Every now and then one of my patients will call me complaining of a kind of strange, uncomfortable pain in their right neck and shoulder blade area. Most often, they also don’t feel well either – a little nauseated, maybe a little stomach pain and don’t feel much like eating. They wonder if they’ve gotten some kind of flu bug. They’re often shocked when I tell them that it could be their gallbladder acting up and/or they may be passing gallstones! If this sounds like you sometimes, here’s what you should know about gallstones and gallbladder problems. Gallstones or Muscle […]
Losing weight is never easy, but for many of us, it is a step toward improved health and longevity. The first thing we have to conquer is the fear of feeling hungry. Hunger tells us that we are eating fewer calories than we normally do. This is a good sign on your road to weight loss: The more comfortable we are with feeling hungry, the likelier we are to succeed at losing weight. There are many tricks we can use to reduce calories while keeping our stomachs feeling full. A recent study re-confirms the need to eat breakfast when trying […]
One of my fondest memories as a young teenager were that of my grandparents coming to stay at our house every summer on one of their annual cross-country road trips from their home out west. It was the first time I had ever heard of Korean ginseng, or as its sometimes also called Korean Panax ginseng, an herb native to Korea and China. Every morning, my grandfather would ritually take his Korean ginseng capsules. He was 82 at the time and still in great physical shape, looking 2 decades younger and full of energy. My grandmother, age 78, also took the […]
In the last couple of months, several of my patients have asked me about using raspberries for weight loss. It’s true that ‘raspberry ketones’ has been a popular buzz phrase on television and the Internet as a substance that can, reportedly, actually force your fat cells to shrink and help you lose weight. Raspberries have always been considered a good addition to any weight loss program, as they are high in antioxidants, low in calories and sugar per 4 ounce serving. However, you’d have to eat about 90 lbs of them to get the concentration of raspberry ketones these products offer. After a […]
Lately, several of my patients have asked me what I think about adding marine phytoplankton – tiny sea
Like many of my patients you may want to do your best for the health of your heart (and the rest of you) and yet may be confused about which foods are the best.
Looking to lose a little weight? If that’s the case, according to a recently published clinical trial, you should try green coffee bean. Now, we’re not talking about drinking tons of coffee to increase caffeine intake, which can also help to lose weight — this is something different. What we’re talking about with this study is an extract derived from green coffee beans. These young coffee beans are rich in chlorogenic acid, an antioxidant currently known for helping to tame blood sugar spikes. As it turns out, that samechlorogenic acid may also be able to help you drop some pounds. Pretty convenient, […]
Our culture is finally starting to view the food that we eat as a potential medicine chest. Every day, scientists are discovering more and more that certain herbs, spices, and leaves offer curative powers that can help us overcome disease. Bharat B. Aggarwal, Ph.D. has understood this concept since childhood. He was raised in India, a land devoted to the spice box. Indian cuisine often relies on 10–20 spices in just one recipe. “Spices originated in India, Indonesia, and other parts of south and southeast Asia,” says Aggarwal in his book Healing Spices. He goes on to say, “Sanskrit writings […]
Many of my patients are battling with weight issues and are always asking me how they can boost their metabolism so they can lose weight. They’re confused
Derived from the Greek word meaning royal, basil is a versatile herb that has lived up to its pedigree. With its wealth of nutrients, from hefty amounts of vitamin K and calcium, to its high antioxidant oils, basil offers an array of health-enhancing benefits ranging from protection against DNA damage to combating stress. In addition, the peppermint-like leaves of basil are loaded with beta-caryophyllene, an anti-inflammatory compound that may treat conditions such as arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. An abundance of evidence is emerging to support basil’s reputation as an herbal remedy for thousands of years, making this undervalued herb a formidable opponent against some […]