Brenna Murphy, ND

You may have heard some of the claims about the hCG diet:  lose 20 lbs in 20 days, lose weight without being hungry… Many of the claims sound too good to be true.

The good news is that the hCG diet claims are actually backed up by science and clinical results.

As the doctors of Elements and The Chelation Clinic, we maintain extremely high standards for what products and services we bring in to our facility.  After extensive research we concluded that the hCG diet meet these standards.

The hCG diet was developed by Dr. A. T. W. Simeons after years of researching obesity treatment.  Dr. Simeons observed similarities in overweight and obese patients: they would eat less than their friends and not lose weight, they would eat the same amount as their friends and gain weight, and they would lose weight but not in certain areas.    A host of environmental, hormonal and nutritional imbalances lead to obesity.  The hCG diet does not magically erase these imbalances.  What hCG appears to do is override the signals created by these imbalances that prevent you from losing weight.  In short, hCG frees your body to burn fat.

Dr.  Simeons made the connection between hCG and weight loss during his obesity research.   His plan involves small amounts of hCG daily along with a very specific low calorie diet.  While some research studies have not found a significant difference in the amount of weight lost with hCG vs the amount of weight lost with a low calorie diet, they have shown increased fat loss using the hCG plan.  Fat loss is our true goal.  Numerous case studies also support the use of hCG.  Patients are able to follow the low calorie diet without fatigue or hunger.  Patients notice a long term appetite decrease.  Despite the rapid weight loss, patients do not develop loose skin.  And, unlike any starvation diet plan, weight loss is easily maintained.   How does this happen?

hCG is a hormone produced at high levels early in pregnancy.  It has many functions, but all of these functions play a role in supporting and protecting the developing fetus.  As part of this support, hCG mobilizes “emergency” fat stores to ensure adequate nutrition for the fetus.  If you think of your body’s fat stores as currency, you have your “checking account”- used accordingly for daily expenses, your “savings account”- used for extra security but easily mobilized, and your “401K”- where money goes in but can only be withdrawn in emergencies or significant life events.   In modern life our diets are so calorie rich we are able to overstuff our emergency funds.  They are still difficult to withdraw, however, so standard diet and exercise removes this currency slowly, if at all.  Typical starvation plans burn through your checking and savings accounts but can’t access your emergency fat.

Dr. Simeons discovered that the combination of low dose hCG and a low calorie- high protein diet did something magical.  The hCG blew open the access to the “emergency” fat, allowing it to be easily accessed and burned.  In addition the hCG prevented the burning of any other type of fat.  Since, during the diet, the stores of daily use fat remain intact, the body remains unstressed.  This lack of stress prevents the quick regain of weight which typically occurs after any major nutritional crisis.

In addition to the benefit of weight loss, the hCG seems to reset patients’ appetites.  hCG can interact with the hypothalamus, the part of our brain that regulates all major body functions.  Many patients report that they are not as hungry as they were before the diet, and they do not crave the high sugar foods that they did previously.

In the brief time we have been offering the hCG diet we have seen wonderful results, including a 25 pound weight loss in a 23 day period.  Results highly depend on the amount of weight you need to loose and your dedication to the diet plan. Even small deviations have significant consequences.  This is not a diet plan to take lightly.  Because this plan does involve the use of hormone and a low calorie diet, clearance by our MD is required.

For your convenience, we have packaged everything you need together for one low price.

Jonathan Powell, ND

Recently you may have seen headlines stating that vitamin supplements were associated with an increased risk of cancer or death.  One study concluded that women who took certain vitamins and minerals had an increased risk of death, while a second study concluded that vitamin E supplements increased the risk of prostate cancer.  When looked at closely, however, both studies are easily refutable and the conclusions proven unfounded.

The study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine stated that women between the ages of 55 and 69 who took certain vitamins and minerals had an increased risk of death over a 22 year period.  The supplements included multivitamins, vitamin B₆, folic acid, iron, magnesium, zinc, and copper.  What the media omitted, however, was that the researchers looked at “adjusted” mortality rates rather than actual mortality rates.  The mortality rates were adjusted to exclude factors including caloric intake, cigarette smoking, body mass index, blood pressure, educational level, diabetes, use of hormone-replacement therapy, physical activity, and the intake of fruits and vegetables.  In addition, the women surveyed were not compared to a control group who received placebos.  When the researchers adjusted the data only for age and caloric intake, there was no statistically significant difference in mortality rates between supplement users and nonusers.

