by Dr. Oler, ND | Nov 12, 2020 | Cooking Tips, Eating Naturally, Potluck, Recipes |
The leaves are falling, winter is coming and you (hopefully!) have a bounty of food from your garden waiting to be consumed. Here are some quick crockpot recipes to help warm you up this autumn season.
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by Dr. Oler, ND | Oct 15, 2020 | Stress, Way of Life |
If you’re like most people, you’ve gotten to a point at some time in the last month/week/day/hour where you feel like there is simply too much going on in the world and that life has begun to feel overwhelming. There’s no doubt that there is a lot happening right now that is out of our control; however, there are some things that we can do to control the effect all the craziness has on our health.
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by Dr. Oler, ND | Sep 17, 2020 | Fatigue |
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms we see on a daily basis. After we run the standard medical screening tests for fatigue, the very next thing we look at are current and recently discontinued medications, as there many medications that are known to cause fatigue.
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by Dr. Oler, ND | May 21, 2020 | Allergies, Food Allergies, Immune System |
May is Food Allergy Action Month, so we thought we’d take some time to outline your options in regards to food allergy/hypersensitivity testing. With so many choices out there, knowing the pros and cons of each testing method can help you decide which test is right for you.
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by Dr. Oler, ND | Apr 16, 2020 | Cleansing, Detox, detoxification, Food Allergies |
Detoxification programs can vary dramatically. Here is a simple 3-day, food-based detoxification program that you can do over a long weekend to get a jump start on spring-cleaning.
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by Dr. Oler, ND | Apr 7, 2020 | Health and Wellness, Immune System, Inflammation, Insomnia |
Melatonin has well known anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects; it has also been shown to be protective against the acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by viral and other pathogens. There is significant data showing that melatonin limits virus-related diseases and would also likely be beneficial in COVID-19 patients.
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by Dr. Oler, ND | Mar 26, 2020 | Health and Wellness, Men's Health, Women's Health |
It seems like the two fit hand-in-glove – dry, itchy skin and winter that is. Most people slave on handfuls of lotion to try and make the itching tolerable; while this may work for a short while, it doesn’t help long term. Luckily, there are several natural therapies that can help.
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by Dr. Oler, ND | Mar 19, 2020 | Health and Wellness, Immune System, Naturopathic Health |
We had a tremendous response to the recommendations we sent
out last week regarding how
to protect yourself for COVID-19 and many people requested more specific
information as well as protocols they could use, so we offer this update as an
addendum.
First things first, here is a great summary of some of the
most effective natural strategies to boost immunity and protect yourself
against infection: https://www.ifm.org/news-insights/boosting-immunity-functional-medicine-tips-prevention-immunity-boosting-covid-19-coronavirus-outbreak/.
Keep in mind that most of these recommendations are designed to help improve
overall immune function, which will reduce your chances of getting sick, as
well as improving your immune system’s ability to identify and effectively
eliminate foreign invaders (i.e., viruses and bacteria) as quickly as possible.
In addition to the suggestions offered above, here are some
points of emphasis and recommendations you can use:
- Minimize/eliminate sugar. Sugar is known
to reduce immune function for up to 5 hours after ingestion, so avoid as much
as possible to reduce your risk of infection.
- Follow a Mediterranean-type diet. The
Mediterranean diet has been associated with improved overall life expectancy in
the general population. Large studies in individuals aged ≥ 65 years have shown
that close adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with prolonged
survival, supporting its utility amongst people in this age group.
- Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation
reduces immune function. Get to bed 1-2 hours after it gets dark and sleep as
long as possible – most studies indicate 8-10 hours is ideal for supporting
immunity. Reduce screen time before bed, keep your bedroom ~68F (or lower) and try
and get to bed around the same time every night.
- Do whatever you can to manage stress.
This is certainly easier said than done, but it can help a lot. Something as
simple as breathing deeply throughout the day, going for walks outside and
meditation can go a long way to calming down the stress response and improving
immunity. Also, helping others in need, volunteering and staying connected as
best you can with loved ones and friends via the phone/internet can help you
feel less isolated, more hopeful and safe.
- Exercise. Regular moderate exercise is
known to improve immunity and improve health. It’s also a great stress
reliever. Aim for 20-30 minutes or more daily. Get outside when possible; walk,
run, bike, paddle, lift weights, do body weight exercises and/or yoga (check
out youtube for ideas, routines and workouts) – mix it up and use the time to
let go of/’work out’ stress while you are improving your physical health.
- Stay hydrated. In order for a virus to
cause infection, it must be able to adhere to and cross the respiratory
membrane. That is easier to do if you are dehydrated, so make sure and drink
about ½ your body weight in ounces of water per day, consuming about 2-4 ounces
of water every 20-30 minutes while awake. Also, use a vaporizer, humidifier
and/or facial steamer to keep the mucus membranes lubricated.
