Do you suffer from weight-related back pains?

Back Pain

If back woes limit your activities, you’re not alone. About a quarter of adults regularly suffer from low back pain, making it the fifth most common reason Americans visit their doctors.

Basic Steps

Identify and avoid the factors that trigger your back pain. For example, if you are overweight, try to lose weight to take pressure off the back and other parts of your body. Regular exercise can also help. “Strong muscles in your core and other areas take a load off your back,” explains Mark Weidenbaum, M.D., director of orthopedic spine surgery at New York–Presbyterian Hospital/Milstein.

You can avoid aggravating the condition by bending at the knees--not waist--when picking something up. Also, make sure that your computer monitor is at eye level and that your desk is ergonomically designed to reduce strain. If you feel minor pain, keep it from worsening by applying a heating pad, and take acetaminophen or another pain-busting medication.

Extra Protection

Stop smoking. "Smokers have a higher incidence of back problems", Dr. Weidenbaum says, "probably because nicotine interferes with blood flow to the soft tissues".

Sleep on a medium-firm mattress; one that’s superfirm is less likely to help an aching back, advise new guidelines from the American College of Physicians (ACP) and the American Pain Society (APS).

Explore the benefits of short-term psycho(or hypno)therapy. A review of studies by investigators at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System and Yale University last year found that patients using cognitive behavioral therapy reduced the severity of their low-back pain by nearly a third. This isn’t too surprising when you consider that a person’s psychological state has long been known to be related to back pain outcomes: The ACP/APS guidelines note that job dissatisfaction, passive coping strategies and depression have all been shown to worsen healing prospects.

Courtesy: REMEDYHealth Newsletter

P.S. by Jacques:
This is as good a time as any for me to share a bit of interesting trivia illustrating the relationship between Mind and Body, as briefly touched on in the last paragraph just above.

Think of all possible meanings and Mental/ Emotional/ Physical connections of popular expressions such as : "Get off my back!", and the impatient/ upset message it sends...or: "(S)He's a pain in the neck!"...or: "(S)He makes me sick to my stomach!"... or: "I got to get this off my chest!"...or: "Your doing this lifted a big weight off my shoulders!"...

Recommending short-term therapy whenever any of these "pains in the..." afflict you and are reflected by physical aches, pains and illnesses is an excellent suggestion that may help you avoid far greater and costlier (in many ways) repercussions.

Make this a Great Weekend!

Your Friend as always,

Jacques

Turn Off Hunger with This Drink

Turn Off Hunger with This Drink

Just one cup of this creamy liquid can turn hunger off for hours, according to John La Puma, MD, author of ChefMD's Big Book of Culinary Medicine. And it actually tastes yummy, too.

Tangy and Cool Buttermilk and Avocado Smoothie

One cup of this fill-you-up smoothie will make only a 145-calorie dent in your diet. Here's how you make it:

Ingredients

1 cup organic fat-free cottage cheese, such as Horizon brand

2 cups 1% low-fat buttermilk

1/2 ripe avocado, peeled, seeded, and diced

1 tablespoon organic agave nectar, such as Madhava brand

4 ice cubes or 1/2 cup crushed ice

Preparation

Place the cottage cheese and 1/2 cup of the buttermilk in a blender. Cover and blend until fairly smooth, about 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the blender; add the avocado. Cover and blend until fairly smooth, about 30 seconds. Add the remaining buttermilk and the agave nectar; cover and blend 10 seconds. Add the ice; cover and blend until the smoothie is thick and the ice has melted.

Nutritional Information (per 1-cup serving; makes 4)
Calories: 145
Saturated fat: 1.5 grams
Unsaturated fat: 3 grams
Carbohydrates: 15 grams
Protein: 11 grams
Fiber: 2 grams
Calcium: 178 milligrams
Sodium: 342 milligrams
Magnesium: 7 milligram

(RealAgeTip)

Jacques’ “Hear Ye!...Hear Ye!” Special Alert for you Parents:

We all know there is an epidemic of eating disorders in our country.

In an effort to help parents who struggle with how to approach this difficult subject, I would like to share this valuable website with you:
Eating Disorder Information Network. http://www.myedin.org/

An early intervention can save your child from a lifetime of unhappiness and risky, life threatening behavior.

