BLOGS AND UPDATES
For decades, doctors, and therefore patients, have believed that our genes largely determine our health; that our DNA is static, meaning that what you’re born with, including predispositions to certain diseases, will be our plight to carry, and that family … Read More
Have you ever had the experience of eating a filling meal, knowing intellectually that you’ve had enough food, but nonetheless you can’t stop thinking about ice cream, or your favorite cookie, or that bag of chips in the pantry? You … Read More
Willpower and discipline are great… for as long as they last. But when they run out (you’re having a bad day, lack of sleep, tired of the monotony of your meal plan), they’re not so helpful. Dan Buettner, author of … Read More
Is it that time of year already? Not that I’m not excited for cooler, crisper weather, comforting fall soups, and the turning of leaves, but… the holidays are coming! It’s about this time that some of my clients start … Read More
During the pandemic I created a very bad habit: I started eating a full chocolate bar every single day. Granted the chocolate bar was low glycemic, and a clean, organic choice as far as chocolate bars go (to be expected … Read More
It’s summer, and it’s a hot one. During months like this, I take special care to watch my electrolytes, making sure that I don’t get too depleted. But there’s one electrolyte that has been the center of controversy and confusion … Read More
Have you ever wondered what an anti-inflammatory diet is and why it’s so often recommended for your health? Chronic inflammation in the body is increasingly being recognized as the root cause of most disease. In fact, in a recent … Read More
We often make lofty exercise goals at the beginning of the year. We may be driven by the promise of a New Year, our fitness or weight targets, or maybe, like me, you’ve seen the numerous articles lately suggesting ‘sitting … Read More
Over the holidays I visited my brother and his family in Virginia. Somehow we got into a discussion about geography and I suddenly threw my hands up in exasperation. “I’m terrible at geography,” I said. “I don’t know where anything … Read More
If I asked you what was the biggest obstacle to reaching your health goals, what would you say? Lack of will-power? Lack of time? Mis-education? Laziness? From my coaching experience, the biggest factor I see that stands firmly in the … Read More
I had a client once who went to an Indian restaurant and ordered a dish full of curried vegetables, hold the rice. She had just completed a cleanse and was feeling light and vibrant and simply didn’t want anything that … Read More
It’s that time of year when we feel the natural itch to get rid of the heaviness of winter, clean the cobwebs out of the corners, and start fresh and new, just like nature. Last month a large group … Read More
When I first discuss whole grains with new clients, it often goes something like this: I tell them that a whole grain is the whole grain intact, without anything being taken away. They then tell me that they’re eating a … Read More
The holiday season has always been thought of as an extended opportunity for joy. While there are inherent stresses this time of year, busyness, planning, shopping, travel, family dynamics, etc., there has always been a bit of magic that shines … Read More
In the quest to be healthy and lose weight, many people concentrate on cutting calories and fat. It’s important to remember that food fuels our body and feeds our organs the nutrients they need to function properly. One important question … Read More
We live in an era of blossoming body positivity; standards of beauty and health are being challenged, loudly. Workouts on Tik Tok are being led by more people in bigger bodies, models in catalogues are representing a wider range of … Read More
Vitamin D has made a splash in the news this past year, largely due to the pandemic. Some preliminary studies have showed that a shocking 80% of Covid patients are deficient in Vitamin D. Additionally, a new study at the … Read More
Although the benefits of sleep are clear, many of us struggle to get the proper amount of zzz’s at night. This may be due to busy schedules, stress that keeps us tossing and turning, kids and pets who wake us … Read More
Usually at the beginning of each year, we all assess the goals we want to accomplish, and then attempt to change our habits in order to reach those goals. I’ve always been fascinated by how habits actually change, and what … Read More
Everything changes, seasons, circumstances, our age, our bodies. 2020 is a great example of this, as we collectively try to regain our footing after many unexpected changes. The trick is to find a way to stay in balance amidst all … Read More
Last week, on Oct. 10th, was World Mental Health Day. While mental health can often seem less ‘visible’ than physical health, it affects our well-being on many levels, from our quality of sleep to our energy, cortisol levels due to … Read More
We’re now in our sixth month of the pandemic, and one thing is clear: this thing isn’t ending anytime soon. At the beginning we thought we were in a temporary situation, we may have indulged in extra food thinking that … Read More
It’s a very odd time for everyone as we navigate this new world in which we find ourselves, and as we slowly realize there won’t quite be a ‘going back to normal,’ for better or worse. As structures we thought … Read More
*Update: With so much more information available since the start of the pandemic, wearing a mask and social distancing (especially indoors), and avoiding gatherings of people, are now the standard protocol for reducing your risk of contracting and spreading Covid … Read More
Vegan burgers are sweeping the nation. As you’ve probably seen, heard, and possibly tasted, plant-based burgers are popping up in most fast food chain restaurants across the country. Why? Simple: consumer demand. First let’s look at why so many people are … Read More
It’s the New Year and we all have big plans and goals for 2020. But in order to achieve your dreams, you’ll need big energy to match your goals, energy that can propel you forward and keep you going throughout … Read More
I often work with my clients on deconstructing their cravings, which means finding what’s underneath the food craving to see what your body is actually hungry for. There are many reasons for cravings- stress, dehydration, dissatisfaction with an area of … Read More
We all know that stress is bad for our health, but how bad is it, really? And what can we do about it, considering the modern world we live in? We’ve gone from go-go-go, to now-now-now. Between social media, instant … Read More
If you look at most of the promoted paths to health in the past thirty plus years, the general angle is one of negativity towards your body and the desire to fix it, so you can finally look good and … Read More
