The Importance of Supplements
Today is Part 1 of 2 – to be able to talk about a healthy lifestyle and way of eating, we have to talk about supplementation. No matter what social media platform you use, or what wellness blog/magazine/show you follow, you will likely hear so much conflicting information and so many commercialized sources telling us their “science based” diet, shakes, supplement etc. is the best way to lose weight or stay healthy.
Beyond “which diet”, we are also often asked which vitamins are necessary, if any, to maintain healthy lifestyle? Most studies show that very few diets meet all our nutritional needs. Even those of us that eat very “clean” end up falling short on certain key nutrients. This is in part due to the lack of nutrients in our food supply, or the lack of the ability to be able to afford 100% fresh, nutrient-filled diets. Additionally, years of commercialized farming has demineralized some of our soil and our food. Choosing organic and locally grown produce has a slight advantage but still often falls short and again, can be expensive!
Another problem is that certain nutrients are not readily found in food. For example, Vitamin D3 (an essential hormone and vitamin— key for immune support, mood, bone health, muscle strength and more) is not found in significant quantities in food. There are some foods, such as liver that do contain large amounts of D3, but again it is rare. D3 is obtained from sun exposure. However, most of us do not sit in the sun shirtless, year round (hello skin cancer risk) to get adequate vitamin D. The epidemic of vitamin D deficiency, and its impact, has been brought further to light by the COVID crisis, as you may have seen an increase in the media recently about studies showing this important vitamin on your immune system!
Other nutrients are added only to certain processed foods, such as iodine. Those who avoid processed foods and table salt (for good health reasons) may become iodine deficient, which results in lowering metabolism and other negative effects on your health. Likewise, in the name of better health (such as following a Mediterranean or plant-based diet) many avoid eating red meat. In doing so, they can become iron deficient and have low total body iron stores leading to low energy, fatigue, thinning hair and more.
Yes, good healthy diet is important for so many reasons, yet, as above, it is not always enough! A “personalized vitamin” approach that takes into account your dietary habits, lifestyle and health concerns is the best way to get the exact nutrients you need. Just as vitamin deficiencies an be harmful so can taking too many vitamins. Taking the wrong vitamins can lead to a waste of money and simply really expensive pee! Our providers can help round out your healthy habits so that you can benefit from both eating well and filling in nutritional gaps.
There are so many different supplements out there on the market. Many people often want to pursue a healthier lifestyle and try supplements, but it can be confusing and overwhelming to figure out which ones to take, what brand to use, if they are safe and if they are “good quality”.
It is important to note that Dietary supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). So unlike drugs, they aren’t required to meet the same strict standards. Also, supplements are not permitted to be marketed for the purpose of treating, diagnosing, preventing, or curing diseases. That means supplements should not make disease claims, such as “lowers high cholesterol” or “treats heart disease.” You’ll often see a play on wording such as “patient reports improved energy” or “COULD help lower cholesterol”. Basically, a supplement can have a small amount of the “usable” vitamin or mineral a patient seeks, and other fillers, oils, gelatins, etc., which allow the company to mass-produce the supplement and sell them for cheap. No one really regulates this industry unfortunately!
There are good, high-quality products out there, but there are also many not-so-good ones as above.
At To Your Health and Wellness, LLC, you will often hear us say “there is no magic pill”. We believe that supplements often have a great role in the “cycle” of healthy habits. We offer affordable, HIGH quality BioTe nutraceuticals that may meet your needs. BioTE® CORE+ is the only nutraceutical line specially created to supplement bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), however they are also very beneficial in everyday health in patients, who do not require or who have not yet started BHRT, as part of their wellness plans! Here are some of the supplements we offer and benefits:
DIM SGS+
As we age, our testosterone levels drop naturally. This in turn increases our estrogen levels. An overload of estrogen can significantly damage our bodies. People with higher levels of estrogen have increased risk of weight gain, bloating, water retention and other complications. Do you suffer from any of these symptoms? DIM SGS+ might work for you!
This product is derived from broccoli and pomegranate. DIM is short for diindolylmethane, which is a hormone “balancer.” DIM will stimulate your metabolism, and it could help regulate the ratio of estrogen, so you feel great!
This product is soy-free, dairy-free and gluten-free. It is for men and women to balance estrogen.
ADK 5 & 10 (doses)
Osteocalcin, a protein secreted in bones, assists your bones by reabsorbing older bone and laying down new bone. Vitamin D3 helps produce osteocalcin and improves the absorption of calcium. D3 needs assistance from vitamin K2. K2 helps strengthen the bone and improves blood circulation. Vitamin A is an antioxidant that supports these two vitamins and the immune system.
ADK 10 has a higher dose of D3. We help you determine which dosage is right for you!
This product is soy-free, dairy-free and gluten-free. It is for men and women to support improved bone, metabolism and immune system health.
BioTE® PROBIOTICS
Your body needs probiotics, which are living microorganisms, like bacteria and yeast.
Both BioTE Multi-Strain Probiotics 20B help support your gut health. They can help with digestive issues and bloating.
These products are soy-free, dairy-free and gluten-free. They are designed for men and women to support hormone balance and overall gut health.
BioTE® OMEGA 3 + COQ10
As we age, our body’s production of CoQ10 starts to decrease. This helps your body’s cells generate energy.
This nutraceutical includes EPA and DHA from fish oil with Coenzyme Q10.
