If you’re taking statin drugs to control cholesterol, you need to read this. From talking to patients, I’ve discovered that many people consider statins to be “miracle” drugs that allow them to eat anything they please without worrying about consequences. | Read More…
Serves 3 Time to prepare: 15 minutes Breakfast is so important that I’m always searching for tasty, nutritious recipes to make sure my family starts the day right. This oatmeal is loaded with ingredients known for their cholesterol-fighting abilities, including | Read More…
Probiotics are defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “Living microorganisms that provide a health benefit to the host when ingested in adequate amounts.” That fairly boring description hardly does justice to these tiny organisms, though. In fact, the | Read More…
Judging by the questions I’m getting from my patients and readers, there’s some confusion about fat, particularly the saturated variety. I’m not surprised. There are so many myths when it comes to fat, even doctors sometimes have a hard time | Read More…
Serves 1 Start your day with a hearty, good-fat filled smoothie made with coconut and flax seeds. It’s tasty, simple to make, and the combination of healthy fats and protein help to keep you feeling full longer than most breakfasts. | Read More…
If you’re confused about salt and the role it plays in health, you are not alone. I’ve gotten a number of e-mails recently asking for some clarification on salt, which is not surprising. Anyone with high blood pressure has probably | Read More…
Serves 4 Just because you’re going low-sodium doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy foods like French fries. Instead of super-salty frozen fries or restaurant versions, just make your own in the oven. The bonus here is that since these fries are | Read More…
Nearly every day, a patient or two asks me which supplements I consider most important. The answer really depends on the individual’s overall health and lifestyle, things such as diet, exercise, medications, sleep habits, and similar considerations. But as a | Read More…
You might have seen the headlines about a new study showing people who are overweight live longer. Now you may be wondering if you should bother with dieting or eating carefully. If extra weight extends life, why not whatever you | Read More…
If you’re like many of my patients, you’re concerned about your memory. It’s easy to understand why. Our memories are an essential part of who we are. Plus, it’s awfully frustrating – not to mention embarrassing – when memory fails | Read More…
During the past few years, we’ve seen how circumstances beyond anyone’s control can change everything in the blink of an eye. Just ask residents of New York or New Jersey, for example, many of whom are still reeling from the | Read More…
Salmon is an excellent source of good fats known as omega-3 fatty acids. Canned salmon (I prefer the small 5- or 6-ounce cans that do not contain bones or skin) is less expensive than fillets. It’s already cooked, so it’s | Read More…
With the holidays at hand, many people are focusing on the joys of the season. But as I mentioned in last week’s newsletter, the pressures of shopping and party-going need to be balanced with plenty of self-care and stress relief. | Read More…
Like so many of my patients, Stephen was doing everything he could to stay healthy. He exercised nearly every day, quit smoking, cleaned up his diet, and devoted time for meditation every day to reduce stress. In the eight years | Read More…
The holiday season may be weeks away, but now is a good time to plan a way around the typical overindulgence, bad choices, and weight gain. The holidays are a great excuse for going overboard, especially when it comes to | Read More…
These fries are so delicious, my family prefers them to the regular version. More importantly, sweet potatoes are a good source of magnesium, a nutrient most Americans are lacking. This essential mineral fights stress and benefits the heart, bones, skin, | Read More…
Save those seeds! Every time you prepare a squash or pumpkin, set aside the seeds for snacking. They’re easy to roast, plus squash and pumpkin seeds are full of nutritional goodness, including protein, good fats, and minerals like magnesium, potassium, | Read More…
Serves 4 Here’s a dilemma: Eating certain types of fish, such as salmon, trout, and herring, provides the good fats we need for better brain functions, among other things. But fish is also polluted with mercury, something none of us | Read More…
As a practicing physician, my patients frequently ask about dietary supplements, including vitamins and related substances. Here are the top two questions: Do I need to take vitamins? Which vitamins should I take? Since these topics come up so often, | Read More…
