phone Created with Sketch. Contact

We all know we need sleep. But that doesn’t stop nearly a third of us from struggling with it. According to the American Sleep Association, about 30% of adults in the U.S. deal with short-term insomnia, and 10% have chronic issues falling or staying asleep.

Sure, we’ve all felt the effects of a rough night—foggy brain, bad mood, dragging energy—but science now shows just how critical sleep really is.

What Happens in Your Brain While You Sleep

Here’s where it gets fascinating: researchers at Boston University discovered that while you sleep, your brain goes through an actual cleaning process. It’s not just “shutting down”—it’s doing vital maintenance work.

Here’s what they found:

  • Your neurons go quiet.
  • Blood briefly flows out of your brain.
  • Then cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)—a watery liquid—rushes in, washing through your brain in pulsing waves.

This process, highlighted in a 2019 NIH-funded study, is like a nightly rinse cycle for your brain. During the day, your brain is incredibly active (it uses over 10% of your total energy!) and generates a lot of waste, like toxic proteins and damaging free radicals. Without sleep, those toxins pile up—and that’s a problem. They can impair memory, reduce focus, raise irritability, and even contribute to long-term brain diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Sleep gives your brain the chance to shrink slightly, which allows more CSF to flow in and flush out the gunk. Without it, your brain becomes clogged and sluggish. Over time, it can lead to actual damage.

So, How Can You Sleep Better?

If quality sleep feels out of reach, the good news is there are natural ways to improve it. Here are four science-backed strategies:

1. Optimize Your Sleep Environment

Also known as “sleep hygiene,” this includes:

  • Sleeping in a dark, cool room
  • Blocking out noise (or using white noise)
  • Keeping screens out of the bedroom (yes, even the TV)
  • Avoiding caffeine, heavy meals, and alcohol late at night
  • Going to bed around the same time every night
  • Cutting off fluids at least two hours before sleep
  • Supporting your body with calming nutrients like magnesium or calcium
  • Trying sleep-friendly herbal teas like chamomile or valerian

2. Balance Your Hormones Naturally

Hormones have a huge impact on your sleep. Stress, aging, and life changes can throw them out of balance. Natural progesterone (not synthetic), along with bio-identical melatonin, estrogen, and even cortisol support, can help reset your rhythm and restore restful sleep.

3. Support Key Neurotransmitters

GABA and serotonin are the calming chemicals your brain needs to fall and stay asleep. You can support these naturally, often without needing prescription sleep meds. A functional or integrative medicine practitioner can help identify imbalances and guide safe, effective solutions.

4. Calm Your Nervous System

Stress and mental overload are major sleep disrupters. When your mind won’t slow down, turn to breathwork. Simple breathing exercises before bed can help lower cortisol, relax your body, and ease you into sleep.

Bottom Line: Sleep isn’t optional—it’s vital. It’s your brain’s chance to reset, recharge, and clean house. Prioritize it, protect it, and support your body in getting the deep rest it needs.

About The Renewal Point

With over 30 years of experience and numerous board certifications and credentials, Dr. Watts, MD, ND, MSNM and his team are experts in Bio-Identical Hormone and Neurotransmitter Balancing.  As brain and body hormone balancing is both an art and science, it requires expertise in individualized therapy and ongoing dosing changes, based not only on a patient’s diagnostic lab values but also their symptoms.  Due to the sensitive nature of hormone balancing, it is imperative that you work in partnership with an experienced provider and program.  

To learn more, we encourage you to visit our website at TheRenewalPoint.com and/or call 941-926-4905. 

References:

Kim, S. et al. GABA and l-theanine mixture decreases sleep latency and improves NREM sleep. Pharm Biol. 2019 Dec;57(1):65-73.

Kagan, R. et al. Improvement in sleep outcomes with a 17β-estradiol-progesterone oral capsule (TX-001HR) for postmenopausal women. Menopause. 2018 Dec 21;26(6):622-628.

