Did you know you can bring your closet-full of supplements in for a “supplement review” with Dr. Whyte? He’ll make sure all your supplements, and their dosages, are the most effective and work in conjunction with your prescribed medications.
Mention this article and you’ll receive a 50% discount off a Supplement review, normally $80.
Call Today
(203) 708-9299
This is a super tasty recipe for summer that is quick and easy to make, using a plentiful, in season vegetable. This versatile dish can be served as a vegetarian main course, a side dish, or even as an appetizer. It’s also healthy for you!
Serves 4 or more, depending upon how you use it. Adapt the recipe as needed for more diners.
You'll Need:
One medium to large unpeeled eggplant (look for wider rather than longer)
3 tbs olive oil
6 to 8 ounces of ricotta cheese
One or two fresh tomatoes
Lots of minced garlic
Salt and pepper
Fresh, sharp parmesan cheese
Fresh basil
Slice the eggplant thinly if using as a side dish, thicker (about ½ to ¾ inch) if using as a main dish. Salt each side liberally and set aside for 30 to 45 minutes, then rinse well and pat dry. This process removes some of the eggplant’s bitter taste, but also ensures that it doesn’t absorb too much oil.
Next, brown the eggplant in the olive oil using a heavy bottomed, non-stick frying pan. You can also brown them in the broiler, placing them in a single layer on a cookie sheet, brushing them with a light coating of olive oil, and then turning them when the first side is brown.
Once browned, cover each slice of eggplant with a generous layer of ricotta cheese, and then a layer of minced garlic (I love garlic and really lay it on thick here). Next add a slice of tomato, more garlic, salt and pepper and finally, top with a generous layer of shredded parmesan cheese. Place on cookie sheet(s), sprinkle on any leftover olive oil and place under the broiler until the parmesan is bubbling hot and browned, but keep it low enough from the flame so the lower layers warm nicely. Remove from the oven, sprinkle a few pinches of chopped basil on top and serve immediately.
If you’re feeling creative you can make variations of this recipe by substitution or including layers of prosciutto, sausage, onions, roasted red peppers, pesto, and favorite spices. You can also try slicing the eggplant length wise and assembling it in a casserole dish, baking it until it everything melts into a yummy mixture of the combined flavors.
Do you have a favorite summer recipe you'd like to share with our readers? Click the "comments" button below and type it in. Thanks in advance for your input!
MediCalm™ Pain Relief Therapy Can Restore It
The Center For Health Renewal is very pleased to be offering a revolutionary new solution for chronic pain. Introducing MediCalm™ Pain Relief Therapy, a safe, effective, non-invasive therapy for patients suffering with severe pain, including oncologic and neuropathic pain resistant to morphine and other harmful narcotic painkillers.
MediCalm™ Therapy is based on the Calmare MC-5A Therapy device that has been successfully used in Europe for several years. Newly FDA approved and now available in the US, this therapy and the remarkable science behind it is truly pioneering. Its results are equally extraordinary. What’s more, our office is the only local facility to offer MediCalm™ Pain Relief Therapy. Explained most simply, MediCalm™ Therapy actually creates new neurons that carry a No-Pain message to your brain, canceling out the ingrained pain messages that have turned your symptoms into a chronic state.
We have organized all the information about this new treatment: how it works and why it works, patient testimonials, and downloadable research studies with result graphs, on a new web site that we highly encourage you to visit. Equally important, this new site also explains what MediCalm™ Pain Relief therapy is not, because it truly is unlike anything ever offered before in the realm of pain relief here in the US.
We’ve all seen advertisements from pain relief centers touting new devices that are really nothing more than previously offered treatments available in a different form. Our MediCalm™ Therapy is genuinely new, completely ground breaking, highly effective, and entirely safe. Visit the new site. Learn why this new therapy is so unique and successful, and see how MediCalm™ could be the solution for your chronic pain or for someone you care about. Here's the link: www.MediCalmPainReliefTherapy.com
More Information about MediCalm™ fees and other discounts are available on the new web site.
If you love chocolate, and who doesn’t, go for the dark. Studies have shown that dark chocolate is actually good for us. One heroic element in dark chocolate is cocoa phenols which helps lower high blood pressure. Chocolates made in Europe are generally richer in cocoa phenols than those made in the U.S. Another is flavanols, antioxidants that help repair damage done by free radicals, and help prevent arteries from becoming blocked by blood platelets.
Milk added to chocolate negates the helpful nature of the cocoa bean and white chocolate really isn’t chocolate at all.
All dark chocolates are not created equal. Cocoa contents can vary from 10 percent to as high as 94 percent per bar. Processing methods can lower flavanol levels so aim for a minimum of 60 percent cocoa. The higher the cocoa levels the deeper the flavor is as well. Quality chocolate is made with cocoa butter and milk fat. If vegetable oil or hydrogenated oil is included, skip it. Also check the label for zero trans-fats. And remember, even though it has healthy elements, dark chocolate is still high in calories, on average 250 calories per 1.5 ounces – about the size of a 1/3 inch of business cards. (OK, not the whole bar, but I’ll take it!)
All this label reading can feel like a drag, but it’s so worth it. You not only get to eat chocolate guilt -free, but your health benefits as well. Plus, if you give your Valentine the “good” chocolate, you may receive hugs rather than a whack on the head with the box.
After our piece on homeopathy and its effects upon the immune system appeared in last month’s newsletter, I’ve been asked about other uses for homeopathic remedies. With two very active little girls (dare I say “Tomboys?”) most of the homeopathy we use in my home focuses on first aid for injuries.
