Our age is more than just a number.  It is a combination of factors – some we can control and some we can’t.

For example, we can’t control our determinant genetics or what accidents may befall us (that is, unless you knowingly participate in high-risk activities), but we can control our lifestyle choices.  Regardless of your age, there are steps everyone can take to maximize their health and wellbeing. “Even in middle age, making long-term lifestyle choices is beneficial,” says UCI Health geriatrician Dr. Sonia Sehgal.  “The sooner we adopt healthy lifestyle habits, the greater the benefits.”

“Quitting smoking, eating better, controlling stress, and exercising daily are key building blocks to healthy aging.  It’s important to establish positive habits as soon as possible.”

Is “midlife crisis” a real thing?

In a word yes.

People often refer to the proverbial “midlife crisis,” a term introduced in 1965 by a Canadian organizational psychologist and defined as a period of psychological distress that affects some people in middle age. This can occur in our 40s to our 60s.  It’s a time when people may assume different life roles than they expected. Some become caregivers for aging parents.  For both men and women, hormones fall… for men this is usually a slow, but sure, decline; for women it can be a cataclysmic fall.   Children grow up and become independent adults.  And loved ones accumulate health issues that may be life-limiting.

This is a great time to renew investment in our own health – focusing specifically on preventive measures to ensure that the future is a long, vibrant and healthy one. For patients at The Renewal Point, we focus on the Four Cornerstones of Healthy Aging – Hormone Balancing, Detoxification, Nutrition, and Physical Conditioning.

• Hormone balancing improves sleep, mood, weight control, cognition, cardiovascular health, strength, bone health, sexuality, vitality, serenity and more.
• Toxins steal our health.  Metals toxins, environmental chemicals, and biological toxins are ubiquitous in our environment.  Everyone is exposed to toxins at different levels (depending on the air, water, and food) and everyone’s body handles them differently.  At The Renewal Point we can run panels to see if toxins are interfering with your health.  Then, if needed, we can develop a plan to clear them from your system.
• Nutritional deficiencies contribute to cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and overall poor health.  Finding these deficiencies, then correcting them, are keys to living a longer, healthier life.
• Physical conditioning is a must as we age.  But what kind of exercise is appropriate for us in our 60s and 70s, especially when we have developed wear and tear over the last half century?  At The Renewal Point we apply a combination of Physical therapy/Physical conditioning program aimed at an individual’s goals and over-all physical condition.

If you are experiencing symptoms, disease, and/or a mid-life crisis that is holding you back from living the life you imagine, no matter your age, we are here to help!   We use state-of-the-art assessment methods that allow us to find and target the root of the problem and restore your health and wellbeing.  For more information we encourage you to visit our website at TheRenewalPoint.com or call our office at 941-926-4905.  

The Dirty Dozen

Some big changes to the Dirty Dozen list this year ~ green beans and blueberries are now on the list as 2 of the fruits and vegetables to start buying organic whenever possible. The Dirty Dozen is a list of the 12 fruits and vegetables that have the most pesticides, as determined by the Environmental Workers Group (EWG).

Luckily, due to high demand, organic produce is becoming more widely available and can also be bought in bulk to keep the costs down. Another way to keep costs down is to buy the frozen version. Fruits and vegetables are flash frozen which means that they are frozen as soon as they reach peak ripeness ~ this means that they retain a very high level of nutrients (especially compared to the canned version).

Dirty Dozen

1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Kale, Collard, Mustard Greens
4. Peaches
5. Pears
6. Nectarines
7. Apples
8. Grapes
9. Bell & Hot Peppers
10. Cherries
11. Blueberries
12. Green Beans

The Clean Fifteen

The EWG also composes a list called the Clean Fifteen, which contains the 15 fruits and vegetables with the least pesticides. These are the ones that are safer to buy in the conventional (non-organic) version. But please take note that sweet corn, papaya, and summer squash are sometimes made with genetically modified seeds so we recommend buying those organic whenever possible.

