See all Contributors
Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD
HEALTH, PEOPLE, PLAY
My mother was raised on a farm, and my father grew up in an old railway car next to the railroad tracks.  Access to medical care was limited, and both families made good use of home remedies to stay healthy.  These traditions were passed on to my generation to soothe the illnesses of childhood and adolescence.  In college and medical school, I became fascinated by modern medicine’s technical breakthroughs.  After internship and residency in internal medicine, I gravitated to fellowships in Pulmonary and Critical Care medicine.  Nowhere are modern breakthroughs more evident than in the Intensive Care Unit, where entire systems of the body are maintained by machines and teams of doctors and nurses. 

We are blessed to be alive at a time when modern medicine offers so many technical advances.  Yet, for everyday health concerns, I find myself turning to the simple remedies of my childhood.  The time-honored systems of natural healing from countries like China and India are experiencing a renaissance in modern times.  Ancient traditional approaches seek to determine the root cause of suffering and consider illness to be a call to restore balance of body, mind, and spirit. 

Taking the support of natural approaches and participating fully in our own healing can be a tremendously uplifting experience.  By keeping an open mind to modern and traditional approaches, as well as our own intuition, we become the best caretakers of our own selves.
top
Article History
  • Why When We Eat Matters EAT | By Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD, 27 days ago
     They say that timing is everything. Calories in versus calories out has long been the conclusion of diet studies.  New research suggests that the time of day when we consume those calories might be important to becoming slim. Hundreds of Europeans following a ...
  • Over 50? Looking at Longevity THINK | By Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD, Apr 2013
     As a physician, I’ve seen patients with multiple serious medical problems survive well into old age, and I’ve seen young people die well before their time.  Thinking about life and death is not easy for most of us; yet I find that thinking about my life span helps me to make good decisions now to promote my health and quality of l...
  • Cough Soothers EAT | By Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD, Mar 2013
     Coughing clears the airways of irritants and excess mucus, and helps prevent infections.  However, when coughing disrupts your peace and irritates those around you, it’s natural to look for a remedy. Cough has many causes, including asthma, reflux, medications, and infections, so it’s better to treat the root cause when possible; ...
  • Cough That Lingers: Top Causes of Persistent Coughing MOVE | By Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD, Mar 2013
     Coughing protects the airways by clearing away infections, irritants, and extra secretions.  However, after several weeks, cough can become irritating to you and those around you.  Having trained as a lung specialist, I’ve seen many complications of long-term coughing, including exhaustion, hoarseness, rib pain, and even urinary in...
  • Caring for a Loved One? The Internet Can Help LOVE | By Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD, Feb 2013
     In simpler times, when a crisis occurred the community close at hand rallied to provide food, take care of household chores, and offer comfort to those in need. The recent death of a relative shone a light on the fact that modern families, friendships, and communities are spread across the nation or even the globe.  When a new mother returns ...
  • Illy-Sum: Saying I Love You in Youth Speak LEARN | By Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD, Feb 2013
     LOL, OMG, TMI.  I thought I was doing well to understand slang like laughing-out-loud, oh-my-god, and too-much-information.  I was content with my ignorance of all the abbreviations and shortcut phrases used in texting and instant messaging, clueless about the shorthand grammar punctuated by smiley faces and other emoticons.  After ...
  • Healthy Holidays: 9 Survival Tips THINK | By Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD, Dec 2012
     Travel, loaded schedules, family dynamics, extreme weather, and opportunities for overindulgence make holidays stressful for many of us.  It is easy to get caught up in making the holidays special for others, and forget to take time to care for your own body, mind, and heart.  Here are some tips I have found helpful.
  • Protein-Packed Snacks EAT | By Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD, Nov 2012
     When life gets stressful, or when the next meal seems far away, many of us reach for a snack.  I feel just a little bit better about that snack when it helps me reach some of my nutritional goals for the day.  Most of us are overachievers when it comes to getting enough carbohydrates and fat.  Consider reaching for a snack packed wi...
  • The Healing Power of Mantra THINK | By Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD, Oct 2012
     We’ve all experienced the power of words.  A kind reassurance can completely uplift our outlook.  A curse word can make us flinch.  Gross conversations during dinner can ruin appetites (if you have a medical professional in your family, you know this well).  Our reactions to words depend on the meaning we attach to them.&...
