Author: Taft Draper

Enjoying the Holidays Without Worrying About Calories

Written by Taft Draper on November 21, 2024. Posted in Diets, Integrative Medicine. No Comments on Enjoying the Holidays Without Worrying About Calories

The holidays are here, bringing joy, laughter, and, of course, some of our favorite seasonal treats. As a nutritionist focused on creating balance, I know how easy it is to worry about calories during...

Navigating Nutrition During Perimenopause and Menopause

Written by Taft Draper on October 16, 2024. Posted in Diets. No Comments on Navigating Nutrition During Perimenopause and Menopause

As women transition through perimenopause and menopause, the changes in their bodies can bring about a variety of symptoms, from hot flashes and mood swings to changes in metabolism and bone density....

Essential Nutrition Tips for Sporting Events and Long Runs

Written by Taft Draper on October 16, 2024. Posted in Diets, Food Sensitivities. No Comments on Essential Nutrition Tips for Sporting Events and Long Runs

Preparing for a sporting event or a long run demands more than just physical training—it requires a strategic approach to nutrition to ensure peak performance and optimal recovery. The right dietary...

Warm Up and Heal: A Recipe for Healthy Chicken Soup for Winter Colds

Written by Taft Draper on December 11, 2023. Posted in Diets, Integrative Medicine, Recipes.

Winter brings the joy of snow, cozy blankets, and the comfort of hearty soups. But it also brings the dreaded winter colds. When sniffles and sneezes arrive, there’s nothing quite like a bowl...

New Year’s Nutrition Resolutions – Now’s the Time to Start Making Them!

Written by Taft Draper on December 11, 2023. Posted in Diets, Integrative Medicine.

As the calendar turns to a new year, many of us begin to think about our goals and aspirations for the coming months. While we often focus on resolutions related to fitness, career, or personal growth,...

Strengthening Your Immune System Through Nutrition: Expert Tips

Written by Taft Draper on December 11, 2023. Posted in Diets, Integrative Medicine.

As a nutritionist, I firmly believe that a healthy diet is the cornerstone of overall well-being. Our immune system, a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs, plays a vital role in defending...

The FODMAP Diet

Written by Taft Draper on April 12, 2023. Posted in Diets.

How a nutritionist can help with your gut health If you suffer from the discomfort associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), you’re not alone. There are different types of IBS: IBS-C is characterized...

Making a Commitment to Your Health

Written by Taft Draper on March 6, 2023. Posted in Integrative Medicine.

The welcoming of a new year is often a time for people to commit to better health, but a resolution to eating better is always a good choice, no matter what time of the year. As a Registered Dietitian...

The Un-Sugar Coated Truth

Written by Taft Draper on March 6, 2023. Posted in Diets.

How Sugar Affects Your Health Sugar is in almost everything we eat, but the type of sugar we’re consuming makes all the difference in how our bodies react to it. Some foods like fruit, vegetables, whole...

Itching for Relief? Histamines in Foods and Drinks

Written by Taft Draper on August 30, 2022. Posted in Food Sensitivities, Integrative Medicine.

Many of us know exactly when pollen season hits. It’s not just the yellow powder covering our cars. Our noses run, we get an itchy little cough, our eyes water, and our family is tired of saying “bless...

Get A-Head with Nutrition

Written by Taft Draper on August 30, 2022. Posted in Food Sensitivities, Integrative Medicine.

There are many known factors that bring on headaches and migraines, including stress, sleep deprivation, light sensitivity, dehydration, changes in hormones, and skipping meals. But there are also several...

Bloating: The Flat Truth

Written by Taft Draper on August 30, 2022. Posted in Food Sensitivities.

We’ve all experienced it – that feeling of being overfull, even when we haven’t had large amounts to eat or drink. Sometimes your belly feels tight, like a balloon about to pop. Unfortunately, some...

Natural Support To Fight Infections

Written by Taft Draper on November 2, 2021. Posted in Diets, Integrative Medicine.

Most people think of synthetic substances when they hear the term ‘antibiotics.’ But despite their tremendous use in medicine today, antibiotics weren’t always made in a lab by smart folks in white...

Autoimmune Paleo Diet and Hashimoto’s Disease

Written by Taft Draper on November 1, 2021. Posted in Diets, Food Sensitivities, Integrative Medicine.

It’s common knowledge that our nutrition plays a vital role in our health outcomes. Research links good nutrition to a longer life, better health, and a lower risk of chronic disease. But...

The Benefits of Collagen

Written by Taft Draper on October 31, 2021. Posted in Diets, Integrative Medicine.

You’ve probably heard of collagen before. For example: “Take a collagen supplement to keep your joints healthy.” But what exactly is collagen, how does it work in the body, and what benefits...

How To Prevent (Or Reverse) Sarcopenia

Written by Taft Draper on October 29, 2021. Posted in Diets, Integrative Medicine.

Sarcopenia is a common condition among older individuals. It becomes increasingly pronounced after the age of fifty and can worsen our physical abilities and qualities of life. The good news is, sarcopenia...

Preventing Muscle Loss With Age

Written by Taft Draper on October 28, 2021. Posted in Diets, Integrative Medicine.

Preventing muscle loss becomes more difficult as we age. Thanks to various factors, such as reduced physical activity and lower testosterone levels, people lose their muscle mass gradually. The...

Should You Try Intermittent Fasting?

Written by Taft Draper on October 27, 2021. Posted in Diets, Integrative Medicine.

Intermittent fasting has gotten quite popular over the past decade. But what is it, how does it work, and what impact does it have on the body? More importantly, how would you go about trying it for...

Nutrition for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Written by Taft Draper on October 26, 2021. Posted in Diets, Mental Health.

We all obsess from time to time: what to wear, which route to take, how to approach a work-related issue, and more. For most people, arriving at a decision and moving on isn’t that big of an issue....

Nitric Oxide for Cardiovascular Health

Written by Taft Draper on October 25, 2021. Posted in Diets, Integrative Medicine.

Curious about nitric oxide for cardiovascular health? We’ve heard the common heart-healthy tips: Exercise often Eat healthy foods Avoid processed foods (especially those with transfats) But...

Hydration for Runners

Written by Taft Draper on August 26, 2021. Posted in Integrative Medicine.

Running is great. It fills us with energy, builds our stamina, helps us lose weight, and elevates our mood. But a good run depends on more than simply putting your running shoes on and heading out...

What Is The Flexitarian Diet?

Written by Taft Draper on August 2, 2021. Posted in Diets.

Most people see diets as extreme ways of eating. For instance, carnivore and vegan diets come to mind. With the carnivore diet, you can (and should) eat all animal-derived foods. On a vegan diet,...

Micronutrients 101

Written by Taft Draper on July 18, 2021. Posted in Diets, Integrative Medicine.

We need good nutrition to feel good, maintain optimal health, have a robust immune system, and ward off disease. That much is clear. But have you ever wondered why that is? In other words, why aren’t...

Potential Benefits of Medicinal Mushrooms

Written by Taft Draper on July 11, 2021. Posted in Integrative Medicine.

Mushrooms are often subject to mixed opinions. On the one hand, mushrooms have enjoyed the nutritional spotlight for the last few years thanks to their active compounds, rich nutrition, good taste,...

Electrolytes 101 | Learn How Electrolytes Work

Written by Taft Draper on June 6, 2021. Posted in Integrative Medicine.

Though many people don’t think about them, electrolytes play a vital role in the body. They are involved in many processes, including the regulation of nerve impulses, muscle contractions, controlling...

Pregnancy Nutrition

Written by Taft Draper on May 30, 2021. Posted in Diets, Integrative Medicine.

You’ve probably heard this a thousand times: Healthy nutrition is vital during pregnancy. Of course, healthy nutrition is always vital, but pregnant women should pay extra attention to what they...

Nutrition and UTIs

Written by Taft Draper on May 22, 2021. Posted in Integrative Medicine.