Thank you for joining the "Best of Parenting" Movement!

Your Friend,

Jacques

Light and Sleep VS. Light sleep

...and, as one more finding in this all-important "Sleep" dilemna, the following from our dedicated Health and Wellness Guru, Dr. Mercola, is of definite importance. So, may your own Guiding Lights afford you many Good Nights of Sleep!

Your Friend As Always,

Jacques


Your biological clock is not the only thing that reminds you to shut eye every 24 hours; a new study has found that it's actually light that governs your sleeping patterns.

Your eyes use light to reset your biological clock through a mechanism that is separate from your ability to see, researchers at Johns Hopkins University found.

Researchers genetically modified laboratory mice so that a particular set of retinal ganglion cells -- the ones that receive input from the rods and cones of the eyes and send information to your brain -- no longer functioned. The mice were still able to use light to see normally, but had great difficulty synchronizing their circadian rhythms to light or dark cycles.

The findings suggest that people who have trouble sleeping or seasonal depression may be having a malfunction that is contributing to their inability to detect light, which in turn may adversely affect their biological clocks.

Sources:
The Time of India April 29, 2008
Nature April 23, 2008

Going Bananas

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on..........


Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!
This is interesting.
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit.It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.


Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.


Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.


Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.


Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking & Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New En gland Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

Clearly, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'

So, I invite you to join me in Going Bananas!

Jacques

Heart-Smart Eating Secrets

Decoding food labels is a key to a healthier heart
By Sid Kirchheimer


Is it any wonder that only two in three Americans surveyed by ACNielsen said they “mostly” understood nutrition information labels on the food products they buy? For example:

“Fat-free”? Well, not exactly: This ballyhooed banner only means a product contains less than a half-gram of fat per serving—and perhaps more sugar and starch than its full-fat brethren.

“Zero trans fat”? The FDA lets manufacturers to assert this about food with less than a half-gram of this dangerous artery-clogging substance (and yet, we’re advised to avoid trans fats in our diet).

“Cholesterol-free”? That means the food contains less than 2 milligrams of cholesterol and 2 grams or less of saturated fat per serving. But don’t get too excited when you see it on a cereal box or can of vegetables: Only animal products such as meat, fish, poultry and dairy contain cholesterol.

So how can you eat heart-smart with the sometimes-puzzling food packaging?

Be serving-size savvy. “The most important thing to do is read the back of the package for the per-serving size,” advises Marisa Moore, R.D., an Atlanta-based dietician and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. All information—including calories—is based on the recommended single serving, which may be a lot smaller than your appetite. A can of soup may be two servings. A can of salmon may be three servings—a single serving is about two ounces, regardless of the size of the can. “If you eat more than the serving size, you need to multiply the calories, fat and other listings based on your portion,” says Moore.

Learn the lingo. As you learned from the list above, foods labeled “free” may come at a price (albeit a small one). So what does “low” mean? Based on FDA guidelines, low-fat means 3 grams or less per serving, low-cholesterol means 20 mg or less, and low-sodium means 140 mg or less. “Reduced” products typically have 25 percent less cholesterol, sodium and/or fat than the regular product; they may or may not also be low-cholesterol, low-sodium or low-fat. “Light” foods have up to half the fat or sodium, or one-third fewer calories but it (or “lite”) can refer to a lighter texture or flavor.

For heart health, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommends 30 percent or less of the day’s total calories from fat, 8 to 10 percent of the day's total calories from saturated fat, less than 300 mg of dietary cholesterol a day and sodium intake limited to 2,400 mg a day (although those with hypertension and others at risk for it, such as those who are older and/or of African American descent, should limit sodium to less than 1,500 mg per day).

Feast on the right fats. The majority of fat calories should come from heart-healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, which can actually help you lose weight. “Good food sources of these healthy fats include fish such as salmon, herring, halibut and mackerel; almonds and walnuts; canola and olive oils; and avocado, which is a great substitute for cheese on a sandwich,” says Moore.

Make half of grains whole. Heart-healthy fiber, particularly soluble fiber, helps block cholesterol from entering your bloodstream; it also fills you up so you eat less. “With breads, you want at least three grams of fiber per slice, and cereals should have at least five grams per serving (usually one cup, not a bowl),” notes Moore. “For heart-healthier eating, at least half of your daily grains servings—three ounces a day for most people—should be foods that list whole grains as the first ingredient: whole-grain wheat or oats, for instance. In addition to the fiber they provide, whole grains are naturally high in antioxidants.” To bear a label declaring it to be “high-fiber,” a product must contain five grams or more per serving.

