Cell testing for disease prevention

The popular saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, has never been more true! Early detection of illness is now possible through cell testing technology. Our health data is stored in our blood cells. By analyzing various markers at a cellular level we can detect diseases that have not yet symptomatically manifested.  Detection of disease and illness before they become an issue is at the heart of holistic health and disease prevention.

Who should undergo screening

Cell level testing is appropriate for everyone! People of all ages can benefit from early detection of potential threats. By identifying imbalances early on, patients, physicians, and caregivers can better regulate and manage health.

It’s imperative to undergo testing prior to experiencing symptoms to tackle issues before they even begin. Early detection and addressing underlying cause of disease, rather than merely treating symptoms, allows beneficial and effective treatment, as well as disease prevention and control.

In many cases, correcting diet and physical activity is all that is needed to prevent an issue from becoming a bigger problem.

Benefits of cell testing

Early detection

Cell testing utilizes blood cells over plasma because disruptions are more easily detected in the cells. Early detection is crucial to stopping disease in its tracks!

Healthy life

Cell testing encourages a healthy lifestyle by providing information specific to each individual. Testing will reveal nutrient deficiencies or hormonal imbalances whereby a dietary or supplement regime can be specifically tailored to each individuals need.  Understanding your health status on a cellular level can direct healthy lifestyle changes that you know will work!

Long-term information

Disease diagnosis merely takes into account symptoms.  Cell testing allows us to work faster and prevent symptoms before they manifest. Cell testing also allows us to understand the cause of symptoms and treat the cause of the disease.

Specificity

Cell testing ensures the right diagnosis and treatment of disease. There’s no guesswork, no trial and error when it comes to treatment methods.  Physician are able to use evidence to understand what is actually going on inside the body and can ensure treatment is made base on individual need.     

5 Foods That Can Add Years to Your Life

Who doesn’t want to live a long and healthy life? Thankfully, achieving it isn’t out of reach. Simply consume the right food items. Here are a few you should consider:

Fish

Having at least eight ounces of low-mercury fish like salmon and sardines on a regular basis can improve your brain function significantly. Consuming fish also helps fight inflammation. Don’t substitute fresh fish with fish oil supplements as the latter cannot give you the same benefits of fresh fish.

Hot pepper

If your palate is trained for everything ‘hot,’ you can expect to live longer. If not, start incorporating hot spices like crushed red pepper flakes or jalapeño peppers into some dishes.  You can use them in moderation to add flavor to food instead of salt.   The capsaicin in spicy peppers and seasonings will improve your blood flow, boost metabolism, and prevent bacterial invasion in your stomach. The anti-inflammatory qualities of capsaicin help prevent cancer and Type 2 diabetes, too.

Beans

Beans are loaded with a variety of nutrients – protein, vitamins, fiber, and more – and help with the body’s restoration process. Regular consumption of these vegetables – which also fall into the Proteins food group — will deter the accumulation of bad cholesterol in your body; thank the high fiber content for that. Eating four half-cup servings of beans regularly along with peas, lentils, and tofu will lower your risks of developing an ischemic heart.

Dark chocolates

Rich in flavonoids, dark chocolates can have plenty of benefits to your health.Consumption of this food in moderation can keep your blood pressure in check. And who does not know the close relation between healthy blood pressure and longevity?

Nuts

Rich in mono-saturated fat and antioxidants, nuts can help to reduce the bad cholesterol level in your body and unclog your arteries. Having an ounce of assorted nuts (almonds, cashews,macadamia nuts, and walnuts) daily can lower your risks for several diseases including cancer and respiratory issues by 20 percent.

There is nothing exotic about any of the above items; they are just common everyday foods that we all love to eat. Adding years to your life is actually so easy! If you want more such easy-to-follow health tips or want a solution to any of your long-term health problems, get in touch with Florida Wellness Medical Group. Our alternative medicine experts can tailor a treatment program for your quick recovery.

3 Diet Changes That Make the Real Difference to Your Health

A balanced diet is an essential ingredient on a journey towards better health. However, making big lifestyle and dietary changes are not always possible. Fortunately, even small changes in your diet can bring big results. Here are three easy tweaks you can make to your diet to enjoy good health:

1. Avoid Whole Milk

If you are fond of dairy products, a little change can help you cut back on calories.When you eat cornflakes with milk for your breakfast, opt for one or two percent milk.  Switching to this low-fat option can help you consume up to 45 fewer calories per cup. There is no need to worry much about dairy fat if you drink milk in moderation. If you are lactose intolerant, go for non-diary alternatives that are rich in Vitamin D and calcium. Cashew milk, for example, has calcium, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D. Keep in mind that it is also lower in protein than cow’s milk and contains 3.5 grams of fat for each serving.

