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Category: Medical Weight Loss

eating as an emotional coping aid los angeles
5Aug

How worried should we be about the extra pounds we’re putting on while stuck at home? 

With the effects of the pandemic stretching on far longer than most people had any idea that it would, a lot of us have begun to worry about the extra pounds that we are putting on. It was kind of fun to joke about a common experience in the beginning. Some were playfully calling it the COVID-5 or referring to COVID curves, but, as the months have gone by, COVID-15 doesn’t seem quite as amusing. 

Should we be worried? Have we stepped out on a slippery slope that there may be no getting off of? How important is it to try and stick to healthier food choices or even dive into a full-fledged weight loss regimen?

First of all, give yourself a break. This is not a situation in which any of us have the benefit of training or experience. Whatever your life was like before, it’s very different now. And not just for you. For everyone. Stress levels are off the charts. People are afraid. And isolated. No one really knows what to do or how long this is going to last. 

eating as an emotional coping aid los angeles

 

Eating As An Emotional Coping Aid in Los Angeles during Covid-19

Is a little emotional eating such a terrible way to cope? No, but…

Science tells us that when anxiety and stress levels go up, so does the production of the hormone cortisol, which has the effect of increasing our appetite. This has us reaching for cake, cookies, bread and other high sugar or high carb foods. Not just because they are our go-to comfort foods, but because they trigger the release of dopamine, which makes us feel better, at least temporarily. 

In normal times, if this is a common occurrence, it can certainly be a problem. In a global crisis, it helps to keep some perspective.  According to Mary Anne Cohen, a psychotherapist and the director of the New York Center for Eating Disorders, “This is not a normal time that we’re in. Your eating will not look normal. And we need to cultivate some humor about our foibles and a lot of self compassion.”

Perhaps the best approach is one that generally serves us well; balance. This would mean not beating ourselves up for reaching for a cookie while watching the evening news and, at the same time, developing other ways of dealing with our stress and anxiety.

Suggestions for Reducing Overeating During the Pandemic

  • Make sure you are eating enough so that you aren’t hungry and anxious at the same time
  • Practice being kind to yourself and avoid negative “self-talk”
  • Try to consistently get enough sleep
  • Do something physical every day, if only a walk around your neighborhood
  • Meditate
  • Find a new hobby or take an online class
  • Lessen feelings of isolation by staying connected to family, friends and co-workers with email, text, phone and internet-based technologies
  • Take advantage of the super-popular Zoom for sharing mealtime, having a book club, poker game or other types of group activity 

virtual connection with friends los angeles

The more you stay engaged and connected, the less likely you will be to rely solely on food to cope with the current situation. And remember that “this too shall pass”. If you do end up with a few extra pounds, the Southern California Center for Anti-Aging is here to help with a weight loss program designed specifically for you.   

The Southern California Center for Anti-Aging focuses on the practice of advanced, preventive and regenerative medicine. We strongly believe correcting imbalances and deficiencies in nutrition, along with improving fitness and balancing and restoring hormones with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, can help with creating the foundation for a healthier and happier life. To learn more about our holistic approach or if you have questions about any of our services, take advantage of our Free Consultation by clicking here to use our convenient online form. 

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Is Clean Eating Always the Best Choice Los Angeles
9Sep

