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During this busy time of year, it’s easy to get caught up in the shopping, gift wrapping, and baking, as well as the stress that can come with them. We at the Center for New Medicine want to remind you that the best gifts come in the form of hugs, smiles, and heartfelt good wishes, so make sure to make those your priority!

The team at Center for New Medicine wishes you a healthy, happy holiday season and peace, love and joy in the coming New Year.

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Weight Gain, Cravings and Cholesterol Issues: Could It Be Syndrome X?

Millions of Americans with this disorder are at increased risk for heart disease and diabetes. Here’s what you can do to prevent or reverse it.

It may sound like something out of the latest science fiction blockbuster, but Syndrome X is not some super-villain dreamed up in a Hollywood studio. It’s a very real health condition we should all take seriously. Medical experts estimate that as many as one in three Americans live with Syndrome X and its potential consequences.

Here are a few of the most common symptoms:

• Weight gain, particularly in the abdominal area, that doesn’t budge with diet and/or exercise
• Post-meal fatigue
• Cravings for sweets and carbohydrates
• Increases in triglycerides, blood sugar and blood pressure
• Unhealthy good/bad cholesterol ratio

Individually, none of these symptoms are cause for alarm, even though they’re not beneficial to anyone’s health. But when most or all of them occur simultaneously, Syndrome X is most likely to blame. And that means an increased risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and other complications.

Even if those symptoms look familiar, take heart -- there’s plenty that can be done to turn Syndrome X around. The best place to begin is with an overview of what the condition is and how it develops.

Syndrome X, also known as metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance, signals difficulties with the body’s ability to use insulin efficiently. Insulin is the hormone charged with regulating how our bodies metabolize fat, sugar and protein. Insulin is a multi-tasker. Its primary goal is to keep a lid on blood sugar levels, because excessive blood sugar can wreak havoc throughout the body and in the brain. To do that, insulin signals the brain when it’s time to stop eating, and it also acts like a traffic cop, directing food to the cells and telling them what to do with it.

When all systems are in working order, we eat a meal, and then the pancreas releases a measured amount of insulin into the bloodstream, nutrients are distributed appropriately and all’s well. But when the process goes awry, fat storage fails and blood sugar monitoring goes haywire. Insulin hits the bloodstream, but the cells ignore it and blood sugar levels remain high. The pancreas secretes more insulin, hoping to correct the situation. But that too fails. Many of the cells’ insulin receptor sites have been wiped out. The end results: rising triglyceride levels and food that should have been converted to energy stored as fat instead. If the process continues, type 2 diabetes may develop.

But why do cells resist insulin in the first place? The simple answer is overload, due to a diet with too much sugar and carbohydrates. Ideally, the pancreas releases a limited amount of insulin, only enough to process blood sugar. But when it’s faced with a barrage of sugary beverages and simple carbohydrates from processed and junk foods, the pancreas goes into overdrive, ramping up production of insulin in a desperate attempt to keep up.

Although it’s being seen in younger and younger people these days, Syndrome X is normally a condition that develops over time, after years of bad eating habits and sugar indulgence. Of course, if you’ve ever looked at the fine print on food labels, you know that sugar comes in many forms and can be found in the most unlikely places, including things like salad dressing, prepared pasta sauces and bread.

Sugar can’t take all the blame, though. Simple carbohydrates, especially those found in starchy, processed foods also contribute to the problem. (Just to clarify the carbohydrate issue, keep in mind that the worst offenders are those found in fast food and junk snacks. Fruits and other healthy foods also contain simple carbs, but they also supply loads of nutrients and fiber.)

Artificial sweeteners play a role in the development of Syndrome X, too. Products like NutraSweet™, as well as those made with sucrose, a popular sugar substitute consisting of fructose and glucose, rob the body of chromium, a trace mineral that supports insulin’s functions and maximize its effectiveness. And here’s a frightening fact: sucrose accounts for somewhere between 20 and 40 percent of the calories eaten by the typical American. No wonder Syndrome X is on the rise!

What can you do to avoid or reverse Syndrome X? Plenty! For starters, here are some suggestions from the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute:

• Aim for a body-mass index (BMI) below 25. Talk to your doctor about healthy ways to do this.
• Watch your waistline! Women should keep the measuring tape at 35 inches or less, and men need to stay under 40 inches.
• Build your diet around low-fat, high-fiber foods, non-starchy vegetables and lean protein.
• Make exercise part of your day, every day (with your physician’s okay first, of course). Choose activities you enjoy – yoga, dancing, walking, swimming, biking or whatever is fun, interesting or makes you feel good. The goal is to make movement part of each day, not some temporary measure just to lose weight.
• Visit your doctor regularly, so that you can stay on top of changes in blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood sugar, and make appropriate adjustments to your regimen.

