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Page 1 of 3 [>>>]
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Health Articles
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Read Jim's informative opinions on a variety of health-related topics.
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Welcome to The-VitaMan.com Website
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We invite you to look around our site to learn about health and wellness through nutrition and dietary supplements.
Over the past 20 years, Jim has helped an estimated 10,000 people achieve better health through applied nutrition. You could be next!
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Acid-Alkaline Balance
Free Teleseminar - November 17 |
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Please join us on November 17, 2008 for our next Nutrition for Optimal Wellness seminar; Acid-Alkaline Balance. Did you know that an acidic body can cause many symptoms including fatigue, headaches, gastric distress, thin brittle nails, leg cramps, joint pain or stiff neck to name a few! In this seminar, nutrition expert, Jim Golick, CCN, LDN will discuss the nutrition factors and dietary supplements supplments that can help to balance the pH in the body and reduce these unpleasant symptoms.
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Winter Wellness
by Jim Golick, CCN, LDN
The rigors of winter place a heavier burden on the body than at any other time of the year. We can combat the rigors of winter with adequate preparation.
First...
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
by Jim Golick, CCN, LDN
Long winter darkness can contribute to a nearly incapacitating form of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. This disorder, sometimes called 'the...
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About Jim Golick
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Jim Golick is a Certified Clinical Nutritionist (C.C.N.) through the International and American Associations for Clinical Nutritionists (I.A.A.C.N.). He is a 1987 graduate of the National Institute of Nutritional Education (N.I.N.E.) and instructed the N.I.N.E. program in the Chicago area for three years. N.I.N.E. named Jim the Certified Nutritionist of the Year and Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year in 1990. Jim is also a Licensed Dietician Nutritionist (LDN) in Illinois.
Jim currently provides nutritional counseling for several local health food stores in the Chicagoland area. He is a part-time nutrition instructor at the College of DuPage and is a frequent guest on radio health programs.
Until recently, Jim was co-host of “That Healthy Talk Show” on Chicagoland radio station, WJJG. Over the past 20 years he has helped an estimated 10,000 people achieve better health through applied nutrition.
Jim's practice revolves around determining the individual biochemistry and needs of each person. His assessment tools include the use of health status, dietary surveys and lab work (when provided), coupled with his knowledge of body type and blood type nutritional systems. Jim’s goal is to help guide you to a state of better health through dietary changes, supplements, and homeopathics.
Jim’s twenty-five year interest and study in nutrition coupled with his desire to help educate people is summed up in his motto "Better Health through Nutrition."
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Are Dietary Supplements Right for You?
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by Jim Golick, CCN, LDN
Consumers today are understandably confused about whether they are taking the "right" vitamin, mineral, or herbal supplement for their needs. They become further perplexed when the news media pounces on some isolated study, which seems to demonstrate possible harm. Unfortunately, the public is never given the whole story. That is, for every one of these negative studies there are dozens or hundreds which show benefits. The end result is that too many consumers are neglecting an important aspect of health maintenance and disease prevention.
The old mantra used to be "you don't need vitamins if you eat a balanced diet." Here's the reality. Americans are over-fed but under nourished. The top three most consumed vegetables are potatoes (as french fries), tomatoes (as ketchup and pizza sauce), and iceburg lettuce (nearly worthless). Pop has replaced milk at the dinner table. Is it any wonder that we have alarming rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and Alzheimer's?
We need to get back to basics. Prepare wholesome natural foods from scratch and reduce consumption of fast food and sweets. Increase consumption of essential fats from fish and flax. Next, take a basic nutrition insurance policy. Here are my simple suggestions:
Take a high-potency natural multiple vitamin. Avoid ones with synthetic d-l form vitamin E or artificial colors. Take a good calcium-magnesium-zinc-vitamin D formula @ 2-4/day. Choose calcium citrate or amino acid chelate over calcium carbonate for enhanced absorption.
Take either a nutritional antioxidant (with natural vitamin E, vitamin C, beta-carotene, and selenium) or an herbal antioxidant. The ideal formula would have most of the following twelve super-herbs: green tea, milk thistle, curcumin, quercitin, bromelain, cranberry, rosemary, grape seed, ginkgo, hawthorn, bilberry and ginger.
This program is a great start for any teenager or adult who is interested in maintaining or attaining optimal health. Because individuals vary, one may require the services of a qualified nutritionist for more specific needs.
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Diet and Colon Cancer Risk
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by Jim Golick, CCN, LDN
Risk factors for colon cancer include family history, smoking, obesity, and inactivity. Many studies have shown that dietary factors play a role as well. Below are some of the known factors which can improve the odds of developing colon polyps and colon cancer.