Eat Lean Meats

Staying healthy and losing weight does not imply that you have to stop eating meat altogether. If you prefer meat, switch to the lean alternatives like round steak, flank, skinless chicken or turkey, sirloin, or pork chops with the fat cut off. With these changes, you can reduce your calorie intake by up to 91 calories for every four-ounce serving. Besides, lean meat also helps you avoid unhealthy saturated fat.

Switch to Green Tea

Green tea contains catechins, antioxidants that help improve your metabolism. A Japanese study found that people drinking an 11-ounce bottle of green tea every day managed to lose 5.3 pounds after a period of three months while those drinking regular tea lost only 2.9 pounds. Another health benefit of this change: when you drink green tea instead of coffee, you are consuming only half the caffeine.

Incorporating these little dietary changes can go a long way in improving your health. Enjoy the food you like but in moderation. Need some more guidance in making the right dietary choices? Consult with our Florida Wellness Medical Group nutrition experts who will be happy to prepare a healthy diet plan for you.

Is Your Calcium Intake Strengthening Your Bones?

You probably already know that calcium is good for your bones and it also helps in keeping osteoporosis at bay. But, are you sure that the calcium you are taking is finding its way to your bones? Calcium alone cannot work wonders in keeping your bones healthy and maintaining bone density. It can only reach its full bone-building potential if your body has enough vitamin D and vitamin K.

Vitamin D

Calcium and vitamin D work together to protect your bones. Calcium helps in building and maintaining bone strength, while vitamin D helps your body to absorb calcium effectively. So, even if you are taking enough of this bone-building mineral, it might be less beneficial if you are deficient in vitamin D.

While sunlight on the skin helps the body produce vitamin D, the negative effects of sunrays on the skin combined with geographical/climate conditions may make it difficult for you to get enough solar exposure. One of the best alternatives is to turn to food sources such as egg yolk, fatty fish, vitamin D-fortified milk, and a multi-vitamin or vitamin D supplements. Some calcium supplements also contain vitamin D.

Vitamin K

If your source of calcium does not reach your bones, it eventually enters your arteries. This increases the level of arterial calcification and increases the risk of coronary heart diseases and heart attacks. Vitamin K plays an essential role in regulating calcium in your body and in bone formation. It modifies a protein called MGP to prevent calcium from building up in your veins and blocking blood flow to your heart. You can get sufficient vitamin K from green, leafy vegetables like spinach and kale.

Counting on milk alone may not be enough for adequate vitamin D fulfilment. You need a balanced diet to ensure that you are also getting those nutrients that can ensure the calcium reaches your bones. Contact Florida Wellness Medical Group for more health tips and to learn if your body has all the essential nutrients in the right proportion.

Increase High-Quality Protein Intake – Here is How

In school, we all learned that proteins are body-building nutrients. They boost cell growth and help build muscles. Did you know that these vital nutrients also contribute to maintaining a healthy body weight? Wondering how? They keep you satisfied for a long time so that you don’t need to eat food very frequently. They also boost your energy level so that you can workout more. As you age, you will have to increase your intake of high-quality proteins not only to stay healthy and energetic, but also to prevent muscle loss. Proteins will also help lower your risks for obesity, osteoporosis, type-2 diabetes, and stroke.

Food items like beef, pork, poultry, milk, cheese, and yogurt are examples of high-quality protein. They are called ‘high-quality’ because each of them contains all the essential amino acids your body needs. As a rule of thumb, every adult should eat at least 0.8grams of protein per kilogram of his/ her body weight per day. For older adults, the range increases to 1 to 1.5 grams of protein for each kilogram of weight. As you grow older, you must ensure that your diet is rich in these vital nutrients. Here are a few tips that will help you consume more high-quality proteins every day:

  • Replace processed carbs such as pastries, cakes, pizza, cookies, and chips with organic meat, poultry, dairy, and tofu. Other good sources include fish, beans, nuts, seeds, peas, and non-GMO soy products.

  • When you feel like snacking, have nuts or seeds instead of potato chips and other junk foods. Replace creamy desserts with yogurt, and instead of sandwiches and pizzas, have grilled chicken or baked beans.

  • Eat seafood at least twice a week. It is high in protein and low in saturated fat. Besides being an excellent source of protein, fish such as salmon, trout, sardines, anchovies, sablefish or black cod, and herring are also high in omega-3 fatty acids.

A word of caution, though. Consumption of more protein may increase your urine output, so drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. Consuming more protein may also cause calcium loss; make sure that you get 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams of calcium per day.

