.
The gut-skin axis
When there is an imbalance in the gut or skin microbiome, it is known as dysbiosis. This can happen if there are too many bad species of bacteria in the gut, not enough good species or not enough diversity of species of bacteria in the system. In people with atopic dermatitis, which is a type of eczema, dysbiosis may play a role in the development of the disease.
Scientists believe that dysbiosis in the gut and on the skin may cause this. It may be that the immune system is detecting harmful levels of these bad microbes on the skin and so reacts to them. This may be why dysbiosis and eczema then create a cycle of inflammation that perpetuates symptoms.
Those who suffer with intestinal permeability, or leaky gut, may also experience eczema since they lack the beneficial species of bacteria that produce byproducts that help the intestinal barrier work more effectively.
External irritants
When the skin is exposed to an external or internal irritant, the immune system overreacts. These common eczema triggers include:
Chemicals or preservatives found in soaps or detergents
Scented products
Cigarette smoke
Allergies to pollen, dust, mold or mites
Rough and scratchy material such as wool
Synthetic fabrics
Temperature changes
Stress
Food allergies
Natural Treatments For Eczema
During an eczema flare up, there are numerous natural remedies that can provide relief. Here are a few we recommend:
Coconut oil
Coconut oil contains fatty acids that help add moisture to the skin. It also is known to protect the skin by combating inflammation and strengthening the skin barrier. Studies have found the use of coconut oil for eight weeks improves eczema symptoms.
Using coconut oil is simple. Just apply -pressed or virgin coconut oil to the skin after bathing, once or twice a day.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is another topical treatment that can be beneficial for soothing eczema symptoms. Studies have found it to be antibacterial, antimicrobial, immune-boosting, and wound-healing. These properties will help promote healing on eczema skin.
You should aim to find an aloe vera product with few ingredients — avoid preservatives, alcohol, fragrance and dyes which may further irritate the skin.
Colloidal oatmeal
Also known as avena sativa, it is made from oats that have been ground and boiled and is commonly used to treat irritated skin. Studies have found colloidal oatmeal to be highly efficacious at healing and soothing skin dryness, scaling, and itching.
Dietary changes and gut health assessment
Certain foods can cause inflammation in the body, which may in turn trigger an eczema flare-up. Making a few dietary changes can help prevent the occurrence of these flares.
Add anti-inflammatory foods into your diet, such as: fish, leafy greens, colorful fruits, turmeric and cinnamon.
Avoid inflammatory foods like dairy, eggs, soy, and wheat can be common triggers for eczema prone skin.
It is also highly recommended to get a thorough gut health assessment from a qualified practitioner – as mentioned earlier poor gut health is likely to be a trigger for eczema.
Vitamins and supplements
These can be useful for lowering inflammation and boosting the immune system. Common vitamins and supplements to manage eczema include:
Vitamin D, an immune strengthening vitamin.
Fish oil
Zinc
Selenium
Prebiotics and probiotics
Melatonin to ensure good sleep
Turmeric
Primrose oil
Reduce stress
Stress is another well-known trigger for eczema symptoms to flare up. Stress produces inflammation in the body, and inflammation underlies the condition. Try reducing stress through one or more of:
Deep breathing exercises
Yoga
Meditation
Listen to relaxing music
Ensure you get a good night’s sleep
Use gentle soaps and detergents
Laundry detergents, body washes, and soaps often contain harsh detergents and lathering agents that can dry out the skin of people with eczema among other harmful, hormone disrupting ingredients.
Be sure to use natural, gentle, no-lather cleansers that have no fragrance. Many people who suffer from eczema find that this helps their symptoms.
Eczema is a common skin condition that can vary in severity. While there is not currently a cure, you can treat and prevent eczema flares using natural home remedies and simple lifestyle changes. Avoiding irritants, minimizing stress and addressing the root cause of your symptoms will help keep your eczema at bay and allow you to live comfortably in your own skin.
For more information on dealing with eczema the natural way, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Sources:
Zagórska-Dziok M, Furman-Toczek D, Dudra-Jastrz?bska M, Zygo K, Stanis?awek A, Kapka-Skrzypczak L. Evaluation of clinical effectiveness of Aloe vera – a review. J Pre Clin Clin Res. 2017;11(1):86-93. doi:10.26444/jpccr/74577.
Reynertson KA, Garay M, Nebus J, Chon S, Kaur S, Mahmood K, Kizoulis M, Southall MD. Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin. J Drugs Dermatol. 2015 Jan;14(1):43-8. PMID: 25607907.
Lambers H, Piessens S, Bloem A, Pronk H, Finkel P. Natural skin surface pH is on average below 5, which is beneficial for its resident flora. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2006 Oct;28(5):359-70. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-2494.2006.00344.x. PMID: 18489300.
Intahphuak S, Khonsung P, Panthong A. Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activities of virgin coconut oil. Pharm Biol. 2010 Feb;48(2):151-7. doi: 10.3109/13880200903062614. PMID: 20645831.
Katta R, Schlichte M. Diet and dermatitis: food triggers. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014 Mar;7(3):30-6. PMID: 24688624; PMCID: PMC3970830.
Kim SO, Ah YM, Yu YM, Choi KH, Shin WG, Lee JY. Effects of probiotics for the treatment of atopic dermatitis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2014 Aug;113(2):217-26. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2014.05.021. Epub 2014 Jun 20. PMID: 24954372.
Park H, Kim K. Association of Perceived Stress with Atopic Dermatitis in Adults: A Population-Based Study in Korea. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016 Jul 27;13(8):760. doi: 10.3390/ijerph13080760. PMID: 27472355; PMCID: PMC4997446.
Insulin resistance can be difficult to detect without medical tests. However, its effects can be dangerous if left unchecked.
This month we are taking a look at the risks and symptoms of insulin resistance, plus 10 preventative measures you can take to reduce your risks of insulin resistance and increase your insulin sensitivity.
What Is Insulin Resistance?
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas which allows blood cells to absorb and use glucose. When a person experiences insulin resistance, their cells are unable to use insulin effectively. Consistently high levels of glucose develop, which can lead to prediabetes or type 2 diabetes if left untreated.
In order to prevent insulin resistance and its progression to diabetes, you must increase your insulin sensitivity. Insulin sensitivity means that your cells respond well to insulin—the opposite of resistance.
Who Is At Risk of Insulin Resistance?
Certain factors increase your likelihood of developing insulin resistance:
Being overweight or obese, especially when excess weight is around the midsection
A sedentary lifestyle or lack of exercise
Smoking
Consuming large amounts of alcohol
Lack of sleep or sleep issues
High levels of cholesterol
High blood pressure
A history of gestational diabetes
A family history of diabetes
A high-carbohydrate diet
Sleep apnea
While it may not be possible to eliminate all risk factors as some are genetic, most are avoidable and doctors typically recommend lifestyle changes to prevent the condition.
What Are The Symptoms of Insulin Resistance?
Insulin resistance is difficult to detect without medical testing, as symptoms don’t usually present until the condition has developed into diabetes. The CDC has reported that over 85% of people with prediabetes do not know they have it. That’s unfortunate since lifestyle changes can reverse the development of diabetes.
High insulin and blood sugar levels are the hallmark symptoms of insulin resistance. Your health practitioner can use several methods to measure your blood sugar and insulin levels, such as an HOMA-IR test. Waist measurements in excess of 40 inches for men and 35 for women can also indicate insulin resistance.
In addition, there are links that have been drawn between insulin resistance and other health conditions:
Acanthosis nigricans. This skin condition causes dark spots on the groin, armpits, and back of the neck. It can be an indicator of insulin resistance.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). There is often an overlap between PCOS and insulin resistance. The symptoms of PCOS include irregular menstruation, infertility, and painful periods.
Major depressive disorder. High levels of insulin in the blood have also been associated with an increased likelihood of depression.
If you are experiencing any of these conditions or conditions, it may be worthwhile to seek a test for insulin levels and insulin resistance.
How To Prevent Insulin Resistance
There are numerous natural and science-backed ways you can increase your insulin sensitivity:
1 – Sleep more
Getting enough rest is important for your health in many ways. A lack of good sleep has been linked to reduced insulin sensitivity, so be sure to catch up on your Zs.
2 – Fit movement into your day
Regular physical activity is a major key to increasing insulin sensitivity. Exercise will move sugar into the muscles for storage and promote insulin sensitivity immediately. This can also help keep off excess weight, which is another risk factor for insulin resistance.
3 – Reduce stress
Recurrent stress keeps hormone levels high and increases blood sugar. Stress also makes the body more insulin resistant.
Practicing meditation, getting regular exercise, and other stress-reduction techniques like conscious breathing will help lower your stress and increase your insulin sensitivity.
4 – Choose your drinks carefully
Even seemingly “healthy” drinks like kombucha can be loaded with sugar. Limit alcohol including beer, spirits and wine, especially pre-made cocktails with added sugar.
Hydrate well with water, at least 2 L a day, and choose herbal or green tea which has been linked to improved sensitivity.
5 – Eat more fiber
Studies have found strong links between fiber intake and insulin sensitivity. Incorporate fiber-rich foods into your diet such as legumes, oatmeal, fruits, and vegetables.
