Metabolic Syndrome
Treatment
At Sanoviv we have created an ideal environment for the diagnosis and treatment of Metabolic Syndrome.
Treatments will be designed to restore the underlying biochemical issues, improve insulin sensitivity and treat resistance to glucose disposal. To reach this goal, a comprehensive strategy of lifestyle and dietary modifications will be created specifically for your individual needs.
While addressing the various causes of the imbalances, we will work on reducing endothelial damage through therapies that supply your cells with plenty of phytonutrients, bioflavonoids and enzymes to favor the elasticity of the walls of the blood vessels and allow for better transportation of vital elements to all the cells in the body.
Our objective is to bring balance back to your psycho-neuro-immune- endocrine connection by addressing systemic inflammation, chronic stress, unhealthy lifestyle and heavy metal toxicity.
Here is an overview of some of the most effective treatments we have found for Metabolic Syndrome.
- Food as medicine: Therapeutic oligoantigenic elimination diet that will help detect any food allergens that can be contributing to inflammation. Our food has a very low glycemic load content to help normalize the blood sugar. Our nutritionist will be available to help you raise your level of knowledge and consciousness for future diet habits.
- Supplements: Specific supplements will be used to support the treatment goal, either in nutritional form, herbal or homeopathic form. Intra-venous vitamins therapy could be used if judged appropriate.
- Fitness program: Our fitness trainers will work with you here to start you on a fitness routine to bring you back to an improved physical health in a balanced way.
- Psychospiritual: During your stay you will learn and experience many ways of releasing stress, such as meditation, relaxation and yoga.
- Structural therapy: Our chiropractic department will focus on treating the various structural imbalances, if present, which could be sources of inflammation, stress and might stop you from exercising with ease.
- Spa Therapy: Our Spa offers soothing and rejuvenating treatments that will relax and detoxify you, further improving your ability to have a greater balance.
In a 2 week study of 25 obese adults, body weight and body fat were reduced after sauna therapy for 15 minutes at 60 degrees Celsius daily, for 2 weeks, in a far-infrared sauna. One case report described an obese patient who couldn’t exercise because of knee arthritis and who lost 17.5 kg, decreasing body fat from 46% to 35% after 10 weeks of sauna therapy. Heat therapy lowers blood glucose, increases caloric expenditure and enhances excretion of heavy metals and pesticides through the skin
We know that your stay at Sanoviv is only the beginning of your healing process. To support you on your way to recovery, you will receive an individualized home program at the end of your stay which you will incorporate as part of your daily lifestyle. We will continue to support your progress with our After Care program that will effortlessly coordinate any questions or comments you might have for your health team.
Sanoviv recommended “Medical Program”.
Assessment
In the last 20 years, we have seen a sharp increase in the incidence, prevalence and mortality of patients with metabolic syndrome, or any of the isolated conditions related to it, such as:
- Insulin resistance
- Type II Diabetes
- Obesity
- High Cholesterol
- High blood pressure
In view of all this, we now know that the unilateral approach (one doctor, one drug or treatment) is inappropriate in dealing with this chronic psycho-neuro-immuno-endocrinological imbalance which can lead to early aging and chronic degenerative diseases such as heart attacks, stroke, neurodegenerative disorders and cancer.
Lack of exercise and poor diet are at the top of the list of causes. But causation can be far more complex than it might seem, because sometimes, in order to identify a root cause it is necessary to “peel the layers of the onion”. As an example, stress, another causal factor, can raise cortisol levels and lead to insulin resistance, which in turn can become a more serious disease. Using this approach, short, medium and long term prognosis is excellent, as we come to the deeper understanding of how the symptoms are connected to the disease.
Our assessment tools help us find the necessary information from your clinical history to know:
What antecedents predisposed you to the development of this disease
- What problems might have triggered the imbalance
- How to find the root cause of the different symptoms that you experience.
Further assessments can include:
- Routine testing such as EKG, Spirometry, chest imagery, ultrasound.
- Bio Impedance Analysis: We evaluate your metabolic rate which helps us find if your diet is right for your type. Plus, it gives us your actual level of body fat and lean mass.
- Laboratory testing: We verify markers that are related to metabolic syndrome such as the thyroid function, the insulin release and Vitamin D levels, among many others.
- Biofeedback devices: We can evaluate the presence of food allergens that can trigger inflammation or the presence of any other blockages in your body.
- Sleep study: We can do testing for sleep apnea which is often related to obesity and is a trigger for general inflammation.
- Vascular integrity study: We can test the endothelial response to stress and measure the release of nitric oxide as an indicator.
Then, our integrated team of health professionals will thoroughly assess and confirm where these imbalances originate and find the root causes that are contributing to your Metabolic Syndrome. This is usually a multifaceted problem that no one health professional can fully grasp or treat.
