Monthly Archives: May 2020

Fatalities From Covid-19: Inflammation

May 27, 2020well-beingAnti-inflammatories to combat Covid-19 Immune System Storms, cellular function, covid-19 can attack the heart and lungs, extinguish the flames of inflammation, fatalities from covid-19, flames of inflammation in your cells, inflammation, Inflammation Thrombosis Biomarkers Tied to COVID-19 Deaths, living a healthy lifestyle, Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), Recent research on Covid-19 and Chronic Inflammation, To fight covid-19 don't neglect immunity & Inflammation, when Immune systems turn against usBestinCorporateHealth

Fatalities From Covid-19….. The flames of Chronic Inflammation

Fatalities from covid-19 seem so perplexing to many. This is because we do not see inflammation. We look at the outer facade of a person, we pass judgment on their health status. People over 100 years of age have recovered from Covid-19, and children have passed away. Unfortunately, we do not have a magic mirror into the cellular function.

As I always say…don’t listen to me, read the research. I am sharing more links here on the fatalities from covid-19 and the inflammatory response. If you haven’t read it yet – more research articles here. My goal is that everyone of us realize, even though we think we are living a healthy lifestyle, is chronic inflammation destroying our cells’ abilities to repair and fend off disease. Whether it be covid-19, heart disease, cancer, BPH, IBD, arthritis, depression, neurodegenerative, diabetes…..chronic inflammation is at the root of our chronic illnesses. What are you doing to extinguish the flames of inflammation in your cells?

Recent research on Covid-19 and Chronic Inflammation: May 2020

Clusters of rare conditions in children

To Fight Covid-19, Don’t Neglect Immunity & Inflammation

American Heart Association:

COVID-19, Arrhythmic Risk and Inflammation: Mind the Gap!

Covid-19 Can Attack the Heart and Lungs

Hopes High For Anti-Inflammatories to combat Covid-19 Immune System Storms

CDC: For Parents: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19

Inflammation, Thrombosis Biomarkers Tied to COVID-19 Deaths

When Immune Systems Turn Against Us = Chronic Inflammation aka Cytokine Storm

Chronic inflammation is at the root of all disease, and research is showing us the flames of inflammation are responsible for the fatalities from Covid-19 are no different.

Proactively lower your levels of chronic inflammation, as recommended by the American Heart Association and hundreds of studies and peer reviewed science.

Inflammation and ROS (Reactive Oxygen species) oxidative stress, break down the proper functioning of the cell, and we age. If we lower our levels of chronic inflammation…….think we can live a better, healthier life….and a much more comfortable one!

We will lower your oxidative stress by 40% in the first month. We have hundreds of studies confirming this, accolades from major medical institutions as the greatest therapeutic medical discovery. Oxidative stress causes chronic inflammation – let’s give your cells the loving they need, calm the flames of inflammation.

Is your health worth $40/month?

Happily explain.

In Health,

Shira Litwack

Shira has been in chronic care management and prevention for 30 years, researcher, specializing in lifestyle habits including holistic nutrition, medical fitness and oxidative stress reduction. She has created and provided oxidative stress assessments, to help clients identify potential health risks. Lowering chronic inflammation for disease prevention and management is the focal point of BICH.

She partners with companies that provide immediate, affordable, accessible, reliable solutions for populations: Affordable, accessible healthcare, chronic care management, home testing…..Remote Patient Monitoring, Virtual Health, EMR

She is frequently called upon by the media, has her own podcast bringing current research to the public.

