When exploring detoxification and cleansing options, one can find themself at a fork in the road: one path has the very popular “Pills, Powders, and Potions,”(3P) approach and another is the Whole Foods/lifestyle approach. Although both can be effective in the short run, I prefer to inspire my patients through the most natural options available for cleansing the body and mind thus creating a sustainable approach. This method aids in the improvement of medical conditions, as well as providing for the development of lifelong habits for wellness and longevity. The problem with “diets” (including “detox diets”) is that they end with no developed habits for sustaining health in the future.

The goal of any detoxification and cleansing program should always be a long-term lifestyle change, as opposed to an “event” every now and again. The main problem with the 3P approach is that one cannot take pills, powders and potions forever. However, eating whole foods is sustainable. Eating in a way that balances the body’s internal functions sets a foundation for health today as well as in the future.

The purpose of any program is to encourage the body’s tendency for an acidic (and phlegmy) state to balance towards a more alkaline state; the acid/base balance in the blood is dynamic and not static. Your body’s pH levels are affected by many internal and external factors. It is important to take a holistic approach when seeking balance. No single act (3P) will restore the pH permanently. Only sustained efforts towards balance will set the stage for the body’s natural corrective mechanisms to do their job efficiently.

Researchers will tell you that the pH is always taking care of itself and therefore needs no specialized approach to balance it. This, however philosophically compelling, is untrue in the clinical setting. EVERY filter in the world needs cleaning. So, in turn, internal bodily filters and organs of elimination do too.

Clinically, organs need to be addressed in a full-body detoxification in the following order:

• Bowels
• Kidney
• Liver
• Gallbladder
• Lungs
• Lymph
• Skin
• Mind

Many people often consider cleaning the bowels to be a complete detoxification, but however helpful it may be, moving the bowels barely scratches the surface. Your body requires a deep tissue cleansing, so it is vital to address all of the above listed organs to successfully accomplish detoxification and cleansing for the purpose of health and vitality.

Timing is also a very important factor to consider when beginning a program. Both your body and mind must be prepared to handle the change. Beginning a program when you are feeling sick, or under a lot of stress, may very well make things worse. When properly scheduled and fully executed, a detoxification and cleansing program can bring unprecedented health benefits that go beyond a patient’s expectations. Below are some real-life examples from past program participants:

• Dropped 53 points in Triglyceride levels in three weeks.
• A previous migraines sufferer successfully eliminated migraines (symptoms and medicines).
• A patient who suffered from osteoarthritis claims that the only “medicine” that was effective for ridding the pain from her body was cleansing with whole foods.
• A hypoglycemic patient reverted back to normal sugar levels after four cycles (two years) of detoxification.
• Several allergy sufferers eliminated their allergies altogether and have sustained that status over the ensuing years.

I do what I teach. I have been cleansing and detoxifying since I was a child growing up with open-minded parents. There is very little in this field that I have not personally tried myself over the decades. Truth in health transcends cultural beliefs, barriers and biases. The techniques used in cleansing are tried and true from years of testing on humans throughout the world. Be wary of “new” findings as they have not been tested for safety over the test of time. As Hippocrates (the Father of Western medicine) says “let food be thy medicine.” By the way, the Chinese and East Indians agree on this statement.

At the Advanced Wellness Center, we create treatment programs to address each individual’s needs for cleansing and detoxification. We offer complementary approaches with Western medicine for the patient who wishes to combine philosophies. We also offer “alternative” approaches for the patient who wants a completely natural method for the restoration and management of health, vitality and longevity.

We invite you to come in for a free 15-minute consultation so that we can discuss what we can do for you.

Dr. Allene Arnette. DC, LAc

One of the most effective ways to prevent weight gain, bloating and inflammation after all the holiday treats (or any time) is also the easiest. It’s the reason we have teeth. It’s chewing.

That’s right! Chewing your food until it’s in a liquid state before you swallow will prevent you from eating too much food at any one time. You simply cannot eat that much when your stomach and brain have registered the “full” mark. In addition, starting out your meal by eating the protein first, your chances of eating all the sugary foods is reduced.

