When was the last time you learned something new – just for the fun of it? In our latter years, we sometimes go long stretches without picking up a new hobby, sport or pastime, finding comfort in our day-to-day routine. But there are many health benefits to challenging the body and mind with new skills,… Read more »
Earlier this year, we introduced our “Eat, Drink and Be Healthy” column to offer savory substitutes to your favorite foods. We’ve featured salty snacks to replace chips, hearty veggie pastas, sugar-free ice cream sundaes — even sugar-free margaritas. But what if you’re simply not motivated to choose the healthier option? How do you find that… Read more »
So often, we go through life tending to our daily tasks, relieved when we finally complete our list. We come home, make dinner, relax with a glass of wine, catch up on our favorite shows and go to bed. We then wake the next day and do it all over again. But are we living… Read more »
Last month, I joined a virtual presentation by the Global Wellness Summit on the newest trends in wellness for cancer. Over 500 participants representing 59 countries registered to hear the international panel of integrative practitioners. Speakers included Mayo Clinic medical oncologist and lead researcher Minetta Liu, MD, functional medicine practitioner Johannes Wessolly, MD of the… Read more »
Can you guess the latest hazard to your mental health? The American Psychiatric Association now recognizes climate change as a growing threat to mental health. Climate change anxiety is associated with increases in aggressive behavior and domestic violence, increased use of alcohol to cope with stress, rises in hospital admissions for people with mental health… Read more »
Students hoping for admission to a nursing or pre-med program take note – grades matter! More importantly, “first attempt” grades matter most. Terri Burch, department chair of the California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) nursing program, explained that if you want to earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from CSUSB, you must… Read more »
Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1999 at the age of 36, I have learned that keeping a positive attitude, maintaining a sense of humor, and staying active are the best ways to combat my disease. Over the last 22 years, I have experienced 137 in-office neurologist visits and five telemedicine appointments, switched neurologists seven times… Read more »
Emergency Medical Technicians or Responders (EMTs or EMRs) play an integral role in the health care system and provide potentially lifesaving services to the public. This has become even more evident during the pandemic. The harrowing work of EMTs is commonly under-recognized and underpaid. Not only are they providing a life link for their community… Read more »
It’s estimated about 6 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s. The causes are still not clearly understood, but new research has found a possible link between the debilitating condition and periodontal disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly 50 percent of adults in the U.S. have some form of gum disease, and… Read more »
Have you ever noticed the red and yellow bulbs growing on cacti? Did you know that these colorful little gems are prickly pear, a nutritious superfood that grows abundantly in our desert? They sprout from the fantail cactus and ripen from July through September. However, they earn their name, and harvesting can be a bit… Read more »
This summer held a special place in my heart. It was a time of many memorable experiences and, notably trips with family, including my 87-year-old mom. I share my home with my mother; therefore, I see her regularly. I realized from recent summer trips, that even though I see her frequently, the current experience of… Read more »
There are many popular diets – Zone, ketogenic, Mediterranean, DASH, Whole30 and more. But what if you’ve tried these programs and still have health problems that fail to go away, or stubborn pounds that refuse to come off? You may need to try the lesser-known, but very effective, elemental diet. The main constituents of food… Read more »
The practice of self-love is a practice of falling in love with yourself. You may think it is merely a new age trend to try and overcome pain from our past or to reprogram our ancestral DNA; however, the concept has been around for centuries. It is a sacred, intentional practice that has been taught… Read more »
Do you have a best friend? I’ve known mine since we were in middle school. We’re two independent, intelligent, hipster women in their 60s raised in LA. You’d think we would have learned the fine art of listening to each other, but spending five days together last month showed us that communication is complicated, even… Read more »
Managing menopausal side effects is more important than ever, as it affects the quality of life in cancer “thrivership.” Many women and men face years of side effects from cancer treatment resulting from the surgical removal of ovaries and hormone deprivation therapy (tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, etc.) in hormone receptor-positive cancers such as breast, endometrial, ovarian… Read more »
When was the last time you checked your mood? How often do you ask yourself, “How am I feeling today?” Our go-to answers might be “I’m good” or “I’m fine,” protecting ourselves from feeling a much more uncomfortable emotion. The truth is there is no such thing as a “bad” emotion. Humans experience a spectrum… Read more »
Who doesn’t want better memory, more focus and enhanced cognition? What can we do naturally to enhance and preserve our brain function? From herbs and mushrooms to nutrients, I will discuss a few of the most common memory and cognitive support enhancers and why people are talking about these “nootropics.” Herb and extract perks Some… Read more »
Hidden chronic infections are common. They are likely a cause of many inflammatory autoimmune diseases and some Alzheimer’s disease. That is the opinion of Steven Phillips, MD, a Yale-trained general internist in Connecticut who became severely ill and recovered from Lyme disease. Dr. Phillips has dedicated his clinical practice to treating a wide variety of… Read more »
In August, I received a scary phone call. My mom was on her way to the hospital with symptoms of a stroke. Thankfully her symptoms fully resolved, and all of the testing showed no damage, but we were all shaken. One of my sisters asked the question, “What made this happen?” This question recurs over… Read more »
Due in part to the popularity of the paleo and keto diets, I am often asked by patients if they should avoid lectin-containing foods. The conversation is usually around whether the patient needs to forego all beans and legumes to achieve optimal health. Lectins are proteins found not only in plants but also in… Read more »