Hey Reader! Thanksgiving is basically the Superbowl of side dishes, and if you’re anything like me, you want to bring something that tastes amazing and leaves people asking for the recipe. So this year, I pulled together a collection of my favorite holiday sides that just happen to be: naturally gluten-free dairy-free free of refined sugar full of vibrant, seasonal flavor absolutely delicious These dishes are colorful, cozy, and festive. The kind of recipes that make the table look good and...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Last week was… let’s just say, character-building. It started with my son. He used his locked-down iPhone’s Find My feature to track down his Airtagged Chromebook that I had tucked away in a suitcase (genius, but also, I'm running out of hiding places…next he’s probably going to find my chocolate stash.). Naturally, he was sneaking YouTube at 1:30 a.m. when he heard an odd sound outside his bedroom. Dripping onto wet carpet. Turns out, the water heater in the attic had given up...
5 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader! You’ve probably heard that stress affects the gut. But it’s not just about feeling stressed. It’s about physiological stress, mineral imbalances, inflammation, gut dysbiosis, low-grade chronic infections, past traumas, blood sugar swings, and more. And if your nervous system is dysregulated, your gut can’t do its job, no matter how many targeted supplements or carefully curated foods you’re taking in. (But wait - don’t toss the organic lemon juice-massaged kale salads just yet!)...
6 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader! I’m a little late to the party (but still celebrating anyway): World Microbiome Day (June 27). World Microbiome Day is the perfect time to bust one of the biggest myths in gut health: 🚫 If you poop every day and it looks good, your gut microbiome must be healthy. Sure, regular, well-formed bowel movements can be a good sign. I absolutely want clients paying attention to what’s in the toilet bowl! But here’s the twist: your gut can look fine on the outside and still be struggling...
7 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader! If your labs and your doctor say your iron is “fine” but your body disagrees, you’re not alone. Low iron that won’t budge often isn’t just about what you’re eating—it’s about how your gut is functioning. Tomorrow, I’ll be going live on Instagram with my colleague, functional health expert Jodie Campbell, AFMC, to talk about how gut health directly impacts iron absorption and utilization—and why many conventional approaches fall short. We’ll explore: The role of stealth gut...
8 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, This May marks the first Celiac Awareness Month that I’m observing not just as a nutrition professional—but as part of a family directly impacted by a celiac diagnosis. Roughly 1% of Americans have celiac disease, making it more common than type 1 diabetes. Yet despite its prevalence, celiac often flies under the radar—and its diagnosis can be painfully delayed. In our case, it took nearly nine years to gain clarity. (6-10 years is average.) The official diagnosis came just five...
8 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader, Did you know you’re not just eating for two when you're pregnant… you're actually eating for three? 👶 You, your baby, and your gut microbiome. I recently had the honor of speaking with the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP) about the power of nutrition during and after pregnancy and how the choices we make before conception, during pregnancy, and in early infancy can shape a child’s health into adulthood. We talked about things every woman deserves to hear: Why...
9 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, I need to make sure you know about something critically important - especially if you’ve ever grabbed your supplements from Amazon or Walmart Marketplace because it was convenient and the price seemed “too good to pass up.” (I go into this topic in detail in The Gut Lab and with my private clients, but I think it’s just generally a good PSA-type message to share now and then!) Unfortunately, we’re seeing a rise in counterfeit supplements sold through these third-party...
9 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, If I see one more “kill protocol,” I’m going to scream. Okay, not literally out loud. But definitely in my head. Because if I had a dollar for every time I saw a practitioner jump to a kill protocol the moment someone mentions GI Map, Candida, or “bad gut bugs,” I could retire early and live off of the finest coconut kefir and kimchi. I don’t chase single microbes like I’m in some parasite-themed episode of Whack-a-Mole. That approach might feel satisfying in the short term -...
9 months ago • 2 min read
