Top 4 Ways To Eat Your Sneezes Away!

Sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes are common complaints during allergy season. If you are one of the millions of people who suffer from seasonal allergies, you are willing to try most anything to get some relief. There are many natural remedies that help relieve symptoms including foods to eat or to avoid. When considering foods to include in your diet, remember any food that boosts the immune system will also help your body to combat the inflammation response when experiencing allergies.

Besides increasing your fruit and vegetable intake, certain foods help clear the nasal passages and thin mucous including:

1. Spicy seasonings:

cayenne pepper, ginger, onion and garlic.

2. Quercetin containing foods:

this powerful antioxidant may help control the release of histamine. Foods to include in your diet: cabbage, cranberries, kale, grapes, pears, apples, grapefruit, spinach, garlic and onions.

3. Local honey:

the thought is that local honey will contain traces of pollen from local plants and consumption may boost the immune system to reduce allergy symptoms.

4. Probiotics:

to support the immune system. Choose supplement form or from plain yogurt.

Foods to avoid:

• Limit processed foods that contain sugar which will weaken the immune system.

This delicious salad can be eaten as a side dish to complement a healthy meal or can be eaten by itself as a light meal.

Spinach Salad

Ingredients

• 1/2 medium onion, sliced thin
• 2 TBS white wine or apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup hot water
• 5 oz baby spinach
• 2 TBS balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 tsp local honey
• 2 TBS extra virgin olive oil
• salt and cracked black pepper to taste
• 8 dried figs, sliced
• 2 TBS chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Slice onion. Marinate sliced onion in 2 TBS white wine or apple cider vinegar and hot water for 10 minutes while preparing rest of ingredients.
2. Rinse and dry baby spinach.
3. Whisk together balsamic vinegar, honey, salt and pepper, drizzling in the olive oil a little at a time at the end. Toss with rest of ingredients and serve.

The Top 3 Answers to the Question “Why Should I Take Hormones?”

Recently during a patient’s visit, we were reviewing her most recent OB/GYN appointment. Her physician asked why she was taking hormones. Unable to offer a technical explanation, she simply stated that she felt much better than she did before she began her treatment program.

While the basic question of WHY is a good question by her physician, we actually need to answer three questions.

•  What are my individual hormone levels?
•  Are my hormones in appropriate balance?
•  Is my body metabolizing those hormones in the right way?

The answers to these three questions will answer the one question: “Why should a patient take hormones?”

What are my individual hormone levels?

Contrary to what most think, hormones are not just about individual numbers. Instead, hormones work collectively as a means of communication within the body. I am amazed at the answers I get when I ask postmenopausal women, “Does your body still have or need hormones?”

The answer is a resounding YES, but most people seem to think otherwise. The body must have hormones to survive. For example, those who suffer from Addison’s Disease have a life-threatening deficiency of cortisol (one of the body’s many hormones).

Far too often I hear the comment, “I’ve had a hysterectomy, so I don’t need progesterone.” The truth is having a hysterectomy does not eliminate your body’s use or need for hormones. It just means you are missing your uterus. Hysterectomy or not, millions of cells throughout the body have progesterone receptors and those cells could care less if you’ve had a hysterectomy or what your OB/GYN thinks about progesterone. [Insert laugh here!] These organ systems throughout the body have receptors for progesterone because they need progesterone.

The aforementioned patient’s hormone therapy included progesterone cream and DHEA capsules. Testing results showed her to be deficient in both progesterone and DHEA (read about how we test hormones at Seasons), and thus replacement was needed. In addition to test results, the patient’s clinical symptom history warranted the replacement of these hormones.

So why was DHEA included in her treatment program? Two reasons. The first is that her DHEA levels were low in her testing results. The second reason? This patient had Type II Diabetes and, after some additional testing, was found to have chronic inflammation throughout her body. DHEA has been shown to reduce inflammation, improve insulin function, and reduce obesity, all of which are associated with diabetes. DHEA does this through a complex interaction with the hormones adiponectin and insulin. As insulin levels rise with insulin resistance, adiponectin falls. This hormone imbalance will result in Diabetes for many people.

Additionally, Type II Diabetes has been shown to be the result of chronic inflammation. What does that mean, you ask? Chronic, dysregulated inflammation causes insulin resistance. What is the source of this inflammation, you ask? Fat cells! The obesity epidemic is the root cause of our current healthcare crisis.

Let’s go back to the patient’s hormone therapy. Her test results showed her deficient in progesterone. Becauseprogesterone is a natural anti-inflammatory, it is currently being used in traumatic brain injuries (TBI) to reduce inflammation and improve outcomes. In addition, women with low progesterone tend to have significantly more menstrual cramps, the result of inflammatory signals called prostaglandins. Progesterone therapy has been shown to reduce those prostaglandins and thus reduce menstrual cramps.

