by Christina | Jan 10, 2018 | Wellness
**This post was written at the beginning of 2018 (I used to write posts about my health protocols as I went through them, so those posts are more time-dependent), and since writing this, these health issues have been resolved. I am grateful for these experiences as they inspired me to become a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and health coach myself. Please remember that this post is not current – it was just a documentation of my experiences at the time.**
I’m smiling ear-to-ear as I write this. Part of me thought I would never actually write a post like this. I hoped I would, but a small part of me also didn’t really know.
After almost a year, I have finally gotten rid of my incredibly stubborn Candida overgrowth!
If you’ve been a longtime reader, I’m sure you know that I’ve been on a protocol to heal my gut for almost a year now, but that I’ve been on other protocols on and off for the last three years for my gut issues. While I struggled with digestive issues my whole life, it wasn’t until the end of my sophomore year in college that things took a turn for the worse and I started actually addressing it. From then on, I’ve been on some kind of “protocol” to address different problems. First Candida overgrowth, then malabsorption and general leaky gut, then SIBO, then new bacterial overgrowths, and then candida overgrowth again. All at the same time as the carbohydrate intolerance, insulin resistance, yada yada. It seemed like every time I got rid of one problem, another one popped up. That tends to happen when addressing these types of gut issues, but it usually doesn’t drag out for this long.
My most recent bout of Candida overgrowth was definitely the most aggressive. We went after it with an intense protocol at first with the intention of completely squashing it, and I was very frustrated when I got results back showing I still had Candida after that first six months. There I was again – back to eliminating foods I was sensitive to and still on the Candida diet.
I am honestly very proud of myself for sticking with all of this for so long and not giving up. In the past three years, there have probably been three months total during which I wasn’t on a Candida diet. During that time, I went low-FODMAP, keto, SCD, etc. as well, and also eliminated different food intolerances for months at a time. My point is, I had gotten very used to always being on some type of protocol.
It made me appreciate food a lot. There’s not much I really miss in terms of actual food, but what I did miss was convenience and flexibility. It can be incredibly frustrating to not be able to have lettuce for a year, because salads are one of my go-to’s at most restaurants when eating out. Or… not being able to have olive oil. That eliminated most of my choices if I wanted to ever eat out with friends. That sort of thing was hard, but I made the most of it. It taught me to be creative in the kitchen, to try new foods I hadn’t eaten before, and to really appreciate the foods that weren’t causing me any gut issues.
It’s also not that hard to stick with when you recognize how much better your body feels. Nothing is more motivating than actual results.
It’s been a very long road, but last week I finally got my retesting results back, and it showed that my Candida overgrowth was finally gone. I can’t even believe it. I do, however, still have a small bit of yeast overgrowth (not Candida, though) and a bacterial overgrowth. While most people would consider this to be not that successful, it’s a huge success to me. The Candida was the one that wouldn’t go away, and I finally got it! It’s pretty common for other bacterial imbalances to pop up when dealing with things like this, so I’m not surprised. In my eyes, the bacterial overgrowth isn’t too big a deal.
I do still have a few symptoms, but those should be cleared up once I address this last bacterial overgrowth. There are certain times when I still struggle with bloating, undigested food, a really aggressive appetite, and small bouts of constipation if my diet deviates from my norm. Generally, though, I feel great. I definitely feel better than I ever have in my whole life. I know my symptoms right now would be things that most other people wouldn’t even notice, but I’ve come so far that I want everything to be exactly on track.
Other than that, my stool test results look better than they ever had before. It was pretty much all clear, and my inflammation markers are lower than ever. That means that, finally, nothing in my diet is causing inflammation! Besides that one bacterial overgrowth, my gut flora in general is very robust, so I’m proud of it. You know I’m all about that #guthealth.
The plan from here is simply to get that last bacterial overgrowth in check. It’s pretty straightforward – I’m going on a little 3-month protocol with a few supplements, and I’ll still be on a Candida diet. Like I said, to me, no big deal. What I’m most excited about, though, is that I am finally going to add all of the foods the MRT showed I was intolerant to back into my diet. I’ve already added in a few that I was really missing, like olive oil, zucchini, and walnuts, but I stopped when it came to the foods that I showed a sensitivity to on multiple tests in a row – turkey, lettuce, and sweet potato. I already tried turkey and everything went well, and lettuce (don’t worry, not romaine — I know there is an e.coli outbreak) is next on my list. Since I don’t have Candida, I’m also adding mushrooms back in, which I am so excited about. The only reintroduction that hasn’t gone so well is cacao / chocolate, but I also haven’t tried it completely unsweetened. I’m not giving up on that one and am very determined to add it back in… I’ll keep you updated.
It’s not necessarily that I’ve been craving these foods because of their taste. Lettuce doesn’t really taste like much. What I have been craving, though, is the flexibility to be able to have them. I just want the option. Variety is important for physical gut health, but also for mental sanity. It makes my life much easier when I’m eating out or cooking with other people. I’ve also gotten really sick of spinach salads.
The other thing that I am ecstatic about is the fact that I am taking less supplements than ever before. Well, in the last three years. I had gotten used to a very involved supplement regimen, and taking a lot of pills. I always had to plan ahead, had to take 15 different bottles with me when I traveled, and felt like I didn’t absorb or digest anything if I didn’t take my pills. I’m only taking about 6-7 different supplements now, which is basically nothing compared to what I am used to. I can go out for a meal and not have to pack things ahead of time. I don’t have to plan my day around taking supplements at specific times, X amount of minutes away from food or with food. I hadn’t realized how much thinking it all required, and how it really did take some time out of my day. All of the gut healing work I have done so far has been well worth it and I wouldn’t change anything. Now, I just appreciate the flexibility even more.
