Most people think that a 700 calorie a day diet is a recipe for starvation but I’m here to tell you differently. HCG is amazing and you are truly not hungry. You are burning at least a pound of fat a day which means the hypothalamus, (the part of the brain that controls the way we burn and store fat), thinks it’s getting 2500 calories from the breakdown of your own fat. Not only are you not hungry but you have this sense of well-being and a lot more energy.  

For a lot of people it’s not only the physical aspect of so little food, it’s also the mental thinking that you are going to be starving on such little food. But that’s just not the case, you are actually at times surprised at how full you become on the smaller portions and wonder why you ate so much before the diet. Then you take that thinking after the diet and are able to maintain and even loss more weight. Most people eat for so many other reasons and you’d be surprised that being hungry is very low on the list. We can help you figure out why you eat and how to eat healthier.

           Recently in the news there has been a lot of discussion about HCG for weight loss. I have seen many advertisements and warnings in magazines of late, and Dr. Oz discussed it briefly on his show. He basically said “there might be something there, but more research needs to be done”.

         HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a hormone that pregnant women produce to release fat stores for the baby. In the 1950’s, a doctor by the name of A W Simeons successfully used HCG with a very low calorie diet to achieve weight loss in adolescent boys. The diet became popular in the 1970’s, fell out of favor, and then has regained popularity across the country since the 1990’s. We haven’t seen HCG much here in New York due to our restrictive prescribing laws.

        The traditional use for HCG in doses of 15,000-20,000 IU has been used to treat infertility in women, because it can stimulate ovulation.  Most of what we know about HCG is based on studies done in this setting, where it can cause premature failure of the ovaries. It is very difficult to find any studies done on the low doses we use for weight loss—500 IU/day for three weeks. Why? Well, it is impossible to do “long-term” studies on anything taken for only three weeks. Additionally, the dosage is so low over this short period of time it is difficult to discover the exact physiologic changes it produces. For those out there concerned about the safety of HCG, think of it this way: A pharmacist friend of mine once pointed out that men could take high doses of estrogen for three weeks and not suffer any long-term problems.

      If that`s the case, then what are the problems? Problems from HCG diet programs stem from two issues. The first is if you are ordering HCG off the internet, you don`t really know what you are getting. HCG is a prescription medication, so if you are ordering it off the internet it is most likely is NOT HCG, but either the homeopathic version (which by definition contains none of the original molecules of the substance), or it has caffeine or other stimulants which can reduce hunger but have serious side-effects.

       The second problem is the very-low calorie diet. It is physiologically unsafe for people to follow a 500 calorie-a-day diet without the use of medication like HCG that allows your body to release fat stores.  The way HCG works is through resetting the hypothalamus to release those abnormal fat stores called adipose that our bodies have forgotten how to let go of. By using HCG, we can release 2000 cal/day from fat stores, so really our body is getting 2500 cal/day. If we just try to follow a 500 calorie diet we can suffer severe medical consequences like dizziness, lightheadedness and even collapse. These are made worse if a person has underlying medical problems.

      HCG is a wonderful tool for weight loss. With medical supervision, HCG and a very low calorie diet can stimulate accelerated weight loss, and the ability to easily maintain that weight loss after the program is finished.  It is quite different from other weight loss programs because it allows our bodies to release fat stores, so we burn mostly abnormal adipose fat and not the healthy structural fat or muscle. I am excited about adding this to our practice because of the health implications of losing fat-blood pressure decreases, blood sugar, insulin levels and cholesterol all decrease with weight loss. Everyone gains more optimal health through weight loss!       

It's cold in winter, so you don't need sunscreen, right? Wrong. Actually, you need it more. In the  winter, the sun is closer to the earth and its rays are even stronger. Although it's true that you're outside for less time and are more bundled up when you are, your face and hands are still exposed to harmful rays. The unfortunate message from dermatologists everywhere is that if you don't wear sunscreen year-round, you are more vulnerable to getting brown spots, fine lines and wrinkles on your hands and face. To minimize such damage, experts say to use a product with an SPF of at least 30.

