Getting pregnant with my son was not an easy task. My husband had been diagnosed with cancer (twice) and had undergone a two year battle that he ultimately won. His oncologist told us just days before he was scheduled to start chemo that the treatment he would be undergoing would render him infertile, and if he wanted the chance to have biological children in the future then he should consider freezing his sperm. We had only been dating for about a year at this point, and the discussion of having children together had not yet come up, but I think we both knew that we had found the "one." I encouraged him to take the necessary precautions in order to have the choice to have children later in life, whether it was with me or not. And I am so glad he did!

Fast forward two years later...my husband had recently had a bone marrow transplant that saved his life. He was on the road to recovery and was (and is) disease free! (You can read more about our journey here) We were now married and wanted to start our family as soon as possible. For us, that meant me going through in-vitro fertilization (IVF). We chose to see a doctor that we had heard good things about at UCSF. For the past two years while my love battled cancer, I had been watching my friends get married and have babies. While I was beyond happy for all of them, it was not an easy thing to watch. I longed for what they had and it seemed so far away for us. There were even moments where I questioned if we would get to have that together at all. Needless to say, When the time finally came I was anxious to get started and didn't want to waste any time.

I went through one full round of IVF and we got 9 high quality embryos from the procedure. We transferred two embryos right away and waited for our results. There was no doubt in my mind that I would get pregnant on our first try. After all, I did not have any fertility issues, I was in excellent health, and all signs pointed to yes. So when I got the call that my pregnancy test had come back negative, I was crushed. We rushed right into doing a frozen embryo transfer with two more embryos, and again... another negative result. What was going on? I had felt like I was being overmedicated by my doctors at UCSF and when I asked to do a natural cycle frozen embryo transfer I was told no. So when it didn't work the second time I asked my doctor what was up. He blamed it on my embryos, and suggested that we discard all of the remaining ones we had and start a fresh cycle of IVF all over again (at $20k a pop nonetheless.) I was so angry, and felt so dismissed by him. Just weeks ago he was telling us how excellent our embryos looked. And now suddenly there was an issue with them and they should be thrown out? No way. He wasn't willing to take any responsibility at all, and I left feeling like it was my fault that I wasn't getting pregnant. We took our remaining embryos and went to a new doctor at the Marin Fertility Center. After taking a few months off to cleanse my body of the synthetic hormones I had been given at UCSF, I was ready to try again. This time we decided to do a natural frozen embryo cycle, meaning no meds. I got pregnant with twins on our first try. One of the yolk sacks was measuring small at our first ultrasound, so my doctor warned me that we could possibly lose on of the twins, and that this was not uncommon with IVF. Sadly, we did lose one at 9 weeks. I mourned the loss of this little soul, and then let go and moved forward. I was still pregnant with one strong, healthy baby and for that I was incredibly grateful!

We hit another bump in the road at my 19 week ultrasound when it was discovered that I had a single umbilical artery. (The umbilical cord normally has two arteries and one vein that bring blood and nutrients to the placenta and filter out the waste - my umbilical cord was missing one of those arteries, which could lead to growth problems with the baby and can be linked to other issues with the heart, kidneys, and even chromosomal defects.) We were sent to see a specialist in San Francisco for further testing and a special high tech ultrasound. It was the most nervewracking experience! We sat there in silence for 45 minutes while the doctor thoroughly examined my baby's heart, kidneys, and brain in total silence. I was sure he was seeing something ominous. My husband finally asked him if he saw something bad and the doctor told him to "be quiet and let him work." I was shaking I was so scared and doing my best to fight back tears. Luckily, everything came back completely normal and we were told not to worry, our baby looked great! (Huge sigh of relief!) However, he did discover that I had placenta previa, meaning my placenta was covering my cervix which would make it impossible for me to have a vaginal birth if my placenta didn't move, and would require a c-section. Normally as the uterus grows the placenta moves up and out of the way and a vaginal delivery is then possible, and the doctor told me I had a very good chance of this happening. Aside from that, I went on to have a fairly uneventful and wonderful pregnancy. I LOVED being pregnant! It was the most beautiful and feminine I had ever felt, and feeling my little guy move around inside my belly was magical.

