Minimal EXERCISE Thwarts DIABETES

A recent study reported online in BMC Endocrine Disorders looked at exercise and diabetes parameter in healthy volunteers. Specifically, researchers wanted to find out the impact of short high intensity workouts on insulin sensitivity. Over time and with poor diet and sedentary lifestyles, we become more resistant to insulin, a hormone designed to lower our blood sugar. Resistance to insulin can produce type II diabetes. On the other hand, having high insulin sensitivity is seen as protective from developing diabetes.

In this study, healthy male volunteers with a median age were recruited to participate in a trial period of high-intensity exercise. Over two weeks, participants completed six sessions of high-intensity interval training consisting of four to six 30-second sprints on a stationary bike.

At the end of the study, insulin sensitivity of the subjects improved by 23% with this small amount of exercise. Researchers conclude that more studies should be done to verify these results.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

SLEEP is Good

We all know how important sleep is for energy and mood, however a recent study conducted in Japan connects sleep deprivation with an increase in heart disease. These researchers monitored the sleep of 1,255 individuals with hypertension and tracked them for an average of 50 months.

Researchers noted patients' sleep duration, daytime and nighttime blood pressure, and events such as stroke, heart attack, and sudden cardiac death. They noted that sleeping less than 7.5 hours was associated with an increased incident cardiovascular disease.

In these modern times, it’s easy to forego sleep in order to spend time engaging in other life activities. The concept of “beauty sleep” should be discarded and a serious attitude should be adopted. Sleep just isn’t something we can skimp on. Not only do we need it to look good, but we need it for long, healthy lives.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Eat FISH for SMART Kids

A recent article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that women who consume more fish during pregnancy had children with significantly higher developmental scores. This study included pregnant women enrolled from 1997 to 2002 and used information to gauge the scores of the 25,446 children born to them. The highest developmental scores were found in those consuming an average of 2 oz of fish daily.

Researchers credit the higher scoring to docosahexaenoic acid, an essential fatty acid necessary for brain development. The researchers did explain that those eating higher levels of seafood were at risk for greater heavy metal exposures. At ALETFRIS Center of Integrative Medicine, we counsel women on consuming fish with low heavy metal burdens, such as salmon, and avoiding ones with larger levels, such as tuna and halibut. Researchers did acknowledge concern due to heavy metal toxicity, but made it clear that the benefits clearly outweigh the risks.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

FAT Gene + EXERCISE

At ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine, we believe there are many factors involved in obesity other than laziness. We see patients with hormone imbalance; past use of corticosteroids, fentramine, and other medications; low functioning thyroid; and toxicity as individuals that may have trouble losing weight. Simply put, however, the only way to lose weight is to consume fewer calories and move more. We’ve always been skeptical of the theory that obesity is genetic, and a new study is showing just that.

In a recent study from researchers at the University of Miami, having “fat genes” was shown to be overcome by those who exercised. These researchers looked at the FTO gene, a gene studied heavily in the literature as causing a higher BMI (body mass index). For those with low activity level, having the FTO gene was a risk factor for having a higher BMI. When researchers stratified the group by level of physical activity, the effect of the gene vanished. Those individuals who were no longer affected by the FTO gene had activity levels that corresponded to about three to four hours of moderately intensive physical activity, such as brisk walking, house cleaning, or gardening, and that are typical of an agrarian lifestyle without modern machinery.

At ALTRIS, our goal is to encourage exercise in each and every one of our patients. Movement is a large component in maintaining a healthy weight, and for some with a genetic predisposition to gain weight, it may be the only way.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment

B12 and Brain Health

A recent article published in Neurology has linked brain size to B12 status. Researchers used MRI methods to determine brain weight in patients and tracked it over the course several years. Those with the lowest B12 levels had the largest brain shrinkage. Decreased brain mass is linked to cognitive impairment, and researchers speculate that it may play a role in diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Hydroxycobalamin, or B12, is the largest vitamin. It is extremely hard to absorb orally, as proper gut function and high levels of stomach acid are necessary for its absorption. At ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine we find that the best results come when patients learn to inject B12, rather than take it orally. Symptoms such as fatigue, depression, asthma/allergies, brain fog, and weight gain have all been associated with B12 deficiency.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment

New Screening for BREAST CANCER: Bio-Impedence

For us at ALETRIS, the problem with mammograms has always been that the imaging form that screens for cancer, X-ray, actually causes cancer. In an attempt to find other screening techniques, a group of researchers at the Medical College of Georgia is investigating a new technology developed by Z-tech: bio-impedence.

The theory is that breast cancer tissue has a different density than normal breast tissue. The Z-Tech scan works by placing a grouping of electrodes over each breast and sending a small, painless amount of electricity through them – much like an EKG. Unlike traditional mammography, the scan does not involve painful breast compression, which has been theorized to “burst” and spread malignant areas.

Researchers don’t believe that this form of imaging will replace the traditional mammogram, yet they hope that other screening forms may reduce the dependence on the X-ray driven form of testing.

At ALETRIS, we’ve been using thermography concurrently with mammography, ultrasound, and MRI for the best detection of breast cancer. We’re excited to learn that newer, less damaging forms of technology are being investigated.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment

KIDNEY STONES from GLOBAL WARMING?

A recent study conducted by Margaret Pearle, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and reported online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences predicts an increase in the incidence of kidney stones as global temperatures continue to rise.

Kidney stones result from minerals that precipitate out of urine. Passing a kidney stone through the ureter, bladder, and out the urethra has been noted as one of the most intense and acute pains experienced by an individual.

Dr. Pearle speculates that approximately 1.6 to 2.25 million new cases will present by the year 2050. That’s an increase of 7 to 10% compared to 2000 rates. Currently the Southeast United States is known as the “stone belt,” as rates there are as much as 50% higher than in other parts of the country. She predicts an expansion of the “stone belt” into other parts of the US.

At ALETRIS, we recommend lifestyle changes to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of kidney stones. We also recommend tests that accurately diagnose the problem. Awareness of health issues that may arise from climate changes is a must for health professionals. We are committed to understanding these effects, as well as helping our patients do their part in reducing greenhouse gases.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment

estrogen + dioxin = ENDOMETRIOSIS?

Recent study by Chinese researchers at Shanghai Medical College investigated the link between estrogen and dioxin and endometriosis. Endometriosis is a painful pelvic condition in women characterized by the growth of endometrial (uterine) tissue outside of the uterus. Often, endometrial tissue can be found lodged on the ovaries and in the pelvic cavity. Symptoms include pain with sex and progressively painful periods.

Dioxins are absorbed in the fatty tissues of the body and can persist there indefinitely. Dioxins are mainly byproducts of industrial processes and are produced during manufacturing processes including smelting, chlorine bleaching of paper pulp, and the manufacturing of some herbicides and pesticides.

Environmental distribution of dioxins is global. The highest levels of these compounds are found in some soils, sediments, and foods, including dairy products, meat, fish and shellfish. Lower levels are found in plants, water, and air.

These researchers found that exposure to a combination of estrogen and dioxin may not only initiate endometriosis but also progress the disease.

At ALETRIS Center, we recommend reducing the consumption of meat and dairy products, as well as using natural tampons and pads (which contain no dioxin). And, of course, we value the connection between the health of the environment and the health of us as individuals dependent on the environment for life and health.

POLLUTION May Lead to STROKE

Clean air is vital to our health, and researchers are beginning to chronicle the many ways that pollution directly affects our bodies. In a recent study, researchers found a link between levels of particulate matter in the air and increases in ischemic strokes in a southeast Texas community.

Led by University of Michigan’s School of Public Health, researchers identified strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) that occurred between 2001 and 2005. Daily historical air pollution levels were obtained and correlated during the same time frame. Increases in strokes occurred on days when there were higher levels of both particulate matter and ozone.

Researchers have long been telling us that asthma attacks and respiratory events increase during times of high pollution, but now we are seeing evidence that heart disease is also exacerbated.

The health of our bodies is linked to the health of the environment. When our environments are sick, so are we. Let us all do everything in our power to fight for clean air here in the Valley of the Sun.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment

Pomegranate JUICE for a Healthy HEART

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. This remains true despite the fact that Americans consume increasing amounts of cardiovascular medications like statins and blood pressure-lowering drugs.

One way to measure atherosclerosis is to conduct an ultrasound on the carotid arteries. This measures the amount of narrowing that has occurred in these arteries due to excess amounts of plaque and cholesterol blocking the vessel. This test is also known as intima-media thickness test (IMT).

Recent research conducted on patients with severe carotid artery narrowing showed that pomegranate juice significantly reduced blockage in the carotid arteries. Two groups of people were studied, one consisted of individuals taking only conventional medications and the other consisted of medications plus daily pomegranate juice. Researchers postulate that the effect of pomegranate on arteries is three fold: reduces LDL, reduces oxidation of LDL, improves overall antioxidant status. According to the study, drinking four to six ounces of pomegranate juice each day may be a great way to maintain arterial health and prevent further vessel destruction.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment

Does THYROID Nodule = CANCER?

At ALETRIS, we see many men and women who have a thyroid nodule. The question we ask is always whether or not the nodule is cancerous, and a biopsy of the nodule is often necessary. If the biopsy comes back inconclusive, removal of the thyroid or part of the thyroid is often recommended as cancer cannot be ruled out. On final analysis, however, only between 10 and 15% of excised nodules turn out to be cancerous.

