Radio Naturopath Episode 474: New Year's Resolutions You Can Actually Keep!

This week we talked about New Year's Resolutions that are actually accessible, that you can keep. Stuff like: eating more whole foods, cooking more meals at home, finding exercise you enjoy, add in a little bit of meditation, get more good sleep. Notice that NONE of these are LOSE WEIGHT! Having weight loss as a goal just makes you nuts, and you never know if it's actually going to happen. However, eating a healthy meal and exercising are things you can do TODAY. That's the focus! Develop some good lifestyle habits now, and before you know it you'll be feeling great, regardless of your weight!

Radio Naturopath Episode 167: Interview with Jessica Tracy: The Michael J. Fox Foundation, Parkinson's Disease, and Running Rock the Ridge

Today we had Jessica Tracy, who's the recreation director at the Mansfield Community Center on, and is a  Certified Athletic Trainer and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Her dad has Parkinson's disease, so finding a cure has become a passionate cause for her. She is working to support the Michael J. Fox Foundation's work in finding a cure. This organization uses 100% of its funds to do research. We talked about the disease itself, symptoms, existing treatments, and some naturopathic adjunctive therapy.  We also talked about Rock the Ridge, a 50 mile adventure run that Jessica is doing for the fourth time this year, with her family running as a team, and how people can support them. They can use this link: https://fundraise.michaeljfox.org/rock-the-ridge-2018/todandthekits. It's a great organization and a great cause, and I was thrilled to have Jessica on to talk about helping to heal Parkinson's disease! 

Radio Naturopath Episode 164: IUD's Post Partum, Storrs (and other) Farmers' Markets, What's Stopping Your Weight Loss

I went on a rant about why you shouldn't use IUD's post partum and while nursing. If you use the progestin ones, they block progesterone receptors and can lead to/aggravate post partum depression! They  and the copper ones can also just cause inflammation, which you don't need right after giving birth. Time for barrier methods!

Salute to the STORRS FARMERS MARKET, which was SUPER FUN last week. We talked about who was there, and the other markets everyone should check out. 

And what's stopping your weight loss? Part of it is TIME. Suddenly it's March and people haven't been paying attention, and the weather gets nice and they notice. It's going to take time, and by this time next month you'll be a little lighter, because the light, more activity, and less heavy food. So be patient!

Radio Naturopath Episode 158: Chocolate, Cocoa and Your Health: How It's Good For You!

 I talked a little about the origins of Valentine's Day, which aren't so great. Like, did you know that the Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia from February 13-15, during which time the main took goats and sheep and hit women with them? The women would line up for it, because they thought it would help their fertility! And then, the emperor Claudius executed two different dudes named Valentine two different years on February 14. Shakespeare helped to make it more of a romantic holiday. Thank goodness.

So CHOCOLATE. The higher flavanol content, the more antioxdants! Flavanols can protect against cardiovascular disease by lowering cholesterol and improving cardiac function. The antioxidant activity helps them to protect against cancer. They also help to regulate blood sugar, and improve cognition! Chocolate makes you healthy AND smart. But you have to eat the dark kind to get the antoxidant benefit. And if you eat at least 40 g/day (1.4 oz, or 1/2 to slightly more than 1/2 of a 70%+ chocolate bar/day), you can increase your exercise performance!