By Andrew Peters, DC, ND | August 6, 2012 | celiac, diet, gluten-free, grains | Like |
I recently wrote an article about the growing popularity of gluten-free (GF) diets, and some healthy ideas for GF snacking. A recent study (1) found that celiac disease, a genetic intolerance to wheat gluten, is much more prevalent in the United States than previously thought — about two million Americans have celiac disease,
By Andrew Peters, DC, ND | July 31, 2012 | depression, happiness, melatonin, mood, Sleep | Like |
One of my main recommendations for folks who are having trouble sleeping is a simple one: Turn out the lights. I’ve heard folks say they “can’t” fall asleep without surfing the web right before bedtime, or having the TV on in the bedroom. But late night exposure to light suppresses the body’s natural production of melatonin,
By Andrew Peters, DC, ND | July 23, 2012 | choice, happiness, spirit, therapeutic lifestyle | Like |
This Independence Day, my family watched the movie 1776, a dramatic reminder of the birth of our nation, and the risks the founding fathers were taking to stand for freedom from tyranny. The Declaration of Independence was not just a piece of paper — it was a set of principles that was carefully crafted and debated,
By Andrew Peters, DC, ND | July 17, 2012 | exercise, spirit | Like |
You’ve probably gotten the message by now that exercise is essential to health and longevity. Newer research (performed locally here at the University of Illinois) even shows that resistance exercise helps prevent cognitive and memory decline in the elderly. The question often comes up, though: What type of exercise is best?
By Andrew Peters, DC, ND | July 10, 2012 | Like |
When you think of nutrients, do you think of vitamins and minerals? These are essential components of a healthy diet — and best consumed in whole food form, rather than from supplements in most cases. Something else we don’t always think of as a nutrient, but is just as critical to health, is dietary fiber.
By Andrew Peters, DC, ND | July 2, 2012 | Like |
One of the key markers of a highly-processed diet is trans-fatty acids, or trans fats. These abnormal fats are a result of either deep frying or a process called hydrogenation, which is used to extend the shelf life of packaged foods. Doughnuts, cookies, crackers, French fries, or almost any fried fast food are rich sources of this insidious killer.
By Andrew Peters, DC, ND | June 25, 2012 | Like |
Summer has arrived: Backyard barbecues, swimming, hiking, cycling… and, of course, mosquitoes. The bites of those little critters are not only annoying and itchy, but may carry harmful viruses, such as West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus. Outside of the U.S., mosquitoes may carry even more dangerous diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.
By Andrew Peters, DC, ND | June 18, 2012 | Like |
Once upon a time, grains (wheat, rice, millet, etc.) were the darlings of nutrition: plant-based, full of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They formed the base of the old food pyramid, with recommendations to eat 6-11 servings per day. But like a plot twist in a Christopher Nolan movie, grains have become vilified over the last 10 or 15 years: empty calories,
By Andrew Peters, DC, ND | June 4, 2012 | Sleep | Like |
If you’re a reader of my articles, you might think the “This” I’m referring to is my favorite supplement — exercise. While that’s true, this time, let’s focus on that other foundation of health: sleep.
A recent study added to the evidence that inadequate or disrupted sleep induces metabolic changes in the body that can lead to diabetes and weight gain.
By Andrew Peters, DC, ND | May 29, 2012 | Like |
Gluten-free eating has gained popularity recently. It’s not for everyone; however, there are specific health conditions that benefit from avoiding gluten. Gluten is actually a baking term for the group of proteins found in wheat, barley, and rye; the main protein is called gliadin. Some folks have a genetic intolerance to gluten/gliadin called celiac disease —
