Are you one of the many who have been told how important it is to drink milk to increase your
calcium intake and “make your bones strong and healthy”? I’m sure you’ve seen the ads for the famous “Got Milk” campaign encouraging daily milk consumption. Most people have been advised by their doctors to drink milk “or else” with the threat of osteoporosis.
Now, Harvard is clarifying for us what the best way to get calcium really is and why.
The Harvard School of Public Health responded to the updated and previously misinformed food pyramid “MyPlate”, used by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and many nutritionists, with their own “Healthy Eating Plate”. This new Healthy Eating Plate was created by experts at the University and very clearly outlines what a balanced meal consists of and what the healthiest choices of food groups are, correcting the major and minor flaws in the USDA’s plan.
Under the USDA’s food guide, the consumption of dairy products is encouraged as a staple at meal time - about three cups a day or more - to prevent bone disease and broken bones, leaving those who are allergic to dairy products or who abstain from animal products out of consideration entirely.
If you use dairy exclusively to attain your recommended daily allowance (RDA) of calcium, we invite you to re-think their strategy and "Go Green!". Research shows that consuming more than 1-2 servings of dairy per day has little to no benefit in a person’s diet, and could potentially be a health risk, contributing to heart disease and prostate cancer.
Instead, consider adding more dark leafy greens and legumes to your diet, which also contain calcium. These plant-derived (“green”) sources of calcium may even be better absorbed and utilized by the body than dairy products in most people. In addition, plant sources are rich in Vitamin D and Vitamin K, which are also important for having strong bones and preventing bone disease such as osteoporosis and assist the body in metabolizing calcium.
Here is a list of “green” calcium sources that you can add to your healthy plate:
• Collard Greens
• Rhubarb
• Spinach
• Turnip Greens
• Blackeye Peas
• Sesame Seeds
• Kale
• Bok Choy
• Mustard Greens
• Quinoa
• Flax Seeds
• Beans and legumes
• Broccoli
Are you lactose intolerant? If you're not, chances are you know someone who is. There is a high percentage of the population that suffer when they consume dairy as it contains lactose which can cause moderate to severe digestive problems.
Need another reason to "go green" with your calcium? Many dairy products are highly processed and rarely resemble milk as it comes fresh from the cow. Frequently, commercial dairy farms use hormones, anti-biotics and other chemicals that remain in the milk and may be harmful when ingested by consumers.
Instead, Harvard recommends drinking water with meals and we couldn’t agree more, as our physicians find that most people are chronically dehydrated from not drinking sufficient amounts of water throughout their day.
So why does the USDA food guide make it seem like you can’t be healthy without dairy? According to the Harvard team, USDA’s “MyPlate” is “influenced by food industry lobbyists”, while Harvard’s food guide is borne out of scientific data compiled by nutrition experts.
Are you confused about what to eat for optimal health and vitality? Or maybe you eat healthy, but still feel low on energy or in sub-par health. Our holistic physicians can run blood tests to find out if you are getting all the nutrients your body needs, and whether or not your body is absorbing these nutrients to your ultimate benefit.
Partner with a holistic medical doctor to prevent osteoporosis and eating the foods your body needs to be healthy and strong for years to come.
Summer is quickly approaching, but you still have
some time to get yourself feeling and looking great before it’s time to dig out your shorts, tank tops, and oh-so-adorable sun dresses.
You may have already ditched your New Year’s resolution for weight loss after putting in serious time, effort and funds, with little success. Or, you might be finding it difficult to maintain a healthy weight no matter what you eat. If you feel like you’ve tried everything, but nothing works, you’ll be relieved to know: It may not be you – it might be your hormones!
To find out if you are suffering from hormonal imbalance, click on the button below to take the Hormonal Imbalance Survey.
Some women feel that their symptoms of hormonal imbalance and difficulty losing excess weight are separate problems. They suffer through symptoms and struggle with drastic weight loss efforts, never imagining that the two are linked. If you can’t seem to lose weight and have any of these symptoms, bioidentical hormones may be a treatment option for you.
- irregular periods
- mood swings
- irritability
- anxiety
- depression
- hot flashes
- fatigue
- headaches
- low libido
- and…weight gain!
