March 29, 2022

Natural Approaches to Mild Depression

Summary: Antidepressants can significantly help people with major depressive disorders, but they typically offer little relief to people with milder forms of depression. If you’re looking for natural ways to cope with mild depression—or if you’re already on SSRIs and want to complement their effects—consider these nutrients and supplements. The occasional down day and even short stretches of the blues are a natural part of life. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that one-in-ten Americans (people ages 40 to 59 in particular) suffer from depression at one point or another. Seeking help to regain a more positive emotional balance is […]
March 28, 2022

Shoulder & Back Pain? Check Your Gallbladder!

Every now and then one of my patients will call me complaining of a kind of strange, uncomfortable pain in their right neck and shoulder blade area. Most often, they also don’t feel well either – a little nauseated, maybe a little stomach pain and don’t feel much like eating.  They wonder if they’ve gotten some kind of flu bug.   They’re often shocked when I tell them that it could be their gallbladder acting up and/or they may be passing gallstones! If this sounds like you sometimes, here’s what you should know about gallstones and gallbladder problems. Gallstones or Muscle […]
March 15, 2022

Do You Need to Take Supplements?

This month FoodTrients writer and nutritionist Ginger Hultin begins her four-part series on vitamins. Part 1 explores the pros and cons of taking supplements. If you have questions about supplements, we’ve got answers to this complex and sometimes confusing topic. The world of supplements is regulated in unique ways that can very much affect your health and pocketbook, too. Some companies offer health promises about supplement products that sound enticing but understanding what’s evidence-based and what isn’t can be a huge challenge. FoodTrients® is here to explore the good, the bad, and the ugly of the supplement world, if any […]
March 6, 2022

The Lowdown on Plant-Based Meat Substitutes

One of the hottest topics to come out of the world of food and nutrition was the broad introduction of plant-based meats, specifically patties that mimic beef burgers. Two companies, Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, are at the forefront of providing meat substitutes that really taste like ground beef. The question from a FoodTrients standpoint is: are these products more healthful than beef patties? Do they have what it takes to benefit your well-being? Who’s the Target Audience? First thing to know about these plant-based meat substitutes is that veggie burgers have been around for decades. Remember Boca® Burger and […]
February 19, 2022

Certain Foods Cause Overactive Bladder

If you’re like several of my patients, you may have an overactive bladder which keeps you running to the bathroom with an urge to urinate frequently. Some people have smaller bladder capacities than others and therefore naturally have to urinate more.  Other people may be eating certain foods that can irritate their bladder causing the need for them to urinate. I’d like to explain to you what some of these foods are and what you can do to minimize your “going” issues. Overactive Bladder – What Is It? Overactive bladder is a mild to severe condition that can not only become a […]
February 16, 2022

Hacks To Stay Healthy During a Pandemic

By Roberto Tostado, M.D. This pandemic has exposed our human fragility and compromised immunity from a steady diet of processed foods and a medical system that manages disease with drugs instead of healing with nutrition. We are vulnerable to infection, disease and death from this affliction of bad food and bad medicine. However, our quarantined existence can give us pause to reassess our habits and choices to create a healthier lifestyle for ourselves and loved ones and not consent to chronic disease and poisoned foods any longer. We have been weakened and debilitated by our own industries with chronic illness […]
February 12, 2022

The Caribbean Has a Delicious Spice History

The Caribbean region has long been described as a melting pot, with many cultures and ethnicities represented. The region is made up of over 700 islands, islets, reefs, and cays, and is home to more than 43 million people. The cultural diversity present in this region is reflected in its cuisine with influences from African, Creole, Cajun, Amerindian, European, Latin American, Indian/South Asian, Middle Eastern, and Chinese cultures. African culture has left a lasting mark in Caribbean history bringing music, dance, cuisine, and customs while the region was under colonial rule. This influence has undeniably shaped the Caribbean into what […]
February 10, 2022

Medicinal Mushrooms: The Top 5 To Fight Cancer

Mushrooms have been used for thousands of years in traditional cuisine and medicine. Medicinal mushrooms have many health promoting compounds that work to help fight disease and have been shown to have cancer fighting properties as well. Mushrooms have high levels of antioxidants which can help protect healthy tissues and prevent cell damage, that is a hallmark of cancer and how it progresses. Mushrooms also have immune boosting properties that can help improve the body’s response to stress, infection and other damage. They also have essential nutrients like special types of fiber, minerals, protein and vitamins to support optimal health. […]
February 3, 2022

Dr. Gupta’s Strategies for the Next Pandemic

Sanjay Gupta, MD’s latest book, World War C: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic and How to Prepare for the Next One, is a riveting description of Dr. Gupta’s experience of the pandemic from the day he first heard about it. He writes, “And when it became clear several months into the pandemic that COVID-19 was causing neurological deficits, from minor ones like temporary loss of taste and smell to more serious problems like stroke, dementia, and psychiatric disorders, my worlds of brain surgeon and medical correspondent came crashing together.” Dr. Gupta makes it clear that America (and most of the […]
January 29, 2022

Savory Flavors of Southeast Asia

This area of the world covers a large geographical area and many unique cultures that have some commonality of herbs and spices in their cuisine style. Southeast Asia actually includes 11 countries: Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Though there are important differences between all of these countries, and cultures within each as well, common culinary threads can be found in the food. This is a hot and humid part of the world and so lightly prepared dishes made of vegetables, rice and broth are staples. Flavors like citrus, mint, and other herbs offer […]
January 1, 2022

Eating Healthy All Winter

What is the easiest way to get in shape for your summer vacation? It’s eating healthy during the cold winter months and skipping the beach-body crash diets of years past. As soon as temperatures start rising, I see patients trying to lose the extra pounds that crept on around the holidays and stayed through the winter. I’m here to tell you how to maintain a healthy body with smart seasonal eating so you can avoid the summer diet panic. We all know crash diets are unhealthy and rarely effective. The key to healthy weight loss is replacing processed unhealthy foods with better […]
December 20, 2021

Holiday Fun With Sensible Drinking

It’s the holidays again and with them come all those holiday office parties, family get-togethers, and meeting friends for dinner and drinks.  It’s a season designed for fun and warm relationships with everyone you know.  Because of that, it’s also a time when many people are inclined to drink more alcohol than usual.  That’s why I’ve put together a list of 5 easy ways to stay healthy and get more fun out of your holidays by simply drinking more sensibly, or not at all! Let me explain what I mean. 5 Ways to Sensibly Manage Your Holiday Alcohol First of […]
December 8, 2021

3 Holiday Spices with Health Benefits

The fall and winter holidays are filled with traditional foods and dishes from cultures around the world and some of the most commonly used seasonings aren’t even native to North America. During the holiday season, it is common to see three major spices being used in a wide variety of recipes: allspice, cloves, and vanilla. Did you know that beyond their delicious flavor profiles and aromas, these holiday spices are packed with health benefits? Be sure to use herbs and spices to support your health goals this season. Here’s how to use them in the kitchen and for your health: […]