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 »
Have you ever wondered why you react the way you do, and still find yourself reacting anyway? You know the pattern. You’ve reflected on it. You can explain it clearly. And yet, in the moment, your body tightens, your thoughts race, or everything goes quiet before you can intervene. This isn’t a lack of insight;… Read more »
Throughout history, many physicians have emphasized the importance of energy and frequencies in healing. In his book, The Body Electric, Nobel-nominated researcher Robert O. Becker, MD, states that “healing is fundamentally an electrical and energetic process at the cellular level.” Harvard-trained integrative pioneer Andrew Weil, MD, co-authored the book Self-Healing with Energy Medicine. These theories… Read more »
In an era where health care often focuses on treating illness after it appears, a growing movement seeks a more proactive path. People are looking for ways to understand their body’s unique language, to spot imbalances before they become problems, and to guide their journey toward sustained vitality. This is where an ancient practice, revolutionized… Read more »
Hormone health is a major pillar of functional medicine. Without healthy hormones, your overall health will be compromised. Let’s take a look at hormones that should be monitored and how each contributes to overall well-being. The thyroid runs our overall “motor” and autoimmune hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s) is the most common of all autoimmune diseases. I have… Read more »
Daily discussions about artificial intelligence seem to paint an image of both friend and foe. Given its tremendous power to reshape our world, it is important to understand this tool and its place within an overarching strategy for health and wellness. Artificial intelligence (AI), and the large language models (LLMs) such as Claude, Chat GPT… Read more »
Peptides have exploded onto the wellness sphere, spearheaded by the use of GLP1 medications for diabetes and obesity. These drugs made over $40 BILLION in 2024! However, peptide therapy dates back to 1921, with the development of the first peptide, synthetic insulin. Over the years, therapeutic peptides have been developed for a range of conditions,… Read more »
As I witness my patients in the last decades of life, I observe that weakening immunity is a major factor for health decline in advanced age seniors. How do we maintain a healthy immune system? In addition to a healthy diet, an active lifestyle, and a diverse gut microbiome, exposure to viruses and vaccines is… Read more »
As we all sit down to draft our New Year’s resolutions, let us be mindful that our health is our greatest asset. As you dream of a prosperous 2026, full of adventure and personal growth, remember that these will be made possible on the foundation of good health. Too often, we take our health for… Read more »
Your digestive system is like a food-processing machine. After all, it is responsible for breaking down your meals, absorbing nutrients and eliminating waste. It’s home to trillions of microorganisms; it contains its own nervous system and communicates directly with your immune system, metabolism and your brain. That’s why it is so important to look after… Read more »
When it comes to health, many underestimate the “power of the plate.” However, scientific evidence on food’s ability to hinder or heal continues to grow and is now referred to as the Food as Medicine Movement. Today, that movement is larger than ever. For 15 years, Desert Health has published articles about the effects of… Read more »
When I consider what the healthiest diet is for us, I think biologically. To fully understand current human biology, it helps to understand our evolutionary biology. Daniel Lieberman, professor of evolutionary biology at Harvard has distilled this complex subject in his 2014 book, The Story of the Human Body. He traces our evolution from chimpanzees… Read more »
Heart disease has been the leading cause of death worldwide for over two decades; more specifically, ischemic (coronary) heart disease, which accounts for over nine million deaths annually.1 However, while annual screenings for certain types of cancers are recommended for everyone, heart disease screenings are only recommended for high-risk individuals, leaving the decision for screening… Read more »
In September, clinicians, researchers and advocates from around the globe gathered to explore how food functions as medicine at the International Plant-Based Nutrition Healthcare Conference (PBNHC). Four immersive days featured industry leaders along with the latest science and breakthroughs proving the power of nutrition and the purpose of compassion in health care today. PBNHC has… Read more »
The Morph Device, AKA P.E.N.S. (Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation), is an FDA-approved electrical nerve stimulator that offers real hope to individuals struggling with chronic pain or opioid dependence. Designed to fit behind the ear, the compact device uses gentle electrical impulses to stimulate areas deep within the brain. This stimulation can significantly reduce pain levels,… Read more »
Do you find yourself anxious often or perhaps anxious in certain situations? You are not alone, and finding ways to calm your mind can really help. Anxiety is a complicated mental health disorder that requires a wide range of approaches to manage it effectively. Lifestyle changes, including nutrition, can help, as there are foods that… Read more »
Each year, I return to City of Hope in Duarte for my annual follow-up after successfully receiving cryoablation for my early-stage breast cancer in 2019. This year, I was ecstatic to see the many changes incorporated with the completion of The Cherng Family Center for Integrative Oncology. Integrative oncology combines standard medical treatments with more… Read more »
If insults that degrade the brain are replaced by healthy nutrition and lifestyle, is the brain capable of healing, similar to other organs? Contrary to conventional thinking in neurology, Dale Bredesen, MD, gives a resounding “yes.” Dr. Bredesen, a research neurologist, has a series of cases dating back to 2014 when he published his first… Read more »