It was now July 3rd, 2015...my due date. My placenta previa had resolved and I was cleared to have a vaginal delivery. I went in to see my OBGYN and there were zero signs that labor was close. My cervix was still high, posterior, and not effaced at all. My OB told me to sit tight and if there was still no progression in a few days then we would talk about induction. I did NOT want to be induced. I had plans for a completely natural childbirth, and an induction to force out my little one before he was ready was not included in those plans! I went home and tried everything under the sun to get labor going. I walked up an incredibly steep hill in my neighborhood several times per week while doing curb walking (one foot on the curb and one foot off - I looked like a crazy person) I ate spicy food, had sex, used evening primrose oil to try to soften my cervix, ate eggplant parmesan (which I hate, but have been told it can start labor) rubbed clary sage essential oil on specific acupressure points to trigger labor, went to acupuncture several times per week, you name it, I probably tried it! And all to no avail. Five days later nothing had changed. My OB said she wanted me to come in that weekend to be induced. That would make me 1 week past due. Full term is considered to be anywhere between 37-42 weeks and I wasn't willing to schedule an induction until I was 42 weeks and still not showing signs of labor. My doctor didn't love this idea but was willing to give me a few more days as long as I "understood the risks." She told me that my placenta would begin to calcify and would ultimately stop supporting my baby the longer I waited, and that my chances of a stillbirth were rising the longer I waited. I compromised with her by agreeing that if there was still no progress at 41 weeks and 5 days, then I would go in to be induced as long as it was on my own terms. And that is exactly what ended up happening.

I went in on Wednesday evening, July 15th to be induced. I felt nervous, and couldn't seem to wrap my head around the fact that I would soon be meeting my son! I still intended to have as natural a birth as possible, and I wanted to go very slowly with the induction to give my body a chance to go into labor on its own. The nurses and midwives at Kaiser were incredible, and so respectful of my wishes. They did their best to stick as close to my birth plan as possible. I had my room set up with flameless candles for lighting, a diffuser with relaxing essential oils, I was dressed in my own clothing, and had brought all of my own pillows and blankets from home. My doula and dear friend, Aisha, knows her stuff and was able to talk them into giving me just 1/4 of a dose of Misoprostol (the pill used to start labor) and then wait overnight before giving me another dose. (They generally start with 1/2 a dose and increase from there, giving another dose every 4 hours until labor is well established.) I began having contractions but they were irregular and I could still walk and talk through them. I wasn't able to get much rest because someone was coming in every hour or so to check on me and monitor my baby. Early the next morning around 5am, I was given my second dose of Misoprostol, this time a half dose. My contractions were getting stronger and closer together, but they were still irregular and my cervix wasn't progressing enough for my midwife to be able to sweep my membranes or use a Foley bulb. Things kept going like this for a while, and eventually I was given my third dose at full strength. My contractions were in full swing now and they were intense (induction causes stronger contractions than natural onset of labor.) My midwife wanted to get things really moving and give me another full dose a few hours later, but I declined. I felt like my body had gotten the hint and I was well on my way to active labor. I am glad I listened to my intuition, because not long after that my water broke. Almost immediately my contractions began coming one after another and they were long, strong, and intense!

It was now late Thursday night, over 24 hours since I had first been induced. I was only dilated to 1 cm and about 80% effaced... and I was exhausted. I was falling asleep in between each contraction. My midwife sat down next to me and told me that I needed to consider an epidural. She pointed out that I was completely exhausted and still had a long way to go, and she was concerned that when the time came I wouldn't have the strength to push my baby out which could result in a c-section... this was the worst thing I could have heard. I was terrified of a c-section and would do anything to avoid one. However I really wanted to do this naturally and didn't want an epidural either. I talked it over with my hubby and my doula, I cried and cried, and then I accepted the fact that my midwife was right. By the time I got my epidural I was already at 5cm. Half way there! The anesthesiologist was this tiny, intense woman with terrible bedside manner. I was in the middle of a contraction and unable to speak when she told not to move a muscle because she was going to jab the needle into my spine. I did my best to not move through the pain. It was so hard, I could barely breathe! Once the epidural was in, I felt immediate relief. I requested that it be put on the lowest setting, and be turned off completely when it came time to push, so that I could feel my son being born.

