Category: My Beautiful Immune System

Plant-Based Diets and Autoimmune Disease – 7 Reasons You May Not Feel Better

There’s a lot of evidence that plant-based diets are beneficial for people with autoimmune diseases. By flooding the body with colorful antioxidants, comprehensive micronutrients, and diverse fiber, people with inflammatory conditions can really benefit from this lifestyle change.


Physicians have been using different versions of plant-based diets for decades now and noticed great improvements – sometimes even full reversal (!) – in their autoimmune patients.


So, many people will try a plant-based diet, and find they don’t thrive. Or they don’t get better. Or worse, they feel worse.


What’s going wrong???


Eating a whole-food, plant-based diet often isn’t enough for … Read the rest

Foods to Fight COVID-19

With the rapidly increasing number of COVID-19 cases and the potential seriousness of the illness, now more than ever is the time to focus on taking care of ourselves. Thanks to all the amazing scientists and medical teams working day and night, we have learned a lot about coronavirus, the immune system, and the points where they intersect.  Our bodies are designed to protect against foreign invaders; and like any effective army, we have to make sure our immune system has the right tools and training to do its proper job.

So what can we do to buff up our … Read the rest

8 Tips to Support a Healthy Microbiome and Reduce Chronic Inflammation

Systemic inflammation is intimately connected to our gut health and our microbiome. If we want to lower chronic inflammation, the microbiome is a good place to start.

This is a whole paradigm shift in medicine, and it’s one of the most fascinating things I’ve ever learned. And, it works!

70% of our immune system lies in our guts, just underneath the single cell endothelial layer that makes up all of our digestive tract (affectionately referred to as the “gut” here).

It’s there on purpose. Remember, one of the most important functions of the immune system is to recognize and eliminate … Read the rest

6 Tips Manage Stress and Support Immune Health during COVID-19

  1. Follow the COVID-19 guidelines – SELF-ISOLATE is essential. Wash your hands and practice good hygiene. And then:
  • Breathe – Breathe in slowly and deeply for the count of 5, hold for a second, and breathe out for the count of 5. Do this 6 times, and this is 1 minute. You can trigger your vagus nerve and rest and restore mode with just these few deep breaths. Do it often during the day, and it can help break the cycle of anxiety and stressful thoughts.
  • Eat real food – Your immune system starts in your gut with your
… Read the rest

Chronic Inflammation and the Role of Diet

Chronic inflammation has been shown to be the common link among the leading causes of death and disability, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, autoimmunity, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, asthma, allergies, and premature aging.1Diet and lifestyle choices actually make a significant impact on the amount of chronic inflammation we experience, yet it is often overlooked. We know these illnesses are inflammatory in nature, and treatment is often with anti-inflammatory medications, such as NSAIDS (Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Naproxen), COX-2 inhibitors (Celebrex), steroids such as Prednisone, and biologics that block specific inflammatory cells, such as TNF-alpha, IL-1, or IL-6.  Often when we look … Read the rest

The Healing Power of Yoga

Yoga is never something I did on a regular basis. I was too busy for that. I ran, biked, hiked, skied, took HIIT classes, did “Insanity” workouts at home. These were how I “relaxed” and spent my little bit of free time every day. I had no time for yoga. Poses and stretching. Really?

But, as I have turned to study Integrative Medicine and tap into my own body’s ability to heal itself, more and more data about the positive aspects of yoga keep appearing. Yoga is not just about wearing tight yoga pants and assuming uncomfortable poses; it is … Read the rest

Healing with Food

Food has a powerful influence on our bodies. It turns on and off genes for inflammation. It changes our microbiome. It nourishes cells and facilitates healing, or it increases oxidative stress, free radical formation, and premature aging. It’s composed of nutrients to support the immune system, reverse chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, autoimmunity, diabetes, and even some cancers, or it further propagates these “chronic” illnesses. It cultivates satisfaction, boosts energy, and brightens skin, or it leaves us with severe food cravings, feeling drained, and a dull exterior. It affects mood, as it reduces anxiety, depression, and anger, or it … Read the rest