Look around you the next time you’re sitting in a coffee shop, walking through a park, or shopping at the store. Several of the people you see may appear perfectly healthy, but inside something may already be changing.
Metabolic syndrome is becoming a growing problem around the world. And many people don’t even know they have it.
Your body may be struggling long before you feel sick.
Have you ever left a doctor’s appointment feeling relieved to finally have a diagnosis – but still wondering, “Why is this happening?”
Maybe you’ve been told you have IBS, prediabetes, Hashimoto’s, PCOS, chronic fatigue, or another chronic condition. Having a name for what you’re experiencing can be validating, yet it doesn’t always explain why your body began struggling in the first place.
That’s the question I believe deserves more attention.
My philosophy is simple:
Your symptoms aren’t the enemy. They’re your body’s attempt to get your attention. Real healing begins when you understand your body’s messages.
That belief is the foundation of my LISTEN Framework.
There is no doubt that the majority of households in America have a common over-the-counter (OTC) medication in their bathroom. OTC medications are conveniently available in a variety of stores, and the assumption is that they are safe. Yet there is mounting evidence that they can cause a range of adverse effects.
One prominent medication has been linked to roughly half of all cases of acute liver failure in the U.S. This is causing doctors like John Brems, MD, a professor of surgery at Loyola University in Chicago, to tell ABC News that “Acetaminophen is probably the most dangerous OTC drug in this country.”
True or false – eating turkey at Thanksgiving makes you sleepy? We’ve all heard the jokes about curling up in a recliner after a big holiday meal. Maybe you have been looking for a comfy place to take a nap. But I think it’s time that we stop blaming the poor turkeys and explore what is really happening.
What is it in turkey that’s blamed for making you sleepy? Tryptophan is what most people associate with turkey and sleep. That is because tryptophan is an amino acid that is a precursor for melatonin. However, that doesn’t mean that it works so quickly to cause sleepiness right after your meal.
There is a condition that affects over 15% of women in the United States and beyond our borders. On the outside, it appears as a confusing combination of weight gain, cystic acne, facial hair, and infertility. On the inside, it prompts exhaustion from mood swings and frustration from waning hope.
The diagnosis is PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), a confusing name we give to a hormone imbalance that may or may not present with “polycystic ovaries” – ovaries with multiple cysts. The journey with PCOS feels like a long, frustrating loop of symptoms, prescriptions, and vague answers.
Are you a woman living with PCOS? If so, you’ve likely heard phrases like “It’s just something you’ll have to manage for life” or “Here’s the birth control pill—take this and we’ll monitor things.” Sound familiar?
I’m here to say, you’re not alone. And more importantly, you’re not crazy for thinking there has to be a better way.
Most everyone is familiar with the cardiovascular system that helps to pump blood to the body’s tissues. Did you know there is another series of vessels that carry a clear liquid called lymph? It’s important to move your lymph to improve your health.
While nutrients and oxygen are delivered to the body through blood, lymph has the task of collecting waste, toxins, and debris while also distributing immune cells through the body. Keeping your lymph flowing smoothly is critical for your body’s wellbeing.
Your lymphatic system is a network of vessels and lymph nodes working together to carry fluids from your tissues to your blood. It is basically your body’s inner drainage system.
Do you have a friend (or two) who claims that “getting old sucks?” Many struggle with growing numbers of symptoms that they attribute to aging, but few realize that most of those symptoms are actually caused by inflammation. What about you? Are your symptoms aging or inflammation?
I firmly believe that many of the symptoms we attribute to age are avoidable. Some call this inflammation that comes with (or accelerates) aging “inflammaging.” Yet there is good news! With proper nutrition and lifestyle strategies, you can slow this inflamm-aging process and reduce your risk of health issues. Read more
We have just come through a holiday which is focused on gratitude, on giving thanks. Have you discovered the power of words on your life? Gratitude and praise lift the spirit. And do you remember the effect of hurtful words when you were a child … or even recently? Did they crush your spirit?
In his book, Love as a Way of Life, Gary Chapman uses an effective metaphor for words as being either bullets or seeds. When we speak with condemnation, our words act as bullets, tearing down relationships. Yet when we use our words as seeds, spoken in a supportive manner with good will for our audience, we are building relationship in positive, affirming ways. Read more
Do you have a friend or family member who follows a dairy-free approach to eating? Does it seem like an odd choice – one that feels slightly un-American? Do you really need milk?
We’ve all seen the “Got Milk” commercials and print ads, and I’m sure you heard your Mom tell you to drink your milk for strong bones. But is milk truly beneficial to your body? Maybe, maybe not. Read more
Do you have a firm grasp on the amount of sugar you consume? Most people do not. It’s been said that the average person consumes more than 40 pounds of sugar in a calendar year, but I found more updated information indicating that the average amount is actually closer to 150 pounds — quite alarming, don’t you think?
When we think of sugar, sweet desserts such as cakes, donuts, candy, and cookies come to mind immediately. But there are tremendous amounts of sugar hiding in everyday things we consume, and when we consume them regularly, they add up fast. Read more
