Rejuvalife Vitality Institute
Beverly Hills CA

Vitamin D and your Immune System

We all know that we need Vitamin D and that we can get it from the sun, as well as from fatty dish, fish liver oils and eggs, as well as in Vitamin D supplement form. Even so, nearly half the world’s population has low levels of vitamin D. What you might now know is why we need vitamin D. What, exactly, does vitamin D do?

Danish researchers have discovered that we need vitamin D to activate our immune system’s killer cells. These killer cells, known as T cells, become inactive if they don’t have enough vitamin D. If they are inactive, they can’t fight incoming germs and bacteria. Scientists have told us that vitamin D is important for calcium absorption. They have also made a connection between the levels of vitamin D and diseases like MS and cancer. But this is the first time a connection between vitamin D and immune function has been made.

“What we didn’t realize is how crucial vitamin D is for actually activating the immune system — which we know now,” Geisler wrote in the study in the journal, Nature Immunology. Geisler and his research team said the findings offered much needed information about the immune system and would be of particular use when developing new vaccines. “This is important not only in fighting disease but also in dealing with anti-immune reactions of the body and the rejection of transplanted organs,” they wrote. Geisler said there were no definitive studies on the optimal daily vitamin D dose but experts recommend 25 to 50 micrograms.

If you have concerns about supplementation and aren’t sure about your Vitamin D levels, our practice has a simple blood test to check for your Vitamin D levels as well as other important biomarkers. Call us and we’ll tell you about it.

The Benefits of Human Growth Hormone When Used Correctly

Human Growth Hormone, HGH, has alternatively received both beatings and boosts by the scientific and medical communities and the media. What is HGH? Who should take it?

HGH supplementation was originally approved, and still used today, to help extremely small children attain a more normal adult height. Were it not for HGH, these children would be abnormally short-statured adults.

Although using hormone growth therapy for adults has been both a social and ethical controversy for over 50 years, individuals who inject HGH on a regular basis give glowing testimony of Youth Regained: stronger muscles, faster response time, increased mental acuity and memory, a level of energy they haven’t seen in years, and a reduction of body fat. Mayo Clinic studies have shown that injections of HGH increase bone density and muscle mass, decrease body fat, bolster the heart’s ability to contract, improve mood, and increase exercise capacity. Notwithstanding these fabulous consequences, only adults diagnosed with “adult growth hormone deficiency” are allowed to use HGH.

What is Human Growth Hormone?

HGH, as used today, is also called somatropin. The version used is identical in amino acid sequence to that naturally produced by the human body and is called rhGH for “recombinant” human growth hormone. It’s chemically identical to that produced by the pituitary gland.

Who should take HGH?

Beginning in your 40s, your pituitary gland begins slowing its production of HGH. A continued decrease in HGH will ultimately cause obesity, osteoporosis, mental confusion, decreased immunity and cardiovascular problems such as high cholesterol and triglyceride levels. See any connection between these symptoms and what we’re told to expect as “normal aging”? Of course! Many of the signs of “normal aging” are due in part to a decrease in HGH production, as well as diminution of other hormones, such as estrogen, testosterone and progesterone.

How is HGH best taken?

HGH molecules are too large for the body to absorb them unless injected. The pills, creams and sprays offered on the Internet are useless. Injecting a small, daily dose of HGH is almost completely painless through the use of extremely thin, short needles. Some versions of HGH come in an easy pre-loaded cartridge in a pen-style injector. You dial up the dosage as defined by your physician, inject it once a day, and that’s it. Simple. Easy.

How do I know if I need HGH?

Blood tests can reveal your body’s level of HGH. If extremely low and accompanied by some of the problems noted above, a prescription can be written for you to receive HGH based on a diagnosis of adult human growth deficiency.

When monitored by a qualified physician, HGH supplementation can dramatically increase the quality of your life, while fending off many of the consequences of aging.

Excess Body Fat = Thousands of Cancer Cases Annually

A shocking new study was published last week by researchers with the American Institute for Cancer Research,  that states more than 100,000 cases of cancer are caused annually by excess body-fat and obesity. The researchers studied seven cancers with known links to obesity along with actual case counts that were likely obesity-related.

