More than 70% of all of the critical information about your health can be revealed in a blood test.  It’s important to understand your results both to stay healthy as well as treat any ailments that you may have.

Heart Health

Heart attacks and heart disease are the leading cause of death for adults in the United States, responsible for 1 in 4 deaths in this country.  Two out of every five people who have a heart attack do not survive.

Cholesterol

The term cholesterol refers to a number of special molecules known as lipoproteins, not all of which are harmful.

HDL Cholesterol

Known as the “good cholesterol”, these high-density lipoproteins keep your heart healthy.

Foods that have lots of good HDL: nuts, seeds, oatmeal and fish.

LDL Cholesterol

Known as the “bad cholesterol”, a high level of these low-density lipoproteins can lead to heart disease, hardening of the arteries and strokes.

Foods that contribute to high LDL levels: breads, pasta, sugar, cheese and fried foods.

Cholesterol Ratios

One thing your doctor will look for is the ratio between your HDL and LDL levels, as well as understanding other sub-particles like Apo-B and ILP(a).  These numbers can help your doctor assess your risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke.

Triglycerides:
Also known as dietary fat, high amounts of triglycerides can lead to diabetes and heart disease. Contributing factors to high triglyceride levels: being overweight, smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and eating a lot of processed carbohydrates

Inflammation:
When organs and cell tissues become irritated and inflamed, this can contribute to serious illnesses like cancer, auto-immune diseases, dementia and heart disease.  Reducing inflammation is a smart way to stay healthy.  Certain proteins like hs-CRP can indicate that there is an issue with inflammation.

Foods that help reduce inflammation: oranges, green tea, blueberries, salmon, papayas, olive oil, sweet potatoes and broccoli.

Thyroid:
Experts estimate that 1 person in 8 in the United States suffers from thyroid disease, although many cases go undiagnosed.  Problems with the thyroid can lead to obesity and chronic fatigue.  A condition known as hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland fails to make enough hormones to maintain a healthy metabolism.

Hypothyroidism can lead to: higher cholesterol levels, obesity, heart disease, greater susceptibility to colds, and low energy levels.

Vitamin D
This vitamin is absolutely critical for health and yet approximately 3 out of 4 Americans do not spend enough time outside in order to produce a sufficient level of vitamin D in their bodies.  Low vitamin D levels can lead to heart disease, cancer, bone diseases, and infections.

Consuming fish oil will help your body make more vitamin D.

The post The Big Picture of Your Health: Why it’s Critical appeared first on SmartChoiceMD.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes or the condition known as “prediabetes”, elevated sugar levels that are the hallmark of diabetes need to be addressed before serious complications can develop. Many people with elevated blood sugar levels want to know, “Is insulin right for me?” and whether there are proven alternatives to taking medicinal insulin.

Insulin Resistance

Consuming certain foods and drinks leads to a natural process by which the amount of sugars in the blood become elevated. Under healthy circumstances, any excess sugars in the blood are “eaten” or scrubbed from the blood by insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas. Diabetes is a disease with many negative outcomes but is effectively a simple equation – the amount of sugar in the blood is higher than the body’s ability to process it.

The CDC and other world health organizations recognize that insulin resistance is the first step towards developing diabetes. With insulin resistance, the body’s ability to use naturally-produced insulin to lower blood sugar levels becomes increasingly ineffective over time. It is thought consistently eating diets rich in certain substances raise blood sugar levels too high and thus overtax the pancreas’s ability to produce enough insulin.

Over time, the insulin that is produced becomes less and less effective, leading to chronically elevated blood sugar levels. Consistently high levels of blood sugar is a condition known as “prediabetes”, the last step on the path towards developing full-blown Type 2 diabetes.

A simple blood test can tell you your blood sugar levels. If your blood sugar levels are higher than the healthy range, this may be a strong indicator that you are developing insulin resistance. Consult with a doctor right away if you have high blood sugar levels. The best known cure is prevention – taking steps to address the problem before it becomes Type 2 diabetes.

Is Insulin Right for You?

If your doctor has officially diagnosed you with Type 2 diabetes, there are a number of steps you can take to manage and treat your condition. Popular misconceptions about diabetes lead to many people thinking that they must take insulin if they have diabetes. In fact, only about 14% of diabetes sufferers use insulin and 13% combine insulin and oral medications. The majority of people with diabetes – 57% – rely on oral medication only while 16% manage their blood sugar levels strictly by diet and exercise.

