Adapted from The Microbiome Connection by Dr. Mark Pimentel and Dr. Ali Rezaie. Published by GoodLfe, 2022. An estimated 70 million people in the United States are affected by SIBO, IBS, or one of the more than a dozen other diseases linked to digestive health, and 74% of Americans say they live with symptoms of digestive discomfort (Pimentel 04). To me, this is unacceptable because I know that digestive dysfunction can (more often than not) be addressed and resolved without the use of powerful antibiotics, acid-reducing medications, and Metamucil, and instead with changes in diet, lifes ..read more

Cleanse. Purify. Reset. Detox. These terms are often used in conjunction with New Year's resolutions, right? If you are on social media, you've certainly seen many different detoxification methods touted - ranging from home-made concoctions to extremely expensive, complicated programs. I'd like to explain why supporting your detoxification pathways is helpful, especially now in the new year, and how to do it safely and affordably. I completed this protocol after my shoulder surgery in January because I wanted to support the removal of the anesthesia, pain killers, and ensure my liver and kidne ..read more

It's hard to escape sugar, right? It seems like everyone is warning of the dangers of eating too much sugar, myself included. Biologically speaking, our bodies need glucose. Every cell in our body needs energy (glucose) to function, but we are eating more sugar than is necessary. Americans are averaging 150 pounds of sugar per person per year which creates diseases and health issues such as insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, PCOS, and Type II diabetes. Most of us have felt unwell when our blood sugar has spiked too high (hyperglycemia) or plummeted too low (hypoglycemia), as a result of a ..read more

A third of us in the US now show signs of clinical anxiety. Saying 2020 has been rough is an understatement. Anxiety isn't just about feeling worried or panicked. It can also manifest in physical symptoms like nausea, vomiting, feeling shaky and diarrhea. For people with periods, it can be especially worse the week before their period. Anxiety has a root cause that should be investigated, but it doesn't mean you should be left to suffer with debilitating symptoms. Here are some quick strategies to help you wrangle those anxiety symptoms before they bubble up. Starting with what's in your garde ..read more

Digestion IS the top healing priority of the body. When the gastrointestinal system can’t property digest and absorb nutrients, it affects the vitality of the entire body. Digestion is the gateway to all aspects of our health. The gastrointestinal tract is connected to every major system in the human body. Health begins with proper digestion and that’s why I consider it the highest and most important healing priority for everyone. Why is that so many people today have digestive issues? Is it our food supply? Yes. People are fueling themselves with processed and fast food, we are exposed to ch ..read more

I wanted to cry. Life as I knew it was over. I’d just completed a blood test for food sensitivities. I had been suffering from acne rosacea since my late 30’s that had only gotten progressively worse over the years. My nutritional therapy training directed me to a blood test. I had pursued the standard dermatology route which had only resulted in taking low dose antibiotics, and a waste of time and money on creams, gels, washes, etc. My "gut" told me that there had to be something more to this skin problem than just being a woman, or middle aged. I just couldn't comprehend or swallow taking a ..read more

Photo cred: Williams and Sonoma Holidays = food and celebration. We love gathering with friends and family, eating, drinking, and being merry during these long dark winter months. There’s nothing wrong with this, in and of itself. Humans have celebrated with food since time immemorial - in every culture and in every corner of the world. For many Americans, however, we celebrate twice in two months and we have long-standing traditions around our menus and treats. Our holidays last five weeks - from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day. That's one tenth of a year. Where do things go sideways for many ..read more

Whether it’s anxiety, depression, the opioid epidemic, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or cognitive disorders such as ADHD, autism, these are all diseases of inflammation of the brain. Sadly, they’re increasing at an alarming rate in the U.S. today. Current statistics indicate that one in ten children have ADD, and around forty to fifty million adults have Alzheimer’s or pre-Alzheimer’s. Depression affects more than 60 million people throughout their lifetime. As a society, we have to grapple with this problem of brain health in a more focused way because it is the t ..read more

If you carry around a smartphone, you already know how technology makes life easier – from calendars and calculators to email and Google. And you might have a hunch that using a meal planning software, rather than pen and paper, can radically transform how you spend your time. With the right piece of tech, you can also meal plan your way through Whole30, meet your health goals, or have groceries delivered to your door within hours. What is Real Plans? Real Plans does more than plan your meals. It gets to know your family’s likes and dislikes. Remembers your favorite recipes. Tracks your macros ..read more

Millions of people suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) which generally include miserable, often disabling symptoms like bloating, cramps, diarrhea, constipation, and pain. IBS can be caused by a host of drivers, including food allergies and sensitivities, overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine (SIBO), a lack of digestive enzymes, parasites living in the gut, zinc or magnesium deficiency, and heavy metal toxicity. That’s why it is so critically important to personalize treatment based on the unique circumstances that exist for each person who suffers from IBS. The conventional me ..read more