I heard an intriguing quote this week, “America is not about prevention… We would much rather build a hospital at the bottom of a cliff than build a fence at the top.” What a sad commentary on our society and our health care system! While attending Tulane Medical School, I also had the privilege of attending the Tulane School of Public Health. As a student there, a similar ... Continue
Optimum Health Articles
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Are you prepared to face the “Winter Blues”? Everyone tends to feel a little “blah” when the days are short and cold, but for some people seasonal change brings with it something more serious than the blues: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is a form of depression that 20% of Americans struggle with. ... Continue
Your Routine: Your Key To Success!
Show me a successful individual and I’ll show you a person who has discovered a success-producing routine! You and I have both seen it. Look around you at those that are floundering in some area of life. Almost always, they have failed to discern and implement a daily routine that allows them to flourish. Examples are all around us. A highly experienced psychiatrist was ... Continue
Childhood Obesity
Childhood Obesity Awareness Month: Be aware every month, not just September! September has been designated Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Although this is a great tool to build awareness about a growing problem (pardon the pun), every month should be focused on identifying and helping children who are suffering the immediate and eventually, long-term consequences of ... Continue
Omentum Fat
Omentum Fat by any other name is still the same...Belly Fat, Beer Gut, Abdominal Fat, Spare Tire, Visceral Fat, Intra-Abdominal Adiposity (IAA)...it's the "sheet" of unhealthy fat located deep inside the abdomen, underneath the muscles in your stomach. There are three primary kinds of fat: the fat in our bloodstream known as triglycerides, subcutaneous fat which is the fat ... Continue
Why Meal Replacements Work
Research suggests that continuing to utilize meal replacements as part of a nutritious diet can help you maintain your goal weight better than using no meal replacements. A study of 100 overweight people, published in the August 2000 issue of Obesity Research, showed that participants lost more weight initially and continued to lose more weight when meal replacements were ... Continue
Keep on Track with Food Journaling
In a recent study by Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, it was shown that participants who kept food journals lost almost double the weight of those who didn't! The study included 1,500 overweight and obese adults. Participants were educated on lifestyle interventions, which included weekly group sessions, regular exercise, a heart-healthy diet, reduced alcohol ... Continue

