It shouldn't be a shock to any one that our bodies abilities to function optimally is correlated with the food we eat. When we consume processed foods, we introduce chemical compounds that our bodies struggle to process, and over time the rhythm of our systems is altered. Scientifically speaking, the receptors in our bodies that respond to hormonal and chemical stimuli can no longer receive their messengers, and hence the reciprocal message doesnt get sent out to up or down regulate the next phase or stage in any given bodily process.
A nice way to reboot your system is to give your liver a vacation, to decrease the tax on your adrenals, and allow your body to return to "all systems go".
Tip #1: Add a cranberry drink before each of your three major meals for 2 weeks.
This includes 6oz of H20, 2 oz of unsweetened cranberry juice (less than 8 grams of sugar), 1/3 of a fresh lemon juice, and 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar. You have the option of adding psyllium seeds or husks as well if you want to get your fiber in.
Tip #2: No added sugar to anything for 2 weeks. No splenda, no table sugar, no syrup....no sugar means no sugar. If you are going "all out" on this; please consider no processed food as well which may contain high fructose corn syrup and other hidden sugars which will inhibit your liver from getting back in check.
Tip #3: Decrease your meat intake and increase your veggie intake. Consume mostly vegetables, followed by fruits (1/3d the amount), nuts & seeds.
There are certainly more rigid steps that can be followed, but if you can start with these three...and stick to it for two weeks...you may notice improved energy, ability to burn fat (hooray!) and comprehensive improvement in how your systems work together.
PS: This is a great time to put your smoothie hat on and get those veggies into your daily fuel.
Recipe: One or two ripe mangos, frozen works well too....add a handful of parsley....blend and drink. So simple. So yummy.
"From Prevention to Performance, Optimal Health is Achievable"
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Showing posts with label nutrition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nutrition. Show all posts
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
A time to play
When I see a child scrape their knee or worse, it is a reminder to me how resilient their growing bodies are. As men and women go through life stages,our ability to recover from injuries decreases. Or does it?
I believe in the body's ability to adapt. Whether through habitual posture, exercise programs, weekend activities and the like; theses are the means by which our body is stimulated to grow, shrink, become conditioned (or de-conditioned if your favorite workout is how long you can sit on your sofa), have good bone density, and so much more. Take a moment and think of your parents. Think of their injuries, possible surgeries, or even tasks they complained about. Now think about their lifestyle choices; did they walk often, do chores around the house, watch a lot of tv, ride bikes, sit or stand at work, play a sport, do yoga or pilates, etc. I know that both of my parents maintained a relatively sedentary work day; with intermittent walking anywhere from desk to car, up to miles around the Columbus Zoo. One parent never set foot in a gym, the other; committed to spending at least 3 days a week combining weight training, flexibility (yoga), stability (yoga, pilates) and conditioning (interval work on cardio equipment and spinning classes). It doesn't take a college degree to guess which one is in better condition, nor to guess which one has more health issues.
The more you play the healthier you are. Making playtime a priority is a must. You have so many things to choose from, be it running, frisbee throwing, handstands, gardening, hopscotch...think like a kid; and look at the world as an endless array of fun and exploration. The more you can diversify this the more healthy you are overall. This means that the more you mix it up, shake it up and swirl it around...the easier it will be for your body to transition through small injuries and bumps in the road. If you are up for the challenge, there are also triathlons of varying intensities and distances that are a prime choice. (Be warned: this is a time consuming, and can be expensive-ease these stressors by doing it with a friend).
Make time to play today. Combine that with a delicious nutritious meal and you are on the road to wellness...one block at a time :)
Check out my colleague Amy Arnold for more information on the wonderful world of Integrated Nutrition and why you NEED her:
Amy Arnold
Vital Self
http://www.vitalself.com/
I believe in the body's ability to adapt. Whether through habitual posture, exercise programs, weekend activities and the like; theses are the means by which our body is stimulated to grow, shrink, become conditioned (or de-conditioned if your favorite workout is how long you can sit on your sofa), have good bone density, and so much more. Take a moment and think of your parents. Think of their injuries, possible surgeries, or even tasks they complained about. Now think about their lifestyle choices; did they walk often, do chores around the house, watch a lot of tv, ride bikes, sit or stand at work, play a sport, do yoga or pilates, etc. I know that both of my parents maintained a relatively sedentary work day; with intermittent walking anywhere from desk to car, up to miles around the Columbus Zoo. One parent never set foot in a gym, the other; committed to spending at least 3 days a week combining weight training, flexibility (yoga), stability (yoga, pilates) and conditioning (interval work on cardio equipment and spinning classes). It doesn't take a college degree to guess which one is in better condition, nor to guess which one has more health issues.
The more you play the healthier you are. Making playtime a priority is a must. You have so many things to choose from, be it running, frisbee throwing, handstands, gardening, hopscotch...think like a kid; and look at the world as an endless array of fun and exploration. The more you can diversify this the more healthy you are overall. This means that the more you mix it up, shake it up and swirl it around...the easier it will be for your body to transition through small injuries and bumps in the road. If you are up for the challenge, there are also triathlons of varying intensities and distances that are a prime choice. (Be warned: this is a time consuming, and can be expensive-ease these stressors by doing it with a friend).
Make time to play today. Combine that with a delicious nutritious meal and you are on the road to wellness...one block at a time :)
Check out my colleague Amy Arnold for more information on the wonderful world of Integrated Nutrition and why you NEED her:
Amy Arnold
Vital Self
http://www.vitalself.com/
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