Are you now regretting you holiday indulgences?  Do you wish you could take back all those times you dove into the cookie jar?  Have you been scolding yourself daily for the bottles of red wine that were consumed in December?

The below poem is one you will enjoy…even if you did not overindulge during the end of 2009, you will find it quite humorous.

Can you relate?

T’was the month after Christmas, and all through the house,

Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.

The cookies I’d nibbled, the chocolate I’d taste

At the holiday parties had gone to my waist

When I got on the scale there arose such a number!

When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber),

I’d remember the marvelous meals I’d prepared; The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,

The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese and the way I’d never said, “No thank you, please.”

As I dressed myself in my husband’s old shirt and prepared once again to do battle with dirt…

I said to myself, as I only can, ”You can’t spend a winter, disguised as a man!”

So, away with the last of the sour cream dip. Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip.

Every last bit of food that I like must be banished till all the additional ounces have vanished.

I won”t have a cookie, not even a lick.  I’ll want only to chew on a long celery stick.

I won’t have  hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie.  I’ll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.

I’m hungry, I’m lonesome, and life is a bore…  But isn’t that what January is for?

Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.  Happy New Year to all, and to all a good diet.

I wish I could take credit for this clever prose….no name or author was attached to the email.

Taking care of your body does not have to equate to deprivation.

A carrot or celery stick thrown into your diet won’t hurt but if it’s the only thing, you’ll be miserable.

A Healthier Approach.

A healthier approach might be my Purify Your Body Program which is a 21-day detoxification that involves eating REAL food like clean protein, healthy fats and lots of non-starchy carbohydrates.

Or consider attending my upcoming Tap For Weight Loss Event where you will learn about a phenomenal technique to address your cravings and emotional tie to food.  Get ready to be healthy, lean and light without starving yourself!

Image by Thomas Ott

Did you over indulge this holiday season?

Put Your Health First.

Make 2010 a healthier year by putting your health first!

Foods that have a long shelf life often contain unhealthy preservatives.  Ingesting these may result in headaches, skin problems or even more serious health issues like IBS.  Michael Pollan’s third food commandment begs us to consume foods that are free of these nasty additives.

Don’t Eat Anything That Won’t Eventually Rot.

When food never goes bad, we must question if it is actually food.  The alternative?  A chemical.

When cookies are able to withstand 2 years of shelf life there is a problem.  I know that when I make cookies at home, I am lucky if they last two weeks (ok, I admit it.  This might have a little bit to do with the fact that they taste so darn good!).

Even if they do last 2 weeks I still have to include a piece of bread in the sealed up container to make sure they stay nice and moist.  Are our cookies supposed to last 2+ years?

Shop For Fresh.

When we shop we must seek out the freshest foods possible.  Often fresh foods will equate to preservative free.  Here are some examples of how you can shop fresh and limit your consumption of those long lasting shelf stabilizers:

Instead of pomegranate juice….

Purchase a pomegranate fruit and use the seeds in your salad.

While there might not be many preservatives in the pomegranate juice, it can sit on your grocers shelf for a very long time without going bad.  When was the last time you saw someone in the grocery line next to you with a bottle of pomegranate juice?  My point is that the grocer might have over 20 bottles out at a time and they are lucky to go through this amount in a week or even a month.

The pasteurization process has killed off any potential for harmful bacteria and in that same process destroyed beneficial enzymes for assimilation and digestion.  Eat the seeds because they will rot if you leave them on your counter top for any period of time.  Your body will recognize them as real whole food.

Make Your Own Salad Dressing!

Did you know that oils can “rot” too?  Rancid oils are detrimental to cardiovascular health and will lead to increased inflammation in the body.   Instead of pouring this oil onto your salad, why not try a fresh olive oil and balsamic mixture that you make at home.  Mono-saturated olive oil is healthier than most of the other salad dressing oils available anyhow.

Go Organic.

