Archive for November, 2010

Hot Chocolate 2010

November 30, 2010 Written by JP

The Healthy Fellow test kitchen really lives up to its name. I’m constantly experimenting with different recipes and ways of preparing healthy food. Some of the creations I come up with appear on this site. Others are simply used as part of my personal wellness routine until it occurs to me to post them. Of late, the medical literature has yielded a few tantalizing new studies pertaining to the health attributes of dark chocolate. As it happens, I’m currently in the midst of a hot cocoa revival at home. On more days than not, there’s been a wintry chill in the air and a steaming mug of hot chocolate right by my side.
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Posted in Nutrition, Recipes | 9 Comments & Updates

Blood Clots and Diet

November 29, 2010 Written by JP

I’ll be away on a business trip for the next couple weeks. I have some consulting work and research to conduct in Europe. While away, I plan to continue to post new content. However, you’ll notice a difference in the length of my road trip material. Some of my upcoming columns will be abbreviated because of my hectic itinerary and time constraints. But, when I return home, I hope to have some interesting anecdotes and information to share with you about my time abroad.
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Posted in Heart Health, Nutrition, Women's Health | 14 Comments & Updates

Best Of Vitamin Angels Interview

November 26, 2010 Written by JP

A few weeks ago, a reader named Vicky left me a comment that has stuck with me ever since. She wondered if there was a way for me to help poor people who don’t have Internet access or the resources necessary to implement much of the information I present on this site. Specifically, the post she was referring had to do with the Novel H1N1 Swine Flu virus. As I typed my response, I realized that even something as basic as a multivitamin was out reach for some of the most vulnerable populations in the world. It is at that point that I remembered the name of a charity that I have seen in natural health magazines and trade journals. The two words that came back to me were: Vitamin Angels.
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Posted in Children's Health, Interviews, Women's Health | 5 Comments & Updates

Thanksgiving Wishes

November 25, 2010 Written by JP

This Thursday marks a very special occasion in the U.S. – Thanksgiving. It’s a day devoted to gratitude, humility and reflection. I’ll be taking the day off from my usual writing duties, but will spend the early part of the day preparing a few nutrient dense side dishes (“creamed” spinach and roasted cauliflower) and a sugar free dessert (pumpkin cheesecake) to bring to our family gathering in the evening. This year’s celebration is particularly blessed because of the addition of two new members to our family. My brother-in-law and his wife are the proud parents of twin baby boys. For this reason and others, this will also be the largest family gathering for us in quite some time. My sincerest wishes go out to all of you in the hopes that you’ll have a similarly joyful holiday that is filled with love. When I reflect on the many things that I’m thankful for today, I’ll hold a special thought in mind for all of you. I’d like you to know that I truly appreciate all the support you’ve so graciously shown to me over the past few years on this site and elsewhere. Your generosity, interest and willingness to share never goes unnoticed or unappreciated. Thank you so very much and please be well! JP


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Posted in General Health | 4 Comments & Updates

Dr. Barry Sears Interview Part One

November 24, 2010 Written by JP

Dr. Barry Sears is the highly acclaimed author and creator of The Zone Diet. If you were at all tuned in to the world of health and nutrition in the mid-to-late 90’s you’ve almost certainly heard about and/or experimented with his unique dietary recommendations that calls for a specific ratio of carbohydrates, fat and protein. Since then, Dr. Sears has gone on to research and report on novel ways to address disease and obesity by countering “silent inflammation”. His bestselling books, The Anti-Aging Zone, The Omega Rx Zone and Toxic Fat, all reflect the latest medical findings and practical ways for the average person to modify health risks via natural means. Recently, Dr. Sears took some time out of his busy schedule to answer some of my questions. This is part one of my two-part interview with Dr. Barry Sears.
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Posted in Diet and Weight Loss, Interviews, Nutrition | 6 Comments & Updates

Italian Brussels Sprouts

November 23, 2010 Written by JP

Brussels sprouts. You either love them or hate them. My goal today is to provide support to those who already enjoy them and change the minds of the many who don’t. My reason is simple: eating more vegetables from the Brassica family, which includes bok choi, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale and mustard greens, can assist you in achieving many health goals. How they do so is no mystery. Simply put, they yield a broad array of potent nutrients and phytochemicals that are often lacking in modern diets.
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Posted in Diabetes, Heart Health, Recipes | 5 Comments & Updates

Juicing Alternative

November 22, 2010 Written by JP

Juicing is one of the more popular ways to increase one’s consumption of fruits and vegetables. This nutritional strategy can support virtually any type of diet depending on the selection of produce. In addition, there’s a subset of the juicing crowd that employs this culinary technique in another capacity – as part of a detoxification and/or fasting regimen. It may surprise you to know that I’m not a big fan of juicing. However, I do support a slightly modified way of deriving many of the same benefits and more. My Healthy Monday tip of the week is to blend your fruits and vegetables instead of juicing them.
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Posted in Detoxification, Food and Drink, Nutrition | 19 Comments & Updates

Light Therapy for Eating Disorders

November 20, 2010 Written by JP

Fall is now officially upon us and the days are becoming shorter with hours of light now replaced with greater stretches of darkness. For some, this change of seasons is a time to rejoice. Many find beauty in the coral, crimson and golden colors adorning trees and relief from the sweltering heat of summer. However, others experience the crisp temperatures and dimmer lighting in a profoundly unsettling way. A form of depression known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a very real phenomenon associated with a relative lack of sunshine. Other mental health conditions such as eating disorders can also be adversely affected by sparse bright light.
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Posted in Alternative Therapies, Diet and Weight Loss, Mental Health | 14 Comments & Updates

Black Garlic and Late Night Snacking

November 18, 2010 Written by JP

It’s been an interesting week on Twitter. As always, I discovered a broad array of health information that expanded my knowledge base. Today’s blog highlights three of the numerous interesting tweets. The first item is inspired by Dr. William Yates. He takes on the important topic of stroke-related depression. Next, a visit with Dr. Jonny Bowden and one his colleagues, Colette Heimowitz, M.Sc, to review some timely advice about how to minimize nighttime snacking. Finally, Dr. Andrew Weil explains the differences and similarities between black and fresh garlic.
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Posted in Diet and Weight Loss, Food and Drink, Heart Health | 10 Comments & Updates

Expressive Writing

November 17, 2010 Written by JP

Expressive writing is a stress management technique that encourages individuals to face emotional and/or traumatic events from their past. This sometimes cathartic experience generally takes place over the course of 3 to 5 sessions which last about 15 to 30 minutes each. In the process, some patients find that they gain greater control over their emotions and develop more confidence in dealing with stress which can result in positive outcomes in a variety of health conditions. Three recent examinations of expressive writing document favorable results in diverse patient populations: men and women with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome); students with eating disorders; and test subjects living with psoriasis.
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Posted in Alternative Therapies, General Health, Mental Health | 13 Comments & Updates

Creamy Asparagus Soup Recipe

November 16, 2010 Written by JP

Cream of asparagus soup is one of my favorite cool weather comfort foods. However, I make it in a slightly different way than most. You can’t tell by its appearance and maybe even the taste, but my version of this delicacy is completely dairy free. You might guess that I replace the cream or whole milk with soy milk. Wrong. Instead, I use the taste and texture of raw cashews to mimic the richness of cream while, at the same time, improving the overall nutritional composition of the end product.
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Posted in Diet and Weight Loss, Food and Drink, Recipes | 9 Comments & Updates

Vegetable Soup Medicine

November 15, 2010 Written by JP

Whenever possible I like to combine nutritional strategies that address more than one objective at a time. Eating more vegetables is a common goal for many of my clients. Likewise, drinking more water and curtailing overeating rank highly on their “to do lists”. It just so happens that there’s a simple technique that can support all three of these objectives and more. My Healthy Monday tip of the week is to include more homemade soup in your winter time routine.
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Posted in Diet and Weight Loss, Food and Drink, Nutrition | 14 Comments & Updates

Best Of Fenugreek Research

November 12, 2010 Written by JP

Very few health conditions are brought about by genetic factors alone. Some people may be prone to elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity or type 2 diabetes. But it’s extremely uncommon that such health concerns are solely influenced by a familial predisposition. More often than not these conditions are influenced by diet and lifestyle choices that are less than optimal. A pertinent analogy for this might be that genes are like a field. If you eat well, exercise regularly, practice stress reduction and supplement wisely, you will, in effect, encourage lush green plant life to grow. However, if you don’t take proper care of yourself, the field will become dry and lifeless. When ash or a spark comes drifting your way, which type of a field would you rather be? Read more »


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Posted in Diabetes, Exercise, Nutritional Supplements | 5 Comments & Updates