Tag Archives: autoimmune

  1. Between Meals Podcast. Episode 26: Take Back Your Power. You are More than Your Body! with Steph Gaudreau

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    No. 26 | Take Back Your Power. You are More than Your Body! with Steph Gaudreau

    Beth and Steph chat through their experiences surrounding body image and ditching the idea that our worth lies in our external appearance. We talk through what we see to be the differences in body positivity and body neutrality and share personal stories and turning points in our journey that helped shift our perspectives.

    In this Episode We Discuss:

    • the importance of the non-measurable aspects of health changes
    • letting go of the societal rules surrounding food, willpower and our choices
    • embracing making choices from a different perspective
    • the mental and emotional freedom that comes from taking up space, showing up big and focusing on strength vs. shrinking, being small and making choices to “fix” our body
    • negativity as a motivator and why it doesn’t work
    • body neutrality is NOT giving up
    • can you make changes when you aren’t moving from a negative mindset?
    • how acceptance can offer clarity and solution
    • it’s OK to not love all of your body!!
    • it is NOT your job or responsibility to make anyone else comfortable when they look at your body!!!
    • on wearing the damn shorts, understanding cellulite and SO MUCH MORE!!!

     

    A Bit About Steph:

    To share a bit about Steph, She’s a Nutritional Therapy Consultant, author, blogger, coach, podcaster, and the creator of the former Stupid Easy Paleo.

    Steph Gaudreau’s mission is to help women create bigger, bolder, fiercer lives — by building health from the inside out.

    Steph wrote the best-seller The Paleo Athlete: A Beginner’s Guide to Real Food for Performance in 2014, and her award-winning book, The Performance Paleo Cookbook: Recipes for Eating Better, Getting Stronger & Gaining the Competitive Edge. Her upcoming book The Core 4, due out in July 2019, shares her Core 4 pillars of health.

    Steph has a chart-topping 2x weekly podcast, Harder to Kill Radio, where she talks all things fitness, nutrition and mindset about how to build unbreakable humans. She’s also the creator of the wildly popular health program, the Core 4 Program, and the Women’s Strength Summit.

    Steph’s an accomplished strength coach and is the creator of fitness programs like Made Strong, Basic Barbell, and Oly Lifting Basics.

    I am so inspired by Steph, her message, her mission and how she shows up in the world and I am so excited to share her here with all of you, because I know you will be inspired too.

    >>> You can find Steph Gaudreau at stephgaudreau.com or follow her on Instagram @steph_gaudrea

     

    Mentioned in this Episode: 

    Wear the Shorts – Harder to Kill podcast episode

    Cellulite Confidence – Harder to Kill podcast episode

    The Core 4 – Preorder the book and grab the pre-order bonuses

     

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    Q & A – SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS – send in your Qs and Beth will do her best to answer on upcoming episodes

     

    ************************************************
    As always, if you enjoyed this episode, pretty please take the time to rate the show with 5 stars and leave a review, this helps immensely with ranking the show and allowing it to show up in searches, and all the fun algorithms of the iTunes. Plus, I LOVE when you share on your social media accounts, your stories etc, photos or videos of you enjoying the show, all the fun places you are listening, your favorite quotes or takeaways and please be sure to tag me because I love sharing those and I love hearing how much you are loving the show!!

     

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    (Listen on iTunes)

     

    You can now subscribe to the Between Meals Podcast on Apple iTunesGoogle Play, Spotify and Stitcher

    THANK YOU FOR LISTENING:

    Since we are still pretty new on iTunes, please do us a solid and SUBSCRIBE and of course, we would be honored if you took the time to rate and review the show, this will help more people find us and help the show to grow!  If you liked this episode or others, please share on social media and tag us, share with friends and family, etc – this means the world! 

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  2. Between Meals Podcast. Episode 25: Is Your Healthy Living Causing Stress?

     

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    No. 25 | Is Your Healthy Living Causing Stress?

    *It might be time to check your ego and reassess*

    Stress management can be complicated and confusing and in my experiences, it’s often an overlooked root cause. Stress management gets pushed aside for the more flashy fixes: diet, exercise, supplements etc. But what we may not realize is that the very things we can often see as stress relievers, the things we feel are part of our healthy lifestyle, may at different times, in fact actually be contributing to the problem.

    It’s important to always stay curious and flexible in your approaches to healthy living, to realize there is no-one-size-fits-all answer, even within your own approaches and that you need to be ready to reassess and readjust at different times.

    Sometimes there’s a little uncomfortable ego work and shifting that has to happen!

     

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    DON’T FORGET:

     

    ************************************************

    Q & A – SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS – send in your Qs and Beth will do her best to answer on upcoming episodes

     

    ************************************************
    As always, if you enjoyed this episode, pretty please take the time to rate the show with 5 stars and leave a review, this helps immensely with ranking the show and allowing it to show up in searches, and all the fun algorithms of the iTunes. Plus, I LOVE when you share on your social media accounts, your stories etc, photos or videos of you enjoying the show, all the fun places you are listening, your favorite quotes or takeaways and please be sure to tag me because I love sharing those and I love hearing how much you are loving the show!!

     

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

     

     

    (Listen on iTunes)

     

    You can now subscribe to the Between Meals Podcast on Apple iTunesGoogle Play, Spotify and Stitcher

    THANK YOU FOR LISTENING:

    Since we are still pretty new on iTunes, please do us a solid and SUBSCRIBE and of course, we would be honored if you took the time to rate and review the show, this will help more people find us and help the show to grow!  If you liked this episode or others, please share on social media and tag us, share with friends and family, etc – this means the world! 

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  3. Between Meals Podcast. Episode 24: Healing with Food and Eating What You Love with Danielle Walker

     

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    No. 24 | Healing with Food and Eating What You Love with Danielle Walker

    In episode 24 of the Between Meals Podcast Beth is joined by Danielle Walker of popular website AgainstAllGrain.com Danielle is also the beloved author of three New York Timesbest-selling cookbooks Against All Grain, Meals Made Simple and Celebrations, as well as the recently released Eat What You Love. She is a self-trained cook whose innovative and accessible grain-free recipes appeal to a range of appetites. Her recipes are not only healthy and delicious but also can be credited with saving her life after she received a diagnosis of a serious autoimmune disease.

    After being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and suffering for many years, Danielle healed herself through dietary changes. With her honest and open nature, Danielle has become a prominent voice in the grain-free and real foods community and she is a true testament to how food can nourish and heal our bodies.

    Danielle shares her story of healing with food while also discovering ways to still enjoy the foods that she loves.

    In this episode:

    • Danielle shares how she first discovered the paleo diet and where her mindset was and what she had tried prior to this, when she decided to implement this approach.
    • Danielle shares her tips for getting started on a healing protocol or dietary intervention when you have autoimmune disease and she shares the tough-love advice she wish someone would have shared with her, early on.
    • Why “cheat days” with healing interventions may not work
    • We talk about shifting your perspective and what to do when you feel like “I can’t have THIS food anymore” or “It’s not fair I have to eat this way”. Getting out of the poor me trap.
    • Finding new ways to enjoy the classic foods you grew up with, to still celebrate and not feel left out or deprived.
    • Our thoughts on emotional eating and how it sometimes gets a bad rep.
    • Tips for finding a sustainable, long-term lifestyle vs. forever feeling restricted or locked into a diet.

