Blog

This is definitely one of those topics that only gets more confusing the more you read. So, you need to have a philosophy about it and fit each new bit of information into your overall framework. That way, you're not constantly reeling from 'no carbs' to 'low fat' to 'grapefruits only' to whatever is in. Among physicians, there isn't any consensus about what is best for you. The only thing we can probably agree on is that no one diet suits everyone. In this section, over time, we hope to provide enough helpful information so you can make healthful decisions on your own.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is that fruits, vegetables, and whole grains should make up most of your intake. Lean protein such as fish, chicken, turkey or tofu, nuts, lentils. and beans should comprise the rest. The most important to me is eating 'whole foods' as they come out of the ground and limiting processed foods as much as possible. The food industry has studied and perfected combining the most tempting, and at times addictive, combinations of fat, salt, and sugar in restaurant and supermarket offerings. They know how to keep you coming back for more.

Varying what you eat can keep your meals interesting. I aim to include 'superfoods' such as spinach, tomatoes, pumpkin, blueberries, and hemp seed, which I think are delicious. Experiment with foods that contain antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, lycopene (think tomatoes), and beta-carotene (pumpkin and carrots). These and many others are beneficial when eaten in 'whole foods' but not when taken in pill form.
Of course, not one nutrition plan suits everyone, since food preferences or intolerance and medical issues must be considered.

But for the majority of people, if you eat whole foods and nourish your body and soul with a wholesome variety of nutritious foods, your mind and body will thank you. Often, people don't realize that fatigue, insomnia, depression, and other issues are closely tied to what we eat. In our posts in this section, we'll provide some practical information and keep you posted on the latest and greatest in nutrition news. Send us your questions!

Physical Activity Can Help COVID Outcomes

With the longer days and warmer temperatures, you may have been contemplating starting to exercise or picking back up after a pandemic hibernation … but still quite haven’t been able to take the first step. If this describes you, the findings of a new study might be just the thing to convince you it’s time…

Read More...

Allergy Season? The EYES Have It!

It’s Allergy Season! Spring is here!  The sun is out, the days are longer, the grass is growing and the flowers are blooming.  There is a sense of renewal, rebirth, hope.  For some though, spring brings misery as the trees, grasses and weeds release pollen into the air and cause those pesky allergy symptoms.  …

Read More...
Phoning a friend

Boost Yourself and Others By Staying Connected

As first published this month in Psychology Today. Covid-19 recommendations over the last year have called for social distancing measures. Masks, six feet of distance, and avoiding gatherings have all helped to reduce spread; however, they have also impacted connections with others. Warm and cozy hugs, in-person meetings, and joyful gathering rituals such as graduations…

Read More...

Say YES to Yoga

This article originally appeared in Psychology Today – A new randomized study shows efficacy for yoga in treating anxiety. My own personal fascination with yoga dates back multiple decades to a daily, individualized routine at the Yogic Health Center in Mumbai during a gap year in my early 20’s. It seems quite fitting that my…

Read More...

A Grateful Ride through the Maddening 2020

Under our masks, my new patients and I do not know how we really look.  My former patients and I recognize each other only through our eyes.  We are moving through this maddening 2020 year, not knowing when we will be the next one to contract the invisible virus that could end all the plans…

Read More...

6 Constructive Ways Parents Can Support Children and Teens

Helpful Tips As We Continue Forward with COVID As first appeared in Psychology Today At the start of this pandemic, my family like many across our nation, prepared for a sprint. We dug deep for the burst of energy and the explosive performance of the 200 meters we imagined in store for us. As a…

Read More...

Let’s All Get the Flu Shot in 2020!

This year the new coronavirus that causes what can be a serious illness which is described as a “flu like” has greatly affected all of us.  In a similar way, the original “flu”, influenza, has the potential to cause 20,000 preventable deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations this year. What is a flu like illness?  Common symptoms…

Read More...
Oasis Farms signage

Oasis Farms and the Cycle of Giving: a Productive Summer on Dr. Rajagopal’s Farm

What have you done to relax during this COVID-19 crisis? After all, there’s only so much walking or exercising we can do daily outside of work which, for most people, has been confined to home.  Many activities have been frozen until a “safer” time.  When will that safer time come, nobody knows. So far, this…

Read More...

On Independence Day: Civil Liberty and the Wearing of Masks

So here we are, facing another big wave of Coronavirus in 36 states, with Texas and Florida leading the pack, having the highest case reports.  Am I shocked?  Not unless I have been away on another planet and did not get to follow the news for a month or so, about how this surge will…

Read More...

Covid-19 and the New Normal: Are We Doing Our Part?

Tomorrow afternoon, my husband and I will attend a “ Zoom funeral” for one of his close friends who died of COVID-19 at Georgetown hospital last weekend.  He caught the virus from his wife, a healthcare provider who caught it herself from an asymptomatic patient at the hospital where she worked.  We also joined a…

Read More...