So Happy Together: Food Matches Made In Heaven 👯

A few little treats without the tricks

5 min read

❤️‍🩹 Before we dive in, another PSA for another rough week: please donate to help our fellow citizens and their four-legged friends recover from the devestation of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

GIRLS ON FILM

This is your friendly reminder that it’s Ladybits Awareness Month and I’m here to tell you that booking your annual screening is non-negotiable.  Gents, please take note if there’s ANY lady in your life- a mom, a sister, a friend- that needs a nudge.  Remember that the updated recommendation for those with average breast cancer risk is to start screening at age 40.  Mammograms and Pap smears are not fun, but far less fun are the potential outcomes if you don’t stay on top of this.  Further- those at higher risk should look into a breast MRI, which can detect abnormalities that mammograms and ultrasounds can miss.  Slow, ironic claps for our healthcare system which does not make this information widely known, ‘cuz they don’t want to pay for it. But if you ask your doctor to write the referral there’s a good chance your insurance will cover it.  So do the Mamm-as and the Pap-as for your ta-tas and your hoo-has and then check it off your list.

(Psst: extra goodies ahead for anyone with with ta-tas and hoo-has!)

PARENTAL GUIDANCE

“Parenting is easy,” said no one ever. But if you’re a parent feeling like it’s harder and stressier than it used to be, you’re not wrong. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued a health advisory (note: these are normally reserved for obvious risks like smoking) stating that parenting today now poses a mental health risk. In essence, in the world of overscheduled lives and screen time, parents have put so much energy into making their kids feel seen and cared for, that they’ve forgotten to care for themselves. Throw in today’s teens in a bigger anxiety crisis than ever before, and the family home can feel like a powder keg. Parents, you are not alone. Try to remember to secure your own oxygen mask first before assisting others.

Listen to a fascinating report on the study and read the full advisory here.

WELL ON YOUR WAY

I’ve been on a travel-sized soapbox for a long time about how hotels need to up their wellness game to meet health-focused travelers where they are, and I’m happy to report that the industry is finally taking the (cold) plunge. Even Tony Robbins is getting in the game with his own wellness resorts, and Sleep Tourism is now officially a thing. Check out my recent interview with Equinox Hotel CEO Chris Norton to hear how the world’s leading fitness brand is bringing turndown service to a whole new level.

HERE’S A TIP, MAKE THE CHANGE

Fun facts from the kitchen: certain fruits and veggies do best when they hang out together like Ebony & Ivory while others should really remain solo like J.Lo. (Too soon?)

Check out some easy tricks to help your groceries bring out the best in each other:

• Avocados & Bananas: bananas help avocados to ripen more quickly, even faster if you put them together in a paper bag. Pro tip: if your avocado has reached peak ripeness and you’re not ready to eat it, store it in the fridge to put the brakes on

• Turmeric & Black Pepper: All that golden goodness from the natural anti-inflammatory curcumin in turmeric does very little until you add black pepper, which increases turmeric’s bioavailability by 2000%. As in, you complete me.

• Carotenoids & Fat: Another anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powerhouse is found in carotenoids, the orange and red pigments in fruits and veggies like carrots, yams, red and yellow bell peppers and oranges- but those benefits are more bioavailable when paired with fat, so think olive oil dressings, tahini sauces or a handful of nuts.

• And about those solo artists? Let onions, potatoes, melons and cauliflower have some valuable Me-Time by storing them away from other fruits and veggies- their power and influence is too great…like J Lo? 👀

Be well, happy weekend, read on for those extra goodies I promised. Always looking out for my ladies, I think about you day and night, it’s only right. 🫶🏻

so happy together

ASK AN EXPERT

🎁 Gals, my gift to you is part of today’s Ask An Expert, where I checked in with Kiana Reeves, Chief Education Officer at Foria, Somatic Sex Educator, Doula, Intimacy & Relationship Coach about new ways to manage some age-old problems. If Foria Wellness is not already on your radar, they are the first brand to create comprehensive product lines for intimacy, relief, and daily wellbeing through effective, all-organic products for important and under-served life experiences, from menstruation to menopause. Me: their PMS relief melts are the REAL DEAL.
Use the code ATW20 at checkout for 20% off because I love youuuuuu. 🫶🏻

• How can CBD help with PMS? CBD has been revered for many years for its use in treating a wide variety of pain and inflammation-related concerns, including menstrual-related pain and discomfort, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, and the effects of menopause. It is also thought that CBD is beneficial for menstrual symptoms beyond pain, including emotion regulation, nausea, bloating, and concentration. The reason for this relates to the endocannabinoid system (or ECS), which plays a role in the functioning if our gynecological system. Within the ECS there are naturally-occurring cannabinoids (like 2-arachidonoyl glycerol or 2-AG and anandamide or AEA) that interact with receptors (including CB1R, CB2R, G protein-coupled receptors, and enzymes like fatty acid amino hydrolase) to regulate various bodily functions, including pain, appetite, immune health, stress, sleep, temperature control, and more. For the same reason, it is thought that exogenous cannabinoids (eg. CBD in a topical, oral, and suppository format) can also yield benefits for health. 

• Are there other botanical ingredients that can be powerful for addressing common menstrual symptoms, including cramping, bloating, etc.?

  Paid subscribers read on for the full interview!