Thyroid

We all have one, but do you know what it’s for? It’s a little butterfly shaped endocrine (ie hormone) gland that sits in your throat & has a big job. This small but mighty organ produces thyroid hormone, regulates body temperature, metabolism, heart rate and other vital functions in the body. It’s imperative that we…

Tempeh- Tem-PAY not Tem-PE

Tempeh – Tem-PAY not Tem-PE Have you tried it?  It’s okay if you’ve been saying it wrong. Most people do. Kinda like my name, which gets mispronounced a lot. Almost no one gets it right on the first try.  BTW, it’s like Shawna, not Shayna, which has made it seriously confusing. Anyway, back to tempeh.  …

Tofu

Do you love it or hate it? I say if you hate it, you may never have had it prepared properly or in a way that honks your horn. The spongey like staple that many people eschew is the result of coagulating soy milk and using the leftover curds, to form “bean curd”. Tofu is…

Sugar

I don’t eat sugar often, but when I do, I eat vegan pumpkin spice cupcakes with pillows of spiced cream cheese frosting, toasted pecans and a sprinkle of edible glitter. What can I say, I like sparkly things. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I could wax philosophic about the multitude of reasons sugar is bad for you. But I…

Spleen/Stomach

Plagued by worry, stress, anxiety, and over thinking? In TCM, the stomach/spleen yin/yang duo aren’t only digestive fire power & aid in blood flow, but assoc. w. those not-so-fun emotions. This can indicate an imbalance in the stomach/spleen that look like gastrointestinal issues, which are usually the result of inflammation, which is a byproduct of…

Traditional Chinese Medicine

My fave! TCM is a system of health & wellness that’s been used for 1000s of years. TCM focuses on a person’s entire well being-physical, emotional & mental through balance & harmony of energy: Qi & Yin/Yang. May sound airy fairy, it’s anything but. My friend @christianheals says “It’s Chinese Medicine, not Chinese magic.” . There are…

Skin

Who doesn’t want radiant, glowing, younger looking skin? I sure do. We all listen to the promises sold to us by lotions, potions and creams staring at us from screens and store shelves. However, your skin, and the treatment of it, is not just a topical issue. The health of your skin, our largest organ,…

Saute

To saute literally means to jump.  For culinary purposes it means to fry quickly in a little bit of hot fat. What fat source you use is up to you.  Olive & coconut oils are my fats of choice. The goal of this staple cooking method is to keep the item moving. PRO TIP:  Heat…

Spices

What is a spice exactly? How are they different from herbs? For culinary purposes, a spice can come from the root, stem, seed, fruit, flower or bark of the tree or plant. They are different from herbs as those are from the leaves of plant. Some spices are Cinnamon, cloves, fennel, galangal, ginger, mustard, pepper,…

Sunday Scaries

Looking back on your weekend longingly? Are anxiety, worry, grief & fear jumping into your Sunday Funday when you think about work on Monday? I remember it well. Below are a few acupressure points, stretches & 🧘🏻‍♀️ poses to help. Anxiety & fear is associate w. the bladder & kidneys. Open up the bottoms of…