The Truth About Sugar: Not a Sweet Story

Welcome to science-informed home baking 101! Here are some facts you should know about sugar. Sugar acts like a street drug: Sugar activates the same pleasure and reward pathways in the brain as cocaine and heroin. Similar to other addictive substances, people develop tolerance to sugar, and need increasing amounts to feel satisfied. Sound familiar?…

Winter Herbs, Kidney Yang, Evidence-Based Medicine…and Chicken Soup?

Woody, wintery herbs like sage, rosemary, and thyme (thank you, Art Garfunkel!) can add delicious depth of flavor to a dish, but they are more than just tasty. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, these plants play an important role in normalizing digestion, and Western medical evidence suggests that these plants have antibacterial, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties….

What to Eat if you have Rheumatoid Arthritis: Fish is on the Menu

By Dr. Jill Weintraub When I design recipes for people with rheumatoid arthritis, I start with the research. Then I synthesize the medical evidence through a “what to add, and what to remove from your diet” paradigm. High up on the “what to add” list are fish.  The oils in fatty fish like salmon, sardines,…

How to Support your Microbiome

If you have ever felt alone in this world, please be assured that you are not!  Millions of beneficial organisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, have been with you all along, mostly populating your large intestine.  If this is not reassuring, (and it should be-because they can do a lot of good for you) please…

Turmeric-A Rheumatologist’s Perspective

As an integrative rheumatologist, I am often asked about how to use Turmeric. Turmeric, an ancient relative of ginger, contains curcumin, which has both potent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. I frequently prescribe curcumin supplements, often combined with other botanicals, for my patients with degenerative and inflammatory arthritis. However, I also encourage my patients to use…

How I Arrived Here

My first home was the kitchen. As an introverted child with a large capacity for self-doubt, I found solace and escape in leafing through my mother’s handmade recipe catalog, and our never used “Cooking of California” cookbook. This led to bargaining with my parents for designated alone time in the kitchen, where I could experiment…