A Gentle Detox to Cleanse Your Body

A Gentle Detox to Cleanse Your Body

by | Dec 17, 2020 | Blog, Cleanse, Detox, Hormones, Liver Health

As a Naturopathic Doctor I am always searching for pathways to healing for myself and my patients. In all my years and travels around the globe, I have found that there are two basic pillars required to successfully turn a hopeful health goal into a reality:

  • A good plan, which serves as a map and provides structure.
  • An understanding that your body is nourished by your kindness and devotion to its feedback by you.

Annually I like to change up my detox based upon what I have found during that year, to be the most affective and most gentle approach while achieving optimum solutions. After much exploration in 2020, I discovered this particular plan by Orthomolecular labs known as Core Restore®. One of the many benefits is that it’s simple! It’s a strategic plan that provides three active formulas–Core Support®, Alpha Base®, and PhytoCore®—that function synergistically to support Phase I and Phase II pathways of liver detoxification to help neutralize environmental pollutants, hormone disruptors, unhealthy estrogen metabolites, xenoestrogens (synthetic compounds that imitate estrogen), and other harmful toxins. Basically, for anyone suffering from PMS, fibroids, perimenopause, menopause, PCOS or any hormone imbalances for that matter, it’s a wonderful kick start as well as for anyone else!

 

What’s Included in Core Restore®

 

1. Core Support®

Core Support® powder enhances Phase II detoxification by providing clean protein, gentle fiber, and specific nutrients which help eliminate toxins during the seven-day detoxification program. Core Support® provides nutrients needed for Phase II detox including N-acetyl cysteine, glycine, taurine, lipoic acid, green tea extract, ellagic acid, and a unique blend of vegetable phytonutrients. The antioxidant activity of this unique blend of nutrients is protective against cell damage by free radicals and helps induce Phase II enzymes which facilitate the removal of toxins from the body and scavenge free radicals.

2. Phyto Core®

PhytoCore® is added on the third day of the Core Restore® program to stimulate Phase I activity once Phase II has been established. The specialized blend of nutrients in PhytoCore has been shown to stimulate Phase I and II biotransformation and support the body’s natural liver cleansing function during detoxification. Each capsule includes silymarin, artichoke extract, curcumin, methionine, choline, inositol, garlic, and dandelion root. These botanicals and plant extracts include phytonutrients, antioxidants and other compounds that protect plants from environmental challenges including exposure to radiation and toxins, and defend your body against them.

3. Alpha Base®

Alpha Base® provides a multi-nutrient foundation to ensure the liver has adequate amounts of important trace minerals and vitamins needed for the energy/nutrient intensive process of detoxification. Nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and the B vitamins are required for cytochrome P450 activity. In addition to vitamins and trace minerals, carotenoids are included to help scavenge free radicals and protect cells while toxins are removed.

This powerful trio of specialized formulas provides essential micronutrients, phytonutrients, and a source of easily digested, low- allergen protein that help to purify the liver. We all want vibrant bodies, loads of energy, and a clear mind. Because many of us are lacking in vital minerals, nutrients, phytonutrients, and healthy fats, the Core Restore Program® emphasizes nutrient-dense shakes to help rebuild your body while you cleanse. These nutrients will help build your mineral reserves, support liver detoxification, and maintain consistent energy while eliminating harmful toxins.

core restore detox program

 

Whether it’s the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, or the products we use, everyone is affected by the thousands of chemicals in our internal and external environment. These chemicals can inhibit the proper functioning of our bodies and make us feel run down. What’s more, much of the food we eat today is low in minerals and nutrients, high in refined sugars and starches, and void of adequate fiber. Many of these common foods can produce inflammatory responses throughout the body which, over time, can degrade the quality of our digestive system. The Core Restore Program® works by removing the most common food allergens while lightening up your diet, so your body can spend its energy cleansing and healing.
And all of this is for 7 days only. Remember the second part of healing involves listening to your body, so seven days is long enough for most us to provide that gentle, yet loving approach that our body craves.
If you’re ready to begin the Core Restore Program®, simply click here.
Here’s to a kinder, healthier 2021!

A Simple Liver Cleanse

by | Dec 15, 2020 | Blog, Cleanse, Detox, Liver Health

Cleansing gallbladder sludge is crucial for optimal gallbladder function and liver detox. What many people are unaware of is that the gallbladder is one of the primary organs involved in digestion and helps with the breakdown of fats and absorption of fat-soluble nutrients while also ensuring an optimal terrain in the small intestine. And there is one root veggie that can help promote healthy bile flow and liver health, which is oh-so beautiful beet root! One of the primary benefits of beetroot is its ability to promote bile flow and cleanse gallbladder sludge.

