Women Wired for Wellness hosted by Dr. Nisha Chellam

Dr. Nisha Chellam
  • 5.0 (10)
  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH

Dr. Nisha Chellam is a Board certified Internist who is also board certified in Integrative and Holistic medicine. She believes that diminished health and vitality can be reclaimed by just about any proactive person at any age. Dr. Chellam practices functional medicine in Novi, Michigan where she incorporates Nutrition, Fitness, hormone balance, and permanent weight control. Every week, Dr. Nisha gives you tips on how to take control of your health because YOU are your best doctor.

  1. 07/11/2022

    High Functioning Depression

    High functioning depression is a condition being increasingly seen by psychiatrists. Imagine that friend who is very successful and seemingly has it all. A perfect example is Kate spade who seemed successful on the surface and just like that with no one expecting it she took her life. This discussion is to bring awareness to this condition and also to seek the right kind of treatment and solution. As always any questions or follow up reach out to me at drchellam@holisticicon.com

    1h 21m

  2. 12/12/2021

    The Three hormones that impact your weight loss/gain

    3 Hormones That Prevent Weight Loss Thanks to the modern sedentary lifestyle, obesity is one of the most common public health issues these days. A common complaint from people these days is unstoppable weight gain. Almost 42.4 percent of adults in America are overweight.  From the obese population of the U.S., half of them are at a high risk of developing chronic conditions such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Along with this, the modern lifestyle has also normalized stress, increased fatigue, and brain fog—conditions people try to live with; till they can’t take it anymore.  If you are someone with weight loss issues, facing fatigue and memory loss, wondering why you aren’t losing weight, this blog is for you. You will learn about specific hormones that you should get checked first thing while facing weight loss issues, understand their function and dysfunction, and how to resolve it.  In this blog, we’ll be delving into three hormones that might be contributing to your weight gain: Leptin  Adiponectin  Cortisol Grab a pen and notebook, and let’s get started! Please note that the following hormonal imbalances are not limited to morbidly obese individuals—they can be observed in skinny-fat individuals with a normal BMI too.    Hormone #1: Leptin The first hormone is produced by the fat cells called leptin. The function of this hormone is to signal the brain to regulate appetite. Back-story: The food you eat provides glucose to the cells of your body to produce energy. This glucose in your blood is transported to the cells via a mediator called insulin.  Now, in the modern life of abundance, people tend to eat more than what their cells need, so there's always some extra glucose left in the blood. Insulin stores this extra glucose in the liver and muscles. Even after that, if there's still some excess glucose, new storage called adipocytes (fat cells) is created. These adipocytes also have endocrine functions: the production of the leptin hormone.     What is the function of the leptin hormone? The leptin hormone signal the brain to stop sending the hunger signal to the body when there is excess energy in the cells. Nevertheless, having a lot of leptin is not actually a good thing. Your levels of leptin go up indicating that your fat cells are increasing. When your fat cells increase, they take up most of the glucose from the blood; glucose that the body cells need to produce energy. As the body cells are deprived of glucose, the brain gets the signal to increase the hunger cue; resulting in incessant hunger and overeating.  This turns into a condition called leptin resistance. The most common abnormality with people who gain weight but have normal blood glucose is leptin resistance.  The high levels of leptin not only affect the brain but also the beta cells in the pancreas—increasing fat storage, insulin levels, and insulin resistance.  All of this drives up inflammation.    How do you know if you have leptin resistance? You probably have leptin resistance if you: Wake up with no hunger and go hours without the first pang of hunger hitting you in the middle of the day You feel hungry till bedtime, even after eating. You face a lot of difficulties losing weight.    Ways to resolve Leptin Resistance: Intentional Fasting: This fasting cycle intends to shift your metabolism—shifting the use of energy from glucose or carbohydrates to the utilization of fat through a process called ketosis. As this shift happens, your leptin resistance starts to go down. Leptin resistance can be handled by postponing your first meal and preponing your last meal. To practice Intentional Fasting: Stop eating after dinner.  Avoid bedtime snacks.  Have dinner three hours before bedtime.  If you feel the hunger before bed for the first few weeks, drink a little water.  After waking up, break the fast around midday, but check the ketose level before doing that. Caloric Deficit: Leptin resistance happens when you eat more than your body needs, turn it around by a slight caloric deficit. Track your calories, reduce your caloric intake. Do HIIT workouts: Start small and slowly build up the speed and number of reps. Start with ten squats or wall push-ups. Anything that gets your muscles moving and induces sweating. Consistency is the key.  