Fran Storch, N.D., naturopathic physician, wants to share practical, everyday health information that can help you maximize your health! Learn about nutrition, weight loss, allergy management, healing your digestion, healing diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and much more!
Name: Fran Storch, N.D. and Ron Manizza
Storrs, Connecticut
This week I discussed how sucralose, the artificial sweetener, has been studied to INCREASE hunger even though it is basically non-caloric. It fools the brain into thinking it’s going to get calories so sets up hormones to receive food. Better to use other alternative sweeteners, or small amounts of sugar! We then discussed how poor sleep […]
This week, I talked a little about how important it is to drink water, especially with electrolytes if you’re feeling even a LITTLE off. Of course, if that doesn’t work, and you can’t figure out what’s going on, it’s time to access medical professionals! But electrolytes should be as natural as possible, and no artificial […]
This week, we talked about ADHD and food dyes, since RFK Jr. has been pressing for getting them generally banned. There are bills on the floor of a number of states, including West Virginia, Oklahoma, and New York. Interestingly, the studies aren’t definitive about whether food dyes aggravate ADHD or worsen behavior, but that may […]
This week, we reviewed healing from a cold, and then went on to more information about how menopausal weight gain happens. It’s possible to mitigate it but it’s not the most important thing. The most important thing is that YOU FEEL GOOD, get your rest, do things that make you happy, and not worry so […]
This week, we wrapped up osteoarthritis for a while, doing a deeper dive into green-lipped mussel extract. We also worked through a number of knee-strengthening exercises, great if you have osteoarthritis there and are trying to avoid surgery. Acupuncture can certainly be helpful! We also started in on some more weight loss issues, since there is […]
This week, we gave a little advice on the use of toothpaste with prebiotic to support healthy probiotic in the mouth. Then, we went on to discuss more about osteoarthritis. We gave more information about supplements. We also discussed the important topic of balance and how as the age, people have difficulty rising from seated and […]
This was the first week I’d actually BEEN to the Know Your Farmer’s Fair so that I could talk about it! A great time was had by all, from getting SO many coasters, to mushroom salt and jerky, to gluten free cookies, to giving Congressman Joe Courtney a hug! Ron got to schmooze the room in his […]
This week, we talked about caffeine withdrawal. What fun! But you CAN get through the symptoms if you want to. Then we talked about measles and the outbreak in Texas. Should you get vaccinated? We finished with whether potatoes deep fried in tallow are good for you vs. in seed oils. Steak ‘n’ Shake thinks […]
220-your age is NOT the best way to go! The Norwegian University of Science and Technology has figured out a way to estimate your ideal max heart rate that uses your age, weight, gender, and height. I used it and it felt much better than the 185 I was using from five years ago, and […]
This week, we talked about Ron’s experience with the chiropractor. He’s a fan! He knows it’ll take time but he’s on board. I also talked about the Know your Farmer Fair which will happen March 8, 2025 at the Willimantic Community Center; a great way to get to know our local farmers! And, without taking […]
This week I talked about B vitamins. Sometimes taking specific B vitamins can cause stomach upset, and you have to figure out which ones are bothering you. Sometimes it’s best to take a food based vitamin; sometimes a methylated blend; sometimes specific ones separately; and sometimes just get them from food! We help to sort […]
It’s almost Valentine’s Day, which is also Ron and my 20th anniversary! 20 years, can you believe it? 20 years of chocolate, bicycles, love, support and healing. And also, food. We talk about appreciating each other! Then, of course, since it’s valentines day, I talked about the health benefits of chocolate, a yearly tradition. I also […]
This week, I talked about green lipped mussel, which has a funny name. It’s a little mussel from New Zealand. The omega-3 fats and glycosaminoglycans are balanced in a way that helps joints to heal! I also talked about all the different forms of magnesium and their benefits, and many home remedies to help osteoarthritis. […]
Today I got reacquainted with Ron, with whom I haven’t made a show since November, as he was teaching a fitness class when we usually record together in December! So we’re able to make shows together again, well, most of the time. Today we reviewed his health issues, and it seems we’re getting close to […]
This week we talked about New Year’s Resolutions that are actually accessible, that you can keep. Stuff like: eating more whole foods, cooking more meals at home, finding exercise you enjoy, add in a little bit of meditation, get more good sleep. Notice that NONE of these are LOSE WEIGHT! Having weight loss as a goal just […]
This week, I did a bit of a companion piece to New Year’s Day. We’ll get to resolutions in the next weeks, but today I talked about fun New Year’s traditions around the word. Eat lentils! Jump into the ocean in white! Jump off the couch! Throw pennies into the ocean! All sorts of stuff. Since it’s […]
Today I wanted to not talk too much about health, but went ahead and gave advice about how to stay healthy and support immunity during the holidays. All the usual stuff, like eating well, getting good sleep, getting exercise, doing restorative practices like yoga and meditation. We also talked about neti pots and nasal sprays, […]
