Tag Archives: chronic inflammation

Covid Variants – Evolution Before Our Eyes

April 13, 2021well-beingchronic inflammation, corona viruses, coronavirus vaccines, coronavirus variants, covid vaccine, covid variants, cytokine storm, hand washing, lockdowns, preventing transmissions, reducing inflammation, Successful Body, virus is mutatingBestinCorporateHealth

Covid variants – Building Our Proactive Health Plans

Covid variants are perhaps the best example of evolution in action, right in front of us. We

covid variants reminding us that lowering levels of chronic inflammation is the most important aspect of proactive health — Covid19 vaccine is NOT a get out of jail for free card!

normally think of evolution happening over vast time spans. These covid variants must be very fit, truly exemplifying survival of the fittest. We must continue to be vigilant to stop the spread, the vaccine is NOT a “Get out of jail for free card!”

Viruses are not static – they morph and evolve, providing a constant flow of challenges to the scientific community. Let’s do our own forensics – and see what we can do to protect ourselves against these coronavirus variants – and hopefully other looming pandemics.

How do these covid variants happen?

Let’s first have a crash course on virology. Viruses are probably the best example of our concept of “ to infinity and beyond”. They are the most abundant form of “life” on earth, and probably elsewhere! Exponential growth is an understatement. Literally, trillions to the power of another few trillion.

A virus has a shell, capsid, which protects its viral material, or genome, safe. Some particularly resilient viruses such as Hep C, coronavirus, herpes, HIV have an extra protective coating referred to as envelopes.

Viral envelopes hate soap, soap is their kryptonite, which is why washing with soap is paramount to destroy the virus.

Every time the coronavirus transmits between people, it picks up microscopic changes to its genetic code. The result is coronavirus variants. Researchers are observing patterns as to how the virus is mutating. Covid-19 seems to be the lead track star of viruses – redefining how fast a virus can mutate. The bottom line is, we do not know how many variants exist now, or, potentially how many there could be in the future.

Remaining vigilant about preventing transmission is no less vital now – it is even more important now to help halt the potential for mutations.

Hand washing with soap, masks, distancing, covid-19 testing, abiding by lockdowns…..are all vital to harnessing this virus from further mutations. The vaccine is NOT a get out of jail for free card!!!

Hopefully, our vaccines will be able to keep up with these mutations. We know that every year (less actually) our flu vaccines need to be updated. The coronavirus vaccines will demand constant updates – more than any software we have ever complained about updating!

Evolution in action…survival of the fittest: In most viruses and disease-causing bacteria, the use of treatments and vaccines challenges them to evolve ways of escaping them so they can continue to thrive…..These viruses certainly appear to have an evolutionary advantage.

Covid Variants and Beyond…Minimizing our Susceptibility to Future Attacks

What can we do to proactively strengthen us against these multiple coronaviruses?

Yes, we ALL must abide by the rules to prevent transmission. But how can we strengthen ourselves, that if we come into contact with these viruses, we minimize our risk of a deadly reaction?

I have many articles on here about the role of chronic inflammation in every one of our chronic illnesses from heart disease, diabetes, vascular disease, arthritis, depression, cancers… ……..Chronic inflammation is the ultimate underlying cause of a compromised ability for our body to shake off any nasties that hit us. AKA – defences are down.

In patients with a severe reaction to the virus, the lungs are damaged, and patients need supplemental oxygen. The risk of mortality these cases is over 40%.

March 2021 Journal of Immunity: Donna Farber, PhD, professor of microbiology & immunology, Chief of Surgical Sciences Columbia University: “Even though individuals are getting vaccinated, severe COVID-19 remains a significant risk for certain individuals and we need to find ways to treat people who develop severe disease.”

“People refer to patients experiencing a cytokine storm in the blood, but what we’re seeing in the lungs is on another level. The immune cells in the lung went into overdrive releasing these cytokines.”

Very complicated science. Bottom line is – lowering our levels of chronic inflammation, is probably our best defense against a drastic reaction to the virus. This explains why, people who already have underlying chronic conditions are more vulnerable to covid 19 and covid variants.

Please read the many articles I have here on chronic inflammation, and how we can reduce our risk, to not just covid, but all of our chronic diseases. The research continues to support this necessity. My goal in chronic care management, is to bring reducing chronic inflammation, to the very top of our health “to-do” list. All of our other “healthy lifestyle” habits, fall under the umbrella of reducing inflammation. However, please be careful you are not “paving the road to hell with good intentions”. In other words, get the true science on lowering inflammation, and not the pop science.