If you’re like most of my patients, you’ve probably looked over the alphabet soup of acronyms and abbreviations in your blood test results and wondered what it all means. So to empower my readers, here is a simplified guide to | Read More…
Here are two important statistics I’d like to share with you. First, every 45 seconds, someone in this country has a stroke. Second, as many as 80 percent of those strokes could have been prevented. Eighty percent! That is not | Read More…
“I was talking to my wife one evening when my left arm started feeling strangely wooden, like it was numb. Then my wife mentioned her sister, Debra, and I thought to myself, ‘Who the heck is she talking about?’ “As | Read More…
Don’t give up! High blood pressure medication is not the only answer. Try adding some meditation to your ordinary routine. Meditation is a wonderful activity that you can use anywhere to achieve a calming effect. You should also never underestimate | Read More…
Do you want some solutions to help you improve memory and brain function? If so, you’re far from alone. The majority of my middle-aged and older patients are concerned about staying mentally sharp. A client I’ll call Wayne summed it | Read More…
Kale, one of the underrated jewels of the produce department, is loaded with brain-beneficial substances, including compounds that fight inflammation, assist the liver with detoxification, and boost the immune system. Kale is also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, | Read More…
Fortunately, that’s not true. You can stop taking Lisinpril, but you would need to do it under the direction and guidance of a medical doctor. When I work with patients with high blood pressure, I always ask them, “When did | Read More…
While we need about 500 milligrams of sodium a day to stay healthy, excess sodium intake can cause you to retain fluid and may increase blood pressure. So it’s best to monitor how much sodium you eat. If you do | Read More…
Absolutely. Apple cider vinegar has a lot of different benefits. One of which is to remove calcium deposits in blood vessel walls. In fact, there was a study conducted on dairy cows that showed a positive change in the blood | Read More…
If you’ve ever dreamed of stopping Father Time, I have good news. The old guy may not be stoppable quite yet, but we do know how to slow him down — a lot! The average American already has a very | Read More…
Vanessa had been a patient for about ten years. At first, her only problem was maintaining a healthy weight. After a great deal of fad dieting and the birth of two children, Vanessa told me she had given up on | Read More…
As a practicing physician, my patients keep me on my toes with a steady stream of questions. One of the most common involves supplement recommendations, especially when it comes to which nutrients are most important. When I reply that fish | Read More…
When it comes to fish, halibut is a good alternative to salmon. This dish is quick and easy. Serve it with a mixed green salad and brown rice pilaf or oven-roasted potatoes. Serves 4 Ingredients: 1/4 cup extra virgin olive | Read More…
“I hope you know how to fix my knee without knee replacement surgery, because I really don’t want to do that, since I’m only 42.” Patty was a new patient who had come in for a physical. Like so many | Read More…
Gary had been my patient for about six years, and during that time, he steadily gained weight. Every time I mentioned it, Gary shrugged it off or made vague promises to “do something” about it. Finally, when his blood work | Read More…
Are you feeling weary? Are your hands or feet chilly, numb, or tingly even though the weather is warm? Does it seem like you’re not thinking clearly? The problem could be poor circulation, as my patient Doris discovered. The circulatory | Read More…
Millions of Americans are living with a deadly killer. The name of the villain: high blood pressure or hypertension. Many people who have high blood pressure don’t know it, because this disease is frequently asymptomatic. Even worse, others are aware | Read More…
“I’ve had cold hands and feet all my life, but this is something new,” said Doris, a retired accountant, who had come to my clinic because she was experiencing numbness in her hands. Although the feeling always returned, she was | Read More…
Jeff became a patient a few years ago after his twin brother, Jerry, had a stroke at age 67. Jeff and his brother both had high blood pressure and both had made only token efforts to control it. Now Jeff | Read More…
If the price of salmon steaks is preventing you from enjoying this healthy fish, don’t forget about canned salmon. While the bones in larger-size cans are edible, many people don’t like them. But check out the smaller (7 oz.) cans | Read More…
Imagine discovering that one of your best friends is a traitor. This person, who you’ve trusted for years, is suddenly doing terrible things behind your back — things that could make you very, very sick. That scenario describes inflammation. At | Read More…