    You can find Danielle Walker at againstallgrain.com

    or follow her on Instagram @DanielleWalker

     

    Check out Danielle’s Best Selling Books:

    Against All Grain

    Meals Made Simple

    Celebrations

    and her brand new book: Eat What You Love

     

     

     

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    DON’T FORGET:

     

    ************************************************

    Q & A – SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS – send in your Qs and Beth will do her best to answer on upcoming episodes

     

    ************************************************
    As always, if you enjoyed this episode, pretty please take the time to rate the show with 5 stars and leave a review, this helps immensely with ranking the show and allowing it to show up in searches, and all the fun algorithms of the iTunes. Plus, I LOVE when you share on your social media accounts, your stories etc, photos or videos of you enjoying the show, all the fun places you are listening, your favorite quotes or takeaways and please be sure to tag me because I love sharing those and I love hearing how much you are loving the show!!

     

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

     

     

    (Listen on iTunes)

     

    You can now subscribe to the Between Meals Podcast on Apple iTunesGoogle Play, Spotify and Stitcher

    THANK YOU FOR LISTENING:

    Since we are still pretty new on iTunes, please do us a solid and SUBSCRIBE and of course, we would be honored if you took the time to rate and review the show, this will help more people find us and help the show to grow!  If you liked this episode or others, please share on social media and tag us, share with friends and family, etc – this means the world! 

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  4. Between Meals Podcast. Episode 23: Blip Days. Bouncing Back When You “Fall Off Track”.

     

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    No. 23 | Blip Days. Bouncing Back When You Fall “Off Track”.

     

    In today’s shorter format BITES episode we are chatting all about getting up when you fall down, what to do when you have an “off day” and you feel yourself slipping into a downward spiral.

    I am sharing some of my favorite tips and tools for how to handle the “misses” and how we can reframe our old narratives and the dangerously ineffective dialogue around this idea that we are either “on-track” or “off-track”.

     

    1) CONSISTENCY DOES NOT REQUIRE PERFECTION

    2) Misses are just that – MISSES.

    3) How not to attach significance or judgment to a choice, a day, a meal or a miss.

    4) CHOOSE YOU!

     

    I also share some incredible research to support my deep belief that mindset matters, with two studies that prove our body hears what our mind says and that we are always the one driver’s seat when it comes to our choices and how we respond, react and “bounce back”.

     

    And finally, I offer two simple questions you can ask yourself, right after a miss or an off choice or in the moment when you are faced with a choice that has previously been known to send you “off the rails”.

     

    I really hope you enjoy this shorter format episode.

     

    Referenced in this episode:

    Episode 09 of the Between Meals Podcast with James Clear – How to Make Tiny Changes

    James Clear’s book Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

    Study: Learning one’s genetic risk changes physiology independent of actual genetic risk

    Study: Mind-set matters: exercise and the placebo effect

     

     

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    DON’T FORGET:

     

    ************************************************

    Q & A – SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS – send in your Qs and Beth will do her best to answer on upcoming episodes

     

    ************************************************
    As always, if you enjoyed this episode, pretty please take the time to rate the show with 5 stars and leave a review, this helps immensely with ranking the show and allowing it to show up in searches, and all the fun algorithms of the iTunes. Plus, I LOVE when you share on your social media accounts, your stories etc, photos or videos of you enjoying the show, all the fun places you are listening, your favorite quotes or takeaways and please be sure to tag me because I love sharing those and I love hearing how much you are loving the show!!

     

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

     

     

    (Listen on iTunes)

     

    You can now subscribe to the Between Meals Podcast on Apple iTunesGoogle Play, Spotify and Stitcher

    THANK YOU FOR LISTENING:

    Since we are still pretty new on iTunes, please do us a solid and SUBSCRIBE and of course, we would be honored if you took the time to rate and review the show, this will help more people find us and help the show to grow!  If you liked this episode or others, please share on social media and tag us, share with friends and family, etc – this means the world! 

    Read the rest of this entry »

  5. Between Meals Podcast. Episode 22: Are Carbs the Devil? Carb Cycling & Carb Ups.

     

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    Are Carbs the Devil? Carb Cycling & Carb Ups.

    In this final episode in the 5-part Keto Conversation series we are chatting ALL about carbs!! Are carbs the devil? Should we fear carbs? Can we never eat them again?

    Au contraire – I actually want to share that you CAN actually eat carbs and they may work synergistically with your low glycemic approach to support some important functionality within the body, to reset and rebalance, as needed.

    After you’ve given your body the time and space and taught it how to become fat adapted, it’s in that nuanced lifestyle and your personalized approach that you create where the real magic happens, in my opinion.

    Topics Covered and Questions Answered in Episode 22:

    • disclaimers on who should take care when carb cycling
    • possible symptoms that may indicate a need for carb cycling or carb ups
    • why imbalance can happen with a ketogenic approach
    • first and most major question you need to ask yourself – are you eating enough?
    • what is leptin?
    • how does leptin signaling get messed up?
    • why does leptin depletion happen?
    • can we reset leptin synthesis?
    • why carbs might be the answer. 
    • the benefits of carb cycling.
    • how-to carb cycle
    • is carb cycling with intense workouts necessary?
    • AND SO MUCH MORE!!!

     

    Smoky Shoestring Sweet Potato Fries

    Some of my favorite recipes for carb cycling / carb ups:

    Shoestring Smoky Sweet Potato Fries

    Garam Masala Roasted Acorn Squash Wedges

    Curried Butternut Squash Soup with Maple Turmeric Roasted Pepitas

    Whipped Sweet Potatoes

    Smoky Sweet Potato and Apple Soup

    Baked Plantain Fries with Garlic Avocado Dipping Sauce

    Plantain Tortillas

    Wilted Kale Salad with Warm Mustard Shallot Vinaigrette and Spicy Butternut Squash Croutons

    Apple Bites with Pumpkin Spice Coconut Butter

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

     

     

    Listen to the Other Episodes in the Keto Conversations:

    Episode 18 – Why I am Not Keto

    Episode 19 – Fatty Fatty Fat Fat – Everything You Need to Know About Fat 

    Episode 20 – Keto vs. Fat Adapted vs. Low Carb

    Episode 21 – Should I Eat More Fat? Am I Eating Enough Protein?

     

    DON’T FORGET:

     

    Want to Learn More:

     

    Don’t Fear the Fats

    Nutrition Tips for More Energy. Avoid the Afternoon Crash

    ************************************************

    Q & A – SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS – send in your Qs and Beth will do her best to answer on upcoming episodes

     

    ************************************************
    As always, if you enjoyed this episode, pretty please take the time to rate the show with 5 stars and leave a review, this helps immensely with ranking the show and allowing it to show up in searches, and all the fun algorithms of the iTunes. Plus, I LOVE when you share on your social media accounts, your stories etc, photos or videos of you enjoying the show, all the fun places you are listening, your favorite quotes or takeaways and please be sure to tag me because I love sharing those and I love hearing how much you are loving the show!!

