ASK THE DOCTOR 4

Dr. Leila Kirdani: PREVENTING INFLAMMATION

As a society, we are experiencing the first generation which is projected to live shorter lives than their parents.  Why?  The number of people with diseases is increasing.  At the root of all of these diseases is inflammation.

Inflammation is what starts us down the slippery path to any medical ailment, including:

• ·         diabetes
• ·         heart disease
• ·         hypertension
• ·         arthritis
• ·         and even cancer

Inflammation damages arteries and causes problems with our metabolism, creating obesity and increased blood sugar.  Inflammation alters our immune system, making it harder for us to fight off illness and cancer.

Dr. Leila Kirdani Explains: WHERE DOES INFLAMMATION COME FROM?

 There are several things that lead to increased inflammation.  Fortunately, most of them are treatable.

STRESS: 

Whether it be psychological (time, money, relationships), physical (not enough sleep, over-exertion), or environmental (toxins), stress increases inflammation.  Evolutionarily, we were meant to fight tigers, not our continuous, prolonged, ever-constant stress.

VITAMIN D3: 

This most essential vitamin that is made in our skin when we are exposed to sunlight!  We now know that Vitamin D is really a hormone that not only is important for bone health, but also modulates the immune system.  When we are low in Vitamin D, we have more inflammation, muscle tightness and chance of developing Cancer.

SEX-HORMONES:

  Estrogen for women and testosterone for men are our biggest anti-inflammatory.  This of course means our own natural, bio-identical hormones, and excludes traditional hormone replacement therapy.  Traditional HRT consists of estrogen and testosterone molecules that are not the same molecule as our bodies produce and therefore cause very different reactions. 

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS:

On a daily basis we are bombarded with chemicals and toxins that our bodies were not meant to have to deal with and they all create inflammation.  These include additives and preservatives in food, pthalates in plastics and heavy metals found in gasoline fumes, our fish supply, dental amalgams, cigarette smoke, and industrial pollution.    

GENETICS:

Each of us has our own genetic susceptibilities.  Our “weak link” in how our bodies interact with our environment.  Increased inflammation for some of us may lead to thyroid issues and for others heart disease.  The good news is that we can change the environment our genes are in, thereby changing their expression.  We are not doomed to repeat our parents’ diseases.

FOOD ALLERGIES: Last but not least in the inflammation list is food allergies.  The most common food allergens include wheat, corn, shellfish, dairy products and peanuts.

Dr. Leila Kirdani 

Reviews: HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE INFLAMMATION?

In addition to symptoms, there are several tests we can get to determine levels of inflammation.  These include:

• ·         a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein
• ·         homocysteine
• ·         vitamin D – the 25-hydroxycalciferol form
• ·         ferritin
• ·         fibrinogen
• ·         fasting blood sugar and fasting insulin levels

All of these tests can be performed by your doctor if they are willing.  However you may need to work with a Board Certified Anti-Aging/Functional Medicine Doctor to truly bring them down.

The Best Complimentary Therapy We Can Offer …

…is Teaching a Person How to Eat!

“I have no idea what I’m supposed to eat!” or “Everything I eat bothers me anyway!”

We hear this many times from people who come into our offices.  They would like to eat properly, but they get overwhelmed by all the information that’s out there.  Figuring out what food to eat should not be a source of stress.

These are the Complimentary Therapy suggestions we make:

Eat for your blood type:  The grocery list that has been created is quite accurate, so why taste and trial on your own.  People who eat foods that are compatible with their blood types actually report an improvement in a variety of health concerns..

Digestive function is improved, stress is reduced, energy is increased, they can focus and think more clearly, and they also lose weight.

Eat enough protein: protein is necessary to maintain your lean body mass and muscle health.  It fuels your muscles, helps stabilize your blood sugar, and reduces hunger.   Every meal and snack should contain some protein.

Good sources of protein (depending on your blood type) include lean meats, poultry, and fish, eggs, nuts, nut butters, cheese, yogurt, protein shakes and bars. At minimum, everyone should get at least 20 grams of protein per meal.

How can fruit and vegetables help my complimentary therapy?

Eat plenty of colorful fruits and veggies: they supply your body with essential vitamins, minerals and fiber that can help protect against chronic diseases and inflammation.