After getting the test results back and finding out I could cut out a lot of my supplements and add foods back in, I realized that I had sort of just accepted the “protocol life” as normal life – that was my way of coping. I was in it for so long, and I could never really see the light at the end of the tunnel. Obviously I stuck with everything because I believed it would work, but I just didn’t know how long it would take. Instead of stressing out about when it would end, I just accepted it as my present and went with it. In doing so, I kind of forgot that it would actually end. I also felt like the people around me had gotten used to me always being on some kind of protocol and assumed I would never get off of it either, since things had been going on for so long. With all of that in mind, it feels surreal to know that I am actually on the last leg of this.
Of course, there is no way to truly know that, but I am manifesting it. Manifest with me!
It’s the last part of the road.
If you’ve been following along on my gut-healing journey, thanks for joining in on the ride. I hope this gives hope to all of the other people out there in similar situations, because I know so many of you are. No matter how long your healing process takes, it is well worth it. Even if you feel like it will never end, it will if you stick with it and put in the work.
There was a time in my life when I truly never believed it would get better. There have been many times during this process that I thought I was destined to have chronic Candida forever, that I would just have to accept I would always have gut issues, that I would have to take 50 pills a day for the rest of my days on this Earth, and that I would never get off of a protocol. I felt defeated at times, because it’s really frustrating when you’re doing everything “right” but still not seeing results as quickly as you’re supposed to. Things turned around, though, and I am so grateful. I think that sticking with my protocol, adjusting it as I did more research and learned to listen to my body, taking things moreso into my own hands than I ever had before, making a lot of lifestyle changes, and addressing the emotional sides of healing truly did all work together to turn things around. My year-long bout of Candida is finally gone, so I believe in the process. I’ve been told by many practitioners that my case is one of the strangest and most stubborn they had ever dealt with, so if I can clear mine up — you can clear yours.
I really hope that my experience shows you how you can still live life, be happy, and not feel like you’re compromising anything even when you do have “limitations” for a period of time in order to heal. Healing is worth it. Good things come to those who wait! 🙂
by Christina | Jan 7, 2018 | Recipes, Wellness
Here I am again with another “weird” “dessert” recipe. I put those words in quotes because to me it’s not weird, but I know other people think my food combinations are strange. That’s okay – I embrace it. I sort of pride myself on that. Also, I consider this a dessert recipe, because my taste buds respond to this like a dessert. As I’ve mentioned before, being sugar-free for almost a year really does change your taste buds. It only takes a little bit of natural sweetness for something to taste like a full-on dessert to me, and I know many of you feel the same way! Honestly, I’m happy my taste buds have adjusted this way.
That being said, while I consider this to be a yummy sugar-free dessert, maybe you want to have it for breakfast. You totally could, and it would be a nutritionally balanced meal. It’s got protein, healthy fats, and veggies! Score.
I’ve gotten as creative as I can with different foods to keep my life exciting, which sometimes means combinations that might seem strange to other people. All I can say, though, is keep an open mind! Almost all of my favorite foods nowadays are foods that I used to turn my nose up to. My favorite recipes usually end up being the ones I think are the weirdest at first.
This warm vanilla cauliflower collagen pudding does not taste like cauliflower. It tastes like vanilla with a dash of coconut, but nothing too overpowering. If you’ve ever had a warm bowl of thick, homemade applesauce, this kind of reminds me of that. Except it tastes nothing like apples. I actually almost called this “vanilla-sauce,” but then got worried people would think it was a sauce. Anyways, there’s something really comforting about a warm bowl of vanilla something.
The star of the show is Vital Proteins Vanilla Coconut Collagen Peptides, which I’ve only raved about 3 million times before. This is my favorite Vital Proteins product! While I always try to regularly incorporate collagen into my diet, I’ve been making an extra-conscious effort to do so recently because of the gut-healing benefits since I’m on the last leg of eliminating my digestive issues. Meanwhile, my hair is growing like crazy, my nails are growing faster and longer, my skin is looking better, and my joints never ache anymore. Collagen is a game-changer, and it’s one “health trend” that I truly believe in.
Everyone always asks me what they should get if they only get one Vital Proteins product. For me, it’s this! I love it because it has a strong vanilla flavor that honestly tastes like it must be sweetened with something, but it’s not. That’s why I love it for sugar-free recipes! It’s especially great for smoothies and in baking, like my Sugar-Free Vanilla Coconut Collagen Cookies! Honestly, though, you can put this stuff in anything and it will taste delicious.
If you love vanilla and coconut as much as I do, I definitely think this is worth the investment. This product is truly what makes this recipe work, because it adds a rich vanilla flavor without any extra sugar! It also helps thicken it up! If you’re on a sugar-free protocol, I’d stock up with this for anytime you want something sweet.
All you need for this recipe is a few simple ingredients and a food processor. I love this dessert because I can make it quickly in bulk, store leftovers in the fridge, and just reheat it whenever I want some! If you’re not in the mood to bake, this is ideal.
It’s especially perfect now that the weather is getting colder! I love curling up with a little bowl of this “cauligen” pudding at night after dinner if I want something sweet. Please tell me you appreciate that pun, because I think it’s pretty perfect. I think this recipe goes to show that cauliflower can truly do anything. It’s like the chameleon of food. Make this for someone else and don’t tell them what’s in it! I bet they’ll like it.
What’s better than a “dessert” that has no sugar, contains collagen to support your gut/hair/skin/nails/joints/muscles, is filled with healthy fats, and contains hidden veggies?! I can’t think of anything better, personally.
This recipe is paleo, keto, gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free, sugar-free, and soy-free! I think it’s an especially great option for anyone on a gut-healing, sugar-free diet. It’s quick, easy, and totally customizable. If you want to make a chocolate version, throw in some cacao powder or cocoa powder. You can also dress it up with different nut butters and toppings like coconut flakes, walnuts, pecans, cacao nibs, and so on!
