Debunked: The Gallbladder Flush
The gallbladder cleanse, or flush, is extremely popular these days. In my practice, people ask me about this phenomenon all the time. Usually it’s people who have gallbladder symptoms, or those who have been diagnosed with gallstones. Gallstones are a very common problem, so it’s no wonder that people who hear that there might be […]
Food for a Week
In the waiting room of my office, I keep a photography book called Hungry Planet: What the World Eats, by Peter Menzel. It is the book I most often find on my patients’ laps while they wait, and it makes a great conversation starter about food and nutrition. To compile the photographs for his book, […]
Adaptogens: Our Allies in the Plant Kingdom
Plants have an amazing ability to survive, and thrive, in the most difficult of circumstances. Just think about it: plants can’t move around. They can’t grab a sweater if it’s too chilly. They can’t turn on the AC if it’s too hot. If they’re thirsty, they can’t simply walk into the kitchen to grab a […]
Lessons from the Albatross
The albatross is a majestic seabird that, when flying free, has long symbolized good fortune to sailors. A trapped or dead albatross, however, is seen in folklore and literature as a very bad omen. This symbolism is immortalized in the poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. In the poem, the […]
Biotin and Your Thyroid: Not Good News
Biotin is a wildly popular supplement these days. Also known as vitamin B7 and coenzyme R, biotin is found naturally in many foods, such as eggs, milk, nuts, and legumes. As it may help to ameliorate thinning hair, and strengthen nails, it’s no wonder that many people have taken to it. Sounds great, right? However, […]
The Garden in Your Gut
My backyard is like a garden oasis. My wife and I are avid gardeners, and our three children have all understood where food comes from since they were babies. Every one of us still marvels about how tall a bean plant can grow (right now, ours are about 12 feet tall) and it’s hard not […]
Orange Bottles with White Caps
There’s no denying that modern medicine has made many wonderful advances which have benefitted the world. Numerous lives are saved each year because of medical innovations, and when an emergency situation arises, trained professionals are there to take care of us with the newest technologies. Pharmaceuticals, surgeries, and other medical practices can reduce suffering and […]
My Record-Breaking Patient
A perfectly seared steak. The browned top of a cake. The light crunch of a crusty bread. Caramelized onions. Just plain caramel. Cooking is chemistry and all of these familiar foods are examples of a very common and important biochemical reaction. And it is a reaction that is fundamental to the understanding of diabetes and […]
Does Your Doctor Take the Time to Listen to You?
When you go to the doctor does he or she take the time to listen to you? Do you feel safe in his or her office? Is it a place where you can let down your guard and be transparent? Unfortunately, many doctors don’t make the time to really connect with their patients and this […]
Biggest Loser Study Reveals The Sad Reality Of Rapid Weight Loss
“Biggest Losers Become Biggest Gainers,” “The Lost Hope Of ‘The Biggest Loser’” and “’Biggest Losers Lose Battle Against The Returning Bulge” are just a few of the sad but true headlines that started making the rounds at the end of last week. The headlines were responding to a study released last Friday in the journal […]
