Did Angelina Need to Remove Her Breasts? A Doctor's Advice

Actress Angelina Jolie made headlines recently when she made the decision to have a double mastectomy. Angelina Jolie does not have cancer. So why did she make such a drastic decision? And was it necessary? My medical opinion after the jump.

5 Signs That You're an Emotional Eater

Food is fuel. It contains the calories you need to work, play and live. It's natural to find some fuel more enjoyable than others. But if your food choices are all about flavor, you may be an emotional eater.

How to Find Your Personal Motivation

Here at Iglehart Wellness, our focus is on personal change: eating better, feeling better, living better. But changing those from a list of wishes to the future of our lives requires motivation.

Keep High Blood Pressure in Check with Prayer

Most people pray for their spiritual health. But did you know that prayer can lower your blood pressure too? Devote time to reflect through prayer, saying the rosary or meditation and you will change your life in more ways than one. I'll show you how after the jump.

5 Ingredients to a Healthy Relationship

There is no magic formula for a perfect relationship. But all healthy relationship have something in common. I like to call them the ingredients for a healthy relationship. They're like the eggs, butter and flour you need to make a good cake. Your relationship may have a little bit more sugar or spice that makes the relationship your own. But without these key ingredients you may not be making a cake at all.

How to Fast the Right Way

There are many reasons to fast from dietary concerns to spiritual ones. When done the right way, a fast is a great way to regain control of your diet or your spiritual center. My patients often come to me for advice on how to fast the right way. Here are a few guidelines that will help you fast successfully and safely.

Reminders on Michael Jordan's 50th Birthday

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Michael Jordan recently celebrated his 50th birthday. For those who remember him when he was still leading the Bulls to victory wearing #23, it really feels like time has flown. If you've recently joined Michael Jordan in the "second chapter of life" club, you know that this stage of age comes with a few more hiccups and kinks than the first. If you feel yourself winding down, here are a few things that you should keep track of in your fifties.

Battling Anxiety in a Crisis

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Carnival Cruise Lines recently grabbed the attention of the world when it hand an unfortunate accident. Just a few days after the Carnival Triumph left its Galveston port, an engine fire destroyed part of the ship. Passengers who were looking forward to a few days in paradise found themselves in a few days in hell instead. Photos shared on Instagram and other social media outlet captured not only deplorable conditions and food rationing, but the distress of the passengers on board.

The Blue Ivy Carter Parenting Model

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Not all stars are paragons of good parenting. But Beyonce and Jay Z are off to a great start. For the first year of her life, their baby Blue Ivy Carter remained sheltered from the tabloids. It's a move that not everyone understood, but it's a great first start at responsible parenting by both of Blue Ivy Carter's parents. 

You Are Not Alone: How to Cope With Negative Emotions as an Alzheimer's Caregiver

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It's 2013 and the world knows much more about Alzheimer's than it once did. But many of us still walk into Alzheimer's caregiving at least partially in the dark. We know the textbook version of what to expect, but the emotions that bloom while caring for our loved ones take many of us by surprise. 

Yesterday we discussed the positive emotions associated with Alzheimer's disease. But negative emotions associated with Alzheimer's are are perhaps the most startling. However, they are a natural part of the caregiving process. The key to coping with them is to correctly identify them and then acknowledge them as healthy and natural. Treat yourself with kindness and care and these emotions will eventually give way to more positive feelings. Here's a quick guide on how to do just that.

The Lessons That Alzheimer's Teaches

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Alzheimer's inevitably takes you on a journey. Many of us with loved ones suffering from Alzheimer's are surprised to discover that not all parts of that journey are negative. 

Significant life changes have many lessons to impart. Often, experiences like these are where you find the new strength and understanding that will enrich your life and the lives of everyone around you. Appreciating those lessons is all about changing your point of view. Here are a few life lessons that I'd like to share with you.

Fight Alzheimer's with a Brain-Healthy Diet

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The concept of a brain-healthy diet is a relatively new one. But it's one that many physicians -- including those at the Alzheimer's Association -- are recommending to their patients. We may not have a prescription cure for diseases like Alzheimer's. But there is evidence that, like other diseases, Alzheimer's may be preventable with the right diet. 

It makes sense. The brain is one of the body's more mysterious organ. But like the heart and colon, it thrives on the right nutrient balance. Feed it well and it may return the favor. If you have a history of Alzheimer's in your family like I do, you may be able to change your future by featuring these foods prominently in your diet. 

Why Your Diet Isn't Working

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Your body is an amazing machine. While you eat, sleep and carry on with life, it performs thousands of calibrations that most of us are never aware of. But not all of those subcutaneous processes work in our favor all of the time. That is especially true when you're dieting. By cutting your calories in an attempt to lose weight, you may be triggering your body to work against you to hold on to the pounds. 

Lance Armstrong: A Psychiatrist's Point of View and Advice

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It may be too early to pass the final verdict on whether or not Lance Armstrong was lying. And when that time comes, it certainly won't be my place to do so. But in light of the public attention being paid to one athlete's (at least potential) lies I want to shed a little light on lying itself from a Psychiatrist's point of view. 

Foods That Help You Feel Happy

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A few weeks ago on Iglehart Wellness, we talked about using food to help control your anger. But you don't have to be in a bad mood to use food to improve your mood. If you need a pick me up, boost of energy or just a fun snack, try the following foods. With nothing more than a grocery list and a little information, you can use the produce section of your local grocery store to turn your day around.

BPA & Plastic: How to Get a Little Peace of Mind

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Several years ago, news about Bisphenol A (BPA) in plastics was just hitting the news. Around that time, I was pregnant with my second child, and I made a commitment to purge dangerous plastics from my house.

Now, BPA has been banned from use in Canada and the European Union. In the United States, BPA is banned from use in baby bottles and it is making headlines again as a potential danger to the unborn fetuses of pregnant women. If you’re as worried about its effect on your health as I was, check out my easy tips for banishing BPA from your home.

Anger Management Tools that Fit in Your Pocket

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Here at Iglehart Wellness, we’ve been talking about anger management tools. We’ve discussed foods to help improve your mood and tips to help keep toddler tantrums under control. And to wrap up our in-depth discussion, I’d like to leave you with a few helpful mantras.

I use these mantras in my practice, right along with my psychiatrist’s couch and my prescription pad. My patients who struggle with anger management find it helpful to keep these anger management tools in their pocket or purse when they’re away from my office. If you could use a take-home tool, bookmark this page or print it out and find a quiet place to read when you feel the need!

How to Use Food to Manage Anger

I am an Integrative Practitioner and my medical practice embraces wellness. And many first time patients (and web visitors) wonder just what in the world that means.

The simple answer is that the Iglehart Wellness Institute integrates traditional medical practice with complementary treatments; basically, I look at the whole picture before pulling out a prescription pad to ensure wellness for each and every patient.

We live in a multi-dimensional world, and the problems we experience reflect that: they’re multi-dimensional. Take anger for example. Many of my patients who struggle with anger consider it simply an emotional problem. But in fact, anger comes from many sources within us and throughout our environment. In fact, food and lifestyle can be a regular trigger for anger. And just by changing a few things in your food environment, you can help change or regulate your mood.