Oasis for Optimal Health

Life and Health is about balance

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:04:00 +0000

I remember when I was growing up, one of my grandmother’s favorite quotes was- one ounce of prevention is better than one pound of cure. As a child, I had no idea what that meant. To me, it was just another of my Grandmother’s quirky sayings. The older I get the more I realize the wisdom of her words.

Medicine is making significant strides. We are told that we have all but eliminated such diseases such as Small Pox. We have significantly decreased the incidence of childhood illness such as whooping cough and measles. We can now perform miraculous surgeries such as heart, kidney and other organ transplants. We are feverishly exploring Genes looking for cures. On the other side of this coin, we are presented with the increasing obesity epidemic. We are told that our risk as a nation for Type II Diabetes is increasing. We are quoted such dismal statistics as 1 in 7 women will acquire breast cancer in their lifetime. We are quoted such statistics as – nearly 2,500 Americans die of cardiovascular disease a day (AHA). How is it possible for two such extremes to exist? How can we be so advanced yet so vulnerable? Finally, are we helpless victims to statistics and our genetics?

In my opinion, statistics and genetics should be an impetus to wake us up from our slumber. We need to consider that one of the major things that contribute to our health and well being is our environment. The environment in this case refers not only to our immediate surroundings, but also to the foods we consume, our level of activity, our emotional health, our ability to manage stress, our support system and the amount of potential toxins we are exposed to on a daily basis. If we take a robust tropical tree that requires lots of sun and moisture and transplanted it to a cold climate, the odds are good that this tree would become frail and most likely not survive. We have changed the environment to one that is not conducive to the optimal health of that tree.

Let us take a closer look at our environment. Nutritionally, we have become nation of people who consume a large amount of refined carbohydrates, fast foods and processed foods. We skip breakfast in the morning and we have made fats our natural enemy. We abhor waiting for anything. If our portions aren’t large, we feel somehow cheated.

Something we may be missing when we subscribe to this type of lifestyle is that it just does not stand the test of time. For example, if we avoid the consumption of fats we can create issues with our brain, cardiovascular system and skin to name a few organs. Symptoms such as Depression, foggy thinking, eczema, learning problems may manifest. We need to be aware that it is the types of fats that are important. Omega-3, 6 and 9’s are termed essential fatty acids (EFA).We cannot manufacture these fats de novo, but rather need to have them in our diets. These keep our system well lubricated to put it simply. If you placed old oxidized oil in your performance vehicle you would not be surprised that its function was compromised significantly. Think of trans fats, hydrogenated oils and super heated oils as bad oils that would significantly compromise your health.

We have now banished carbohydrates from our diets. Yet, they are the primary source of energy, minerals and fiber. Vegetables, fruits, whole grains and root vegetables are carbohydrate sources. They are also sources of many nutrients that help our system to function optimally. Certain amino acids that contribute to our moods gets absorbed better in the presence of carbohydrates. Translation, indiscriminately eliminating carbohydrates can lead to symptoms of fatigue, change in bowel habits (lack of fiber), depression and mineral deficiencies to name a few. Again, it is the type that matters. The glycemic index attempts to address this issue. One possible draw back may be that it may not address the nutrient density of certain foods.

We tout the virtues of proteins. We believe that if we consume a high protein diet that it will help us to lose weight. After all, amino acids (the breakdown products of protein) have many important functions. They are used to form the neurotransmitters that help us with mood; they help to form thyroid hormones that help with metabolism. Muscles are made up primarily of proteins. Also, certain amino acids help us to clear toxins from our body. The other side of the coin is that too much of anything will make it difficult to loose weight. Also, too much protein and an imbalanced protein diet can place undue stress on the liver and the kidneys. This, paradoxically, can produce problems with detoxification and energy.

