Clutter = Energy Drain

I remember a few years back attending a conference where one of the presenters spoke on “clutter”.  The more clutter in one’s life  would lead to decreased energy.  Not only does it decrease energy but it is also a distraction; thus, making it hard to complete the tasks at hand.  Clutter leads to losing items and wasted time trying to find them (if you can).  It clouds your natural energy field, can effect your work performance, your health and ultimately your life.

Since that presentation I have tried to make a mental note of what is “cluttering” my life.  I remember coming home from the presentation and I decide to take on the kitchen closet.   This is where we kept the trash, recycle bins, trash bags, phone books, and all the dog stuff.   It was easy since the trash was close.  I pitched everything that we hadn’t used in the prior 6 months.  I added another shelf for neatness – so we can see what we have.  Just by doing that small area-it made a big difference in energy.  When we would go to give our dog a treat or take out the trash it was an up lifter instead of a downer. 

Do You Have Clutter In Your Life?  Don’t know where to start?  Here are a few tips:

·         Work on one room at a time.  Pick the room you spend the most time in for starters.  Pitch items you haven’t used in the last 6 month.  If you can’t pitch them-donate them

·         Give yourself a full day or a full week per room/area if needed (remember you didn’t collect all this clutter overnight)

·         Set a time limit for cleaning each day…1 to 3 hours so you don’t get overwhelmed

·         Once you have decided to pitch or donate your items- put them in the trash or in your car to take to the donation destination.  Do NOT  “store” them in another location in your home.

·         Do a little each day- for some of you it may have taken years to accumulate all your clutter

We recently put new carpet in our home.  I remember thinking I’d rather move than ever install new carpet again -as everything that touches the floor has to come up.  That means everything in your closets that are on the floor has to be moved.  Books and papers in bookshelves have to come out so they can be moved.  It was a lot of work-but now all our closets are cleaned, book shelves are de-cluttered and the energy in our home is boosted. 

Make a commitment today to work on de-cluttering you life and adding energy back into your life.

Weight Loss Competition Winners

Congratulations to the Winners of our Weight Loss Competition!

                                    Prize Money                 Name              Percentage Weight Lost
Women's
1st place                      $2,239.59                    Deborah                          16.25%
2nd place                        $447.92                    Dana                                15.14%
3rd place                        $298.61                    Meghann                          14.32%

Men's
1st place                        $415.41                    Jason                                 16.79%
2nd place                         $83.08                    Ben                                   13.42%
3rd place                         $55.39                    Jim                                     12.28%

There were 147 weight loss contestants who used the motivation of the competition to reach personal  milestones and goals.  We will continue to hold this competition annually each February thru May as we see the difference it makes in lives.  Keep persuing your goals and congratulations to all who participated.

How Is the Work Force Wellness Index Holding Up?

Thomson Reuters Workforce Wellness Index measures the cost of 6 modifiable risk factors in employed, privately insured populations.  The 6 risk factors include:  Body Mass Index (BMI), Total Cholesterol, Blood Sugar, Blood Pressure, Tobacco Use, and Alcohol Use.

The U.S. Workforce Wellness Index is on a declining trend.  The ideal state where no behavioral risk factors are present would be reported as a Wellness Index of 100.  The U.S. Wellness Index from 2005 to 2009 has declined from 86.4 to 84.4. 

Thomson Reuters research demonstrates around 14% of increased health care expenditures in the employed, privately insured workforce is related to the 6 modifiable risk factors above.   Thomson Reuters data suggests in the third quarter of 2010 these risk factors accounted for about $670 per employee  of the rising healthcare costs annually. 

More specifically, employees with a high Body Mass Index accounted for approximately  $400 of the increased healthcare expenditures per employee annually in 2009.  High blood sugar level came in as the next most significant risk factor in increasing health care costs.  Each of which can be changed given the right wellness plan and the right motivation.

Want to decrease costs in the work place?  Enroll your employees in a Wellness Program that will assist your employees in optimizing their health and taking charge of their life.  Here's a  Wellness Program that addresses each of these risk factors and offers individulized health care assessments and plans:  http://cardiowellnesscenter.org/    The Cardio Wellness center will also provide educational presentations to your employees. 

Want to Reduce Your Risk Of Developing Type 2 Diabetes?

I see a lot of patients with pre-diabetes (fasting blood sugars 100-125) and with Type 2 Diabetes (2 fasting blood sugars of 126 or greater).  For the most part, patients can prevent Type 2 Diabetes through diet and lifestyle.  That is often why I tell my patients they are sitting in a good seat...this is something they can prevent.

