Monthly Archives: May 2012

Did you know that the National Cholesterol Education Program, The American College of Cardiology and American Diabetes Association all recommend lifestyle changes as first line therapy for the treatment of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, metabolic syndrome, Type 2 Diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia?

Many patients are so influenced by media and advertising that most think that drugs like lipitor, zocor, crestor, simvastatin and lovaza are the first things they should turn to. This is such a missed opportunity for most people today. Lifestyle modification-changing the things that we can control in our life-is always a first choice. It is recommend that we educate and treat with nutrition, diet, smoking cessation, increasing exercise and stress reduction. The unfortunate thing is that most conventionally trained docs just dont have the time or knowledge base to educate patients. Secondly, there is a lot of pressure from patients who hear about magic cure all pills from television ads, to just prescribe a medication. Our current medical practices are doing little to advance lifestyle modification as the treatment of choice. We are missing a huge opportunity to prevent chronic disease when we ignore this opportunity to intervene in a patients life. I believe that the majority of patients want to make change-they just dont have the correct information, resources and access to care to help themselves.

At Balanced Well Being we offer true lifestyle modification programs. We have partnered with Metagenics, a very reputable nutracuetical company to offer First Line Therapy (FLT). FLT is a lifestyle program designed and developed to prevent and treat chronic disease. We begin with an intense 12 week program specifically designed for individual patient needs. Each client gets a personalized body compostion analysis at the beginning of the program and a personal nutritional program. Depending on individual goals and needs we combine medical foods and supplements with aggressive nutritional coaching. First Line Therapy teaches patients important foundations about food combinations, meal planning, caloric needs and how to eat healthy for longterm success. First Line Therapy is designed for everyone. Not a single person would not fully benefit from a course through FLT. Even those with healthy weights and body mass index will gain significantly from the program to feel healthier, live with more energy and detox the body. As we go through the aging process, eliminating toxins from our body, is critical in maintaining wellness. I encourage everyone to learn to eat clean and allow the body to perform its peak. First Line Therapy teaches us to how to do this.

I am delighted to announce that Dr. Kim Bruno, D. C. and licensed Clinical Nutritionist will be pairing with us at Balanced Well-Being Healthcare to implement our FLT program. This is a tremendous opportunity for our patients to be a part of the change that is happening in the American medical culture. We encourage our patients to get educated, partner with the doctor and make lifestyle changes to achieve optimal health. We try under all circumstances to avoid the use of medications when at all possible.

I am reminded about the lipitor add-it reads “when lifestyle changes fail” turn to lipitor. I personally have not seen anyone fail lifestyle changes. I have seen, however, plenty of patients that have no idea how to implement change in their life. Let us be a part of your education and partner with you to make healthy choices.

At Balanced Well-Being Healthcare we offer body composition testing along with First Line Therapy to monitor success and potential side effects of the program. Stay tuned for more on Body composition testing and why everyone needs to know their personal numbers!!

Are Supplements Ruining Your Health?

Posted by abornstein | November 8, 2011 | 44 Comments

I don’t think I’ll ever forget the tragic death of Steve Bechler—but not for reasons you might think. For those who don’t remember, Bechler was a minor league pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. In 2003, he unexpectedly died from a heatstroke after a workout, the cause of which was linked to the use of the supplement ephedra.

Bechler’s passing was notable for many reasons; the most heart-wrenching of which was the premature death of a young man. But Bechler’s sad story hinted at a foundational flaw in the way most people approach their health. The young pitcher was in a unique situation: He was a highly competitive athlete, and he was trying to do everything he could to rise to the top. And while most people’s professions don’t depend on physical performance, the motivation to use a supplement was one that everyone could relate to. At some point, we all wonder if there’s more we can do to improve our workouts or finally lose some fat. And while most people pointed the finger at the supplement industry following Bechler’s death, the bigger issue was a culture shift that emphasized and rewarded a do-whatever-it-takes approach to health.

