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

Body

Vitamin K 101

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Recently, I have been recommending a Vitamin K2 supplement to those of you with risk of osteopenia (bone thinning) or osteoporosis (bone loss).  I thought I would share a few of the basics on why I think this supplement is essential.

Vit K basics:

In nature, Vitamin K comes in two forms.  Vitamin K1 is found in free leafy vegetables

Vitamin K2 is found in organ meats, egg yolks and dairy products.

Vitamin K is essential in manufacturing blood clotting proteins.  In addition, it plays a vital role in keeping calcium in the bones instead of in the arteries.

The majority of research has been done on Vitamin K1 and its role in clotting ( all you coumadin/warfarin users are well aware of this).  Clinical trials show that Vitamin K2 is an important inducer of osteoblasts ( the bone building cells)  Recent studies show that Vitamin K2 may be as effective as prescription drugs in reducing the incidence of bone fracture in post menopausal women.

The nitty-gritty:

1.  Calcium is essential for good health.  However, Vitamin K2 is an important regulator of calcium and can prevent aberrant calcium metabolism in the body leading to cardiovascular disease.

2.  Insufficient Vitamin K2 leads to decreased bone mineral density which causes osteoporosis and cane actually increase the risk of heart disease.

3.  Studies in Japan show that Vitamin K2 in can substantially improve osteoporosis when given in prescription form or in the dish NATTO which is rich in K2

4.  Even small amounts of K2 helps fight heart disease by keeping calcium out of the arteries and preventing plaque.

 

Optimal amounts of Vitamin K2 are still under investigation but it seems that roughly  180-200 micrograms may be helpful.  It is estimated that 80% of Americans do not get enough K2 in their diet which is similar to the deficiency of Vitamin D we are now seeing here in America

 

Foods Containing Vitamin K2

Fermented foods such as natto or veggies fermented with a starter culture of K2  –Note miso and tempeh are not high in K2

Grass-fed organic animal products

Goose liver pate

Certain cheeses such as Brie and Gouda (75mcg/ounce)

3d rendered illustration of the human heart

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

Liver Detoxification

Steps to Detoxify the Liver

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Step 1

  Remove toxic substances from the diet –this includes sugar, grains, processed foods, and especially conventional meat and dairy  (these are loaded with antibiotics and hormones that will completely disrupt your GI system)  These set up a perfect storm to create a leaky gut.

Step 2

Add detoxifying herbs to your diet

Milk Thistle 100mg twice a day

Turmeric 500mg twice a day

Step 3

The liver is said to hold toxic emotion according to Ancient Chinese medicine.  Specifically the liver holds, anger, resentment and frustration.  Many suggest writing down people in your life that you hold these emotions towards and work on forgiveness.  A counselor may be helpful with this.

Another practice that may be helpful is practicing Gratitude by writing down things you are grateful for on a daily basis

Step 4

Consume Liver (Yep–I said liver)

Famous physicians Dr. Gerson and Weston A. Price studied this and found that consuming liver on a regular basis is excellent at detoxifying the body

You can buy local chicken livers at your farmer’s market and throw them in the crock pot with chicken breasts, celery, carrots, onions and vegetables

If you just can’t bring yourself to eat real liver, you can buy desiccated liver at your local health food store

Step 5 

Drink warm or room temperature water with fresh lemon as an early morning detox

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

Paleo Diet Hoax

I was listening to the healthy gut summit presentations today and they touched upon a very important point that I think needs to be addressed.   That point is that the Paleo diet is a hoax?   There are many different Paleo diets and frankly -none of them are anywhere close to what our paleolithic ancestors would have eaten. We see two schools of thought; those that call it a fad diet and those who honestly believe that it is the cure for a significant number of diseases.

There doesn’t seem much doubt that it is a fad diet.   As a society, we tend to latch onto the latest diet trend that’s been presented and most of us don’t understand the underlying fundamentals of the diet research (if there are any).  We treat a fad diet as all or nothing and perceive that it should be suggested for an entire population of people.  This simply isn’t true.  There’s no diet that is actually good for everybody.  Think about different climates and daily environments we exist in are highly variable. This is no different from in the Paleolithic era.  The type of foraging, meat and vegetable consumption greatly depends on the of availability of the plant life, and the climate and animals in the area.  Research shows that some of our Paleolithic ancestors did eat grains and legumes.  Just look at mortar and pestal from that era that were obviously used to grind down grains.

The Paleo diet is a great diet for one reason –it cuts out all processed foods. This diet is a whole,real food-based diet. Whether were eating more meat or cutting out legumes, we are vastly improving the plant-based component of our diet and cutting out junk carbs.  I can’t argue with that.  The biggest point I make is that our society’s food supply is based on processed foods that are stripped of the vital nutrients and minerals. So is any Paleo diet actually Paleo?  NO of course not.  You wouldn’t have seen a caveman walking around carrying a Paleo Kind bar.  The berries, seeds, and vegetables that were forging for are nowhere near the equivalent of the berries we buy at the supermarket. 

