For Our Furry Friends

Our pets add so much to our lives. It is wonderful to walk in the door to a friendly face always happy to see you. I have a ten year old golden retriever, Cosmo who is just that sort of friend. He has been my faithful walking buddy for years. Unfortunately, in November he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He was given a very short window of time for survival. Hang in there…it’s not all bad.

As soon as I learned of his prognosis I started looking alternative treatments. He is taking Prednisone so I knew his body was going to need support in order to avoid the side effects of long term use. What I found was incredible. One of our supplement companies, Thorne Research, has extended their product line to include a full line of veterinary products.

Right away I started him on a comprehensive immune formula, EGCg (green tea extract) and vegetables to which he responded to very well. Eventually he also needed gastrointestinal support for which we found a great product including probiotic. The veterinary support department at Thorne also recommended curcumin so he is taking the veterinary version of the Meriva.

At Cosmo’s last appointment the Veterinarian was at a loss for words. We have passed the date of expected survival and he has yet to show signs of decline. He is active and vibrant. This does not mean that we have made anything resolve or disappear. He still has cancer and it is still terminal. What we have done however, is preserved his quality of life as he battles this disease.

It is encouraging and makes me rethink how I have been feeding my pets and about how important nutritional support is for them as well. Thorne has products that are for basic nutritional support such as multivitamins and omega 3. They also have products that address more specific concerns such as digestion, anxiety, and mobility. Please let us know if you have questions. I would be happy to provide information about their products for you to share with your Veterinarian and can order any items that you would like to try.

Join Us for the Optimal Wellness Program

Optimal Wellness Program

At The Center for Optimal Health we have begun a weekly program for introducing healthy habits to our staff and associates to adopt in their daily lives. We wanted to share with our patient community the ideas that we are learning about and supporting each other in implementing.

Each week we will be introducing a new idea. The hope is that each of the healthy ideas will become habits that we incorporate in our daily lives. This week we are focusing on water.

Week One: Water

Did you know that our bodies are 70-90% water? Everyone has heard the recommendation of ‘8 glasses a day.’ The actual formula is based on you weight; the goal is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water so, if you weigh 120lbs, you should drink 60 ounces of water every day. Other fluids like herbal teas, and green drinks also count.

If you don’t enjoy the taste of water, one way to improve it is by adding lemon. Lemons can help balance pH, increase hydration and stabilize your electrolytes. In addition, they also aid in cleansing the liver and promoting healthy digestion. For those who like carbonation of soda, sparkling mineral water is a great substitute.

We have provided our staff with BPA free stainless steel water bottles for drinking so as to avoid excessive use of plastic bottles. Something as simple as having a water bottle with you throughout the day can serve as a reminder to stay hydrated.

In addition to adding water this week we are discouraging drinking soda, sugary lattes and coffee. The reason for this is because soda is very high in phosphoric acid. When phosphoric acid is consumed it puts the body in an acid state, drawing on the body’s mineral reserves to buffer the acid effects. Same goes for the high sugar content in lattes, while lattes don’t contain phosphoric acid, the high sugar content can also be acid producing and tax the body’s minerals. Caffeine can also be detrimental to the body; caffeine can send the adrenals into overdrive and exhaust energy later in the day.

Week One Goal

Drink ½ of your body weight in ounces of water per day.

Reduce or eliminate the consumption of high sugar and caffeinated beverages.

Check in with us each week to learn about our new healthy habits. We encourage you to join us in the Optimal Wellness Program. If you have any questions please feel free to call us at 517-324-9400.

Disclaimer: Excessive water consumption can be harmful for some patients based on health status or medication regimen. As always be sure to consult with your medical practitioner before starting any new diet and or exercise programs.