Scenario of Life’s One-Year Milestone!

I am delighted to say that “Scenario of Life” has turned one today.  Wow!  It’s really quite shocking how time flies.  It’s a very special day today.  It’s been a whole year since I started this blog, a year ago on the same day I hit “publish” button for the first time on my very first blog post and started receiving responses from you all.  I have never had any intention of starting a blog or having one and I have never thought that someday I would be able to call myself a blogger but I am one now and I am celebrating my blog’s first birthday.

I have learned a lot of things in the first year of my blogging journey and “Scenario of Life” has become a part of me, I eat, sleep and breathe it; and it has certainly helped me become more outspoken and given me the chance to voice my opinion   I am even amazed I managed to create a website that has given me the opportunity to show off diverse sides of myself.”  I’m grateful to all of you because this would not have been possible without your continuous support and interest in what I create.  But creating the website is not that easy and I would like to share my experience of how I come up with “Scenario of Life,” the name and niche behind it.

I personally feel it’s really a difficult task to come up with a name for a blog/website.  After all, the name should be brandable and it should represent your blog as a whole.  So when I was about to start my blog, I had a number of questions on my mind pertaining to the BLOG NAME alone.  I have studied dietetics so I wanted to write about that, I have done a course on beauty culture so I wanted to write about all things beauty too and along with that I wanted to share my experiences, whether it's about life, relationship and/or family.  So it was like a bunch of different flowers on the same tree. But still, I wanted to write about ALL these things on the same platform to help the people out there with their lives.  Hence, after brainstorming a lot, I came up with the name "Scenario of Life" and I really feel that it represents my blog well. And here I would like to share a thought of one of the people who reviewed Scenario of Life's FB fan page saying: "Scenario of Life is really a great place for the curious mind.  As the name suggests, it encompasses everything that life relates to."

Once you come up with the niche and the name of your blog, things don’t get done there only, in fact, the journey begins there.  Blogging is not as easy as it seems.  It’s not just about writing and publishing.  It’s more than that; you have to work hard to keep your blog up.  You not only need to write and publish, you have to be consistent with your posts, you have to keep in mind about the SEO things (and I am not good at it), you have to promote or I should say frantically promote, you have to make marketing strategy to make your blog visible on the Google and to be able to get on the first page of it among plenty of articles on the same topic, you need to manage your all Social Media along with the blog.  So if a person is a newbie into the blogging world, it’s a real struggle. The more you do it, the more you know and learn about it.  It’s not easy to build and to have a successful and money making blog, and I am happy that I am at least running one and celebrating its one year anniversary today.

There has been a learning curve that was to be expected as a newbie.  I didn’t know anything about blogging before I started "Scenario of Life."  But now, I can say I have created a space, a website that reflects me.  I had started blogging as an interest and now it has become my passion, it’s just I love writing.  I write because I like to express my thoughts, opinions and share my experiences to help the people out there and if you are appreciated for your work then it is as great as anything.  People contact me through my website and via Instagram and tell me that they like "Scenario of Life" and it’s a variety of articles.  I feel honored that people all around the world liking my work and appreciating it.  I have met some incredible people on this journey.  I have not only found my clients or readers through my blog, in fact, I have made some real blogger friends through this journey with whom I can even discuss my personal issues.  The blogging community is truly wonderful and incredibly supportive.  There are endless possibilities in the blogging world and these are some of the reasons I love being part of the blogging community and meeting people who share similar passions.  I feel having a platform where you can connect with the outer world is the biggest blogging benefit.

If you have read my introduction post, you must have remembered in that article I stated: “I am not here just to give it a go, I am here to do something with it.”  And now I can proudly say that I am on its way.  "Scenario of Life" has hit 40,000+ page views until now.  I know for some people it is still quite less number but I am still happy.  I believe “Slow and steady wins the race.”  It feels great that people want to work with me.  I have collaborated with a few other bloggers out there and have even started working with a few brands.  And along with that, I do use affiliate links that helps me to make some money with it.  Last but not least, "Scenario of Life" has won so many awards in its first year itself.  Overall, it’s been a great experience so far.

