Author: Lily

She’s doing everything “right.” Eating her vegetables. Taking her supplements. Drinking the water. And yet the scale hasn’t moved in months, she wakes up puffy every morning, and there’s this low-grade exhaustion that no amount of sleep seems to fix. If that sounds familiar — or if you’ve heard a version of it from someone you love — we want to share something that most practitioners miss entirely. Something that sits quietly at the intersection of thyroid health, hormones, and the foods we eat. Something called histamine. Not histamine the allergy molecule. Not the antihistamine you take when your nose…

This Chipotle guacamole recipe is creamy, bright, and packed with fresh flavor, just like the restaurant version. Made with ripe avocados, lime juice, red onion, cilantro, jalapeño, and salt, it comes together in minutes and is perfect for tacos, burrito bowls, dipping, and more. People go wild for Chipotle guacamole (and even pay extra for it), so there must be some secret ingredient that makes it so crave-worthy, right? Well, it turns out the secret is that they keep it super simple. Chipotle’s guacamole is irresistible because it’s fresh, creamy, perfectly seasoned, and it lets the avocado shine. Many guacamole…

Italy’s most famous food may be pizza, but these iconic Italian (and Italian-American!) salads prove that even simple vegetable dishes can upstage the rest. Scroll on to find your new favorite Italian salad!  Caprese Salad – Photo Credit: Mariam Hamdy Italians Don’t Do Sad Salads, and Neither Should You Pizza, pasta, and antipasto are all spectacular, but don’t overlook the Italian salad! The salad course in Italy shows the culture’s vibrant approach to vegetables in general and salad, specifically. Honestly, I think the only reason we don’t celebrate Italian salads more is that there are so many other delicious Italian…

Body heat is a natural phenomenon that occurs as a result of the metabolic processes in our body. It is the heat generated by the body’s internal organs and muscles, which helps maintain a stable body temperature. However, excessive body heat can lead to several health problems, including heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and dehydration. According to experts, the normal body temperature is around 98.6ºF (37ºC), but it can go up by 0.9ºF (0.5ºC) depending on the time of day. However, a body temperature reaching 100.4ºF (38ºC) indicates you have a fever. To efficiently reduce your body heat, you must identify the…

Sticky-sweet-savory teriyaki tofu is a 1-pan dinner that is so simple to make in just half an hour! Serve with rice, quinoa, or with crunchy veggies in tacos or wraps. (nut-free with gluten-free and soy-free options) This is a really delicious, super quick one-pan weeknight meal. I toss the tofu in some soy sauce and cornstarch, then crisp it up. The sauce is super easy. You just add all of the ingredients into the pan, bring it to a boil to thicken, and then fold in your tofu with whatever veggies you like. That’s it. It’s super quick and super…

Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms your body uses to communicate to you that you aren’t eating enough.  Stress, busy schedules, illnesses, grief, and the hustle and bustle of everyday life can take a toll on us. More specifically, our appetites and the way our bodies regulate hunger. This can often lead to us not eating enough. Additionally, many people in the pursuit of weight loss often end up unintentionally undereating or restricting to achieve that goal. Whatever the cause, not eating enough food and depriving your body of important nutrients can manifest in ways that wreak havoc on…

Key Takeaways Many insurance plans cover medical weight loss treatment for eligible patients. Insurance may cover physician visits, metabolic assessments, lab work, and approved weight loss medications. Insurers often require prior authorization for GLP-1 medications and other obesity treatments. Physician-led clinics help patients verify coverage and determine treatment eligibility. One of the most common questions I hear from patients seeking weight loss treatment in Chicago is: “Will my insurance cover it?” The good news is that insurance coverage for obesity and weight management has expanded significantly in recent years. Many insurers now recognize obesity as a chronic medical condition that…

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These summer sides are perfect for any cookout. Most are make-ahead friendly, many are no-cook, and all are built on the Mediterranean flavors that sing in summertime. Watermelon Feta Salad – Photo Credit: Andrea Gralow Side Dishes to Steal the Show! At a summer cookout, the sides are what people are really talking about. The burgers or the grilled chicken might be perfect, but the thing people will remember later is never the main. Instead, what usually disappears first, the thing for which people request a recipe, is always a side dish, that’s what makes the meal. This list is…

There’s something just so nostalgic about biting into a gooey Rice Krispie treat. And while I remember them from my childhood, they’re not something that I’ve had in many years. Until now that is. This homemade, healthy Rice Krispie treat recipe is a new favorite in our house.  The Rice Krispie treats from the store are usually a little hard and not so fresh tasting. You’ll find ingredients like corn syrup, GMO soybean oil, artificial flavors, and acetylated monoglycerides… whatever that is. And many of the homemade Rice Krispies treats, while they taste good, aren’t much healthier.  An Upgraded Rice…