Finding a New Primary Care Doctor

A Big Thanks To Leslie at Wellparents.com for this great advice Thanks to Leslie at Read more

The Rollercoaster of Life

Grandma: "I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like Read more

Sheltering at Home/Covid 19

Never in the last two decades of my career as a physician would I have imagined that we would be using the same mask to see patients all day and then sterilizing/recycling them at the end of the day. Read more

Turmeric Health Benefits

Have you ever wondered what the paste is applied to the bride and groom's faces and arms in Indian weddings?  It's actually the spice turmeric.  Turmeric is the ingredient in curry that gives it a vibrant yellow color.  Actually, Read more

COVID 19 Precautions

With the scare of COVID here in the USA now, I wanted to post a little info about boosting immunity to prevent contracting the virus. Here are some important facts about Covid-19 It is spread by contact with Read more

Natural Tips for Avoiding Colds

This cold and flu season is still upon us and unfortunately, many patients are still being plagued by these nasty viral symptoms.  Here are a few tips to try if you feel like you are coming down with something. Of Read more

Sherry's Story

Sherry has a great story.  She has been diabetic for years and she has made some massive changes!   "I have been on a lifestyle change. It has been a year following a ketogenic food plan.  When I started this journey Read more

Pharmacy to Farmacy

Many of you may know Erin-- the fabulous Pharm D that worked in our office a few years back.  Erin is a phenomenal gal and we embarked on the journey  into natural medicine around the same time.  As we both Read more

Diet

Herbs for Thyroid Help

So that tiny little gland just below your neck is responsible for regulating metabolic processes—The Thyroid–Did you always think that you might have an under active thyroid?  Did you realize that the range that determines thyroid activity on lab testing is huge and isn’t the most accurate measure of thyroid function?  Here are a few herbs that improve thyroid health and you can learn more HERE.

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Here are five herbs that are beneficial for thyroid health:

1.  Licorice -this herb maintains balance among glands and has been shown potentially inhibit growth of highly invasive thyroid cancer cells

2.  Bugle- may be effective in alleviating symptoms of hyperthyroidism

3.  Ashwaganda- this herb has antioxidant properties that help the thyroid produce hormones.  It also helps the body fight stress and has anti inflammatory effects.

4.  Flaxseed – rich in essential omega 3 fatty acids helps boost thyroid hormone production

5.  Black Walnut – considered one of the richest sources of iodine which is an essential nutrient for the thyroid

05fcecbd8b84eae588d8cc061f446864Don’t forget that this weekend THE THYROID SESSIONS begin–all of the top thyroid experts gather to give free information on everything your doctor didn’t tell you about thyroid problems!!!  (Not this doctor)  Make sure you sign up HERE considering it is Free and will give tons of need to know information.

Posted on by Angela in Diet, disease, Nutrition, Whole Food Leave a comment

Who do you believe?

So a really interesting topic came up yesterday after the WTHR Health Expo. A few nurses in my office were discussing all of the conflicting advice that they received at the Expo. Some booths offered holistic healing ideas, some had supplements, some had procedures ETC. They even heard demonstrations stating that there isn’t a difference between natural,organic products versus non-organic/processed products. This raises an interesting question. Who do you believe? I opened an email from the Natural News today that addressed that exact question and I felt it pertinent to share. They wrote an interesting article explaining an easy way to tell the difference between good and evil. It’s about understanding the spectrum of power and making decisions on empowerment versus control.

http://www.naturalnews.com/040122_control_empowerment_philosophy.html

I don’t want to plagiarise because the key points are obvious:

1. What does the person giving you the information stand to get from it?
2. Does the information benefit you without consequences?
3. Is there monetary gain involved?

I think you can measure a lot of relationships in this fashion.  It’s about straight up good versus evil. Trust your gut and go with what you feel is right. The person with the tribe that is on the right track–doesn’t really expect much in return for empowering you with good information.874bbe55e42a6801631b1008f4515f33

Posted on by Angela in disease, Nutrition, Whole Food 1 Comment

Ziti Casserole

imagesHere’s a sneak peek at Sunday’s WTHR Health and Wellness Expo recipe!  Patients submitted their favorite recipes to be reviewed and revamped with healthy substitutions.  This Baked Ziti recipe will be featured at the Fresh Eats Stage.

