Catherine Stack, ND, CNM

Dr. Mehmet Oz has done so much to bridge the gap between traditional medicine and a more holistic approach to what we should be focusing on, prevention. I have had the opportunity to attend a conference with him as a co-attendee and to hear him speak as well. He is what you would imagine, kind and caring, and has a stage presence that keeps you engaged. You are sure to learn something new, and will likely be looking to incorporate the latest supplement into your daily ritual as soon as you can. This is how the “Dr. Oz Syndrome” begins. I often see individuals who are looking to improve their diet and quality of life through nutrition and supplementation. They typically come in with their bag of supplements in order to go through and decipher what they really need. As they pull out their supplements from a very large bag — occasionally a suitcase! — I start to realize that I am beginning to compete with the Dr. Oz Show, and it’s no wonder my client is confused and looking for dire...

Are you wondering why so many people are becoming sensitive to wheat? Isn’t it supposed to be healthy, especially if you are eating whole grain? I’m sorry to say, most individuals would benefit if they completely avoided wheat — even if you don’t have Celiac’s disease. Wheat is not what it once was. It has now been so genetically altered your body does not recognize it. It has been altered in order to feed the masses (people, cows, chicken, farm raised fish, etc.), grow faster, and be resistant to insects and drought. This causes the body to react defensively, which results in the form of inflammation. If you were living in Italy, for example, you may not be affected, as they have banned the altering or genetic modification of their food. Good for them I say. I wish we were that smart, for we’d be far less sick. It is estimated that 90 percent of the North American population is in some way, sensitive to wheat. Gluten is a binding agent that gives dough its stretch and thickens sou...

Losing weight is the number one resolution made each year and many fail because they do not understand that what you are eating will make or break your chances for success. Losing weight is easier than you think if you follow the suggestions listed below. Start with a cleanse Clean up that body and watch weight loss take place faster than it would if you skipped this step. Ridding the body of toxins and making sure your bowels are not sluggish should be considered before all else. Diet: A temporary state of mind What are you going to do when the diet is finished? Go back to eating the way you used to? If that’s the plan, then add 10 pounds to your current weight. The word “diet” implies a temporary state of avoiding or eliminating certain foods. When you have reached your goal weight, these foods slip back into your life along with the weight you worked so hard to lose. Don’t give in to the sweet tooth The most common problems most individuals have are dealing with ...

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a form of depression that affects many individuals especially in regions that experience longer and colder winters. The farther north you are from the equator, the higher your incidence of suffering from this very real form of depression. In most cases, SAD occurs each year around the same time. Common symptoms include depression, sadness, inability to concentrate, lack of motivation, increased carbohydrate cravings, weight gain and longer sleep patterns. Many become frustrated because they have a difficult time “snapping out” of these feelings. Women are more likely to suffer SAD and most fall between the ages of 20 and 40. The short daylight hours seem to play havoc with our body’s internal clock and interfere with our normal biological rhythms that regulate all of our physical and psychological functions. Symptoms generally become worse in January and February. As spring approaches, symptoms will typically diminish as the days get longer.   ...

Think back to when you were a child. I am assuming that most readers are 40 or older for this to make sense. We could drink milk without being lactose intolerant. We could eat bread, yes, even white bread without bloating or weight gain. We rarely suffered allergies from medications or foods. Attention deficit hyperactive disorder and childhood obesity were far more rare than they are today. So what happened? How could it be that cancer and heart disease rates are soaring, when we are medically more advanced than ever? Some may argue that we are living longer, but I would counter that argument with a less bountiful quality of life.  Grocery stores are expanding to accommodate foods that are  better referred to as "food-like products". Eighty percent of what is on the shelves now, was not there 40 years ago. There is no longer a frozen section. There are now aisles of frozen "foods", most of which contain microwavable, processed meals. The widespread use of gr...

When I want to decipher whether or not someone is eating incorrectly, I will take a look at his or her triglycerides. It is part of your routine cholesterol panel and I’m sure you’ve had it checked in the past year or so. High cholesterol does not predict an early death, but triglycerides are your dietary tattletale. Many individuals who live well into their 90’s have had cholesterol numbers between 200-300mg/dL. High triglycerides may be a different story, and suggest that the diet is overabundant in sugar, breads and/or alcohol. It may even be an indicator of metabolic syndrome (prediabetes). If your triglycerides are over 100mg/dL, this article is for you. Unfortunately, mainstream medicine still associates high triglycerides with a high fat diet. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The truth is that a low fat diet is typically high in carbohydrates and foods that easily break down into sugar. This causes blood sugars to spike, abdominal fat to take hold...