Ozempic and Wegovy for Weight Loss

At the Aayu weight loss clinics in Chicago, our doctors have a combined experience of more than 30 years in helping patients successfully achieve weight loss. We’re going to say it, for it is true, “Ozempic is a game changer.” Never before in history, has there been a medication as effective as the class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). Wegovy and Ozempic belong to this class of medications.

In the constant pursuit of effective weight loss strategies, Ozempic and Wegovy have emerged as a breakthrough medication that holds promise for individuals struggling with obesity and related conditions. Initially approved for the treatment of people with type 2 diabetes, Ozempic has gained attention for its significant impact on weight reduction, and is used off-label for weight loss.

At the Aayu weight loss clinic in Chicago, we have been using Ozempic and Wegovy for several years and have experience with helping thousands of motivated patients achieve their highest weight loss ever.

The Link Between Wegovy and Ozempic and Weight Loss

Ozempic and Wegovy are also known as semaglutide, belongs to a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). Initially developed to regulate blood sugar levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes, it was discovered that Ozempic also had a remarkable effect for chronic weight management. Clinical trials have demonstrated that Ozempic can lead to substantial weight reduction in individuals without diabetes as well.

Wegovy and Ozempic Side Effects for Weight Loss

Like any medication, Ozempic and Wegovy have certain side effects. At the Aayu Ozempic & Wegovy weight loss program in Chicago, we found a sense of nausea to be the predominant side effect. The nausea may be high enough to cause an episode or two of vomiting.

Our experience is that nausea is primarily experienced when increasing the dose. Some patients also report a sense of fatigue, “like I just want to lie in bed all day.” It is important to note that this is not depression. We encourage our patients to “power through, as this a short phase that too, shall pass” and it does.

But take heart, at the Aayu Ozempic & Wegovy weight loss program in Chicago, we see very encouraging results with people that can “push through” these 2 short phases. Remember, you need to be doing this only under the guidance of a medical professional well-experienced with weight loss. Side-effects from these medications must never be ignored as it may be something serious like pancreatitis causing the symptoms.

When discussing the side effects of weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, it is crucial to understand both the potential benefits and the risks involved. These medications, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have provided a significant breakthrough in helping people lose weight, especially those struggling with obesity or weight-related health issues such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Ozempic and Wegovy Side Effects

The journey to reduce body weight with these medications often comes with a set of common side effects. Patients using Ozempic and Wegovy might experience gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. These are often more pronounced at a higher dose and tend to decrease over time. Additionally, patients may report a diminished appetite, which aligns with the drugs’ mechanism of promoting a feeling of fullness.

The Impact on Blood Pressure and Heart Health

Interestingly, Ozempic and Wegovy have been associated with improvements in cardiovascular markers. Some patients have reported a reduction in high blood pressure, which is a significant benefit since it helps to reduce the risk of heart disease. However, it’s essential to monitor these changes closely, especially in individuals with a history of heart-related issues.

Adverse Events and Long-Term Considerations

While these medications work effectively in reducing body weight, they are not without risks. In rare cases, they can lead to more severe adverse events. For instance, pancreatitis is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention and could necessitate discontinuing the medication. Additionally, the long-term effects of using GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy are still under study.

Personalized Medical Guidance

At Aayu Clinics, we stress the importance of personalized medical guidance when using these medications. Our team of healthcare professionals is dedicated to monitoring patients closely, managing any side effects, and adjusting treatment plans as needed to ensure the safest and most effective use of Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss.

Ozempic & Wegovy and Diabetes-Related Weight Loss

Individuals with type 2 diabetes often struggle with weight management due to metabolic imbalances. Ozempic and Wegovy can both be particularly beneficial for this population as it simultaneously helps control blood sugar levels and aids in weight reduction. At the Aayu Ozempic and Wegovy weight loss clinics in Chicago, we found that all our Ozempic or Wegovy patients had an improvement in their diabetes parameters and lower blood sugar levels.

Diet Changes and Ozempic/Wegovy

When it comes to weight loss, adopting a healthy diet is essential. Ozempic and Wegovy both work by reducing appetite, which can assist individuals in making better food choices and controlling portion sizes. Our patients at the Aayu Ozempic and Wegovy weight loss clinics in Chicago most frequently are pleasantly surprised by, “I can’t believe that I’m just not that hungry, and when I do eat, I feel full much earlier.”

At the Aayu Ozempic and Wegovy weight loss program in Chicago, we have a holistic approach where you will be closely coached and guided by a certified doctor of naturopathy. While on Ozempic, we recommend following a balanced, nutrient-dense diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.