Here are some more tips to improve your sunscreen savvy this season:

·         Choose a sunscreen that protects you from UVA and UVB rays. There are two kinds of ultraviolet rays that reach the earth's surface: ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB). Both UVA and UVB rays cause your skin to show signs of sunburn and age, but many sunscreens only protect you from UVB rays. Make sure the sunscreen you buy contains ingredients that protect you from both. (The ingredient Parsol 1789, for example, filters out A and B.)

·         Wear it, wear it, wear it ‑- indoors and out. Okay, so you bought the sunscreen. That's not good enough. Even if you're inside, ultraviolet exposure can occur through windows and cause skin problems over the years. Many people have extra sun damage on the left side of the face because of sun exposure through the driver's-side car window, notes Dr. Barbara Reed, a dermatologist in Denver. Even at your sunny office desk, you could be absorbing harmful radiation.

·         Begin with a product you love. You may have to pay a little more for a sunscreen that's formulated for your face. It's worth it. These products are usually noncomedogenic, so they won't clog pores; they're lightweight and absorb quickly. Remember, the nicer the product, the more likely you are to use it.

·         If you plan to play in the snow… keep in mind that you face increased exposure to ultraviolet rays. Snow reflects about 80 percent of the ultraviolet light that hits it. Compounding the problem, for every 1,000 feet of elevation, ultraviolet exposure increases about 2 percent. So if you're out skiing, skating, mountain climbing or sledding, you need at least an SPF 30 to protect against the added exposure. According to Jackie Reiber, a day on the slopes calls for a heavy oil-based moisturizer and sunscreen ‑- even if you have oily skin. "You need to keep skin hydrated and create a barrier between your skin and the elements," she explains. And watch out for water-based foundations, she notes. In freezing temperatures, they can actually freeze on your face and cause redness and irritation.

·         When you fly, slather it on. If you're traveling this winter, don't forget to carry a small bottle of sunscreen with you. Your SPF may be in your suitcase on its way to an island paradise, but where you really need it is on the plane. The higher you are in the sky, the more UV radiation you're exposed to. That means the more potential you have for skin damage. Apply a sunscreen of SPF 30 all over your face before leaving the gate.

·         Just a few helpful hints to see you through a safe and fun filled winter. Call and schedule an appointment today so we can assist you with all your skin care needs.  

Let’s face it: acne isn’t just a blemish on your face – it’s a blemish on your self-confidence.  When you spot a new crop of pimples ready to take over your face, it’s easier to cancel all social plans, dive under the covers and bemoan your skin for being so susceptible to spots.  But you don’t have to deal with the skin of a sixteen-year-old forever, because there are new and revolutionary skincare treatments available at the Centre for Optimum Health in Webster, NY.

Our clients in Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, Canada and all over the world are raving about our line of anti-acne treatments and therapies.  From LED light therapy to oxidative skincare products, each skincare treatment is designed to banish blemishes and annihilate acne – for good.

If you’re ready to walk out the door without wearing make-up for the first time in your life, then take a look at just a few of our many revolutionary treatments that will eliminate acne from your gorgeous face:

1.            LED Light Therapy: Does the thought of eliminating your acne in just 25 to 30 minutes make you want to stand up and cheer?  Then it’s time to check out our LED Light Therapy at the Centre for Optimum Health.  LED lights are beamed onto the face via a facial lamp, which allows the lights to penetrate the skin and kick-start collagen and elastin levels. Not only will this remove any wrinkles or fine lines you may be suffering from, but also the collagen helps to bring new skin to the surface.  If you want to banish blemishes and eliminate acne scars, then head to our Centre today to look into LED Light Therapy.

