We regularly coach patients on dietary changes that will gradually improve their health, but we are often asked what can be done to see dramatic changes in a short period of time. For these patients we have specialized nutrition programs that allow them to see quick progress and leave no doubt in their mind about the power of nutrition.

Well-designed nutrition programs can give you a quick boost in the right direction AND help you set better lifestyle habits for long term health. It's never about a quick fix. It's about a quick start to better health that lasts a lifetime.


21-day Purification Program

Standard Process' 21-day Purification Program is the oldest and most popular nutrition program we've offered patients at our clinic. At this point, we have seen positive changes with just about every health problem you can imagine - allergies, asthma, skin problems, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, stress, digestive problems, aches & pains, anxiety, sleep problems, overweight... It's amazing how quickly the body can change when we focus on eating ONLY nutrient dense foods and provide extra support from whole food supplements. It's not about taking some chemical to flush you out. It's not about stopping eating and taking a diet drink. It's about eating the most nutritious foods you can and learning to establish healthy habits. It's also a lot of fun for us.

10-day Nutrition Programs

For those patients that aren't ready for a full 21-day program or are looking for something more specific to their individual needs, we now offer 10-day nutrition programs. These also focus on eating the most nutritious foods, while including supplements that target the desired health problem or goal.

Anti-inflammation Program
Inflammation is involved to some degree in just about every health problem, and the average American is driving up their systemic inflammation with poor eating habits. This nutrition program targets inflammation to reduce it as quickly as possible - naturally - to avoid the side effects of anti-inflammatory medications.

Balanced Blood Sugar Program
With diabetes and blood sugar handling problems hitting epidemic levels, this program provides a natural solution to control blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity.

Women's Vitality Program
Hormonal imbalance in cycling and non-cycling women can cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. This nutrition program helps balance hormones naturally to reduce the discomfort and symptoms so commonly noted.

What's right for you? If you are not sure, ask our doctors or attend one of our monthly nutrition classes for more information. Our goal with every patient is to see enough improvement that there is no doubt in your mind as to the power of better nutrition, and these nutrition programs help us do that.

Research Shows Probiotics Prevent Diarrhea

MedPage Today reports on research that shows probiotics prevent diarrhea resulting from the use of antibiotics. Diarrhea is a common side effect that occurs after taking antibiotics; experienced in as many as 30% of patients.

Probiotics are live microorganisms (in most cases, bacteria) that are similar to beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut. They are also called 'friendly bacteria' or 'good bacteria'. You can add these healthy microorganisms to your diet by taking supplements or by eating fermented foods. Learn more about probiotics and fermented foods in our recent post.

What Did The Probiotics Research Show?

The researchers  performed a meta-analysis in which they reviewed multiple studies that have been performed. They analyzed 82 randomly controlled studies on the subject and found a significant reduction in antibiotic-related diarrhea for those patients who received probiotics. Various probiotic strains were used including bacteria and yeasts. All tested strains demonstrated some benefit in preventing diarrhea, with an average reduced risk of 42%.

How Do Probiotics Prevent Diarrhea?

The researchers explain the benefit of probiotics: "Potentially, probiotics maintain or restore gut microecology during or after antibiotic treatment through receptor competition, competition for nutrients, inhibition of epithelial and mucosal adherence of pathogens, introduction of lower colonic pH favoring the growth of nonpathogenic species, stimulation of immunity, or production of antimicrobial substances."

Translation:
Taking probiotics returns good bugs to our gut after antibiotics kill them. They compete against the bad bugs for nutrients and space, so it is harder for the bad bugs to develop into an infection. These healthy bugs also help stimulate our immune system.

Probiotics are basically the opposite of antibiotics. Instead of taking a pill that kills any microorganisms in your body (good or bad), you take a supplement that increases the number of healthy microorganisms that should be in your body. This restores the natural balance and helps the immune system work as it should.

Do Probiotics Benefit Children & Adults?

Most of the research has been performed on adults, but studies on children have also noted significant benefit to using probiotics as well. They are considered to be very safe. One possible risk is when used in neonates that have been born prematurely and have an immune deficiency. Babies should be enjoying the immune enhancing benefits from their mother's breastmilk anyway.

You can enjoy the benefits of probiotics by taking a supplement or eating fermented foods - learn more here.