To many of us, Vegetarianism is a mystery. Becoming a vegetarian is usually a choice that people make for health reasons, ethical reasons or environmental reasons. But most vegetarians and not particularly healthy, per se.
Being a vegetarian takes work. It takes commitment. It takes dedication and it also takes creativity and knowledge. It's easy to be an unhealthy vegetarian, but most people have no idea that they are being unhealthy. The reason is usually due to lack of knowledge. If you go to any grocery store today, there is an array of supposedly "healthy" vegetarian foods, but most of these foods are over processed and contain high amounts of soy, gluten, sodium and other ingredients that wreak havoc on our digestive system.
There are many types of vegetarians according to today's society. But I believe that a true & healthy vegetarian is a person who eats a diet consisting of unprocssed whole foods. Whole foods are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, healthy fats and the occasional egg. If you think you are doing your body good by becoming a vegetarian while still eating cheese, yogurt, any kind of dairy, white flour, white sugar and processed "vegetarian" foods, you aren't. You might as well still eat meat and chicken for that matter. Those choices are better than most of the heart clogging, high cholesterol cheeses and yogurts or the acidifying processed foods that will cause heart disease and a whole other ilk of health problems down the line.
If it's an ethical issue to you, and you don't care about health, than so be it. Yet anyone who does not care about their health and what they put in their mouth is looking for trouble in the long term. Your body is a temple and the only one you have while you are here. It's important that you treat it with respect so that it works optimally to assist you in a long, happy and healthy life.
Ok, let's talk about the different kinds of "vegetarians" (remember, a true vegetarian does not eat any animal flesh at all). A vegan on the other hand, eats absolutely NO animal products including eggs, honey, white sugar & dairy.
Vegetarian: Eats a plant based diet and does not eat red meat, chicken, pork or any other meat from an animal
Pescetarian: A vegetarian who eats fish
Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian: A vegetarian who eats dairy & eggs
Flexitarian (this is a newer type of Vegetarian): one who is a vegetarian but will occasionally eat fish or chicken
Total Vegetarian: does not eat any animal products including eggs, dairy, honey and sometime white sugar (some white sugar is processed with the ash of cow bones so it is not considered vegetarian)
Vegan: Eliminates all animal products from their life even clothing & shoes made from leather, wool or silk.
As I said earlier, many vegetarians can be extremely unhealthy and sometimes it takes a lot of planning to have this type of lifestyle. Eating pizza, nachos, or any other greasy foods that don't contain meat is not the path to being a healthy vegetarian. Yes, sometimes those foods are easy to grab on the go, but these foods will leave you feeling bloated & tired, along with an array of other possible health problems. And, you will not get the necessary nutrients you need for your body as you would from eating whole foods.
If you are thinking about becoming a vegetarian or already are one, please remember that what you put into your mouth is the most important thing you can do for your body other than exercise. Be mindful of your choices. Eat lots of fresh veggies and fruit. Eat minimal amounts of processed foods. Take baby steps. Cut out one unhealthy food per week and add in a healthy one. If you are used to the Soy chicken nuggets or the frozen pizza from the freezer section, I urge you to rethink those choices and choose foods that are minimally processed. Make time each week to plan your meals.
Remember, having a healthy lifestyle takes work. It's an investment in your health. You are worth the effort and commitment it takes to be healthy. Before you know it, it will become old hat and you will be feeling and looking better than you ever have in your life! The key to your success is Baby Steps! Have fun!!!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Who Cares How You Look or What You Do ~ Are you HAPPY??
So many of us live a life that is filled with work, errands, to-do’s, emails, etc. The list goes on and on. Sometimes I wonder if there is ever enough time to get it all done. Why is there always something to do? A list of “things” that seem to keep us from enjoying our daily lives?
Is there time to be happy with all these things that we have to do on a day-to-day basis?? Will our To-Do Lists ever be fully crossed off? And if they are, will we finally be happy & fulfilled?? Or we will look for more things to do and keep us distracted from the present moment?? To fill up the empty space inside that is unhappiness.
We exercise hard so we can look & feel good. We eat healthy or check out the latest diet craze to help us lose weight so that we can feel better and look better. We think we’ll be happier when we reach some future goal, lose that final 10 pounds or get some better job, better computer, car or phone.
But, the question is, do all these things really make us happy?
There are millions of ways to distract ourselves from life, real life ~ the present moment. When I say real life, what I mean is our passion & our purpose. What we are here to do. Why we are here living on this Earth in human form. I don’t mean to make mockery of a life filled of to-do lists and emails, but I want you to think for a second if you are happy. Are you really happy? Do you feel joyous inside? Do you feel like you have a purpose and a mission? What would you do and how far would you push yourself to find that purpose or fulfill that mission? Would you quit your day job to pursue a life of creativity, philanthropy or writing?
Over the years as I struggled to find my calling, I dipped my toes into many different small ponds. The pond of the Hospitality industry, the pond of TV commercials, the pond of teaching yoga, the pond of… well, you get the picture…but after time, I realized that all these different ponds just didn’t make me happy. What I also realized was, that each one I didn’t enjoy brought me closer to the big ocean that was my calling and passion. I knew that I was passionate about health, fitness, food, teaching people how to be better and feel better, but I didn’t know how to bring it all together in a way that would fulfill my soul. I always thought these were just “things” in my life that I enjoyed but had to keep to myself.
I was tired of working for other people. Tired of building other people’s businesses, when all I wanted to do was work for myself. I wanted the flexibility of having my own business. To work when I wanted, not when I was told. I wanted more quality time with my friends and loved ones. I didn’t want to have my head buried at a desk behind a computer while life was happening outside. I wanted to participate. To be part of the solution, to feel my heart sing, to teach others how to feel better, eat better, make positive changes for themselves so they could get closer to their dreams and goals; their happy place.
