A tiny stone inside the small tube, known as the ureter, can ruin your day. It can also lead to infections and even permanent kidney damage.

What Causes a Kidney Stone?

If you have read my book, you know that poor nutrition and poor lifestyle choices lead to all disease. Kidney stones are included. Later in this post I’ll share with you how to prevent kidney stones.

Most stones are formed from calcium oxalate, a composite of calcium, oxygen, and hydrogen. These tiny crystals are normally excreted by the kidneys into the urine. But too many crystals can collect and form a stone. 80% of stones are from calcium oxalate.

Oxalate is found in food and is also made daily by your liver. Some high oxalate foods include beetroot, chocolate, spinach, nuts, seeds, beans, and grains. Animal foods are very low in oxalate.

As a promoter of beets to beat hypertension and coronary disease, I think avoiding the beetroot is a big mistake. I’ve never seen it as a contributing factor to kidney stones.

Dehydration increases your risk of kidney stones. So does being overweight. Those who eat lots of sugar or excess amounts of salt are also at risk.

Symptoms of a Kidney Stone

A kidney stone may not cause symptoms until it moves around within your kidney or passes into your ureter — the tube connecting the kidney and bladder. At that point, you may experience these signs and symptoms:

• Severe pain in the side and back, below the ribs
• Pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin
• Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity
• Pain on urination
• Pink, red or brown urine
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
• Nausea and vomiting
• Urinating more often than usual
• Fever and chills if an infection is present

How to Reverse/Avoid a Kidney Stone

Please follow this list and stay healthy, happy, and out of the hospital.

1. Drink high quality water and lots of it. Aim for half your body weight in ounces daily. Coffee, tea and soda do not count toward this amount. Check out our Pristine Hydro system.
2. Eat organic Paleo foods.
3. Get sunshine. The sun helps EVERYTHING flow better.
4. Get adjusted by a chiropractor. The kidney, ureter, and bladder are connected to the brain. Subluxations prevent normal urinary health.
5. Avoid stress, which has been linked to stone formation.

Five Supplements to prevent kidney stones

1. Magnesium supplementation – recommend 3 caps of our Magne 5 at bedtime
2. Potassium Citrate. According to this source, potassium citrate can dissolve kidney stones. I suggest 1 scoop 2x per day of our Potassium Boost.
3. Berberine– Is there anything this supplement can’t do? 2 caps 2x per day.
4. Eat capers and take additional quercetin found inside our Daily Defense. 
5. Probiotics assist in the breakdown of dietary oxalates. Try our Heart Helpers 1 cap daily.
6. Vitamin E and selenium, both found in our MULTI. 5 caps per day.

The post How to Reverse and Prevent Kidney Stones appeared first on TDW.

NAC is also available over the counter. But MAYBE not for long. More on that in a bit.

What is NAC?

Cysteine is an amino acid essential for the production of many proteins. It is also a major component of glutathione, the main antioxidant of the body.

NAC is the standard version of cysteine used in supplements and the version used in 100s of medical and scientific studies.

NAC may support:

1. Healthy blood pressure
2. Healthy cholesterol
3. Normal heart rhythm (afib prevention)
4. Coronary artery health
5. Healthy blood sugar
6. Lower inflammation
7. Lung health

NAC may also help protect against viruses. 

Ways to Benefits from NAC (and glutathione)

The key here is to boost levels of glutathione from NAC and other sources.

1. Animal foods are an excellent source of cysteine and the other amino acids used to build glutathione.
2. Whey protein as a supplement is an excellent source of glutathione building blocks. That is why I included New Zealand grass-fed whey in our Daily Defense. I think Daily Defense is our single best source of heart, lung and total body protection. You can read more here.
3. N-acetyl cysteine supplements are a proven strategy. We have an excellent source for you. High dose, one cap by mouth per day.
4. You can nebulize glutathione too. BUT ONLY THIS BRAND goes in the nebulizer.
5. Our Detoxicore also contains NAC and many other nutrients to support body health and wellness. Excellent for immune and detox support.

FDA threatens to ban NAC.

The product appears to be so effective, they want to control its distribution.

Better secure your source quickly.

The post NAC and Your Heart appeared first on TDW.

Experienced over long periods of time, stress can wreak havoc on our mind and body.

Since chronic stress has been linked to many illnesses from the development of diabetes to immune dysfunction to cancer, It is critical to identify the signs of stress in our lives so we can implement strategies to combat its effects.

Here are some of the top physical signs of stress to watch out for, plus 3 health hacks to fight back. 

• Aches and pains– It is very common to feel some bodily discomfort while under long term stress. Some studies have found that chronic pain may be associated with higher levels of stress as well as increased levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. Those under stress also reported links to headaches as well.
• Skin problems– Stress can wreak havoc on our skin. Several studies have found higher levels of stress are associated with increased acne, dermatitis, and even aging as well as worsening of these conditions.
• Gut dysfunction– Stress is known to disrupt our digestive system in many ways, including changing our appetite. Research studies have found that long term stress may be associated with digestive issues like constipation, bloating and diarrhea, especially in those with digestive disorders such as IBS.
• Sleep disruptions– Sleep is so crucial for our health but most of us have experienced difficulty sleeping after a stressful day or week. Sleep can disrupt our sleep, leading to insomnia, fatigue and lower daytime energy. One study found that higher levels of work-related stress were associated with increased sleepiness and restlessness.
• Changes in mood– Research shows that chronic stress may lead to the development of depression. One study of women with major depression determined that the onset of depression was significantly associated with both acute and chronic stress. These findings suggest the importance of assessing chronic stress as part of the treatment of mood disorders.

What can we do to combat these signs of stress? Try implementing these simple tips: 

• Deep breathing – This truly is one of the simplest, yet most powerful methods you can do right where you are today. Deep breathing exercises can help your nervous system switch into the parasympathetic mode, which activates the relaxation response. One of many different techniques, the 4-7-8 breathing technique, also known as “relaxing breath,” works by having the person breathe in for 4 seconds, hold the breath for 7 seconds, and exhale for 8 seconds. This breathing pattern aims to reduce anxiety and encourage higher quality relaxation and easier sleep.

