Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

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Answers to your questions.

Question:   Why consider coming to Holistic Wellness Now, PA for the treatment of your condition?

Answer:   With over 25 years of experience in treating chronic degenerative disorders and musculoskeletal disorders such as: arthritis, osteoarthritis, liver disorders, auto-immune disorders, gastro-intestinal disorders, Chrohn's Disease, disc disorders, Auto Injuries, headaches, numbness, tingling, Sciatica, female hormone imbalnce disorders, thyroid disease and various other glandular dysfunctions, Holistic Wellness Now, PA is the correct choice. Eighty percent or more of our patients have already tried standard medical care for their illnesses and have found little to no relief.   We are now seeing patients who have been seen at the Mayo Clinic, Shands Hospital, Gainesville and John Hopkins Medical Hospital with little help for some very serious conditions.  Dr. Wieder only accepts cases he honestly feels he can help with his integrated and natural approach to health care.  The choice or combination of Chiropractic care, Acupuncture, Cellular Nutrition, Laser Neurology and other state of the art Natural and safe treatments, simply makes sense to our patients once they come into our office for their first visit.

Question:   What if you aren't ill and don't have any health problems, but you just want to maintain peak health and wellness?

Answer:   Today's baby boomer wants in simple terms, the best that life has to offer for themselves and their family.  If your goal is to feel great, have peak energy, look better and strive for extended longevity than Holistic Wellness Now, PA's, 'Life Extension Program" can unlock the answers you have been seeking for peak health and wellness.  By utilizing Dr. Wieder's accurate and medically diagnostic evaluation of your health goals a custom tailored wellness program is created that will work specifically for you.  You and your family deserves the best of natural health care and wellness care.

Question:   What really is Cellular Nutrition?

Answer:   I have promoted a concept in my practice for years that I call cellular nutrition.  I learned early on in my research and in holistic wellness nutritional practice that most studies evaluated only one nutrient at a time. For example, the study evaluated only vitamin C or vitamin E or selenium or calcium or alpha lipoic acid. This is just the way we do research. However, vitamin E and vitamin C are not drugs. They are nutrients from foods; however, today because of supplementation we are able to get them at levels unobtainable in foods. All of these nutrients work together in a synergistic way.

Question:   Why consider purchasing the vitamins and products offered by Holistic Wellness Now, PA?

Answer:   Dr. Wieder after 25 years in practice has simply discovered various vitamin, homeopathic and environmental products that work, are safe, made from organic fruits and vegetables, are effective and are easily absorbed by the stomach and gut. 

Keep coming back to our website as there are additional supplements and products that will be made easily available for you to purchase.  Coming soon also, Hormone Saliva Testing Home Kits!

Question:  Can children benefit from holistic wellness care at Holistic Wellness Now, PA?

Answer:   Absolutely yes!  Why would you not want your children to be functioning at their peak health and wellness?  It's not even a option.  All of our families bring in their infants, children and adolescents for Chiropractic care and nutritional wellness care once they see the great effects it has on them.  Our youngest patient has been 20 minutes old and our oldest patient has been in their 90's.  Everyone deserves to live with their body functioning at it's peak levels, especially children of all ages.  Children with reading problems, ADHD, ADD processing problems, visual problems as well as sports enhancement are seen in our office.  The treatment is painless and works terrific.  Call us for more information.

Question:   Is the treatment and care offered at Holistic Wellness Now, PA affordable? 

Answer:   Most definitely.  Our fees are well within the usual and customary parameters in comparison to other medical providers and in many cases more reasonable than other practitioners.  For Chiropractic Care and Acupuncture we are now implementing our UCCAFF program (Unlimited Chiropractic Care at a Fixed Fee).  For Nutritional care our fees are reasonable and affordable.  Call our office for more details, 407-330-0240.

How Much Water Should We Drink?