Recently, I heard someone say- Yesterday when I woke up I was a healthy person, today I woke up a diabetic. He was referring to his recent diagnosis of Diabetes. We need to realize that what we do today strongly impacts tomorrow. Very seldom do we suddenly wake up one morning and have an illness dropped in our laps. The diagnosis may have been today but the illness started well before that. What my Grandmother might have said today is- Amazing technology does not absolve us from the responsibility of taking care of ourselves.

LIFE BEGINS WHEN YOU DO

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:37:00 +0000

Many of us have heard the saying- Life begins at 40 or is it 50? Recently I heard it said that the original quote was Life begins at 80. Well I think it is pretty clear that the age is not the relevant part of this statement. I prefer Life Begins when you decide to live it.

Many of us when we approach the ages between 40-50 realize that things start changing. We have put a lot of our energies into achieving the perfect career and creating the ideal family. We labored under the illusion that when we have achieved certain goals then life will be perfect. Paradoxically this is the time when we realize we do not have the time or the energy (or sometimes both) to enjoy what we spent so much time creating. Fatigue sets in. He is very closely followed by brain fog who then decides to ask low libido and anhedonia to join in. What then follows is the ability for us to derive pleasure from our daily activities is decreased; our ability to stay focus and concentrate becomes affected, our ability to multi-task effectively goes down. The inevitable result is that our home life and/or career begin to feel extremely stressful.

Something must be wrong, so we visit our physician. He or she dutifully runs laboratory evaluation and updates us on the current screenings such as mammograms, PAPS, PSA, etc. You are then given a clean bill of health. You are left with the feeling that it must be “all in your head.” Let me be one of the first people to confirm that a good portion of it may very well be in your head. No, you are not crazy, but there is the possibility that you have spent so much time nurturing your career, spouse, children, etc. that your brain (and body for that matter) was neglected.

Science is now able to offer not only hormonal evaluation for these of us who need it but also urine neurotransmitter evaluation, adrenal function testing and nutritional testing. What this allows us to do is get a sneak peak at the early stages of fatigue at a point before the bucket drops out from under us and at a time perhaps before traditional testing reveals any disease processes. In my opinion, it allows us to see the effects that years of stress have taken on our brain chemistry and adrenal function. If there is any doubt that the neurotransmitters affect the way we feel, I point to the Time Magazine Article (July 2007) regarding Dopamine (pleasure neurotransmitter) and its role in addiction. Better yet, look at the plethora of pharmaceuticals targeted at brain chemistry and pain (Prozac, Cymbalta to name a few). This must tell us something about the amount of people suffering brain chemistry disorders.

I am not suggesting that balancing the body is going to help you find your purpose in life or answer the question “what else is there?” What it will do is provide you with the clarity, focus and vitality to get involved in your life again.

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE CAN SLOW YOU DOWN

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:36:00 +0000

In today’s world we not only burn the candles at both ends but in the middle as well. We have families, jobs, commitments, businesses, relationships, etc. We operate in the fast lane and keep picking up speed. Many of us operate with the fear that if we stop anything or say no or tried to slow down in any way then we would be adversely affected. We worry we may loose our job, someone would stop loving us, we won’t be able to support our loved ones, we might loose our businesses, suffer financial ruin, etc. Real or imagined, fear of any kind produces a stress response. The structures in our bodies that orchestrate the majority of this response are called the Adrenal glands. Many of us are familiar with the Adrenals because we have heard the terminology- flight or fight response. Simple stated any event or circumstance that produces a strong emotional response initiates the Adrenal response so we are prepared for whatever we decide to do- fight or take flight.

The Adrenals are triangular shaped organs that sit on top of the kidneys. They produce substances that help to keep our bodies in balance. They help to modulate our immune system, maintain healthy blood sugar levels and fluid balance to name a few. They secrete many hormones that affect not only our stress response but our hormonal levels, our blood pressure, our heart rate, our digestive abilities, our blood sugar levels, etc. Some of those hormones have gotten massive media attention such as Cortisol and DHEA. Cortisol is often portrayed as the enemy. This may leave many with the misconception that we want our levels to be as low as possible. However, like other hormones in the body it is about balance. Without appropriate levels we are prone to infections, low blood pressure, low blood sugar, fatigue, mood changes, allergies and, in the worse case scenario, death from even minor infections or stresses. Other hormones are more obscure such as Pregnenolone. Still others may be well known but the Adrenal’s role in their production is often overlooked. Examples of this are Testosterone and Estrogens.

