We can all agree that, besides the skills of the chef, industrial-grade kitchen equipment contributes to the quality of restaurant meals. If you love to cook, you may covet some of the gadgets that restaurants have at their disposal, but you may not have the means to buy them. An icemaker, for instance, means you’d […]
In the thick of the hot summer months, my appetite declines drastically. It’s not just that I don’t eat as much, but what I want to eat changes as well. Unsurprisingly, I don’t crave heavy, hearty foods like slow cooked winter stews, but I do hunger for juicy, ripe fruit and crisp garden produce. Perhaps […]
We have a sleepwalker in our house, folks. The first time it happened was unnerving, to put it mildly. Our sweet little eight-year-old boy wandered into the living room, blankly stared at my hubby and I, and began relieving himself onto the wood floors with a maniacal laugh. What the what?! After getting him changed […]
There’s no doubt that we’re all somewhat familiar with buckwheat, and many relish one particular aspect about it: yes, buckwheat is gluten-free! I frequently talk with people who tell me they can’t eat grains because they’re now “gluten-free.” They’ve become part of what I now playfully call the gluten-free craze, and I often refer them […]
Summer is in full swing now, and the days are filled with activity. We often have guests around this time of year, which presents us with lots of opportunities for last-minute entertaining. Easy yet classy dishes that can be whipped up on short notice are always welcome. With that said, I like to keep discs […]
Summer is the time to pick, prepare, grill, and/or just gobble up raw all kinds of luscious, fresh foods. And we’re right in the thick of it, my friends. This is the perfect time to make some simple changes to your nutrition routine—and love every bite of it—with a few uncomplicated sauces of summer that […]
Did you know that herbs can do so much more than just enhance the aroma or flavor of your favorite recipes? They’re also loaded with nutrients. You can add herbs to your favorite salads, soups, and other dishes to reap the yummy benefits of fats, essential oils, fiber, sterols, minerals, and vitamins. If you want […]
I have a confession to make: I have a hard time truly relaxing without feeling guilty about it. I’m ambitious, and I have many shoes to fill as a single mother with a household and business to attend to (not to mention my own personal hobbies and needs). Frequently, I feel like I just don’t […]
Independence Day—the day we celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress back on July 4, 1776. My challenge to you is to make July 4, 2017, be the day you declare your health independence. Health independence simply means taking personal responsibility for your health. We’re not talking about the […]
Herbal teas are reaching an astounding following throughout every corner of our little planet! Yes, more and more of us are buying expensive boxed teas, and we’re giving or receiving them as gift sets for all kinds of occasions. One of the biggest trends now is growing fresh herbs, many of which are uniquely suited […]
Many moons ago, back at the turn of the century (man, that sounds totally weird!), I spent a few years in Calgary managing a cake shop in a trendy neighborhood. My boss had lots of friends in high places, which opened doors to some interesting connections for me. One opportunity that stands out from the […]
Garlic. It’s pungent, robust, and even a little sweet when prepared a certain way. It lends itself to every cuisine on the planet and gives recipes that little extra something that makes all the difference in the final product. And on top of its many culinary qualities, garlic offers natural medicinal benefits as well. Garlic […]
A few years back, a patient came to me with severe polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which was causing her a heck of time conceiving a second child. When she asked me if Chinese medicine could help her, I replied that acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine could enhance her fertility, help resolve the PCOS, and return […]
Many years ago, I worked at a small, family-owned bakery since childhood, and I remember a very interesting coworker named Alan. Whenever someone would claim that summer solstice was the first day of summer, Alan would correct them with a theory of his. To this day, I’ve never heard it discussed outside of those bakery […]
As our world advances, so too do the issues we deal with on a regular basis. Most of us are aware of the health concerns associated with sitting for too long. After so many years of the Standard American Diet (SAD), we know how important it is to get (and keep) our blood sugar levels […]
The lymphatic system is often associated with cancer, so I thought it would be good to alert my readers to some TLC (tender loving care) methods that may prevent some of the more serious disorders that come with toxic lymph glands. The importance of keeping the lymph glands healthy applies to just about all of […]
I love a nice, fresh ham roast, with its addictive crackling skin and succulent, briny flavor. For some reason, ham seems mostly reserved for holidays and special occasions. Yet I could easily eat them more often. And I would, if the small size of my family could support the sheer size of such a meal […]
Something about lazy summer days makes me think of attacking my reading list. A few of the titles are fiction, and a few are nonfiction. Some suggested, some self-discovered. Some opened up and partially read, others brand new and inviting me in. They all have two things in common: they’ve been piling up next to […]
Back when I was in chiropractic college, I remember the day in pathology class (the study of sickness) when my instructor held up a pot with a beautiful, colorful, vibrant, wonderfully scented flower. It filled our classroom with a sweet and pleasant aroma. Our instructor talked about the secret part of the plant. He explained […]
Here in Colorado, we often say that “the weather is made up and the seasons don’t matter.” In practice, that means we can easily go from tank tops and flip flops one day to snow boots and mittens the next. I’d be lying if I said I was used to it by now. But each […]