Whether you are gardening on a hot summer day or exercising even at moderate intensity, dehydration can creep up on everyone…not just athletes.Daily average fluid loss in sedentary adults ranges from 2-3 liters per day.Athletes who train 2 hours per day can easily lose an additional 2 liters resulting in a total fluid loss of up to 5 liters per day.

Dehydration increases your core temperature causing cardiovascular strain in the form of increased heart rate, increased blood pressure and lower cardiac output (the volume of blood pumped by the heart in one minute).Outward signs of dehydration are obvious thirst, muscle cramps, weakness, decreased athletic performance, difficulty with focus, headache, nausea, fatigue, reduced urine output, dark urine and dizziness.In athletes, even 4% dehydration can result in 20-30% decrease in work performance. The problem with these “warning signs” is that they are not truly a “warning” at all.By the time you experience these symptoms, dehydration has already occurred.If you are dehydrated going into a physical activity, no amount of water you drink during the activity is going to make up for not drinking enough water on a daily basis.Voluntary fluid intake during physical activity usually replaces only 50% of the sweat loss. 

 

Most mineral losses in sweat are minor.A good diet and general supplementation with a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement will do the job.If you are not sure where you stand with regard to mineral status, getting tested will help you fine tune your regime.Sodium and chloride losses however, can be significant.Marathon runners performing in heated conditions can lose up to 10 grams of sodium in one event.Losses of sodium and chloride through sweat have been associated with muscle cramps and fatigue.It is rarely necessary to supplement potassium because of fluid loss via sweat.Although salt supplementation is usually not necessary, if you are on a self imposed salt restrictive diet, you may need to supplement ¼ - ½ teaspoon of iodized sea salt to recover from sodium and chloride losses through sweat.A nutritional consultation will help you determine your mineral and electrolyte needs.  

To avoid dehydration, drink water before you feel thirsty.General recommendations for adults is 1 quart per 50lbs of body weight and don’t go over 3 quarts. You need enough water per day to urinate every 2-4 hours. Normal urine color should be pale yellow. Be aware that medications (especially diuretics), caffeine and alcohol consumption will increase your fluid needs.

Exercise requirements: 2 hours prior to exercise drink 16-24 ounces of water; 15 minutes prior to exercise drink 3-6oz.; During exercise drink 4-6oz for every 15-20 minutes.

Recovery after exercise: measure yourself before and after exercise to determine your individual needs.It is recommended you drink water until your pre-workout weight is attained (generally 16oz of water per pound of body weight lost). Your blood and other fluids help to remove waste products and to bring nutrients to tissues for repair. Replacing lost fluids as quickly as possible after a workout or a day of heavy gardening will speed up your recovery. What about Sport Drinks and other beverages? The average Joe’s workout does not need a sport drink for rehydration unless you’re a serious athlete and the duration of your workout is over 60 minutes.Many of the “enhanced” waters and sport drinks contain additional calories and sugars that "average" exercisers do not need. We would rather those “extra” calories come from fresh fruits and vegetables.Water is sufficient for their workouts along with a proper diet.

 

For high intensity, hot climate or long duration workouts, when choosing a sport drink or enhanced beverage, the fluid should contain some carbohydrate (not too much) and some sodium chloride. The carbohydrate helps to maintain training intensity because it is the primary energy fuel used during exercise events.Sodium chloride is necessary not for replacement of lost levels rather it helps to stimulate water uptake and retention as well as carbohydrate uptake.  

What kind of carbohydrate? In general, you want to look for combinations of sucrose, glucose, and fructose sugars.In fact, they are most effective when they are consumed as a combination.

Studies have shown that combining the different carbohydrates helps athlete’s burn 55% more carbohydrates than those with glucose solution only. In addition, you want to take a look at the ingredient list to determine the source of the sucrose, glucose and fructose. Less refined sources would be fruit juice, honey, or evaporated cane juice.Ask yourself, “Are there any artificial sweeteners?”.Although “reduced calorie”, artificial sweeteners have never been shown to help anyone lose weight.Many top selling sport drinks contain only high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners.Drinking more than 60 grams of fructose will inhibit performance and result in diarrhea.

