From the Desks of Dr. Tom and Beth
Everyone should have access to accurate, science-based health and wellness information. Our blog is designed to give you the latest medical news from Dr. Tom and health coaching, wellness and recipes from Beth.
From the Desk of Dr. Tom Svinarich
YOGA TO REGULATE THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
Yoga is an excellent therapy to reduce the risk of fainting by improving blood pressure and autonomic nerve balance.
IS ALCOHOL A HEALTH FOOD? ALCOHOL AND YOUR HEART
Health experts insist a little alcohol is good for us. But if you have heart or metabolic health issues, it may be doing more harm than good.
METABOLIC DYSFUNCTION AND THE ATHEROGENIC LIPID PROFILE
Your lipid panel says a lot about your health, but we have to look deeper than your cholesterol level. LDL particle size matters.
THIS IS YOUR HEART WITH METABOLIC DYSFUNCTION
Inflammation, clotted arteries, damaged LDL particles: what metabolic dysfunction does to your heart and blood vessels is not pretty.
METABOLIC HEALTH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WEIGHT LOSS
Looking to lose weight or heal heart disease? Focus on metabolic health for lasting results that go beyond the scale.
ARE YOU DEFICIENT IN OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS?
Most Americans are deficient in omega-3s fatty acids. What if we look at fish oil supplementation not as a heart drug, but as correcting deficiency?
WILL FISH OIL HELP OR HURT YOUR HEART?
Omega-3 fatty acids, in the form of fish oil, are a popular supplement for heart health. But there is some controversy over whether they work to prevent heart attacks and whether they increase the risk of atrial fibrillation. Will fish oil help or hurt your heart?
GRAINS: HEALTH FOOD OR POISON?
Grains are an increasingly controversial food group. Many nutrition experts say that whole grains are an essential part of a healthy diet, and others say they are harmful. What is the place of whole grains in the diet of someone with heart disease?
A TURN TOWARD NATURE TO SOLVE THE “PROBLEMS” WITH MEAT
Artificial cell-cultured meat will not solve the problems of industrial meat and agriculture. We must turn toward nature, not away from it.
EARLY ABLATION FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: IS IT BETTER THAN LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS?
Ablation reduces atrial fibrillation burden, but lifestyle modifications address the root causes and should be the first line of treatment.
PASS THE SALT
Salt is in the news again: “Simple salt swap could prevent millions of deaths each year.” Do you need to reduce your salt intake?
THE FUTURE OF PLAQUE IMAGING & DIAGNOSING CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE
New developments in plaque imaging can tell us if you have coronary artery disease years before you’re symptomatic.
SHOULD YOU WEAR A CONTINUOUS GLUCOSE MONITOR?
Many of our patients struggle with diabetes or wanting to lose weight. Others are dealing with heart problems, or simply trying to optimize their health. Would your health benefit from wearing a continuous glucose monitor?
FASTING SAFELY AND SUCCESSFULLY WITH DIABETES
Fasting is a potential tool to reduce or eliminate diabetes medications and possibly bring diabetes into remission.
THE “SAD” AMERICAN DIET
Ultra-processed foods found in the Standard American Diet are nothing but trouble. They displace protein and fiber from our diets and increase obesity, metabolic dysfunction, and heart disease.
MYTHS & TRUTHS ABOUT WOMEN AND FASTING
I don’t want to tell you whether women “should” fast. Instead, I want to provide information and tools so that women can personalize fasting and lifestyle changes.
HEART DISEASE IS DIFFERENT IN WOMEN
Children are not just small adults, and women are not simply smarter men. There is renewed interest and excitement among cardiologists motivating us to learn more about the differences in heart disease between men and women.
THE 6 KEYS TO FASTING SAFELY WITH HEART DISEASE
If you have heart disease, fasting is a powerful tool you can use to help heal your heart. Here are 6 keys to making it work for you.
IS YOUR GUT THE CAUSE OF YOUR HEART DISEASE?
Heart disease stems from inflammation, oxidative stress, autoimmune mechanisms, and metabolic dysfunction. Because our gut and microbiome are a common source of these problems, look there first for the underlying causes of your heart disease.
BENEFITS OF INCREASING YOUR MUSCLE MASS
Muscle mass improves metabolic health, insulin resistance, and keeps visceral fat levels down. Building muscle will help you stay healthy as you age.
ABLATION AND BEYOND FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION
Ablation is often an important but incomplete treatment for atrial fibrillation, and personalized lifestyle medicine should be part of the solution, whether you get an ablation or not.
FASTING METHODS: THE CLEAN, THE DIRTY, AND THE FAUX
We think of fasting as going completely without food, but fasting can be effective even if you eat some food. Eating up to 25% of your normal calories during fasting can also make it safer, less stressful, and easier to get started.
