Anti-Aging… Since When Did “Aging” Become A Bad Thing?

A posh term these days is “anti-aging”. We see anti-aging terminology all over the place – in cosmetics, vitamins, supplements, prescription medications, etc. 

Since I’m well past forty, I feel like I’m qualified to speak my mind. I don’t agree with the term “anti-aging”. This term simply carries a connotation that there’s something wrong with growing older. Quite frankly, I feel like I’m just now coming into my prime. Age seems to bring with it a degree of benefit. 

I prefer the terms “Preventive-Aging” and “Longevity”. These convey a meaning of being empowered with the preventive measures necessary for living healthier for longer periods of time. Let me give you a quote that I recently read:

The gradual wasting away of the body over the course of decades is not a necessary or normal component of aging. 

Rather, it is the natural outcome from a lifetime of unenlightened lifestyle choices.

The Conclusion…

Through unhealthy choices you may actually function and be aging biologically at the same level 

as someone 15-20 years older!

So, here’s the golden question…

How can you be one of those people who function and age biologically at a level equivalent to someone who is many years younger than you?

At Term That Makes No Sense…

If I’m totally honest, I must inform you that we, as Americans, have potentially been fleeced. Over the past 8 years, politicians have led us to believe that there is such a thing as “Healthcare Reform”. Sadly, this is not true. The reality is that it’s not “Healthcare Reform”. Instead, it is “Sick Care Reform”. Let me explain…

• Exponential number of Americans today are turning 65 years old
• Nine fold increase in the cost of sick care of those over 65 – 85 years compared to those prior to age 65 years.
• More than 75 cents of every dollar spent in healthcare goes toward treating preventable sickness (ie, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, obesity)
• Most medical providers are trained to wait until patients are drowning before they throw them a life preserver…. this is, in essence, “downstream” medicine.

What if there was a way to hedge the risks?

There is a way. It’s called “Preventive-Aging & Longevity Care”. A specialist in this area is astute at designing a longevity plan that is custom tailored to fit individual needs. Lifestyle choice coaching & hormone rebalancing are just a couple of the techniques implemented to help achieve these goals.

At Matrix Wellness Solutions, we are specialists in Preventive-Aging & Longevity Care. If you or someone you know would benefit from a personalized longevity plan, contact us for details.

To Your Health,

Brian Brown

Have You Kept Your New Year’s Resolution?

Well, we are just over four months into this New Year, and I’d be willing to bet that there are a lot of people out there who have fallen off of the wagon…. In fact, it might be safer to say they’ve left the reservation and possibly even thrown themselves over the cliff. 

When it comes to achieving your diet and weight loss goals, accountability is king! Many well-intentioned dieters have tried to shortchange this process only to realize that failure is looming overhead. Humans are “relational” creatures - we need each other. It’s just that simple. 

Other dieters struggle with discouragement. It’s very common to struggle with peaks and valleys during the weight loss process. Understanding the normal physical patterns that come along with weight loss is essential to successfully attaining weight loss goals. Having someone to coach you through all of the pitfalls will make you more likely to succeed. 

Lastly, tracking everything that you eat is essential. Research shows that people who journal their daily food intake are 50% more likely to get the weight off and keep it off. 

At Matrix Wellness Solutions, we provide intensive support, coaching, and encouragement for each of our clients. If you’d like to get your weight loss train back on the tracks, give us a call so that we can discuss your personalized plan. 

To Your Health, 

Brian Brown

Momma Taught Me To Clean My Plate…Part 2

In my last installment, we talked about the problem of being driven to overeating by our subconscious.

So what do we do about it? Here are some techniques that you can use to help overcome this problem. I want you to try this for the next week and see how much of a difference it makes.

• Write down everything you put in your mouth… even if it’s a piece of gum; keep a daily record. Research shows that people who do this one thing are most likely to lose weight and keep it off.
• When you eat, concentrate on chewing more slowly.
• Don't eat in front of the T.V. or while listening to music.
• Prepare your plate of food and put the rest away, so that there’s no temptation to go back for seconds.
• After you eat a meal, ask yourself these questions (for POSITIVE REACTIONS):
• Feel full and content?
• No sweet cravings?
• Not hungry at all?
• No need for a snack?
• Feel recharged?
• Energy is even (not high or low)?
• No “crashing” feelings?
• Feel uplifted?
• Mind is clear and not foggy?
• Can easily put words and thoughts together?

