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

More Homemade Salad Dressings

Blackberry Balsamic Vinaigrette

2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp local honey

1/3 cup blackberries

 

Process all the ingredients together in a blender and then season with ground pepper and sea salt

The beauty of this recipe is that you can substitute just about any berry as well to mix up the taste

Basil Vinaigrette

2 Tbsp. of White wine vinegar

1/4 cup of avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp. of Dijon mustard

1/3 cup chopped fresh basil

 

Process all together in a blender and season with fresh ground pepper and sea salt — This recipe is also great because you can substitute any fresh herb of choice — parsley/ rosemary / thyme etc

 

 

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

Pumpkin Chai Smoothie

Here’s a throwback post that is certainly appropriate for this October weekend.  This smoothie matches the season and will be a great way to start the lovely fall day.
Thanks to Smoothie Queen Amy for this great recipe
I can’t wait to make this Pumpkin Chai smoothie! It’s like the marriage of all my favorite things.  It’s around 400 calories, so it’s definitely a meal replacement at this serving size. Here’s the recipe.

Blend the following:
1 1/2 cups milk, or milk alternative (I use almond or coconut because the protein is kickin’)
3/4 cup cooked pumpkin

1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp. chia seeds
2 Tbsp. coconut sugar
1/4 tsp Vanilla bean
1/2 banana
If you’re a person who likes to know the calories in something you can add them up in no time flat using this FitClick’s “how many calories” link. Just type the food you’re wanting to know about in the search area. And from there you can choose specifics. It takes less than 5 minutes to add up a smoothie’s worth of ingredients.

http://www.fitclick.com/how_many_calories

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Posted on by Angela in Body, Diet, Nutrition, Organic, Weight Loss, Whole Food 1 Comment

Tara’s Story

Tara’s Story

When I turned 30 years old I weighed in at 348lbs; clothes were getting harder to find and more expensive, and my life was getting difficult to manage. When going out to eat we had to have a table because I could not comfortably sit in a booth, my stomach hit the steering wheel when I drove, and at family gatherings, I often sat on the floor in the corner so no one had to navigate around me. My depression and anxiety were getting worse and, as a previous nationally competing athlete, I was disgusted with myself and how I was allowing my health, and weight, box in my life.

After attempting every fad diet plan, ‘cleanse’ and losing a few pounds only to gain them, and some of their friends, back, I was giving up. Then Dr. Angie had me watch a TedTalks video about a high fat, low carb diet and provided me with literature to go through. However, I knew after the video that this high fat, low carb (or Keto) diet change would be manageable. I still got to eat cheese and enjoy meat!

After 6 months, I have lost 60lbs and continue to lose weight even though I am not super strict all the time. When I want something, I have it, but in moderation. I do not beat myself up for slip-ups, or cheat meals. Not only am I am able to sit in booths again, I have started to enjoy shopping, my mental state is better than ever and my body is starting to feel like my own again. My weight no longer controls me.

I still have a long way to go, but I know I will get there.

This is the video I shared with Tara— There are many more that explain the theory of the ketogenic/ low carb/high fat diet.

I love seeing patients make changes that don’t involve pharmaceuticals!!

Share any of your own weight loss adventures in the comments below– and please call or message me if you want more info!  You can contact me at the office (317) 217-2626, email at doc@angelamd.com or contact me thru my Angelamd Facebook page.

Congrats Tara!  You are such and inspiration and I am so excited to continue to watch all your health improvements!

Posted on by Angela in Body, Call to action, Diet, Guest Blog, Nutrition, Organic, Weight Loss, Whole Food 1 Comment

Sunscreen Madness

It’s that time of year again!!!  This weekend the heat wave should begin so it’s time to pull out the SUNSCREEN for all those outdoor activities.  I know I’ll be at the softball fields trying to hydrate as my daughter (8) rounds out her season in the big tournament !!  Go Wildcats! 

I highly suggest visiting the Environmental Working Group’s website to check your sunscreen’s rating for toxicity —-SKINDEEP

I also found a new free app for my smart phone called THINK DIRTY

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— it rates all your bathroom products on a scale of 1-10 (10=dirty) based on the toxic additives in them.  This is a great app because you can scan the products at the store before you even buy them and get a good read on how “clean” they are.  Remember your skin is your largest organ so what we put on it is just as important as what we eat!

 

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First of all,  why do we need sunscreen?  We all know that the UV rays from the sun can be harmful but why?  Free radicals –these are generated as a byproduct of UV exposure and different environmental toxins.  OK OK –what does that mean?

