Here are some of my tips to ease these symptoms:

• Have your thyroid levels check, as dry skin is a symptom of hypothyroidism and your thyroid hormone can decrease in menopausal women
• A well-balanced diet and quality multivitamin can give your body the boost it needs to get your hair and skin back on track
• Look for skin products with Vitamins A and C – they’re antioxidant effects can improve skin. Creams with collagen also help keep skin firm and youthful-looking.
• Stress can lower your thyroid and estrogen levels, so find ways to relax and unwind. Yoga and tai chi can relieve stress, but whatever allows you to decompress are beneficial.

For more tips, read the full article here.

There are some options other than candy that you can pass out. Go for animal crackers, trail mix or little packets of 100% fruit snacks. If you do decide to go with candy opt for dark chocolate, sugarless gum or look for candy labeled as “fun size” or mini. And remember, the saying is “trick or treat,” not “trick or candy,” so forego candy altogether and hand out non-food treats to the neighborhood kids like stickers, crayons, fake tattoos, silly bands, etc.

Can’t resist your kids’ candy bags? Don’t deprive yourself completely, but do try to limit yourself to only one or two pieces. When it comes to candy, there are some choices that are better than others. Pick a piece of dark chocolate or something with almonds or peanuts to give you a little bit of good fat and can balance out the sugar.

Don’t want your kids to go overboard? Here are some tips so they won’t go crazy for candy:

• Make sure they eat dinner before going out, so they aren’t hungry and gobbling up candy as they walk from house to house.
• Limit how much they have once they return home
• Don’t let them keep the candy in their room, put it in the kitchen where consumption can be more easily monitored
• Pack one or two pieces in their lunch
• Get rid of the candy after a few days: take it to work to share with co-workers or give it to your child’s teacher to pass out as rewards

• Handful of unsalted almonds
• Celery sticks with organic peanut or almond butter
• Apple, pear (with or without peanut or almond butter)
• Carrots, cucumber, peppers, celery with hummus
• Homemade guacamole with corn tortillas (drizzle with a little olive oil and bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 degrees to make crisp corn chips)
• Half an avocado drizzled with a little balsamic vinegar
• Lara Bars – gluten-free and dairy-free energy bars that come in a ton of great flavors. I like to keep one in my purse or at my desk.
• Oatmeal
• Plain Greek yogurt with berries and homemade granola
• 2 hardboiled eggs (only 1 yolk)
• Piece of roasted turkey or chicken
• A small fruit smoothie

Gets-the-Job-Done Daily Oatmeal
Serves 1
It isn’t pretty to look at, but this one ticks off all the right nutritional boxes for starting my day. It satisfies my craving for something hot, requires no effort, and packs protein, fiber, anti-oxidants, and a few complex carbs (but not too many). It’s ready in 2 minutes in the microwave and stays with me until lunch. Try it!

What You’ll Need:
¼ cup of organic rolled oats (not instant)
1 cup of water
Pinch of sea salt
1 heaping tablespoon or scoop of plain brown rice protein powder (unsweetened, organic)
1-2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed meal (preferably organic)
¼ cup of frozen or fresh wild or organic blueberries
1 tbsp of slivered almonds
Cinnamon to taste
Splash of almond milk (I use unsweetened)
1 – 2 packets of Stevia (optional)

Put oatmeal, water, and salt in a bowl and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Add the protein powder, flax meal, blueberries, almonds, cinnamon, and stevia and stir. Splash almond milk to your desired consistency and stir. Enjoy!

Wheat and Gluten Free Breakfast Peanut Butter Quesadillas
Serves 1
Perfect if you eat breakfast at your desk at work – you can keep the ingredients in your desk drawer or office fridge.