How do the Adrenals work? Let’s say that one is taking a leisurely stroll thorough his/her neighborhood. All is quiet and serene. Suddenly without warning, in front of you is a snarling rather large dog with a look that says you are his next meal. The brain registers this as an- EMERGENCY- THREAT. The signal is sent to the Adrenals. They must prepare the body for action. We need to be alert in order to make a quick decision. Our muscles need to be prepped and ready for action. We need fuel to supply the vital organs and tissue such as the brain, heart, lungs, muscles, etc. The Adrenals use their arsenal of hormones and transmitters to get the job done. For example, Cortisol assures that blood sugar remains available to provide fuel (energy) to needed areas. It also assures that there is adequate Adrenalin production (ever heard of the term Adrenalin Rush.) This allows blood flow to be directed towards the heart, muscles, lung to provide needed energy. This extra blood is diverted from the skin (cold and clammy), small intestine, stomach, colon (after all, this is not the time to eat and digest). The end result may be that you decide to run like you have never run before. You jump over a fence that had always seemed ridiculously high you in the past. Finally, you stop to catch your breath. In the ideal world, you shakily walk home, sit down and take the time needed to recuperate.

Now imagine these same feelings of panic and fear bombarding you every day, multiple times a day. Imagine being left feeling anxious with a fast heart rate, shaky, sweaty and breathing quickly on a daily basis. This is the body feeling like it is in crisis mode all the time. Also imagine that there is not time for recovery. This may give you a vague idea of what your Adrenals glands must endure on a daily basis. If the Adrenals have to keep the body in a constant state of readiness there is the possibility of over stimulating the body. This may lead to signs and symptoms such as palpitations, anxiety, elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, premature aging (due to overproduction of free radicals), depleted detoxification system (this can increase symptoms of allergies and sensitivities) and fatigue to name a few.

The next step that we might expect is Adrenal Fatigue. Simply stated, the demands on the Adrenal glands by far outweigh its supply. Many of us when placed in situations of constant stress, choose less than optimal foods to nourish us. This not only deprives the Adrenals of needed materials to continue to produce needed hormones, etc. but also places extra demands on these overworked glands.

To add insult to injury, the gut no longer absorbs well because it is constantly being deprived of much needed blood flow that aids with nourishing the gut and allowing for optimal absorption of nutrients. We now begin to experience abdominal distress, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) type symptoms, bloating, etc. Cortisol, one of the hormones produced by the Adrenals is the body’s anti-inflammatory agent. If something produces undue irritation in the body, Corisol comes out to calm that inflammatory process down. At the end stage of Adrenal fatigue, our cortisol levels begin to decline. This can lead to more fatigue (adrenalin’s production is dependent on cortisol being available), increased allergy symptoms, panic disorders, mood disorders, low blood pressure, etc.

Finally, Adrenal failure may develop. This is a relatively rare occurrence. This occurs when hormones produced by the adrenal glands are insufficient to meet basic needs. This can be a life threatening condition. Low blood pressure, abnormal electrolyte balance (such as sodium and potassium), changes in the color of the skin and inability to handle any stresses or infections are all hallmark of this condition. This referred to as Addison’s disease and requires immediate medical attention. Of course there are other causes of Adrenal failure such as acute infection and/or trauma.

Granted the rate of complete Adrenal failure is low and is often quoted as 1 in 100,000. Could it be as Dr. Seyle postulated, most of us live in the adaptation stage, where we are able to produce enough adrenal hormones to live and maintain “normal” parameters but not enough to live without fatigue and depression.

