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Author: Dr. Debra Muth

Winner of Talk of the Town Customer Satisfaction Award

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Wisconsin Integrative medical center Serenity Health Care Center earns high praise from satisfied patients and wins the 2014 Talk of the Town Customer Satisfaction Award! Winner for two years in a row!

Serenity Health Care Center, Sc., has received a 4.5-star customer satisfaction rating, earning it the prestigious Talk of the Town Customer Satisfaction Award in the Health & Medical — Health & Medical category for 2014.

The Talk of the Town Awards, presented by Talk of the Town News, Customer Care News magazine and Celebration Media U.S., honor companies and professionals that provide excellent customer service as reported by their customers through no-cost, user-review websites, blogs, social networks, business rating services, and other honors and accolades. This data is analyzed by a team of researchers who calculate a company’s CM Power Rating. Only those that receive a 4-star to 5-star rating receive the Talk of the Town Customer Satisfaction Award.

Serenity Health Care Center, established by Debra Muth, WHNP, ND, BAAHP, MSNH, in 2011, provides the Waukesha area with integrative medical care, health and nutrition programs for the entire family, including functional medicine programs, anti-aging programs, weight loss programs, nutritional supplements, chiropractic care, hypnosis, occupational therapy, massage therapy, specializes in autism, thermal imaging, allergy treatment, and bio-identical hormone therapy are just a few of the services this full service integrative medical center provides.

“Our goal is to listen to our patient’s needs and partner with them to create a individualized healing program that allows them to reach their health and wellness goals. We do this by treating the whole person. We strive to provide each person with the highest quality integrative medical care available in the spirit of loving, giving and serving,” says Dr. Muth, who has been a licensed Nurse Practitioner since 1996 and Naturopathic Doctor in 2003.

“We offer quality care from an experienced, caring staff,” says Dr. Muth. “Our mission is to provide a path to healing. Patients are not just a number at our office, they are family. We make them feel warm and welcome.”

Dr. Muth says that her staff was an integral part in winning the customer satisfaction award. “Our employees are extremely caring, compassionate and are dedicated to assisting people in healing,” she says. “When our patients step through our door they are treated like family.”

The practice is located in a beautiful state-of-the-art building with a full service lab facility and thermal imaging center. “Our integrative medical center utilizes the most advanced approaches to health care,” says Dr. Muth. “We consider creating health and wellness a priority that everyone engages in to create the quality life they want to live.”

Serenity Health Care Center is located at 1708 Paramount Court in Waukesha, WI. For more information about the practice and its services, hours and more, call 262-522-8640 or go online to www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com. You can follow the practice on Facebook under Serenity Health Care Center.

About the Award and Sponsors:

This is the fifth year Celebration Media, Talk of the Town News and Customer Care News have honored companies for achieving high levels of customer satisfaction with the Talk of the Town Awards. Businesses eligible to receive the award include, but are not limited to, beauty salons, spas, restaurants, bakeries, dentists, auto repair facilities, veterinarians, home repair and improvement contractors, florists, hospitals, and physicians.

For more information about the award or its sponsors, please contact Celebration Media and Talk of the Town News at 877-498-6405 or go online to www.talkofthetownnews.com.

Could high insulin be causing you to be fat?

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Could high insulin be causing you to be fat, the answer is yes!

Diabetic toolsAbout 35 years ago, the federal government revised the dietary guidelines and advised Americans to consume 60% of their dietary intake from carbohydrates. The latest guidelines from the Institute of Medicine recommended a daily carbohydrate intake of 65% of the daily food intake.

This recommendation has created catastrophic results in an epidemic of obesity, type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and other diseases. High insulin can cause you to be fat! The reason is simple starch is one of the largest dietary sources of blood sugar and dangerous after-meal blood glucose spikes. Even with so called “Healthy grains” such as whole wheat, brown rice and ancient grains.

Recently, researchers have uncovered a dual-action enzyme known as transglucosidase that blocks the conversion of starch into sugar and transforms it into beneficial fiber.

While it is impossible to eliminate all starch from your diet, you can neutralize its negative impact. Laboratory studies have shown when transglucosidase combines with starchy foods and natural enzymes in the digestive tract, there can be a 31% reduction in rapidly digested starch and an 11% increase in slowly digested starch. This means approximately 40% of the starch you ingest is less likely to be rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream.