A second study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association stated that vitamin E supplementation increased the risk of prostate cancer by 17%.  This study was flawed because the researchers only gave participants one of the eight naturally occurring forms of vitamin E, thus creating an artificial imbalance of the ratios of these vitamins in the participants.  In addition, the findings were not based on patients with pre-existing vitamin E deficiencies.

The media is always looking for an attention-grabbing headline, so please be wary when presented with sensational articles that refute years of well-constructed research trials.  Remember, though, that when it comes to supplements more is not always better and the doctors at Elements can ensure that you are on an optimal supplementation protocol for your particular needs.

The Chelation Clinic @ Elements has teamed up with a few local runners to show our support for Run For The Heroes, Run Across Georgia.  The Chelation Clinic donated $1 for each B-Vitamin Injection that you purchased over the past few  months.

GO TEAM SHAGADELIC!

House of Heroes has been helping military veterans, public safety officers and their spouses in the Chattahoochee Valley since 2000.  Countless volunteers have come together through the years to honor these great Americans by doing minor repairs to their homes at no cost to them.

1 1/2 to 2 pounds halibut, skin removed and cut into “sticks”

(hint: have skin removed at grocery)

1/4 cup sweet rice flour (or arrowroot powder)

5 to 6 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon Thai Kitchen red curry paste

1 teaspoon Herbamare (or Sea salt)

2 cups shredded unsweetened coconut

coconut oil for cooking

Peanut Dipping Sauce:

1/4 cup creamy organic peanut butter

1/2 cup water (plus more if needed)

2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 clove garlic, crushed (optional)

1 teaspoon Thai Kitchen red curry paste

Herbamare, to taste

First, rinse the halibut, then cut into “sticks.” In a separate bowl whisk together the sweet rice flour, water, red curry paste, and Herbamare.

Begin heating a large 11 or 12-inch skillet over medium heat. You want your skillet to be hot when adding the fish.

While your skillet is heating, place the fish into the rice flour/water mixture and coat evenly. Then add the shredded coconut and mix it with the fish to coat, using your hands to press the coconut into the fish sticks.

Add about 3 to 4 tablespoons of coconut oil to your skillet. Make sure the oil spreads out quickly. This means your pan is hot enough. Add the fish sticks in batches. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Use tongs to flip them. You may need to cook yours shorter or longer depending on the thickness of the fish. The fish sticks will continue to cook after you remove them from the pan. You can check for doneness by breaking apart the thickest stick with a fork.

To make the peanut dipping sauce, whisk all ingredients together in a bowl. Add more water to desired consistency. Add sea salt or Herbamare to taste. Source: www.NourishingMeals.com

We are excited to begin the process of a new website!  There will be many great things to come soon!

Elizabeth Cantrell, ND

According to recent findings, daylight savings time may cost you more than just an hour of sleep.  According to a collection of data gathered by Dr. Young, an associate professor at the University of Alabama Birmingham, the risk of having a heart attack is increased by 10 percent the Monday and Tuesday after moving the clocks ahead one hour.  Conversely, the risk is decreased by 10 percent after moving the clocks back in the fall.

Although the exact reasoning for this correlation is unknown, there are a few speculations.  One of the potential explanations is sleep deprivation.  Research has found that individuals who are sleep deprived tend to weigh more and have an increased risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.  In addition, depriving the body of sleep can invoke internal stress responses which can lead to inflammation.

For relief from the occassional sleepless night, try happy Dreams herbal tea from Elements.  This special blend of organic herbs is gauranteed to help you fall asleep more easily.

Also, check out these tips to help you get a better night’s sleep.

Set the mood

Optimizing your sleep environment is crucial to a good night’s sleep.  Keep the room quiet, comfortable, and cool.  Avoid brightly lit alarm clocks, which can interfere with sleep and create anxiety from “clock watching.”  Keep the bed and bedroom clear of clutter.  A peaceful environment is necessary for a peaceful mind.

Go to bed when sleepy

If you are feeling tired, even if you haven’t finished that last chapter in the book or your favorite show isn’t coming on for another 10 minutes, go to bed.  Fighting that sleepiness can cause you to gain that second wind and make falling asleep more difficult when you are ready to go to sleep.

Develop sleep rituals

Listen to relaxing music.  Perform relaxation techniques like deep “belly” breathing.  Enjoy a cup of warm non-caffeinated tea.  Take a hot bath.  All of these activities can help to ease the mind and unwind the body.

