Ask Me!

Ask me any questions you have about diet, nutrition, holistic health, or treating health concerns naturally. Have a question about herbs, vitamins, organics, food supply? Ask me. Want to know how to treat heartburn without drugs? Ask me. Do you want info about the best way to kick off a successful weight loss program? Ask me here!

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   Do you offer gift certificates?

   Thanks for your question. The answer is yes, I do offer single or 3-session consults as gift certificates, but I ask that you confirm that the person for whom you are purchasing is interested in and motivated for nutritional consultation. Please visit my consultation page to purchase single or a 3-session package, and visit my contact page to give me the recipient's contact info.

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   I am 20 years old and have acne. I have tried cutting out sugar, dairy, and gluten but it still doesn't go away. I have also tried herbs to cleanse my liver (milk thistle and dandelion). Do you have any suggestions that would help me clear my skin? Thanks.

   Acne can have many causes. A congested liver could very well be the cause, so you had the right idea by doing a liver cleanse. Food allergies are also implicated, but it may also depend upon how long you removed those foods (could take several weeks to see results before those foods are cleared from the body) and how long you did the liver cleanse (3 weeks is optimal) and the methods you used. Do you eat a lot of soy products? Many people have soy allergies or cannot process the excess plant-based estrogens in soy, which could cause break-outs. Are you having regular bowel movements, 1-2 daily? Sluggish bowel function causes toxins that were meant to be excreted to be reabsorbed into the body, and skin eruptions can result. Try adding more fiber to your diet, and make sure you are drinking at least 64 ounces of water daily to help flush toxins. A female hormonal imbalance can also cause acne. Consider saliva testing to assess your hormone levels, especially if you have other menstrual issues like painful periods or irregular cycles. You can contact me for more info about this. Certain nutritional deficiencies can lead to acne--zinc deficiency is a big culprit. Make sure you are getting enough protein (red meat and lamb are best sources; pumpkin seeds are a good veg source) and are taking a multi-vitamin/mineral. Finally, take a look at your products: what kind of soap/creams/makeup are you using? Some have harsh chemicals that are toxic and may cause breakouts. Use organic and/or chemical-free skincare.

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   I am 24 years old and have been suffering from excessive, sulfur/rotten egg smelling flatulence, tender stomach, and fatigue for over 2 years. Just recently the doctors discovered that I had a parasite (dientamoeba flagilis) which they think I picked up from a trip to the slums of Africa 4 summers ago. I was medicated to kill the parasite but it did not help. I've been tested for every other stomach condition possible and everything has come up negative. Any suggestions?

   Thanks for your question. I am sorry to hear about your parasitic infection! I speak from personal experience when I say I know what you're going through. Have you re-tested since you took the round of antibiotics? I recommend a stool test that will screen you for entamoeba hystolitica, blastocystis hominis, cryptosporiduim, giardia, c difficile, and candida albicans. First off, one round of treatment may not do the trick. Also, I have my clients follow up a course of meds for parasites with an anti-parasitic herbal treatment for about 6 weeks to ensure the bugs are gone. Some of these nasty infections move to different parts of the digestive tract, or sometimes migrate through the lymphatic system to other parts of the body, where they can hide. One round of meds may be too short to kill it all off. Secondly, to ensure success, it is VERY important to prep the body before undergoing treatment with proper diet and lifestyle to boost immunity and reduce inflammation in the gut. Third, candida overgrowth goes hand in hand with parasitic infections, so it could be likely you have something else going on in addition to the initial infection. Contact me if you'd like more information about the stool testing for parasites. I work with a number of doctors who specialize in treating these infections, and I can also order and analyze the stool test for you.

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   Recently I have been having some horrible digestive issues: Heartburn, Acid Reflux, a feeling of being too full and then getting real hungry, shortness of breath at times when feeling full, etc.. I have really bad anxiety so all these symptoms keep me on the verge of a panic attack.. Therefore I have zero energy! I recently have been trying ro really watch my weight and exercise everyday but my body almost seems to be working against me.. Do u have any suggestions?? My doctor has me taking a daily Prilosec but that obviously isn't working too well..

   Sorry to hear about your anxiety & digestive issues! I know how crippling that can be. Let me explain what is likely occurring: your adrenal glands regulate your immune system, the majority of which is in your digestive tract. During periods of stress, cortisol, the main stress hormone produced by your adrenals, shoots up and causes immune function to be disregulated, making you more susceptible to pathogens in the gut, which is your body's first line of defense against foreign invaders. Frequent heartburn/reflux is often caused by a nasty bacteria called h. pylori. You often get it from food, and it is usually killed by your stomach acid, but when your immune system is weak, it survives and proliferates, causing symptoms like heartburn. The cortisol imbalance I talked about earlier can cause anxiety, panic attacks, depression, fatigue, insomnia. It sounds like you have some adrenal hormone imbalance, leading to your anxiety/panic, and likely a digestive pathogen or some food sensitivity issues as well. We solve these problems by rebalancing the adrenal hormones and doing a digestive cleanse using herbs to kill the pathogens. Prilosec or anti-anxiety drugs do not address the underlying issue: they only put a band-aid on the symptoms. Contact me for more information about how to get started on reversing these problems by addressing the source of what is causing the issues. Good luck!