Good choices include salad greens, broccoli, tomatoes, carrots, beets, zucchini, green beans, peppers, apples, cherries, plums, and berries.

Watch your sugar intake:  besides being addicting, excess sugar contributes to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.  It causes weight gain, tooth decay, and even weakens your bones.

Be sure to read nutrition labels because sugar is everywhere.  Whenever you see an ingredient ending in –ose, that’s sugar.  Also watch out for corn syrup, honey, molasses, and cane juice, which sound healthy, but are sugar, too.

Going gluten-free can be your best choice when approaching complimentary therapy.

Go gluten-free: gluten is a protein found mostly in wheat, but also in rye and barley.  It is estimated that up to 50% of the population may be gluten sensitive.  These people may suffer from digestive problems, intestinal bloating and cramps, weakened immune systems, fatigue, increased blood sugar, and skin rashes.  Safe choices include buckwheat, rice, amaranth, quinoa, and nut flours.

Complimentary Therapy should always include Water!

Drink enough water: drink at least half your body weight in ounces daily.  (i.e. a 140 pound person should drink 70 ounces)

We have seen many clients improve their health by changing their diets.  Start eating properly and you, too, can become the healthy individual you were meant to be.  Begin today to take back control of your own health and well being. Allow your holistic treatment to help you as a Whole person and turn the Adult Aging Process into a pleasant experience.

Anne Barber received her certificate in Fitness and Nutrition from Penn Foster School and currently works as a Nutrition/Food Coach at Professional Nutrition Services of Rochester, Inc., Webster, NY. More information can be found at http://www.professional-nutrition-services.com and on Facebook.

Alpha Spa Bed for sleep help

Sleep Help? Great Idea

Humans are definitely programmed for daytime activity and for rest at night.   A large portion of the adult population suffer from difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or early awakening.

Sleep help is a necessity as sleep is not a luxury.  It is an important component of your health.  Most people spend the majority of their time indoors, which allows limited exposure to natural light.  Electric lighting is generally sufficient to allow for normal visual perception but it does not adequately support normal neuro-endocrine rhythms such as circadian rhythms.  Very few night workers experience restful or restorative daytime sleep because of the imbalance in their rhythms.

Why we may need sleep help.

Many people are unaware of the potentially grave health effects of inadequate amounts of sleep.  Major illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity  are linked to insomnia.  Psychological problems that can be linked to decreased work efficiency require some type of stress treatment as the lack of sleep over stimulates the sympathetic
nervous system, setting the stage for these to progress.

Anti Aging is our goal yet sleep disorders are continually playing a role in chronic conditions that lead to obesity, hypertension, elevated evening cortisol levels, impaired glucose control and increased inflammation.

Insufficient sleep and night time working can affect the frequency and amount of hormonal secretions and cause imbalances in cortisol, melatonin, growth hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).  Melatonin reduces core body temperature and causes sleepiness and light at night increases body temperature, alertness and performance.

Adult Aging  comes with medical conditions that can effect our sleep, such as allergies, arthritis, cancer, fibromyalgia, prostate enlargement, hot flashes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, hyperthyroidism, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and leg cramps.

Chronic stress and unhealthy lifestyle factors such as lack of exercise, irregular eating, poor sleep habits, excessive consumption of caffeine or alcohol and smoking all are triggers for insomnia.  Some may feel alcohol promotes sleep but a few hours later you experience wakefulness.  Computer work as well as environmental factors like noise, bright light and too much heat cause disturbance and fragmented sleep as well.

How do we get the sleep help we need to change this pattern?

There are many over-the-counter products sold and some may work for a short period of time.  There are medications that offer many residual symptoms that may be uncomfortable or inappropriate for your lifestyle.  You could meditate, medicate or count sheep. You can even find a practitioner that has an Alpha 2010 Bed that helps reduce the effects of lack of sleep.  Many people try a twenty minute nap session during their lunch breaks.   If you don’t get to the cause of the problem….you still have it months or years later.

Treatments health practitioners offer need to help you balance in all areas of your life.  Effective management needs to be directed at the cause.  It’s important to find someone knowledgeable in the use of supplements, hormone balancing, life style habits, eating and emotional balance.  Achieving restful sleep is critically important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and protecting yourself against disease.