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It’s not easy trying to eat a plant-based diet (mostly plant-based, anyway) when you have an autoimmune condition like Hashimoto’s, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis or Ehlers-Danlos. Most autoimmune patients are highly sensitive to food that contains soy and wheat/gluten. I should know, my wife has celiac disease and Hashimoto’s. I have a family history of autoimmunity, as well as carrying a gene mutation that makes me likely to develop celiac disease.
Read MoreLower back pain affects over 80% of people at some point in life. I personally have a hard time believing that number isn’t higher, given my own history with chronic back pain.
These are some of the most useful mobility and core strength exercises for relieving low back pain. I have used these for over 10 years with clients seeking relief from back pain and have found that they work for most cases. Keep in mind that everyone’s body is different. depending on what’s going on, these may or may not work for you.
Read MoreIt’s easy to set ambiguous goals. We do it without even trying to. “I want to be healthier this year” or “I want to lose weight” are a few examples of well-intentioned but vague platitudes. It’s not wrong to want those things, but the issue here is the lack of specificity. For example, what does it look like to be healthier? Or how much weight are you trying to lose?
Beyond your goals, however, the real thing you want to uncover is the reason (or reasons) why.
Read MoreHip pain is no joke, but pain in the hip isn’t the only sign of tight hips. Sometimes it's another part of your body telling you things, like the lower back or knee. Both of those areas depend on hip mobility to function. Pretty crazy, right?
The hip is a swiveling, fascinating, fragile powerhouse that does a lot for us. But it can get cranky, which can lead to hip, back or knee pain.
When was the last time you gave it a little TLC? Check out these hip-mobilizing moves and let me know what you think!
Read MoreThe only thing I like about being sick is getting to do absolutely nothing for a few days. That’s it. I can do without coughing up a lung, nose chapped from a constant drip, headaches, fevers and nausea. No break from responsibility is worth it.
There have been a lot of news stories lately about how this winter is going to be an intense hellstorm of flu and covid, so that’s cool. Not to mention the plethora of other bugs like colds and RSV) that are making a comeback as people become more indoorsy with the cool weather. That’s why it’s always good to brush up on your immune function strategy. In this blog post, we’ll cover how the immune system works and how to make it stronger.
Read MoreCool weather usually means more time indoors, which also means more opportunities to catch something that'll mess up your awesome fall or winter plans. The best way to avoid (or at least decrease) the awfulness of getting sick is to support the immune system.
Time is of the essence when you first get sick, so aside from getting medical care, what can you do? It turns out there’s a lot you can do with supplements to speed up recovery.
Why not make a kit for just in case you get sick? That’s what I did this year! I should let you know that some of the links will give me a kickback (at no expense to you), so please use them so I can write posts like this more often.
Read MoreImagine trying to brush your teeth without toothpaste. It might work, but is it working as well as it could be? You mouth probably doesn’t feel as fresh or as clean as it should after brushing your teeth. Your body works kind of like that when it comes to vitamins and minerals.
Every moment of the day, chemical interactions are happening in your body. For that kind of magic to happen, your body needs the right ingredients. When the right vitamins and minerals are available, every cell is operating at its best, your body feels good, and things run smoothly. When an important ingredient is missing from the recipe, everything gets thrown off.
Read MoreThere’s a lot of conflicting information about carbohydrates. Depending on who you ask, you may hear they are God’s gift to humanity or that they are the worst thing you could do to yourself. There are low-fat diets that include lots of carbohydrates, like the grapefruit diet, as well as diets like Atkins or Keto that banish carbs to the hinterlands. As with most things, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Finding balance with the right amount of carbohydrates for your lifestyle is one of the best things you can do for yourself, and you deserve the best!
Read MoreHere’s an amazing plant-based soup that’s good cold, room temperature or hot. If the name didn’t give it away, let me just tell you this soup is packed full of vegetables ready to make you feel amazing. Whether your diet is traditional, plant-based, paleo, AIP, keto or low-lectin, this recipe can be modified to fit right in.
This recipe makes about 8 servings, so you’ll have extra to share or freeze for later!
Read MoreThis is one of my favorite drinks for a hang on the front porch in the summer heat. Hibiscus can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol and decrease inflammation. It is rich in antioxidants and has a delicious, fruity tartness that complements flavors like citrus, mint and ginger. Perfect for a hot-ass summer day!
Read MoreNothing beats a refreshing, cool smoothie bowl on a hot summer day. Whether you think they’re hippy-dippy bullshit or nutrient-packed flavor bombs, there’s no denying their value if you live somewhere that gets hot early.
Smoothie bowls aren’t always a balanced meal with protein, fat, carbs and fiber. Often, they are little more than blended frozen fruit, which only provides the carbs and fiber.This recipe is rounded out with protein and healthy fats, which help it stick with you for longer and keep blood sugar stable.
Follow along with this recipe and make yourself a bad-ass frosty smoothie bowl!
Read MoreWhat could be better than a cozy brewed drink in the morning (or really any time of day)? Depending on who you ask, nothing! But who says it always has to be tea or coffee?
Read MoreWe live in a world that values form over function, and sometimes we see that magnified in fitness settings. It’s easy to pick shoes that aren’t helping you make the most out of your workouts, and even easier not to know it. One time, I witnessed a woman wearing shoes with a giant spring where the heel is supposed to be. It definitely got my attention, but was it a practical choice? Let's talk about what to look for.
Read MoreHere's a recipe I've been working on (actually, I stole it from a magazine and changed a few things to increase the veggie content). Recently, I have been interested in recipes from the Mediterranean region. It's probably no surprise to you that the way people naturally eat in that area is super good for your health -- high in vegetables, fiber and healthy fats. This particular dish, Spanakorizo, comes from Greece and has bright, lemony flavors. It is surprisingly easy to make and makes a great addition to a meal. Just top with chickpeas or baked salmon to boost the protein!
Read MoreI used to be a sugar addict. When I first started working out, I used to stop at the gas station on my way to the gym to get sour candies, which I would keep in my pocket and eat during my workout. For real. I almost forgot to mention this, I was 27 at the time. Super grown-up of me to pop fruit sours between sets, don’t you think? But I had a hard time saying no to my urges to eat insane amounts of sugar.
Sugar dependence can happen for many reasons, at any point in life, and it is not super fun to live with. Symptoms include irritability, energy crashes, sleep problems, dyslipidemia, diabetes and low sex drive. Nobody wants that.
Read MoreIt can be hard to prep meals ahead for breakfast. No wonder so many people skip it or just grab something less-than-ideal from a drive-through or a snack machine!
Maybe I was traumatized by one too many casseroles at Casseroles church potlucks growing up, so when my wife told me she wanted us to make this recipe (which she made up), let's just say I wasn't feeling it. At all. But we made it anyway because healthy relationships include compromise. I tasted it and you know what? It was bangin'!
Read MoreAches and pains are normal as we get older, but that doesn't mean you have to just put up with it. Try these stretches to improve mobility in your forearms and reap the benefits.
Read MoreYou don’t have to be grateful for bad things that happen, but you can search for something useful that came out of those experiences. I’m not even a little bit grateful or happy that I broke my ankle. I struggle with slowing down and getting rest, so I’m grateful I’ve been given the opportunity to do that.
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