A recent report from Lancet Oncology outlines a new gene marker that may help identify nodules that are cancerous. The molecule galectin-3 was seen in the blood 93% of the time in cancerous nodules. The results of the research showed that 22% of the cancers were missed, however, based on the galectin-3 molecule analysis only.

This blood marker is far from a perfect tumor marker for thyroid cancer, but it does signify that researchers are searching for better ways to assess whether the thyroid gland needs to be removed unnecessarily. We look forward to improved diagnosis tools in order to answer this question definitively for patients.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment

Boost Your BRAIN

We often hear patients say "I feel scattered, I can't concentrate, my memory just isn't what it used to be." As naturopaths, we encourage optimal health and brain function through healthy eating, exercise, colon cleansing and finding fulfillment in one's life through healthy relationships and joyful living. Creating joy and fulfillment may include going beyond one's comfort zone and joining an interest group, taking an art class at a local community college, or volunteering at a homeless shelter. Participating in new activities helps expand the mind and keeps our brains functioning well.

The website www.lumosity.com is worth checking out for their popular "brain training games." Lumosity's cognitive training exercises have been scientifically evaluated and shown to be effective. The website boasts that its users have clear and quicker thinking, improved memory, enhanced alertness and awareness, elevated mood and improved concentration at work. Professional neuroscientists have developed these brain games based on the notion of neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to learn and adapt to appropriate stimuli.

ALETRIS physicians offer so much more than just lab testing, diagnosis and treatment. We evaluate patients based on their physical, mental/emotional and spiritual health. At ALETRIS, we believe creating joy and optimizing brain function are equally as important as physical health.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment

AGRITOPIA

Longing for the tiny neighborhoods exuding charm like those in towns like Seattle, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., we stumbled upon the efforts of Coffee Plantation founder Joe Johnson: Agritopia.

Agritopia is not Your average planned community. It started with his desire to start a restaurant that served produce from his family farm. From there it grew into an entire community of houses centered around the farm, a restaurant (Joe’s Farm Grill), a coffee shop, and a produce stand that sells fresh, organic produce.

Johnson was also inspired by the charm of the Willo and Encanto Phoenix historic districts. Each house in Agritopia looks different from the others, there are no block walls to be found, and roads are designed to encourage walking and biking.

Here at ALETRIS we understand that the health of a city has a direct impact on the health of its inhabitants. We encourage all our patients to do what they can to create sustainability and joy in their own lives.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment

PCOS

Polycystic ovarian syndrome, commonly known as PCOS, is characterized by absent or irregular periods, infertility, cystic ovaries and clinical or laboratory signs of hyperandrogenism such as excess facial hair and acne.

PCOS in most cases is linked to insulin resistance, a scenario caused by poor diet and lack of exercise. Poor diet causes excess blood sugar levels and leads to higher amounts of pancreatic production of insulin. A surplus of insulin in the blood stimulates ovarian cells to increase production of testosterone, estrogen and DHEA, which lead to cysts on the ovaries, irregular menstrual cycles, weight gain, facial hair and acne.

Conventional doctors treat PCOS with medications such as Metformin in an effort to reduce the amount of sugar in the blood. While this does make sense, this approach is not treating the underlying cause of the disease. When Metformin is discontinued, PCOS symptoms will return.

Naturopaths aim to treat the underlying cause of PCOS by changing the body's biochemical messages, an approach that leads to a reduced risk of future cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Naturopathic treatment of PCOS includes a diet rich in lean proteins and vegetables, minimal carbohydrates and daily exercise. Nutritional supplementation and herbal formulas play an essential role in the treatment of PCOS.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment

Hot Flash Relief through Acupuncture

A researcher in Norway, a country where acupuncture is widely used, designed a study to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture on post-menopausal women being treated with Tamoxifen following surgery for breast cancer. Tamoxifen is a drug that interferes with estrogen and causes menopausal-like symptoms such as hot flashes, joint pain, vaginal dryness and leg cramps. Participants who received Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture had a 50% reduction in hot flashes, both during the day and the night, and this effect continued after the acupuncture treatments were discontinued.

A total of 59 breast cancer patients received either TCM acupuncture or sham (random) acupuncture for a total of 10 weeks. Acupuncture was administered twice a week for 5 weeks and once a week for the following 5 weeks. The subjects monitored and recorded the number of hot flashes they had for 4 weeks prior to treatment, during the treatment and 12 weeks after the treatments ended. Other symptoms measured included sweating, sleep disturbance, depression, palpitations and joint pain.

The head investigator reports “During the treatment, hot flashes were reduced by 50%, both day and night, in the acupuncture group. Three months after the last treatment a further reduction was seen. No significant changes were seen in the sham group during the day. At night there was a slight reduction during the treatment period but, once treatment had ceased, the number of hot flashes increased again.”

As acupuncture increasingly becomes more and more popular, researchers are continually designing studies testing its efficacy. To experience the many benefits of acupuncture, including pain relief, stress management, insomnia and hot-flash reduction, call Aletris Center of Integrative Medicine in Scottsdale, AZ to set up an appointment.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment

Focusing on Blood Pressure

The incidence of high blood pressure among American women is on the rise. The following excerpt is borrowed from an article on Medline Plus.

The persistent incidence of hypertension is "principally a failure of our health-care delivery system," said Dr. Dan Jones, president of the American Heart Association. "Certainly physicians have some fault, patients have some fault, and biology plays a role. But in our current health-care system, high blood pressure is treated as part of a visit with a primary-care physician that may take only five to 15 minutes. It may be one of five or six problems that the patient has and may be the least symptomatic of those problems, so it doesn't get the attention it should."

Aletris naturopaths spend 1.5 hours with each patient during an initial visit, and 30 minutes to 1 hour for follow-up visits. Although we do not accept insurance as a means of payment, we generally see far fewer patients in order to serve their individual medical needs. This includes follow-up on chief and secondary complaints as well as educating patients on the importance of the prevention of future disturbances in health including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Seeing fewer patients allows us to spend sufficient time with each patient while staying current with medical research. We understand the underlying causes of physiological imbalances and hold our patients accountable for engaging in their own health care.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment

Hypertension and Cognitive Decline

A new study finds an association between high blood pressure and declining cognitive function in adults over the age of 60. Researchers found that adults between the ages of 60-69 with normal blood pressure (less than 120/80) had the best cognitive function, while people aged 75-79 with “pre-hypertension” (up to 140/90) and people 80 or older with moderate hypertension had the poorest cognitive function.

Those with stage 1 hypertension (top number between 140 and 149, bottom number between 90 and 99) were more likely to show cognitive decline, most notably found in individuals over 70. Investigators concluded that control of blood pressure was shown to reduce hypertension-associated cognitive decline.

The best way to treat high blood pressure is to eat a healthy diet consisting of an abundance of fresh vegetables and lean animal or vegetable proteins while abstaining from processed foods and simple carbohydrate-rich foods. Daily exercise (cardiovascular and weight bearing) also combats hypertension, as well as enhancing healthy moods and energy. Avoid sugary drinks and empty-calorie foods such as white rice and replace them with water, herbal teas and nutrient-rich foods. For more information on preventing or reducing high blood pressure and the negative effects from this condition, call the Aletris Center of Integrative Medicine to explore your path towards optimal health.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Chronic Sinusitis

Chronic sinusitis, one of the most common recurring illnesses in the U.S., develops predominantly in those with allergies and asthma. The mucous membranes in the sinuses and nasal passages become inflamed, causing irritation, pain, swelling and redness in the area.

Conventional medicine treats chronic sinusitis with antibiotics and corticosteroids, along with decongestants and antihistamines. A recent study published in the Lancet concluded that out of 15 patients who received antibiotics for chronic sinusitis, only one benefited with this treatment.

The researchers concluded that antibiotic use is not justified even in patients with symptoms longer than 7-10 days. Decongestants and antihistamines do provide acute relief from symptoms, but have no long term preventative benefits. Corticosteroids sprays, such as Nasonex, inhibit the body’s immune response and are used for their anti-inflammatory effect to localized tissue. Corticosteroids can cause thinning of tissue and make people more susceptible to viral infections, upper respiratory infections, sinusitis, bronchitis and nasal irritation.

Naturopathic doctors treat chronic sinusitis with nasal irrigation techniques, immune boosting nutrients, homeopathy, herbal formulations and the elimination of underlying causes such as food allergies. The goal is a reduction in symptoms and elimination of future infections. ALETRIS naturopaths are well versed in treating chronic sinusitis by investigating the underlying cause of the illness.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

ESSENTIAL H20

Water is critical to our health, wellness and survival. Our blood is 83% water, which allows the blood to circulate throughout the body and guide essential vitamins and minerals into tissue cells. Adequate water intake is also necessary to eliminate waste from the body, nourish joints and ligaments and to brighten skin. Signs of dehydration can manifest as premenstrual cramping, morning sickness (in pregnant women), joint pain, fatigue, depression, acne, and allergies.

