A New Way of Fighting Alzheimer’s…Why did the rat get fat and what’s that got to do about Alzheimer’s?
In a recent breakthrough study, scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology showed that rats consuming a Westernized fast food diet increased the likelihood of their obesity. Now, that should not be news to anyone in America. Of course, everyone knows that if you eat copious amounts of French fries and ketchup as your only source of vegetables you will get fat.
That may not seem like much of a breakthrough until we check out the rest of the story; what M. I. T. actually found caused the obesity. When the same rats were given probiotics in yogurt along with the Westernized fast food diet, it inhibited age-associated weight gain. M. I. T. then went on to test whether a bacteria found in yogurt alone may serve to lessen fat by using a purified form of a probiotic called Lactobacillus reuteri in drinking water. Surprisingly, they discovered that oral L. reuteri therapy alone was sufficient to prevent obesity. (1)
Warning: This information does not give every junk-food junkie license to go ‘hog wild’ and believe they can make up for their misguided decisions by taking a probiotic. My family and I gave up junk-food years ago for the devastating impact it would have on our bodies. Of course I still miss my daily dose of donuts and McMuffins, being a reformed J.F. J. Now, having normal cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and going off statins to control poor lab results have all made the missing ‘sugar bliss’ worth it — not to mention my improved waistline. And, G. I. balance is not just as simple as eating a cup of sugary Vanilla Custard Yoplait for lunch every day.
More interestingly, researchers are finding that not only does a healthier gut microbiome lessen obesity and improve sugar balance; it can also prevent Alzheimer’s. Scientists John Cryan and Timothy Dinan at the Neurogastric Endocrinology Center-University College Cork in Ireland are conducting tests revealing how variations and changes in the composition of the gut microbiota (there’s that word again) influence normal physiology and contribute to diseases ranging from mood disorders to Alzheimer’s. Accumulative data now indicates that our gut microbiota also communicates with the central nervous system, possibly through neural, endocrine and immune pathways — and thereby improves brain function and behavior. (2, 3)
More and more epidemiological studies from around the world give evidence that the better the microbiome (the good bacterial content of one’s gut), the less chance of developing Alzheimer’s.
The way it works is this: an improved gut microbiota improves the function in the hippocampus and cortex of the brain (the thinking centers).
What research has proven is that Microbial Reprogramming can:
• Inhibit Western diet associated obesity
• Balance the immune system
• Balance sugar metabolism and diabetes
• Fight Alzheimer’s
• Improve mood, behavior and brain function
Whew! Enough science — what does all this mean? This new medical research reported in these articles is exciting because of the hope it offers all of us in preventing and treating some of the most devastating human conditions: obesity, Alzheimer’s and mood disorders.
At The Renewal Point we have, for years, promoted the ‘gut-brain connection’ to good health. Specializing in Integrative Medicine and utilizing the best of both traditional and alternative medical pathways, we apply nutrition, hormone balancing, ‘gut’ health, body composition and lifestyle in every one of our patients’ medical plans. We find improving gut health requires the oversight of an Integrative Physician experienced in working with such modalities as: pH, digestive enzymes, food sensitivities, toxins, as well as balancing the gut microbiota, and repleting nutritional deficiencies.
We invite you to join us in this exciting approach of managing healthcare, and in your quest for a healthier more vibrant life.
References:
1. Division of Comparative Medicine, M.I.T., Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
2. Laboratory of Gastroenterology Alimentary P harmacology Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University.
Q. Can we actually manage aging?
A. Hmmm…That’s a complex question. So, let me answer it with a rather standard cliché: There’s the good news, bad news and worse news. Worst news—we’re all going to die. Sorry, but it’s a fact of the natural order of things. The bad news? Along the way we may develop some disabilities, slow down, and possibly have some medical problems.
Now, for the good news. We are, for the most part, in control of how we age. Disallowing for such adversities as; accidents, diseases, or genetic determinates—the quality of life you have and the length of time in which you have to live it are a matter of choice.
Many of the choices for living a better quality of life are taught to us by society or our parents: Wear a seat belt when you ride in a car; Don’t drink and drive; Don’t smoke; Eat more vegetables and less candy—the list goes on.