Some may think juice to be nutritious, but it isn't the best choice for hydration. Juice is primarily fructose and as explained above can reduce the rate of water absorption so cells don't get hydrated very quickly.  

How much carbohydrate? Both fluid and carbohydrate requirements can be met by consuming 20-40oz per hour of beverages containing 4-8% carbohydrate.This works out to about 36 grams of carbohydrate in 20-40oz.

For the average exerciser, if you’re tired of water a simple electrolyte powder might be beneficial.You won’t necessarily need any carbohydrate content, so keep your eye out for electrolyte powders that are easy to carry in your gym back and can simply be added to your own water.If you think you might need a little extra energy to get you through a particularly tough workout, try a honey stick.Honey sticks are equal parts sucrose and fructose.Sucrose will be absorbed quickly while the fructose portion burns a little slower so your blood glucose doesn’t bottom out.Honey sticks can be purchased at your local health food store.

How important is getting our Hormone Levels checked?

Very important.  One of the many things the medical community ignores with men and women after the age of 40 is checking our hormone levels.  Been forgetting things lately, not interested in sex, feeling a unmotivated about things in your life, becoming a couch potato, women- are you experiencing vaginal dryness, don't have the get up and go you used to?  These are just a few symptoms of decreased or abnormal hormone levels:

Symptoms of female hormone imbalance
Acne or oily skin
Bloating
Bone loss
Decreased fertility
Depression
Excess facial and body hair
Hot flashes
Heavy or painful periods
Irregular periods
Irritability
Loss of muscle mass
Loss of scalp hair
Low libido
Memory lapses
Mood swings
Nervousness
Night sweats
Poor concentration
Sleep disturbances
Tender or fibrocystic breasts
Urinary incontinence
Vaginal dryness
Weight gain

Symptoms of male hormone imbalance
Bone loss
Decreased mental clarity
Decreased muscle strength
Decreased stamina
Decreased urine flow
Depression
Erectile dysfunction
Hot flashes
Increased abdominal fat
Increased urge to urinate
Irritability
Low sex drive
Mood swings
Night sweats
Poor concentration
Sleep disturbances

What's Adrenal Imbalance Mean?

The adrenal glands produce three types of steroid hormones: glucocorticoids (cortisol), mineralocorticoids (aldosterone), and androgens (DHEA/DHEAS).  Cortisol enables the body to respond and adapt to the stresses of daily life.  It also helps to maintain blood sugar levels and promote a healthy immune system.  Aldosterone works to balance salt and water in the body. Androgens secreted by the adrenals provide the majority of DHEA for both men and women. For women, the adrenal glands are the major source of testosterone.  Imbalances in the adrenal system can contribute to problems with the nervous and immune systems, body composition difficulties, blood sugar irregularities, and high androgen levels.

Symptoms of adrenal imbalance
Allergies / asthma
Arthritis
Bone loss
Chemical sensitivities
Morning/evening fatigue
High blood sugar
Increased abdominal fat
Memory lapses
Sleep disturbances
Sugar cravings

What's Thyroid Imbalance?

Thyroid hormones control the body’s metabolism. The brain produces thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) which triggers the thyroid gland to produce two types of hormones – T4 and T3.  In hypothyroidism, the body has inadequate levels of  the thyroid hormones. This often leads to imbalances in relation to other hormones. Hyperthyroidism is a less common condition that exists when excess thyroid hormones are present.  Because every cell of the body is affected by thyroid hormones, symptoms of imbalances are often varied and affect multiple body systems.

Symptoms of low thyroid function
Brittle hair and nails
Cold temperature intolerance
Cold hands and feet
Constipation
Decreased sweating
Depression
Dry skin
Fatigue
Inability to lose weight
Low libido
Menstrual irregularities
Shortness of breath
Sluggishness
Weight gain

Symptoms of high thyroid function
Anxiety
Diarrhea
Eye/vision changes
Fatigue
Hair loss
Insomnia
Palpitations
Rapid heart beat
Sweating
Weakness
Weight loss

What's Insulin Balance Mean?

