Health Blog

By Edison de Mello, MD, PhD   It’s that time of year again – the holiday “eating season.” And, while lots of people think the holidays are the most wonderful time of year, your gut may disagree. This time of the year people flood their system with rich, sugary foods – and that can lead to digestive issues, low immune function, and plenty of weight gain. In fact, Americans gain an average of 5 pounds between Thanksgiving and the New Year.   SO HOW DO YOU AVOID STRESSING YOUR GUT OUT OVER THE HOLIDAYS?   1 - START SMART Starting each...

By Bren Boston, M.D. I am always searching for ways to get my kids to eat more vegetables. Beets are a good option because they are naturally sweet and they are an enticing magenta color. Add to that the health benefits of beets:  they are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and betaine, an anti-inflammatory nutrient that helps protect cells from environmental stress. And when I mention to my kids that beets are a source of sugar, they hop on board. You can make this salad dairy free by eliminating the cheese or adding crumbled tofu in its place. Ingredients: 1.5 cups...

Just getting psyched is not enough. Both commitment and skills are necessary to make changes and follow through on them. Naturally, the first step is to really nail down your goal and expectations. Your goal should be clear and measurable and realistic – not drop 30lbs in a month or stop being angry with your children. With regard to expectations, people do not magically change overnight, so plan to spend a few months of focused effort to create lasting change. Goals that focus on stopping a behavior are harder to achieve than goals focused on increasing a healthy alternate behavior. So set up reasonable, clearly defined, long-term, and health promoting goals.