This product is soy-free, dairy-free and gluten-free. They are designed for men and women to support heart, blood vessel, brain, bone and muscle health. They often are reported to help patients with joint pain and stiffness.
BioTE® IODINE PLUS
Your body depends on two hormones – thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) – to regulate your body’s metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Thyroid health is a big problem in our country and often leads to weight gain, inability to lose weight and decreased energy.
This product is soy-free, dairy-free and gluten-free. It is designed for men and women to boost energy levels, metabolism and natural hormone production to aid in thyroid-related health.
BioTE® METHYL FACTORS+
Methylation is a biochemical process that impacts your body’s ability to efficiently regulate cardiovascular, neurological, reproductive and detoxification systems. To encourage methylation, you need specific nutrients.
This product is soy-free, dairy-free and gluten-free. It is designed for men and women to promote a happy heart, quick cognition, improve energy levels (Vitamin B) and bone health.
BioTE® ARTEROSIL HP
Your arteries and veins have a protective lining called the endothelial glycocalyx. This lining prevents cholesterol from adhering to the endothelial wall. High blood glucose, high cholesterol, oxidative stress (smoking) and inflammation can damage this delicate lining.
This product is soy-free, dairy-free and gluten-free. It is clinically proven to restore the endothelium’s protective lining for improved heart, circulation, skin and sexual health.
Call us today to start your wellness journey and improve your overall health discussing how you could possibly benefit from supplements or dietary changes that may be making you not feel your best!
Weight Loss – You Don’t Have to Do it Alone – Medical Weight Loss, Gainesville, FL
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy is one tool we can help you Improve Your Weight Loss Efforts, in addition to our other medically guided weight loss plans!
How Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy may help you lose weight!
Jennifer Munksgard, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC talks with you about BioTE bio identical hormone pellets & how they can help you feel better and reach your goals.
Do you find it overwhelming and downright frustrating to lose weight? You’re not alone. So-called “proven” diet trends come and go, all the while making outrageous claims of pounds lost. You give up carbs, nosh like a caveman, count your calories, and, even if you do drop the weight, it seems to come back with a vengeance once you resume a more typical lifestyle. And what if you don’t have a ton of weight to lose, but maybe just those last stubborn pounds?
If you’re eating a healthy diet, watching your portions, and skipping dessert and just can’t shed those stubborn pounds, the odds are your metabolism is thwarting your weight loss efforts. We all know age, a sedentary lifestyle, and yo-yo dieting all impact your metabolism… but what’s at the very core of making your body burn away those calories from that spaghetti dinner? And what can be done to turn up your metabolism and boost your weight loss?
THE HORMONE CONNECTION
It’s hard to overstate how much control hormones have over what goes on with your body. Your growth and development, fertility, immune system, cardiovascular system, and even your behavior all rely on these chemical messengers to keep things running in good order. Your ability to metabolize food for fuel is directly connected to your hormones.
Two of the primary hormones that regulate things like cravings and metabolism are estrogen and progesterone. When one or both levels fall, you will not only have a difficult time losing weight, but you will see your weight increase, despite your best efforts. Adjusting your hormones to the proper levels is necessary to prevent additional weight gain and improve your ability to lose weight.
Beginning at around age 30, your body curtails how much of certain growth hormones it produces. At about 40, women’s production of estrogen begins to slow down, as does progesterone, and in men, testosterone wanes. Believe it or not, testosterone also sharply declines in women, and is responsible for many of the same effects in women as men (Think- “dadbod”).
This decrease in hormones interferes significantly with your body’s ability to lose weight. You have less energy, which may cut into motivation when it comes to exercise. Your metabolism slows to a crawl, your fat-burning muscle mass decreases, and you’ll notice an increase in abdominal fat.
HORMONAL IMBALANCE CAN LEAVE YOU FEELING UNMOTIVATED
Out-of-whack hormones affect you in so many ways. Aside from a lack of energy and a slowed metabolism, you may also feel depressed and irritable, and experience some serious food cravings. Think about this: If you’re cranky, tired, depressed, and want nothing to eat but chocolate, caffeine to have energy and potato chips, you might have a tough time losing weight. And imbalanced hormones are at the core of this struggle.
Hormone replacement therapy and optimizing your hormones, can help you balance your hormones, which decline with age and reclaim control of your life. Bioidentical hormones, which are made from plant sources, offer a safe and natural solution to restore this hormonal balance.
Individual patient’s results vary, however we have seen many many patients through bioidentical hormone replacement therapy begin to feel as one should: vibrant, energetic, calm and healthy. And you’ll likely begin to see a payoff for all of your weight loss efforts.
THE BENEFITS OF BIOIDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT
Managing your hormone imbalance with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy benefits you in so many ways: from restoring your libido, to giving you back that energy you once had, and helping you achieve your weight loss goals.
However, every case is unique and you’ll need a full assessment before we can customize the right formula to restore balance. Many factors can come into play when it comes to trying to lose weight — and if you succeed, to keeping those pounds from coming back.
If you’ve tried a thoughtful, focused approach to lose weight and find that those stubborn pounds just won’t budge, you may be the ideal candidate for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). We are happy to discuss BHRT and other options for effective, safe and medical guided weight loss! Contact To Your Health and Wellness, LLC today.
We have flexible office hours in our Gainesville, FL, office and are ready to help you achieve your wellness goals!!