6 – Add high-antioxidant foods to your diet
A diet that includes a variety of plants is highly beneficial for health. The antioxidants in brightly colored produce prevent inflammation in the body and boost insulin sensitivity. However, be sure not to eat too much fruit at once, as many types of fruit are high in sugar.
7 – Reduce carb intake
Carbohydrates are the primary stimulus of rising insulin levels. High-carb diets tend to lead to blood sugar spikes. Spread out your carb intake throughout the day to prevent this, eating smaller portions at regular intervals.
8 – Supplement wisely
In addition to a well-rounded diet, certain supplements can help increase insulin sensitivity. Magnesium, chromium, berberine, and resveratrol have all been studied for their effects on insulin, with positive results.
9 – Cut back on processed sugar
The two major processed sugars are high-fructose corn syrup and sucrose. These are different from the natural sugars found in nutrient-dense foods like fruits and vegetables. Many studies have found that high doses of fructose and sucrose increase insulin resistance. It is best to avoid candy, sugary beverages, cakes, and cookies.
10 – Cook with herbs and spices
The medicinal properties of herbs and spices have shown good potential for increasing insulin sensitivity. Cinnamon, ginger, and garlic are some popular and flavorful ingredients that have been shown to increase insulin sensitivity.
If you’d like to learn more about developing lifestyle habits for healthy insulin levels, don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we can assess your symptoms and develop a plan.
Sources:
Attvall S, Fowelin J, Lager I, Von Schenck H, Smith U. Smoking induces insulin resistance–a potential link with the insulin resistance syndrome. J Intern Med. 1993 Apr;233(4):327-32. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.1993.tb00680.x. PMID: 8463765.
Borghouts LB, Keizer HA. Exercise and insulin sensitivity: a review. Int J Sports Med. 2000 Jan;21(1):1-12. doi: 10.1055/s-2000-8847. PMID: 10683091.
Donga E, van Dijk M, van Dijk JG, Biermasz NR, Lammers GJ, van Kralingen KW, Corssmit EP, Romijn JA. A single night of partial sleep deprivation induces insulin resistance in multiple metabolic pathways in healthy subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Jun;95(6):2963-8. doi: 10.1210/jc.2009-2430. Epub 2010 Apr 6. PMID: 20371664.
Liu CY, Huang CJ, Huang LH, Chen IJ, Chiu JP, Hsu CH. Effects of green tea extract on insulin resistance and glucagon-like peptide 1 in patients with type 2 diabetes and lipid abnormalities: a randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled trial. PLoS One. 2014 Mar 10;9(3):e91163. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091163. PMID: 24614112; PMCID: PMC3948786.
Medagama AB. The glycaemic outcomes of Cinnamon, a review of the experimental evidence and clinical trials. Nutr J. 2015 Oct 16;14:108. doi: 10.1186/s12937-015-0098-9. PMID: 26475130; PMCID: PMC4609100.
Jalal R, Bagheri SM, Moghimi A, Rasuli MB. Hypoglycemic effect of aqueous shallot and garlic extracts in rats with fructose-induced insulin resistance. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2007 Nov;41(3):218-23. doi: 10.3164/jcbn.2007031. PMID: 18299719; PMCID: PMC2243241.
Li Y, Tran VH, Duke CC, Roufogalis BD. Gingerols of Zingiber officinale enhance glucose uptake by increasing cell surface GLUT4 in cultured L6 myotubes. Planta Med. 2012 Sep;78(14):1549-55. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1315041. Epub 2012 Jul 24. PMID: 22828920.
Guerrero-Romero F, Tamez-Perez HE, González-González G, Salinas-Martínez AM, Montes-Villarreal J, Treviño-Ortiz JH, Rodríguez-Morán M. Oral magnesium supplementation improves insulin sensitivity in non-diabetic subjects with insulin resistance. A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial. Diabetes Metab. 2004 Jun;30(3):253-8. doi: 10.1016/s1262-3636(07)70116-7. PMID: 15223977.
Anderson RA, Cheng N, Bryden NA, Polansky MM, Cheng N, Chi J, Feng J. Elevated intakes of supplemental chromium improve glucose and insulin variables in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes. 1997 Nov;46(11):1786-91. doi: 10.2337/diab.46.11.1786. PMID: 9356027.
Yin J, Xing H, Ye J. Efficacy of berberine in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metabolism. 2008 May;57(5):712-7. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2008.01.013. PMID: 18442638; PMCID: PMC2410097.
Guerrero-Romero F, Tamez-Perez HE, González-González G, Salinas-Martínez AM, Montes-Villarreal J, Treviño-Ortiz JH, Rodríguez-Morán M. Oral magnesium supplementation improves insulin sensitivity in non-diabetic subjects with insulin resistance. A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial. Diabetes Metab. 2004 Jun;30(3):253-8. doi: 10.1016/s1262-3636(07)70116-7. PMID: 15223977.
Anderson RA, Cheng N, Bryden NA, Polansky MM, Cheng N, Chi J, Feng J. Elevated intakes of supplemental chromium improve glucose and insulin variables in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes. 1997 Nov;46(11):1786-91. doi: 10.2337/diab.46.11.1786. PMID: 9356027.
Paul-Labrador M, Polk D, Dwyer JH, Velasquez I, Nidich S, Rainforth M, Schneider R, Merz CN. Effects of a randomized controlled trial of transcendental meditation on components of the metabolic syndrome in subjects with coronary heart disease. Arch Intern Med. 2006 Jun 12;166(11):1218-24. doi: 10.1001/archinte.166.11.1218. PMID: 16772250.
Caminhotto Rde O, Lima FB. Impaired glucose tolerance in low-carbohydrate diet: maybe only a physiological state. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Dec;305(12):E1521. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00580.2013. PMID: 24336921.
Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements that can be found throughout the environment. Given their prevalence in the foods that we eat and even the air we breathe, we are exposed to high levels of heavy metals every day.
Certain metals– including zinc, copper, and iron—are beneficial for your health in small doses. However, overexposure to other heavy metals poses serious health risks. Cadmium, arsenic, chromium, lead, and mercury are some of the most toxic. Heavy metal poisoning has become a growing health concern as human activity has increased their presence in our environment.
Risks and Symptoms of Heavy Metals In The Body
A doctor can test your level of exposure to harmful heavy metals in your blood, urine, and hair. If toxicity is high, you may be experiencing symptoms such as:
Headaches
Abdominal pain
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Chills
General feeling of weakness
In more severe and chronic cases of heavy metal poisoning, symptoms may include:
Burning and tingling sensations
Brain fog
Insomnia
Paralysis
Chronic infections
The toxicity of heavy metals can have serious effects on the brain, liver, and lungs. Long term exposure is even associated with cancer.
Who is most at risk?
Although heavy metal exposure poses a risk to everyone, it is a special concern for pregnant and breastfeeding women. This is due to the fact that toxins can be passed to the child through the placenta and breast milk.
How To Reduce Your Exposure to Heavy Metals
While they can hardly be escaped in everyday life, there are certain sources of heavy metals you can deliberately avoid and cut back on to prevent overexposure.
1- Be mindful of your seafood consumption
Certain types of fish tend to contain high levels of the heavy metal mercury, which can be harmful in large amounts. The FDA has guidelines for avoiding mercury when eating fish– those with the highest levels are typically larger fish including:
Swordfish
Shark
Tilefish
King mackerel
Orange roughly
Tuna
Marlin
Fish (and seafood) with the least amount of mercury include wild caught salmon, trout, herring, haddock, sole, shrimp and shellfish such as oysters, scallops and mussels.
2 – Quit smoking
Cigarettes and e-cigarettes both contain high levels of cadmium, a heavy metal linked with increased cancer risk, among many other harmful ingredients. Avoid smoking to avoid this toxic element, among others.
3 – Opt for organic
You’ve heard it before – organic is best. But some foods even more so to avoid heavy metals. Rice tends to contain high levels of the heavy metal arsenic. This is due to its absorbent property—rice absorbs arsenic from pesticide-ridden soil, irrigation water, and even the water that you cook it in.
Buying organic rice can prevent overexposure to the heavy metal. Be sure to always rinse your rice well (until the water runs clear) before cooking it.
Bone broth is a popular health food for lowering inflammation and promoting gastrointestinal health. However, when animals are exposed to heavy metals, they can store it within their bone materials.
Choose organic bone broth from grass fed cows and pasture raised chickens.
4 – Clean cosmetics and body care
There are numerous heavy metals—including lead, cadmium, and aluminum—which are often present in makeup and skin products. Many deodorants and antiperspirants also contain aluminum salts, which clog the pores and can enter the body through injured skin (after shaving). Exposure to aluminum can contribute to serious diseases such as breast cancer.
Find an aluminum-free deodorant to reduce this risk and seek out organic cosmetics.
5 – Invest in clean water and safe cookware
Due to environmental contamination, heavy metals tend to build up in groundwater and then enter the human body in large amounts. Water pipes also are frequently made with lead or copper, two metals which can be harmful to health. Investing in a water filtration system can help reduce absorption of these heavy metals into your body.
