by admin | Feb 9, 2022 | Health Awareness
Inflammation is part of the body’s natural response to injury and infection. However, sometimes the body’s inflammatory response works overtime, causing several health conditions.
Good Inflammation
When the body is working correctly, inflammation occurs when you’re sick or injured. This kind of inflammation is a good thing. Chemicals in the bodywork to fight infections and heal injuries by heading to damaged tissues to treat them with blood, fluid, and proteins or by protecting and repairing damaged tissues with swelling and heat.
This good, or “acute,” inflammation gathers up immune cells, blood vessels, and molecular mediators to clear out damaged tissue, initiate repairs, and eliminate the cause of cell injury. One of the key elements of acute inflammation is that it goes away once it does its job.
Bad Inflammation
In contrast, bad inflammation occurs when your body has an inflammation response without injury or illness. The body’s immune response can overfire, which causes low levels of inflammation that can’t seem to dissipate, causing bad, or “chronic,” inflammation.
Chronic inflammation can cause problems of its own and is a factor in conditions like arthritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, blindness, cancer, and diabetes.
What Causes Bad or Chronic Inflammation?
Common causes of chronic inflammation include:
- An undiagnosed food sensitivity
- Exposure to irritants, such as environmental pollutants
- Chronic stress
- Autoimmune disorders
Identifying the causes of chronic inflammation serves as an essential step in treatment.
Determining the Cause of Chronic Inflammation
There are many ways your healthcare provider can work with you to identify the cause of your chronic inflammation. Some tests that may determine inflammation causes include:
- Food sensitivity testing
- Fatty acid profile
- Inflammation Patient Assessment Panel, which tests:
- High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)
- IL-6
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Ferritin
- Fibrinogen
- TNF-a
- Element analysis
In addition to testing for the source of your inflammation, you may also benefit from altering your diet to include anti-inflammatory foods, which may help your body calm its inflammatory response. For example, the foods included in the Mediterranean diet may provide some relief and support your immune response.
by admin | Feb 2, 2022 | Health Awareness
Beans really might be a magical fruit. Recent studies find beans to be nutritional powerhouses rich in fiber, resistant starch, and plant protein. Adding beans to your diet promotes weight loss, insulin sensitivity, and cardiovascular health.
However, the power of a tiny bean may be even more impressive than previously thought. New studies on the body’s gut microbiome reveal that this internal ecosystem may affect our overall health in significant ways and that beans may be the key to unlocking its powers.
The Gut Microbiome
The human body’s microbiome is a collection of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and microorganisms that live throughout the body’s surfaces, like the skin and the digestive tract. However, most of the microbiome lives in the gut, which contains over 1,000 species of bacteria and trillions of organisms.
The gut microbiome produces vitamins, develops immune responses, and enhances the benefits of food. For instance, the gut microbiome converts dietary fiber and resistant starch into short-chain fatty acids that protect the intestines’ cells and regulate metabolism.
How Do Beans Help Gut Health?
The large intestine’s bacteria rely on prebiotics to survive. Prebiotics serves as food for gut bacteria. When your body isn’t getting enough prebiotics through your diet, the gut bacteria need to find new food, which ends up being the immune defense on the surface of the intestinal lining.
While all plants contain probiotics, beans, which are full of fiber and resistant starch, are especially rich in prebiotics. In addition, beans’ ability to nourish the gut microbiome and promote short-chain fatty acids production helps kick your immune system into gear.
Additionally, as studies dig deeper into the species of bacteria living in the gut microbiome, researchers have discovered that people with multiple sclerosis lack a bacteria that breaks down isoflavones. This nutrient is also highly prevalent in beans.
As new studies into the gut microbiome find connections between chronic conditions and the foods and nutrients that offer potential remedies, beans may be a powerful tool in improving your overall health.
by admin | Jan 26, 2022 | Health Awareness
Intravenous therapies have become increasingly common over the last few years. One IV therapy, in particular, known as a “Myers’ Cocktail,” is unquestionably the most frequently used vitamin infusion. This specific blend of vitamins and minerals was developed by John Myers, MD.
