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The influenza (flu) season is upon us.  In these days of powerful antibiotics, impressive hospitals and expensive diagnostic equipment, the influenza virus still kills otherwise healthy adults and children. It kills, in the US, nearly as many persons as who perish in automobile accidents, yet we assume that the ‘guardians in white coats’ will save us this potential killer. Well, the reality is that we have very few options to treat this viral infection, once it takes hold.  We can, however, take steps to improve the immune system and thereby reducing the chances of contracting the illness or minimizing the potential for devastating morbidity. These simple PREVENTIVE steps include: Adequate zinc intake, i.e. 25 to 50 mg of a zinc chelate per day. NOT ZINC OXIDE, as this molecule does not absorb well, at all. Age-appropriate dosage of B-complex vitamins. As we age, we actually need more of the vitamins as we absorb less as a percentage of ingested amount. Another ravage of aging. Vitamin C, 500 mg two or three times daily. Keep these five products handy. They work together to give rapid and profound symptomatic relief. For treatment the flu or other viral upper respiratory disorders, it is best to start early in the illness. NAC (n-acetyl cysteine) 500 mg three times daily. Licorice Root Extract 450 mg, twice daily. Lactoferring containing Colostrum 500 mg TWO capsules Four Times Daily, while acutely ill. Mushroom extract capsules (these can be tricky) One capsule twice daily. That being said, we can share our affiliate number with you. Register using this affiliate number and you have full access to the Vital Nutrients product line. I will be reviewing and featuring their products, from time to time, when one of them 'stands out' as necessary due to public health situation, newsworthy events e.g. COVID, or for routine 'notes from the Doc.' Using the instructions below, you can order items that we use, items that we would like to stock and items that are of individual interest that would otherwise be impractical to stock. For Pure Encapsulations: Log onto https://patientdirect.pureencapsulationspro.com/ Register using the ‘Affiliate ID’ below: Code: 079057 Guaifenesin (Mucinex) once to four times, daily. Drink plenty of water (this assists in clearing the secretions, which can plug up the airways and lead to pneumonia) I personally believe that the flu vaccination is important.  Not because it necessarily prevents all flu infections (it doesn’t) but it does enhance the immune system so that if it is infected, the disease is milder. If you choose not to take the vaccine, in many ways, it is like taking a nice long road trip, without seat belts. The vaccine does not prevent the disease, it only makes it more survivable, and survivable with lesser permanent damage (scarring of the lungs.) Translation: Less likely to be fatal. copyright 2023 Stages of Life Medical Institute To become a patient, follow this link Stages of Life Medical Institute 1917 Boothe Circle Longwood, Florida 32750 Tel: 407-679-3337 Fax: 407-678-7246

We have an arrangement with Pure Encapsulations to give you direct and full access to their full line of nutraceuticals. At Stages of Life, we stock a number of their products but it is impossible, or at least impractical to stock them all. That being said, we can share our affiliate number with you. Register using this affiliate number and you have full access to the Vital Nutrients product line. I will be reviewing and featuring their products, from time to time, when one of them 'stands out' as necessary due to public health situation, newsworthy events e.g. COVID, or for routine 'notes from the Doc.' Using the instructions below, you can order items that we use, items that we would like to stock and items that are of individual interest that would otherwise be impractical to stock. For Pure Encapsulations: Log onto https://patientdirect.pureencapsulationspro.com/ Register using the ‘Affiliate ID’ below: Code: 079057 This is an example of one of our favorite products. Useful for viral upper respiratory tract infections. A well balanced mushroom derivative. copyright 2023 Stages of Life Medical Institute To become a patient, follow this link Stages of Life Medical Institute 1917 Boothe Circle Longwood, Florida 32750 Tel: 407-679-3337 Fax: 407-678-7246