Here’s a great presentation based on some real science of what Paleolithic ancestors were actually eating. 

 Just you watch this quick TEDTalk that is a thorough evaluation of why the Paleo diet is a hoax.

 No single diet is good an the entire population people. There many factors that come into play.  Our gut microbiome is incredibly important as well.  We are just now beginning to discover  this huge complex microrganism community that plays such a huge role in our immune health. I do like the Paleo diet because it’s a clear concise diet shows you exactly what to eat based only on real food.  I do recommend this to a lot of my patients because the Paleo diet in of itself is probably 90% better than what most of us are eating right now.  #JERF  Just eat real food!!!

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

Healthy Gut Summit

So I just found out about this FREE online summit that starts tomorrow.  Sorry for the short notice!  I am definitely going to register tonight.  The talks all start tomorrow so I’ll be listening to the first podcast tomorrow morning on the way into work .  Here is the preview banner—-

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Are you one of 70 million people suffering from digestive diseases in the United States? You might be… and not even know your gut is the cause! Join me at The Healthy Gut Summit, February 9-16, online and free to learn more! Register HERE

32 reasons how your digestive health is intimately linked to your immune, endocrine, circulatory and central nervous systems… which impact physical, mental and emotional wellbeing! Healthy Gut Summit, online and free from February 9-16. Join me! Register HERE

Did you know? Gut health impacts our most basic physiological processes–including how we think and behave–it’s the foundation for physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Learn more at The Healthy Gut Summit, online and free from February 9-16.

 

Here is your last chance—

Register HERE

Order HERE

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

Warming Foods For Winter

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So I listened to a great old podcast of Alexandra Jamieson’s about winter foods.  I am reading her new book ” Women, Food, and Desire”  right now and wanted to hear a little more of her work.  You may remember her from the award-winning documentary “Super Size Me” in which she was the co-star with her ex-husband.  Since then she has an amazing transformation story and outlines a lot of that in her new book and on the pod cast she does with Sean Croxton from Undergroundwellness.com.

Anyhow, I really love some of the points that she makes about our food choices in the winter and our New Years weight loss goals.  She suggests that we actually sabotage our weight loss efforts in these New Year resolutions by trying to diet with foods that aren’t in season and are to cooling to the body.

For instance —we often reach for a smoothie in the am with lots of frozen fruits and then do salads for lunch.  Our bodies in the winter are in hibernation mode –they don’t want those cooling foods like bananas, grapefruit, and cold salads. Our body wants to metabolize warming foods. It is more natural for the body’s internal environment. Here is a short list of Warming Foods—

 

 

Anise

Basil

Carob

Cumin

Chives

Cinnamon

Cloves

Coriander

Dates (and most dried fruit)

Dill

Fennel

Garlic

Ginger

Ginseng

Honey

Kumquat

Leeks

Mustard greens

Nuts

Oats

Onion

Papaya

Parsley

Parsnips

Pepper (black, Chile, red bell, green bell)

Quinoa

Rosemary

Rutabaga

Scallions

Seeds

Tea

Vinegar

Wasabi

Watercress

Wild rice

Here is a copy of the book–I’m about 1/2 way through and I really like it.  It really puts emotions, cravings and eating into a different perspective

Posted on by Angela in Body, Diet, Mind, Whole Food 2 Comments

Juicing 101

juicing

 

While browsing Facebook I came across a college sorority sister that has started a juice detox this week to start of the New Year.    She bought a pre-made 3 day juice cleanse from Le Nectar –a new juicing bar here in town located on the Northside next to Tulip Noir.  There are several different spots here in town where you can purchase fresh juice including Georgetown Market, EarthFare, and  Natural Born Juicers just to name a few.  However I am incredibly poor after the holiday season considering my children are now of the age where gifts require a more significant monetary investment than in the early years.  So I am now inspired to dust off my juicer that has been hibernating during the holidays and get back on board.  A juicer is a bit of investment at first, however you will save a lot of money in the long run doing your own juicing .  I came across a colleague’s article on the different types of  juicers that was extremely informative and helpful and wanted to share that with you .  Here’s the link that will explain the different types of  juicers available along with the pros and cons.

 http://www.juicingwithg.com/types-of-juicers/

Be sure to check out his BLOG as well.

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

The Digestion Sessions

 

Did you know that sixty-percent of the Unites States population alone is dealing with at least one symptom of digestive dysfunction?

You name it — gas, bloating, heartburn, abdominal pain, candida, constipation, diarrhea — the statistics say that YOU are more than likely experiencing one or more of them, right now at this very moment.

Living with digestive problems has become the new normal. Typically, they begin as minor complaints — a little indigestion here and there, the occasional tummy ache or bout of heartburn.

Sooner or later, what was once a minor annoyance becomes something that can literally take over your life. This usually happens for two reasons — embarrassment and ignorance.

Let me explain.