Let me explain a Free Radical (an unpaired electron) in terms that might actually make sense.  In a nutshell, let’s say you and your spouse decide to go to a dinner party with several other couples.  Because you are empathetic and loving, you decide to bring recently divorced cousin Joe to cheer him up.  Unfortunately, cousin Joe is slightly depressed, drinks a few too many Sun King’s, and hits on everyone’s wife!  EEK! CHAOS ensues and healthy paired couples are broken up!  Cousin Joe is a free radical!  He is a toxic cell that breaks apart healthy paired cells and reproduces with them chaotically to cause disease.

So the free radicals caused by UV light and environmental things like pollution will break down collagen and elastin in healthy skin which provide structural support –this triggers premature aging and even skin cancer.

So sunscreen blocks about half of the free radicals in the skin that can be generated from the sun.  However many of them contain chemicals that can cause other issues and actually do nothing to protect us from other environmental toxins.

Not only do many of the sunscreens on the market contain chemicals like Oxybenzone (EEK) but many of their advertised SPF levels have been debunked —Most SPF levels max out at about 50.

So what is bad about oxybenzone?

 

Oxybenzone— is from a class of ketones called benzophenones.  It is used to absorb UV light in plastics, nail polishes, cosmetics and hairsprays.  This is how it protects from UVA and UVB in sunscreen.

Here is the real problem with oxybenzone—it is an endocrine disruptor!  Remember that nasty BPA that you find in plastic bottles and on receipts:  that is one of those bad guys too.  It acts like estrogen in the body.  And you know how important hormonal control is for overall health –you need all those hormones just at the right levels.  I don’t know about you, but I already wig out when I have PMS–I really don’t need anything else jacking with my hormones.

Retinol Palmitate — is a form of vitamin A.  It is used in many products to slow signs of aging.  However, when it is exposed to sunlight, it can cause harmful effects (liver damage, thinning of the bones etc).

The EWG (environmental working group) has a great website called SKIN DEEP —you can search for a product on there and actually get a rating on how toxic it is.

Unfortunately, many of the top brands are on their NOOOOOO list including:  Coppertone, Banana Boat and even Neutrogena!

There are a few brands that come out on top—you can find a full list on their site but here are some names that I recognize:

Arbonne, Bull Frog, Burt’s Bees, Earth’s Best, Jan Marini, MD Skincare, The Honest Company

 

 

What else can I do to protect my skin?

Well, can you guess it involves eating some healthy food!

Certain antioxidants in some foods not only offer a level of natural sunscreen, they also have the ability to grab up those free radicals and protect the cells from oxidative damage which can lead to cancer.

The following foods will help protect your skin from sun damage

Green and White Tea—these have polyphenols that can slow inflammation

Blueberries— one cup contains tens of thousands of antioxidants

Black Plums –almost 5k antioxidants in these

Dark Veggies —- radishes, tomatoes, kale, parsley, yellow peppers, squash, yams, purple cabbage

Walnuts –are rich in omega 3 fatty acids which reduce inflammation

 

Comment below on your experiences with sunscreen or other skin care products — we would love to hear since we are all in this together!!!!

Have a great weekend!

 

 

Posted on by Angela in Body, Diet, Nutrition, Organic, Supplements 2 Comments

Spice It Up!