Heat can increase the chance of toxins leaching into food, making cookware an important place to start when trying to limit heavy metal and toxin exposure. Research shows the safest cookware is that made of ceramic, glass, cast iron, or stainless steel, especially higher qualities without contaminated glazing.
6 – Sweat it out
Far infrared saunas have become an increasingly mainstream addition to any heavy metal detox protocol. Research shows that sweat produced by an infrared sauna is only 80 to 85% water, with the remainder made up of harmful substances like cholesterol, sulfuric acid, ammonia, and heavy metals. Infrared saunas produce a heat that penetrates more deeply into tissue than a traditional sauna, helping to mobilize and excrete the mercury and other toxins stored in fat.
Further Treatment
If you find upon medical testing that your exposure to heavy metals has reached harmful levels, there are medical treatments available. It can take time to safely detox heavy metals from the body, but it is possible.
Medications can be delivered intravenously to remove toxins. These medications bind to the metal, a process called chelation. Note that chelation therapy should only be used in serious cases of heavy metal toxin build up, and under the close supervision of a medical professional.
There are, however, alternative and more gradual ways to detox heavy metals from the body. One way is consuming certain foods which electrically attract metal and will help move it out. These foods include:
Cilantro
Garlic
Lemon water
Green tea
Spirulina
Chlorella
Dietary fiber
Another option is taking supplements. For instance, selenium helps detox mercury, and Alpha-lipoic acid can renew antioxidants and detox metals.
Furthermore, vitamin B, B-6, and C deficiencies can lead to poor tolerance of heavy metals and easier toxicity, so it may be worth supplementing with these vitamins if you find that you are deficient. As always, take care to consult with a healthcare professional before adding any supplements or detoxification substances to your diet.
Exposure to high levels of heavy metals can cause serious health concerns. And while human activity has increased their prevalence in our environment, there are certain steps you can take to avoid overexposure to these harmful substances.
Heavy metal exposure can feel frightening, but there are plenty of steps to minimize its impact. A healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and plenty of sleep can help. If you have any questions about heavy metal exposure, reach out to us.
Sources:
Tchounwou, P.B., Yedjou, C.G., Patlolla, A.K., Sutton, D.J. (2012). Heavy Metal Toxicity and the Environment. In: Luch, A. (eds) Molecular, Clinical and Environmental Toxicology. Experientia Supplementum, vol 101. Springer, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-8340-4_6
Zhai Q, Narbad A, Chen W. Dietary strategies for the treatment of cadmium and lead toxicity. Nutrients. 2015 Jan 14;7(1):552-71. doi: 10.3390/nu7010552. PMID: 25594439; PMCID: PMC4303853.
Monro JA, Leon R, Puri BK. The risk of lead contamination in bone broth diets. Med Hypotheses. 2013 Apr;80(4):389-90. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2012.12.026. Epub 2013 Jan 31. PMID: 23375414.
TatahMentan M, Nyachoti S, Scott L, Phan N, Okwori FO, Felemban N, Godebo TR. Toxic and Essential Elements in Rice and Other Grains from the United States and Other Countries. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Nov 3;17(21):8128. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17218128. PMID: 33153201; PMCID: PMC7663342.
Sears ME. Chelation: harnessing and enhancing heavy metal detoxification–a review. ScientificWorldJournal. 2013 Apr 18;2013:219840. doi: 10.1155/2013/219840. PMID: 23690738; PMCID: PMC3654245.
Mushrooms have been used for centuries, across many cultures as both food and medicine. A growing body of research now centers on the many benefits of mushrooms both on our physical and mental health. If you’ve only thought of mushrooms as a nice addition to a stir-fry, it’s time to learn more about these fascinating fungi, and their medicinal and adaptogenic varieties that are becoming mainstream superfood supplements!
What Are Mushrooms Anyway?
Mushrooms are edible fungi, which might not sound too appetizing, but the contributions that fungi make to the planet and to our own health can’t be overlooked. Fungi help to regulate carbon dioxide and recycle nutrients in the soil, and they are an often-delicious secret weapon for improving overall health when part of a rounded diet.
Of course, some types of mushrooms aren’t edible at all, and a few are even deadly if eaten. Mycologists (people who study mushrooms) estimate that there are about 14,000 different species of mushrooms, with about 800 new species discovered annually! About 70-80 species are poisonous. Many poisonous mushrooms closely resemble edible mushrooms, so it’s important to educate yourself on different types if you gather wild mushrooms. The aptly named Death Cap mushroom is responsible for about 90% of mushroom fatalities, but overall, mushroom poisoning is relatively rare (an average of 2.9 cases each year in the U.S.).
The Underrated Superfood
Mushrooms are low in calories, with only about 20 calories per cup, but packed with nutrient density and goodness. One recent study found that adding one serving a day of mushrooms boosted intake of many essential nutrients, without any negative effects. Here are just a few of the ways mushrooms are a nutrient powerhouse:
Mushrooms are one of the best plant-based sources of vitamin D. Note that the amount of vitamin D declines gradually, so for optimum benefit, consume them before their “best before” date. Fun fact: You can boost the vitamin D content of your mushrooms by placing them in direct sunlight, like right under a window, for a couple of hours before eating!
Mushrooms are a great source of folate, and oyster mushrooms in particular contain the most.
Adding mushrooms to soups or sauces is an easy way to boost your daily fiber intake. Mushrooms are particularly high in a type of fiber called beta glucan, which has been shown to help lower cholesterol.
Many kinds of mushrooms are at par with bananas for potassium content.
A powerful antioxidant, selenium found in mushrooms helps boost your immune system and protects your heart health.
Fight Stress with Adaptogenic Mushrooms
Over the last decade, modern research has really begun to understand and harness the powerful benefits of functional mushrooms for human health. Certain varieties of mushrooms contain adaptogens, substances found in plants that help the body respond, manage and reduce the damaging effects of stress. Adaptogenic mushrooms include varieties like reishi, cordyceps, lion’s mane and chaga.
Although studies are still ongoing, results show positive effects on those who incorporate adaptogenic mushrooms in their diet.
Lion’s mane mushrooms may benefit people with depression and anxiety. Studies show that lion’s mane may also protect against dementia and help repair nerve damage.
Reishi mushrooms have been shown to help offset both physical and mental stressors, especially in athletes. They have also been shown to possess immune-supportive properties, support normal blood glucose metabolism and liver health.
Cordyceps mushrooms are often touted as a natural energy booster and popular with athletes looking for a natural performance enhancer. Cordycepsmay promote cognitive health and mood, good energy balance, stamina and exercise performance while reducing fatigue and listlessness.
Chaga mushroom extract has been shown to help support a normal immune response. It has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making it a potential alternative remedy for things like arthritis and high blood pressure. If you find yourself drinking too much coffee during the day, this mushroom extract has been produced in a pretty decent coffee substitute! With a flavor that truly resembles coffee, mushroom coffee can help you kick your coffee habit and studies show improved energy levels in those who regularly consume it.
Compounds from adaptogenic mushrooms can be taken in the form of capsules, teas, and tinctures. Always consult first with a healthcare practitioner before incorporating new supplements or herbs – some adaptogens can cause unwanted side effects in certain people.
Psychedelic Mushrooms: Emerging Research Points to Potential Benefits
The hallucinogenic qualities of so-called “magic mushrooms” have long been associated with recreational drug use, but exciting new research points to their meaningful psychological benefits. Microdosing, or consuming very small amounts of a hallucinogen, is gaining attention as a way to potentially experience the benefits of these mushrooms without the drawbacks. However, it’s important to note that this research is done under highly controlled conditions.
Creative Ways to Incorporate Mushrooms in Your Diet
Because mushrooms have that umami flavor, they make excellent main dishes and easy meat substitutes.Try using them in place of ground meat in tacos, lasagna or stuffed peppers in your next “Meatless Monday” dish!
When shopping for mushrooms, look for firm, dry mushrooms that are free from mold. Most mushrooms can be refrigerated in a paper bag and last for about five days.
Wondering how mushrooms can help you manage stress, enhance immune function, improve brain health, let’s chat! We are always here to help you take your health to the next level. Give us a call!
Sources:
Fulgoni, VL, Agarwal, S. Nutritional impact of adding a serving of mushrooms on usual intakes and nutrient adequacy using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2016 data. Food Sci Nutr. 2021; 9: 1504– 1511. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.2120
Cardwell G, Bornman JF, James AP, Black LJ. A Review of Mushrooms as a Potential Source of Dietary Vitamin D. Nutrients. 2018;10(10):1498. Published 2018 Oct 13. doi:10.3390/nu10101498
Phillips KM, Ruggio DM, Haytowitz DB. Folate composition of 10 types of mushrooms determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Food Chem. 2011 Nov 15;129(2):630-636. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.04.087. Epub 2011 May 4. PMID: 30634279.
Chong PS, Fung ML, Wong KH, Lim LW. Therapeutic Potential of Hericium erinaceus for Depressive Disorder. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;21(1):163. Published 2019 Dec 25. doi:10.3390/ijms21010163
Rossi P, Buonocore D, Altobelli E, Brandalise F, Cesaroni V, Iozzi D, Savino E, Marzatico F. Improving Training Condition Assessment in Endurance Cyclists: Effects of Ganoderma lucidum and Ophiocordyceps sinensis Dietary Supplementation. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:979613. doi: 10.1155/2014/979613. Epub 2014 Apr 1. PMID: 24799948; PMCID: PMC3995149.
