Healing Is A Process, Not A Pill

EPA-DHA Omega3

2009-02-23T08:15:00.005-05:00

If someone were to ask me what would be the number one supplement they should take, I would recommend fish oil without hesitation. There are so many benefits, and most people don't eat fish often enough. Even if they did, taking EPA-DHA (also known as Omega3) as a concentrated supplement gives you much more nutritional value then a serving of fish.

Benefits of Fish Oil / EPA-DHA / Omega3 :

Reduces inflammation in the joints caused by arthritis by interfering with the production of chemicals in the body, which stimulate pain nerves in the tissue. The inflammation can cause excess fluid in the joint synovial fluid, causing swelling or help with friction when joint cartilage has broken down.
Feeds the brain, which is a fatty tissue. The brain needs the fish oil to nourish it so the neurotransmitters can fire properly. Great for children to have better concentration in school, especially if they have any attention disorders. It can also help to elevate mood, for someone suffering from depression.
Lowers triglycerides and helps to thin the blood naturally, reducing the risk of blood clots. This benefits both the heart and the brain. The body needs fats. Feed the body the good fats, and its can release the bad fats.
More energy, by keeping the blood platelets from coining or sticking together ( which can produce blood clots). When the platelets flow freely, they carry oxygen and nutrients to every part of the body, which allows energy to increase naturally.
Heals many skin afflictions, (dry skin, eczema, and psoriasis), by helping to heal the gut. The body heals from the inside out.
Is my number one recommendation for migraine headaches. It serves as a vaso-dilator for the blood vessels. Regular use usually eliminates migraines with one to two months.

Most Americans get plenty of Omega6 in their diet through use of flax, primrose, olive, or other plant based oils, which are good, but getting too much Omega 6 and not enough Omega 3 in ratio can cause other health concerns.

The number one complaint I hear from people using fish oil, is that they burp up afterwards. If that is happening, here are three suggestions: (1) the liver/gallbladder is not digesting fats efficiently and needs support, (2) use a good quality fish oil, that is lemon flavored, and you will not have that fishy taste afterward. (3) use an enteric-coated gel cap, which breaks down after it passes through the stomach. My favorite source is from Metagenics. They has a great of assortment of EPA-DHA, including a lemon liquid form for those who have difficulty swallowing the gels caps.

Moroccan Stewed Chicken

2009-02-04T08:15:00.002-05:00

This very flavorful recipe is easy to make, and is great for the FirstLine Therapy diet program.

1 lb skinless chicken thighs
1 lg. zucchini, cubed
1 16 oz can garbanzo beans
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
Chopped cilantro (garnish)
½ tbsp. olive oil
1 C. chicken broth
½ tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground cumin

Brown Chicken in olive oil with salt and pepper – until browned.
Add zucchini, stirring often until browned. Add garbanzo beans,
tomatoes, chicken stock, cayenne, cumin and cinnamon.
(I added the cilantro to the pot for more flavor too.)
Simmer until chicken is cooked, about 10 – 15 minutes.

Serve with a side of rice with golden raisins, 2 - tbsp. toasted almonds,
and chopped cilantro.

Diet and Insulin Connection

2009-01-06T08:10:00.010-05:00

Insulin is a hormone that responds directly to what you feed your body. Roles of insulin includes regulation of fat metabolism and it helps control blood sugar levels. Blood sugar is the basic fuel that is needed by the cell to make energy. The body maintains the blood sugar level in a narrow range. When it is to low it is called hypoglycemia and too high it is know as hypergylcemia. Keeping the blood sugars stable is really important because imbalances, particularly hyperglycemia can cause serious health problems.

High glycemic index foods (GI), are foods that triger high levels of blood sugar. With an over abundance of these foods, your body will respond by producing higher levels of insulin than it would if you were to eat lower GI foods. When insulin levels are high, besides converting the blood sugar to energy, it stores any extra energy as fat. So, when insulin levels are high, you store more fat and when insulin levels are low, you burn fat more efficiently. The catch is, when your diet consists of too many high GI foods, it leads to carbohydrate cravings and an increase in appetite - which produces weight gain.

Approximately 33% of the population produces more insulin than needed to maintain a healthy blood sugar level. This is called "insulin resistance" and is usually present in people that are overweight, have low energy, mood swings, and muscle loss. People who are insulin resistant are also at an increased risk of developing diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease.

An important key to weight loss is keeping your glycemic levels in a balanced state. The following lists will help you determine the best foods to eat and best foods to avoid.

