Spending time in the natural world can normalize our inner “body clock” also known as our circadian rhythm. Attuned to environmental cues like sunlight, temperature, and seasonal changes, our circadian rhythm regulates many physiological processes, including when to sleep and when to eat. Artificial light and electronic devices like computers and televisions give our bodies false cues that have nothing to do with the natural order of things and disrupt our circadian rhythm, which a growing body of research has linked to many mental and physical health problems. Sleep issues are an obvious casualty, as is false hunger leading to overweight and obesity. Circadian rhythm disruption has also been implicated in high blood pressure and heart disease, cognitive dysfunction, neurological problems like Parkinson’s disease, asthma, autoimmune illness, and mental health issues like depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and bipolar disorder. A recent University of Colorado study w…

Environmental toxins are overwhelming our immune and detoxification systems to make us the most allergy prone people in world history.  Simply drinking a glass of tap water can bombard your body with chemicals that have been linked to allergies and asthma. Allergist Elina Jerschow, MD, and colleagues at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York have linked chlorine-related chemicals known as dichlorophenols, which are found in tap water and in pesticides, with both allergies and asthma. These researchers found that people with the highest levels of dichlorophenols were 80% more likely to have a food allergy and 61% more likely to have both a food allergy and an environmental allergy (like pollen).  Subsequent research found a similar association between asthma and high levels of dichlorophenols in the urine. While more studies are needed to prove the chemicals cause either allergies or asthma, population studies have shown that there is a similar rise in bo…

Vaccines, Children, and Modern Medicine What Parents Should Know to Make Informed Health Decisions The Big Picture Childhood vaccination is one of the most widely discussed topics in modern healthcare. Parents today are more informed, more proactive, and more invested than ever in understanding what goes into their children’s bodies. With rising access to information—and misinformation—it’s essential to separate emotion, marketing, and headlines from scientific evidence. Industry Growth vs. Public Health Purpose Yes, vaccines are a large global industry. Like pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and supplements, vaccines are part of a multi-billion-dollar healthcare economy. But market size alone does not determine medical value. Many life-saving interventions—from insulin to antibiotics—are also major industries. Key distinction:Profitability ≠ effectiveness or ineffectiveness.Medical value must always be evaluated by clinical evidence, not revenue…