For those who celebrate, the holidays are in full swing, bringing with them a lot of events and socializing. For anyone on a health journey, this can feel overwhelming. In this edition, let’s talk about enjoying holiday parties while giving yourself permission to eat what makes you happy. Many people approach the holiday season with the mindset that they’ll start focusing on their health in January. This is fine as long as it doesn’t cause additional stress or compromise your well-being. What...
7 months ago • 1 min read
The holiday season brings a series of food-focused celebrations—from Halloween’s candy to Thanksgiving’s feasts, followed by the cookies of Christmas, and ending with the drinks of New Year’s eve and day. It can be challenging to stay on track with health goals during this time, so let’s walk through strategies to enjoy holiday treats while still feeling great. First, a quick reminder: in our framework, food isn’t off-limits unless we’re allergic to it, don’t enjoy it, or it doesn’t fit our...
8 months ago • 1 min read
While researching for this month’s newsletter, I became keenly aware of my own personal bias regarding our food system. In writing it, I made a conscious effort to set my bias aside and present a factual summary of the events rather than offering my own interpretation. I highly encourage you to watch the video clips yourself and form your own conclusions. My hope is that, by sparking your interest, you will leave this event feeling empowered by the information, no matter what your takeaway...
9 months ago • 3 min read
Functional beverages have become incredibly popular in the health and wellness community, offering more than just hydration. These drinks are designed to provide specific health benefits, such as improved gut health, enhanced mental focus, and increased energy. A growing trend within this category is fiber-enriched beverages, which support digestive health and promote a feeling of fullness. Brands like Olipop and Poppi are leading this movement. Fiber plays a crucial role in maintaining a...
10 months ago • 2 min read
I don’t know about you, but for the last 17 days, I have been glued to my TV watching the Olympics. It's one of my favorite events, not just because I love sports, but mostly because of how they make me feel: hopeful. I love watching the athletes interact with each other. The support they give each other is a testament to what we can be as people. There were so many examples of community during the games this year that it's hard to single any out. However, two moments stood out to me,...
11 months ago • 2 min read
Alright everybody, it’s summer. It’s over 100° here in Phoenix daily, and it is just too hot to be covering ourselves up. Most of us are finding ways to relieve the heat, like going to the lake, jumping in the pool, or cooling down with some chilled desserts. My question to you is, have you thought about how you’re taking care of your skin during the heat? Since our skin is really exposed in the summer and we’re wearing looser clothing, we often don’t think about other ways to ensure our skin...
12 months ago • 2 min read
So the new Buzz Word that I see popping up in the wellness world is cortisol. So before I get into my take on this, let’s talk about what is cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, which are located on top of your kidneys. It is often called the "stress hormone" because it helps your body respond to stress. When you encounter a stressful situation, cortisol levels increase, giving you a quick burst of energy and focus. This is part of the body's "fight-or-flight"...
about 1 year ago • 3 min read
I have always been a fan of a good documentary, specifically regarding health. With the recent publication of Netflix’s documentary, 'Hack your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut,' I was more than excited to see what they had to say. First, I had to create space and time so that I could fully immerse myself in the documentary. One thing I wanted to do for myself is not do any background research prior to watching it so I didn’t come in with a biased opinion. By the end I was left with a pleasant...
about 1 year ago • 2 min read
Oh my goodness there has been so much in the last month that’s been happening in the world of wellness. I couldn’t even imagine where to start so I’m gonna break it down to three topics for this newsletter. Recently a study was published citing findings saying that there was one significant root cause to the majority of health issues we are seeing today - no shock it was ultra processed food. So let’s first differentiate between the terms processed and ultra processed. Anything from picking...
about 1 year ago • 3 min read