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   My mother's natural estrogen replacement went off the market and she is trying to find another natural hormone replacement. I believe she was using Bioentopic estrogen and progesterone creams which worked really well for her. Do you know of another natural hormone replacement that you would recommend for her? She really doesn't want to use synthetic medications. Thank you!

   I like the Phyto-B product from Bezwecken. It contains natural estrogens derived from licorice, and natural progesterone from wild yam. I do not recommend creams, because they can build up in fatty tissue and can be stored in the body, over time leading to too much progesterone, which can have nasty side effects! I believe you can order the Phyto-B online, and we also carry it.

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   What are your thoughts on oil pulling detoxification? I had never heard of it until a friend shared this link with me: http://www.naturalnews.com/028266_oil_pulling_detoxification.html

   Oil pulling is based on an Ayurvedic method of swishing/gurgling sesame oil (usually) in the mouth to pull toxins from the body. Sesame oil can be quite therapeutic to use as a body oil or in a neti pot to clear nasal passages, but I haven't heard of any dramatic effects achieved specifically from oil pulling. It is certainly not detrimental and very well may contribute to the health of the mouth, but I always recommend tried and true liver cleansing herbs combined with a gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/caffeine-free diet to detox a couple times a year. Using spirulina/chlorella supergreens powders and cleansing herbal teas can help keep the liver clear after the detox. Thanks for your question!

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   I am a healthy vegetarian from birth and an animal rights activist, but from seeing the experience of some people who have tried to be vegetarian (especially people of ethnicities heavily or almost exclusively dependant on meat), I believe that some people cannot remain healthy without meat. This fact seems largely ignored by most groups promoting vegetarian diets, at least in America, but I believe it is something that needs to be addressed within the animal rights movement especially if there is a possibility of finding a means of providing whatever nutrient is lacking for those who wish to give up meat but are unable to. I read your article about your attempt at a vegetarian diet and was wondering if you might have any ideas about exactly what nutrient is lacking for people with this issue or if you knew anybody to whom I could inquire further. Thank you very much, Ari Warren

   This is a great question. If you read this blog, you'll probably notice that I mention Metabolic or Nutritional Typing quite frequently. The science behind this philosophy is simple: one diet does not fit all. We are all biochemically different and have different macronutrient needs (we all need different ratios of fat, carbs, proteins). Someone who is a fast oxidizer (has a high metabolism) needs more high purine (meat) protein than a slow oxidizer. The three types are protein type, mixed type, or carb type. Carb types may thrive on a vegetarian diet because their physiology does not have a great need for high purine foods; they do best on carb-based foods like legumes and grains. A protein type would crash on this diet, because high carb vegetarian protein sources aren't giving them the type of protein they need--they thrive on lower carb diets with meats and lots of low carb veggies.

   To answer your question, it may not necessarily be a nutrient that is lacking, although many vegetarians and vegans may be low in zinc or B vitamins if they are not careful about diet planning. A protein type will simply feel crappy on a vegetarian diet because plant-based proteins aren't providing them with the high purine proteins they need. And the body's needs change over time, during times of great stress, for example, when we need more protein. In addition, if the person struggles with anxiety, panic attacks, or depression, more protein is called for because there are usually neurotransmitter deficiencies, and our neurotransmitters are synthesized from amino acids in proteins.

   I personally was a vegetarian for about 13 years, which is a pretty long "attempt," and consumed many soy products during this time, which caused a lot of hormonal imbalance. Once I learned my exact needs, learned to avoid processed soy, and fixed my imbalances, I discovered I was a mixed type, so I'm somewhere in the middle. My personal belief is that our country consumes too much processed and unsustainably produced protein (like fast food, hot dogs, cold cuts, etc), and in choosing meat, one should strive to always buy organic and locally grown. Mixed types like myself get away with using meat as more of a condiment, but as I've said before, one size doesn't fit all. Hope this helps.

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   I am a 20 year old male and recently my college has made it so they only use soy oil in the cafeteria and they use it in great quantities. I know all of this excess estrogen from the soy is holding me back from achieving my health goals and I was wondering if you knew of any supplements to safely either regulate my hormones or block excess estrogen?

