Ok.  We get A LOT of patients in the office who come in primarily for weight loss.  I think what happens is people try EVERYTHING!  I have heard about a cabbage diet, a soup diet, a watermelon diet, a cabbage soup diet, the list goes on and on.  This doesn’t even include all of the “specialty diets” like Jenny Craig, WeightWatchers, or online food delivery services which can get pretty expensive!  So what’s a person to do especially at this time when every penny counts?  

Good health is not a “Luxury Item” 

People say to me all the time that they just can’t afford to eat right.    Fresh fruits and vegetables are expensive and they don’t have time to go to the store everyday.  No problem.  Everyone is looking at ways to save their family as much money as possible.  We are all busy but we have to make OURSELVES the priority!  It is very possible to live a good life and love good food.  You should do this every day!  (more…)

The oil spill in the gulf is the largest tragedy of its kind to date. Wildlife and ways of life have been completely devastated. It is painful to witness the depth of the tragedy unfold.  The similarities between what we are living through today and what we lived through after Hurricane Katrina is not lost on anyone.   It is amazing that not five years after THE natural disaster, we have THE man-made disaster to clean up.  But here we are… (more…)

I recently completed an interview for Marie Claire magazine on women who have overcome adversity.  I was truely honored by the opportunity because it was a completely unexpected!  I think what also kind of made me pause was the reality that openning Valentine Medical Center and trying to be of service to the community is really a lot of work!  Sure you don’t think of the fact that you are in a storm when the wind is blowing.  At that time, all your mind can focus on is getting to shelter.  However, a storm is a storm and we are all familiar with that…  It really wasn’t until someone brought the actual journey to my attention did I sit back to think about it. (more…)

With the end of the fall semester and the beginning of the Christmas holiday break upon us, I thought it would be a good time to discuss campus safety.  As I talk to young adults each day, including many college students, I am constantly reminded of the importance of this issue.  Campus safety is an important issue that should be addressed by all students and their parents. For millions of young adults each year, going to college provides the first taste of true independence.  With no one to tell them when to study or come home at night, it can be difficult to adjust to this newfound freedom. The unfortunate truth, however, is that for some new students, this fun and exciting experience can be marred by a rising trend affecting college students: rape and sexual assault. For students, part of being responsible for yourself means knowing the proper precautions to take in ensuring your safety on campus. For parents, it’s important to educate your children on these precautions and be as aware as possible of what is going on in their lives. (more…)

Hey!

The holidays are a time of family celebration and often A LOT of food.  Check out these great tips on safe and healthy holiday eating for diabetics! 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christy-valentine-md/holiday-tips-for-diabetic_b_359231.html

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a malignant (cancerous) growth that begins in the tissues of the breast in which with cancer; abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way.

• Breast Cancer is one of the leading diseases found in women aside of skin cancer.
• Early detection is the best way to fight against the disease. (more…)