Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)—such as Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid—are the gold standard treatment for a variety of digestive issues including acid reflux, GERD, indigestion, heartburn, and ulcers. With annual sales of over $13 billion, the drug companies certainly want to maintain that status and keep cranking out those purple pills.     PPIs “work” (and I use that term loosely) by raising your stomach’s pH and shutting down its acid production.  With less acid in...

  Although they’ve been around for nearly three decades, many people are still in the dark (much to the delight of food and chemical manufacturers) about GMOs--genetically modified organisms—or as they are more recently called, GE--genetically engineered—foods.  For those of you still scratching your heads on what they are, GMO foods are living organisms that have had their genes artificially manipulated in a lab.  Scientists splice bits of DNA from one organism into another in...

  March is National Nutrition Month. And in my career as a nutrition coach, I’m often amused by the reactions I get when people consult with me about their health challenges and the first thing I say to them is, “How’s your diet?” I usually get the deer-in-the-headlights look, or they look down at the floor. That good, huh? Now, most people know darn well that eating wholesome nutritious foods is important! But the problem...

  While most of us believe that hunger is our body’s way of telling us it needs food, there are other reasons why your inner dinner bell may be clanging.  Here are 10 to consider:1- You’re thirsty Many people think that they’re hungry when they’re actually thirsty.  Next time you feel hungry between meals, drink a glass of water instead and see if your hunger subsides.2- You’re eating too much saltSalt can trigger both thirst...

  I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I said that virtually 100 percent of my clients report at least occasional gas and bloating…and probably at least half suffer from painful beach-ball belly on a regular basis. What makes this difficult is that there is a multitude of possible reasons why flatulence is your friend and bloating is your buddy…so getting to the bottom of it can be tricky. Conditions that can cause chronic gas and bloating...

  Depression affects nearly 350 million people worldwide, and those numbers have continued to rise over the last several decades. As a matter of fact, depression is now the #1 leading cause of disability, replacing chronic back pain and arthritis. Recently, it’s gotten even worse—during the COVID-19 lockdowns it was estimated that US cases of depression nearly tripled! Depression is very difficult to treat because it’s not a “cut-and-dry” illness…and sadly that means many people...