Natural Calm – A supplement I use and highly recommend.

Magnesium is an essential mineral that the body does not produce and therefore must be provided by the diet. What we could easily call the Magnesium Deficiency Epidemic is thought to stem from the Western diet’s preponderance for junk food and processed food which inherently strips away most of the nutrients that existed in the original, unprocessed, whole-food ingredients.

Many experts in the fields of nutrition and medicine will state that magnesium is the single most important micronutrient to human health and physiology. Magnesium seems to have a hand in nearly every physiological process within the body.

As you read this, your body is undergoing billions if not trillions of chemical reactions to produce a continual supply of enzymes needed to function properly. Magnesium plays a direct role in over 300 types of these reactions.

While calcium, potassium and sodium are responsible for firing off brain cells, and muscle contractions, its magnesium that allows a smooth transition back to a relaxed state. Without magnesium your brain cells fire too much causing anxiety, irritability, hostility, fatigue and insomnia.

At the same time, without magnesium, your muscles find it difficult to release themselves fully and go back to a resting state. This can contribute to tight muscles, muscle soreness, cramps and muscles twitches.

Magnesium also plays a critical role in human energy production, metabolism, immune function, bone formation and destruction, nueurotransmission and is essential for proper heart and cardiovascular system function.

3 Main causes of magnesium deficiency

1) Stress
2) Diuretics (coffee, caffeine, energy drinks, alcohol, blood pressure meds)
3) Sugar (refined carbohydrates)

Symptoms of magnesium deficiency

Mental

Physical

Physiological

The post You Need More Magnesium! The Magnesium Deficiency Epidemic appeared first on Doctor Scott Health Blog.

The post Color Conscious – Eating the Phytonutrient Rainbow for Good Health appeared first on Doctor Scott Health Blog.

General water fasting benefits

Research on medical conditions treated with fasting

Arthritis – Fasting increases free-serum cortisol levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients which is crucial for the body to lower inflammation. [1]

Asthma – Water fasting has been known to reduce asthma symptoms. One study was conducted using water fasting and enterosorption (the removal of toxins through the gut using activated charcoal, clay or other toxin absorptive media) for bronchial asthma relief. [2 , 3]

Diabetes (Type 2) – A study showed improved metabolism control after a “supplemented fasting” period. They were only allowed 200 calories per day. Blood glucose was normalized, urine glucose was eliminated, their triglycerides went down by 65%, cholesterol by 28% and they increased their good HDL cholesterol by 14%. [4]

Cancer – It has been well documented that fasting during chemotherapy reduces side effects of medication and better responses are seen. Alternate day fasting was shown to be better at this than caloric restriction. [5]

Heart Disease – Studies show a strong correlation with heart health in patients that have undergone short (24-72 hours) but fairly regular water-only fasts. [6]

Irritable Bowel Syndrome – In one study 58 patients were separated into a control group receiving psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy (medication) and a fasting group which participated in water-only fasting for 10 days followed by 5 days of refeeding. The groups were retrospectively analyzed. The fasting group had an average of 7 out of 10 symptoms relieved while the control group only had an average of 3 symptoms relieved. The 7 symptoms improved were abdominal pain discomfort, abdominal distension, diarrhea, anorexia, nausea, anxiety and interference with life in general. [7]

Epilepsy / Neurological – It is now well known within the scientific community that many epileptic and other neuro patients respond extremely well to ketogenic diets. This where carbohydrates are kept at a minimum which causes your body to start using ketones instead of glucose as its primary energy source. Water-fasting induces this ketogenic state. [8]

Hypertension / High Blood Pressure – Medically supervised fasts are something that can be coordinated with your physician. It is wise to get a physical and blood work done before starting a longer fast (more than 24 hours) to rule out any conditions that would make the fast more of a risk than a benefit. Many studies have observed blood pressure dropping into a healthy range after a few short fasts. [9]

Depression – In her book, Fasting: An Exceptional Human Experience, psychotherapist Dr. Randi Fredricks, PhD, discusses her clinical experience and research on the qualitative improvements in mood, mental clarity, self-empowerment and an increase in positive thoughts and ability to see the “larger picture.”

Patricia Bragg, CEO of Bragg on Water Fasting

Patricia Bragg is CEO of Bragg Live Foods, Inc which manufactures the world famous Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar of which her personage and her late father Paul C. Bragg can be seen at the top of the label.

Read our article, Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar – History, Health Benefits and Uses to learn more about this product and the inspiring legacy and impact these pioneers have made in the health of millions of Americans and others around the world. Patricia also encourages you to read The Miracle of Fasting by her father Paul Bragg.

I had the amazing opportunity and great honor to personally interview this remarkable woman. One of the key topics we covered was fasting. Here is the segment of our interview where Patricia talks about the benefits of water-only fasting. Patricia is such a wonderful person and an inspiring, energetic health advocate. She’ll say she owes much of her youthful appearance, enthusiasm and energy to her regular fasting practice and apple cider vinegar use.

