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Quarantine 15

When COVID-19 first hit, nearly every American was stuck in their house under quarantine. Because of this, most people fell off of their typical diets or exercise routines and gained some extra unwanted weight. While things are starting to open back up in most states, it still may be a struggle to gain back your motivation and lose the Quarantine 15. Supporting your body with proven supplements such as CLA can boost your ability to lose weight and strengthen muscle.

What Is CLA?

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is a naturally occurring fatty acid found in meat and dairy products. Because the human body can’t produce CLA, we can only get it through our diet or supplements in order to reap the benefits. It is also a popular dietary supplement that is sold with claims of helping people lose fat, maintain weight loss, and retain lean muscle mass.

Benefits of CLA

Supplementing your diet and exercise program with CLA daily has been clinically proven to improve body composition. It has been scientifically shown to improve lean muscle tone, enhance diet, and support metabolism. Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is when plaque builds up in the arteries. This is a risk factor for heart disease. One 2018 study on obese mice suggested that taking CLA supplements could protect against atherosclerosis. Additionally, individuals who get a lot of CLA from foods or take CLA supplements are at a lower risk of various diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cancer.

Where Can I Find CLA?

The Axis Wellness Store offers a wide variety of high-quality supplements. Our Detox & Burn section includes our advanced ClearVite-CLA supplement. This supplement contains collagen-based protein and targeted amino acids that are intended to support the intestines, liver detoxification, and sugar metabolism. Hydrolyzed collagen, a hypoallergenic protein source, may support the gastrointestinal function and muscular system, as well as skin, hair, nail, and joint health.

With over 5 grams of targeted amino acids as protein replacement, ClearVite-CLA supports individuals on any and all diets. For healthy individuals, this supplement supports a normal blood sugar balance and also offers support for the gastrointestinal and immune systems.

Contact Axis Wellness

If you have questions about weight loss or maintaining your overall health through supplements, call Axis Wellness at (425) 410-4468, or browse our products online.

Natural Remedies to Boost Immunity

In light of the COVID-19 virus, many people are seeking ways to boost their immunity in addition to protecting themselves through CDC recommendations like social distancing, wearing masks, and washing their hands thoroughly. While natural remedies aren’t a cure for the virus, there are many steps you can take to naturally strengthen your immune system to help prevent you from ever acquiring it. Your immune system is the body’s natural defense against illness but supporting and strengthening it through proven supplements can boost your ability to stay healthy and recover from illness faster.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is usually the first supplement that people think of when they look to improve their immune system. Vitamin C is beneficial for the body in several ways. It promotes the growth and function of immune cells called phagocytes and lymphocytes. Vitamin C also inhibits the growth of neuraminidase, an enzyme that prevents some pathogenic viruses and bacteria from being trapped in the mucus, the bodies’ first and best line of defense. By inhibiting neuraminidase growth, Vitamin C helps the body’s natural defense mechanism of trapping and flushing within the mucus to be more effective. Vitamin C also supports the epithelial barrier in blocking the absorption of pathogens and promotes the antioxidant scavenging activity of the skin, which boosts your protection against environmental oxidants and additional stress on the skin and immune system. This amazing vitamin supplement can improve and support collagen repair and elastin production, which allows for healthier and more beautiful skin.

Zinc

Zinc can help reduce the length of a cold if you do get sick and is a good addition to help you avoid getting sick in the first place. Like Vitamin C, Zinc can help to reduce inflammation. Specifically, zinc is an antioxidant, protecting the body from damage due to free radicals, and stabilizes membranes. Inflammation is a natural immune response, and zinc can help to ensure this process remains stable and functional, rather than causing damage to your cells.

Thieves oil

Thieves oil is an essential oil blend that contains cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, lemon, and rosemary. Many people swear by thieves’ oil as an immunity booster, and the essential oil has a natural antimicrobial quality. Thieves oil can be diffused into the air to kill bacteria, and the aroma has an energizing and uplifting effect. Studies have also shown that thieves’ oil can improve wound healing and pain relief. If you are ill, thieves oil can help relieve nasal and sinus congestion and is believed to promote respiratory and cardiovascular health.

