Fat Vs Thin

Back to talking about our glands classified as our endocrine system. Most diets don’t really plan the food, supplements and beverages to support your endocrine system, but I do. This is one of the big differences I bring to the table with my clients.

To remind you, the glands such as the adrenal and thyroid are two very important glands regulating a myriad of functions in your body. Weight loss, metabolism, and hormone balance are the three I choose to really research and learn about to support healthy weight loss and healthy aging.

Now, if you haven’t been reading my posts, please go back and acquaint yourself with as many where I write about the adrenals. Because today I wanted to remind you about your thyroid gland, that butterfly shaped gland that sits right at the base of your throat. A note also there are parathyroid glands too that sit within the thyroid gland, but I’m going to give you the big picture.

What do your thyroid and I’ll mention adrenals here again like? They love minerals. Everyone, this is a BIG secret I’m sharing with you today. Most people do not get enough minerals because they are not getting enough vegetables, nuts,and grains in combination with protein, and fats.

Today, I can’t stress enough(in a good way) to please get more minerals via your food. The best way to do it? Juice. Get a juicer, start juicing carrots, celery, beets, and add ginger for good digestion. Got it?

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to mention if you haven’t seen on my facebook that I am now a part of Alayna’s Beauty Talk Internet Radio Show each Wednesday at 12 noon-1pm. I wanted to thank Alayna for inviting me to be a part of her show with her co host Ozlum a wonderful woman who speaks about hair and has her own business.

When you get a chance give it a listen and tune in for future shows.

http://latalklive.com/documents/abt.html

If you haven’t noticed in some of my earlier posts I’ve started sharing some you tube videos talking about my 5 faves. I did general categories when I was thinking to do those videos but today on the heels of writing about adrenal glands I wanted to mention one of my adrenal faves.

I’ve talked about these water soluable, sometimes smelly little capsules(if you leave them too long and they get old) before because they are so important for many different reasons. Now in relation to your adrenal glands there is one b vitamin known as Pantothenic Acid found abundantly useful for adrenal strength. I love all my b vitamins, but this particular one you’ll find in formulas for supporting your adrenals.

Do I take an adrenal formula? Absolutely! Instead of relying on sugar, coffee, a sweet snack mid afternoon for a pick me up I rely on taking a good adrenal formula daily to support normal blood sugar levels, good metabolism, good hormone levels and all sorts of other perks the healthy adrenal does.

Your health is a delicate, complex, and varied state. I think it’s what keeps me passionate about my work is the complexity of nutrition and hopefully putting it into easy pieces for you to become whole and healthy.

Sometimes I find it very challenging to give a one pointed answer to a nutritional question. It’s not because I don’t want to give you a direct answer it’s because the way my mind works and knowing what I do about our bodies nutritional needs, it’s just not that simple. I know you want simple, easy, quick and convenient, but it’s important to know it takes more time, energy, commitment and dedication to make changes.

Now, on to my topic which is continuing on the adrenal gland theme because I find it to be so important related to craving sugar, energy and ok, weight management or weight loss. Remember last post I mentioned the adrenal glands have a surface area known as the adrenal cortex. This is where cortisol which is a hormone is excreted. This hormone is very strong and is secreted when we’re under stress. But it’s job is to regulate blood sugar, mineral balance, immune system, and even support weight gain or weight loss. So when we’re under stress, which is a very general term, our adrenals can get taxed, more cortisol produced and imbalance occurs. All of the above.

Sugar cravings in the afternoon sound familiar? Or feeling tired when you wake up? Even that cup of java won’t get you going? That can all be related to some adrenal fatigue.

Today, I just wanted to get back to talking about your adrenals because we need to know they are part of curbing sugar cravings and making you feel physically strong.

More tomorrow and how to take care of them.

First and foremost they are connected to your hypthalamus and your pituitary. So hopefully you’ll keep coming back to learn how to keep those glands healthy too. Awhile ago I had written how Vogue magazine had an article on adrenal fatigue and it’s the new chronic fatigue syndrome of our day. Well, I wholeheartedly agree.

