loading-icon

Optimal Health: Easier Than You Think With Cenegenics

January 3, 2020

When you refuse to settle for less than the best, the best

tends to track you down.

M. Hale

For many years, optimal health was defined as the absence of illness or injury. Then, the World Health Organization took this definition a step further, stating that health is not merely being free of disease, but also maintaining “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.” [1]

Here at Cenegenics®, we take that definition even further. Our clinical team doesn’t simply aim to get our patients to a place of well-being; we also provide them with the tools and resources needed to stay there. More importantly, we focus not on the “normal” measures of well-being, but what optimal health actually can be. In other words, we do not believe that “good enough” is the best target for our patients to strive for.

In fact, optimal health is a lifelong pursuit. Unfortunately, conventional medicine tends to focus on symptoms and conditions as they arise. This is no fault of modern-day healthcare providers; it’s simply the standard of medicine to which we’ve become accustomed.

At Cenegenics®, we instead focus on preventing disease from manifesting in the first place by optimizing wellness across every possible realm. Discover what we believe to be the pillars of health below for a better understanding of how we promote optimal health in our patients.

Optimal Health Through Long-Term Weight Management

feet standing on a white scale which reflects PERFECT in the window to measure weight for optimal health

Being overweight or obese is linked to a host of medical issues, including:

…among many others. [2]

For most individuals, weight gain doesn’t happen suddenly. During their 20s, 30s, and 40s, most individuals gain one to two pounds a year. And, just as weight may take years to put on, it also requires a long-term approach to lose it – and keep it off.

Because excess weight is linked to so many serious ailments, long-term weight management is the cornerstone of every Cenegenics® program. We don’t simply strive for a number on a scale, however. Our physicians, along with our nutrition and exercise experts, work together to develop the lifestyle choices that work best for every individual.

For instance, factors like age, body composition, and genetics can influence whether you perform better with long, slower bouts of cardio or more high-intensity forms of exercise. [3] Similarly, your lifestyle, dietary preferences, and genetic predispositions for certain diseases or conditions may call for a specific approach to eating.

Optimal health isn’t simply about stepping on a scale and aiming to subtract a certain value. This approach fails because weight loss is far more complex than that. We work to examine weight management through every possible lens, taking into consideration factors like hormonal changes, body composition values from DEXA scans, which go beyond body mass index alone, and genetic factors.

In doing so, we equip our patients with the personalized care they need to achieve any weight loss goals they may have but also pursue long-term weight management for better overall health.

Strong & Healthy Energy Levels

Couple on a bike smiling and laughing and having fun with strong healthy energy levels

Fatigue has dozens of potential causes, some of which are serious. Yet, many adults write fatigue off as an inevitable aspect of getting older. The truth is you don’t have to feel tired all the time, and you can still lead a vigorous life at any age.

Simple causes behind diminished energy are lack of physical activity (or conversely, too much), poor eating habits, lack of quality sleep, and the use of certain medications. With that being said, there are also many potential root causes for fatigue, which go overlooked, since tiredness is such a widespread symptom. Anemia, fibromyalgia, chronic inflammation, sleep apnea, heart disease, and thyroid issues are also possible causes of fatigue. [4]

Optimal health means more than just being free of disease. If you’re not feeling your best, you’re inclined to miss out on some of life’s most rewarding moments – no matter your age. We help patients restore their energy for a more invigorating quality of life.

Our program starts with the Elite Health Evaluation, which comprises in-depth testing to uncover any potential problem areas, which could be contributing to lack of energy. A solution as simple as taking nutraceuticals to supplement vitamins (when clinically indicated) could be what’s holding you back from returning to the energized days you once enjoyed.

Optimal Cognitive Performance

Left hand holding up a silhouette of a purple head with a puzzle piece cut out. The other hand is holding the pink piece of the puzzle that is missing, depicting optimal cognitive performance

Brain health is one critical yet commonly overlooked aspect of wellness. It’s often not until symptoms of cognitive impairment manifest that individuals begin paying attention to brain health. Yet, at Cenegenics®, we equip ourselves with as much knowledge about a patient as possible to prevent or delay the progression of cognitive decline across as many areas as possible.

