Have You Discovered Glass Dharma?

Glass Dharma Extra SmallI love these eco-friendly drinking straws from Glass Dharma – perfect for the kid in you!

Personally, I can’t think of a better way to brighten up a smoothie – especially My Favorite Green Smoothie! (recipe below)

What makes them so eco-friendly?

They’re made of clear, borosilicate glass!

(If you’re feeling adventurous, choose the straws that come with decorative multi-colored dots – so you can keep track of whose is whose).

Or, choose this unique bendable version.

Either way, these straws allow you to enjoy your beverage in a fun and safe way, that avoids those ever-present plastics found in your typical straws.

Plus they’re 100% recyclable!

 

Note: The links in this article are affiliate links, which means, in a nutshell, that should you choose to buy – both you & I benefit.

My Favorite Green Smoothie

Green Smoothie Extra SmallIt’s been a while since I’ve posted a recipe, so I decided this week that a new smoothie recipe was definitely in order.

Especially since I’ve been drinking this just about every day!

(It occurred to me – why not share?)

I created this filling and refreshing drink several weeks ago, and have since dubbed it my “Favorite Green Smoothie”.

(The days that I don’t drink this – whether I ran out of the ingredients, or just didn’t have time – I feel like something’s missing). 

So what’s so special about this particular smoothie?

Well, everyone is different, of course, so what seems special to me might not seem so wonderful to the next person.

Since I like my meals and snacks to be both satisfying and nutritious – this more to do, perhaps, with how I might feel afterwards.

You see, a smoothie is very easy on the digestion. (For anyone with compromised digestion, this is often the way to go).

It’s also an excellent way to get your daily dose of greens – along with an amazing array of nutrients, antioxidants and fiber.

[Read more…]

Looking for the Perfect Thirst-Quencher?

Did you know that adding probiotics to your diet is a great way to support your digestive health?

Of course, there are so many probiotics on the market, it can be hard to decide which one is right for you.

As always, I recommend that your consult with your health practitioner, for any kind of medical advice.

In the meantime, this Sparkling Probiotic Drink from Kevita could be just the thing you need – especially as the weather starts to warm up.

As an occasional treat, I like anything that offers a built-in nutritional boost – especially the Mojita Lime flavor!

The fact that it’s sweetened with Stevia is another big plus! (Be sure to check the label though – some of these drinks do contain sugar, and I wouldn’t want to steer you wrong).

You can find these at any health food store, your nearest Whole Foods, or even on Amazon.

 

Note: The links in this article are affiliate links, which means, in a nutshell, that should you choose to buy – everyone benefits.

 

 

What Is Your Headache Telling You?

Diagram of health“Non-celiac gluten sensitvity and celiac disease are like two sisters. The oldest is celiac disease, and the youngest is non-celiac gluten sensitivity.”

Dr Umberto Volta

 

Could your headache be related to what you are eating?

As you may have guessed, the short answer to that question is – yes. And it isn’t just your headache, either – any aches or pains you’re experiencing throughout your body, could easily be related to your diet.

Case in point – not too long ago, I tweaked my back, prompting a call to my chiropractor.

I had no idea what I’d done to cause this, but I knew he would set me right again.

During the exam, he asked me “What did you eat the day before?”

“Seriously?” I thought. (I was both surprised and mystified by the question).

A few years ago, I might have scoffed at the mere suggestion of a connection between my diet and a persistent pain in my back.

But if my journey over the past few years has taught me anything, it’s that everything in our body is so closely interconnected, that what might seem implausible on the surface, is often worth a closer look.

In other words, more often than not – our diets really are the culprit behind our physical symptoms.

(Often setting you back several months, in your quest to quell the inflammation in your body, and ultimately feel human again).

Of course, several days had gone by prior to my visit with the chiropractor, and I really wasn’t sure what I’d eaten.

He was very specific, though.

Had I perhaps ingested some gluten? Dairy?

[Read more…]

Is Your Brain Working?

BrainWhat are you reading these days?

This past week, I’ve been immersed in a book called “Why Isn’t My Brain Working?” by Datis Kharrazian, DHS.

Recommended to me by my nutritionist, it’s proven to be an excellent read!

Of course, there are all kinds of reasons why you’re brain might not be functioning at top speed, and undetected Celiac Disease or food sensitivities are certainly among them.

That’s why I’m especially enjoying the chapters on Gluten Sensitivity – and the Gut-Brain Axis.

The former includes an extensive breakdown of the appropriate tests your doctor needs to run before ruling out anything.