I’m not saying that I feel happy everyday, but I am truly happy doing what I love and knowing that I am helping others to be better in their life. I feel a sense of freedom, a sense of belonging in a world that can feel so alone and empty at times. I get to connect with amazing people every day and help them to become better.
So, what is it that makes you happy? What is the message you want to spread? Isn’t it time you found out? Isn’t it about time you follow your passion? Find your calling? Maybe your calling is to be the best parent to your children, or the best friend to your friends. It doesn’t mean that your calling is what you do for work, or your career. Your calling is the thing that you feel most passionate about that truly lights you up inside and makes you want to share it with the world!
Remember, life is too short to sell out on yourself and not experience the true happiness that comes from doing what you love! Make a difference for YOU first, and all else will fall in place! Write a list of the things you love to do. Figure out ways you can do them. Take Baby Steps. Remember that small steps toward a greater goal are the key to success. Have your purpose, make your plan and put it into action!!
If you are following your dreams, your to-do lists will feel like a walk in the park. You will jump at the chance to cross things off your list. You will feel success in your accomplishments and joy in your heart. And that is true happiness!
Is there time to be happy with all these things that we have to do on a day-to-day basis?? Will our To-Do Lists ever be fully crossed off? And if they are, will we finally be happy & fulfilled?? Or we will look for more things to do and keep us distracted from the present moment?? To fill up the empty space inside that is unhappiness.
We exercise hard so we can look & feel good. We eat healthy or check out the latest diet craze to help us lose weight so that we can feel better and look better. We think we’ll be happier when we reach some future goal, lose that final 10 pounds or get some better job, better computer, car or phone.
But, the question is, do all these things really make us happy?
There are millions of ways to distract ourselves from life, real life ~ the present moment. When I say real life, what I mean is our passion & our purpose. What we are here to do. Why we are here living on this Earth in human form. I don’t mean to make mockery of a life filled of to-do lists and emails, but I want you to think for a second if you are happy. Are you really happy? Do you feel joyous inside? Do you feel like you have a purpose and a mission? What would you do and how far would you push yourself to find that purpose or fulfill that mission? Would you quit your day job to pursue a life of creativity, philanthropy or writing?
Over the years as I struggled to find my calling, I dipped my toes into many different small ponds. The pond of the Hospitality industry, the pond of TV commercials, the pond of teaching yoga, the pond of… well, you get the picture…but after time, I realized that all these different ponds just didn’t make me happy. What I also realized was, that each one I didn’t enjoy brought me closer to the big ocean that was my calling and passion. I knew that I was passionate about health, fitness, food, teaching people how to be better and feel better, but I didn’t know how to bring it all together in a way that would fulfill my soul. I always thought these were just “things” in my life that I enjoyed but had to keep to myself.
I was tired of working for other people. Tired of building other people’s businesses, when all I wanted to do was work for myself. I wanted the flexibility of having my own business. To work when I wanted, not when I was told. I wanted more quality time with my friends and loved ones. I didn’t want to have my head buried at a desk behind a computer while life was happening outside. I wanted to participate. To be part of the solution, to feel my heart sing, to teach others how to feel better, eat better, make positive changes for themselves so they could get closer to their dreams and goals; their happy place.
I’m not saying that I feel happy everyday, but I am truly happy doing what I love and knowing that I am helping others to be better in their life. I feel a sense of freedom, a sense of belonging in a world that can feel so alone and empty at times. I get to connect with amazing people every day and help them to become better.
So, what is it that makes you happy? What is the message you want to spread? Isn’t it time you found out? Isn’t it about time you follow your passion? Find your calling? Maybe your calling is to be the best parent to your children, or the best friend to your friends. It doesn’t mean that your calling is what you do for work, or your career. Your calling is the thing that you feel most passionate about that truly lights you up inside and makes you want to share it with the world!
Remember, life is too short to sell out on yourself and not experience the true happiness that comes from doing what you love! Make a difference for YOU first, and all else will fall in place! Write a list of the things you love to do. Figure out ways you can do them. Take Baby Steps. Remember that small steps toward a greater goal are the key to success. Have your purpose, make your plan and put it into action!!
If you are following your dreams, your to-do lists will feel like a walk in the park. You will jump at the chance to cross things off your list. You will feel success in your accomplishments and joy in your heart. And that is true happiness!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Raw Food ~ Fad or Fantastic?
Eating Raw? What’s it all about? Is this some crazy fad or is it here to stay? Raw Foodists around the country believe that Raw food is the way; the way to healing, health, happiness, vitality and a long life. Can this really be true? Or are they pulling our celery stalks??
Many studies have been done over the years on the raw food way of life and it’s benefits. Most recently, a documentary was made called Raw for 30 Days. This film documents the lives of 6 participants with “incurable” Diabetes who go away to a Raw Food “camp” for 30 days to change their health and their life. Many of these participants are grossly overweight and in turn, have contracted diabetes and many other illnesses that prevent them from living their best life. At the end of these 30 days mostly all the participants diabetes was reversed and many were able to stop their insulin shots. All this from eating Raw food?? YES! It’s not to say that it was easy, but did it work? The results prove that it does.
Raw foods are ALIVE! These foods still contain all the live enzymes that your body needs to digest your food properly and use it optimally. When you are ingesting raw vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruits, beans, etc. your body is receiving peak nutritional value from your food. All the nutrients from these foods are still alive, because they haven’t been cooked away by heat or fire. In turn, your body uses this food as energy instead of storing it away as fat. You will feel lighter, lose weight and your skin will be clear and vibrant.
