This July I headed to one of my favorite summer spots – the Gorge in Eastern Washington. Summer isn’t summer without a concert at the Gorge. When we arrived it was 100 degrees out. Prior to the concert, many concert goers were partying in the camping area at the Gorge. We sat 6th row center […]

Every year my family travels to Sequim, Washington to the Lavender Festival. This year we visited B & B Family Lavender Farm (that’s a picture of me in their drying house). I use lavender essential oil regularly to sleep, add it to my lotion and love it in culinary dishes. While at B & B […]

As summer approaches, protecting our skin from harmful UV rays during intense and longer stretches of sun exposure becomes a top priority. Sunscreens should be used for activities like hanging out at the beach all day, engaging in water sports, playing a sport for longer durations or for boat rides. Sunscreens are widely used to […]

In the early 20th century, rickets, a bone formation disorder that’s cause by vitamin D deficiency, brutalized children in the United States and the UK. At the time, this was mainly driven by malnutrition. Unfortunately, rickets is not a disease of the past. The rise in rickets, a condition characterized by weak or soft bones, […]

For years, the prevailing message has been that sun exposure without sunscreen is inherently dangerous and increases the risk of skin cancer. However, recent studies have challenged this notion, suggesting that moderate sun exposure, especially without sunscreen, can actually have protective effects against skin cancer. In this article, we will delve into the scientific evidence […]

In recent years, there has been a growing trend of incorporating sunscreen into makeup products, offering the promise of sun protection while enhancing our appearance. However, it’s important to critically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of sunscreen in makeup. This article aims to shed light on the reasons why I do not recommend relying solely […]

The Power of Vitamin D: Vitamin D is technically a vitamin that our bodies can produce when our skin is exposed to sunlight. In fact, it’s a pro-hormone: it can be turned into a steroid hormone produced from cholesterol when your skin is exposed to the sun. It’s involved in numerous physiological processes, such as […]

Estrogen dominance and adrenal dysregulation are two health conditions that are closely linked. The adrenal glands, which are located on top of the kidneys, produce hormones that regulate a wide range of physiological processes, including stress response, immune function, and sex hormone production. When the adrenal glands become dysregulated, due to chronic stress, trauma, inflammation, […]

Adrenal dysregulation is due to an imbalance in the HPA Axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis) that is driven by chronic stress. This can be from external stressors, anxiety, trauma, worry, or internal stressors, anything that drives inflammation, malnutrition, leaky gut and dysbiosis. HPA Axis dysregulation drives the dysfunction of the adrenal gland, leading to an underproduction or […]

Cortisol is a hormone that plays a critical role in regulating blood sugar levels. When cortisol levels are elevated due to stress or other factors, blood sugar can become imbalanced, leading to a range of health issues. Balancing blood sugar levels is essential for stabilizing your cortisol levels and promoting overall health and wellbeing. In […]

It’s amazing to me how often I identify hypoglycemia in a patient. I see fasting blood glucose readings of 58, 62 or 70 that’s called ‘normal’ on the blood tests. I see non-fasting glucose readings at these levels, which are also called normal. I see a lot of patients on restrictive diets, losing too much […]

Stop cooking with olive oil You may have heard that you should stay away from nut oils, because they bring in omega-6 instead of the more desirable omega-3 fatty acids. Macadamia nut oil is the clear exception to this rule. Extra virgin olive oil is prized because it’s an omega-9 fatty acid. Well, macadamia nut […]