Wait, how can starving yourself be good?

Gandhi used fasting as a form of non-violent protest to injustice.

Isn’t fasting just starving yourself? Isn’t it dangerous or at least bad for your health?

These are common beliefs that continue to be spread by even respectable healthcare professionals. These statements are emphatically FALSE. This is so unfortunate because these popular misconceptions keep millions of people from reaping the life enhancing benefits of water fasting. There are few circumstances/conditions that exclude a person from the benefits of fasting.

Water fasting is one of the oldest practices used throughout time for healing and purifying the body. In addition to its miraculous healing properties, water fasting also plugs individuals into a deeper sense of self and their existence, all while providing unprecedented clarity and personal insight.

Fasting is not starving yourself

True starving is what is seen in those heartbreaking commercials asking you to sponsor a third-world child with visible rib cages and distended bellies. Someone who is malnourished and very underweight should never fast. The feeling of true hunger is different. Your body was made to break down tissue and form it into all the fuel it requires for several weeks with great efficiency.

Fasting used to be a regular part of living. Our ancestors were hunter and gatherers who would experience a bountiful amount of food (after a big hunt or during warmer seasons with plentiful plant foods) followed by periods of scarcity, hunger and therefore fasting. The human body adapted very early on to go long periods of time without food and to do it very efficiently.

Fasting also developed into an important part of the body’s “housekeeping” that eliminated, rejuvenated and optimized all of our trillions of cells. Aside from nearly every religious and spiritual practice advocating the practice of fasting for spiritual and physical health,sages throughout antiquity such the Greek Hippocrates (the Father of Medicine), Pythagoras and Plato all sang the praises of fasting.

“Everyone has a physician inside him or her; we just have to help it in its work.  The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well.  Our food should be our medicine.  Our medicine should be our food.  But to eat when you are sick is to feed your sickness.” – Hippocrates

Different types of fasting

Water Fasting

Water fasting is pretty straight forward; it is abstaining from from food or ingesting anything besides water. In other words, nothing is taken into your body except water. This includes not using gum, medically unnecessary supplements, vitamins, juices, etc.

Water. That’s all you get. You usually perform a fast for at least 16 to 24 hours but experienced fasters can fast anywhere between 10 and 40 days at a time . We will talk more about the duration of a fast in a little bit.

Juice Fasting

Juice fasting is also straight forward. Nothing comes in the body except for juice and water. This type of fast can be a little easier at first than a water fast but after about 3 days water fasters usually lose their hunger sensation while people on a juice fast usually continue to experience some hunger.

An example of a popular modified juice fast is the Master Cleanse or as it’s been more and more frequently referred to as, the Beyonce Lemon Detox Diet, having been popularized by the use of contemporary R&B / Hip-Hop artist Beyonce Knowles. You can read our article the Beyonce Lemon Detox Diet Recipe to learn more and even how to get started with the special make-at-home Master Cleanse solution you drink.

Dry Fasting

Dry fasting is the most extreme type of fasting and not only includes not eating any food but also abstaining from drinking any water. Talk about tough!

The maximum amount of days that a dry fast is usually carried out is  3 days and is usually supervised. It’s not recommended by anyone who is not experienced with regular water fasting and has a knowledgeable, experienced supervisor.

Intermittent Fasting

More and more research is being done on intermittent fasting and the conclusions are remarkable in terms of health benefits. This type of fast is typically where a person alternates between a fasting period and an eating period. A popular form of intermittent fasting is “Alternate Day Fasting” and requires fasting for 24 hours, followed by non-fasting or ability to eat for 24 hours. Some people continue the alternating cycle indefinitely.

Another form, which I find appealing, allows you to eat everyday; you simply narrow the window you are allowed to eat in a 24 hour period to 8 hours. So you fast for 16 hours (which half or better is usually achieved while sleeping) and you can eat within a 8 hour window you should try to specify and routinely stick to.

This form of intermittent fasting is easy to continue with for long periods of time and produces the same anti-aging effects of “Caloric Restriction” without lack of energy and frailty that is usually seen over time. You’ll definitely want to read my article, Benefits of Intermittent Fasting. Its a long term, hunger-free solution to optimal health and longevity.

Fasting: Highly recommended! Get started

Fasting is a health rejuvenating process and a positive challenge that you should experience for yourself and see if you enjoy the benefits you receive.

At the very least, I recommend fasting for a 24 hour period at least once a month. Once a week is even better. After you have a few 24 hour fasts under your belt start expanding into longer fasts. Here is a good article to get you started when you are ready for a 3 day fast. It explains how to prepare for a fast, what to expect from your body and how to come off of a fast properly so you can ease your digestive track and body into eating whole foods again.

The post The Benefits of Water Fasting – With Patricia Bragg appeared first on Doctor Scott Health Blog.

