Dr. Tracy's Blog

Recently I fell victim to what I call Busy Lady Syndrome (BLS). Do you have BLS? Symptoms vary per individual, mine were: Almost obsessive list making - if you don't write it down, you may forget... Wishing there were 30 hours in the day instead of 24 Reduced frequency of exercise Daydreaming about 85% dark organic chocolate and indulging in it Normally well stocked refrigerator and pantry were bare, what's a vegan to do? Misplacing your keys, sunglasses, phone, etc. Running 10 minutes late...all day The good news is my BLS was short-lived and it prompted me to find resources to manage my process through BLS so I was not suffering for long. As someone who normally cooks from scratch, follows a vegan diet, uses yoga and exercise as stress management and thrives on a high level of organization, time wasn't always on my side this Spring when we moved  office locations however now I feel settled in the new place and getting back to my organized, productive ...

Leafy green like kale, collard greens, chard and spinach are a cornerstone of healthy diets because they have qualities that reduce inflammation, improve detoxification and protect your cardiovascular system. But if you need more evidence to increase your consumption of powerhouse greens, check out these nutritional research results: Greens contain a form of vitamin E called gamma-tocopherol that has been shown to reduce risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and prostate cancer in people who ate them regularly. Vitamin E supplements and multivitamin pills rarely contain this form of vitamin E, they are mostly alpha-tocopherol which does not have the same health benefits. Higher quality supplements will contain mixed tocopherols and/or gamma-tocopherol however they are missing the fiber, chlorophyll and beta-carotene that leafy greens have so they too pale in comparison. Greens also contain the eye protective nutrients lutein and xeazanthin in much higher concentrations th...

There are many reasons to adopt a low sugar or no sugar diet. Because sugar slows down the protective actions of our immune system and our ability to fight infections, you may want to avoid sugar for a short period of time such as during a cold, ear infection, urinary tract infection, yeast infection or while following a detox program such as the Whole Health Detox . Besides improving the function of your immune system there are many advantages to a low sugar or no sugar diet especially with managing chronic conditions such as yeastovergrowth or candida, chronic Lyme disease, reducing inflammationthat worsens autoimmune diseases and it's an easy way to reduce extra calories when trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. It seemed like in 2007 and 2008 I was seeing a lot of people in my practice with chronic yeast overgrowth and this has recently been coming up frequently in my practice again. There are many versions of anti-candida and anti-yeast nutritional plans ...

Essential oils are powerful components of natural cleaning products, body care and skincare products. Peppermint oil is anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and ant-fungal which lends to it's many uses in homemade household products like room freshening spray, mouthwash and deodorant. Room Freshening Spay "You're office smells so nice." I have the pleasure of hearing this comment often throughout the day because between visits I freshen the air with my home made spritzer: Fill a spray bottle with 2 ounces of filtered water and add: 15-20 drops peppermint essential oil 10-15 drops lavender essential oil 1/8 tsp vanilla extract 1 tablespoon rubbing alcohol, this helps the spray disperse in the air better Shake the bottle before each use Brightening Mouthwash Take advantage of peppermint's ant-microbial properties to keep your mouth feeling fresh. Rinse for 30 seconds after brushing but do not swallow this mouthwash. 2/3 cup filtered water 1/3 c...

PCRM | Subway: Social Irresponsibility

I love these chickpeas as a snack or tossed onto a big crisp salad... Crunchy Roasted Chickpeas 1 c an chickpeas, drained and rinsed, then drained really well and laid out on a paper towel so they are dry 2 tsp olive oil 1 tsp spice mix (I use za'atar usually but you can use fajita spice mix, creole spice mix, etc.) 1/4  -1/2 tsp sea salt While chickpeas are draining, combine oil and spices with salt in a bowl. Add chickpeas and toss them in a bowl to coat. Spread out on a parchment lined cookie sheet Bake for 30 minutes at 400 o  Th en keep the oven on and take chickpeas out of the oven to cool for 10 minutes Bake another 10-15 minutes at 400 o  Allow to cool before eating

Even though these waffles aren't as nutritionally packed as I prefer most of my meals, they are a great way to spend a snowy weekend morning with a hot mug of chai tea... Waffles (makes 6 vegan, dairy-free, egg-free treats) 3 cups almond milk 3 tablespoons ground flax seeds 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1/4 cup coconut flour 1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp sea salt 4 tablespoons melted coconut oil 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract In a large bowl combine flours, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.  In a separate bowl whisk almond milk with flax seeds for one minute (I actually combine these in a large mason jar and shake it up for one minute). Then add apple cider vinegar to almond milk/flax mixture and let stand for 5 minutes. Add almond milk to flour mixture, then add oil and vanilla extract, mix enough to combine but do not over-mix. These waffles turn out be...