I was pleased to see a “mother and baby” visit on my schedule: I love those appointments that are truly family-centered, with at least two generations included! Karen came to her appointment with her four-month old cherished and cheerful son, Tyler.
Do you want to lose body fat, gain muscle, all without going on any kind of a diet?
The first of a series
We are outliving our ancestors, but are we outliving them well?
With gracious permission, I am offering the most wonderful mousse recipe. Once you make this recipe, you will want to share it with others as well.
Should you take CoQ10?
You may have heard of people discussing CoQ10, the shorthand name for the compound Coenzyme Q10. CoQ10 is a fat soluble anti-oxidant compound that we make in our own bodies, given the proper nutrients. We rely on CoQ10 in the production of ATP, our most basic source of energy in the body and CoQ10 also helps us when we’re challenged by infection or immune system imbalance.
Who would think that a vitamin could have such a history of praise and denial, confusion and celebration? Vitamin K2 will hopefully find its right place in history once more people get a chance to read Vitamin K2 and
Summer is over, but hopefully you have frozen some blueberries for use over the winter months. As with many colorful fruits and vegetables, blueberries are rich in a variety of healthy anti-oxidants. Blueberries seem to carry a specific advantage in their ability to
Reading on this site, I see, under “Eating for a Healthy Pregnancy”, under the Foods to Avoid list is
One of the variables hardest to study in a diet is sustainability: many different eating plans result in short-term weight loss, but which can keep you satisfied for the long haul? Recent studies, including this one, have found a Paleo Diet superior to other options in the treatment of type 2 diabetics. On the Paleo Diet, diabetics lose more weight and improve their laboratory tests as well.
When folks tell me they’re stressed, or that they wake frequently in the wee morning hours, I wonder if they aren’t firing up their adrenal glands a little too early for the day’s work. While we arrange for testing of that hypothesis, my choice of supplement – tried and true with many patients – is Integrative Therapeutics Cortisol Manager.
A basic smoothie recipe is useful in two situations: for folks who need to gain or maintain weight, and for athletes looking for a way to eat whey protein after a workout. Here’s my post-workout smoothie recipe.In a blender, mix to dissolve the protein powder:1 scoop organic, grass-fed whey protein½ cup of waterFor nutrition and flavor, add:
Glutamine, or L-Glutamine, is the most abundant amino acid circulating on its own in the body. Glutamine is an important component of a functioning immune system, the maintenance of a healthy intestinal lining, as well as certain mental and emotional processes. It can be found in many foods and under “routine” circumstances, the body seems to have adequate supply between what is eaten and what the body makes for itself.
The Paleo Diet has been inspired by the study of our own human history. The Paleolithic Period began about 2.6 million years ago with the first use of stone tools by pre-historic humans and ended about 10,000 years ago. In the Paleolithic Period, humans formed small groups and survived by hunting and gathering food. The end of the Paleolithic Period is marked by human groups settling in one era, introducing agriculture, religion and culture that has survived to the current day.
Breakfast Now that you’ve had your tea…
No kidding, that’s the title of the Medscape (doctors’ chat room?) forum on the recent news that calcium supplementation over 1400 mgs. daily or low calcium intake (600 mg or less) are both associated with increased risk of death. Admittedly the study’s methods were observational, meaning that they can identify an association but not that it’s causative.
Sunday afternoon and it’s sunny! Let’s spend the day outside, that sounds like a great idea – except for the chicken I was planning to cook for the evening. No problem – easiest roasted chicken is always good and takes little time to prepare.
A wonderful warm dish for a winter’s evening that nourishes your heart.
An international study of hundreds of thousands of children and teens found a strong correlation between consumption of fast food and synptoms of asthma, eczema, and rhinitis. Eating fast food meals at least three times weekly was associated with a 39% increased risk of severe asthma in teenagers.
I love this soup and have a cup of it with any meal, including breakfast. It’s a great way to get a cup of broth and a serving of greens.
