By Elissa Goodman
Every mom I know has a vacation horror story…sick kid on the plane, a little one that either can’t go or can’t stop going, the whole family that ended up with food poisoning. In my own experience, I have one child who was born to travel and another child that gets very thrown off by the change in routine.
It’s a balancing act every time we hit the road.
The combination of stress, exposure to travel germs, changing routines, and nutritional challenges take a toll on the health of the whole family. Along the way of managing my own travel schedule and bringing the kids along, I’ve picked up a few tips that make the process a little less stressful. (more…)
The SaunaPod is a modern-day evolution of infrared wraps and wood saunas utilizing near and far infrared light therapy. Both fast and slow wavelength light permeate and heat the skin from the inside out, without heating the surrounding air. Traditional saunas heat the air, which in turn heats the body from the outside at temperatures that range from 180 to 220 degrees. The infrared SaunaPod’s novel heating method coupled with the fact that the user can breathe fresh room temperature air affords special healing properties. Benefits range from skin, detox, diet, pain and stress relief. Longer treatment times and greater detoxifying effects are just a few of the benefits reaped from this state-of-the-art heating method. The longer you spend detoxifying your body, the greater the tension is released. 
We’ve all had personal or professional experiences that are so meaningful that we’ll remember them forever. I’ll never forget walking through South Africa with a group of people all working to make sure babies were born HIV-free and that their mothers stayed healthy and could care for their children. I’ve also walked hand-in-hand with brain cancer survivors and cheered on marathon runners to raise awareness for many worthwhile causes.
More and more women, especially hardworking moms, are experiencing thyroid and hormone imbalances – which manifest as unfavorable and un-sexy symptoms such as weight gain, brain fog and anxiety. Quickly and deservedly so, women become disheartened and down-trodden by these symptoms, perhaps even angry, confused or exasperated at the ways in which their body is ‘failing them.’ Yet oftentimes women keep pushing their bodies, going and going and going, in a desperate bid to keep up with all the things they wish to accomplish everyday… and who can blame us? Modern life calls for heavy expectations on women, both from society and frequently, ourselves too. Too often we are expected to be super-woman; donning our capes and flying off into the world, keeping everything running just-so. But what is providing our fuel? What is nourishing us? 
Q: What is the key to maintaining our health and staying lean?
We live in the most amazing country! We have access to the best of the best. My focus is on Food. More specific, portion sizes! Food is a daily necessity and an everyday pleasure. Who doesn’t love food? We all love to eat! In fact, in most cultures, food means so many different things. Love, family, friendship, home and comfort.
In a perfect world, two words you’d never find in the same sentence. But they are. Welcome to reality. A reality never more visceral than when you take an elevator to the dialysis ward at CHLA. Next to you, a mother of three. 
Q: As a holistic, Ayurvedic and Sports Nutritionist, how do you assess which foods create optimal health individually for each patient?
Just the mere word potty training strikes fear into the hearts of mothers and fathers everywhere. Why isn’t there a manual that could solve all these issues? There really ought-to-be such a manual. Instead, you give yourself a pep talk, procure all the necessary paraphernalia, and brace yourself for the worst. Then you start to second-guess yourself, people have been doing this for thousands of years, why can’t you toilet train your child, is there something wrong with you? 
“What is the fourth trimester?” This delicate and sacred transitional time between when you give birth, and when you and your baby are stabilized in your new dynamic, is commonly acknowledged in many cultures.