The term "root cause" gets tossed around a lot in the media and health industry now. When it comes to almost any disease or condition, nutrition is either directly or indirectly related in some way. So you could say it's a part of a root cause to most conditions, right? Or is it? You aren't at the root until nothing causes it. So what then, is the ROOT of your nutrition? I talk about this and more in this week's episode. In this episode we talk about: - What the root cause of most disease,...

It's almost time for colleges to start opening up the doors for a new batch of students to come. Although back to school can be exciting, for those starting out on their own in college, it can also be a time of uncertainty. When it comes to nutrition, the first year of college can be chaotic! From new food schedules, to skipping meals, to stress eating, there can be a lot going on. Let's spend some time talking about some nutritional deficiencies I see in college kids, how to make healthy...

In this episode I talk about: Celiac disease vs wheat allergy vs Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity. How each present and how to diagnose. What symptoms are common in non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Why so many more people have issues with gluten now. And finally, how to start exploring if reducing gluten is right for you!   Mentioned in this episode: - Mumolo, M. G., Rettura, F., Melissari, S., Costa, F., Ricchiuti, A., Ceccarelli, L., de Bortoli, N., Marchi, S., & Bellini, M. (2020). Is...

Do you have digestive issues? Tummy troubles, gas, bloating, constipation, and acid reflux can all be signs that your gut is struggling. For many this can be a constant problem with no end in sight. For others it may just happen every now and then. Either way, there are some things to consider and actions to take. In this episode I cover some basics when it comes to digestive health. We are going to talk about: Digestion and absorption- what this actually is and common issues that can...

High blood pressure is a common problem around the world but especially in the U.S. 50% of men have it and 46% of women have it. A common disease, however, doesn't mean there's nothing we can do about it. There are a lot of things both lifestyle and nutritionally we can do to lower blood pressure and also reduce the risk of developing it. One of the biggest problems with high blood pressure is many people don't even know they have it! The "silent killer" is often symptom free until heart...

She’s back! The amazing, the wonderful, the beautiful, Simone Mack-Orr from Smack Fitness is here sharing her wisdom and expertise around the internal drivers we all have for fitness, mindset, and nutrition. She has built a solid community around her refreshing and kind view on body image, self-evolution, and movement. She loves to keep fitness and nutrition simple and shows us that we all need to be a little kinder to ourselves in our health progressions. This episode is for you if you feel...

This is one of the most downloaded episodes and I wanted to give it a chance at a replay! Whether you've heard of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or not, it's becoming a worsening problem in America, and prevalence in children is on the rise. This form of liver disease is fast becoming the most common and does not discriminate. We are all at risk of developing NAFLD and it's estimated that 30% of the population currently has it, sometimes without knowing it!  What can you do to...

Summer time can bring a bunch of emotions. For kids it may be exciting! For parents, it might be dread with a little bit of tiredness peppered in. When it comes to nutrition, summer time is a great time to re-establish healthy eating habits with your kids. Often, parents become concerned about their children's eating habits over the summer. Lack of structure, no set time or routine, and being home all day can all lead to concern. Depending on the age of your child, there are definitely things...

Eating patterns are actions that you take around food that you repeat. Commonly thought of as a habit, patterns can be problematic when it comes to your health, especially if you aren't aware of them. From a nutritional lens, many common health issues are rooted or started by these 3 eating patterns. Issues such as brain fog, gas, bloating, malabsorption, infections, and inflammation all can be the result of these 3 patterns around food that many people recognize in themselves. Today, I go...

As parents we all want our kids to eat healthy. Unfortunately, our over-scheduled, over-tired, under-supported lives don't always allow for this. The health of our nation's kids is worsening with some kids as young as 5 now being diagnosed with diseases that were once considered to only affect adults. These diseases are nutrition and lifestyle related which means there are things we can DO to improve the outcome.  Many kids are simply not receiving the nutrition education that they deserve....

One of the many challenges we face as parents is what to feed our kids. In the shuffle of work, school, and practices, often our nutrition gets limited to what's easiest. When this happens repeatedly, our body can become depleted. In children, especially children who are also athletes, this makes them extra susceptible to nutrition-related deficiencies and symptoms that can show up in their performance on and off the field.  The good news is that teaching them to eat balanced and...

In today's fast-paced world, being busy is often seen as a badge of honor. However, how does this impact our health and the future health of our children? While being busy may be seen as a sign of success, it can have a negative impact on our health. Are the symptoms that you or your family are experiencing related to being over-scheduled? Chances are, yes!   In this episode I discuss: - Why being 'busy' is hurting our health. - How being busy is having a lasting impact on our kids'...

