Some of Dr. Michelle's Books
Dr. Michelle in the Media
Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook has made over 1000 media appearances, including: First for Women, Woman's Worlds, Glow, Oxygen, Vegetarian Times, YOU: The Owner's Manual Radio Show, The Huffington Post, DivineCaroline, Yahoo! Shine, Natural Solutions magazine, The Ottawa Citizen, and many others.
Dr. Michelle's Blog
- Research Shows Herb Protects DNA from Disease
- 22 Ways to Stop Violence Against Women
- 4 Natural Remedies for Adrenal Fatigue
- 16 Simple Ways to Improve Your Health Today
- 9 Ways Fingernails Can Reflect Health
- 15 Natural Options for Depression
- Cinco de Mayo Guacamole
- Energy Drink Slashes Belly Fat by 77%
- How to Grow Sprouts
- 10 Reasons to Eat Sprouts
Dr. Michelle on the Radio
Follow Dr. Michelle on Twitter
- 22 Ways to Stop Violence Against Women | MUST READ! | Care2 Healthy Living http://t.co/5VkTjD8p #women #violence #health #sexism #men
- Allergic Solutions gets my vote for the gluten-free product award at http://t.co/V2ebumhz. #health, #glutenfree, #nutrition, #food
Book an Appointment with Dr. Michelle
73029
FREE e-zine: World's Healthiest News
Subscribe to World’s Healthiest News for the latest natural health insights from international best-selling health book author, Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook. You'll receive concise information you can immediately use to boost your energy, supercharge your immune system, look and feel great. You’ll find delicious and nutritious recipes, cutting-edge research on nutrition, disease-prevention, and healing–all from a source you can trust…and at a price you can’t beat–FREE! GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO WORLD'S HEALTHIEST NEWS.
Search Dr. Michelle's Natural Medicine Blog
Dr. Michelle's Natural Medicine
15 Natural Options for Depression
Everyone feels down at some point, usually
as a reaction to difficult circumstances but clinical depression goes far
beyond that. In such cases, a person
experiences a prolonged sadness that is out of proportion with the apparent
cause. The physical and psychological symptoms affect a person’s capacity to
function normally in the world.
Depression is often accompanied by sleep disruption, fatigue, anxiety, mood swings, prolonged lapses of concentration, pain, apathy, decreased sex drive and suicidal thoughts. Because these symptoms can be attributed to other diseases or conditions and are serious, it is always important to consult a medical doctor for a diagnosis.
Diet: Poor nutrition, in my opinion, is one of the greatest causes of depression, and one of the easiest and most overlooked solutions. My two decades of clinical experience tell me that depression cannot be managed for the long-term without addressing the diet.
Poor diet is frequently linked to depression because food additives, chemicals, alcohol, sugar, and sugar substitutes can have severely negative effects on our mental and physical health.
Eating a healthful diet (not a low carb diet, in this case) helps the body balance hormone levels, including important brain hormones that help us feel good. For example, complex carbohydrates from vegetables, legumes and whole grains help the brain manufacture serotonin, a “feel good” neurotransmitter that is needed to prevent and treat depression.
Food Sensitivities: It’s also important to address possible food allergens or sensitivities, which can sometimes be tough to pinpoint. The most common ones include: dairy, wheat, gluten, MSG, sugars, artificial sweeteners, and food colors. Removing these foods from the diet in favor of wholesome, nutrient-dense food choices frequently improves mood. Assistance from a qualified natural health practitioner can be helpful.
Blood sugar fluctuations: Many of my depressive clients confirm that they are in the habit of skipping meals (like breakfast) or waiting long periods of time between eating. This confirms a suspicion that blood sugar imbalances a factor in depression. Keep blood sugar levels balanced by eating a healthy snack or meal every two to three hours.
Essential fats: Essential fatty acids are necessary to treat depression, as they are required to create healthy brain cells and are involved in regulating neurotransmitters—the brain hormones that balance mood including: serotonin and oxytocin. Take 3000 mg daily of either fish or flax oils, or 500 mg of DHA or EPA, or a blend of both. Flaxseed oil is also a good source of essential fatty acids. Two tablespoons daily of flax oil can be helpful. You can pour flax oil over baked sweet potatoes or vegetables, or blend some into smoothies.