The next hormone is completely in contrast with leptin as it has all the opposite functions.   Hormone #2: Adiponectin  Adiponectin is a protein hormone secreted by the adipose tissue that regulates glucose levels and aids fatty acid breakdown. As the adiponectin levels go up, fat cells go down, as adiponectin stimulates glucose utilization from fat cells for energy expenditure.  One of the early signs of metabolic syndrome is low levels of adiponectin. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that involve: Increased Triglycerides Low HDL cholesterol Increased fibroids High abdominal fat (Men: 40-inch in; Women: 35-inch) High fasting blood glucose   What does adiponectin do? Adiponectin helps in: Reducing inflammation Improving insulin sensitivity Increasing the anti-orthogenic, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties of the body Reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases Improving glucose metabolism  Getting the adiponectin high (in double digits) is what doctors look for when resolving metabolic syndrome.    Ways to increase Adiponectin Levels: Adiponectin cannot be injected to increase its levels in the body. However, some simple lifestyle measures can increase the levels of adiponectin in the body. Follow all the afore-mentioned measures for resolving leptin resistance, and long with these: Add aged garlic to your diet: Increases your adiponectin. Eat monounsaturated fats like avocados, nuts, olives, and olive oil. Consume fiber-rich foods daily.    Hormone #3: Cortisol In the modern lifestyle, with the abundance of stress, people experience a chronic alleviation of stress. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland in this chronic state of stress. The hormonal imbalance is the impairment of the hormonal rhythm of cortisol in the body. When we look at the normal rhythm of cortisol—every hormone in our body has a rhythm—it gets high in the morning and goes down as the day goes by and becomes a little lower at night so you get to sleep. This normal rhythm gets disrupted when a person is stressed at all times, and chronic stress is not sustainable.   (insert a graph showing the hormonal rhythm) Study on Cortisol Rhythm A study was conducted among a group of people about psychosocial stressors. These people were divided into two groups: People with a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) People with a high Body Mass Index (BMI) While performing the interventions, the researchers took 4-point measurements of the levels of cortisol: Morning Midday Late afternoon Night The two specific interventions they did to observe the rhythm of the cortisol were: Measuring the participants’ cortisol after eating lunch Measuring the participants’ cortisol after giving them dexamethasone (external steroids) The reason behind these interventions was to check the response of cortisol levels to stressors like food or external source of cortisol which should suppress your internal production of cortisol so your body doesn’t get an excess of cortisol.    Results:  Group A: The rhythm of cortisol in the people from group A was normal—high in the morning, gradually lowering by the day, low at night. After eating lunch, their cortisol levels would peak. Ingesting dexamethasone would suppress the internal production of cortisol in their body.  Group B:  The cortisol rhythm of people in group B was rigid. It did not have the specific ‘S-shaped curve in the cortisol rhythm. Their brain-adrenal connection had become rigid to all the stressors, stimuli, and suppression. When they had lunch, there was barely a peak in the cortisol levels.  There was no response after the ingestion of dexamethasone. Conclusion: The brain-adrenal connection is an indicator of excellent health. The absence of this connection and the rigidity of hormonal rhythm puts you at a high risk of chronic diseases like metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.    What does cortisol do to the body? Cortisol impacts our health by affecting glucose metabolism. Chronic stress, resulting in high, non-responsive, and rigid cortisol has metabolic implications that promote inflammation and disease. High levels of internal cortisol production result in: Increased blood glucose Increased visceral fat accumulation Increased leptin and insulin resistance Decrease in the sex and growth hormones Increased risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of blood vessels) High blood pressure High risk of cardiovascular diseases   Effect of Cortisol on the Memory When your cortisol levels are persistently high and rigid, it damages the hippocampus—the area responsible for information retention and learning. So, what can be done about this rhythmic impairment?  The rise in cortisol levels and the rhythmic impairment of cortisol are due to chronic stress. People feel stressed when they feel helpless about problems that are not under their control—work problems, issues in relationships, financial stressors, etc. Over time, these stressors build our cortisol because we think the same way every day resulting in chronic stress. Cortisol rhythmic impairments should be addressed by managing stress and clearing the mind:  Right after waking up, shut off all external stimuli by closing your eyes. Spend five minutes listening to calming music or sounds around you, and breathe. Focus on your breath. By doing so, you are changing your physiology and bringing your cortisol levels down. Then, no matter how busy your day gets, you will know how to ground yourself. Hopefully, this information has opened your