In Health,

Shira

Contributing Author “The Successful Body” 2021

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

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

Optimizing Gut Health- Our Mighty Microbiome

September 7, 2019employee performance, well-beingbacteriotherapy, beneficial bacteria, brain fog, carb cravings, chronic inflammation, chronic intestinal infections, diagnosed with depression, dysbiosis, fecal transplant, gastric mucosal injury, GI diseases, Gi Health, gut health, health and happiness, Leaky gut, lowering stomach acid, lowering triglycerides, microbial repertoire, microbiome, microbiota, optimizing gut health, oxidative stress, oxidative Stress and gut health, probiotics, promoting the healthy HDL cholesterol, Reducing oxidative stress is a MUST for a healthy lifestyle, toxic waste productsBestinCorporateHealth

Optimizing Gut Health for Health and Happiness

Optimizing gut health is critical for our overall health. As Hippocrates said “all diseases begin in the gut.” We often think of our stomach as an empty vat that food plops into – which could not be any further from reality.

Our gut is the host to 100 trillion microorganisms, composing our microbiota. The gut’s functions are

digestion
absorption of nutrients
excretion of waste
development and function of the immune system
gut-brain communication
production of serotonin
Helps control our hormonal levels, helping us maintain healthy cortisol levels improved ability to handle stress
A recent study of 1,500 people found that our gut microbiome plays an important function by promoting the healthy HDL cholesterol and lowering triglycerides

Many of our daily chronic issues & diseases including weight gain, high blood sugar, high cholesterol could originate from a dysfunctional gut, or a dysbiosis – an imbalance between good and harmful bacteria. We run to treat the blood sugar, cholesterol…..with medications, when maybe a first step should be balancing our microbiome.

We are first exposed to microbes when we pass through Mama’s birth canal.

Just how important is our microbiota…..Would you like to have a fecal transplant? AKA poop in a pill or bacteriotherapy – our microbiota is just that important. A fecal transplant takes microbes from individuals with a healthy flora and given to an unhappy microbiome, used to treat chronic intestinal infections. Kind of a reverse colonoscopy, these transplants are 90 percent effective in healing the gut and eliminating the infection. Imagine – transplanting bacteria to get healthy!

Optimizing Gut Health by Minimizing the Harmful Bacteria

We nurture the bad bacteria by eating refined sugars, processed foods, ingesting toxins in our food, alcohol. Our diet, lifestyle, and medications, particularly antibiotics, influence and shape the gut microbiome throughout our life. Antibiotics kill the good bacteria too, not just the bad ones.

The bad bacteria interact with the immune system in the gut to cause the release of inflammatory cytokines and stress steroids ….associated with chronic inflammation.
The good bacteria: Housekeepers of the gut, crucial to health and should dominate and control all other microbes. The beneficial bacteria provide a natural barrier and protect us against disease, free radicals, hostile bacteria, parasites, fungi, viruses and toxins that are in our food and drink that we ingest every day.

A word about probiotics to support beneficial bacteria – and they spend A LOT of money to get those billions of colonies.

It does not matter how many billions of colonies

there are – what matters is if they can survive the stomach acid to get to reach our small intestine. Most probiotics do not make it there – unless they are specifically formulated to pass through the stomach. Lowering stomach acid is NOT the answer- our stomach acid plays a very important role in our health!

Leaky gut: I feel any article about optimizing gut health would be incomplete without at least mentioning leaky gut. AKA “intestinal permeability,” a condition in which the lining of the small intestine is damaged, causing undigested food particles, toxic waste products and bacteria to seep through the intestines invading the blood stream. Leaky gut can lead to many serious health issues.

Possible signs of leaky gut include:

diarrhea, constipation, bloating & gas
skin issues such as hives, rashes
carb cravings
weakened immune system
brain fog
achey joints

Dr. Axe is a great place to research leaky gut and learn more!!!

Oxidative Stress & Gut Health

I have many articles on this site for reducing oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress ⇒⇒Inflammation ⇒⇒Chronic Inflammation ⇒⇒ Disease

Reducing oxidative stress is a MUST for a healthy lifestyle.

As Harvard says:

Inflammation is the unifying link between all disease – mental and physical

There are many causes of oxidative stress endogenous and exogenous. The oxymoron here is often we make choices we think our good for us – but we easily could be decreasing our body’s ability to lower oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress is a culprit in the pathogenesis of our GI diseases including peptic ulcers, gastrointestinal cancers, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Oxidative Stress is a strong factor in the process of gastric mucosal injury

A study in Belgium – studying the “microbial repertoire” in the gut consistently found that people diagnosed with depression were missing 2 kinds of good, vital microbes. A later Dutch study – found the same 2 microbes missing.