Green tea, black tea, and coffee all contain caffeine, a powerful diuretic. Alcohol is an even stronger diuretic. These substances leach water and minerals from the body, so that even when additional water is consumed during the day it is immediately eliminated to keep a proper electrolyte balance. Take note if you are running to the bathroom directly after drinking water. If so, diuretics are creating an electrolyte imbalance that is keeping you dehydrated, and you should eliminate these diuretics from your diet.

Our recommendation is to drink half of your body weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 150lbs, you should be drinking 75 ounces of water per day.

Here are some ideas to make drinking water more fun and enjoyable:

Add a sprig of fresh spearmint or peppermint

Add a squeeze of orange, lemon or lime

Add a slice of ginger

Add a slice of strawberry or a few blueberries and raspberries for a fruity taste

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

DAIRY is for Baby Cows

Many of our patients find it extremely difficult to live without dairy. When first asked if avoiding dairy will cause a problem, most patients shake their head no. It’s not until a few weeks later that they realize how difficult it is to avoid the many dairy-filled products in day to day life.

Dairy is a very common allergen for many individuals. We do not make the lactase enzyme along our gastrointestinal tracts after childhood, and so many people experience gas, bloating, increased mucous production, indigestion, weight gain, and seasonal allergies from continued consumption into adulthood.

Dairy includes milk, cheese, half and half, cream, cottage cheese, yogurt, sour cream, butter, and ice cream. Hidden sources include casein, whey, rennet, lactulose, lactalbumin, lactglobulin, and curd.

At ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine, we encourage our patients to consume less dairy or no dairy and, if they must include dairy in their diets, to always choose organic, hormone-free products. Discussing dairy alternatives and encouraging ethnic cuisines are two ways we help our patients avoid this common allergen.

Milk Alternatives: Oat milk, Rice Milk, Hemp Milk and Almond Milk. Soy milk is not recommended.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Say Goodbye to Sugar

Finding your self coming down with frequent and persistent colds? Try limiting your sugar intake.

This includes soda, cakes, cookies, fruits, breads and pastas. One teaspoon of sugar has been shown to inhibit the response of your immune system for up to 5 hours. Put simply, having fruit juice or a donut for breakfast, white pasta for lunch and a hamburger with a coke for dinner can have a prolonged negative effect on your immune system. Too much sugar throughout the day can cause more frequent and longer-lasting colds and flus.

Also remember that food items that are “fat free” tend to be high in sugar, which eventually turns to fat in the body. High sugar intake is also associated with nutrient deficiencies and correlated health problems. Magnesium deficiency, for example, is implicated in many health conditions such as PMS, chronic headaches, muscle tension, attention deficit disorder and hypertension.

Remember, you really are what you eat! As naturopathic physicians, it is our responsibility to educate patients on the basics of living a healthy life as well as treating and preventing diseases. Without the commitment to change diet and other lifestyle habits, it is difficult to guide patients toward optimal health.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Hemochromatosis

Hemochromatosis is the most common of the iron storage diseases, and the hereditary form of hemochromatosis is the most common genetic disorder in the United States. Symptoms of this disease may include joint pain, fatigue, abdominal pain, heart and liver disease. Women are often not diagnosed until around the age of 50. This makes sense because in menopause women are no longer losing iron through their menses and their hemoglobin and iron will show elevations on routine blood work.

High rates of iron storage diseases are found in the southwestern states because of the amount of iron in our ground water and soil. Additionally, iron is fortified in many foods including some brands of breads, cereals and pasta. Vitamin C supplementation can be very detrimental to someone with hemochromatosis because it increases iron absorption.

Treatments for hemochromatosis include phlebotomy, avoidance of Vitamin C, nutritional supplementation and diet modification. Early detection and treatment are very effective and are essential to the prevention of heart and liver disease.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

GERD

Have you ever experienced pain in your chest, trouble swallowing and a sour taste in your mouth? If so, you may be suffering from GERD, also known as gastroesophageal reflux syndrome. This occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscle connecting your esophagus to your stomach, weakens and allows stomach contents to reflux into the esophagus. This can cause irritation to the esophageal lining and a burning sensation in your chest and esophagus.

Prolonged and untreated heartburn can lead to inflammation and narrowing of the esophagus. GERD can also increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer.

The following is a list of just a few of the foods and medications that can weaken the LES: coffee, tea, cow’s milk, alcohol, onions, peppermint, birth control pills, blood pressure medication, pain killers and anti-anxiety medication.

ALETRIS naturopaths are adept at treating the underlying causes of GERD and preventing further damage to the gastro-intestinal system. Our treatment includes herbal medicines to heal the lining of the esophagus and digestive stimulants to promote the appropriate closure of the LES.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Blood Test for BREAST CANCER

The statistics are astounding: Every year 240,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 women will die from breast cancer. Early detection is crucial because in its early stages, treatable breast cancers can have over a 5 year 95% survival rate.

The Biomarker Translation Test, or “BT Test” is a new blood test that when used in conjunction with mammography may aid in the early detection of breast cancer. The BT test measures specific protein biomarkers in the blood that are associated with cancerous activity. The results are analyzed along with personal health history and women are given an individualized “BT score.” This exciting new test has been tested for accuracy and has indicated an accuracy of over 81%.

The BT Test is not a substitution for mammography, but is an additional tool to detect early breast cancers. Because breast cancers are easily missed with mammography, especially in women who have dense breast tissue, the BT Test is an excellent addition to conventional breast imaging.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

MSG Under Cover

For those of you who avidly check food labels in grocery stores, you probably try to avoid monosodium glutamate, more commonly known as MSG. When eaten in any amount, this flavor enhancer is implicated in headaches, sweating, sense of facial tightness, numbness and tingling around the mouth, heart palpitations, chest pain, shortness or breath, nausea and weakness.

Analyzing food labels can be really tricky because MSG has numerous other aliases! For example, hydrolyzed soy protein and autolyzed yeast are other names for MSG. Most protein bars, including ones that claim to be healthy and low in carbs contain these products.

At ALETRIS, we advocate a whole foods diet that is high in organic proteins, fiber and vegetables. We counsel patients on the importance of eliminating processed foods to attain optimum health. A quick and easy tool when perusing the grocery store is to steer clear from any product containing a long list of ingredients. Remember, just because you are buying from a health food store doesn’t mean it’s healthy!

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

EXERCISE Intensity

At ALETRIS, we often see women who want to lose weight and stay slim as they age. One obstacle we face as naturopathic physicians is changing women’s perceptions of how vigorous their exercise regimes need to be to truly see results. The 20 minute walk with the dogs or the laid-back weight lifting program twice a week is a nice start, but is never the end goal.

In support, new research conducted by Berkeley Lab followed 6,119 men and 2,221 women who maintained their weekly running mileage (to within three miles per week) over a seven-year period. In summary, the men and women who ran over 30 miles per week gained half the weight of those who ran less than 15 miles per week as they aged. It seems that individuals that engage in more vigorous exercise regimes keep weight off better than those who engage in only moderate exercise programs.

For all of our patients, helping them work towards higher and higher levels of exercise intensity is the goal at ALETRIS. We help them understand the amount of hard work required to change their bodies.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Heavy Metals & Childhood OBESTIY

Recent research by a University of Houston professor has discovered a link between lead exposure in the womb and increased obesity in male children later in adulthood. Donald Fox stumbled onto this conclusion after experimenting with lead’s effects on the retina. To confirm his observations, Fox undertook an 18 month study exposing pregnant mice to varying levels of lead in their drinking water. Mice that exposed their fetus to lead while pregnant had male offspring that grew up to be obese. This new findings may influence the CDC to lower acceptable lead levels in water even further.

Naturopathic physicians have long understood the effects of heavy metal exposure on children’s behavioral and developmental characteristics. We now understand that exposures in the fetus can change children’s health permanently as they develop into adulthood. We advise women who want to become pregnant to test for heavy metal levels and detoxify them out of their systems before trying to conceive.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Why CASH PAY is a GOOD Thing

“I wish my insurance company covered naturopathic medicine” is a statement we frequently hear. The truth is, there are many reasons why ALETRIS would not take insurance even if the option was available.

First, when a medical clinic decides to accept insurance, each physician signs a contract with that insurance agency. Elements of that contract dictate how often a physician can see a patient, how much time a physician can spend with a patient, what types of treatments are allowed and how much the insurance company will reimburse the physician.

In a facility accepting insurance, for example, a patient suffering from depression and fatigue would be immediately prescribed an anti-depressant medication. The insurance company will pay the physician for 15 minutes worth of work to diagnose the depression and then discuss the medication.

With naturopathic treatment, a patient with depression and fatigue may require a one and a half hour visit so that the underlying cause of the condition can be determined and treated. If a naturopathic physician were to ask an insurance compnay for reimbursement for that 90 minute visit, they would be paid by allopathic standards and would receive the same $60 that a MD would receive for a 15 minute (or less) visit. $60 per 90 minutes will never cover expenses.

So what would naturopaths have to do in order to have a successful practice while taking insurance? They would have to start practicing more and more like traditional doctors – spending less time with each patient and giving “pharmaceutical-industry” recommendations. They may have to go from seeing six patients a day to seeing twenty or thirty. Other naturopathic doctors may focus their practice on more expensive procedures like prolotherapy or IV therapy to try to make up for costs.

