What is Functional Medicine?

Although it may sound "new-age", functional medicine is anything but that. Now more than ever, patients throughout the Western World are turning to a new approach to medicine called functional medicine. But, what exactly does that entail, how is it different from visiting a traditional doctor, and how do you know it will work?

First things first, practitioners of functional medicine receive the same exact schooling, training, and testing as any other doctor, nurse practitioner, etc. In fact, there is practically no distinction in most medical schools and every medical doctor could also be a functional medicine practitioner. However, the difference lies in how that knowledge is applied and what the doctor or medical professional chooses to do with that knowledge that makes all the difference. The most simple explanation is, functional medicine looks at the root cause of the problem and aims to treat the root cause, not the symptoms of the cause. Whereas traditional Western medicine aims to sell you pills and prescriptions to treat your symptoms, thus turning your problems into a lifelong battle that could possibly be solved in much less time for much less money.

The Root Cause

All functional medicine visits begin with your doctor trying to learn more about your life. That is your genetics, where you live, how you live, what your diet looks like, and more. Although some may find that intrusive, it’s highly important to establish exactly why you’re experiencing issues in the first place. As medical science continues to advance, more and more studies are suggesting that genetics and your environment (where you live, what you eat, how you live) play the biggest roles in diseases and other medical problems. Therefore, functional medicine begins by asking lots of questions in the form of patient files, interviews, and most notably different types of tests designed to answer those questions in scientific ways.

To Test Or Not To Test

Functional medicine typically includes general baseline tests that look out for abnormalities within the patient to begin tracking where the root of the cause is. This again varies from traditional medicine because traditional practices may still perform tests like x-rays and blood panels, but they typically only are looking to confirm symptoms and then stop asking questions once they can prove the symptoms. Not so with functional medicine, instead, blood panels, genetic testing, and more are used to narrow down what’s going on but are not used to just verify the symptoms you’re experiencing.

Your Relationship In The Medical Process

Another facet of functional medicine is where the patient fits into the puzzle. In most doctors’ offices, you sit in a chair, get poked and prodded then get told how your life is going to change. Yet, in functional medicine, the doctor or medical staff are equal to the patient. Through empowering the patient, better health outcomes can be reached and treatment can be tailored to individual needs, not just generalities. Functional medicine clinics like Denver Functional Medicine also aim for effective yet less-intrusive means of treatment that transform your life into something more healthy and sustainable over time.…

Invisible braces have become an increasingly popular addition to orthodontics. Companies such as Invisalign offer a more transparent alternative to traditional metal braces. When weighing your options, here are 3 things to know about Invisalign South Weymouth MA.

Appearance

Gone are the days when the only way to straighten teeth was with shiny, metal braces. Now, you can correct your dental issues without drastically altering your appearance. Invisalign consists of clear retainers that are customized to fit over your teeth. They can only be clearly seen if someone is standing very close to you or if you’re taking a close-up picture. Otherwise, people generally won’t be able to tell you are wearing them.

Hygiene and Maintenance

Invisible braces require more attention than traditional braces. They need to be removed prior to eating food or drinking anything other than water. Before placing them back in, you will need to brush and floss your teeth to prevent bacteria growth. This requires commitment, as you may be brushing your teeth in a public restroom after a restaurant meal. The trays also need to be brushed twice daily. You can still eat snacks like popcorn, so there are no dietary limitations as there are with metal braces.

Effectiveness

Invisalign is as effective as traditional braces, provided you keep up with the regimen. They must be worn for at least 22 hours a day, meaning that you should only remove them while eating and drinking. You also have to change the trays according with the schedule your orthodontist sets for you. This ensures that your trays line up with your shifting teeth, keeping your progression on track.

If you are in the market for braces, Invisalign is a worthwhile option to consider. Schedule a consultation with your orthodontist to see if clear braces are the best choice for your situation.  …

Detox With A Liver Detox Diet

Maybe you have been wondering whether having a healthy liver is really vital or not. The truth is, it is really essential to have a good liver because the liver is the part that holds the important functions in the body. It becomes a need in our society nowadays to maintain the liver healthy because most of the foods now are eaten with big quantities of simulated preservatives and additives. These simulate preservatives and additives are vital because it helps to obtain the long and extensive shelf life of the good but they can really be destructive to the liver at times, especially if the amount is too much. Thus, it is a must to begin right away so that the detoxification can be both more effective and efficient at the same time.

Before you begin a detoxification diet, you need to make a checklist of your own. This checklist contains signs and symptoms that you may encounter while on the detoxification diet like asthma, low blood pressure, bloating, and high blood. In order to avoid these signs and symptoms, it is vital to watch over your body every month. By doing this, you can take a clear look at the foods and drinks that you need to keep away from and those that you can take in freely.

