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Showing posts from June, 2017

Testimonial: Paleo Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) Changed My Life!

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Testimonial written by: Yadi V. AIP changed my life!!! I began this diet, or should I say lifestyle, in January 2017. I began the diet because of an autoimmune disease I have called hidradenitis suppurativa. This condition features pea- to marble-sized lumps under the skin that can be painful and tend to enlarge and drain pus. They usually occur where skin rubs together, such as in the armpits, groin, and buttocks. I know some docs still argue it’s not an autoimmune disease, whatever it is… I unfortunately have it. I’ve been dealing with it since I was a kid but didn’t get diagnosed until the beginning of 2016. I went through a few specialists and finally met a great dermatologist that was able to diagnose me. Before 2016, I would maybe get a flare up every 3 years or so. I’m not sure what made my body just go AWOL that I began to get a flare up every other day, and finally I would have 4 enlarged lumps (HUGE) that would just not go away for about a year. I was desperate for answer

I Thought I Was Cursed to Live a Sort of Half Life

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It’s Friday, everyone! And that means another Primal Blueprint Real Life Story from a Mark’s Daily Apple reader. If you have your own success story and would like to share it with me and the Mark’s Daily Apple community please contact me here . I’ll continue to publish these each Friday as long as they keep coming in. Thank you for reading! Lyme Disease. Fibromyalgia. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Multiple Sclerosis. Adrenal Fatigue. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. Generalized Anxiety Disorder. These are just a few of the diagnoses that I’ve received over the past 8 years. It was the summer of 2009 when I was hit with a mystery illness so severe that it forced me out of school and out of my job. To say I was terrified would be a gross understatement, and it was a long and winding road to recovery. My triathlon training was put on permanent hiatus, along with my graduate education plans. My social life dried up in a matter of weeks. Everything in my life came to a grindin

Summer Dinners // Cold Peanut Noodles

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This is how we’ve been spending our summer afternoons, which often turn quickly into evening: ( Bathing suit from Athleta! ) And when we come home, usually dripping wet and hungry, with pool bags to unpack and showers to take, dinner is often the last thing I think about. Thus, I’ve been trying to prepare my dinners in the morning. While I have done some crockpot meals lately, it’s just a bit too hot for that, so I’ve been trying to make more cold salads. This chilled peanut-butter sauced noodle dish is great for a quick dinner after the pool or a soccer game. I’ve had it three times this week! Per usual, it’s really easy to make. Begin by cooking some pasta. I used whole wheat spaghetti, but soba noodles would be great too! With two minutes left to go, add in whatever summery vegetables you like (or cook them with the chicken). Options include: peppers, zucchini, green beans. I used Dragon’s Tongue beans from my garden! While pasta cooks, cut chicken into one-inch pieces a

What I’m Loving Lately 89

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Hey guys! Happy FriYAY! I can’t believe the weekend is here! What a crazy, busy, and totally fun week it’s been – and now the weekend is here! Holy cow, the summer is already flying by! Since it’s Friday and all, here’s the next edition of What I’m Loving Lately ! Hunter Flip-Flops – Ooooh, yes! I love my Hunter boots so much and wear them a ton, so I was pumped to see that the brand makes flip-flops too. Sign me up! I’m also lovin’ this jersey tank dress  . I need it in my life! Lower calorie and somewhat healthy cocktails – Just in time for the 4th! Cheers! Top:  Skinny Blueberry Vodka Mojito  /  Simple Sparkling Tea Cocktail  /  Skinny Mojito  (left to right) Middle:  Skinny Blueberry Margarita  / S trawberry Peach Rosé Sangria  /  Skinny Piña Colada with Coconut Water Bottom:  Skinny Sparkling Sangria  / Basil Cucumber Gin Cooler  /  4th of July Wine Sparklers Banza Chickpea Mac & Cheese – The nice people from Banza sent me some of their chickpea mac & cheese,

MDA Named “Best Men’s Health Blog of 2017”

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What can I say…it’s a great way to end the week and head into the holiday weekend. I just got word that Healthline.com has named Mark’s Daily Apple among its “Best Men’s Health Blogs of 2017.” In their words…”We’ve carefully selected these blogs because they are actively working to educate, inspire, and empower their readers with frequent updates and high-quality information.” I’d say that certainly aligns with my vision for Mark’s Daily Apple and for what I hope this blog and community offer reader and visitors every day. But I’m not stopping there. In particular, I’m looking to add more information, more research, more insight for women this coming year. I’ve never called or considered this a men’s blog, but I’m thrilled male readers find solid and relevant information here. I want MDA women readers to feel spoken to with the same regard and depth for health issues and questions affecting them. And you can hold me to that. Gratitude to Healthline.com and to all of you for being

More on Adaptogens: Ashwagandha, Astragalus, and Holy Basil

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Home » Diet & Nutrition June 29, 2017 More on Adaptogens: Ashwagandha, Astragalus, and Holy Basil By Mark Sisson 0 Comments   Print Last week I waded into the adaptogen theme, examining the many ins and not-so-many outs of American and Asian ginseng. It got me thinking—why not keep the ball rolling? The ginseng varieties I mentioned are only two among many adaptogens after all. Let’s dive right in and take up three additional adaptogen choices—along with some additional suggestions for discerning the safest and most potent formulations.  From Dirt to Dispensary: The Life Cycle of Your Adaptogen Sources It’s probably fair to say that, as a nation, we’ve got a pretty poor connection with the food we eat. Primal eaters, other nutrition buffs, and some foodies aside, most Americans have no idea how the food they’re eating got on their plates, let alone what ingredients it actually contains. Personally, I think it’s important to have at least a vague sense of

Wedding Planning II

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You are cordially digitally invited…. I am so excited to share our wedding invitations, which I ordered through Minted ! I’ve worked with Minted in the past to feature our holiday cards , and the topic of wedding invitations came up during our correspondence earlier this year. Minted told me that when they time came, they would love to send me a set of invites in exchange for sharing them on the blog. I already knew that Minted had some really awesome options, so I couldn’t wait to browse the designs! Minted offers full suites of invites with matching save the dates, websites, thank you cards, table numbers, place cards and more, so you can have everything match with the same design. Here are a few other designs that I loved: Choosing one was really,  really hard, as there were so many that I liked! Ultimately, we decided on a design that combined florals with blues, greens, and purples and mixed in a little watercolor and sparkle in the gold foil frame. You can see almost s

When You Get Sick of Your Own Sh*t

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“ Excuse Girl ” strikes again! [insert eye roll emoji] On my way home from Stowe on Tuesday afternoon, I told Mal something along the lines of “I wish I could eat like that all the time” with regard to the meals that we enjoyed at Stowe Mountain Lodge . The food was truly amazing—fresh (often local), interesting (so many incredible flavor combinations), and healthy (not oversized or loaded with oil and salt). Basically, the resort made it easy to eat well, and I really appreciated and enjoyed it. I also felt much more in control and balanced when making my food choices. I splurged (hello, truffle fries and wine), but I didn’t go overboard and mainly stuck to a healthy diet. Usually, I feel kind of blah after an overindulgent vacation, but this one was different. I felt really good heading home. Ok, so back to Excuse Girl… Mal never lets me get away with anything – I say this lovingly because he makes me a better person— and replied to my “I wish I could eat like that all the time”