Chewing your food slowly and thoroughly also increases digestion. Think about the difference between trying to break apart a rock as opposed to breaking down gravel. It would be easier right? It’s much easier on your stomach to accomplish digesting smaller food particles than large ones.  As you’re chewing, the natural enzymes in your food are also released, aiding in the release and distribution of the nutrients in your food. Technically, this is the reason we eat. Eating provides our bodies with the essential nutrients it needs to live.

Rebecca Rebmann, CTN
Certified Traditional Naturopath

Healing Tip of the Week
Here are some strategies you can practice through the holidays and beyond:

1. Chew your food until its liquid before swallowing.
2. Chew each bite 20 times.
3. Don’t swallow your food at all. Let it completely breakdown and dissolve in your mouth.

Some oils are better to cook with, and other oils are better to eat without heating. Oils that are highly processed and very perishable easily become rancid when heated. Rancid oils may contribute to oxidative stress and damaging free radicals in your body. Vegetable oils, including soybean oil, canola oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil and corn oil, amongst others, fall in this category. Thus, they’re not generally the best choice for eating or heating.

Sesame oil, on the other hand, is stable and filled with antioxidants. It can be heated to a fairly high temperature without damaging the oil. Extra virgin olive oil, like sesame oil, is mostly monounsaturated fats, and it’s been shown to increase good (HDL) cholesterol. However, olive oil is extremely perishable, so it’s not good for cooking. Instead, it’s best when drizzled on salads, cold dishes and for dipping. One school of thought says it’s OK to cook with basic olive oil, but not extra virgin olive oil. Personally, I prefer to avoid cooking with olive oil at all, since there are other readily available and delicious oils to cook with. I stick to keeping my olive oil in a glass container in a cool, dry place, and I eat it when it’s cool.

So, what about coconut oil? Coconut oil is a saturated fat, which is why it has a bad rep. However, it’s very stable, and it contains a type of saturated fat called medium-chain triglycerides. These medium chain fats are great for the immune system, intestinal health and may support weight management. And, it won’t get damaged during the heating process. Some fat is actually good for us.

Those are the main oils generally in question. If there are others you’re concerned about, do a little research or comment on this blog, and I’ll check it out for you.

Amy LeSage, L.Ac.
Licensed Acupuncturist

Healing Tip of the Week
Here is a quick list of cooking oils from www.livingpaleo.com:
High heat/frying/browning: Coconut oil, palm oil, ghee (clarified butter)
Medium heat/light sautéing: Olive oil (not extra virgin), sesame seed oil, hazelnut nut oil, pistachio nut oil
Low heat/baking: Pumpkin oil, sunflower oil
No heat: Fish oil, flax seed oil, cod liver oil, hemp seed oil, oils mentioned above

PROS: The days of doing endless bicep curls and sit-ups are over. Those types of exercises relied on isolating specific muscles, one-by-one, and working them separately. Our bodies don’t work this way. There never is a situation in real life where we need to use just one muscle completely isolated from the rest of the body. So, why should we train that way? We shouldn’t, and these new types of workouts support just that. They train multiple muscles, and take us through complex full body movements more similar to what we encounter in daily life.

The days of running at the same speed on a treadmill for hours on end are over as well. Research has shown workouts that incorporate a higher intensity workout for a smaller duration of time are more effective for building lean muscle mass and dropping fat mass. These new exercise systems use this to their advantage. Cross-Fit, for example, has some workouts that only last 10 minutes, but you’re pushing your body very hard for that time.

CONS: Here at the center we’re seeing an increase in the casualties of a Cross-Fit or boot camp workout gone bad. In a group or non-supervised setting, it’s easy for someone who is not doing exercises correctly to go unnoticed. This, coupled with exercising to total fatigue, can result in poor biomechanics, which leads to injuries. A common example is hurting hips, knees or ankles from doing incorrect squats. A squat is a very complex movement that many people can’t perform correctly their first workout. These people should be doing easier exercises on the floor that eventually build them into a proper squatting pattern. There is a saying that says, “First move well, and then move often.” With many of these types of systems, the focus is more on how many reps you can perform rather than how well you can do the movements.

