Integrative Nutrition & Herbal Medicine

Author: Tara DiFrancesco, MS, CNS, LDN

  • Top 10 Foods To Boost your Fertility

    Top 10 Foods To Boost your Fertility
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    Did you know preconception care for women (and men) should begin at least 6 months before you want to get pregnant?  One of the most important things you can do for preconception care is to optimize your nutrition. Studies show that proper nutrition can help boost fertility and aid in a healthy pregnancy. What you… Read more

  • What is Affecting your Period + How to Support a Healthy Flow

    What is Affecting your Period + How to Support a Healthy Flow
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    Ladies, let’s talk periods! PMS, PMDD, pain, bloating, headaches, fatigue, irregularity , heaving bleeding – so not fun. We all want to experience better periods, right? Then we must first address the ROOT CAUSE of your period problems. Remember, your period is a reflection of your health. Common factors that affect your period: High stress… Read more

  • Energy Snack Bites Recipe

    Energy Snack Bites Recipe
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    With our overwhelming busy lives from work or being a new mom, these energy snack bites are for you. I often hear from many clients that they are just too busy to eat throughout the day and they grab a coffee to boost their energy, or they are constantly feeding their baby and forget that… Read more

  • Should you Take a Prenatal Vitamin Prior to Pregnancy?

    Should you Take a Prenatal Vitamin Prior to Pregnancy?
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    There are many factors that contribute to a healthy preconception period and pregnancy, such as proper nutrition, adequate water intake, regular physical activity, and stress management. A prenatal vitamin may also be added into this regimen. Prenatal vitamins are crafted for pregnant women to ensure their daily nutrient needs/requirements are being met, although many prenatal… Read more

  • Sweet Potato Baked Egg Recipe

    Sweet Potato Baked Egg Recipe
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    Sweet Potato Baked Eggs with a side of fresh strawberries 🍓🍓 This has been a go-to breakfast/lunch lately . It’s fairly easy to make with minimal prep time and keeps you full for hours thanks to the fiber and protein! Check out the recipe below! Sweet potatoes: rich in antioxidants & fiber, high in vitamin… Read more

  • The Importance of Vitamin D for your Fertility

    The Importance of Vitamin D for your Fertility
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    Did you know that vitamin D receptors are found in the ovaries, uterus, placenta, testicular tissue, and sperm? This means that optimal vitamin D levels are crucial for reproductive health – for both females and males! Research shows that low levels of vitamin D are associated with the following: Reduced fertility Insulin resistance PCOS Endometriosis… Read more

  • How to Make a Hormone-Balancing Smoothie + My Smoothie Recipe

    How to Make a Hormone-Balancing Smoothie + My Smoothie Recipe
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    It’s July! Summertime is in full effect. It’s getting hot all over the country – 100 degrees in areas like Florida, Boston & Seattle. Let’s talk smoothies. Smoothies can be really refreshing, nutrient-dense, and an easy to make meal. They’re great when it’s hot out, you want to cool down, and you don’t want something… Read more

  • Calming & Refreshing Herbal Mocktail Recipe

    Calming & Refreshing Herbal Mocktail Recipe
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    What’s an herbal mocktail? An herbal mocktail is mocktail (non-alcoholic) infused with herbs. Mocktails are a perfect choice if you are pregnant, trying to conceive, or simply want to avoid alcohol.  We know that alcohol consumption can have a serious impact on your health and research shows it can cause a number of health issues… Read more

  • How to Make an Herbal Simple Syrup

    How to Make an Herbal Simple Syrup
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    This herbal simple syrup is quite delicious with a beautiful flora flavor and aroma from the rose and lavender. It is wonderful to use as a sweetener for cocktails or mocktails.  Herbal Simple Syrup Recipe: Ingredients: 1 cup water 1 cup organic fair trade, cane sugar (or 1 cup local honey) 3 tbsp. dried organic… Read more

  • Spicy Mango-Tomato Salsa Recipe

    Spicy Mango-Tomato Salsa Recipe
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    This spicy mango-tomato salsa is a great addition to taco night! Spicy Mango-Tomato Salsa Recipe: Ingredients: 1 large ripe mango, peeled and diced 1/2 medium red bell pepper, diced 3-5 Roma tomatoes, diced 1 lime, juiced 1/2-1 medium red onion, diced 1/2 small jalapeno (seeds removed), finely chopped large bunch (1-2 handfuls) fresh cilantro, chopped… Read more

