Diabetes: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

Diabetes: 

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

“Diabetes”: the dreaded diagnosis that silently creeps up on you. However, it really shouldn’t be a surprise considering Diabetes is one of the fastest growing conditions and is the 6^th leading cause of death in the US. According to the latest report from the CDC, Diabetes affects nearly 30 million children and adults in the U.S. today.  This is nearly 10 percent of the population. What’s even more troublesome is 1 out of 4 people do not know they have Diabetes.

Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism. Whether “Type 1”, “Type 2” or “Gestational” Diabetes, they’re all a disorder of metabolism.  Our bodies are designed to break down food into a simple sugar called glucose. Glucose then travels in our bloodstream and into cells to provide fuel for energy. Two things drive glucose into a cell: 1. Insulin 2. Need.  If a cell needs glucose for energy, it freely moves in and out of the cell but if glucose starts to back up into the blood stream which is a condition known as Hyperglycemia, the body brings out the “big gun” known as Insulin to kick open the cell doors and force glucose into the cells.  You are diagnosed with Diabetes when there is a chronic elevation of glucose levels in the blood stream. Chronic elevations in glucose can be caused by certain medications, toxic elements in your environment like cadmium and arsenic, poor nutrition or diet, high caloric diet combined with a sedentary lifestyle, mineral deficiencies, infections or digestion issues.

How do you know if you have Diabetes? Unfortunately, diagnosis of Diabetes can be tricky at first. In the earlier stages there are no outward symptoms. Once the condition is fully developed the following symptoms may appear:

·                     Increased thirst

·                     Increased Urination

·                     Increased sense of hunger

·                     Fatigue

·                     Vision problems

·                     Poor healing

·                     Edema

·                     Neuropathy

·                     Weight loss (Mainly found in Type 1)

·                      Tingling, pain or numbness in the hands/feet (Type 2)

The good news is once you’ve been diagnosed with Diabetes your future prognosis can be promising with proper treatment and monitoring. Type 2 Diabetes and Gestational Diabetes can nearly always be effectively managed and even reversed and Type 1 Diabetics can greatly reduce their insulin dosages if the following recommendations are followed:

●              Exercise Regularly. Exercise burns the excess glucose.  If you are not accustomed to working out, make sure to ease into an exercise routine. Start with at least 10 minutes of exercise and slowly work up to at least 30 to 40 minutes a day.

●              Reduce the amount of carbohydrates and low quality foods consumed in the daily diet. A low glycemic diet is often times recommended to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that is being consumed. This take stress off of the liver and helps maintain glucose levels so they’re not fluctuating so much.

●              There are many nutrients that are vital to glucose regulation.  If you’re not getting them in your diet, this will increase your risk of developing some form of Diabetes. Some of the most important nutrients include: Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Magnesium, Chromium, Vanadium and fish oil.  The best way to know your true need for any of these nutrients is to get a comprehensive blood and hair test.  These tests are also used to monitor progress and determine when dosing should be reduce or if there is no longer a need to supplement certain nutrients.

●              Have a blood test conducted at least once a year. It is important make sure the blood test includes a Vitamin D test, liver panel, kidney panel, triglycerides and a hemoglobin A1C.  Contrary to what most think, it’s the liver that is the primary regulator of glucose. 

●              Check your C-Peptide level. C-Peptide is produced by the pancreas at the same rate as insulin. If C-Peptide levels are low, this means your pancreas may not be producing enough insulin and you could be heading toward Type 1 Diabetes.  

●              Have a hair test done to check on toxic and essential element levels at least once a year. It’s important to see if there are toxic elements in your environment you may not know about.  These toxic elements cause nutrient deficiencies and interfere with vital processes in the body.  A hair test will also check your chromium and vanadium status.  These are two very important minerals in glucose metabolism.

●              If you’re over the age of 30, have a urinalysis every 6 months to check for glucose, ketones and protein.  Generally, the human body doesn’t “spill” glucose into urine unless levels become very high in your bloodstream. When cells are not absorbing glucose, the cells may become desperate for fuel. At this point, the body turns to fat for fuel which produces ketones. If ketones are too high for too long, it can create a life threatening condition known as Ketoacidosis.  Protein in the urine can indicate kidney damage.

The bad news is if Diabetes is not kept under control it can increase the risk of stroke, heart attacks, cancer, loss of nerve function, kidney disease, liver disease, blindness and a possibility of amputation.