GOOD FAD, BAD FAD
Is a diet a fad just because it challenges conventional wisdom? And are “fads” necessarily bad or unhealthy? Fasting, keto, and other diets can all be part of a healthy lifestyle. What we haven’t evolved to handle is a diet full of high-glycemic, ultra-processed foods.
IS HEART DISEASE SIMPLY A FAT HEART?
Our hearts use fat as fuel, but too much can cause coronary artery disease and other health problems. In this blog post, Dr. Tom talks about epicardial fat, how to measure it, and how to reduce it.
FASTED EXERCISE AND AVOIDING THE “BONK”
We’ve all been there: you’re hiking or biking and feel the bonk of a blood sugar crash. We all hate it, but is it avoidable…through fasting?
YOUR HEALTH IS MORE THAN YOUR BMI
BMI is a common measure of our weight and our health. But your weight isn’t as important as your body composition.
HOW TO GET STARTED WITH FASTING
Fasting done right is painless and repeatable–not to mention healthy. But if you’ve never fasted before, how should you get started? Read my guide on time-restricted, intermittent, and fasting-mimicking practices.
CAN YOU EAT MEAT AND AVOID HEART DISEASE?
Does eating meat cause heart disease? Elevated TMAO is associated with more coronary artery disease, heart attacks, inflammation, and blood clotting. But the difference between cause and association is crucial.
NATURAL WAYS TO DO WHAT STATINS DO
Statin medications are powerful drugs that reduce the risk of coronary events, including heart attacks, in people at high risk. But there are natural ways to reduce LDL, and statins may not always be necessary.
CARDIOVASCULAR DRUGS AND POTENTIAL NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES
Common medications used to treat heart disease may deplete the body of important nutrients and can potentially cause or exacerbate a patient’s symptoms.
TREATING ATRIAL FIBRILLATION WITH ACUPRESSURE
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common heart disease we treat at Colorado Functional Cardiology. Here’s how to calm some of the symptoms at home with acupressure.
From the Desk of Beth Svinarich
GARLIC HERB BUTTER ROAST CHICKEN
The bright, satisfying flavors of garlic, lemon, and parsley create a tender chicken that tastes delicious straight out of the oven or as leftovers on salad.
ONE-PAN MEDITERRANEAN BAKED FISH
This one-pan dish is perfect for the late summer green bean and tomato bounty, and the fish provides healthy omega-3 fats and protein. This recipe works with a variety of different fish: fatty like salmon or trout, or a white fish such as cod.
HORMETIC STRESS: HARNESSING YOUR BODY’S HEALTHY STRESS RESPONSE
Hormetic stress is a controlled, acute stress that can trigger a healthy adaptive response. And you can engage in activities that bring on hormesis for a range of benefits, such as a stronger immune system, lowered visceral fat, and to lessen the mental and physical impacts of chronic stress.
THE 2021 EWG SHOPPER’S GUIDE TO AVOIDING PESTICIDES
This year’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce from the Environmental Working Group will help you know what fruits and vegetables to buy organic–plus tips on avoiding environmental toxins.
BRUSSELS SPROUT HASH WITH ROASTED MUSTARD SEED AND WHITE FISH
This one-pan Brussels Sprout Hash with Roasted Mustard Seed and White Fish is a great recipe for those long days. The cruciferous vegetables provide fiber and vitamins K and C (among other nutrients) and the fish is a wonderful source of healthy protein and Omega-3.
BREAKING (AND ENTERING) A FAST: TWO DELICIOUS SOUP RECIPES
Two delicious plant-based soup recipes that are good anytime, but especially before or after a fast. Broccoli with Ginger and Mint and Golden Beet and Apple soups will help you transition into a fast and gently bring you out of fasting. Bon appetit!
FIND SUCCESS WITH PROFESSIONAL COACHING
Change your mind to change your health! We treat heart disease by focusing on changes in nutrition, diet, and lifestyle. These are the cornerstones of healing the heart. One of the biggest challenges we face in improving our health is changing our behaviors.
THE AMAZING POWER OF COOKING & EATING AT HOME
Cooking at home is one of the most powerful tools we have to improve our health. Food is medicine, and the strongest healing effects come from a varied diet full of vegetables and healthy fats. What’s the best way to consume more real food? Cooking at home.
HEALTHY RECIPES FOR A CROWD
Summer’s here, we’re able to safely gather with more friends…and too often, that can mean unhealthy eating options. Whether you’re preparing for a crowd or just looking for some lighter, plant- and nutrient-heavy meal options, check out Beth’s all-star recipes.
BETTER HEALTH IS A HEARTBEAT AWAY
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