Most conventional physicians see these symptoms and apply a “one-size-fits-all” therapy such as a synthetic hormone prescription that comes in uniform dosages and strengths. Or they may recommend surgical intervention or pharmaceutical drugs that may have severe side-effects from toxic ingredients.
At Patients Medical Integrative Medical Center, our holistic doctors understand each woman’s path to wellness is individual. With comprehensive testing, they can find the root cause of the symptoms – whether it indicates a hormonal imbalance, thyroid issue, nutritional deficiencies, or many other possible causes. After carefully reading the results, our doctors give you safe and effective treatment options, favoring the most natural, gentle methods and focusing on wellness. Taking into consideration your personal preferences, the doctor will customize a program which may include Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT), created uniquely for you with a compounding pharmacist who is approved by the FDA.
BHRT helps to balance your hormones in the most safe and effective way possible. When your hormones are balanced you will notice
- reduction in unhealthy food cravings and emotional eating habits
- ease in losing excess weight
- increase in energy
- more even mood
- a healthy libido
- mental clarity and ease with focusing on projects
- more balanced menses
- stronger immune system
- regular sleep/wake cycles
By achieving this balance, you can finally achieve the lifestyle changes that can help you reach and maintain your healthy weight.
Every woman deserves to know what it feels like to be healthy, fit, and hormonally balanced, no matter what her age. To get to the root cause of your symptoms and start on the road to achieving a healthy weight, with a compassionate doctor who cares about helping you increase your quality of your life, call 212-661-4441 to schedule an appointment or request that one of our new patient coordinators contact you.
The HCG diet is making headlines throughout the world. You've read the testimonials on the internet and seen the success stories on TV. 
It's changed the lives of countless men and women of all ages. It's affordable. It's a fast and effective weight loss strategy. And it's easy, they say.
But even with the glowing reviews, there are at least two questions that remain: Is the HCG diet really safe and effective? Is it really sustainable?
The answer, according to the Patients Medical's Dr. Kamau Kokayi, is yes, especially if the diet is combined with integrated medicine techniques such as herbs, homeopathy, bioidentical hormones and thyroid hormone balancing.
Dr. Kokayi is the author of a new eBook about the HCG diet, which helps people lose impressive amounts of weight by changing their metabolism and eating habits. In general, people tend to lose between one and three pounds each day. People on the diet take drops or injections of supplemental doses of Human Choriogonadotropin (hCG), a human hormone found most commonly in women who are pregnant. Studies have shown that hCG drastically boosts a person's metabolism.
At the same time people are taking the supplemental doses of hCG, which acts as an extremely powerful appetite suppressant, the diet requires them to cut their caloric intake to about 500 per day.
For many, the results have proven to be impressive, fast, effective and life-changing. For others, the HCG diet has been life-saving, especially for people experiencing serious medical problems such as diabetes, neuropathy, kidney and liver failure, arthritis and depression as a result of being excessively overweight or obese. In fact, the HCG diet has been so effective that, in just a few short years, it has become a popular and safe gastric bypass alternative--which is a costly, invasive in-patient surgical procedure.
But the diet is not without its potential risks. Some people have reported experiencing headaches, leg cramps, breast tenderness and other issues while on the diet, which is why Dr. Kokayi says it is important for people to work with their doctors to create a holistic HCG weight-loss protocol.
According to Dr. Kokayi, who earned his medical degree from Yale and has studied alternative and traditional medicine around the world, combining the HCG diet with holistic care under the supervision of a medical doctor can help ensure that people not only accomplish their weight-loss goals, but do so in a the healthiest way possible--with minimal side effects--so that the results will be both life changing and sustainable.
Your body is a holistic system in which all of the parts work together to form a whole. Pain is 
a red flare, sent out as a warning that something is out of balance in the system. Where modern medicine often treats isolated parts, holistic medical doctors honor the wholeness of the human system. They interpret the patient's pain signal and determine its significance in regards to the root cause of the body's imbalance. Alternative pain management techniques offer natural ways to maintain, or return, the body's balance without invasive drugs or procedures.