Sleep triggers a brain fluid refresh. NIH. Science Highlights. 2020 Jan 6.

Noor, A. et al. Progesterone vs. synthetic progestins and the risk of breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Syst Rev. 2016; 5: 121.

Did you know that virtually everyone can maintain a healthy sex drive and experience enjoyment at any age? So for this Valentine’s season, let’s see how we can keep that flame going by restoring youthful, sexual vitality for life!

Historically one of the most distressing side effects of aging has been a loss of one’s sexuality including romance, performance and satisfaction.

Many men experience a decrease in erections while women notice a decline in overall sexual desire and enjoyment. No doubt this is an area of great frustration! In turn, relationships are challenged since healthy sexual function is so linked to intimacy.

What makes sex great?

Aside from romance and passion, a healthy libido requires certain hormones to be balanced and flowing.

When low levels or an imbalance of hormones occurs, the ability to engage in healthy sex is challenging. Sex can be unsatisfying, difficult or even impossible. Correcting the imbalance achieves rejuvenation of the body, brain and other more “critical areas”. Simple lab tests can detect these imbalances and safe, natural hormone replacement can correct the problem.

  • Estrogen: Improves menopausal symptoms, vaginal lubrication, brain function, sexual desire, orgasm, skin, hair, nails, and breast fullness.
  • Progesterone: Helps promote romantic moods, libido, sleep, and assists in the prevention of breast cancer.
  • Testosterone: Ignites the fuel for virility in men (erection), and increases libido, orgasm, and brain function in both women and men.
  • DHEA: Enhances mood, desire, receptivity, performance and pleasure.
  • Serotonin: Increases joy and intimacy. (Treatment for depression with drugs to correct serotonin, such as SSRI’s, i.e., Prozac, Zoloft, actually decreases libido and orgasms).
  • Dopamine: Increases desire, interest and performance (especially in men).
  • Gaba: Enhances orgasm, mood and sexual wellness (especially in women).

At The Renewal Point we run tests for these hormones in both women and men, and then correct the problem.  There are so many options these days!

It’s always rewarding to see how restoring someone’s sexuality also has a positive influence on other aspects of their life, such as self confidence, clearer communication abilities, and an overall desire to want more out of life!

Keep in mind that it’s important to be in the hands of an expert when it comes to hormone balancing ~ it’s definitely not a one size fits all and there will need to be adjustments made along the way as our bodies are constantly changing.

For more information on this topic, check out Sex and the Female Brain.

WHY DO I NEED HORMONE TESTING?

When it comes to hormones, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.  For years, the standard practice has been to prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as if everyone needs the same thing. In reality, each person’s hormonal profile is as unique as their fingerprints. To achieve optimal health, it’s crucial to identify your specific hormonal imbalances.

WHICH HORMONES NEED TESTING?

  • Cortisol: This adrenal hormone helps manage stress, blood sugar, metabolism, and energy. Low levels can lead to weight gain, fatigue, and depression.
  • DHEA: An essential adrenal hormone that helps with stress management and serves as a precursor to other hormones.
  • Thyroid Hormones (T3 & T4): Known as the hormones of energy and warmth, deficiencies can result in weight gain, low energy, and depression.
  • Pituitary Hormones: These include growth hormone, often referred to as the most powerful anti-aging hormone.
  • Estrogen: The primary female hormones exist in three forms (E1, E2, E3). Balancing these hormones can alleviate symptoms of PMS, perimenopause, and menopause while slowing aging-related changes.
  • Progesterone: This balancing hormone is vital for both men and women. Low progesterone levels can lead to irritability, depression, inflammation, and in women, irregular menstrual cycles. Men may experience urinary issues related to prostate health.
  • Testosterone: Essential for male virility, it also plays a significant role in women’s libido, mental clarity, and muscle mass.