Myers created the cocktail as a potential treatment option for patients suffering from chronic fatigue, muscle spasms, fibromyalgia, and other ailments that may be exacerbated by vitamin deficiencies.
What Ingredients Does a Myers’ Cocktail Include?
The Myers’ cocktail formula can be altered or revised following the specific needs of each patient. However, the standard ingredients include the following:
- Vitamins C, B12, and a B-complex
- Calcium to promote bone health and strength
- Zinc for the regulation of the immune system
- Magnesium to reduce muscle spasms, migraines, and fatigue
- Glutathione, a powerful antioxidant
- A saline solution
Clinicians may increase or decrease the quantities of each ingredient listed above. They might also add or remove certain substances as necessary.
Who May Benefit from a Myers’ Cocktail?
Many patients may benefit from receiving a Myers’ cocktail. Generally, the treatment is safe for individuals of all ages, regardless of condition. However, medical staff may need to modify the exact composition of the cocktail in order to avoid agitating or worsening certain ailments.
A few examples of patients who might benefit from a Myers’ cocktail IV infusion include:
- People with depression or anxiety
- Individuals experiencing withdrawal symptoms
- Patients experiencing chronic fatigue
- Individuals who are immunocompromised
- People experiencing muscle weakness or frequent spasms
While Myers’ cocktails have the potential to provide many benefits, they are not the only available intravenous treatment option. Another popular and effective IV treatment that has become increasingly prevalent in recent years is known as ozone therapy. This therapeutic option can stimulate the immune system and may benefit patients suffering from various autoimmune disorders.
IV therapies such as ozone treatments and Myers’ cocktails provide patients who are experiencing chronic conditions with a less invasive alternative treatment option.
by admin | Jan 19, 2022 | Health Awareness
You may not have heard of a very important molecule in your body, NAD+. This molecule is responsible for creating energy from the nutrients you consume. As you get older, your NAD+ levels decline. This decline can affect your metabolism and other important cellular functions in your body.
What Is NAD+?
NAD+ stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. It is known as a coenzyme, which is a “helper” for important proteins in your body. A lot of important enzymes and other molecules rely on NAD+ to create energy and metabolize building block materials. Coenzymes are necessary for enzymes to function properly.
Why Is NAD+ Important?
Without NAD+, your body cannot generate energy out of the nutrients that you eat. It is also an important molecule in the protection of cell material.
NAD+ protects your cells from being broken down, which contributes to the aging process. It makes sense, then, why NAD+ levels decline with age. Without NAD+ to protect the important molecules around your cells, your cells and tissues are more susceptible to damage.
As part of digestion, NAD+ and mitochondria work together to metabolize the food you eat. Mitochondria have been closely linked to the aging process. NAD+ assists multiple different molecules in protecting cellular DNA and mitochondrial functions.
How Do I Get More NAD+ In My Diet?
Foods that contain important precursors for NAD+ include fish, mushrooms, and fortified foods. Most fortified foods are grain-based, like breakfast cereals and pasta.
NAD+ is created out of precursor molecules. Many foods contain the necessary enzymes to produce NAD+. Researchers are still searching for ways to fortify foods with the appropriate building block molecules for NAD+.
It is not yet clear whether a dietary supplement for NAD+ is effective in fighting against aging and cell damage. However, it is never a bad thing to consume healthy foods high in NAD+ precursor enzymes.
Patients can also add this with at-home NAD+ therapy injections. Stemedix offers NAD+ therapy. Please contact us today to see if this therapy as well as others may be beneficial for your health journey.
by admin | Jan 12, 2022 | Health Awareness
Taking care of your immune system may be the most important thing you can do to stay healthy and feel younger. Add these eight superfoods to your diet to help you meet your wellness goals naturally.