There is a need to get your body ready for the body detoxification at least a week before it starts. One week ahead of the detoxification diet, you must refrain from cigarette smoking and you should also refrain from taking up alcoholic drinks. Doing this is important because the storage of excess in the liver can be easily be prevented and stopped. The ultimate solution for this is to eat a balance diet wherein only fresh fruits and vegetables are required. The diet must also contain lesser amounts of foods that are rich in additives and preservatives. Consuming manufactured and non-natural foods should also be avoided.

Moreover, one very significant thing that you need to know is that many of the foods we encounter and eat everyday include lots of harmful toxins. Examples of these are pesticides, antibiotics, hormone treatments, and even artificial sweeteners. What we do not realize is that these harmful toxins can result in a lot of damage to our liver.

First and foremost, it is a must to take a good look on your body before you begin the detoxification diet. It is essential to have your body prepared for the diet because once you have started the detoxification diet, you will no longer be permitted to take up the solid foods that you are very much used to eating every single day.

Now that you know some important tips on how to prepare for your liver detoxification diet, you can now ensure that you will have an effective and efficient outcome. Just follow these simple and easy tips and you will have a healthy body and at the same time, you will experience the changes that you are ultimately searching for.…

The Benefits Of Staying Fit For Your Heart

Our heart is the most important muscle in our body. It controls the circulation of our blood making sure that all the other organs in our body are supplied with the right amount of nutrients and oxygen. If our heart has a problem, it causes a chain effect to the rest of our body. Keeping our heart healthy is as important as breathing. Getting enough exercise not only helps your looks. It also helps your heart.

Exercise can also help with other aspects in our body to make our heart work easier. We lose weight when we exercise, and when we lose weight, our heart has less strain since it has to pump blood less. When we lose weight, the bad cholesterol in our body is reduced. Bad cholesterol can build up in our arteries causing heart attacks. With exercise, the good cholesterol in our body increases and these help with protecting your heart from diseases. Constant exercise lowers our blood pressure as well. Research has shown that working out regularly helps you with getting more sleep which can help your whole body renew, including your heart.

Cardiovascular exercises are the best workout for your heart. Cardio exercises strengthens the heart and conditions the heart to do the same functions in fewer beats therefore lessening the strain on your heart. This helps with improving blood circulation too. Like most exercises, you should warm up and cool down as this aids your heart. Warming up slowly conditions your heart for the rest of the exercise reducing the stress on it while cooling down allows your heart to slowly return to its normal pace. The most common cardio exercises vary from walking, running and bike riding. Swimming is also an option as well as aerobic exercises. Certain sports can help as well like boxing and team sports like basketball and football. Some simple cardio exercises you can do are going up and down the stairs, walking from the farthest part of the parking lot to your office or to the mall.

If you have had a heart attack previously, it is important for you to start exercising to avoid it from happening again. Depending on the condition of your heart after the attack though, it would be best to consult with your doctor. Most patients are allowed to workout with a lot less stress like walking. The difficulty of the exercise can gradually increase as the heart returns to its normal condition.

Having a healthy heart is important. So many other things are affected by the condition of your heart. Unfortunately, most of the time, we only find out when it’s too late. don’t let that be you. Take action now towards making your heart healthy, and start reaping the rewards now and for the long term. And remember that it’s easier than you think. Start small, increase gradually, but most importantly, stay consistent.…

Black Seed Oil – How to Make Soap

Black Seed Oil comes from the flowering plant, Nigella Sativa, found in southwest Asia. This plant grows about twelve inches tall, has thread like leaves with delicate, pale, blue and white flowers. The large fruit of this plant contains follicles, each containing numerous seeds. These seeds are pressed into oil.

The Nigella Sativa has been used since ancient times in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, as an herb or pressed into oil. Uses included medicinal treatments for a variety of conditions including: respiratory, intestinal, kidney, liver, circulatory, and immune system health. It has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-viral, anti-cancer, and antioxidants benefits. It has been used for general well being.

This natural oil is light brown in color with an herbaceous aroma. Black seeds were, also, often used as flavoring on foods. This natural oil contains the rich benefits of vitamin C, A, B1, B2, B6, Niacin and Folacin. It also, contains a variety of minerals including: calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, selenium, copper, phosphorus, and zinc.

The impressive content of vitamins and minerals, in this oil, makes it a very a nutritive addition to skin and hair formulations. Today it is used in a variety of natural bath products and natural body products such as homemade lotion, soaps, creams, conditioners, and balms. This natural oil helps to combat psoriasis, acne, eczema, arthritis and sore muscle pain. It has a shelf life of approximately two years.

It is, also, used with massage oil blends offering aromatherapy benefits. Using an added citrus or herb fragrance, with this oil, helps to complement its aroma. Black seed oil is a very versatile, natural, oil!

