Looking for a healthy alternative to “Coffee Mate” or other coffee creamer? Organic, unsweetened coconut milk is a fantastic alternative.
Why is a coconut latte a good choice for your morning coffee?
1. Coconut milk offers fat to slow the absorption of caffeine, giving you lasting energy without the jitters. It also keeps you satiated and gives your morning drink some substance. (more…)
and how we can regain control of our health through natural living
Recently I found a great article about how expensive healthcare is for the U.S. and the world. I wanted to share with you some highlights from the article about how many people in the world are not well. You can find the full article here: https://www.functionalmedicine.org/files/library/sp-problem-solution.pdf
From the Institute for Functional Medicine:
The U.S. Burden of Chronic Disease
The Global Burden of Chronic Disease
Our health and the health of the environment is suffering. We need to make some changes in our lifestyle to start getting healthier. And the good thing is that what is healthy for us, is often healthy for the planet. Eating fresh, organic foods from small, local farms is going to support both your health and the health of your community. One bite at a time we can improve our health.
What Healthy Decisions Can You Make Today?
Buy organic foods to reduce pesticide and GMO intake. Don’t think organic is better? Watch this TED talk from a former pro-GMO scientist about the toxic effects of genetically modified foods and pesticides.
Want to eat healthier, but just don’t have the time to cook? Order organic meals and have them delivered to your door, for about $8 a meal!
Replace your home and personal care products with non-toxic, beneficial products that will nourish your skin and naturally clean your home.
Sometimes homemade is just better: Learn how to make your own cleaning supplies, lotion, shampoo, and more at wellnessmama.com.
Choosing organic whole foods (especially meats) and reducing your use of toxic cleaning chemicals and household products can significantly reduce your exposure to toxins, thus giving your body a chance to heal and repair itself. Reduce your risk of chronic disease by getting back in touch with your body and your environment!
In traditional cultures, balancing health with a balanced lifestyle was a core belief. They live in harmony with the environment. The diseases of modern civilization were rare. Food and medicine were interwoven. All cultures used special or functional foods to prevent disease. Food could be used at different times and different situations and used as either food or medicine. Foods, cultivation, and cooking methods maximized community health and well-being. With methods passed down through generations, cooking processes were utilized that enhanced mineral and nutrient bioavailability. Today, the modern lifestyle lacks many of these traditional practices, and we have the high prevalence of chronic disease to show for it! (more…)
Not only are we exposed to external environmental toxins (air pollution, pesticides, heavy metals…), we are also exposed to our own internal toxins produced by the body. These toxins are often not neutralized and excreted from the body, but rather stored in the fat cells. When the body is under stress, it can release these toxins into the blood stream where they can wreak havoc on many other places in the body, causing inflammation and burdening the liver.
So how do you know if you are toxic? Do you suffer from headaches, excess weight, muscle/joint pain, food allergies, depression, insomnia, fatigue, asthma, body odor, or acne/eczema? If so, your body is trying to tell you that it is out of balance and these matters need to be addressed before they become serious health conditions.
Although it is not too cold in Southern California right now, we are in the middle of winter. Eating warming, nourishing foods during this time of year can help support your organ systems that are under stress from the cooler temperatures. What foods are good for the winter?
Meats: beef, pork, chicken, goat, shellfish, organ meats, nitrate-free preserved meats
Beans: all dried beans, especially adzuki and black beans
Fruits: lemons, oranges, kumquats, grapefruits, and other citrus, pomegranates, kiwi, and dried fruits
Vegetables: Brussels sprouts, cabbage (especially fermented), celery root, collard greens, endive, escarole, kale, kolrabi, leeks, onions, parsnips, radishes, rutabagas, sea vegetables, turnips, winter squash
Grains: barley, rice, millet, oats, dark varieties of quinoa
Herbs, Spices, Condiments: ginger, sea salt, miso, tamari, and pickled vegetables
One thing to keep in mind is quality: always strive for finding organic foods and grass-fed or free-range for animal foods. Notice that all of these foods are whole foods and if you buy organic, they will be free of toxins and promote healthy weight management.
Excess body weight, specifically adipose (fat) tissue, increases toxic storage and endotoxin production. Adipose tissue is not metabolically active, in that it does not use and produce energy. However, in excess, adipose tissue is considered an endocrine organ because large amounts produce inflammatory cytokines and can wreak havoc on the body.