    27 min

  3. 11/07/2021

    Diabetics confused about what you can do- listen to this

    3 Healthy Diets for Diabetes Patients and Prediabetics   There’s no one diet that fits all. This is why there’s an abundance of various diets out there that deliver different results. The question is—which one is sustainable for you? How can you shift your health? This blog will answer the infamous question—what to eat when you’ve been diagnosed with Diabetes or Metabolic Syndrome? Nutrition is the core pillar of how you shift your health. Yet it’s also a complex question to answer, even after the tons of research done about it already. As you keep reading, you will learn about the science behind: The Plant-based Diet The Low-carb High-fat Diet The Carnivore Diet  Let’s dive right into it!   The Plant-based Diet A plant-based diet consists of foods that are only obtained from plants. It includes everything from fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes, to nuts, seeds, and beans. No animal-sourced or processed foods. Going on a plant-based diet is not equivalent to going vegan. This diet has been a part of the nutritional world and has been studied extensively in the field of nutritional sciences since the 1940s.    Why should you go on a plant-based diet? More Sustainable: As Dr. Dean Ornish said, “It takes 10 times more energy to eat higher on the food chain i.e. when you're eating animal-based food as opposed to a plant-based diet, it takes ten times more resources to make that possible.” The plant-based diet is good for your body and the planet. Scientifically Proven Safe: There’s countless evidence to support the benefits of the plant-based diet—culturally and scientifically. Research shows that countries that eat mainly plant-based have less mortality rates and a lower ratio of chronic diseases that are relatively high around the Western world with an abundance of animal-based protein. Helps in Lowering High Cholesterol: The plant-based diet is proven to lower bad cholesterol levels from about 15% to 30% as it is relatively low-fat and removes oil from the diet. Good for Heart Patients: This diet is confirmed to be good for the heart as eating multicolor, leafy food, and fiber can reduce the risk of stroke, and lower high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Beneficial to people with Metabolic Syndrome: The plant-based diet has demonstrated efficiency in lowering each of the five risk factors—high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, high fasting blood sugar, abdominal fat, and high triglyceride level—for developing metabolic syndrome. It also helps in the prevention of metabolic syndrome with the removal of oils and processed food from the diet. All in all, plant-based diets are designed to get to the root cause of the disease and shift your health on a diet-and-lifestyle level. When causality is treated with plant-based nutrition there is: No mortality from the diet No morbidity from the diet And the health benefits improve with time. If you have been eating predominantly the Standard American Diet (SAD), the easiest transition into a healthy lifestyle with a safer diet is going plant-based.   Foods included: Fruits Vegetables Whole Grains Legumes Seeds Nuts   Foods to avoid: Oil Meat Fish Fowl Dairy Coffee   Loopholes in the Plant-based Diet  Even though there are numerous benefits to the plant-based diet, people still tend to fail in seeing results or sticking to it.  Especially for diabetics, the transformation is slow because when you have high insulin resistance, getting the blood sugar down at the start is very difficult and takes a long time.  Reasons: People may not have involved a variety of plants in their diet. People may not have stopped consuming oils totally. They might consume too many fruits, dried fruits, and grains that increase sugar surges and don’t help with overcoming sugar addiction.  Involving too many fruits and fewer plants can lead to severe insulin resistance. They are gluten-sensitive.    The Low-carb, High-fat Diet (LCHF) The low-carb, high-fat diet is mainly low in carbohydrates, high in fats, and moderate in protein. The diet demands the complete removal of processed carbohydrates and a 38% increase of healthy fats in the diet.   The Rules of the LCHF Diet Avoid all processed or low-fat foods. Consume whole foods. No GPS- Grains, potatoes, and sugars. Eat foods you like, only when you are hungry.   Foods included: Cheese and butter Avocados Fish Eggs Meat Leafy green vegetables Broccoli, asparagus & cauliflower Brussels sprouts Berries Olive and coconut oils Chia and flax seeds    Foods to avoid: White rice White pasta Bread Baked goods Low-fat foods Diet drinks Food and drinks with added sugar Beer Sugary coffee   How does it help with diabetes? The low-carb, high-fat diet aka LCHF diet helps in improving insulin sensitivity and aiding weight loss, both of which help in managing type 2 diabetes. When a body is in the LCHF diet, it replaces glucose that comes from carbohydrates with ketones from fat to produce energy. As a person reduces their carbohydrate intake by the day, the body is forced to use fat stored in the cells as fuel, which may aid weight loss. It also reduces leptin resistance and helps improve the risk factors for metabolic syndrome.   Cons of the LCHF Diet This diet can significantly increase caloric intake. If the ketosis doesn’t go off well,  the diet can backfire with some weight and fat gain. People can experience increased levels of LDL and Non-HDL cholesterol on a low-carb diet.    The Carnivore Diet   The carnivore diet is a nutrient-dense diet that is full of animal-sourced foods with a limitation of plants to the degree necessary to provide health benefits and restrict all carbohydrate intake.    How does it help with Diabetes? Foods that are high in added sugars are considerably challenging for diabetics as they increase blood sugar levels. This diet demands a complete elimination of high-carb foods, refined carbs, and sugars that is often recommended to manage diabetes.   Benefits of the Carnivore Diet  Appetite regulation; increases satiety Easy transition for those who hate vegetables Eliminates sugar addiction  Regulates blood sugar Helps with hyperinsulinemia  Lessens a load of processed food in the diet   Foods included: Meat Fish Eggs Dairy products Bone marrow Bone broth   Foods excluded: Processed sugars Fruits Vegetables Legumes Grains Nuts Seeds   Cons of the Carnivore Diet  Boosts the levels of highly oxidized LDL cholesterol: High LDL levels thicken the walls of your blood vessels which increases the chances of stroke, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and heart attack. Leads to a deficiency of plant-based micronutrients. High in sodium and fat. Fiber deficiency. Due to the lack of fiber in the diet, the risk of Diverticulosis shoots up. Diverticulosis is a condition in which small, bulging pouches develop in the digestive tract, because of high consumption of meat and processed food. Higher the fiber in the diet; the lesser the diverticulosis.  Tip: Consider getting certain tests—such as your cholesterol profile, Omega-3 indexes, inflammatory markers—done before going for any of these diets.  All these diets have their pros and cons. What's going to work for you might not for another body. It all boils down to how sustainable the diet is for you.  All three diets have one thing in common: eliminating processed foods and refined sugars from the diet. If you do this one thing, it will be a huge step in the right direction of making the right dietary changes for your body and living a healthier life. The root cause of most diseases is the lifestyle choices that we make each day. Always remember that our bodies are extraordinarily self-healing, as long as they are provided the right nutrition and conditions to thrive in. Diet and lifestyle can be prevention; but they can also be the treatment. Health is intuitive and it's your business.   This blog covers the highlights from the latest episode of Chillin with Dr. Chellam on The Eternal Diet Question Answered by Dr. Nisha Chellam, Board Certified Internist, and Founder of Holistic ICON. You can check out the full video on our YouTube channel by clicking this link: Hoping this blog was helpful. If you have any other questions related to diets, please drop us an email with your question and a brief about yourself at drchellam@holisticicon.com , and we will get back to you shortly

