I know what you are thinking. This isn’t the 1990s! Shouldn’t I as a naturopathic doctor telling you all about the virtues of the paleo or keto diet or suggest that you go on a raw vegan juice cleanse to achieve optimal health? Yes I’m an old fashioned traditionalist when it comes to nutrition and hopefully in a good way. In reality diet fads come and go, but the Mediterranean diet has really stood the test of time.

I love RxBars and often recommend them to my naturopathic patients as an on-the-go breakfast or a smart snack. But I thought I could tweak them just a bit to make a good for your skin treat too.

This Tuesday I had the honor of being invited by Dr. David Kulak, M.D., the director of the Gamete Donation Program and the Reproductive Technology program at Genesis Fertility to present on nutrition and fertility to the rest of his medical team. Here are a few highlights from my talk.

When you think herbal medicine, you might think of exotic herbs from distant lands with impossible to pronounce names. However, there are many powerful herbs that are readily available in your kitchen...

It's that time of year again. Everything is in full bloom and now your allergies have sent you sneezing and wheezing. Why does this happen? Exposure to certain allergens causes them to bind with IgE a...

Eating healthy in this modern age can be very confusing. The internet is both a wealth of great and terrible information which only adds to this confusion. To simplify things, here are some of the myt...

For many years Japan has surpassed the rest of the world in life expectancy with the average person living to be 83.7 years. Unfortunately, with a life expectancy of 79.3, the US has fallen quite behi...

Serves 4
Move over blueberry pie! We have created an even better end of summer dessert.  Besides being delicious, both the antioxidants in blueberries and the omega-3 fatty acids in walnuts help to sup...

For many couples looking to start a family in vitro fertilization (IVF) might be the only option. This could be for any number of reasons.  Such as reproductive problems on the side of either partner,...

Finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list can be stressful especially for those that seem to have everything. This year why not have bit of fun by making your own gifts. Here are some of my h...

Serves 4-6

Every Thanksgiving, I'm put on Brussels sprouts duty in the Branin household. This is last year's creation.

1 pound Brussels sprouts, cut in halves
1/4 cup olive oil
1 small onion, choppe...

Serves 4-6

Besides being my favorite autumn vegetable, pumpkin is a great source of vitamin A, a vital nutrient for radiant skin.

1 (4-5 pound) sugar pie pumpkin
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 small on...

Fertility problems are not just an issue for wannabe moms but for wannabe dads too. Often in the pursuit of pregnancy, future dads can be overlooked. However, in about one-third of the cases of infert...

Eating for two is not just about consuming 350-450 calories extra a day. During pregnancy, women require more nutrients for fetal, maternal and placental tissue growth and development. So it is wise...

Makes 12 muffins

 A bit of morning happiness to make my mom smile :)

2 cups all-purpose gluten free flour
1/3 cup toasted millet
1 super ripe banana
4 dried dates, chopped
1 tsp vanilla
1 tablespoon...

Perhaps even before the ball drops, we might be thinking of what we want to do different in the new year for better health.  We have such good intentions but within a month, a week or even a day, we f...

Serves 4-6 

Bone broths are an amazing source chondroitin sulphate and glucosamine, which have been shown to bring down inflammation and build up cartilage. 

5 cups bone broth 
1 cup quinoa 
1 bunch kale,...

Perhaps this sounds like an oxymoron, but to my Seattle readers this is not a new concept with all the mushrooms, lavender, and rosemary not to mention blackberries that grow there. Even here in New Y...

Our heart is a vital organ that pumps precious oxygen and nutrients to our cells. Our very existence depends on the health of our heart. Nevertheless, some of our habits are very harmful to our hearts...

It is estimated that 75% of chronic diseases are related to diet. So rather than searching for a miracle herb or nutrient, perhaps we need to change what is on our plate.  Below are just of a few cond...