- Eat anti-microbial foods daily, including
garlic, onion, ginger and plenty of deep colored vegetables and fruit.
- Take supplements to boost and support optimal
immune function. You can find general recommendations in the link above;
here is a protocol that we recommend. NOTE: we have set up a new shopping cart
that sends orders directly to the manufacturer to minimize delays in shipping;
you will be asked to set up an account in order to order the products below –
it will take about 30 seconds.
- Foundational Support for adults (continue
taking these products until the risk of infection declines):
- Immune Support (3-4
caps/day in divided doses) OR Biocidin – you have multiple options to choose from to
support your immune system; all will help, so choose the product that fits best
for you and/or is available.
- Biocidin – 3-5
drops three times daily (or 1 capsule 3 times daily.
Do not use Biocidin during pregnancy. Biocidin is a potent broad-spectrum
botanical compound designed to support the entire immune system.
- D3-5000 with K2 –
1-2 softgels daily with food (based on blood work – aim for a 25-hydroxy
vitamin D blood level of ~60 ng/ml).
- C
Aspa Scorb – ½-1 tsp 2x/day. This formula contains therapeutic amounts
of buffered ascorbate (Vitamin C) as well as zinc and selenium, all of which
improve immune function.
- Immunity
Pro – 1 capsule 1-2 times daily on an empty stomach. Immunity Pro (Wellmune WGP® Beta Glucan) primes macrophages,
neutrophils and NK cells to defend the body against a broad range of foreign
challenges.
- Foundational Support for children (continue
until risk of infection declines):
- Suppys Immunity Children’s
Chewable – Children ages 2-3: chew one tablet daily. Ages 4 and older:
chew 2 tablets daily on an empty stomach. This product contains Wellmune WGP®
which is a natural ingredient that human clinical research shows can safely
enhance immune system function.
- Vitamin D3 – children under 50 lbs: 1000
IU/day; children 50-120 lbs: 2000 IU/day. Over 120 lbs: 3000-4000 IU/day.
- C
Aspa Scorb – ¼-1/2 tsp 1-2x/day.
- Support for those with compromised immunity
and/or that would like additional support:
- NAC-600
– 2-6 capsules daily. N-acetyl cysteine has been shown to inhibit replication
of seasonal human influenza A viruses, upper respiratory viruses (coronavirus)
and respiratory bacterial infections. It can also help lessen cough severity.
- Vitamin A (25,000
IU) – especially useful for those most susceptible to respiratory
illness; 1 softgel daily with food
- Ultra
Biotic Daily Multi-StrainorUltra Biotic Defense– 1 capsule daily; for children that cannot swallow capsules, open capsule
and mix in anything the child will eat or drink. Since about 70% of the body’s
immune defenses are found in the GI tract, to build resistance to viral
infections, it makes sense to support the gut microbiome, promoting a healthy
immune response, and helping the body eliminate toxins.
- Support for those that feel ill/have symptoms
(ideally start at first sign of symptoms and continue until you are
symptom-free for 2 weeks):
- Biocidin– 3-5 drops three times daily (or 1 capsule 3
times daily); can be increased up to 10 drops 3 times daily (or 2 capsules 3
times daily) if needed. Children under 12: 1 drop for every 10 lbs of body
weight per day, in 2 doses – for example, a 40 lbs child could take 2 drops AM
and 2 drops PM, for a total of 4 drops per day. Do not use Biocidin during
pregnancy. Biocidin is a potent broad-spectrum botanical compound designed to
support the entire immune system.
- Biocidin Throat Spray
– 3 sprays to the back of the mouth/throat as needed for throat soreness.
Do not use during pregnancy.
- C
Aspa Scorb – ½-1 tsp 2-3x/day (if ill, can increase dosing to bowel
tolerance). This formula contains therapeutic amounts of buffered ascorbate
(Vitamin C) as well as zinc and selenium, all of which improve immune function.
If you are currently taking any medications, be sure and
check with your health care provider before taking the supplements listed
above.
A Couple of Other Thoughts
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the changes that are
occurring at this time. Keep in mind that the number of reported cases
(especially in the US) is likely much lower than the actual number of
infected persons due to lack of testing. This should be viewed as a good thing,
as it means that the reported fatality rate is likely much higher than
the actual fatality rate (i.e., an increased actual number of infected people
with a known number of fatalities equals a lower rate of fatality). That means
that even if you or someone you love has symptoms and/or tests positive for
COVID-19, chances are, their immune systems will fight it off with no long-term
harm. So, if you or someone you love has symptoms, think back to how you would
have handled this two or three months ago (before you had heard about COVID-19):
stay home, rest, drink lots of fluids and let your body fight off whatever you
have. If your symptoms progress (i.e., fever climbs above 103-104F or you have
difficulty breathing) or you are immunocompromised, follow up with your health
care provider (call first) for further direction and support.
