Dr. Anita Racic Personalized Medicine
500 - 1122 Mainland Street V6B 5L1 Vancouver, BC, Canada

My one patient casualty during 2020 has been due to the effects of the lockdown, not the virus. https://www.theglobeandmail.com//article-new-study-shows-/

Everybody in the wellness field is talking about NAD+. Have you heard of it?

Everybody in the wellness field is talking about NAD+. Have you heard of it?

PPIs, or acid-blocking drugs, can increase your risk of pretty much every bad health outcome there is - diabetes, dementia, osteoporosis, kidney disease, and gastric cancer. Even Covid19. Not good things to be taking for more than a few short weeks.

I had a friend recently ask me what supplement to take for assorted aches and pains. My first line advice here is to look at the diet and consider what is the person eating that is making them inflamed. SAD-ly, it's often SAD aka the Standard American Diet which makes people sick and inflamed. After removing inflammatory foods, I would then add on anti-inflammatory supplements. My top recommendation is omega 3s, followed by curcumin.

Six people die of lung cancer in B.C. EVERY DAY! That's only lung cancer and not all cancers. Keep things in perspective people!

I had a friend recently ask me what supplement to take for assorted aches and pains. My first line advice here is to look at the diet and consider what is the person eating that is making them inflamed. SAD-ly, it's often SAD aka the Standard American Diet which makes people sick and inflamed. After removing inflammatory foods, I would then add on anti-inflammatory supplements. My top recommendation is omega 3s, followed by curcumin.

Six people die of lung cancer in B.C. EVERY DAY! That's only lung cancer and not all cancers. Keep things in perspective people!

Six people die of lung cancer in B.C. EVERY DAY! Thats only lung cancer and not all cancers. Keep things in perspective people!

There are good reasons we have acid in our stomach. One is to digest food, and the other, to protect us from infections. We naturally make less stomach acid as we age. Suppress stomach acid further with PPIs and it makes sense that you would increase your risk of COVID infection. These drugs are given out like candy by MDs and the patients are kept on them for years, often decades when they were only meant to be used for a few weeks at a time. Getting off of the PPI is ...just one example of something you can do to reduce your risk of COVID19. (There are a couple of rare exceptions for being on a PPI longterm such as Barretts esophagus but that is not why most people are kept on these drugs for years.) Anita Racic

The recommendations for physical activity are as follows: Children - 1 hour per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity Adults - 75 - 150 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity (meaning you cant comfortably talk while doing it) or 150 - 300 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week. Plus 2 days per week of strength training.... Whos getting the recommended doses of activity?

People are drinking way more since the quarantine (and between that and liquor stores being an "essential" service, they are literally making a killing!) This is not a health strategy and it will wreak your health. The guidelines from the American Cancer Agency recommend drinking NO alcohol. Told you so. https://www.amenclinics.com//why-the-american-cancer-soc/

COVID-19 has pulled back the curtain to reveal just how unhealthy we are as a nation. Only about 12% of Americans are metabolically healthy, without a large wai...st, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or high cholesterol. The major driver of poor metabolic health, which increases the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19, is the nations diet rich in starch, sugar, and processed foods and low in unprocessed food, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, good fats, seafood, nuts, and seeds. Read my full article in The Boston Globe here:

There is a lot of research out there on vitamin D, including its beneficial effects on the immune system and on respiratory tract infections. The authors in the study discussed here advocate for governments to recommend supplementation. Do Drs. Henry, Tam, Fauci, and Brix really not know about vitamin D? Why is staying home and washing your hands the only health advice they give? They could also be telling us to stop smoking, vaping, drinking, eating inflammatory foods, and to get some exercise, get into nature, get good sleep. Theyre not. Talk to your doctor about vitamin D.

With rare exception, the people that are getting into trouble with COVID19 are the people that are unhealthy to begin with. Virtually all chronic disease comes from lifestyle and environmental factors. The good news is that we can regain our health if we address these factors. This, unfortunately, is not taught in medical schools but luckily theres the Institute for Functional Medicine. Our medical leaders are only telling people to stay home but not saying anything abou...t how we can actually decrease our personal risk and improve our health. Addressing underlying morbidities not only decreases your risk of a bad outcome with COVID19 but also decreases your risk of other bad health outcomes. Check out these evidence-based recommendations to improve your health and stay safe. https://www.ifm.org//lifestyle-practices-for-strengthenin/

Why are our leaders only talking about flattening the curve but not about reducing the area UNDER the curve?Why are our leaders only talking about flattening the curve but not about reducing the area UNDER the curve?