Be aware of the name game. You know that sugar adds calories. But it may be listed on food labels as high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, invert sugar, turbinado and other aliases. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends choosing from foods that don’t have added sugars as one of their first four listed ingredients.

Lettuce praise the salad bar. Salads are a great way to fill up on few calories—as long as you go easy on fat-filled dressings, cheese and sodium-filled condiments. “Easy ways to add fiber, nutrients and taste include adding beans and fruit slices, nuts instead of croutons, and having plenty of vegetables,” says Moore. At home, rinse off canned beans to remove excess sodium.


Recipe Redo

Some easy substitutions for heart-smarter eating:

Instead of:
Substitute:

Butter Soft,nonhydrogenated margarine

Whole milk Skim or 1%

Cream
2% evaporated milk
Eggs
2 egg whites
Oil for sautéing Water, broth or tomato juice
1 pound of ground beef ½ pound of extra lean beef, plus 14 ounces of lentils or beans

(REMEDYHealth/Life.com's MediZine, 5-17-2008)

CDC: Sleep lack linked to obesity, smoking

ATLANTA (UPI) -- People who got less than six hours of sleep are more likely to be obese, physically inactive, smokers and alcohol users, a U.S. government report said.

Charlotte Schoenborn -- a health statistician with the National Health Interview Survey of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- completed a study on sleep duration and its correlation to a variety of adverse health behaviors.

"Among adults 18 and older who sleep between seven to eight hours a night, only 18 percent were current cigarette smokers compared to over 30 percent of adults who slept less than six hours a night and that is a very large difference," Schoenborn said in a statement.

"One of the other very large differences was in obesity and there's a lot of interest now in the association between obesity and in that case -- 22 percent of U.S. adults who slept seven to eight hours were obese compared with a third of those who slept less than six hours.

"The whole health promotion climate now tells us that we know what we need to be doing -- we need to be not smoking, we need to be exercising, we need to be controlling our weight and limiting our alcohol use and all of these things contribute to a healthy lifestyle -- and all are linked to a less sleep," Schoenborn said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

Can You Walk 10 Years off Your Age?

Forget the plastic surgery. Here's a simple, cheap way to get back your youth: Start walking.

People who regularly lace up their walking shoes and get moving may be as much as 10 years younger than their couch-potato peers. Still sitting down? Read on.

All About Aerobics

Your aerobic power declines as you age. So, over time, you simply don't have the same energy as you used to. But here's the good news: Research shows that regular aerobic exercise, such as walking, can boost your aerobic fitness so much that it's like being 10 years younger!

Take It to the Next Level

Now that you've got the goal of 10 extra years of good health as your motivation, we've got a few tips and tricks for improving your power walk:

Pick up the pace.
The right gait speed can help you live longer.

Take a step backwards.
Literally.

Count your steps. Not in your head, but with a pedometer.

Mix things up with a beach or trail walk.

Bring a furry friend.
You'll walk more -- and keep Fido fit, too!

How far do you have to walk to burn off that brownie?
Use this online tool to find out.

RealAge Benefit: Exercising regularly, expending at least 3,500 calories of energy a week, can make your RealAge 3.4 years younger.

References Published on 05/13/2008.
Maximal oxygen intake and independence in old age. Shephard, R. J., British Journal of Sports Medicine 2008 Apr 10.

Courtesy: RealAge.com

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR YOU...

...who are Moms:

May this and all the days to come be abundant in Happiness, Joy, Good Health, Well-th, Peace, Harmony and Fulfillment for You!

With Love from Your Friend,

Jacques

Exercising and Eating

When is the best time to work out: before or after a meal?
By Martica Heaner, M.A., M.Ed., for MSN Health & Fitness


Q. I try to walk 1.5 miles every day on my lunch hour. Is it better to walk before or after I eat?

A. It’s a good idea to eat or snack on something before a workout to provide a little bit of fuel. But if you’re only walking, and only for 1.5 miles, or a 30-minute walk, you probably don’t really need to specifically fuel yourself up for this level of activity, unless it’s been more than three or four hours since you last consumed any calories.

