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A growing body of research suggests that some of the preservatives used in everyday foods, specially ultra-processed items such as deli meats, bacon, ready-to-eat meals, packaged snacks, and even some cereals, may be linked to a higher risk of developing certain cancers when consumed in larger amounts over time. This doesn’t mean preservatives cause cancer outright, but it does raise important questions that are relevant for how we plan meals and think about everyday food choices. What the Latest Studies...Read More

The recent controversy at Campbell’s, sparked by recordings of a senior executive calling their products highly processed made for “poor people” and how he himself wouldn’t eat them because they are not healthy, hit a nerve for many people. And honestly? It should. As a board-certified family physician turned culinary educator, I’ve spent my entire career helping people understand how food affects their health. And one thing I know for sure is this: When leaders in the food industry talk...Read More

Shorter days, darker afternoons, holiday plans, and packed calendars… all of it can make your energy feel like it’s on loan. If you’ve noticed more afternoon fatigue, fogginess, or a slump in motivation as daylight shrinks, you’re not imagining things: our bodies respond to light, routine, food, and stress.  The good news? Small changes, the kind you can do from your kitchen, bedtime, or living room can add up fast. Below are practical, science-forward, and easy-to-use steps you can start...Read More

Menopause and the years leading into it (perimenopause) bring powerful changes: to sleep, mood, weight, skin, bones, and of course, hormones. As a physician who now teaches people how to use food as medicine, I’m frequently asked: “What should I actually eat to feel better during this transition?” Below are the five plant-based food groups we discussed on the Instagram Live with Dr. LaKeischa, why they matter for hormone health, and simple ways to include them in your daily meals. ...Read More

Menopause is more than hot flashes and sleep shifts. It’s a time of hormonal change that affects your whole body, including your gut.  Emerging research shows the gut microbiome plays a surprising role in how we feel emotionally during midlife. If you’re noticing low-grade anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, or fatigue as your hormones change, your gut may be part of the story and the kitchen is where you can start to help it. Below I explain the science in...Read More

You go to the doctor for a routine check, and the numbers are…off. Not diabetes yet, but not quite normal either. Maybe your A1C is 5.9% or your fasting glucose reads 110 mg/dL. Your clinician says the word: prediabetes. It can feel like a faint alarm bell: confusing, unsettling, and oddly vague. Here’s the truth: prediabetes is not a life sentence. It is a turning point. With early detection, the right mindset, and consistent, food-centered habits, many people normalize their...Read More

Back in August, I went in for my routine screening mammogram, something I have done since my baseline at age 35 and then annually starting when I turned 40.  The tech somehow did a great job of squishing my “girls” into pancakes without actually causing too much pain. She told me I would get my results within a week, so I got dressed and went home to start my day. Imagine my surprise when just a few hours later my...Read More

August is National Wellness Month—a perfect time to pause, reset, and ask yourself:  How am I really taking care of myself? As a physician and someone who began her plant-based journey after turning 50, I can assure you that wellness isn’t about extremes or perfection. It’s about building small, consistent habits that nourish your body, calm your mind, and support long-term health. This month, I’m celebrating wellness by sharing 7 everyday habits that help busy professionals—especially those of us 35...Read More

If you’re a woman in your 30s, 40s, 50s (or beyond), chances are no one ever pulled you aside to explain how your nutritional needs evolve with age. Instead, most of us were raised on a steady diet of food rules and body shame—taught to eat less, shrink more, and fear carbs like the enemy. I know this because I lived it too. Even as a physician, I once believed many of the same myths: that cutting calories and skipping...Read More

You’re eating “healthy.” You’re exercising. After all, you know you can’t get away with what you did in your 20’s and 30’s. So why are you feeling…off? Weight creeping up. Brain fog rolling in. Sleep feels less restorative. Mood swings that seem to come out of nowhere. You’re not doing anything wrong. Your body is simply asking for something different. Midlife Isn’t a Health Crisis—It’s a Call to Evolve By the time we hit our 40s and 50s, we’re navigating...Read More