Posts by Sara Gottfried, MD
Opioid Use and Misuse in Pregnancy: Clinical Issues, Alternatives, and Best Practices
Refill request. Refill request for opioids. When I practiced as a mainstream obstetrician/gynecologist, my heart would sink every time the opioid refill arrived in my inbox. I’d look up the electronic health record of the patient requesting the opioid, and if I saw “pregnancy” in her chart, my heart would sink further. Why? Because I…
Read MoreBaked Onion Mackerel: A Simple Dose of Tasty Fish
I love eating fish! Great for protein, awesome for omega 3s. This Baked Onion Mackerel is one of my all-time favorite recipes, because it’s simple and uses ingredients that I almost always have in the house. Many people are wary of eating too much fish because of high mercury levels. Studies do say that moderate…
Read MoreSassy Slaw: Full of Color, Flavor and Nutrients
This spectacular slaw, from my book Brain Body Diet, is full of flavor, crunch, and nutrients. I recommend you eat at least five colors of whole foods each day to help your detoxification genes, prevent micronutrient deficiency and get your fill of antioxidants. This salad definitely does it! With prebiotic jicama, brain-protecting kohlrabi and fiber-rich…
Read MoreTahini Cookies: A Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free Treat
I’m always advocating staying off of sugar and saying goodbye to gluten, so you might think that desserts are forbidden territory. Well, think again! These cookies are a big treat. They get a uniquely chewy, tangy flavor from the tahini, a paste made from ground sesame seeds. Did you know that tahini is a nutty…
Read MoreIs Aging Optional?
Is aging optional? Do we have more control over our aging than we might believe? Or are we victims of our environment and genetic code? I’m fascinated by the mission to extend the glory of middle age for as long as possible; the daily choices that extend healthspan, the length of time you feel awesome…
Read MoreSpeak the Correct Love Language for Your Valentine: From Words of Affirmation to Burritos
Do any of these sound familiar? I’m too maxed out to give the attention to my marriage that it deserves. I get my buttons pushed by my spouse more often than I’d like. I’m sometimes stressed by my relationship, like my partner is not psychologically nurturing. I feel like I’m the one who is always…
Read MorePersonalized Lifestyle Medicine
We are experiencing a profound change in the type of disease that affects the general population, and it is the main reason why I believe we need a paradigm shift from the current model of mainstream medicine to personalized lifestyle medicine. Allow me to explain why. The past few decades have witnessed a dramatic rise…
Read MoreBuild Resilience and Hormone Balance
Do you want to learn more about hormone balance, the female brain, perimenopause, what supplements we should all be taking, and how to transform health care? At the beginning of this week, I had the honor to be invited by Maria Shriver to chat with her on Architects of Change Live about just that. We…
Read MoreHow Oxalates Affect Your Gut, Urinary Tract, and Risk of Autoimmune Conditions
In personalized lifestyle medicine, sometimes one person’s superfood is another person’s poison. Such is the case with oxalates, which are found in high concentrations in many presumed health foods. Once I started testing, I realized that many of my patients were experiencing the downstream consequences of excess oxalate intake, usually in the form of green…
Read MoreWomen and Addictive Tendencies: Food and Alcohol
We live in a culture of partial truths when it comes to food and alcohol. We tend to exaggerate our assets and minimize our liabilities. I used to do it too. I would go out on a Friday night and feel like a rock star after a few drinks, and not be honest about the…
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