But, many of these choices are not so easy to make, requiring non-traditional lab testing and finding a doctor specializing in Age Management Medicine. For instance, it may be difficult to determine that your painful, swollen joints or chronic migraine headaches are a result of a food sensitivity or that your depression is caused by one simple genetic defect of folate metabolism; or that your memory, balance problem and fuzzy brain is a result of mercury toxicity; or that your lack of desire for sex and love is a result of low testosterone (women as much as men, by the way).
So, one could just lament about getting older, remembering the days when you and your spouse were fiery for life and love or you can make changes. The most important change you will need to make is to find a doctor who specializes in Age Management, one that can guide you along the way; run the appropriate tests for hormones, nutritional deficiencies, toxins, and genomics; and then partner with you on developing a plan for recovery. By acquiring the necessary information, you, too, can make the right choices and actually manage your aging.
Change the Course— Change the Outcome!
At The Renewal Point, we believe you can spend the rest of your life discovering new levels of vitality and vigor—not simply trying to rescue what’s left. The Renewal Point puts you in control of how you age by guiding you through a full 12-month Integrative Concierge Age Management Program. You will discover the power and importance of getting ahead of the factors that influence health—rather than simply responding to their breakdown.
The 4 Cornerstones of Health
The Renewal Point Age Management Program focuses on four, critical “Cornerstones of Health” that turn your age management journey into a refreshing discovery of new health and perspective.
They are:
Hormone Balance—Hormone Balance, as it turns out, is the most critical component to overall health and quality of life. With a skilled approach to testing, and treatment with bio-identical hormones, your hormones can be placed in balance to support every gland and function critical to health.
Physical Conditioning— Physical conditioning is more than a health club membership. Considering your body composition, strength, flexibility, bone strength, aerobic capacity and muscle and joint health a proper and—most importantly—doable program can be designed into your life routine.
Nutritional Health—Did you eat your vegetables today? Sure, everyone knows that diet is a key to good health, but how do you know if your balance supports your unique metabolism—or whether or not you have a nutritional deficiency or sensitivity to any of your favorite foods and the implications they may be having on your long-term health? The only way to know for sure is with proper testing and expert guidance.
Toxin Elimination—Frightening but true: over seven billion pounds of toxins are released into the environment every year…and are filtered through or contained in our bodies! The source of many known diseases, toxicity can be limited or eliminated with proper guidance and a natural approach.
Of course, no concierge Age Management Program would be complete without attention paid to the major systems of our bodies, including but not limited to: a healthy immune system, the metabolic system, the cardiopulmonary system, the neurological system, the skin system, and the reproductive system. Why not let The Renewal Point’s team of experts guide you through an Integrative Conceirge Age Management Program and discover how you can manage your aging process better.
Confucius said, “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The next best time is NOW.”
It’s inevitable—we all will age! So, the question now becomes, how do you want to age? Do you want to leave the process up to chance or do you want to take control of your own aging process? And, ultimately, do you want to treat diseases or prevent them?
First of all, how do you see yourself as you grow older? For many, “old age” brings up images of wheelchairs and nursing homes. If that’s in your mind, STOP! It doesn’t have to turn out that way! I want to clear your mind entirely of these images. I want to totally blow the idea out of the water that you are destined to become more sick and frail, just because you are aging. And I can show you how to do it.
For years now, I have been studying the science of anti-aging medicine. This science is not about preventing death or even about “not aging.” Of course we all age and we will all eventually die. But, age management medicine is about taking a proactive and preventative approach in optimizing the health you already have.
The health you have today and the length of time you manage to keep it are directly related to the choices you make each and every day. However, if you leave important health decisions up to fate, (or even worse, up to your insurance carrier) you are taking a chance on your future.
This is good news to most people. In these times it seems we have lost control of our retirement policy and the value of our homes or our credit card balances—but at least we can take control of our health!
Unfortunately, in our current society, 80% of health dollars are spent in the last 20% of life. What’s important, is that you can change this statistic by investing in preventive health now. I’m not saying that prevention will always reduce overall costs, but what I am saying is that moving those costs up front can help you live a better quality of life as you get older.
The most recent research shows that the majority of American couples are spending $220,000 in healthcare costs after the age of 65 years. So, do you want to spend it on creating a higher quality of life for yourself now, or do you want to save your money for expensive treatments later in life when you are trying to “hang in there.”
