The western states and provinces of North America have seen a large increase in forest fires over the past several years. The Pacific Northwest, California coast, and BC Interior have seen a five-fold increase in forest fires, lasting five times as long and burning through six times as much land area since the 1980s. These fires cause tens of billions of dollars in combined damage and can affect people for hundreds to thousands of miles downwind. About half of these…
Worsening allergies? Blame climate change! Then, choose your probiotic. In my last blog on histamines, I introduced four types of histamine, their functions, and nutrients to manage Histamine Intolerance (HIT). I mentioned herbs to stabilize mast cells and how to be careful with probiotics, saying that studies, underway at the time, might offer more insight in the future. As artist Paik Nam June is credited with saying, “the future is now”. What are histamines? Histamines are chemicals your immune system…
What better treat on a hot summer day than an ice-cold popsicle! Here I have two different flavors. The first is a fresh and tangy Creamy Berry & Lemon combo. The second is “PBBJ,” a play on everyone’s favorite PB&J, with an extra “B” for a twist! Dr. Tara’s passion is to inspire and empower others to experience the joy and richness of life. She embraces a holistic definition of health & wellness with a focus on lifestyle factors. For…
As much as it drives me crazy, kids seem to get a kick out of things that are spelled wrong. Is it rebellion? Freedom from parental oversight? Not sure. What I do know is that all my son’s beloved graphic novels have at least one ‘z’ where an ‘s’ should be. So, in that spirit, here is a recipe for Baoballz, with ‘z’. They use my son’s favorite form of social currency, Baobites (I swear, he uses them to trade…
Healthy homemade “Chick” Nuggets. When I say healthy, I mean nuggets made to supply vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, like omega-3 and fiber, that kids tend to be low in, while avoiding the weird chemicals, bad fats, and excess sodium common to the fast-food versions. Why make nuggets at all? In my experience, toddlers and teenagers alike are often happy to eat anything golden, bite-sized, crispy, and handheld. In fact, several years ago, Jamie Oliver made the shocking and disappointing…
Celebrate summer barbecues with veggies, infused with rosemary and drizzled with a citrusy Italian dressing. This simple sauce puts a healthy twist on classic Italian flavors with sweet orange in place of vinegar and Udo’s Oil in place of a commercial variety grain oil. The result is mellower than the typical store-bought variety and significantly healthier. We enjoyed it paired with grilled summer veggies and rosemary. With such simple everyday ingredients, you can easily use it to dress everyday salads on short notice. It’s an…
Infuse your portobello mushrooms with mucho umami for a versatile and satisfying dish that will please your friends—even if they eat vegan and/or keto! Makes enough infusion for four large cleaned & trimmed portobello mushroom caps. (Vegan / Keto / LCHF) Portobello Steak Serving Suggestions Roast herbs and garlic alongside the mushrooms. To serve as vegan burger patties for 4, tuck the mushroom caps in between toasted buns. Serve with salad. For a clean vegan keto meal option, serve on a bed…
Do you get enough healthy fat? Many people don’t consume enough, especially essential omegas. Omega-3, -6 and -9 oils are safe to use in meals for the whole family, not just smoothies! Udo’s Oil is a great way to balance a meal, make a snack more satisfying, or finish off a dish of any kind. How Much Udo’s Oil? Using 2 – 3 tablespoons daily seems to work well for most adults and children 10 years and older. Even babies…
This isn’t a typical “Top ten rules for beautiful skin” list. I want great skin that is smooth, even, and healthy, beautiful skin that glows with or without makeup. There is nothing wrong with aging, I just want to age well. When my skin is irritable or overreacts, my mood mirrors that. Great skin helps me feel great. If you’re like me, you’ve tried tips like drink water, sleep, and eat healthy fats and were not blown away by the…