This week I talked about Ron and my viewing of Wicked, but didn’t give away any spoilers! It was VERY exciting, dazzling, and emotional. You may want to take nervine herbs, L-theanine, or something else to keep calm, and then plan to do deep breathing or other calming activities afterward! And this was only Part […]
Today I reviewed my most recent naturopathic visit and my ongoing plan to help my chronic Lyme. I’m in it for the long haul! I reminded people not only to hydrate in the cold weather, but to apply sunscreen and lip balm with SPF, because you can still get wind and sunburned in cold weather. We also […]
This week, I talked about how we BAILED from the Manchester Road Race, because Ron’s circulation and leg pain and the chilly, pouring rain would have made it too uncomfortable. We may return to Manchester to walk the course on a sunnier day! And soon we’ll have some diagnosis as to what’s going on with Ron’s health […]
This week, the show was played the day before Thanksgiving, at a time where people are starting to make their Thanksgiving preparations, or God forbid, traveling to wherever they’re going for Thanksgiving. I made it a Thanksgiving companion episode! I talked about various ways to experience and express gratitude, such as sincere Thank yous, writing a […]
I went to the orthopedic physician this week and I wanted to give an update on my experience. I would say it was relatively positive! There’s no rush to give me injections or surgery, and I am to use exercises to strengthen my knees. I talked about what osteoarthritis is and various ways to treat it, both […]
This week, I talked a bit about how I manage intermittent fatigue, mostly with taking breaks and getting enough sleep! Like a lot of us, I’m guilty of pushing myself to get stuff done until I drop, and I need to learn to rest more. Then we discussed the possibility that Ron has intermittent claudication, a […]
This week it was all about the fall vegetables. Things that can be roasted, steamed, sauteed, or put in soup. Often heavier and root-y! Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collards, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, squash, yams. We talked about their health benefits and some ideas on use. And if you listen to the end there’s a recipe […]
This week, I talk about my new naturopath, Marisa Houser, N.D., and the advice she gave me about my Lyme protocol. A few new herbs and a few less supplements! Lots of good advice and tidying up. I also talked about healthier ways to experience Halloween, like having your sweets after a healthy meal so you’re […]
This week, I talked about fall allergies, since lots of people have them right now! Mold and mildew from damp homes and plants dying back. Dust mites are prevalent especially now that we’re moving indoors, but we’ll get a break when there’s a hard freeze. Pets can be problematic too! And there’s still some ragweed […]
This week, I talked about poor Ron and his muscle issues, and realized he might benefit from taking l-carnitine, which will shuttle more free fatty acids into his muscle cells. We’re going to get him some and see if it helps! I also talked about autumn anxiety, which happens when people are letting go of the […]
This week I’m playing a lecture I recorded a while ago, about menopause and weight loss. I talk about how it’s harder to lose fat after menopause, and why. It’s all about the cortisol! Get that cortisol down and it will help. Also, having a little extra weight on after menopause is actually good, because the […]
This week, I talk about my jump to the Dark Side. Well, not really. Hey, did you know that the term “going to the Dark Side” was popularized by Star Wars? I’m going to try another BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION, and hopefully this time I can take it and stay on it! We’re going to try […]
This week I talked about how I tried hibiscus tea and it pretty much knocked me out, so if I do hibiscus it has to be in very small amounts! Everyone is different and responds differently to herbs and supplements. I DO feel good taking l-theanine, a calming amino acid from the tea plant, which calms without […]
This week, I talked to Ron about his muscle building efforts, which are still taking a long time. We talked about how the cholesterol-lowering drug he took didn’t allow him to rebuild muscle, and may also have affected his nerves, He’s eating a lot of oats, and the beta-glucan in them can help to lower cholesterol; […]
This week, I talked about going back to conservatively healing my meniscus, and talked about a Chinese formula that my acupuncturist gave me for hypertension, Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin. I have to drink it as tea, and it’s pretty good! It helps with blood pressure, migraines, headaches, tremors, and more! If you like at the […]
fluoride, hydroxyapatite, mouth rinse, mouthwash, dental floss, dental pick, water floss, MI paste, toothpaste, fluorosis, cavities, tooth decay This week, it was all about the teeth: hydroxyapatite vs. fluoride toothpaste for your teeth. Which is better? In the end, they both protect teeth from decay, cavities, and sensitivity. But some people don’t want to go near fluoride because of possible toxicity. If kids swallow it, it can cause fluorosis […]
This week, we talked about the long haul and Lyme disease. The idea is that you have to treat for a long time, some say at least a year, and definitely until you have been symptom free for 2 months. Treating for that long can be WEARING, but to successfully treat this sticky, insidious, difficult illness […]
Speaking of summer, I felt inspired to talk about the health benefits of all the great produce that’s available right now. Tomatoes for lycopene and cancer prevention. Berries for antioxidants. Cherries for sleep! Also, we discussed all the terrific benefits of shopping at your local farmers market, not the least of which is if you’re going to […]
Ron and I are happily improving! I’m back on the bike and we’re both getting our strength back. Rest, treatment, smart training, the right supplements. I hope it all keeps progressing! This week I talked about the interaction of sleep and hormones. Ideally, we should generally get between 7-9 hours of sleep for good health […]
This week we went on to talk about plyometrics that you can do that don’t affect the knees and hips especially if you have trouble with those. Hint: get a medicine ball! Carrying and tossing a heavy ball can be really helpful without the need for jumping. We also talked about more helpful exercises for […]
This week, I got deeper into sunscreens. Avobenzone and octabenzone: BAD. And I found out that one of my favorite SPF-containing face lotions has avobenzone in it! And I cleared out most of my sunscreens except for the ones with zinc oxide in them! Sheesh. Turns out those two are the worse offenders, and are […]
I thought it would be useful to review help for surviving the heat. We talked about BRAIN FREEZE, which has real medical causes but is generally not a terribly serious condition! We also talked about hydration, how to keep cool in the heat, natural sunscreens like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, and natural insect repellents […]
This week we got a little more into herbs and supplements for high blood pressure. Lots of people struggle with it, even while on meds. There are so many causes and you can help it from a number of different directions, and these can help. So can basic lifestyle changes like more rest and sleep, […]
This week, I talked about the no-charge Healing Lyme Summit that is being presented by Myriah Hinchey, N.D., and Richard Horowitz, M.D., a virtual summit that can be viewed from June 4-10, 2024. There’s lots of talks about protocols and treatments to help with healing from Lyme. There’s also opportunities to connect with other folks […]
This week., I am STILL limping on that MCL sprain/mensicus issue! More interesting stuff, like having to use a hinged brace, heavy and hot in June! And more staying off the bike. I was a lot better a few days ago and rode a couple of days and now I’m set back; obviously not healed yet. HInged […]
This week, I talked about my knee injury! There are great natural ways to help with knee pain, as long as the injury isn’t TOO severe. I had marked knee pain for a few days that rapidly improved with the right care! Rest, ice, compression, elevation. Helpful salves. Chiropractic and acupuncture. Kinesio tape! PT exercises. All […]
This week, I had MORE to talk about from the CNPA conference. So much great stuff! I started with Lyme disease causing arrhythmias. Lindsey Wells talked about the use of HELMINTHS, yes, WORMS, as a probiotic treatment epecially in the autism spectrum, and for PANS and PANDAS. Then we moved on to a GREAT talk from my […]
This week, I am fresh from the Connecticut Naturopathic Phyiscians Association conference. So much to learn! I did a redux of the first few talks. We started with inflammatory bowel disease, moved on to natural treatment of cancer, then tick borne illness, then a great talk about herbs for cardiovascular disease. I am so grateful to […]
This week, I started talking about the very important topic of hypertension, high blood pressure. Our focus this week was on basic lifestyle things to do to lower blood pressure. Some of it is SHOCKING! Stuff like: eat more vegetables and fruit, eat more clean protein, drink more water, get more exercise, stop smoking, do […]
This week, we found that Ron is plugging along and had a not-so-good day because yesterday he dared to work in the yard. His poor muscles just don’t want to be disturbed! We are hoping that this will just take time and he’ll be back to his favorite activities soon. As for me, my tremors have […]
This week, we unfortunately found out that Ron had to get off his bike to help his legs heal further. The PCSK-9 inhibitor may still be in his body, and when he exerts himself his muscles hurt. We are doing everything we can to speed the process of healing, including proteolytic enzymes to break down […]
This week, we talked more specifically about statin- and cholesterol-lowering medication induced myopathy. Ron is only a tiny bit better but still can’t ride his bike outdoors. We talked about studies showing that athletes and people of lower body habitus tend to have more bad reactions to cholesterol lowering medications. My hypothesis is that doctors […]
This week, we talked about Shilajit, this interesting, antioxidant-rich substance that comes from the HImalayas. It has a lot of fulvic acid in it which is detoxifying and free-radical quenching. And it’s energizing and helps with hormone balance! We also talked about rhodiola, plant extraordinaire that is energizing, an immune tonic, and helps with altitude sickness. […]
Poor Ron. He had to get off his bike after less than 2 miles on a gravel ride. The evolocumab is still exerting its effects. We’re thinking critically about the mechanisms of action of his musculoskeletal distress and responding accordingly. We are reducing inflammation, helping him to rebuild muscle, offering items to reduce the risk of […]