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Welcome to:

"My Health Corner!"

Our eZine will arrive monthly to keep you apprised of a featured health topic, what is happening at the clinic, exciting and controversial health topics in the news, recipes, and more.

We hope that you gain a piece of information that is new that can directly benefit your personal health goals or others that you may come into contact with.

As the beginning of 2009 dawned my family and I were gathered to celebrate the life and death of my grandmother. Who at the devine age of 98 decided that she was ready to make her transition back to the source of all that is good. As we stood reflecting on her life, how she lived it, and how she impacted our lives we were reminded of her physical strength and how she was able to remain perfectly healthy without the assistance of pharmaceutical medication until the age of 98.

For most of her life she walked an average of 5-10 miles/day. Walking with purpose enhanced her physical energy and allowed her to stay young. Even with arthritis later in her life she still walked, not allowing the discomfort to slow her down.

We fondly remembered how at the age of 89 she was riding tandem on a jet ski on a family vacation to Mexico. She remained physically strong well into her 90’s with a healthy heart and circulatory system.

With these thoughts, about physical strength and vitality, we embrace the beginning of 2009. The beginning of a new year, unlike any we have ever had or seen before, a year filled with possibility and promise, a perfect time to declare what it is that we would like to gain in the 12 months ahead. To persue our life goals in perfect health so that we age without the need of pharmaceutical medications and finally, when we decide that we have completed our purpose here that we gracefully pass on.

In order to ensure this we must follow in the famous words of Jack LaLane, “Let exercise be your king and nutrition be your Queen and then you have a kingdom.”

May you have the greatest kingdom from which you call forth your goals and dreams and celebrate their coming to pass.

Sincerely,

Dr. Andrea Purcell, N.D.
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Telephone (949) 722-6797

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE!

In most parts of the country, as we move into the winter months, we can feel the change in the air. The cooler air and shorter days signal to us that it is time to slow down, settle in at home, and store up for the winter. For many of us these changes also include eating differently than we may in warmer months. We tend to crave warmer, richer foods that provide a sense of heaviness. However, with this type of change often comes weight gain. In a country where being overweight or obese is more common than ever, it is time to rethink these unhealthy, winter time habits.

Obesity has become an American epidemic. According to the centers for disease control, over the last ten years, the percentage of adult Americans (age 20-74) defined as obese has nearly doubled, increasing from 12 percent in 1991 to 20.9 percent in 2001(i). Fifteen percent of American children are defined as overweight or obese. How we should stem this epidemic, and prevent the other disease conditions that obesity can generate, is a matter of great concern and some debate. In this day and age we as a population are riddled with chronic disease. Chronic disease is slowly killing us and contributing to our decreasing quality of life. Conditions such as hypertension, Type II diabetes, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, blood sugar problems, arthritis, weight gain, inflammation, and metabolic syndrome are all a part of chronic disease.

This brings me to the Law of Parsimony. An extremely important yet overlooked concept in medicine. This law states that when we are trying to explain the cause of a event or series of events the simplest explanation is usually the most valid. This is used in medicine when we are trying to group together symptoms a person has in order to give a proper diagnosis. Unfortunately, this law is mostly ignored when each symptom that a patient has is treated as a separate disease. A perfect example is an overweight patient with Type II diabetes, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and sleep apnea. Often these patients arrive at our clinic with a separate medication for each of these symptoms. Chances are that if this patient were put on a weight loss program and properly coached on nutrition, and portion control, as the weight began to come down all of the other symptoms would resolve as well. Hence avoiding the need for multiple life long medications, stimulating the healing response within the body, and restoring health. This is the area where natural medicine shines, evaluating patients as a whole, considering the totality of the symptoms, treating the cause, listening to the patient, and finally, implementing the Law of Parsimony.

Abdominal fat may be a stronger predictor of premature death then total body fat. New study reveals that it may not be how many pounds a person gains but where the weight settles. Results show that people with large waists had an increased risk of death. Abdominal fat accumulates around the organs and contributes to metabolic syndrome, increased inflammation, heart disease, increased risk factors for Type II diabetes and premature death. The study revealed that for every 2 inch increase in waist size it increased the risk of death in males by 17% and females by 13%.

Bottom Line:
Even if you are normal weight but have abdominal obesity it is associated with elevated mortality from cardiovascular disease.

General & Abdominal Adiposity & Risk of Death in Europe, NEJ of Med, 11/13/2008:359(20):2105-2120

What to do:

Realistically speaking, weight loss is much easier to implement in January after the temptation for sugary treats has passed on. If your new years resolution was to slim down and get healthy, nothing feels as good as sticking with your intention and staying true to your word. Getting started is as easy as waking up one morning and making the commitment to take action. Once that intention to lose weight has been placed, the wheels are set in motion to bring you the results you want. The only thing left to do is decide what day you want to begin and get started!

Here at the clinic we take weight loss very seriously and we have three specific weight loss programs to support you in your weight loss goals. Please visit us on the web to read about the different programs and select which one is right for you.

Join us in kicking off the new year with an educational seminar on weight loss!

Who: Dr. Andrea Purcell & Personal Trainer Alysia Gadson
What: Hear them speak on this fantastic weight loss opportunity
When: Tuesday evening January 27th @7:30
Where: Synergy Training Centers, 2664 Newport Blvd (Upstairs), Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Why? Because your worth it!

Send us your comments, feedback or questions! We'd love to hear from you.

Dr. Andrea Purcell, N.D.
1770 Orange Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Telephone (949) 722-6797
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Please feel free to forward this eZine to everyone you know! They'll be glad you did!

Dr. Andrea Purcell, N.D.
www.PortalToHealing.com