Shake It Up!

Shake It Up! (blog post written by Dr. Spencer Hoffman, DC)

 

Point Pleasant, NJ – Is the lack of variety with your morning protein smoothie getting you down? Are you having a hard time staying compliant with your weight loss program because of it? Then don’t just trudge on or give in…Shake It UP!!!The benefits of a high quality protein smoothie are numerous. It can help keep you feeling fuller longer, keep your blood sugar stable, decrease cortisol levels, boost immune function as well as increase energy and thermogenesis. Wouldn’t you agree those are things you would want to have in an effective weight management program? So, why are you giving up? Don’t give up…Shake it up!!!

I personally recommend using a blender rather than a shaker cup. You are able to get much more creative with a blender. To keep things fresh and avoid the boredom make sure you keep plenty of fresh and frozen fruit on hand. You can always find frozen fruit in your local supermarket or warehouse store. If what you are looking for isn’t in season fresh, frozen is a great option. They are picked and frozen at the peak of ripeness keeping their nutrient content high. Instead of water or milk try using coconut or almond milk. My personal favorite is So Delicious Coconut milk.

There are many different types of protein powders on the market. They are NOTcreated equal. There are differences in quality, contaminants, and sources. Do you prefer a whey protein or a vegan protein?  There are pros and cons to each. You also need to look at how it is sweetened. Are you trying to avoid artificial sweeteners? Then you’ll need to pay very careful attention to the ingredient list.  Many of them contain multiple artificial sweeteners as well as artificial flavors.

This certainly isn’t an exhaustive review. I’m just trying to get the conversation started. For more information on my whey and vegan protein powders of choice or just to say hi feel free to contact me at info@hoffmanfamilychiropractic.com.

For a little variety give this recipe a try:

o    6-8 ounces of fresh brewed chai tea

o    2-4 ounces of coconut milk

o    2 scoops of Vanilla Ultralean

o    crushed ice

Mix the chai, coconut milk and protein in a blender adding crushed ice to the desired consistency. Pour into a tall glass and enjoy a protein packed chai latte.

Sole Therapy Using Original Himalayan Crystal Salt

Replacing your fluids is the number one recommendation by all healthcare practitioners and moms when you get the flu. Sports drinks, sodas, and other formulas often contain sugar or artificial sweeteners, and all sorts of hard to pronounce ...ingredients.

Sole Therapy using Original Himalayan Crystal Salt contains 84 minerals and provides excellent hydration benefits. It can be used several times per day short term or once daily long term.

 

If you are interested in receiving the directions on how to mix the Sole Therapy, please contact us at info@evolvingnutrition.com and we will email you the requested information.

Ease DOMS and Get Patient Back on Track!

Ease DOMS and Get Patient Back on Track!

(written for Evolving Nutrition by Dr. Corey Schuler from The Metabolic Treatment Center )

 

 

Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) usually develops 12-48 hours after intensive and/or unusual eccentric muscle action such as walking down a hill or lowering weights. Most of us know when we train hard (intensively) that we will be sore, but “unusual eccentric muscle action” also explains why doing a completely new exercise, even on very low weights, can have the same soreness the next day. It is also important to highlight that DOMS result from the “eccentric muscle action” which is the opposite phase to what we would expect (e.g. it is when we lower ourselves in a push up, or lower ourselves in a squat, or lower the bar in a bicep curl versus the concentric phase such as pushing in a push up). That is why it is walking down hill that results in DOMS, not walking up as most of us would naturally assume!

 When we are new (or renewed) to training, our sweat is actually fundamentally different than those elite or seasoned athletes. New athletes and deconditioned individuals have excessively salty sweat. This is because our body has yet to adapt to the excess perspiration. Until our kidneys catch up with our enthusiasm, we are susceptible to that salty ring on our gym shirts. This is a critical time to replenish our electrolytes. Most commercially available sports drinks are woefully inadequate in regards to the full spectrum of actual electrolytes and simultaneously contain either excess sugar or worse, artificial sweeteners. Sole (so-lay) therapy using Original Himalayan Crystal Salt is a suitable alternative. Prepared using all 84 minerals from the pristine Himalayans, Sole can be used twice daily by new athletes and after the most strenuous exercises.

