Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

Processed Foods: Mood, Thinking and Memory

  We all know that eating a lot of processed foods like chips, sugary treats, and fast food will make you gain weight. When our clothes don’t fit, we know we’re in trouble. When we feel bad and have a physical reaction to something we shouldn’t eat, that’s another sign. What many don’t realize, however, […]

Healthy Swaps for Baking and Cooking

  Other than Disney World, Pinterest is my most favorite place on earth. I lose about two hours of my life each time I dive into that site and search for new recipes for my healthy lifestyle. I used to get into what looked like the perfect recipe and have to back right out after […]

Colon Cancer: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

What is Colon Cancer?  Colon cancer affects the colon, which is also known as the large intestine. When the cancer does not affect the rectum, it is called colon cancer. However, when the cancer does affect the rectum, it is then considered colorectal cancer. Colon cancer tends to begin when small benign clumps of cells […]

The good news about Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Not too long ago, I walked out to my car to find my husband had parked right behind me. Growling, I stomped back into the house, ripped his keys from the counter, and stomped back out to move his truck. When I returned, slamming the door for good measure, he stared at me in shock […]

Sinus Infections and Sinusitis: Reasons, Remedies and Relief

Whether they are chronic or viral, over 35 million Americans suffer with sinusitis or sinus infections every year. From the sniffles to the face pain and pressure, those who suffer know how unpleasant symptoms can be. Unfortunately, in most cases, antibiotics do more harm than good. To avoid long-term damage, it’s important to understand sinus […]

Loving your heart to great health!

Heart Health! We all know that our heart sustains our life, as much as the breath, but oftentimes we take its inherent beating rhythm for granted. We may choose lifestyles that negatively impact our hearts vital functioning. In so doing, we run the risk of developing significant cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, arterial plaque […]

Dementia – Symptoms and Help

Dementia – Improving Cognitive Health Dementia has been on the minds of many who have reached a certain age that requires reflection on their mental health, however, studies have shown that side effects of cognitive impairment can begin as early as age 45.  As signs of mental decline begin to crop up, most treat it […]

Preparing Your Body for a Healthy Pregnancy: Is Your Body Ready?

So you want to have a baby… You and your other half have lined up all your ducks; you’ve paid off your debt and you’ve planned the perfect babymoon. Everything’s in order. You’re almost ready to start trying. Period tracker check! Ovulation Predictor Kit check! Basil Body Temperature Recorder check! OBGYN check check! All the […]

MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT (MCI)

Mild Cognitive Impairment The brain is like a muscle that needs to be exercised and worked on a daily basis to avoid mental impairment.  As we age it becomes increasingly difficult to keep your mind sharp as it once was when we were younger.  Though it’s impossible to keep brain function at 100% as we […]

Ending Alzheimer’s

Ending Alzheimer’s   Alzheimer’s disease is on the rise 30,000,000 patients in 2012 and currently the 3rd leading cause of death this disease is now recognized as a new epidemic.  If this does not get your attention I don’t know what will.  This used to be a disease of the 8th decade and now we […]

How to De-Stress in a Holiday Mess

How to De-Stress in a Holiday Mess Last week, I went to write down the date and my hand struggled to complete the task: December 15th? That can’t be right. Staring at the wall in front of me, I had to think.  Wasn’t it just November 15th, like, yesterday? When my brain finally caught up to the […]

7 Survival Tips To Help Keep Your Blood Pressure Regulated

7 Survival Tips To Help Keep Your Blood Pressure Regulated Did you know that over 77 million American adults suffer from high blood pressure? That’s about 1 in 3 people. And of those people, 70,000 will die from their high blood pressure each year. These are scary numbers, and rightfully so – high blood pressure […]

Dining Socially with Friends

Dining Out with Friends: Tips and Tricks on How to Keep Your Social Life Healthy With all the good happening in your newfound healthy life, from the way you feel in the morning to the compliments you receive on your healthy glow and/or all that glorious weight loss, it would seem nothing can get you […]

Halloween Treats: Stop Handing out Bellyaches and Toxins

All the Tricks in Those Treats! All Hallow’s Eve, my favorite time of year! It’s a time when mischief prevails, and ghosts and ghouls run a muck. It’s also a time for candida to thrive. But just because they ask for a trick or treat on Halloween, Give me something good to eat doesn’t have to mean poison. While the […]