• Movement– Any exercise that helps you get moving is beneficial. Try walking, yoga or even a simple stretching routine before bed to reduce anxiety and stress, improve sleep and increase endorphins. The benefits are strongest when you exercise regularly. In fact, research has documented that people who exercise regularly are less likely to experience anxiety than those who don’t.

• Essential Oils– Using natural scents in aromatherapy via essential oils can help reduce stress in a fun way. Try using relaxing oils such as lavender, bergamot, lemongrass, or orange oils. In one study, aromatherapy using a 3% lavender oil spray on clothing was found to be effective in decreasing stress for up to four days. Oils can be very therapeutic, but use them judiciously, as they are powerful substances.

• Journaling– Although some schools of thought advocate journaling what is bothering you to release any negativity, more promise can be found through deciding to “flip the switch” and write down what you are grateful for instead. Gratitude, especially written, is a powerful practice that has been demonstrated to help reduce both stress and anxiety and goes a long way in having a happier life!

• Laughter– Spending time with loved ones and friends, enjoying life and laughing are some of the best moments in life. Did you know that laughing relieves stress by boosting mood, relaxing your muscles and reducing your fight or flight response. In fact, it is nearly impossible to feel anxious or stressed while laughing. Laughter has also been linked to boosting immunity. Try watching a funny movie or play with children or pets!

• Supplementation– Poor nutrition is a root cause of anxiety in most people. Quality nutritional supplements can provide the support necessary for good physical and mental health. In addition to our Foundation 5, here are some ideas to rid the anxiety and achieve optimal mental health:
  • Hydroxy Force – A hefty serving of B6, 9, and 12 in a formulation that works best for people of all genetic types.
  • Max Mag – This form of magnesium gets into the brain and works magic. Magnesium is involved in hundreds of reactions in the body. So many are deficient.
  • Daily Defense – Sometimes the body is overloaded with toxins and a good cleanse is just what the doctor ordered. Sometimes just a month of this product relieves symptoms of anxiety and stress. Often, people continue with Daily Defense for up to a year or longer.
  • Relax– 1 scoop 2x per day in a tasty cherry flavored powder.

For more great tips, see our article on Natural Treatment Remedies for Anxiety and Stress.

The post 6 Life Hacks to Help Combat Chronic Stress appeared first on TDW.

Berberine is a molecule found in the goldenseal plant and is an effective natural supplement for a variety of conditions. Almost 2000 studies in the medical literature support the use of berberine. Given its antibacterial,  antifungal and antiviral properties, berberine is usually found in the supplement aisle next to other gastrointestinal supplements. But today, after so many published PubMed studies, it deserves a shelf of its own. 

Berberine’s multitude of benefits are nothing short of amazing and since “flu season” is on its way, it is important to understand how it affects immunity. Studies demonstrate that berberine inhibits certains strains of the flu virus by blocking enzymatic function. 

In addition, Berberine also hinders influenza-A replication by interfering with the pathways that upregulate the virus. 

Berberine appears to be as effective as pharmaceutical drugs and Big Pharma knows it. It is so effective that there have been attempts to patent the application of it for flu drugs. Why patent something from nature when we can just use nature? 

The flu doesn’t come alone, it brings along inflammation that can cause further issues if not addressed. Fortunately we have berberine that may suppress inflammatory substance release by improving pathogenic changes. Furthermore, over 70% of your immune system resides in your intestinal tract and berberine keeps those pesky pathogens in check.

We recommend our Berbe when people are exposed to a virus or need short term immune support when others are sick around them. The dosage is one cap, 3x per day with food. Berberine does not appear to interfere with pharmaceuticals but check with your pharmacist if you are concerned. Sometimes, mild stomach upset or loose stools is a consequence of berberine use. (Dr. Wolfson has used for years in his patients safely and effectively).

Berberine may be new to you, but the Chinese have studied this herbal for years. Finally, mainstream medicine might be paying attention too. It’s healing abilities are extensive and berberine is worth keeping in your healthy medicine cabinet. 

Check out The Drs. Wolfson Berberine and also take a look at another article titled The 21 Health Benefits of Berberine.

The post Berberine For Immune Support appeared first on TDW.

Me neither.

That idiom is usually seen as a reference to someone born into privilege or wealth. That may be true. But the real value to silver is in the HEALTH, not the wealth. For thousands of years, societies have recognized the protective effects of silver. They didn’t know about viruses and bacteria as potential pathogens, but knew they needed silver. From ancient kings to early American pioneers, silver was added to liquids to keep it safe.

Before the introduction of antibiotics in the 1940’s, silver was the go-to by healthcare practitioners around the world. It is still used as a topical solution in hospitals.

Silver used to be in the soil and therefore in our vegetables. But no farmers are putting silver into the soil. In short, I believe we suffer from a silver deficiency.

Silver kills bacteria by:

1. Binding to the bacterial cell wall, blocking transport of substances in and out.
2. Destroying energy production.
3. Inhibiting bacterial cell division inside the cell, blocking replication.

Not only is silver effective against bacteria and fungi, studies have identified the antiviral properties of silver nanoparticles in respect to respiratory pathogens such as adenovirus, parainfluenza and influenza. The nanoparticles attack viral glycoproteins preventing them from entering the cell.

Dr. Wolfson only recommends one brand of silver. Argentyn 23 is a professional grade bio-active silver hydrosol that supports a healthy immune system.

We use Argentyn 23 for:

• Prevention of viral and bacterial infections
• Immune support during the common cold and influenza
• Topical cuts, scrapes and burns
• Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
• Urinary tract infection
• Gastroenteritis
• Upper and lower respiratory infections
• Sinus infection
• Otitis media and externa

Directions for use are on every bottle of Argentyn. In short, the more support you need, the more Argentyn you take. Dr. Heather carries the drops and the gel in her purse at all times.

No concerns about argyria.

A must for every healthy medicine cabinet.

For all your health concerns, grab a free health coaching call here.

The post The Silver Bullet for Immunity appeared first on TDW.