 

New or higher level activity is a stress. Typically we think of it as a “good” stress, but the line is thin between good and too much. I explain to patients that we “thicken the line” by supporting with neuroendocrine system and reducing the stress response. In my practice I use RevolutionPRO for men to support the neuroendocrine system and our body’s ability to adapt to exercise and our increased need for energy.  In a very interesting study, maca was studied in cyclists. After only 14 days of use, long distance times were improved with the additional benefit of increased sexual desire.[i]  The takeaway from this study is that the broad spectrum results seen with maca should not be understated and perhaps only looking at one marker is not the appropriate way to measure adaptogenic herbs. We saw this with the studies of FemmenessencePRO for women as well. Maca, especially when phenotypes are carefully chosen and solubility is maximized, can impact multiple hormones and blood sugar in the system in a positive way including performance and possibly recovery.

 

Melatonin is becoming well-known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity. Melatonin and exercise have reciprocal benefits. As discussed, strenuous exercise causes oxidative stress and more specifically can deplete melatonin levels. Melatonin use can increase the low levels and also combat the free radical production and restore function.[ii]  A group of researchers gave football players a high dose of melatonin (6 mg) before a training session. None of the players fell asleep during the experiment. However, these researchers concluded that melatonin offered a significant benefit.[iii] The question we would ask is in regards to dose. Is 6 mg the appropriate dose for midday activity or would a lower dose offer similar benefits?  In very different athlete type, runners, a different group found that use of melatonin before exercise supported the biochemical markers of stress.[iv]  Again, no runners fell asleep on the track. HerbatoninPRO is a plant-based melatonin product that is naturally slow release and comes in both the physiologic 0.3 mg dose and the higher 3 mg dose for short term use.

 

In review, for delayed-onset muscle soreness, consider the following

·         Get a massage or acupuncture treatment

·         Use compression therapy if soreness is localized to a single joint

·         RevolutionPRO for men, 4 capsules per day or your regular dose

·         FemmenessencePRO for women, 4 capsules per day or your regular dose

·         3-4 liters of water per day with 2 daily doses of Sole using Original Himalayan Crystal Salt

·         Sole bath using Original Himalayan Crystal Salt

·         HerbatoninPRO 0.3mg, 1 capsule each night or prior to intense exercise

·         Green tea extract, 100 mg four times daily or four cups of brewed tea

·         Glutamine, 2-20 grams daily

·         Magnesium, 300-400 mg  daily

·         Fish oil, 2-3 grams daily

·         Get back in the gym, but this time, go a tinge lighter

For the full article, including complete analysis of additional therapies for DOMS, email corey@evolvingnutrition.com and you can request the podcast HERE.

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[i] Stone M, Ibarra A, Roller M, Zangara A, Stevenson E. A pilot investigation into the effect of maca supplementation on physical activity and sexual desire in sportsmen. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Dec 10;126(3):574-6.

[ii] Escames G, Ozturk G, Baño-Otálora B, Pozo MJ, Madrid JA, Reiter RJ, Serrano E, Concepción M, Acuña-Castroviejo D. Exercise and melatonin in humans: reciprocal benefits. J Pineal Res. 2012 Jan;52(1):1-11.

[iii] Maldonado MD, Manfredi M, Ribas-Serna J, Garcia-Moreno H, Calvo JR. Physiol Behav. Melatonin administrated immediately before an intense exercise reverses oxidative stress, improves immunological defenses and lipid metabolism in football players.  2012 Mar 20;105(5):1099-103.

[iv] Ochoa JJ, Díaz-Castro J, Kajarabille N, García C, Guisado IM, De Teresa C, Guisado R. Melatonin supplementation ameliorates oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling induced by strenuous exercise in adult human males. J Pineal Res. 2011 Nov;51(4):373-80.

DHEA and 7-Keto DHEA

DHEA and 7-Keto DHEA support weight loss and sexual health,
written by Dr Corey Schuler

Women tend to lose DHEA at a faster rate than men as they age. Because of this, much research has been done regarding the effects of DHEA and women’s health, specifically, sexual health.  Aside from the increased risk of osteoporosis and heart disease as women age, sexual function and interest tends to decline as well (Yasui, 2012).  One study found that daily oral DHEA therapy at the dose of 10 mg provided a significant improvement in sexual function and in frequency of sexual intercourse in early postmenopausal women (Genazzani, 2011). 