Holy basil

Holy basil is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine and is well-known for its ability to reduce inflammation as well as its effectiveness in treating colds, flues, and similar ailments. Holy basil has been found to increase cytokines, which are proteins that work with the immune system. All
parts of the holy basil plant act as an adaptogen, which is a substance that helps the body adapt to stress. Holy basil is also called Tulsi, and in addition to supporting the immune system, it can be used to balance your mood and reduce drowsiness.

Where can I find good quality supplements?

Good quality supplements are an effective way to boost your immunity and improve your overall health, but not all supplements are created equal. The Axis Wellness Store offers a wide variety of high-quality supplements. If you’re unsure of where to start, the Axis Wellness Store offers an Immunity Bundle of three key supplements.

This bundle includes Zinc-Zyme, Super B12, and X-Viromin, a supplement that can offer immune support through a variety of helpful and healthy ingredients, including licorice extracts, lemon balm extract, and pomegranate fruit extract. It is also a good source of nutrients like zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin C.

Who Should Use Supplements?

Supplements and homeopathic remedies have a wide range of uses, and almost any patient can benefit from some sort of supplement. It’s best to consult with a medical professional about which supplements will best support your health. Supplements are best used by those who are looking to increase their overall wellness, but if you have any serious health concerns, it’s best to consult with your doctor about your care plan.

Contact Axis Wellness

If you have questions about supporting a healthy immune system or maintaining your overall health through supplements, call Axis Wellness at (425) 410-4468 or browse our products online.

The Benefits of Detoxification

You’ve probably heard a lot about detoxification, whether from friends or online. It can seem like one of those trendy ideas that doesn’t hold much water, but it’s important to know that there’s more to it than you might think. Detoxification can be a great lifestyle change and a great way to promote wellness, whether in tandem with stem cell therapy or not. Here’s what to know about detoxification and its benefits.

What is Detoxification?

Toxicity in your body can manifest in a variety of ways like hormone imbalance, obesity, poor mental health, fatigue, metabolic syndrome, and difficulty sleeping. This happens as a natural result of exposure to the increasingly toxic environment that we live in that includes things like microplastics and harmful endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Detoxification, then, helps support the natural systems in the body that help rid us of these materials. This usually means getting the right vitamins, minerals, and supplements into your body through your diet and supporting it through exercise.

What are the Benefits?

Detoxification can help your body work more effectively to protect itself from environmental damage and optimize its important systems. Here are some of the benefits.

Support Your Metabolic System

Weight management and digestive health can be infinitely more difficult when your body has to fight against outside factors. Proper metabolic function is the key to managing your weight and helping your body absorb the nutrients it needs through diet.

Reduce Inflammation

Inflammation can be responsible for many different chronic conditions in the body, and certain toxins and chemicals can make this worse. Eating a well-rounded diet can help reduce inflammation, leading to relief without relying on medications and pills. 

Improve Skin and Hair

Your skin is just as susceptible to free radical damage as the rest of your body. Although you can protect it with sunscreen and the right skincare regimen, supporting it from within is just as important. Additionally, dull or thinned hair can sometimes be a sign of stress and poor health. Your skin and hair can sometimes be a reflection of diet and environmental damage, meaning clear and healthy skin and hair starts with a better lifestyle!

Boost Energy Levels

Most people feel tired and sluggish from time to time, but when it’s a regular occurrence, it can be a sign of poor performance from your body. Excess toxins can make it difficult to get the rest and nutrition you need even when you have a healthy lifestyle.

Strengthen Your Immune System

Your immune system is an extremely complex network consisting of multiple systems devoted to protecting your body from outside invaders. When it doesn’t work as it should, it can leave you vulnerable and feeling unwell. Optimizing your metabolic and lymphatic systems can mean your body gets what it needs to function and can effectively get rid of the things that harm it.