So, we've created a list of our most commonly needed and applied remedies and essential information to enable you to make treatment decisions in a first-aid situation, at home or on the playing field. We've also made a summary list of these remedies and their applications. Both are available in PDF formats for you to download and keep on hand. You'll find links to these downloads at the end of this article.
If you need to refresh your memory about how homeopathic remedies work and why they are such a terrific healing tool you can read last month’s article by clicking here. But be sure to return to this piece to learn about the recommended contents of your first aid kit.
Prescribing homeopathy is as much an art as it is a science. While we know the power and useful applications of the different remedies, unlike conventional western medicine, those who prescribe homeopathic remedies are less likely to see them as a “one product fits all” solution. That is to say, homeopathy recognizes the individual’s personal and physiological temperament as an active ingredient in the overall chosen solution. You may, with practice, discover that a given remedy for bruises is quite effective for your family, however, a different remedy works even better for an individual family member.
It’s important to read over the indications for each remedy a number of times to really get to know its “picture,” which is worth a thousand words, right?
Safe dosages range from 6c to 30c, four times a day. As an immediate response to an injury, it is safe to give the patient a dose every 15 minutes up to four times, followed by the regular dose spacing.
Another great thing about these remedies is that they are tremendously safe and have almost no risk of adverse reactions. The information and instructions contained in this article are enough for one to safely administer these remedies effectively, with confidence in the correct choice of remedy and its dosage. That said, it is always advisable to have a medical professional examine someone after a severe or even moderate trauma–when in doubt, play it safe and get a medical evaluation, especially when it comes to head injuries.
A complete kit of all the mentioned remedies is available through our office for only $130.00 You can download for free the guide lising complete descriptions of all the remedies in the Home Frist Aid Kit, including the Quick Reference Guide using this link.
Download Homeopathy Home First Aid Kit & Quick Reference Chart
Note: Most of these remedies have indications in addition to the ones listed here for physical injuries. If you want to learn more, a good place to start is http://nationalcenterforhomeopathy.org/
As a child I was never a very picky eater, but there were certain things that I just couldn’t stomach, including brussels sprouts. I would do anything to avoid them. When I tried to leave them or a similarly disliked food untouched, I would be told to eat everything on my plate because there were poor, starving children in Africa with no food at all who would be very happy to have brussels sprouts.
I couldn’t really figure out how my eating the food they were missing out on, or even pretending to enjoy it, helped the kids in Africa so finally one day I asked, with complete sincerity, why we didn’t just send the brussels sprouts to Africa. My mom looked at me thoughtfully, and said, “You know, that’s a good point.” I never had to eat brussels sprouts again and boy was I grateful.
Of course my mom had a point too. She was trying to teach me the importance of being appreciative, a necessary attribute for truly recognizing and enjoying the goodness in our lives. It also allows us to value and support the best efforts of those who contribute to our daily wellbeing.
Forcing me to eat food I truly found to be foul, however, wasn’t going to teach me these qualities. Acknowledging that I had choices beyond brussels sprouts helped me become more appreciative. Knowing we are fortunate, or even fortunate enough, is key to knowing how to be happy.
Many cultures, including the one my mother grew up in, fostered an understanding of gratitude as a kind of talisman woven of fear and superstition. Because life could always be worse, being grateful for what one had could possibly advert that unknown “worse” from happening. And if one “suffered gladly,” they may even be more respected by a higher power.
There certainly is truth to the notion that things could always be worse. Life is filled with a flow of ups and downs, joy and suffering, ying and yang. However, gratitude is really more about “living gladly,” than enduring pain with a smile. True gratitude is a powerful way to not only successfully mine the opportunities within any given situation, be it deemed good or bad at the time, it’s also a powerful means for creating more ups than downs in our daily lives. Gratitude empowers us to be co-creators of our lives.
For many of us, our memories of things long past or of the day we just finished, are dominated by more negative thoughts than positive ones, especially in contentious and trying times. “Practicing gratitude,” means interrupting this flow of negative thoughts to allow room for positive events to be recognized and given their due. Going to bed thinking of all the good things that happened that day is a better habit that not only brings peace of mind, but also better sleep and thus better health, not to mention a better next day. Successfully shifting our focus upon positives also alters one’s perspective enough to give more credence to the possibilities that exist in situations or events that were habitually perceived as negatives.
By choosing to allow joy to be a prominent and powerful presence in our conscious and unconscious thoughts, we are not eradicating hardships or glossing over pain. Instead, gratitude helps us create and invest more energy in positive realities, which goes forward to create and foster more positive realities and thus more joyful lives. We also have then more “capable energy” and hope when hardships do occur.
By focusing on what we love and enjoy, and recognizing its worth through gratitude, we bring a healthy peace and wellbeing to our bodies and souls, and to those around us with whom we share our appreciation.
Learning to rethink how we see our situations can take practice. Here’s an exercise that can be helpful and fun.
Ask yourself how many red cars drove past your house today? Inevitably, you’ll say you don’t have any idea. You can’t know because you weren’t looking for red cars. Gratitude is like keeping an eye out for red cars, or whatever positive happy moments and occurrences are your own “red cars,” and giving them not just a nod of recognition, but also allowing the good feelings they create to sink in and stay with you. The definition of your “red cars” could also begin to grow. You may empower yourself to decide that maroon cars contain lot more red than you had noticed before, and silver cars are certainly red when something red reflects and shines off of them.
Basic physics prove that what has more energy invested in it simply has more energy, and thus more power. Practical logic and experience tells us the same. Gratitude is a means of celebrating the good in our lives, and thus imbuing it with the energy to flourish, and for us to flourish with it.