Articles featured in: Corporate Wellness Association, European Registry of Exercise Professionals, The National Post, Investment Executive Magazine, Directory of Greater Toronto, Canadian Leukemia & Lymphoma Association, Prostate Cancer Canada, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Anytime Fitness, Today’s Black Woman, Today’s Seniors, Medical Fitness Network, FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered), Willow (Breast & Hereditary Cancer Support),Myeloma Canada, Cancer Exercise Training Institute, Urban Poling for Breast Cancer, ROW – Recovery on Water for Breast Cancer, Sirius XM Doctor Radio, Medical Fitness Network

Access Hundreds of Self Tests, rapid diagnostics. Get Tested at Home! Stay at Home! Contact me for Covid-19 self testing with medical consultation Shira@BestInCorporateHealth.com

BPH A Fire in the Prostate

May 20, 2020well-beingbenign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH, chronic inflammation, chronic prostate inflammation, enlarged prostate, enlargement of the prostate gland, inflammatory conditions, lower our levels of chronic inflammation, lower urinary tract symptoms, Oxidative stress causes chronic inflammation, prostate cancer, prostate volume, prostatic tissue harboring cancerBestinCorporateHealth

BPH – Calming that Fire in the Prostate

BPH – Benign prostatic hyperplasia — enlargement of the prostate gland — is a common condition as men get older. An enlarged prostate gland can cause uncomfortable urinary symptoms, such as blocking the flow of urine out of the bladder. It can also potentially cause bladder, urinary tract or kidney problems. It can also be very uncomfortable, continually.

Don’t let the word benign fool you. If a man is concerned he has BPH, he must see a physician to have it properly diagnosed. Yes it is more common than uncommon. Over 50% of men over 50, 70% at age 60 and 90% of men over 70 have BPH. However, it needs to be properly diagnosed, eliminating more serious condition.

There are now a number of studies, that link BPH with chronic inflammation. Most of our chronic illnesses have inflammation at the root – including diabetes, heart disease, cancers, depression arthritis……..a very long list. And yes, research is showing that people who succumb to covid-19, are doing so because of the intense inflammatory response when the virus invades. Prostatic inflammation and prostate enlargement seem to go together.

A Chronic inflammatory microenvironment is considered to have a contribution in the development of prostate cancer.

Aging and family history are two of the risk factors for BPH. Interesting, so are heart disease, diabetes and obesity – all also inflammatory conditions.

Controlling BPH is very important – not just for comfort. Possible complication can include urine retention, bladder stones, Urinary tract infections. bladder and kidney damage. Yes, there are medications to help control BPH, but as always – let’s look at possible ways we can minimize the BPH, looking at the body as a whole.

Let’s look at some conclusions from a few studies:

2009: “Prostate enlargement due to chronic inflammatory process may progressively conduce to BPH progression. Therefore, some drugs with anti-inflammatory effects could be used in the management of BPH.”

2017 Zagreb Croatia: “Inflammatory cells are quite common in BPH and are seen in prostatic tissue harboring cancer. Recent evidence support theories that chronic inflammation and immune response might be common drivers for both diseases, at least in some cases.”

2013 Milan, Italy: Chronic inflammation could be a predictor of poor response to BPH medical treatment. Thus, the ability to identify patients with chronic inflammation would be crucial to prevent BPH progression and develop target therapies…”. This study finds inflammation is not just part of the cause of BPH, but also interferes with medical treatment.

Urotoday 2017: “men with chronic prostate inflammation in the baseline biopsy had greater LUTS (lower urinary tract symptoms) and prostate volume than men without prostate inflammation during the REDUCE trials. Chronic inflammation is associated with increased risks, and severity and the progression of BPH and LUTS outcomes.”

Take a look at the list of foods recommended for men with an enlarged prostate.

Berries, avocado, tomato, broccoli, green tea….foods with a higher antioxidant component……

We know chronic inflammation rises in the body as we age, as our body’s natural mechanism of anti-inflammatory production decreases. Therefore, once again – we see that lowering the body’s overall inflammatory status is a must in disease prevention – and BPH is no exception.

Chronic inflammation is at the root of all disease, and BPH is no exception, causing our cells to abandon those maintenance and repair procedures…….Inflammation and ROS (Reactive Oxygen species) oxidative stress, break down the proper functioning of the cell, and we age. If we lower our levels of chronic inflammation…….think we can live a better, healthier life….and a much more comfortable one!

Is your health worth $40/month?

Happily explain.

In Health,

Shira Litwack

She is frequently called upon by the media, has her own podcast bringing current research to the public.