Well, after years of procrastination, delay and denial, I have finally agreed to invest the time and effort into sharing ‘tricks of the trade’ that your doctor may not have shared with you.   In all fairness, your doctor probably did not have all of the data to share with you, or, more likely, you spend your medical visits in the company of the nurse practitioner of physician’s assistant, while the doctor is elsewhere, ‘supervising.’ It was not the doctor’s fault that he or she is forced to practice this way, but the reality is simple:  The government and the insurance industry has forced the medical industry to ‘package to price.’  The same thing happened to the nickel (and dime) candy bar.  As economic pressures pushed the price up, at certain break-points, the candy bar shrunk in size. in the medical industry, the shrinkage first occurred in time spent with patients more patients per hour then, treat several patients at once using physician extenders finally, see the extender, damned the doctor. As the profession found itself going down the tubes, the quality of the domestic medical school applicant diminished, and now we find ourselves wondering:  “where did all of the good doctors go?” It is obvious, in most parts of the country, that you are putting your life in your hands when you are admitted to the hospital.  Due to the ever-increasing administrative demands, many of the better doctors have abandoned hospital practice. The hospitals have been forced to hire physicians trained abroad (language barrier is now an interesting challenge) and hospital related deaths/errors/disasters has increased tremendously. Take home message: “Take preventative health very seriously.  It may be your only defense against medical/hospital incompetence.” The purpose of this blog will be to share interventions that the public can perform in the effort to get healthy, be healthy, and stay healthy. In a commercial aircraft, you are told: "In case of cabin decompression, put on your mask, first." Now, more than ever, it is imperative that you take charge of your own health, Lord knows, you can't trust the system to look after your best interests. About David S. Klein, MD, FACA, FACPM David S. Klein, MD, FACA, FACPM was born in Washington, DC, and was raised in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He completed his undergraduate education at the University of Maryland with degrees in Chemistry and Psychology. Medical School was completed at the University of Maryland at Baltimore, followed by Internship in General Surgery at the University of North Carolina and Residency in Anesthesiology at the Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. Dr Klein has been practicing medicine since 1983, concentrating in Pain Medicine, Minimally Invasive Medicine and Surgery, and Neuroendocrinology. Earning Board Certification in Anesthesiology, Dr. Klein was elected Fellow in the American College of Anesthesiology, and he was elected Fellow in the American College of Pain Medicine. He is currently an adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Central Florida, School of Medicine. He has focused his private practice on treating patients with hormone imbalance issues, nutritional deficiency related medical problems as well as pain related issues and impairment. With a highly-complex, CLIA licensed laboratory in-house, he has been able to provide rapid-turn around analysis efficiently and cost-effectively. Lecturing extensively nationally as well as internationally, Dr. Klein has authored many articles on topics relating to pain, injury and nutritionally modulated illness. His radio show, “Pain Free Living,” received top ratings during the 6 years it was on the air. Retired from the Medical-Radio business after 21 years, Dr Klein is currently practicing in Longwood, Florida, entirely in the office setting.

One more piece of a very complicated diabetes and pre-diabetes puzzle. Quan X , Wang J, Liang C , et al: Melatonin inhibits tunicamycin-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and insulin resistance in skeletal muscle cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun . 2015 Aug 7;463(4):1102-7. Melatonin is a Pituitary Weight Loss Hormone Melatonin is a naturally secreted hormone. Blood levels decrease as we age, as less and less is secreted by the pituitary. By no means is melatonin 'just for sleep.' It is a small hormone that finds its' way into many aspects of physiology, including blood sugar balance, insulin balance and weight control. Melatonin is an Anti-Depressant, as well as a sleep aid, weight loss medication and maybe more! Melatonin use has been demonstrated to have anti-depressant effects. The question is, "Is Melatonin a direct acting anti-depressant, or is restoration of sleep and normal sugar/insulin levels the effect that relieves depression?" Regardless, melatonin has demonstrated measurable effects as an anti-depressant. More to come. Melatonin is CHEAP The most interesting problem with melatonin is that most of the products on the market are of such poor quality that they are unlikely to be