Tag Archives: diet

12.27.19
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Florida’s No-fault Automobile Insurance Laws

Florida-no-fault-accident-pip-kaster-fort-myers

Florida-no-fault-accident-pip-kaster-fort-myersIn years since 2012, all drivers licensed in Florida have been required to carry what is known as PIP coverage. That stands for Personal Injury Protection.

This much-needed rider allows you to get the medical help you may need following an accident regardless of fault or if the other party has auto insurance.

Unlike some other states, there are time constraints within which you are able to seek treatment for accident-related injuries.

In Florida, you have just two weeks (14 days) after an accident to start treatment.  If you do visit a doctor’s office or emergency clinic during this time frame you automatically lose your ability to use your PIP coverage. 

If you are not taken by ambulance from the accident scene please follow up with your doctor and your chiropractor as soon as possible.

Every policy issued in Florida carries the full $10,000 worth of PIP coverage, even though, in some situations, you may only be entitled to $2500, a reduced benefit. To access the full amount you must receive a determination of emergency medical condition. Many insurance companies will argue with you that you do not have a serious condition. Restrictions have been unjustly placed which discriminate against chiropractic physicians. because of this, we have to refer you out to another health care provider simply to get that determination on file.

If your auto insurer stops payment after $2500 for the $10,000 in benefits for which you pay a premium for, you may continue to obtain treatment with our office under a letter of protection if you are represented by a lawyer and are filing a claim for recovery against the at-fault driver.

DID YOU KNOW?: You can install our mobile app on your smartphone! With just a push of a button, we will know you need medical assistance and get you in as soon as possible. http://drkasters.com/web-app-download/

If you are in an accident – don’t worry about the specifics right away. Call our office at 239-332-2555 and come in for a post-accident evaluation, treatment plan, and adjustments. Let’s get you on the road to health and we will file all the paperwork for you.

For More Information on PIP Laws in Florida:

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation can assist you if you experience a problem or have a complaint. You can submit a complaint online by going to their consumer services website at https://apps.fldfs.com/eservice.

Chiropractor | Nutritionist in Ft Myers, FL.

Fort Myers Chiropractor, Dr. Jason B. KasterChiropractic care is a safe, alternative treatment when applied appropriately. Chiropractic treatments help in dealing with the symptoms of many conditions. Are you going to wait for your symptoms to be felt, or are you going to prevent it as soon as possible?

Dr. Jason B. Kaster, a chiropractor, and nutritionist in Fort Myers can help you and your family achieve their optimal health.

12.21.19
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The Effect of Sugar Addiction on Your Heart

Tampa Cardio sugar-and-your-heart-health

Tampa Cardio sugar-and-your-heart-healthSugar hits the pleasure center of the brain in the same way that hard drugs do. This makes refined sugar extremely addictive and very hazardous to your health. Moderation is key and elimination even better.

Until recent years not all that much study had been done on sugar. It was a well-known household dietary staple. The harmful effects of a diet high in sugar are becoming more publicly known, many are still unaware.

The fact is, your sugar intake could very well be harming your health now and into the future. Let’s take a look at how sugar affects the body.

  1. Sugar can compound depression. Though little known or recognized sugar has an effect on mental and cognitive function. It may offer one explanation as to why you feel drained in a short time after eating something sugary. It has also been scientifically linked to anxiety and memory lapses later in life.
  2. Sugar begets heart disease. Heart disease is still the top cause of death worldwide. Recent studies show that a high sugar diet could be a major contributing factor. Elevated levels of fructose can raise your insulin and blood glucose, as well as lead to obesity.
  3. Sugar causes dental issues. The obvious statement of the bunch,  sugar sticks to your teeth and feeds the bacteria. Over time, teeth can decay as a result causing cavities.
  4. Sugar adds weight. If you eat a lot of sugar, you are going to have a higher risk of being overweight.
  5. Sugar is bad for your liver. Excessive sugar consumption will have a similar effect on the liver as if you were an alcoholic. This is because sugar, which turns into fat, becomes lodged in the liver. That can develop into non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
  6. Cancer cells feed on sugar. Numerous studies have shown that there is a connection between sugar consumption and cancer. Sugar consumption creates elevated insulin levels so the body can’t properly regulate the abnormal growth and multiplication of unwanted cells potentially leading to cancer or feeding already existing cancerous cells.
  7. Sugar can spur type II diabetes. Excess sugar can result in insulin resistance, which in turn can result in a highly toxic excess of glucose in the blood. This can cause a number of conditions to develop, perhaps the worst of which is type II diabetes.
  8. Sugar is addictive. Sugar attaches to the same pleasure centers in the brain that result from doing street drugs and opiates. It is equally as addictive. It may be hard for people to practice moderation when it comes to junk food, and when trying to quit, they may experience withdrawal symptoms.

