Dr. Rod's Blog

Why Ideal Protein Diet Works

2012-01-31T05:54:00.001-08:00

WHY WE ARE SUCCESSFUL

Any hypo-caloric diet (low calorie diet) will result in weight loss and most popular programs base their protocols on a "balanced diet". If we take the standard USDA recommendations of approximately 60% of calories derived from "good carbohydrates", 25% from protein and 15% from "healthy fats" and cut the amounts in half (keeping the ratio of macronutrients the same), we will have a "balanced diet" with one-half the calories.....and people will lose weight. But there are a few problems with this seemingly logical approach.

First, if we continue to replenish some of the glycogen stores every day (60% of calories coming from carbohydrates, most of which will be converted to glucose in vivo) our fat-burning will stop until that has been depleted. This will lead to an erratic weight loss. Second, and more importantly, decreasing the minimal daily requirements of protein will lead to muscle loss. As blood glucose drops (from the hypo-caloric intake) the body will burn fat but will also break down muscle via gluconeogenesis as a way to maintain proper glucose homeostasis. As we lose muscle our metabolism slows, also the heart is a muscle and losing some of its mass is not a good thing (remember the Phen-Fen diet?). Now, when these folks have achieved their goal weight, what is the predictable result? They go back to eating "normal size" meals but their metabolism is slower and they regain the weight, often times ending up heavier than when they started the diet.

Our protocol takes a different track - for a relatively short time we will use an "unbalanced diet". We keep the minimum daily protein requirement the same (roughly 1/2 gram of protein per pound of lean body weight) and build the diet around this. Understand, this is not a "HIGH PROTEIN DIET". We give only the minimum and we do this to spare the muscle. Loss of muscle is unacceptable to us during a diet. Next, if we want to lose fat it is logical that we would eliminate most fats from the diet (but giving ample amounts of essential fatty acids). Now we are left with carbohydrates. Because we do not want to replace glycogen stores, we keep these at a bare minimum, approximately 30 grams per day. This forces the body to stay in the "fat-burning mode" 24 hours a day and is therefore called a "ketogenic diet". Our dieters will consume four cups of non-starchy vegetables and 2 green salads daily. This will provide fiber to prevent constipation and they will be given a multi-vitamin, calcium, magnesium, potassium and sea salt to ensure proper electrolyte balance. We only provide what they would normally be getting from food groups that we are temporarily taking away (i.e. dairy, fruits and grains).

This protocol will consistently cause people to lose not just weight but FAT and RESTORE your metabolism so you will be burning calories long after you are off of the diet. This is why Ideal Protein is know as "Your Last Diet". Call today to set up your free consultation 561.313.9117

Achilles Tendon Injuries and Active Release Technique

2012-01-18T12:26:00.000-08:00

Here is a great article about Achilles Tendon injuries and how they can be helped with Active Release Technique (ART):

http://www.activerelease.net/articles/art_spotlight15.asp

How to stay focused on your goals

2012-01-10T14:16:00.001-08:00

Ok, so its almost 2 weeks out from your New Years Resolution. How have you been doing? Still going to the gym? Staying away from those late night Ben and Jerry’s cravings? I hope so. Don’t give in, it is shown that the more that you resist temptation the stronger your brain synapses become. Just say no! Here are some more tips to help you keep on task in 2012.

The policeman of your brain is the prefrontal cortex (PFC). This is the area associated with focus, judgment and impulse control. It acts as the brains brake and fights back against cravings and temptation. There are many times when emotions can take over and the PFC cannot control them. In a healthy brain, there is good judgment and emotional control by the PFC. Healthy levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine lead to good activity in the PFC. Low levels of dopamine are associated with certain problems that rob us of motivation, such as Parkinson’s disease, some forms of depression and ADD. Addictions occur when the drive circuits hijack the brain and take over control.

When dopamine levels and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) are in balance, we can be focused and goal oriented and have control over our cravings; we can walk away from caramel apples, chocolate cake, the bag of chips, French fries, and the myriad of other unhealthy choices. When these chemicals and brain areas are troubled, we often get off track and can do serious damage to ourselves.

For example, having low activity in the PFC from a head injury, poor sleep, persistent drug or alcohol use, or inheriting ADD, makes it more likely you will have impulse-control problems and poor self-supervision. Even though the goal would be to stop drinking, hold off on the cigarettes, or maintain a healthy weight, you do not have the willpower (or the PFC power) to say no on a regular basis.

Here are some tips to regaining control and balancing your brain systems

1. Boost your prefrontal cortex (PFC)

To gain control over willpower and cravings, it is critical to strengthen your PFC. To do so:

Treat any PFC problems that may exist, such as ADD, toxic exposure, or brain trauma.

Get good sleep – at least seven hours, more is better – to maintain adequate PFC bloodflow.

Maintain a healthy blood sugar level by eating frequent smaller meals. A 2007 article by Matthew Gailliot and Roy Baumeister, the authors outline the crucial nature of blood sugar levels and self-control. They write that self-control failures are more likely to occur when blood sugar is low. Low blood sugar levels can make you feel hungry, irritable, or anxious – all which make you more likely to make poor choices. Many everyday behaviors can cause dips in blood sugar levels, including drinking alcohol, skipping meals, and consuming sugary snacks or beverages, which causes an initial spike in blood sugar and a crash about 30 minutes later. Keeping glucose levels even throughout the day increased self-control.

Several studies have examined the relationship between glucose and smoking cessation, in the majority of these studies it has been found that healthy glucose levels can increase the likelihood of successfully quitting smoking. Coping with stress requires self-control because it requires that people make concerted effort to control their attention, thoughts, and emotions. People with healthy blood sugar levels are therefore also able to manage stress more effectively than others. Maintaining your blood sugar levels with complex carbohydrates, lean protein, and healthy fat will significantly cut down on your cravings.

Exercise - Exercise helps to boost your blood flow to the brain which increases PFC activity.

Practice meditation – numerous studies have found that this activity increases blood flow to the PFC.

Create focused, written goals - The PFC is involved in planning and forethought. It needs clear direction. Dr. Daniel G. Amen, MD has his patients do an exercise called the One Page Miracle (OPM) because it makes such a dramatic difference in the lives of those who practice it.

One Page Miracle (OPM)

Here are the steps: On a piece of paper, write down the specific goals you have for your life, including your health, relationships, work, and money. Your OPM includes more than just your physical goals because your relationships, career, and financial situation – and the stress they can cause – all affect your body and your willpower.

Take your time with this exercise. Keep the paper with you so you can jot down ideas and goals as they come to you. After you complete your initial draft, place it somewhere where you can be sure to see it every day, such as on the refrigerator, on your bathroom, near or on your desk at work. This way, on a daily basis, you'll be focusing on what's important to you. When you're focused on what you want, it makes it much easier to match your behavior to make it happen.

Ask yourself everyday, is my behavior today getting me what I want? Your mind is powerful and it makes happen what it sees. Focus and meditate on what you want. You will find that your willpower goes up dramatically.

Here's an example:

Tamaras one page miracle - What do I want for my life?

Relationships – to be connected to those I love

Spouse/significant other: to maintain a close, kind, caring, loving partnership with my husband. I want him to know how much I care about him.

