Healthy Weight Loss

Do you want to reboot your system and eliminate bloating, and lose weight?  Toxins, enzyme inefficiency and food intolerance can be the culprit. Give your system a rest from digesting processed and toxic foods and nourish your liver and gastrointestinal tract.  The result will be newfound energy and clarity and a slimmer, trimmer body.  Just like you weed, seed, fertilize and till your garden to prepare for planting, you can do the same for your body in order to plant seeds of health and vitality.

We hold on to weight to avoid releasing the build up of toxins. Many of the foods you eat have traces of herbicides, pesticides, preservatives, dyes and chemicals and processed ingredients that are not found in nature.  They are stored in your fat and released as you lose weight.

You may not have sufficient digestive enzymes to handle the load this creates on your body and bloating can result from undigested or partially digested food. Antibiotics found in foods, decreases the healthy bacteria in your gut.  These unnatural substances build up over time and contribute to your digestive and detoxification systems not working as efficiently as they should.

Some foods are more likely to cause allergies or subtle effects of intolerance such as headaches, muscle aches, swelling, mucous, bloating, fatigue, lack of clarity and more.  Eliminating these foods and providing nutrients to nourish the gastrointestinal tract and liver can give your system the rest and rejuvenation it needs to make you feel so much better.

• Weed out foods most likely to cause intolerance or allergy – grains with gluten, dairy and processed foods, peanuts, tree nuts such as Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, almonds and walnuts and eggs, soy and shellfish
• Seed your gut with probiotics -healthy bacteria that are essential for a healthy immune system.  Choose a supplement with several types of strains of Lactobacillus, Bifidus and Saccharomyces boulardi
• Feed your body with nutrients that support growth of healthy bacteria such as fructose oligosaccharides (FOS) and aid liver detoxification such as N-cetyl cysteine, L glutamine, high antioxidant vegetable extract blend,(what is this) fiber and alpha lipoic acid.  The best liver detoxifiers are dandelion, milk thistle (silymarin), artichoke leaf, and yellow dock root extract.
• Add or replace enzymes that help your digestion with supplements containing betaine, pepsin, bromelain, and pancreatin (a combination of amylase, lipase and protease).
• Eat organic, especially the “dirty dozen”: Apples, bell pepper, celery, cherries, grapes, lettuce, nectarines, peaches, pear, potato, spinach, and strawberries.

There are many products on the market that contain these ingredients in powders and capsules, however the quality of the supplements can make a difference. A body cleanse does not mean eliciting diarrhea and it does not mean fasting.  Cleansing means eating healthy, toxin and preservative free foods, decreasing irritants, enhancing elimination and supporting your body with nutrients to heal.  But, be sure to choose high quality supplements that support both the liver and gastrointestinal tract and consult with your healthcare provider regarding the products that are most appropriate for you.

Lorraine Maita, MD is an award winning physician, speaker and author of “Vibrance for Life: How to Live Younger and Healthier”. She is an expert in anti aging medicine, bioidentical hormone replacement, weight loss, nutrition, supplements and executive health.  She has a private practice in Anti Aging Medicine www.howtoliveyounger.com  in Short Hills, NJ.  You can live younger and healthier; Click Here to Get my Best 7 Tips on How to Live Younger and Healthier!

Statins

You need it to make every cell in your body, hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol and DHEA , as well as, Vitamin D and bile acids. Wouldn’t you say that these are essential to life? Not having enough cholesterol to make these essential hormones, bile and vitamins can put you in danger. Many of the diseases that middle-aged persons begin experiencing including depression, abdominal weight gain, prostate, breast and heart disease are directly related to hormone imbalances.

The recommendations have been to keep cholesterol low to protect you from heart disease. It is questionable whether it has had the desired effect on heart disease since that has many factors besides cholesterol as its cause. There are at least 14 independent risk factors that cause arteries to narrow as we age. While high LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and total cholesterol are two of these causes, the other 12 factors also have to be controlled to maintain lifelong healthy blood flow. What the medical community and media are finally recognizing is that levels that are too low can cause harm.

The most popular drug class that is used to lower it, statins, can have some harmful effects. While I don’t recommend stopping your medications completely, I do recommend finding the underlying cause, correcting it and using some lifestyle and natural means to get it to a reasonable level with or without the use of drugs. If you must take a drug, use the lowest dose to achieve the desired result.