1. Go organic

   No matter what food you eat, get the chemicals out. Artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners irritate your body leading to inflammation. Excess cholesterol is made to put out the inflammation fire. Cholesterol is made to repair the damage. This damage is done from pesticides as well, so going organic limits your exposure to dangerous pesticides and herbicides like glyphosate and atrazine.

   I recommend following the Paleo Diet. This nutrition plan followed by our hunter-gatherer ancestors is just common sense, but also has hundreds of studies to prove its efficacy. Organic vegetables, nuts, seeds, avocado, coconut, olives, pasture-raised meats and wild seafood. Skip the wheat, soy and gluten-containing grains, the sugar, and the dairy.

   I have seen this nutrition plan work for 1000’s of patients. It will work for you too. Cholesterol in food does not impact cholesterol in our body.

2. Sleep

   A study from 2017 found that short sleepers (less than 6 hours) had higher levels of LDL and higher levels of triglycerides. This is bad.

   You see, sleep is when the body repairs itself, especially our liver. This organ is responsible for many functions including making cholesterol AND removing it from the circulation. The liver also helps to heal the inflammation from our food and environment. And this all happens when we sleep. So when you don’t get enough sleep, the liver and the body can never truly heal.

   Ideally, we would go to bed just after sundown and awake before the sunrise. That is how most animals in nature do it. In fact, humans did this too before electricity was invented.

3. Sunshine

   Sunshine may be the most important way to improve your cholesterol AND just about everything else. The energy from the sun penetrates the skin and hits cholesterol running through tiny blood vessels. This energy converts cholesterol into vitamin D, a vitamin with hundreds of functions. So vitamin D goes up and cholesterol goes down. People with the highest levels of vitamin D have the lowest risk of everything.

   Smart sun is the key. A little in the morning, some at noon and some sun in the afternoon. Sunshine good, sunburn bad. If you are in the sun for prolonged periods wear a hat and and organic sunscreen. But please, embrace the power of the sun for your cholesterol AND everything else.

4. Physical activity

   Many studies confirm that exercise and physical activity improve total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides. As we are active, cholesterol particles are used up by muscle and liver tissue.

   Aerobic endurance activity helps and so does muscle building or resistance training. Just do something everyday and preferably outside. My favorite activities include hiking, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Oh…I love CrossFit too.

5. Household chemicals

   Again, we can discuss inflammation. The chemicals in your house get into your body leading to inflammation. With inflammation, lipids go up. The liver produces lipids to fight the inflammation AND gets busy with detoxification so does not adequately clear old LDL particles. This is very bad.

   Let me make an easy suggestion to consider. Everything you bring into your house, is it organic and natural or is it toxic. Laundry products, cleaning agents, personal care items like soap and lotions. Are they toxic or not. If they are toxic, time to get them out of your life. For more information on household items we use, please check out this webpage.

6. Stress

   Stress is bad for your health and leads to abnormal cholesterol. A 2013 found higher total cholesterol, higher LDL and lower HDL in those with reported job stress. Stress of any kind spikes cortisol, epinephrine and dopamine. This response leads to abnormal lipids.

   It is easy for me to recommend reducing stress. Not so easy to accomplish though. But you must try and reduce stress or limit the damage from the stress. This can be accomplished by a good walk, listening to quiet music, or meditation. Stressful people and stressful work need to be ushered out of your life.

7. Mold

   Environmental toxins like mold, metals and other pollutants damage the body in so many ways including heart attacks, strokes, cancer and death. Mold deserves its own place on this list for how ravaging its effects are. I created a 45 minute on mold- how you get it, how you test for it, and how you get rid of it from your house and your body. I suggest you watch this video and if you want to test your urine for mold, click this link.

8. Dental health

   Most people wouldn’t connect dental issues with high cholesterol. I do and so do many researchers. Periodontal disease is linked to abnormal cholesterol and certainly to heart attacks and strokes. We suggest finding a holistic dentist and get an assessment of your oral health. Assess for sleep apnea too, also linked to dyslipidemia.

9. Massage

   Bodywork such as massage helps to improve flow in our lymphatic system. So much disease is caused by abnormal lymphatic drainage. Good cholesterol levels stem from good liver function. Good liver function requires good lymphatic drainage. Get a massage monthly at least.

   This is a good time to recommend regular chiropractic care. You see, the brain is connected to every organ in the body, including the liver. These connections run through the spine. Good spinal health is the expertise of the chiropractor. Visit yours often.

10. Supplements

    Supplements supplement the healthy lifestyle outlined above. When your numbers still need support, your doctor typically will prescribe a statin drug. Not me. I like to do it naturally. And the good news is that hundreds of studies prove natural remedies are effective. Trust me. I have seen 1000’s of my patients benefit from natural solutions.

First off, I love a good liver cleanse product for healthy cholesterol levels. Nothing is better than my Daily Defense. Check out the two delicious flavors here and take two scoops per day.

Next, try out our brand new product called OptiLipid. After extensive research, I formulated OptiLipid with six plant compounds PROVEN to get your cholesterol numbers on track. For more information on OptiLipid, take a look at this webpage.

Conclusion 

Your Perfect Cholesterol can be yours naturally and without the pharmaceuticals. Give the above a try and check your numbers after 90 days. If you need my help, I would love to serve you. Give my office a call at 480-535-6844 and find out how to work with me and my team personally.

Cheers to your health and Your Perfect Cholesterol

The post 10 Ways to Your Perfect Cholesterol appeared first on TDW.

 This holiday season, give something special. Give the gift of health and wellness.

 The following represents our favorite suggestions to support health and wellness for those you really care about.

The Ultimate in Organic Clothing

 Do you eat organic food but wear toxic clothing?

In short, the chemicals in clothing, just as in anything else, can raise your disease risk.

Cotton is a heavily sprayed crop (think Roundup) and these chemicals permeate the clothes even after processing. The clothes are also contaminated with bleach, formaldehyde, VOC’s (volatile organic compounds), ammonia and more.

No thank you!

If it says wrinkle free, won’t shrink, flame or stain resistant, water-proof, cling-free and more, run for the hills. It may be more convenient, but it is negatively impacting your health.

