Autoimmune diseases are on the rise, affecting millions of people worldwide and leaving many struggling with unexplained symptoms, chronic pain, and fatigue. While genetics play a role, emerging research highlights the profound influence of environmental factors—especially diet—on the development and progression of autoimmunity. The foods we eat can either calm inflammation and support immune balance or trigger immune overactivity, leading the body to mistakenly attack its own tissues. This means that every meal is either contributing to healing or fueling disease. The connection between food and autoimmunity is powerful, and for those suffering from conditions like Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or inflammatory bowel disease, dietary changes can be life-changing.

Estrogen dominance is a hormonal imbalance that affects many women, often without them realizing it. Symptoms can range from painful periods, mood swings, and fibroids to more serious concerns like breast cancer and thyroid issues. In Episode 4 of the Restorative Nourishment Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Magdalena Wszelaki, a hormone health expert and author of Overcoming Estrogen Dominance and Cooking for Hormone Balance. She shared her personal journey with estrogen-related health struggles and the crucial role diet plays in restoring balance. One of the biggest culprits behind estrogen dominance is poor estrogen metabolism, which is heavily influenced by gut and liver health.

Chicken soup with dumplings is a classic meal that has its origins in Germany. Growing up, my mother would make large pots of chicken soup with dumplings all winter long, using the lengthy process of slow-cooking a whole chicken to make a nourishing broth, and then removing the meat for the soup and adding spoonfuls of the dumpling dough to the simmering broth. I still remember standing at the stove, watching the dough puff up as it cooked in the broth!

It's peach season! Yellow peaches, white peaches, and nectarines are all in abundance right now. What better way to use them than in a galette? Galettes are rustic, free-form single-crust pastries with either a sweet or savory filling. They are much easier to make than pies, which require a bit more precision. This gluten-free and grain-free galette uses a slightly sweetened version of my wildly popular flakey grain-free pie crust recipe and is filled with fresh peaches that have been tossed in a small amount of maple sugar and ground nutmeg.

Flaxseeds are a powerhouse of nutrients and fiber that help feed your beneficial gut microbes, reduce inflammation, regulate your digestive system, improve cardiovascular health, and help normalize blood sugar levels. This healthy muffin recipe uses 1 ½ cups of flaxseed meal, in addition to a small amount of oat flour and a cup of wild blueberries to pack in the nutrients! The soluble fiber found in plant-based foods is essential for increasing gut health and longevity. 

Honor your mothers and grandmothers by creating a nourishing meal with whole food ingredients this Mother's Day. Whether you are cooking breakfast, brunch, or a family dinner, I have some healthy gluten-free recipes to inspire you on this special day.

Going on a gluten-free and dairy-free diet doesn’t mean you need to give up your favorite breakfast foods, you just need to switch out the ingredients you are using! This gluten-free waffle recipe is easy enough to make as long as you have a few basic ingredients on hand. Try making a double batch on the weekend and freeze the extras to have on hand for quick breakfasts during the week.

Did you know that buckwheat, although we use it much like other grains, is actually a fruit seed and not a true whole grain? I have been using freshly ground, raw buckwheat flour in my gluten-free baking recipes for the last two decades.

Frittatas are just about one of the easiest, nutrient-dense meals you can make....and they can be whipped up in minutes! Serve a frittata for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I frequently make frittatas to use up the odd bits of leftovers or random veggies in the fridge.

Yay for gluten-free carrot cake muffins! I call these healthy little treats muffins, but once frosted they sure seem like cupcakes to me. They are packed full of carrot-goodness, as well as being very moist and light, even without the eggs. What a perfect treat for Mother's day or a Springtime gathering!