Posts by Sara Szal MD
Opioid Use and Misuse in Pregnancy: Clinical Issues, Alternatives, and Best Practices
Refill request. Refill request for opioids. When I practiced as a mainstream obstetrician/gynecologist, my heart would sink every time the opioid refill arrived in my inbox. I’d look up the electronic health record of the patient requesting the opioid, and if I saw “pregnancy” in her chart, my heart would sink further. Why? Because I…
Read MoreGrass-Fed Beef and Vegetable Stew: Perfect for Fall
As the cooler months of fall and winter arrive, there is nothing better than a slow-cooked meal to warm you up. Featured in my book Younger, this grass-fed beef stew delivers a balanced, nutrient-dense meal. If you are short on time, you can use store-bought beef stock, but if you really want to increase the…
Read MoreBaked Onion Mackerel: A Simple Dose of Tasty Fish
I love eating fish! Great for protein, awesome for omega 3s. This Baked Onion Mackerel is one of my all-time favorite recipes, because it’s simple and uses ingredients that I almost always have in the house. Many people are wary of eating too much fish because of high mercury levels. Studies do say that moderate…
Read More7 Pillars of Health: Simple Tips for Vitality
Health, for me, is not merely the absence of disease. Health is physical, mental, emotional, social, and functional well-being. Any time is the perfect time to make changes to improve your health. The 7 Pillars of Health that I follow are: EATFood is information for your DNA and for that of your microbiome. Eat 1…
Read MoreChickpea, Greens, and Sweet Potato Soup
My Chickpea, Greens and Sweet Potato Soup is full of delicious nutrients that feed your brain. Don’t hold back when adding the greens to this soup. For optimal brain health, I recommend in book, Brain Body Diet that you aim for consuming one to two pounds of vegetables a day, so this soup is an…
Read MoreEndive, Fennel, and Pear Salad with Walnuts
Not only is this Endive, Fennel and Pear Salad with Walnuts light and delicious, but it also contains anti-oxidants to help you age slower and increase your healthspan. The shallots in this tasty recipe belong to the allium family of vegetables. Alliums help to boost your glutathione levels. Glutathione is the queen of detoxifiers in…
Read MoreLove Your Liver: 7 Ways to Detox and Remove Toxins
Our bodies are exposed to toxins on a daily basis. These toxins come from many environmental sources including pollution, toxic ingredients in household cleaning products, beauty products, and processed foods. One of the main ways your body gets rid of toxins is through the liver. The liver is our main detox organ. It is in…
Read MoreSassy Slaw: Full of Color, Flavor and Nutrients
This spectacular slaw, from my book Brain Body Diet, is full of flavor, crunch, and nutrients. I recommend you eat at least five colors of whole foods each day to help your detoxification genes, prevent micronutrient deficiency and get your fill of antioxidants. This salad definitely does it! With prebiotic jicama, brain-protecting kohlrabi and fiber-rich…
Read MoreTahini Cookies: A Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free Treat
I’m always advocating staying off of sugar and saying goodbye to gluten, so you might think that desserts are forbidden territory. Well, think again! These cookies are a big treat. They get a uniquely chewy, tangy flavor from the tahini, a paste made from ground sesame seeds. Did you know that tahini is a nutty…
Read MoreMeditation: Precision Medicine for the Brain and Body
As someone who has fixed a cup of tea and sat down to get quiet on a daily basis for the past few decades, I am a total convert on the benefits of meditation. And science is finally catching up to what we’ve known about meditation since ancient times – that regular contemplative practice improves…
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