Susan M. Brooks, PhD

Health Educator

Sleep

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What a better place to write about sleep than on vacation at the beach? Typically, sleep is the most elusive of my lifestyle habits, not because I am a poor sleeper, but because I relish the quiet time at night and early morning, and enjoy immersing myself in medical research, reading, or even cooking an experimental concoction during the late night hours. I have set-up challenges and deals with enticing rewards, if I get to bed by 10 p.m. each night for say 2 weeks in a row. I can often make it for several days or even a week (at the outside), and then I’ll relapse. Or, I’ll get to bed early, and then wake up at 4 a.m.! I’ve convinced myself that maybe I am just one of those who constitutionally requires less sleep. This theory, however, is quickly debunked when I get to the beach, where I go to bed early, and can easily sleep 9-10 hours without wakening. And, I feel 10 years younger when I do…… [Read more…] about Sleep

Transition Into Spring

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Blustery Boulder winds are ushering in beautiful warming spring days, replete with apple buds swelling, crocuses up, and daffodils on the cusp of blooming. As an enthusiastic but impatient gardener, I’ve often planted bulbs in too shallow holes, resulting in their shooting prematurely up to the surface during the winter months.

Similarly, we humans tend to transition too quickly from the cold of winter into springtime. [Read more…] about Transition Into Spring

Autumn Harvest Soup

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  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
  • 1-2 baby bok choy, cut into 1/2 inch slices
  • 1 Japanese Sweet potato or small cubed butternut squash (peeled)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • handful of fresh thyme leaves, chopped
  • 1 tsp salt (more to taste)
  • 1 tsp green curry paste (blend into coconut milk first before adding to soup)
  • 1 tsp fish sauce
  • 1 can regular coconut milk
  • 1 cup veggie or chicken beef stock
  • 1 lb fresh spinach, chopped
  • handful, chives

Method

[Read more…] about Autumn Harvest Soup

Boost Your Immunity

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Now that cold and flu season is stalking us, it’s time to roll up the sleeves and get serious about boosting our immunity. Here are reminders of the basics we all know, yet need to hear again and again. Most of the people incorporating a significant number of these wise lifestyle choices into their daily lives simply don’t get sick. And when they do, it’s mild and short-lived.

Eliminate Added Sugar
Do you notice the pronounced increase in school absences the week after Halloween and on through the holiday season? Eating and drinking sugar (syrups, honey, fructose, high fructose corn syrup, table sugar) decreases the ability of the white blood cells to kill germs by 40%. Also, consuming sugar decreases the responsiveness of the key infection fighters of the immune system, the neutrophils.

Stress
Emotional stress predisposes us to viruses because it is harder to fight off germs. Finding ways to manage our reactions to circumstances beyond our control will contribute to a strong and resilient immune system.  Studies in mind-body research (psycho-neuro-immunology)  have found that all aspects of immunity are diminished with both short term and chronic stress. Many colleges bring in puppies during final exams to help students relax and thereby boost their immunity. Some of my favorite stress relievers? Baths, cooking, yoga, listening to music, nature walks, being with friends, 5 minute micro-rests throughout the day. [Read more…] about Boost Your Immunity