Are you taking handfuls of supplements? You might wanna think about what you’re doing if you’re in the habit of doing that. Timing of supplement intake is as important as the form in which you take them. That would have to be a totally different discussion altogether though. For now, let’s discuss ways in which to optimize the effectiveness of your nutritional supplement program. One thing to take note though before I make general recommendations is that everybody is metabolically different and unique and as such, an individualized program has to be in order.
Multivitamins, whole-food based, should be taken with food a couple of times a day. I’m not a huge fan of time-released multis coz they usually come in the form of tablets (which by the way, may have unnecessary binders and fillers).
Probiotics ideally, are taken on an empty stomach unless they’re enteric-coated.
Supplements such as essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, E and K are best taken with the heaviest meals.
Mineral supplements are taken apart from meals since fiber from food would actually interfere with their absorption.
Amino acids should ideally be taken apart from food as well. Examples include NAC, L-carnitine and L-tryptophan.
Digestive enzymes such as pancreatic enzymes should be taken 15-30 minutes prior to meals. Plant-based enzymes such as bromelain and papain are more stable in an acid environment and as such, can be taken with meals.
I’m available for in person and virtual consultations. Contact me at +1-415-800-3757 or on Skype at drjlopezmd. Yours in wellness, DrJLo. http://www.drjlopez.com
It’s all about the timing….
Back to Basics 2
Hello everyone! Welcome back to my blog! I’ve been distracted with the cares of life such that I wasn’t able to persist with my new-found hobby, blogging. Anyway, I thought that it might be a good time to discuss a few of the basics in healthy aging. I’d say let’s start with one of the fundamental factors which influence aging, and that is, our diet. I’ve been working out for a while with satisfactory results but it wasn’t until I changed my diet that things started to really turn around. Not that I had a lot of weight or fat to lose but in my case, I just wasn’t achieving that coveted 6-pack abs. I’m not saying that that should be everyone’s goal. I just want to set certain goals in my life and do my best in achieving them. So, I’ve been training more consistently in the last several months. My diet is much better. I rarely eat out nowadays. I started eating more at home, using organic, in-season produce primarily. I supplement my protein intake with the use of organic whey and other plant-based protein shakes. And then of course, I take natural fat burners such as L-carnitine and more recently added the “Living with Slique” kit from Young Living Essential Oils. It really is a holistic approach since I don’t rely on just one thing to achieve my goals. By the way, it helps to know your hormone levels since sub-optimal numbers could mean an exercise in futility (no pun intended). For the Young Living Slique kit, visit http://www.cleanbodycare.com or just call 847-997-8459 or email jd@infinitewellnessworldwide.com.
Stressed Out?
Image via Wikipedia
Hi everyone! A lot of things have happened since I last wrote. Globally, locally, as well as personally. With all the events that are going on around us, one wonders “how can I be safe, stay healthy and vibrant?” I don’t have all the answers but for starters, I would suggest not to worry. Indeed, the popular song, “Dont’ worry, be happy” is so appropriate for our times. Anyway, worry, anxiety or “stress” could affect our delicate systems especially our endocrine or hormonal system. In fact, stress is a major cause of chronic ailments or physical/mental health disorders. How does our body cope with stress? It’s does so primarily through our adrenal glands, a pair of endocrine glands that sit on top of the kidneys. Each adrenal gland is divided into two functionally distinct zones, namely the adrenal cortex (which produces corticosteroids and further classified into mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids and androgens) and the adrenal medulla (produces the catecholamines). For today’s discussion, let’s focus on the glucocorticoids (also known as cortisol). Cortisol is normally secreted in a circadian rhythm. Secretion is highest in the morning around 8 am and , followed by a gradual tapering off through the rest of the day, the lowest level being around midnight. Chronic stress typically causes elevation of cortisol initially until the adrenals get “depleted”, at which point, cortisol levels start declining. Again, it’s all about hormonal balance. Too much or too little of a hormone (or a nutrient or a neurotransmitter, for that matter), could lead to ill health. Therefore, it’s important to keep everything in balance or homeostasis. In Chinese medicine terms, it’s about yin and yang. In future blog entries, I’ll discuss better ways to manage stress.
Scared Of Radiation?
