Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a fat-soluble, vitamin-like compound that our bodies make. Levels of co-enzyme Q10 are highest during the first 20 years of life and decline with age. It is also known as ubiquinone because of its ubiquitous distribution throughout the human body. Co-enzyme Q10 is involved in ATP generation, the primary source of energy in human physiology. It functions as a lipid-soluble antioxidant, providing protection against free radical damage within mitochondria. Many of its therapeutic benefits are primarily attributed to these antioxidant effects and its role in the generation of ATP. It can be of benefit in a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including angina, congestive heart failure, and hypertension. In addition, it may be of value in musculoskeletal disorders, periodontal disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s, immune function in patients with HIV, migraine headaches, and obesity.
Glycemic Index: Nutrition Notes
by Jennifer Lee, DO, MPH, DABFM
Glycemic Index is one way that we can assess how our bodies are processing the sugars in the foods we eat. A high glycemic index food is like getting sugar at higher bursts like getting lots of water from a water hose. A low glycemic index food is like getting sugar as you can handle it, like taking sips from a sippy cup. For example, a 100-calorie snack can have a low or a high glycemic index, but each snack provides 100 calories. However, your body reacts to each 100-calorie snack differently because the speed at which it is getting the sugar is different. It’s like drinking 1 cup of water, but you have the option of choosing to drink it from a sippy cup or a water hose.
Oxidative Stress: The Roots of Poor Health and Early Aging
The Roots of Poor Health and Early Aging
This is the first in a series of articles on the root problems of most of our chronic illness – diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, autoimmune disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic fatigue, Parkinson’s disease and early aging. Over the next few months, I will share with you how oxidative stress, inflammation, hormone imbalance, and toxins cause chronic illness and what you can do to prevent early aging and chronic illness.
Proteins: Animal vs. Plant
By Dr. Jennifer Lee, DO, MPH, DABFM
Protein is one of the primary components of your diet, along with fat and carbohydrates. But many people don’t know how much protein they need each day.
The answer does vary based on your activity level, but an average adult will need about 50 grams a day. Proteins should make up about 30 percent of your diet. [Read more...]
My Joints Hurt: Osteoarthritis and Integrative Treatment
By Dr. Marie Steinmetz, M.D., DABFM
Do your joints hurt? Are they stiff? You may suffer from osteoarthritis—the “wear and tear” type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is joint degeneration with a gradual loss of cartilage from the joint. Most often it affects the hands, knees, hips, and spine. Over 40 million Americans have OA. [Read more...]
Famous Holiday Herb-Frankincense (Boswellia)-Offers Year-Round Anti-Inflammatory Properties
By Dr. Jeanne Shiffman, MD, DABFM
This time of year, we hear of the Three Wise Men bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We all know what gold is good for, and myrrh is known as an incense, but what about the frankincense? [Read more...]
Nutrition and Carbohydrates
By Dr. Jennifer Lee, DO, MPH, DABFM
Carbohydrates are the element of food most efficiently converted to energy, and they tend to be the most plentiful substances in your diet. Athletes need the most carbohydrates. If you’ve ever dined with athletes the night before a big event, you know that their meals usually involve a lot of pasta. Because of the lean body mass that athletes have in their well-conditioned muscles, they burn it the fastest. Couch potatoes? Not so much. When people who aren’t athletes consume too many carbohydrates, they generally gain weight. The carbohydrates turn into stored fat and triglycerides. [Read more...]
Butterbur: A Treatment for Migraines and More
By Dr. Jeanne Shiffman, MD, DABFM
Butterbur (petasiteshybridus) is a natural anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic substance. It can be effective for allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and migraines. In one small study published in the British Medical Journal in 2002, it was shown to decrease nasal inflammation and nasal symptoms, similar to medications such as Zyrtec. [Read more...]
Managing Diabetes: Integrating Natural Approaches
By Dr. Marie Steinmetz, M.D., DABFM
Diabetes is a growing epidemic. Diabetes, defined as high, uncontrolled blood sugar levels, is linked to heart disease, kidney disease, vision loss, nerve damage, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease over time. While Type 2 Diabetes in children and young adults was almost unheard of a quarter century ago, the disease is on the rise in alarming proportions. According to the American Diabetes Association, about 1 in every 400 children and adolescents has diabetes, and in 2010, 1.9 million new cases were diagnosed in people 20 years and older. [Read more...]
Quercetin and Its Benefits
By Dr. Jeanne Shiffman, MD, DABFM
This time of year, there is an abundance of crisp, juicy apples in the local supermarkets. But the next time you go grocery shopping for apples, you might be surprised to find out what you’re really holding in your hand.
Apples are a great source of quercetin, a type of plant-based chemical, or phytochemical, known as flavonoids. Besides apples, good sources of quercetin include onions, teas, and red wine. You can also buy quercetin as a nutritional supplement. [Read more...]