2.            Oxygen Botanicals Skincare:  Are you tired of buying expensive creams and products from top-end beauty lines, only to be extremely disappointed by the lack of results?  Then the Centre for Optimum Health would like to introduce you to the Oxygen Botanicals Skincare Line, which is renowned for it’s anti-acne properties.  The pure oxygen botanicals within the skincare line penetrate the skin’s surface and open up pores, allowing them to eliminate the clogging oils that lead to acne.  From face wash to overnight creams, the Oxygen Botanicals Skincare Line is an anti-acne miracle in a bottle.  Right now, you can get five bottles from the renowned skincare line for an ultra-low price of $100 ($20 per bottle). 

At the Centre for Optimum Health in Webster, NY, we’re ready to show you how you can have a clean, clean and gorgeous face again. If you're in the upstate New York area, including Rochester, Syracuse and Buffalo, then you're just a short drive from our world renown office. 

To learn more about this treatment simply contact us here, or give us a call at 585-787-4251.

You may feel decades younger, but let’s face it: your skin is giving the game away.  No matter how much of a youthful approach you have to your lifestyle, nothing makes you look older than those stubborn facial lines, wrinkles and creases.  And although you’ve tried almost every expensive skin cream on the market, it’s just not enough to send your wrinkles packing.

How Can We Help Understand and Reduce Heart Disease of Our Rochester  and area Patients?

Heart disease currently affects 26.8 million Americans.  We think of heart disease as having a “heart attack”, meaning loss of blood supply to an area of the heart muscle which then causes those muscle fibers to die.

 Our goal is to prevent heart disease from ever getting to that point.  When we look at what really causes “heart disease”, it gets down to inflammation of the blood vessels causing damage to the cells that line our blood vessels, or the “endothelium”. 

When we have an area of inflammation in our endothelium, the body tries to repair the damage by laying down cholesterol, thus starting a cholesterol streak or plaque.  This plaque continues to grow until part of it shears off and becomes a “clot”, traveling downstream until it lodges in an artery causing blockage and cell death.  Thus, we have a heart attack.

Inflammation and Heart Disease

The biggest way to prevent heart disease is to lower inflammation.  A reminder of the things that cause inflammation – cortisol being too high or too low, sex hormones being low or for women out of balance, genetics, low vitamin D, environmental toxins and food allergens.

 Lp(a) a Genetic Risk Factor

I would like to discuss one of the hidden risk factors for heart disease, Lipoprotein little (a), or Lp(a).  For some of us Lp(a) is a hidden genetic risk factor for heart disease, for others it is a protein that carries cholesterol throughout the body that increases during times of stress.  However, it acts as a clotting protein, so when our levels are high we are at increased risk for heart attacks and strokes.  There is a reason why Lp(a) came on the scene.

 Here’s the story:

          A very long time ago (as in, millions of years), human beings lost their ability to make vitamin C from sugar molecules.  Not just humans, but the great apes, hedgehogs and guinea pigs also lost this ability.   Not having the ability to make vitamin C means that we must take it in through our diet.  One of the important roles vitamin C has in the body is to maintain the integrity of the endothelium. The ice age brought long stretches of time when fruits and vegetables were not readily available.  During these long stressful months, the arteries of our forefathers would start to crack and leak, and people would die of internal hemorrhage.

 Along came Lp(a) to the rescue!  Lp(a) would act to plug up the cracks so the people who had the Lp(a) genetic mutation survived the long cold winter better.  Once fruits and vegetables were available again, vitamin C would take over and the Lp(a) level would go down.

It takes a special cholesterol test called a VAP (vertical auto profile) test to find out if you have high amounts of Lp(a) or not.  Most traditional doctors are not using VAP testing, even though it has been around for over 20 years.  I find people fall into two categories: those that truly have the genetic risk for Lp(a) with very high levels, and the rest of us whose Lp(a) goes up during stress and back down when our stress is reduced. 

For both groups we can lower Lp(a) levels by using buffered vitamin C in doses of 2000-4000mg/day.  People with the genetic risk factor may need to add Lysine and L-Proline.  An interesting note is that statins (your current typical cholesterol medication) can actually increase Lp(a) in some people.

If you have a family history of heart disease and your cholesterol is slightly elevated, you should obtain a VAP test.  It’s just another way you can achieve your optimal health!

