Antibiotics are drugs that fight bacteria that cause illnesses such as pneumonia and meningitis. By now, we all know that antibiotics have little effect on illnesses caused by viruses, such as colds or the flu.

But in our haste to kill germs (thinking that by doing so we’ll produce health), we often overlook the good bacteria.

Not all bacteria in the body is bad. In fact, without the good bacteria, digestion and other bodily functions would be seriously compromised. Unfortunately, when people take antibiotics it kills the good with the bad. That’s when it’s especially helpful to be mindful of probiotics.

The word probiotics means “for life,” and they are the beneficial or “good bacteria” that can help promote health.

Probiotics support the body’s natural immune functioning and help digest the food we eat. In fact, the gastrointestinal tract is home to more than 400 different types of bacteria, acidophilus being the most familiar. Probiotics also help to keep the level of harmful bacteria in check.

A large percentage of probiotics comes from dairy products that contain lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, such as yogurt. Probiotics are also available in supplement form. Currently there are studies being conducted to assess the effectiveness of probiotics in treating many types of conditions, including Crohn’s Disease, lactose intolerance, high cholesterol, eczema, vaginal and urinary tract infections and the prevention of respiratory infections in children.

Justin Gelband

Justin Gelband: Exercise Guru to the Stars Supports BTD Ann Quasarano

“The thing that I like about this (Eat Right 4 Your Type®) is that there is no diet, it just says – these are the foods that are good for you and work with your body. It’s teaching you to eat properly.”     If you’ve ever wondered how celebrities and models get those fabulous bodies, we’re going to let you in on a little secret…their fitness trainer puts them on the Blood Type Diet®. Personal trainer and fitness expert Justin Gelband works with actors like Josh Duhamel, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway and most of the Victoria’s Secret catalog and runway models to get their physiques into top condition. The first step, he says, is changing their eating patterns and getting them to eat right for their type.
Gelband, a former competitive swimmer, says he discovered the Blood Type Diet® about 7 years ago when a client, a British DJ who is famous on the international nightclub circuit, told Gelband that his doctor recommended that he go on the Blood Type Diet®. Gelband decided to give it a try.
“I read the book and started looking at how it works,” Gelband said, “I cut out the avoids, limited the neutrals and loaded up on the beneficial foods. Almost immediately, I had more energy, better digestion, I was leaner and I felt better.”
His own experience prompted him to implement the Blood Type Diet® with “the girls” as he calls them, the models and actresses that he regularly trains.
“I tell them to find out their blood type and buy the book and everyone loves it. They feel better, their skin looks better, they have better digestion and their metabolism gets quicker. Many of them are type O and can’t have dairy or grains – when they cut those out, they feel better.”
Recently Gelband was interviewed for an article on the website Yahoo.com, where he mentions that his clients, the Victoria’s Secret models, follow the Blood Type Diet®. “I got a lot of flack for it on their message board,” he says, “but I feel like saying to these people, ‘How do you know that it doesn’t work until you try it?’” Good point!
Gelband says he doesn’t believe in diets – he believes in finding the right foods that work with your body. “The thing that I like about this (Eat Right 4 Your Type®) is that there is no diet, it just says – these are the foods that are good for you and work with your body. It’s teaching you to eat properly.”
Learning to eat properly is something that Gelband is passionate about, he says that Americans eat far too much processed food and thinks that restaurant portion sizes are far too large. “How can they expect you to eat properly when they give you such huge portions? How do you rationalize that?”
He says that even the organic restaurant around the corner from his New York City studio is guilty of this. “I asked the chef, ‘Why do you give people such a huge platter of food?’ I don’t want to eat 1,200 calories in one meal. Just eat smaller portions that include a little fat, some protein and good carbs.”
In both exercise and with food, Gelband echos Dr. D’Adamo’s mantra of individuality, “Everyone is different. What’s good for you is not right for the next person.”

After a recent visit to the only chiropractor I have ever seen (a chronic shoulder injury inhibiting me from swimming motivated the visit), it was suggested that I consider implementing some dietary adjustments which could positively impact my overall health and wellness. Being open-minded, and with the help of my supportive wife Susan, I began my venture into world of  gluten-free, dairy free eating. I know it’s not for everyone, but I thought I would pass along this article that came across my desk from NewsMax Health.
Be well,
Dr. S

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Gluten-free diets have been around for years for those who have celiac disease, which is an inability to digest gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Recently, more people have become gluten-free fans, claiming they have more energy after switching to the diet.

Could a gluten-free diet be right for you? Dr. David Brownstein, Newsmax contributor and author of The Guide to a Gluten-Free Diet, provides answers.

Gluten is a large protein that can be very difficult to digest for those who have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, Brownstein says. Statistics show that one in 133 people has celiac disease, but my experience shows the number is much higher.

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Sensitivity to gluten is associated with numerous autoimmune disorders, including thyroid problems.  I see it occurring with increasing frequency, and I have found it very difficult to treat anyone with thyroid problems who doesn’t remove gluten from their diet.

The obesity epidemic, says Brownstein, may be associated with the increasing amount of gluten in American diets. We’re getting more in our diets than years ago. Plants are bred to produce more gluten, which allows breads and bakery products to rise higher.