Once I had the epidural I was able to get some rest, but my contractions began to slow down and the talk of giving me Pitocin to get them going again arose. Yet another thing I had wanted to avoid. I asked that we give it some time and see if things picked back up on their own, but they didn't. My contractions continued to slow down so I was started on Pitocin. The main reason I wanted to avoid Pitocin is because it causes contractions that would be much more intense than natural ones and this can be stressful to the baby. Sure enough my son started to react negatively to my contractions and was having dips in his heart rate with each one. My midwife became concerned and the dreaded talk of a c-section came up again. The Pitocin was turned off and my baby was monitored ongoing at this point. The dips in his heart rate stopped and he was doing well so they began the Pitocin again and watched him carefully. He was doing great and I was finally able to get some much needed rest.

A few hours later I was jolted awake by intense pressure down there. I called my nurse and she checked me. I was at 9cm! She told me NOT to push, under any circumstances because it could cause me to swell, and that she would be back in about an hour to check on me again. I asked her to turn off my epidural at that point. Not 15 minutes later I felt the INTENSE need to push. I could barely stop myself! I called my nurse in again, she checked me and said it was go time! It was now Friday afternoon around 12:45pm. I had been there for so long that the staff all knew me well. I had two doctors, several nurses, and my midwife in the room with me while I pushed, in addition to my doula and my hubby. I tuned everyone out, closed my eyes and went inward  into my birthing body. My eyes remained closed almost the entire time, and I connected with my son as he got ready to enter the world. 

It felt like forever that I had been pushing, and I kept being told the his head was visible. In my mind's eye this meant that his head was actually coming out, but when they showed me with the mirror, he was still way up inside and the very top of his head was just barely visible. I felt so discouraged and demanded that mirror be taken away! I pushed and pushed, and it seemed as if no progress was being made. Words like forceps and vacuum were floating around, but I knew I could do this. At the three hour mark, my son was doing excellent on the fetal monitor so they felt comfortable to continue to let me push. My midwife suspected that he had a short cord, because with each push my son would come out further, then be pulled back in.

My amazing nurse Anna, who is also a HypnoBirthing Instructor, saw that I was struggling. I was so exhausted, and was beginning to feel like this kid was never going to come out! I was dry heaving, and falling asleep in between pushes. She came over, looked me in the eye, and told me that I could do this, and I was going to do this. It was time to get him out. She stood at the foot of my bed, held my forearms, and told me to try to pull her onto the bed with me when I pushed. This gave me some leverage and major progress was being made! I continued to push even after my contractions had ended, and finally my son's head was out! I pushed once or twice more and out he came! Over 40 hours of labor and four hours of pushing, I finally had my little man! All 8lbs 1oz and 21.5 inches of him! (I am crying as I write this, remembering that moment.) I had my arms outstretched, ready to hold my son in my arms for the first time and see his little face, when I noticed something around his neck. It was his umbilical cord and it was wrapped around three times. 

I felt paralyzed with fear. The doctor unwrapped the cord in lightening speed and the shade of purple in my son's face quickly turned to pink and he started to cry. It was then that I finally began to cry too. My son was passed off to the pediatrician to be examined. He was covered in meconium (the first tarry like poop a baby has, which can be dangerous if they pass it in the womb because they can inhale it.) He was wiped off and his little tummy was pumped to remove any meconium he may have swallowed. Luckily it happened on his way out and none had entered his lungs. I was told that he was doing great and as long as he passed their "tests" then he could stay with me and not go to the nursery. He had to cry for five minutes straight, which he did, and he had to latch on to my breast effectively.

When I was finally handed my son, I laid him on my bare chest and let him find his own way to my breast. He was able to latch on and we were given the all clear to let him stay with us and not go to the nursery for further evaluation. He was ok and I finally got to see his sweet face! The nurses and two doctors said that they had never seen a baby born vaginally with a triple cord prolapse before. The good news is, is that he was being monitored the entire time and he was doing great, so they suspected that the cord wrapped around as he was rotating down and into the birth canal. It was the most terrifying minutes of my life, and I couldn't possibly describe how grateful I am that he was ok.

I lost a significant amount of blood during his delivery due to how long I pushed for, and it caused me to become quite anemic. I was so weak and sore. It took me hours to be able to stand up and walk to the bathroom on my own. They kept us at the hospital for two more days to monitor my son and me. Finally on Sunday we were able to go home! 

Despite how sore and exhausted I was, I was in a state of pure bliss and so grateful to be home with my sweet, healthy boy. 