Image via Wikipedia
There are different kinds and levels of radiation. It’s constant, high levels that could cause health problems. I won’t go into the kinds or signs or symptoms of radiation exposure coz there’s already an abundance of info on that on the internet. What I’d like to discuss today is how to protect yourself from radiation exposure. Of course, everybody knows that potassium iodide helps by primarily protecting the thyroid glands (from cancer eventually). However, there’s more that we can do to protect ourselves from radiation and it’s byproducts in our bodies. Radiation causes damage in our bodies by primarily increasing free radical formation. Increased free radicals (and there are different kinds of free radicals, by the way) damages all our cells. What do you do then to protect your cells from the onslaught of these harmful substances? The answer is by taking antioxidants, whether it’s in the form of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs and even so-called “superfruits” such as goji and pomegranates. By the way, regarding iodine intake, most people are deficient in this beneficial mineral. Statistics show that up to 90% of the population have abnormally low levels. A lot of holistic doctors that I know of used to check iodine levels of their clients. Since, a large majority of those tested showed low levels, these doctors have just recommended supplementation with a low dose of potassium iodide (12.5 to 50 mg/day, although in the literature, as much as 300-1000 mg/day has been used in the past). In the last couple of days, there has been a “mad run” for potassium iodide at pharmacies and health food stores. If a person has no access to this, one may consider increasing their intake of seaweeds such as kelp, kombu or arame. Nori sheets used to wrap sishi is also available as a snack. Other helpful products are Rad Tox from a company called Apex Energetix, Modifilan (a brown seaweed product), and chlorella tablets. Taking NAC or glutathione are also helpful for detox.
Bad Hair Day Because of Hormones?
Image via Wikipedia
Yes, it’s possible. Hair loss could be due to hormonal imbalance. The sooner this imbalance is corrected, the better. Hair loss could cease or better yet, hair could grow back. One of the most common hormonal causes of hair loss is a poor thyroid condition. Of course, a lot of thyroid issues unfortunately, still goes undiagnosed. It’s not enough to do a blood test alone. Sometimes, clinical signs and symptoms such as low basal body temperature, slow reflexes, or loss of outer third of a person’s eyebrows, have to be taken into consideration. When a person has blood work for thyroid, it’s important to check for free T3, the metabolically active form of thyroid hormone. In some cases, tests such as reverse T3 and thyroid antibodies could yield very helpful information. The pattern of hair loss is also important by the way. A more diffuse type of hair loss points to a thyroid condition while “male-pattern” hair loss is due to testosterone decline in men (or elevated DHT in both men and women). Ever wonder why younger men have full heads of hair and once they get older, they lose their scalp hair? This is not generally true any more. Unfortunately, we’re seeing young men in their teens and 20’s starting to lose hair. This is due to poor nutrition as well as environmental influences. We’re getting more chemicals from our environment that mimic estrogen in our bodies (xenoestrogens) which are causing a hormonal imbalance. One of the consequences of hormonal imbalance is hair loss. Fortunately, this and other health challenges can be addressed through the use of bioidentical hormones. Addressing the problems associated with aging using a holistic approach always yields better results.
Is There Relief From Chronic Allergies?
Image via Wikipedia
It sucks! Suffering from allergies, that is. Symptoms are annoying (and could include stuffy nose, red, itchy eyes, constant sneezing, dark circles under the eye) to life-threatening (anaphylaxis). It is caused by the hyper-reactivity of the immune system to natural as well as synthetic substances found in our food, air (inhalant allergens), and chemicals in our environment. The typical response would be the use of OTC and prescription anti-histamines, steroids and epinephrine (for anaphylactic conditions). Most of them are effective except for some unpleasant side effects such as drowsiness (anti-histamines), suppression of the immune system (steroids), and tachycardia (epinephrine). One more thing, a person has to take them indefinitely because the root cause/causes are not really addressed (by just symptomatic treatment alone). There are natural alternatives to allergy treatment and they include quercertin and bromelain. They may be taken if one is wary of taking any medications whatsoever. One thing though, is that it still doesn’t address the cause or causes of the allergy.
Other more effective treatments for allergy include immunotherapy (subcutaneous or sublingual) and L.D.A. therapy. Subcutaneous immunotherapy, otherwise known as “allergy shots” involves the administration of gradually increasing amounts of allergens over several months to a couple of years. The injections are given weekly or biweekly. This causes the body to produce less symptoms than are otherwise caused by exposure to antigens. Sublingual immunotherapy, on the other hand, involves the administration of liquid antigen drops under the tongue. It is safe, convenient and can be used on high-risk patients, such as elderly patients, asthmatics, and pregnant patients.
L.D.A. (low dose allergen) therapy, is a method of allergy treatment that was started by Dr. Leonard McEwen from England. Originally known as EPD or enzyme potentiated desensitization, Dr. McEwen used very tiny doses of various allergens along with an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase. Treatments were administered every 60 days. The treatment was found to be effective for a wide range of allergens (food, inhalants, chemicals) as well as other immune system disorders. EPD however, is no longer available in the US and has been replaced by L.D.A. L.D.A. therapy is similar to EPD and acts by stimulating T-suppressor cells. The main difference is that the allergen solution used for L.D.A. is not sold at regular pharmacies. It is made by compounding pharmacies according to a doctor’s specifications/prescription. The main benefit of L.D.A. therapy is that it seems to train the immune system to stop attacking normal substances that the body encounters (foods, inhalants, chemicals), rather than just temporarily alleviating symptoms or lowering the body’s histamine levels.
