
Radio Naturopath
Radio Naturopath Episode 297: St. Patrick's Day, Women in Naturopathic Medicine, Protein Calculators and Shakes
Today we talked about the origin of St. Patrick's Day. Apparently, good ol' Maewyn did NOT physically chase the snakes OR the pagans out of Ireland, but he DID promote and spread the practice of Christianity there. But he wasn't born in Ireland, likely in Wales or Scotland, to a Briton of Roman descent! Who knew. In the US, anywhere where there's lots of Irish (I'm looking at you, Boston, MA) there's a lot of drinkin', partyin', and the wearin' o' the green. In Chicago they dye the Chicago River green, and in New York and lots of other places they have a parade. Everyone is Irish for a day! Many pagans believe that St. Patrick at least sought to replace paganism with Christianity, so don't observe or wear snake jewelry for the day.
In continued celebration of International Women's Month, we profiled another celebrated naturopathic physician, Lise Alschuler, N.D. She is the premier woman naturopathic oncologist in the world!
We got out a protein calculator and figured out that a lot of folks, likely peri- and post-menopausal women, don't eat enough protein, and that may be why they're getting symptoms! Lots of women, especially in this age category, don't eat enough protein, which would likely help them with fat loss. So I recommending mixing animal and vegetable sources to get the right amount of protein. One way to do this is with protein shakes. If you're not dairy intolerant, the best one is whey, but if you are, we discussed alternatives, both animal and vegetable.
Radio Naturopath Episode 296: International Women's Day, Women's Naturopathic Healthcare, More on Protein for Health
This week we talked about the origin of International Women's Day. Did you know that it came from the Socialist Party in Russia obtaining suffrage for women in 1917? In the US, the Socialist Party held a Women's Day on February 28, 1909 in honor of women in the labor movement. March 8 was adapted after Russian suffrage, and then it was made official in the United States in 1967, supported by feminist movements here. This year's theme is #ChoosetoChallenge. You can challenge things like old assumptions, racism, classism, sexism, in any area of life: work, sports, relationships, the arts.
I honored one of my woman teachers of naturopathic medicine, the premier naturopathic gynecologist, in the world, Tori Hudson, N.D. She is an adjunct professor at most of the naturopathic colleges in North America, and I learned naturopathic gynecology from her at the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon.
Then, protein! Especially, what are the best vegetarian sources? And why is it helpful to eat protein? Protein is so important that we're going to talk about it more next week.
Radio Naturopath Episode 295: J&J vs. Moderna/Pfizer Vaccine Efficacy, Eat More Produce and Protein
Today we talked about what it's good for you to eat your fruits and vegetables. You'd think it would be obvious, but a lot of Americans still aren't that great at it. We talked about ways to prepare your vegetables, such as soups, stews, stirfries, salads. We also discussed all the nutritional benefits.
We also started the conversation about why PROTEIN is good for you. It turns out produce is so important that it took a long time to discuss! So we'll discuss protein more next week.
Radio Naturopath Episode 294: Getting That 2nd COVID-19 Vaccine Dose, No Flu Season, Liver Cleanse?
This week, I talked about what it feels like to get the COVID-19 vaccine, what you experience afterward, and if it's worth it. The short answer is YES! If the research bears out and this vaccine is safe and effective, it's our way out of this pandemic.
We also discussed how the flu season didn't happen. Many factors: kids not in school, everyone masking and distancing, people doing a lot less indoor gathering.
And, do you really need to do a liver cleanse? The answer is maybe. The scientific side says there's no basis for it. The natural medicine side says of course you do, based on who you talk to. I say it depends. If you eat healthfully, get exercise, watch your sugar, carbs and processed foods, and alcohol, your liver will function a lot more efficiently!
Radio Naturopath Episode 293: Visiting When You're Not Vaccinated, Liver Friendly Foods
Today we discussed whether it's a good idea to visit your vaccinated family if you are non-vaccinated, and the short answer is maybe. The vaccine isn't 100% effective, you can still transmit it, anyone under 16 can't get vaccinated at all, and transmission levels although lower are not dramatically lower. So if you visit, you still have to mask, distance, and wash. And if you're leaving Connecticut for more than 24 hours and going anywhere that's not New York, New Jersey, or Rhode Island, you need to fill out a DPH travel form when you return, then quarantine for 10 days or have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arriving in Connecticut to avoid quarantining.
We talked about how to keep your liver healthy and liver-friendly foods too!
Radio Naturopath Episode 292: Montelukast and Psychiatric Side Effects; Why Chocolate is Good For You
This week, we alerted listeners to the drug montelukast, brand name Singulair. This anti-leukotriene drug is commonly given to children and adults with allergies and asthma. The manufacturer has known for at least ten years that it can cause severe psychiatric effects in children, and yet the drug continues to be prescribed. I discussed the mechanism of action of the drug and some possibilities as to its cause. I also talked about nutritional factors that can be managed.
Since it's Valentine's Day this coming Sunday, I skipped over the mushy stuff and went right to chocolate! Why it's good for you, what conditions it can help, and recipes that include it.
Radio Naturopath Episode 291: Happy Imbolc! Healthy Ways to Stay Warm, Fatty Liver
I reminded people to avoid anti-inflammatories and to get rest after getting the COVID-19 vaccine for maximum effect.
Because it's another major snow day, I talked about how to stay warm naturally in the winter, from foods to eat to what to wear to hydrotherapy!
And I talked about fatty liver, an unfortunately common malady with excess consumption of starchy and sugary foods. It can be helped by diet and exercise!
Radio Naturopath Episode 290: Rest After the COVID-19 Vaccine, Sea Buckthorn, Qi Gong, Heart Healthy Food and Exercise
I found that lots of people getting the COVID-19 vaccination are having some symptoms afterward, and are taking anti-inflammatories and going on with their lives. I encouraged avoiding those if possible, and getting rest to maximize the effects of the vaccine.
We had a question about sea buckthorn oil, which is great for cholesterol and skin health. We also had a question about the benefits of qi gong, a Taoist meditative movement form that is linked to the meridians.
We also talked about heart-healthy foods and exercise, and how lipoic acid can be helpful for tinnitus.
Radio Naturopath Episode 289: Heart Healthy Foods; Krill vs. Fish Oil For Health
Today as a follow up to last week's discussion of the Mediterranean Diet, I talked about a whole bunch of healthy foods that can improve cardiovascular health. They can lower LDL, raise HDL, lower triglycerides, reduce stroke and heart attack risk, and help to lower blood pressure. Mostly, stuff with fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, and essential fats! Very obvious things, but they bear repeating.
We also talked about the difference between fish oil and krill oil. There's some controversy; they both make sense in different ways.
Happy Birthday to nephew Harry and friend Luci!
Radio Naturopath Episode 288: Why Ron and I Got the COVID-19 Vaccine; Why the Mediterranean Diet Is Good For You
Ron and I got the COVID-19 vaccine! We talk about why we made the decision to do it, what we experienced, and some ways to help mitigate side effects.
We got a great question about the benefits of the Mediterranean diet so we talked about that! You can't go wrong eating vegetables and fruit, a little cheese, olive oil, fish at least 2x/week, nuts, seeds and beans, and a few glasses of wine per week. Like Ron and me! It's also a good idea not to eat too much starch and sugar.