The Avante TimesVolume 5, Issue 1 Spring & Summer 2009Avante’s Values

* Integrity* Innovation* Team Approach* Community* Honesty* Compassion* Respect* Progressive* Personalized Care* Value

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Blood Pressure 2

Calendar ofEvents 3

Travel Medicine 3

Fish Oil 4

Infant Foods 5

Sleep 6

Announcements 7

Who’s Who at Avante 8

Avante Medical Center, LLC

Jason J Harmon, ND, FABNO

Happy spring and summer! What a beautiful winter we had, but as always, we look forward to spring and summer in Alaska.

At Avante, we are growing and changing with the seasons. We have a new mission statement, five new providers, a new website and service booklet, and final steps are being taken for our hospital satel-lite office. We are evolving to electronic medical records and paper free office. Services are expand-ing as we add acupuncture and IPL treatments to our lineup, and increase appointment availability in both our allergy and primary care departments.

Our commitment and concern for our community, both locally as well as globally, have encouraged us to increase our efforts to contribute funds and energy to the local Salvation Army’s commitment to hous-ing and medical care for local homeless families, as well as the Sudan Medical Project headed up by Dr Hickel. Aside from these commitments, we have im-plemented a new senior discount at Avante. Please join us in continuing to support our local and global community when a helping hand is most needed.

We are growing to meet your needs and look forward to sharing our new providers, services and new mis-sion with you this spring and summer.

Community and renewal at Avante

www.avantemedical.com

Mission StatementHealing begins when you enter Avante!

“Avante Medical Center, LLC offers a beautiful and healing environment, which contains world-class medical providers, excellent staff, and extensive integrative and conventional medical services for the whole family. We provide care to our clients living with acute and

chronic health challenges, combining the best of science and nature, tailored and personal-ized to your individual medical needs. We focus on the value of our clients’ experience, pro-viding adequate time with our Providers, resulting in thorough and comprehensive medical

care. Our goal is to educate, empower, and enrich your health through a caring, professional and unique medical experience.”

the avante timesPage 2

Lessons in High Blood PressureBethany Buchanan, ANP

What is your blood pressure? Most people do not know the answer to that question or really give their blood pres-sure much consideration. However, having a normal blood pressure is one of the important preventive steps one can take to increase longevity.

Normal blood pressure is anything lower than 120/80; anything higher can spell trouble! It is important to check your blood pressure regularly, especially as you age. Some people have reasons for higher blood pressure that are not caused by hardening of the arteries. These reasons can include stress (common), genetics (strong family history), or even heavy metal exposure. Typically it is difficult to pinpoint the reason. In fact, 95 percent of the people who have high blood pressure have “essential hypertension,” meaning the cause is unknown.

Understanding the Numbers Systole, the top number in a blood pressure reading, represents how much pressure is the in the artery. A good way to visualize this is to think of a water hose. The water trickling out is low-pressure and water blasting out (like a fire hose) is high-pressure. If your artery is dissected in half, the force (pressure) of the blood running through it repre-sents systole. Arteries have thick walls; they can handle higher pressure for a while. But arteries become arterioles, which become capillaries. Capillaries are fragile; their cell walls consist of a single cell layer. If you suffer from high blood pressure, the pressure continually blows out those capillaries, which in turn affect the brain, eyes, penis, kidneys, and extremities. Untreated high systolic blood pressure (anything greater than 140) can lead to health is-sues such as stroke, poor vision or blindness, erectile dysfunction or impotence, kidney failure and numbness, nerve pain, or cold extremities.

Diastole, the bottom number in a blood pressure reading, measures how much the heart muscle relaxes in between beats. Do this demonstration: hold out your arm and do a bicep curl, bringing your hand up to meet your shoulder. Now do a few curls, letting your bicep relax between each curl. This is easy. You can continue for a long time with-out fatiguing your bicep. Now do curls without letting your bicep relax, like crunches. Within 15 seconds, your bicep becomes fatigued. An overworked bicep becomes a big muscle. This is what high diastole (>90 or 100) does to your heart.

The consequence of your heart not relaxing in between beats leads to a bigger heart (cardiomyopathy). A bigger heart pumps less efficiently. If cardiomyopathy continues, it turns into congestive heart failure (CHF). CHF is when the heart does not pump effectively enough to get the blood out into the system. Ultimately this can be a cause of death.