Integration
Not only do we have state of the art diagnostic and assessment tools, we have a fully integrated team of health professionals who will study all of this information and connect the dots demonstrating not only why your biochemical, physiological, structural and psychospiritual individuality has developed Metabolic Syndrome, but also how you can regain your health. Like Metabolic Syndrome, disease usually comes from multiple imbalances in a person’s life. You will work in partnership with your team of health professionals that in turn will work with the whole staff of health professionals to create a program specifically designed for you from all the information obtained.
In your Health team:
Your Medical doctor will facilitate your medical treatment and coordinate all other treatments into your program.
Your Psychologist will help to determine any emotional factors that might contribute to the development of Metabolic Syndrome and support emotional and hormonal balance through relaxation.
Your Dentist will assess and treat any issues that could exacerbate the inflammatory process like gingivitis, abscesses, cavitations and heavy metal toxicity.
Your Nutritionist will assess your diet and give you information on the role food will have on your healing.
Your Chiropractor will assess and treat any structural imbalances that might be contributing to your health issues.
Your Fitness Expert will help you strengthen and exercise your body in a holistic way to support detoxification and getting your body back on track.
Sanoviv recommended diagnostics “Integrative Physical”.
At Sanoviv each patient is treated as individual. Depending on the severity of your disease and your unique makeup other programs of diagnostics may be recommended.
If you are ready to start making changes in your life to regain your health, please to speak to one of our doctors.
About
Introduction
At Sanoviv, we understand the feeling of frustration or hopelessness that you may experience when you are diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome. This can worsen when you find that your doctors can only offer band aid solutions that mask your symptoms.
And with the serious implications that this disease can have in the future if left untreated and unchecked, we feel, like you, that this is not enough.
FAQ
Can I get off my medications?
In most cases, yes. We have seen that with health challenges that have evolved from years of bad lifestyle choices, full compliance to lifestyle and dietary recommendations can lead to a reversal of these unhealthy processes
What contributes to the onset of Diabetes?
There are various factors that could contribute to the onset of diabetes and we evaluate each of you individually with your background and environment exposure from the moment you were in the womb. The environment exposure comprises emotional status, eating habits, structural imbalances, toxins in your surroundings, how much exercise you do, etc. There can be a different onset but most of the time it’s a compound of hormonal imbalances, inflammation in the body, free radical damages and toxicity. High-glycemic index food and sedentary lifestyle are the most common antecedents.ery.
Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome runs in my family. Can you help me prevent it?
We are experts at preventing these types of health issues. When something “runs in the family” it’s a sign of 2 things. First, it can be a consequence of environment exposure, for example we tend to learn how to cook from our mothers so if we have been exposed to bad food habits and being sedentary since childhood, there are high chances that we will continue these habits. Second, we can have some genetic predisposition. In a study done with identical twins, they saw that genetic influences only 10% of the onset of disease and it’s more our environment that plays the most important role in the development of disease. If we make the proper changes, we can stop the perpetuity of the disease lineage, even when there is a genetic predisposition. With our integrated approach we can definitely make a health plan that will keep you healthy for life.
What is different from your approach in the treatment of Metabolic Syndrome or Type II Diabetes?
Since we focus on treating the cause, the treatment can vary from one person to another, from one diagnostic to another. We do not treat the diagnostic but the individual patient sitting in front of us
What tests do you do at Sanoviv that my conventional doctor does not know about for those conditions?
Our way of doing the assessment might be different than what your MD has done. We look thoroughly into what antecedents predisposed you to the development of this disease, what problems might have triggered the imbalance and how to find the root cause of the different symptoms that you experience.
Then we perform some traditional testing such as EKG, Spirometry, chest imagery and ultrasound. We perform Bio Impedance Analysis which evaluates your metabolic rate which helps us find if your diet is right for your type. Plus, it gives us your actual level of body fat and lean mass. We verify laboratory markers that are related to metabolic syndrome such as the thyroid function, the insulin release and the levels of vitamin D in your body, among many others. We use biofeedback devices to evaluate the presence of food allergens that can trigger inflammation or the presence of any other blockages in your body. We do a sleep study for the testing of sleep apnea which is often related to obesity and is a trigger for general inflammation. We evaluate vascular integrity and test the endothelial response to stress by measuring the release of nitric oxide.
Then, our integrated team of health professionals will thoroughly assess and confirm where these imbalances are coming from and find the root causes that are contributing to your Metabolic Syndrome. This is usually a multifaceted problem that no one health professional can fully grasp or treat.
What do you mean when you say you practice “Functional Medicine”?
Functional medicine is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century. By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms.
Sanoviv is the only hospital in the world to be certified in the Functional Medicine approach.
What is the importance of the integrative team approach?
The importance of this approach is that you are assessed and treated as a whole human being. Many of the health issues that we faced today are multi-faceted; there is no one definitive cause. When a whole team of health professionals come together and make sense of the information, it is easier to see what are the underlying factors that weave together to create your unique symptoms. Once we have this clarity, dealing with it effectively is much easier.
I just saw the dentist recently, why do I have to see one again at Sanoviv?
