December 5th, 2009 at 2:09 pm

 Hello & Happy Holidays! I am very sorry this is late but I have been struggling with a severe respiratory infection all week and I do also apologize for being inaccessible but I have no voice so it's been difficult to communicate with my service...etc....

 

Frankly I am still under the weather so please call before you come in this week just to make sure I am there.

 

Two very important announcements:

 

#1: The office will be closed from 12/21-and reopen on Tuesday 12/29...I will be open normal hours on Tuesday the 29th, and Wednesday the 30th.  Please make arrangements for supplement pick up around the holiday schedule.

 

#2: I will be changing my hours in January to 12:00 noon to 6PM on Tuesdays/Wednesdays and Thursdays and from 9AM to noon on Friday and Saturdays.  I am also going to use the answering service for appointment calls only, I believe, and you will be able to leave me confidential voicemails regarding orders etc, you will have to call a different telephone number to schedule appointments 24 hours daily or you can schedule yourself online.  The voicemail line will let callers know of my schedule, etc and how to reach me directly in cases of extreme urgency.  I have not worked out all the details yet but am in process of doing so.  I am listening to your comments and effecting change based on your feedback, thank you.

 

This weeks topic is one reason people don't heal, adreanl fatigue.

 

I am constantly amazed at how little the typical person understands the healing process which will be an upcoming blog topic...

 

Healing takes ENERGY....and some people lack energy to heal.  In severe cases, adrenal exhaustion may be a factor.

 

Adrenal exhaustion can occur when there is a longterm chronic response to stress whreby levels of cortisol exhaust the output of adrenalin by the adrenal glands.

 

If stress and the body's response to it remains too high, cortisol output decreases dramatically leading to adrenal fatigue and then ultimately to adrenal exhaustion.

 

Once cortisol runs low, all other hormones become imbalanced, these are: thyroid, DHEA, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, HGH and insulin.

 

DHEA which forms from progesterone is then produced in lower amounts.  DHEA is responsible for balancing the other hormones in one's body.  Low DHEA levels cause symptoms like fatigue, loss of strength, low muscle mass or loss of muscle mass, skin changes, depression, aching joints low libido and impaired immune function. 

 

Prolonged stress also affects levels of serotonin which affects appetite, and mood.

 

Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency and exhaustion are:

 

Mood swings: anxiety/depression

Extreme fatigue

Reduction in stress tolerance IE agitation short fuse

Insomnia or restless sleep

Body Aches

Weight gain especially around abdomen

Cravings for sweet and salty foods

Chemical sensitivities

Increased susceptibilty to infection

Increased allergies

Digestive problems

Slow recovery times from cuts, medical conditions. or infections.

 

I believe adrenal insufficiency or exhaustion plays a role in almost 25% of the population I serve because there is usually a digestive nutritional or emotional disorder which has caused chronic stress both physical and emotional.  If you feel that your adrenals need to be checked out please call to make an appointment to access the health status of your adrenals and your body's ability to handle stress.

 

While always important this time of year it becomes critical in your quest for health improvements.

 

Holiday Cheer to all.  December's newly designed site will be posted this weekend with any luck at all.  Thanks

 

Taryn DeCicco, ND, LDN, LAc

Apple-A-Day-Clinic.COM

847-577-4455

56

November 25th, 2009 at 11:53 am

Happy Thanksgiving to All!  This week's topic is how can we delay the aging process.

I know of several ways two of them are boring, two of them maybe not so.  Recent studies show that vigorous exercise delays biologic aging as much as 12 years!!!  I know a trainer at my health club who is over 60 and could be guessed at 40!!! I am NOT kidding, nor am I naming names!

 

Increased oxygen consumption, muscle mass, basal metabolic rates and bone density are but a few benefits...add to that stress reduction, and you can see powerful this intervention can be.

 

The second tactic...not necessarily in order of importance is calorie restriction.  Research has shown that a nutrient dense low calorie diet extends youth in lab animals for at least 30 years.  The key to this intervention is to keep weight extremely low and to make certain that almost all foods consumed are nutrient dense IE fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Again, if you think of this logically, just pick up a 5 # weight and lug it around for an hour. You'll begin to see how quickly excess weight wears your body out.  Avoiding toxic foods and meeting your nutritional needs through foods is fundamental to your body's optimal function and repair.  The key is body fat has to be extremely low...12% men and 18% women or even less....this reduces oxidative stress in the body...the same process that causes metal to rust.

 

Antioxidant therapy can operate in the same fashion but must be tailored to the person as too many antioxidants can actually cause oxidative stress...so again, as is typical with Mother Nature...more is not necessarily better!

