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THE
JUNE 2018 LEDGER
13375 University Avenue, Suite 100, Clive, IA 50325|www.thelivewellclinic.com|515.279.9900
T hroughout my years in functional medicine, I’ve seen countless patients struggle with the fear of mental decline and witnessed several others actually succumb to dementia, Alzheimer’s, or other degenerative brain diseases. You could argue that there’s no other topic more frightening to us as humans, and rightly so. After all, so much of what’s going on between all those firing neurons is really our deepest self . The idea of our personality, our memory, and our most basic sense of identity dissolving with the passage of time is pretty harrowing. Luckily, there is hope for staving off this decline, often for good. I’m not a neurologist by any means, but through my experience studying the work of neurologists and other experts on the human mind, it’s become clear to me that everything we do in functional medicine eventually applies to the brain. Ironically enough, with my busy schedule, I can barely remember what I ate for breakfast this morning ... but bear with me and allow me to explain. Take inflammation, for instance. When we talk about inflammation, "leaky gut" often comes up in the conversation, a disorder in which the intestines become inflamed and allow toxins and undigested food particles to flood the bloodstream. But when we’re consuming the standard American diet, chock-full of gluten and other types of proteins our immune systems don’t know what to do with, it’s not just our intestines that become inflamed. We see the same breakdown all over the body, and in our brains in particular. For example, there’s a syndrome called gluten ataxia, during which those afflicted act almost as if they were drunk. Symptoms include an unstable gait, slurred speech, and poor fine motor control — all because the WHEN FUNCT IONAL MEDICINE AFFECTS THE BRAIN STAVING OFF DEGENERAT IVE DISEASE THROUGH PROACT IVE HEALTH
patient is regularly eating a lot of gluten. Over time, this process can cause permanent damage and accelerate mental decline.
Of course, there are numerous other factors that I harp on all the time with my patients that speed up brain degeneration as well. The overproduction of stress hormones can break down the memory response center in the brain, linking it with the onset of Alzheimer’s and similar diseases. If nutrition markers are off, all those deficiencies will cause cascading changes to the body, eventually catching up with the way your brain operates on a basic level. With functional medicine, we can address these issues long before the brain reaches the point of no return. I say it as often as possible: The key is to take a proactive approach to your health, including brain health. That means eating well, exercising well, and living well, and all that each of these entail. That way, our brain isn’t put under undue stress; it ages more slowly and we can live happy, healthy lives as ourselves long into our golden years, continuing to be present for those we love. Honestly, I can’t think of a better reason to take control of your own health. But enough harping on the benefits of functional medicine. Read on in this month’s issue to discover ways you can take your brain health into your own hands and transform your life from the inside out.
317-776-9942 515.2 9. 00 –Dr. Z a c Watki ns
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GET $50
Just got my labs back, and for the first time in eight years, my health is back on track! Years of burning the candle at both ends, 12-hour days in politics, and then the stresses of tech startup life started to take its toll —but then with bad eating choices to match that lifestyle, things were starting to take a deep dive. I started to see a doctor, switching places every two years, hoping that a different doctor would give me an answer and not a prescription. Instead of accepting the fate of "take these pills for the rest of your life," I started withThe Livewell Clinic.They took a blood panel of EVERYTHING and, of course, the charts were more colorful than a Christmas tree, with eight markers in the ALARMING range (seven that I never knew about or had tested before). I honestly wasn't optimistic, but with the help of the clinic, cleanses, Vitamin C IVs, supplements, andmost of all my wife, I came back with zero markers in the alarming range and showed healing on things that have been bad for almost a decade now. It's great having my mind and body back to take on the world and the new adventures that are out there. —Adil WHAT OUR PATIENTS ARE SAYING
13375 University Ave, Suite 100 Clive Iowa 50325 Phone (515) 279-9900 www.TheLivewellClinic.com to GET $25
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Refer a friend and you bothwill receive a $25 credit. Use at our clinic towards care, supplements or testing. For a Friend For a Friend Share your success story or refer a friend and you both will receive a $50 credit. Use at our clinic toward ca e, supplements, or testing.
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We want to make a difference and we need your help! If you have a cause you’d like The Livewell Clinic to support, send your nomination to Christina@TheLivewellClinic.com by June 15, 2018. Make sure to include the reasons this cause is important to you. Then, if your particular cause is selected, we will sponsor an event in support of the cause, participate in the event as a team, and make a donation to the cause in your name! WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE?
