I often hear diabetes described as a consequence of obesity or eating fast food and drinking too much soda. While it is true that bring overweight and drinking soda or eating junk food definitely increases the likelihood of blood sugar concerns, (just one can of soda a day has been shown to increase the risk of diabetes by 22%), it’s a myth that this condition affects only overweight fast-food eaters. Many of the people I know who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or its precursor, insulin resistance, are healthy and are not overweight. I see diabetes diagnoses more [Read More]

We have all seen or heard horror stories around today’s “factory farms.” It is sometimes to hear or see it and go on eating business as usual.  We want changes to be made and at the same time, we know we need to get back to eating more vegetables and less processed foods. As a result, some of us choose to forego meat completely and opt for a totally plant-based diet (though the plant horror stories pour in daily as well! Even organic plants are increasing grown from GMO or compromised seeds or in soil that has contaminants so the [Read More]

I spent a couple of fabulous weeks in India. Talk about life changing! Many people have asked me about my trip and truly, it is hard to articulate how incredible the journey was. The first week was in and around Delhi, including Agra and the Taj Mahal and Vrindhaven, somewhat of a spiritual Disneyland filled with temples and spiritual masters and lots of devotees who gather to sing and dance. (The Hare Krishna Temple was a crazy dance party of love and joy that was a site to see!) While in Delhi, we also had the opportunity to have dinner [Read More]

I don’t usually say “this is an article you’ll really want to pay attention to,” because of course, I think they are all important! But this is article is one you need to read all the way through (and consider passing on to your family and friends). Regardless of what you do about it, it’s important for you to know what a new ten year long research study has confirmed so that you can make informed decisions about your — and your loved ones’ — health. When we talked about pesticides and produce recently, one topic we did not cover [Read More]

After the article I wrote on aspartame came out, many people asked me about sucralose, found in the little yellow packets and also known as Splenda. Even if you are one who says “I never use artificial sweeteners,” sucralose is found in some surprising places you might not suspect. Like aspartame, sucralose is found in all kinds of low-fat, low-sugar, fat-free, no-sugar added, or reduced calorie foods from diet soda to gum, to juice and applesauce, to hot chocolate, ice cream and candy. But sucralose is also a common ingredient in protein and fitness shakes such as Visalus and Andrew [Read More]