In October 2010 Dr. Salas-Salvado and colleagues published a study on how the Mediterranean diet reduced development of Type 2 Diabetes by 52%.  There was no change in physical activity or weight.  Just a change in diet.  The study reported by utilizing the Mediterranean diet, development of Type 2 Diabetes was cut in half (52%).  The principle components of the Mediterranean diet utilized in the study:

• Increased use of olive oil for cooking and dressing (participants were given free allotment of 1 liter virgin olive oil per week and 30 g of mixed nuts per day)
• Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables
• Increased consumption of legumes and fish
• Decreased consumption of meat (recommending white instead of red meat)
• Avoidance of fast food, sweets, pastries (simple sugars)
• In alcohol drinkers, moderate consumption of red wine

So, if you are pre-diabetic or have Type 2 Diabetes, change up your diet to optimize your health.  Type 2 Diabetes in many cases can be prevented.

Salas-Salvado, Jori, MD and Colleagues. Reduction on the Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes with the Mediterranean Diet. Oct. 7, 2010 Diabetes Care.

Alcohol: Slippery Slope

I am in New Orleans presenting at the Nurse Practitioner Associates of Continuing Education (NPACE) seminar. This morning at 0830, I walked down the stairs from my hotel room to the front lobby...looking for some oatmeal, nuts and fruit.  When I got to the lobby, there was a man sitting on the sofa drinking from an oversized bottle of Blue Moon and his buddy, holding a big jug of whiskey and taking sips. Both participating in a conversation that made no sense to the sober passerby and both leaning on their free hand to keep their heads propped up for the conversation.  The front desk employee saw me take a triple look smiled and said, "Welcome to New Orleans - what can I do for you?"  

So, as I sat down to eat my healthy breakfast I couldn't help but think about those 2 guys in the lobby.  Obviously, this isn't the time or place to inform them of the effects of alcohol; but, alcohol is the source of much individual and societal suffering and morbidity.  In fact, alcohol abuse is the 3rd largest preventable cause of Death.  There are health benefits to alcohol as well.  In fact, light to moderate drinking is associated with cardioprotective benefits.  This constitutes 1 drink daily for women and 1-2 drinks daily for men.   (For further clarification:  1 drink is equivalent to 12 ounces of beer or 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces 80 proof spirits, or 1 ounce 100 proof spirits.  All of these contain 13 g- 15 g of ethanol.) 

Many people who are light drinkers believe that occasional "binge drinking" won't hurt their health.  But binge drinking even in light drinkers increases cardiovascular events and mortality(death).  Alcohol is a double edge sword and if you misuse it ... it can lead to much suffering (physical suffering too- heart disease, stroke, hypertension, liver disease, etc).  Because of that, the AHA guidelines caution people not to start drinking if you do not already drink alcohol; because it is not possible to predict who will develop alcohol abuse tendencies.  If you do drink without addiction tendencies 1 drink for ladies and 1-2 drinks daily for men will add some cardioprotection. 

After I finished my breakfast and headed back through the lobby to my room the employee said,  "Be glad you weren't here for Mardi Gras".

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007 Sep 11;50(11):1009-14. Alcohol and cardiovascular health: the razor-sharp double-edged sword.  O'Keefe JH, Bybee KA, Lavie CJ.

6 Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally

High blood pressure is the measurement of the force applied to the artery wall as the heart pumps blood through the body. Having high blood pressure can raise your risk of having a heart attack, stroke and for developing heart failure if left untreated.

Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80.

Prehypertension is 120-139/80-89.

Hypertension is greater than 140/90.

Fortunately, high blood pressure is a risk factor that can be managed. Here are 6 simple ways to lower your blood pressure naturally.

1. Exercise
2. Decrease sodium in diet
3. Reduce stress
4. Weight loss (if needed)
5. Limit alcohol to no more than 2 drinks daily
6. If you snore - see your health care provider
   
   

Ever Wonder How a High Fat Meal Affects Your Arteries?

What Exactly Does a 6,190 Calorie Lunch Do to Your Body? - The World Newser

Check out this short video (click above) to see the affects of a high fat meal on your arteries. And since we need our arteries to live by; each meal counts. Make them healthy!

