If you’ve ever wondered “ How much sugar is too much sugar? “, you’re in for a treat! Before I can break that down for you, you have to know how to figure out the amount of sugar in your food. That’s the most complicated part of this process. You’ve probably noticed that all of the nutrition information is listed in grams. But do you even know what a gram of sugar looks like or what it means for your health? Probably not. Most people don’t have any idea. That’s because a gram isn’t a tangible re...
Dec 04, 2018•15 min
I know you have good intentions, but we need to talk… You’re trying so hard to be healthy this holiday season… doing your best to make better choices and eat less junk even though you’re addicted to sugar. With the hopes that after the holidays, you’ll simply start fresh. But I know you have your doubts about whether you can actually follow through with that in January. Last year probably didn’t go as planned (especially if you were one of the many who got sick). You didn’t get as far as you had...
Nov 27, 2018•10 min
One common thread for clients with hormone issues is post birth control syndrome that can rear it’s ugly head years later. Wait… did you just say post birth control syndrome ? What the heck is that?!?! It’s a very real issue that results from being currently on or having taken birth control pills (BCPs) — even if it was 10, 15 or 20 years ago! What most people don’t know is that hormones (like estrogen) are detoxified by your liver to be removed from active circulation. They also don’t realize t...
Oct 23, 2018•19 min
In my opinion, the term “detoxing” is thrown around way too much. (Especially liver detox!) It seems like every other product released into the marketplace is detoxing something. Your skin… Your gut… Your liver… Your blood… Your lymphatic system… The list goes on and on. But one thing has become quite clear to me → the general public has no idea what it really means to detoxify anything . Nor are most people aware of their body’s innate capability to detoxify on its own. Two questions come to my...
Aug 21, 2018•12 min
Apparently everyone who’s chronically tired has adrenal fatigue . It’s pretty easy to self-diagnose it thanks to the nearly three million search results for the term on Google. While I certainly believe in adrenal fatigue (and even had it myself back in 2009 ), most of my clients who swear they have this issue end up with something else. It typically comes as a big surprise because everything they’ve read has convinced them that their exhaustion is due to pooped adrenals. But what I’m going to s...
Jul 24, 2018•11 min
Do food sensitivities make you sick? It’s certainly possible. There’s a lot of controversy around food sensitivities and if they’re even real! If you want to know more about what they are (and what they aren’t), I have a great post you can read ( HERE ). The reason I bring this topic up today is that in my clinical experience, food sensitivities have been overemphasized. And that ultimately causes some pretty alarming issues, which I hope you can avoid. Even though tons of articles online as wel...
Jun 19, 2018•9 min
Let’s talk about how to make a protein shake at home! I love protein shakes. Every morning, I indulge and start my day with a protein shake that is both delicious and packed full of amazing nutrition. But not everyone enjoys starting their day with the same thing in the morning. I often get asked how to make a protein shake that won’t get boring . And that’s a great question! Today, I’d like to break it down for you so that you know how to make a protein shake every single morning that’s delicio...
May 08, 2018•15 min
Everyone’s stressed out. And I’m willing to bet good money that until now, you’ve probably managed to muscle your way through it. You put on a strong, brave face, right? I get it… I’ve got plenty of clients who do that daily. Heck, I’ve used that method myself for many years in the past. But it really doesn’t help long-term… all it really does is run up a metaphorical loan made of anger, resentment, and frustration that eventually comes due. And we’re often never prepared for when that happens. ...
Apr 10, 2018•9 min
Your inner critic can be the most deadly opponent you face. Day in and day out, it’s willing to go to awful lengths to keep you small, feeling trapped, and never making any changes no matter how necessary. And for that very reason, today’s podcast is one of the most personal I’ve ever recorded. If I’d heeded the cruel words of my own inner critic, I likely wouldn’t be here today… not just as a clinical nutritionist, but as a healthy person. I listened to an inner voice… and I’m sharing what I he...
Mar 13, 2018•11 min
I never wondered how long does it take to get better when I figured realized I was sick. Back in 2007, I felt like I was an elderly person. I didn’t feel like myself and knew inside that something was very wrong. Doctors told me that I was fine. Maybe I needed some B vitamins or to work out less… But none of that answered the question about why I had this hodge-podge of symptoms that didn’t make any sense. My before and after photo is pretty stunning for most to see because I had so much inflamm...
