Want to know what healthcare products and services are legitimate? Want to know what I use to keep myself healthy? Want the same services I recommend to my friends, family, and patients?

Below are my personal recommendations for products and services that I have used to reach my best health. I will keep this page updated and active and continue to add to it.

Some of these links are affiliate links with Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It will be no extra cost to you. However, I would not recommend these resources if I had not used them myself.

The Silent Patient

I don’t often recommend fiction novels to my patients, but this thriller about a psychiatric patient and her psychotherapist is gripping. It captivated my weekend drive to Crested Butte this past September and I finished the book before returning home. And, if you know me, then you know how long it usually takes me to finish a book (~3 months is generous).

Alex Michaelides brilliantly stages the setting in a psychiatric ward in London where a notorious patient is being treated. She killed her husband 6 years ago and has not spoken a word since the murder. Our narrator, her psychotherapist, becomes engrossed in the mystery, blurring the line between patient and provider as he gets closer to answering the question: “why won’t she speak?”

The book is marvelously well written and actually reminded me of the time I spent training at the psychiatric hospital in Kansas City, MO while in medical school. I strongly recommend this book for you or perhaps as a gift this holiday season!

Omron Blood Pressure Cuff

I recommend the Omron blood pressure cuff to my patients so they can check their blood pressure at home. It’s a great tool to help me get the information I need without having to expose my patients with a trip to my office for a blood pressure check. In general, arm cuffs are more accurate than wrist cuffs. This model is nice because it has a bluetooth feature that can link to your phone.

Innovo Deluxe Pulse Oximeter

Another valuable home health tool is the Innovo Deluxe Pulse Oximeter. A pulse oximeter is a tool that you put on your finger to check your blood oxygen levels and your pulse. This model is advanced because it shows you something called a plethysmograph and perfusion index. These two variables let you know if you are getting an accurate reading or not.

Peloton

I was lucky to get my Peloton bike delivered just before the shelter-in-place orders went into effect back in March. At that time our gym had closed, my dojo put classes on hold, and the Denver spring was still cold enough to discourage exercise outside. My wife and I were worried about our fitness. Thanks to my brother-in-law, we decided to give Peloton a try, and I can say now that I am in better shape than I was before the pandemic hit.

Peloton is awesome. Ask anyone who has it. Peloton offers live and recorded exercise classes that you can access on their exercise bike, their treadmill or on your phone through the Peloton app. The classes aren’t just biking and running, they also offer weight training, yoga, meditation and core exercises. The equipment can be expensive, so I recommend trying out their app for a 30-day free trial to see if Peloton is right for you. If you decide to purchase the bike or the treadmill, they offer 0% financing as well.

Use promo code DUEDPF when purchasing and we both receive $100 off at the online Peloton boutique store. My promo code is only good for the first 12 users each year so if you are interested, sign up today!

Rheumatology Secrets

One of the joys of being a doctor is to develop connections with so many wonderful people in the medical community. This book is a collaboration between faculty at the University of Colorado Department of Rheumatology. My wife, Dr. Melissa Griffith, partnered with Dr. Joann Zell to write the chapters on lupus. This book is advanced, but if you are familiar with autoimmune diseases or have a science background then I believe you will find this book fascinating. I am incredibly proud to recommend Rheumatology Secrets. Click on this affiliate link to purchase on Amazon.

Moms On Call

My wife and I have been potty training our toddler this past week. As many of you know, parenting is not easy…

Luckily, when our daughter was born our sister-in-law recommended this series of books to us called Moms On Call. These books were written by a pair of pediatric nurses and mothers, and they have been immensely helpful. We looked at other baby books but found them to be lacking in both practical knowledge and concrete recommendations. Thanks to Moms On Call, our daughter has been sleeping through the night, eating well, and very soon, she will be potty trained. Whether you’re a new parent or an experienced pro who wants to try something new, I highly recommend these books.

For babies 6-15 months, take a look at their Moms On Call: Next Steps Baby Care. And for toddlers, try the Moms On Call Toddler Care. These are affiliate links, but as I say above, we have used these ourselves, and I am convinced that these have played no small part in helping us raise a happy and healthy baby.

Calm App

If you’re looking for a way to reduce stress, sleep better, and improve mental health, then I highly recommend you try the Calm App. I first started using this back in January 2020 when I saw an add for it on Youtube and decided to start a free trial. Since then I have found it immensely helpful. The app has several calming features including sleep stories, guided meditations, and music.

The sleep stories are fun. I prefer to play them on my headphones as I lay down to sleep. These are written by professional authors, and while some are narrated by famous actors, others are narrated by people with profoundly soothing voices. My favorite narrator is a person called the french whisperer, and while I know that may sound odd, I’ve found his stories to be incredibly relaxing. I have never made it to the end of the story.

I never really meditated prior to using this app. I never knew what to do, how to do it or what I was trying to accomplish with meditation. The meditation guides in this app are fantastic for both beginners and novices. Beginners should try the 30-day “How to Meditate” course, just to learn the basics. People suffering from chronic pain should look into the “Untangling Physical Pain” course. If you want to improve your mental focus, then I recommend listening to Lebron James’s “Train Your Mind.”

The music is varied, which is nice because you can find something instrumental and soothing, or you can listen to something inspiring and motivational. All of these programs are updated and added to frequently.

I have a year long subscription to Calm for $60 for a year. As a subscriber I can invite others to a free trial. Previously the free trial was 7 days, however, due to the pandemic, Calm is now offering a 30-day free trial. I applaud Calm for doing this because I know countless people are suffering from a decline in mental health since this all started. Follow this link to access your free 30-day trial of Calm!

The Mind Your Body Group

Two years ago, I started training in Japanese Ninpo Taijutsu at Wash Park Martial Arts under Sensei Jason Wigham and Sensei Marc Hanson. Two months ago, the dojo integrated into The Mind Your Body Group which is a movement specialists collective located on South Broadway in Denver, Colorado. The Group includes specialists in martial arts, Pilates, acupuncture, yoga, and more. The training I have received at Wash Park Martial Arts has been excellent. Not only have I gained strength and endurance, but I also feel like my movement is more fluid, my flexibility has improved and my mental focus is sharper. The Mind Your Body Group will be reopening classes on May 11 and is now offering free trials in its various specialties. If this shelter-in-place order has kept you on the couch, if you’re feeling stiff and need to move, then I recommend you sign up for a free introductory course today before they fill up!