 21 days ago I started a detox. It's the longest I've gone where detoxes are concerned. Quite honestly, I wasn't sure I could do it. Not because it looked too difficult, but because there's a lot of emotion around food. Especially when you're denying yourself things you've had on a regular basis for a very long time. If you've ever committed to a diet, you know what I'm talking about. Here's what I learned, what I liked and what was a bit of a hurdle for me: - I liked the structure. It's nice when you know ahead of time what to eat and when to eat it.
- What was challenging was cooking meals that I hadn't had before. The directions were simple enough, but to create something new nearly every day took time. I grumbled the first few days at how long it took me to make a meal. It reminded me of how much time my mom spends every holiday cooking and preparing only to have the meal devoured in less than 20 minutes.
- After the grumbling subsided, I realized how much I enjoyed cooking for myself. It had been a long time since I'd thoughtfully prepared a meal and then relished it like I was at a 5 star restaurant.
- The meals were delicious. I can honestly say I've never eaten better at any restaurant I've ever been to ~ and I'm not a cheap date. I also liked how some of them repeated so I could cook once and eat twice.
- My energy level was off the chart. Without caffeine, sugar or cheap carbs I had tons of energy with plenty to spare.
- It was tough getting used to drinking 16 ounces of water every two to three hours. But I know that's where a lot of the extra energy came from. For the first time in a long time I was truly hydrated. Amazing how something as simple as drinking water can make such a big impact. Even though the detox ended Sunday, I've been starting my mornings off with 16 ounces of water. That's one habit I intend to keep.
- I missed going out to eat. Not so much the food, but the social side of it. I did go out for lunch a few times to places where I knew I could get a healthy salad, but that's when the emotional side of things kicked in. While everyone else was eating burgers, fries, mac & cheese and pizza, I was eating a salad. The weird part was I didn't really want to eat those things, but emotionally I felt deprived. Like I said, it's like being on a diet when no one else is and they're not even aware that what they're eating is causing an inner struggle for you.
- The biggest change came in the form of stress release. I had been piecing it together before the detox, and this solidified it for me. Eating junk food stresses us out. We think it's making us feel better which is why we call it comfort food. But actually sugar and processed foods jangle our nerves. It makes us anxious and can cause depression. It seems so harmless, especially since our fondest childhood memories are linked to candy. But it's not harmless. Studies have shown that sugar is as much an addiction as heroine. Not a pleasant thought. And I have to admit, it's the one thing I'm wary about reintroducing into my diet.
There were way more ups than downs with the Ultimate Reset. I highly recommend it if you're looking to do something for yourself that will take you outside your comfort zone. It's a leap of faith, but from where I'm standing, well worth the jump.
 Let's face it, America runs on Junkin.' Our job as parents is to protect our kids, yet many people are unknowingly poisoning their children. Chips, soda, candy, cookies, fast food and even coffee are becoming the normal daily diet for children in America. Eating a steady diet of processed foods not only ruins our children's physical health, it eats away at their mental health. I spoke with a woman from Georgia yesterday and she said the problem is rampant in her area. It's become such an issue that they've posted billboards with an obese child on it saying, "don't make fun of me because I'm fat." A child's self-esteem is fragile when they're in their formative years. They look to us to guide them through the maze of growing up. It's our job to set an example of what it looks like to live a normal, healthy and happy life. Junk food erodes that opportunity. It causes mood swings, lack of focus, low energy from eating foods with no nutrients, addiction and behavioral problems at home and in school. If your kids are sliding down this slippery slope and you want to correct your course, try these simple tips. Choose one or two to start and stay with it for at least 21 days before trying something new. - Create a unified front. Talk to other parents and get them on board too. Children compare what they have with what their friends have. They don't want to stand out, it's all about blending in. Make it easier for them by having everyone doing the same thing.
- Transition rather than take away. If your kids love Doritos, switch to a corn chip that has three ingredients: corn, oil and sea salt. You'll be eliminating toxic preservatives. And give them the recommended serving size rather than a bottom of the bag approach.
- Sweets should be a treat, not a staple. Once a week not every night. Read labels. It should have five ingredients or less and you should know what they are.
- If your child craves sweets, increase fruits and sweet vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, corn). If they crave salt, they may be mineral deficient (check with your pediatrician). Make sure they're getting enough protein (nuts, beans, eggs, greek style yogurt, chicken, meat and fish) in their diet. Too little protein can trigger cravings because the body is looking for quick energy.
- Make it fun. Find a couple of healthier choices in any given food group and let them pick which one they want.
- Limit "gaming" time. Get them out in the fresh air playing. This will stimulate a healthy appetite.
- Start with a good breakfast. Throw out sugary cereals. Companies like Kashi offer a cinnamon cereal that tastes great, includes whole grains and has much less sugar.
