Dr. Taz MD’s Guide to Living Healthy, Naturally Newsletter Issue Thirteen

Cheaper than Chemo Tip: Depression

Eating organic food, using supplements and in-depth testing can seem costly, however, many people find they save money by healing the body rather than treating symptoms. In this column, I take common medical issues, show different approaches and the cost of each. Take a look at the difference in cost and you’ll find that living healthy, naturally can add up to big healthcare savings for you and your family in the long run.
  
TIP: Depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder and premenstrual dyspeptic disorder (PMDD) are all real symptoms and conditions that should be treated and monitored under the care of a board certified physician. My approach to treating depression is to rebuild nutrition with more protein and more healthy fats. The right nutrition is key because it builds the right neurotransmitters – the brain chemicals that communicate information throughout the brain and body. I also focus on balancing hormones and encourage “life” support in the form of community, spiritual connection, family and exercise. Below is an example of my integrative approach & the costs.


Integrative Approach 

Wellness Solutions, Natural Boost (B Vitamins)  $35
B Complex Shot $21 
St. Johns Wort $34     

Omega3 $30


Conventional Medicine 
Zoloft – SSRIs – $200 (cash price, insurance may or may not cover)

*costs are merely monthly estimates and column information is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any medical condition

Beauty Buzz
Brighten Your Nails

file00016977191891 Fresh Lemon, juiced
A small bowl of room temperature water 
Your favorite cuticle cream 

Squeeze entire lemon into bowl of water. Place all fingers into the water and soak for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water and apply a cuticle cream of your choice.  Repeat process with toes.   

 Enjoy brighter and whiter nails, naturally! 

Ask Dr. Taz MD

_DSC8577 2Q: Dear Dr. Taz,
I have a 12-year-old boy who was diagnosed with narcolepsy last year following his dad’s deployment to Afghanistan. The MD recommended an anti-depressant and Ritalin, but I chose an alternative approach by using supplements: omega 3, chiropractic treatment, exercise and diet changes. I saw minimal changes and now the symptoms are more pronounced with excessive sleeping, weight gain, jaw laxity and weakness with strong emotions.  Do you have any suggestions to assist my active yet sleepy son? Thank you in advance.

A: What a tough challenge with your son-I feel for you.  There are many causes of narcolepsy, including depression, but I would make sure your son has had an extensive work up-including nutritional deficiencies, thyroid balance and insulin regulation.  Some seizures also can present as narcolepsy.  I would make sure an appropriate work up has been done and then build a medication and supplement regimen around this. 

Click here to Ask Dr. Taz MD your questions!

Living Healthy Tip
Daylight Savings Energy Boost

DCF 1.0Did daylight savings zap you of your energy last week? Even just one hour can throw your sleep cycle for a loop. For me, I usually find I am not hungry at my regular meal times and my energy level is off. If you can relate, try beginning your day with my tried and true energy shot and smoothie to aid in resetting your body’s clock. You’ll be sailing through the week and into Spring, while the majority of your friends and family are yawning!

Dr. Taz MD’s Energy Shot

  • 1 – 2 teaspoons fresh ginger
  • ½ teaspoon local honey
Boil 1 – 2 teaspoons of ginger in a small amount of water. Once softened, add 1/2 teaspoon of honey. Cool enough to drink. Follow the shot with my delicious energy smoothie recipe and you are guaranteed to be back on your A-game in no time! 
Click here for my energy smoothie recipe!


NEED Allergy Relief?
JUICE!

file000981206600Is pollen season getting you down? Don’t feel defeated. Juice your way through it! Fresh-pressed juice is a bright and therapeutic cocktail of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and disease-fighting phytochemicals. With the bulk of the fiber removed, these nutrients are instantly absorbed while the digestive system gets a break to heal and restore.

Over time, juicing can calm the body’s allergic response by:

  • speeding up detoxification
  • improving digestion
  • boosting immunity

For a basic explanation of the body’s allergic response, read my post on Allergies 101. 

My Top 5 Juicing Foods for Allergy Season:

1. Dark Leafy Greens Drinking juiced greens (such as spinach, parsley, cilantro and kale) is a great way to detoxify the body. Green juice is also deeply nourishing to the nervous system. Allergic response has been linked to dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system. Juiced greens infuse the nerves with a healthy dose of magnesium, calcium and potassium.

Juicing tip: You won’t get much juice from greens alone, so mix them with fruits and vegetables that yield a higher volume of liquid, such as cucumbers and apples.

(Read More Here)

TOXINS  
Are you confused about chemicals and toxic load on your body?

  • Eat out often? 
  • Dry clean your clothes? 
  • Buy non-organic produce?
  • Use a cell phone daily? 
  • Drink non-organic milk?
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you should take Dr. Taz MD’s QUIZ to find out your weak points and learn how to
kick toxins to the curb this Spring!

 

Goal of Dr. Taz MD’s Living Healthy, Naturally

The goal of this guide is to inform you about current and topical health issues. To ensure that you have the best available information, our research team at our Atlanta Center of Holistic and Integrative Medicine is aboard to help vet our material from a broad group of established and reliable sources. If you like what you’re reading, I encourage you to send this newsletter to a friend or family member so they too can enjoy
living healthy, naturally.

With gratitude, 
Dr. Taz Bhatia MD