Clean Fifteen

1. Avocado
2. Sweet Corn (however, it can be produced from genetically modified seeds so we recommend buying organic when possible)
3. Pineapple
4. Onions
5. Papaya (however, it can be produced from genetically modified seeds so we recommend buying organic when possible)
6. Sweet peas (frozen)
7. Asparagus
8. Honeydew Melon
9. Kiwi
10. Cabbage
11. Mushrooms
12. Mangoes
13. Sweet Potatoes
14. Watermelon
15. Carrots

Here are some of our favorite recipes for the holidays….

Green Beans with Almonds

Ingredients (for approximately 8 servings):

• 1 1/2 lbs green beans, trimmed (French green beans work great for this)
• 2 Tbs. olive oil
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds
• 1 tsp. minced or pressed garlic (about 1 medium clove)
• 1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice (about 1 small lemon)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

1. Bring 6-7 quart pot of water to a boil and add the beans. Cook 2 minutes.
2. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water until completely cool. Spread the beans on a clean kitchen towel and dry thoroughly.
3. In a 12-in skillet, heat oil over medium low heat.  Add the almonds and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden-brown all over, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the almonds to a plate.
4. Reduce heat to low and add the garlic to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
5. Add the beans, increase the heat to medium, and cook, tossing occasionally, until crisp-tender and lightly browned in some places, 5-8 minutes.
6. Stir in the lemon juice and season to taste with salt and pepper.  Transfer to a serving platter, sprinkle with almonds, and serve.

Colorful Roasted Vegetables

• 1 small butternut squash, cubed
• 2 bell peppers (we recommend red for color), diced
• 1 sweet potato, cubed
• 1 red onion, quartered and separated
• 2 Tbsp chopped rosemary (recommended fresh)
• 1 Tbsp chopping thyme (recommended fresh)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
• Salt and fresh ground pepper

1. Preheat oven to 475F.
2. Combine squash, red bell peppers, sweet potato, and onion pieces in a large bowl.
3. In another bowl, stir together thyme, rosemary, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper.  Toss into the vegetable bowl until everything is coated.
4. Spread evenly on a large, non-toxic roasting pan.
5. Stirring every 10 min, roast for 35-40 min or until all vegetables are cooked through and slightly browned.

Cauliflower Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients (for approximately 8 servings):

• 2 heads of cauliflower
• 1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
• 2 Tbsp of cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1/4 tsp bullion or ½ tsp salt
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Recipe:

• Cut cauliflower into florets
• Steam cauliflower florets until tender.
• Let florets cool and squeeze/ring out extra water using clean kitchen towel or thick paper towel.
• In bowl using blender, or in a food processor, puree the cauliflower with the cream cheese, parmesan, garlic, bullion/salt, and pepper until almost smooth.

Mayo Clinic claims that ‘forever chemicals’ found in thousands of household products may affect women’s heart health.

Thousands of household products that you may use every day contain human-made chemicals.  They are also known as ‘forever chemicals’ because they break down very slowly over time. Studies at Mayo Clinic have recently found that even small exposures to these substances pose a health risk.

Dr. DeLisa Fairweather explains why postmenopausal women are at such a high risk for heart disease caused by these ubiquitous chemicals: Read on.

A new American Heart Association study found that middle-aged women, those with high blood levels of these chemicals, are 70% more likely to develop high blood pressure than their peers who had lower levels of these toxins.

“As soon as you go through menopause, you have a dramatic drop in estrogen,” explains Dr. Fairweather.  “When that happens, it really affects your immune response.  And, so, you enter a much more proinflammatory state that can increase your risk for various types of heart disease, like atherosclerosis and stroke.”

Forever chemicals are in thousands of household products, including shampoos, cosmetics and plastic packaging.

“It’s also in our nonstick pans, stain-removing products that are in our carpeting and furniture, and on our clothes,” says Dr. Fairweather.