Philosopher and author, Dr. Jean Houston has written, “At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of possibilities.” Gratitude is one type of this laughter. Be it broad and obvious or a reverent, inner observation, the universe hears it and responds.
Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving!
Michele Russell
Dried figs and cinnamon add exotic flavor to this cold-weather dessert. It’s a healthy and delicious contribution to any holiday meal that’s quick and easy to prepare.
6 baking apples, such as Granny Smith, Braeburn or Rome Beauty
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
¼ cup melted butter
¾ cup chopped walnuts
½ uncooked regular oats
¼ cup diced dried figs (about 4 to 5 dried figs)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter
½ cup apple juice or water
Ground Cinnamon, cinnamon sticks, sweetened whipped cream and fresh lemon balm sprigs, for garnish.
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cut a thin slice from the bottom of each apple, forming a flat surface. Cut ¼ to ½ inch off the top of each apple. Core apples, starting at stem end, without cutting through opposite end. Scoop out pulp to remove remaining core and to create a cavity for stuffing, leaving most of the inside of the apple intact around this cavity. Brush exposed inner flesh of apple with lemon juice.
3. Combine melted butter and honey in a medium bowl. Stir in walnuts, oats, figs and cinnamon; stuff each apple cavity with mixture, filling above the top edge of cavity. Place apples in a baking dish. Top each apple with a thin slice of butter; pour apple juice around apples. Cover pan tightly with aluminum foil.
4. Bake 30 to 40 Minutes or until apples are tender when pierced with a fork. Remove foil and continue to bake 10 to 20 minutes or until apples are soft. Garnish as desired; dress the plate with a dollop of whipped cream and dust cream and apple with ground cinnamon, place cinnamon sticks and/or lemon balm on plate.
Hi Everyone,
This morning I spoke to a patient who recently saw a friend of hers at a party who works in the pharmaceutical industry. When she asked him about the H1N1 vaccine he responded, "In my opinion its a bunch of BS. We just saw a huge opportunity to make a lot of money."
After hearing how many families from my daughter's class are getting sick right now, and running into a fellow class parent and friend today who shared her anxiety about the potential effect on her child with asthma, I felt an obligation to write further about this. (And I've re-written this 3 times already, and decided to spare you my diatribe about special interest groups and mis-information, and just give you the facts).
How much have you heard from the mainstream media about effective ways
Here's what my family and I are doing to prevent/treat swine flu (and any flu), right now:
1. High-dose Vitamin D3*: (Google it for its anti-viral & asthma-lessening effects!)
Adults: for prevention, 5,000 iu per day; (if coming down with illness, 50,000 iu per day for 3 days, then drop back down to 5,000 iu per day).
I am exposed to many sick people through my practice (including H1N1), so I take 10,000 iu per day for prevention; & 50,000 iu per day for 3 days, at first signs of illness.
My children, Pia & Chloe, take: 4,000 iu per day for prevention, 10,000 iu for 3 days, in acute illness.
* Many people in Northern climates are D3 deficient! Blood titres will show levels. Some scientists believe the yearly flu is a side effect of vitamin D3 deficiency. If you think of how little we've seen the sun this spring and summer, it ties in with the early incidence of colds and flus this season, perhaps with the added threat of the swine flu. Think about it, usually 1/2 hour of sunlight exposure will create 10,000 iu of vitamin D3 through your skin! These numbers really illustrate how pitiful the RDA is for D3 (only 400 iu per day), especially in the months without a lot of strong sun. Here's a great site for more information: http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/
2. Triple Flu Defense: This liquid homeopathic remedy is reformulated every year to be most active against the current flu viruses! Our whole family takes it using these dosages: prevention = 20 drops 1x week. When ill, 20 drops 4x day.
3. K-PAX Fuel of Life: Formulated by Jon Kaiser, MD and shown to boost white blood cell activity over 27% even in active AIDS patients, these capsules are one of the strongest natural anti-viral remedies available. Laura & Evers: dosage for prevention = 4 caps 2x day and when ill, 8 caps 2x day. Pia & Chloe, 1/2 the adult dose.
We also take a number of homeopathic and Anthroposophical remedies if we are ill - which are specific for the person who is ailing.
It doesn't happen often, but Chloe did became ill with a flu last Friday night. I am certain it was due to the fact that we were out of Vitamin D and Triple Flu Defense and she had gone without them for a week. I got home Saturday afternoon with a re-supply of theses remedies, which she began taking right away. Her fever broke Sunday morning & she went to bed Sunday night about 60% better.
Fear is the worst thing for your and your children's health. However, prevention begins with forethought, something my daughter's recent illness is a vivid illustration of.
If you wish to begin providing your family with the same course of preventative, natural remedies that I trust to keep my own family well, contact our office at (203) 708-9299 and order your supply.
Warmest regards!
Evers
In last month's newsletter we promised to provide you with more specific details about the different practices that contribute to Integrated Medicine. Our first article, still available on our web site, explores the theories behind mind-body medicine. This month we will provide you with a better understanding of Homeopathic medicine. We hope our articles provide insights and information while inspiring deeper investigation, and we welcome your questions or comments.
Homeopathic Origins
Known documentation of the core principles of homeopathic medicine dates back as far as writings by Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.). In 1796 German physician C. F. Samuel Hahnemann developed these principals into a system of medicine that he called "Homeopathy." His research was so extensive and thorough that it is considered by modern medicine to be the first ever "clinical trials." What Hippocrates and Hahnemann couldn't know was that their theories were actually based upon advanced science, known to us today as Quantum Physics, which recognizes the interchangeability of matter and energy.