     

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

     

     

    (Listen on iTunes)

     

    You can now subscribe to the Between Meals Podcast on Apple iTunesGoogle Play, Spotify and Stitcher

    THANK YOU FOR LISTENING:

    Since we are still pretty new on iTunes, please do us a solid and SUBSCRIBE and of course, we would be honored if you took the time to rate and review the show, this will help more people find us and help the show to grow!  If you liked this episode or others, please share on social media and tag us, share with friends and family, etc – this means the world! 

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  6. Between Meals Podcast. Episode 21: Should I Eat More Fat? Am I Eating Enough Protein?

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    Should I Eat More Fat? Am I Eating Enough Protein?

    Let’s do some troubleshooting!!! This latest episode of the Between Meals Podcast we are answering some of the questions I hear most often with my clients – especially when they find they aren’t getting the results they are after with their nutrition. With our culture being so extreme, often misconception is, if too many carbs isn’t great and lowering my carb intake is better – I should probably have no carbs ever OR fat is good for me, more fat is helpful for getting into deeper ketosis, so if I am not getting the results I want I should just eat even more fat!! DONE. It doesn’t exactly work like that. These are both  over simplifications that really won’t help people who stall in reaching the goals that first set for themselves and honestly, may even cause more problems down the line.

    Yes, we have talked about fat alone doesn’t make you fat. The fear of fat is total bullshit and all of the amazing thing that fat can do for us, but we also cannot deny the fact that it is still TOTALLY possible to over-consume it. Additionally, the extreme removal and fear of carbs, can lead to an avoidance of important nutrient-dense, fiber rich vegetables that I think should be include in your diet.

    As well, there seems to be some confusion and misconception surrounding protein. There is an unsubstantiated fear surrounding gluconeogenesis that often manifests as an underconsumption of protein, which can have deleterious affects of it’s own.

    Topics Covered and Questions Answered in Episode 21:

    • Can you have TOO much fat?
    • If fat helps to create ketone bodies and ketones are good, can’t we just eat more fat to get higher ketones and get into a deeper state of ketosis?
    • If you over eat protein does it get turned into glucose?
    • The benefits of protein
    • How to calculate the right amount of protein
    • Do you need to weigh your meat?
    • What are macronutrients and what are micronutrients?
    • How does energy production actually work? Is it calories only or is there more too it?
    • Which macros does the body prefer in ATP production?
    • How protein can be self regulating and why overconsumption isn’t a concern
    • Other areas to investigate if you hit a wall, are stalling or not hitting the heath goals you had for yourself
    • Are you overreacting or experiencing cravings because you are under-eating fat or protein, having too many carbs or are they related to something else altogether?

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

     

     

    Listen to the Other Episodes in the Keto Conversations:

    Episode 18 – Why I am Not Keto

    Episode 19 – Fatty Fatty Fat Fat – Everything You Need to Know About Fat 

    Episode 20 – Keto vs. Fat Adapted vs. Low Carb

     

    DON’T FORGET:

     

    Want to Learn More:

     

    Don’t Fear the Fats

     

    Nutrition Tips for More Energy. Avoid the Afternoon Crash

    ************************************************

    Q & A – SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS – send in your Qs and Beth will do her best to answer on upcoming episodes

     

    ************************************************
    As always, if you enjoyed this episode, pretty please take the time to rate the show with 5 stars and leave a review, this helps immensely with ranking the show and allowing it to show up in searches, and all the fun algorithms of the iTunes. Plus, I LOVE when you share on your social media accounts, your stories etc, photos or videos of you enjoying the show, all the fun places you are listening, your favorite quotes or takeaways and please be sure to tag me because I love sharing those and I love hearing how much you are loving the show!!

     

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

     

     

    (Listen on iTunes)

     

    You can now subscribe to the Between Meals Podcast on Apple iTunesGoogle Play, Spotify and Stitcher

    THANK YOU FOR LISTENING:

    Since we are still pretty new on iTunes, please do us a solid and SUBSCRIBE and of course, we would be honored if you took the time to rate and review the show, this will help more people find us and help the show to grow!  If you liked this episode or others, please share on social media and tag us, share with friends and family, etc – this means the world! 

    Read the rest of this entry »

  7. Between Meals Podcast. Episode 20: Keto vs. Fat Adapted vs. Low Carb

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    Keto vs. Fat Adapted vs. Low Carb

    This latest episode of the Between Meals Podcast we are simplifying some of the most common questions I hear. We are breaking down the differences between ketosis or just being fat adapted. It can seem confusing, but it really isn’t that complicated and I want to help simplify it for you, so you can find the approach that is right for you and your goals.

    Topics Covered and Questions Answered in Episode 20:

    • The differences between being keto and fat adapted?
    • Can you be fat adapted and not be in ketosis? How about vice versa?
    • How long does it take to become fat adapted?
    • How can you tell that you are fat adapted?
    • Why does our body produce ketones?
    • What does it mean to be keto-adapted?
    • What are the benefits of ketones?
    • What if you can’t maintain high levels of ketones after eating keto for a while?
    • What is “Metabolic Flexibility”?
    • What is low-carb? Can you just eat low-carb? Is it bad to eat low carb but not be keto?
    • Feeling bad on keto? Did you give it enough time?

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

     

     

    Listen to the Other Episodes in the Keto Conversations:

    Episode 18 – Why I am Not Keto

    Episode 19 – Fatty Fatty Fat Fat – Everything You Need to Know About Fat 

     

    DON’T FORGET:

     

    Want to Learn More:

    4 Reasons to Avoid Vegetable and Seed Oils

    Don’t Fear the Fats

    Omega-3 Fatty Acids – Understanding these Essential Fats

    Nutrition Tips for More Energy. Avoid the Afternoon Crash

     

    ************************************************

    Q & A – SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS – send in your Qs and Beth will do her best to answer on upcoming episodes

     

    ************************************************
    As always, if you enjoyed this episode, pretty please take the time to rate the show with 5 stars and leave a review, this helps immensely with ranking the show and allowing it to show up in searches, and all the fun algorithms of the iTunes. Plus, I LOVE when you share on your social media accounts, your stories etc, photos or videos of you enjoying the show, all the fun places you are listening, your favorite quotes or takeaways and please be sure to tag me because I love sharing those and I love hearing how much you are loving the show!!

     

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

     

     

    (Listen on iTunes)

     

    You can now subscribe to the Between Meals Podcast on Apple iTunesGoogle Play, Spotify and Stitcher

    THANK YOU FOR LISTENING:

    Since we are still pretty new on iTunes, please do us a solid and SUBSCRIBE and of course, we would be honored if you took the time to rate and review the show, this will help more people find us and help the show to grow!  If you liked this episode or others, please share on social media and tag us, share with friends and family, etc – this means the world! 

    Read the rest of this entry »

  8. Between Meals Podcast. Episode 19: Fatty Fatty Fat Fat

     

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    FATTY FATTY FAT FAT – Everything You Need to Know About Fat.

    Ooooh this latest episode of the Between Meals Podcast is on quite easily one of my favorite topics!! FAT!! Today as part of the five-part series I am calling Keto Conversations – we are chatting all about fat. From why we need it, how to tell if you aren’t burning fat and more. Whether or not you are keto, keto-adapted, low carb, fat-fueled or not – I urge you to listen to this episode. Fat is an essential part of a healthy diet and it’s often overlooked as a crucial missing piece when our health is struggling.