Lastly, if you are off work or now have more non-work time,
use it to get those projects completed that you didn’t make time for in the
past. You know, those things on the ‘to do list’ that just never seem to get
done. This is a unique situation – make it an opportunity to check things off
your list and take extra time for you and your loved ones.
You are amazing; give your body, mind and spirit what it
needs, take care of yourself and your loved ones and help others however you
can. We will get through this, and be stronger for it.
*This document is only intended to identify modalities
that may boost your immune system. It is not meant to recommend any treatments,
nor have any of these modalities been proven effective against coronavirus.
Always consult your physician or healthcare provider prior to using any of
these modalities. For up-to-date information on COVID-19, please consult the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov.
References
- Viral
Immunol. 2016 Sep;29(7):398-400. doi: 10.1089/vim.2016.0038. Epub 2016 Aug 9. –
Association Between Acute Infectious Mononucleosis and Vitamin D Deficiency.
- ORTHOMOLECULAR
PSYCHIATRY, VOLUME 10, NUMBER 2, 1981, Pp. 125-132 – The Method of Determining
Proper Doses of Vitamin C for the Treatment of Disease by Titrating to Bowel
Tolerance – Robert F. Cathcart, III, M.D.
- Gorton
HC, Jarvis KJ Manipulative Physiol Ther.
1999 Oct;22(8):530-3.
- Banerjee
D1, Kaul D. Nutrition. 2010
Jan;26(1):128-32. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2009.09.015.
- De
Flora S, Grassi C, Carati L. Attenuation of influenza-like symptomatology and
improvement of cell-mediated immunity with long-term N-acetylcysteine
treatment. Eur Respir J. 1997 Jul;10(7):1535-41.
- Dröge
W, Breitkreutz R. Proc Nutr Soc. 2000 Nov;59(4):595-600. Glutathione and immune
function.
- Geiler
J, Michaelis M, Naczk P, Leutz A, Langer K, Doerr HW, Cinatl J Jr. Biochem
Pharmacol. 2010 Feb 1;79(3):413-20. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2009.08.025. Epub 2009
Sep 2 N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) inhibits virus replication and expression of
pro-inflammatory molecules in A549 cells infected with highly pathogenic H5N1
influenza A virus.
- British
Thoracic Society Research Committee. Oral N-acetylcysteine and exacerbation
rates in patients with chronic bronchitis and severe airways obstructions.
Thorax 1985;40:832-835.
- Moyad
MA, Robinson LE, Zawada ET, Kittelsrud J, Chen DG, Reeves SG, Weaver S. J
Altern Complement Med. 2010 Feb;16(2):213-8.
- Moyad MA1, Robinson LE. Urol Nurs.
2008 Apr;28(2):146-8, 145. Lessons learned from the 2007-2008 cold and flu
season: what worked and what was worthless.
- Urashima M, et al. Randomized trial of
vitamin D supplementation to prevent seasonal influenza A in schoolchildren. Am
J Clin Nutr. 2010;91(5):1255–60.
- Cynthia Aranow J Investig Med. 2011 Aug; 59(6): 881–886.
doi: 10.231/JIM.0b013e31821b8755 PMCID: PMC3166406 Vitamin D and the Immune
System.
- Am J Clin Nutr. 1998 Aug;68(2
Suppl):447S-463S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/68.2.447S. – Zinc and immune function: the
biological basis of altered resistance to infection.
- Shankar AH, Prasad AS. Zinc and immune
function: the biological basis of altered resistance to infection. Am J Clin
Nutr 1998;68:447S-63S.
- Prasad AS. Zinc and immunity. Mol Cell
Biochem 1998;188:63-9.
- Ravaglia G, Forti P, Maioli F, et al.
Effect of micronutrient status on natural killer cell immune function in
healthy free-living subjects aged >/=90 y. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71:590-8.
- Galbete
C, Schwingshackl L, Schwedhelm C, Boeing H, Schulze MB. Evaluating
Mediterranean diet and risk of chronic disease in cohort studies: an umbrella
review of meta-analyses. Eur J Epidemiol. 2018;33:909-931.
- Bonaccio M, Di Castelnuovo A, Costanzo
S, et al. Mediterranean diet and mortality in the elderly: a prospective cohort
study and a meta-analysis. Br J Nutr. 2018;120:841-854.
by Dr. Oler, ND | Mar 12, 2020 | Uncategorized |
It is impossible to escape the daily barrage of information
(and mis-information) surrounding the recent awareness of COVID-19. In an
attempt to provide you some concrete steps you can take in order to safeguard
yourself and your loved ones, here is some information and strategies you can
use based on the data that is available to date:
How COVID-19 is Transmitted
COVID-19 can be spread from close or direct personal
contact, mainly through the small droplets that are produced via sneezing
and/or coughing. It can also be spread when these droplets are transmitted to a
hard surface that is then touched by someone else. It is estimated that the
virus can remain active for 2-48 hours on hard surfaces.