It’s hard to find specific guidelines on clean eating so how do I know if I’m doing it correctly? 
What do you believe would be the result of polling a dozen individuals on the correct makeup of a healthy diet? You might think that it would depend on their age, country of origin, educational level or some other factor that traditionally informs the opinions of groups of people. That is becoming less and less the case. Today, if you want to predict how someone will respond, check their online history, especially social media habits. 
In the past, when we were introduced to a new type of diet, the process was much slower. We might hear about it from a friend or read an article in a magazine or see it introduced on TV. Before giving it a try we would ask the opinion of people we actually knew. Not so today, and one of the best examples of that may be that of “clean eating”. In a world where stores are stuffed with sugary, salty, over-processed foods and obesity, diabetes, cancer and a long list of other serious health conditions are on the rise, is it any surprise that the hashtag #cleaneating caught on like wildfire? 
Self-proclaimed clean eating experts became internet stars and attracted thousands of followers practically overnight. Without research or science to provide structure, this latest cadre of diet gurus defined clean eating as eating only foods that are whole or unprocessed. Despite the ambiguity of those terms, the principle was extremely appealing. For years, one diet expert after another has come out with “the” answer, each negating the findings of the other. People were confused and losing trust in experts and institutions to actually have any answers. They were hungry (no pun intended!) for a simple, common-sense approach and clean eating sounded like exactly what they were looking for.   
In principle and, in general, people who practice clean eating by attempting to eat foods in their natural form, without artificial ingredients, preservatives, sugars, salt, and other additives are choosing a healthy diet. Not everyone can eat raw vegetables and fruits and some people will have other restrictions based on individual issues, but overall, less processing and artificial anything is a better choice. What isn’t healthy is the obsession in the clean eating movement with only consuming foods that qualify as “pure”. 

Orthorexia Nervosa: The Fixation on Righteous Eating

The Fixation on Righteous Eating Los Angeles

While this is, of course, not the case for everyone committed to eating locally-sourced produce and other accepted types of “clean” food, for some people, finding the purest and cleanest foods has become an obsession. In fact, there is even a medical designation for it, orthorexia nervosa, which, when translated becomes “a fixation on righteous eating”. The foods that are consumed may be healthy but the obsession is definitely not. It can cause feelings of guilt, unworthiness and even result in negative social behavior, including isolating from others. 
There is currently a move to push back against the more radical claims of clean eating, with many medical professionals and scientists talking about the lack of research and proof to back up its claims. For long-term results that are healthy, not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally, it is important to be able to rely on solid advice. It is highly unlikely that the answer will ever be “one diet for all. Every individual is different and a healthy diet should be based on that person’s health and metabolic profile.
The Southern California Center for Anti-Aging focuses on the practice of advanced, preventive and regenerative medicine. We can customize an eating plan, just for you, based on your individual needs and body chemistry. We strongly believe correcting imbalances and deficiencies in nutrition, along with improving fitness and balancing and restoring hormones with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, can help with creating the foundation for a healthier and happier life. To learn more about memory loss and or if you have questions about any of our services, take advantage of our Free Consultation by clicking here to use our convenient online form.

Los Angeles Healthy Diet

keto diet los angeles
26Apr

Is the keto diet really a healthy weight loss program in the long run?
Who wouldn’t like a weight loss program that promotes having bacon as a snack? Although true devotees of the current keto diet movement would undoubtedly argue that being allowed to eat bacon and other high-fat foods is not the prime motivator for their allegiance to this eating philosophy, it certainly gets the attention of those growing weary of placing their standard order for “salad, but hold the dressing”.
For anyone on social media, it is nearly impossible to spend much time scrolling through photos and posts without seeing evidence of dramatic weight loss and delicious, typically-taboo foods that are purported to go together. Of course, do any sort of search on the health consequences of eating the way the keto diet recommends and there will be link after link to sources warning caution. As with so many things today, it is increasingly difficult to cull fact from promotion. Perhaps the best place to start is to do a little research on why the keto diet was developed in the first place.

Origin of the Keto Diet

history of keto diet los angeles

It all started with Meryl Streep. Technically, not true, but the famous actress starring in the film First Do No Harm, in 1997, about a young boy with severely debilitating epilepsy having his seizures controlled by a ketogenic diet did help launch the diet into public awareness. The ketogenic diet got its start in the 1920s at the Mayo Clinic in an attempt to mimic the effects of fasting on the metabolism. The goal, which proved successful, was for the treatment of epilepsy. Variations of the ketogenic diet were later developed as treatments for other neurological conditions, like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, as well as conditions associated with metabolic dysfunction, like cancer.
It was not until very recently that ketogenic became keto and a new weight-loss diet craze was launched as a result of research done at the Sapienza University in Rome by the Italian professor of surgery, Dr. Gianfranco Cappello. Approximately 19,000 participants in Cappello’s study were given a high-fat liquid diet designed to put them into a state of ketosis. This resulted in an average 20-pound weight loss.
Soon there was a wave of diet gurus promoting this new way of losing weight that involved high-fat food rather than being restricted to only liquids. The basic breakdown consists of a daily intake composed of 70% in fat, 20% in protein and the remaining 10% spent on carbs, which equates to a single piece of fruit or half a bagel’s worth of carbs for the day.