Carhart-Harris, R.L., Roseman, L., Bolstridge, M. et al. Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: fMRI-measured brain mechanisms. Sci Rep 7, 13187 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-13282-7
Johnson MW, Garcia-Romeu A, Griffiths RR. Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation [published correction appears in Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2017 Jan;43(1):127]. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2017;43(1):55-60. doi:10.3109/00952990.2016.1170135
Iron is an essential mineral that helps maintain many vital functions in the body. This includes the production of hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that helps transport oxygen throughout the body. Consuming enough iron is important. Without it, your body will struggle to produce enough healthy red blood cells. Iron levels impact many aspects of your health, including:
Energy
Ability to focus
Gastrointestinal health
Your immune system
Regulation of body temperature
Skin, hair, and nails
Heme vs. Non-Heme Iron
Dietary iron comes in two forms – heme and non-heme. Heme iron is only found in animal proteins such as meat, poultry, and seafood. Heme iron is more easily absorbed into the body and is thus a significant source of dietary iron for many.
By contrast, non-heme iron is present in plant-based foods such as grains, beans, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. It is also present in dairy and eggs. The body processes non-heme iron differently and has to alter non-heme iron to absorb it fully. This means that a lower percentage of non-heme iron is absorbed.
Iron Deficiency is Common: Know The Symptoms
Ideally, there is a healthy balance between the supply of iron through the diet and the body’s demand for iron. However, if demand outweighs supply, the body starts to use up iron stored in the liver, which can lead to iron deficiency. When the body has used the iron up, it cannot produce more hemoglobin. This condition is called iron deficiency anemia.
Iron deficiency is very common. Symptoms of iron deficiency include:
Fatigue
Shortness of breath
Cold hands or feet
Lightheadedness or dizziness, particularly when standing up quickly
Pale or sallow skin, nails, or gums
Headache
Irregular heartbeat
Unexplained irrational cravings – the desire to consume things like ice or paper is a sign of anemia
A sore or swollen tongue
Hair loss
Restless legs
Unexplained itchiness
Who is more likely to suffer from iron deficiency?
Certain demographics are more likely to deal with iron deficiency than others.
Women of childbearing age are especially at risk, because their bodies use and require a great deal of iron during menstruation, pregnancy and breastfeeding. Women with fibroids or other conditions that cause heavy periods are at increased risk.
Young people undergoing puberty are also disposed to iron deficiency since rapid growth necessitates a higher intake.
Vegetarians or vegans also tend to be at a greater risk for iron deficiency, since their diets often exclusively contain non-heme iron which is absorbed less easily than the heme iron found in meats.
Iron deficiency is also commonly present in people who have recently undergone major surgery or physical trauma, and in those with gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn’s.
Some studies have found that people dealing with a lot of stress are at higher risk of anemia.
High-level athletes or people who exercise a lot also have a higher risk. Because iron deficiency impacts athletic performance, athletes must pay close attention to their iron levels.
Regular blood donors should monitor their iron levels and work with their healthcare practitioner to work out a donation schedule that works for them.
People who abuse alcohol can deplete their iron levels, in part because alcohol can inhibit the body’s ability to absorb iron.
Preventing Iron Deficiency
If you fit into one of these categories, or if you are generally concerned about your iron levels, do not fret. There are simple steps you can take to increase your iron absorption and ensure you are feeling your best.
Ultimately, it is important to consume foods that contain iron, as your body does not produce the nutrient on its own. Add these iron-rich foods into your diet to prevent/treat iron deficiency:
Red meat is known to be the most easily accessible source of heme iron. It also contains B vitamins and quality protein.
Fish also contains numerous health benefits, including being high in iron. The omega 3 fatty acids found in fish like salmon, tuna, and haddock are great for brain health. And just one serving of canned tuna can provide 8% of your daily value of iron.
Turkey is another healthy source of iron. It also is a great source of protein. Dark turkey meat tends to contain more iron than white, with a 3.5 ounce portion containing 8% of the daily value.
Shellfish, particularly clams, mussels, and oysters, are good sources of heme-iron.
For vegetarians:
Spinach is a great source of non-heme iron for vegetarians; 100 grams of raw spinach provides 15% of your daily value.
Legumes are another nutrient-packed option for vegetarians trying to increase their iron intake. Black beans, kidney beans, and lentils can all help raise iron levels.
Pumpkin seeds are an easy snack and a great source of non-heme iron. A one-ounce serving contains 14% of your daily value of iron.
Tofu is a popular staple in vegetarian diets and happens to provide 3.4 mg of iron in a half-cup serving. This amounts to 19% of your daily value.
Vitamin C helps your body to absorb iron. Including a source of Vitamin C, like broccoli, with your iron-rich meal will help maintain iron levels. Beta carotene, which is found in brightly colored produce like peppers, carrots, and apricots, can also boost absorption.
You should also examine your diet for foods and drinks that can lower iron levels, including coffee, tea, many sodas, alcohol and some dairy products.
Treating Iron Deficiency
Identifying the causes of iron deficiency is the first line of defense. From there, increasing the iron consumption in your daily diet is an important next step.
Depending on your iron levels and diet, supplements may also be necessary, but it’s important to work with a healthcare practitioner. Too much iron can be harmful to your health, so you need to find the right levels for you. keeping in mind that your body is unable to rid itself of excess iron. As well, many people find iron supplements can lead to an upset stomach and constipation, so you may have to make dietary changes at the same time.
Iron deficiency can cause serious complications for your health if left untreated, so it is important to get a proper assessment of your iron levels and create a treatment plan to help raise them. Let us know if you need help addressing iron deficiency – we’re here to help!
Sources:
Wei C, Zhou J, Huang X, Li M. Effects of psychological stress on serum iron and erythropoiesis. Int J Hematol. 2008 Jul;88(1):52-56. doi: 10.1007/s12185-008-0105-4. Epub 2008 Jun 11. PMID: 18543064.
Damian MT, Vulturar R, Login CC, Damian L, Chis A, Bojan A. Anemia in Sports: A Narrative Review. Life (Basel). 2021;11(9):987. Published 2021 Sep 20. doi:10.3390/life11090987
Shuchman M. Frequent blood donors risk iron deficiency. CMAJ. 2014;186(11):817. doi:10.1503/cmaj.109-4807
Abbaspour N, Hurrell R, Kelishadi R. Review on iron and its importance for human health. J Res Med Sci. 2014;19(2):164-174.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food data central
Carmen Lúcia de Almeida SantosI, II; Marco AkermanIII; Odival FaccendaIV; Lourdes Conceição MartinsV; Lígia de Fátima Nóbrega Reato,, Iron defici, 2012/01/01
One of the most common issues we see in people today is difficulty maintaining a healthy weight. Weight loss is a hot topic and a booming industry, but so many products just don’t work. Unfortunately, there is no magic fix for this, but there is one often overlooked aspect of weight management, and that is insulin. Insulin is an extremely important hormone responsible for regulating several metabolic processes and ensuring cells get the energy they need. Due to this, insulin has a strong influence on weight management. When the body begins to respond less to insulin, it could indicate that you are developing insulin resistance, which can contribute to a variety of health issues. In this week’s episode, The Secret Enemy of Weight Loss, we’ll discuss insulin’s role in metabolism and weight management, as well as some positive lifestyle changes you could make.