Advanced Hormone Testing at The Renewal Point

At The Renewal Point, we provide comprehensive hormone testing to uncover individual variances. Bio-identical Hormone Balancing can be an essential component of maintaining a healthy weight, enhancing quality of life, and promoting overall health.

We first meet with you to determine which of the tests are necessary.  Then, our medical team (or your preferred lab) conducts the laboratory tests (blood, saliva, and/or urine) to create a detailed assessment of your hormonal status, enabling us to develop a personalized plan for optimal balance and health.

At The Renewal Point, we take a different approach than most. We investigate the root causes of health issues and prioritize disease prevention.

Contact us for a consultation and discover a new path to longevity, health, and vitality!

Excessive levels of estrogen can be dangerous to a woman’s health and, believe it or not, a man’s too! Over and over these days we hear doctors and then the media tell us we need to check our hormone levels.  Most of the time we think we will discover what hormones we are missing, but here’s the great exception:  at The Renewal Point, we are observing an epidemic in men and women who have excess estradiol levels. Estrogen imbalances, while usually considered a female problem, can be responsible for increasing the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer in both sexes.

A current study in the Journal of American Medical Associates (JAMA), found that men with the highest estradiol levels were 133% more likely to die from heart disease. In another recent study, Dr. Morgenthaler, a Harvard urologist, found that men with low testosterone levels and high estrogen levels had a 40% higher rate of prostate cancer than men with normal levels.

“Why?” you wonder…Well, Aging men can develop too much aromatase enzyme. This aromatase enzyme converts testosterone to estrogen.  Aromatase is found to be most prevalent in the skin and fat tissues just under the skin. We find this condition especially in men who use testosterone patches and gels, because these are applied directly to the skin (as opposed to testosterone injections which bypass the skin).

Females in the perimenopausal ages will commonly have high Estradiol and Estrone levels; a condition called Estrogen Dominance, which steals their health by causing weight problems, irritability, sleep disorders, and breast cancer.  We find this condition also in women who are overweight or have PMS or polycystic ovaries.

Excess Estrogen Can Cause:

In Males:
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Moody/grumpy
  • Over-sensitivity
  • Benign prostatic hypertrophy
  • Breast/hip enlargement
  • Prostate cancer
In Females:
  • Weight gain
  • Irritability
  • Insomnia
  • Breast tenderness
  • Breast cancer
  • Fibrocystic breast
In Both Sexes:
  • Early death
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Cancer
  • Stroke
  • Hypertension
  • Diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • High Cholesterol

At The Renewal Point, we specialize in bio-identical hormone balancing. Simple blood tests can be run to determine estrogen levels and other possible hormonal issues. The good news is that if there are hormonal imbalances, together, we can correct them.

At The Renewal Point, our goal is to help you maintain the highest quality of life for as long as possible, by monitoring safe and effective hormone levels that give you optimal results.

References:

  1. Lord RS, Bongiovanni B, Bralley JA: Estrogen metabolism and the diet-cancer connection: Rationale for assessing the ratio of urinary hydroxylated estrogen metabolites. Altern Med Rev 7:112-129, 2002.
  2. Kabat GC, O’leary ES, Gammon MD, et al: Estrogen metabolism and breast cancer. Epidemiology 17:80-88, 2006.

There is no secret that males and females are different – it’s obvious to the eye. Lesser known is that the difference between genders extends beyond what the eye can see. Accord­ing to author, John Grey, it is as if we were from different planets, ‘Men are from Mars – Women are from Venus.’

While the notion of brain dissimilarity between the sexes has been widely criticized by neuroscientists throughout the ages, recent brain imaging techniques, studied at The Uni­versity of Pennsylvania by Dr. Ragini Varma, confirm that the brains of men and women are indeed “hard-wired” differently.