1. Garlic
Garlic is a prebiotic that contains allicin, a bioactive shown to increase disease-fighting cells and immune system T cells. One study also found that taking aged garlic extract supplements could help reduce cold and flu symptoms.
2. Mushrooms
Mushrooms are packed with an important soluble fiber known as beta-glucan. Beta-glucan stimulates the immune system and defends against many types of fungal and bacterial infections, parasites, and viruses.
3. Yogurt
Yogurt provides the healthy probiotic bacteria your gut needs to stay healthy. Some research suggests probiotics may even help reduce the length and severity of common cold symptoms.
4. Salmon
You already know the omega-3 fatty acids in salmon are good for your heart, but you may not have realized salmon is also a good source of vitamin D. Vitamin D may help lower your chances of developing an upper respiratory infection.
5. Kiwi
It’s strange, it’s fuzzy, it’s green, and it’s also packed with vitamin C. Kiwi is one of the few non-citrus foods that can deliver big doses of vitamin C, which is vital for maintaining the production of white blood cells and fighting off disease pathogens.
6. Tea
If you need a reason to curl up with a book and a steaming cup of tea, keeping your immune system strong is the perfect excuse. Drink five to six cups of black, green, or herbal tea to boost immune activity. You get bonus antimicrobial points by adding honey to your mug.
7. Beans and Lentils
Eat more beans and lentils if you want to live longer. In the “blue zones” (areas of the world where people live longest), legumes are a staple. Beans and lentils are high in zinc, a mineral that boosts white blood cell production as well as providing microbial protection.
8. Blueberries
Blueberries are rich in flavonoids which contain several immune-boosting properties. The flavonoids specific to blueberries may decrease the incidence and severity of infections in the upper respiratory tract as well as help fight aging naturally.
For more health awareness blogs, please visit www.stemedix.com/blog.
by admin | Dec 29, 2021 | Health Awareness
Stress is a powerful response to challenging factors in our lives. Too much stress can damage your body over time. Additionally, stress is unpleasant and puts a damper on your mood. Read on to find out the seven stress-relief supplements you need in your life – and one you should steer clear of.
1. Valerian Root
Valerian root supplements can be very effective at fighting anxiety and stress. Some people who struggle with insomnia swear by valerian supplements to help them get restful sleep. Overall, valerian root is great for relaxation and unwinding.
2. Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is supported by the FDA as a safe agent that fights anxiety and poor sleep quality. These supplements have improved stress responses and bouts of insomnia in research participants. This is a great supplement for decompressing at the end of your night.
3. Melatonin
Your body naturally produces melatonin when you are in darkness. This hormone helps your body shift into a restful sleep. Melatonin supplements help people with sleep troubles drift off to sleep and are completely natural.
4. Magnesium
Magnesium has shown mild anti-anxiety benefits. For those struggling with elevated daily stress levels, taking magnesium may help eliminate those feelings, but more research is needed to confirm magnesium’s efficacy as a stress-reducing supplement.
5. Ashwagandha
Known as the ancient anti-anxiety plant, ashwagandha helps reduce stress and promote restful sleep. This plant-based treatment has been used for centuries to help regulate stress levels in the body. If you struggle with moderate to severe anxiety, ashwagandha may help.
6. L-Theanine
L-theanine is an amino acid, which are the structures that make up the proteins in your body. Studies have shown that L-theanine can improve stress levels, mental clarity, and cognitive performance. This compound is found naturally in green tea.
7. Rhodiola
Rhodiola plants grow in very cold climates. Their roots and concentrated extracts have shown promising potential for treating stress, anger, irritability, and confusion and improving overall mood. This root is an important factor in preventing stress-related illness.
One to Avoid: Kava
Kava plants have been a cause for concern regarding consumers’ safety, as taking Kava supplements can potentially cause liver damage. Some people who favor natural remedies for stress have touted Kava as an anti-anxiety supplement. However, there is no evidence that Kava reduces stress, anxiety, or depression.
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