Insulin is secreted by the pancreas.  Insulin “unlocks” the cells to allow glucose (sugar) from food to enter and be converted into energy.  When too much glucose is present in the body, the pancreas increases the amount of insulin being produced.  High insulin as well as high glucose may contribute to multiple symptoms. A number of conditions are associated with insulin and glucose imbalances and regulation problems. These include chronic stress, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes.

Symptoms of insulin imbalance
Abnormal blood cholesterol
Fatigue
High blood triglycerides
Increased abdominal fat
Increased hunger / sugar cravings
Low/high blood sugar
Poor circulation to extremities
Skin changes

What are the Benefits of Anti-Oxidants?

Plentiful intakes of antioxidants have been associated with reduced risk of some chronic diseases, in the same way that generous intakes of fruits, vegetables and grains have been associated with similar health benefits.

AN EXAMPLE OF A WEIGHT LOSS EATING PLAN:

 

Weight Loss Food Plan
MEAT • FISH • FOWL • EGGS • VEGETABLES (No Limit On Serving Size)
VEGETABLES 3% or less carbs Asparagus Bamboo Shoots Bean Sprouts Beet Greens Bok Choy Greens Broccoli Cabbages Cauliflower Celery Chards Chicory Collard Greens Cucumber Endive Escarole Garlic Kale Kohlrabi Lettuces Mushrooms Mustard Greens Parsley Radishes Raw Cob Corn Salad Greens Sauerkraut Spinach String Beans Summer Squashes Turnip Greens Watercress Yellow Squash Zucchini Squash	VEGETABLES 6% or less carbs Bell Peppers Bok Choy Stems Chives Eggplant Green Beans Green Onions Okra Olives Pickles Pimento Rhubarb Sweet Potatoes Tomatoes Water Chestnuts Yams VEGETABLES 7 - 9% carbs Acorn Squash Artichokes Avocado Beets Brussel Sprouts Butternut Squash Carrots Jicama Leeks Onion Pumpkin Rutabagas Turnips Winter Squashes	VEGETABLES 12 - 21% carbs On Limited Basis (Only 2-3 X / wk) Celeriac Chickpeas Cooked Corn Grains, Sprouted Horseradish Jerus. Artichokes Kidney Beans Lima Beans Lentils Parsnips Peas Popcorn Potatoes Seeds, Sprouted Soybeans Sunflower Seeds FRUITS Limited Quantity On Limited Basis (Snacks only) Apples Berries Grapes Papaya Pears Prunes, Fresh	MISCELLANEOUS In Limited Amounts Butter, Raw Caviar Cottage Cheese, Raw Dressing - Oil / Cider Vinegar only Jerky Kefir,Raw (liquid yogurt) Milk, Raw Nuts, Raw (except Peanuts) Oils - Vegetable, Olive (no Canola) preferably cold-pressed BEVERAGES Beef Tea Bouillon - Beef, Chicken Herbal (Decaffeinated) Teas Filtered or Spring Water Red Wine only (3 glasses max) DESSERT Plain Gelatin only
FOODS EATEN CLOSEST TO THEIR RAW STATE HAVE THE BEST DIGESTIVE ENZYME ABILITY. TAKE FLUIDS MORE THAN ONE HOUR BEFORE OR MORE THAN TWO HOURS AFTER MEALS. LIMIT FLUID INTAKE WITH MEALS TO NO MORE THAN 4 OZ. NO PROCESSED GRAINS, WHITE FLOUR, SUGAR, SUGAR SUBSTITUTES THE TRUTH ABOUT SOY: Major Corporations like Dow Chemical and DuPont, the same corporations that brought misery and death to millions around the world through Agent Orange, are now the driving forces behind the promotion of soy as a food for humans. They are financing anti-meat and anti-milk campaigns aimed largely at those concerned about animal welfare and the environment, trying to convince them that imitations such as "soymilk" are not only healthier than the real thing, but better for the earth too. There is no evidence that consuming soy products can improve health, reduce environmental degradation or slow global warming. In fact, the evidence suggests quite the opposite. The studies below regarding the effects of soy on health are eye-opening, particularly the review by the American Heart Association -- which no longer supports the health claims about soy endorsed by the U.S. government. Overall risks and benefits of soy assessed Latest review by American Heart Association Soy inhibits iron absorption Poor iron bioavailability Poor calcium bioavailability Calcium and zinc absorbed better from milk than from soy -- even without phytates Soy provides no benefits with respect to heart disease risk Soy causes bladder cancer Soy isoflavones during pregnancy increase breast cancer risk in female offspring High levels of cadmium in