Ok, I’m going to try not to rant in this post. But this topic really burns my buns!

There are so many gurus running wild out there, doling out bad advice by the bucket loads. Very few of these practitioners are physicians, dietitians, nutritionists or therapists. Many of them are master marketers or former advertising execs. Sometimes they are random people who happened to stumble across an idea that worked for them. But then they get a website, a social media account and a following. And that influence empowers them to coach or teach like educated, experienced professionals. I read their blog posts and watch their videos. And they’re a big part of why I’m here - reaching out to you.

The amount of false health information that is floating around the web is infuriating and frightening! What’s up with all the scare tactics? If you trust these influencers, then you might think you have to drink water only sourced from Fiji, eat organic everything and throw all your plastic away. The m...

Did you know that you’re made of mostly water?

It’s true!

In fact, by weight, your body is approximately 60% water. 60%! More specifically, there are a bunch of body parts and systems that are mostly water. For example, your blood is mostly water. So are your brain, heart and lungs. Your muscles contain more than 70% water and your skin contains over 60%. You’re really very … watery!

But those percentages are different for everyone. Your body’s water content is really personal to you. Here are some variables. Your total body water percentage is affected by sex. Men have more total body water than women. Age is also a factor! Specifically, children have a greater total body water percentage than adults. Your climate can also change the amount of water in your body. In general, you’ll lose more water, sweat more, when the temperature goes up. Same with physical activity. When you’re more active, you sweat more. That’s another water loss.

You’re constantly losing water.

Over the ...

Welcome to June! This month, here in the Northeast, the school year (finally) ends. Summer solstice begins. Oh! And … it’s my birthday month!

I used to think of summer as a time to slow down. But, in reality, life with my family of five is just as hectic in the summer as it is during the school year. Work doesn’t predictably slow down for my husband or for me (I do love the idea of summer hours!). And our boys have jam-packed schedules year-round.

If it’s not relaxation, what makes summer stand out? To me (a forever East Coaster), it’s the weather! The days are so long - in a good way! Thank you, Daylight Savings Time! Three precious months of sunny, warm (even hot!) weather inspire some serious outside time. You’ll absorb more Vitamin D from the sun and inhale more fresh air. You’re more active: swimming, going to the playground, and taking long walks through the neighborhood.

But your hectic, outdoorsy lifestyle may cause you to eat on-the-go more than usual. Poolside and beac...

Put on your oxygen mask first.

I vividly remember my first flight. I was 17. My mom, who is notoriously afraid of flying, and I flew to North Carolina to visit Duke.

My mom was a nervous ball of energy. I, always the student, was oh-so-conscientiously following the flight attendant’s instructions. My eyes were darting between the attendant and the plane manual that she was referencing. I was excited and comfortable.

That is ... until I heard that line about the oxygen mask. You know the one. It’s something like, “Please put on your oxygen mask first before assisting anyone else.”

Do you remember how you felt the first time you heard that?!

I do. I felt … uncomfortable. Selfish. Nervous. Worried. Even scared.

Of course I would help my mom first! How could I help myself and leave her struggling by herself? And then I got it - if I pass out, I’ll be no help to her … or anyone else. I realized, I have to help myself first so that I’m then able to help others.

Putting your oxygen...

Now that sunshine and 70 degree days have come to New England, it finally feels like spring. And with spring comes the realization that summer will be here soon!

Summer is my favorite! I love the long days of sunshine with my sweaty, bronzed kiddos. I love trips to the beach and, of course, barbecues!

I hope your summer weekends are full of barbecues! These summer gatherings are about food, yes, but there’s also all about family, friends, and fun!

Memorial Day, the unofficial start of barbecue season, is coming right up. The 4th of July will be here before you know it, and I’m willing to bet your Independence Day celebration will likely involve a barbecue. And, if you’re fortunate, just about every other weekend will also come with its own barbecue opportunity.

What comes to mind when you think of a barbecue? I think of music filling the air. Volleyball and badminton. Lemonade and iced tea. Grills. And food! Glorious food!

You know the barbecue menu - hot dogs, hamburgers, pota...

