"Dr. Oz" Syndrome!

Dr. Mehmet Oz has done so much to bridge the gap between traditional medicine and a more holistic approach to what we should be focusing on, prevention.

I have had the opportunity to attend a conference with him as a co-attendee and to hear him speak as well. He is what you would imagine, kind and caring, and has a stage presence that keeps you engaged. You are sure to learn something new, and will likely be looking to incorporate the latest supplement into your daily ritual as soon as you can. This is how the “Dr. Oz Syndrome” begins.

I often see individuals who are looking to improve their diet and quality of life through nutrition and supplementation. They typically come in with their bag of supplements in order to go through and decipher what they really need. As they pull out their supplements from a very large bag — occasionally a suitcase! — I start to realize that I am beginning to compete with the Dr. Oz Show, and it’s no wonder my client is confused and looking for direction. They are beginning to suffer from the “Dr. Oz Syndrome.”  

This is defined by the accumulation of supplements and the lack of understanding of what they are for.

Don’t get me wrong, the general population has definitely benefited from the addition of this amazing man into their lives — but drowning in a sea of supplements is not what he had in mind either, when he began to live his life’s mission.

I envy the person who is home to watch the show and has time to sit and absorb the information. I do not envy the individual who begins to drown in the sea of information and has lost a cupboard to store a bunch of supplements. I agree it can be a bit overwhelming.

In order to avoid this syndrome, one must stick to the basics. 

• You cannot out-supplement a poor diet. If you think that taking supplements will buffer the blow of a diet full of sugar, breads and processed foods, you are sadly mistaken. A diet lacking in living vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean proteins will set the stage for accelerated aging.

• The health of your colon is indicative of your general health. If you suffer from constipation, diverticulosis, IBS, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, brain fog and/or fatigue, give some consideration to cleansing that colon. Most individuals walk around constipated and don’t even know it — the ones that do know are in trouble if they do not fix things. Supplements to address these issues would be a priority in maximizing health.

• Weight loss supplements will not work if you don’t change your diet. Forget the green tea, raspberry leaf, coffee bean extract and others if you are not going to change your diet. Calorie restriction will drop the pounds, but the rebound weight gain will take twice the effort to come off. Eliminating wheat, corn and most dairy works very well for most. Diet sodas and frozen dinners are the fastest way to type II diabetes and inflammatory disease.

• Understanding your pH will go a long way in disease prevention. A diet that includes an abundance of alkaline foods and water, produces a body that is an unlikely host for disease and degeneration. Cancer does not like an alkaline environment. Visit www.phmiracleliving.com for more information.

• Know the basics. Sugar causes inflammation. Eighty percent of the population is sensitive to wheat. Dairy is acidic and will do more to weaken bone than to build it. A vitamin D3 level between 60-100ng/ml would save many lives. Healthy fats metabolize fat and protect your brain, heart and other organs. 

• Supplement your weak areas. Most individuals do not get enough green foods. There are some amazing companies out there doing freeze-dried greens in capsule or powder form. This would be better than any multivitamin you could ever take. 

Keep watching Dr. OZ.  He continues to give priceless information on how the body works and how to truly be healthy, just don’t get lost in the supplements.