Access Hundreds of Self Tests, rapid diagnostics. Get Tested at Home! Stay at Home! Contact me for Covid-19 self testing with medical consultation Shira@BestInCorporateHealth.com

Best Health Decreed by DNA

May 19, 2020employee performance, well-beingBest Health, cellular aging, chronic inflammation is at the root of all disease, circle of life, covid-19 self testing, David Sinclair Harvard Health, decree by DNA, extend lifespan, healthy lifestyle choices, hypotheses of longevity, inflammation and ROS, Lifespan, pharmaceutical companies, sick care societyBestinCorporateHealth

Best Health – The Decree by our DNA

Best health habits are constantly debated and argued. However, I really believe in going back to the basics – what is decreed by our DNA?

Genetics: Yes you know – what we inherited from Mama and Papa……however, don’t try and blame your parents for everything. Because the truth is our epigenetic alterations dictate more of our health and lifespan.

Epigenetics: Literally means “above” or “on top of” genetics. Those external modifications to our DNA that turn genes on or off. These modifications do not change the DNA sequence, but instead, they affect how cells “read” our genes, the orders they take from the DNA sequence.

Best Health by Genes or Pharmaceutical Companies?

Please, let’s agree that the very best health is determined by those practices that nurture our DNA.

Yes, pharmaceuticals serve a purpose. What I do believe has happened is that people accept that inevitable degradation in health will happen, and there are pharmaceuticals to help us heal or manage an illness. That is the typically accepted circle of life. I do believe we are a sick care society, rather than promoting true proactive health, health that preserved proper functioning of the cells.

Along the same line, if you ask people about aging – they will usually answer with something out of pop marketing: fine lines and wrinkles, grey hair……But Iask you to look at aging from the cell.

One of the original hypotheses of longevity posits that aging is the natural result of entropy on the cells, tissues, and organs of the animal—a slow, inexorable slide into non-functionality caused by a break down of its parts. We now can see that aging is instead at least in part genetically regulated, epigenetically regulated.

The regulation and subsequent breakdown of cellular processes (our health) represent a programmatic decision by the cell to either continue or abandon maintenance procedures with age.

Many mutations have been discovered to extend lifespan in organisms of all complexities, from yeast to mammals.

Bottom line – we are discovering that aging – cellular breakdown is not a necessity or foregone conclusion. The question is:

What are we doing, or not doing – to encourage our cells to continue with the quest to continue with their maintenance procedures?

Best Health – Preventing Cellular Aging

David Sinclair, Harvard Professor, author of the book

“Lifespan – Why we Age and Don’t Have to”:

“As a scientific definition, I’m proposing that aging is a loss of information—the information that keeps our cells healthy, the information that tells the cells which genes to read throughout our lives. And aging is a manifestation of cells losing their ability to read the right genes at the right time, which leads to cells losing their identity and tissues failing.”………

And…..

“The regulatory definition, currently, is that aging is something different than a disease. The reason is that even though it satisfies the criteria of a disease—which is a decline in function over time leading to death—aging is separated because it happens to more than 50% of us. And I’d argue that just because aging happens to more than half of us, is no reason to not include it as a disease. In fact, I would say it’s even more important that we work on trying to combat it, because aging is the main cause of all major diseases in society now.”

We have all been programmed with the fact that aging is inevitable – the way our genes are programmed. We will get older, need medications until we die….sorry for the very blunt delivery.

Now, we have great scientific data – aging is not a “fait accomplis” a foregone conclusion.

If we can protect the functioning of the cell, can we prevent disease, delay aging? Worth a try?

Best Health from the cell — Courtesy NIH, please click to enlarge

“In an older cell, accumulated damage leads to a less healthy cell. ROS build up from damaged mitochondria and contribute to a greater fraction of the proteome consisting of damaged proteins and protein aggregates.”

Yes, if not nurtured, cells will age, and disease will set in. We frequently think our “healthy lifestyle choices” are preserving the cell – when in fact we could be contributing to the demise of the cell’s performance. Stay away from pop science. The facade may look great, but it does not necessarily infer the cells are doing as well.

