Ah yes, the excesses of the holiday season are over… now it’s time to commit to a new and better you.  What are your resolutions this year — quitting smoking, eating better, exercising more?

Whatever your resolutions are, take a moment to step back and look at the process of change itself.  Although human psychology is vastly complex,

Many aspects of our modern lives put us under a lot of stress — and that can tax the capacity of our adrenal glands.  These walnut-sized glands sit on top of our kidneys, and produce hormones such as cortisol and DHEA to help us deal with stressors.  As stress becomes prolonged,

Last week, I wrote about weighing the risk vs. benefit for any type of preventative therapy.  A new study on breast cancer risk factors sheds some light on the best places to focus efforts for prevention.  This is important, since:

1. Women face a 1 in 8 lifetime risk of developing breast cancer,

…is that most what you hear about them is exaggerated.  I mean, what are your risks, really?

There are a lot of claims for preventative therapies out there, both conventional and alternative.  The first step to deciding what is best for your health is to really understand the risk vs. benefit,

OK, so I know I go on and on about the importance of exercise.  But it’s worth reinforcing, especially since our entire modern American culture is geared toward inactivity:  at work (desk jobs) or leisure (TV, computer, or other “screen” of your choice).

The latest scientific research, from the journal Circulation,

This time of year brings all sorts of emotions for folks — most warm and fuzzy, but there can also be quite a bit of sadness as well.  I heard a recent radio interview with integrative medicine expert Andrew Weil, MD, that perfectly summed up my own thoughts about depression and how to approach it.

I’ve often mentioned that exercise is my favorite supplement, since it has so many health benefits.  One of the most obvious benefits of exercise is weight loss, since we burn calories with exercise.  In the balance between reducing food intake and increasing exercise for weight loss, watching food portions generally gives more bang for the buck.

You’ve probably heard a lot (either from me or other sources) about the benefits of vitamin D:  decreased heart disease risk, better blood sugar control, decreased risk of autoimmune disease, less chronic pain and depression…. just for starters.

“What supplement can I take to replace my medication?”
This is a question I hear all the time as a doctor of naturopathic medicine.  People are often surprised when I tell them that I try to use as few pills as possible — whether pharmaceuticals or supplements.  The foundations of health start with a healthy lifestyle:  diet,

Ah, Thanksgiving:  the holiday where we pause and reflect on what we are truly grateful for.

Okay, that took about 30 seconds… now bring on the FOOD!

On a day where food plays such a prominent role, remember that even today, moderation can make a big difference.  The easiest place to start is portion size:

• A serving of meat (such as turkey) is 3 ounces —