Food is powerful medicine for anti-aging and disease prevention because it directly influences cellular pathways that regulate health and longevity. Nutrient-dense foods provide bioactive compounds that reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction—key drivers of aging. Polyphenols and omega-3s activate sirtuins and AMPK, enhancing cellular repair and autophagy. Phytonutrients also combat DNA damage and epigenetic aging, helping to extend both lifespan and healthspan while reducing the risk of chronic disease.

Transitioning to a new way of eating—whether to manage food sensitivities, support gut health, or reduce inflammation—requires careful consideration of ingredients and meal structure. Planning ahead ensures you have the right foods on hand, making it easier to stick to your dietary guidelines without feeling overwhelmed or tempted by off-diet options. It also allows you to experiment with new recipes, find enjoyable alternatives to familiar dishes, and create a sense of stability during a period of change. By mapping out meals in advance, you can set yourself up for success, making healing and nourishment both achievable and sustainable. For those undergoing dietary changes or using food as a tool for healing, meal planning becomes even more essential.

In Episode 3 of the Restorative Nourishment Podcast I am speaking with May Tom, RD. May is a registered dietitian with an extensive training in functional medicine and is a certified Functional Medicine practitioner. May received her undergraduate degree in physiology and neuroscience from the University of California San Diego. She received her master's in public health from Loma Linda University along with her dietetics license. In this episode, we're talking about how to upgrade your metabolism and increase your energy with a supercharged breakfast so you can function your best and live your life's purpose.

So many imbalances in our health stem from an imbalance in hormone levels. There are root causes to hormone imbalances, and Robin explains these top 10 hormone deal breakers in this podcast. We are often led to believe that our estrogen, progesterone, testosterone levels, maybe even LH and FSH levels, are the most important to pay attention to. What happens when we pay attention to those hormones? Those are the hormones that are tested. The hormones that we really need to be paying attention to are not the minor hormones, but the major hormones.

Welcome to the first episode of the Restorative Nourishment Podcast! If you're a Nourishing Meals® member, you know that we have over 70 different diets and food allergens to help you create your own unique dietary profile, however, diets can be limiting. Therefore, the purpose of this podcast is to help you go beyond the constraints of a diet and help you tune into this innate wisdom you have to choose the foods that are right for you in each and every moment. We all have this innate ability to tune into this inner wisdom of our bodies and consume a diet that keeps us healthy, balanced and whole. 

The definition of the word whole is “a thing that is complete in itself.” When we eat foods in their whole form we get all nutrients, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in perfect balance. These compounds act synergistically to orchestrate all reactions in our bodies. When some nutrients are missing, the body cannot function properly, and when many nutrients are missing for an extended period of time, the body can become diseased. Obesity, chronic inflammation, food allergies, infertility, and many other diseases stem from the body being starved of essential nutrients lacking in a processed foods diet. The chemical composition of food, its vitamins and phytonutrients, sends signals to our cells designating how the genes will express themselves; this means that every time we eat we tell our bodies which genes to turn on, and which genes to turn off. Did you know that there is more gene expression within two hours after eating than any other time of the day?

Your body is composed of over 30 trillion cells, each of which is continually listening and responding to environmental signals. Your cells have antennas embedded in their cellular membranes. This is how your cells listen, relay messages to your DNA, and respond to your environment by activating biochemical processes. The food you eat carries information, which the antennas sense, and then tell your cells how to behave. You either turn on your anti-aging, disease-prevention, and anti-inflammatory pathways or you turn on your inflammatory, aging, and disease pathways with every bite of food.

If you could make one dietary change to set yourself onto a new trajectory of health, it would be to consume a nutrient dense breakfast consisting of high-quality protein, fiber, and healthy fats. A nutrient-dense, high-protein and fiber-rich breakfast will help you curb cravings for foods you are working to stay away from, boost your metabolism, balance your blood sugar, help regulate your circadian rhythms, keep your mind sharp during the day, and increase satiety. Setting achievable goals that you can build upon sets you up for the most success as it gives your body and brain time to rewire. Dietary change quite literally creates new biochemistry in your body that takes time to get used to. Creating this nutritional memory starts with removing processed foods from your diet. Too many changes at once can overwhelm the brain and nervous system, making the new diet or lifestyle modifications unrealistic to maintain.

Imagine starting each day with renewed energy, a clear mind, and a body that feels strong and resilient. The 12 Gifts of Health is a transformative, step-by-step journey designed to help you resolve health concerns, enhance longevity, and lay the foundation for lasting vitality. True change isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about releasing what no longer serves you and embracing habits that nourish and restore. This journey is an opportunity to discover what truly supports your well-being and empowers you to thrive. Lasting health isn't achieved overnight; it’s built through gradual, meaningful changes. To transform your health and unlock vitality, the most crucial step is removing highly processed foods from your diet. True healing can't occur when the body is overloaded with artificial ingredients, preservatives, and inflammatory compounds.

Yesterday evening, I taught another live cooking class on the anti-inflammatory diet, and as always, it was an incredible experience to connect with so many people in person. It’s inspiring to witness the motivation and commitment in the room as individuals step forward to reclaim their health through food. Whether someone is just beginning their journey or has been fine-tuning their diet for years, the process of making dietary shifts is both deeply personal and transformative. These classes remind me that healing isn’t just about learning new recipes—it’s about stepping into a new way of being, one that aligns with the health, energy, and vitality we all seek. But making these changes isn't always easy. Letting go of familiar foods and habits can feel like shedding an old identity, especially when certain foods have been a daily part of life for years—or even decades.