Lifestyle Works Clinic

Somewhere between the flurry of flavor and entertainment, the inherent health effects of soda (sugar in general) has been overlooked. A single 12 oz serving of soda creates inflammation in the body! This study observed a 50% increase in C-Reactive Protein with a consumption of 6.8 ounces per day compared to 0.4 ounces per day. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is a very sensitive marker for inflammation. It measures acute inflammation that affects different tissues caused by immune injury, infection and cell injury. C-reactive protein is considered a strong predictor of heart disease, such as heart attack and stroke, regardless of cholesterol levels and other factors like smoking. The video below, "Sugar Is Not A Treat", provides an important perspective of the consequences of our cultures high sugar intake.

Now, new research from the Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark examines how our individual gut microbiomes may shed light on whether or not - and to what extent - we are able to lose excess weight while following particular dietary guidelines. See the full article from this link. It is for the above reason, along with the overall health implications of the condition of the microbiome and gut, that the Lifestyle Works Clinic includes GI Health within the program .

Hippocrates stated "all disease begins in the gut"..... The following video is a great survey of the importance of the microbiome (bacteria in our gut). There is a symbiotic relationship between the microbiome and us. To give an idea of how significant this relationship is, the microbiome has over 150 times the amount of DNA than we carry in the cells of our bodies. Its condition can affect our mood, our weight and numerous health conditions. For example: Over 90% of serotonin is made in the gut. This hormone contributes to our mood and the lack of in some people causes anxiety. Fifty percent of our immune system resides in the cells of our gut. Of the trillions of bacteria, 90% are made up of 2 types that have a major effect on weight management. Some studies found that lean people have a broad diversity of gut bacteria, while obese people had a narrow diversity of gut bacteria. Eczema can be linked to health conditions of the gut. These are just some of the aspect

By definition, weight management is simply "energy balance" and ultimately determined by "calories in versus calories out". It sound super simple, and at the 30,000 foot view it is. Anyone who has tried to manage their weight  and had difficulty or struggled with maintenance knows otherwise. Our environment, hormones, health status, activity levels, food quality, macro nutrient makeup, psychological factors, microbiome, and more impact the equation. This is why at the Lifestyle Works Clinic we say "body composition is a symptom of health and health is a result of lifestyle - these things are inseparable". No consider that approximately 80% of chronic disease is lifestyle related. The following link provides a great infographic to understand this. Take the opportunity to "explore" the factors that have an effects on energy balance. Simple - right? http://www.shiftn.com/obesity/zoom-map.html So when you come to the Lifestyle Works Cl

How does one get a sense for their condition of health? There are a number of metrics, some which can only be measured clinically due to the sophistication, cost or perhaps qualification/expertise to perform a test and interpret the results. Tests can exist at various levels of detail, drilling down further into a given area - a "top down" or "peeling the onion" approach. One's weight is a high level indicator. One's measure of "adiponectine" is a detail level test. Adiponectine is produced by healthy fat cells and influences one's insulin sensitivity and lipid balance. Unhealthy fat cells produces inflammatory cytokines and low grade body inflammation. So what metrics can we use to better understand our health and gain an understanding on a regular basis before drilling into the deeper tests. Technology has begun to make tools available that previously required expensive equipment and could only be done in a commercial or med

In our experience at the Lifestyle Works Clinic (LSW), the majority of people who come to learn about the Clinic and/or to participate in it have weight loss as top of mind. We describe weight-loss (body composition) in the following context: "body composition is a symptom of one's health, one's health is a result of their lifestyle". It is because of this relationship that those who embrace it succeed and those who do not embrace it struggle. One of the most common themes that comes up in LSW is time.  Everyone should have the opportunity for reflection of their day, their week, their life. So in that regard, a few thought provoking questions are listed to help with reflection and the issue of time: How important is your health? What measures do you use to determine if your health is going in the right direction? What do you want to be able to do when you are 50, 60, 70, 80 or even 90 years old? What determines how your time is spent? What are your prioriti