What is a diet? Deprivation, starvation, low carb, low fat, raw foods, vegan, vegetarian, protein, soy-tein? The list goes on and on. The truth is, a diet is a nutritional lifestyle that is best suited for your personal health goals and needs. Determining which dietary components are most conducive to optimal health involves several areas of analysis. It is of no coincidence that some of these factors, when out-of-balance, also contribute to many of the common chronic diseases in our communities. For example, a practitioner may consider allergies and sensitivities, various disease patterns and blood chemistry abnormalities, nutrient deficiencies, exercise and activity levels, age, or other specific nutritional needs to decide which diet is most therapeutic for her patient. Therefore, it can be further deduced that diet plays a larger role in achieving health and wellness than just weight management. Below are some of the most common conditions that can be improved (and some even eliminated) with dietary intervention:
1. Eczema, Psoriasis, and other dermatological symptoms
2. Chronic Sinusitis and other allergic conditions affecting the upper respiratory system
3. Gastrointestinal Symptoms: GERD/reflux, IBS, constipation, bloating, gas, indigestion
4. Diabetes and Insulin Resistance
5. Obesity
6. Chronic Fatigue
7. High Cholesterol
8. Hyperactivity and attention deficit disorders
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
The Big “D”
Saturday, April 18th, 2009Are you getting the whole story from your doctor?
Monday, April 13th, 2009As an integrative practitioner that treats patients with both conventional and alternative (or complimentary) methods, I am not a physician that stands entirely on either side of the fence between these 2 types of medicine. However, in my experience observing various medical settings (as well as being a patient myself from time to time!), it is clear that communication between the physician and patient is often unclear, neglected, and/or discounted as an important part of the visit. For example, how many of you know what your prescription medications or supplements are actually for? In addition, how many of you know if your prescriptions or supplements generally may have any side-effects? And how many of you know if your prescriptions or supplements may have a unique effect (side-effect) on your individual condition, allergies, sensitivities, or otherwise? And finally, how many of you asked your provider? It is good practice for your physician to volunteer all of the above-mentioned information to increase your awareness and active participation in your own healthcare. It is also partially your responsibility to empower yourself with information from professional healthcare providers. This is important for a couple major reasons. The first reason is that this information may need to be readily provided to any new practitioner you visit and in the event that you suffer from an unexpected adverse reaction. Secondly, many medications negatively interact with other medications, foods, and/or supplements. It is important that your healthcare providers know this information ahead of time to avoid any reactions with new supplements or medications that could be harmful or even fatal in some cases. Lastly, it is important to know if you have any pre-existing conditions that you are being treated for to encourage thorough communication and more specific treatment options within your healthcare network. Medications often provide a good clue as to what you are being treated for, but many complimentary or alternative treatments can apply to various types of conditions.
It is not enough to be great at searching out things on the internet. You never know how much of this information comes from an unqualified source and not every explanation applies to your individual condition. Take advantage of the knowledge your professional resources (doctors, pharmacists, nutritionists, etc) have to offer.
Look for more posts on drug and supplement interactions and side-effects.
Allergies in Children
Thursday, March 12th, 2009A concerned parent approached me today. He reported that no matter how many doctors they went to see, no one could find the source of his son’s allergies. At the ripe old age of 3 years, his son was already well on his ways to a myriad of suppressive therapies including antihistamines. This parent was very frustrated for his son and said that these methods were not even helping and his son continued to struggle with upper respitory congestion as well as gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, cramping, flatulence, etc.) on a frequent basis. He explained that the intolerance to milk was identified early with first consumption because his son could not consume milk without vomiting immediately. I advised this parent that there are many causes for allergies and intolerances and that he needed to obtain a few comprehensive tests to get a better idea of what the cause(s) of his son’s condition could be.
Initial areas of analysis and investigation should include gut function and possible bacterial or parasitic infections, food allergies, environmental sensitivities, and metabolic disorders. I also suggested that sound nutrition be focused on in parallel with other efforts as it plays a critical role in improvement. This protocol is also applicable in adult patients although each patient, no matter the age, is an individual case which calls for a strategy specific to their unique history and lifestyle.
Upcoming topics will include nutrition in allergic conditions and gut healing.
*Dr. Appelhans is now accepting new patients. To learn more about Dr. Appelhans go to the website at www.privatehealthcarenow.com or call 310-281-6926 to make your appointment today*
Dr. Kris Appelhans – Welcome
Saturday, February 14th, 2009Welcome to Private Health Care Now. I am Dr. Kris Appelhans and will be discussing common issues in acute and chronic disease with an emphasis on gastrointestinal and metabolic conditions. Upcoming weekly topics include diabetes and weight management, therapeutic nutritional intervention, immune support, and chronic bowel disorders. Feel free to post your questions and comments here. I look foward to building an interactive community while increasing awareness in preventative and integrative health care.
