There are two functional parts of the adrenal glands. The outer cortex, which produces three major classes of hormones: glucocorticoids, mineralcorticoids (regulate blood pressure) and androgens (testosterone, androstenedione and DHEA). And the inner medulla, which produces the catecholamines epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine, the hormones responsible for the fight or flight response.
Cortisol’s Role in Adrenal Fatigue
Cortisol, one of the glucocorticoids produced by the adrenals, is one of the main stress mediating hormones produced by the body. It acts to maintain the blood glucose levels necessary for normal brain and physical functions, has potent anti-inflammatory effects and at very high levels, can suppress immune function. During a normal day, cortisol levels spike between 7:00 and 8:00 am and gradually decreased throughout the day, reaching their lowest level between midnight and 4:00 am.
Normally, adrenal glands increase their production of cortisol when the body is under stress. Over time, if that stress continues or increases, cortisol levels continue to be elevated initially. At these prolonged high levels of cortisol, the body produces more glucose, leading to an increased risk of insulin resistance, diabetes, weight gain, high blood pressure, and depressed immune function. Eventually, the adrenal glands can become “fatigued”, resulting in a drop in cortisol production or an abnormal production pattern. Low cortisol levels can also cause weight gain, inflammation, inability to handle emotional stress and severe fatigue.
Watch our video to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvnGUCkQ4MY
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Are your Adrenal Glands Supporting or Hindering You?
The adrenal glands are small, pyramid shaped glands that sit just above the kidneys. They produce several different hormones, many of which regulate stress and allow your body to function on a basic level. Over severe or sustained periods of emotional, physical or chemical stress, your adrenal glands can become dysfunctional – producing an inappropriate level of hormones or producing hormones in an abnormal pattern. This dysfunction is commonly called Adrenal Fatigue, but can also be called Non-Addison’s hypoadrenia, subclinical hypoadrenia, neurasthenia, adrenal neurasthenia, adrenal insufficiency and adrenal apathy.
Most conventionally trained doctors are familiar with the severe forms of adrenal dysfunction, Addison’s Disease (extreme underproduction of cortisol) and Cushing’s Disease (extreme overproduction of cortisol), but are not familiar with the diagnosis or treatment of adrenal fatigue. Many patients with this condition are often told by their medical doctors that their symptoms are a normal part of life. Adrenal fatigue is, however, a real condition and can be life altering for those who suffer from it.
Identifying adrenal fatigue is relatively straightforward and with appropriate treatment, symptoms improve and can resolve completely.
Watch our video to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvnGUCkQ4MY
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Most conventionally trained doctors are familiar with the severe forms of adrenal dysfunction, Addison’s Disease (extreme underproduction of cortisol) and Cushing’s Disease (extreme overproduction of cortisol), but are not familiar with the diagnosis or treatment of adrenal fatigue. Many patients with this condition are often told by their medical doctors that their symptoms are a normal part of life. Adrenal fatigue is, however, a real condition and can be life altering for those who suffer from it.
Identifying adrenal fatigue is relatively straightforward and with appropriate treatment, symptoms improve and can resolve completely.
Watch our video to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvnGUCkQ4MY
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Why don’t women lose weight as easily as men?
Women know how easily they can put on weight and how difficult it is for them to lose it. Wondering why this happens? It is because of a simple fact that women are usually smaller and lighter than men. When you have a smaller body, you have lower calorie needs. When you have lower calorie needs, your relative deficit (20%, 30% etc) gives you a smaller absolute deficit and therefore you lose fat more slowly than someone who is larger and can create a large deficit more easily.
There are also various other factors that make it difficult for women to lose weight easily. They are:
Body Mass: Women have less lean body mass than men and more fat cells. The lower the lean body mass the less muscle they have and unfortunately muscle burns more calories than fat. This is why personal trainers usually suggest women to strength train – strength training builds muscle and therefore burns more calories.
Thyroid: It’s an endocrine gland in our bodies whose primary function is to control how quickly the body burns energy. Women, more than men, have thyroid problems.
Pregnancy: The potential to become pregnant is what makes women have less lean muscle mass – a women’s body has 20% more fat cells than men.
Brains: Women’s brains make them have a harder time resisting foods they crave than men. They are also more likely to overeat than men and more likely to have eating disorders or behaviors such as binge eating.
Sleep & Stress: These two go hand in hand. Lack of sleep (night-time parenting) causes stress. Stress AND lack of sleep causes the levels of cortisol (a hormone) to increase. High cortisol levels leads to an increase in appetite and thus causing women to overeat. They need to stop doing all the household chores and get some good beauty sleep if they want to have better control of their eating habits.
Exercise: Women don’t exercise hard enough. They all know the importance of it but very few are aware of how hard they need to exercise in order to lose weight. To lose weight women need to work out at 80% of our Max heart rate because that is their Aerobic Zone.
Source: http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/why-women-lose-weight-more-slowly-than-men-650.html and http://fitnesscheerleader.com/lazy/why-women-cant-lose-weight/
Contact Young Naturopathic Wellness Center for your weight management
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Watch our video to learn more on weight management
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO2ZF9BSrlY
There are also various other factors that make it difficult for women to lose weight easily. They are:
Body Mass: Women have less lean body mass than men and more fat cells. The lower the lean body mass the less muscle they have and unfortunately muscle burns more calories than fat. This is why personal trainers usually suggest women to strength train – strength training builds muscle and therefore burns more calories.
Thyroid: It’s an endocrine gland in our bodies whose primary function is to control how quickly the body burns energy. Women, more than men, have thyroid problems.
Pregnancy: The potential to become pregnant is what makes women have less lean muscle mass – a women’s body has 20% more fat cells than men.
Brains: Women’s brains make them have a harder time resisting foods they crave than men. They are also more likely to overeat than men and more likely to have eating disorders or behaviors such as binge eating.
Sleep & Stress: These two go hand in hand. Lack of sleep (night-time parenting) causes stress. Stress AND lack of sleep causes the levels of cortisol (a hormone) to increase. High cortisol levels leads to an increase in appetite and thus causing women to overeat. They need to stop doing all the household chores and get some good beauty sleep if they want to have better control of their eating habits.
