Monthly Insights
Understanding Sjögren’s Syndrome (July 2025)
I remember when I was a dietetics student, and my professor and mentor Dr. Christine Hamilton Smith lectured on Sjögren’s Syndrome. I also remember seeing questions about this condition when I was studying for and taking the RD examination. Some 28 years later, I’m not only reflecting on the number of patients with Sjögren’s Syndrome […]
Kombucha Tea… Is This Processed Beverage Safe for Clients with a History of Addiction? (February 2016)
How often do you see someone walking down the street with one of those fermented drinks that are purchased at natural foods markets? Kombucha tea (pronounced kom-BOO-cha) is a fermented beverage which has been around for centuries. It is made with tea, sugar, bacteria, and yeast. The producers of these drinks make many claims including […]
9 Common Mistakes Parents Make About Their Kid’s Weight (January 2016)
In the October 20, 2015 online newsletter of The Body is Not an Apology Website (TBINAA) Judith Matz, LCSW wrote a great article that I thought was very important to have in this monthly insight. In my daily career I am faced with parents who have unresolved issues with their body and food. I hope […]
Saturated Fat and Cardiovascular Disease…An Ongoing Conversation Piece (December 2015)
Coming from a cardiology background as a cardiac dietitian, I was trained back in the days when dietary trends followed the philosophies of Pritikin and Dr. Dean Ornish as ways to reduce the chances of developing coronary artery disease, to reverse heart disease, and also to keep one’s lipids at a healthful level. Over the […]
Where Did You Learn “Fat Talk”? (November 2015)
Have you ever stepped away from yourself to listen to the manner in which you speak to yourself? Perhaps you hear your critical voice come out when you are getting dressed, or when you are eating a rich meal, or even when you choose to take the day off from being active. For some of […]
Carrageenan: a natural ingredient but is it harmful? (October 2015)
Over the last several months I have had clients ask me about carrageenan. They want to know what it is and what the possible risks of consuming it are. When I was a student, my nutrition professors frequently said, “If you can’t pronounce it, it’s probably not a wise idea to eat it.” Since carrageenan […]
Menopause and Weight Gain… An Ongoing Conversation Piece amongst Women during the Fifth Chapter of Life (September 2015)
A number of times each week, women call my office with a lament that goes something like this: “I work out regularly, eat well, haven’t changed my lifestyle, perceive that I am health conscious, and don’t understand why weight is increasing.” I generally will say to the woman on the other end of the phone […]
The Grain of Freekeh…(August 2015)
Have you seen the name freekeh (also referred to as farik) on various restaurant menus lately? Has it sparked your curiosity about what this new mystery grain is? As we explore the different grains to hit the restaurant circuit, I recap in my mind the various grains that have risen in popularity: first there was […]
What’s a Gut of a Guy or a Girl to do? Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Eating Disorders… (July 2015)
Any colleague specializing in eating disorders often hears their clients mention how they feel bloated. As a Nutrition Therapist, I like to dig deeper into this problem and ask a series of questions that help to illuminate what is going on like: Do you feel constipated? Do you experience heartburn? Flatulence/Gas? Dysphagia (swallowing difficulties)? Chewing […]
Herbs, Spice and Not Everything Nice… (June, 2015)
How many times do you think this: It’s just an herb or a spice; I can consume it and it’s not a problem with my medication, because it’s natural? We think of natural as safe… not dangerous. Sometimes our doctors don’t have all the answers about interactions that occur among drugs, herbs, spices, and nutrients. […]
How To Define Recovery From An Eating Disorder (May, 2015)
How will I know when I am “recovered” from an eating disorder? That’s a question I frequently hear from clients who have embarked on a long journey to achieve a healthy relationship with food and a positive body image. There are many factors that need to be considered before a patient is recovered or “disease […]