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. Your cells have antennas embedded in their cellular membranes. This is how your cells listen, relay messages to your DNA, and respond to your environment by activating biochemical processes. The food you eat carries information, which the antennas sense, and then tell your cells how to behave. You either turn on your anti-aging, disease-prevention, and anti-inflammatory pathways or you turn on your inflammatory, aging, and disease pathways with every bite of food.

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 re-wire. 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.

Yesterday evening I taught another live cooking class on the anti-inflammatory diet. It is always wonderful to connect with so many people in person and share information and recipes to help them shift into a new level of health and well-being. But how does one actually shift into a new level of health and well-being? It starts with a single step towards restoring health. Every time you take a new step towards your future self and the resolution of your health condition, you are in the process of restoring your inherent well-being.

Matcha, or powdered green tea, is one of the most powerful antioxidant superfoods you can consume. Matcha is a concentrated source of a specific group of polyphenols called catechins. You may have heard of EGCG, or epigallocatechin gallate. EGCG is a catechin found in concentrated amounts in matcha—much higher than regular green tea!

Cold and flu season is upon us! How can you support your immune system so it can function at its best? Your immune cells, like all other cells, require good nutrition and lifestyle habits to function properly. A nourishing whole foods diet, strong digestive system, good sleep practices, good hydration, blood sugar control, and the addition of supportive nutritional supplements all work together to promote a strong and functional immune system.

The process of dietary change is often a winding road full of forward movement intermixed with drawbacks to old ways of eating and living. This process of change creates contrast, eventually leading you to crave feeling good over the foods that once made you sick. Food is powerful medicine!

Elevated cortisol levels can greatly affect the ability fall asleep and stay asleep. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It's a messenger that tells the body how to function. Cortisol is naturally highest beginning early in the morning, from around 6am to 8am.