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Explore the latest articles by Dr. Sara Szal, where she blends science and holistic wisdom to address the most pressing issues in women’s health, longevity, and personal transformation.
Top Five Foods for Clear, Glowing Skin
The skin is a mirror of the gut and mind. In functional medicine, symptoms are divine messages from the body. It’s our job together to decode them, not rush to a new pill or cream. We need to identify the root cause and then create a protocol to heal that cause. The same rule applies whether the issue is acne, eczema, rosacea, wrinkles, weight gain, rapid aging, or diabetes.
Lost Your Mojo? It's Not You, It's Your Hormones
This statistic troubles me: 57 percent of women prefer Facebook to sex. While the data arose from a questionable source (Cosmopolitan), it reflects a general feeling of “meh” that many of my patients and online clients have toward sex. I see it daily in my functional medicine practice, and the symptom points to a larger,…
I’m a Doctor. Here’s What I Eat On a Typical Day.
I’m a board-certified gynecologist who practices functional medicine for women but I’m also a regular gal – busy working mom, constant chauffeur for my daughters, devoted wife, and spiritual seeker. I help women balance their hormones naturally, starting with their fork. I know that good food needs to be easy and convenient, or it’s unlikely…
Why Fermented Foods Make You Healthier (And How to Prepare Them)
You may already know that a daily dose of the probiotics from fermented food is a good idea, but do you know why? There are many options out there when it comes to getting your daily dose of healthy bacteria from food – here’s the “why” plus a few recipes to kick your health into higher gear.…
5 FAQs about Yoga and Hormones: Yoga Changes Your Adrenaline, Cortisol, and Melatonin
After practicing for four decades, I believe yoga helps with that uncomfortable “rev” in the body. You probably know what I’m talking about – that sense that you don’t like something in the present moment, like your belly or butt or thighs, or the feeling that you should be doing more in your career, or that you deserve to be paid more than you are, or you somehow don’t measure up to an impossible standard.
Heart Rate Variability: What It Is and Why It’s Important
When a doctor measures your heart rate, he or she will usually give you a number, typically between 60 and 90 beats per minute. Yet your heart does not beat like an unchanging metronome, i.e., the intervals vary between one heartbeat and the next. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is the beat-to-beat variation in consecutive heartbeats…
How to Eat Mindfully at Restaurants (and Keep Your Hormones in Balance)
Who doesn’t love restaurants? The average American family spends 40 percent of their food budget on foods from restaurants. Typically, eating out adds 134 calories per day to the diet. Someone else serves you, then does the dishes! What’s not to love? Well, there’s a lot. Restaurant food is served in large portions (except maybe…
Why High-Intensity Burst Exercise May Be Better For Your Brain
I’m a runner and have always enjoyed the “high” I get from it. I first ran after my freshmen year of college, determined to drop the freshman 15. Then I ran in medical school because it was so efficient and helped me problem solve. Then I ran as a young mother who didn’t have much…
Why I Love the Dailey Method Spin Class
Spin class may not be the first place you think of when it comes to alignment and strengthening your pelvic floor. Until now. Recently I tried the Dailey Cycle spin classes, part of the Dailey Method barre class franchise, and was delighted by what I found. If you’ve heard of Tabata, it’s another version of…