Cholesterol can become elevated due to a variety of factors:

• Genetic
• Inflammation
• Oxidation
• Sedentary Lifestyle
• Diet
• Smoking
• Hormone imbalance

Correcting the underlying factors stated above, may allow you to stop or lower your dose. If you don’t have many risk factors for heart disease, your cholesterol levels may not need to be too low., If you have many risk factors for heart disease keep your LDL level around 100 but not less than 70 and a total cholesterol level between 200 and 180. Consult your doctor for the levels that are right for you.

Cholesterol levels that are too low can increase:

• Overall increased rate of death or mortality
• Suicidal behavior
• Depression
• Stroke due to bleeding
• Cancer

Statin drugs

• Brand names ending in “or” such as:  Crestor, Lipitor, Zocor, etc
• Generic names ending in “statin” such as:  rosuvastatin, atorvastatin, simvastatin etc.
• Some not so well known side effects of statin drugs:
  • Memory loss
  • Increased risk of diabetes
  • Depletion of coenzyme Q 10 (otherwise known as ubiquinone, ubiquinol, CoQ10)
  • Fatigue, decreased exercise endurance
  • Muscle pain, muscle breakdown, cramps
  • Liver and kidney toxicity
  • Low thyroid function

Lifestyle, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory food and supplements, low saturated fat diet, increasing Omega 3 fatty acids,exercise and hormone replacement and balance can dramatically lower your cholesterol. It’s more work than just taking a pill, however the benefits are longevity with a quality of life that can keep you slim, sharp, sexy, strong and supercharged. Learn more from my blogs, newsletters, books and programs at www.vibranceforlife.com

Lorraine Maita, MD is an award winning physician, speaker and author of “Vibrance for Life: How to Live Younger and Healthier”. She is an expert in anti aging medicine, bioidentical hormone replacement, weight loss, nutrition, supplements and executive health.  She has a private practice in Anti Aging Medicine www.howtoliveyounger.com in Short Hills, NJ.  You can live younger and healthier; Click Here to Get my Best 7 Tips on How to Live Younger and Healthier!

Super Food

Who would have guessed this non sexy, oldie but goodie food can be so beneficial to your health and can be the best cure for what ails you. Fiber is a complex carbohydrate that has the parts of plants that cannot be digested. It is composed of both soluble and insoluble forms. Soluble fiber draws water into the bowel and slows digestion: oats, barley, psyllium. It is fermented in the colon. Insoluble fiber is not fermented or digested and absorbs water and helps move your bowels. Soluble fiber seems to have the greater health benefit and the good news is that it also has insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber has the best of both and usually is in foods that have a lot of nutrients.

The usual intake in the SAD or Standard American Diet is only 15 grams! If you eat over 35 grams, you can be anti aging by reducing chronic diseases such as:

• Coronary Artery Disease
• High Blood Pressure
• Stroke
• High Cholesterol
• Constipation
• Hemorrhoids
• Diverticulosis
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Chron’s Disease
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Weight Control
• Blood Sugar Control
• Colon Cancer
• Reflux
• Diabetes

A little goes a long way!

• Only a 10 gram increase will result in a 14% decrease in cardiovascular effect and 27% decrease in risk of death from heart disease.
• Adding an additional 14 grams is associated with a 4-pound weight loss. It makes you feel full and curbs your appetite
• Fiber slows down the absorption of sugar and decreases belly fat.
• Soluble fiber decreases bile acids and lowers cholesterol reducing your need for cholesterol lowering medication.
• Fiber also balances hormones and blood sugar.
• All of these benefits are anti aging and prevent or reverse chronic illness.

It moves you!

• It is a gentle and natural laxative and lightens your load.

While all that I listed has both soluble and insoluble fiber, here are good sources:

• Soluble fiber: legumes such as peas, lentils and kidney beans, fruits especially apples, pear, oranges, berries and prunes, oats, rye, chia seeds, barley, vegetables such as broccoli and carrots
• Insoluble fiber: whole grains, bran, nuts (raw, unsalted), seeds, flax, hemp, peels of fruits

Novel sources:

• Chia seeds: Soak in water or almond or coconut milk and add cinammon and a slight touch of stevia to make porridge. They are an excellent source of fiber and Omega 3 fatty acids. You can also sprinkle them in shakes, yogurt and cereal.
• Quinoa: It is not only high in fiber; quinoa is a complete protein, meaning that it includes all nine essential amino acids and is an excellent source of magnesium and manganese. You can use this as a side dish instead of rice or make a hot cereal. Cooked quinoa seeds are fluffy and creamy, yet slightly crunchy with a nutty flavor. Quinoa is gluten free and high in vitamins and minerals.