I know that this all sounds great, but is it easy? In my experience, the raw food way of eating can sometimes be a challenge. It does take time, thought & energy to eat this way. Eating cooked food is certainly the “norm” in our society and not many restaurants you go to have raw food choices. But that’s not to say that you can’t find them. This type of lifestyle is a choice that many make when they are ready, or if they have a severe health problem that needs addressing.
My school of thought is everything in moderation. I have gone 100% raw before, and I’ve felt the best I have ever felt in my life, but I realized that 100% raw does not work for me. I love HOT food. I love soup on a cold winters night, I love hot tea while sitting in front of a fire. My body is made up in such a way that it needs warmth and comfort from cooked whole foods, such as grains, steamed veggies, hearty vegetable stews, etc. So, I decided to adapt a diet with a combination of raw and cooked foods. I eat about 40-50% raw depending on the time of year and the season. In the spring and summer, I find it much easier to eat raw due to the abundance of fresh fruits (which I LOVE) and veggies that I can find at the Farmer’s markets.
Ultimately, this type of eating is up to you. I say give it a try, but know that it’s a choice and an investment in your health. Take baby steps. Introduce new, raw foods into your diet every week, and see how you feel. You don’t want to set yourself up for failure by giving up all cooked food and going 100% raw to start. Your body will also probably rebel by giving you digestive problems, flatulence, etc until you can adjust to this lifestyle. Every time you change your way of eating, your body will react, so it’s best to go slow, do what works for you, but most importantly know that you are making a positive choice for your health and happiness.
For more on eating a whole foods diet, visit Missy’s web site at www.karmachow.com
Many studies have been done over the years on the raw food way of life and it’s benefits. Most recently, a documentary was made called Raw for 30 Days. This film documents the lives of 6 participants with “incurable” Diabetes who go away to a Raw Food “camp” for 30 days to change their health and their life. Many of these participants are grossly overweight and in turn, have contracted diabetes and many other illnesses that prevent them from living their best life. At the end of these 30 days mostly all the participants diabetes was reversed and many were able to stop their insulin shots. All this from eating Raw food?? YES! It’s not to say that it was easy, but did it work? The results prove that it does.
Raw foods are ALIVE! These foods still contain all the live enzymes that your body needs to digest your food properly and use it optimally. When you are ingesting raw vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruits, beans, etc. your body is receiving peak nutritional value from your food. All the nutrients from these foods are still alive, because they haven’t been cooked away by heat or fire. In turn, your body uses this food as energy instead of storing it away as fat. You will feel lighter, lose weight and your skin will be clear and vibrant.
I know that this all sounds great, but is it easy? In my experience, the raw food way of eating can sometimes be a challenge. It does take time, thought & energy to eat this way. Eating cooked food is certainly the “norm” in our society and not many restaurants you go to have raw food choices. But that’s not to say that you can’t find them. This type of lifestyle is a choice that many make when they are ready, or if they have a severe health problem that needs addressing.
My school of thought is everything in moderation. I have gone 100% raw before, and I’ve felt the best I have ever felt in my life, but I realized that 100% raw does not work for me. I love HOT food. I love soup on a cold winters night, I love hot tea while sitting in front of a fire. My body is made up in such a way that it needs warmth and comfort from cooked whole foods, such as grains, steamed veggies, hearty vegetable stews, etc. So, I decided to adapt a diet with a combination of raw and cooked foods. I eat about 40-50% raw depending on the time of year and the season. In the spring and summer, I find it much easier to eat raw due to the abundance of fresh fruits (which I LOVE) and veggies that I can find at the Farmer’s markets.
Ultimately, this type of eating is up to you. I say give it a try, but know that it’s a choice and an investment in your health. Take baby steps. Introduce new, raw foods into your diet every week, and see how you feel. You don’t want to set yourself up for failure by giving up all cooked food and going 100% raw to start. Your body will also probably rebel by giving you digestive problems, flatulence, etc until you can adjust to this lifestyle. Every time you change your way of eating, your body will react, so it’s best to go slow, do what works for you, but most importantly know that you are making a positive choice for your health and happiness.
For more on eating a whole foods diet, visit Missy’s web site at www.karmachow.com
Saturday, May 2, 2009
CHANGE YOUR MIND, CHANGE YOUR BODY, CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
I shared this blog in my most recent newsletter, but for those of you who don't get the newsletter, you can read it here!
ENJOY!
Change Your Mind, Change Your Body, Change Your Life:
This powerful phrase, quoted by my favorite spin teacher and friend, John Scarangello, owner of Kinetic Cycling, during a spin class I was in last Friday really hit home for me. It's 9 simple words, but the power behind these words were paramount.
For years I have suffered from a mild eating disorder, in that whenever I ate something I would think, "This is going to make me fat". Even if it was a piece of fruit. This thought process came to me a child after seeing all the perfect models and their perfect bodies on the pages of glossy magazines. I thought I needed to look like them for people to like me. I thought I needed to be super skinny for people to like me. Luckly due to good genetics and being active consistently, I have never been overweight in all my life, but the way I thought about my weight made me feel like I was 400 pounds.I was never happy with the way I looked or the way I felt in my body. I would say negative things to myself and starve myself in hopes that someone would notice that I had the perfect body.
Now that I am 40, I have come to a place of acceptance. Yes, there are still times when I think that I am fat or I could tone up here and there, but these thoughts do not occupy my mind like they once did. Guess why? I made a choice to change my mind about how I thought about myself! I made a choice to talk nice to myself. I made a choice to exercise and eat right which makes me feel better about myself!!