Warm Vanilla Cauliflower Collagen Pudding (Sugar-Free, Paleo)
Vanilla “Cauligen” Pudding
Total Time: 5-10 minutes
Serves: 1-2
Ingredients:
- 2 cups steamed cauliflower
- 1/4 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
- 1 scoop Vital Proteins Vanilla Coconut Collagen Peptides
- 2 tbsp coconut butter
- 1.5 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- Optional: 2 tbsp cacao powder for a chocolate flavor!
- Optional: Coconut flakes or nuts for topping
Instructions:
- Puree all ingredients in a high-powered food processor or blender until the mixture is smooth.
- Transfer into a bowl and add toppings if desired. Enjoy!
- Any extras can be stored in the fridge and reheated to enjoy later.
If you try this, I’d love to hear what you think! Be sure to tag me on social media if you take a photo!
by Christina | Jan 5, 2018 | Wellness
Another year is gone, which means I have another year of favorites to talk about! I discovered so many amazing products and so much incredible content this year, so I want to give a shoutout to the standouts of 2017. Some of these came out before 2017, but I either didn’t discover them or didn’t fully fall in love with them until this year. You know I’m a creature of habit, and these were the things I could NOT get enough of this past year!
Primal Kitchen Mayo: This had to be first on my list, of course. It was the first thing that came to mind when I thought of 2017 obsessions. I didn’t even like mayo growing up, so I assumed I wouldn’t like paleo mayo either. Boy, was I wrong. I figured I might as well try it since I had a jar, and my life was forever changed. I put this on everything and go through at least one jar, usually more, a week. If you follow a high-fat diet, I highly recommend checking this out.
Soom Tahini: Sometimes I worry about my addiction to tahini. I will slather it on anything I can. I’ve tried a lot of different Tahini brands, but this year I discovered Soom and never looked back! I can’t put my finger on why, exactly, but this is one of my favorite Tahini brands and the one that I always come back to. It’s great slathered on veggies, in salad dressings, or in the Tahini fudge from my ebook!
Vital Proteins Vanilla Coconut Collagen: This one is a bit of a cheat because it was actually on my 2016 favorites, too, but I had to include it again this year because it is by far one of my most-used products. I try to include collagen in my diet as much as I can to help support my gut, skin/hair/nails, joints, and muscles, and this is my favorite collagen product! It has the perfect vanilla flavor – not too subtle, not too sweet. There is no added sweetener – just natural vanilla bean and coconut! I like to use this in place of a vanilla protein powder, or in sugar-free desserts like my sugar-free vanilla coconut collagen cookies.
Kasandrinos Olive Oil: Once you try real olive oil, you’ll never go back. Most olive oil from the store and in restaurants is cut with cheaper vegetable oils, which contributes to inflammation in the body and can endanger your health. Kasandrinos Olive Oil is definitely my favorite olive oil, and I bring it with me everywhere! True olive oil like Kasandrinos has a distinct flavor that’s almost sweet, and it leaves you with a peppery taste in your throat after you swallow!
Macadamia Nut Oil / Pumpkin Seed Oil: This year I tried out a lot of different oils in order to switch things up from my regular olive oil and avocado oil, and these two became my new favorites. They both have a very rich flavor, and I use them both to dress my salads or just drizzle on top of any vegetables. Mac nut oil has an almost buttery flavor, and pumpkin seed oil has a rich nutty flavor. These are not oils to cook with because they are fragile in nature, but they’re great for on top of food. I also don’t recommend using nut and seed oils every single day, but I love including them every so often for some variety.
Meenut Butter Quadruple Nut Power: This nut butter is unreal. I’ve tried quite a few different mixed nut butters, but this one is definitely my favorite. It contains walnuts, almonds, coconut, macadamia nuts, pecans, flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, and salt. There’s something about this specific combination that just gets it so right. All you need is a spoon and you’re good to go…
Asante Mama Cinnamon Herbal Tea: I love basically all tea, and this year cinnamon tea was definitely what I drank the most. I’m not sure how I didn’t discover this before, but I’m so glad I did! It’s comforting, subtle, and always calms me down. Cinnamon is also great for balancing blood sugar if you struggle with that. If you like cinnamon, I highly recommend this!
Milk Thistle Tea: This is a very recent discovery, but I seriously have not stopped drinking it since I got it! Milk Thistle tea is great for detoxing the liver, and it has a very subtle flavor. I think that most people would think it tastes like nothing, but to me, it does have a slight “milky” flavor, and it really relaxes me. If you like medicinal, herbal teas, I’d give this a shot!
Teaonic: I love every flavor, but my favorite is “I Love My Gut”! It has a chai flavor that is so delicious. Teaonic teas are completely herbal teas that have different health benefits based on their ingredients, and they all taste amazing. The weather is always so hot in L.A., which sometimes makes me not want to drink a hot cup of tea. I turned to these so that I could still get my tea fix without the extra heat, and I’ve never looked back!
Sea veggies: I love anything salty, and I think that’s a big reason why I love sea veggies so much. They are a great source of iodine, and they’re my favorite way to top off my bowls for an extra hit of nutrients!
Organ meats: This was the year of organ meats for me. I first tried these expecting to hate them, but I really wanted to increase my Vitamin A levels naturally. Turns out, I LOVE THE TASTE. I generally just sauté them with coconut oil, salt, and pepper. This year I tried chicken, beef, and duck livers, beef tongue, and chicken and duck hearts. And I LOVE that so many of you have gotten inspired to try organ meats this year, too! If you want to read about why I love organ meats so much, check out this blog post. And if you’re looking for a good liver-starter recipe, try out my liver bolognese!
doTERRA essential oils – Rose, On Guard, Serenity, and DigestZen: I discovered essential oils this year, and they truly changed my life. They have had a huge impact on both my physical and emotional health, and they have totally replaced my medicine cabinet. I have so many favorite oils, but these four are my most-used. doTERRA Rose is what I use as perfume, and it is what I use anytime I need some strength or comforting. On Guard is the ultimate antibacterial oil and is perfect for addressing any sickness or to use to clean the home. Serenity is the calming oil that I diffuse every night to help me relax and go to sleep. It has really helped me reduce my anxiety, as well. DigestZen is a must for anyone with digestive issues. Any time I have digestive symptoms, I either apply this topically or take it internally, and I get immediate relief.
