Diabetes During the Holidays by Antonio Peirce

Holiday Season is upon us.  Along with it, for many, a few pounds will also be upon us. A “few pounds” is one thing, but a trip to the hospital is not festive. So, how do you manage diabetes during the holidays? You manage with balance. Blood sugar getting too low at this time is an unlikely problem for most, so we will discuss blood sugar getting too high.

Let’s keep it festive, enjoy a holiday with friends and family without anxiety. Make your holiday special and exciting by planning ahead.  When moving into uncharted waters (family qualifies as uncharted waters, no matter how long you have known them), one must have a map. It needn’t be too precise and detailed, just a general plan, leaving room for the adventure.

• Make sure you have any Prescriptions or Supplements you may need.  Think about counting out your medicines and filling your scripts as needed. Insure that you have refills available to you before you leave town.
• Plan ahead for Physical Activity (this is a great way to manage your blood sugar), think about frequent walks, hit the gym if possible, maybe an online yoga course (Yogaglo.com is beyond excellent) or, in a pinch, good old fashioned calisthenics will do just fine (try push-ups to failure, 50 crunches, 50 jumping jacks in the morning).  Do something every morning and go for a walk after meals.
• Consider the Foods Likely to be Served or that you will be serving. Find balance, a bartering system that will work for you.  If for instance, you wish to have a reasonable slice of pumpkin pie, cut another carb out of your meal (a roll, mashed potatoes, your Uncle Bill’s Fondue Surprise); it is a matter of trading. Remember, too many fats and meats may also present problems if unmonitored. Maintain good portioning. Tricky as the game may be, play it well and you can enjoy some of your vices with little or no ill consequence.
• Plenty of Vegetables. Raw, steamed, lightly sautéed, cooked half to death (hey not everyone is a chef) vegetables of any kind, well almost, try to avoid buttered and deep fried. Salad with reasonable dressing is an excellent choice; sneak a peek at the dressing or choose a simple Italian vinaigrette, always a safe bet. Enjoy the peas peas have been demonstrated in numerous studies to help regulate blood sugar.
• Don’t forget, Alcohol is a Sugar, take this into account in your planning. Of all cocktails, vodka with sparkling water and a lime wedge (not tonic) will carry the least collateral damage. The better the vodka, the less the toxins and sugars.

There are also some therapeutic services that you can pre-treat yourself to prior to or during the holidays to prepare your body for the roller coaster of events and activities during the holiday season.

• Come in for an Ozone Therapy (super oxygenating the blood, plasma and cells) before you leave or become too busy. Ozone accelerates healing, helps substantially in the control and regulation of blood sugar and is generally vitalizing.
• A Nutritional IV is a great way to bump up the chromium, b complex, and vitamin C maximizing your ability to process difficult foods and bolstering your body against upcoming stressors.

The Cliff’s Notes version: Prescriptions, Supplements, lots of Veggies, Exercise, Food Trading, Vodka, Peas. Enjoy your holiday a little more with a simple map of the territory and a few simple preparations.  We at Bodhi wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season and fine tidings in the New Year!

As we age, nothing seems to work as well as it used to. Sometime in our late forties or early fifties, we notice more pain, less energy, change in sleep patterns, or our primary care doctor tells us we need to be on a baby aspirin and a pharmaceutical medication for the rest of our lives for our diabetes, hypertension or high cholesterol.  Most of us completely take our health for granted for our first 40 years. A good analogy I like to use with my patients is that they have been withdrawing from their health bank account for years, and are now in the red, and it is time for them to make some big deposits into themselves before there is a health crisis.

One of the first problems of aging starts with the digestion, especially in the United States, where our diets are relatively low in fiber, and high in carbohydrates and saturated fats. As we digest less efficiently, we absorb nutrients less, and don’t have the means to repair tissue damage from toxins in the environment, stress, and unhealthy lifestyle. Our state of mind can deteriorate; we experience stress, anxiety, and depression more powerfully because we have less reserve in our health bank account.