Exercise: Women don’t exercise hard enough. They all know the importance of it but very few are aware of how hard they need to exercise in order to lose weight. To lose weight women need to work out at 80% of our Max heart rate because that is their Aerobic Zone.
Source: http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/why-women-lose-weight-more-slowly-than-men-650.html and http://fitnesscheerleader.com/lazy/why-women-cant-lose-weight/
Contact Young Naturopathic Wellness Center for your weight management
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Watch our video to learn more on weight management
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO2ZF9BSrlY
Monday, March 22, 2010
Are your friends making you fat?
Social networks can influence you in a lot of ways and one of them is that your friends can make you gain weight. Yes this is possible and many researches and studies have been done on this subject. A study on this, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, finds that the obesity epidemic can spread like a virus through social networks. When a person becomes obese, his friends and siblings are likely to gain weight as well.
James Fowler, one of the study's authors and an associate professor of political science at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) says that this may be due to the fact that friends may subconsciously share ideas about what constitutes a healthy weight.
The researchers found that when a person becomes obese, the chances that a friend will become obese increases by 57 percent. Siblings of obese people have a 40 percent increased risk of obesity, and their spouses' risk increased by 37 percent.
On average, having an obese friend made a person gain 17 pounds, which put many people over the body mass index (BMI) measure for obesity.
Female friendships did not seem to be impacted by obesity. But the chances that a man might gain weight from having a fat pal doubled for so-called mutual friends - friends who both listed each other as buddies.
However this doesn’t mean that you should blame your friends for your obesity as a lot of other factors are involved like genetics and individual lifestyles. To prevent this domino effect from affecting your weight the focus should be on staying fit and healthy and what better way to do it than getting your friends and family involved in this process.
Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Diet/story?id=3413751&page=1 and http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12237644
Contact Young Naturopathic Wellness Center for your weight management
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Watch our video to learn more on weight management
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO2ZF9BSrlY
James Fowler, one of the study's authors and an associate professor of political science at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) says that this may be due to the fact that friends may subconsciously share ideas about what constitutes a healthy weight.
The researchers found that when a person becomes obese, the chances that a friend will become obese increases by 57 percent. Siblings of obese people have a 40 percent increased risk of obesity, and their spouses' risk increased by 37 percent.
On average, having an obese friend made a person gain 17 pounds, which put many people over the body mass index (BMI) measure for obesity.
Female friendships did not seem to be impacted by obesity. But the chances that a man might gain weight from having a fat pal doubled for so-called mutual friends - friends who both listed each other as buddies.
However this doesn’t mean that you should blame your friends for your obesity as a lot of other factors are involved like genetics and individual lifestyles. To prevent this domino effect from affecting your weight the focus should be on staying fit and healthy and what better way to do it than getting your friends and family involved in this process.
Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Diet/story?id=3413751&page=1 and http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12237644
Contact Young Naturopathic Wellness Center for your weight management
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Watch our video to learn more on weight management
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO2ZF9BSrlY
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Sautéed Greens
This simple recipe is not only tasty, but packed with nutrition. Kale can be exchanged for any dark leafy green – collard greens, Swiss chard or spinach.
Serves 2
1 large bunch black kale
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
¼ tsp red chili flakes
¼ tsp salt
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
Cracked pepper to taste
Thoroughly wash and de-stem kale. Shake excess water from the kale, but do not dry. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and garlic to the skillet, stirring until lightly golden. Add the chilies and kale, toss together with oil, garlic and chili. Sprinkle kale with salt and cover for 3-5 minutes to stem the greens. Uncover and continue to toss over high heat until greens are wilted. Add lemon juice. Crack pepper over top and serve immediately
Watch our video to learn more on weight management
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_RJnm_QceM
Contact Young Naturopathic Wellness Center for your weight management
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Serves 2
1 large bunch black kale
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
¼ tsp red chili flakes
¼ tsp salt
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
Cracked pepper to taste
Thoroughly wash and de-stem kale. Shake excess water from the kale, but do not dry. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and garlic to the skillet, stirring until lightly golden. Add the chilies and kale, toss together with oil, garlic and chili. Sprinkle kale with salt and cover for 3-5 minutes to stem the greens. Uncover and continue to toss over high heat until greens are wilted. Add lemon juice. Crack pepper over top and serve immediately
Watch our video to learn more on weight management
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_RJnm_QceM
Contact Young Naturopathic Wellness Center for your weight management
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Monday, March 15, 2010
Basic lifestyle changes you can make to maintain a healthy weight
Reducing the daily stress on your body is key in maintaining a healthy weight. And although you can’t prevent or avoid all stress, there are a number of stressors you can control that will provide your body with a sound foundation. Some of the steps you can take include:
1. Identify and address hormone imbalances and food intolerances. Talk to Drs. Young or Larsen about what testing is appropriate for you.
2. Forming a habit of going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day.
3. Eliminating/reducing factors that disrupt your sleep: household noise, interruptions from pets, artificial lighting in your sleeping area – electronics, street lamps, night lights, etc.
4. Eating your meals at regular times each day.
5. Eating nutrition dense, whole foods.
6. Eating your last meal/snack at least 2 hours before bed.
7. Allowing yourself 10 minutes in the morning to wake up and start your day well: expose your eyes to sunlight, breathe deeply and set a simple intention for the day.
8. Practicing stress management techniques that work for you (exercising, meditation, deep breathing, etc.) for at least 10 minutes every day and during times of stress (commuting, dealing with difficult people or situations).
9. Be sure you are not habitually eating with friends. (Meaning you don’t need to treat yourself to desert or an extra drink just because everyone else is.)
Creating a healthy, lean body is dependent on how well each individual’s body copes with the demands made on it. The right balance is unique for each individual – what works for your friends may not work for you. Start by knowing what the common factors are, then identify what’s likely affecting you, and finally, let us help you make a plan to address them.
Watch our video to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_RJnm_QceM
Contact Young Naturopathic Wellness Center for your weight management
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
1. Identify and address hormone imbalances and food intolerances. Talk to Drs. Young or Larsen about what testing is appropriate for you.
