Radio Naturopath Episode 373: The Pros and Cons of Sugar

This week we talked about SUGAR, because the eating season has started! Mmmm, Halloween candy. And now Thanksgiving is upon us and it's officially the holiday season. Sirius XM already has its holiday channels playing! So, we talked about the pros and cons of sugar. I've come to the conclusion that if you deprive people completely of sweets, they will crave them and want to eat more. Even people on ketogenic diets have chocolatey goodies with sugar alcohols in them! However, if you eat too much sugar, it can lead to various illnesses, ranging from fatigue and mood disorders, to acne, to heart disease and cancer! So, of course, moderation is key.

Radio Naturopath Episode 275: The President Has COVID-19; Overweight/Obesity and COVID-19 and Risk Reduction

President Trump has contracted COVID-19. As is often the case when a president falls ill, there seems to be some confusion and protection about the president's actual health status. I wish him well and a full, speedy recovery, and same to the at last count 22 White House staff who have also contracted the virus. I expect there will be more. But I believe that the President and all of his staff and advisors behaved irresponsibly. In the time of a pandemic, or in any crisis or situation where there are leaders, it is incumbent upon the leaders to set a good example. By not wearing or requiring masks, by holding outdoor and indoor events without masking or social distancing, the president and his staff put countless people at risk. This virus is mild to most and deadly to some, and when anyone contracts it they don't know which they'll be. I believe that the Trump administration set a poor example for the American people in not taking COVID-19 seriously, and now that the president and many of those around him have shown that their actions definitely result in contracting the virus, they need to change their approach. From a public health, leadership, and human standpoint, the Trump administration has failed to set a good example for the American people. This is NOT how to lead. They should have been masking, encouraging and modeling physical distancing, and following the science. Let's hope that going forward they change their ways. 

Also, it is unfortunate to report that overweight and obesity contribute to the outcome of COVID-19. People with obesity are more than 2x as likely to be hospitalized, have 75% greater risk of going to the ICU, and 48% greater risk of dying. This does not mean that ALL overweight/obese people will have severe disease, but a greater percentage. I talk about ways to mitigate the risk using basic health practices, eating whole foods, hygiene, and supplementation. 

Radio Naturopath Episode 257: Coronavirus, Leaky Blood Vessels, Hypertension, Obesity, Diabetes and Clots

This week I talked about how it's important to keep your endothelium intact! That's the lining of the inside of your blood vessels. If it's leaky, the virus can get in, damage the pericytes that keep your blood vessels elastic, cause more leakage, and encourage clots! This is very bad for people who have chronic inflammation, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. We talk about how to keep those blood vessels strong to help to prevent that from happening with foods, supplements, and activity.

There has also been concern that people taking ACE inhibitors and ARBS for their blood pressure increase their ACE2 receptors, giving more sites in the lungs for the virus to bind. So is it a good idea to keep taking those drugs? Listen and find out! 

Radio Naturopath Episode 252: Happy 4/20! Cannabis, Coronavirus, Inflammation; Obesity in the USA

Well, TODAY is 4/20/20, so we thought we'd talk about CHOCOLATE. No, I'm kidding, of course it's Cannabis Day in the USA! So we talked about the benefits of CBD for pain and inflammation, and that it possibly calm the inflammation of the coronavirus. It also can help with anxiety during the pandemic. We also discussed weight during the pandemic, some suggestions to ease it, and the fact that we're up to 42% obesity in the USA.

Radio Naturopath Episode 237: Obesity and Flu Susceptibility, HDL and Cholesterol Efflux Capacity, Why Thanksgiving is Good For You!

I read an interesting article about how obesity causes people to have more difficulty fighting influenza, and to make antibodies when given the flu vaccine, so I talk about other steps that you can take. It’s not just about how much HDL you have, but how efficiently your HDL removes cholesterol from your arteries, known as Cholesterol Efflux! Also, health benefits of all your favorite Thanksgiving foods.

Radio Naturopath Episode 134: Diverticulitis, WHY and HOW to Get Started with Exercise

Michele from Tolland called and asked me to talk about diveriticulitis, so I waxed eloquent about the subject, and even explained the difference between diverticulITIS and diverticulOSIS. Then, a treatise on WHY and HOW to get started with exercise! It reduces morbidity and mortality AT LEAST from heart disease, diabetes, obesity, mood, and much much more!