Beautycounter Ultimate Nudes Palette: I feel horrible that this is sold out, but I couldn’t write this post without mentioning it. There is nothing I love more than a good eyeshadow palette, and this is the best one I’ve ever used – toxic and nontoxic combined. The shades are all so smooth, buttery, and pigmented, and it has every color you could ever need. Stay on the lookout in case Beautycounter brings this back!
Beautycounter No. 1 and No. 3 Masks: The No. 3 Charcoal mask has always been my favorite, and it’s a must-have for anyone with oily/combo, acne-prone skin. It seriously pulls out every impurity, and I use it as a spot treatment as well. This year, the No. 1 Balancing mask became another one of my absolute favorites as well! It’s great for brightening and toning because it contains Vitamin C. You can even feel a little tingle when you put it on, so I know it’s working! These two are my favorites for face makes that actually show visible results, and I also like to put them both on my face at once, just in different areas (multi-masking).
Beautycounter No. 1 Oil – This is the facial oil I use most often – usually every other night. Not only does it smell amazing (like citrus!), but it contains Vitamin C which is really helpful for brightening and evening out the skin tone, as well as for collagen production. Adding an oil to my skincare routine has actually made my skin less oily in the long run, and I also feel like this helps keep my acne away!
Beautycounter Volumizing Mascara: This is definitely my all-item favorite nontoxic mascara. I know it’s called “Volumizing,” but it gives me both length and volume. It’s super buildable and lasts all day. When I build it up enough, my lashes look so big that I’ve been asked if they’re fake!
Beautycounter Liquid Eyeliner: You know I love me a good winged liner. There are a few nontoxic liquid liners that work really well, but the Beautycounter liner is my favorite because it’s pitch black, stays on all day, and has a really precise brush. It’s really easy to get a straight wing with this liner, and I can’t live without it! I’m so sad that this is also out of stock — but let’s hope BC brings it back!
Primally Pure Charcoal Deodorant: This is my current favorite nontoxic deodorant, and it doesn’t give me a rash like most other nontoxic deos do. It comes out black but disappears once it’s rubbed in. If you have sensitive skin like me and are looking for a good, safe deodorant, I highly recommend trying this out!
Franklin & Whitman Spruce Hill and Oak Lane Face Masks: When I want to indulge and have a nice spa night in, these are two of my favorite masks to use! The Spruce Hill mask smells like matcha tea, and the Oak Lane smells like chocolate. Both contain activated charcoal to help pull out impurities in the skin. Be warned – these usually make me hungry! Use the code “LOVELY” for 20% off your purchase of anything from Franklin & Whitman!
Maddie’s Market Peppermint Lip Balm: This lip balm is my OBSESSION. I have always struggled with incredibly dry, cracked, bleeding lips. I did find one lip balm that I depended on for most of my life that stopped the problem, but when I found out I had to get rid of all lip products with gluten in them, I had a really hard time finding something to replace it. I found a few things that sort of worked, but this lip balm is truly the best thing I have ever found. Simple ingredients, and actually keeps my lips moisturized. I have four of them because I am so paranoid I will lose one or run out. There is also a grapefruit flavor and a lavender flavor!
Maddie’s Market Daily Grind Coffee Face Scrub: I love the smell of coffee, so this scrub is one of my favorite things to treat myself with! I use this a few times a week for extra exfoliation. I scrub it onto clean skin, leave it on like a mask for about 5-10 minutes, and then rinse it off! It really helps to get rid of dead skin cells and brighten up your skin! I also love that the ingredients are so simple and non-irritating, because my skin does react to things really easily.
Primally Pure Dry Shampoo and Franklin and Whitman Spring Garden Dry Shampoo: I discovered both of these nontoxic dry shampoos this year, and I use both on different days! I think they both smell great, and I love that both have formulas for dark and light hair. I just shake a bit on my roots, rub it in, and I’m ready to go! I only wash my hair once or twice a week, so dry shampoo is a must in my beauty arsenal.
Dermarolling: If you want an in-depth post about my derma-rolling experience, check out this blog post. I’ve been dermarolling weekly for about 6 months or so, and I really do think it’s made a noticeable improvement in my acne scars! Derma rolling also helps serums sink much deeper into the skin, making them more effective. Proceed with caution, though, because you don’t want to cause more skin damage.
Oil pulling: If you’re not familiar with oil pulling, it’s when you put coconut oil in your mouth and swish it around for up to 20 minutes. I do this every morning for about 10 minutes, and it helps to naturally whiten your teeth and remove toxins in the mouth. My mouth feels much cleaner after I do this, and now I can’t live without it! I also think this is especially useful for anyone who has Candida overgrowth.
Himalaya Botanique Toothpaste: I tried so many different natural toothpastes this year, but this one was by far my favorite. It feels like a regular toothpaste, and it actually works! With almost every other toothpaste I tried, I never felt like my teeth were actually clean. Shoutout to my friend Betsy for this recommendation.
Rebounding: I will write a full post on the benefits of this soon, but I rebound on my mini trampoline almost every morning when I wake up to help with lymphatic drainage and digestion. I also think this has a really strong positive effect on my mood every day, and I highly recommend it.
Alo Yoga Sunny Strappy Bra: I am so picky about sports bras, but these are my favorite for working out, so I have it in a bunch of colors. There’s no padding (padding really annoys me), and it’s really comfortable! A bit pricey, but worth the quality.
