The Public Eye Should Hold the Tongue

I was struck with a story I saw today of a news anchor who on air publicly shared an e-mail she received from a critical viewer.

As a Mother of 3 young girls, Jennifer Livingston felt this the perfect opportunity to point out that bullying happens at all ages.

The following is Jennifer's public response as well as her subsequent interview on CBS This Morning.



As Jennifer points out, she is aware of her weight and has struggled since the birth of her first child 10 years ago. The fact that the critical viewer points out her responsibility to the community is ignorant. Would Jennifer be a better role model if she was lean or very thin? How would we know that the choices she was making to maintain a lean body were healthy? What if Jennifer as a lean woman silently suffered bulimia? Took diet pills or other amphetamines? We would never know. Outer appearance should never be the basis of a quality role model. Rather their actions speak far louder than that of their appearance.

We don't know the struggles of others. We don't know Jennifer's issues at a cellular level. Likely, she could be insulin resistant, her thyroid might be slowed, as a media reporter and Mother of 3 young children,(the youngest only 1 year) her sleep is likely not only interrupted but minimal at best.

Top all of this with the flawed USDA low fat advice and fear, these are the very real issues with human health and a lack of leaner body mass.

I applaud Jennifer. What a beautiful woman both inside and out. I'm sure there are plenty of women who wake up every morning wishing and hoping that their appearance was different. This takes time and does not just happen over night but we must be proud of who we are and be thankful for every day that we have here on this earth no matter our looks, size, shape or struggles.

I see within my own circles of social media the callous judgement of others. Before you make a judgement, stop and think about the potential struggles another might have and remember, none of us is perfect and each of us will always have work to do.

Certain Veggies Combat Abdominal Fat & Cancer?

Yes, that’s right! Consuming certain vegetables can help you reduce your tummy bulge as well, prevent certain cancers! These veggies contain phytonutrients that actually fight a particular type of tummy fat so many suffer today.

Due to exposure from household cleaners, plastics, cosmetics, pesticides, herbicides and insecticides, your body must do something with these toxic compounds that have the ability to mimic or convert to estrogen in the body. This particular estrogen is referred to as “Xenoestrogen.” These chemical compounds can affect not only Women but Men alike.

These estrogenic chemicals that we are exposed to on a daily basis can stimulate your body to store belly fat, along with many other problems (including cancer risks in the long term).

I frequently recommend the incorporation of more cruciferous or brassica vegetables to my clients to not only reduce belly fat but assist in preventing cancers in the long term.

What’s so unique about this class of vegetables? A chemical compound known as a phytonutrient, indole-3-carbinol or (I3C). Researchers are interested in indole-3-carbinol for cancer prevention, particularly breast, cervical and endometrial, and colorectal cancer. Their reason is that diets with higher amounts of vegetable consumption are associated with a decreased risk of developing cancer. Researchers suspect indole-3-carbinol is one of several vegetable components that might protect against this devastating disease.

Indole-3-carbinol can shift estrogen metabolism towards less estrogenic metabolites. This gives true meaning to the Hippocrates oath “Let food be thy medicine and let medicine be thy food.”

If you have been diagnosed estrogen dominant and would like to choose a natural course of action, there is supplemental indole-3-carbinol as well as another estrogen shifting supplement referred to as DIM (Diindolylmethane) I3c must convert to DIM in the GI tract so you may bypass the I3c all together and opt for the more bioavailable DIM at your health food store for a more aggressive approach.

There has been some research and anecdotal evidence that I3c can have side effects particularly with long term use.

Adding the vegetables mentioned below or supplemental DIM can have a balancing effect benefiting disorders and symptoms associated with estrogen-progesterone imbalance, including but not limited to:

• Fibrocystic diseases
• Fibromyalgia
• Endometriosis
• Uterine fibroid tumors
• Ovarian cysts
• Irregular periods
• Chronic, recurring breast pain
• PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)

To maintain good health and prevent or fight your belly fat, include these veggies more frequently:

• Brussels Sprouts
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Bok Choy
• Cabbage
• Collard Greens

Don’t forget to add some form of fat like butter, ghee or coconut oil to maximize your absorption of important fat soluble vitamins and if you suffer from thyroid disease, be sure to steam them to assist in neutralizing those goitrogens, compounds that can negatively affect your already compromised thyroid. I actually recommend everyone lightly steam for increased bio-availability of all nutrients. This is a “pre-digestion” of sorts.