The benefit of taking medicinal insulin is that it is thought to supplement the body’s natural production of insulin, giving the body an extra boost that it needs in order to reduce blood sugar levels. Only your doctor or a trained medical professional can give expert counsel on whether or not insulin therapy is the best course of treatment for treating your diabetes. Many experts, however, recognize that since Type 2 diabetes is principally caused by deficiencies in diet and lifestyle, taking pro-active healthy steps in nutrition and increased mobility should always be attempted first before attempting to ameliorate the problem with medicinal insulin.

Research has effectively concluded that several forms human analogue synthesized insulin have now proven effective in reducing blood sugar levels in people with confirmed cases of diabetes. The benefits of taking insulin to treat diabetes is that it can be adjusted to dietary intake and can be used in conjunction with other diabetes medications. The downside to insulin is that it may require several injections a day and anyone who is dependent on therapeutic insulin must carry it with them with them everywhere they go.

Medicinal insulin is produced by either extracting insulin from animals or by synthesizing human insulin in a laboratory. Some people object on ethical grounds to taking insulin extracted from animals. Approximately 2% of people who have tried insulin have demonstrated an allergy to the product as a reaction to the preservatives used in medicinal insulin, including zinc, meta-cresol, and protamine.

As with all serious illnesses, consult with your doctor before beginning any course of treatment for diabetes.

Injected Insulin, the Insulin Pump, Insulin Pen and Inhaled Insulin

Due to the way the body breaks down foods in the gastrointestinal tract, taking insulin orally is not feasible. People who suffer from diabetes can inject insulin under the skin using a needle, infuse insulin under the skin via an insulin pump, inject insulin with a special “pen” or, in some cases, inhale insulin using a special device.

Synthesized human analogue insulin is sold by a number of brand names, including Apidra, Humulin, Novolin, Novolog, Relion, Humalog, Actrapid, Lantus, and NovoRapid. All are designed to lower blood sugar levels but some are designed to be fast-acting while others are designed for longer-term release of insulin into the blood.

Determining dosages is an extremely complicated endeavor due to the different ways in which food is broken down and digested in the body. Administering the right dosage of insulin requires expert medical counsel and experience in monitoring blood sugar levels and responding accordingly with the right dose of insulin.

Other Medications for Managing Diabetes

Although administering insulin from an exterior source is the oldest and most well-understood treatment for diabetes, there are now a number of pharmaceutical medications available for managing and controlling Type 2 diabetes.

One medication, officially called Metformin but sold under a variety of trade names such as Glucophage, Obimet, and Dianben, is a popular alternative to insulin in treating Type 2 diabetes. Although there are some known side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain, Metformin has been shown to be effective in managing diabetes by causing the liver to decrease glucose (sugar) production.

The following medications differ from insulin because they can be taken orally in tablet form. All of them are now officially recommended by the American Diabetes Association as a first-line treatment for treating both prediabetes (elevated blood sugar levels not high enough to be full-blown diabetes) as well as Type 2 diabetes.

Glimepiride, sold under a number of different names such as Amaryl, Diabeta, Micronase, Glucotrol and Glynase, works by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin. Can be taken right after eating or used in slow-release forms for longer lasting protection.

Repaglinide, also sold under the names Prandin and Starlin, are similarly designed to rapidly reduce blood sugar levels by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin. Usually taken right after a meal.

Thiazolidinediones Pioglitazone, usually abbreviated as TZD but also sold under the brand name Actos is a different class of medication that works to open up muscle cells so that they absorb more glucose (sugar) in the blood while also dampening the liver’s ability to produce glucose.

Sitagliptin, sold under the brand names Januvia, Onglyza, and Tradjenta, is designed to boost Metformin’s ability to restrict the liver’s production of glucose. This class of medications is designed to be taken just once a day.

A new class of drugs to treat diabetes are known as alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. Sold under the names Precose and Glyset, they work by delaying and slowing down the body’s process of digesting carbohydrates.

Bile Acid Sequestrants, often sold under the brand name Welchol, were originally designed to treat high cholesterol but were shown to have a beneficial side effect of reducing glucose production in the liver. Usually taken in combination with other diabetes medications.

In addition to the above classes of medications, several “combination” medications have been designed to reduce the number of pills a person with diabetes has to take during the day. These are sold under a variety of trade names, including Actoplus Met, Glucovance, Janumet, Metaglip, Kombiglyze, Prandimet and Duetact. Because these combination pills are very powerful, they can lead to incidences of hypoglycemia or blood sugar levels that are too low.

Always consult with a physician about the correct dosage to take of any medication.