The TRUE Health Plan offered by Bodhi Body is true preventative medicine in that it puts big deposits into your health savings account.  You have unlimited access to a physician who addresses your personal and specific health concerns. Our IV nutrient bags make huge nutritional deposits directly into your body so you don’t have to rely completely on the digestive system. Colonics help heal and regulate the digestion, and Acupuncture and massage address stress and pain directly. Our TRUE Health Plan is completely drug free, and the side effects are more energy, better sleep and state of mind, better digestion and better overall life.  For more information go to www.bodhi-body.com or call 480-237-2410

What is Stress?

Stress, whether it is emotional, physical or situational stress, exacts a response from our body. The normal response to stress is often referred to the “fight or flight” response. Our bodies are beautifully prepared to respond to stressors in an effectual way. Chronic stress, the brain’s response to negatively perceived events or situations for a prolonged period over which an individual feels he has no control.

Effects of Chronic Stress

Long-term exposure to stress can lead to serious health problems. Chronic stress disrupts nearly every system in your body. It can suppress the immune system that may lead to increased frequency of colds.  Chronic stress can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and autoimmune disease. It can cause hormone imbalances that can lead to low libido, infertility, and speed up the aging process. Long-term stress can even increase your experience of anxiety and depression.

Balancing Chronic Stress in Your Life

There are many ways we can support our bodies and minds during times of chronic stress.  Some of the more obvious ways we can do this is by 1) eating fresh, organic food that is at least 50% raw (think salads and raw fruits and veggies) 2) getting at least 8 hours of sleep every night 3) reducing the amount of alcohol intake and 4) enjoying some moderate exercise daily e.g. walking, yoga.  Unfortunately, when we are dealing with long-term stress, these suggestions are the hardest to adhere to.  There are many other additional ways that we can help to alleviate and manage stress in our lives.  Massage therapy is a wonderful way to relax the mind and body while helping to rid the body of toxins that disrupt our immune system.  Nutritional supplements and nutritional IVs restore optimal levels of vitamins and minerals to your body that you may not be obtaining from your diet.  Yoga is a superior method for strengthening the body, relaxing the mind, supporting the immune system and detoxing the body- all at the same time!  Guided meditation and hypnosis can help break down internal barriers to healing.

The Team at Bodhi Body can help design a stress-reduction plan for you.  It involves looking at the stress you are exposed to and how you are supporting your body in its attempt to deal with the stressors. Our facility has been designed with you in mind.  Our comfortable rooms and comprehensive therapies will help melt your stress away.  Some of the most common therapies prescribed for stress reduction are: neuromuscular massage, yoga, nutritional therapy (IV and oral), guided meditation and hypnosis, acupuncture, along with a whole host of complete detox therapies.  Our bodies are amazing, resilient machines and can handle moderate amounts of stress beautifully.  But long-term, chronic stress can do a lot of damage.  Assess your stress levels and help support your body as it supports you. For more information about stress management please visit our website.

Dr. Heather Wdowin

Humans are one of only a few animals on earth that do not manufacture or store vitamin C, which is an indication of how important this nutrient is. Studies have shown that animals that do have the ability to produce vitamin C on their own dramatically increase its production during times of injury or stress.

Vitamin C is required for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body. It is necessary to form collagen, an important protein used to make skin, scar tissue, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Vitamin C is essential for the healing of wounds, and for the repair and maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth.

Vitamin C is also an anti-oxidant, and protects the body from free radicals, the build up of which, over time, is largely responsible for the aging process and can contribute to the development of various health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and a host of inflammatory conditions like arthritis.

Some experts say we can only absorb a relatively small amount of vitamin C supplementation orally, so at Bodhi-Body we give this anti-aging, body restoring, immune system supporting, metabolism speeding, anti-oxidant intravenously so higher doses are available to your body to bodhi-fy your life.

Interested in learning even more ways Bodhi can help improve the way you LOOK, FEEL and PERFORM? Contact us at 480.237.2410 for a free 15-minute consultation to get started.

Learn More. Live Better. Love Your Bodhi Body.