soy formula Soy linked to peanut allergy and increased risk for asthma Whole milk vs. soy beverage -- asthma risk Persistent sexual arousal syndrome associated with increased soy intake Genistein: Does it prevent or promote breast cancer? Dr. Wieder's perspective on Soy: If you were to carefully review the thousands of studies published on soy, I strongly believe you too would reach the conclusion that any possible benefits of consuming soy are FAR outweighed by the well documented risks. Now, I’m not against all forms of soy. Properly fermented products like natto and tempeh have been consumed for centuries and do not wreak havoc in your body like unfermented soy products do. For example, the enzyme nattokinase—derived from natto--is a safer, more powerful option than aspirin to dissolve blood clots, and has been used safely for more than two decades. Unfortunately, many Americans still believe that unfermented and processed soy products like soy milk, soy cheese, soy burgers and soy ice cream are good for them. 85 Percent of Consumers Believe the Lies About Soy The rise of soy as a health food is in large part due to highly successful marketing to otherwise health conscious Americans who set the trend. According to the survey Consumer Attitudes About Nutrition 2008 (by the United Soybean Board), 85 percent of consumers now perceive soy products as healthy. The survey also found that consumers: rank soybean oil among the top three healthy oils, with 70 percent recognizing soy oil as a healthy oil, and depend on soybean oil, commonly sold as vegetable oil, as one of their two most frequent cooking oils This is a tragic case of shrewd marketing of misinformation and outright lies taking root among the masses, which will likely take some time to undo. Ever since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a health claim for soy foods in 1999 (which said diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 25 grams of soy protein a day may reduce the risk of heart disease), soy sales have skyrocketed. In the years between 2000 and 2007, food manufacturers in the U.S. introduced over 2,700 new foods with soy as an ingredient, including 161 new products introduced in 2007 alone.  This has resulted in a booming multi-billion dollar business. From 1992 to 2007, soy food sales increased from a paltry $300 million to nearly $4 billion, according to the Soyfoods Association of North America. However, the Weston A. Price Foundation, a nonprofit nutrition education foundation, submitted a petition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January of this year, asking them to retract its heart-health claim from soy in light of the inconsistent and contradictory evidence showing benefits, and its many proven health risks. What’s So Wrong With Soy? Unlike the Asian culture, where people eat small amounts of whole soybean products, western food processors separate the soybean into two golden commodities--protein and oil. And there is nothing natural or safe about these products. Says Dr. Kaayla Daniel, author of The Whole Soy Story, “Today's high-tech processing methods not only fail to remove the anti-nutrients and toxins that are naturally present in soybeans but leave toxic and carcinogenic residues created by the high temperatures, high pressure, alkali and acid baths and petroleum solvents." Dr. Daniel also points out the findings of numerous studies reviewed by her and other colleagues -- that soy does not reliably lower cholesterol, and in fact raises homocysteine levels in many people, which has been found to increase your risk of stroke, birth defects, and yes: heart disease. Other common health problems linked to a high-soy diet include: Thyroid problems, including weight gain, lethargy, malaise, fatigue, hair loss, and loss of libido Premature puberty and other developmental problems in babies, children and adolescents Cancer Brain damage Reproductive disorders Kidney stones Weakened immune system Severe, potentially fatal food allergies Most soy, perhaps about 80 percent or more, is also genetically modified, which adds its own batch of health concerns. Despite these findings, many people still want to believe