2. Forming a habit of going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day.
3. Eliminating/reducing factors that disrupt your sleep: household noise, interruptions from pets, artificial lighting in your sleeping area – electronics, street lamps, night lights, etc.
4. Eating your meals at regular times each day.
5. Eating nutrition dense, whole foods.
6. Eating your last meal/snack at least 2 hours before bed.
7. Allowing yourself 10 minutes in the morning to wake up and start your day well: expose your eyes to sunlight, breathe deeply and set a simple intention for the day.
8. Practicing stress management techniques that work for you (exercising, meditation, deep breathing, etc.) for at least 10 minutes every day and during times of stress (commuting, dealing with difficult people or situations).
9. Be sure you are not habitually eating with friends. (Meaning you don’t need to treat yourself to desert or an extra drink just because everyone else is.)
Creating a healthy, lean body is dependent on how well each individual’s body copes with the demands made on it. The right balance is unique for each individual – what works for your friends may not work for you. Start by knowing what the common factors are, then identify what’s likely affecting you, and finally, let us help you make a plan to address them.
Watch our video to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_RJnm_QceM
Contact Young Naturopathic Wellness Center for your weight management
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Common factors that cause excess weight gain
In order to maintain a healthy weight your body requires the right nutrients as well as a decrease in perceived stressors. While a seemingly simple concept, it can be difficult to determine what your body fat regulating system feels threatened by. Below are some of the common factors that cause excess weight gain.
* Emotional & Environmental stressors: Depression, anxiety, fear and apprehension can all cause your body to feel threatened. These stressors can either be from internal strife or from reactions to your environment – home, work, etc. Often it is an emotional or environmental stress that first cues or chemistry to change. Ruling out depression, anxiety and fatigue from lifestyle is a critical portion of decreasing unwanted weight.
* Chemical stressors: Hormones (thyroid, sex hormones, cortisol) and neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that your body makes to direct its internal functions. As we have emotional, environmental and physical changes these messengers can be altered in such a way that they work against us. Chemical changes can result in adrenal fatigue, blood sugar problems (diabetes or insulin resistance), hypothyroidism, and even early onset hormone decline in both men and women.
* Physical stressors: Some common physical stressors include chronic pain, insufficient sleep, and over exercise. Chronic pain changes our chemistry, especially cortisol our main stress hormone. Insufficient sleep is perhaps the least talked about or recognized problem contributing to weight. Sleep apnea, insomnia, and waking often all contribute to weight gain. Over exercise is very surprising to most of our patients. If a person is not meeting their basic needs, like proper nutrients and sleep, and they are exercising heavily often there will be a decrease in basal metabolic rate. Persons in this situation can exercise daily and still not lose weight.
* Other environmental stressors: These include stimulants, poor nutrition and irregular eating. Caffeine, nicotine and sugar can all cause excess stress on your body both by inappropriate stimulation of your nervous system and by affecting your glucose-insulin interactions. Poor nutrition is not only eating bad food choices, but also poor choices for you such as foods you may be intolerant to. Insufficient vitamins and minerals, essential amino acids, and healthy fats will deprive your body even if you are eating enough. Often we check to be sure this is not a more serious problem with a blood test. Irregular eating habits, like skipping meals and binging on junk will also trigger your body to store extra weight.
As you can see from the list above, emotional, chemical and physical stressors play a large part in your body fat regulation system. Your body’s inherent response when it’s under increased stress is to stock up on fuel to defend itself.
Watch our video to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAlAuxF5cys
Contact Young Naturopathic Wellness Center for your weight management
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
* Emotional & Environmental stressors: Depression, anxiety, fear and apprehension can all cause your body to feel threatened. These stressors can either be from internal strife or from reactions to your environment – home, work, etc. Often it is an emotional or environmental stress that first cues or chemistry to change. Ruling out depression, anxiety and fatigue from lifestyle is a critical portion of decreasing unwanted weight.
* Chemical stressors: Hormones (thyroid, sex hormones, cortisol) and neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that your body makes to direct its internal functions. As we have emotional, environmental and physical changes these messengers can be altered in such a way that they work against us. Chemical changes can result in adrenal fatigue, blood sugar problems (diabetes or insulin resistance), hypothyroidism, and even early onset hormone decline in both men and women.
* Physical stressors: Some common physical stressors include chronic pain, insufficient sleep, and over exercise. Chronic pain changes our chemistry, especially cortisol our main stress hormone. Insufficient sleep is perhaps the least talked about or recognized problem contributing to weight. Sleep apnea, insomnia, and waking often all contribute to weight gain. Over exercise is very surprising to most of our patients. If a person is not meeting their basic needs, like proper nutrients and sleep, and they are exercising heavily often there will be a decrease in basal metabolic rate. Persons in this situation can exercise daily and still not lose weight.
* Other environmental stressors: These include stimulants, poor nutrition and irregular eating. Caffeine, nicotine and sugar can all cause excess stress on your body both by inappropriate stimulation of your nervous system and by affecting your glucose-insulin interactions. Poor nutrition is not only eating bad food choices, but also poor choices for you such as foods you may be intolerant to. Insufficient vitamins and minerals, essential amino acids, and healthy fats will deprive your body even if you are eating enough. Often we check to be sure this is not a more serious problem with a blood test. Irregular eating habits, like skipping meals and binging on junk will also trigger your body to store extra weight.
As you can see from the list above, emotional, chemical and physical stressors play a large part in your body fat regulation system. Your body’s inherent response when it’s under increased stress is to stock up on fuel to defend itself.
Watch our video to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAlAuxF5cys
Contact Young Naturopathic Wellness Center for your weight management
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Monday, March 8, 2010
Regulating Body Fat and the Role of Stress
To work on achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, it’s necessary first to understand the basics of how you regulate body fat and what factors affect this system. Your body fat regulating system is charged with ensuring your body has the energy it needs to function properly. Normally, your body maintains a small amount of stored energy as fat to balance your daily needs with your food intake. Daily needs range from exercise to providing basic nutrients to your cells.