Newer research is showing that a metabolite of DHEA, namely the 7-hydroxylated metabolite, is lower at certain times during a female’s menstrual cycle.  One study found that decreased levels of the 7-hydroxylated metabolites of DHEA may be associated with decreased mood and cognitive disturbances during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (Duskova, 2011).

 

DHEA and Weight Loss

The metabolite of DHEA, 7-Keto DHEA, has emerged as an important one for weight loss and decreased fat by increasing a process called thermogenesis. The body’s resting metabolic rate increases, which increases heat in the body, resulting in an energy that increases consumption of calories and burns fat. The physiological mechanism that this is accomplished by is stimulation of fatty acid oxidation.

Research is showing that 7-Keto DHEA is effective AND safe as this metabolite is not converted into testosterone or estrogen. The only theoretical safety concerns about DHEA centers around these conversion issues. Where testosterone and estrogen therapies have caused concern, DHEA is been given similar caution. Very few natural products improve basal metabolism; however, 7-keto DHEA caused a slight but significant rise in thyroid hormones in men during the treatment period, however levels declined to basal levels after treatment was stopped (Hampl, Sulcova, 2006). Resting metabolic rates were increased 1.4% in overweight adults using 7-Keto DHEA (Zenk, 2007). 

I use 7-Keto DHEA to improve short term weight loss when used in combination of other dietary and lifestyle therapies. In regards to using DHEA itself rather than the 7-Keto metabolite, I strongly urge the use of testing and retesting to promote safe use. DHEA and DHEA-S can be measured via blood for relatively low cost and should be ordered with either a traditional or advanced (VAP) lipid panel. Unbound DHEA can be monitored via salivary panels as well.

 

1.      Duskova M, Simunkova K, Hill M, Starka L. 7-hydroxylated derivatives of dehydroepiandrosterone as possibly related to menstrual mood change in healthy women. Endocr Regul. 2011 Jul; 45(3):131-7

2.      Genazzani AR, Stomati M, Valentino V, Pluchino N, Pot E, Casarosa E, Merlini S, Giannini A, Luisi M. Effect of 1-year, low-dose DHEA therapy on climacteric symptoms and female sexuality. Climacteric. 2011 Dec;14(6):661-8.

3.      Hampl R, Sulcová J, Bílek R, Hill M. How short-term transdermal treatment of men with 7-oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone influence thyroid function. Physiol Res. 2006; 55(1):49-54.

4.      Yasui T, Matsui S, Tani A, Kunimi K, Yamamoto S, Irahara M. Androgen in postmenopausal women. J Med Invest. 2012;59(1-2):12-27.

5.      Zenk JL, Frestedt JL, Kuskowski MA. HUM5007, a novel combination of thermogenic compounds, and 3-acetyl-7-oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone: each increases the resting metabolic rate of overweight adults. J Nutr Biochem. 2007 Sep; 18(9):629-34.

DesBio hA2cg Weight-Management Program - December 18th Webinar

Topic: Prepare your patients for a successful new year with the DesBio hA2cg Weight-Management Program - December 18^th

Details: Join Dr. Bruce Shelton, MD, Chief Medical Adviser for DesBio, a world-class homeopathic MD and current President of the Arizona Homeopathic and Integrative Medical Association. We will also be joined by Clair Dainard MS, CN and DesBio's Director of Practitioner Support who will focus on the nutritional issues during the webinar.

Why the DesBio Evolution Weight-Management Program?
- Since its introduction, over 100,000 patients have successfully completed the Evolution Weight-Management Program.
- Utilizes the power of hA2cg Evolution. This patent-pending formula is the only product to incorporate the bioidentical versions of the two active peptide chains in the hCG molecule. While other formulas contain non-specific amino acid blends, hA2cg Evolution uses the science of the actual molecule to more directly signal the body.
- Two programs to help your patients be successful. Developed by our team of practitioners, the DesBio program features a 500 calorie option and a 1000 calorie option to suit your patients' individual needs.
- A complete suite of supporting products, exclusively distributed by Evolving Nutrition, to help your patients achieve weight-management success.