Supplements:

• Look for supplements with beta glucan and psyllium to get all of these beneficial effects: laxative, lower cholesterol, blood pressure, weight and blood sugar as well as reduction in heart disease.

Start slowly and increase gradually. Drink plenty of fluid. Fill up with fiber for a fabulous cure.

Lorraine Maita, MD is an award winning physician, speaker and author of “Vibrance for Life: How to Live Younger and Healthier”. She is an expert in anti aging medicine, bioidentical hormone replacement, weight loss, nutrition, supplements and executive health.  She has a private practice in Anti Aging Medicine www.howtoliveyounger.com  in Short Hills, NJ.  You can live younger and healthier!

Seasonal Affective Disorder

• Weight gain and increased appetite
• Increased sleep and daytime sleepiness
• Less energy and ability to concentrate in the afternoon
• Loss of interest in work or other activities
• Slow, sluggish, lethargic movement
• Social withdrawal
• Unhappiness and irritability

Populations such as Icelandic and Japanese that eat a lot of fish did not get symptoms like populations that did not eat as much fish. Fish contain a high amount of Vitamin D and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) found in algae. DHA is a component of fish oil that is acceptable for vegetarians. DHA has also been shown to help with a variety of neurological dysfunctions. However, the combination of EPA and DHA or EPA alone has been shown to be more beneficial for depression.

Studies show Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is more common when vitamin D stores are typically low. Although light therapy with full spectrum light at 10,000 lux has been a standard treatment for decades, Vitamin D therapy has been shown to be more effective for treating depression. Other studies suggest that high doses of supplemental vitamin D may improve mild depressive symptoms. Other studies have suggested that low levels of vitamin D are associated with poor mood.

So if the long dark nights make you blue:

• Get sunlight for at least 30 minutes a day
• Use a full spectrum 10,000 lux light for 30 minutes a day
• Take adequate Vitamin D 3 (cholecalciferol)–The blood level of 25 OH Vitamin D is optimal when it is 60-80 ng/ml
• Take at least 1,000 mg of EPA/DHA fish oil (add up the EPA and DHA)

As with any general advice, consult your doctor to be certain this regimen is safe for you. It is possible to beat the winter blues.

Lorraine Maita, MD is an award winning physician, speaker and author of “Vibrance for Life: How to Live Younger and Healthier”. She is an expert in anti aging medicine, bioidentical hormone replacement, weight loss, nutrition, supplements and executive health.  She has a private practice in Anti Aging Medicine in Short Hills, NJ.  You can live younger and healthier; Click Here to Get my Tips on How to Live Younger and Healthier!

Agave plant

People have turned to artificial sweeteners to satisfy their sweet tooth in an effort to avoid weight gain and blood sugar spikes, however all but stevia have been shown to have negative health effects. Many people believe that Agave is safer. It’s been marketed as a natural, whole raw food sweetener. What about it?

Agave is processed. Because it is processed at low temperatures, it is marketed as a raw food. Dr. Ingrid Kohlstadt, a fellow of the American College of Nutrition and an associate faculty member at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health commented, “Agave is almost all fructose, highly processed sugar with great marketing.” Fully chemically processed sap from the agave plant is known as hydrolyzed high fructose inulin syrup. Sound familiar? It doesn’t differ much from high fructose corn syrup except for its source. Fructose is a source of fuel that your liver converts to fat and cholesterol.  Because it doesn’t affect insulin and leptin – hormones that regulate appetite, it can contribute to overeating and weight gain. It is also not lower in calories. Agave syrup is about 16 calories per teaspoon, the same as table sugar.

Substantial differences in total antioxidant content of different sweeteners were found. Refined sugar, corn syrup, and agave nectar contained minimal antioxidant activity, maple syrup, brown sugar, and honey showed intermediate antioxidant capacity and raw cane sugar was slightly higher. Dark and blackstrap molasses had the highest antioxidant activity.

All Agave is not created equal. It would be difficult for the average consumer to know how it is processed and the concentration of fructose in their agave, so it’s best to avoid it. If you must have something sweet, stick to raw, unprocessed honey, maple syrup or cane sugar in moderation.

