www.feedyourmindwellness.com

www.feedyourmindwellness.com

 

Looking at Chronic Disease Through a New Lens

 

As a healthy psychologist who specializes in mind-body approaches to healing, I recently began applying the principles of functional medicine in my practice. Based on systems biology, functional medicine addresses the causes of chronic disease, which are rooted in underlying imbalances and arise when unhealthy lifestyles, environmental exposures, and genetic susceptibility intersect. Most importantly, functional medicine emphasizes the therapeutic partnership, which engages the heart, mind, and spirit of both practitioner and client.

I’m excited about functional medicine because it offers a paradigm shift in clinical practice and produces a more effective response to chronic disease than conventional medical treatments or alternative approaches that are merely “green pharmacy," such as substituting an herb or vitamin for a prescription drug. 

Most chronic disease is preventable, and much of it is reversible, if a comprehensive, individualized plan addressing diet, environmental exposures, stress, exercise, psycho-spiritual needs, and genetics is implemented. Rather than treating specific conditions, functional medicine connects the dots between seemingly distinct mental and physical problems and identifies underlying root causes, seeing a continuum from optimal health to full-blown disease.

One such continuum is represented by the new term, cardiometabolic syndrome, and its link to underlying “diabesity”, the continuum of abnormal biology that ranges from accumulation of belly fat to mild insulin resistance to full-blown type II diabetes. 

Cardiometabolic syndrome implies that disturbances in metabolic function, if left untreated, may lead to conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, congestive heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, kidney disease, infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, breast cancer and sleep apnea. For example, the evidence linking cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome is now very strong. Depression and anxiety may also be downstream manifestations of underlying metabolic dysfunction.

Although cardiometabolic syndrome and diabesity may soon reach pandemic proportions, the good news is that the answer is simple: diet and lifestyle change. The body can be viewed as one big eco-system and implementing one change, such as eliminating sugar in all its forms, can have enormous impact.

Functional medicine stresses taking out the “bad stuff,” such as processed foods, environmental toxins, and stressful thoughts, and adding in the “good stuff”: foods our great-grandparents would have recognized as food, good sleep, exercise that’s perceived as enjoyable, meaningful connections, joy, and a sense of purpose in life.

By implementing these changes, in just a short amount of time, chronic diseases associated with diabesity and cardiometabolic syndrome can be reversed in a majority of cases. 

Dr. Sandra Scheinbaum, a licensed clinical psychologist, board-certified senior fellow in biofeedback, certified yoga instructor and nutrition coach with over 30 years of experience specializing in mind-body approaches to mental and physical health, is currently completing a training program through the Institute for Functional Medicine.  She hosts Feed Your Mind Wellness with Dr. Sandi, a local television show airing in over 30 northern suburbs on cable channels 10, 19 or 35, and was recently granted permission by Dr. Mark Hyman to launch The Blood Sugar Solution Program, based on his New York Times #1 best-selling book by the same name. To learn more, visit Feed Your Mind Wellness.

 

Blood Sugar Program Improves Well-Being

Based on the New York Times bestseller, The Blood Sugar Solution, by Dr. Mark Hyman, the Blood Sugar Solution Program from Feed Your Mind Wellness, offers step-by-step guidance and resources to help balance blood sugar, reverse diabesity, lose weight and feel great in 12 weeks.

The program, led by Sandra Scheinbaum, Ph.D., founder of Feed Your Mind Wellness, along with a team of trained medical and wellness professionals, starts at noon, May 14, and 5:30 p.m., May 16, at North Suburban Wellness Center, 1732 First Street, in Highland Park, and 2 p.m., May 18, at 9631 Gross Point, Suite 10, in Skokie, IL. Groups can be joined at any point or formed by individuals or companies at any time.

The program helps treat diabesity through an integrative approach. Progress is tracked via body composition analysis, medical symptom questionnaires and lab markers, as the goal is prevention or disease reversal, not disease management. Participants will receive access to the resources offered by Hyman at TheBloodSugarSolution.com at a discounted rate.

For registration (required) call 847-604-2752 or email [email protected]. For more information, visit FeedYourMindWellness.com.

 

As Seen on “Feed Your Mind Wellness with Dr. Sandi”

Almond Truffles

½ cup raw almonds
¼ cup raw walnuts
2-3 Medjool dates
½ tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. cocoa powder
¼ cup roasted almond butter

Process the almonds and walnuts in a food processor until coarsely chopped. Add the remaining ingredients and process until the mixture holds together. Shape into 1” balls and refrigerate.

Kitchari

3 Tbl. ghee
1 Tsp. ground cardamom
1 Tsp. ground cumin
1 Tsp. cinnamon
1 Tsp. ground tumeric
1-2 Cups of dark, leafy greens, such as dandelions, kale or collard greens
1 Cup mung beans or split red lentils
1 Cup brown basmati rice
4 Cups of water

1. If using mung beans, soak overnight in 2 cups of water, then drain and rinse well.
2. Melt ghee in a heavy pot or pressure cooker (don't use pressure cooker for spilt red lentils).
3. Add the spices one by one, stirring and being careful not to burn them. Add the turmeric last.
4. Chop the greens, add to the pot and stir to braise.
5. Add the mung beans or red lentils and stir.
6. Rinse the rice, add and stir.
7. Add the water. If using mung beans and a pressure cooker, bring to full pressure, then cook for about 8-10 minutes. If using a regular pot, bring to a boil, cover and cook for about 20-25 minutes, or until the water is absorbed.
8. When done, add salt to taste and more ghee if desired.