The Take Home: These new systems are very progressive with their incorporation of the latest research in exercise physiology. There are precautions that need to be taken before starting a program to avoid injury. Proper build-up work needs to be done prior to doing the high intensity, complex movements. At AWC, the rehab department does movement screens to pre-screen for potential weaknesses and injury. Addressing these problems before they become painful will result in saved time down the line.

Paul Fuhrman, DC
Doctor of Chiropractic

Healing Tip of the Week
If you’re contemplating starting one of these workouts (or already have), and noticed pain, come into the Advanced Wellness Center for a Free Movement Screen performed by myself. This offer is good until the end of November 2011.

To me, liver disease seemed much more important than a “lose some weight and see me in six months.” And at my young age (early 30s), there was no way I was going to begin a lifetime of popping daily pills. I was sure there had to be an alternative. So, I fought it the way any young person would. I Googled it.

I went home and did some research. I quickly found the Advanced Wellness Center (AWC) in the rankings for my local search. After checking out the website, I had no reason not to give them a shot. I called and made an appointment with Sese Novas, DC.

Dr. Novas asked me a lot about my lifestyle and developed an in-depth grasp of my health issues. She also went over my lab exams and gave me a better understanding of what the results showed.

She really woke me up and made me realize what I was doing to myself. Her advice made me want to better my life. And this was all within the first couple of minutes of my consultation. Even before any treatment.

Dr. Novas made several chiropractic adjustments to help alleviate some pains I had been having. Her advice and treatment really helped me get to the root of the problem and showed me how to cure myself through my everyday life. Also, she referred me to Dhannel, an acupuncturist at the AWC, and she helped immensely!

Four months after I began treatment at the Advanced Wellness Center, I went back to my physician for a “progress report.” The results were amazing!

I had lost 35 lbs.
My blood pressure was normal.
My cholesterol was well balanced.
And best of all, my liver enzymes were back to normal and there was no sign of disease.

My physician was absolutely astonished and said she had never seen such an amazing turnaround.

Thanks to Dr. Novas and the Advanced Wellness Center, I am now living a much healthier, happier life. She inspired me to get back into running and now I am back to being fit and running 5-6 days a week.

The Advanced Wellness Center helped me help myself. They helped me save my life.

An increased sense of awareness is a great start to more clearly understand the causes of an anxious state. Lao Tzu, an ancient Chinese philosopher, stated, “When one is depressed they are living in the past, and when one is anxious, one is living in the future”. Here we can see how the busy mind and feelings of increased needs can cause the body’s nervous system to react. Moving away from this state and being more still with ones own self can guide one to more peace.

Through Chinese medicine, we can further understand how our emotions have a direct affect on our physical body. Acupuncture, Chinese herbs, food and lifestyle cultivation are great ways to calm anxiety and provide relaxation for the mind and body.

Vincent Koeller, L.Ac.
Licensed Acupuncturist

Healing Tip of the Week
Here are some helpful tips when experiencing anxiety:

• Avoid alcohol and caffeine.
• Evaluate your to-do list. Overwhelming to-do lists can create a great deal of anxiety.
• Exercise:
  
  • Light yoga
  • Even breathing
  • Goal oriented workout routines
  • Moving the body and feeling fluid
• Increase quiet time:
  
  • Baths
  • Meditation
  • Walking in nature
  • Watching a movie

The labels they put on eggs can be deceiving. When I first realized what all of them actually meant, I was shocked! There are 5 typical classifications: organic, vegetarian-fed, cage-free, free-range, and pastured (not pasteurized).

The first, organic, seemingly would be the best for you. However, this only means that the chicken’s food is free of harmful chemicals. It speaks nothing to how the chickens were raised. Vegetarian-fed chickens are only given grains for their diet. This seems like it would be healthy except for the fact that chickens need to get protein from grubs and bugs. So, this term also means that the chickens do not have access to the pasture. Next up are the cage-free hens, which sounds very humane. Unfortunately, these chickens are not confined to their cages, but usually are left in a dark barn. Not a very good place to roam and find nourishing things to eat.  A step up from cage-free is the free-range chicken. These lucky birds not only get access to roam around the dark barn, but also can go out to the yard, where they can stand on a fenced-in piece of dirt or cement. This was definitely not what I thought free-range meant. Lastly, the pastured chicken makes its appearance. I didn’t even know this was an option until recently. Pastured means that the chickens are free to roam through the pasture, so they’re grass fed. They can eat the grubs and bugs they were meant to, in addition to the food they are given. This type of egg usually comes from small farms that sell their product at local farmer’s markets.