To achieve success, you need personalized guidance to maximize the benefits of Ozempic. At the Aayu Ozempic and Wegovy clinics, we have a team of trained and experienced professionals to hold your hand and walk you through your weight loss journey.

Ozempic/Wegovy and Exercise for Weight Loss

Physical activity plays a vital role in weight loss and overall health. Ozempic/Wegovy complement exercise efforts by increasing insulin sensitivity and promoting glucose utilization.

The Aayu Ozempic weight loss clinics in Chicago, also provides personalized guidance. It is generally known that regular aerobic and strength-training exercises can enhance the weight loss effects of Ozempic. However, at our Ozempic clinics we noted that when trying to lose weight with Ozempic, all exercise types are not equal. We found our patients have more success with a certain regimen of exercise, that we help pick for you.

The Role of Diet and Exercise

It’s important to emphasize that while Ozempic and Wegovy can be game-changers in weight loss, they are most effective when used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise regimen. These lifestyle modifications play a vital role in achieving sustainable weight management and overall health improvement.

Ozempic & Wegovy and Calorie Restriction for Weight Loss

Empoweringly, patients at the Aayu Ozempic/Wegovy weight loss program in Chicago report that calorie restriction is the “least of my problems.” We know the patient is at the current dose when they tell us, “I’m just no longer so interested in food.”

For most patients, this is the first time in their life that they do not need to watch calories. Ozempic and Wegovy reduce appetite and hence, can facilitate adherence to a reduced-calorie diet. By reducing appetite, Ozempic can make it easier to stick to a calorie deficit, which is necessary for weight loss.

At the Aayu Ozempic weight clinic in Chicago, we Do NOT RECOMMEND counting calories for our patients on Ozempic or Wegovy.

Best Time to Take Ozempic for Weight Loss

The timing of Ozempic administration can influence its effectiveness for weight loss. It is generally recommended to take Ozempic once a week, on the same day and at the same time.

However, there is no specific “best” time to take it in relation to weight loss. The most important factor is consistency in dosing. Following the prescribed regimen diligently maximizes the potential benefits of Ozempic in promoting weight reduction.

Ozempic and Wegovy are definitely game-changers in the field of weight loss, offering a unique approach by reducing appetite, and promoting a feeling of fullness.

However, patients that only take these medications without other changes, eventually end up regaining all the weight they lose. Additionally, keep in mind that these drugs have side-effects that need to be monitored, otherwise you will need to stop taking them.

We have designed a comprehensive and holistic weight loss clinic program where a team of highly experienced and compassionate people work closely with you in what will be your amazing journey to the weight loss that you have always wanted.

The post Ozempic and Wegovy: Game-Changers for Weight Loss appeared first on Aayu Clinics: Primary & Urgent Care.

A typical ketomeal may include:

1. Protein source: This can include meat, poultry, fish, eggs, or plant-based proteins such as tofu or tempeh.
2. Low-carb vegetables: Non-starchy vegetables such as leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, and peppers can be included in a ketomeal to provide fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
3. Healthy fats: Fats such as olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, nuts, and seeds can be included to provide energy and help keep the body in a state of ketosis.
4. Low-carb fruits: Some low-carb fruits such as berries and avocado can be included in small amounts.
5. Optional dairy: Dairy products such as cheese and cream can be included in moderation, as they are higher in carbs and can interfere with ketosis for some individuals.

It’s important to note that the ketogenic diet is a highly specialized diet that should only be followed under the supervision of a healthcare professional, as it can have potential side effects and is not appropriate for everyone. Additionally, the ketogenic diet is not recommended for long-term use and should be transitioned to a more balanced and sustainable eating pattern once weight loss goals have been achieved.

The post What is a Ketomeal? appeared first on Aayu Clinics: Primary & Urgent Care.

1. Reduce calorie intake: The most effective way to lose weight is to create a calorie deficit, which means consuming fewer calories than your body burns. You can do this by reducing your portion sizes, cutting back on high-calorie foods and drinks, and choosing lower-calorie options.
2. Increase physical activity: Regular exercise can help you burn more calories and speed up weight loss. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week, such as brisk walking, cycling, or swimming.
3. Drink plenty of water: Drinking water can help you feel full and reduce your calorie intake. Aim for at least 8-10 glasses of water per day.
4. Cut out processed foods: Processed foods tend to be high in calories, sugar, and unhealthy fats. Focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
5. Get enough sleep: Lack of sleep can disrupt your hormones and lead to weight gain. Aim for 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night.