In addition to setting requirement for the physicians, the insurance agency has the right to look inside a patient’s chart at any time, for any reason. This may not seem like a problem until you suspect cancer or heart disease and wish to evaluate those issues before using insurance to cover treatments. One element our patients love about our practice is that can be truly is anonymous.

We prefer to have patients use insurance for labwork, imaging, or other procedures as necessary and pay cash for their visits. Some patients with insurance even choose to pay cash for certain tests so that their insurance company does not have record of their results.

In the end, naturopathic patients see the true value in the time, energy, and money it saves them to address the issue instead of chasing symptoms. Not taking insurance guarantees the personalized care that so many of our patients love.

In this day and age, insurance and drug companies are dictating the way medicine and treatment are carried out in the United States. Choosing to engage in a different system – one that empowers patients and puts doctors back at the top of the decision making tree – is the best vote you could make with your dollar.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

CATS & Heart Health

Many of us have lovable cats and playful dogs who we look forward to coming home to every day. They shower us with happiness, unconditional love, a sense of security and friendship. Even though pets can be demanding, the stress relief that they bring to us may be beneficial for our heart health.

New research presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference suggests that heart attack risk may be reduced by having a cat in the house.

Over 4,000 Americans between the ages of 30 and 75 were tracked for over 20 years. All were free of cardiovascular disease when they entered the study in the 1970s. More than half of the people surveyed own or have owned a cat. The remainder had never owned cats. Researchers tracked death rates from heart attack and other causes. The evidence showed that cat owners had 30% lower death rates by heart attack than those who had never owned a cat. No such correlation was made among dog owners.

If you are already a lover of kitties, think about making one of these furry friends a part of your family. Who knows…your heart may be healed in more ways than one!

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Type II DIABETES

In the United States, over 18 million people, representing 6% of the total population, have diabetes mellitus. Out of those with diabetes, 5 million remain undiagnosed and about 90% have type II diabetes.

It is estimated that 85% of people diagnosed with type II diabetes are overweight. In addition, it is considered inevitable that individuals who are 30+% overweight will become diabetic. Type II diabetes is caused by an impaired ability of the body to utilize insulin. Insulin resistance and deficiency causes a dangerous rise in blood sugar, which can lead to serious complications including heart disease, peripheral neuropathy, blindness, limb amputations and kidney failure.

Western and naturopathic doctors include diabetes in their differential diagnoses if any of the following symptoms are present: excess urination, excess thirst, excess hunger, weight loss, vision changes, peripheral numbness or tingling, fatigue, slow healing sores, and/or an increase in infections.

Risk factors for type II diabetes include obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, family history of diabetes, sedentary lifestyle and ethnicity. Western doctors treat type II diabetes with diet, exercise, oral hypoglycemic drugs, and insulin when necessary.

In contrast, naturopaths emphasize diet, nutrition and exercise and use oral hypoglycemic drugs and insulin when necessary. Additionally, naturopaths prescribe vitamins, minerals and herbs to help the body utilize insulin and protect vital organs. Type II diabetes is preventable and treatable when patients are invested in their own health care and well being.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Lipoprotein A & Cardiovascular Disease

At ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine, our goal is to educate patients about preventative medicine. Cardiovascular disease is always a popular topic with our patients simply because the average American is more likely to die of heart disease than any other disease.

Beyond cholesterol, there are many more blood markers that may predict one's risk of heart disease. One less-known risk factor is lipoprotein a. Lipoprotein a, also called Lp-a, is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and a better predictor than the more well known LDL cholesterol marker.

Lp-a is carried on the LDL molecule and tells us how “sticky” the LDL is. In other words, the higher the Lp-a level, the higher the risk that LDL will be placed in the artery wall and eventually cause blockage. Blocked arteries eventually cause strokes and heart attacks, the top two killers in the US.

The good news is that specific diets as well as supplementation will reduce Lp-a levels in at-risk patients. At ALETRIS Center, we run all cardiovascular risk factors in order to determine our individual patients’ risks. Caught early, a patient’s risk for heart disease can be drastically reduced.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

STROKE in Younger Women

Middle aged women are too young to be suffering from strokes!

New research shows an increase of strokes in women between the ages of 35 and 54. In a survey done between the years of 1988 and 1994, 0.5% of women in the above age bracket reported to have suffered a stroke. In a more recent survey, conducted from 1999 to 2004 an astounding 2% of women between 35 and 54 reported to have had a previous stroke.

Two percent may seem like a small number, but remember, we are talking about young and middle aged women. Traditionally it was thought that women’s risk of stroke increases 5-10 years after menopause, so why are we seeing strokes in younger women? The researchers attribute this finding to increased abdominal fat, higher BMI (or body mass index) and higher blood sugar.

It is never too early to assess your cardiovascular and stroke risk factors. Eating a healthy diet consisting of lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, fiber, essential fats and an abundance of vegetables is a great way to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. Exercising 4 days a week and not smoking are crucial to maintaining the health of your heart and blood vessels.

At Aletris Center of Integrative Medicine, we use progressive lab tests and imaging to assess risk factors associated with current and potential heart disease which may lead to strokes. It is never too late to engage yourself in your own health care and seek the help of a well-trained naturopathic physician.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

CELEBREX Causes Irreguar Heartbeat?

Researchers have just discovered that Celebrex, a popular drug used to treat arthritis, has been shown to promote arrhythmia, or abnormal heart rhythms. Researchers at University of Buffalo made this unexpected discovery while conducting simple research on potassium channels in the heart.

They found that in animals, very small amounts (corresponding to prescription doses) induced pronounced arrhythmias by inhibiting potassium channels in the heart. This research comes on the heels of more extensive research linking this class of pain killers to other forms of heart disease. Vioxx, the sister drug of Celebrex, was taken off the market in September 2004.

Sohat’s the bottom line? All medications come with side effects and researchers are always discovering new ways that drugs inhibit normal functions in the body. At ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine, our goal is to reduce or eliminate the number of drugs on which our patients must rely. Using botanical medicines, vitamins, or food to achieve the same results is always preferable.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Inflammation & HEART DISEASE

Inflammation is inflammation is inflammation. Naturopathic physicians have understood this principle for years, yet conventional researchers are just starting to investigate how inflammation in different parts of the body is connected. For example, a Mayo Clinic study published in the February 2005 issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism details the link between rheumatoid arthritis (an inflammatory arthritis) and increased risk of unrecognized heart disease and cardiac sudden death.

Inflammation anywhere in the body will ultimately travel through the blood vessels and damage them. Therefore, we can make the assumption that increases in inflammation anywhere in the body will increase our risk of the number one killer in the US: Heart Disease.

What exactly is inflammation? On a biochemical level, inflammation means the production of free radials, which are unpaired electrons that bounce around and damage any other molecules in their path. In the bloodstream, inflammation nicks the inside walls of blood vessels and causes plaque and calcium build up there. This causes sclerosis, a closing of the arteries, which can ultimately lead to stroke or heart attack.

At ALETRIS Center of Integrative medicine, we evaluate levels of inflammation in each and every patient. Allowing excess inflammation in our patients would ultimately lead to an increased risk of heart disease. Please visit us or give us a call to learn how simple blood tests can help you assess your individual risk for inflammation and heart disease.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Healthy Weight for FERTILITY

According to recent research published in Human Reproduction, as a woman’s BMI (or body mass index) increases, her fertility decreases. The study found that for every BMI unit over 29 kg/m2, the probability of pregnancy was reduced by 4 percent. Very obese women with a BMI between 35 and 40 had a pregnancy probability that was 26-43% lower than those with a BMI below 29.

The researchers postulate that being obese disrupts the endocrine system. One hormone which is produced by fat cells called leptin may be the culprit, as evidence shows that leptin may influence sex hormone production directly from the ovaries.

A healthy weight is essential for having an easy pregnancy and birthing experience, and weight loss is a key component of naturopathic fertility treatment in women with elevated BMI levels. Regular moderate exercise, diet modification and customized supplementation is still the healthiest way to lose weight for long term results.

Want to know your BMI? Use this handy tool from the Department of Health and Human Services. BMI CALCULATOR

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

HPV and STRESS

It is estimated that 75% of all sexually active women have been exposed to human papilloma virus (HPV) at some point in their lives. Although this infection can be cleared over time, common HPV subtypes can lead to cervical cancer. The overall health of our immune system is a good indicator of potential disease resolution or progressive cervical dysplasia.

It is well known among naturopathic physicians that stress, diet, exercise and overall lifestyle patterns can immensely affect the health of our immune system. New research conducted by Fang et al., looked at perceived daily life stressors among women and its effect on HPV resolution. A total of 74 women were questioned with regard to their daily life stressors, and those with more perceived daily stress were linked to lowered immune responses to HPV. Interestingly, there was no association found with regard to immune response to HPV and a single major stressful event.

Naturopaths believe that chronic stress can have adverse affects on the digestive, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and endocrine systems in addition to the immune system. It is also notable that women who have an abnormal pap do not necessarily need to resort to cryotherapy or LEEP procedures, as HPV can be cleared through natural therapies. At ALETRIS, we provide comprehensive medical testing, naturopathy and acupuncture to clear HPV, bring balance to the body and alleviate the response to daily stress.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

27 ORGANIC Fruits & Veggies

"Buying organic produce is so expensive," We often hear, and it's certainly true that organic produce is often two to three times more expensive than regular fruits and vegtables.

