ALC - sanoviv

Dr. Ortega is truly a unique oncologist here at Sanoviv. I’ve had the pleasure of working near his desk for a few years now, and I often overhear his phone calls with potential cancer patients. I am generally intrigued by his responses to their questions, and now I have my own questions. Besides being very knowledgeable, I also notice his calm and straightforward demeanor. He can put patients at ease, allowing them to make informed decisions about cancer treatment. But, because Dr. Ortega is always so busy, I rarely get a chance just to sit and talk with him. So, I scheduled an appointment to learn more about cancer care at Sanoviv. My visit with him was a learning experience I’m now sharing with you.

Something miraculous happens when we improve nutrition; we look better. If you stand and look at yourself in a mirror, most of the physical imperfections you see can be corrected with nutrition, exercise, and overall lifestyle. For many, looking better can be a powerful motivator for healthy lifestyle changes. Some of the physical signs that you may need to clean up your diet include:

Did you know that you swallow about 140 billion bacteria that seed your gastrointestinal tract with microbes from your mouth each day? We carry around trillions of microscopic bugs that live in and on our bodies. These microbes live all over the body: on the skin, gastrointestinal tract (gut microbiome), and mouth (oral microbiome). Most people have heard of the gut microbiome as this is a hot topic in health today and the area where most of our microbes are located. However, remember that the mouth is the front entrance to the gut. Therefore, the oral microbiome is equally important and influences health or disease in many other body systems.

Ask someone in their 70s, 80s, or beyond this question, and you’ll be certain to get a heartfelt response. What are most people’s life regrets? Here are some common responses:

The 2020 Pandemic was difficult for many people. In fact, a recent survey by the American Psychological Association showed that 42% of U.S. adults reported weight gain (an average of 29 pounds). Ten percent of those said they gained more than 50 pounds. In addition, 23% of adults reported drinking more alcohol, and 78% reported increased stress. There is no doubt that these changes increase health risks. So, how do you push the reset button and take charge of your health?

Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, tragedy, trauma, and significant sources of stress (family, relationships, health, work, and finances). It means having the ability to recover quickly from difficulties. There is no question that resilience has been a popular subject over the past year. A search for scientific articles on the topic will return more than 1200 citations in 2020 alone.

Intermittent fasting is currently one of the most popular diet and health trends. So what does it involve, and is it something you should try? You can practice intermittent fasting in several ways, which includes refraining from eating during certain times of the day. A recent New England Journal of Medicine study concluded that intermittent fasting benefits health, aging, and health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancers, and neurologic disorders. Previously, the focus was on calorie restriction as many studies showed benefits for overall health, including aging.

Now is a time when we need laughter more than ever. If you are like most people right now, on “stay home” orders during this global COVID-19 pandemic, you may be feeling somewhat anxious being cooped up with nowhere to go. While this, too, will pass over time, what we are currently experiencing is like nothing before, and for many of us with fast-paced lifestyles, it may be difficult emotionally. Laughter and positivity can help us navigate through the days ahead.

January is here, and to prepare for a healthy new year, many people have a renewed commitment to start exercising, eat better, lose weight, save money, and more. These are the typical “New Year’s Resolutions” that often fail within the first few weeks as motivation diminishes. Over the years, we have been taught to create goals that are specific and short-term. These are called subordinate goals. On the other hand, superordinate goals are defined as vague and abstract. Here are some examples of each: