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Last week I turned 57. Two days later, I had what I hope will be my final knee treatment.

To be honest, the timing felt a little ironic. Just as I was reflecting on another year older and thinking about staying active and strong for the years ahead, I found myself spending most of a week on the couch.

If you know me, you know that's not my normal pace.

My focus is usually on eating plenty of vegetables, getting good-quality protein, and moving my body every day. But this past week looked very different. I wasn't able to do my usual walks, bike rides, or swims. I wasn't even cooking most of my own meals.

Last night, though, I finally made one of my standby dinners: roasted vegetables, tofu, rice, and tahini sauce. Nothing fancy, but it felt good to be back in the kitchen. Everyone was happy to have it, including me.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to get back in the pool with a pull buoy and ease my way into movement again. No long walks or bike rides just yet, but it's a start.

Being tempora...

Yes, I’m still talking about aging well. We are all aging, whether we like it or not - and I admit that I don't always love it. 

I was listening to a podcast the other day, and the person being interviewed said that most people don’t feel their age; they actually think of themselves as being younger than they are. While I hope that I’ve gained maturity and wisdom, I don’t really feel that different than I was in my 30’s - though my knees are telling me otherwise!

We all know that moving our bodies and eating the right foods help us to age well, but there is something else we can do, too. And it’s fun! 

People who age well have something they’re working towards. They have a reason to get up in the morning that goes beyond “I should take care of myself,” and there's real science behind it. The Japanese call it “ikagai” – which means “a reason for living” or “a life worth living.”

Research has linked a strong sense of purpose to:

→ 31% lower risk of developing a functional disability...

In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been thinking and talking a lot about longevity lately. That’s because I’m approaching my 57th birthday! 

It’s also been on my mind because my knees have been hurting a lot the past few years - bad enough that I could barely manage the sit-stand test. I generally feel pretty strong, so I’m not okay with that. I’m working on it, and just had a procedure done called platelet rich plasma prolotherapy. I did a few rounds about ten years ago and it helped, so I’m hoping it helps again. (And this time, I’m committed to doing all five rounds of treatment!)

Last week I shared how to keep your brain young, and this week, I’ve got another longevity tip: it has to do with your grip strength.  

Why Grip Strength Matters

If you’ve never thought about your grip strength, I’d say that’s pretty normal. However, the research surrounding it is hard to ignore. 

In a large study published in The Lancet, researchers followed nearly 140,000 adults across 17 countries. ...

Guess what? I've finished the last of my gravel bike races of the season! I’m definitely ready for a break from riding so I can chill out, hike, and swim some more. All of this riding has taken up a lot of time, and some things in my life have taken a back seat (for better or worse). But as I read somewhere, you won’t look back at 80 and wish you’d spent more time doing housework! 

I’m also making time to take care of myself. My knees have been my weak point for the past ten or so years, so I’m seeing a physical therapist to see what I can do to help that. Stairs aren’t that fun for me, and I know it will only get worse if I don’t do something now. 

When I think about my knees, I always think about “the longevity check”. It’s called the sitting-rising test. Here’s how it works: 

1. Stand in the middle of the floor.
2. Cross your legs and lower yourself all the way down to the floor without using your hands, knees, or any support.
3. Then stand back up the same way.

Now, let’s score it...

My husband just had a birthday and even though it wasn’t a big one, we did a lot of celebrating.  We celebrated with food, social time, and a little less sleep than usual.

I made four big, cheesy, mushroom lasagnas and somehow all that cooking didn’t tip him off that I was having a surprise party for him. He also didn’t notice the big, chocolate, gluten-free cake my son picked up from the bakery.

I don’t normally eat such rich foods, and I know that some people might even feel guilty about indulging so much. However, because I know of a special “rule” about life, I enjoyed myself fully - down to every last cheesy bite! 

The 80/20 Rule

It’s called the Pareto Principle (aka the 80/20 Rule) -- and it says that 80% of your results come from just 20% of your efforts. Here are some ways it appears in life:

• You wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time. For me, it’s my sweatpants and sweatshirt. (I still haven’t come back all the way from Covid!)
• 80% of your screen time comes from 20% ...

