Radio Naturopath Episode 428: Detox Preview: Sarcopenia: Keep Your Muscle Mass!

This week we previewed next week's talk, which will be about detoxification, especially as it relates to tick borne illness. We'll review everything from binders to epsom salt baths. Our focus for THIS week was on sarcopenia: muscle loss, especially due to aging. If you want to maintain muscle mass, you've got to move it or lose it! However, ANYONE can increase muscle mass at any age, and there are studies that show that. Retaining muscle mass is a predictor for healthy aging. So eat your protein, get your rest, and GET MOVING! 

Radio Naturopath Episode 406: Spinal Stenosis, Herniated Discs and How to Help Heal Them

This week, of course, we talked more about spinal stenosis, which I hope I don't have. I'm guessing I don't because I did not have nerve symptoms until about 2 weeks ago, so mine is from an acute injury. There's a lot that you can do shy of getting surgery, which often has a 4-6 week recovery time and risks. You can stretch, ice, heat, take anti-inflammatory meds, eat an anti-inflammatory diet, do yoga, meditate, do yoga nidra, go to the chiropractor, get massage, acupuncture, and much more! When a nerve is involved IT JUST TAKES TIME. And I am impatient! Who wants to be in pain and laid up? Anyway, I'll do all the things, and report back.

Radio Naturopath Episode 405: Supplements for Atherosclerosis; Spinal Stenosis and Disc Disease

Today we talked about a few supplements for atherosclerosis, then went on to discuss back issues. We're "back" to spinal stenosis, which is what my mom has, and herniated/bulging discs, which is what I have.  There's lots you can do shy of surgery. My mom is having minimally invasive injections to her spine; I'm trying to avoid that, and taking supplements like magnesium, curcumin, SPMs, and phosphatidylserine. I'm also having chiropractic and did a float tank, where you lie in a bath with 1100 lb. of Epsom salt and float for an hour! NO PAIN the whole time you're in there! It doesn't fix it immediately but it helps a lot. I also have been doing Yoga Nidra which reduces the pain through stress reduction. I'll keep us posted on all the things I try.

Radio Naturopath Episode 391: Back Pain: The Ol' Reach 'n' Seize; ApoB100 and Cardiovascular Health

Last week, I did the ol' Reach 'n' Seize with my low back. You know how you were just fine a minute ago, then you reached for the mayo in the fridge and your back just SEIZED UP and now it hurts to tie your shoes? Well, I did that a week ago, only I was on my bike trainer and reached for the iPad. I was very fortunate to be able to see the chiropractor that day. I talked about what can lead up to that, how to prevent it, and nutrition, exercise, and topicals to use to help it. 

We then finally got started on cardiovascular issues, and focused on Apolipoprotein B100. This is an important measure that most doctors don't do. Specifically, if your doctor is about to order you statins or you've already been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, it's important to know your ApoB100/ApoAOA1 ratio. The ApoB carries LDL, while A carries HDL, which is cardioprotective. If you have high cholesterol but also a low ApoB/A ratio, you have much lower cardiovascular risk! More on cardiovascular issues next week.

Radio Naturopath Episode 383: Too Much Sitting is Bad For You and How to Fix It

This week we talked about how much SITTING people do, at desks, computers, and on couches. It's just not good for your cardiovascular health, and it raises your blood sugar. Conversely, if you sit a lot and get up periodically, you can mitigate these effects! A little stretching, exercise, and walking around has been found to DRAMATICALLY decrease the health risks associated with sitting. So walk up the stairs, down the hall, outside, or just get up and stretch!

Radio Naturopath Episode 381: Journaling for Health, Easy Ways to Reduce Stress

We talked about the health benefits of journaling. From organizing your thoughts, to objectively stepping back from things that upset you, to planning for your upcoming life, it can really help with your health! Journaling has been studied to reduce stress. It's a simple thing to do help with your life!

We also talked about all kinds of ways to reduce stress. Like, journaling! Also, some unsurprising things like deep breathing, yoga, massage, napping, time with pets, cuddling. 

Radio Naturopath Episode 370: Prevention and More Natural Back Pain Help, RIP Chris DiPaola

This week it's Back to the Back. Back pain is so prevalent and it's such a big topic that I talked about prevention, and also went in depth regarding my ER visit. Yoga, tai chi, planks, core exercises, herbs, diet, REST, all of these are helpful for back pain!

I also did a tribute to my dear friend and colleague Chris DiPaola, who died suddenly on Friday morning, October 14. He was 49 years old. He founded the radio station WBLQ in Westerly, RI, where I broadcasted Radio Naturopath from 1999 to 2001. He was very kind to me and took me on the day that he met me, and it was a lot of fun being part of the WBLQ family. He started WBLQ as a community station, and over the years was able to get a better spot on the dial and realized his dream of becoming a commercial station. He was a pillar of the Westerly community, involved in local business and charitable causes. I and the rest of teh WBLQ community are shocked and heartbroken at his loss.

https://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/westerly/chris-dipaola-the-voice-of-westerly-remembered-for-his-reliability-love-of-radio/article_b542a5f0-4bc3-11ed-b85f-d7cd5530b9cd.html

Radio Naturopath Episode 369: Hurricane Ian, Managing Low Back Pain

This week I talked about, surprise, what it was like to experience a hurricane! Being in Florida during a hurricane is not really a vacation. First there's prep, then there's anxiously awaiting, then there's scarily enduring, and then there's the aftermath. Fortunately, my mom's house has good construction so we weathered the storm well. No electricity for only 3 days, and no internet for a week! My heart goes out to those who lost lives, were injured, or lost homes and property. Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, and North Port were tragically damaged.

This week's health topic was low back pain. I had some a couple of weeks ago that put me in the ER thinking I had a kidney stone, but it was just my spondylosis acting up! The pain can be that bad! So, we discussed how it happens, conventional treatment, and began to discuss natural support for low back pain. We'll continue with more natural help next week.

Radio Naturopath Episode 363: Why You Should Practice Deep Breathing, What Is Fatty Liver?

This week we started out by discussing why deep breathing is good for you. There are so many reasons, but the main ones are that you lower cortisol, which in excess is destructive to body tissues, and you increase the amout of oxygen that goes to your brain and all of your organs, causing them to all function so much better! We discuss deep breathing anytime anywhere, guided meditation, counted breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, and more. Such an easy way to improve your health!

We then started a discussion of fatty liver, what it is and how it happens. We'll get into a discussion of how to fix it next week. The liver is amazingly resilient!

Radio Naturopath Episode 357: Yin Yoga For Your Back, Eggplants and Berries Are Good For You

Today I talked more about yin yoga and how it's a simple thing that most people can do especially to help improve their back health, Great relaxing and stretching! I also talked about the Bounty of the Season. I started off with eggplant, just because it will be available soon and it's surprisingly good for you. I moved on to EVERY BERRY: blueberry, strawberry, blackberry, and also cherries! High in antioxidants and great superfoods, and so many great ways to eat them this time of year!