Introduction

Summertime is here and hopefully that means lots of time outdoors, fresh air, exercise and lots of salads. We have some exciting announcements this month that should further support you getting healthier and healthier. And please always remember to let me know if you have any health care questions for yourself, family or friends.

Along the lines of what you will be reading about in my Unhealthy Weight Loss vs. Healthy Weight Loss article, the world of nutrition is much more complex than most people would ever imagine. For example, there are probably 30+ forms of calcium on the market today. Among these there are huge differences in absorbability, in bio-availability to your cells once absorbed, and in the amount of other nutrients used processing the nutrients you just ate. As you can see with this one example, it's pretty complex.

A big part of my time out of the office is spent reading and reviewing different nutritional products. Since January of 2009, I have already reviewed over 125 new products. These are usually products designed by nutritional experts, to be used by licensed health care professionals like me. Occasionally, they are products that are designed by someone for mass marketing, like the weight loss products below.

Of those 125+ products, probably 100 of those are either not of the quality I require, or as in the weight loss article below, somehow I consider unhealthy, or are very similar to something I already have. Of the remaining 25, there is still much more research for me to do. After that I may get down to actually ordering 50% of these products and end up using only 5 - 10, which have impressed me as being very high quality and unique in some significant way. Once implemented into a patient's supplement schedule, I have to closely track my patients to make sure they experience the results I am expecting. Occasionally, I will try something and end up not being thrilled with the results, so I take it off my list.

However, the good news is that once in awhile something new comes around that is quite exciting. In those cases you will usually hear from me via an article in the office, in my newsletter, or on my website (or all 3). Usually the very exciting stuff is important for a significant portion of the population, rather than something I get to use with only a few people.

This month, and in the coming month, I have two new products that make all that research worthwhile, as they are products I am confident will have a significant impact on the health many of our patients.

It's not often that you hear me talking about a product to improve ones looks. However, if it does so by improving your health I'm all for it.

This new clinically tested, patented product is RegenMax. Research performed at Vrije University in Brussels, Belgium, showed its effectiveness at reducing age related fine wrinkles by 19% in 20 weeks, while also helping thicken hair and strengthen nails. The really good news is that this is all done nutritionally, by efficiently nourishing the collagen, elastin and keratin in our bodies.

I got excited about this product when I first read about the influence that RegenMax has on collagen production in the body. Understanding how important a role collagen plays in our health and seeing the adverse affects of collagen decline in my patients is why I am so excited.

Collagen is one of the most important proteins in the body because it is a key component of muscles, ligaments, tendons, discs, bones and skin, as well as the corneas and lenses of our eyes. Collagen also strengthens blood vessels, which is very critical, as we get older (more on this later). My excitement is that this nutritional product has shown in research that it can have a positive influence on collagen production and therefore I expect real health benefits from this product for my patients.

We all recognize that skin, hair, and nails look better in youth. This is because in youth we have a rich abundance of collagen, elastin and keratin in our body. Unfortunately, our collagen, elastin and keratin levels begin to decline around the time we turn 18, with signs of this decline often showing as early as age 30. Women tend to show signs of this earlier than men, because their decline of collagen tends to happen more rapidly. If our collagen levels were to remain the same throughout our lifetime, we would undoubtedly look and function much more like we did when we were younger.

More good, but not surprising news is that further research on RegenMax at the University of London showed that it increased bone mineral density in women who were already taking their calcium and vitamin D, in just 12 months! It does this again by increasing the collagen formation in bone and also supporting the specialized cells in bones, which "build new bone". Improving collagen in bones not only makes them denser; it also makes them more flexible, which is very important.

The reasons for the "appearance" benefits of RegenMax are that collagen "plumps" skin, removing wrinkles and preventing them from forming. With the increased levels of collagen formation, an added benefit is that it continuously hydrates your skin from the inside out. Water is literally drawn into collagen, moisturizing your skin. Elastin gives our skin its ability to stretch and "bounce back". Keratin is an important protein that gives your hair thickness and your nails strength and clarity.