With the help of transglucosidase, you can achieve multiple life-saving goals with a single supplement:

  • Convert less starch to sugar, ensuring smaller glucose load in the after mealtime.
  • Release insulin, thus reducing risk of excess insulin’s deadly health effects.
  • Provide with additional prebiotic fiber, reducing the risk of diabetes and enhancing intestinal health.

Dosing transglucosidase is an enzyme; the dosages are measured in units of enzyme activity not milligrams or International units (IU). A 450,000 unit dose is typically the amount found in one capsule. High doses are around 900,000 units both doses in studies showed a reduction in hemoglobin A1c, lowering it by an average 0.18 and 0.21%. Insulin levels were lowered by 2.70 and 3.59 uIU/ml. While transglucosidase does not replace medical management, it can support and assist in beneficial cytokine activity to reduce triglycerides and diastolic blood pressure.

If your fasting glucose is over 85 mg/dl or other indicators of glucose impairment such as hemoglobin A1c or elevated fasting insulin, take transglucosidase before your two heaviest starch-containing meals.

Is high insulin causing your problems? Call Serenity Health Care Center 262-522-8640 for more information on testing or to find out if you are a candidate for transglucosidase.

Eating Gluten Free

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Serenity Health Care Center – It’s back to school time and parents often struggle to find a healthy alternative to school lunch as if this isn’t hard enough, finding gluten-free options are even more challenging. Eating gluten free is often a goal. Many parents do this by choice, for others it is a must because their child has Celiac Disease, an autoimmune disease that damages the lining of the intestinal tract when exposed to wheat gluten.

Eating Gluten Free

There are many gluten-free options in stores today. Some of these options are healthier than others. Many of the grocery stores even have gluten-free sections to make it easier. You still must read the label because ingredients change frequently.

Dr. Muth says the best choices for all kids, including those with Celiac Disease, are fruits and vegetables. Those are all gluten-free. Dried whole fruit slices are good alternatives to fruit roll ups.  Granola and cereal bars that are labeled “gluten-free” are also great choices for kids. There is also gluten-free bread if you want to make a sandwich for your child. Our favorite is Udi’s brand breads and buns.

If you child has Celiac Disease, you need to be extra careful about eating gluten free. Notify the school so that they can assist in keeping the eating environment clean and clear of gluten. The staff will need to be educated because many people do not realize what gluten is and all the hidden sources it is found in. Place your child’s food in a separate plastic container. Advise your child to keep their food away from other food, even crumbs that contain gluten. The slightest amount of gluten can cause a severe reaction in some children.

Plastic containers should never be frozen or heated in so teach your children to warm in paper or use glass containers for warming. Use the food containers as a plate to protect their food. This will prevent their food from coming into contact with contaminated tables.

Exposure to gluten in a child that is intolerant can lead to cramping and abdominal pain, fatigue and even behavioral problems. These symptoms can be so debilitating that they cannot return to class. Education is key when it comes to eating gluten free.

For more information read our other articles on Celiac disease  and browse Serenity’s Kitchen for our favorite gluten free recipes.

Should You Use Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHRT)?

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Who Should Use Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHRT)?

The BHRT question is asked of our experts on a regular basis. It is one of the most important decisions people make in their life. There is a great deal of information on-line and it can be very confusing. We recommend you discuss your individual case with your health care practitioner.

The following information and video seminar will prepare you for the discussion.

Dr. Muth Discusses the Impact of Hormones and Cancer

What is the difference between bio-identical hormones and non-bio-identical hormones?

  • Bio-identical hormones are chemically identical to the hormones a woman/man naturally produces in her body. They are synthesized by chemically extracting diosgenin (a precursor) from yams and other similar plant products.
  • Non-bio-identical hormones (also called synthetic hormones) are derived from other sources, for example the urine of a pregnant mare. They do not have the identical chemical structure as hormones that are naturally produced in the female body.
  • There are bioidentical and non-bioidentical versions of estrogen and progesterone, which are the two hormones we use most often to treat menopausal symptoms.

Are natural hormones better than synthetic hormones?

  • We at Serenity Health Care Center believe that bio-identical hormones are superior and a better supplement than synthetic hormones. Some women will have an allergic response to hormones, so then special treatment is needed in order to tolerate hormone therapy.

Is one more “natural”? I often hear bioidentical (BHRT) referred to as “natural.”

