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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!

Pregnancy: Some Reflections as Delivery Draws Near

I am not sure how relevant this topic is to the blog as I have no professional information to impart.  However, as I am going in to the hospital tomorrow to give birth to my second child, I am feeling reflective.   There have been several “high profile” deliveries in the past few weeks –…

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Education While on Vacation, Sandy Came Home!

Last Friday my father and I drove to Franklin and Marshall college in Lancaster to pick up my son Sandy.  He had finished his three week Chemistry CTY-Johns Hopkins camp.  My father wanted to keep me company and be helpful just in case my car had some troubles during the two and a half hour…

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Baby Shower- A Reflection on Parenthood

We started our Saturday two weeks ago as usual with an hour of boot camping with our “Lady Docs” friends. The Washington area was plagued with mid-90s temperature with the heat index in the 110s!  We sweated profusely even in the first five minutes of stretching!  We were delighted to be back into a cool…

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The Illusion of Control: A Game We Play With Ourselves

This is my first foray into an entry in a blog.  As a therapist, I do not, as a matter of practice, discuss my life or myself.  However, as a member of this awesome group of women, I will attempt to make a relevant contribution.  I have been thinking a lot recently about the idea…

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July Health Pearls

 July Health Pearls: 1.  Babies Conceived in Spring More Likely to be Born Prematurely: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.  Study was conducted by Princeton University researchers, showing a 10% higher risk for premature births in these babies.  This was thought that by early winter, at the peak of the flu season, mothers of…

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Nutrition and the Brain Part 2 – Sleep and Vegetables!

Much of the conference I attended last weekend, titled Nutrition and the Brain, was about Alzheimer’s dementia (AD). There are genetic factors for AD which we’re handed at birth, like it or not, and environmental factors, which we can control. The latter include exercise, sleep and nutrition. We covered exercise in detail in Part One, so…

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Kale the Powerhouse Vegetable

In the Health and Sciences section of the Washington Post this week, I read a brief article about the benefits of kale.  Last year, Anderson Cooper from CNN admitted that he had never had kale before and had to taste a kale leaf in front of an audience.  It was entertaining to see Mr Cooper…

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Sleep For Success! Everything You Must Know About Sleep but Are too Tired to Ask

Sleep For Success: Everything You Must Know About Sleep but Are Too Tired to Ask By Dr. James Maas and Rebecca Robbins Published by AuthorHouse, 2011 Are you exhausted? Often have difficulty staying awake? Then this book may be a great first step to a good night’s rest. Dr. Maas is a distinguished Professor of Psychology at Cornell…

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Exercise, Nutrition and the Brain

This weekend, I attended a conference in DC that I’ve been looking forward to for months – Nutrition and the Brain. While most medical conferences have some ‘exciting’ aspects when new research is revealed, here almost every speaker discussed something that can personally affect all our readers and patients. The talks covered many aspects of dementia…

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The Low Down on Cool Down

As part of the warm up period, it’s a good idea to stretch. Generally, before exercise, “dynamic” stretching is better and afterwards, “static” stretching is preferred. Dynamic stretching involves warming up the muscles with gentle, gradual moves, without a prolonged hold. If you try to maximally stretch a ‘cold’ muscle, you’re more likely to induce a tear. Just as…

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