February 2012
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IN THIS ISSUE
Daily Dose
Coenzyme Q10 and Heart Health
Women's Heart Health Event
Upcoming Events:
March 28
The Impact of Nutrition on ADHD
Stephen Donnelly, DO
April 4
Gut Health and IBS
Peter Knight, ND
DHEA - An Important Hormone Precursor
Brenda Houdlette
Fertility Facts Webinar
PeRx NewsHeart Friendly Recipes Packed with Omega-3s
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Happy Heart Health Month!
February is Heart Health Month and a great time to think about all the ways we can improve the health of our most important organ.
You probably already know that heart health begins with eating right and getting exercise; but did you also know that Coenzyme Q10 helps? Or that omega-3 fatty acids have been shown over and over again to support the cardiovascular system - in both those managing heart disease and those who aren't? Our newsletter this month has events, supplements, and recipes all designed to increase your heart health awareness.
We're also excited to announce two new upcoming events - one focused on the impact of nutrition on ADHD and another on gut health. Plus, PeRx has a delicious coffee special going on, Brenda shares insights on DHEA and how it affects hormones, and we hope you'll join us for an informative webinar on infertility that we are sponsoring next month. Enjoy the short month and come see us in the store soon.
Best,
  The Apothecary by Design Team |
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 DAILY DOSE: Coenzyme Q10 and Hearth Health
Just as we need energy to perform at our best, so do our cells.
One of the keys to keeping our cells full of energy is Coenzyme Q10 (or CoQ10). CoQ10 is "phenomenally important and pretty miraculous stuff," says Greg Boucouvalas, our pharmacist.
Coenzyme Q10 is a vitamin-like substance produced by the human body. It is found in virtually every cell in the body and is necessary for the production of energy within the cell. It also functions as an antioxidant.
In healthy individuals, normal CoQ10 levels are maintained by intake of CoQ10 in certain foods (such as beef, sardines, and peanuts) and by the body's synthesis of the coenzyme. However, CoQ10 levels decrease with age, certain heart conditions, and chronic diseases such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, and diabetes. Some prescription drugs may also lower levels of CoQ10, and in these instances, supplementation may help cells maintain proper energy function.
Significantly decreased levels of CoQ10 have been found in studies of a variety of diseases, but most specifically in heart disease. According to CoQ10 researcher Peter Langsjoen, M.D., "CoQ10 is known to be highly concentrated in heart muscle cells due to the high energy requirements of this cell type. Congestive heart failure (from a wide variety of causes) has been strongly correlated with significantly low blood and tissue levels of CoQ10 and the severity of heart failure correlates with the severity of CoQ10 deficiency."
Additionally, many drugs used to treat heart disease - such as beta blockers and statin drugs, those typically prescribed to lower cholesterol and improve heart health - actually interfere with the body's ability to produce CoQ10. CoQ10 and cholesterol partially share a bio-synthetic pathway (where one biological material is converted to another through enzymatic reactions). "Inhibitors used to treat elevated blood cholesterol levels by blocking cholesterol biosynthesis also block CoQ10 biosynthesis," Langsjoen reports. And in patients with heart failure, inhibiting CoQ10 production has a significant harmful effect.
Taking CoQ10 supplements, however, has proven to help negate CoQ10 deficiency and improve the heart's ability to produce energy. When used in addition to traditional medical treatments, patients have experienced great heart health results. According to Langsjoen, the majority of clinical studies concerning the treatment of heart disease "were remarkably consistent in their conclusions: that treatment with CoQ10 significantly improved heart muscle function while producing no adverse effects or drug interactions."
CoQ10 supplements come in pressed tablets, powder-filled capsules, or oil-based gelcaps. As CoQ10 is fat-soluble, absorption is enhanced when supplements are consumed with fat-containing foods such as peanut butter. The average recommended dose is 100 mg per day, but it varies according to disease and individual patient needs, and it's important to discuss supplementation with your physician.
Click here to read more about CoQ10 or visit the store to talk with Greg.
Information taken from INTRODUCTION TO COENZYME Q10 by PETER H. LANGSJOEN, M.D., F.A.C.C.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
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 UPCOMING EVENT: The Impact of Nutrition on ADHD - An Integrative Approach to Managing Symptoms
Dr. Stephen Donnelly, DO | March 28, 2012 | 6:30 p.m.
Research shows a strong link between the foods children eat and the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Understanding the relationship nutrition plays in ADHD can help parents make important dietary modifications that reduce potential nutrient deficiencies and improve symptoms.
Dr. Stephen Donnelly, DO, founder and owner of the Maine Center for Integrative Medicine is coming to our store to shed light on the connection between ADHD and nutrition. He'll help identify appropriate supplements for ADHD and other lifestyle factors that have an impact and review what an Integrative Medicine treatment plan looks like. This program would also be relevant for parents who are interested in learning more about improving their children's behavior and ability to concentrate through nutrition.
Register for The Impact of Nutrition on ADHD here and share the event with friends and family!
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 JUST ANNOUNCED: New Event on Gut Health with Dr. Peter Knight
Peter Knight, ND | April 4, 2012 | 6:30 p.m.
