Holiday Cheer & Specials from H.E.A.L. Medical

Marsha Nunley MD & H.E.A.L. Medical Corp

cordially invite you to join us in some

End of Year Holiday Cheer

 SATURDAY, December 17  from Noon – 6PM

We will be offering free Anti Aging Galvanic Facial Demonstrations, plus a mini health fair, wine & cheese

Gratitude is Good for Your Health

As Thanksgiving day approaches, my thoughts turn to gratitude. I have been seeing articles in the paper recently about the positive effects of gratitude and positive thought. Studies exist that show that people who express gratitude are less aggressive, happier, and more optimistic. In the studies, simply writing down five things you are grateful for on a daily basis was enough to influence people in a positive way. An online search for gratitude research turns up many articles, as gratitude has become a hot topic for research.

Sugar Anyone?

A viral email was sent to me this week with 18 pictures of food/drinks and the amount of sugar each item contained, represented by a cube of sugar (equivalent to 1 tsp of sugar or 4.2 grams). The tagline was “We know the facts, but this brings it into perspective quickly, doesn’t it?”

Kudos to the person who took the time to put together this illustration – if you see this post, please contact me so I can give credit where credit is due.

Blood Sugar, Prediabetes, and Diabetes – Are you at risk?

I never thought that diabetes would be something for me to worry about.  I have never been overweight, love to exercise, and thought I ate healthy.  When I was in my 30s, I worked long hours pulling a 36-hour shift hour shift at least once a week.  My breakfast was usually a bagel and cream cheese or biscuits and gravy (it was Texas), lunch was a sandwich or burger sans fries (even then I knew that fries were not good), and not infrequently dry cereal and milk for dinner.  I remember a day when I had no time for lunch and had a 6 pm meeting.  I grabbed a roll of Girl Scout chocolate thin mint cookies and by the time I made it to the meeting, I had eaten the entire package of cookies!  Mind you, this was all “low fat”.  I needed a constant flow of high carbohydrate to boost my flagging energy. 

Depression – Why is everyone depressed

Big Pharma knows it and they are making billions from promoting medications for depression that work marginally, if at all.

In my early 30s, I developed symptoms of depression.  I was prescribed desipramine, which I had to stop due to severe side effects of racing heart, dry mouth and constipation.  I was then prescribed Prozac.  At first I though it was a miracle, as I felt better and decided that maybe life was worth living.  But it did not last, and I suffered unwanted side effects such as insomnia, nausea, weight gain, decreased libido and inability to achieve orgasm, so…I got depressed again.

What is Anti Aging Medicine?

Label a product as anti aging and chances are it will go flying off the shelf.  Our aging population is seeking ways to hang onto our mental, physical and emotional health.  The relatively new specialty of Anti Aging medicine was born out of this desire.  It may also be known and is synonymous with Age Management, Healthy Aging, or Longevity medicine.

Winding Up a 2-week Detox

I made it through the 2 weeks, drinking 2 protein shakes a day and having a moderate midday meal eating mostly vegetables, all organic and avoiding all caffeine, alcohol, dairy products, soy, grains and processed foods.  It was not as hard as I thought and I found myself enjoying not having to cook and prepare meals.  As an added bonus, my sleep improved tremendously and my energy level increased as well.  I lost a little weight and my stomach is as flat as it was in high school.  Participating in this detox piqued my interest in the subject, and I have been reading about detoxification and the various ways to make this a part of your healthcare regimen.

Detox – What Does That Mean?

I have gone through many changes on my journey to health: gluten-free/dairy-free diet, limited alcohol, no processed foods, bio identical hormones, many, many supplements, meditation, yoga, etc. and for me, doing a detox is the last frontier.  I think I have resisted because I did not really understand and honestly, it seemed a bit daunting. 

Medication or Surgery for GERD, or Maybe Neither?

I was a little unsettled by an article published in JAMA recently.   The study presents two options for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as if there are only two options: surgery (Laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery or LARS), or medication in the form of an acid-blocking drug, esomeprazole (Nexium, the purple pill). 

Vitamin D is a need for Breast Cancer Patients

Reposting Craig Weatherby’s article from the Vital Choices newsletter in its entirety – let’s look at the positive reasons to enjoy the sunshine!

Vitamin D Lack Linked to Toughest Breast Tumors 
Low vitamin D levels in women with breast cancer are linked to more aggressive tumors and poorer prognosis 
by Craig Weatherby 

Low blood levels of vitamin D may promote riskier breast tumors and worsen women’s chances of survival, judging by a new study.