Today I want to introduce you to a very special person who helped me shift from a restrictive frame of mind to a soft, feminine, and colorful. Please meet Dr. Deanna Minich is an internationally-recognized teacher, author, scientist, speaker, and artist. She has more than 20 years of diverse, well-rounded experience in the fields of nutrition and functional medicine, including clinical practice, research, product formulation, writing, and education. She has authored five books on health and wellness and over fifteen scientific publications. Currently, she is Faculty for the Institute for Functional Medicine and the University of Western States. She has developed an online certification program for health professionals so that they can apply the color-coded 7 Systems of Full-Spectrum Health in their practice. Her lectures are heard by patients and practitioners throughout the world. Dr. Minich’s passion is teaching a whole-self approach to nourishment and bridging the gaps between science, spirituality, and art in medicine.
I don’t believe in perfection when it comes to health. I think it is more about reading the signs that your body is communication about its state and then knowing what to do to bring it back into balance. It is also a matter of staying in integrity with what you know serves and supports you.
These unconventional tips are pulled from several of my favorite disciplines: Ayurveda – an ancient Indian science of life and health, Mindfulness – a practice of awareness that is extremely helpful in getting to know one’s body, emotions, and triggers on a much deeper level, and psychology.
With warm weather upon us my chocolate cravings have been long gone. I always felt that the warming treat has its place in colder months but that it was completely out of place for my Pitta nature in the summer. Also the more present I become in my body, the more sensitive I am to the stimulating nature of chocolate ( I am talking about the really dark varieties without processed sugar. In milk chocolate with lots of processed ingredients, the stimulating effect can come mostly from sugar, not the cacao itself. The quality of that stimulation will be very different).
Cacao, spiced apple cider, and pumpkin spice lattes… Mmm… Halloween week (yes, this year it is actually seems to be a week-long celebration!) is here along with its colorful multitude of sugary treats and fall-inspired drinks. While ghouls and goblins might be scared away by half-naked girls running around the Halloween party circuit here in New York City, us yogis and health warriors are probably scared of falling out of sync with our wellness routines — which is, unfortunately, often a consequence of the upcoming holidays.
There is a lot of controversy around the effect of legumes on our digestive system and health in general. Some people and traditions recommend making it the core of your diet while lots of paleo folks and functional medicine practitioner advise to shun away from them. I personally, still keep lentils in my diet 2-3 times per week. But since each body is different and each digestive system is different, I want to help you make the right decision for your body.
Warning: I hope you are not reading this on your phone sitting on a toilet or on your laptop while you eat. If you are, please either put the fork down and finish reading or come back to the article later. It is crucial to your well-being. You’ve been warned!
It’s much easier to change an unhealthy habit when you have a clear strategy or other healthy habit to replace it with. Having a void is much more challenging.
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2 Video Classes and Ebook: Ayurveda tips to eliminate bloating, get regular & feel light
