Posts Tagged ‘nutrition’

With Thanksgiving approaching we can almost taste the flavorful turkey, green beans and sweet pumpkin pie. While enjoying the holiday season, the company of family and friends, and a delicious feast, save some room for something a little different this year. I’m not referring to dessert, but to knowledge. Surely you’ll have room for that!

If you’ve read my article on cholesterol, you’ll recall that cholesterol contributes to our body’s functioning and that hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) is a contrived disease of the 21st century. People with supposed high cholesterol are put on statin drugs. Common brand names are Lipitor, Mevacor and Zocor. They’re used to lower cholesterol and they do this very well. Except they rob the body of essential nutrients resulting in internal body changes that can have dangerous, far reaching effects.

Lowering total cholesterol, in most cases, isn’t justified. Since cholesterol is part of every cell membrane, depletion causes our cells to leak. This is an emergency as far as our bodies are concerned and they go into repair mode sending cholesterol to patch up the leakage. Since statin drugs lower cholesterol our bodies are left without the necessary tools to properly repair themselves.

Coenzyme-Q10 is an essential nutrient that supports muscle function, protects from heart disease, cancer, heart attacks and heart failure. It’s frightening to know statin drugs deplete this nutrient. Side effects as a result of this depletion include: muscle pain or weakness, pain and tingling in the hands, difficulty walking, loss of feeling in the lower extremities, liver failure, cognitive decline and heart failure. Many people never fully recover from these side effects. The damage has already been done.

Awareness about statin drugs and their side effects makes it apparent this treatment is not ideal. I’m not advocating that you dismiss what your doctor may tell you. I’m advocating awareness about these harmful drugs and their alternatives. With the abundance of information available there’s no reason to be uninformed. There are numerous websites and chat rooms with information and first hand accounts from people who have experienced these effects. As you enjoy your Thanksgiving feast, remember to leave room for knowledge about cholesterol and statin drugs. It may save your health.

Let Women’s Health Advantage help you become informed and find the path to true vibrant health.

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Invest in yourself ~ Women’s Health Advantage is ready to help!

Are you…
DONE wishing for better health?
TIRED of just talking about what to do next?
READY to make positive changes and live a more vibrant life?
SUFFERING from health symptoms that are unexplained or unrelieved?
Are you ready to create optimum wellness and vibrant health?! Ready to feel strong and alive? Then it’s time to get in touch with Jill Redfern at Women’s Health Advantage to assist you in creating your best life ever! Jill can guide you in any dietary, digestion, and nutritional issues and help you get going with vibrant health TODAY! After all, if not now… when?

Jill Redfern is a registered nurse in the Valencia area with 30 years of experience in both traditional and alternative medicine and a pioneer in the field of women’s alternative health and enzyme therapy.

Vacation time is here … road trips, long flights, and rising gas prices await us. While packing suitcases, booking rooms, and planning itineraries, set aside time to think about what you’ll eat while on the road (or in the air).

Maintaining healthy eating habits while on vacation can be a challenge; so, do your homework, put in some time and effort, and you’ll find it is possible to vacation and eat healthy at the same time.

Here are some quick tips to get you started:

1. Research: Check online for restaurants in the area before you leave home. You may be surprised, as I have been, at what you’ll find.
2. Sugar Overload: Breakfast is your most important meal so avoid highly refined carbohydrates like pancakes, bagels, etc. Stay away from juices and canned fruit as well since they are full of sugar. The last thing you need is a spike in your blood sugar with a subsequent crash leading to fatigue, brain fog, and irritability. You want a happy and memorable vacation, remember?
3. Brain Food: Eat protein and good fats instead; they’ll keep you alert and satisfied. Eggs, steak, even bacon or sausage are better choices. Eggs should be over-easy, or poached in order to avoid packaged egg mixes. Always ask if real butter, fresh fruit and veggies are available.
4. Lunch: Start with a large salad topped with grilled meat or fish; use olive oil, vinegar, or coconut oil as your dressing. Sandwiches are good, just avoid white bread and processed meats. Instead, opt for a wrap with Romaine lettuce.
5. Dinner: Choose meat or fish for your protein (Black Angus beef or un-farmed fish are ideal). Steamed veggies, a large salad, or a baked potato are great too – don’t forget the real butter! If you’re feeling adventurous, try something tasty like lamb, buffalo (my favorite), or venison. Ethnic restaurants can entice the taste buds and many still use traditional foods and cooking methods.

You’ll want to bring your own coconut oil and sea salt as these can be hard to find. If possible, pack a small cooler of your favorite healthy snacks like fresh fruit, raw cheese, nuts etc. Should you come across a roadside stand or farmer’s market, take a look. You may find some healthy tasty treats. Enjoy your vacation!

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Please feel free to print a copy of this article.

Invest in yourself ~ Women’s Health Advantage is ready to help!

Are you…
DONE wishing for better health?
TIRED of just talking about what to do next?
READY to make positive changes and live a more vibrant life?
SUFFERING from health symptoms that are unexplained or unrelieved?
Are you ready to create optimum wellness and vibrant health?! Ready to feel strong and alive? Then it’s time to get in touch with Jill Redfern at Women’s Health Advantage to assist you in creating your best life ever! Jill can guide you in any dietary, digestion, and nutritional issues and help you get going with vibrant health TODAY! After all, if not now… when?