Digestion: Improving the body’s ability to extract nutrients from food can be helpful in treating depression naturally. Supplementing your diet with a high-quality full-spectrum digestive enzyme formula that includes the amylase, invertase, lactase, maltose, lipase, and protease, enzymes can be beneficial. One to three enzyme capsules or tablets with every meal help your body break down the carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in your food into natural sugars, essential fatty acids, and amino acids needed for optimal healing.
Nutrient Deficiencies: Because so many vitamins and minerals are involved with mood balancing, it is important that you address any possible deficiencies by taking a high-quality multivitamin and mineral supplement with meals.
Mood-Boosting B Vitamins: Additionally, because the B-complex vitamins are so vital for restoring balanced moods, an extra 100 mg B-complex supplement daily is often necessary in people suffering from depression.
Balancing Serotonin: As a precursor to serotonin, 5-HTP helps to restore healthy levels of this much needed brain chemical. I usually use 50 to 100 mg of 5-HTP at bedtime for two months for people with depression.
Herbal support: Despite one well-publicized study that demonstrated the ineffectiveness of St. John’s Wort against severe depression, many research studies show that it is effective against mild and moderate depression, and it also helps raise serotonin levels in the brain. I recommend 900 to 1200 mg daily. However, avoid taking St. John’s wort if you are taking pharmaceutical antidepressants, and do not take it within two to three hours of sunlight exposure.
Boosting oxygen in the brain: The herb Gingko biloba helps bring more oxygen to the brain via the blood stream. Your brain needs oxygen to work properly. A beneficial dose for depression is 60 mg three times daily.
Regulating brain biochemistry: S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) occurs naturally in the body and helps regulate certain biochemical reactions, including those linked to mood regulation; however it can be low in people suffering from depression. Four hundred to 1600 mg daily of SAMe to ensure your brain can make important mood elevating hormones.
Balancing Hormones: Supplementing with 2 to 4 grams of vitamin D daily can help with depression, because it helps the body make serotonin.
Sunlight: We all know that getting moderate amounts of sunshine helps boost mood. It’s no different with depression.
Exercise: People suffering from depression should also supplement their daily routines through more fresh air and physical activity. Exercise is a natural anti-depressant, and engaging in regular cardiovascular exercise like brisk walking or jogging is good for your body and mind.
Dehydration: And as always, drink lots of pure water to avoid dehydration, which is frequently a factor in depression.
Subscribe
to my free e-newsletter World’s Healthiest News to receive monthly health news,
tips, recipes and more. Adapted with
permission from The Phytozyme Cure by Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD.
Copyright Michelle Schoffro Cook. Follow me on Twitter @mschoffrocook.
Energy Drink Slashes Belly Fat by 77%
Forget Red Bull, Monster, Rock Star, and
the other so-called “Energy Drinks” that line the refrigerators at every
convenience store these days. Not only
are they loaded with stimulants, most are usually packed with artificial
ingredients and high fructose corn syrup or other sweeteners. If you’re looking to be the rock star with the
enormous gut and bad teeth, high fructose corn syrup is sure to help.
One of my Facebook fans, Kate M., asked me to provide a healthier energy drink option. (Connect with me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drmichellecook). So here’s my solution. Green Tea Lemonade. Not just any green tea lemonade will do though. I’ll share my recipe for my Super Fat-Busting Green Tea Lemonade—a sneak preview from my upcoming weight loss book.
Not only does green tea give you an energy boost, research shows that it protects your body against colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers, slows wrinkling and skin damage linked to aging. But, there’s another great reason to drink green tea. Green tea contains a potent plant nutrient known as epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, for short. Multiple studies that EGCG seriously targets belly fat.
Research at Tufts University indicates that EGCG in green tea, like other catechins, activate fat-burning genes in the abdomen to speed weight loss by 77 percent. New research published in the Journal of Nutrition found that overweight adults who drank four to six cups of green tea daily lost at least seven percent more abdominal fat than those who didn’t drink green tea.
