My Autoimmune Kitchen

If you are ready to take the step into eating for emotional well-being:

- Eat more green things (vegetables) in your day, at least one serving with each meal.
- Reduce the coffee and caffeine intake.
- If you eat nuts or nut butters most days of the week, reduce to once a week (or less) and see how you feel. (Nuts and nut butters “congest” the Liver’s function, because they are so rich and dense.)
- Reduce, and preferably eliminate for a period of time, cheese & dairy products (ie mac n’ cheese, ice cream, cream, pizza, etc), fried and oily foods (chips, fries, pastries, etc.)
- Eliminate alcohol and cannabis from your life (it may relax you at first, but all it does is mess up your Liver functioning).

Basically: eat simply, with fresh foods that you prepare yourself (if possible), and keep the number of ingredients in a dish to a minimum. Think of it as a “cleanse” where you give your body a chance to reset. In that time, you will notice a difference in how you feel.

You’ll also notice your tendencies (ie cravings) and how you respond to them can be very illuminating too!

Your body is designed to move. ⛹️‍♀️

If you don’t move then your body becomes grumpy.

Grumpy bodies create grumpy people!

Move in a way that feels good to you every day. I know that a lot of folks are busy with work, kids and home, but find 20 mins to move your body. Maybe instead of plopping on the couch after dinner and work, you can go out for a leisurely 20 minute walk in the neighborhood.

If you would like support for an emotional challenge, utilizing herbs & food, or even how you talk to yourself, book a session and get started today. (go to the link-in-bio, or to the website then click Shop)

When you have anger as a prevalent emotion in your life there can be a few things happening:

1. Your boundaries are not being honored, set, and/or are regularly “crossed” – when this happens, and you do not “do” anything about it, you become angry because anger is a HEALTHY emotion that shows that something needs to shift within YOUR inner world (and your external world too, but it starts inside)

2. You are not expressing yourself in healthy ways FOR YOU. In order to feel at-ease as much of the time as is possible, do you know what you need on a daily basis? Are you doing that?

3. You do not feel like you are the creator or your own life. (This ties to 1 and 2, right?) When you feel like everything is happeniing TO you and not something you’ve chosen… well, life can stink. Then you can get angry.

4. You wouldn’t believe it, unless you’ve felt it yourself, but eating, sleeping, and living a life that’s healthy for you, has a profound impact on your emotional state.

Take some time to reflect on these points. What are your responses to them? Is there something you can bring greater attention to, more LOVE to? More compassion? More wisdom?

LONG-term chronic anger not only negatively impacts the Liver but your entire body.

The Heart organ system is in charge of the circulation of Blood.

When the Liver is on attack (aka angry), the smooth flow of Blood to the Heart is interrupted and then the Heart gets sick. So then you have not one problem (your Liver) but two: your Liver and your Heart.

This in turn creates issues with memory, cognitive functioning in general (for the Liver is in charge of helping the Heart make decisions and execute those decisions), and more...

Anger can make your Heart bitter, so you don't see the good in the world around you. You cannot be in connection with the love, joy and gratitude that's inherent in our world.

Reflect on a time when you were angry:
Can you remember all the details?
Were you able to make smart, "good", or otherwise intelligent decisions?
How did you feel afterward - proud of your actions/reactions, or not?
Did you act in a loving and compassionate manner?

Your Liver is the organ system that is in charge of smooth emotions (meaning: no outbursts of anger, no stewing in emotions, no stuck in emotions, stuff like that), and your Liver is also in charge of the smooth flow of Blood in your body.

When your Liver is "stuck" or unable to produce a smooth flow of Blood, emotions, energy, and so on, you can get eruptions of anger even if there's "no reason" for the anger.

When you get angry at everything around you, your Liver can get stuck and unbalanced.

Long-term, when your Liver is experiencing these states, it can negatively impact not just your emotional mood, but also your digestion, your ability to create, dream and be inspired, but also your other organs can be damaged (including your Heart.)

I saw an article from the Wall Street Journal this morning, titled: Anger Does a Lot More Damage to Your Body Than You Realize and I’ve gotta say, I’m glad that our culture is finally catching up to what the ancients have known for millennia.

Here are a few excerpts, in case you cannot access the article:

“Getting angry doesn’t just hurt our mental health, it’s also damaging to our hearts, brains and gastrointestinal systems... it’s a normal emotion that everyone feels—few of us stay serene when a driver cuts us off or a boss makes us stay late. But getting mad too often or for too long can cause problems.”

“... over time if you’re getting these chronic insults to your arteries because you get angry a lot, that will leave you at risk for having heart disease”

“the space in between cells in the lining of the intestines opens up, which allows more food and waste to go in those gaps, creating more inflammation that can fuel symptoms such as stomach pain, bloating or constipation.”