   This is an excellent question, and good for you for noticing and taking an interest in how your college is preparing its food. Soy is a very controversial subject, and one about which I feel strongly. Soy is everywhere in our food supply, like corn, and can cause some real health problems. The reason many restaurants and cafeterias choose soy oil is because it is very inexpensive. But soy oil is highly refined, and I discourage its use because I believe it is not health-promoting. Soy oil is processed using chemicals and high temperatures, rendering it rancid and damaging to arterial cells.

   You are right to be concerned about the phyto-estrogens (plant-based estrogens) in soy, but I can tell you that soy oil does not contain as high a level as foods that contain the protein portion of soy. Oil does not contain any protein: it is a fat, and the fibrous & protein portions have been separated out. It does contain some plant-based estrogens, but not as much as, say, a soy protein-based veggie burger or a smoothie made with soy protein isolate.

   My suggestion to you is to take action. Write a letter to your school's administration voicing your concerns about the quality of food in your school's cafeteria. Suggest other alternatives, such as coconut or olive oil. Offer up research. A great resource is http://www.wholesoystory.com/ and www.westonaprice.org. Are there other oil free options for you for meals in the cafeteria? Like roasted chicken and salad greens? Brown rice? Beans, lentils, steamed vegetables? Can you cook in your dorm? Get creative. Make smoothies with a blender and whey or rice protein in the morning, and get a hot plate or crock pot to cook with. And take action. To answer your question directly, I do not recommend using any supplements to offset the effects of plant-based estrogens in food. The best method is to remove the soy from your diet.

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   I am really enthusiastic about this site. I have Diverticulytis and I am finding great info here. I was wondering what your opinion is on Splenda? It is a sweetener . Also, what kind of swertener do you recommend for ice tea.

   Splenda is an artificial sweetner made from sucralose, which manufacturers say is "made from a process that starts with sugar." It is not natural and undergoes chemical processing in a lab. The result is a type of sugar molecule that does not occur in nature, and therefore your body does not possess the ability to properly metabolize it. I strongly recommend you avoid Splenda and other artificial sweetners such as Equal or Sweet n Low. NutraSweet & Equal contain aspartame, which is a neurotoxin (toxic to your brain) that may cause headaches and other health problems. These artificial sweetners have not been thoroughly studied by the FDA, so essentially we the human population are the guinea pigs. Many people experience adverse reactions to the chemicals in these sweetners: skin rashes, heart rhythm issues, headache, dizziness, nausea, to name a few.

   My motto is, "if it hasn't been around for thousands of years, don't eat it." I tell my clients to eat real food that hasn't been created or processed in a lab. The food you should eat comes from nature--from trees, plants, out of the ground, or from animals that have been humanely raised. If you can get it from a farm or a farmers' market or out of your garden, fine. If it comes from a package or a box, or has ingredients you cannot pronounce, avoid.

   If you would like to sweeten your tea, use stevia, a natural sweetner that comes from a plant. Find it at your natural foods store. You can also use raw honey, but not the kind that comes in a plastic bear. It has been heated and the beneficial enzymes destroyed. Go to your local farmers' market and get raw, unfiltered honey from local bees. Your body will thank you!

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    V-8 Fusion? Good idea?. Pink Salmon chicken of the sea ,Ingredient= Pink salmon water, vegetable broth ( continent soy) and salt product from Thailand ?

    The short answer is no, not a good idea. In theory, fresh fruit & vegetable juices are good when they are made from fresh produce that hasn't been pasteurized, which kills all the beneficial enzymes. The good thing about V-8 Fusion is that it has no added sugar, but the "lite" varieties contain artificial sweetners which are a BIG no-no. I got hold of a label and saw that regular V-8 Fusion contains "natural flavoring" which is code for chemicals like MSG. In short, this is a highly processed product (what exactly are clarified bananas?) that I would avoid. If you want a juice on the go, head to a juice bar where they use fresh, whole produce that is juiced right there. Or make your own and bring it with you. Also be aware that fruit juices are basically straight sugar, as they've had the fiber stripped from them. Vegetable juice has less sugar obviously, but it's best to drink them with a meal or snack so that you do not get a direct sugar hit.

    As for the canned salmon, check the sodium content. These products are often high in sugar. Canned foods contain toxins like BPA that leak from the can linings and can cause health problems down the line. Additionally, you mention it has some kind of soy ingredient included, and I don't know what purpose that serves. Preservative?

    My bottom line rec is to avoid processed foods. These foods are processed. The canned salmon is likely the lesser of the 2 evils here, and if you can find canned WILD salmon (not farmed, contains chemicals) at a Whole Foods or other health food store, that is a better bet since they stock healthier alternatives to mas produced and processed foods. Obviously canned foods are a convenience, especially if you don't have time to cook one night in a pinch, but I wouldn't use them on the regular.

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    I try to stay away from gluten for the most part but love english muffins and tortillas made with spelt. What do you think about consuming spelt a few times a week? Is it a friend or foe? Thanks.