What’s the Verdict on Keto?

verdict on keto diet los angeles

Throwing the body into ketosis can have beneficial outcomes. As mentioned earlier, it has proven effective for reducing seizures and there is ongoing research with regard to other brain-related benefits, as well as the possibility that it may help control sugar levels in the blood for those with diabetes.
Is maintaining a keto diet an effective way to lose weight? Ketosis does initially force the body to burn fat rather than carbs which does lead to weight loss.
On the downside, whether the keto diet is effective in promoting and maintaining weight loss for the long term is currently unknown. Plus, there are lists of side effects that plague extreme carbohydrate restriction, including headaches, constipation, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, inflammation and the signature bad-breath that goes with being in ketosis.
Achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight is important. Your best chances of doing so while also taking care of your overall health and wellbeing is by consulting with a trusted healthcare professional who will help design a program suited for your individual needs.
At the Southern California Center for Anti-Aging, we know how important weight control is to health and well-being, and we believe that safe and life changing weight loss can be attained and maintained when properly supervised. Weight control is extremely important, but our bodies must also be well-nourished in order to function properly and keep our immune systems at the ready. Once we have diagnosed your particular case through carefully administered tests, we prescribe the diet, or combination of diets, that we know will work for you. To learn more about our weight loss programs or if you have questions about any of our services, take advantage of our Free Consultation by clicking here to use our convenient online form.

Caffeine and Metabolism Los Angeles
22Mar

Does caffeine speed up the metabolism and help with weight loss?

There are few topics that get more attention, with wildly varying opinions, than the benefits of weight loss and the detrimental effects of caffeine. Obviously, there is no argument about the importance of reaching and maintaining a healthy body weight, but is it possible that caffeine is not as bad as we have been led to believe?
It has been suggested by some studies that caffeine boosts energy and is depleted during physical exertion, possibly the reason for increased calorie burning by those who have consumed caffeine. With the addition of catchins, a type of phenolic compound that is found in green tea, the process of fat oxidation is significantly increased.

This all sounds promising, but, as is often the case, there is a flip side to caffeine, which is currently our most popular drug here in the U.S., as well as the least regulated one. Caffeine is a natural component of 60 different species of plants, the most familiar being coffee, tea and cocoa. While caffeine has been added to soft drinks for a very long time, first the natural kind and now the synthetic, it has only been a little over 20 years since energy drinks and supplements, loaded with high levels of caffeine started flooding the market.

Caffeine has been credited with an increased sense of well-being, energy, happiness and alertness. It can enhance feelings of sociability. We rely on it to help us stay awake when driving at night. It wakes us up in the morning and helps us face the challenges of our work day. There are those who believe caffeine may reduce the risk of developing conditions like gall stones and even Parkinson’s disease. The military has explored the benefits of using caffeine as a supplement for service members in locations and situations where they may not get sufficient sleep but still need to be as alert as possible.

On that flip side, however, caffeine may be an FDA approved pharmacological substance, but it is also a highly addictive drug. Anyone who uses it regularly is familiar with the withdrawal effects; severe headache, extreme fatigue, mental fuzziness and drowsiness. What most people are not aware of, though, is that it only takes about a week of daily consumption of caffeine to be at this level of addiction. It may help some stay awake when needed, but for many others it actually interferes with a normal, healthy sleep cycle. Caffeine can also contribute to the worsening of urinary incontinence.