In fact, scientists have discovered approxi­mately 100 gender differences in the brains of men and women and the importance of these differences cannot be over-stated. While there will always be exceptions to these differences, the good news for us is that understanding these gender differences can open the door to a better appreciation for male and female relationships in both our business and personal lives, for example:

• Improving intimacy and romance

• Working better as a team

• Cooling arguments, especially when gender defenses flare. (“My way or the Highway”)

• Learning new skills

• Understanding why women have more than twice the depression, anxiety, sleep issues and self-doubt as men, and more importantly, what to do about it

In order to get a better perspective of these dif­ferences, let’s take a look at three of them:

1. White and Grey matter—Women have 10x the white matter as men, while men have 7x the grey matter as women. White matter handles and processes information, while grey matter is tied to task-orientation and action centers.

This difference may explain why women are usually better at multi-tasking, social logic, and memory of words and faces. Men, on the other hand, have a stronger connection to spacial/conceptual activities and gross motor skills.

This may also be the reason why women tend to like romance novels and movies which involve relationships, while men usually enjoy action movies or sports. Even at an early age, whereas girls and boys use “smart technology” equally, girls do more texting and talking, while boys do more gaming.

2. Cingulate gyrus—In The New York Times best seller, “The Confidence Code,” authors, Katty Kay and Claire Shipman, research the science of why women, even successful business women, struggle with feelings of self-doubt. They found that the Cingulate gyrus, a structure of nerves in the brain which helps us weigh options and recognize errors, often called the ‘worry wart’ center, is actually larger in women!

A useful art for women is to cultivate how to turn this “worry center” on or off at will. A little worry can be beneficial in helping plan and manage a busy schedule at work or home, while too much worry is stressful and damag­ing to one’s health, interrupting sleep, relation­ships, and overall well-being.

3. Neurotransmitters (N.T.)—N.T.s—of which there are approximately 200 identified—are the chemicals in the brain related to “self-talk” between neurons.

The principle N.T. of women is serotonin, the hormone of feel-good, joy, having fun, and sex. Unfortunately, in the course of over-nurturing, taking care of family and friends or over-worry, women can use up their serotonin. This depletion may often lead to being overly sensitive, avoiding risk, developing depression; i.e. becoming weepy, sad and obsessed.

Men, on the other hand, primarily use dopamine – the hormone of competition, risk-taking and motivation – “Go kill the Wooly Mammoth”. Unfortunately, in the course of over-competing and over-driving, men can use up their Dopamine causing them to feel grumpy, curmudgeonly and in the ‘grey zone’. Often times, if depleted of Dopamine, men will try to raise this neuro-chemical by engaging in high risk activities such as motorcycles, airplanes, fast sports cars, fast women/affairs, and mid-life crises.

While there are a number of other differ­ences, the important thing to take away, is that if you are bothered by any of the above symptoms, there is something that can be done about it. At The Renewal Point, we do integrative testing for chemical and hormone imbalances, which helps us to develop an individualized treatment and care plan.

Through mechanisms such as reestablishing proper serotonin and dopamine levels, as well as calming the “worry-center,” we are able to help our patients gain a better sense of balance in their lives.

Stomach cramps, bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, or anything else for that matter? You don’t need to suffer in silence! Dealing with tummy troubles can be a painful, stressful, even embarrassing ordeal for a lot of people, yet people don’t actually realize just how common these digestive issues are. In terms of our general health and well-being, gut health actually plays a key role in our overall physical and emotional well-being. Put simply, this basically means that if your gut health is off, even slightly, you yourself will feel ill and may suffer from numerous other ailments.

The good news is that you can make positive changes and you can do something about your digestive issues. With the type of testing that we use at The Renewal Point, we can quickly, and precisely, make a diagnosis of what may be troubling you; then we can address the issues from a holistic perspective, which means getting to the root of the problem.