Five Alternative Pain Management Techniques
- A Healthy Diet. Our bodies aren't designed to process excess chemicals, preservatives, pesticides or an abundance of sodium, sugar, and saturated fat. As toxins and fat build up in your body, organs are overworked and become fatigued. You can develop allergies and inflammation. Eliminating processed foods, and maintaining a healthy balanced diet, including plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, can reduce your body's toxicity, eliminate allergies, and keep inflammation (a leading cause of pain/disease) to a minimum.
- Acupuncture. Acupuncture has been used by holistic medical doctors for thousands of years. It works with the body's Qi, or life force, to keep energy flowing in a positive direction. It's been proven to relieve pain and to reprogram neuro-pathways that have become accustomed to regular pain patterns. Acupuncture is utilized as alternative pain management for a myriad of ailments.
- Herbal supplements/medicine. Mainstream medicine often targets one specific area at the expense of another. For example, ibuprofen is a proven pain-reliever/anti-inflammatory, but can also cause ulcers. Herbal supplements/medicines can be used for alternative pain management by replacing and replenishing a deficiency of vital vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Herbs do more than just medicate, they can also help your body heal or balance whatever imbalance is causing the pain. Practitioners create a combination tailored to your body's specific needs.
- Craniosacral Therapy - This technique works with the structure of the central nervous system, from cranium to sacrum (or literally head to tail), and the natural rhythmic pulse of cerebrospinal fluid. It provides alternative pain management, most notably for chronic headaches/migraines, TMJ, and back pain. Often, just one treatment can provide noticeable results.
- Breathe Deeply - Oxygen is the most vital element required by the human body. Deep breathing can help refocus your attention from the pain center to your body's center, which provides considerable relief. Taking deep rhythmic breaths oxygenates the cells, facilitates detoxification, and additionally provides holistic stress relief.
If you are suffering from the side effects of your pain medication or are dealing with a chronic pain condition and looking for an alternative pain management protocol, seek out a holistic practitioner who can assist you in exploring one of these therapies.
Stretch marks, or striae, form when the skin is temporarily stretched, such as during 
pregnancy or temporary weight gain. Experts estimate that 80 percent of the population has stretch marks. They appear when skin stretches to accommodate the extra bulk. When the underlying tissue shrinks, the skin shrinks, but stretch marks may remain on the belly, breasts, upper arms and other areas. Stretch marks may be prevented by reducing or eliminating weight gain that stretches the skin.
For decades, millions of women have used natural stretch mark remedies such as creams, oils and cocoa butter in an effort to make their stretch marks disappear or fade. For many, nothing seems to work.
Stretch marks are especially discouraging for individuals who lose weight. These patients want to celebrate their successful weight loss, but they may become depressed when they realize that their new, slim look is marred by stretch marks. Ultimately, many women hide their stretch marks under one-piece bathing suits, long sleeves, long pants and turtleneck sweaters, even in warm, sunny weather.
Women aren't the only ones concerned about the appearance of stretch marks. Men who lift weights may also develop stretch marks because of the increased muscular bulk that comes with body building. Instead of getting the satisfaction of seeing their skin pulled taut over bulging muscles, they see the wavy lines of stretch marks on their developed biceps and calves. Men who lose weight, like their female counterparts, notice stretch marks begin to appear as their skin shrinks.
The newly FDA approved Fractional Laser Resurfacing (FLR) promises to bring relief to millions of individuals who are tired of covering up unsightly stretch marks. Doctors in Europe were the first to use FLR treatment as a remedy. The treatment requires little to no downtime on the patient's part. Many patients who have had the procedure claim to experience little discomfort and do not need topical anesthetics or cooling procedures.
Clinical studies of patients who used FLR treatment saw significant improvement, with an average improvement between 51 percent to 75 percent three months after treatment. The FDA has also approved FLR treatment for acne scars, surgical scars and melasma.
Effective laser therapy can improve the appearance of stretch marks in men and women, leading to an improved body image as stretch marks fade. In many patients, a good body image boosts confidence and adds to a general sense of well being.
Patients Medical's cosmetic and general dermatologist, Dr. Robert Marinaro, uses the Palomar Laser Icon (2012 technology) which is the most cutting-edge technology in non-ablative lasers that can be used for stretch marks for fractional laser resurfacing.
