The various properties of milk that may adversely affect health.  Paradoxically, milk has a low glycemic response, but has an insulin response similar to eating a chocolate chip cookie or candy. In a recent study of young boys, they became insulin resistance after 7 days on a high milk diet compared to 7 days of a [...] […]

Each time we eat, insulin is released into the bloodstream. This vital hormone, secreted by special cells in the pancreas, encourages our tissues – our muscles in particular – to gobble up the glucose surging through the bloodstream after we eat a meal.   That’s good news, because glucose hanging around in the blood is dangerous stuff. [...] […]

The basics about nightshade foods Potatoes, tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, eggplant, tomatillos, tamarios, pepinos, pimentos, paprika, cayenne, and Tabasco sauce are classified as nightshade foods. A particular group of substances in these foods, called alkaloids, can impact nerve-muscle function and digestive function in animals and humans, and may also b […]

As a Naturopathic Doctor, I am often confronted with chronic diseases that precipitate, or are precipitated by inflammation. Some of these include arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, flu or flu-like symptoms, cancer, and pain related conditions. These are often generated by lifestyle choices, unwarranted exposures, daily stressors, travel, and chemical […]

Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCT) oils are a special class of fats that are digested and handled by the body in a different way than most fats. Most fats are long-chain triglycerides which are difficult to process, so the body prefers to store them in fat cells. MCT oils are absorbed in the bloodstream, passing the digestion process [...] […]

You have probably tried several other weight loss plans. When they have failed, it is probably because the plan addressed only one aspect of weight control and did not address the fact that your body itself might be working against your efforts. For many people, weight control has been an elusive, self-punishing struggle for which there [...] […]

Are sugar substitutes really as good as we would like to believe? There are many “naturally derived” sugars or substitutes such as Truvia, Stevia, Xylitol, and Agave, but how do they interact in the body? Stevia in its raw form was deemed safe for the human system in small amounts, but the body cannot metabolize [...] […]

Seasonal Influenza, H1N1, and even the “common cold” are seemingly inevitable.  Questions arise regarding the ability to lower the risk of infection as well as methods which may shorten the duration of illness should one become infected. In this email we will address some measures, known and unknown, which are possible alternatives to prevention. Stress:  St […]

Despite the many side effects that medications have, another reason that adds to their health-hindering disadvantages are the nutrients that they deplete from the body. Three of the most common drug types (antibiotics, antidepressants, and oral contraceptives) are among the many that readily add to the cascade of nutrient deficiencies. The knowledge that lon […]

Chocolate and cocoa contain a high level of flavanoids and/or antioxidants, specifically epicatechin , which may have beneficial cardiovascular effects on health. The ingestion of flavonol-rich cocoa is associated with acute elevation of circulating nitric oxide, enhanced flow-mediated vasodilation, and increased microcirculation. . According to research at […]