For instance, age-related declines take place in the realm of attention, memory, language, visuospatial abilities, and executive cognitive function over time. [5] Yet, there are ways to slow the decline of cognitive function and promote brain health through aging. Following a certain diet, for example, can slow brain aging by as much as seven and a half years and reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. [6] Similarly, targeted exercises have a protective effect on memory and thinking skills.  [7]

Even if your cognitive scores are high now, your Cenegenics® team will work with you to keep them that way. It’s our belief that optimal health also comprises mental wellbeing and the best possible cognitive performance through every phase of life.

High-Quality Sleep

Couple peacefully sleeping in a bed with all white sheets/blankets getting enough sleep for optimal health

One night of poor sleep can leave you feeling groggy and irritable. When it becomes a pattern, however, it presents an elevated risk for serious diseases. For instance, chronic poor sleep has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, dementia, obesity, and even certain types of cancer. [8]

Like low energy levels, sleep issues can be frustratingly difficult to diagnose and treat. This is largely because sleep deprivation has so many potential causes and contributing factors, including:

Changes in hormone levels can also wreak havoc on the normal sleep-wake cycle. [10] Of course, there are also sleep disorders themselves to consider, including sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome.

When it comes to sleep, optimal health means getting to the bottom of any barriers to high-quality slumber. Cenegenics® can help you not only achieve the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep per night but also investigate and address any causes of disturbances in the sleep-wake cycle, which could be affecting the quality of your sleep. With this approach, you’ll not only feel more well-rested, but you can also reduce your risk of potentially developing many serious diseases in the future.

Healthy Libido

A man and woman on a bed wearing nightwear in a dimly lit room look at each other and smiling with healthy libido

To some degree, declines in libido are natural throughout the aging process. Moreover, because there is no widespread definition of what a “normal” sex drive looks like, determining what’s usual and what’s not can be challenging. Libido can undergo ups and downs throughout the course of someone’s lifetime, and in addition to aging, it can be influenced by factors such as medications, hormonal changes, fatigue, stress, and medical conditions – just to name a few.

With that being said, there are other underlying comorbidities associated with low sex drive. An underactive thyroid, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes are just a few examples. [11] Thus, addressing libido problems isn’t just about pursuing a more fulfilling sex life; it’s also an important component of optimal health overall.

In some cases, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the key to restoring a healthy sex drive. Yet, Cenegenics® only recommends this treatment when biomarkers like testosterone levels are clinically low. In other cases, low libido may have more complex root causes – but you can rest assured our team will uncover any possible issues through our comprehensive testing and expertise.

Disease Prevention – The Real Optimal Health

wooden table with light blue hand weights, a tape measure, cherry tomatoes, grapefruit, almonds, an apple, and a kiwi with some wheat crackers and salad, some on the table and some on a heart-shaped white plate, representing the proper diet and exercise for optimal health

We’ve already established that the modern definition of optimal health should include more than just the absence of disease. Yet, staying disease-free is an important part of leading a healthy life, which is why our clinical team focuses on preventing serious conditions from developing in the first place – not simply treating them once they appear or masking their symptoms.

Heart disease, for example, is the leading cause of death for both men and women.  [12] Yet, it continues to go underdiagnosed, and thus undertreated, due to diagnostic challenges. [13] Cenegenics® aims to put a stop to that through innovative testing, such as the carotid intima-media thickness test (CIMT), which determines the age of the carotid arteries.

Because hardening of the arteries may present no outward symptoms, this test can help diagnose cardiovascular issues long before symptoms appear or a cardiac event takes place. With this information, Cenegenics® clinicians can make tailored recommendations to bring their patients back into optimal ranges for minimized disease risk and improved overall health.

This is just one example of how Cenegenics® helps to prevent disease. When coupled with the five pillars described above, our comprehensive approach to optimal wellness enables our patients to enjoy a better quality of life, not only from the moment they enter our program but also years into the future.

You Can Achieve Optimal Health with Cenegenics – In Conclusion

a healthy woman standing on top of a mountain with her back to the camera looking out over the valley as the sun shines from the mountain on the other side of the valley, exercising for optimal health

According to Cenegenics®, optimal health shouldn’t mean “getting healthy” once a condition or its symptoms manifest. Instead, you can start pursuing the best version of yourself right now. From long-term weight management to a healthy libido and enhanced cognitive performance, we’ll help you feel your best across every aspect of wellness for years to come.

For a close-up look at the results that our patients experience, visit Cenegenics® Reviews. If you’re interested in seeing what optimal health feels like firsthand, contact us.