Think about the power of our mind and how strong it is. What we think can literally come to fruition if we focus on it enough. Maybe I would have become severely overweight if I hadn't decided to change my mind about food and how I felt about myself. All it takes is a choice..a choice you get to make!!! Once you change your mind, everything else changes.
Another one of my favorite quotes by inspirational author and speaker, Wayne Dyer; "Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change" has the same meaning. If we all just made a decision to eat right, exercise 5-6 days a week and think positively instead of negatively, our lives would be different, our lives would change. We would feel better, look better and be happier.
If you struggle with putting healthy food in your mouth, or exercising on a consistent basis, know that you are the one that has the power to change it. Make the decision today to take a baby step toward change. Choose it, Make it happen and enroll people to help you! You will start to notice that your whole world looks and feels different and that is the power of 9 little words!
Thanks John!!!
To check out Kinetic Cycling and John's spin classes, visit his site at www.kineticcycling.com
ENJOY!
Change Your Mind, Change Your Body, Change Your Life:
This powerful phrase, quoted by my favorite spin teacher and friend, John Scarangello, owner of Kinetic Cycling, during a spin class I was in last Friday really hit home for me. It's 9 simple words, but the power behind these words were paramount.
For years I have suffered from a mild eating disorder, in that whenever I ate something I would think, "This is going to make me fat". Even if it was a piece of fruit. This thought process came to me a child after seeing all the perfect models and their perfect bodies on the pages of glossy magazines. I thought I needed to look like them for people to like me. I thought I needed to be super skinny for people to like me. Luckly due to good genetics and being active consistently, I have never been overweight in all my life, but the way I thought about my weight made me feel like I was 400 pounds.I was never happy with the way I looked or the way I felt in my body. I would say negative things to myself and starve myself in hopes that someone would notice that I had the perfect body.
Now that I am 40, I have come to a place of acceptance. Yes, there are still times when I think that I am fat or I could tone up here and there, but these thoughts do not occupy my mind like they once did. Guess why? I made a choice to change my mind about how I thought about myself! I made a choice to talk nice to myself. I made a choice to exercise and eat right which makes me feel better about myself!!
Think about the power of our mind and how strong it is. What we think can literally come to fruition if we focus on it enough. Maybe I would have become severely overweight if I hadn't decided to change my mind about food and how I felt about myself. All it takes is a choice..a choice you get to make!!! Once you change your mind, everything else changes.
Another one of my favorite quotes by inspirational author and speaker, Wayne Dyer; "Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change" has the same meaning. If we all just made a decision to eat right, exercise 5-6 days a week and think positively instead of negatively, our lives would be different, our lives would change. We would feel better, look better and be happier.
If you struggle with putting healthy food in your mouth, or exercising on a consistent basis, know that you are the one that has the power to change it. Make the decision today to take a baby step toward change. Choose it, Make it happen and enroll people to help you! You will start to notice that your whole world looks and feels different and that is the power of 9 little words!
Thanks John!!!
To check out Kinetic Cycling and John's spin classes, visit his site at www.kineticcycling.com
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Pill Popping Problem Solvers....NOT!
For many years I lived without a TV…and I loved it! I found myself reading more, writing more and spending more time doing active things that kept me healthy & happy. Now that I live in a place with a TV, I find myself sitting in front of it when I feel overwhelmed or if I need to “check out” and not think for a while.
But, as I sit there, I quickly realize that I am not really enjoying what I am watching, and all I see is ad after ad that claims, “Take this pill, or that pill and all your problems will go away”. TV is filled with these commercials that affirm to “fix” any & every health issue we may have from arthritis, to heartburn to high blood pressure to headaches. It is truly disheartening.
Why has our society become so obsessed with the “quick fix”? Masking the problem, instead of solving it. When did we become so lazy and stop caring about ourselves and our wellbeing? Doctors are paid to sell drugs to us. Pharmaceutical companies are the biggest profit generators of today. Most of the time, Doctors’ just prescribe a pill to get us out of the office so that they can quickly move on to the next patient. But, are we really healing the problem?? NO!!!! Do they really want to cure us at the deepest level?? Not sure!! Are we coming back to health, or just making ourselves dependent on some substance that is making us worse instead of better??
Our bodies can become breeding grounds for disease if we don’t take care of them. The typical American Diet is high in processed foods, thereby creating an acidic environment where illness and disease can flourish!
As a Health Educator & Wellness Coach, I feel it is my duty to offer you knowledge and suggestions on how to return your body to health without popping a pill. If you are one of those people who think that taking over the counter drugs is the answer, I am here to help you return to health and wellness in a natural way.
Remember, Food is MEDICINE (thank you Socrates)! We need to use the food we eat to cure our “problems” and get healthy!! What we put in our mouth determines how we will feel from the inside out! We need to make smarter choices about what we eat, and how much we eat, to keep our bodies operating at their optimal state. Adopt a healthy eating lifestyle! Eat plenty of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, lean proteins and healthy fats!! And Exercise…move…do something!!!
Below is a list of a few common ailments and my suggestions to help heal them without popping those pills:
Heartburn/Indigestion: If you suffer from heartburn and/or indigestion, you most likely have low stomach acid. HCL, also known as Hydrochloric Acid, is the acid in your stomach that is responsible for breaking down proteins. If you are low in HCL, you will not be able to break down meats and other proteins, in turn causing heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux and many other digestive problems. You will also suffer from these ailments if you eat a lot of meat and other highly acidic foods like dairy & wheat. Also, low HCL prevents yoru body from absorbing B12 and other nutrients. You can re-build the HCL in your stomach by taking HCL pills (available at health food stores) or taking a Tablespoon of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar before every meal in a small amount of water. Over time, your HCL will rebuild and you will be able to digest your proteins without any help.