For further guidance that you can trust, make an appointment with the onsite nutritionist available at Tampa Cardiovascular Associates by calling (813) 975-2800.

Our physicians dedicated to keeping your heart health at its best. We’ll do anything we can to help you improve your everyday quality of life through important lifestyle choices. Visit www.tampacardio.com to learn more about our practice.

12.20.19
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Chiropractic Treatment May Relive Arthritis Pain

Chiropractor Arthritis-fort-myers-dr-kaster

Chiropractor Arthritis-fort-myers-dr-kasterPainful joints make even the most simple movements unbearable at times. In cool weather and rain, they ache even more when you have arthritis.

While there is no cure for arthritis, it has been shown that chiropractic adjustments can lessen the severity of the pain you experience making the condition easier to live with.

Chiropractic is an amazing modality.
No two patients can be treated in the exact same way.There are over 150 techniques that chiropractors employ to manually adjust the spine, muscles, and joints with varying degrees of gentle force. Which techniques are used is dependent on the condition(s) of the patient. 

Chiropractors focus on the correlation between structure and function, says Dr. Jason Kaster, D.C. who has been in private practice in Fort Myers, Florida for over 17 years.

When a joint is out of alignment it can’t move as designed. The aim of treatment with our practice is to restore proper joint function. The freer the movement you have the better you will feel.

If you have neck or back pain because of osteoarthritis, chiropractic is one of the safest routes of therapy.

Your chiropractor may use manual spinal adjustments or manipulate soft tissue to help relieve tenderness and muscle spasms. You may also be asked to do traction which slowly stretches the joints to increase range of movement, as well as ultrasound, ice, and heat. At-home physical therapy exercises they may assign you can do wonders as well. 

 Please take note: If you have an inflammatory disease (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis) you need to be more careful and really talk with your doctor and listen to your body. If your medical doctor has told you that you have active swelling in your joints, chiropractic may not be the right path for you.

That doesn’t mean we can’t help. It just means we woud just need to take a different approach to the treatment for your case. A consultation is advisable to get you going on some alternative safe and effective therapies.

They may include:

Electrotherapy. These tiny electric pulses are not painful. They treat soft tissue injuries by stimulating nerves and muscles.

Low-level cold laser. This therapy uses a non-heat-producing laser or light that penetrates deep into the tissue, sometimes reducing inflammation.

Ultrasound. Many think of ultrasound as imaging technology, but when applied to soft tissues and joints, sound waves can also produce a massaging effect that helps reduce swelling and decrease pain and stiffness.

Infrared sauna. Imagine having a hot compress warm up your joints from the inside. These rooms use controlled amounts of heat to relieve pain and increase circulation.

Medical Doctors Agree

The American College of Physicians released updated guidelines in 2017. They now support the use of non-pharmacologic therapies. This includes chiropractic as well as acupuncture, as first-line treatment of pain, before medication.

If you are living with arthritis call the office of Dr. Kaster today. We would love to see how we can help you feel better and live well.

Chiropractor | Nutritionist in Ft Myers, FL.

Fort Myers Chiropractor, Dr. Jason B. KasterChiropractic care is a safe, alternative treatment when applied appropriately. Chiropractic treatments help in dealing with the symptoms of many conditions. Are you going to wait for your symptoms to be felt, or are you going to prevent it as soon as possible?

Dr. Jason B. Kaster, a chiropractor, and nutritionist in Fort Myers can help you and your family achieve their optimal health.

239-332-2555

www.drkasters.com to learn more!

06.04.18
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Are You Getting Enough Nutrients?

nutrients

nutrientsFruits and Vegetable additions to your daily meals are one of the quickest ways to add needed nutrients to your diet plan.

We live in a prepackaged pre-made food kind of society. Most of which consists of carbohydrates, sugars, and preservatives. 

Rather than reaching for cookies, crackers, or even bars that have been processed and compressed, as you cruise down the grocery isles grab canned, frozen, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Start your day with a piece of fruit added to breakfast. An ideal mix of protein, carbohydrates, and a piece of fruit will get your body moving.

School Lunches allow you to get creative. Ants on a log are a favorite and often traded treat. Cut up celery, add peanut butter, and sprinkle raisins. Voila! Ants on a log. Sweet, salty, crunchy and very healthy. Packed with protein and iron they can keep your kiddos going.

