We all are aware that cooking with OLIVE OIL is very healthy-but are you aware of these oils that are also healthy?
 
1.       Avocado Oil-This is a monounsaturated fat that is heart healthy. It not only improves cholesterol but also increases the absorption of antioxidants in your salad/vegetables.
2.       Hemp Oil-This oil is high in omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid which may reduce the risk of diabetes. This is best used anywhere you would use olive oil.
3.       Hazelnut Oil-Monounsaturated fat
4.       Grapeseed Oil-According to the journal, Neurology, this may reduce the risks of strokes by 73%. Because this oil can reduce hunger pangs, you might even lose a few pounds!
5.       Almond Oil-Once again, this is a monounsaturated fat that not only improves cholesterol but is also great for your skin.
6.       Tea Seed Oil-Similar to green tea, this is a heat healthy oil which also has a lot of antioxidant activity
7.       Red Palm Oil-A good source of Vitamin E and alpha-carotene, this may boost your immune system in addition to being heart healthy

Learn more from a consultation with our Certified Dietitian atKaizen Total Wellness

A recent study showed an association between Parkinson’s disease and exposure to weed killers, solvents and pesticides. Agricultural workers had a 33% increase in the incidence of the disease. It is interesting that DDT, which was banned years ago show NO links. Paraquat, Maneb and Mancozeb showed the highest association.
These results were from 104 studies collected around the world.

Recently, I had a patient who had several gout attacks and mentioned that he had used cherries in the past to help with the pain. We know that some people get arthritis pain relief by drinking tart cherry juice, but do cherries actually work to prevent or treat gout?
 
A study from the Boston University Medical Center in December 2012 reported that out of 550 gout patients, those who ate cherries prior to a gout attack reduced their chances of getting acute gout by 33%.
Why?
It is thought that cherry juice blocks the reabsorption of uric acid in the kidneys and increases its excretion, Cherries may also block XANTHINE OXIDASE, to reduce the production or uric acid. We also think that a component of cherries called ANTHOCYANINS may have anti-inflammatory properties.
 
More studies may be needed but unlike most other supplements, at least we have some real medical scientific proof that this just may be beneficial!

While doing research for another study on both microbial and clinical risk factors for C. Difficile, the investigators came across an article regarding an outbreak investigation that was published by epidemiologists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that patients with C. Difficile were 3 times more likely to have psychoses and depression than matched control individuals. Later, the researchers noted that a group of Canadian pharmacists had published a study on medications associated with C. Difficile in 2 hospitals. Of all the medications studied, antidepressants were found to be most strongly related to C. Difficile, with a significant relative risk of 2.49. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and frequency of medical visits, the investigators found that people with major depression had a 36% increase in the odds of developing C. Difficile compared with individuals without major depression (odds ratio [OR], 1.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 - 1.74; P = .016).

The investigators found that most types of antidepressants did not affect CDI risk. Of the 12 antidepressants that were tested, only mirtazapine (REMERON) and fluoxetine (PROZAC) increased the risk for C. Difficile.

It is interesting that the main focus of this study was to show a relationship between antibiotic associated diarrhea and PPI’s (Prilosec, Nexium et al). It was only by accident that they found an association between these 2 anti-depressants, antibiotics and diarrhea.

We don’t know why these 2 medications caused it more than their competitors, but I’m sure more studies will be done.

Please make sure that your physician knows about ALL of your medications before taking antibiotics.

his is an excerpt from the British Medical Journal
 
 
What are the conservative treatment options?
Core conservative treatments for all patients include education and exercise, with weight loss for those who are overweight or obese.
Exercise is essential for all patients, irrespective of disease severity, age, comorbidity, pain severity, or disability. Local muscle strengthening and general aerobic exercise are recommended, whereas aquatic exercise may be better for people with serious mobility and functional limitations or those who cannot exercise on land. Although exercise is beneficial, sports that involve twisting and high impact activities such as running should be avoided. Instead, advise younger active people who develop osteoarthritis after a knee injury to modify their activity and participate in low impact sports such as cycling, rowing, swimming, and deep water running.

What is the role of surgery?
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends that arthroscopic lavage or debridement (or both) and meniscal resection be performed only in patients with mechanical symptoms, such as sudden onset of inability to fully extend the knee or repeated disabling catching or locking. This operation has no demonstrable effect on pain in osteoarthritis of the knee, with the latest studies showing similar benefits to optimized physical therapy and medical treatment.

