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Organic self-experiment

Brazilians + Formaldehyde: Not a Good Thing for Your Hair

By Sara Gottfried, MD | September 15, 2011 | 1

Today the New York Times featured an article on the risks of having a Brazilian Blowout. I was so struck by this photo by Richard Perry – I felt like…

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Pokeberry: A Natural Dye that Acts as a Lymph Cleanser

By Sara Gottfried, MD | August 17, 2011 | 6

Pokeberry, which grows around my home as a weed, is a natural lymph cleanser. Synthetic dyes are associated with allergy, asthma, bladder cancer and cause genotoxicity. Some synthetic dyes mimic…

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D15 of August Break: My Favorite Natural Dyes

By Sara Gottfried, MD | August 15, 2011 | 1

Oak galls (or Oak apples, as they’re sometimes called) fascinate me. They are a result of  the puncture of the bark of an Oak tree by the female Gallwasp, Cynips Gallae-tinctoriae,…

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Get Your Alkaline Broth Right Here

By Sara Gottfried, MD | July 13, 2011 | 1

When I lead my Cleanse twice/year, alkaline broth is front and center. Why bother? What could it possibly do for you? We tend to love acidifying and mucus-producing foods. You…

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Botanical Bliss: Wear Organic, Eat Organic

By Sara Gottfried, MD | July 13, 2011 | 1

Today I sit with the question: If we are all so clear about eating organic, why are we not wearing organic clothing? Our conventional clothes contain toxic fertilizers/pesticides/herbicides/insecticides, heavy metals,…

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Botanical Alchemist | Organic Fashion Designer

By Sara Gottfried, MD | July 11, 2011

Was surfing Etsy last weekend, minding my own business, when I came across a mystic from North Carolina named Andrea Crouse. Check her out. That’s Andrea (above), modeling her Tulsi dress in…

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Sacred Socks & Pablo Neruda

By Sara Gottfried, MD | July 8, 2011

Maybe you didn’t quite get just how obsessed I am with knitting. Here’s an example: I could not properly express the joy I feel with my new socks, knitted from…

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Organically Jeaned: Change Up the Paradigm

By Sara Gottfried, MD | July 6, 2011

Learned today that the European Union has rigid boundaries on the type of cotton they import – no toxic dyes, no cheap cotton laced with DDT, as several cottons from China…

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Organic Right Up Next to Your Skin: Undies

By Sara Gottfried, MD | July 4, 2011 | 1

Perhaps the most important layer in my organic experiment is my undies. Right up next to your privateness, you want no endocrine disruptors or heavy metals. Surprisingly, I found this to…

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Alchemist Next Door: Organic Clothes That Heal

By Sara Gottfried, MD | June 26, 2011

Hokahay! Today is a fine day to dye – natural dye, that is, in the back yard of our LEED-Platinum green home with a group of intrepid women gathered to…

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PRAISE

“For the first time in my adult life I feel that I have gained control over food. I feel healthier, look better and have gained an interest in making sure that what I am putting into my body is the best it can be. And I lost 10 pounds in all the right places.”

– Janice Lunde, Dr. Sara’s Detox Challenge Participant

“Dr. Sara is the height of excellence! She is incredibly knowledgeable and gives very generously of her time. I feel so blessed to have been able to work with her.”

– Yvonne Varah

“You don’t have to settle for being stressed out, binging on sugar and chocolate, and aging prematurely. Stop blaming yourself and step into sacred action. It’s your birthright. You can have the joyous, mission-driven life you want, and Dr. Sara is here to show us how.”

– Marci Shimoff, New York Times Bestselling Author of Happy for No Reason and Love for No Reason

“Dr. Gottfried offers powerful and effective tools for addressing the most difficult health issues facing women and men today. She is warm and kind and has so much experience to draw upon, it’s inspiring. Thank you Dr. S!”

– Cassandra Mick

“Dr. Sara Gottfried is a modern-day healer goddess if ever there was one, and she also happens to be a Harvard Medical School graduate and rigorous physician-scientist.”

– Christiane Northrup MD, author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom

“Dr. Gottfried’s book and detox came at a time when I was ready to give in to old age. Hot flashes, low energy and libido, weight gain, increasing blood pressure and cholesterol levels were unacceptable to me. I now know that hormone levels and what I eat are a huge influence on how I feel and look. To now be able to control something that was out of control is empowering…”

Cheryl V., Dr. Sara’s Detox Challenge Participant

“My health coach told me about your book and I took the [hormone] test, and lo and behold, I found I was a mess, hormonally speaking. Now I’m getting on track and I love your videos and your book. I feel like I’m getting my life back again, when not long ago I truly thought I was losing it!”

-Tracy, Registered Nurse

“You don’t have to accept the hormonal hell of being tired, stressed, overweight, and never in the mood for sex as you grow older. In her fabulous new book, the brilliant Dr. Gottfried gives you an effective, easy-to-follow plan to balance your hormones and become lean, energetic, and loving life again. Stop settling and reclaim your sexy!”

