We all know we should be eating vegetables every day. Dr. Andrew Weil recommends at least 4-5 servings of vegetables a day. You should think about making cruciferous vegetables one of those daily servings. Cruciferous (also “brassica”) vegetables include: brussels sprouts, kale, turnip, rapeseed, watercress, horseradish (including wasabi), cabbage, rutabagas, cauliflower, broccoli and even mustard greens. Cruciferous vegetables are named for the flowers of this plant group that are found in formations of four, like a cross or “crucifix”. Like many other vegetables, they are rich in fiber and antioxidants and vitamins. However, they also happen to contain a very important chemical called indole-3-carbinol. [Read more...]
Hawthorn
February 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Hawthorn is a plant that has been in use for many years. In traditional Chinese medicine, hawthorn berries were called shanza and were used for gastrointestinal complaints. Hawthorn is also used in making candied fruit slices, jam, jelly and wine. [Read more...]
Inflammation: The Slow Burn
February 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment
This is the second in a series on the roots of chronic illness. Last month we discussed oxidative stress and the little tornadoes of free radicals that go around damaging and destroying. This month we are looking at inflammation. Inflammation means fire within and consists of redness, heat, swelling and pain. Inflammation is painful but it is good and the body’s way of healing injury. [Read more...]
Psoriasis: Maybe the root of the skin problem is in your gut
February 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Psoriasis is an uncomfortable autoimmune skin disorder that can also increase the risk of depression, diabetes and heart disease. It affects people most often in the hot summer months. Symptoms include pain, soreness, and extremely itchy skin lesions on the elbows, knees, groin, and scalp usually with a silvery scaly appearance. Many people with psoriasis experience flares-ups that come and go over large or small areas of skin and can have affiliated joint pains. Psoriasis has been linked to excessive alcohol consumption, as well as smoking and environment/emotional stress. There is no “cure”, but there are effective ways of controlling flare ups/inflammation. [Read more...]
Co-enzyme Q10: Supplement Series
January 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a fat-soluble, vitamin-like compound that our bodies make. Levels of co-enzyme Q10 are highest during the first 20 years of life and decline with age. It is also known as ubiquinone because of its ubiquitous distribution throughout the human body. Co-enzyme Q10 is involved in ATP generation, the primary source of energy in human physiology. It functions as a lipid-soluble antioxidant, providing protection against free radical damage within mitochondria. Many of its therapeutic benefits are primarily attributed to these antioxidant effects and its role in the generation of ATP. It can be of benefit in a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including angina, congestive heart failure, and hypertension. In addition, it may be of value in musculoskeletal disorders, periodontal disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s, immune function in patients with HIV, migraine headaches, and obesity.
Glycemic Index: Nutrition Notes
January 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment
by Jennifer Lee, DO, MPH, DABFM
Glycemic Index is one way that we can assess how our bodies are processing the sugars in the foods we eat. A high glycemic index food is like getting sugar at higher bursts like getting lots of water from a water hose. A low glycemic index food is like getting sugar as you can handle it, like taking sips from a sippy cup. For example, a 100-calorie snack can have a low or a high glycemic index, but each snack provides 100 calories. However, your body reacts to each 100-calorie snack differently because the speed at which it is getting the sugar is different. It’s like drinking 1 cup of water, but you have the option of choosing to drink it from a sippy cup or a water hose.
Oxidative Stress: The Roots of Poor Health and Early Aging
January 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Roots of Poor Health and Early Aging
This is the first in a series of articles on the root problems of most of our chronic illness – diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, autoimmune disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic fatigue, Parkinson’s disease and early aging. Over the next few months, I will share with you how oxidative stress, inflammation, hormone imbalance, and toxins cause chronic illness and what you can do to prevent early aging and chronic illness.
Proteins: Animal vs. Plant
December 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
By Dr. Jennifer Lee, DO, MPH, DABFM
Protein is one of the primary components of your diet, along with fat and carbohydrates. But many people don’t know how much protein they need each day.
The answer does vary based on your activity level, but an average adult will need about 50 grams a day. Proteins should make up about 30 percent of your diet. [Read more...]
My Joints Hurt: Osteoarthritis and Integrative Treatment
December 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
By Dr. Marie Steinmetz, M.D., DABFM
Do your joints hurt? Are they stiff? You may suffer from osteoarthritis—the “wear and tear” type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is joint degeneration with a gradual loss of cartilage from the joint. Most often it affects the hands, knees, hips, and spine. Over 40 million Americans have OA. [Read more...]
Famous Holiday Herb-Frankincense (Boswellia)-Offers Year-Round Anti-Inflammatory Properties
December 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
By Dr. Jeanne Shiffman, MD, DABFM
This time of year, we hear of the Three Wise Men bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We all know what gold is good for, and myrrh is known as an incense, but what about the frankincense? [Read more...]