Remember that losing weight fast can be challenging and may not be sustainable long-term. It’s important to speak with a healthcare professional before making any significant changes to your diet or exercise routine.

The post How Do I Lose Weight Fast? appeared first on Aayu Clinics: Primary & Urgent Care.

The Winter of 2022-2022 is showing a rapid increase in Influenza, COVID, and RSV infections – the 3 infections being called the “tripledemic”

The CDC is reporting a rapid rise in cases of all 3 types of respiratory viruses – COVID, influenza, and now a mix of a third pathogen – respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causing a “tripledemic.”  This Winter (2022-2023) everyone is at risk of getting 1,2, or even 3 infections at the same time which results in much more severe illness, risk of hospitalization, and death.

We already had COVID and the flu, but RSV also entered the picture this fall. RSV usually affects children but this winter, it is also affecting adults and the RSV hospitalization rate for seniors is 10 times higher than usual for this point in the season.

The post What is the “Tripledemic”? appeared first on Aayu Clinics: Primary & Urgent Care.

“Start the new year right with a juice detox cleanse!”

“Lose 20 pounds by eating 20 almonds a day for 20 days!”

“New Year, new you. Ditch the regular milk. It’s oat milk time!”

Dietary trends and fads make healthy living intimidating. For every book that says don’t eat red meat, there’s just as many highlighting the benefits of a red meat-only diet.

It’s difficult to know which diet to trust, which nutrition facts to focus on, and make healthy eating a sustainable habit in your life.

As we tell our patients here at Aayu, the best way to eat healthy is to eat the rainbow!

That’s right! We’ve looked at the research and found what foods to focus on, why you should implement each in your regular diet, and the nutritional benefit each food group (color) has.

RED (Tomatoes, Grapefruit, Resperies, Watermelon)

Red fruits and veggies are carotenoid lycopene dense. Carotenoid lycopene flushes the body’s free radicals and prevents oxidative stress.

The fewer red fruits and veggies you eat, the more likely you are to enter into oxidative stress. Constant oxidative stress wears your body down and can lead to serious ailments like:

• Atherosclerosis – hardening of the blood

• Inflammatory conditions

• High blood pressure

• Heart disease

• Neurodegenerative diseases

• Diabetes

• Cancer
  

See a red fruit or veggie on your next trip to the grocery store? Go ahead and pick it up

YELLOW/GREEN (Avocado, Collard Greens, Corn, Honeydew Melon)

Yellow/Green fruits and veggies are a phenomenal source of carotenoids lutein. Carotenoid lutein shows evidence of reducing the risk of many degenerative macular diseases.

So if your fruit and veg have a greenish, yellowish tint to them, they’re likely to help your body hold up against common aging issues like:

• Skin disease

• Skin irritation 

• Neurological regressoin 

• Cataracts

Make 2022 the year of prolonging your youth by throwing some green/yellow foods in your grocery basket.

ORANGE (Carrots, Mangos, Sweet Potatoes, Squash)

Orange fruits, veggies, and stem tubers contain loads of alpha-carotene and beta-carotene.

Alpha-carotene is one of the strongest defenses against any type of cancer formation. Beta-carotene is converted into Vitamin A and is vital for vision health, cell division, and building strong immunities.

Throwing a mix of carrots and sweet potatoes into your dinner bowl will reduce your chances of cardiovascular and cancerous mortality. As an added benefit, they will:

• Work as an antioxidant

• Enhance longevity

• Prevent blood clots

ORANGE/YELLOW (Pineapple, Tangerines, Peaches, Star Fruit)

Orange/yellow fruits and veggies are saturated in beta cryptothanxin. Beta cryptothanxin enhances a body’s cells’ ability to communicate.

Healthy cells and healthy cell communication are crucial to performing maintenance and preventing sickness in the body. Snacking on any orange/yellow foods will help your body fight.

• Cancer

• Obesity

• Inflammation 

• Bone erosion

Next time you’re in the produce aisle, keep an eye out for orange/yellow fruits and veggies!

RED/PURPLE (Blueberries, Purple Grapes, Beets, Cranberries)

Even if they stain your teeth, red/purple foods are essential for healthy blood flow.

Loaded with a special antioxidant, called anthocyanins various red/purple berries and roots prevent clotting in your blood and prevent:

• Viruses

• Infections

• Inflammation 

• Cancer

Picking up a package of grapes and berries during your next stop at the store will do your body a whole lot of good.

GREEN (Brussel Sprouts, Bok Choi, Kale, Cabbage)

Leafy green vegetables and green heads of vegetables contain the chemicals sulforaphane and isocyanate. Sulforaphane and isocyanate act as titanium shields against cancerous cells in your body.