Poor lifestyle choices can lead to an earlier onset of high blood pressure. Risk factors include smoking, being overweight, a sedentary lifestyle, and poor eating habits (hydrogenated oils and processed foods). If your siblings or parents have high blood pressure, then it is even more likely that an unhealthy lifestyle will catch up with you, and usually at a younger age than you expect. NOW is the time to make changes in your life. These changes can prevent the onset of cardiovascular disease, which is just as common in women as it is in men. Cardiovascular disease kills, which is why blood pressure should be treated aggressively. Many people believe that once they get started on medication they are on it forever. This is not true. Losing weight, eating healthy (especially a Mediterranean diet), and exercising can often lower blood pres-sure, making medication unnecessary.

www.avantemedical.com

Bring your whole family

to Avante

Calendar of EventsNatural Pantry Walk-Through with Tina Harmon, L.Ac.

Join licensed acupuncturist and oriental medicine specialist, Tina Harmon, as she guides you through the Natural Pantry, help-ing you learn how to read labels and what those long, confusing words really mean for your health.

Monday, May 18th, 6 p.m.Monday, June 15th, 6 p.m. Monday July 20th, 6 p.m.

Monday, August 17th, 6 p.m.

17th Annual Brest Cancer Focus Inc. Seminar & LuncheonFriday May 8th, 2009

Dena’ina Civic and Convention CenterLuncheon: Noon

Silent Auction: 9:30-11:50 a.m.Seminars: 9- 11:00 a.m.

We invite you to visit our website at www.breastcancer-focus.org for further details about this year’s exciting

seminars and luncheon. You may also purchase tickets for $35 to the luncheon through the website. Please call

276-7601, or email info@breastcancerfocus.org with any questions.

Page 3Volume 4, Issue 2

www.avantemedical.com

Chris Kallander, ANP

With early spring here, more people are trying to get out of Alaska to warmer climates with more “vitamin D!” If your itinerary includes a developing country, a few preventative tips might make your tropical vacation a splendid success.

Sampling the local cuisine is one of the most fun and tantalizing activities surrounding international travel. The following precautions might keep this activity from becoming a “major” disaster. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is a must for cleansing hands prior to eating. Careful food choices are a leading way to protect your precious time as you travel.

Higher-risk foods include: Chilled desserts made with eggs, Buffets, Tap water, ice cubes (or brushing teeth with tap water or in the shower) Soft cheese, especially goat; raw or undercooked meat or seafood, salads and raw vegetables Non-pasteurized dairy products such as ice cream and smoothies

Lower-risk foods include: Coffee or tea served steaming hot, bananas, oranges, pomegranates, bread, well-cooked meals

Supplements may be used as preventative measures in addition to antibiotics prescribed by your healthcare provider. SF-734, made by Thorne, is in our supplement room. It has bismuth 120mg in 2 capsules, along with other ingredients beneficial to healthy digestive function. The caps are taken just before meals. The bismuth has antibacterial, antisecretory, and anti-inflammatory properties. The commercial product Pepto-Bismol has bismuth 262 mg per two tablets, along with subsalicylate, an aspirin-like compound. If you are taking blood-thinning medications, are allergic to aspirin, or have ulcers, you will want to avoid aspirin-containing products. SF-734 does not contain any aspirin-like components. Other valuable supplements include probiotics because they contain acidophilus and bifidobacterium; for diarrhea, saccharomyces boulardii may be very beneficial. Use upwards of 20 billion units per day, starting two weeks before departure, and continue until a week after returning.

A few homeopathic ideas for diarrhea might include Arsenicum 12C 1-3 pellets every 2-4 hours, Cinchona 6C 1-3 pellets every 2-4 hours, or Podophyllum 6C 1-3 pellets every 2-4 hours. For persistent diarrhea more than two days, please seek medical treatment immediately.

Happy travels!!!

Montezuma’s Revenge, Turkey Trot, Delhi Belly!

For more information, class updates, additions or reschedules, please visit our website atwww.avantemedical.com

Page 4 The Avante Times

Bottled or fresh-caught, fish oil benefits are for everyone

www.avantemedical.com

Christine Sagan, ANP

You may know someone who takes fish oil and wonder if you should too. Fish oil is an omega-3 fatty acid which the body cannot make, and it must be obtained by the food we eat. Omega-3 fatty acids are important to our body func-tions and help reduce inflammation throughout the body. Many diseases of today are pro-inflammatory, and inflam-mation leads to degeneration and disease.