Date: Tuesday, December 18th, 2012
Time: 5:00 p.m. PST (8:00 p.m. EST)

If you are interested in registering, you can contact our Customer Service Department at (800) 456-0891 or you can email us info@evolvingnutrition and we will add you to our list of attendees.

Thinking Twice About Testosterone Replacement

Thinking Twice About Testosterone Replacement, by Dr Corey Schuler 

Testosterone replacement therapy can be a necessary medical intervention in some men for conditions such as sexual dysfunction, depression, and chronic fatigue. However, there are known risks. Popularity of testosterone prescriptions are skyrocketing, but who is it safest for and who is at the greatest risk of early cardiovascular death and heart attack? How do consumers make decisions in combination with their doctor without knowing the consequences? Ultimately you have to rely on the experience and knowledge of your provider, but having the right information in front of you can only help the decision process.

In a recent publication from Endocrine Today, evidence suggests that a new subset of men should not use testosterone replacement therapy. Men with obstructive coronary artery disease have higher risk of death and heart attack when using testosterone replacement therapy.

But that leaves some questions, doesn't it? What if you've had a coronary angiograph which confirmed obstruction or perhaps had an angioplasty or stent to correct obstruction and also have confirmed or suspected low testosterone levels? Are you just out of luck with no therapy for the hormone imbalance?

Symptoms of hormone imbalance in aging men are not limited to sexual dysfunction. Rather, depression, poor sleep, poor recovery from activity, poor stamina, libido (sex drive), lack of energy, and decreased strength and performance may all be symptoms of hormone imbalance. We also note that stress and poor blood sugar control can deteriorate men's hormones at an accelerated rate as well. Does this sound familiar? If so, read on.

We often suggest lifestyle modification such as weight loss, stopping smoking, and increasing exercise, especially activities such as weight training and sprinting to improve hormone balance in aging men, but the reality is that besides stopping smoking, these are quite tall orders for those who have obstructive coronary artery disease. Thirty minutes of weight lifting or daily sprinting probably isn't going to be approved by the cardiologist or cardiac rehab therapist. Not to mention that poor hormone balance often makes losing weight difficult.

Getting back to the basics of health, the pillars of good living, may be the answer along with specific products to support hormone balance.

From a diet perspective, adequate protein is an absolute must to stop the breakdown of muscle in aging men. Supplemental protein shakes are often a good way to go if appetite isn't great or cooking isn't your strong suit. If you can tolerate whey protein, it seems to be one of the best sources. It raises glutathione levels which is important from an antioxidant perspective and also contains branch chain amino acids which support muscle health. Vegan protein powders are a bit easier on the body. These contain hemp, pea, and/ or rice but often times are much lower in protein content. Shoot for 20 grams per shake. Nuts and seeds provide excellent protein from plant sources as well. Vegetable and plant nutrients cannot be understated for general heart health and all doctors and practitioners should be encouraging this behavior.

From a dietary supplement side, Revolution Macalibrium is a tested formula of specific phenotypes of maca (Lepidium peruvianum). Maca has a rich history of supporting men's hormone health; however, research has shown that there are specific phenotypes ideal for men’s hormonal health. Revolution Macalibrium not only has these exact phenotypes but has concentrated levels of the full spectrum of active constituents ten to twenty times higher than the levels found in raw maca which is why doctors and patients are getting such strong results quickly. This is a foundational product that works through the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis to help a man make his own hormones versus relying on hormones from outside of the body. A man's own hormones made by him is much safer since nothing is more natural than your own hormones.

