I recently went to Green Bar & Kitchen for the first time to meet up with a group of health coaches who also attended Integrative Nutrition. We enjoyed some amazing eats and discussed positive ways to help others through clean eating and healthy living.
Here we are with GBK co-owner and fellow health coach, Elena Pezzo. Feeling happy and healthy after eating delicious and healthy food.
Photo courtesy of Jackie Jacobs Read more →
When I think about summer, watermelon is definitely one of those summer season foods I enjoy. Cooling and hydrating, some days I just can’t get enough.
This salad is loaded with iron from both spinach and pumpkin seeds. Vitamin C in the watermelon helps your body absorb the iron. Persian Lime infused oil and Jalapeno Lime Balsamic vinegar gives a wonderful flavor to this tasty salad. Read more →
Anyone who knows me is aware of my love for chocolate, but I only go for dark chocolate since I don’t eat dairy (hello food allergies). Make these babies yourself and you’ll never need to buy chocolate again! Adjust the sweetness to your taste buds by adding more honey, if desired. Slippery elm tea powder is used with honey and doTERRA peppermint essential oils (I’m now a Wellness Advocate for doTERRA, e-mail me for details and I’ll tell you why I have fallen in love with them!) to make a delicious filling that is also good for your belly. Read more →
No one is immune to cravings, myself included. It’s often a way of our bodies trying tell us something. All we have to do is listen and interpret. Read on for tips to deconstruct those cravings.
If you are craving sugar…
Your body needs more energy. Maybe you are tired and didn’t get enough sleep or you are feeling stressed out and that is exhausting your adrenal system or you have eaten too much sugar and now crashing. Sugar cravings mean that your body needs energy so give it high quality fuel like raw fruits and veggies or high quality protein. Do your best to get a good night’s sleep by unplugging 1 hour before bedtime. Taking breaks during the day can also give your mind a break and restore energy during a crazy busy day.
If you are craving red meat…
Your body may need more iron or more protein in general. No grass-fed burger stand in sight? You can get iron from pumpkin seeds, beans/lentils, hummus (from the chickpeas and tahini), nuts/seeds, and leafy greens.
If you are craving coffee…
You have a habit of drinking coffee and your body is asking for more to give your body and energy boost. Better to give it some green tea loaded with anti-oxidants and much easier on your adrenal system. Eating more raw fruits and vegetables will give your body more sustained energy than caffeine or sugar.
If you are cravings fats…
When we crave fats our bodies often are in need of comfort foods like peanut butter and ice cream. This can be caused by anxiety or stress.
Sometimes we crave fats when our bodies really need high quality carbohydrates like sweet potato, oatmeal, quinoa, or rice. This can happen if you are eating a paleo diet trying to avoid grains so your body will crave fats for energy.
Fat is of course a vital macronutrient, but too much fat can burden your gall bladder and liver which have the job of breaking down fats plus contribute to weight gain. Aim for moderate amounts of all basic macronutrients {fat, protein, and carbohydrates} from real whole foods.
Cravings for crunchy foods…
You may be feeling anger or frustration so crunchy foods will allow you to vigorously chew and that can be satisfying when feeling those type of emotions. You can chew on carrots or celery for crunch instead of chips and crackers.
Better yet, take the time to address your anger and frustration, whether you write everything down in a journal or talk it out with a trusted person. This is a much better step for your health and well-being.
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Cravings can be either from lack of proper nutrients or due to stress, anxiety or lack of sleep. When a craving hits, take a moment to determine your physiological or emotional needs, then address accordingly.
Taking great care of your body and mind will allow you to feel your absolute best!
XO,
Pam
My friends over at Nutri-Health.com asked me to try a product of my choice from their website then write up a review. I decided to check out this probiotic, Flora Source Multi-Probiotic Women. I am always in search of finding a new probiotic to give my body a variety of healthy gut bugs. It’s optimal to rotate your probiotics.
If you are looking to improve your gut health, which can boost overall health, then adding a good probiotic to your supplement protocol is a great idea.
How do you know if you need to add in a probiotic supplement? If you are experiencing the following:
Disclosure of material connection: Nutri-Health.com provided me with this product to review. All opinions expressed here are completely my own.
This probiotic formula is unique in that it contains prebiotics as well in the form of short chain fructooligosaccarides (a proprietary blend from NutraFlora scFOS). Ingesting prebiotics along with your probiotics is ideal because it gives the healthy bugs something to feed on so they can then do good work in your body.
This product seemed to help my overall digestion. I could tell by the frequency and shape of my stool that it was having a positive effect on my body. I am experiencing less discomfort from bloating and gas as well. This is complimentary to my overall balanced healthy eating.
The recommendation is to take 2 capsules daily for a week then switch to 1 capsule daily for a week, then repeat the regimen.
A helpful probiotic and prebiotic regimen will:
Taking the Flora Source Multi-Probiotic Women formula helped me experience several of these benefits. Check out this product if you are seeking a new probiotic/prebiotic formula!
Disclaimer: This post is based upon my personal experience. The materials and content contained on this website are for general health information only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with you medical doctor before making changes in your diet, exercise, medicine, and supplement program.
Years later, as I young adult, I changed up my diet. I removed dairy and found that I was no longer in pain every day. >> Read More