In addition, check out the supplements that are proven to be helpful in dealing with Syndrome X. By combining lifestyle changes with appropriate supplements, you can restore healthy blood sugar levels, lose weight, avoid catastrophic health complications and say good-bye to Syndrome X.

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ASK DR. CONNEALY

Q: I am 37 years old. Eighteen months ago, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroid Disease and have been on a daily dose of Levoxyl ever since. I see that you treat some autoimmune diseases and hypothyroidism. Is Hashimoto's among the conditions that you treat? I also suspect that I have had a hormone imbalance for my entire adult life. Do you test for hormone levels?

A: The practitioners at the Center for New Medicine have quite a bit of experience treating Hashimoto’s and other hormone disorders. In fact, I am fairly well known for the effective use natural hormone protocols, which all of the practitioners prefer. We use several types of hormone testing, based on the individual patient, so we are certain they are receiving appropriate treatment. Best wishes to you on your journey to good health!

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Quote Of The Month

"Every person, all the events of your life are there because you have drawn them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you."

-- Richard Bach

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Resolutions for 2010: New Year, New You!

Ready to start the coming year right? Then check out these suggestions for making realistic goals and health-inspired resolutions that work.

It’s no secret that New Year’s resolutions are much easier to make than they are to keep. One recent survey showed that the vast majority of all resolutions are forgotten within weeks. Why is that? And what can you do about it? Here are four steps to make resolutions more effective and rewarding.

Be reasonable and realistic:

Most people would love to have more money. But resolutions like “Win the lottery!” or “Earn a million dollars next year” may not be the best way to do that. In fact, building resolutions around wishful thinking and vague, overly ambitious goals is almost certainly a recipe for failure.

Instead of setting yourself up for disappointment, take a more practical approach. For example, look closely at income to see where income can be increased. Is it possible to get a raise at work, or to turn a hobby into a part-time business? What about taking a class that could lead to a promotion or better job? The goal is to create a sustainable increase in income that will pay off for years to come.

Then examine your expenses to see where you can trim away excess. Is that cable television subscription with 200 channels really worth the price? Are you wasting money on cell phone extras -- like internet access or unlimited texting – that are more of a luxury than a necessity? Even something as simple as improving cooking skills to cut down on take-out meal expenses can have a big impact on your bottom line.

Break down each resolution into specific steps.

Weight loss, one of the most popular resolutions, is certainly a worthwhile goal. But again, it’s important to be realistic. One way to do that is by detailing how you’ll achieve weight loss with a step-by-step plan.

So, for example, let’s say you’ve resolved to lose 50 pounds. How will that happen? Vague notions like “I’ll eat less” or “I’ll join a gym” are well intentioned, but they’re not actionable plans.

Instead, commit to small, sensible, achievable goals, like losing one pound a week during the coming year. Then decide where that one-pound weight loss will come from. Are you giving up desserts? Taking up ballroom dancing? Swapping junk food for veggie snacks? All of the above? Clarifying details and setting smaller goals that are the stepping stones to big changes are one of the keys to staying on track and making resolutions into reality.

Look back at what’s worked and what hasn’t, then focus on repeating successes.

Let’s say last year’s resolution to get the closets organized actually succeeded. But the one that involved learning a second language didn’t quite happen. Before starting a new list of goals, now’s the time to think about why the French textbook gathered dust, while your closets look like Martha Stewart is living at your house.

Sorting out your successes and failures might require some soul searching. Do you really want to learn a language, or is just something that sounded good at the time? Do you have a special gift for organizing? If so, why not apply that talent to another area of your life and build a resolution around it? The idea is to create more strength-based successes, and minimize the failures that can undermine our confidence.

Focus on resolutions that are health related.

Sure, it would be nice to go on a dream vacation. But in the end, those fleeting pleasures are easily forgotten when the bill for the trip arrives. On the other hand, making changes that improve your health last a lifetime. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

