With no warning, one day I woke up and suddenly looked 5 months pregnant, and I was allergic to several food groups. I couldn't pin point why my stomach had expanded while living such a healthy lifestyle. I eat mostly plant based and take probiotics, work out everyday and drink tons of water. After several months of dealing with severe bloating after every meal accompanied by hives produced by a histamine intolerance, I decided to immerse myself in gut research.

For those who have never heard of drinking bone broth, let us jump right in to the many benefits:

• High in glutamine - a key ingredient to repair and maintain gut health. 

• High in gelatin which boost collagen in the dermis - glowing, plump & smooth skin. The increase in collagen also strengthens nails, and promotes hair growth. 

• Aids in joint health, and enhances flexibility with it's high gelatin content. 

• Contains amino acids that help improve liver detoxification. 

Not too many objects have entered my booty hole in my lifetime - outside of an occasional finger here and there. So when a friend expressed her interest in trying a coffee enema and asked if I’ve ever tried it, I immediately responded with, “no” and carried on with my day. However, this is my second article about poop - so I am clearly not one to shy away from experiencing a new, and exciting way of eliminating waste. To my surprise, this would be a major topic of discussion over the following two weeks. It was even brought up in a conversation during brunch with my girls, in the middle of discussing our frustrations with Big Pharma. Turns out a friend of a friend used it during her chemo treatments, along with additional natural alternatives and fell in love with the benefits. I knew right then and there this is something I need to try. 

Perioral dermatitis is the trickiest skin condition I have ever dealt with. It is characterized as a red, inflamed thickening of the skin, primarily around the mouth and nostril area. It is sometimes accompanied by papules and pustules - which causes most of us to confuse it with acne. After much research, I found the most common triggers for PD include:

• use of topical steroids
• toothpaste with fluoride 
• sodium laureth sulfate
• laundry detergent with overactive ingredients
• hormonal changes
• birth control
• stress

Ego exemplifies so much more than just a cocky character trait. It typically rises to the surface when we are not living in our truth. Instead, we're living to uphold a perception we believe others have of us. Ego appears when we are too comfortable to face a new stage of growth, when we are scared to come to terms with an insecurity - or when we are just being plain selfish. It is an extension of fear. But the bonus here is , without ego we would have no contrast or hope for a brighter light in life.  

That being said - we know that this universal character trait is somewhat of a necessity. Here are a few things that have helped me, and continue to aid in me taming my ego.