There are many retirement health insurance plans that allow you to put money in now that can be used later. However, by doing this, people are making a conscious decision to pay for treatment rather than prevention. And, unfortunately, many times the type or care and provider is left up to the discretion of the insurance company.
Most of us already know that if we just made the choices to stay active and fit, eat right and stop smoking, we would be ahead on the aging scale. But what most don’t know is that there are literally hundreds of other ways to better our health; some are lifestyle changes we make on our own, and many require the expertise and guidance of a medical specialist.
The traditional medical approach is based on running labs and procedures on a disease process after it occurs. Though important, a newer more proactive approach focuses on diagnostic testing in advance of illness in order to find the disease process before it finds you.
How do you picture your life in 15 to 30 years? Do you dream of playing with your grandkids, taking walks on the beach, and dancing at weddings? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you are envisioning a high quality of life in your later years. And, now, you need a health plan that reflects this.
There is no better time than now to take the reins and take control of where your life is headed. At The Renewal Point we guide you through a full 12-month concierge medical program which includes lab tests, comprehensive assessments, expert guidance, and integrated treatments so that you can get ahead of the factors that influence health—rather than simply responding to their breakdown.
As printed in West Coast Woman March 2014
A woman writes to a Cavewoman Diet blog: “Help Me, I’m flipping out here, gaining weight, and can’t seem to stop this roll that’s gathering around my waist. Nothing is helping …can’t sleep, constant mood swings, about to have a nervous breakdown, and still not losing weight.”
I was intrigued over comments made by this online blogger who was following the Paleolithic diet. This diet, sometimes called the Caveman or Cavewoman Diet, became popular in the 1970s and is having a revival today. It promotes eating meat, vegetables, nuts, and fruits, and recommends avoiding legumes (beans), grains, dairy, refined sugar, and refined oils. I say intrigued, not because these comments are anything new to me. Actually, her symptoms are typical of patients I see in my office every day. When I read on, I discovered, this patient described herself as being thin only four years ago, which was prior to her peri-menopausal symptoms.
Actually, her problem was not that the Paleo Diet would not work for her, but that her metabolism was out of balance. Trying to lose weight by any method that promotes exercising and calorie restriction can be difficult, if not impossible, especially if one’s hormones are not in balance. My mantra is: It is as difficult as trying to stop a freight train with your little finger…you will lose.
At first glance, the Cavewoman Diet seems to make sense…grass-fed meats, veggies, fish, nuts, eggs, fruit. What could be wrong with that? While these are all foods that have a rational basis when it comes to weight loss, basing a diet on the premise that cavewomen didn’t get fat has its faults.
First, most cavewomen never hit menopause. Archeologists estimate that the average cavewoman died well before the age of 35. She didn’t have to grapple with insomnia, pedal-to-the-metal stress, a slowing metabolism, mood swings, and the array of other factors that burden menopausal and peri-menopausal women.
Second, cavewomen were active from sunrise to sunset. In our modern day society, this is unrealistic for most people. We have cars to take us across town and we have grocery stores at our fingertips. Most women find it hard enough just to balance work and family life, not leaving adequate time for exercise.
And last, but not least, the Cavewoman Diet doesn’t take into consideration the fact that we have urges and appetites (different than actual hunger) to battle with. With food around every corner, it’s difficult to restrain these urges, unless we have support.
So, while the foods that the cavewoman ate are on target for healthy weight loss, we’ve found that the additional keys to weight loss are hormone balancing if needed, medical guidance on realistic activity level and portion sizes, expert nutritional advice, behavior modification, support in reaching your goals, and medications and/or supplements to control cravings. These are all things we offer our patients at The Renewal Point and have seen great results.
We encourage you to come to one of our upcoming seminars in order to learn more about the unique services offered at The Renewal Point that can make it a whole lot easier to lose weight—and you don’t have to be a Cavewoman, either!
Works Cited: SHP: Medicine & Health Through Time
Does this sound like you? For some strange reason, each holiday season you’re struck on the head by a sugar plum fairy…a daze which begins the last of November and ends the last of December. Then you wake up from this amnesia in a déjà vu on January 1st with your belly pouching out on both sides of your waist and over your pants or skirt.
