Excess fat, white or brown, can have several different effects on the body.

The one we tend to focus on, or ignore depending on your view on your health versus what you like, is glucose regulation. But did you know that leptin, and TNF-α are adipokines? I know brainy stuff, but these two molecules are involved in the inflammatory process. Leptin tells the brain that the body has enough energy stored in the body, and TNF-α is responsible for the immune response to make inflammation.

Oral Health & The Microbiome

Can your oral health and its associated microbiome affect your overall health? You bet your bippy it can!

A good example is the bacteria that causes gingivitis (p. gingivalis). I picked this one at random, but we know of quite a few bacteria in the mouth that can cause health issues. We all know that it lives right below the gum line. Does that mean it stays there? Not in a million years.  Bacteria like warm, wet, and in this case low oxygen environments. It can move right into your blood stream or can be swallowed. I am going to focus on the swallowing method of translocation and the effects that can have. If you swallow the bacteria during a low stomach acid time, the bacteria can survive the stomach and makes its way into your intestine. In the intestine, it can make its merry way through the tight junctions in between the cells and enter the body. Which can lead to leaky gut syndrome and others.

Once inside the body this nasty little critter has been a contributor to : neurological disease, heart disease, endocrine disease, gastrointestinal disease, autoimmune disease, and last but certainly not least cancer.

This is why it is so important to take care of your health.

Peppermint, one of nature’s most versatile herbs, has been used for centuries for its numerous health benefits

From digestive issues to headaches and anxiety, peppermint is known for its soothing effects on the body and mind. Did you know that peppermint can also help boost your immune system? According to research, peppermint essential oil has been shown to increase white blood cell count, which helps fight off infections.
Another benefit of peppermint is its ability to improve brain function and concentration. Peppermint oil contains menthol, a natural substance that stimulates the nerve endings in the nose and throat, leading to improved mental alertness and cognitive performance. This makes peppermint perfect for students who need an extra boost of focus during exam season!
Not only is peppermint great for your physical and mental health, but it’s also great for your skin. Peppermint oil contains menthol, which helps to cool and soothe the skin, making it ideal for reducing inflammation and irritation caused by acne, eczema or psoriasis.
So, whether you’re looking to improve digestion, boost immunity, increase brain function or treat skin conditions, peppermint is a versatile herb that can help achieve all of these things and more!

Well, it’s time to dust off those walking shoes and put them by the door in preparation to start walking outside again.

I was looking at the weather forecast and see we are going to be up in the 50s, 60s, and 70s and our low temperatures are supposed to be in the 40s in the next week here in Elko, NV. Time for fresh air, exercise, and vitamin D! Disclaimer: I am not a weatherman I can’t be wrong 90% of the time and still expect to keep my job, but luckily my job is to keep people ready to stay healthy!

Here are some tips to help you on your journey towards good health:

– Eat a balanced diet rich in whole foods and limit processed and refined carbs.
– Get regular exercise, preferably something you enjoy doing.
– Get enough sleep every night, ideally 7-8 hours.
– Practice stress-reducing techniques such as meditation or yoga to manage your emotional wellbeing.
– Keep up with routine health screenings and preventive care measures like annual checkups with your doctor.
Remember, small changes can have a big impact on your overall health and wellness. Start today and see the positive results in no time!

My wife and I were talking this weekend, and she asked me why the fuss over nitric oxide?

As we get older, natural levels of nitric oxide decline. Every cell makes this nitric oxide from L-argenine and L-cittruline. Nitric oxide plays a role in vasodilation, a neurotransmitter, helps regulate blood pressure and blood flow. Because of these functions it is not surprising that there is also a role in atherosclerosis, heart disease, stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

The next part of that question is a bit more straight forward. Diet and exercise ! Dark leafy vegetables including beets, and cittruline sources like cold water fish. I also use Blood Flow Restriction Exercise.  It raises these levels faster and uses the lactic acid as a transmitter for nitric oxide and Human Growth Hormone production. There are also some supplements that I recommend to patients that raise nitric oxide levels to healthy levels, as well as make sure the cells have the nutrients to keep the production pathway functional.

Nitric oxide is important enough that anyone with even one or two symptoms of metabolic disease gets tested. The test is done at home when you get out of bed or 90 minutes after your last meal, and you can call the results in or send them in a message via patient portal.

As we get older, myself included, we tend to get into dietary ruts. Its the foods we like.

The problem with this is we don’t get the diversity in our diet and then we start coming up short on the nutrients we need.  A good example is Biotin. Biotin is deficient in 60% of senior diets. Yet, it is widely biochemically available in foods like corn.

Just food for thought for the weekend.

As I sit here writing more of my dissertation, I am struck by the numbers of those with symptoms of metabolic disease.

So, there are 3 major symptoms that define metabolic disease, 9 is a better number but 3 are all that are required. Those symptoms are Central Obesity which effects 40% of the global population by best estimate, and 80% of Americans, dyslipidemia in this case hyperlipidemia (High Cholesterol) affects 80 million Americans. Diabetes affects 425 million people globally, and the expectation is over 600 million cases by 2030.

Metabolic Disease is fodder for my dissertation, but not really for the patients involved with these staggering numbers. This is not just an individual fix, not unless we get 2.5 billion people to change their habits about eating and exercise.  Even there is research suggesting that this may have an effect on a multigenerational level.

What is terrifying is that the average life span in the United States have been revised downward two years running. Yes, I know that includes a lot of factors, but there are 3 links to some of the top killers right here in metabolic disease.

I endeavor to be positive in most things. But this just hit me as I see these numbers over and over, and over in my research.

PS. Day 4 of my transition on to the Elemental Diet and already 4 pounds gone!

I went through my mail tonight and found out I am getting a higher achievement award from the ANMA at the convention in August!

A Wonderful snowy day here in Elko. Go play in the snow to raise your Nitric Oxide Levels.