Medically, Type 2 Diabetes is treated with oral medication to reduce the chances of having further complications with the condition. The ugly truth about diabetic medication is that it is designed to reduce the amount of glucose in the blood stream by force. The question we must ask ourselves: “Where does the glucose go when one takes these medications?”.  Does it simply “poof” away? The medications force the excess glucose into the cells.  But what if the cell is already full?  Glucose is fuel; it’s like gasoline.  Gasoline is very inflammatory.  If you’re “forcing” this inflammatory gasoline (glucose) into the cell, do you think just maybe it’s going to damage the cell?  The kidneys, eyes and peripheral nerves are very sensitive and delicate.  Do you think forcing the glucose into those cells is going to cause some damage?  Damage to these cells leads to kidney disease, blindness and painful neuropathies. Can you see how using medication to treat Diabetes can cause so many other problems?  Why not truly reverse Diabetes with proper diet and lifestyle changes?  It is within your control, but proper testing helps you have a perfect game plan! 

By having a nutritional blood and hair analysis performed, you will be able to know if you are showing any risk factors for developing Diabetes and develop your perfect game plan to reduce your risk. The earlier you catch Diabetes the sooner you can start on the path to a healthier and disease free lifestyle. If you think you may need some help, call us at 716-545-4090 and set set up a consultation.

Work Cited

"American Diabetes Month®." American Diabetes Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.

"Diabetes." - Mayo Clinic. N.p., 31 July 2014. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.

"Diabetes in the United States." 3. Http://www.cdc.gov/Diabetes/pubs/statsreport14/Diabetes-infographic.pdf. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.ov/Diabetes/pubs/statsreport14/Diabetes-infographic.pdf

MacGill, Markus. "Diabetes: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments." Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, 15 Oct. 2015. Web. 21 Oct. 2015

"Role of Insulin Secretion and Sensitivity in the Evolution of Type 2 Diabetes in the Diabetes Prevention Program: Effects of Lifestyle Intervention and Metformin." Diabetes 54.8 (2005): 2404-414. Web. 2 Nov. 2015.

Dedicated To Your Success,

Dr. John Heary, DC, CFT, SFN, PFTS, MMACC, CUSC, CCFT

Certified Fitness Trainer
Certified Specialist in Fitness Nutrition
Certified Physique and Figure Trainer Specialist
Certified Mixed Martial Arts Conditioning Coach
Certified Underground Strength Coach
Certified Fitranx Instructor

Certified TRX Instructor

Certified Corporate Fitness Trainer

Certified Spartan SGX Coach

Certified Weightlifting Performance Coach

(716) 545-4090
www.drjohnheary.com

Dr. John Heary's Fan Page
www.orchardparkweightloss.com
End Neuropathy Today

Orchard Park Fit Body Fan Page
www.orchardparkfitbody.com

Candida: The Opportunistic Infection

Candida: the opportunistic infection

 
Is yeast overgrowth contributing to a more important underlying illness?  Candida,
a normal part of your natural microflora, is the most common cause of fungal infections worldwide¹.  Although it may be a contributing factor in some illnesses, it may be the
cause of others. However, it almost always accompanies intestinal, immune, degenerative,
or toxicity related illnesses.  Recovery from Candida overgrowth requires a whole lifestyle healing approach and once it is diagnosed, the very first step is to detect the underlying cause.  So the first question is, how is yeast overgrowth diagnosed?

The truth is, everybody has Candida in their bodies and it lives in your mucous membranes.  Yeast overgrowth is something of a controversial illness, and many medical professionals have not yet recognized it.  There are a few tests that are recognized to determine the levels of possible Candida overgrowth.  The culture test is for skin and genital yeast infections where a small skin sample is cultured to determine the presence of yeast, which can be seen under a microscope.  In the blood, antibodies can be checked for the likelihood of candida overgrowth.  These antibodies are IgG, IgA, and IgM.  There are also stool and urine tests that can be performed.  If any of these tests are positive for or show a possibility of candida overgrowth, it is important to determine the actual cause.  Irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut, Crohn’s disease, and inflammatory bowel disease have all been found to have a significant connection to yeast overgrowth.

There is also a home test that I can show you how to do or we can also do it in our facility.  This test is simple to do and will let us know if you have a Candida overgrowth.

Even if you were to perform these tests, the specific treatment will differ per individual.  There are underlying causes that must be determined as to WHY there is yeast overgrowth. 

Symptoms you may be experiencing:

• Exhaustion
• White coat on tongue
• Brain fog
• Hormone imbalance
• Joint pain
• Loss of sex drive
• Chronic sinus and allergy issues
• Digestive problems (gas and bloating)
• Weak immune system
• UTI

We would argue that Candida within itself isn’t the cause of the health problems.  It is simply an opportunistic organism that thrives in an unhealthy host.  Life factors of today’s modern society can significantly create an environment for Candida overgrowth.  These factors such as antibiotic use, hormone replacement therapy, high sugar and carbohydrate diets, nutrient/mineral deficiencies, toxic elements, stress levels, and birth control use coincide with the symptoms of Candida overgrowth that many people experience.