Remember too that reducing your insulin secretion is another trick in combating belly fat and this can be done through any one of my phases of dietary advice. Head over to my website to choose a plan that works for your lifestyle. If you would like a free e-mail consultation on deciding which plan is right for you, don’t hesitate to e-mail me at freehealthydietplans@gmail.com.

In good health!

Fighting Cancer with Good Nutrition

The following is a guest blog post graciously provided by Jillian McKee.

Bringing a wealth of personal and professional experience to the organization, Jillian McKee has worked as the Complementary Medicine Advocate at the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance since June of 2009. Jillian spends most her time on outreach efforts and spreading information about the integration of complementary and alternative medicine when used in conjunction with traditional cancer treatment.

Fighting Cancer With Good Nutrition

Cancer is a devastating disease that strikes fear in the heart of anyone diagnosed with it. While there are now more effective treatments for it than ever before, scientists still have not discovered a surefire cure for the disease. The most likely reason for this lies with the many different types of cancer, and also the nearly endless possible causes. Many nutritionists believe the chemicals contained in the food we eat can make the human body more susceptible to cancer. On the other side of the coin, they believe restricting the diet to healthy foods can help humans avoid a diagnosis of cancer.

Chemotherapy is currently the most common treatment for nearly all cancers, and it is effective most of the time. A significant side-effect of chemotherapy is nausea and the loss of appetite, and the patient can lose strength, energy and body weight. It is very important for someone battling cancer to have the right kind of nutritional support. A strong immune response not only helps to fight the spread of cancer, but is necessary to kill the cancer cells already present.

Doctors report that approximately one third of cancer deaths are related to malnutrition, so adequate nutrition can literally save the life of someone while they are fighting cancer. Most cancer treatments now include a dietitian as part of the support team for cancer patients. Strong nutritional support can help the patient to decrease their risk of infection, improve their tolerance to debilitating treatments and help them to recuperate more quickly after their treatment is finished.

Good nutrition is as important to patients with mesothelioma as it is to anyone battling other types of cancer. Eating fresh fruits, vegetables and foods that provide a good supply of protein is essential. Supplements that are targeted at supporting the immune system are also very important, and help prevent cancer cells from spreading to other parts of the body.

While progress in finding a cure for cancer is slow, it is important that cancer patients support the health and strength of their bodies with good nutrition. Just like any high-tech machine, the human body needs the right kind of fuel to perform as it was intended.

Be sure to look for more blog posts by Jillian and other guest bloggers in the near future and don't forget to visit their sites.

Celiac Disease Foundation Conference 2012

I had the opportunity this past weekend to attend the Celiac Disease Foundation Annual Conference and Food Show in Los Angeles.

As I study to become a Gluten Free Coach, it is my intention to learn as much as I possibly can about this disease and the potential damage that can be caused by this insidious little protein. I personally suffer from non celiac gluten intolerance and have been gluten free for 12 years since beginning my Low Carbohydrate/Paleo journey. Check out my page on gluten intolerance here. If you have any of the symptoms, you might consider testing and at the very least, trying to eliminate gluten for 30 days to see if you notice any marked improvement.

I will say that while I took a few points away, I was slightly disappointed with this conference. There were four featured speakers and I gained the most from one which happens to be a RD specializing in advising the celiac on diet and nutrition.

I was particularly disappointed with one of the speakers, Peter H. R. Green, MD.

Dr. Green is the Director of The Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University. He is a Professor of Clinical Medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University and Attending Physician at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He is also a Member of CDF Medical Advisory Board.

Dr. Green made what I believe to be an irresponsible statement for the innocent patient suffering intestinal damage. "Probiotics are un-necessary and even dangerous" and "Just go to Costco and pick up a cheap multi-vitamin".

As a Nutrition Educator, I have personal experience with both sides of the coin. Dr. Green made the reference to "lack of clinical data of the efficacy of probiotics in celiac disease". Interestingly enough, the first speaker, Stefano Guandalini, MD spoke of the potential relationship between reduced microbes and celiac disease being a potential cause. Our increase in C-Sections and lack of breast feeding could be one of the factors but more evidence is still needed. Now this made me feel like Dr. Green is disconnected from the ever important steps it takes to repair the gut and gain improved health considering "Celiacs have a higher mortality rate" as quoted by the good Dr. Talking out both sides of his mouth perhaps?

