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Note from Jim LaValle
Hello and Welcome to our New Metabolic Minute, our now twice
a month mailing with insights on how to take control of your metabolism, plus
the latest research on natural products!
If you are receiving this newsletter today, it is because in
the past you have either signed up for our Metabolic Minute emails or the
Metabolic Code Diet newsletter.
Hopefully you have been able to read most of these, and so you are
familiar with the idea that your current health is driven by how efficient your
metabolism is in carrying out all its functions, and that your future health
lies in balancing your metabolic function.
Anything can positively or negatively influence that
chemistry. Everything from environmental exposures, chronic stress, sleep
issues, exercise, the food we choose to eat and of course the drugs and natural
products we take can influence metabolism in a good or bad way, either improving
your health or marching you down a path toward illness.
You deserve vitality at every stage in life, but you do need
to work for it. A
friend of mine used a slide in many of his talks that stated " Life is the only
game where the object of the game is to learn the rules." You have to become a student of your own
health!
Need to know about effective weight loss strategies? Or if the latest dietary supplement
that is all the rage really has value?
Are you on a medication that could be depleting nutrients from you?
The Metabolic Minute is focused on helping you learn the
rules for your health, by informing you about the factors that disrupt body
chemistry and therefore can affect everything from our ability to control our
weight, to our mood to the strength of our immune system. These topics are at
the top of everyone's "need to know" list right now!
Twice a month you'll get breaking news for your health from
my team of experts combined with a practical tips on how to improve you and
your family's health; quick and to the point.
These newsletters are and will continue to be absolutely
free, and we will also make available books, in-depth reports, charts and
e-books for purchase, on a wide array of
topics. So keep an eye out
because whether you are a health care professional or just looking for good
information there will be something for everyone. I hope you enjoy the new Metabolic Minute, this month and
every month!!!!
In Good Health,
Jim
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Green Immunity Boosters
If you are fighting a cold, flu, or any other infection, the
information within these pages is an invaluable resource. But even if
you are just feeling run down, have less energy, or are not as strong
as usual, the immune-boosting recommendations in this book can make a
world of difference. New from Jim LaValle.
Order here.
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Still Undecided on Flu
Vaccines?
While a couple of months ago,
most people were wondering if there would really be a swine flu epidemic, now
there is no question. Swine flu is
definitely hitting and hitting hard. Here in the Cincinnati area, some schools
are experiencing as many as one third of their students being sick with swine
flu.
Now, the swine flu vaccine is
becoming available and the number one question we are getting from patients is "Should
I get the swine flu vaccine?"
In all honesty, this is a
tough call.
For the typical seasonal flu,
our stance has been that it affords little if any benefit. We based this on one
of the largest reviews ever, which found that the vaccines for seasonal flu
have not been shown to be that effective, in ANY age group.[1]
Most likely that is because they have had trouble with the vaccines matching
the strains of flu that end up actually hitting.
In fact regular flu vaccines
may increase health risks. For
example, one study found that children who do get flu vaccines are three times
MORE likely to be hospitalized for the flu than children who were not
vaccinated[2].
In addition there are legitimate concerns about what the yearly infusion of the
immune adjuvants or preservatives like aluminum could do to your health long
term.
So for most people we advise
that they really work on improving their immune defense against colds and flu
through proactive nutrition and lifestyle program.
The swine flu shot would not
be taken every year, but since the 1976 shot was connected to Guillain-Barré
Syndrome, there is still concern about side effects. There is actually risk of developing Guillain-Barré Syndrome
after regular flu vaccines, or even from getting the flu itself, but the risk
is very low, around one in a million[3]. Unlike the regular flu vaccine in
the case of H1N1 vaccine, the strain is correct, so this does weigh in its
favor.
If there is any concern over
the swine flu vaccine, it's that it hasn't been adequately tested due to time
constraints; although so far, there are no reports of any serious immediate
side effects. It does contain the
preservative thimerasol which has controversial side effects and concerns
regarding neurologic and immune
system damage.
So what should you do? At this point, there isn't enough
information to recommend taking or not taking the vaccine, in our opinion. Because swine flu does hit hardest in
people with other underlying issues, like diabetes, asthma and autoimmune
disorders, this is something that people, in conversation with their doctor,
are going to have to decide individually, taking into account their whole
health picture.
What Can You Do:
You may not realize it,
but the general measures you can take like drinking more water and making sure
you wash your hands frequently are very effective. In addition, getting adequate sleep is important. Did you realize that if you don't get 7
hours sleep per night, you will be 5-9 times more likely to catch the cold or
flu bugs this year? And cutting down on the sweets is great advice as well
.
In addition, here are some
key supplements that you should consider.
Vitamin D is very important for bolstering your immunity. Just recently the
Vitamin D council announced a report from a long-term care facility in
Wisconsin, which strongly suggested that vitamin D is protective against
swine flu[4]. Another
study that just came out this year found that when people have good vitamin D
levels they are far less likely to catch colds and flu or any upper respiratory
infection[5].
So make sure you get your
vitamin D measured, and if it's low,
take vitamin D 3 to get it up to adequate level. The experts at the vitamin D
council recommend vitamin D levels should be 50ng/ml or above.