Optimize Mental Health

Accumulated toxins can drastically affect your mental state and mood. This can negatively affect all aspects of your life, from your sleeping patterns to relationships to the ability to think clearly. Since your emotional health is directly tied to your gut health, it’s extremely important to make sure your body gets a well-rounded diet and exercise.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Optimizing your lifestyle for effective detoxification and metabolic support can seem like a difficult challenge. That’s why it’s important to partner with our regenerative medicine experts to create the right therapeutic plan for you. You can learn more about Detox supplements and wellness plans at our online shop Axiswellnessstore.com or contact our Kirkland office by calling or filling out our online form! We look forward to making 2020 your best year yet!

7 Health Hacks to Get You Through the Holiday Season

If you’ve been working hard on your health this year, then it’s normal to be a little worried about maintaining your good habits as the holidays approach. Although holiday gatherings can be a blast, they are unfortunately closely associated with unhealthy eating and drinking. The winter months can make it difficult to stay on top of your health, so here are some ways to keep on track through the end of the year.

Curb the Carbs

Winter holidays especially seem to attract sweet, tasty desserts chock full of carbohydrates. Although your body needs carbs, it’s extremely important to eat as few refined carbs as possible. It’s okay to indulge in a little bit of your favorite seasonal desserts but be sure to keep track of your intake and also opt for healthier carbs like fruit or root vegetables when they’re available. Especially during meals, fill up on protein, fiber, and healthy fats before you reach for the pie and cookies. Try portioning out your plate where half the plate consists of veggies while the two remaining quarters consist of protein and gluten-free grains.

Pop Probiotics

Your digestive tract is home to an elaborate system of bacteria and organisms that work hard to ensure your body has the energy it needs from the food you eat. When your diet changes drastically, your gut may need some help. Probiotics can aid in digestion and even help sustain your good mood by regulating your gut health (which is intrinsically tied to things like the production of feel-good hormones!) Probiotics can be bought at pharmacies and you can begin taking them before your holiday engagements to support your digestive system in the days to come.

Include Intermittent Fasting

One way to help watch your weight and insulin levels is by introducing periods of fasting into your daily or weekly schedule (most experts recommend periods of sixteen hours or more). Intermittent fasting comes with a number of benefits including reducing calorie intake and ensuring your body burns existing fat as energy by lowering insulin levels. If you haven’t already started doing this, introduce it gradually before you fast before big meals during the holidays so you’re not overwhelmed. And make sure to break your fast with healthy fiber and fats rather than carbs! A big dose of sugar after fasting can spike your blood sugar and contribute to bloating.

BYOD (Bring Your Own Dish)

If you’ve got your pick of the litter when it comes to bringing a dish to pass, then make sure it’s healthy and nutritious! Offer to bring a green veggie or other healthy option to ensure you have something to fill up on instead of other less-healthy options. If you’re tasked with bringing a dessert, consider a dish based on healthy fruits and natural sugars rather than refined ones. Volunteering to bring a dish can be a great way to have control over what goes into it and ensure there’s at least one healthy option!

Stay Active

When the weather gets colder, it’s tempting to stay inside rather than going for a walk or run to burn off the holiday calories. If you’d rather not bundle up, look for great indoor activities to put on your schedule like yoga, bodyweight training, or time on your exercise machine. And remember— you can’t outrun a poor diet, so keep an eye on your eating habits if you’re hoping to maintain your weight!

Slow Down

It can be tempting to chow down during your favorite holiday feasts, but you’ll need to pace yourself if you want to avoid overeating. If you eat too much too fast, it can be easy to leave your calorie limit behind and become uncomfortably full. To slow down, try sipping at your drink between bites or even just put your fork down and engage in some conversation before resuming. This allows your body to receive the signals from your stomach that you’re full in time for you to stop.

Combat SAD

Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a common accompaniment to winter for many people. It’s often the result of less sunlight and, in turn, Vitamin D. If you’re sensitive to SAD, try taking Vitamin D supplements during the winter months as well as Magnesium. Additionally, invest in a special sun lamp and spend some time in front of it each day to make sure you’re feeling your best for the holidays. And don’t skimp on exercise— this can have a hugely positive effect on your mood too!