Feb 13, 2018•11 min
My advice on how to make New Years resolutions is unconventional. Simply put — don’t make any . I’m not advocating for you to do nothing. Instead, I think there’s something much more powerful that will actually get the job done. Allow me a moment to explain… Many years ago, I was living in a tiny tropical town by the Caribbean sea in Costa Rica. I found this surf shop to rent a bike from while I was there and got into a conversation about surfing with the owner. The owner taught surf lessons to ...
Jan 02, 2018•10 min
I expected my very first holiday being gluten free to be a total bust. At the time, I didn’t have any strategies or gluten free holiday tips to rely on. Instead, I expected to hit a bunch of “speed bumps” pretty hard. Yes, I was embarrassed by a relative who mocked my diet change. No, I totally failed to tell the host that I had food restrictions and that I was now gluten free. No, I didn’t bother to bring any side dishes or desserts that I could eat. I don’t even think I packed a snack in my ba...
Dec 19, 2017•10 min
There’s an interesting overlap to MTHFR, Methylation, and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis . One that should not be overlooked or ignored. Methylation and Hashimoto’s are two big topics on their own, but I wanted to know if some sort of connection exists. If so, then hypothyroid suffers should know because methylation challenges should really be addressed as part of the underlying reasons for feeling sick. Though I’ve certainly covered Hashimoto’s with several guests (most recently Dr. Izabella Wentz ), ...
Sep 12, 2017•31 min
If you’ve ever asked your doctor if your diet could help you feel better only to be told no, keep reading. Today’s podcast is about the truly inspiring and remarkable journey of Linda. She decided to give functional nutrition a try after spending 35+ years going to doctors to figure out how she could get better. Linda is my client and we began working together in January 2017 because she wanted to try to reduce the chronic muscle tremors and muscle weakness that had plagued her for years. Things...
Jun 13, 2017•23 min
I wouldn’t be surprised that if your thyroid is out of whack, you’ve likely searched for solutions for Hashimoto’s online. Many people do because you may have more options available to you than what your conventional doctor offers. While I admit that thyroid care is in a terrible state, there is hopeful research in the works. And, there are new approaches to healing available to you right now. I know this because 85% of my clients with gut issues also have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, thyroid nodule...
Apr 04, 2017•30 min
Have you ever waited months (or years) for an appointment with a doctor only to end up blanking at your chance to tell your health story? It happens all of the time. Even though you know what you’ve been through, it can feel like a real uphill battle to organize your health journey in a way that makes sense. Rambling in the doctor’s chair isn’t usually to your benefit. And that’s why it’s frustrating to realize that you forgot to share certain details you knew were important. Once the doctor lea...
Mar 21, 2017•31 min
No, you aren’t crazy. It is absolutely possible to reverse autoimmune disease with diet changes. Before you think you’ve found your silver bullet, know that taking the dietary and lifestyle change route is a long game. It’s certainly possible to feel improvements within days, but it doesn’t mean that your thyroid will kick back into full gear instantly or that your gut will work perfectly the very next week. With the state of autoimmunity on the rise to such a significant degree, women (and even...
Nov 08, 2016•37 min
Fibromyalgia is a debilitating, chronic illness. It steals the joy from your life and prevents you from caring for your family and home the way you’d like. Heck, chronic fibromyalgia even make it a total struggle to make it to and through work. I know some people who’ve ended up leaving their job and wish there was a way to reverse fibromyalgia. If you’ve wondered how to beat fibromyalgia, you’re not alone. Over 5 million Americans suffer with you daily of which 80% to 90% are women . Talk about...
Oct 04, 2016•44 min
You’ve likely heard (or at least you will right now) that everything in your body is connected. One huge piece of this is the thyroid connection to feeling well. But too often women (and even some wonderful men) are blown off or brushed aside even though they have symptoms of thyroid dysfunction. Maybe you’ve heard of something called a “full thyroid panel,” but your doctor will only run your TSH. Perhaps you’ve read that some foods are optimal for thyroid function while others (like gluten) don...
Sep 20, 2016•34 min
Do you know how to talk to your doctor (or practitioner) so that they have enough information to be able to help you? Of maybe the better question is… have you ever lied to your doctor? It might be a little white lie (“no, I don’t take any supplements” when you actually do) or a lie by omission. Heck, maybe it’s your first visit and you don’t feel comfortable yet disclosing every little detail of your health. It’s natural to worry that you’ll be silently judged as the practitioner scribbles some...