effective. In spite of the fact that it is inexpensive, the vast majority of the melatonin products may not have any melatonin in them, at all. Sad as it is, the industry is not well-regulated. The best products are manufactured to pharmaceutical specifications. Oddly, the finest products cost little more than the worst of the lot. Be careful and wise in your choices. OK, now that I know some of the benefits, how is it used properly, what are the risks? The typical dosage of melatonin in my practice is 10 mg at bed time, for starters. Some individuals will find that they need 20 mg, but 80% of the time 10 mg does the trick for sleep. It is taken EVERY NIGHT at bed time. If it is taken 'as necessary for sleep,' it does not train the system to be regular and the outcome is inadequate. In situations where a little 'extra kick' is necessary to induce sleep, use GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid) 750 mg at bed time. Risks: When starting Melatonin, some individuals will get vivid dreams. When this occurs, it may indicate that the sufferer is having difficulty entering REM sleep, often due to some type of trauma. The mind tries to avoid the recurring nightmare and avoids REM. When the melatonin is administered it PUSHES the brain into REM and this can result in a nasty dream or two. It most frequently resolves after 3 to 4 days of use. The very highest quality melatonin costs about twenty five cents a night! Ours is manufactured for us by a GMP pharmaceutical company, assayed for purity and content. David S. Klein, MD, FACA, FACPM copyright 2023 Stages of Life Medical Institute To become a patient, follow this link Stages of Life Medical Institute 1917 Boothe Circle Longwood, Florida 32750 Tel: 407-679-3337 Fax: 407-678-7246

The Optimal Level of Cholesterol is much higher than the doctor may be telling you. The article referenced below is very interesting and insightful. Your doctor will likely disagree with their data, even after observing over 12.8 million adults over a period of greater than 10 years. Life Expectancy Life expectancy or longevity is a 'U' shaped curve when plotted against cholesterol level. That is, there is a range whereby the 'optimal total cholesterol' is associated with the lowest all-cause mortality. It is slightly different between men and women, and there is an age factor, as well. Click on the above graph to go to the article from the National Library of Medicine. One thing to consider when listening to opinions on cholesterol levels and 'statin' use is that statin trials were mainly performed in persons at a high risk of heart disease, especially in men with manifest CVD, in whom heart disease mortality constituted approximately 50% of all deaths. According to the authors, "Total cholesterol (TC) had U-curve associations with mortality in each age-sex group. TC levels associated with lowest mortality were 210–249 mg/dL, except for men aged 18–34 years (180–219 mg/dL) and women aged 18–34 years (160–199 mg/dL) and 35–44 years (180–219 mg/dL). The inverse associations for TC < 200 mg/dL were stronger than the positive associations in the upper range." Critical review of the graphical data would show that a patient is at greater risk of death having 'low cholesterol' than having a very high level. Somewhat at odds with the general consensus? When you are told "the lower the cholesterol, the better," you may not be getting the very best advice. The Functional Medicine Difference. Functional medicine doctors have a unique approach to health care. The number one pillar of functional medicine is a prevention-based approach. We want to create the best conditions for your health to prevent chronic diseases so you can enjoy a long, healthy, high-quality life. . A functional medicine doctor also takes a comprehensive approach to patent care, focusing on the root causes of conditions instead of just treating the symptoms. David S. Klein, MD, FACA, FACPM copyright 2023 Stages of Life Medical Institute Stages of Life Medical Institute 1917 Boothe Circle Longwood, Florida 32750 Tel: 407-679-3337 Fax: 407-678-7246