Are my hormones in appropriate balance?

Hormones don’t exist in a vacuum, as many seem to think. Hormones exist in a delicate balance. The most well publicized imbalance is that of the estrogens and progesterone.  Imbalance of estrogen and progesterone have been linked to many health problems: fatigue, weight gain, headaches, and increased risk of breast cancer to name a few.

I often tell patients that with every cause there is an effect. You can’t give one hormone without affecting many others. The addition of progesterone to the body when it has been chronically low will not only restore progesterone to an appropriate physiologic level, but will also allow estrogen signals to work better. The balance of hormones allows each hormone to work as it was intended. Mind you, we are NOT talking about using synthetic hormones which are simply not what the body is looking for and contain harmful additives. We only treat with bioidentical hormones (bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, also known as BHRT). 

Is my body metabolizing my hormones in the right way? 

The final key point is looking at how the body processes hormones (metabolism). Hormone metabolism is just as important as the individual hormone levels and the hormone balance. 

Let’s use estrogen metabolism, for example. Estrogens (there are actually three different types of estrogen) can be metabolized three ways: 2-hydroxy estrone, 4-hyroxy estrone, and 16-alpha-hydroxy estrone. Some of the risks associated with estrogen come from the body metabolizing estrogen utilizing the 4-hydoxy estrone pathway. This pathway results in many dangerous metabolites (break down products). Think of it as turning down the wrong road as you’re driving somewhere, and you end up in a briar patch!

Think about it. Many women with breast cancer and men with prostate cancer don’t take bioidentical estrogen nor do they take synthetic estrogen. Their problem, as it relates to hormones, comes from endogenous hormone production (the body’s own hormone overproduction or underproduction), hormone metabolization, and the often undiscussed environmental xenoestrogens (from environmental toxin exposure). In lay terms, the body is metabolizing estrogen using the 4-hydoxy estrone pathway resulting in higher risk of cancer.

It has only been in the last 50 to 60 years that major hormonal imbalances in industrialized countries seem to have come to our attention. Before that, people and their hormones seemed to do just fine for thousands of years. We can attribute much of that to diminishing nutritional value in our foods and continually increasing exposure to toxins. Nutrition and toxins both have profound effects on the body, hormones included.

In conclusion, why should a patient take hormones (BHRT)?

The answer is a summary of the three points we’ve looked at here. By determining current hormone levels, restoring balance, and evaluating the body’s metabolic processes, the body can once again function as God intended it. Should a patient be on hormones? Well, only if you need them. But the truth is few of us have perfectly balanced hormones due to nutrition, toxin exposure, and prescription medication side effects.

At Seasons Wellness Clinic, we use state-of-the-art testing that reveals your body’s biochemistry. With our years of advanced training, we can carefully customize a treatment plan to restore your body, offsetting the damage of poor nutrition, toxins, and prescription drugs. Our goal is to eliminate any need for prescription medication! We want you to be HEALTHY!

WELLNESS IS POSSIBLE! You don’t have to settle for a body that is not working as it should. You can make a conscientious choice towards good health and a longer, happier life.

Top 10 Health Experts to Follow on Pinterest

Lately you are more likely to hear someone ask, “Are you on Pinterest?” than “Are you on Facebook?” or “Do you do Tweet?” But if you are new to the world ofPinterest, it is best described as a virtual pinboarding site that combines imagery bookmarking with the fun of social media. Users (or “pinners”) post images and links onto virtual pinboards and share visual ideas with other pinners. Share the things you love – whether that be health tips, things you want to make, or anything in between.

I love the idea of making “vision boards” with pictures of things that inspire you to live a healthier life. My pinboards include my favorite Paleo and low-fat recipes, fitness routines, inspiring images and quotes, and general wellness tips. While pinning, I have come across pinners whose pinboards provide a gold mine of healthy inspirations. I have compiled a list of these pinners to create my Top 10 Health Experts to Follow on Pinterest. Happy Pinning!

1. Seasons Wellness

I love to follow Seasons because not only do they have great tips, recipes and links to informative posts, they also share skincare tips from their Aesthetician and news on the best beauty products. 

2. Dr. Oz

His boards include fitness tips and recipes. My favorite pinboard is ‘Oz Approved Desserts’. Yum!

3. FitSugar

With 27 boards and counting, you are sure to find something you are interested in! They have a whole board dedicated to gluten-free recipes!

9. Yoga Journal

Pull out your yoga mat! They have pinned everything you need to know about yoga including tips and videos to inspire you to de-stress and exercise more often.

10. Whole Living

The health, happiness, wellness, food, and green living magazine has a wide array of boards including ‘Crazy for Quinoa’ and ‘Healthy Chicken Recipes’.