Homeopathic Medicine In Practice
Homeopathic medicine's fundamental healing principles are based upon the "law of similars," otherwise known as "like cures like," and the ability of the body's natural energetic forces to be stimulated to positively affect the body's "matter." Homeopathy maintains that this vital force has the ability to react and adapt to internal and external causes, and can be empowered to eradicate illnesses through the physical introduction of artificial symptoms similar to those of a given disease
Resolution of an illness occurs when the sick individual is given a small dose of a medicine capable of producing symptoms similar to those of their disease. The immune system's response is thus energetically enhanced to promote healing and optimal health.
Remedies As A Mirror
One way to better understand how Homeopathic remedies work is to imagine having a virus or disease prevalent enough to have "stunned" or overwhelmed your immune system. In other words, your ailment is winning the battle, becoming chronic or worse. Through the introduction of specific Homeopathic remedies your immune system is reawakened. As if peering into a mirror, your body's physical and energetic self "sees" the symptoms more clearly. Through this renewed recognition, your immune system is more capable of defending you against the disease itself.
Used As Prevention
The same principals of stimulating the immune system apply when using Homeopathic remedies to prevent illness. Sensing the symptoms, the immune system strengthens its defenses against that illness or virus in advance of external exposure.
Different From A Vaccine
It is vital to understand that unlike vaccines, homeopathic remedies do not contain diseases, dangerously toxic heavy metals, or squalene oil adjuvants used by pharmaceuticals to transmit the vaccine into your body. Homeopathic remedies are water based solutions of greatly diluted natural elements that only replicate symptoms. You can read more about the dangers of vaccines by clicking on the links contained in this issue's article, "Swine Flu: Cutting Through The Hype" .
Recognized And Accepted
The American Institute of Homeopathy describes its medical specialty as a scientific, therapeutic method which embodies a philosophy of understanding people and illness in a holistic context with the goal of promoting optimal health and healing, based upon the FDA recognized Homeopathic Pharmacopœia of the United States.
We agree, which is why Homeopathy is one of the elements of our integrated, holistic, family practice.
By Dr. C. Evers Whyte
What is “Integrated Medicine?” Ask ten different doctors this question and you might get 10 different answers. It’s an exciting topic in that new findings are being published every day about how the success of medical outcomes are improving through integrating different therapies, protocols and even medical paradigms.
My answer is this: Integrated Medicine is a model through which a physician or therapist first looks at a person who is coming for help, asks themselves, “What does this person need to become whole again?” and then uses any and every tool and resource available to facilitate that healing process. It is more than the combined use of various “conventional” and “alternative” therapies, but aims to access deeper levels of our consciousness. For example, a hug could be clinically described as, “two persons wrapping their arms around each other and squeezing,” but we all know this explanation lacks the true essence of what a hug is all about!
To begin to understand and appreciate the “process” of Integrated Medicine we first have to appreciate that while our bodies are made of interconnected physical systems–cardiovascular, skeletal, endocrine, nervous, etc, we are more than the sum of these parts. We are in actual fact, beings composed of integrated and interpenetrating Intelligences: body, mind, soul, and spirit.
To be healthy, we need all these aspects of our beings to be “aligned” and working harmoniously. If there is dis-harmony, there is dis-ease. As an Integrated Medical physician, I seek to align and integrate all effective medicinal modalities to heal all the integrated elements, or Intelligences, of your being.
The patient that comes into our office with fatigue and brain-fog may be suffering from iron-deficiency, anemia, or adrenal exhaustion, perhaps hypoglycemia, decreased melatonin production, or the reluctance to go through the natural process of grief at a loved-one’s death after a long illness. As I work with the patient to find the root of her ailments, we may discover that a number of these diagnoses are correct, perhaps even all of them. This patient doesn’t have a Prozac deficiency. She may need a change in
Heart disease is the leading killer of women over the age of 25. It kills nearly twice as many women in the US than all types of cancer combined, including breast cancer. If you’re surprised by these numbers you’re not alone. Only 13% of women believe heart disease is a threat to them. Worse, a recent survey showed that less than half the doctors thought of heart disease as a major threat to women, and less than half the women receiving regular medical care say that their doctors have ever talked to them about reducing their risk of heart disease.
This underestimation, by women and their doctors, of the very real and severe danger of heart disease is a primary contributor to the high death toll because in most cases, with adequate awareness, heart disease is preventable. This is worth repeating: the disease that kills more women in the US than all cancers combined is in most cases preventable.
Preventing heart disease depends completely upon first acknowledging its threat and then educating one’s self to the various risk factors which can include high cholesterol, blood pressure, estrogen levels, heredity, diet, and lifestyle. Does this list seem like too much to manage? It’s not at all. Most of the risk factors can be monitored through blood tests and all of the factors can be controlled by better, easy to follow, heart-healthy lifestyle habits.
It is also important to know that the symptoms of heart disease displayed by women are significantly different than those presented by men. Because they don’t display the “classic” symptoms of heart disease or a heart attack, women often go undiagnosed, or wait too long to seek medical help while having a heart attack. Knowing the warning signs is as important as knowing how to prevent the disease to begin with.
At The Center For Health Renewal we strongly believe in empowered patients and advise women to take charge for their health through awareness, early diagnosis, and lifestyle management.
