Patient Advocates

Your HealthCare Safety Net

Author: Admin

Transfats – what are they exactly and why do we need to avoid them?

  Mark Hyman, MD, leading Functional Medicine clinician and teacher, explains: The FDA issued a ban on all trans fats, deeming them unsafe for human consumption, and it’s about time!  For more than 20 years, the science has shown these fats to be hazardous to our health.  Trans fat is an oddly shaped fat that: •   Slows your metabolism •   Increases inflammation •   Lowers your good cholesterol •   Raises your bad cholesterol •   Causes diabetes, obesity, heart attacks, strokes, dementia,...

Wintertime: time for immune support! How can we do that?

A robust immune system is our best defense against all illness.  More than half of our immune systems are located in the small intestine!  The proper function of this part of our immune system depends upon a healthy balance of the proper bacteria there.   Joseph Mercola, MD, explains that “Beneficial bacteria have a lifelong, powerful effect on your gut’s immune system and your systemic immune system as well. The bacteria play a crucial role in the development and operation...

It is Flu Season! What to do? What about that flu vaccine?

Mark Hyman, MD, leading clinician and educator of Functional Medicine, addresses the issue of the vaccine: “The Cochrane Collaboration, an independent group of scientists who have no link to any industry or government agencies …states that after analyzing all of the data on the flu shot, they have concluded that it really doesn’t work well. It doesn’t even cover most of the influenza infections that people get.” But……..who should get the vaccine?  Dr. Hyman recommends “For people who are debilitated,...

allergies

Ever wonder what lab tests might really help to protect you? There are 8 predictive biomarkers you should ask your physician about.

Russell Jaffe, MD, founder of ELISA/ACT Biotechnologies (national lab for testing immune functions and allergy systems) has published a report of great value to all who seek to best preserve and protect their health and well being: The Power of Predictive Biomarkers – 8 Predictors of Life and Death. Because an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, spotting potential problems before they worsen can save your life!  Let’s take a look at what these labs are and...

Homocysteine: a key to a healthy aging brain and healthy hearts. What is homocysteine you ask?

  Homocysteine is a naturally occurring amino acid (protein) in the blood that requires  vitamin B12, folic acid, and other vitamins to be converted to another essential amino acid – methionine, which is protective of your heart. The normal role of homocysteine in the body is to control growth and support bone and tissue formation. When homocysteine levels rise, they quickly begin to damage the cells and tissues of arteries and stimulate arteriosclerotic plaque growth (hardening of the arteries). Deficiencies...

Food in shape of heart with green food on left and red foods on the righ

So, if chemicals in our food, water, cleaning products, air and the surrounding environment can make us fat, what foods can help flush these out of our bodies (detox)?

We hear about detoxification in magazine articles and on TV.  What is detoxification?  Simply stated, it is the removal of harmful substances from our bodies.  As noted in the last article, certain toxins (chemicals) can have far reaching health effects, like heart disease, diabetes and weight gain. Many companies are trying to sell you detox programs.  Buyer beware!  A true medical detox program should be overseen by a health care professional knowledgeable in the full spectrum of the internal chemistry...

pesticide

Chemicals (toxins) in the environment can make you fat! What?

Multiple scientific studies published in leading medical and scientific journals highlight the link between chemicals and weight gain, diabetes and heart disease. Let’s look at the weight issue:  Mark Hyman, MD, a leading researcher and clinician, explains that “environmental toxins make you fat and cause diabetes. Inside the body, these chemicals monkey with our ability to balance blood sugar and metabolize cholesterol. Over time, the changes (from these chemicals) can lead to insulin resistance (see article, July 30, at www.patientadvocates.com)....

The cells of our body need that initial spark provided by CoQ10, in order to function.”

Coenzyme Q10!

Have you heard of this wonderful antioxidant that our bodies produce? We produce less as we age and so need to understand what role this plays in our health.  Tori Hudson, ND, a nationally acclaimed teacher and clinician, explains “Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is one of those nutrients that just keeps surprising you- with it’s diversity, it’s benefits, safety, and research. It is widely found in nature where it is synthesized in humans, animals, plants and microbes.  An essential component of...

Coconuts: Eat them for your health! Coconuts can fight bacteria, help us lose weight, raise HDL and boost brain function and more…

Coconut oil contains a unique combination of fatty acids with powerful medicinal properties; it is one of the “good fats”.  Let’s look more closely at what coconuts/coconut oil can do to improve our health: High in medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) which are really easy to absorb and turn into energy – excellent for people with problems absorbing nutrition;  they also can reduce your appetite Delicious and nutritious:  fiber, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. It is high in calcium, potassium,...

Insulin Resistance: Ever wonder what it really is? Could this be a factor in your life and health?

  First, what is it?  Insulin is produced in the pancreas and is responsible for regulating delivery of glucose (sugar) into cells to provide them with the material to create energy.  In insulin resistance the normal receptors on the cell walls that “open up” the cell to let in the sugar do not work.  Consequently the pancreas pumps out more insulin to force the cells to open to the sugar.  This leads to high levels of both insulin and sugar...