If the only spices you have in your cupboard are salt and pepper, it is time for you to “Kick it up a notch!”  Cooking with fresh herbs not only makes adds fragrance, color, and curb appeal to your dish;  but, it enhances the flavor.
I never used fresh herbs because the dried herbs seemed simpler and less expensive, but it’s cheap if you plant your own herb garden.  Spring is the perfect time to do just that!  This year, I decided to start my garden from seeds indoors and it has been much cheaper.  I only have my spinach in the ground as of now.  Here are all my early vegetable starts–radish, pepper, tomato, zucchini, cucumber, onion, beets, squash—
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and here are my herb starts—
basil, dill, cilantro, rosemary, chives, oregano, thyme, mint
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Here is how easy it is to start your own herb garden…..AND FUN!  Here are just a few of the most commonly used herbs:
Rosemary:   My personal favorite.  It is an annual (have to replant it each year), but can grow from late May thru August.  It can flourish with little watering and even though it prefers full sun it can tolerate slightly shady areas.
Basil:  It is also an annual, but once it “takes off” there is no stopping it.  Plant it in various stages.  In other words, plant one or two in May and then another in June and maybe even July.  You can never have too much basil.  At the end of the season, you can take what is left before the first freeze and make pesto sauce.  (I will tell you how to do that later, when we get to that point.)  Basil needs lots of sun and normal watering.  The most important thing to remember is to always take from the top.  You never want it to flower, so keep pinching the tops off.
Chives:  Yea!  Chives are a perennial (comes back without replanting) so if you get a good base and established roots, they will come back time and time again.  Chives are a gimme.  It likes sun, but can tolerate it at dusk or dawn.  For best results you should divide your root “clumps” every 2-3 years.
Cilantro:  Not so easy and personally I think the hardest herb to grow.  It too, is an annual.  Plant it in early spring.  It does great until the end of May and then dies off.  At that point I go to market and buy it at a dollar a bunch.  Not worth the headache at that price.
Dill:  It is technically an annual. However, I have seen dill “pop-up” throughout my yard via the seed that float through air after the season is over.  It is pretty easy to grow.  Like Rosemary, it prefers sun, but can grow in the shade.
Mint:  It is a perennial and will take over your entire yard.  Therefore, I would recommend growing it in a pot or other controlled environment.  Especially, since I don’t know very many uses for it other than it is fabulous in juicing and beverages/desserts.  It likes sun, shade, rain, no rain….beware.
Oregano:  Is also a perennial that needs to be controlled or it will turn into fragrant ground cover.  Now while there are several more uses for oregano, you need to be sure to keep it contained year after year.  Like mint, it requires no TLC and is happy to get what it gets in hopes of being “picked” for that next marinade.
Parsley.  It is a perennial.  It is one of the most commonly used herbs.  In fact, it is probably the only one that most people use fresh or regularly with salt and pepper.  I always keep it in my garden mainly for color.  It honestly costs about $ .75 a bunch at the store.
Sage.  It is a perennial that demands little care.  Most importantly, at the end of the season, cut the stems and split the roots periodically through the years. It likes sun or shade.  Are you beginning to sense a trend….perennials are a piece of cake!
Thyme.  Last but not least.  It can come back, but it does demand care.  It is a slow-growing herb so it’s only request is to keep weeds and all other herbs AWAY!  It needs its space.
Posted on by Angela in Diet, Green Living, Guest Blog, Nutrition, Organic, vegan, Weight Loss, Whole Food Leave a comment

Diminishing Returns!

I love some of Dee’s older posts that are so insightful on how we are brain washed into thinking we need to eat so much.  It is a complete attack on all of our senses— 

Dee writes:

 

Our wonderful country has transformed into one in which many fortunate citizens are overindulged, overstocked and overfed. I see so many kids who have such an air of entitlement. Many of us use money we don’t have to buy things we don’t need. There is this great sense of getting more, needing more, wanting more. Restaurants and fast food chains jump right into the game of giving us what we want. When you look at a commercial for, lets say, a pancake house you can see exactly what I mean. First, they give you the price of something-99 and then you see the combo – stack of pancakes, two kinds of meat, two eggs and a side of home fries. All of this is for one person. This is such a common assortment of food and it is set up to please every part of the palette, that we really don’t stop to realize that the Grand Slam could easily satisfy the hunger of three or four adults. I know that when I am presented with the option of such a meal, I act before I think…I don’t want to do without the potatoes, and the savory, salty, crispy bacon tastes so great; it all goes really well with scrambled eggs and then there is the warm, fluffy texture of melt-in-your-mouth pancakes – a wonderful symphony of food. The truth is, I’ve had MANY weekday breakfasts that consisted of one hard-boiled egg. And that was a sufficient bit of food to hold me over from morning until lunch. But when we have all of this bundled into one fine presentation there are a couple of things that food marketers use to sabotage our senses. First, there is the “value” catch. For $2, I can order one egg but for another $1.50 I can make it a sandwich with cheese and bacon and for a total of $5 bucks, it comes with tater-tots and a small OJ. So I might have only wanted or needed one egg, but I choose the whole lot. Second, there’s the waste factor. Now that I’ve ordered all of this food, at a bargain price, I need to eat it all as to not waste it. I may have realized I’m full after barely starting to consume the meal, but there are only two alternatives once it’s in front of me – throw perfectly good food into the garbage or eat it.

