In Episode 3 of the Restorative Nourishment Podcast I am speaking with May Tom, RD. May is a registered dietitian with an extensive training in functional medicine and is a certified Functional Medicine practitioner. May received her undergraduate degree in physiology and neuroscience from the University of California San Diego. She received her master's in public health from Loma Linda University along with her dietetics license. In this episode, we're talking about how to upgrade your metabolism and increase your energy with a supercharged breakfast so you can function your best and live your life's purpose.

When embarking on any new diet plan, it's essential to organize your kitchen with several key pieces of kitchen equipment. These items will make meal preparation go smoothly and help you have success on your diet. Many of the recipes in our membership portal utilize a food processor, high-powered blender, and Instant Pot to cut down on time spent in the kitchen and assist you in making delicious, nourishing meals. Additionally, having several high-quality knives will make all of the chopping and slicing much more enjoyable! In this post, you'll find key pieces of equipment to prioritize adding to your kitchen to make meal preparation more efficient and enjoyable. 

What is one way to decrease inflammation, improve gut health, upregulate detoxification, and increase insulin sensitivity? It is to consume more brightly colored fruits and vegetables daily! Sometimes the busyness of life prevents us from adding in the recommended number of servings of fresh fruits and vegetables we need each day. That's where smoothies come in. Adding everything to a high-powered blender makes it much easier to consume what you need in a delicious way! This red antioxidant smoothie is something I make several times per week. The smoothie contains raw red cabbage, several different types of low-glycemic frozen berries, avocado, citrus, and a red polyphenol powder to help boost the overall phytonutrient content.

So many imbalances in our health stem from an imbalance in hormone levels. There are root causes to hormone imbalances, and Robin explains these top 10 hormone deal breakers in this podcast. We are often led to believe that our estrogen, progesterone, testosterone levels, maybe even LH and FSH levels, are the most important to pay attention to. What happens when we pay attention to those hormones? Those are the hormones that are tested. The hormones that we really need to be paying attention to are not the minor hormones, but the major hormones.

Welcome to the first episode of the Restorative Nourishment Podcast! If you're a Nourishing Meals® member, you know that we have over 70 different diets and food allergens to help you create your own unique dietary profile, however, diets can be limiting. Therefore, the purpose of this podcast is to help you go beyond the constraints of a diet and help you tune into this innate wisdom you have to choose the foods that are right for you in each and every moment. We all have this innate ability to tune into this inner wisdom of our bodies and consume a diet that keeps us healthy, balanced and whole. 

The definition of the word whole is “a thing that is complete in itself.” When we eat foods in their whole form we get all nutrients, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in perfect balance. These compounds act synergistically to orchestrate all reactions in our bodies. When some nutrients are missing, the body cannot function properly, and when many nutrients are missing for an extended period of time, the body can become diseased. Obesity, chronic inflammation, food allergies, infertility, and many other diseases stem from the body being starved of essential nutrients lacking in a processed foods diet. The chemical composition of food, its vitamins and phytonutrients, sends signals to our cells designating how the genes will express themselves; this means that every time we eat we tell our bodies which genes to turn on, and which genes to turn off. Did you know that there is more gene expression within two hours after eating than any other time of the day?

Your body is composed of over 30 trillion cells, each of which is continually listening and responding to environmental signals. Embedded in your cellular membranes are tiny antennas—structures that receive information from your inner and outer environment and relay it to your DNA. These biochemical messages shape how your cells behave. The food you eat is one of the most powerful carriers of this information. With every bite, you’re either turning on anti-aging, disease-preventing, and anti-inflammatory pathways—or activating the pathways that accelerate aging and inflammation. Let that sink in: every meal is a message. A conversation between your body and your environment. A chance to shape your future, one choice at a time.

If you could make one dietary change to set yourself onto a new trajectory of health, it would be to consume a nutrient dense breakfast consisting of high-quality protein, fiber, and healthy fats. A nutrient-dense, high-protein and fiber-rich breakfast will help you curb cravings for foods you are working to stay away from, boost your metabolism, balance your blood sugar, help regulate your circadian rhythms, keep your mind sharp during the day, and increase satiety. Setting achievable goals that you can build upon sets you up for the most success as it gives your body and brain time to rewire. Dietary change quite literally creates new biochemistry in your body that takes time to get used to. Creating this nutritional memory starts with removing processed foods from your diet. Too many changes at once can overwhelm the brain and nervous system, making the new diet or lifestyle modifications unrealistic to maintain.

Imagine starting each day with renewed energy, a clear mind, and a body that feels strong and resilient. The 12 Gifts of Health is a transformative, step-by-step journey designed to help you resolve health concerns, enhance longevity, and lay the foundation for lasting vitality. True change isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about releasing what no longer serves you and embracing habits that nourish and restore. This journey is an opportunity to discover what truly supports your well-being and empowers you to thrive. Lasting health isn't achieved overnight; it’s built through gradual, meaningful changes. To transform your health and unlock vitality, the most crucial step is removing highly processed foods from your diet. True healing can't occur when the body is overloaded with artificial ingredients, preservatives, and inflammatory compounds.

Roasted root vegetables make the most quintessential side dish to a holiday meal, however, with the addition of a brightly flavored, antioxidant-rich parsley-basil pesto, the root vegetables are elevated to the next level! Celeriac (celery root), carrots, parsnips, and yellow potatoes form the base of this recipe. After they are cooked, the roasted vegetables are tossed with a flavorful dairy-free pesto. Did you know that by consuming flavonoid-rich herbs, such as parsley and basil, you help to regulate your blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and balance your immune system? Fresh herbs, such as parsley, are concentrated sources of powerful flavonoids. Flavonoids are a class of potent phytonutrients (phyto = plant).