7 Reasons to Eat More Beets
People either love beets or they hate them, mostly because they haven’t discovered all the wonderful ways to enjoy beets. I, personally, am in the LOVE BEETs camp. I still remember the first time I ate them as a child. I wanted them every day after that. Whether you already love them, or just haven’t discovered their marvels, here are 7 reasons to eat more beets.
1. Beets are high in nutrients such as folate, manganese, potassium, and vitamin C, making them an excellent source of nutrients, and a particularly good choice for pregnant women who have higher folate needs during pregnancy.
2. In their uncooked state, beets also contain an important compound called betaine, which research has shown reduces several compounds linked to inflammation in the body. In other words, it’s a great anti-inflammatory food that helps protect us from the effects of aging and disease.
3. Beets are one of Nature’s miracles in the prevention of cancer. The fiber found in beets seems to increase the body’s special immune compounds that are responsible for detecting and removing abnormal cells before they can become cancerous.
4. Beets help fight cancer. The phytonutrients--proanthocyanidins--that gives beets their rich purplish-red hue has potent anti-cancer capabilities.
5. Beets have been recommended for many years to help purify the blood.
6. Beets also help cleanse the liver—one of the most overworked organs in the body, with over 500 functions including: cleansing toxins, removing excess hormones, and metabolizing fat.
7. They are versatile. They can be eaten raw (grated), steamed, boiled (although many nutrients are lost in the cooking water), or added to soups and stews. I love steamed beets tossed with a little flax oil and unrefined sea salt. Remember: the anti-cancer properties of beets lessen with heat! So it’s always a great idea to enjoy a little grated raw beetroot on your salads.
Adapted from The Life Force Diet by Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD. Copyright Michelle Schoffro Cook.
Subscribe to my free e-newsletter World’s Healthiest News to receive monthly news, tips, recipes and more.
NEW! Acid-Alkaline Food Chart
Are you trying to eat a more alkaline diet but are not sure where to start? This 4-page, colour Acid-Alkaline Food Chart from Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, author of the best-selling book, The Ultimate pH Solution, makes it easy. It identifies over 200 foods, including: fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts, oils, spices, meat, and dairy products and where they fall on the acid-alkaline spectrum. Stop guessing or relying on inaccurate food charts and books. Dr. Schoffro Cook–an authority on pH diets–has made it simple for you. Now only $4.95.
NEW! ARTHRITIS-PROOF: The Drug-Free Way to Beat Pain and Inflammation
Arthritis-Proof (36-pages) is jammed-packed with practical
advice to help you take charge of your health and overcome pain and
inflammation now. Unlike other books that are full of theory,
Arthritis-Proof offers you plenty of natural remedy and therapy options
without the harmful side-effects of common arthritis drugs. Stop
suffering now. Whether you’re coping with the debilitating effects of
rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, fibromyalgia, or another
form of arthritis, Arthritis-Proof gives you the tools you need to enjoy
pain-free living for only $9.95.
You’ll discover:
- The serious problems linked to common arthritis drugs;
- How healing with foods is the best and safest approach;
- How enzymes are the miracle warriors against the pain and inflammation of arthritis;
- The top foods that fight pain and reduce inflammation
- 3 Super Pain-Relieving Spices to add to your diet;
- Simple acupressure for self-healing;
- Dr. Cook’s preferred supplements for arthritis relief;
- The top herbs that combat pain and help with joint healing;
- Aromatherapy and homeopathy for arthritis;
- Dr. Michelle’s 10 Steps to Alleviate Arthritis; and
- Much More
NY Times Best-Selling Author Raves about Dr. Michelle's Work
"Michelle's
books are my health bibles. I adore her work and refer back to her
teaching time and time again.
If you want glowing, vibrant health, let
brilliant Michelle be your guide."