We often think of exercise as something we do to look a certain way or hit fitness goals, like losing weight or getting stronger. But what if I told you that exercise is actually the secret to a better life, not just a better body? I’m here to share why, beyond its physical benefits, moving your body regularly can improve your mental and emotional health too.

Let’s start with something simple: walking. Remember the last time you took a walk outside? Chances are, after you finished, you felt more energized, your mood lifted, and your mind was clearer. It’s not just in your head—there’s science behind this! Studies show that any form of physical activity, no matter the intensity, can make a positive difference in how we feel. In fact, research from Harvard highlights that just 7,500 steps a day can boost your longevity and reduce your risk of heart disease. Another study found that any amount of physical activity can elevate your mood and energy levels afterward.

With benefits like the...

As I've been very open about, my son has been having health challenges. Another layer was added and then thankfully removed this week, thanks to a sweet beagle named Bagel. He's a mold-sniffing dog who stopped by our home this week. 

Another Week, Another Challenge

I’m sure we are also getting to the core of my son's health problems, and we're leaving no stone unturned. We recently had him tested for mold toxicity and the results were shocking! One mold toxin was about 20 times what a normal kid his age would test for. A second was a little high, as well. His doctor already started treatment for mold toxicity right after he took the test so that we didn’t waste any time.

She also told us about a mold sniffing dog named Bagel. He's a cute little beagle that has been trained to sniff out mold in the same way that dogs are trained to sniff out drugs or bombs at the airport. He was going to be in our town the day after we called so we jumped right in and invited him over. 

Sniffing Out...

Right now, I’m busy working on my first gut health book to help you improve everything from your digestion to your immune system. Before I get to all that, though, I thought I would share why I’m so passionate about gut health: It’s been a key part of my family’s well-being (and not-so-well-being) over the past decade. 

Where It All Started

Up to eleven years ago, I wasn’t really concerned about gut health other than I knew to avoid antibiotics if I could and that it wasn’t a bad idea to take probiotics. But then my almost seven year old son was diagnosed with osteomyelitis (a bone infection) in his femur. He had been really sick for a few days and finally the doctor on call at the emergency department tested him for staphylococcus aureus (staph infection). When she got the results, she told us to go directly to the nearest children's teaching hospital.

Within about 24 hours, they confirmed that the infection was in his bone. They put him on IV antibiotics and he quickly started to ...

It’s been awhile since I wrote a blog post, and I should really be packing for our family’s two-week trip to The Netherlands, but I’m just too excited about my next project. Life has been full of ups and downs for our family the past year or so, and it’s inspired me to write a book filled with all the health knowledge I’ve expanded on and learned over that time. But wait - I think I may be getting ahead of myself, here. Let me explain how I got to this place in the first place. 

A Lifelong Health Journey

I’ve always been interested in the science of health, which makes it so frustrating when my family or I’m not well. Being diagnosed with high cholesterol was a big surprise to me early this year, and I’ve also been suffering from many symptoms of early menopause. It’s even worse when one of my kids is unwell, and my teenage son has been navigating his own health challenges this year, too. 

I was supporting him with the things I knew best, but it took six months before we were finall...

We all know by now that stress affects your health, sneakily affecting your body’s internal functions to get ready to fight or take flight. But have you ever thought about how stress also changes how your body looks and feels? When chronic stress is messing with your digestion, sleep, and other processes, it’s inevitably going to take a toll on everything else. But don’t fret - once you know what’s happening, you can make changes for the positive. 

Understand How Stress Changes Your Body

Knowledge truly is power, and when you know better, you can do better! Learning how your body responds to stress can be a huge “aha!” moment, and empower you to take back control of your health. It can be tempting to “power through” stressful days, or simply get used to them. But over time it takes a real toll on how you look and feel. 

Here are a few ways stress changes your body: 

1. You Gain Body Fat. When you’re stressed, your body releases the stress hormone cortisol. Chronically high levels ...