Food Allergy vs Food Intolerance: Knowing the Difference

Food Allergy vs Food Intolerance: Knowing the Difference Food allergies affect one in five people (Dr. Axe). They occur as a response in the immune system when the body senses a disagreeable food or protein. This results in a trigger response as the body tries to protect itself and produces histamine to fight off the […]

UNDERSTANDING INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS (Painful Bladder Disease)

UNDERSTANDING INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS (IC) SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT   Interstitial Cystitis (IC), or Painful Bladder Disease, is a bothersome condition that is not easy to remedy. It can affect both men and women, but it is much more prevalent in women. It is characterized by chronic pelvic/bladder pain or pressure, a constant, urgent need to urinate, […]

Dealing with Anxiety

Dealing with Anxiety A proper diet is the main determinant of body functions.  From cardiovascular health and joint health to brain function including, moods, anxiety, depression and stress management.  However, stimulants such as caffeine, sugar and refined carbohydrates that are used for a quick energy boost, may contribute to a lasting onset of anxiety that […]

Health: It’s An Investment, NOT An Expense!

Health: An Investment, not an Expense! Our health is an investment in the future! We live to work, plan, sock our money away, and spend wisely. While it can be daunting and downright annoying, we do it all for the future: for those sweet, golden days of retirement. This sounds wonderful—it’s responsible. Through all that […]

Detoxing to rid your body of accumulated sludge!

The decision to detox is a great way for your body to naturally rid itself of toxins and free radicals that accumulate over time through our diet.  However, speculation surrounding detoxification have surfaced as many often question its effectiveness and safety.  Its reputation suffers further with every detox fad that fills health stores with various […]

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis Both Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis are known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).  Different from IBS or irritable bowel syndrome, where the muscles contract abnormally. IBD refers to the chronic inflammation of the large intestine.  It is the result of the body producing inflammation as it mistakes […]

CHRONIC PAIN – RELIEF IS AVAILABLE!

CHRONIC PAIN – RELIEF IS AVAILABLE!   Chronic pain plagues 100 million Americans according to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, and is presented in a variety of forms including, headaches, back pain, inflamed joints, tendonitis, arthritis, fibromyalgia or pain that is associated with an old injury or past surgery. Many fall into […]

Adrenal Fatigue Can be Healed!

Adrenal fatigue can surface at any time in a person’s life and is more common than you think.  Caused by poor lifestyle habits and the surrounding environment, adrenal fatigue can begin with subtle symptoms and oftentimes go undetected without proper treatment. As this prolongs, you might fall into the trap of accepting that fatigue, depression […]

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Symptoms and Relief

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Symptoms and Relief   Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can vary from case to case. It tends to come and go with stress and certain lifestyle changes. Because there is no specific blood test to detect IBS, it must be diagnosed through the symptoms it presents. This is why tracking your symptoms […]

Turn hay fever to spring fever with Functional Medicine

Turn seasonal allergies and hay fever into spring fever with Functional Medicine   For some, spring is a time for colorful blossoms and fresh cut grass. It’s a time of rebirth and beauty. For most, however, it’s a time of misery. A time when seasonal allergies with itchy, watery eyes and stuffed up noses wreak havoc […]

The Cholesterol Medication Dilemma

Statins are the most toxic, ineffective and profitable medication in history.   From 2003 to 2012 the percentage of adults aged 40 and older that used statins increased from 20 percent to 28 percent. $4.4 billion was spent on stain medication Crestor in 2011 while another $7.7 billion was spent on Lipitor. If we adopt […]

5 Ways Nutrition Improves Cancer Outcomes

woman with cancer

  The answer is simple, if you give the body the right environment it can heal.   Nutrients can improve cancer outcome by: Inducing death in the cancer cells Reverting cancer cells back to a healthy cell Improving immune function to recognize and destroy cancer cells Helps the body to wall off or encapsulate the tumor […]

Importance of Healthy Blood Sugar Metabolism

  60 million Americans have “insulin resistance” a form of unhealthy blood sugar metabolism that goes unrecognized.   Achieving and maintaining proper blood sugar metabolism is essential for a lifetime of excellent health.  Prolonged unhealthy blood sugar metabolism leads to inflammation and can significantly affect the health of your nerves, eyes, blood vessels, kidneys and pancreas.  […]

Cooling Chronic Inflammation!