Next Steps – Optimal Health is Within Reach

Our world-class physicians create a personalized plan to help you feel 10+ years younger. You’ll be more energetic, lose weight, sleep better, have more libido, and think more clearly. Click below to schedule a free consultation with one of our physicians. It’s quick + easy.

This guide was produced with contributions from the following key resources:

The Textbook of Age Management Medicine V1 for nutrition, mastering healthy aging, exercise and hormone replacement therapy

The Cenegenics Education and Research Foundation  

The Textbook of Age Management Medicine Volume 1: Mastering Healthy Aging Nutrition, Exercise and Hormone Replacement Therapy

Click to purchase

The Textbook of Age Management Medicine V2 for nutrition, mastering healthy aging, exercise and hormone replacement therapy

The Cenegenics Education and Research Foundation  

The Textbook of Age Management Medicine Volume 2: Mastering Healthy Aging Nutrition, Exercise and Hormone Replacement Therapy

Click to purchase

Textbook Authors:

Jeffrey Park Leake, M.D., CPT

Dr. Jeffrey Park Leake is a Partner and Director of Education at Cenegenics Elite Health specializing in age management and wellness. Having trained hundreds of physicians worldwide, Dr. Leake is also the Director of Education for the Clinical Strategies for Healthy Aging course at AMM Educational Foundation.

Todd David Greenberg, M.D., CSCS

Dr. Todd Greenberg is a practicing physician with a broad range of expertise, including wellness, exercise, sports injuries, and MRI of sports injuries. He is a Radiology Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Washington.

Additional Resources

How Cenegenics Programs Differ from a Typical Weight Loss Program

Food Allergy Testing: What Is It & Should You Consider It?

6 Healthy Habits to Practice Every Day

Healthy Living: 5 Key Strategies for a Healthy & Productive Day

How to Lower Cholesterol Levels with These Easy Lifestyle Changes

A Comprehensive Guide to Prostate Health

What are the Symptoms of Depression? Understanding Warning Signs

Long-Term Effects of Anxiety on the Body

Do You Recognize the 6 Warning Signs of Adrenal Fatigue? 

What is Metabolic Syndrome? Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

Are You Experiencing Low Vitamin D? 

What is Andropause? And How Is It Affecting You?

References

[1] The Meanings of Health and its Promotion; Sartorius, Norman. Derived from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2080455/

[2] Healthy Weight. Derived from: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-weight/

[3] Your Guide to Understanding Genetic Conditions: Is Athletic Performance Determined by Genetics? Derived from: https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/traits/athleticperformance

[4] Symptoms: Fatigue.  Derived from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/fatigue/basics/causes/sym-20050894

[5] The Impact of Age on Cognition. Murman, Daniel L.  Derived from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4906299/

[6] Nutrition and Healthy Eating: Improve Brain Health with the MIND Diet. Derived from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/improve-brain-health-with-the-mind-diet/art-20454746

[7] Healthy Brains: Physical Exercise.  Derived from: https://healthybrains.org/pillar-physical/

[8] Health Risks of Poor Sleep. Derived from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/health-risks-of-poor-sleep

[9] Causes of Sleep Deprivation.  Dutta, Dr. Sanchari Sinha. Derived from: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Causes-of-Sleep-Deprivation.aspx

[10] Women, Hormones, and Sleep Problems. Shaw, Gina. Derived from: https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/women-hormones-sleep-problems#1

[11] Low Libido Causes & Treatment Options. Mestrovic, Dr. Tomislav. Derived from: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Low-Libido.aspx

[12] Heart Disease in the United States. Derived from: https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm

[13] Cardiovascular Disease in Women: Understanding Symptoms and Risk Factors. Keteepe-Arachi, Tracey and Sharma, Sanjay.  Derived from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6206467/

Contributor: Rudy Inaba Vice President of Health Performance

Rudy Inaba is Cenegenics’ Vice President of Health Performance. He is a recognized fitness and sports nutrition consultant with nearly 15 years of experience in clinical exercise physiology and lifestyle management. After pursuing his Master of Science in Clinical Exercise Physiology at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Rudy joined Cenegenics where he leads 19 clinical locations nationwide in their advancements in kinesiology, nutritional biochemistry, and their analyses of industry research & market trending.

powered by Birdeye