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FOOD FOR
SNACKS PACKED WITH BRAIN-BOOSTING COMPOUNDS
There’s an endless list of factors that contribute to better functional health, but it all begins with what you eat. And when it comes to your brain, “You are what you eat” is doubly true. Here are three foods that can boost focus, memory, and general brain health while staving off degenerative decline. Broccoli, spinach, and other leafy greens The results of one 2017 study (and many others like it) indicate that regularly eating broccoli, spinach, and all those other green goodies that toddlers usually hate may slow the aging of the brain. This is likely due to them being chock-full of nutrients like vitamin K, folate, and lutein, compounds that promote brain health and aid us in shaking off brain fog. Blueberries You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn’t enjoy these yummy blue marbles, which is good because they’re packed with all kinds of Introduction to Living Well Do you have questions about Functional Medicine? Do you wonder what the life of a Livewell Clinic patient is like? Are you curious about our services or how this clinic could help you? Then join us for an event designed just for you. This evening's experience will include Q&A time with our clinicians and an opportunity to have all your questions answered by various members of our team. Our office will be open if you'd like to have a tour of our facilities as well. The goal of the evening is to feed and serve you well. Come with an open mind and an appetite for good food (maybe even a glass of wine). Events June 5 - The Livewell Chat - Brain health - Dr. Lori will be the speaker. June 14 - Demo Kitchen at Natural Grocers on 86th in Clive, IA 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. There will be a health coach cooking convenient, kid-friendly paleomeals. Registration required. June 25 - Brain Food - How to feed your brain for clear thinking? We will have a nutrition coach cooking and demo-ing healthy fats, making some dips and dressings. Space is limited, so call our office to register for free. June 4 - 4:30 p.m. June 16 - 9:00 a.m. June 26 - 4:30 p.m.
antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin K, and fiber. What’s more, their high gallic acid content enables them to reduce the production of stress hormones and lower blood pressure —both nasty contributors to a laundry list of brain problems. Salmon Salmon and other types of deep-water-dwelling swimmers are rich in those much-heralded omega-3 fatty acids, which naturally reduce inflammation and lower your risk for heart disease, many types of cancer, and a variety of other diseases. These acids are essential to keeping up regular brain function, and your body can’t make them itself, so do your best to get more of these scaly creatures in your diet, because nearly everyone in America is omega-3 deficient. Consider stocking up on an omega-3 supplement as well, though it’s always better to get nutrients directly from food if possible.
CURB INFLAMMATION WITH TURMERO XL
HARNESS THE POWER OF CURCUMIN TO PREVENT DISEASE
In our approach to functional medicine, one of the first steps in your journey to a better, healthier you starts with curbing inflammation in your body. Countless studies have linked chronic inflammation to nearly every major disease.
That’s where Turmero XL comes in. This supplement uses concentrated curcuminoids — the yellowish compounds found in turmeric — to block inflammation at the source. This little substance is a powerful antioxidant that supports the functioning of your immune system and your liver’s detoxification process, helping you prevent Alzheimer’s, autoimmune disorders, brain fog, memory loss, many types of cancer, diabetes, and all kinds of dangerous diseases. Best of all, Turmero XL (along with Brain Octane Oil and OmegaPure) is 15 percent off for the entire month of June at the Livewell Clinic! If you’re curious about what the power of curcumin can do for you, stop in and try the supplement for yourself — you’ll be amazed at the results. 3 515.279.9900
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3 of the Best Foods for Your Brain Curb Inflammation with Turmero XL — 15% Off!
Too Much Shade? Plant These Vegetables!
SHADE ON ME
LAY SOME
THE BEST VEGETABLES TO PLANT IN SHADY SPOTS
Peas Like kale, when grown in shade, peas and beans won’t grow quite as full, and plants may take longer to mature, but with proper planning, you’ll still reap a plentiful harvest. Bush and dwarf varieties are recommended over their pole counterparts. (Hours of sun per day: 4–5) Potatoes Root vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, and beets, will grow in partial shade, but they may take a few more weeks to mature, and they may produce fewer vegetables. However, as most gardeners agree, the results are still worth the effort. (Hours of sun per day: 4–5) Spinach Like most leafy greens, spinach does very well in shade,
There’s nothing quite like growing your own vegetables, but if your home doesn’t get the best sunlight, what can you do? It’s a problemmany gardeners face. Even if you live in a sunny area, you may have a shady corner of the garden or side of the house going to waste. Fortunately, there are plenty of plants that do well in partial and full shade. As a general rule, leafy greens do better in shade and milder temperatures than other vegetables. Flowering plants and vines, such as cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes, need more hours of sunlight per day in order to thrive — about six hours or more. Herbs While many herbs, such as basil, are better suited for sunnier conditions, there are a few that will do great in shade. These include chives, cilantro, golden marjoram, mint, oregano, and parsley. (Hours of sun per day: 3) Kale Typically, kale does well in partial shade. When kale is grown in full shade, the leaves tend to be slightly smaller, but this can be offset by growing additional plants. (Hours of sun per day: 3–4)
particularly baby spinach. The plant will continue to produce leaves for an extended period of time if you regularly harvest the outer leaves. (Hours of sun per day: 3–4)
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