Are you surprised to learn that decaffeinated coffee can be more detrimental than the caffeinated variety?  The reason being is that decaf may contain a solvent called methylene chloride.  According to Wikipedia, “It may be carcinogenic, as it has been linked to cancer of the lungs, liver, and pancreas in laboratory animals.”  Selecting an organic decaf that utilizes the Swiss Water Process is considered the most natural way to remove the caffeine from the coffee bean.  Plus as a huge bonus, you are not getting any of the pesticides from the crop.

Will This Eventually Rot?

The next time you are at the store, ask yourself this, “Will this eventually rot?” and then ask, “How long will it take” and finally, “Is there a better alternative?”

Consider releasing these preservatives from your body (they do accumulate!) with a 21 day detoxification or get further educated on a Health Food Store tour.

Get smart at the store and by doing so, you’ll reduce your toxic load.  Maybe your headaches will disappear.  Or perhaps you’ll just feel more satisfied with your purchase.

Yes, I like to eat!

If your answer was YES, you may want to change your habit.  Reading ingredient labels is one of the best things to do for your well-being.  If you can’t pronounce what’s on the label chances are, it is not the healthiest choice for you.

Today’s food commandment is all about being able to pronounce our ingredients…..think of all of the ingredients in the world, how many of these do you think you are able to pronounce (or better yet, know what they actually are).

For instance, a Hostess Cupcake which we know isn’t so good for us contain something called, “sorbitan monostearate.”  According to Wikipedia, this substance can also be referred to as synthetic wax.  While this may not be as harmful as the high sugar volume contained in just one serving, it certainly is not an ideal food substance.  Mother earth did not grow sorbitan monostearate….a scientist came up with it.

Avoid products containing ingredients you can’t pronounce.

When I take clients on the Health Food or Grocery Store Tour, we do a lot of ingredient reading.  We become detectives in search or real quality food.   In a place like Whole Foods, it is a little easier to achieve this.

However, looking at the length of the ingredient list, the sugar content per serving, the sodium number, etc.  are all important in terms of healthy food selection.  Any store, including Whole Foods, will never receive a nutritional  A+  for every product they carry.

Read Your Labels.

In addition to checking for ingredients that you CAN pronounce, follow these 3 general guidelines to get you started with a healthier shopping and eating experience:

1.  Count the number of ingredients.  Anything more than 10 is way too much!

2.  Look at the first two ingredients listed.  Is sugar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, or anything in this family making it to the top of the list?  Keep this one out of your cart.

3.  Does the front of the box contain statements like, “Tastes Great!” or “High in Fiber” or “No Sugar Added”  If so, be suspicious.  Never trust a claim, instead read the back to get the real 411.  Manufacturers health promoting claims do not mean that their product is healthy.

Get The Real 4-1-1 On Your Food.

Assignment: go to your cabinet right now and pull out a box of something that you know is not healthy.  Read the ingredients and start googling any words that are tough for you to say.  Learn what truly is in what you are eating before consuming.

I rarely have my clients throw out anything (unless it’s margarine or rancid oils) that they already have in the house.  Instead, indulge without any guilt in your current unhealthy household goods.  The next time you are at the store, find a healthier alternative…..gradual steps create lasting change.

My great grandmother ate dandelions greens from her yard…often.  Mind you this was before the advent of pesticides, herbacides and fungacides.

What did your great grandmother eat?

Did she grow up on a farm or live in the big city?  Did she cook up a storm or buy take-out for the family every Friday night?  …..hint: there was no takeout back during the great grandmother era….and city living was quite different than it is today.

Take it from great grandma, she had her nutrition down pat.  If she didn’t live on a farm, she probably knew a farmer whom she could buy her goods from.  Or perhaps she was like nanny (my great grandmother) who cherished what mother earth delivered right outside her doorstep….dandelions galore.

Michael Pollan’s first commandment of food is:

“Don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.”

Is this possible?  Can we thrive and be healthy off of dandelion greens peeking out of the sidewalk cracks?  Do we have time to cook stews and can your stomach handle smaller portions?  All these questions are things we must consider when tackling this first commandment that Michael Pollan has proposed.

