Month: February 2014

Most of us know we should eat a healthy diet, but we don’t often think much about what we drink. Yet, our choice of beverage is critically important to our health because proper hydration flushes toxins out of our system and keeps our bodies functioning optimally. Here are 4 tips to healthy hydration:

•Drink eight glasses of pure water every day. Up to 75 percent of us are walking around chronically dehydrated, so we clearly need to drink more water. Water boosts your immune system, reduces inflammation, and keeps your body at a healthy pH. By drinking the right amount of water, you will notice so many benefits, such as: a decrease in symptoms of dehydration like fatigue; headaches; back and joint aches; improved regularity; and weight loss. Would it surprise you to know that the average person drinks 10 to 25 percent of his or her daily caloric intake? By replacing sweetened beverages with plain water, you will be on your way to losing unwanted pounds.

•Drink two to three cups of freshly brewed green tea every day. Green tea has powerful disease-fighting antioxidants. Several studies have shown that drinking at least two cups of green tea daily inhibits cancer growth. Specifically, green tea has been shown to reduce the risk of skin, breast, lung, colon, esophageal and bladder cancer. Green tea can also reduce obesity and help to lower LDL cholesterol.

•Avoid sodas. Both regular and diet sodas are bad news. An average 12 oz regular soda contains 10 to 12 teaspoons of sugar, and as you may know, sugar is a major culprit in weight gain. Another major problem with soda is their acidity. Your body requires a slightly alkaline pH to perform optimally, and conversely, disease thrives in an acidic environment. Soda also weakens bones and don’t make the mistake of thinking that diet soda is a better choice. Diet soda contains harmful artificial sugars, and, surprisingly, diet soda is now being associated with weight gain instead of weight loss.

•Avoid energy drinks. Caffeine levels in energy drinks range from about 80 milligrams (mg) to more than 500 mg. in a can or bottle, compared to about 100 mg. in an average cup of coffee. This amount of caffeine can cause dangerous increases in heart rate or blood pressure. My advice? Get your energy from eating nutritious foods, eating regularly and getting adequate amount of sleep.

So start your year off with the simple and healthy habit of drinking for good health.

Teresa Fuller M.D., Ph.D. is board-certified in pediatrics and integrative holistic medicine, and she holds a Ph.D. in physiology. She has been a practicing pediatrician in the Maryland area for the past ten years. Dr. Fuller has become a strong advocate for improving the health of her patients and the wider pediatric community.

The Heart Health Foundation’s mission to paint the town red for the month of February got off to a celebratory start on Saturday, February 1 in Annapolis with a heart walk parade that covered several city blocks before winding down on Main Street.

“We’re trying to create awareness in the community about heart disease and the fact that more women die of heart disease than anything else,” said Elaine Gary, director of the Dare to C.A.R.E. Program and a former patient whose heart screening led to lifesaving surgery.

Dare to C.A.R.E. (DTC) is a nonprofit organization located in Annapolis, and is directed by Dr. John D. Martin, and Louise O. Hanson, of Cardiology Associates, PC.

It began in 2000, and since then has been attended by thousands of people, many of whom have had life-saving procedures as a result of disease detected at DTC events.

“Cardiovascular disease is the number one health problem in this country today. More than half of Americans will die from complications of atherosclerotic disease, the root cause of cardiovascular disease and millions more will suffer debilitating complications that rob many Americans of a meaningful quality of life,” said Martin, who along with Hanson, founded the Heart Health Foundation program, which helps to save lives by offering free cardiovascular disease screenings.

Martin, the medical director of the Heart and Vascular Institute at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, has helped the center to become a nationally recognized facility for the treatment of vascular disease.

DTC screenings are responsible for the detection of the early stages of the disease in many who had no idea they were ill. To date, the program has screened more than 40,000 patients and there are 19 DTC screenings sites around the country.

Martin says that his goal is to extend his program across the country and to continue to educate and save lives.

“We’re pretty excited about the momentum and with the walk, people are starting to realize the importance of this,” Martin said. “Statistics show that heart disease is the country’s number one killer. Cancer creeps in at number two, but heart disease, stroke, and the like begins to dwarf all of the numbers, which is staggering.”

More than half of Americans will die from complications of atherosclerotic disease, the root cause of cardiovascular disease. Millions more will suffer debilitating complications that will rob them of a meaningful quality of life, according to Gary.

“One million Americans die of heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disorders every year in the United States— that means two out of every five deaths in the United States or one life every 33 seconds. Unfortunately, the majority of people with this disease are unaware of their problem until severe complications or death occur,” she said.

Through the efforts of volunteers and the use of lectures, educational materials, free ultrasound testing and meetings with cardiovascular specialists, DTC brings the message that complications of cardiovascular disease can be prevented.

The testing portion of the program consists of a blood pressure check and a non-invasive ultrasound examination of the carotid arteries, abdominal aorta, and evaluation of leg circulation.

The second component of the program involves attending an evening of informative lectures about cardiovascular disease given by physicians and nurse practitioners. Topics include the definition of the various types of cardiovascular disease, causes and risks for the disease, and the latest treatment options.

“We have already raised funds and have initiated the mission of providing free programs to all at-risk individuals in our region,” Martin said. Risk factors include age (greater than 60) and health issues such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking or family history of cardiovascular disease. Individuals over the age of 50 who have any of the listed risk factors are also considered at-risk.

Martin said he hopes to expand the program statewide in order to set an example of cardiovascular health for the nation. “DTC is a program we can all be very proud of and a gift we give graciously to our participants,” he said.