Recently, I’d been having a hard time finding a local, reliable source for organic bulk culinary spices so I decided to try ordering some online from Mountain Rose Herbs. When my package arrived, I was thrilled to open each spice packet, smell all the mouth-watering scents and spend the time refilling my spice jars. To […]

Could it be low blood sugar??   There are those lucky people who actually feel hungry when their blood sugar dips but many people experience a host of much more subtle symptoms throughout the day.  The list of common symptoms of low blood sugar (ie, hypoglycemia) includes fatigue, brain fog, irritability, headaches, anxiety, depression, insomnia […]

Have you ever seen a lion stalk a herd of wildebeest searching for the skinniest one with the least amount of fat? In the natural world, fat is a prized commodity. It is calorie dense, allows longer satiety because it burns slowly and provides needed nutrients not found in other food types. Humans have been […]

“You tell me to eat well but where in my day am I supposed to find the time to actually make this happen?” This may be the question I most frequently hear from patients. Given that our lives are so busy yet eating well is essential to optimal health, here are a few tips to […]

It seems that everyone is going gluten-free these days. As more and more products labeled gluten-free appear in grocery stores, many people are buying these “healthier” products without really knowing what gluten means.

Well, in case you don’t know, gluten is a protein found in certain grains such as wheat, barley and rye. In gluten-sensitive people, it can cause inflammation and immune imbalance.

The word antioxidant is thrown around a lot, but what exactly is an antioxidant? In order to understand antioxidants we must first understand free radicals.

Free radicals are like little explosives that float around the body starting fires and causing damage to cells and DNA. Free radicals are produced in our bodies to fight infection and are designed to kill bacteria, viruses and other foreign materials. When inflammation becomes a persistent state as it is in diabetes, heart disease and most of today’s chronic diseases, it leads to the constant production of free radicals. Without a bacterial cell to destroy, these free radicals turn to our own cells. This is called oxidative damage and is associated with things like cancer, atherosclerosis, autoimmune disease and aging.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.- Aristotle I’ve heard it said that 21 days must pass before a new behavior becomes habit. Other sources cite 7 repetitions as the magic number before the transition from struggle to ingrained function occurs. Whatever the magic formula, changing habits […]

On an almost daily basis I imagine what my life would be like if I were “That Person.”
The one who maintains all of the good habits, keeps the house organized, goes to the gym every day, goes to bed at a reasonable hour and takes vitamins and supplements on schedule.

I compare myself to That Person and say to myself, “If only I were as organized I would be happy.” At that point I take a deep breath and remind myself that although I may not be a paragon of perfection, I am smart and resourceful and have a passion for a healthy lifestyle.

Following this conversation with myself for the nth time, I committed to working with respected coach Dr. Sydney Metrick, who specializes in personal organization. My hope was that I could learn some strategies for maintaining all of the healthy lifestyle habits that I value so much.

One of my favorite Sesame Street characters was singer-songwriter Don Music. He composed songs like “Mary Had a Bicycle” and “Whistle Whistle Little Bird.” He often struggled with lyrics and in his frustration he would bang his head on the piano keys, moaning, “I’ll never get it! Never! NEVER!”

Ever feel this way about your healing journey? You put in the effort, you’re feeling happy and healthy, and then suddenly things kind of fall apart and you feel like crap again?

With Halloween behind us, we have officially entered into the holiday season. The days are shorter, the nights longer and cooler. Our clocks have changed. Social commitments are up and our adherence to dietary protocols is likely down.

The abundance of activities during this time of year threatens to knock us out of balance and push us back into a state of ill-health/dis-ease. Here, then, are a few tips to help you make it through to 2014 as healthfully as possible.

Fall has arrived and with it, the harried months of November and December, when our lives become even busier than they usually are. It seems that all around us is an overabundance of articles on how to stay healthy through the winter and holidays, as well as a plethora of invitations to parties, Thanksgiving feasts […]