Some people worry that they shouldn’t eat before they exercise because they’ll interfere with their digestion and/or get cramps. There’s some truth to this—when you chow down, blood vessels in your digestive system expand, shuttling more oxygen to assist with the digestion and absorption of food. This shifts some blood away from other areas of your body. When you exercise, blood shifts to muscles to provide more oxygen and energy.

So if you’ve triggered both of those systems, which one is favored to get the increased blood flow?

It depends on how much you eat and how hard you exercise. Typically, the body’s energy needs are addressed first. So, especially if you are doing a vigorous workout, circulation to your working muscles increases and digestion slows down.

Whether you experience gastro-intestinal discomfort depends on what and how much you eat. If you eat a large feast or high-fiber foods, you may get cramps, especially if you are doing an activity that jostles that partially digested food around in your gut, like playing basketball or other activities that involve jumping.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't eat before intense workouts; you should just eat less, and eat (or drink) more easily-absorbed foods (such “bad carbs” or high-glycemic foods such as juice, pasta or sports drinks.) A 2002 Penn State University study gave regular runners who normally did not eat before they exercised 100 calorie snacks—either a banana, an energy bar or dried fruit (prunes). Then they ran three miles. No one got cramps and all reported feeling more energetic.

If you are doing a low-impact, and low-to-moderate intensity workout, like walking, you probably won’t have any problem eating beforehand, even if it’s a big meal.

But, if you are going to indulge, especially in a high-fat meal, it might be a better idea to walk or exercise beforehand. Think of your walk as a potential fat-blocker, and a way to help boost the ability of your body to handle the excess calorie load.

Several studies have found that exercising at various intensities helps metabolize fat in subsequent meals, some as late as the day after the workout. A 2002 study in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise had normal-weight women ride a bike and burn about 300 calories during the session. Thirty minutes after the session they were given a liquid high-fat meal. Researchers found that the exercise boosted their ability to oxidize, or burn some of the excess fat, and this was above and beyond what they might already expect to see from a post-exercise increase in metabolism.

If you want to bump your walk up to a jog before lunch, you might get an even greater effect. A 2001 study in the International Journal of Obesity suggests that higher-intensity exercise produces greater post-exercise increases in fat oxidation than a lower-intensity workout.

It’s well established that regular exercisers tend to be leaner, and the ability of daily workouts to regulate excess fat intake in this way may be one way that exercise can help reduce a positive fat balance, and ultimately weight gain.

More Related Advice from Martica on MSN Health & Fitness:

Can I Skip Cardio Workouts?
Eating Late in the Evening
Are Protein Shakes A Good Idea?
Find all articles by Martica.

Do you have a fitness or weight-loss question for Martica?
Send e-mail to experts@microsoft.com. Please include Ask Martica in the subject line.

Each of our experts responds to one question each week and the responses are posted on Mondays on MSN Health. We regret that we cannot provide a personalized response to every submission.

Martica is a Manhattan-based exercise physiologist and nutritionist and an award-winning fitness instructor. She has written for a variety of publications including Self, Health, Prevention, The New York Times and others. Martica is the author of seven books, including her latest, Cross-training for Dummies.

The Vitamin You Need to Prevent Prostate Cancer

Increased intake of vitamin K2 may reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 35 percent, according to the results of European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).


The potential benefits of K2 were most pronounced for advanced prostate cancer. Vitamin K1 intake did not offer any prostate benefits.

The findings were based on data from more than 11,000 men taking part in the EPIC Heidelberg cohort. It adds to a small but ever-growing body of science supporting the potential health benefits of vitamin K for bone, blood, skin, and now prostate health.

Sources:
NutraIngredients.com April 9, 2008
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition April 2008; 87(4):985-92


What you don’t know about weight loss can hurt you…

Low-calorie or low-fat foods may not address your personal issues with weight management at all. In addition to being highly processed and nearly free of any vital nutrients, these types of foods often contain ingredients that may compromise your health.

Courtesy: Dr. Mercola.com

What to Ask During Your First Visit to a New Doctor

Dear Jacques,

I hear you. You’re saying, “The question to ask these days, Doc, simply is ‘How expensive are you?’”

