Primary Care and Annual Exams at Glow

Did you know that you can get your annual exam right here at Glow?

Primary care services include annual gynecological exams, STD and other lab testing, cholesterol and blood pressure management, smoking cessation, stress management, referral for preventative screening such as mammograms and bone scans and referral to other providers as appropriate.

I practice family medicine with a focus on autoimmune disease, allergies, and digestive issues.   Therapeutics are natural medicine and some prescriptions as necessary.

Schedule your appointment with me today.

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Ayurvedic Health and Beauty for Summer

By Nicole Perriella, Ayurvedic Practitioner

In Seattle, dreams of summer strolls and fresh berries at the farmers market dance in our heads all winter long.  As the days get longer and we leave our jackets at home, we embrace the ancient secrets of Ayurveda to balance our bodies.  An Ayurvedic seasonal routine helps us achieve the peaceful mind, abundant energy and gorgeous glow that we all desire.  Instinctually, we know that we don’t want to eat the same foods, dress the same way or have the same routines every day for the entire year.  We adapt to seasonal cycles because these external forces create internal changes as well.  Summer is known as the “Pitta season” because it is dominated by the fire element.

In Ayurveda, when one quality increases, we add the opposite quality to achieve a healthy balance.  For example, when tea is too hot, we add ice (or time) to bring down the heat.  Similarly, in the warm summer months, we benefit from adding cooling spices, foods, activities and routines to our busy lives.  Cooling spices include fennel, coriander, peppermint and rose.  Cucumber, cilantro, mint, coconut water, lettuce, peas, apples, strawberries and figs are refreshing food choices for summer.  These make delicious additions to a smoothie, soup, salad or stir fry.

CAUTION!  You may notice that your Pitta is aggravated if you’re feeling angry, competitive, jealous or flustered.  You may suffer from acne breakouts or red, irritated skin.  Sour belching, heartburn, loose stools and excess sweating or thirst are other signs of Pitta imbalance. 

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Soy – Savior or Evil Scourge?

By Candace McNaughton, ND

There is much discussion around soy and its benefits or risks. The answer is, as always, mixed, as is the research.

Soy contains phytoestrogens, which are compounds that are similar in shape to estrogens (female hormones) in our bodies. These phytoestrogens are partial agonists, meaning they occupy estrogen receptors and activate them weakly while blocking stronger estrogen effects from animal products (who are fed hormones), the body, and xenoestrogens from plastics. This can protect from estrogen-related cancers.

Early puberty in girls (and cancer for that matter) is more strongly linked to animal products than to soy.

As a historical note, “The use of soy in the diet dates back to the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung in 2838 BC. Tofu (a protein-rich curd made from a hot water extract of soybeans) was developed in China and was introduced by Buddhist missionaries to Japan and Korea between the 2nd and 7th centuries.
Tofu was even a revered food of the Chinese Emperors in the Ming to Chin dynasties. Soybeans have been a staple in the diet of Southeast Asians for several centuries.” [1]

Soy has beneficial effects on PMS, menopause, heart health, bone density, and even preventing breast cancer, though there are two studies which indicate soy may not be safe in women who have had breast cancer.

The link to the article below is from a doctor I highly respect and who is the leading naturopath for women’s health in the US.

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