Knowledge is power. As an expert, this blog is my way of sharing tips and advice with clients, friends and followers. It lets people live their healthiest lives on their own terms.
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We all know we should be eating less sugar for optimal health. But for many of us with legit sugar additions (the struggle is real!), that’s easier said than done. Lowering your sugar intake doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice taste or feel deprived from your favorite foods. In this post, you’ll learn some savvy swaps and health hacks so you can start detoxing from sugar, recalibrating your taste buds and controlling your cravings.
Read MoreMCT oil is my go-to healthy fat for adding to smoothies, matcha lattes, and as the base of homemade salad dressings. MCT stands for medium-chain triglyceride. MCTs are a special class of fats that are derived from coconut oil and/or palm oil. These triglycerides have a unique chemical structure so your body metabolizes MCTs differently than short-chain and long-chain triglycerides.
Read MoreApple cider vinegar has a claim to fame as a health and longevity elixir. Its benefits are extensive: improves digestion, provides relief from heartburn, reduces blood sugar levels, increases energy, eliminates cravings and supports fat burning and weight loss. So it's no wonder people are getting on the ACV bandwagon! But, for many, once they try it, they struggle to incorporate it into their daily routine due to the intensity of the tartness! Over on Hello Glow, I go into detail about all the health benefits of consuming ACV regularly PLUS I give you eight recipes for hiding it in drinks, smoothies and salad dressings so you can get more into your life! Check it out by clicking the button below.
Read MoreMy amazing friend and fellow health activist, Clara Wisner of revolutionary lifestyle, is currently traveling around the world on an epic adventure. You might know Clara from the Living Rising podcast which I was on a few weeks ago chatting about Ayurveda. If you missed it, you can listen to it here. In addition to being a nutrition therapy practitioner, Clara is also a self-love guide. What does that mean? She specializes in helping women ditch toxic habits and release self-sabotaging beliefs that keep them stuck. As part of her travels, she's exploring self-love practices and spiritual theories all over the world and compiling the incredible knowledge she's garnering into a book about self-love. Soooo basically, she's a legend and I wanted to let y'all know about a super cool online course she's offering all about self-love....
Read MoreHey everyone! Just wanted to give you a heads up that I was on Love Rising podcast this week chatting with Clara from Revolutionary Lifestyle about all things Ayurveda! As you guys may already know, I am a Certified Ayurvedic Lifestyle Counselor and often integrate Ayurvedic wellness practices and diagnostic tools in my holistic nutrition practice. On the podcast, I explain what Ayurveda is (hint: it's India's 5000 year old medical system, translated as the "science of life") and talk about the primary doshas (vata, pitta and kapha) and how to juggle all three to maintain health and balance. A big part of this is having a solid daily routine which I go through in detail, i.e. sleep-wake cycles, meal timing, etc. And finally Clara and I catch up about our respective experiences at Vaidyagrama which is an Ayurvedic detox retreat center in India. I was there about four years ago and my time there was instrumental in my personal healing process. You can read more about my time at Vaidyagrama here and here. So, if Ayurveda is at all interesting to you, head on over to iTunes and have a listen to the new Love Rising podcast! You can click the photo above or here is the link! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or want to learn more!
Read MoreI want to get something clear right off the bat - there is nothing wrong with stress eating and you should not feel guilty or shameful for having a craving to munch when you're stressed. It's actually quite normal. Instead of judging yourself for your stress-induced cravings, I recommend investigating your trigger by stopping yourself en route to the pantry to ask the question: “what do I really need in this moment?” You may find that what your body truly needs is not food at all. Rather, it is some form of self-care, like a walk outside, a nap, a hot shower or a chat with your mom. These acts of self care all serve as ways to reduce stress that don’t involve putting something in your mouth. But if you decide that you don't need any of these things and consciously choose to satisfy your craving with food, click the button below for my tips to make satisfying your craving a calm and relaxed experience, along with the 10 best snacks to nosh on.
Read MoreLet’s talk about hormones. Those über-important chemical messengers affect many aspects of our health and we wouldn’t be able to live without them. When our hormones are regulated, we feel great–stable mood, lots of natural energy, healthy weight, good sex drive and beautiful skin and hair. But when they get out of balance, it can cause many unpleasant symptoms and lead to health issues down the road. Some common signs of hormone imbalance are fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, brain fog, anxiety, sugar cravings and low libido. Any of these sound familiar? If so, click the button below for my top 10 tips for balancing your hormones using food as medicine.
Read MoreLooking for a super healthy summer appetizer or light dinner? Look no further than rice paper rolls! They're colorful, tasty and a cinch to make as long as you don't mind chopping veggies into thin strips...To make things quicker/easier you could buy pre-chopped veggies such as julienned carrots, strips of bell pepper, etc. Feel free to get creative with what you put in your rolls! Rice paper rolls can be the perfect 'kitchen sink' meal, i.e. a way to use up all the veggies leftover in the fridge at the end of the week!
Read MoreIncessant cravings and feeling like their weight is out of control are common health concerns that prompt clients to come to my office. Hormone imbalance/dysfunction is often at the root of these issues. Working together, the first thing we do is identify which hormones are out of whack and then take action to reset them. This post is all about the 7 key hormones that play a big role in regulating appetite and managing weight. I include a description of each hormone, clues that something may be amiss as well as simple steps to balance each one. I’ve also specified which lab tests can be useful to determine hormone imbalance or dysfunction. Lucky for us, even though there are a lot of hormones that impact weight, diet and lifestyle are super powerful ways to support your body’s hormonal communication system and get these hormones in balance! Check out the full post by clicking the button below.