I have started publishing motivational real-life stories (please click here if you want yours to get published).  Also, I have recently started an interview series on my blog and soon you will be seeing me writing on the relationship and sharing recipes.  And the one big change that is going to happen is the blog’s look.

Some of the Encouraging Comments on my Blog

These are some of the comments that I have received on my blog so far.  Seeing people liking your work and falling in love with something you created is such a great encouragement.  I am beyond grateful for your kind words.  Thank you so much to all of you for your continuous support and for sharing this super exciting journey with me.

GIVEAWAY:

Thank you so much for all your love and support, folks.  I am overwhelmed and I must say that this blog exists because of you all and hence on my Instagram I had hosted “Scenario of Life’s First Birthday Giveaway” as a token of love for all the support and love you have given me.  And now this is the time to announce the winner.  But before I announce the winner I would like to thank all those who have participated in the giveaway and yeah if you don’t win this giveaway, don’t lose your heart because I have a Surprise for you all and that is another giveaway.  Yeah, I am hosting another giveaway tomorrow in which you can get your hands on Revyur’s skincare product range.  So stay tuned and feel free to participate there and stand a chance to win that.

Scenario of Life’s First Birthday Giveaway’s winner is Sonal Dewan with the Instagram handle @sonaldewanhere  Many congratulations girl, please get in touch with me to claim your prize.  Thank you again to all other participants for entering into the giveaway.

"A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SCENARIO OF LIFE"

I would love to hear your inputs on this.  Also, please feel free to let me know what you'd like to read more often.

Stay Blessed, Be Happy..!! :-)

Preeti

Thick, Curvy, or Thin: A Healthy Woman Comes in All Shapes and Sizes

I wanted to write on this topic for long, but couldn’t make it possible for some reasons.  And now I thought this is the time when I should come up with this post.

Some of my clicks

It’s about two days back when I have changed my WhatsApp display/profile picture and a text message popped up in my inbox from one of my friends saying “you should gain weight” and I was like..really??  I am happy like this, happy being me!  I clicked my picture, I liked it and I put that as a DP.  Where the thing “gaining weight” has come in between?

Well, I know I am thin and I always have been.  My wrist bone show through my skin and so do my collar bones too.  But I am healthy!  Just because someone looks a certain way doesn’t mean they are healthy or unhealthy.  Size and health are not always correlated.  A person can be thick or thin and still can be healthy.  A healthy woman comes in all shapes and sizes.  But still, there are many people out there who have a lot to say about thin people.  And yes! Thin people are victims of body shaming too just like the fat people and I was one of them.  I tried all the things that I could, I struggled for about 7-8 years to put on some weight, to get that so-called “perfect body,” but nothing worked.  One day I asked myself, why I am doing all these things? Just to make others accept me, but why?  And there came a point when I realized people should like me the way I am and not for what body type I have and eventually I learned to love myself the way I am.

“Do you ever eat?”  “You are whole dried up and not already complete”  “You just look like a bag of bones.”  “You’re so thin that you’ll blow away in the wind.”  “Yeah, that’s what I heard often, every now and then in my life so far.  It’s like people always have something to say and to make comments about my body or I should say about anyone’s body whether the person is thin or thick.  But can’t these things just stop ever? Shouldn’t these types of things be behind us? We are all grown!  But, sadly it isn’t.

People be like, "just eat a lot and you will gain weight!" and I will be like, it’s just not so.  Yes, I probably can eat more than you think I can, but just eating doesn’t work at all.  It's not that simple, at least for me.  I am aware of the fact that I have a fast metabolism rate.  Just in case if I miss a meal, I feel sick and my head starts to pound.  I always need something to eat every few hours and I am still not even 100 pounds yet and I see a lot of people who eat a lot less than I do and weigh a lot more and two of them are my own sisters.  Yes, they eat a less than me but they weigh a more than me.