Do you remember the toxic uniforms for the American Airlines employees? Many people ended up in the hospital from exposure to the chemicals. They suffered with autoimmune reactions, rashes and some life threatening illnesses.

It is time to go organic with your clothing as much as possible. Finding undergarments, socks, and sweats are easy when you shop at Pact.

PACT Clothing sells the organic cotton products we love because they are organic and stylish.  They have everything from workout wear to casual everyday clothing to undergarments to maternity. All their clothing is made from organic cotton. Not only will you be helping to reduce AFIB as we know toxins contribute to it, but you will also be contributing to better health overall for yourself and those who hug you!

Better for your health and better for the environment.

 Gift of Light

 Nothing is more important to health and wellness than quality sunshine. Those who get the most amount of sun, live the longest.

Sunshine is shown to reduce heart attack, stroke, dementia and cancer risk. Sunshine promotes mental wellness too.

But so many of you live in areas where the sun doesn’t shine for much of the year. This leads to serious health problems. I see people from all over the world and the majority come from cities and towns where winter is long and the power of the sun cannot work its magic.

If this is your situation, let me make a suggestion.

Move. Move to a sunny climate like Arizona, Florida, or Texas. Move to the Caribbean or Hawaii or Costa Rica.

Okay, I understand. You have a job or family that holds you back. Or maybe, you love where you live and don’t want to move. So the next best strategy is to take a lot of vacations. At least one vacation every couple of months while you are in the cold and no sun situation.

So pack up your things in January from Minnesota and head to Aruba or Fiji. When you take this trip make sure you soak up the sun at your destination by increasing exposure little by little each day. Don’t burn.

Still not realistic to head off to the islands every year for a week or two? Now we have to get creative. If you can’t take the vacation to the sun, bring the sun to you with a vitamin D lamp.

Sperti makes the most popular vitamin D lamp on the market and for good reason. The lamp is amazing.

The Sperti sunlamp called the Fiji Sun Tanning Lamp is:

• FDA cleared
• Safe at-home use
• Face and body tanner
• 15 minute sessions
• 100% money back guarantee
• 7 year product warranty
• Two pairs of UV blocking eyewear

Buy your Sperti sunlamp here

The Fiji Sun Tanning Lamp by Sperti provides UVA and UVB exposure. Both of these frequencies are extremely beneficial to your health. The Sperti lamp provides UVA rays to increase nitric oxide, a vasodilator that opens blood vessels AND lowers blood pressure. The Sperti lamp provides UVB rays to make vitamin D in your body.

For years, I have been reading the work of Dr. Michael Holick MD, PhD and he loves the Fiji Sun Lamp from Sperti.

You can learn more about the lamp on their website just by clicking this link.

Instructions for use come with the Sperti. Start slow and gradually build up to 15 minute sessions. Sunshine is your friend and your skin is a solar panel. Give your skin and your body what it needs. Buy a Sperti Sun Lamp

Santa Brings a Sauna 

I don’t know about you, but I love to sweat. I just feel better afterwards. Sweating is a great way to detox pollutants and chemicals out of your body.

You can work up a good sweat in two ways: exercise or with a sauna.

Scandanavian countries are the home to the sauna. Studies find that regular sauna users live much longer than those who don’t sauna.

Now get this recent 2017 study. Regular sauna users (4-7x per week) had a 46% lower risk of high blood pressure! This was compared to people who use a sauna less than once per week. You can read the original article here.

Fortunately, there are easy ways to home sauna. But you have to find the best saunas that provide all the benefits but none of the risks. One risk comes from off-gassing materials that intoxicate you rather than detox you. Another risk is from electromagnetic fields (EMF) generated by the power source in the sauna. EMF is a major source of health issues and high blood pressure.

I have done the research and think that Sauna Space is the best product available.

Sauna Space:

• Is very compact and can be stored easily
• Does not off-gas chemicals
• Does not produce significant EMF
• Is a healthy sauna experience!

Click here to find out more about Sauna Space. They have two models: The Luminati is for the budget conscious and the Faraday is their ultimate sauna. Both are fantastic options and both are a significant investment. Personally though, I think YOU are worth the investment.

For overall health, sauna at least 4x per week for 30 minute sessions. I prefer to sauna in the late afternoon. I drink plenty of filtered water from our Pristine Hydro system and always replace my minerals with our daily multivitamin.

Send Some Food

Humans are hunter-gatherers. Always have been and always will be. Sourcing the highest quality food is of utmost importance. And just in case you don’t hunt or fish, I have two suggestions of food companies that do it right.

Crowd Cow and Vital Choice.

Both of these companies source the healthiest foods in the world. Better for you, better for the animal and better for the planet.

You see, omega-3 from wild salmon, sardines, anchovies and shellfish is one of the BEST strategies to keep your blood pressure in check. Seafood eaters are the healthiest people on the planet and seafood is proven to help lower AFIB risk and stroke risk. And for seafood, the choice is Vital Choice.

Meats such as beef, pork and poultry are fantastic for health as long as they come from grass-fed, ethically raised farm animals. Crowd Cow does just that.

I will warn you ahead of time. Products from Crowd Cow and Vital Choice are more expensive than the big box grocery stories. But as the saying goes, ” you get what you pay for”.

And I think YOU are worth it.

The Wolfson’s buy most of our seafood and meats from these companies. Vital Choice for the seafood and Crowd Cow for the meat. In fact, I bought my Thanksgiving turkey from Crowd Cow. And the wild salmon at Vital Choice is out of this world.

If you are looking for the best seafood including wild salmon, lobster, crab, and more, check out Vital Choice by clicking here.

Crowd Cow has a really cool program. You can shop from dozens of farms that have all kinds of fantastic food. Just click here and start your search for grass-fed beef, lamb, pork and poultry.

Healthy Cookware is Key

When it comes to health and wellness, we need to look at all possible causes of disease. Science tells us that toxins in our environment are a major contributor to sickness. These toxins come from the air, the water and the soil. And they also come from our cookware.