–JJ Virgin, Author of Six Weeks to Sleeveless and Sexy and The Virgin Diet

“I lost 10 lbs., reset my hormones and metabolism and eliminated my sugar cravings! I have also found that I respond to stress much differently, I feel it, notice it and move on from it. Stress no longer has a grip on me. Dr. Sara’s conference calls and detox information was invaluable. I am so grateful for this program. Thank you Dr. Sara!”

–Sophia, Dr. Sara’s Detox Challenge Participant

“The Hormone Cure is the playbook for your mojo, your mind, and your bootie. With every chapter I thought, ‘So THAT’s how that works.’ I wanted to call every girlfriend and give them the goods on how to glow… now and always.”

-Danielle LaPorte, Author of The Fire Starter Sessions and The Desire Map

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Sara (Gottfried) Szal M.D.

saragottfriedmd

Author of 4 NYT bestsellers 📚
Your mitochondria are the powerhouses inside your Your mitochondria are the powerhouses inside your cells. 👉When they work well, you work well. In my practice, about half of my patients have mitochondrial dysfunction, especially those over 40. Here are 6 ways to protect your mitochondria: 🔘 Keep blood sugar stable - wild fluctuations in blood sugar can damage mitochondria. Sugar, refined carbohydrates, and processed foods harm mitochondria. 🔘 Avoid mercury, usually found in fish, it gunks up your mitochondria. 🔘 Lower your alcohol consumption. Alcohol impairs mitochondrial function. 🔘 Regulate and manage your stress. Chronic stress and cortisol can cause oxidative damage to mitochondria in the gut. 🔘 Eat your broccoli. You find sulforaphane in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower. It boosts production of glutathione, and helps tune up mitochondria. Additionally, the same receptor on cells that environmental toxins use for their negative effects is also used by cruciferous vegetables. That means when you eat more cruciferous vegetables, you crowd out the bad environmental toxins and strengthen your mitochondria. 🔘 Supplementing with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and alpha lipoic acid may improve mitochondria function. Which one will you do today to protect your mitochondria?
I’ve become obsessed with what’s happening at I’ve become obsessed with what’s happening at the level of the mitochondria in our bodies. Mitochondria are the main source of energy inside of your 35 trillion cells and also generate reactive oxygen species within the cell. Here are the highlights of the mitochondria job description. 🔘 Mitochondria produce energy through chemical reactions. Mitochondria break down nutrients like glucose, fats, and proteins to create adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the energy currency for most cellular reactions. 🔘 Mitochondria support pregnancy. During pregnancy, mitochondria provide energy for the development of the embryo. 🔘 Mitochondria support insulin secretion. In beta cells of the pancreas, mitochondria play a role in the secretion of insulin in response to glucose. 🔘 In men, mitochondria support sperm movement. Mitochondria in sperm cells produce energy to help the sperm move. 🔘 Mitochondria contain their own DNA, which can affect processes across all 12 chromosomes in the nucleus. 🔘 Estrogen has many influences on mitochondrial activity, binds to estrogen receptors in mitochondria, and can influence production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) pathways. 🔘 Mitochondria influence longevity and health span. When mitochondria are not functioning properly, cells can become underpowered and lead to organ dysfunction and disease. You can read my latest article at the link in bio: Women, Estrogen, and Mitochondria: Sex Differences That May Affect Your Hormones, Energy, and Longevity Link in bio to watch my conversation with Dr. Smeaton @precisionanalytics
Mitochondria play a pivotal role in many aspects o Mitochondria play a pivotal role in many aspects of women's health, including hormone balance, cell function, and feeling like you are fully charged with power. Women have about 35 trillion cells in the body and mitochondria are the organelles inside of cells that produce energy through chemical reactions. They are known as the power source of the cell. They fuel trillions of chemical reactions each second. When your mitochondria are functioning well, your cells feel fully powered and you have the energy you need to accomplish the activities of daily living. Sadly, many women over 40 find that they do not have mitochondria that are functioning well. I have been obsessed with mitochondria since I wrote my book YOUNGER. Mitochondrial impairment is part of what accelerates the aging process. I’m going to be sharing more on what happens to your mitochondria as you age, sex differences in mitochondria, and the relationship between them and your hormones. Plus what you can do to rev up your mitochondria. To get started, you can read my latest article: Women, Estrogen, and Mitochondria: Sex Differences That May Affect Your Hormones, Energy, and Longevity Follow the link in my bio or head to SaraSzalMD.com to read
