While all of the coronavirus prevention tips that we hear about are very important, there’s something that we hear very little about that is much more important! 

Health has always been our most important resource. Sometimes, it takes a crisis to bring the importance of health to the forefront. During this pandemic, many of us are feeling helpless when the opposite can also be true. You can make this the time to take back control of your health.

Your lifestyle choices can either optimize or weaken your immune system. You can change your underlying health reality by practices that give your body a fighting chance to respond with resiliency. That’s HUGE! 

Eating the right foods is certainly one practice but equally important is WHEN you eat your food! Insulin is a hormone that’s secreted EVERY time you eat. (The amount of insulin depends on what you eat.) There’s evidence that insulin resistance contributes to the severity of the symptoms of the coronavirus. 

Insulin levels peak 30 minutes a...

Every time we eat, we are either feeding disease or fighting it.

This has never been more apparently necessary than it is today. The good news is, there are so many foods that boost immunity, it's certain that there are some that will fit your individual tastes, unique health profile and lifestyle. As always, getting your daily intake of vitamins and minerals from your food before needing to supplement is best.

Increase your Vitamin C.

Vitamin C is one of our biggest immune builders. Dark leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, peppers, citrus, and melons are some of the more commonly referenced sources but also are dark cherries, guava, strawberries, kiwis, and my favorite, alma berries. Amla or Amalaki is a rich source of Vitamin C and fiber. It's also known for supporting your heart, reducing inflammation and improving your skin and hair. 

Eat Whole Foods. 

Eating as many real, whole foods as you can everyday will crowd out any processed foods you may hav...

Our immune systems are our body’s first line of defense. This is true for ANY pathogen, at any time. In light of the current coronavirus, the topic of immunity has stepped up to center stage. As with any pathogen, if your immune system is healthy, you may still contract the virus or bacteria (yes, even healthy people get ‘sick’). You may or may not show symptoms, you may exhibit mild symptoms or you may experience more severe symptoms. Supporting your immune system with daily practices will always increase your level of defense while decreasing your level of symptoms.

Since this coronavirus is a respiratory virus, daily practices that support the immunity of your lungs and respiratory system are even more vital.

As with any flu, we know to keep hydrated. One of the reasons is that by drinking plenty of filtered water and by sipping warm water or herbal teas throughout the day, we keep our lung mucous moist and healthy. Our lungs are 90% water! They need to be moist in order to pump the o...

As some of you may know, I have been providing antibody testing for food intolerances to clients of my health coaching practice since 2015. My diagnostic testing partner has created an FDA-approved antibody test for COVID-19. If you are wondering whether or not taking this test may be right for you, please feel free to reach out to me for further discussion. 

During our current COVID-19 crisis, the importance of reliable, accessible testing to screen for the disease has become increasingly apparent. The FDA is in the process of approving antibody tests for the coronavirus. In this blog, I'll explain the difference in the types of tests available today to help with some of the confusion surrounding what the tests actually test.

Presently, a nasal swab test is the most widely used test to diagnose active cases of COVID-19, but blood serum tests are gaining traction to fulfill a need.

A nasal swab (polymerase chain reaction-PCR) test detects if the virus (the RNA) is present in the nasal cav...

Most of us know that melatonin is a sleep aid but it’s much more than that!!

Melatonin, a hormone made by the pineal gland, has an antibacterial effect on white blood cells (an indicator of an infection), reduces oxidative lung injury and reduces cell inflammation during viral infections! No surprise then, when the connection between melatonin and COVID-19 became apparent. There is now significant data showing that these properties are proving to have beneficial recovery outcomes for COVID-19 patients.

Additionally, children naturally produce more melatonin because as we age, there’s a decline in our body’s ability to produce the hormone. Could this be one of the contributing factors to why most children do not have as severe symptoms as older adults?

Sage advise tells us to get plenty of sleep when we’ve got a virus. Adequate sleep ensures the secretion of melatonin and may play a role in reducing coronavirus virulence.  Unlike some pharmaceuticals, melatonin has a high safety profile. I...

When you shower, alternate between hot and cold water! Yup, it’s that simple! Exposure to cold temperatures via cold water increases your circulation and helps minimize inflammation. Keeping inflammation down is key to building immunity. And, the added bonus is, you’ll burn more fat. Oh, the human body!!!

Believe it or not, our bodies want to be a bit uncomfortable! Our bodies want to be kept guessing what’s coming up next. When you keep your body guessing and you feed it clean, natural practices, you’ll be amazed at how happy and healthy you’ll feel!

The more you practice alternating water temperature while showering the easier it will get because physiologically, your body will be more ready the next time. Just keep your body guessing by mixing up the temperature and your reward will be greater immunity!

During this time of quarantine and social distancing, almost everything we do has become virtual. As Ive been now zooming, webexing, or face timing with my clients, many have asked me why I don’t post the different things I suggest they do to boost their immunity and stay healthier. Immunity building is now at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Health is the most important resource on earth.

We’ve all been getting lots of prevention tips such as washing hands and social distancing. While these are very important, there are MANY other things we can be doing to fortify our immune systems. When it comes to improving your health, many of the simplest strategies can have tremendous health benefits.
Some of the practices I’ll share will be known to many of you and some, hopefully, will be new to some of you. There are so many, it’s hard to know where to start!!

                                 Will this be your year for making resolutions? 
                                                                   or 
                                   Will this be your year for setting intentions? 

Why do so many of us make resolutions only to quickly abandon them? One reason may be found in the word itself! Resolution is defined by words such as complex analysis, firm decision, and solution to a difficult situation. I don’t know about you but they all sound pretty scary to me. 

The start of the new year brings change- new experiences, new challenges, and renewed hope. Change can be scary enough without the...

Turmeric- Hype? Trend? Fad? There are SO many health claims out there today that it’s difficult know to which is real and which is just another fad or trend. With the nickname “Spice of Life”, turmeric is about as REAL as it gets!

Turmeric is the root of the Curcuma Longa plant and has a long history in Ayervedic and traditional Chinese medicine. It’s bright orange flesh (be careful, it stains!) not only offers a long list of health benefits, it hasn’t any side effects! It’s anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and disease fighting properties are well established. The only downfall is that curcumin, it’s most active ingredient, isn’t well absorbed into our bloodstreams, therefore, needs help. It just so happens that adding black pepper (piperine) you can enhance absorption by up to 2,000%- and they are delicious together! 

Some of turmeric’s health benefits are: fights inflammation, reduces symptoms of depression, helps maintain a healthy digestive system, slows or even prevents blood clots, b...

September is the perfect month for change. What small sustainable change can you make in your health and wellness as summer begins to fade away?  Changing when you eat instead of what you eat may matter more when it comes to your health and body composition.

One way to fast is to extend the time between meals or intermittent fasting. Although weight loss can be the result, IF is not just the latest weight loss fad, it’s much more than that! It helps clear brain fog, decreases inflammation by healing our guts, fights cancer, and reduces blood pressure. 

When you fast, your body takes a break from digestion. It’s similar to how our bodies repair and restore while we sleep. It’s your body’s way of cleaning house by getting rid of damaged cells that are prone to disease.

You won’t have to starve or ‘go on a diet’ to try intermittent fasting. Instead of eating three or many small meals spread out, set a specific window of time when you eat whatever you want- within reason-of course! The best p...