Question about Exercise (really – I would love to hear from you)

Have you fallen off of the exercise wagon?  If not, YEAH-You… please forward this to a friend that you KNOW needs that little vote of confidence to get back into it – who knows what positive life changes will follow from this one small act and this one small question.

You have?  Ok – this is for you… What can you do TODAY (not later) to get back on that wagon?  Are you out of step with your step class?  Dropped the ball on your ball class?  How about this – how about TODAY you walk around the block on your lunch hour or when you get home tonight.  Consider this small act a place-holder for your intentions and self-care.  It is like saying to yourself “Self!  You matter!  Lets do this thing – lets make YOU a priority and care for you with regular exercise like we KNOW we need and benefit from!”

Here’s the thing… exercise leads not only to weight balancing and body mass reconfiguration… it leads to better body image and self-love.  REALLY!  It also leads to more energy and better stress management.  WHO doesn’t need that?!  Now… with more energy and a better attitude (because your stress is more aptly managed) what positive contribution will you make to your life, your family, your work and this world that otherwise might never have come about?  Think about it… small things can lead to big gifts in this world.  What is YOUR gift?  Are you giving it fully?  Begin with refueling the giver – you!  See what you will bring to this world!

Email me and let me know what you did, how you made sense of it and what you think came of the simple act of prioritizing this simple and often free self-care habit.  Who knows, your experience may help me inspire someone else back to their best place!

Have Your Menopausal Cake and Eat it Too!

You can pretty much sum it up like this:  1  Menoapause – feels awful, big topic, hard to understand, scary, don’t know what to do about it.  2  Treatment for Menopause – risky, may also feel awful, big topic, scary, don’t know what to do about it.  Unfortunately that is how most women face, or more accurately do NOT face menopause.  They are paralyzed by fear and lack of information and end up doing nothing, trying things that feel safe but don’t help and mostly they simply end up suffering like crazy.

Suffering… lets see, no sleep, depression, extreme irritability, anxiety, debilitating heat, brain fog, weight gain, pain with intercourse, loss of libido, headaches… the list goes on.  What was once a beautiful life is now lost and where did it go?  How can you get it back?

I read an article in Redbook magazine several years back that carried a title something like “I’d rather die of breast cancer (implicating the choice to go on synthetic hormone replacement therapy) than live like this!”  Sad sentiment of the day, and that though pervades the American Woman’s paradigm!

What is even more sad is that it doesn’t have to be true at all.  You don’t have to choose between your safety and your sanity!

Making the right choice in hormone to begin with, can make a huge difference.  They are NOT all created equally.  Then support the body’s ability to break that hormone down in healthy ways – ways that fight risk!  (Yes, you read that correctly – if you do it correctly you could be less risky with some hormone around, breaking it down correctly, than if you had none at all) and finally – you can also fight Alzheimers by getting those healthier hormones going within the first ten years of your last period or the last time you took hormones.

See?  You can have your menopausal cake and eat it too!  Inform yourself.  You have options!  Follow me on FB and keep up with the day to day latest on all things health.  Find out when my next free lecture is and access much more and more easily simply by “Liking” me here: http://www.facebook.com/LiveWellCenter

 

The Metabolic Advantage

The Metabolic Advantage

Carrie Louise Daenell, ND  LiveWell Center

It is ironic (and not in a good way) that just when we hit that place in our lives where we are in a position to really take advantage of our experience in life and work – our bodies start to change, our memory isn’t what it used to be and we don’t feel like we have quite the cognitive command that we used to have.  At the same time, fatigue sets in with less provocation and though we are more tired more often, we don’t sleep a well as we used to and that just starts to feel like a self-feeding down-ward spiral.

Now, if our plan at this point were to retire to a rocking chair I suppose this set of circumstances wouldn’t feel like such a hassle.  But who do you know, these days, that makes THAT plan for their 50’s and beyond?  I can’t think of anyone, personally.

What’s more – most of us would like to think of ourselves as “still in the game”!

There is so much more than “nothing” we can do about the quality of this time in our lives!

I think of it as fueling the Metabolic Advantage.  I use targeted nutrients that cater to known aspects of our biochemistry to rebuild it, in some cases, re-fuel it in others, and re-balance it in still other ways.  Like fine-tuning a fine racing machine.  Who wouldn’t want that?

