On the North East shore of the Dominican Republic, where ocean and beach meet the wild and lush mountains, our backdrop was set for a beautiful 4 day, KYN wellness retreat. Just 2 months ago, we had the honor of hosting 4 women for an intimate and immersive long weekend on Rancho Magante.

When I close my eyes and think of the island and my time there, I see myself lying under a starlit sky with zero light pollution, memorizing the constellations that I could find night after night. I feel the ocean breeze blowing across my bed, billowing through my sheets and leaving them slightly damp from the moisture in the air. I smell the bay tanzy, I taste the turks head berries. I remember the exhilarating island runs up and down the hills with 360 degree ocean views. Playing baseball on the beach with washed up bamboo as our bat and buoys or coconuts as our ball. I see flashes of myself skipping across the rocks in moonlight with other escape artists of the Cay, sea drenched and salty, buzzed, shiny and happy. I stretch out on a sand spit that reaches out into the ocean making you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere, yet grounded. Campout missions on Little Ambergris Cay (an hour's kayak away). I slice aloe for my burns and make tea from the gumbo limbo. I sing songs with others in a circle in the caves and explore the ruins, appreciating the hardships and natural beauty experienced by all those who came before.

Cacao in its purest form is an incredibly high source of antioxidants and minerals. In fact, raw cacao has forty times more antioxidants compared to blueberries. Rich in magnesium and tryptophan, cacao helps to relax the body, helps with muscle function and tone and depending on the percentage and quantity, can even aid sleep for some people. Having vasodilating properties, thanks to the theobromine that is present, raw cacao is also heart healthy, increasing blood flow to the heart. Last, but not least is Anandamine – the “bliss chemical” or “love chemical” that associates chocolate with sensuality and ‘feeling good’.

In the last 30 to 40 years, we’ve made some progress in the health industry when it comes to fats. There is A LOT of information to sift through about good fats and bad fats, and many contradicting studies too. We’d like to share a brief history of fat in the human diet, what we believe are the best fats and oils for our health, how to store and use them, and what to steer clear from.

What if you could rise with the sun and wind down under the stars? If you could take the time to appreciate the natural beauty of your surroundings? To unwind and reconnect, while developing new skills to help you in your wellness journey?

Turmeric, also called “yellow ginger” is actually a part of the ginger family of plants and the part of the turmeric plant that we use for cooking or medicine is the rhizome of the plant, which is the fleshy root system. Turmeric is used in everything from the now trending ‘turmeric latte’, to teas, to curries, pastes, and poultices, as a digestive aid, for flaky skin, and for inflammatory conditions like psoriasis, dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disorders, to name a few.

There are so many different ways to support the body from the inside out, but one of the most efficient and precise methods is through a cleanse. A cleanse is where you take a period of time to eliminate aggravating foods and drinks while increasing specific liquids or foods with the intention of ridding the body of toxins and promoting overall health.

We are what we eat. Well, not literally — we don't turn into a bag of potato chips when we smash that bag of Salt & Vinegar, but there is a direct relationship between how our body reacts to the foods we choose to eat.