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The CMP is also known as a Comprehensive Wellness Test, a Comprehensive Wellness Panel or Comprehensive Wellness Profile (CWP). Whether as part of diagnosing and treating illnesses, a pro-active requirement by insurance companies, or part of a yearly check-up, the CMP is used to monitor organ function and overall health, offering invaluable insights into the state of a person’s health.

What is a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel?

Doctors use the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) as a way to screen for certain illnesses and as pro-active wellness diagnostic tool. Depending on the needs of the individual, either the complete CMP can be run or just key parts of it.

In order to get accurate readings, it is critical that anyone planning on taking a CWP should refrain from eating the night prior (fasting for a minimum of 10 hours) and drinking only water as well as taking any prescribed medications. Once in the laboratory, a blood sample will be taken and results should be available within a few days.

If unusual results are obtained after the initial CMP is analyzed, it may be necessary to follow-up with additional specific tests to help your doctor confirm or rule out a suspected diagnosis.

What does a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel Include?

Depending on your needs, only some of the following tests may be included when you undergo a comprehensive metabolic panel. The full CMP battery includes:

• Glucose Test – This test measures blood sugar levels, vital for both diagnosing diabetes as well as identifying a risk for developing diabetes in the near future.
• Uric Acid – The levels of uric acid in the bloodstream are key indicators of how well your digestive system is functioning as well as how your kidney is functioning.
• BUN – Also known as the BUN test, the acronym stands for Blood Urea Nitrogen. This test helps identify how well your kidneys are metabolizing protein.
• Creatinine – When your muscles process energy, they discard creatinine that is processed through the kidney. High levels of creatinine in the blood may indicate a problem with the kidneys or muscle-related issues.
• BUN/Creatinine ratio – Problems with the kidneys are associated with both high uric acid and creatinine levels but their specific ratio can help doctors determine exactly which problems the kidneys are having.
• Calcium Test – Testing the amount of calcium in your blood cannot identify how much calcium is in a person’s bones but allows doctors to determine the general state of health of the bones, teeth, heart, nervous system and heart function.
• Iron Test – Low levels of iron in the blood may indicate anemia.
• Phosphorous Test – This mineral, in conjunction with calcium, is essential for nerve function, muscle development, and blood clotting.
• Cholesterol Test – Fat molecules in the blood are divided into two categories: cholesterol and triglycerides. Measuring overall cholesterol levels can be an excellent way to identify issues relating to thyroid function, pancreatic disease, liver function, diabetes, and the hardening of the arteries (known by its medical term arteriosclerosis).
• Triglycerides Test – Elevated levels of triglycerides in the blood may indicate a problem with the pancreas, liver, thyroid or the hardening of the arteries.
• HDL Test – Known as the “good” form of cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels are considered beneficial to preventing heart disease.
• LDL Test – The type of cholesterol considered damaging to your health, elevated levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood stream are associated with elevated risks of developing heart disease.
• Glomerular Filtration (eGFR) Test – This test helps determine how well the kidneys are able to remove toxins from the bloodstream.
• Protein and Albumin – Sometimes also paired with a Globulin test, this test is a wonderful tool for analyzing the overall health of an individual. By measuring the ratio of protein in the body, doctors can identify infections, problems with nutrition, as well as identify a host of illnesses. Globulin and Albumin are specific forms of protein. This test is sometimes called a “Total Protein Test”.
• Bilirubin Test – One of the key ingredients in your bile, elevated levels of bilirubin can indicate that red blood cells are being destroyed or that the liver is having difficulty functioning properly.
• AST Test – Known as the Aspartate Aminotransferase Test, this refers to a special enzyme that can indicate problems with the liver if levels are too high. Sometimes known as the SGOT test.
• ALT Test – The acronym stands for the Alaninine Aminotransferase Test. Another important enyzme produced by the liver that can help identify problems with the liver.
• LDH Test – Stands for Lactate Dehydrogenase, an enzyme produced by the heart, kidney, brains, liver, and red blood cells. Elevated levels of LDH may indicate that an organ has been damaged.
• GGT Test – Sometimes referred to as the GGTP test. Stands for Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase or transferase. Elevated levels of this enzyme can indicate problems with the bile duct and/or kidney.
• Sodium, Serum – Measures how much sodium is in the bloodstream. Critical for the proper functioning of the nervous system and muscles.
• Potassium Test – The nervous system and muscles rely on this mineral for proper functioning.
• Chloride, Serum – Similar to the sodium test, the amount of chlorides in the bloodstream help identify problems with the electrolyte balance in the body.
• Carbon Dioxide – The amount of CO2 in the bloodstream is used to monitor and identify problems with electrolyte imbalances.
• Thyroid Panel/TSH Test – A comprehensive series of test to help monitor thyroid function as well as levels of the critical Thryoid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH).
• CBC with Differential and Platelets – Known as the Complete Blood Count, this comprehensive test measures all of the different kinds of blood cells, including platelets. White blood cells are used to fight off infections. Red blood cells are used to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide. Hemoglobin is a protein molecule in red blood cells that bind with oxygen. Hematocrit levels indicate how well red blood cells are absorbing oxygen. Basophils, Eosinophils, Lymphocites and Monocytes are all critical components of white blood cells. Platelets are used by the body to clot the blood and repair cell damage. A RDW count (red cell distribution) helps measure the size of red blood cells, a key test that can indicate problems like anemia.

The Benefits of a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel Test

The results from your CMP will help your doctor get an overall look at the general state of your health. By analyzing the pattern of your results, your doctor can get important clues towards diagnosing your overall health condition as well as specific symptoms or problems.

If abnormal results are obtained, your doctor may order additional CMPs or components of the CMP in order to monitor and track the function of your organs, metabolic function, diet and prescription medications.

Because both prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs can alter the results of the CMP it is essential that you tell your doctor if you are taking anything before submitting to a CMP.

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An additional benefit to undergoing comprehensive blood, DNA and urine tests is that nutritionists and doctors can identify new and better ways to control illnesses and improve health through diets tailored to an individual’s unique genetic make-up and state of wellness. Personalized patient care through lab testing will soon become the standard in today’s medical world.

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel

Sometimes known as a Comprehensive Wellness Test, a Comprehensive Wellness Panel or Comprehensive Wellness Profile (CWP), a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) is a full battery of tests that analyze the levels of various enzymes, proteins, and minerals in the blood.

The results of a CMP help doctors get a big picture view of a person’s overall state of health. Elevated levels or abnormal ratios of different blood components can be critical for helping doctors confirm or rule out a diagnosis of a wide variety of illnesses and conditions.

Most CMP screenings include an analysis of liver function, blood sugar levels, kidney function, electrolyte balance, thyroid function, bone health, and thyroid function.

General Wellness Testing

A general wellness test is a full battery of tests to help give doctors an overall picture of your health. Unlike a CMP, a General Wellness Test usually consists of giving both a blood and urine sample for analysis.

The results of a General Wellness Test can help determine critical factors about your lifestyle, diet and overall health. While not specific enough to pinpoint diseases, a general wellness test is a great way to identify problems before they become serious as well as areas of success.

General Wellness Tests are becoming increasingly popular as part of regular check-ups as they give your doctor baseline information to monitor and track changes in your health.

Genetic Testing for Diet

One of the latest trends in personalized lab testing is undergoing genetic analysis to help determine an ideal diet customized to a person’s unique genetic makeup and metabolic factors.

By taking a swab of cheek cells, the field of nutrigenomics (improving diet through genetic analysis) can help identify a person’s genetic makeup and use this information to create a tailored diet. Doctors already understand that genes play an important role in metabolic function, enzyme production, and hormone levels. It is thought that nutrigenomics can help nutritionists and doctors give personalized recommendations of an ideal diet for maintaining a healthy weight and nutritional intake.

Better Patient Care

A lot of people are now using wearable tracking devices to create extensive records about their daily activity, sleep patterns, and other useful health information. Lab tests have a similar benefit. By regularly getting your blood and urine checked, you and your doctor will be better equipped to understand important changes in enzyme, metabolic function, organ function, and blood sugar levels that could help identify the onset of an illness, organ damage, and other problems before they become serious.

Genetic testing, comprehensive metabolic panels and general wellness tests are also useful methods for analyzing exactly how well your body is functioning, your general state of nutrition, and identifying which factors could be contributing to obesity, illness, or other aspects of poor health. This information can then be used by your doctor to diagnose any problems that you’re having and improve patient care.

Being armed with specific detailed numbers about how well your organs, arteries, and metabolic system is functioning is also a great way to identify areas of success. An important component to maintaining good health is receiving positive feedback about what you’re doing right. Even if you are currently in good health now, comprehensive lab tests are a great tool for monitoring fluctuations and changes as you go through life. If health issues do occur later on, your doctor will have invaluable information about your own unique personal health to help accurately diagnose illnesses or other problems.