In summary, Adrenal glands are the work horses of the body and should be treasured. I like to compare them to the ant that carries many times his weight and works constantly. In doing so the potential for fatigue, burn out (whatever terminology you choose) is high. Our quality of life and our life itself is highly dependant on them. Of course, they do not work alone, but rather in concert with the rest of the body. Therefore, evaluation of Adrenal health should take into account many other factors. Healing your Adrenals is possible but requires not only supplements, medications where indicated, but also a willingness to instituting life style changes. Find an integrative physician willing to work with you to help you and your Adrenals to heal.

IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE SUGAR

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:52:00 +0000

What you don’t know about diabetes can hurt you

Diabetes Type II is one of the fastest growing health threats in the US today. It not only threatens adults but our children as well. To be grim for a moment, every 20 seconds someone in the US is diagnosed with Diabetes. Contrast this with the diagnosis being made every 10 minutes in the UK. Of course both of these stats are dismal but you can see who is clearly winning this dubious race. However, my focus here is not going to be on statistics (that was just to get your attention). What concerns me more than anything else is the perception that there is a distinction between “borderline Diabetes and Diabetes Type II. Somehow there is a misconception out there that if one identifies themselves as a borderline diabetic then they are not susceptible to the complications and risk that very frequently accompanies the diagnosis and therefore the former is not a serious health threat. In my opinion, this myth is perpetuated because of the common held belief that Diabetes is solely about blood sugar levels. Therefore, if your blood sugar isn’t “that high” then you have much less to worry about.

In my opinion, Diabetes is a complex imbalance in the body that involves not only blood sugar imbalance but also Hormonal and Neurotransmitter imbalances as well. Some of the hormones involved are insulin, cortisol, glucagon and norepinephrine (a neurotransmitter responsible for alertness and focus). Let us briefly explore the role of Insulin in order to make our point. Insulin helps to modulate blood sugar (most of us are familiar with this concept). Think of Insulin as a key that fits into the lock of many doors in our cells. These cells are present in our kidneys, muscles, brain, heart etc. Insulin opens the door so glucose can enter into the cells to be transformed into energy. Excess glucose is stored in the liver for future energy demands. If the Liver reservoir gets full, then glucose is converted to fat and stored in fat cells. Large meals and meals loaded with carbohydrates stimulate excess insulin release. If our cells are constantly bathe in high levels they in turn may start tuning out and stop listening to Insulin (Insulin Resistance). Insulin resistance may then progress to the official diagnosis of Diabetes. However the complications many of us associate with Diabetes begin to happen well before fasting blood sugar levels are elevated.

Insulin resistance is now considered to be an inflammatory state and is associated with increased risk of heart disease, obesity, hypertension, Parkinson, Alzheimers, strokes and other inflammatory conditions. Insulin resistance also contributes to the building of abdominal fat. This fat has been found to produce more inflammatory substances. These create more inflammation, depress the immune system leading to increased risk of infection and further exacerbate insulin and so it goes. The point that needs to be made here is that Insulin levels can be elevated without a corresponding increase in the fasting level of glucose. Insulin resistance can be present without abnormal fasting glucose levels. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism in 2004 Vol.90 suggests that complications associated with diabetes are present even without the official diagnosis of Diabetes. The suggestion is that glucose tolerance test may provide additional valuable information. This is not a foreign concept. In fact we do this study everyday for pregnant women as we realize that fasting sugar levels alone may miss potential glucose intolerance. In my opinion, we now need to extend this to the general population especially since we are facing obesity, glucose intolerance epidemic.

Does this mean that you do not have to be concerned about the level of your blood sugar? Of course not! We are aware that high sugar levels can damage cells and impair their function. We just need to be aware of the complexity of this process and not just attribute it to abnormal blood sugar levels. We need to address and identify diabetes and insulin resistance earlier so that we can maximize treatment and response. Our treatment approach needs to focus on returning balance to the body and not simply improving blood sugar levels. Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Nathan Hill states that he often suspects diabetes in patients when their ability to heal is impaired. “Many times this is the first inkling that the patient has that he/she may have diabetes”, states Dr. Hill. He goes on to say that the reply he receives most often is- but my blood sugar is normal. This is a good example of complications before blood sugar elevation.