• After you eat a meal, ask yourself these questions (for NEGATIVE REACTIONS):
• Physically full, BUT still hungry?
• Desire something sweet?
• Already hungry?
• Need a snack?
• Energy has not improved at all?
• Feel wired, but tired underneath?
• Crashed and burned; need a nap?
• Feel anxious and/or irritable?
• Brain is foggy?
• Gut feel heavy?

Here are some quick rules for interpreting these NEGATIVE reactions:

• Excess Fat and/or Protein will result in the following:
• Physically full, BUT still hungry?
• Desire something sweet?
• Energy has not improved at all?
• Gut feel heavy?
• Insufficient calories and/or excess carbohydrates will result in the following:
• Already hungry?
•  Need a snack?
• Excess Carbohydrates will result in the following:
• Feel wired, but tired underneath?
• Crashed and burned; need a nap?
• Feel anxious and/or irritable?
• Brain is foggy?

These techniques may seem a little crazy at first, but as you get used to them, you will begin to develop more self-awareness. In the long run, you’ll be more in tune with your body and your body’s response to foods, and this will lead to A BETTER YOU!

To Your Health,

Brian Brown

How Can I Prevent or Reverse Type II Diabetes?

There’s been a lot of talk lately about diabetes remission. Edward Gregg from the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) summarizes the common thinking of today very well… 

Kind of a long-term assumption really is that once you have diabetes there's no turning back on it, and there's no remission or cure -- Edward Gregg 

However, in a recent study that Edward Gregg and his team at the CDC published in the Journal of The American Medical Association (JAMA), 11.5% of those with Type II Diabetes who participated in a one year program of intensive diet and exercise were found to have blood sugar levels that approached those levels of their “pre-diabetic” state. 

Additionally, those who were more newly diagnosed had a greater chance of falling into the 11.5% group of people who went into remission. The hallmark of the research findings was that weekly accountability and support played just as important a role as diet and exercise. 

This gives hope to those with Type II Diabetes that aggressive lifestyle change & proper accountability can have significant impact on overall health outcomes with Type II Diabetes. It’s no longer a mandatory sentence that has to be accepted. It can be fought, and the battle can be won. 

At Matrix Wellness Solutions, we have had a number of clients who have reduced or stopped their diabetes medications under the close medical supervision that we offer through our weight loss programs. Below is a graph of one such patient.

Upon admission to the clinic, this person had a fasting blood sugar of 260; he was also 320 pounds and taking 60 units of insulin along with two different oral diabetes medications. Over a 6 month period, his blood sugar continued to decline and he lost 70.4 pounds. The end result was that he came off of insulin & one of his oral diabetes medications completely. The other oral medication has been cut in half and we are hopeful that he will be off of this one in the next 3 months. 

During this six-month period, this particular patient was seen on a weekly basis. He was also given dietary education, support & accountability for a customized diet plan with moderate exercise. His lab work and blood sugars were monitored frequently throughout this period and adjustments were made to his medications as needed. 

At Matrix Wellness Solutions we have real people with real results.

Is The Mediterranean Diet A Cure For Heart Disease?

Is The Mediterranean Diet A Cure For Heart Disease? 

Why a traditional “low-fat diet” may not be good for your heart 

In a recent study conducted over five years in Spain, researchers discovered that patients who ate a Mediterranean Diet high in healthy fruits, vegetables, fish, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and certain nuts were 28-30% less likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those who ate a standard low-fat diet. These results were published in the “bible” of medicine, The New England Journal of Medicine, just this past week. 

You may be saying to yourself right now, “This isn’t new information. We’ve already heard about this haven’t we?” The answer is “Yes” and “No”. It has been “suspected” for years that those who live in Mediterranean areas have less heart disease and stroke. Up until this point, this information has only been gathered by observation. There has never been a “randomized-controlled” study to prove it (sorry for the technical jargon). This study is the first of its kind to show, with actual hard proof, that this type of diet is beneficial. 

