The Effects of Sugar on Your Brain

Have you ever wondered why you can eat one taste of a sweet, and all the sudden, you need more? In this video, Nicole AVena does a great job of showing you why.

When you eat something loaded with sugar, your taste buds, your gut and your brain all take notice. This activation of your reward system is not unlike how bodies process addictive substances such as alcohol or nicotine -- an overload of sugar spikes dopamine levels and leaves you craving more.


You can start today by taking these simple steps to minimize your sugar intake (listed in order of importance):

1. Soft drinks: Sugar-sweetened and Artificially sweetened beverages are simply not good for you and should be avoided.
2. Fruit juices: This may surprise you, but fruit juices are high in sugars, sometimes as much as a soft drink! Dilute juices with water when drinking them.
3. Candies and sweets
4. Baked goods: Cookies, cakes, etc. These tend to be very high in sugar and refined carbohydrates.
5. Fruits canned in syrup: Choose fresh fruits instead.
6. Low-Fat or Diet Foods: Foods that have had the fat removed from them are often very high in sugar.
7. Dried fruits: Avoid dried fruits as much as possible.
8. Drink water instead of soda or juices and don’t add sugar to your coffee or tea. Instead of sugar in recipes, you can try things like stevia, cinnamon, nutmeg, almond extract, vanilla, ginger or lemon.

You can eat an endless variety of amazing foods without increasing your sugar intake.

Weight Loss Series - Step 1: Understand the Problem

Understanding The Problem

The first step to understanding how to lose weight begins with understanding the problem. One of the challenges with long term weight concerns is Syndrome X or Metabolic Syndrome. Syndrome X. It is the existence of at least two of the following:

• Central Obesity. Here we are referring to that weight gain around the middle. This is the most dangerous place to gain and carry weight as it has been determined to cause heart problems and predisposes us to diabetes.
• Insulin Resistance
• High Cholesterol
• High Blood Pressure

We call this Syndrome X because these issues are linked together. For example if you have central weight gain, you are most likely pre-diabetic.

In 2005, people with diabetes were estimated to account for 7% of the US population, or approximately 20.8 million people.3 Of these 20.8 million people, 14.6 million have a diagnosis of diabetes, and diabetes is undiagnosed in another 6.2 million. Approximately 5-10% have type 1 diabetes, 90-95% have type 2 diabetes, and 1-5% have other types. Additionally, an estimated 54 million people have pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes, as defined by the American Diabetes Association, is that state in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. It is presumed that most persons with elevated glucose levels approaching the level needed for the diagnosis of diabetes will subsequently progress to diabetes.

Where are we  headed?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said that because of this  epidemic our current generation is the first one in history predicted to have a shorter life expectancy than the previous generation.This is true! And scary! But what can be done? Help is available with sound proven, medically supervised protocols. 

For more information contact Advanced Health Clinic

Hormone Pellet Therapy for Fatigue in Utah

Hormone Pellet Therapy for Fatigue in Utah

The hormone imbalances women and men experience at the onset of perimenopause, menopause and andropause can cause many unwanted side effects, including fatigue. A drop in hormone levels can cause disruption in sleep that leads to feeling tired and irritable during the day.

The fatigue may come on gradually or suddenly; fatigue can be vague and caused by many things. In

women, there is a link between early menopause and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), according to a recent study. Women are two to four times more likely to have CFS than men, and the condition is most common among women in their 40s, according to researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Other conditions, including adrenal fatigue and low testosterone, can cause fatigue. Adrenal fatigue is a condition in which the adrenal glands function, but not well enough to maintain optimal hormone levels. In this condition, capacity in the adrenal glands has been diminished, usually by overstimulation that can be caused by a single intense stress or by chronic stress that has a cumulative effect.

However, hormone pellet therapy for fatigue can optimize hormone levels in women and men and help ward off conditions like CFS. Imagine experiencing deeper, uninterrupted sleep that eliminates feelings of fatigue during the day.

What is Hormone Pellet Therapy for Fatigue?

BioTE® hormone pellet therapy is a treatment designed to combat hormonal imbalance that can lead to fatigue. Many people with this condition don’t realize that the cause of their fatigue is hormonal. But if it’s difficult to get out of bed in the morning and you’re consuming caffeinated beverages and other stimulants just to get through the day, it may be the result of a hormone imbalance.

What if you could optimize your hormone levels using bioidentical hormones? BioTE® hormone pellet therapy can optimize the levels of hormones that have dropped to eliminate fatigue and exhaustion. Once the hormones are balanced, men and women tend to sleep better and feel refreshed and like themselves during the day.

How Does Hormone Pellet Therapy for Fatigue Work?