An essential accessory for the Asthmatic What is an asthmatic without the obligatory 'inhaler.' Used by physicians for many decades, these portable devices have delivered life-saving medications at the moment that the medication is needed. Sprayed directly into the mouth, timed precisely with inspiration, and after significant practice, the asthmatic might get it right. The Philips Respironics Optichamber There is a simple device, remarkably inexpensive, that takes much of the worry out of timing the 'squeeze.' Teaching a child to do it right is very difficult, expensive if you consider the waste of medicine that is involved in 'practicing.' The Philips Respironics Optichamber makes it very easy to administer the bronchodilator and increases the amount of medication delivered to the lungs by around 60%. I have patients that are able to get by with one puff instead of two on their Ventolin, saving more than a few dollars by reducing the frequency of inhaler refill. I found that you can get these with a detachable mask, something that might be worth having around, but it works very well if you place the mouthpiece directly in your mouth. The Inhaler, mine is Ventolin (albuterol, Ventolin is the better of the generics) attaches on the opposite side of the chamber. Attach your inhaler mouthpiece to the opening in the spacer. Shake the inhaler, before each use. Exhale and just as you begin to inhale slowly, you actuate the inhaler into the chamber. Precise timing is not essential as it is without the Spacer. This device is equipped with a high volume whistle that fires if you inhale 'too fast.' Perfect feedback, actually. My First Impression I was admitted in January 2023 with asthmatic respiratory failure after a two week long bout of pneumonia (Mycoplasma Pneumoniae.) I had been doing well, I thought, working full time in the clinic. One Thursday afternoon, however, I was escorted out of the office and ended up in the hospital. Antibiotics, oral steroids and 3 days later, I had a discussion with the respiratory therapist who was giving me my nebulizer treatments. He looked at my inhalers and asked: "Hey, Doc, where are your spacers?" Well, it is not my field of expertise, but I know better now. The spacer makes the inhaler work like a champ. The Test Being a bit skeptical, I needed to be convinced. The RT suggested that I try two puffs without the spacer, and see how well I'm breathing. He was withholding the nebulizer, I might add. Then, he told me to take one 'hit' on with the spacer. I did as I was told, and moments later, the effect was unlike any I had previously experienced with the albuterol. I did not take a second inhalation, as it was entirely unnecessary. The principal advantage to the spacer is efficiency. The principal disadvantage is bulk. It does not fit neatly in my trouser pocket. It is the Essential Accessory for the Asthmatic. The spacer increases the efficiency of the inhaler by 40 to 60% The device is probably a reasonable device to carry in a purse, folio or whatever the garment that men are seen carrying through the airports. I bought three of them, leaving one at the office, one in my bathroom and one in my car. I have been a physician for 42 years, and I rarely pick up pearls of wisdom as I did from that Respiratory Therapist. It is now a frequently used piece of armamentarium in the treatment of my patients with asthma and chronic bronchitis. I provided a link to an Amazon page where you can see the instructions for use. I chose not to use the facemask, for my own situation. David S. Klein, MD, FACA, FACPM Stages of Life Medical Institute 1917 Boothe Circle Longwood, Florida 32750

Meniere's Disease is an inner ear disorder that presents with dizziness, vertigo, hearing loss and ringing in the ears (Tinnitus.) Meniere's disease can happen at any age. But it usually starts between 40 to 60 years of age. Home Treatment of Menier's Disease and Vertigo Vertigo can present without hearing loss or tinnitus, and can result from a variety of inflammatory causes but most commonly results from inflammation of the organs of balance in the ear. Tricks that may give you some relief of the vertigo! Either way, you can help reduce the severity of the symptoms by a few simple steps. 1. Avoid salty foods and avoid adding salt/salt products to your food. 2. Avoid (excessive) Caffeine and Caffeinated beverages. 3. Avoid refined sugar and high carbohydrate foods. 4. A little trick that I found that can give remarkable improvement involves a common ultrasonic toothbrush! Use a PHILIPS ultrasonic toothbrush, as follows: a. Get a rubber eraser, the type that goes on the end of a pencil, pink/pyramidal in shape. Inexpensive. b. Push it over the bristles of one of the toothbrush attachment. c. Apply to the mastoid process (bone behind your ear). d. The toothbrush will buzz, but pause every 30 seconds, move from ear to ear. (4 cycles, 2 minutes total) NOTE WELL: Do this while lying on your back or sitting squarely in a chair, as it can cause you to get dizzy. 5. We offer a supplement, "Eyes and Ears," that contains vinpocetin & huperzine. These two phosphodiesterase inhibitors can reduce the symptoms, as well. It is not expensive and may offer some relief. When I first developed Meniers Disease over 20 years ago, I used this combination and it offered me great relief. While nothing works for everybody, it pays to know what your options might be. David S. Klein, MD, FACA, FACPM Stages of Life Medical Institute 1917 Boothe Circle Longwood, Florida 32750 www.suffernomore.com