Calvin Klein Cotton Bralette: I don’t work out in these, but I love to wear these pretty much every day because they’re really comfortable and soft. I really hate normal bras.
The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss: This book really changed my mindset about work and completely shifted the way I approach business. I really do believe in working smarter, not harder, and maximizing time. I think everyone’s main goal should be to work as little as possible but still get as much return as possible. As an entrepreneur, this book was really helpful, but I think that this book is eye-opening for anyone looking to get the most out of life with minimal work.
Paleo Principles by Dr. Sarah Ballantyne: The nutrition nerd in me is so grateful to Dr. Sarah Ballantyne for releasing this Paleo Bible. It is a monster of a book, and has literally everything you could ever want to know about nutrition inside! If you want a modernized nutrition textbook, this is for you.
Riverdale: If you follow me, you know I struggled a lot with television this year. It’s slacking. #FirstWorldProblems. One great discovery, however, was Riverdale on the CW, which has a dark storyline and uses the characters from the classic Archie’s comics. If you enjoy shows like Pretty Little Liars about teenagers with a dark twist, you’ll love this!
Hart of Dixie: This is a really great “no thinking” show to throw on. It’s like a southern One Tree Hill, but way less dramatic. I love putting on a show like this to just veg out, relax, and get in a good mood!
Vanderpump Rules: I’m a huge reality TV fan and watch every Real Housewives franchise except for Atlanta (which is now changing), but I had never actually watched Vanderpump Rules before. Ironic, because I love Sur Restaurant. This year I tried out the show, and I became completely addicted. The drama is priceless. If you’re into reality TV, I highly recommend this!
Stranger Things: This show gives me the chills! The Film minor in me loves this because of its artistic power and elegance, but regular me just loves the storyline and the shock value. Creepy without being scary, and I love that it’s a creative plotline.
Mind Pump Podcast: I am addicted to this podcast, so I’m glad they put out a new episode almost every single day! Sal, Adam, and Justin have been on Actually Adultish podcast twice and Straight Up Paleo podcast once, and I absolutely love them. They give really high quality, no BS health/fitness/nutrition information, but they also talk about a ton of random, interesting topics in a really entertaining way. After a few episodes you’ll feel like they’re your best friends. I was also a guest on this podcast and the episode came out yesterday (as I write this, #677). Give it a listen if you’re interested!
High Intensity Health Podcast: If you love the science behind health, nutrition, and fitness, you will love this podcast. Mike Mutzel interviews incredibly intelligent, interesting people in the health world and asks a lot of tough questions to really dive deep into nutrition and fitness! Mike himself is always a wealth of knowledge, so I love learning from him. He was also a guest on Straight Up Paleo podcast, and is overall a great guy!
PaleOMG Uncensored Podcast: Juli Bauer is truly the funniest woman on this planet and I laugh out loud every single time I listen to her podcast. She talks about food, fitness, beauty, relationships, general life topics… really everything. My dream is that someday she will get a reality TV show, although she probably would hate being on it.
Taylor Swift’s Reputation: I’ve always been a diehard T-Swift fan, but I was ready to give up on her after her first single this year. When the album dropped, I didn’t expect to like it. I was very wrong. This is truly the only album I’ve listened to all year, and I play it on repeat for hours and hours.
Primal Kitchen Restaurant: I was waiting for what felt like forever for the day that Primal Kitchen would open in Culver City, and this year it finally did! This is my favorite restaurant in L.A., and it’s one of the only restaurants I actually trust with food. They cook in high-quality, non-inflammatory oils like avocado oil and coconut oil, serve grass-fed meat and wild-caught fish, and truly care about their customers. They have a ton of amazing items on their menu, but some of my favorites are the eggplant “meatless”, lamb meatballs, kale crunch, pork belly, and cauliflower rice!
Wild Living Foods: This is another one of my favorite restaurants in L.A. It’s raw vegan and gluten-free, and everything is insanely delicious. My favorite thing on the menu is the Chile Relleno, but I always have a really hard time picking what I want on the menu. They also have some of the best dairy-free ice cream I’ve every come across! If it wasn’t downtown, I’d probably go there all the time!
Erewhon: Although I discovered Erewhon prior to 2017, my love for it truly flourished this year. Erewhon is a very “fancy” grocery store in L.A. – basically Whole Foods on crack. I think of Erewhon as a restaurant too, though, because the hot food bar is so delicious. I die for their eggplant lasagna and zingy cauliflower. I would much rather eat at Erewhon than at most restaurants (besides the above two), and I love just exploring inside the store and seeing all of the new healthy food products! This is where I get my probiotic coconut “cheese,” coconut yogurt, and other random, bougie, unnecessary food items. It’s my version of a candy shop.
The GOOD Fest: The best event of the year, and probably the best event ever in general. The GOOD Fest is the ultimate wellness festival where inspiring women gather together to meet up and talk about loving ourselves, what true wellness is, and how to generally kick ass when it comes to life. I met so many incredible people at this event and left feeling incredibly inspired, and I know the next one will be even better! The GOOD Fest is happening again in L.A. on February 3rd, and you should absolutely get a ticket if you haven’t already! You can use the code “addictedtolovely” for $15 off a ticket!
I hate to say it, but I’m sure I forgot things on this list. 2017 was filled with a lot of incredible releases, and I found a ton of new products I love! I’m very excited to see what comes out in 2018! What was your favorite product of 2017?!
by Christina | Dec 31, 2017 | Recipes, Wellness
This is my last recipe of 2017, and I want to leave you with a cozy one! After a Thanksgiving and early December filled with 85 degree weather, it is FINALLY getting chilly here in Los Angeles. I expected to come back from the Bay Area after Christmas and pull out my tank tops, shorts, and sunscreen, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by my need for fuzzy socks and a heavy North Face!