If you are interested in making your own homemade skin care products, you may consider using black seed oil. This popular soap making oil has a lot of great benefits, remains a healthful choice and is versatile too!

You can learn how to make soap, at home, with a master soap maker! Find, easy, soap making instructions, soap recipes, a manual lye calculator, resources and much more in a soap making DVD package! You will learn different soap making methods and have all of the soap making information you will ever need! Knowing the right ingredients, materials, and procedures to follow is very important before making homemade soap. The benefits of making homemade soap, with natural ingredients, is well worth all of the effort! As a BONUS, you will receive a starter soap making kit, at a reduced price, with the purchase of this DVD! So get started, you can make YOUR very own homemade soap and enjoy the, healthful, benefits of black seed oil, today!…

A Basic Understanding Of The Detox Diet

Detoxification is a regular body function. There are various organs in our body like liver and intestines, the colon and others that help in eliminating toxic materials from our tissues and blood stream. However, the body can handle these unwanted substances up to a limit only. When this limit is reached, these unwanted chemicals start getting accumulated inside the body and start posing health hazards. Due to the present lifestyle, eating habits and the quality of food that we eat; detoxification of the body has become very essential for sound health.

Due to the accumulation of toxic matter inside the body, various body parts may start malfunctioning which can only be treated with the help of detox diets. Detox diet flushes out the extra chemicals and toxins that are not useful for the body and only cause trouble to the various body parts.

A detoxification diet decreases allergies, improves mental clarity, improves digestive process and it will also increase your energy and stamina. Detoxification diets do not include processed food and fried food items but fresh vegetables and fruits. You can eat all fruits in plenty except the grapes. Grapes have special enzyme that interferes with the healthy functioning of the liver.

You can eat whole lot of fresh vegetables including cauliflower, beets, artichokes, garlic, broccoli and other red and green vegetables. You can also eat seeds, nuts, beans and rice on a detox diet but corn is prohibited as this can cause allergy.

Drink as much as water as you can during the day time. The more water you would drink the better it is for the body to flush out unwanted chemicals from the system. Moreover, water keeps the skin hydrated so that it glows all the time.

You can also take the help of a professional in this regards to plan your diet and exercising schedule. After completing the course, you would be healthy and more energetic as well. Detox diet for a week can bring considerable changes to your health. Thus, try it to see the difference yourself.…

Detoxification Body Cleansing: Not Just For Weight Loss

Why should I do a detoxification body cleansing program?

Each cell’s function depends on it having the right nutrients, the right conditions and good genes. All of the cells in the body have the ability to detoxify themselves on a daily basis only if they are able to function properly. If our natural detoxification body cleansing processes are working efficiently and the load of toxins is not too high, then our good health continues.

Once the cells are free to function efficiently, your organs, glands and tissues will become healthier. This means that you can regain lost health, prevent future health problems and have a vibrant, energized, balanced body. You can even slow down the aging process among many other wonderful, healthy benefits.

How do toxins enter the body?

Everything about our environment has changed radically in the last 70 years. We are exposed to a wide variety of new substances every day. Some of the following examples are obvious, but some are not. External toxins like smoking, sick buildings, chemical residues on food, tattoos, flu shots, computer monitors, televisions, microwaves, radio and satellite transmissions are all examples of how inhalation, ingestion, absorption and irradiation of toxins affect us on a daily basis. Internal toxins are produced from common problems in the digestive system, normal metabolic processes and stressful thoughts and emotions.

What are some of the conditions that have been linked to toxicity?

Some of the conditions that have been linked to toxicity are dementia, Parkinson’s disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, cancer and autoimmune diseases, food allergies, decreased fertility, birth defects and reduced IQ. While it is unrealistic to expect to find a single cause for a complex or chronic illness, many medical professionals believe that there are relatively few causes or imbalances underlying in most diseases. They have agreed that the main imbalances are the presence of toxicity and the deficiencies of essential nutrients.

What are the symptoms of toxicity?

A few symptoms associated with an under-functioning detoxification body cleansing process are premature aging, fatigue, allergies, poor memory, acne and other skin conditions, mood swings and depression, erratic blood sugar control, difficulty losing weight or easily gaining weight. None of these are things we look forward to, but we can help reverse the process by following a detoxification body cleansing program.

How does the body detox?

A number of organs work together to maintain the body balance. The lymphatic system, skin and lungs play a supportive role while the main organs of detoxification body cleansing are the liver, kidneys and intestines. A detoxification body cleansing program will show you a path to successful detoxification.

Know your reasons why to detox. Believe you can do it. Plan to succeed. Don’t beat yourself up. Stay motivated. A detoxification body cleansing program can help you reach your ultimate goal.…