Gas & Bloating: Again, a digestive issue. Most likely you have a hard time digesting carbs, sugar, proteins and even vegetables. I highly recommend taking digestive enzymes before every meal to help your body break down your foods properly. Also, cut back on refined flour, sugar & diet soda!!! Food combining is another way you can prevent gas & bloating and keep your digestive system working properly. For more information on food combining, check out http://www.thewolfeclinic.com/foodcombining.html
High Blood Pressure: Exercise, Exercise, Exercise (for at least 30 minutes a day) and lower your sodium intake. If you need to use salt, switch to Sea Salt or use Gomasio, which is a combination of sesame seeds and sea salt. Sea Salt will give your body the necessary minerals it needs and the rest will be flushed out. You will not retain water when you use sea salt, but please keep in mind that it is still sodium, so use it moderately.
Headaches: Most likely an allergy to certain foods, or too much stress. If you suffer from headaches, cut out caffeine, cheese, alcohol, refined sugar, and any food or drink that contains sulfites. See how you feel in 2 weeks. Also, spend some time practicing deep breathing exercises, light stretching or sitting quietly for 10 minutes a day.
Muscle Aches & Pains: Instead of taking that painkiller (which can stress the liver) do some stretching, see a massage therapist, take a hot bath using Epsom salts or find a local acupuncturist. Usually muscular pain in the body is created by an imbalance or energy blockage. Eat magnesium rich foods such as sea vegetables. Too much sugar or caffeine can sap your body of minerals and cause imbalances as well.
PMS/Menstrual Issues: Most likely a hormonal imbalance in the body, which can be caused by processed & fried foods, caffeine, smoking, stress, etc. First step is to cut out caffeine and sugar. Add Magnesium & Calcium rich foods to your diet. Eat plenty of leafy greens and sea vegetables. If you suffer from severe PMS, consider having a complete hormonal screen done by a Naturopath or Holistic hormone specialist. Have your Thyroid Checked!
IBS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a very common digestive problem affecting many Americans. I suffered from IBS as a young adult and realized that I needed to do something to help myself since every doctor I went to had no answer. I started to slowly change my diet and cut out eating certain foods that would upset my system, as well as meditating and practicing deep breathing exercises. To help yourself, cut out one highly allergenic food per week such as dairy, corn, wheat or soy and see if anything changes. You can then add each food back in slowly to determine where the problem is.
Sinus Problems: If you constantly have a runny nose, a stuffed up nose, or need to clear your throat, dairy could be your culprit. Cut out dairy for a week and see what happens! Stay away from the poison that you shoot up your nose to clear it out. It actually becomes addicting and you will need to use it more and more.
As you begin to adopt a healthier way of eating, you will notice many changes in your body and how you feel overall. You will begin to drop weight. Your skin will clear up. Your allergies will subside. You will have more energy. Forego running to the drug store to get that pill and start to take charge or your well being by making positive choices. This is the only body you have, so take care of it while you are here! Do you want to feel healthy, full of energy and vibrant? Or do you want to be filled with synthetic drugs that are sapping your body of energy, nutrients and life? You choose!!! It’s in your hands!!!
For more information on healing your body through food, exercise and nutrition, email me at missy@karmachow.com
*A special thanks to my friend Tony Horton for the “Pill Popping” title…he IS a genius!
**Disclaimer: I am not a Doctor. If you have feel you have a serious illness, please seek professional medical help.
But, as I sit there, I quickly realize that I am not really enjoying what I am watching, and all I see is ad after ad that claims, “Take this pill, or that pill and all your problems will go away”. TV is filled with these commercials that affirm to “fix” any & every health issue we may have from arthritis, to heartburn to high blood pressure to headaches. It is truly disheartening.
Why has our society become so obsessed with the “quick fix”? Masking the problem, instead of solving it. When did we become so lazy and stop caring about ourselves and our wellbeing? Doctors are paid to sell drugs to us. Pharmaceutical companies are the biggest profit generators of today. Most of the time, Doctors’ just prescribe a pill to get us out of the office so that they can quickly move on to the next patient. But, are we really healing the problem?? NO!!!! Do they really want to cure us at the deepest level?? Not sure!! Are we coming back to health, or just making ourselves dependent on some substance that is making us worse instead of better??
Our bodies can become breeding grounds for disease if we don’t take care of them. The typical American Diet is high in processed foods, thereby creating an acidic environment where illness and disease can flourish!
As a Health Educator & Wellness Coach, I feel it is my duty to offer you knowledge and suggestions on how to return your body to health without popping a pill. If you are one of those people who think that taking over the counter drugs is the answer, I am here to help you return to health and wellness in a natural way.
Remember, Food is MEDICINE (thank you Socrates)! We need to use the food we eat to cure our “problems” and get healthy!! What we put in our mouth determines how we will feel from the inside out! We need to make smarter choices about what we eat, and how much we eat, to keep our bodies operating at their optimal state. Adopt a healthy eating lifestyle! Eat plenty of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, lean proteins and healthy fats!! And Exercise…move…do something!!!