Caffeine and Metabolism: Effective Partners or Not?

caffeine metabolism and weight loss los angeles

As with many things, the verdict on caffeine is not a unanimous one. Used in moderation and with a little common sense, it probably isn’t as harmful as many like to say. The fact that it is so easily addictive does make the moderation part problematic. There is some evidence of the weight loss benefits of appetite suppression and the increased calorie-burning potential of thermogenesis, which is the process your body uses to extract heat and energy from food digestion. That said, while caffeine may supply a slight boost to weight loss, there is presently no evidence that it is more than temporary.

The Southern California Center for Anti-Aging focuses on the practice of advanced, preventive and regenerative medicine. We strongly believe correcting imbalances and deficiencies in nutrition, along with improving fitness and balancing and restoring hormones with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, can help with creating the foundation for a healthier and happier life. We use a wide range of advanced testing and analysis, including food allergy testing, to ensure the best results for our clients.

To learn more about our weight loss programs or if you have questions about any of our services, take advantage of our Free Consultation by clicking here to use our convenient online form.

Holistic Health Services in Los Angeles With Dr. Judi Goldstone

Connection Between Sleep and Weight Loss Los Angeles
28Aug

Does lack of sleep have anything to do with weight loss?

There are a lot of reasons that we should get a good night’s sleep. Starting with childhood, parents have always attempted the herculean task of getting their children to bed at a reasonable hour. This is despite the ever-increasing array of distractions that produce variations on the same pleas that have been used for generations. Some of these include,  “just five more minutes”, “just one more story”, or even “just one more video game”. The struggle continues through the teenage years and, if we are honest, remains with many of us throughout our adult lives.

There is a ton of research that tries to convince us of the benefits of good sleep habits. Despite this, it is estimated that somewhere in the range of 40% of adults in the U.S. get less than the recommended minimum of 7 hours of sleep each night. What is especially interesting is that, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), almost the exact same percentage, 38.9%, of U.S. adults are classified as obese. What are the chances that this is nothing more than coincidence?

There have always been people who brag about their ability to function at a high level with very little sleep. These are undoubtedly the same ones who profess to enhanced productivity through multi-tasking. Haven’t we always believed, on some level, that both of those claims were suspect? We do better when we bring our full focus on a single task. In addition, our overall health, performance and well-being is enhanced when we get an optimum amount of sleep. This is true in multiple areas. Not only do we experience positive impacts on mental concentration and cognition, our athletic ability is improved and so are our social interactions. Lack of sleep has been linked the following:

  • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Depression
  • Blood sugar imbalances leading to diabetes and impaired immune system function.

How Sleep Affects Weight Loss

Sleep Affects Weight Loss Los Angeles

However people are starting to realize that sleep IS important. Not getting the proper amount of sleep is also strongly believed to be a major factor in weight gain and the inability to lose excess weight. Studies point to poor or an incorrect amount of sleep as contributing to the following:

Too little sleep:

  • Slows the body’s metabolism
  • Causes the body to produce more insulin and cortisol. Thus, resulting in increased fat storage – usually in the area of the abdomen
  • Affects hormones that regulates hunger (ghrelin) and the feeling of being full (leptin)
  • Poor sleep is linked to increased cravings for sugar, fat and carbs

Too much sleep:

  • Increased levels of depression, anxiety and mood issues. This can lead to excessive eating
  • Less physical activity
  • Disruption of body’s biorhythms

So What Is The Connection Between Sleep and Weight Loss? (Conclusion)

We lead extremely busy lives, and there are times when it really is difficult to get the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. Healthcare professionals recognize that this is inevitable but caution that doing so consistently will be detrimental to health. This includes our physical, mental and emotional well-being. Furthermore, it also has a major impact on our ability to reach and maintain our most healthy body weight. It is time to add “consistently getting a good night’s sleep” to our list, right next to a proper diet and sufficient exercise.

The Southern California Center for Anti-Aging focuses on the practice of advanced, preventive and regenerative medicine. We strongly believe correcting imbalances and deficiencies in nutrition. This is in addition to improving fitness. Furthermore, balancing and restoring hormones with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy can help with creating the foundation for a healthier and happier life.

