BIO - Dr. Isabel Lopez MD
Vitamin B 12 is one of the most vital nutrients for the body. I would even dare to say that it is the mother of all supplements! Egg yolks, meat, liver, and oily fish are the main dietary sources of vitamin B12. It is such a special nutrient it requires a certain protein called Intrinsic Factor to carry it from the stomach into the small intestine, where it is absorbed. No or low Intrinsic Factor effects your body’s ability to absorb this vital nutrient. So there is a two-part problem here. Part one is that most of us are not eating a diet with enough egg yolks, meat, liver and oily fish (only because we have been erroneously informed that fat equals high cholesterol, and that is a whole other topic!). Part two is that most of us are not producing enough Intrinsic Factor due to chronic stress, alcohol intake, excess caffeine, sugar, antibiotics, gastritis, medications (antacids, proton pump inhibitors, metformin, etc) or any type of weight loss surgery. So not only are we not eating enough Vitamin B12 rich foods, but we are also absorbing less than we used to because of the way we live! The result is sub-optimal B12 levels that can lead to sluggishness, mental fatigue, high homocysteine levels, sleeping difficulty, numbness and tingling, depression…I could go on and on because Vitamin B12 is normally involved in the metabolism of EVERY CELL of the human body, especially affecting DNA synthesis and regulation, the production of ATP, fatty acid metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Basically every single inner machination of the human cell requires B12! It is also a vital component to our body’s methylation process. Methylation is a key biochemical process that is essential for the proper function of almost all of your body’s systems. It occurs billions of times every second; it helps REPAIR your DNA on a daily basis; it CONTROLS homocysteine (an unhealthy compound that can damage blood vessels); it helps RECYCLE molecules needed for detoxification; and it helps MAINTAIN mood and keep inflammation in check. Without enough B Vitamins, methylation breaks down, i.e we can't REPAIR, CONTROL, RECYCLE or MAINTAIN.......not good!
The normal lab values for B12 range from 200-1100. That is a very wide range, but most patients will have symptoms once the level gets below 400, specifically fatigue. So now what? If you have your Vitamin B 12 level checked and you are below 400, I suggest supplementing. If you have a problem with absorbing your B12 due to poor intrinsic factor (which I believe we all have low levels of because of our crazy lives), then increasing your intake of B12 rich foods alone may not make a difference, because you will not absorb it. By supplementing, I mean adding a daily sublingual (under the tongue) B12 or getting B12 injections, both forms directly absorb B12 into your bloodstream and do not require Intrinsic Factor.
To B or not to B, that is the question. You can continue to ignore the vague signs and write them off to a busy life, or you can listen to your body and get your levels checked!"
Call (817)-328-0331 to learn more about the benefits of B12.
MEDIA ARTICLES
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Family Health - Why are we so fat?
There is so much information out there about the right way to eat. Should we eat low fat, low carb or high protein? We are fatter than ever and it only seems to be getting worse. Why with so much information out there do we continue to tip the scales? I will tell you why, because it is misinformation and we are so so confused!! The original USDA food pyramid had us eating approximately 60% carbs, 20%protein and 20% fat. That pyramid was based on the notion that fat in the diet directly correlated to elevated cholesterol( which by the way is complete bologna).
Read more...Over Exerciser - Under Eater
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Which are you? The over-exerciser or the under-eater? Yes, there is such a thing. I know, I know, you though it was just something your high priced trainer was telling you to explain why his training has not given you any high priced results. The truth of the matter is, he is probably right. I don't care how much cardio, lunges, chest presses or crunches you do, if you are not eating right and enough, you will not see results . In the words of my father, "lemme splain"……
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How many of you have been to your doctor absolutely convinced that you are having symptoms consistent with an underactive thyroid (thanks to your extensive internet research)? You have fatigue, weight issues, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, hair thinning, dry skin and an indifference to life among other symptoms. How could it not be your thyroid? You get your blood checked and your doctor tells you "it's not your thyroid the number is within normal range". You leave there feeling completely hopeless. "I must just be getting old", you tell yourself. Well guess what? It could definitely be your thyroid!! What most primary care doctors do not realize is that the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) has narrowed the parameters of the normal range and now patients who results looked normal before now are considered HYPOTHYROID! Woo hoo!!!!! Lemme splain……
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Read more...Insulin Evil
Ever look at yourself in the mirror and think "what in the #@$% happened to me?" In high school you were thin, in college fit and active, and now you look like one of your relatives. You snore (no thanks to that extra chin pushing on your trachea), you are tired, your clothes are getting tighter (you officially have love handles) and it is getting harder to tie your shoes without coming up for air. What happened to thin you, the one that could eat whatever they wanted, run a few miles and drop the weight? Believe it or not that person is still buried somewhere in there, you just have to make some adjustments that will facilitate their rebirth. In order to do that you first have to understand how you got to where you are now.
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