    Related Post:  Inner Conflict: What Caused me to Live in Fear     

I recognize that many of the comments are nothing but lighthearted teasing and that’s still okay, but there are some comments from other people that are intentionally made and I wouldn't feel comfortable personally calling out their rudeness quite so bluntly, so I choose to be lighthearted and say “I am happy like this” and yeah I really am!  I don’t have a problem with my weight but people bring it up to me; random people walk up to me and say “you are soooo thin; eat dairy products, eat potato, eat meat and blah blah blah”… Does anybody go up to fat people and calls them fat? Many times the quick answer you will get is "No, they don't because it’s nasty, it’s inhuman."  And I think they need to apply this to thin people as well because comments on being slender really are as awful as being called fat.  Yeah, sometimes it pisses me off to no extent that people come and tell me to gain weight in unflattering ways and I would be like “Can I protect my heart, please?” but then at the end, I would be happy.

People just want other-person to look like the body image that they have in their mind or that they see in the media.  They still confined “the good looks” in a narrow box.  But they forget that it’s not about what they think and what they want.  They should think outside of the box; it’s about the individual.  If an individual is healthy and happy with their body image then who are you to tell them?  Of course, the curvy woman looks beautiful (and a man with abs looks handsome) and I neither feel envy nor repulsive about them.  But I personally feel that everyone is beautiful and/or handsome in their own way, they just need to be themselves and should be comfortable in their own skin/body.  And to me, accepting own image and having confidence in oneself is the key.

Of course, I am not endorsing poor eating habits or unhealthy lifestyles neither I am saying that people should not exercise.  You should follow the proper diet as per your body needs, eat healthily, do exercise, but do not downgrade yourself for being thin or for being thick.  It is okay to be yourself and if people have a problem with your weight, it’s their problem, not yours.  I would suggest the best thing is to STOP trying to please others because we are not here to do so instead just try to please yourself and do what you think is good for you.  Whatever your body type is, it’s important to embrace it; it's your responsibility to make sure that you are happy with it because it's the only one you got.

"Don’t change your body to get respect from society. Instead, let’s change society to respect our bodies." ~ Golda Poretsky

I really don't understand what the "Real Women Have Curves" has justified, because there is no ideal or perfect shape or certain look and I do feel “Real women come in any shapes and sizes.”  You are already whole and complete, and perfect the way you are!

Don’t forget -- "You are unique and always be your own shining star!"

Stay Blessed, Be Happy..!! :-)

Preeti

Revyur Sugar Brightening Scrub and Salt Glow Scrub Review

Hello Everyone,

How are you from the last time you read my blog?

If you are new, welcome to my blog! :-)

We all know that exposure to dust, pollution, and sun can cause aggregation of dead skin cells that can damage our skin - making it dull and lifeless.  So it’s really important to use a scrub that helps in improving the skin tone and keeping the dead skin cell off.  Scrubbing helps to break up dead cells and unclog the pores.  It deeply cleanses the skin and improves blood circulation promoting healthy skin.  So on that note, I am back with scrub reviews today which are new products in my vanity.  Yeah, I am reviewing two products simultaneously and those are "Sugar Brightening Scrub" and "Salt Glow Scrub," by the brand "Revyur."  For those who don’t know about the “Revyur,” this is an Indian brand which has emerged as one of the Indian’s natural skin care company.

Sugar and Salt are some of the essential elements of the food chain with great intrinsic values that provide natural skin brightening and glow.

Let’s get right into the review.

Product Description:

What it claims?

Sugar Brightening Scrub:  The Company claims that the product is blended with emollient-rich grapes seed oil which pacifies and soothes skin.  Also, it is a lavish detoxifying, invigorating, revitalizing and cleansing treatment for the entire body.
Salt Glow Scrub:  This product is formulated with detoxifying salts and blended with emollient-rich ingredients.  It invigorates, revitalizes, cleanses and pacifies body.  Improves the appearance and refines skin leaving it energized, soft and delicately scented.  Leaves skin naturally moisturized.