The cookware we use to make our food can be highly toxic. Teflon is known to everyone as a cancer-causing agent and was the subject of an excellent recent film called Dark Waters. But other chemicals in cookware may be just as dangerous as Teflon and include toxic metals and things like PFOA, a known carcinogen.

Stainless steel cookware usually contains tin, nickel and aluminum. These metals get into your food and into your body where they do not belong. Toxic metals interfere with potassium and magnesium leading to AFIB.

Cast iron is loaded with….wait for it….iron. And iron overload is a problem for so many people and can be inflammatory and may raise ferritin levels. High ferritin is linked to high blood pressure according to this study.

The best cookware is quality ceramic and the only company I trust for my family is Xtrema Cookware. We love their products and they are totally affordable. Ceramic products including those from Xtrema are not as durable as cast iron or steel, but fortunately, replacing a broken piece is not too cost prohibitive.

Xtrema has some great deals going on right now so make sure to check out their cookware by clicking here.

Don’t forget to give the gift of health and wellness. Xtrema makes an excellent holiday, birthday or housewarming gift.

Drinking Water Can Help or Hurt Your Health 

How often do you think about the water you drink? We need this critical source of sustenance but don’t often give much thought to the quality of the water.

The fact that we need to consider the quality of our water is a sad state of affairs. After all, millions of years went by and the water was perfect. Whether from a spring or a running stream, our water was pure. All that was in the water was H2O, minerals, and beneficial microbes.

Today, the state of our water supply is quite different. And our health suffers because of it.

What is in our water that is so toxic?

The list of harmful pollutants in our water is long and includes references to toxicology, pharmacology, microbiology, metallurgy and inorganic chemistry. Sounds nasty, right? It is.

Pesticides, phthalates, parabens, plastics and pharmaceuticals are in the water system. And that is only the P toxins. Don’t forget about mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, aluminum and other elements including radioactive ones that don’t belong in our bodies. Dangerous microbes such as parasites, bacteria and viruses may be present. And last, but not least, chemicals like volatile organic compounds and perfluorocarbons (Teflon!) are pervasive in our water supply.

Given the above, it is quite clear you cannot drink from the tap or even consider water that is not highly filtered. If you are on a well, you had better test for the above. We recommend using a company called My Tap Score. They have a few options to test your water for over 100 different contaminants. Learn more about My Tap Score here.

Best options for clean water for health and wellness 

Okay, let’s talk about a few options here. My best recommendation is last.

• Reverse osmosis- removes just about everything, except for some gasses. RO water removes all minerals and leaves a dead water. Cheaper, but not the best choice.
• Countertop filters- like Berkey etc. can reduce toxin level, but again, leave the water void of the good stuff
• Bottled water- must be in glass. Even the best waters are contaminated. Recent evidence found high PFAS in Topo Chico. Best in class here is Pellegrino in glass.

My recommendation, Pristine Hydro. We have used this system for over 5 years. Many of our patients have bought it as well. It has a 6 step purification then adds back minerals, oxygen and structure to approximate a mountain stream.

The added magnesium, potassium, and calcium help to support a healthy heart rhythm. The fact that the other toxins are removed also helps AFIB.

And water from the Pristine Hydro system tastes great.

You can read more and purchase a system by clicking here.

Can Air Pollution Cause Sickness? 

Air pollution is linked to just about every disease. Staying inside certainly isn’t the answer! Indoor air pollution is worse than outdoor, believe it or not.

Outdoor air is polluted from vehicles, factories, farming, and fires.

Indoor air toxins are just as sinister, and maybe even more so, given the standard airtight hermetically sealed homes.

Where are these indoor contaminants coming from? Here are the likely offenders:

• VOCs from new paint, new flooring, and new furniture
• Cleaning products
• Mold mycotoxins
• Secondhand smoke
• Natural gas
• Radon
• And 187 more according to the EPA

These chemicals lead to plenty of health problems from AFIB to cancer to neurologic disease.

If you know me, you know that I love the outdoors. Getting my family outside often is a priority and key to health. But when you are inside, make sure your air is as pure as possible. This means you must get an air purifier.

Air purifiers are proven to lower inflammation according to a 2018 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Anything that lowers inflammation naturally is likely to help lower disease risk.

You can fix your indoor air with the Austin Air Purifier. It is consistently rated as the best air purifier available. We have 3 running full time in our home and one in the office. Even Chuck in our shipping department has one in the warehouse (his adult children work with us and he wants the best in health for them).

Don’t waste another minute in the poison and get an Austin Air purifier today.

Can Red Light Therapy Help AFIB?

Do you feel a sense of awe when viewing a sunset or a sunrise? I think we experience that feeling so we reap the health benefits of the red light wavelength. Nature is amazing and we don’t live in it, we are part of it.

The red light wavelength penetrates the skin and makes the magic happen by fueling the mitochondria to make ATP. This energy currency helps our body to function normally.

We recommend getting outside often to harness the sun’s energy. But many people live in climates where outdoor activities are a little more difficult. Clothing inhibits red light as well.

That is why we recommend red light therapy.

There are 3 ways to get red light therapy:

• Low-level laser: Devices of this sort are typically in the doctor’s office, as they are very expensive. We have one in our office and found great success for blood pressure. But to be effective, frequent use is recommended, so the laser is not practical for everyone.
• Red light device- Many companies have stepped up to provide home red light kits. Our trusted brand is Mito Red. You can read more on their website including frequency and duration of exposure. There is zero risk to this product, only benefits. You stand in front of the light and experience the benefits to as much skin as possible. Your eyes too!
  

• Vie Light- We talk a lot about nitric oxide and its importance in preventing AFIB and stroke as it relaxes the blood vessels and allows for smooth blood flow. Photobiomodulation (PBM) leads to an elevation in NO concentration. PBM uses red light to influence health, wellness and normal blood pressure.
  

• The VieLight 633 takes advantage of the thin mucosal layer inside the nose. This allows for easy access to circulating blood.

We have used the Vielight 633 with tremendous success and no risk. See the picture below. Protocols are built into the product. Again, no risk, only benefits. Great way to crank up nitric oxide and lower blood pressure. Buy your VieLight here.