While so many gluten intolerant and celiacs are suffering without diagnosis by Gastroenterologists, one would think that this particular Dr. would be well versed in the healing of the villi that is damaged by the gluten protein considering his position. I would like to know if Dr. Green has spent any time advising on diet and repair of gut permeability?

The second speaker that I truly appreciated was RD, Shelley Case. A registered dietitian, Shelley Case is a leading international expert on celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. She is a member of the Medical Advisory Boards of the Celiac Disease Foundation, Gluten Intolerance Group and Canadian Celiac Association, as well as the Scientific Advisory Board of the Grain Foods Foundation.

We had the opportunity to ask questions of the speakers and mine of course was devoted to Dr. Greens statement. I appreciated the fact that Ms. Case so eloquently pointed out that Physicians are usually clinical data driven and stated: "I have and do use quality probiotic and supplement treatment with my clients with great success." That question and statement received the only ovation of the entire day. Shelley Case has published what I think one of the most complete guides to living with Celiac you will find. Gluten-Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource Guide- Expanded and Revised Edition

Again, I have personally witnessed the efficacy of quality probiotics and quality whole food supplementation on celiac/gluten intolerance clients as well, I have watched celiacs suffer a couple of years post diagnosis with no gut treatment. This, referred to as continued TTA (Tissue Transglutaminase Antibody) elevation. This, one of the markers of inflammation in the gut.

Never mentioned during this entire conference, the ensuing damage of phytates, lectins and sapponins contained within all grains and legumes nor the cross reactionary potential of these toxins to maintain inflammatory responses in the gut. To top it off, phytates bind to minerals and in the already deficient individual, this can cause further mineral depletion. My point? A Paleo diet along with a gut healing protocol will elevate the health of the Celiac.

I thought to myself, "If only Prof. Loren Cordain, Robb Wolf or Nora Gedgaudas had been there, I know my time spent would have garnered more information than I would even known what to do with."

Consistently, in modern medicine, we look for cures to what seems to affect an increasing number of people. As Dr. William Davis points out in his book Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health, our modern wheat supply has changed so much we barely recognize many of the proteins. Mentioned at this conference was the possibility of a vaccine.

Really???

So rather than stand up against big food processing, we manipulate? We allow big food to force us to change the evolutionary biology of the human body? I refuse to believe that this is a solution for long term health and fear this only panders to our addictions and the profit of the food processing industry.

Speaking of the food processing industry. Let's just say that all of the big guys are sponsoring this event. I was hard pressed to find real food options at this event. Fortunately, the breakfast supplied had fresh fruit and hard boiled eggs. Now I'm pretty picky about the food I will put into my body and I knew that some of the cleaner natural food producers were going to be there. I'm a grain free girl but not all of my clients are so it is important to me to know the options that I can safely recommend to my grain consuming celiac/gluten intolerant friends. I did taste test a few things and as I expected, left with a stomach ache.

In my opinion as well as many of my colleagues, we are trading one problem for another. High carb food for high carb food. The president of the CDF clearly stated "We need food so be sure to support our sponsors". Sorry folks, that is not food these processors are providing you. As a celiac with damaged villi, or gluten intolerant sufferer with IBS, you need nutrient from real whole foods to assist in healing that gut and reducing your mortality rate (as stated by one of the speakers).

I located one vendor that not only tickled my taste buds but really caught my attention with advertising at their booth "Low Carb". This was a local restaurant in Los Angeles called Chili Addiction. One taste and I was addicted!. Owners Johnny and Rick won my loyalty with their knowledge of good food, Paleo, Low Carb and quality. More about this establishment in my next blog post because they have mail order! Let's just say they use Prime Rib cut in their chili and burgers and one of the ingredients in my favorite chili is rosemary.

All in all I enjoyed my time at this conference and while there is still a great deal of work to be done with education of the benefit of whole, real foods and overall health, word is spreading and the needs of this very special group are becoming increasingly met.

After the conference, my husband made an excellent observation. He stated "There is a vast difference between the physical health of the attendees at this conference as opposed to the attendees at the Ancestral Health Symposium." I have to agree with him. Imagine if every celiac adapted the Paleo/Primal/Low Carb Lifestyle. Their health would soar and as a result, their physical appearance would be greatly improved. Our physical appearance is so frequently influenced by our inner health.