Brownstein has found that people who are sensitive to gluten have trouble losing weight. I’ve found it is impossible to lose weight if one has a gluten sensitivity. One of the first things I do is put people on a gluten-free diet.

Would everyone benefit from eliminating gluten? No, says Brownstein. Most of us can tolerate gluten, but a significant portion of people  I would estimate 5 to 10 percent would benefit.

If you have digestive troubles and try a gluten-free diet, diarrhea and bloating often clear up quickly. Immune problems, like arthritis and fatigue, also begin to ease. But, Brownstein warns, it takes about six weeks for your system to rid itself completely of gluten antibodies.

If you are going to go gluten-free, you need to give it a trial of six weeks without cheating, he says. If you mess up, you’ll have to give it another six weeks to get the best results. For more diet and health related solutions view here

PJs on? Check. Teeth brushed? Yep. Curled up in bed? Oh, yeah. But what can you do when falling asleep or staying asleep is a real challenge?

I thought would pass along these 3 suggestions from RealAge experts Mehmet Oz, MD, and Michael Roizen, MD. Oh, and I would add a 4th – find a safe, pharmaceutical-grade supplement with natural herbs that have been shown to improve sleep quality. My wife and I use Sleep-Tite and find we get a more restful sleep and wake up refreshed, without that hung-over feeling that one can get from most over the counter and prescription sleep aids.

Be well,
Dr. S

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1. Don’t fight it. Tossing and turning works for salads, not sleep problems. If you can’t get to sleep within 15 minutes, get out of bed and do some light activity, like a yoga pose or a short walk. Getting your mind off sleep resets and reboots your system. Then, once back in bed, invite sleep with some soft music or meditation

2. Use the night. Dim your lights several hours before bed to avoid the stimulation caused by artificial-light pollution — that stuff that emanates all around us thanks to TVs, computers, and indoor lighting.

3. Treat your nose. Allergies can prevent and disrupt sleep, thanks to all the congestion they cause. Consider over-the-counter nasal strips or a nasal saline or antihistamine spray for a stuffy or runny nose.

We’ve heard it’s the most important meal of the day, but many people still skip breakfast. Various studies have shown that a well-balanced breakfast will give you a boost of energy to start the day; and the right combination of foods in the morning can stave off hunger for hours to come.

So what should you eat for your first meal? Pass on excess sugar in cereal, empty carbohydrates in bagels and muffins, and extra fat in sausage and bacon. Instead, try one of these five ideas, which all contain a healthy portion of fiber, protein, and complex carbs in less than 400 calories each.

Be well,

Dr. S

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1. Go for eggs

One breakfast super food is the incredible, edible egg. A study conducted at the University of Connecticut found that starting the day with eggs not only added valuable protein, but also reduced hunger pangs and decreased calorie consumption for the rest of the day. In fact, dieters lost 65 percent more weight and had more energy when they ate eggs for breakfast rather than those who ate bagels. Here’s an easy egg-based breakfast:
In a small bowl, microwave a scrambled egg for a minute. Place it between a pre-sliced, non- wheat bread (like Ezekial or Essene) with a slice of Soy cheese. Pair with half a cup of strawberries.

2. Vegetables for breakfast? Yes!

Vegetables are packed with vital nutrients, which is why experts say you need at least five servings every day. With a little pre-preparation, whipping together a breakfast with veggies is a breeze:
The night before, as you are preparing your vegetable dish or salad for dinner, slice and refrigerate an extra cup for your morning meal (green or red peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, onions, etc.). In the morning, heat up some olive oil in a frying pan and sauté the veggies. Add an egg and seasonings and quickly scramble with the veggies. non- wheat bread (like Ezekial or Essene) with honey.

3. Berry good

No time to cook? No problem. You can still have a nutrient-rich breakfast – and this one comes all in one bowl. We start with yogurt, which was found to help obese adults (who had three servings of fat-free yogurt a day) to lose 22 percent more weight and 61 percent more body fat than dieters who simply cut calories, according to a study published in the International Journal of Obesity.

Scoop a 6-ounce container of vanilla-flavored fat-free Greek yogurt into a bowl. Top with a cup of berries of your choice. Sprinkle on 2 tablespoons of sliced almonds and 1 tablespoon of whole flax seeds.

4. Warm and comforting

If you’re itching for carbohydrates to start the day, choose oatmeal, which has been shown to promote weight loss, improve cholesterol profiles, reduce inflammation, and fight against high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes, reports WebMD. Here’s a breakfast that’ll fill you up – just like Mom’s oatmeal did.
Cook up a half cup of old-fashioned oats. When they’re nearly cooked, add a quarter cup of raisins or dried cranberries and a sprinkle a half teaspoon of cinnamon, which has been shown to regulate blood sugar and lower bad cholesterol. Once cooked, serve in a bowl with a quarter cup of 1 percent milk or Soy milk. For added protein, serve with a vegetarian breakfast sausage link

5. Breakfast in a glass

A smoothie with a jolt of caffeine? Does it get better than that? We don’t think so. Here’s a quick and tasty, yet still nutritious and protein-packed, smoothie to start your day.
In a blender place one to two cups of ice (depending on your preference). Add a cup of 1 percent milk, a scoop of chocolate or vanilla-flavored protein powder (like ProXtreme), and a packet of instant coffee (like Starbuck’s Via). Blend to desired consistency.