Can Supplements Help Me?

Yes they can.  Three words I could shout from the highest rooftop.  Supplements have been proven to help especially when you know  what to do with them and how much you should take.  The Miami Herald Newspaper addressed this week  at the UN talks they are going to discuss that heart disease, diabetes and obesity are surpassing HIV and Flu spread for a high percentage of deaths world wide.  That 9 out of 10 Americans have these nutritionally based problems.

Every area of your entire body has cells.  Those cells run on fuel known as vitamins, minerals, amino acids etc.   When these levels are not sufficiently supported through food choices, the cells look to get fuel from other areas.  They act like a two year old and expect to be taken care of.  This looks and sounds to you as the doctor checking your blood work, weighing you, and critiquing all aspects of your life…including your age.  You leave that office feeling like old age with a hand full of prescriptions that you recognize from your parents medicine chest.  Wake Up Call!  Your Primary Doctor is not going to offer you natural remedies as they are not educated in that direction.  They promote pharmaceuticals so don't ask them and feel completely rejected when they pooh pooh the idea of you not using their expensive choice of side effect filled medications. 

You have every right to a team of experts to help you get healthy.  Your one doctor working alone is not it!  Today, you should be in charge and research experts for everything from an open minded MD to your financial help.  You can be in charge of where you are at in life. 

Can Supplements Help Me?

Yes supplements can help you.  Once you get the copy of your blood work, take it to your nutritionist (versed in supplement use and not just a dietician) or your Functional Anti-Aging Doctor (make sure they are Board Certified and not just saying they can help in anti-aging).  There are some things you can do on your own to get the ball rolling. 

1. Try to Balance your electrolytes for energy and stamina.  Extremely important for better days, improved sleep and prevention of strokes, arthritis and many other areas of common concern.

2. Trace Minerals are preferred over a Multi Mineral as most over the counter Multi Vitamin Mineral combinations offer too many items and not enough of the ones that are truly needed.   Safe for those that know nothing about taking supplements but can be just as harmful to liver and kidney processing.

3. Digestive Enzymes especially if you are over 20.  Some need it long before but in general everyone's digestive track is in distress.

4. Speaking of Stress….pamper your adrenals as they are at the base of most problems in our lives.  Sinus infections, allergies, sinus headaches, stomach pain, low back and the dreaded sugar lows.  Adrenal Fatigue is real and your Functional Medicine Specialist will know exactly how to deal with it and won't tell you your symptoms are not related.

5. Antioxidants…I have particular ones that are specifically directed at anti-aging or preventing diabetes, heart issues and some cancers but for general use at least take an A,C & E combination

How Else Can Supplementation Help Me?

Higher amounts of Supplementation or use of Prevention or Reduction for chronic problems should be under the supervision of someone who knows and understands how to put them together with meds or without.  High doses can be of therapeutic use in chronic ailments.  Blood Work and Saliva Testing as well as the use of MRT (Muscle Resistance Testing) can offer the best guidance.  I have seen Cholesterol levels, CRP levels, Fibrinigin, insulin, glucose numbers as well as cancers come down and be in normal ranges due to supplementation in therapeutic levels.

Is There Anything I Can Do Now other than Supplementation?

Yes, you can start analyzing your food and fluid intake.  Eating right for  your blood type is a good start that is not as stressful to implement.  Drinking one half your body weight in ounces of clean water per day would help. Lower the amount of stress in your life by looking at one area that you can reduce or handle differently right now.

To handle more severe changes I highly recommend that you call for an appointment with the Anti-Aging Doctor or Nutrition Consultant versed in Supplementation Help…..anyone you know?

Please feel free to comment on this blog or tell your story of how it helps you!!

Dhea  or 7 Keto DHEA – Can it make a Difference?                            

Clearing up information regarding the utilization of DHEA or 7Keto DHEA which is a necessary hormone made by the adrenal glands and that you need to know their differences. 

Why should you be interested?

