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

The Domino Effect

You all remember our dear real, honest, dedicated friend, Dee who has shared her weight loss/health struggles with us over the past few years.  She has done amazing and lost quite a bit of weight by making simple lifestyle changes.  Unfortunately, (like me and I am guessing everyone) life gets in the way of prioritizing our own bodies and health and we fall off the wagon.  Dee and I had an unusual circle of events this last week.  I sincerely believe they were signs from the Universe telling us not to lose site of the mission at hand.  Yesterday, Dee’s blog post read as follows——-
dominos
 
THE DOMINO EFFECT:
 
Today started with a call from my sister on my way to work. I should preface this story to say that I’ve felt isolated in my attempts to take care of my health and isolation equals failure to eat well and exercise. So at 8:20 am my little sister mentioned that her friend commented on this blog, something about someone being helped with the right message at the right time. Before looking into the message, I received another little jolt of encouragement from my friend who is also my dentist. She is a beautiful woman (inside and out) who is determined to get the best of her health through exercise. I know she has adapted a routine of walking regularly and has been successful at weight loss (congratulations Dr. M!) Before I left her office today, she instructed me to walk for 30 minutes when I get home. I like a challenge so I halfheartedly mumbled “OK”. Then when I was half out the door but still close enough to hear she said, “if you don’t you have to do double tomorrow.” And — because I had no other choice — I replied “deal!”Here’s the fun of that story. I did come home and walk two miles. Without her direction to do so, there was a zero percent chance that I would have exercised. I invited my husband to walk also, and he did. He commented that he has been wanting and needing to get back into the routine of exercising and this was just the push he had been hoping for. So some stranger in Indianapolis, who encouraged my friend Angela to remind me to keep going prompted a discussion with my dentist who challenged me to exercise which involved my husband who in turn prompted me to continue to walk the next day. What a great chain reaction. You never know who you might help or impact. Sometimes the right people are in the right place at the right time saying the right things.

Visit her site at http://www.gettingthebestoffood—she may be “still a small voice”–but, a powerful one indeed!

Thanks Dee for sharing

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

Weightlossmavens.com

Hey there—
Just a quick update—you can now check out more posts on http://www.weightlossmavens.com
I will be guest authoring on this site which provides great tips on nutrition and the prevention of disease. What is the best side effect of great nutrition —DING, DING, DING—–Weightloss!  Check out their site by clicking the link on the right side of your AngelaMD page.
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Dr. Dan Perez started this site with the following mission—
 Weight Loss Mavens is a multimedia site dedicated to eradicating obesity and the chronic degenerative diseases it spawns by channeling the collective knowledge of health experts, or mavens.   The word maven comes from the Yiddish meyvn, meaning “one who understands.”   But to be a maven you have to more than just understand a topic, you have to know its ins and outs.   In other words, mavens know their stuff! Our goal is to help people all over the planet achieve a healthy weight and experience a life of optimal health.  We believe that a world with healthier citizens leads to a more prosperous world for all.The site features content written by experts and thought leaders in the fields of peak performance coaching, behavioral psychology, weight loss, nutrition, fitness, alternative medicine, and functional medicine.   New content is added daily.
Thanks to Dan for inviting me to  write for them!
Here is my first post:

Food as Medicine

 

imagesI am privileged to share my experience and health insights with the readers of Weight Loss Mavens. I am a board certified internist in private practice in Indiana for the last 12 years.  Like most medical school graduates, I left medical school eager to treat and cure-all diseases.   After completing my residency, I was absolutely sure that I had found my mission in life by becoming a physician.

To my surprise, I was WRONG!

My wake up call came about a year ago when I realized that I was repeating the same, ineffectual mantra by encouraging my patients to “eat healthier and exercise.”  But nobody was getting better!  Every year I wrote more prescription medications to treat symptoms.  I never truly identified the root cause of their disease, and certainly didn’t give them specific information about how to eat better and exercise. I’m embarrassed to admit that I didn’t even know anything about good nutrition and prevention at the time.