From

The report says that 49 percent of endometrial cancers are caused by excess body fat. That number is followed by 35 percent of esophageal cancer cases; 28 percent of pancreatic cancer cases; 24 percent of kidney cancer cases; 21 percent of gallbladder cancer cases; 17 percent of breast cancer cases; and 9 percent of colorectal cancer cases.

“This is the first time that we’ve put real, quantifiable case numbers on obesity-related cancers,” said Glen Weldon, the American Institute for Cancer Research educational director. In addition, he said, it’s not just causing cancer that’s an issue.

“Obesity not only raises the risk for getting cancer,” Weldon said. “It also has a negative effect on survival and can make treatment more difficult.” (Link to full story)

The sheer magnitude of this is a bit overwhelming, and calling attention to the problem is certainly necessary. In addition to cancer, we know obesity-related health problems abound, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes and various other maladies. As I’ve explained before, increased body fat can lead to increased cellular inflammation, which is linked to DNA mutation and diseased cell growth, as is seen in cancers and many other diseases.

Unfortunately, the study doesn’t propose any solution. While some would suggest simply losing the weight, or not gaining it at all, I can’t help but add “keeping your soup clean” – i.e. not just counting calories, but eating a nutritionally dense and healthy diet and adopting an active lifestyle are paramount to good health.

Thanks for reading,

Andre Berger, M.D.

Related recent posts from the archives:

• Obesity Shrinks Your Brain & Shortens Your Life
• Is Your Soup Clean? Questions & Answers about Diagnostic Testing
• This is Your Brain on Junk Food
• Food Choices Supersede Genetics

Economy Affecting Waistlines Along with Wallets

Unhealthy food choices are more common because of the recession.

Everyone is feeling the effects of the economic recession. For many, value trumps health-conscious when it comes to food choices.  It’s sad, but true, that processed, frozen or “fast food” is less expensive than the healthier alternatives.  Whether you’re feeding yourself or an entire family, those frozen tv-dinners or the “value menu” at the burger joint can be pretty attractive, financially.

One of the consequences of this unfortunate situation, however, is that Americans are just getting fatter, and our risk for obesity related illnesses such as diabetes is rising.

From the Wall Street Journal:

“Approximately 20% of all meals prepared in our homes from 1990 to 2007 involved the use of a microwave,” says Mr. Balzer. But in 2008, microwave usage rose to 30%. NPD Group, which has been following the microwaving habits of American consumers for nearly two decades, attributes that gain to the troubled economy.

Not surprising, then, are the rising rates of obesity and diabetes. The obesity rate climbed more than one percentage point to 26.4% in September from a year earlier, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, a measure of U.S. health compiled by the Gallup research firm and wellness-program provider Healthways. (Full story)

In spite of the current economic situation, there are healthy choices you can make. Again from the WSJ.

Think ahead. Planning out your meals and snacks in advance forces you to think more about the types of foods you are eating.

Make a shopping list. Studies show that people who make shopping lists — and stick to them — are less likely to make impulsive purchases of things like candy, chips or a box of donuts.

Buy in bulk. Buying 32 ounces of yogurt can cost less than buying four eight-ounce containers. In some cases, the savings of buying in bulk versus the premium-preportioned packages can run upward of 50%, according to grocery-store price surveys.

Make it yourself. You can find a multitude of 10-minute recipes online that use healthy and affordable ingredients. And you can be both time- and budget-conscious by making a few larger meals early in the week and freezing smaller portions for later use.

Pack a lunch. Take leftovers for lunch and bring your own snacks to work. This will save you money and keep you from binging on vending-machine fare when hunger strikes.

Cut down on sugary drinks. Water is cheaper — and better for you. If you still crave some flavor, squeeze the juice of a lime or lemon into the water.

There is always an “easier way” when it comes to selecting nutritious food. The “grab-and-go” meal at the drive through, the bag of potato chips to “tide you over”,  these are reasonable choices if immediate value is the main concern.