Read MoreWe've all heard it....abs are made in the kitchen. And I tend to agree! I always say that you can't out-exercise a bad diet. No matter how active you are or how tough your workout is, if you're eating junk, you won't get the results (lose fat / gain muscle) you're looking for. Or at least not as quickly as if your pre- and post-workout nutrition was on point. Whether you're a morning, lunchtime or evening exerciser, I've got your healthy snack and meal needs covered in this post! I even discuss 'fasted exercise' (aka working out on an empty stomach) which is gaining popularity in IF (intermittent fasting) crowds. It's over on Hello Glow -- click the button below!
Read MoreThings like ashwagandha, reishi, maca and are making their way into lattes and smoothies at the trendy health-food cafes. You may have heard of a few of these before but not totally sure what the deal is. Well, they are adaptogens -- plant medicines that protect our bodies from the harmful effects of stress while supporting overall health. Sounds pretty good, right? There are lots of different adaptogens, each with its own set of special skills. I wrote a comprehensive guide to the most popular adaptogens over on Hello Glow. You may find a few that really speak to you in which case you should give them a try! There is almost no downside and lots of upside to being better equip to handle all the stresses life throws your way!
Read MoreLet's get clear on one thing - you cannot 'out-supplement' a bad diet. Supplements are designed to be used as part of a nutrient-dense real food eating plan. In my practice, I have a 'food first' approach in which we get the person's the food on point first and then we fill in nutritional gaps using targeted supplementation. I've written a whole post on the five foundational supplements that just about everyone should be taking. You can check that out here. One of those must-have supplements is a probiotic.
Read MoreMushrooms are a delicious food to incorporate into your healthy diet. While button, cremini, portobello and oyster mushrooms are all great, there are a group of medicinal mushrooms that go above and beyond in terms of health benefits. These mushroom superfoods do amazing things for your brain, hormones, energy, mood and immune system so it's no wonder they're starting to pop up in coffee, tea, smoothies, elixirs, chocolate, etc. To learn more about these six special fungi, click the button below to be taken to my blog post at Hello Glow.
Read MoreAncient Ayurvedic wisdom teaches us that living in accordance with the natural rhythms of nature will lead to flow and ease. Living out of sync with these rhythms can cause disruptions in our bodies, such as indigestion, bowel irregularities, hormonal fluctuations and difficulty sleeping. The 24-hour day is broken down into six 4-hour cycles, each with its own optimal activities. The cycle I'm honing in on in today's post is our natural sleep-wake cycle, which is ideally 10pm - 6am. I've explained this in more detail in the post, along with discussing five of the most common sleep issues either I've experienced personally or hear from my clients. I've given you the action steps for how to fix these issues, plus a handful of deep sleep tips, to help you start getting more restorative sleep tonight!
Read MoreI am a big fan of collagen protein and incorporate it daily, like in my smoothie bowls, matcha lattes, soups, etc. It's awesome. I also recommend it to many of my clients to promote healthy hair, skin, nails and joints as well as to help heal the gut!
If you want to learn more about all the health benefits of collagen powder plus how to use it, check out my post on Hello Glow.
Read MoreReady to make your 'cuppa' work for you? I've put together a list of my favorite medicinal teas that, in addition to tasting comforting and delicious, pack a punch on the nutritional front! Everything from burning fat with matcha to fighting inflammation with golden milk to detoxing your liver with dandelion, I've tried to cover the gamut when it comes to tea for every ailment. Cheers to the power of tea!
Read MoreHi there!
I wanted to share a recent eBook I wrote for BINTO on probiotic supplements for women's general and reproductive health. If you're a guy reading this, please pass this on to the ladies in your life! If you're a woman, this eBook is a worth a read....if I do say so myself :)
Read MoreOff the back of an indulgent holiday season, many of us feel the the urge to purge in January to get our asses back in gear after being pretty slack for a few weeks (or months)! My gentle 3-day cleanse is the perfect antidote to all that cheese, pie, and champagne from all those holiday parties. I say 'gentle' because there is nothing extreme or restrictive about this cleanse plan. You're eating real food the entire time so no need to worry about feeling deprived or starving. Since it's winter for us here in the Northern Hemisphere, I've designed all of the recipes to be warm and comforting. You'll be having winter-inspired smoothies or porridge for breakfast, Ayurvedic kitchari for lunch and cozy veggie-based soups for dinner. In addition to the yummy recipes, I also put together a list of stress-relieving practices so you can feel lighter, happier and more refreshed after you've finished! All the info for the 3-day cleanse is over at Hello Glow. Click the button below to be taken there.
Read MoreIn time for Thanksgiving next week, I've curated a collection of gluten- and dairy-free recipes from the blogosphere to give you some healthy cooking inspo! Whether you're in charge of the family T-giving meal or needing to bring a dish to a Friendsgiving potluck party, hopefully you can find a recipe here that will fit the bill. I bet no one even notices how healthy they are!
Read MoreIt’s likely that you’ve heard about the detrimental effects of the stress hormone cortisol. Elevated cortisol levels and chronic stress can affect every physiological system in your body. It can make you tired, anxious and irritable; lead to weight gain, bone loss, high blood pressure, insomnia and digestive issues; and contribute to diabetes and heart disease risk.
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