At the time of this article it is Dystonia Awareness Week (May 3rd through May 11th 2014) and we are trying to spread awareness primarily through the educational and awareness outreach video we created and can be viewed below.

This article is not intended to go into depth but to provide the basics of dystonia and perhaps pave the path for future articles. In fact, my good friend and sufferer of dystonia Stasha Haynes may be guest blogging here on Doctor Scott in the future. She believes in the power of nutrition, natural healing and spirituality to heal and maintain her body from the ravages of dystonia. You can listen to and view her experiences via her videos on her YouTube channel youtube.com/stashahaynes.

Dystonia is a neurological disorder or condition where the brain improperly communicates to the muscles of the body. The condition causes involuntary muscle spasms and contractions. The body is forced into awkward and often painful movements and postures. It is a degenerative condition and currently has no cure.

Dystonia educational video

There are various forms or types of dystonia

Generalized Dystonia – Causes cramping and twisting in the feet, limbs and torso

Cervical Dystonia / Spasmodic Torticollis – Involuntary movements and postures in the neck

Oromandibular Dystonia – Involuntary movement in the face, jaw and/or tongue

Hand Dystonia / Writer’s Cramp – Causes the fingers to curl and the hand and forearm to cramp

Spasmodic Dysphonia / Laryngeal Dystonia – Contraction of vocal cord muscles

Blepharospasm – Uncontrollable blinking or eye closure

Dystonia resources

Dystonia Medical Research Foundation
http://www.dystonia-foundation.org/

American Dystonia Society
http://www.dystoniasociety.org/

The Dystonia Society
http://www.dystonia.org.uk/

Personal experiences of individuals with dystonia

Dystonia and Me – Blog
http://dystoniaandme.com/

Stasha Haynes – YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/stashahaynes

Spread awareness through social media

Thunderclap for Dystonia
https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/9777-dystonia-awareness-week

Dystonia blue ribbon profile badge

Use this profile badge on your social media accounts to help spread awareness for dystonia!

The post What is Dystonia? Dystonia Awareness Week 2014 appeared first on Doctor Scott Health Blog.

Heated Prune Juice Constipation Remedy

1. Pour 8-10 ounces of prune juice in to a microwave safe glass/mug/cup
2. Heat in microwave  for 45 seconds or until hot but still comfortable to drink.
3. Drink within 5 to 10 minutes for best results

Almost everyone has heard of the old folk remedy for constipation that uses either prunes or prune juice. Some people don’t have much luck with just plain, room temperature prune juice. You wouldn’t think heating the prune juice would make that much of a difference but it does!

Most individuals who didn’t have relief by drinking regular room temperature prune juice were successful after heating up the same prune juice in the microwave for about 45 seconds.

Furthermore, people who generally have good luck with room temperature prune juice REALLY have good luck with heated prune juice. So give it a shot. It’s a simple, proven, longstanding constipation remedy that works.

What Kind of Prune Juice?

Organic prune juice, such as Lakewood brand that you can buy at many grocery stores would be ideal but any old prune juice on the shelf will do just fine.

Why Does Prune Juice Work?

The science as to why prune juice works so well to relieve the bowels is not completely understood but is believed to be primarily from higher sorbitol content and the presence of phenolic compounds (neochlorogenic acids and chlorogenic acids).

Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol that is sometimes used as a sweetener in products such as gum. Take a look at the back of a pack of gum and you’ll likely see sorbitol. Sorbitol works by drawing water into the gut which stimulates a bowel movement.

Heated Prune Juice + Butter

Use an old nurse’s trick and add a tablespoon of butter to the heated prune juice for a turbo charged prune juice laxative. Allow the butter to melt in the prune juice and stir. Drink within the 5 to 10 minutes as you would the regular remedy.

Adding butter helps lubricate the digestive tract, helping the prune juice to move things along even easier.

Acrylamide Concern

The discovery of a toxic chemical found in many heat prepared or fried foods called acrylamide has been found to be in prunes and prune juice. Acrylamide is not found in food in a natural state but is typically created during heating processes (during frying food in particular).

Acrylamide is a neurotoxin and a probable carcinogen according to Dr Thomas Amrein and his colleagues at ETH Zurich’s Institute of Food Science and Nutrition. (1) (2)

Prunes, black olives and dried pears and coffee were recently found to have significant amounts of acrylamide in them. An article by Dr. Ben Kim presents a table with a list of all the different foods that contain acrylamide; Top 20 Acrylamide-Rich Foods. It’s definitely worth taking a look.

I know what you’re thinking… what isn’t toxic these days? I know I personally think that a lot but we must do our due diligence as we take responsibility for our health. It’s tough educating ourselves and debating on what foods we take into our body but it’s worth it.

Looking for a FAIL PROOF Solution for constipation?

As a pharmacist, I see a lot of people come in and buy dangerous items to help relieve their symptoms.  Most of the time, they make matters worse and cause even more constipation.  Out of all my experience helping people, I have developed a comprehensive program that works on everyone.