For those in the know, the space between cells in the lining of the intestines is also called Leaky Gut, which until recently, the medical community dismissed as a “quack” disease or diagnosis. Leaky Gut occurs when long-term anger burns away the delicious Yin-soft-juicness of your body. In Chinese Medicine, this is often called "Liver attacking the Spleen" or "Wood attacking Earth", except it's deeper than just plain old Liver and Spleen stuff. This is Yin Deficiency and it's serious - it's why it is so difficult to recover and heal from.

“Anger can harm our cognitive functioning... it involves the nerve cells in the prefrontal cortex, the front area of our brain that can affect attention, cognitive control and our ability to regulate emotions.”

Observe your reactions and emotions today.

What is the prevailing, most prominent, emotion in your daily life?

Have you heard the latest episode of Toward a Better Life podcast, hosted by the incredible Kevin Pennell?

I had the honor of being his guest!

In this engaging and lively conversation, Kevin and I dive deep into the transformative potential of food as medicine, exploring its profound impact on managing chronic illnesses and fostering overall well-being.

Whether you're seeking insights into optimizing your diet for vitality or intrigued by the intersection of nutrition and chronic illness management, this episode promises to be both informative and inspiring.

I had a lot of fun talking with Kevin for the podcast, it was a conversation between longtime friends and colleagues.

🔗 Where to Listen: click the link-in-bio

Want to learn more?

Register for the Food as Medicine Workshop - it's next week on the 18th at 9amEST! (link-in-bio)

Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey toward a healthier, more vibrant life.

I can't wait for you to listen in and join the conversation!

I'm thrilled to share some exciting news with you!

A brand new episode of Toward a Better Life podcast, hosted by the incredible Kevin Pennell, is now live, and I had the honor of being a guest on the show.

In this enlightening conversation, Kevin and I dive deep into the transformative potential of food as medicine, exploring its profound impact on managing chronic illnesses and fostering overall well-being.

Whether you're seeking insights into optimizing your diet for vitality or intrigued by the intersection of nutrition and chronic illness management, this episode promises to be both informative and inspiring.

I had a lot of fun talking with Kevin for the podcast, it was a conversation between longtime friends and colleagues. We talk food, food energetics, blood sugar, get snarky and salty, and we talk about how true health comes from the things you engage in each day.

📅 Available Now: You can tune in to the episode right away!

🔗 Where to Listen: go to the link in bio or search Toward a Better Life on Apple podcasts

Want to learn more? Register for the Food as Medicine Workshop - it's next week on the 18th at 9amEST!

Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey toward a healthier, more vibrant life.

I can't wait for you to listen in and join the conversation!

I remember when my allergies were at their worst, before I put together this protocol...

I was in misery for weeks and weeks. I took OTC allergy medicine every day. Allergy symptoms would turn into sinus infections or migraine headaches. In short: I was a mess.

Now?

I've had a few days of not feeling great, reviewed my protocol and started taking some things that I forgot about, and am back to feeling fantabulous again.

And this is all with things being completely covered in pollen. (The other week my car turned green, this week my car's turned yellow.)

All this without using any OTC allergy products.

This protocol is what I recommend to clients, family and friends - it's been tested and works!

Want to have similar good-feels this season?

If you want to learn what products and strategies you can use to help you enjoy spring, vs "getting through" allergy season, this is the class for you.

From Chinese Medicine formulas for headaches and congestion, to homeopathic remedies (that work! No, homeopathics are NOT placebos), to nasal sprays and supplements, it's all covered.

Allergy Season Support is an on-demand class where you'll learn my tips and tricks for making it through the allergy season with greater comfort.

No matter how deep into Spring Allergies you are, it's not too late to give yourself some comfort!

Even better, you'll be prepared for next spring so you can truly enjoy the beauty of the season.

To take the class, go to the link-in-bio or My Autoimmune Kitchen Shop (https://myautoimmunekitchen.com/product/allergy-season-support/)

Feeling frustrated?

I know I've had my moments recently...

What can you “do” about it?

In this weeks’ podcast, I give some tips and strategies of what you can shift, change, and adopt in order to make this your smoothest and easiest spring yet!

In the podcast, I talk about:

~ the Spring Season and Chinese Medicine
~ the Wood Element
~ the Liver and Gallbladder
~ Why we get angry, frustrated, “stuck”, or even feel timid or lost this time of year
Healthy perspectives and practices
~ Practicing Benevolent Boundaries
~ the Wood element, Liver and Gallbladder’s role in Dreams (inner and external)
~ Our vision: inner and outer
~ Creativity
~ What we can eat to help our Livers

Give it a listen by clicking the link in bio, or go to: myautoimmunekitchen.com/link-in-bio then click It's All Connected Podcast.