Researchers believe as many as 60 percent of Americans are deficient in omega-3 essential fatty acids. Another 20 percent have so little Omega-3s that traces do not even show up in their blood. This reflects our processed-food diet, lacking whole foods. Sources of these important Omega-3s include: flaxseeds, walnuts, hempseeds, soybean oil, canola oil, dark leafy vegetables (Brussels sprouts, kale, spinach, salad greens), cold-water fish, wild-caught salmon, halibut, snapper, scallops, tuna, herring, mackerel, organ meats, algae, winter squash, raw tofu, cauliflower, cabbage, cloves, and mustard seeds.

Symptoms of Omega-3 deficiencies include: fatigue, dry and/or itchy skin, brittle hair and nails, constipation, fre-quent colds, depression, poor concentration, lack of physical endurance, and joint pain.

Studies have shown the benefit of Omega-3s as a defense against myriad diseases and afflictions, including Alzheimer’s, asthma, ADHD, cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression, diabetes, eczema, high blood pressure, migraines, multiple sclerosis, obesity, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

These fats are also essential for preventing blood clots and building cell membranes in our brains. Every cell membrane – responsible for allowing nutrients to enter and wastes to be removed – is composed of fatty acids. The integrity and fluidity of these cell membranes is determined by the type of fat we eat. Omega-3s play a role in production of substances involved in regulation of blood pressure, blood clotting, allergic response, regulation of digestive enzymes, and hormone production. They have been found to lower fat found in the blood stream and have been proven to lower triglycerides and increase the good fat. Further studies show positive protection against cancer-cell growth.

The three most important omega-3 fatty acids are Alpha linolenic acid (ALA), Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and Do-cosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Many foods contain ALA, which the body partially converts to EPA and DHA. The intake of saturated fat and partially hydrogenated fat decrease the activity of conversion enzymes. Vegetarians and vegans rely on ALA foods for Omega-3 sources.

When you buy fish oil, take note of the EPA and DHA content. This is what is incorporated into cell membranes throughout the body, particularly in the heart and brain. DHA is essential for a child’s brain development in gesta-tion and infancy. It is incorporated into the brain in the last trimester of pregnancy and proves pivotal in the first two years of life. EPA mediates inflammation, converting in women to DHA during pregnancy. Researchers are now also linking inadequate intake of these Omega-3 fats in pregnant women to premature birth and low birth weight, and to hyperactivity in children. It is highly recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers as well as small children.

Those with no cardiovascular risk factors are recommended to eat cold-water, wild fish twice a week. If you have cardiovascular risk factors, it should be a part of your daily diet. One serving of fish per week reduces the risk of sudden death by 50 percent, plus a significant reduction in all-cause mortality.

For non-fish-eaters who are not allergic to fish, fish oil is a nice, safe option. And don’t worry – you can prevent those dreaded ‘fishy’ burps by taking it with meals and at bedtime. Remember to store your fish-oil bottle in the refrigerator after opening.

You will find health at Avante

continued on page 7

Volume 4, Issue 2 Page 5

Natalie Wiggins, ND

Until approximately six months of age, a baby’s digestive tract is not able to adequately digest most foods. The introduction of foods too early may induce food allergies or food sensitivities. Furthermore, it has been conclusively demonstrated in a Finnish study that prolonged exclusive breastfeeding will significantly reduce the incidence of food allergy and intolerance, even in families with a strong tendency toward allergies. Conditions that commonly result from food allergies or sensitivities include upper respiratory infections, ear infections and gastroenteritis. For the first six months of life, breast milk is the only food required by most infants. Even premature infants normally thrive on breast milk, as it provides essential antibodies that protect immune function, plus nutrients that optimize growth. There is no definitive age at which a baby should begin to eat solids. It is important to look for signs the baby is ready for food introduction. These include the ability to sit up with support, good control of the head, showing an interest in family meals, and the ability to push food away, or otherwise indicate that he or she has had enough. New foods should be introduced one at a time for a week, while observing for reactions. Symptoms that may indicate reactivity to a food include: rash around the mouth or anus, diarrhea, hyperactivity or lethargy, constipation, gas and bloating, allergic shiners (dark circles under the eyes), runny nose, skin reactions, redness of the face and cheeks, and proclivity toward ear infections. It is also recommended to completely avoid common allergenic foods for at least the first year of life, and in some cases much longer. These foods include cow’s milk, wheat, oranges, eggs, chocolate, soy, peanuts, fish, and sugar. Once multiple foods have been successfully introduced, non-allergenic foods should be rotated to minimize sensitization. This may occur when the same foods are eaten once or twice daily for 5-7 consecutive days. Babies should begin their non-breast milk diets with hypoallergenic mashed or pureed vegetables, and fruits can be added later, when they are eating a variety of vegetables. Rice, oats, millet, barley, and buckwheat are grains that can be introduced when the baby has numerous vegetables and fruits established in the diet. Peas, beans, and goat-milk products are good sources of protein to add in with grains. Once the baby is about 12 months of age, and tolerating a diverse diet, he or she can be given additional grains, animal proteins, and experiment with table foods.

