Metabolic Cardiology is a fairly new branch of Functional Medicine. Metabolic cardiology is a non-invasive, simple, integrative medical approach which addresses the prevention, management, treatment and monitoring of cardiovascular disease at the core basic level- which is the heart muscle cell. Functional medicine physicians are always concerned with addressing health issues at the root of the problem.
In my over 30 years of practice as a holistic doctor, I have seen both types of patients. Those who arrive to my office with bags full of prescribed medications, and those who arrive with a suitcase full of “natural supplements.” (I’ve even seen fellow doctors do this.) What is wrong with this picture? Sometimes well intentioned doctors prescribe their patients a medication without reviewing what she or he has already been prescribed by another doctor, or sometimes patients neglect to mention a medication or supplement. When that happens, the new prescribed medication may dangerously interact with another the patient has already taken. Hospitalizations due to untoward effects of correctly prescribed medications range from 1.5 to 2.7 million cases per year. The death rate from the consumption of prescribed medications in the USA is estimated to be five times that of the rate for opioid abuse.
That is a great question! In my experience, the last thing people want to do is lug a big bag of supplements on holiday or vacation. (See my previous post, Am I Taking Too Many Supplements?) And there is some evidence that we respond better to supplements if we pulse...
Am I taking too many supplements? Many clients come in and ask about reviewing their supplements. As health coaches we follow advice from the integrative physicians and are obviously a proponent of supplementation. There are, however, reasons as to why sometimes over...
As a physician, I’m gravely concerned about antibiotic resistance and the role that agriculture plays in this growing problem. The word is out in the medical community: Physicians increasingly recognize infections that can’t be treated with antibiotics and reserve...
Golden Turmeric Milk is one of my favorite recipes for a night time drink, other than hot tea. It is comforting and soothing at night and very nutritious. Nothing compares to the smell of turmeric milk warming up on the stove. Turmeric contains antioxidants and...
Every Cell in Our Body Needs Magnesium In the human body, magnesium is a miracle mineral as every cell in our body needs magnesium! It is the eleventh element by mass and about 60-65% of the magnesium is found in the skeleton and teeth. The remaining magnesium can be...
Why is Glutathione so important? Glutathione is known as the Great antioxidant and the Great detoxifier. It is a critically important molecule composed of 3 amino acids but is unique in that it is made by the body and exists inside all cells. Glutathione is a...
Why do we need antioxidants? One of the 4 pillars of nutritional supplementation, antioxidants prevent our bodies from “burning up” (anti- against, oxidation – burning); oxidation from free radicals also causes aging, loss of cellular energy and function, premature...
What Does "Pharmaceutical Grade" or "Physician Grade" Supplement Mean? All of the products the NIHA physicians recommend are hand picked by our doctors and practitioners for specific protocols. It is important to note that U.S. law requires the same level of quality...
Detoxification: Spring Cleaning for the Body I am just finishing up a Spring body cleanse and boy do I feel good! As a health coach, this is something I try to do at least once or twice a year, but I especially like to do a cleansing detox in the Spring. I did...
Most people believe symptoms are the disease so they often take drugs, herbs or supplements to suppress symptoms in the false belief that a medical or psychiatric problem is resolved if symptoms disappear. These myths may stem from deep, unconscious fears handed down...
In a recent study published online in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, it was found that low levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the major omega-3 fatty acid concentrated in the brain, may increase suicide risk. A retrospective case-control study of 1600 United...
Updated April, 2024 Incorporating fish oils or Krill oil as a supplement into your detoxification strategies is important. Membrane rehabilitation with essential fatty acids is an essential part of a good detoxification. Omega 3's are necessary for many organs of the...
Detoxification, or the process of removing the unneeded “bad stuff” from the body, is a key component to health and longevity. Living in the modern world, we are exposed daily to a variety of chemicals and substances that are not beneficial to the body, and may be harmful. Pesticides, chemicals and radiation can be found in air, water, food, personal care products, cleaning products and more. Home and work environments are air-tight and filled with wireless tvs, computers, cell phones, routers and smart meters. Technology changes so rapidly that we are not able to assess the long term effects of all this exposure to the human body.
Calcium Supplements May Increase Heart Risk I have never been comfortable prescribing calcium supplements, so over the last 35 years of practicing integrative and functional medicine I have not generally recommended them. If my patients want to supplement with...
Chlorella as a Superfood Chlorella is called a detoxification superfood because it is a good natural chelator, meaning it is able to bind to and then carry away toxins out of the body. It is also a very important food supplying many vital nutrients required for...
Updated April, 2024 Nature is your best source of nutrition. However, it is now scientifically and medically recognized that even high quality and balanced diets can benefit from targeted nutritional supplements. Augmenting a healthy diet with essential nutritional...