One thing we do know for sure is that our health as a nation has declined since the industrialization of food.  Pick up any box at the supermarket and you will find  unhealthy ingredients listed like:

• Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
• High Fructose Corn Syrup
• Aspartame
• Partially Hydrogenated Oil
• Red Dye #40

These were definitely NOT around during your great grandmother’s time.  Your great grandmother rarely used a box to cook.  Instead she prepared fresh vegetables that ranged from potatoes to corn to broccoli to rutabaga.  The chickens roamed freely and the cows grazed on green pastures.  She did not wear sun block so she absorbed all of her vitamin D from pure sunlight.  Her milk was not pasteurized or homogenized…it was raw.    These and other factors contributed to increased nutrients, better absorption and good health.

Assignment:  for the next day focus on eating like your great grandmother.

Cook at home.  Add a side of veggies to your steak.  Only eat grass fed meats. Visit your local farm and purchase eggs.  Go wild food foraging and try dandelions from a lawn that is treated organically.  Read your ingredients and eliminate all MSG, high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, partially hydrogenated oil and red dye #40.

How would this day make you feel?  How would a lifetime of eating this way be for you?

While it may be impossible to truly embody a life that involves cooking 3 square meals, strive for something better than you are currently doing.  Slow down, take in life, cherish and absorb what mother nature has put before us.   Use your fork to create a healthful future.

Don’t forget to check back in tomorrow as I’ll be discussing Michael Pollan’s 2nd food commandment!

Image by found_drama

Food is our universal language.

Food is our communality.  Food can bring us together.

Food is the center of our being.

Food surrounds us daily.   Food can be at our core.  Food fuels our cells.

Food is Earth.

Food can bring us closer to earth or pull us farther away from nature.

Food is Medicine.

Food can hurt us or food can heal us.  You decide.

Food is Powerful.

Journalist Michael Pollan, best selling author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defence of Food:  An Eater’s Manifesto, has published many opinions around food  and its relationship to our health and the world in which we live.  One which I recently stumbled across  had me thinking….and I’m pretty sure it will also get you thinking.

In fact, it may change your entire relationship with food RIGHT NOW or in your very near future.

Food for thought is what it is….

Michael Pollan’s

Twelve Commandments of Food

1.  Don’t eat anything your great grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.

2.  Avoid products containing ingredients you can’t pronounce.

3.  Don’t eat anything that won’t eventually rot.

4.  Avoid food products that carry health claims.

5.  Shop the peripheries of the supermarket; stay out of the middle.

6.  Better yet, buy food somewhere else; the farmers’ market of community supported agriculture.

7.  Pay more, eat less.

8.  Eat a wide variety of species.

9.  Eat food from animals that eat grass.

10.  Cook, and if you can, grow some of your own food.

11.  Eat meals, and eat them only at tables

12.  Eat deliberately, with other people whenever possible, and always with pleasure.

The Next 12 Days.

For the next 12 (plus) days I will delve deeper into each commandment and offer up my own nutritional perspective.

In the meantime I would love to know from you which  ”rules” you currently live by.

How easy or hard are they for you to follow?

Are there some that happen to be more challenging than others for you?

Are you feeling shocked by the simplicity or overwhelmed by the involvement?

I want to know….

Can we truly live a healthy life by following these 12 commandments of food?

Got Energy?

While this may not be the current slogan for energy drinks, maybe it should be.  The marketers for milk have done wonders selling the white mustache to families across the country.  I can’t think of one person I know who wouldn’t love more energy….can you?

Gimme More Energy, Pretty Please!

Our sleep patterns aren’t what they used to be.  We stay up late and get up early.  We’re hooked on T.V. and work.  Not only do we go to bed late and get up early, we also don’t sleep soundly throughout the night.  We wake up saying, “I need more energy” and so our first instinct is to head to the kitchen and pour ourselves a dose of caffeine to stimulate the senses and awaken the mind.