How it is used?

The usage is simple; use it just like any other scrub.  Mix well before use.  Take a generous amount of Sugar/Salt Scrub into the hand.  Apply on the wet skin over the entire body/face, gently messaging in a circular motion to allow the granules to remove dead skin cells.  Rinse off well.

Composition:

Sugar Brightening Scrub:  Olive oil, Sugar, Cocoa butter, Grapeseed oil.  Glycerin, Glycerin Monostearate, Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, Methylisothiazolinone & Phenoxyethanol, CI 42053, CI 19140, Perfume.
Salt Glow Scrub:  Epsom Salt, Olive oil, Almond Oil, Cocoa butter, Peach oil.  Glycerin Monostearate, Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, Methylisothiazolinone & Phenoxyethanol, Perfume, CI 42090.

First Look:

The scrub comes in a transparent sturdy plastic square shape container packaging with a wooden cap that shuts snugly.  The container carries a cute wooden spoon along with it to take out the product from the container which I really like from the hygiene perspective.  Though it is cleverly packed, the packaging is simple and is not travel-friendly.

Texture and Consistency:
The scrub has thick creamy texture and consistency with visible fine particles of sugar/salt.  The "Sugar Brightening Scrub" is parrot green whereas the "Salt Glow Scrub" is light yellow in color.

My Take:

Sugar Brightening and Salt Glow Scrubs are not what you would typically expect from a scrub.  They are food for the skin.  They not only exfoliate but also provide moisture and nutrition to the skin.  My experience with both the products is really good.  As I aforementioned both the scrubs have thick creamy texture and consistency which smells divine.  The fragrance remains for some time after washing off the face/body.  I gently massage my face (with the tip of my fingers) and body in circular motions and the duration of massaging the scrub is short.  Both the products create a bit of lather that helps in making the exfoliating session smooth.  These are really effective in dealing with whiteheads and blackheads.  They both gave me instantly smooth and supple skin and make the pores appear smaller.  I have combination type and acne prone skin and both the scrubs do not irritate my skin at all nor does break it out.  Instead, they gently exfoliate flaky skin.

But yeah, I would like to mention that the "Salt Glow Scrub" makes my skin a bit oilier, otherwise it’s a nice product that made my skin glow naturally after using it.  On the other hand, "Sugar Brightening Scrub" gave me clear fresh looking skin and my skin looked brighter.  Both the scrubs left my skin soft, moisturized and delicately scented.

Pros of Sugar Brightening Scrub and Salt Glow Scrub:

• Naturally formulated.
• Paraben free.
• Exfoliates well.
• Nourishes the skin.
• Mild and gentle.
• Doesn’t break me out.
• Makes skin soft and smooth.
• Sugar scrub brightens up the skin.
• Salt scrub makes your skin glow.
• Regular use keeps dead skin cells at bay. 

Cons of Sugar Brightening Scrub and Salt Glow Scrub:

• I don’t find any cons when it comes to "Sugar Brightening Scrub."
• "Salt Glow Scrub" made my skin oilier.  So I think it might not suit oily skin beauties.

Will I purchase it again?

Although the salt glow scrub is a good product, I am not looking forward to buying it because it tends to make my skin oilier.  On the other hand, I am in love with the "Sugar Brightening Scrub" and will definitely go to buy this in future.

Will I recommend it?

I definitely recommend the "Sugar Brightening Scrub."  My sisters are also using this and they are also very happy with the product.  So yeah, if you are looking for something with an herbal formulation then I would really recommend trying out these products once.  If you want to brighten up your skin then go for a "Sugar Brightening Scrub."  I am sure you will like it too.  And if you want your skin to glow then the "Salt Glow Scrub" is a good choice too.

Price:

Sugar Brightening Scrub retails for Rs. 495 for 350 gram.