We can literally rebuild certain cellular organelles, called “mitochondria”.  Why do want to do that?  They serve as the “powerhouse” of the cell and they build cellular energy.  We can provide the pathways inside that organelle with plenty of the specific “nutritional co-factors” so that it runs optimally building all of the cellular energy possible for each organelle… and we can also provide the actual building blocks for that molecule called “cellular energy” itself.  In this way – we can build back our systems to a younger more vital state.

All of this will not stay as long or deliver as strongly, however, if we don’t sleep.  Sleep is like air, food and water.  Contrary to the notions of my parents’ generation, it is not only what “lazy” people do and to your body’s ability to stay young and perform well… it is simply not negotiable.

So this is another important arena to balance.  I say “balance” because it can be as much about creating less of one thing, as it is about creating more of another.

We want less stress-hormone dumping for good sleep.  We also want less stress hormone dumping for reduced belly fat and for preventing heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s and diabetes.  There is no easy way to say this:  Stress hormone is like borrowing from tomorrow to give you today.  It should be used judiciously and rarely and NOT as a way of life.  Breaking this pattern can be done and the body can be reprogrammed.  Of course, without a fresh supply of real cellular energy on the heels of this correction – someone “living” on stress hormone might feel pretty wiped out without it.  The different areas of work really go hand in hand.

Balance can also be supported by creating more of certain brain chemicals and more alpha brain wave activity.  We are less and less good at this work as we age.  Why?  Less nutritional “building blocks” at our disposal.  The good news is that these building blocks are, literally, nutritional – and they can be replenished in a targeted and specific manner.

It is like evening up the odds on a sound investment in yourself, instead of playing Russian Roulette with your body over time.  It is simply the smarter way to go forward.

This is what I do, every day in my practice, and I love it – talk about passion-filled work!  And yes, I walk my own talk on this material and bring all of those advantages to my work table to deliver for my patients and fully intend to keep doing so for a very long time to come.  If you want to pursue a higher level of wellness and ability in your health, don’t hesitate to reach out and begin moving forward now.

Food Allergies: Why Does the List of Foods I Must Avoid Keep Growing Longer?

Many people that diligently eliminate foods that they are “allergic” to (type II delayed sensitivity “allergic” – we are NOT talking about anaphylactic allergic) notice that the longer and they eliminate the “offending” foods – the more foods they find they must eliminate, over time, in order to avoid all that goes with “food allergy” suffering.  For those that even more diligently test for food sensitivities will confirm that same notion on testing.  Perhaps they start out with 8 really “offensive” foods, they behave well for several months, now it is 12… you guessed it – they come back several months after that… now it is 17.  What is going on here?

As a Naturopathic Doctor I like to work at the causal level of a health challenge, whenever possible, because that is simply what works best.  Eliminating foods that people react to can certainly take the load off of the system and support them to feel better… for awhile.  But why are they sensitive to a variety of healthy, whole, organic foods?  That is the question we ought to be asking.  For many – the digestive system – the entire system, is in a state of dis-repair and until that system is comprehensively returned to normal – identifying and eliminating offensive foods is a never-ending quest that can’t seem to be satisfied in an enduring way.

Total Digestive Repair can comprehensively restore health to the entire digestive system allowing man of those with type II delayed sensitivity reactions to respond normally to a healthy varied diet and “eliminate the elimination diet.”

