What is the first thing you do when you wake each morning? Start ruminating about your day. Check your phone for missed notifications. Scroll through the latest headlines. Ponder the needs of others in your household. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a good time for each of us to look within. What can we… Read more »
While May is Mental Health Awareness Month, recognizing the vital role mental health plays in overall well-being is an endeavor that extends far beyond a single month. Equally important is understanding the connection between nutrition and brain health. The foods you choose each day influence not only your physical health, but also your mental and… Read more »
Welcome! So happy you’re here. We’ve danced through yet another sensational season. Time to take a breath and relax a bit. The warmer months ahead mean fewer “must-dos” and more time to tap into what our minds and bodies need. What are you doing for yourself? I’m looking forward to my first five-day fast to… Read more »
The Santa Rosa Mountains glowed in soft morning light as I set out on the Bear Creek Oasis Trail, a hike I expected to finish, not one that would end with a helicopter evacuation. It was February, and the trail’s rocky washes and cactus-lined ridges were coming alive with winter blooms in purple, yellow and… Read more »
For 16 years, Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine (CVVIM) has provided high-quality primary care at no cost to uninsured adults. As the Executive Director of the nonprofit organization, I am often asked why our community needs a free primary care clinic. By focusing on prevention and ongoing care, our Palm Springs and Indio clinics help… Read more »
Clients often enter therapy questioning why they are in yet another toxic or dysfunctional relationship. My mantra is, “You’re either going to be it, or get into a relationship with it, unless you explore it.” People have a predisposition to that which is familiar. Thus, they may robotically repeat unhealthy mental and emotional behaviors until… Read more »
Palm Desert High School (PDHS) offers its students an incredible opportunity to explore their interest in the medical field through the Palm Desert Health Academy. This three-year program introduces students to health care education early, helping them build a strong foundation for future careers in medicine. The Health Academy prepares the Coachella Valley’s next generation… Read more »
In March, health care leaders, civic officials and business professionals gathered for the inaugural State of Healthcare Expo & Luncheon, presented by the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce. The event brought together key figures shaping health care across the Coachella Valley, providing an inside look at the priorities, challenges and innovations influencing the region’s medical… Read more »
Last week, I stood in my kitchen preparing curry chicken and vegetable soup. I had discovered a new recipe and had been craving it all day. The vegetables were chopped with care, broth simmering softly, sunlight stretching across the counter. But while cooking, I answered a phone call. Replied to an email. Scrolled briefly through… Read more »
One of Desert Health’s primary goals is to encourage readers to be their own health advocates. This includes “knowing your numbers,” which has never been easier with today’s health-tracking devices, such as smart watches and Ouro rings. Adding to those options is the emerging category of smart scales. Bathroom scales measuring weight have been… Read more »
“Holding space” has become a familiar phrase in today’s wellness conversations, often described as new or “alternative.” In reality, it reflects a long-standing human practice rooted in connection, observation and presence. Across cultures and throughout history, people have gathered to listen, witness, grieve and celebrate together. What we now call “holding space” is not a… Read more »
Have you ever drooled on your pillow while dreaming of dining? You may have experienced a healing food dream. It begs the question, “Why did I eat what I ate in my dream, and what does it mean?” Remembering dreams of food can improve our lives. If we are what we eat, then food has… Read more »
When we think about improving our health and happiness, we often focus on diet, exercise, sleep and/or finances. But there’s another powerful factor that is less obvious yet deeply influential. That factor is the people with whom we surround ourselves. Business philosopher Jim Rohn famously said, “You are the average of the five people you… Read more »
Our world is in no short supply of stress these days. And no matter how well we manage it, chronic stress (living in constant fight-or-flight mode) can damage the cardiovascular system, weaken the immune system, increase weight gain, accelerate the aging process, cause mental health issues and more.1,2 Once admired philosophies, like “burning the candle… Read more »
With high season behind us, a good spring cleaning is warranted. But let’s not stop at clearing out home clutter. Let’s also clear out the heaviness accumulated from many eventful months that can leave us feeling mentally foggy, bloated or fatigued. From a naturopathic perspective, spring is an ideal time for gentle “mental and physical… Read more »
When an interaction with someone is memorable, it is also engaging. It captures attention and creates a moment that lingers. The individual may not change, but they remember how they felt. When it is meaningful, it creates a connection. The person feels seen, heard and understood. Trust begins here. And when it is transformational, something… Read more »
Primary care in the United States is undergoing a significant transformation driven by rising costs, physician burnout and changing patient expectations. Traditionally, primary care has operated under a fee-for-service (FFS) model, where providers are reimbursed through insurance for each visit or procedure. While this system has long been the backbone of health care delivery, it… Read more »
Five years ago, family physician and functional medicine advocate Mark Hyman, MD, published Food Fix: How to Save Our Health, Our Economy, Our Communities, and Our Planet. That was a fairly positive book, loaded with solid recommendations for improving our food industry to promote healthier Americans and healthier people around the world. Although it received… Read more »
If you know me personally or follow me on social media, you know that Parkinson’s disease has had a personal impact on my life. In 2006, my beloved stepfather, John Yonushonis, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the young age of 58. His symptoms were so severe that he was forced to prematurely retire. Potentially the… Read more »
The environments we move through each day—where we live, work, eat and connect—play a powerful role in shaping our health. At Blue Zones Project (BZP), this idea is captured through the Life Radius model, which recognizes that well-being is influenced by the spaces within our daily reach. Lasting change happens when those spaces are intentionally… Read more »