Inflammation drives dis-ease like diabetes, cardiovascular, IBS, Chron’s, Rheumatoid Arthritis and obesity. Even for my clients that just want to lose weight I always say “we must put out the fire first before we can even begin to remodel the house”   Cortisol is a stress hormone and is typically an anti-inflammatory hormone, however when […]

SIGNS OF HORMONAL IMBALANCE & RELIEF!

 HORMONAL IMBALANCE – REEKING HAVOC ON THE BODIES HEALTH! Causes for hormonal imbalances include poor gut health, inflammation, high amounts of stress, genetic susceptibility, and toxicity Hormones — such as estrogen, testosterone, adrenaline and insulin — are extremely important chemical messengers that affect many aspects of your overall health. Hormones are secreted by various glands […]

AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE – THERE IS HELP & HOPE!

  SIMPLE STEPS TO REVERSE/DELAY AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE Autoimmune issues are on the rise and about 75% of these autoimmune conditions present themselves in women. Current science now recognizes that autoimmunity is often triggered by inflammation and various stressors in the body. When the immune system becomes overwhelmed with lifestyle and environmental triggers it becomes overloaded and […]

AT RISK FOR “Type 3 DIABETES” – aka Alzheimer’s Disease

   AT RISK FOR “Type 3 DIABETES” – aka Alzheimer’s Disease?   Diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Dementia are all on the rise.  You cannot help but to worry about your grandparents and aging parents.  Dementia is a big problem and getting bigger every day. Statistics are daunting, 10 percent of 65-year-old, 25 percent of 75-year-old, and […]

Online & Over the Counter Supplement Purchasing – Healthy? Risky? Waste of Money?

Risking health? Improving health and wellness…….Purchasing supplements? What to get and are they the right product for the right symptom? Are they what they say they are? Are they safe? Are they certified by a reputable medical organization? Are they over hyped and under performing? Know the facts before purchasing supplementation OTC or online.  I cannot […]

8 Mindfulness Habits to Build Health

The Best Medicine Is Free Sometimes the best medicine is free! The habits we build day to day are key to our lasting health and well-being. Here are 8 habits that you can incorporate into your daily routine or begin to be more mindful of to feel your best. Water Divide your weight in half […]

Your Thyroid – Keeping it Healthy!

4 Things That Wreak Havoc On Your Thyroid   Your thyroid, one of the largest endocrine glands, greatly influences almost every cell in your body.  The thyroid plays a part in nearly every metabolic process and when the thyroid isn’t working you won’t feel well!    Aside from regulating your metabolism and weight by controlling the […]

COULD YOU HAVE CANDIDA OVERGROWTH?

UNDERSTANDING  CANDIDA…… WHAT IS CANDIDA? Candida is a fungus that is normal and lives in most of us.  However when candida becomes overgrown then it becomes an underlying issue effecting your health.  Most conventional doctors do not recognize or treat Candida, unless you present with vaginal yeast infection or thrush in which they only treat […]

Easy Steps to Preventing Kidney Stones

Easy Steps to Preventing Kidney Stones Kidney stones are so painful they can be completely debilitating and end up with a costly hospitalization. Recently at Forum Health Clarkstonwe have been getting numerous calls from people with kidney stones and bladder infections. The heat of the summer increases your risk and people are more susceptible to […]

5 Detox Tips to Jump Start Your Year Round Wellness

Time to tidy up     “Spring cleaning” is behind us as we merge into the summer adventures. We are all busy planning family vacations, enjoying seasonal foods and finding more ways to get outside. Even though you may have just spring cleaned your home it is important to remember that the body can also […]

5 NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES CAUSED BY CHRONIC DRINKING

  Nutritional therapy is critical for successful treatment of alcoholism, or overindulging. The recovering alcoholic must receive vitamin and mineral supplementation in order to repair the cellular damage caused by drinking. Proteins, vitamins, minerals and amino acids given in the correct amounts and portions are critical for cells to generate new cells, repair injured cells […]

5 BRAIN PRESERVING TIPS TO PREVENT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

5 BRAIN PRESERVING TIPS TO PREVENT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE Alzheimer’s national awareness is upon us. This is a disease that continues to be on the rise and hit’s close to home for me. Almost every person you speak to has in some way been touched by this disease. Alzheimer’s and related dementias affect approximately 5.3 million Americans. […]