They’re also found in water sources and foods we eat… “We’re finding that fish we’re eating have it because the water is contaminated with it.  It’s a major contamination in wells and other sources of water.  It’s in dairy products because the cattle or dairy cows are receiving it through fertilizer and other contaminants in their environment,” says Dr. Fairweather.  Previous studies have shown that even at low levels these forever chemicals create adverse health effects.

“What we can do proactively to help ourselves is to read every label on the food that we’re purchasing and make sure that it does not have chemicals that we don’t understand?” says Dr. Fairweather. “We need to educate ourselves and just make sure that if there’s anything that isn’t the actual food and natural ingredients that we don’t buy the product.”

Here at The Renewal Point, we understand that this information can be very overwhelming, especially if it’s not something that you’ve already been doing.  However, we don’t want that feeling to deter you from making changes.  Even small changes can make a big difference.  If replacing things feels daunting, then a good place to start is with any new purchases.  For example, the next time you buy shampoo, check to make sure it has natural ingredients; for Christmas, put a stainless-steel pan or ScanPan on your wish list; use the “Dirty Dozen” (by the EPA) as a guide for buying healthier fruits and vegetables.  Over time, you’ll see that most of your household items are no longer toxic.

Additionally, at The Renewal Point, we can run tests to see if toxic contaminants are at harmful levels in your body. This will help determine how critical the issue is and how quickly you need to act in removal of the chemicals from both your body and house.  If toxic chemicals are detected, we can then work together to create a manageable plan to rid your body and house of them before they cause health problems. 

While preventing and/or catching the problem before it becomes a health issue is ideal, we certainly understand that this is not always the case.  So, if you believe that you already have health issues caused by toxins, know that it’s not too late, ~ only more critical ~ to act.

Reference:

• Mayo Clinic Minute: ‘Forever chemicals’ found in thousands of household products may affect women’s heart health. July 20, 2022. DeeDee Stiepan

According to a 2021 survey from the American Psychological Association, more than three-quarters of Americans report that the pandemic has been and still is a significant source of stress.   One of the side effects of that stress may be brain fog.  If you’re feeling more forgetful or distracted than usual, you’re not alone.  In this article I will discuss how to beat that very brain fog brought on by Post Pandemic Stress.

Stress can cause our hormones (including neurotransmitters and adrenals) to get out of balance resulting in more stress issues (either lack of sleep and/or being tired all the time…. wired and tired), adrenal fatigue, brain fog, loss of libido, etc. 

Many people’s routines were disrupted by the pandemic.  You may not realize it, but your routines give your conscious brain a chance to rest while your unconscious brain takes over and proceeds on autopilot.  For that reason, building predictable new routines is one way to help lessen brain fog. 

If you have been experiencing these issues, we recommend reducing stress through the following ways:

1. Getting back on a routine, as much as possible
2. Exercise, but not to exhaustion
3. Nutrition
4. Regular sleep patterns

While these recommendations will work for most cases, if you have been trying these suggestions and they haven’t worked, you may be dealing with something other than a stress syndrome.  If this is the case, we recommend getting tested for such medical problems as: autoimmune disorders, adrenal fatigue syndrome; hormone issues such as, thyroid, pituitary and gonadal imbalances, or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Since the Pandemic has begun, we, at The Renewal Point, have noticed an increase in early autoimmune activation, adrenal fatigue syndrome and a reactivation of old infections, such as; Lyme disease and EBV.  And, indeed, it is reported that these conditions may be responsible for much of the Long Covid syndrome.

If you have been experiencing unrelenting stress, loss of libido, lack of sleep, brain fog, exhaustion, or a “wired but tired” feeling, we encourage you to give us a call at 941-926-4905 to schedule an appointment or you can visit our website at www.TheRenewalPoint.com to learn more about our services and view our education library/blog.  We are here to help!