Family: to be a firm, kind, positive, predictable presence in my children's lives. I want to help them develop into happy, responsible people. To continue to keep close contact with my parents, to provide support and love.

Friends: to take time to maintain and nurture my relationships with my siblings.

Work – to be my best at work, while maintaining a balanced life. Specifically, for my work activities to focus on taking care of my current projects, doing activities targeted at obtaining new clients, and giving back to the community by doing some charity work each month. I will focus on my goals at work and not get distracted by things not directly related to my goals.

Money – to be responsible and thoughtful and help our resources grow.

Short term: to be thoughtful of how our money is spent, to ensure it is directly related to our families and my needs and goals

Long term: to save 10% of everything I earn. I pay myself and my family before other things I'll put this money away each month in a pension plan for retirement.

Health – to be healthiest person I can be

Weight: to lose 30 pounds so my body mass index will be in the normal range

Fitness: exercise for at least 30 minutes three times a week and start taking martial arts lessons.

Nutrition: to eat breakfast every day so I don't get really hungry until lunchtime. To prepare a sack lunch at least three days a week so not tempted to go to fast food restaurants across from work. To eliminate diet sodas and reduce the amount of sugar I eat. To take a multivitamin and fish oil every day.

Physical health: to lower my blood pressure and cholesterol levels

Emotional health: to meditate for 10 minutes every day to help me calm stress

To help ensure success with your goals practice these tips to strengthen your prefrontal cortex (PFC). This is your year to succeed in all aspects of your life!

Dr. Todd Rodman, DC

What Hurts and What Helps The Brain

2012-01-05T08:52:00.000-08:00

Many things hurt the brain and make it harder for you to get and keep the body you’ve always wanted. Many things help the brain and make it easier to get and keep a body you love. You may be surprised to find out that common, everyday activities and behaviors are often the source of brain drain, which makes it more of a challenge to have a body you love. Here are some common things that can hurt your brain and body.

Things that can hurt your brain

Physical trauma – severe injuries, concussions or even mild trauma.

Drugs – Marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamines, inhalants, and heroin seriously decrease brain function. Abusing prescription drugs such as Vicodin, OxyContin, and Xanax, can also hurt the brain.

Alcohol – you don’t have to be a heavy drinker to hurt your brain. Even moderate amounts of alcohol can affect brain functions.

Obesity – Fat stores toxic materials. The more fat you have on your body, the worse for your brain. Obesity doubles the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and has been associated with decreased brain tissue.

Hormonal abnormalities - Abnormalities with your thyroid, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, or cortisol have all been implicated in brain and body problems.

Malnutrition – Junk food diet = Junk food brain. Your body renews all the cells in your body every few months. These new cells draw on all the foods you consume, so you literally are what you eat and digest. Low levels of vitamins, especially Vitamin D, minerals and omega – 3 fatty acids are also harmful to brain tissue and your body.

Chronic inflammation in the body – Chronic inflammation constricts blood flow to the brain and heart and is now thought to be at the center of many diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, obesity and Alzheimer’s disease. Correct this with a diet rich in Omega – 3 fatty acids (Omega 3 rich meal ideas to follow in later blogs)

Chronic stress – high stress leads to high cortisol which increases your appetite for sugar, making you fat, bumps up your skins oil production, making you more prone to pimples, increases muscle tension and chronic pain, increases blood pressure, and raises your risk for many serious health conditions.

Sleep deprivation – getting less than 6 hours of sleep a night lowers overall brain function.

Smoking – smoking constricts blood flow to the brain and all the organs in your body, including your skin. Most people can tell if a person is a smoker because their skin looks older than they are. Their brains looks this way on scans as well. Smoking is linked with many serious brain and health problems.

Too much caffeine – drinking too much caffeinated coffee, tea, soda, or energy beverages restricts blood flow to the brain, dehydrates the brain, body and skin and fools the brain into thinking it does not need to sleep, which are all bad things for your brain and body.

Too much TV – Excessive TV can be harmful to your brain and body. Excessive TV watching has been associated with ADD in children and Alzheimer’s in adults. Watching more that 2 hours of TV per day also significantly increases your risk for obesity.

Dehydration – your body consists of 70 percent water, and your brain is 80 percent water. If you aren’t drinking enough water, you reduce brain function. You can also expect to see thinner skin and more fine lines and wrinkles.

Lack of exercise – When you don’t exercise you decrease blood flow to your brain, your body and your genitals.

Negative thinking – Studies show that focusing on the things you don’t like lowers brain activity, causes your heart to beat faster, increases blood pressure, and negatively affects many systems in your body.

Here are some tips to help you protect and optimize your brain.

Protect You Brain – Be conscious of how precious it is to you and your loved ones

Eat a good diet – getting good nutrition is essential to good brain function and to a better body. A healthy diet include lean protein, fruits, vegetables, nuts and healthy fats like olive oil. Studies show that you brain works better if you eat nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

Take daily vitamins, minerals and fish oil – most of us do not get all the nutrients we need from the foods we eat. It is recommended that everybody take a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement. Also, people should take a daily fish oil supplement, which can decrease inflammation and boost blood flow to the brain and can help to combat depression, which has been associated with being obese as well as many other health conditions.

Exercise – exercise is like the brains fountain of youth. It boosts blood flow, increases the brains use of oxygen and improves your brains response to stress. It is the single most important thing you can do to keep your brain healthy and is one of the best ways to change your shape, improve your mood, energy level and overall health.

Get Enough Sleep – Getting at least seven hours of sleep at night has been shown to help keep your brain functioning at optimal levels, keeps your appetite in check and helps your skin look younger.

Meditate – meditation activates the most thoughtful part of the brain so you can make better and more intelligent decisions.

Relax – learning how to counteract stress and calm your body helps your brain work better, puts you in a better mood, reduces high blood pressure, and protects you from disease.

Practice gratitude – When you focus on what you love, your brain works better, you are more coordinated, and you feel better. Write down 5 things that you are grateful for every day.

Remember that your brain is involved in everything that you do, every decision you make, every bite of food you take, every cigarette you smoke, every worrisome thought you have, every workout you skip, every alcoholic beverage you drink and more. A healthy brain makes it so much easier for you to have your best body possible. When your brain is working at optimal levels, you are more likely to stick to a diet, follow an exercise routine and adopt health lifestyle behaviors. On the other hand, a troubled brain often leads to trouble with your body. Which leads to extra pounds, wrinkles, chronic pain, and health conditions can be linked to the way your brain functions. Making poor food choices, blowing off the gym, and engaging in unhealthy behaviors are more common when your brain isnt working at its best.

Good Article For Those Trying To Build Muscle

2011-12-18T18:49:00.000-08:00

Post-exercise refuelling: all at once, or spread out?

http://sweatscience.com/post-exercise-refuelling-all-at-once-or-spread-out/

Metabolism Enemy #5 – Candida Albicans Overgrowth

2011-11-03T13:36:00.000-07:00

The topic of the candida albicans yeast is something so important to know about because it has been discovered that this yeast lowers the metabolism of the body. Candida albicans is one of the many organisms that live inside the human body. Different organisms exist most especially in the intestinal area, called the "gut flora". Within these organisms there are different classes of bacteria, various types of yeast, viruses and certain types of parasites. We don’t necessarily like to think of these types of things, but the truth is that various types of organisms like these survive inside of our body.