To help you decide when to be frugal and when to splurge, we want to share a list of produce most contaminated with high levels of pesticides and herbicides. We urge you to purchase these fruits and vegetables organically at any cost.

FRUITS
Strawberries
Raspberries
Apples
Grapes
Raisins
Peaches
Nectarines
Apricots
Pears
Cherries
Lemons
Limes
Bananas
Kiwis
Cantaloupes
Tomatoes

VEGETABLES
Potatoes
Carrots
Corn
Celery
Cucumber
Spinach
Green & Red Bell Peppers
Lettuce
Green Beans
Squash

We recommend copying or printing this list to carry with you while grocery shopping.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Coming Soon! Saliva Test for Breast Cancer

Scientists in Houston are developing a saliva test to identify specific proteins found in breast cancers. In the future, this could provide us with an inexpensive and non-invasive tool to detect early cancers of the breast.

Cancerous tumors produce proteins that affect cell growth, cell metabolism and cell death. According to an article in the journal Cancer Investigation, “breast cancer triggers a change in the type and amount of proteins in secretions from the salivary glands.” The authors studied 30 women, 10 healthy, 10 with benign breast tumors and 10 with malignant breast cancer. After testing the samples, they identified differences in proteins among the three groups. Future studies are necessary in order to assess the reliability of saliva testing for breast cancers.

Naturopathic physicians educate women on the importance of maintaining their breast health and reducing risks associated with breast cancer. At ALETRIS, we offer a variety of progressive lab testing and imaging in order to analyze a woman’s breast health. As with other cancers, early detection of breast abnormality is conducive to more effective natural treatments.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Acupuncture for FERTILITY

A recent study out of the University of Maryland investigated the effects of combining acupuncture with in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the treatment of infertility. Researchers found that women who received traditional acupuncture before and/or after IVF were 65% more likely to become pregnant than those who received random needling, or sham acupuncture. Additionally, the rate of live births was twice as high among women treated with traditional acupuncture than those who were treated with sham acupuncture.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treats infertility by restoring balance, whether the underlying cause is due to organ deficiency, stagnant energy, or inadequate blood and qi. Acupuncturists place needles along specific meridians in order to promote the smooth flow of energy and treat imbalances within these meridians and organs. Treatment plans are individualized according to patient symptoms and pulse and tongue observation.

If you would like to schedule an acupuncture treatment or complimentary 15-minute consultation with our naturopathic acupuncturist, please call ALETRIS at 480-443-7168 or email info@aletriscenter.com.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

The BIG 3 Skincare Ingredient Offenders

Skincare products labeled "organic" or "natural" are popular for good reason, but many of these products are not actually good for our skin. Parabens, sodium laurel sulfate (SLS) and propylene glycol are skin irritants often found in even the most luxurious product lines.

PARABENS are preservatives commonly listed as methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben. Allergies, skin irritation, biochemical changes, neurotoxicity and endocrine disruption are symptoms linked to these ingredients.

SLS is a cleansing agent found in shampoos, facial and body cleansers, toothpastes and other foaming products. This ingredient is linked to skin irritation, developmental/organ system/reproductive toxicity and cancer.

PROPYLENE GLYCOL is an inexpensive, mass-produced petroleum derivitave often found in skin and haircare products, deodorants and toothpastes. Irritation, gastro-intestinal disturbances, nausea, headache, vomiting, and central nervous system depression are possbile side effects of long-term exposure.

Remember: Just because you find it at the local natural foods or luxury department store doesn't mean you don't have to check the label!

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

CHANTIX Alternatives

The FDA recently issued a warning that the smoking cessation drug Chantix may increase mood swings and suicide. The FDA has already confirmed 39 suicides of patients taking the drug. The smoking cessation drug also accounts for 420 individuals reporting mood changes such as anxiety, nervousness, tension, suicidal behavior, and suicidal thoughts.

Chantix works by partially blocking nicotinic receptors in the brain. This receptor is where nicotine from cigarettes acts, causing a release of dopamine. Dopamine is the main neurotransmitter involved in the pleasure/reward pathway. It also plays a role in other brain functions like sleep, mood, attention, and learning.

From a naturopathic perspective, the plant Lobelia inflata works the same way Chantix does without the side effects of mood disturbance or suicide. Naturopathic physicians also work with patients on cognitive and behavioral changes, lifestyle modifications, and encourage patients to use the patch.

Acupuncture has also shown to be very effective for smoking cessation. It works by stimulating points that control cravings. At ALETRIS, we perform acupuncture in conjunction with a holistic plan to help our patients quit smoking for the final time.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Birth Control Options

Birth control pills can cause a variety of problems.

Today, there are many safer birth control options available.

The male and female condom not only prevents pregnancy if used correctly, but also prevents the transmission of HIV. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective in preventing transmission of HIV and the correct and consistent use of latex condoms can reduce the risk of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).” When used correctly, latex condoms are 98% effective in preventing pregnancy from occurring. If cost is an issue, you can check your local Planned Parenthood for male and female condoms at lower costs.

Another option for birth control is the FemCap and the diaphragm. The FemCap is a non-latex, non-allergenic silicone rubber cap that is placed over the cervix to prevent sperm from going into the uterus. The dDiaphragm is a natural rubber cup with a flexible rim. Both the FemCap and the Diaphragm must be used in conjunction with a spermicide. When used perfectly, the FemCap is estimated to be up to 98% effective in preventing pregnancy. The diaphragm is estimated to be 80-94% effective when used consistently and correctly. Neither the FemCap nor the Diaphragm prevent the transmission of HIV or other STIs. They should be used along with a condom when having sex with multiple partners or a partner who has not been recently tested.

Fertility awareness is another option to avoid pregnancy if you are in a monogamous relationship and if you have regular menstrual cycles. Fertility awareness involves charting your menstrual cycles, your basal body temperature and monitoring your cervical mucus. This information is used as a guide to predict fertile and unfertile days of the month. For more information, please visit gardenoffertility.com and the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control and Pregnancy Achievement by Toni Weschler.

At Aletris Center of Integrative Medicine, we provide patients with comprehensive information regarding natural forms of birth control and fertility awareness practices.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

ADRENAL FATIGUE & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A recent article in The New York Times newspaper reports findings from a study in The Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism. Researchers measured morning cortisol levels in male and female test subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and in subjects without CFS. Although cortisol levels were unremarkable across the male subjects, the female subjects with CFS were found to have lower levels of cortisol than those without CFS.

Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that becomes elevated in individuals with acute stress. Cortisol elevates blood sugar levels, raises blood pressure, and suppresses the immune system to help the body cope with stress.

After prolonged periods of stress, however, the adrenal gland fatigues and is unable to produce enough cortisol. Individuals with low cortisol levels are said to have “adrenal fatigue.” Symptoms of adrenal fatigue include blood sugar dysregulation and hypoglycemia, low blood pressure, allergies, asthma, autoimmune disease and fatigue. Adrenal fatigue is one cause of chronic fatigue syndrome.

From a naturopathic perspective, having the right amount of cortisol is necessary for optimum health. At ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine, we measure cortisol levels in patients, especially those with general fatigue or chronic fatigue syndrome. Our treatment strategies are focused on restoring healthy cortisol levels and include nutriceuticals, botanical medicine, acupuncture, and natural hormone therapy.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Caffeine Raises Blood Sugar

A study reported in the February issue of Diabetes Care showed that caffeine raises blood sugar in individuals with type 2 diabetes. It seems that blood sugar was most notably higher after meals, when blood sugar is normally at its highest. Subjects had a 9% increase after breakfast, 15% after lunch, and 26% increase after dinner compared to baselines.

The test subjects took 500 mg of caffeine during the study, which equals 4 small cups of coffee.

Caffeine, the active alkaloid in coffee, stimulates elevated blood glucose via two routes. First it inhibits the transfer of glucose from the blood stream into cells. Second, it raises adrenaline levels in the body. Elevated adrenaline levels stimulate the liver to produce and release sugar into the blood stream.

At ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine, we see a lot of patients attached to their daily cups of coffee. These patients may not be diabetic, but they often have fasting blood glucoses that are high normal. Over time, these “high normal” levels of blood sugar age us faster than usual.

Patients with high normal blood sugars are typically at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, macular degeneration (progressive blindness in the elderly), and mood imbalances.

To have your blood sugar levels tested and discuss whether caffeine or other lifestyle risk factors may play a part in the aging process, please contact us at ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

The Truth about Birth Control Pills

Worldwide, the birth control pill has given millions of women control over their reproduction. As technology continues to progress, oral contraception also has become much safer to use then it once was. Currently, there are pills on the market that have smaller and smaller amounts of hormone in them, whereas earlier birth control pills were implicated in much higher rates of blood clots and strokes.

However, there are still many risks associated with oral contraceptives (OCs). For example, OC’s deplete many of our essential vitamins, including folic acid, B12, B6, B2, vitamin C and zinc. Deficiency of these vitamins can lead to cervical dysplasia, depression, and birth defects. Additionally, OC’s increase the risk of heart disease, breast cancer, and bone fractures. Women on OC’s are especially at risk for developing a blood clot during a long plane ride, and during surgery. Sedentary women, women over 40, and smokers also have increased risk.

