Category Archives: Health

Keep Your Mind Sharp with Phosphatidylserine

I am not feeling quite as sharp today as usual, because my beloved cat woke me up too early this morning. I have personally found that adequate sleep is crucial for my memory. I believe that sleep is an important aspect of intellectual performance for most people, but sufficient rest is not always enough byContinue reading “Keep Your Mind Sharp with Phosphatidylserine”

Pesticides Possibly Linked to Vitamin D Deficiency

I have long wondered why vitamin D deficiency is becoming so common these days. When I was in Seattle, the near epidemic level of vitamin D deficiency seemed easily explained by the lack of sunshine, but I started seeing similar patterns in Arkansas, where we have no shortage of sunshine. This pattern could be explainedContinue reading “Pesticides Possibly Linked to Vitamin D Deficiency”

Even My Cat is Sneezing

With the mild winter, this year is shaping up to be a particularly bad one for seasonal allergies in Northwest Arkansas. Even one of my four cats has been sneezing a lot recently. Though his sneezing could from a viral infection, I suspect it has to do with the thick layers of pollen coating everythingContinue reading “Even My Cat is Sneezing”

A Novel Approach to Reproductive Complaints

One of the only drawbacks of practicing medicine and blogging is that these are mostly sedentary activities. We all know about the pitfalls of a sedentary lifestyle, which can contribute to weight gain, heart disease, osteoporosis, and insomnia, just to name a few. It is less commonly known that being sedentary can contribute to reproductiveContinue reading “A Novel Approach to Reproductive Complaints”

Skip the Red Meat, Live Longer

Last week a new nutrition study caught my eye. Maybe some of you saw it too. The study found a correlation between the red meat consumption and increased risk of all-cause mortality. In fact, each additional serving of red meat per day was associated with up to a 20% greater chance of dying over theContinue reading “Skip the Red Meat, Live Longer”

The Detoxifying Power of Burdock

Now that winter has passed, it is good time to focus on detoxification. In the winter, we are less active, tend to sweat less, and therefore can have slower elimination of toxins. In fact, it is an Arkansas tradition among some old-timers to do a spring cleanse. One traditional Arkansas herb was sassafras, but sinceContinue reading “The Detoxifying Power of Burdock”

Immune Boosting Astragalus

Spring isn’t quite here, but it is starting to feel like it. As much as I love spring, these shifting temperatures can be stressful on the immune system. That is why early spring tends to be a prime season for cold and flu. I have personally added the herb Astragalus to my daily regimen toContinue reading “Immune Boosting Astragalus”

Brain Protecting Mediterranean Diet

I frequently recommend the Mediterranean diet to my patients who are at higher risk for heart disease. Many studies have shown that this diet lowers the risk of cancer, cognitive disorders, and heart disease. I also like this diet because it can be easy to follow. This basis of the diet is to consume moreContinue reading “Brain Protecting Mediterranean Diet”

Boost Your Veggie Intake

When I examine people’s diets, one of the most common weak areas is insufficient vegetable consumption. I understand the issues: sometimes it is the flavor of certain vegetables, the time it takes to prepare them, and I see very few people who crave vegetables like they might other foods. But I also understand the advantagesContinue reading “Boost Your Veggie Intake”