Salt Glow Scrub retails for Rs. 445 for 350 gram.

Life of product:

Eighteen months.

Have you tried this product yet? What do you feel about this product?  Let me know your inputs in the comment section below.  I would love to hear from you.

Stay Blessed, Be Happy..!! :-)

Preeti

How to Break a Bad Habit in 4 Steps

Guest post by Katie Rose

We all have those annoying habits that we can’t get out of.  Whether it’s biting your nails, smoking or overspending on clothes.  There are certain things that many of us do, sometimes without realizing, that have extremely negative impacts on our lives.

In order to break your bad habit, it’s predicted an individual needs between 18 to 254 days.  Of course, this is rather a wide time frame but with each individual having different strengths of willpower, it’s important to realize that accomplishment depends on the individual and the habit they have.

Even so, this post will teach you how to break a bad habit in four simple steps so you can achieve your goals.

Understand the Cause

For me, I have a tendency to pick at and rub the sides of my fingers.  This is due to having suffered from anxiety for a few years which has led to me constantly moving my fingers showcasing my “always on edge” behavior.

Knowing this, I understand that in order for me to stop, I must learn how to relax, cope with panic and give myself peace of mind.  To help with this I indulge in yoga, self-love through pampering and even painting my nails so that my fingers look beautiful and I become more inclined to look after them.

To find out why you started your bad habit, what triggers it and similar, ask yourself the following questions:

• When does it happen?
• What triggers it?
• Where are you?
• Who are you with?
• How many times do you do it each day?

Set Rewards and Consequences

In order to stop yourself from doing something, you need to have some sort of consequence and reward system in place.  If you don’t punish yourself when you indulge in the bad habit, you’ll never feel as though you don’t want to do it.

As everyone’s bad habit will differ slightly, it’s important to set up rewards and consequences that are personal to you.  If you don’t like watching TV, setting a reward to watch an extra episode of your favorite programme to congratulate yourself, won’t work.

Make sure they’re related to your habit too.  That way the more you receive your reward, the more you’ll think about how far you’ve come and the more it’ll spur you on to continue breaking your bad habit.

    Related Post:  Forgiveness: A Deliberate Process and a Real Faith     

Of course, once you’ve got your reward system in place, you’ll want to ensure you stick to it.  There’s no point spending time thinking of the consequences and perhaps doing it for a week until you decide you’ve had enough.

Replace it with a Positive, Do-Able Habit

In order to stop picking my fingers, I’ve tried to adopt the habit of painting my fingernails instead. This means instead of doing habit that makes my fingers look ugly, I spend time making them look beautiful instead.  Though, as the cause of my habit is related to feeling anxious, it’s hard to quickly get out my nail varnish and focus on painting my nails on-the-go.

Instead, I could adopt for filing my nails, reshaping them or using one of those handy, travel size nail buffers.  This will help me keep my nails looking great and plus it’ll fit in my bag or purse for when I’m on the go.

Be creative with the habit that’ll replace your bad habit.  Give yourself lots of options just like I’ve mentioned above with mine so that you’re more likely to adopt them and you don’t limit yourself. Make your new habit do-able and not confined to a time or place.

Do it with Someone

You don’t have to have the same bad habits as someone else but instead, agree to quit at the same time.  This will make you more likely to stay on track as you can support one another through the struggles and temptations.

You can also pair up your reward and consequence system so that you can reward one another and make achieving your goal, easier.  If you have someone perhaps giving you say 10p, for every time you don’t do the bad habit, you can physically see the reward and over time, the small financial gain can become a bigger gain that you’ll feel you’ve really earnt.

Of course, this all depends on the person who you’re teaming up with and each other's finances and so on.  However, the idea is there.

Be creative and see what you can come up with together that’ll mutually benefit one another and ultimately, help you break your bad habit.

Summary:

Hopefully, you’ll have learned 4 simple steps in breaking a bad habit.  Even though this can take longer than expected for some and shorter for others, it’s important to take on board these fundamentals in order to give yourself a greater chance of quitting.