Lorraine Maita, MD is an award winning physician, speaker and author of “Vibrance for Life: How to Live Younger and Healthier”. She is an expert in anti aging medicine, bioidentical hormone replacement, weight loss, nutrition, supplements and executive health.  She has a private practice in Anti Aging Medicine www.howtoliveyounger.com  in Short Hills, NJ.  You can live younger and healthier; Click Here to Get my Best 7 Tips on How to Live Younger and Healthier!

With Thanksgiving coming and all of the holiday stress upon us, it serves as a reminder that gratitude or giving thanks for what we do have is a cause for celebration. Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible, big or small. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives. In the process, people usually recognize that the source of that goodness lies at least partially outside them and helps them connect to something larger than themselves as individuals — whether to other people, nature, or a higher power.

Dr. George Valiant, a respected Harvard psychiatrist and author of the book,  “Aging Well: Surprising Guideposts to a Happier Life” from the Landmark Harvard Study of Adult Development says: “Aging well: it can be done. Dr. Vaillant suggests that successful aging means giving to others joyously whenever one is able; receiving from others, gratefully, whenever one needs it; and being capable of personal development in between.”

1)      In positive aging, healthy individuals demonstrate characteristics of maturity (e.g., forgiveness, gratitude, and joy).

2)      Healthy aging suggests issues related to quantity as well as quality.

3)      Graceful aging is demonstrated by a simple acceptance of one’s fate in a genuine, affable, and socially connected way.

Vaillant concludes that the paradox of life is that the past may predict but never determines old age: life can be disturbingly wonderful. “Gratitude is almost always more fun than spite or regret” Let’s give thanks for whatever we can, no matter how big or how small, and add some years to our lives.

Lorraine Maita, MD is an award winning physician, speaker and author of “Vibrance for Life: How to Live Younger and Healthier”. She is an expert in anti aging medicine, bioidentical hormone replacement, weight loss, nutrition, supplements and executive health.  She has a private practice in Anti Aging Medicine www.howtoliveyounger.com in Short Hills, NJ.  You can live younger and healthier; Click Here to Get my Best 7 Tips on How to Live Younger and Healthier!

Glutathione

Because free radicals are so destructive, cells have a network of defenses designed to neutralize them and Glutathione is very important in this line of defense.

As you age, your body’s ability to produce glutathione decreases.

Glutathione is comprised of three amino acids: cysteine, glutamate, and glycine and is an essential factor in energy utilization, detoxification, and preventing the diseases we associate with aging. Glutathione deficiency has been linked to:

• Age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
• Coronary and autoimmune diseases
• Arthritis, asthma and other inflammatory conditions
• Cancer
• Mitochondrial dysfunction
• Muscle weakness and fatigue

Enhancing glutathione production may strengthen your immune system in a way that will shield you from many of the adverse effects of aging.

Getting more glutathione

Most oral glutathione supplements have been shown to be poorly absorbed so you have to boost production in other ways

• Alpha lipoic acid supplementation is known to regenerate glutathione and also helps to regenerate vitamins C and E so that they remain active longer in your body.
• Vitamin D increases intracellular glutathione
• N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) is a component of glutathione and supplements can raise levels
• Nutrition plays a role and nutritious foods can naturally boost glutathione levels such as:

• Whey protein is the top food for maximizing glutathione. Ideally it should  be cold pressed derived from grass fed cows, and free of hormones, chemicals and sugar. Quality whey provides all the key amino acids for glutathione production (cysteine, glycine and glutamate) .

• Raw milk products, raw eggs and meat are good sources but this comes with risk.It is almost entirely absent in pasteurized dairy products.
• Fresh fruits and vegetables such as spinach, asparagus, avocado, squash, okra, cauliflower, broccoli, walnuts, garlic and tomatoes have the highest glutathione per serving, but once cooked, values become negligible. .
• The herb milk thistle is an excellent source of the antioxidant compound silymarin, which may help to prevent glutathione depletion in the liver. Glutathione is crucial in the liver for detoxification and can become depleted from acetaminophen (Tylenol), alcohol consumption, and general toxic overload.
• Curcumin may also be useful for increasing glutathione levels.

To keep your health and wellness and quality of life at it’s best, keep glutathione levels high by increasing factors that boost your glutathione and decreasing factors that lower it. The things that deplete your glutathione the fastest are chemicals, toxins and sugar.