1. Calcium and especially dairy foods— Previous scientific studies have suggested that calcium can protect against colon cancer. An Israeli study found that calcium may prevent development of the polyps that can lead to colon cancer.
2. Multi vitamins- A study of 88,000 nurses showed their risk of getting colon cancer was reduced by 75% for those taking multiple vitamins for at least 15 years. That’s how long it takes for polyps (pre-cancerous growths) to develop. Colon cancers typically come from polyps. Those using vitamins for at least 10 years showed a 30% reduction in colon cancer rates.
3. Vitamin D- Higher intakes could reduce the risk of certain cancers by as much as 50 per cent, suggests a new study. The study in The American Journal of Public Health (27 Dec’05), combined observational studies on the risk of developing colon, breast, prostate or ovarian cancer. The systematic review analyzed data from 30 colon cancer, 13 breast cancer and seven ovarian cancer studies. “Evidence, from the best medical studies over 25 years, has led to the conclusion that public health action is needed," said co-author Cedric Garland. Researchers recommended a daily intake of vitamin D of 1000 IU, or 2.5 times the RDA of 400 IU.
4. Cereal fiber - Fiber intake in men was associated with reduced odds of colorectal adenoma but not for women. The researchers concluded men may experience more benefit from dietary fiber than women. [Am J Clin Nutr, 83, 2:343-9, 2006].
5. Plant Lignans-- A Dutch study reported that a high intake of plant lignans could cut risk of colorectal cancer by half. Plant lignans come from flax seed, whole grain cereals, berries, vegetables and fruits. Previous research has focused on plant lignans as reducing the risk of prostate cancer, and in improving menopause health.
6. Red Meat-A recent JAMA study found that eating large amounts of red meat and processed meats may increase the risk of colorectal cancer. Those with a high intake (2-3 ounces per day) were between 30 and 40 percent more likely to develop colon or rectal cancer. The risk was higher in those consuming processed meats such as bacon and bologna.
Note: Try lowering the frequency of your meat consumption by replacing with more fish, poultry, beans, and legume dishes. Speaking of fish……..
7. Essential Fatty Acids--A diet rich in omega-3 fats could reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by 85 per cent, suggests a new study from Japan. But high consumption of saturated fats could increase the risk by 700 per cent, said the researchers from the Aichi Cancer Center Hospital and Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine. The article appeared in the Journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention (Vol. 15, pp.1791–1798).
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Fast Food is Harmful to the Liver
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Eating fast foods for one month can have a harmful effect on the liver as indicated by an elevation of certain liver enzymes.
Researchers in Sweden followed 12 men and six women in their twenties for one month. All volunteers were slim and in good health and ate two meals per day at McDonalds, Burger King or other fast-food restaurants. The goal of the study was to increase body weight by 10 to 15 percent.
Levels of a liver enzyme called ALT increased after only one week, and quadrupled on average over the entire period. Liver enzymes are evaluated in most routine blood work, including ALT (alanine aminotransferase).
In the majority of the volunteers, ALT rose to levels that reflected liver damage. Two of the individuals had fatty degeneration, which is the abnormal accumulation of fats within a cell, especially triglyceride fat.
This study demonstrates that high ALT levels can occur in a matter of weeks just due to frequent fast food consumption.
I highly recommend you also rent the 2004 movie, Super Size Me. It illustrates the rapid degeneration which occurred in a man who ate nothing but fast food for a month.
Parents, warn your children—and set a good example.
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FREE! Telephone Seminar: Acid-Alkaline Balance - November 17
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Please join us on November 17, 2008 for our next Nutrition for Optimal Wellness seminar; Acid-Alkaline Balance. Did you know that an acidic body can cause many symptoms including fatigue, headaches, gastric distress, thin brittle nails, leg cramps, joint pain or stiff neck to name a few! In this seminar, nutrition expert, Jim Golick, CCN, LDN will discuss the nutrition factors and dietary supplements supplments that can help to balance the pH in the body and reduce these unpleasant symptoms.
SEMINAR REPLAYS available online!
Enjoy these benefits when you attend these seminars sponsored by NOW Foods:
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FREE! No cost or obligation;
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CONVENIENT! Simulcast...Attend by phone or via your computer from the comfort of your own home;
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RECEIVE! Expert advice from a Certified Clinical Nutritionist;
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ASK! Open Q & A session following each seminar;
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ENJOY! Better health through education
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SHARE! The gift of health by inviting a friend
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WHEN? The 3rd Monday evening of every month (9pm ET, 8pm CT, 7pm MT and 6pm PT)
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REGISTER! Register once and receive the password to attend ALL monthly Teleseminars!
