Archive for the ‘Supplementation’ Category:
Written on January 25th, 2010 by adminno shouts
Does your sleeping pill make you gain weight? Yes, it can.
By Mike Clark, Education Director of NBH Lifetime Health Weight Loss Centers
“The sleeping pill Ambien seems to unlock a primitive desire to eat in some patients, according to emerging medical case studies that describe how the drug’s users sometimes sleepwalk into their kitchens, claw through their refrigerators like animals and consume calories ranging into the thousands.” Dr. Mark Mahowald, Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center in Minneapolis
Although this is somewhat old news, it is important to be reminded of this side effect of ambien. The findings that a sleep-related eating disorder is one of the unusual side effects showing up with the widespread use of Ambien was substantiated by researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., who have made similar findings.
Stephanie Saul, author of an article titled “Study Links Ambien Use to Unconscious Food Forays, noted observed that the study of ambien was first examined in 2006. Yet, millions continue to take ambien and other sleeping drugs, even when natural solutions are available. Spurred in part by consumer advertising, more than 26 million prescriptions for Ambien were dispensed in this country in just one year.
Stephanie Saul noted that’s “most of the people who use Ambien say the drug puts them to sleep, and they wake up without incident. But several doctors and a number of patients say that sleep-eating is one of a variety of unusual reactions to the drug. The reactions range from fairly benign sleepwalking episodes to hallucinations, violent outbursts and, most troubling of all, driving while asleep. This subject was explored in an article in The New York Times.
The Food and Drug Administration responded to a Times reporter’s query that it would “monitor” the drug’s safety record. Nothing has changed since 2006.
Dr. Carlos H. Schenck, a sleep disorders expert in Minneapolis and the lead researcher on the 2006 study, estimates that thousands of Ambien users in the United States experience sleep-related eating disorders while taking the drug.
Over the years, we have treated clients in our hormone and weight loss programs who take sleeping pills and/or anti-depressants. It has been our experience that multiple side effects can occur including weight gain and sugar and carbohydrate (bad carbs) cravings. Sadly, many of their concerns can be safely addressed with natural proteins like 5HTP, Kavinace, Magnesium, and even Epsom Salt baths. Many sleep issues are hormonal related.
The millions spent by the big Pharma companies would make their anti-depressant drugs and their “sleeping” drugs sound like the magic answer to everyone’s sleep and life issues. The ads do list – in a rapid fire voice – all of the dangers, including suicide, anxiety, etc. However, they do this while showing pleasant, peaceful people in a euphoric state.
The drug’s growth into a product worth $2.2 billion in annual sales in the United States has been fueled partly by consumer advertising. Sanofi-Aventis spent $130 million to advertise the product in 2005, more than double the $61 million it spent in 2004, according to figures released by TNS Media Intelligence. It continues to grow in sales and advertising.
Some examples of the effect of ambient on certain clients include the following:
- A woman in Salinas, Calif., whose case is to be included in the Minnesota study, said she would awaken to find candy bar wrappers next to her bed and Popsicle sticks on the floor near the refrigerator. She blamed her husband and sons before finally believing their claims that she was eating at night, unaware.
Worried that she would choke, “my son was so afraid at night, he’d come sit by the bed and watch me,” said the woman, Brenda Pobre, 54. Despite seeing several doctors, Ms. Pobre did not link Ambien to her nocturnal eating until after she gained 100 pounds.
- Among sleep-eaters, the desire for food can be tremendously powerful. One woman in the Minneapolis area whom Dr. Schenck treated, Judie Evans, said she began taking Ambien while recovering from back surgery. At the time, she was in a full body cast and needed assistance to get out of bed.During this time, Ms. Evans, who is 59 and lives alone, began to notice that food was missing from her refrigerator. She accused two nursing aides who were caring for her of stealing food. It was not until her son came to spend several nights that Ms. Evans said she realized that despite the body cast, she was getting up to eat while she was asleep. “During the day, I couldn’t even make it to the bathroom by myself,” Ms. Evans said.
The first night her son was there, he found her standing in the kitchen, body cast and all, frying bacon and eggs. The next night he found her eating a sandwich, Ms. Evans said, and sent her back to bed. Later that same night, her son arose to find her standing in the kitchen again. “I had turned the oven on,” she recalled. “I store pots and pans in the oven and I had turned it to 500 degrees.”
Ms. Evans said her problems ended when Dr. Schenck diagnosed Ambien-induced sleep-related eating disorder.
IF YOU ARE TAKING ANY PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, CONSIDER THEIR EFFECT ON YOUR WEIGHT AND YOUR HEALTH.
Written on December 28th, 2009 by admin3 shouts
Reduce Belly Fat by Lowering Cortisol with DHEA.
Natural Bio Health clients are well aware of the multiple benefits of DHEA, which range from increased energy and reduced heart disease risk to greater fat loss and better immune function. DHEA has also been shown to improve mood and reduce belly fat.
How does it reduce belly fat – and fat in general? It does this by helping to reduce the stress hormone cortisol. Many of us have experienced an increase in what it is termed “emotional eating” when we are stressed. We may have also noticed that we do not sleep as well when we are stressed. Both of these experiences often lead to increase in belly fat.
Aging and Cortisol.
A third reason for increased belly fat — and an increase in weight overall — is aging. Cortisol, a naturally occurring hormone, is one of the few hormones whose levels in the body increase with age. This increase in cortisol can lead to potentially damaging consequences that have been linked to depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and other maladies.. An increase in cortisol can also lead to weight gain. DHEA, on the other hand, like most beneficial hormones, decreases with age.
