Unlocking the Power of Ketosis

Often times patients ask our medical team about “keto” diet. Ketogenic diet, a dietary approach that has gained popularity for its potential health benefits, particularly in weight loss. The ketogenic diet is characterized by its emphasis on low-carbohydrate, high-fat foods. It works by shifting your body into a state of ketosis, where it burns fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. In this letter, we’ll explore the various benefits of a ketogenic diet for weight loss.

Effective Weight Loss

One of the primary benefits of a ketogenic diet is its effectiveness in promoting weight loss. By reducing your carb intake and increasing fat consumption, you can create a calorie deficit, leading to gradual and sustainable weight loss. Ketosis helps control hunger and stabilize blood sugar levels, making it easier to manage your calorie intake and shed excess pounds.

Improved Fat Metabolism

The ketogenic diet encourages your body to become more efficient at burning fat for energy. When you consume fewer carbs, your insulin levels drop, allowing your body to tap into its fat stores. This not only aids in weight loss but also improves overall fat metabolism, potentially reducing the risk of conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Enhanced Satiety

Unlike some other diets that may leave you feeling hungry and deprived, the ketogenic diet often leads to increased feelings of satiety. High-fat foods are more filling, which can help you control your appetite and reduce snacking between meals. This can be a significant advantage in maintaining a calorie deficit and achieving your weight loss goals.

Better Blood Sugar Control

For individuals with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, a ketogenic diet can be especially beneficial. By minimizing carb intake, blood sugar levels tend to stabilize, reducing the need for insulin. This can lead to improved glycemic control and potentially decrease the risk of diabetes-related complications.

Enhanced Mental Clarity

Aside from its weight loss benefits, many people on a ketogenic diet report improved mental clarity and focus. Ketones, the byproducts of fat metabolism during ketosis, are known to provide an alternative, efficient source of energy for the brain. This can result in heightened cognitive performance and increased alertness.

Better Lipid Profile

Contrary to the misconception that high-fat diets are detrimental to heart health, a well-structured ketogenic diet can actually improve your lipid profile. It often leads to decreased triglycerides, increased HDL (the “good” cholesterol), and reduced levels of LDL (the “bad” cholesterol), potentially reducing the risk of heart disease.

Consultation

The ketogenic diet offers a compelling approach to weight loss and overall health improvement. It can provide effective results, enhanced satiety, better blood sugar control, mental clarity, and a healthier lipid profile. However, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian before embarking on this dietary journey. They can tailor a ketogenic meal plan to your specific needs and monitor your progress to ensure your safety and success.

We encourage you to reach out to us for guidance and support with the medical team at Jupiter Internal Medicine as you consider incorporating the ketogenic diet into your lifestyle. Your health and well-being are our top priorities, and we’re here to assist you on your path to a healthier, happier you.

Being Proactive About Your Health

Typically there are two types of patients. Patients that are diligent about their health care needs and are invested in what the medical provider offers. The other type of patients are reactive and will only follow up with a medical provider when there is a health care crisis. Our view of health tends to help lay the medical road map to what health care needs lies ahead.

At Jupiter Internal Medicine Associates, our medical team encourages our patients to look into what preventive healthcare services are available to you and your family. Primary healthcare shouldn’t be looked at as a reactive service that should be used to help you recover, but rather as a proactive service used to prevent diseases.

Preventative medical care is just as important as reactive medical treatment, if not more so. According to the CDC, chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are responsible for 7 out of 10 deaths in the United States each year. Many of these deaths are preventable through proactive treatment. Below is a helpful list of six preventive medical services that can help you improve your health, and avoid chronic diseases.

Regular Medical Checkups

Regular Checkups- It is essential for people to make regular doctor appointments, especially when they are healthy so that they can stay healthy. Doctors can point out habits that you have that will keep you healthy and point out some bad habits that potentially derail your health. Going to the doctor on a regular basis is a way to catch a chronic disease early and will give yourself a better chance to overcome it. For example, if you go to the doctor’s office and are diagnosed with stage one cancer, you have a much better chance of beating it then if you were diagnosed with the cancer too late.

Monitoring Your Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure Monitoring- High blood pressure is not good for your heart. If you monitor your blood pressure regularly, you can instill habits that will lower your blood pressure -such as exercising and changing your diet- to help prevent any heart conditioned caused by high blood pressure.

Check Your Cholesterol

Cholesterol Tests- Like high blood pressure, high cholesterol is not good for your heart. Being able to test your cholesterol levels early will help you catch diseases early or prevent them all together by changing dietary habits.