Transcription
The Secret Enemy of Weight Loss
00:00:01 – 00:05:01
Welcome to the green wisdom health podcast, with doctor Steven and Janet Lewis, where you will learn about natural solutions to common ailments. And now, here are your hosts doctor Stephen and Janet Lewis. Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of the green wisdom health show. I’m Janet Lewis. And I’m doctor Lewis. And we are here to give you some inspiring helpful healthful hope. So in a world full of a lot of chaos, hopefully we’re bringing you a lot of joy and information and news you can use. So we today are going to talk a little bit about the secret enemy of weight loss because it’s summertime and who’s not trying to get into that bikini for the beach. But having a little bit of white problems or a lot of weight problems and we’re going to talk about what that secret and me is, doctor Lewis has got him captured over here behind the door and he’s going to let him loose a little bit and tell us what the enemy has been. He’s good at corralling things. So also, we want to mention our collagen people have been asking a lot about when is collagen coming back in. We do not know. The ingredient in there that’s a registered trademark called mobily, which is one of the several ingredients in that product that make it work wonderfully and that is the reason why it is so missed, we can not get from the manufacturer because it’s trapped in Spain. It is rooster comb. I guess they have special roosters there. I don’t know, but they’re organic. They’re organic rooster combs. Hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid can heal in big ways. So I won’t go into too many stories there, but it’s not here. So that’s the bottom line. We don’t know what it’s coming. People ask if we have a replacement. Not yet. We’re waiting for the person that makes that product for us to tell us what they’re going to do. They have very high standards. And they don’t want to take something out that they may get in. I don’t know. If we do it, you’re going to know it and we’re going to tell you, hey, it didn’t come in with this. I don’t know what we’re going to do. So for the time being that’s out and people say, well, what brand should I take? We don’t know. I know that they have designs for help, has a pretty good one. I just haven’t gotten any kind of feedback from anybody that’s just had miraculous results with collagen other than the powdered one we carry. So sorry about that. You know how it is nowadays, so hopefully that’s the only product that’s doesn’t come in for a while, but you know, there could be others. So anyway, doctor Lewis picked this subject today because he is passionate about helping people regain their health and would you like to let the enemy out of the closet you’re keeping him in and tell us who the secret enemy of weight loss is. Well, I’ve had so many people talk bad about me because I’m so blunt and it’s like, well you made a sugar coat it and the answer to that is most people would rather have it sugar coated. The active, the real enemy is insulin and I will get into that. I promise you in big ways. The problem in our country is we’re overfed and undernourished. That’s a fact. And national health and nutrition examination study. And this is a pretty new and I think that was 2017, 18 said 42% of Americans adults had obesity. The other 30.7% were overweight. So it puts us at over 72% of us are not at our ideal weight. And it’s not just that simple. That reflects our overall health, which is pretty much stinky. And I want you to live life to have life that you can live, you need to be consistent. I want you to have a life worth living and then there was, you know, I read a lot of research and thank God I have a good memory and I take a lot of stuff for that. Journal of American medical association said our healthcare system, healthcare and parentheses. Only address is 10% of the issues that lead to preventable death. That’s scary. The other 90% is our lifestyle, our diet, our environmental exposures like hidden poisons in our foods, chemicals, cleaning products, mold, and workplace exposures. So what Janet and I do, we bridge the gap for the other 90%. And for the people that stick with it, you get great results.
00:05:02 – 00:10:03
I get a lot of good feedback and thank you. I love it. Thanks for taking the time, like Debbie said, oh, I entertained myself all the way from Comanche Texas to Midland. I said, how in the world can you have fun and Comanche Texas? And she says, one of her best friends lives there. That’s where a lot of Janice relatives are from. But it’s the people like Kelly and Alabama, her friend Lee and Jesse, Allen and Maine, Brian and Florida night in Iowa that just keep on doing the right thing. Thank you and God bless you. I love to be your leader. So let’s talk about insulin. That’s why we run it on our lab and that’s pretty pretty unusual. I’m sorry for those that need to know what that is. What is insulin? Well, insulin comes from the pancreas and it’s designed to carry and burn the glucose. And again, I read a lot and the two most dangerous things in our bodies are fat and insulin and one of the research I reached says fats a hormone is like well, I’ve never really studied it being that way, but insulin goes around and says, oh, well, they have too much high fructose corn syrup too many carbs. I’m alternate in to triglycerides. And I’m going to screw up the HDL to total cholesterol ratio. Whale, let’s just store those bad track glycerides in the liver, which you start getting the non alcoholic fatty liver syndrome. And then the body says, well, you know, he’s not burning enough of the glucose into muscles, so I can’t keep it in the liver too much because I don’t want to kill the person, even though the liver enzymes start to go. Then insulin does a funny thing. It stores glucose slash triglyceride slash cholesterol as fat. Yeah. And they’re good fats, right? The only good fats in bacon, I think, really no avocados and coconut. The fat shows up on the outside of the body. Is that what you’re trying to say? Yeah, something like that. Something like that. I’ve got a lot to say. Sometimes I do these things just off the top of my head today I have about 5 hours worth of notes, so pardon me. But we’re doing this in 30 minutes. Yeah, the slow talking Texan. If I’m at hurry and I start talking fast, it’s because I have a lot to say. You know, the problem is that most doctors. And I love all our doctors and our medical professions really, really good, but the bitter truth is they address the symptoms but not the cause of disease. That in and of itself is scary and that’s why I read about that article where we’re bridging the gap that other 90%. They say it and it’s still it’s stupid. Jack Jack sprat could eat no fat. His wife could eat no lean. Well, that implies that fat is fattening in that is not the truth. It is sugar and carbs that turn to sugar that makes us fat. And we’ve already seen for several decades that the high fat diet is the most effective at losing weight. But for fallacies, they hang on for a long time. What about processed vegetable oils that parse staple ingredients in processed food? That’s funny you should mention that. And again, Janet and I have different notes. So she tries to stomp me, which is. I think it’s fun. Pretty easy. She likes to say the deer in the headlines. No, I know it’s all up there. So I know it’s going to come out so I can’t wait. That’s one of the worst things. And some of our government entities and we’ll get too deep into that. But say that certain companies can put all kinds of trans fats in things and call it zero and there’s a minimum okay amount of trans or hydrogenated fatty acids where the limit should be zero and I love potato chips, but that’s one of the worst things you do because all this transhydrogenase fat causes your cell walls to be rigid so you can not get nutrients in and out and we’ll talk about mitochondria and ATP and all that kind of stuff. But insulin starts getting where oh it can’t go into the cell. So you get what’s called insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome. Which can lead to diabetes. Well, you know you read the ingredients on things and it says soybean oil and you think soy’s better for you, so you would assume soy being oil would be. No? You know, I say many times successfully leaves closed, but so does failure. I’m trying to be sweet. But I’m asking about soybean oil.
00:10:03 – 00:15:04
Our son just made from Germany to Alaska and he says, mom, they’re so large, large. Large smell what he said. She said, welcome to America. We’ve been to China. We’ve been to different places in Europe. We spent a couple of days in St. Petersburg, Russia. That was pretty cool. And it’s not that America doesn’t have some great grand and glorious things to be thankful for, but eating soybean and wheat and grains is not where health resides. That’s good. That’s as clean as I can do it. Here’s the thing, some people say, count your calories, other people’s like calories don’t count. And I remember back when I was a tiny, tiny kid, there’s a guy that says calories don’t count, he wrote a book and boy, he gave him holy heck over that. What do you think the calories out of a pancake is going to work the same as calories out of a piece of fresh coconut or berries? No, the calories are different in the way that they are treated and utilized by the body metabolically. Usually say sugar rich diets generate excessive reward signals in your brain that can override normal self control mechanisms, and I found that the fact is that a single week of binging on fast foods impaired appetite control, making the volunteers more likely to desire more junk food even if they just eaten. So I’m blown away. So the minute that you think that you’re hungry again, is it because you just ate something that wasn’t good, you’ve got no you got no nutritional value out of it. So the body’s actually still starving. Yeah, and hopefully I’ll have time to get in some of the bad heavy metals or minerals. Like arsenic. But I’ve said this on a different podcast, too much sugar equals fewer vegetables equals last name equals four taste equals more sugar, so it gets to be a vicious cycle to try to hit those reward centers in the brain. Yeah, the more added sugar, your diet contains the lower your intake of important micronutrients such as calcium, folate, iron, magnesium, potassium, selenium, vitamin C, vitamin D, that you all guys, you guys have heard a lot. And zinc. So could that be a reason why minerals and things like that are so low on lab work whenever we run that? Well, young they’re not in the soil. So the plants not really take them up. One of the lies is milk is good for you. No milk is bad for you. And somebody told me he says, well, Stevie, do you need to get more fact? Well, I’ve been quote and researched for 20 years. Male can increase risk of insulin resistance. Yep, milk does not do a body good. That’s from British of journal nutrition. So that’s a fact. It creates, it does create a lot of mucus in the body. I know that. And insulin resistance, which means as much as I talk about blue bell and Snickers, I’m about 90% teasing, we were at the grocery store the other day. And she said, you know, some more aspirin, I said, no, and she looked at me like I was going to drop dead. And what Janet was talking about, the acidic diet, sugar, meat, soda pop. It must have been a must been a Yankee, said soda pop, because we call them cokes down here in the south. Causes calcium to go from the bones to the pancreas and triggers osteoporosis, but also jams up the pancreas, which leads to less insulin as a result. And that’s journal of the American medical association. So that’s a fact. People said, you need to put more facts. I have been folks. I just didn’t say fat. I’m gonna give you another fact, according to the 2019 state of obesity report. 18.5% of American children ages two to 19 and 39.6% of adults are now obese, not just overweight. And we did talk about that causing depression in children and depression can manifest in many different ways and hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder is just to the many. And the adult obesity rate rose over 70% and the childhood obesity rate rose over 85%. Here’s the deal. You want to get healthy, go on our reviews and read Cowell. Kyle wrote. Cow’s awesome. Oh, but you know what he did something different. Yeah. He did it. Action. He totally changed his diet. I mean, the first day we went over his lab work, he was like, doctor Lewis, what can I do? What can I do? And he said, you know, doctor Lewis said, we might try doing a keto diet. And he said, okay, okay, he called me as soon as he left here and he goes, I’m getting keto strips.