Hormone pellet therapy contains estrogen and testosterone that are derived from natural plant sources

to replicate the body’s normal hormone levels. Implants of these hormones that are placed under the skin consistently release small doses of hormones that have a therapeutic effect.

Unlike typical oral, transdermal and injection forms of therapy — which produce “roller coaster” hormone levels that go up and down, resulting in mood and energy fluctuations — BioTE® hormone pellet therapy provides sustained hormone levels throughout the day for up to three to five months.

Request Hormone Pellet Therapy for Fatigue Today

Hormone pellet therapy is a safe and effective treatment that has been in use for decades. Request more information about BioTE® hormone pellet therapy today: Call (801) 447-8680 or contact Martha L. Bray online at Advanced Health Clinic

7 Steps to Healthy Hormones - Step 3: Supplement With Adaptogen Herbs

Healthy Hormonal Balance requires Healthy LifeStyle choices. We have been talking about the 7 Simple Steps to Healthy HormonalBalance. This blog we are on Step 3: Supplementing with Adaptogenic Herbs.

Adaptogens are a unique class of healing plants that promote hormone balance and protect

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the body from a wide variety of diseases.

In addition to boosting immune function and combating stress, research has shown that adaptogen herbs enhance hormone balance by:

·        Improving thyroid function

·        Lowering cholesterol

·        Reducing anxiety and depression

·        Reducing brain cell degeneration

·        Stabilizing blood sugar

·        Supporting adrenal glands

Scientists in the former USSR laid the groundwork for adaptogenic research, publishing more than 1,000 studies on the herbs during the 1960s and ’70s.

3 Properties of an Adaptogenic Herb: 

1. It’s nontoxic, meaning it’s safe for everyone. 
2. Its benefits are nonspecific, meaning it improves the entire body’s resistance to stress, not just one particular system or organ.
3. It balances bodily functions, regardless of where the disruption may originate.

 In other words, an adaptogen works like a tuning fork on your body: It helps bring your system back into harmony after a day of discord. This is why Adaptogenic herbs are so powerful in bringing the body back into a healthy hormonal balance.

7 Steps to Healthy Hormones - Step 1: LifeStyle

STEP 1: LIFESTYLE

Take inventory of your lifestyle to find out whether poor eating habits, lack of exercise, lack of sleep, your environment or stress may be affecting your hormone balance. Make a list of things you can change that will have a positive impact on your health. Pick one thing from the list and write down the steps you would need to take to make that change. 

In Dr. Christiane Northrup's Hormone-Balancing Food Plan, she asks patients to eliminate refined carbohydrates, such as sugar, white rice, bread, alcohol, and foods made with white flour, such as muffins, bagels, pasta, pretzels and other snack foods. 

If you reintroduce a certain food, do it one at a time, journal your symptoms, and see if you should stay away from that food permanently.

Endocrine Disruptors:

Your environment can also be the boogie man there to rob you of healthy hormonal function. Endocrine disruptors are the hidden toxins that are ruining everyone’s health. In men, endocrine disruptors enlarge breasts, reduce sperm count and increase the chance of prostate cancer. In women, they affect pap smears, encourage early onset of puberty and increase the chance of breast cancer.

In both sexes, they slow down the thyroid.

Endocrine disruptors are common in many traditional building supplies and environments, including polyvinyl flooring and wall coverings, wall-to-wall carpeting (a carcinogen magnet), high VOC paints, stains and sealants, and poor indoor air quality as a result of insufficient ventilation. 

Xenoestrogens are another invisible culprit; they hijack your natural hormones and have reproductive and developmental consequences. In a typical day, we are exposed to more than 700; in toothpaste, deodorant, sunscreen, food preservatives, the lining of cans that hold food, and many kinds of plastic.

You can start making positive changes to your lifestyle now. We have made it easy. Visit with our LifeStyle Educator to learn how you can make positive LifeStyle changes that will improve your hormonal health.

Take that first step!

Positive change happen one step at a time.

Schedule a visit with our LifeStyle Educator to set goals

and work on Healthy LifeStyle habits.

7 Steps to Healthy Hormones

If you’re just beginning the journey to optimal health, naturally balancing your hormones can seem like a daunting and confusing road to travel. Just take it one step at a time! I will be posting about some simple steps that  can help set you on the path to optimal hormonal health. But first of all, let's talk about what hormones do.

WHAT ARE HORMONES?

One of my colleagues gave this great description in explaining hormones. She refers to the three main hormones for women “Charlie’s Angels” – they are cortisol, thyroid and estrogen. Men have got the “Three Amigos” – cortisol, thyroid and testosterone. These hormones regulate metabolism, sleep cycle, energy levels, mood and sex drive. 