No, telomeres are not a new exotic vegetable to seek out at the market, but rather the little caps on the end of your own DNA, that protects the DNA from breaking into fragments or inadvertently connecting with another strand.
A study in the journal of Nutrition compared metabolic marker changes in two groups of obese diabetic subjects. One group followed a low-calorie diet and the other group was on a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet (LCKD). Both groups had favorable changes but they were more marked – i.e., greater improvement – in the LCKD group.
The big news of the week is the concession in Dean Ornish’s plea for healthy eating in this weekend’s New York Times.
You surely don’t need to be a research scientist to see the flaws in the utterly ridiculous study whose findings that recently made the news. Researchers in Canada surveyed over 1200 middle aged men and women in a vascular prevention clinic where they were referred after suffering a stroke or “mini-stroke.” The study participants were asked to recall their egg yolk consumption over their lifetime.
Magnesium is a chemical element that chemists refer to by the symbol Mg, but Mg never exists by itself anywhere on the planet. It is embedded in rocks, or molten in earth, or dissolved in seawater.
Alzheimer’s disease developed more frequently in French women – aged 76 to 84 – who were consuming less vitamin D in their diet, according to a study to be published soon from the Angers University Hospital Group. The association between vitamin D levels and preserved cognition has been noted before, but this is the first study to follow people prospectively and to assess their dietary vitamin D intake, aside from sun exposure.
Nutritional studies are notoriously difficult to perform with certainty. Nevertheless, each new study result can be compared to what we already know to gauge its worthiness. In this study, known dietary habits were sifted against tested cognitive ability.
One of my goals is to help you sift through the often conflicting information you might read from different “healthy news” sources. Dr. Weil recently picked up a story from the news and suggested, just like the research rats, you trade one poison for another.
Perhaps you read in the news, early 2012, about a Canadian study that reveals the superior physical and mental fitness of mice fed full vitamin supplements with their regular food. To most followers of a healthy lifestyle, it comes as no surprise that given the combination of our nutrient-depleted food supply, erratic access to fresh food, and our challenged digestive systems, most of us will benefit from individualized vitamin supplementation to ensure the healthiest life we can have.
Have you ever been challenged to remember what you were just doing, or a name you just learned? As we age, we all suffer some degree of short-term memory loss. Severe memory loss adds untold stress and heartbreak to those impaired as well as their family members.
Makes 1 quart1 medium cabbage, green or red, cored and shredded1 tablespoon caraway seeds or celery seeds1 tablespoon sea salt4 tablespoons whey (if not available, use an additional 1 tablespoon salt)Grated carrots or beets for variety
I love chicken liver pate, and now I have a new favorite recipe. I usually make a double batch, one for the fridge, and one for the freezer, and almost always have some ready to eat. It’s my favorite quick healthy snack. I hope you enjoy it!
Makes 1 gallon3 quarts filtered water1 cup sugar4 tea bags of organic black tea1/2 cup kombucha from a previous culture*1 kombucha mushroom**
Seeds and grains (the seeds of grain plants) are specially designed to survive unchanged in nature until they land in a situation just ripe for starting a new version of whatever plant they come from. The vital nutrients for growth stay encased in a fairly impermeable shell until the seed arrives in a place both moist and slightly acidic, optimal growing conditions. Over a period of hours or days the shell is gently softened and opened and the activated nutrients enable the seed to grow.
Homeopathic remedies make a perfect first aid kit. With twelve simple remedies, you can help yourself or your family members heal from many common injuries and illnesses.
Most of us were brought up believing that fluoride is a magic bullet guaranteed to prevent cavities. Toothpaste and water supplies containing fluoride were considered a good thing.
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)1 lb organic chicken livers, preferably from pasture-raised hens1 yellow onion2 clove garlic1/4 cup red winesalt and pepper to taste
If you’re looking for an easy way to improve your mental and physical health, nutritional supplements could be the answer. New findings suggest that in addition to enhancing holistic mental and physical wellness, supplements could lengthen your lifespan. Though nothing can replace the benefits of organic food and exercise, nutritional supplements have begun their journey to becoming the best new medical break-through. No pain or nasty side effects included.