    Topics covered in episode 19:

    • The differences between a Fat Burner and a Sugar Burner
    • You Might be a Sugar Burner if….
    • Why We Need Fat
    • Are You Not Getting Enough Fat
    • How Can We Get More Fat
    • Signs You May Not Be Digesting the Fat you are Eating

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

     

     

    Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

    Cooking Fats and Oils

    The Benefits of Eating Liver + My Favorite Liver Supplements

    The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat ,and Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet by Nina Teicholz

     

    DON’T FORGET:

     

     

    Want to Learn More:

    4 Reasons to Avoid Vegetable and Seed Oils

    Don’t Fear the Fats

    Omega-3 Fatty Acids – Understanding these Essential Fats

    Nutrition Tips for More Energy. Avoid the Afternoon Crash

     

    ************************************************

    Q & A – SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS – send in your Qs and Beth will do her best to answer on upcoming episodes

     

    ************************************************
    As always, if you enjoyed this episode, pretty please take the time to rate the show with 5 stars and leave a review, this helps immensely with ranking the show and allowing it to show up in searches, and all the fun algorithms of the iTunes. Plus, I LOVE when you share on your social media accounts, your stories etc, photos or videos of you enjoying the show, all the fun places you are listening, your favorite quotes or takeaways and please be sure to tag me because I love sharing those and I love hearing how much you are loving the show!!

     

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

     

     

    (Listen on iTunes)

     

    You can now subscribe to the Between Meals Podcast on Apple iTunesGoogle Play, Spotify and Stitcher

    THANK YOU FOR LISTENING:

    Since we are still pretty new on iTunes, please do us a solid and SUBSCRIBE and of course, we would be honored if you took the time to rate and review the show, this will help more people find us and help the show to grow!  If you liked this episode or others, please share on social media and tag us, share with friends and family, etc – this means the world! 

    Read the rest of this entry »

  9. The Benefits of Probiotics and How To Choose

    The Benefits of Probiotics and How To Choose – When it comes to gut health, probiotics will forever be a hot topic, and with good reason. The right probiotics can help to nourish and support your gut bacteria.* The word probiotic actually means “for life” because these live microbial organisms provide both physical and mental health benefits, and experts have well researched the direct and indirect effects on the physiology of the body.

    This post and video are sponsored by MegaFood®

    The Benefits of Probiotics and How To Choose

     

    Why a Healthy Gut Matters.

    A healthy gut is paramount to a healthy body.* Our health begins in the gut! A large majority of the important cells, responsible for the regulation and efficacy of our immune system can be found in our gut 1https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2515351/ (some research estimates between possibly as much 60 and 80% of our immune cells can be found there)2https://www.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajpgi.1999.277.5.G922. Additionally, many of the chemicals responsible for regulating moods, neurotransmitters such as serotonin, are actually made in our gut 3https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5772764/. Some estimate that as much as 90% of the body’s serotonin, which influences both mood and GI activity, is produced by the gut bacteria in the digestive tract. From a properly functioning digestive system to maintaining a strong immune system and well functioning brain – our gut is the foundation of our vitality.*

    Not only is it important to ensure our digestion is functioning properly so we can feel our very best, but healthy digestive function is also crucial as it allows us to be able to absorb and utilize all the amazing nutrients we consume in our nutrient-dense, whole foods focused diet.

    Poor eating habits, stress, and antibiotic use can all throw off the balance of our gut microbiome. When you experience occasional digestive issues like gas, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation, you may need some extra digestive health support. To maintain optimal gut health, we want to strive for a symbiotic GI tract full of beneficial bacteria.

     

     

    The Benefits of Probiotics // How Probiotics Can Help

    When you take probiotics you are re-introducing good bacteria to your gut environment by populating your GI tract with as much of the beneficial stuff as possible. Studies have shown that probiotics may prevent adhesion and interaction of unwanted bacteria with our gut epithelial cells.* 4Gerritsen, J. et al., Intestinal microbiota in human health and disease: the impact of probiotics, Genes Nutr. 2011 August; 6(3): 209–240 Some research has also shown that administration of probiotics can have a direct effect on the tight junctions between enterocytes in the gut—resulting in decreased intestinal permeability 5Corridoni D, et al., Probiotic bacteria regulate intestinal epithelial permeability in experimental ileitis by a TNF-dependent mechanism, PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e42067. These are just some of the ways probiotics may help to restore gut health.*

    Probiotics are present in unpasteurized fermented foods but you can also ingest them through supplementation. So how can we be sure which is the right method, how much and how often we should take probiotics and why should we want to?

    One very important thing to note here is that for probiotics to do their job effectively, you must have optimal conditions for “good” bacteria to live and flourish. This starts with nourishing your microbiome with nutrient-dense real food and eliminating foods (temporarily or permanently) that can cause inflammation and microbiome imbalance.

    Read the rest of this entry »

    References   [ + ]

    1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2515351/
    2. https://www.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajpgi.1999.277.5.G922
    3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5772764/
    4. Gerritsen, J. et al., Intestinal microbiota in human health and disease: the impact of probiotics, Genes Nutr. 2011 August; 6(3): 209–240
    5. Corridoni D, et al., Probiotic bacteria regulate intestinal epithelial permeability in experimental ileitis by a TNF-dependent mechanism, PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e42067
  10. Restore Your Gut Health // The Four Rs of Gut Healing.

     

    Restore Your Gut Health with the Four Rs of Gut Healing

    Our health begins in the gut! It is estimated that as much as 80% of our immune system is located in our gut and that over 90% of the chemicals responsible for regulating moods, neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, are made in our gut. Not only is it important to be sure our digestion is functioning properly so we can feel our very best, but healthy digestive function is also crucial to being able to absorb, assimilate and use the nutrients we consume daily in our healthy, whole foods diet.

    If you are suffering from digestive discomfort like bloating and gas, stomach aches, indigestion or acid reflux, nausea, chronic diarrhea or constipation – I can assume you are well aware that those are symptoms of an imbalanced gut. But, did you know that seasonal allergies, sinus congestion, a compromised immune system (and yes, autoimmune disease), fatigue, mood imbalances, hormone imbalances, bad breath, weight gain, acne, metabolic dysfunction – these too can all be signs of gut dysbiosis.

    Gut impermeability, gut inflammation and other digestive dysfunction symptoms may be displayed in your gut but their effects are systemic and can affect the whole body. The gut is the core of our health and it is essential to have a healthy gut in order to have a healthy body. Gut dysbiosis can be caused by a myriad of things, from chronic antibiotic use, an unhealthy, imbalanced diet that lacks nutrients or contains harmful substances, alcohol abuse, illness, chronic high stress levels, medications and other lifestyle issues.

    Read the rest of this entry »

  11. Between Meals Podcast. Episode 18: Why I Am Not Keto

     

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

    (Listen on iTunes)

     

    WHY I AM NOT KETO:

    For the entire month of April, each week I am sharing a brand new shorter format podcast episode in a series I am calling Keto Conversations. We will be chatting all about ketosis, adapting a ketogenic lifestyle that works for you and all the important basics of what you need to know about keto. We will bust through common keto misconceptions plus I am sharing my own personal experiences and offering some insight to help guide you if you are interested in experimenting with a ketogenic approach to your eating.