Sonia’s Story – I’d like to begin by taking a look at Sonia, one of our patients. Sonia is a 42 year old woman who works as a realtor, is married, and has two healthy and happy children. On paper, Sonia was living the American dream and you’d think her life was great, but it wasn’t. You see, if Sonia was to make plans, she would have to plan her entire day around her tummy troubles. Typically, she would suffer from bouts of diarrhea, and would often have to go at least 8 times per day, sometimes more. Needless to say when out and about, this was very embarrassing and worrying, especially if there was no bathroom in sight. Even her private life suffered as a result of her bowel troubles. She ate right, tried to keep fit, and visited doctor after doctor who sadly could not help. Sonia is not alone, as around 74% of all people in the US suffer with GI issues. That means that only 26% of the populace can pretty much eat what they like, when they like, and not have to worry about stomach issues.

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome? – Irritable Bowel Syndrome, better known as IBS, is basically a collection of ailments and afflictions that affect a person’s bowel habits and can cause things such as bloating, gas, constipation, cramps, or diarrhea. While not a life threatening condition, it can make life miserable for those suffering from it. Around 30 million US adults suffer with IBS. Typically your healthcare practitioner will make a diagnosis by ruling out other pathological conditions.

What causes IBS? – Perhaps most frustratingly of all, is the fact that experts are still not 100% clear on what exactly causes IBS. Some experts believe that bowel motility is a cause, where the muscles in the bowel fail to contract as efficiently as they should. Others believe that it is caused by changes in the nerves of the colon. There is also evidence to suggest that the condition could be down to hormonal imbalances as the condition typically affects twice as many women as it does men. Also, interestingly, is the fact that women have found that symptoms have been exasperated around their menstrual periods.

Integrative medicine for IBS – If you think you may suffer with IBS, it may be worth speaking to an Integrative Medicine expert who will look at things from a holistic standpoint. An Integrative Medicine expert will do testing focused on:

  • Physical activity
  • Emotional well-being
  • Nutrition

They will pay close attention to all three of these areas to help make a clear diagnosis. As IBS is such a complex condition, this approach be especially helpful in finding the root cause.

Intestinal health and the nervous system – The nervous system of the intestines is highly complex, and many people actually refer to it as the ‘second brain’. This is actually where sayings such as “I have a gut feeling about…” actually comes from. Because of the complexity of the intestinal nervous system, often when people are going through anxiety, stress, etc, they could easily suffer with IBS-like symptoms.

Testing for IBS – To begin with, when testing for IBS, we begin by looking at your eating habits, including mastication (how you eat and chew your food). We will also look into digestive function, activation of enzymes, and how well a person is able to absorb both micro, and macro nutrients from their food.

Potential triggers – In order to understand a condition, often it pays to understand what triggers it in the first place. Common triggers for IBS include:

Food intolerances One of the most common IBS triggers worldwide, is actually food intolerance. Commonly you will find that symptoms can often be triggered by specific foods including:

  • Glucose
  • Lactose
  • Fatty foods
  • Fiber
  • Sugar

When it comes to food intolerances, we will often perform food sensitivity testing to determine which specific types of food the patient could be the most sensitive to. Once they have been identified, they can then be removed from the diet, which will normally provide a vast reduction in the symptoms of the condition. Gluten sensitivity is one of the more common intolerances, often resulting in celiac disease. Therefore by going gluten-free, IBS triggers and symptoms can be managed a whole lot easier. Fructose and lactose intolerances are also common triggers – affecting around 35% of all IBS patients.

Fiber Some people find that fibre can trigger IBS but in a lot of cases fiber can actually be hugely beneficial. We actually recommend the use of soluble fibers such as inulin and psyllium, as well as modified spectrum. These actually function as prebiotics for probiotics found in the digestive tract. Probiotics are healthy bacteria living within us, whereas the prebiotics, which in this case would be the fiber, basically act as food and nutrition for the bacteria.

Treating and improving IBS – Finally, we’ll finish on a high note as we look at a few ways of effectively treating and improving IBS symptoms. These include:

  • Exercise
  • Getting enough sleep each night
  • Supplements including probiotics and prebiotics
  • Improving pancreatic enzyme counts with supplements
  • Botanical medicines such as peppermint oil, ginger, and Aloe
  • Mind and body therapies
  • Stress management
  • Hypnosis, CBT, and psychotherapy
  • Pharmaceuticals such as Cromolyn
  • Leading a healthy and balanced lifestyle

If you suffer from any of the symptoms that we’ve mentioned in this article, and are looking for an integrative approach, we suggest that you contact us for a consultation.  You don’t need to suffer any longer!