4 EASY TIPS TO LIFESTYLE CHANGES

Lifestyle changes can be as simple as starting with following these four simple steps: Water: Adding clean water into your daily regime can be one of the simplest changes to make. It is important to look at the source of water to help reduce toxic burden. A good water filter is a great lifetime investment. […]

SIX MOST COMMON CAUSES OF FIBROMYALGIA

Today is Fibromyalgia awareness day in honor of this day my heart goes out to all of those people that suffer everyday with this debilitating disease. I once suffered from Fibromyalgia myself and have since fully recovered. According to the Mayo Clinic fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, […]

The Emotional Connection to Healing Your Body

  One of my favorite books is by Deb Shapiro Your Body Speaks Your Mind. As a Functional Medicine RN we focus on treating the whole person looking at mind, body and spirit as we are all energy and it is all connected. Stress and emotions are related to many health issues.   Finding the emotional […]

Detoxification: The health risks and benefits

Woman enjoying a healthy beverage in her kitchen.

The air we breathe, the water we drink or swim in, the chemicals we use on our hair or body, the medications we take, and the foods we eat are just some of the elements surrounding us in the modern world that are potential sources of toxicity.  It’s no longer, “Are we toxic?”  The question […]

Not a milk drinker? Here are the top alternative sources of Calcium

Milk is not for everyone.  For some, lactose intolerance causes major gastrointestinal discomfort, including gas, bloating, cramping, and diarrhea or constipation.  This is because the body lacks production of the enzyme, lactase, which breaks down milk sugars, called lactose.  Other individuals may simply have an aversion to the taste of milk.  The biggest question they […]

Holiday Cheer! How to keep your caloric “budget” in balance

Healthy-Holiday-tips

A balanced diet is essential for proper functioning of the entire body.  We get calories from everything we eat: from coffee to lattes, shrimp to steak, fruits and vegetables, and everything in between. A calorie, simply put, is the amount of energy that food will produce in the human body. What’s most important, however, is […]

Making the choice for healthy dietary fats

  Our bodies need healthy fats.  Cell walls are made of a double layer of fat, the brain is composed of 65-70% fat, and fats provide protective padding to the joints.  Healthy fats and oils in the diet promote an increased feeling of fullness, called satiety, because they burn slowly as a fuel source.  Fats […]

Nutritional variety: the key to great health

It’s important to eat balanced meals with a lot of variety every day.  The body recognizes foods and the nutrients contained within to optimize healthy body functions.  As different foods are eaten, the efficiency of the thyroid gland, which regulates metabolism, or the speed with which foods are converted to usable energy sources, is heightened.  […]

Back to school lunches: Is your child’s making the grade?

  School lunches are an important part of the day; the best digestion occurs in the afternoon when the body is wide awake and the energy centers are at a peak.  What goes into the lunch box of any child (or adult, for that matter) is important in maintaining optimal energy levels and meeting the […]

Fuel Correctly for Optimal Sports Performance

During exercise and sports activities, it’s imperative to fuel the body with the proper nutrition to not only enhance performance, but also to prevent muscle wasting from not eating enough calories, especially calories from the right food sources.  Within 60 to 90 minutes of intense physical activity, if the body does not receive at least […]

Work Travel: Tips for eating healthy when you’re on the go

When we think of travel, we generally associate it with a fun-filled vacation destination.  But it’s easy to forget that for many folks, travel for work is part of the job description.  According to the National Household Travel Survey, conducted between 2001-02, “…the majority of long-distance business trips in the United States are taken to […]

Cooking up carcinogens: How to minimize your risk when grilling

                Grilling outdoors for many is the highlight of the spring and summer months.  The smell of the smoky embers, while tantalizing, can forewarn of possible carcinogenic food changes during the grilling process.  Knowing what these changes are doing to the food and how to lessen your exposure […]

Could you be addicted to your food?

By now, most have heard of the horrors of processed food.  The nutrient-depleted remnants of what was once a healthy food source wreak havoc on the body.  Our cells need an abundance of fresh, colorful foods in order to maintain healthy balance; this doesn’t mean something that will live on a shelf covered in preservatives […]

Making a case for fresh fruits: A phytonutrient goldmine

Fresh fruits are ripening up for the summer season and local farmers’ markets are booming with colorful sweet, tart, and mouth-watering melons, berries, apples, cherries, rhubarb, peaches, plums, and many other varieties of wholesome fruits.  This cornucopia of colors, textures, aromas and tastes appeal to not only the tastebuds, but also to the cells of […]

Could you be gluten intolerant?