Jill Redfern is a registered nurse in the Valencia area with 30 years of experience in both traditional and alternative medicine and a pioneer in the field of women’s alternative health and enzyme therapy.

Get the new year started right and make this your year for vibrant health! In this article I’m sharing my favorite 4 super foods to get you moving on the right path to build great health and improved digestion, immunity, and vitality that lasts all day…

1. Organic Land and Ocean Vegetables
Low in calories and rich in essential minerals, vitamins, protein and important trace elements that are lacking in non-organic land vegetables due to soil demineralization. Sea vegetables such as Nori, Kombu or Wakame contain more minerals than any other kind of food.

Remember that eating raw cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and radishes can actually suppress thyroid hormone production leading to fatigue and a slowing of your metabolism. Gentle steaming, stir-frying or fermenting will eliminate this problem.

2. Fermented Foods and Drinks
Amazingly enzyme and probiotic-rich they improve digestion, stop sugar cravings, provide essential vitamins and minerals and boost immunity. Populate your gut with beneficial bacteria to build immunity and promote vibrant health.

Try them as the perfect accompaniment to all types of protein such as eggs, beef, chicken or fish. Add sour cream to create a fresh nutrient-dense dip. Vegetable juices can be added to organic olive oil for a tangy salad dressing. At Women’s Health Advantage we carry lacto-fermented vegetables, juices, and coconut kefir by Alive foods.

3. Healthy Proteins
Organic grass-fed meat, poultry and wild fish. An excellent online source is US Wellness Meats. Raw dairy: milk, cream, colostrum, cheese and butter are available at Whole Foods.

Seeds and nuts are also an excellent source of protein. Soak or sprout first to neutralize enzyme inhibitors that can block utilization of nutrients. Almonds, pecans, cashews, macadamia nuts and peanuts have a high content of stable oleic acid that prevents them from going rancid easily. Prepare by soaking and dehydrating. Then store for months at room temperature in an airtight container!

4. Healthy Fats
Provide essential fatty acids that give us beautiful skin, brain power, enhanced immunity, and fight depression. Although demonized by the mainstream press, the healthiest forms of fat are the saturated fats. Examples include: raw butter, coconut oil, lard, tallow and small amounts of olive oil. Note that lard and tallow products must come from animals that were raised properly.

7 Principles of the Body Ecology Diet

• The Principle of Acid and Alkaline recommends maintaining a slightly alkaline blood pH of 7.4 by consuming foods and drinks that are alkalizing in your body. Lifestyle changes that reduce stress are also vital for keeping your blood more alkaline because cortisol raises blood sugar (acid-forming) and leaches alkaline-forming minerals from your body.
• The Principle of Uniqueness maintains that everyone is “an experiment of one.” Your body is completely unique, and as you experiment with different ways of eating, honor your body’s wisdom.
• The Principle of Cleansing. As you begin to rejuvenate your body with healthy foods and drinks, your body’s energy will increase causing continual, ongoing cleansing. Embrace these cleansings as they come and go, even if you experience an uncomfortable flare up of negative symptoms. They will pass as you continue on your path to wellness.
• The Principle of Food Combining is essential to proper digestion. By avoiding starches and proteins in the same meal, you create an environment in your digestive tract that promotes optimal digestion. Read more about this principle in Food Combining: The Little-Understood Secret to Optimal Weight & Health Revealed.
• The Principle of 80/20 really has two parts and tells us how much food to take in each meal. Part A: Never consume more than 80% of your stomach’s capacity). Part B: Be mindful of the ratio of vegetables to starches or proteins. An ideal meal is 80% vegetables and only 20% either grains, BED grain-like seeds OR protein.
• The Principle of Step by Step indicates that you can take the slow and steady approach to changing your diet and your lifestyle. Body Ecology is a system of health and healing with many tools for wellness. You can’t pick them all up at once. Choose the tool or tools that appeal to you the most and work on mastering these first. When you are comfortable with that tool, pick up another one. But never stop stepping towards wellness!!

For more on the 7 Principles of the Body Ecology Diet read A Review of the 7 Key Healthy Eating Principles as You Enter 2007.

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Please feel free to download or print a .pdf version of this article. If you need the latest version of the free .pdf viewer, you can click here to easily download and install one.

Invest in yourself ~ Women’s Health Advantage is ready to help!

Are you…
DONE wishing for better health?
TIRED of just talking about what to do next?
READY to make positive changes and live a more vibrant life?
SUFFERING from health symptoms that are unexplained or unrelieved?
Are you ready to create optimum wellness and vibrant health?! Ready to feel strong and alive? Then it’s time to get in touch with Jill Redfern at Women’s Health Advantage to assist you in creating your best life ever! Jill can guide you in any dietary, digestion, and nutritional issues and help you get going with vibrant health TODAY! After all, if not now… when?

Jill Redfern is a registered nurse in the Valencia area with 30 years of experience in both traditional and alternative medicine and a pioneer in the field of women’s alternative health and enzyme therapy.