It can be hard figuring out what’s healthy and what’s not. There are so many things to consider these days…does it have additives, pesticides, GMOs….the list goes on and on.

Luckily, when it comes to fruits and vegetables it’s pretty straightfoward, thanks to something that the Environmental Working Group calls the “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean Fifteen”. Take this list to the grocery store with you while you are shopping to make it easier.

The “Dirty Dozen” are the fruits and vegetables that have been found to contain the most pesticides. These are the ones that you will want to buy organic, when possible:

1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Kale, Collard, and Mustard Greens
4. Nectarines
5. Apples
6. Grapes
7. Cherries
8. Peaches
9. Pears
10. Bell & Hot Peppers
11. Celery
12. Tomatoes

The “Clean Fifteen” are the fruits and vegetables that contain the least amount of pesticides:

1. Avocados
2. Sweet Corn (some of the sweet corn in the US is made with GMO seeds, so buy organic or non-GMO sweet corn if you want to avoid GMO)
3. Pineapple
4. Onions
5. Papaya (some of the papaya in the US is also made with GMO seeds, so buy organic or non-GMO papaya if you want to avoid GMO)
6. Sweet Peas Frozen
7. Eggplant
8. Asparagus
9. Broccoli
10. Cabbage
11. Kiwi
12. Cauliflower
13. Mushrooms
14. Honeydew Melon
15. Cantaloupe

Haven’t started your New Year’s Resolution yet?  No worries!  This article is for you 😊 

First, you’re not alone.  Second, research shows that taking your time can even work to your advantage…

When it comes to Behavior Modification, which is ultimately what most people do when they embark upon a New Year’s Resolution, working through the Stages of Change can produce more long-lasting results than diving in headfirst.  Here’s an overview of The Stages of Change:

1. Pre-contemplation Stage – People in this stage are not thinking about taking any action so, in terms of the behavior that you are looking to change for 2022, we can skip to the Contemplation stage.
2. Contemplation: If you are intending to start the behavior within the next 6 months, this is the stage you are in.  In this stage you are weighing the pros and cons of changing the behavior, and the pros are beginning to outweigh the cons.
3. Preparation: This is most likely the stage you are in if you are thinking of taking action within about 30 days.  In this stage you are asking for advice and probably doing some research on the internet to figure out next steps.  You might even be taking some small steps in the behavior change itself.
4. Action: This is the stage people are in when they have recently (within the last 6 months) taken action and plan to continue to do so.  
5. Maintenance: When you’ve been doing the behavior/action for more than 6 months, and/or have reached your goal, you are now in the Maintenance Stage of Change.  The behavior is now a part of your lifestyle and has become a habit. 

So… if you haven’t started (or even thought of) your New Year’s Resolution yet, our suggestion is to look at it as more of a Spring Renewal.  In Chinese Medicine, the Spring Equinox, which follows the Chinese New Year, is the time for growth and change.  If you are person who likes to have a particular date in mind…look towards the week of March 13^th-March 20^th. 

March 13^th is when the time changes and March 20^th marks the beginning of Spring. So, any time within this week would be great!  For those choosing to start or restart an exercise program, that time change can be particularly handy.

Whatever your behavior change might be, we are here for you and happy to answer any questions you might have! 

Sincerely,

Dr. Watts and The Renewal Point Team

“Toxic metals in the environment may increase the risk of atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque in the arteries that can prevent blood and oxygen from reaching major organs. Arsenic and cadmium, metals that can be found in food, water and tobacco, plus titanium, which can come from dental and orthopedic implants, cosmetics or auto manufacturing, were associated with a higher likelihood of having clogged arteries in the neck, leg and heart in this study of auto assembly workers in Spain. Current global environmental, occupational and food safety standards may be insufficient to protect people from the adverse effects of metals, according to study authors.” To view this article in full, please click on this link: https://www.therenewalpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Exposure-to-toxic-metals-may-increase-risk-of-clogged-arteries-ScienceDaily.pdf