However beneficial these savings are in the short-term, though, there are long-term physical and economic implications. As a nation we’re becoming less and less healthy, and the long-term financial impact will be felt individually and as a society long past the end of this recession. Something to think about…

Thanks for reading,

Andre Berger, M.D.

Related posts:

Keeping Your Soup Clean: Questions and Answers About Diagnostic Testing

Obesity Shrinks Your Brain & Shortens Your Life

Insulin Resistance Improved with Exercise

Weight Loss Improves Mood in Depressed Individuals

FDA Cracking Down on Misleading Nutrition Labels

Move Over BMI, Here Comes BCA

The Body Mass Index can't distinguish lean body mass from fat weight, therefore very muscular people have BMI scores of the morbidly obese. (image: How Things Work 2005)

Invented in the mid 19th century, the Body Mass Index, or BMI, is currently the most widely-used diagnostic tool for gauging whether a person is at a healthy weight, under or overweight, and is reached through a calculation of height and weight measurements.

A person’s BMI is a very simple indicator of a person’s “fatness” or “thinness” that when used as designed, allows doctors to more objectively discuss weight issues with their patients.  Using this calculation, doctors use an individual’s particular BMI to determine whether or not they need medical care for being over or underweight: a BMI of 18.5 to 25 usually indicates optimal weight, a BMI lower than 18.5 suggests the person is underweight, while a number above 25 may indicate the person is overweight; a BMI below 17.5 may indicate the person has anorexia nervosa or a related disorder; a number above 30 suggests the person is obese (over 40, morbidly obese).

There is some controversy over the accuracy of this measurement, as it can’t distinguish body fat from lean body mass,  therefore a very muscular person will weigh more, and therefore have a higher BMI, even though he/she may really be quite lean,  and many feel it is most appropriately used in the study of populations, not individuals, for that reason.

There is another method of measurement that, according to recent studies, is a more reliable indicator. Body Composition Analysis (BCA) measures four parameters of health.

The BCA for Weight Management helps us measure four parameters of health:
1. Body Hydration Status by measuring the cellular fluid.
2. Cell Health Status by measuring the lean body mass and fat mass.
3, Nutritional Status through the BIA meter.  (Bioelectrical Impedance Analyzer)
4. Longevity Status by calculating various indices.

From Medical News Today:

Recent studies using similar analysis suggest that up to 30% of obese people do not in fact require medical treatment. Widespread adoption of BCA could significantly improve the targeting of limited healthcare resources in the context of one of modern society’s global killers. Thanks to advances in imaging technology, variables – such as the body’s fat proportion, location and distribution and the size of fat cells and fat droplets within these cells – can now be factored into the health risk assessment.

Coupled with a better understanding of the interrelation between genes, environment, hormone levels and metabolism, BCA gives clinicians a clearer picture of the specific health risks to an individual.

In light of the growing evidence in favour of functional BCA, the authors conclude that “the definitions of both ‘overweight’ and ‘malnutrition’ should be reconsidered” by clinicians and researchers. Evidently, size does still matter but it’s what you do with it that really counts.

One way to ensure that you are at “optimal weight” regardless of how it’s measured is to…yep, stay active, eat a healthy diet, and keep your soup clean!

Thanks for reading,

Andre Berger, M.D.

p.s. Full disclosure – we have been using the BCA for Weight Management at Rejuvalife for quite some time. Give us a call if you’re interested in being measured!

Associated posts:

Keeping Your Soup Clean: Questions and Answers About Diagnostic Testing

Obesity Shrinks Your Brain & Shortens Your Life

Insulin Resistance Improved with Exercise

Weight Loss Improves Mood in Depressed Individuals

FDA Cracking Down on Misleading Nutrition Labels

Anti-Aging Benefits of Multivitamins

Biological age doesn't always equate with chronological age.

Just a short note today, to let you know about a new study that shows your daily multivitamin provides greater health and anti-aging benefits than previously thought. This is good news!