Ten Helpful Tips For Adopting A Mediterranean Diet 

• QUALITY of fat is essential – EVOO is the preferred fat with the Mediterranean Diet; keep in mind, EVOO is a fragile oil, therefore using it in the raw, uncooked form is best when possible 

• Fresh fruits should be the only desserts – when eating fresh fruit, a higher proportion of berries is the most beneficial because they have a very low glycemic index; the acceptable fruits include: 

• Fresh berries, apples, cherries, dates, peaches, grapefruit, and melons 

• Stay away from refined/processed foods – ie, breads, sweets, sodas, canned foods, and processed meats 

• If you do eat red meat, limit it to 1-2 times per week and only eat “free-range” or “non-grain-fed” 

• Eat as much “deep-sea” fish as you can fit into your diet – this provides an excellent source of healthy fats in the diet, which are good for your heart and blood vessels 

• Keep in mind, poultry and eggs are also acceptable proteins 

• One or two days per week, take a break from animal protein and just eat fruit and veggies; the acceptable vegetables are: 

• Artichokes, eggplant, celery, broccoli, onions, chick peas, peppers, sweet potatoes, lettuce, mushrooms, celery and tomatoes 

• One glass of medium to full bodied red wine per day was shown to have heart healthy benefits 

• When you feel the need for a snack, eat a small serving of nuts – cup your hand and whatever you can hold in the palm of your hand, is an acceptable portion once or twice a day; this should be about ¼ cup PER DAY. 

• When choosing the right nuts, always try consume them in the most natural state; processed nuts are too high in salt, have added vegetable oil, and have usually been baked, which breaks down their healthy fats into unhealthy, oxidized fats. I typically choose Macadamia nuts or Raw Almonds & occasionally Raw Cashews for my snack. I lean toward these because they are some of the lowest in Omega 6. 

As with any diet, there’s always a balance between what’s NOT eaten and what IS eaten. Eating healthier takes effort. The tips mentioned above may take you a little time to adopt. With the exception of substituting some of my protein with isolated whey, I’ve personally adopted most of the Mediterranean Diet style. In the grand scheme of things, this type of diet looks very similar to the Paleo (or Paleolithic) Diet style as well. I’m a huge proponent of both of these styles because they are so anti-inflammatory in their composition. As such, they are the most beneficial for the heart, brain, blood vessels, and overall health. 

To Your Optimal Health & Vitality, 

Brian

Sneaky Thyroid Problems That Slip Under the Radar

I'd like to share story about a patient that I've worked with for the past few years. This person has struggled with anxiety and mild depression since about 1998, And has been on approximately 3 different antidepressants during that time period.

When this person discovered that we were treating hormone imbalances, they mentioned to me that they would like to get their hormones checked. When we got their results back we discovered that they had  subclinical hypothyroidism.

Let me explain what subclinical hypothyroidism is. Subclinical hypothyroidism is a condition in which a person has very minimal changes in their labs but have significant physical symptoms that relate to standard hypothyroidism.

This client of mine had symptoms such as thinning hair, sadness, low energy, low motivation, cold intolerance, muscle tension, weight gain, and mild anxiety. These are all the symptoms of standard hypothyroidism; however, when we checked their labs, they seemed "normal". As is the case 99% of the time, this type of hypothyroidism often gets overlooked. That's exactly what happened in this person's case.

Two weeks after starting thyroid medication, this person stopped their antidepressant on their own. When they came back for follow-up after one month, they discussed the fact that they had stopped their antidepressant. When asked how they were feeling, they said they were feeling better than they had felt in over 15 years. 

If this particular scenario sounds like you, or someone you know, give us a call at Matrix Wellness Solutions. There may be a good chance that there's a hormone imbalance that can be corrected.

Thanks,

Brian G. Brown

Fresh Manna Mondays

Introducing "Fresh Manna" a weekly devotion by David Hughes, APRN-BC. 

Daniel 1:8-16

When I pondered on the HCG diet and the commitment and resolve it takes to achieve diet and lifestyle change goals, I immediately thought of a great story in the Book of Daniel of the Old Testament. 

The Book of Daniel is a great story about a young man, Daniel, who chose not to eat certain foods because of his realization and conviction that the higher calorie, higher fat content of the “palace foods” were not the choices that were BEST for him at the time of his palace training. This decision, like our own decisions to improve our lifestyle through better eating and lifestyle change was met with some resistance. In fact, the king’s trainer feared for his own life that Daniel would become sick from eating a diet of vegetables and water, and that he, in turn, would be beheaded. 

So, as you can see,” Diet” was a hot topic, even 5,000 years ago. As with anything in life that is worth doing, it starts with an inner resolve and a desire to make the right choices. Our food choices today are actually dictating our tomorrow in so many ways beyond just our weight. As a Nation, we are the most obese in the world, and here in Tennessee, we live in the center of the “Heart Attack and Stroke Belt” of the U.S. It doesn’t have to remain that way. We can be driven by the culture, or we can be driven to change the culture. 

