Hello Dear One, it turns out that your mother was right, you are what you eat! Your diet and lifestyle affects the composition of your intestinal microbiome (i.e. the 2-5 pounds of microscopic bacteria, yeast, parasites and viruses that live in your digestive tract) AND your microbiome affects your brain function and overall health. Did […]
My Journey as a Physician & Mother
Hello Dear One, Today I am taking what feels like a big risk to tell you my story. It’s scary to be vulnerable and transparent when society programs us to wear the “I have it all together. My life is perfect” mask. However, I’ve learned that when we are courageous enough to take off our […]
3 Principles for a Happy, Healthy Brain
Hello Dear One, are you suffering with brain fog, chronic fatigue, panic attacks, overwhelming stress, anxiety or depression? You are not alone. Check out these statistics reported by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. 43.8 Million adults in America experience a mental illness in a given […]
Joy Prescription #6 – Wisdom for Tough Decisions
Hello Dear One, Are you struggling with a difficult decision today? What strategies are you using to make the best decision possible, one that serves the highest good for all parties? I’m in the process of wrestling with some life-altering decisions at present, and have been reflecting on how to make good, God-honoring choices. With […]
7 Tips for Minimizing Stress Over the Holidays
Hello dear ones, it’s especially easy to fall victim to the myth of the perfect woman during the holidays…baking cookies, finding a special gift for everyone in your life, hosting parties, decorating the home, all the while carrying on with your normal hectic routine. When I was a young, working mother with one infant, a […]
Joy Prescription #5: Tame Your Brain ANTs
Hello dear one, In a previous post, I wrote about 10 reversible causes of anxiety and depression and introduced the concept of cognitive distortions, a.k.a. stinkin’ thinkin’ or brain ANTS = Automatic Negative Thoughts. No one is immune to these inaccurate thoughts that tend to pop into our heads and make us feel bad about ourselves. […]
Joy Prescription #4 – Optimize Nutrition
As the old saying goes, “we are what we eat!” Our biology demands the proper raw materials to function optimally—the right balance of quality protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. God built healing compounds, called phytonutrients, into the colorful pigments in plant foods. This is a big reason why plant food can heal our brains, […]
Joy Prescription #3 – Do a HEART check
Hello dear ones, today’s Joy Prescription is inspired by two of the great teachers in my life. I recently spent a beautiful day with my dear friend and fellow integrative physician, Melinda Toney, M.D. As we walked in the forest along a lovely lake, we talked about the challenges our patients faced, particularly women in […]
Joy Prescription #2 – Calm Your Brain Waves
Hello dear ones, how would it feel to have a calm, clear mind and a positive mood today? Stress, anxiety, racing thoughts, panic attacks and depression are symptoms with complex causes including biochemical, genetic, environmental and spiritual factors. We all suffer from “negative programming” to some degree related to our past experiences and family of […]
10 Reversible Causes of Anxiety & Depression
Did you know that 1 in 4 women in America are taking a prescription drug for mental health problems? If you struggle with depressed mood, anxiety or panic attacks, it’s really important to ask “why?” as you are seeking a solution. As a physician, I was trained to diagnose diseases. Granted, there is some sense […]