    In the first episode of the series, we are chatting ALLLL about Why I Am Not Keto! And no, this is not an April Fool’s Day joke and I know this may sound confusing, but stick with me, trust me and tune in!

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

     

     

    Mentioned in this Episode:

     

    ************************************************

    Q & A – SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS– send in your Qs and Beth will do her best to answer on upcoming episodes

     

    ************************************************
    As always, if you enjoyed this episode, pretty please take the time to rate the show with 5 stars and leave a review, this helps immensely with ranking the show and allowing it to show up in searches, and all the fun algorithms of the iTunes. Plus, I LOVE when you share on your social media accounts, your stories etc, photos or videos of you enjoying the show, all the fun places you are listening, your favorite quotes or takeaways and please be sure to tag me because I love sharing those and I love hearing how much you are loving the show!!

     

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

     

     

    (Listen on iTunes)

     

    You can now subscribe to the Between Meals Podcast on Apple iTunesGoogle Play, Spotify and Stitcher

    THANK YOU FOR LISTENING:

    Since we are still pretty new on iTunes, please do us a solid and SUBSCRIBE and of course, we would be honored if you took the time to rate and review the show, this will help more people find us and help the show to grow!  If you liked this episode or others, please share on social media and tag us, share with friends and family, etc – this means the world! 

    Read the rest of this entry »

  12. Between Meals Podcast. Episode 17: Following Your Intuition

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

     

    (Listen on iTunes)

     

    FOLLOWING YOUR INTUITION:

    Trusting your gut with your brand, health, parenting + beyond with guest Ali Maffucci of Inspiralized.com

    Ali is the founder of the culinary brand Inspiralized, the ultimate resource for cooking creatively, healthfully and deliciously with the spiralizer, the kitchen tool that turns vegetables and fruits into noodles. In June of 2013, Ali quit her corporate job to pursue Inspiralized, starting first with her blog, Inspiralized.com. Since then, Maffucci has been referred to as a “digitally savvy millennial entrepreneur”, as well as the creator of a “spiral empire” by Food & Wine. Maffucci has authored New York Times best-selling cookbooks (Inspiralized and Inspiralize Everything) and her latest cookbook, Inspiralized and Beyond is following suit. Maffucci launched her branded spiralizer called the Inspiralizer and continues to provide daily free recipes on her food blog and through her iOS mobile app.She currently lives in Jersey City, NJ with her husband, Lu, and her baby son, Luca, with a little baby girl on the way.
    While you may think today’s episode would be all about spiralizing ALLL the foods, it’s actually everything but that. Ali shares her journey to becoming an entrepreneur, how she followered her passion, left her career and took  a huge leap of faith, she shares the challenges of having a broad audience and balancing life as both a boss and as a mom. We chat about learning to love your body and to tune out the noise and trust your instincts to make the choices that are right for you when it comes to your health and eating, plus raising your children to have a healthy outlook and connection with their food (and I even get to learn ALL about baby led weaning) – at it’s core, this episode is all about following your intuition and going with your gut and I am so excited to share it with all of you.

    Grab recipes and more from Ali, head to Inspiralized.com

    You can also follow Ali on Instagram at:

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

     

     

    Mentioned in this Episode:

    As always, if you enjoyed this episode, pretty please take the time to rate the show with 5 stars and leave a review, this helps immensely with ranking the show and allowing it to show up in searches, and all the fun algorithms of the iTunes. Plus, I LOVE when you share on your social media accounts, your stories etc, photos or videos of you enjoying the show, all the fun places you are listening, your favorite quotes or takeaways and please be sure to tag me because I love sharing those and I love hearing how much you are loving the show!!

     

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

     

     

    (Listen on iTunes)

     

    You can now subscribe to the Between Meals Podcast on Apple iTunesGoogle Play, Spotify and Stitcher

    THANK YOU FOR LISTENING:

    Since we are still pretty new on iTunes, please do us a solid and SUBSCRIBE and of course, we would be honored if you took the time to rate and review the show, this will help more people find us and help the show to grow!  If you liked this episode or others, please share on social media and tag us, share with friends and family, etc – this means the world! 

    Read the rest of this entry »

  13. Between Meals Podcast. Episode 16: Healing Hashimoto’s and Taking Responsibility for Your Health

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

     

     

    (Listen on iTunes)

     

    Healing Hashimoto’s and Taking Responsibility for Your Health

    One of my favorite things about the work I have done all of these years with Tasty Yummies are all the amazing connections I have made, not just in the community we have all created together, but among my peers and other content creators, writers and bloggers. I have met an incredible amount of people who continuously inspire me, who challenge me to not only investigate and examine the work that I am doing, but also in my own life and health.
    One of my favorite things about this podcast is the opportunity to bring all of these incredible people to you, too! To share their personal stories and to hopefully inspire you in all the ways they continue to inspire me!

    Today’s guest Carly Johnson Brawner, has become a good friend of mine through the virtual space. I think we first connected on Instagram and we finally had the opportunity to meet in person a couple years back when I was in Austin for a conference
    In today’s episode, Carly shares her story of discovering she had Hashimoto’s, an autoimmune thyroid disease. She shares the symptoms that became most concerning to her, the major things she did to heal her body, how she demanded testing and when she knew it was time to break up with her doctor and look for additional support. We talk through some of the dietary shifts and lifestyle changes that were most impactful to her, plus how she’s recently gotten the courage to face her fears as she has incorporated weight lifting into her movement plan and so much more.
    I know you will walk away from today’s episode with some practical tips and inspiration for becoming your own health advocate, for knowing when to trust your intuition,  to take responsibility for your health and some of the first steps you can take to heal your body.
    About Carly 

    Carly Johnson Brawner is a Functional Nutrition Coach, Hashimoto’s advocate, and wellness enthusiast living in sunny Austin, TX. Frolic & Flow came to fruition through Carly’s experiences healing from autoimmunity with real food and targeted wellness practices. She currently blogs, speaks, and works with clients to help them optimize their overall health, improve their autoimmunity, and learn the foundations of living in a state of balanced wellness.

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

     

     

    Follow Carly Johnson Brawner

    Website: frolicandflow.me

    Instagram: @frolicandflow

     

    Mentioned in this Episode:

     

    As always, if you enjoyed this episode, pretty please take the time to rate the show with 5 stars and leave a review, this helps immensely with ranking the show and allowing it to show up in searches, and all the fun algorithms of the iTunes. Plus, I LOVE when you share on your social media accounts, your stories etc, photos or videos of you enjoying the show, all the fun places you are listening, your favorite quotes or takeaways and please be sure to tag me because I love sharing those and I love hearing how much you are loving the show!!

     

    LISTEN NOW ON ITUNES

     

     

    (Listen on iTunes)

     

    You can now subscribe to the Between Meals Podcast on Apple iTunesSoundcloud, Google Play, Spotify and Stitcher

    THANK YOU FOR LISTENING:

    Since we are still pretty new on iTunes, please do us a solid and SUBSCRIBE and of course, we would be honored if you took the time to rate and review the show, this will help more people find us and help the show to grow!  If you liked this episode or others, please share on social media and tag us, share with friends and family, etc – this means the world! 