⇒⇒ Oxidative stress affects our gut health and can cause serious damage. Yet another way oxidative stress is at the root of all diseases

Combatting Oxidative Stress with NRF2 Pathway:

Complicated – but simply, our inner NRF2 pathway triggers our antioxidative genes. It is completely accepted the NRF2 pathway lowers oxidative stress, however, it also dramatically decreases with age. The NRF2 powers provide a million times the antioxidative power. There are hundreds of studies, peer reviewed studies that prove the incredible power of activating our NRF2 pathway. The truth is – there really is only one way to activate the NRF2 pathway – and that is with the natural supplements that have been studied, proven and accepted by our respected medical institutions.

Washington State University refers to these NRF2 activators as the “the most extraordinary therapeutic and most extraordinary preventative breakthrough in history of medicine.” These activators are recommended by the American Heart Association and have earned the accolades of hundreds of peer reviewed studies.

Our cells are forced to confront the daily cacophony of life, from oxidative stress. We have the ability to orchestrate the musicians, our cells, into the symphony of life. Contact me to lower oxidative stress by up to 40% in the first month. My Bonus for the corporate world – free educational webinars on understanding oxidative stress and inflammation – and really managing and preventing disease. email me for details.

Oxidative Stress at the Root of Disease

In Health,

Shira

Shira@BestInCorporateHealth.com. Set Up a Call

The supplement like a flu shot against oxidative stress…..

Why are we not controlling chronic illness? We must control the wildfire of inflammation and lower oxidative stress. We know oxidative stress is at the root of chronic illness such as cancer, heart disease, depression, arthritis, stroke, diabetes. Inflammation ages us and leaves us susceptible to disease….We take a flu shot to prevent the flu – one simple supplement to lower your oxidative stress by as much as 40%. 7 patents, 24 peer reviewed studies on pubmed, accolades from American Heart Association, Mayo Clinic, National Institute on Aging….Washington State: “may well become the most extraordinary therapeutic and most extraordinary preventative breakthrough in the history of medicine.”

Shira Litwack: Corporate Wellness Specialist, Chronic Care prevention & management program design, health technologies, population health management on 3 continents.

There is an estimated 750 Billion dollars in U.S. health care waste every year. Our many technologies assure you are not contributing to that $750 billion. Health technology serving the continuum from prevention through chronic illness management.

Lifestyle Management Medical Cost Transparency Best Specialists Choosing benefits Chronic Care Management

Nutritional Sabotage? Our Own Worst Enemy

April 10, 2019well-beingbrain food, chronic inflammation, controlling chronic illness, diabetes prevention, eliminate entire food groups, enzymes and coenzymes, increase in mortality, moderation diet, nutritional sabotage, oxidative stress, short term gratification, weight lossBestinCorporateHealth

Nutritional Sabotage?

Nutritional sabotage is an excellent example of the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

We go on these fad diets, “healthy clean eating” programs, where we eliminate entire food groups. Are we better off?

Let’s talk about a few examples.

No carb: the Go To diet for a very long time.

A few points.

The Moderation study: Dr Sara Seidelmann, clinical and research fellow in cardiovascular medicine from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, led the research. The study of more than 15,400 people in the US found that diets both low and high in carbohydrates were linked with an increase in mortality, while moderate consumers had the lowest risk of mortality.

These findings were confirmed in a meta-analysis of studies ( study of hundreds of other studies combined ) including over 432,000 people from more than 20 countries. Bottom line results:

Average life expectancies for 50-year-olds:

Moderate carbohydrate intake – additional 33 years

Very low carbohydrate intake- 29 years

High carbohydrate intake – 32 years

Nutritional sabotage? an excellent example here. The millions of people who do not eat carbs for instant gratification of weight loss – these studies seem to confirm nutritional sabotage, albeit the very best intentions.

Again – we have to define a carb – of course we are not referring to and excuse for pizza & pasta parties, chips, junk food. That’s another form of nutritional sabotage. When we say carbs – we are referring to fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes & beans……

Brain food: Our brains consume up to 20% of the energy used by the entire human body, more than any other organ. The brain is about 2% of body weight, but receives 15% of the cardiac output and uses 20% of the total body oxygen consumption. Rather needy organ! The brain uses about 25% of the total body glucose (from carbs) utilization. Junk carbs are terrible for the brain in a number of ways (oxidative stress and inflammation), yet those good carbs we are talking about are vital. The body can use ketones (from a deprivation of good carbs) as an energy source….let’s just say not a preferred source, we can talk about this in another blog.