Warding off any form of cancer or cardiovascular disease is one major benefit of consistently eating dark green vegetables. Added benefits to your health are:

• Neutralizing toxins

• Fighting inflammation 

• Slowing tumor growth

• Blocking DNA mutation 

If your mom always encouraged you to “eat your broccoli!” she was onto something.

WHITE/GREEN (Onions, Celery, Pears, Garlic)

Though on the stinkier side, white/green foods are an excellent source of anti-tumor and antioxidant nutrients.

Foods like garlic and onions may make you cry, but not as much as a stage 4 cancer diagnosis would. Adding white/green fruits and vegetables to your diet will defend you from serious cancers like:

• Lung cancer

• Colon cancer

• Pancreatic cancer

• Breast cancer

Even if you have to sautee or roast your white/green foods it will pay huge dividends in your body’s defense against cancer.

The first step to consuming a healthy diet is making your approach as simple as possible.

It’s not about what foods will make you look good, or will help you lose weight. It’s about consuming nutrient-dense foods that will protect your body from illness, boost your immune system, and make you feel fantastic.

Now head to the store and fill your bags with every color of the rainbow!

The post Try This Simple Approach To Eating Healthy and Boosting Your Immune System appeared first on Aayu Clinics: Primary & Urgent Care.

By: Brian Bernier, ND

Diabetes is a condition that affects nearly 400 Million people worldwide, and that number is growing.

There are currently about 35 million people in USA diagnosed with diabetes. It is considered a common disease, but the reality is under proper management, diabetes should affect far fewer people in USA.

Most people think that diabetes is simply having too much blood sugar which remains in the blood after eating a sugar rich meal. This is not true! Diabetes is a name given to describe a list of metabolic disorders, of which one of the main recognizable features is high blood sugar. This detail is important because if you ever want to reverse a disease, you have to understand what is going on in order to make the necessary corrections. Medication cannot cure diabetes. In most circumstances though, you can completely reverse diabetes by making the right changes.

As with all diseases, there are certain criteria for diagnosing and giving the label of diabetes. Let us briefly look at these details.

The Unknown Realities of Diabetes:

• For women, ovarian cysts and endometriosis are closely related to poor blood sugar dysregulation.

• The #1 cause of blindness in the working class in the US and UK is Diabetes – known as Diabetic Retinopathy.

• Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in USA.

• Diabetes is a major risk factor for several diseases, diseases like heart disease, including the leading cause of death.

• Diabetes costs healthcare over $320 BILLION annually.

• Diabetes causes you to have longer healing time. In many patients, a diabetic will require almost twice the amount of time to heal.

• Diabetes raises your risk of infection and causes poor skin health due to microvascular damage.

Diabetes details:

• Type 1 Diabetes: is caused by destruction of the cells that make insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas, and one of the major roles of insulin is to cause cells to pull sugar out of the blood. Type 1 diabetes used to be called childhood diabetes, but it can happen at any age, especially after certain viral infections.

  • Why are pancreas cells destroyed? Why pancreas cells are specifically attacked is not 100% clear. We have lots of viruses and bacteria that live inside us (way more than all the cells we have) and it is still being explored how these play a role in health. The old model of healthcare says that bacteria and viruses are bad, but current research shows that a healthy microbiome and virome are key components for immune health.

• Type 2 Diabetes: This type of diabetes is the reversible kind. Type 2 diabetes is described by insulin resistance. Insulin resistance refers to cells being unable to bind to the insulin secreted into the bloodstream to take the sugar out. As this process continues, the cells of the pancreas become fatigued, because they release more and more insulin because the other cells are not responding to the insulin already released. A good analogy of this process is like adding more wood to a fire that is failing to light. If the fire has plenty of wood to burn but is not burning the wood, then adding more wood does not help and eventually you will run out of wood to put into the fire. The cells in the pancreas will add more and more insulin into your bloodstream with each meal to try and overcome the lack of response by other cells to take the sugar out. Eventually, the pancreas will become fatigued, which will cause a Type 2 diabetic to have to use artificial insulin.

• Gestational diabetes: This is a type of diabetes that women can experience during their pregnancy. It usually resolves on its own after birth, and may be managed during the pregnancy to ensure the safety of mother and child.

Diabetes as a metabolic disorder:

Metabolism is the word used to describe the chemical reactions that take place in the body that allow for life. So, a metabolic disorder refers to dysfunction of this important process known as metabolism. By looking at diabetes as a process, we will see how it is not something that is unavoidable in the vast majority of cases. Diabetes is a process, and if you can reverse that process, then you will no longer have diabetes. Of course, this is for Diabetes Type 2 and even Gestational Diabetes. (Type 1 can be managed by a whole-foods plant-based diet, but I will not go into that at this time.)

