In recent weeks, healthcare providers and government officials have issued warnings against the spread of COVID-19, commonly referred to as coronavirus. Cases of COVID-19 are increasing exponentially, affecting global markets, airline travel, and virtually every sector of human interaction and exchange. With the amount of cases increasing here in the U.S. and the number of illnesses yet to reach its peak, there is heightened alert and a call for action. What can we do? COVID-19: What Is It? Although loosely referred to as coronavirus, COVID-19 is a strain of an already well known family of viruses, Coronaviridae. Human coronaviruses...

Is April a breath of fresh air for you? Do you look forward to temperatures rising and chirping birds resuming their seasonal singing? Are you inspired to get moving again and do a bit of spring cleaning? Use this month to organize your financial records! As a recovering “statement squirrel,” I can attest to the peace of mind that an organized approach to financial records provides. For years, whenever I opened a piece of mail, I’d feel tightness in my chest and a knot in my stomach as I wondered, “How important is this?” “Do I need to keep...

Many of my patients come in with a myriad of health problems, dental concerns and an extensive history of dental procedures. People are not aware that problems in the mouth are responsible for many of our health problems. In fact, several holistic MD’s that spoke at a recent conference I attended refer 70- 80% of their patients to a knowledgeable, experienced, holistic dentist because they cannot substantially help their patients until the dental issues are addressed. Dental Concerns There are several major dental issues that have a direct effect on one’s health: 1. Silver fillings. The so-called “silver” fillings...

Do you like to eat out? I do! Of course, cooking at home is more cost effective and can be the healthier choice but eating out is fun, relaxing and can be a delicious culinary treat. I have to admit that I am pretty picky about the restaurants that I choose however, because I will only go if I can eat real food made with the best ingredients. I thought that I would share how I figure that out and create a list of Connecticut restaurants that are getting it right. In the coming months, I will spotlight a...

As the director of a graduate degree program in leadership, I am often surprised by the number of people I meet who can’t imagine why someone would get a master’s degree at this time. They cite the uncertain economic environment or mention how even their bosses don’t have a master’s degree. I assume a neutral facial expression to not look shocked at their statements, but inside I’m thinking: why not get a master’s degree?! Here are six remarkable reasons to earn your graduate degree. 1. Expand your specialized skill set. Earning your bachelor’s degree proves that you are up...

Self-care has gained notable momentum in the wellness community. We are all familiar with the concept that we, “cannot pour from an empty cup” or that we must, “put on our oxygen masks first before we help others.” While this is absolutely true, I have found, in my work as a Licensed Professional Counselor, that there are many myths about self-care that hold us back from a deeper, more realistic understanding of what an active and consistent self-care practice looks and feels like. When it comes to self-care, it is crucial to “clean out” some of the attached myths...

My undergraduate degree was in sculpture from Boston University. We studied the human form with two years of anatomy and my last two years had a project each year of a life size sculpture. We built armatures, which were the skeletal support and then modelled the clay, covering the “bones” in realistic, anatomy-specific muscles. Over those years, I grew to love the human body. A year out of college, my fascination with the body-mind connection had me reading everything I could on the subject. It made total sense to me that we can’t separate the body from the mind...

In spite of our human longing for a better future, change doesn’t happen easily, even in the face of dire threat. Perhaps that’s why New Year diet resolutions and the ten-year goals set by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity mostly go unmet. As a result, carbs and carbon are likely to increase. One month or one decade into what we hoped would be eventualities for the better, we find ourselves boomeranged back to the gate for another serial start. Why are most attempts to craft an improved tomorrow reminiscent of the movie Groundhog Day? What goes awry...

You’ve probably heard it said, “You are what you eat.” But do you find yourself eating what you are – feeling, that is? The food we eat may be closely related to the emotions we are feeling. Emotional eating can not only take a big toll on your physical health, but it can take a toll on your emotional health. Comfort food may not always be that comforting, especially if you find yourself using it to comfort your emotions. Eating for your emotions may be instantly satisfying, but in the long run it can be a huge let down....

I am a firm believer that shift happens, in a lot of ways when we least expect it. At the point when “it” happens we sometimes have the adverse reaction that defies logic. Your Healthy Ever After is a state of mindset which is defined as the pursuit of something which you may believe defies logic. The realm of where you are and where you want to be is a logical step toward Healthy Ever After. Think of it as you, and you alone are 100% responsible with what happens to and with your health. Yes, some things we...