Dairy: Another popular belief is to eliminate dairy. Truthfully, I was devastated when Canada removed dairy from the food guide. I am all for getting people to eat more legumes, plant based foods. Fact is like other foods, moderation is key. Dairy is still an excellent source of calcium, vitamin D, protein, micronutrients….supports bone growth, hormone production, a very long list. I do not think it is realistic for children to eat enough legumes, oily fish to compensate. Dairy is also, according to numerous studies, to have a role in diabetes prevention. Once again – we are saying moderation – and we are not talking bowls and bowls of sugary fatty ice cream, 18% cream in our coffee…..But a bowl of greek yogurt has endless nutritional benefits – including a natural food source of probiotics (mix in some oatmeal for the prebiotics), protein and precious enzymes, coenzymes and micronutrients. And please, don’t fool yourself about giving your kids calcium from those chocolate spreads……

There are benefits to being a vegetarian – if people are doing it properly – and not living on a diet of pasta and potatoes. Are they eating fish, nuts, seeds, legumes, fruits & vegetables? With many people – being vegetarian is nutritional sabotage, they frequently are low in B12, calcium and the iron in vegan foods is not as easily absorbed by the body as the iron from animal sources – there is a real skill necessary for a healthy vegan or vegetarian diet. However, eliminating all animal products from the diet increases the risk of certain nutritional deficiencies. From the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: “Micronutrients of special concern for the vegan include vitamins B-12 and D, calcium, and long-chain n-3 (omega-3) fatty acids. Unless vegans regularly consume foods that are fortified with these nutrients, appropriate supplements should be consumed. In some cases, iron and zinc status of vegans may also be of concern because of the limited bioavailability of these minerals.”

I recently did an interview with Dr. Ross Grant, on the importance of NAD to lower oxidative stress, which can lead to chronic inflammation, in our diets, NAD is a coenzyme our bodies can assemble. However, we need to assure our body is getting the precursors it needs to manufacture the NAD: Yeast, niacin, Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) from cow’s milk, fish, chicken……..what happens if we eliminate entire food groups?

Points to ponder…..its not just about popping a multivitamin for vitamins and minerals that might be missing in our diets. There are hundreds of more examples here. Our bodies are a symphony of chemical reactions, fuelled by enzymes and coenzymes we need to assemble. Food and exercise are our very best medicines. Exercise needs to be efficiently fueled too. Don’t just look at the immediate results – look at the longer picture of health. Make sure your best intentions are not nutritional sabotage.

Oxidative Stress at the Root of Disease

The supplement like a flu shot against oxidative stress…..

Why are we not controlling chronic illness? We must control the wildfire of inflammation and lower oxidative stress. We know oxidative stress is at the root of chronic illness such as cancer, heart disease, depression….We take a flu shot to prevent the flu – one simple supplement to lower your oxidative stress by as much as 40%. 7 patents, 24 peer reviewed studies on pubmed, accolades from American Heart Association, Mayo Clinic, National Institute on Aging….Washington State: “may well become the most extraordinary therapeutic and most extraordinary preventative breakthrough in the history of medicine.”

Set Up a call!

Shira Litwack: Corporate Wellness Specialist, Chronic Care prevention & management program design, health technologies, population health management on 3 continents.

Lifestyle Management Medical Cost Transparency Best Specialists Choosing benefits Chronic Care Management

Cancer – A Virus to Our Cellular HTML

September 9, 2017employee performance, well-beingalcohol, anti-malware, call phone, carcinogens, cause a cell to mutate, chronic illness, chronic inflammation, corporate health programs, data analytics, destruction of cancer, digestive health, everything causes cancer, flow of Qi, genetic mutation, genomics, geophysical exposure, gut microbiome, hormonal imbalance, HTML, immune system, incentivize, inflammation ages us, malware, minimizing risks, personalized wellness, prevent cancer, root of all disease, sequencing the genome, Virus, wearable technology, what is cancerBestinCorporateHealth

Cancer – Think of it as a Virus to the HTML Programming our Cells

I sometimes get annoyed when people say/think “Everything causes cancer”. This thought often engrains a sense of helplessness within.The truth is, if we understand what cancer is, it helps us a deeper appreciation of prevention – we are certainly not helpless…A life to prevent cancer is a life to prevent all of our chronic illnesses, infusing us with energy & power. Let’s think of cancer as a virus that has reprogrammed and is spreading malicious coding to the HTML of our cell’s genetic code.

Take a look at a beautiful website. Behind every beautiful site is HTML HyperText Markup Language, the “mother tongue” of our web browsers. Behind our being, is genetic code that dictates every cell of who we are, how we think and feel. If we have one wrong little character in the HTML of our website it can completely destroy the function of that website. Well, the same is true for our genetic code.

Now, what is cancer? Cancer is a genetic mutation, something has reprogrammed the HTML of that cell. That cell is now reproducing incorrectly and potentially very dangerously, destroying healthy cellular function. If our ecosystem is unable to shut that cell down, there is trouble. If our ecosystem is not optimized, the genetic saboteur is allowed to reproduce, and that deadly coding is reproduced.

Our bodies are a wonderland. Wonderland has an inner ecosystem that like any ecosystem needs to be kept in balance. Chinese medicine describes our flow of Qi. Without the flow of Qi, our life’s force, the ecosystem is jolted out of balance.