Please call Kaizen Total Wellness to learn more about our physical therapy and exercise programs for arthritis.
941-556-7788T
 
 

Background:
There are eight B vitamins generally known as thiamin (B-1), riboflavin (B-2), niacin (B-3), pantothenic acid (B-5), pyridoxine (B-6), biotin (B-7), folic acid (folate) (B-9), and cyanocobalamin (B-12). Like most vitamins, B vitamins are essential — your body needs them but cannot make them; you must get them from your diet or from supplements.
Each B vitamin is associated with a variety of functions, many of which relate to turning food into energy and other needed substances. Folate, for example, is important in reducing birth defects of the spinal cord and is, therefore, a critical ingredient in prenatal vitamins. But at a high dosage, folic acid may increase the risk of certain cancers. Niacin, when taken in very high doses, can improve cholesterol levels but can also cause side-effects and toxicity. Several (B-6, B-12, and folate) have been shown to reduce elevated homocysteine levels -- a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, although studies have not shown this combination to reduce cardiovascular risk itself
 
Previous reviews by ConsumerLab.com have uncovered problems with the B vitamin content of several supplements. Neither the U.S. government nor any agency is responsible for routinely testing B vitamin products or other dietary supplements for their contents or quality


    •    5-Hour Energy (Berry) contained only 75.5% of its claimed folic acid, although it did contain its claimed amounts of niacin, B-6, and B-12. The amount of B-6 and B-12 in this product is many times higher than the RDAs for these ingredients, although not exceeding tolerable upper limits for those vitamins. For young adults, the RDA for B-6 is 1.3 mg and for B-12 is 2.4 mcg, while the suggested serving (one bottle) provides 40 mg of B-6 (3,100% of the RDA) and 500 mcg of B-12 (20,800% of the RDA). 

5-Hour Energy lists among its ingredients an "energy blend" that includes caffeine. The label notes that the amount of caffeine is comparable to that in a cup of "leading premium coffee." ConsumerLab.com found the 2 fluid ounce bottle to contain 207 mg of caffeine. However, this is 15% higher than what you would get from a "short" cup (8 fluid ounces) of a premium coffee such as Starbucks, which Starbucks claims to have 180 mg of caffeine (Starbucks.com 2010). 

    •    Stacker 2 6-Hour Power Shot contained just 40.4% of its claimed folic acid. It provided the same high levels of B-6 (40 mg) and B-12 (500 mcg) as 5-Hour Energy. Also, like 5-Hour Energy, 6-Hour Power Shot also lists among its ingredients an "energy blend" that includes caffeine. The label notes that the amount of caffeine is comparable to that in a cup of "brewed coffee". ConsumerLab.com found the 2 fluid ounce bottle to contain 156 mg of caffeine. However, this is 64% higher than what you would get from a cup (8 fluid ounces) of brewed coffee based on measurements by the USDA of coffee brewed at home and from fast food restaurants (USDA National Nutrient Database 2010)). 

Unlike 5-Hour Energy which directs the user not to exceed 2 bottles per day, 6-Hour Power Shot only cautions not to exceed 1 shot every six hours -- which means taking as much as four bottles per day. Be aware that taking 3 or 4 bottles of 6-Hour Power can result in exceeding the Upper Tolerable Intake Levels for several B vitamins (niacin, vitamin B-6, and folic acid), creating a risk of toxicity. Intake exceeding 1,000 mg of folic acid, for example, may increase the risk of precancerous tumors becoming malignant: If 6-Hour Power contained the amount of folic acid that it claimed, 3 to 4 bottles would provide 1,200 mg to 1,600 mg of folic acid, exceeding the ULs. It would be prudent to limit intake of 6-Hour Power to under 2.5 bottles per day. B Complexes:
Supplements containing more than one B vitamin are widely sold. However, two common reasons for buying these complexes are not well supported by scientific evidence.