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Below are some of the newest fertility advancements:

Cell Free DNA Testing

Scientists have developed a new technique to analyze fetal DNA without having to extract cells. Certain at-risk women, such as women age 35 years or older and women with a history of certain chromosome disorders, can now be tested as early as the first trimester of their pregnancy. The new technique, known as cffDNA (cell-free fetal DNA) works by gathering and analyzing material directly from the mother’s blood, looking for DNA released by the placenta.

Uterine Transplants

In June 2015, a young woman who had her ovaries removed as a teenager was able to successfully carry a pregnant to term after having her womb re-attached. This is an extremely important breakthrough because it provides a method for women to have their uterus removed prior to undergoing chemotherapy and other therapies and then have the uterus re-attached in the future when conditions for being pregnant are more favorable.

The first woman to bring a baby to term after undergoing uterus transplantation suffered from an acute form of the blood disorder sickle-cell anemia, which required a treatment that significantly damaged her uterus.

Ovarian Transplants

Along with new breakthroughs in uterine transplants, scientists have made much more progress in the preservation and transplantation of ovarian tissue in order to boost fertility rates for women with cancer. A recent study in Denmark froze ovarian tissue for 32 women who were suffering from cancer. After the cancer therapy had been completed, the women had their frozen ovarian tissue transplanted back into their bodies, and 10 out of the 32 women successfully brought a pregnancy to term.

Starting at puberty, women will be able to have their ovaries frozen for later use. Women facing medical treatments that could potentially lower their fertility will be able to freeze their frozen ovaries transplanted when conditions for pregnancy are more favorable. Cryogenically preserving eggs is already an established procedure and currently available to the general public.

Babies with Three Parents

In 2015, Britain changed its law to permit mitochrondrial donation for pregnancies involving women who suffer from mitochrondrial diseases. The change in the law now permits women who suffer from mitochrondrial disease to be eligible for IVF (in-vitro fertilization) treatments, using a third “parent” to donate healthy mitochrondria so that the resulting pregnancy will not inherit the mother’s mitochrondrial disease.

Although technically DNA from three individuals is used to create a pregnancy using this technique, mitochrondria is not responsible for individual traits, so there is no effective change in parentage for the resulting pregnancy.

Gene Editing

Scientists have developed a new tool called CRISPR-Cas9 (clustered regularly-interspaced palindromic repeats – associated protein 9) to directly edit DNA. While the CRISPR technology has existed for a few years, the new Cas9 version allows scientists to cut and replace specific DNA sequences.

Although this technology is still being developed, it is expected that gene editing will be able to strip out certain mutant genes responsible for a variety of inherited diseases and replace them with healthy versions. If this technology can be perfected, babies will no longer be at risk for a wide range of congenital diseases, including cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, Huntington’s disease, and Marfan syndrome.

Treatments for PCOS

PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) can affect a woman’s fertility, including her hormone levels, ovulation, and menstrual cycle. It is estimated that approximately 10% of women in the United States are affected by PCOS. In 2015, scientists reported success using a new drug called letrozole (Femara) in treating PCOS in mice. This drug has not been evaluated by the FDA for general use in treating PCOS but a number of individual practitioners have used it with their clients and there is anecdotal evidence that Letrozole has achieved some success. Letrozole is currently approved only as a treatment for breast cancer.

Should future drug trials ultimately result in Letrozole becoming approved for human use, women affected by PCOS will be able to improve their fertility success rates, and have a greater chance of successfully ovulating and bringing a pregnancy to term. Currently, women with PCOS are advised to maintain a healthy weight, refrain from smoking, and closely monitor their ovulation to improve their fertility. Research is currently being conducted for other non-medication treatments in order to boost fertility rates for women with PCOS.

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For now though, diet labs offer a number of tests to help people understand their current health condition and be better informed about what proactive steps can be followed to lose weight and become healthier.

What Tests do Diet Labs Offer?

Right now, there is no standardized legal description of a “diet lab”, so every facility offers different diet testing. Some of the tests currently available from diet labs include:

• CBC – Otherwise known as a “Complete Blood Count,” this common test will measure the functioning of your immune system, as well as the oxygen levels in your body. The test can reveal certain forms of malnutrition, including anemia, as well as the presence of inflammation in cell tissues, which can be linked to the consumption of certain types of food and drinks.
• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel – This full-spectrum test of your blood will reveal important insights into how your kidneys and liver are functioning. Your blood glucose levels will also be measured, which can reveal the presence of diabetes or an elevated risk of contracting Type II diabetes. Thyroid and other metabolic disorders can also be identified with this test, as well as abnormally low Vitamin D and/or calcium levels.
• Ketones – This test will measure the number of ketones in your urine. High levels can indicate the presence of diabetes or an excess of high glycemic index foods in your diet.
• Liver Panel – When people are obese, there is a strong correlation between high enzyme levels produced by the kidney. This test can also identify long-term damage to the kidneys.
• Serum Iron – This test measures the level of iron in your blood. Low levels may indicate anemia, iron deficiency due to dietary or other causes, as well as other forms of malnutrition.
• Lipid Profile – This is the test that measures the various forms of cholesterol in your blood, an important marker for tracking and monitoring your overall health.
• Serum Magnesium – This test can identify problems related to a loss of magnesium which can occur due to malnutrition, the consumption of diuretics (which include “water pills”), and excessive use of laxatives.
• Serum Phosphorous – Consuming too many diuretic drinks (which includes soft drinks, coffee, and tea) can lead to low calcium levels. High levels of phosphorous in the bloodstream can result from overusing common antacid products.
• Amylase Test – Performed on urine samples, the amylase test can reveal damage to the pancreas and/or salivary glands.
• Thyroid Panel – This test can reveal problems with the thyroid gland, including hypothyroidism (low levels of hormones produced by the thyroid glands). The thyroid is the “control center” of the body’s metabolic function, and can play a key role in difficulty losing weight.
• Transthyretin – Also referred to sometimes as prealbumin test, this can reveal certain deficiencies in the liver and the thyroid glands, as well as some forms of malnutrition.

It is also recommended that anyone visiting a diet lab get a standard check-up where vital signs are measured. These include blood pressure, pulse rate, and your temperature. Abnormal vital signs may indicate a fever, inflammation, dehydration and issues relating to blood pressure .

How Much Do Tests at a Diet Lab Cost?

Every diet lab charges different prices for their services. The tests listed above require just a small blood sample and/or urine sample but many diet labs send their blood work and/or urinalysis work to a third-party laboratory. In some cases, these tests may be covered by existing health insurance. Always check with your insurance provider for the exact details about which tests have partial or complete coverage.

Interpreting Your Diet Lab Results

The internet is replete with advice about how to interpret the results of your diet lab work but only a medical professional or nutritionist can give you an accurate diagnosis of the current state of your health. Working with the results of your diet lab tests, you and your nutritionist or healthcare professional can then develop a diet and exercise routine to help you succeed in losing weight and enjoying a healthier life.

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Many diet labs are now offering a new test that examines your DNA in order to discover the best diet for your unique needs. According to the claims by a number of diet lab companies, they will analyze your DNA and then give you a full report telling you what supplements you need, and exactly what diet best works for your genetic markers to help you lose weight and stay healthy

For decades, diet labs have analyzed blood and urine samples in order to reveal nutritional deficiencies and markers that can indicate the onset of common dietary-related diseases like high cholesterol, blood glucose levels, and thyroid gland activity. Now, many diet labs are claiming that they can analyze a simple Q-tip swab of the DNA cells in your cheek to craft the perfect diet.

This Emerging Field is Called Nutrigenomics.

While early results look promising, it is still too soon for experts to conclude whether or not it is possible to design a better diet simply by analyzing a person’s DNA. Some doctors support nutrigenomics because it is already established that genes control enzyme levels, metabolism, and hormone production. It is a reasonable assumption that understanding how an individual uniquely metabolizes and processes foods can help determine how many calories they need and any deficiencies in nutrition that can be addressed with the use of supplements. Furthermore, many common conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and certain forms of coronary disease are already known to be heavily influenced by inherited genetic factors

Using a DNA Test to Create a Customized Diet. 

Supporters of nutrigenomics say that an analysis of an individual’s DNA can be used to successfully design a diet to help keep them healthy and at a good weight. For example, conventional wisdom recommends that people eat a low fat diet if they have a history of heart disease in their family and/or have high levels of the so-called “bad” LDL cholesterol. Likewise, a low-carbohydrate diet may be recommended for individuals whose DNA reveals that they have high blood pressure or abnormal levels of triglycerides.

DNA tests can also reveal the presence of, or lack thereof, of certain enzymes. Some people may be unaware that they are lactose or gluten intolerant, so a DNA test can reveal important clues about how to eat a balanced diet. DNA tests can also reveal the presence of certain markers that will put some people at a higher risk of developing inflammatory diseases or diabetes, giving them advanced warning to make changes in their diet in order to stay healthy.

Is DNA Diet Testing Worth It? 