If your fat regulating system perceives a threat, it will respond by switching into protection mode. In protection mode, the amount of energy that your body saves increases, the visible result of which is the accumulation of excess body fat. This effect is compounded by low caloric diets. The less energy you give your body, the more it saves. Really, this type of reaction is a positive adaptation for survival. If you were to lose weight when you are stressed and starving you would die.
Watch our video to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAlAuxF5cys
Contact Young Naturopathic Wellness Center for your weight management
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
When was the last time you were slim
One of the first things we ask patients is “When was the last time you were slim and what has happened since.” Weight changes can correlate with extreme stress or life changes. Some examples are divorce, or death of a loved one, moving, hormonal changes (like puberty, pregnancy or menopause) or even serious injury such as a car accident. There are many different reasons one gains weight. Understanding what has happened is an important part of your journey to find the answers you have been looking for. Once we have a clear picture of your history we will decide what testing or treatment suits you best.
Given the complexity of most patients’ issues it would be difficult to help lead you to your diagnosis in a blog. Watch our video to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLfq1d0NNdk
Contact Young Naturopathic Wellness Center for your weight management
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Given the complexity of most patients’ issues it would be difficult to help lead you to your diagnosis in a blog. Watch our video to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLfq1d0NNdk
Contact Young Naturopathic Wellness Center for your weight management
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
A Holistic Approach to Achieving and Maintaining a Healthy Weight
How many times have you heard you are over weight because you're eating the wrong foods, the wrong types of calories per meal, at the wrong time each day or you are just not exercising enough? What if you are following all of the right advice and still not getting results?
As a nation, we spend an estimated 30-40 billion dollars a year on diets and weight loss products. Despite our efforts, an estimated 65% of Americans are considered overweight and over 23% of Californians are obese. We feel it is our responsibility as Naturopathic Doctors to find the root cause of whatever ails you, including what makes you gain weight and hang on to extra pounds.
So, why is weight management such a difficult issue? Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is a balancing act between good nutrition, balanced hormones, regulating emotional stress and keeping in good physical condition. We can control our diet and our physical conditioning. Our emotional, stress, hormones (chemical stress) and physical stress can sometimes get the best of us. At the point a person has tried diet and exercise and has been unsuccessful they need intervention from a medical professional. In the United States, our current medical model is to restrict calories, perform surgical procedures or use drugs to reduce weight. Naturopathic medical school teaches a much different approach.
Watch our video to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLfq1d0NNdk
Contact Young Naturopathic Wellness Center for your weight management
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
As a nation, we spend an estimated 30-40 billion dollars a year on diets and weight loss products. Despite our efforts, an estimated 65% of Americans are considered overweight and over 23% of Californians are obese. We feel it is our responsibility as Naturopathic Doctors to find the root cause of whatever ails you, including what makes you gain weight and hang on to extra pounds.
So, why is weight management such a difficult issue? Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is a balancing act between good nutrition, balanced hormones, regulating emotional stress and keeping in good physical condition. We can control our diet and our physical conditioning. Our emotional, stress, hormones (chemical stress) and physical stress can sometimes get the best of us. At the point a person has tried diet and exercise and has been unsuccessful they need intervention from a medical professional. In the United States, our current medical model is to restrict calories, perform surgical procedures or use drugs to reduce weight. Naturopathic medical school teaches a much different approach.
Watch our video to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLfq1d0NNdk
Contact Young Naturopathic Wellness Center for your weight management
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Treatment of Food Intolerance
The treatment of food allergies and food intolerance is the easiest and most difficult treatment of all. Avoid the foods you are reacting to! In many situations this is easier said than done. Wheat, dairy, soy, nuts and corn are some of the most common allergens. They are found in so many things it can be very difficult to avoid them. Once you have been tested and are sure of the things you are reacting to you will need to obtain a list of all of the “other names” for the things you are intolerant to. For example all whey is dairy; you wouldn’t know that unless I or someone else told you. You can find a list of alternative names to the most common allergens on my website www.booktitle.com
There are some practitioners that will use homeopathics, digestive enzymes and herbs to treat food intolerance. Homeopathics treat by giving a little of a substance you have a negative reaction to in order to retrain the immune system to respond appropriately. Allergist will often do this with allergy shots. It is often referred to as desensitizing. The best way to desensitize is have a practitioner make a formula of your allergens specific for you. If that is not available to you, try a homeopathic combination with opsin formulat. Digestive enzymes can range from specific enzymes for dairy and gluten to general enzymes for digestion. If you have lots of foods you react to I recommend you try one of the following 15 minutes before eating: ½ teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a few ounces of water, or ½ teaspoon of lemon juice. If pills are easier there are several digestive enzymes I recommend on my website. Repeat the same with herbs. If you are unable to find any of these products in your local health food stores you can buy them on line at www.booktitle.com
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
There are some practitioners that will use homeopathics, digestive enzymes and herbs to treat food intolerance. Homeopathics treat by giving a little of a substance you have a negative reaction to in order to retrain the immune system to respond appropriately. Allergist will often do this with allergy shots. It is often referred to as desensitizing. The best way to desensitize is have a practitioner make a formula of your allergens specific for you. If that is not available to you, try a homeopathic combination with opsin formulat. Digestive enzymes can range from specific enzymes for dairy and gluten to general enzymes for digestion. If you have lots of foods you react to I recommend you try one of the following 15 minutes before eating: ½ teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a few ounces of water, or ½ teaspoon of lemon juice. If pills are easier there are several digestive enzymes I recommend on my website. Repeat the same with herbs. If you are unable to find any of these products in your local health food stores you can buy them on line at www.booktitle.com
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Monday, February 22, 2010
Weight Loss & Food Intolerance
My patients are often surprised to discover they are intolerant or sensitive to foods they have been consuming their whole life. Even the healthiest of foods can give you a reaction. Who would think they could react to salmon or even kale? It is really frustrating to eat well and still gain weight. If you have more than five of these symptoms you should definitely check into food intolerance. Just think this could be the key to finding your weight loss solution. How great would that be to just stop eating food your intolerant to and watch your weight drop.
Watch our videos to learn more on Weight Loss & Food Intolerance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SZKXZo4uFw
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Watch our videos to learn more on Weight Loss & Food Intolerance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SZKXZo4uFw
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
What causes Food Allergies & Intolerances?