Chronic inflammation is at the root of all disease, causing our cells to abandon those maintenance and repair procedures…….Inflammation and ROS (Reactive Oxygen species) oxidative stress, break down the proper functioning of the cell, and we age.

Is your health worth $40/month?

Happily explain.

In Health,

Shira Litwack

She is frequently called upon by the media, has her own podcast bringing current research to the public.

Access Hundreds of Self Tests, rapid diagnostics. Get Tested at Home! Stay at Home! Contact me for Covid-19 self testing with medical consultation Shira@BestInCorporateHealth.com

Self Diagnostic Tests Empowering Our Health

May 15, 2020well-beingcovid-19 self diagnostic tests, diabetes is a global epidemic, early detection, Get tested at Home, global health pandemic, gluten sensitivity, heavy metal exposure, HPV is linked to cervical cancer, increased risk of cancer, Infectious diseases, lowering inflammation, Rapid diagnostics, reliable at home testing, stay at home, Vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D testingBestinCorporateHealth

Self diagnostic tests – easily accessible, affordable, private….get it done!

Self diagnostic tests are a hidden gem to our health. Let me UN-hide them, and open a world of potential savings in health, lives and dollars.

AKA: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of core.

Covid-19 proved to be literally viral wild fire. There was not time to think plan, we all had to react immediately – individually and as a a global effort. If there is something we should be learning from the Covid-19 global health pandemic its the incredible value of early testing. The World Health Organization calls for countries to “Test, Test, Test!” We had a critical need to escalate testing, isolation and contact tracing efforts, which proved to be the backbone of the effective response.

Large-scale testing allows health services to quickly identify who has the disease and arrange for them to receive the care needed. Isolating known cases prevents them from coming into contact with others and slows the rate of transmission.

Effective testing programs allow governments and health authorities to understand how prevalent the disease is and how it is evolving. Tracking positive test results helps authorities make evidence-based decisions to try to slow the spread of the disease.

Now let’s look on a personal level.

There was truly a stigma around getting tested for Covid-19 – people – almost like a leper in the 1960s. Because of limited testing and availability of healthcare workers, there were very strict limitations put on who could get tested. We also saw very quickly that Covid-19 reared its ugly head with a wide variety of symptoms. If people had no fever, they could not get tested. However, someone could use a self diagnostic test. Sadly, most people do not know these exist, or how to get one.

Self Diagnostic Tests – The answer to timely, effective containment

Early detection of potential health hazards, infectious diseases, chronic illness is an absolute necessity to truly live a healthy lifestyle. As hard as we may try – we do not know what we can be exposed to – or what is brewing inside. Prevention is always better than cure. Monitoring aspects of our health with self diagnostic tests can ensure that any health problems are identified and be treated at an early stage. There is no strain to get a doctor’s appointment, no going out in a global health pandemic. affordability, privacy, no hiring a babysitter……just like virtual health – it meets the needs of our times.

Infectious diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi, and each year millions of people globally are affected by them. These organisms spread through touch, kisses, sexual contact, coughs and sneezes and yes some can live on surfaces for a limited amount of time. So touching a surface that was touched by an infected person, can spread the organism.

Infectious diseases were associated with an economic burden of more than $120 billion in the U.S. in 2014. New bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites emerge and evolve each year. Most infectious diseases have minor complications if diagnosed and treated appropriately, early. If these biological invaders are left to conquer, they can be fatal. And obviously – the word infectious.

Certain infections are linked to a long-term increased risk of cancer:

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is linked to cervical cancer……and oral cancer.

Helicobacter pylori are linked to stomach cancer and peptic ulcers.

Hepatitis B and C are linked to liver cancer.

Self diagnostic tests are available for many potential health hazards, Covid-19, STDs, HIV, Flu, strep test.… Just a few of the more unknown:

Vitamin D testing: Vitamin D deficiency can lead to a loss of bone density, a hazard for the development of osteoporosis. Vitamin D deficiency is also thought to be a danger for the development of cancer.