    This depends largely on your health status and why you choose to avoid gluten in the first place. If you have any digestive issues, you should stay away from gluten, so that means spelt is out, even a couple times weekly. If you are gluten intolerant or gluten sensitive, you should also avoid spelt. Try the brown rice breads or brown rice or corn tortillas. It is very easy to find gluten free breads & muffins on the market!

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    I have questions about oils/ fats. I am a new holistic nutritionist, and have read so much conflicting information. Questions: Can you bake with ground flax seeds? What is best to bake with butter or oils? No canola? Why. What oils are best, and most economical. Saute with Olive oils. Can you bake with olive oil? Could you suggest any reading material on this subject. Thank-you so much. Candyce Roach

    Great questions! I write a lot about fats on this blog, you can run a search and find a lot of info. You are correct, there is a lot of conflicting info out there. I'm sure that as a nutritionist, you know that processed or refined oils are out. These are the corn and soy blends and "vegetable" oils you find in plastic jugs at the store. They have been heavily processed with chemicals & are high in the omega 6 fatty acids that we already get too much of. As a general rule, saturated fats are best for high temp cooking. These fats are the most stable due to their molecular structure and are solid at room temp (butter, ghee, coconut oil). Monounsaturated like olive oil hold up to medium heat like lower temp saute and baking. Polyunsaturated oils like flax should never be heated--they are too delicate. Flaxseeds are fine to bake with, however--I grind them first and use them mixed with hot water (about 1 tbsp flaxseeds and enough hot water to make 1/2 cup) as an egg replacer. Canola is always out. Read more about that here: http://www.maryvancenc.com/2008/10/canola-is-not-a-healthy-oil/
    The best fats to use are coconut oil, butter, ghee, olive oil, sesame oil, nut oils (avocado, walnut), flax oil--all whole foods-based oils that are unrefined and not processed with hexane and other chemicals. Know Your Fats by Mary Enig is a great read, as is Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill by Udo Erasmus.

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    I eat wok stir fry tofu every day for lunck. I make it wilthginger and garlic only. What oil do you recommend I sue to heat? Is olive oil spray out? Is it ok to eat tofu every day?

    First off, I don't recommend that you eat the same foods every day and especially not tofu. Eating the same thing every day can lead to food allergies and deficiencies. Processed soy like tofu can lead to serious hormonal imbalances. See my article on soy here: http://bit.ly/12Rx1l
    Regarding oil to use for stir-fry, coconut oil is a good choice because it stands up to high heat well. Olive oil works well for medium heat, then use vegetable or chicken broth as needed to prevent sticking. Finish with a little sesame oil for flavor.

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    Hi, my name is Stephanie Nunn and I am 19 years old. I was just wondering how i should go about getting into holistic nutrition as a career. I am interesting in alternative ways of healing and i am just curious how you got into it yourself. I am reading books and blogs and trying to educate myself as much as i can but im not sure if im going about it in the right way. If you have any tips that would be awesome!

    Hi Stephanie,
    congrats on your interest in health & wellness at such a young age! As for my background, much like you, I started reading about holistic health & wellness in my teens. I became a vegetarian at age 15 after attending an animal rights workshop, and I quickly became anemic after subsisting on little more than rice & ramen noodles. It was this experience that made me realize the connection between diet and health (I am no longer a vegetarian). I read everything I could about natural healing, from Dr Andrew Weil to Phyllis Balch. I gave a lot of unsolicited advice :) I was also interested in women's health and began interning in the education department at my local Planned Parenthood. When I moved out to California, I attended Bauman College (www.baumancollege.org) to become certified in holistic nutrition, and now I have a thriving practice here in San Francisco! I recommend you read books by Sally Fallon (Nourishing Traditions), Julia Ross, Ann Louise Gittleman, Phyllis Balch, Paul Pitchford, Thomas Cowan. See my "recommended reading" page for good book recs. Also, get an internship and a mentor. These two factors are invaluable--a mentor is a must! And research schools in your area. Many have distance learning programs. Good luck!

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    Hello, I would like to know if you have a degree in nutrition from an accredited school? Also, when you do recommendations for vitamins/supplemts/herbs, what product brands are you endorsing? Thank you in advance. Janie

    Hi Janie,
    I am a certified nutrition consultant and received my accredation from Bauman College here in California. As for supplements, I use many different companies, and most are available to practitioners only (not available over the counter--you must buy after a consult with a practitioner to assure you are using the products correctly). I like Designs for Health products, but I co-designed a line of supplements with Dr Daniel Kalish, and I mainly use this line now, as it is customized to support my programs. I also like Vitality Works herbal tinctures. Very high quality! I hardly ever recommend over the counter supplements because there are little to no enforceable quality standards in the supplement industry, and everything I use has been vetted by me for highest quality & efficacy.