As you noticed from reading some of the less known facts about diabetes, diabetes is related to several health conditions because it is not simply having too much sugar in the blood! Diabetes is a hormonal dysfunction and one of those SYMPTOMS is having too much sugar in the blood. This is important to understand because insulin is a hormone that has several other functions. It is not simply a food hormone!

Understanding this will help see past confusing diabetic advice that does not lead to solving the problem of diabetes. For example, it is commonly advised for diabetics to avoid carbohydrates. This is bad advice for several reasons. The most important reason it is bad advice is because while this prevents a patient from having too much sugar in their blood, it does nothing to address the need of insulin in the hormone cascade and does not result in improved insulin sensitivity. If you are allergic to peanuts, not eating peanuts does not solve why you are allergic to peanuts, nor has your peanut allergy gotten better. Furthermore, this carbohydrate advice is bad because the foods associated with the best health outcomes are carbohydrate rich foods, and all foods contain varying degrees of carbohydrates and protein. Fruits, and Vegetables are carbohydrate rich foods and eating a Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet is actually one of the easiest ways to reverse not only diabetes, but heart disease as well – which will be discussed in another post.

Lastly, this advice about carbohydrates is terrible because it completely ignores the role that fat has on insulin resistance. Although seldom talked about, fat is a major component of insulin resistance. So, if a person attempts to reduce their carbohydrate intake, naturally they are going to consume more fat and protein rich foods, which only further adds to insulin resistance.

If diabetic, things you should know:

• Fat is a major factor that causes insulin resistance. 

  • While it is common to hear avoid carbohydrates, so people avoid fruit and bread and rice, the reality is that only heavily processed and artificial foods are bad for you. Rice, potatoes, beans, and fruit can actually be eaten *almost* without any limitation if you are eating a Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet. Yes, sugar, juices, donuts and other junk food make your condition worse, but that is true regardless of the medical condition you have. Our society has falsely labeled “Carbs” as the enemy, but this is because we are using language improperly. For example, a French fry is not a potato shaving. Chips are not potatoes either. Think about it. You take a potato shaving, dip it into a ton of oil, douse it with salt, and then society says that French fries are “carbs”. How?! It is way more salt and fried oil than it is potato! Same thing with chips. They are highly chemically processed with all sorts of salts and taste modifiers, then we seal it in a plastic bag/container, smothering it with all sorts of endocrine disrupting compounds, and then we say that is a “carb”!

• Whole foods vs (partly) food.

  • This is like the label of health food. If you are eating something that is not health food, it obviously is junk food. Whole foods are foods that promote and restore health. Food-like compounds take away from health. Eating fruit has plenty of fiber and other nutrients that your body requires. Drinking apple juice from a bottle is not the same thing as having an apple. It is very different and you should avoid things like that in general, but especially when trying to improve health. For more information on a Whole Foods, Plant-based diet, see previous blog posts.

Supportive help:

Sometimes we zoom in too closely when it comes to food that we forget about the big picture, you as a whole person. Moderate exercise, detoxifying your liver, supplementation to help correct nutritional imbalances, being sound with yourself as a person, all of these are also key components in managing metabolic dysfunction.

Sources –

https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/index.html

Kahleova H, Petersen KF, Shulman GI, Alwarith J, Rembert E, Tura A, Hill M, Holubkov R, Barnard ND. Effect of a Low-Fat Vegan Diet on Body Weight, Insulin Sensitivity, Postprandial Metabolism, and Intramyocellular and Hepatocellular Lipid Levels in Overweight Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Nov 2;3(11):e2025454. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.25454. Erratum in: JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Jan 4;4(1):e2035088. Erratum in: JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Feb 1;4(2):e210550. Erratum in: JAMA Netw Open. 2021 May 3;4(5):e2115510. PMID: 33252690; PMCID: PMC7705596.

Gemmink A, Daemen S, Brouwers B, Huntjens PR, Schaart G, Moonen-Kornips E, Jörgensen J, Hoeks J, Schrauwen P, Hesselink MKC. Dissociation of intramyocellular lipid storage and insulin resistance in trained athletes and type 2 diabetes patients; involvement of perilipin 5? J Physiol. 2018 Mar 1;596(5):857-868. doi: 10.1113/JP275182. Epub 2017 Nov 23. PMID: 29110300; PMCID: PMC5830434.

