Anti-Aging & Longevity Center of Philadelphia

With COVID-19 continuing to SURGE and vaccines not yet readily available, I am often asked by patients how they can protect themselves now. One simple, low cost and highly effective method is to supplement with Vitamin D. This essential vitamin can be naturally created by our body when we are exposed to sunlight. It can also be found in oily fish like salmon, red meat, liver, egg yolks and fortified foods like milk. Vitamin D is vital for our immune system, epidemio...logical studies have found that vitamin D sufficiency can help prevent viral and bacterial respiratory tract infections. While this is great news, a recent study published Nov 25 in the American Journal of Clinical Pathology highlighted the fact that vitamin D deficiency on admission to hospital was associated with a 3.7-fold increase in the chance of dying from COVID-19. Vitamin D deficiency can directly impact your severity and survival rate if you get COVID-19. Deficiency is defined as a blood level lower than 20 ng/mL (<50 nmol/L). In the US, studies have shown that between 35% and 40% of the adult population are vitamin D deficient. The number is even higher in people with obesity, elderly in long term care facilities, individuals with diabetes, and individuals living in northern climates. Vitamin D deficiency is directly correlated to more severe COVID-19 outcomes and 35%-40% of adults are vitamin D deficient. Do you know your vitamin D blood level? Know your number to know your risk. At the Anti-Aging & Longevity Center of Philadelphia, we offer a rapid vitamin D test that can quickly and accurately tell us your vitamin D level. If it is too low we can correct it quickly. We are here to help you know your number! Go to https://www.livelonginphilly.com if you would like to get scheduled. In the meantime - get outside in the sunshine when you can, eat foods rich in vitamin D and take a high quality vitamin D supplement like the one we offer.

Vaccine Part 2 - there are side effects - Be Prepared!! As you know from a previous post, I received my first COVID-19 vaccine shot on December 17. I had no side effects and wondered if I'd be as lucky after the second dose? I wasn't:( I was aware that headache, fever and chills have been frequently reported after the second COVID-19 shot. These effects could last 24 or more hours and range from mild to significant. For those reasons I scheduled my second injection for Friday... knowing I had the weekend to recover if needed - It was needed! I got my vaccine in the late afternoon on January 8th. I felt fine until about 5 hours later, when my arm became significantly more sore. About two hours later, I started feeling chills that were so severe that I was curled up into a ball in bed, shaking. Thankfully I was prepared with hydration, OTC pain medicine and comfort food. Saturday morning I awoke with a significant headache and severe muscle aches, that felt like I had been literally run over by a truck. I went back to sleep after a ton of hydration and ibuprofen. I woke up in the afternoon feeling much better. By Sunday I was nearly fully recovered with just a bit of a foggy feeling. The side effects are the body's natural immune response to a novel substance. They were uncomfortable but I was prepared. To me this is a small price to pay for protecting myself and my loved ones against COVID-19. Please feel free to share my story with family and friends.

Covid/cold/flu season might be well underway but these immune-boosting foods can help keep YOU healthy! Himalayan salt - rich in minerals to keep you hydrated Fresh oranges or mandarins - packed with real vitamin C... Grass-fed bone broth - rich in nutrients to support your gut microbiome Cacao - high in antioxidants, has broad spectrum anti microbial activity Turmeric - high in antioxidants Raw garlic - a natural anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial Ceylon cinnamon - rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients Adaptogenic herbs like astragalus - helps the body adapt to and overcome stress Did I mention all of these foods are delicious?! My favorite immune-boosting treat is a collagen smoothie with a dash of sea salt, turmeric, cinnamon, cacao, and ashwagandha! How do you keep your immune system strong and resilient?

#downtime Took a little break from the office and social media after a non-stop last few months. We have been SO busy helping clients optimize their immune systems. We’ve also been keeping them safely traveling and abiding by CDC and state/federal regulations. In the last few months, our office has conducted a few thousand rapid & PCR Covid tests to help patients safely travel and then safely return home.... We’ve also been helping them safely get back to work. It’s been busy! I feel totally rejuvenated by this quick trip to one of my all time favorite cities. After all, time off: lowers stress decreases risk of heart disease improves your outlook on life gives you more motivation to achieve goals. HNY!

#TwasTheNightBeforeChristmas... Merry Merry!

Excited to do my part to help end this pandemic by being vaccinated today!! A big part of wellness is optimizing our immune system to prevent disease. Vaccines stimulate our immune system to develop antibodies. They strengthen our immune system's ability to respond to a threat from the virus. Getting vaccinated is an essential part of wellness for self and community. ... 65 years ago Jonas Salk's vaccine ended the scourge of polio (caused by a virus). The rollout of these new COVID vaccines marks the beginning of the end to this pandemic. #letsdothis