To learn more about our programs or if you have questions about any of our services, take advantage of our Free Consultation by clicking here to use our convenient online form.

Sleep and Weight Loss los angeles

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obesity treatment los angeles | medical weight loss clinics
20Jun

Why Is Weight Loss Treated As An Option Or Luxury?

We usually focus on weight loss because of how we look but should I be more concerned with health issues?  We may not all want the near-emaciated look of a supermodel, but who doesn’t want a body that makes going to the beach comfortable and fun rather than anxiety-laden and traumatic? All of the “fat is beautiful” movements aside, how we look matters to us, and few of us are happy when we are carrying a significant amount of extra body weight. It is really counterproductive to try and minimize this. Unfortunately, no matter how important appearance is, there are issues associated with being overweight and obese that should take center stage.  

What Constitute Obesity?

Healthcare professionals consider obesity an issue of epidemic proportion in the U.S., and it is continuing to grow. Ten years ago, the obesity rate in this country for adults was 34 percent. The latest research, conducted in 2016 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), showed an increase to 40 percent. That means that 2 of every 5 adults in the U.S. are not merely overweight, they are obese.

obesity los angeles

 It would seem that the terminology used to discuss such an important issue would be easy to understand. Unfortunately, most of us have difficulty understanding the difference between being overweight and being obese. In the past, there were weight charts that gave you a target weight based on height, gender, and age. Now, you have to know your BMI (body mass index). That being said, even if you do understand what that means and learn how to use the BMI calculator, this doesn’t take into account mitigating factors like fat versus muscle, ethnicity and where the fat is located on the body.   

Frequently Asked Questions About Weight Loss

Of course, most of us know whether we need to lose weight or not, even if we don’t know the exact number of pounds. Knowing it and navigating the incredibly confusing advice coming from countless directions every day is nothing short of overwhelming.

  • What’s the best diet?
  • Which foods are truly healthy (and do they have to be so expensive)?
  • What kind of exercise should I do?
  • How do I find the time to plan, shop, prepare and cook every meal?
  • Where do I find help that I can trust?

What usually happens? Our favorite fast food restaurant shows up in a commercial or as we are driving down the street and makes the choice extremely easy. Pull in, pay far less than for healthy options and be on our way. Quicker. Easier. Cheaper.

Importance of Breaking the Obesity Cycle

the connection between bmi numbers and obesity levels los angeles

Conditions and Symptoms Stemming from Obesity

There really is a lot at stake when it comes to body weight. Yes, the effort required to lose and then maintain a healthy weight is considerable, but the cost of not doing so is far greater. Pollution in our air, water, and ground may be responsible for a great percentage of our current health concerns but the effect of obesity is staggering. Years of research has linked obesity to an almost unbelievably long list of health issues. Some of the most common include:

  • Diabetes – obesity increases the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes by a factor of 10
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart disease
  • Respiratory disorders
  • Cancer – obesity is thought to be linked to nearly 90,000 cancer deaths yearly
  • Cerebrovascular Disease and Stroke
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Spinal disorders
  • Kidney disease
  • Liver disease
  • Alzheimer’s disease and dementia

Scary, right? The good news is that losing weight can have a dramatically positive effect on your health. Even just getting started and reaching a goal of 5 percent of body weight can show improvement that you can feel and lower your risk for some of these life-threatening diseases. Do not let feeling overwhelmed or confused prevent you from making the changes that are so important. Make an appointment with a healthcare professional to set up a plan that is right for you and get started today.

healthy person los angeles

At the Southern California Center for Anti-Aging, we know how important weight control is to health and well-being, and we believe that safe and life changing weight loss can be attained and maintained when properly supervised. Weight control is extremely important, but our bodies must also be well-nourished in order to function properly and keep our immune systems at the ready. Once we have diagnosed your particular case through carefully administered tests, we prescribe the diet, or combination of diets, that we know will work for you. To learn more about our programs or if you have questions about any of our services, take advantage of our Free Consultation by using our online form below

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