Inside the female body, poisons abound. Toxic cul Inside the female body, poisons abound. Toxic culture. The stress of keeping up with all the things we are supposed to be doing. Working full-time, raising children, attending to pleasure, partnership, and long-term sexual satisfaction. Overfunctioning. Heavy weights. Botox. Fillers. More protein. High cortisol, then low if you drag yourself around too much. Excess estrogens, beta glucuronidase in the gut causing estrogens to recirculate like bad karma. Perimenopause hits hard. But excess stress in the female body is the main problem. Millions of women are exposed to these internal poisons, and even consent to some of them. It robs us of the joy of the present moment, the pleasures of embodiment, as we chase some impossible standard. The consequences are profound. I see them every day as I pore over the blood work, genomics, and wearables of my clients. Of course, these problems affect men too, but women are more vulnerable. Especially if we don’t feel safe. And I know first hand about this. I just spent 5 days at a retreat near Cancun. When I arrived, my stress levels were quantified and over the top. My cognitive tests weren’t what they used to me. My muscle mass was down. My fat mass was up. I was retaining fluid, a lot of it. Then, 4 days of healthy food and treatments. Fish and vegetables. Sound healing. Cryotherapy (not the ice bath, yuck, but something more manageable). Mobility training. Sexual coaching. I splurged on exosomes, NAD, and ozone intravenously. No alcohol. Ocean. Now as I get ready to leave for home... I fell more like myself than i have in a very long time. Do you need a reset? If you want to change your unwanted habits of mind and behavior, especially how you work and your current levels of stress, check out a place like the SHA Wellness Clinic. Install new code in your operating system. This is not an ad, I just want you know about an exquisite experience. Of course, the female body, our toxins that we consent to, how to unwind and recover, is the juicy topic of my next book. Honor your worth and depth. Love, Dr. Sara #stress #cortisol #womenshealth #menshealth #shawellnessmexico @shawellness_mexico #nutition
💥New chapter. New name. New website! Over 15 y 💥New chapter. New name. New website! Over 15 years ago, I launched SaraGottfriedMD.com. As 2024 comes to a close, it’s time to launch a new site that authentically reflects who I am today. I am thrilled to announce that SaraSzalMD.com is now live! New content. New programs. New retreats and opportunities for us to work together and become healthier, cells to soul. Let me address the name change because I know many of you are curious. The simple answer is I need to reclaim my identity and sovereignty. I completed a divorce in 2023. Now I’m taking the next step, and changing back to my maiden name—Sara Szal MD. Since I announced my return to my maiden name, I’ve been deeply moved by how enthusiastically and kindly you’ve accepted the change. Any change is hard, and this one matters a lot because I am in a process of returning to a state of wholeness and utter authenticity. I imagine you might have experienced an important change like this in your own life. During the interim, you will continue to see Sara (Gottfried) Szal in many places as I transition slowly back to my maiden name. It was not an easy choice to change back to my maiden name, but it feels right and true. Thank you for accompanying me on my journey all these years, at my side. Let’s celebrate new beginnings together. Gratitude to @anastasiachomlack for the gorgeous photography @audreydigital for the website design Like the new website?
Are you recovering from the Thanksgiving excess? T Are you recovering from the Thanksgiving excess? Try these 7 steps to detox and love your liver before the end-of-year celebrations begin. 🔘Choose organic. Rid your diet of the obvious toxins from pesticides. Choose non-GMO foods, organic fruits and veggies, and hormone-free meat. 🔘Eat your broccoli. The cruciferous family of vegetables— broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower— contain sulforaphane, which helps to improve detoxification pathways. The same receptor on cells that environmental toxins use for their negative effects is also used by cruciferous vegetables. When you eat more of them, you crowd out the bad environmental toxins and strengthen your mitochondria. 🔘Boost your glutathione. Glutathione is the queen of detoxifiers in the body. It protects cells by cleaning up excess free radicals. ◾Eat more cruciferous vegetables discussed above to help improve glutathione levels. ◾Add allium vegetables (onions, garlic, leeks) to your daily meals. They help you make more glutathione. ◾Drink more green tea. Green tea has been shown to induce glutathione production. 🔘Detox with yoga. Exercising mildly and moderately, with calm breathing helps glutathione levels. Try yoga. Yoga has been shown to raise antioxidants like glutathione. 🔘Supplement. Liposomal glutathione or the precursor, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), is shown to lower inflammation and mercury levels.4 NAC has an excellent safety record. 🔘Take regular saunas. Not only are saunas a great way to help remove heavy metals, but saunas can increase longevity. In a study published in JAMA, researchers found that men who enjoyed a sauna four to seven times per year had a 40 percent drop in mortality of all causes! Sit in a sauna 4 to 7 days/week for 20 to 60 minutes. Go to your local gym or consider investing in a home sauna. Dry saunas have the most evidence that they help you age well, but infrared saunas are not far behind—and what I use most often. 🔘Reduce alcohol. Out of all the toxins that the liver is busy processing, alcohol moves to the front of the toxin line, no matter what. By reducing alcohol consumption to a minimum, you free up your liver to focus on other toxins.
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