Complete Holistic Nutrition

03/23/2023

Hi Everyone!

It’s been a while since I’ve been active on FB, but I’m back!

I’m looking to interview 10 women over 40 suffering from weight gain, bloating, or brain fog … or all of the above.
If that’s you, and you can spare 20 minutes to help me, comment ME below.
This is for market research purposes only for a project I’m working on. Your input would be very valuable and greatly appreciated. Thank you!

05/28/2017

Losing weight has SOOOOO much more to do with calories in vs calories out. We know that theory is just way too simple because... it doesn't work! Hormonal imbalances, which can be caused by many many factors, play a crucial role in how our body balances itself - or not. There are ways to re-set our bodies through diet and supplementation, and lifestyle changes, but it takes time, and it takes the right guidance. Ladies, don't beat yourself up when eating salads all day, and running on the treadmill 5 times a week does not result in weight loss. There are so many other factors at play that need to be addressed :) http://ow.ly/eVkU30c634q

Because that would be too easy.

05/17/2017

The intricacies of the microbiome never cease to amaze me!
Researchers continue to make new discoveries regarding specific bacteria and how they benefit our health!
Check out Akkermansia!!!
Some people who struggle with obesity have VERY low levels of this amazing little microbe.
Hmmmm.... if only there was a way to increase its population in our gut.
I might just be able to help with that 😊👍🏻

We’re excited to bring you a new monthly series here at the uBiome Blog: Bacterium of the Month! We hope you’ll join us as our laboratory team member, Akshaya Krishnan, shares her research with us. This month she focuses on a bacterium that has been getting a lot of attention lately. Long live Akker...

04/30/2017

So many in our society are silently suffering from digestive issues. Many have suffered for so long they think it's simply their new reality.
It does NOT have to be your reality.
Symptom relievers (i.e. quick fixes) are not the answer.
The only way to relieve symptoms for good is to get to the root of gut health.
My firm belief is that these steps are necessary to get to the root of gut health:
A) Remove foods that could irritate/inflame the digestive tract.
B) Add anti-inflammatory foods to the diet that assist with overall health and the addition of necessary nutrients.
C) Add supplements that contribute to reducing inflammation and stimulate intestinal health.
D) Take a GOOD QUALITY Probiotic! Most of us, for various reasons, do not have a healthy population of good microflora - which affects ... EVERYTHING!!

04/12/2017

EXERCISE and MEDITATION are necessary to MAINTAIN or IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH!
This video is a MUST-SEE!!!
Although the video does not discuss nutrition, which I fully believe contributes to a healthy brain, it does emphasize the importance of exercise and meditation when it comes to controlling stress.
A healthy lifestyle includes so much more than just eating right. Emotional stress plays a HUGE role in our over-all health. Although living a completely stress-free life is very unrealistic, there are some strategies we can use to help reduce the damaging effects that stress has on our brains.
Change the things you can! If there are unhealthy and unnecessary stressors in your life, eliminate them!!!
To help your brain handle the stress that is out of your control, work in daily exercise and/or meditation :)

Stress isn’t always a bad thing; it can be handy for a burst of extra energy and focus, like when you’re playing a competitive sport or have to speak in public. But when it’s continuous, it actually begins to change your brain. Madhumita Murgia shows how chronic stress can affect brain size, its str...

03/12/2017

Coming from an agricultural background, it sometimes feels like a betrayal to my wheat-farming family members when I discuss gluten intolerance. However, when it comes down to what is truly important, there is not much that trumps our health.

I completely 'get' that giving up gluten is not easy. Let's face it, wheat has become such a staple in our society. Between bread, baking, pastas, snack-food like crackers, muffins, processed convenient snacks, and processed sandwich meat, it is not easy to go gluten-free.

However, for anyone suffering with autoimmune conditions, or any condition that can be linked back to Leaky Gut for that matter, gluten-free diets often give tremendous relief of symptoms.

Not only is there evidence to link a connection between gluten sensitivity and auto-immune thyroid conditions; more importantly is the first-hand experience of how I, and many others with autoimmune conditions, feel when going GF.

It is not easy at first, but it is most definitely possible. AND, getting the body back to a state of health may mean that gluten MIGHT not be the bad guy down the road :).

You know how the saying goes... you won't know unless you try :).

Studies show a strong link between autoimmune thyroid disease and gluten intolerance.

03/07/2017

I recently had a friend contact me, wondering why he might be experiencing blurry vision. He is not sure why he is experiencing this since he does not have allergies.

Well, let's see... he is middle-aged, lives a high-stress lifestyle, he does not sleep well, he skips meals, he snacks on coke and fast-food.

Hmmm, can someone say BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCE?!! Yikes!

Prolonged stress increases cortisol levels which can lead to prolonged insulin levels, which can lead to insulin resistance.
Lack of sleep is related to hormone imbalances (i.e. insulin!)
Sugar and poor nutrition leads to the blood sugar roller coaster, therefore imbalances in blood sugar and insulin!

I have urged him to have his blood sugar tested, because often the early signs of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes are ignored, or not really recognized as signs at all!
They may include, but are not limited to:
Increased thirst, urination, and/or appetite
Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
Unexplained weight loss
Feelings of fatigue
Blurry Vision
Slow would healing

Fortunately, with exercise, the RIGHT dietary changes, and taking the RIGHT supplements (such as chromium and alpha-lipoic acid - which happen to be found in a certain PINK DRINK that I have come to know and love :) ), blood sugar and insulin levels can come back into balance, often without having to take medication.

The earlier pre-diabetes or Type 2 diabetes is caught, the better.

OR, even better yet is if it is PREVENTED altogether!!!