I live on the east side of Los Angeles, and even though the beach really isn’t that far away, getting across town through all the traffic is no fun, which is why it’s the end of summer and I’ve only … Read More
It’s hot out, and with heat comes sweat. Although sweat can be good for us (we release toxins and impurities through the skin when we sweat), it also takes with it salt and other electrolytes, which can throw our body … Read More
Lately I’ve been noticing CBD infused products everywhere I turn. It started in my local health food store, where vendors were showing up daily to give samples of CBD oil, CBD infused creams, protein powders, chocolates, organic gummies and cookies. … Read More
Many of my clients come to me with the same goal: they want to reach their ideal weight/eating habits/lifestyle, and maintain it. They tell me how they’ve followed diets, successfully lost weight, and then something happens to push them off … Read More
If you’ve gotten high cholesterol results on a recent blood test, you may be wondering what you can do to naturally lower your numbers. The first thing you might be told, is to avoid foods with dietary cholesterol, like eggs. … Read More
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United States is the most obese nation in the world. In 2018, a whopping 39.6% of adult Americans were considered obese (NHANES). Our obesity rates have been steadily rising … Read More
“Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.” ~Napoleon Hill My friends, it’s mid-January. Many of us have set goals for 2019, and we’re either … Read More
If a month filled with holiday parties, travel, and family gatherings has you worried about falling into an abyss with your health goals, never fear! I’ve created a guide to get you safely to the other side of 2018:) … Read More
If you’ve been watching the headlines about coconut oil recently, you might find yourself utterly confused about whether to include it in your diet or avoid it completely; it has been called everything from a healthy super-food to a poison. … Read More
There come times in our lives when stress, whether from personal relationships, career, or the world around us, affects us deeply; it stops us in our tracks, makes it difficult to sleep at night, and can make us sick to … Read More
The scale will tell you the amount of force on your body due to gravity. That number can be useful as a comparison of previous weight to help track progress. Here’s what the scale doesn’t tell you: How much … Read More
My motto for my clients is, what you do consistently determines your health. Not what you do some of the time or every now and then (whether it may be good or bad), but what you do consistently. However, sometimes it’s … Read More
By now you’ve probably heard of intermittent fasting; maybe one of your friends is doing it and swears by it, you’ve read an article touting the benefits, or you’ve seen it pop up on social media. When diet trends hit … Read More
It’s spring, and ’tis the season for cleaning things out. Every now and then I do a ‘pantry cleanse’ for a client. I will go into their kitchen and remove all of the unhealthy items from their pantry and refrigerator … Read More
Often times my clients will come to me, bow their heads in shame, and tell me that they’ve failed; they were unable to make time for exercise, they couldn’t bring themselves to choose a healthy lunch, didn’t even attempt to … Read More
When it comes to your relationship with your body, you’ve probably heard people tell you to love yourself more, and that self love will lead to treating yourself better, and increased health and happiness. But what does it mean to … Read More
A Washington Post article came out recently that reported that Vitamin D and Calcium supplements don’t reduce risk for bone fracture. They were citing a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which analyzed 33 clinical trials … Read More
I truly can’t believe it’s the end of the year already, especially because it’s still eighty degrees in December here in LA, but 2018 is just around the corner. As everyone starts to ponder New Year’s resolutions and goals, I’ve … Read More
I’m not sure what happened to 2017, but Thanksgiving is just a little more than a week away! For many, the holidays can bring anxiety when it comes to food, since people tend to gain weight between the end of … Read More
I was so honored to be featured recently in a short documentary series by the talented filmmaker, Antonio Lugo-Ponce. When Tony first asked me if I would do the shoot, I wasn’t sure exactly what aspect of health coaching I … Read More
Ok, so you’ve improved your diet, you’re reading the ingredients, you’re drinking more water, and you’re still not losing weight. Are your healthy habits not working? Is your body somehow to blame? Have you just not found the magic pill … Read More
After completing the sugar detox this year, I was happy to hear that many of my clients who participated, told me how easy it had been for them! This is partly due to the fact that in my program, we … Read More
*Author’s Note: Despite my critique of the ideas in the documentary, I do not advocate for my clients to either eat meat or not eat meat. That is a personal decision up to each individual. Ever since the documentary. … Read More
Many diets involve some sort of calorie-counting for weight loss. I’ve honestly never been a fan of this practice. While watching portions is indeed important (if you eat more than your body needs, you’ll likely gain weight), the traditional calories … Read More
As food companies are getting hip to consumers’ desires for healthier options, I think we can officially declare, gone are the days of deprivation! I personally believe that the secret to eating a better-for-you diet without feeling deprived is … Read More
As the weather gets warmer, we tend to forget the single most important thing we can do for our health: stay hydrated! Dr. Batmanghelidj, author of, ‘Your Body’s Many Cries for Water,’ was a political prisoner in Iran during the … Read More
I’ve been thinking a lot about comfort foods lately, and why for instance, all I wanted to eat was chocolate, peanut butter, and plantain chips after doing my taxes this year. What is it about certain foods that boost your … Read More
Ayurveda, one of the oldest healing traditions from India, is designed to keep us in balance so that we can live long and healthy lives. One of the philosophies of Ayurveda is to eat according to the seasons. When you … Read More
“The higher a tree wants to rise, the lower its roots must go.” ~Matshona Dhliwayo Let’s face it, we’re living in some chaotic times, and it’s rocking us all to the core. In times like this, we can get … Read More
“The fork is your most powerful tool to change your health and the planet.” ~Mark Hyman, M.D. As we forge ahead into another New Year, we have a chance to choose again who we want to be. … Read More