Acupuncture is an ancient form of medicine that’s been used successfully for over 8000 years. It is based upon the Taoist tradition of observing the flow of energy within and without, where the body is viewed as a network of interrelated energy channels or “meridians.” Illness and pain are the result of blocked or imbalanced energy currents. Acupuncture uses hair-thin needles painlessly inserted into specific points on the body to stimulate or unblock the flow of energy and restore one’s natural balance and health. In the East this energy is called “qi” (pronounced “chee) and is linked to our relation to nature and seasonal changes. Western science believes acupuncture likely works by stimulating the central nervous system to release chemicals that dull pain, boost the immune system and regulate various body functions. However one wishes to view it, thousands of years of use and modern day scientific studies have proven the effectiveness of acupuncture to treat a wide variety of health problems including pain of all origins, disorders of the neurological, muscular, respiratory, and gastro-intestinal systems. It’s also used to treat osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, chemotherapy-induced nausea, bladder control, carpel tunnel, anxiety, insomnia, allergies, asthma, high blood, constipation, weight loss, smoking cessation, and more. Acupuncture can treat so many different maladies because it recognizes that all parts of the body create an integrated, “whole” being. And unlike conventional pharmaceuticals, there are only beneficial side effects to acupuncture such as sleeping better, having more energy, breathing deeper and many other bonuses. Like other Integrative Medical Practices, acupuncture believes the body naturally wants to remain healthy and balanced. Like a ship on the water that rolls with daily sea changes and challenges while remaining upright, the body’s innate design urges it to return to a fully functional, balanced position. Acupuncture gently assists the body to heal itself naturally.
Heart disease kills nearly twice as many women in the US than all types of cancer combined, including breast cancer. This statistic is stunning, especially because in most cases heart disease is completely preventable. Join us and learn about risk factors, warning signs and easy to live with prevention methods.
WHAT: An interactive discussion led by Brooke Davidson, D.O. (OB/GYN), with a special interest in preventative medicine.
WHEN: Thursday, September 24th, 7:30 PM
WHERE: The Center For Health Renewal, 30 Myano Lane, Suite, 26, Stamford, CT
HOW: Please call to reserve a seat as space is limited: (203) 708-9299 or email askdoctorwhyte@gmail.com
A $10 donation is suggested and will be given to The Women’s Heart Health Initiative at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation in New York City. Dress comfortably and bring a friend or two because awareness is lifesaving. To learn more, visit www.TheCenterForHealthRenewal.com
1. Make sure to include protein. Ok, with those three points in mind, let's build a breakfast for you. I would like to encourage you to think outside the breakfast box! Forget about cereals, pancakes, waffles and the like. They are simply too high in carbohydrates, have a high glycemic index and, furthermore, tend to contain gluten (an all too common grain that many people can't eat). Set aside American breakfast concepts, and those advertised on TV and start thinking of breakfast in a whole new way. How about wild salmon for breakfast? (that is one of my favorites) Or left over chicken and roasted vegetables. Here are my favorite breakfast choices: 1. Protein shake (Metagenics Sustain or Thorne Mediclear Plus) with flax seed oil, ground flax seeds and ProBerry 2. Turkey Bacon (hormone and antibiotic free) 3. Frozen turkey sausage (hormone and antibiotic free) 4. Wild Salmon, sauteed with onions 5. Turkey Bologna (hormone and antibiotic free) 6. Whole, Organic egg (if you are not intolerant to eggs) poached or sauteed with arugula and goat cheese How much you ask? Breakfast is key to starting your day feeling healthy and energetic. Whether you are focused on balancing your blood sugar, lowering cholesterol, losing weight, avoiding gluten and dairy, fighting off yeast or improving your mood and focus...the breakfast recommendations are basically the same!
2. Minimize carbohydrates.
3. Include healthy fat and fiber if possible.
It is better to spread out the calories and eat every 3 to 4 hours throughout the day, so for those of you like me, who love breakfast, I don't think it will take much convincing to switch to breakfast twice! That is right, eat half, and eat the other half (or something else) in a couple hours.
To drink?
Stay away from juices. They are basically sugar, adding to your carbohydrate load and making a tasty breakfast for yeast, encouraging them to stay instead of go away. A much healthier option is green tea. It helps regulate blood sugar and metabolism, and prevents cancer at the same time.
Otherwise water, filtered of course, is a great place to start your day, especially if you consume caffeine, which is a diuretic. Minimize the caffeine, but at the same time I think you will find that the longer you stick to these breakfast items, you won't be needing that caffeine to boost your energy so much anymore.
Do you have a favorite, healthy breakfast plan or recipe? Share it with us. Click on "Post A Comment" below.
(Serves 15-20)
OK, don't let the number of ingredients scare you off. This recipe is not as difficult as it may appear, and it's SO WORTH THE EFFORT! Plus, you make it the night before, relieving some party-day-stress. You can also make a batch for just the family and freeze the rest for future dinners. You’ll become the Chili Champ!
8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts –cut into bite-size chunks
1 quart jar sliced Italian cherry peppers
2 large cans peeled and sliced tomatoes
3 cans whole-kernel corn (or sliced from 6 cobs)
2 large cans or 3 bottles cooked black bean (frijoles negros)
3 large red onions –chopped
4 cloves garlic –minced
3 large yellow peppers –chopped
2 sprigs each: rosemary, sage, marjoram –stemmed and minced
¼ cup sea salt
4 tbsp dried cumin powder
2 tbsp garlic salt
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
2 cups chunky peanut butter (***Make sure you announce this because of peanut allergies!)
