Written by Dr. Andrea Colon I started having issues with acne in my early teenage years. It wasn’t just the acne that was the issue, but the fact that it would never go away. Which, as you can imagine, is every teenager’s nightmare while trying to get through school. It really did have a negative effect on my self esteem … Read More
6 Reasons Why You Can Still Have Symptoms in Celiac Disease after Gluten Elimination
By Aylah Clark, ND Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease where gluten consumption triggers an inflammatory response and damage to the intestines. It is caused by a complex interaction between genetic predisposition, intestinal microbiome, environment, and immune system. Symptoms & Diagnosis Symptoms can vary widely but can include gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, and mouth sores, but … Read More
How to Use Nutrition to Help Combat Addiction
By Aylah Clark, ND Though the rates of cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, and cocaine use have declined in recent years, addiction to these and other substances continue to be a serious problem. Sometimes addiction can even start with a prescribed medication that may have been very beneficial to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life at the time. 2.5% of … Read More
Forest Medicine & The Science Behind Shinrin-Yoku
By Aylah Clark, ND Less than 0.01% of our species existence has been in our modern, urbanized surroundings. (1) Throughout the 99.99% of our species’ time before this urbanization, we had many more interactions with nature and subsequent adaptations of our immune system, genetic expression, microbiota ecosystem, and stress response. Our bodies respond to airborne plant compounds and work in symbiosis with microorganisms. Our … Read More
5 Steps to Ending Your Screen Addiction
By Aylah Clark, ND How often do you check your phone? Do you ever think you feel your phone vibrating but it wasn’t? Do you look at your phone to check the time and end up spending 10 minutes on Facebook, finding you never actually looked at the time? Have you eaten across the table from someone who spent more … Read More
The Role of Inflammation in Body Weight: An Intro to the Biology of Fat
By Aylah Clark, ND Inflammation comes up a lot in my practice. It promotes many chronic diseases and correlates with worsening signs and symptoms whether it be autoimmune disease, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, or others. Inflammation is also intrinsically tied to obesity and this connection is well-established. How are inflammation and body weight related and what can we do about it? What is inflammation? … Read More
How Reducing Toxin Exposure Can Promote a Healthy Weight
By Aylah Clark, ND It may not surprise you that the majority of my patients come in with some level of concern about their weight. Even if it is not their primary concern, the issue is on their short list. Certainly part of that comes down to societal constructs of what we think we should look like, comparing perfectly healthy … Read More
Struggling with weight loss? Lipedema may be the reason why.
By Aylah Clark, ND “It all started in menopause. The weight started to come on gradually, primarily in my arms and legs, and I couldn’t seem to get it to go away. I tried everything. I eat a super clean diet and I work out religiously. The weight barely budges. I feel like something is wrong with me. I just … Read More
Tried & True Ways to Stick to Your Health & Fitness Goals
By Aylah Clark, ND If you’ve struggled with sticking to your health and fitness goals, perhaps its time for a change in strategy. Below you will find some of the top strategies I use in my practice to help patients make their goals into long term lifestyle changes. Individualize Your Plan Your friend or your co-worker may have things that … Read More
Garcinia cambogia – worth the weight loss hype?
By Aylah Clark, ND Recently we’ve had patients asking about Garcinia cambogia due to a Dr. Oz show that touted its weight loss-promoting properties. Let me start by saying this herb is not a new discovery. Researchers have known about it for many years and it is found in many weight loss supplements. Perhaps this might also tell you that whatever impact … Read More