Over the holidays, it’s somewhat normal to gain between 2 and 5 pounds. And this amount of weight can be fairly easy to lose once you throw out the leftover stuffing, get back to your exercise routine, rest, and cut back on the alcohol. However, if you are someone who needs to lose more than 5 pounds, you might want to consider joining a weight loss program in order to get the support you need and start 2014 on a healthy path.
In a culture that values independence and the “I can do it all” attitude, it can be hard to ask for help. But changing habits that are deeply engrained is not an easy feat, especially when it’s done solo. The truth is, behavior change is next to impossible without coaching.
Many people tend to berate themselves when they can’t lose weight. They imagine they don’t have enough self-control, willpower, or that their metabolism is just too slow. To their surprise, when we run simple blood tests, we find that it wasn’t their fault at all…. they aren’t “couch potatoes” or “slackers” or any of those names they are so quick to call themselves…they are, in fact, just victims of hormone imbalance and lack of proper medical advice and counseling.
As Dr. Oz says, it’s important to develop a support system of people who know your goals, know your obstacles, know your weaknesses, and know your strengths. With public accountability — that is, you reporting on those daily struggles and successes — you’re more likely to make a permanent change.”
That’s exactly the reason why The Renewal Point offers a full range of services. Our patients find that individualized medical support—including hormone balancing, nutritional counseling, and weight loss medications, if needed—are the missing pieces to effective weight loss.
With this type of support, our patients are able to lose weight and regain energy all at the same time. While we do include a nutritional plan as part of the program, it’s more about eliminating specific types of foods than it is about extreme calorie restriction. By doing this, patients are able to lose weight without feeling fatigued and “moody.”
Furthermore, their metabolism stays “revved up” so that they are able to keep the weight off in the end. Then, add hormone balancing to the mix and men and women achieve a level of health that they never knew possible.
As one of our weight loss patients described it, “My entire sense of well being is due to the integrated care received at The Renewal Point. I went from fatigued, pained, tired and fat to happy, energetic, and healthy,” says Maggie K.
So, if you are someone who has struggled with losing weight, know that, at The Renewal Point, we are here for you and ready to be that team of people who can help you reach your goals. We encourage you to come to one of our complimentary upcoming seminars in order to learn more about the unique services offered at The Renewal Point.
(Article as printed in West Coast Woman January 2014)
My fuzzy brain, IBS, acid reflux, fibromyalgia, and joint pain. Could these be caused by foods I’m eating everyday? We’ve been getting a lot of questions recently about food allergies. Because this topic can really be confusing, I wanted to take this opportunity to try and help answer some of these questions. What I’m finding, at the crux of this confusion, is that the term “food allergy” is used as an umbrella term for any abnormal reaction caused by food.
So, what’s first helpful to understand is the difference between a food allergy and food intolerance. While there are some shared symptoms between food allergies and intolerance ( these can include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and nausea) there are also many differences between the two reactions. Both of these reactions can be extremely troublesome in their own way and they both deserve our attention.
A food allergy is very problematic in the short term. The symptoms can vary, but usually include shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, rash or itchy skin, chest pain, or even a sudden drop in blood pressure. These are symptoms which need immediate attention and care, sometimes in the form of epinephrine. Some common food allergies include peanuts, shellfish, soy, eggs, and wheat.
Alternatively, food intolerances occur when your body has trouble digesting a particular food. While this doesn’t require acute care, it certainly deserves our immediate attention because of what it can do to your health in the long run if left alone. The more noticeable symptoms of food intolerances include headaches, nervousness, cramps, gas, bloating, and heartburn. Long term, these intolerances can contribute to a range of health problems, ranging from lack of energy to gastrointestinal issues and inflammation. Some common food intolerances include lactose, food additives, and gluten.
There are several ways to detect food intolerances. One way is through the elimination of the more frequent offenders, such as dairy and gluten, then seeing how your body reacts. While this can be helpful, it really doesn’t give us a full picture of where you stand with each of the foods, or for how long they will need to be eliminated.
In order to get a complete picture, we have found a food study to be the most comprehensive. It gives us a very specific analysis of your severe, moderate, and mild food allergies and intolerances. It can help us figure out exactly how long you need to cut out certain foods so that your body can learn to process them correctly. Many times, it is simply a matter of cutting out a food for several months in order to allow your immune system to readjust and build up a tolerance again. Then, when it does get added back in, the we are able to use the results once again to tell us exactly how much and how often each of the foods can be added back in safely.