Related Articles
- Allergy Drops as a Substitute for Shots? (everydayhealth.com)
- Immunotherapy and Allergy Shots (brighthub.com)
Tricky Thyroid Tests: Is there something wrong with my thyroid in spite of “normal” tests?
Image via Wikipedia
Suffering from fatigue, constipation, weight gain, depression, brain fog, cold intolerance, hair loss, irregular menstrual periods, low libido and perhaps a host of other unexplained symptoms? Had tests for thyroid and results come back normal? Could it be that the “thyroid tests” only consisted of TSH (a pituitary hormone) and T4? Let’s say that “all” the thyroid tests were done and everything came back “normal”, is it still possible to have some underlying thyroid issues? Have you been tested for free T3, thyroid antibodies or reverse T3? Is there a family history of thyroid problems? Any history of sub-normal body temperatures (average body temperature less than 98.6)? Are you “freezing” all the time? Do you ever get a fever when you’re fighting off an infection? If any of the above questions got you thinking “could I possibly have thyroid issues?”, then you may be right. It’s always helpful to listen to your body (or intuition) coz in this society, we are brainwashed to think that medical authorities know our body more than we know it ourselves (although in certain instances, we need “expert’s” opinions).
Back to making a diagnosis of thyroid issues. Free T3 is the metabolically active form of thyroid hormone. If it’s “low normal” and if a person has concomitant low thyroid symptoms, then it will be helpful to support the thyroid. In a holistic practice, one may start with nutritional support of the thyroid and if that doesn’t work, a trial of actual thyroid hormone could be used. The use of animal glandulars with both T3 and T4 such as Armour thyroid is preferable since some people who use synthetic T4 alone may not be able to convert it to T3 due to nutritional deficiencies including that of the mineral selenium. By the way, it’s also important to address adrenal dysfunction if a person has thyroid issues in the first place. In Chinese medicine, these are considered yin yang organs and are supposed to support each other. Substances that help the adrenals are called adaptogens and include rhodiola, ashwaghanda, ginseng, cordyceps and holy basil. Nutrients such as vitamin C and pantothenic acid also support adrenal function.
Anyway, for those with auto-immune type of thyroid conditions, it would be helpful to test for food sensitivity as well. Sometimes, getting off offending foods could resolve the thyroid issue. Interesting, huh?
Why is it that we’re seeing a lot of thyroid problems nowadays? The thyroid is one of the most vascular organs in the body. Toxins that we’re exposed to on a daily basis usually affect our thyroid. Some of these toxins are so ubiquitous in the environment that it’s sometimes difficult to avoid them. Some could be avoided entirely though (such as water that’s been purified with halides such as chlorine, bromine or fluoride). They all compete with iodine in the formation of thyroid hormone. Stress also affects thyroid function (elevated cortisol preventing the conversion of T4 to T3). Nutritional deficiencies also plays a major factor in the prevalence of thyroid disorders nowadays.
Related Articles
- Fatigue? Weight Gain? Depression? Maybe it’s your thyroid. (thevreelandclinic.wordpress.com)
Mad as a Hatter: Does It Matter?
If you think I’m talking about the character in Alice in Wonderland, think again. In today’s blog, I’m going to discuss how toxins, particularly heavy metals (like mercury) could affect everything, including our mental health. The phrase “mad as a hatter” was coined in the early 19th century when “hatters” or people who were making hats started experiencing uncontrollable trembling and appeared insane. Apparently, the hatters were using glue that contained mercury at the time. Mercury toxicity can manifest as loss of appetite, fatigue, depression, emotional instability, peripheral numbness, tremors, poor memory and cognitive function, decreased senses of touch, taste, hearing and vision, and neuromuscular disorders. High levels have also been implicated in acute myocardial infarction. All the symptoms just mentioned are quite common. Therefore, it’s always a great idea to rule out the presence of (heavy metal) toxins in anyone experiencing the said symptoms or anyone who has a possible exposure to mercury (and that means all of us). Mercury is now found all over the place, including our air (esp. surrounding coal-powered plants), food and water supply. In fact, common sources include fish (all fish now, compared to just large fish during previous years), dental amalgams, skin lightening agents (very common in Asia), some hemorrhoidal creams, some vaccines, medical instruments such as thermometers and sphygmomanometers, batteries, electrodes, some fertilizers, the paper industry and finally, the gold industry. In fact, there were recent reports in the news of mercury/lead toxicity in parts of Nigeria where people are involved in gold mining.
