Excess weight, particularly abdominal fat, is associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gallbladder disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
These conditions can cause symptoms such as heartburn, indigestion, abdominal pain, and changes in bowel habits.
Weight gain, especially in the abdominal area, can increase the risk of developing a hiatal hernia.
A hiatal hernia occurs when part of the stomach protrudes into the chest through the diaphragm, leading to symptoms such as acid reflux, chest pain, and difficulty swallowing.
Excess weight places pressure on the abdomen, which can contribute to a variety of digestive issues.
This pressure can weaken the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing stomach acid to reflux into the esophagus and causing symptoms of GERD.
It can also impair normal digestion and lead to symptoms such as bloating, gas, and constipation.
Adipose tissue, or fat cells, produce inflammatory substances that can contribute to inflammation throughout the body, including the digestive system.
Chronic inflammation is associated with conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and pancreatitis.
Weight gain and obesity can alter the composition and function of the gut microbiota, the community of microorganisms that inhabit the digestive tract.
Dysbiosis, or an imbalance in gut bacteria, has been linked to various digestive disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and obesity-related liver disease.
Excess weight, particularly visceral fat, is a significant risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes can lead to gastrointestinal complications such as gastroparesis, a condition characterized by delayed stomach emptying, and diabetic enteropathy, which affects the nerves and muscles of the digestive tract.
Overall, maintaining a healthy weight is important for digestive health. Adopting a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity, managing stress, and seeking medical advice for any digestive symptoms can help promote optimal digestive function and reduce the risk of associated health complications.
Eternity Health Partners helps men and women reclaim lost energy and vigor, sharpen thinking, improve memory, decrease body fat
Liz started doing personal blood draws after her son, Dashiell, was born with Zellwegers disease. His diagnosis required numerous blood draws and drug levels throughout his life. After sitting through long wait times at the labs followed by watching many different phlebotomists, many new to the job, struggle to find his veins, often poking him multiple times, as a seasoned phlebotomist, Liz decided to draw his blood at home and hand deliver it to the lab myself. Soon after she began doing personal touch blood draws so she can now offer that same personalized service to you.
Liz graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in Biology in 1994. She moved to Santa Barbara and earned her phlebotomy certificate in 1995. Liz began working at St. Francis Medical Center in the Physical Therapy Department and quickly transferred to the Laboratory. Perfecting her venipuncture techniques on all floors of the hospital, including post-operative patients, pregnant women going into labor, sick or premature babies, and emergency room patrons, she then improved her patient care skills working for internal medicine doctors, one of whom was the Medical Director of Hospice and won Doctor of the Year. In 1999, Liz started working with a group of local retinal surgeons. Her primary job consisted of injecting dye into arm veins and photographing its flow through the patients retinal vessels. When patients are worried about their diagnosis or apprehensive about the procedure because of difficult veins, her quick, almost pain free needle stick and kind but professional bed side manner would put them at ease.
The various settings and patients Liz has encountered over the years have enabled her to become very skilled at finding the smallest and most fragile of vessels. Her specialities include infants and the elderly, diabetics of all ages, patients with rolling veins, on blood thinners or chemotherapy. She lives in downtown Santa Barbara, travels from Goleta to Carpintera and brings all the necessary supplies directly to you. All she needs from you is a lab request and your home or office becomes an instant draw station. Appointment times are very flexible, and she is friendly, reliable and punctual. Be kind to your arm and treat yourself to the luxury blood draw you deserve!!!
Mike brings more than just a medical perspective to his clients; at the age of 14, he began an athletic career as a pole-vaulter that would end up taking him on an incredible journey over the next 13 years of his life. Throughout his athletic journey Mike was constantly working to find the ideal balance of fitness and proper nutrition in order to maximize his performances. Combined with his medical knowledge the years of athletic experience provide a unique and successful combination that serve to benefit his staff and clients.
“After I shifted the focus of my practice from Sports Medicine into Nuclear Medicine specifically Interventional Endocrinology. I found myself questioning our western medical paradigm…Here I was performing thyroid cancer and Hyperthyroidism treatments with harmful radical thyroid radioactive ablations which really made me take a hard look in the mirror and become more of a researcher to find safer and more effective options to better treat my clients. During my research I realized that there were very few, if any, medically directed programs focused towards achieving a “Healthier Lifestyle” rather than typical “Diet” fads.” A few years later after training and working with some of the worlds foremost Bio-identical Hormone Replacement specialists I became Board Certified in Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. Sort of just found my passion and the answers I had been looking for with this new specialty finally after years of treating people with the Band-Aid “fix it when its broken” mentality instead of at the root cause.”
Mike has spent the last 10 years in Anti-Aging, Functional and Regenerative Medicine. He has trained over 120 physicians in Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine and consulting for their practices. Today his vision is a reality, and clients from all of the world come to benefit from the successful programs that have been established at Age Management Institute Santa Barbara. He firmly believes in educating the patient about the importance of good nutrition, hormone balance, stress management, and regular exercise is the key to aging well and having a high quality of life well into your golden years.