Li, Y., Xu, S., Zhang, X., Yi, Z., & Cichello, S. (2015). Skeletal intramyocellular lipid metabolism and insulin resistance. Biophysics reports, 1(2), 90-98.

The post The Basics of Diabetes appeared first on Aayu Clinics: Primary & Urgent Care.

The brain is not the mind.

Whether this is a new concept for you, or whether you already knew this, it is something that is important to reflect upon when talking about the impact that mental health has on physical health, and the other way around.

The “brain” is actually not even localized to only the head. The brain is actually spread throughout the entire body through the nervous system. While many connections located in the brain perform higher cognitive functions and are more associated with our view of ourselves (like personality or the concept of self), the nervous system at every level ‘thinks’ and communicates these thoughts with other parts of the body.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is well understood that grief affects the lungs. We acknowledge this in western medicine because we know that emotional states can induce panic attacks which manifest as respiratory dysfunction – rapid heart beats and shallow breaths. These are just 2 simple examples of health going beyond the materialistic model in which we tend to look at it.

The mind-body connection is so strong that it is actually the standard upon which all pharmaceutical drugs have to compare themselves to! Studies have shown that people without knowledge of the mind-body connection can elicit the same effect some medications produce on people. This is known as the Placebo Effect.

When a negative result is produced by the mind-body connection, it is called the Nocebo effect. If you have ever experienced food poisoning, recovered, but months later felt hesitant or queasy when thinking about the food that gave you food poisoning, that is an example of the Nocebo Effect.

For the Placebo (positive) Effect, research has shown that a person completely unaware of the mind-body connection can produce a positive effect on their health 30% of the time! Some studies show placebo being as high as 60% effective. This means by taking a fake pill and thinking it will help you, 1 of every 3 people actually experience a real physiological improvement in their health!

In medicine, the mind-body connection is often ignored for treatment because it is difficult to measure and is not easily changed, especially not in a 15 minute consult. Making impactful changes in the mind-body connection requires addressing a problem in multiple ways, and uniquely for each patient. Allopathic medicine relies heavily upon protocols. Other medicine systems do not regard protocols as being the most useful in more complex or chronic cases. Chronic diseases are endemic to USA. According to national sources such as the CDC and National Health Council, half of America suffers from Chronic disease, a disease classified by an illness that lasts 3 months or more and impairs life. The CDC reports that nearly 30% of Americans suffer from more than 1 chronic disease.

Knowing something about the mind-body connection now, what should you do? Here are 5 simple steps you can begin to do today that may help you achieve your health goals.

1. Pick a target! – You cannot reach a goal if the goal is never set. You need to physically write down what your health goals are, and thoughts you have that impede you from pursuing and achieving those health goals

2. Expect positive results! – When dealing with chronic disease, feeling sad and unmotivated can easily happen. You need to dig deep and recognize that no matter what state of health you are in, quality of life can ALWAYS be improved! You can always be in a better state by finding ways to reduce your suffering. You may not find the therapy that alleviates all your symptoms, or even any of your symptoms, but being sad and unmotivated does nothing to improve your condition. Why not go into the situation hoping to find some relief? At worst, you will learn what does not help, which is still progress.

3. Train your mind – We are not conscious of all the influences that lead us to make certain decisions, think a particular way, feel a particular way, or behave a particular way. Learning more about yourself – via psychology specifically, is a great way to learn more about yourself. If you do not want to read and spend time learning about yourself, then go see a psychologist. Have a session done. It is incredibly therapeutic for the mind. Since none of us live in a vacuum absent influences, it is worth learning more about how those influences are manifesting in our lives.

4. Exercise/Play! – The amount of neurological activity involved in playing/moving is beyond anyone’s ability to explain. Not only do we experience all sorts of positive neurotransmitters from playing, but we learn to better integrate our nervous systems with our physical body by moving/playing. We become more coordinated, more in control of our bodies, fine-tuning the mind-body connection.

5. Unplug – We have become inundated with technology. This causes us to spend less time in self-dialogue, less self-talk, and has us engaged more with social-self-talk. When at home, no longer are we around a close-knit group of people or alone, but the thoughts, actions, behaviors of others are constantly around us and there is no way to shut off the brain. So, the best thing you can do is take a hiatus every now and then. Get away from social media, tv, anything that exposes you to the thoughts of others for a bit, and just listen to yourself. Notice your breathing patterns. How strong or soft is your heartbeat? Observe your emotions. Are you treating yourself as you would a dear friend who you were responsible for?

Sources

National Health Council

Raghupathi, W., & Raghupathi, V. (2018). An empirical study of chronic diseases in the United States: a visual analytics approach to public health. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(3), 431.

