Alex Gellman

  • Home
  • New Patients
  • Contact Us
  • Wellness Blog

Sign up for our newsletter.

  • About Alex
    • Scenarios
  • Wellness
  • Iridology
    • Workshops
  • Homeopathy
  • Support
  • Media
  • Stress Age Questionnaire

When Cereals Make you Ill

December 17, 2019 By Alex Gellman

The number of people who are intolerant of bread, pizza or pasta is growing all the time.

Approximately one percent of the German population exhibit an intolerance reaction to the storage protein gluten, which is primarily found in native cereal types, and are therefore subject to the chronic condition known as celiac disease. Nine out of every ten of those affected are unaware of the cause of their complaint, which can manifest itself, for example, in the form of bloating, constipation, diarrhea, irritable colon or even chronic inflammatory intestinal illness, inflammatory skin diseases, joint pain, obesity or even headaches.

Celiac disease is one of the autoimmune diseases and may emerge at any age. It tends to be passed on within families and, once it has made its appearance, continues throughout the sufferer’s life. The pathology is extremely complex. According to an international cohort study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the causes of celiac disease can be found both at the level of genetic predisposition and in environmental influences. Thus more than a quarter of the examined children who possessed a variant of the immunity gene HLA had, by their fifth year, developed autoantibodies that point to the development of a celiac disorder. However, the risk of the emergence of these antibodies was very different in the various countries that participated in the study, thus suggesting that environmental factors play a significant role.

Patterns of development –In its “classical” or “typical” form, celiac disease develops during childhood, usually a few months after the introduction of food that contains gluten. Typical symptoms include chronic diarrhea combined with clinical signs of malabsorption, leading to weight loss, loss of appetite and protruding belly.

In the case of mono- or oligosymptomatic celiac disease, sufferers are affected by only one or more symptoms such as an iron deficiency or osteoporosis.

So-called silent or asymptomatic celiac disease, usually revealed by screening studies or a chance diagnosis, is relatively frequent. There are no symptoms or the symptoms are only weak. Even though people with silent celiac disease feel no discomfort, their physical and intellectual capabilities may improve following the introduction of a gluten-free diet.

The rare form of the disease known as atypical celiac disease is characterized primarily by uncharacteristic extraintestinal complaints. Even though typical serological and histological changes can be detected, this clinical pattern is rarely considered in differential diagnostic studies. However, because sufferers respond well to a gluten-free diet, greater attention should be paid to atypical celiac disease.

Treatment – In the journal Nature Chemistry (2013), the researchers presented a highly promising new method which makes it possible to protect therapeutic enzymes in the digestive tract against destruction and effectively stabilize these. To do this, they coupled polymers to enzymes and showed for the first time in living organisms that this can enable enzymes in the stomach and small intestine to remain active for much longer.

The idea of helping people who cannot tolerate certain dietary components by administering certain enzymes goes back a long way. So far, however, attempts to use enzyme therapy have generally failed due to the specific conditions found in the digestive apparatus. This is because this is designed for the efficient splitting of all proteins into their respective components – even in the case of helpful enzymes. As a result, normal enzymes in the digestive tract become inactive, and consequently useless, within just a few minutes.

Thanks to the protection given by the polymers used in the new method, it is now possible to stabilize enzymes for up to three hours. The polymer used is characterized, among other things, by the fact that it adheres particularly well to the mucous membrane of the stomach and small intestine. As a result, the enzymes also stay exactly where they are needed for longer.

Even though this is basic research involving experiments that have so far been limited to studies in animals, and despite the fact that the market readiness of a corresponding drug still lies far in the future, the researchers consider the initial results to be extremely promising. They believe that therapeutic enzymes will, in the future, be used to treat food intolerances, and in particular celiac disease, for which no treatments have been available in the past. Thus, in the future, therapeutic enzymes that have been stabilized by means of polymer protection could break down the gluten present in food into harmless fragments before it releases its damaging effects.

At present, the only safe way to respond to celiac disease is to adopt a strict, life-long gluten-free diet. This means that cereals that contain gluten – such as wheat, rye, barley, spelt, emmer and khorasan wheat – as well as the produts made from them, have to be avoided.

What is more, gluten is also often used in the manufacture of ready-made food products because it possesses many positive properties that are valued by the food industry: it acts as an emulsifier, binds water, stabilizes and is also a good carrier for flavorings. As a result, it can be found, for example, in ready-made soups, tinned fish, cold meats, processed cheese, tomato ketchup or even chocolate. It is therefore vital that celiac sufferers read the ingredients of any ready-made food products they consume.