As much as I appreciate these "appearance" benefits, the other benefits listed are the kind that can affect our daily level of well-being. One of the most significant benefits is stronger connective tissue. This will result in less pain and injuries, decreased risk of fracture and stronger blood vessels as we age, which could potentially save lives via decreased risk of stroke.

One of the more concerning symptoms I see in some of my older patients is something called "purpura". Purpura are small to large purple discolorations of the skin, something most of us have seen in the elderly. It is due to bleeding under the skin, and is a result of weaker blood vessels, caused by depleted collagen levels.

At the same time and often in the same patient, there is an additional problem, which in lay terms is referred to as "paper skin". This is literally skin that has become very thin and lacks elasticity. The patients often remark that their skin tears from the slightest pull, sometimes from something as simple as their sheets pulling across their arm.

I am hopeful that we will see some reversal of this phenomena in our patients who suffer from this condition, and am relatively confident that the long term use of this product will significantly decrease or delay this happening in our patients as they move into their 60's - 90's and on to 100!

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this product.

We are very excited to announce the addition of Erika Winston, L.M.T., as part of our team at Santa Barbara Wellness for Life. Erica passed the rigors of Laurie's massage screening, and has been working at the office for the past two weeks. Patients have been more than pleased with her work and in this short time she has seen quite a few patients in our office. Take advantage of Erika's introductory offer for first time patients of $45.00 for a one-hour massage, half off the normal price, until July 15th.

Erika has always felt a strong affinity towards the healing therapies and began studying massage therapy and Reiki in 2005. She has in-depth training and certifications in Orthopedic massage, Deep Tissue massage, Swedish massage and Reiki. She has earned over 800 hours of training time (four times the requirement for massage therapists in CA). She has over 100 hours in CEU credits and consistently attends seminars/workshops to further her knowledge. She has a broad, yet specialized understanding of the body/mind/spirit connection and how to facilitate healing with each individual client. She is enthusiastic, extremely committed to her work and conducts services professionally with a high level of dignity and integrity.

Erika is originally from New Jersey and received a 4-year tennis scholarship to the University of Miami where she played Division 1 Women's Tennis. She and her doubles partner were ranked #7 nationally and competed professionally all over Europe. In addition, Erika earned her Master's degree in Educational Technology in 2001 and is nationally certified in Elementary/Middle School Physical Education. She taught P.E. classes at elementary school level for 11 years, winning the coveted high honor of Teacher of the Year award in 2007.

What are the benefits of therapeutic massage? The answer can be quite extensive. Massage enhances the function of muscle and connective tissue; promotes relaxation and well-being; assists with self-esteem, releases emotional blocks and allows you to connect with your "inner light". It improves range of motion (R.O.M.), circulation and is utilized to restore structural balance throughout the body. It can be used for prevention and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal dysfunctions, chronic pain, sports injuries and energetic balance. Massage treatments improve all bodily systems and are a great way to nourish the soul. Is it your turn to experience this therapy?

The amount of weight loss information and products that are disseminated in the news, on the internet, and from aunt Tilly's latest multi-level "cure the world" product line, is both mind boggling, and in my opinion, dangerous.

Recently a well-meaning person asked me to review a new weight loss line of products that she was trying out. Interestingly enough, I came across this line being promoted by a doc at a seminar the prior week (yes even most docs don't understand the complexity of this subject). He is a really nice guy, but has very little understanding of nutrition. At that time it took me about 2 minutes to peruse the information and come up with a quick "no way would I use these products" assessment.

However, since this other person asked, and I now realized it was a multi-level line that I was soon going to have to answer other people's questions about, I did a thorough review of the product.

As an example of the complexity of ingredient listings, and "nutritional products" in general, below are some of my comments on this particular line and weight loss in general. I'm providing these so my patients further understand that weight loss is part of a quest for health, and unfortunately health is not always the outcome.

First, the concept of weight loss is way more complex than most people have any idea about. I would say that 90% of the weight loss being done is more harmful than healthy.

Regarding this company and their products, there is nothing here that in any way would excite me. They do use some good ingredients and they have a great look and marketing program.

