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Showing posts from 2010

Q&A Helpful Hints for a Happy & Safe Holiday

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The holidays are here and so are the parties along with family gatherings filled with great food, fun, and maybe more than a few drinks. Here are some great reminders on how you can keep your holidays swinging and safe at the same time. 1) How much is too much alcohol? For men, a moderate amount of alcohol equates to no more than two drinks per day and for women; one drink per day. One drink equals: One 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler, One 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80- proof distilled spirits. According to the National Institute of Health, drinking more than a moderate amount can increase the risk of injury, stroke, high blood pressure, depression, and cancer. Remember that in both genders, as you age, you are less likely to adapt as quickly or process alcohol and it may have a longer effect on you than previously remembered. 2) I heard that red wine was good for you. What are the pros and cons of alcohol consumption? Moderate red wine consumption

“Let your food be your medicine- 5 Herbs for Your Medicine Cabinet”

By: Dr. Sonja Fung As it is September, we are now in the full swing of the cold and flu season. I would also like to point out that we are also entering into some of the best months of the valley….perfect for growing your own medicine cabinet. Yes, I did say “grow”. Some of the most potent cold busting remedies can be as close as your back yard or window sill. And you can tap into this immune boosting powerhouse every single day. "Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine, food" said Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, who compiled a list of over four hundred herbs and their uses. Herbs, spices and other nutritional substances are the oldest form of medicine known to man and here are some basic ways of incorporating the power of food onto your dinner plate. Helpful Herbs There are so many different types of herbs and spices that it makes it hard to choose just a few to write about, but here are 5 very common herbs that can spice up your dish AND keep your im

HCG Diet: Fad or Fantastic?

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Author: Dr. Sonja N. Fung You have probably all heard of the HCG diet being the next miracle cure for obesity and weight loss, but what else have you heard? Is it as beneficial as you have heard? What are the risks? Are you a candidate for the HCG diet? Here’s the 411 on HCG and how it came into the lime light. What is HCG? In the 1920’s, researchers discovered human chorionic gonadatropin or HCG. HCG is a hormone produced by women only during early pregnancy and peeks at 14 weeks. This is the hormone that is measured on urine pregnancy test strips. HCG works to sequester calories and nutrients for the fetus regardless of how much or how little the mother eats. How does this work? HCG is reported to selectively metabolize calories from areas with high fat stores, such as the abdomen, hips, and thighs. How HCG was discovered for weight loss? In the 1950’s a British doctor practicing in Rome, Dr. Simeons, found that young hypogonadal boys treated with HCG lost their excess weigh

Back to School Health Essentials

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What are the best non-sugary back to school drinks to keep your kids hydrated? Water is still the best way to go instead of juice or Gatorade.   Help your child swap out sugary drinks for water by giving them a cool bottle to take to school. Check out MySigg.com for environmentally conscious water bottles. Skip the plastic kind and you’ll be doing your part for the environment.   If your children participate in sports, they may need an electrolyte drink to help replenish what they lost during practice or playing in the heat. What are the best electrolyte drinks for very active kids? Gatorade and other purported sports drinks are unhealthy for children. They are filled with high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavoring, and dyes.   If you want all of that in your children, you should give them a candy bar. Instead, you can send your kids with a bottle of home made electrolyte drink or choose from these healthy options: Smart Water by Glaceau Whole Foods 365 E

IV’s- Not Just for Dehydration

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By: Dr. Sonja Fung In the desert, we should always be cognizant of our hydration status, especially in the summer months. We are more prone to overheating and dehydration, sometimes to the point of needing IV (intravenous) hydration. We are all familiar with IV therapy in hospital settings, where drugs and other substances are administered during surgery or in emergency situations. But that’s not what I’m talking about today. The IV therapy I’m describing is like hydration with a boost! IV nutritional therapy is a highly concentrated infusion of vitamins, minerals, and other natural substances delivered directly into your cells to support optimal health and correct any nutrient deficiencies. IV administration of nutrients can achieve blood levels not attainable with oral routes, as digestion and absorption are not an issue. For example, high doses of Vitamin C have been shown to boost your immune system to help fight off a cold or flu. Doses as high as 15 grams of vitamin C are e

