Reduce Inflammation While Enjoying Birthdays and Holidays

I get patients in my practice who are frustrated with the limitations their autoimmune disease and leaky gut has placed on their dietary choices. I always feel nothing but compassion for these frustrated patients of mine. Navigating the dietary changes necessary to reverse inflammation, hormone imbalances, digestive issues, chronic pain, and autoimmune disease can feel very overwhelming, especially when you are told to give up sugar completely. My patients always tell me how hard eliminating gluten, alcohol, caffeine, dairy and sugar are. It is hard. But it’s easier now than it has ever been. They also treat me like their mother confessor or food police. They will make an appointment around birthdays or holidays and tell me how “bad” they were. Usually that confession is followed by how crappy they feel and the desire to get back on track.

First of all, I don’t believe in food as being “good” or “bad.” I just think your body will let you know if it’s not happy with your menu selections and reward you when you have made nourishing choices. Inflammation is caused by sugar and gluten and dairy and caffeine and alcohol and soy and processed foods for most people. Others are so sensitive they can’t handle histamines and oxalates and nuts. This is why I do the functional medicine testing necessary to really get precise with what your body needs to be nourished and to have your genetics express in a way that allows for hormone balance, digestive ease, sizzling energy and a sharp brain.

You can still make sweet treats, celebrate birthdays and holidays AND reverse your autoimmune disease. An autoimmune diagnosis does not banish you to the inner circle of hell and tasteless food. On the contrary, it can be a culinary adventure as you try out new ingredients for the first time. It’s a lot easier if you have some key baking ingredients in your pantry like: almond and coconut flour, coconut sugar and lo han sweetener or monk fruit, coconut milk, and stevia sweetened chocolate chips (I like Lilly’s). Try my favorite chocolate cake

(made here as cupcakes) and let me know if you find living an autoimmune free life is tasteless and joyless!

Want more tips for making the transition from inflamed to invigorated? Go to www.DrKeesha.com and sign up for my mailing list. For live videos, up to date science, and recipes visit and like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/drkeeshaewers/ . Be sure to share these posts with the people in your life that you think will benefit so they too can feel fabulous!

Big love,

Dr. Keesha

Anti-inflammatory Chocolate Cupcakes

My son’s birthday is on Valentine’s Day. When he was young, before I knew just how bad gluten, dairy and sugar really are for you, I used to make a cake with peanut butter and chocolate…a family favorite. Over the years, I have experimented with finding healthier alternatives for some of the toxic ingredients in my kid’s favorite holiday treats. This one was an instant hit!

Ingredients: (makes 2 dozen cupcakes)

• 1 cup coconut flour
• 1 cup raw cacao powder
• 1 dozen pastured eggs
• 1 1/3 cup lo han maple syrup
• 1 cup melted coconut oil
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 4 tsp vanilla
• ½ tsp sea salt

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and stir until mixed. In another bowl beat eggs together with maple syrup, vanilla and melted coconut oil. Fold both together and pour into silicone cupcake liners in a muffin tin.
3. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

Frosting Recipe:

• 3 cups sunflower seed butter or raw almond butter
• 3 cups palm shortening
• 1 ½ cup lo han maple syrup
• 2 TBSP vanilla
• 1 tsp sea salt
• Fresh raspberries for garnish

Whip all ingredients with hand mixer until creamy and stiff. Frost cupcakes and then top each one with a fresh raspberry. Enjoy!

Dr. Keesha Ewers, PhD, ARNP is a Doctor of Sexology, trauma informed therapist, is board certified in Functional medicine and holds an advanced certification in Ayurvedic medicine, and is the founder and medical director of the Academy for Integrative Medicine Health Coach Certification Program.

Dr. Keesha has been in the medical field for over 30 years. After being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis—an incurable disease according to Western medicine—she discovered how to reverse autoimmunity using her Freedom Framework® Method, which she has now used with thousands of her own patients and teaches to her health coach students in her online certification program.

Dr. Keesha is a popular speaker, including at Harvard and from the TEDx stage, and the best-selling author of Solving the Autoimmune Puzzle: The Woman’s Guide to Reclaiming Emotional Freedom and Vibrant Health and Your Libido Story: A workbook for women who want to find, fix, and free their sexual desire. You can listen to her Healthy YOU! Radio Show and find her programs at DrKeesha.com.