70-80% of the immune system is the gut, and the gut's surface area could cover a tennis court. This is no surprise when you think of the big job it has to filter out the bad guys. With every bite of food, you have the potential to overload your digestive tract with pathogens, like bacteria, viruses, fungi, or toxins. What you eat has the potential to trigger inflammation. And too much inflammation can wreck havoc... 🦠 Damage to the gut (intestinal permeability, a.k.a. "leaky gut") 🦠 Imbalances in your gut microbiome (too many bad bugs, not enough good bugs) 🦠 Inflammation linked to many of the modern diseases and conditions we're all too familiar with today (IBD, immune disorders, obesity, food sensitivities, chronic heart disease, diabetes, to name a few). Eating the right foods for your body can help. And eating the wrong foods can cause it... and that includes "healthy" foods that don't work well for your body. This is why it's key to get to the root cause and optimize what's right for your body, including food AND lifestyle factors like sleep and stress. Need 1:1 help? Head over to the link in my bio, and click "Work With Me" to learn more. 🤍 
Sometimes my lunch looks like this. Is it perfect? Definitely not. But it worked. ✔️ We were low on groceries and I was low on time. It was wicked fast, decently balanced and full of nutrients and fiber to keep me energized until dinner. I have a few points here: 1. My meals aren't always picture-perfect. 🙈 2. Lunch doesn't need to be fancy in order to be nutritious. 💁🏻♀️ 3. Preparation can mean having food you can throw together in less than 5 minutes. ⏱ Do your lunches ever look like this? 😬 
I love buying spice mixes to try new flavor blends and for convenience, but taco seasoning is a place I do my own thang. 🌮 We go through a lot of it, and it's simply more cost effective... and tastier... to do it myself. And no added crap. 💁🏻♀️ The ratio is easy peasy, too. 1:1 everything. Here are the key players: Smoked paprika Oregano Chili powder Garlic powder Onion powder Cumin Sea salt Apple cider vinegar Optional add-ins: 1 tbsp tomato paste, pinch of red pepper flakes. If you're using it with ground meat, add stir in just before meat is browned and finish cooking. Add 1/4 cup of water and simmer if you like it a little saucy. You can use this formula as a base, and tweak based on your tastebuds. Do you mix any of your own seasonings or go for the convenience of pre-made mixes? 
You are more than your body size. I'm not saying our health or goals aren't important. But instead of fretting about every pound and inch, imagine if we spent that time focusing on nurturing the areas that make us who we are? I'd bet many pieces of our health would fall right into place. 🤍 
It's been another trip around the sun. #37, to be exact. And what a trip it's been. I'm not a big birthday person, but I'm finding more gratitude for every new year I get to ride. Even the really bumpy rides (hello, 2020). This year, I'm most grateful for the people in my life, including YOU! I love that we've connected in this little corner of the internet over a shared interest in health and how we fill our stomachs (🍕). These are crazy times, but your comments and messages brighten my days. So thank you for being here and following along. My birthday wish is that you chew each bite of pizza 20-30 times in my honor tonight. 😜 Cheers and happy Friday!