FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO HEART HEALTH

by Fred Harvey, MD

Heart health is of paramount importance for overall well-being and longevity. As a functional medicine physician, I focus on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease, rather than simply treating symptoms. When it comes to heart health, several key areas are crucial to focus on to maintain strong heart function and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. First and foremost, it’s essential to consume a healthy diet rich in whole, nutrient-dense foods. This means incorporating plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and healthy fats, while limiting processed foods, refined sugars and saturated fats. A diet high in fiber, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids is particularly beneficial for heart health.

Regular physical activity is also crucial for a healthy heart. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week, such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming. In addition to improving cardiovascular fitness, regular exercise can also help control weight, lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels.

Stress management is another essential component of heart health. Chronic stress can lead to high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Stress-reducing activities such as yoga, meditation or deep breathing can help to lower stress levels and, ultimately, protect the heart.

It’s also important to have regular check-ups with your healthcare provider to monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, as well as to discuss any other risk factors you might have for cardiovascular disease. I say this all the time as well: please quit smoking and limit your alcohol consumption.

In addition to these lifestyle changes, certain supplements can be beneficial for heart health as well. For example, I personally take OmegAvail Hi-Po fish oil and CoQnol 100, which can help to improve cholesterol levels and lower inflammation in the body.

Another powerful intervention that can help to reverse heart disease is chelation therapy. Many people suffer from cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death globally. Fortunately, heart disease is preventable and reversible, but many people are not aware of this. Chelation therapy is an intravenous treatment used for the last 50 years to treat cardiovascular disease. It helps rejuvenate the linings of blood vessels and removes toxic metals in order to improve your overall health.

A 2013 study showed that chelation therapy had a significant impact on people who suffered a previous heart attack, resulting in a 20 percent reduction in overall mortality five years after treatment. The results are even more impressive for those with diabetes after a heart attack, with a 50 percent reduction in the risk of another heart attack, the need for bypass surgery or stenting, and overall mortality after 40 treatments. These effects can last four to five years.

At Functional Medicine Florida, we offer chelation therapy, as it has been proven to be powerful for those with cardiovascular disease, angina, heart attack, peripheral vascular disease, stroke or vascular dementia. It can also improve cognitive function and memory. If you have one or more of these conditions, you might be a candidate for chelation therapy.

In conclusion, as a functional medicine physician, I believe that a holistic approach to heart health is essential for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Focus on a healthy diet, consistent physical activity, stress management, and regular check-ups with your healthcare provider. Quit smoking, limit alcohol consumption, take the right supplements and consider chelation therapy as well. By taking these proactive steps, you can better protect your heart and improve your overall well-being.

If you’re looking to improve your health and well-being, consider functional medicine. Functional Medicine Florida, led by Dr. Fred Harvey, can help you find the root cause of your health issues and create a personalized plan to improve your health. For more information, call the office at 941-929-9355 or visit FunctionalMedicineFlorida.com. To shop for supplements, visit HealthyStepsStore.com.

news briefs

Quantum Healing with the Biofeedback L.I.F.E. System

The Healing Room is offering Biofeedback-Bioresonance sessions with the L.I.F.E System, in addition to all of our other services. Owner Beata Molnar previously made biofeedback evaluations available with a voice recognition device which showed clients list of panels to identify health, emotional, spiritual and mental issues.

The L.I.F.E. System, however, not only identifies imbalances, but also offers correcting and harmonizing energy to create wellness and stress reduction. This system is CE-certified as a Class 2A medical instrument.

This quantum technology works in the subtle energy field where it helps reduce stress and promotes balance of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual energy bodies with the help of over 14,000 frequencies, including RIFE, meridian and homeopathic frequencies.

It also finds stress patterns in the body on organs, bones, muscles, hormones, emotional states, viruses, bacteria, food related sensitivities, diseases, allergies, genetics, aging, nutritional information, toxicities and so much more.

The L.I.F.E System can stimulate the body’s own healing mechanisms. It scans and harmonizes the body’s stresses and imbalances energetically in a non-invasive way. This quantum bioresonance device both sends and receives signals and measures the changes these signals make to see how the balancing session progresses with each client.

In other words, it can detect and repair energetic aberrations. The client’s biofeedback response is measured to nearly 7,000 individual frequency signals in 39 health categories. These sessions can take place in-person or virtually. Sessions are 90 minutes long. The Healing Room still offers Energy Healing, PEMF therapy, Red Light therapy, Sound Healing and Rife Sessions with Plasma as well. We are located in Sarasota near Bee Ridge.

Location: Aaron Ct., Sarasota. For more information, call 941-586-9539 or follow The Healing Room at Facebook.com/CreateBalanceAndHealing. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an antioxidant that your body produces naturally, however levels of CoQ10 in your body decreases as you age. Also, CoQ10 levels get affected when taking cholesterol lowering agents such as statins. CoQ10 has potential benefits that include protecting against free radicals, helping fight fatigue, enhancing the immune and nervous system, protecting against free radicals, helping with bleeding gums/gingivitis, it contains antioxidants, and may improve heart function.

Nutritional tip- when taking CoQ10 it should be natural CoQ10 chewable and dissolve in cheeks (buccal absorption) where the absorption is 300% greater than swallowing a capsule.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diagnose. For more information on CoQ10, call 941-5548623, visit The Natural Apothecary Shoppe at 6608 Gateway Ave., Sarasota or TheNaturalApothecaryShoppe.com or follow us on Facebook at Natural Apothecary Shoppe.