Stay Focused

We have had several people weigh in this past week for the Month 1 weigh in. Congrats to all of you who are participating both formally and informally. If you have lost a pound or 2- Congrats! It's just been 4 weeks and you are off to a great start and a healthy weight loss. Stay with it! This second month is one of the most important months of the competition. This is where we lose people due to inability to keep their inner drive and mental energy focused on their health and weight loss program. For those of you who have lost 5-10 pounds or more...stay with it and keep your mental energy up. Sometimes when we start out of the gate strong we often lose steam. The key for this month is to stay focused. If you hit a plateau, it will pass....just keep at it.

After all, this isn't just about weight loss-it's about your total health, empowering yourself to live the life you've always wanted. You can start living the life you were meant to live when you decide too. Remember the strongest tool to assist you in your weight loss and optimal health is your Mind. You will lose weight and change your life when you decide to. All weight loss consists of is less calories in and more calories out.

Need a boost? Join us in our 3 Week Health Challenge. Start now and make it your 2 Week Health Challenge. You CAN do this- and when you do, not only will it inspire others; but, it will have a ripple effect on your life.

WOW! Lose Weight AND Win BIG!

For those of you in our Weight Loss Competition (WLC) don't forget the monthly weigh in for March is this week! March 9th, 10th and 11th.

The prize Monies are as follows:

Women's Weight Loss Competition Prize Monies

1st Place - $2,239.59
2nd Place - $447.92
3rd Place - $298.61

Men's Weight Loss Competition Prize Monies

1st Place - $415.41
2nd Place - $83.08
3rd Place - $55.39

Wow! What a way to get healthy AND win BIG. Good Luck to all our participants.

You might want to check out our 3 week Health Challenge that starts today to help Rev up your weight loss!

3 Week Health Challenge

*For those of you in our Weight Loss Competition (WLC) you'll want to participate after you hear the prize money you can win just for being healthy and losing your weight. We'll announce prize monies on Monday, March 7th, 2011.

Rules of the 3 Week Challenge

Eating Habits

1. No simple carbs or sugars for 3 weeks

2. Each meal will have a lean protein and 2 colors (fruits and/or vegetables)

3. One day per week you can have a higher calorie meal (if you want to)

Exercise Routine

1. Complete 30 min of aerobic (cardio) exercise (or what you can work up to) 4 days per week *Even if you start at 2 minutes twice per day it's better than nothing! Increase each week by 2 minutes. So on week 2 you are completing 4 minutes of cardio twice daily.

2. Complete light weight lifting or toning of the arms 2 days per week

3. Complete 2-3 different abdominal exercises 2 days per week

*Encourage each other by posting progress and stumbling blocks on Fridays!

Dramatic Cholesterol Results withOUT Presciption Medications

For the past decade I have recommended CardioTabs supplements because they are pure, high quality AND they work. Many patients and providers ask how much change I expect to see in someone’s cholesterol on these products. Here is just one of many examples.

Erik is a good friend of mine who has a worrisome family history of heart disease. Despite his efforts to follow a healthy diet and a regular exercise program, his cholesterol levels run in dangerous ranges, which puts him at high risk for developing heart disease at a young age, like his father did.

Erik is only 36 years old and he has reservations about getting started on potent prescription cholesterol lowering drugs like Lipitor or simvastatin that are typically taken for the remainder of one’s life. He has no heart plaque at this time. So he decided to give CardioTabs supplements a try instead.

Upon my advice he took:
CardioTabs Red Yeast Rice, 4 capsules daily,
CardioTabs CardioSterol, 4 capsules daily,
CardioTabs Omega 3, Extra-strength, 2 capsules per day.

He measured his fasting lipid profile at baseline, prior to starting the supplements and then rechecked the lipid profile after one month on the CardioTabs regimen outlined above. And here’s what happened to his cholesterol levels:

Total cholesterol: 230 to 150
HDL (good cholesterol): 42 to 49
LDL (bad cholesterol): 138 to 76
Triglycerides: 250 to 125

His bad cholesterol fell by about 45% and his good cholesterol rose by 17%. The CardioTabs regimen of safe and effective over-the-counter supplements cut the ratio of total cholesterol/HDL almost in half from a worrisome 5.5 to a very healthy 3.1. These types of dramatic improvements in his cholesterol profile can be expected to help keep Erik’s heart and blood vessels clean and healthy, and the results rival those that would be expected by the most potent of our prescription drug regimens. And Erik is delighted because he feels good about accomplishing these strikingly beneficial changes without having to resort to expensive and sometimes troublesome prescription drugs.

Please note: You should not take Red Yeast Rice AND a prescription statin (Lipitor, simvastatin, etc) together.

