As much as we would like one, there is no single answer to achieving optimal health. In truth, a healthy lifestyle is one rooted in balance, not quick fixes or targeted approaches. Each person has a different definition of Optimal Health. Their needs and goals are different and so is their approach to their own health. However, all definitions include some balance between the four pillars of optimal health; exercise, recovery, nutrition, and stress management. These pillars work together in determining the state of your wellbeing. If one is lacking, it will impact the rest. That is why finding...

Have you been searching for a diet that can promote your overall wellness? The overly simplistic acid-alkaline theory of disease essentially maintains that excess acid accumulation in the body causes many diseases. While the advantages of an alkaline (high pH) diet is controversial, and researchers agree that further studies to explore its exact effects are warranted, a growing body of evidence indicates that it promotes cellular health and contributes to the prevention of certain diseases. Especially if you suffer from chronic pain, experimenting with this type of diet for six months could be beneficial. The Role of pH in...

On January 6, 2021, I was settling down to write this column. It was my typical Wednesday off. I rest my hands, take time for myself and get life done. I was watching television coverage of the Electoral College Count, when all hell broke loose. As I witnessed the rioters running up the Capitol steps, smashing windows and doors to get inside, I felt my stomach sink and suddenly began to cry. I immediately felt unsafe and ungrounded. Those feelings were so familiar from years past. Feeling unsafe and unstable was how I felt in my twenties. In art...

You may have heard of Hot Stone Massage but a novel treatment called Himalayan Salt Stone Massage has become popular in recent years primarily due to the type of stones used. Authentic Himalayan Sea Salt is characteristically pink and sourced from one of the most pristine environments in the world, naturally occurring salt caves deep below the Himalayan Mountains in Pakistan. This particular salt has been traditionally used in Eastern cultures. It is only recently that the Western world has begun to embrace its health-boosting properties. Pink Himalayan Salt contains 84 minerals and trace elements including calcium, magnesium, potassium,...

When it comes to your finances, what keeps you awake at night? A few years ago, a client, Louise*, confided in me: “Debt gets me nervous.” Knowing that Louise and her husband, Will, were health-conscious individuals, I asked Louise how she felt about consuming fat in her diet. I explained that I saw debt’s relationship to our personal financial health like dietary fats’ relationship to our physical health. With the caveat that I am a fiduciary financial professional but only a recreational health enthusiast, the following is how I view debt and some of the parallels I see between...

First recognized in the town of Old Lyme in 1975, Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, then transmitted to humans by a bite from an infected black-legged or deer tick. A tick becomes infected after feeding on infected deer, birds, or mice. Recent studies have surfaced that show women are more likely to have this disease than men. FAIR Health (2019), one of the largest insurance claims databases, released a Lyme disease report proving that more insurance claims with Lyme disease diagnoses were submitted for females than males, and females do not have...

From the day we are born to the day we pass on, there are many important milestones in our financial lives that are triggered as we age. Here are some of the more important ages to keep in mind: BIRTH: Welcome to the world! An infant can be named as a beneficiary in a 529 account or as the owner of a custodial savings or investment account. If you reside in CT, there is a program called CHET Baby Scholars which offers an incentive $250 match towards a newborn’s CHET 529 – see https://www.aboutchet.com/buzz/baby.php. Age 18: This is the...

Tendons attach muscles to bones while ligaments hold bones and tendons in place. Fascia guides muscle groups and allows them to slide over other structures. They all have a few things in common. Predominantly, they all mostly consist of collagen. This means that when they get damaged or excessively worn they need to be repaired by fibroblasts. Fibroblasts are like little elastic-tissue factories in your body that combine a couple of amino-acids with a vitamin C molecule to produce collagen. Your brain takes the clue from pain in a region to determine that it is time to turn-up the...

In 2020, nearly nothing we anticipated came to fruition as we had expected. Yet this past year, maybe even without recognizing it, adapting to the multitude of missteps and new directions may have helped us prepare for tomorrow’s challenges. So, as we ponder what 2021 could bring, obstacles and opportunities alike, we should consider how we can take what we’ve learned and apply those teachings in order to lead the way for what lies ahead. Five Tips Leaders Can Embrace for a Resilient and Rewarding New Year 1. Leaders must learn to let go, live, and lead with intention....