In normal food digestion and absorption, you start to break down your food first in your mouth by chewing. Next enzymes released in your saliva begin to break down the carbohydrates in the food. In your stomach, acid is released to break down proteins and release vitamins from the food. Upon exiting your stomach, bile salts from your gallbladder start to break down fats, and then pancreatic enzymes continue to break down proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Natural intestinal bacteria, or flora, also contribute to the digestive process. By the time your meal reaches your small intestine, the once recognizable food has been broken down into its basic components of amino acids, fatty acids and sugars. Once in these basic components, nutrients are absorbed into your bloodstream and distributed throughout your body.
For an allergic or an immune intolerance reaction to a food to occur, your body must absorb a component of that food, usually a protein, in an inappropriate form. Normal food digestion and absorption can be disrupted by bacterial, viral infections, exposure to environmental toxins, imbalance of intestinal flora, commonly used drugs such as antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors and other antacids, and chemotherapy and radiation. If the normal digestion and absorption process is disrupted, it becomes possible for inappropriate food components to be absorbed into the bloodstream, identified by your immune system as harmful, resulting in an antibody mediated reaction.
Testing for Food Allergies and Immune Reaction Intolerances
Reactions to foods can be tested with several different methods. Immediate allergic reactions caused by IgE are commonly tested either with a blood test or by skin scratch/patches. Immune reaction intolerances, caused by IgG antibodies, are most reliably tested by blood test using the ELISA method (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay). At our clinic, we find the IgG testing to be a more clinically useful tool to determine the cause of many symptoms. We use Meridian Valley Laboratory and US Biotek to test for IgG reactions to 95-190 foods.
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
Founded by Dr. Renee Young, the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness is dedicated to providing safe, supportive and effective healthcare to its patients.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
For an allergic or an immune intolerance reaction to a food to occur, your body must absorb a component of that food, usually a protein, in an inappropriate form. Normal food digestion and absorption can be disrupted by bacterial, viral infections, exposure to environmental toxins, imbalance of intestinal flora, commonly used drugs such as antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors and other antacids, and chemotherapy and radiation. If the normal digestion and absorption process is disrupted, it becomes possible for inappropriate food components to be absorbed into the bloodstream, identified by your immune system as harmful, resulting in an antibody mediated reaction.
Testing for Food Allergies and Immune Reaction Intolerances
Reactions to foods can be tested with several different methods. Immediate allergic reactions caused by IgE are commonly tested either with a blood test or by skin scratch/patches. Immune reaction intolerances, caused by IgG antibodies, are most reliably tested by blood test using the ELISA method (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay). At our clinic, we find the IgG testing to be a more clinically useful tool to determine the cause of many symptoms. We use Meridian Valley Laboratory and US Biotek to test for IgG reactions to 95-190 foods.
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
Founded by Dr. Renee Young, the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness is dedicated to providing safe, supportive and effective healthcare to its patients.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Monday, February 15, 2010
Food Intolerance Check List
There are several different ways your body can react to food. The most common is a delayed hypersensitivity reaction. Many holistic practitioners refer to this reaction as food intolerance. It is often confused with food allergy. Food intolerance or sensitivity is not the same as allergy. The symptoms are often vague and are not life threatening adult sufferers in particular are often not properly diagnosed. As a Naturopathic doctor I spend lots of time educating my patients on the difference between food allergies and food intolerance.
Here’s the Food Intolerance Check List
* Headaches
* Brain Fog
* Inability to pay attention (adult ADD)
* Fatigue
* Insomnia
* Dark Circles Under Your Eyes (if you think you inherited this trait - your mom probably has food allergies too)
* Constant post nasal drip
* Itchy or Dry Skin
* Ringing in your ears
* Sores in your mouth
* Constipation
* GERD or heart burn
* Bloating (the kind where you think to your self “I should wear this to dinner because it stretches”)
* Gas (Especially after eating)
* Diarrhea
* Joint aches
* Anxiety & Depression
* Weight Gain
Watch our videos to learn more on ADD and Food Allergies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu88k85lHKo
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Here’s the Food Intolerance Check List
* Headaches
* Brain Fog
* Inability to pay attention (adult ADD)
* Fatigue
* Insomnia
* Dark Circles Under Your Eyes (if you think you inherited this trait - your mom probably has food allergies too)
* Constant post nasal drip
* Itchy or Dry Skin
* Ringing in your ears
* Sores in your mouth
* Constipation
* GERD or heart burn
* Bloating (the kind where you think to your self “I should wear this to dinner because it stretches”)
* Gas (Especially after eating)
* Diarrhea
* Joint aches
* Anxiety & Depression
* Weight Gain
Watch our videos to learn more on ADD and Food Allergies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu88k85lHKo
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
What is the difference between food allergies and food intolerance?
Food allergies occur when your immune system reacts immediately and severely to a food. White blood cells, specifically mast cells, release large amounts of histamine. This type of allergic reaction to food can sometimes cause serious illness and even death. Common reactions are hives sever congestion and difficulty breathing. Severe reactions are referred to as anaphylactic reaction. During an anaphylactic reaction a person suffers from sever inflammation of the tissue resulting which can lead to difficulty breathing, rash and even death. (1-9) Statistics of up to six percent of children and three percent of adults are said to have this type of IgE-mediated food allergy. (10, 11) These severe reactions that happen when you are truly allergic make it relatively easy to diagnose. Often when you ask your doctor to test you for food allergies, they are testing for this type of reaction. The skin prick tests is the more commonly used test by allergist. They are fairly reliable for the detection of IgE to environmental allergens, but are not well correlated with food allergies or food intolerance. (12-15)
Food intolerance occurs when your body mistakes a harmless food for something bad. Your immune system makes IgG antibodies, which trigger the release of inflammatory cytokines resulting in unwanted symptoms. Some of the symptoms include chronic headaches, fatigue, eczema, joint pain, psoriasis, bloating, flatulence, depression, insomnia and weight gain. Food Intolerance imitates many other conditions like acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, ADD, ADHD, asthma, migraines, and hypoglycemia. Reactions can occur up to 72 hours after you consume the food. This type of delayed reaction often makes it difficult to figure out. The cause of food intolerance is unknown. There are several factors that seem to play a role in food intolerance. Most often indigestion, stress and genetics play the biggest role in food intolerance. It is estimated that somewhere between 45-60% of people have this kind of food intolerance. (16, 17) The best way to test for food intolerance is to request an IgG blood test from you doctor. If that is not available to you, try eliminating the most common allergenic foods for three weeks and then reintroduce them one at a time.