    46 min

  4. 10/05/2021

    Type I Diabetes another way to handle it.

    Reverse Diabetes With Plant-based Vegan Diet Whenever we hear of disease, medicine is always ready as a cure. We know that particular medicine will tackle the problem at hand but what we miss out on is - what are the other direct effects of the same medicine. Medicines can never be the long-term solution. Diabetes is a very big problem in today’s time. But here’s a fact, you can reverse type 2 diabetes with a plant-based vegan diet. And here’s another fact, when it comes to diet, there is no diet fits all. However, a type of diet can work wonders for you. The question is- are you willing to make the change? Are you ready to make the shift?  In this blog, we will discuss: WHAT IS TYPE 2 DIABETES? WHAT IS A VEGAN DIET? HOW DOES THE VEGAN DIET WORKS FOR DIABETICS? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A VEGAN DIET? HOW TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF A VEGAN DIET? KETO DIET AND ITS SIDE EFFECTS Before we dive into the blog and delve into all the information, first let us know about someone who has had Type 2 diabetes for a very long time but has been able to live a medication-free healthy life for the past eight and half years now, Marc Ramirez. He is a B.S. Kinesiology, is a TEDx presenter, motivational speaker, and certified Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). Marc and his wife Kim run a non-profit called Chickpea and Bean, which helps all people achieve health through the healing power of plants. In 2011 Marc made a shift to a plant-based lifestyle and his health greatly improved. He reversed Type 2 diabetes, psoriasis, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, high cholesterol, obesity, frequent heartburn.  WHAT IS TYPE 2 DIABETES? Type 2 diabetes is often characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and a relative lack of insulin. It is a chronic condition that results in more than the required amount of sugar circulating in the bloodstream. In type 2 diabetes, there are two interrelated problems.   Your pancreas is not able to produce enough insulin (a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cells) Hence, the cells respond poorly to insulin and take in less sugar  Managing type 2 diabetes is very much possible. By losing weight, eating well and exercising regularly you manage your blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels can lead to disorders of the circulatory, nervous and immune systems.  WHAT IS A VEGAN DIET?  A person who follows the diet of abstaining from the consumption of animal products is called a vegan and the philosophy is called veganism. There are multiple distinctions between Vegans. Dietary vegans, also known as "strict vegetarians" avoid consumption of meat, eggs, dairy products, and any other animal-derived substances. An ethical vegan, also known as a "moral vegetarian", not only follows a vegan diet but also extends the philosophy to the treatment of other humans, and opposes the use of animals for any purpose. "Environmental veganism", refers to the avoidance of animal products and opposes the industrial farming of animals as it is environmentally damaging and unsustainable. In simple terms, a Vegan diet is a diet exclusive of animal and dairy products and inclusive of only plant-based products. This means no cow milk, no eggs, no chicken, no meat, no cheese. A vegan diet is full of while fruits and vegetables along with legumes and nuts.    Vegans in the USA have been increasing at a very high rate. More and more people are shifting to a plant-based diet. People have realized that their diet plays the most important role in maintaining a healthy and problems free life.    If you follow a healthy vegan diet, you are less likely to get heart disease, certain cancers, obesity, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, cholesterol.    Studies have also shown that vegans are less likely to be overweight and tend to have a lower percentage of body fat. Thus, reducing the risk of other chronic diseases.   However, a vegan diet has proved to be very beneficial for those suffering from diabetes. Adopting a vegan diet plan will help you bring down your blood sugar levels.   HOW DOES THE VEGAN DIET WORKS FOR DIABETICS?   People with diabetes have a high risk of Cardiovascular disease, are usually overweight and have high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol. A vegan diet or plant-based diet helps fight the problem from the root cause and eliminate the chances of most chronic diseases. A vegan diet has less saturated fats and is high in fiber. It has high amounts of fruits and vegetables which are very useful for people with diabetes.  You must consult your dietician and doctor when you decide to shift to a vegan diet. They will ensure that all the key nutrients are present in your diet. A balanced, nutritious and whole-food diet is necessary for a person who is just making a shift in his diet.  Based on a lot of factors, from the type of diabetes you have to your physical activity level, sex, age, and others, your dietician and doctor will help you identify the ideal amount of carbs, proteins along with other vitamins, needed with each meal.   You can either make a complete shift and turn to a plant-based diet at once or can gradually increase the amount of plant-based meals, slowly eliminating animal products from your diet.   People with diabetes are suggested to keep the intake of carbs consistent throughout the day. Carbs have a direct effect on blood sugar levels than protein and fats. Therefore, the meals and snacks must be balanced with carbs, protein, and healthy fat. A plant-based diet might be a little challenging initially, but it is the best choice to bring down the blood sugar levels.   Listed below are examples of carbs, proteins, and fats that you can use to prepare meals and snacks if you’re following a vegan diet for diabetes:   Carbs: whole grain flour (bread, pasta), rice, potatoes, oats, quinoa, fruit (fresh, frozen, or unsweetened canned), corn Proteins: soybeans and soybean products (tofu, tempeh), beans, lentils, peas, peanuts, tree nuts, nut butter, seeds, plant-based meat alternatives Fats: olive oil, avocado oil, avocado, nuts and seeds, coconut, plant-based spreads Many plant-based foods, such as beans and grains, contain a mixture of carbs, protein, and fat, so they can pull double or triple duty in your meal planning Additionally, fiber which is a type of indigestible carb is found in most plant-based foods. Fiber is very helpful as it makes these foods more filling and also helps in reducing your blood sugar level.   Most of us worry that the amount of protein that we intake following a vegan diet is very low. However, unknowingly most of us eat far more protein than our body requires. Gorilla shares the same DNA as humans to 98.3%. They are almost human from a genetic standpoint. Guess what? They are vegan. They get their huge structure and strong muscles from consuming plants and plant-based food. Even animals as big as an elephant or a giraffe or a rhinoceros or a stallion all of these are vegetarian. They have got their strong structures and muscles by eating plants and plant-based food.   WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A VEGAN DIET?   Animal-based food is rich in saturated fats which are most harmful to our body. These food items lead to inflammation and belly fat. They also make your body resistant to insulin and increases blood sugar levels.   Nevertheless, a vegan diet is rich in unsaturated fats which are not harmful. Plant-based food items are also high in fiber, antioxidants, minerals. These nutrients protect your body against diseases and always manage your blood sugar levels.   A vegan diet also helps in managing weight. As the diet is rich in fiber, you tend to get rid of all the unhealthy and hard-to-digest food items, Hence, making digestion an easy process for your body.   HOW TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF A VEGAN DIET?   After deciding that you want to turn vegan, there are few things that you should consider to ensure the success of the diet.   Plan ahead: Meal planning and having some healthy snacks handy will be very helpful. Also, check out the menu in advance when you’re planning to dine out always.  Eat plenty of non-starchy veggies: Non-starchy food is low in carbs but full of fiber and nutrients. They have the least effect on your blood sugar and help you feel full and satisfied.  Balance each meal and snack: A healthy balance of carbs, fats, and protein, along with some non-starchy vegetables is the most ideal combination of meals and snacks.  Mix up your proteins: include a variety of plant-based protein sources in your diet. It will ensure that you are getting essential amino acids in the required amounts for optimal health. Monitor your blood sugar regularly: If you have diabetes, and are following a vegan diet, you should check your blood sugar regularly to stay aware of the fluctuations in your blood sugar levels. Supplement wisely: If your doctor suggests, take the supplements. At times, your diet might not be able to fulfill the exact requirements of different nutrients. It is ok to include a few supplements like iron, B12, Vitamin D to ensure your body is never nutrient deficient.    KETO DIET AND ITS EFFECTS  The Ketogenic Diet or Keto Diet involves cutting down the carbohydrates, to almost 50 grams a day or less. By doing this you help your body achieve a state of ketosis, in which it has to burn fat (rather than sugar) for energy. The diet’s unsustainable nature has led to many questions being raised by doctors and health experts. A Keto diet is a high-fat, low-carb diet. It promises quick weight loss. However, health experts worry about the side effects and complications are way more than its benefits.   The Keto Flu: Keto Flu usually happens in the early stages of commencing the Keto Diet. It includes headaches, nausea, fatigue, and diarrhea. Constipation: your body is

    54 min

  5. 09/28/2021

    Is Fish all that Safe?