To test if someone has elevated levels of metals, particularly mercury, one can have a blood, hair or (provocative) urine testing done with chelating agents like DMSA or DMPS ( although others may use EDTA or other natural chelating agents). A blood specimen is usually used to determine acute exposure while hair and urinary testing informs us more of chronic exposure. Labs that perform the latter tests include Doctor’s Data and Genova Diagnostics. In Asia, I would imagine that Vitech Pro, a company based in Bangkok, is the one that performs these tests. Regular blood tests for mercury could be performed at any reputable lab like Quest or LabCorp. What do you do if your levels are elevated? Besides avoidance of possible sources (kinda difficult nowadays), the accepted form of treatment is a process called chelation therapy. This has to be done properly however. Otherwise, further damage can be done. Natural oral chelating agents include vitamin C, alpha lipoic acid, garlic, cilantro, onions, chlorella and some therapeutic-grade essential oils. EDTA is available in oral (least effective), suppository and injectable forms. Other chelating agents include penicillamine (for copper toxocity), deferoxamine (for iron poisoning), dimercaprol (for arsenic, mercury and lead), DMSA and DMPS. It is important to individualize treatment in any case. Factors such as kidney and liver function, nutritional deficiencies, allergies, and general patient constitution should all be taken into account when one embarks on a cleansing or detoxification program. For more information, please check out the American College for Advancement in Medicine web site, http://www.acam.org. and the American Academy of Environmental Medicine web site, http://www.aaemonline.org.
Related Articles
- Point and Counterpoint: Using Chelation for Autistic Kids (brighthub.com)
- What happens to your body if you eat too much fish with mercury in it? (greenanswers.com)
Image by AJC1 via Flickr
Probiotics, we hear all about them now. TV, radio and print ads! It’s great, considering that just a few years ago, most people didn’t know what they were. Probiotics, otherwise known as “good germs”, are part of the normal flora of our intestinal tract. They begin to inhabit our intestinal tract as soon as we’re born (by vaginal delivery, rather than caesarian delivery). They are nourished by eating healthy foods from infancy, starting by drinking mother’s milk (rather than cow’s milk or soy milk). As we age and are exposed to poor diet, antibiotics, chlorinated water, steroids and environmental pollutants (xenoestrogens), their numbers begin to decline. When their numbers decline, pathogenic yeast begin to overgrow (as well as bacteria), causing symptoms in both men and (more obviously in) women (such as vaginal discharge). Known functions of probiotics include: 1. the manufacture of B vitamins (such as folic acid, biotin, B3 and B6); 2. the manufacture of the enzyme “lactase”; 3. produce antibacterial substances; 4. produce anti-carcinogenic compounds; 5. help reduce high cholesterol levels; 6. improve the efficiency of the digestive tract; 7. help recycle hormones such as estrogen; 8. protect against radiation; and 9. deactivate certain toxins, among many others. The primary bacteria inhabiting the small intestine is Lactobacillus acidophilus while that of the colon is Bifidobacterium bifidum. It is essential that these organisms be replaced when taking antibiotics of any kind. In today’s world, it’s a good idea to incorporate probiotics in a wellness program because of the antibiotics that we’re unknowingly exposed to (from food and perhaps, our water supply). There are different brands available. Some need to refrigerated while others do not. They come in various forms such as powders, liquid, capsules or “pearls”. To find out which brands are better, check out a study done by Consumer Labs. In the study, they found out that claims made by some companies such as number of viable organisms in their product somehow vary from the actual live cells. Factors such as improper storage and handling as well as shelf life affect these numbers. Therefore, it’s always important to do your own research.
Related Articles
- ‘Good’ bacteria may help some kids: MDs (cbc.ca)
- Probiotics and Weight Loss (everydayhealth.com)
Back to Basics 1
Wow! It’s been a while since I last wrote a blog entry. It’s been a busy new year for me. Hopefully, I’ll be writing on a more consistent basis. That, is my new year’s resolution. Hey, it’s better late than never, right?
Anyway, I’m back after spending a few days with a couple of Lyme -literate doctors here in the Bay area. It’s great to see how various practitioners approach the Lyme disease epidemic in different ways (some more “holistic”, while others more “conventional”). I would say that they’re both highly effective, considering how their clients consistently come back for follow up (coz they keep getting better). It’s sad however, how insurance companies sometimes dictate what they’ll cover or not. After all, it’s the doctor who actually treats the patients. Overall, they’re good at collecting your insurance premiums. But when it comes to actually covering for services, they suck (pardon my “French”; no offense to the French, however). Like one of the doctors who I shadowed said, they (insurance companies) are in the business of making and saving money, first and foremost. If they do really want to save money, they should be looking into more preventive health care (or going back to basics). Incorporating nutrition, fitness and stress reduction, could go a long way in solving the health care problems in our country. One good thing though, some of these companies are starting to “see the light” by incorporating stress reduction programs.
More on what I learned during my preceptorship with LLMD’s in the next few days……
Hot Tips, News and Trends for Healthy Aging By Dr. Joel Lopez, M.D. 