Dr. Sep Gastroenterologist & Weight Management + Nutrition Specialist

There’s no denying that nutrition is at the core of one’s health Nutrition is personal Nutrition is cultural Nutrition is emotional The point is, nutrition is complex In my practice, we discuss nutrition & how to improve your health WITHOUT JUDGEMENT. Carnivores, omnivores, vegans are all welcome!! You want to have a potato chip here and there? Let’s TALK about it I won’t judge you for it & won’t make you feel ashamed for it. I certainly won’t attack you for it! I’ll even tell you my deepest, darkest secret: I sometimes drink cows’ milk! So come on in and let’s talk nutrition. We’ll do it openly, honestly and with sensitivity. Alternatively, if you do enjoy being judged and shamed, you should see @ucguthealing instead @ Los Angeles, California

It’s Colon Cancer Awareness month and today we’re talking about your FAMILY HISTORY & how it effects YOU & YOUR RISK of colon and rectal cancer >> HOW COMMONLY ARE CANCERS LINKED TO GENETICS? While most cases are not linked to genetics, the number linked to genes is not that small. >> SO WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? Cancers linked to genes generally occur sooner than those that aren’t. So if there is a chance you have the genes, you may need to get screened sooner than your avera...ge counterparts. >> HOW DO YOU KNOW IF THIS APPLIES TO YOU? At minimum, your doctor should ask you about your first and second degree relatives and whether they have had certain types of cancer or colon polyps (yes! Even if they just had polyps) >> HOW COULD THIS AFFECT YOU? In most cases, if your doctor thinks you may have a gene risk, it’s recommended to get screened at age 40 or 10 years EARLIER than when the affected family member was diagnosed. There are some that need to be screened even sooner & more frequently, so it’s important to talk to your doctor to find out exactly what applies to your situation. >> WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW? Talk openly with your family about their history. While it may be a sensitive topic, this is your family and they want the best for you so get the information you need and pass it on to your doctor who can use it to assess your risk Comment or DM me with your questions! See more

March is colon cancer awareness month, so this month I’m gonna do just that: raise awareness by posting facts, dispel myths & answer your questions so let’s get started! Today’s topic will be basic: WHO GETS COLON CANCER and ARE YOU AT RISK? Answer: anybody can get colon cancer but we generally divide people into 2 groups, average risk and high risk Average risk means your risk is no higher than the average person. These people should still get screened but no e...arlier or aggressively than the average person. High risk people are those who 1) may have risk due to family members who have had cancer 2) may have risk due to family members who have had pre-cancerous polyps 3) personally have certain inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s or colitis 4) are part of a family with a known genetic predisposition 5) personally have a known genetic predisposition. It can get complicated so my advice is this: talk to your doctor AND your family. It’s never too early to start asking your doctor about your risk factors, some of which you may not even know about until a doctor examines you. Ask you family about their history because it can affect you too. Send me your questions and comments all month long and let’s raise awareness together! See more

I had the pleasure of meeting @yvettenicolebrown at a taping of Will & Grace last night first off, what a nice woman! She came looking for me after having to step away for a moment to make sure I get a picture with her so nice Second, she is so funny! Her facial expressions and mannerisms are on point and lastly, I must say, we look pretty good in this pic, don’t we?!? Can’t wait to watch the episode (and can we bring back Community, please?) #willandgrace #tv

GYM HIATUS SYNDROME! That’s what I call the times when life gets busy & the 1st thing to go is gym time or exercise. THIS HAPPENED TO ME Between work, getting married & planning for a new baby, my exercise routine started to casually fade away until it became non-existent over these past few months I realized suddenly my energy is low, I’m gaining some weight & I’m stressed Well today I’m back! Here are my tips (that even I have to work at): 1. If you don’t have... time to go to the gym, that’s OK. But at least replace w/ something more convenient that day (long walk, housework, gardening) 2. Try short 20-25 minutes home routines (squats, stairs, light weights) plenty of free videos to guide you on @youtube 3. Try to at least get your steps in ~10,000/day 4. Don’t let I’ll just go tomorrow suddenly become next month, like it did me. And remember, it doesn’t take much to improve and maintain health: 150-200 minutes of moderate activity per week, that’s ~30 minutes 5-7 times per week @lafitness See more

Had the pleasure of attending the annual fundraiser for The Rape Foundation yesterday. Listening to the motivational words of Gail Abarbanel, @im.angelabassett @eric_mccormack @_schwim_ as well as brave victims & families was truly inspirational I was in shock when I heard their stories but in awe of their resilience. Many people are surprised that as a GI doc, I often screen patients for sexual assault. There is definitely a correlation between sexual assault/abuse & chr...onic gastrointestinal disorders. In fact, studies have shown that up to 51% of those referred to a GI doc reported sexual and/or life-threatening physical abuse in their lifetime. Thus you never know who a victim may disclose their abuse to, so everyone should be aware and open to the information. Visit The RapeFoundation.org to learn more about the organization or to donate. @little.redrobinhood @fabzfuertes See more

THIS is why we perform colonoscopies! THEY SAVE LIVES. This past week I removed this large pre-cancerous polyp growing on an unusually long stalk. It had a 15-20% chance of becoming cancer had it never been removed PLOT TWIST: this patient is only 38 years old w/o any family history Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths yet almost always preventable. Talk to your doctor about whether it’s time to get screened. More importantly, don’t feel embarrassed talking to your doctor about issues - that conversation may save your life! This patient is definitely grateful he got check out @ Los Angeles, California