½ lemon –juiced
2 cups chicken stock
½ cup balsamic vinegar
2 bottles of good ale (e.g. Sierra Nevada Celebration ale)
Ground black pepper to taste
Olive oil for sautéing
Condiments: cheddar cheese, sour cream, avocados, fresh lime wedges, your favorite hot sauce(s), corn or Italian bread a/or crackers are optional.
Sauté the onions, yellow peppers, and garlic in a little olive oil and salt –set aside.
Sauté the chicken, herbs, and garlic salt in olive oil until just cooked through (don’t overcook).
In a BIG pot add the chicken, onion/yellow pepper mix, corn, ½ jar Italian cherry peppers, 1 ale, cumin and vinegar –stir and simmer at a slight boil for a few minutes –stir often!
Add the black beans, tomatoes, sesame oil and 1 cup chicken stock –stir and bring to a slight boil –stir often!
Add the peanut butter and the lemon juice –stir and simmer for 10 minutes until the peanut butter is completely melted and mixed in.
Simmer on low heat for 1 hour, stirring often, and adding the last ale and chicken stock a little bit at a time. Add remaining salt and pepper to taste.
Let sit and cool overnight on stove. The next day, simmer another 30 minutes, * but let cool 10 -20 minutes before serving (to re-thicken).
Serve with cheddar cheese, sour cream, fresh lime wedges, and the rest of the Italian cherry peppers. Enjoy!
Have you made this recipe? Have any comments or tips you'd like to share about it? Or maybe you have another recipe you'd like to share. Please click below on "Post A Comment" and let us know what you're thoughts are!
What are you biggest health concerns and how are you treating them?
Have a question you'd like one of our practictioners to answer?
Click on "post a comment" or "comments" below to share your thoughts or to reply to a comment already posted. We value your input as part of our growing community!
When visiting your favorite watering-hole would you ask for a shot of weed-killer? How about a Binaca-like spritz of Raid (www.killsbugsdead.com)? Yuck, right? Well, there’s no need to order that weed-killer martini because you are already ingesting a full cocktail of pesticides through the fruits, vegetables, and water you eat and drink each day.
Recently we published an article in our newsletter and on our website about environmental toxins we’re exposed to daily from simply existing on this planet. It included information about our detox program that can help your body eliminate the excess build up of toxins more thoroughly than it does on its own. As a follow up to the concept of detoxification I wanted give you some food for thought by providing some facts about the pesticide residues you and your children are eating:
~The average child gets 5+ servings of pesticides in their food and water each day. ~The pesticide Atrazine is so toxic it is banned in Europe, but it is used so widely in the U.S., that it is found in 71% of the U.S. drinking water. ~Currently, over 400 pesticides can be legally used in the U.S. For example, apples can be sprayed up to 16 times with 36 different pesticides. ~According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, organophosphate pesticides (OP) are now found in the blood of 95% of Americans tested, and the levels are twice as high in blood samples taken from children. ~Exposure to these chemicals is linked to hyperactivity, behavior disorders, learning disabilities, developmental delays and motor dysfunction.
Yikes!
I am sharing these facts not to panic you, but to make you aware of prevalent dangers you are able to avoid when armed with the proper information.
Here’s some good news:
~None of these chemicals are present in organic foods.
You need to know more:
Here’s a new web search tool that shows what pesticides are on your food.
The Pesticide Action Network has launched a new on-line database designed to make the public problem of pesticide exposure visible and more understandable. Whether you want to find out what's in your apple juice, milk, peanut butter, or bottled water, this innovative tool links pesticide residue food data with toxicology data for each chemical, making this information easily searchable and user friendly. Check out: www.whatsonmyfood.org
People often complain about the higher cost of organic foods but once your visit this recommended site you’ll wonder why you’ve spent so much money on foods that are not only potentially poisonous, but in most cases, have also lost their nutritional value due to approved, non-organic practices used to speed product growth and thus profits, at the expense of wholesome nutrition.
Do a little reading and I think you’ll find that what you want in your 8-10 servings of healthy fruits & veggies does not include chemical pesticides, hormones, GMOs, recombinant DNA, weed killers, etc. Grow it yourself or buy organic as much as possible.
And don’t worry; we’re planning a Fall 2009 Group Super Detox! Stay tuned…And in the meantime you can also check out this article on the Super Detox program previously published on this website.
By Dr. C. Evers Whyte
There’s a very good chance that you’ve never heard of “Post-Lyme Disease Syndrome,” even if you’ve suffered from Lyme disease itself. Post Lyme Disease Syndrome (PLDS) is as controversial as it is complicated, and many doctors will assert that it simply does not exist. However, if you have been treated for Lyme disease (LD) and still feel ill, you know, along with a growing group of medical professional, that PLDS is in fact, dreadfully real. And much like LD, PLDS manifests and presents itself in a variety of ways that can make it difficult to decipher and therefore treat. Sadly, many Lyme experts believe that the generally-accepted assessment and treatment practices are woefully inadequate. The good news, however, is that more and more doctors are recognizing the realities of PLDS and better still are having success treating it. There is hope!
HOW IT ALL STARTS
To truly understand PLDS we need to begin with an understanding of LD’s basic biology and how doctors in the US have been directed to view and treat it.
LD is caused by a strain of spirochete bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. Unfortunately, a majority of doctors, contrary to both empirical findings and a large body of research, stubbornly insist that once LD is treated with the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) recommended 21-day course of antibiotics, it should be considered cured. Therefore, patients still experiencing symptoms are too often dismissed with a diagnosis of psychosomatic post-Lyme rather than an ongoing infection, or a set of very real physical ailments stemming from the Lyme disease and probable co-infection(s).