Recently one of my clients asked me my thoughts on both the vegan diet (plant-only) and the GAPS diet, which is an omnivorous diet for restoring mental health, immune health, and digestive health. It was such a great question I thought I would elucidate my comments in this article. Here are my thoughts:
There is no diet that is right for all people, because everyone is different, with different histories, different lifestyles and exercise practices, and different environments (the holistic approach considers all of these factors). Different life stages and health conditions call for different nutrient needs as well, so changing the diet throughout life is also key to optimal health! (more…)
Did you know that you have about 3-4lbs of microorganisms in your colon that you cannot survive without? These symbiotic microorganisms are intimately linked with your wellness.
Your diet, medications, lifestyle, environment and shape the composition of the different microbial communities in your GI tract and body. The microflora in the intestine has even been collectively considered an organ because of their ability to support the immune system, regulate intestinal health, support healthy metabolism, and contribute to overall health and wellness.
Vitamin D: Is Your Deficiency an Obstacle in Your Health?
Vitamin D is actually a prohormone that is critically important for the development, growth, and maintenance of a healthy body. It activates hundreds of genes that promote health and reduce your risk of getting any chronic disease.
It is produced in the skin when exposed to UVB light. UVA radiation penetrates deeper into the skin and causes wrinkles and damages DNA. On average, getting 15 minutes of sunlight at least a couple of times a week, will keep your vitamin D levels in a normal range.
Phytoplankton, zooplankton, and algae have the capacity to produce vitamin D. However, most animal and plant foods we consume do not contain vitamin D. Sunlight is the natural way of getting our vitamin D.
Why Chewing Gum is Bad for Your Teeth
(and Overall Health)
Chewing gum is not a healthy habit! Gum products contain artificial ingredients and preservatives that not only contribute to poor dental health, but also contribute to numerous health conditions and diseases.
Artificial food additives are the culprit
Artificial sweeteners and sugar-free foods have been linked with tooth erosion. Two main artificial sweeteners are sucralose and aspartame. Sucralose is carcinogenic, toxic to the liver, causes birth defects, and damages the immune system. Aspartame is a potent neurotoxin releases methanol in the body. Methanol is dangerous because it breaks down into two toxic compounds, formic acid and formaldehyde. It is liked with digestive issues, migraines, depression, and even diabetes.
If you are sensitive to dairy or just want to avoid it, this recipe can satisfy that desire for creaminess! This cashew cream recipe is so delicious and versatile you won’t even miss the dairy. This recipe is quick, easy, and full of nutrients and flavor!
What I Learned at the 2012 Healing Cancer World Summit
I attended this year’s Healing Cancer World Summit and learned some really empowering information about cancer and how it is not an incurable disease. Here is a list of the key points I heard at this wonderful online event hosted by Kevin Gianni.
Want to learn how to heal your body of all degenerative disease? Lifestyle medicine is the answer!
Cancer is just bits of yourself, gone wrong. Changing your external environment will change your internal environment and make your body uninhabitable to cancer.
Nature heals. (more…)
Digest Your Food With Ease!
One of the fundamental aspects of a nourishing lifestyle is to maximize your body’s ability to digest and assimilate nutrients. Eating foods in combinations that promote optimal digestion empowers your body to use the nutrients to fuel biochemical reactions that promote health and wellness, rather than create inflammation, malabsorption, weakened intestinal wall, and an open door to infection and disease.
Wondering What to do with Your Pumpkin?
How about turning it into a nourishing meal! Pumpkins are packed full of nutrients that can help keep you healthy during these colder months.
Pumpkin is rich in phytochemicals like carotenoids, leutin, zeanthin, and antioxidant vitamins like vitamin A, C, and E. It also contains b vitamins and minerals like copper, calcium, and potassium, magnesium, zinc. Plus it’s a good source of fiber!
Are You Mineral Deficient?
Minerals are crucial elements of the biological processes that govern blood sugar metabolism in the body. Individuals with blood sugar imbalances and diabetes often exhibit mineral deficiencies and have a weakened ability to regulate glucose levels. Supplementing with high quality, bioavailable minerals improves the body’s ability to modulate glucose levels and can be extremely therapeutic for individuals with deficiencies.
To reduce inflammation and oxidative damage, key antioxidants and minerals are key to fighting these inflammatory and destructive reactions. Therefore, individuals with mineral deficiencies should supplement their diet in order to restore optimal vitamin and mineral levels, thus controlling oxidative damage and inflammation. Minerals are especially important for reducing the occurrence of comorbid conditions common in diabetic individuals such as pancreatic insufficiency, renal disease, neuropathy, and retinopathy.