Rev Up Your Metabolism: 4 Simple Steps

Start Your Engines
Begin your day with a healthy breakfast. It prevents mindless nibbling and gets your metabolism going for the day. Cooked Oatmeal with nuts and fruit, egg white omelets, or a handful or healthy nuts and fruits and vegetables are all examples of a healthy breakfast.

Increase Your Workout Intensity
For those of you who have been walking the same 2 miles the last 6 months in the same timeframe…change it up! Increase your intensity for 30 seconds to 1 minute intervals and then return to your regular pace. Do this throughout your workout and you will see results. Once or twice a week I recommend increasing your workout intensity. You will be amazed at the changes you will start to see.

Build Muscle
If you do the same activity everyday; how do you expect your body to change? Choose a weight you can lift with good form for 12-15 reps (1 set). Make sure you are pushing yourself some. Lifting weights is just as much mental as it is physical. Slowly work yourself up to 2 to 3 sets at this weight (adding a set every 1 to 2 weeks). When you’ve added sets and can comfortably lift your current weights increase your weight to the point where you can only do 8-10 reps and then repeat the process. Muscles use more energy than fat cells.

Green Tea
New studies suggest, catechins, the active ingredient in green tea may actually boost metabolism and reduce belly fat. These studies were completed in individuals who drink 5- 8 ounce cups of green tea daily.

The only thing standing between the old you and the new you is your Mind. Focus, commit and the changes you will begin to see will have a ripple effect on your entire life. We all have but one life. Let’s make it our best.

Preparing for Weight Loss?

If so, you better bring the right tools!

For those of you in the Weight Loss Competition (WLC) or those of you wanting to lose weight....your strongest tool to assist you in your weight loss is your MIND. Thoughts become behavior. The way you think of yourself turns into your reality. Your self talk can make all the difference. So let's change it up! "I am going to eat healthy today." " I am going to lose weight." "I can do this."

Sodas and Orange Juice Lead to Gout?

Twenty-two year prospective study which included 78,906 (gout free) women in the Nurses Health Study found intake of sugar sweetened soda increased risk of gout. Women who consumed 1 serving per day of sweetened soda had a 74% higher risk of developing gout than women who consumed less than one serving a month. Women who had 2 or more servings of sugary soda daily had a 2.4 times higher risk of developing gout.

Think your off the hook if you consume Orange Juice? Think again. The study also revealed that women who had 1 serving of OJ daily had a 41% increase risk of developing gout than women who had less than 6 ounces a month. Women who consumed 2 or more servings of OJ daily had a 2.4 times higher risk of developing gout.

There is no way around it, consuming sugary drinks leads to health issues. Remember yesterday's decisions affect your health today; but, today's decisions affect your health tomorrow.

Clinical Advisor 2011

Tip For Your Health

You should never ignore persistent fatigue or nausea, shortness of breath, jaw, shoulder or arm pain. You should also never ignore any type of pressure especially if it radiates across the chest; these could be symptoms of a heart attack. (Time is muscle...the longer you wait the chances for loss of heart muscle increases.)

New Dietary Guidelines: Get off your SoFAS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released new Dietary Guidelines on January 31, 2011. One of the main themes is to "Get off our SoFAS" (get moving and stay away from Solid Fats and Added Sugars). For Americans, that may change many of our meals. No more morning Lattes (fancy milkshakes) and pastries. No more fast food after a long day at work. It's back to the basics. Lean proteins and fruits and vegetables.
Recommendations Include:

• Consume more seafood (at least 8 ounces per week)


• Consume more fruits and vegetables


• Consume more fiber


• Lower sodium intake


• Maintain plenty of potassium and Vitamin D


• Avoid fast foods


• Avoid sugary drinks


• Eat/Drink more nonfat or low fat dairy products


• Replace high fat meals with lean meats

Lets get moving and get off our SoFAS.

Taking Care of Our Bodies: 5 Simple Actions

Being healthy can be quite simple. Here are the 5 things we need to do everyday to take care of the "homes" we are given to live in. And if we don't take care of the "homes" we are given to live in, Where would we live?

1) Get 6-8 hours of sleep each night

2) Exercise (hunt & gather our food or get in some exercise each day....even a 15 min walk)

3) Have 4 Fruits & all the Veggies you want (at least 4)

4)Have Lean Protein for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

5)Drink water (replenish the fluids you excrete)

If you are hungry make sure you have fed your bodies before you have anything else. The more color in your diet the better.

The MacStatin

“I’ll take a quarter pounder, fries, and a statin to go, please.”