We live in a world that is constantly bombarding our ecosystem. Many times we are responsible for that attack: smoking, poor food choices, lack of physical activity…. And many times we do not know we are exposed to attacks on that biochemical terrain. Enter illness and disease.

Cancer is thought to be only 5-10% genetic. The rest is lifestyle, however, as mentioned above, our lifestyles consist of unknown as well as known carcinogens…..exposures that cause a cell to mutate.

Now……how magical are the powers of the right exercise? Exercise and nutrition are our body guards. When carcinogens attack, by empowering our body with the strongest possible biochemical terrain, one that is totally inhospitable to mutagens, we are able to fight the attacker and win.

Cellular Malware (aka carcinogens and pathogens):

Certain chemicals (in our food, in our air, in our meds, in our soils……..)

Viruses and bacteria

Geophysical exposures, radiation…….anyone use a cell phone?

Hormonal imbalances…..including our big wide world of phytoestrogens endocrine disrupters…

Oxidative Stress & Inflammation…..at the root of all disease

Some nasty lifestyle choices: smoking, sitting, poor food choices, stress, alcohol….

Our body depends on us to supply it with sustenance to empower the ecosystem. This not only includes our immune system, but our digestive function as well. Think of our digestive tract as the first step of our immune system. A great deal of our mood and “happy functions” come from that mysterious land called our enteric nervous system……Unfortunately – even if we eat “the right” foods, our digestive tract can be impeded by that same cellular malware. Keeping our digestive tract a “united front” against the cellular malware includes a healthy balance in our gut microbiome, and assuring we maintain healthy levels of stomach acid. Unfortunately, there is a detrimental abuse of antacids – as low stomach acid is frequently mistaken for high stomach acid. And of course our digestive health is jeopardized by all the usual saboteurs….poor sleep, alcohol, sugar, processed foods, and of course people who don’t listen to grandma – and don’t get their roughage. Cellular malware thrives without an optimized digestive tract.

Preventing Cancer: Building Our Cellular Anti-Malware: (Our Fab 4)

Nutrition..
Exercise & Physical Activity
Sleep
Minimize exposure to carcinogens, mutagens, pathogens……reducing oxidative stress & chronic inflammation

When the body is unable to fight intruders, our biochemical terrain allows mutated cells, aka cancer cells, to reproduce…and reproduce……until “we have cancer”. It is believed that everyone of us have cancerous cells lurking within, our goal is that we have the defences to shut down those cells, or force what is called apoptosis – cell suicide.

Front and center to the body’s defences are our immune and circulatory systems.

Our immune system is a pumpless system. In other words, it can produce all of the wonderful superheroes in the world (lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, immunoglobins….) but if there is no pumping action from our muscles, or no muscles, the immune system can’t do its job.

Exercise is imperative for optimizing our body’s performance. Every study shows us that exercise and physical activity are an absolute necessity for every organ system of the body, and a necessity, the “managing partner” to chronic disease prevention…all of them…

Our vigilance to proactive health, by honoring the 4 components of Anti-malware is vital to the destruction of cancer, and all chronic illnesses at every level:

Prevention: enabling the body to kill those intrusions, to build a strong inner ecosystem

Management: make it through treatment, minimizing risks of side effects of treatment, fighting fatigue, getting our immune system to work in our favor, and studies show us – help better response to treatment, including protecting the body from potential side effects of medication

Prevention of recurrence. Rebuilding and equipping the immune system

Cancer occurs because their has been a genetic mutation, a change to the genetic code. The body has been attacked..the body needs to fight the attacker. By honoring our Fab 4, understanding their power, the many layers and complexities of each……we will fight cancer & chronic illness. We are NOT helpless, at all.

Corporate health programs…what a wonderful way to affordably make the world a happier, healthier place. Educate people to Prevent cancer

Help control workforce oxidative stress: Oxidative Stress is at the root of all of our chronic illnesses including cancers, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, diabetes, depression…..inflammation ages us and leaves us susceptible to disease. 7 patents, 24 peer reviewed studies on pubmed, accolades from American Heart Association, Mayo Clinic, National Institute on Aging….Washington State: “may well become the most extraordinary therapeutic and most extraordinary preventative breakthrough in the history of medicine.”