Below is a list of a few common ailments and my suggestions to help heal them without popping those pills:
Heartburn/Indigestion: If you suffer from heartburn and/or indigestion, you most likely have low stomach acid. HCL, also known as Hydrochloric Acid, is the acid in your stomach that is responsible for breaking down proteins. If you are low in HCL, you will not be able to break down meats and other proteins, in turn causing heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux and many other digestive problems. You will also suffer from these ailments if you eat a lot of meat and other highly acidic foods like dairy & wheat. Also, low HCL prevents yoru body from absorbing B12 and other nutrients. You can re-build the HCL in your stomach by taking HCL pills (available at health food stores) or taking a Tablespoon of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar before every meal in a small amount of water. Over time, your HCL will rebuild and you will be able to digest your proteins without any help.
Gas & Bloating: Again, a digestive issue. Most likely you have a hard time digesting carbs, sugar, proteins and even vegetables. I highly recommend taking digestive enzymes before every meal to help your body break down your foods properly. Also, cut back on refined flour, sugar & diet soda!!! Food combining is another way you can prevent gas & bloating and keep your digestive system working properly. For more information on food combining, check out http://www.thewolfeclinic.com/foodcombining.html
High Blood Pressure: Exercise, Exercise, Exercise (for at least 30 minutes a day) and lower your sodium intake. If you need to use salt, switch to Sea Salt or use Gomasio, which is a combination of sesame seeds and sea salt. Sea Salt will give your body the necessary minerals it needs and the rest will be flushed out. You will not retain water when you use sea salt, but please keep in mind that it is still sodium, so use it moderately.
Headaches: Most likely an allergy to certain foods, or too much stress. If you suffer from headaches, cut out caffeine, cheese, alcohol, refined sugar, and any food or drink that contains sulfites. See how you feel in 2 weeks. Also, spend some time practicing deep breathing exercises, light stretching or sitting quietly for 10 minutes a day.
Muscle Aches & Pains: Instead of taking that painkiller (which can stress the liver) do some stretching, see a massage therapist, take a hot bath using Epsom salts or find a local acupuncturist. Usually muscular pain in the body is created by an imbalance or energy blockage. Eat magnesium rich foods such as sea vegetables. Too much sugar or caffeine can sap your body of minerals and cause imbalances as well.
PMS/Menstrual Issues: Most likely a hormonal imbalance in the body, which can be caused by processed & fried foods, caffeine, smoking, stress, etc. First step is to cut out caffeine and sugar. Add Magnesium & Calcium rich foods to your diet. Eat plenty of leafy greens and sea vegetables. If you suffer from severe PMS, consider having a complete hormonal screen done by a Naturopath or Holistic hormone specialist. Have your Thyroid Checked!
IBS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a very common digestive problem affecting many Americans. I suffered from IBS as a young adult and realized that I needed to do something to help myself since every doctor I went to had no answer. I started to slowly change my diet and cut out eating certain foods that would upset my system, as well as meditating and practicing deep breathing exercises. To help yourself, cut out one highly allergenic food per week such as dairy, corn, wheat or soy and see if anything changes. You can then add each food back in slowly to determine where the problem is.
Sinus Problems: If you constantly have a runny nose, a stuffed up nose, or need to clear your throat, dairy could be your culprit. Cut out dairy for a week and see what happens! Stay away from the poison that you shoot up your nose to clear it out. It actually becomes addicting and you will need to use it more and more.
As you begin to adopt a healthier way of eating, you will notice many changes in your body and how you feel overall. You will begin to drop weight. Your skin will clear up. Your allergies will subside. You will have more energy. Forego running to the drug store to get that pill and start to take charge or your well being by making positive choices. This is the only body you have, so take care of it while you are here! Do you want to feel healthy, full of energy and vibrant? Or do you want to be filled with synthetic drugs that are sapping your body of energy, nutrients and life? You choose!!! It’s in your hands!!!
For more information on healing your body through food, exercise and nutrition, email me at missy@karmachow.com
*A special thanks to my friend Tony Horton for the “Pill Popping” title…he IS a genius!
**Disclaimer: I am not a Doctor. If you have feel you have a serious illness, please seek professional medical help.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
The Abundance Diet
If you are a living, breathing human being, then chances are you’ve been on a diet once, twice or maybe multiple times in your life. The word diet, as described in Webster’s dictionary means; “fare; what is eaten or drunk habitually”. If you think about it, this means any food that we eat on a daily basis. So, according to Webster, we are on a diet every day of our life, just by eating habitually. Unfortunately in today’s times, the word diet has been described as a way to lose weight. It almost has a negative connotation to it. When most people hear the word diet, they think “lack, or deprivation”, which is usually true. But
Human beings are as different from one another as any snowflake that falls from the sky. There are no two of us alike, anywhere in the world. We all have our own distinct genetic make up, we differ in the way our body burns calories, absorbs nutrients and so on. Most of these diets are based on some sort of deprivation and are very unbalanced. The abundance diet is just the opposite.
If you want to lose excess pounds, maintain a healthy and fit body weight, burn calories, feel good inside and out and keep away disease and illness, then you will need to adapt a whole foods eating lifestyle. Or as I like to call it, the Abundance Diet! A whole food eating lifestyle is a way of eating where you do not deprive yourself. This way of eating allows you to have an abundance of whole foods; veggies, leafy greens, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, lean proteins and healthy fats. You can eat as much as you want, as long as you are eating a whole foods diet, without gaining weight. You will actually even drop weight.
Of course, as with any change in your eating habits, you will want to take baby steps, so that you do not set yourself up for failure. Below are some simple steps you can take to help change your eating habits for lasting results.
1. Adapt the 80/20 Rule: Eat a whole foods healthy diet 80% of the time and allow yourself to splurge the other 20% of the time. This allows the mind to believe that it is not deprived. Sounds pretty abundant to me!
