— Happy Lunar New Year! The bittersweet plant, also known as climbing nightshade, pops up along a certain stretch of the country road that I walk. The tangle of vines, from which bright red berries hang, is beautiful…and often ends up on our fireplace mantle as a decorative element. Bittersweet symbolizes truth, honesty and, energetically, […]
Cumin-Spiced Lamb Ragu with Butternut Squash Noodles
When it’s bone-cold outside, this body-warming one-pot dish will be welcome at your dinner table! This stealth vegetable-packed ragu is loaded with immune-boosting vitamins and minerals. The parsnip and carrot impart a delicious sweetness, kind of like a “meaty” carrot cake! It’s both savory and sweet, wonderfully spiced and leaves you feeling sated and satisfied. […]
Ready for a Reset? 5 Benefits of a Fall Cleanse
If early fall finds you feeling low energy, lethargic, a few pounds heavier, congested, sneezy, bloated, swollen, clearing a scratchy or sore throat, and/or feeling generally “meh”, doing a fall cleanse can be an effective reboot. After all, we reset our clocks (Daylight Saving Time) in the fall…why not our bodies? What is a cleanse? […]
DIY Electrolyte Cocktail
In extreme heat, and, especially, if you have engaged in vigorous physical activity that leaves you sweating heavily, it may not be enough to drink plain water for hydration. This was something that I learned the hard way as a macho, hard-core endurance runner, who thought nothing of running 7 to 10 miles in extreme […]
Beach Body Guide: Keys to Successful Weight Loss This Summer…and Beyond
It is officially swimsuit season. And, for many, losing weight is top of mind. If there is one weight loss strategy that has been driven home by mainstream media, your doctor, or most weight loss programs, it is some variation of: Eat less + Exercise more + Willpower = Weight loss. What if I told you […]
Basil-Mint Pesto
Eating enough healthy fat is essential for hormone balance, as well as for immune, heart and brain health. Olive oil nourishes the thyroid and has been touted as a fertility food for women. Regular consumption of olive oil is may also improve sperm integrity and function in men, according to a recent study. One of […]
Spiced Ground Lamb & Veg Ragu with Zoodles
A spiced ground lamb-veg ragu is one of my favorite one-pot comfort food dishes any day, but especially on a cold winter night. A ragu is toothsome, delicious and budget-friendly. You can make a simple ragu of onions, garlic, spices, ground lamb and strained tomatoes or one that is loaded with vegetables (my choice, and […]
The Power of Protein
Come September, we want (and need) more energy! There are schedules to juggle. Places to be. People to see. Reaching for more caffeine and sugar to boost energy, however, tips most of us into hormonal imbalance, setting us up to feel more anxious, overwhelmed and stressed. Caffeine and sugar are especially hard on the thyroid and […]
Slow Cooker Lamb with Garlicky Lemon-Rosemary Rub
Pasture-raised lamb is my go-to red meat. In fact, I prefer lamb to beef. One of my favorite fuss-free ways to prepare lamb is in the slow cooker. Season the lamb with Celtic sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Crush a few garlic cloves and herbs into a rub, and you’re good to go. You […]
Spring Allergies? Love Your Liver
Do you dread—achoo! achoo! achoo!—spring? If so, you’re not alone! We should all love spring. It means the end of cold and snow (for the most part!), and it can be a beautiful season, with budding trees and flowers and a greening landscape. Unfortunately, the reality for some 50 million Americans who are allergy sufferers1—including […]