The Glorious Benefits of Beets

 

1. Constipation

Having healthy daily bowel movements is essential for any liver detox or colon cleansing program. Eating beets is one of the best ways to relieve constipation by promoting bile flow and thus peristalsis. Using beet juice for constipation is one of the secret benefits of beet juice that not a lot of people know. Having a healthy bowel movement can entail more than just the generic advice of drink more water and eat more fiber. Beet juice helps to relieve constipation by improving bile flow from the gallbladder, and bile helps to stimulate peristalsis in the intestinal tract, making sure that everything is moving along as it should. Whole-body detoxification is improved when the bowels are working optimally.

2. Skin Health

Beetroot juice is also beneficial for the skin as the skin is also another detoxification organ. If the gallbladder detoxification pathway is sluggish in the body, then toxins can come out through the skin, causing all sorts of skin concerns such as rashes, blemishes, etc. If you’re finding that your skin has lost its luster and needs a refresh boost, consider trying the GLOW IV™. I formulated this infusion to feed your tissues the most nourishing vitamins while removing harmful toxins from the body!

4. Weight Loss

Toxins are stored in fat cells, which is why cleansing safely and correctly is crucial for weight loss. If the liver and gallbladder can’t effectively and safely detox, the body will not use the stored fat in fat cells with lots of toxins until the body can detox the toxins stored in the fat cells.The first step in any liver detox protocol is to first open up the elimination pathways by improving bile flow from the gallbladder. Toxins are eliminated out of the liver and body via the bile and through the gallbladder. If the elimination routes are sluggish due to a build-up of gallbladder sludge and thick stagnant bile, it is difficult to lose weight. Beet juice helps to cleanse the gallbladder and liver by opening up this crucial elimination route in the body.

5. SIBO

There is a big connection between SIBO and gallbladder problems. If you have SIBO symptoms, gallbladder pain, fat mal-absorption, or SNPs in the PEMT gene then beetroot will be very beneficial for you. Beet’s can promote antimicrobial bile flow. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth can be a recurrent issue if gallbladder function is not addressed, and bile flow is not optimized. Bile is antimicrobial and helps to prevent small intestinal bacterial overgrowth through bile’s antimicrobial properties.Beetroot juice is wonderful for flushing gallbladder sludge naturally. If bile is thick and sludgy, then it won’t flow out of the gallbladder effectively.

 

Now who’s ready to juice some beets?

 

Stress, Immunity and Hormones

Stress, Immunity and Hormones

by | Dec 15, 2020 | Blog, Hormones, Immunity, Stress

We have an increasing number of things that demand our time and attention every day. Many of us aren’t sleeping as well as we should and we lead fairly sedentary lifestyles. And many more of us consume a diet filled with chemical additives, preservatives, flavorings and sugar, all which leave us feeling even more stressed and fatigued. We have gadgets that allow us to be accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is seemingly bad news everywhere you turn. We are increasingly becoming a society that is stressed out, overwhelmed and burnt out!

In a healthy body, once the stress has passed and cortisol levels decrease, the hypothalamus signals to the pituitary and adrenals to stop hormone production. But this doesn’t happen when chronic stress is involved.  It becomes a loop of continual release of all of the stress hormones. The result is dysfunction in the HPA axis (hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal). When levels of these hormones, particularly cortisol, remain elevated in the body, specific symptoms will begin to occur.

Symptoms that indicate that stress is causing a hormone imbalance include:

 

1. Poor digestion

When cortisol is released, digestion slows down. This happens so that energy can be conserved and diverted to where it’s needed.  The production of HCL also slows along with the digestion process.  This can often lead to acid reflux, H.Pylori, ulcers, and Leaky Gut.

2. High blood sugar levels

When faced with stress, the body releases glucose to help provide fuel to the body.  This increases blood sugar levels. When blood sugar levels remain high for an extended period of time, such as during periods of chronic stress, it can result in blood sugar dysregulation. And the higher the fat in your diet, the less sugar is able to get into the cell to fuel it. This sends signals to your pancreas to release more insulin to get the glucose into the cell, resulting in insulin resistance.

Also high levels of fat in your blood put a major strain on your liver, pancreas, and adrenal glands, which work together to manage your blood sugar levels. With high-fat diets (such as in a Keto and at times Paleo Diet) they can make the liver sluggish and unable to store and release glucose as it should. Excess fat burdens your pancreas because it needs to release enzymes to aid fat digestion. And this also impacts your adrenal health because they flood the body with additional cortisol when your body senses higher levels of fats in your blood. Your body tries to compensate with  excess adrenaline to help move the fat out of your blood, which can also tax the pancreas, reducing its ability to produce enough insulin (and enzymes)  to keep your glucose levels in check. Ultimately leading to a vicious cycle of a burdened liver, pancreas and adrenals.

