Tag: Dr. Anne Hermann

Natural Help For Weight Loss

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According to the National Institutes of Health, 78 million Americans are considered obese.  Obesity has been linked to a number of health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain cancers.  Your weight is linked to a number of factors – genetics, your metabolism, your environment and your lifestyle choices.  Obesity does not happen overnight; it happens over time.   If the energy taken in by eating is not balanced with the energy burned from exercise, weight gain occurs.

A number of vitamins and minerals have been shown to be beneficial to help with weight loss.  Zinc helps regulate hormones that control appetite.  Vitamins D and K are essential for carbohydrate and sugar metabolism respectively.  Vitamins E, A, and calcium reduce the size of fat cells, as well as inhibit their formation.   Niacin and chromium both assist the body with building lean muscle mass.  Magnesium, biotin, glutamine and lipoic acid all improve glucose uptake into the muscles – which reduces fat mass and increases lean muscle mass.

Dr. Anne Hermann, a holistic internal medicine physician, maintains offices in Tampa and Saint Petersburg Beach, Florida.  Dr. Hermann is also board certified in nutrition.  Please contact the office at (813) 902-9559 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

This post was written by Anne Hermann. Follow Anne Hermann on Google, Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

Natural Treatment For Post-Menopausal Bone Loss

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Many women suffer from menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood changes, decreased libido, and vaginal dryness. If you are post-menopausal, you may also be at greater risk for developing osteopenia and osteoporosis. Osteopenia and osteoporosis are diagnosed with a special type of x-ray called a bone mineral density scan There are no symptoms in the early stages of osteopenia and osteoporosis. However, with a large amount of bone loss, you may notice pain and loss of height due to broken bones. To reduce your risk of developing osteopenia and osteoporosis you should: consume 1500mg of calcium and 800mg of vitamin D daily, limit alcohol use, do not use tobacco products, and do daily weight bearing exercise.

Fosteum is a vegetable based medical food product approved by the FDA for “dietary management of the metabolic processes of osteopenia and osteoporosis.” It is a blend of genistein aglycone, citrated zinc bisglycinate and cholecalciferol (vitamin D 3). Fosteum is given under physician supervision. It is indicated when diet and calcium plus vitamin D supplements are not enough, but prescription medications are not yet needed. Dosage is one tablet twice a day. The most common side effect of Fosteum use is minor upset stomach with nausea. Fosteum has also been shown in clinical trials to significantly reduce menopausal hot flushes.

Dr. Anne Hermann, a holistic internal medicine physician, maintains offices in Tampa and Saint Petersburg Beach, Florida. Dr. Hermann is also board certified in nutrition. Please contact the office at (813) 902-9559 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

This post was written by Anne Hermann. Follow Anne Hermann on Google, Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

Which Vitamins and Minerals Can Help Depressive Symptoms

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Depression affects how you feel, think and behave.  It is a medical illness that causes a persistent feeling of sadness.  Other symptoms include:  irritability, insomnia or excessive sleeping, appetite changes, restlessness, trouble concentrating, crying spells and unexplained physical problems.  The exact cause of depression is not known.  However, it is thought that a variety of factors including:  biological differences in the brain, neurotransmitters, inherited traits, and hormones may play a role in the development of depressive symptoms.  Your physician can help you determine the right treatment to help with your depression.  They may recommend medication and/or counseling.  It is important that you share all of your concerns with your healthcare provider as untreated depression may result in emotional, health and behavioral problems that affect daily life.

How can vitamins and minerals help depressive symptoms?  Magnesium helps regulate mood.  Zinc and serine both regulate neurotransmitter function.  Antioxidants (vitamins A, C, and E, Co Q10, and lipoic acid) help protect neurotransmitter functions from oxidative stress.  Deficiencies of the B complex vitamins (biotin, B2, B6, and B12) have been linked to depression.  Vitamin D acts as a hormone precursor – and thus may improve symptoms of depression.  Finally, chromium elevates serotonin levels    with in the brain (serotonin is our feel good hormone).  Chromium also affects blood sugar regulation, and thus may alleviate the depressive symptom of carbohydrate craving.