Our nutritional choices have a profound impact on our well-being, energy levels, and health. It should come as no surprise they can also help us deal with urinary tract infections and reduce our risks...

What Is Mold Toxicity?

Written by Taft Draper on May 9, 2021. Posted in Integrative Medicine.

Mold toxicity and mildew are descriptive terms to refer to a collection of organisms called fungi. While they may have very important roles in nature, they can pose serious health risks to humans in...

Immune Support Through Nutrition

Written by Taft Draper on April 30, 2021. Posted in Integrative Medicine.

Each day, thousands of microorganisms try to make their way into your body. Some can be beneficial, others are neutral, but specific ones can wreak havoc on our health. This includes many bacteria,...

What You Need To Know About Food Addiction

Written by Taft Draper on April 18, 2021. Posted in Diets, Integrative Medicine.

Consciously or subconsciously, we link addictions to destructive behavior. Ask yourself this: What’s the first image that comes to mind when you hear the term addiction? For many, it’s...

Nutrition and Mental Health

Written by Taft Draper on April 8, 2021. Posted in Diets, Integrative Medicine. 1 Comment on Nutrition and Mental Health

We all know that eating healthier foods improves our physical health. For instance, eating more fruits and veggies while also limiting processed foods can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. But...

What is allostatic load and allostasis?

Written by Taft Draper on April 5, 2021. Posted in Integrative Medicine.

Beneath the seemingly idle surface of your body, thousands of processes occur every day. A constant struggle exists between catabolism and anabolism, or health and decay. These two opposing forces...

pH Level in Metabolic Acidosis

Written by Taft Draper on March 29, 2021. Posted in Food Sensitivities, Integrative Medicine.

You’ve probably come across urine pH test strips in your local drug store or while shopping online. If you’re like most people, you’ve probably wondered what these strips tell us and whether the...

What Is The Ketogenic Diet?

Written by Taft Draper on March 22, 2021. Posted in Diets, Integrative Medicine.

What is the ketogenic diet? I’ve used the ketogenic diet extensively, and one thing is clear: It can work tremendously well for some people, so long as they have a clear idea of what they want to...

Can’t Control Your Appetite?

Written by Taft Draper on March 8, 2021. Posted in Integrative Medicine.

What is the purpose of your appetite? It is probably safe to assume that the answer to this question would be quite intuitive. We eat when we are hungry. Unlike plants, we do not have the luxury of...

How Insulin Resistance Works

Written by Taft Draper on March 1, 2021. Posted in Integrative Medicine. 1 Comment on How Insulin Resistance Works

What is insulin resistance? Insulin resistance (IR) is the reduced capacity of tissues like those in the liver, muscle, and fat (adipose) tissue, to properly respond to insulin. Insulin is a hormone...

5 Delicious Low-Carb Smoothie Recipes

Written by Taft Draper on February 23, 2021. Posted in Recipes.

There are so many smoothie recipes out there that it can be hard to know which ones are worth trying. I’ve created a list and downloadable recipe book of a few of the best low-carb smoothies on...

Common Nutrition Problems

Written by Taft Draper on February 15, 2017. Posted in Food Sensitivities, Integrative Medicine.

What Do We Know About Diseases Caused By Nutritional Deficiency? Americans are no strangers to chronic diseases. The following are or can be common nutrition problems. Obesity and weight loss Hypertension Gestational...

Avoid These Common Foods If You Have Food Allergies or Sensitivities

Written by Taft Draper on January 2, 2017. Posted in Food Sensitivities, Integrative Medicine.

Food can be our medicine and our poison. There are people experiencing symptoms and don’t know the cause. They are not sure what is causing their IBS, migraines, muscle and joint pain, or other...

What is Integrative and Functional Nutrition?

Written by Taft Draper on December 15, 2016. Posted in Integrative Medicine.

Do you ever wonder why you aren’t getting any better? The answer may be right underneath your nose. Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine stated, “Let medicine be thy food and let food be...