When packing snacks: carrot sticks, broccoli, cauliflower, even bell peppers, all are great grab, pack in a bag and go treats. Think of party trays – you can even add a little yogurt or sour cream dip if plain vegetables don’t appeal to your pallet.  Fruits come in their own wrappers. Apples, plums, bananas, oranges, tangerines, and many more are all grown to grab and go, very easy to reach for on the run no matter how busy your day is and even if you don’t happen to have refrigeration.

Hosting friends?– you may be tempted to take the easy way out and fill bowls with the traditional chips and dips. Sure every one like them, but health is on the forefront of many peoples minds these days and having healthy alternatives available makes you a great host.

Ideas

  1. Let Your Cravings Lead The Way – unless it’s for absolute junk food, your body may be trying to tell you that you are missing something. ie. if you have a weird craving for liver you may be iron or copper deficient. If you are craving Brazil nuts you may be missing selenium. Food is intended to be our fuel.
  2. Fondu – Who doesn’t love cheese? Rather than dipping bread and chocolates, offer apples, carrots, cauliflower, pineapple, banana, mangos, and more.
  3. Fire up the grill! – Fat drips away from the meats while cooking naturally and you can even grill vegetables like Portabella mushrooms in place of burgers as well as skewers of veggies and fruits! Amazingly most have never tried grilling fruit and things like peaches, pineapples and kiwis are simply delicious and decadent.
  4. Dried fruits are always a hit and packed with vitamins.

One of the most important takeaways from this article is to eat a wide variety of foods. Don’t get locked into the same old same old. Stepping out of your box can not only increase your interest in healthy eating, it can add vitamins, minerals, and nutrients you may be missing, therefore increasing your health!

06.08.17
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Could a Nutritionist Boost Your Health?

Nutritionist

“I know what to eat, come on now… I’m an adult.” – We all think that. After all, we have been eating our whole lives and we are still here, right? Yes and No.

Eating to survive and eating to thrive are often to different animals altogether. 

There are endless boxes, bags, packages, colorful containers, fresh veggies and fruits, meats and more all in giant rows ready to grab in every grocery store. We have a lot of choice.

You can opt for the healthy salad for a side dish or the yummy onion rings. Making these decisions daily, you are bound to select the latter eventually even though you know the veggies are best for your health. Doing this every now and then is fine, but making fatty, high cholesterol foods the staple in your diet is not in your best interest.

While that example seems very simple, there is a lot to nutrition. Balancing out the right macros for your body’s needs is a scientific mathematical equation, and most of us have never learned the formulas.

A nutritionist can look at your overall health as well as any special needs and suggest a food plan that will assist you in staying your healthiest. They can spot nutritional deficiencies and point out any food sensitivities/allergies that may be causing you discomfort.

A whole health assessment is taken of the entire person and history, not just the foods being consumed. During your meeting with a Nutritionist, they review your past, evaluate your current condition, and then make suggestions on how you can reach your future health goals. If you aren’t reaching your weight or health goals… Go talk to a  Nutritionist.

Some healthy eating tips:

  • Mindful Eating: notice how your body feels while eating. Stop eating when you feel satisfied, not overly-full.
  • Protein: every meal should have a protein. This will keep you feeling fuller longer and less likely to snack.
  • Ingredients over Numbers: if the ingredients in the food that you will be eating are not good for you, then it really does not matter how many calories it has.
  • Drink Water: Dehydration can make you choose unhealthy snacks and foods when, in reality, you are simply thirsty.
  • Cheats: That doughnut looks sooooo good…. Just because you are watching your food choices does not mean that you can’t indulge every now and then.
  • Use Apps: There are apps that can track your calories and eating patterns. Let them work for you.

Sometimes having help in making future choices is best, especially if your weight is affecting your health. The Nutritionists at Tampa Cardiovascular Associates are available for appointments. Call us at 813-975-2800 or schedule an appointment online at TampaCardio.com.

01.25.17
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Don’t Fear Fat because it Doesn’t Make You Fat!

fat

Fat doesn’t make you fat. Many nutritious foods out there are high in fat actually. The human body needs fat; it gives us energy, builds cell membranes, helps with blood clotting and muscle movement, reduces inflammation, and helps us absorb some vitamins and minerals. Fats are both  “good” and “bad.”  Good fats are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, bad fats are man-made trans fats, and saturated fats fall in between.

Dietary fat can actually help people lose weight, because fat can help a person fill fuller for longer, so a person potentially is consuming less calories. When a person eats fat, it also slows the entry of glucose into the blood, which helps moderate sugar levels.

Here is some information about the different kinds of fats:

Monounsaturated Fats –  These fats are found in avocados, olive oil, peanut oil, most nuts, canola oil, sunflower oil, and high-oleic oil.