Obesity is generally known to be associated with inflammation. As the NYU authors observe, "Obesity is well-recognized to be a pro-inflammatory condition."

Some great resources from the Provinces of BC if you are struggling with mental well being during this time: https://cmha.bc.ca/covid-19/

Thank you to the person who left this Easter message on my path today. Staying home shouldnt mean staying inside. Getting out into nature and outdoors is one of the foundations of good health and natural immunity. If you are staying inside, consider getting your vitamin D levels checked and supplementing based on that. Vitamin D is a key hormone (yes, its actually a hormone, not a vitamin) in regulating the immune system. Coronovirus doesnt actually kill anybody it...s a dysfunctional immune system that turns on the host. * * * * * * * * * #immunity #immunehealth #ifm #a4m #ifmcp #ifm2020 #longevity #functionalmedicine #lifestylemedicine #antiaging #medicine #antiagingmedicine #precisionmedicine #health #wellness #personalizedmedicine #holistic #holistichealth #integratedhealth #integrativemedicine #optimalhealth #complementarymedicine #hormones #hormonehealth #vancouver See more

This video covers the basics of limiting transmission and exposure to COVID19.

While we should all strictly be practicing social distancing right now, it is not a health strategy. Its a strategy to limit the spread of the virus in order to protect the most vulnerable. Our safety ultimately comes from staying healthy and having a strong (innate) immune system and not letting inflammation run rampant. This is a huge wake-up call to live as healthy a lifestyle as possible.

Toxins in our environment are huge drivers of chronic illness. Toxins can be chemicals or bio-toxins. Mold is one of the main bio-toxins to be concerned about.

Toxins are a huge driver of disease and most toxins enter our bodies through the air we breathe. What kind of damage can air pollution cause? Pretty much anything smoking does, air pollution can do it too!

I have to agree with this psychiatrists top tips for managing anxiety: - managing blood sugar - adequate sleep - limiting (or avoiding) caffeine - its anxiogenic... - magnesium glycinate - meditation - self compassion - cognitive reframing See more

Poll: Which of the following will kill you the soonest? 1. Bad diet 2. Stress 3. Sleeping less than 7 hours per night 4. Lack of exercise

Multitasking here: working on my virtual medicine practice while I work on my tan. I am implementing more virtual care and telemedicine in my practice these days. This allows me to have more of a reach in being able to help provide functional medicine to patients in BC. Its nice to see a doctor in person, especially for the first visit and I am maintaining the brick and mortar practice in Yaletown but sometimes its just not convenient or realistic for a patient to come ...in. I think its the way of the future and a win-win for the patient and the doctor. * * * * * * * * * #yearroundtan #multitasking #telemedicine #virtualpractice #ifm #a4m #ifmcp #ifm2020 #longevity #immunity #functionalmedicine #lifestylemedicine #antiaging #medicine #antiagingmedicine #health #wellness #personalizedmedicine #holistic #holistichealth #integratedhealth #integrativemedicine #optimalhealth #complementarymedicine #hormones #hormonehealth #vancouver

Just spent the last few days immersed studying Immunology with the Institute for Functional Medicine. Autoimmune conditions are on the rise and after cancer and heart disease, they are the third leading cause of suffering and death in the western world. Has anybody not been touched by autoimmunity? And then theres the chronic infections which are a huge contributor to chronic disease. Acute infections with new viruses are a timely subject. One of the big takeaways for m...e is that its not so much about the bug but about the host. How healthy is the terrain? How intact are the surfaces that interface with the outside world? If your membranes are leaky and abnormally permeable, you will allow things in that should not be coming in. Why do some people get sick with a bug and others who also come into contact with it do not. Its really more about the host than it is about the microbe. * * * * * * * * * #ifm #a4m #ifmcp #ifm2020 #longevity #immunity #functionalmedicine #lifestylemedicine #antiaging #medicine #antiagingmedicine #health #wellness #personalizedmedicine #holistic #holistichealth #integratedhealth #integrativemedicine #optimalhealth #complementarymedicine #hormones #hormonehealth #vancouver

What can you do to protect yourself from the Corona virus? Strengthen your immunity! http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v16n04.shtml

What puts a smile on your face? Sunshine and palm trees do it for me. + = . #preconference

If youre thinking about starting the year with a detox, there are some good ideas here...