I was recently asked this question, “Why do women find it hard to ask for help?” I want to qualify my answer by sharing that finding it hard to ask for help is not just a difficulty for women, men also share this issue. However, I believe that women have additional and/or differing layers of baggage to clear in relation to this topic. Culturally, women have been taught from an early age that their role is to be the caregiver and nurturer of the family, usually at the cost of their individuality. We don’t have to go too far...

The journey to parenthood is an exciting experience. You read books, watch videos, listen to podcasts, and talk with friends and family that have experienced the joy of pregnancy. All in anticipation that you will join them in the ranks of being a mom or dad. The stories you hear can give you feelings of happiness, fear, uncertainty, and elation. The plethora of information at your disposal offers fascinating facts you never knew happened in your body, but you can also be exposed to contradicting information of the best ways to do everything in preparation to conceive. When the...

Are you seeking ways to improve your body’s ability to combat both viral and other infections and age-related degenerative diseases? One of the most important things you can do is help it detoxify the wastes that bombard it daily. Supporting your kidneys with healthy lifestyle choices and nutritional supplements is valuable insurance for optimal health now and in years to come. Kidney Purpose and Function The kidneys are two bean-shaped, fist-sized major organs on either side of the spine. They are part of the renal system, which also includes the ureters (ducts that carry the urine created in the...

Many years ago, someone told me there were only 7 beaches in the world that had the following: white sand as soft as satin, tranquil breezes, abundant sunshine, and temperatures that rarely dropped below 75 degrees. I’m not sure if there’s only 7, but I can tell you I found one of those beaches when I moved to Naples, Florida. When you step onto that pristine, silky sand for the first time, it’s something you’ll never forget. While I have the luxury of living here, I wanted to experience it from the view of a vacationer. I had the...

As a Medical Thermographer, I’m asked these several questions repeatedly, “What’s the difference between mammography and thermography?” “Is thermography better than mammography?” “Does it replace mammography?” There’s often confusion on this subject, by thinking one replaces the other. Nothing could be further from the truth! One could say comparing these two breast screening tools is like comparing apples to oranges. Let’s dive a little deeper, first looking at the differences between the two. Mammography Mammography is an X-ray that utilizes ionizing radiation to image the internal structure of the breast. During a mammogram, the breasts are positioned and compressed...

Over the past 20 years, technological advances in fertility have been quite remarkable. Accordingly, it should come as no surprise that much of the attention rests on the fancy terminology and procedures that make up the modern fertility landscape. However, it is astounding how little attention is given to the basics of fertility. Fertility is still a biological process that can be enhanced naturally. Many reproductive practices require no equipment nor do they culminate in costly medical bills, just a well thought out diet and lifestyle regimen. In the United States, about 9% of men and 11% of women...

I was a chunky kid who was not very athletic and not very coordinated. People said I had a cute face, you know what that means! On my dad’s side, we had an aunt and uncle who each probably weighed five hundred pounds. Their daughter soon tipped the scale in the same manner and another cousin was about four hundred pounds. The family motto seemed to be “food is love” and if you didn’t eat what they offered, they took it personally. They were fun and jovial people. We lived near them so we had many meals together or...

How does one thrive in life, business and relationships? I want to share with you my personal experience of how I was able to thrive in life. This is about a decision I had to make many years ago. Now when I look back on my life I can see how huge and impactful this decision was on my life from that point forward. Before I share what the decision was and what I chose, let me give you a little background information. I grew up in Ireland the eldest of 9 children. I was what is now known...

Hi Dana: One of my financial resolutions is to save more, especially for retirement. How do I know where to save? A new year brings a sense of clarity and the fresh opportunity to take action and set better habits in motion. While many of our resolutions (think – diet or exercise) are sometimes difficult to stick to, a financial resolution like saving more can be set up for success quite easily. Saving more for retirement is a simple, yet powerful resolution for most of us because it can have a positive impact for many years of our lives....