Nutritional Panels: Let’s us know nutrient supplies in our body. Remember even if we are eating healthy, absorption can be a problem. A wellness, nutritional panel is an excellent idea

Diabetes: We know diabetes is a global epidemic. Sadly, there are even more people with the disease, that are unaware. Diabetes is enough of a challenge unto itself, but it also puts people at a much higher risk of other diseases including heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, cancers….treating diabetes is an ongoing necessity.

Heavy metals: Heavy metal exposure is linked to hundreds of diseases including, mental health disorders, cancers, liver issues, neuro degenerative……

Our medical landscape is changing. More and more medical services are being offered virtually. Self testing allows for rapid diagnostics, early detection and better outcomes. We are always striving to improve medical care – and that necessitates affordability, accessibility, convenience, and yes privacy. Self serve, is here to stay, thankfully. Independence provides power and control over our destiny.

Contact me: Let’s provide Covid-19 Self diagnostic tests to employees, patients, clients….Wide variety of self diagnostic tests available, with medical guidance and consults!

Book a consult, provide employees with our OS assessment, a very different approach to corporate health!

Convenient diagnostic testing for many issues from Covid-19, Diabetes, Vitamin D, STDs, fertility, Flu, HIV, gluten sensitivity….let us put you in touch with reliable at home testing, hundreds of diagnostic tests with physician supervision & full privacy!

Lower oxidative stress, Redefine Your healthy Lifestyle, from your DNA! Once again, we see the data – oxidative stress and chronic inflammation is at the root of disease.

Are you worth $40/month?

Happily explain.

In Health,

Shira Litwack

She partners with companies that provide immediate, affordable, accessible, reliable solutions for populations.

Access Hundreds of Self Tests, rapid diagnostics. Get Tested at Home! Stay at Home!

Aging and Disease: Which Comes First?

May 1, 2020employee performance, well-being3 Theories of Cellular Aging, activating our sirtuins, aggressive antioxidants, aging and disease, aging of our cells, biological age vs. chronological age Aging and disease, caloric restriction, Cell senescence, cellular aging, chicken or the egg, chronic illnesses mental and physical., glutathione SOD and Catalase, gluten sensitivity, healthy proactive lifestyle, lower oxidative stress, mitochondrial aging, mitochondrial dysfunction, Mitochondrial Theory of Aging, NRF1 pathway that stimulates our mitochondria, oxidative stress from hand sanitizers, oxidative stress theory of aging, reliable at home testing, sirtuins theory of agingBestinCorporateHealth

Aging and Disease….A Real Chicken or the Egg Dilemma!

Aging and disease…Is it time for a paradigm shift?

We have always thought that as we age, we become diseased. What we have learned the last number of years with epigenetics & the aging of our cells, it really is possible disease comes first.

Cellular aging is the progressive decline in the resistance to stress and other cellular damages, causing a gradual loss of cellular functions and resulting eventually in cell death. Aging is the progressive loss of tissue and organ function over time, from cell death. As we lose cellular function, we are more and more susceptible to disease, we age.

Disease happens with breakdown in the functioning of our cells.

Let’s take a look at the 3 most recognized causes of aging.

3 Theories of Cellular Aging:

Oxidative Stress theory of Aging
The Mitochondrial Theory of Aging
The Sirtuins Theory of Aging

Aging and Disease with Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress causes chronic inflammation, which is at the root of our chronic illnesses, mental and physical. Fact: Lowering our levels of oxidative stress is a critical aspect of living a healthy, proactive lifestyle. Problem is – even with our best intentions, we often increase our levels of oxidative stress. Many articles here on BICH about oxidative stress and inflammation, how we can measure and lower.

How we can get our body to produce its own, homegrown most vital antioxidants

This is vital to really controlling our levels of oxidative stress. Activating our own body to produce its own antioxidant system, fights the free radicals of oxidative stress a million times greater than the antioxidants we eat. We must optimize our own NRF2 pathway, and produce glutathione, SOD and catalase….THE most aggressive antioxidants against oxidative stressors.