Enter Susan–my “Ah Ha” patient that changed my life for the better. Susan was in her 40′s with four young sons, a successful veterinary practice, and the awful disease LUPUS.  Lupus is a debilitating, chronic autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system attacks its own cells all over the body. We had her on immune suppressing drugs that were packing on the pounds, causing severe symptoms, and frankly not controlling her symptoms. She was unable to spend any time in the sun and couldn’t attend her son’s ball games. She frequently missed work due to pain and was relying on narcotics to get her through her days. She was nearly suicidal. This intelligent, beautiful woman had everything going in life until she was struck by disease. I wasn’t helping her at all.

We decided to go on a mission to determine the root cause of her disease. We began educating ourselves on toxins in our food supply and environment that could turn on auto-immunity. I spent sleepless nights feeling like I was a complete failure and contemplated quitting medicine. I felt that I wasn’t doing patients any good.

CUE THE DRUM ROLL!

We figured it out! After tedious symptom/ food diaries, spreadsheets, research/prayers—We discovered that Susan was intolerant to RED DYE # 40!

We immediately removed it from her diet.  Today, Susan is a drug free, vital, beautiful, thin, happy woman who no longer has Lupus.   It may seem too simple and hard to believe, but it is a true story!

Today, I continually educate myself on the power of food as medicine and integrate this knowledge into my practice.  Susan was my wake up call.   Thanks to her, I’ve helped many patients re-examine how they eat, move, and think.  The results are remarkable.

My challenge to you is to start today—Start being conscious of each and everything that you put in your body, and ask yourself  “Is this something from the Earth that is going to nourish my body?”  If the answer is NO–reconsider consuming it! It just may save your life and give you many years of vitality versus disease.

When Rosie O’Donnell had her heart attack last year, she stated that was the first time she actually became conscious of what she was putting into her body. So that is the first step we can take.  Let’s begin this journey by reading labels, focus on eating real food, and being mindful of what we are putting into our bodies.

About the author:

Angela DeBord Henriksen, MD received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and her MD degree from Indiana University School of Medicine.   She completed her residency training in Internal Medicine through St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis.   Dr. Henriksen currently has a private practice at IU Health after serving as a hospitalist there. 

 

Posted on by Angela in Call to action, disease, Guest Blog, Nutrition, Uncategorized, Weight Loss Leave a comment

Freezing Lemons

Did you know that the lemon peel contains 5-10 more vitamins than the juice alone. Lemons are a great source of vitamin C and they help to alkalinize the body  (lower the pH–a good thing).  Lemons have been proven to help in weight loss;   improve bone health;  and have anti-depressant qualities.  Ironically, it was only a few years ago when I started learning to cook that I actually learned what lemon Zest was!

Here is a tip that I recently came across –If you buy Organic lemons–you can freeze them after a good washing and actually grate the entire lemon (peel and all) over salads or really any dish to add flavor and nutrients!

Lemons are considered excellent antimicrobials against fungal, parasitic and bacterial infections.

They are also used in cancer treatments.  Some studies actually show that they may have more benefit than actual chemotherapy  drugs.  That valuable source of  information comes from one of the largest drug manufacturers in the world.  I won’t call them out now but let’s just say that dietary nutrients are pretty good at preventing and curing disease.

So here are my lemons ready to freeze.  They are all organic and washed with vinegar to remove any possible wax or chemical residue.  And don’t forget a nifty little stainless steel grater ready for action!!!

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Posted on by Angela in Nutrition, Uncategorized, Whole Food 2 Comments

How to start your morning!

Here’s Drew’s Saturday Strategy–some good tips in this one!  Remember to visit http://www.fitlifetv.com

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

Crazy busy is always an excuse!

These last two weeks have been crazy busy!

I haven’t eaten right and I fed my family take-out every single night for dinner!

I even gave my kids sugar to shut them up!  (Fruit Roll Ups- no doubt)

Crazy busy is always going to get us down.   Crazy is what crazy does!  (Yes- that’s a tweetable Forrest Gump like euphemism )

However, I got back to the gym for some yoga (ouch) and Zumba (#uncoordinated white girl) and will hit the Farmer’s Market in the morning to get back on track.