  • “Natural” is a commonly used marketing term – NOT a scientific term. Natural is often substituted for the term bioidentical but it is not an accurate description of bio-identical hormones.

Why is there so much confusion around hormone therapy?

  • I think the big confusion is between bioidentical hormone therapy and synthetic hormone therapy. There are plant derived bioidentical hormones made by the pharmaceutical industry but the dose is limited. The biggest difference is between compounded hormone therapy and pharmaceutical hormone therapy.

What exactly is compounding hormone therapy?

  • Compounding pharmacies mix together different formulations of hormones in different quantities, as directed by a practitioner. A good compounding pharmacy will have accreditation, which will regulate its quality, grade and consistency of the medications that are produced. Patients may have to pay out of pocket because insurance may not cover it. But the cost is significantly lower than the out of pocket costs for a prescription.

Why do people choose compounding pharmacies?

Are there any serious risks to using the compounding hormone therapy?

  • No. Compounding pharmacists prepare hormone therapy and if it is prescribed at the proper dose there should not be any increase risks compared to using synthetic hormone therapy.

The Women’s Health Initiative study famously found a link between hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer. It scared a lot of women away from using hormones. Did that study use bio-identical or non-bio-identical hormones?

  • The hormones used in this study were non-bio-identical-also known as a combined conjugated equine estrogen (in part made from horse urine) plus progestin. In women without a uterus, treated with estrogen only was prescribed, despite years of knowing this causes uterine cancer. The group that saw the highest risk of breast cancer was seen in women who were given combined estrogen and progestin therapy.

Is it fair to say, then, that the risks found in the Women’s Health Initiative study may not be the same for bio-identical hormones?

  • The risks are still there. Any hormone therapy–which stimulates cell growth, can increase the risk of breast cancer. Studies from France actually show a reduced risk of breast cancer in women who use hormone therapy for over 10 years. Proper balance between the hormones helps to reduce this risk factor. Any estrogen used orally can increase the risk for stroke or cardiovascular disease.

Have there been any similar long-term studies done with bio-identical hormones (BHRT)?

  • Yes. There have been long-term studies comparing the bio-identical patch to the oral hormone therapy. Long-term studies in France have shown decreased risks of stroke, breast cancer, and heart disease.

So despite the risks, you still recommend hormone therapy?

  • Yes! We say hormones are helpful at reducing the age related dis-ease that is caused by the fall of hormones. However, we recommend against using oral estrogen therapy and promote topical forms. Not every woman is a candidate for hormone therapy and a knowledgeable health care provider should screen one. There’s no reason to suffer hot flashes, sexual dysfunction, etc. A good health care provider should monitor a woman, so her quality of life can be improved with bioidentical hormone therapy.

With so many people calling themselves “women’s health experts,” how do you know if you have a “good provider”? How do you know whom to trust?

  • Well, if your provider understands bioidentical hormone therapy and has been trained by a credible group such as A4M, Labrix, or European Menopause Society is just a few of the qualified agencies.
If you have questions regarding BHRT or your specific hormone therapy please fee free to call Serenity Health Care Center at 262-522-8640, the hormone experts of Wisconsin.

Decrease Blood Pressure With Olive Leaf Extract

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High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a very accurate predictor of cardiovascular disease the number one killer in America.  Recently the medical community has reduced its recommendation for where blood pressure ratings should be maintained at but the average acceptable range is 140/90 mmHG.

Yet, antiaging groups realize that for every 20/10 mmHG increase above 115/75 mmHG, the cardiovascular disease doubles.

Studies show that of 26 million people revealed a 200-400% higher mortality rate in hypertensive individuals between the ages of 20-49, compared to the general population without hypertension.

If the definition of “high blood pressure” were revised downward to reflect the threat of even moderate hypertension, millions of these lives could have been saved. If one suffers from high blood pressure maturing individuals need to take all necessary steps to bring blood pressure under control, regardless of their doctor’s evaluations.

Olive Leaf Extract

Olive leaf extract has been tested in a double blind placebo controlled trial, reduced systolic blood pressure 11.5 points (mmHG), diastolic blood pressure by 4.8 points and other vascular benefits were seen as well.

The olive fruit (olea europaea) is a core constituent of the Mediterranean diet. This has been documented in the clinical literature. Olive fruit’s are beneficial compounds that include hydroxytyrosol, oleacein, ursolic and oleanic acids. It is actually the oleuropein; found in high concentrations in the leaf of the olive tree, this is what is considered the beneficial effect to decrease blood pressure.