2. Upgrade one food per week: switch out white rice for brown rice, white flour for whole grain flour, white sugar for natural sweeteners such as honey or brown rice syrup.
3. Cut out one processed food/drink per week – give up your twinkies, this week, and see how you feel. Cut out your diet soda…just for a week. YOU CAN decide after one week if you want to continue to drink this over processed, chemical ridden beverage or if you want to be committed to your health. (for more on the effects of artificial sweeteners visit http://www.newliving.com/issues/jan_07/articles/sweeteners.html)
4. Add one new whole food per week: if you’ve never had kale before, give it a try. Eat something you’ve never thought of eating. Having trouble knowing how to prepare it? Just email me missy@karmachow.com or go online for tasty recipes at www.wholefoodsmarket.com
5. Have a piece of fruit and a handful of nuts for a snack instead of those greasy, salty chips. The fiber in fruit, and the protein & fat in the nuts will help to keep you feeling full longer and will regulate your blood sugar.
6. Drink plenty of water: forego that afternoon soda and have water instead. . Drinking plenty of water keeps our appetite at bay and our body well hydrated. Sometimes we may mistake thirst for hunger. Drink an 8-oz glass of water and see how you feel after 15 minutes.
7. Cut back on caffeine: if you drink coffee, try cutting back by drinking half decaf with half regular. Or switch to heart healthy green tea! But remember, for every cup of caffeine you drink, you will need to drink extra water to hydrate!
These are just a few ideas for ways you can begin to eat healthy and abundantly. Once you start to make changes and adapt this healthy whole foods lifestyle, your cravings will subside and your body will no longer want the junk food. This will result in a natural weight loss, clearer skin, better digestion, less mood swings and so on. The list of benefits is endless.
Remember, allow yourself that 20% cushion so that you wont’ binge. Reward yourself with a treat after dinner, or an afternoon snack. Also be mindful that the healthier you eat, the healthier you will be, feel & look. We all know that old adage, “you are what you eat”. Well, it couldn’t be further from the truth. You are worth it, so take charge of your health and your weight and never say DIET again!!!
For a complete list of whole foods in the Abundance “Diet’, contact Missy at missy@karmachow.com or visit her web site at www.karmachow.com.
Human beings are as different from one another as any snowflake that falls from the sky. There are no two of us alike, anywhere in the world. We all have our own distinct genetic make up, we differ in the way our body burns calories, absorbs nutrients and so on. Most of these diets are based on some sort of deprivation and are very unbalanced. The abundance diet is just the opposite.
If you want to lose excess pounds, maintain a healthy and fit body weight, burn calories, feel good inside and out and keep away disease and illness, then you will need to adapt a whole foods eating lifestyle. Or as I like to call it, the Abundance Diet! A whole food eating lifestyle is a way of eating where you do not deprive yourself. This way of eating allows you to have an abundance of whole foods; veggies, leafy greens, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, lean proteins and healthy fats. You can eat as much as you want, as long as you are eating a whole foods diet, without gaining weight. You will actually even drop weight.
Of course, as with any change in your eating habits, you will want to take baby steps, so that you do not set yourself up for failure. Below are some simple steps you can take to help change your eating habits for lasting results.
1. Adapt the 80/20 Rule: Eat a whole foods healthy diet 80% of the time and allow yourself to splurge the other 20% of the time. This allows the mind to believe that it is not deprived. Sounds pretty abundant to me!
2. Upgrade one food per week: switch out white rice for brown rice, white flour for whole grain flour, white sugar for natural sweeteners such as honey or brown rice syrup.
3. Cut out one processed food/drink per week – give up your twinkies, this week, and see how you feel. Cut out your diet soda…just for a week. YOU CAN decide after one week if you want to continue to drink this over processed, chemical ridden beverage or if you want to be committed to your health. (for more on the effects of artificial sweeteners visit http://www.newliving.com/issues/jan_07/articles/sweeteners.html)
4. Add one new whole food per week: if you’ve never had kale before, give it a try. Eat something you’ve never thought of eating. Having trouble knowing how to prepare it? Just email me missy@karmachow.com or go online for tasty recipes at www.wholefoodsmarket.com
5. Have a piece of fruit and a handful of nuts for a snack instead of those greasy, salty chips. The fiber in fruit, and the protein & fat in the nuts will help to keep you feeling full longer and will regulate your blood sugar.
6. Drink plenty of water: forego that afternoon soda and have water instead. . Drinking plenty of water keeps our appetite at bay and our body well hydrated. Sometimes we may mistake thirst for hunger. Drink an 8-oz glass of water and see how you feel after 15 minutes.
7. Cut back on caffeine: if you drink coffee, try cutting back by drinking half decaf with half regular. Or switch to heart healthy green tea! But remember, for every cup of caffeine you drink, you will need to drink extra water to hydrate!
These are just a few ideas for ways you can begin to eat healthy and abundantly. Once you start to make changes and adapt this healthy whole foods lifestyle, your cravings will subside and your body will no longer want the junk food. This will result in a natural weight loss, clearer skin, better digestion, less mood swings and so on. The list of benefits is endless.
Remember, allow yourself that 20% cushion so that you wont’ binge. Reward yourself with a treat after dinner, or an afternoon snack. Also be mindful that the healthier you eat, the healthier you will be, feel & look. We all know that old adage, “you are what you eat”. Well, it couldn’t be further from the truth. You are worth it, so take charge of your health and your weight and never say DIET again!!!
For a complete list of whole foods in the Abundance “Diet’, contact Missy at missy@karmachow.com or visit her web site at www.karmachow.com.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Match Your Food to Your Parts!
