Discover your dosha

Learn what makes you unique and unpack a whole world of personalized healthcare recommendations for feeling your best. In Ayurveda, each of us has a unique mind-body type, known as a dosha. Think of a dosha as your individual blueprint that describes your unique personality, tendencies, and physical nature. Understanding your dosha reveals how to keep yourself in balance to stay happy, healthy and disease free. 

By gathering information in this quiz, we’ll give you a breakdown of your specific dosha blend along with personalized practices for mind, body and spirit well-being. Take the quiz for free here.

Snacking on Nuts

People are always curious about what I eat, and specifically what kinds of things I like to have on hand as nutritious snacks.

Nuts are definitely at the top of my list, for multiple reasons. 

I love that they are delicious, give different flavors and textures to a meal or snack, and are pretty easy and convenient to prep & enjoy. But most of all, I’m a fan of nuts because of their impactful nutrient dense profile and the many health benefits they can provide. 

Nuts pack a lot of good stuff into a small package. They’ve got healthy fats, fiber, protein + a variety of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. These all change depending on the type of nut you’re eating. So the key is to eat a variety of nuts.

Walnuts are one of my favs for omega-3s to keep inflammation in check and support brain health. 

 Macadamias contain monounsaturated fats that benefit heart health and lower LDL cholesterol, along with manganese that supports strong bones and powerful antioxidant activity.

 Brazil nuts are a high source of selenium to help the immune system and thyroid function. 

 Pistachios are an incredible source of lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids that protect eyesight and help your body recycle the powerful antioxidant, glutathione. 

 Pecans provide a nice dose of copper, an important mineral for the immune system, nerve cells, and red blood cells. 

 Almonds are rich in antioxidant vitamin E, an essential nutrient for immune, cognitive, and heart health. 

And the list of benefits goes on! Can you see what I’m talking about?  Nuts are a great whole food to increase our nutrient intake. 

There are a few things to look out for to ensure your nuts are not sabotaged, so I want to add a few caveats:

Always opt for unroasted, unsalted nuts. Most of the pre-roasted options out there use inflammatory seed oils, so it’s better to buy them raw and just dry-roast them in a pan yourself.

Store nuts and nut butters in the fridge. The beneficial fats in nuts are also the reason they are susceptible to going rancid, something you definitely don’t want to eat. If you’ve ever had a nut that’s gone bad, you know what I’m talking about. Storing your nuts and nut butters in the cold dark fridge helps them stay fresher, longer. Sometimes I buy nuts in bulk and will even keep extras in the freezer. 

Read labels on nut milks or make your own. Nut milk can be a helpful and nourishing ingredient to have on hand, but many of the store-bought varieties are loaded with sugar and unnecessary ingredients.  Always look for minimal ingredients or try making your own nut milks in your blender at home, it only takes a few minutes. 

I hope you’re feeling inspired to go a little nuts! 

Soul Pixar Disney

It’s so easy to get caught up in everyday, going after whatever your next goal is without focusing on our intention. That’s the theme behind this whimsical Pixar film and one of the reasons I love it. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a great film to watch with the whole family that will be sure to leave you reflecting on your unique gifts and how to enjoy what you have. Click on the link here to watch

Can your attitude affect your health and lifespan?

According to growing research, the answer to the question, Can your attitude affect your health and lifespan?, The answer is yes!

Optimism has now been linked to a variety of health benefits, including a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases.  It also contributes to what researchers call “exceptional longevity”—living past 85 years of age. In fact, in 15 studies with almost 230,000 participants, optimism was associated with a 35% reduction in cardiovascular events and a 14% reduction in all-cause mortality. 

Researchers have begun to understand the biological mechanisms that could account for a causal relationship between optimism and a long, healthy life. 

For example:

• Pessimists tend to have higher cortisol levels than optimists.

• Pessimists tend to have more inflammation than optimists.

• Pessimists are less likely to consistently engage in health-promoting behaviors than optimists.

• Pessimists are less resilient than optimists in the face of challenges.

Most peoples conventional thought holds that we’re either born pessimistic or optimistic, and there’s not much we can do about it… But recent research on neuroplasticity has shown that this isn’t true. It is possible to cultivate optimism and a more positive attitude, even if you’re a pessimist. 

How do you do that?

Here are a few favorite resources I share with clients:

Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence

A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life You Always Wanted

Dynamic Neural Retraining System (DNRS). This neuroplasticity-based approach to healing chronic illness is based in part on positive psychology.

It’s just more fun to be happy and optimistic!

Easy Plant-Based Soups & Stews

Ready for my delicious plant-based soup recipe for the week that you can make in a hurry, prepare in large batches and make everyone in your family happy? Carrot Ginger Soup This creamy plant-based carrot ginger soup is slightly spicy and made with only 8 healthy ingredients! Topped with some nuts, sesame seeds or fresh cilantro, it’s the veggie-rich soup you need this winter to get you through the dark days.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon Olive oil or coconut oil

• 1 white onion, chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 5 drops ginger essential oil or 1 tablespoons fresh grated ginger

• 3 cups chopped carrots

• 1 teaspoon red curry powder

• 1L vegetable broth

• Coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

• Coconut milk, optional for decor

• Cilantro, optional

• Chopped almonds or walnuts, optional

• Toasted sesame seeds, optional

Method

In a large stock pot, heat the oil over medium heat.

Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5-6 minutes.

Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

Add the ginger, carrots, red curry powder, and vegetable broth and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, cover, lower the heat, and simmer for 30 minutes.

Remove the soup from the heat and blend using either a blender wand or regular blender. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serve in bowls with a drizzle of coconut milk, a few cilantro leaves, chopped peanuts, and sesame seeds.