       Our Recommendations:
    •    AVOID! AVOID AVOID!
    •    Try to avoid taking too much of any B vitamin. Check the ULs listed above and, if you need to take a product with vitamins exceeding the ULs, do so under a physician's supervision and with awareness of potential side effects. For example, a recent large study of diabetes patients with advanced nephropathy (kidney disease) given high-dose B vitamins (folic acid - 2.5 mg, B-6 - 25 mg, and B-12 - 1 mg daily) showed a worsening of kidney function and doubling of the risk of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and death in the B-vitamin group compared to the placebo group. The study was designed with the expectation that the vitamins would have the opposite effect because of the ability of B vitamins to lower homocysteine levels, which did decrease. (House, JAMA 2010)
    •    Be aware that certain B vitamins can interact with other drugs and supplements as noted above.

Cellulite is a common problem for women of all ages. Here too, vibrational training has been shown to be effective. In a German six-month long research project into the effects of Acceleration Training on cellulite, 55 subjects were divided into two groups:
 
One group did Whole Body Vibrational Training for 8-13 minutes, two to three times a week
The second group performed the identical vibrational exercise, plus another 24-48 minutes of cardio training, two to three times a week
Baseline measurements were collected at the beginning of the study, and repeated six months later. The data collected included:
 
Skin condition (the measure of cellulite or evaluation of the deposits of dimpled fat under the skin).
Circumference of calf muscles, buttocks, and upper thigh.
Body composition: body fat percentage, lean mass percentage.
After six months, the Whole Body Vibrational training group only had a cellulite reduction of just below 26 percent, while the WBV plus cardio group had a cellulite reduction of just over 32 percent. The authors concluded:
 
"This study proves that easy, simple and efficient whole body vibration training can defeat cellulite; it can accelerate and enhance collagen remodeling, improve circulation, increase lean tissue, help people to lose fat and reduce the size of buttocks, thighs and calves."
 
Our trainers are all certified by Power Plate International and all sessions are private.
Kaizen Total Wellness
Lakewood Ranch, Florida

bioDensity training allows us to apply the principals of OSTEOGENIC LOADING to the average patient of any age.
OSTEOGENIC LOADING stimulates the growth of new bone mass through axial loading of the musculoskeletal system.
By using isometric exercises, we are able to not only improve bone density but also muscle strength and balance without having to use weight training.
The whole session can be completed in 5 minutes and may only be used once/week to allow for muscle recuperation.
The bioDensity device allows us to accurately graph and measure improvements in performance and muscle strength.
In our office we are seeing our patients not only improve strength and balance but also improve osteoporosis and arthritis.
Because there are no weights lifted, even our knee and hip replacement patients are improving much faster then with routine physical therapy alone.
 
In our office, we often combine physical therapy, massage therapy,  bioDensity and POWER PLATE to achieve our goals.

Please call for more information or to schedule your free demo.
 
Kaizen Total Wellness
941-556-7788

Most patients and physicians are concerned about the costs of health care and wonder how we will ever be able to afford it. With Medicare and Social Security going broke and commercial insurance premiums soaring to record highs something has to be done.
Local health care attorney and author, Jonathan Fleece has written a book called “The New Health Age: The Future of Health Care in America”. In his book, he describes what he and other futurist think needs to be done. Basically, in one word, wellness. When insurance companies finally recognize the benefits of wellness over disease, maybe they will start covering programs, like the ones we have at Kaizen Total Wellness. We believe that our concept, which features a dietician, physical therapist, massage therapist and even our own unique gym, staffed by fitness trainers, will one day appear in many practices around the country.
Our practice has always emphasized wellness and prevention over disease. Maybe one day others will think that way too!

Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos began their offseason training program to prepare for the season’s kickoff. They’re making some new changes to their strength and conditioning program, including implementing Power Plate Acceleration Training.
In a recent interview, Denver Broncos coach John Fox said there would be changes to “a lot of equipment.”
“There’s a little more body-weight-type training instead of real heavy weights,” Fox said. “It’s a little more new-science oriented.”
The Denver Broncos currently have 12 Power Plate machines in their training facility.
Call to arrange a free demonstration on our Power Plate


Call Kaizen Total Wellness to try the Power Plate with a certified fitness trainer,
we have three professionals on staff

941-556-7788

Hookah pipes are definitely more dangerous because you are exposed to much more smoke than with a conventional cigarette, and the water that it is filtered through DOES NOT filter out toxins. E-Cigarettes have become popular recently due to advertisements claiming they can help you quit smoking and that they are safe. Unfortunately, e-cigarettes still deliver nicotine and their long term safety is unknown at this time.
Please note: they are banned by airlines and most hospitals.  