Note: A low level of cortisol, or “cortisol resistance”, can lead to adrenal fatigue. Symptoms of adrenal fatigue include a very low energy, loss of motivation and poor sleep quality.
A Critical Answer to Belly Fat: Decrease Cortisol and Increase DHEA.
DHEA has been shown to be a repair hormone. When cortisol goes up, DHEA typically goes down. Both are produced in the adrenal glands. This imbalance can lead to adrenal fatigue. It can also lead to weight gain, particularly around the middle. Adding DHEA to your hormone program and/or weight loss program can provide many benefits, including decreased cortisol and decreased fat.
Lab Tests:
At Natural Bio Health, we always recommend a lab test to determine your levels of DHEA. We also recommend a 24 hour cortisol test to check your stress levels. There is no reason to “guess” about your health or to self-medicate.
Further, since DHEA is a hormone, we recommend the prescription form of DHEA and follow-up labs to determine how effectively your body is responding to the treatment
For more information on DHEA, and Cortisol, visit www.nbhlifetimehealth.com.
Written on December 23rd, 2009 by adminno shouts
Are you feeling tired? Stressed out? You are not alone!
It is the holiday season and we are all supposed to be happy and full of energy. After all, we have a million things that we just must get done. We have shopping to do, gifts to buy, rooms to clean, parties to attend, trees to decorate and more and more. During all of this we are supposed to smile, make sure everyone else is happy and be ready to do it all again the next day.
One way to boost your energy is to increase your intake of magnesium. Unfortunately, eating a balanced diet doesn’t always provide the extra energy you need to counteract a slight deficiency of magnesium.
Magnesium is a mineral that is integral in more than 300 biochemical body reactions. It even helps in breaking down glucose into energy, so your energy can fall if your magnesium level is low.
Magnesium deficiencies can cause the body to work harder because the heart rate is higher, requiring more oxygen to accomplish physical tasks than if the magnesium levels are sufficient. The recommended daily requirement of magnesium is about 300 milligrams for women and 350 milligrams for men.
An ample amount of this mineral combats stress and hypertension (high blood pressure) and boosts energy levels.
Magnesium also relieves muscle cramps, and helps prevent arrhythmia.
Everyone loses magnesium in the course of daily life, and everyone should supplement with magnesium.
Written on December 20th, 2009 by adminno shouts
Can a High-Protein Diet Help You Lose Weight?
Low-carb diets are last year’s news, but high-protein diets are emerging as the latest aid in weight control. That’s because emerging research has hinted that protein may be able to satisfy hunger better than either fats or carbohydrates. Our clinical experience has verified that protein is best at satisfying hunger cravings. It also helps build lean muscle.
What Studies Show
Participants in a study recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported greater satisfaction, less hunger, and weight loss when fat was reduced to 20% of the total calories in their diets, protein was increased to 30%, and carbohydrates (GOOD) accounted for 50%. The study participants ate some 441 fewer calories a day when they followed this high-protein diet and regulated their own calorie intake. REMINDER: Good carbohydrates include primarily vegetables and whole grains.
Another study, reported in the Journal of Nutrition, showed that a high-protein diet combined with exercise enhanced weight and fat loss and improved blood fat (lipid) levels.
“Our research suggests that higher-protein diets help people better control their appetites and calorie intake,” says researcher Donald Layman, PhD, a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
“Diets higher in protein [and] moderate in carbs, along with a lifestyle of regular exercise … have an excellent potential to reduce blood lipids [and] maintain lean tissue while burning fat for fuel without dieters being sidetracked with constant hunger.”
Written on December 20th, 2009 by adminno shouts
Reduce Belly Fat by Lowering Cortisol with DHEA.
Lifetime Health Weight Loss clients are well aware of the multiple benefits of DHEA, which range from increased energy and reduced heart disease risk to greater fat loss and better immune function. DHEA has also been shown to improve mood and reduce belly fat.
How does it reduce belly fat – and fat in general? It does this by helping to reduce the stress hormone cortisol. Many of us have experienced an increase in what it is termed “emotional eating” when we are stressed. We may have also noticed that we do not sleep as well when we are stressed. Both of these experiences often lead to increase in belly fat.
Aging and Cortisol.
A third reason for increased belly fat — and an increase in weight overall — is aging. Cortisol, a naturally occurring hormone, is one of the few hormones whose levels in the body increase with age. This increase in cortisol can lead to potentially damaging consequences that have been linked to depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and other maladies.. An increase in cortisol can also lead to weight gain. DHEA, on the other hand, like most beneficial hormones, decreases with age.
Note: A low level of cortisol, or “cortisol resistance”, can lead to adrenal fatigue. Symptoms of adrenal fatigue include a very low energy, loss of motivation and poor sleep quality.
A Critical Aspect of Lowering Belly Fat: Decrease Cortisol and Increase DHEA.
DHEA has been shown to be a repair hormone. When cortisol goes up, DHEA typically goes down. Both are produced in the adrenal glands. This imbalance can lead to adrenal fatigue. It can also lead to weight gain, particularly around the middle. Adding DHEA to your hormone program and/or weight loss program can provide many benefits, including decreased cortisol and decreased fat.
Lab Tests:
At Lifetime Health Weight Loss, we always recommend a lab test to determine your levels of DHEA. We also recommend a 24 hour cortisol test to check your stress levels. There is no reason to “guess” about your health or to self-medicate.
Further, since DHEA is a hormone, we recommend the prescription form of DHEA and follow-up labs to determine how effectively your body is responding to the treatment
For more information on DHEA, and Cortisol, visit www.nbhlifetimehealth.com.