 

Lastly, bio-identical hormone therapy has been shown to be beneficial for many people and does not appear to cause the same side effects of conventional hormone therapy. There are probably two major reasons for this: the therapy is tailored to the individual via testing, of their hormone levels over time and second, the source of the hormones is plant versus animal and functions like their own hormone with respect to the receptors but is not the same.

 

Should you wish to discuss any of these interventions please call and schedule an appointment with my service 24 hours a day or online at www.Applle-A-Day-Clinic.COM

 

I will be in Friday and Saturday normal hours!

 

See you then.

 

 

Taryn DeCicco, ND

Apple-A-Day-Clinic.COM

45

Add Your Comment   3 Comments

November 18th, 2009 at 6:44 pm

Hello everyone....Just a quick heads up to let you know that November's Nutrition News has been posted in the Newsletter Portal of the website, amongst interesting tidbits about purple foods, cancer screening, and the lowly appendix, is an article about what your aches and pains are trying to tell you.

 

I will begin offering a micronutrient panel at my office shortly it is very reasonably priced and furnishes great information about one's individual nutrient needs. We'll be posting my results sometime soon.  I do plan to send out via E and snail mail information so if you have moved please call or email me updated information so you won't miss out.

 

Thanks, have a great week.  I will only be open in the early morning on Wednesday of next week and closed of course on Thanksgiving otherwise no changes in hours next week.

 

Have a GREAT week!

 

Taryn DeCicco, ND, CCN, LDN, LAc

62

November 10th, 2009 at 2:12 pm

Please check out our upcoming topics , Music in November's Meditation Room, and look for Nutrition News next Tuesday. 

 

So when's the best time to exercise...the new answer may surprise you.  Despite the general belief that it is important to exercise on an empty stomach, the truth is the very reverse especially if you want to lose weight.

 

Exercise boosts hormones that suppress appetite and therefore you will eat less when you next sit down for a meal.  Many of my clients and patients report lessened appetite after starting an exercise regimen.

 

So what happens if you exercise after a meal versus before?  Well, according to researchers at Surrey University and reported in the Journal of Endocrinology, those subjects who exercised after eating burned three times more calories as the control group even though they consumed MORE at their next meal, their overall caloric loss was more and they lost more weight.

 

The subjects also reported that they didn't feel as hungry when it came to mealtimes.  This could be because of hormones such as: PYY, GLP-1, and PP which signal the brain that the stomachis full and increase immediately after exercise.

 

I learned this personally awhile ago.  Accidently, I changed my schedule and began eating before I went to the gym instead of later in order to eat earlier.  I have seen tremendous gains in my metabolism and fat loss in that time span.

 

Like anything, though...it requires commitment and is no quick fix.

 

Best, & Blessings

 

Your comments or questions are welcomed! 

 

 

 

Taryn DeCicco, ND  847-577-4455

56

October 1st, 2009 at 10:57 am

A new study from John Hopkins School of Medicine now links a diarrheal causing bacteria to one type of colon cancer.

 

In a study conducted on mice, the bacteria: Bacteroides Fragilis was identified as possibly setting the stage for malignancy in the colon.

 

The bacteria seems to trick immune cells into allowing colon tissue to be continuously inflamed eventually setting the stage for colon cancer.  Dr Cynthia Sears director of the study stated that this could be the H Pylori of the colon.  H. Pylori is the bacterium known to cause stomach ulcers and a majority of stomach cancers.

 

Bacteria that cause diarrheal illness have been linked to 40% of colon cancers in a turkish study.  Some people experience no symptoms at all while others may experience diarrheal illness and colon inflammation.

 

This information was reported in September 2009.

 

My notes on topic are that colon bacterial imbalances seem to be far more important than anyone realizes.  Microscopic investigation of stool and balancing the ecology of the gut always makes a great positive impact on health, in my 13 years of testing.

 

It stands to reason that bacteria can and do cause inflammation, I am fairly certain that this process will not be found to be limited to only one type of bacteria.

 

I am also certain that as science progresses bacterial infection will be found to have much to do with many degenerative diseases.

 

It you are interested in your gut ecology, a simple stool test by Genova Diagnostics is quite revealing and costs only $145.  This is a forum so I welcome your questions or comments

 

Have a great week!

 

 

Taryn DeCicco, ND, CCN, LAc

Apple-A-Day-Clinic Weekly Health Forum

86

Add Your Comment   2 Comments

September 22nd, 2009 at 9:25 pm

This weeks topic is who really needs a flu shot.  Since spring and early summer, the government and drug companies have been ramping up a vaccine against swine flu....question is who really needs it?

 

This year not surprisingly, health experts have new recommendations on who should get a flu vaccination.  Health officials are saying YUP, no exceptions....EVERYONE NEEDS a Flu vaccination.  What's up with that?   Well for one, there is a huge quantity of vaccine on hand....and I guess the government just doesn't want to waste any more of it's taxpayer money.

