HelloSustainwellness

24/06/2022

We know that functional health practices support longevity, prevention, and good health, yet we often see men failing to directly seek help -- especially relating to hormonal health.

Women are encouraged to embrace the impact our hormones play in our lives. We’ve been given the green light to act according to our hormonal fluctuations and there is an endless supply of available information. However, in the same society, we mock men who want to be cared for in sickness (ie. The man cold) and do not extend to them the same support for male hormonal imbalances.

Rates of su***de in men are consistently and egregiously high. In 2021, for every 100,000 Canadians the su***de rate for men was 17.6 and women 6.1. Men are much less likely to voice concerns about mental illness or even see a physician unless a major health event is in question.

The “medical gender gap” and its consequences are real. According to the CDC, the crux of the issue of men dying earlier than women is this gap and the lack of awareness about men’s health.

This may be another factor in why 40% of men experience testosterone deficiency (TD) or low testosterone (Low-T) by the age of 45. Many of whom (it is estimated up to 88%) will go undiagnosed only to later have the symptoms of TD treated.

Factors that contribute to low testosterone
- Injury
- Sleep apnea
- Mouth breathing
- Medication
- Genetics

23/06/2022

Testosterone levels are dropping considerably

A study conducted by JCEM showed that since the 1980s, men’s testosterone has been dropping about 1% per year.
The Dutch conducted a similar study with similar finds but dated further back and reported double-digit declines since the 1920s.

Testosterone is a key hormone in your body that is critical for mood, fertility, cardiovascular health, and metabolism. As much as this is a problem addressing male health, female hormones are affected too.

Much of the observed data shows that the emphasis for decreasing T is due to increased exposure to environmental toxins (pesticides, parabens, chemicals [ bisphenol A and phthalates- common in household cleaners and detergents]).

Industrial seed oils (which I plan to cover extensively in the future) are also shown to be one of the biggest endocrine disruptors. On top of the ubiquitous and insidious oils, increased intake of estrogenic and phytoestrogen food (soy, flax, tofu, miso, chickpeas… etc.) introduces unnatural amounts of estrogen into our bodies.

14/06/2022

As I mentioned before, this is a very complex topic.

What we know with absolute certainty is that the general health of our population is in precipitous decline. Why I bring these matters up is because there is no longer a one-size-fits all method of treatment and speaking about the minutia gives a little more insight to your own care.

What works for you matters more than poorly done studies on a whole population. For example: if you increase your saturated fat and red meat intake and your cholesterol levels increase, BUT your weight, blood glucose, visceral fat, and blood pressure improve, then your overall risk has DECREASED.

Sure, make modifications and recheck levels if you and your doctor are concerned, but don’t abandon something that is working by every other metric. The whole picture must be considered when it comes to your health.

If you are concerned about your cholesterol or would like more information on this topic or others. Feel free to send us a message at [email protected] . Our Classic- Disease Reversal Program is now free of charge for Albertans.

13/06/2022

Cholesterol 2/3

Should saturated fat intake be reduced to decrease cardiovascular disease?

-Data is highly conflicting on the effect of reducing saturated fat intake on CVD, but some studies do show a reduction in the incidence of non-fatal heart attacks.

-There has been no documented improvement in cardiovascular mortality or overall mortality shown with reduction in saturated fat intake, even in the studies showing reduced heart attacks.

-Two of the largest randomized studies (The Sydney Heart Study, and The Minnesota Coronary Experiment) which formed the basis for many of the historical recommendations related to saturated fat were initially reported to show benefits from replacing saturated fat with vegetable oils. Decades later it was discovered that the full data had been left unpublished and showed *worse* outcomes. A review done including this new data (PMID:27071971) suggests a reduction in saturated fat in favour of vegetable oils at best is neutral for heart disease and overall mortality but did appear to possibly worsen these outcomes.

This is a problem. Do you remember when the same governing bodies demonized eggs? Where did that information go? There was no remorse or begging for forgiveness for “misinformation”. The recommendations simply… disappeared. But by that point, it was still common “fact” that we accepted until very recently.

If you are ready to follow the rabbit trail, see the following studies:

PMID: 31142556, PMID: 27071971, PMID: 19081406, PMID: 11502313, PMID: 4902662

11/06/2022

Cholesterol 1/3 [This is a heavy topic and does require some thought, but our clinic aims to educate, (not treat online, obviously) and we trust our readers to process all information thoughtfully.]

The "diet-heart hypothesis" is the theory that the risk of cardiovascular disease is primarily driven by elevated cholesterol levels, and that dietary saturated fat increases cholesterol. Therefore, saturated fat intake should be reduced to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. (I will use cardiovascular disease, heart disease, CVD, and atherosclerosis interchangeably in these posts.)