Here’s what one of our patients has to say:
Earlier this year I came to see Dr Watts for my annual check up. I had been suffering with all sorts of symptoms that seemed to plague other friends my age (62): joint pain in my fingers, stomach pains and bloating, and a lack of energy in the afternoons. Worst of all, my thinking was really fuzzy, making it hard to feel productive in my career. Dr Watts ordered a food study and discovered that I had developed sensitivities to several foods that I ate on a regular basis. I am following the program of eliminating those foods and then slowly reintroducing them into my diet after 6 months. Within a week of changing my diet, most of the symptoms were gone. I was thrilled and so relieved to find out that I was in the driver’s seat again with my health and my daily sense of well-being. I am so grateful for the team of professionals at The Renewal Point! -R.B.
Sounds like the title of a horror movie doesn’t it? Taming your waistline without also taming the monster within can be frustrating if not next to impossible. On TV, Dr. Oz, and internet blogs, we hear more and more about inflammation and its devastating effect on our health and the incidence of obesity.
Truth is, there exists a scientific relationship between obesity and inflammation which dictates — the fatter one gets, the more inflammatory hormones one produces
[i]
. And, the more inflammatory hormones we produce, the fatter we get — it’s definitely a horror story! It’s also a vicious cycle that must be tamed. Andrew Weil, notable Harvard physician and author states, “Inflammation may very well be at the bottom of all degenerative diseases,” such as diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, cancer, Parkinson’s, and fibromyalgia, just to name a few. Therefore, it behooves us to take note of such a devastating problem and fix it.
At The Renewal Point, we often see patients who are suffering from multiple inflammatory conditions, such as sore muscles and joints, inflamed stomachs and digestive tracts, GERD, reflux, gastritis, as well as fibromyalgia, arthritis, headaches, and all around fatigue and feeling poorly. Generally, these patients exhibit an immune dysregulation that can be measured in the blood
[ii]
. When blood tests show these immune cells to be off-balance, it’s important to rebalance them both for long term weight control as well as health and longevity.
So, how do we go about taming this evildoer? At The Renewal Point, we have a great deal of experience in monster taming. We start by running labs to discover what triggered the inflammation in the first place. It could be poor metabolism, hormone imbalance, toxins, nutritional deficiencies, stress, lack of physical activity, poor diet, or a sundry of other problems. Once detected, we design a plan to correct these underlying problems. We find that when the underlying problem is corrected, the weight melts away, the waistline narrows, and many, if not all, inflammatory problems resolve.
Here is one such success story:
“The care I have received from the Renewal Point has made such a change in my health and mental well being that I can’t really put it in words. Looking back five years ago I had such low energy that I felt like I couldn’t do anything, I was bloated, my skin looked sallow, I ate poorly, and even though I slept all night, I always woke up tired. Since I’ve been going to the Renewal Point I have so much more energy, I’ve lost weight, my mind is clearer, my rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease are much less active, I get complements on my skin, my hair is shiny and healthy again, and I sleep and wake up with energy. At age 55, I am told all the time by people that I’ve known for years, and those I’ve known for only a short time, that I look much younger than my real age.” –Barbara
We have helped many patients like Barbara obtain their weight goals, stop inflammation, balance their hormones, and live a higher quality of life. If you would like to learn more, we encourage you to call our office at 941-926-4905 or visit our website at TheRenewalPoint.com to schedule an appointment or reserve a seat at one of our upcoming seminars.
[i]
Greenberg et al. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2006. Vol 83.
[ii]
Berg et al. Circulation Research. 2005. Vol 96.
Can it be that obesity is a highly inheritable trait? Can we then blame mom and dad for our weight problems? Hold that thought.
I come from a rural Appalachian community where you hear this common expression, “My daddy’s chubby, my momma’s chubby, all my brothers and sisters are chubby – of course, I’m chubby! It runs in my family!” The fact is, if you looked around, you’d find that almost everyone in that community is indeed “chubby.” Hmmm, does it really run in the family genes or could it actually have something to do with the traditional foods commonly eaten there such as sweet tea, biscuits and white gravy, cheesy grits, pork rinds and chicken-fried everything?