Raw Liver Smoothie

In my quest for optimal health, I have realized through my study of whole foods that offal meats were an integral part of our evolutionary history. Previously, generations consumed the whole animal or as we say "Snout to Tail" and this includes offal meats. This brings new light to the saying "waste not want not". Never in history have we been so wasteful as we are today and consequently, more ill than ever before.

I speak to so many who have horrid thoughts of being forced to eat liver in their childhood. Fortunately or unfortunately for me, my Mother never liked liver so it wasn't a chosen cuisine in our household. Consequently, it was never something I served my own children and yes, I have regret for that.

Due to the nutrient profile of liver, I thought it important to begin consuming it in some form. I first began with a saute of a little chicken liver from one of my birds I was planning to put on the rotisserie. This was a difficult meal for me to get down. Rubbery, rich in a flavor I didn't care for, I just did not see myself forcing this. People have asked "why force something you don't like?" I answer, "for the potential health benefits I can obtain, I will continue to find a way"!

Body Builders have known the secret of liver for many years through the consumption of Desiccated Liver Tablets. These liver tablets are known to produce massive energy results thereby allowing the athlete to push his/her energy levels to that next level.

Desiccated Liver tablets are freeze dried, defatted bovine liver that is free of hormones and antibiotics. I have used Solgar Brand in the past and love the effect. However, since the tablets are defatted, I felt like I wasn't gaining the benefit of the fat soluble vitamins, most particularly Pre-formed Vitamin A which is different from Beta Carotene. Unfortunately, Beta Carotene does not efficiently convert to the pre-formed Vitamin A and newer research has shown that the absorption of provitamin-A (carotenoids)which we find in our yellow/orange produce is only half as much as previously thought.

Why am I so interested in Pre-Formed Vitamin A? let me count the ways!:

• Healthy Vision
• Healthy Bone Growth & Regeneration
• Healthy Reproduction
• Cell Division, and Cell Differentiation (in which a cell becomes part of the brain, muscle, lungs, blood, or other specialized tissue.)
• Immune System Regulation, which helps prevent or fight off infections by making white blood cells that destroy harmful bacteria and viruses including cancers.
• Vitamin A also may help lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) fight infections more effectively.
• Vitamin A promotes healthy surface linings of the eyes and the respiratory, urinary, and intestinal tracts. When those linings break down, it becomes easier for bacteria to enter the body and cause infection. Vitamin A also helps the skin and mucous membranes function as a barrier to bacteria and viruses.

Vitamin A in foods that come from animals is well absorbed and used efficiently by the body. Sadly, the majority of the general public relies on fortified foods for this valuable nutrient.

Liver is rich in Arachadonic Acid and DHA as well as Lipoic Acid not to mention the many vitamins & minerals:

• Calcium
• Phosphorus
• Magnesium
• Potassium
• Iron
• Zinc
• Copper
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin C
• Thiamin
• Riboflavin
• Niacin
• Pantothenic Acid
• Vitamin B6
• Folic Acid
• Biotin
• Vitamin B12

No wonder animal liver is recommended as one of baby's first foods! After the hunt, indigenous people cut out the liver and immediately shared it among the tribe as a sacred practice. High in Vitamin C, the Inuit avoided scurvy with the consumption of raw livers.

Liver is our absolute best iron source and I have had a great deal of success raising iron levels of anemic women with desiccated liver tablets. Many have reported an increase in energy in a matter of 2 short days. If you've ever suffered anemic low energy, you know what I'm talking about.

Interestingly enough, Beef Liver has twice the amount of Vitamin A as Chicken Liver so this is the form I have chosen to use.
As I mentioned above, I have tried cooked chicken liver and just can't stomach the long process of chewing this food no matter how I cook it.

I then began blending it with a little coconut milk and that nearly came back the same way it went down. The combination was utterly repulsive and if you've ever forced something for a period of time, you know the gag reflex just becomes stronger each time.

I then decided to freeze it and chunk it up in small pieces and swallow these like supplements as you see in the photo. However that started to become as difficult as the coconut liver blend so I thought "one more try" and have now transitioned to the most tolerable way possible for me personally. Once I blend my morning smoothie, I take approximately 6oz. of my smoothie and blend with it 4 tbs. of frozen,raw beef liver and just "chug it". It's easy, there is very little after taste and the energy surge I feel from this lasts the entire day. Yes, I am actually noticing the biggest difference ever of any food I have ever incorporated into my diet.