Polyunsaturated Fats – These fats are essential fats, and the body requires them for normal bodily functions; the body can’t produce these fats. Essential fats must be eaten. Polyunsaturated fats can reduce (slightly) LDL cholesterol. Polyunsaturated fats can be found in salmon, herring, sardines, sunflower, safflower, soybean, flaxseed, cottonseed, corn, sesame and, grape-seed oils.

Trans Fats – This type  is associated with elevating LDL cholesterol, as well as HDL cholesterol in the blood.  T

Saturated Fats – These fats a are found in red meat, whole milk, cheese, and coconut oil.  Often baked processed and packaged foods are heavy in saturated (and trans) fat. Too much saturated fat in one’s diet can raise cholesterol (both LDL and HDL).  It is recommended that saturated fat is limited to 10 percent of the day’s caloric intake.

Want more control of your diet? Contact Dr. Kordonowy of Internal Medicine, Lipid & Wellness in Fort Myers today. Dr. Kordonowy offers dietary counseling and  weight loss strategies. To book an appointment, click here or call 239-362-3005, ext. 200.

01.12.17
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Acid Reflux Facts

Put a little extra spicy sauce on your dinner? Or, did you overate last night? There’s a good chance you may feel like your breathing fire right now. Suffering from heartburn with that burning sensation in your chest is no fun. Nearly everyone experiences heartburn in their life. However, if you’ve been experiencing heartburn at least twice a week for multiple weeks, there’s a good chance you have acid reflux disease.  In the US, about 10 to 20 percent of the population suffers from this disease. More than 60 million Americans suffer from heartburn at least once a month. Not only is this a horrible disease to physically deal with, but $40 billion annually is spent on diagnosing and treating the disease.

There are two types of acid reflux disease: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD). With GERD, the stomach acid travels to the esophagus and with LPRD the refluxed material travels further up the throat. Most people will experience heartburn when the lining of the esophagus encounters too much stomach acid for a prolonged period.  The resulting tissue inflammation of the esophagus causes the burning sensation. Chronic acid reflux is associated with abnormal cellular/tissue changes that over time increased the risk of esophageal cancer.  This “precancerous” tissue change is known as Barrett’s Esophagus/Disease. This concern/development is one of the reasons physicians will recommend a referral to a gastroenterologist for direct endoscopy of the esophagus for new onset and significant chronic heart burn.

Chronic reflux can lead to persistent cough, night time sleep difficulty, hoarseness of the voice and scarring or stricture of the esophagus.  The primary symptom of stricture or blockage/tumor in the esophagus is a sensation or actual experience of food or pills getting “stuck” in the chest.  Left unattended over time this can result in an emergency known as food bolus impaction- a very dramatic emergency due to intense pain/lodging of food and intense salivation as normal saliva can’t get down into the stomach.

Chest pain: Often, people experience chest pain from the stomach acid splashing into the esophagus. This type of chest pain can sometimes be mistaken for a heart attack. If you have chest pain, do not ignore it and contact a doctor for evaluation.

Pain when lying down: When you lay down, acid can better leave the stomach and enter the esophagus. If you’re experiencing heart burn, try angling your back in bed, and avoid a big meal or fluids before bedtime.

Pain from Eating: When a person with acid reflux eats a big meal, the stomach pushes the contents up, which causes heart burn. To avoid this, avoid big fat-filled meals and watch alcohol and tobacco intake. Alcohol, caffeine, chocolate and nicotine/smoking decrease the muscle tone of the lower esophagus which promotes refluxing of stomach contents/acid.

Bitter taste in the mouth: When the acid is released upward from the stomach, it can land in the back of your throat and leave a bitter taste in your mouth. Sometimes, this bitter taste can cause people to choke.

Other symptoms: Coughing, hoarseness, sore throat, nausea, asthma, trouble swallowing, pain in the chest with eating, and extra saliva.

There are quite a few treatment options for acid reflux. For minor cases, avoiding certain food and beverages (chocolate, coffee, greasy or spicy foods, alcohol) will help reduce heartburn. Also, cutting back or stopping smoking, reducing weight, and taking over-the-counter medications can help.

For more serious cases, a person should talk to his or her doctor about symptoms; the heartburn could be a sign of another possible condition, or stronger prescription medication may be needed. As noted earlier if the problem is significant and especially if the sensation of food getting stuck is noted a direct endoscopy by a specialist is recommended.

If you’re suffering from acid reflux or heart burn and unable to manage it, it’s time to contact a doctor. Dr. Kordonowy of Internal Medicine, Lipid & Wellness of Fort Myers can diagnose and treat you for your symptoms. Don’t deal with the pain anymore and call 239-362-3005, ext. 200 or click here to book an appointment.

