March 14, 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 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 […]
February 13, 2024

Beginner’s Guide Explains Ayurveda

When Susan Weis-Bohlen came across the Ayurvedic cleansing technique of panchakarma, she could not have imagined how the wisdom of Ayurveda would take shape in her life. What began as the release of damaging toxins and personal difficulties eventually grew into an impassioned vocation to guide others in their journeys towards a healthier state of mind, body, and spirit. Ayurveda is a profound science with wisdom spanning so wide that it can be difficult to know exactly where to begin. As an Ayurvedic consultant, Weis-Bohlen helps those who are new to Ayurveda address this exact issue. In Ayurveda Beginners Guide […]
January 29, 2024

CBD: A Natural Remedy for Beauty & Health?

Though it’s long been used in ancient and traditional medicine, in recent years, cannabidiol (CBD) has become an increasingly popular natural remedy, attracting the attention of health and wellness experts in the U.S. and worldwide. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant, unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is psychoactive and causes the “high” associated with marijuana. See our new article on THC here! CBD is known for its potential health and beauty benefits, making it an appealing alternative to traditional treatments with chemical additives. It has been studied for its ability to reduce symptoms like anxiety, chronic pain, […]
January 29, 2024

Mark Bittman on Food: Sustainable to Suicidal

The story of humankind is usually told as one of technological innovation and economic influence—of arrowheads and atomic bombs, settlers and stock markets. But behind it all, there is an even more fundamental driver: Food. In Animal, Vegetable, Junk: A History of Food, from Sustainable to Suicidal, trusted food authority Mark Bittman offers a panoramic view of how the frenzy for food has driven human history to some of its most catastrophic moments, from slavery and colonialism to famine and genocide—and to our current moment, wherein Big Food exacerbates climate change, plunders our planet, and sickens its people. “You can’t […]
January 17, 2024

Unlocking the Health Potential of THC

The Cannabis sativa plant produces different chemicals that might play a role in improving your health. Three of these chemicals stand out for their possible medical uses: terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids. The two cannabinoids that scientists have studied the most are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) for health and beauty benefits. Unlike THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, CBD doesn’t get you “high.” It’s become increasingly popular as a natural remedy for various health and wellness concerns. For more information on CBD, check out this article. THC is the more psychoactive — and perhaps controversial — compound, but it has […]
January 16, 2024

5 Delicious Gluten-Free Slow Cooker Recipes

Gluten-free eating and cooking can be difficult, and once it gets cold outside, your options are even more limited. What’s an (aspiring) gluten-free chef to do? Break out your slow cooker. This is your secret weapon to tackle 3 of the biggest problems about making meals at home: convenience, health, and taste. Well, guess what: the slow cooker can make anyone look like a good chef. To show you the power of a slow cooker when it comes to gluten-free cooking, here are 5 of our favorite gluten-free slow cooker recipes, broken down to savory meals and sweet treats… Savory, […]
January 16, 2024

The Top 5 Teas for Fighting Colds and Flu

It’s clear that nutrition plays a key role in keeping your immune system healthy. You may be familiar with the classic immune-boosting recommendations of eating more citrus fruits, garlic and ginger, but have you ever considered the power of tea? Drinking tea on a daily basis has been proven to help boost certain aspects of your immune system which is so important as we head into cold and flu season. If you are already practicing healthy lifestyle habits such as exercise, adequate sleep, eating a balanced diet, staying home when sick and washing your hands often, incorporating tea into your […]