Researchers discovered that regular ingestion of multivitamins can reduce inflammation that leads to disease and biological aging. They determine this by gauging the length of the patient’s Telomeres, which are highly repeated DNA sequences on the ends of chormosomes that protect them from degradation. Every time a cell replicates, its telomere gets shorter, eventually causing cell death. Measuring telomere length is an indicator of cellular aging, and research demonstrates that shortened telomeres are responsible for many of the normal processes of aging.  Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and dementia have strong associations with shorter telomeres.

The ageing and lifespan of normal, healthy cells are linked to the so-called telomerase shortening mechanism, which limits cells to a fixed number of divisions. During cell replication, the telomeres function by ensuring the cell’s chromosomes do not fuse with each other or rearrange, which can lead to cancer. Elizabeth Blackburn, a telomere pioneer at the University of California San Francisco, likened telomeres to the ends of shoelaces, without which the lace would unravel.

With each replication the telomeres shorten, and when the telomeres are totally consumed, the cells are destroyed (apoptosis). Previous studies have also reported that telomeres are highly susceptible to oxidative stress.

Dr Chen and his co-workers noted that telomere length may therefore be a marker of biological ageing, and that multivitamins may beneficially affect telomere length via modulation of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation.

If you’re interested in learning about your biological age, the length of your telomeres, or your genetic predisposition to disease, there are diagnostic tests available to determine all of the above. Give me a call and we can discuss your options. I’ll be posting more information on telomere testing in the very near future, so stay tuned!

Thanks for reading,

Andre Berger, M.D.

News & Research on Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer's Disease Currently Has No Cure

I posted several entries about Alzheimer’s Disease in the last few months, and discussed risk factors and prevention.  You can read those posts here,  here, here and here, but in a nutshell, I talked about how your genetic risk for developing diseases like Alzheimer’s is based partially on genetics – about 70% – and the rest on “the soup” those genes are swimming in. “Cleaning up your soup”, i.e. maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle with good nutrition, adequate exercise and mental stimulation, are the keys to reducing your risk, and there are diagnostic tests available to gauge your propensity for developing Alzheimer’s or other diseases.

The genetic part of that equation was bolstered by new research that discovered new genes directly related to Alzheimer’s Disease. This new information will eventually help unlock the secrets to treating that debilitating and heartbreaking disease.

From

The first new genes tied to Alzheimer’s disease in a decade have been identified by European scientists, adding insight into the biology of the most common cause of dementia and potentially leading to treatments.

The studies, published yesterday in the journal Nature Genetics, may one day help speed creation of therapies for a malady that progressively destroys brain cells and affects 30 million people worldwide, the investigators said during a Sept. 4 news conference. Doctors already know that as much as 80 percent of a person’s chance of having Alzheimer’s is inherited.

(More – Link)

A different study of Alzheimer’s recently discovered that even a mild cold or infection can have a drastic effect on sufferers of the disease:

From 

Common infections, like colds and upset stomachs, may make memory loss more rapid in people with Alzheimer’s disease, a new study has found. It may be that infections cause inflammation in the body, which speeds up the damage caused by Alzheimer’s. However, another explanation for the link is that people with worsening Alzheimer’s are more vulnerable to infections.

(More – Link)

And in a third study, Australian researchers discovered that those who eat a diet high in saturated fats are at a higher risk for developing the disease.

From Australian Broadcasting Company:

Australian researchers believe they have discovered why foods high in saturated fat increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers from Curtin University of Technology in Perth found that saturated dietary fat damages the lining of blood vessels in the brains of mice, allowing a protein called amyloid to enter the brain.

The study, to be published in the British Journal of Nutrition, is one of the first to demonstrate a scientific link between diet and Alzheimer’s disease. (More – Link)

For more information on how you can keep your “soup” clean, I’ve included my recent video on the subject.

Additional reading on Alzheimers:

One – Alzheimer’s Part 1 – Risk Factors

Two – Alzheimer’s Part 2 – Preventative Measures

Three – Cholesterol Levels Tied to Risk for Dementia

Four – Diagnostic Testing

Thanks for reading,

Andre Berger, M.D.