Uniting the Nations on Behalf of Better Aging

I am just returning from Geneva, Switzerland where I was fortunate to be invited to lecture at the Swiss International Congress on Anti Aging Medicine and Surgery; and even more fortunate to collaborate with my anti-aging colleagues from around the world. This was a top-notch cutting-edge gathering of the best-of-the-best and it was a sheer joy to be among them.
World Health Summit meetings with Dr. Alex Concorde (UK) from New Paradigm Medicine and Trusted Voice Radio were exciting – discussing all that is possible for the emerging landscape of medicine around the globe.
Dr. Mark Richards (USA) shared new options for sustained release testosterone therapy and the quality-of-life enhancing disease-prevention options that testosterone presents in the face of diabetes and other chronic degenerative disease states. He shared exciting tissue physiology with regard to testosterone and menopausal and andropausal management.
Dr’s Jenzer (Switzerland) and Khavinson (Russia) both elucidated some of the exciting and increasingly substantiated science behind telomere length and the aging process – more possibilities for pro-active anti-aging intervention.
Advanced glycation end products (AGE;s) are an exciting topic in age management as managing these toxic and destructive metabolic “waste” products can significantly enhance our health. Dr. Karasu (Turkey) shared promising intervention notes with us on this topic.
Of course, I was happy to share the biochemical strategies underlying my Healing the Aging Metabolism protocol, which supports healthy weight-balancing through the aging process and is also part of my Age-Smart Weight Loss Program for Sustainable Weight Loss. This work allows people to enhance cellular energy production through time, which for some – feels like turning back the hands of time.
What I know for sure, is that for those of us that care to optimize our experience – we have options, and we are not alone. No longer do we have to sit back and simply let age take over our dreams and abilities. We may not have figured out how to live forever, but enhancing the quality of our years while also extending them, may be the key to our most satisfying lives lived! If you are reading this, you probably suspect that this is possible – as for me and my international anti-aging colleagues… we KNOW that it is!
If you have questions about what might be possible for your individual case, don’t hesitate to consult with me on how to optimize your tomorrows, starting today. I can show you how.

Age-Smart Weight Loss Study

40+ and doing everything right, yet packing on the pounds with every passing year? Combining my proven “Healing the Aging Metabolism” protocol with my innovative healthy weight-loss cleansing is the strategy for re-setting metabolism, losing weight and improving body composition.  Side Effects?  Anti-aging, overall health enhancement and chronic disease prevention.  All without the use of hormones or risky side effects.  Interested?  Join the study!

What’s the root cause of this age 40+ weight gain?

A lifelong accumulation of toxins breaks down the body’s natural ability to make energy.  Cellular energy drives metabolism… and every other health promoting physiological activity in the body.  When this cycle is disrupted, so is the health of our organs, systems, metabolism and our vitality.

Given two groups of people all losing ten pounds each… doing it my way (nutritionally dense) they each lose about 16 pounds of fat and gain several pounds of muscle.  With conventional calorie restriction they each lose ONE pound of fat and lose several pounds of muscle.  It is VERY bad to burn muscle.  It is toxic to the body and resets the metabolism to an even slower rate when they are done losing weight… setting them up for obesity!  So close, and yet so far away from their true intentions for weight loss.

There has to be another way.

What if we could exert control over this inevitable series of losses, and lose weight in a Smart way?

The Age-Smart solution

Fortunately for me and my patients, there are nutritional supplements that when taken in the appropriate forms, and in potent, meaningful doses, actually deliver meaningful, lasting results in the clinical setting. It is exciting to witness and experience these positive metabolic changes in my practice.

This study combines the “Healing the Aging Metabolism” (nutritionally based strategy that resets metabolism and cellular energy production back to the way it was when we were younger – thereby preventing disease, enhancing real energy and metabolism all without side effects and without “cheating” like so many weight loss and energy “boosters” do) protocol with an innovative healthy weight-loss cleanse (designed to adjust body composition toward lean muscle mass and cellular hydration, and away from fat and water retention to improve health and balance weight).  It is the “perfect storm” for delivering sincere weight balancing affects, anti-aging results, vitality and true health for long term benefits!

I couldn’t be more excited about this study. I am thrilled to have found a nutritionally-based solution to the challenge of increasing weight and declining vitality with age.  Everyone did so well, it became a core program in my practice!  Thank you study participants and welcome newcomers – I am ready to help you with smart sustainable weight loss. :)

 

Call our office today!  303.399.8050

This isn’t just about losing weight anymore. This is about living longer – and healthier!

NOTE:  Some of you may have noticed that my fitness level has increased over the last several months, and that my weight is even more balanced that it used to be.  Thank you for your kind words!  If you know me at all, you know that I walk my talk.  My strategies are built into this study and also include weekly work with my trainer, Kelly Schiff.  Thank you, Kelly, for helping me to achieve my fitness goals!  Your respectful and compassionate personality and your extensive education in kinesiology, arthritis, and core-balance are the perfect combination for me – a “busy mom of a certain age”!