About the Author

Katie Rose is a Digital Marketer by day and lifestyle blogger by night.  "ok Kate" is her blog about herself figuring her life out, featuring posts on beauty, food, fashion, and travel.

Blog:  ok Kate

Interview with Sara Russell: Catalyzing Healing Through Nutrition

On the occasion of friendship day, I am very happy to announce that I am launching an interview series on my blog where I will bring you conversations with inspiring people and experts in their own fields.  So on that note, this one is going to be the first interview of the series. :-)

As its friendship day tomorrow, what could be the better thing than interviewing a friend?

So here I am presenting one of the inspiring women to you whom I admire, and “humble” is the word that defines her for me.  She is my blogger friend Sara Russell, Ph.D., who is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner who resides in Italy and spends about a month each year in the US.  She is a chronic illness warrior who frequently blogs about nutrition and health in addition to running a nutritional therapy practice where she specializes in supporting clients dealing with complex health cases.  And today, as my first interviewee she is sharing her thoughts on nutrition and food and her relationship with them, how she balances her work and life, and a bit about her blog.

So without further ado, let's get right into the INTERVIEW:

If you had to describe all that you do in a title, what would you say?

In just a few words, I would say that my work is about "catalyzing healing through nutrition"

When people discover that you are a nutritionist what questions you get to hear from them; the frequently asked one?

Yes, I often have people ask me what the best way of eating is. Sometimes they ask me specific questions, such as "is it better to follow a gluten-free diet?" or "is the ketogenic diet a good idea?"

Okay, and then what you usually answer them?

I tell people that our nutritional needs are bio-individual and dynamic. The only hard and fast rule is to eat real food. Beyond that, we should strive to eat in a way that is supportive of our physical health needs and nourishing to our spirit and mind as well.

I tell people that what is right for me may not be right for you. And what is right for me today may be different from what is right for me 5 years from now

What’s your philosophy on ‘Living Whole and Eating Well’? How would you describe that?

For me, the phrase "living whole and eating well" suggests that we need to think of ourselves as whole beings, with each area of our health connected to all the other areas as a whole, and interconnected with our wholeness that goes beyond our physical existence but extends into our interpersonal, social, intellectual and spiritual dimensions. Eating well means nourishing our existence on all these levels.

I also think that it's important to consider our connectedness with the earth that brings us food and with the needs of the planet as a whole. This is particularly important in this age where bio-diversity is being threatened by industrial and post-industrial profit-driven human activity.

What is the best way to cook a vegetable and keep its nutritional value?

It really depends on which vegetable it is and which nutritional properties I'm looking to preserve or enhance.

Generally speaking, I'm a proponent of eating some vegetables raw, some cooked and some cultured/lactofermented. Some of us, especially those with thyroid conditions, will benefit more from cooked cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, etc.) than from the raw version because raw cruciferous vegetables have higher levels of thyroid-suppressing compounds.  And when it comes to grains and legumes, it's important to note that most traditional cultures have typically soaked, sprouted or fermented them prior to cooking. These traditional food preparation techniques reduce the levels of anti-nutrients, thus making the food more easy to digest and helping us assimilate more nutrients.  So I do think that we should listen to our elders when learning how to cook.

What do you think about being a vegan and intense exercise?  What tips would you like to share with others who want to pursue this route?

It really depends on the person's current state of health and what their health objectives are.  Vegan diets can be powerfully healing in certain situations, for example, some types of cancer. But we shouldn't overlook the long-term picture of the person's nutritional needs.  Sometimes a vegan diet can be helpful in the short term for re-setting health. Many people don't thrive long-term on a strict vegan diet.

In terms of intense exercise, an under-nourished and/or the ill body can't healthfully sustain that. Generally speaking, intense exercise is pursued with the aim of losing weight. However, it can be an additional stressor on the metabolic and endocrine balance of an already-strained body.

And the exercise intensity that is right for each of us varies from time to time and from person to person.