Why Low Fat Foods Actually Make You Fat As alarming as it might seem, those ‘common sense’ nutritional recommendations that we have taken as ‘fact’ may actually result in tremendous damage to our patients. The wonder food that provides low-cost, low-fat protein to our patients is also delivering a pair of insidiously acting poisons that are fattening our patients, like so many cattle. Lessons from the farm: Cattle will graze until they are sated. They will eat and become meaty. Cattle are then given corn and soybeans, in a feed lot. Cattle become ‘beefy’ when allowed to graze. Cattle become ‘fat’ when given low-fat diets consisting of soy and grain. Death by Soy: Soy Isoflavones are making you fat Humans are not all that dissimilar to cattle. When given soy and corn, cattle become fat. When given soy and carbohydrates, humans become fat. The ‘low fat,’ low-cholesterol soy diet fattens cattle, and the same ‘low fat’ diet fattens humans. When the medical community opted to support the elimination of cholesterol from the American diet, the population was set on a path towards wholesale obesity. To the Europeans, soy and corn are considered to be ‘cattle feed,’ and are therefore beneath human consumption. Europeans will not permit the introduction of soy into their diet, and the resulting difference between the North American and European populations is striking. Soybeans are harmful to human metabolism due to the presence of two chemicals that cause direct, metabolic harm, to human physiology. These chemicals, daidzein and genistein, inhibit thyroid function, bind essential minerals, thereby preventing absorption from the gut, and directly inhibit certain digestive enzymes. In short, this is exactly opposite of what we have been told is ‘healthy.’ Soy is, however, cheap. It is the cheapest source of protein, phytochemicals, and cooking oil. This cheap source of protein is fattening you up! Foolishly, we place our infants on soy-formula instead of milk, we diet our way into obesity with a plethora of protein meals, shakes and ‘low fat’ meals. When our grand-parents ate their meat & potatoes, gravy & butter, they rarely became obese. As children, it was truly rare to encounter an obese child. Old school photos rarely demonstrated a single fat child. Magazine photos, movies, newsreels rarely demonstrated obese adults. In the movies of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, the ‘fat kid’ or ‘big man’ would not be considered to be particularly corpulent, by standards of today. Health Foods that can do Damage The physiological effects of the isoflavone daidzein and genistein result due to the competitive antagonism of the enzyme, Thyroid Peroxidase. This enzyme is critical in thyroid hormone production. Further, these isoflavones inhibit the enzyme 3,3’5’-deiodinase, which is instrumental in the conversion of T-4 to T-3. Daidzein and genistein inhibit the production of thyroid hormone and inhibit the conversion of (inactive) T-4 to (active) T-3. Soy also binds up zinc, thereby rendering unavailable, this essential mineral. The protease trypsin is inhibited by these isoflavones, thereby harming normal digestion of protein. The soy isoflavones are estrogen agonist-antagonist. That is, the soy isoflavones work against estrogens in females. This is actually beneficial for the treatment of symptoms attributed to PMS. By acting as estrogen antagonist, patients can decrease the complaints of “hot flashes.’ The chronic use of the isoflavones as estrogen antagonist may have unfortunate long term effects. By antagonizes estrogen effect on bone, skin, and other tissues, the soy isoflavones may accelerate the development of osteoporosis and fibrocystic disease of the breast. The mild estrogenic effects in males can be very detrimental. The soy isoflavones, or ‘soy estrogens’ as they are sometimes called, can increase in male breast tissue. The estrogens also result in balding and testicular wasting. The net physiological effect of the inhibition of thyroid function: ‘Normal serum thyroid values,’ e.g. T-3, T-4, TSH Hypothyroid with ‘normal blood studies.’ Antagonism of protein digestion in the gut with resulting dyspepsia and reflux esophagitis. Mixed agonist-antagonistic effects on estrogen metabolism, with resulting central obesity, gynecomastia, erectile dysfunction. Soy is present in many processed foods, including: Soy meal, Soybean oil. Soy milk. Non-dairy creamer. Many “low fat” prepared foods. Bread (soy meal is often mixed with the flour). ‘Veggy burgers,’ some hamburger meats. ‘Lecithin’- short for soya lecithin (as opposed to the more expensive egg lecithin, used in Europe. To a lesser extent, these isoflavones can be found in Chick Peas (Garbanzo Beans,) and Peanuts. Pinto Beans also have a lesser isoflavone content. Some health foods and supplements are rich in thyroid-inhibiting isoflavones, including Black Cohosh, Grape Seed Extract, and Ginko Biloba. Other foods that are of concern include: Candy, American chocolate (Europeans use egg lecithin) “Low fat” and “diet” foods “Natural” Vitamin products. “Natural” Vitamin E. “Natural” Co-Q10. Muscle-building supplements. Crackers, cakes, cookies. “Light, vegetarian cheeses.” Deep fat fried foods (cooked in Soybean Oil). Salad dressings. Sausage, hot dogs. Bologna, Spam. Salami. “Bacos’.” “Bacon bits.” Processed delicatessen products. Peanuts. Some Herbal teas. Grapes, some wine (grape seed) The net effect on human physiology is remarkable. To prove the point to the skeptic, a person takes their temperature, then drinks a cup of coffee with non-dairy creamer. After 60 minutes, re-determination of temperature will demonstrate a drop of 0.3-1.0 degrees Fahrenheit. The effect of dietary soy can be observed in sequential body temperature readings, and foods with suspect isoflavone contamination can be identified. The effects of dietary soy will manifest within an hour after ingestion, and can last as long as 24 hours. It may take several days to eliminate the isoflavones from the system. In summary, epidemic obesity is probably the single greatest public health threat to our society. As we look for fancy medications and expensive interventions, the answer may be as simple as soy/peanut avoidance. We are and have been ‘healthying’ ourselves to death. January 21, 2008 David S. Klein, MD, FACA, FACPM Stages of Life Medical Institute. 1917 Boothe Circle, Longwood, Florida 32750 407-679-3337 © 2008 David S. Klein, M.D. All Rights Reserved. Any use, reproduction or dissemination of information in this article in its entirety or part is allowed only with the following specific attribution: David S. Klein, M.D. at http://www.stages-of-life.com/. This article is intended for general information purposes only and is not a substitute for specific medical advice. Please consult your health care provider to determine how this information pertains to your specific medical situation. David S. Klein, MD, FACA, FACPM copyright 2023 Stages of Life Medical Institute

Why Vitamin D??? Well, for starters, Vitamin D-3 is not a vitamin at all.  Vitamin D is a family of steroidal hormones that the body needs to maintain an ever increasingly appreciated number of bodily functions. Vitamin D occurs in 3 morphologies- Vitamin D1, Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3. Vitamin D-2 is made in the gut from the precursor, Vitamin D-1 (which is essentially inactive.) Vitamin D-3 is the active hormone, and requires sunlight to convert from Vitamin D-2. As a moiety derived from cholesterol, low levels may be related to the use of cholesterol lowering medications, such as the statin family, and Vitamin D-3 is structurally similar to estrogen, testosterone and other adrenal hormones. Vitamin D-3, in doses of at least 2,000 IU/day will decrease the risk of breast cancer by 50%; reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 50%.  Getting therapeutic levels, as demonstrated by quantitative blood work, the typical dosage for adults is closer to 5000 IU per day. Pharmaceutical-grade Vitamin D-3 costs about $6 per month. It should be taken in the morning with a fish-oil capsule, to enhance absorption. It is absorbed best if pre-suspended or dissolved in olive oil. Higher doses are indicated in the presence of rheumatoid arthritis, M.S., and other auto-immune disease processes. Vitamin D-3 (cholecalciferol) is being shown to help prevent multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis and even prostate cancer. (See Daily Health News, March 29, 2004 and July 26, 2005.) Now it turns out that it may do even more — vitamin D and calcium may help prevent premenstrual syndrome (PMS). In the Nurses’ Health Study II (a large study of nurses that has been ongoing since 1989), women who consumed higher levels of these two nutrients faced a lower risk of premenstrual symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, mood swings and stomach cramps. Doses of Vitamin D-3 (2,000 IU) have been shown to reduce the risk of breast, prostate, colon and pancreatic cancer by as much as 50%. Recent studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is very, very common, indeed.  