Carrageenan

Have you heard of carrageenan? Carrageenan, extracted from seaweed, is used extensively in the processed food industry as a thickener and emulsifier. It is found in almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, cottage cheese, whipped cream, eggnog, and other related products. But not for long. It’s become impossible to ignore the large amount of  evidence showing that it is highly irritating to the stomach lining. Continue reading →



YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Wholly Roasted Cauliflower

Breaking apart all those hard little white florets can be a messy and time-consuming business, and I know that the contemplation of this activity has made me hesitate to purchase a cauliflower on more than one occasion.

On the other hand, another option you may not have considered is to cook your gorgeous, fresh cauliflower in one piece. Without a doubt, roasting and serving a cauliflower whole makes an impressive presentation! Continue reading →


YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Bean Dip with Feta and Herbs

Here’s a simple, flavorful recipe from the July 2012 edition of BBC Good Food magazine. You can eat it with slices of cucumbers or crackers, or spread it on toast, or stuff a tomato with it.  I think it would also be amazing on a slice of butternut squash, roasted under the broiler for a minute or two. Continue reading →




YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Zucchini with Cilantro Pesto

Thank you to Terry Walters and Clean Start for this beautiful, inspired recipe. It’s the kind of recipe many of whose ingredients, or at least some, may already be on your counter, and it’s got all kinds of valuable substitution possibilities that can keep you experimenting for a good long while. Continue reading →




I Am Grateful

I am thinking about gratitude. It’s not hard for me. I was born an optimist; I always see the glass half-full. I always make lemonade from lemons — what else would you do with them? Yes, it is true that I have had my share of bad days, but I’ll be the first to tell you that they have made me a better person, and a better doctor, too. See what I mean? It’s a given. I had a quiet laugh this week when my dear friend send me a “positivity challenge” on Facebook because, as far as I’m concerned, it’s never been positivity that was the challenge! Continue reading →