Think of them as a well-connected family that works together to manage all the important processes within the body. When they don’t work together well, it is as damaging as a dysfunctional family.

Hormones, such as estrogen and insulin, are chemical messengers that affect many aspects of your health as they travel in your bloodstream throughout your entire body.  Organs and glands like your thyroid, adrenals, pituitary, ovaries, testicles and pancreas regulate most of your hormone production and if your hormones become even slightly imbalanced it can cause major health issues.

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF HORMONAL IMBALANCES:

·                                        Infertility

·                                        Weight gain

·                                        Depression

·                                        Fatigue

·                                        Insomnia

·                                        Low libido

·                                        Hair loss and hair thinning

Unfortunately, modern medicine has taught doctors to throw a prescription at these problems and leave it at that. Learn to take responsibility for your own health. That is the first step towards making lasting changes to your hormonal health. Be educated, be informed. Put yourself in the driver’s seat of your own health and engage informed practitioners who will support your health goals. Know what your part is and what part you need help with. Then partner with trusted practitioner's who will work with you in supporting your goals for Healthy Hormonal Balance.

Winning At Weight Loss

WINNING AT WEIGHT LOSS

MARTHA'S VIBRANT LIFESTYLE PLAN

  

We want to help you discover "a whole new you," by losing weight and feeling great - creating greater health than you have known!

Read on to find out how we can help you!

Martha's LifeStyle Plan is based on a medically designed protocols that results in fat loss while sparing muscle mass. The protocols Holistic Nurse Practitioner, Martha Bray uses, are based on experts who have focused their

careers and research on nutrition with a particular emphasis on the treatment of obesity and obesity related issues such as: 

• Type II Diabetes
• High Cholesterol
• High Blood Pressure
• Sleep Apnea
• Acid Reflux

 Achieve better health through weight loss - NOW!

WHEN: TONIGHT, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3 - 6:30 P.M.

WORKSHOP FEE: $ 25

CALL NOW TO REGISTER: 801-447-8680

The Source of Most Weight Issues

According to Dr. Tran Tien, “The cause of most weight issues in a modern society is insulin dysfunction. A diet grossly disproportionate in its share of saturated fats and sugars, such as in breads, cereals, muffins, cakes, pastries, pasta, pizza, rice, corn - very much like the North American diet - causes the pancreas to produce an overabundance of insulin, which stays in the system and puts the blood sugar level in a negative balance.” 

An overproduction of insulin also leads to hypoglycemia or low glycemia, which in turn induces constant sugar cravings and weight gain. Insulin’s primary function is to regulate blood sugar levels however it is also the hormone that facilitates the transport of fat (triglycerides) into the fat cells. Even worse, it "locks" the fat in the fat cell, preventing it to be used as a source of energy.  Now, because the blood sugar has dropped (and we can’t access the fat as a fuel source) it creates "sugar cravings' and the vicious cycle begins again.  In other words, an over abundance of insulin causes weight gain.

With the protocol's I implement with my clients, they will transform the body's ability to digest sugars properly by regulating insulin levels. How? By giving the pancreas a well-deserved break and by limiting simple and complex carbs until the weight loss goal is achieved.

The 5 Early Warning Signs of Metabolic Syndrome

The 5 Early Warning Signs of Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a critical turning point for your health. This cluster of conditions includes any 3 of the following: central obesity (“apple” body), low HDL “good” cholesterol, and/or high blood pressure, blood sugar, or triglycerides. A diagnosis of metabolic syndrome is a red flag that you’re more likely to develop type 2 diabetes or heart disease—or both. At this crucial point, healthcare providers often recommend lifestyle changes (healthy eating, exercise, stress management, nutritional and medical food support) to help manage or reverse metabolic syndrome and the risk to more serious diseases.
You can also reduce your risk to metabolic syndrome. There’s no need to wait for a metabolic syndrome diagnosis to take action. Simply pay attention to the warning signs. Any single risk factor above—especially belly fat—is an obvious signal that you could be on your way to metabolic syndrome. But there are also 5 other early warnings that may mean you're at greater risk:

1.    Do you crave or eat a lot of carbohydrates (fast foods, sugary treats)?

2.    Do you get little exercise?

3.    Have you noticed a progressive weight gain (“spare tire”)?

4.    Do you have a family history of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or early heart disease?

5.    Have you experienced a decline in energy or increased stress?

It’s never too early to protect your future health. Set up an appointment today so we can discuss how you can reduce your risk to chronic illnesses or come to my workshop the first Thursday of the Month at 6:30 p.m. Call to register today: 801-447-8680