When it gets a little chilly out, there is nothing I love more than curling up on the couch with a warm mug of SOMETHING. Preferably alongside a good book or a mindless TV show. This is pretty much always part of my nighttime ritual, and it really helps me wind down. Tea is my go-to, but I also always love a nice latte when I have some more time. I went through a turmeric latte phase, but recently I wanted to switch it up and try out something new. Latte options are limited, though, for a girl who doesn’t do caffeine.
When have I ever let that stop me? I decided to put my own twist on one of the most delicious drinks I’ve ever had – a Dirty Chai Latte. During my first few years in L.A., I would go to Toast Bakery Cafe in West Hollywood as often as I could just to get their Dirty Chai Latte. They served it with a mini, bite-sized chocolate chip cookie. So cute. I thought I loved chai lattes before, but the dirty chai latte was on a whole new level.
What is a dirty chai latte? It’s a chai latte (which, by itself, is one of my favorite drinks in the world), with a shot (or two) of espresso. It tastes like a dream. Sadly, though, I haven’t been able to have one since going gluten-free and dairy-free. Unfortunately the dirty chai lattes at Toast Bakery Cafe contain both gluten and dairy. Also, caffeine really affects me (I bounce off the walls for days after a sip), so I save it for special occasions, anyways.
I decided to make my own caffeine-free version of a dirty chai latte using some of my favorite products! Dandy Blend is my favorite caffeine-free coffee replacement, and I’ve talked about it many times before. It doesn’t taste exactly like coffee, but it has that same earthy taste and always satisfies my coffee craving. Some people are confused about how Dandy Blend can be gluten-free, so I recommend you check out their FAQ to really understand how it’s made. It is made from the water extracts of barley and rye, not actual barley and rye. The gluten and gliadin proteins, which is what many of us react to, are not water soluble, so they get left out of the final product. It’s certified gluten-free, and it’s never given me a problem.
The other key to this masterpiece is Vital Proteins Coconut Collagen Creamer. Since getting this, I’ve been experimenting with different ways to use it other than just traditional coffee. I love it in smoothies and tea lattes, and the creamer is the perfect way to make any drink extra thick and frothy. Most creamers have unnecessary additives and weird ingredients, so it’s basically a miracle that there is now a creamer out there that not only tastes amazing, but actually benefits your health.
I’ve posted all about the benefits of collagen before, which you can read about here. In a nutshell, though, collagen is amazing for improving the health of your gut, hair, skin, nails, joints, muscles, and more. I’ve been using collagen regularly for years now, and I can’t tell you enough how much I recommend it. It’s been a key player in healing my leaky gut, it makes my hair and nails grow like crazy, it helps keep my skin clear and vibrant, my joints are less achey, and I have better recovery after workouts. This coconut flavor is a dream, and it almost acts like a coconut milk substitute! Since it’s a powder, you never have to worry about opening up your creamer and using it before it goes bad.
Besides the Dandy Blend and Vital Proteins Coconut Collagen Creamer, all you really need is some decaf chai tea! There are a ton of rooibos chai teas on the market, so use whatever works for you! I’ve linked to my favorites in the ingredient list. While this version is caffeine-free, you can absolutely sub whatever you want. If you want to use regular coffee instead of Dandy Blend, or regular chai tea instead of rooibos chai, go for it! It will still taste amazing. This is the perfect drink for cozying up and winding down, or starting your day off without a caffeine spike and crash. No sugar, no dairy, no gluten – just pure deliciousness! Plus, it’s got a bit of healthy fats and protein to keep you feeling satisfied for the rest of the day or night! If you’re keto, this is the perfect night cap.
Caffeine-Free Dirty Coconut Chai Latte
Ingredients:
Instructions:
- Place the water/nut milk into a small saucepan with the chai tea bag and heat over medium heat until as warm as you’d like. I prefer it just before boiling.
- Remove the liquid from the heat, and allow the tea to steep for a few minutes.
- Once the tea has steeped, remove the tea bag and pour the liquid into your mug. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until mixed. You can also blend this, use a frother, or use an immersion blender if you’d like it to be even more blended!
- Cozy up and enjoy!
by Christina | Dec 30, 2017 | Wellness
2017 was, by far, the fastest year of my life. It was also, by far, the best.
My life has changed a lot over the past year, and most of it was for the better. My friend Dana showed me a video of myself from earlier this year, and I could not believe it was from 2017. Was that really just this year? It felt like ages ago. I had long brown hair, lived in an apartment with 3 roommates, was still in college, and was still trapped in a life I didn’t fully love. At the time, I had no idea how much things would change, and how quickly it would happen.
I certainly don’t have everything figured out, and I’m not sure anyone ever really does, but this year I figured out a lot. I feel like I finally stepped into my place. I learned so many things, and I accomplished even more. I don’t want to say any of this to “brag.” If you know me at all, I’m not that kind of person. But I spent most of my life trying to hide my accomplishments, and not wanting to share them with others or admit them to myself because I was embarrassed or worried others would think I was bragging. I didn’t think I deserved to be proud of my achievements. Over time, I’ve realized how important it is to acknowledge my accomplishments. It’s okay to be proud of yourself. Who doesn’t deserve that? If I’m not proud of myself, does it even matter? I work hard, and I’m pretty damn proud of 2017.
To close out the year, I want to recap some important things that happened in 2017. Mostly for my own mental clarity, but also because I feel like people spend way too much time focusing on the negative parts of the prior year in order to figure out what they need to change for next year. My year was pretty great, and I won’t apologize for that! I’d rather look back on it and and be happy about it. And challenge myself to make next year even more amazing.
- I graduated from UCLA. This was huge for me. College never made me happy, and I felt like the past four years I was basically just waiting around for the day that I could get out and start my real life. I never thought the day would actually come because I was so used to school taking over my existence. I made it though, summa cum laude and all, and I even made it out a quarter early. For me, finally finishing college was a huge step towards really taking control of my life and pursuing what I really wanted.
