Whole Food Diet Benefits

Since our topic is endings this month, I thought I'd remind you of the benefits of ending a diet high in additives and refined carbohydrates and beginning a diet rich in whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, organic meats, legumes and non-wheat grains.

With a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, organic meats and non-wheat grains you will gain:

Improved focus and memory
A shrinking waisteline with improved weight loss and increased fat burning
Balanced blood sugar and improved insulin sensitivity
Improved cardiovascular health and better circulation
Lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol
A sense of calm and balanced emotions
More energy and better sleep
Balanced hormones
Decreased pain and less inflammation
Less headaches
Stronger immune system and less illnesses


This month, consider removing or greatly reducing your intake of packaged and processed foods from your diet. There are so many benefits, how can you say no? By reducing those refined carbohydrates and additives that are found in packaged foods, you improve your insulin sensitivity and reduce plaque development in your blood vessels which leads to all the improvements above! So, with the change in weather, now's a great time to stop by your local farmers market and pick up some delicious, organic locally grown foods to replace those packaged refined foods.


If you would like more information on the right diet for your individual health needs and a comprehensive health assessment, come in for a wellness appointment. We also offer a weight loss class to help you get healthy without experiencing cravings, mood swings or fatigue.

Let the Olympics Inspire You

With the Summer Olympics in full swing, the success of ritual and routine is readily apparent. Olympic athletes are some of the most disciplined among us, following proper nutrition, rigorous daily training, and appropriate rest in order to reach their goal. They eat balanced meals, avoid alcohol, take vitamins, stretch, work with coaches, physical therapists and sports psychologists. Their training routine is perfected, creating strength, agility and focus. Along with routines and great discipline, they have rituals such as eating a special meal with the team the night before the competition, listening to a specific song to gear up for a race, and visualizing their event regularly before it happens.

Use this time to be inspired and awaken the athlete within you! Do you have a goal you'd like to reach? Whether it's an athletic goal, a health goal or a goal at work or home. Choose foods that nourish your body and create meals that will help you have a successful day and move you towards your goal. Drink enough water, eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and lean meats. A proper diet is as important for athletic training as it is for weight loss, proper focus and stability. Create a workout routine that will bring you closer to your goal. Finally, take time to focus, meditate and visualize yourself reaching that goal. Create rituals and routines in your diet, exercise, and spiritual life. And repeat, repeat, repeat!

Chandler, B12 Shots, Madonna and You!

Beat the Heat with Vitamin B12!

Did you know that B12 absorption is decreased by many medications, including birth control pills, antibiotics, antacids and even alcohol? And absorption of B12 decreases as we age and our stomachs become less acidic. Life Sculpting is now offering $12 - B12 Injections along with B Complex. This is a great mixture of B Vitamins that will:

Increase Energy
Boost Metabolism
Improve Skin Texture and Tone
Improve Nervous System Health
Decrease Headaches
Balance Hormones and Decrease Symptoms of PMS
Improve Mood
Reduce Stress

If you're interested in experiencing the great effects of B12, make an appointment today – 480-883-8160.

Saying No to NSAIDS and Yes to Acupuncture

Prescription NSAIDS such as Vioxx and Celebrex, used to treat the pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis, have recently been shown to increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes in the patients who use them. Unfortunately, many patients suffering from osteoarthritis also suffer from heart disease making the prescribing of NSAIDS less than ideal.

Fortunately, acupuncture provides a much safer and effective alternative. A 26 week study published in Dec 2004 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine showed that acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture or group education at decreasing pain and improving mobility. Mobility was shown to improve within the first 8 weeks and improvement in pain was found at the end of the 26 week study. In all, patients each received 23 acupuncture treatments over the 26 week period.

If you're interested in learning more about acupuncture for treatment of osteoarthritis and other musculo-skeletal conditions, email wellness@lifesculpting.biz.


Berman BM, Lao L, Langenberg P, et al. Effectiveness of acupuncture as adjunctive therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee. Ann Intern Med 2004;141:901-910.

Vitamin E Improves Cardiovascular Health

Is Vitamin E Really Beneficial?

The Journal of the American Medical Association published an article in July, 2005 stating that women who took 600 i.u. Vitamin E every other day for 10 years had no reduction in major cardiovascular events or incidence of cancer during the Women's Health Study. However, what they declined to emphasize is that vitamin E supplementation was beneficial in healthy women, decreasing cardiovascular mortality by 24% in this population. This is incredibly significant, considering heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women living in the United States.

It's important to realize that even research articles can be biased, and this appears to be the case with this JAMA article.

Aging Gracefully - Improving Memory

Despite what society says, as we age we don't lose our memories, we merely have a slowing in the ability to absorb, store, and retrieve new information. You can still make and recall new long-term memories; the process just takes a little longer. The good news is, with each new experience or memory that you store, you are able to associate it with your depth of past experiences, and become wiser than those younger than you.

Here are some simple tips for keeping your memory agile:

Memories are consolidated at night. A proper nights sleep helps ensure short term memories become long-term. Practice good sleep hygiene, by relaxing the hour before you go to bed, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and sleep medications. Sip on chamomile or valerian tea if you have trouble falling asleep. See your naturopathic doctor or family physician if you have difficulty falling asleep or have sleep apnea.

Socialize! Engaging in conversation with others is very stimulating to the brain. Asking relevant questions and practicing descriptive narratives of daily events will keep your brain active and your memory engaged.

Stimulate your mind by learning something new! Can you do crossword puzzles in your sleep? Try Sudoku. Have you played Hearts for years? Try Bridge. Is your favorite game Checkers? Maybe it's time to learn to play Chess. Take a cooking class, an expressive arts class, learn another language or take music lessons. Keep learning!

Manage your stress. Come to a meditation, a yoga class or a drum session. These classes teach you mental focus while helping you relax and lessen the stress in your life.

Believe in yourself! You have a good memory. You can memorize easily. You are a wonderful, caring, active and intelligent being. Have you told yourself that today?

If you're interested in learning more, come take a class at Life Sculpting, or stop by for a free consultation. We look forward to seeing you.

Be well!
Dr. Weeshoff

Vitamin D Prevents Type I Diabetes in Children

A recent article published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, March 2008, concluded that vitamin D supplementation beginning at 7 months of age, reduces the risk of developing Type I, Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus in children by 30%. It appears that larger doses of Vitamin D are even more protective.

Cod liver oil is a natural source of Vitamin D3, the best form of Vitamin D to supplement because it is the active form for our bodies. Cod liver oil also contains the active form of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA which are important for central nervous system development and maturation, including cognitive development, mood and concentration. Cod liver oil supplementation will not only protect children from developing diabetes, it will improve their cognitive development, including helping treat Attention Deficit Disorder. Cod liver oil has multiple health benefits for the young developing child.

Adding cod liver oil into young children's diets is essential to their health. If you're interested in more information, email wellness@lifesculpting.biz.