Got a question for us? Drop your tricky, random, wacky or plain confusing health question into the Suggest-O-Matic, leave a comment, or tag your tweets with #wellwire and our team of experts will answer them in this weekly column. Q: More than ever my patients are asking about alternative hormone replacement. Many are concerned about developing reproductive and associated...

Cancer. ITP. Burst appendix. Hit and run. That was 1989, not my greatest year. A life-threatening illness, a rare bleeding disorder, a burst appendix and infection. Then, to add injury to injury, as I was walking across Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, I was hit by a ’57 Chevy. I was 32 and very fit, and I recovered, physically. Meanwhile I was thinking, Why me? Will I...

Courtesy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Radon is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas formed from the natural breakdown of uranium. The gas is found naturally in certain soils around the United States. It enters buildings through cracks in concrete floors and walls, and especially builds up in basements. Decaying radon produces radioactive particles that...

My favorite seed catalog came in today’s mail: organic Floriani red flint corn, green meat radish, Bolivian rainbow pepper, purple pac choy, ruby streaks mustard. These are the reasons I started gardening–I was awed by the incredible diversity of life I could sustain on my little corner of earth. There were other reasons too. After my urban upbringing, I longed...

The media has propelled estrogen-mimicking chemical bisphenol A (BPA) to the forefront of health news. It’s ubiquitous, and it’s likely in your body. The chemical, developed as an estrogen replacement, is commonly used to harden plastics such, most commonly polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It’s been linked to various cancers, diabetes, heart disease...

It’s the “most wonderful time of the year” and depression is rampant. Between the early darkness, family drama and financial stress that goes along with shopping season, many people find their mood taking a turn for the worse. Here are some tips for feeling better: 1. Exercise Depression diminishes motivation. But getting off the couch can make a remarkable difference...

Tis’ the season for giving thanks, huddling around an open fire and feasting with friends and family. This Thanksgiving, when you’re going back for more turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing, don’t forget the cranberry sauce or relish–the tangy side will cut through all those deliciously rich foods. Cranberries, like many other colorful fruits and veggies,...

A hot bowl of leek soup on a chilly autumn day is just the thing if you ask me. Like most of nature’s edible goodies, this weeks superfood is loaded with nutrients that nourish your body and add flavor to your dishes including vitamin C, manganese, iron, folate and vitamin B6. Leeks are a good source of fiber, too. Leeks come from the same family of vegetables as onions...