In The Mood for Beauty
About a week and a half ago, we hosted a panel discussion led by the gracious and beautiful Rachelle, founder and designer of Lingua Franca—a playful, intellectual, and very wearable brand of ready-to-wear and embroidered goods. I’ve been wearing their sweaters for over a decade and was so happy to witness Rachelle’s first-ever fashion show earlier this year at the legendary Bowery Hotel. Our panel explored the intersections between modern science and Ayurvedic wisdom, and our speakers truly dazzled with their depth of knowledge and eloquence.
Our Speakers
Molly Knauer (@mollysbest): our amazing medical advisor and genius nutritionist.
Nidhi Pandya (@my_ayurvedic_life): the best doctor of Ayurveda from a multigenerational line of healers, an encyclopedia of knowledge, and author of the forthcoming book Your Body Already Knows.
Amanda Khan (@amandakahnmd): an epic board-certified longevity specialist, named a top anti-aging expert in the country by none other than Oprah.
Takeaway Notes
A Beauty Morning by Amanda
Cold therapy in the morning. Peptides to optimize cell function.
By Molly
Never coffee on an empty stomach. Two Brazil nuts in the morning to activate metabolism.
By Nidhi
Lymphatic drainage massage for the face. Thinking of the morning routine as a sacred ritual. Breathwork (she showed us how). A small warm breakfast—Laroot's Ayurveda-friendly breakfasts are ideal for this.
Thoughts on Decreasing Inflammation
Amanda: Know your personal inflammation markers and work with a knowledgeable doctor (hi Amanda!) to create a protocol—often including peptides and glutathione.
Molly: Hydration, bone broths, and getting pre- and probiotics through whole foods.
Nidhi: Living in harmony with your circadian rhythm (read her book—this is life-changing), avoiding refined foods, and adding dried ginger powder to your meals.
On Detox
Worth doing a few times per year, ideally in a gentle way unless the body asks otherwise. Laroot's Vedic Detox is designed for this. Eating plenty of spices throughout the day helps the body detox naturally. Sesame oil is both detoxifying and nourishing. The right proteins, in the right combinations, can support detox as well. Walking outdoors and getting sunshine is also a natural detoxifier. So is movement—simply using your body with intention.
On Etcetera
Spices in your food help neutralize free chemicals. Cooking with an iron egg can naturally boost iron levels. And the healthiest way to consume alcohol? A glass of wine paired with cheese. There's science behind this—though I didn’t catch the exact explanation, I was just thrilled it’s a thing. Vive la France. (The wine served at our event was Bread & Butter, a lovely and affordable option from Napa—always trying to keep it as local as possible.)