Dr. Kushner blog

Keeping Healthy Lifestyle Focus in Times of Stress

By Dr. Kushner / December 22, 2021 /

In my practice, stress and coping are topics I regularly address. I try and help patients see the connection between their life stressors, coping skills and overall health. The goal is to help patients cope more healthfully and keep the positive focus they need to maintain their healthy lifestyle habits. If life stressors impair your…

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Moving Toward More Plant-Based Eating

By Dr. Kushner / December 18, 2021 /

We know that to improve health and manage weight better, adding more plant-based foods to your daily diet is a winning strategy. That’s because these good-for-you foods are generally lower in calorie density and higher in vitamins, minerals, disease-fighting phytochemicals and fiber than the foods they end up displacing such as meats and fried foods…

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Dance Your Way to Better Health

By Dr. Kushner / December 5, 2021 /

We’ve known for a long time that the more you enjoy your healthier lifestyle, the better chances you’ll have of making health habits that can last a lifetime. Over seven years ago, my wife Nancy and I took up ballroom dancing and immediately got hooked. It has been life-changing. I love dance because it checks…

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A Fresh Start for a Heathier You

By Dr. Kushner / December 1, 2021 /

As we look forward to welcoming in a new year, improving one’s health, weight and lifestyle are on many of our to-do lists. With a new year come thoughts of a new and better you. But how do you get started? Though each person has his or her own issues to tackle and goals to…

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Gifts Ideas for Healthy Living 

By Dr. Kushner / November 15, 2021 /

It’s that time of year again when holiday gift giving is on all of our minds. For this year’s list of healthy living gift ideas, I decided to share some favorites that have helped my wife and I live more healthfully – and can help you too. To make our list, the item had to either have improved our eating habits or physical and mental health –…

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Weight Loss Success Depends on Finding and Keeping Motivation

By Dr. Kushner / November 2, 2021 /

Whether you have in internal drive to lose weight to improve self-confidence or feel better, or you are encouraged to lose weight by your health care provider to improve your diabetes or hypertension, sustained motivation is a key factor for long-term success. However, it’s not uncommon for motivation to wax and wane at different points…

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From Deprivation Dieting to Enjoying a Healthier Lifestyle

By Dr. Kushner / October 19, 2021 /

Strict diet rules are hard to follow for long periods of time. Examples may include banning all carbs from your diet or never allowing yourself to enjoy treat-type foods ever again. Because losing weight and getting healthier are really important to you, you may challenge yourself to follow these rules in hopes that this time…

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Want to Get Help from your Primary Care Provider to Lose Weight? Just Ask!

By Dr. Kushner / October 10, 2021 /

I always ask my new patients how they came to see me. More often than not, they say they asked their primary care provider for help to lose weight. Your primary care provider (PCP) may not be an expert in weight management, but he or she is likely to be an expert in knowing about…

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Make Your Home a Safe Haven for More Healthful Eating

By Dr. Kushner / October 4, 2021 /

Whether it’s the foods on your kitchen counters, eye-level in the fridge or in bowls on a cocktail table, we know that tempting food cues in your environment can lead to overeating. Too often, patients tell me they have no willpower and don’t understand why they can’t say no to all the tempting foods around…

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Can Minutes of Movement Lead to Better Health?

By Dr. Kushner / September 18, 2021 /

We all know we sit too much – at our desks, in our cars and on the couch. A new study, published in the American Journal of Physiology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, sheds light on how taking short movement breaks every 30 minutes, can improve some metabolic parameters by lowering fasting blood sugar levels. Though the…

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