It may be a co-morbid factor in the development of chronic pain as well as contributory to the development of a host of auto-immune disease. ___________________________________________________________ Who needs additional amounts of vitamin D? Anyone with inadequate caloric or nutritional dietary intake or  increased nutritional requirements. Older people (over 55 years), especially women after menopause. Pregnant or breast feeding women. Those who abuse alcohol or drugs. People who have recently undergone surgery. People with recent severe burns or injuries. The single best way to find out if you need supplemental Vitamin D-3 is to get a blood test through your doctor. D (cholecalciferol/ergocalciferol) Vitamin D-3 is the principal regulator of calcium homeostasis in the body. Vitamin D-1 and Vitamin D-2 are the inactive precursors to the active Vitamin D-3. It is essential for skeletal development and bone mineralization. Vitamin D-3 is a selective estrogen blocker, which may be the action that results in protection from certain cancers. Vitamin D is a pro-hormone with no hormone activity. It is converted to Vitamin D-3, if you have adequate Vitamin D-2 in your blood stream, and then you lay out in the sun. Vitamin D-3 is the form that has biological activity. The active form of the vitamin is 1-25-dihydroxyvitamin D, usually referred to vitamin D-3. It is synthesized in the skin from 7-dehydrocholesterol via phytochemical reactions requiring UV light (sunlight). Inadequate exposure to sunlight contributes to vitamin D deficiency. Adequate sun exposure, however, results in increase skin wrinkling and skin cancer. Increasing evidence suggests that vitamin D may also contribute to antioxidant function by inhibiting lipid peroxidation. The mechanism of the antioxidant effect is unknown. Vitamin D-3 deficiency in adults can lead to osteoporosis, which results from an imbalance between bone resorption and bone formation. Decreased vitamin D levels result in decreased production of the active vitamin form, vitamin D3. Vitamin D enhances the efficiency of calcium absorption. Chronic vitamin D deficiency results in a decreased calcium absorption and secondary hyper-parathyriodism. Vitamin D-3 has also been found to have anti-carcinogenic activity, including apoptosis in many types of cancer cells. It has also been useful in the treatment of psoriasis when applied topically. Vitamin D appears to demonstrate both immune-enhancing and immunosuppressive effects. Supplemental vitamin D-3 is available, inexpensive, and avoids the ill-effects of daily sun exposure. For more information, click on the image, below: David S. Klein, MD, FACA, FACPM Stages of Life Medical Institute

Pregnenolone is an Adrenal Hormone, essential to life as the root hormone for all other Adrenal Hormones. It is converted directly from cholesterol, then it is converted to progesterone and on to DHEA, Cortisol, Testosterone, Estriol, and Estradiol, just to name a few. A hormone is a chemical entity that acts directly a class of signaling molecules. Inducing or inhibiting a gene to produce a protein, to cause a cell or tissue to behave in a predictable manner, or after having been secreted by one tissue, it would cause a tissue in a remote portion of the body to have a change in physiology or behavior. Little understood as a primary hormone, low pregnenolone levels are often seen in patients with Adrenal Insufficiency, low levels may be present in patients receiving 'statin' drugs to lower cholesterol. Additionally, low levels occur in patients who receive oral, injectable and inhalational corticosteroids. This Misunderstood Wonder Hormone is Important for Memory, Cognition and Sexual Health Of note, low levels of pregnenolone may be associated with memory impairment and cognition, low levels of sex hormones and may be associated with dementia. At Stages of Life Medical Institute, we have been testing our patients over the age of 60 for pregnenolone levels, and using a device called a "Cognivue" to assess cognitive impairment. Over the past 2 years, we have found that low levels of Pregnenolone were associated with mild to moderate cognitive impairment, and with treatment with pregnenolone, the cognitive impairment measured on the COGNIVUE improved in a matter of a few months. Additionally, the use of oral pregnenolone can increase progesterone levels in women who have post menopausal hypogonadism, that is low estradiol and progesterone. We monitor pregnenolone levels most commonly, twice yearly. It is an inexpensive blood test and yields a tremendous amount of value. We typically start our patients on 60 mg twice daily, but it should be taken concurrently with a fish oil. The reason for this is that pregnenolone is oil soluble and the stomach is a water environment. Pregnenolone will not absorb well unless it is taken concurrently with an easily absorbed oil. David S. Klein, MD, FACA, FACPM Stages of Life Medical Institute 1917 Boothe Circle Longwood, Florida 32750 Tel: 407-679-3337 www.suffernomore.com

