Nutritional Therapy & Care of Marine Park

06/02/2023

Always a tough subject since I work in the health field and promote general and overall health and well-being (and most of that circles around nutrition and weight loss) but nevertheless, this shouldn’t be overlooked as well. Specifically, this is defined as “a set of beliefs that values thinness, appearance, and shape above health and wellbeing.” It does so with a restrictive approach to eating—restricting calories, nutrients, or certain food groups and labeling foods as “good” and “bad.” Certainly can’t disagree with some of this as I always want patients to feel amazing in their own skin regardless of their weight. But most of the time, patients come in to see me because they do not feel well-their weight hurts their body and restricts their breathing. Their stomach is bloated and their bowels are irregular and painful. Their blood pressure is high and they have type II diabetes. Their sonograms demonstrate plaque in their arterial walls and a fatty liver infiltration. So when it comes down to it, my impulse is to help and prevent-but certainly if you do not feel or have any of these illnesses or diagnoses, please let no one pressure you into being a bigger or smaller version of yourself because you are beautiful! (Healthy is a whole other subject 😬🤔).

05/04/2023

When it comes to the topic of weight, please tread carefully as this is a very sensitive subject to all. For people struggling to lose weight, reminding them that they’re heavy or that they “shouldn’t eat that,” only makes them that much more aware that other people notice their imperfections too, thus leading to more eating to comfort themselves. When someone has lost a lot of weight, asking them if they’re sick or telling them they’re now “too thin,” can be a problem too, especially when potentially dealing with someone who may have a compulsion with food-all you’re doing is reinforcing the person to remain thin and/or become thinner. At the same time, if someone is naturally quite thin and trying to gain weight, saying things like, “you’re too thin,” or “eat something! Here’s a cookie,” isn’t helpful-the person knows they are thin and are struggling to gain. So unless you’re a medical professional trained to help someone with these issues, the best advice you can give someone with weight struggles are GENTLE ones. Comments like, “you’re beautiful,” or “I know you’re trying-keep it up!” or “you got this!” Ultimately, less is best and when you’re really not sure what to say, maybe best to say nothing at all. Let’s support our family and friends in this journey 💗

04/11/2023

Because I’ve always been a fan of trying to use a natural process for weight loss, one can understand my concerns about using weight loss prescriptions, especially ones that are designated to treat something else entirely, to solely target weight loss. And like with all fad diets, how does one sustain this without overuse? Or maintain this without the help of a “crutch?” Please always ask your physician and/or licensed professional before beginning any drugs that could alter your body’s metabolism or even have adverse reactions to other medications. And please always research websites with legitimate credentials before making any kind of decision regarding your health and weight. Have a happy Tuesday!

03/19/2023

When it comes to losing weight and dieting, so many of us (if not all of us) tend to overthink the choices we make with food. We’re talking right down to the very calorie and step we take on the daily. Of course, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this but sometimes I find that I can get obsessive/borderline compulsive with my daily routines and my head starts to spin with the choices I’ve made, making, and will make. While it’s important to know what and how much should go in your tummies, it’s also very important to recognize the steps you’re taking to make your life healthier and happier. Please be proud of your progress and don’t overthink it-you’re doing great! (And clearly, much better than the person not trying at all 💪🏻)

03/03/2023

Easy ways to cut back on calories! While it may not be an aggressive way to lose the pounds, over time, these changes can make a difference in your health AND the scale!
1) Try drinking water or seltzer instead of sodas (including diet) or juices 2) Watch the crazy salad toppings like cheese, dried fruit, bacon or croutons 3) Cook more at home-studies show that people who ate at home consumed about 150 fewer calories and ate healthier items 4) Drink your coffee or tea plain and 5) Cut back on cooking oil-try using a few tablespoons of chicken or vegetable broth or just a light drizzle of olive, avocado, or coconut oil.