Let’s be honest, no one goes out of their way to talk about their digestive problems. What happens on the other side of the bathroom door has become the most taboo of topics, a private matter requiring the utmost discretion.

Unfortunately, there is no “bathroom therapist” office to sit in safety and speak freely about your bowel issues. Instead, you keep it to yourself and hope it will all go away with time.

It doesn’t.

And that’s when you find yourself in the doctor’s office, finally revealing every detail of what you’ve been going through for months, maybe years.

At some point during this cathartic act of courage you realize that you’ve used up all 12 minutes of your allotted appointment time and suddenly find yourself in the pharmacy with a prescription for a drug that comes with two pages of side effects.

No exam. No testing. No investigation whatsoever into what may be causing your symptoms.

Just ignorance in the form of a pill.

What now?

THAT is the very question hundreds of millions of people worldwide are asking about their digestive problems.

Today, I’ve come with the answer.

The truth is that “modern day” medicine has fallen as much as 17 years behind the latest research. In other words, almost two decades will pass before your doctor recommends what actually works.

Chances are, your doc is unaware of the growing number of research studies demonstrating these alarming findings:

– The toxicity of persistent constipation may cause common, everyday symptoms like fatigue, attention deficit, and brain fog.

– Autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis are almost always rooted in digestive dysfunction.

– The inflammation from gut dysfunction can spread throughout the body, causing inflammation in the brain, joints, and other important organs.

By the way, inflammation in the gut may also shut down your body’s ability to burn fat. Not good.

Most doctors are either unaware of this information or don’t care to know. Meanwhile, people like you are paying the price in unnecessary suffering and medical bills.

This has to stop. Now.

And that’s why our friend Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness — a real life health crusader — put together a FREE online event called The Digestion Sessions, featuring 25 on-camera expert interviews and gut-healing cooking classes on all things digestion — so you can get the answers you’ve been looking for. Without the 17-year wait.

Here’s a sneak peak…

* Dr. Daniel Kalish reveals the hidden stomach infection that causes heartburn and reflux — 50% of us have it but don’t know it!
* Christa Orecchio outlines a step-by-step program that kicks candida for good.

* Dr. Shawn Soszka discloses how digestive problems can cause depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.

* Dr. Michael Ruscio details a stepwise approach to solving diarrhea.

* Drs. Jillian Teta and Tom O’Bryan show you how to use food to cut the inflammation and heal your gut.

* Sayer Ji breaks down what the research REALLY says about gluten sensitivity.

Plus, a whole lot more!

Click the link below to get the scoop on this FREE online event kicking off in November and to watch the incredible video trailer. It’ll give you chills!

REGISTER HERE

 

Don’t forget to save your seat and get INSTANT ACCESS to the free Digestion Sessions Quick Tips video series including:

* Dr. Teta’s 3 Best Tips for Beating Constipation with Dr. Jillian Teta

* 3 Critical Lab Tests Your Doctor (Probably) Isn’t Running with Christa Orecchio

* How to Save Your Gallbladder, And What to Do If It’s Been Removed! with Dr. Alan Christianson

REGISTER HERE

Don’t wait!

Angela

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

Chicken/Kale Pasta

A big shout out and thanks for this recipe share from Kim:

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Chicken/Kale Pasta

1 (16) oz. Gluten free pasta (you could also substitute spaghetti squash or zucchini ribbons)

4 (6oz) skinless and boneless chicken Breast cut into 1 inch pieces (organic/local)

Sea salt and fresh ground pepper (I like Pink Himalayan)

Extra virgin olive oil

Kerry gold butter

4 garlic cloves minced

1 cup (homemade) chicken broth

3/4 cup dry white wine

5 oz kale stemmed and coarsely chopped

2 cups grape tomatoes(halved)

1 cup shaved parmesan cheese

1)Prepare pasta as directed.

2) Season chicken with sea salt and pepper, cook in a single layer of hot oil and melted kerry gold butter in a large skillet over high heat without stirring for 1-2 minutes. Turn chicken: cook 2 more minutes or until done. Transfer chicken to plate.

3) Add garlic to skillet and reduce to medium heat. Cook constantly,for 30 seconds then add homemade chicken broth and wine, stirring to loosen browned bits from bottom of skillet, simmer 6-8 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half. Add kale, stirring until kale wilts.

4) Add kale mixture to reserved pasta. Stir in tomatoes and 1 cup shaved parmesan if desired.

Prep time 25 minutes Cook time 30 minutes

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

Detox Challenge

I’ve had several patients recently do some detox challenges and they seem to be getting great results!  I didn’t have time to participate in the last one that I posted.  I did hunt down another one which should be great!  Dr. Sara Gottfried is hosting one with the registration ending today!!  Sorry for the short notice!  You can sign up for free by clicking the banner below.

 

 

 

She is also the author of  THE HORMONE CURE–which is an excellent resource to help naturally get your hormones back in check!!!

Happy Detoxing y’all !!!

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