We all know that eating healthy, unprocessed, whole foods is good for us, but do we really know why? Well, Mother Nature is indeed a miracle worker, because she created some food to look just like our body parts, therefore enhancing and nourishing those specific parts, the more we eat them.
Below is a list of some foods that are great for your parts...eat them as much as you like! It's a bit like playing Match Game, if any of you remember that TV show!
Walnuts: Shaped like a brain, good for the brain! High in Omega 3's which help the brain cells communicate with each other. Omega's are also essential for cognitive performance & memory.
Carrots: As kids we all heard the tried and true wives tale "Carrots are good for your eyesight", well that couldn't be more true. Not only are they good for eyesight, but Carrots are high in Beta Carotene, which converts to Vitamin A when ingested. Vitamin A maintains the health of your eye and helps to protect your eye from germs, inflammation and infection. Slice one open and check out the iris staring right back at you!
Sweet Potatoes: Shaped like your pancreas, and good for it! Sweet Potatoes or Yams slowly release sugars into the blood-stream so that your pancreas won't get stressed!
Kidney Beans: They aren't called Gall-Bladder beans! These red beauties are great for nourishing and healing your kidneys.
Tomatoes: Cut them open and notice the 4 chambers that mimic the heart..even the color coincides. This delicious fruit, filled with Lycopine, is great for the heart and the blood!
Grapes: Red or Purple grapes are high in flavonoids, which help to protect against heart disease as well as aging and cancer. These heart shaped clusters, that resemble a cluster of blood cells, may also help you control your blood pressure. Best to eat the real thing..but if you must, have that glass of organic, sulfite-free red wine!
Rhubarb, Celery & Bok Choy: Shaped a bit like a fibia, tibula, or ulna these veggies are high in calcium and Vitamin K which is excellent for keeping your bones healthy and strong. Vitamin K assists in activating three proteins involved in bone health as well as increasing bone mineral density. Also a good source of sodium, which your body will pull from your bones if you don't have enough!
FOR THE LADIES:
Melons & Citrus fruits: Ladies..read on! Melons are rich in Vitamin C, which boost our immune system and helps to prevent breast cancer! Oranges are great too!
Olives: Yes, great for the Ovaries! A diet rich in Olive Oil has been shown to lower the risk of Ovarian Cancer.
Avocado, Pear & Eggplant: These three beauties target the cervix and womb! Oddly enough, Avocados take exactly 9-months to grow. They are great for helping to lose weight after childbirth, balancing hormones, and providing essential healthy fats.
FOR THE MEN:
Figs: Hanging in clusters of two, these delicious fruits help increase sperm count & mobility! Gents, go get your figs!!! But make sure you buy this delicate fruit organic!
Remember, eating a whole foods diet will keep your immune system strong and help you to manage stress in your life. Your body uses whole foods as fuel, thereby resulting in more energy and less weight gain!
So..next time you're in the market...match that food to your part! Have FUN!!!
Visit my site at: www.karmachow.com
Below is a list of some foods that are great for your parts...eat them as much as you like! It's a bit like playing Match Game, if any of you remember that TV show!
Walnuts: Shaped like a brain, good for the brain! High in Omega 3's which help the brain cells communicate with each other. Omega's are also essential for cognitive performance & memory.
Carrots: As kids we all heard the tried and true wives tale "Carrots are good for your eyesight", well that couldn't be more true. Not only are they good for eyesight, but Carrots are high in Beta Carotene, which converts to Vitamin A when ingested. Vitamin A maintains the health of your eye and helps to protect your eye from germs, inflammation and infection. Slice one open and check out the iris staring right back at you!
Sweet Potatoes: Shaped like your pancreas, and good for it! Sweet Potatoes or Yams slowly release sugars into the blood-stream so that your pancreas won't get stressed!
Kidney Beans: They aren't called Gall-Bladder beans! These red beauties are great for nourishing and healing your kidneys.
Tomatoes: Cut them open and notice the 4 chambers that mimic the heart..even the color coincides. This delicious fruit, filled with Lycopine, is great for the heart and the blood!
Grapes: Red or Purple grapes are high in flavonoids, which help to protect against heart disease as well as aging and cancer. These heart shaped clusters, that resemble a cluster of blood cells, may also help you control your blood pressure. Best to eat the real thing..but if you must, have that glass of organic, sulfite-free red wine!
Rhubarb, Celery & Bok Choy: Shaped a bit like a fibia, tibula, or ulna these veggies are high in calcium and Vitamin K which is excellent for keeping your bones healthy and strong. Vitamin K assists in activating three proteins involved in bone health as well as increasing bone mineral density. Also a good source of sodium, which your body will pull from your bones if you don't have enough!
FOR THE LADIES:
Melons & Citrus fruits: Ladies..read on! Melons are rich in Vitamin C, which boost our immune system and helps to prevent breast cancer! Oranges are great too!
Olives: Yes, great for the Ovaries! A diet rich in Olive Oil has been shown to lower the risk of Ovarian Cancer.
Avocado, Pear & Eggplant: These three beauties target the cervix and womb! Oddly enough, Avocados take exactly 9-months to grow. They are great for helping to lose weight after childbirth, balancing hormones, and providing essential healthy fats.
FOR THE MEN:
Figs: Hanging in clusters of two, these delicious fruits help increase sperm count & mobility! Gents, go get your figs!!! But make sure you buy this delicate fruit organic!
Remember, eating a whole foods diet will keep your immune system strong and help you to manage stress in your life. Your body uses whole foods as fuel, thereby resulting in more energy and less weight gain!
So..next time you're in the market...match that food to your part! Have FUN!!!
Visit my site at: www.karmachow.com
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