-
Blue Zone
What does “Blue Zone” mean to you? When I say the words “Blue Zone”, do they mean anything to you? If not, I hope you will continue reading, because these two words can change and even extend and improve your life. Blue Zones have been identified around the world by explorer/author Dan Buettner. They have been found to exist in Japan, Italy, Greece, California and Costa Rica. But what defines a Blue Zone? Very simply, a blue zone is an area where people consistently live to be 100 years old or more. More importantly, they are not warehoused in nursing homes in wheel chairs being fed food that doesn’t need…
-
Growing up with Food
Growing up with Food To understand your current relationship with food, it’s helpful to think about how food fit in when you were growing up. Back in the 1950s and 60s when I was growing up, I realize it was a time of transition food-wise. I think it’s important for us all to remember our past and revisit growing up with food. Our family meals at home were of an English/northern European eating style. Our food was very traditional and, to be honest, not very interesting. My mom was a fantastic baker though, and desserts were always the high point of the meal! There was some kind of meat at…
-
Who Does the Food Shopping?
Who Does the Food Shopping? I don’t mean when you go to the store with someone else. I mean when you go by yourself, who is choosing what food to buy…who does the food shopping? Is it the person you were as a child, is it the young person who ate with no cares about weight or about the affect foods can have on your health, or is it the person you are today? It’s important to think about how you grew up with food, about eating patterns and habits and about whether they serve your health as the person you are now. Do you make conscious deliberate decisions about…
-
My Favorite Diet Plan is…wait for it…no, on second thought read this…
My Favorite Diet Plan I am frequently asked by my clients and audiences what my favorite diet plan is. While it’s a really good question, the answer is not so simple. I don’t believe in diets. I think they scream deprivation, misery and “temporariness”, if that is a word. Have you ever seen someone thrilled to be “dieting”, excited to be counting calories and starving themselves? I haven’t… I believe an eating style is likely to be healthier and easier to stick to than a diet. The eating style that is the closest to how I eat and to how I encourage my clients to eat is the Mediterranean eating…
-
How Do I Read a Food Label?
How do I Read a Food Label? This is a drum I beat constantly with my clients and audiences. The food labeling practices are so deceptive, we are tricked into buying food we think is healthy all the time. Today, I want to share with you a few basics you should always follow to know the answer to the question “how do I read a food label?” The front of the package is advertising; it’s marketing. By law, the food companies do not have to tell the truth on the front of the package. This is where they can grab you, pull you in and entice you to take their…
-
Exercise- It’s More than Just Weight Loss
Exercise- It’s More than Just Weight Loss Weight loss is the main reason people decide to exercise, but those who exercise regularly realize the benefits are much more than that. When you exercise, you’re releasing endorphins needed to be energetic and alert, so it’s accurate when we say, exercise- it’s more than just weight loss! When you exercise, you’re also helping to strengthen your heart muscle and improve circulation – two improvements that will help beat fatigue and energize your day! Improving your muscle tone will help you burn more calories. It’s a win-win way to feel and look better. Fatigue is a complaint doctors hear too often these days.…
-
Nutrition and Sleep
Nutrition and Sleep… Is there a connection? Recently I was asked to contribute information and to be interviewed on the subject of Nutrition and Sleep. The questions I was asked to cover were, is there is a connection between what you eat and the quality of sleep you enjoy, and is there a connection between your sleep and your overall health in general? While I’ve written a free report I will share with you, I wanted to highlight a few of the points here to stress to as many people as possible the effect that your diet has on your sleep. Is there a connection between your diet and your…
-
Getting Off Antidepressants
Getting Off Antidepressants As I get closer to finishing my book, which is the focal point of my work at the moment, I am on high alert for great information to pass along to you about depression including getting off antidepressants! If you have ever taken antidepressants as I have and have tried to get off them, as I have, you know it’s not an easy thing to do. It takes some time, can be dangerous and gives you some nasty side effects along the way. I have a friend who has been on them for decades and cannot get off them. She has tried repeatedly and has not yet…
-
Why are We Overweight?
Why are We Overweight? Do you ever wonder why are we overweight as a nation… and so frighteningly overweight? Allow me to begin by saying, “It’s not your fault”. If you struggle with your weight, it’s not your fault. It’s not your fault you spend money on diet foods and diet programs that promise you the moon and may help you lose weight only to let you down while you watch yourself gain back what you lost. Most of the time, you gain back more weight than you lost before the diet. You eat less, you exercise more and you still gain weight. Women in their 40s and 50s think…
-
How to Improve Gut Health – part 2 of 2
Five Steps to Good Gut Health – part 2 of 2 In the last post we talked about eating whole, unprocessed foods and identifying and eliminating food sensitivities and allergies… how to improve gut health. Here are steps 3 – 5 to help you along the way! Step #3 – Balance the Bacteria As previously mentioned, there are millions of bacteria in your gut and the vast majority of these bacteria are essential for your good health. When we’re in our mother’s uterus, we’re free from bacteria. The process of being born immediately exposes us to bacteria. Scientists believe that the first few months of life essentially set the tone…