Dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins are neurotransmitters that regulate our happiness.  A neurotransmitter is a messenger of neurologic information from one cell to another.  Being in a positive mental state has significant impact on our motivation, productivity, and wellbeing. Did you know you can intentionally cause neurotransmitters to flow? Let’s take a look at each one and how you can activate them to make yourself happy. Dopamine motivates us to take action toward goals, desires, and needs, and gives a surge of reinforcing pleasure when achieving them. Procrastination, self-doubt,... Read More

The average age of menopause in the United States is 51.  Perimenopause, which can start as early as age 35, begins several years before menopause. It’s the time when the ovaries gradually begin to make less estrogen. For women experiencing menopause, there are many known symptoms that affect some, but not all women.  Hot flashes, insomnia, and night sweats plague about half of American women over 45.  There are some other, less common, symptoms that you might not associate with menopause. Road rage! Almost half of all menopausal women report mood swings and anger among their symptoms.... Read More

In the words of the great philosophers, Salt-N-Pepa, let’s talk about sex… Sex is, and should be, fun. If it isn’t <insert PSA>, GET OUT—and I mean right now. It doesn’t change; things will stay bad—get out. Sex is and should be fun, respectful, not painful. It can be adventurous, playful, passionate, and even funny at times, but above all, a good time. And outside of adding life to your years, sex can add years to your life. It’s good for you! A romp in the sack can be decent exercise. A vigorous session can burn anywhere from 2-5 calories a minute, depending on your sex and... Read More

As Popeye so wisely taught Baby-Boomers when we were children, spinach is an incredibly nutritious food.  But the interesting news is that spinach juice can also reduce hunger cravings by up to 95%.  It’s important to understand that there are two types of hunger.  “Hedonic hunger” is the craving for processed junk food.  “Homeostatic hunger” is generated from the body’s natural instinct to maintain energy and nutrient levels required to run the body. When processed, nutrient-deficient food is consumed, the digestive system runs faster, because the food has already... Read More

Balancing & Rebooting Your Metabolism  Metabolic disorders and obesity are directly linked to two powerful hormones known as insulin and leptin.  85 percent of the US population is insulin and leptin resistant.  Insulin is used by the body to escort glucose from the blood into the cells for energy.  Processed food is loaded with sugar which is quickly broken down and released into the blood stream causing a spike in blood sugar.   The pancreas is forced to supply more and more insulin to remove the sugar from the blood.  Unfortunately, the cells get saturated with glucose and can’t... Read More