Aug 30, 2016•37 min
Are you one of the many who feel that the process of healing costs a lot of money ? If so, I have a question for you. Have you actually tried doing the free things that also can dramatically impact your health… you know, like meditation or mindfulness? Both are the two recommendations I share with clients that they most often avoid, ignore, forget, or just don’t want to make time to do . Skeptically, clients (and even readers) will ask “can meditation help you heal faster?” The answer is yes and...
Jul 12, 2016•18 min
If you’re like many out who were surprised to discover that something was actually wrong with your health, this podcast is for you. The question “How do you know if you are healthy?” when you feel fine is admittedly a good one. Using how you feel as the barometer might not be the most effective and best way to answer that question. We can probably agree that your body is an amazing work of brilliance and will do whatever it can to see you thrive. Subtle imbalances or issues may not be immediatel...
Jun 07, 2016•21 min
One of the biggest reasons I started Seasons 2 of the Gluten Free School Podcast was to help you get better in a much shorter period of time. My perspective is this… if you’ve been wondering why you aren’t feeling better after seeing your practitioner, then what CAN you do to make sure that progress happens. A lot depends on you as a client or patient. There’s no magic pills or quick fixes to long-term, chronic issues despite what all the best marketing on the internet would have you believe. Th...
May 24, 2016•17 min
One of the reasons that I started Season 2 of the Gluten Free School Podcast was to help empower you and other patients out there so that you can see results sooner. Clear, smart health goal setting for measuring progress with the practitioners deserves more attention. Why? Because you don’t necessarily have to rely on expensive labs to tell you whether or not a protocol is working after a reasonable period of time. And also because the goals you come into their office with might not be appropri...
May 10, 2016•23 min
Do you think that Functional Medicine can heal or cure you? Do you think it’s a surefire silver bullet that’s guaranteed to reverse any amount of damage to your body? Well, I think it’s high time for a dose of reality for managing patient expectations regarding what Functional Medicine can and can’t do for you. Don’t get me wrong here, I am a fan of Functional Medicine . But what I see online and hear from readers of my newsletter seems like there are some real misconceptions about how this type...
Apr 26, 2016
Have you wondered if there are some signs or red flags bad practitioners have that you could spot ahead of time? You know… before you spend money and time with them? There certainly are and that’s what today’s conversation is focused around… what red flags you can look out for so that you don’t end up kicking yourself … wishing you never stepped foot in their office. Michael Roesslein from the Rebel Health Tribe joins me to chat about what you need to keep an eye out for before and during your v...
Mar 29, 2016•19 min
Have you ever felt depressed? Depressed enough to ask for and take medication? Before taking antidepressants, I want you to consider that they aren’t just easy-to-pop little pills guaranteed to make you feel better. Despite what all the happy TV commercials say, the side effects and long-term implications can be pretty troubling. I know the antidepressant battle all too well. Back in my early 20s, I was prescribed antidepressants to treat obsessive compulsive disorder. My first prescription came...
Mar 15, 2016•22 min
After taking a bit of a hiatus, I’m back with Season 2 of the Gluten Free School Podcast that I’m calling “How to Be a Better Patient.” Each episode will focus around one step that you can do before, during and after your visits to see better, more efficient results working with practitioners. I know what it’s like to have your health be like a complete and total puzzle that leaves you spinning your wheels for way too long. While I completely believe in the idea that you are your own very best a...
Mar 01, 2016•17 min
Known as the “great imposter,” Lyme disease is a growing epidemic that can be difficult to diagnose as well as treat . While you might think that in order to get lyme disease, you needed to discover a bull’s eye rash somewhere on your body after taking a walk in the woods, that notion may no longer be true. It appears that more people with chronic poor health (especially with many autoimmune symptoms) are discovering that they too may have undiagnosed lyme disease that’s been left untreated for ...
Aug 25, 2015•41 min
If you’re life has turned into one perpetual state of exhaustion, I’ve got something really important to share with you — it’s not normal to be that tired. Regardless of how you got there, it’s possible that you’ve blown off many key, but not well known adrenal fatigue symptoms that could help you get your energy back. Maybe you’ve been tired for a long time… wait, the word “tired” doesn’t even begin to describe the level of fatigue you feel through your entire body. If you’ve struggled to get o...
Aug 11, 2015•34 min
