Other times I like to challenge myself — make something I’ve never made before — pick a recipe with lots of ingredients ’cause the playing and measuring and perfecting of the flavors is soothing. I find cooking to be truly therapeutic.

Making these lamb chops with greens and salsa verde was one of those times. It was the first time I ever made lamb at home and it definitely won’t be the last. I don’t know why we always gravitate towards chicken, steak, and bacon, because lamb is delicious, too. I guess because it’s easy. It’s familiar. It’s going the breakfast-for-dinner route.

It’s fitting, then, that this recipe is from Seamus Mullen, from April’s Bon Appetit, because he is someone who has never taken the easy route. Those close to me know that Seamus, the award-winning chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author, is the reason why I went to see Dr. Lipman, who helped him get off all of his medicine and cure himself of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). He’s the reason I believe that health begins in your gut and why I no longer eat grains or sugar, and instead focus on healthy fats. He’s also one of the reasons why I am sososoclose to getting off my arthritis medicines.

Last year at this time, when I first met Seamus, and later, first went to see Dr. L, I was taking 14mg of prednisone (steroids) a day; now I am taking 4.

Four is so close to zero. But I still have a ways to go. Good health (and more specifically for me right now, getting off my medicines) is a marathon, not a sprint.

Seamus recently spoke at Mind Body Green’s Revitalize 2015, and in his talk, he mentions hearing about Ari Meisel, who cured himself of Crohn’s disease through a combination of diet and exercise. He said he saw Ari’s story and said to himself that if he can do it, I can do it. That sentiment resonated with me because the same thing happened when I first read Seamus’ story; I said to myself that if he can do it, I can do it. And I am so close.

If you watch the video (he starts speaking at minute mark :23) — and I hope that you do — you’ll hear him talk about making a plan with Dr. L for how they were going to get him better. He says that for the first time, “I went from being a patient to an active participant in my well-being.”

I love that — an active participant. So many of us (wrongly, in my opinion) believe we can go to the doctor, get some medicine, sit back, and let it work its magic. Poof, you’re better. But it doesn’t happen that way — at least not in my or most peoples’ cases.

So, Seamus, this one’s for you. Thanks for the inspiration (and the delicious lamb).

It’s one of my go-to anti-inflammatory helpers in my vast arsenal of anti-inflammatory spices, supplements, vitamins, and foods. My kitchen cabinets and counter tops sometimes look like a giant science lab with all the potions I mix into my shake each morning. (Some of my other mainstays: L-glutamine, maca powder, bee pollen, collagen powder, manuka honey, coconut oil, every nut and seed imaginable, flax meal, almond butter… the list goes on.) I don’t think there’s one magic herb or spice, but I do believe that each helps my body in a different way and that over time, I’m making myself stronger and healthier by loading up on all this goodness. They all have different qualities and benefits, so it’s fun to play and see what works.

But back to tumeric! It’s an old Indian spice that contains the medicinal compound called curcumin, which has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a strong antioxidant. Dr. Lipman actually gives me straight circumin supplements to take, and they work wonders… but I still like to add turmeric to everything I can. It has a very distinct taste, but that doesn’t stop me from sprinkling it atop all my roasted vegetables, fish and meat. It’s everywhere now in restaurants too: in tonics, dressings, and even cocktails.

And now, mushing it into manuka honey and whipping it into a tea! And by whipping I mean swirling the honey/turmeric mixture into hot water. It’s so easy I can barely call it a recipe. I use manuka honey because it, too, has medicinal effects, but feel free to use any honey you can get your hands on. Raw honey is fantastic, too.

I swear it has helped my body remain strong as I — major post-foot surgery milestone alert — started going back to spin class last week. And while I’m sure it’s the endorphins, too, I’m going to keep drinking it. It makes me feel good and it tastes good, too.