888.283.7272

Dr_Asa_Twitter Dr_Asa_Facebook Dr_Asa_Blog Linked In Dr Asa dr-asa-youtube flickr-dr-asa

Do You Really "Catch" a Cold?

The most common way cold viruses or bacteria are spread is not from being around coughing or sneezing, or walking barefoot in the rain, but rather from direct contact. For instance, someone with a cold blows their nose then shakes your hand or touches surfaces that you also touch. Cold viruses and bacteria can live on any surface we interact with on a daily basis for hours, so it's easy to come into contact with such viruses or bacteria during daily life. However, the key to remember is that just being exposed to a cold virus does not have to mean that you'll "catch" a cold. If your immune system is operating at its peak, it should actually be quite easy for you to fend off the virus or bacteria without ever getting sick. 

The Fountain of Youth Exposed!

A recent study published in the Journal of Mechanisms of Aging and Development confirms the "anti-aging" effect of high-intensity training. Telomere shortening occurs as you age, however the factors involved are not entirely understood as of yet. The study was conducted to determine whether age-associated telomere shortening is related to habitual endurance exercise and maximal aerobic capacity.

The results suggest there's a direct association between reduced telomere shortening in your later years and high-intensity-type exercises.

 The authors' state:

The Dangers of Mold

Extensive areas affected by mold can usually be seen easily. These areas may also exhibit a musty or foul odor. The most dangerous mold, however, is normally that which cannot be seen or smelled. Mold produces spores as it grows. Once dry, these spores become airborne, spreading easily. This is where dangerous mold is born, possibly triggering severe allergic reactions and respiratory problems in those nearby.

Some types of mold can produce chemicals called mycotoxins, which in the right conditions can be extremely dangerous. Moreover, they can withstand digestion as well as extreme temperatures making mycotoxin producing molds all the more dangerous.

Beating the Cholesterol Culprit

No prescription drug is better at treating high cholesterol than proper diet. Whether you have moderate to high cholesterol, it is still important to take the necessary steps to maintaining proper cholesterol levels. High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease. New research even indicates that high cholesterol increases your risk of Alzheimers disease. The latest statistics from the CDC are alarming:

  • About 17% of adult Americans aged 20 and older have high cholesterol at 240 or above.
  • The average blood cholesterol in adult Americans is about 203.
  • Hispanics and African Americans are at a greater risk of high cholesterol.

These statistics do not include the newest research that shows most children age 12 in the U.S. have the arteries of a 45 year old or that children born in the year 2000 will need liver transplants in their 30's and 40's due to fatty liver disease. The liver is the organ that produces cholesterol and is so important!

Food is Our Best Medicine: The Power of Digestive Health

Eighty percent of the health challenges we face today are diet and lifestyle related. And what we find clinically is that most of these challenges such as diabetes, heart disease, hormone issues, autoimmune, inflammatory conditions, and neurotransmitter deficiencies all stem from the body not getting the right kinds of foods and not maintaining the right kind of bacterial flora.

I’m always promoting the importance of intestinal health. It’s one of the most important aspects of my dietary program. There are many reasons why understanding digestion is so important and absolutely vital for your overall health.

New Year and Time for a NEW YOU!!!

Being overweight greatly increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, sleep disorders, autoimmune disease and the list goes on and on. It also makes it harder to heal the body post sickness or post surgery. And of course the lifestyle that accompanies obesity certainly is not a healing one. A lack of activity and poor nutrition will certainly lead to inflammation and the above mentioned problems. In the U.S. there are more obese, yet malnourished, people than anywhere else in the world.

The Top 10 Foods to Avoid for Extraordinary Health

  1. Soy - Choose other protein sources such as chicken, beef, or fish
  2. Non Organic Dairy Products - Choose Organic Dairy such as hard cheeses and Goat's Milk
  3. Artificial Sweeteners - Choose Stevia or Honey
  4. Gluten - Processed Flour - Choose Rice Flour, Buckwheat, Hemp Flour, Coconut Flour
  5. Margarine - Trans Fats - Choose Real Butter or Coconut Oil
  6. Shellfish - Choose Fish such as Salmon or Halibut
  7. Pork - Choose Turkey, beef, or chicken
  8. High Fructose Corn Syrup - Choose honey or agave nectar
  9. Artificial Egg Products and Egg Whites - Choose Real Organic Eggs
  10. Tap Water - Choose spring water, filtered, or bottled water

The Autoimmune Epidemic

Autoimmune disease affects more people in the United States than cancer or heart disease and appears to be on the rise.

So what is autoimmune disease? Autoimmune disease is when the immune system cannot tell the difference between healthy tissue and foreign invaders. Once this occurs the immune system begins to attack healthy tissue leading to conditions, such as, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Crohns, Hypothyroidism, Lupus, Dermatitis, Sjogren Syndrome, Ulcerative Colitis and the list goes on and on. A lot of these conditions can actually be secondary (usually genetic) to a primary cause and often many people may suffer from more than one condition.