Omega-3 fatty acids, especially those rich in EPA and DHA are recommended. If a man has high triglycerides, the American Heart Association suggest 2.4 grams of EPA + DHA per day. This seems like a prudent suggestion for all men facing either hormone imbalance, obstructive coronary artery disease, or life in the modern world. Reducing inflammation and supporting cell membrane health are just two well known mechanisms of omega-3 fatty acids and since the human body doesn't make its own omega-3's it has to rely on us to ingest them every day. I prefer high EPA products. Some products contains as much as 1060 mg of EPA and 274 mg of DHA per 2 capsules. Two capsules twice per day is ideal to hit this goal dose of 2.4 grams. Be wary of lower doses or you'll end up taking 8 capsules per day. Many products will contain 180 mg of EPA and 120 mg of DHA. This is perhaps suitable for the percentage of the population that gets nearly adequate dietary omega-3 fatty acids and is already healthy.

Other interventions and supplements may be indicated given your history and complicating factors, and in that case we recommend working with a doctor who understands your condition and also natural approaches. Click here to find a practitioner close to you.

So, if you know a man considering testosterone replacement and also has obstructive coronary artery disease, arm them with this important information so he can make an empowered decision.

To review Natural Health International's Revolution Pro, please visit the following link to our website: http://www.evolvingnutrition.com/Product-Categories/Mens-Health/RevolutionPRO

If you have additional questions, please contact us at (800) 458-0891, ext 23 or via email at info@evolvingnutrition.com . We are always here to help!

Aloe Goes Beyond the Burn

Chances are you’ve slathered a cooling aloe vera gel over a searing sunburn. Perhaps you’ve even cracked open an aloe plant leaf and drizzled its milky juice directly onto inflamed or dry, itchy skin. Information found in wellnesstimes.com states that topically applied, aloe’s soothing benefits are widely known—and have been extolled by nurturing grandmothers for decades. But the plant harnesses a host of other potential applications for health and wellness. Naturopaths and herbalists have long touted its ability to ease constipation, flush toxins from the body, tackle gastric problems and even help lower blood sugar when consumed orally as a supplement or a juice. According to the American Botanical Council, there are more than 300 species of aloe plants that grow all around the world. Because its documented use dates back to the ancient Egyptians, who dubbed aloe the “plant of immortality,” and spans much of the globe, botanists aren’t entirely sure where the genus originated. Regardless, the species commonly grown and used for medicinal purposes in America are those familiar perennials with fleshy, dark green, upright leaves with serrated edges.

Aloe plants contain gel which is the translucent, gooey substance packed into the inner leaf. Aloe gel contains active compounds that help temper inflammation and block bacteria from infecting damaged and vulnerable organs—including our biggest organ, the skin. Gel constituents are also thought to aid in cell regeneration, resulting in faster healing times. For these reasons, aloe enthusiasts swear by gel and gel-based topical products’ healing prowess.

Research largely supports aloe’s effectiveness in these areas. One study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in June 2010 found that aloe cream reduced patients’ postoperative pain, sped wound healing and cut the need for analgesic painkillers significantly more than placebo. As for burns, a trial published in the journal Surgery Today in July 2009 found that second-degree burn patients given an aloe gel–based cream healed more quickly than those treated with topical silver sulfadiazine.

Just as aloe gel shows promise in soothing and healing skin, preliminary research suggests it may also protect against and help heal gastric ulcers. According to a study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology in April 2006, aloe vera, given internally, reduced gastric inflammation and sparked ulcer healing in mice. And research detailed in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in July 2004 found that aloe protects mucous membranes in the gastric systems of mice from injury.

Another promising benefit of taking aloe internally is its antidiabetic effects. Research findings on aloe’s impact on blood glucose and triglyceride levels have been inconsistent, but a paper published in the Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal in July 2009 points to several studies that support the plant’s blood sugar-lowering effects in patients with type 2 diabetes. In their own trial, the authors found that an aloe vera extract resulted in lower triglyceride and glucose levels within four and six weeks, respectively, in a small sampling of diabetic patients.

Evolving Nutrition offers Aloe Vera in the form of a softgel from Protocol For Life Balanceand can be ordered by contacting a customer service representative at (800) 458-0891. To read additional information on this supplement, you may visit our website HERE for product details and additional nutritional facts.

 

 

 

If you have questions about aloe or would like to reach out to a consultant at L'BRI PURE n' NATURAL, please contact Kathy Stubbs (Senior Consultant and Certified Skin Care Consultant) at Kathy@DreamJourney.net or you can visit her website at www.kathystubbs.lbri.com!