My husband on the other hand finds the frozen chunk supplementation process his best delivery and cannot stomach blending it. We are all different! Find what works for you. Be sure though to freeze your liver for 14 days prior to consumption to kill any pathogens that might be present and always choose organic and preferably, grass fed.

It's an interesting point but when I added frozen peaches to my smoothie, the taste of the liver was even more neutralized than with frozen berries alone. You can find my smoothie recipe here. Do be careful with the sugar content though because if your weight loss journey is new, you suffer insulin resistance or other metabolic disorders, that higher glycemic fruit might not be the superior choice for you.

Jack Lalane reportedly took desiccated liver tablets during his workouts and really ramped them up prior to a competition.

There really is no more a sacred food than that of liver. I encourage you to try it and see what I mean by the surge in energy. It's an amazing feeling really.

I'll let you know when I become brave enough to figure out how to get heart in my diet for that surge of natural CoEnzyme Q10 or "Ubiquinol".

I'll close for now because I think my liver smoothie just kicked in so I'm going to take advantage of the extra energy on this unusually warm April afternoon!

Will Red Meat Kill Us?

If you've listened to the news, opened a newspaper or have participated in social media, I have no doubt that yet once again, you've been led to believe that your red meat consumption will kill you.

I have been practicing a lower carbohydrate omnivorous diet for 12 years now and working very hard to study the latest research for not only myself but my family as well.

I have quite a few people who count on me for accurate advice as related to current science and trends in dietary choices.

It's frustrating when these studies come out and even more frustrating that they're referred to as "studies" and "science". There is no science in a self reporting correlative study.

I'm no scientist and readily admit that I'm just a former fat girl who lost some weight and reversed a few health related ailments through a lower carb, grain free, whole foods lifestyle so I turn to the "science heads" and "dietary smarties" for guidance on determining the factors that truly make up the factors in these findings.

One of my favorite writers is a humble soul by the name of Denise Minger who has bit by bit, analyzed The China Study by T. Colin Campbell. Now Denise is a former raw vegan who has recently analyzed her own diet due to poor health and has figured out the appropriate diet for her biochemical individuality. Denise contributed her thoughts on Mark Sisson's site, Marks Daily Apple and as usual with humor and intelligence, two qualities that draw me to this chickie.

Zoe Harcombe, another intelligent female whom at the top of her website exclaims

"Because everything you know about obesity is wrong"

Zoë discovered that there are three medical conditions that cause insatiable food cravings. She also experienced all three first hand. And so her first book came about the answer to the million dollar question,
The Obesity Epidemic: What Caused It? How Can We Stop It?

Why Do You Overeat?: When All You Want Is to Be Slim was published in 2004 and it continues to change the lives of people who read it. In light of her more than 2 decades of study and research, Zoe has so eloquently interpreted what the data really states.

Of course if you've followed me for any period of time, you know that one of the most influental people in my life has been Robb Wolf. Robb, a biochemist has a personal story of his own health recovering from a grain dominant vegan diet in his book The Paleo Solution: The Original Human Diet. Robb contributes his thoughts in what he calls "The Meatpocalypse". Now I know Robb would giggle if he read this but I do believe he's the smartest person I know. That might not be saying much about my little world, but I think many other smart folks out there would agree with this. He is a self proclaimed geek and one with a great deal of humor. Never is there a podcast or writing where Robb doesn't make me laugh out loud. My dark sense of humor perhaps?

Another professional I follow is a Bay Area local by the name of Chris Kresser. Chris has a practice in Berkeley, California and is the creator of The Healthy Baby Code, a program that encourages and increases fertility through a Whole Foods lifestyle. Not only does Chris have a successful practice and a blog but he also provides a most valuable podcast that I love to listen to. Chris has taken the study out of Harvard and contributed his professional thoughts and opinion on this matter here.

And finally, from Coach Charles Poliquin's site. Hailed as one of the world's premier strength coaches, Coach Poliquin has successfully trained professional athletes and Olympians worldwide. His training methods and nutritional philosophies quickly became highly sought after in the industry and it became our goal to improve the level of sports performance throughout the world by developing a higher quality strength coach:

"Until the day I see a single randomized, clinical study showing that a diet of grass-fed meat and a ton of vegetables produces a single percentage point increase in early death, heart disease, cancer or diabetes, I’m sticking to the same diet that I’ve been on for over a decade: grass-fed meat, wild salmon, tons of vegetables, berries, nuts, full-fat yogurt and as little sugar and grains as I can manage to live without. That’s kept me healthy, energetic and without a single serious medical condition for 60-something years. I realize that’s not much of a scientific experiment—but then again, neither was the study from Harvard."