What Is Known About Coughs and Bronchitis Healthy Steps: Coughs & Bronchitis—First Steps Healthy Steps: Coughs & Bronchitis—Full Program Cough and Bronchitis Prevention From Dr. Deborah’s Desk Even when reassured that your nagging cough is harmless, the nagging part is no fun at all. Interrupting meals, conversations, and worst of all – sleep, a week […]
Nuts are a healthy food to add, here’s how to eat nuts that are healthy AND tasty. I recommend starting with good quality raw nuts and dehydrating them so they are crispy, delicious and free of harmful oils!
Makes 5 cups whey and 2 cups cream cheese2 quarts piima milkwhole-milk buttermilkyoghurt
Makes 1 quart1/2 cup good quality commercial plain yogurt, or 1/2 cup yogurt from previous batch1 quart pasteurized whole milk, non homogenizeda candy thermometer Yogurt is easy to make – neither a yogurt-maker nor a special culture is necessary. The final product may be thinner in consistency than commercial yogurt.
Makes 1 quart1 quart whole milk, preferably raw but not ultra pasteurizedabout 1/4 cup buttermilk culture*
Makes 1 quart1 quart fresh whole milk, non-homogenized1 Tbsp. starter culture
3 medium or 2 large organic beets, peeled and coarsely chopped
¼ cup whey (optional)
1 Tbsp. sea salt
filtered water
1 cup good quality cream1 envelope piima powder*Piima culture (also called vili or Finnish culture) is derived from the milk of cows that feed on the butterwort plant. Centuries ago, Scandinavian farmers discovered that milk clabbered better when their cows consumed this herb.
Makes 2 cups1 pint good quality cream1 Tbsp. starter culture
1 pt good quality cream1 Tbsp. commercial or whole-milk buttermilk or commercial creme fraiche European-style sour cream, called crème fraiche (and pronounced “creme fresh”) is a key ingredient to French cooking. It has a delicious flavor and is wonderful in creamed soups and sauces. In larger cities, crème fraiche is available at gourmet and health food stores.
2 medium onions or leeks, peeled and chopped2 carrots, peeled and chopped4 Tbsp. butter3 medium baking potatoes or 6 red potatoes, washed and cut up2 quarts chicken stock or combination of filtered water and stockseveral sprigs fresh thyme, tied together½ tsp dried green peppercorns, crushed4 zucchini, trimmed and sliced
1 whole free-range chicken or 2 – 3 pounds of bony chicken parts, such as necks, backs, breastbones and wings
gizzards from one chicken (optional)
feet from the chicken
4 quarts cold filtered water
1/2 tsp salt per quart of water
2 Tbsp. vinegar
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
2 carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped
3 celery sticks, coarsely chopped
1 bunch of parsley
2 quarts chicken stock1 cup brown rice1 cup finely diced chicken meat and/or chicken liver and heart (leftover from making stock)1 1/2 cups finely diced vegetables such as carrot, celery, red pepper or string beanssea salt or fish sauce and pepper
Water may be the most underrated and least understood substance in the universe. Water is the most abundant element on earth and inside our bodies, yet it is also one of the most mysterious.Every activity within the body occurs in a water-based fluid medium. Even the lungs and bones need water to function properly. That’s why drinking ample amounts of high-quality water is crucial to our health.
You know you should be drinking eight glasses of water a day, but what kind? Chlorine is by far the most widely used solution for removing bacteria and viruses from municipal water supplies. Your tap water may not be as innocuous as you think it is. Any number of harmful chemicals, heavy metals, and infectious agents may be dissolved in it.What We Really Know About Chlorine
4 cups almonds, preferably skinless, whole or slivered1 Tbsp sea saltfiltered water