There are several studies that refute this outdated protocol for LD treatment. One in particular suggests that an estimated 30% of Lyme disease patients do not recover at all after being treated with the CDC recommended antibiotic protocol.
In addition to this, it is unusual to contract only one infection from a tick bite. Co-infections are rampant: Borrelia; Erlichia; Babesia; Bartonella; Micoplasma; and Rickettsia are all prevalent in the northeast, and most ticks are infected with these disease causing bacteria along with the one that causes Lyme. Still, many doctors don’t test for these co-infections, or look deeper into the patient’s whole picture for breakdowns in various other bodily systems, triggered by these infections.
To make matters even worse, doctors are under an enormous amount of pressure to argue against the existence of chronic Lyme infection because the insurance industry doesn’t want to pay for the ongoing treatment necessary to rid these unfortunate souls of the tenacious infection(s).
Natural D-Hist goes head to head with Claritin with better results and fewer side effects.
Allergies can make us miserable any time of the year, but during the spring and summer they tend to be worse and keep us from enjoying the outdoors. Unfortunately, most anti-allergy products are chemically designed to force the body to function in a way that is not natural, hence the many side effects.
Two of our Center’s most popular products are “Natural D-Hist,” for adults and “D-Hist Jr.,” for children. Scientifically formulated for maximum effectiveness with carefully selected dosages of four natural components, and thoroughly researched, Natural D-Hist is a fast acting, non-drowsy, all natural remedy that can stop allergic reactions before they begin. And best of all, there are no side effects and a even a money back guarantee.
To help convince you of its effectiveness, we’re offering free samples of Natural D-Hist for you to try. To further convince you that it’s so much better for you than conventional allergy drugs, we’re providing a head to head comparison of the side effects caused by Natural D-Hist and Claritin. All the listed information comes directly from the two products’ literature.
D-Hist Jr. & Natural D-Hist's side effects: Their packaging information states that
Natural D-Hist's extensive human trials have produced no side effects. And just for good measure they go on to say that a person’s first time taking some herbal remedies may result in a mild upset stomach that usually disappears when the herb is taken closer to meal time. And, even though none have been recorded with Natural D-Hist, they warn that if an individual happens to be allergic to any given herb, a mild rash or hives could result.
The listed side effects for Claritin tablets, Claritin Reditabs and Claritin syrup are: Headache, somnolence, fatigue, dry mouth, nervousness, wheezing, hyperkinesias, abdominal pain, conjunctivitis, malaise, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, epistaxis (nose bleed), pharyngitis, influenza-like symptoms, tooth disorder, stomatitis, earache, rash, altered lacrimation, altered salivation, flushing, hypoesthesia, impotence, increased sweating, thirst, angioneurotic edema, asthenia, back pain, blurred vision, chest pain, eye pain, fever, leg cramps, rigors, tinnitus, weight gain, hypertension, hypotension, palpitations, superventricular tachyarrhythmias, syncope, tachycardia, blepharospasm, dizziness, dysphonia, hypertonia, migraine, paresthesia, tremor, vertigo, altered taste, anorexia, constipation, dyspepsia, flatulence, gastritis, hiccup, increased appetite, loose stools, nausea, vomiting, arthalgia, myalgia, agitation, amnesia, anxiety, confusion , decreased libido, depression, impaired concentration, insomnia, irritability, paranoia, breast pain , dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, vaginitis, bronchitis, bronchospasm, coughing, dyspnea, hemoptysis, laryngitis, nasal dryness, sinusitis, sneezing, dermatitis, dry hair, dry skin, photosensitivity reaction, pruritus, purpura urticaria, altered micturition, urinary discoloration , urinary incontinence, urinary retention, abnormal hepatic function, including jaundice, hepatitis and hepatic necrosis, alopecia, anaphylaxis, breast enlargement, erythema multiforme, peripheral edema, thrombocytopenia, and finally, seizures.
Many of the worse symptoms are contributed to Claritin Syrup, designed for children!
So, when are you coming in for your free samples? Call us, we'll put some aside for you!
(203) 708-9299
There are, occasionally, services that can only be found outside our otherwise comprehensive natural family practice. For example, we don’t deliver babies! Because of this, we want you to know which local professionals we feel best fit our mission of providing the most personalized, knowledgeable, total-being medical care. As a new feature we will, from time to time, be introducing you to these providers so you’ll be able to make the most informed decision about whom you choose to entrust with the care for your health and wellbeing.
Our first Preferred Practitioner is Dr. Brooke Davidson, a local OB/GYN who will also be giving a workshop here in July on, “Heart Disease & Women’s Health.”
Why I Do What I Do
My first gynecologist was a midwife. She showed me my cervix with a mirror. More importantly she made me feel totally at ease. I think of her every time I see a nervous patient. My long years of college, medical school and surgical training have taught me how to be a “cutting edge” doctor.
It is my life experience though, that has shaped the caregiver that I am. As a tri-athlete I have developed a vast knowledge base in terms of diet and exercise physiology. With my training in osteopathic, as well as traditional medicine, I have an extensive “toolbox” of treatment modalities to draw upon. Of course the joy that comes from delivering babies gets me out of bed in the morning (and in the middle of night quite often) but I also really enjoy working with patients to improve their lives through diet, exercise and stress reduction.
Why I Do What I Do
“As a teenager I had the opportunity to work with children suffering with neuro-atypical disorder (autism). I was struck by the isolation and profound "inner-aloneness" that these neuro-atypical children seemed to experience. I learned that I may not be able to radically change their symptoms, but I hoped to positively affect their separateness from our world by being willing to meet them within their world. Through this work I discovered my love for the art of healing.
