Grow Healthy
With Dr. Sally's
"Vital Signs" Blog
Now that summer is in full swing, cool crisp coleslaw is on the menu, and it’s the perfect balance to a hearty barbecue! I often find traditional coleslaw too sweet, too sour, or too soggy, so I’ve given this a lighter Asian twist. It got rave reviews in my recent Spring Clean Your Body course, so I had to share it with you, just in time for the 4th of July.
Yes, it’s been 10 years since my first “Dry January” and “ Whole 30”. And I’m doing them again this year. Trust me, it gets easier every time! Dry January, as in skipping alcohol the first month of the year, has a special appeal this trip around the sun. With the isolation of the pandemic, alcohol sales have skyrocketed, along with rates of anxiety and depression, lack of exercise, weight gain, and a LOT more screen time.
As we head into this fall, almost every patient I see is concerned about the health of his or her immune system. Between hurricanes and smoke from the wildfires, not enough exercise and too much sugar, and feeling run down from the constant stress of this “new normal”, it’s time to take a look at how we got here and make a plan to optimize your health now!
Despite the challenges we humans are facing, Mother Nature continues to produce an abundance of gorgeous herbs, fresh veggies and fruits. In my mind, this is more than food: this is our medicine! And no summer veggie says “vitality” quite like tomatoes. 🍅 Their tangy, bright red flesh is loaded with key antioxidants, like lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which protect the retina from the UV damage that causes cataracts and macular degeneration
This modern take on the classic “hash” dishes up two servings of colorful veggies in a golden sauté that’s ready in minutes. Save time by prepping the onion and microwaving the potatoes the night before so they’re ready for the skillet when it’s time to cook. These potatoes are teeming with flavor, flavonoids and keep your blood sugar stable all morning long. This is something that could be made in a bigger batch on a Sunday afternoon for weekday mornings to come. Yum!
VIDEO: One of the latest products to hit the produce aisle is cauliflower “rice”. This is just a head of cauliflower that’s been chopped into pea-size pieces. You can buy it precut, break it down with a knife or do it in small batches in a food processor. It’s the perfect stand-in for starchier carbs like grains, and it can be mashed, like potatoes or blended into a savory dip.