In the classroom, sports field and at the office we find ourselves entering mid-day slumps.  We need a pick me up and fast!!  So, we head to the vending machine for some artificial stimulation in the form of sugary treats and caffeinated beverages.

Isn’t there a better choice?  There is.  Yes, there definitely is.  The answer is more sleep & hydration, stress management & taking a look inside at our cellular energy, detoxification abilities, body inflammation, and B-vitamin insufficiencies.

It’s Not Your Fault.

Innocently many of us fall victim to the ways of our culture.  We live in a complex world and it is too easy to make poor choices…because poor choices are readily available and for many, all that we are familiar with.

We don’t realize the true power of a healthy, balanced diet or the importance of nutritional testing to determine our nutrient insufficiencies.  We also don’t realize how important sleep and stress reduction techniques are to our overall well-being….we take all of this and more for granted…and we keep going and going and going until we eventually crash.

We Reach For Energy Drinks Because:

1. We’re tired and we want a fast, quick, easy fix.  We want to be alert.
2. We’re overachievers and we want to perform on the playing field or in our work space at our very best.
3. Advertisers and Marketers have convinced us that everything (yes, everything) is safe.

The Names Say It All.

With names like Rockstar, Cocaine, Red Bull, No Fear, Monster, Red Thunder, Liftoff, King 888, Jolt, Hell, Guru, Full Throttle, Burn and Demon, what’s not to love?

And to top it off, marketers have convinced us that these drinks contain powerful nutrients that are natural and health promoting.  Did someone say health promoting?

Even the FDA has suggested a limit on caffeine.  For years they’ve recommended   no more than 65mg per 12oz serving of soda.  Energy drinks can offer twice that amount or much more.

According to Dr. Oz’s show from last week, most energy drinks are equivelant to 6, yes 6, cups of coffee.  Imagine your teen or 20-something drinking two of those a night with alcohol – it’s a disaster waiting to happen.

Did you know that SoBe’s No Fear has 141 mg of caffeine?  No big deal, right?  Well that is the equivalent of drinking five cans of Coke.  This might make you think twice prior to consumption.  And be sure to share this with your loved ones too….everyone needs to know these figures because the marketers aren’t telling you all the facts….and why should they?  They are just doing their job and doing it very well I might add.

Health Promoting?

Energy drinks will…

• Dehydrate you.
• Put you at serious risk for a heart attack and/or stroke (An Australian study showed that consuming just one can will increase the stickiness of blood cells).
• Increase the production of stress hormones.  This will interfere with weight loss, hormonal balance, sleep, and more.
• Up your anxiety level & cause adrenal burnout.
• Deplete you of important vitamins and minerals that are crucial for cellular energy & functioning.
• Stimulate your Central Nervous System which may cause behavioral issues in children, ADD, nausea and more.

Mixology: What Happens When Alcohol Is Added?

When alcohol is added to energy drinks, you’re in trouble.  A stimulant with a depressant is disastrous and I’d imagine for some, life threatening.  France and Denmark (and probably other countries too) have banned the sale of Red Bull due to reported deaths from this deadly concoction.  Combing alcohol to caffeine will result in severe dehydration (those ice cubes won’t help much) but even worse heart problems and impaired judgement with artificial alertness.

You Are Addicted.

If you consume any sort of energy drink or caffeinated beverage…and this includes soda, you are addicted.

Try going a day without your beverage of choice and you will most likely experience major withdrawal symptoms like headaches, mood swings, jitters and difficulty concentrating.  It is not fun but a good reminder to us of the powerful effects that these drinks hold over us.

Go Natural.

While there are no flashy names or slogans, you can get a healthy kick from a variety of healthy products.

The herb Rhodiola has been scientifically shown to reduce stress, increase energy and support the adrenals.  Peppermint oil also has therapeutic benefits by increasing mental alertness.  One of my favorite caffeine substitutes is a coffee replacement called Teechino.  I find that most of my clients don’t even really like the taste of coffee.  Instead they enjoy the aroma, ritual and warming effects.