All humans are born with the candida yeast as a part of their intestinal and vaginal flora. It is a natural organism in all human and because it is normal to a certain amount traditional medicine hasn't placed much importance on the subject. However, since the 1980s various prominent allergists and specialists in infectious organisms have given the voice of alert about the growing infections of the candida yeast. Dr. William G. Crook, an allergist with his book, "Yeast Connection Handbook", is possibly the main exponent of what some have called "the silent epidemic of the candida albicans yeast”.

When this yeast has overgrown in the body, it causes what is called a "systemic infection". It is at this point that the candida yeast is transported through the blood and it invades other organs in the body creating serious health and metabolism problems. People with systemic infections from this yeast always have a "slow metabolism" and cannot lose weight under any diet or exercise plan. If they do lose weight, they do at such a slow rate that they generally get discouraged.

A researcher of this subject found that the candida albicans yeast produces 78 different toxins inside the body and this created a toxic and acidic environment inside the body, which basically turns off the metabolism. Having a very developed candida colony or an "overgrowth" of this yeast in the body is one of the main reasons why some people have a "slow metabolism". As long as they have this yeast infection in their body, no effort they make will work for them. The body of a person who has an "overgrowth" of the candida yeast is full of toxins produced by yeast.

It seems as if nothing produces an increase of the metabolism and allows more noticeable weight loss like doing a program of a candida yeast body cleansing. There are laboratory tests to detect if your candida albicans yeast infection is severe, but the test that measures that various toxin levels that produce this yeast in the blood cost more than $300 and really are not available in the majority of laboratories. The best way to find out if the body is infected by this yeast is to us a list of "indicators" that was developed by Dr. William Cook for his patients. Perhaps the clearest signs that you have severe infection of the candida albicans in your body are itching on your skin (mainly at night or after showering); you often have stomach or intestinal gases after eating, having sinusitis or suffering from migraines.

The complete list of the symptoms of candida albicans is the following:

Acne

· Allergies in humid environments

· Allergies to some foods

· Allergies to certain metal jewelry

· Continuously tired

· Urinary tract infections (cystitis)

· Constant or frequent Diarrhea

· Pain or vaginal burning while having sex

· Headaches or migraines

· Severe menstrual pain - PMS

· Muscular pain

· Constipation

· Fatigue or weakness

· Vaginal itching or discharge

· Coldness in extremities

· Excessive stomach or intestinal gas

· Ear infections

· Irregularity or troubles with menstruation

· Irritability or depression

· Itchy skin

· Digestive gas problems

· Excessive dryness of the skin

· A "taste of metal" in the mouth

· Rash or spots on the skin after sunbathing

· Sensitivity to solar light, teary eyes

· Sensitivity to odors from cigarettes, perfumes or chemicals

· Sinusitis

The more of these symptoms you have in your body the more severe the infection of the candida yeast. This list of symptoms is lengthy and a person can begin to justify symptoms based on other sicknesses or hereditary factors that their body has. The reality is that when a person does a candida yeast body cleansing, the majority if not all of these symptoms will disappear completely. After a natural candida yeast cleansing program people are finally able to lose weight much faster and the cleanse also eliminates a majority of the symptoms that this yeast causes.

Reducing a severe infection of this yeast is not an easy task. When we attack the yeast with natural fungicides, like oregano, the reaction can be really unpleasant (headaches, diarrhea, muscular pain, etc.). We have had to learn to increase the dose of natural fungicides "little by little". On the other hand to be successful, you can’t use common oregano oil like what they sell in natural food stores. The regular oregano oil reduces the infection of candida albicans only in the intestines and this is not good enough, given that the candida infection is generally spread throughout the entire body.

Throughout the years and hundreds of test and trials, people succeeded in finding a natural oregano oil supplement that is emulsified. An emulsion is a mixture of two generally unblendable substances like water and oil. The active yeast killing ingredient in oregano is an oily substance called carvacol. Oils don't mix well with water and our blood is primarily composed of water. This oregano oil supplement had the advantage of being emulsified and thus mixes well and travels well in the blood and kills the yeast in all of the parts of the body where it could be invading it.

The candida albicans yeast colony in the body can never be eliminated 100% since the yeast is a natural inhabitant of the body. The strategy that is used is to reduce the yeast colony to the point in which it stops being a problem to your metabolism. If a yeast infection is reduced in size, say from 100% to 20%, we will have had a success and the person will be rewarded for their efforts by losing weight. They will also experience an obvious improvement in their general state of health.

In order to resolve the problems the candida yeast causes for the metabolism and health, it is vital to educate the infected person about the characteristics of candida albicans. Part of the strategy is to educate the person so that they don't unknowingly contribute to creating a suitable environment for the growth of this yeast and so that they don't in a short time go back to having a new overgrowth that lowers their metabolism. The education includes making the person understand which factors are the ones that promote the growth of this yeast inside their body.

The factors that contribute to overgrowth of the candida yeast are:

Excess of fined refined carbohydrates:

Refined carbohydrates (sugar, candy, bread, rice, etc.) produce an excess of glucose in the blood and this excess of glucose feeds the appetite of the candida yeast and makes it grow excessively. It’s like putting fertilizer on a weed. When someone maintains high levels of glucose in their body due to their diet high in refined carbohydrates or sweet carbohydrates, the yeast feeds off of it, which makes it grow and reproduce at an accelerated rate. Someone who is accustomed to eating a lot of sweet foods will see their metabolism owed year after year until it turns into a "slow metabolism".

Taking antibiotics:

Antibiotics get rid of the bacteria that cause infections in the body, but they also get rid of the "good bacteria" that live in the intestines and vaginal area that are natural enemies of the candida albicans yeast. When the intestinal and vaginal flora die due to the dose of antibiotics, the yeast is left without competition and opposition and it invades the rest of the body quickly. When someone finds themselves obligated to take antibiotics, they should make sure to also take a supplement to replace the intestinal bacteria with "friendly bacteria". The "friendly bacteria" have names like acidophilus, bulgaricus, and bifidus. In all natural food stores they offer supplements that contain these types of beneficial bacteria which replace the lost "friendly bacteria" that an antibiotic medicine killed and that way your body isn't missing intestinal and vaginal friendly bacteria that protect you from the candida yeast.

Taking Estrogen:

Contraceptive pills, estrogen patches and medications for menopause speed up the growth of this and cause an overgrowth. Many women lose their figures after using contraceptive pills or contraceptive patches for just a few months. Estrogen, of course, is a hormone that accumulates fat and makes you fat, but also has the effects of being a growth factor for the candida albicans yeast. In other words it allows this yeast to grow quicker.

Taking Cortisone:

This medication, cortisone, which is used to lower inflammation in the body, also lowers the immune system and causes the candida albicans yeast to grow increasingly faster, which then lowers the metabolism. For example, people who suffer from asthma use an inhaler with a medication derived from cortisone. In addition many of these people not only suffer from asthma, but they also start to have weight and obesity problems.