This particular line has 4 different products, each attempting to do different things. One of these (I won't use names here) is similar to a product that was a big hit a number of years ago in Santa Barbara called Metabolife, sold at kiosks and over the radio. The concept of accelerating metabolism through the use of any stimulants, natural or otherwise, has clearly been shown in detailed cellular research to be a long-term health and weight problem. What happens at the cellular level is very complex, but in the end, the cells hold onto and store fat much more aggressively. This is not often realized until the person stops the product itself. Few doctors are even aware of this research.

Regarding individual ingredients in the product: In their metabolism accelerator, they have Calcium Carbonate, one of the worst sources of calcium to see on a nutrient label, except for one rare form of calcium carbonate, which this one isn't. However, it is also the cheapest form of calcium available, which is usually why it is used over other forms. It is the same one that is in Tums and is especially bad for people who are over 40.

Their "bowel cleansing" product for the weight loss program has Senna as a first ingredient. Nice concept for keeping the bowels moving. Not my favorite ingredient, it basically works by irritating the colon. I prefer that patients avoid it except in rare cases.

Regarding their protein powder: First, they did not thoroughly list the ingredients. The type of vit. E should have other letters with it, same with the vitamin D, K, etc... These other letters is where the quality issue is clarified for the knowledgeable nutrition person. For instance, many vit. E's are manufactured by Eastman Kodak as by-product of the film making process. The other letters would clarify this to those nutritionally educated.

Second, they list "natural and artificial" flavorings and sweeteners. This is a tricky area. MSG can be listed in natural flavorings, the artificial sweetener is not clarified, when some are to be avoided at all costs and they have not clarified which it contains.

So, this product line to me basically looks similar to others that have been around for some time, with little twists and a powerful marketing machine behind it. It will probably make some people a lot of money, it may help some people lose weight, but in my mind it certainly will not be healthy weight loss and likely will set up individuals for faster fat gain in the future, and potentially other health challenges.

Losing weight in and of itself is often misunderstood to be healthy. That is not necessarily the case. Healthy Weight Loss is accomplished by taking many different healthy actions, including very important and critical nutrients, while avoiding the many different products out there than can do more harm than good. Then the weight comes off as many other symptoms go away also. Weight loss that is NOT done properly will without a doubt create less healthy people in the long run and can increase cancer risk.

When it comes to your health or your loved ones, please realize this is not something you do not want to trust to "Aunt Tilly", the latest trainer at the gym, or unfortunately even many doctors. Find someone who is truly dedicated to the most thorough understanding of health and well being, including the quest for the best nutritional products. These health care professionals are out there, unfortunately not nearly enough of them, but when it comes to health you deserve the absolute best.

Medical bills were behind nearly two-thirds of all U.S. bankruptcies in 2007. And most of those folks were middle class; most were homeowners; most went to college; most had health insurance.

As you know our health care system is busy trying to stamp out diseases without focusing on the prevention of them, which would've cost a lot less.

Spending on U.S. health care was more than $2 trillion in 2006 (that's about $7,026 per resident), almost three times the $714 billion spent in 1990. We all know it has gone up considerably since then.

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, the percentage of personal health care dollars spent on prescription drugs has grown faster than any other segment, including doctor and hospital bills.

More than a third of pharmaceutical companies resources go into promotion and marketing (now we get to see drug ads all the time). Annually the industry spends up to $60 billion on drug marketing, nearly twice what they spend on research and development. The pharmaceutical and health products industry has also spent more than $800 million for lobbying efforts at the federal and state levels over the past seven years, more than any industry group, except the insurance industry.

Each year approximately 2.2 million US hospital patients experience adverse drug reactions (ADRs), from taking prescription medications. Of these, 106,000 patients die. The economic cost of ADRs is more than $12 billion per year.

As most of our patients know and we always want to focus on, there is much we can do to minimize the need for drugs and surgery, the most expensive and preventable costs to ourselves and our health care system.

Be Well, Yours in Health, Dr. Dale