    Read the rest of this entry »

  14. What are Endocrine Disruptors and How to Avoid Them

     What are Endocrine Disruptors and How to Avoid Them?  In the spirit of always reminding you that the health of our body goes beyond the food we eat and the supplements we take, I want to take some time to share more about endocrine disrupting chemicals and why you should care. Hormone disruptors can affect the health of our body as much as the food we eat and they can be found not just in our food, but in our skincare and cosmetics, household cleaning products, furniture and more. It can be overwhelming and scary to think about, but I think knowing what they are and why it matters – is the first step to being informed and empowered!

    Before we get into the harmful chemicals the have been shown to interfere with development and reproduction, and may cause serious neurological and immune system effects, I think it’s first really important to go back to basics and chat about what the endocrine system is and the roles it plays in our overall health.

    What is the Endocrine System?

    The endocrine system is comprised of a network of hormones (chemical messengers produced and used by the body) and glands that coordinate and regulate many essential body functions such as:

    • Growth, development and maturation.
    • Metabolism.
    • Behavior.
    • Reproduction and embryo development.
    • Production, use and storage of energy.
    • Balance and maintenance of water and salt (electrolytes) in the body.
    • Reaction to stimuli (e.g., fright, excitement).

    The endocrine system includes the ovaries; the testes; the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, and pituitary glands; the pineal body; the pancreas; as well as cells releasing hormones found in the gastrointestinal tract, kidney, heart and placenta.

    As you can assume, altering these precise and delicate systems in any way can certainly be “playing with fire”, but yet it can happen quite easily on a day-to-day basis when you use “normal” everyday products in your home. Part of what makes endocrine disruptors so threatening is their ubiquitous nature and the fact that for most of us we are exposed to many of these chemicals on the daily.


    (video from The Endocrine Society)

    What are Endocrine Disruptors and Why Should You Care?

    It may be a term you have heard in passing, maybe in regards to plastic bottles or chemicals in your household cleaning products, in our water or food supply. But it can all be confusing. What are the biggest offenders we should be avoiding immediately, where should we begin when trying to clean up our home and personal products, how worried should we be?

    Endocrine disruption is, simply, any disturbance in the proper functioning of hormones in the body due to chemical exposure. Endocrine Disruptors (EDs) or Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are defined as an exogenous chemical, or mixture of chemicals, that an interfere with any aspect of hormone action.

    The many ways that endocrine disruptors can wreak havoc on our bodies in unending,  interfering with the steps in hormone signaling from increasing the production of certain hormones to decreasing production of others. Some chemicals can mimic hormones by binding to receptors; they can turn one hormone into another; cause too much of a hormone to be produced or released and in some cases they can interfere with hormone signaling blocking the activation of a hormone causing too little of a natural hormone to be produced or circulated. Additionally some chemicals can tell cells to die prematurely; compete with essential nutrients; binding to essential hormones preventing appropriate hormonal processes from taking place; accumulating in organs that produce hormones and so on.

    In fact, the data linking some EDCs or entire classes of EDCs to chronic disease is comparable in strength and breadth to the evidence that links tobacco smoking with lung cancer.

    Commonly we know these chemicals to be found in common household items like plastics and food packaging, fragrances, personal care products, pesticides or herbicides found in food and even our tap water.

    Read the rest of this entry »

  15. Herb Roasted Turkey Breast {Gluten-free, Paleo, Keto, Whole30}

    Got a small gathering planned? This Herb Roasted Turkey Breast is a simple and easy way to enjoy the flavors of Thanksgiving without slaving over a HUGE turkey. The skin gets beautiful crisped and golden browned and the herbed butter (or olive oil) brings a beautiful flavor to the whole breast. Gluten-freepaleo, keto, whole30 – friendly.

     

    Gluten-free Thanksgiving for Two

    Roast turkey breast is a really great alternative to roasting a whole turkey. Not only is it less work, it’s less time, too, which leaves the oven open for making some of the must-have sides, ahem – I am looking at you stuffing and roasted Brussels sprouts. A four- to five-pound turkey breast will feed six to eight people, it’s a cinch to carve, and it’s perfect for making those tasty leftover sandwiches or salads or a delicious soup the next day.

    Gluten-free Thanksgiving for Two

    Enjoy this easy Herb Roasted Turkey Breast recipe for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Or really, you can make it any other time of the year; the leftovers are fabulous! I especially love that without fussing with a whole bird, all the cook time and the carving time, you get more time to spend with your loved ones, because that’s what it’s all about, am I right?

    This turkey breast is tender, juicy and it’s delicious served alongside your favorite stuffing, cranberry sauce and some mashed potatoes 0r cauliflower mash and definitely some green beans. Don’t forget a pie for dessert.

    Read the rest of this entry »

  16. 11 Natural Ways to Boost Your Immune System

    A healthy body is dependent on a strong immune system. Rather than just strengthening our immune system we want to train our immune system to do it’s job correctly. Today I am sharing just some of my favorite natural tips for supporting and building a strong immune system that have worked for me. Here are 11 Natural Ways to Boost Your Immune System…

    11 Simple and Holistic Ways to Naturally Boost Your Immune System to Avoid Getting Sick (+ Tips for If You Do)

    11 Natural Tips to Boost Your Immune System

    Simple, holistic tips to fight illness and strengthen your immunity PLUS what you can do if you do get sick, to fight it quickly.

     

    Go With Your Gut

    I can tell you from personal experience that the very best way to ward off chronic illness, colds, flus, infections, allergies, food sensitivities and controlling / avoiding autoimmune disease is to heal and strengthen the gut! With 70-80% of our immune system’s cells occupying our gut, this is home base for our vitality and wellness. Our gut bacteria helps the immune system’s T cells develop—teaching them the difference between a foreign substance and the body’s own tissues. Without these important immune soldiers doing their job to protect us, the nasties get in, they slip by the troops, invade, wage war, take over and it’s not fun!

    With years of comprised digestion, intestinal bacterial overgrowth and finally being diagnosed with a parasite, I personally spent a solid decade to 15 years, getting terrible sinus infections, several times a year, every year, most times it then eventually evolved into bronchitis and upper respiratory infections. I got every single strain of every cold, flu and stomach bug that passed through town – I even battled the Swine Flu when that was a thing. On top of all of that, I suffered for many, many years with a variety of environmental allergies – ALL of this stopped when I finally healed my gut and prioritized proper digestion. It’s magical really. But, it’s not. It’s simple.

    As you’ll hear echoed many times throughout this article, and if you spend more than about 5 minutes chatting with me at any given time, our gut is vital to our immune health and it’s the control center for our bodies to decide what is friend and what is foe. I highly encourage you to prioritize optimizing your gut, both for the cold and flu season ahead, as well as the future of your overall health and wellness. If you want to learn more about how to heal your gut – GRAB THE FREE GUT HEALTH 101 GUIDE BOOK

    Along with tips for strengthening and healing your gut, here are some tips to Naturally Boost Your Immune System:

    Read the rest of this entry »

  17. Healing Golden Bone Broth Latte

    This Healing Golden Bone Broth Latte is an inflammation-fighting, immune system boosting, super drink and it’s full of comforting, healthful goodness! 