Buy Someone a Test 

If you are concerned about the health of a loved one, get them the help they need.

With one of our state-of-the-art test kits, the information could help save a life.

Leaky Gut, Mold Mycotoxins, Toxic Metals, and Envirotoxin test kits are a great gift this holiday season.

Buy the test kit and we will send it to the recipient of your generosity. We will also find a local lab if needed. All tests include a review with a Wolfson health coach.

For more information, check out TheDrsWolfson.com/tests

Heart Health Book 

My book, The Paleo Cardiologist, The Natural Way to Heart Health is the perfect choice for someone you care about. Over 200 pages and 300 references.

Amazon best-seller. But you don’t need to buy it on Amazon. You can get my book for free at FreeHeartBook.com. Just put in the name and address where you want it to go.

Head to FreeHeartBook.com

The post Holiday Health Gift Guide appeared first on TDW.

Carnitine is a molecule derived from two amino acids called lysine and methionine. Synthesis in the body involves metabolic reactions of these two amino acids along with vitamin B3, vitamin B6, vitamin C and iron.

Carnitine functions as a nutrient and plays a major role in the production of energy. Essentially, carnitine works like a train to deliver energy (in the form of fatty acids) into the mitochondria of our cells to produce energy. As a shuttle, carnitine also transports waste and toxic byproducts out of cells. Due to these important roles, carnitine is needed for optimal mitochondrial and cellular health.

Carnitine is found in nearly every cell in the body. However, it is heavily concentrated in cardiac muscle and skeletal muscle because it is required for creating cellular energy. The heart is more than just a pump. It is an organ that needs metabolic energy. Cardiovascular disease is a metabolic disease and L-carnitine is key for metabolic cardiac therapy.

***Heart failure patients should be on this supplement***

What foods provide carnitine?

The best food source of carnitine is animal food. A general rule of thumb is the redder the meat, the higher the concentration of carnitine.

Top 3 sources of carnitine in the diet:

1. Grass-fed beef steak
2. Grass-fed ground beef
3. Grass-fed beef organ meats

Other foods that contain adequate carnitine include pasture-raised pork and fish.

Carnitine occurs in two forms: D and L. The only form found in food is L-carnitine. L-carnitine is also the only form that is active in the body and therefore the only form we are concerned with!

Health benefits of carnitine:

• Functions as an antioxidant to fight off harmful molecules
• Detoxes tissues and cells
• Provides fuel for the heart to function
• Can help to treat symptoms of angina
• Can help to treat heart arrhythmias
• Can help to treat cardiomyopathy
• Can improve mitochondrial function and increase cellular energy (ATP)
• Can reduce fatigue
• Could help with Alzheimer’s disease 

Carnitine and heart health:

It is important to understand the vital role that carnitine plays in heart health. Adequate levels of carnitine are needed to shuttle high-energy fat fuel into the heart for energy production. The heart prefers to use high-energy fats for its main energy source. The only way for these fats to get into the mitochondria of the cells is by carnitine delivery.

The relationship between levels of carnitine in tissues and overall cardiac health has been extensively studied. A 2013 review study looked at 13 controlled trails and 3, 629 patients to analyze the benefits of L-carnitine on the heart. The study found that L-carnitine was linked to a 27% reduction in all-cause mortality, 40% reduction in angina symptoms and a 65% reduction in reduced ventricular arrhythmias.  The mechanisms for L-carnitine’s beneficial effects are attributed to its ability to stabilize heart cell membranes, increase cellular energy production and reduce ischemia.

Low carnitine levels are associated with cardiac dysfunction. A 2018 case report showed that L-carnitine treatment restored cardiac function by increasing ejection fraction and decreasing brain natriuretic peptide (BNP-marker of heart stress).

Furthermore, L-carnitine is an evidence-based treatment for heart failure (HF). A 2017 review study concluded that treatment with L-carnitine improved cardiac function, reduced HF symptoms, increased left ventricular ejection fraction and decreased levels of BNP/NT-ProBNP (markers of HF).

What causes carnitine deficiency?

There are two types of carnitine deficiencies: primary and secondary.

1. Primary carnitine deficiency is a genetic condition whereby carnitine is unable to be taken up and utilized by the cells.

   Primary deficiency causes: abnormal genetics.

2. Secondary carnitine deficiency is due to not enough carnitine present in the blood (this type can result from health conditions or poor nutrition).

   Secondary deficiency causes: mitochondrial disease, metabolic disorders, malnutrition, digestive disease, kidney disease, liver disease and certain medications.

What are the symptoms of a carnitine deficiency?

• Swelling or shortness of breath, when the heart is impacted
• Cardiomyopathy
• Fatigue
• Confusion
• Decreased muscle tone and muscle weakness
• Low blood sugar symptoms (hypoglycemia), when the liver is affected
• Fatty liver

Note: strenuous exercise or fasting can trigger symptoms in individuals with a carnitine deficiency. 

Who is at risk for carnitine deficiency?

• Vegans
• Vegetarians
• Preterm infants
• Genetically susceptible patients
• Anyone with liver disease, kidney disease, or other health conditions (as noted above)
• Advancing age

How do you know if you have low carnitine levels?

You can take a blood test to check levels of carnitine in the blood. 

What populations may need to supplement based on the research?

• Individuals with cardiomyopathy
• Individuals with a heart arrhythmia
• Individuals with cardiovascular disease
• Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease
• Individuals on certain medications (like phenobarbitol)

Overall, your carnitine levels are influenced by how much you’re getting from animal foods, how much your body is producing and the health conditions you’re facing. 

If you need to supplement due to a cardiac condition or if you fall into the high-risk population category above, check out our favorite product called Acetyl L-Carnitine. Take 1-2 caps 2-3 times per day depending on need.

If you have any health-related questions, or need help dosing Acetyl L-Carnitine, you can book a free 20 minute health coaching consult here.

The post Why You Need to Boost Carnitine appeared first on TDW.

This dressing combines healthy fat and protein that will add flavor and a nutritional and immune boost to any meal. The superstars in this recipe are anchovy, egg yolks and garlic. 