Birth control pills also elevate a blood protein called sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). This protein can bind to testosterone and thyroid hormone in the blood leading to deficiency symptoms. Testosterone deficiency commonly manifests as a low libido in women, and low thyroid levels can present as an intolerance to cold, constipation, or fatigue.

Also note worthy is that OC’s can increase vaginal glycogen, a storage form of sugar, and predispose women to vaginal yeast infections.

At ALETRIS, we believe in discussing the risks of birth control pills in depth with each patient. Other options may be more desirable than hormonal contraception, given their side effects. Please consult with your doctor regarding the safest birth control methods for you.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Blood Test for COLON CANCER

Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, affecting men and women equally. Age, meat consumption, constipation, and genetics are all risk factors for colon cancer. Colon cancer arises from intestinal polyps, or growths, that enlarge continuously over time. Some polyps will never turn into cancer, but others will. The only way to know if a polyp is cancerous is to remove and biopsy them during a colonoscopy.

Currently, the only screening test available for colon cancer is the colonoscopy – a procedure that involves sedation. A new blood test, called CCSA-2 (colon cancer specific antigen 2), is showing promising results in early research. It seems that this protein is found in the blood of those individuals with high risk polyps and absent in those with low risk polyps. Results have shown that, overall, the test has a 91% specificity, meaning that 9% of cancers were missed by the test.

The current recommendation of waiting every 10 years for a colonoscopy may be too long to wait for those individuals who develop fast-growing colon cancers. Even with it's 9% miss rate, a CCSA-2 blood test run every year may catch more cancers and save more lives than colonoscopy alone.

Contact ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine to learn more about this exciting new screening test for colon cancer. Direct access (cash-pay) testing is available.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Metformin & B-12 Supplementation

Millions of people in America take Metformin for diabetes, insulin resistance, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and infertility. Metformin does not treat the underlying cause of any of these conditions. Its purpose is to prevent the liver from producing excess sugar, while inhibiting the intestines from absorbing glucose into the bloodstream. Metformin also acts to re-sensitize our cells to insulin, which lowers insulin resistance and results in a decrease in blood glucose.

Most people are not aware that Metformin also inhibits our ability to absorb vitamin B12. It is estimated that up to 30% of all people taking this medication have a B12 deficiency. Intrinsic factor, a protein made by stomach intestinal cells, is necessary for the absorption of this vital nutrient and Metformin interferes with the ability of this protein to do its job.

People taking Metformin should be supplementing with B12. Monthly B12 injections are a great way to absorb and maintain B12 levels in the blood. B12 is essential for the health of our red blood cells and is needed in every metabolic pathway that takes place in our bodies.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Antibacterial Soap Creates SUPER BUGS

Did you know that there are over 700 different kinds of antibacterial products made for household use? This number includes hand washing soaps, cleansers, lotions, tooth brushes, laundry detergents, and cleaning supplies. You can even find mattresses, sheets, pillows and chop sticks that contain antibacterial ingredients.

Anti-bacterial agents were first used in hospital settings to improve sanitation practices and prevent the cross contamination of microbial-causing illnesses from patient to patient. Although companies state that their anti-bacterial products help to prevent infections, the research behind such claims is lacking. In fact, one study performed in a Manhatten inner city neighborhood found no difference in episodes of infectious disease symptoms between those families using anti-bacterial household cleaning products versus those using identically packaged products without antibacterial ingredients.

So what is the problem with using antibacterial soaps and cleaning supplies? Similar to antibiotics, these products can destroy some microbes while becoming resistant to others. Resistant bacteria often evolve into “super bugs” which can be significantly more dangerous than the original bacteria.

According to the CDC, community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (cMRSA) is becoming a world wide health concern. cMRSA is an antibiotic resistant bacteria implicated in serious skin and soft tissue infections as well as pneumonia. Resistance to cMRSA has been linked to use of antibacterial products. Additionally, higher rates of allergies and asthma in kids have been linked to the suggested “hygiene hypothesis.” This theory postulates that in order for the immune system to develop correctly, it is necessary to be exposed to certain bacteria as children so our immune cells learn how to fight infection.

Naturopathic physicians do not recommend overusing antibacterial products. At ALETRIS, we understand the significance of benign early-childhood illnesses and believe them to be important for the development and maintenance of a healthy immune system.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Phentermine & Long Term Weight Gain

Physician-guided weight loss centers are popping up on street corners across the nation, and were even featured in a recent Oprah magazine. Many of these clinics are making claims of rapid and extreme weight loss in very short amounts of time by prescribing restricted diets that may include low calorie foods, meal replacement drinks and supplements. At one Arizona weight loss center, practitioners advocate a cup of tomato soup for lunch and a cup of chicken soup for dinner. You may be wondering how people survive on such meager calories and limited nutrition....The answer comes in a pill.

Phentermine is a prescription weight loss medication that is similar to an amphetamine. It acts by stimulating the central nervous system and increasing the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. Phentermine increases heart rate and blood pressure and causes appetite suppression. Side effects of this drug include chest pain, heart palpitations, restlessness, elevated blood pressure, nervousness, bowel changes, headaches, insomnia, and dry mouth.

Phentermine also has a significant effect on an individual’s metabolism. Although Phentermine initially increases metabolism, we find that patients have a considerable decrease in metabolism after discontinuing the medication. Patients who have taken Phentermine in the past almost always regain the weight lost while on the drug, and have a much harder time losing weight for the rest of their lives.

ALETRIS naturopaths do not recommend rapid weight loss or the use of stimulant drugs to assist with weight loss. Naturopathic physicians advocate a whole foods diet combined with weight training and cardiovascular exercise to encourage maintainable, long-term weight loss and enhance general health and natural beauty.

To further investigate the cause of weight-loss difficulties, naturopathic physicians will evaluate labwork to find and treat the root cause of a patient’s inability to lose pounds. Common causes of weight gain and difficulty losing weight include hormone imbalance, adrenal fatigue, insulin resistance and thyroid disorder.

Bone DEATH

A recently released study in the Journal of Rheumatology shows that individuals with severe bone necrosis were three times more likely to have been treated with oral bisphosphonates. Bisphosphonates include the drugs Boniva, Fosamax and Actonel, which are used to treat osteoporosis by slowing bone turnover, which is supposed to increase bone density. Naturopathic physicians, however, have been arguing for years that the bone tissue these drugs create is not healthy.

Bone necrosis essentially means bone death. From a naturopathic perspective, if you slow down metabolism of bone enough, it makes sense that the tissue may die. Most individuals are unaware that bone is an active tissue, filled with cells that are constantly breaking bone tissue down and building it up again. Cells called osteoclasts are responsible for breaking down old bone tissue, and cells called osteoblasts are the ones that build new, fresh tissue. Stimuli like resistance training and Vitamin D activate osteoblasts to build up bones, while drinking soda or smoking promotes bone breakdown.

Naturopaths work with patients to eliminate causes of excess bone breakdown, while simultaneously promoting bone-building supplementation, foods, and exercise. We’ve seen bone scans improve many times with these simple changes, and we would never advocate taking a drug like Boniva or Fosamax to prevent osteoporosis.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Menopause & Decreased Lung Function

A recent article links menopause and decreased lung function such as increased risk of allergies and asthma. According to research presented in the December issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, women who had not menstruated in the last six months had an 80 percent increase in respiratory issues compared to those women menstruating regularly.

Naturopathic physicians have long linked balanced hormones to a healthy immune system, yet researchers are still trying to figure out the exact mechanism. The researchers in this study postulated that as women age, insulin resistance increases – especially when female sex hormones decrease. This increase in insulin resistance contributes to a proinflammatory state which exacerbates or brings on allergies or asthma.

Naturopathic physicians treat lung conditions very effectively with nutrient and botanical therapies. These treatment plans decrease or eliminate the need for asthma or allergy medications. In particular, corticosteroids (used to treat asthma) have serious side effects such as intestinal Candidiasis, glaucoma, cataracts, and adrenal gland suppression. Adrenal gland suppression causes a host of problems for women later down the road including weight gain, autoimmune disease, and longstanding fatigue.

Our goal at ALETRIS is to balance hormones, which play such an integral role in lung health and overall health, and provide alternatives to medications for issues such as asthma and allergies in menopause.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

NO Gardasil for Our Girls

Gardasil is the FDA approved vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), the virus implicated in genital warts, cervical cancer, and abnormal PAP smears. Gardasil is believed to be protective against the four main types of HPV, two of which cause 90% of genital warts and the other two which cause 70% of cervical cancers. Even though these strains are some of the strongest, there are approximately 150 other strains that the vaccine does not protect against.

Gardasil is believed to work most effectively in females not yet sexually active and who don't have any of the above 4 HPV types. Advocates of the vaccine believe in targeting girls as young as 9 years old to receive this vaccine.

According to the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, 13 cases of a serious neurological condition called Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) have already been reported in girls who received the HPV vaccination. The National Vaccine Information Center has stated that the risk of GBS increases when Gardasil is given at the same time as other vaccines.