    Healing Golden Bone Broth Latte

    Healing Golden Bone Broth Latte

    Part of living life to it’s fullest and getting out there to travel and experience the world – is being exposed to things. Foods, illnesses, germs, bacteria, toxins – it can definitely take it’s toll on your immune system. I am proud that despite having several autoimmune diseases, my tireless work to maintain my health and vitality, along with how I’ve worked hard train my immune system and it’s little warriors to do their job and do it well – it’s all working! I feel great, I beat illnesses swiftly, if they do take hold and I am not knocked on my ass with every little life shift, stress or travel – which, truthfully, is basically what the majority of the first 30 years of my life was all about. The fight of one illness right to another, bronchitis, swine flu, respiratory infections, every stomach virus or flu around, I had chronic allergies and all the other usual signs of a compromised immune system.

    (From September ’17) I can always tell, with loads of travel and eating a bit differently that I traditionally would at home when I am on the road, later nights and longer days – that I have definitely asked a lot of my little immune system army in a short amount of time. And while they’ve been keeping up with their end of the deal to keep me well, I can certainly feel that my body is definitely working overtime right now to keep it that way. I love that I can chill and know that all of my hard work protecting my immune system was important and now I sit back and let it do it’s work.

    Read the rest of this entry »

  18. Keto Loco Moco Breakfast Bowl {Paleo, Whole30, AIP-option}

    This Keto Loco Moco Breakfast Bowl is a lightly updated version of a classic Hawaiian comfort food. We swap the traditional white rice with cauliflower rice and with  flavorful Umami grass-fed beef patty from TRIBALÍ Foods and epic mushroom gravy make this a savory dream come true.

    Keto Loco Moco Breakfast Bowl {Paleo, Whole30, AIP-option}

    Keto Loco Moco Breakfast Bowl {Paleo, Whole30, AIP-option}

    If you haven’t been able to tell by recent recipes here on Tasty Yummies over the last 8 or so months, I was incredibly touched by my two trips to Hawaii in the last year. The food clearly made a major impression on me, among many other things. Beyond the flavors, of course, I love the varying cultures that inspire the cuisine, as well as the locally accessible foods that influence the food.

    One dish that continuously peaked my interest (AKA haunted me) on both of my visits to the islands was the Loco Moco bowl. Loco Moco is classic Hawaiian comfort food. Traditionally made with white rice, a burger patty, an over-easy or fried egg, and a generous serving of beef gravy, often with mushrooms, it’s basically a Beth dish, if there ever were one. Savory, unfussy, non-pretentious, comfort food with an undertone of umami. GAH! Dream status. The bad thing, I could never ever ever enjoy one while I was on the Islands, the gravy ALWAYS contained gluten, every single restaurant, I would ask.

    So, I creepily creeped on anyone that ordered it near me, took mental notes, maybe drooled a little and couldn’t wait until I could recreate one at home in a way that I could enjoy.

    Keto Loco Moco Breakfast Bowl {Paleo, Whole30, AIP-option}

    As usual, besides the given of recreating a recipe without gluten, I wanted to created something that was totally grain-free and as always, prioritized quality ingredients, most importantly the beef! You all know how important the quality of my animal proteins are to me. You can read more here about the differences between grass-fed and grain-fed beef and why I choose to make this a focus of my nutrition.

    I know prioritizing quality of food can often feel overwhelming, but we cannot afford not to make as many attempts as we can for better quality, our health depends on it. I am also intensely passionate about supporting the companies prioritizing not only better quality but also transparency in their supply chain. TRIBALÍ Foods was created by Holistic Nutritionist, mom and former vegetarian, Angela Bicos Mavridis, who merged her passion for wholesome, nutrient-dense foods with globally-inspired flavors for a delicious, healthy meal option. After meeting with Angela in person and bonding instantly over our Greek heritage, our connection ran even deeper as we shared our health and healing paths and our commitment to high-quality, sustainable foods that actually taste good!! I fell in love instantly with TRIBALÍ and Angela.

    Keto Loco Moco Breakfast Bowl {Paleo, Whole30, AIP-option}

    TRIBALÍ Foods‘ patties feature 100% organic grass fed and finished, pasture-raised beef and 100% organic free-range, air chilled chicken, all meat is humanely raised on family farms without any added antibiotics or added hormones, and blended with locally sourced herbs and vegetables like shiitake mushrooms, poblanos and fire-roasted garlic. You can buy TRIBALÍ Foods online (use coupon code YUMMY to save 20%), or find them in the freezer section of select Super Targets from coast-to-coast, in Southern California at natural retailers like Bristol Farms, Lassen’s, Lazy Acres, Erewhon and Gelson’s and now all of the Natural Grocers locations across America. I get mine locally at our Whole Foods and you can check out the store locator to find a retailer near you.

    The Umami Grass-fed Beef Patties were the perfect choice for these bowls, having fire-roasted garlic, onions, and woodsy Shiitake mushrooms — with a tangy hint of nori seaweed, a dash of Red Boat fish sauce, and umami spices. I love that they are paleo, keto and Whole30 friendly, but they are also AIP compliant. WOAH!

    With the umami rich beef gravy the punch of flavor if this comforting Keto Loco Moco Breakfast Bowl is unreal. I cannot wait for you to experience this, too! Breakfast just got a whole lot better and better for you, too! Read the rest of this entry »

  19. How I Treat a Gut Flare Up / My Gut Healing Go-tos

    A few weeks back I was in the thick of a pretty annoying gut flare up. Bloating, gas and excruciating stomach aches with nearly every meal, the whole nine! For those of you that follow me there, I shared a bit on Instagram about what I was dealing with and also used this as an opportunity to remind you that even us “experts”, the nutritionists, health coaches and others working to help people in their health journeys – we aren’t immune to these kinds of set backs.

    With the amount of questions and interest those posts created, I pulled together an email and sent it out to the Tasty Yummies list, sharing my personal gut healing approaches when I deal with an acute gut flare up. Because it was so well received and many of you mentioned how helpful this information was for you, I wanted to compile it into a permanent post here on the website, that would be much easier for you to reference, whenever you need it.

    How I Treat a Gut Flare Up / My Gut-Healing Go-tos

    Healing Isn’t Linear and It’s Often Not Pretty.

    Before we get into my personal gut-healing tips, I want to remind you that that your health and your wellness is not a linear journey, it’s not black and white and often it’s not too pretty, either. Healthy isn’t a destination! It isn’t a level you achieve, a peak you reach, that you only ever move forward and onward from. Things happen and this journey is ever-evolving. But, something tells me, many of you already know that.

    Unfortunately, the set backs and the flare-ups happen, this is all part of the journey and for many of us, especially those of us who struggle with autoimmune issues, oftentimes it feels somewhat inevitable. But, I also try to stop in these moments and remind myself this is why I have worked so, so hard to prioritize my health, to listen to my body and to continuously educate myself – because as these setbacks emerge, I am now armed with an arsenal of tools to go into battle with and I find I bounce back far quicker than I ever have before.

    In the event that you missed the conversation in my Instagram stories that week (you can catch a pulled together replay version of it here) – in a nutshell I was speaking about exactly all of this, so I won’t repeat myself too much. The feedback from you all was beyond amazing, though and hearing your own personal stories and struggles, it truly touched me! So thank you – for showing up, for sharing and being vulnerable in return.