Ive never had a problem with alcohol but several years ago I just stopped having alcohol socially. I didnt know there was a name for it, but it seems to be a thing - #sobercurious

"Any amount of alcohol can increase the risk of mouth, pharynx and larynx, esophagus and breast cancer, two or more drinks a day can raise the risk of bowel and colon cancer and three or more a day increases the risk of stomach and liver cancers." It amazes me that people who have had cancer continue to drink. Ive also noticed that people who want to decrease their risk of ever getting cancer also dont seem too interested in implementing this strategy. Is it really worth it?

Anybody else hoping for less stress this year (and decade!)? Here are some great ideas for better habits - planning better, spending less, asking for help (!), and having good boundaries. I know for me that one of the biggest causes of stress is being too busy and feeling rushed. One of my intentions for the new year is to SIMPLIFY!... What are your intentions for this year?

I won big in Vegas!... with the people Ive met and the friends that Ive made at the annual A4M conference ... like-minded doctors who are on this journey of improving their own health and the health of their patients by going outside of the conventional disease management model of mainstream medicine. It is possible to reverse disease and slow down the aging process if were given the right tools! #a4m #a4m2019 #functionalmedicine #antiaging #medicine #health #wellness #personalizedmedicine #holistic #integrated

Preconference night out with fellow Vancouver peeps. Here this weekend learning about the latest in health and longevity. While life expectancy is decreasing in North America, it is actually rising for those following an anti-aging lifestyle. 95 years is the life expectancy of those following what #A4M teaches. #functionalmedicine #antiaging #medicine #health #wellness #personalizedmedicine #holistic #integrated #a4m2019

"Canadian researchers have discovered the fine particles from air pollution can contribute to an increased risk of brain cancer." We are learning more and more about environmental toxins causing diseases. This link between air pollution and brain cancer is news to me. Interestingly, last month, a medical colleague of mine had to have emergency brain surgery for brain cancer. He was seemingly healthy and well until then.... For a while now, Ive been advising patients to have air filters in the home, as indoor air pollution can be worse than outdoor air pollution. I am now looking for an air filter for the car. If anyone knows of one theyd recommend, please let me know.

The incidence of cancer has been creeping up in men and women under the age of 50 and one of the main reasons behind this is people are getting fatter. I recommend body composition testing for my patients as you cant just go by BMI - you will miss the "skinny fat" people. There is no cure for cancer (treatment... sometimes). There is only prevention. Its about keeping a healthy body weight and composition, maintaining blood sugars in the optimal range (which is well below the reference range from the lab), not putting toxins in your body (the most obvious ones being cigarettes and alcohol), managing your stress and getting enough quality sleep.

No, it turns out our tap water is NOT safe...

This study published in JAMA confirms that a Functional Medicine approach produces a way better quality of life compared to the standard of care model.

There you go - exercise is not only good for the heart, but good for the brain!

Copper overload from the copper IUD is associated with many bad effects - mainly, mental health problems. It also causes zinc deficiency and that causes its own set of bad effects, including messing up your hormones. Bottom line - the copper IUD is not inert!

They say "no known cause" and also say ""We know the brain is involved. We know the immune system is involved. We know the gut is involved. We know the endocrine system is involved," said Ron Davis, a genetics professor at Stanford University. "So that makes it a very systemic disease, which actually makes it a very bad disease." There are actually MANY causes of chronic fatigue - you need to look for infections, look at gut health, look at hormones, look at the immune system, look at nutritional status and toxins, and of course, lifestyle and genetic factors. However, this is not being done in the conventional world of medicine. If you suffer from chronic fatigue, your best chance of recovery is working with a functional medicine doctor that does look at all of these systems.

What are some bio markers that are associated with increased risk of suicide? Low cholesterol, omega 3s and vitamin D.

"Women develop alcohol-related diseases faster than men....Alcohol plays a major role in more than 200 diseases and injury conditions according to the CAMH report, including anxiety, depression and memory problems. Liver diseases, brain damage, stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, stomach ulcers are just some of the major long-term damage caused by excessive drinking." Not addressed in this article is that alcohol increases your risk of breast cancer. Alcohol is NOT a health food people!

Dr. Jason Fung does an amazing job explaining the corruption of researchers, editors of respected medical journals and the influential doctors who write guidelines that all other doctors are supposed to follow. This makes the large body of medical research corrupt, useless and often even harmful to patients. Major takeaway - next time youre presented with "scientific evidence", ask who is funding the research and paying the editors.

Some people are really worked up over the latest nutritional headlines which say we shouldnt worry about eating meat and that the data doesnt show it is harmful. This was not a new study but a re-hashing of old ones. Nutritional studies are difficult because they are "observational" which means you cant prove cause and effect. There are also other factors which confuse the picture. Bottom line, as Dr. Hyman says, "its not the cow, its the how"...