Functional & Nutritional Medicine

The FDA has just approved the first new weight loss drug in 13 years called Belviq (lorcaserin). This is essentially a “new and improved” version of Fen-Phen pulled by the FDA in 1997 due to heart valve problems. On the same day this week of the new drug’s approval, a recommendation against using diet [...]

Help Me Lose Weight
In parts I and II I covered two hidden causes of weight loss frustration, lack of adequate sleep and disruptions of bacteria in the intestinal tract. The next hidden cause of weight loss frustration is toxic chemicals stored in our fatty tissues. These are called Obesogens. Some of the most common obesogens [...]

In Help Me Lose Weight Part One, I discussed how lack of sleep can create a hormonal imbalance to slow down weight loss. In today’s blog here is a question I ask everyone who is struggling to lose weight, “How often have you taken antibiotics in your life?” I ask this question because antibiotics disrupt [...]

Help Me Lose Weight
Frequently it is necessary to look beyond diet and exercise for the hidden obstacles that make weight loss a frustrating experience. I see some patients who limit their calories too much and exercise too much to “force” the weight off. Sometimes I hear, “If I eat over 1000 calories per day I [...]

Mediterranean Diet

INGREDIENTS
2 tbsp Earth Balance Spread*
2 cups frozen cut okra
2 cups oyster mushrooms, sliced length wise into rough strips
1 cup broccoli
7 oz extra firm tofu, drained and sliced into about 1 1/2-inch by 1/2-inch blocks
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tbsp yellow miso paste
Freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup almonds roughly chopped
PREPARATION
In a large pan, warm 1 tbsp of [...]