Ziti Casserole

Ingredients

  • butter
  • 16oz ziti
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 1 cup chopped bell pepper
  • ½ cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1 jar of spaghetti sauce
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • salt and black pepper
  • 4 cups shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese

Healthier Ziti Casserole (Prepare this Recipe)

Ingredients

  • cooking sprayimages
  • 16oz 100% whole grain ziti
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1 cup onion
  • 2 cups bell peppers
  • 1 package sliced mushrooms
  • 1 jar spaghetti sauce
  • 1 can low-fat cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 can no salt added diced tomatoes,
  • black pepper (no salt)
  • ¼ cups shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese

Here are a few other tips and substitutions.  Be sure to use extra virgin olive oil cooking spray and not canola or vegetable.  All the veggies would be healthier if they were used fresh rather than canned.  The cheese is much healthier if you grate it yourself from a brick as the pre-shredded cheeses often have extra preservatives added.  If you are gluten intolerant–you could substitute a gluten-free noodle.  If you are real adventurous, you could make your own ziti noodles using almond or coconut flour.  Try and by organic brands if possible.  And, of course, it’s best to get your ground turkey from a local farm.  We can’t all do these things as they are expensive and more time-consuming.  Remember any little change you make to be healthier counts!  Baby steps!

 

 

 

Directions:

  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Instead of greasing your pan with butter, coat a 13x9x2 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
  2. Cook pasta according to package directions.
  3. Coat large skillet with cooking spray instead of using olive oil.
  4. Brown ground turkey. Add onion, bell peppers and mushrooms and sauté until tender.
  5. Stir in spaghetti sauce, low-fat cream of mushroom soup and no salt added diced tomatoes. Stir until sauce is heated through. Add pepper to taste.
  6. Spread pasta in baking dish. Spoon sauce over the pasta. Top with cheese.
  7. Bake for 20-30 minutes until hot and bubbly. Top with parmesan cheese.

 

Recipe reviewed by Indiana University Health Registered Dietician, Julie Pike.

 

Posted on by Angela in Nutrition, Whole Food Leave a comment

Health and Wellness Expo

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Smoothie recipes, juicing recipes and revamping our favorite comfort by making them healthier.  Yes– that is the plan for this Sunday, April 28th at the WTHR Health and Wellness Expo.  I’ll be there with all my buddies showing you how to make some delicious recipes and even letting you sample them.  Yes–the Iron Chef Ninja Skills will be in full action.  Of course I am kidding!  This full-time working mom of 4 daughters has zero technique on Bobby Flay.  I’m going all out this Sunday and hopefully won’t make a fool of myself.  We will be making a healthy version of the classic Baked Ziti and attempt some juicing and smoothie techniques.  We have tons of tips and it should be fun.  Check out my interview with Angela Cain advertising this below.  Please keep in mind that I was sweating bullets under those lights and that I am a doctor–not a TV personality!  There are real reasons that I didn’t go into a field that required any public speaking!  I have an incredible respect for these reporters that can speak so eloquently impromptu!  See you there !  Game on wellness warriors!  This is your chance to learn a ton about health and wellness for free!  Green Bean Delivery, Trader’s Point Creamery and many local businesses will be there;  that’s not to mention that  Andrew Luck, Guiliana and Bill Rancic , and many other health conscious celebrities are attending!  Bring the kids–there are tons of activities for them as well.

 

 

 

13 WTHR Indianapolis

Posted on by Angela in disease, Nutrition, Uncategorized, Whole Food Leave a comment

Homemade V8 Juice

I love V8 Juice–my mom made me drink it every morning before school.  (Thanks Mom).  It was the perfect combo to my usual breakfast of chocolate donuts!  I think of the commercial “I should have had a V8!”  as I peel the little label off that can!   This last weekend, the kids and I went on a mission to reproduce a V8 juice using our new juicer.  Don’t get me wrong– V8 from the store is incredibly better than soda or an artificial reproduction of a fruit juice.   Please don’t feel judged if you do drink it–it’s a great choice.  We just needed a project.  It certainly became a project quickly (Imagine a 5-year-old cramming veggies in a juicer at lightening speed)  and it turned into a real ordeal.   It’s amazing that we survived with fingers and kitchen intact.

Fooducate gives it a B rating so no–it’s not all that bad.  However – please note the Maltodextrin, Salt, Flavoring???, and Ascorbic/Citric Acid. in the ingredient label.  That is way more ingredients than we like to see!  TOXIC!.