We constantly read that oats can be used unproblematically as part of a gluten-free diet. In fact, oats contain considerably less gluten than wheat, and studies in Scandinavia have shown that some celiac sufferers are able to tolerate oat products. However, a special type of oats was used for these studies.

The average mixed diet consumed by a healthy person contains approximately 13 g of gluten per day and one slice of bread (40 g) contains some 2.5 g of gluten. The consumption of just 50 – 100 mg of gluten per day can damage the mucous membranes of celiac patients.

Despite the considerable restrictions in the choice of foods available, a gluten-free diet can be tasty and varied. This is because many foodstuffs are naturally gluten-free. For example, fruit, vegetables, potatoes, rice, meat and fish contain no gluten. Milk and dairy products, eggs, nuts and seeds, as well as vegetable oils can also be eaten without any misgivings.

Alternatives to gluten-bearing cereals can be found in the form of the pseudocereals such as millet, amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat, or by turning to dishes involving rice, corn, potatoes, sweet chestnuts, chickpea flour and soya.

When baking, it is often possible to use grated nuts or almonds instead of flour.

A strict gluten-free diet improves well-being, usually in two to four weeks.

by Silvia Bürkle

Metabolic Balance®

Sources:

  1. Fuhrmann G., Grotzky A., Lukic R.,: Sustained gastrointestinal activity of dendronized polymer-enzyme conjugates. Nature Chemistry (June 2013)
  2. Henker J, Laass M, Baretton G et al. (2008) Fallstricke bei der Zöliakiediagnostik. Zeitschrift für Gastroenterologie 46: 675 -680
  3. Hartmann P (2009) Glutenfreie Ernährung in der Praxis. OM & Ernährung 128: 11-12
  4. Krieger T (2009) Zöliakie Update – Deamidierte Gliadin-Antikörper verbessern die Diagnostik. Med Welt 60: 83-86
  5. Deutsche Zöliakie Gesellschaft (published by) DZG Medizin. 5. Fully revised and extended edition (2010)
  6. Caspary WF (2008) Gluten-Vorkommen und Toxizität bei Zöliakie. Zeitschrift für Gastroenterologie 46: 675-680

 

 

Filed Under: Recipes for Wellness, Sustainable Weight Loss, Uncategorized Tagged With: Autoimmune disease, Celiac Disease, Gluten

Self Talk Matters

October 2, 2019 By Alex Gellman

To move forward, you may need to examine the voice within your head which is always nattering at a low volume like a radio playing in the background. Does that radio station keep playing sad songs like “I’m a Failure” “I’m a Fake” and “I’m Lazy”? Well, maybe it’s time to change the station and realize that you sabotage yourself with negative self talk.

You look in the mirror and you gained five pounds—not great – but not the end of the world either. Seize the opportunity to look within and get a greater understanding of why you overindulged. Did you seek solace in food and extra wine to deal with the deep pain around _________________(fill in the blank – a break up, parent’s divorce, job loss etc.)

Painful losses are a fact of life, but our culture is uncomfortable with expressions of grief. We divert our focus to food, gambling, drugs, alcohol and even self-mutilation. These are all expression of the deep pain we carry and our attempt  to not be present, to escape.

What if going forward you created a kick ass lawyer or counselor to rebut all the horrible things you tell yourself ? Imagine this lawyer/counselor advising:  “Yes you gained five pounds as a coping tool to deal with your parent’s death or for some other reason, but you are now learning other tools to help you deal with the deep pain and discomfort these events caused you.”

Give lawyer/counselor a name and trust him or her to look after you and protect  you from that nasty voice that undermines you in so many of  your endeavors. It’s time to dare to dream.

 

 

Filed Under: Sustainable Weight Loss Tagged With: emotions eating

Potassium – The mineral miracle?

September 29, 2019 By Alex Gellman

Studies have shown that increasing your intake of potassium will lead to a greater weight loss.

Not only does potassium assist in your weight loss goals but it also fights off the risks of heart disease and high blood pressure. That is amazing news, as potassium can be found in our everyday meals. Insuring you are getting the right amount will get you closer to your weight loss goals. So how is this mineral going to help you lose weight?

Electrolyte

Potassium is an essential mineral, and it is also an electrolyte. Being an electrolyte it is balancing the sodium in your body. Since sodium holds water in your cells, this increases the water you retain which increases your weight. Potassium helps balance the sodium in your cells enabling you to lose weight and decreases the risk of high blood pressure. Also, when you are exercising you excrete potassium through your sweat. It is essential to replenish your potassium stores to be able to have energy for your workouts.