We can find many more who have written about this but I do believe that the above references should satisfy you as you pull that grass fed ground beef out of the freezer. Rest assured knowing that red meat is used therapeutically to assist an ill person back into the circle of good health due to the vitamins and minerals present. Take into consideration, in a 2.6 million year human history, we evolved on ruminants. It was not until we over hunted Bison that we began eating grains and from there, disease began. The Masai of Tankanika, a herding population have shown no degenerative disease subsiding on red meat and the blood of their herds.

But we've known for more than 50 years the truth about our consumption of real, nutrient dense food from pioneer Weston A. Price. Remove the equation of refined foods and vegetable oils and ones health improves exponentially.

As my friend Sean Croxton has said so many times;

Old Foods Do Not Cause New Diseases

Sugar Free Beverage Option

One of the most common questions I get is "what do you drink besides water"? Generally, I answer with "Tea or Coffee".

Yes, I drink coffee and while I have thought about eliminating it for optimum health, I have since realized that I don't depend on it for energy and the research seems pretty solid on the anti-oxdidant value of a good organic bean.

I am so often amazed at our affinity for carbonated beverages most specifically, soda pop. I drank my fair share of soda and readily admit that Pepsi was my absolute favorite. Quite honestly, other than a small taste sampling of Zevia, I haven't had a soda in at least 10 years. When I began my journey 12 years ago, I drank a few diet sodas here and there. Fortunately though, I have never been able to acquire a taste for the artificial sweeteners. That "after taste" always prevented me from truly enjoying the taste of it so my options were then reduced to water and tea.

Carbonated water always tasted far too bland so I never chose that option either.

My daughters came up with a nice lower carbohydrate option. Now this isn't a beverage you want to consume much of if you're in a weight loss mode so proceed with caution. The ingredients are very clean and when you utilize pure cranberry at about 2g of carbs per oz., the antioxidants are incredibly high.

From cranberryjuice.com:

• Rich in phytochemicals – You probably heard the term on TV, but what does it do exactly? Phytochemicals do a lot of good stuff for the body. Cranberry juice is a good source of polyphenol antioxidants and phytochemicals, both of which are possible deterrents against cancer and disorders of the cardiovascular and immune systems. That's a lot of benefits coming from a small fruit.
• Prevents urinary tract infection – Cranberry's anti-adhesion properties—or the proanthocyanidins minerals found in the fruit—help rinse the body of urinary tract infections caused by E. coli bacteria.
• Reduces dental plaque – Unless you're drinking sweetened cranberry juice, this beverage has nothing but good news for the teeth and gums. Experts say cranberry juice inhibit the growth of mouth bacteria that causes plaque. So drink up. A healthy dose of cranberry juice ensures your teeth are fresh and clean all the time.
• Prevents formation of kidney stones – This is still under active medical research, but the presence of quinic acid have experts saying it is possible for cranberry juice to help prevent the development of kidney stones. It makes sense since cranberry rid the body of wastes and bacteria—anything that doesn't belong there.
You can also use a pomegranate juice but the sugar is much higher at about 5g carbs per oz. This beverage has approximately 5 grams total carbohydrates in a 20 oz. cup and the news for the "Adult Beverage" crowd? Add a little vodka or tequila and you've got a well drink!
• 1 oz. Pure Cranberry (I use Lakewood brand)
• 1 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
• Fill with ice
• Pour plain sparkling water over top
• A few drops of stevia to taste

Each of us have varying palates so let your taste buds be your flavor guide with the stevia. My family uses about 10 drops in their cups.

I hope you enjoy this powerful antioxidant cooling beverage!

12 Years Ago Today!

Today I celebrate one of the most important days of my life. Other than the birth of my children and the day I married my soul mate, today signifies a monumental celebration.

I celebrate 12 years of turning a diet into a lifestyle.

If you haven't read my story, check it out so you understand how significant it is for me. While the layers have peeled from my body like an onion, I have made some awesome self discoveries along the way. I am frequently amazed at the person I am now and the amount of strength I have over the food. It no longer rules me and I have figured out why.