Estrogen – Fights Cancer?!

“Estrogen can fight cancer?  I thought it caused cancer.”

This is the puzzled question I get from my patients when we discuss healthy estrogen metabolism.  When you figure out how estrogen breaks down in the liver, you quickly learn that while the type of estrogen you take makes a big difference – what your body does with that estrogen, makes all difference in the world.

Whether you take it or you make it… estrogen must break down in the liver.  Once in the liver, it faces different pathways or opportunities for breakdown.  It can break down in a healthy good way or it can choose a bad path.

When estrogen breaks down in the healthy good way, it makes substances that balance hormonal symptoms (such as PMS), resolves hormonal challenges (such as bad mammograms, lumpy breasts, ovarian cysts, and abnormal menstrual periods) and that prevent and fight cancerous changes in the body.  These substances are shown to be protective for estrogen sensitive tissues (breast, ovarian, uterine and cervical tissue) as well as lung and colon tissue as well. 

In all fairness to the popular press, when estrogen follows the bad path in the liver, many undesirable situations arise.  These toxic metabolites create greater risk for bad mammograms, lumpy breasts, ovarian cysts, abnormal menstrual bleeding and estrogen-related cancers.  We don’t want that!

When a woman suffers from PMS, ovarian cysts, fibrocystic breasts, bad mammograms, uterine fibroids or endometriosis – she may be breaking her estrogen down in an unhealthy way in her liver.  Re-directing that activity can deliver health and reduce risk going forward.

Did you know, that as men age… they make more estrogen and they tend to process it more down the bad pathway in the liver?  Not only does this increase the risk for breast cancer in men, but it aggravates prostate health.  80% of men are found to have some degree of prostate cancer, on autopsy.  Prostate health is an important health issue for the men in your lives.

Diindolylmethane, when properly absorbed, can completely re-direct those pathways toward good pathways.  Further, targeted nutritional support for the liver can further enhance the health and function of those good pathways.  Diindolylmethane is tricky, though.  I have worked with doctors all over the country where they are using various diindolylmethane (DIM) formulas that simply do not work in the clinical setting.  I have always used a patented form of it that guarantees “bio-availability” or absorption and have had predictable and dramatically effective results.  So quality matters in this case!

Further, Calcium D Glucarate (not like the calcium you take for your bones) and Potassium D Glucarate (not like the potassium you take for your heart) can support the timely elimination of estrogens and fat soluble toxins in the bowel.  This means that when your liver prosses estrogens and toxins and dumps them into the bowel so that they will leave the body… that they actually do leave the body instead of being reabsorbed… which would not be good!

My recommendation?  If you choose to pursue Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) make a bio-identical choice and dose those hormones in a bio-identical way.  Further, attend to the way your body breaks those estrogens down in the liver to maximize the health benefits of HRT. 

Targeted Nutrtional Formulas that I use in my practice every day, to achieve better estrogen health for my patients include:

Est Right – Non-hormonal symptom balancing support for estrogen in the liver, which contains the patented DIM combination that works!

Estro Smart – Non-hormonal symptom balancing support for estrogen in the liver – important for all of the biochemical pathways  in the liver that support estrogen breakdown.

Smart Fish – Non-toxic omega 3 fish oil to support estrogen and whole body health

Ovarian Cysts – Causes and Solutions

Ovarian cysts can be uncomfortable, even painful.  They are not typically considered a serious medical condition, and until they interfere with normal life activities or fertility, they most often go untreated.  When they are treated conventionally, suppressive hormonal therapy is typically administered.

As a Naturopathic Doctor, whether “life-threatening” or not… an ovarian cyst is an indicator of a health imbalance.  Bandaging that imbalance with suppressive therapy falls short of treating the cause and providing real health.

When cysts are simple, often the underlying cause is that of poor estrogen metabolism in the liver.  Eventually estrogen reaches the liver and breaks down.  It is the path that estrogen “chooses” in the liver that determines health or disease. 

When a woman suffers from PMS, ovarian cysts, fibrocystic breasts, bad mammograms, uterine fibroids or endometriosis – she may be breaking her estrogen down in an unhealthy way in her liver.  Re-directing that activity can deliver health and reduce risk going forward.