*Each of these topics is complex and goes beyond social media's scope. If you would like the full module we have created for our patients on the topic of cholesterol, please email [email protected] or send me a message and we'll send it to you free of charge.

Why this theory matter is because patients are often given a black and white answer of "meat bad, plants good" from their health care team when time in office does not allow for the minutia to be discussed.

1) >>> Is Cardiovascular Disease Driven by Elevated Cholesterol?
a. In general CVD risk does correlate with cholesterol levels on a population-wide level
b. The level of risk imparted by elevated cholesterol is relatively small, and risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, and elevated blood pressure impose greater risk than cholesterol. Outside of extreme elevations (for example in certain genetic syndromes), a person’s risk for heart disease will thus be primarily determined by factors OTHER than the cholesterol level.
c. From everything we understand about the mechanism of heart disease, LDL cholesterol** is required for the process to occur.
d. If you could hold ALL OTHER FACTORS constant in each person and increase cholesterol levels without affecting any other systems (given the complex nature of biological systems, this is of course absurd), the evidence does seem to support that this individual will be at a higher risk of heart disease than they were with the lower levels.
i. That being said, there is a multitude of mechanisms by which LDL cholesterol may be increased, and it would be naïve to think that no matter the cause of elevation, the risk would be equal.

**LDL or total cholesterol measurements are also blunt instruments that are related to the process of atherosclerosis. There are factors about the QUALITY of your cholesterol that are likely the actual determinants of risk (for example particle number rather than overall concentration, particle size, oxidation levels of particles), however, the evidence to translate these factors into individual risk is still early and difficult to translate into firm recommendations.

07/06/2022

Vitamin D Quick Facts:

- ALL immune cells have vitamin D receptors
- "Vitamin" is a misnomer. Vitamin D is actually a steroid hormone
- Magnesium “activates” vitamin D
- Low D (vitamin D) can predict low T (testosterone) in men.
- Sunlight converts cholesterol in your skin to Vitamin D

Take away? Eat some steak and get some (sunscreen free) sun.

07/06/2022

There most certainly IS good food and bad food!!

Health professionals, trainers and dieticians who deny this are either frighteningly behind on the science or cannot decipher a good study from a blog.

The growing body of evidence that industrial seed oils are at fault for damaged mitochondria explains why obesity and disease rates have skyrocketed since their inception as food... But that is an ongoing topic for another day.

In short, there still *are* decent options that come in a box. The label does not need to read Keto (and is often times, a red flag for garbage fillers) and may contain sugar.

Swiss Delice and Lindt dark chocolate are good options for treats. Need ice cream? Opt for Haagen-Dazs as they use full fat dairy without garbage additives.

If you find more processed foods with clean ingredients, feel free to DM me and let me know.

**I should add the obvious: not everyone's physiology will be able to handle these items in the same amounts. This is 100% why we utilize biotracking feedback to tell you with confidence what your body can and cannot metabolize

03/06/2022

While plans to treat and reverse disease are highly personalized, we've built our medical foundation on 4 essential pillars:

1) Nutrition
2) Stress-Management
3) Exercise & Movement
4) Sleep Hygiene

We’ve developed client learning modules to educate on the theories behind health. These empower our patients to be their own coaches long-term. Our bio-tracking processes individualize and target patient-specific needs while giving tangible and immediate proof of our methods.

While we are not a primary care facility, we work with your family doctor to address issues they do not have time to walk you through.

We are what the medical system was originally designed to be.

Get in touch today and book a free consultation

02/06/2022

Stats provide us with a glimpse into general ideas. We don’t see single parents working 2 jobs and only having time to dinner prep at the drive thru. We don’t see individual’s pain and stress…. For these reasons and so many more *there is no room for garbage advice*. (I swear I get a twitch in my eye when I hear patient blaming trash like: Eat less, move more… guilt isn’t an ingredient…. Everything in moderation… go plant based)

I wanted to leave you with this thought from Dr. Kraushar: Over the years, intrinsic human behavior has not changed. You cannot blame these stats on a sudden lack of self-control but at some point, we must acknowledge that our environment is making us sick.

Currently, we are only taking physician referrals. Please contact us directly (Message here or email [email protected]) to arrange a discovery meeting.

31/05/2022

John Harvey Kellogg, (yup, that Kellogg) the celibate inventor of corn flakes, was correct in thinking that nutrition plays a huge role in health.