• Resolve to drink more pure, clean water while eliminating as many plastic bottles as possible. Compounds in plastic bottles can leach into the water and enter your body, plus the empty bottles are creating major environmental hazards. Stainless steel bottles, like those made by Kleen Kanteen (available at the CNM Healthy Living Store), or other safe, refillable containers are a far better choice. Install a home water filter to make certain your water is pure and clean. Brita makes inexpensive units that fit on any faucet. The Jupiter Melody Ionizer is a larger, moderately priced option, and Aquasana offers reasonably price, whole-house filtration systems. (*See below for special offers on these products specifically for CNM clients.)
• Invest in an air filtration system for your home and/or office. I recommend Healthmate air purifiers. Just one unit can clean the air in more than 1,500 square feet and they’re available in non-toxic designer colors.
• Discuss detoxification options with your health-care provider. Reducing your body’s burden of chemicals and pollution is an excellent way to lay the foundation for better health throughout the coming years.
• Use your cell phone safely. Avoid keeping your cell phone on your body whenever possible. If you must put in a pocket, make sure the key pad is facing you, so that the stronger magnetic field in back is positioned out and away from your body. Whenever possible, use speaker-phone mode, a wireless Bluetooth headset or a hands-free kit equipped with an air tube in the last 8 inches, as these transmit fewer electromagnetic waves than ordinary hands-free kits. And do not let children under the age of 12 use a cell phone except in emergencies.
• Schedule attitude check-ups throughout the day. When things start to get overwhelming, take a quick break. Stretch, listen to music, watch a short, funny video or recall something wonderful and how it made you feel. Just standing up straight and smiling sends your body an “all’s well” message that translates into lower stress levels and promotes better overall health.

The start of a new year can be the ideal opportunity to make changes and create a whole new you. Just be sure to celebrate your successes and look for lessons in the good intentions that didn’t quite work out.

And remember – just because something didn’t work out doesn’t mean you’ve failed. When Thomas Edison was struggling to develop a storage battery, he reportedly made 10,000 attempts before he succeeded. But when he was asked what it was like to fail so many times, he replied: “I have not failed, I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” Now that’s the kind of attitude that can change the world -- and your life.

The products mentioned above, and many others, are available at www.greennest.com, where special prices are available just for CNM clients. Please use the promo code CFNM for discounts and special surprise gifts with purchase!

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RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS FOR SYNDROME X AND DETOXIFICATION*

This is just a small sampling of the many products we have available. Contact our Product Specialists at our Healthy Living Store (949) 680-1880 or orders@cfnmedicine.com for more information and to order. Don't forget, you receive $5 off when you purchase 2 of any product.

BONUS: Receive free shipping until December 31st on all orders!

CinnDrome X by Xymogen 120 capsules - $37.76 Helps support insulin sensitivity and optimize blood sugar levels with a safe, patented 100% aqueous cinnamon extract, along with three additional high-quality, standardized herbs involved in blood sugar management.	Diaxinol by Ortho Molecular 120 capsules - $73 A favorite in Europe for more than 30 years, Diaxinol has the unique ability to maintain blood sugar levels that are already within the normal range.
Metabolic Rx by perfectlyhealthy 90 capsules - $30 Designed to support the pancreas’s functions and help regulate blood sugar levels, Metabolic Rx contains a synergistic blend of glandular tissues, vitamins, minerals, herbs, digestive enzymes and antioxidants.	Gluco Solution by perfectlyhealthy 2 fl. oz. - $20 A special extract from the pods of kidney, white, navy, great northern and baby lima beans, substances that have been used for centuries in Russia and Eastern Europe as an all natural therapy for diabetics. This natural detox liquid colloid has been formulated to help detoxify the pancreas and other related organs.
Beyond Chelation Improved Longevity Plus A multi-vitamin/mineral combination designed to detoxify the body and improve blood circulation.The updated formula includes ingredients that assist in fighting cancer, heart disease and aging while helping control chronic inflammation.	MetalloClear Metagenics A novel formula that naturally enhances the body's ability to eliminate specific heavy metals that can negatively impact health and vitality, while retaining healthful minerals, such as calcium, selenium, zinc and magnesium.
Red Desert Clay I-Am Perfectly Healthy A naturally occurring, edible calcium montmorillonite clay that helps reduce the body’s toxic burden and supplies minerals to nourish our cells.	Heel Detox-Kit Stimulates the body's natural processes of elimination to cleanse itself of poisons, which can build up over time and negatively affect the immune system.
Burbur Detox NutraMedix The Peruvian herb known as Burbur has been used in traditional herbal medicine for cleansing the body and aiding in detoxification of the liver, kidneys and lymphatic system.	HMD Natural Path Based on extensive scientific and clinical research, this formula was created to eliminate heavy metals – including aluminum, arsenic, lead, mercury and more -- from the body without removing beneficial minerals.

The above information and product descriptions are for information purposes only, and are not intended to provide medical advice to individuals. Consult with your physician if you have any health concerns, and before initiating any new diet, exercise, supplement, or other lifestyle changes.

Prices on products and/or services are subject to change at any time and without notice. Please contact our Healthy Living Store to verify product pricing.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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