Feature
The
5 Points of Wellness
That Are Essential for Longevity and Optimal Health By Dr. Derrick DeSilva, MD
ESSENTIAL Naples
BW
SUMMER 2020
22
“Do one good deed a day, it’s so important for your physical and spiritual health, because it really can increase your longevity if you’re a good person. - Dr. Derrick DeSilva, MD
orn in Sri Lanka, I grew up in a family that considered natural medicine a way of life. henever I had a test in school my grandmother would make me Gotu Kola and give that to me for breakfast with brown rice. Gotu Kola is a brain nutrient. Throughout my life, I have always taken vitamins and supplements, and I believe there is more than one way to treat chronic disease. My goal is to teach and introduce people to various modalities to prevent disease. With this mindset, I designed my medical practice around Five Points of Wellness that must be incorporated into your lifestyle for longevity and optimal health. Here is a brief description of each:
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SUPPLEMENTS. What are the basic nutrients everyone needs? 1. Probiotic – 80% of your immune system resides in your intestines. Prepare yourself for if and when you are exposed to COVID-19. If your body is ready and you have the right the nutrients, you’re not going to wind up in the hospital, your body can fight off these invaders. All three of my grandchildren were started on probiotics from day one of birth. 2. Vitamin D – get your blood levels checked. I do extensive blood testing on all of my patients as well as genetic and hormone testing. Nutrients are the things that make the engine run. You would have to eat 12 bowls of spinach today to equal the concentration of 1 bowl in the 1930s. We’re really not able to get enough EXERCISE. of the right nutrients from our food these days, so I tell all of my patients - I want you to do supplement where needed. Thirty years ago, when something every day for movement, and you I started talking about probiotics and supplehave to enjoy it. If you don’t like going to the gym, don’t go to the gym. If you hate to run, don’t run. But ments, people would look at me like I was crazy. find some type of exercise you love to do. Everybody As time evolved, it’s amazing how many doctors from our hospital are now patients of mine. can find 20 minutes per day. The sweet spot is 3045 minutes of sustained heartrate for a sustained period of time. New data is showing you shouldn’t BIOIDENTICAL HORMONES. exercise for more than an hour, it causes too much This is such an area of controversy. In damage to the body, creating a pro-inflammatory the 1980s there was a study called WHI state. If you have not exercised for a long time, make (Women’s Health Initiative) that destroyed our sure you see your physician and get a check-up generation of women. They were told that if they before starting an exercise program. used hormones they were going to get breast cancer. Our generation of women in their 60s either have never taken hormones or they were NUTRITION. given synthetic hormones. What does bioidentical I love intermittent fasting and I fast for 16 mean? It means the body recognizes what you’re hours per day. There are so many advantaking because it’s identical biologically to what tages including cellular cleaning, reduced insulin your body makes. If your body doesn’t recognize levels, increased metabolism and a host of other it, you’re going to react to it in a negative way. If benefits. Find what works for you. If you don’t your body knows what it is it utilizes it. Estrogen put the right fuel in your body, you’re not going to doesn’t cause breast cancer; the wrong form of get the performance out. Whenever you open the estrogen causes breast disease. These hormones refrigerator think, “Is this the right fuel for this are needed in the body to protect your heart, body that does so many amazing things.” You instinctively know what you should and shouldn’t be your brain, your skin, your bones, and even your breast tissue. Using the right form of these horeating. When you pull out ice cream at night, you know that’s really not a good idea even if you ratio- mones is the key and you will feel better. I’m 63 nalize it. But most of all, everything in moderation. and I feel fantastic.
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