Dr. Kevin Kilday PhD, Dr. of Natural Health at Holistic Health Center (HHC) works with an individual to assess his or her usual dietary and identify areas where change is needed. Dr. Kilday provides information, educational materials, support, and follow-up to help the individual make and maintain the needed dietary changes.

Dr. Kilday begins with an interview in which he asks questions about a person’s typical food intake. Dr. Kilday will ask the client how often he or she consumes certain food groups. For example, he will ask a person how many servings of dairy products, fruits, vegetables, grains and cereals, meats, or fats he or she consumes in a typical day, week, or month. An individual may be instructed to keep a written record of the amounts of all foods and beverages consumed over a given period of time. Dr. Kilday can then use the food records to analyze actual energy and nutrient intake.

The initial dietary assessment and interview provide the basis for identifying eating behaviors that need to be changed, prioritizing the changes and problem solving as to how to make the changes. Sometimes a person already has a good idea of what dietary changes are needed, but may require help making the changes. Dr. Kilday will help educate a person on the health effects of different dietary choices. For example, changing eating behaviors may mean involving others, purchasing different foods, planning ahead for social events, or bringing special foods to work. Some common barriers to changing eating habits include inconvenience, social gatherings, food preferences, or lack of knowledge or time.

Family members are encouraged to attend nutrition consulting sessions with the client, especially if they share responsibility for food selection and preparation. Although the individual must make food choices and take responsibility for dietary changes, having the support and understanding of family and friends makes success more likely. In making dietary changes, each individual’s situation and background must be carefully considered. Factors that affect food decisions include an individual’s ethnic background, religion, group affiliation, socioeconomic status, and world view.

Please keep in mind that we are not talking about a weight loss program even though we do offer like programs but we are talking about making dietary changes that will directly affect your current weight and/or a specific health condition such as cancer which is one of our specialties. Please realize that 80% of our immune system is in our gut. Correct the immune system and you can achieve optimal health. There are many specific diets for specific health conditions and Dr. Kilday can educate you about them and make suggestions.

Once we have identified a dietary change, vitamins and herbs will be added to not only rebuild the immune system but to address specific health conditions. The goal of Holistic Health Center’s nutrition consulting is to help a person make and maintain dietary and lifestyle changes, and make suggestions of clinically studied supplements specific to their health condition. With a proper mindset, plan and support you can succeed and we can help you make that happen.

For an appointment with Dr. Kevin Kilday, PhD, Dr. of Natural Health at Holistic Health Center please call 321-549-0711.

Celebrate Life Despite Living with an Illness

Celebrating today and being content with what we have been given is not only a wise suggestion but a commandment from God. “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life?… Instead you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will we will live and do this or that’” (James 4: 14,15). What a wonderful, comforting perspective for life, for it assures us if it does not happen it is because it was not in God’s will!

Living just for today can be difficult when we have an illness, because we are put in the position of trying to predict what a medication may do to us, positively or negatively. We must plan for our financial stability and we have concerns about who will care for our children or aging parents, if we are unable to assist. Just as we must not look too far forward, however, we also must not dwell on the past. This is why we are told “Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’ For it is not wise to ask such questions’” (Ecc. 7:10).

God did not simply tell us not to worry about tomorrow and then let us be.  He promised His strength for all of the days of our life. As a hymn goes, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, because He lives, all fear is gone…” Although we may feel as though our bones are growing weak and the affliction is overwhelming (Psalms 31:10), “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect” (2 Samuel 22:33).

Lastly, we must remember that God is always in control. Everything we encounter in life has been “Father-filtered.” “When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other…” Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future” (Ecc. 7:13,14). When God is in control, we can surrender our plans and know that He has promised us his best for our lives.

A Prayer for Those Living with Cancer

Healing God,

All of us know people who have been touched by cancer. Sometimes it’s been those closest to our hearts. Often it’s been a neighbor, a co-worker or someone in our congregation. On occasion, it’s been us. It has affected and changed the lives of every family among us.
We pray today to announce our hope that with every new day before us there will be better news about this disease in our midst. We pray for those who will be diagnosed, to find strength to deal with the news. We pray for those who are making difficult decisions, to find guidance and discernment. We pray for those who are feeling weak and who don’t know if they can go on, to find strength and encouragement. We pray for those who are anxious, lonely or scared, to find reassurance that they are in your caring hands and not left to face this alone. We pray for those who are in healing professions, to find the wisdom and direction they need to help bring renewed life to those they serve. We pray for those who give care at home, to find the compassion, understanding and energy they need to support those they know and love. Most of all, we pray for everyone living with cancer to know the tremendous power of your healing love. We ask that encouragement and hope be with them intimately on this journey. Uplift them. Bring peace to them. Carry them. Deliver them. Let them know that they can triumph. Instill in them a spirit that is positive and that strives for survival. Bring the truth to them that will bless them and set them free to live well and to place their lives in you. In your good and gracious name we pray. Amen

Depression / Anxiety / Stress

More people suffer from depression than you might think. Depression strikes people of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnic groups. Estimates range between 19 to 34 million American adults suffer from depressive disorders and  twice as many women as men are affected each year.

Depression is defined as a lasting sad mood and/or a loss of interest or pleasure in most activities. People with clinical depression experience some of the following symptoms: changes in appetite or weight, changes in sleep patterns, restlessness or decreased activity that others notice, loss of energy or feeling tired all the time, hard time concentrating or making decisions, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, or repeated thoughts of death or suicide. According to the American Psychiatric Association, to be diagnosed with clinical depression four or more of these symptoms must last for at least two weeks and the symptoms must be serious enough to cause worry and to get in the way of the person’s work, social life, or daily life.

The exact cause of depression isn’t clear. No one is sure why some people get depressed and others don’t. Sometimes depression seems to happen because of a stressful event. Sometimes it seems to happen for no reason at all. Genetics could play a role. People whose blood relatives have had depression are more likely to have it, too. However, not everyone who has a relative with depression is going to develop it. Scientists believe that it could be linked with an imbalance of a chemical in the brain called serotonin. If this imbalance happens, it can affect the way people feel.

Alternative treatments to correct this imbalance and raise serotonin levels may include using one the following supplements:

• 5-HTP is a form of the amino acid L-tryptophan, and it is the immediate precursor of serotonin. 5-HTP works simply by enabling the brain to make more serotonin. It is a nutritional antidepressant. Studies have shown that 5-HTP can safely elevate serotonin production in the brain without any dangerous side effects.
• St John’s Wort has been used for centuries to treat depression. More recently, there have been a number of clinical studies that have demonstrated that St John’s Wort was more effective than a placebo in the treatment of depression. The active ingredients in St John’s Wort boost serotonin levels. In some countries like Germany, St John’s Wort is the most popular treatment for depression.
• SAM-e is involved in methylation in the body, which is critical in the manufacturing of many body components, such as brain neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. SAM-e helps regulate these neurotransmitters that affect our mood.

Always follow the recommended dosage on the supplement bottle unless otherwise instructed by a qualified healthcare practitioner. Never take these supplements if you are taking prescribed medication for clinical depression.