00:15:04 – 00:20:03
Ketone strips. And he goes, how long does it take before I’m in ketosis? And I said, jeez, I don’t know it. I have to ask doctor Lewis. How long it takes? He goes, can I speed it up? Is there any way to double something to speed it up? And I think he’s lost like 30 something pounds now. 30, 32 when he wrote the review. And that was three weeks now. It was three weeks into this program. And here’s the other thing. And it’s like, I love these people. You know, they told us this doctors don’t hug your patients. Well, I’m going to hug you. But anyway, I hug this got to people say, I’m taking all these settlements and I didn’t lose weight. Well, you didn’t change the way you eat. You know, you got to quit eating the same old junk as I successfully closed it if you don’t see success. It’s failure. So you’ve got to eat differently, Janet, and I just ate at a very good restaurant, good food, but you know what? We didn’t eat it all. Janet I ate about half of hers and I ate about two thirds. Here’s another interesting fact. You were talking about potato chips earlier, right? Yeah, no, I like them. Yeah, it’s like one of the most bliss has the most, it’s the most bliss inducing thing there is because it has sugar. But you can’t eat just one. Right. Sugar from the potato salt and fat. The fact is, in the research published in 2007, showed 94% of rats allowed to choose between sugar, water, and cocaine chose sugar. Even the cocaine addicted rats quickly switched their preference to sugar once it was offered as an alternative. The rats were also more willing to work for sugar than for cocaine. Huh. So the moral of the story is, don’t be a rap. Insulin sensitivity, regulates the autonomic autonomic, which means automatic, or the subconscious control of the heart rate, even normal non obese non diabetic people. And it’s even worse if you are obese and you are toward metabolic syndrome and diabetes. If you eat a fast food burger, you can easily take in close to half of your daily caloric requirements. And in fries and a soda and you may be nearing an entire day’s worth of required calories. No, I got the look on that one. You’ve heard people distort and delete. Did you know the right of thyroid deficiency and diabetes has doubled? Journal from clinical diabetes, fact we like the word fact. We’re just playing with each other, but the thyroid that has a lot to do with it. And here’s millions of dollars are spent treating the ravages of diabetes, but very little is done to prevent it. That’s from journal of the American medical association. Fact, we’ll get off this back kick. Trans hydrogenated processed fats increase insulin resistance. That’s from journal of diabetes. So we’re talking about that. And then here’s another one of lipoic acid cofactor of the crib cycle. I think energy. Is inside a cell has been shown to improve diabetes and it does so by improving function of cell membranes where insulin resistance becomes a problem that’s from diabetic logic. So lipoic acid, that’s why I love, love, love, love, love, berberine, alpha a, which is full of, it’s got a little bit of vitamin C enough to do some good. Now what does this do? It’s berberine and alpha lipoic acid. And what was the reason someone would take that? Excuse me, it’s a cofactor in the krebs cycle. It helps make energy inside a cell. This has been shown to improve diabetes. It also does so by improving the function of cell membranes where insulin resistance becomes a problem, say I can go back and rebound notes. Remembering in berberine is a really, really good kick, but good product too. So are you saying if they are, you know, most people don’t know what their insulin levels are, but they go to our health certain go to our website, Janice says you’ve got to learn this technological stuff. Go to green with some help. They’ll tell survey and get your lab. Don’t guess test. Good job. Good job. I’m getting brownie points. We’re having too much fun. We’re trying to portray our speaking parts here. Yes, insulin is on our test. But for most people, it is not if they have lab work at the doctor, how would they how would they assume their insulin may be high or another test that might be run? It won’t be triglycerides or real high compared to your cholesterol and the ratios are bad. That’s it. But A1C. 90 to a 120 day test of what your glucose is.
00:20:04 – 00:25:00
And we talked about alpha lipoic acid. The berberine is a phytochemical, has antifungal action, that’s why I give that to a lot of people with intestinal dysbiosis. Oh, and the breaking it down where his so smart telling you this, for those that don’t grasp what he’s saying, what he’s saying is because you’re eating all these things like fries and chips and things like that. It’s feeding me in the body. And so many people go, I think I have candida. You probably do. Everybody does. It’s just a matter of to what degree. And those books were written 30, 40 years ago. And if you start killing the yeast, which is what he’s talking about with the berberine, then you click craving the bad stuff so much. That’s when I can go to the grocery store and not care whether she buys blue bell or not because I rarely eat it anymore. Sorry, it’s a Texas company, but I don’t hardly ever eat it. Because he’s taking the supplements that help kill those things off read as it crave it. And so if you get all this under control and there’s a lot of reasons, a lot of ways to do it. You start feeling better, you start gaining energy in one of the biggest complaints we hear as people say I have fatigue. Well, let me tell you another story. There’s a guy that comes in, he looks really, really good. He’s about 70 and he has actually probably 5 pounds less gut than me. So he does look good. He said he had X amount percentage of carotid artery, plaquing, and I don’t know how many years ago, two or three years ago, whatever it was. And then he started taking our stuff and that kind of nice was one. Natto and the K in the day and he’s on he’s on our fish. He’s a compliant man. Yeah, and most men aren’t, but I’ve just mentioned several that were. But he went and had the ultrasound all the testing and he went from almost ready to do stance from his cardiologist to zero zero zero plaquing and he said the technician couldn’t believe it. He was shocked. He came in at this bump, doctor Lewis. He was like, I just knew they were going to call and say, it’s this much worse. See how it’s time for surgery. And they said they couldn’t see any in there. And he takes too much stuff. He’s 70, but he acts like he’s 35 or 40. He takes a lot of the supplements. He says, well, doctor Lewis, it’s so much easier and so much less expensive to take this stuff than it is to pay several 100,000 to several million for a disease and you’ve lost your quality of life. And I said, well, Rick, that makes you wash her than most people. The Bible says in all these things get wisdom, which means gathering of knowledge. And what kind of money did he just say by not having that surgery? And if the plaquing broke off and it cost a stroke, I know a chiropractor that at 62 had that done, he died. And in no fault of the medical profession, there’s just some risk to all things. It’s easier to be healthy than it is to get back your disease. And I’m glad our medical profession does what they do. I mean, they’ll save you bacon. They’re really, really good. Watch episodes of grace anatomy and be like, oh God, I think it’s easier to stay healthy. So I wanted to mention something about processed food and ultra processed food. Oh good. Americans not only eat a preponderance of processed food, I love that we’re thank you. But 60% is ultra processed. Products that are at the far end of this significantly altered spectrum, or what you typically purchase at a gas station. I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen some of those hot dogs rolling around in there and I’m like, oh my, I have not seen the person that purchased it to eat it. But really don’t. Any food that isn’t directly from the vine ground bush or tree is considered processed. For instance, frozen fruit is usually minimally processed while pizza. Soda, chips, microwave meals are ultra processed. And they found the difference in the amount of sugar between foods that are ultra processed and minimally processed was dramatic. 20, the fact is. 21% of calories and ultra processed foods come from added sugar compared to just 2.4% of the calories and processed food. And none in unprocessed food. Looked at me this morning in amazement when I said something I’ll lead up, which is going to reinforce what she just said. You’ve heard me if you’ve listened to my podcast.
00:25:01 – 00:30:01
I read from a book late 1800s, early 1900s about how flour can cause. Yeah, that was interesting. That was interesting. Why don’t you get better? Okay. What I quoted this morning was 1825, and no, I’m not that old. Her brother said I am. There’s a book called physiology of taste, 18, 25, and it was written the second of the chief causes of obesity is the flowery and starchy substances. 1825, okay, so almost 200 years ago and we have not changed the way we eat. We’ve actually increased the stupid I mean, did I say that? The way we, the bad ways that we eat. I mean, get away from it. Well, that’s what I was talking to my brother about because, you know, one of the things that motivated me to do this was watching my grandfather lose his legs. I mean, he basically was a torso that they carried around. And they did it a little bit at a time. It’s like they chop off a foot. Will it get worse? He’d get more of it cut off until they made it all the way up his legs. Well I was talking to him about that and he goes, well, you know, his mother died of that also. And I was like, no, because you’re a lot older than me. A few years. I said, I knew she was blind, but I did not know why, and he said, because she was diabetic and they also chopped parts off of her. I was really little and she was blind and she reached for me. It scared me to death. And I was done. But I was talking about she said that to me once. And Stephen, I’m like, why would people back that were farmers? I mean, they were outside work, and they weren’t overweight. So just so to speak, how would they get diabetes back then and have that happen? And he’s quoted me that book about how flour has been the culprit. My grandfather also liked to drink like beer. A lot of it. So that could have been a culprit. If you don’t drink beer or drink real stuff, the good stuff. He was still drinking the beer even missing his legs. But I thought it was very interesting that that’s been going on for so long and I guess our genes just can’t handle anymore. So I don’t know. So if you have the insulin resistance and insulin, the ranges go up around 19 to 22, there should be two to 7. So if you get around 7, 8, 9 on your insulin, you have an issue. If you will take our glucose support and it’s got the biotin chromium vanadium, some other stuff in it. It helps and it helps with the insulin sensitivity. And let me just talk just a little bit about bites and people don’t know anything about bite and it helps grow nails and hair. But it helps the metabolism of the carbohydrates the fats and the proteins. A deficiency can cause anemia of depression, hair loss, high blood sugar high blood sugar, inflammation, of the skin and mucous membranes and who doesn’t have insomnia. There’s a lot of possibility reasons loss of appetite. We don’t see much of that. Muscular pain, fibromyalgia, soreness of the tongue. Other things that’s in this glucose support is the chromium and it has to be the right kinds of chromium, not the stuff that’s on your bumper or your trailer hitch. And it’s caused its worse because it’s not in our soul. It’s not an a water supply, but it’s worsened by a diet high in refined, white sugar, flour, and junk food, which is most people. Deficiency and chromium can lead to anxiety. We hear people have that all time. Fatigue, glucose intolerance, people with diabetes in inadequate metabolism of amino acids, so your muscles are going to be breaking down. Vanadium, you don’t hear much about, but it’s in the glucose support. It’s very incredibly important. It’s for cellular metabolism formation of bones and teeth, but it has a rolling growth in reproduction. Inhibits cholesterol synthesis, improves insulin, utilization, deficiency can be linked to cardiovascular and kidney disease. And one of the reasons you’ve got to put these good minerals in there is to offset the heavy metals that I said I was going to get to, but I don’t think I’m going to. Well, one thing about glucose support, the thing that does that I really know that I can tell is if you don’t like eating a heavy breakfast in the morning or you don’t eat protein, people that have diabetic type tendencies or blood sugar problems start getting really mean around lunchtime. And we’re hungry. All right, are they getting nauseous? Because they’ve not eaten in that because their blood sugar is taken huge swings. Glucose support helps keep it stable so that that doesn’t happen to you. So that’s on them.
