hol+ with Dr. Taz MD | The Future of Medicine is Holistic

From the overwhelm of technology to packed school-day schedules, the stage is set for kids to be tired and sick.Raising kids in this day and age is not easy. From the overwhelm of technology to packed school-day schedules, the stage is set for kids to be just plain tired and sick. Jennifer Trachtenberg, MD, author of Good Kids, Bad Habits: The RealAge Guide to Raising Healthy Children, joins Dr. Taz to share her top tips for raising healthy kids. Technology Create healthy habits surrounding technology. Place limits on when and where your kids can access devices. This varies from family to family, but a good rule of thumb is to ban screens/interruptions at the dinner table and an hour before bed. Don't sit your toddler down in front of a screen. Kids learn and thrive the best when they "play" with real, 3D toys. As they get older, educational programs are fine in small doses. Elementary schools are starting to use devices like iPads within the curriculum. Physical play is still essential, so schedule it if needed.  Nutrition Don't single out picky eaters (or alternatively, really good eaters). Be a role model with your own healthy choices. Understand how important breakfast is. Your kids have a long day ahead, and you don't always know what they're eating for lunch. Be prepared for that healthy breakfast. Set the table and the menu the night before. Don't cater to pickiness; one child can pick the menu one day, another can pick the next, etc.  Sleep Over-scheduling has made it challenging to balance sleep and activities, but kids need downtime to unwind before they go to sleep. Have a sleep routine, or good "sleep hygiene." Have them read instead of watching TV or being on the computer. Dr. Jen also discusses how you can maximize appointments with your pediatrician by fully preparing before you get to the appointment. Write down any questions and ask them right away. Don't wait until your doctor is walking out the door. Be honest and truthful. You need to feel comfortable with your healthcare provider and he needs all the information in order to effectively treat your child.  Finally, Dr. Jen provides her take on antibiotic use (or overuse) and when she feels antibiotics are appropriate.

Why are we so addicted to stress?Stress has become a buzz word. We tend to blame everything on stress, viewing it as something outside of ourselves that does something TO us. This mindset puts you in a victim role. You're carrying around the weight of something you can't really even define. And, if you can't define it, you'll never be able to manage it. Dr. Heidi Hanna would rather you look at stress as demand vs. capacity. There's nothing inherently good or bad about it; in fact, you need some stress to be able to function on a daily basis. But, you have to believe you possess the capacity to deal with it. Of course, capacity is different for everyone and it impacts individuals in unique ways.  Stress Addiction Stress provides a reward reaction in the brain, similar to the reaction to drugs, alcohol, sugar, etc. The brain wants you to remember stressful situations so you don't encounter similar danger in the future. But, your brain starts to get used to being in a stressful state.  That state provides the following five sensations: stimulation, information, connection, validation, distraction. Validation comes from our stressed culture. The twisted societal view of the busier you are and the more stress you have, the more important you are. Time on your hands is interpreted as being "lazy." In actuality, you need downtime for your body and mind to recharge. When you view rest as bad, you may find yourself drawn back into the rush.  Technology Spurs Stress Technology has exacerbated the problem. When change happens really fast, and you don't know what to expect, you feel out of control. Technology has a function of unlimited information, allowing for more knowledge than you could ever accumulate in your lifetime. Kids are being impacted by the technological beast as well. Parents taking away an iPad may encounter the same kind of reaction as a toddler who has lost his pacifier. We've created a culture of people who aren't comfortable with being still. Unlimited access via the Internet is like hooking up to an IV of a sugar solution. Your system cannot maintain the levels to regulate it, and you're creating an addiction that will be that much harder to unwire in the future. Stress Detox How can you detox and re-acclimate?  Transform yourself to be more adaptable with these three approaches: recharge, rethink (start to develop a new mindset, stress as challenges instead of threats), redesign your "operating system."  Also, recognize that wear and tear on the female brain is more common than in men. One of the hardest things for women to do is prioritize self-care. Eat a healthy diet, stay active, and get restful sleep. Self-care strategies are not selfish. Finally, understand the role it's playing. Does stress interfere with you daily life? Is it hard to stop or control? Look at how connected it is to so many other problems in your life, mentally, emotionally and physically.