High blood pressure can cause arterial stiffness or decrease elasticity and eventually spreads to larger arteries. Oleuropein has been shown to specifically target arterial resistance and stiffness, improving endothelial function and bringing blood pressure under control.

Traditional medicine protocols include multiple drugs simultaneously to control or decrease blood pressure. While these drug combinations reduce the blood pressure there can be greater numbers of drug-to-drug interactions. Despite a good safety profile, there can be an issue with commercial extracts of oleuropein: they degrade unless processed using precise handling techniques.

Olive leaf extract can help decrease blood pressure and support healthy blood pressure.

If you are currently taking blood pressure medication to control your blood pressure, you should carefully monitor your blood pressure at home with an accurate monitor.

You should have an advanced lipid panel drawn to measure your cholesterol along with an APOe gene type for individualized nutrition.

Olive leaf extract can be taken with traditional medications as long as there you are monitoring your blood pressure daily.

Discuss this with your qualified health care practitioner to get the testing done and if Olive leaf extract is right for you.

Call Serenity Health Care Center today if you have questions about using Olive leaf extract to decrease your blood pressure. 262-522-8640.

Ten Tips for Preventing Lyme Disease

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Chronic Lyme disease does exist

It is defined as an infection that has been ongoing without treatment for over three months. When this occurs patients may face a long hard fight to wellness.

When someone suffers from chronic Lyme they can have multiple debilitating symptoms, including but not limited to; severe fatigue, anxiety, headaches, and joint pain. Without proper treatment, people who suffer from chronic Lyme disease have a decline in quality of life.

Lyme disease is a complex disease that can be highly difficult to diagnose. Reliable diagnostic tests are not yet available which leaves many—patients and physicians alike—relying on the clinical symptoms of Lyme disease.

Lyme disease symptoms:

  • Discovery of a tick on the skin
  • Determination of a tick from an endemic area
  • A bull’s eye rash
  • Possibly joint pain

However, ILADS research indicates that only 50%-60% of patients recall a tick bite; the rash is reported in only 35% to 60% of patients; and joint swelling typically occurs in only 20% to 30% of patients.

Given the prevalent use of over the counter anti-inflammatory medications such as Ibuprofen, join inflammation is often masked.

It is unfortunate that a significant number people who contract Lyme disease are misdiagnosed during the early stages, based on the statistics above. This leads to a chronic form of the disease that can prove even more difficult to diagnose and treat.

Lyme disease is often referred to as the “great imitator” because it mimics other conditions, often causing patients to suffer a complicated maze of doctors in search of appropriate treatment.

Serenity Health Care Center is dedicated to assisting clients with Lyme disease. The following tips are designed to offer guidance and minimize the risk of contracting chronic Lyme disease.

1. Lyme disease is a nationwide problem

Contrary to popular belief, Lyme disease is not just an “East Coast” problem. In fact, in the last ten years, ticks known to carry Lyme disease have been identified in all 50 states and worldwide. Although the black legged tick is considered the traditional source of Lyme disease, new tick species such as the Lonestar tick and a pacific coast tick, have been found to carry Borrelia burgdorferi, the corkscrew-shaped bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Wisconsin is a known endemic state for Lyme disease.

The first step in prevention of Lyme disease is avoiding a tick bite. One needn’t have been “hiking in the woods” in order to be bitten by a tick. There can be ticks wherever there is grass or vegetation, and tick bites can happen any time of year. Spraying one’ s clothes with DEET-containing insecticide or a new essential oil called Ticks-N-All that Serenity Health Care Center recommends. Wear long sleeves and long pants, and “tuck pants into socks”, continue to be the best ways to avoid ticks attaching to the skin. But don’t forget the post-walk body check.

2. Check your tick facts

Ticks can vary in size from a poppy-seed size nymphal tick to a sesame-seed size adult tick. The ticks can carry other infectious agents besides the spirochete that causes Lyme disease, including Ehrlichia, Anaplamosis, Babesia, and Bartonella. Lyme disease can sometimes be hard to cure if these other infections are not treated at the same time.

