With summer heating up and the kids out of school, it’s the time of year for fun in the sun. Hiking, picnics at the beach, afternoons at the pool. It’s a time of watermelon, frosty cold beverages, barbeques, and lots and lots of sunscreen. It sounds like a fun and it can be, but it can also be a time of extreme toxicity. How?
The trees are in bloom, the days are longer, temperatures are rising, and this can only mean one thing, ALLERGY SEASON. Yes, with the lightness, bounty and joy that is spring also comes a darker side in the form of runny nose, watery and itchy eyes, and a massive increase in the use of allergy medications. You will be happy to know that there are many alternatives to medicated nasal sprays and pills. Let’s first examine why so many people suffer from seasonal allergies. Continue Reading »
Recently I participated in a panel dicussion with PICKKA, an online health product advisor. Soon they will launch a health-based application for the Iphone and other smart phones. The disucssion was on the current obesity epidemic among youth. There is a movement to educate parents and children and change policies, so that children are nourished not harmed by eating school lunches every day. Below are questions for future discussions and my responses. Please pass this on to parents, teachers, aunts, uncles, etc. This is a grass-roots movement, and the more people who are aware the quicker that the next generations will have a chance to live without all the depression and illness that accompanies obesity.
The holiday season is upon us, and it is a time of friends and family, and FOOD. Lots and lots of food. Between office holiday parties, gatherings with friends, or a trip back to the family, huge amounts of food and drink will be consumed. This is wonderful as people gather and enjoy the bounty with their loved ones. There is also another side to this time of year. Often the food being consumed is full of sugar and processed ingredients, and there is generally too much of it. Also, many people become stressed from the pressure of running around to buy the perfect gifts to the tension families sometimes have. The good news is that it is possible to go through this time of year keeping stress to a minimum while enjoying delicious, nourishing food and drink. How can I stay healthy and happy throughout the holiday season? Continue Reading »
When I was growing up there was a genre of people who shopped in health food stores, juiced wheat grass, and ate tofu instead of meat. At the time they were on the fringe of nutrition, yet this vegetarian lifestyle was considered to be one of the healthiest ways to be. Somehow I found myself at the door of the health food store learning how to prepare tofu. I kept on this path for about 10 years. Like many others I assumed this was the healthiest diet available. Plus I was saving the animals destined to be meat from certain cruelty. Then a funny thing happened, I went to nutrition school. I learned that perhaps being vegetarian was not for everyone and that fake meats are actually highly processed. Perhaps my diet wasn’t serving me as well as it could be. What did I learn that swayed me? Continue Reading »
The buzz on the streets in every corner of this country is about health care. Yes, we need big improvements to make the system function better. On every level I believe we do need change. Instead of discussing all the usual problems and solutions, I’m going to talk about a different solution, one that I am not hearing much about. Prevention! Yes, preventative health care. If people knew how to take better care of themselves, then they wouldn’t need to fill so many prescriptions and visit their doctors so frequently. Continue Reading »
Miracle pills, fad diets, and magical supplements will make you younger, skinner, and happier. This type of marketing is all around us, from tv, radio, and print ads to multi-level marketing companies, all guaranteeing to be just what you need to make your life better. Sure it would be wonderful if there was just one drink, pill, or diet to make us gorgeous, charming, and content for life. The truth is that improving health and feeling young comes from eating right, exercise, and managing stress. Sure this does not sound as easy or fun, but it’s tried and true and won’t let you down in the long run.
I am often asked what does Nutrition Evolution mean? The concept is that in order to evolve (move forward) we need to look to the wisdom of the past. There was time when people grew their own food, took herbs as medicine, and lived with nature. There is a great irony in that we thought adding technology would thrust us into the future, and make us healthier and happier. The problem is, that future consists of eating food that was created in a lab instead of coming from nature. That future also has people popping pills for everything from restless leg syndrome to toenail fungus. Some would say well, why is that a problem?
These days there is a lot of controversy surrounding a little bean known as soy. The countless products made from this bean used to be consumed mainly by vegetarians, but now soy can be found in everything from fake meats to baby formula. Soy is an inexpensive protein, and it can be processed in a variety of different ways. Some years ago it was being promoted as the perfect food for everyone from children to menopausal women. While it’s true that soy does have health benefits, there is also a darker side. Just like with any food, moderation and quality are crucial to the effect on health. I get asked many questions about soy, including: How much soy is safe to eat? and What forms of soy are best?
You’re sweet as sugar, honey bunny, sweetie pie… Our kindest terms of endearment for one another refer to our love of all things sweet. As children, many of us eagerly awaited the best part of any meal, dessert! Some of us even had a “sweet tooth,” or even a full blown sugar addiction. At the time it didn’t seem like a big deal. The worst I heard was that sugar causes cavities. Now we know that sugar is addictive and can lead to hypoglycemia, diabetes, hyperactivity, anxiety, obesity, and much more. To make matters worse, ultra-processed high fructose corn syrup has been included in most modern sweet treats. Artificial sweeteners aren’t the solution because they are also toxic for the human body. So, what kind of sugars are preferred?