One advantage that DNA testing at a diet lab has over more traditional analyses from blood and urine samples is that you do not need to be present at the lab to give a sample. Most diet labs offer a simple mail-in kit where you take two cotton swabs (Q-tips) and send your sample off to the laboratory to be analyzed. While some diet labs charge a steep premium for their services, the price can often be far lower than traditional blood and urine analysis.

The verdict is still out on whether DNA testing to create a perfect diet is effective, however, many people believe that the low cost and simple process of mailing a cheek swab sample is worth a try. Certain DNA markers can reveal deficiencies in enzyme or hormone production, giving people valuable information about which types of foods or supplements are best for their unique needs. Other experts downplay the value of DNA diet testing, believing that eating a healthy, balanced diet outweighs the benefits of any special insights revealed by analyzing a person’s genes.

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The Short Answer

The unfair truth is that, yes, men do lose weight faster, on average, than women. A number of scientific studies have been conducted which demonstrated that men lose weight faster than women when following identical diet plans and exercise regimes.

While no one fully understands why men have an advantage over women in terms of rapidly shedding excess pounds, it is believed that testosterone plays a key factor. Both men and women naturally have testosterone, but men have far larger amounts. Furthermore, men’s bodies have a higher percentage of muscles and lower percentage of fat than do women’s bodies, giving men an additional advantage for losing weight more rapidly.

How Women Can Even the Score

Muscle mass is the single most efficient method for burning excess calories. Women who engage in strengthening and toning exercises like yoga, weightlifting, and endurance training at the gym will be able to burn fat more quickly. Intensive cardiovascular and aerobic sessions will help burn fat, but increased muscle mass will help women burn off calories around the block.

Not All Fat Is the Same

While many modern women despair over the difficulty of shedding excess weight, it is also important to remember that fat plays a vital role in women’s bodies, being necessary for functions like healthy ovulation, menstruation, and mood regulation. Starving yourself, or engaging in extreme calorie restriction diets, can have far-reaching harmful effects that definitely do not merit the temporarily ability to lose a few pounds. The key to maintaining a healthy weight is to eat a balanced and nutritious diet, and to focus on developing toned muscle mass.

Men tend to accumulate excess fat in the middle of their bodies, which has been demonstrated to lead to an increased risk of developing heart disease. Women, conversely, tend to carry excess weight below their waistline and in other areas of the body, which carries a lower risk of succumbing to a heart attack and other forms of heart disease.

In modern times, the ability to lose weight rapidly is often seen as a blessing. However, it should be always kept in mind that our bodies were designed for periods of both scarcity and abundance. Historically, women’s bodies were more resilient to fluctuations in food availability, giving them the advantage over men when times were leaner. When supplies of food were scarce in the past, it was men who suffered first, as they have a greater need to replenish vital body fat and calories to avoid malnutrition and starvation.

The Multiple Benefits of Getting Stronger

When women perform strength training exercises and start to develop muscle mass, this does a lot more than help burn off excess calories. Stronger muscles leads to stronger bones, and can help women prevent the development of osteoporosis, a degenerative diseases that primarily affects women.

Staying strong and eating healthy will lead to a virtuous cycle, causing you to feel more motivated and happy when you look in the mirror, which will then encourage you to stay strong and focus on your exercise and dietary goals. Then when you do over-indulge on your favorite treats, your increased muscle mass and improved physique will help make losing weight a lot easier.

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Sanitizing Hand Gels Will Protect You

Nowadays, it seems that everywhere you turn, people are using hand sanitizing gels to protect themselves from bacteria and diseases. While these anti-microbial agents are good at stopping a lot of microscopic infectious agents, they don’t do very much at preventing someone getting a cold or the flu.

The CDC guidelines, as well as World Health Organization’s regulations for cold and flu protection emphasize that sanitizing gels are not nearly as effective as thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water. Sanitizing gels must be at least 60% alcohol to be properly effective, and running water and soap is far more effective at both cleaning your hands as well as removing microscopic traces of the cold and flu viruses.

You’ll Catch a Cold if Someone Sneezes on You

It’s certainly true that both the cold and flu viruses are transmitted via airborne particles, so someone sneezing on you carries a higher risk of transmission. But these viruses can also be transmitted by ordinary activities like talking, coughing, and normal breathing.

Furthermore, direct physical contact with a sick person can transmit these illnesses. That is why colds and the flu tend to infect entire families. Your best protection against getting a cold or the flu from a loved one or colleague is to regularly wash your hands with soap and water.

Flying on a Plane Increases Your Chance of Getting Sick

No one is quite sure where this myth started, but it sounds logical at face value. After all, the air on an airplane is being recirculated, meaning that a single infected passenger is transmitting airborne particles throughout the cabin. Combined with low cabin pressure, and being in close proximity to coughing and sneezing people, it’s no wonder that many people suspect that air travel makes them particularly susceptible to coming down with a cold or the flu.

