The Optimal Health Blog
Healing Habits During Difficult Times
We all go through tough times. Whether it’s a breakup, stress at work, health issues, or the loss of a loved one, stress is part of life. Recognizing our stressors and providing ourselves with the time and space to implement coping strategies is one of the...
What Is Lp(a) and Why Is It Important?
Lipoprotein “little a”, or Lp(a), is a genetically inherited independent cardiovascular disease risk factor. It is composed of an LDL-like particle in which apolipoprotein B100 (ApoB) is linked to Apolipoprotein A (ApoA). Elevated Lp(a) increases the risk of a heart...
Indian Inspired Stir-Fry
Ingredients 1 can chickpeas 1 lb ground turkey 1 cup kale 1 leek, chopped 2 tsp sea salt 2 tsp garlic powder 1 tablespoons avocado oil ½ cup Trader Joe's Tikka Masala Sauce (or Tikka Masala Sauce of choice) https://a.co/d/hL75AXF Directions Sautee ground turkey...
Simply Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients 1 ½ pounds Brussels sprouts 3 Tablespoons EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) 1 tsp kosher salt ½ tsp black pepper Directions Preheat oven to 400 degrees F Cut off the ends of the brussels sprouts, pull off any discolored outer leaves and cut each sprout in...
Roasted Spatchcocked Chicken
Ingredients 1 spatchcocked chicken 1 tablespoon Sea salt 1 tsp. Black pepper 1 tablespoon Garlic powder 1 tsp. Paprika Directions Season chicken with above ingredients and let sit in fridge for at least 2 hours Bake uncovered in the middle rack at 400 degrees for...
High Protein Hot Chocolate
Ingredients 1-2 Tablespoons Unsweetened cocoa powder https://a.co/d/9Y8JkfD OR CocoaVia™ Cardio Health Powder 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or plant based milk of choice A few drops of alcohol free liquid stevia https://a.co/d/hlXNlLV 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1...
Cauliflower Oatmeal
Ingredients 1 cup riced cauliflower ¾ cup unsweetened almond milk or plant based milk of choice 1-2 tablespoons flax meal or chia seeds 1 scoop protein powder of choice - I like this one: https://a.co/d/9jDf7qD Directions Add rice cauliflower and unsweetened...
Daytime and Nighttime Routine for Sleep
Revised April 13, 2025 Sleep is the foundation of health. We all know that without a good night’s sleep, we don’t function well the next day. Without consistent high-quality sleep, our health can be greatly compromised. Sleep and stress resiliency have a...
Nutritional Interventions for PCOS
Written by Lindley Wells; Select sections of article written by and article reviewed by Dr. Bojana Jankovic Weatherly. Upon receiving a PCOS diagnosis there are many different approaches that can be taken to manage the condition. However, in order to best address your...