Diindolylmethane, when properly absorbed, can completely re-direct those pathways toward good pathways.  Further, targeted nutritional support for the liver can further enhance the health and function of those good pathways.  Diindolylmethane is tricky, though.  I have worked with doctors all over the country where they are using various diindolylmethane (DIM) formulas that simply do not work in the clinical setting.  I have always used a patented form of it that guarantees “bio-availability” or absorption and have had predictable and dramatically effective results.  So quality matters in this case!

Further, Calcium D Glucarate (not like the calcium you take for your bones) and Potassium D Glucarate (not like the potassium you take for your heart) can support the timely elimination of estrogens and fat soluble toxins in the bowel.  This means that when your liver prosses estrogens and toxins and dumps them into the bowel so that they will leave the body… that they actually do leave the body instead of being reabsorbed… which would not be good!

When cysts are multiple and called “polycystic” this typically results from a completely different health system.  Often the woman will be diagnosed with something called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS.  This will completely interfere with fertility!  In later years, it can completely disrupt the normal menstrual cycle.  This is not healthy.  Although it would seem hormonally based, because it affects the ovaries, you will have to dig a little deeper to get to the root cause.  In this case it is unhealthy blood sugar metabolism.  Unhealthy blood sugar metabolism will increase risk for late onset or “Type II Diabetes”.  In this case, supporting all aspects of healthy blood sugar metabolism (diet, exercise and nutritional supplements) is essential for success.  In this case, the low-refined carbohydrate diet and the exercise are just as important as the targeted nutritional supplement support for every aspect of blood sugar biochemistry.  I see the best results when they are all used in combination.

My recommendations often include:

Low Glycemic Diet – Lean, organic meats, lots of vegetables, low-glycemic fruits, whole grains and no refined sugars or white flours.

Exercise – Daily vigorous exercise is best.

Est Right – Non-hormonal symptom balancing support for estrogen in the liver

Estro Smart – Non-hormonal symptom balancing support for estrogen in the liver

Sugar Smart – Comprehensive support for every aspect of blood sugar metabolism and carbohydrate cravings

Smart Fish – Non-toxic omega 3 fish oil to support estrogen and whole body health

206 Bones, One Important Mission!

Our 206 bones give our bodies structure and make movement possible. But for postmenopausal women in particular, natural changes in bone physiology can put freedom of movement at risk.   Unfortunately, there is more to the story.  Did you know that there is a higher risk of life-threatening events associated with the complications of Osteoporosis than with breast cancer?

The good news is that bone health challenges are a disease of nutrition, which means that we have the power to heal those challenges!

Even better news is that researchers at Mt. Sinai Hospital, in Toronto found that one of the important nutritional interventions for bone health has been shown to reduce risk for breast cancer.  Read on…

Bone Is Continually Changing

Contrary to popular notion, bone is a dynamic, living tissue that is constantly undergoing a process called remodeling.

Remodeling consists of two major phases:

  • Bone resorption, is the breakdown of bone. Bone cells called osteoclasts remove old and damaged bone tissue.
  • Bone formation. Other bone cells called osteoblasts and osteocytes create a new bone matrix (the web-like, micro-architecture of bone), and use calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals to harden the matrix.   Did you know that some of the popular new bone drugs actually compromise the health of these vital cells?  There has to be another way!  Hint:  Nutrition.

The Menopausal Effect

From birth until about age 40, bone remodeling occurs in relative balance, building bones that are hard, dense, and strong. But menopause marks a major turning point in a woman’s bone physiology. The steady decline of estrogen combined with a subtle increase of inflammatory markers after menopause may contribute to an increase in bone resorption. Over time, this can make the bone matrix more and more fragile, resulting in an increased risk of fracture.

Why Basic Mineral Supplements May Not Be Enough

Calcium, and magnesium are essential for maintaining bone density and hardness. But even the highest quality minerals may not work as well on a weak bone matrix when other important nutrients and growth factors are not working with them to support all of the aspects of bone health. 

