Physicians, chiropractors, osteopaths, and naturopaths are beginning to recognize the early signs of insulin resistance in their patients. The also are beginning to appreciate that this occurs years, if not decades, before their patients actually develop high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, heart disease, and diabetes. In fact, once a patient "tips over" into insulin resistance they begin aging much faster than they normally should. Eventually these individuals develop what is referred to as the metabolic syndrome and many will also develop heart disease and diabetes. By the time they actually develop diabetes, over 60% already have major cardiovascular disease. This is one of the main reasons that 80% of the diabetics will ultimately die from a cardiovascular event. This was true in 1970 and it is still true today. Most of our time, money, and effort are really focused in trying to avoid or delay the microvascular complications of diabetes.

The Healthy for Life Internet Program has been clinically studied via the Western International Review Board (IRB) under FDA guidelines. This 12 week clinical trial involved 25 participants that had evidence and early signs of insulin resistance. They had evidence of an expanding waist size, increasing blood pressure, decreasing HDL or good cholesterol, increasing LDL or bad cholesterol, increasing triglyceride level, and increasing fasting blood sugar. The Healthy for Life Program incorporates a healthy diet that does not spike your blood sugar, a modest exercise program, and what I refer to as cellular nutrition. All of these lifestyles have been clinically shown to improve insulin sensitivity. When this triad of healthy lifestyles is combined, insulin resistance can be reversed in the overwhelming majority of cases. These patients actually "tip back" into a normal metabolic state and the aging process is again slowed back to normal. This is "True" preventive medicine because you are actually reversing and preventing the consequences of insulin resistance.

In this clinical trial, participants lost an average of 13 pounds, their waist measurement decreased an average of 2 ½ inches, which is evidence of central weight loss. Their total cholesterol decreased an average of 17%, their LDL cholesterol decreased an average of 21%, and their triglyceride level decreased an average of 31%. HDL cholesterol remained unchanged but it has been my clinical experience that it takes 9 to 12 months on this program to see significant improvements in the good or HDL cholesterol. Their blood pressure (both diastolic and systolic) decreased an average of 8%. Their insulin sensitivity index increased an average of 11%. In other words, the clinical improvements that were noted in this clinical trial were directly related to improvement in insulin sensitivity. Since the Healthy for Life is a 15-month program, their weight loss and clinical improvements continue to improve throughout the program.

Healthy for Life Program and You

Doctors are a very busy group of individuals. They really don't have the time that is necessary to spend with their patients to guide and direct them into these new, effective, healthier lifestyles. This is why Health Concepts International in conjunction with Dr. Strand has developed this interactive, internet program. It literally becomes your clinics own personal wellness and preventive medicine program. Becoming a member of the Referral Doctor Program gains you special access to this web site. The web site becomes your or your clinics own personal wellness program. The program educates, guides, and helps motivate your patients in these new, healthier lifestyles. They will learn to eat the good low-glycemic carbohydrates, the good fats, and the good proteins. They will also learn the importance of developing a consistent, modest exercise program and providing their body with cellular nutrition. They never go hungry, they feel great, they have more energy and focus, and both you and your patients will begin to document the amazing improvements in their health. The program also has a side effect of permanent weight loss. It simply gives you an additional tool in your tool box to help protect your patient's health.

Your patients will receive daily emails from Dr. Strand along with weekly trainings for the first 12 weeks and weekly emails and monthly advanced trainings the last 12 months. Your patients will have their own lifestyle journal where they can easily record exactly how they are eating, exercising, and consuming their nutritionals. This journal is automatically graded, which gives your patients an immediate feedback.

You will be given your own secure access to this web site, which will allow you to quickly see how your patients are doing. This offers the doctor a simple and unique way for them to hold their patients accountable to these new, healthier lifestyles. The doctor or doctor's staff will be able to log onto the site using their own personal username and password. The doctor's patients will then be listed in alphabetical order. You will quickly be able to note how they have done the past week, the past month, and the program to date. As you follow them clinically in your office, you can then correlate the quality of change in their lifestyles to their clinical improvements. This site is HIPPA compliant and only you or your dedicated professional staff will be able to view this information.

First-Step Therapy

The medical community is encouraging physicians to offer their patients who are just developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, early heart disease, or diabetes a trial of healthy lifestyles before they begin prescribing their drugs. Many physicians have been reluctant to pursue this approach because first of all they really don't feel their patients will be able to make these lifestyle changes. Secondly, they feel that even if they do make some lifestyle changes, they will not be clinically effective. Thirdly, many physicians simply do not know exactly what to tell their patients when it comes to healthy lifestyles. Fourthly, third party reimbursement for your time is very poor when it comes to preventive medicine. Well, the Healthy for Life Program is changing all of that. Not only are your patients taken by the hand and guided every step of the way but they are also able to firmly establish these new healthier lifestyles over the 15 months of the program. The Healthy for Life Program makes it so easy for the physician to offer this option to those patients who are personally motivated.

Also chiropractors all across the US and Canada are now beginning to realize their role as "Health Care Experts". They are combining their manipulation of the spine with these healthy lifestyles. This is giving their patients an opportunity to become less dependent on medication and possibly being able to avoid medication all together.

Four Different Programs from which it Choose: