Colorado is the leanest state in the nation. Why? It’s where diet, activity, and environment seem to perfectly intersect.

Discover the habits of people who manage to achieve what we all want: sustained weight loss.

Consumers are pushing major companies to remove dangerous chemicals from popular products.

Learn to meet the challenges of your illness and minimize the aggravation of the current healthcare maze.

Are you jeopardizing your health by practicing bad habits that just keep you sick?

Did you know that as many as 13.9 million women 18 and older have experienced vaginal dryness? Are you one of them?

Learn how to be prepared when walking into your doctor's office.

Learn the foods you should be eating, even though you were previously told to avoid them.

One out of every eight Americans experiences signs of internet addiction, and 34 percent check their smartphones before getting out of bed.

There are over 100 million dieters in the U.S., and these dieters will make at least 4-5 attempts per year to change their unhealthy habits. Are you one of them?

Learn why loving your body is the most crucial element in your overall health.

What could you possibly expect to see in 2014 that you haven't already?

Suzanne Somers shares how to safely replace your hormones.

Your body makes them; so doesn't it make sense to replace them?

Nearly one million American women are binge drinkers; and they aren’t just sorority girls.

Dr. David Sackstates, “while men are more susceptible to substance abuse, women are more apt to become addicted to a behavior.” Are you?

Do you experience pain during sex? The good news is that the causes are often reversible, even when long-standing.

Researchers estimate 50,000 deaths could have been prevented if women who had hysterectomies had estrogen hormonal therapy.

How many times have you heard a woman say, "I don't want to lift weights because I'll bulk up too much"? Actually, the opposite is true.

Where you buy your fish may determine how healthy it is for you.

Donating blood has many health benefits. Not only will you help someone in need of blood, but you will also help optimize your health and wellness. Here are the top three health benefits from donating blood.

Protect Your Heart by Reducing Oxidative Stress

Iron in your blood can oxidize resulting in damage to your cells and tissues. The increase in oxidative stress is most dangerous to your cardiovascular system. According to a new study published by the American Medical Association, giving blood every six months led to fewer heart attacks and strokes in test participants ages 43 to 61.

Excessive iron is thought to contribute to heart disease, especially at its early stages. Donating blood on a regular basis reduces the iron stores in the body and this study supports the theory that reducing iron appears to preserve cardiovascular health.

A second study of 2,682 men in Finland, reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology, found that men who donated blood at least once a year had an 88 percent lower risk of heart attacks than non-donors. This same group of researchers published a follow-up study and found that men who donated blood were less likely than non-donors to show any signs of cardiovascular disease.¹

You're back! Glad to know I didn't scare you away with Part 1 of my turmoil and trouble with ED. And if you're joining me for the first time, ED = Eating Disorder, not Erectile Dysfunction... I'll save that topic for the experts (see Part 1 of the blog here).

When I last left you, I was talking about all the ways an eating disorder can envelop you, taking you to the deepest, darkest places of your soul. It's a sickness – and it really IS a sickness, mentally and physically – that seeps into every pore of your being. It becomes the absolute most important thing in your life and does not care who (or what) is sacrificed in the process whether it's friends or family members... or husbands, marriages.

A positive? You get really good at math. In the good old days of my eating disorder, I was constantly calculating calories consumed vs. calories burned in my mind, figuring out just how many hours of exercise I would need to burn off that apple I had for dinner. To be honest, I still do this to some extent; I'm just eating a more "acceptable" amount of food.

An eating disorder never gives you a rest. It consumes every second, every minute of your day, from the moment you wake until you fall asleep. I even dream about it.

Also known as frankincense, boswellia produces a sap containing anti-inflammatory and antiseptic compounds.

Many people ignore symptoms and are slow to seek help when the indicators arise.

A common saying in Naturopathic Medicine is, "if you want to heal the person, heal the gut."