Kris Carr, NY Times Best Selling Author & Founder of Crazysexylife.com
Read more testimonials about Dr. Michelle
New E-Book--The Vitality Diet: 21 Days to a Leaner, Healthier, Happier, More Energetic You
In the cutting-edge ebook The Vitality Diet, Dr. Cook guides you step-by-step to make dietary changes that support energy, vitality, and balanced weight. Dr. Cook shares valuable information you won't find anywhere else like her proprietary chart of 11 Potent Phytonutrients that Burn Fat and where to find them.
You can benefit from this fantastic resource no matter whether you already eat well or if you’re on the high sugar, high fat Standard American Diet. And, don’t worry about deprivation or radical changes, Dr. Cook coaches you to transform even the poorest of diets.
You'll learn:
- Dr. Cook's Top 13 Fat-Fighting Foods
- The powerful phytonutrient that speeds abdominal fat loss by 77% and where to find it
- The 11 Potent Phytonutrients that Burn Fat and the foods that contain them
- The nutritional factor that is missing from at least 80% of people's diets and how this deficiency is linked to weight gain, fatigue, and poor health and how to address the deficiency quickly and effortlessly
- How to curb cravings
- How to stock your pantry for greater vitality and wellbeing
- The signs and symptoms of dehydration which may be causing you to feel sluggish
- 10 Surprising Sources of MSG and how this sneaky food additive causes weight gain, exhaustion, and even mimics serious health conditions
- How to snack your way to greater energy and reduced weight
- Easy ways to supercharge your digestion
- Dr. Cook's Top 8 Safe Weight Loss Supplements
- Much, much more
Download the ebook now for only $9.95
Add The Vitality Diet to Your Shopping Cart
New E-Book: Allergy-Proof
You won’t find a more comprehensive and practical resource to eliminate allergies naturally. In 39-jam-packed pages, Allergy-Proof includes:
-The Best Allergy-Fighting Foods;
-Top 10 Nutritional No-Nos;
-11 Simple Allergy-Busting Lifestyle Strategies; -The Surprising Allergy-Digestion Link; -The Benefits of Bacteria; -The Stress Connection; -The 4 Best Phytonutrients to Fight Allergies;
-11 Power Plants that Combat Allergies;
-8 Enzymes that Eliminate Allergy Symptoms;
-5 Aromatherapy Oils to Ease Allergy Symptoms; -The Top 13 Homeopathic Remedies for Healing Allergies; and
-4 Therapies to Ease Allergy Suffering.
Click here to learn how you can save over 15%
$9.95
Add Allergy-Proof to Your Shopping Cart
New E-Book: Everything You Need to Know about Nutrition (but Were Afraid to Ask)
Everything You Need to Know about Healthy Eating but were Afraid to Ask is a compilation of over 50 articles and recipes from Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook. It is packed with critical health information you can use immediately to improve your health and the health of your family. In it you’ll learn: the 10 worst foods of all time, 9 super fat-fighting foods, 25 cleansing foods, 9 tips for a healthy barbecue, and 7 whole grains to add to your diet along with how to prepare them. You’ll also discover 13 ways to eat healthier on a budget, 10 surprising reasons to drink more water, 9 reasons to drink green tea, 7 ways to improve your digestion, and the top 10 vitamins and minerals that assist your body in the prevention of cancer. Here's what you'll learn:
The Problems with the Standard Western Diet
- Top 10 Worst Foods of All Time
- TV Ads Linked to Childhood Obesity
- Are You Eating MSG without Knowing It?
- Surprising Sources of MSG
- Is Your Body Contaminated with Pesticides?
- Pesticides Linked to Brain Damage, Heart, Lung, and Kidney Diseases Scientists Warn: Food Colors Damage Kids
- The Truth about Frankenfoods
- New FrankenSalmon May Invade U.S.
- Scary Sweetener Haunted by Ugly Past
- Common Food Additive Linked to High Blood Pressure
- Flame Retardants in Your Food
- 11 Reasons to Stop Eating Dairy Products
Healthy Food Choices for a Healthy Life
- Healthy Diet Linked to Longer Life
- Are You Getting Enough Fiber?