He was outspoken about his believed consequences of what he called “the solitary vice”. His answer to quell desire and libido (on top of many barbaric practices) was a “healthy” and bland diet, free of any excitement. THIS is the reason he called breakfast the most important meal of the day. Not for fuel or sustenance, but to reduce and nullify urges.

It wasn’t long until the companies jumped on the trend and added their products to the importance.
But somehow, what was once full of healthy foods like eggs, ham and potatoes somehow turned into dessert and smoothie sludge piles. This left us worse off than we were with Dr. Kellogg.

Views on the importance of breakfast vary among healthcare professionals but what does hold true from John Harvey is this: a highly refined carb-based diet sets us up for lethargy, unstable blood sugar, and more hunger all before lunch.

Don’t get lost in all the diet advice out there. Message me for a free consultation today!

31/05/2022

How's that pipeline looking? Face it you can't control the market, current sales targets, or your client’s income. Let us help.

At Sustain Health our Four Pillars of Health [Sleep – Stress Management – Movement & Exercise – Nutrition & Diet] help to support both your employees and clients.

Improve employee morale and retention by establishing a meaningful support program for their health. The APA reported that 89% of workers at companies that support well-being initiatives are more likely to recommend their company as a good place to work. Combat workplace burnout before it starts.

Value-added services can hold enormous potential for your potential and existing clients. While your customer may not be financially ready or they're still "thinking", leave them with something that will change their lives. Give them the power of good health.

We work with small businesses and companies to develop a personalized service to be memorable and set them apart from others. Anything you deem as complementary to your business, together we can build an educational series, family nutrition coaching, or individualized medical advising to reverse disease.

What are you waiting for? DM now or text 403 585 4942 to get started.

27/05/2022

Fun Fact! Losing weight is hard because your body doesn't want you to.

The "starvation response" is an adaptive and evolutionary response to long-term stress. Your body defends its fat stores by reducing the number of calories it burns, increases cravings and makes you feel fatigued. As a species, we've adapted to this response in preparation for long bouts without quality food.

(So what about intermittent fasting?) While this post isn't to address the benefits or risks of IF, in short: the stress response to fasting is not the same (PMID: 10837292; 12107252). The short-term "stress" caused by IF actually increases norepinephrine which can increase your resting energy expenditure..... but that is a topic for another day.

If you are looking for more information on obesity management, disease reversal, or intermittent fasting, feel free to reach out.

DM to book a free consultation and receive a free gift from our clinic.
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24/05/2022

70%-80% of our BMI is determined by our genes.

At some point in all our ancestral history food was scarce and our bodies have adapted to keep us alive. We still carry these traits today.

Further along, while we were in utero what our moms ate, drank, put on their skin, used for soap, and even the emotions they felt all add up to influence how much weight our bodies will need to survive.

Then if you were born via c-section, what you were fed as a child, the sterility of your home, and even any trauma or neglect you experienced, also loaded the gun for your adult weight today.

Nothing here is about self-control, exercise, or guilt. What it does tell us is we need to stop making excuses to keep our bodies sick.

With the ever-deteriorating quality of food and increasing lack of protein-rich sources, our bodies are fighting harder than ever. Unfortunately, our environment pulls the trigger on disease and has created the sickest population to date.

My nutrition coaching is not for everyone.

I am NOT always here to tell you everything fits in moderation, guilt is not an ingredient, or to eat less move more.

Those statements were created out of fear of offense and frankly to shame people into thinking they are lazy.

Sustain Health is here to provide real and clear evidence-based advice that will help give you lifelong results.

We don’t embarrass our patients into feeling bad about their bodies but empower them to create a healthy future.

DM to book a free consultation today! (Physician referrals accepted, DM for more info)

23/05/2022

Getting ready for Energize Airdrie's grand opening.

Krisda hooked us up with 21,000 samples of low-carb sweeteners for our patients and guests.

This Wednesday stop by anytime between 3:00-7:00 to meet our team, try mini demos, delicious refreshments and free samples!

103 - 1800 Market St, Airdrie

14/05/2022

😅

14/05/2022

13/05/2022

The most misguided nutrition myth out there: It's about calories in, calories out.

Why this isn't true:

Energy content and nutrition value are very different from each other.

On top of this, different types of macronutrients are also processed very differently. AND within the same macronutrient family, calories and textures are processed differently too. (Think about 100 calories from juice vs 100 calories from whole fruit. Fiber acts as a buffer and allows for slower metabolization preventing sudden blood sugar spikes and associated side affects)

The right food choices make a vital difference on many levels.

DM me to book a discovery consult and get a free program starter pack from Energize Nutrition.