  • How to Manage Lactose Intolerance EAT | By Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD, Oct 2012
     Do you experience bloating, gas, discomfort, stomach rumbling, nausea, or diarrhea 30 minutes to 2 hours after consuming milk products?  Unlike a food allergy, lactose intolerance is a shortage of the lactase enzyme made inside the intestines.  Lactase breaks down milk sugars; without it, undigested sugars can cause bowel symptoms. As we...
  • How to Learn Online for Free LEARN | By Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD, Sep 2012
     Strolling in Harvard Yard amidst ivy covered red brick buildings, I’ve wondered what it would be like to attend classes there.  Now, we can all enjoy courses from famous universities – for free. Many online courses are available year-round to enjoy at your own pace.  Others start on specific dates and involve assignments and...
  • How to Manage Constipation EAT | By Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD, Sep 2012
      Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal concerns in America, and it seems to be more common as we age.  Although 3 or more bowel movements per week is technically considered normal, many feel better with daily movements. Even if the frequency is adequate, complaints of hard texture, straining, and a feeling of inc...
  • Making Calories Count For You EAT | By Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD, Aug 2012
      Many of us are busy counting calories, carbs, or fat grams.  It’s also vital to consider whether we are getting enough nutrients from those food choices.  For example, there have been times in my life when I followed a low-fat vegetarian diet – yet it was filled with junk food like cheese puffs, pre-packed no...
  • Inspiration From The Stillpoint MOVE | By Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD, Aug 2012
     The inspiration for the Harry Potter books came to author J.K. Rowling on a train journey between Manchester to London’s King’s Cross, when an unexpected delay of several hours left all the passengers stuck.  The idea for the first book suddenly came to her mind’s eye, without any apparent trigger or reason, while the trai...
  • Add Color to Your Life THINK | By Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD, Jul 2012
      Do you find yourself overeating in a restaurant with red decor? Are you more likely to say “yes” to someone wearing yellow?  The way we each react to color is often personal and cultural. In the U.S., white is associated with weddings, black with death. However, in parts of Asia, white is linked with death, and vivi...
  • Take a Break From Sitting MOVE | By Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD, Jun 2012
     Do you have a favorite chair at home?  I do, and I like to turn it into my command central – I surround it with remote controls, phone, computer, reading material, mail, snacks, and more, all at arms reach.  That way, I can ensconce myself and stay there for hours.  However, a recent scientific study suggests a compelling reas...
  • Authenticaly Upbeat in Social Media BELONG | By Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD, Jun 2012
     Do your Facebook and Twitter posts convey your enthusiasm, optimism, and gratitude?  A study in the journal Psychological Science showed that negative Facebook posts netted negative reactions not only from strangers, but also from friends. 
  • Boost Your Energy Level MOVE | By Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD, May 2012
      If your work involves hard physical labor all day long, you might expect to feel exhausted at the end of the day.  Yet, even those of us with sedentary lifestyles often feel depleted by mid-afternoon. In these moments, I may be tempted to reach for an infusion of energy from caffeine or the small thrill of an indulgent snack.  Then I ask myself, is caffe...
  • Reclaim Your Energy MOVE | By Dr. Anne Meneghetti, MD, May 2012
     In the middle the afternoon one day a week, I used to feel a wave of exhaustion that I could not explain.  I wasn’t tired enough to sleep, I wasn’t hungry or dehydrated.  Yet, I felt like all my energy was drained.  A friend asked about my schedule, and I realized that this weekly energy dip always occurred in the hours before some regular volunteer ...
Show More Articles
"Today I feel energized - walked a mile, dumbbell workout for 1/2 hour, did two loads of laundry, changed the sheets on my bed, dusted an..."
Paul F. — Yesterday
"Alexandria, thanks for reading. Our veterans and their families need all the support that can get and I am happy to join you in that sup..."
Bill D. — 2 days ago
"yes, we get a wrinkle or two and they put us up on a shelf, assuming all we have left is a little sitting down shelf life left! yuck! "
Jeri A. — 4 days ago