During my dieting and subsequent self discovery I have learned the following:

• I was fat deprived therefore fatty acid deficient which affected my learning and behavior.
• When I am properly nourished, I have no cravings or desire to eat the refined foods that are so abundant in today's world.
• When I am properly nourished, I think more clearly, have more motivation and less erratic behavior as an ADHD person. Being fed does not mean being nourished. We can be overfed and under nourished, hence cravings.
• When my digestion is working properly, my whole being is at peace. GERD, constipation, frequent illness and headaches no longer exist.
• My blood sugar is now stable therefore my moods are also stabilized. Previously, when my blood sugar dropped, I would become agitated and impatient.
• I can eat to nourish my body and not feel deprived. I found that the food I craved most was higher fat which I was deprived of on a low fat plan. The more I reduced my fat intake, I found the cravings to be more and more severe. Now, I can eat flavorful full fat foods and obtain more nutrient in less food. Though if I over eat the foods included in my dietary plan, I don't gain an ounce. What a concept!
• The taste buds can be trained to enjoy and explore new foods that reach beyond our comfort zones and everything is better with butter!
• I am not unique. So many of us suffer the same cravings, fears and even physical and emotional symptoms of poor dietary advice of the last 50+ years and it's not from lack of trying rather the canned low fat advice.

As a food addict, every celebration was a fix for me. I am now the person that everyone passes with the "Don't bother she doesn't eat it" rather than being the person who tries to eat as much as they possibly can without being noticed.

I have been a dieter my whole life so to reach this monumental celebration for me is one of the biggest achievements of my life. I don't have to be stronger than the food. Let the food do the magical work of nourishing rather than feeding and the rest really does fall into place.

12 years and it's been a great journey! Thank you for sharing it with me.

Trending Health in 2012

As we bid farewell to 2011, we say hello to 2012. I have a feeling this will be a big year in health.

Maybe I'm just optimistic, or just maybe I see a real trend toward health advocacy utilizing nutrition.

While some consider me a bit obsessive about nutrition, I would prefer to call it a passion and desire to share the knowledge I have garnered over the years.

I've figured a lot of things out personally and find that not only was I not unique, neither are most of my clients and website followers.

We have all suffered some form of metabolic derangement with subsequent side effects. Whether it be low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, elevated blood sugars, headache, obesity, joint pain, etc, the trend toward nutrition as a viable choice has profound effect on reversal of these symptoms. Yes, I said reversal and not stifled with medications.

Those of us who attend the symposiums, seminars and conferences are working diligently to bring that information back to you, the consumer.

Why isn't your Dr. doing this? The answer is quite simple.

Our pharmaceutical companies are sponsoring and educating the physicians. This education does not include prevention and cure rather the education is on drugs and symptomatic relief.

Make no mistake, symptomatic relief does not mean a normalization or reversal of metabolic syndrome. That must be achieved through diet.

A traditional diet no matter what you choose should be your best first approach in normalizing bodily function. This will allow the body proper healing and regeneration potentially avoiding heart disease, stroke, cancer and the ever prevalent, auto-immune diseases.

Back to my optimism though......I am optimistic about the changes I think we will see because I belong to a huge network of practitioners and advocates and our goals and intentions are the same. SPREAD THE WORD!! With the ability to reach the masses with our social networking habits, we have the potential to change the world!

While I don't believe Dr. Oz to be our best source of nutrition information, I think his trend toward holistic advice is becoming quite popular and well received by his audience. I watch Oz so that I can stay current with the trends and I've been impressed with some of the segments, specifically those with game style visual aids.

I don't know about you but I have a very large medical deductible and if I had to purchase a prescription drug, it would be an out of pocket cost for me. If I were to be prescribed a drug, it might cost me more than $50-$100 monthly. I much prefer to put that money toward high quality food especially if that drug is a cholesterol lowering drug. These, the most prescribed useless drug on the market.

If you are on prescription medications for metabolic derangement, consider changing your diet. You will benefit in a myriad of ways. If only for the sake of your over burdened liver, I beg you to consider your choice of medication rather than dietary change.

Make 2012 your "year of health" and watch your energy soar. Give your vessel the raw materials to heal, repair and regenerate and when you begin to see noticeable changes, pay it forward by sharing your wealth of nutrition knowledge.