The peptide PT-141 has been shown to have a substantial effect on libido, generating sexual arousal in both men and women. And it can work as an alternative to Viagra for Erectile Dysfunction in men. This peptide is able to cross the “blood-brain-barrier”, bypassing the vascular system and acting at the level of the central nervous system. This property gives PT-141 an advantage over traditional ED drugs like Viagra and Cialis, which can decrease blood pressure and cause side effects. The actress Suzanne Somers has had a long career as an author, writing a number of books promoting the...

In recent weeks, healthcare providers and government officials have issued warnings against the spread of COVID-19, commonly referred to as coronavirus. Cases of COVID-19 are increasing exponentially, affecting global markets, airline travel, and virtually every sector of human interaction and exchange. With the amount of cases increasing here in the U.S. and the number of illnesses yet to reach its peak, there is heightened alert and a call for action. What can we do? COVID-19: What Is It? Although loosely referred to as coronavirus, COVID-19 is a strain of an already well known family of viruses, Coronaviridae. Human coronaviruses...

What is a microbiome? And why is this daunting biological term important to understanding our health? A microbiome is a colony or ecosystem of diverse bacteria where the bacteria perform specific functions in a symbiotic environment. Theses colonies of microorganisms contain a diverse population of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. The human body has several of these systems of bacteria on the skin, in the mouth, the mammary glands, the vagina, and the gut. Each is biodiverse and carries out critical functions related to its niche in human health and function. The Gut microbiome is the most dense of...

“…lcoholism is a complex genetic-biochemical disorder more closely related to diabetes or to sugar metabolic syndrome than to any behavioral or psychological disorder. …alnutrition is well-known to physicians treating alcoholics, but they nearly always assume that malnutrition is a simple, predictable consequence of heavy drinking, not a complex, contributing cause of alcohol addiction. Nutrition is certainly not seen as the effective treatment it is. …itamins and other nutritional factors play a potent role in countering the compulsion to drink.”   ~ The Vitamin Cure for Alcoholism, Abraham Hoffer, MD, PhD and Andrew W. Saul, PhD, Foreword by Donald R....

CBD stands for ‘Cannabidiol’ which is a compound extracted from hemp. Hemp contains CBD as well as hundreds of other plant compounds, including CBN, CBG, terpenes, resins, and even trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Hemp/CBD products do not cause the psychological changes associated with a marijuana ‘high’. Hemp Plants Hemp plants are non-flowering male cannabis plants. Hemp plants are used in many ways such as fabrics, paper, construction, and food. Hemp oil and hemp seeds (usually seen marketed as ’hemp hearts’) have been a popular health food for decades, rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats and a healthy addition to...

Over the past several years I have had the opportunity to witness the fragility of our lives. Friends have faced illnesses, unexpected deaths and tragedies, unwanted divorces, losses of employment and devastating financial disasters. Each incident and loss created an awareness in me and forced me to assess my own life and ask – what is really important to me? It is obvious in the seasons that everything changes. Everything and everyone will pass away in time. Life is transitory in nature. If I realize this, then how do I live my life. What matters? What do I live...

With 60-70 million Americans affected by digestive disorders like constipation, heart burn, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis; healing the gut has become a trendy topic. Even seemingly unrelated conditions like auto-immune disorders, skin conditions, joint pain, cancer and diabetes have been linked to gut inflammation. “All disease begins in the gut,” said Hippocrates around 400 BC, without any studies whatsoever. Now, more than two millennia later, we are finding that he was right. Who Lives in Your Gut? You may have heard of the gut flora, also called gut microbiome. It consists of 100 trillion bacteria,...

It’s a beautiful, sunny warm day and you’ve made it a point to take the day off for some well-deserved rest and relaxation. You’re about to leave for the beach, sunscreen in hand when the phone rings. You look down at your cell phone and it’s one of your closest friends. You reluctantly answer. They ask you in desperation to please help them move because they don’t want to move tomorrow in the rain. Now what? You say, “Sure, why not”, however, you’re mad as can be since you wanted to go do something for yourself for once. But...