We know that obesity and diabetes are on the rise so lets be proactive. Get a comprehensive evaluation that may include a glucose tolerance test. This test may take up to three hours and helps the practitioner to evaluate not just your blood sugar level but also how your body handles a carbohydrate load. This is a more telling test for Insulin Resistance than a fasting glucose or even a HbA1C. A nutritional evaluation to evaluate minerals and other nutrients that have been implicated in poor blood sugar control may also help individualize and maximize your plan. Since the common held believe that Diabetes and other chronic illnesses have a strong stress related component is now being supported in the literature, it would make sense to put together a plan that addresses these issues. This comprehensive plan would include lifestyle changes (exercise, stress management and nutritional planning and diet adjustments), supplements (many diabetics have nutritional deficiencies) and if needed (dare I say it) strategic pharmaceutical intervention. After all, as my Grandmother used to say, don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.

Finally, let me reinforce that medications and/or supplements do not compensate for lifestyle changes. A finish study has shown that lifestyle interventions reduce the risk of Diabetes by greater than fifty percent (>50%). Continuing to introduce gasoline (keeping the same lifestyle) into a fire while attempting to put it out accomplishes very little.

MENOPAUSE, MORE THAN JUST HOT FLASHES

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:52:00 +0000

Women approaching their forties and fifties are at increased risk for the Wired, Tired and Fat syndrome. The combination of a hectic lifestyle coupled with the approach of menopause and its hormonal disruption often times create a woman who is over stressed, over anxious and over taxed. Yet this same woman is so fatigued that she feels as if all her activities of daily living is being done while threading through a thick viscous haze. She is not able to think clearly, she has difficulty sleeping and cravings she cannot control. When her weight, cholesterol and/or blood pressure starts climbing, she is told to go on a “sensible” low fat diet, and exercise. However, her body is so imbalanced at this point that she is not able to accommodate any of these request, so she ends up feeling worse about herself.

How does this happen? According to Dr.Eudene Harry, MD, Director of Oasis for Optimal Health, LLC, as we get older the demands of a high stress lifestyle and the nutritional deficiencies that often times accompanies this lifestyle takes an extreme toll on our bodies. In menopause, our female hormonal levels change and stress tends to accelerate these changes. Dr. Harry states that stress, age and nutritional deficiencies also adversely affect our neurotransmitters (these help us to feel good, control our cravings and also improve our libido); our thyroid function (stress slows the thyroid leading to fatigue and weight gain); our adrenal function (stress suppresses the adrenal leading to fatigue) and depletes our nutritional status. Dr. Harry further states, “If you just replaced for example estrogen, this would not create balance and would most likely not give satisfactory results” Let’s put it another way, if you were making a cake, which ingredient is most important- the flour, the egg, the sugar, etc. The truth is, if you left out any of the ingredients you would not have an edible cake, therefore all of the ingredients are of equal value. According to Dr. Harry, “The body does not isolate, it behaves as a complete, integrated system and to address it otherwise is suboptimal.”

So if you are feeling wired, tired and fat, get tested. Find an integrative physician who is aware that the “whole” body needs to be balanced, and knows how to interpret your results for optimal health.

Dr. Harry, who was recently published in the Orlando Medical News, is board certified in Emergency Medicine and Holistic Medicine and is currently the Director of Oasis for Optimal Health, goes on to state “I became an integrative wellness physician because I felt the gap between traditional medicine and alternative care needed to be addressed. Now I feel fortunate to be able to get a more comprehensive look at my patients, not only with an in depth history but also using cutting edge laboratory evaluations such as neurotransmitter and nutritional testing. There is nothing more gratifying than helping someone to feel better.”