4. Lowered immune system

When you first deal with a stressor, the body actually stimulates the immune system. This is a defense mechanism that is designed to protect you against infection and help to heal wounds.  But ultimately, the longer the chronic stress remains a problem, the weaker the immune system becomes, because it just can’t keep operating on overdrive forever. The immune system becomes so weak that it leaves you susceptible to viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungal infections. And if the liver is over burdened due to an unhealthy diet, this decreases its ability to detox toxins from your body..so what does it do with them? The toxins get stored in your brain, bone, fat and other organs (including your liver, pancreas and thyroid.

5. Loss of fertility and libido

When cortisol levels are elevated, other systems of the body are put at a level of minimal function and the release of certain hormones is suppressed. This is true for the reproductive system. When stress and Cortisol are high, sex hormone production is kept at a minimum. This causes a loss of reproductive function and libido.

6. Weight gain

While in the midst of a continual stress response, the appetite will increase along with the release of insulin. When facing stress, after the release of Cortisol by the adrenal glands, the body believes that it needs carbohydrates or fatty foods that can easily be stored as an energy reserves in the form of fat. So with chronic stress, your appetite for carbs and fatty food increases….and so does your waistline. Cortisol induced weight gain tends to happen around the abdomen, where the fat cells are more sensitive to the effects of Cortisol. Others have an opposite effect of a lack of appetite from the result of chronic stress. Skipping meals forces your body to use up your liver’s glucose storage, driving the body to run on adrenaline reserves which may be little to none, which can damage your pancreas and lead to insulin resistance as it looks for any type of fuel it can get.

8. Memory loss

When stress becomes chronic, it has a damaging effect on the brain. Production of new brain cells slows or even ceases completely and the brain actually begins to shrink. Cortisol damages the hippocampus…the part of the brain that is responsible for memory, learning and regulating emotions. The result is memory loss, decision making problems and loss of impulse control. Let’s not forget (pun intended) a lowered immune response from stress also allows for other viruses, bacteria or fungus to “come out and play” or seek further refuge in the brain leading to brain fog or memory issues and potential neurodegenerative issues such as Parkinsons, Alzheimer’s or ALS.

 If you’re struggling with any of the above issues, it’s time for you to get to the root cause and heal your body for good. This is why I created the Regenerative Health Program™. It uses my custom-tailored labs to help you finally understand why symptoms are showing up, despite what others are telling you that everything is “normal.”

 

Those aches, pains, brain fog or lack of energy is not a normal part of aging. There is a hidden cause that has yet to be addressed and I’m here to help you discover and heal it.

By investigating your biochemistry and analyzing your diet and current symptoms, I will help you find out if you’re eating based on your genetics and assess which stage of dis-ease you’re experiencing.

And…you’ll discover if your hormones are out of balance, and find clues to gut issues such as hidden infestations such as viruses that your body has been harboring for years.

You’re here right now because your body is trying to get your attention. It’s time to start listening to what your body needs. It’s not about treating the symptoms, but about understanding what your body requires to heal.

When you’re ready, I’m here to walk with you side by side on your path to your very best self!

Is Your Estrogen Tanked?

Is Your Estrogen Tanked?

by | Jun 30, 2020 | Blog, Estrogen, Hormones, Hot Flashes, Menopause, Menses, Menstruation, Perimenopause, women's health

Do You Need More Estrogen?

​For most women, menopause occurs between the ages of 48 and 52. In the lead-up come the hormonal changes of perimenopause, which often last between four to ten years. Though some women sail through these hormonal shifts, many experience symptoms that come and go or occur daily. During this time most women feel they are chasing their tail as symptoms come and go. But how do you know if low estrogen is to blame when it comes to your hormones?

 

Symptoms of Low Estrogen

Estrogen is closely linked to how you feel, your mood, and your general well-being. So, you can imagine that if your estrogen levels were low, you would experience some noticeable symptoms such as:

  • Mood swings
  • Depression 
  • Anxiety 
  • Anger 
  • Irritability

 

Low Estrogen & Menopause

If you are in your mid-late 40s or early 50s & experiencing some of the symptoms  below, there are chances that you are beginning the menopausal transition. These symptoms can include:

  • Changes in skin texture
  • Hair loss/thinning
  • Amenorrhea (absence of periods)
  • Decreased libido
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Hot flashes and night sweats
  • Depression
  • Insomnia 
  • Painful sex
  • Forgetfulness
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Frequent headaches
  • Dry eyes 
  • Frequent UTIs

If you’re looking to naturally control these symptoms, you might try foods high in phytoestrogens. Part of what makes phytoestrogens a bit tricky is their ability to both mimic estrogen & act as an estrogen antagonist.