The anchovies add omega-3 fats, protein, and plenty of calcium from the tiny bones that you cannot taste once blended. Someone in the family not keen on fish? This is a sneaky way to add it into a daily diet.

Egg yolks provide additional vitamin A which we know is a powerhouse that supports immune function. Vitamin A isn’t found in many foods, but a deficiency in it can make you more susceptible to respiratory infections and other diseases, this is a great way to incorporate it.

Garlic, we know it keeps the vampires away (thank goodness for that), but did you know it also helps the body resist and destroy viruses?

Definitely ditch the store bought salad dressing – it gives “salad dressing” a bad name. They are laden with preservatives, inflammatory oils, like soybean or canola, and other unnecessary ingredients. Not to mention they are packaged in plastic which leaches chemicals into your food. Humans already have high levels of plastic in their blood, which is linked to heart disease, cancer, and hormone problems. It isn’t surprising people are so sick!

Look no further for a heart healthy, immune boosting game changer:

The Drs. Wolfson Super Immunity Salad Dressing

Feel free to adjust the amounts of the different ingredients in this salad dressing according to your taste. If you want it tangier add more apple cider vinegar. If you love the flavor of great olive oil loaded with polyphenols (great for immune health) then increase the amount of olive oil. You really can’t go wrong with this recipe, no matter what you do!

1. Olive oil (or another organic oil of your choice)
2. One tsp MCT oil (optional)
3. Apple Cider Vinegar or lemon juice
4. Anchovies (start slowly if you choose)
5. Capers (tremendous anti-inflammatory source of quercetin)
6. Fresh garlic (the amount depends on how many vampires you want to keep away)
7. One pasture-raised egg yolk
8. Spices (black cumin, cumin, turmeric, ginger, rosemary, oregano, thyme etc. ) Read more here about 10 Spices for Heart Health.

To make the recipe “creamy”, add an AVO-CARDIO – ½ to 1 whole

Do NOT add salt. There is plenty of salt in the anchovy.

Add the above to a blender and blend until smooth. We prefer a Vitamix, this is a great investment that will last for years.  Store the remainder in a glass jar in the refrigerator. Lasts up to 7 days but it is so tasty it won’t last nearly that long.

In this busy life it’s nice to know that you really can’t mess this recipe up. Too thick? Add more olive oil, lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. For an extra probiotic kick add a little liquid from kimchi or sauerkraut. These probiotic punches are a great staple in any kitchen.

In fact, add whatever you would like to this recipe, it is a great way to get the foods you need into your body. Sometimes, we add sunflower or pumpkin seeds, sometimes sliced onion and garlic. Make it fun and make it different every time. Experimenting with healthy additions is always a good idea!

Your body will thank you for it and your family and friends will live healthier and longer lives too!

****By purchasing from the link, The Drs. Wolfson gets a commission which will go towards us changing the WORLD!

The post Super Immunity Salad Dressing appeared first on TDW.

Even if you eat a healthy diet and live a healthy lifestyle, today’s food is very depleted of nutrients due to standard processing and agricultural practices. The air, water, and soil are damaged. Unfortunately, it is very hard to actually get all the nutrients you need from food alone. And let’s face it, most of us have not lived healthy and have a lot of catching up to do, including ME!

This is why we always say, “supplements supplement the healthy lifestyle“. 

Symptoms of a general nutrient deficiency:

There are specific symptoms for each nutrient deficiency, however, there is also overlap in symptoms for the majority of nutrients. These include:

• Fatigue
• Weakness, aches, pain
• Increased anxiety and depression
• Irritability or other mood disturbances
• Brain fog
• Skin issues like dry skin or acne
• Brittle hair or nails
• Headaches

If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, it’s important not to brush them off as a normal part of everyday life. In functional medicine, we are the detectives and we treat symptoms as the clues or evidence in a mystery to decipher what is going on in the body. Micronutrients play a role in every function of the body’s reactions and must always be addressed as a part of health.

How to know if you have a nutrient deficiency?

The best way to know if you have a micronutrient deficiency is with advanced micronutrient testing. The labs we use can reveal both serum and intracellular levels of nutrients, which paints a true picture of nutrient (and health) status. The goal is to use the data from the labs to create a personalized nutrition, supplement and lifestyle plan for each individual to optimize their nutrient and health status. 

Top 7 nutrient deficiencies we see in our clinic:

1. Magnesium

   Magnesium is a major mineral involved in over 300 reactions. It is also the most common nutrient deficiency underlying most every cardiovascular condition including high blood pressure, heart arrhythmias and cardiovascular disease.

   • Deficiency symptoms
     • Muscle cramps or restless leg syndrome
     • Fatigue and muscle weakness
     • Osteoporosis or brittle bones
     • Headaches and migraines
     • High blood pressure
     • Irregular heartbeat
     • Mood disorders
   • Deficiency causes

     Unfortunately, our food and soil are depleted of nutrients like magnesium these days. Also, processing of food leaches nutrients out. It is hard to get enough magnesium through diet alone and often supplementation (especially for cardiac conditions) is needed.

     Low magnesium levels are a very common health problem that affects most individuals. Daily magnesium intake should be (at a minimum) of 300-400 mg per day for most healthy individuals and most are not getting these intakes in. Individuals with cardiac conditions likely need a lot more.

2. Vitamin B12

   Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin that your body cannot produce and must be obtained in the diet. It plays many important roles in the body. B12 is critical for healthy blood cells and nerves. It is also responsible for lowering homocysteine, a key factor in heart health.

   • Deficiency symptoms
     • Brain fog
     • Fatigue and weakness
     • Pale skin
     • Numbness or tingling
     • Glossitis
     • Shortness of breath and dizziness
     • Anxiety or depression
     • High homocysteine levels
   • Deficiency causes

     Vitamin B12 deficiencies are fairly common, and we see them often in our clinic. They can present as symptoms in various ways, so often testing is needed to diagnose a true deficiency.

     B12 is abundant in animal foods so vegetarians/ vegans are at-risk populations. Furthermore, common causes of a B12 deficiency include low stomach acid, gut issues like leaky gut syndrome and SIBO or MTHFR mutations (of which about half the population has).