Conclusion

Heated prune juice is a great natural constipation remedy. It is fairly mild (does not cause a lot of stomach distress) yet reliable and quick-acting for most. I wouldn’t drink prune juice every day due to acrylamide concerns but using it to treat constipation occasionally wouldn’t be something I’d be overly concerned about.

Did you miss our article on olive oil being used as a constipation remedy? Read now >>

The post Natural Constipation Remedy #02 – Heated Prune Juice appeared first on Doctor Scott Health Blog.

Not a Myth

Ever wonder why drinking beer causes a beer belly? WebMD, AskMen.com, BBC.com and other popular websites say its a myth and that the Beer Belly phenomenon can simply be chalked up to the extra calories from drinking beer after beer.

Not true! Come on guys, you’re getting lazy.

Uric Acid

Doing my own research and connecting some dots I have discovered some science that tells a different story. Beer has a tendency to create a certain compound in the body that has been linked to the traditional “Beer Belly.” The name of this compound? Uric acid.

Increased uric acid levels change your metabolism and the way you store fat.

A Beer Gut Six Pack… whuh?

Now, in my time I have seen a Beer Belly or two. I’ve even witnessed a guy who had a faint six pack of abs despite a massively large protruding gut. How can that be, you ask? This results from visceral fat accumulation or fat that builds up around the organs inside your abdominal cavity instead of outside it over your abdominal muscles (which is more usual).

Visceral fat is characteristic of a true “Beer Belly” caused by an increase in uric acid levels

Your vital organs are contained within a large sack-like membrane within your abdominal cavity called the peritoneum. Typically you pack on your abdominal fat outside of this abdominal cavity, on top of those glorious abs.

However, certain genetic predispositions or metabolic conditions can result in more fat being stored within this abdominal cavity and predominantly around the internal organs. An increase in uric acid has been linked to increase this type of fat storage. (1) (2) (3)

Beer = ↑ Uric Acid = Beer Belly!

Uric acid is an antioxidant and in small quantities is good but in excess can cause things like gout and metabolic disorders.

A sad fact for you voracious beer connoisseurs is that your tasty brew increases uric acid levels in the body.This is due to the brewer’s yeast used and a high level of guanosine.  (4)

So a “True Blue” Beer Belly tends to be a belly that has that smooth and taut appearance, much like a pregnant woman. Visceral fat is behind that peritoneum layer behind your abs and so as it grows outward, the surface pressing against your stretched skin is more uniform; whereas the more commonly known subcutaneous fat is usually characteristically soft and lumpy.

A Combination of Contributors

Drinking beer, especially large quantities, results in consuming a large amount of calories (150 per beer on average) and are “empty calories” that more than likely will be stowed away as fat. Some will be packed on as visceral fat around your organs to contribute to that classic Beer Belly and some will be packed on as our soft and lumpy variety (subcutaneous fat).

While drinking, there is also a strong inclination toward eating more and typically food of a not so healthy variety… namely pizza, burgers, microwave food and fried foods.

The way you store fat is also dependent on your body’s unique physiology, based on both your diet/fitness and your genetics.

All of these additional considerations play into weight gain that is common among regular drinkers.

So Eat, Drink and be Merry but…

The beloved Beer Belly. In some circles it is known as a Buddha Belly and those who rub it are granted good luck

Try to offset some of the ill health effects of beer over consumption by getting plenty of exercise and making healthier food choices.

Also, keep in mind that visceral fat… the kind that swallows up your organs, is the most dangerous kind of fat and leads to a shorter lifespan due to a number of negative health repercussions (mostly of the cardiovascular kind). (5)

Conclusion

So there ya have it. Beer Belly is not some myth to be lumped together with gnomes, fairies and Big Foot; its a true phenomenon with some serious scientific evidence to back it up.

So when you’re friends ask what causes Beer Belly? You can say, “Uric acid, baby.” Beer increases uric acid levels and excess uric acid levels create more visceral fat storage  for that Beer Baby pregnancy look. Higher uric acid levels also increase metabolic disorders leading to an increase in overall fat gain.

The post What Causes Beer Belly? – The Scientific Truth appeared first on Doctor Scott Health Blog.

The knowledge in the book, combined with the products listed here, are indispensable for quickly and naturally resolving UTIs, as well as fostering and maintaining a healthy urinary tract.

You can preview the Table of Contents and the first 2 1/2 chapters for free from here. Simply click on the book cover image once you are on the page the link directs you to.

I have researched the best, highest quality products discussed in the UTI Healing Manual. The Availability Icons quickly alert you to where each product can be found.

* I only recommend and endorse products that I have either used myself or would feel confident using myself.

Before we get started, let me introduce you to the “Availability Icons” KEY below. Each icon represents a marketplace where products may be found. An icon will be present under a product listing if it is available in the marketplace that it represents. Let me provide you some examples for each marketplace.

