The best supplements for a healthy pregnancy and beyond Q: My husband and I are expecting our first child. What supplements should I be taking? Three key nutrients that every pregnant woman should think carefully about are calcium, omega-3s, and folic acid. Calcium Surprisingly, calcium needs don’t go up during pregnancy, but since most women Read More
Q: What are some natural things I can do to ease rheumatoid arthritis pain? Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease associated with inflammation. Irritating molecules that are released by different cells, especially immune cells in the body, cause inflammation. In a healthy person, these irritating molecules are an important weapon that the immune system uses Read More
Q: I’m only 40, but I feel much older. What could be causing this, and what can I do about it? Damage to cell membranes is what drives and accelerates the aging process. Every cell in the human body is surrounded by a membrane. Healthy membranes are vital for proper communication between and within cells. Read More
Q: Overtreating my hair with chemicals and heat has left it dull, lifeless, and prone to breakage. Help! A: Most women I know look to conditioners and styling products to improve the appearance of their hair, and these can be helpful, especially if they don’t contain harsh chemicals. However, the underlying health of hair is Read More
Q: I have fibrocystic breast disease. Is there anything I can do to reduce my risk of developing breast cancer? A: Breast cancer is a major fear for many women these days. The fear comes, in large part, from the fact that many have watched someone close to them succumb to this disease. Fortunately, there Read More
One on one with The Biggest Loser’s Bob Harper Personal trainer Bob Harper is well-known for whipping his teams into shape on NBC’s hit reality show The Biggest Loser, beginning its 13th season this fall. His motivational style has earned him a wide following, not only with viewers, but also with scores of fitness enthusiasts Read More
Q. I hear conflicting messages about cholesterol’s link to heart health. What’s the truth? How can I lower my risk of heart attack? A. There are several hundred risk factors for heart disease that are not being evaluated or treated. Addressing only the “traditional” five risk factors—blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and smoking—still leaves Read More
Q. How can I improve my digestive health? A. If I had my way, gut health would garner the same amount of attention as heart disease or Alzheimer’s. But that’s not the case—yet. Estimates show that as many as 90 million Americans have gastrointestinal problems. People take their guts for granted. They abuse them and Read More
Q. How can I keep my kids from getting sick this year? A. In my office, when flu season starts, I make it simple—eat more fruits, vegetables, and seafood, and go outside and play. I tell patients I want them to get more of what I call the “Five S’s”: Seafood (especially salmon) Salads Smoothies Read More
Q: I have really horrible, painful periods. Ibuprofen doesn’t even touch them. Help! A: Run-of-the-mill menstrual cramps are caused by clots of tissue (the monthly shedding of the uterine lining, called the endometrium) pushing through the muscular cervix at the base of the uterus. I prefer 500–1000 mg of magnesium two to three times daily Read More