Now back to the title of my blog, “diminishing returns.” Wouldn’t you say that the very first bite of a piece of chocolate cake is the best bite? The second one is pretty good, and maybe the third. By three bites your mouth is very happy and has had a good chance to fully experience the great flavor. The more you eat, the less fabulous the taste. While the flavor is still good, these subsequent bites from number three to clean plate are really somewhat mechanical, you just keep going and going until the food is gone without the ability to savor the dish as you did with bites one through three. If you order a meal at most restaurants, get a carry out container right up front to box half for another meal. You’ll be amazed to see how many double portion meals you get and how full you feel after only eating half.

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

I killed it!!!

So after beating myself up last week for the Epic Kroger fail— I decided that meal planning was a must on the weekends.  It’s just too busy during the week to be a superhero.  I made the Panera copy cat egg / avocado/tomato breakfast sandwiches (sans bread) and had some healthy dinners.  We managed to eat well despite softball games and band practice.  This last weekend was perfect for meal prep as well because I was able to prep quite a few meals and watch an entire season of “Beat Bobby Flay” at the same time (dang-that guy aways wins).

So here is how this weekend’s prep started:

These suddenly became a Pinterest Win!  (Most of my Pinterest creations are a little sad)

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Yep —you got it !!!! Salad jars!  Some dressing at the bottom to keep them fresh and they became lunch for the week.  They surprisingly stay really fresh!

NEXT—

A Mediterranean Chicken Casserole :

We ate it for dinner (even the kids liked it) and then I took leftovers for lunch-  it was uber easy my friends!

 

1  Whole Organic Pastured chicken (can bake or boil)–or a cheat is to buy the healthiest rotisserie chicken you can find

1 can of black olives rinsed well and sliced

1 can of artichokes rinsed well and sliced

1 carton of organic grape tomatoes

1 handful fresh chopped organic spinach

2 chopped organic zucchini

1 TBS of primal kitchen avocado mayo

(add a dash of lemon juice to keep avocado from browning)

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat your oven to 350—

Combine all the ingredients and place in a baking dish — then cook covered 25-30min until hot —

VOILA— easy peasy dinner is served —

NOTE:  You can use the HOMEMADE MAYO recipe found HERE -as well.  I was just lazy.

You can order the primal avocado mayo here or find it in the Angela MD store off the home page of the blog along with other supplements and books I recommend.

As always– leave me some comments below on any new make ahead recipes you have found!  I love your feedback and participation.  We are all in this together!!!!

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

Safe grilling!

Grilling is a great way to eliminate fats and oils while preparing meats and veggies. Plus it’s a fun way to stay outdoors to eat and cook. Disposable plates mean you stay out of the kitchen completely.
FoodFacts.com would like to discuss grilling season.
With grilling season just around the corner, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last month released a pamphlet with grilling tips for the safe preparation of foods.
E-coli and salmonella are two of the most well-known and common food-borne illnesses in existent, and both illnesses are often contracted through the incorrect preparation of foods. This is especially common in the summer, when grilling is a common means of cooking and the heat outside is high, resulting in a higher chance of bacteria growing within food. So how can you keep you and your family safe during this fun, but risky, time?
It all begins before you even begin cooking, with proper cleanup and preparation of your work area. Cleaning your food items is also a must, specifically fresh fruits and vegetables.
The means in which you transport your food is also important, and transporting foods in an organized manner could be beneficial. Keeping your cold foods cold, specifically in a cooler with the temperature at 40°F or below, is necessary for preventing bacteria growth. Keep the coolers closed, and don’t cross-contaminate foods such as poultry, seafood and raw meat.
What about the actual grilling process, though? How do you keep your foods safe?
When grilling, it is important to marinate your food safely – keep it in the refrigerator, rather than the counters or outside. Keep already grilled food hot until it is served. Also, and this is very important – cook food thoroughly. To find out proper cooking temperatures, please refer to the FDA link at the bottom of this blog. Finally, when cooking, keep utensils separate to prevent cross-contamination. It might be a good idea to wash utensils after each use to be extra safe.
So, folks, there you have it. Separation, refrigeration, and proper cooking temperatures are the basics.

With that said, we’re wishing you a happy and healthy grilling season from FoodFacts.com!Another note from Dee: if you use a liquid marinade, be sure to discard it after use, do not put it back on meat that’s been cooked. Remember, it was in close contact with the raw meat and should be treated that way. Here’s the FDA link: FDA.