At Seasons, we are dedicated to providing individualized treatment and improving your quality of life by providing the best complementary and integrative medical treatment available. Our hope? To transform lives, one patient at a time. Follow our pinboards for great information on health and wellness! Not on Pinterest? Follow this link to request a Pinterest invite.

 

Spring Cleaning Through Organic Acids

Last weekend, I needed to find some specific items in my garage. I soon became overwhelmed with all the stuff I had to pick through before I found what I was looking for!

Spring cleaning was more intense than I had anticipated. However, after organizing and “detoxing” this vital area, I began to appreciate the many functions of my garage! As I threw away the last bag of debris, I realized that our bodies also need a thorough review and cleansing. Many times, vague symptoms such as fatigue, apathy, muscle pain, insomnia, and irritable bowel issues need more than a quick fix. Antidepressants and laxatives may initially soothe our symptoms, but they don’t heal our bodies.

A better approach is to assess the situation by getting to the root cause. A unique test at Seasons measures energy production, metabolism, B vitamins, small intestine bacterial overgrowth, ability to detoxify, and markers for emotional and behavioral problems.

The Organic Acid test is like an emission test performed on your car. The exhaust is measured to see how well the engine is burning fuel. In the same way, amino acids excreted in your urine reveal how well your body is running!

When specific nutrients such as vitamins are not being absorbed, important reactions cannot take place in your body. For example, B vitamins are critical for digestion, muscle and nerve function, and energy production. A deficiency can cause a multitude of problems with various symptoms exhibited. Organic acid levels help us determine the bad stuff (toxins) that have accumulated as well as reveal any insufficiencies that need to be replenished. From your unique results, we can custom design a plan to help restore health and a sense of well-being.

So, as you begin the process of Spring cleaning, make it a point this year to do as much for your body! It will function better, you won’t need to replace parts, and your shelf life will be exponentially increased.

Get Your Plate In Shape!

As the weather warms, we know spring is just around the corner. There is an urgency to reach our health goals, especially our desired weight and fitness levels.

March is also National Nutrition Month and the theme this year is “Get Your Plate in Shape.” The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends that you fill your plate with these healthful foods:

• vegetables
• fruits
• whole grains
• low-fat dairy products
• lean protein foods [including 2 servings of fish per week, preferably high omega 3 rich sources such as salmon and cod]

Be sure you also make one-half of your plate full of fruits and vegetables which should include dark-green, red and orange vegetables plus legumes and peas. Fruit is a tasty dessert alternative and great for in between snacks. Pears and apples, for example, have soluble fiber called pectin which helps fill you up and stay satisfied until mealtime. It is also essential to cut back on processed foods that are high in refined sugars, sodium, bad fats, and artificial colors, preservatives and additives.

Avoid sugary drinks and boost your water intake, preferably filtered, as the weather warms up and outdoor activities increase. Studies have shown drinking at least 8-10 cups of water per day can give your body a boost in metabolizing fat and encourage your kidneys and liver to eliminate wastes and toxins. Some literature shows that 75 percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated and even mild dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as much as 3 percent. One University of Washington study also showed that just one glass of water in the evening can curb midnight hunger.

What we put on our plate is an investment to keep us alert, fit and feeling healthy! As I was shopping recently in the grocery store, I was reminded it was March as I noticed a run on cabbage and corned beef. However, Ireland is surrounded by water, and its seas are rich in cod and salmon. In addition to being known for their corned beef and cabbage, they are also known for their fish stews. Did you know that you can eat less and burn fat faster by having a bowl of soup or stew as an appetizer, snack, or even as the main course. According to a Penn State University study, soup (or stew) is a great appetite suppressant because it’s made up of a hunger-satisfying combination of liquids and solids.

Here is a healthy version of a Irish fisherman stew. Enjoy!

 

Irish Fisherman’s Stew

Ingredients

½ teaspoon thyme
½-3/4 lb firm white fish (i.e. cod)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (olive, canola, high oleic safflower, etc.)
1 cup chopped onions
3 garlic cloves
2 Tablespoons whole grain flour
2 quarts free range chicken broth (or vegetable)
12 ounce bag frozen corn
½ lb new potatoes
4 medium carrots, sliced
½ lb green beans, sliced
Salt and pepper to taste
Note: You can add parsley, cayenne or white pepper and other herbs and spices.

Directions:

Sprinkle thyme over both sides of fish.
In a large saucepan cook fish in 1 tablespoon of hot oil.
Heat remaining oil and add onion and garlic and cook until tender.
Stir in flour and cook 1 minute.
Add chicken broth, stir in corn, potatoes, carrots, and green beans.
Remove skin and any bones from fish and add to pot.
Simmer 30-40 minutes stirring often until vegetables are cooked through.

Serves: 4-6

« Previous Page — Next Page »