 

Flu season is always a guessing game whereupon governements and drug companies must predict which flu will be most prevalent and how much vaccine to have on hand in order to stave off potential pandemics.

 

Outside the U.S., where vaccines are not as plentiful, healthcare workers and young children are given priority.

 

With respect to actual virology reports of the Swine Flu, the facts are: the worst impact of the virun is on people with other chronic health problems such as: asthma, diabetes, cancer and AIDS/HIV, anemia, kidney disease, or are on immune suppressive drugs due to an organ transplant for instance..  Pregnant women, the elderly, 65+, and overweight people seem also to be more susceptible to this virus.

 

Because the flu virus is grown inside eggs, people with egg allergies should not receive a flu shot.

 

If you are a caregiver to young children or an elderly relative,or other high risk individual, it is sometimes recommended to have a flu shot in order to protect them.

 

In terms of actual illness, the H1N1 virus has proven to be much less deadly than feared. Also, the actual vaccine available may not do much or anything with regard to the current strain of virus. ALso, another flu may turn out to be more problematic than the swine flu.

 

I certainly do not believe everone needs a flu shot. Certainly,  high risk individuals should discuss the pros and cons with their healthcare providers.  People living in nursing homes or college campuses in marginal health may be good candidates as may high risk pregnant women, and certainly immune compromised people and those with underlying chronic illness who could die from the flu virus.

 

I think the rest of us will do fine by taking care of ourselves, and our immune systems.

Please call or stop in should you wish to discuss ways to boost your immune system.

 

Life is complicated enough...without complications.

 

Best, Taryn DeCicco, ND, CCN, LDN, MS, LAc

Certified: naturopath, nutritionist, and acupuncturist

847-577-4455

 

Next week we'll discuss new information regarding the second most common form of cancer in the United States...See you next week.

91

September 16th, 2009 at 4:47 pm

Hello everyone....just a quick note to let you know September's Nutrition News has been posted in the Newsletter Portal with some great information and tips about your health, the environment and information of new Nutritional Tests which I will soon be offering at Apple-A-Day-Clinic. 

 

See you Soon!

 

Taryn DeCicco, ND, CCN, LAC

9/16/09

91

September 12th, 2009 at 3:28 pm

Hello!  After a long rest, I have published September's Website with updoming articles activities, new testimonials and music a cover this month!  Here is an article updating cellphone safety.  Next week on Tuesday with a brand new nutriition newsletter and article on state of the art testing!  See you soon!  

 

Taryn DeCicco, ND

 

 

   EWG reports that cellphone radiation varies widely!

 

While scientific evidence has not made a hard link between cellphone usage and cancer, recent studies are showing an increased risk of brain and mouth tumors in people who have used cellphones for at least 10 years.

 

CTIA the cellphone lobbying organization disagrees strenuously!

 

Still, 6 other countries have limited cellphone usage, especially for children.

 

The FCC has required that radiation emitted from all cellphones be at 1.6 w/kg or lower.

 

There is a huge disparity in radiation emitted from each cell phone.

 

Watchdog organization the Environmental Working Group released a list ranking cell phones with respect to the radiation emitted.

 

To see how your phone fares visit: http://www.ewg.org/cellphone-radiation

 

 

Regards & see you next week:

 

Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, CCN

81

July 15th, 2009 at 4:22 pm

Hello, I have just published the Website with promotions for the next few weeks, and announcing a great deal which is our community walk in clinic with very low cost nutrition and acupuncture visits.  Hope you will visit!!!

As always, I do offer absolutely FREE consultations to any new or existing patients no appointment needed, anytime!!!

 

This week we are going to discuss the best GREEN cleaning products.  These were announced by Good Housekeeping magazine after rigorous competition and testing.

 

For any product to be considered, "GREEN" it must be biodegradable, phosphate and chlorine free and derive its ingredients from plants rather than chemicals or petrolchemicals. 

 

Good Housekeeping found "winners" in three categories: Laundry detergent, dish detergents and all-purpose cleaners.

 

 

And the winners are:

 

Laundry Detergent:  Arm & Hammer Essentials 2X's concentrated which removed difficult stains like pen and blood. Runner up was Purex Natural Elements.

 

Dish Detergents:  Baked on difficult food residues were tested.  Planet Ultra dishwashing detergent was the standout.

 

All purpose cleaners were tested with grease and dust applied to appliance enamel, painted walls and laminate surfaces.

 

Winner?  Sun & Earth All Purpose, with Green Works all natural cleaner by Chlorox a close second.

 

 

Hope you'll try some of these out at home!

 

Best of Health and Hope to see you soon.

 

 

Taryn

64