There are ways to alter our transmittal levels. In my practice I do a urine neurotransmitter test which is sent to a specialty lab where they will analyze it for neurotransmitter levels. Based on your levels, we put together a program to increase the neurotransmitters that you are low in or to help decrease ones that might be too high. So we can absolutely test for this and we can adjust it by using nutraceuticals and supplements and dietary measures to help boost low levels and again adapt them for optimal function.

I think the very number one thing that can help prevent colds during winter would be to optimize your vitamin D level. I would recommend seeing your physician to have a 25-hydroxy vitamin D level measured in the blood and then based on that level finding an appropriate dose of vitamin D3 to take to optimize your blood level to a goal of at least 60 on followup testing. This has really been found to decrease cold and flu during the winter season.

I am not aware that alcoholics have a higher risk of eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, however, they are taxing their systems heavily by using alcohol and this leads to decreased health. Alcohol puts a large burden on the liver to break it down and detoxify plus it causes us to usually make poor food choices, get inadequate sleep and make poor lifestyle choices as well. So alcoholics across the board I feel are at a lower level of health however this does not necessarily translate into a higher incidence of eating disorders although it can coexist.

My consultation is at least 90 minutes long.   We usually start out by filling out a thorough medical history, which will give me a lot of background information on where you have been in your life, with your diet, past medical history, past surgical history and any medications and supplements that you are currently taking.  We then perform a Bio-impedance analysis, which is a very precise way to measure body composition.  This will tell us your body fat percentage, how much lean body mass you have on your body, your basal metabolic weight, your body mass index, the water balance in the body, among other things.  It is a very thorough assessment of where you are physically at the time of consultation.   The beauty of this is that we can repeat this, and compare it to your initial results to see how you have progressed during the process.   Following the Bio-impedance analysis, I will sit down with you for between 60 and 90 minutes and review your medical history and discuss your goals in an anti-aging program.  I will point out areas of deficiency you may have and we will discuss diet, nutrition, supplements, specialized testing, looking at things such as hormones, neurotransmitters, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid function, cortisol levels, etc.   It is an extremely thorough consultation, and by the end of it, we will have a plan to start you on the track for total wellness.