Cause here’s the thing:

If your doctor only tests you for Celiac Disease, you could still be highly sensitive to gluten and not know it.

Also, did you know that a gluten reaction could show up just as easily in the brain as the stomach?

The good news is that a qualified medical professional will know to look for this, so you want to make extra sure that you’re in good hands.

The Noise In The Room

You are fired! “Every part of your body & every cell in your body communicates with every other part of your body & every other cell. Everybody’s talking at the same time.”

Mark Hyman, M.D.

 

Have you ever found yourself in a crowded room full of people?

Did you happen to notice the cacophony of voices as you found yourself speaking as loud as possible to the person seated right next to you – trying to be heard above the din?

Well, that’s the kind of noise that’s going on in your body all the time.

The above quote illustrates this perfectly!

It makes sense, of course, since everything’s interconnected.

Of course, you’re not aware of this noise in your body.

It’s more like a low hum in the background, so faint you really can’t hear it at all.

[Read more…]

Is This Your New Normal?

PackagesHave you felt some resistance accepting the reality of your food sensitivities?

Perhaps you’ve fought the urge to cheat a little bit – just this once?

After all, you probably want to be just like everyone else, especially in social situations, or when dining out.

You want what they’re having.

Today, I thought I’d share with you a little story.

If you’ve been following my blog lately, or reading my newsletter, then you already know that my eighty-nine year old mother recently went gluten-free.

(And also dairy-free.)

This was the result of a visit to my naturopath.

(And yes, even though I knew in my gut that taking my mother to see a naturopath was a good idea, I started to question my decision soon after – wondering if I was doing the right thing).

Was it fair to put an 89-year-old woman through this, and change her diet after a lifetime of eating a certain way?

[Read more…]

5 Healthy Habits for Optimal Sleep

Baby AsleepMy clients are sometimes surprised to hear that I place so much emphasis on a good night’s sleep.

They wonder what sleep has to do with their food sensitivities and digestive health.

And that’s a great question!

When you think about the purpose of sleep, the primary role is to rest and repair – so that your body can function optimally come morning.

If you consistently go to bed too late, or wake up early, or your sleep is interrupted – your body can’t fully restore itself.

So you end up feeling sluggish and hungrier than usual, and start making poor food choices because your blood sugar is out of whack, and it’s all because you didn’t get enough sleep.

And yes – you might also gain weight!

(With a tendency to hang on to those extra pounds, no matter how hard you try to lose them).

Of course, nothing exists in a vacuum, and developing healthy sleep habits is just one part of an overall healthy lifestyle.

So pick one habit from the list below, and let’s get started!

[Read more…]

Are You Eating Backwards?

Dining OutManners aside, I’d never given much thought to whether I was eating “correctly” while growing up.

Meals were served to me three times a day, and I ate them dutifully.

This didn’t change much until 7th Grade, when I took my first Home Economics class.

(Back in those days, it was a requirement for all female students).

That’s when I first learned there were RULES to eating food.

Things like – it’s important to vary color throughout a meal, so you should never serve a meal that is “all-white” like chicken, white rice and cauliflower.

(I like to think that those first lessons on color have served me well as an interior designer).

We also learned the importance of including the four food groups at every meal – meat, dairy, grains, plus fruit and vegetables.

(My, how that one has changed!)

This was my introduction to the basics of nutrition, and many years later those early lessons have served me well.

However, the older I get, not only do the basic rules keep shifting, but new ones are introduced all the time.

For example, I now know that it’s perfectly OK to avoid dairy – even though it’s one of the basic food groups.

In fact, if you continue to eat the food you’re actually allergic to, chances are you will be… [Read more…]

10 Americans – A Gem Of A Video

Pile of PancakesOK, that image might be a bit misleading, but bear with me here.

(There actually IS a large pancake stack in this wonderful video I’m about to share with you – titled “10 Americans).

Over the past year, I’ve been working with an Environmental Toxins Expert – learning as much as I can about the home environment in particular and the many little things we can do to create change.

(As a former interior designer, with an eye on Green Design – this was right up my alley!)

That’s why, whenever possible, I like to broaden the conversation – so that we’re not just talking about food sensitivities, but understanding that other environmental factors can also impact our health.

Just to share an example – did you know that the average female consumer uses a dozen personal care products every day (which may, or may not contain gluten)? And that those products alone, contain in the neighborhood of 168 different chemicals?

(Men use about half as many products – containing 85 different chemicals, or so.)

Either way you look at it, that’s a lot!

[Read more…]