Hmmm, who out there drinks coffee? eats sugar? doesn’t get enough sleep? waits 6 hours before eating anything? drinks too much alcohol? Oh, are you under stress?

See the adrenal glands are responsible for the fight or flight syndrome which produces the epinephrine(adrenaline) and nor epinephrine(nor adrenaline) chemicals in your body. On top of this, your adrenals also are responsible for hormones too. Two parts of the adrenal one of which is the adrenal cortex produces these corticosteroids. Can you say cortisol? The hormone which loves to lay down body fat especially around the middle. Hormone health, energy, strength, and stamina are just a few reasons to nourish your adrenals.  

There is so much to write on the adrenals what I want you to take a away from this is some health, lifestyle and supplement tips today. First and foremost, when you say to yourself “I’m so burnt out”, that’s when your adrenals need help! First I like to relax with a salt water bath with epsom salts(high in magnesium which is great for adrenals), eat every 3-4 hours(at least a lite snack), and make sure you take sufficient B vitamins, maybe some American Ginseng, and Ashwaganda(Ayurvedic herb).

If you haven’t read my previous posts, and mind you this may go back pretty far, I write a lot about our adrenal glands(endocrine system). As I continue my research into the endocrine system I learn more about our thyroid, parathyroid, thymus, pituitary, pancreas, gonads…well you get my drift. The systems of the endocrine body are glands which in a way drive so many functions, hormones, immune system, digestive system, metabolism, energy, whew,  AND need vitamins and minerals to function.

Also, maybe in yoga class if you attend, you’ve heard about the third eye? This is in yogic tradition and meditation located right in between your eyebrows and sits in the location of the pineal gland which is also part of the endocrine system.

The master of the endocrine system is the hypothalamus which sits and has a vascular connection to the pituitary. Ok, stay with me just a bit longer. The hypothalamus is so integrated with the pituitary and functions on so many levels to support many body functions I want you to learn how to support these glands!

Whew, my adrenals are burnt out just explaining the endocrine system. Simply I’m gonna say FIRST I’m not a doctor. So even though I bring up these bodily systems, organs, cells, and health benefits, I’m an educator at heart and degreed.

Tomorrow I’ll begin explaining foods, supplements, beverages and lifestyle to keep each gland healthy. That’s because I’m here to keep you healthy and maybe even look and feel better longer. Talk to you tomorrow, eat healthy the rest of today!

I don’t want to be heavy today, but this post extends from my theme regarding my opinion about the case for supplements and alternative health practices. Anyway, let’s see how I can tie this all in and make it reasonable, something I don’t think this author of the book Denialism has created. Now, I’m not an expert on his book and only saw him interviewed and read some reviews, but I get his perspective coming strictly from science(that’s the problem).

The mind set I come from looks back at cultures, traditions, healing practices, politics, and money as methods to creating a brand, product, system and more specifically healing system. I think I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I don’t always need the traditional medical model study to tell me i.e. eating McDonalds every day is not good for me. Ok, simple example but you get my point there are some things in this world that are common sense. I have studied nutritional science, I’ve studied what happens on a cellular level, what nutrients make cells function optimally, what our bodies, organs, systems are all made up of to optimally keep us healthy and do read scientific studies.

Healing our bodies, minds and overall emotional health is very, very complicated. It is not scientific illiteracy which this author claims is holding us back, but a lack of the science community bridging the holistic system of healing which can stem back over 5000 years. C’mon now Michael Specter are you not denying evidence?

Ah well, hope you enjoyed the play here, it’s a continuing quest of health we are all on and the naysayers of alternative will always throw stones when money is being taken out of their pockets. Hmmm, I guess that’s why big pharma is buying food and supplement companies left right and center. Just my humble opinion as a holistic minded nutritionist and wellness advocate. All in good health.