3. Vitamin K2

   The importance of Vitamin K2 is still relatively unknown to most clinicians. Vitamin K has two forms. Vitamin K1 is the primary form from green, leafy vegetables and vitamin K2 arises from animal foods and fermented foods. K2 serves a diverse range of functions in the body besides blood clotting. It is especially important for heart health as K2 can help to reverse arterial calcification and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

   • Deficiency symptoms
     • Blood clotting problems
     • Bruising or bleeding
     • Arterial calcification
     • Aortic stenosis
     • Atherosclerosis
     • Weak bones or osteoporosis
     • Anxiety and/or depression
     • Cancer
   • Deficiency causes

     In individuals with a healthy gut microbiome, the gut bacteria are able to convert K1 to K2. At-risk individuals, therefore, are those with gastrointestinal disorders like leaky gut syndrome, ulcerative colitis and bile issues. Also, people who take long courses of antibiotics (which destroy host bacteria) are at risk. Lastly those on statins and blood thinners (like warfarin) are at risk for low K2 levels.

4. Vitamin B1

   Vitamin B1, or thiamin, is an essential vitamin for producing cellular energy from the food you eat. B1 is used by almost every cell in the body. It is a very important vitamin for your heart, especially heart rate, as well. B1 has even been linked to improving cardiac function in those with congestive heart failure.

   • Deficiency symptoms
     • Fatigue
     • Poor appetite
     • Irritability, anxiety or mood disturbances
     • Tingling sensation in arms and legs
     • Blurry vision
     • Heart rate issues (usually low heart rate)
     • Shortness of breath
     • Heart failure
   • Deficiency causes

     While extreme vitamin B1 deficiencies are rare, more and more people are showing up with low levels of B1. There are various factors that can put people at a higher risk for low B1. These factors include alcohol dependency, advancing age, individuals with gastrointestinal disorders, immunocompromised individuals, diabetics, and those who use high-dose diuretics. Also, those with a high toxin burden are also at risk for depleted B1 levels in the body.

5. Vitamin A

   Vitamin A is an important fat-soluble vitamin. It is needed for proper vision, a functioning immune system, regulation of cell division, and prevention of cancer. It also is needed in the body for its role as an antioxidant to quench oxidative stress and lower inflammation.  Vitamin A also plays a critical role in the development of the heart, lungs and kidneys in early childhood.

   • Deficiency symptoms
     • Poor wound healing
     • Acne, dry skin and other skin issues
     • Vision problems
     • Night blindness
     • Increased infections and illness
     • Inflammation
     • High oxidative stress
     • Delayed growth and poor development
   • Deficiency causes

     Vitamin A deficiency or low vitamin A levels can be caused by inadequate dietary intake of vitamin A, fat malabsorption issues, gastrointestinal disorders like leaky gut syndrome or liver disorders.

6. Glutathione

   Glutathione is the master antioxidant of all our cells. It is a vital “nutrient” we test for in our patients. It is so important that the liver can synthesize it from three amino acids. It serves many important functions such as reducing free radicals, lowering inflammation, transporting toxins out of the body, boosting immunity, regenerating vitamin’s C/E, making DNA and keeping cells (like heart cells) fully functioning. In fact, research has shown that early deficiency of glutathione in heart cells results in advanced progression of cardiovascular disease and heart failure. A glutathione deficiency is found in nearly every chronically ill patient.

   • Deficiency symptoms
     • Increased oxidative stress/ inflammation
     • Poor detoxification
     • Mitochondrial dysfunction
     • Chronic disease (CVD, cancer, autoimmune disease, etc.)
     • Liver disease
     • Kidney problems
     • Asthma
     • Rapid aging
     • Fatigue
     • Brain fog
   • Deficiency causes

     A glutathione deficiency can result from a multitude of causes such as toxins, air pollution, poor diet, nutrient deficiencies, chronic stress, medications and aging. Whenever the body has excess oxidative stress or inflammation (from such factors mentioned above), glutathione is the first to get depleted. This depletion of glutathione causes cellular dysfunction and disease.

7. Vitamin D

   Vitamin D is another nutrient that we see depleted in almost every initial test we do on patients. Vitamin D is an essential vitamin for our health and wellness. This is why Dr. Wolfson literally prescribes sunshine to every one of our patients. Vitamin D is critical for regulating mineral balance, promoting healthy bones and teeth, regulating insulin levels, supporting cardiovascular function and preventing chronic disease like cardiovascular disease, cancer and autoimmune disorders.

   • Deficiency symptoms
     • High blood pressure
     • Abnormal lipids
     • Cardiovascular disease or cancer
     • Autoimmune disorders
     • Poor immune function
     • Hormonal imbalances
     • Low bone density
     • Muscle weakness or muscle cramps
     • Mood disturbances such as anxiety or depression
     • Fatigue
   • Deficiency causes

     Vitamin D is unique in that it is not naturally present in many foods. Therefore, the best way to get vitamin D is via sun. Groups at risk for a vitamin D deficiency are those that do not get enough sunlight (factors that influence sunlight production of vitamin D include time of day, season and where you live), skin color (darker skin pigment requires more sun exposure), age (elderly are far less efficient at converting sunlight to vitamin D) or liver or kidney issues (where conversion to active D3 takes place). For those that can’t get enough quality sun, supplementation is warranted.

Final recommendations regarding nutrient deficiencies:

Today, many individuals suffer from nutrient deficiencies. Nutrients play crucial roles in health and prevention of disease. If nutrient levels are suboptimal, disease always results.

We recommend knowing your INTRACELLULAR levels of nutrients. This type of testing includes an analysis of essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other metabolites. Conventional nutrient testing is outdated. Typically, it tests for serum levels of nutrients. In functional medicine we are more concerned with if nutrients are actually getting into cells, where they belong and function.

Always test, don’t guess. Know your nutrient numbers. Your health depends upon it.

You can check out our advanced intracellular micronutrient test here. It comes with a free review by a Wolfson health coach who can help to guide you in creating the ideal, customized protocol for your health.

The post Top 7 Nutrient Deficiencies appeared first on TDW.