- I moved into an apartment by myself for the first time. Throughout college I always had roommates, so it was my first time getting my own place. I’m the type of person who really loves to be alone, so living with roommates was always a little draining for me. Finally having my own space was another huge step towards increasing my happiness levels. Beyond that, I felt like a real adult. Getting my own apartment in L.A. was, dare I say, actually adultish. 😉
- I got rid of all of my nontoxic beauty products. This was really hard for me, but I did a huge purge and threw away or donated all of my toxic makeup and beauty products. It’s hard to basically throw away money, and I had a lot of makeup and beauty products. I was a total product junkie. That being said, nothing felt better than getting rid of everything and starting with a fresh slate. I made a commitment to myself to only use products that wouldn’t threaten my health, and now that I’ve found such incredible nontoxic, safe products, I will never go back to using the things I used before. I watched my lab markers improve, and I feel much better overall, so it doesn’t feel like I really lost anything. I only gained!
- I got my first full-time job. I worked throughout college and had many different internships, but I never had a full-time job before. I worked as Jordan Younger’s full-time assistant and Director of Partnerships for The Balanced Blonde, and it was the best and only job (in terms of working for anyone other than myself) I would ever want. I learned so much from that experience and owe Jordan the world. It was much more than just a job, and I feel so lucky to have been a part of TBB.
- I completed my Primal Health Coach certification. I had started slyly coaching people while in college without publicizing it, and I became very antsy to start doing it “officially.” While I truly don’t believe anyone needs an official certification to know what they’re doing, I wanted one. The Primal Health Coach program was the perfect fit for me and taught the same principles and values that I believe in. I loved my program, learned a ton, and felt so accomplished when I completed it.
- I officially launched my health coaching business. After completing my certification program, I announced to the world that I was offering health coaching services! This was a huge deal to me, and something I was so incredibly excited about. I have always known that I wanted to do some form of coaching, and my certification put it right at my fingertips. I extended Addicted to Lovely so that my services would be on my site, and I started seeing more clients (many of YOU!).
- I quit my full-time job and decided to focus on building my own business. Quitting my job with Jordan was a huge decision for me and tore me up inside. I felt very overextended. I was giving my all to my job, but I also wanted to give my all to my own passions – my blog, my podcast, health coaching, my Beautycounter business, and school. When I realized how the stress of balancing it all was affecting my own health, I knew I had to make a tough decision. In the end, I decided to take a leap of faith and just go after my own business, even though that meant not having a form of stable income and not even knowing if it would work out. One of many lessons I learned this year, though, is that taking a risk usually leads to to much greater things. It was so worth it.
- I became the sole host of the Actually Adultish podcast, and molded it into exactly what I wanted it to be. Starting the podcast was my idea and was always spearheaded by yours truly, but it moved from having three cohosts, to two, to one. In the end, this was the best thing that could have happened. I’ve been able to interview exactly who I want and ask the questions I want to ask, and it’s connected me with so many incredible people. More than that, I’ve been able to connect with so many listeners and cultivate an incredible community. The podcast is my baby. I am so proud of it and the way it’s grown. It’s all about #realtalk, and it’ll continue to be that way. I’m very lucky to call it my own.
- I started a new podcast, Straight Up Paleo, with my friend Kara. I adore podcasting, so it only made sense to start up a new podcast that could be strictly health/nutrition/fitness/wellness-based. Straight Up Paleo is modeled after a lot of other podcasts Kara and I love, but we aim to be a bit more blunt with our advice, talk about issues that affect a younger demographic (because being 20 is much different than being 50…), ask our guests “the tough” questions that other people skirt around, and share health information in an entertaining way. I am honestly just desperate to put an end to all of the BS health myths running around on social media. Plus, I love having a cohost who also happens to be one of my best friends.
- I published my first ebook, Gratitude: A Healthy Holiday Guide for a Paleo Thanksgiving, with my friend Kayleigh. I have always wanted to write a book, so I guess an ebook is a great way to start! Kayleigh and I wanted to create a resource that would be the ultimate guide to having a healthy holiday season. We made a ton of incredible holiday recipes, but we also really killed it (I know, I’m biased), in the lifestyle content department – but that’s what I think is most important. We talk about family drama, staying mindful, dealing with holiday drinks and treats, optimizing digestion, and so much more. Kayleigh and I worked so hard on this ebook, and we are so very proud of it!
- I published another ebook, #NoSugarNoProblems: A Lovely Collection of Paleo Sweetener-Free Desserts. This is my other baby. I am so so so proud of it. This ebook has 30 paleo, completely sweetener-free desserts, which I think is pretty revolutionary. Obviously that means no sugar, but also no sugar substitutes or high-glycemic foods. No monk fruit, no stevia, no xylitol, no erythritol, no honey, no maple syrup, no bananas, no dates. I’ve personally never seen anything else like it, which was why I was so excited to release it. This was really personal for me because I have had to be sugar-free for almost a year now, but I’ve been on sugar-free, gut-healing diets for the better part of the past three years of my life. I know what it’s like sometimes to just want a damn cookie, but not want to go off of your health protocol. I also know that so many of you are in the same boat as me and have to cut sugar for some reason or another, and I don’t want you to feel limited. There are options in here for almost everyone, including people who are low-carb, keto, diabetic, gluten-free, dairy-free, on a candida diet, on a low-fodmap diet, insulin resistant, or just want to cut their sugar intake. There are cookies, brownies, milkshakes, pies, fat balls, fudge, cake, cupcakes, and much more inside. Creating this felt like a marathon, and it was so worth it.
- I started the NTA program to become a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. This was basically the only thing I ever actually wanted to do when it came to education and was always my longterm goal. I WANT TO BE A NUTRITIONAL THERAPY PRACTITIONER. I started the program in September, and it will be over in June. So far, I absolutely love it! I’m learning a lot, have met amazing people, and can’t wait to continue to learn even more.
