Radio Naturopath Episode 203: Interview with Diane Dorfer, Jiff Martin and Sydney Clements: CSAs and Get to Know Your Local Farmers!

Today I interviewed Diane Dorfer of Cobblestone Farm CSA in Mansfield, CT; Jiff Martin, Sustainable Food System Associate Educator for UConn Extension; and Sydney Clements of the Windham Community Food Network. There are great events coming up: the alliterative Friends and Farmers Family Fun Night, Friday, February 22, 5:30-8:30 PM at the Mansfield Community Center; and the Know Your Farmer Fair at Windham Town Hall, 979 Main Street in Willimantic, Saturday, February 23 10:00 am-1:00 PM. We talked about these great opportunities to get to know your local and regional farmers. We also talked about CSAs and why they're great; the Taste of Mansfield, pulling farms and farm events together with the community; and also the great work of the Windham Community Food Network. They are working on a double your dollars the Willimantic Farmers Market for your SNAP/EBT benefits; working with the Spring Valley Student Farm, Willow Valley Farm, and Cobblestone Farm to allow gleaning; and also the UConn Food Recovery Network, which gets food from local establishments to distribute to food pantries. Lots of great stuff going on with local, natural food!

Radio Naturopath Episode 202: Eat and Dress For the Cold, New Testing and Treatment for Cholesterol

We've got the Polar Vortex, so I remind you to get out the fleece, wool, shearling (can be cotton or synthetic! WISH IT WAS HEMP) Cover up and wear those thermal shirts! I can't live without them. Also, some great things to eat and drink, like soup, spicy, and Mexican hot cocoa! That's cocoa with added cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne. I like mine with turmeric too!

I also did a review on cholesterol! What it is, what it does, and some neat new tests that go beyond just what the volume of cholesterol is in your blood. 

Radio Naturopath Episode 201: New Blood Test for Alzheimer's Plus Natural Treatments; Get Rid Of That 4 Week Cough and Cold

I was inspired today by none other than Maria Shriver on the Today Show, who talked about a new blood test for Alzheimer's disease. She didn't go into as much detail as the article I found, so when I looked it up I found that it's the NFL test. Very appropriate for the upcoming sporting events! But it stands for NeuroFilament Light chains. I went to look in Quest Diagnostics where I order my labs, and it's not offered there. There's definitely a couple of companies that do it but I don't know if I have access to them. Quanterix does it but I don't know who has access to it. Anyway, it's a breakdown product of neuronal tissue. The more you have, the more likely you are to have brain neurodegeneration! If you have the genetic, early onset Alzheimer's, your levels will rise over time. If you have the non-genetic, they'll stay about the same. There are natural ways to head off the development of Alzheimer's, so I went through a bunch of them. One of them is EAT YOUR COCONUT OIL. It makes you smart!

Also, so many people have that cold or cough that just won't go away, so I gave out advice to help with that. Eucalyptus! Echinacea and goldenseal! Vitamins A, C, E, Zinc! Thin your mucus with guaifenesin, NAC, and bromelain! 

Bicycle Talk Episode 130: Indoor Cycling for Winter Fitness; Go Slow to Go Fast; Saddle Height; Winter Weight Loss; Swimming for Cyclists

Fran guest hosts today! I talk about how ANY indoor training class can be good for you, whether focusing on classic cycling styles or fitness classes such as Soul Cycle. You gotta go slow to go fast; it’s good for your head and actually boosts your cardiovascular system! Get the right saddle height for comfort and efficiency. Some tips on getting that weight down in the winter. Plus, why SWIMMING should be your next cross-training sport!

Radio Naturopath Episode 200: Happy 2019! New Year's Resolutions, and Natural Help for Fertility

Start small. Focus on one resolution at a time. Go slow. Be kind to yourself! Good practical advice on how to start the new year right. Plus, some practical help for increasing fertility, naturally!

Radio Naturopath Episode 199: Interview with Laura Chartrand: All about CLiCK Willimantic, A Cooperative Community Kitchen

Today we had Laura Chartrand, the education coordinator at CLiCK, the Community Licensed Cooperative Kitchen in Willimantic, CT. We talked about the mission of CLiCK, the various classes they have, their garden, and the local businesses they support. We’re on a mission to get people eating and living healthfully everywhere!

Radio Naturopath Episode 198: Eating in Moderation; More Natural Help for Parkinson's; Exercise for the Time Crunched and Uninspired

You've got ALL those holiday goodies, now what? Some advice on taking it slow and eating in moderation! We had a call-in about natural help for Parkinson's, so we talked about antioxidants for the brain, exercise, and heavy metal toxicity. Plus, some tips for exercise for the time-crunched and uninspired, which we will continue next year!

Radio Naturopath Episode 197: Healthy Hot Cocoa, Rest Is the Most Important Part of Weight Loss, Why Jicama is Good For You

HOT COCOA. It can be good for you, and I think it can be even better with matcha in it! Rock those antioxidants! Or do cocoa chai, with turmeric, ginger, cinnamon and cayenne. Way to warm you up on a cold day. Don't forget the marshmallows! Also, REST is the most important part of weight loss! If your cortisol is too high, you'll store fat. So nap, meditate, breathe, walk in nature! The first rule of weight loss? Don't talk about weight loss. Talk about all the other good things that you can do for your health that can incidentally get you there. Plus JICAMA is good for you! It's crunchy, low calorie, and has lots of fiber. Great healthy alternative to crackers!

Radio Naturopath Episode 196: Erectile Dysfunction: Cardiovascular and Hormones Naturally

Here are the facts about erectile dysfunction and improving sexual health for men. Of course, I talk about improving cardiovascular health with diet, exercise and stress reduction, and improving hormonal health in the same way. There are some supplements and herbs that can be helpful. But it's like a lot of things, diet, exercise, and stress reduction!

Radio Naturopath Episode 195: Rest Is Good For You, Good Stuff: Potatoes and Yacon Syrup

I want to remind people to slow down and enjoy the holiday season, not just do everything and anything! Meditate, read, relax, listen to music, go for a stroll. Watch the HALLMARK CHANNEL.  Get your negative ions and go out in nature! Also, POTATOES can be your friend. They have resistant starch to help blood sugar, potassium to calm you down, and their skins have lots of antioxidants to prevent tissue damage in your body! The darker the potato, the more antioxidants, just like berries. So grab those purple potatoes! Also, more on yacon syrup: that molasses-like syrup from that starchy tuber that can help with weight loss.