Crazy? Not really. In the American Journal of Cardiology, August 15th, 2010 issue the “MacStatin” strategy was introduced. A group of British Cardiologists suggested fast food restaurants, such as McDonald’s, offer a statin with their meal. How about that? A statin right next to the ketchup, mayonnaise, salt and sugar. Why not? People eat unhealthy meals and complete life compromising acts without a providers consult…so why need a prescription and see a provider for a statin? The statin could be sprinkled in the milkshake, on top of the hamburger or on the French Fries.

The researchers compared the increase in relative risk of cardiovascular disease associated with total and trans-fat content of the meal to the reduction in the relative risk observed in a meta analysis of primary prevention statin trials. The authors were able to show the risk of a heart attack could be reduced by adding a statin to their high fat and high trans fat meal. The risk associated with a cheeseburger and milkshake meal can be offset with one statin tablet.

However, there are other concerns associated with high fat, high trans fat and high calorie meals that lead to further health risk…such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. So, it doesn’t eliminate all the risk; but, perhaps, lessens the initial insult to the system. We’d all be better off with a colorful salad, lean protein and water to go.

Ferenczi EA, et.al, Am J Cardiol. 2010 Aug 15;106(4):587-92.

Tea = Healthy Heart

Get ready to change your Starbucks order. Despite all the Starbucks coffee stores, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world next to water, and can be found in almost 80% of all U.S. households. But the relationship between tea/coffee consumption and coronary heart disease death/stroke has been unclear.

A recent study published in the Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology Journal in June of 2010, looked at the connections of both coffee and tea consumption with coronary heart disease death and stroke as well as all cause mortality. Approximately 37,000 participants were followed for 13 years. The participants were assessed for stroke, heart disease death and all cause mortality. It was found that high tea consumption (6.0 cups) per day was associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease death. These findings were statistically significant. However, in moderate coffee drinkers the results only suggested a slight risk reduction for coronary heart disease death and were not a statistically significant reduction. Neither tea nor coffee were found to have an effect on stroke nor do they have an effect on all cause mortality.

The heart benefits of tea consumption may be explained by the antioxidants found in tea called flavonoids. Flavonoids are also found in dark chocolate, blueberries, red grapes and red wine. Next time you plan to stop for a morning drink on your way to work or have a friend over, serve up some heart healthy tea. Tea is enjoyed all year round as it cools you down in the summertime and warms you up in the winter months.

de Koning Gans, J. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology: Journal of the American Heart Association, August, 2010

Omega 3 Fish Oils Help Slow the Aging Process

Why do some people die of “old age” in their 70s and others in their 90s? Do our cells reach a point where they no longer function? Researchers from the University of California @ San Francisco (UCSF) have discovered Omega 3 fish oils help slow our aging process by protecting our DNA. We typically have a double strand of 23 chromosomes—one-half from our mother and one-half from our father. The ends of our chromosomes are protected by telomeres, much like the caps at the end of our shoelaces; thus, preventing our chromosomes from “fraying”. Each month our cells divide so they can reproduce many times. During cell division our telomeres can become shortened or “snipped” (the shorter the telomere the older the cell). If the telomere becomes too short the cell either dies or enters an inactive state-making one more vulnerable to disease; thus, the longer the telomere the longer your life potential.

Researchers completed a prospective study on 608 California outpatients with stable coronary artery disease. Researchers measured both the length of the telomere in the white blood cells and the Omega 3 blood levels at the beginning of the study and five years later at the end of the study. The study demonstrated an inverse relationship between baseline blood levels of Omega 3 fatty acids and the shortening rate of the telomere over five years. Small increases in the Omega 3 blood levels were associated with 30-35% reduced risk of shortened telomeres.

The American Heart Association recommends for individuals without heart disease to take 500 mg of the DHA + EPA. For patients with heart disease it is recommended you take 1000 mg of the DHA + EPA.

Slow your aging process: reduce stress, eat healthy, exercise and take your Omega 3 fish oils.

Ramin Farzaneh-Far, MD; et.al. JAMA. 2010;303(3):250-257.

How Much Do You Know About Cholesterol?

Take the Cholesterol Quiz..... click here

Daily Health Planner

Click below for your Daily Health Planner. It contains five daily actions to take care of the homes we are given to live in...our bodies.

After all, if we don't take care of it, where will we live?
Your Daily Health Planner Here

Who's Driving Health Care?

