Category Archives: Simply Being Well

Flu? Stomach Bug? Stage 1 of the GAPS Diet to the Rescue!

‘Tis the holiday season. Unfortunately, ’tis also flu and stomach bug season. But have no fear, for the GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome) diet is here. Should your tummy feel queasy and uneasy this holiday season, or any other time of year, it’s back to Stage 1 of GAPS. The diet is easy to do, […]

Eating “GAPS-Style” on the Road

Following the GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome) diet at home can be challenging enough, but come the holidays even the most experienced GAPS cooks can be stretched to the limits. Travel—no matter when, no matter why, no matter if it’s by plane, train, or automobile—means eating outside the home. But the following simple rules will […]

Paleo and GAPS:
What’s the Difference?

Frightened of the GAPS Diet? Too complicated? Have no fear—it’s easier than you think! When people tell me they have symptoms that just won’t heal, I always bring up the healing properties of food. I ask what they are eating and if they cook for themselves. Often, when I talk with people about the GAPS […]

The BEST Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Sugar-Free GAPS Chocolate Cake!

Everyone loves chocolate cake. (Well, nearly everyone.) I created this recipe one evening after dinner, when my husband said that he’d love a piece of chocolate cake. I told him to give me about an hour, and he’d have one! We’ve been eating GAPS-style at my house for years now. And for a few years […]

Rinse Your Quinoa—Or Risk Burping Bubbles!

Whole grains are rich in minerals and B vitamins. However, to unlock their nutrients and allow for efficient digestion and absorption, you must prepare them correctly. In order to enjoy these nutritional powerhouses, you must first address the following three substances that are present in every whole grain: Enzyme inhibitors: These neutralize the enzymes in […]

Vitamin D Deficient in America? Eat Lard!

Vitamin D deficient? You are not alone. In 2004, the Scientific American reported that more than 75 percent of Americans were deficient in vitamin D. And in 2005, the Journal of Nutrition reported that vitamin D deficiency “is now recognized as an epidemic in the United States.” Really? Why? How? Taking a vitamin D3 supplement? […]

Nutrient Dense Foods and Mental Health

Way back in 1939, Weston A. Price documented the link between diet and mental health in his groundbreaking book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. His work still holds true to this day. When Dr. Price studied indigenous cultures around the globe in the 1930s, he found that eggs from pastured hens, deep yellow butter from grass-fed […]

Dairy-Free Is Not a Life Sentence!

Did you know that dairy-free does not need to be a life sentence? Read on to learn why! People all over America are going dairy-free. Children, adults, teens, and even tweens have gone “DF” by adopting a dairy-free diet. Which means exactly what you think it means: eliminating dairy from the diet. Most people who […]

Hold the Mayo!

Mayonnaise. Mayo. A favorite condiment in the U.S. of A. You’ll find some Hellman’s or Kraft in just about every sandwich shop, burger joint, and refrigerator. But unfortunately, mayo is no longer a healthy option for us. Read on to learn why. The Original Mayonnaise There are conflicting opinions on when and where mayonnaise (originally […]

The Grounding Diet!

Ever feel out of your head? Out of your body? Ever been called an airhead? Unable to concentrate? Unable to focus? Spacey? All of this is the opposite of being grounded. As the word suggests, to feel grounded is to feel stable in your body. Fully present. Able to focus and think clearly. Think of […]

Perfect Beans at 5,000 Feet!

I love me some good beans! Don’t you? Beans, beans, good for your heart…the more you eat, the more you (should not) experience flatulence! Beans, when prepared well, are chock-full of nutrients. We have heard for years that the proper combination of beans and grains can provide an inexpensive protein option. They are also versatile […]

Gluten Free in America: Is It the Gluten? Or Is It the Way We Make Our Bread?

Last I checked, more than three million Americans have celiac disease, and about eighteen million (6 percent of the population) experience gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance (also known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or NCGS). Gluten is an elastic protein responsible for the elastic texture of dough. When it comes to the rapid rise of gluten […]

Candida, Thrush, or Eczema Got You Down? Try Kefir!

Sound like a superfood? It is! But what is kefir (pronounced ke-fir)? Originating from the north Caucasus Mountains, located between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, kefir is a cultured milk product much like yogurt. But while yogurt is cultured solely with the beneficial bacteria known as lactobacilli, kefir is cultured with lactobacilli and […]

Sour Cream Is Not Sour Cream!

You can’t buy real sour cream in the United States—but read on for an easy, homemade option. Sour cream is not available in the United States. Real sour cream, that is. Authentic sour cream. Sour cream that is soured cream. I know, you just bought a container at your grocery store the other day. The […]

The Benefits of Homemade Yogurt

These days, most people agree that yogurt is a health food, if only for the probiotics—or beneficial bacteria—it contains. However, the yogurt at the supermarket may not deliver the health benefits you think it does. So remember that the next time you toss fat-free Greek-style yogurt into your shopping cart, thinking you are “doing your […]

The Dark Side of Bone Broth

Bone broth

From the beginning of time—or at least since man discovered fire and our ancestor hunters came on the scene—humans all over the world have been boiling bones to glean their last bits of goodness after eating all the meat. Bone Broth is a time-honored traditional food that seems to have hit the mainstream recently. It’s […]