• 70-80% of the immune system is the gut, and the gut's surface area could cover a tennis court.⁠
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This is no surprise when you think of the big job it has to filter out the bad guys.⁠
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With every bite of food, you have the potential to overload your digestive tract with pathogens, like bacteria, viruses, fungi, or toxins. ⁠
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What you eat has the potential to trigger inflammation. ⁠
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And too much inflammation can wreck havoc...⁠
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🦠  Damage to the gut (intestinal permeability, a.k.a. leaky gut)⁠
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🦠  Imbalances in your gut microbiome (too many bad bugs, not enough good bugs)⁠
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🦠  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).⁠
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Eating the right foods for your body can help. ⁠
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And eating the wrong foods can cause it... and that includes healthy foods that don't work well for your body. ⁠
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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.⁠
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Need 1:1 help? Head over to the link in my bio, and click Work With Me to learn more. 🤍
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    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.⁠
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Is it perfect?⁠
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Definitely not.⁠
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But it worked. ✔️⁠
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We were low on groceries and I was low on time. ⁠
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It was wicked fast, decently balanced and full of nutrients and fiber to keep me energized until dinner.⁠
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I have a few points here:⁠
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1. My meals aren't always picture-perfect. 🙈⁠
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2. Lunch doesn't need to be fancy in order to be nutritious. 💁🏻‍♀️⁠
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3. Preparation can mean having food you can throw together in less than 5 minutes. ⏱⁠
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Do your lunches ever look like this? 😬
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    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. 🌮⁠
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We go through a lot of it, and it's simply more cost effective... and tastier... to do it myself. And no added crap. 💁🏻‍♀️⁠
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The ratio is easy peasy, too.⁠
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1:1 everything.⁠
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Here are the key players:⁠
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Smoked paprika⁠
Oregano⁠
Chili powder⁠
Garlic powder⁠
Onion powder⁠
Cumin⁠
Sea salt⁠
Apple cider vinegar⁠
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Optional add-ins: 1 tbsp tomato paste, pinch of red pepper flakes.⁠
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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. ⁠
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You can use this formula as a base, and tweak based on your tastebuds.⁠
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Do you mix any of your own seasonings or go for the convenience of pre-made mixes?
    00
    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. ⁠
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I'm not saying our health or goals aren't important.⁠
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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?⁠
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I'd bet many pieces of our health would fall right into place. 🤍
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    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.⁠
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And what a trip it's been. ⁠
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I'm not a big birthday person, but I'm finding more gratitude for every new year I get to ride. ⁠
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Even the really bumpy rides (hello, 2020).⁠
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This year, I'm most grateful for the people in my life, including YOU!⁠
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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 (🍕).⁠
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These are crazy times, but your comments and messages brighten my days.⁠
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So thank you for being here and following along.⁠
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My birthday wish is that you chew each bite of pizza 20-30 times in my honor tonight. 😜⁠
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Cheers and happy Friday!
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    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!