Chocolate and The Love Connection The symbolic connection between chocolate and love was originally established by the Mayans of Mexico where, in addition to serving chocolate as a celebratory beverage at betrothal and marriage ceremonies (much like expensive French champagne), the bride and bridegroom exchanged cacao beans during their wedding vows to signify their bond. […]
Simple Roast Chicken with Garlic Chive Rub
Chicken, specifically pasture-raised chicken, is an excellent choice of hormone-balancing protein. It is also an excellent source of thyroid-supporting B vitamins (all B vitamins) and thyroid-supporting selenium; it is a good source of other minerals, including zinc, phosphorus, magnesium and iron. Personally, I am not obsessed about cooking a “perfect” roast chicken with brown, crisped […]
Liver: An Ancient Superfood
Growing up, my mother used to cook liver once a week or every two weeks. I loved liver and regarded it as a “treat”, sometimes confusing it with steak, which I also loved! As a child, I had no idea that liver was a nutrition powerhouse. It is, in fact, an original superfood. Many traditional […]
Fresh Corn Salad with Cumin-Lime Vinaigrette
In the Northeast, late summer is the time to savor corn on the cob, also known as “sweet corn”, available at your local farmers’ market or farm stand. Sweet corn is a starchy vegetable; this means that it is high in starch-carbohydrates that convert to sugar in your body (the body can’t tell the difference […]
Broccoli-Collagen Smoothie Bowl with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
While I think that having a smoothie or smoothie bowl for breakfast (or any other meal) is totally 100% fine (and fun), I rarely have one myself. About six years ago, I went through a year-long phase, where I had a green smoothie for breakfast almost every single day. It was chockfull of leafy green […]
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 […]
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 […]
Detox Marathon Smoothie
Stress, sugar, coffee, alcohol, soda and birth control pills are a few of the things that can deplete our mineral stores. Unfortunately, mineral deficiencies are rampant today, thanks to soil depletion and a process food-driven Standard American Diet (SAD). A common symptom of mineral deficiency is low energy, fatigue and a general loss of vitality. […]
Beat the Heat: Homemade-Mango Ginger Popsicles
I often see clients who have autoimmune conditions, like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, or multiple food sensitivities (myself, included). Often, they are highly reactive or intolerant to sugar and dairy foods. Happily, this homemade mango-ginger popsicle will make your store-bought dairy cravings yesterday’s news. And, if you have an autoimmune condition—and are not sensitive to any of […]