Top to Low GI Foods Top to High GI Foods
Apples
Berries and cherries
Barley
Grapefruit
Legumes (lentils, beans, peanuts)
Nuts (almonds, walnuts, soy nuts)
Oatmeal (unsweetened)
Green peas
Tomatoes
Unsweetened, plain yogert

Top to High GI Foods
Candy
Cookies
Juices with added sugar
White potatoes
Chips (corn and potato)
Sweetened cereal
Sweetened soda
Sweet snacks
White bread and bagels (processed flour)
White rice

Which catagory does your diet fall into? Is it any wonder that there has been an increased number of children and adults with obesity problems and diabetes? Eatng more of the low GI foods with a good exercise and weight resistance program will help you be more successful with your weight loss program.

Dr. Jerore is a Certified FirstLine Therapy practitioner. The above information is found in the FLT Therapeutic Lifestyle Program Guide.

In Case of an Emergency

2009-01-04T17:21:00.003-05:00

When following a weight loss program, it is important to look at ways we sabotage ourselves and get creative so we don't fall into the same old trap. Here is a helpful tip.

One of the best things to help bump up you metabolism is to eat more frequently. Experts say it is best to eat every three hours, so your body won't think you are trying to starve it. If you go too long between meals, your blood sugar drops and that is when the binge eating begins, and you don't always make wise decisions when your are hungry and want something quick. If you haven't planned ahead, it is too tempting sometimes to pull into a fast food drive-thru and grab anything quick.

I have found, when trying to make lifestyle changes and watch your food intake, it can be especially challenging in the beginning. If your life is as busy as most Americans these days, I have found with my clients that it is helpful to pack a small insulated bag of nutritious food, "in case of an emergency." Then you can keep it in your car or with you, when your sugar levels drop, and you start craving or needing something NOW! You will be prepared to tie you over until it is time for your next meal.

Some healthy choices include:

A bottle of water
Protein powder and shaker cup
Nuts: almonds, walnuts, pecans, etc.
Apple or apple sauce
Fruit
Cut up veggies
Protein bar

Any other ideas you may have to share regarding healthy snacks to help stay on track will be welcome if you would like to share them on this blog. Thanks

Six Steps to Healthy Weight Loss

2009-01-02T21:37:00.002-05:00

A good weight loss program is like a balancing act. The following are six steps to help balance your weight loss efforts, so you will be more successful this year then ever before.

Knowledge - The more knowledge you can arm yourself with, the better results you will have. Knowledge helps you make informed decisions about making choices that will impact your health daily. If you know "why," it's much easier to resist when temptation comes your way. Following the information in this blog will continue to give you valuable information, to make your results more successful.
Balanced Eating - Balanced eating habits have a direct influence on excess insulin productions, body composition, and disease prevention. Insulin resistance becomes a cycle of food cravings of sugar and carbohydrates, which in excess is stored as fat in the body. Body composition is basically a healthy balance of body fat and lean body mass. To slow down the aging process, a healthy body composition must be retained as long as possible. Unhealthy body composition leads to inflammation and diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, osteoperosis, alzheimer's, and more.
Regular Activity / Exercise - A regular program of aerobic, strength training, and flexibility exercises has been shown to reverse insulin resistance, increase vitality, and reduce your risk of disease. If you have tried starvation diets in the past, or have had a sedintary lifestyle, you can bet your metabolism has decreased. The only way to safely and effectively increase your metabolism it with movement.
Nutritional Supplementation - Incorporating a nutritional program to help build a foundation in order to supply your body with the fuel it needs is crucial. The body needs vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and protein, among others to function, but also to build and repair itself as you age. We will get into more detail in future blogs.
Stress Management - Stress causes one of the biggest roadblocks in a successful weight loss program. For optimal health, regular stress management helps to keep insulin and other hormone levels balanced, improving vitality. We will talk about nutritional support, as well as methods for relaxation in the future.
Sleep - Sleep is crucial for the proper funciton of the mind and body. Lack of sleep has been shown to cause illness, fatigue, irritability, and a number of psychological problems. It is important to get 8 hours of sleep per night. When you are lacking sleep, there is no nutrient that can replace it. Only getting caught up on you sleep will really refresh and rejuvinate you. Sometimes that is hard to do when you are stressed and wired.

Imagine waking up in the morning and feeling great, having all the energy you need to keep you going all day long. By gaining control of your health, you will gain control of your life.