    Effect of Mercury Exposure on Your Health Mercury is a metal element that naturally exists in nature as found in air, water as well as soil. Its presence starts to impact our health if it gets in direct contact with this metal through breathing, intake or physical contact. This can then lead to various neurological, cardiovascular (heart-related), digestive, hormonal as well as dermatological (skin-related) issues.   The last 50 years have seen an evident rise in the level of mercury exposure, a big contributor being the industries using coal as fuel which when burned releases mercury in vapour form thus inevitably making it a part of our direct ecosystem. It has subsequently caused a tremendous rise in medical cases with harmful mercury exposure at its root.   In this blog we will delve deeper to understand this phenomenon of mercury exposure, how it happens, what are its signs, what can you do to reduce it and more. Let’s get started, shall we? What is Mercury Poisoning?   Mercury is a natural metal found in the air, water and soil and is also commonly referred to as Quicksilver. It’s found in a thick, silver-shining liquid state under standard temperature and pressure. However, it can also vaporise and be inhaled by us as well as bind with certain molecules (especially all enzymes) causing serious issues in our biochemistry and subsequent metabolic problems.   High levels of mercury in our body can really harm the body systems especially the brain and kidneys leading to a condition called Mercury Poisoning. Mercury most commonly enters our body in a vapour state via inhalation of contaminated air, intake of contaminated food or getting in through our skin if it gets in direct contact.   Factors that determine the impact of mercury exposure on your health   The impact of mercury exposure on your body depends on: How much mercury gets into your body? In which forms has it entered your body? How did the mercury get into your body? How long have you been exposed to mercury? How does mercury poisoning affect our health? An abnormally high level of Mercury in our body may have significant negative impacts on our overall health, especially our brain, heart and gut health.   It’s observed that its impact are even more dangerous for babies and children since their brains are still under development. What are the signs of Mercury exposure on your health?   Abnormal levels of mercury exposure may lead to detrimental impact resulting in both short-term as well as long-term signs such as below.   Short-term signs of unhealthy mercury exposure Severe respiratory irritation Digestive disturbances Marked renal damage Memory loss Impaired hearing, vision, speech Tremors Lack of coordination (while walking, writing etc.) Skin issues Difficulty in chewing and swallowing   Long-term signs of unhealthy mercury exposure Deteriorates nervous system Weakness Fatigue Anorexia Weight loss Disturbance of gastrointestinal function   If not identified and treated on time, it might also manifest itself into or worsen certain diseases and health conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer's, colitis and even cancer. What are the common sources of mercury exposure?   Mercury exposure commonly occurs in two ways:   General Exposure   Large predatory fishes (like shark, tuna, swordfish etc.) Dental amalgam used for fillings that contain mercury Vegetables & fruits from contaminated soils Soaps & cosmetics Use & damage of mercury-containing products (eg. batteries, fluorescent lamps) Waste   Occupational Exposure   Manufacturing products containing mercury (eg. medical devices, paints, fluorescent lamps) Gold mining Industry (eg. cement production, metal production, Chlor-alkali industry) How to get tested for Mercury level in your body?   The most common tests done to access mercury exposure in our body are urine and hair tests. However to get a more precise analysis of its presence in our tissues. What can you do to reduce the risk of mercury exposure?   Don’t undergo medical treatments involving mercury usage, such as Dental amalgam & medical treatments   Look for alternatives to replace products/ services containing mercury (commonly found in batteries, fluorescent lamps, paint)   Carefully handle & dispose of products containing mercury (eg. Thermometers or fluorescent light bulbs)   Prefer to eat smaller sized fishes over big fishes   Limit intake of seafood   Live & work in places free of toxic Mercury exposure Hope you found this blog helpful. This blog is based on the recent episode of Chilling with Dr Chellam published on YouTube. To get a more in-depth view on this topic, please see the full video by clicking this link:   And in case you have any questions, please feel free to email us at your drchellam@holisticicon.com  or marinas17@holisticicon.com question at and we will get back to you at the earliest. ---xxx---

    1h 9m

  6. 07/10/2021

    What is the best diet for a diabetic

    3 Healthy Diets for Diabetes Patients and Prediabetics   There’s no one diet that fits all. This is why there’s an abundance of various diets out there that deliver different results. The question is—which one is sustainable for you? How can you shift your health? This blog will answer the infamous question—what to eat when you’ve been diagnosed with Diabetes or Metabolic Syndrome? Nutrition is the core pillar of how you shift your health. Yet it’s also a complex question to answer, even after the tons of research done about it already. As you keep reading, you will learn about the science behind: The Plant-based Diet The Low-carb High-fat Diet The Carnivore Diet  Let’s dive right into it!   The Plant-based Diet A plant-based diet consists of foods that are only obtained from plants. It includes everything from fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes, to nuts, seeds, and beans. No animal-sourced or processed foods. Going on a plant-based diet is not equivalent to going vegan. This diet has been a part of the nutritional world and has been studied extensively in the field of nutritional sciences since the 1940s.    