Q&A: Men's Health

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1) Do males really go through hormonal changes like females do during menopause? Yes, “male menopause”, also known as andropause, is term for men aging.   Andropause is the decrease in the body’s production of male hormones. On average, a man’s testosterone level decreases 1% every year starting at age 40. You, or the man in your life, may be experiencing andropause if you recognize the following symptoms: reduced libido, insomnia, loss of lean muscle mass, impaired memory, erectile dysfunction, mood changes, and the list goes on. The term “grumpy old man” has been popularized for a reason.   But there is hope! Men can also have their hormones rebalanced utilizing bio-identical hormone replacement. Testosterone replacement is a common treatment for the symptoms above with profound results by increasing a man’s quality of life.   2) What and when should be in every man’s health calendar? Men’s health screenings: Testicular cancer screening- self exams every month

Food Addiction, Food Allergy and Overweight

By: Sephen Levine, Ph. D. Have you ever eaten something - a bowl of ice cream, a piece of cheese, an orange - and felt hungrier than before? Do you have urges for a particular food and find it hard to satisfy your craving unless you eat that particular food? If the answer is "yes" to either of these questions, then you have a food allergy. If you are also fat, then chances are your food allergy is making you fat. Food sensitivities may cause allergic people to crave those foods to which they are allergic. Just as a drug addict suffers withdrawal symptoms when the drug is withdrawn, allergic people experience discomfort when they lose access to a particular food. Obese people can testify to the overwhelming power of food allergy addiction. Compulsive eaters crave and continue to eat those allergenic foods to which they are addicted day after day. The obese person has no idea that his daily food cravings or eating habits are based on a physiological need to stop withdrawal symp

Q&A

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Q: As I’ve grown older, I’ve started getting muscle cramps. What can I do about them? ~ Peter. A: Hi Peter, This is a very good question. The lack of minerals such as magnesium and calcium is the most common problem for muscle cramps. Minerals are essential for the function of our muscles as well as thousands of other processes in our body. If you don’t have enough minerals, you find that your muscles recover more slowly after a work out and get more sore and crampy in general. One of the reasons may be that you aren’t getting enough minerals from the foods you eat. The best sources are from vegetables, especially dark green leafy vegetables. Other great sources are from fruits, nuts and seeds, and beans. Another important factor is that our digestive function decreases as we age. This means that our body isn’t as efficient in digesting and absorbing the nutrients we obtain from our food. So even if you are eating a lot of fruits and vegetables, you may not be abso

What is Naturopathic Medicine?

By: Nicole Ortiz, ND Less than a year ago, with the help of my business partner, Dr. Sonja Fung, we opened the east valley’s first Naturopathic Medicine Clinic. While many efforts to spread the word and educate people about Naturopathic medicine has ensued, most residents of the valley are still not familiar with exactly what a Naturopathic Doctor can offer them. If you are a person seeking better health through addressing the root causes of your illness and prefer to use more natural methods before drugs, listen up! Naturopathic medicine has blossomed to new levels of demand as the conventional health care system in the US continues to fail to meet the health needs of our community. As citizens seek medicine that promotes healthy lifestyle and prevention of chronic disease rather than quick temporary fixes, Naturopathic medicine is positioned in the direction medicine will need to be in the future. From its cost effective nature that is rooted in prevention and education, to the s

You Are What You Eat- Focusing on Digestive health

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Why is digestive health so important? According to the Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition, more than 70 million Americans suffer from digestive disorders that interfere with their work and their lives. A healthy digestive system is the core to health. Having an optimal digestion allows our body to digest and absorb nutrients from our food, which in turn, gives us energy, stabilizes our mood, and maintains our body’s health. Heart burn, gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea, irritable bowel are all signs of poor digestion. Most digestive issues have one thing in common – lifestyle choices.  Your lifestyle choices can play a significant role in the quality of your digestive health and whether or not you develop a digestive disorder or disease. Eventually, poor digestion can lead to long term chronic diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis, anemia, skin rashes, allergies, and migraines. What causes heart burn or indigestion? When refluxed stomach acid touch