Indigestion is one of the more common symptoms to food intolerance. As we get older the amount of acid and enzymes we produce to digest our food decreases. With a decreased ability to break down you food, your body is more likely to attack. Stress is another huge factor in digestiong. Remember when you were a kid and had the butterflies in your stomach. Emotional changes effect digestion. Perhaps as an adult you don’t experience butterflies; instead it is full on anxiety attack that you so willingly treat with what ever medication will get you through your day. And why wouldn’t you. It stinks to have anxiety! Irregular emotions and life changing events are big triggers that effect digestion and how your immune system relates and reacts to foods.
Watch our videos to learn more on Flatulence & Food Intolerance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0S3WefknhY
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/
Food intolerance occurs when your body mistakes a harmless food for something bad. Your immune system makes IgG antibodies, which trigger the release of inflammatory cytokines resulting in unwanted symptoms. Some of the symptoms include chronic headaches, fatigue, eczema, joint pain, psoriasis, bloating, flatulence, depression, insomnia and weight gain. Food Intolerance imitates many other conditions like acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, ADD, ADHD, asthma, migraines, and hypoglycemia. Reactions can occur up to 72 hours after you consume the food. This type of delayed reaction often makes it difficult to figure out. The cause of food intolerance is unknown. There are several factors that seem to play a role in food intolerance. Most often indigestion, stress and genetics play the biggest role in food intolerance. It is estimated that somewhere between 45-60% of people have this kind of food intolerance. (16, 17) The best way to test for food intolerance is to request an IgG blood test from you doctor. If that is not available to you, try eliminating the most common allergenic foods for three weeks and then reintroduce them one at a time.
Indigestion is one of the more common symptoms to food intolerance. As we get older the amount of acid and enzymes we produce to digest our food decreases. With a decreased ability to break down you food, your body is more likely to attack. Stress is another huge factor in digestiong. Remember when you were a kid and had the butterflies in your stomach. Emotional changes effect digestion. Perhaps as an adult you don’t experience butterflies; instead it is full on anxiety attack that you so willingly treat with what ever medication will get you through your day. And why wouldn’t you. It stinks to have anxiety! Irregular emotions and life changing events are big triggers that effect digestion and how your immune system relates and reacts to foods.
Watch our videos to learn more on Flatulence & Food Intolerance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0S3WefknhY
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/
Monday, February 8, 2010
What are Food Allergies and Intolerances?
There are two main types of immune system responses to food. These immune responses occur when your body mistakes a component of food, usually a protein, as harmful, and your immune system responds by forming antibodies to fight what it perceives as a foreign invader. The symptoms you experience from a food allergy or immune reaction intolerance occur when your immune system mounts a response against the “invading” food component.
The most commonly tested immune response to food is an immediate reaction caused by a specific type of antibody called IgE. Immediate reaction or IgE allergies are most commonly caused by peanuts, fish, shellfish, milk, eggs, soy, wheat and tree nuts such as walnuts, pecans, almonds. Symptoms of an IgE reaction can be mild to life threatening, including skin rash, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, itchy skin, shortness of breath, chest pain, difficulty breathing and anaphylaxis.
The second type of immune response, caused by IgG antibodies is commonly called food intolerance. Symptoms of immune reaction food intolerance are often considered delayed and can occur anywhere from 1-72 hours after eating the offending food. Symptoms can include skin rash, diarrhea, constipation, gas and bloating, acid reflux, nausea, insomnia, headaches, irritability, nervousness, anxiety, chronic ear infections, asthma, and arthritis.
The two immune system responses described above are internal processes; they occur after food is broken down and absorbed into your bloodstream through your intestinal lining. The term “food intolerance” is often also used to describe external reactions that occur within your digestive tract alone, before the broken down components are absorbed. This type of external food intolerance occurs when a food either causes irritation to your digestive lining or you are unable to break the food down properly due to a lack of digestive enzymes. The most common example of this type of reaction is lactose intolerance, where an individual does not have sufficient lactase, the enzyme which breaks down lactose, the sugar present in dairy product. Lactose intolerance classically causes gas, bloating, and changes in bowel movements, such as diarrhea or constipation.
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
The most commonly tested immune response to food is an immediate reaction caused by a specific type of antibody called IgE. Immediate reaction or IgE allergies are most commonly caused by peanuts, fish, shellfish, milk, eggs, soy, wheat and tree nuts such as walnuts, pecans, almonds. Symptoms of an IgE reaction can be mild to life threatening, including skin rash, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, itchy skin, shortness of breath, chest pain, difficulty breathing and anaphylaxis.
The second type of immune response, caused by IgG antibodies is commonly called food intolerance. Symptoms of immune reaction food intolerance are often considered delayed and can occur anywhere from 1-72 hours after eating the offending food. Symptoms can include skin rash, diarrhea, constipation, gas and bloating, acid reflux, nausea, insomnia, headaches, irritability, nervousness, anxiety, chronic ear infections, asthma, and arthritis.
The two immune system responses described above are internal processes; they occur after food is broken down and absorbed into your bloodstream through your intestinal lining. The term “food intolerance” is often also used to describe external reactions that occur within your digestive tract alone, before the broken down components are absorbed. This type of external food intolerance occurs when a food either causes irritation to your digestive lining or you are unable to break the food down properly due to a lack of digestive enzymes. The most common example of this type of reaction is lactose intolerance, where an individual does not have sufficient lactase, the enzyme which breaks down lactose, the sugar present in dairy product. Lactose intolerance classically causes gas, bloating, and changes in bowel movements, such as diarrhea or constipation.
