Elizabeth “Brianne” Lovin underwent a double mastectomy with breast reconstruction, a hysterectomy and a removal of both of her ovaries and fallopian tubes at age forty-one, not because she had cancer, but in order to prevent cancer. She is one of the approximately 0.25% of the population that carries a BRCA gene, a hereditary gene mutation that prevents normal tumor suppression…
Read MoreWhat kind of outreach can we do to help people be more mindful of their sun exposure? We partnered with advocate Celine Mactaggart of Shine Safe, a non-profit and advocacy movement that is setting the sun on skin cancer to find out…
Read MoreYou trust your healthcare provider to help with your medical concerns. You rely on their experience and expertise to manage your symptoms. And you expect them to offer answers to your questions. But what happens when your questions go unanswered? Or worse, your provider dismisses your symptoms or tells you that you are fine — but you know something is wrong…
Read MoreNever heard of pelvic floor therapy? Or are you just curious about how it all works? Don't worry; we've got it covered. Here is your guide to pelvic floor therapy and what to expect during treatment…
Read MoreOne of my favorite things about being a holistic nutritionist is working with clients from all walks of life. Their symptoms, food preferences, lifestyle choices, and health goals all differ, and each of them is wonderfully unique in their own way. Getting to the root of their health problems is like a different puzzle that I am eager to solve each time I meet someone new….
Read MoreMost patients (in Los Angeles) are experienced with intermittent fasting by the time they walk into our office. I find that the majority of my clients are utilizing intermittent fasting for weight loss but are unaware of the cardiovascular, cognitive benefits…
Read MoreWe all notice small changes as we age. Smile lines, crow’s feet, maybe a few (or many) gray hairs. Marks of wisdom, I like to say! Another aspect of physical aging you might notice is changes in bone and joint health. These changes can be minor—like experiencing less mobility or less flexibility in your elbows and knees. Maybe you experience more pain and inflammation after a particularly rigorous hike….
Read MoreDeloitte's Chief Well-Being Officer sits down with The Seam to discuss mental health, surviving breast cancer and burnout, and inspiring women to take back their health
Read MoreWith Men’s Health month already here and Father’s Day just around the corner, I’m getting more questions than ever from clients about what men can do to improve their health and wellness. I want to answer some of those questions here, and what better way to celebrate the guys in our lives than by talking about what they can do to maintain their good health!….
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“I wish people understood the reality of long-haul COVID. It’s hard to fathom going from perfectly healthy to completely debilitated in a few short weeks or months, but it is happening all over the world. This is going to pose such a challenge to health care and economies for many years to come”…
Read MoreImproving your circulation may not be at the top of your health goals this year, but it’s integral to your well-being, and I say it deserves a spot!
You may know that blood circulation is vital for optimal blood pressure. But did you know it also plays a starring role in detoxification, energy levels, and even your body’s ability to fight off disease? It’s true….
Read MoreI have always been conscious of my own healing journey, dealing with severe health challenges in childhood, mainly affecting the lungs. As a sick child left largely to her own devices, I was able to master the ability to drop into deep meditative states and eventually, instead of struggling for breath, become quiet and peaceful. Not being able to join in with many games and sports, particularly in the cold, English winters, gave me the opportunity to sit on the sidelines and observe, which is something that I attribute now to my ability to meditate and ask big-picture questions…
Read More“As long as I can remember I have never liked Mother’s Day,” says Alison Hunsicker, a full-time homemaker and caregiver to her disabled husband, with four children, ages seventeen to thirty-two. “Even when I communicate my expectations to my partner and our children, the day falls short. The worst year resulted in me yelling, “I hate this f’ing family!“ and leaving in my car to be by myself for hours. I wonder why it is so difficult to just acknowledge the huge contribution I make as a wife and mother?”…
Read MoreContrary to what some of my clients might assume, I love going out to eat at restaurants! I love the atmosphere, the wide variety of foods on the menu, the memories made with loved ones, and the convenience of not having to cook at home. But as we all know, restaurant meals are often significantly less healthy than those prepared in your own kitchen. Restaurant foods typically have more salt, oil, saturated fat, sugar, and calories than homemade versions of the same foods. And it’s not only the nutrient content of restaurant food that’s a concern. Most restaurants serve genetically modified foods among other not-so-ideal factors…
Read MoreMost of us who hit puberty in America in the 1990s and early 2000s never got a real sex talk. If we did, it was threatening and scary, focusing on purity and infections. We were told not to have sex because it could result in pregnancy. We were not taught about sexuality as a crucial part of being human or about how to navigate sexual relationships, including consent and how to control if/when we got pregnant…
Read MoreInstagram is one of my biggest stressors right now. I know that sounds silly—but stay with me.
Our human need for love and acceptance can stop us from showing up authentically. In our social media world, it has never been easier to do just that. Post what’s pretty, delete what isn’t…
Read MoreWhen the concept of self-care first emerged, it meant long baths, pedicures, and wine — lots of wine. But, gradually, the concept has evolved into something more akin to self-compassion and genuine, healthy habits for protecting and providing for our mental and physical health…
Read MoreMany of my clients ask me questions about macronutrients. How much protein to eat, what sources of fat are best, or the most popular: “How should I calculate my macro ratio?” All good questions! My answer? It depends—but the first thing to remember is this: micronutrients are an equally (or arguably more) important part of your health equation. And they’re often forgotten….
Read MoreMenopause expert, Dr. Amy Heeringa, wishes it were common practice to have a second version of “The Talk” when women hit their forties. We all know “The Talk” we get around fifth grade: blood, body hair, and birth control. But what about those changes later in life? Ideally all women would have a second “Talk” around the age of forty, says Heeringa. A candid seminar, if you will, on lube, libido, and love in later life….
Read MoreMany of us plan to eat healthy in the New Year, but what does eating healthy really mean? Is it consuming specific foods in specific quantities? Eating only at certain times of day or in accordance with specific rules? Does it involve pleasure? Is the goal of healthy eating a healthy body? Healthy mind? What does that look like….
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