03/06/2017

Hormones!
Many people blame their moodiness (especially women) on hormones during PMS, or menopause.
And I do not disagree in the least!

However, did you know.... Insulin is considered one of the master hormones in the body? All hormones are interconnected in a very intricate web. When insulin is not kept at an optimal level, it can set off a crazy cascade of hormonal imbalances.. leading to moodiness, depression and anxiety!

One reason insulin may not be kept at an optimal level is the over-consumption of sugar and refined, processed foods which stimulate the release of insulin to help move glucose (sugar) out of the blood stream.

Continual consumption of sugar and processed foods = continual release and sustained high levels of insulin. But then a vicious cycle begins, known as the Blood Sugar Roller Coaster. High insulin can cause a rapid drop in blood sugar, which causes cravings for guess what.... SUGAR! Which then causes more insulin release.

This is so so common in our society that is SO full of processed, packaged, refined 'convenience' food!

Anyone experience the 'hangry's'? You are experiencing the BLOOD SUGAR ROLLER COASTER!

And although moodiness may seem minor, we do NOT want the blood sugar roller coaster to lead to something more serious such as Type 2 Diabetes!!!

Therefore, eat well, reduce alcohol and sugar, increase fibre, drink lots of water, and try to keep that blood sugar balanced ladies!!!

http://naturallysavvy.com/care/blood-sugar-and-mood

Think your blood sugar levels don't play a part in your mood? Think again and learn how to balance your blood sugar levels for sustained energy.

03/05/2017

Anyone else experience the Sunday Night Blues?... which is a real thing, I might add :).

Over 80% of North Americans report that they experience feeling some degree of sadness or depression on Sunday evenings!

Aside from the obvious - the lengthy to-do list that you know awaits you on Monday morning, or the mountain of paperwork sitting on your desk - sometimes Sunday Night Blues stem all the way back to childhood. Perhaps you were anxious about having to go back to school to hit the books on Monday mornings. Or maybe it was even more complex. Perhaps you had a learning disability, or were bullied at school. Or perhaps you were from a split family, and had to leave mom's or dad's place on Sunday evenings.

Regardless of your reason for experiencing the Sunday Night blues, take a look at these very practical and helpful ideas to help minimize the feelings that start creeping up on Sunday afternoons.

My favourites.... planning something fun for Sunday afternoon, exercising on Sunday afternoon or evening (LOVE the endorphin boost that exercise gives), and of course, EATING HEALTHY MEALS to keep blood sugar balanced and prevent feelings of lethargy :).

Here's to a happy, healthy Sunday.

It’s Sunday afternoon and suddenly you feel a pang of anxiety. The relaxation and enjoyment of the weekend seem to come to a halt. Preoccupation about the work week invades your brain. Thoughts of everything you need to do fuel feelings of...

03/02/2017

Did you know... that approximately 80% of the North American population is magnesium deficient? This is in part due to soil depletion of minerals, combined with the consumption of processed, refined foods devoid of adequate nutrition.

Magnesium deficiency can show up in a huge variety of ways: anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, muscle spasms/twitches, restless leg syndrome, PMS, menstrual cramps, trouble sleeping, migraines, asthma, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, heart attack, and osteoperosis... to name a few!

Magnesium is found in nuts, seeds, grains and leafy green vegetables, but even if these foods are consumed on a regular basis, there is a good chance we are still deficient. That is why it is so important to supplement with this super safe, super necessary mineral that is often known as 'nature's muscle relaxant'.

Thankfully, I have found one that I love! BioCleanse by Plexus. The name is a bit deceiving though, because it is by no means what you may think of as a traditional 'cleanse'. There is nothing harsh about it! It is a very mild, yet effective form of magnesium supplement which oxygenates our cells, and assists in the elimination of toxins. Good stuff!!!

02/26/2017

"I have stomach pain, so maybe I have Leaky Gut."

I had someone make this comment to me the other day, which made me realize not everyone knows what Leaky Gut is. Whaaaaat?

I take it for granted that when I say Leaky Gut, people know that it doesn't mean there are holes in your stomach, spilling out the entire contents of everything you consume... or that it does not necessarily mean digestive upset or stomach pain.

Leaky Gut is a condition that many many many people unknowingly suffer from. It involves intestinal inflammation, which leads to particles leaking into the blood stream, which leads to immune responses. It CAN shows up as food sensitivity symptoms such as stomach aches, digestive upset, or skin rashes, but it does not ALWAYS have such obvious symptoms.

You may, and probably do, have Leaky Gut if you have a thyroid issue, rheumatoid arthritis, acne, psoriasis, fibromyalgia, or the myriad of other autoimmune conditions out there today.

You may, and probably do, have Leaky Gut if you suffer from hormone imbalances resulting in irregular periods, heavy flow, PMS, depression, anxiety.

You may, and probably do have Leaky Gut if you suffer from intestinal disorders such as IBS and colitis.

You may, and probably do, have Leaky Gut if you suffer from unexplained joint pain, headaches, mood disorders, hypoglycemia, high blood pressure, or chronic fatigue.

I could go on, and on, and on.

Leaky Gut can, and probably does, impact or result in most common health conditions that we suffer from today. Fortunately, there is a way to reduce or even eliminate many symptoms involved with these conditions.... help our guts return to health!

We have really done a number on our guts in North America, so repairing them takes time. It involves eliminating certain foods, and adding in others. It involves lifestyle changes, and it involves taking supplements. Thankfully, I have discovered Plexus supplements. Which, among other things, addresses inflammation. Reducing inflammation if one of the key factors in addressing gut health.

If you're still with me, and want to learn more, PM me! I would love to share more information for those of you interested in geeking out over gut health, or health in general!!!