Take charge of your life and control of your health naturally using targeted nutrition.

“The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.”- Thomas Edison

What is targeted nutrition?

Have you ever noticed that there is no shortage of opinions regarding what a person should consume to be healthy? There are eating plans that span the spectrum of nutritional options. These plans are even completely contradictory at times. As human beings all belonging to the same species, how is it possible that claims of health, weight loss, increased energy, (and whatever else) can come from such divergent nutritional opinions? And why can you find equal amounts of people who swear by each eating plan that exists? It may seem counterintuitive that such diverse opinions with regards to nutrition can all be correct. However, this is the case. Because our individuality is as unique as our fingerprints, the same is true for our endogenous (or inner) biochemistry. What may work nutritionally for some people may be totally incorrect and unhealthy for others. This is a result of our constitution or physical makeup, which is dictated by our genetics and environmental influences. Evolutionarily, we developed the abilities to process the nutrition that was available within our immediate living environment. However as a country, we are fortunate to have access to delicious cuisines from around the world. Although the availability of ethnic food variety may be beneficial for our tastebuds, mixing these different cuisines can create nutritional imbalances. That is, specific ethnic diets are healthy in their pure form and were never intended to be combined with other cuisines that developed from living in other parts of the world. This does not mean that one cannot sample different cuisines and remain healthy, but achieving nutritional balance becomes more complicated. Add this nutritional diversity to the fact that the human body is also dealing with a constant influx of toxicities, and it begins to clarify the reasons why we are “nutritionally challenged” as a society. With careful planning, one can balance a variety of nutrition and still maintain health , however this is no easy task. Because of this difficulty, there are always attempts to simplify nutrition into food groups or pyramid forms, but these simplifications fall short of bestowing universal health upon such a diverse population. There is no cookie cutter approach to good nutrition, and attempting to do so has contributed to the nutritional problems seen in this country. Targeted nutrition is a method that helps to determine the individual needs of each person, which can ultimately improve their overall health status. A detailed assessment to determine an individual’s targeted nutritional requirements occurs during a wellness consultation.

What is a wellness consultation?

An initial wellness consultation entails a comprehensive assessment process which includes a detailed review and evaluation of the patient's lifestyle, nutrition, medications, family dynamics, surgical and past medical histories as well as their psychological status and spiritual beliefs. A general physical exam is also performed at the initial visit, and lab work may be recommended, however patients can provide any recent lab work from their personal physician if available. The initial consultation typically lasts about 90 minutes. Services include providing the patient with individualized and targeted nutritional counseling, organizational and lifestyle management techniques as well as the medical ability to fully assess their medications and health status. My priority is to address each patient’s personal goals, and to offer compassionate and comprehensive guidance to achieve those goals. Visits are made by advanced appointment only, and the initial visit must be conducted in person. However follow-up visits may be conducted by phone if patients meet certain criteria. Please understand that wellness consultations are aimed at achieving one's long-term personal health goals, therefore I am not a replacement for your primary care physician, and any emergency consultations or necessity for inpatient hospitalization must be directed to your own health care practitioner.

Who can benefit from a consultation?

Everyone can benefit from a personalized health regimen. Even the healthiest people are exposed a constant influx of toxins from our environment. These toxins can be found in foods, water, cosmetics, recreational ingestion (e.g., smoking and alcohol), and air pollution, as well as other sources. Daily, low level, toxic environmental exposures can cause imbalances in one’s biochemistry. This may contribute to the exacerbation of chronic diseases and acceleration of the aging process. Any toxic exposure requires that our endogenous biochemistry be utilized to neutralize the damage in order to maintain our health. By supporting our biochemistry through proper nutrition, lifestyle changes, and supplementation, we can maintain an optimal level of health and superior quality of life. For the patient blessed with excellent health, this translates into complete and long-term health through prevention. Patients who suffer from illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, digestive disorders, obesity, heart disease, asthma, emphysema, and other chronic disease states can successfully regain and maintain their optimal health potential with personalized targeted nutrition. In some cases, patients can be weaned off certain medications as their general health improves. Using a holistic and comprehensive integrative approach, disease processes can be controlled and quality of life restored. For patients in good health looking to improve their fitness status, I also offer a comprehensive regimen aimed at improving overall health, sports performance and endurance. Also offered are regimens that support specific nutritional requirements for bodybuilding, healing sports injuries, weight loss, and smoking cessation. Nutritional regimens aimed at optimizing health for children and pregnancy are offered as well. For certain patients, other healing modalities such as acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, herbal medicine, natural dentistry, energy work, psychological/spiritual counseling and massage therapy may be recommended as well to fully achieve one's personal health goals. Because this holistic approach centers around the patient's personal goals, each individual becomes responsible for their own health. This self responsibility empowers each person to have total control of their own bodies, and ultimately realize the freedom that can change one's life. My job is to provide each patient with informed guidance that assists them in achieving their individual health potential.

About the practitioners:

Christina A. Sheil MD is a cum laude graduate of the University of Miami earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry. She received her M.D. degree in 1990 from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Sheil became board certified in family practice in 1993 after completing her residency at Overlook Hospital, a major affiliate of the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Michael E. Rothman MD is a cum laude graduate of SUNY Binghamton earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics. He received his M.D. degree in 1986 from the University of Miami, School of Medicine. Dr. Rothman became board certified in Internal Medicine in 1989 after completing his residency at Mountainside Hospital, an affiliate of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He subsequently became board certified in Emergency Medicine in 1997.

After discovering a need to provide a more holistic approach to medicine, Dr. Sheil and Dr. Rothman studied naturopathy, and became well versed in topics such as functional medicine, orthomolecular medicine, targeted nutrition, sports nutrition, herbal medicine, homotoxicology and anti-aging medicine.

Drs. Sheil and Rothman are currently affiliated with the Institute for Functional Medicine, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, Life Extension Foundation. Dr. Sheil is also a member of the American Academy of Family Practice. Dr. Rothman is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Drs Sheil and Rothman are on the medical advisory board of MediMerge, an integrative healthcare delivery systems company.

Along with their private practice, Dr. Sheil and Dr. Rothman are available for informational group speaking engagements on many alternative and complementary healing topics.