Hydrating, sleep and stress reduction are also huge.  Getting some daily exercise can also be extremely energizing.

Still Fatigued and Can’t Figure Out Why?

Afraid to go through withdrawl symptoms?  Consider looking at the root cause for your fatigue and figuring out some ways to nutritionally support your system as you ease off your addiction.  Going cold turkey is NOT a good idea.  The Energy Essentials Profile is a great entry point to identify your metabolic abnormalities when fatigue is your main complaint.

What has been your experience with energy drinks?  Do you consume them?  How do you feel when you are on them?  Remember, you can be a Rockstar without all that sugar & caffeine!

Instead of going into complete hibernation to avoid this dilemma, we must use our creative juices to come up with fun and satisfying ways for staying healthy during the holidays while still enjoying life and the party.

Tomorrow night I hope you will join me as I present  many healthy holiday eating and living strategies at Gallery Kitchens of Westport.  In the meantime, here are 3 simple starter tips that are often overlooked.   Let’s make this holiday your healthiest!

Image by a song under the sugar sugar

Concerned about gaining weight over the next 20+ days?  On average, Americans will add on about 1 pound total from now through the New Year.  This figure does not seem like a lot but remember, this an average calculation.  Many will gain more while the extra dedicated could shed a few.  The real problem is when these pounds accumulate over time…December comes along one too many times!

First:  Indulge In Half!

Are you making a cookie recipe that calls for sugar?  I suggest you cut the amount down by half.   If you are concerned about your guests not enjoying the treats as much, sample the batter before it goes into the oven.  95% of recipes include much more sugar than our taste buds really need or even desire.

Are you heading to a party that is serving alcohol and/or pigs in a blanket?  I suggest you cut your portions down to half.  That’s right, instead of 2 glasses of Cabernet, have one.  For your second glass, try sparkling water with a splash of cranberry.  If appetizers gets passed around, take half of what you would normally consume.  Concerned that you’ll still be hungry?  Hydrate prior to the party and fill up on healthy food from home first.

Second: It’s All About Location

If the hostess is circulating around the room with fried delights, do not stand by the kitchen.  Instead, socialize in an area that is the farthest away from the oven.  You’ll be glad you did!

Or, if you are at a sit down dinner, keep the side dish of vegetables nearby and the bread rolls closer to your neighbor.

Third: Incorporate Frequent Movement

Don’t have time for the gym?  Take a walk around the block after dinner or do some sit-ups nightly to keep the body burning fat.  Get up from your desk in the middle of the day and do 20 jumping jacks or grab a co-worker and always choose the stairs over the elevator.  These brief yet energizing movements will not only prevent added poundage, they will help you focus better throughout the day by reducing stress and invigorating your daily work routine.

Keep Your Creative Juices Flowing….

There are only good ideas when it comes to healthy holiday eating strategies so make a list of three things that you will start today to help gear you up for this fun time of year.  Recruit a friend to hold you accountable or keep a journal to document your successes and struggles.

I can’t wait to explore more tips with you tomorrow night (December 2nd) at Gallery of Kitchens!  Do you have a great tip that’s worked for you that  I need to know about?  Please comment below and share your favorites!

Image by bmann

Let the Fun Begin!  Be a “Chemist” in Your Kitchen!

Instead of sticking by the rules, I mixed and matched what I had found on the web.  With about 20 ripe bananas, I had plenty of room for error….but I must say, no error was to be had.

After reading several comments by fellow bakers and then thinking about my different flavor options, I created the most delicious twist of the old classic recipe for banana bread that includes less sugar, no eggs, no dairy, and a whole lot of moisture and taste.

I am so excited to share this recipe with my friends, family, clients (especially those with dairy and egg allergies) and you!

Bingo!  A New Recipe is Born!