Drinking alcoholic beverages:

When someone had a systemic infection of the candida yeast they should avoid drinking alcoholic beverages since this yeast lives on alcohol much easier than sugar.

Thyroid gland problems:

The thyroid gland and its related systems control the body’s metabolism, temperature and immune system. It is a fact that people with hypothyroidism suffer from frequent colds and infections because their immune system is low. People that have deficient thyroid gland systems tend to have strong infections of this candida yeast. This happens because their immunological systems are not protecting them from the yeast with the normal efficiency of an agile immune system.

It is Vital to know the factors that make the candida albicans yeast grow inside your body. If someone intends on lowering their level of infection of the candida yeast but doesn't take into consideration these factors that contribute to create a favorable environment for the yeast, then not much time will pass before their metabolism is lowered by a new increase of the infection with this yeast. The idea is to reduce the infection in order to recover the metabolism and change your lifestyle to see that this yeast doesn’t come back with equal or greater force.

Diabetics, as a result of their diabetic condition, are extremely infected with the candida albicans yeast. Diabetes, by definition is a condition in which glucose levels are abnormally high. It could be said that the body of a diabetic is like a paradise for yeast like candida albicans because of its constant high abundance of glucose.

-Frank Suarez, author of "The Power of Your Metabolism"

Metabolism Enemy #4 - Female Hormones

2011-10-23T18:45:00.000-07:00

Women’s bodies are more complex than men’s due to their hormonal system. It is a well-known fact that men lose weight more easily, while women experience much more difficulty in losing weight. This is due to the following reasons:

1.) Men have more muscle and therefore use more energy and "burn" fat easier

2.) Men produce the male hormone testosterone, which is a muscle constructing and fat burning hormone.

3.) Women produce the hormone estrogen, which is a hormone that accumulates fat in the body.

4.) Women tend to have higher emotional stress levels than men and therefore produce higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is a hormone that accumulates fat in the abdomen and hips.

It is due to these factors that women always lose weight slower than men. One of the reasons, the excess of the hormone estrogen has to do with a condition that many women, especially over weight ones, suffer from. The condition is called "estrogen predominance". This hormone, estrogen, in reality is a group of various substances that are vital to a women's body.

Without estrogen, pregnancy couldn't exist, nor would they have menstruation, breasts or soft skin. Estrogen is a hormone that a woman’s body balances with another hormone that is produced during ovulation called progesterone. Progesterone is a hormone that reflects its name very well because it allows "gestation" or becoming pregnant.

Women’s bodies depend on a certain hormonal balance between these two hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Just about everyone knows that estrogen is produced in the ovaries of women. But few know that the body’s fat also produces estrogen with the help of an enzyme called aromatase. Fat produces estrogen and that’s why obese men develop breasts and start to have more feminine characteristics, even to the point where their tone of voice changes in pitch.

In his book, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause", Dr. John Lee explains the problem of the "estrogen predomination" in women. It is a condition where the body of an overweight woman keeps producing estrogen from her fat even if her ovaries don't work anymore. When the estrogen isn't being balanced in the body by the progesterone hormone, which is only produced during ovulation, it increases an "estrogen predominance" that doesn't allow the woman to lose weight. A "predomination" means that the estrogen dominates the body internally because the progesterone isn't there to oppose it. This creates a situation that makes it very difficult for women to lose weight because the excess estrogen accumulates fat and makes you gain weight and at the same time doesn't allow fat loss.

The problem is that the estrogen hormone accumulates fat and makes you gain weight. This has been a well known fact for many years; you might have seen in the news that some years ago the pig and the hen breeders tried to make their animals gain weight by supplementing their diet with estrogen to make them fatter. This was publicized on the front pad of newspaper around the country as a scandal and as a result, many people are still upset about the attempted manipulations in using estrogen to make the animals gain weight. They still refuse to consume chicken due to the fear that it contains estrogen.

When a woman suffers from an "estrogen predomination" she can experience the following symptoms:

1.) Accumulation of fat in the hips and abdomen

2.) Reoccurring yeast infections

3.) Autoimmune conditions like Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis and Fibromyalgia

4.) Difficulty losing weight of losing weight very slowly

5.) Difficulty becoming pregnant

6.) Water retention (edema)

7.) Lack of energy or constantly tired

8.) History of breast cancer or uterine cancer

9.) History of fibroids, edemas or vaginal polyps

10.) History of having miscarriages

11.) Painful menstruation cramps

12.) Osteoporosis (loss of bone density)

13.) Facial hair

14.) Loss of sexual interest

15.) Excessive menstrual bleeding

16.) Breast tenderness

17.) Sleeping too lightly or sleeping difficulties

"Estrogen predomination" keeps the metabolism low and makes it very difficult for the women suffering from this condition to lose weight. Estrogen is a growth promotion agent for cancerous cells, which is why having "estrogen predominance", puts a woman at a high risk for breast and uterine cancer.

When a woman starts getting a lot of facial hair, it is generally a result of the "estrogen predominance" that makes the body produce more masculine hormones(androgens) to counteract the estrogen. The body will do its best to try and balance out the "estrogen predominance" by producing more masculine hormones if it can't produce the progesterone it needs. This increases facial and body hair.

The solution for women is to use natural progesterone cream. This natural hormone is applied to the skin and counteracts the harmful effects of the "estrogen predominance", successfully balancing the hormonal system. The natural progesterone has a calming and antidepressant effect. Also, it helps women have deeper, sounder sleep.

For women that have experienced a great deal of difficulty in losing weight and especially those that have gained a lot of weight in their hips and abdomen (caused by estrogen), the natural progesterone cream can be an excellent help. Along with all of these benefits, natural progesterone also has an anti aging effect on the body, Women who use natural progesterone have nice skin. Natural progesterone also has an effect of detaining bone loss or even helping to recover bone that has been lost due to a condition called osteoporosis. This is something that can be proven months after having begun to use the cream by doing a bone density exam and comparing it to an exam done before using natural progesterone.

If your weight or obesity problem is centered in lower parts of your body (hips and abdomen) and you are feeling various symptoms like those described for "estrogen predominance", you could experience a miracle in starting to use the natural progesterone cream. When the "estrogen predominance" is very strong, the use of the natural progesterone cream causes an amazing increase in the metabolism and helps achieve the balance that your body needs to stay at its optimum state. I recommend that you buy and read the book by Dr. John Lee on this topic.

-Frank Suarez, Author of the book “The Power of Your Metabolism”

Chiropractors Warn About "Text Neck"

2011-10-18T13:50:00.001-07:00

Several stories appeared in a number of publications warning people about the dangers of texting excessively. Chiropractors are leading the call of caution that texting for hours puts the neck in a position that creates health issues.

A CBS News story on October 10, 2011 advises the readers to "Add 'text neck' to your new world, digital dictionary". The problem is that continuously texting causes a person to lean their head forward for long periods of time thus causing a loss of the normal forward curve in the neck. Chiropractors have warned for years that a loss of forward curve in the neck leads to a variety of health issues. Texting is the latest and most popular new technology that leads to this neck problem.