Schedule a Consultation

The holidays don’t have to reverse your progress if you’ve been making great strides in your healthy routine this year. At Axis Stem Cell Institute, we can help optimize your healthy habits so you can be your best self. To learn more, contact our Kirkland office by calling, texting, or filling out our online form.

The Top 10 Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Include in Your Diet

The more we learn about inflammation in the body, the more we realize it’s extremely important to take steps to avoid it. Inflammation is believed to be tied to many types of chronic illness, so taking every step you can to prevent it can be a huge step forward in your health. One of the easiest ways to do this is to assess your diet and make sure the foods you eat are doing everything they can to help. Here are some foods to start including in your regular diet to reduce inflammation and keep your body whole and healthy.

Leafy Greens

Leafy greens often make it to the top of many different healthy diet lists, and for good reason. Leafy greens are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and anti-inflammatory flavonoids. This doesn’t mean you have to stick with spinach, however— some other great options include kale, arugula, collard greens, kale, and mustard greens. You can enjoy them in a salad or cooked with your other favorite veggies. Don’t like leafy greens all that much? Try putting them in a fresh fruit smoothie instead.

Pineapple

Pineapple is full of bromelain, an enzyme found in the digestive system that helps regulate your body’s immune response when unnecessary inflammation is present. Among other things, bromelain is also great for your heart’s health and has plenty of vitamins and minerals (vitamin C and B1), potassium, and small amounts of manganese (which helps in activating enzymes to destroy free radicals).

Cherries

Tart cherries, whether whole or in their juice form, have been the subject of a lot of study for their anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, some studies have shown it has the highest anti-inflammatory potential of most foods, and can reduce pain from arthritis and post-workout soreness. If it’s too tart for you, consider adding some tart cherry juice to some yogurt or a smoothie.

Turmeric

Curcumin, which is the primary compound in turmeric, has loads of anti-inflammatory benefits— especially when measured against over-the-counter painkillers like aspirin and ibuprofen. This can mean it can be an effective way to manage conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and other joint conditions without the detriments of regularly taking pills. Turmeric is a spice, meaning you can easily add it to your favorite meals.

Papaya 

The black seeds inside papaya have some great anti-inflammatory properties. With loads of vitamin C (more than an orange) and beta carotene, it also contains papain, a digestive enzyme similar to bromelain. Papaya can be tasty along with some yogurt or cottage cheese (or added to a smoothie), but you can also enjoy it with just a spoon.

Wild-Caught, Fatty Fish

Wild-caught fish like salmon or trout can be an excellent source of omega-3s, which are potent anti-inflammatory compounds. Omega-3s can also reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and arthritis, and they are also extremely important for cognitive function in the brain. When shopping for fish, always ensure it’s wild-caught since farmed fish won’t come with the same nutrients. If wild-caught fish is hard to find in your area or is outside your budget, consider adding fish oil supplements to your daily routine.

Chia and Flax

Chia and flax seeds are another good source of omega-3s that don’t come from meat. Additionally, they come with a powerhouse combination of essential fatty acids, vitamins A, B, E, and D; and minerals like iron, iodine, and magnesium. They can also be effective at reducing cholesterol and blood pressure. Consider grinding them with a coffee grinder before adding them to your favorite foods so your digestive tract can easily get their benefits.

Blueberries

Blueberries contain quercetin, which has some great anti-inflammatory benefits and is usually found in dark-colored berries. Blueberries have also been studied as a way to manage inflammatory bowel disease, as well as a way to slow cognitive decline and improve memory. Blueberries are packed with antioxidants, so be sure to add these to your favorite meals.

Beets 

Another food that is full of antioxidants because of its deep color is beets. Beets can help repair cell damage caused by inflammation because of the antioxidant betalain. Additionally, beets contain high levels of potassium and magnesium (and magnesium deficiency has been linked with inflammatory conditions). Magnesium is vital in processing calcium, so make sure to include fresh beets in your diet if you have high levels of calcium.