https://amzn.to/3LoCgDs If this sounds a bit dramatic, it really is an understatement of fact! You pay attention to the extra sanitary steps necessary to prevent UTI's. In women, it is time consuming but necessary. You are careful and yet you cannot rid yourself of the interval urinary tract infection. Antibiotic therapy is often necessary to clear things up. The side effects are an expected inconvenience, the expense of time lost from work is an even greater inconvenience. The loss of kidney function that can result with each and every kidney infection is an expense that we cannot afford, and every year, a significant number of persons (mostly women) die of URINARY SEPSIS. I will share one little trick, in this post. There will be more in the near future. The problem may have more to do with your laundry than you realize. In these modern days, when conveniences have become necessities, and the necessities become essentials, we may hardly notice when an obvious problem stares directly at us, in the face!. Our washing machines may be killing us with 'energy efficiency' and 'water savings.' We have been sold on a fairy tale that you can adequately kill bacteria and clean clothes without getting the water very hot, or using much detergent or water. Your underwear are simply not getting clean in our 'ENERGY STAR' appliances. A case in point: Would you clean old fashioned diapers in your washing machine, with your favorite shirts? The water cannot get hot enough to damage the bacteria, and the rinse cycle doesn't even get the soap entirely out of your garments. Take a few pairs of 'clean' underwear, drop them into a near-boiling pot of water, simmer for a few minutes and then see what floats to the surface! Lots of waxy looking material that doesn't look like underwear. Medical tip to treat chronic UTI's: It is expensive and nearly impossible to get a non-'Energy Star' appliance, these days. In a sort of twisted way, the environmentalists (of which I may be one) inadvertently make people sick, while feeling good about the way they fouled things up. Through a bit of trial and error, personal and family need for a solution to the UTI problem, my wife came up with a very easy and incredibly affordable way to put a dent in the problem. It is a simple additive to the laundry that costs no more than a few cents per wash. This magical bottle costs far less than $10 and was a part of the solution to our family's UTI issue. Add this to each wash, and the bacteria count on your clothes drops incredibly. It contains no bleach, it has no scent, and it does not damage the color in your clothing. Give this a try, it is cheap, easy and 'the doctor told you to do it!' More suggestions to come. Urinary Tract Infections can be life threatening, and I have a few suggestions for you to use and/or keep around the house until you need them. David S. Kle in, MD FACA, FACPM Stages of Life Medical Institute Longwood, Florida 32750 407-679-3337

We would like to help our patients find a way to introduce themselves to the wonderful world of healthful snacking and simultaneously getting a good dosage of essential carbohydrates (ECH). Advertised on television, almost 8 to 10 times an hour, "Vegetable and Fruit" supplements are more prevalent now, than ever. Many of these products will cost between $45 and $110 per month. If you want to check out 'Garden of Nature,' you can use this link. I think you can save a significant amount of money and get additional nutritional benefit from doing this one, yourself. Convenience in a can, capsule or tablet, I think that you can do better, by making your own smoothie in the kitchen or at work. There are a few simple tips from my "WMD." She is not weapon-of-mass-destruction, but more like: "Wife of the MD." The WMD, my wife, is better known to the grand children as "BIRDIE." So, for our first of many smoothie recipes, we will start with: Birdie's Basic Smoothie 1/2 banana (FROZEN) 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt. Sugarless is best 1 cup low fat milk or rice milk 1 cup of frozen fruits and greens, e.g. berries, kiwi, spinach, kale, pineapple, mango Add a few ice cubes, if your banana or fruit was not frozen. Use your Ninja TWISTi Blender on high-speed. It comes out tasty enough for the Doc to enjoy. Like so many men, I would rather clean the gutters than eat Kale, but this smoothie is entirely different. Note Well: Use frozen fruit, but the frozen banana is what makes it nice and creamy. David S. Klein, MD, FACA, FACPM Stages of Life Medical Institute 1917 Boothe Circle Longwood, Florida 32750 407-679-3337 www.suffernomore.com