Wager, T. D., & Atlas, L. Y. (2015). The neuroscience of placebo effects: connecting context, learning and health. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 16(7), 403-418.

https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/index.htm

The post The Mind-Body Connection and How To Make It Better appeared first on Aayu Clinics: Primary & Urgent Care.

When people think about health, most people tend to think about physical intactness. No broken bones? No abnormal swelling? No abnormal lab values? Well then, that is a healthy person, right? Well, did you know that the world “HEALTH” comes from the word WHOLE?

It is important to know that biologically, we are primed more to avoid negative consequences than to seek positive rewards of equal value. This psychological observance is important to understand in societies driven by success and accomplishments, because it can be said that we are equally looking to avoid failure and the negative social consequences of not succeeding.

In societies driven by success, or maybe more accurately, fear of failure, the luxury of just being is seldom enjoyed. Many people drive themselves to succeed in their goals and ambitions. 30-minute lunch breaks, over-time, working from home and while at the office, 2 weeks of vacation for an entire year’s worth of work… One of the most common answers I get when asking people about what stresses them is “WORK”.

With so much emphasis on work and achievement, people often forget that Vitamin-R is a crucial component to wellbeing. What is Vitamin-R? Naturopathic Doctors like to refer to Vitamin-R as Rest, Relaxation, Recreation and Rejuvenation. It cannot be stressed enough that these basic needs are just as crucial to health as drinking water or eating properly. This is not being said to promote some new-age idea of wellbeing. On the contrary, this understanding is quite old and modern science, particularly neuroscience, has helped firmly establish these needs as biological needs.

Just as we have biological systems that regulate sleep, hunger, thirst and other biological needs, we have biological systems that manage Rest, Rejuvenation, Recreation, and Relaxation. If these systems go underdeveloped, they can manifest as disease.

Neuroscience has taken a particular interest in recreation/play, and has mapped out neural circuits involved in play. Essentially, recreation/play is not only necessary for healthy social development in children, but it is critical to healthy neurodevelopment. Preventing play induces cognitive deficits and actually causes conditions like ADHD. Amphetamines are used to further suppress the neurological systems involved in play, which is why they are beneficial as ADHD medication.

While the benefits of play make sense for children, what about adults and “play”? 

Biological needs are relatively stable. As adults, there are many positive aspects to recreation that should be appreciated. Here are some common ones:

We experience tons of positive emotions with play. We are also viewed as more attractive to others when we are involved in activities of recreation. We stimulate neuronal pathways that are often suppressed by our lives of routine and strict order when we engage in recreation. We experience a burst of positive chemicals in the brain from recreation.  We become more coordinated. We lower the negative effects chronic cortisol can have on the body.

I can go on-and-on with all the positive things that result from playing, whether as a child or adult!

Whether you find yourself in a rut or whether you are perfectly healthy, continue playing! Find what makes you happy, silly, smile and laugh and make time for it in your life – doctor’s orders!

Sources:

Bateman, C., & Nacke, L. E. (2010, May). The neurobiology of play. In Proceedings of the international academic conference on the future of game design and technology (pp. 1-8).

Siviy, S. M. (2016). A brain

The post The Importance of Vitamin-R (Recreation) appeared first on Aayu Clinics: Primary & Urgent Care.

I was recently browsing through some old documents and came across this writing I produced on naturopathic medicine in answering fundamental questions. I wanted to share this Q&A as it helps highlight how Naturopathic Doctors work and why you may want to consider visiting a Naturopathic Doctor.

1. Why is health our innate and natural state?

Health is our natural and innate state because we are self-healing creatures that have adapted and selected traits to thrive in our environments.  A fish is biologically designed to not only live in the ocean, but it is designed to thrive in the ocean.  Camels are designed to thrive in desert conditions.  Human beings, we too are designed to thrive, so long as we live harmoniously in the environments in which we have adapted within.

2. What are the Determinants of health and their role in health and disease?

There are many factors that we concern ourselves with when assessing a person’s state of health, and we call these factors determinants of health.  The determinants of health are numerous, but to understand their importance in health, here are some:

• Inborn- these factors include genetics, prenatal factors, the birth process etc…

• History of Disturbances – Any illnesses that might have/be affecting you, physiological evaluation of what is going on with you.

• Lifestyle – This can be broken many subgroups. There are essentials that we must maintain such as Breathing, Hydration, Sleep, Nutrition, Creativity/self-exploration and enjoyment. There are social factors such as education, economics, healthcare, governmental, and cultural.  There are factors which coincide with living harmoniously with our planet such as Light exposure, Environmental, Ecological and more.