Coconut Oil 

Coconut oil can be an easy and essential replacement for the oils or butter you regularly use in your cooking. Especially when paired with turmeric, it can pack a powerful and healthy punch for your regular diet. From a study in India, where coconut oil is common, the antioxidants in virgin coconut oil reduced inflammation and reduced arthritis more effectively than many medications.

Schedule an Appointment

Optimizing your diet is an easy and effective way to help and heal your body. If you’re looking for the best ways to manage inflammation through the latest in regenerative medicine, schedule an appointment to meet with our experts at our Kirkland office. We invite you to call or fill out our online form so our patient coordinators can get in touch.

Boosting Your Gut-Brain Superhighway: A Guide

When you learn about the different systems in your body in school, it’s common to think of them as separate, distinct islands. However, this isn’t always the case. Your body’s different systems have a lot of complex interconnectedness. One area where this is most obvious is the relationship between your gut and your brain. You experience this every time you get butterflies in your stomach or have a gut feeling about something. However, it goes beyond just metaphors. Problems like nausea, loss of appetite, or stomach knots can be caused by stress responses, meaning your gut is directly tied to your emotional well being. Things like hormones and chemical signaling keep this bi-directional relationship alive and well, and it can be an extremely important one. Neglecting one side of this relationship can greatly affect the other, so it’s important to know how to optimize this superhighway for your best health.

Why is the Gut-Brain Superhighway important?

A huge amount of nerve cells connect the central nervous system to your gastrointestinal tract. This is because your brain is constantly monitoring your digestive functions by adjusting blood flow, metabolism, and intestinal mucus. In turn, your gut provides feedback about levels of fullness and whether you’ve ingested any dangerous cells.

It’s believed that this relationship is key to the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. These are essential to brain health and certain psychiatric conditions. In some studies performed on mice, an absence of gut microbes was associated with poor gut function, memory dysfunction, inflammation, higher pain levels, and altered expressions of neurotransmitters.

Although this can seem scary, the good news is that poor gut health can be easily addressed through a healthy diet and some lifestyle changes. Here are some ways to optimize your gut health to ensure your brain works the best it can.

Avoid gut irritation and inflammation

There are a lot of foods that are known to produce irritation in the gut, so it’s important to limit or remove these offenders. This might include cutting out alcohol, processed foods, and sugar, as well as limiting lifestyle factors like stress or taking certain medications. Dairy and gluten often produce irritation and increased inflammation and these foods can really wreak havoc on the gut lining, leading to chronic pain and illness. It’s important to eat a diet low in inflammatory foods like theses to ensure whole body wellness.

Heal your gut lining

Your small intestine has a protective lining that ensures the environment of your gut is ideal and protects it from the rest of the body (and vice versa!). This lining prevents things like food particles and bacteria from entering the blood stream, so it’s important to keep this lining healthy and robust. When the gut lining gets ill and inflamed, toxins can often pass through little openings in the wall of the intestine, causing illness. Eating whole, unprocessed foods that are high in fiber can be ideal, as well as protein and healthy fats. It is also very important to supplement a high-quality probiotic, with soil-based microbes to promote a healthy colony of gut flora, to protect the gut lining.

Help your gut microbes

Your gut has a complex ecosystem of microbes and bacteria that help digest and keep your gut healthy. It’s important that these cells have everything they need to function, meaning foods that are especially beneficial to them are important to include in your diet. Prebiotic foods like garlic, leeks, onion, and artichokes can help nourish your existing microbes. Probiotic-rich foods like sauerkraut, kefir, and kombucha can help further boost the number of microbes. Incorporating these foods into your diet can ensure the inhabitants of your gut are healthy and effective.

Schedule an Appointment

Optimizing your health can require a lot of steps, so it’s important to partner with whole-body health experts who can help guide you to the right lifestyle changes. At Axis Stem Cell Institute, we believe that a healthy lifestyle and regenerative medicine go hand-in-hand. To meet with our experts and learn more about a healthy, pain-free lifestyle, contact our Kirkland office by calling or filling out our online form.

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