Coffee: to drink or not to drink?

July 18, 2017 Yvonne Matthews

Like so many things we consume in this world there is no clear line to answer this question. It is more about you and your body - how it processes caffeine, are you allergic to it, the quality of coffee beans, how you drink it and of course the even bigger reason, why do you drink it. So, here's what you need to know:

1 // There is a gene and enzyme, both called CYP1A2, and because coffee is metabolized through the liver if you have the two copies of this gene (one from each parent) you are considered a fast metabolizer of caffeine, meaning it will affect you less than someone who has only one or none of this gene.

Moon Cycle Tea Recipe

June 20, 2017 Yvonne Matthews

Hey gang, it's been a minute. But I am here. I've been doing a lot of amazing things the last few months and getting ready to start a few new things as well. I will get into all that good stuff in another post, soon, I promise. But for now, I wanted to share a great tea recipe that I made yesterday inspired by a few things in my life: 1) I started my cycle today and am trying the meLuna cup today for the first time, so far I am loving it! 2) I was feeling a little overwhelmed with all the work I had committed to do, and after talking to my amazing business coach (who also happens to be an ayurvedic nutritionist) Claire of Vidya Living, who reminded me that during this time of my cycle, not only is it ok to back off and turn inward, but it's beneficial to me and those around me as well. So, yestreday and today I backed off a little bit, took a bath, spent some time outdoors in my garden, did yoga instead of spin class and took a little more gentle and loving time with myself.

Snacks on the Go

April 27, 2017 Yvonne Matthews

As a holistic nutritionist I get a lot of the same questions from my clients. One of the top question/concerns I am asked is how to eat healthy when they are so busy. To which I usually ask them how their typical days go. Where is all there "extra" time (the time not at work, taking care of their kids or in an office) being spent?

And you know what I find...? There is usually time in there. Holes where we get sucked into watching a few too many Insta-stories or reading too many articles on the same thing or even working form home in front of the TV and not being as efficient as we could be. Believe me, I understand. I have these times too!

The first part of that answer is awareness around that time.

The Mexican Matcha Recipe

April 21, 2017 Yvonne Matthews

Sorry friends for being MIA the last month. A few things have shifted in my life this past month and I was feeling the need to re-evaluate my blog and what I was doing with my nutrition practice. The summarized conclusion is that though I LOVE herbs and all they do, right now I need to focus more on nutrition from a whole foods basis. And while herbs are part of that Whole, they are just that, part of it. I want to focus more on the larger whole and writing more about that, example, good fats and proteins, why calorie counting is no good, what exercise does for our bodies and when it can be in our best interest to NOT do that HIIT workout. Those kinds of things.

Herb of the Week # 14 :: Ashwagandha

March 24, 2017 Yvonne Matthews

This week's been a busy one and I have had a bit of a hard time focusing, feeling like I was spinning my wheels and doing it all but still doing nothing. Do you ever feel like that? So I found myself drawn back to this wonderful plant, Ashwagandha. I could have written an entire research paper on it. THere's so many studies out there on it and it's so fascinating at the range it can do to the body. I hope you enjoy reading about as much as you do using it! It's almost one of those herbs that's wonderful for everyone at some point in their lives.

Herb of the Week #13 :: Dandelion

March 16, 2017 Yvonne Matthews

I just got back from an amazing ski trip with a few old friends and I am definitely feeling the effects of a not-so-clean eating life ;) But it was worth it and I didn't do all that bad. I think it's also good to not have restrictions and rules ALL the time. So, between the glasses of wine and skiing (not in that order, I promise) I had fun and am ready to get back into it, these seasonal allergies are kicking my butt the last few days. So starting in a few days I am going on my Nutrition. Designed. elimination diet. This weeks' plant is great for kick-starting that process, getting off coffee and help with a healthy functioning liver and kidney's.