Chronic Fatigue Hormonal Imbalances Autoimmune Disorders Digestive Disorders Cardiovascular Disease Neurological Disorders Metabolic Disorders Mental Health Disorders

At Functional Medicine Florida, we are committed to helping you reach your best health by identifying your illness’s underlying causes. Call us and start enjoying life! CALL 941.929.9355

3982 Bee Ridge Road, Suite J | Sarasota, FL 34233 941.929.9355 | functionalmedicineflorida.com

Add maternal mental health benefits to the well-documented physical advantages that breastfeeding offers to moms and their infants. A systematic review published in the Journal of Women’s Health found that breastfeeding was associated with overall improved maternal mental health outcomes. A majority of the studies concluded that breastfeeding was connected to fewer mental health symptoms. Thirty-six of the 55 articles reported significant relationships between breastfeeding and reduced symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety. Notably, when breastfeeding challenges arose or when the actual experience of breastfeeding didn’t meet expectations, five studies reported negative mental health symptoms. The researchers suggest that breastfeeding may have protective effects on mental health due to the release of oxytocin—also known as the love hormone—which is associated with decreased maternal stress levels and anxiety. This suggests that breastfeeding may have immediate, short-term effects on maternal mood. Further research is needed to help provide better personalized breastfeeding and mental health counseling to moms.

Zinc for Colds and Flu

A study published in BMJ Open evaluated the use of zinc for the prevention or treatment of acute viral respiratory tract infections (RTI) in adults. As a treatment for colds and flu, zinc reduced symptoms by two days, compared to the placebo. The researchers surmised that of 100 people with upper respiratory infections, 19 of them recovered by day seven as a result of the zinc treatment. Symptom severity appeared to be lower for those treated with zinc—with improvements seen by day three. Those taking zinc experienced an 87 percent lower risk of developing severe symptoms.

In terms of the prevention of colds and flu-like illness, taking zinc was found to have a modest effect compared to the placebo, with one out of 20 infections prevented. Preventive effects were most significant in reducing severe symptoms. Overall, there was evidence suggesting zinc might prevent RTI symptoms and shorten its duration. Researchers were unable to clearly ascertain the efficacy of different dosages and delivery (oral or nasal spray).

Weighted Blanket for Better Sleep

Weighted blankets may be a non-drug option to help ease conditions like insomnia and anxiety by allowing the body to release more melatonin (a hormone that promotes sleep) at bedtime. In a new study published in the Journal of Sleep Research, researchers from Uppsala University in Sweden measured the amount of melatonin, oxytocin and cortisol in the saliva of subjects after sleeping with either a light blanket or a weighted blanket. They found that using a weighted blanket helped naturally increase production of melatonin by 32 percent. There were no significant changes in the levels of oxytocin, cortisol or sympathetic nervous system activity.

Wellness is the complete integration of body, mind and spirit—the realization that everything we do, think, feel and believe has an effect on our state of well-being. ~Greg Anderson

Marina Lohrbach/ShutterStock.com Herbal Toothpaste Deemed Safe and Effective

Toothpaste containing certain plant-derived extracts was found to be effective in the prevention or treatment of gingivitis and early-stage periodontitis, according to a study published in Dentistry Journal. The authors noted that people should still get regular, in-depth cleanings and treatments to maintain oral hygiene, and that antibacterial herbal extracts have safer toxicity profiles for human use.

In the double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, patients with a previous diagnosis of gingivitis or initial stages of periodontitis were given an experimental toothpaste or the control toothpaste for a 60-day trial period, during which time they brushed twice daily. The experimental toothpaste contained chemical components and extracts of German chamomile, sage, arnica and echinacea. The control toothpaste contained only chemical active ingredients.

The herbs used in the study showed positive anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic and antibacterial actions. Patients in the experimental group experienced diminished bleeding of the gums and teeth whitening. The indices of gingivitis, general oral hygiene, plaque, tartar buildup and mild periodontitis decreased in both groups over the trial period. While both toothpastes eliminated several bacterial periodontal pathogens, the experimental one was more efficient against several of them.

Put On a Happy Face

According to a new study led by Stanford University and published in Nature Human Behaviour, positioning our facial muscles into a smile can actually cause us to feel happier. Researchers collected data from 3,878 participants across 19 countries, using three techniques: n Mimicking facial expressions of actors seen in photos n Moving the corners of their mouths to their cheeks using only their facial muscles n Using the “pen-in-mouth” tech nique, which moves facial muscles in a simulated smile shape The study found a noticeable increase in feelings of happiness from people that mimicked smiling photographs or pulled their mouth toward their ears.

• Non-Toxic, Clean Beauty • Our Color is Ammonia & PPD Free • Salon/Spa • Certified Green Business Call, email or go online to book your appointment today! angela@angelaspuresalon.com 941-351-0670 • angelaspuresalon.com Angela’s Pure Salon & Spa, 3510 Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota, FL

$20 off first visit

Energy Healing Biofeedback Evaluation PEMF Sessions Frequency Applications Sound Healing

facebook.com/createbalanceandhealing Sarasota • Aaron ct Beata Molnar 941.586.9539

We are here to help with your insurance claim and get you the settlement you deserve. Contact us today for a free inspection. No recovery, no fee.