In short, there are many factors to consider when assessing health, and the more out of balance these factors are, the more one will be dis-eased.  These are the natural factors that strengthens a body’s natural ability to heal.  By addressing these factors, we improve a person’s health.

3. What is the primary responsibility of a Naturopathic Doctor?

Our job is to create the conditions of health by addressing the imbalances of the determinants of health.

4. What is meant by “compensatory response?”

A compensatory response is the body’s natural way of correcting a disturbed function that is caused by an imbalance in the determinants of health.  For example, a person with an injured muscle may begin to walk with a limp.  The limp allows to person to continue walking.  So, in this scenario, the disturbed function would be walking.  The limp would be the compensatory response, the body’s attempt to continue walking through injury.

5. What are discharges and why is there a discharge?

Discharges are the body’s natural way of removing toxins and byproducts of metabolic functioning.  This can include exhaling when you breathe, urine, feces, sweat and more.  They are excellent indicators of disturbed functions.  For example, concentrated (darker yellow urine) is a great indication that someone is dehydrated.

6. What do signs and symptoms mean?

Signs and symptoms are indicative of disturbed determinants. These disturbed determinants produce compensatory responses as the body’s intelligent attempt to restore health.

7. What would cause a chronic reaction and degeneration how would you reverse them?

A chronic reaction and degeneration result as the product of a prolonged disturbed determinant.  If a disturbed function continues for too long, the body will begin to adjust to the imbalance with a prolonged compensatory response, causing a greater level of disease.  If you want to reverse disease chronic conditions, you have to address both the disturbed determinants and support the compensatory response in restoring the body to health.

The post Question and Answers On The Philosophy of Naturopathic Medicine appeared first on Aayu Clinics: Primary & Urgent Care.

Natural medicine is great, but can natural therapies really help with chronic diseases like arthritis or multiple sclerosis?

Many people have the idea that Naturopathic Medicine is simply trying to use natural supplements to replace what pharmaceutical drugs do. This is far from true! Naturopathic Medicine is better defined as a systematic approach to improving a patient’s health by utilizing various therapeutic skill sets. Replacing a drug for a supplement or herb is not naturopathic medicine.

As Naturopathic Doctors, we are trained to intervene in all stages of health because health/quality of life can always be improved upon, regardless of the illness.

For patients suffering from chronic diseases, there are many ways in which naturopathic medicine can be beneficial.

Ways We Intervene

Reducing Inflammation

All chronic diseases are accompanied by varying levels of inflammation. While inflammation is naturally needed in the body for healthy responses to occur, too much inflammation only serves to worsen health outcomes. Reducing inflammation can greatly improve pain scores by patients suffering from chronic disease. Naturopathic Doctors have a plethora of modalities to choose from to reduce inflammation. Some of these therapies may include Botanical Medicine, Hydrotherapy, and Laser Therapy.

Counseling

Sometimes, the simplest and most powerful intervention you can provide for a patient is to educate them about the benefits of the treatment they are doing. For example, the benefit of taking medication regularly, the benefit of undergoing a particular therapy, or providing them with alternatives that can achieve the therapeutic goal and that aligns with other values they have. All of these are incredibly valuable to the patient experience and helps the healthcare system as well as it can improve patient compliance.

Another major part of Naturopathic counseling is helping the patient to organize their care. Sometimes, patients with chronic disease can get overwhelmed with the amount of doctors they have to see. Seeing a specialist is quite common for people with chronic disease. Seeing an ND, we can help the patient navigate instructions from all their doctors and counsel them so that compliance can increase.

Alternative Therapies

Along with helping to manage their other therapies, NDs may provide therapies that other doctors do not. CranioSacral, E-stim, Acupuncture, Cupping, various Hydrotherapies, Laser Therapy, and more. These therapies may not be offered by other providers but can be incredibly beneficial to overall wellness.

Medication Support

Patients with chronic diseases are often on a plethora of medications and these medications often bring severe side effects. These side effects can be life disrupting and lower patient compliance. Naturopathic care can help mitigate these side effects and in so, help improve patient compliance.

In Conclusion

Whether acting as a primary or supporting cast for a patient with chronic disease, NDs are well equipped to help patients achieve their therapeutic goals. We may intervene directly by offering a unique therapy, or perhaps our role is more supportive to help a patient navigate their lifestyle with the chronic disease.

Learn more about Naturopathic Medicine.

The post Chronic Disease and Naturopathic Care appeared first on Aayu Clinics: Primary & Urgent Care.