Other reported adverse reactions to Gardasil include fainting, muscular weakness, headache, nausea, and arthritis. Unfortunately, we won’t even really know how “protected” our children are until many more years of research have been conducted. Patients can file complaints regarding Gardasil to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Currently, 15-20% of all reports made to VAERS are associated with the Gardasil vaccine.

Naturopaths at ALETRIS frequently work with women who have abnormal pap results and precancerous cervical lesions. There are many natural treatments that can reverse both these issues without surgery, LEEP, or cryotherapy. From a naturopathic perspective, the body has the ability to deal with this virus and “clear” it completely.

The risks of Gardasil do not outweigh the possible benefits, and it is far too risky to consider giving this vaccine to our girls. Gardasil won’t protect your child against herpes or HIV so talk to them about sex and educate them on the benefits of using condoms.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Calcium Breaks Hearts

For many years, naturopathic physicians have been explaining to women that osteoporosis is not a condition caused by low calcium intake. In fact, countries that consume high amounts of calcium from dairy (The US, New Zealand, and Australia) have the highest rates of osteoporosis in the world.

A recent study suggests that calcium supplements may increase the risk of heart attack in older women. Researchers at the University of Auckland investigated the risk of heart attack, sudden death, and stroke in 1,471 postmenopausal women aged 55 years or older for a five year period and found an increased risk in those taking calcium versus those taking a placebo.

There are many different mechanisms by which calcium may damage the cardiovascular system. We know that calcium is used to “patch” wounds along blood vessels and that calcified arteries are the hallmark of atherosclerosis. Excess calcium also prevents the absorption of magnesium, an essential nutrient for cardiac muscle function.

Although there are supplements to support bone strength and help prevent osteoporosis in combination with adequate exercise and nutrition, we do not prescribe calcium supplementation to ALETRIS patients.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Puberty at AGE 3?

A recent news break reported the story of a girl in the United Kingdom who started puberty at the age of three. (1) Parents noticed a change in the young girl’s body odor, followed by the appearance of breast buds and pubic hair. As her fourth birthday approached, the girl's parents noticed signs that she would soon begin to menstruate. Finally, at the age of six, the child received a diagnosis of precocious puberty.

Fifty years ago, the mean age of menarche (first menstruation) was between 14 and 16 years old. Today in the United States, one in seven caucasian females and one in two African American females will begin menstruating at age 8. These reports are astounding.

Scientists point to many potential causes of precocious puberty, including obesity and increased prevalence of sexual images in media. Stress is also cited as a factor as it causes fluctuations in normal hormone patterns, specifically growth hormone, cortisol, and melatonin. Researchers also theorize that changes in hormones may come from excess electromagnetic radiation due to increased use of electronics.

The largest body of evidence, however, comes from issues concerning hormones found in our environment. Meat, dairy, eggs, plastics, and contaminated water all contain compounds known as xenoestrogens (outside estrogens). These estrogenic chemicals promote precocious puberty and, later in life, an increased risk of breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Resources

1. Daily Mail

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

SLEEP to Keep the Pounds Off

New evidence demonstrates a hormonal correlation between weight gain and sleep deprivation. According to the American Journal of Epidemiology, women sleeping 5 hours or less per night gain more weight over time than those sleeping 7 or more hours per night.

At first glance, one might think that less sleep simply translates into more time to eat! However, there appears to be many more pieces to the puzzle.

Researchers are investigating sleep deprivation and its effect on two hormones, leptin and grehlin. These protein hormones are important regulators of metabolism and behaviors relating to satiation and hunger. Leptin is a hormone that signals our brain when we are full, causing satiation. On the other hand, grehlin is expressed when we are hungry, and signals our brain when it’s time to eat. Sleep restriction has been shown to reduce levels of leptin while increasing amounts of grehlin, which leads to excess hunger and overeating. Additionally, sleep restricted individuals in this study subjectively reported increased hunger than those sleeping 7 hours or more.

So will sleeping more make you lose weight? There's no easy answer to that question since the only way to lose weight is to expend more calories than you consume. However, sleeping less does have a correlation with weight gain, so to help keep the pounds off you'll need to get a good night's sleep.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

SOY Reduces HOT FLASHES

A new study out of Harvard, reported in the January issue of Menopause, shows that postmenopausal women were able to reduce their hot flashes by 52% by taking a soy supplement. In addition to monitoring the women's hot flashes, the researchers also measured cardiovascular markers and thyroid and sex hormones and found no significant differences from the placebo group.

Many articles have come out with conflicting evidence regarding soy. From the beginning, naturopathic physicians have educated patients on the difference between fermented and unfermented soy. Fermenting the bean lowers its harmful phytoconstituents, like phytic acid, which can contribute to mineral deficiencies. We’ve noted that many of the negative studies have used unfermented soy products; in general, there has been little consistency in the type of soy products used for research surrounding menopause and hot flashes.

In this most recent study, researchers extracted soy isoflavones from soy germ fermented with Koji fungus. The choice to use fermented soy may account for the positive findings in this study, and eating fermented soy products is generally safer than eating processed soy. Fermented soy products include miso, tempeh, and tofu.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

What's in Your WATER?

Water quality is a subject we take seriously at ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine. Pesticides, heavy metals, PCBs, industrial pollutants, radioactive contaminants and undesirable microorganisms have been found in local and national water supplies. We often make recommendations on home and office water filtration systems based on our knowledge of how dangerous these pollutants are for our health. A new class of chemicals – pharmaceutical medications – are becoming a growing concern as well.

Recent research in Britain by the Drinking Water Inspectorate now shows traces of powerful psychiatric medications and chemotherapy in water supplies. Levels of bleomycin, a chemotherapeutic drug, and diazepam, also known as Valium, were the found in the public water supply in the United Kingdon. Athough researchers comment that the doses are relatively low for adults, they are concerned that the levels are too high for a developing fetus. (1)

Not only a concern overseas, this topic also hits home in Chandler, AZ. Activists are currently protesting the construction of a huge animal-testing plant whose activities would result in tons of pharmaceutical waste being dumped into the local water supply. The animal-testing company, Covance, is at odds with the local government, mainly for its proposed method of discarding used animal corpses (by incineration) and its effects on air quality. (2)

For more information on how to stop pharmaceuticals from being dumped into our local water supply, visit http://www.covancecruelty.com.

Resources

Telegraph

Outsourcing Pharma

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Healthy BACK

A recent study in the September 24^th issue of Archives of Internal Medicine found that acupuncture relieved back pain better than conventional treatment. According to Heinz Endres, M.D., almost twice as many patients were helped with acupuncture treatments than any other treatments.

Low back pain is a notoriously difficult to treat and is an extremely common complaint. According to the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke, Americans spend at least 50 billion dollars a year on low back pain and almost everyone will have at least one occurrence of low back pain in his or her life.

Back pain can arise from muscle, bone, joint, or ligament irritation. If the issue stems from a muscle or ligament problem, acupuncture will most likely be highly effective. A single acupuncture treatment, which may include tuina, cupping and/or moxibustion in combination with needle therapy, will give you at least partial relief if this is the case. If the issue arises from a joint or bone misalignment, acupuncture may not work as well. In any case, acupuncture is a great place to start in order to manage your low back pain. It is relatively inexpensive and completely safe in comparison to conventional treatments.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

HEALING Takes Time

Patients often wonder how long it will take for them to heal. That question is a difficult one to answer because different areas of the body actually regenerate at different speeds. In any case, you are what you eat, and these cells rebuild themselves from the nutrients and water you supply them. If you give them junk for fuel, they will function poorly.

Changing to a produce-based, vegetarian, organic diet will change the quality of your health by providing better nutrition to your body’s cells as they reproduce.

Scientists have found that you:

Regenerate the cells in your body in 1 year

Regenerate the cells in your skeleton in 3 months

Regenerate the cells in your skin in 1 month

Regenerate the cells in your brain in 1 month

Regenerate the cells in your stomach lining in 5 days

As you can see, the timeline for many body cells is dramatically fast. So give them the highest quality raw materials and watch your health change dramatically.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Death by PLASTIC

Plastics are everywhere, and the ones that hold our food and water (water bottles, nalgenes, gallon jugs, tupperware, and ziplock bags), leach into our food and water. This leaching, called migration, has been regulated by the FDA, whose responsibility it is to ensure that only a safe amount of migration occurs.

Research has now shown that many of these chemicals not only cause cancer but also act as hormone disruptors.

After talking with patient after patient, the general consensus seems to be that softer plastics are more harmful to our health. Although it is a common misconception that hard plastics are safer, it is just not so. In the United States, plastic formulas are “proprietary,” meaning manufacturers do not have to tell the consumer the individual ingredients. Depending on the recipe, plastics may contain the most notorious plastic toxin, bisphenol-A. Bisphenol-A is a hormone disruptor that is implicated in infertility, benign prostatic hyperplasia, attention deficit disorder (ADD), prostate cancer, and low levels of testosterone.

Recently, a major Canadian retailer pulled all Nalgene and polycarbonate bottles from the shelf because these trendy, hard plastic bottles carry high levels of bisphenol-A. read the NY Times article

The lesson? No plastic is safe. Drinking water out of stainless steel water bottles or glass is the only solution.

Please visit ALETRIS links to find stainless steel water bottles and other natural solutions for healthy living.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Where's the MOTIVATION?

