Dr. Tracy's Blog

Enjoy the summer's bounty with this easy dairy-free pesto. Use as a spread on sandwiches or as a sauce for pasta. Dairy Free Pesto ¼ cup pistachios or pine nuts two cloves of garlic one large bunch of basil, about 3 cups of leaves and small stems - if you do not have enough basil you can combine the basil you have with baby spinach leaves or parsley 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast ¼ teaspoon sea salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, flax oil or melted coconut oil In a food processor pulse the garlic and nuts until chopped. Add the basil one cup at a time and pulse until well combined. Then add the nutritional yeast, sea salt and black pepper, pulsing the food processor to combine. With the food processor running slowly add the oil. You may need to scrape down the sides of the food processor periodically, process until well combined. One of my favorite ways to enjoy pesto in the summer is to mix sauteed kale, red onion, summer squash ...

Are you sick of hummus? I don't know about you, but we are always on the go during the summer months traveling to the beach or visiting relatives. And for a vegan, that means always bringing plenty of snacks such as hummus and carrots. So by the time August rolls around I'm pretty bored with hummus and go looking for some other high-protein snacks. So of you too are bored with hummus, try this Lentil Walnut Dip inspired by the New York City plant-based restaurant, Angelica Kitchen , which I had the pleasure of visiting in 2007. Lentil Walnut Dip 1 cup walnuts 1 ½ cups cooked black beluga lentils* 2 tablespoons water 1 tablespoon low sodium tamari or coconut aminos 1 teaspoon dried thyme ¼ teaspoon onion powder sea salt and pepper to taste In a skillet toast the walnuts over medium heat until fragrant, a few minutes. Let the walnuts cool and then place them in a food processor and process until they are finely ground. Add all the remaining ingredients a...

A high level of hormones called Androgens (DHEA, Androstendione and Testosterone) is the most common hormonal reason for infertility in women. Elevated levels of these hormones can occur in women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), by taking birth control pills, or by eating a low fiber diet. Women can also develop high androgens with exposure to these hormones from nutritional supplements or contact with a loved one who is using prescription topical testosterone. Take the quiz and find out if you have high androgens… Do you have acne? Do you have facial hair or excess hair on your arms? Do you have greasy hair or oily skin? Hair loss or hair thinning on your head? Skin tags on your neck or upper torso? Are you easily irritated, easily over react to stress or quick to anger? Are your periods more than 35 days apart? Do you have pain mid-cycle or around ovulation? Depression or anxiety? Low blood sugar? Do you need to eat something every 2-3 hours to feel ...

Forgive the snowman mug, it's been a cold Spring and still having a pile of snow in front of my house, I thought the mug was appropriate! But now that the snow has finally melted and the flowers have bloomed, allergy season is in full swing. This year is predicted to be one of the worst and latest (hitting MA the worst in June) so I've already started preparing by: Increasing my vitamin C intake Adding Nettles to my tea or making Allergy Relief tea Taking 1-2 capsules of Natural D-Hist daily* How to make a pot of Allergy Relief Tea: Place 2 Tablespoons dried Nettle Leaf into a tea pot, strainer or french press Add 1 Tablespoon green tea, I used citrus green tea Add 1 Tablespoon dried Chamomile flowers Heat 4 cups of water (but not to a full boil) and pour over herbs Infuse for 15 minutes Before drinking you can add local honey if you want to sweeten it and I like a citrus garnish, I used a grapefruit slice *Natural D-Hist is available at Adv...

It's finally Spring! As the flowers bloom and the trees bud, it's a perfect time to cleanse your body and flush out winter's sluggishness. This is my version of the detox salad popular at the WholeFoods Market salad bar. I call it Chop-Chop Detox Salad because with a few pulses of a food processor (chop-chop) you have a huge bowl of salad that'll last a week! Full of liver supportive (cabbage, carrot, cauliflower) and kidney supportive (parsley and lemon) plants, it's a perfect meal for any detox program. Chop Chop Detox Salad ½ head cauliflower ½  half head purple cabbage 4 carrots, peeled one bunch regular or flat leaf parsley ½ cup sunflower or pumpkin seeds zest of one lemon juice of one lemon sea salt and black pepper optional toppings: avocado, roasted beets, citrus flavored olive oil, flax oil, tahini dressing In a food processor, shred the peeled carrots then place the carrots in a large bowl. Chop the cauliflowe...

Did you know there are 4 different types of PMS and knowing which type affects you most can help determine what foods and supplements will be most helpful to you? Premenstrual Syndrome describes the symptoms that can occur during the menstrual cycle between ovulation and the beginning of your period. PMS symptoms can be mild or severe, lasting between 2 and 14 days. Over 30 different symptoms can be attributed to PMS although the common symptoms are fatigue, food cravings, headaches, bloating, constipation and night sweats. By paying attention to which symptoms are the most prevalent for you, you can find an effective natural treatment to help ease these symptoms. PMS Type A PMS-A symptoms are centered in the nervous system. Women with PMS-A experience more irritability, mood swings, anxiety and nervous tension along with muscle tension. The best foods for PMS-A are those high in calcium and magnesium such as nuts, seeds, beans, and hummus. Many women also finds taking...

As many of you may know a few weeks ago I had the opportunity to escape our cold, long winter and visit my sister and mom in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Besides taking long walks on the beach, hanging out by the pool, practicing yoga or reading a great book, vacation is a great time to explore new restaurants. As a vegan, it can be difficult to travel but I find many restaurants are able to modify their existing dishes to suit my needs and was happy to find several restaurants in the Fort Lauderdale area that already had vegan options (as well as the completely vegan restaurant Sublime ). My favorite discovery on the trip was The Alchemist coffee shop and café . They serve siphon coffee and opened face sandwiches called slicers. Part of the fun was their enchanting atmosphere with a coffee roasting station in their courtyard, spirulina farm, outdoor seating among the trees, coy pond and wind-chimes. My sister and I liked it so much we went there twice during the five days of my ...