- I launched my first group program, the Paleo Women Program. 1:1 coaching is truly what makes me happiest, but I really wanted to find a way to reach more women at once and get quality health information out to women who wanted it. There is nothing more rewarding than watching a client’s life and health transform through holistic, natural remedies, and this program was a way to help an entire group of women do just that, with each other’s support. This program is centered around live weekly calls, weekly PDFs, a supportive Facebook group, and constant access to me and other women in the program for questions. We talk about food, fitness, emotional health, body image, balancing hormones, health lies, and so much more. I got incredible feedback from women saying their migraines vanished, acne cleared up, joint pain went away, extra weight melted off, periods came back, sleep improved, and more. It was really rewarding for me to create individual relationships with many of the women and to see how far they came in just 5 weeks. Plus, I know they were shocked at how much information they learned. I think that everything in the program is crucial knowledge for any woman looking to live a healthy lifestyle, and I am really proud of that.
- I removed a lot of toxic people from my life. This meant unfollowing a lot of people on social media, and also ending many real-life relationships. It sounds sad, and it was difficult, but it was necessary. I was afraid to end so many of those relationships, but freeing myself of those ties ended up being the best thing I could have ever done for myself. I learned to choose me and honor what I need to be happy, and I don’t want one-sided friendships in my life.
- I survived on a Candida / food elimination diet for most of the year. I started my protocol this year, and I’m still going strong. My case is more complicated than expected, which has really dragged things out, but I’m proud of myself for persisting and doing what I need to do to ultimately feel my best and take care of myself. I refuse to give up on my health.
- I chopped my hair off. I never thought I would have short hair, but I took the plunge and totally love it. So many of us are emotionally attached to our hair, and I was no different. Cutting my hair felt like freedom to me, and it was a visual representation of the new life I wanted to create for myself. Although, I won’t lie, I might grow it out again.
- I traveled to places I had never been before, and I visited friends I had never met in real life but desperately wanted to. Nowhere too fancy, but I went to Texas, Philly, Seattle, Portland, and San Diego to visit friends, and I’m sure I’ll be doing even more traveling in 2018 as well. I used to hate weekend trips and always avoided going away. Even though it got tiring, it was so worth it. It can definitely get lonely when most of your friends live in different states and cities, and those weekend getaways totally filled up my soul.
This year, I felt like I finally found my place. I found my thing. I feel like I’m doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing. I will certainly continue to evolve and grow, but in this moment, I’m on the track I want to be on. I hope that leads to even better things in the future. For the first time in my life, I am utterly and truly happy. Things are not perfect. They will never be perfect – that isn’t realistic. But I feel incredibly grateful for my life, and I wouldn’t change it for anything. I feel an overwhelming sense of happiness every day, and I never thought I would ever really feel that way.
The one most important lesson I learned this year, and one that I will take with me into this next year, is to always have faith in yourself. Manifest what you want. Believe it will happen. If you don’t believe it, no one else will. If you believe it and manifest it, it will happen. You can’t get what you want if you don’t ask for it. I don’t care if you think that’s “woo woo,” it’s true. I manifested everything positive that happened to me this year, and it showed me that all I need to find my version of “happiness” is a strong belief in myself.
Let’s talk about 2018. As I’ve mentioned many times before, I really don’t like the whole attitude towards New Year’s resolutions and making big changes just because a new year comes. The truth is that every day is a new day, and every moment is a new moment. There is no point in waiting around to change something. You can change it today. You don’t have to wait until it’s a whole new year!
That being said, there are things I hope to focus on this year, not because it’s a new year, but because they’re just the next things in my life that I want to focus on. And it happens to coincide with the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018.
- I’ll finally be launching my new brand, Christina the Channel, very soon. I hope to grow my nutrition business into everything I want, bring on more incredible clients, and help many more people figure out how to live their healthiest, happiest lives.
- I will continue to expand my podcasts, Actually Adultish and Straight Up Paleo. I cannot wait for the guests lined up for both of these podcasts – it only gets better. I really hope that the AA and SUP communities keep growing (join the Facebook groups if you haven’t already!), and I want to make podcasting an even bigger part of my business. It’s one of my favorite things to do, and I can’t explain to you how rewarding it is on every level.
- I want to read more books. Not just audio books, but actual books. I want to take the time to slow down, sit down, and just read. I was a bookworm growing up, but I haven’t been that way since high school, when schoolwork took over. Nowadays, I want to make the time to regularly read for pleasure again.
- I want a better nighttime routine. This is something I go in and out of, but I really want to focus on it so that I prioritize my sleep more and give myself a break towards the end of the day. Speaking of which…
- I want to have “normal” hours and allow myself to turn off. I pretty much just work from the time I get up to the time I go to sleep, every day of the week, and right now that’s what I need to do to build my business. I hope, though, that I can start to draw better boundaries and allow myself more of a break when I need it. I would like to have real “weekends” where I don’t work the whole time, and to be able to turn off at 6 or 7 PM so I do have evenings to do what I want.
- I hope to expand my Paleo Women Program, and maybe launch something else. I love programs like this because it allows me to reach more people at once on a more personal level, and there is nothing that makes me happier. The Paleo Women Program was one of my favorite parts of the year because I watched a group of women transform their health, make new friends and connections, and learn a ton about what really makes a lifestyle healthy.
- I will finally get to the bottom of what’s going on with my stomach. It’s been a long time coming, but I know this is the year I will figure things out. Stay tuned.
I do have some secret projects in the works, of course. When do I not? I can’t wait for what this next year will bring. 2017 was a great year, and I know 2018 is going to be even better.
I’d love to hear from YOU. What was the best part of your year? What did you accomplish? What will you focus on this next year to make it even better? Is there anything you’d like to see from me in 2018?
HAPPY 2018!