Monitoring Your Blood Sugar

Diabetes- According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), in 2015 30.3 million Americans (9.1% of the population) had diabetes. Diabetes affects 1 in 4 people over 65 years old. Use your primary healthcare provider to test your blood sugar levels to be sure that you do not have diabetes.

Establish Annual Cancer Screenings

Cancer Screenings- Cancer screenings are covered under most primary healthcare providers, and usually serve to find breast cancer, cervical cancer and colorectal cancer. Like previously mentioned, early detection is the key to beating cancer.

Monitoring Your Weight

Obesity- Your doctor can tell you if your weight and body fat levels are normal, or if you are considered obese. Obesity can lead to many diseases such as heart attacks, diabetes, and others. It is critical that your doctor knows if you are obese, so that you can collaborate on a plan to beat it.

Meet Health Coach Jennifer Boss

Water makes up the majority of our body weight and is involved in many important bodily functions. In addition to staying hydrated, water also contributes to regulating body temperature, lubricating joints, and protecting the brain. The amount of water you consume daily plays a very important role in maintaining overall health. Here are some tips for staying hydrated throughout the day:

• Carry your water bottle. The easiest way to remember to drink more water is to keep your water bottle handy at all times. Your water bottle becomes your visual cue to drink more water, and you are more likely to refill it as soon as it’s empty.
• Drink the right amount of water.** Certain health conditions and lifestyles can determine how much water you really need. For example, pregnant women or athletes exercising in the heat may need extra fluids to stay hydrated.
• Drink water with every meal. Drinking water with your meals will not only help you stay hydrated, but can also help improve your body’s digestion. If you are hydrated, your body produces sufficient saliva, which helps break down food into nutrients that the body can absorb.
• Recognize the signs of dehydration. If you experience symptoms such as thirst, headache, muscle cramps, or fatigue, you should try to replenish your fluids as soon as possible.

Proper hydration is just as critical as healthy nutrition when achieving lifelong transformation. Ask Coach Jen if you need other tips on how to stay hydrated!

Meet Coach Jen
Independent OPTAVIA Coach and Certified Health and Wellness Coach
(772)-261-0680 to learn more about creating healthy habits.

Patient Mentoring and Support in Weight Loss

Fundamental choice allows each and every one of us to change.  We have a choice to feel healthy and live a healthy lifestyle.   Whether your spouse or your health care provider suggests a weight loss change ultimately will depend on your fundamental choice.  Many patients who are contemplating a weight loss program wish they had someone to talk to regarding their personal goal and relationship with food.  Dietary changes, exercise, and other lifestyle changes are an important aspect to a successful relationship with food.

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Understanding the Benefits of Our Patient Mentoring Program

At Jupiter Internal Medicine Associates, our clinical team along with our health coach have an established  patient mentoring program to provide the necessary mental strength and support patients desire. Our Patient Mentoring Program is designed from our clinical team with goals designed for lifetime transformations.

How Our Weight Loss Program Works

Patients can openly discuss desired nutritional and weight loss goals with your health care provider.  Upon meeting with a clinician at Jupiter Internal Medicine Associates,  a referral may be made to a health couch for personalize mentorship.  These health coaches are mentors that have the life experience to aid others though their weight loss journey. The mentors have not been trained nor coached by our medical professionals; their qualifications to participate in the patient mentor program is that they have undergone a weight loss journey themselves and are successful in maintaining their weight loss, as well as their overall health.

Leading by Examples – Weight Loss Program

Several of our patients have already volunteered to participate in this program so that they can provide the much-needed support to our new patients who are considering their own weight loss journey to healthy habits.  Many  patients would like guidance from a person who has already been in their shoes, so we are very lucky that many of our patients  want to help others achieve the success they now enjoy. Our patient mentor program is all about providing tips and support, as well as answering the patient’s questions and referring them to other resources that will be helpful to their current situation. This kind of patient mentor support has proven to be effective in making the transition to a new lifestyle easier. Once the mentor is assigned to the patient, the two of them will decide how to stay in touch and how often they will contact. They can even exercise together, share their stories and experience, and cheer each other on.

The Importance of Patient Mentor Program

At Jupiter Internal Medicine Associates, we want you to obtain optimal health and well being.  Just a 10% reduction in your weight is said to lower your risk of disease by fifty percent.  With weight loss, patients feel more energized and are introduced to healthy habits to adapt to their lifestyles.  Be sure to ask your health care provider about a customized weight loss program designed for you.

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