Scientists now tell us the answer to both questions is “yes.” Their research shows that in addition to diet and exercise, your weight is also strongly influenced by your metabolism and your genes. To date, more than 41 sites on the Human Genome have been linked to the development of obesity when a favorable environment is present.[i]
Most of these genes have to do with your metabolism as it relates to hunger, satiety, and food intake. Many of these genes control leptin hormones that set a “thermostat” for how much fat you feel comfortable carrying. If the “thermostat” is set “up,” you feel more comfortable being overweight. Conversely, if the “thermostat” is set “low,” you will feel more comfortable being trim.
The good news is that genes such as these can be controlled through a science known as nutrigenomics which is the process of turning genes “off and on” through nutrition.
At The Renewal Point, we run routine metabolic screenings in our weight loss program, and when necessary, gene testing to assist patients in achieving their weight goals. Many of our patients find that trying to lose weight without adequate testing is like trying to swim upstream. C.K.’s story is typical of this.
C.K. came to us frustrated, demoralized and still overweight after following an untold number of popular diet programs. After a consultation with our Nurse Practitioner, she underwent lab testing, including a metabolic, hormone and genetic profile. Multiple medical issues were discovered which were holding her back.
Her blood tests showed insulin resistance, underactive thyroid, hormone imbalances, and markers for leptin resistance. With C.K.’s “fat thermostat” turned up and her metabolism turned down, it would have been almost impossible to achieve long-term, satisfying weight control.
With the help of our team of trained professionals, C.K.’s metabolism, hormone and genetic markers were balanced and she was able to lose the weight. Now 50 lbs. lighter, she feels happy, comfortable and content at her ideal size.
We can offer this same type of customized weight loss for you as well. And, we also treat men for weight loss with a lot of success. So stop blaming mom and dad, and schedule your consultation with The Renewal Point.
Have some questions? Please join us at one of our upcoming complimentary seminars.
As printed in the May 2013 edition of West Coast Woman.
[i] Poirer, P. et al (May 2006) Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
And it has nothing to do with social status, wealth or political affiliation. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), 35% of U.S. adults are obese. Obesity affects your quality of life and will cause you to die earlier than your peers. And how does it make you feel? Depressed and fatigued with an overall loss of vitality.
So, enough about the bad news. What can be done? At The Renewal Point, we have helped hundreds of men and women with weight issues using the most modern methods available. Under the guidance of Dr Watts and his supportive medical team, patients have the opportunity to use the most modern methods available for weight loss, such as FDA approved appetite suppressants, hormone balancing, Lipotropic injections, and a personalized nutritional plan. Let’s take a look at three examples of The Renewal Point patients; as we will see, metabolic problems such as inflammation, hormone imbalance and stress interfere with maintaining a normal weight.
Inflammation:
John – Age 56, was referred by his wife for weight issues. On previous attempts at weight loss, he had failed. He described aching throughout his body, i.e., knee pain, back pain, etc. John’s principle problem was inflammation throughout his cardiovascular and musculoskeletal system. Tests performed in our office proved John had heavy metal toxins and food sensitivities. After a simple elimination of the heavy metal toxins and a diet more favorable to his food allergies, John was able to shed his weight. As a special bonus, much of his inflammatory symptoms began to disappear.
“Inflammation caused by food intolerances leads to unwanted weight gain,” says Dr. Beverly Yates, author of: A Natural Approach to Healing and Preventing Heart Disease.
Additionally, inflammation and its ensuing problem with weight control, heart disease, hypertension and strokes can be caused by toxins such as heavy metals. “Measurement of heavy metal toxicities should be evaluated in patients with these problems” says Dr. Houston of Vanderbilt University.
Hormones:
Jessica – Age 55, is a mother of three and grandmother of one. She ate well, exercised, took “vitamins, and drank alcohol moderately but she was not feeling well. She complained of symptoms of insomnia, fatigue, low sex drive, fluid retention and weight gain. As she put it, “I’m sick of feeling sick”.
Blood tests showed Jessica to have ovarian and thyroid hormonal issues. Once Jessica’s hormone issues were corrected with bioidentical hormones her complaints of low sex drive, fatigue and insomnia ceased. And, as she said, “I feel great and am a slimmer version of myself”.