The holiday season is over and the new year's mantra is repeated over and over again, "I'll start exercising again this week... I'll start exercising again this month... I'll start exercising again next month...". While it's certainly true that many of us have extra obligations during the last two months of the year, it's time to recognize that exercising isn't an option.

For many women, choosing an outfit, applying skincare products, applying makeup and styling hair for 30 minutes every morning is part of their daily routine...it's MANDATORY to do these things to feel and look good throughout the day. Exercise should be the same.

Unfortunately, too many of us view exercise as a luxury, something we make time for if we have the time to give. What many of us do not take into consideration is that starting with just 20 minutes of exercise a day can make a big impact in our health and wellness. Walk out the front door and make a loop around your neighborhood, drive to the gym at lunch for a quick workout, or get off the couch and onto a treadmill while watching the evening news.

We encourage you to examine your relationship with exercise, and make the decision to change your mindset. Regular exercise will improve your physical and mental health. You don't have to enjoy it every time, you just have to do it! It's simply not an option.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Alli® Is Not Your Ally

After hearing a lot of talk regarding the new over the counter weight-loss pill, Alli®, we have decided to address one the pill's negative side effects: Vitamin Deficiency.

To understand the risks involved in taking Alli®, one must first understand how it works. Alli® is simply a lesser amount of the prescription weight-loss drug Orlistat (trade name Xenical®). Like Orlistat, Alli® works by inhibiting the action of lipase, an enzyme needed to break down fats so that they may be absorbed through the gut wall. With the inhibition of this enzyme in the intestinal tract, unabsorbed fat moves through the gastrointestinal tract and is eliminated in a bowel movement. Weight-loss occurs through this action because the body never has the opportunity to process the calories contained in the unabsorbed fat.

In addition to decreasing fat absorbtion, research has shown that Alli® also decreases the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins including beta-carotone and vitamins A, D, E, and K. Beta-carotene and vitamin E are major anti-oxidants in the body, while vitamin K is needed for proper blood clotting functions. Vitamin D is one of the most widely researched vitamins at this moment in history, due to its major implecations in reducing the 4 major cancers in the United States: breast, colon, skin, and prostate. Additionally, Vitamin D has been shown to play a major role in increasing bone density.

From a naturopathic perspective, many illnesses are created or exacerbated by vitamin deficiencies. Getting adequate amounts of all vitamins and minerals on a daily basis is a big enough challenge with our American diets, and consuming drugs like Alli® that inhibit their absorption is not something ALETRIS advocates.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Healthy SLEEP

Long-term health depends on the regeneration that occurs during deep sleep. Growth hormone, or the “anti-aging” hormone, is secreted during sleep, which stimulates tissue regeneration, liver cleansing, muscle building, break down of fat stores and normalization of blood sugar. During sleep, free radicals are scavenged in the brain, minimizing its aging. Many health problems are aggravated by inadequate sleep. Oftentimes, if a patient has several different complaints, it is impossible to resolve all of them without addressing the sleep. Sleep is the time of healing, thus very little healing occurs in the absence of daily deep sleep.

SYMPTOMS OF INADEQUATE SLEEP
With inadequate sleep, individuals often experience drowsiness, fatigue, decreased concentration, impaired memory, reduced stress tolerance, mood changes, irritability, muscle tension, or increased health problems such as infections.

TIPS FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF YOUR SLEEP
Maintain consistent sleep and wake times. Do not push yourself to stay up past the initial signs of sleepiness. This can create epinephrine production, causing more difficulty getting to sleep later. It is good to have a “getting ready for bed” routine to relax and prepare your body for sleep. Avoid taking naps if you have trouble sleeping at night.

Reserve the bed for sleep and sex only. Do not read, watch TV, eat, or worry in bed. Solve daily dilemmas outside of the bedroom. If you find that you’ve been lying awake in bed for 15-20 minutes, get out of bed. Do something mundane until you feel sleepy, and then go back to bed. Repeat this as often as needed.

Your sleeping environment should be quiet, cool and comfortable. The room should be clutter-free. Reduce the amount of ambient light as much as possible. Electronic devices such as clocks, stereos, TVs and computers generate electromagnetic fields that can disturb sleep for some people. Experiment with moving these into another room or using EMF shields.

Exercise regularly. Exercising during the day or early evening decreases the time it takes to get to sleep and increases the amount of deep sleep obtained. Most people do better avoiding exercise late in the evening.

Exposure to sunlight early in the morning and late in the afternoon or evening encourages a strong circadian rhythm. The hormone melatonin, which helps create a sleep state in the body, is suppressed in light and secreted in darkness.

If you have problems with waking during the early hours of the morning, have a small protein snack just before bed to ensure consistent blood sugar levels throughout the night. Consistently get exposure to sunlight as late in the day as possible.

Improving overall health will improve the quality of your sleep. Work towards improving or eliminating health problems. Treatment modalities such as massage, acupuncture or cranial sacral will help to relax the body. Effective stress management is essential.

Follow these simple suggestions to achieve deeper, more restful sleep:
Take warm baths, possibly adding Epsom salts or lavender oil.

Meditate for 5-30 minutes.

Perform breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation (various recordings are available) or any other means of inducing the “relaxation response.” Daily practice brings greater results.

Listen to special acoustic recordings that increase specific brain wave patterns for relaxation and sleep.

Explore botanical treatments and aromatherapy (examples include chamomile, valerian, vervain (verbena), hops, lavender, passionflower, avena (oat straw), lemon balm and scutellaria (skull cap). Consult your physician for dosages and recommendations.

Consider calcium and magnesium supplementation. Consult your physician for dosages and recommendations.

Avoid these negative habits:
Although alcohol may make you fall asleep, the sleep obtained after drinking is fragmented and light.

The stimulating effects of caffeine may last up to 10 hours in some people. Avoid it in the afternoon if getting to sleep is a problem. Caffeine is present in coffee, green tea, black tea, chocolate and some medications (pain relievers, decongestants, thermogenic weight loss products, energy supplements, etc.).

The stimulating effects of nicotine (first- or second-hand smoke) can last several hours.

Sleeping pills, aside from being highly addictive and full of side effects, decrease the amount of time spent in deep sleep and only increase light sleep.

B-vitamin supplements can increase energy that may keep some people awake if taken before bed. Take
B-vitamins earlier in the day.

Do not go to bed with a very full stomach. Large quantities of protein are stimulating to the body as digestion occurs. It’s best to finish eating at least three hours before going to bed.

Resources
Dement MD PhD, William. The Promise of Sleep. 1999. Dell Publishing. New York, NY.

Jacobs PhD, Gregg. Say Goodnight to Insomnia. 1998. Henry Holt and Company. New York, NY.

Ross DC, Herbert, Brenner Lac, Keri and Goldberg, Burton. Sleep Disorders. www.AlternativeMedicine.com; Tiburon, CA. 2000.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Pea Protein for Health and Wellness

Many ALETRIS Center many patients have questions regarding protein consumption: How Much, What Kind, How Frequently...

In general, we recommend consuming no more that six to eight ounces of meat daily, and there is abundant research that supports eating a plant-protein-based diet. When consuming animal proteins, organic, free range chicken, turkey, and beef should be eaten in small amounts, and fish should be wild and consumed no more than two to three times weekly due to heavy metal toxicity concerns.

For many of our patients, consuming protein in the form of a drink powder is a quick and easy option. In choosing a powder, we tend to recommend pharmaceutical-grade pea-protein powder over ones that are soy, rice, or whey-based. Whey protein's amino acid profile has always proved superior to soy or rice protein; however, as naturopathic physicians we are aware that most whey used in protein supplements is not organic and comes from cows treated with hormones and antibiotics. We also see many individuals with mild intolerance to dairy and feel that whey may contribute to their allergic picture. Pea protein comes closest to matching the superior amino acid profile of whey.

Eating frequent meals that contain a small amount of protein during the day stabilizes blood sugar, which is beneficial for complaints such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, weight loss, and Type II diabetes.

Every patient is different, and lifestyle, body weight, and age all play a role in determining the correct dose of protein an individual needs.

If you have questions regarding pea protein powder, or would like to purchase a pharmaceutical-grade pea protein powder, please give us a call at 480-443-7168 or visit www.aletriscenter.com.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Colon Hydrotherapy for Constipation

NOBODY Talks About IT. Constipation affects more than four million Americans, most of whom are women. Many of these women do not know that having one to three bowel movements a day is vital to overall wellness and disease prevention.

Unfortunately we are a nation bombarded by pharmaceutical and laxative advertisements. These popular "treatments" simply mask the cause of constipation while promoting psychological and physiological dependence and worsening the condition itself.

Untreated constipation leads to body toxicity and disease. Its common symptoms include acne, body odor, bad breath, fatigue, allergies, headaches, irritability, abnormal blood pressure, insomnia, bloating, abnormal menses, and thyroid and hormone imbalance.

Treatment for constipation may include a series of colon hydrotherapy treatments, diet and behavior modification, herbal and fiber supplementation, and increased water intake.

Every woman is different, and every woman deserves customized treatment. At ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine in Scottsdale, AZ, optimal health is recognized to be more than the absence of illness.

You can read more about colon hydrotherapy, often called colonic irrigation, at www.aletriscenter.com

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.