Grocery Stores | Safeway/Vons, Yoke’s Fresh Market, Fred Meyer, Kroger, Albertson’s

Drugstores | Your local pharmacy, Walgreen’s, CVS, Rite Aid, Walmart

Health Food Stores | Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Marketplace, your local food co-op

Supplement Shops | Super Supplements, The Vitamin Shoppe, GNC, Vitamin World

World Wide Web | Vitacost.com – Any online retailer

Amazon.com | I’ve always loved Amazon. Cheap, informative, convenient and reliable

D-Mannose | First-line therapy

Nearly 90% of urinary tract infections are caused by E. coli bacteria. D-Mannose is a sugar present in fruits such as cranberries, apples and blueberries. It is not metabolized and does not effect blood sugar like regular sugar. It does, however, bind to the surfaces of E. coli bacteria so their attachment pili  are unable to glue themselves to the lining of your urinary tract. D-Mannose packages the bacteria up and sends them packing out through your urine. Dosing information and length of therapy is listed in the book.

For most people suffering from a UTI this is the only supplement you need. If you have an E. coli based urinary tract infection, D-Mannose will wipe it out just as good as any antibiotic prescription.

Click on each photo to be taken to the product’s Amazon listing.

NOW – 500 mg capsules

Solaray – 500 mg D-Mannose + CranActin

NOW – Powder (3oz)

Biofilm Disruptors | For stubborn & recurrent

From the UTI Healing Manual:

“Stubborn bacterial infections are often resistant to antibiotics, fluid flushing, proper nutrition and other practices because they have created a protective shield around themselves. Certain bacteria have the ability to protect their growing colony by creating an external barrier around themselves called a biofilm. Biofilms enclose the bacteria in a matrix of DNA, protein, sugars and can even use your body’s circulating blood cells and fibrin. This “slime” protects them while they continue to grow and infect you.”

Enzyme Based

The following products use a combination of enzymes to break apart and dissolve biofilm sources, uncovering the “bad guys” and allowing your immune system to wipe them out.

InterFase Plus by Klaire Labs

Biofilm Defense by Kirkman

Lactoferrin

Lactoferrin is quite a remarkable compound, that’s not only been proven to break up tough biofilms but also has been researched to be antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and protective against cancer.

Lactoferrin – 250 mg capsules by Jarrow Formulas

Lactoferrin – 300 mg capsules by Life Extension

Nattokinase

Nattokinase is an enzyme isolated from the traditional Japanese food Natto, which happens to be fermented soy beans. Nattokinase breaks up the fibrin component of the biofilms. It also works as a blood thinner and purifier helping many people with certain cardiovascular concerns. If you are on any anticoagulant therapy (warfarin/Coumadin, Plavix/clopidogrel, heparin, aspirin, etc) do not take unless discussed with and approved by your doctor.

Nattokinase – 2000 FU (fibrinolytic units) by Doctor’s Best

NattoMax (nattokinase) – 2000 FU by Jarrow Formulas

Nattokinase – 2000 FU by Source Naturals

Monolaurin

Monolaurin is a monoglyceride found in coconut oil that has been found to be a powerful antimicrobial and able to wipe out gram positive bacteria. E. coli bacteria are gram negative, so infections that aren’t responding to D-Mannose can be tackled by taking a monolaurin supplement.

Lauricidin (monolaurin) – 30 mg “Mini-Pellets” by Lauricidin

Monolaurin – 550 mg capsules by Health From the Sun

Herbal Combination

Turmeric and olive leaf extract work great to clear a UTI individually but they are virtually unstoppable as a team. Turmeric is a powerful biofilm disruptor and anti-inflammatory while olive leaf extract is a powerful natural antibiotic. Many people claim these two products to work wonders.

Turmeric/Curcumin

Turmeric is an orange Indian spice that has a very powerful compound called curcumin. Many of the positive health benefits from turmeric come from the curcumin present. You can take turmeric as a supplement or use it as a culinary spice in meal preparations.

Turmeric w/ Curcumin – 500 mg capsules by Nature Made

Curcumin extract 95% – 665 mg capsules by NOW

Turmeric powder by Indus Organics

Olive Leaf Extract

The olive tree might just be the most life-sustaining and versatile plant on the planet. You always hear about olive oil which is pressed from the olives but one of the best known secrets is the antimicrobial properties found in the olive leaf. It contains oleuropeins which have been proven to destroy bacteria, cold and flu bugs and yeast.

Olive Leaf Extract – 900 mg capsules by Gaia

Olive Leaf Extract Glyecerite Drops – 18% Oleuropeins by NOW

Olive Leaf Extract – 250 mg capsules by Nature’s Way

The post UTI Healing Manual – Products Guide appeared first on Doctor Scott Health Blog.

Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug that mimics the effect of human cortisol. Cortisol has gotten some bad press in the popular media for it’s ability to “pack on the pounds” and has been labeled with negative connotations as a “stress hormone.” However, cortisol is a crucial hormone in our body and without it our body could not adapt to changing conditions within the body.

Cortisol Function

Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands that are located right atop your kidneys. Cortisol is produced and sent into the blood stream as a response to stress and nutrition demands. It suppresses the immune system, creates glucose when you have low blood sugar and aids in metabolism of fat, protein and glucose. It also decreases bone formation, which is why long term therapy increases the risk of osteoporosis and bone fracture.

Prednisone Uses

Prednisone can treat inflammation from short term infections or allergic reactions but is also used to manage chronic conditions like lupus, Crohn’s, rheumatoid arthritis and severe asthma.

In the outpatient retail pharmacy setting you see a lot of generic Medrol Dosepaks and corticosteroids like prednisone being prescribed for acute respiratory infections like bronchitis. They are being used as an anti-inflammatory. Corticosteroids suppress the immune system, which is responsible for the inflammatory response in infections. If a patient has bacterial bronchitis they will routinely be prescribed an antibiotic to wipe out the source of the infection and prednisone to bring down the swelling and inflammation in the lungs in order to provide some quick relief. Patients using a short course of therapy experience much less prednisone side effects compared to those who require long-term therapy.

The Debate of Tapers in “Burst” Therapy

Continuing with the acute bronchitis case, this patient would usually be given a short term steroid “burst” of high dose prednisone. Those high daily dose is usually tapered off over the course of a few days to avoid adrenal exhaustion and withdrawal effects. You see, when you introduce prednisone (which the body recognizes as cortisol) to the body, the adrenals stop making their own supply. The theory behind tapering off of steroids like prednisone is that by slowly removing the external steroid source, the body can adapt and begin making its own again with less stress placed on the system. The practice of tapering in short term therapy, even in higher doses is debated by many clinicians. Some doctors and clinicians claim that not only is a taper not necessary in short term therapy (14 days or less) but it is better to stop this therapy earlier, the adrenals and body adjust just fine. Using a taper just introduces more of the artificial source for a longer period of time, which is best to be avoided to minimize side effects and more quickly restore natural body hormone levels.

Prednisone Tapering Schedules

A prednisone tapering schedule will depend on the unique medical condition of the patient and how long they have been taking prednisone before attempting to taper off. Here is a 12-day taper schedule for high dose prednisone from a dermatologists office:

(With 10 mg tablets)

Day 1 take 6 tablets
Day 2 take 6 tablets
Day 3 take 5 tablets
Day 4 take 5 tablets
Day 5 take 4 tablets
Day 6 take 4 tablets
Day 7 take 3 tablets
Day 8 take 3 tablets
Day 9 take 2 tablets
Day 10 take 2 tablets
Day 11 take 1 tablet
Day 12 take 1 tablet

A decrease in dose is usually made every 2-3 days. The above example decreases by 10 mg every 2 days but some tapering schedules will decrease the dose by half every 3 days. Example:

Day 1 – 40 mg
Day 2 – 40 mg
Day 3 – 40 mg
Day 4 – 20 mg
Day 5 – 20 mg
Day 6 – 20 mg
Day 7 – 10 mg
Day 8 – 10 mg
Day 9 – 1o mg
Day 10 – OFF

Small dose, short course Methylprednisolone (comparable to prednisone) drug therapy is often dispensed with the taper schedule laid out in a pre-arranged blister-package. These use 2 mg tablets, start with 6 tablets on day 1 and decrease by a tablet every day until gone.

Consult Your Doctor for Prednisone Tapering

Your doctor has the most complete medical information and drug history to be able to formulate the best prednisone tapering schedule. It is even more critical in high dose, long-term prednisone therapy to be tapered under the discretion and advice of a competent physician.

The post Prednisone Tapering Schedule appeared first on Doctor Scott Health Blog.

1. Analyze This! – Body fat analyzer

Get yourself an Omron handheld body fat analyzer or something comparable. Do  you know how discouraging it can be to excitedly jump on the scale at the end of a week of hard work only to see the same number from last week? It’s devastating. BUT you probably didn’t account for body fat loss vs muscle gain. You can lose body fat and still end up weighing the same or more! That’s why a body fat analyzer is so important. It helps you see your REAL progress (drop in body fat).  Body fat % is a much better parameter to monitor for “weight loss.” What you really want is body transformation.

2. Visualization – Pin it up!

Not on Pinterest though! Okay fine, you can pin some motivational photos on Pinterest too but using a real bulletin board or just posting pictures to a wall is better. What motivates you? Think of things that visually represent these and pin them on a wall. Clip things out of magazines or print out images from a Google search. Pin up a photo of a fit person you can visualize yourself transforming into. Post your favorite motivational quote, a photo of your most inspiring health and fitness celebrity, photos of the clothes you will be wearing, etc. Along with excursive get the men’s waist trainer, to help you lose inches around your waist.