Need more guidance with incorporating more high-quality proteins in your diet?  Call on the health experts of Florida Wellness Medical Group today!  Our medical staff can provide you individualized nutrition advice to assist you in making the best long-term health changes just for you.

How Effective is Your Nutrition Plan?

What do you think is the easiest way of determining if your nutrition plan is on the right track? Probably weighing yourself on the scale. You may be surprised to learn that a change in your body weight is not the only indicator of your diet’s efficiency. Here is how you can find out if your nutrition plan is working or not:

You Feel More Energetic

A perfect nutrition plan will make you feel more active than before. You will get a feeling of well-being that is steady and consistent throughout the day. You do not hate your morning alarm beeps anymore and don’t press the snooze button on your smartphone. Instead, you wake up a few minutes before the alarm starts beeping.  Even after office lunch, you do not need several cups of coffee to keep you from dozing off. You feel energized and have no problem working with focus and attention. You do not feel drowsy even during the mid-afternoon team meetings!

You Feel ‘Full’ after Meals

If you feel satisfied after a meal, it means that your nutrition plan is on the right track. You do not feel hungry for a long time. You may feel a little uncomfortable if you are on a rigorous weight-loss plan. However, a diet plan that helps you shed one to three pounds every week is perfect. After meals you should feel comfortably full rather than stuffed.

Your Clothes are a Bit Loose or Tight

When you reach in your closet to try on clothes, they actually fit! You look good in them and your muscles look toned. Your jeans fit perfectly around your waist.

Your body will never lie if you are on a perfect nutrition plan. The real trick is to know what ‘the perfect plan’ is for you. In other words, you must understand what works for you and what doesn’t.. Seeking professional help is the right step in this direction. Why not consult a Florida Wellness health professional trained in nutrition to get started toward your fitness goals?

3 Benefits of a High-Protein Diet

You require a protein-rich diet to keep your daily energy levels high, boost your metabolism, and maintain your blood sugar levels. You may be having a lot of proteins in your meal already, but are you eating the right ones?  Used in every cell in your body, proteins are essential for building muscles, improving digestion, balancing hormones naturally, and supporting neurological functions. Animal proteins such as fish, meat, dairy products, and eggs have high and balanced proportions of amino acids. Nuts, beans, and high-protein grains like quinoa are other good sources of protein. Here are three important reasons why you must consider a high-protein diet:

1. Keeps You Full for a Long Time

With a protein-rich diet, you feel full for a long time, resisting your desire to snack after a meal. Several researches reveal that a protein-packed meal is more filling than a diet rich in high fats. With a full stomach, you are less likely to overindulge in food. When you have no desire to snack, you automatically reduce your daily calorie intake and lose weight in a fast and healthy way. Indulging in more proteins helps reduce your appetite through different mechanisms such as altering the hormones associated with the desire to eat.

2. Builds Muscle Strength

The muscle tissue in your body contains protein, and so it is no wonder that a diet high in this essential nutrient will help you build muscles quickly. When you exercise, your muscles are trained, thus ‘damaging’ and dividing your muscle tissue. This process is called protein synthesis wherein your body produces new muscle proteins to make up for the damaged tissues. This means your body requires more of this nutrient for synthesis. Based on the findings of research scientists at McMaster University, consumption of 1.3 to 1.8 gm of proteins for every kg of body weight is enough for maximum synthesis of proteins. You will require more of it when training intensely and regularly. Proteins are also needed when you are curbing your calorie intake for fat loss.

3. Improves Your Heart Health

Include fish in your meals if you are on a high-protein diet for the full week. Seafood in particular is protein-packed. Not only does it have low fat, but also omega-3 fatty acids that help to lose weight, reduce cholesterol levels, and improve cardiovascular health.

Do not get carried away by diet trends that come and go. Instead, switch to a high-protein diet for muscle growth and strength. Consult with our nutritionists who will tailor a creative meal plan to help you get amino acid-rich proteins. If you need more assistance, contact the nutrition experts of Florida Wellness Medical Group now.

Tasty Ways to Manage Stress

Long hours at work, challenging goals, and constant competition— it comes as little surprise that many of us are stressed out most of the time. According to the 2013 Work Stress Survey conducted by Harris Interactive for Everest College, eight out of 10 Americans are stressed out because of their jobs. Studies also show that how you react to stress can determine your health condition 10 years down the line. Staying de-stressed is the key to a healthier tomorrow, but the question is, where do we find that key? In your kitchen, maybe! Try eating the following food items to reduce your stress levels:

Dark Chocolate

If you love to eat dark chocolates, we have good news for you. Since dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, it can reduce stress hormones in your body and give your mind some space to breathe. Dark chocolate can boost your mood by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Being a less processed chocolate, it contains 65 percent cacao, which is safe to eat. However,do not consume more than one to two ounces daily. Dark chocolate stimulates the neural activity of the brain and makes you feel happy.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 is a form of fatty acid that can help you de-stress and have a positive impact on your mood. Eating food items like tuna, salmon, and avocado can help you fight depression. Two servings of fatty fish per week can lower stress and anxiety levels. Apart from fish, you can even use flax seed oil and walnuts, because these contain omega-3 as well.