  Discover 10 most common symptoms of Gluten Intolerance   Gluten-free seems to be the buzz word of late, but it’s with good reason.  Gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, spelt, kamut and oats is generally foreign to the gut lining, creating an inflammatory process by chipping away at the walls […]

Spice up your BBQ for the Health of it!

Spring is here, and with the advent of warm weather, the grills are getting dusted off and fired up for backyard barbeques. Grilling doesn’t have to be the standard hot dogs and hamburgers. It’s easy and healthy to grill chicken, salmon, steaks, scallops, shrimp, lobster, and even vegetables on the Barbie. Asparagus, potatoes, summer squash […]

Are Eggs Health Friendly? The Facts Revealed

For years, myths of health rumors revolving around eggs causing high cholesterol and increased risk for cardiovascular events circulated in the mainstream media.  Many stopped eating eggs altogether and poultry farmers took a hit.  What was once a key component of the American diet was suddenly taboo.  In recent years, however, extensive research is finding […]

Surviving Spring Break without Weight Gain

Spring break season is just around the corner, and as families, teens, and college students pack their bags, they can also not fret about packing on the pounds while vacationing by following a few basic tips.  Vacations and spring break are not the free ticket to gluttony.  When we’ve worked hard to get our beach-body […]

For The Love of Fiber

Fiber plays a vital role in our body’s internal health and well-being.  Helping solids to pass easily through the digestive tract, fiber also pulls toxins out of the intestines during the process of elimination.  In addition, its bulkiness absorbs cholesterol molecules which can help reduce the risk of heart disease.  And while we’re talking about […]

Fats: Good, Bad & the Ugly

Not every fat is created equal and not every fat needs be feared.  Understanding the difference between healthy fat sources and those that cause disease states (including high cholesterol, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, cataracts and even Alzheimer’s, among a host of other physical ailments),  is the key to finding which fats to incorporate into your […]

Fuel Right! Are you getting nutrient rich foods or empty calories?

A balanced diet is essential for proper functioning of the entire body.  We get calories from everything we eat, from coffee to lattes, shrimp to steak, fruits and vegetables, and everything in between.  What’s most important, however, is the source of the calorie, and understanding exactly what it constitutes.  If your diet is full of […]

Do You Suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome? (IBS)

If you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) you are not alone. This was once a relatively rare disorder. IBS now affects about 30 percent of the US population. IBS is the most common reason for a referral to a gastroenterologist. IBS is a malfunction in the digestive track causing bowel movements to be unpredictable and […]

Foods to Help You Fight Depression

Who would have guessed that what you eat could affect your mood? Eat these foods to ward off feelings of melancholy, especially during the coming winter months. Fish Fish are a fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids, including EPA and DHA. Omega-3s have a positive effect on the brain, providing it with healthy fat that […]

Maintaining your calm during the stress of the holidays

stressed woman

We’ve all heard recording music artist Andy Williams crooning to the 1963 holiday classic, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” on the radio. What Mr. Williams forgot to sing about was the stress that can arise during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Many people find the time between November 1st […]

The Importance of Healthy Dietary Fats

healthy eating

Just like a car needs to have regular oil and filter changes to run smoothly and efficiently, your body also needs regular healthy dietary fats and oils to keep it lubricated and running without aches, pains, or creaks.  Healthy fats and oils give your system a recharge, and are a wonderful boost to your nervous […]

Weighing in on Type 2 Diabetes & Gastric Bypass Surgery

Type 2 Diabetes is a chronic health problem that involves elevated blood sugar levels; if glucose levels become too elevated then they become toxic to the brain and other body organs.   Often diabetics can struggle with weight gain and find it very difficult to lose weight and obtain healthy glucose levels. Recent advertising states type […]

What you gain when you give up

Most mottos in life revolve around persevering. From motivational posters with slogans of praise to high school career counselors that encourage people to follow their dreams, our country is founded in the belief that never giving up will make us successful. That is all true. However, when it comes to making healthy choices, giving up, […]

A New Year, Another Broken Resolution

It’s mid way though January and many of us are already slowly breaking your gym routines and diet plans (unintentional, of course) and starting off the new year with broken resolutions.   According to time.com the number one most broken New Year’s Resolution is ‘Lose Weight and Get Fit’ with ‘Eat Healthier and Diet’ at number […]