Recently I had the opportunity to be able to provide medical care for a few patients who are extremely low income and are using the food bank for their nutrition requirements. I have spent many years volunteering and working in food banks, and the one thing they have almost none of is fresh fruits and vegetables.

I have decided to use one of my raised beds as a donation garden where I will grow fresh veggies and fruits for these particular patients and will donate the leftovers to the local food banks. So, I am in need of good, hearty wintering vegetable seeds (such as kale, other leafies, etc.) or better yet, hearty starters!! If you can donate seeds, starters or a bag of HEALTHY, gluten-free or organic food to the food bank, I will give you $20 dollars off your next visit. For most of you this means no copay, but for my cash pay patients that amount will either be taken off your office visit or deducted from a supplement of your choosing. 

Please help me make this a reality! Our food banks need to be stocked with healthy foods, because everyone deserves good health no matter who they are.

Oscillococcinum by Boiron: Oscillo-what?! (o-sillo-cox-inum) is a homeopathic flu preparation that is absolutely essential in every household this time of year. It is a homeopathic preparation that is without side effects, is completely safe with other medications and supplements and is the most effective flu therapy I have found. It must be taken at the very first signs of flu, when the achiness first appears.

Proper "food medicine": Yes, food is medicine (or poison depending on what you choose). If you treat your body like the temple that it is, avoiding sugar, refined carbohydrates, stimulants and processed foods and focus on WHOLE foods, legumes, fruits, veggies and a small amount of whole grains (think quinoa, brown rice, wild rice, amaranth) your body will pay you back in increased energy, mental clarity, vitality and a boosted and healthy immune system. So make good food choices and drink a lot of water!

Listen to your body!: If you are tired, please lie down. If you are stressed at work, take care of the problem causing the stress. If you are unhappy in your relationship, do something about it. We often feel stuck, like our lives are unchangeable...we are too old to make new choices, or we have too much history or baggage with someone to fix it or move on. You create your life by making choices every day. Create an amazing one!

**All supplements listed above are available through my virtual dispensary at Emerson Ecologics, which is found on the "Shop" page of my website: www.shahfamilymedicine.com.**

Don't forget as you are scheduling your PAP, men's health check-ups and sports physicals that these are all services I provide. Additionally, the benefit of having a naturopath doing your child's school physicals/sports physicals is that you can have a tailor-made nutrition program to fit his or her needs! 

The warming qualities of ginger can help heat you from the inside-out, making it an ideal ingredient for immune-support foods. 

• 1 quart miso, chicken, vegetable or mushroom broth
• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 3 tbsp grated fresh ginger root, or use as little as 1 teaspoon, to taste
• 5 clove garlic, chopped or crushed, or use as little as 1 clove, to taste
• 1/2 cup sliced shitake mushrooms
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1 carrot, grated
• 3 tbsp fresh, minced parsley
• lemongrass,if desired

Combine the broth, onion, ginger, garlic, mushrooms and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and add lemon juice, carrot, parsley and lemongrass if using. Put cover on pan and steam for 5 minutes. Remove lemongrass before serving; eat up to 4 times a day.