3. App it UP – Fitness smart phone apps rock!

Smart phone apps can be HUGE in helping you reaching your goals. Some of the best apps available are FREE too. There’s My Fitness Pal for calorie counting and diet tracking, Runtastic which uses GPS and other technology to track your time, distance, speed, elevation, burned calories and more and My Diet Coach (for women) gives you tips, motivational messages, tracks weight loss and includes many other powerful tools. There’s plenty more great apps out there too!

4. Get Fierce – The power of competition

Competition is an excellent motivator for just about everyone. A competition puts you in a community with people that share the same goal. They help inspire you to work harder than you would by yourself. There are often weight loss competitions at your local gym. You can also join an online weight loss competition. If getting in shape and beating out your competition wasn’t enough motivation for you there’s also money! Most of these contests have very lucrative cash prizes. You usually have to pay an entry fee that creates the pool of money for the winners but this serves to make you financially invested in your goal!

5. Reward – Choose a reward for when you achieve your goal

Vacation to Maui? Fancy dinner out? New fitness gear? Think of something you can reward yourself with and promise yourself you can only reward yourself with it if you accomplish your weight loss goal. Find a picture or an object to represent your reward and put it somewhere you will see everyday to keep you focused and motivated.

6. Rally the Troops – Create a support network

Create a support network of your family and friends. Maybe convince a friend or few friends to join you in your weight loss crusade. Tell your friends and family your goals and to help you keep them and not tempt you with things that could spoil your success. However, almost everyone has that one friend that seems to enjoy tempting and torturing you to eat that pizza or skip your workout. Anticipate that and use it to make your personal resolve even stronger.

7. Accountability – Have a friend hold you accountable

Choose a friend to be your weight loss confidant and accountability technician. Your keeper. Ask them if they will take on this responsibility (and honor). Explain your weight loss, nutrition and fitness goals to them and how they are going to hold you accountable. When you hang out or talk on the phone they will ask, “Did you run today like you said you were? You staying out of the brownie mix?” Or whatever else you deem appropriate.

8. OCD Free – Resist weighing yourself too much

Avoid the temptation of weighing yourself 3 times a day. Your weight fluctuates for 100 different reasons and small differences from hour-to-hour or day-to-day aren’t accurate representations of your progress and will serve to confuse and upset you.  Promise yourself that you will only weigh and body fat analyze once a WEEK. If you can’t relinquish that much control, at least settle for 3 days or greater. The anticipation of waiting a week also makes you work harder!

9. Incentive – Hanging up your special “skinny outfit”

Go shopping for a snappy (guys) or spicy (ladies) outfit you can wear out once you shed that extra weight you’re dedicating the next few months to. If you have a favorite outfit you can’t fit into anymore use that. Hang this “skinny outfit” up somewhere where you can see everyday. Visualize yourself in it. This will keep your eye on the prize.

10. Find Me in the Club – Find a fun workout class

That’s a 50 Cent reference if you didn’t catch it. Go shorty. Okay, I’ll stop.  What I’m trying to get at, is you should find some sort of class offered at your local gym or fitness club that you’d enjoy. Get a friend to sign up with you. You get to know the regulars at the class and usually make friends or acquaintances. They’ll start holding you accountable. If you don’t show up, there will be the guilt factor and having to answer, “Where were you Wednesday?” So yeah, pick a class. Try a hip hop class, a cycling class… shoot, why not kickboxing?

11. Music Playlist – Increase athletic performance

It should go unsaid that you should not be listening to Yanni’s greatest hits or your favorite string quartet during your workouts. Music is a GREAT motivator and helps you stay amped up during your workout. Choose something with high beats per minute (fast paced music). If angry or aggressive sounding music gets you jacked up than listen to that. Research shows music has a powerful influence over your athletic performance. You want a song that has a faster beat or a high bpm (beats per minute) because your heart naturally wants to match it. Example? Think Mr. Brightside by The Killers at 150 bpm. Need ideas? Check out 55 Top Hits – Workout Mixes on Amazon. It lists 55 songs you can download individually for 99 cents each. The bpm is listed and you can listen to a sample of each song.

12. Event Preparation – Triathalon, marathon, fun-run

Pick one. Sign up. Pay the entry fee. This creates a financial investment and a time commitment. Prepare yourself for this race and use the preparation as a source of motivation. You don’t want to make a fool of yourself. You want to show up on Game Day with the “Eye of the Tiger,” ready to shred it up. You will feel so good at the end of the race. You’ll have a great sense of completion, accomplishment and personal pride. Better yet, get a friend to do it with you!

13. Put me in Coach! – Getting a health coach

Get yourself a health coach that can whip your butt into shape and keep pumping you full of motivation and optimism. Even if you can’t find a coach to work 1-on-1 with you in person, you can always find a coach or counselor to work with you over the phone. It’s a little bit like your friends supporting you and holding you accountable for your weight loss goals, except you are paying this person for it. Your financial investment makes you more invested in your health and the coach is going to make sure you get your money’s worth and see a return on that investment.