What You’ll Need:
1 Ezekial Wrap (available at Whole Foods and other health food stores in the refrigerator or freezer)
1 tablespoon of nut butter of your choice (Smooth butters spread easier – try almond butter)
½ of a banana, apple, or pear – sliced
1 tsp of flax seeds
Drizzle of agave nectar

Spread nut butter on one half of the wrap. Sprinkle with flax seeds and then lay the fruit slices on top. Drizzle with a little bit of agave nectar. Fold it over and cut in half. Serve.

High Protein Smoothie
(adapted from Dr. Mark Hyman’s UltraSimple diet)
Serves 1

What You’ll Need:
I cup of unsweetened almond milk
½ cup frozen organic berries or cherries
1-2 packets of stevia
1 scoop rice protein powder
1 tbsp flax seeds or flax seed meal
Ice cubes, if desired

Toss all ingredients in the blender and blend till smooth. Serve.

Super Fast Weekday Veggie Omelettes
I love egg white omelettes in the morning but don’t usually have the time to cook up all the filling ingredients. Here is what I do to enjoy deluxe weekend omelette any day of the workweek:

On the weekend, think about what kind of ingredients you enjoy in your omelette, and cook up a week’s worth:

• Spinach, chard, kale, or dandelion greens sliced thinly and sautéed in a tiny bit of olive oil , garlic, and red pepper flakes if you like heat
• Onions softly simmered in a tiny bit of olive oil and a splash of chicken or veggie broth over low heat for about 30 minutes till they are caramelized and jammy
• Oven roasted or grilled veggies brushed with olive oil, salt & pepper: zucchini, red peppers, eggplant, red onions, asparagus are all great
• Mushrooms sliced and sautéed in a little bit of olive oil and a handful of chopped parsley thrown in to wilt at the last minute.

Make up whatever you like and store it in the fridge. In the morning, grab four eggs (I use one whole egg and three whites). Whip up the eggs and pour into a nonstick pan.

While the eggs are cooking, measure out ½ cup of desired cooked and chopped up veggies and put in the microwave for a minute or less to heat through. (Or just toss the veggies in the eggs and scramble it all up). Fold over your omelette and enjoy.

TIP: Cuisinart’s Green Gourmet makes the most incredible nonstick pan. It’s ceramic coated, nontoxic, and slides omelettes right out without even having to grease the pan! I love it. It’s pricey for a skillet – like $90 retain for the 10’ pan – but Macy’s is always putting it on sale. Shop the sales and look for it. With a bunch of coupons I just got one last weekend for $25!

I am traveling to New York City today for a special reception at the Plaza Hotel with other winners and finalists of the Indie Book Awards and I’ll be spending tomorrow and Thursday at Book Expo America to promote Hormone Harmony.

The Dirty Dozen includes peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, lettuce, spinach, potatoes and imported grapes. Now, in my opinion, buying organic fruits and vegetables is always ideal because not only do they have more flavor, they are pesticide-free and are more nutrient-rich. However, I know it isn’t always feasible or affordable to buy organic 100 percent of the time. That is why I suggest to people to set priorities and start with just purchasing organic varieties of the dirty dozen.

Don’t think it is a big deal? Well, studies have shown that when organic foods replace conventional ones in the diets of children, levels of key pesticides in their blood drop to nearly undetectable levels after only five days.¹  That’s pretty powerful.

One other tip: If you can’t find organic varieties in your store, try filling your sink with water and a little dishwashing liquid, wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly, and rinse them really well. This can be a very effective way to remove the pesticides from the peel of fruits and vegetables, which is often packed with vital nutrients.

¹ Organic Diets Significantly Lower Children’s Dietary Exposure to Organophosphorus Pesticides, Lu, et al. Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 114, Number 2, February 2006.

I was recently a guest on BridgeStreet, a morning show out of Syracuse, NY. It was great speaking with the host about Hormone Harmony, especially since she is currently pregnant.

I recently traveled to Philadelphia to appear on the show, Better Philly. It was a great experience. I discussed Hormone Harmony with the host, specifically how our lifestyles can disrupt our hormonal balance. Here is a clip:

Hormone Harmony – Chapter One