However, this is a respiratory virus and thus, it is thought
that infection can only occur if the virus reaches a person’s mucus membranes
(i.e., mouth, nose, eyes, lungs). Thus, distancing yourself from people that are
actively coughing and/or sneezing as well as avoiding hand to face contact is
thought to dramatically reduce the chance of infection.
Unless you are sick, wearing a surgical mask is unlikely to
help reduce your chance of infection. If you are sick, wearing a mask is
advisable, as it can catch and capture the tiny droplets produced when you
cough or sneeze that can transmit the virus.
Symptoms
Symptoms are similar to other acute upper respiratory
viruses and include fever, cough (often a dry cough) and shortness of breath.
Just because you have these symptoms does NOT mean you have COVID-19 and even
if you do have COVID-19, the probability is that the symptoms will be mild and
your immune system will fight it off within 2-14 days. If your symptoms worsen and/or
your immune system is compromised, seeking medical attention is advised.
Strategies to Reduce Infection
In addition, there are several other things that you can do
to reduce your risk of infection:
- Wash your hands – often. I know you’ve heard it
one thousand times, but thoroughly washing your hands regularly with soap and
water for at least 20 seconds is an effective strategy to limit your exposure
to the virus (it will also help minimize your exposure to the flu). If you
can’t wash your hands, using a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60%
isopropyl alcohol will help kill the virus.
If you don’t have or can’t find any
hand sanitizer, make your own by mixing about 2/3 cup rubbing alcohol
(isopropyl alcohol) with 1/3 cup aloe vera gel.
- Disinfect. Disinfecting hard surfaces will also
help. Spray or wipe down hard surfaces (like doorknobs, toilets, countertops,
etc.) with disinfecting wipes, a disinfecting solution or make your own by
combining 1-part liquid bleach with 50 parts water. NOTE: this is a mild bleach
solution and it will discolor fabrics, so limit its use to hard surfaces.
- Stay hydrated. In order for a virus to cause
infection, it must be able to adhere to and cross the respiratory membrane.
That is easier to do if you are dehydrated, so make sure and drink about ½ your
body weight in ounces of water per day, consuming about 2-4 ounces of water
every 20-30 minutes while awake.
- Stay home if you’re sick. Just like with other
viruses, transmission is mainly through personal contact. Thus if you’re sick,
it’s best to stay home and let your immune system do its job. Get plenty of
rest, drink lots of fluids and give your body the time it needs to recuperate.
- Support optimal immune function. Several
supplements will help support optimal immune function and improve your body’s
ability to fight off viral infections including:
- Vitamin D3 – get your blood levels checked and
aim for a blood level of 60 ng/ml. Most adults will need to take 4000-8000 IU/day;
kids will need 1000-2000 IU/day.
- Vitamin A – vitamin A helps support healthy
respiratory function and has been shown to help the body combat respiratory
infections. A therapeutic dose is usually between 10,000-25,000 IU/day.
- Vitamin C – research over the years consistently
shows that adequate amounts of vitamin C help the body resist and fight off
infections. Most studies indicate daily dosing between 1000-6000 mg will help.
- Zinc – zinc helps improve immune function and
the body’s ability to fight off infections, especially viral infections; most
people will need 25-75 mg/day.
- Mushroom extracts – certain mushroom extracts,
including Reishi, Shiitake and Cordyceps, have been shown to improve immune
function.
We use and recommend a formula
called Immune Support from Nutri-Dyn, as it contains a synergistic blend
of vitamins C, D, zinc and mushroom extracts to provide foundational immune
support; we recommend 3-4 capsules/day with meals in divided doses. In
addition, I personally take supplemental Vitamin D (8000 IU/day) and Vitamin A (15,000
IU/day) to support my immune health.
The good news is that COVID-19 does not appear to be
particularly harmful to children or those with healthy immune function. Of the
cases reported thus far, those that are most adversely affected are the
elderly, particularly those with compromised immune function (i.e., known
respiratory or cardiovascular conditions as well as diabetes). What this means
is that by taking the steps above, the probability that you will either avoid
infection altogether or have mild symptoms if you are infected is very high.
by Dr. Oler, ND | Feb 20, 2020 | Uncategorized |
Whether or not to get the flu vaccine catches more headlines every year. Those on both sides of the debate are usually pretty adamant that their arguments are valid, but what does the data say?
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