Muscle development

Eating a rich potassium diet helps you build muscle. It aids in muscle development by converting your food into energy for muscle growth, which entails a boost in your metabolism. Having a higher ratio of muscle helps you burn more calories and lose more weight. You will start shedding the fat, and increasing your lean muscle tissue when you exercise.

If you are low on potassium, symptoms include:

  • Muscle weakness
  • Weight gain
  • Feeling constantly tired
  • Leg cramps
  • constipation

List of potassium rich food to incorporate in your diet:

  • Crimini mushroom 5 oz. 635 mg potassium
  • Swiss chard 1 cup 960.8 mg potassium
  • Banana 1 medium 467 mg potassium
  • Spinach 1 cup 838.8 potassium
  • Romaine lettuce 2 cups 324.8 potassium
  • Celery 1 cup 344.4 potassium
  • Broccoli 1 cup 505.4 potassium
  • Winter squash 1 cup 895.9 potassium
  • Tomatoes 1 cup 399.6 potassium
  • Collard greens 1 cup 494.0 potassium
  • Summer squash 1 cup 345.6 potassium
  • Eggplant 1 cup 245.5 potassium
  • Cantaloupe 1 cup 494.3 potassium
  • Green beans 1 cup 373.8 potassium
  • Brussels sprout 1 cup 494.5 potassium
  • Kale 1 cup 296.4 potassium
  • Carrots 1 cup 394.1 potassium
  • Avocado  1 cup 874.5 potassium
  • Beets 1 cup 518.5 potassium
  • Papaya 1 small 781.3 potassium
  • Asparagus 1 cup 288.0

Unprocessed foods have the highest amount of potassium. Stay clear of processed and packaged foods that are lab produced. Processed foods have a high content of sodium, which means not only are they displacing the potassium they are also hindering your weight loss goals. You are meant to eat wholesome fresh food that your body can recognize. Once you incorporate whole foods, your body will thank you and you will be closer to your weight loss goals.

This post was created by guest blogger, Hiba Beyhum, a student of The Institute of Holistic Nutrition. Alex Gellman is Hiba’s preceptor.

Filed Under: Sustainable Weight Loss Tagged With: potassium, preceptor, weight loss

Detox Now for Improved Health and Sustainable Weight Loss

September 10, 2019 By Alex Gellman

Just as a car benefits from proper maintenance and tune-ups, so too can you. The tune-up you need for your body and soul though, is a detox.

Detoxification is a key component for good health, especially if you’re struggling with weight, digestive or inflammation issues. Your body fights every day to deal with toxins, and is well equipped to do so but just like a car that is subjected to extreme driving, your body can only deal with so much before the wheels start to loosen, and in the worse case, fall off. That’s right, the extra 30lbs. you’re carting around means your performance is like a car be driven with one tire almost flat.

If you partake of the typical North American diet, then every day your body has to deal with toxins such as white sugar, chemical additives, dyes and preservatives, and perhaps alcohol and cigarettes. If you follow a more rigourous and healthy diet, you still can’t escape the environmental toxins in our air and water, household cleaning products,  pesticides and second hand smoke, etc. Even that delectable new car smell is just a stew of toxic offgassing from the plastics and upholstery and adhesives inside the car.

Here’s a by no means comprehensive list of toxins your body deals with everyday:

  • Hormones and antibiotics in commercial meats and dairy and leached into our drinking water
  • Pesticides
  • Gluten
  • Mercury from fish and from fillings in teeth
  • Parabens, artificial dyes and fragrances in personal hygiene products and make-up – we douse ourselves in it daily! One of the greatest source of lead in a woman’s body is from lipstick.
  • Aluminum, established to be a neurotoxin at high levels, is found in pots and pans, cosmetics, sunscreens and antiperspirants.
  • Lead is also found in most paraffin (another toxin!) candles – burn bees wax or soy candles

Another reason to detox is because toxic overload affects your mental state.  You must be prepared that detoxification may initially trigger memories of old emotional wounds. The good news is the detox will give you strength, both mental and physical, to deal with negative emotions, depression and discouragement that may arise.

Your body responds to stress by triggering adrenaline, the “fight or flight” hormone, to help you deal with the challenge at hand. However, after the event, the liver needs to clear those hormones or they create havoc in the body by raising blood sugar that stimulates fat retention.

I often come across patients that suffer from the rose coloured glasses syndrome. They honestly believe they are not toxic, that they managed to be at the right place at the right time and hid from all toxins. Toxins will affect each person differently  – some actually feel no affect, while others are hyper sensitive and know immediately when they are exposed to certain toxins.