Contact me for more information on creating the balance in your life with the FirstLine Therapy Program, or continue to watch for more posts to further your knowledge and education.

Know Your Body Composition

2009-01-01T20:56:00.006-05:00

January 1st, always offers new beginnings to us. The number one thing most people want to change is their weight. They want to look better, but don't always stop to think, how it is affecting their health. This month the blog posts will be geared toward weight loss, and will give you important keys to make weight loss easier and make you healthier this new year.

Key to Weight Loss: Know Your Body Composition

Weight loss should be more then just dieting. Gaining a healthy body composition is really the bottom line. With weight gain, which is now considered an inflammatory disease, there is altered body composition, which can eventurally create chronic health conditions.

By reducing body fat, a healthy body composition can:

Improve insulin sensivity and glucose tolerance.
Improve blood circulations in all parts of the body, reducing the risk of heart disease.
Promote healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Reduce respiratory infections, breathlessness, and improve overall lung function.
Improve quality of sleep.
Relieve strain placed on you knees, hips, and lower back - which can reduce pain.
Increase energy and endurance.
Improve mood and self-confidence.

Knowing your body composition is important because it tells your fat percent and your fat to muscle ratio, how much of your weight is excess water, how well your cells are replicating themselves, and most importantly, how many calories are you burning in a day. The best way to get this information is with a Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). It is a simple, quick test that many FirstLine Therapy practitioners use.

Knowing your daily caloric consumption is a key factor to weight loss. From there, a dietary program that balances proteins, carbohydrates, and good fats can be developed specifically for each individual. Include other nutritional support your body may need, along with a fitness program and it becomes easy to follow. You will be delighted with the results.

Healthy Skin

2008-12-21T09:59:00.003-05:00

DID YOU KNOW that your skin is considered to be the largest organ of your body? Knowing what you are putting on your skin is very important. Using all-natural products, with no fillers or chemicals is crucial to your long-term health.

DID YOU KNOW that women absorb nearly five pounds of chemicals through the skin and into the blood stream every year as a result of the makeup they apply? Women use an average of nine personal care products per day. Those products contain over 120 dangerous chemical ingredients and many of those ingredients have been linked to cancer, infertility, damage to developing babies within the womb, hormonal dysfunction, and other disorders!

Drug Medications

2008-12-21T07:53:00.001-05:00

"Drug medications consists in employing, as remedies for disease, those things which produce disease in well persons. Its materia medica is simply a lot of drugs or chemicals or dye-stuffs, in a word poisons. All are incompatible with vital matter; all produce disease when brought in contact in any manner with the living; all are poisons."

R.T. Trail, M.D., in a two and one half hour lecture to members of congress and the medical profession, delivered at the Smithsonian Institute in WashingtonD.C.

Raindrop Therapy

2008-12-20T08:41:00.004-05:00

Raindrop Therapy is different then a regular massage. With this relaxing therapy, Ten Essential Oils are layered along the spine and stimulated with special massage strokes. After all the Oils are applied, they are followed with hot towels placed upon the spine, to send the oils deep into the body.
This therapy stimulates circulation, helps to eliminate viruses and bacteria that are harbored in the spine, and is a great oxyginator and nerve stimulator. It strengthens the immune system, reduces inflammation, and is a very therapeutic and relaxing treatment.

Almond Butter Balls

2008-12-14T11:47:00.003-05:00

Here is a healthy alternative to Holiday sweets and treats. It is wheat and glutton free, and easy to make.

1 (11 oz.) jar almond butter
5 Tbsp. chopped walnuts (or your choice)
5 Tbsp. oatmeal
5 Tbsp. honey
5 Tbsp. coco or carob powder

Mix the almond butter in a food processor for a few minutes to incorporate the oils back into it. Then blend all the other ingredients together with the almond butter. Roll into 1" balls. May store in the refridgerator to keep them firm.

Seven Steps to a Stress Free Holiday

2008-12-08T09:16:00.002-05:00

During the holidays, when times are busy and hectic, we often wonder why are we buying into all the holiday hype. These tips will help you function more efficiently, and give you a new outlook on life. They will be even more helpful if you incorporate them all year round. If it is too overwhelming, add one step each week.

1. Pure Diet – Eat whole foods that are untainted by chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, or genetically altered, eaten according to your blood or body type.

2. Adequate Rest – 10PM being the latest bedtime. There is nothing you can do to make up for the loss of sleep, other then to sleep. Eight hours of uninterrupted sleep is recommended.