Articles featured in: ezines, ArticlesInk, 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

Cancer Awareness: ROI in Lives and Dollars

February 11, 2017employee performance, well-beingAmerican Cancer Society, Best in Corporate Health, Breast Friends, cancer awareness, cancer diagnoses, care management, chronic disease, chronic illnesses, chronic inflammation, corporate health, employee wellness programs, employees with cancer, inflammation, Integrated Benefits Institute, National cancer awareness month, oxidative stress, presenteeism, prevent cancer, ROI, workforce healthBestinCorporateHealth

Cancer Awareness – Measuring ROI in Lives and Dollars

February is National Cancer Awareness Month. Newly released data from the American Cancer Society, for 2016, reports:

1,685,210 new cancer diagnoses
595,690 cancer deaths

According to the CDC, 75% of chronic illness can be adjusted with lifestyle – however, where this fall shorts is a completely incomplete explanation of lifestyle. We all know certain basics – Don’t smoke, eat right & exercise. That’s great – but even if we are following that advice, it falls painfully short – and we are all left wondering …why do we still get sick.

According to 2014 research from IBI, Integrated Benefit Institute, a leading workforce health and productivity research and measurement organization, cancer costs businesses $19,000/100 employees per year.

Cancer Costs:

In lost work time & treatment: $19,000/100 employees/year
Lost work time and presenteeism $10,000/ 100 workers
Medical and pharmacy treatments $9,100
Absent 3.8 more days per year
Lose the equivalent of 1.8 more days per year to presenteeism.
At any given time, about 1/4 of employees with a history of cancer are in treatment.
Employees with cancer have an average of approximately four other conditions that complicate care management strategies

Impact on productivity, co-morbid conditions:

depression (16% of employees with cancer)
chronic fatigue (22%)
obesity (19%)
anxiety (14%)
chronic back or neck pain (23%)
high cholesterol (30%)
and hypertension (24%).

“Cancers present complex challenges for the workplace. At a basic, human level, a cancer diagnosis is a frightening, sometimes emotionally devastating, event. It is natural that co-workers and supervisors will want to provide support to a friend and colleague when told he or she has cancer. At the same time, balancing privacy and workplace accommodation is a critical, but sensitive, issue. Many employees with cancer will frequently feel too sick to work, while others report that remaining on the job keeps them ‘connected’ and provides a sense of routine as they undergo treatment,”

(Past) IBI President Tom Parry, PhD.

At the root of all of our chronic illnesses is the reality of oxidative stress, and a resulting condition of chronic inflammation. Nurturing our cell-being – sadly, is not incorporated into employee wellness programs, except at Best In Corporate Health, aka, Cell-Being.com.

Cancer awareness Shira Litwack, corporate health provider, on Voice America Oxidative Stress — Oxidative Stress – The Root Cause of Chronic Illness

Oxidative Stress: The imbalance between the production of free radicals in the body and the ability of the body to neutralize / detoxify their harmful effects with antioxidants. Some chemistry geek – Free Radicals: A molecule that has a single unpaired electron in an outer shell ….Reactive Oxygen Species. Our redox state, the balance in our body between free radicals and antioxidants, determines the status of our inner biology, our cell-being. Uncontrolled oxidative stress can lead to inflammation – which a certain amount is necessary – however chronic inflammation has been proven to be at the root of all of our chronic illnesses….cancer, diabetes, heart disease, depression, Alzheimers, macular degeneration, respiratory, our ability to focus, mood disturbances, autoimmune disease……….

Cancer awareness is all health awareness. Building cancer awareness into our employee wellness programs will provide a brilliant ROI, measured in both dollars, and lives.

Author…..Living a Life to Prevent Cancer is the Healthiest Lifestyle of all…..

Shira Litwack….Measuring & Maximizing Employee Cell-Being

Cancer awareness cancer in the workplace - Shira Litwack on Breast Friends Voice America — Shira talking with Becky & Sharon on Breast Friends, Voice America on Oxidative Stress and inflammation

Chief Health Enthusiast – Best In Corporate Health

Employee Wellness Toronto, Ontario – But offered worldwide!

Shira is regularly consulted by Naturopaths, oncologists, health coaches on cancer exercise and exercise adherence.
Has assembled over 20 health and fitness professionals with varying specialties to bring to corporate wellness programs
Platforms include: Speaking, One-one/group health coaching, Retreats, Course development for in house delivery, Metrics to measure success available, Partners always included
Now offering live interactive webinars, just as if each participant has a personal health coach – making corporate wellness programs affordable to all.
Shira has been interviewed & published in hundreds of resources over the last 12 years:

Brain Fog..A Reversible Saboteur to Productivity

August 10, 2016employee performance, well-beingbrain fog, cause of cancer, cellular health, chemical exposures, chronic inflammation, diabetes, diet, employee engagement, employee productivity, exercise, health programs, heart disease, hypothalamus, mental confusion, mental muscle, metabolic syndrome, multitasking, neurodegenerative disease, neurotransmitters, oxidative stress, physical activity, poor sleep, time management, To DO, weight loss diet, wellness programBestinCorporateHealth

Delete Brain Fog …..Optimize Employee Engagement

Brain fog has a powerful hand in employee productivity

Brain fog can best be described as mental confusion – we just can’t focus, harness enough mental energy to push through and accomplish what we need to get done. We make comments of having a senior moment, that very tacky expression a “brain fart”, we’re stressed….yes as common as it is…..it doesn’t make it right. Besides being very frustrating, it can be another symptom of a state of oxidative stress and inflammation in the body.