If you don’t happen to know the end of Daniel’s story, he made the right choices with the vegetables and water. He was healthier, more mentally sharp, stronger, and more fit than his peers who ate and trained on the palace foods. The King was so impressed that Daniel’s Diet became “THE DIET” for the training recruits. Daniel became an agent of change in his God-given circle of influence. I personally feel that Matrix Wellness Solutions is called to this endeavor. Please join us in changing our corner of the world.

David B. Hughes, Nurse Practitioner and Co-Owner

Harmful Bacteria Linked To Obesity

Here’s an excerpt from a recent article that I read:

So how might bacteria in the gut affect your weight? Research suggests that organisms in our intestines have a significant impact on how fats in our food are metabolized, absorbed and stored. The first data to suggest a connection between the health of the gut and the risk of obesity was published in 2004, and since then more than 100 articles have been published trying to elucidate the mechanism behind this. 

An imbalance of harmful bacteria in the gut can secrete substances known as endotoxins that can incite inflammation and contribute to changes in hormones that subsequently lead to weight gain. In a recent study in China, scientists identified an obesity-linked bacteria known as Enterobacter from a morbidly obese adult male; when that bacterium was eliminated from his gut, he lost nearly 30 percent of his body weight. The researchers then fed this same Enterobacter to a group of mice; they developed obesity and insulin resistance from this exposure. (K. Judge & M. Barish-Wreden; The Sacramento Bee - Mclatchy-Tribune News Service; Sacramento, Calif.; 2012)

Symptoms of enterobacter infections are serious and most always lead to hospitalization and sometimes fatality. Although it’s unlikely that you will ever have these serious bacteria in your gut, it’s important to note how fragile our gut is. We have to take care of our gut in order to maintain healthy nutrition balance.

Knowing the things that can lead to a build-up of harmful bacteria can help us avoid pitfalls later on. Here are some of the things that can affect that build-up:

Foods we eat

Use of antibiotics

Chronic ingestion of acid-reducing medications 

Stress

It may be hard to believe, but the bacteria in your gut can change in as little as a day. So how do we keep our gut healthy?

Avoid processed grains 

Avoid sugars

Switch to whole, unprocessed grains 

Incorporate more fermented foods like yogurt

Your Secret Weapon To Healthy Living

Adequate protein is your secret weapon to healthy living. Healthy living starts with healthy eating, and protein is king. I know this sounds radical, but it’s true. Obviously, you want to eat a very balanced diet. This should include the healthiest forms of protein: lean meat, whey, or soy to name a few. However, what most people are not aware of is the importance of timing.

Morning time is the healthiest time of day that you should eat the bulk of your protein. There are hormonal reasons why you should start your day with protein. The amounts of morning protein vary based on age, dietary needs, individual health goals, and the presence of any illnesses such as diabetes or kidney disease. You should consult a health provider to discuss the proper amount that’s right for you.

Start your day with a healthy dose of lean protein such as egg whites, a whey protein shake, or a soy protein shake, and you will find your energy level improve & your cravings decrease. Make sure you drink plenty of water and you will be well on your way to a healthier life.

Know Your Number

The Key To Successful Weight Loss

Most people think that the only way to measure success with weight loss is by the number of pounds lost on the scales. Nothing could be further from the truth. You may be asking, what is this all-important number that we need to pay attention to? Is it inches? Is it Body Mass Index (BMI)? The answer is Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR). 

Your Resting Metabolic Rate, or RMR, is the total number of daily calories that your body uses at rest. This number is very unique to your body. Imagine this: If you stayed in bed all day and never moved a muscle, the amount of calories that your body used during that time would be your RMR. An RMR is unique as your fingerprint & is dependent on factors such as Age, Body Weight, Hormone Levels, Gender, Muscle Mass, Illness, Disease, & Medications. This number is so unique that six people could be identical in age, gender, body size, and lifestyle but they would all have different RMR’s.

Why is this number so important? The RMR helps us customize a diet that is very specific to your daily calorie needs. As a result, this helps you to avoid unnecessary hunger & cravings by taking all of the guess-work out of the picture. Research shows that people who know their RMR experience nearly double the weight loss compared to traditional methods. Your RMR can be measured with a simple & painless five to ten minute breathing test. This leads to better results that are based on your individual needs AND does away with the one-size-fits-all diet approach you’ve tried before.

Call us for more information on how to get your RMR tested. (731)343-2223