Antibiotics

1

Antibiotic use kills off not only the bad bacteria, but also the good bacteria that are beneficial for our health.  In fact, our gut is the first line of defense for our immune system.  As intestinal bacteria die, yeast will thrive and grow into large colonies and take over which can cause this contribution towards yeast overgrowth.  While antibiotics are often prescribed to treat bacterial infections, they are not effective against viral infections.  Viral infections that should not be treated with antibiotics include: Colds, Flu, Most coughs and bronchitis, and sore throat (except Strep throat).  It's not just humans that over consume antibiotics. Animals which provide us food (like cattle and pork) are treated with them as well. Today 80% of the antibiotics used in the United States are fed to livestock!²  Always take a probiotic when you are on an antibiotic and even after the round of antibiotic is finished.  Other nutrients to consider that boost the body’s immune system are Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Oregano Oil, Zinc, and Lauricidin.

Dedicated To Your Success,

Dr. John Heary, DC, CFT, SFN, PFTS, MMACC, CUSC, CCFT

Certified Fitness Trainer
Certified Specialist in Fitness Nutrition
Certified Physique and Figure Trainer Specialist
Certified Mixed Martial Arts Conditioning Coach
Certified Underground Strength Coach
Certified Fitranx Instructor

Certified TRX Instructor

Certified Corporate Fitness Trainer

Certified Spartan SGX Coach

Certified Weightlifting Performance Coach

(716) 545-4090
www.drjohnheary.com

Dr. John Heary's fan page
www.orchardparkweightloss.com

Orchard Park Fit Body Bootcamp Fan Page
www.orchardparkfitbody.com

Fat Burning Supplements Making you Fatter and Unhealthier?

SPECIAL REPORT:  

Fat Burning Supplements Making you Fatter and Unhealthier? 

Reliable diet and exercise information is more accessible than ever before yet every year, Americans continue getting  fatter. According to David Kessler, author of The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable Appetite, food  manufactures purposely make their foods irresistible by combining sugar, salt, fat and a pixie dust of chemicals to  create an addictive response in the consumer. Therefore the more of their food you eat, the more you desire it and  excess fat is the consequence. Unfortunately, highly processed foods do nothing positive for the brain and body, merely  displacing the nutrition required to thrive. Without a wholesome, nutrition‐based, source of energy to get through the  day, many people–mistakenly–self‐medicate with caffeine and other stimulants. Relying on artificial, external sources of  stimulation is a poor choice which can lead to insulin resistance which can perpetuate weight gain and otherwise  discourage good health. Increasing the ante with supplemental fat‐burners and thermogenics only worsens the  situation. In the long run, fat‐burners can potentially make you fatter by screwing up your physiology. Overusing such  supplements can create (or aggravate already existing) adrenaline resistance, which in turn causes fat retention, muscle  loss, and inflammation. 

Most fat burning supplements on the market are stimulant‐based, thus they work by increasing the  neurotransmitter/hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine. Norepinephrine and epinephrine are catecholamines,  secreted by the adrenals, which trigger the “fight or flight” response (also known as an adrenaline rush) providing an  energy and strength boost by way of the central nervous system for 2‐15 minutes. When facing a legitimate stressor, i.e.  an emergency, we rely on these hormones to overcome and persevere. Epinephrine, also referred to as adrenaline, is  what gets you out of the bed in the morning; it further gives you an edge every time you take on a challenge. Adrenaline  gives us energy for intense workouts and, in the form of norepinephrine, for the mental demands of problem solving. 

The problem, as usual, comes from too much of a good thing. Most people in modern society have chronically increased  adrenaline levels from day‐to‐day living, and taking stimulant‐based fat burners only increases the load on their already  overworked adrenal glands. What if you’re on vacation? With no stress in sight? Still, if you take a fat‐burning  supplement the recommended two to three times a day, you’ll still be increasing your brain’s perception of stress. So  every time you take a stimulant based fat burning supplement the message to the brain is a consciousness of stress. 

Chronically elevated adrenaline always results in adrenaline resistance, a condition wherein the various adrenaline  receptors become desensitized. In an adrenaline‐sensitive system, adrenaline causes blood sugar to rise (to be burned  for energy) while simultaneously releasing lipids into the blood stream (the fat‐burning part) thus adrenaline can aid us  in breaking down fat deposits for energy. Unfortunately, in an adrenaline‐resistant system, since the receptors are  dulled, the message is either delayed or worse, never gets through. Thus, the system stores–instead of burning–the  available energy sources and, worse yet, tends to store the released lipids into already‐existing stubborn fat depots, like  hips and thighs in women and love handles and upper back fat in men. In addition to increasing depot fat stores,  adrenaline resistance–allowed to run its course–ends with severe energy lows and general fatigue Receptors worn out  by chronic stimulation eventually shut down, leaving you lagging all day. 

