Managing PCOS Naturally

March 07, 2016

What is PCOS?

PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. It’s an endocrine (hormonal) disorder characterized by infrequent or absent periods, multiple cysts on the ovaries and high levels of androgens (such as testosterone and DHEA-S), which for some people leads to excess facial and body hair, hair thinning or male pattern baldness and acne. Many PCOS patients have insulin resistance, which means that your body isn’t able to properly absorb and process sugars and other carbohydrates, which leads to weight gain. Other complications include depression, self-esteem challenges, type 2 Diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease and difficulty becoming pregnant. Read more

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Having A Healthy 4th Trimester: Q&A with Amber Star Merkens, Postpartum Doula

February 18, 2016

Before I met Amber Star Merkens, I had no idea postpartum doulas existed. I immediately had a ton of questions for her because I became so excited about the idea that there are professionals available to help new moms out- this is seriously something everyone needs to know about! If you think doulas are only helping during labor, think again, and read on!

 

What is a doula?

The term doula literally means a woman’s helper. Read more

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Cold And Flu Season: 5 Ways To Naturally Boost Your Immunity, Not Including Hand-Washing

January 07, 2016

Patients frequently ask me how they can increase their immunity this time of year. Everyone knows to wash their hands more frequently, so I won’t bore you with that lecture!

In Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, our bodies have a type of Qi, or energy called “Wei Qi”. Wei Qi is our protective Qi and is located on the surface of the body. You can think of Wei Qi as the immune system- its job is to keep out invaders such as harmful viruses and bacteria. Here are a few things you can do that you may not have realized can improve your immune system…

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Traveling With Dietary Dignity: A Guest Post By Nancy Campbell

November 14, 2015

Nancy Campbell is a Culinary Nutritionist and founder of Radiant Health. Since the holidays are coming up, I asked her to give us her best tips for healthy eating while traveling. Thanks, Nancy!

It’s that time again!  The holiday travel debacles are upon us – diet be damned.  If you are anything like me, you don’t/won’t /can’t eat just anything.  It’s not even about food snobbery . . . It’s because your body can’t tolerate processed food.  Your food allergies and sensitivities are real.  And, let’s be honest, because you’ve made so much headway in your dietary shifts this year you aren’t about to sacrifice progress with a Burger King splurge.

Needless to say, any barrier to food choice is a huge hurdle when you are traveling. In my practice as a culinary nutritionist, I support my clients to get real about their limitations, get creative about their options, and get savvy about navigating food restrictions on the go.  I have outlined my 5 simple and smart tips for making it through this year’s holiday travel schedule by all modes of travel.  Read more

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5 Ways To Naturally Treat and Prevent BV and Yeast Infections

November 14, 2015

Over the years I’ve seen many patients who get recurrent BV (Bacterial Vaginosis) Infections and/or Yeast Infections. BV is actually much more common, making up the majority of all vaginal infections. It can be asymptomatic in many cases, but can also result in unusual discharge or a fishy odor. Yeast Infections are an overgrowth of Candida albicans yeast. They make up only 33% of all vaginal infections. The major symptoms are clumpy white discharge, itching, pain and irritation during sex. It is very important that neither type of infection go untreated- both can lead to PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease), increased susceptibility to STD’s, and in pregnancy, untreated BV can result in pre-term birth and low birth weight.  Read more