3. Show your doctor every rash

The bull’s eye rash is the most famous, but there are many other types of rashes associated with Lyme disease. In fact, Lyme disease rashes can be mistaken for spider bites or skin infections. Take photos and make sure a medical professional sees the rash before it fades.

4. Don’t assume that you can’t have Lyme disease if you don ‘t have a rash

Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose without a rash, Bell’s palsy, arthritis, or meningitis, and simple flu like symptoms can present with the tick bite. You can still have Lyme and not have any of those signs or symptoms.

Many people react differently to the infection and experience fatigue, headaches, irritability, anxiety, crying, sleep disturbance, poor memory and concentration, chest pain, palpitations, lightheadedness, joint pain, numbness and tingling.

5. Do not rely on test results

Currently there is no reliable test to determine if someone has contracted Lyme disease or is cured of it. False positives and false negatives often occur, though false negatives are far more common. In fact, some studies indicate up to 50% of the patients tested for Lyme disease receive false negative results.

As a result, the CDC relies on physicians to make a clinical diagnosis based on a patient’s symptoms, health history, and exposure risks. Doctors who are experienced in recognizing Lyme disease will treat when symptoms typical of the illness are present, even without a positive test, in an effort to prevent the development of chronic Lyme disease.

6. Be aware of similar conditions

Chronic Lyme disease is called the “great imitator” because it is often misdiagnosed as another condition such as Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, or anxiety. Misdiagnosis is a common experience for patients with chronic Lyme disease. Treatments that work for these other illnesses are not appropriate for treating Lyme disease. Currently, the only effective treatment for Lyme disease is antibiotics.

Ask your doctor to carefully evaluate you for Lyme disease even if your tests are negative. If your doctor will not even consider this an option find another Lyme literate practitioner.

7. “Wait and See” approach to treatment may be risky

Up to fifty percent of ticks in Lyme-endemic areas are infected with Lyme or other tick-borne diseases. With odds like that, if you have proof or a high suspicion that you’ve been bitten by a tick, taking a “wait and see” approach to deciding whether to treat the disease has risks.

The onset of Lyme disease symptoms can be easily overlooked or mistaken for other illnesses. Once symptoms are more evident the disease may have already entered the central nervous system, and could be hard to cure.

This is one case in which an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure.

8. Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion

Recognize that opinions on how to diagnose and treat Lyme disease vary widely among practitioners. It is worth getting a second or even a third opinion, especially if you are symptomatic and your practitioner advises not to treat, or symptoms recur or persist after treatment.

Keep in mind that your practitioner may focus too narrowly on diagnosing and treating a single symptom.

For example, a practitioner may diagnose a pain in your knee as “arthritis”, and not see this as just one part of a larger set of symptoms that adds up to a diagnosis of Lyme disease, which requires different treatment.

9. Know your treatment options

Work with your practitioner to identify the appropriate treatment option if your symptoms persist. There is more than one type of antibiotic available. Longer treatment is also an option.

You should also work with your doctor to make sure you don’t have another condition.

10. Expect success

You should expect to get better. You should not accept “watchful waiting” – the practice of stopping antibiotic treatment before you are well and then waiting for symptoms to clear on their own. Some practitioners advocate stopping Lyme treatment while the patient is still symptomatic and then hoping that he or she will eventually recover without further treatment.

Government trials have identified a number of individuals whose symptoms did not clear when treatment was cut off prematurely. There are practitioners who feel your symptoms will clear with further antibiotic treatment.

Call Serenity Health Care Center today if you have questions regarding Lyme disease 262-522-8640

A Functional Medical Approach to Aging

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Successful Aging

What defines successful aging?  It is different than anti-aging which refers to reversing the aging process. Successful aging is keeping the body as healthy as possible.  There are many ways to accomplish this, but there is no magic pill. With proper anti-aging approaches, your patients can feel and look 60 years old when they are 80.  These protocols require a commitment to lifestyle and dietary changes, and stress management in order to be successful.

Balancing successful aging

Life cannot be managed without proper balance.  The body needs balance, just as we balance our day. Patients primary concern is how tired they feel; this may be a direct result of hectic lifestyles.  Obviously, fatigue may be caused by physical reasons as well: viruses, bacterial infections, hormonal imbalance, and thyroid dysfunction, are just a few.  Learning to identify the root cause of patient symptoms and developing individual programs will restore balance to your patient’s lives.