In addition to prolonged breastfeeding, avoiding allergenic foods, and watching for sensitivities, nutritional supplements can aid in food introduction. Probiotics are important for colonizing the infant digestive tract with helpful flora that aid in digestion and immune support. Enzymes and fish oil can be helpful for babies who have a tendency toward food sensitivities. Carminitive herbs such as ginger, fennel, and peppermint can help with digestion and alleviate the discomfort of gas and bloating. Most importantly, mealtime should be a pleasant time, free of stress. Babies learn important skills during family meals, including fine- and gross-motor development, socialization, and self-care. Make it fun for them, offer a variety of nutritious foods, and be prepared for a mess!

Source:Kajosaari, M.; Saarinen, U., Prophylaxis of atopic disease by six months’ total food elimination. Evaluation of 135 exclusively breastfed infants of atopic families. Acta. Paed. Scand. (1983) 72, 3, 411-4.

Infant Food Introduction

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Page 6 the Avante Times

The Importance of SleepMarkian Babij, ND, FABNO

Many chronically ill patients have insomnia, or lack of quality sleep. Insomnia has been associated with many chron-ic health conditions. According to the National Sleep Foundation, seven out of 10 Americans report frequent sleep problems, however most are not diagnosed. So why is there so much insomnia? There are many reasons; however, insomnia can be addressed naturally with appropriate sleep hygiene and relaxation. If sleep problems persist, you need to be further evaluated by a physician to rule out other underlying causes.

Sleep: Behind the Scenes

While you sleep, your body and mind participate in many healing and restorative processes. Cytokines, mes-sengers of our immune systems, are busy while we sleep. Lack of sleep has been shown to decrease important immune cells and make people susceptible to illness. Growth hormone is responsible for physical restoration and maintenance in people of all ages. Our bodies produce the greatest amount of growth hormone while we sleep. Melatonin is produced and secreted by the pineal gland as it becomes dark. This hormone is largely involved with inducing our sleep cycle and coordinating various immune functions that occur while we sleep. Reduced melatonin has been linked to increased rates of cancer. Cortisol is a hormone we produce at peak levels when we are wak-ing up and when we feel stress. Chronically high levels of cortisol and associated stress impair sleep, and are not uncommon in chronic illness.

How will your Immune System benefit from sleep?

Insomnia allows for a gap in restorative immune processes, resulting in less efficient immune functioning while we are awake. The immune system protects us from foreign invaders that cause disease. As we sleep, many repair processes increase our total available energy to maintain a healthy immune system.

How to Improve Your Sleep and ImmunityDaily exercise and setting a night routine are great ways to start, however simple details such as soft night lights in the bathroom, “white noise,” and creating the right sleeping environment are important. If you have been lying in bed for 20 minutes, get out of bed and try to do something relaxing other than watching TV.

There is a solution to most sleep issues, and the immune system will work more effectively if sleep is restored. Natural agents can solve insomnia; however, using a specific agent that fits your particular set of issues is optimal. Many “health tools” can build the immune system, and sleep is one of them, however Alaska provides a bounty of elements that make for a resilient group of people. An uncomplicated naturopathic plan can effectively improve im-mune functioning when health is compromised. First, remember what we all inherently know is good for us – plenty of clean water, oxygen, whole foods, exercise, and restful sleep habits.

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Take some healing home!

Volume 4, Issue 2 Page 7

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New providers joining the Avante teamAvante would like to welcome five new excellent providers.

Dr. Markian Babij joins us from Tulsa, OK, after a three-year stint with Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Dr. Babij is board certified in Naturopathic oncology and works with complex chronic health challenges and is a fantastic doctor who is a perfect fit as we evolve into our hospital satellite office.

Dr Natalie Wiggins-Babij is joining us with a specialty in pediatrics and women’s health. She is replacing Dr. Erickson, who is off to a 6-month educational sabbatical. Those of you who have seen Dr. Erickson will love Dr. Wiggins, as they are very similar and are working closely together to ensure an easy transition.