“We’re not who we say we are. We’re not who we want to be. We are the sum of the influence and impact that we have in our lives on others.” - Carl Sagan

“My job is to somehow make them curious enough, or persuade them, by hook or crook, to get more aware of themselves and where they came from and what they are into and what is already there … just to bring it out. This is what compels me to compel them, and i will do it by whatever means necessary.” - Nina Simone

When Beyoncé was announced as the headliner for Coachella 2017, I had a brief delusion that I would trek to the desert for her show. But I was pregnant. My daughter was actually born in April when Coachella is held.

Turns out Beyoncé was pregnant too - with twins - so she didn’t make it to Coachella 2017 either! So, when she rescheduled for Coachella 2018, I renewed my delusion of going to Indio, California, for a year. I imagined that I would even take my baby to simplify the weekend at home without me for my husband and...

The message of this entire blog post is found in the title: don’t count calories. Ok! Thanks for reading!

Ok, but seriously … counting calories gets a lot of attention. I mean, even Oprah counts calories. She’s on Weight Watchers, now marketed as WW (very sexy). And Oprah is the q-u-e-e-n. So, she must be right.

Oprah’s weight loss secret

Oprah confirmed that she lost at least 42 pounds over 18 months following the Weight Watchers SmartPoints plan. Points are based primarily on calories, but Weight Watchers doesn’t divulge their secret “points” formula. And Oprah wants you to know that she eats bread! Every day! And still loses weight.

Oprah has been remarkably transparent about her struggles with her weight. Her fight against obesity has lasted at least 30 years. And Oprah has more resources than almost any person on Earth … seriously! So, if the answer to her decades-long battle with weight gain was as simple as “count calories,” why did it take her so long to lose weight succes...

“Most doctors don’t want to be doctors anymore … because it sucks.” - Pedram Shojai

I heard Pedram Shojai, a doctor of Chinese medicine, say this on an episode of “The Model Health Show” podcast. And I’ve got to admit - it kinda hurt.

I’m an ‘80 baby and I decided that I wanted to be a doctor as soon as I realized I couldn’t be Jem (you’re my people if you know who that is!). I think the human body is a fascinating miracle and I think becoming a medical doctor is the best way to learn all about it.

Doctoring is powerful!

And I’m so honored that so many people have chosen me to doctor them. And you know what? I’m pretty proud of myself for becoming a doctor! It took a lot of effort (not only mine but my family’s too) for me to become a physician … a surgeon. So, I continue to give my best effort to my work every day.

But here’s some real talk - sometimes there are really miserable moments. Some days I wish I could telepathically remove myself from an exam room or the operating room...

Fat is one of your body’s major nutrients. In fact, it’s one of three macronutrients. Not only is there some fat in most healthy foods, but there’s fat in very important parts of you.

1. Your brain is mostly fat (and water).
2. Fat is the key building block of hormones including estrogen and testosterone. (Estrogen and testosterone are mandatory for both women and men.)
3. Your body needs fat to absorb several key vitamins: vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K. No fat, no vitamin ADEK.

For decades, we’ve given fat such a bad rap, but it’s not all negative.

You have body fat. It’s normal! And you need it. Actually, it’s important for you to be sure you have enough body fat. If you don’t, those three little things I mentioned above? … They won’t work properly. (You can scroll up but your brain was one of those things!)

But you also eat fat. Let’s call it dietary fat. And not all dietary fat is created equally.

First, there are unsaturated fats. And among unsaturated fats,...

There is a big connection between sleep and fat. Simply put, if you’re staying awake until the wee hours of the morning, your body starts storing fat. But sleep isn’t just about a number of hours. So, if you’re frequently waking up throughout the night, your body is storing more fat. In my blog post, “Sleeplessness is not a badge of honor,” I briefly mentioned how sleep deprivation negatively affects your thought processes and emotions. But unhealthy sleeping habits can also bring unwanted changes to your body … like weight gain. More specifically, it’s fat gain.

When you’re not sleeping well, your metabolism suffers. Below I describe 7 important metabolic changes that take place during sleep deprivation, and the 7 hormones at the center of it all.

Melatonin for Sleep

60 million people in the United States take meds to help them sleep. 60 million! And you might’ve heard of one holistic option - melatonin. So ... melatonin is not really a medication. It’s a naturally derived hormone....