Babies, babies, babies!

Babies, babies, babies! People often comment that there are so many baby pictures in my office. That’s because I love babies and they are pictures of children I have taken care of over the years, many of whom have graduated from college already. Over the years we have less and less babies in our practice. This may be because of all the anti-aging signs in the office, perhaps mothers think you have to be walking and talking to be a patient of mine! The average age of my adult patients is also increasing so not as many are getting pregnant. Be that as it may, we love our littlest patients as much as the older ones. I am still certified by Johns Hopkins with privileges in the newborn nursery and I take care of many small people. Many people do not realize that Family physicians do 3 years post graduate training in pediatrics just like pediatricians. Their focus tends to be more on out patient healthy children than sick hospitalized ones. A common question asked is why someone would choose a family physician (board certified of course) over a pediatrician to take care of their children. Here are some of the reasons: A family physician knows the whole family and what history may be relevant to the baby. The child doesn’t have to find a new doctor at 16 and has someone who has followed them and their family all their lives. With female children family physicians can answer questions about periods and gyn issues. Girls are developing much earlier these days. Family physicians generally have less children in their practice so they know and care about the intricacies of each individual child. We know all our babies by their first name. In our practice we have a dedicated room for babies so they don’t have to wait in the waiting room. And they don’t have to compete for space. In many cultures it is assumed that the person who takes care of the mother is able to take care of her whole family, it is more the norm than the exception, family practice is a holistic specialty that encompasses everyone. It is the one specialty that specializes in you whatever your age. In this country there is a push to use specialists for everything, for example I know my patients are often surprised when I treat their rash and it goes away yet they thought they would have to go to a dermatologist because they have something on their skin. Everyone should really think through their options, as always knowledge is power, and then do what makes sense for them, their family and their personal aspirations. ‘My’ last baby was born the week before Xmas rounding out a family of five and 2015 for us. Looking forward to 2016 and more babies to love and care for!

Need more time with your doctor?

Need more time with your doctor? In today’s hurried world both the doctor and the patient can feel frustrated by the amount of time available to speak with each other. Did you know that the insurance company rarely pays for more than a 15 minute visit with a primary care physician (PCP) unless the patient has a diagnosis they think should take longer. Even then extra documentation is required to show why it would take so long. Its ironic that they pay specialists for more time (even when it is a pop in and “keep taking the same medicine” visit) than they do for PCP’s who are supposed to be on the frontline and have a deeper understanding of you and your family’s overall health. I recently admitted a critically ill patient who had just returned from overseas and the insurance company refused to pay for my hospital visits to take care of him. Even though they saved a bundle by not having to pay specialists. They said his care is covered by the $20 a month they pay me for capitation. Small wonder most doctors don’t bother to take care of their own patients in the hospital anymore. They simply turn them over to a hospitalist who doesn’t know anything about them, kind of like a mechanic who only handles exactly what is in front of him. I recently returned from a conference (way out in the Boonies!) on alternative medicine and once again learned fascinating information I would love to share with my patients. But where is the time? While I am at conferences I keep thinking “wow! So and so may really benefit from that”. “I wish I had known that before so and so had that surgery” “I have a zillion patients who complain of fatigue, fibroids etc…If only I could have more time with them” When I come back I always like to meet with my VIP patients to discuss how new information may help them and what changes we can make to their vitamin regimens. Unfortunately I cant do that with everyone, however, if you feel that you would like to schedule a private self pay consultation with me please call the office. I am bursting to share the great news of how to improve health with everyone. Believe me my own regimen changed last weekend! Here’s to real health and vitality.

New Look for the New Year, my Detox face!

Well here is my 2013 look, post detox! I got new photos done today and here is the big reveal! I thought it was time I got an update and the photographer agreed, he made me laugh talking about realtors who still use photographs from 30 years ago and how surprised people are when they actually meet the person. "No you don't understand" I told him, "my goal is to show people how well my face products and anti-aging program work! I'm really not trying to scare anyone when they meet the real me". After 30 plus years of practice I like to think I am doing something right. On a serious note, the more you read about detoxing the more you realize how critical it is to detox. The water, the food, the environment, chemicals. The EPA says that the indoor air is more polluted than the outdoor air! Toxins in today's world are unavoidable and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that they are associated with the increase in certain diseases especially cancer. Since we can't live in a bubble let's do what is within our power to stay healthy. That's your goal and my goal, one of those goals that has to stay the same year after year. Please come back and read my blog often together we will make it work. I plan too keep sharing my 'secrets' until the whole world knows! Add life to your years and years to your life! Dr. Nadu Tuakli

New Year! New You! Detoxify!!! Out with the old :)

Happy New Year! Its been a long time since we chatted! Well 2012 was very eventful and 2013 promises to be even more so. The only New Year's Resolution I made was to write my blog more often. Resolutions are great to make but even greater when they are kept. One resolution I think we all should make is to detoxify regularly. This doesn't have to be a major command performance in fact you can start with baby steps but I believe that in today's toxic world it is crucial. For those of you who attended my last (fantastic) seminar in November, you would have heard my talk on detoxification and why it is necessary. For those who did not, let me summarize: Everything we do, eat, apply and breathe is contaminated and the health consequences of this are dire. For example, when I finished my residency the incidence of breast cancer in the US was 1 in 12: now it is reported as 1 in 8! 2100 chemicals including pesticides, medications and recreational drugs have been found in city water supplies. 80,000 metric tons of cancer causing chemicals are released into the air annually in North America ( Reference courtesy of Douglas Labs). The EPA estimates that the average US citizen has residues from over 400 toxic compounds in their body. The advantages of detoxing in January include it being easy to keep track of. Ideally do it twice a year. Start the year fresh and don't let all those other resolutions like weight loss and exercise go to waste! We currently have two detox programs available in the office and the Omnicleanse one is 20% thru the end of January (so hurry if you want the discount). Whichever one you choose you will still need to adjust your diet so here are the food guidelines: AVOID: Caffeine Sodas Alcohol Processed foods Red meat trans fats Sugar Starch Chemicals in home and work, Dry cleaning, Nail Polish INCLUDE: Plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables 8 to 10 servings a day Organic produce Almond or Rice milk Fish Whole unprocessed foods Water We will give you more specifics when you are starting the detox. Usually you will lose 3 to 5 pounds while detoxing but this is not supposed to be a weight loss method. Look at it as a system of renewal. I will blog at a later date about controlling and maintaining weight loss. We have no choice, we cannot not Detox in the year 2013! So get it over with :) Cheers!