Minerals are also required for proper insulin function. Insulin is the hormone that brings blood glucose into cells and therefore lowers blood glucose levels. Of primary importance to glucose metabolism, inflammation, free radical scavenging, and immune health are the minerals zinc, magnesium, chromium, manganese, vanandium, and copper.
In this 45 minute webinar, learn about the causes of insomnia and how you can get a better night’s sleep tonight! Focusing on blood sugar support, hormonal balance, neurotransmitter balance, digestive health, and body composition, this webinar is not just about Insomnia, but about how to adopt a nourishing lifestyle for optimal health!
Watch here:
Conquer Insomnia: 5 Ways to Better Health and Sleep
And let me know what you think!
This vegetable curry recipe is packed with flavor, color, and nutrients! Curry is a spice containing curcumin, one of the most potent anti-inflammatory phytochemicals! This dish is delicious on its own, or paired with a side of brown rice.
Making healthy vegetable sushi is not as intimidating as it sounds! It’s actually pretty easy, pretty quick, and much cheaper than eating out. This recipe contains nourishing sea veggies, supportive fats, low sugar, and whole grain brown rice for total body wellness.
I’d never made sushi before so I decided to keep it basic with a veggie roll and garlic sauce. I was very satisfied with my sushi-making experience and I encourage you to pick up some nori, sushi rice, and veggies at the store and give it a try!
I just got back from the 2012 Integrative Health Symposium held in NYC. This three day conference was an opportunity for medical doctors, naturopaths, nurses, nutritionists, and other health care professionals to share knowledge about functional medicine and work to educate people how to live healthier lives.
The 5 most notable messages of the conference were:
Sugar is one of the leading causes of metabolic syndrome. The average American eats sugar at every meal. Learn why even if your food is “low-fat,” it’s still making you fat! (more…)
Drinking pure water is a crucial factor of a healthy lifestyle. With your body being between 60-70% water, this substance plays a fundamental role in regulating all aspects of biological activity. Being dehydrated is the root cause of countless conditions that lead to tiredness and general malaise. Are you dehydrated? (more…)
What happens when you digest carbohydrates? How does that affect my blood sugar levels? And what is insulin? If you or someone you know is suffering with diabetes, understanding the condition and learning how to modulate insulin levels is key to reversing illness and restoring health. (more…)
Your genes do not have to dictate your health. You may not be able to completely get rid of genes, but you can modify their expression through diet and lifestyle. Decisions that you make every day influence your genetic makeup, up-regulating certain genes while down-regulating others. Do you want your genes working with you or against you? (more…)
A vegan diet has many health benefits, but it can also deteriorate health as well. Having a good understanding of the benefits as well as the dangers will help you make the healthiest dietary choices in accordance with your biochemical individuality. (more…)
When you eat sugar candy, do you notice how the sugar sticks to your teeth? This is the result of a process called glycation. Once sugars are dissolved in water, the molecules form chemical bonds with other molecules, namely proteins. These bonds are easily broken, but if they are exposed to hot temperatures and remain intact for long periods of time, these bonds become more and more difficult to break due to oxidation reactions. Advanced glycation end products (AGE’s) wreak havoc on your body. AGE’s make you age faster. (more…)
There is a big controversy about whether consuming milk is healthy. I think that the nutritional value of milk and the pasteurization and homogenization of milk represent two factors that contribute to the confusion because the science and governmental policies conflict. Pasteurization and homogenization completely alter the milk on a chemical level that renders the liquid undigestible, toxic, and dead. No wonder so many people have food allergies to dairy. What is the truth and why isn’t it well known? (more…)
Maintaining a healthy balance of gut microflora is the key to efficient digestion and overall health. Dysbiosis is a condition when your healthy gut flora have been compromised and overtaken by disease-causing microbes. Food allergies, the overconsumption of refined sugars and flours and processed foods, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, hypoacidity of the stomach, excessive consumption of alcohol, or the overconsumption of carbohydrates and fiber can lead to dysbiosis. (more…)
People generally focus on the characteristics of food-what makes them healthy and what makes them not. But what if your own body’s characteristics are just as important in determining the “healthiness” of a food? Dr. D’Adamo was one of the first believers in this concept. Find out why your blood type matters when it comes to what foods are healthy for you! (more…)
Consuming refined sugar and processed foods will damage your intestinal lining and prevent healthy absorption. This can cause a myriad of health problems throughout your body:
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