No doubt the mystery of the Tourette’s-like syndrome affecting a group of upstate New York teens has plenty of parents concerned and even the most well-renowned medical experts puzzled.
While it may be some time before they finally understand what has been causing the tics and other neurological symptoms, Patients Medical’s family practice and holistic internal medicine physician, Dr. Danielle Roberts, has four tips for what to do if your teen – or loved one of any age – develops tics, muscle weakness or paralysis, headaches, memory loss, insomnia, muscles aches, numbness, pins and needles, or other strange behaviors that are otherwise unexplained.
- Seek medical attention immediately. If the symptoms are acute such as shortness of breath, violent vomiting or diarrhea, high fever or unconsciousness, go to the emergency room. If symptoms are not acute, seek the assistance of a holistic medical doctor who can help find the root cause of the symptoms and give a comprehensive evaluation that can include a variety of different tests. Once you find the root cause of the reaction, a detox (chelation therapy and other techniques) can be customized to help the body eliminate the toxins safely and begin to heal damage done internally.
- Heavy Metals – including mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic and aluminum
- Biotoxins – such as tetanus toxins, botulinum toxin, staph infection, Lyme disease, fungus and mold
- Environmental Toxins – for example, insecticides, wood preservatives, prescription drugs and chemical-leaching plastics such as PCB’s
- Eliminate food and beverages that may be causing a neurological reaction. Monosodium glutamate (MSG), artificial food dyes and coloring, aspartame or other artificial sweeteners and fluoride can be neurotoxins and should not be consumed. Latent allergies to certain foods may cause reactions as well. Blood tests can reveal allergies and intolerances previously undetected.
- Decrease inflammation in the body to help the body eliminate the toxin. One great way to do this is to follow an anti-inflammatory diet, replacing highly refined foods, junk food, sugar, caffeine and poor quality starchy foods with whole, natural foods such as vegetables, fruit, whole grains, antibiotic and hormone-free chicken or fish, legumes and pure water.
- Heal the “gut”, heal the brain. Did you know there is a connection between your mind and your gut? The Vagus Nerve sends messages between the brain and intestines, and is actually responsible for creating reactions like nausea and vomiting when your digestive system encounters spoiled food. Toxins that are being passed through the intestines affect how the nervous system works. Therefore, healing damage done by toxins in the intestines may yield relief for neurologic symptoms.
Dr. Roberts advocates working with a holistic physician at the first signs of any imbalance in order to most effectively and quickly find the root cause of the symptom.
Find out more about Dr. Danielle Roberts and her holistic medical practice at Patients Medical.
If y
ou think that your vitamins aren’t helping you out much this cold and flu season, you’re probably right.
Most people take vitamin and mineral capsules or tablets by the handful in hopes that they are boosting their immune system to lessen the devastation of viruses and bacteria on their health during the winter months.
Unfortunately, oral supplements must travel through the mouth, esophagus and stomach before being absorbed through the small intestine, where they travel through the walls of the intestine and are deposited into the blood stream.
Here’s the problem: If you have poor digestion and your nutrient absorption is not what is should be (and this is the case for the vast majority of Americans!) then the great stuff in these pills are getting stuck or possibly excreted without you being able to reap the benefits. You may not even know that you have poor nutrient absorption until it is tested by a holistic physician.
So what’s the best way to get the nutrients (vitamins and minerals) in to your bloodstream…where they really NEED to be in order to do you any good this season?
Nutrient Intravenous (IV) Therapy allows the nutrients to directly enter your blood stream through a vein in your arm much more quickly and effectively than any other commercial product. It can be a more direct route to relief than most oral supplements, over-the-counter drugs or prescriptions for colds and flu.
Only doctors can prescribe and administer a Nutrient IV, so you won’t find these in any drug store or health food store. After evaluating your medical condition, a physician will customize the “IV Cocktail” that will give your body the boost that could help you kick your cold or flu symptoms.