Doing okay with allergies this spring?

Maybe you're doing okay but you still have the usual: itchy watery eyes, runny stuffy nose, headaches, sneezing fits?

While local honey is what we should be eating (for more reasons than just allergies), there are other options available that can support you during this time.

One of those, which you can readily find at any pharmacy is: quercetin (or quercetin/bromelain combo).

Taken every day, this beautiful food-based supplement can help reduce not only the histamine response that creates the allergies to begin with, this bioflavonoid can also help rebuild a healthy gut barrier aka mucous membrane lining, which, fun fact your sinus are too!

If you take quercitin daily, you can not only reduce your allergy symptom response, you also heal your gut! How cool is that?!

This is the magic of herbalism and using products that take into consideration the entire body! You get to help one area of your body, while also helping another!

If you want to learn what products and strategies you can use to help you enjoy spring, vs "getting through" allergy season, this is the class for you.

From Chinese Medicine formulas for headaches and congestion, to homeopathic remedies (that work! No, homeopathics are NOT placebos), to nasal sprays and supplements, it's all covered.

Allergy Season Support is an on-demand class where you'll learn my tips and tricks for making it through the allergy season with greater comfort.

No matter how deep into Spring Allergies you are, it's not too late to give yourself some comfort!

Even better, you'll be prepared for next spring so you can truly enjoy the beauty of the season.

To take the class, go to the link-in-bio or My Autoimmune Kitchen Shop (https://myautoimmunekitchen.com/product/allergy-season-support/)

Welp, I thought I'd sail through allergy season since I made it through the "extreme pollen" the other week. Pollen coated everything in my house in an hour of having my windows open!

Alas, I celebrated too soon...

I've been experiencing typical allergy things but at a much less extreme than in years past. All with the use of minimal to no OTC products.

(To be clear: I have no problem using OTC and Rx products, everything has it's place. It's just not the first thing that I turn to whenever possible.)

I've been contemplating when to teach this particular class for a while. And I figured now is as good a time as any!

Allergy Season Support is a short and sweet (1hr!) pre-recorded class where you'll learn my tips and tricks for making it through the allergy season with greater comfort.

I also share what I'm currently experimenting with to help ease some symptoms that may seem unconventional but makes sense with the new information I've been grokking!

A quick summary of what's in the class:

Diet's important - surprise!
Hydration
Supplements
Herbs
Homeopathics
"unconventional approaches"
Beliefs about "allergies" matter!
and more...

This is a pay-what-you-can class.

If you pay the full $10, you also get a downloadable tip-sheet for eating with the seasons.

If you are interested in a live Q&A session, let me know. I am happy to host one for registered students.

To take the class, go to the link-in-bio or My Autoimmune Kitchen Shop (https://myautoimmunekitchen.com/product/allergy-season-support/)

This week's podcast talks about being dairy-free when you have Autoimmunity. Why it's a good idea, and I believe I mention that I do not think this should be a permanent change. After 7 years of being dairy free, I got everything in place to re-introduce it.

Now, I slather butter on (gluten free) toast, have yogurt with berries and maple syrup, and cook with heavy cream diluted with water (still not on the milk, but hey: heavy cream is fine by me)!

I don't eat dairy the way I did "before". And I'm okay with that, I'm MUCH happier with my health and how I feel, and my food, so it doesn't matter that things don't look the same as they "used to".

I'm different, I've changed, my body's changed, why not my food?

(I mean, I've started eating sardines on toast for lunch - something I thought I'd NEVER do!)

All this to say, if you have been told that eliminating dairy may help you, I have some insights and oooooodles of personal experience with this.

Subscribe, like, comment, all that stuff, on the podcast so we can share the goodness!

In this episode, I explore this question!

For the podcast, go to the *link-in-bio* or go to https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-all-connected/id1722657503. Rather read? You can read the blog post that inspired the podcast here: https://myautoimmunekitchen.com/have-autoimmunity-dairy-may-be-making-things-worse/ or click link-in-bio then click Blog.

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SPECIAL DISCOUNT on the Getting Started with Food as Medicine Workshop!!!!

Ready to learn more about how what we put in our bodies affects our bodies? And how to make choices that are aligned and not full of the "well they said it was good, so it must be good" noise?

Learn how to see where YOU are at in this point in time from an ENERGETIC perspective and what you need to bring balance to your life!

You'll be using what you learn in this workshop for a long time to come.

The details:
-The workshop is online via Zoom, class is on May 18th at 9amEST.
- you'll learn how to apply the methods and information as soon as you leave the workshop!

Go to the link in bio to register.