02/19/2023

Thought this was a great article from TIME magazine about the benefits (and possibly some drawbacks) of intermittent fasting. “By eating normally for several days a week and eating much less on the others, a person may be able to shift her body’s cellular and metabolic processes in ways that promote optimal health.” I think it’s important to remember that these types of eating patterns shouldn’t be done everyday so the liver’s energy stores have a chance to deplete and can then start using the fat that would initially be stored there as new energy! (Aka, weight loss). Particularly for the people who aren’t a fan fave of calorie counting, this type of eating can be a much easier approach. Of course, there’s always pros and cons when it comes to any diet plan so always be sure to speak with your dietitian/nutritionist and/or healthcare provider if you have any questions! Have a wonderful Sunday friends!

02/03/2023

How important is exercise? Super important! On top of aiding in a weight loss, exercise also releases endorphins, the feel-good neurotransmitters in your brain! And while some think exercise has to mean rigorous activity for a specified period of time, it doesn’t have to! Did you know that walking is still considered one of the BEST cardiovascular activities for your heart, health, and body? Walking. That’s it. And it’s free! Want to push yourself further? Try walking challenges to inspire yourself!

https://www.raceatyourpace.com/walking/

01/20/2023

Good news for wine/beer lovers! Studies show that people who consumed moderate amounts of wine OR beer (hooray for me!…I love both) had lower than expected rates of heart disease and early death! Particularly for our craft beer lovers which is often unpasteurized, unfiltered, and containing plant compounds provided “healthful constituents” to the human body. Prost friends!

Some of the research is encouraging, but not conclusive

01/13/2023

If/when you get a chance, please don’t pass this post up-it really speaks volumes about the silent struggles people go through and why judging others should be a thing of the past. When it comes to weight loss, many don’t know of the hardships, the sacrifice, the discipline and determination unless they’ve gone through it themselves and even then, every person’s weight loss journey is different from the next so one can’t ever truly understand. Please be patient with those who are trying…it most certainly isn’t easy.

01/06/2023

What a great article! I had a patient send this to me (thank you L.S.!) and I thought it was very helpful. I think a lot of people struggle with particular times of the day (for me, it’s nighttime for sure!) and it’s hard to find something else to distract our minds away from the inevitable: how to stop from overeating. While some of the things on this list couldn’t be applied to my lifestyle, there were still plenty of other items that were super helpful! I hope it helps you too 💗 What’s your toughest time of day with food?

“Eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full.” If only it was that easy. Sometimes we eat when we’re hungry, other times we eat for other reasons. Maybe it’s b…

12/31/2022

Just wanted to take a few moments to show my appreciation and gratitude to the people I work with and the people I work for: all of you! The last 18 months have been a little hard on my family and I but having patients like you made my days happier, brighter, and inspiring. As I enter into my 12th year of dietary counseling, I’m looking forward to new and exciting ways to return the favor. Many people take this time to focus on their resolutions (especially with food and exercise) and I say go for it. There’s nothing stopping you! And if at the end of next year, there’s only been one change out of many, that’s still one more than you would have had from this year. What are your goals for the new year? #2023

07/26/2022

People always ask me why I choose to promote the specific products I have in the office and the answer is simple: it’s still one of the most effective weight-loss supplements on the market. While I’m always on the lookout for all natural, protein-based (either complete or incomplete), weight-loss inducing items, nothing is perfect (yet lol). But these guys come close: high quality proteins, low sugar, high fiber, and super tasty-excellent for most diets, particularly diabetics and moderate to severe obese individuals. As always, please proceed with caution: some high protein diets aren’t advised as they might interfere with underlying medical conditions and/or kidney disease. Please always ask your medical professionals if you’re uncertain.
Enjoy my friends! And don’t forget-free shipping for orders over $100 with code: shipitfreetome

05/10/2022

Did you know that people who have been dieting for an extensive period of time can have a temporary loss of communication between their brain and their stomach! This is why i will sometimes tell patients that in order to lose, they need to eat (fueling consistently can help build back that signal allowing for people to know when they are hungry or when they are full). This is also why, when patients are doing an intermittent fast, it’s important NOT to do it daily as you’ll lose the stimulation to the metabolism. Studies suggest that intermittent fasting should be on non-sequential days (or at least, every other day so as not to interfere with it being a whole 48 hour fast). Just some “food for thought!”

