Move over DEXA. A new groundbreaking technology called REMS, an acronym for Radiofrequency Echographic Multi Spectrometry, could revolutionize how we assess bone health. It has received a lot of well-deserved attention in the world of researchers, practitioners and clients looking for a better way to identify who’s really at risk for fracture. To date, Harbor Health Group has the only REMS scanner in New England.
Bone health is important BECAUSE FRACTURING A HIP CAN BE LIFE ALTERING! And maintaining healthy bones before your risk of fracture increases (later in life) is vital.
The new year is a time for reflection and anticipation of changes and hopefully, improvements. Like improving one’s health (which is always a valuable aspiration anytime of year.) From general changes to specific concerns, I’m sharing some resources that can guide you.
Did you know that there are both PRIMARY and SECONDARY CAUSES of Osteoporosis? Most people are familiar with the causes of primary osteoporosis which are the result of the normal aging process. Wonder what the secondary causes are? (hint: things you have control over) Read on…
High ‘Peak Bone Mass’ is probably one of the single most important determinants of bone health. Peak bone mass is the maximum amount of bone a person can acquire during their formative bone-building years. Think of it as your “bone bank” savings account. Let's explore Peak Bone Mass…
In part 1 of this series, we learn what to expect reliably from a DEXA scan. In this post, we’ll learn about the limitations of the DEXA scan and why they should NOT be the sole determinant of fracture risk.
There’s so much confusion about what a DEXA scan is actually showing that I decided the topic of diagnostic testing for bone health deserves some space on the page…especially when there are so many other tests that can provide valuable information. In this first, of a two part series, I’ll cover what a DEXA scan is and how to interpret the information it provides.
There are many key nutritional factors that are necessary for healthy bone metabolism. I’ll be covering many of these in depth (stay tuned). For now, I’ll share some of the latest facts and tips on the mineral, calcium, as it relates to bone health.
Asparagus is a Springtime favorite, especially in Massachusetts. I share it’s nutritional benefits and a few of my favorite recipes.
Minimize side effects and optimize immune response to the Covid-19 vaccine. Learn what to do, what NOT to do and which natural remedies to consider.
By now most everyone understands that a hardy immune system – one that can defend as well as repair – is key to maximizing our health. It’s essential to minimize the risk of getting sick with an infection as well as preventing the development of chronic degenerative illnesses like hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and a host of other modern-day health problems that rob us of our vitality and quality of life.
Like most of the operating systems in the body, the immune system works on what I like to call the “Goldilocks principle” – not too little but not too much.
Does a drink that has zero calories, no dairy, no caffeine and no additives sound appealing? This “new” drink is centuries old in a few parts of the world but is available to us now without having to go out in the forest to forage for it, unless you would like to!
Chaga grows in the northern hemisphere and right here on Cape Ann (north of Boston, MA). Technically it is a mushroom or sclerotia and it grows as a conk on birch trees. Recently mushrooms are having a moment as a superfood darling, too. But beyond the kitchen decades of research have proven their value. Even institutions like Memorial Sloan Kettering are writing about it.
Bone broth is having a moment. Frozen, boxed, homemade- it is everywhere and has been historically for centuries, quietly simmering away on the back burner in every culture: chicken soup, pho, brodos, consommé. Use this Broth Matrix strategy to create nutritious and delicious dishes like a pro.
As we emerge out of our cocoon of “sheltering in place” and slowly incorporate some aspects of daily living, why not use this as an opportunity to create your new normal? A healthier, more robust and resilient you. We have an opportunity here to make some changes that could result in a significant health boost. And it can start by revisiting our relationship to what we eat… It’s time to get rid of the sugar.
Lets face it. During this time of pandemic and social unrest, nearly everyone’s daily routines have been thrown a curve ball. Potentially, every aspect of our lifestyle habits has been challenged In some way. We’re feeling the results in lack of energy and low mood. Wanting things to get back to “normal” may be of little help, instead, this may be the best time to create “your new normal”.
Public health measures are focused on how to minimize your contact with the virus as well as reducing its spread. These measures, along with advice to stock your pantry, have to do with maximizing external defense measures. Unfortunately, that leaves most people with the impression that once you’ve done all that, there’s nothing left to do but keep your fingers crossed. Which is unfortunate because there’s plenty to be done to shore up our internal defenses. And the sooner you start the better. And its more than vitamin C and zinc.
Antibiotics shouldn’t be taken lightly. Besides the well-known effect of disrupting gut health and therefore one’s immune system, there is a less well-known phenomenon of potential damage to one’s tendons when taking a particular family of antibiotics….
Did you know that total knee replacement surgeries are estimated to grow 673% to 3.5 million procedures per year by 2030? Wow! If you’re an orthopedic surgeon, that’s job security. For the rest of us though, that initially sounds like a total knee replacement is an inevitable part of aging. In fact, most conventional health practitioners would assume that knee degeneration and arthritis are part of the normal aging process. Fortunately, there are things we can do.
There is plenty of proof that although osteoarthritis is common, it is definitively not normal! Today’s research has clearly established that osteoarthritis (OA), sometimes referred to as degenerative joint disease (DJD), needs to be categorized as a disease of the cartilage not a normal part of the aging process. If we all thought of it as an actual disease, we might think differently as to how to treat it.