Why should you go on a plant-based diet? More Sustainable: As Dr. Dean Ornish said, “It takes 10 times more energy to eat higher on the food chain i.e. when you're eating animal-based food as opposed to a plant-based diet, it takes ten times more resources to make that possible.” The plant-based diet is good for your body and the planet. Scientifically Proven Safe: There’s countless evidence to support the benefits of the plant-based diet—culturally and scientifically. Research shows that countries that eat mainly plant-based have less mortality rates and a lower ratio of chronic diseases that are relatively high around the Western world with an abundance of animal-based protein. Helps in Lowering High Cholesterol: The plant-based diet is proven to lower bad cholesterol levels from about 15% to 30% as it is relatively low-fat and removes oil from the diet. Good for Heart Patients: This diet is confirmed to be good for the heart as eating multicolor, leafy food, and fiber can reduce the risk of stroke, and lower high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Beneficial to people with Metabolic Syndrome: The plant-based diet has demonstrated efficiency in lowering each of the five risk factors—high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, high fasting blood sugar, abdominal fat, and high triglyceride level—for developing metabolic syndrome. It also helps in the prevention of metabolic syndrome with the removal of oils and processed food from the diet. All in all, plant-based diets are designed to get to the root cause of the disease and shift your health on a diet-and-lifestyle level. When causality is treated with plant-based nutrition there is: No mortality from the diet No morbidity from the diet And the health benefits improve with time. If you have been eating predominantly the Standard American Diet (SAD), the easiest transition into a healthy lifestyle with a safer diet is going plant-based.   Foods included: Fruits Vegetables Whole Grains Legumes Seeds Nuts   Foods to avoid: Oil Meat Fish Fowl Dairy Coffee   Loopholes in the Plant-based Diet  Even though there are numerous benefits to the plant-based diet, people still tend to fail in seeing results or sticking to it.  Especially for diabetics, the transformation is slow because when you have high insulin resistance, getting the blood sugar down at the start is very difficult and takes a long time.  Reasons: People may not have involved a variety of plants in their diet. People may not have stopped consuming oils totally. They might consume too many fruits, dried fruits, and grains that increase sugar surges and don’t help with overcoming sugar addiction.  Involving too many fruits and fewer plants can lead to severe insulin resistance. They are gluten-sensitive.    The Low-carb, High-fat Diet (LCHF) The low-carb, high-fat diet is mainly low in carbohydrates, high in fats, and moderate in protein. The diet demands the complete removal of processed carbohydrates and a 38% increase of healthy fats in the diet.   The Rules of the LCHF Diet Avoid all processed or low-fat foods. Consume whole foods. No GPS- Grains, potatoes, and sugars. Eat foods you like, only when you are hungry.   Foods included: Cheese and butter Avocados Fish Eggs Meat Leafy green vegetables Broccoli, asparagus & cauliflower Brussels sprouts Berries Olive and coconut oils Chia and flax seeds    Foods to avoid: White rice White pasta Bread Baked goods Low-fat foods Diet drinks Food and drinks with added sugar Beer Sugary coffee   How does it help with diabetes? The low-carb, high-fat diet aka LCHF diet helps in improving insulin sensitivity and aiding weight loss, both of which help in managing type 2 diabetes. When a body is in the LCHF diet, it replaces glucose that comes from carbohydrates with ketones from fat to produce energy. As a person reduces their carbohydrate intake by the day, the body is forced to use fat stored in the cells as fuel, which may aid weight loss. It also reduces leptin resistance and helps improve the risk factors for metabolic syndrome.   Cons of the LCHF Diet This diet can significantly increase caloric intake. If the ketosis doesn’t go off well,  the diet can backfire with some weight and fat gain. People can experience increased levels of LDL and Non-HDL cholesterol on a low-carb diet.    The Carnivore Diet   The carnivore diet is a nutrient-dense diet that is full of animal-sourced foods with a limitation of plants to the degree necessary to provide health benefits and restrict all carbohydrate intake.    How does it help with Diabetes? Foods that are high in added sugars are considerably challenging for diabetics as they increase blood sugar levels. This diet demands a complete elimination of high-carb foods, refined carbs, and sugars that is often recommended to manage diabetes.   Benefits of the Carnivore Diet  Appetite regulation; increases satiety Easy transition for those who hate vegetables Eliminates sugar addiction  Regulates blood sugar Helps with hyperinsulinemia  Lessens a load of processed food in the diet   Foods included: Meat Fish Eggs Dairy products Bone marrow Bone broth   Foods excluded: Processed sugars Fruits Vegetables Legumes Grains Nuts Seeds   Cons of the Carnivore Diet  Boosts the levels of highly oxidized LDL cholesterol: High LDL levels thicken the walls of your blood vessels which increases the chances of stroke, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and heart attack. Leads to a deficiency of plant-based micronutrients. High in sodium and fat. Fiber deficiency. Due to the lack of fiber in the diet, the risk of Diverticulosis shoots up. Diverticulosis is a condition in which small, bulging pouches develop in the digestive tract, because of high consumption of meat and processed food. Higher the fiber in the diet; the lesser the diverticulosis.  Tip: Consider getting certain tests—such as your cholesterol profile, Omega-3 indexes, inflammatory markers—done before going for any of these diets.  All these diets have their pros and cons. What's going to work for you might not for another body. It all boils down to how sustainable the diet is for you.  All three diets have one thing in common: eliminating processed foods and refined sugars from the diet. If you do this one thing, it will be a huge step in the right direction of making the right dietary changes for your body and living a healthier life. The root cause of most diseases is the lifestyle choices that we make each day. Always remember that our bodies are extraordinarily self-healing, as long as they are provided the right nutrition and conditions to thrive in. Diet and lifestyle can be prevented, but they can also be the treatment. Health is intuitive and it's your business.   This blog covers the highlights from the latest episode of Chillin with Dr. Chellam on The Eternal Diet Question Answered by Dr. Nisha Chellam, Board Certified Internist, and Founder of Holistic ICON. You can check out the full video on our YouTube channel by clicking this link: Hoping this blog was helpful. If you have any other questions related to diets, please drop us an email with your question and a brief about yourself at drchellam@holisticicon.com or marinas17@holisticicon.com  and we will get back to you shortly