My recommendations are:

1. Avoid HOOKA PIPES

2. I don’t know enough about the E-cigarettes, but I’m all for anything that may possibly help a patient quit smoking regular cigarettes. So, if you have tried convention means of quitting (OTC or Rx) or unconventional (acupuncture or hypnosis) without success, you may want to give it a try.

3. PLEASE be aware: you have to REALLY want to quit to have any chance of success. Nicotine is an addiction, and I have never had a patient who was able to quit permanently who still loved to smoke or who was only “quitting” to please a family member.    

A recent study from CONSUMER REPORTS showed that 90% of the ground turkey samples that they tested showed fecal bacteria! The tested examined samples from retail locations in 21 states and 27 different brands.
According to Consumer Reports, eating this may cause food poisoning or other infections.
The National Turkey Federation obviously did not agree with the report, stating that the study was alarmist and that health risks were low.
Of interest is that both conventional and organic ground turkey were equally contaminated.
 
The big question is: ”What exactly does this mean?”
 
I’m afraid I don’t have any answer except that that I won’t be eating ground turkey for the time being.

by Kerry Grens/ April 10, 2013 / Reuters

Obesity is already linked to a higher risk of colon or rectal cancer, but a new study suggests this risk is even greater for obese people who have undergone weight-loss surgery.
Based on a study of more than 77,000 obese patients, Swedish and English researchers found the risk for colorectal cancer among those who have had obesity surgery is double that of the general population.
Though colorectal cancer risk among obese patients who didn't have the surgery was just 26 percent higher than in the general population, researchers said the results should not discourage people from going under the knife.
"These findings should not be used to guide decisions made by patients or doctors at all until the results are confirmed by other studies," said Dr. Jesper Lagergren, the new study's senior author and a professor at both the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and King's College London.
Each year more than 100,000 people in the U.S. have surgery to treat obesity.
Lagergren and his colleagues point out in their report, published in the Annals of Surgery, that obesity is tied to elevated risks for a number of cancers, including colorectal, breast and prostate.
Whether surgery to lose weight can affect those risks is uncertain.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/04/10/weight-loss-surgery-tied-to-colon-cancer-risk/#ixzz2SR2RaqbT

The average working American gets less than five hours of sleep a night.  The reality is that we need a minimum of 7 (optimumly 9) hours of sleep.
 
During sleep, our body releases hormones that regulate our biological clock, and benefit our body tissues by increasing muscle growth and speeds up fat-loss.
 
During a lack of sleep, our body increases a stress hormone called "cortisol".  The release of cortisol increases our appetite.  Because of the lack of sleep, our body then has a difficult time metabolizing charbohydrates.  This in turn leads to raised blood sugar, which leads to an increase in insulin.  An increase in insulin is a signal for our body to store fat.
 
So, what can we do to get a good night's sleep?
 
1)  Make the room COLD : Yup, I hate it too, after all that's why we live here!  But, studies have shown that the ideal temp for sleep is between a chilly 60-68*
 
2)  Make your room as quiet as possible:  Consider wearing earplugs and keep the TV off, if you can, turn off the cell phone.- the radiation from them can increase the amount of time to reach deep sleep cycles.  Not to mention the distraction created by the incoming text or email.
 
3)  Make your room Really Dark:  Our body's naturally increase melatonin in the absence of sunlight, even a little bit of light can interfere with melatonin levels.
 
4) Set a sleep schedule:  Avoid intellectually stimulating reading material, TV shows and instead pick up a book you wouldn't normally choose and read for 15 min. before bed.  To re-establish a normal sleep cycle, avoid sleeping in on the weekend and instead try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time that you do week days.
 
5)  Sleep on a good mattress and pillow:  A sprinkle of lavender oil on your pillowcase also helps to promote a restful sleep
 
 
Remember, a good night's sleep
*  Helps us stay lean due to maintaining good insulin sensitivity
*  Cuts the risk of common colds and resilience to stress.
*  Improves memory and performance, and a host of other healthy benefits that help us to LOOK and FEEL better!
 