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

Got Juice? My First Experience with a Juice Cleanse

I’ve been wanting to try some sort of detox since the beginning of the year but have struggled deciding what exactly to do. I was definitely scared to do a detox and was afraid that I would be running to the bathroom between patients.  But, I decided that I would take the chance because I felt like I needed to replenish my body with nutrients and get a fresh start to the year.  After trying to find time on the weekend to make enough juices to last me for 3 days, I realized that just wasn’t an option at this time with my busy schedule.  I decide to go with the 3 day beginner’s cleanse from Natural Born Juicers right down on Mass. Ave.  I was able to order the cleanse online and then drove down to the store to pick them up.  It was a little pricey but how do you really put a price on good health?  Cancer can get pretty expensive too!

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Day 1
1. Light Greens
2. Grapefruit, Apple, Lemon
3. Ultimate Greens
4. Alkalized Spicy Lemonade
5. Sweet Beet
6. Live Sprouted Almond Milk

Day 2
1. Light Greens
2. Grapefruit Mint
3. Ultimate Greens
4. Alkalized Spicy Lemonade
5. Happy Heart
6. Almond Milk

Day 3
1. Light Greens
2. Spring Cleaner
3. Ultimate Greens
4. Spicy Lemonade
5. Fomo
6. Almond Milk

 

I started it last Sunday.  Sidney, Emma, and I trucked down to Mass Ave to fuel up before shopping at Target for some curtains for Emma’s newly painted room.  I dragged them alone to make sure I didn’t chicken out.

First of all, all of the juices were uber tasty!  I’m not a fan of beets and that ended up being my favorite juice.  Day One went fine, I was a little hungry around dinner time but was able to stay distracted and the “almond” juice felt like a nice little dessert before bed and filled me up.  Day Two, wasn’t quite so easy.  I went to work feeling a little weak and drained.  I felt as though I was recovering from the flu and actually had to break down and eat some raw veggies (cucumber, carrots, broccoli, and beets) for lunch–(Shout out to the garden cafe at IU West).  In retrospect, I don’t think I had been drinking enough water.  By Day Three, I was feeling great and wasn’t hungry at all.  I actually felt like going another 2-3 days but didn’t want to push it.  I was a little gassy but was not in the bathroom all day.  My bowels seemed pretty regular and there was no abdominal discomfort.  Overall it wasn’t the worst experience I’ve had in my life.  I would say waking up in college at IU after a night at Kilroy’s outranked this by far.

I’ll try it again and will maybe go for a more advanced or even longer cleanse.  My skin seemed clearer and what was really funny is that the whites of my eyes seemed really bright by Day Three.  They seemed normal before but by Day 3, they were glowing!!  Not to mention, there was a sense of accomplishment from challenging myself and stepping a little out of my comfort zone.  I hear that place where all growth happens.  We will soon see!

Eat those VEGGIES!  or in this case–Drink them!

Check out their website by clicking HERE

and for more information on the benefits of juicing —check this LINK

 

Posted on by Angela in Body, Diet, Green Living, Nutrition, Organic, Weight Loss, Whole Food 1 Comment

Blue Apron

One of my dear friends and patients sent me an email with a suggestion.  She has been ordering meals from BlueApron.com to accommodate a busy lifestyle without compromising a fresh homemade dinner for her family.  I decided to give it at try!  I looked over the menus and decided that they were very diverse and probably recipes that I would never try on my own.  Therefore – it presented a challenge which immediately sparked my interest.  So I forked out the money and was in for the first week!!

Here is how all of the ingredients arrived—all packed on ice in a tidy Earth friendly box delivered directly to my doorstep.  I was able to select the day that I wanted my first two meals to be delivered.

IMG_2233 IMG_2234 IMG_2311KINDA EXCITING –HUH!!

All those little containers with the labels printed were kinda cool! Each recipe had the exact number of ingredients and portions all the way down to little tiny bags of the right amount of fresh herbs!!  I felt like it was Christmas Morning!   Each meal comes with a large laminated card outlining all the ingredients with pictures of the complete plated meal and then step by step instructions on how to prepare it (with pictures of each stage).  It was virtually impossible to screw it up.  The first meal looked intimidating but I forged ahead.

Coconut Chicken and Kale Stew with Ginger Rice

It actually turned out GREAT!

Watch out Giada–here I come!

 

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Here was the second meal!

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Roast Pork and Smashed Potatoes with Apple, Walnut and Goat Cheese SaladIMG_2322

 

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Not too shabby if I do say so myself!

Check it out at Blueapron.com  and see what you think —you can do two or four portioned meals.

@blueapron

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