Dr. Anne Hermann, a holistic internal medicine physician, maintains offices in Tampa and Saint Petersburg Beach, Florida.  Dr. Hermann is also board certified in in nutrition.  Please contact the office at (813) 902-9559 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

This post was written by Anne Hermann. Follow Anne Hermann on Google, Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

Natural Treatments for Insomnia

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Insomnia is a disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, stay asleep, or both.  How much sleep is needed per night varies from person to person, but most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep nightly.   Causes of insomnia can include:  stress, anxiety, depression, certain medications or medial conditions, changes in environment or work schedule, and caffeine, nicotine or alcohol use.  Your doctor may recommend blood work to check for medical conditions which may cause insomnia.  If the cause of your insomnia is not clear, or if you have signs of other conditions such as sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome, your physician may order a sleep study.

How can vitamins and minerals help insomnia sufferers?  Niacin (vitamin B3) increases REM sleep and improves the quality and quantity of sleep.  Vitamin B12 helps to normalize the sleep-wake cycle.  Folate and vitamin B6 help with the regulation of sleep patterns.  Optimal vitamin A levels are needed to regulate non-REM sleep and improve restfulness.  Oleic acid (a fatty acid) helps regulate our drive for sleep; it also facilitates vitamin A absorption.  Magnesium promotes better quality sleep and helps alleviate symptoms of restless leg syndrome.  Finally, optimal levels of zinc and copper help regulate sleep duration.

Dr. Anne Hermann, a holistic internal medicine physician, is pleased to offer comprehensive insomnia evaluation and treatment management options to her patients.  Dr. Hermann is also board certified in nutrition.  Dr. Hermann maintains offices in Tampa and St. Petersburg Beach, Florida.  Please contact the office at (813) 902-9559 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

This post was written by Anne Hermann. Follow Anne Hermann on Google, Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

Preventative Migraine Treatment

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Migraine headaches can cause pulsing and throbbing pain in one side of the head.  They are commonly accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound.  The exact cause of migraine headaches is unknown, but they may be caused by changes in the brainstem and trigeminal nerve.  Imbalances in the brain chemical serotonin may also play a role, as does a family history of migraine attacks.   If you think you suffer from migraine headaches, your physician will perform a neurological exam and may order tests including an MRI and blood work.  There are prescription medications that can be prescribed to both prevent migraines and help stop them once they begin.

There are also various non-pharmacologic agents that are beneficial for migraine prevention. According to the American Academy of Neurology, Butterbur root (a perennial shrub), effectively prevents migraines.  It is marketed as a food supplement in the United States, and is generally well tolerated at a dose of 50mg daily (in two divided doses).  The most common side-effect during use is gastrointestinal upset, primarily burping.  Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and vitamin B2 (riboflavin) aid in mitochondrial energy metabolism; their use has been shown in studies to lessen the frequency of migraine attacks.   Vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin B12, calcium and magnesium may also aid in migraine prevention.

Dr. Anne Hermann, a holistic internal medicine physician, maintains offices in Tampa and Saint Petersburg Beach, Florida.   Dr. Hermann is also board certified in nutrition.  Please contact the office at (813) 902-9559 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

This post was written by Anne Hermann. Follow Anne Hermann on Google, Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

Could I Have Vitamin B12 Deficiency?

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Vitamin B12 deficiency is also called pernicious anemia.  Your body needs vitamin B12 to make red blood cells.  This vitamin is found in foods such as meat, eggs, shellfish, poultry and dairy products.  Your intestines have a special protein called intrinsic factor that helps you absorb vitamin B12.  This protein is made by cells in the stomach.  When there is not enough intrinsic factor produced, the intestines do not properly absorb vitamin B12.  This may lead to vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anemia).  Symptoms of B12 deficiency include:  fatigue, lack of energy, loss of appetite, diarrhea, shortness of breath and bleeding gums.  Long term deficiency can cause neurological symptoms such as:  confusion, depression, loss of balance and tingling or numbness in the hands and feet.

Your physician will order blood to determine your vitamin B12 levels.  If you are found to be deficient, treatment involves either B12 injections or vitamin supplementation by mouth.  Your physician will also recommend eating a well- balanced diet.

Dr. Anne Hermann, a holistic internal medicine physician, offers vitamin B12 testing and treatment management to her patients.  Dr. Hermann maintains offices in Tampa and St. Petersburg Beach, Florida.  Please contact the office at (813) 902-9559 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

This post was written by Anne Hermann. Follow Anne Hermann on Google, Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.