If you live in Boulder, Colorado, you probably know someone who follows a vegan or ketogenic (keto) diet. Maybe you are one of them. But do you know how these diets affect your immune system and your health? We all worry that vegan diets are protein-deficient and keto diets can clog arteries, but is this true? A recent study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)1,2 reveals some surprising insights into how switching to a vegan or a keto diet rapidly impacts your immune system, metabolism, and gut microbiome in just 2 weeks.      Study Design The study involved 20 healthy volunteers who... Read More

Inflammation is your body’s natural response to injury, infection, or stress. It helps to heal and protect you from harm. However, when inflammation becomes chronic or excessive, it can cause more harm than good. Chronic inflammation is linked to many health problems, such as: Weight gain and obesity. Cardiovascular disease. Mood and depression. Cognitive function (focus, ADD, and ADHD). Brain health (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease). Sports recovery (more inflammation = longer recovery). Immune compromise. Irritable bowel disease and gut problems. Any disease ending in “itis”... Read More

Balancing & Rebooting Your Metabolism  Metabolic disorders and obesity are directly linked to two powerful hormones known as insulin and leptin.  85 percent of the US population is insulin and leptin resistant.  Insulin is used by the body to escort glucose from the blood into the cells for energy.  Processed food is loaded with sugar which is quickly broken down and released into the blood stream causing a spike in blood sugar.   The pancreas is forced to supply more and more insulin to remove the sugar from the blood.  Unfortunately, the cells get saturated with glucose and can’t... Read More