Maltodextrin is made from starch,  primarily corn in the US .  Maltodextrin applies to any starch hydrolysis product containing less than 20 glucose units.  It serves as an artificial sweetener in most foods in which it is added.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/502241-the-risks-of-maltodextrin/#ixzz2QTR6RTCd

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Here is a list of the V8 juice ingredients -the store-bought version–

Tomato Juice From Concentrate (Water, Tomato Concentrate), Reconstituted Vegetable Juice Blend (Water and Concentrated Juices of Carrots, Celery, Beets, Parsley, Lettuce, Watercress, Spinach), Maltodextrin, Salt, Ascorbic Acid, Flavoring, Citric Acid.

Here are our homeade ingredients:

Our Homemade Version–

• 6 medium-sized carrots
• 1 small beet (washed thoroughly)
• 3 large tomatoes
• 1 red bell pepper
• A bag of baby spinach
• 1 green bell pepper
• ¼ slice of sweet onion
• 3 stalks of celery
• ¼ head of fresh cabbage
• Half clove garlic
• Kale leaves, chili pepper and salt to taste

 

Unfortunately, ours turned out quite palatable but had a very unpleasing brown color–Let me know if you try this and have better results.  (I’m not posting the end product for that reason)

Posted on by Angela in Diet, Nutrition, Weight Loss, Whole Food 2 Comments

Dr. Oz’s Green Smoothie Recipe

So I have a young healthy patient that suffers from terrible migraines!  He travels yearly to an institute in Michigan that specializes in the treatment of migraine headaches.  He takes abortive medications almost 6 days a week.  Even the best specialists in the field haven’t been able to cure him of these terrible headaches.  (Cue the drum roll)—He changed his diet and he has had several months of migraine free success!  He started with a 1 week juice fast using Dr. Oz’s recipe.  And then followed specifically with an anti-inflammatory diet.  This includes no artificial sweeteners, no gluten, no dairy, and no caffeine.  Here is his favorite GREEN JUICE from Dr. Oz.  I rocked it out with my new juicer this weekend and am loving it.  Even Sidney (13) and one of her girlfriends drank it this weekend!!!

2 cups spinach

1/2 cucumber

1/4 head of celery

1/2 bunch parsley

1 bunch mint

3 carrots

2 apples

1/4 orange

1/4 lime

1/4 lemon

1/4 pineapple

He still follows a diet that includes many fruits, vegetables and no processed foods—Who would believe that one man could cure himself of chronic pain and disease by just eating healthy!  If you suffer from migraine headaches–I would encourage you to try one week of the following diet just to see if it helps.  Hopefully, we will get his testimonial soon and I’ll be posting his experience and his migraine logs.

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Posted on by Angela in Diet, Nutrition, Whole Food 3 Comments

ShopNoGMO

 

What is a GMO?

A GMO (genetically modified organism) is the product of a lab process that takes genes from on species and inserts them into another species to attain a desired trait.  Viruses or bacteria are used to infect animal or plant cells with the new DNA.  The DNA is coated with tiny metal pellets and shot into the cells.  Then, the new DNA is injected into fertilized eggs and electric shocks create holes in the membranes of sperm forcing the new DNA into the holes.  Although, no research on humans has shown detrimental effects from eating GMO foods, numerous studies on animals have shown immune damage, pre-cancerous cell growth and many unexplained anomalies.

4 Tips to avoiding GMO

1.  Buy organic–labels saying 100% organic or made with organic ingredients

2.  Buy Non GMO–labels saying “artificial hormone free”

3.  Avoid high risk ingredients–corn, soybean, canola, cottonseed, sugar beets, corn syrup

4.  Download shopping guide and get the app “ShopNoGMO”—a great app with plenty of good information and specific products to avoid.

Posted on by Angela in Body, Diet, Exercise, Nutrition, vegan, Whole Food 2 Comments

Now this makes me happy!

I recently got an email from one of my fabulous compliant patients.  She had an ALCAT test done to check for food sensitivities about 4 months ago and this is the testimonial/update that she has graciously allowed me to share with you.  I love when patients take responsibility for their health and really get better!!!