    As you may have seen in those stories, I mentioned that at the time, I was personally in the middle of a gut flare up, nothing crazy major, not a full on autoimmune crisis – but my gut was pretty dang angry. Could have been related to the episode where I got “food poisoning” in Mexico back in April or it could be a response to new supplements I had introduced or a reaction to a new food. Not too sure the cause or origin of the flare up, but, what I do know is that I have the knowledge and I am empowered to take control and implement the various gut soothing and healing approaches, to calm these flare ups as they happen.

    And as a reminder to all of you, even those of us that are “wellness experts”, nutritionists, health coaches, etc, it can happen for us, too. We aren’t immune nor are we perfect – we don’t have it all 100% fully figured out, either.

    Customized Wellness. Personalized Nutrition. 

    You’ll notice, I am not selling or sharing any of this as a protocol, a diet or a reset. Some of this looks like the autoimmune protocol, other parts look like a low-FODMAP or the SCD approach, some reminiscent of GAPS. This is because with WELL over 13 years of gut-healing under my belt, with experimenting, experiencing, trial and error – I now have a bit of a personalized gut healing tool kit that is customized just for me. This is why I am SO BIG on this idea of honoring your individuality, because there is NO ONE catch-all remedy for everyone and anyone that tries to tell you or sell you otherwise – is lying to you. Especially when it comes to the gut, my gosh there are a slew of factors to consider when it comes to gut health.

    That said, below is some of what works for me, for gut healing and soothing. I share not because I believe if you are struggling that you should do exactly this and you will find relief, but more I want to inspire you to feel in control, in charge and to feel open to experimenting with your own approaches, so you too can create your own tool belt that you can use whenever necessary.

    Read the rest of this entry »

  20. Safer Sun Protection. From Sunscreens to Superfoods. How to Protect Yourself in the Most Non-Toxic Way.

    Safer Sun Protection. From Sunscreens to Superfoods. How to Protect Yourself in the Most Non-Toxic Way. Check out this post to learn more about non-toxic sunscreen, how much sun is too much, how to eat to support your body’s natural defenses and more.

    Safer Sun Protection. From Sunscreens to Superfoods. How to Protect Yourself in the Most Non-Toxic Way.

    The topic of sun protection, like SO many things, has gotten a bit confusing for folks. “The sun is bad”. “The sun is good and absolutely necessary to avoiding vitamin D deficiency.” “Sunscreens are necessary, don’t ever leave the house without sunscreen on.” “Most sunscreens are loaded with so many toxic chemicals that they may be more harmful to our bodies than the sun itself.”

    Recently, reports from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Consumer Reports have warned consumers against using many types of conventional sunscreens, especially on children.  Of the 1,400+ sunscreens tested by the EWG, only 5% met their safety standards and over 40% were listed as potentially contributing to skin cancer.

    So, where do we go from here for safer sun protection?

    With 1 in 5 Americans being affected by skin cancer, it’s amazing to learn that the majority of folks aren’t wearing sunscreen daily or worse, there aren’t doing anything at all to protect themselves appropriately.  By simply wearing a non-toxic, protective SPF sunscreen daily, we can prevent skin cancer and premature aging. But, we need to know what to look for and what to avoid and all the many ways beyond sunscreen that we can support our body for safe sun protection and safe sun exposure – while still reaping the necessary benefits of the sun.

    Safer Sun Protection. From Sunscreens to Superfoods. How to Protect Yourself in the Most Non-Toxic Way.

    Why Most Sunscreens are Harmful

    Chemical Sunscreens vs Physical (or Mineral) Sunscreens. 

    There are two ways that a sunscreen protects the skin from sun damage – either with a mineral barrier or a chemical one. Chemical sunscreens contain compounds, which create a chemical reaction and work by changing UV rays into heat, then releasing that heat from the skin. They are often referred to as chemical or organic absorbers. Chemical sunscreens are technically sun filters. Mineral sunscreens typically include ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which create a physical barrier to protect the skin from the sun, they sit on the surface of the skin and physically bounce or reflect sun’s rays away from the skin. Mineral sunscreens are great for people with sensitive skin as well as babies and kids.

    Chemical Sunscreens

    Chemical sunscreens, the type you’ll most often find at the store, contain a slew of chemicals, including oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are absorbed by the skin and both of which are linked to health hazards and have been shown in scientific studies to harm coral reefs. (These are the two chemicals Hawaii recently banned in all sunscreens, effective in 2021). Additionally, many sunscreens also contain avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene and homosalate. Laboratory studies indicate that some chemical UV filters may mimic hormones, and physicians report sunscreen-related skin allergies, which raises important questions about unintended human health consequences from frequent sunscreen application.

    Spray sunscreens have also become quite popular in recent years, and these carry their own additional dangers, especially when inhaled.

    Many sunscreens also contain methylisothiazolinone, which has been found to be a top allergen.

    Here’s a scary statistic: The chemical oxybenzone, that has been shown to pose a hazard to human health and the environment, it is an allergen and a hormone disruptor that soaks through skin and is measured in the body of nearly every American – in 2018, over 12 years after first reports from EWG were published in regards to this chemical – it still appears in 2/3 of the commercial sunscreens on the market. The reason that hormone and endocrine disruptors are so scary is because they’re especially harmful in small amounts, as they mimic the hormones our body creates daily and can interfere with everything from our reproductive systems to our metabolism. They’re particularly bad for young ones whose systems are rapidly developing.

    Recent research shows that many chemical sunscreens may carry more of a risk than moderate sun exposure, so it’s best to simply avoid these sunscreens, unless you have absolutely no other option, there is no shade and you have no cover-up options with clothing. But I would suggest this to be a last ditch effort simply to avoid overexposure and extreme sunburn.

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  21. 10-Minute Grounding Meditation

    This 10-Minute Grounding meditation is a guided practice incorporating a combination of breath, awareness, and visualization to connect you to the battery pack of the earth. Grounding allows you to draw up prana, energy, or life-force from Earth in order to become rejuvenated, revitalized, and restored. This is a great practice to use anytime you are experiencing times of stress, overwhelm or if you feel out of focus. Get comfortable and get grounded.

     

    10-Minute Grounding Meditation

    10-Minute Grounding Meditation

    Meditation is an excellent way to reduce stress, reconnect with your body, mind and spirit and improve your health and well-being in a variety of ways.

    When we meditate we rest the mind and attain a state of consciousness unlike our typical wakeful state. Rather than being focused on the external world or events taking place around us, we instead allow the mind space to become relaxed, clear and focused inward. Meditation gives us an opportunity to slow down and focus on self-awareness.

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    Grounding

    Grounding is the physical connection between the electrical frequencies of the human body with Earth’s. Practicing a guided grounded meditation will allow you to focus your mind on the present and learn to feel more balanced and aware. Grounding reconnects us with that felt sense of stability that resides within us all, it connects us to a foundation and roots us in stability and firmness.

    When your mind is unfocused, you can feel uneasy, restless, and uncomfortable. Often just from the daily stresses of life we can feel scattered, overwhelmed, disconnected and spacey.

    Grounding yourself can help you feel calm, peaceful and centered. This guided grounding meditation brings the opportunity for you to connect with the earth and experience a transfer of energy. By plugging into the Earth’s energy this helps to bring us back to our natural electrical state which is vital to our health as we are electrical beings.

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