In our integrated approach the assessment by all the health professionals is very important. Even though all our professionals are certified and licensed by their specific profession’s Board, we go above and beyond what allopathic care practices. In regards to dental care, here we practice Biological Dentistry. This form of dentistry takes into consideration many things that traditional dentistry would not. These different paradigms and assessment tool are what sets apart from traditional care.
I have a wide range of issues and feel overwhelmed, what can you offer me?
We will help you organize your health priorities in the order of what will have the most profound impact on getting you healthy again. We will properly assess and treat the underlying causes through the use of specialized tools and prioritize those areas where we can have the most impact. You will leave Sanoviv with a detailed plan on how to approach healing in a functional way. Think of it as your personal owner’s manual
How soon will I feel better?
It all depends on the duration and severity of your health issues. What is possible is to determine the right path to wellness through an integrative assessment and treatment plan that will combine the best of allopathic and alternative medicine. We will work together to facilitate you being an active participant in your health and healing. With our support, you can be the hero of your healing journey.
Will I ever stop using medication if I follow your program?
The mechanism of action of medication is mostly to block chemical reactions in the body and most of the time won’t have an impact on treating the root factor that is causing the imbalance in the body but rather to artificially maintain balance. As an example, a lot of people will take a Tylenol when they get a headache but the headache is not caused by a deficiency of Tylenol. In Sanoviv we will work together at finding what is the cause for the headache and treat it. When you come to Sanoviv, we start treating the causes of the disease and over time, the body will find its balance again. For this reason, you might start seeing changes in laboratory values and the doctor might have to start reducing the medication and reduce dosage until you reach homeostasis.
Can I bring someone to help me out at Sanoviv?
Yes, you can bring a companion to support your stay. Especially since our program is based on applying lifestyle changes to support your ongoing health, bringing your spouse or significant other can be helpful as both of you can learn firsthand about these recommended changes. We require you bring a companion for support if you are very compromised and cannot get from appointment to appointment without assistance.
What type of IVs do you use?
We use different types of IV therapy protocols depending on the type of health issues and the biochemical individuality of each guest. For a more detailed explanation of this please refer to our IV Therapy page. Our main goal with IV therapies is to provide vital nutrients to the guest, bypassing the digestive system to allow a greater absorption by the body.
What does a typical day at Sanoviv look like?
Even though we have a set of daily activities, each schedule is different from guest to guest. We really hand tailor your treatment to best accommodate what you need to be well. Usually our days start with an hour of relaxation practices, like meditation and energy medicine class. Then a light stretching class after which you have breakfast. Afterwards, most of the therapies and consultations take place. Usually there is some time for a snack break before lunch. After lunch we have some of our afternoon classes or more therapies and sessions until dinner. After dinner we have the main class in our auditorium to end the day.
Do I need to comeback after the end of my treatments?
Usually it takes years of detrimental lifestyle choices and habits to start showing symptoms of imbalances in the body. Regaining your health is a process and we can not expect to reverse all imbalances within a couple of weeks. What we can do is help you get on the road to recovery. For this reason, it’s ideal to come back after having applied all recommendations suggested by our team so we can reevaluate your current state of health and help you continue on the path to optimal health. Of course, this is not mandatory but strongly suggested.
Do you do surgeries at Sanoviv?
Yes. Even though our approach is based on finding the most natural and least invasive course of treatment, we know that sometimes surgery is unavoidable and is a necessary step in your recovery. We offer a wide range of surgeries that can be combined with our innovative therapies and treatments to speed your recovery. Please check our Surgeries at Sanoviv page for more information.
I have special dietary needs. Can Sanoviv accommodate these?
Yes. We are experts at accommodating special dietary needs as we know the importance of having the right food for your specific needs can be to get well again. Our nutritionists and kitchen staff are highly proficient in adapting our meals to serve you in the best way. Nutrition and eating properly for your biochemical individuality is one of the cornerstones of our treatments.
Am I going to be eating twigs and leaves all of my life?
The diet at Sanoviv is a whole-food, cleansing diet that eliminates many of the common food allergens along with processed foods, sugar and damaged oils. Although you eat many vegetables (both cooked and raw) here, your nutritionist will provide you with a diet to follow at home based on your health condition, your access to certain foods, your ancestral heritage, and your desire to make positive health changes. Our goal is to provide you with a diet that will nourish you and improve your health, but also one that is realistic and works with your lifestyle. You may not be eating “leaves and twigs” all your life, but you will have been introduced to many new and different foods during your stay here as well as how certain foods are used as medicine.
Programs
Each program focuses our assessment and treatment tools towards a specific health issue and your individual experience of these health issues, you can find more about our programs here.
Contact a Health Advisor
If you feel that your specific health issue or area of interest does not fit into any of these areas, please contact us to speak with a friendly admissions person. They will be happy to answer your questions and provide information.
Therapies & Classes
At Sanoviv, we are pleased to offer an extensive array of proven therapies from around the world, from therapies, detoxification treatments, nutrition lectures, fitness classes and more.