14. Pen, Paper & Clarity – Write down concrete goals

Statistics show that people who write their goals down (pen and paper, people) have a higher success rate at achieving them. Make your goals clearly defined. Don’t write down “I want to lose weight.” Make your goals as specific as possible. “I want to lose 20 lbs, knock off 10% of my body fat, lose 6 inches from my waist, drop 2 pants sizes, be able to run 3 miles without stopping, etc.” Reread them frequently. Add and modify.

15. Baby Steps – Breaking big goals into little ones

Lose 20 lbs? Break it down. You might have a goal to lose 20 pounds in 2 months but when that’s the only thing you have in mind for two months its hard to stay focused and motivated. Break up your big-picture goal into weekly goals. Goals that are healthy and you know you can accomplish. Don’t set the bar too high. Really. The important thing is reaching those mini goals. Each min-goal you complete instills a sense of accomplishment and programs your mind for success. It’s also easier to stay focused and work harder going after short term goals. There’s a reason people need deadlines!

16. Cashing In – Saving some green $$

Healthy weight loss, fitness and good nutrition are like an apple a day… they keep the doctor away.  Your immune system will be stronger and you’ll get less colds and flus. Your blood work will be better so you won’t have to worry about taking costly medications to lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. You will be mentally sharper and therefore more productive at work and that could lead to a promotion or other opportunities. Being fit and healthy will keep more green in your pocket, for sure.

The post Staying Motivated to Lose Weight – 16 Killer Tips appeared first on Doctor Scott Health Blog.

Diabetes is the shortened name for “diabetes mellitus” which happens to be Greek and roughly translates as “sweet urine.” I know it’s a strange and disgusting thought but if you did happen to taste the urine of an untreated diabetic individual (maybe on a dare or for $100 bill), you would in fact taste a sweetness. This is due to the excessive sugar in their blood, making its way from the kidneys to the urine.

Type 2 diabetes patients suffer from a sort of exhaustion of their beta cells, which are located in the Islets of Langerhans of the pancreas. These cells produce insulin that allow your body’s cells to gobble up sugar (glucose) out of the blood stream. A prolonged diet full of simple sugars overwork the beta cells to the point where they can’t make enough insulin to meet the demands of the body and excess sugar remains in the bloodstream. In these conditions your cells also start to resist taking up the insulin you do have, which acts as gateways for glucose to enter your cells. Your entire metabolic system starts to go haywire.

This is bad news for the rest of the body and complications increase as time progresses in untreated or poorly maintained diabetic patients. Some of these complications include:

These are only some of the complications and ill effects of this disease. In most instances, consistent diet and lifestyle changes are the only things that need to be corrected in order to stave off the nasty health repercussions of type 2 diabetes. When a doctor screens a patient’s blood sugar levels and they are higher than the normal but not so high that it requires insulin, typically these patients are prescribed an oral antidiabetic medication.

Metformin: An oldie but a goodie

First-line therapy for early diabetes is the oral antidiabetic medication known as metformin. Metformin is a fascinating drug and has been around for a long time. Many other oral antidiabetic drugs have been created and released after it but none of them stack up to the tried and true metformin. Many of the other oral antidiabetic medications will even create spin-off versions that combine metformin with it to increase the effectiveness of their product.

Metformin works by decreasing glucose production in the liver, increasing the efficiency of insulin already in the blood and decreasing the absorption of glucose from the gut. All of these help decrease the amount of glucose in the blood and fight the progression of diabetes.

The reason why I think this drug is so fascinating is because it has many other treatment uses that are seemingly unrelated. Most of these treatment abilities are related to its ability to decrease insulin resistance. For instance, metformin is sometimes used in infertility cases, where a potential mother is having problems conceiving a child. It’s also being used more and more as a treatment for PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). Other uses include non-alchoholic fatty liver disease and early puberty.

Metformin side effects

The most common side effects of metformin are the gastrointestinal issues, especially nausea. When first starting metformin it’s wise to decrease the prescribed dose, wait until that smaller dose is well tolerated and then increase it to the full dose. This allows the body to adjust to the drug more easily and without the severity of side effects. This is called “titrating” your dose. Think of it as a gentle ramp up, rather than a shock to the system.

People who have kidney dysfunction need to have their dose renally adjusted or too much metformin can accumulate in the body and cause a potentially fatal condition known as lactic acidosis.

There are of course many other metformin side effects that can be experienced and should be reviewed before starting the medication.

Remember the old adage…

Just remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Avoid this entire mess of a disease and cut out the candy, sugary foods, white flour, processed food and do something physical that you enjoy that raises your heart rate for 20 minutes every day.

http://www.safetymedical.net/

The post Cardinal Symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus appeared first on Doctor Scott Health Blog.