When we dissect our concerns over employee productivity and employee engagement………..brain fog.

Brain fog is yet another symptom of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress underlies all of our chronic diseases and major health concerns in our world, including heart disease,neurodegenerative disease,diabetes, metabolic syndrome, depression, Alzheimer’s, anxiety……..and yes, oxidative stress is a major cause of cancer.

The trouble with many health programs is the emphasis on the superficial, the exterior – what we all immediately see. Yes, this is what many companies ask for in a employee wellness program. However, it is our job as employee health providers to take a look at each unique company, the dynamics, the individual employees, assess the situation, and come up with wellness program that addresses oxidative stressors. So not only are we minimizing brain fog, we are minimizing those components of oxidative stress that cause serious illnesses.

We have an endless list of oxidative stressors, which eventually can lead to chronic inflammation. The frustrating part – many people follow regiments which they believe to be healthy, however, the truth is they are creating more oxidative stress to the body, causing cellular damage. A few examples:

Diet: When focusing on a typical weight loss diet, unfortunately for a number of reasons we could be creating more oxidative stress on the body. Sure, we all get excited over weight loss, but there could be much better ways. Choosing the right foods is extremely important to fight brain fog and protect our cellular health
Exercise and physical activity: Just as with diet, the wrong exercise, or thinking sporadic exercise is physical activity, can be damaging
Chemical exposures: we need to look at the daily bombardment of chemical offenders
Poor sleep: I don’t just mean hours of sleep – its quality sleep that is truly restorative
Other lifestyle exposures to mutagens, carcinogens, toxins, viruses & bacteria that alter the performance of our DNA

The hypothalamus in the center of our brain is the body’s thermostat so to speak for a number of reasons. There are numerous ongoing studies looking at the intricacies of hypothalamic function in the presence of oxidative stress. The mitochondria of our cells need to harmonize with the hypothalamus and this metabolic dynamic duo is crippled, interfering with hormones and neurotransmitters production and regulation.

Multitasking vs. Time Management: Any new habits, lifestyle modifications, change, are close to useless to introduce if not providing a phase in process. Again, nobody is looking for another miserable task in their life and very few of us have time to burn. Just providing a list of “Do”s and “Don’ts” or “should”s and “should not”s is a job less than half done. Everybody is stressed multitasking work, family and a number of other pressing “To Do”s.

In order to build a cohesive, workplace environment, we need our team members to be physically, mentally and energetically optimized. We need to build their mental muscle.

Our challenge here – there is no test for brain fog, other than questionnaires, its not like we have a definitive blood test to say “You have brain fog!”. However, what we can do is work on the bigger picture, the oxidative stress.

At Best in Corporate Health, measuring for oxidative stress we consider to be a critical focal point of all of our corporate health programs. From lunch n learns, our live interactive webinars right up to speaking and retreats, getting control of oxidative stress is paramount. Oxidative stressors are cumulative, and our exposures are from known, identifiable sources, but there are many we are unaware of. Therefore, our approach must be to faithfully eradicate the ones we can. From brain fog to chronic disease, let’s dig deeper!

The supplement like a flu shot against oxidative stress…..

Corporate Health Programs – What an Incredible Way to Make the World A Healthier Happier Place…..so we make them affordable to EVERYONE……

Shira@BestInCorporateHealth.com

We look forward to customizing your employee wellness programs!

Chief Health Enthusiast – Best In Corporate Health

Shira is regularly consulted by Naturopaths, oncologists, health coaches on cancer exercise and exercise adherence.
Has assembled over 20 health and fitness professionals with varying specialties to bring to corporate wellness programs
Platforms include: Speaking, One-one/group health coaching, Retreats, Course development for in house delivery, Metrics to measure success available, Partners always included
Now offering live interactive webinars, just as if each participant has a personal health coach – making corporate wellness programs affordable to all.
Shira has been interviewed & published in hundreds of resources over the last 12 years:

Cancer Exercise Training Institute, Urban Poling for Breast Cancer, ROW – Recovery on Water for Breast Cancer

Shira Litwack, Medical fitness professional |Cancer Exercise Specialist|Personal & Corporate Health Coach | Fitness For Disease Recovery| Industry Expert Cancer Exercise

Director of International Relations Cancer Exercise Training Institute Master Trainer

Radio talk show host/Guest/Producer Health & Fitness Radio

BSc Psychology & Chemistry| Medical Exercise Specialist|Holistic Nutrition| Addiction Recovery|Total of 18 exercise designations

Employee Engagement-Effects of Alcohol

July 29, 2016employee performanceaging, alcohol and cancer, anxiety, cell health, chronic disease, chronic inflammation, depression, effects of alcohol, employee engagement, employee wellness, engagement investment, free radical damage, health and wellness, inflammation, lifestyle strategies, mental focus, mood disturbances, oxidative stress, path of addiction, sedentary, workplace environmentBestinCorporateHealth

Employee Engagement – The Role of Oxidative Stress ?