Oh….Those hand sanitizers we are slathering on now? A main ingredient is Triclosan (in various forms). The toxicity and oxidative stress from hand sanitizers.

2. Aging and Disease from Mitochondrial Dysfunction

You probably remember from biology class – the mitochondria are the powerhouses of our cells. Our mitochondria produce our ATP – which is our currency of energy in our bodies. and are key in metabolic homeostasis. BTW – I just thought I would add here:

Production of ATP is vital for our existence. You know what a very normal by-product is of ATP production? Oxidative stress ⚡️⚡️

Mitochondrial dysfunction has emerged as one of the key hallmarks of aging process and is linked to the development of numerous age-related pathologies including metabolic syndrome, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. However, we can increase the amount of mitochondria we have, and increase the strength of our mitochondria with our NRF1 pathway.

Just as the NRF2 pathway activates our own homegrown antioxidant system, we need to call on the NRF1 pathway that stimulates our mitochondria – both in terms of quantity and quality. Aging and disease of our mitochondria is NOT a necessity of aging. We can stave off mitochondrial aging.

” Strategies aimed to enhance mitochondrial function by targeting mitochondrial dynamics, quality control, and mitohormesis pathways might promote healthy aging, protect against age-related diseases, and mediate longevity.” Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, December 2017

3. Aging and Disease with Sirtuins

NIH 2017: ” The search for an activator of sirtuins is one of the most extensive and robust topic of research”

We now have activators for sirtuins, and this is done with the NAD+ molecule.

Over the years, researchers have found that caloric restriction has a number of health benefits. We are not talking about knocking 500 calories off per day for fat loss, we are talking sever caloric restriction – in the range of eating less than 800 calories per day. Research found that by keeping calorie intake this low it provided healthy longevity, a healthier vascular system, cholesterol control, cognitive benefits including better mood, the ability to think clearer, and increases in energy.

Nobody wants to eat less than 800 calories per day, every day. Researchers discovered that by activating our NAD production, we can reap the same benefits from drastic caloric restriction, of increasing the activity of our sirtuins.

Back to our original question, which is it?

Aging ⇒ Disease OR

Disease ⇒ Aging?

Cell senescence is a growth arrest that is induced when cells reach the end of their replicative potential or are exposed to various stressors. AKA Zombie cells. These cells can also turn the healthy cells near them into zombie cells. Producing an inordinate amount of oxidative stress, is just one of the ways zombie cells destroy neighbouring healthy cells. By strengthening our cells, we have less cell senescence, and yes, research is showing – we do have the ability to stave off cell senescence.

The smallest unit of life, is the most powerful unit of life

Biological age does not have to be in accordance with the chronological age

Book a consult, provide employees with our OS assessment, a very different approach to corporate health!

Lower oxidative stress, Redefine Your healthy Lifestyle, from your DNA! Once again, we see the data – oxidative stress and chronic inflammation is at the root of disease.

Are you worth $40/month?

Happily explain.

In Health,

Shira Litwack

She partners with companies that provide immediate, affordable, accessible, reliable solutions for populations.

Best In Corporate Health

Employee Wellness Employee Engagement with Health

Monthly Archives: May 2020

Fatalities From Covid-19: Inflammation

Fatalities From Covid-19….. The flames of Chronic Inflammation

Recent research on Covid-19 and Chronic Inflammation: May 2020

BPH A Fire in the Prostate

BPH – Calming that Fire in the Prostate

Best Health Decreed by DNA

Best Health – The Decree by our DNA

Best Health by Genes or Pharmaceutical Companies?

Best Health – Preventing Cellular Aging

Self Diagnostic Tests Empowering Our Health

Self diagnostic tests – easily accessible, affordable, private….get it done!

Self Diagnostic Tests – The answer to timely, effective containment

Aging and Disease: Which Comes First?

Aging and Disease….A Real Chicken or the Egg Dilemma!