Articles by Kristen Michaelis CNC

Kristen Michaelis CNC is a published author and teacher. She's created a general nutrition curriculum used by classrooms around the US and written Beautiful Babies -- a book on nutrition for fertility, pregnancy, and breastfeeding that premiered at #1 on Amazon in its category, beating out What to Expect When You're Expecting.

Are Antibiotics Making You Fat?

Did you know that according to a recent study, gut dysbiosis brought on by a course of antibiotics made rats fat? Turns out, there may be a strong correlation between antibiotic treatment and weight gain. AND, even residual antibiotic levels found in conventionally raised meat and dairy products can disrupt the all-important microbial balance of your gut.

Pressure Cooker Bone Broth

Want to know how to make gelatinous, perfect bone broth in your pressure cooker every time? So did I! So, I turned to Michelle Tam of Nom Nom Paleo. It was her post on making homemade bone broth in her pressure cooker that cemented my desire to solve the riddle of whether or not pressure cooking is healthy once and for all! Michelle has generously offered to share her secrets with you. Learn how to make her Pressure Cooker Bone Broth below.

Do You Have Trouble Digesting Fats?

If eating higher fat foods causes you digestive distress like constipation, nausea, or gas, try supplementing your diet with ox bile and bitters — two traditional remedies with long and rich histories in both medicine and cuisine.

Your Tuna May Not Be Tuna

According to a recent study, a shocking 94% of the fish sold as white tuna was actually something altogether different. Most often, it was snake mackerel, a type of fish known for carrying a toxin that can cause severe diarrhea when eaten.

High Levels of Arsenic Found in Fruit Juice

A few months ago, when Dr. Oz announced he’d found high levels of arsenic in various kinds of commercially available fruit juice, he was roundly criticized for fear mongering. After all, his findings hadn’t been confirmed — until last week. Consumers Union, the group that publishes Consumer Reports, conducted its own test on 88 juice samples from popular grocery store brands. A shocking 10% contained levels of arsenic higher than those permitted in drinking water.

Why am I not surprised?

MSG is Dangerous — The Science Is In

Research finding that MSG is dangerous continues to mount, albeit slowly. If you want to know just why it’s bad for you, what studies have been done on its toxicity, or need to convince your family or friends to avoid MSG, keep reading!

Is Pork Bad For You?

Talk about confusing. In the world of natural, real food lovers, pork is a contentious subject! On one side, you’ve got people zealously arguing against pork because it’s not kosher or halal, and surely God had a reason for withholding it from His people. They cite a few studies that demonstrate that eating pork causes adverse reactions in the body, and the arguments aren’t without merit. On the other hand, you’ve got traditional cultures like the long-lived Okinawans for whom pork is a dietary mainstay — providing meat and cooking fat. And, of course, there’s the weight of the European agricultural heritage, where every home and small farm had a pig because pigs could do miracles — turn waste into fertilizer for gardens and food for us.

Arsenic In Your Rice

Last week, a Consumer Reports study found “worrisome” levels of arsenic in rice. Consumer Reports studied more than 200 samples of rice and rice-containing products like infant cereals to come to their conclusions. Organic rice baby cereal, brown rice, white rice, rice cereals. There were no exceptions to the rule. Foods containing rice contained unusually high levels of arsenic.

Healthy Seafood: What to Buy

Confused about what kinds of seafood to buy? What the healthiest seafood choices are? Which ones are free from toxins? Which ones are sustainably caught? You aren’t alone.

Healthy Foods: What to Buy

Navigating the world of grocery stores, natural foods stores, co-ops, farmers markets, and farm stands can be intimidating. I’ve written on choosing the healthiest eggs, milk, cheese, and meats.