Institute for Employment Studies report quantified employee engagement: Organizations increasing engagement investment by just 10% can increase profits by approximately US $2,100 per employee, per year.

With all of the possible best efforts by an organization to create a culture of employee engagement, health and wellness, it can easily be sabotaged by the effects of …….oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress is rarely addressed, and if it is usually only once again by addressing the outer being. Truth is, this can sometimes create more oxidative stress on the body.

Chronic inflammation is a wildfire raging in the body. The blood vessels and internal organs and systems are affected. This inflammatory process leads to free radical damage and oxidative stress and is a culprit in aging, mental focus, depression & all of our chronic diseases. Our focus must be on addressing the cellular level of health.

There are hundreds of oxidative stressors attacking the body each day. What we need to do is to implement a plan to reduce exposure to the stressors, and strengthen the body to protect itself from bombardment.

Oxidative stressors weaken both physiological and psychological function in a number of ways, and are accepted as the root of chronic disease and ultimately longevity.

A thorough health & wellness program is one that helps employees over time with realistic

Corporate wellness programs from the cell with Best In Corporate Health — Employee wellness programs usually focus on the outer 2 layers. Inflammation and oxidative stress attacks the Cell-Being

implementation and integration of healthier lifestyle strategies. In a fast placed workplace environment combined with the challenges of balancing family, stress, anxiety and mood disturbances are the norm. Facts are not enough – in fact feeding a list of facts, “shoulds” and “should-nots” is irritating. Unfortunately, people frequently turn to the immediate “fixes” such as alcohol, poor food choices, sedentary activities which increase the oxidative load on the body… leading to more stress….more fixes…….the path of addiction. The insidious part, people rarely see this cycle, until they the body has been weakened by an illness.

Some of the more common oxidative stressors, that we can control include:

Alcohol
Smoking
UV
Certain medications
certain food choices
lack of exercise/the wrong exercise/
chemical exposure
pollutants

This is a very general list. Oxidative stress is not simple and straight forward, and of course will affect different people based on their own body’s ability to neutralize.

Consider alcohol: According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism & National Survey on Drug Use and Health 52.7% of the population fall in the range of moderate drinking+.

A recently released study (Society for the study of Addiction) Finally has labelled alcohol as a “cause” of cancer, not just a “link”. The myth of drinking “a glass of wine a day for health” has been proven to be incorrect. Alcohol and cancer is finally accepted as fact. The meta analysis was carried out in New Zealand and published in the Journal of Addiction. Alcohol-induced oxidative stress, happens with a single drink, and sobriety is no indicator of damage.

However, we are not helpless, there are a number of ways we can lower our overall, cumulative oxidative stress load.

Health & wellness programs need to reach far beyond the preaching of eating healthy and exercising. Helping each individual person identify oxidative stressors in their life is the missing link, even in those who have the very best intentions following the healthiest of lifestyles….

Creating a positive, motivating workplace environment is of course a part of employee engagement. However, the ability of an employee to “engage” is within that individual person.

Employee engagement = Corporate Culture + Employee culture (aka cell health)

Shira Litwack calls herself the “CHE – Chief Health Enthusiast” of Best in Corporate Health. Shira has assembled over 30 health and fitness professionals to bring you unique corporate wellness programs designed around your employees. No more one size fits none corporate health programs, no long guilt lists of shoulds and should nots – fun, engaging programs where “installation” is an integral part of all programs. The health coaches cover a wide range of specialties from nutrition, exercise, balancing lifestyle, family harmony, addiction recovery, disease prevention and recovery…..contact us to plan your corporate wellness solutions

Webinars Speaking Retreats Health Coaching

Remember, BICH processes include partners at no extra charge and are measurable!

Shira has been interviewed on: City TV, CTV, National Public Radio, Sirius XM Dr. Rehab Dr. Jonathan Whiteson & The Sports Medicine Show, Living Cancer Free, Web Talk Radio, Voice America, Obesity Control Center, Investment Executive.

Articles Featured In: FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered) Willow, Cancer Exercise Training Institute, Medical Fitness Network, 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, Cancer Exercise Training Institute, Urban Poling for Breast Cancer, ROW – Recovery on Water for Breast Cancer