Today I wanted to not talk too much about health, but went ahead and gave advice about how to stay healthy and support immunity during the holidays. All the usual stuff, like eating well, getting good sleep, getting exercise, doing restorative practices like yoga and meditation. We also talked about neti pots and nasal sprays, and foods, herbs and vitamins for the season. Then we moved on to What do Jews do on christmas? The answer: it depends! It's not our holiday, so sometimes it's Chinese and a movie. Or, we'll attend celebrations of people that we love. Or celebrate Hanukah if it's at the same time! I then started on Hanukah and Kwanzaa traditions. We'll pick up on that next week because on New Year's Day, it will still be Hanukkah and Kwanzaa!

This week I talked about Ron and my viewing of Wicked, but didn't give away any spoilers! It was VERY exciting, dazzling, and emotional. You may want to take nervine herbs, L-theanine, or something else to keep calm, and then plan to do deep breathing or other calming activities afterward! And this was only Part 1, Part 2 comes out in a year! I mainly discussed osteoarthritis and how it's helped by PRP, platelet rich plasma injections,and also omega-3 fatty acids, especially fish oil. Very healing for arthritis, especially knees!

Today I reviewed my most recent naturopathic visit and my ongoing plan to help my chronic Lyme. I'm in it for the long haul! I reminded people not only to hydrate in the cold weather, but to apply sunscreen and lip balm with SPF, because you can still get wind and sunburned in cold weather. We also talked about some lovely hot beverages to enjoy this time of year, including hot cocoa, golden milk, and tea, and their benefits.

And we talked about the incidence of osteoarthritis in the US.

This week, I talked about how we BAILED from the Manchester Road Race, because Ron's circulation and leg pain and the chilly, pouring rain would have made it too uncomfortable. We may return to Manchester to walk the course on a sunnier day! And soon we'll have some diagnosis as to what's going on with Ron's health and get him back to walking, running, and mostly importantly, CYCLING!

Also, it was all about Hello Darkness My Old Friend, the sun is setting at 4 PM. All about seasonal affective disorder! What it is, the neurotransmitters involved, and what vitamins and supplements can be helpful. And don't forget the light box, dawn simulators, and just plain getting outside! Basic healthy lifestyle stuff can help too.

This week, the show was played the day before Thanksgiving, at a time where people are starting to make their Thanksgiving preparations, or God forbid, traveling to wherever they're going for Thanksgiving. I made it a Thanksgiving companion episode! I talked about various ways to experience and express gratitude, such as sincere Thank yous, writing a gratitude journal, and mindfully identifying things in your environment for which to be grateful. I also talked about honoring First Nation folks and decolonization. I also talked about some Native American dishes to share at Thanksgiving, such as wild rice dishes, quinoa, and the Three Sisters, beans, corn, and winter squash. I made both!

I went to the orthopedic physician this week and I wanted to give an update on my experience. I would say it was relatively positive! There's no rush to give me injections or surgery, and I am to use exercises to strengthen my knees. I talked about what osteoarthritis is and various ways to treat it, both conventionally and naturally. This week: collagen, curcumin, and injections, and riding my bike!

This week, I talked a bit about how I manage intermittent fatigue, mostly with taking breaks and getting enough sleep! Like a lot of us, I'm guilty of pushing myself to get stuff done until I drop, and I need to learn to rest more.

Then we discussed the possibility that Ron has intermittent claudication, a form of peripheral artery disease. He certainly has symptoms that could fit. We discussed the mechanics of intermittent claudication, the pain, cramping, and burning that are worse with exertion and better with rest. Then we discussed how it's diagnosed and treated, both conventionally and naturally. And then, a little piece on chromium for food cravings!

This week it was all about the fall vegetables. Things that can be roasted, steamed, sauteed, or put in soup. Often heavier and root-y! Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collards, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, squash, yams. We talked about their health benefits and some ideas on use. And if you listen to the end there's a recipe for healthy hot cocoa!