00:30:02 – 00:34:18
Note of something you might understand. I also wanted to mention because we’re coming toward the end of this show. So fast. We have a new blood work system in place. And doctor Lewis has graciously giving you the website to green wisdom health dot com. I got brownie points on that one. I know. For those of you that have already been our patients, those are the new patients, we’ve changed the process a little bit where we are now able to order LabCorp across the United States. It was quest outside the state of Texas and we did LabCorp inside of Texas, but we’ve made a special new deal with LabCorp where we can actually order outside the state of Texas and because of this new deal, some of our panels actually have another couple of panels of lab added in at no extra charge. And I like quest quest did a good job, but just for consistency sake. It makes it easier on us and it saves us time, which means we’re going to serve you better. We’ve actually have so many people have come in and ask if we have any way to see if they have any kind of damage because they’re concerned about because I’ve had a COVID. They’ve had COVID. That they want to say if they’ve got any kind of issues going on, we have a D dimer test in some of our lab tests now that we added that to some of the men’s, but we added the TPO to some of the women’s because I’m seeing high TPO, which would indicate probability of having Hashimoto’s more so in women. So we’ve added that with no extra charge. Right. And we’ve also added, and it’s a brilliant negotiator. And I’m also working, I’m still in the process of working on it, but we’re now putting your documents into an app called healthy. It’s with an IE and if you’ve already been a patient, you’re already made in that system, you’ll just have to change your password, but we’ll start dumping your labs and any kind of correspondence, doctor Alice will be able to talk to you inside that app. If that freaks you out, which it has some of our people, they’re like, please. She says the old elderly and then looks at me. We can correspond with you other ways as well. So don’t think it has to be that way, but we’re trying to make it worse, convenient for everyone, and they can have all the records in one place. Those that are techno savvy. Yeah, and there’s some really cool features coming with that down the road too. So those are the new things we’ve done. Doctor Lewis, ah, jeez, we were at the end of our show. Would you like to lead us into a prayer is what I wanted to say. We might need that too. I told Jan and I said, I think I’m gonna quit this and be a preacher. She looked at me really, really funny. He says, you cost too much. I don’t cost much, but it’s appropriate. It’s a sentence in hanser when I do it. You know, one of the best things we can do as human beings is to find the spirit and the definition of spirit is the nature of and we have to uplift our spirit. We have to speak about what’s good because you create more of it. If you speak about what’s bad, you create more of that. So different things don’t dwell on what went wrong instead focus on what to do next, what to do, action. Spend your energy on moving forward and finding the answer in as always Janet doing that. Your greatest Trump in life is when you’re able to bless somebody else while you’re going through your own storm. And there’s a lot of that going on. And I’m noticing more and more random acts of kindness because I think people are more stressed. And it just makes them feel good to uplift and bless somebody else. It’s good. We thank you for listening to our show. We hope you have a blessed week. We are here to help you when you need the help. We’ll talk soon. Once again, our show has come to an end, but your hope in your health is only beginning. If you or a loved one are in need of a different outcome and are waiting for a brighter future, take the first step and go to our website and fill out the health survey. Please don’t keep us a secret. If you know someone that could benefit from this podcast, please share the show with your friends and family. You are only one step away from a life worth living.
Products Mentioned in Today’s Show
Gluco Support – Supplies a powerful mix of nutrients and botanicals that efficiently help support normal glucose metabolism, structure and function of basement membranes such as nerve tissue, and insulin sensitivity. †
Berberine Alpha-A – Provides multidimensional support for cardiovascular health by maintaining healthy cholesterol levels and supporting blood sugar balance already within normal levels.
L-Carnitine – L-carnitine has been shown to stimulate the use of fat for fuel and boost metabolism, making it essential to energy generation in the body.
You can also listen to The Secret Enemy of Weight Loss on Spotify here.
Mental fitness is a concept used to help us enhance our thought patterns and overall mental and cognitive well-being. Just as the body can be strengthened through physical exercise, our minds too can be made more resilient through conscious training and healthy lifestyle practices. By developing an awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, we can become more confident and capable in the world.
Everyone has experienced feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and helpless amidst the pressures of daily life, and many people have found this especially true over the last two years. It is when we let these types of thoughts dominate that we run into problems. Feeding into negative beliefs will only make them occur more frequently, as the brain forms neural pathways that become reinforced. The practice of mental fitness is about rewiring the neural pathways that don’t serve us, so that we experience positive thoughts more often than negative ones, and supporting our mental and cognitive health daily.
Instead of responding to challenges emotionally, which often leads to frustration and defeat, mental fitness allows you to step back and respond in a way that is calm, rational, and positive. It also helps to improve our cognition, brain health and memory for years to come.
Ways You Can Optimize Your Mental Fitness
Achieving peace of mind and optimal brain health may sound easier said than done, but there are many small changes and practices that you can add to your routine to keep your brain in top shape.
1 – Sleep
Getting enough sleep not only prevents illness, it also significantly improves your mental health and cognitive functioning. Make sure that you are getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night so that your brain functions optimally.
2 – Exercise
Physical fitness is closely connected to mental fitness; you cannot achieve a healthy mind if your body is not performing properly. This is also true the other way around, as poor physical health may also impact mental health. The benefits of leading an active life are well documented. Physical activity increases the flow of oxygen to the brain and releases endorphins – our happy hormones. These so-called “happy chemicals” will help relieve stress and improve your mental state.
3 – Mindfulness
The ability to recognize when a thought is negative or unhelpful is crucial to developing mental fitness. Take the time to step back from your negative thoughts and question their validity. You can then reframe them to more positive ones that serve you and your goals. These can take some retraining, and it’s often useful to talk with a healthcare professional.
4 – Doing new things
Being adaptable and open to change is a major component of mental fitness. Find new ways to challenge yourself and your mental fitness will grow with the world around you. This could be as simple as taking up a new hobby or trying a new food. Studies on Alzheimer’s have found that engaging your brain in different ways helps support brain cells and strengthen neural connections. Variety will increase your brain’s vitality.
5 – Playing!
Many fun recreation activities help keep your brain active. Doing puzzles and playing games have a positive effect on mental fitness. It increases problem solving skills and can help keep the brain sharp. Many physical activities, including dancing and tai chi, have cognitive benefits since the brain must work to remember steps or movements involved.
6 – Active listening
Sometimes, we listen merely to respond, but the type of listening that mental fitness requires is slow and thoughtful. Deep listening will increase your knowledge and your capacity to reason and relate to others.
7 – Spend time in nature
If your stress levels have been high lately, you may benefit from adding at least 20 minutes of outdoor time into your daily routine. Think of it as a “nature pill” for your well-being. Studies have shown that connecting with nature and “forest bathing” can significantly lower stress hormones.
8 – Reading
Even if you only spend 15 minutes a day doing it, reading can be a highly beneficial activity to aid your mental fitness. Visualizing the action on the pages will help you relax and ignite your imagination. Reading also strengthens connections in the brain and improves memory and concentration.
9 – Meditation
Learning to calm your mind and hone your thoughts will significantly increase your mental fitness and help you manage stress. Spend a moment taking in your surroundings and focusing on your breath with no distractions. It will likely be challenging at first, but your mind and body will thank you for it. Many apps and websites can guide you through the basics of meditation.
10 – Foods and Supplements
Many essential nutrients play a role in supporting mental fitness. Vitamin D, for example, helps protect against depression and anxiety disorders. Studies show that a lack of omega-3s in the diet has detrimental effects on cognitive function and has been associated with chronic inflammation, potentially contributing to depression symptoms. Magnesium is also a key player in mental health, as this mineral helps to regulate many key neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation. Magnesium deficiency has been associated with anxiety, ADHD, fatigue, and low libido.
Focus on a natural, whole foods diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables, quality protein and healthy fats. Avoid or limit alcohol as it can alter communication pathways in the brain, as well sugar and processed foods which are oftentimes contributors to impaired cognitive skills and self control.