This is a super easy, refreshing, and delish appetizer perfect for a summer party or BBQ. I made these a few times over the summer!

What you'll need:

• organic strawberries 
• fresh organic basil 
• 1 French baguette 
• organic goat cheese 
• EVOO 
• balsamic vinegar 
• pinch of organic cane sugar 

 Directions:

De-stem the strawberries and cut them into small pieces, place them in a bowl. Sprinkle a pinch or two of organic cane sugar over the strawberries and stir to coat so that the juices begin to release. Thinly slice the basil and set it aside. Slice the bread and lightly toast. Once the toast has cooled, spread the goat cheese evenly on each piece. Top with the strawberries and basil and then lightly drizzle EVOO and balsamic vinegar over the top. Serve and enjoy!!Yummmmmm.

Ashley Wexler Photography

Group B Strep (GBS) is a common bacteria usually found in the intestinal tract, and can also be found in the vagina of pregnant women. In normal, healthy adults GBS is generally harmless, however if you are pregnant and are diagnosed with GBS, it can be passed to your baby during delivery and can cause serious infections. If you are diagnosed with GBS, you will be given IV antibiotics as soon as your water breaks, or as soon as labor begins- whichever comes first, in order to prevent passing it along to your baby. But there are precautions you can take to prevent, and sometimes even get rid of Group B Strep naturally. I followed this protocol during my pregnancy and tested negative for Group B strep! I recommend beginning this regimen around week 32 of pregnancy:

• High quality probiotics- Probiotics support the growth of healthy flora in the gut, which affects the flora in the birth canal (aim for one with at least 4 billion cells per dose) along with incorporating fermented and probiotic rich foods into your diet such as sauerkraut, kefir, and yogurt regularly
• 1000mg Vitamin C daily- supports the immune system and strengthens the amniotic sac to reduce premature rupture, which can increase the likelihood of GBS infection
• Raw garlic or garlic capsules daily- I recommend 2-4 cloves per day in addition to whatever you cook with. Mince the garlic and allow it to sit for 10 minutes to activate the anti-microbial compound allicin, then add to food or swallow it down with some water. Taking garlic in its raw form is ideal, but if you can't tolerate this, you can get garlic capsules instead
• Insert one raw garlic clove vaginally at night 1-2x per week
• Raw Apple cider vinegar- mix 2 teaspoons of raw apple cider vinegar in water daily during the last trimester to prevent colonization. You can drink it down like a shot, or add it to hot water with honey and sip it. Raw apple cider vinegar is great for overall digestion and often helps ease heartburn too!
• Avoid sugar and refined carbs, since sugar helps bacteria and yeast to grow and thrive.

Have you had success treating GBS naturally? Let me know what worked for you!

As we begin to ponder the idea of starting a family, or even if we are already actively trying, one of the most important things we can do is begin to prepare our body for pregnancy by nourishing it with clean, healthy, fertility boosting foods. This delicious smoothie is packed with clean, plant based protein, healthy fats, calcium, manganese, zinc, folic acid, and vitamins A, E, C, and B6 which are all essential for fertility in women, as well as for overall health!

INGREDIENTS:

• one large handful of organic baby spinach
• one large handful of organic baby chard
• one large handful of organic baby collards
• one large handful of organic baby kale
• 1/2 organic apple
• 1/2 - 1 cup (depending on how thick or thin you prefer your smoothies) of organic almond milk
• 1 avocado
• 2 tbsp raw almond butter
• 2 tsp chia seeds
• filtered water
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 3-4 frozen strawberries
• ice (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Place all ingredients in a Vitamix or blender and blend until smooth. You can add more filtered water or almond milk to adjust the consistency. Enjoy!

These (dairy and gluten free) Peanut Butter Brownies are BOMB! I top them with my favorite vegan ice cream ~ Amy's Mocha Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. If I didn't tell you what was in them you'd have no idea they were dairy and gluten free. They're rich, moist, chewy, and SOOOO GOOD!!!

What you'll need:

• 1/2c organic peanut butter (no sugar added!)
• 1/4c raw organic honey 
• 1 tsp organic vanilla extract 
• 1/2c organic applesauce (no sugar added! The only ingredient should be organic apples)
• 1/2c organic raw cacao powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• pinch of salt

Directions:

Mix applesauce, peanut butter, honey, and vanilla together in a bowl until smooth. Add in cacao powder, baking soda, and salt and mix until thick and gooey. Pour into an 8x8 baking pan (greased- I use coconut oil to grease the pan) Bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 mins. *Optional ~ Top with your favorite ice cream. Enjoy!!