Vitamin D comes in a liquid
form that is easy to administer to your kids. The vitamin D council recommends 5,000 IU per day for
adults, unless you get regular sun exposure (this doesn't always ensure
adequate Vitamin D). For children
ages 4 to 10 they recommend, 3,000 IU per day. But the best way to know needed dosages is to get tested
first. (Go to http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/treatment.shtml
for more info.)
Probiotics have been shown in
a couple of recent studies to greatly aid immunity. (This makes sense since up to 70% of your immune system
is housed in the GI tract.) A
recent study of children found that kids who took probiotics prophylactically
were half as likely to get the flu. Likewise a study in Japan showed similar
results for adults. Keeping
the immune integrity of the gut is key to your health and is just another
reason why probiotics are quickly gaining recognition as an important player in
our health.
A good product to keep on
hand if you do catch the flu is the herb andrographis.
Andrographis is an Ayurvedic herb which has numerous studies reporting that it reduces and shortens severity of symptoms in colds
and flu. One study of its
use in flu found that andrographis performed even better than an antiviral
medication, shortening symptoms by 3 days, and people on andrographis were much
less likely to progress to complicated influenza[6] (flu that turns into pneumonia or other
problems.)
If you would like to read
more about andrographis and other immune support agents you can pick up Jim's
latest book, the just released Green Immunity, which discusses safer solutions
for colds and flu.
1. Cochrane
Database Syst Rev. 2006 Jan 25;(1):CD004879.
2. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090519172045.htm
3.
Haber P,
et al. JAMA 2004;292:2478-2481.
4.
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/newsletter/vitamin-d-and-h1n1-swine-flu.shtml
5.
Ginde, et
al. Association between serum
23-hydroxyvitamin D level and upper respiratory tract infection. Arch Int Med 2009;169:384-90.
6.
Kulichenko
LL, Kireyeva LV, Malyshkina EN, Wikman G. "A randomized, controlled study
of Kan Jang versus amantadine in the treatment of influenza in Volgograd."
J Herb Pharmacother. 2003;3(1):77-93.
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Greetings!
Welcome. We hope you find our new newsletter a valuable source of information that will help you in your journey to improved health and well-being. For further information we invite you to visit the LaValle Metabolic Institute.
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The LaValle Metabolic Institute is an interdisciplinary healthcare facility utilizing expertise from an experienced staff of medical doctors, registered nurses, registered dieticians, and a clinical pharmacist that uncover metabolic disruptions and reccommend proven therapies which improve our patients' health and well-being.
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Nutrition for your "Healthstyle"®
3 Bean 2
Meat Chili on Boost
This recipe takes a fairly standard chili recipe and adds a
big nutritional boost by adding sautéed vegetables. The flavors of the carrots and zucchini blend well with the
meats and tomato sauce and give the chili an enhanced, richer flavor.
Nutrient
Spotlight
Excellent source of vitamin A, iron
Good source of vitamin C, calcium, riboflavin, niacin,
vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12,
zinc, and fiber
Ingredients*
1 pound ground bison or organic beef
1 pound ground turkey
1 can 3 bean blend organic beans
1 can Brooks Chili Beans (mild or hot based on preference)
1 can Muir Glen Diced Tomatoes (basil and garlic flavor)
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 jar Trader Joes Organic Tomatilla and Roasted Yellow Chili
Salsa
1 1/2 tsp of a Garlic Pepper Blend seasoning
1 tbs Chili powder
1 med to large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
½ a bag (6 oz) shredded carrots
1 medium zucchini
Top with any sheep's or goat's milk cheese.
* Use
organic ingredients for optimal nutrition
Preparation
Brown the meats with half the onion in a large pot, and when
cooked pour into colander to drain.
Put the meat back into the pot and add the beans, diced tomatoes and
tomato sauce, tomatillo salsa, and seasonings. Stir to blend ingredients. Let meat and beans sit while you prepare your vegetables as
follows. Saute the carrots and the
rest of the onion in a skillet.
Add a little water to steam the carrots. Saute for about 5 to 6 minutes or until you notice that the
carrots are getting tender. Add
the zucchini and sauté for another 5 or 6 minutes or until the zucchini is
tender. Add the minced garlic and
sauté for another minute or two, stirring well to mix the garlic throughout the
vegetable mixture.
Pour the vegetables into the chili and beans and mix
well. Simmer for at least a half
an hour on low heat. Simmering
even longer will make your chili more flavorful. Enjoy!
Serves: 16
Nutrition
220 calories, 20 g protein, 16 g carbohydrate, 5.4 g sugar,
3.6 g fiber, 9 g fat,
46 mg cholesterol, 5.1 g saturated fat, 2.6 g
monounsaturated fat, .4 g polyunsaturated fat, 630 mg sodium, 328 mg potassium,
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Did you know?
The Metabolic Code Diet™ Program offered by the LaValle Metabolic Institute includes:
- 12 individual weekly check-in appointments.
- a 100+ page recipe workbook.
- Dietician e-mail access and phone support.
Learn more.
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