Healthful Direction Banana Walnut Bread Recipe:

Ingredients:

6 ripe organic bananas
4 TB coconut oil
3 cups spelt flour
1 cup organic sugar
1 cup organic applesauce
2 Tsp sea salt
2 Tsp baking soda
2 cups chopped walnuts
Cinnamon to taste

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease two standard loaf pans with coconut oil.  Mash bananas in a large bowl and add liquid coconut oil.  Next, add flour, sugar, applesauce, salt and baking soda.  Stir in mixed walnuts and cinnamon to your liking.

Pour the batter into greased loaf pans (divided evenly).  Sprinkle cinnamon on top and bake for approximately one full hour.

The Key = Superior Ingredient Selection

You may have already whipped up a few loaves but before taking your first bite, let me give you a quick rundown on why I chose the above ingredients:

Organic Bananas: Why organic?  Have you heard about the study where monkeys were given a choice between conventional and organic bananas? Without being given any direction, these creature chose the organic variety.

Coconut Oil: Most baking recipes call for vegetable oil or shortening.  These oils can be loaded with trans-fat and/or contribute to clogged arteries.  In addition, many oils are not stable at high heat BUT coconut oil is extremely stable, healthy and tastes divine.

Spelt Four: White flour is often enriched (bad news) and bleached (more bad news).  Whole wheat flour can be dense…in addition, our diet has an abundance of wheat which is very difficult for our bodies to digest.  Spelt is in the wheat family but a gentler grain on the digestive tract.

Organic Sugar: This will be less refined and contain fewer or no pesticides in comparison to its conventional counterpart.  If I had my choice, I would choose xylitol as the sweetener since it does not impact blood sugar.  I will try this next time!  It is important to note that this recipe contains far less sugar than anything you will ever find in a bake shop.  If your bananas are extra ripe, you could even cut back on the sugar.

Organic applesauce: I used Eden Organics because it’s a brand I trust.  Did you know that conventional apples are part of the dirty dozen and may be sprayed with up to 40 different pesticides and fertilizers?  Yuck!

Sea Salt: Contains a plethora of minerals and again, far less refined than your conventional salt.  There is much more to this story which you will perhaps read about in a future blog entry.

Baking Soda: to help the bread rise.

Walnuts: loaded with healthy oils, will help stabilize your blood sugar since the bread does have some sugar and bananas are high on the glycemic load.

Cinnamon: Another blood sugar stabilizer!

Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing?

I beg to differ. Yes, finding healthy recipes that taste as good as, “the real thing” can be challenging.  Even when someone says it tastes just like the original, it often does not.

Today I share this classic twist to show you that it can be done.  Healthier options do not have to taste or look dry or bland.  Have a food allergy, sensitivity or limitation?  You CAN find an alternative that the whole family with LOVE.

All it takes is some experimentation in order to get it right.  This recipe is perfect for an after-school snack or a dish you can take with you to any type of gathering.  In fact, I’ll be attending a Halloween tea party tomorrow and will arrive to the party with this scrumptious bread in hand!

Give this recipe a try and let me know how you make out!

Image by Monkeyc.net

With so many dietary options these days, that apple alone will not do us complete justice. Our biochemistry is unique and requires a complex assortment of nutrients in order to function optimally.  Sure, an apple is full of fiber and vitamin C but, sometimes, that just does not cut it! So….what’s YOUR unique biochemistry?  Besides the apple, what else does your body need in order to be at 100%?

To see what’s lacking, let’s look at your diet and lifestyle…

This is one approach.  By keeping a food journal that includes everything eaten at breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks you can get a fairly good snapshot.  We know that certain foods like refined bread products will deplete your B vitamins.  Making adjustments to your diet will certainly up your nutrition and help you to feel better.  What this food journal won’t do though is tell you:

• Which pathways in your body are being blocked due to a deficiency.
• What nutrients are in excess – too much of a good thing can be toxic!
• Which foods carry sensitivities for you – perhaps you are eating a food that is causing excess inflammation in your body?
• How your body is detoxifying the junk from the environment and your own body.
• So much more…

That’s where functional testing comes into play.

