NUTMEG NUGGETS

Taking Back Your Health Through Individualized, Wellness-Based Naturopathic Medicine

By Frank Aieta, ND

One of the most basic human desires is health. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most elusive, confusing, and frustrating struggles. How do we sort out all of the conflicting information regarding health and wellness? Why has our current medical system failed to rectify many of the most popular health concerns plaguing Americans?

Common symptoms like pain, fatigue, hormonal imbalances, and weight gain are considered “normal”, and more serious chronic conditions ranging from autoimmune diseases, metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and dementia are perceived as an inevitable result of aging. Sadly, this is reinforced by conventional medicine where patients often feel powerless in their own body and are unable to improve their state of wellbeing.

“Taking Back Your Health Through Individualized, Wellness-Based Naturopathic Medicine” is my latest e-book written as a comprehensive solution to this dilemma. It combines 20 years of whole-person naturopathic medicine, herbal medicine, acupuncture, and clinical nutrition in a DIY approach designed to empower any person struggling with their state of health and looking to get to the root cause of why they are unwell.

This eBook is not another trendy diet or wellness book. It takes individuality into consideration as opposed to the typical one-size-fits-all model of most diet and wellness plans. It provides resources for the reader to follow such as which lab tests to run, access to order your own labs without having to go through your doctor, how to interpret the lab results, and what to do based on the findings in order to restore function and promote true healing. If you’re dissatisfied with the standardized medical system and the lack of personalized care, it may be time to take your health back by trying something different. An excerpt from “Taking Back Your Health Through Individualized, Wellness-Based Naturopathic Medicine” illustrates how common this is and why the solution is a systematic, functionalbased tailored approach.

“On a daily basis in my practice I see the frequent mismanagement of a patient’s health by the conventional, disease-based health care system. Patients come to me after seeing countless doctors from primary care to specialists, and the majority of the time they are offered a treatment that solely manages the symptoms of their chronic condition and fails to address the underlying cause.

Most of the chronic conditions that I see in my practice haven’t yet progressed to an overt disease or pathology but are rather a more functional problem. So, the next question is, “What is a functional problem?” A functional problem is when a patient’s body is essentially telling them that something is wrong through the expression of signs and symptoms. Many times, when a patient with a functional problem presents to their conventional doctor with their list of symptoms, the doctor may go on to examine them and then send them off for testing such as blood work or maybe some imaging. With a functional problem, oftentimes nothing remarkable will show up on these conventional tests, so the patient is simply offered a treatment that will alleviate or mask the symptom and they are sent on their way.

Let’s use the condition known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as an example. The patient may present to the doctor’s office with symptoms of digestive distress, maybe some gas and bloating combined with loose stools or constipation. The doctor may then refer this individual to a specialist (like a gastroenterologist) for further testing, such as a simple blood test or something more extensive like a colonoscopy, endoscopy or even a CT scan. If all these tests come back negative for any overt pathology like cancer or an inflammatory bowel disease, the investigation stops there, and the patient will then receive a treatment to solely treat their symptoms. In the case of irritable bowel syndrome, they may be told to take a fiber supplement, a stool softener, an anti-gas medication or some other drug to just deal with the symptoms.

Let’s contrast this to my more individualized wellness-based approach. If it’s a more functional problem then I try to uncover the true etiology, which can be one or more of the following: a dietary shortcoming, nutrient deficiency, a hormonal or neurochemical imbalance, a food allergy, sensitivity or intolerance, a structural imbalance or an underlying hidden infection (viral, fungal or bacterial). In this book, I discuss some very simple dietary changes that can be made, basic lab tests that can be ordered by your conventional doctor, and natural dietary supplements that you can take based upon the lab findings.”

The current healthcare model is obviously flawed due to these shortcomings and conventional medical training that is void of simple things such as education about diet, lifestyle, nutritional supplements, and other alternative therapies (herbal medicine, acupuncture, physical medicine, and homeopathic medicine). Because of this we can see why it’s easy for people to get caught up in an ongoing cycle of health problems.

My main reason for writing this book is to equip readers with all the information they may need to start taking the proper steps to take their health back into their own hands. Most conventional doctors out there are practicing primarily diseasebased medicine, whereas I pride myself on taking a different approach to health. I call it individualized, wellness-based naturopathic medicine. Dr. Frank Aieta, ND is a CT Licensed Naturopathic Physician and practices out of his office in West Hartford. He sees patients remotely from any location, coaching individuals on how to reach their goals for weight loss, stress reduction, and health optimization. He specializes in the treatment of both acute and chronic disease using the most advanced natural therapeutics and all-natural, non-toxic treatments. Additionally, he is the co-author of another eBook and written publications and is a frequent contributor to a variety of regional public health and wellness resources such as podcasts and interviews. For more information, visit draieta.com/ ebook. See ad on page 20.

Avoid These 3 Major Weight-Loss Mistakes

Ninety-five percent of diets fail. Most people that lose weight gain it back plus more. This fact is extremely discouraging, but I am here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be like this for you. Here are the top 3 mistakes I see with my weight-loss clients. If you want to experience true and lasting weight-loss success, avoid these 3 mistakes at all costs!

Mistake #1: Going from 0 to 100 at the beginning of your

weight-loss transformation. An example of this is when someone who hasn’t exercised in years sets a goal to work out for an hour a day seven days a week. This is a huge change in lifestyle and will likely bring up a lot of resistance. Instead, set a goal to exercise for 15 minutes a day five days a week, and build up from there. When you implement incremental changes, you set yourself up to achieve long-term success.

Mistake #2: Slacking when it comes to scheduling your

week. If you really want something to happen, it needs a time and a place in your calendar. If you want to improve your exercise regimen, schedule your workouts at the beginning of the week. If you want to start eating healthier, schedule time for grocery shopping and block off spots in your schedule for cooking.

Mistake #3: Not getting your subconscious mind on board

with your weight-loss goals. Your subconscious is 88% of your brainpower. It is where your limiting beliefs and habits are stored. Aligning your subconscious mind with your weight-loss goals and vision makes weight-loss fast and sustainable. Most people fail when it comes to weight loss because they forgot to transform the most important thing - their mind. The fastest way to rewire your subconscious mind is through Hypnotherapy. When you are in hypnosis, your subconscious mind is extremely open to new information that serves you and your goals.

Weight loss does not have to be an overwhelming struggle. It can be easy and sustainable when you avoid these three major mistakes. As a weight-loss hypnotherapist, I help clients achieve their weight-loss goals in a fun way where they are enjoying the journey to success. Megan Moriarty, Certified Hypnotherapist considers herself a professional belief enhancer. Through hypnosis, she guides clients to break through limiting habits and beliefs. After working together, you will embody the belief that you are the powerful creator of your life that can manifest anything you desire. 860.808.4672. www.megan-moriarty.com. info@megan-moriarty.com. See ad on page 7.