The symptoms experienced are often in the area of the body that may have a genetic weakness. For example, a person with a long line of respiratory asthma and lung cancer in the family tree may find toxicity symptoms affect the lungs with allergies, frequent colds and bronchitis.

Benefits of a Detoxification Plan:

  1. Cleans the blood by expelling toxins from the liver
  2. Decreases bloating and flattens belly, by stimulating the small intestine and colon to eliminate the waste stuck on the walls and colon pockets.
  3. Cleanse the skin – the bowel is the primary organ of elimination of waste and the skin is the secondary organ for elimination. IBS or constipation can cause skin problems.
  4. More energy to jump out of bed and embrace life
  5. New courage to tackle life challenges (the greatest confirmation of this is when I am working with a patient and they call to say “WOW I cleaned up a room I had not touched in months” or “I finally did all my taxes”.
  6. More positive thoughts and better quality sleep
  7. More positive dreams
  8. Immune system will improve
  9. Less mental fog and mental confusion
  10. Dark circles and puffiness under the yes will disappear
  11. PMS will improve (shorter periods, no bloating, emotional pms, or cramping)
  12. WEIGHT LOSS

 How to Detox:

Because every individual is unique, my favorite detox plan is Metabolic Balance; It offers a holistic approach that improves metabolism and taps into your natural “fat burning” ability and is also designed for a lifetime of healthy and satisfying eating.  The program is 100% personalized and actively supports your unique bio-chemistry and nutritional needs. Just as no two people are exactly alike, no two nutrition plans are exactly alike.

Your personalized all-natural nutrition plan balances your personal “body chemistry” with the right “food chemistry”. The research, over 25 years worth, goes to the root cause of how and why a person stores and releases energy and fat. It’s base assumption is that your body is capable of producing (on it own) the hormones and enzymes that are needed to function. In order to function, a body requires “building material” in the form of proteins, carbohydrates and nutrients that are obtained from the foods you eat. Your plan concentrates on the exact foods that possess the essential, vital nutrients your body most needs. Based on this in-depth scientific and innovative understanding, metabolic balance® develops your personalized nutrition plan to naturally balance your hormones, enzymes and your bio-chemistry. There is no artificial manipulation of your biochemistry by the usage of injections, shakes, pills or specialized foods.

The prescribed foods on your nutrition plan are uniquely designed to affect positive healthy changes while naturally diminishing your food cravings and hunger spells. A new lifestyle emerges that feels great, and allows you to maintain your ideal weight with no yo-yo dieting.

Plus, you are not alone! I am a qualified metabolic balance® personal Coach, here to support, teach, guide, encourage, and motivate you along the road to reaching your goal. Personal coaching is a substantial part of your success and is an integral part of every metabolic balance® program.

Iridology Reading Included! 
Learn the key areas of your body to detoxify, discover your personality type, and find out the special gift you were born with!

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Sustainable Weight Loss Tagged With: detox, event, metabolic balance, weight loss

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 8
  • Next Page »
alex-gellman Alex Gellman HOM, PHD

HOM, PhD, Homeopath, Holistic Nutritionist, and Iridologist with a PhD in Integrative Medicine, Alex has effectively facilitated the health and wellness of patients since 1981.

She is a certified facilitator of MBTi (Myers Briggs Type Indicator) that she uses in coaching to improve lines of communication.

She has presented at conferences and at the University of Toronto Research Symposium on the results of a successful 6-month study on the effects of those suffering from Fibromyalgia.

The author of three lifestyle wellness manuals, Alex also created the stress age biological assessment featured in the Wall Street Journal. She has appeared on a variety of health and wellness television shows and has hosted wellness retreats in Sedona and Niagara


 David Gellman Rabbi - DAVID GELLMAN

Over 30 years of experience in transforming the lives of individuals, families, and corporations, as a spiritual leader, Rabbi, Accountant and a Registered Behavioral Coach.

Rabbi Gellman holds ongoing workshops to offer guidance in achieving a life balance and in making spirituality a principle part of life.

His teaching style combines a wealth of knowledge with coaching skills to ignite people to achieve their dreams.

Sign up for our newsletter—Wellness News



Call 416-456 HELP (4357)

Call 416-456 HELP (4357) or email your Toronto Life Coach Alex Gellman for more information about Life Coaching Toronto. Urgent matters requiring immediate attention email to [email protected]

Follow Us:

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

As Seen On:

w-logo

Copyright © 2021 · Focus Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in