Nourished with NAO

In honor of #Americanheartmonth, we will explore the question that many of my clients ask: “What can I do to prevent heart disease?”   While genetics contribute, your actions play a monumental role in regards to heart health. The foods you eat, how you move your body, manage stress, and exposure to toxins all contribute to many health problems, including the leading cause of death in the United States: heart disease.   The WHO states Heart Disease deaths have increased from 2 million in 2000 to 8.9 million in 2019. That is an enormous increase in a short amount of time and a detrimental toll on our healthcare system.   It’s time to be preventative. Preventative medicine and approaches can allow for longevity and optimal health. One more important thing ...

I think these days we all realize how important it is to tell our loved ones just how much we love them because there’s no such thing as too much love. But seeing as tomorrow is the national day of expressing love, I wanted to take a second and let you know how much I love you and how grateful I am for you. My community of supporters, clients, colleagues, family, teachers, every one of you means so much to me and as you read this, I hope you feel a huge virtual hug.   Learn: Many of you might remember when we were advised to buy into the “low-fat” craze that drove our nation into even more of a sugar epidemic. Many followed these recommendations, switching saturated fat for ...

Years ago, when I was working from my apartment, I dreamt about a peaceful, non-intimidating, inclusive wellness oasis in the city where EVERYONE was welcome.   I started envisioning the location. I lived in the West Village, so that was a no-brainer. I needed enough space for all that we were going to offer. But NY real estate is no joke. And I come from nothing. No financial backing. No family money. So I had NO idea how I was actually going to do this.   Rather than give up, I started envisioning the space like it was a game. I got clear on my vision, and for fun I would go seeking spaces, possibilities, real estate listings, etc. The worst that could happen was that it didn't happen right ...

Welcome back to Nik’s Picks: a round up of the newest wellness trends, things I love, and the latest novel products that are coming to market. Enjoy!   Learn: As a Nutritionist, I always get asked: What can I do starting now to be healthier? So I put together 5 tips on how to make your food more nutritious starting now. 1. Prepare Your Foods Correctly: How you prepare your food can drastically alter the vitamins and nutrients inside of them. Take garlic and broccoli for example: if you let them rest after chopping them, you significantly increase their power to fight cancer and heart disease! 2. Avoid Artificial Sweeteners of Any Kind: There are many, many ways to say “sugar.” Say away from anything with the following words: agave, corn (unless ...

Welcome back to Nik’s Picks: a round up of the newest wellness trends and the latest novel products that are coming to market from wellness technology to new food brands, supplements, and much more. Enjoy!   Learn: I just saw an email from my friend Mollie McGlocklin, who sent out how you can apply the 80/20 rule to your sleep! If you’re not familiar with the idea, read this: The 80/20 rule is also known as the Pareto principle or the law of the vital few, which basically means that in many events 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. Since I saw her do it with sleep, I thought I would apply Pareto’s Principle to behavior modifications.   How to 80/20 to boost your mood: Make a list ...

Using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) allows you to have real-time and historical data about your metabolic health. After gaining a better understanding of what glucose values mean and how your habits affect them, the next step is to optimize. The most effective ways to manage glucose levels, longevity, and healthspan can be grouped into what we call "The Big Four.” This includes: Nutrition Exercise Fasting Stress/Sleep   Nutrition Your food choices are going to be the primary influencer on your health. This is the main pillar that simply cannot be neglected. There is no one-size-fits-all diet and many plans can fit into a healthy lifestyle. However, everyone can benefit from reducing their intake of refined carbohydrates, added sugars, and processed foods while focusing on consuming high-quality foods. Aside from ...

I am so excited to introduce to you: Nik's Picks! A round-up of the newest wellness trends and the latest novel products that are coming to market from wellness technology to new food brands, supplements, and much more. Click our bio and sign up for our newsletter to be exclusively the first to access this amazing and insightful content, personalized to the NAO community. If you missed out on the first week here's a little recap: Learn: Did you know more than 9 in 10 workers say they feel more motivated at their jobs if their leaders support well-being efforts (APA, 2016)? Check here how NAO Wellness’s programs help your company. Listen: I am so honored to announce that I was recently on The Joyful Approach podcast: the Methodology Podcast. ...

Do you have a witchy hour 🧙‍♀️? Some afternoons, I enter this twilight zone where my energy plummets, my creativity and productivity become foggy, and I crave snacks. I call this the “witching hour.” I don’t feel like myself when I’m in it because I can obsess over whatever it is I’m craving rather than being in the moment.   Get Some Fresh Air Rather than succumb to this pesky afternoon fog, I have a tools that help bring me back to presence with myself and my body... My number one tool is getting out of the house. I bundle up, take a walk around the block and allow my mind to “thaw out” and get back to a state of balance before going back home. The fresh air resets ...

This year I challenge you to do something a little unconventional for the new year. What if this year, you asked yourself what gift YOU would love the most? I mean what is a radical act of self love you can give yourself this season that will roll into the new year with you?   We’re taught to deplete ourselves by being givers and people pleasers, but we only end up resentful and tired because we’ve given all of our vital energy away. It doesn’t have to be that way, in fact, I would ask, what good does that bring in the long term?   For me, it’s releasing the tight pressure I put on the outcome of things. I want so badly for things to go right and not ...

We are so thankful for all the positive feedback we are hearing about our kits, especially over the holidays! See for yourself why @harpersbazaarus included our Ear Seed Kits in their gift guide ‘30 Best Gifts for Friends 2020.’   While we love hearing back your feedback, we also love answering ALL and ANY questions our community might have about NAO Wellness's Ear Seed Kits. Below you can find some of the most asked questions regarding how ear seeds work, how to apply them, what comes in the kits, and so much more. Feel free to DM us on IG if you have a question that was not answered here - we would love to chat!   What are Ear Seeds? Ear seeds are adhesive seeds from the natural Vaccaria plant ...