And while this is a real and valid concern, I encourage you to not allow cost to determine if a doctor is right for you or not. Honestly, you can’t afford to.

Instead, I encourage you to talk with the new doctor about your concerns, tell him/her how you have been treated for your condition in the past, and what medications you are taking. Then…

Ask him/her some or all of the following questions, depending upon your individual situation

Will you involve me in decisions about my treatment?


Would you work with me on therapies I’d like to try?


Are you open to therapies that are not strictly allopathic (conventional)?


What is your experience treating my condition?


How do you feel about preventive health care?


What do you think about vitamin supplementation?


How do you feel about a patient seeing other specialists?


How do you feel about your patients getting second opinions?


Do you explain therapies and tests you prescribe to your patients?


Do you explain why you prescribe them?


If you recommend that I take tests right away, will you explain why I should take them?


How much continuing medical education do you receive each year?


Are you available to your patients in cases of emergency?


Which hospital(s) are you affiliated with? Why?


On average, how much time do you spend with each patient?
This is a rather exhaustive list of questions and you’ll have to decide which make sense for you. But it is so important that you ask as many questions as possible so that you obtain the information you need to make a wise and informed health care choice.

You’ll also want to know…

During that first office visit, I also want you to get a gauge on this new doctor’s level of compassion. Does he/she look directly at you, touch you, examine you? Many doctors these days don’t. Does he/she smile and appear to be connecting with you and with your struggle? Tragically, many do not. Does he/she inspire you to take care of yourself? Sadly, many won’t.

I was fortunate enough, years ago, to come across the teachings of Dr. Francis Peabody who stated that one of the essential qualities of a clinician is an interest in humanity. He wrote in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) back in 1927, “The secret of care of the patient is caring for the patient.”

Those words have echoed in the back of my mind ever since I became a physician myself. And they had a lot to do with my creation of the “Top Docs” list that I’ve made available to subscribers of my printed newsletter. Here, in one concise report, I list the names and contact information for wonderful, gifted doctors from all over the country who use conventional, integrative, and alternative methods to heal. The feedback I’ve gotten from this report has been phenomenal, evidence of the fact that this is information that people want and badly need.

I know about 80% of the “top docs” personally and met many of them originally at medical conferences where they, like me, were studying to stay abreast of health care developments. While I know that there are many other great doctors out there, these are the men and women I know, the ones I recommend to my own family and friends.

Tough times call for smart health care choices

Now more than ever before, you have to be smart about your health.

Ask your doctor and other health care providers the questions you need to ask. If you feel rushed or are not satisfied with the answers you get or with other aspects of your visit, start your search over. Continue to look for a practitioner who you feel is willing and able to be your partner. You deserve it and you’re paying for it.

Make every office visit worth your time and money. Prepare a list of things you want to talk about with the doctor. Take a family member or friend who will listen with you and may catch some advice or counsel that you miss. Take notes during the visit. Do whatever you can to maximize the valuable, expensive time you spend with your doctor.

Do your best to keep better records than ever before. You may be able to save money on tests that were recently run if you can take previous test results with you.

Be your own advocate. Read material like Heart, Health & Nutrition so that you’re on top of your particular health concern and are able to discuss it and recommend your own treatment choices. As a practicing physician, I can tell you that an informed patient is the best patient. Also, take care of yourself so that your health worries and visits to the doctor are few and far between.

In a nutshell, I’ll tell you like I tell my own patients and my newsletter subscribers, nobody cares about your health more than you, so please do what you can to preserve it.

To your health,

Stephen Sinatra, M.D., F.A.C.C, F.A.C.N

P.S. This is just a sampling of the type of information I share each month with subscribers to Heart, Health & Nutrition. If you’re ready to take your health care more seriously, I invite you to join us today. We’re on a quest toward realizing the best health possible, and I hope you’ll join us for the ride.


Dr. Stephen Sinatra is a practicing cardiologist with an integrative approach to health and healing.

Dr. Sinatra is also the author of the monthly newsletter, Heart, Health & Nutrition, which includes his best advice on heart health, diet and nutrition, exercise, and much more.

Jacques' note: I join you in thanking Dr. Stephen Sinatra for this straight-forard, important contribution to health and wellness!