Although low blood sugar can cause short-term concerns for many of us, consistently high blood sugar poses serious, long-term risks, especially for those with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or those with a history of extreme stress.
Many women today have estrogen dominance – a condition where estrogen is high in relation to progesterone. It doesn’t necessarily mean that estrogen is elevated (although most of the time it is) – it means that there is not enough progesterone production to oppose estrogen and keep it in check. As if hypothyroidism wasn’t enough of an epidemic, estrogen dominance is epidemic as well and can have some serious implications for thyroid function. Kind of a double whammy.
As popularity in the Paleo (short for Paleolithic) diet has grown, so have questions from my clients about its merits. Many of my clients are nutritionally savvy – they’ve done a lot of their own research on hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s, and adrenal fatigue, and come to me to help them sort out the contradictions and confusion and give them a supportive program with which they can start putting one foot in front of the other. And there is a lot of confusion about the benefits of going Paleo.
We’ve all heard the idiom, “You are what you eat.” You also feel what you eat. We know that the right foods help ward off disease and help keep our bodies healthy as we age. Yet many people don’t make the connection in how food can be our most powerful defense in alleviating moodiness, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and stress, and improving outlook and attitude.
I get a lot of questions about food sensitivities. My clients want to know the difference between a food sensitivity and a food allergy. Here’s the difference. Food allergies cause an immediate response. Hives? Shortness of breath? Anaphylactic Shock? Swelling of the lips, face, tongue, or throat? Nausea or vomiting? Abdominal pain? Dizziness? These are all signs of a food allergy. Food sensitivities are shiftier and can exact an even greater toll on our health because they’re more challenging to identify, often causing the ensuing cellular inflammation to rage on for years.
Do you have a hard time falling asleep at night? Do you wake up frequently during the night? Do you have a hard time waking up in the morning early or feeling refreshed? Do you get an afternoon slump, only to perk up around 6 or 7pm, and then get a second wind around 9:30? Are you lacking in energy? Do you feel tired yet wired? Do bright lights bother you more than they should? Do you startle easily due to noise?
Saturated fats and cholesterol have been vilified for 30 years, but the truth is, they’re essential for good health and a necessary component of every cell in your body.
Spices are packed with disease-fighting compounds and although unproven and largely uninvestigated by modern Western medicine, the nutritional value of spices continues to intrigue and benefit those willing to explore their unique properties.
Whether your choice of comfort foods is based on the season, the occasion, your personal history, or your identity, there is always an emotional component to what we eat, as emotions play a significant role in what we crave. No matter the reason, there is certainly room in a healthy diet to moderately partake in whatever your heart and mind desire.
When most people hear “leafy green vegetables,” they probably think of iceberg lettuce. However the ordinary, pale crunchies in restaurant salads don’t boast the power-packed goodness or taste (pass the ranch dressing!) of other darker greens, most of which our Western diets are unfortunately lacking.