Don’t just lie there

If you are still awake after 20 minutes get up and do something until you feel sleepy again.  Try reading a book you find boring. Start your sleep rituals over.  Avoid doing activities you feel obligated to finish once you start (eg. watching a TV show, cleaning, etc.).

Don’t take your “to-do” list to bed with you

Running through the things you must do tomorrow certainly won’t help you sleep tonight.  Instead, keep a notebook where you can jot down your ideas, thoughts, tasks, etc. before you lie down for the night.

Have a light snack before bed

While eating a large meal close to bed time can keep you awake, the opposite may be true of eating a small snack close to bed.  A drop in blood sugar can be the culprit of waking during the night.  To keep your blood sugar from dropping too low, eat a small amount of protein (eg. 4-5 almonds, a teaspoon of nut butter, slice of turkey) immediately before bed.

Avoid caffeine and nicotine before bed

Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants that can interfere with your ability to fall asleep and should be avoided at least 4-6 hours before bed.  If you are very sensitive to caffeine it should be avoided after noon or avoided completely.  Caffeine is found in tea, coffee, chocolate, sodas, and some medications and supplements.

Avoid alcohol before bed

While consuming alcohol may help you fall asleep easier, its high sugar content can cause fluctuations in blood sugar and therefore cause frequent waking.

Maintain a schedule EVERY day

Adhering to a sleep schedule upholds the body’s natural sleep rhythm.  Two of the worst culprits for disrupting this rhythm are the snooze button and weekends.

Don’t take naps

Napping disrupts the body’s natural sleep rhythm.  To avoid that late afternoon crash, avoid eating a large lunch.  Choose your favorite salad bar over your favorite Mexican restaurant.  If you must nap, take a power nap (10-20 minutes) and make sure it is at least 6 hours before your bedtime.

Choose your exercise time wisely

Regular exercise is excellent for promoting a restful night’s sleep; however, exercising close to bedtime can invigorate the body to the point of making it difficult to fall asleep.  Exercising in the morning can jump start your day and will not interfere with sleep.

Reserve the bed for sleep and intimacy

Watching TV, surfing the internet, eating, and paying bills all tell the body that the bed is not for sleeping.  Maintain that restful setting by keeping these activities out of the bedroom and certainly out of the bed.

This is the same Naturopathic Medical School that Doctors Elizabeth Cantrell and Brenna Murphy attended. 

Dr. Mehmet Oz receives Honorary Degree from Bastyr University. 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150215200245187

Our first class for the Clean Body Cleanse will be Tuesday, January 3rd @ 6:00pm.  This will be an introduction to cleanse.  Light refreshments will be served.    Let’s start the New Year off right!

This is one of the coolest demonstrations and explanations of how important exercise is to our health.

Click This Link To Find Out!

Jonathan Powell, ND

John Tesh has recently been warning against the dangers of colon cleansing on his radio program and his website.  He cites a study that was released from the Georgetown University School of Medicine in which the doctors warn against colonic hydrotherapy, herbal colon cleanses, and
pharmaceutical grade laxatives as if they are all one and the same.  This kind of disinformation is both unfortunate and misleading.

First, colonic hydrotherapy should always be administered by a health professional.  Extensive medical histories are taken from each patient in order to ensure the safety and appropriateness of colonic hydrotherapy.  Receiving a colonic from a Naturopathic doctor ensures knowledge of anatomy, infection control, and digestive physiology.  Mr. Tesh relates a case study involving a patient who should never have received a colonic due to a pre-existing condition of Crohn’s disease.  Rather than instruct his listeners to make sure that the clinician administering their colonic is qualified and all safety precautions are taken, Mr. Tesh implies that all colonics should be avoided.

Secondly, Mr. Tesh confuses herbal colon cleanses and laxative preparations with colonic hydrotherapy.  It is true that the use of herbal cleanses, pharmaceutical laxatives, and colonoscopy prep solutions without proper medical supervision can lead to electrolyte imbalances or worse.
However, Mr. Tesh again choses to sensationalize and warns against all forms of colon cleansing without differentiating between the various
forms.  Colonic hydrotherapy as practiced at Elements requires no herbal or pharmaceutical laxative.  In fact, we offer colonics as an alternative to traditional laxatives and stool softeners.

At Elements colonics are performed by health professionals using only FDA approved equipment.  You can make an appointment if you have
further questions.