What are some common pitfalls to detoxification that people should know about?

The most common pitfall is to stimulate detoxification on an under-nourished body.

What a lot of people forget is that our detoxification pathways are driven by enzyme systems which are reliant on nutrients.  The best things to do for good detoxification is to be calm and serene in everyday life, eat nourishing food mindfully and sleep well.  But a lot of busy and frantic people push "detoxification" by taking expensive supplements that can be dangerous.  Yes, when we really should be supporting good digestion, good nutrition, inner peace and happy relationships before moving on to anything else.

Really, many people rely on supplements when it comes to detoxification which is not as helpful as doing it naturally, isn't it?

That's right. That being said, there are many foods that help the organs and pathways of detoxification work well.  For example, dandelion leaves and dandelion root help detoxification.

Yes! Before spending money on expensive supplements, it's a good idea to look at what's growing in your garden and the nearby meadows.

What are your thoughts on artificial sweeteners?

Artificial sweeteners can have dangerous effects. Some of them aren't discovered until decades after the artificial sweetener has been on the market.  Nature supplies us with healthy foods that taste sweet. These, in moderation, are always better than anything made in a lab.

So having said that, you don't use and/or recommend it?

I definitely don't ever use artificial sweeteners, and also recommend that my clients avoid them.

Some of your specialty areas include "fertility, preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum."  So what tips you can recommend to the couple who are expecting or planning a pregnancy?

I recommend eating a nourishing diet with plenty of nutrients to support sperm and egg health pre-conception, and with plenty of nutrients to support the pregnant mother's health as well as the needs of the developing baby during pregnancy. Fat-soluble vitamins (A,  D, E and K) and certain minerals, including zinc and magnesium, are really important. Also, folate, choline and other vitamins from the B vitamin family are crucial as well. Often with pregnancy, people think that it's enough to take a prenatal vitamin. But every meal is an opportunity to nourish fertility, pregnancy and fetal development.

Alright, and is there any food/s that one should avoid? Or maybe consume less?

As long as one avoids industrial imitations and adulterations of food, there isn't really a food that everyone should avoid entirely. Which foods to limit or avoid really depends on the person. If someone has a history for kidney stones, they should limit their intake of oxalic acid, for example.

What’s one of the wackiest myths about nutrition you’ve ever heard of?

There are so many! But I think the wackiest of all may be the myth that just eating sauerkraut juice (and nothing else) will cure any and all ailments in any man, woman, baby or child.

Another wacky, and sadly widespread, myth about nutrition, is that what you eat doesn't make a difference to health.  It's pretty strange and sometimes dangerous.

I really wonder how could people do and think like that.  The first one that you told scares me.

Yes, me too, and especially when it gets applied to babies and small children who don't have any voice in the matter.  It's sad when uninformed parents and unscrupulous health care providers damage the health of vulnerable babies and children in this way.

Yes, it is and healthcare providers really don't have rights to do that.  If they are in doubt then they should not suggest and/or recommend anything.

I agree. It's always best to say, "I'm not sure. Let me research that" - or even "Let me refer you to someone who is an expert in the field."  It's OK to be humble. Being a health care provider is about helping others heal, not about showing off one's own supposedly infinite knowledge.

So moving to our next question;

You also have a blog, so how your blog come into existence?

So my first blog (which is still in existence) was entitled "Your Probiotic Kitchen" and came into existence in 2013 because of my passion for healing and supporting life through nourishing and properly prepared foods. The second blog, "Build, Nurture, Restore," came into existence in 2016 after I moved to the Tuscan countryside and switched my practice from an in-person practice in Berkeley, California to a remote practice. It is inspired by the work I do to help build families, nurture healthy children and restore health to people with complex and chronic health conditions.

You are running two blogs, interesting! Which one is close to your heart?