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Food Allergies & Intolerances – general, incidence, risk
In the past 20 years there has been an alarming increase in the number of individuals with allergies and intolerances to different foods. Immediate allergic reactions to foods are estimated to be a problem for at least 4% of the adult population, up to 8% in children, whereas delayed food intolerance reactions are estimated to affect 10-15% of the population, up to 25% of children.
Risk of having an allergy or intolerance is much higher if one of your parents is affected (48%). If both parents have allergies, risk increases to 70%.
Watch our videos to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI4O20zkFIc
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Risk of having an allergy or intolerance is much higher if one of your parents is affected (48%). If both parents have allergies, risk increases to 70%.
Watch our videos to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI4O20zkFIc
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com
Monday, February 1, 2010
Screening for Breast Cancer
Each individual has different risk factors and concerns about breast cancer screening. Below are descriptions of screening methods and general guidelines on how to use each method. Please discuss your options with Drs. Young or Larsen to determine the best breast cancer screening plan for you.
1.Mammography. Mammography uses ionizing radiation to image breast tissue and screen for suspicious areas. The exams are performed by compressing the breast firmly between a plastic plate and an x-ray cassette. Mammography can detect breast cancer too small to be found on clinical exam or self exam and will detect 80-90% of breast cancers in women without symptoms.
According to USPSTF’s recently revised guidelines, women aged 50-74 should undergo mammogram every two years. If you or an immediate family member has a history of breast cancer, please discuss an appropriate mammogram plan with your doctor.
2.MRI and Ultrasound are used as supplemental or alternative breast screening tools. Both carry less risk as they do not involve exposure to radiation, but have less research supporting the efficacy as a breast screening method.
3.Self breast exams (SBE) are one of the best preventative measures you can take on your own. Ideally, you do a SBE weekly so that you can become familiar with the changes in your breast during your menstrual cycle. For many women, breast tissue changes during menses are common and harmless. Look for persistent changes to breast tissue, skin thickening, swelling, distortion, tenderness, skin irritation, redness, and scaliness, nipple abnormalities (ulceration, retraction, and spontaneous discharge). Typically breast pain is a result of a benign condition and is not an early symptom of breast cancer. Directions on how to do a SBE at the end of the newsletter or at the following website: http://www.henricodoctors.com/cpm/WomensImagingCenter3.gif
4.Clinical breast exams are performed by your doctor at your annual check up beginning at age 20. Yearly gynecological exams are important to screen not only for changes in breast tissue, but also for changes in ovary, uterus and cervical health.
In our opinion, appropriate use of mammography varies based on individual risk factors. An individual with a strong personal or family history of breast cancer should have a mammogram performed more frequently than an individual with no significant risk factors. Please discuss the benefits and harms of mammography with your doctor to determine the best plan for you.
5. Breast thermography is a relatively new screening method available as an adjunctive or alternative to mammography. As cancerous cells develop, they stimulate angiogenesis, or new blood vessel formation, to support growth, creating “hot spots” in breast tissue. This screening method utilizes an infra red camera to identify areas of increased heat in breast tissue. Please talk to Drs. Young or Larsen if you’d like more information on breast thermography.
Watch our videos to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ihblh61NIg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm9MzDAYeL0
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/
1.Mammography. Mammography uses ionizing radiation to image breast tissue and screen for suspicious areas. The exams are performed by compressing the breast firmly between a plastic plate and an x-ray cassette. Mammography can detect breast cancer too small to be found on clinical exam or self exam and will detect 80-90% of breast cancers in women without symptoms.
According to USPSTF’s recently revised guidelines, women aged 50-74 should undergo mammogram every two years. If you or an immediate family member has a history of breast cancer, please discuss an appropriate mammogram plan with your doctor.
2.MRI and Ultrasound are used as supplemental or alternative breast screening tools. Both carry less risk as they do not involve exposure to radiation, but have less research supporting the efficacy as a breast screening method.
3.Self breast exams (SBE) are one of the best preventative measures you can take on your own. Ideally, you do a SBE weekly so that you can become familiar with the changes in your breast during your menstrual cycle. For many women, breast tissue changes during menses are common and harmless. Look for persistent changes to breast tissue, skin thickening, swelling, distortion, tenderness, skin irritation, redness, and scaliness, nipple abnormalities (ulceration, retraction, and spontaneous discharge). Typically breast pain is a result of a benign condition and is not an early symptom of breast cancer. Directions on how to do a SBE at the end of the newsletter or at the following website: http://www.henricodoctors.com/cpm/WomensImagingCenter3.gif
4.Clinical breast exams are performed by your doctor at your annual check up beginning at age 20. Yearly gynecological exams are important to screen not only for changes in breast tissue, but also for changes in ovary, uterus and cervical health.
In our opinion, appropriate use of mammography varies based on individual risk factors. An individual with a strong personal or family history of breast cancer should have a mammogram performed more frequently than an individual with no significant risk factors. Please discuss the benefits and harms of mammography with your doctor to determine the best plan for you.
5. Breast thermography is a relatively new screening method available as an adjunctive or alternative to mammography. As cancerous cells develop, they stimulate angiogenesis, or new blood vessel formation, to support growth, creating “hot spots” in breast tissue. This screening method utilizes an infra red camera to identify areas of increased heat in breast tissue. Please talk to Drs. Young or Larsen if you’d like more information on breast thermography.
Watch our videos to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ihblh61NIg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm9MzDAYeL0
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Decreasing your Risk of Breast Cancer
Healthy body weight, exercise and nutrition have all been linked to a lower risk of breast cancer. To decrease your risk, follow these guidelines:
1. Maintain a healthy body weight. Reducing calorie intake has been consistently associated with cancer risk reduction in studies.
2. Eat a high fiber, low fat, whole foods diet. Diets high in fiber (30 grams a day) and low in fat (20% of total calories) are associated with lower risks of many types of cancer, including breast and colon.
3. Include at least 5 servings of vegetables and fruits daily. By including a variety of vegetables and fruits in your daily diet, you increase the amount of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and flavonoids available for your body to stay healthy. Brassicacea family vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts and kale in particular have been associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer when eaten regularly.
