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