So why eat pastured eggs? What difference can there really be? Well, Mother Earth News conducted an egg experiment in 2007 to see what the differences really were. In comparison to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data for commercial eggs, pastured eggs contained: ⅓ less cholesterol, ¼ less saturated fat, ⅔ more vitamin A, 3 times more omega-3 fatty acids, 3 times more vitamin E, and 7 times more beta-carotene.

Personally, I’d rather get more bang for my buck. I’ll be making my next egg purchase at my local farmer’s market.

Source: Pathways Magazine, Jeanne Ohm, DC

Kristin Shay, DC
Doctor of Chiropractic

Healing Tip of the Week
Pastured eggs are a healthier, more humane choice. If you love eggs like I love eggs, try pastured eggs. You can usually find them at local farmer’s markets. And, while you’re there, you can pick up some fresh, locally grown vegetables and fruits.

Only recently has a study been conducted with MRI brain scans to measure how meditation actually changes the brain. So far, the studies have found that meditation increased gray matter in the hippocampus, an area of the brain important for learning and memory. Images also showed a reduction of gray matter in the amygdala, the region connected to anxiety and stress. A control group that didn’t meditate showed no such changes.

The style of meditation practiced for the study is called, mindfulness meditation. Its roots are in Buddhist techniques. The idea is to focus attention in the here and now and keep the mind from wandering. For example, participants would focus on breathing, or emotions or thoughts, while observing body sensations.

The study’s lead author, Britta Holzel, a psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, says the results are still preliminary, but there is something there.

Other studies on meditation have suggested that meditation may reduce blood pressure in patients with coronary artery disease and that meditators have longer attention spans.

While MRI brain scans are still in the preliminary phases of studying meditation, centuries of meditators already know the results. And, if something stands the test of time, only to be proven beneficial again and again, it must be worth some exploration.

Source: “How Meditation May Change the Brain,” New York Times, Jan. 28, 2001

Amy LeSage, L.Ac., Dipl. O.M.
Licensed Acupuncturist, Diplomate, Oriental Medicine

Healing Tip of the Week
Write yourself a mantra, such as, “I am happy, joyous and free.” Spend five to 10 minutes per day sitting with your focused attention on your mantra. Each time your mind wanders (and it will), refocus your attention on your mantra. Do this for 21 days in a row. See how it affects your attitude and your well being. Remember, mindfulness is a practice. Be patient with yourself and enjoy.

Interval Training
Here’s an example: Walk at your normal pace for 1 to 2 minutes, then speed-walk for 30 to 60 seconds. Repeat the sequence 10 to 15 times. According to an Australian study, women who did intervals while they were biking lost three times as much fat as those who worked out at a steady pace.

Build Muscle
Adding just 5 pounds of muscle to your body can burn up to 150 more calories per day without even working out those muscles, according to Kristin McGee, a trainer and Pilates instructor.

Eat a Big Breakfast
Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. A couple of tips for breakfast: Take your first bite of food within the first 30 minutes of waking up and make your first food of the day protein and vegetables – not a carbohydrate. This will help maintain your blood sugar. The more balanced your blood sugar, the more balanced your energy throughout the day and the less you crave carbohydrates. That could lead to healthier eating habits. Try it.

Water, Water, Water
Drink about half your body weight in ounces of water per day. While some report that drinking COLD water will cause a slight surge in metabolic rate, the increase is just that, slight. In the Chinese medicine world, it is more likely that ice or ice water, or anything cold, will slow down the digestive system. So, as a compromise, just drinking the right amount of room-temp water for your body weight will hydrate you and help your body function more efficiently.

Source: WomansDay.com

Amy LeSage, LAc, Dipl. OM
Licensed Acupuncturist, Diplomate, Oriental Medicine

Healing Tip of the Week
Take your first bite of food within the first 30 minutes of waking up, and make your first food of the day protein and vegetables – not a carbohydrate. This will help keep your blood sugar more balanced throughout the day.