New moms are never really told the challenges of breastfeeding, nor how physically demanding, time consuming and depleting it can be.Welcoming your little bundle of joy into your arms for the first time can be one of the most memorable times of your life. But, being a mom isn't all rainbows and unicorns.  One area of angst is often breastfeeding. New moms are never really told the challenges of breastfeeding, nor how physically demanding, time consuming and depleting it can be.  Stephanie Nguyen, RN, MS, WHNP-C, IBCLC, and creator of Modern Milk, says preparing for breastfeeding should happen before baby even comes into the world. She advises three essential steps in your last trimester. 1) Get the supplies you need, such as a breast pump (and investigate if it is covered by insurance). 2) Purchase nursing bras, breast pads, and remedies for sore nipples (i.e. nipple butter).  3) Check out lactation consultants in your area. Your OB/GYN probably isn't going to be of much help. If you want to be successful with breastfeeding, Stephanie says the newborn to six-week window is absolutely essential, because that is when your milk supply is established.  While some moms pump enough to let dad get up for nightly feedings, Stephanie advises against this and strongly suggests feeding on demand to create a sufficient milk supply. Some moms still need to get up and pump during the middle of the night, even if baby is sleeping all the way through (take advantage of the prolactin surge between 1:00 and 6:00 a.m.). You're going to be exhausted, but the end result is well worth it. You may not always be able to be with your little one for mealtime. If baby is feeding three times while you're away, try to pump that many times as well. The timing isn't as essential as getting all three in, even if the last two are only an hour or so apart. A medical-grade pump is particularly helpful for pumping in this way. If you begin to experience a reduced milk supply, review the medications you're taking. Avoid estrogen-containing birth control pills. Even progestin-only pills may impact your supply. Cold or allergy meds can also have a negative effect. Troubleshoot anything you're doing differently. Are you cutting calories? Exercising more? There's no need to rush back into life before baby, especially with your around-the-clock schedule. But, if a return to routine is helping you ease the stress, that's OK. The less stress you have, the better your breastfeeding experience will be. Listen in as Stephanie joins Dr. Taz to discuss her breastfeeding tips and tricks, as well as share more about Modern Milk and the services it provides.

Dr. Terry Wahls was confined her to a tilt-recline wheelchair for four years, due to a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Now, she bicycles to work every day.Dr. Terry Wahls was confined her to a tilt-recline wheelchair for four years, due to a diagnosis of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Now, she bicycles to work every day. How was she able to make this miraculous shift? With her many years of medical background, Dr. Wahls found no relief from the best drugs or latest research. In fact, she continued to decline. By experimenting with a Paleo-like diet, vitamins and supplementation, functional foods and significant changes in her dietary habits, Dr. Wahls was able to design a program that ultimately restored her health. She now uses this method, which she named the Wahls Protocol, in her own practice. Typically, after four weeks on the Wahls Protocol, patients realize improved energy, mental clarity, and mobility.  This protocol can also be effective for varying autoimmune conditions, as well as traumatic brain injury (TBI).  The key of the Protocol, no matter the condition, is to drive down inflammation and ensure the brain has all the building blocks for it to repair itself. Listen in as Dr. Wahls joins Dr. Taz to share her amazing journey, as well as the basics of the Protocol.

Many health issues women (and men) face can be rooted in hormonal changes.Many health issues women (and men) face can be rooted in hormonal changes.  While often associated with perimenopause and menopause, these shifts can occur as early as your 30s.  Sleep disruption, weight gain, mood changes or feelings of depression can all be signs something is off.  Not every doctor recognizes these symptoms as being based in hormonal causes.  As a patient advocate, Liz Lyster, MD, believes there is no reason for her patients to not feel well, and she will investigate any solution to improve health and well-being. Typically, Dr. Lyster starts that investigation with a panel of blood work. She then interprets labs for not just what is considered a "normal range" but digs deeper to understand what an appropriate level is for YOU. Estrogen can be a confusing hormone to understand. Much of the bewilderment comes from scary headlines in the media. Studies have shown, however, that estrogen does not cause or increase the risk for cancer, breast cancer in particular.  According to Dr. Lyster, hormone therapy on a short-term basis is safe for anyone. Estrogen is best used topically (patch, gel). Oral use can result in undesirable side effects.  Progesterone (needed to balance estrogen intake) is critical to be taken in a bio-identical form (can be topical or oral). Progesterone calms the brain and helps you sleep.  Listen in as Dr. Lyster joins Dr. Taz to clear some of the confusion surrounding hormones and hormone therapy.