Baby Steps and Forgiveness!  We are all in this together!!!mind_over_matter

Posted on by Angela in Call to action, Humor, Uncategorized 1 Comment

The Perfect Storm

Thanks to Dr. Chris Nagy—-Please read his great article and feel free to share—
“Good health. Will America ever see or experience it again? No — not if we continue on our current path.The perfect storm of failing health and a failing health care system is upon us. We’re on a crash course with the collapse of optimal health in this country. The solution to reversing course doesn’t lie with the medical profession, medical system or some outside entity.

It lies with each of us. All Americans must do what is necessary to protect their families and themselves. There is no other option.

Here’s why. We’ve been addressing the urgent in our lives versus the important, often ignoring our own health in the process.

We’ve delegated the role of educating and caring for ourselves to those who “know better.” We no longer trust our intuitive intelligence about what is necessary to sustain optimal health.

That’s a growing concern because powerful forces are present that make and keep us patients and contribute to illness.

These forces act to limit the available facts necessary to travel the path to health.

When raw milk produced under sanitary conditions is illegal while thousands of chemicals, dyes and poisons are allowed into the food supply daily, there is a problem.

Next, consider this. The body of scientific research clearly demonstrates the path to health — yet, the conclusions are frequently skewed by opinion, financial motives and government regulation.

Publication bias demonstrates that research studies with positive findings are published while studies with negative findings are hidden from public view.

Evidenced-based medicine sounds good in principle, but when the evidence is often flawed or skewed by statistical manipulation, there is little benefit to the findings.

Bottom line: Our current research system is not always set up to find the absolute truth, but often to demonstrate a positive result supporting the use of a drug.

Our medical system is not designed to prevent disease. The current system is primarily based on managing and treating disease, not necessarily preventing or curing it.

We have worshiped at the altar of medicine for too long and need to question its fallibility if we are to improve the system.

The cure for many modern diseases is possible, but the current state of medicine is not structured to support it. We focus too much management, as if cure is not possible.

Physicians are often reticent to admit or even consider the possibility that there is something beyond what the medical profession teaches.

Asking the current medical system to cure disease is similar to asking the government for advice on the best way to save money and reduce waste.

When a system encourages the consumption of medication, but doesn’t encourage the consumption of vital and necessary nutrients, there is work to be done.

We need a marriage of science, medicine and facts to guide us in the right direction.

You cannot medicate your way to health.

Promoting health while ignoring prevention is no different from rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Soon, we all will have access to care—but if it is poor care, are we any better off?

What you need to know. Good health occurs by addressing the following five areas.

• Proper nutrition

• Activity/exercise

• Youthful hormone balance

• Nutrient optimization

• Stress levels

Each of these areas must be optimized to support and improve health. There are many key considerations when addressing these powerhouse five areas.

Each serves as a starting point for maximized health.

We are digging our graves with our teeth. The root cause of modern disease is based on the foods we eat. Our food supply is adulterated on so many levels that many of us go through the day consuming edible food-like substances rather than any real food.

Unless we understand the value of eating real food, improvement will be limited. Superior health starts with the proper nutrition.

Patients are frequently told that diet plays a minor role in disease, its improvement or progression.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

You cannot fully heal a part of the body without healing the whole body—and diet is a major part of that.

Nourish health and disease will disappear as a side effect.

When asked if it bothers me that I don’t eat like everybody else, my response is, “Not when I see how poorly everybody else is doing.” It’s time to grow up nutritionally.

The path to health has been hidden for many reasons. It is incumbent upon us to uncover the path and do what is necessary to reclaim our right to optimal health.

It’s not difficult. It’s merely a change of mindset. Change your mind and the body will follow. It all starts with the brain.

There are numerous resources available for those interested in creating an abundant, healthy life.

Dig deeper, uncover the truth, find a trusted confidante and share the journey. Health multiplies everything, better relationships, more confidence and more peace.

Continuing to rely on and follow the many established consensus thoughts and opinions on health will lead to more of the same.

Trust the innate wisdom of our grandparents and ancestors prior to the introduction of modern, industrialized food. You’ll live a better, healthier life, not one subject to modern disease, many of which are becoming more prevalent in our society.

The health care change you need . . . starts with you.”

Chris K. Nagy is the Chief Medical Officer of Cenegenics Carolinas in Charlotte

 

Posted on by Angela in Mind, Spirit, Uncategorized 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

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. :)”

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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