    46 min

  7. 06/21/2021

    Can Chronic Disease be Reversed by Nutrition?

    What is the Nutritarian Diet? Can it Prevent and Reverse Chronic Diseases?    When faced with disease, many of us don't prefer taking medicines. Medicines are an option but they aren't a long-term solution. So, could you shift the health of your cells by changing your nutrition?   In this blog, you will discover just how big of a role nutrition plays in the prevention and reversal of illness. This comprehensive blog with answers to all of your nutrition and diet-related questions: The Connection between Nutrition & Chronic Illness The Issue with Most Types of Diets About the Nutritarian Diet What are the G-BOMBS? The Importance of Including Nuts & Seeds in the Diet Oils vs. Seeds Veganism & Deficiencies  Is there a natural source of Omega 3 to replace supplements?  Macronutrients—too much or too little?   Ready to dig in? Let’s go!   But before that, here’s what you need to know about the creator of the Nutritarian diet, Dr. Joel Fuhrman: Dr. Joel Fuhrman is a long-term Board-certified family physician and seven times New York Times bestseller author who has a retreat center in San Diego called the “Eat to Live” retreat.  His specialty is preventing and reversing disease through nutritional methods. Dr. Furhman has shown that it is possible to achieve sustainable weight loss, reverse heart disease, diabetes & many other chronic illnesses using smart nutrition. In his medical practice, he keeps delivering this life-saving message to people around the globe.   Now, let’s dive right in! The Connection between Nutrition & Chronic Illness   Modern nutritional science gives us the power to treat chronic diseases to a large degree. Access to processed & high-calorie nutrient-deficient foods more readily available at low prices has given rise to obesity and poor health conditions that follow. Things have gotten worse, not better.  The idea, proposed by Herbert Shelton in the 1950s, that the body is a miraculous self-healing machine and disease is unnatural is imperative. Dr. Fuhrman believes that it's not normal to live with diseases. One has to earn all diseases by living an unhealthy lifestyle. A species can be protected from disease if you feed it properly, taking care of all essential nutrients. This underlying premise will never change.    Studies reveal that wholesome organic plant-based diets can prevent chronic fatal diseases. So making healthy shifts in diet can provide longevity and help in reversing heart diseases, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, reducing daily migraines, getting rid of arthritis, and whatnot.   As such, Nutritional excellence can be utilized as a therapeutic modality. It can not only prevent disease but also reverse disease.    So, while we’re living in a world of information with all the research readily available around us,    Why is there still so much confusion about nutrition?    The fast-food and the restaurant industry with billions of dollars to spend on promotion whereas the organic food producing industry doesn't put out  information at that scale. Nobody is promoting those industries.   With such a massive level of promotion of processed food and meats; it’s easier to make people buy a full meal quicker for money, rather than try to eat whole foods.       The different types of diets out there and the media also have a role to play here. The vegan diet, the paleo, or the ketogenic diet, etc.  For instance, seeing people lose weight with the keto diet can be tempting to anyone who wants to lose weight.   The Issue with Most Types of Diets As we know, most types of diets are targeted towards either weight loss or reducing cholesterol levels etc. Yet, short-term change doesn't mean that a certain diet is sustainable. Dr. Fuhrman believes that short-term benefits shouldn’t be utilized as a measurement of the success of any diet. Like medications, while they might be a good short-term solution, diets too might have some long-term consequences (such as the shortened lifespan of a person).    Likewise, for various diets, you could give credence & generate a hypothesis for short-term changes. However, you shouldn’t draw conclusions based on short-term changes; instead, you should see the observations drawn from credible researches conducted over decades of people doing these interventions.    For example, when people are given a proton pump inhibitor for reflux esophagitis: in the short run, they feel better in the long run, we know that it increases the risk of heart attack or cancer; it’s dangerous as a long-term solution.    The same thing goes for various weight-loss diets, we must conduct studies before concluding. What are the criteria for validating the effectiveness of a diet?   There are three criteria for giving high credence to a study on diet for long term use: The study should be conducted on thousands of people; not just 50 or 100 people.   Hard endpoints should be given more importance over soft endpoints. Soft endpoints are lost weight, lower cholesterol, etc. Most doctors make soft endpoints as the parameters to measure a diet’s effectiveness. Hard endpoints are the increased risk of a heart attack or cancers etc. For Instance, some drugs that might help lower cholesterol in the short run might increase the risk of developing cancers in the long run. So, it’s important to consider a diet’s response to the impact on these hard endpoints.   The study should go on for decades not years. Short-term studies should be corroborated with long-term studies.    Some studies support that as people’s dietary intake of animal products goes up,  their hard endpoint death rates go up, and as they increase plant protein their longevity increases.  There are also studies showing that both high-protein paleo diets & keto diets are extremely dangerous too in the long run; they shorten people’s life span.  Including a lot of animal products and restricting various phytochemicals can be harmful.   About the Nutritarian Diet The nutritarian diet is a very nutrient-dense, sustainable diet with a moderate caloric restriction and micronutrient surplus for optimal health.    It’s different from a whole-food, plant-based diet. The nutritarian diet tries to cultivate nutritional excellence by including a wide variety of food that covers the full spectrum of human needs for nutrients; the G-BOMBS.    What does the Nutritarian diet include?  The diet includes all the foods that are proven to have anti-cancer & longevity benefits—beans, mushrooms, nuts & seeds, fruits & vegetables, etc—including the most effective foods that enable people to push the envelope of human longevity, get to be in great health & live a hundred years long.    For instance, if you have a 1500 calorie limitation per day, what are the most nutritious foods that you can fit into the caloric pie for the day.    What are the G-BOMBS?   G-BOMBS are the six foods that have the most scientific support for extending the human lifespan & protecting against chronic illnesses. In the Nutritarian diet, it is recommended to include all of these foods on a daily basis.    Greens Beans Onions Mushrooms Berries Seeds   “The G-BOMBS are the foods with the highest nutrient-to-calorie ratio and the most scientific evidence to prevent cancer. Eat them almost every day.”   —Dr. Joel Fuhrman   The Importance of Including Nuts & Seeds in the Diet   Studies show that the inclusion of nuts & seeds in the diet decreases the risk of cardiovascular death by 40%. It’s amazingly consistent across various studies—with every study having different cohorts with different ages, genders, ethnicities, high & low animal product intake, vegans or non-vegans, etc.    With every cohort looked at, the consistency was that the exclusion of nuts and seeds increased risks of cardiac diseases by 40%, and their inclusion of about an ounce a day reduced heart attack rates by 40%. Therefore, reducing mortality.    Here, conclusions are drawn based on consistency from one study corroborating another.    Oils vs. Seeds Oil is a fat-promoting food. Dr. Fuhrman explains that there’s a huge difference between an oil concentrated from a seed and the seed itself. Walnuts are healthier than walnut oil, sesame seeds are healthier than sesame oil.    It’s much healthier to include the whole nut or seed, rather than the oil from that nut or seed because the components of seeds are fine for people in small amounts when eaten a handful of seeds, but when people consume highly processed oils made from seeds,  they end up consuming those components—such as phytic acid, omega-6 fatty acids, lectin proteins, etc.—in much larger amounts than what’s healthy for them.    In the nutritarian diet, recipes are created with whole nuts and seeds being utilized to prepare the creamy or fattiness of the food dressing, instead of just the oils.    Percentage of Animal Products in the Diet It’s important to establish what percentage of the diet should be animal products. For a diet to be optimal, the animal product percentage should be between 0-5%, even 10% of calories from animal products on a consistent basis is enough to prevent you from maintaining optimal health.   A diet that has a 0-5% of animal products has a sub-optimal range of zinc, B12, K2 & DHA. Nutritarian diet includes the judicious use of supplements to ensure that an individual is not missing out on those nutrients.    Veganism & Deficiencies  It has been noted that people who have a vegan diet for all of their lives tend to develop dementia or Parkinson’s disease in old age over those who have a plant-based diet rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants.  The reason is the deficiencies caused by the vegan diet that exacerbates the problems faced in old age.  There are studies to prove tha