Citrus Fruits

Another way to get rid of stress is by eating citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit. Vitamin C is also found in strawberries potatoes, tomatoes, and broccoli. Adult men should try to eat about 90 mg of this vitamin per day, while adult women should regularly have about 75 mg of vitamin C.

Although the right kind of food can help you de-stress, you must also know where to draw the line. Get in touch with one of our experts to learn more about your options.

Don’t Drink Your Fruits

‘Buy a bottle of apple juice and get another FREE’ – You will come across a number of such luring offers in the supermarket. Of course, these are quite lucrative discounts and tempting at the same time. But have you ever wondered why you do not get such options while buying fresh fruits from the store? The answer is straight and simple; it’s pure and real without preservatives. Most of the bottled juices you buy are filled with chemicals that prevent the decaying process for some time. But as the expiration date approaches the stores prefer to get rid of the stock. As you can guess, the expected health benefit is almost zero.

Fruit juice is healthy, only if you make it on your own.

Why should You Eat Your Fruit?

Fruits, in general, have lots of vitamins, fiber and water. Consuming fruits regularly can improve your blood pressure, minimize cancer risk as well as reduce the chances of cardiovascular disease. Fruits help to develop a strong immune system due to their high β-carotene content. According to scientists from Britain, Singapore, and the Harvard School of Public Health, eating fruits can lower the risk of developing type 2 Diabetes. However, if you drink the same in the form of juice, the impact is just the opposite; it can increase the risk much more.

What Does Juicing Do to Your Fruit?

The moment the fruit is converted into juice, the cell walls break letting out natural sugar. Plus, fruit juice contains almost no fiber, and as you know, fiber plays an important role in digestion. Besides, fibers also reduce the absorption of fruit sugar, and when that fiber is missing, you can expect more sugar in your system.

Eating fruits is always the healthier option. Even when you crave fruit juice, go for the homemade alternatives rather than the ones available in the market. Need some more guidance on a healthy lifestyle? Contact our wellness experts today.

Food for Your Bones

If you don’t know how to contact Madam Poppy Pomfrey, the resident-physician at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from the Harry Potter series, you cannot expect to re-grow your bones once they start showing the signs of aging. Since you surely don’t have a passport to the world of magic, you should keep on feeding your bones well, so that they remain strong for a long time. After all, they play an important part in the overall functioning of your body. Besides providing a skeletal framework, bones protect your vital organs. They even make oxygen-transporting red blood cells and immunity-building white blood cells. With so many functions to perform, your bones deserve a good supply of nutrients, and a lack of that may set the stage for early decay. So what are some good food items for your bones? Everything rich in calcium and vitamin D. For long-lasting bone health, adults should consume 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams of calcium per day. Here is the list of bone-building foods:

  • Organic cow milk and milk products such as cheese, tofu and yogurt are some of the best sources of calcium.

  • Kidney beans, white beans, black beans, and soy beans are excellent sources of this bone-building nutrient.

  • Nuts can also supply a generous amount of this mineral. Almonds, in particular, are a rich source of calcium. With every 20 pieces, you get 75 mg calcium.

  • Among grains, the lesser known variety of finger millets contain the maximum amount of calcium – 100 gram grain contains 344 mg calcium.

  • Fish is generally high in calcium. Tuna, salmon and other sea-fish are particularly calcium- rich.

  • Some fruits like bananas, dates, custard apples, and guavas contain loads of calcium. If you love dried fruits, try figs – just five pieces can provide approximately 90 milligrams of calcium. Oranges, grapefruits and other citrus fruits are also high in calcium.

  • Add more greens to your diet, as they are also a great source. Dark, leafy vegetables such as spinach, Chinese cabbage, kale, and turnip greens give you not only calcium, but also vitamin K and potassium.

  • If you need to take calcium supplements, avoid consuming them along with iron to avoid absorption issues.

Are you getting your daily dose of calcium? If not, consult our list and correct your diet. On top of a healthy, calcium-rich diet, also exercise regulatory. Even walking or light jogging will do. Along with the right food, regular exercise helps strengthen the bones. Consult our wellness experts to guide you through proper nutrition choices.