My work as a therapist is driven in essence by that same desire to alleviate the emotional wounds of separateness and aloneness that are simply part of the human experience. My intention is to guide clients toward self-empowerment and emotional freedom by helping them identify limiting, fear-based beliefs that keep them from becoming more fully acquainted with their eternal, authentic self.
In my practice we use personal history to shed light on current misconceptions of one’s self and current struggles, but the main focus is on the NOW where all life and healing take place. Loving and self-care begin only when we change our habits and thoughts in each moment. My goal is for clients to leave each session with practical tools they can put to work immediately, rather than simply lingering on personal history.
Continue reading "Valerie Giglio, LMFT Holistic Psychotherapist" »
Why I Do What I Do
“The first time I did yoga I cried. It was exactly what I needed in my life, a therapeutic practice that provided an emotional and physical connection. I felt more alive, energized and grounded all at the same time. That was 15 years ago and I still feel the same way.
However, when I first started I became injured and realized I was doing yoga incorrectly. Injuries kept coming up but they inspired me to do some research that resulted in an integration of my knowledge as a registered occupational therapist and the yoga I was practicing. I then embarked upon years of intense yoga-teacher instruction from various mentors who have studied under John Friend, the founder of Anusaura Yoga and “intelligent vinyasa,” which integrates the breath based rhythm and flow of asanas. I then combined that knowledge with the therapeutic benefits of healthy precision and solid alignment.
The media has provided lots of coverage about the spreading flu and some good tips for avoiding it. But little has been said about natural prevention tactics that strengthen your immune system and your resistance to this potentially dangerous virus.
The five most important therapeutic categories for supporting the immune system include:
1. Diet (lots of fruits and veggies & low or no white flour or sugar products)
2. Exercise (moderate)
3. Intestinal Health (fiber & probiotics)
4. Stress Management (including sleep!)
5. Clinically Proven Immune-Boosting Supplements
We think it’s a good time to experience the powerful positive effects of natural supplements scientifically designed to boost your immune system and prevent viral infections.
*A few targeted supplements that we highly recommend are:
*These supplements are available at The Center For Health Renewal, and because of the current national health alert, we’re offering them at 10% off until the end of November.
We encourage you to call and order your immune building, virus preventing supplements while supplies last. (203) 708-9299
When you provide your immune system with extra energy it does a better job of keeping you healthy, and if necessary, fighting through a challenge like the swine flu.
Here’s a recipe for a great immune-boosting broth (Use Organic ingredients whenever possible):
Bring the broth to a boil, and then add the carrots, shallots, garlic and mushrooms. Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes. Next, add in the cooking greens, turn the heat off and let sit for 5 minutes. Finally, mix in the miso and add salt & pepper to taste. Never boil miso. (You can also add chicken, fish, tofu, lean beef, etc. to increase protein, if desired).
Besides being good for you its really tasty, too!
Our workshop/group discussion led by Dr. Doni Wilson was a huge success.
There were many participants and lots of vital information shared about how to identify food allergies and reduce the risk of chronic ailments and cancer. We'll be posting a summary article about this topic soon. But in the mean time, I'd like to invite those of you who participated to share your comments about what you learned during the workshop and what it means to you personally using the "Post A Comment" area below. (If you do not see this option, double click on this article's title then scroll down). Also, I'd like to invite all our readers to join the discussion as well. The more we share what we know the more we can improve the health and well being of our Center's community.
Thanks to you all and to Dr. Donni!
Michele Russell
Director Program Development
The Store Shelves Are Loaded, So, Where Do You Start?
Shopping for the best nutritional supplements can be confusing. Heck, just looking for the healthiest teas leaves me in the grocery aisles reading the labels of 10 different boxes. And in the end, I only know what their packaging promotes.
So, how can we know which brand, processing method, dosage, or combination of ingredients makes the best supplement for us and our current state of health? I’d like to believe the ads and store employees, but I know neither are 100% reliable or fully informed. And too often fad-ads misguide us by promoting non-existing benefits.
For example, remember when taking “coral calcium” was believed to be the very best means for
Naturopathic Family Practice
Why I Do What I Do
Today I met with a patient with an all too familiar story. For 10 years she’s suffered persistent and worsening symptoms, visiting doctor after doctor, only to be told that everything is “normal.”
You might ask, “How can it be that a medical professional would send someone home to continue suffering with no further concern, not to mention curiosity, as to what was at the root of her symptoms?”
I believe this occurs for two reasons. One is that the body is really good at compensating and keeping things "normal" in the blood while the other parts of the body are ailing, which is why blood test results often come back "within the normal range" even when the patient feels terrible. The second reason is that conventional medical training focuses on the extreme of medical conditions. This means that for someone whose
Non-Surgical Spine Specialist
Clinical Nutritionist
Why I Do What I Do In college, I took up martial arts and while I was training, I stepped in some gymnasts’ chalk as I was throwing a kick. I slipped and flew about 5 ft up in the air before landing flat on my sacrum on the wooden gym floor. The pain in my low back was intense and continued to worsen until I was taking 25 Advil just to get through the day. The stronger pain drugs made me sick. I stopped exercising because of the pain and gained 20 lbs. After visiting 3 chiropractors, an orthopedist, a neurologist, a rheumatologist, and a neurosurgeon I always ended up with the same result: “We can’t find anything Physically wrong with you.” Obviously, my pain itself was not enough to convince these physicians that something was indeed seriously wrong.
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