3. Exercise – Participate in 30 to 45 minutes, of exercise daily. You can choose to involve yourself in, and rotate anything from yoga or stretching, to walking or running, to strenuous aerobic exercises, pilates, rebounding, or weight lifting, all according to your own bodies requirements.

4. Natural Hygiene - Bathe daily, and be well-groomed, using natural care products. The skin absorbs what you put on it. Make sure you are using safe products. Daily dry skin brushing helps to opens the pours of the skin. .

5. Right Occupation – Be happy doing useful, productive work that gives you joy and satisfaction. If you don’t have that in your life right now, doing something to change it.

6. Function in Positive Environments – Live and work in a clean, orderly, and tasteful environment, and surround yourself with positive, loving people.

7. Spiritual Cultivation – Begin each day with 30 minutes of spiritual practice. Use prayer, meditation, reading, journaling, or any other rituals you use to connect with Spirit. .

These 7 Steps will help to create a firm foundation of balanced health so that we can bring love and good energy to the people we meet and love. Whether you are new to the journey of bringing balance into your life, or if you have been following this path for a long time, the following steps will certainly be rewarding. Make all of your daily activities sacred by adapting and engaging in the following practices. The more disciplined you are, consciousness of participating in the steps as outlined, and doing so in loving reflection of your Creator, the better the results.

Failing to follow these 7 Steps toward better health and happiness, you will find that your energy and attention will have to go to problems that will develop in the body and mind, resulting in energy sucking activities.

What Is The Most Relaxing Fragrance?

2008-12-07T06:06:00.002-05:00

It has the greatest calming, relaxing, and balancing effect on your entire nervous system, affecting you both emotionally and physically. It will send you into a deep, relaxing sleep by adding just a few drops on your pillow at bedtime. It is the greatest sedative fragrance of all time. The answer? Lavender Oil.

But, the benefits of Lavender Oil are even greater than that, and it has many other beneficial applications. It is excellent in the treatment of burns, (including sunburns), stretch marks, and helps with tissue regeneration, which speeds up wound healing. It is also beneficial for other skin irritations such as bruises, hives, insect bites, and it helps cleanse cuts because Lavender has antiseptic properties.

Lavender Oil’s calming effect can relieve asthma and bronchitis by rubbing it on the chest. It gets oxygen quickly into the bronchioles. It will lower blood pressure, and help with heart palpitations. It helps to lift depression, soothes nausea, and tames PMS conditions.

So, the next time you are suffering from stress or insomnia, consider reaching for a bottle of Lavender Oil to relax you or send you off to sleep.

De-Stress For The Holidays

2008-12-06T10:16:00.003-05:00

Is your lifestyle already busy with work, family, and other functions? Then adding a holiday into the blend can become over whelming. But it doesn’t have to be.

Why do we sometimes get overloaded? People handle stress differently, and some stress in our lives is actually good for us. Stress keeps us on our toes and our creativity flowing.

The stress response can create a coordinated series of events in the body by triggering the neurotransmitters, (chemical messengers) that can increase emotional response, memory, concentration, inhibition, and rational thought. Can you relate to any of these symptoms?

With Holiday stress, you know it is short term, and will end in a few weeks. However, consistent stress over long periods of time, with no relief, can become a more serious threat to maintaining good health. Think of those who have lost their homes and/or jobs. Let’s start with the basics.

When a body is under stress, the first nutrients that are burned up are Vitamin C, and the B Complex Vitamins, because they are water soluble and your body can’t store them. You will be amazed what taking these supplements alone will do for your wellbeing. Nutritional support can take the edge off.

My second recommendation is a good multi-mineral combination supplement, with a good amount of calcium and magnesium, or just a balanced calcium/magnesium tablet. They offer more minerals then your normal everyday vitamin. A calcium deficiency creates more then bone loss. Calcium allows you to form a muscle, and helps to control rage. Magnesium nourishes the nerves and relaxes the muscles. Carbonation in soft drinks depletes these two important nutrients. Most Americans are magnesium and calcium deficient.

If you don’t fall into this category, perhaps you can know of others in your life with some of the above symptoms that could benefit from extra nutrition during times of excess stress. Give the gift of health to your friends and loved ones. Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All!

MEDICINE OF THE FUTURE

2008-11-28T20:38:00.000-05:00

"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human body, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease." Thomas Alva Edison