Am I the only one who thinks cookie dough is better than the cookie itself? I remember growing up and getting tubs of cookie dough from school fundraisers and just going to town on it (no wonder I got health issues)! So, why is cookie dough bad to eat anyway?

I know you’ve thought about it because almost all of my clients ask me “is coffee good or bad for me?” Coffee and acne have an interesting connection, but this connection is not as directly related as you might think. Even if you don’t suffer from acne, but you have low energy, weight imbalances, hormone imbalances, and/or digestive issues, stay tuned because you are going to learn all you need to know about the benefits and negative effects of coffee. 

I’m frequently shocked by our industrial food and medical systems lack of oversight by the FDA. As a functional medicine nutritionist it is highly disturbing to learn that cereals are fortified with metallic shavings of iron, or that most retail stores like GNC, Target, Walmart, and Walgreens sell supplements that do not contain the active ingredient advertised! In fact, they found that some of the contaminants identified included allium, pine, wheat/grass, rice, mustard, citrus, and dracaena (houseplant) 1.

Can Corn Cause Acne? The amount of carbohydrates that turn in to sugar in our bodies from eating corn is the main reason why many people who suffer from acne would see relief from not eating corn. This is because of insulin resistance. In our modern society, excess accessibility to sugar and carbohydrates all the time create a huge burden on the liver, adrenals, and pancreas.

Nuts and seeds are difficult to digest proteins and must be soaked and dehydrated to improve digestion and absorption of nutrients. Follow the soaking times and recipe provided…

You may have heard that milk is an inflammatory food that causes acne. But do you know why and that you can actually get back to drinking milk and having other dairy products while keeping your skin clear? As a functional medicine nutritional practitioner I never settle with telling people they can’t eat a specific food anymore.

WHY EAT LESS SUGAR? One of the biggest hurdles my clients have to overcome is their sugar cravings. These cravings (which are not bad and have an evolutionary purpose) are satiated excessively, secretly, and sneakily in many forms by industrial food corporations. I’m here to give you some foundational knowledge and practical tips to help you navigate your sugar cravings amid a society filled with Oreos and Chips Ahoy.

Healing your gut and acne naturally is an undertaking of itself, not to mention learning to take more time cooking your own food. Food is one of the most important factors to be intentional about and preparation is key for success. I know what it feels like to not have access to easily grab and go food when you need it so I’ve created this step by step batch cooking guide to help you get prepared and always have food for on the go.

This is one of my favorite recipes that reminds me of my junk food days at the same time as it fulfills the best nutritional needs for acne and gut healing. I hope you enjoy it! Why grain-free? This childhood favorite crispy chicken recipe is grain-free for acne and gut health. Lower glycemic diets help lower inflammation in the body.

Adaptogens are herbs or tonics that have been used by Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine for centuries. Commonly known adaptogens are ginseng, Rhodiola, or tulsi (holy basil). In the 1970s adaptogens found their popularity…

Carrots contain beneficial fiber and micronutrients to support the gut and your acne. They help balance hormones, fight inflammation, and contain vitamin C and beta-carotene which act as antioxidants fighting toxins, free radicals, and promote healing.

If your childhood was like mine, you regularly consumed the pumpkin pie from Costco. Unfortunately, this pie (and most pies you buy from the grocery store) contains sugar, corn syrup, canola oil, refined flour, and mono & diglycerides. The Holiday season can be full of STRESS and SUGAR.

ALL fatty foods found in nature have a balance of all 3 classifications of fats: saturated, mono-unsaturated(olive oil/avocado oil), and poly-unsaturated .

What does this mean?

Beet kvass is an ancestral Russian fermented drink that contains probiotics, antioxidants, and powerful micro-nutrients to help detoxification and fat digestion. Because of this, beet kvass was traditionally used to boost immune function, cleanse the blood, reverse fatigue and soothe kidney stones, chemical sensitivities, allergies, and digestive problems.

Bone Broth is all the rage these days. They say, “It is high in minerals, amino acids, and is good for our gut!” Our society tends to highlight individual foods as cure-alls and we often get the message that everyone needs to be gluten-free, go keto, or drink bone broth. It can be confusing to navigate the plentiful information from doctor Google.

Chemical exposure in our modern world is off the charts. There are over 80,000 chemicals registered for commercial use today, many of which haven't been studied for safety by any government agency. In your very home, there are on average 62 toxic chemicals, which is more than a chemistry lab holds at one time.

Why Paleo? I’m Italian so I grew up eating pasta and cheese. You might be wondering, why don’t I keep eating these foods?Over time, my microbiome (the ecosystem of bacteria in my gut) has undergone severe stress from environmental toxins, chemicals, and highly processed sugar, grains, and dairy.

Confused about Gluten Sensitivity? Is it a real thing? Are you going crazy? This is how I felt when I first found out about my sensitivity to wheat and gluten. Yes, these are two different things and I’ll explain in a second, but first I want to make sure to tell you that you are NOT alone and there is a solution! Gut healing is at the core of your food sensitivity to wheat and gluten, so regardless of you having celiac or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, there is a lot more hope than your doctor and popular belief has led you to believe.

When I first started my healing journey with my very own Nutrition Therapy Practitioner, Stacie Bailey NTP, I had a very different relationship with chocolate. I still consider myself a chocoholic but my addiction, yes addiction, no longer controls me. In fact, I may even break up with chocolate for good! (I can’t believe I just said that!)