by dnshah | Mar 6, 2020 | Age Defying
There is no “Fountain of Youth” although I’ve talked about many things that seem to come close to repairing the damage of time. Today I want to talk about wrinkles. The beauty industry spends over $17 billion for anti-aging products. People spend hundreds of dollars each month on products to restore aging skin, some of which cause more harm than good. These products work to improve aging effects from the outside-in; but maybe… more effective long-term alternatives to these products can be achieved with natural strategies. These strategies don’t have to cost us hundreds of dollars each month, instead they are lifestyle changes that improve our appearance as well as overall health.
Some key strategies include:
- Eat more healthy fats, vegetables, and antioxidants – reduces wrinkles
- Eat Aloe – Increases collagen and improves wrinkles
- Quit Smoking – The average reduction in their biological age was an amazing 13 years
- Supplement Red Ginseng Extract – Increases collagen and improves wrinkles
- Supplement Pine Bark Extract – Improves photo-aged facial skin
by dnshah | Mar 6, 2020 | Diet and Weight Loss, Health and Wellness Tips, Obesity, Stress Management
For those of us that want more control over our blood-sugar, did you know that our ability to handle sugar (“glucose tolerance”) goes down over the day? This means that the same amount of sugar eaten at 8am and eaten at 8pm causes a different fluctuation of blood sugar. The 8pm sugar dose may actually cause twice the response that the 8am dose does!
This can mean:
- A person who tests normal for diabetes in the morning, may not test normal mid-day. Something to consider if tested negative for diabetes but still have issues.
- Eating sugary foods at night creates a bigger sugar spike than if it had been eaten earlier in the day. So if you’re definitely going to eat sugar, have it early.
- Eating more food earlier in the day is actually better, since most carbohydrates convert to sugar. “Feast like a king in the morning and a pauper at evening”
- Breakfast skippers appear to be at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and have higher rates of heart disease/atherosclerosis in general. In a randomized test, breakfast skippers had about 10 point higher LDL (bad) cholesterol.
- Eating more calories earlier may have benefits! (better weight management, more weight loss, better blood-sugar control, and lower heart disease risks. On that note, it may be wiser to skip dinner than breakfast.
by dnshah | Mar 6, 2020 | Diet and Weight Loss, Health and Wellness Tips
At a 2020 dietary guidelines committee meeting with several take aways, one of the highlights came from Dr. Caroline Trapp, who talked about American under-consumption of a nutrient people need for their health – fiber. She said her number one concern was “number two”! Although I’ve not had the pleasure to meet her, I love her already! The truth is many people complain of constipation. The ONLY source of dietary fiber is from the plant foods. People need to eat more plant-based foods. Obviously the less processed it is, the better; but if you find you don’t have time to get your salads and smoothies and soups in… then there is psyllium husk! This is the food of the gut microbes that determine the fate of your immunity and overall digestive health. It’s really that important.
So while the top experts of nutrition meet with the cattlemen’s association and representatives of almost every diet I know to discuss what people should and shouldn’t eat – let me just close with, “Let’s make America GO again!” Eat your fiber!! I will put together a summary of the 800+ page report that this committee forwards to the USDA next time and then we’ll ponder the advice given from multiple perspectives.
by dnshah | Mar 6, 2020 | Health and Wellness Tips
Updated 3/6/2020
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is being discussed everywhere, and it’s really important not to forward sensational statistics and grow fears. We must remain calm, aware, and vigilant about the facts. To prevent spread of fears and inaccurate information, here are summarized facts collected from Houston Methodist hospital.
Exposure
COVID-19 spreads from person-person via close contact (about 6 ft) and respiratory drops (cough/sneeze).
For the greater Houston area, the risk of exposure is considered low; unless you’ve travelled to a high risk country or come into contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19. Current high risk countries include: China, Iran, Italy, Japan, and South Korea. Latest information via CDC’s
COVID-19 risk assessment by country. It is safe to receive packages from at-risk countries.
Symptoms
COVID-19 is an upper respiratory illness that causes fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
It can take 2-14 days for symptoms to appear. They can range from mild to severe. The elderly and medical challenged (including pulmonary disease) may be at higher risk of developing more serious illness. Remember about flu season and high pollen counts, so there are other common causes of respiratory issues.
Prevention Actions
There is no specific treatment or vaccine for COVID-19. Steps to reduce risk of infection with the virus are:
- Stay home if you are sick
- Wash your hands with soap and water regularly (30 seconds with soap)
- Cover your cough and sneezes (into elbow)
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Avoid close contact with sick individuals
- Disinfect and clean commonly touched surfaces (virus may survive up to several days on surfaces); One of the EPA recommended cleaners includes Clorox Multi-Surface Cleaner which is in spray & wipes.
- Avoid nonessential travel to at-risk countries
Actions if Sick/Suspect COVID-19
Contact your doctor immediately by telephone or telemedicine. Be prepared to answer questions about recent travel history or contact with potentially infected individuals.
If you’re experiencing severe symptoms (listed below), call ahead to inform an emergency room staff of your suspicions and go to that emergency room.
- Severe shortness of breath
- Low blood pressure
- Elevated heart rate (above 100 bpm)
- Dehydration
- Profound weakness
- High fever
COVID-19 Diagnosis & Treatment Plans
Your doctor may collect samples/swabs of saliva, nasal, & throat; and notify appropriate departments.
There aren’t antivirals or antibiotics that can help. More serious cases will be treated in a hospital. Less serious ones will be released for home recovery in isolation. To help relieve symptoms, isolate yourself at home and ask friends/family/Amazon to pick up any over the counter medications:
- OTC: Pain relievers, fever reducers, cough medications
- Rest
- Hydration
by dnshah | Dec 1, 2019 | Age Defying, Diet and Weight Loss, Health and Wellness Tips, Obesity
Carbohydrates have almost become a dirty word in today’s healthy minded dieters. But… carbohydrates are necessary to life and a key to health and wellness. So let’s let the truth about carbs come out of the closet.
First and foremost, carbohydrates exist in almost everything we eat (fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, etc.) Processed carbs are not as healthy as unprocessed ones. Some processed carbs have their fiber and nutrients stripped away. Stripped carbs (wheat, corn, rice) release sugar quickly and trigger blood sugar fluctuations. They also don’t sustain energy for the brain. On the other hand, intact carbs (fruits, vegetables, & other whole carbs) have fiber and slow digestion, creating a lasting energy source for the brain and body.
Filling the body with stripped carbs (white pasta, pastries, & breads) increases the risk of health issues like heart disease and diabetes. They are the “bad” carbs. But, there is another class of carbs that are the key to health. The intact carbs (have fiber) provide key nutrients in a slower digestible form and satisfy hunger. In fact, looking globally for the countries with the lowest diabetes, we see carbs front and center in those diets. So not all carbs are bad – but the stripped ones are.
Challenge yourself to avoid stripped carbs and embrace intact ones. In this way you can satisfy your cravings and hunger while loading up on maximum nutrition.