So I actually stopped posting new material to the Your Probiotic Kitchen in 2016 when I launched the Build Nurture Restore blog but kept the original website live as a recipe and food preparation resource and as a blog archive. I find it very useful for people who are learning about the value of nutrition, so can't say it isn't close to my heart. At the same time, the Build Nurture Restore blog is more reflective of my most recent work and how I'm currently working with clients.

And to be complete, I should say I'm also running another blog, "Feed Your Fertile Body," based on the pre-conception and pregnancy programs that I have developed for couples who are preparing for pregnancy and expecting a baby. This blog is separate because there are about 60 nutritional professionals who are using the program materials with their own clients.

Wow!  It's nice to know that you have 3 blogs all in all.  When this third one came into existence?

It came into existence in 2016 after I began offering the program materials to colleagues who wished to support couples before conception and during pregnancy.

Aside from your own websites, which is/are your favorite blog/s?

I enjoy reading your blog, "Scenario of Life," because of your writing style and the variety of topics.  I also enjoy a number of other blogs that relate to nutrition and health.  I like the "OhTwist" blog and the "ScienceOverACuppa" blog, but there are so many I read and admire that I can't list them all, and it would be unfair for me to try, because of any that would get left out.

Okay, so my next question is - Your dad was a poet, right? Has he ever inspired you to write a poem too?

Yes, my dad was a poet, and I used his manual typewriter many times to write my own poems as a child. As I grew older, I continued to write some poetry, usually by hand in my notebooks or even on the computer. In the past 20 years, I haven't written much of my own poetry. I actually prefer translating other people's poetry instead.

As a mom how do you get the balance between your family and career life right? Your tips?

The time-split between family time and work time has changed dynamically according to age. During the first year, I stayed home with my baby almost all the time. As he grew, I gradually started increasing my time spent outside of the home on professional endeavors, and now that he's almost 7 years old, I am able to work full-time, particularly during the school year.  I am also very lucky to have the type of work that gives me flexibility with time and which can be done from almost anywhere. Even better, my work gives me a set of skills and knowledge that I apply to my family's health and well-being.  I'm lucky because my husband is a teacher. We both have service jobs that give us skills that we can apply at home as well as professionally.

In terms of tips for other parents, the first one is not to rush back into full-time work, and the second is to rethink your financial needs and re-budget so you can spend all the time you would like with your small child during the younger years. A lot of what many people think they need is really an extra.

Rapid-Fire Round (This or That Type)

Your hubby or your son?:  Son.

USA or Italy?:  Italy.

Veg or nonveg?:  Too hard to answer.

Garden or Farmer’s market?:  Garden.

Salt and Vinegar or Sour cream and onion?:  Salt and lemon.

Ice-cream or Frozen Yogurt?:  Ice cream!

Pizza or Pasta?:  Pizza.

Sunrise or Sunset?:  Sunrise.

Android or iPhone?:  Neither. I have a flip phone.

Facebook or Instagram?:  Instagram.

Wrapping Up:

What are your personal favorite research resources? What things do you do to keep up to date with your profession?

I use PubMed and ResearchGate. I really enjoy reading scientific research and staying up to date. I attend the Nutritional Therapy Association's conference each year as well, which helps keep me connected not just with the latest in my field, but also with the people.  And I do have a decent collection of books on functional nutrition.

Anything new you’re working on that you’d like to share?

I'm working on a post-partum program for maternal and infant health, and on a group research project on the molecular and cellular toxic effects of mercury.

If a person walked up to ask for your advice and you only had a few minutes to give ‘your best tip’, what would it be (it can be related to anything)?

Be kind to yourself and others and to the world around you. Eat real food. Take time to rest. Do what you love, and love what you do. Eat what you love, and love what you eat.

So where can everyone keep up with you to learn more?

The best way is to subscribe to the newsletter at Build, Nurture, Restore.

Okay, so that was it, folks.  Now it's over to you.  Let me know how you like this interview and what do you feel about the same.  I would love to hear your inputs. :-)

Stay Blessed, Be Happy..!! :-)

Preeti.