- Top 25 Cleansing Foods
- 9 Disease-Preventing Phytonutrients You Need to Know About
- 9 Super Fat-Fighting Foods
- 7 Whole Grains to Add to Your Diet
- Cook with Garlic to Fight the Flu
- 9 Tips for a Healthy Barbecue
- 13 Ways to Eat Healthier on a Budget
- How to Grow Your Own Sprouts
- 15 Reasons to Eat Organic Food
- 10 Surprising Reasons to Drink More Water
- 9 Reasons to Drink Green Tea
- 2 More Cancer-Killing Compounds Found in Green Tea
- Vegetable Boosts Endurance, Helps Prevent Cancer
- 7 Reasons to Love Pomegranates (and Pomegranate Juice)
- 12 Surprising Reasons to Eat More Blueberries
- What Your Cravings Mean
- 7 Easy Ways to Improve Your Digestion
- Key Nutrients and Supplements
- The A, B, Cs of Nutritional Supplements
- 10 Reasons to Supplement Your Diet
- Top 5 Vitamins that Protect against Cancer
- Top 5 Minerals that Protect against Cancer
- The Great Health Vitamin
- Vitamin D Linked to Diabetes, Cancer, Depression, and More
- Nutrients Depleted by Common Drugs
- An Aspirin a Day: 5 Things You Need to Know
- Vitamin Dramatically Lowers Heart Disease Risk
- 11 Anti-Aging Herbs and Nutrients
Healing Recipes
- 3 Super-Healing Iced Teas
- Acai Berry Blast
- Iced Chai
- Sugar-Free Green Tea Lemonade
- Thanksgiving Roasted Squash Soup
- Creamy Roasted Vegetable Soup
- Dairy-Free Soft Cheese
- Quick Cranberry Multigrain Bread
- Gluten-Free Crepes
- Quick Whole Grain Spelt Bread
- Apple Pancakes
- 5-Minute Dairy-Free Ice Cream
- Vegan Berry Gelatin
- Thumbprint Cookies
Download the 109 page e-book for only $9.95!
Add Everything You Need to Know about Healthy Eating to Your Cart
Now in Stores: The Phytozyme Cure
In this groundbreaking book, award-winning 
natural health
expert Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook introduces Phytozyme Therapy — a revolutionary
all-natural diet- and nutrition-based plan that combines the healing powers of
phytonutrients and enzymes to strengthen our immune systems, protect our bodies
from disease, and even reverse the signs of aging. From helping to prevent
heart disease and speeding weight loss to removing inflammation and toxins and
attacking cancer cells, these powerhouse compounds have been found to have countless
health benefits. Developed through two decades of research and clinical practice, The Phytozyme Cure uncovers the
latest scientific findings and tackles over 30 common health conditions from heart
disease to diabetes, offering natural protocols for seeking out a higher level of
health and wellness.
The Life Force Diet
The Life Force Diet is a breakthrough book that explains how enjoying a diet of Life Force Foods—foods that keep us at the pinnacle of health—will ensure you have a healthy, slim, energetic body and retain the vibrancy of youth. The Life Force Diet will restore you to your ideal body weight and even prevent or reverse illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
As the book shows, Life Force Foods are the key to weight loss, mental clarity, boundless energy, and radiant good looks. In just three weeks you’ll feel a renewed sense of vitality, and marvel at clearer, smoother skin and more lustrous hair. What’s more, you’ll find that The Life Force Diet has such delicious recipes, you’ll look forward to every meal.
The Ultimate pH Solution
Learn why Harvey Diamond, best-selling author of Fit for Life, calls The Ultimate pH Solution, "A landmark book that everyone should read. Follow The Ultimate pH Solution and you'll prevent disease and feel better."
Excessive acid in your body can cause a host of health problems, but with
cutting-edge, medically sound research, this indispensible guide offers
an easy-to-follow plan that will help you kick acid and stay healthy.
Buy Now
The Brain Wash
Scientists
predict that within 15 years brain disease will kill or disable more
North Americans than cancer and heart disease combined. Learn how
to lessen your risk with The Brain Wash:
A Powerful, All-Natural
Program to Protect Your Brain Against
Alzheimer’s, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Depression,
Parkinson’s, and other Disease.
Buy Now.