Protein intake increases mental alertness for several hours after eating. This is because dietary protein increases levels of the brain neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine which can make it easier to concentrate, learn, and complete complex tasks. A lack of dietary protein can be associated with decreased cognitive function.

Oat bran is the outer layer of the oat groat just beneath the outer hull. Oat bran has the same beneficial nutrients as steel cut and whole oats yet it has more fiber and protein. When cooked or soaked, it has a creamy texture many people enjoy. Soaking oat bran overnight with other nutrient-packed ingredients […]

While it’s important to have healthy ingredients on hand at home for easy, nutritious meal prep, it’s equally important to keep items that have negative health effects, including weight gain, out of the kitchen as much as possible. Key foods to eliminate from your kitchen include those with added sugars, chemicals, and emulsifiers & stabilizers.

There are a lot of myths about fruit consumption. Vegetables in general offer a wider range of nutrients, more fiber, phytochemicals, and a lower sugar load for your body compared to fruit. However, if fruit consumption means you’re eating fewer baked goods or processed foods than you would if you were not eating fruit, you’re in good shape when it comes to health and feeling your best. Moderation, variety, and whole organic foods – and how you feel – remain your best nutrition guidelines.   

Let’s face it: when you’ve got a lot of responsibilities to juggle and are prioritizing your own well being, making complex, time-consuming meals isn’t high on the list. However, eating a variety of tasty, healthy meals is appealing. So how do you make delicious, healthy meals when you don’t have a lot of time? The answer is to cook basic foods and dress them up with sauces and condiments. The goal is healthy, easy, quick, and just enough flavor to make it interesting.

The benefits of heart-healthy omega-3 fats, unsaturated fats, and healthy saturated fats are well known. But how exactly do you go about incorporating them into your diet? Start with these 7 suggested foods: hemp seeds, walnuts, omega-3 eggs, trout, grass-fed beef, avocado, and dark chocolate.

Consuming carbohydrates elevates serotonin levels by allowing the amino acid tryptophan, out of which serotonin is made, to enter the brain which can make stress a little more manageable and make you happier.

Ever since a family trip to Israel a few years ago, we’ve loved the version of a Chicken Shawarma sandwich we came up with when we got home. Everyone can build their own creation depending on the ingredients they like best. Really, whatever you have on hand will work. You can marinate the chicken and […]

Being a Health Coach for Divorced Parents is a logical extension of the wellness, nutrition, and life & lifestyle coaching I’ve been doing since 2001 when I first became a certified life coach. Recently I’ve been working with more divorced parents who want to refuel their tank and create a happier and healthier next chapter for themselves and their children, and I want to embrace divorced parents and the related issues more fully. I enjoy more acceptance, joy, gratitude, and success in my life these days, and I’ve come to peace with issues of divorce that I was unable or not ready to address in the past. I’m eager and honored to help others get to their happy place without having to go through everything I went through to get here.