References:

Rakel, David. (2017). Integrative Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.

Exercise is just as good for the brain as it is for the body.

“Back in the day, the majority of exercise studies focused on the parts of the body from the neck down, like the heart and lungs,” says Dr. Ozioma Okonkwo, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “But now we are finding that we need to go north, to the brain, to show the true benefits of a physically active lifestyle on an individual.”

How does exercise work to increase brain function?

“Exercise likely improves brain health through a variety of ways. It makes the heart beat faster, which increases blood flow to the brain – a good thing, since the brain is the biggest consumer of oxygen in the body. Physical activity also increases levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which is also known to help repair and protect brain cells from degeneration as well as help grown new brain cells and neurons,” says Okonkwo.

“Considering exercise can also reduce the risks associated with common lifestyle diseases that impact the brain, such as high blood sugar and hypertension, it is further motivation to try to incorporate exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle,” Says Joe Northey, a PhD candidate at the University of Canberra Research Institute for Sport and Exercise in Australia.

So – Which is the best, aerobic or resistance training?

For now, experts recommend a combination of both aerobic and resistance training. Combining both is ideal for all of the other benefits exercise bestows on the body. In addition to improving your brain function, you should expect to see improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength, as well as reducing the risk of obesity, diabetes and hypertension amongst other diseases.

Brain Facts

  • BDNF is increased with exercise. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key protein in regulating maintenance, growth and even survival of neurons. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor also influences learning and memory, and brain tissue from patients with Alzheimer’s disease and clinical depression exhibit low expression of BDNF.
  • Researchers found that a combination of aerobic and resistance training, HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) at 150 minutes per week decreases Alzheimer’s risk 30%. – No medication can even approach that!
  • MRI scans of people who exercise regularly show a statistical increase in the hippocampal region of the brain (the memory center).

Brain Health at The Renewal Point

Here at The Renewal Point, we offer high intensity interval training, good not only for the body but also the brain!  While Physical Conditioning has always been one of our foundational 4 Cornerstones of Health, we are excited to offer it in-office, in the form of this breakthrough and efficacious fitness model!  Designed by Dave Luedeka, MS, DPT and carried out in our office by Matt Jones, ACSM/CPT, the CKC Fitness Program is a state-of-the art strengthening and conditioning program that can help the average person, the injured, and/or the athlete.

To learn more about the groundbreaking program, we encourage you to schedule an appointment, call us at 941-926-4905, or visit our website at TheRenewalPoint.com.

The Renewal Point 4 Cornerstones of Health

1.     Hormone Balance                    3.    Physical Conditioning

2.     Nutrition                                   4.    Toxin Elimination

References:

  1. Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, Charles Hillman. The Influence of Exercise of Cognitive Abilities. Compr. Physiol. 2013 Jan: 3(1): 403-428.
  2. What Type of Exercise is Best for the Brain? http://time.com/4141790/exercise-brain/.
  3. Evidence for a release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor from the brain during exercise. DOI: 10.1113/expphysiol.2009.048512.
  4. Exercise, brain, and cognition across the life span. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3220305/.

♫ Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la– la la la la!

That’s right, soon we’ll be donning our gay apparel and getting ready for holiday fun, songs, and gifts.  And let us not forget the bountiful feast: pecan pie, honey-baked ham, sweet potato casserole with marshmallow topping and candy cane truffles – Yum-yum! It causes me to pause and think of all the fun, family, and friends of holidays past.

Sweet treats and rich meals can be landmines for health-conscious people. Yet, no one wants to feel deprived during the jolliest season of all.  I confess, even as an expert in nutrition and metabolic medicine, I have a long history of letting the holidays get the better of me too.

