What’s for Lunch??

Try these for lunch! 🍎


🥣 Quinoa Salad Bowl

Toss cooked quinoa with olive oil, lemon juice, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, chickpeas, and chicken or cheese as you please!


🌯Mediterranean Wrap

Spread some hummus on a wrap and pile in chicken, lettuce, red onions, tomatoes, and feta cheese.


🍗 Chicken Salad

Get creative by tossing leftover chicken with a bit of mayo, celery, grapes, sunflower seeds, or avocados.


🫐 Greek Yogurt Parfait

Layer greek yogurt with fresh berries, granola, and chia seeds or hemp hearts.


What do you think? Will you try one of these?


Daily Self-Care (Checklist)

What’s your list look like?



I believe everyone has different things that fill their cup, and what works for one person won’t work for everyone.



But I encourage you to be open-minded.



If you’ve never tried sticking to a morning routine (or breaks for deep breathing or an evening wind-down), how do you know you won’t love it?



Drop me a ❤️ if you found this helpful! Look below for some ideas for self-care!




#selfcareroutine #selfcaredaily #morningroutine #holisticlifestyle #elementsnatmed

Consider This Your Nudge!

Any guesses?!?


It boosts energy, relieves stress, improves mood, and protects against most chronic illnesses.


It’s something that anyone can do for free.


(okay, you’ve probably got it by now….)


It’s MOVEMENT! 💃🏃‍♀️🤸‍♀️


Whether you want to squeeze in some crunches and jumping jacks before work, desk stretches mid-morning, or a walk after lunch…


Moving your body is one of the best ways to improve and optimize your health.


Drop me a comment if you needed this nudge!

Brain Nutrients: My Top 5

💥 5 nutrients for brain health ⬇️⬇️

▪️ Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Fatty acids are the building blocks for nerve cell membranes and important for cell-to-cell communication in the brain.

Food sources: fish, nuts, & seeds

▪️ B Vitamins

B vitamins act as cofactors for energy metabolism, and the brain needs a constant supply of energy to maintain function!

Food sources: eggs, meats, nuts, whole grains

▪️ Choline

Choline is a building block for acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter related to memory and brain function.

Food sources: egg yolks & liver

▪️ Polyphenols

These colorful compounds in plant foods protect brain cells from oxidative stress and damage.

Food sources: berries, chocolate, & green leafy vegetables

▪️ Probiotics

Probiotics influence brain health through the gut-brain axis, benefiting mood and memory.

Food sources: yogurt, kefir, & kombucha

If you aren’t eating food sources of these nutrients every day, supplementation is an option. Just be sure to purchase them from trusted sources. If you have any questions, we can help!

🌱 Get started at our practice through the link in our bio!

REFERENCE:

Gómez-Pinilla F. Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain function. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2008 Jul;9(7):568-78. [link]

Ansari F, Neshat M, Pourjafar H, Jafari SM, Samakkhah SA, Mirzakhani E. The role of probiotics and prebiotics in modulating of the gut-brain axis. Front Nutr. 2023 Jul 26;10:1173660. [link]

Brain Food: The Good & Bad

Save this list and check your kitchen!


Healthy brain function depends on a steady supply of essential fats (for nerve cell communication), proteins (for neurotransmitter synthesis), micronutrients (for metabolic pathways), and polyphenols (for antioxidant protection).


Here are science-backed foods to eat and to avoid for a better brain 🧠


✅ The Good:


▪️ Eggs

▪️ Fatty Fish

▪️ Flax Seeds

▪️ Chia Seeds

▪️ Walnuts

▪️ Olives

▪️ Turmeric

▪️ Green Tea

▪️ Dark Chocolate

▪️ Mushrooms



❌ The Bad:


▪️ Trans fats (hydrogenated oils)

▪️ Alcohol

▪️ Sugary Drinks

▪️ Refined Carbohydrates

▪️ Aspartame


Even if you don’t think you have any problems with “brain health,” just remember that your brain is the control center for every other body function—including energy, sleep, stress, hormones, and gut health.


Like if you found this helpful ❤️


#brainfoods #brainhealthmatters #foodismedicine #sciencebackednutrition #elementsnatmed

REFERENCES:

Beilharz JE, Maniam J, Morris MJ. Diet-Induced Cognitive Deficits: The Role of Fat and Sugar, Potential Mechanisms and Nutritional Interventions. Nutrients. 2015;7(8):6719-6738. [link]

Gómez-Pinilla F. Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain function. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2008 Jul;9(7):568-78. [link]

Humphries P, Pretorius E, Naudé H. Direct and indirect cellular effects of aspartame on the brain. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2008;62(4):451-462. [link]