This problem has become international as was pointed out in an October 6, 2011 story in a British publication, the Telegraph. The story quotes Dr. Rachael Lancaster, a chiropractor from Leeds England, "Text neck is caused by the neck being flexed for a prolonged period of time. Sufferers are increasing as the use of smart phones and tablet computers become more popular."

Dr. Lancaster likens it to putting other parts of your body into an awkward position for long periods of time. "Imagine sitting on your ankle sideways for 10 minutes. It would feel stiff and sore when you returned it to its natural position. That is exactly what people are doing with their necks. If people continue to put their necks in these positions, the body will gradually adapt to the stresses."

Dr. Tim Hutchful, of the British Chiropractic Association noted that doctors are seeing a rising number of patients with similar neck problems. He explained the problem by saying, "When the head is over the shoulders it is a bit like a balanced see-saw, and when you move it forward you need to put a force in place to keep it in that position. The longer you are in that position for, the more the muscles have to accommodate it."

An October 7, 2011 story from MSNBC on this same subject quoted Texas chiropractor and spokesperson for the American Chiropractic Association Dr. Cynthia Vaughn who stated, "It’s a known phenomenon and that’s increasing and doctors need to educate their patients on the proper ergonomics of this." Dr. Vaughn continued by offering a practical solution to prolonged texting, "I tell my patients the easiest thing to do is pick up the phone and call people."

Metabolism Enemy #3 - Inadequate Breakfast

2011-10-09T17:53:00.000-07:00

One of the worst habits of overweight people is that they do not eat an adequate breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for anyone, but most especially for this people who want to lose weight and recover their metabolism.

When our body sleeps at night the metabolism slows down because our body enters a "repair" period. While sleeping, all of the basic functions of the body slow down and even our breathing is much slower than normal. In order to sleep it is necessary that the metabolism and production of energy slows down in the body. Experts estimate that our metabolism becomes as much as 40% slower while we are sleeping.

When you wake up in the morning your metabolism stays at a slow speed until one of two things happens: you eat food (which gives your body the signal that it should increase your metabolism) or you do exercise (which forces the body to increase its production of energy and the metabolism). In other words, only two things increase the metabolism early in the morning, eating or exercise.

It has been found that proteins (meat, egg, cheese, etc.) and fats increase the metabolism more noticeably than carbohydrates (bread, flour, sugar, oats, etc.). If one wants to "awaken" their metabolism early in the morning their breakfast should be high in protein and low in carbohydrates. People who don't eat breakfast and they to go throughout the morning with coffee and a piece of bread, are little by little slowing down their metabolism because they simply aren't "waking” it up.

There is a popular saying that expresses our food intake should be like. The saying goes, "we should eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and eat dinner like a beggar". This saying is true. The most important meal of the day is breakfast, it is called "breakfast" because it is the moment you "break the fast" of the long hours in which your body was sleeping and repairing itself.

The longest period in which our body is without food is during the hours we are sleeping. The lightest meal of the day should be dinner. Foods are made of condensed energy. Eating too heartily at night forces an entrance of energy (food) to the body and going to sleep lowers your energy use which forces a "storage mode" fat. It is an aspect of pure logic; dinner should be like a beggar, not a king.

If you want to strengthen your metabolism, it is necessary to begin your day with eating breakfast high in proteins that is good enough for a king. Later continue on to a lunch that has a good combination of proteins and unrefined carbohydrates (vegetables, salad). Make sure to consume very little refined carbohydrates (rice, flows, bread, sugar, act.). Finally, end the day with a light dinner to prepare your body for its period of sleep and restoration.

-Frank Suarez, Author of the book "The Power of Your Metabolism"

Metabolism Enemy #2 - Stress

2011-10-04T20:01:00.000-07:00

Everyone talks about stress. But, what is stress? Stress is a reaction. It is the reaction that our mind and body have when our survival is threatened. Any threat, real or imaginary will all cause a stress reaction. Stress is an instantaneous reaction that can become so violent that it causes a heart attack. Generally stress doesn’t get to the point of causing a heart attack, but it does create a state of general alarm so extreme that our entire hormonal and nervous system is affected. Each cell in our body is affected by the reaction we call stress. It is an effect that is definitely cumulative. You only need to notice how worn out and tired a person looks who has recently lost a loved one in order to see how stress affects the entire body in a thousand and one ways.

Some people live in a state of stress that is so continuous that they can’t distinguish whether they feel stress or not. When someone is stressed out on a routine basis they find it difficult to be fully aware of the fact that they are living a stress filled life. For example, a person who finds himself or herself forced to work in a job in which he or she is mistreated will feel continuously stressed while at their job. The same thing happens when a person experiences problems with their family or with a romantic partner and they have to live with it day after day. When stress becomes part of our daily life we grow accustomed to it and sometimes accept it as “normal”.

Hormonal Response to Stress - Cortisol

Besides the observable damage that stress can cause to your body and health, there is a factor that is measurable. It is a hormonal factor. When you are stressed your body produces an excess of the hormone cortisol. This hormone cortisol is called the stress hormone because your body produces it when you experience a stressful situation. Cortisol is a vital part of our internal alarm system. Our body produces this hormone with the purpose of using it to handle any emergency that is detected in our environment. It is a hormone that prepares the body for fight or flight. It was designed by nature to allow us to overcome a dangerous situation using our best physical and mental resources. That is why when we produce cortisol in response to a stressful situation our body responds by producing internal changes that help us survive the supposed danger or threat. These are internal changes like raising the blood pressure and greatly increasing the level of glucose to higher levels. The glucose level is increased so that the cells have enough energy available to fight or flee.

If the source of stress were a tiger that was chasing us down to tear us to shreds, all of this excess glucose that the cortisol put in our blood stream would be consumed by our efforts in running to get away from the tiger and there wouldn’t be a surplus of glucose after the period of stress. The problem is that when the source of the stress is for a short period of time, say some bad news, the glucose levels increase due to the cortisol, but the excess glucose that is not taken in by the cells is turned into fat to be stored. Glucose is the principal source of energy of all of the cells in our body, but when it isn’t used and there is an excess, the body turns it into fat to store it, as a source of energy for future use. Thus, stress produces an excess of glucose in the blood through the action of cortisol and this excess of glucose ends up being converted to fat that is then stored into our waistline, hips and abdomen. Yes, stress definitely makes us gain weight.

People that live in conditions of stress from work, family or daily life gain weight much easier because their levels of cortisol tend to be excessively high. When a stressful situation occurs and the cortisol successfully uses our liver glucose reserves we automatically feel hungry, especially for sweet foods and those that are a source of glucose like carbohydrates: bread, flour, chocolate, pasta, etc. So it’s not just that stress makes you gain weight, it makes you feel hungry. That’s why a person that feels depressed by a personal problem many times seeks solace in the refrigerator.

The best way to find out if stress is affecting you too much and to see if it is one of the reasons that you are experiencing a slow metabolism is to take note of your quality of sleep. Since the cortisol hormone is an alarm hormone it creates a strong state of alert in the body that doesn’t allow us to sleep peacefully. To the body’s cells cortisol is like an urgent warning of impending danger. Cortisol excites the cells and puts them in a state of alert so you won’t sleep well when under stress. The cortisol produced while under stress keeps the cells in a constant state of alarm and impedes what is called the “deep sleep” stage, which is the most restful and invigorating sleep for the body. It is the state of alarm created by cortisol that steals our quality or sleep.