**********Teleseminar Line Up for 2008**********
January 21 - Jim's Top Recommended Products
February 18 - Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity-- The Nutritional Approach
March 17 - The Ups and Downs of Blood Sugar
April 21 - Sweet Dreams - Nutrition for Better Sleep
Click here to download Outline for this seminar
May 19 - Better to See you with (Eye Health)
June 16 - Dem Bones (Bone health & osteoarthritis)
July 21 - IBS, Crohns, Colitis
August - Summer Break; No seminar will be conducted this month
September 15 - Jim's Top Recommended Products for Fall
October 20 - Hearing Loss and Tinnitus
November 17 - Acid/Alkaline Balance
December 15 - No seminar will be conducted this month - Merry Christmas!
The Nutrition for Optimal Wellness program was designed to educate consumers across the nation to help them in making informed decisions about health and dietary supplements. Each presentation lasts approximately 30-minutes followed by a 30-minute open Q & A session.
Register once and each month you will receive an email with all the information you need to attend these seminars either by telephone or via your computer. It's your choice and it's very easy!
NOW Foods . . . providing value in products and services that empower people to lead healthier lives
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Health Quiz
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Take the short Health Quiz below and see how you score. This short quiz could give you some insight into the factors that may be affecting your health!
To take the quiz, you can print it or simply read each question online and mark your answers on a separate piece of paper. The Scoring Scale can be found at the end of this quiz.
HEALTH QUIZ
1. What has been your typical level of stress?
a. Low
b. Medium
c. High
2. How often do you experience worry, anxiety, or depression?
a. Rarely
b. Occasionally
c. Frequently
3. How well do you sleep?
a. 8-9 hours deep, restful
b. 7 hours, interrupted
c. Frequent insomnia
4. How do you typically feel upon rising?
a. I’m rarin’ to go
b. I manage okay
c. I’m often tired
5. Is your weight for your height:
a. Ideal
b. Underweight
c. At least 10 lbs. overweight
6. How often do you consume sweets in the form of pop, candy, donuts, cookies, etc. in a typical day?
a. Rarely
b. Occasionally
c. Often
7. How often do you consume caffeine in the form of coffee, pop or medications in a typical day?
a. Rarely
b. Occasionally
c. Often
8. Do you smoke cigarettes, pipes, or cigars?
a. never
b. occasionally/ used to
c. often
9. How would you best describe your daily energy level?
a. Good/balanced
b. Low
c. Hyper/nervous
10. How is your typical digestive health? (Do you suffer from loose stools, constipation, belching, gas or bloating?)
a. Rarely
b. Occasionally
c. Frequently
11. How many medications (OTC and Rx) do you take each day?
a. None
b. 1-3 meds
c. 4 or more meds
12. How many different dietary supplements (vitamins, minerals, herbals, etc.) do you take each day?
a. 4 or more
b. 1-3
c. None
13. Is your overall diet:
a. Excellent: most meals at home
b. Could be better
c. Too much fast food
14. Do you get regular exercise?
a. Most days
b. Sometimes
c. Rarely or never
15. Is your overall health:
a. Excellent
b. Could be better
c. I’m sick and tired of feeling sick and tired
Scoring Scale:
1. If your answers are mostly A’s, and few B’s or C’s:
Congratulations! Keep up the good work. You have an excellent combination of genetics + dietary + lifestyle factors. You apparently have a number of health factors in your favor. If you would like to maintain your present state of health, I suggest a periodic review of your diet, supplement, and lifestyle program to keep you in peak condition.
2. If your answers are mostly B’s, and few C’s or A's:
You are moderately good health but could use suggestions for improvement. There may be a higher risk of developing a major illness. You could use some guidance in making some positive lifestyle changes to achieve a healthier you. I suggest investing in a personal consultation with a Certified and Licensed Dietician-Nutritionist. This could be the best hour that you ever spent on yourself!
3. If your answers are mostly C’s, and few B’s or A’s:
You have a number of factors affecting your health and a higher risk of major illness. The leading causes of death in America are heart disease, various cancers, stroke, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. Immediate medical intervention may be necessary. Medications may be helpful but are an incomplete solution. In addition, you could use some guidance in making some positive lifestyle changes to achieve a healthier you. I suggest investing in a personal consultation with a Certified and Licensed Dietician-Nutritionist. This could be the best hour that you ever spent on yourself!