Happy 4th !!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/books/review/Sanghavi-t.html

Being an alternative and shall I say complimentary type nutritionist I stand by both sides when either results, effectiveness, evidence based research, longevity, minimal side effects,  and personal experience have won me over. And you must know this about me, I’m hard to win over. That’s why you’ll read my posts talking about the classics when it comes to a lot of supplements. As well as not jumping on every fad which comes around touting they are “the” best. But having said that, I’m open to new.

I love taking liver support supplements, eating for my liver and drinking fresh juices for my liver. I’ve given you a few hints here at times to juice fresh vegetables, drink lemon and water, eat healthy fats such as fish, flax and borage, do exercise to sweat through your largest organ of your body…your skin just to get you started.

Now, what if you’d like to compliment your healthy driven lifestyle with some supportive supplements? Do you want to know my fav’s, read on. Numero uno would have to be milk thistle herb. So, so much research, long usage and safe usage are associated with this herb which as been known to be very protective of our liver. See within these herbs are flavnoids and chemical isomers which gives the power behind the herb to do it’s job. Silymarin is the primary group within milk thistle if you want to know the name.

Oh, remember to take your antioxidants, milk thistle and eat green this coming holiday. More to come on that thought tomorrow. I’m off to juice my veggies!!!

I’m going out on a nutritional limb here but the more I research liver rejuvenation the more 1 + 1 = 2 with my theories. If you don’t know already about me here’s a few things;

1. check out my philosophy at “about me” on my web site and blog

2. sometimes I just can’t catch all my mis spellngs so please pardon

3. my goal is to share with you trends vs fads and seer through to bring you truths over fiction and keep you ahead of the nutritional curve( alternative)

Ok, back to my case for regenerating liver cells. So much interesting scientific research and information that support the incredible ability for your liver to re build cells. Now, I want to tie in; what can you do day to day and every so often do a liver regeneration diet, and how all of this enhances your health and beauty. YES! your beauty. Please re read or read previous posts to find out more.

I must get to my point right now because I can tell I would write a very long post about this subject.

Spirulina…that dark, dense green pre digested protein, single celled, anti oxidant filled rich super food. Research scientists have explored the kinds of proteins which support the liver rejuvenation and have evolved to saying that it may be regular cells vs stem cells needed to re build your liver. And the proteins involved are not what they term transcription factors which are harder to come by but regular proteins.

Quality of proteins you eat and drink must be on your list to better the quality.  Your liver will love you and it’s many functions from keeping your blood healthy to your skin health are supported. All I’m saying is bump up your food quality and eat more green. More to come on all of this…

I guess you must wonder sometimes if you really do what I’m suggesting, will you get the benefits I’m touting? I’m not promising over night results, sensational undertakings so in 10 days you’ll drop 25 lbs, and sometimes no matter how healthy you are, you could still fall ill. No one’s perfect, not even I. We are all living in this world of toxic elements, stressful lifestyles, and schedules which don’t allow us to eat perfectly. In one sense it’s all a gamble but with that said just like in gambling we can roll with certain odds.

I roll to keep the odds in my favor by placing my bets on keeping my organs, systems, blood, bones, and cells as healthy as possible. The rest is up to the dice. But I will say through common sense, cultural evidence based science, and sometimes what you don’t do will make a huge benefit and insure your  health.

Now, back to talking about your liver and how to lose weight and make the whites of your eyes whiter. Liver health. Keep your liver healthy so it can do it’s integrative job to break down fats and eliminate toxins out of your body through your blood, through your kidneys and out your body, even through your skin such as sweating. You know I’m way into the sweaty yoga right now, and if you didn’t know, I’m finding such health benefits to getting so hot, flexible, strong and de toxing rolled into one. You should 2.

Give your liver the nutrients it needs to keep you looking beautiful, and full of life energy. Good fats such as olive oil, and no salad dressing oils. Eating dense green vegetables and supplements such as spirulina(see my you tube on my face book), consume lot’s of water with lemon for liver cleansing. And remember to juice for concentrated vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Say yes to beets, carrots, celery and ginger for juicing.

A round of reminders today, it’s only Monday, so let’s ease into the week. xo