The way these phytoestrogens work is interesting:

  1. If there is too much estrogen present in the body, phytoestrogens attach to estrogen receptors & prevent the natural hormone from overproducing.
  2. When natural estrogen levels are too low, phytoestrogens take on the role of raising & balancing the natural level of this hormone.

 

Naturally Increasing Estrogen 

  1. Red wine – the active constituent that makes drinking red wine so beneficial (in moderation) is resveratrol. Not only helpful for balancing estrogen, but also for lowering inflammation in the body.
  2. Flax seeds – flaxseed contains the highest amount of lignans, a form of polyphenols, which are high in phytoestrogens. When plant lignans are ingested, they can be metabolized by the intestinal bacteria in the large intestine into enterolactone. Enterolactone is the bioactive form of phytoestrogen. It is enterolactone that binds to estrogen receptors, blocking and competing with estrogen, based on if your body is too high or too low in estrogen. Think of flaxseeds as the perfect estrogen balancer!
  3. Red clover (herb) – is one of my most favorite herbs for balancing estrogen levels and a very powerful phytoestrogen. You can find it in a supplement form or make a tea out of it too.
  4. Soy – is probably the most studied phytoestrogen-rich food. It’s the isoflavone content that makes it stand out nutritionally. The research shows that isoflavones may be able to counteract decreasing estrogen levels during menopause and reduce flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and other symptoms. 

Dr. Nirvana Lectures on Balancing Hormones to Release Weight

by | Apr 16, 2019 | Anti-Aging, Belly Fat, Blog, Blood Sugar, Calories, Estrogen, Fatigue, Hormones, Insulin Resistance, Periods, PMS, Thryoid, Weight Gain, Weight Loss, Weight Loss Program, Wellness, women's health

Dr. Nirvana Lectures on Balancing Hormones to Release Weight

When working with patients in my Practice, I hear a lot of similar comments. In particular:

  • I’m eating all the right foods, but I still can’t lose the weight.
  • There’s nothing I can do to lose weight, it’s genetic.
  • I’m just getting old and my metabolism has decreased.
  • These last 10 pounds just won’t go away—I want to give up.
  • There are certain foods I can’t stop eating even though I suspect they’re bad for me.
  • I crave sugar like crazy.
  • Diets that work for others don’t seem to work for me.
  • I lose five pounds, and then I regain seven.
  • I’m tired of and frustrated with weight loss.

Do those statements also resonate with you? If so, you might not know an important secret: the reason you struggle with your weight is that your hormones are out of balance.

As a licensed Naturopathic Doctor, I am uniquely qualified to understand the private suffering that women experience with weight gain and body shame. Although hormones are complex, when out of balance, they make losing weight close to impossible particularly for women. During my lecture, I’ll share which hormones are to blame, how they affect your weight, and at least one simple action you can take to bring each hormone back into balance.

Please join me on May 18th at 2pm, as I help you understand the ins and outs of your complex body, with natural solutions for weight loss.

RSVP by May 17th

 

Happy Nowrooz

Happy Nowrooz

by | Mar 19, 2019 | Blog, Wellness

Happy Iranian New Year, Happy Nowrooz

Healthy and Wellness in Persian Traditions

On this auspicious day we celebrate not only the beginning of Spring, but also the Iranian New Year.

One of my absolute favorite times of the Year. The flowers are blooming and the birds are singing. The sun warms our bodies and homes. A time of rebirth which t is reflected in many areas of our lives.

In this picture we see what is referred to as the Haft-seen. In Farsi, it refers to the seven “s’s”.  Each table setting represents 7 different items that start with the  letter (Seen “س”) in Farsi which serve a particular purpose. An intention for the New Year that is beginning.

norooz, health, iranian new year, persian norooz meaning, haftseen, naturopathic doctor, wellness

So what do they symbolize?

  1. “Sib” (Apple) : symbolizes health and beauty.
  2. “Sabze” (Grass) A symbol of nature and rebirth.
  3. “Senjed” (Sea-buckthorn): Holistically Senjed was utilized to invigorate the brain and memory, and symbolizes wisdom.
  4. “Serkeh” (Vinegar): symbolizes age and patience.
  5. “Samanu”: is a sweat paste made from germinated wheat, which is specially prepared for Nowruz. It is a symbol for affluence.
  6. “Somaq” (Sumac): Sumac is a symbol for patience and tolerance.
  7. “Seer” (Garlic): symbolizes health.

There are other items added to the haft-seen which bring together the full intentions for the New Year ahead. Some include:

  • A few coins represent prosperity and wealth.
  • A basket of painted eggs represents fertility.
  • A goldfish in a bowl represents life and the end of astral year.
  • Rose water known for its magical cleansing power.
  • A mirror that represents a field of possibilities where the creative force reflects and makes everything possible.

May this New Year be one that brings all of your most desired wishes come true with much health and love!