03/12/2022

While it’s not officially breast cancer awareness month, something interesting that everyone should be aware of is a new finding suggesting that a low fat diet can help to lower the risk of dying from cancer. A recent study of 49,000 women who were randomly assigned to the LA Biomedical Research Institute showed that 35% of the women on a low fat diet had a lower risk of dying than the ones on a controlled diet. The study also showed that even 20 years later, the risk still had a 15% lower mortality risk. What’s some of the ways to lower our fat intake? High fat dairy (sorry cheese ☹️) and red meats. Just some “food” for thought!

01/29/2022

There have been so many patients asking the medical staff in the office what’s real and what isn’t during this pandemic that I thought I would share with you what we know so far based only on what’s been occurring in our private office in brooklyn: ***PLEASE keep in mind that this is just information gathered through our facility and in no way reflects our personal opinion on the subject***
1) We have the ability to perform what is called a Rapid PCR test for those who might actively be infected with coronavirus. These tests are about 98% accurate and can give a result in about 10 minutes. We also send out regular PCR’s which are about 99% accurate. The biggest difference is that the rapid PCR will detect a CURRENT infection only while a regular PCR could test positive for a very long time as it will pick up a live or dormant infection regardless. We have noticed that, on average, the virus can remain active in a human body for approximately two weeks (sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more) so it’s important to pay attention to your symptoms and how you’re feeling overall. 2) For the patients who received both vaccines (either Moderna or Pfizer) plus the booster, their symptoms REGARDLESS of variant have been, on average, mild. For those who only received the two doses on average were sicker longer but not hospitalized. The ones who were not vaccinated at all on average suffered from extreme symptoms that required hospitalization and/or had lingering symptoms for an extended period of time (some lasting longer than 6 months). 3) We have seen reinfections in both vaccinated and non-vaccinated patients ruling out the ability to acquire herd immunity through infection alone. 4) Masks such as N95, KN95, or KN94 that are held securely against your face have shown to be effective against the transmission of the virus as our staff have most likely been exposed on almost a daily basis by an actively infected patient. While we try our best to screen each patient 24 hours prior to their appointment, some patients are either unaware of what is a common symptom of coronavirus and/or are asymptomatic.

01/08/2022

Happy New Year everyone! What a wild ride the last several months have been! I’d like to blame the lack of posting on my ever-changing two year old but not taking responsibility for my actions would not be the right example to set for my child! So let’s begin 2022 on a new note: is food the best medicine of all? So many people ask what supplements they should be taking, what medications work best for their conditions, and how much exercise is considered meaningful for their best route to health? I think the topic they like to avoid is the food they’re having because the other subjects are much easier to do. Think about it: you take one pill or a few vitamins, walk a couple of extra blocks a day, and stay away from cookies and you should see results right? Not exactly. I think food is the KEY to longevity and health and if you’re eating the right foods, you won’t need all those supplements and meds (usually). Studies have shown that among people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, those taking meds lowered their risk of getting the disease by 31% as compared to those who modified their diet and lowered their risk to 58%. That’s almost double!!! So if you ask me if food can treat disease, the answer is a resounding YES! #2022

06/29/2021

https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2021/06/28/device-that-locks-jaw-shut-to-tackle-obesity-sparks-outrage/amp/

Oh my word! Sometimes my patients and joke about this in the office (aka my patients request me to “sew their mouths shut”, we laugh, and we move on) but this is crazy!! What happens if you’re choking? Still hungry? Upset at your spouse?! Putting restrictions on your routine is never a good idea…but this one takes the cake! (And you can’t fit that in your mouth with this anyway!)

Its intricate system of magnets and custom-made bolts allows wearers to open their mouths only about 1/16 of an inch, which relegates them to a liquid diet without restricting their talking or brea…

06/10/2021

More and more patients are relying on their prescription meds to balance their underlying medical conditions. It’s very common for patients to feel that the medicine is keeping them alive therefore they don’t need to do much else (aka diet, exercise, etc). But this type of thinking is quite dangerous. Most medical professionals will tell you that being on medications for extended periods of time can render some long-term effects that are irreversible. And if your habits continue to stay the same and/or worsen, more meds will then be applied on top of what you’re already using. And while modern medicine tries to keep you alive, you are making your diseases chronic and decreasing your lifespan by double, sometimes triple what it should have been. So if many medical conditions can be treated with the right diet and exercise, what is it that you’re really waiting for?