Typical ingredients that a doctor may recommend for you if you are suffering from cold or flu symptoms include
- Vitamin C
- B Vitamins such as B12 and B5 and B6
- Calcium
- Magnesium
The combination of ingredients is mixed by a medical technician and added to a saline IV bag. You are hooked up to the IV bag with a tiny needle in your arm – much like if you were receiving an IV for dehydration at a hospital. You may feel a little pinch as the needle goes in your arm, but after that, you can sit back and relax while the vitamins and minerals slowly drip into your bloodstream.
Some people feel so relaxed while they are receiving the treatment, they read a book, listen to music or they may actually doze off!
Receiving Nutrient IV Therapy may help to decrease the length of common cold or flu symptoms such as:
- runny nose
- sneezing
- congestion
- fever
- cough
- headache
- fatigue
- aches
- diarrhea
- sore throat
And if you’re one of the lucky ones who haven’t gotten sick yet this year, you can be proactive about your health and schedule a Nutrient IV session even BEFORE you get sick. Nutrient IV therapy can also be used to combat early signs of aging, to improve the quality of your skin, gastrointestinal disorders, as part of a protocol for natural detox, fatigue, fibromyalgia and as an adjunct therapy for many different imbalances and chronic diseases.
Find out how Nutrient IV Therapy can benefit you by calling 212-661-4441 or contact us here.
If you suffer from migraines, you are forced to block out hours – sometimes even days – of 
your life to lay in a quiet, dark room and simply wait until the pain and nausea subside.
Clinical trials for new pharmaceuticals are underway, but as we all know, sometimes the side effects to these drugs are even more unpleasant than the health condition they treat. Look on your migraine medication – some of the side effects may include headaches and vomiting!!
Another very promising treatment that is currently in clinical trials, but has already proven effective for hundreds of patients here, at Patients Medical and across the world is CranioSacral Therapy. This is an all-natural, non-invasive treatment that requires you merely to lay down and relax for an hour while a highly-trained practitioner provides treatment.
During treatment the CranioSacral therapist uses targeted, light-touch to release tension in the body and relieve pain and symptoms. The gentle touch technique is applied mostly at the cranium (the base of your skull) or the sacrum (the bony structure near the base of your spinal cord), but may be also used along your spine. This may sound like a massage, but it’s not. It’s much more specific than that.
The therapist finds areas where the pulsation of the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord has been blocked by injury, stress, illness or other lifestyle factors. The pulsation is indicative of the efficiency of the fluid exchange at the cellular level. When it has been blocked, your spine and brain don’t have the resources they need in order to deal with stress, illness and typical stimulation you experience on a daily basis.
There is no twisting or forceful manipulation in CranioSacral Therapy, yet the light touch facilitates the body in releasing the restrictions that are blocking the healthy flow and pulse of the cerebral spinal fluid.
This therapy is helpful for prevention, but also can be effective when you feel migraine symptoms creeping up. If you know the times of month or other triggering events that bring on a migraine, you may want to coordinate a treatment accordingly.
CranioSacral therapy isn’t just for migraines. It can be helpful for many other conditions including
- chronic fatigue
- asthma
- ear infections
- sleep disorders
- central nervous system disorders
- back pain
- neck pain
- headaches
- migraines
- ADHD, autism and learning disabilities
- Fibromyalgia
- And much more!
It is safe and effective for use on all ages and stages of life – from infants to elderly -- and can be used to support the healthy function of your nervous, immune and adrenal systems.
CranioSacral Therapy, in conjunction with dietary guidelines, Nutrient IV Therapy, and hormonal balancing may put an end to your migraines. When you opt for this pain-free, risk-free, treatment you may be able to say goodbye to your migraine medication for good!
Walter Blick is a certified CranioSacral Therapist (CST), Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) and Occupational Therapist (OTR/L),on staff at Patients Medical. He has years of expertise treating both adults and children for a wide spectrum of medical, physical and emotional issues. He is trained in both Biomechanical and Biodynamic CranioSacral Therapy.
If you (or someone you know and love) are experiencing the debilitating symptoms of 
Alzheimer’s, or if it runs in your family, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) should be in your treatment plan. Why? HBOT can help slow the progression, possibly reverse its symptoms, or work as a preventative measure for Alzheimer’s disease. Here's how it works.
- HBOT is proven to reduce inflammation in the body - and specifically the brain - in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Inflammation in the brain is the principal symptom of AD, leading to impairments such as loss of cognition, memory, visual and verbal skills, and overall mental health.
