Over 65? You Might be B12 Deficient

By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

December 6, 2021

Did you know that being over 65 years of age is a risk factor for vitamin B12 deficiency?

It’s true. But most mainstream doctors don’t really know how to diagnose it. That’s because they receive very little training on nutrition – generally less than 20 hours of nutrition instruction during their entire time at medical school.

It’s one reason I trained in functional medicine – to learn how food and nutrition affect all systems of the body. And it sure comes in handy when it comes to diagnosing vitamin B12 deficiency. Continue reading →

You Might be Old, But You’re not Stupid

By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

December 3, 2021

You’ve got a sharp ache in your lower back that you’ve never had before, so you head to the doc. He pokes and prods, then pats you on the arm and says, “You’re just getting older, so you can expect to start feeling more unusual aches and pains than you used to.”

Don’t you just want to punch him?

Just because you’re getting older, it doesn’t mean you’re stupid! You know there’s something wrong going on with your body, but you’ve just been dismissed like a little kid. Continue reading →

Sunglasses aren’t Just for Sunny Summer Days

By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

December 1, 2021

Sunglasses aren’t just for summer. And they aren’t just for sunny days.

A lot of people only wear sunglasses to block the sun’s glare so they don’t have to squint. The more important reason to wear them is to protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays that damage your eyes. This damage is cumulative and can lead to the development of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Well, guess what? Continue reading →

Height Loss: A Symptom of Things to Come

By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

November 25, 2021

The Incredible Shrinking Man isn’t just the title of an old science fiction movie. It’s also a reality. We shrink as we age.

Starting at about age 40, most people tend to lose about a quarter to a half inch of height each decade.

Part of the reason is because of the gel-like cushions between your vertebrae. They support your posture and act as shock absorbers. But over time, they gradually compress and flatten. So the spaces between your vertebrae get smaller, which basically makes your spinal column shorter. Continue reading →

How COVID Created a New Stress-Storm

By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

November 22, 2021

A lot of people were stressed out before the pandemic. But since then, a lot more stressors have been imposed upon us. And I’m not just talking about the periods of lockdowns and quarantines.

Now it’s all of the day-to-day issues we have to deal with that we never would have imagined in a pre-pandemic world. Like taking the grandkids to Disney World, only to discover all the trams are shut down.

Since the parks reopened, you have to walk nearly a mile from the parking lots to the parks. And then back again after a full day on your feet visiting the Magic Kingdom or Epcot. That sounds more exhausting and frustrating than it does magical – especially when you’ve got the little ones with you. Continue reading →

Eat Two Brazil Nuts a Day to Keep the Doctor Away

By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

November 17, 2021

I like to eat two Brazil nuts every day.

That may sound random, but there’s a reason I limit myself to two. It’s because Brazil nuts are an extremely high source of selenium, a powerful antioxidant. A single nut contains between 68 and 91 mcg of this mineral.

The recommended daily allowance for selenium is 55 mcg for us folks who are over the age of 50. But I find that RDA’s typically run on the low end. So by eating two Brazil nuts each day, I feel I’m getting optimal levels of selenium – not too little, and not too much. Continue reading →

What Color is Your Pee?

By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

November 15, 2021

How often do you think about your urine?

Most certainly when you HAVE TO PEE RIGHT NOW… and there are ten people ahead of you in the bathroom line. When that happens, pee is the ONLY thing you can think about.

Urine is likely on your mind if it hurts when you take a pee. Or if you have a hard time peeing. Continue reading →

Can Winter Weather Help Burn More Fat?

By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

November 12, 2021

If you’re eager to boost your body’s ability to burn fat, getting outdoors in the colder weather this winter can help.

When our bodies are exposed to colder temperatures, it activates a certain type of fatty tissue that has special properties.

It’s known as brown adipose tissue, or BAT. We’ll just call it brown fat. Continue reading →

Aspirin Bleeds Outweigh Benefits

By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

November 10, 2021

Remember baby aspirin? We used to give it to kids when they had a fever. Then we found out it could cause a very serious illness, called Reye’s syndrome, in children with viral infections. So since the 1980’s parents have been advised not to give children aspirin unless recommended by a physician.

But that didn’t harm the sale of baby aspirin at all!

Today we call it “low dose aspirin.” And about 30 million U.S. adults 40 years of age and older take it daily. They are all hoping it will help them prevent heart disease; ward off a heart attack or stroke. Continue reading →

Part 3: What’s Really Causing the Fattening of America?

By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

November 5, 2021

In recent weeks you’ve learned a lot about how important physical activity and eating a healthy diet are when it comes to beating weight gain and obesity. These two premises are absolutely vital when it comes to losing stubborn weight.

But there’s one more thing that needs to be addressed. Our toxic environment.

Certain chemicals called obesogens – or endocrine disrupters – interfere with your hormones and bind to fat cells. They cause three things to happen. Continue reading →