Something additional that we know about cortisol and about stress is that when we experience a condition of stress our levels of cortisol dramatically increase and remain in our body for more than 8 hours after the incident before going back to normal levels. So, the effects of high levels of cortisol are long lasting. However, when we do moderate exercise (walking, swimming) for 30 to 45 minutes our body eliminates huge amounts of cortisol through the liver and this also makes the state of alarm produced by cortisol to go away much earlier. That’s why many people find that if they have had a very stressful day, they will have a very difficult time sleeping unless they do a bit of exercise before going to bed. Exercise helps us get good sleep because it lowers the level of cortisol that is in our bloodstream.

Your metabolism will be affected greatly by the cortisol hormone that it generates during stressful moments. All of this is enough to help you realize that your lifestyle is very much related to the condition of your metabolism and to the general state of your health. Anything that reduces stress increases our metabolism and helps us in losing weight. A better job, a good partner, an entertaining hobby, 30 to 45 minutes of moderate exercise and enjoyable vacations are all successful and positive influences to increasing your metabolism and reducing stress.

-Frank Suarez, Author of the book "The Power of Your Metabolism"

Metabolism Enemy #1 - Excess Sugar and Refined Carbohydrates

2011-09-28T19:38:00.000-07:00

The epidemics of weight and obesity problems are caused by various factors that lower the metabolism. Perhaps the most evident of these factors is the excessive use of sugars and refined carbohydrates (bread, pasta, flour, rice, sweets, chocolates, candies, etc.) Nothing has contributed more to the rampant obesity epidemic than the excessive consumptions of refined carbohydrates.

I should clarify that carbohydrates are necessary foods. However, there are different qualities of carbohydrates: Natural carbohydrates and refined carbohydrates. Natural carbohydrates are those that are in their natural state without having been industrially manipulated by humans. Examples are vegetables and fruits. Refined carbohydrates are modern products created by the food industry that have gone through a variety of polishing, bleaching, grinding and refining.

Within the natural carbohydrates there are some carbohydrates that have a very sweet flavor. The sweet carbohydrates can come from "natural" sources but the fact that they are sweet indicates they are very high in sugars like fruits that can turn into fat. Examples of very sweet carbohydrates can be fruits like bananas, mangoes, and raisins. There are fruits that aren't excessively sweet like strawberries, apples, and pears, which are acceptable as "natural" carbohydrates.

When carbohydrates are industrially processed they lose a good part of their nutritional value (vitamins and minerals) and they turn into foods that can easily make us fat. The industry processes to refine carbohydrates are rather harsh. These foods are so refined that the human body can quickly turn them into glucose without much effort. Bear in mind that anything that causes and increase of the bodies glucose will create excess body fat.

For Example:

When we eat a doughnut (wheat flour with sugar) the body quickly turns that into a large amount of glucose in our blood which sets the scene to gain weight. Those are the mechanics involved in the process of becoming overweight: lots of refined carbohydrates that turn into excess glucose that later become accumulated body fat with the help of the insulin hormone.

carbohydrates are addictive

Perhaps the most harmful aspect of refined carbohydrates is their strong addictive power. Yes, refined carbohydrates are addictive. When your body has a craving for something, what does it crave? Does it crave meat or cheese? Or does it crave chocolate, candy, ice cream, bread or cookies? Notice that the body only craves refined carbohydrates. Refined carbohydrates are like a drug for an addict. People that are addicted to carbohydrates can't control themselves.

The consumption of their refined carbohydrates in excess doesn't only cause an addiction; it also causes a state of acidity in the body that decreases the metabolism. the excess of refined carbohydrates converts into excess glucose in the blood once it has been digested. Part of the excess glucose ferments within the body and turns into lactic acid, which created an acidic state that reduces oxygen and decreases metabolism.

A recent scientific discovery showed that the excess of refined carbohydrates turns into excess glucose (sugar in the bloodstream) which then forces the body to produce an excess of the hormone insulin and this hormone at the same time interferes with the hormones of the thyroid glands and brings with it all of the signs of hypothyroidism, including depression. People that are addicted to refined carbohydrates then start to have problems with their thyroid because their bodies produce an excess of insulin that interferes with the hormones produced by the thyroid.

More Water = 1st Step In Weight Loss

2011-09-04T20:29:00.000-07:00

There is a direct correlation between how much water your body has and how much percentage of fat you have. Generally, we are made up of at least 65% water. The higher the number the less fat stores we have.

Here is the reason:

If we break down water it is H20 – 2 parts hydrogen 1 part oxygen. The molecular mass of an oxygen atom is 8 times higher than hydrogen making water 11% hydrogen and 89% oxygen. When we drink water we are mainly adding oxygen to our bodies. Oxygen is the element that allows the combustion of fat and is what drives our metabolism (how fast and efficient our cells perform their functions).

Now it must be clarified that drinking water and drinking juices are not the same thing. When the body detects taste the body will assume it is food and it will send the liquid through gastrointestinal tract which does little for hydration. While water is directly absorbed into the bloodstream and increases the hydration level and oxygen availability at the cellular level.

Why soft drinks slow metabolism:

Soft drinks with carbonation are one of the best ways to cause dehydration because they contain phosphoric acid. Acids by definition repel oxygen causing the body's metabolism to work slowly. Even though many of us consider coca cola, carbonated beverages, juices, coffee, etc. to be used for hydration they actually do the opposite. In order to rehydrate the body after any of these drinks we must consume 32 ounces of water per 8 ounces of these mentioned drinks (4:1 ratio). The body becomes dehydrated from these drinks because while getting rid of the excess acidity we will use our water stores to urinate which brings the blood back to an alkaline environment so that the body can perform its daily functions.

The reality is that if someone wants to lose weight their first step is to increase their intake of water. Water significantly increases the metabolism.

How much water do I need to drink?

We calculate the daily water consumption recommended for each person by dividing the weight of the person by the number 16. The result is calculated in 8 ounce glasses of water. For example: if a person weighs 160 pounds and we divide this weight by the number 16 then their daily consumption of water should be 10 – 8 ounce glasses (160lbs. / 16 = 10 glasses). If a person weights 240 pounds their recommended water consumption would be 15 glasses a day (240lbs. / 16 = 15 glasses). As you lose weight, you should also reduce your daily intake of water.

For more information on our weight loss program call our office at 561.313.9117

Hip Flexor Anatomy and Symptoms of Overuse

2011-09-01T19:18:00.000-07:00

The psoas and iliacus commonly known as the hip flexors are often not considered in cases of back pain or chronic quadriceps strain but is almost always involved. In fact it is difficult to have a low back pain condition where the psoas does not become involved. When the psoas is shortened, fibrotic and weakened it will cause the lumbar spine to become hyperlordotic (having an excess lower back curvature) and limit hip extension. This can cause a facet syndrome. A weak psoas will also cause the rectus femoris to work harder at flexing the hip.

