Live Well Clinic

What are your adrenal glands and what do they do for you? Your adrenal glands sit on top of your kidneys like a little hat. Adrenal glands work with the brain to mediate stress, produce energy, maintain weight and metabolism, control blood pressure, and secrete testosterone among other things. Why am I always tired and gaining weight especially around the middle? It sounds like you are experiencing “adrenal fatigue”. This happens when you are under constant mental, physical, or emotional stress, eating a poor diet, lacking exercise, and end up burning the candle at both ends. Adrenal fatigue is a term used to describe sub-optimal functioning of your adrenal glands leading to symptoms such as constant fatigue and weight gain. When under stressful situations, your adrenal glands produce “fight or flight” stress hormones which stimulate an increase in blood sugar so that your body can either use the extra energy to run away or to stand and fight. In a modern day setting, if this ext...

Author: Dr. Sonja Fung, ND The new year is coming once again and resolutions are stacking up; promises that sometimes never make it through the first month but manage to make the resolution list every single year. We always expect a better year than the last one, and at each end of each year, people make resolutions that will hopefully make the coming year more satisfying than the last one. The annual number one resolution of all time is to lose weight and get healthy. Indulging in festivities from November to January has probably affected your be-hind. With non-stop eating, most people will gain a several extra pounds and decide to lose those pounds in the New Year. Here are some steps to achieving your weight loss goals: 1) Establish a food plan. Whether you chose the HCG diet, south beach, zone, mediterranean, weight watchers, etc. find a food plan that works for you. The ever popular HCG diet (when used correctly in a medically supervised plan) can help as a stepping ston...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...