09.28.16
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Immune System Boosting Foods

Germs and viruses are always around for people to pick up. To lower your risk of infection, wash your hands often, use hand sanitizers, keep your surroundings clean, get a flu shot and do not sharing drinks. Good hygiene isn’t the only way to keep away sickness.  If you focus on building a better immune system in your diet, your body will be on guard to fight off any sickness that comes its way.

Particular foods are known to keep your immune system strong. Your daily diet should be well rounded.  Do yourself and immune system a favor by adding the following foods into your diet daily.

Oysters – Oysters contain zinc, which has virus-fighting power to it. Zinc helps activate white blood cells. It also helps with healing wounds. Oysters also contain selenium, which helps white blood cells produce cytokines (proteins) that clear viruses out of the body.

Spinach – Spinach, which is full of folate, which helps the body make new cells and repair DNA.

Yogurt – Yogurt comes with probiotics (live, active cultures) which are healthy bacteria that keep the gut and intestines free from the attack of  germs .

Tea – Whether you prefer green, white, or black, tea is filled with polyphenols and flavonoids, which are known to fight off diseases. They are antioxidants that target cell-damaging free radicals and destroy them.

Sweet potatoes and carrots – These vegetables contain beta-carotene, which turns into vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A gets rid of free radicals in the body and gives a boost to the immune system.

Broccoli – Broccoli is filled with vitamins A and C, along with antioxidants like glutathione, which all protect the body.

Citrus fruits – Grapefruit, oranges, lemons, limes, clementines, and tangerines are loaded with vitamin C, which fight infections by increasing the production of white blood cells in the body.

Other immunity-boosting foods: Red bell peppers, mushrooms, garlic, ginger, almonds, poultry, kiwi, shellfish, and  turmeric.

Food can be your medicine. With a diet rich in nutrient-dense food, you can  build a stronger immune system so that you find yourself getting sick less. If you need help with creating yourself a proper diet, contact Dr. Kordonowy of Internal Medicine, Lipid & Wellness in Fort Myers for a nutrition consultation. To book an appointment, call 239-362-3005, Ext. 200 or click here.

08.15.16
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FDA Releases New Nutrition Label

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the new Nutrition Facts label for packaged foods back on May 20th. The current nutrition label is more than 20 years old. The FDA felt the change was needed so that consumers can have the most accurate nutritional and serving information about the food.  Food and beverage manufacturers have until July 26, 2018 to comply with these new changes.

The new label was created to reflect new scientific information. The purpose of the new label is to make it easier for consumers to make better food choices.

The major changes to the label i are modifying the list of required nutrients on the label, updated serving size requirements, and a new design.

The biggest change to the nutrition label is its appearance. The general look of the label is the same, but the changes were made so consumers could read certain components of the label easier.  The type size was increased for “Calories,” “servings per container” and the “serving size.”  The type was  bolded for the calories and “serving size.”

The label must now show the actual amount and percent daily value of vitamin D, calcium, iron and potassium. Manufacturers have the option to declare the amount for other vitamins and minerals.  At the bottom of the label, the footnote has been rewritten to better explain what percent Daily Value means.  It will read “The % Daily Values tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet of 2,000 calories.”   The diet is based on 2000 calories eaten in a day .

Here are some other updates to the nutrition label:

  • “Added sugars” in grams as a percent daily value will be included. It is hard to meet nutrition requirements if you eat more than 10% of your calories from added sugars.
  • Vitamin D and potassium will be required on the label, along with calcium and iron.
  • “Calories from Fat” is being removed from the label, because research revealed that this type of fat is more important than the amount. “Total Fat,” “Saturated Fat,” and “Trans Fat” will still be required.
  • Serving sizes must be based on amounts of food and drinks that people actually consume, not what “looks acceptable as determined by the manufacturer.”  The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act  requires that serving sizes be based on what people actually eat in a typical setting or serving.
  • Package size affects what people eat. Serving sizes will better reflect how people typically eat at one time.
  • For products with  more than a single serving, manufacturers will provide a “dual column” label to indicated the calories and amount of nutrients in both a serving and in the entire package.

Nutrition labels are just a guideline. The portion size you need as an individual varies based on a variety of factors (medical history, height, weight, gender, metabolism, diseases, disorders, etc.). If you need help with your diet, it’s best to talk to a health professional. Contact Dr. Kordonowy of Internal Medicine, Lipid & Wellness in Fort Myers for a nutrition consult. To schedule an appointment, call 239-362-3005, Ext. 200 or click here.