Life is full of challenges. We are continually faced with tests of our strength and character. It's the universe reminding us we are still alive. The way I see it, we have two choices. We can run and hide from these challenges within the warmth and safety of our comfort zones, or we can step outside and face our challenges head on, using them as a way to further evolve and grow.

This past year has been one of the hardest I've experienced. Someone very close to me is fighting cancer. And while he is winning, it still is a hard thing to endure. Watching this person I love get sick, lose weight, struggle to eat, lose his hair, begin to feel better, then have to go through it all over again a couple of weeks later when he goes back in for chemo is excruciating. Yet he maintains the most incredible, positive spirit. "Cancer can suck it" is his motto. And suck it, it will!

To know someone so intimately who is battling something as big as cancer and see him maintain a positive outlook is truly inspirational. This experience has forced me to take a deeper look within myself  and find my own path to greatness. I have learned that the "little things" in life are just that. Little things. They can't get me down. I find that I don't take things, or people for granted anymore. Somewhere along the way I learned quickly how to be a solid, positive foundation for him and found ways to maintain this attitude and outlook, even when it has been tough. He has taught me to "love the struggle" as he says, to use this experience as a time to grow and become better individuals, and together an even more solid couple. Here I will share with you some simple ways to keep calm and carry on when everything else seems to be falling apart.

#1 - Don't Over Think

We tend to dramatize situations or over think things, making them seem worse than they really are. Look at the problem you are faced with head on, maybe even write it down plain and simple on a piece of paper and read it back to yourself. The imagination is a powerful thing and when something isn't going right, we tend to jump straight to the worst case scenario, letting our imagination get the best of us. By not allowing ourselves to dramatize a situation or let it consume our minds, we are already taking the necessary steps to keep calm, and carry on.

#2 - Stay Positive

Thoughts and words have a vibration to them. When we think or say negative things those words vibrate at a negative frequency, therefore creating more negative energy within us. When you're feeling down and out and those negative emotions begin to flow, take a moment to think of the positive aspects of your life. Your loved ones, your dog, your home, hobbies you enjoy, and so forth. Try writing down three positive things that happened to you during your day before you go to bed every night. This will leave you with positive images in your mind when you fall asleep.

#3 - Exercise

Yes, exercise. Getting adequate exercise, even if its just a brisk walk down the street and back releases powerful endorphins such as serotonin that make you feel happy! Getting regular exercise will not only make you feel better emotionally, but also physically. Try it. I dare you. "That run I went for this morning sure made me feel fat and cranky" - said no one ever.

#4 - Take Your Power Back

Only you can control your emotions. People, things, and events can trigger different emotions and thoughts within us, but when you give into these people and/or things and let them affect you negatively, you are giving away your power. Well, its time to take it back! Once you learn that you are truly the only person that has control over how you feel, and that you alone have the power to just say to yourself, "I am not going to let that bother me today" you will be amazed at how much easier it is to just let things roll off your back. If my man can keep cancer from taking his power, you can sure keep yours, too.

#5 - Just Breathe

Sounds cliche, right? Well be that as it may, breathing works to calm the body and quiet the mind. It's not just a cliche yogi term, its also scientifically proven. When we breathe slowly and mindfully, neurohormones in our brain are sent out that inhibit stress and anxiety producing hormones, therefore causing a calming effect. When you begin to feel overwhelmed, upset, angry, anxious, and the like, stop what you are doing, sit down comfortably, close your eyes, let your hands settle into your lap, and breathe. Deeply. Focus on your breath and your heartbeat. Take a minute to feel gratitude for your body at work. Feel your heart beating to keep your blood circulating, your lungs filling with air. Hone in on your breath. Maybe even count while you breathe in and when you exhale. Just take a few moments to relax,breathe, and let it all go.

#6 - Practice Compassion

Best said by the Dalai Lama, "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." Open your heart and mind to others. Don't just mindlessly listen when people are talking to you, really hear them. Compassion means feeling for others, and truly caring about them and what they are going through. You never know what someone's journey might be like, or what they have endured. So be kind. It will come back around, and in the interim you will feel better for having showed others compassion. So get out of your head, and into your big, beautiful, open heart.