Nutrition

For centuries, traditional medicine has believed that food is thy medicine.  One way to attain this goal is to consume organic foods as often as possible.  Consuming 50% organic food would significantly assist in the aging process.  Avoid processed foods as much as possible; this is key to rejuvenation.  Cook at home and eat whole foods at least 80% of the time.  Last, but certainly not least, it is most important to have FUN!  Laugh daily and enjoy life, doing what brings you pleasure. Learn to relax.

Supplements

As practitioners, it is important you carry pharmaceutical grade supplements.   The quality of products we carry must be tested for ingredients and quality.  If using supplements to assist in successful aging, the products we use must be exactly what we need.  I carry Standard Process, a whole food supplement that assists the body in re-balancing, without depleting one nutrient while building another.  For some people, vitamins from whole food are not an option; therefore we offer the best of several alternative lines.  As with other protocols, the nutrients we use are specific to each individual and their conditions.  To learn more about Standard Process, visit: www.standardprocess.com

If you are interested in implementing functional medicine into your practice and would like to learn more about preserving aging, attend one of our seminars.

Learn to restore the body completely and naturally. Listen to Dr. Muth’s free Teleseminar on Successful Aging.

Celiac Disease & Immune System

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Research is now supporting evidence that there is a connection between viral infections, the immune system and the onset of gluten intolerance known as Celiac Disease.  A research project at the Academy of Finland’s Research Programme on Nutrition, food and Health (ELVIRA) has provided us with new information on the hereditary nature of gluten intolerance.

Dr. Muth read that they have identified genes that affect the immune system which causes an inflammatory response, which does not only affect the digestive tract. The genetic predisposition to celiac disease, with the major risk attributed to specific gene markers known as HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 in affected individuals.  HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 play an important part in the pathogenesis of celiac disease by binding to altered peptides derived from dietary gluten in wheat, barley, rye and oats.  Greater than 97% of celiac disease individuals have the DQ2 and/or DQ8 marker, compared to about 40% of the general population.

There are some genes that are linked with a human immune defense against viruses.  It is indicated that this virus may be connected in some way with the onset of gluten intolerance according to the Academy Research Fellow Paivi Saavaleainen, who has been conducting research on the hereditary risk factors.

Gluten Intolerance is an immune reaction!

Gluten intolerance is an autoimmune reaction in the small intestine however symptoms do not need to be limited to the digestive system.  Symptoms range from diarrhea, constipation, ADD, liver disease, cirrhosis, dermatological conditions, depression, and many more.

The genes that predispose people to gluten intolerance are widespread in the current population.  The data shows that roughly one in 133 people suffer from Celiac Disease, while one in four suffer from gluten intolerance in this country.

Gluten intolerance is an inherited predisposition, and nearly all sufferers carry the genes that play a key role in the onset of the disease.  Genes are directly handed down from both parents.  Genes can also be passed on by skipping a generation.  If patients are concerned about being gluten intolerant they can obtain genetic testing from EnteroLab to determine their genetic status.  People can posses the gene for Celiac Disease or wheat sensitivity.  Genes can be evaluated on entire families by swab the inside of the cheek.  If you suspect celiac disease or a person in your family has celiac disease it is essential to know if you carry the genes. You may be symptom-free, but still have celiac disease.  If you are not aware and continue to consume products that contain gluten this could have serious consequences if not treated.

Currently the only available treatment is following a strict gluten-free diet.  Gluten occurs naturally in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye.  Exposure to these grains causes damage to the intestinal villi, resulting in malabsorption of the basic nutrients from the foods they eat.  It can be expected to take a minimum of six months to become gluten-free from just the obvious sources of gluten.  Expect another six months to locate all the hidden sources of gluten in ones diet.  In order to obtain a completely gluten-free diet one can expect it to take from one to two years to completely eliminate gluten and heal the intestinal tract from the inflammation that has occurred.  Patients who continue to consume gluten during this time will have a longer recovery time because every exposure to gluten starts that inflammatory process all over again.

Celiac disease is on the rise and because it affects so many people you are sure to experience numerous patients in your practice with this disorder.  It is important to have a basic understanding of the disease and some of you may decide to become experts in this area.  Many disorders can be effectively managed by having patients follow a gluten-free diet.

It is important to work with the immune system which includes avoiding gluten as well as using immune building herbs.  Using Glutathione and SOD can help.  Learning if the immune system is stimulated or dominate with TH1 or TH2 makes all the difference in the world to assist in healing the immune system.