The way we handle stress has a lot to do with our type of personality as well as our genetics.  Even those that proclaim to be okay and feel they are not affected by external stress suffer from more of the invisible, internal imbalances.  Some just have a hard time admitting anything that has to do with the word stress. 

So, if you feel that you are free of emotional and mental stress let your Anti-Aging Doctor prove that your body stress is in balance also.  They are able to do this through specific blood work and saliva testing.  Your traditional doctor may not offer any help in this matter as it does not fall under the usual look see areas.

Adrenal Fatigue and Cortisol Levels seem to be the new kids on the block and are at the base of all our ailments.  The other hormone produced by the adrenal glands and depressed by stress is DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone).  DHEA is considered the most abundant of all the steroid hormones and is commonly referred to as The Anti-Aging hormone.  As we age, the production of cortisol rises and the DHEA decreases which leaves us more likely to experience heart disease, depressions, weight problems, cancer and diabetes.

What does DHEA do?

• ·         Bone Building (stimulates osteoblasts)
• ·         Skin renewal (fibroblasts)
• ·         Protects the Brain from aging decline (neurotransmitter production)
• ·         Regulates  and supports Immune Function
• ·         Low levels can be associated with Impotence
• ·         Increases Muscle Mass
• ·         Reduces high levels of Cortisol
• ·         Lowers Triglyceride Levels
• ·         Enhances Thermogenics
• ·         Increases Conversion of Stored Fat to Energy

What are the benefits of balancing the levels of DHEA?

• ·         Enhanced Energy and Relieves Fatigue
• ·         Improvement in handling stress
• ·         Better Moods
• ·         More relaxed
• ·         Better Sleep
• ·         Enhanced Memory
• ·         Helps Depression
• ·         Reduces Inflammation (arthritis, lupus)
• ·         Improves Gut Issues
• ·         Helps Balance Thyroid
• ·         Helps overcome Insulin Resistance
• ·         Fights Allergic Reactions
• ·         Cholesterol Reduction

The 7-Keto DHEA is a non-toxic version of DHEA.  It declines with age and can be a major culprit in the later part of life.  Urinary excretion studies show a 50% loss by age 50.  Upping your level of 7-Keto DHEA helps prevent and improves many signs of aging. 

It is a natural metabolite or converted form of DHEA and is unable to be utilized to make Testosterone or Estrogen.  The 7-Keto DHEA is also better at promoting loss of stored fat.  In an article by Dave Tuttle, May 2005 Life Extension wrote about how when 7-Keto DHEA is low that age-related declines in cellular immunity have an impaired response to flu vaccine, making them susceptible to catching the flu, even after flu shots.

DHEA is a very important component that is rarely acknowledged in traditional medicine.  Your doctor may look at a DHEAS which is the sulphated level in blood tests, find it to be too low and not know what to do with it. Over the counter supplements can help but please do it with guidance.  Low DHEA, like low Thyroid hormone, is a major marker of Aging and is necessary in our bodies.

What Time of Day Should DHEA or 7-Keto DHEA Be Taken?

Take all amounts in the AM hours with or without food as the body’s natural production of DHEA peaks in the morning.  If you take it at night you may stimulate your brain activity and experience bouts of insomnia.

If you or someone you love relates to any of the above indicators, don’t hesitate to pursue knowing your DHEA levels.  I suggest you find a specialist in the area of Anti-aging, Regenerative and Functional Medicine as they will listen, test and advise what would be the best bio-identical direction for you to achieve Optimal Health

ASK THE DOCTOR – DIABESITY

THE GROWING EPIDEMIC OF DIABETES AND OBESITY IN AMERICA

Are you concerned about being overweight?  Does diabetes run in your family?  Do you have a lot of stress?  Do you Crave sugar and carbs?  Can’t seem to loose weight despite exercise?  You could be headed toward diabetes!

WHAT IS DIABETES?

Diabetes is a disease in which the sugar level in blood is chronically high.  Because sugar molecules stick to everything, the elevated levels of sugar in the blood stream means more sugar molecules are going to stick to the blood vessel walls, nerves and muscle fibers, which causes damage.  This damage leads to everything from heart disease to Alzheimer!

