Turmeric as an anti-inflammatory

Turmeric is a member of the ginger family and is a common spice used in Indian curries which gives them their golden-yellow color. It is a perennial herb native to tropical Southeast Asia .

It has long been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese traditional medicine as a “tonic and blood purifier” There is extensive scientific research providing support for its therapeutic effects as an anti-inflammatory. Turmeric contains the compound Curcumin which is responsible for many of its therapeutic effects.

It is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. It has a protective effect on the liver and aids in increasing bile secretion. It has been shown to reduce the developement of blocked arteries, and reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis. ( It should not be used in high doses if you are breastfeeding).

I recently contacted a great orthopedic MD that is well-respected in the field of preventative nutrition that recommends the following supplement–you can visit his site at http://yourpersonalwellnesscenter.com

Here’s the link for this curcumin supplement

http://www.europharmausa.com/products/curamin/

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Angela in Body, Diet, Nutrition Leave a comment

Oxytocin and Bonding

Oxytocin hormone in our body

In most cases, people are much more intrigued with hormones that impact their physical well-being. But the matter of fact is that some of the hormones also influence the mental functions in our body. As dominant as brain is, it can’t cover all the functions and processes in our organism. Having that in mind, it needs to use hormones in order to transfer certain information so that the body can work properly. For example, cortisol and adrenalin are very important for our instincts and they give us instant surge of energy and warn us of danger. However, when it comes to social processes and our social interaction with other individuals, there is one dominant hormone that performs most of the functions.

Oxytocin is a hormone which is secreted in hypothalamus. Afterwards, it is released into our bloodstream and it gives us an elated sensation. It is often referred to as “bonding hormone”. To be honest, this is the best way to describe it because it influences all bonding processes and relationships which we form with other people. Besides its social component it also influences growth and healing.

When we talk about our social interaction with other individuals, it is worth mentioning that most of the process happens in first few second upon meeting another person. This is when our mind and hormones tell us whether a person is trustworthy. We make our impression based on first contact and initial talk. If we recognize certain similarities with a person, we usually befriend him or her. In this situation, cortisol warns us of danger, while oxytocin reduces potential anxiety which can be a product of such encounter. However, when we “decide” to make person our friend, oxytocin starts working within our body. Each contact made with a person deepens our bond, making us better friends.

At the same time, this hormone also influences bonding with opposite sex. This is what we usually refer to as “chemistry”. And we are not wrong when we say this. When we recognize certain likable traits in other person, usually similarities to our own persona, this is when oxytocin starts working. The hormone is also very important for our sexual life because it impacts erection and ejaculation. In most cases, when people have issues in marriage, this is due lack of connection between each other. It is recommendable for couples to use oxytocin sublingual drops from Oxytocin Factor in order to restore levels of oxytocin in blood.

Similarly to all our other social interaction, oxytocin impacts our behavior in a group as well as certain social traits like obedience and loyalty. It is discovered that people belonging to certain group are more likely to cheat and lie because oxytocin’s impact on body. Furthermore, as soon as the group has certain common goal, oxytocin works in order for the group to attain a goal. This was very important during history, especially during process of creation of certain tribes and nations. In all these cases oxytocin worked as a bridge that provided common ground for various people and various personas.

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Angela in Guest Blog Leave a comment

Why is Candy Crush Addicting?

I had to do this post because I was determined to find out why I was wasting time playing a stupid game on my phone and burning precious time! Apparently I am suffering from an addiction no different from sugar, drugs, porn etc. See there is a biochemical reason that we get hooked on these ridiculous games–they are engineered to suck us in and aren’t really any different from the WHEAT and SUGAR that activates our opioid receptors in our brain. Let’s just pray that Candy Crush isn’t my gateway drug to something more!!!!

Here is why we get so hooked!

1. The colors and graphics activate our brain’s reward system. Creating patterns of three and being rewarded with zings and popping sounds encourages us to keep playing

2. They create the opening rounds really easy and this triggers your brain to release mini-shots of dopamine (the feel good hormone).

3. Once we get sucked into craving dopamine –we start the anticipation of wondering if we can get to the next level. This stimulates our problem solving, memory and spatial recognition.

4. Here is where they get us—-we are desperate to get to the next level and actually consider paying 99 cents for extra lives. They also encourage us to continue on by allowing us to share lives with friends on social media.

The real point is that we all have addictions that aren’t really our fault. These games, foods, drinks, and practices are all based on activating our “feel good” hormones in our brains. That being said, I am working on focusing on finding ways to calm my mind with a more productive passion. Exercise, Diet, Meditation, Love, Compassion—all can produce the same effects—Baby Steps!

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Angela in Diet, Exercise, Nutrition 5 Comments

The Hormone Reset Diet

Endocrine disruptors are found in so many products–not only in the actual products but in the packaging as well.

They have a huge range of negative effects on hormones. They can increase or decrease hormone production, imitate hormones, and actually turn one hormone into another. Exposures can lead to serious health benefits ranging from thyroid dysfunction all the way to autism or ADHD.

Here is a quick cheat sheet on what to avoid when looking for safe products:

Soap–triclosan and triclocarban

Sunscreen–SPF>50, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone and added insect repellant

Toothpaste- triclosan

Nail Polish-formaldehyde,tolulene and dibutyl phthalate

The Environmental Working Group has a great website where you can check the safety of your own products and cosmetics called SKIN DEEP.

Balancing hormones is one of the most essential things for achieving good health and weight loss. I loved Dr. Sara Gottfried’s first book The Hormone Cure because of all the questionnaires to help each individual reader determine what their actual issue was and then provided some specific holistic options in effort to correct the imbalances.

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She now has a new book out called The Hormone Reset Diet that I have just ordered. So stay tuned and I’ll let you know what I think of it.

Check out Dr. Sara’s new book-

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You can get free recipes HERE

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Angela in Diet, Nutrition, Weight Loss Leave a comment

Bone Broth Recipes

Bone Broth Recipe

So this is excerpted from the book Nourishing Broth by Sally Fallon Morell and Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD, CCN–experts who have been researching bone broth or stock for over 20 years.

Apparently there are several typical types of bones used:

Knuckle and feet bones –yield large quantities of gelatin

Marrow bones –impart flavor and the nutrients from the marrow to the broth

Meaty ribs and shanks add color and flavor

You can use beef, chicken, lamb, pig, venison etc.

Remember that you should use organic, pastured chicken from a reputable farm (preferably local) or grass-fed beef bones.

Ingredients:

4 lbs of marrow and knuckle bones

3 lbs of meaty bones like short ribs or beef shanks

1 foot (calf/pig/beef/chicken)

optional tomato paste -1 jar

4 quarts filtered water

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar (preferably Braggs w/MOM)

3 onions

3 carrots

3 celery sticks

parsley/thyme sprigs and a bay leaf

1 tbs crushed peppercorns

Directions:

1. Place the knuckle and foot bones in a large stock pot and cover with the apple cider vinegar and cold water —let stand for 1 hour.

2. Place the meat bones in a roasting pan and brush with tomato paste. Brown at 350 degrees for 1/2 hour.

3. When browned-add the meat bones to the broth. Then add cold water to the remaining fat in the pan and bring to a boil and add this liquid to the broth.

4. Bring all the broth to a simmer and add veggies, herbs and peppercorns

5. Simmer the stock for 12-24 hours. Then remove the bones, strain the broth and cool in the refrigerator

6. Once the stock is cooled, skim the fat off the top and the broth can be frozen.

Leave me a message in the comments below if you come up with any variations or have recommendations!!!

OR Remember that you can always order some pre-made bone broth from THE BROTHERY

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Angela in Body, Diet, Nutrition 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.

KINDA 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!