There are many resources that can assist you and your patients in teaching patients about becoming gluten-free.  A great resource is www.celiacdisease.org

Essence of Health and Vitality Purification Program

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For thousands of years, body purification has been a part of our ritual for health and well-being.  It was used in ancient times as a way to reconnect with the divine and purify the body. 

Detoxification is imperative for us just to stay healthy today!  Purification allows us to clean out all the collected waste matter, environmental pollutants, and residue from all the drugs and chemicals that become trapped in our bodies.

Many of the toxins we are exposed to an environmental in nature. We accumulate them from the air we breathe, water we drink and food we eat. 

Many of the air toxins originate from man-made sources, including mobile sources (i.e., cars, trucks, buses) and stationary sources (i.e., factories, refineries, power plants), as well as indoor sources (e.g., some building materials and cleaning solvents).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently working with governmental agencies to reduce 188 toxins which are currently being released into the air. 

The EPA indicates that there was 1.2 billion pounds of potentially damaging chemicals that were released into the air and water nationwide in 1998. According to the Environmental Campaign Organization,  “Pollution from toxic chemicals threatens life on this planet. Every ocean and every continent, from the tropics to the once-pristine Polar Regions, is contaminated.  

We have been learning about this first hand with the oil spill which recently happened at the hands of BP.

Americans use more chemicals than ever before

The “average American uses about 25 Gallons of toxic, hazardous chemical products per year in their home.” (Prosperitywithout Pollution) These toxic chemicals found in household cleaners are three times more likely to cause cancer than air pollution. 

This is directly stated by the EPA! Consumer Product Safety Commission states that of all the 150 chemicals found in the home can be linked to allergies, birth defects psychological abnormalities, and cancer.

Not convinced yet that we have not gone chemically crazy?  

“During the past 50 years more than 75,000 chemicals have been introduced into the environment.” 

“Today 300 synthetic chemicals are found in the bodies of humans. Even newborn babies have synthetic chemicals passed on from their mothers.” 

This is stated by the REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals, a European Union Program.

How about what is actually in the typical American diet?  

Food laws require that all foods are labeled with ingredients, and preservatives explained with common names. Unfortunately, many manufacturers have found ways to avoid following these laws.  Have you recently picked up a package and could not even pronounce half of the ingredients? How many of your patients do not realize that corn syrup is another word for sugar?

Have your patients asked why they gain weight every year, but swear they have not changed anything in their diet? 

In the past 20 years the average American has increased their calorie intake from 1,850 to over 2,000 calories a day.  A McDonald’s Combo Quarter Pounder meal is over 2,000 calories. This increase is enough to add an extra 15 lbs a year!

What has changed, is an increase in dense nutrient deficient food and drinks and a reduction in fruits and vegetables. If you survey your patients, I would bet you will find less than half of them get the recommended 5-9 servings of vegetables and fruits a day.  Sadly, the average American consumes only 3 servings of fruit and or leafy green vegetables daily.

Enough about food let’s talk water

Everyone seems to know that our water supply is toxic. It is full of bacteria, viruses, protozoa and parasitic worms that enter via sewage systems and untreated waste.

Have you thought about what happens to all the drugs that have been flushed down the toilets or dumped down the drains for the past 20 years?  How many people do you see with plastic water bottles to rectify this situation?  I will tell you why this is not the best practice either.

Over 25 years ago someone decided formula was better than nature’s mother’s milk. Considering what I have already shared, you may think they are right.  Let me tell what our youngsters are getting in their food. Enterobacter Sakazakii and phytoestrogens are just among a few of the contaminants proven to be found in formula.   

I will let you make your own conclusions about whether or not formula is better than breast milk. 

Some of the top formula companies are affiliated with pesticide or chemical companies that make hazardous chemicals. Other formula companies actually make products out of polyvinyl chloride plastic.

In this country formula is an 8 Billion dollar industry. Is there any coincidence that all this toxic exposure might explain why so many of our children today have behavioral and learning disabilities?

We have been told that the introduction of industrial farming practices have saved this country from famine. In the 1920s, British and US Governments were warned by nutritional experts that the soils on which most crops were grown were deficient in their mineral content.

The U.S. Government chose not to take any action to correct this problem. Instead intensive modern farming methods were introduced with no regard to nourishing the soil. As a result the fruits and vegetables grown here have little or no vitamin and mineral content.