Our collective levels of anxiety, stress and generally feeling overwhelmed and overbooked have reached all new heights.Our collective levels of anxiety, stress and generally feeling overwhelmed and overbooked have reached all new heights.  We don't sleep, we're constantly tied to our electronic devices, and the pressures of career, family and just "living life" bring us to a boiling point on a daily basis. Some individuals are more vulnerable to anxiety than others. Those who are overly driven, high achievers, and perfectionists often suffer the most. What are some early warning signs so you can catch yourself before you crash and burn? According to Alessandra Wall, PhD, founder of Life in Focus, it's important to first identify the difference between being driven and being a perfectionist. One factor is the level of rigidity with which you approach situations. Perfectionists believe there is really only one way to get to the top or be the best. When a driven person fails, she starts problem solving. When a perfectionist fails, she becomes deflated, worried, and angry with herself. She views it as a personal shortcoming, rather than a roadblock that simply must be overcome. Individuals prone to anxiety also spend a lot of time ruminating (obsessing on a thought), but not in a problem solving way. It's a repetitive, broken-record thought process about how you messed up or what else could go wrong. Physical manifestations of this may include headaches, a tightening of your chest, or tight/tense muscles throughout the day. Tools & Techniques for Dealing with Anxiety Dr. Wall explains what she views as the difference between therapy and life coaching as this: helping someone who is already at baseline learn how to thrive is life coaching, and helping someone who is struggling get to baseline is therapy. That's an important distinction to make in her approach. The most important premise Dr. Wall teaches her patients is to learn how to slow down. You need to get to a place where you can think about what you're experiencing and sit with it in order to understand it.  The practical observance of this is to create the new habit of doing nothing, or what Dr. Wall calls the "art of nothing." Start with two minutes of just staring into space. This will help you create the necessary space and time to let your brain go into standby mode. It's not a meditation process, which is often very stressful for people with anxiety. It's more of a daydream allowance. Try this: next time you're brewing a pot of coffee or heating something up in the microwave, just stare into space. This might be anxiety-inducing at first, but you can use that fear to motivate yourself. You have to allow yourself to realize that it's silly to not be able to stop for a mere two minutes. You have to literally detox from the drive to always be active and productive and understand it's perfectly OK to be bored or have nothing to do. Our brains are designed to thrive on new experiences and new information. So, while advances in technology are beneficial, they've encouraged us to be information junkies. You need to take the time and opportunity to reflect on yourself. A few other practical tips Dr. Wall offers include: Don't take your phone to the bathroom. Walk barefoot for a few minutes and connect to the surface below your feet. When you stand in line, resist the urge to pull out your phone and hop on email or social media.  Start with two minutes, and work up to whatever you can do. Your body and brain will learn to appreciate these breaks. If you practice this 2-3 times a day, your anxiety levels can be reduced significantly. You will be more proactive instead of reactive.  Another essential tactic is to learn to say NO and to set boundaries. When you're given an opportunity, it can be really tempting to say yes. This will only leave you overbooked and underwhelmed. Stop and ask yourself, "Should I do this? Is it right for me? Will it cause more stress or relieve stress?

Learn to bridge the disconnect between how you take care of yourself and the impact your own health has on your relationships.Not every calorie is created equal. When you come to understand that, you can learn to be satisfied and to eat foods that nourish you inside and out.  However, it's not always easy to identify the foods you should be eating, which is a big reason Sophie Jaffe founded her company, Philosophie.  Not only does Philosophie offer products and information on nutrition, but Sophie also leads wellness retreats, including couples retreats. Her goal is to bridge the disconnect between how you take care of yourself and the impact your own health has on your relationships. Sophie's Superwoman advice? Work on peeling away the layers and finding your own truth; not what others believe you to be (or should be). Embrace your vulnerable self, flaws and all, and discover what makes you unique and special. Listen in as Sophie joins Dr. Taz to share more about her company and her approach to health and wellness.