Inflammation due to excess fat can cause other health dangers. A recent study using overweight cats offers hope.

I was going to wait until "Eating Disorder Awareness Month" came around to write this blog, but the truth is we should be "aware" of eating disorders every single day.

If you've never been affected by an eating disorder, or you have never known anyone with an eating disorder, you may be thinking, "So what? What do I care? There's a whole month devoted to people who want to be skinny???" For those of us who DO suffer, most of us would probably answer: we honestly hope you don't care.

Contrary to some beliefs, eating disorders – and the physical symptoms that often follow – are NOT always a way to garner attention. In fact, many people suffering from an eating disorder would rather you just leave them and their eating habits (or in some cases, non-eating habits) alone.

My family and some of my friends (the ones I trust) have come to accept this about me. They know I will not be partaking in family or holiday dinners. I will gladly invite people out to eat, but I will not eat with them. My mom has learned to simply not set a plate for me. I'm not offended; I actually love this about her. My husband knows I will never join him in ordering at dinner. He "eats for two," as I often explain it. And I love him for it as well. The servers at our favorite restaurant know that I may take something to-go, but I will never eat in the confines of the establishment.

Weird? Yes. But bear with me a bit.

Eating right when you're body's immunity is low can help you bounce back from the flu.

One in three Americans is at risk for shingles, with over one million cases diagnosed each year. What should you do if you develop this painful condition?

At the top of many males' sexual "to-do" lists is partaking in anal sex with their partner; but some women are reluctant to try it. Should you just say no?

Learn about a few simple, everyday movements for preventing pain, illness and even early death.

Using a blood test to diagnose hypothyroidism might not be as accurate as previously thought.

Chronic inflammation accelerates aging and is an underlying factor in many of the diseases associated with aging.

Learn why it's important for you and your loved ones to regularly get "tune ups" with your doctor.

Learn how to embrace your own personal beauty and not let society's perceptions or expectations get you down.

A new contraceptive is on the horizon that will protect against both sexually transmitted diseases AND pregnancy.

Thinning hair? Don't despair. Hair loss caused by diseases, such as thyroid disease, can be reversed with treatment of the underlying condition.

Hypothyroidism can develop slowly, so you may not notice its symptoms right away.

Holiday shopping can be more stressful than fun. How can you overcome long lines, long lists, and a time crunch?

Losing weight often seems like a roller coaster process. But what if you could see a real difference in just 28 days, with none of the ups and downs?

Just like your car gets a 10-point tune up, so should you.

While the fluctuation and decline of reproductive hormones is a normal and expected event in mid-life women, the associated symptoms are nonetheless disruptive. Until very recently, millions of women alleviated their hot flashes and night sweats with conjugated equine estrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate (synthetic hormone replacement therapy or HRT).

However, mounting evidence from several clinical trials has shown that women using synthetic HRT are at significant increased risk of developing breast cancer, coronary heart disease, pulmonary embolism, and stroke.

With little room for HRT in current practice and little else in the traditional medicine chest to consider, physicians are increasingly turning to natural non-hormonal therapies for women who need relief from menopausal symptoms.

As a naturopathic physician, I have used botanical medicines and other natural alternatives for many years with great success to help women create and maintain hormonal health. I've found the most effective approach combines stress management, diet, exercise and nutritional supplements to support and work with a woman's body, not against it. While each patient's treatment plan is unique, it has been my experience that most symptoms caused by menopause and/or hormone fluctuations and imbalances will respond to natural therapies.

Learn how cancer patients can blend alternative therapies with traditional cancer treatments.

Is it ever all about YOU? One of the biggest issues women face is finding time to care for themselves.

While the fluctuation and decline of reproductive hormones is an expected event in mid-life women, the associated symptoms are nonetheless disruptive.

Returning home from a business trip or vacation can put a toll on your mood and sleep schedule.

When it comes to achieving optimal health or even improving your health, numbers can help you establish a baseline.