Volume 6 | July 2018
July 31-August 2, Jonathan, Mike Suhadolnik, Dr. Hillard Sembell and Dr. Backs will attend the Crossfit Health Conference in Madison, Wisconsin. The speakers will include internationally recognized speakers on nutrition and fitness and the better way forward for health. We hope to learn and share experiences with doctors and Crossfit affiliates who are figuring out the same journey. 

Our practice has been working closely with Crossfit Instinct to execute the vision of the Doc in the Box. This terminology means different things to different people. To the Crossfit enthusiast, it might mean abandoning the reactive medical model. To the traditional and mainstream of medicine, it may sound like a pie in the sky fad led by a bunch of rebels with good intentions and great stories but unproven methods. 

Each side can be wary of the intentions and point to weaknesses and conflicts of interests. We could allow the demand for perfection to block progress toward better and optimal. 

However, to the open minded, there is opportunity. None of us have a monopoly on the truth. We will learn from each other. We will teach each other. Together we will do great things by helping those who desperately need it.

We should both be on the side of helping the many who need our help, working together from our respective strengths.

The Center for Prevention started with a focus on the prevention of future deadly and disabling heart attacks and strokes. But in our journey, we have stumbled on an even more extraordinary opportunity: We are Reversing Chronic Disease.

Chronic Disease includes, but is not limited to Type 2 Diabetes, prediabetes, arterial disease, obesity and others. It can be reversed by changing the dietary, recreational and sedentary habits that cause it. 

What part of chronic disease is caused by sugar and sitting do we not understand?

Chronic disease can be measured using technology and dollars spent and earned in its management. But its solution is in reversal to the point of calling it a cure. We show reductions in body fat, especially visceral fat. Artery walls are getting thinner and healthier. People are regaining fitness, awareness and control. Capacity to work and play is increasing. They are replacing chronic disease with resilient wellness.

Iā€™m so happy doing what we do, seeing my patients and friends get healthier, knowing we helped them by passing along the help we received. 

We hope you enjoy this edition of our newsletter. Pass it along to someone who deserves to be healthier. We would love to help them too.

Craig A. Backs MD
Executive Medical Director
The Center for Prevention: Reverse Chronic Disease
The Root Causes:
Lipoprotein (A)
Lipoprotein A or Lp(a) is a subtype of cholesterol. The BaleDoneen Method calls Lp(a) the "mass murderer" because elevated levels of Lp(a) triples your risk of heart attack and stroke! 

Elevated Lp(a) affects around 20% of the population. Yet it is not included in standard lipid testing. In the past, it was an expensive test. Now it costs about $10.

Keeping the same doctor reduces death risk, study finds

With so much focus on new technology and medications we often forget about the personal part of medicine. Finding a doctor that you can trust and is going to work with your best personal interests is key to your health. Having quality and consistent care is going to lead to a longer and healthier life

Niacin and Your Heart

Relevant to the issue of Lipoprotein A is the use of Niacin to get Lp(a) under control. Also known as Vitamin B3, niacin can help to lower Lp(a) and raise HDL to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.


First we eat, then we do everything else.      
M.F.K. Fisher

The biggest impact that you can have on your health is a good diet. The food that we eat is the basis for what we are made of, how our hormones are going to act, and what our quality of life is going to look like. We have talked before about general guidelines for what you should eat and how to build a good diet. See our advice here

We also want to share sources for good recipes and cooking tips. In the Library this month is Wheat Belly by William Davis, MD and his website also has a lot of interesting recipes to help you keep processed carbohydrates out of your diet.

CrossFit Health Conference

Dr Backs, Dr Hillard-Sembell, Coach Mike and Jonathan are heading to the CrossFit Health Conference in Madison this week. The focus of the speakers is how to combat chronic disease. We decided to shoot a video of how the Longevity program got its start and what we are doing to keep our community healthy.

The Library
Wheat Belly
How has wheat changed from what was eaten by previous generations and how is it impacting our health? Wheat Belly dives into how processed foods and changes in wheat are have negative impacts on our health. Davis looks into the myth of heart healthy whole grains and how this idea is still being perpetuated in our society.

This book is a great read for people who have been following traditional advice of eating too much grain and wheat and not losing weight. Davis also dives into the host of conditions that are caused or worsened by overconsumption of wheat.



Many of you are already a part of the Fasters group and getting the daily support message from Coach Mike. The group is focused on clean eating, intermittent fasting, and taking effective steps to improve results. We have seen amazing results, with drops in body fat and visceral fat, more than a ton in the last year There is no cost to get the morning message and start learning about how to change your life.

The Center for Prevention
217-321-1987 | development@thecenterforprevention.com
thecenterforprevention.com