Have you ever heard your doctor say, “Your lab tests came back normal” but you still don’t feel “right.”  While these types of tests measure important risk factors and many people do benefit, often we must go beyond the cholesterol numbers, the blood cell counts, the blood pressure screening and anything else that they have sent you off to the lab for.  Settling for less than 100% is no way to live.

Perhaps you’re tired all the time, have monthly PMS, are functioning on little sleep due to insomnia, are depressed, feeling dips in blood sugar and energy and overall just feel zapped.  Answers to these and many other complaints are where the functional testing comes into play – it’s where you win because there is finally a way out of your misery.

Most likely your doctor has used traditional blood tests to assess pathology or in other words, disease.  This is great for diagnosing illness but does not necessarily tell us how your body is truly functioning today. Functional testing can actually tell us about your imbalances long before your health is entirely compromised.  It is preventative in nature and often gets to the root of the problem.  Let’s improve the quality of your life!

You have options! These options will lead you to solutions!

There are many different functional tests available and laboratories performing these tests.  In general they all look at biochemical markers and patterns. I have selected the tests that I feel are foundational for all of us.  They let us know things like:

• nutrient deficiencies
• energy production (or lack there of)
• detoxification ability
• foods we are sensitive to (which is different than a ‘food allergy’)
• how we metabolize carbohydrates and fatty acids
• if we’ve got leaky gut or other digestive issues
• our candida status
• essential fatty acid balance
• inflammatory potential
• neurotransmitter and catecholamine balance
• vitamin D levels
• and more.

Most likely your family doctor does not offer these types of tests.  They are however typically offered by your integrative medicine specialists and alternative healthcare practitioners.  In my “Nutritional Jump Start…Testing & Analysis” program I’ve included this option.  However, no matter what program you select, it’s always good to consider testing.  There are different entry points in terms of price making it doable for most individuals.

Getting Results.

Every laboratory has a team of experts looking at your results.  These are then shared with me so that I can create a specific action plan for you.  Often there are high quality supplements recommended so that we can fuel you back up!  But, supplements are not the answer to everything.  If stress is an issue, we’ll work together to come up with ways to improve your quality of life through stress reduction techniques and therapeutic foods that help you achieve a more relaxed state. Dietary changes will be recommended depending on what comes up in terms of food sensitivities or fatty acid balance and so on.Feeding our body optimally is not as easy as the headlines make us think.  You’re complex and we’ll need to find the puzzle pieces in order to put you into that state of joy and ease that you desire.  Functional testing helps solve a big part of the mystery that sometimes is being overlooked by your traditional medical doctor.

The perfect candidate for functional testing.

It may seem crazy to say, but I believe everyone deserves and needs functional testing in their lives.  Many times we can run on empty for a very long time.  We become so used to this feeling that we think it to be the only option.  That’s NOT true.

Athletes will perform better once they clean up their biochemical imbalances, children will be more focused and attentive in the classroom, the cloud of depression will be lifted once those neurotransmitters of yours function well again, the bloating and distension will disappear after your gut flora is in balance, the pain and inflammation will go down once your fatty acids are in the right ratios……you name it, there’s a way out.  I see the sunlight even on rainy days, do you?

Have you ever had functional testing?  if so, I’d love to hear your results!  Remember, you can feel 100% all of the time!  Do you feel 100% today?

In Europe, consumers purchase only what they need.  Here in America, we tend to overdue the grocery shopping by buying a weeks worth of items hoping that it will get save us time.  If you find yourself tossing out items because they haven’t lasted so long in your fridge, it’s time to rethink your store buying habits.

Logically we know that fresh produce spoils fast. Here is a list of the top items that will go bad if left in the fridge or counter top too long:

1. Strawberries
2. Bananas
3. Mushrooms
4. Greens like mustard greens and watercress
5. Fresh herbs like dill and basil
6. Green beans (they may still look fresh but they won’t taste it)
7. Corn

So eat the perishable produce first to prevent spoilage. Or purchase these types of items on an as-needed basis since they are best when fresh.

Alison Held, M.S.
Nutritionist
Healthful Direction