In sprinters a weak and tight psoas will cause the rectus femoris to be prone to injury as it attempts to accomplish the majority of hip flexion, a task normally accomplished by the psoas. When people have psoas problems they will usually exhibit poor posture while standing. The hip will not extend completely so the pelvis tilts forward and the lumbar spine is hyperlordotic especially when rising to a standing position after being seated for any length of time.

Common situation that involve psoas injury are triathlons (where the psoas is short during the bike then must lengthen to run), any sport involving sprints, cyclists and figure skaters, jumpers and post lumbar spine surgery and people that have difficulty rising from the seated position.

Natural Remedy for Occasional Low Moods to Severe Clinical Depression

2011-08-24T19:51:00.000-07:00

There are many times where low moods/depression can be directly caused by and outside source such as bad day, tough times or frustrating events. However many times people wake up feeling unfocused, lethargic, unmotivated and depressed without any specific reason. This may be due to an internal imbalance in amino acids which can be helped easily through specific amino acid supplements. Click below to download an eBook which explains why we have low moods and teaches natural ways to boost your mood and get you feeling great.

http://www.thewayup.com/ebook/f/TheWayUp.pdf

If you have any questions about the nutritional supplementation for low mood/depression you can personally email me at DrToddRodman@aim.com or call our office at 561.313.9117

Take the quiz below to see if you would be helped with this nutritional protocol:

Complete all the following statements by writing YES or NO, based on how you have felt during the past few days.

1 I feel just as energetic as always

2 I am losing weight

3 I have dropped many of my interests and activities

4 Since my illness I have completely lost interest in sex

5 I am especially concerned about how my body is functioning

6 It must be obvious that I am disturbed and agitated

7 I am still able to carry on doing the work I am supposed to do

8 I can concentrate easily when reading the papers

9 Getting to sleep takes me more than half an hour

10 I am restless and fidgety

11 I wake up much earlier than I need to in the morning

12 Dying is the best solution for me

13 I have a lot of trouble with dizzy and faint feelings

14 I am being punished for something bad in my past

15 My sexual interest is the same as before I got sick

16 I am miserable or often feel like crying

17 I often wish I were dead

18 I am having trouble with indigestion

19 I wake up often in the middle of the night

20 I feel worthless and ashamed about myself

21 I am so slowed down that I need help with bathing and dressing

22 I take longer than usual to fall asleep at night

23 Much of the time I am very afraid but don’t know the reason

24 Things which I regret about my life are bothering me

25 I get pleasure and satisfaction from what I do

26 All I need is a good rest to be perfectly well again

27 My sleep is restless and disturbed

28 My mind is as fast and alert as always

29 I feel that life is still worth living

30 My voice is dull and lifeless

31 I feel irritable or jittery

32 I feel in good spirits

33 My heart sometimes beats faster than usual

34 I think my case is hopeless

35 I wake up before my usual time in the morning

36 I still enjoy my meals as much as usual

37 I have to keep pacing around most of the time

38 I am terrified and near panic

39 My body is bad and rotten inside

40 I got sick because of the bad weather we have been having

41 My hands shake so much that people can easily notice

42 I still like to go out and meet people

43 I think I appear calm on the outside

44 I think I am as good a person as anybody else

45 My trouble is the result of some serious internal disease

46 I have been thinking about trying to kill myself

47 I get hardly anything done lately

48 There is only misery in the future for me

49 I worry a lot about my bodily symptoms

50 I have to force myself to eat even a little

51 I am exhausted much of the time

52 I can tell that I have lost a lot of weight

Compare your answers to those listed below and give yourself on point each time your answer is the same. Any score greater than ten reveals some degree of depression, and the severity of the depression increases with the score.

1 No

2 Yes

3 Yes

4 Yes

5 Yes

6 Yes

7 No

8 No

9 Yes

10 Yes

11 Yes

12 Yes

13 Yes

14 Yes

15 No

16 Yes

17 Yes

18 Yes

19 Yes

20 Yes

21 Yes

22 Yes

23 Yes

24 Yes

25 No

26 Yes

27 Yes

28 No

29 No

30 Yes

31 Yes

32 No

33 Yes

34 Yes

35 Yes

36 No

37 Yes

38 Yes

39 Yes

40 Yes

41 Yes

42 No

43 No

44 No

45 Yes

46 Yes

47 Yes

48 Yes

49 Yes

50 Yes

51 Yes

52 Yes

Nutritional Support For People With Cancer

2011-08-09T13:45:00.000-07:00

Cancer is always with us. When it manifests in the form of a tumor mass is evidence that the body’s immune and self regulating capacities can no longer manage the cancer phenomenon. Our nutritional protocols have helped people with cancer to live long and happy lives. Our protocol can be broken down into three basic components: Supplementations, diet and detoxification routines.

General Guidelines

It is essential that you follow the protocol as outlined. You are asked to not substitute supplements from other companies. We continually qualify supplements, incorporating specific products that we find will provide the optimal therapeutic results we seek.

You will drink a minimum of 8 glasses of filtered water daily. You will be required to bathe using a shower filter to avoid absorbing chlorine though the skin and air.

Stainless steel or non-leaching cookware such as corning cookingware is used to prepare your foods.

Pancreatic Enzymes

Specialized pork derived pancreatic enzymes are the cornerstone of our supplementation program. Enzymes work by traveling through the bloodstream to the site of the tumor and digestion the specific protein of the tumor mass, without harming the body’s healthy tissues. This story was initiated a century ago by a Scottish embryologist names John Beard. Beard stated, in effect, that cancer was pregnancy in the wrong place and time. It was a similarity in the biological features of embryonic trophoblasts and cancer cells that prompted John Beard to propose his trohoblastic theory of cancer in the early 1900’s. Beard first proposed in 1906 that pancreatic proteolytic enzymes, in addition to their well-know digestive functions, represented the body’s main defense against cancer. He further proposed that pancreatic enzymes would most likely be useful as nutritional support for cancer patients.

After Beards death in 1924, the enzyme therapy was all but lost. In some cases alternative therapies, such as Dr Kelley, have rediscovered Dr. Beards work and used pancreatic proteolyic enzymes as a natural defense against cancer occurrences.

Diet

The individual diets may include wild salmon, organic eggs, vegetables, nuts and seed, legumes, sprouts, sprouted bread and berried. No canned or processed foods are allowed.

Detoxification routines

Scientists estimate that you have between 70 and 100 trillion cells in your body. This means you can have over 70 trillion garbage cans that need to be emptied. It is critical to process and excrete this metabolic waste. We may incorporate a wide range of detoxifications options in an individualized program, but coffee enemas and infrared sauna therapy are fundamental components to our program.

Coffee enemas

One of the oldest health procedures used still today, coffee enemas are used to enhance liver function.

Caffeine is absorbed via the hemorrhoidal or portal vein and dilates the bile ducts.

“Because the enema is generally held for 10 to 15 minutes and all the blood in the body passes through the liver every 3 minutes, these enemas represent a form of dialysis of blood across the gut wall” (Healing Newsletter, #13, May-June 1986).

Infrared Saunas

Saunas are very valuable and also convenient for home use.

Saunas support liver and kidney detoxification. A specific kind of sauna is incorporated to improve circulation, oxygenation, and immune function while eliminating toxins through our largest eliminative organ, the skin.

