Catherine Stack, ND, CNM

Fatigue is a typical plaint of a large portion of the population. It may not be the first complaint, but it is almost always on the list. Many individuals suspect thyroid issues, hormone imbalance, illness, or even just their stressful life. These assumptions may be correct but what many fail to consider is adrenal fatigue. You have two adrenal glands located just above each of your kidneys. Each is no bigger than a walnut and weighs less than a grape yet is responsible for one of the most important functions in your body: managing stress. Your resiliency, energy, endurance, and your very life all depend on their proper functioning. As part of your endocrine system, your adrenal glands secret more than 50 hormones, many of which are essential for life. It's estimated that up to 80 percent of adults experience adrenal fatigue during their lifetimes, yet it remains one of the most under-diagnosed illnesses in the United States. Ironically, the adrenal glands are there to help y...

Pumpkin seeds are in season and once you hear about all their health benefits, you may consider eating them year round. Native to North America, pumpkin seeds, known as pepitas in Central America, belong to the gourd family. If allowed to mature completely, each pumpkin contains approximately 500 seeds. Inside this seed is a green edible kernel. Packed with beneficial fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, pumpkin seeds come highly recommended by most nutritional gurus, including myself. Pumpkin seeds contain magnesium, manganese, tryptophan, phosphorus, copper, protein (almost 10 grams per 1/4 cup), zinc and iron. Benefits include protection against heart disease by increasing HDL (good cholesterol) and lowering LDL (bad cholesterol). This is most likely due to the high concentration of phytosterols. Phytosterols are plant compounds that inhibit cholesterol absorption. For those suffering from an overactive bladder, pumpkin seeds have shown some impressive date in their a...

Just this week alone, I have recommended using turmeric capsules about four separate times. Because I do not carry this product at my office (this is about to change), I reluctantly had to recommend my patients find it at other local establishments or the internet. The medicinal use of turmeric dates back about 4,000 years for the treatment of infections, digestive problems and other ailments. It is a commonly used herb in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine as it has impressive anti-inflammatory qualities. For those of you who are thinking that this sounds familiar but can't quite pinpoint what turmeric is - here is a refresher. You may be more familiar with how it is used in cooking. Turmeric is what gives Indian curry its flavor and brilliant yellow color. The active chemical in turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant that can prevent free radical damage in the body. Curcumin lowers the levels of inflammatory enzymes and may prevent platelets from clumping to...

Do you ever crave certain foods seasonally?  If so, understand that this is a healthy signal from your body and if acted on will help to nourish and protect you. This excludes cravings for cookies at Christmas, pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving and hot dogs on the Fourth of July.  I know some of you were thinking this.   For centuries, Ayurvedic practitioners as well as ancient Chinese herbal doctors have followed a diet of the seasons. Although logistical factors make this very dependent on where you live, your body does adjust to your climate and does tend to desire what it needs nutritionally based on the time of the year it is.  If you don't tend to crave fruits or vegetables in season- consider yourself broken.  This will catch up with you eventually in the form of digestive disorders and degenerative diseases. Eat what is harvested locally in the present season, align yourself with nature and keep your body healthy. In today's world, you can virtuall...

Rest and relaxation are probably at the top of the list when it comes to health and well-being. For those who know how to do it have found the antidote to stress in their lives. Rest is necessary to restore health in the body, as most disease states are made worse by stress or even caused by it. When we relax, our body has the ability to unwind and reap from the benefits listed below. Rest and relaxation restore and repair our bodies when we sleep. Rest gives us more energy, enhances our immune system and will even dramatically improve our concentration. As a result, we are much more efficient in less time. Those that don't rest or sleep well are less productive. Well-rested and relaxed individuals are much more in control of their emotions. They have fewer emotional outbursts such as anger, crying, anxiety and frustration. They are much more adept at putting life into proper perspective rather than carrying on like an overtired two year old. Physically, rest lowers the ...

Each year 48 million people suffer illness from contaminated foods. Although food-borne illness are often associated with meat products, some of the largest outbreaks have actually been linked to contaminated produce. Romaine lettuce, spinach, and tomatoes have all had their share of contamination, causing millions to become ill and in very rare cases, to die. Contamination can occur at any phase of growth, production and packaging. Salmonella and E. Coli are the most dangerous offenders. Salmonella poisoning is typically linked to eating raw or  under cooked  meats, poultry or egg products. It may take up to two days to have symptoms which are most often diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, aches and pains which are all made worse by dehydration. Symptoms may last 4-7 days but most people will tell you they are “not quite right” for months after. Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria normally live in the intestines of healthy people and animals. Most varieties of E. coli a...

In over 25 years of testing, xylitol use has been shown to reduce tooth decay in even high risk (malnourished) populations. Xylitol is a naturally occurring carbohydrate. It is found in fibrous vegetables and fruits and also occurs naturally in our bodies. Xylitol, when extracted, is very sweet and is commonly used as a sugar replacement. I am not in favor of any sugar substitute to pacify your sweet tooth, but the benefits to your dental health are quite impressive. Tooth decay happens when bacteria in your mouth consumes the sugar we eat. If you have a diet abundant in breads and sugars, the bacteria in your mouth multiply and produce acids that eat away at the enamel on your teeth. Xylitol does not break down like other sugar and can help provide the mouth with a neutral pH level. Xylitol also prevents bacteria from sticking to the teeth. Most people are not aware of this benefit because such a claim makes xylitol into a drug, crossing a boundary not allowed by the ...