    53 min

  8. 05/28/2021

    Women's Menstrual Health and Nutrition

    Let’s Talk Women’s Health: Everything from Menstrual Health, Pregnancy to Menopause and more!   Most women live decades of their lives away putting up with many physical annoyances such as the discomfort of menstrual cycles, body ache, insomnia, swelling, and anxiety. Yet they continue to function doing what they’re supposed to; pushing themselves through it all.    Their name is way down in the list of the people they take care of—children, parents, partners, and so on. It's not until they experience complete well-being that they realize the burden they were carrying.   In this blog, we cover the highlights of a conversation between Dr. Nisha Chellam Board Certified Internist and Founder of Holistic ICON, and Dr. Marilyn Glenville Ph.D., a registered nutritionist the founder of Glenville Nutrition, talking about the various phases of a woman’s life and how we can change the underlying physiology by changing the lifestyle and the pattern of eating.    You will learn about:  Pre-menstrual Syndrome—All Questions Answered The Barriers on the Path to Healing  The Increasing Rate of Menstrual Abnormalities in Young Women Advice for Tampon Users Effect of Pregnancy on Women's Health  Role of Alcohol in Fertility An Outlook on Perimenopause The Possible Osteoporosis Epidemic The Mindset You Need to Regain Your Health How to Eat Healthily? How to Stay Consistent?   Get your notepads ready and keep reading!   Who is Dr. Marilyn Glenville? Dr. Marilyn Glenville Ph.D. is the founder of Glenville Nutrition, a registered nutritionist, psychologist, author, and broadcaster. She focuses on the natural nutritional healing of many chronic problems that women face—from menstrual irregularity, PCOS, fibroids, endometriosis, infertility to menopause, and osteoporosis. Helping women understand and naturally manage these diseases.    Pre-menstrual Syndrome—All Questions Answered   What is Pre-menstrual Syndrome?  Pre-menstrual syndrome is a change in a woman's emotional and physical health 7 to 10 days before her menses.   PMS involves a cluster of symptoms such as:  Water retention Breast tenderness Bloating Mood swings Food cravings The timing of the symptoms is more important than the symptoms themselves in this situation as the symptoms are varied and can be diverse from month to month.   Is it abnormal? Certain symptoms that notify you of your periods are normal. However, when it affects your quality of life—physically and emotionally—that’s when it becomes abnormal. If a woman faces major personality shifts that affect her relationships, the syndrome can turn into pre-menstrual disorder; a psychiatric disease.    Is Pre-menstrual Syndrome heritable?  While there might be some genetic snips that put you at a high risk of hormonal imbalance, understand that it’s the habits that run in the family, not the condition.  There could be a genetic component, but there are also patterns of eating in how the family eats together. PMS is something that a woman can take control of. You can heal the symptoms by making lifestyle changes.    What can help with PMS? Foremost, sorting out blood-sugar levels and get them under control.  This is the crux of hormonal imbalances—from the cortisol and progesterone to the thyroid; everything gets disrupted by blood sugar fluctuations.   The Barriers on the Path to Healing  Not trusting the process: The first step to healing is to believe that it is going to be worth making the effort to heal yourself. Dependence: A person can be prescribed as many pills to control symptoms, but that's not the goal here. Doctors can give as many solutions, but it's you who has to make the effort and take the action. Make better choices daily. Change is hard: Most women seem to choose to belong to a community over feeling alienated as they change their lifestyle to a healthy one. The Victim Treatment: Psychologically, part of the reason people want to stay in that phase is for comfort’s sake. Somehow it suits them to stay where they are rather than to move out of it. Without their even knowing, the disease has become their identity. They want to receive everyone’s sympathy and support.   The Increasing Rate of Menstrual Abnormalities in Young Women Nowadays, younger women ages 18 to 25 are facing more health-related issues — irregular menstrual cycle, gut-related issues, anemia, skin problems, etc. It’s an accumulation of lifestyle factors, stress, eating processed food, and the normalized lack of exercise. People rarely eat home-cooked food now.  Everything that’s impinging on them at such a young age. Plus, the endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the environment, in the toiletries, pesticides, etc. All of it differs from what women were exposed to a couple of generations ago.   Advice for Tampon Users Lifestyle-wise tampons may seem useful but they act as a dam and stop the blood from flowing when it’s supposed to.   Use organic cotton pads instead of tampons for regular use.   Before spending money, consider the presence of chemicals in the tampons or pads you use. The presence of chemicals such as dioxin in the paper used to produce them can have a carcinogenic effect.   Sometimes leaving the tampon in for too long can cause a toxic shock syndrome which can be fatal.   Start choosing the products you use as meticulously as food the food you eat. Try going as close to nature as possible.   Will changes in lifestyle and diet save you from all these chemicals in the air and products? We are always going to be up against things we can't control, yet we can always make better choices. Having a healthy diet, a sleep schedule, regular exercise, and good mental health help provide our body with all the tools it needs to fight against anything alien that enters the body. Learn to handle the stress, move away from processed foods, be aware of all the chemicals you put on and inside yourself to help your body function and fight efficiently.   Role of Alcohol in Fertility Alcohol affects fertility negatively. It also may have such a major impact on women’s liver and hormones that they may have to bear for the rest of their lives. As generations have changed, the consumption of alcohol in younger girls has significantly increased. Binge drinking as a practice of socializing has become common, but it comes with long-term consequences. In terms of pregnancy, the quality of the egg gets affected too by regular consumption of alcohol before pregnancy, even if you quit drinking while you’re pregnant.   What Does Pregnancy Do To Women? After giving birth, the female body changes significantly. Often times pregnancy leads to depletion of resources from a woman's body. Priorities change and she puts up with those symptoms for years while the baby grows. Dr. Chellam asks her female patients when was the last time they felt well and the answer in most cases is before childbirth. On asking the age of the child, the answer usually is 20 to 25 years. Meaning she has spent decades being unwell.   An Outlook on Perimenopause As the biological clock ticks, women go through another transition in their 40s: perimenopause.  For most women, perimenopause comes with irregular periods, fatigue, insomnia, vaginal dryness, lower libido, mood swings, and anxiety. The quality of life post-menopause depends on how motivated you are to make lifestyle changes to sustain your health in this stage. The quality of life matters more than longevity. “Healthspan is more important than lifespan.”  — Dr. Marilyn Glenville   The Possible Osteoporosis Epidemic One out of two women will have osteoporosis after they are 50, says Dr. Glenville. Osteoporosis is becoming more common in younger women. A lifelong lack of calcium results in diminished bone density causing osteoporosis. The reason behind this can be the raging Vitamin D deficiency as Vit-D is crucial for the absorption of calcium.  Women reach their peak bone mass around the age of 25 to 30. Research shows that regular consumption of colas and fizzy drinks containing phosphoric acid increases the risk of fractures in girls as young as 8 to 16 years of age. These young girls aren’t even reaching their peak bone density by the time they’re supposed to. The major factors that have a tremendous impact on women’s bone health are: Lack of Vitamin D Consumption of Cola & Fizzy Drinks Processed foods Lack of exercise Consumption of alcohol at a young age Note: You can’t go overboard with exercise either. Running 9 miles a day causes dilution of calcium off the bone to neutralize all the lactic acid produced with muscle activity.  Ultimately, it’s all about moderation.   The Mindset Needed To Regain Your Health People must understand if they want to move towards something better, they have to abandon the beliefs they used to have. They should leave old mindsets and habits for them to move forward. Change is scary for everybody. Look at this as a phase of growth. Be ready to make all the changes it takes for you to become healthier, even if you haven’t made them already.   How to Eat Healthily? Eat healthy 80% of the time and the rest 20% the body can cope up with a little treat. It’s all about moderation. Look at it as a way of eating that becomes a way of life. It’s not a quick-fix diet, but developing eating habits that transform our health so we can continue like this in the future. This is a long-term solution where the body can heal itself. On rare occasions, like a holiday or birthday party, for instance, treat yourself. Your body will cope with that.   How to Stay Consistent? Remember that the disease starts decades before the diagnosis. Understanding this time frame will help you be patient and consistent with your journey. For instance, if a person is smoking a cigarette, they don’t get lung canc

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Dr. Nisha Chellam is a Board certified Internist who is also board certified in Integrative and Holistic medicine. She believes that diminished health and vitality can be reclaimed by just about any proactive person at any age. Dr. Chellam practices functional medicine in Novi, Michigan where she incorporates Nutrition, Fitness, hormone balance, and permanent weight control. Every week, Dr. Nisha gives you tips on how to take control of your health because YOU are your best doctor.

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