Building–and retaining–muscle mass is critical to body leanness. If your goals include fat loss, you’ll want to add muscle  to improve your ratio of lean body mass to fat–and building muscle is virtually impossible in the face of adrenaline  resistance. 

We need sufficient testosterone and growth hormone to feel our best and thrive, but the excess cortisol (from the  excess adrenaline) pulls the plug on muscle gains on one front by flat‐lining production of the anabolic sex hormones.  When your central nervous system is in continual survival mode, available energy is no longer delegated to anabolism  (i.e. tissue growth and repair) but instead to survival mode (i.e. suppressing inflammation by suppressing the immune  system.) Decreased sex hormone production is the kiss of death for muscle gains, fat loss, powerful immunity and a  healthy zeal for life. You want to optimize your sex hormone levels and feel great? Here’s the hitch: you must address  adrenaline resistance. 

When it comes to fat loss, instead of relying on ever‐increasing adrenal stimulation (with ever‐decreasing returns) focus  on what realistically needs to happen to burn the fat off–keep it off. One often overlooked key to fat loss is liver health.  The stronger and healthier the liver, the less stubborn fat deposits on the body, since the liver assists in clearing out  excess fat‐retaining estrogens. 

Since toxins are stored in fat cells, the body will stubbornly retain fat in order not to release those stored toxins into the  blood stream, since it could overwhelm the system–especially when organs are already stressed. Though you may think  it hates you, your body may actually be holding on to that undesired fat to protect your organs. 

Knowing this, it makes sense to eat a diet both clean and free of toxins. Consuming ample organic fruits and vegetables  provides the liver antioxidants to counter the effects of toxins released from the fat cells. While the nutrition benefit per  se of organic food over non‐organic food is negligible at best, organic food has less surface toxins from sprays which  ideally translates into a lower toxic load on the system, therefore less burden on the liver and finally, decreased  stubborn body fat. 

Don’t forget the minerals: magnesium and zinc support hormone production–especially testosterone. With every  adrenaline release comes a corresponding need for magnesium and other minerals and electrolytes. Magnesium  controls muscular contraction, including striated, smooth and cardiac muscle. Magnesium, with its muscle relaxing properties, is best  taken as a sleep aid before bedtime. 

Finally, take a page from The Younger (Thinner) You Diet: How Understanding Your Brain Chemistry Can Help You Lose  Weight, Reverse Aging and Fight Disease (Eric Braverman, MD) and add three spices to every meal. Spices, such as  turmeric, basil, oregano, cumin and rosemary are all anti‐inflammatory and good for liver health. Cinnamon is helpful for  regulating blood sugar and tastes great in protein shakes and homemade protein bars. 

Proper sleep, and other restorative practices, are important–frequently neglected–aspects of fat loss and physical  wellness. Without adequate quality sleep (7‐9 hours for most) human growth hormone levels will be insufficient. Growth  hormone has an anabolic function and is a potent player in body leanness. GH Levels naturally decline after age 25 so  you don’t want to further short change yourself by missing sleep. 

You can never go wrong taking charge of your life and circumstances. The more self‐reliant you feel in your endeavors,  the healthier you will be.  

Looking to optimize your health and win the war against body fat? Address your propensity for adrenaline resistance. In  short, if you are one of the stimulant addicted, overcome it. Unlike caffeine and other fat‐burners, eating a clean diet  supplies real energy to the body and keeps the liver clear of toxins. The healthier your liver, the more efficiently you will  shed fat and improve hormonal profiles. If indicated, you may need supplements for liver health and hormonal support, but remember: diet, exercise and supplements aren’t enough in themselves. If you have a stressful attitude  toward your life, you can count yourself among the adrenaline resistant. Don’t go there! Why not take responsibility for  your life and, instead of managing symptoms of stress, rout them and liberate yourself. Also, never guess on what supplements to take.  You should always have proper testing and guidance from a professional.  I highly recommend getting the proper blood work done to find out what you need.  

Also, be wary if you have a personal trainer that pushes pre-workout drinks and stimulants. 

Dedicated To Your Success,

Dr. John Heary, DC, CFT, SFN, PFTS, MMACC, CUSC, CCFT

Certified Fitness Trainer
Certified Specialist in Fitness Nutrition
Certified Physique and Figure Trainer Specialist
Certified Mixed Martial Arts Conditioning Coach
Certified Underground Strength Coach
Certified Fitranx Instructor

Certified TRX Instructor

Certified Corporate Fitness Trainer

Certified Spartan SGX Coach

Certified Weightlifting Performance Coach

(716) 545-4090

www.drjohnheary.com

Dr. John Heary's fan page

Orchard Park Fit Body Bootcamp Fanpage

www.OrchardParkFitBody.com

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.