Ah that little four letter word: "CARB." So many of us cringe merely at the mention of it. Or we feel panicked when the waiter sets the breadbasket on the table when we are out to dinner. The reality of it is far less frightening. The fact is there are many forms of carbohydrates, and most of them are essential to our health and well being. Here I will discuss some of the most common misconceptions about carbohydrates and uncover the not-so-hidden health benefits they offer.

Carb Misconception #1: A Carb is a Carb is a Carb

Not all carbs are created equal. Carbohydrates come in many different forms like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Many of the popular "trend" diets such as Atkins and the 4 Hour Body have taught us that eating carbs will cause us to gain weight by converting into sugar (and then fat) in our bodies. Let me clear some things up. Carbs can basically be broken down into two categories. First there are refined, or simple carbs such as white bread, white pasta, baked goods, white rice, flour tortillas, and the like which are indeed, bad. They are mainly anemic and void of any nutritional substance. White carbs are stripped of their fiber and nutrients and are then further refined and bleached. They turn into simple sugars in the body, which then causes a spike in insulin levels and can cause us to gain weight. Then there are complex carbs, which are great! These consist of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Complex carbs are packed with fiber, micro nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that are essential to our health. Complex carbs are what provide our body with glucose (energy) - which is absolutely essential to normal brain and nervous system functioning.

Carb Misconception #2: Eating Carbs Causes Weight Gain

Many people think that a diet high in carbohydrates, whether it be from sugar, fruit, vegetables, or bread will cause them to gain weight, and people therefore do their best to avoid them like the plague. The reason this misconception has been perpetuated is because some carbohydrates raise insulin levels which in turn, lowers blood sugar resulting in increased appetite. However, the truth is gaining weight from eating carbs depends largely on the type of carbohydrates you are consuming. If you were to eat a diet high in refined or simple carbohydrates (mentioned above), then yes, you will most likely gain weight as they break down to simple sugars and are easily digested, which means you feel hungrier faster. Complex carbs on the other hand, are made up of mostly fiber and other essential nutrients and take much longer to digest, keeping you fuller longer. They will actually help you lose weight and keep it off for good. If you deprive your body of the carbohydrates it needs for too long, your body will begin to crave them and will start to convert dietary protein stored in your muscles into glucose (energy) by breaking down your muscle mass. This can lead to anemia. And nobody wants that! Health promoting, fat burning carbohydrates are whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice, millet, buckwheat, barley, vegetables, fruits, and legumes like black beans and lentils. Eating a diet rich in whole grains, veggies, fruits, and lean proteins will get you svelte in no time while simultaneously reducing your risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer.. Its a win win!

Carb Misconception #3: Carbs Give Me Indigestion

Many people blame their bloated, gassy tummy troubles on carbs in general, without knowing what is really causing their indigestion. The culprit is usually gluten. Gluten is a protein composit found mainly in wheat, barley and rye. It is what gives bread its chewy texture. Gluten is a sticky substance that some people are sensitive or intolerant of. Symptoms can include bloating, gas, stomach cramping, indigestion, lethargy, and headaches. The good news is, there is much more awareness about gluten sensitivities now than ever before and more and more gluten free foods are becoming available. Try cutting gluten out of your diet for three weeks and see how you feel. Another cause of stomach upset from carbohydrates comes from brown rice. Brown rice contains phytic acid which binds to zinc and calcium in the body and can inhibit their absorption. Some people's digestive tracts are sensitive to phytic acid, too. A great way to release phytic acid is to soak your grains overnight before consuming them. Simply place your rice in a pot with warm water, cover, and let it soak. Rinse and cook as usual the next day. This will greatly reduce the phytic acid and any chances of stomach upset. Quinoa is another one that can cause tummy troubles such as diarrhea, indigestion, and bloating if not rinsed properly. Quinoa has a naturally occurring pesticide on it and MUST be rinsed thoroughly before being consumed. Quinoa is an excellent source of protein and is actually a superfood! It is great whole grain and can be substituted for rice, and even pasta.

So as you see, not all carbohydrates are the devil. A healthy, well balanced diet should include plenty of fresh, organic fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins and should limit the consumption of "bad" carbs such as white breads, pastas, baked goods, sugary drinks, fancy coffee drinks, cookies, candies, and white rice. You get the picture.