Join Peter Knight, naturopathic practitioner for an event focused around gut health and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Stay tuned for details & pre-register for the event here. Dr. Knight is a licensed doctor of naturopathic medicine specializing in nutritional and holistic treatment approaches to chronic health conditions. He is a graduate of Bastyr University and is in private practice. |
FROM OUR TEAM: DHEA - An Important Hormone Precursor
Brenda Houdlette is our Nurse Coordinator. In addition to offering hormone therapy insights and health tips each month in our newsletter, Brenda offers patient consults with peri- and post-menopausal women. She provides patient education and works with patients and their practitioners to develop individualized bio-identical hormone therapy plans. Call anytime at 207-899-0663 x223 to set up your own patient consult.
Hope you are all staying cozy and warm and finding some time to relax and pamper yourself during the dark days of winter. Thankfully Mother Nature has been rather kind to those in the Northeast this winter. A well deserved break after the harsh weather last year.
DHEA will be our topic for this month as this is a hormone precursor. What this means is that it is transformed by cell-specific local conversion to androgens or estrogens. Although it favors the androgen (testosterone) pathway it can affect either hormone. As with other hormones, DHEA declines with age. This begins in the late 20's and continues to do so resulting in levels one quarter of what we had when we were younger. DHEA is made primarily by the adrenal glands but a small amount is made by the brain and skin. DHEA has many functions in the body including sexual function, promoting bone growth and brain function, increasing lean body mass, promoting weight loss, decreasing cholesterol, increasing our sense of well-being and helping us cope with stress. DHEA has also been shown to have a protective effect against cancer, diabetes, heart disease and autoimmune disease.
Many practitioners will recommend taking DHEA if you have decreased adrenal function. This is best determined by testing cortisol levels using a saliva test you can do yourself at home. The kits are available at many offices and at our pharmacy. The test involves a sample of saliva taken in the early morning, noon time, evening, and midnight. The last one is one of the most important indicators as high cortisol late in the day or during the night can cause insomnia.
DHEA is available over-the-counter as a tablet or it can be compounded. If your practitioner determines you would benefit from supplementing DHEA, they will most often prescribe a compounded form in order to better adjust the dosing to your needs. The most common form used is sublingual drops that are given under the tongue. DHEA can also be compounded into vaginal suppositories that have been very helpful for many patients. You may want to consider this form if you have tried hormone replacement therapy and it did not agree with you or you are not comfortable taking hormone replacement. This form can help with vaginal dryness, increased libido (remember it favors the testosterone pathway) and many of the other benefits listed above. This may seem like a more "natural" way for some people to replace hormones because it allows the body to convert the DHEA into the hormones it needs.
Consider talking to your practitioner or calling us for help if you feel you may benefit from DHEA. As always, you are welcome to call me for guidance and direction.
Wishing you good health and peace.
Brenda
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FERTILITY WEBINAR: Let's Talk about Fertility - Fertility Facts
We're sponsoring a great event on infertility next month: The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services is putting on a live, interactive webinar with real time Q&A.
Speaker: John Nulsen, MD
March 16, 2012
4-5 pm
Fertility Facts
This is a fertility seminar designed for patients who may be at very different points in their fertility journey. The program will introduce you to fertility treatments from the most basic to the very advanced.
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HEART HEALTH EVENT: What Every Woman Should Know About Preventing Heart Disease
February 21, 4:30 - 6 p.m. The Harraseeket Inn
Join Dr. Lowell Gerber from Freeport Cardiology at the Harraseeket Inn for a great event on heart health. Learn about ways to preserve heart health and prevent heart disease - the greatest health risk to women. Dr. Gerber will address nutrition, exercise, vitamins, hormones and more.
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PERX NEWS: A Drink to Love...All Month Long!
FEBRUARY'S SPECIAL...
Cherry Kiss
Made with espresso, Ghirardelli Mocha Sauce, cherry flavoring, steamed milk - and for added sweetness, whipped cream! All month long just $2.99 for 10 oz. and $3.99 for 16 oz.
Visit our Facebook Page and tell us, which PeRx drink or food item makes your heart happy?
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 HEART FRIENDLY RECIPES: Packed with Omega-3s
We're focusing on foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids this February in honor of heart healthy month. Omega-3s can benefit the cardiovascular system, particularly among people diagnosed with coronary artery disease, and The American Heart Association recommends eating fish (particularly fatty fish) at least two times a week.
Eating fish doesn't have to be bland - here are three great recipes to give a try:
Salmon Burgers with Green Goddess Sauce
The key to perfect salmon burgers is to handle the fish delicately: don't overseason, overhandle or overcook it. Cutting the salmon into small pieces by hand takes a little while, but you want it in tender little bits. Serve over a bed of salad greens with the Green Goddess Sauce dolloped on top.
Mediterranean Tuna Antipasto Salad
Packed with protein and fiber, this tuna and bean salad is ready in a flash. For an extra kick, add a pinch of crushed red pepper or cayenne.
Here's a quick way to feed a family or crowd! The salmon is also great made ahead and served chilled.
Other good sources of omega-3s include: walnuts, flaxseeds, beans, eggs, olive oil and winter squash.
Have a favorite recipe that includes one of the above (or fish)? Share with us on our Facebook Page and we might feature you in our next newsletter!
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