4. Exercise daily. Moderate to vigorous physical activity will not only help to keep you at a healthy body weight, but has also been shown to decrease risk of many diseases including breast cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
5. Drink green tea regularly. Green tea is high in polyphenols, potent antioxidants that neutralize and possibly even reverse the cell damage caused by free radicals, which can lead to cancer.
6. Maintain an optimal vitamin D level. Low vitamin D levels have been associated with increased risk of many cancers, including breast cancer. Be sure you have your vitamin D levels checked annually and create a plan to maintain an optimal range for vitamin D between 50-70ng/mL.
7. Follow an individualized breast cancer screening plan.
Watch our videos to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ihblh61NIg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm9MzDAYeL0
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
Founded by Dr. Renee Young, the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness is dedicated to providing safe, supportive and effective healthcare to its patients.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/
1. Maintain a healthy body weight. Reducing calorie intake has been consistently associated with cancer risk reduction in studies.
2. Eat a high fiber, low fat, whole foods diet. Diets high in fiber (30 grams a day) and low in fat (20% of total calories) are associated with lower risks of many types of cancer, including breast and colon.
3. Include at least 5 servings of vegetables and fruits daily. By including a variety of vegetables and fruits in your daily diet, you increase the amount of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and flavonoids available for your body to stay healthy. Brassicacea family vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts and kale in particular have been associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer when eaten regularly.
4. Exercise daily. Moderate to vigorous physical activity will not only help to keep you at a healthy body weight, but has also been shown to decrease risk of many diseases including breast cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
5. Drink green tea regularly. Green tea is high in polyphenols, potent antioxidants that neutralize and possibly even reverse the cell damage caused by free radicals, which can lead to cancer.
6. Maintain an optimal vitamin D level. Low vitamin D levels have been associated with increased risk of many cancers, including breast cancer. Be sure you have your vitamin D levels checked annually and create a plan to maintain an optimal range for vitamin D between 50-70ng/mL.
7. Follow an individualized breast cancer screening plan.
Watch our videos to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ihblh61NIg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm9MzDAYeL0
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
Founded by Dr. Renee Young, the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness is dedicated to providing safe, supportive and effective healthcare to its patients.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Protecting Yourself against Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer is the 2nd most common cancer (1st is skin cancer) and the second most common cause of cancer related death (1st is lung cancer) in women. In California, there were an estimated 22,000 new diagnoses in 2009 and approximately 4,000 deaths due to breast cancer.
To protect yourself, know your risk factors, make changes in your daily nutrition and exercise to reduce your risk and work with your doctor to create an individualized breast cancer screening plan.
Risk Factors for Breast Cancer
- Female
- Personal or family history of breast cancer (1st degree relative)
- Inherited genetic mutations (BRCA1, BRCA2)
- Ashkenazi Jewish descent
- Overweight, especially after menopause
- Increased exposure to hormones through use of hormone replacement therapy or hormonal oral contraceptives
- Physical inactivity
- Consumption of one or more alcoholic beverages a day
- Early onset of menses, late menopause
- No children or first child born after 30
- History of high dose radiation to the chest
- High bone mineral density
- High breast tissue density
Watch our videos to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ihblh61NIg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm9MzDAYeL0
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
Founded by Dr. Renee Young, the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness is dedicated to providing safe, supportive and effective healthcare to its patients.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/
To protect yourself, know your risk factors, make changes in your daily nutrition and exercise to reduce your risk and work with your doctor to create an individualized breast cancer screening plan.
Risk Factors for Breast Cancer
- Female
- Personal or family history of breast cancer (1st degree relative)
- Inherited genetic mutations (BRCA1, BRCA2)
- Ashkenazi Jewish descent
- Overweight, especially after menopause
- Increased exposure to hormones through use of hormone replacement therapy or hormonal oral contraceptives
- Physical inactivity
- Consumption of one or more alcoholic beverages a day
- Early onset of menses, late menopause
- No children or first child born after 30
- History of high dose radiation to the chest
- High bone mineral density
- High breast tissue density
Watch our videos to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ihblh61NIg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm9MzDAYeL0
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
Founded by Dr. Renee Young, the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness is dedicated to providing safe, supportive and effective healthcare to its patients.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
The New Mammogram Recommendations
As of last month, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of government-appointed experts, recommends mammograms for women ages 50-74, every other year. It recommends women begin discussing the risks and benefits of mammograms beginning at age 40. For high-risk patients, such as those with personal or family history of breast cancer, different recommendations apply. To review the US Preventative Services Task Force recommendations, please follow this link: http://www.ahrq.gov/Clinic/uspstf/uspsbrca.htm
Mammograms do not prevent cancer; they help to detect it at an early stage. Often it is not detected if it is too small to cause a noticeable lump or other symptoms. Screening for breast cancer by mammogram reduces a women’s risk of dying of breast cancer by about 15% for women in their 40s and 50s. For women in their 60s, mammogram identifies breast cancer in approximately 1 in 5 women screened.
The recent changes to the USPSTF’s recommendations were a result of the review of recent studies on the benefits and risks of mammography. After 10 mammograms, more than half of women in their 40s will have a “false positive,” which occurs when a mammogram detects suspicious breast tissue which turns out to be benign. The process of evaluating the suspicious tissue cause anxiety and may lead women to undergo painful needle biopsies. The USPSTF determined that the harm and cost of screening of women ages 40-50 outweighed the benefits of mammography.
Watch our videos to learn more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ihblh61NIg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm9MzDAYeL0
Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
Founded by Dr. Renee Young, the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness is dedicated to providing safe, supportive and effective healthcare to its patients.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
About Young Naturopathic Wellness Center
Founded by Dr. Renee Young, the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness is dedicated to providing safe, supportive and effective healthcare to its patients.
Dr. Young specializes in women’s health, including hormone disorders, menopausal symptoms, and weight loss. After experiencing the limitations of traditional medicine with her own bouts of illness, Dr. Young’s interaction with a naturopathic doctor finally uncovered the root of her problem.
Dr. Jennifer Larsen joined the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness in February 2009. Dr. Larsen is committed to providing effective and efficient primary care to her patients. Her specialties include gastrointestinal & cardiovascular disorders, women’s health and hormonal disorders.
The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.
To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit www.youngwellnesscenter.com
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