Nonetheless, careful scientific research has shown that air travel is no more or no less risky than other forms of transportation when it comes to contracting one of these sicknesses. You are just as likely to catch a cold from your work colleagues, fellow students, family members, or other holiday shoppers at the mall.

Chicken Soup Doesn’t Work

Everyone seems to know that a hot bowl of homemade chicken soup is a wonderful remedy for the common cold. Other people believe in different home remedies, ranging from consuming lots of Vitamin C, ginseng, echinacea, or zinc supplements. For every “guaranteed” home remedy that works for one person, it seems not to have much success for another person.

Nonetheless, a scientific study undertaken at the University of Nebraska conclusively proved that homemade chicken soup DOES have measurable benefits in treating the common cold. While researchers aren’t quite sure which component is critical, it has been shown that the ingredients themselves have anti-inflammatory properties, critical to helping the immune system fight off colds and other infections.

The post Top Cold and Flu Myths appeared first on SmartChoiceMD.

Preventative Care

All insurance plans available under the Affordable Care Act (often known as Obamacare) are required to include preventative care services. Most of these are free, provided that you receive treatment from a doctor, clinic, or hospital covered in your plan’s network.

Free preventative services for adults include:

• 1 test for men who smoke for an abdominal aortic aneurism
• Testing and counseling for alcohol-related issues
• Aspirin for adults who are at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases
• Blood pressure testing
• Cholesterol testing for certain adults
• Depression testing
• Diabetes Type 2 testing for adults with elevated blood pressure
• Diet counseling for some adults
• Hepatitis B testing for qualifying people
• Hepatitis C testing for adults born between 1945-1965, and certain other individuals
• HIV testing for anyone age 15-65
• Vaccinations for Diphtheria, Hepatitis A and B, Herpes, HPV, Flu, Measles, Meningococcal, Mumps, Pertussis, Pneumococcal, Rubella, Tetanus, and Varicella (Chickenpox)
• Lung cancer testing for adults aged 55-80
• Obesity testing and counseling
• Sexual Transmitted Infection counseling for certain adults
• Syphilis testing for certain qualifying men
• Tobacco Use testing and cessation aids

In addition, women benefit from the following free preventative care services:

• Regular testing for anemia
• Breastfeeding support and counseling for pregnant and nursing women
• FDA-approved contraception (except for plans offered by religious employers)
• Folic acid supplements
• Gestational diabetes testing for women 24-28 weeks pregnant
• Gonorrhea testing for qualifying women
• 1 Hepatitis B test for pregnant women
• Rh Incompatibility testing for pregnant women
• Syphilis testing
• Supplemental tobacco cessation counseling and aids for pregnant smokers
• Urinary tract infection testing
• Breast cancer genetic tests for certain women
• Mammography every 1-2 years for women over 40
• Breast cancer chemoprevention counseling for certain women
• Cervical cancer testing
• Chlamydia testing for certain women
• Domestic violence counseling
• HIV testing and counseling
• HPV testing every three years
• Osteoporosis testing for women over age 60
• Well-woman visits for women under age 65

Children are also covered by specific free preventative care services, including:

• Alcohol and drug use testing for teenagers
• Autism testing for children age 18-24 months
• Behavioral assessments
• Blood pressure testing
• Cervical dysplasia testing for girls
• Depression testing for teenagers
• Developmental testing for children under age three
• Testing for lipid disorders
• Fluoride supplements
• Gonorrhea medication for newborns
• Hearing tests for newborns
• BMI testing
• Hematocrit/hemoglobin testing
• Sickle Cell testing for newborns
• HIV testing for certain teenagers
• Hypothyroidism testing for newborns
• Vaccines for: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Haemophilus influenza type B, Hepatitis A and B, PVU, Polio, Flu, Measles, Meningitis, Pneumococcus, Rotavirus, and Varicella (Chickenpox)
• Iron supplements for certain children age 6-12 months
• Lead testing for certain children
• Obesity testing and counseling
• Oral Health testing for children age newborn-10 years old
• Phenylketonuria testing for newborns
• Sexually Transmitted Infection testing and counseling for certain teenagers
• Tuberculosis testing for certain children
• Vision testing

Again, it’s important to note that these services are only provided free when received from an in-network doctor or healthcare provider.

The post What is your Health Insurance Plan Required to Provide for Free? appeared first on SmartChoiceMD.