Fear not – Read on. I promise, you’ll not be asked to lock yourself in a closet for the month or be made to eat a dinner of iceberg lettuce. There are more sensible and fun ways to navigate this territory and come out January 2nd even healthier.

  1. Nix the guilt. – Feeling guilty after eating foods you don’t usually allow yourself to eat can breed more unhealthy behaviors. So, abandon those negative voices in your head and remember to get back on track with your healthy eating routine as soon as possible.
  2. Three bites and good night. – Stick to the three-bite rule for desserts: The first bite is the best, the last the grand finale, and every bite in between is the same. In three bites, you get the full dessert experience, so really focus on savoring those three and you’re less likely to overindulge.
  3. If you drink alcohol, alternate the alcohol with sparkling water and stick with a 2 drink maximum. Alternating between an alcoholic beverage and a sparkling water can help you avoid pouring on the pounds. Plus, sparkling water keeps things festive and, bonus, you’ll avoid entering the hangover zone, a not-so-happy holiday tradition side-effect.
  4. Stay physically active. – If you are not a gym or sports buff, make a holiday tradition of walks or bike rides around the neighborhood or park with friends, family, or pets.
  5. Get enough rest. – Between holiday traveling, work schedules, and shopping, it can be easy to skimp on sleep in order to get your to-do-list done, but getting a consistent seven to nine hours of sleep every night helps regulate hormones, promotes recovery from workouts, and prevents daily fatigue. Plus, it keeps you from face-planting directly into that apple pie. There’s really no such thing as “catching up” on sleep, so the key is consistency.

To Your Good Health,

Dr. Dan Watts

Dr. Watts, MD, ND, MSNM and Lynne Streitmatter, APRN, MSN are experts in Bio-identical Hormone Balancing and Integrative Medicine.  With over 25 years experience in hormone balancing, a Board Certification in Integrative Medicine, a Post-doctoral Certification in Metabolic Endocrinology, and a Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine, Dr. Watts has put together a number of programs that have helped thousands of people over the years.

As we all know, we live in a city dominated by senior citizens. Although the story that follows may sound commonplace, the point of this article is that it doesn’t have to be.

A Cute Elderly Couple

As I pulled my car into our local grocery store parking lot recently, I came upon a traffic jam. Looking ahead, I noticed the line of cars backed up as an elderly couple, a man and woman slowly made their way across the crosswalk. The man was using a cane, the woman, a walker. Both appeared to have multiple disabilities: back, knee, hip weakening. Everyone in the line of cars waited respectfully. When I overheard customers and clerks in the checkout line commenting about the “cute older couple,” I was concerned… the man was only 73 and his wife only 71.

As I watched the couple shuffle out of the store, suffering with every step, I began to wonder, ‘What would cause such degeneration?’ and ‘Was there any way to prevent or reduce it?’

While I never knew the history of the cute elderly couple, the answers for most of us are found in a review of the medical literature.

According to a recent peer-reviewed study on the effects our genetics and lifestyles have on healthy aging and longevity, medical scientists have found that, for the most part, this scenario is preventable.

“The research on aging and, in particular, the search for the determination of successful aging and longevity has been growing,” says Giuseppe Passarino, Dept. of Biology, University of Calabria, Italy. “One of the main questions in this field is the correlation between the genetic background and lifestyle in determining the individual’s chance of delaying aging (possibly without age-related diseases and disabilities) and longevity.”

The bottom line is, ‘The quality of life we have and the length of time we have in which to live it is primarily a matter of healthy choices we make every day.’ Currently, we have the knowledge and means to slow down, prevent, and even stop many of the symptoms and signs of aging.

At The Renewal Point we have worked for years on healthy aging by focusing on the Four Cornerstones of Health – Hormone Balancing, Nutritional Health, Physical Conditioning, and Toxin Elimination. Using this approach, people report that they feel and look better, have more energy, better sexual health, better sleep, and heart and brain function.  Our methods are simple, time-tested, and science/evidence-based.

