Here you can browse all of the articles I’ve written over the years, starting with the most recent ones. If you’d prefer to browse by topic, just use the menu above. And if you’re an audio learner, be sure to check out the Phoenix Helix Podcast, with over 200 episodes!
When is food enough, and when do you need something more? What is supplement fraud? Do supplements contain allergens that can set off an autoimmune flare? How do you know which supplements will help you? I answer these questions and more in this blog post.
Have you been doing the paleo autoimmune protocol for a while, without seeing the results you want? In this post, I share 5 of the most common mistakes people make on this journey. Let’s see if any of these apply to you.
Research shows that sadness increases our perception of pain, depression increases inflammation, stress can make you sick, and anxiety affects immune function. That’s the power of the mind-body connection. In this post, I write about EFT: a simple process for releasing negative emotions that may be holding back our healing progress. It’s also a technique that can be used in daily life as well. It can help dispel fear, anxiety, grief – any emotion we are struggling to let go. People even use it in airports to get over fear of flying. Have you used EFT in your own life? How has it helped you?
Angie has celiac disease, endometriosis and an autoimmune skin condition. During the 15 years it took for her to be fully diagnosed, she endured numerous hospital visits, extreme pain and psychiatric symptoms that made her consider checking herself into a mental hospital. The gut-brain connection is real. The Paleo Autoimmune Protocol not only restored her physical health, but her mental health as well. She shares her journey with us today.
The holidays are meant to be about beautiful things: celebration, love, family, fellowship. But they come wrapped in a package that includes stress, pressure and a tradition of foods we can no longer eat. So, how does a paleo autoimmune warrior not only survive, but thrive and enjoy the season? I share my best advice in this post.
Today’s post is another inspiring success story. Charles has ankylosing spondylitis, an autoimmune condition that affects the spine. At its worst, Charles lived a life of constant, debilitating pain, where pain medication had no effect. His disease also caused a dangerous heart condition. After 2 weeks on a no-starch version of the paleo diet, his pain reduced to a 0-1. Two years later, he continues to maintain the diet, and his heart condition has healed.
It’s easy to get lost, navigating the waters of healthy, sustainable seafood. Between overfishing, pollution, toxicity concerns, and food fraud, I almost stopped eating fish altogether. But they are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, which are essential to our health. So, I spent hours researching the question, “Does Healthy Sustainable Seafood Exist?” The answer is “Yes” but it can be hard to find. Check out this blog post to learn everything you need to know about this important part of our diet.
I started with the GAPS diet in the summer of 2012 and when I plateaued in my healing, I added the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol in January 2013. In this post, I share how these 2 diets contributed to my autoimmune health and compare my results between the two. I also honestly speak of the emotional rollercoaster of following an elimination/reintroduction protocol: the challenge of living with restrictions, the grief of failed food reintroductions, the joy of successful ones, and the wonder and gratitude of being able to communicate with my body so clearly.
Today, we have another inspiring success story. Russ Crandall has a rare autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in his arteries. He had a stroke at age 24 and open heart surgery at age 26. Medication moderated his symptoms, but It wasn’t until he discovered the Paleo Diet at age 29, that his health started to improve.
What’s the deal with this delicious, mythical and controversial food? Is it a magic elixir, a heinous junk food, or somewhere in between? I spent hours of research, clarifying its pros, cons, and where it fits on a healing diet. In this post, I share everything you ever wanted to know about chocolate.
Want to know which onion has 120 times more antioxidants than the rest? Which fruit has 10 times more nutrition than most vegetables? Which vegetables lose half their nutrition within 2 days of picking and how to slow that process down? Or how to make sure you are getting the medicinal benefit of garlic when you eat it? Here are 20 tips to make your next grocery shopping trip the most nutritious yet.
I took three road trips during my first year on a healing diet, traveling 2000 miles round-trip for each of them. I stayed on my diet without cheats. This article shows you how.
Ah, nightshades – a flavorful and sometimes spicy little plant family that can cause a lot of pain and inflammation for people with nightshade sensitivity. In this post, I list the most common nightshades, explain how they can be harmful, share the symptoms of nightshade sensitivity, and offer my tips to get along without them.
The GAPS, Wahls and Paleo Diets are powerful healing templates, but they often work best when personalized to our needs. Through patience, perseverance, and customizing her diet, Katy has reversed both Crohn’s disease and Inflammatory Arthritis. She shares the details of her healing journey with us in this interview.
If you think the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol is restrictive, check out this list of all the foods you CAN eat! When we eat a wide variety of foods, not only does it make the AIP more enjoyable to follow, it’s also a key to nutrient density. That’s because every food has a unique nutrient profile. So, use this list to break free of any food ruts!
Part of my AIP series, this post answers frequently asked questions & gives tips for success. How long do I have to stay on the protocol? Why can’t I just take an allergy test? Should I go off my medication when I start the AIP? Why is the reaction to a food stronger after an elimination diet? If I fall off the AIP wagon, do I have to start over on Day 1? How can I help myself succeed on the AIP? I provide answers to these questions and more!
The Paleo Autoimmune Protocol includes 2 phases: elimination and reintroduction. We aren’t meant to stay in the elimination phase forever. The reintroduction process is how we learn to communicate with our bodies and personalize our diets. It’s a process that requires patience, and it can be a little confusing and intimidating. Here’s a quick overview of the process.
It’s a fact of human nature that we tend to notice what’s wrong, more than we notice what’s right. This blog post is about the power of writing things down, and how that can affect our awareness, our choices, and our mindset. I share tips for keeping 3 kinds of journals: a symptom journal, a gratitude journal, and a let-it-out journal.
Finding a healthcare team that understands “food is medicine” can be as hard as finding Waldo in the famous children’s book series. Thankfully, there are a growing number of directories to help, and I’ve linked to them in this blog post. If you aren’t getting better independently on a healing diet and lifestyle, troubleshooting with an expert can make a world of difference! Many of these practitioners work with patients around the world, so you aren’t limited to local offices. And if you’re interested in becoming a healthcare practitioner yourself, I share my favorite training programs in this article as well.
Did you think that NSAIDs weren’t allowed on the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol? Here’s my opinion on this controversial issue. It’s time to bring some balance to the discussion of pain in the alternative and real food communities.
When you’re on a restricted diet, traveling can seem out of reach, but the world is too big and beautiful for us to stay house-bound. Over the years, I’ve mastered this skill for both road trips and plane travel. I’ve also scoured the internet for other people’s experiences. We can learn so much from each other! In this link love roundup, you’ll find advice for long flights, road trips, camping, cruises, traveling with children, business trips, eating in restaurants, and more.
Do you feel angry with your body? Hatred toward your body? Betrayed by your body? At war with your body? How do these feelings affect our ability to heal?
Dr. Terry Wahls has multiple sclerosis and went from a wheelchair to a bicycle with the help of a nutrient-dense paleo diet. She recommends we each eat 6-9 cups vegetables daily. Why are veggies so important? Do we eat them cooked or raw? Are some vegetables more nutritious than others? What if our appetite is smaller than that? Find the answers to these questions and more in this informative post.
Did you know that once a week, I turn off my computer and hide my iphone in the garage? For 24 hours, I don’t have access to social media, email, or the internet. It may sound crazy to you, but it’s the most peaceful day of my week. I’ve been doing this for years, and I highly recommend it! If life seems stressful and busy, this is an amazing technique for slowing time down again.
Learn everything you need to know, to brew a beautiful, beneficial batch of kombucha. Where’s the best spot to brew it? What is the best brewing temperature? What’s a SCOBY hotel? My SCOBY looks funny – what does it mean? Answers to these questions and many more!