Like any physical exercise, mental fitness requires a bit of discipline to create a routine. The good news is that science has shown that our brains are elastic and can be trained just as any muscle can to become stronger. With just a few small but meaningful changes, you can adjust your mindset to get more clarity while supporting your brain health for years to come. And, don’t be afraid to reach out – we can help!
Sources:
Albert PR. Adult neuroplasticity: A new “cure” for major depression?. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2019;44(3):147-150. doi:10.1503/jpn.190072
Briguglio M, Vitale JA, Galentino R, et al. Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, and Sleep Hygiene (HEPAS) as the Winning Triad for Sustaining Physical and Mental Health in Patients at Risk for or with Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Considerations for Clinical Practice. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2020;16:55-70. Published 2020 Jan 8. doi:10.2147/NDT.S229206
Robert S. Wilson, Tianhao Wang, Lei Yu, Francine Grodstein, David A. Bennett, Patricia A. Boyle, Cognitive Activity and Onset Age of Incident Alzheimer Disease Demential Neurology Aug 2021, 97 (9) e922-e929; DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000012388
Centeno RPR. Effect of Mindfulness on Empathy and Self-Compassion: An Adapted MBCT Program on Filipino College Students. Behav Sci (Basel). 2020;10(3):61. Published 2020 Feb 27. doi:10.3390/bs10030061
Hunter MR, Gillespie BW, Chen SY. Urban Nature Experiences Reduce Stress in the Context of Daily Life Based on Salivary Biomarkers. Front Psychol. 2019;10:722. Published 2019 Apr 4. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00722
Maraz A, Király O, Urbán R, Griffiths MD, Demetrovics Z. Why do you dance? Development of the Dance Motivation Inventory (DMI). PLoS One. 2015;10(3):e0122866. Published 2015 Mar 24. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0122866
Lang F, Ma K, Leibrock CB. 1,25(OH)2D3 in Brain Function and Neuropsychiatric Disease. Neurosignals. 2019;27(1):40-49. doi: 10.33594/000000182. PMID: 31769259.
Effatpanah M, Rezaei M, Effatpanah H, Effatpanah Z, Varkaneh HK, Mousavi SM, Fatahi S, Rinaldi G, Hashemi R. Magnesium status and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res. 2019 Apr;274:228-234. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.02.043. Epub 2019 Feb 19. PMID: 30807974.
Every successful journey needs a good map, so your road to good health needs the data to ensure you will reach your destination.Think of it this way: If you don’t know the root cause of a problem, you don’t know the best starting point and route to follow. A thorough evaluation of your overall health is essential to plot your road to success.
Conventional medicine typically focuses on just one aspect of that journey. Testing is narrow in scope and focuses on a specific symptom, so any treatment plan lacks the complete data necessary for a holistic approach to healing.
In contrast, functional lab testing has the ability to look at the entire body. That’s because our health isn’t a collection of siloed processes, but rather a complex network. Examining your overall health allows your healthcare provider – and yourself – to take a step back and look at the big picture. A treatment plan is therefore comprehensive instead of merely focusing on getting rid of one symptom.
What Is Functional Lab Testing?
Just as the name implies, functional lab testing aims to determine how your body is functioning as a unit. Most common tests could involve:
Blood tests
Saliva tests
Stool samples
Urine samples
The data gathered through these tests helps determine the impact of nutrition, stress, environment, hormones, genetics and more on your body. It can also assess the state of your microbiome – the bacteria in your gut. As a result, you have more information to determine the underlying causes of any health issue.
Key Functional Tests
An integrative healthcare practitioner will determine the best tests for you, since there’s no set formula for testing. Some of the most common and informative tests include:
Hormone panel
The impact of your hormone levels on your overall health – both physical and mental – is far-reaching and often underestimated. Unbalanced levels of cortisol, DHEA, progesterone, testosterone, estrogen, androgens, insulin and thyroid hormones can all impact your wellbeing in ways that can be difficult to diagnose through standard tests. Debilitating symptoms like weight problems, mood issues, and fatigue can continue unnecessarily without targeted hormone testing.
It’s often important to have a complete panel, instead of focusing on one, since you want to see the balance of different hormones, like estrogen and progesterone. Hormone testing can be done by blood tests or saliva tests.
Gut health assessments
This is another frequently overlooked function with broad implications on your health. In fact, science is only now starting to recognize that your gut health greatly impacts a broad range of common health issues, including depression, obesity, and diabetes. Even your cardiovascular health is impacted by the microbiome. Modern lifestyles and diets harm your gut by disturbing the delicate balance of bacteria, leading to inflammation and malabsorption of essential nutrients. Tests to gage your gut health include:
Stool analysis: These tests can uncover issues with malabsorption, which could be caused by damage to the intestine, or conditions like celiac, Crohn’s disease, or autoimmune disorders.
SIBO breath test: SIBO stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. By measuring the amount of hydrogen in your breath after consuming sugar, it can gage the amount of bacteria in your small intestine, and your ability to digest certain sugars, such as lactose.
Zonulin antibody testing: Zonulin is a protein that helps maintain the correct degree of permeability in your gut. Testing for zonulin antibodies can help diagnose leaky gut syndrome. Testing for antibodies generally gives more accurate results than testing zonulin levels.
Food sensitivity assessments
Sensitivities to certain foods can have a profound impact on your overall health, but they’re notoriously difficult to diagnose on your own, in part because there is a wide range of possible reactions. It’s best to work with a healthcare practitioner. Tests that can hone in on possible sensitivities include elimination diets with careful records and blood tests evaluating factors such as immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies.
Tests for inflammation markers
Inflammation is often a sign that something is amiss in your body, but most standard checkups don’t evaluate for signs of inflammation. Markets to test include:
C-reactive protein
Homocysteine
Ferritin
Elevated inflammation markers don’t necessarily tell you what’s causing problems, but they are definitely a sign to do more testing – and that information can be invaluable. One study found that people with elevated levels of c-reactive protein have an increased risk of heart attack, by as much as three times.
Detox testing
Exposure to toxic substances such as heavy metals, molds or pesticides is another impact to our health, particularly with regards to autoimmune disorders and digestive issues. But, despite the risks, testing for exposure is often overlooked. Methylation is the complex process that removes toxins from your body, and some people have a genetic variation that impacts this process, putting them at greater risk for high levels of toxins. MTHFR genetic testing is one test that can indicate if your body’s detox processes are working as they should.
In addition, heavy metal testing examines the levels of possibly toxic substances like mercury, lead, and cadmium.
Mold has also been a hidden cause of many “mystery illnesses” but is rarely checked in conventional medicine. Symptoms of mold exposure are not always the obvious ones like sneezing or itchy and watery eyes, they can include cognitive impairment, depression, sleep disturbance, brain fog, digestive complaints and more!
Nutrient levels
Deficiencies in essential nutrients can lead to many health issues. Common symptoms include unexplained fatigue, brain fog, mood disorders, and more. It’s important to check your levels regularly, since they can change easily depending on what else is going on in your life – even if your diet remains the same, stress can affect levels of many nutrients, including magnesium and iron. It’s important to review your results with a qualified practitioner, as many holistic practitioners use different standards than conventional medicine does.
Metabolic testing
No matter how good your diet is, a problem with how you metabolize nutrients can lead to health issues.
HgA1c
Fasting glucose
Insulin
Lipid panel
One important factor in these tests is that they can spot potential issues before they become problems. For example, monitoring HgA1c and glucose levels can help diagnose insulin sensitivity before you develop prediabetes or diabetes. A holistic practice will watch for trends in order to suggest changes before a problem develops.
Interpreting Results
Numbers can tell a story, but they need to be interpreted properly. Just looking at the numbers from testing and only reacting if they fall out of “normal” range can lead to missing the point of the story. After all, the goal for testing should be to determine all of the factors influencing your health, and to determine if you can improve any aspect for optimum health. Aiming for so-called normal ranges will detect the presence of disease, but may not prevent disease from developing. Looking at optimal levels, and using functional tests, can help ensure optimal wellbeing and help prevent disease..
Functional testing helps determine the underlying cause of health problems and will help you develop a roadmap to a healthier you. Contact us to get started!
Sources:
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Aron-Wisnewsky J, Clément K. The gut microbiome, diet, and links to cardiometabolic and chronic disorders. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2016 Mar;12(3):169-81. doi: 10.1038/nrneph.2015.191. Epub 2015 Nov 30. PMID: 26616538.
Vojdani A, Vojdani E, Kharrazian D. Fluctuation of zonulin levels in blood vs stability of antibodies. World J Gastroenterol. 2017;23(31):5669-5679. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i31.5669
Ridker PM. Cardiology Patient Page. C-reactive protein: a simple test to help predict risk of heart attack and stroke. Circulation. 2003 Sep 23;108(12):e81-5. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000093381.57779.67. PMID: 14504253.
Lopresti AL. The Effects of Psychological and Environmental Stress on Micronutrient Concentrations in the Body: A Review of the Evidence. Adv Nutr. 2020;11(1):103-112. doi:10.1093/advances/nmz082