Have you heard of FUNCTIONAL FOODS? They’re foods w/ phytonutrients providing health benefits & prevent disease. Yes, please! I discovered this delicious juice through my produce delivery program @farmfreshtoyou this week w/ so many ingredients from functional foods. First, scroll to check out its label!! ALL NATURAL fruit juice Now check out just some of the phytonutrients (and benefits) I got! *Note: I don’t get paid in any way from these companies... just a ...satisfied customer! 1. Apples provide quercitin proven anti-oxidant, lowers cholesterol, anti-cancer, anti-heart disease 2. Beets provide betanin & epicatechin powerful anti-oxidants to fight inflammation & remove free oxygen radicals from your body 3. Lemons provide flavanoids & terpenoids huge radical scavengers (remove mutation-causing radicals) & anti-bacterial properties This post would be too long if I also ncluded the benefits of the in the juice, but you get the point! I always push for whole foods but this is the next best thing! Avoid added sugars, preservatives, artificial sweeteners so you can maximize the benefits of juiced produce Share your thoughts! @ Los Angeles, California

I agree! Salmon, sardines, scallops & trout are great examples. These are excellent sources of lean protein. The additional health benefits are their 1) Poly-unsaturated fats (omega 3s) heart healthy anti-inflammatory reduce risk of cancer 2) Lots of vitamins & minerals like B3, B12, D, selenium & choline improve sleep & mood good for brain & nerve health & glucose metabolism. These are just some of the benefits, actually! A lot to gain by consuming 2-3 servings per week. These are also examples of seafood relatively low in mercury

SoCal MD/NP/RN friends! I need help! I’m looking for someone to volunteer at this amazing camp called Camp Oasis for kids w/ Inflammatory Bowel Disease. It’s sponsored by the Crohns & Colitis Foundation. We’re looking for an MD/NP/RN to volunteer on 6/27 from 12:30-4pm and another person who can be there for 6/27-6/28. It’s kinda like being the school nurse... checking meds, providing first-aid, etc. This is an amazing opportunity for these kids and they are looking for help urgently because some volunteers had to cancel. If you think you may be interested please contact me for more info. Thanks! #volunteer #camp #CCFA #Crohns #Colitis

It’s cherry season! These bite-size treats are FULL of health benefits! 1) Chock full of phytonutrients like polyphenols & carotenoids (strong antioxidants & anti inflammatory benefits) 2) They can help regulate MOOD & SLEEP by containing serotonin & melatonin 3) They are great for diabetics by having glycemic index 4) Perfect snack to manage weight by being calorie 5) Research has proven reduce the risk of heart disease cancer and diabetes citation below 6) The fiber feed your gut bacteria and colon lining to keep you regular & healthy. Take advantage of them before they’re out of season! Tell me how much you enjoy cherries by commenting below Citation: Kelley, et al. Nutrients. 2018 Mar; 10(3): 368.

Check out this great post by my colleague @drkarenzaghiyan where she breaks down the difference between whole wheat, while grain & multi-grain bread. Great info!! #Repost @drkarenzaghiyan with @get_repost Whole wheat vs whole grain? And what’s multigrain?... Wheat is a type of grain. Other grains include oats, brown rice, rye, etc. Whole, as in whole wheat, implies the entire grain is used- the bran, germ, and endosperm. In comparison, in white breads, the bran and germ, are removed, along with all their vitamins, protein and fiber. That’s why white bread carries little nutritional value. Whole grain, also means the entire grain is used, but it may be a different grain, not wheat, or a combination of whole grains. Whole grains improve gut health, fight constipation, and help prevent heart disease, stroke, and various types of cancer. When the word multigrain is used - this means there are multiple grains, but they all may not be whole. These breads are not as good for you. Might as well eat white. So how do you pick the right bread? Look at the label. It should say 100% whole grain. Then check the ingredients. The first ingredient should have the world whole. A slice of whole grain bread should provide 16-grams or whole grains- half of your daily recommended whole grain intake. Wishing you all a healthy week ahead! . #wholewheat #wholegrain #multigrain #multigrainbread #doctorrecommended #hearthealth #guthealth #preventcancer #colorectalcancer #healthyliving #healthyeating #healthyfood #healthfood See more

So... I’m finally on the avocado toast bandwagon! Here are 3 examples of my own simple creations & some tips on how to MAXIMIZE its benefits 1) Don’t use the whole avocado! While it has good protein fiber heart-healthy fats it has a lot of calories Try to use 1/2 max of the 2) Use whole grain bread, not white or multi-grain bread to maximize fiber & benefits *most multi-grain bread aren’t made with whole grains 3) Get breads w/ SEEDS. We really don’t eat enough seeds! Those little things have a lot of healthy fats, fiber, vitamins & anti-oxidants 4) Add healthy toppings like nuts, slices of whole fruit, sprouts, feta cheese or even a drizzle of olive oil. It’s a great way to add flavors, sweetness or a crunch w/ added healthy benefits. Share you own tips or tag me your own creations! @ Los Angeles, California