Can you pick out a patient with VA insurance from their medication list? Who's delivering patient care and health care policies? Check this out:

http://tinyurl.com/27mad8u

10 Tips to Improve Your Health

1. Get some exercise every day.

• Buy a Pedometer and make sure you walk 10,000 steps daily
• Take daily walks
• Use the stairs
• Park further away

2. Eat Healthy

• Lean protein and 2 colors at each meal (fruits/vegetables)
• Make sure you eat breakfast (prevents mindless nibbling throughout day and prevents overeating at lunch)

3. Stop Smoking – or don’t start

• We now have several options to help you quit smoking
• Set Quit date

4. Drink Plenty of Water daily (unless you have a fluid restriction)

5. Get 7-8 hours of Sleep Nightly

6. Floss daily

• Lots of data suggesting unhealthy gums increases inflammation markers and can lead to poor health.

7. Keep your Brain Active

• Complete crossword puzzles
• Participate in discussions and forums
• Stay aware of what is going on in the world

8. Get a Hobby

• Arts/crafts
• Blogging
• Gardening
• Restoring Cars
• Decorating
• Healthy cooking
• Record collections/Music

9. Reduce Stress

• Think Positive
• Spend 30 minutes a day doing something YOU like (visit a friend, read a book, play with your dog, listen to soothing music, get a facial, massage, meditate)
• Exercise
• Laugh more

10. Make small goals and reward yourself when meeting them

• Example: make a goal to complete at least 7 of the 10 tips daily for one month. When you meet this goal reward yourself with a new workout outfit, CD, new tennis shoes, massage, personal trainer session, etc
• Example: For every 20 sessions of exercise you complete reward yourself

Too Sweet For Your Own Good

Have you been told you are “pre-diabetic” or “borderline for diabetes”? Or perhaps you have been told you have diabetes and are beginning to make the necessary lifestyle changes to manage it with diet, lifestyle…and maybe an oral medication or two. Most of Type II Diabetes (which used to be called adult onset diabetes…only now it is affecting our kids) can be prevented through healthy eating and exercise. We used to see Type II Diabetes in people ages 50s-60s…the years people began to let themselves go-not eat as healthy, less exercise, etc. Now, our teenagers and young kids are eating bad and letting their health slide at much earlier ages. Many patients I see are surprised to learn that a fasting blood sugar of 100-125 places them in the pre-diabetic category or that 2 fasting sugars of 126 or greater diagnosis one with diabetes. Well, those are the reference points. Do you know what your fasting blood sugar is? Yes, get out your lab results from your last annual physical and check out your fasting blood sugar (glucose) number. It is important for all of us to know our fasting blood sugar levels in order to optimize our health and prevent diabetes in our life.

Fortunately Pre-Diabetes and Type II Diabetes for the most part can be prevented through diet and lifestyle. This would involve decreasing simple carbohydrates and sugars in your diet (see Curbing Your Sweet Tooth) and adding aerobic exercise to your daily regimen. As a Nurse Practitioner I often depend on supplements to assist patients in optimizing their health along with optimal diet and exercise. For patients that have sugar levels greater than 100, I often recommend CardioGT (glucose tolerance) which when used along with the proper diet and exercise regimen, can help maintain a healthy blood sugar level. CardioGT is formulated using natural ingredients which have been identified to have a positive impact on glucose metabolism. These ingredients are chromium, alpha-lipoic acid, magnesium, vanadium and cinnamon. (Click on link for more information regarding these natural ingredients.)

Diabetes, or pre-diabetes, significantly increases your risk for heart disease. If you are one of these individuals with elevated blood sugar levels, CardioGT, when combined with a healthy diet and exercise, may help assist you in improving your long-term health outlook . Click here for further information on CardioGT.

How Many Calories Do You Drink?

Beverage Serving Size Teaspoons Sugar Calories

Chocolate Milk 8 oz 6 190

Gatorade 8 oz 3 ¼ 63

Gatorade 21 oz 8 150

Sweet Tea 8 oz 5 ½ 91

Coke 12 oz 9 ¾ 155

Orange Juice 8 oz 5 ¾ 130

How Many Calories Make Up 1 Pound?

It takes 3500 extra calories to gain a pound.

Therefore…

500 extra calories a day for one week will cause you to gain one pound.

Or…

500 calories less per day for one week will cause you to lose one pound.

If you drink 2 cans of soda daily for one month, you will have consumed 12.2 cups of sugar & 9300 extra calories.

If you drink 2 cans soda daily for a year, you will have consumed 146 cups of sugar & 111,600 extra calories.

Enough extra calories to gain 31.9 pounds in 1 year!

(If you change to water or unsweetened tea you could lose 31.9 pounds in 1 year!)