Hormone Balance – Helps improve energy, sleep, sexuality, endurance, bone strength, joint health, and mental focus.

Nutritional Health –  Helps reduce the risk of weight gain, depression, anxiety, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, aging, fatigue, and inflammation.

Physical Conditioning – The right exercise plays a major role in our current and future health outcomes…adding years, if not decades, to our life expectancy and quality of life.

Toxin Elimination – Toxins stockpile in our brain, heart, bones, liver, and other organs causing heart disease, Alzheimer’s, cancer, arthritis, and aging.  Avoiding, and getting rid of these toxins, helps to restore health.

It’s never too late ~ no matter where you are in life and no matter your age.  To schedule an appointment or for more information, please call 941-926-4905, visit our website www.therenewalpoint.com, email us at info@therenewalpoint.com, or come to our upcoming seminar.

References:

  1. Human longevity: Genetics or Lifestyle? It takes two to tango. Giuseppe Passarino, Francesco De Rango, and Alberto Montesanto, Dept. of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria. Revised 2015 Oct. 29, Accepted 2016 Mar 30.

“Everyone wants to live longer and science is starting to make that happen. But ‘living better’ will be the real challenge and opportunity.

In Time Magazine’s article on the science of aging well, Laura L. Carstensen explains:

“We live in extraordinary times. And thanks to medical and scientific advances that even a generation ago would have sounded like science fiction, our lives are getting longer. An American born today has a projected average life span 20 full years longer than one born in 1925, and we are, as a society, growing old. For the first time in U.S. history, the number of people over 60 exceeds those under age 15.”

Long life is a remarkable achievement. But our aging society presents challenges every bit as fundamental as climate change and globalization. If we, as a society, address the reality of longevity, we can avoid a crisis altogether and improve the quality of our lives at all ages while we’re at it. We need to plan.

Up to this era in time, improved drugs, diagnostic testing, surgeries, disease treatment and other medical advances have done a good job reducing fatality rates.

But what about the illnesses and medical conditions associated with aging? Is there a way to reverse, stop or prevent the symptoms of aging and nudge out a few more quality years?

The good news, you’ll be happy to hear, doesn’t include subsisting only on food that tastes like cardboard or spending the rest of your life in an ashram at the top of the Himalayans meditating.

For 15 years, The Renewal Point has offered individualized age management services for our patients. Our services include science evidence-based, integrative, and proven programs based on a simple 4-cornerstone approach.

The Four Cornerstones of Age Management

1. Hormone Balance‒Hormone imbalances, which occur as we get older, can be improved by Natural Hormone Rebalancing: sexuality, skin, strong bone & muscle, libido, sleep, energy, mood, focus, memory.

2. Body Composition‒Includes not only fit, trim bodies but also improved aerobic capacity, strength, lean fat mass, joint health, balance, and flexibility. Exercise is widely thought to be one of the best ways, if not the best way, to stretch your quality time.  If you are looking for a individualized exercise program, we suggest contacting us about our in-office CKC Fitness Program.

3. Nutrition‒Nutritional deficiencies are found in 75% of people who eat a good diet and take supplements. This deficiency can lead to an increased risk for heart disease, cancer, neurological symptoms, fatigue and hormone imbalances. Many of us need more nutrients because of genetic anomalies or decreased digestion and absorption (which also declines as we age). Testing is necessary to determine these deficiencies.

4. Toxin Elimination ‒If you eat, breathe or drink water, you will accumulate toxins in your body: heavy metals, plastic, herbicides, pesticides, PCBs, etc. These poisons steal our health. Tests can reveal these toxins, so we can determine how to eliminate them.

Join The Renewal Point in discovering your potential for ageless vitality. Together we can build a world where people arrive at old age mentally sharp, physically fit, sexually vital and wiser.