Inflammation & Immune

There are two primary types of sunscreens – chemical agents and physical blocks. “Physical blocks” sit on the surface of the skin. Typically these are not absorbed and have been shown to be non-reactive with UV light. Since they are not absorbed there is no concern about them building up in the body, being stored in […]

In the first article in this series we looked at some common skin complaints like acne, rosacea, skin tags, bump, wrinkles, spots and dryness. This article dives deeper into some of the underlying imbalances that cause these symptoms. The Gut Biome The balance of organisms in your intestines is analogous to a rain forest. Ideally […]

“Detox” programs are being promoted as a cure-all but they need to be approached with caution. There is no miracle remedy that will erase the results of years (or even weeks) of convenience food, rich restaurant fare and medications. If you have spent any time on the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) of coffee and bagels […]

At first glance this recipe might look like a dessert, since it calls for sugar. But this recipe uses sugar as a seasoning rather than a main ingredient. There is about 1 tsp of sugar in each 1/4 cup serving, which is a good sized snack. If you’re using it as a salad topping you’ll […]

Size does matter…the size of your plate that is. Let’s face it the Holidays can be an all out eating marathon. With work, friend and family parties it’s hard to find an event that DOESN’T include an oh-so-tempting smorgasbord of sugary confections. Looking for some simple methods to manage the madness and avoid stress and […]

My favorite recipe is 3 sentences long. I got it years ago from the newsletter that came in my weekly CSA* box, Two Small Farms. I laughed when I read it. It went like this: “Microwave 2 or 3 Butternut Squash. Saute lots of garlic and lots of onions in olive oil and butter. Add […]

Which Common Foods Contain Gluten? Gluten gives baked goods their doughy-ness. So it appears in many foods, some obvious and some not so obvious. So the list of foods containing gluten is a long one. Don’t be alarmed. Now that awareness about gluten-intolerance is rising there are many ways to make food gluten free – […]

Get your bowels moving! I’m not kidding. This probably isn’t something you talk about in casual conversation but it’s one of the basic bodily functions that has to be in working order for you to feel good. I don’t mean just from a comfort stand point. I mean: In order for you to be healthy […]

Remember that old wives’ tale about chicken soup being good for? It’s true – as long as you use a really good bone broth as a base. Bone broth is a one of the best ways of adding vital minerals and vitamins to your diet in a easily absorbable form. The minerals are essential building blocks […]

Are you frustrated that you’re not able to sleep through the night? Headlines tells us that lack of sleep increases the risk of heart disease, obesity and more frequent colds. So it is smart to find out all you can about getting a good night’s sleep. Trouble sleeping is a common complaint – affecting 69% […]

If you suspect you have a problem with gluten, in can be confusing to know how to find out for sure. Gluten Intolerance is not as black and white as once thought. It used to be thought that only someone with Celiac Disease needed to avoid gluten. Recent studies have confirmed what many individuals have figured […]

Yes, Angelina, there is a Cancer Cause… and it’s not your genes.   According to the National Cancer Institute the estimated risk of cancer from having a ‘faulty’ BRCA gene is likely to be inaccurate due to the way in which the studies were performed. The studies were on families with many individuals affected by a variety […]

I’m sure you know physical activity is a key ingredient to good health. What you may not know is that sitting for a long time is harmful to your health even if you are exercising regularly. Who is at Risk from Sitting Too Much? The typical adult in the U.S. sits for 6 hour per […]

Wondering what all the buzz is about gluten and if you should avoid it? Let’s talk about what gluten is and why it’s a problem for so many people. What is Gluten? Gluten is the large, sticky, complex protein found in several grains that provide the chewy, tender texture to bread, pasta and other flour […]

Is one of your goals this year is to improve your health? If so, you may have come across a trend called The Quantified Self. It is based on the Hawthorne Effect, the notion that we behave differently when watched. Put another way: when you track what you’re eating your choices become better. And when […]

With all the recent media hype about women choosing preventative mastectomies to avoid breast cancer, it’s hard to know what to believe, let alone what you yourself can do to prevent breast cancer. Surgical removal of your breasts in the absence of disease is a radical choice that’s not appropriate for the vast majority of […]

“The pill” is the most commonly prescribed form of birth control, but some doctors prescribe it for other common conditions related to hormone balance.   Birth control pills have been classified as carcinogenic by The World Health Organization. The pills with combined estrogen and progestin (as well as combined-hormone HRT), specifically, have been labeled as […]