Let’s be honest: The supplement industry could use more oversight. But the problem with supplements isn’t their existence or your use of them—it’s the unrealistic expectation of their benefits that causes misuse. We have morphed into a society that craves the need for instant gratification. People want to see results—and fast. Whether it’s a 24-hour news cycle, instant updates from Twitter, or fast food—we have lost our patience. And nowhere is that more evident than the health field. Legal supplements, like protein powder, and illegal products (think anabolic steroids) might be dramatically different in the health risks they pose, but the reason for use and experimentation is oftentimes rooted in the same motivation. We all want an edge that speeds the success curve. Something to make use lose fat faster, build muscle easier, or ward off the aches and pains that victimize so many people.

In the most general sense, there are two types of people who turn to supplements: Those who work hard and are trying to do all they can to maximize their potential, and those who desire the bottom-line results and are searching for a more efficient path to the finish line. In both situations, though, the motivation is the same: To do what it takes to become better.

So where do we draw the line?

It starts with understanding what supplements work and which one’s don’t. To that effect, we had our nutrition expert, Alan Aragon, research and create “The 20 Most Overrated Supplements” to help you identify what products to avoid. As I’ve mentioned before, education will always be the launching pad for empowerment.

From there, it’s important to realize that living healthy doesn’t manifest itself in one shape or approach. For any person, the drive to uncover their best is oftentimes rooted in an unrealistic or uninformed belief of what it means to be healthy. Health—much like beauty—is in the eye of the beholder. Your inspiration should come from within, and not some expectation of what is sold on a supplement label, in a magazine, online, or on television. As I like to remind people:

“The best inspiration is not to outdo others, but to outdo ourselves.”

In the end, Bechler’s death was less a warning about the potential danger of supplements and more about the danger of uninformed decisions and impatience. (That’s not to say their aren’t dangerous supplements, but it’s on the individual to protect themselves and not blindly trust the supplement manufacturers)

I have no problem with supplements. I’ve taken protein powders, multi-vitamins, and a day doesn’t go by that I don’t pop some fish oil capsules. But I recommend cutting out all supplements for a period of time and take on fitness on your own. You see, most of us fall victim to a form of the fundamental attribution error. Instead of seeing your success as a result of your hard work, you link it to your use of a supplement. After all, most supplements provide more of a psychological boost than a physical one, and we end up developing dependency without even realizing it. Or even worse, we doubt that we can make changes on our own and lose faith in our ability to become healthier. That’s why it’s essential to test yourself and see what you’re made of. Even if you’ve failed before, try again with a more informed approach: Work hard, stay patient, and assess what you can achieve. (Note: If your physician has mandated that you need to be on certain supplements, please follow that advice)

As you remove supplements, you’ll start eating more whole, natural food choices to help your body recover and reach your goals. And those foods will keep you fuller and have surprising benefits. As part of the process, you’ll essential rewire your diet to something healthier than it was before. And by removing your reliance on supplements, you’ll be able to better understand your body, your diet, and your exercise habits. After the experiment, you can decide what you really need.

The test should serve as a reminder and lesson that what’s missing from your approach isn’t a powder or pill, it’s just a little more patience and a bigger belief in you.
- Adam Bornstein

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Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/blog/blog/are-supplements-ruining-your-health/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=110811#ixzz1uqbvKb4L

Why should I have nutrient testing done??

Nutrient status is a vital foundation of health. Each micronutrient plays an indispensable role in promoting optimal cell function. When some cells do not function at their best, the foundation of our health is compromised, setting the stage for the development of disease. Identifying and correcting nutritional deficiencies is an important step in the long-term maintenance of optimal health.

Vitamin deficiencies aren’t just a reflection of diet. Since we are all biochemically unique, nutrient deficiencies will vary from patient to patient, and do not necessarily correlate directly with nutrient intake, even among those with similar health conditions. Many factors beyond diet determine whether nutrient function is adequate. These include biochemical individuality, genetic predisposition, absorption and metabolism, age, disease conditions and medications.

At Balanced Well-Being Healthcare we offer several resources for nutrient testing. We believe that every person, no matter what the condition, should have a baseline functional assessment of their nutrient status.

There is overwhelming evidence today that nutrient status and deficiencies play a role in the development of chronic disease. Current medical literature is full of studies supporting the use of nutrients for disease prevention and treatment. See my post on Vitamin D. We know it is now useful to help prevent cancers, muscle aches,multiple sclerosis, manage diabetes and more.