April 9, 2024

Embracing Elderhood: A Plan for Longer Life

Finally! A practical guide to walk you through the process of planning for a longer life. Using her years of experience as an Elder Law and Estate Planning attorney, and the personal lessons she learned walking her own parents through this process, Laurie Menzies explains, in practical terms, the best way to plan for this stage of life. Her book, Embracing Elderhood: Planning for the Next Stage of Life, does not provide answers to the crisis of aging—instead, it offers options that are available both to the families with the foresight to plan, as well as to those who made […]
March 27, 2024

5 Ways to Prevent UTIs and Improve Bladder Health

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common and can be quite uncomfortable and even dangerous to your health. They occur when bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), enter your urinary tract and multiply in your bladder, causing an infection. The most common symptom of a UTI is a burning sensation when urinating, but other symptoms can include bloody urine, abdominal pain, fever, and the need to urinate often or urgently. Women are more likely to experience UTIs than men, with more than half of all women experiencing a UTI at some point in their lives. The role of diet in […]
March 27, 2024

Probiotics May Improve Your Quality of Life

Probiotics are trending as a hot topic this year because these good bacteria are gaining more scientific evidence that they support human health. Linked to aiding gut health and supporting good bacteria in the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract, probiotic foods are growing in popularity. Read on to learn more about the role of probiotics in your health and how to include them in your diet today. Probiotics are live organisms used to increase good bacteria in the lower gut. Common probiotics include lactobacillus, bifidobacteria, and saccharomyces which are all strains that can be found in a variety of foods you […]
March 12, 2024

12 Ways To Practice Happiness Daily

On a quest to achieve richer fulfillment in your life? While happiness may be relative, there are actions you can take every day to keep your mind positive and your body at its best. Here are 12 happiness activities to exercise daily, excerpted and adapted with permission from the book The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky. 1. Express gratitude Bolsters self-esteem; encourages moral behavior; diminishes feelings of anger and bitterness. Strategies: Keep a gratitude journal. Express gratitude directly to someone else, either in person or by writing a letter that you can send or keep. 2. Cultivate optimism Prompts […]
February 26, 2024

CRP: A Critical Marker of Inflammation

Have you ever wondered how you can know if you have inflammation in your body or not? Inflammation is a natural process in the body that’s critical to healing from a wound or illness but if left unchecked and chronically high due to irritation from a poor diet, lack of sleep, a sedentary lifestyle, underlying chronic disease, or high levels of emotional stress, the body can experience long-term, damaging inflammation. To determine if you may have systemic inflammation, a C-reactive protein (CRP) blood test is a simple way to see if you might have high levels of this protein that […]
February 26, 2024

The Top 5 Medicinal Mushrooms for Immunity

Top 5 Medicinal Mushrooms for the Immune System Many mushrooms are known for their nutritional and medicinal purposes but did you know that they’re also powerful supporters of a strong immune system? Multiple studies have shown that mushrooms possess benefits such as antioxidant, liver protective, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, and even blood sugar lowering properties, but emerging research highlights the unique ways they help protect the body from viruses and bacteria. Studies speculate that mushrooms may be the answer to many health challenges people face — including supporting healing — and can be developed into functional food or medicine for preventing […]
February 13, 2024

How Many Hours of Sleep Do You Really Need?

I have a retired 64 year-old patient, I’ll call him Bob, who tells me that he never sleeps more than 5-6 hours a night and that he’s always up with the sun, full of energy for his active retiree day and never gets that mid-afternoon sleepy slump.   He’s doing well, has no major health concerns, and this amount of sleep seems to be working well for him. Another patient I have, I’ll call her Ellen, 46 years-old, working full-time every day as a busy legal secretary, tells me she’s a zombie unless she has at least 9 hours of sleep a […]
February 13, 2024

TOP Supplements for Your HEART

February is not only a time to celebrate love and relationships but it is also American Hearth Month. This important theme helps to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease including stroke. The good news is, though heart disease affects many people and is the leading cause of death for Americans, that your risk can be lowered by up to 80 percent by making good diet and lifestyle choices. Important factors for heart health: Manage your stress Exercise regularly Focus on sleep Consume alcohol in moderation Meet with your doctor to discuss labs and testing to monitor your health Eat heart healthy […]
February 13, 2024

Top 10 Anti-Viral Herbs To Curb Colds and Flu

As cold and flu season approaches again, ways to support the immune system are top of mind. Aside from healthy lifestyle habits, there is evidence that some herbal preparations can ward off viruses that commonly occur in winter months. Important factors for supporting the immune system and avoiding viruses this winter season: Exercise regularly Focus on sleep Manage your stress Consume alcohol in moderation Wash your hands often Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains If you have the foundation of these healthy practices down, you may be wondering what else you can do to support […]