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Improve Your Heart Health
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More than 900,000 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each year, according to the American Heart Association. Heart disease is not inevitable. You can prevent it by adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet, dietary supplements, and regular exercise. Here are a few ways to reduce your risk of heart disease:
Eat a fiber-rich diet that’s high in whole grains, vegetables, and healthy fats (certain fish, nuts, macadamia and olive oil), and low in hydrogenated (trans) and saturated fats, and refined carbohydrates.1
Exercise regularly. This will help lower cholesterol and raise the good HDL, reduce stress, and improve cardiovascular fitness.
Maintain a healthy weight (especially if you are obese).
Lower stress. Try relaxing with prayer, meditation, stretching, deep breathing, Pilates, or yoga.
Quit smoking and avoid smoky environments.
Get yearly physicals to check blood pressure, cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and C-Reactive Protein (CRP), a cardiovascular disease marker.
“Of the 1.5 million heart attacks and 600,000 strokes that occur in the U.S. each year, almost half will affect apparently healthy men and women with normal or even low cholesterol levels. Older age, smoking, diabetes, and high blood pressure all contribute to risk of heart disease. Both cholesterol AND CRP predict cardiovascular disease risk, but your cannot predict your CRP level on the basis of your cholesterol (or vice versa).
The highest risk is seen among those with high levels of both LDL and CRP, while the lowest risk is among those with low levels of both markers. Individuals with CRP levels greater than 3 mg/L have a risk of getting diabetes 4 to 6 times higher than individuals with lower CRP levels. Part of the link between heart disease and diabetes is due to inflammation, and for many patients, that inflammation in turn is the result of obesity, particularly “central obesity” (weight around the stomach).”2
Among U.S. adults, 68% consumed less than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of magnesium (400 mg). Individuals with intakes below the RDA are more likely to have elevated CRP, which may contribute to cardiovascular disease risk.3
Jim’s Tip: A CRP score of less than 1 is ideal.
Reference:
1 “Exacerbation of the pro-inflammatory process may be a mechanism whereby a high intake of rapidly digested and absorbed carbohydrates increases the risk of ischemic heart disease.", Am J Clin Nutri 2002 Mar; 75(3):492-8 (Translation: White flour and sugar are bad for your heart.)
2 “C-Reactive Protein: A Simple Test to Help Predict Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke”, Paul M. Ridker, MD, MPH, Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Harvard Medical School
3 Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 24, No. 3, 166-171 (2005)
CARDIOVASCULAR SUPPORT SUGGESTIONS
Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) (omega-3 fats) – Fish oil capsules (EPA/DHA) or molecularly distilled fish oil liquid. EFA’s play key roles in regulating inflammation, blood flow, brain health, and blood pressure.
Co-Enzyme Q-10, 60 mg with Lecithin and Fish Oil – An essential “spark plug” of cellular energy. An antioxidant for healthy heart, liver, brain, gums, and lung function.
NOW Tocotrienol E or Advanced Gamma-E or Tru-E (non-GMO) – Tocotrienols are closely related cousins to vitamin E, but are more powerful antioxidants. They inhibit enzymes involved in cholesterol manufacture. Gamma-E is superior to d-alpha E in fighting certain free radicals and reducing inflammation.
Calcium and Magnesium – These minerals play key roles in the cardiovascular system. Magnesium plays a particularly essential role in blood vessel relaxation and heart rhythm.
Fiber (Flaxseed, apple pectin, psyllium, oats & oat bran) – Many forms of soluble fiber aid in lowering cholesterol and promote bowel regularity. Most Americans get half the recommended fiber amount.
NOW Super Antioxidants (12 herbal extracts) – Standardized extracts of green tea, milk thistle, curcumin, quercetin, grape seed, cranberry, rosemary, ginkgo, bromelain, bilberry, hawthorn berry, ginger. Most of these herbs are members of the bioflavonoid family. As herbal antioxidants, they help regulate inflammation and blood vessel stability and much more.
NOW Heart Support – B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, iodine, selenium, Pure-Gar garlic, L-Carnitine, ginger root, cayenne, hawthorn berry extract, Co-Q10, Alpha Lipoic Acid.
NOW Cholesterol Support – Garlic, guggul, policosanol, guar gum, chromium, for support of serum cholesterol levels already within the normal range.
TO SCHEDULE A NUTRITION COUNSELING SESSION WITH JIM
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational purposes only. Many lifestyle factors can influence cardiovascular health. These include physical activity, smoking, personality, stress, blood pressure and genetics. Additional dietary factors include dietary sodium/potassium ratios and types of fats consumed. Interested persons should seek additional information from knowledgeable sources. Seek the advice of your physician regarding any change in your medication, diet or supplement program.
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