 

We always think about diabetes in terms of glucose control and there are many ways to mange the disease. A more important question is: Does the patient have to do anything else besides take medication and watch their diet to prevent heart disease and death?
For years, I have noticed just as many diabetic complications in my controlled diabetics as I do in my poorly controlled diabetics.
A study was recently reported factoring in mild to moderate exercise into the equation and their results concur with my own personal observations: That is- higher levels of activity were associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular deaths.Lifestyle and physical activity are just as important as taking medications in diabetes!
Please consult with either your cardiologist or Dr. Mishner before starting any exercise program.
Our unique and safe fitness programs are open to the public at the KAIZEN TOTAL WELLNESS CENTER located in Lakewood Ranch. Please call 941-556-7788 to set up an appointment. Please note that this MAY be covered in part by insurance.

We know about smoking, blood pressure and cholesterol and their relationship to heart disease. Or do we? Regular readers and patients of mine are aware that the only cholesterol lowering medication that has been shown to have any significant benefits are the STATINS (Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor, etc) We know that herbal supplements are useless as well as certain expensive prescriptions, like NIASPAN. We are now questioning whether HDL means anything or not, and the only thing we think we do know is that a low LDL cholesterol seems to offer the most benefit for decreasing cardiovascular risk.
Well, it's time to rethink STATINS, CHOLESTEROL AND HEART DISEASE!
A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine looked at the association of CHOLINE (egg yolks and meat) and a compound found in the intestines called TRIMETHYLAMINE-N-OXIDE (TMAO) which may be a powerful marker of atherosclerosis and heart disease!
The theory is that the choline in the diet is altered by bacteria in the gut.Recently there was also an article about CARNITINE (red meat), which can also raise TMAO levels. Please be aware that choline is also found inenergy drinks and diet supplements.
Now it gets interesting:
It may not be about cholesterol and statins, but rather altering TMAO metabolism which will decrease heart disease as the TMAO alters cholesterol metabolism and THAT is what may lead to heart disease.
Blood levels of TMAO were suppressed by antibioyics, only to return to high levels after the antibiotics were discontinued.
The next question is:"What does all this mean?"
Right now it is too premature to stop taking your statins, but in the near future our treatment options may consist of probiotics and/or TMAO modifying drugs. Of course, you can also limit your intake of eggs and meat.
It wasn't until 1991 that we discovered the connection between H. Pylori bacteria and stomach ulcers!

HARVEY S. MISHNER MD
KAIZEN TOTAL WELLNESS CENTER
LAKEWOOD RANCH, FLORIDA
941-747-2090

For years we have known about the increased risk of depression and heart disease. But now, there may be medical proof to back it up.
According to a study recently published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, patients who have newly diagnosed, untreated depression have biochemical evidence of a pro-thrombotic, pro-inflammatory state, which in English means an increased risk or Atherosclerosis.

There are many ways of treating depression including medication and psychotherapy. But we also know that exercise can naturally increase serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain (as well as increase natural growth hormone levels which helps with anti-aging)

There have been many studies in the past comparing quality of life in patients with depression, heart disease, diabetes and cancer----and the lowest scores are always seen in depressed patients.

Isn't it funny that insurance companies will spend millions of dollars on all of the above except for mental illness?

Forget the stigma, if you feel depressed, get help.

Born and raised in Germany, Juergen is a fitness trainer, with a CISSA, (Certified International Sports Sciences Association) certification. Besides German, he is fluent in French and Italian. He arrived in the US in 1998, living in New York for 12 years before moving to Sarasota. He also has experience as an instructor in  Scuba Diving, Medic First Aid, and Life Guard training. In his free time he enjoys sailing, water sports and the beach.

If you would like to schedule your fitness session with Juergen, please call Kaizen Total Wellness at 556-7788 for an appointment.

A lot of my patients are using KRILL OIL as an alternative to FISH OIL. Krill are tiny shrimp-like crustaceans. Promoters, like DR. OZ, claim that KRILL OIL has all the benefits of FISH OIL but with fewer capsules and no fishy taste. Whereas some products may lower cholesterol,there is no proof that they work better. Krill does cost more. Our recommendation is to only use KRILL if you can not tolerate either the fishy smell or the non-fishy enteric coated capsules which hide the smell. And please remember our prior blogs which review studies that show that FISH OIL showed no benefit in patients who already had heart disease!

Harvey S. Mishner MD
Kaizen Total Wellness
941-747-2090 941-556-7788