Kent Holtorf, M.D. in a peer-reviewed article printed in Postgraduate Medicine, concludes, Bioidentical Hormones are “safer and more efficacious than commonly used synthetic versions.” In fact, they decrease the risk of heart disease, Alzheimer’s and weight gain.
In their article on the effects of weight gain by synthetic progestins in Cochran Database System Review, Lopez, et. al. found that use of synthetic hormones significantly increased body fat and decreased lean body mass.
Stress (Adrenals):
Gloria – Age 41, a professional, who described herself as an “in-charge woman, friendly and productive”, had been experiencing personnel problems at her office. She became overly stressed and disheartened about it. Her doctor diagnosed her with depression and placed her on Zoloft. She came to us complaining of fatigue and weight gain. (A common side-effect of Zoloft is weight gain.) A salivary and urinary lab revealed low cortisol and serotonin levels. We advised a course of natural cortisone and natural Targeted Amino Acids®. Shortly after, she discontinued her Zoloft and began to lose weight easily.
In an article published in Psychoneuroendocrinology, Tomiyama, et. al. reported that those with higher stress levels and low cortisol levels had greater fat accumulation and reported increased emotional eating.
At The Renewal Point, we have found that most metabolic imbalances cause problems with weight gain, especially around the hips and thighs. By controlling these metabolic imbalances, we are able to not only address the issues of weight gain but also many of the physical and emotional factors that come with it.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease. All material provided in this article is for educational purposes only. Names have been changed to protect patient confidentiality. Individual results may vary from those listed in this article. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qalified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any health program.
An ad for a new product caught my eye recently. It was for multi-grain Pringles. Now, I’ve got no “chip” on my shoulder about junk food when eaten in prudent moderation (meaning very little), but making the case for justifying junk food by making it “multi-grain” illustrates the problem in the American diet. Magazine and television advertisements would lead you to believe the children’s cereal Froot Loops is a health food, if you want to believe that!
Simple sugars, empty carbs, corn syrup, fructose — these are simply not the building blocks for a healthy body. And they’re not called “empty” calories for nothing. In fact, they’re potentially harmful. At The Renewal Point we’ve been helping women and men lose and keep weight off for over 10 years. We have helped hundreds along the way. Our medically-based program offers science — not pre-packaged meals or severe calorie-restricted diets, which eventually leads to yo-yo weight loss/gain cycles. We plan for a program of health and metabolic balance, which helps you not only keep that weight off, but also enjoy a longer, greater quality of life.
At The Renewal Point we employ a detect and correct approach to weight loss. We first find out what’s going on inside of you via laboratory tests that detect metabolic problems, which may be holding you back from a healthy weight. Then we create a custom plan, designed just for you, based on hormone balance, nutrition, physical conditioning and sometimes detoxification.
Sample comments we hear at The Renewal Point about our weight loss program are:
“I’ve tried everything and failed. My ‘systems’ were not cooperating with my efforts! Well, The Renewal Point Weight Management Team put ‘it’ all together with me. I immediately began to feel better, more balanced and in control of my life.”
“After three years of struggling with my weight, a professional guided hormone balancing has changed my life for the better.”
“It has been five months since I started the program at The Renewal Point and I have lost 50 pounds and 12% body fat! I feel fantastic, look great, and I am enjoying my life so much more! I have a wonderfully restored life. Thank you, Renewal Point!”
“Currently, I have lost 28 pounds. My daughters say I look twenty years younger.”
Your Guide to Healthy Weight Loss for 2013
You’ll be planning your resolutions for 2013 soon. And you’ll be looking perhaps again to lose weight. Make it easier on yourself and allow us to guide you safely and precisely to your goals. At The Renewal Point we treat you individually, not as a number. We have found that each person’s metabolic problems are as different as their fingerprint.
Men Welcome!
At The Renewal Point we also work with men who want to lose weight. Men have their own needs and – we don’t need to tell you female readers this – they have their own unique physiology, including hormones. By applying the same detect and correct approach we can help guide the man in your life back to that trim fellow you remember.
Come to one of our seminars and see how it all works. Bring your friends. And put those Pringles back on the shelf.