Anything you put on your skin can have a direct impact on your internal health.Your skin is your biggest organ, and oftentimes no less important than your heart or brain. Anything you put on your skin can impact your internal health as well. And, your skin responds to emotional stress, which can manifest in physical ailments (hives, dermatitis). Jessa Blades is a Holistic Skin Coach who takes a very natural approach to skin care and make-up. Some of her clients are completely open to do anything and everything to heal their skin, such as change diet, totally detox personal care products, and try herbal remedies.  Others aren't quite ready for that overhaul, so Jessa slowly introduces healthier options.  Jessa's advice to begin your own transition to natural products is to look at the products you use every single day. Those are the ones you should start to replace to a more natural version in order to reduce the cumulative toxic load. Makeup Top 3 Mascara Lipstick or Lip Gloss (can also double as a cheek stain) Foundation/Concealer Skin Care Top 3 Face Cleanser Face Oil Deodorant The shelf life is shorter for these kinds of products, but the benefits are worth it. Why is it so important for you to take things into your own hands? The main reason is that regulations in the beauty industry are very lax in the U.S. The European Union, on the other hand, bans hundreds of ingredients which they consider as toxins or even carcinogens. The Environmental Working Group (ewg.org) is a wonderful resource for avoiding dangerous products. Jessa also has an online store that features natural products which she has intensely vetted. Listen in as Jessa joins Dr. Taz to share how she became involved in holistic beauty, as well as which product categories she recommends to start replacing as soon as possible.

It's important to learn the language of your body's hormonal presence, so you can respond in real-time to the physical cues presented to you.The constant exposure to endocrine disruptive chemicals and lifestyle factors is messing with our hormones in a big, bad way. Combine this with the fact that many women are in the dark about their own hormones, and you're faced with a real problem.  Alisa Vitti, functional nutritionist, women's hormone expert, and best-selling author of WomanCode, and the founder of FLOLiving.com, says it's important to learn the language of your body so you can respond in real-time to the physical cues presented to you.  One way to remedy hormone issues is with food.  For example, if your energy and mood are all over the place during the day it may mean that your blood sugar levels are erratic. To combat this, you need to eat the right carbs throughout the day to stabilize blood sugar. Also, avoid that early morning cup of coffee on an empty stomach; wait until after breakfast.  Another issue Alisa commonly treats is the presence of painful symptoms of estrogen dominance: bloating, mood swings, acne, breast tenderness, heavier periods. Complex carbs can help mitigate that dominance. Leafy greens can also help metabolize estrogen in a healthy way.  Listen in as Alisa joins Dr. Taz to explain more about what your hormones are telling you and shares information on her Cycle-Syncing™ protocol, a female-centric diet and lifestyle program that leverages hormonal patterns for optimal health. Alissa also discusses her new app, MyFlo, which helps you determine the following at different times in your cycle: Eating raw food vs. cooked food Bootcamp vs. yoga Giving a presentation vs. brainstorming and researching Mommy time vs. playing with the kids Making out vs. a quickie Socializing with friends vs. a romantic date night

A retox (instead of detox) allows for adding healthy components into your life,instead of approaching health in a self-deprivation way.From strict cleanses to hour-long meditation practices, all the wellness offerings available today can be confusing and oftentimes unobtainable. How do you manage your health efforts in the context of career, family and personal lives? Lauren Imparato, author of RETOX: Healthy Solutions for Real Life, explains that we too often take a guilt-based or self-deprivation approach to getting healthy. Her concept of retox (instead of detox) allows for adding healthy components into your life instead of taking other components away. This approach takes into consideration the "real" life you have and removes all that pressure to be perfect. Ultimately, retox isn’t about changing who you are or denying life’s pleasures. It’s about tailoring sensible, scientifically-based health practices to the life you already live. It’s about working hard, playing harder, and renewing your balance and energy so you can do it all again. Listen in as Lauren joins Dr. Taz to share more about her book, as well as the tools she provides (yoga, food, attitude) so you can achieve your healthiest self. Buy on Amazon RETOX: Healthy Solutions for Real Life