Dr. Gold's Optimal Living Institute

  How to Build a Strong Immune System (Part 1)   “I’m scared!” About what? There’s so many illnesses and diseases out there. That’s true, but remember YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM is there to PROTECT YOU . When you think of any bad bugs out there, for you to get sick, it must first get into your body. It’s harder to penetrate if your defenses are strong. Think about your immune system as the military or Krav. The first line of defense is like foot soldiers that can attack immediately (and kill these invaders). The 2 nd line of defense is like our elite special forces the Seals that strategize. They are called in after being presented with the information (about the bad bug) and this line of defense includes antibodies (Ab) that our bodies can naturally make, when exposed to a foreign organism (a bad bug). Now this blog is NOT about denying your fear of getting sick. We all get scared, and we can all get sick, but it’s about learning how to protect yourself to GET WELL and/...

  Why Stretching is So Important I have many patients who come to see me for pain in their bodies, namely back, neck and shoulder pain, along with headaches. Some patients tell me they stretch, but when I ask “how long” it usually is just for one to two minutes a day, or not at all. True, something is better than nothing, but since the body stiffens as we mature, it’s even more important to stretch regularly and for a little bit longer to maintain flexibility. Like a rubber band, your muscles can stiffen, if they are not used. That’s how you can pull a muscle, or G-d forbid tear one, which really is a drag. ☹ **I usually recommend at least 10 minutes when you first wake up. That ensures you get it in and is a nice way to start your day. 😊 The Benefits of Stretching [1] : 1.Reduces your risk for injury (especially when you are training hard) 2.Improves performance (especially if you want to lift heavier or shave a few seconds off your race time) 3.Helps the joints m...

  How to FIT IN Activity I’m too busy. How can I possibly fit it in? Happy holidays! If you’re wondering how to stay active during this busy holiday season, I hear you. It’s tough when you are trying to manage work and family life, especially when you are a caretaker. My heart bows down to you. But can you afford not to?   This blog will discuss how to fit in activity when you have so much on your plate, and why it is so important. First the WHY. I have never met a patient who wants to feel miserable. Instead, they ask me how they can lose weight, gain energy and feel better.   Consistent activity helps with all of these things, when coupled with good nutrition, proper rest, and mental relaxation. To be healthy, you must MOVE. A vision board is a great way to target in on our goals and view them daily. What we can measure we can master. What we can schedule we can Achieve. Plan ahead and always put a date on it. Otherwise, your dreams are just that. Gui...

How to Curb YOUR Sweet Tooth     Happy Holidays!   Sugar, sugar, sugar everywhere, especially during the holidays. It can be challenging to stay away. “Come on, it’s only one more piece of cake. It’s the holidays enjoy yourself.” The problem with that mentality is that you make the behavior ok, and you teach yourself to settle for mediocrity.   Now I know you’re much better than that. My coaches teach me to always strive for excellence. And whatever we struggle with, we can learn from and grow to make better choices. Practice helps. So today in this blog I will explain why we crave sugar, but more importantly what we can do about it to be successful with determination and practice.   Processed Sugar is a drug. Research shows it can be more addictive than even some illegal drugs. To boot, it tastes good and when you succumb, you may consume much more than you bargain for… mainly because we may not even realize how much is in the food (or bever...

                    11.24.21   “Good Nutrition for Optimal Health”   Hi Friends,   Happy Thanksgiving! I’m your host Dr. Gold. I’m a board-certified family medicine physician and also a holistic and functional medicine doctor. As an athlete, I have personally seen the benefit that good nutrition makes on athletic performance. It’s allowed me to have good stamina and good power and strength and helped me to make it to the finish line of my first full marathon without hitting the wall. It has also helped me with focus and concentration, all key ingredients that will support you in life. This blog will offer you simple, quick and affordable ways to bring more nutritious foods into your life. I’d love for this to be interactive, so please feel free to ask questions and share ideas. Below you’ll find a yummy easy recipe for pumpkin pie.   Let’ s meet Robin. She ’s a b...