WHAT CAUSES INCREASED BLOOD SUGAR?

Several things cause an increase in blood sugar.  We all know about diet, and that eating concentrated sweets too often leads to a problem controlling blood levels of sugars.  Insulin rises in an effort to get more of the sugar out of the bloodstream and into the cells where it can be used for energy.  High insulin over time, however, also damages blood vessels and increases inflammation, which we all know from our previous newsletter, is the root of all evil.  Inflammation is pretty much at the beginning of all of our modern day diseases.

Stress is another important issue for elevated blood sugar.  When we are stressed our bodies actually release more sugar into the bloodstream so our muscles have lots of fuel to “fight the tiger” as I like to say.  Evolutionarily our predominant stressor is danger, so more sugar in the blood stream meant we would have more energy for our muscles to run from or fight the tiger.  Being stressed however leads to an increase in blood sugar, and again, this leads to diabetes.  It also leads to obesity.  In the 21^st century, our stressors are not tigers, but time, toxins, relationships, work, family matters,etc.  Since we are not running from tigers and burning all that increased blood sugar, we end up storing it as belly fat.

Belly fat, or adipose, as it is called, also increases inflammation.  Inflammation itself leads to increased blood sugar and insulin.  We now know that adipose is a gland that produces hormones that affect the body.  A few of these hormones increase inflammation.  One of the hormones actually prevents you from feeling full – so the more adipose you have the hungrier you are!  It gets to be a vicious cycle!

HOW DO WE BREAK THE CYCLE?

First of all is diet.  Eliminate concentrated sugars and as many starchy carbohydrates as you can.  This means breads, pastas, crackers, cereals, etc., as well as pies, cakes, and candy.   Look at the stressors in your life.  Are you getting enough sleep and exercise?  B vitamins are essential for stress, as is replacing your electrolytes.

Important nutrients to decrease blood sugars include vitamin D3 at roughly 5000 IU per day. Every cell has vitamin D receptors, even the cells that produce insulin.  So they don’t function well without enough vitamin D.  High doses of chromium picolinate are very helpful to transport sugar out of the blood stream and into cells, and it helps cut down sugar cravings.   Vanadium helps decrease insulin resistance and lower sugars.  L-Tyrosine helps with carb cravings and emotional eating.

We can help inflammation with herbal remedies such as turmeric, curcumin, boswelia and wobenzyme.  

DIABESITY is a multi-faceted problem and requires a multi-faceted approach. If you or someone you know Is suffering in this direction, let us help you avoid the repercussions of this growing epidemic!

I thought I would start a post for those utilizing Hcg  to burn fat.  So Far, everyone that has used the Hcg is successful.  Very happy and excited to lose the unwanted fat from all those areas where it is disturbing,  The other great bonus is that blood work has improved for everyone accross the board.  Glucose levels, cholesterol levels, thyroid, etc. are lowering rapidly. 

One of the biggest exclamations is not only do they look great but they feel wonderful.  More energy, better sleep, less food consumption.  All thumbs up for less belly fat.

It is exciting to share and I want others to express themselves personally in the comment area below.

If you notice all waist lines are getting smaller, clothing is starting to hang and needs alteration or replacement.  To reach the goals to safely burn belly fat in a supervised environment is soooooooooooo helpful.  Seeing the self image and confidence levels in everyone is so rewarding for us at the Centre for Optimum Health.

I would like to encourage the use of spices and the MCT Oil (available at the office) when cooking.

Visual Portion Control

3 oz of fish, poultry = deck of playing cards or computer mouse

Yogurt – raw fruits or vegetables = tennis ball or large ice cream scoop

1 oz cheese = thumb size

1 oz nuts = golf ball\

1 medium fruit = baseball

1 teaspoon of oil = a quarter

We are so happy to be part of your Journey to the best health you can achieve in Anti-Aging.

Stop back to see shared stories and food preparation ideas.

Your partner in fat loss!

Marge