 

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” I have continued faithfully on my new way of eating and still feel great! I have less pain, fewer to no headaches, little to no inflammation, more energy, more mental clarity, and while I don’t believe I’ve lost any additional weight, I certainly haven’t gained any…and that is without regular exercise. 🙂

Here’s how I believe I’ve been able to be successful at staying on the plan:

– The ALCAT test proved most helpful, because I think it could take a lifetime of trial and error to figure out foods that may be hurting. The list of low, moderate, and high intolerant and list of acceptable foods are wonderful guidelines for eating in a way that helps rather than hurts. When people ask me about this, they invariably want to know what I’m no longer eating, but I must reiterate to them, that the test is the ONLY way to know for sure if a food/additive is bothering them. This highly customized view of things keeps me away from FAD/TREND diets or food systems that are based on points, counting calories, portions, etc. I think this is difficult for people to grasp, but eating foods off MY acceptable list and either abstaining or keeping to a minimum the intolerant foods helps me feel better; feel satiated, and therefore, I don’t worry about calorie counting or portions.

– When I started eating differently, I kept a journal. I think I wrote down about everything I put in my mouth for 120 days. This helped keep me on target especially with trying to eat five times during the day. I still struggle with that, but because I’ve changed the WAY I eat, I no longer worry about over-eating or consuming empty non-nutritional foods when I do feel really hungry.

– My family, friends, and co-workers have been super supportive. I’m surprised by how some of my family members will actually ask what I can eat so they are sure to have something for me when inviting me over for a meal. They’re all used to me making menu substitutions now, too, and I don’t get crazy with it. For example, yesterday I went to Applebees after church. I ordered grilled chicken with onions and mushrooms, but it also came with veggies (carrots, broccoli and squash) over red potatoes (which are a no no for me). I asked to leave off the potatoes, so they gave me extra veggies instead. YUM! I do the same thing with salads.

– And finally, realizing that I wake up more easily, have less pain, and don’t miss those cyclical headaches keeps me on track. I do NOT want to go back to feeling so terrible all the time. I’ve had a couple of headaches since being on the plan, but they have been much less severe and do not last long. I used to get headaches that lasted for days and were just brutal. I still have some pain in my hands each morning, but it’s possible that’s from years of typing/using computers. I don’t have near the pain throughout my body as I used to, and I don’t have the “heavy” feeling anymore. That one’s difficult to explain, but sometimes I just felt heavy, and I was getting depressed about it. I feel much lighter these days, literally and figuratively. :)”

food allergy

Thanks girl!!!  Love it and keep up the good work!  Thanks for sharing as you are an inspiration to other patients.  Please contact me or Michelle 317-217-2626 if you are interested in ordering an ALCAT test for yourself —there is more information on the ALCAT page of the blog.425352_10150688992766282_2072045193_n

Posted on by Angela in Body, Diet, disease, Guest Blog, Nutrition, Weight Loss, Whole Food Leave a comment

Do I have to buy organic? The Dirty Dozen

Sure, we would all love to buy everything we eat organic and process free, but who can afford that in today’s economic times.  I struggle with the issue of spending so much on food especially if it isn’t all eaten before it goes bad.   If you are buying veggies on a budget, try to go organic for the Dirty Dozen foods.  These top 12 are known to be grown with the most pesticides.  The rest you can probably get by not buying organic.  Regardless, any fruit or vegetable (organic or not) is still better than that McDonald’s cheeseburger so don’t spend too much time worrying!

Peach

Apple

Bell Pepper

Celery

Nectarine

Strawberries

Cherries

Kale

Lettuce

Grapes

Carrot

Pear

Posted on by Angela in Diet, disease, Green Living, Nutrition, Organic, vegan, Weight Loss, Whole Food Leave a comment

Free Macbook—Whaaaaaaat?

So you all know about my man crush, Sean Croxton, from http://www.undergroundwellness.com.  This guy is the nutrition guru!  He interviews top experts in the field of wellness and then podcasts his interviews for free.  He is genuine and has massive integrity!  He introduced a free Macbook giveaway over the last few weeks to the person with the best photo of #JERFING-(AKA – Just Eat Real Food) .  Well, the  AngelaMD wellness warriors are all about eating real food so we decided to enter the contest.    We were under the gun last night to submit a photo after finding out that my oldest daughter’s computer died.  She is in desperate need of a new one for this semester’s classes at a local college (she is studying to be a social worker).  The Henriksen family rallied and produced these hilarious and somewhat ridiculous photos.

Sidney’s idea of JERF

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Emma’s idea of JERF

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The actual photo we submitted —

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Just Eat Real Food!!!!

Posted on by Angela in Diet, Green Living, Humor, Nutrition, Organic Leave a comment