Pesticides that are sprayed onto our foods are also grown in our foods so washing them does not completely eliminate them. 

According to the Pesticide Action Network of North America and Commonwealth states that Americans are exposed to 70 toxic chemicals daily. “Organic pollutants” or POPs, dioxin, and DDT are found in the foods we consume daily. 

Yes DDT! 

Even though DDT has been banned in the United States we sold this to other countries and guess where many of our fruits and vegetables are imported from?  The countries we sold DDT to! 

Pesticides are designed to kill, so what do you think they do to humans?

You can change things one person at a time

Teach your patients to purify their bodies every year with a Purification Program and teach them to clean up their environment. They can begin by using earth-friendly, natural cleaning products and reduce pollution. Eat organic foods that are rich in nutrients and colorful.

How do you know that your patients need to undergo a purification program?

Ask a few simple questions about what they eat, where they purchase their food from and what kind of pollutants they are exposed to. If you are not comfortable asking these questions, simply listen to their common complaints.

These are just a few complaints we deal with everyday in our office.

  • Fatigue
  • Weight Gain
  • Insomnia
  • Hyperlipidemia
  • Allergies
  • Joint/muscle pain
  • Hormonal imbalance/Endocrine disruption
  • Edema
  • Infertility

You are ready to walk this path to a healthier new practice in only 21 days! 

I would like to encourage you to try something new in your practice. 

Begin using the Essence of Health and Vitality Purification Program which incorporates Standard Processes 21 day Purification diet. You will be amazed at the results you will be able to obtain for your patients. 

Weight loss, increased energy, and clear thinking are just a few benefits seen with this program.

I have had great success using this program in my practice reducing cholesterol levels, achieving desired weight loss, and reversing chronic illness.

If you need assistance with this program contact your Standard Process representative or attend a Purification Program sponsored by Standard Process.

Call 262-522-8640 to find more information of Purification Program

Does diet affect neurological disorders: Autism, Attention Deficit, Tourette’s and anger disorders?

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Blog, Nutrition. No Comments on Does diet affect neurological disorders: Autism, Attention Deficit, Tourette’s and anger disorders?

Does diet affect neurological disorders such as Autism, Attention Deficit, Tourette’s and anger disorders?

There has been a great deal of talk around diet and how it affects neurological disorders. The question is does it work- does diet affect neurological disorders?

The truth is that there is a great deal of research that indicates diets high in sugar, high processed foods and foods that contain dyes increase the symptoms of neurological disorders. People who have taken on the challenge of changing their diets and eliminating these foods from their families diet have seen significant changes.

There are instances that these changes are made but do not see the results they were hoping for and become frustrated, so they give up. It may be that the only thing that is missing is proper balance in the types of foods that are being consumed.

There is a genotype called Apo E that has been linked to heart disease, neurological and metabolically disorders. If you or your child has a variant of this genotype following a gene specific diet may provide you with the results you have been looking for.

Dramatic results have been seen in children that have followed this gene specific diet. We have seen children who could not speak begin talking, anger outbursts have declined and/or completely resolved sometimes in as little as 3 weeks. Does diet affect neurological disorders? This shows that the answer is yes.

Why do some children respond so well to cleaning up the diet? Certain genotypes prevent the body from clearing toxins. Now most people think they do not have toxic exposure but we all do everyday. Nutritionally the traditional American diet is highly toxic. If one is eating an American diet then you are getting toxins from; highly processed, inflammatory diet such as large amounts of chips, candy bars laden with inflammatory trans fats, antibiotics, high-fructose corn syrup, exogenous sex hormones from dairy products and synthetic hormones, pesticides, and herbicides.

If we do not know that the body has an inability to clear toxins coming from processed foods, fast foods, food dyes and high amounts of animal protein this could be contributing to the neurological symptoms that the child is experiencing. It appears that when the genotype is being filled with toxins the neurological system cannot develop well enough to express normal speech, behavior, and sleep patterns; and interact appropriately with parents, sibling’s, or playmates.

I feel it is important for patients facing these medical issues chose an integrative medical approach to reverse the neurological symptoms that they and their children are facing.

Can diet affect neurological disorders? Yes, it can. Call Serenity Health Care Center today to discuss having your genotype testing 262-522-8640.