- HBOT is a non-invasive and pain-free treatment which provides up to 100% oxygen saturation under increased pressure in a comfortable and controlled environment. No risky, invasive procedures or surgeries are necessary.
- HBOT works as a regenerative treatment, sparking new blood vessel growth by increasing blood flow and oxygen to parts of the brain that may otherwise not be receiving sufficient amounts.
- HBOT assists in the removal of buildup of amyloid plaque, or “bad proteins” that break down brain tissue and neurons, interfering with overall cognition.
- HBOT helps reduce symptoms and may reverse the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Previously known as an “incurable and fatal disease”, there is now hope for those suffering and more resources available for research and treatment with HBOT.
- Alzheimer’s disease is a leading cause of dementia in which patients experience difficulty in performing daily tasks and taking care of themselves, along with the more severe major cognitive deficits. Treating it with HBOT has proven effective to halt the progression of Alzheimer’s disease to dementia.
- You may have increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease if you have a family history of AD, previous head trauma, diabetes, peripheral vascular diseases or poor overall health. Consider HBOT as a preventative measure if you are included in the risk factor groups listed above. When you integrate HBOT into your total wellness protocol, you may be able to reverse the symptoms of this debilitating disease, or stop it before it has the time to manifest.
Partner with a holistic physician to create a total wellness protocol and treatment plan that includes Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for yourself, or give the gift of a healthier, more enjoyable life to someone you know who is affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
When we received our latest natural Liver Detox Kit sample at Patients Medical, a few of us were excited to try the new products. But there was at least one person in the office that was skeptical.
“Why do I need a detox? I’m not an alcoholic and I don’t use drugs. I exercise and eat well. I don’t need that.”
This may be the exact question you’re asking as well. If so, read on.
I ran across an article about a study on the effects of environmental toxins in the natural wildlife that live in the Arctic. These animals are clearly not overindulging in alcohol or recreational drugs. Chances are, they are not big junk food eaters and they exerciser regularly.
However, based on the study through Aarhus University, researchers have found that even the polar bears are suffering from damage to
- Bones and organs
- Immune systems
- Reproductive systems
These polar bears are coming in contact with the toxins through the air and water supply as well as by eating the animals lower on the food chain (sea food), polluted by industrial chemicals that have been carried the distance from the sources.
Our liver is one of the main organs that helps our bodies handle the toxic burden. The liver turns the toxins, which are fat-soluble, to water soluble compounds, then sends them to be excreted via the kidneys and intestines.
But the liver can only handle so much. When the liver is overwhelmed, the excess toxins are not excreted and accumulate in the body.
Detoxification is helpful because it allows the liver to more efficiently process and send the toxins out to be excreted. People who regularly detoxify find that they have fewer colds and flu symptoms, more energy, a lower incidence of chronic disease, are able to lose excess weight more efficiently and have much better digestion, among many other benefits.
A simple 7-day at home detox including liver and intestinal support, vitamin and mineral supplements, a clean diet and plenty of pure water may be all you need to see some real results.
So, if the polar bears in the Arctic need to detox, then you probably need to detox, too. Not only are we closer to sources of industrial waste, we
- Drive or live near areas that have high levels of auto exhaust
- Live in homes where we store or use solvents such as paint or cleaning products
- Drink water through lead pipes that may be leaching heavy metals into our water
- Have dental work done that may be leaching heavy metals or toxins from plastics into our bodies
- Eat foods that may have been grown with herbicides, insecticides, pesticides or have been irradiated
- Take prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications that are toxic
- Consume products that have artificial food additives, colorings or preservatives
- Eat meat that may have been raised with added hormones or antibiotics
- Consume caffeine, alcohol or nicotine
- Have chronically high stress levels
- May be in unhappy relationships that cause anxiety or added stress
- Suffer from indigestion, gastrointestinal infection or inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract
If you have any of the above lifestyle or diet habits, then you need to detox.
They’ve even found toxins in umbilical cord blood; apparently, newborns are subjected to these toxins, too!
The short answer is…if polar bears need to detox, than you probably do, too.