For any additional information on our cancer protocol and screening tests please contact our office at 561.313.9117

Best Regards,

Dr. Rodman

HCG Diets - Are They Safe?

2011-08-07T19:01:00.000-07:00

HCG supplements combined with extremely low calorie diets have become a big trend in weight loss. With the short period of time that it has been around no one truly knows about the safety of these diets. Here is what we do know:

Most people know of HCG as the "pregnancy hormone" or the hormone that makes the EPT result in a positive test when it is detected in the urine. Our body views pregnancy as a foreign invader and it would attack the embryo in the absence of HCG. HCG disguises the embryo so that our immune system will not attack and degrade the trophoblastic protein layer allowing the embryo to mature. HCG is also used as a cancer screening test because it will be elevated in urine and blood when a tumor is present. Cancer, similar to pregnancy, is viewed as a foreign invader but is disguised by HCG which promotes its ability to grow. Research shows that HCG compromises the immune system and may promote cancer. I believe there are many other forms of weight loss that are much safer and will produce great results as well without the risk of cancer or decreased immunity.

Attached is an article called "HCG for weight loss - not a prudent idea" by Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D which explains more in depth about HCG for weight loss.

http://www.cancerdecisions.com/071308.html

Best Regards,

Dr. Todd Rodman, DC CSCS

RELIEF FROM ARTHRITIS AND PAINFUL JOINTS

2011-07-29T06:36:00.000-07:00

Recent studies have proven the value of sulfur-containing compounds in the treatment of collagen tissue problems of cartilage and ligaments. The two most commonly studied and prescribed compounds are glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. These compounds have been acclaimed as the "magic bullets" for arthritic problems. However, they can only be utilized when ample supplies of organic sulfur are available.

The supply of sulfur in our food is chiefly dependent on the amount and quality of protein we ingest. Nutrition textbooks, however, dismiss the need for dietary supplementation of sulfur by stating that an optimum protein diet will lead inevitably to an adequate sulfur intake. As usual, they neglect to add that it is vitally important to be able to digest that diet. This can seldom be accomplished by those seeking health care. Supplementing inorganic sulfur (such as chondroitin sulfate) is not nearly as successful in relieving symptoms as a "magic bullet" as it is when combined with improving the dietary intake and digestion or organic sulfur found in food and herbs. For that reason we recommend proper diet, digestion and assimilation combined with dietary supplementation when necessary.

Common Symptoms of Sulfur Deficiency:

-History of osteoarthritis or gout
-Musculoskeletal pain, difficulty walking
-Bone and joint pain
-Inflammation, including fever, redness, swelling, or loss of range of motion
-Stiff joints or sore muscles

Here is a great article on the importance of sulfur: http://westonaprice.org/abcs-of-nutrition/sulfur-deficiency

Best Regards,

Dr. Todd Rodman
DrToddRodman@aim.com
WWW.SCNHS.COM
561.313.9117

10 Tips To Minimize Weight Gains While Traveling

2011-06-07T19:07:00.000-07:00

With the summer here traveling and vacations are right around the corner. When we are out of our daily routine it is easy to lose track and pack on some extra pounds. For example, did you know that some say that the average person will gain between 4 to 8 pounds while on a cruise? Here are a few easy tips to help minimize the vacation weight gains.

1.) Eat snacks between meals to keep blood sugar levels from dropping too low. This will help so that you don’t get so hungry that you will eat anything or overeat at your next meal. Healthy snacks are available on a cruise so grab some apples after your breakfast and keep them with you in time of need. Don’t be forced to eat anything just because you are in starvation mode.

2.) Protein – the most satiating or satisfying macronutrient and is the best bang for your buck. Protein will keep you full longer. Make sure to have protein for breakfast and dinner with the average amount of grams per day being around ½ your body weight.

3.) During sleep our body goes into a state called ketosis. This is a normal metabolic phase where the body runs out of blood glucose and starts to utilize glycogen, fat and protein stores for energy. This is the phase where we can burn stored body fat. Make sure to limit sugar and carbohydrates at night and reach for lean protein before bed. This will help your body spare muscle loss and get into the fat burning stage.

4.) Drink plenty of water – this is something that we all know to do but often gets overlooked. Dehydration can make us feel like we are hungry when we really are thirsty. Stay well hydrated and you will not feel like you are starving.

5.) Expend energy – take the stairs instead of the elevator, park your car far away, take the seat furthest from the buffet, do anything to ensure that you are burning some of those extra calories. It can be hard to get in the gym when you are traveling so do things to burn a few more calories so eating that chocolate cake won’t be as bad.

6.) Portion control – Turn that 10oz. steak into 5oz., before you eat that desert cut it in half, fill up half of your buffet plate with vegetables, have the hamburger but not the cheese. Make smart choices, does the cheese on the burger really matter? The mayo? Taking off a few items in your entrée will help you save unnecessary calories while you are still eating the foods you like. These easy tricks will go a long way.

7.) Don’t just eat to eat, if you feel full you probably are. If you are not fully enjoying your food cut your losses and stop eating it, it’s not worth it.

8.) Fill up on salads and vegetables – you can eat a lot of vegetables and not gain weight. Chewing a lot (mastication) can make your brain think that it is full when you haven’t consumed many calories. Filling up on these foods will keep you from filling up on poor choices.

9.) Reward yourself – if you eat good the majority of the time go ahead and indulge. This will keep you from binging and reward yourself, you have earned it.

10.) Limit alcohol – alcohol has a lot of sugar and empty calories with no nutritional content. Limit your drinking and you will keep the weight gain to a minimum

Sample on the road exercises:

If you don’t have access to a gym while on your vacation here are a few great exercise examples that you can do just about anywhere:

Lunges, squats, mountain climbers, push ups, pull ups, dips, sit ups, crunches, planks, reverse lunges, jumping jacks, burpees, side squats, bridges with leg extension. If you have any questions about how to do these exercises call our office 561-313-9117 and we will email you a description.

Have a great summer vacation,

Dr. Rodman

Food Suggestions to Decrease Disease Expression

2011-05-17T09:50:00.000-07:00

These diseases and symptoms can be made better or prevented with a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids:

Heart Attack
Thrombotic Stroke
Arthritis
Asthma
Colitis
Headaches
Inflammation
Menstrual Cramps
Metastases
Osteoporosis

Here are some examples of acceptable foods and drinks to help reduce the expression of these symptoms and diseases:

Fruits and Veggies
Potatoes
Omega 3 Beef (grass fed not grain fed)
Fish (fresh caught not farm raised)
Chicken
Eggs
Herbs/Spices
Olive Oil
Coconut Oil
Nuts
Dark Chocolate
Water
Green Tea
Red Wine
Stout Beer

A diet rich in these foods and drinks while keeping in moderation the red wine, stout beer and dark chocolate will make a tremendous difference in your health. The best medicine is a good diet. General supplements to take along with this diet are a multi-vitamin (2/day), magnesium (400-1000mg/day), omega 3 (1-2 gram/day) and vitamin D3 (1,000 - 2,000 IU/day).

Stay Healthy My Friends,

Dr. Rodman