the hype, thinking that these studies must somehow be wrong. But the content of soy itself should be a clue. For example, non-fermented soy products contain: Phytoestrogens (isoflavones) genistein and daidzein, which mimic and sometimes block the hormone estrogen Phytates, which block your body's uptake of minerals Enzyme Inhibitors, which hinder protein digestion Hemaggluttin, which causes red blood cells to clump together and inhibits oxygen take-up and growth High amounts of omega-6 fat, which is pro-inflammatory You’re Consuming Soy Whether You’re Buying “Soy Products” or Not Even if you know better than to gulp down large amounts of soy milk, slabs of tofu, and other soy snacks, you are still consuming soy if you’re eating processed food, in the form of soybean oil and lecithin. So depending on your dietary habits, your (unfermented) soy consumption could really add up. In fact, Dr. Joseph Hibbeln at the National Institutes of Health told CNN.com he estimates that soybeans, usually in the form of oil, account for 10 percent of the average person’s total calories in the United States! When you consider that 90 percent of the money Americans spend on food goes toward processed food, this amount of “accidental” soy intake is not surprising. As a side note, I’d like to make a quick statement here to address some of my readers’ concerns about my reduced CoQ 10 supplement, ubiquinol, which also contain soy bean oil. Unfortunately, the reduced CoQ 10 (ubiquinol) – which is the optimal form of CoQ 10 that your body needs, especially if you’re over 25 – is only produced by a multi-billion dollar Japanese pharmaceutical company that holds ALL the world patents on it. Hence, there’s no way to replace the soy, even though that would have been my preference. However, as in all things, moderation is key. If I thought there were ANY significant health risks from consuming this small amount of soy oil, then I would not personally take two a day – which I do. I do however avoid all processed forms of soy products, and severely limit my intake of other unfermented soy, which is easy to do by simply avoiding processed and “fast” foods. Which Soy Foods Should be Avoided … and How do You Avoid Them? Because soy is so pervasive in the U.S. food supply, avoiding it is not an easy task. The best way to completely avoid soy in the food supply is to buy whole foods and prepare them yourself. This may also be your only option if you’ve developed a soy allergy and need to eliminate soy from your diet entirely.   If you still prefer to buy readymade and packaged products, for whatever reason, Dr. Daniel offers a free Special Report, "Where the Soys Are," on her Web site. It lists the many "aliases" that soy might be hiding under in ingredient lists -- words like "boullion," "natural flavor" and "textured plant protein." Which Soy Foods DO Have Health Benefits?  The few types of soy that ARE healthy are all fermented varieties. After a long fermentation process, the phytic acid and antinutrient levels of the soybeans are reduced, and their beneficial properties -- such as the creation of natural probiotics -- become available to your digestive system. The fermentation process also greatly reduces the levels of dangerous isoflavones, which are similar to estrogen in their chemical structure, and can interfere with the action of your own estrogen production. So if you want to eat soy that is actually good for you, following are all healthy options: Natto, fermented soybeans with a sticky texture and strong, cheese-like flavor. It's loaded with nattokinase, a very powerful blood thinner. Natto is actually a food I eat regularly, as it is the highest source of vitamin K2 on the planet and has a very powerful beneficial bacteria, bacillus subtilis. It can usually be found in any Asian grocery store. Tempeh, a fermented soybean cake with a firm texture and nutty, mushroom-like flavor. Miso, a fermented soybean paste with a salty, buttery texture (commonly used in miso soup). Soy sauce: traditionally, soy sauce is made by fermenting soybeans, salt and enzymes, however be wary because many varieties on the market are made artificially using a chemical process.