Intermittent Fasting (IF) is currently one of the world's most popular health and fitness trends.

Besides assisting with weight loss, IF has many additional health benefits I will share in this article.

By definition, intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that involves regular, short-term fasts — or periods of minimal or no food consumption. Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern where you cycle between periods of eating and fasting.

You start your eating at noon and your last meal at 8 pm.

You are technically fasting for 16 hours every day, and restricting your eating to an 8-hour eating window.This is the most popular form of intermittent fasting, known as the 16/8 method.

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According to a recent poll, only 38% of Americans report they are happy with their lives. If you are among the remaining 62%, Johnson Chiropractic Neurology & Nutrition has some tips to help you live your best life.

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 Money-Saving Health and Fitness Tips to Boost Your Well-being

Whether you’re dealing with chronic pain or just looking for ways to improve your overall health, taking steps to reduce body fat can help you feel better. Exercising and eating right are two of the best things you can do for your health. These healthy habits help to improve sleep, relieve pain, boost energy, support mental health, and bolster the immune system. Thankfully, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy these benefits! Here are some budget-friendly nutrition and fitness tips to help you cut body fat, control chronic pain, and boost your overall health.

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COVID-19 can sometimes overwhelm young and old immune systems and in some cases can result in ‘Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome’ pneumonia and death (CDC (2020). The risk is greater for older people who may simultaneously be dealing with cancers, heart disease, diabetes, emphysema or other health issues.  As we age the immune system deteriorates  (immunosenescence) which reduces the response of the adaptive immune system that needs to respond to the virus infection (Aw, Silva & Palmer, 2007; Osttan, Monti, Gueresi, et al., 2016).

Severity of disease may depend upon initial dose of the virus

In a brilliant article, How does the coronavirus behave inside a patient? We’ve counted the viral spread across peoples; now we need to count it within people, assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University and cancer physician Siddhartha Mukherjee points out that severity of the disease may be related to the initial dose of the virus.  Namely, if you receive a very small dose (not too many virus particles), they will infect you; however, the body can activate its immune response to cope with the infection.  The low dose exposure act similar to vaccination.  If on the other hand you are exposed to a very high dose then your body is overwhelmed with the infection and is unable to respond effectively.  Think of a forest fire. A small fire can easily be suppressed since there is enough time to upgrade the fire-fighting resources; however, during a fire-storm with multiple fires occurring at the same time, the fire-fighting resources are overwhelmed and there is not enough time to recruit outside fire-fighting resources.

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No matter how stressful your day has been, and in spite of whatever personal issues you may be going through, it is still important to take the time to pay attention to and take care of yourself, both mentally and physically. Far from a demonstration of weakness, making time for self-care — which is especially important for people in high-stress jobs or the military — is one of the best decisions you can make. Self-care can allow you to feel better about yourself while being able to get more work done and generally make the most of your time.

Below are some helpful self-care strategies to help you get started.

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The Canola Con

I've been telling my patients the stay away from Canola oil for years. Dr. Ron Grisanti from the Functional Medicine University says it best.

We have all be fooled “again”...

Just when you think we are doing something good for our bodies we learn that we have been conned.

This has led to today's case of the Canola Con!

How many people use canola oil for cooking?

How many people choose mayonnaise, salad dressings, baked goods, and other processed foods containing canola oil?

I would say a bunch!

In addition, the major fast food chains brag that they no longer have trans fats, but have switched to canola oil. They use it for their french fries, burgers, salad dressings and baked goods, exchanging it for trans fatty acid-laden genetically engineered soybean oil.

Would I eat it? No.

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Understanding Food Tolerance

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the region of our body that directly interacts with the external world through the foods we eat. Our GI tract performs two main functions. First, it allows us to absorb nutrients critical to maintaining our health. Second, its protective immune system shields us from pathogens, such as bacteria and foreign invaders. The area of our GI tract—from the esophagus to the rectum—where we absorb nutrients and have our protective immune system consists of a specialized line of cells, called the “mucosal layer.” 

Identifying and Removing Reactive Foods

Identifying and removing reactive foods can be a good first-step strategy that may impact energy levels, skin appearance, digestive comfort, well-being, mood, and more. When multiple food reactions are identified, your healthcare professional may recommend removing those foods from the diet. Taking steps to support the GI mucosa and immune system and address any environmental concerns, as recommended by your healthcare professional, may also be beneficial.

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