Ever feel like your body is stuck in overdrive—heart pounding, stomach churning, and your brain just won’t shut off? Between managing two teenage boys, studying, juggling everyday demands, and coping with a chronic illness, I often find myself running on high gear both physically and mentally. That restless, “always-on” feeling is exactly where the vagus…
Category: Self-Care
Why You Feel “Heavy” (Even When the Scale Doesn’t Move)
The Sticky Truth About Dampness and Your Health For a long time, I didn’t really notice it, but once I hit my thirties, I couldn’t quite put my finger on why I felt so sluggish and foggy every late summer. It wasn’t just the heat—it felt heavier than that. It was like I was suddenly…
Feeling Bloated After Meals? FODMAPs Might Be the Culprit
You eat a meal, and shortly after your stomach feels tight, puffy, or uncomfortable—like something just isn’t sitting right. Maybe there’s gas, cramps, or changes in your digestion that don’t follow a clear pattern. It might not just be what you’re eating—it could be how your body is digesting it. Let’s talk about FODMAPs. It might…
The Histamine Bucket: Why “Healthy” Foods Can Sometimes Make You Feel Off
Ever finished what should have been a “healthy” meal—say, a spinach salad with avocado—and suddenly felt itchy, foggy, or just… off? Maybe a glass of wine leaves your nose stuffy, or you get a weird spike of anxiety out of nowhere. If this sounds familiar, histamine might be playing a bigger role than you think. So, What…
Matcha & Hojicha: Which Tea Fits Your Day?
Most people reach for coffee when they’re overwhelmed, but I usually have a different strategy. I call it my ‘Green & Gold’ routine. As a mom, tea is my anchor. It marks the transition from Doing to Being. In the middle of that chaos, tea has become my little tool. Some mornings, I need a focused boost; other evenings, I…
Breaking Free from Food Rules, Finding True Nourishment
I used to think “eating healthy” meant following a long list of strict rules: no carbs after 6:00 PM, drink this before that, no more than 1,200 calories a day, and counting every gram of protein, fat, and carb. Or, no dessert allowed unless it was made with dates and almond flour. I tried almost…
Understanding TCM Body Constitutions: A Beginner’s Perspective
I was born and raised in Canada, but growing up in a Chinese household, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was always present in my life, thanks to my mom. Whenever we were sick, it wasn’t Tylenol or the usual Western remedies. Instead, my mom would brew up some bitter herbal tea that, to be honest, tasted…
A Year of Letting Go and Finding Balance
This past year has been a journey of high highs and some very real lows. Life was beautiful but busy—baseball tournaments, family travel, and a big trip to Japan. I’ll be the first to admit I let loose with food, didn’t always make the best choices, and definitely didn’t get the rest I needed. Between…
My Journey Back To Me
Sometimes, it takes a change of scenery to truly see yourself again. Our trip to Japan was intended for family time and exploring, and while it was both, it also served as a necessary eye-opener. For years, I’ve been trying to balance my health while showing up for my family, but looking back, I was…
Fall Wellness: TCM Tips for Nourishing Body and Spirit
Fall is a time of change. The air cools, the leaves turn beautiful shades of orange and gold, and everything feels a little slower and more reflective. In TCM, fall is the season that corresponds with the lungs and metal element and it’s all about nourishing your body, mind, and spirit as we transition from…
Summer Foods to Keep You Cool and Balanced, TCM Style
Summer is officially here, and you can feel it everywhere—longer days, sunshine, and that heat that just screams for ice-cold drinks. But here’s the thing: in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), offers a different perspective on internal balance. Cooling the body isn’t about the temperature of the liquid, but rather using specific functional foods that naturally help…
Nourishing Your Body: The Best Foods to Eat in Spring According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Spring’s that time of year when everything starts to shake off the winter slowdown. Nature wakes up, plants start growing again, animals come out of hibernation, and we feel that shift too. Maybe there’s a bit of winter weight or sluggishness hanging around, but as the days get warmer, we’re naturally pulled outside, craving movement…
Embrace the Dark Side
We always hear about “eating the rainbow,” but today I want to shine a light on the most underrated part of the spectrum: Black Foods. These dark-pigmented ingredients offer significant functional value. I consider them the “underdogs” of the produce aisle—dense with antioxidants that support systemic health and provide a simple way to increase the nutrient…
Revitalize with Beet-Green Detox Juice
Feeling a bit off lately? Maybe a little sluggish or bloated? I have a little secret that might just help: my Beet-Green Detox Juice. It’s a simple, refreshing drink packed with nature’s best to help you feel like yourself again. I love making this because it’s a quick energy boost that leaves you feeling refreshed from the…
Healthy New Year’s Resolutions for a Vibrant 2024!
As we head into a brand new year, I’m focusing on what actually helps me feel better—without diving into an extreme diet or living at the gym. Let’s be real: I’ve got kids, a home to run, and a million other things on my plate. I’m looking for the small, doable shifts that actually stick. Here are a few un-complicated resolutions I’m working…