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Food and Wellness Writing

BobCut Mag

How a SCOBY named Shiela Changed My Life
March 2o20
I walk to my bedroom with an empty swing top bottle in my hand, open my clothing closet and a waft of sweet and tangy air parades my senses. Amidst my partner and my folded shirts, pants and sweaters dwell other creatures, my kombucha SCOBYs... Read Article 
One stemless wine glass and one small mason jar filled halfway with kombucha with shadow from rays of sunlight

Guest Posts​ for the Bauman College Blog 

fire flames on black background
Inflammation 101
May 2019

The internet is chock full of “anti-inflammatory” foods, beverages, herbs, and supplements. But what is inflammation and why do we want to reduce it? The word “inflame” means to “light on fire.” When our bodies encounter something harmful, like injury, infection, or stress, they react with the “heat” of inflammation. Inflammation is by no means all bad; it is a natural component of healing. Let’s first look at the two different types of inflammation...Read Post

4 Simple Ways to Support Digestion
February 2019
You know the saying you are what you eat? Well it’s true! And more accurately, you are what you assimilate and don’t eliminate. In order to break our food into the essential nutrients that feed our cells and make up who we are, we need our digestive systems to be running on all cylinders.
Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to support your digestive system. Here are some tips you can implement into your daily routines to make sure your digestion is working smoothly...
Read Post
6 dishes of fermented foods that support digestion

cupcakes drizzled with caramel sauce
Finding Your Blood Sugar Sweet Spot
October 2018

We have entered the season of pumpkin-spiced treats, when these drinks, cookies, pies, and breads take over our kitchens and fill the counters of every cafe on every corner. We know that they are hard to resist, but they can wreak havoc on your blood glucose levels, making you feel moody, tired, spaced-out, and even depressed. Here are some tips to balance your blood sugar while still enjoying the sweetness of the season...Read Post

Teetotaling with Matcha Series for Breakaway Matcha 

people cuddling closely and laughing while drinking matcha tea
Teetotaling with Matcha Part I
​
March 2017
two sets of hands holding matcha tea
Teetotaling with Matcha Part II Kava + Matcha
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January 2018
two sets of hands holding matcha tea side view
Teetotaling with Matcha Part III Matcha and Aphrodisiacs 
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April 2018

Works published on KQED's Bay Area Bites 
illustrated burning man food of sardines

Burning Man Food Tips: Nutritious Snacks for the Playa
August 2017
"I curiously open the lid of my blender and peer inside as a plume of green dust suddenly floats into my face and fills my nostrils, leading to an uncontrollable coughing fit...." Read Post

food illustration of mushrooms with mouth open eating them

​What Do Friendly Fungi Have To Offer You? An Exploration of the Functional and Culinary Uses of Mushrooms
June 2017
“What are mushrooms doing in my coffee?” I wonder as I sit in my Holistic Nutrition class looking at the beverage I grabbed from Whole Foods to satisfy my caffeine craving earlier this morning... Read Post


food illustration of woman hugging sweet potato

Sweet Potato – The Super Tuber!
January  2017
For a holiday party my friend, Rachel, requested I bring a yam casserole, “The kind with lots of marshmallows and brown sugar, so don’t make it too healthy Lila,” she said... Read Post


coconut shell of kava beverage

Buzzy Beverages: 3 Ancient Libations To Take The Edge Off Modern Times​
January 2017
Sure, I love drinking water, but sometimes the essential beverage of life doesn’t quite quench all my thirsts... Read Post

shabbat at burning man 2016

VooDoo Soup, WeScream and Shabbat Dinner- A Week Eating at Burning Man
August 2016
My legs are begging me to stop biking, but my grumbling stomach urges me to continue pedaling... Read Post

food illustration of peanut butter and toast in the stars

Edible Answers to Insomnia? A Search for Nutritional Solutions for Sleepless Nights
May 2016
Darn. It’s the third night in a row that I’ve woken up at 3am feeling wide-awake. And I’ve done everything I’m “supposed to do” for a successful night of sleep: pulled a blackout curtain tightly across my window, have a fan blowing to ensure a cool climate, and put in ear plugs to block out all sounds... Read Post

food illustration of teeth with kale, coconut oil and brushes

Touché Tooth Fairy: An Illustrated Guide to Food-Based and Holistic Oral Health​
October 2016
When I was 7 years old, I would go into a panic thinking about an upcoming trip to the dentist. I was terrified of needing to have a cavity filled– the shots; painful, noisy drilling; terrible tasting and textured goops they put in my mouth; and the eternity I had to endure until it was over... Read Post

food illustration of meditating vegetables and woman on lotus flowers

Chop Your Way to Enlightenment: An Illustrated Guide To Mindful Vegetable Cutting
February 2016
From the refrigerator I pull out some carrots, cauliflower, zucchini and kale. From my drawer, I grab a few yams, ginger, garlic and an onion... Read Post

food illustration of strawberry sitting on a tongue pushing away pancakes and ice cream

Watermelon Girl Explores Summer Fruit Through Traditional Chinese Medicine    
July 2016
“I spit seeds at bad guys!” I say as Super Watermelon Girl to a woman dressed up like a ladybug at Piedmont Avenue’s annual Halloween parade... Read Post


food illustration of liver surrounded by liver supporting foods

For The New Year: Celebrate Your Generous Liver With These 8 Cleansing Foods
January 2016
During the holidays, I find myself indulging in the sweetness of life with a little too many rich treats and inebriating drinks, like my mom’s famous persimmon pudding and my friend’s spiked kombucha cocktails... Read Post


food illustration of soaking and sprouting grains and beans

Benefits to Soaking and Sprouting Legumes, Grains and Seeds
August 2015
My newest food adventure has been sprouting nuts, seeds, beans, and grains... Read Post 

pot of ghee with bubbles

DIY: Make Your Own Jar of Ghee, aka “Liquid Gold”
November 2015
Ghee, or Indian clarified unsalted butter, is delicious and easy to make at home...Read Post


food illustration of spoon and bowl hugging over granola

DIY Breakfast: The Secret Life of Granola and Almond Milk
June 2015
Sitting at my table this morning, I dip my spoon into a bowl and scoop up a marriage of homemade granola and almond milk... Read Post


plate of food, cup of kombucha and pamphlet from three stone hearth in berkeley

Three Stone Hearth, A Worker-Owned Cooperative, Bottles Sustainability, Community and Love
August 2015
​As I entered the long narrow refrigerator at Three Stone Hearth, I scanned walls of shelves, lined with innumerable jars containing various broths, stews and spreads... Read Post

food illustration of the Ayurvedic doshas as elements swirling in a body

Ayurveda: A Journey Towards Balance Using Food As Medicine 
June 2015
I’m sitting cross-legged with a group of 15 people, passing around a bowl of mango slices for a taste of something sweet, then a tray of lemon wedges makes its way around the circle and everyone puckers their lips...Read Post 


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