Lorraine Maita, MD is an award winning physician, speaker and author of “Vibrance for Life: How to Live Younger and Healthier”. She is an expert in anti aging medicine, bioidentical hormone replacement, weight loss, nutrition, supplements and executive health.  She has a private practice in Anti Aging Medicine www.howtoliveyounger.com in Short Hills, NJ.  You can live younger and healthier; Click Here to Get my Best 7 Tips on How to Live Younger and Healthier!

I had no power or phone at home or work and was trying to run a business and respond to patient requests from Starbucks and the libraries (those that were open). It was a challenge trying to find a power source to keep my phone and computer charged, as they had become my lifeline to communicate with the world. I got to meet many people going through much worse. Since I read and write a lot about stress management, I thought I would share the tried and true tips that I used. My situation was minor but I had been through much, much worse at times in my life. I know people are going through far worse and don’t want to minimize their pain and suffering.

Acceptance: I always go back to the Serenity Prayer. “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.” We couldn’t change the fact that there was no power but many of us formed community in Starbucks by sharing power outlets and making room for people to charge up. Random acts of kindness can take the sting out of wounds. Knowing others are going through the same thing can build bonds.

Attitude: Make a decision to make the best of things. With a refrigerator and freezer full of food that would have been thrown out, neighbors and I had community barbecues and long candlelight dinners with great conversation, food and laughter. We created a stronger community bond. All of us made the best of it by walking at night in groups with flashlights, enjoyed what we could of some sunshine and tried our best to take care of what was essential. At night, the absolute silence and darkness was an ideal time to meditate, stretch, and practice yoga and deep, healing breathing.

Gratitude: Someone always has it better or worse. Comparison can help or hurt. I consider myself lucky that I didn’t lose my house and all of my belongings and was grateful for that and was able to see this as an inconvenience that will pass. Those who suffered devastating losses cope with the fact that they and their families are alive and well and things are replaceable. As hard as it may be, find something you are grateful for and focus on that.

Compassion: Having compassion for yourself and others, lending a helping hand and giving back to those who are in need sends forth a positive energy and can be healing and give a sense of control.

Let’s reach out to those who need help and find something to be grateful for.

A takeaway is if you add up the pounds over a 10-year period, French fries tops the list and can add on 10 pounds and the others will add on less. A combination of these can really pack on pounds.  So waist away by eliminating or cutting back on these foods, add more vegetables and shed those pounds. If you still can’t lose, consult a doctor who specializes in metabolic medicine to help you.

Lorraine Maita, MD is an award winning physician, speaker and author of “Vibrance for Life: How to Live Younger and Healthier”. She is a consultant to corporations wanting to improve the health and productivity of employees and has a private practice in Anti Aging Medicine in Short Hills, NJ. You can live younger and healthier, buy “Vibrance for Life: How to Live Younger and Healthier” and make an appointment for a consultation at my website, How to Live Younger; Please click on Vibrance For Life to purchase my book now!

Straight from Jaime Oliver’s website is the following:

“Any trimmings that can’t be used as edible beef get sent to a rendering plant where everything is turned into dog food. But that’s not always the case.

Those last bits of meat are processed and washed in a water and ammonia solution to kill the salmonella among other things. After it is all minced, up to 15 percent of this “pink slime” is allowed to be put into ground beef. They don’t even have to mention the ammonia on the labels. It seems the only way to get true ground beef is to actually watch the butcher grind it!”

As I learn more and more about food processing, I am appalled that we really don’t know what we are eating. When my patients bring me a list of the foods they eat, they seem fine, however some contain preservatives, herbicides, pesticides or other chemicals or are treated, decontaminated or processed with salt and fillers that are foreign to our digestive, enzymes and detoxification systems. These are sometimes responsible for many of the symptoms my patients complain about.

Symptoms of food intolerance are not always allergic or gastrointestinal. Aches and pains, depression, weight gain and fatigue along with or without gas, bloating are typical. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, go back to a cave man or elimination diet, eat whole unprocessed foods and see if there is a difference.  There is a lot more to know about good nutrition. To find out how food can help or heal, read “Vibrance for Life: How to Live Younger and Healthier.”

Lorraine Maita, MD is an award winning physician, speaker and author of “Vibrance for Life: How to Live Younger and Healthier”. She is a consultant to corporations wanting to improve the health and productivity of employees and has a private practice in Anti Aging Medicine in Short Hills, NJ. You can live younger and healthier, buy “Vibrance for Life: How to Live Younger and Healthier” and make an appointment for a consultation at my website, How to Live Younger; Please click on Vibrance For Life to purchase my book now!