Many people feel "out of control" when it comes to sugar. It can seem like sugar is seemingly everywhere and in everything so no wonder it can seem challenging to lower it. What if lowering it, though, could improve some of the symptoms you have? If you are bugged by: - fatigue - digestive issues - headaches - joint pain Could those be improved by reducing your sugar? Back in January, I ran an experiment called the 14-day Sugar Experiment. This was based off of previous research that...

In this episode, I discuss the stages of change in behavior and nutrition and how they can affect your journey towards a healthier lifestyle. We'll be exploring the different stages, including precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance, and how to identify which stage you're currently in. We discuss: Precontemplation Stage: Definition and characteristics of the precontemplation stage Why people may stay in this stage and how to recognize it Strategies for...

Bold statement alert: You will never reach your goal, and sustain your goal, if you don't get to the heart of what's preventing you from achieving it in the first place. For many, they focus on an unwanted symptom. Whether it's weight gain, inflammation, pain, fatigue, etc. You can't heal and resolve a symptom without getting to the source of the problem. You can put a "Band-Aid" on it like crash dieting, taking pain meds, or stimulants, but the symptom will continue to surface because the...

Do you have digestive issues? In this replay episode, we discuss the basics when it comes to why digestion can be thrown off and what to do about it. Tummy troubles, gas, bloating, constipation, and acid reflux can all be signs that your gut is struggling. For many this can be a constant problem with no end in sight. For others it may just happen every now and then. Either way, there are some things to consider and actions to take. In this episode I cover some basics when it comes to...

We all have heard that we need to increase our fruits and vegetables. Eating fresh produce is "healthy" for us, right? Well what if there are toxic chemicals sprayed on them and now you are eating them multiple times per day (from the advice of your nutritionist 😅)? Organic fruits and vegetables can come with a hefty price tag and it may make you wonder, is this really worth it? In some cases, it is, but not every case. Let's talk about when to buy something organic and when to skip it so...

As a parent, feeding your kids can be a struggle, but have you thought about it from THEIR perspective? I recently had the opportunity to eat lunch with a group of 1st graders and I learned a LOT about what kind of foods they are given in their lunch box. I asked a couple of them more about their lunches and I was surprised to learn that they actually WANTED to have veggies in there (but didn't). I decided to make this episode in a way so you can listen with your kiddos and you can decide...

 "I'm so tired."  "I need a nap."  "I don't feel like doing anything." If you wake up and already feel like you need a nap, you may be suffering from fatigue. Whether it's easily explained like you didn't get a good night's sleep one night, or it's more of a chronic problem, feeling tired is not fun! Have you ever thought if how you were eating could help? As it turns out, there are many contributors to feeling tired and what and when you eat are a big part of it.  Aside from nutrition,...

"Kids can not focus when their body is inflamed and their blood sugar is on a rollercoaster." There's no secret that nutrition is important, especially when it comes to our kids. Why, though, have our priorities shifted when it comes to fueling our kids properly? We tend to start the blame game and punish the kids for "not behaving" or getting bad grades, but is it really their fault? The food in our homes and in our schools is of a completely different quality than in previous generations...

This title may be triggering for you. I'm personally a positive person and like to believe that we are all perfect beings in our own way and nobody should tell us anything negative. As I discuss in this episode, this title is not meant to bring shame. In fact, it can be eye opening what reading that title brings up for you. It may help shine a light on areas you need additional support in healing. What this title is meant to do is create a space for self-reflection. Are you happy with your...

Fibromyalgia has previously been a heavily debated condition and one that brings a great deal of frustration to those who suffer from the symptoms. You or someone you know may have been told that the pain and discomfort you are feeling is "all in your head" but this condition is very real. The latest research shows there can be a number of risk factors and contributing conditions including: a genetic component, leaky gut, dysregulated immune response, nutritional deficiencies, and trauma just...

Have you thought about the ripple effect when it comes to your nutrition? How one little change can ripple out into major impact on not only your health but also those around you? Many times when we set goals or intentions around eating a certain way, we only focus on what we are missing out on or giving up. A huge part of setting lasting goals and making lifelong habits is paying attention to the ripple effect that occurs and if you don't look for it, you are potentially missing out on the...

We've probably all heard at one point that "stress kills" or were given the advice to "lower your stress", but what if that wasn't the true killer? What if there was something else that actually determined if stress is harmful to you or not. What if THAT was the thing you focused on and not trying to "lower your stress"? There are a number of ways that stress can harm your health. Everything from heart disease, poor digestion, immune system dysregulation, digestive issues, and even problem...

What phase of life are you in currently and how does that reflect your nutrition goals? The way you eat NOW may not match with how your body NEEDS you to eat. Is it possible that the reason you feel "stuck" or that you aren't achieving your health goals could be that you are eating in a way that was helpful for you previously, but not as helpful to you now?   In this episode we talk about: - What the phases of life are. - Common misconceptions when it comes to how someone "should" eat. -...