Dr. Melanie Landers joins us from Austin, TX, practicing for 8 years with a specialty in women’s health, pediatrics, and general primary as well as complex chronic care. Dr. Landers, with Dr. Wiggins, will provide us with pediatric coverage six days a week with same day service for children and adults who need immediate care.

Tina Harmon, L.Ac., brings outstanding acupuncture to Avante for the first time. Tina combines Chinese herbs, acupuncture, nutrition and lifestyle management for a truly holistic experience.

And finally, Sandra Schaeffer joins us to assist Judy and Grant in our Myofascial Release Therapy Department. Sandra is wonderful and her presence allows patients easier access to our physical medicine department. Thank you for your support and we look forward to meeting the new members of our Avante family.

FREE Avante Times for the Office or FriendsIf you would like to receive additional copies of Avante Times for your business or have copies sent to friends, please

email avantemedicalcenter@gmail.com with the quantity and address they can be sent to for FREE.

Announcements

Persons consuming 2000 calories per day should eat Omega-3-rich foods to provide at least 4 grams of Omega-3 fatty acids. Easy things to add to your diet include flaxseed and wild salmon. Two tablespoons of flaxseed contain 3.5 grams of Omega-3 fats, while a 4-oz. piece of salmon contains 1.5 grams.

Alaskans have rich sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, so take advantage!

Fish Oil (cont. page 4)

915 W. Northern Lights, Anchorage, AK 99503Phone: 907.770.6700 Fax: 907.770.6707

www.avantemedical.com

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Markian Babij, ND, FABNO--Dr Babij is a naturopathic doctor, board certified in naturopathic oncology, who specializes in cancer care and works with other complex chronic health challenges.

Bethany Buchanan, FNP—Co-founder of Avante, Bethany is a Family Nurse Practitioner practicing family medicine and women’s health.

Ina Cloud, MA, CAT--Ina works in our allergy department using provocation/neutralization for comprehensive allergy treatment elimination.

Gary Ferguson, ND—Dr. Ferguson is a Naturopathic Doctor fo-cusing on men’s health, diabetes and metabolic syndrome with a specialty in Chinese medicine.

Cathy Floyd, MA, CAT—Cathy works in our allergy department us-ing provocation/neutralization for comprehensive allergy treatment elimination.

Grant Gibbs, CMTPT--Grant is also a board certified Myofascial Triggerpoint Therapist dealing will all musculoskeletal and neuro-muscular issues. Grant also teaches Bones for Life, a program for stimulating bone strength through natural movement and weight-bearing posture.

Jason Harmon, ND, FABNO—Co-founder of Avante, Dr. Harmon is a Naturopathic Doctor specializing in cancer care. He continues to provide Alaska with primary as well as cancer care, committed to advancing education and world class medical care in the state of Alaska.

Tina Harmon, L.Ac.--Tina is a licensed acupuncturist who works with many modalities including cupping, moxa and Chinese botani-cal medicine.

Judy Hartford, CMTPT—Judy is a board certified Myofascial Trig-gerpoint Therapist, in practice for 21 years. She treats all musculo-skeletal and neuromuscular issues, including pain and injuries.

Chris Kallander, ANP— Chris is an Adult Nurse Practitioner focus-ing on urgent care, primary care, women’s health and hormonal issues. She evaluates the healthcare needs of men, women and adolescents.

Pat Ketz—Pat specializes in allergy elimination using a technique known as NAETs.

Melanie Landers, ND--Dr. Landers is a Naturopathic doctor with a specialty in women’s health, pediatrics, and general primary as well as complex chronic care.

Christine Sagan, FNP--Christine is a family nurse practitioner fo-cusing on whole body health for the entire family utilizing both con-ventional and alternative therapies.

Sandra Schaeffer, CMTPT--Sandra is a board certified Myofascial Triggerpoint Therapist. She treats all musculoskeletal and neuro-muscular issues, including pain and injuries.

Torrey Smith, ND---Dr. Smith is a Naturopathic Doctor practicing full family healthcare utilizing natural medicine and Chinese herbs.

Natalie Wiggins, ND--Dr. Wiggins is a Naturopathic Doctor special-izing in pediatrics and women’s health.

Lori Zitzmann, ANP— Lori is an Adult Nurse Practitioner special-izing in hormone balancing, thyroid, gastro-intestinal disorders and personalized nutritional counseling.

Who’s Who at Avante Medical Center

All photos © Ken Graham Photography.com