A Natural Approach to Healthy Bone Remodeling

Standard approaches to osteoporosis prevention focus on achieving and maintaining peak bone mass or density. But thanks to new scientific developments, we now know that a combination of the following nutrients may target the quality of the bone health:

  • Bio Available, absorbable forms of minerals –  all forms of minerals are not created equally.  There are some forms of minerals that are shown to have a powerful impact on bone health and density.
  • Variety of Minerals – there is more to bone health than calcium.  Magnesium, manganese, boron, strontium… the list goes on, all work together for optimal bone health.
  • Collagen – you know that silica should work, but stomach acid disables regular silica, you need a non-polymerizing form to see results in fine lines in the face and density and flexibility in the bones.
  • Vitamin D — the correct form of Vitamin D, in an optimally absorbable form serves as a vital nutrient in meaningful doses and is necessary for healthy bone formation and bone mineralization

Professionals in our area have noticed the success that my patients enjoy with their bone health and this has become a sub-specialty in my practice.  Furthermore, patients taking these nutrients do not report serious adverse effects associated with some conventional approaches.

Ask Us About Bone Health Support Today

Bone health is important for men and women at every age, but for postmenopausal women who want to protect their quality of life, it’s crucial. Don’t wait! To find out more about natural approaches to bone health support, call our office and schedule an appointment today.

Did you know

 

New Research Confirms Vitamin D Blocks Formation of Breast Cancer (Natural News)

Women with a higher vitamin D intake may be a quarter less likely to die from breast cancer than women with lower levels, scientists have found. In a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, researchers from Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto analyzed the vitamin D intake of 759 breast cancer patients and 1,135 women without breast cancer, accounting for both dietary intake and vitamin D production from exposure to sunlight. They found that women with a higher vitamin D intake had a 24 percent lower risk of acquiring hormone receptor-positive breast cancer than women with a lower vitamin intake.

http://www.naturalnews.com/025397.html

Vitamin D ‘is mental health aid’ (BBC News)

Vitamin D, found in fish and produced by sun exposure, can help stave off the mental decline that can affect people in old age, a study has suggested. UK and US researchers looked at 2,000 people aged 65 and over. They found that compared to those with the highest vitamin D levels, those with the lowest were more than twice as likely to have impaired understanding.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7845703.stm

Fighting vitamin D deficiency (Edmonton Sun)

 

In northern countries such as Canada, the low level of sunlight, characteristic of winter months, significantly increases the risk of suffering from a vitamin D deficiency. This is something we must take very seriously because new studies indicate that this vitamin plays an extremely important role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Several international experts recently raised the alarm and recommend increasing vitamin D intake from 200 IU to 1,000 IU per day to reduce chronic disease incidence. While it is relatively easy to increase vitamin levels during summer (simply exposing the face and arms to the sun for 10 minutes allows the body to produce some 10,000 IU), the situation is more complex from October to April. Certain fish, especially fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel or even sardines, contain significant levels of this vitamin and are therefore an interesting choice, since these fish are also rich in omega-3, essential fats that help prevent cardiovascular diseases and cancer. However, the limited number of foods rich in vitamin D often forces us to turn to supplements to maintain adequate levels of this vitamin in our blood.Thus, the daily intake of supplements containing 1,000 IU of vitamin D from October to April is probably one of the most simple, economical and efficient ways to increase the intake of this vitamin and thus significantly reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/Lifestyle/Health/2009/01/12/7992131-sun.html

Lack of Vitamin D Ups Heart Risk (Natural News)

Vitamin D deficiency has long been linked with weak muscles and bones. Now research shows a lack of the “sunshine” vitamin may also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In fact, evidence is mounting from numerous studies that low vitamin D levels could play a role in a host of CVD risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. What’s more, a lack of the vitamin may be a direct factor in cardiovascular events, including stroke and congestive heart failure. Recent data from the Framingham Heart Study suggests people with vitamin D levels below 15 ng/ml were twice as likely to experience a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular event within the next five years compared to those with higher levels of vitamin D. This elevated risk remained even when researchers adjusted for other well-known cardiovascular risk factors.

http://www.naturalnews.com/025069.html

These nutritional supplements are available in our practice:

 

Smart Bones (More than just Calcium… Bone Minerals + Growth Factors)

 

Pro Collagen (Collagen support your body can use – for joints, bones, skin and even vessel health)

 

Vital D (Well absorbed vitamin D3 for bone health and so much more)