  • How To Naturally Support Your Hormones

    How To Naturally Support Your Hormones
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    Hormones have a profound effect on your mental, physical and emotional health. They play key roles in regulating your appetite, weight, mood, immune function, menstrual cycle, and everything in between. Unfortunately, hormonal imbalances have become increasingly common with today’s lifestyle. Common signs of hormonal imbalance include exhaustion, anxiety, irregular menses, acne, bloating, severe PMS, low… Read more

  • Rutabaga Crust Quiche Recipe (gluten-free & dairy-free)

    Rutabaga Crust Quiche Recipe (gluten-free & dairy-free)
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    Quiche with a Rutabaga Crust ??‍? I enjoyed this as a Saturday brunch with a cinnamon almond milk cappuccino! What’s a rutabaga? Rutabaga, also known as Swedish turnip is a root vegetable in the Brassica family (cruciferous vegetables). It has a milder taste than turnip – almost like a potato. It is high in vitamin… Read more

  • How to Make Fire Cider

    How to Make Fire Cider
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    ? Fire Cider ? What is Fire Cider? Fire Cider is a tasty vinegar infusion with warming wellness-supporting ingredients that can help boost your body’s natural health processes, stimulate digestion, boost energy, ward off colds and flus, ease sinus congestion, and curb cravings. This is super quick and easy to make! Fire Cider Recipe: Ingredients:?… Read more

  • Why you Should Eat Pomegranates

    Why you Should Eat Pomegranates

    Pomegranates, my favorite fall/winter fruit ❤️ These beauties are loaded with vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, potassium, fiber, & even some protein! Their edible seeds are called arils ! In many religions, pomegranates are a symbol of life, abundance, and fertility ??. Their main plant compounds are polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, making them a great… Read more

  • All About the Herb Calendula

    All About the Herb Calendula

    All About the Herb Calendula This beautiful flower is native to the Mediterranean region. Its other name is ‘pot marigold’. The flower is the part of the plant used as it contains many powerful antioxidants such as lycopene, beta-carotene, lutein, quercetin, and rutin. ?? It has strong anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties. ?? It is a… Read more

  • Eat Brazil Nuts for Selenium

    Eat Brazil Nuts for Selenium

    Brazil nuts ?? These beauties are the #1 food source for the trace mineral selenium. They are also high in protein, fiber, thiamine, copper & magnesium. Selenium is crucial for many bodily functions…? regulates proper thyroid function; the conversion of T4 to T3? a component of antioxidant enzymes, particular glutathione reductase? repairs bodily tissues? boosts immunity; anti-viral… Read more

  • All About the Herb Echinacea

    All About the Herb Echinacea

    All About the Herb Echinacea These are definitely one of my favorite flowers. They bloom from June to September so I was lucky enough to catch a couple ‘end of the season blooms.’ ? Echinacea stimulates the immune system. It has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used as a natural pain reliever. It… Read more

  • All About the Herb St. John’s Wort

    All About the Herb St. John’s Wort

    All About the Herb St. John’s Wort St. John’s wort is widely known for its use in treating mild to moderate depression. Studies show St. John’s wort can be just as effective if not MORE effective than anti-depressants such as Prozac, and considered safer without having harmful side effects. Studies also show that St. John’s… Read more

  • Easy Cabbage Slaw Recipe

    Easy Cabbage Slaw Recipe
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    My Favorite Cabbage Slaw Cabbage slaw is my go-to dish during these hot summer Florida days – it’s light and refreshing, and an easy dish to put together. Cabbage is part of the Brassica vegetable family. It is packed with nutrients such as fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and manganese. It contains antioxidants that… Read more

  • The Ultimate Make-Up Brush Cleaner

    The Ultimate Make-Up Brush Cleaner
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    Do you ladies clean your makeup brushes often… or at all? Even if you are washing your face daily, you could be putting days, weeks, or months of dirt and germs back onto your clean face and into your pores by using the same old dirty makeup brush. Yeah, gross!! We should be cleaning our… Read more