Small steps create big results. There may be pushback, but remember you're the parent.
 There's been a lot of buzz about sugar lately. Especially since the expose on 60 Minutes last Sunday. The news has been spreading across social media like a wildfire searching for dead wood. I know about the ills of sugar, and so do you. But I learned something new during all the hype: how to convert grams of sugar into measurements that make more sense to me. Good old fashioned teaspoons and tablespoons. Manufacturers show the measurement of sugar in grams. So when you're reading the Nutrition Facts label, ice cream can be between nine and 28 grams of sugar per serving. I don't know about you, but that doesn't mean a whole lot to me. Here's an easier way to covert that into something more familiar: 4 grams = 1 teaspoon 12 grams = 1 tablespoon So take the pint of vanilla Haagen-Dazs in the picture. It has 21 grams of sugar per serving. (And that's if you can restrain yourself to eat just one serving.) Twenty-one grams equals almost 2 tablespoons of sugar. Picture yourself taking out your measuring spoons and filling the biggest one twice with sugar and then eating it. That's too sweet - even for me. I'm going to memorize that little equation so that the next time I'm at the supermarket I can figure out exactly how much sugar is in what I'm buying. Either that or I'll look up this blog as a quick reference : ) Stay healthy, my friends!
 It pains me to talk about sugar like it's some sort of mass murderer, but as the saying goes you have to call a spade a spade. Growing up I had a love affair with sugar. So much so that by the age of ten I had four molars removed. And by my early twenties I had developed systemic candida which has serious consequences and can be potentially life threatening.
But that's not the worst of it. Here's an interesting fact: In July 2006 the World Health Organization (WHO) formed a task force on diabetes and cancer. After five years, they made one recommendation. That's right - just one. And it was on the front page of every major newspaper in the world - except the United States. WHO recommended to "cut all sweetened foods to below 10% of calories," or less than 250 calories a day. The US didn't share this information because the Sugar Counsel felt threatened by these claims.
You might ask, "since when is a business more important than the collective health of millions of Americans?" Unfortunately, our country has a long history of putting the needs of big business before the people.
According to Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric oncologist, sugar is four times more addictive than cocaine. Which means, most of us are addicts. Addiction by definition is not a choice. It's a biochemical imperative. So what can we do? Start with the WHO's recommendation: Lower your intake of sweetened foods to less than 10% of your daily diet. I'll be delving into this subject more in future blogs, but please feel free to use me as a resource if you're trying to get off sugar. I offer free nutrition consultations and am creating a new program to specifically address this issue so stay tuned.
Menopause happens naturally at the end of a woman’s reproductive life. So why wouldn’t we treat the symptoms naturally? Modern day science is always looking for ways to do things faster and easier, and I applaud this effort. However, the problem with this system is the so called “cure” is often more hazardous than the original health issue. Most women now know that hormone replace therapy (HRT) carries far more risks than benefits. And now they’re opting for natural alternatives to help treat the symptoms they experience during menopause like hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings. Here’s a few options to try if you’re looking for relief: Diet: Your diet is one of the most important tools you have in your toolbox. Avoid caffeine (coffee, chocolate, tea, soda, energy drinks). Carbonated beverages contain phosphorous which also increases the risk of bone loss. Limit the amount of meat (beef, pork and chicken) because the saturated fat decreases your body’s ability to metabolize estrogen. Avoid sugar: Sugar in its raw state as well as food that converts to sugar quickly (alcohol, overcooked pasta, processed foods) lowers your immune system. Foods to add in to your diet include: whole grains, oats, wheat, brown rice, almonds, cashews, whole fruits and vegetables. Soy in moderation is also a good option if you don’t have a history of thyroid problems.
You've probably heard a lot of this before and think, "I can't give up all those foods." You don't have to. It's ideal if you can change your diet to eliminate the culprits that are causing your discomfort and switch to hormone free meat, whole fruits, vegetables and grains. Then slowly add in foods that you love in moderation. If these seems too tough for you, try eliminating one item that you know causes an increase in symptoms. Try it for a week or so and see how you feel. You
Stay tuned for more tips on how to maneuver menopause using natural methods.
 On the January 4 edition of the Dr. Oz Show, Dr. Oz stated there's new research
that shows anti-depressants are not as effective in treating depression as
originally thought. He says, "talk therapy is as good as taking a
pill." Exercising, having a competent psychotherapist, light exposure
if it's due to Seasonal Affective Disorder and keeping away from sugar are also
viable alternatives. Treating the underlying cause is key to resolving the
problem. Personally, I have seen many people recover taking a well
prescribed homeopathic remedy. If you or someone you know wants to change
to a more natural, holistic option, make sure to find a well respected
practitioner and to transition off medication. Stopping meds before
getting the support your system needs is never advised.
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