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Survey Says…..

January 5, 2018 by Marla 2 Comments

Just before Christmas I conducted a survey asking people with thyroid issues about their challenges and successes in managing their condition. Nearly 300 people responded and I was so blown away by the the answers. You shared your struggles, many of which broke my heart, and you shared your successes making my heart soar. I so appreciate your feedback and vulnerability.

I promised I would share the results of the survey with any respondent who requested. The link to the full report is posted below.

But before we go there I’d like to highlight a few of the responses I received.

Question 3: Your Biggest Challenges

Question 3 asked about the biggest challenges you face with thyroid illness. Two major themes emerged from this question. To quote one respondent, “Doctors who don’t understand and family members who dismiss your health problems as ‘not a big deal’ because you look fine.”

Wow. Can you just hear the pain in her voice? This sentiment was echoed over and over. As you can see in the full report, the number 1 thing patients tried that did not help was working with doctors.

Standard Medical Care

This is such a sad commentary on our healthcare system. I could go off on a major rant about that right now but will refrain. The good news is that Functional Medicine and Functional Nutrition are rapidly growing fields. There’s a good chance there’s a Functional practitioner near you. Even if there’s not a practitioner near you, many of us help clients over video conference or by phone so your location doesn’t matter. That’s the good news.

The bad news is that many Functional practitioners do not take insurance. Why? Because insurance does not allow providers time to truly get to the root of client complaints. Most insurance only pays for a 5-10 minute visit with the doctor. This is just barely enough time for the standard of care, “What’s your symptom? OK. Here’s your pill.” A true root-cause approach requires the practitioner to get a highly detailed health history and spend time educating the client on lifestyle modifications. This often takes 1-2 hours on an initial visit. Insurance simply won’t cover that.

My Family Just Doesn’t Get It

The other major theme from this question was lack of support from family and friends. This deserves a blog post all of it’s own which is forthcoming. For now, know that you ARE heard, even if it’s outside your family. Many people deal with “invisible” illness whether that be  autoimmune conditions, diabetes, chronic infections, vision or hearing problems, joint pain, limited mobility, and on the list goes. You are not alone.

A colleague recommended the site The Mighty as a source for support. I looked it over and there’s a lot of great stuff there. I hope you find it helpful.

Is this low thyroid?

Question 3 also brought up another really good point: knowing what symptoms are caused by thyroid and what symptoms are not.

Reversing chronic illness is a multi-layered process. But once we have an official diagnosis such as low thyroid we tend to see everything through our “thyroid” glasses. We forget there likely are several issues contributing to symptoms.

Take fatigue for example. By far it was the biggest complaint I heard in this survey. Yes, that is a biggie with low thyroid. But it’s also a major symptom of poor blood sugar regulation. I’m not talking about full diabetes, I’m talking about any blood sugar disorder such as hypoglycemia or insulin resistance. If thyroid numbers are improving but fatigue isn’t, looking at blood sugar might be a good idea since half those with thyroid issues also have poor blood sugar control.

Question 5: What did NOT work

Question 5 was about what things you’ve tried that have NOT worked. The results were pretty much the same as question 3. Doctors and the DIY approach didn’t work. Neither did simply taking supplements.

This wasn’t a surprise. The thyroid is SUCH a complicated critter! And rarely is it acting up alone. There are often many co-infections and other imbalances at work. It’s nearly impossible to unravel it all by yourself.  And simply throwing supplements at the problem is no different than throwing drugs at the problem. You’re just exchanging one pill for another. Seek out a trained practitioner who can look at you as a whole person and begin to peel away the layers of chronic illness.

I’d like to share one inspiring message left in the comments on this question:  

I feel everything I’ve done has led to minor improvements in my health.
If something didn’t work it got me closer to the thing that will

THAT is a healthy attitude toward healing! You go girl!

Question 7: Your OMG Best Result Ever

Oh how I wish I could share all these comments with you! Here’s where people truly shared their heart, their dreams, and their heartache. Unfortunately doing so would also reveal participants email addresses and I certainly don’t want to do that. So I’ll simply share a few responses here.

“Not be embarrassed when I can’t remember words”

“If I could feel better I would be able to play, smile with my kids more often”

“I’d be able to be spontaneous again, I wouldn’t need to plan how much sleep I need because I want to go to an event. I’d feel like me again….I miss me”

“Waking up excited for a new day, as opposed to clawing my way out of bed to face yet another day of pain and depression.”

“I’d be able to work a full day without relying on pain meds, I’d be able to lift my little grandchild without pain.”

“I wouldn’t be afraid of dying from the strong medications I must take.”

“I could be the mom I want to be”

 

wow.

just.

wow.

THIS is why I do this, people! THIS RIGHT HERE! I’ve been where these women are (and the one man who responded). I’ve experienced fatigue so debilitating I could barely make it through the day. I’ve experienced the grief of a lost life. I missed ME.

At my worst I’d drag myself out of bed at 5 am (the alarm started going off at 4 but it took me an hour to actually wake up) a full FOUR HOURS before I had to be at work. I’d sit in my recliner and suck down coffee for a couple hours until I felt strong enough to get in the shower.

The effort of raising my hands to wash my hair would leave me so utterly exhausted I’d quickly turn off the water, wrap up in a towel and lay dripping wet on the bathroom floor until I had enough strength to get up and finish getting ready for work. My day would not get any better…

This was NOT a life.

And I was like this for over 15 years.

And so this is why I started Reclaimed Health. Because I don’t want anyone else to have to exist this way. I want them to Reclaim the Health They Were Meant To Enjoy. It’s not just a slogan. It’s my driving force.

And it’s why I’m developing a new course to help people suffering with thyroid and Hashimoto’s issues. It’s still in the brainstorming phase but I’m expecting to have it ready to go by mid-February. If you’d like to know when enrollment opens, you can get on the waiting list here. As with my blood sugar class, Total Energy Upgrade, it will be offered online so you can attend from anywhere.

I hope you found this survey as enlightening as I did. If you’re dealing with fatigue, thyroid, autoimmune or any other chronic condition I hope you realize now that you are NOT alone.

I also want you to realize that THERE IS HOPE! You CAN get well. You just have to persist and keep at it. Take time to mourn your old life. That’s OK. But don’t stay in that state. Pick yourself up and keep going. Keep searching for a fix. Like the woman said earlier, “ If something didn’t work it got me closer to the thing that will.”  

PS: Here’s the link to the full survey results

 

Marla Evans, mnt fdnpHaving overcome her own health struggles using whole-food nutrition and healthy lifestyle changes, Marla Evans is passionate about helping others reclaim their health.

“I lost 15 years of my life to poor health. I don’t want you to do the same.”
~Marla Evans

 

Ready to take charge of your health? Schedule Your Free Consult

Filed Under: blog, health issues, Thyroid

Overcoming Sugar Addiction

March 18, 2017 by Marla Leave a Comment

Many of us made – and already broke! –  New Year’s Resolutions.  Why do we struggle to keep resolutions about eating healthy, reducing our calorie intake, eating fewer sweets, drinking less soda?  The reason may lie less with our resolve and more with a lack of understanding.  We may have a sugar addiction.  Consider this:

  • The typical American consumes the equivalent of 22 sugar cubes every…24 hours!
  • Excess sugar increases appetite
  • Our gut may contribute to a sugar addiction
  • Sugar not only promotes diabetes, but also heart and liver disease and cancer
  • Scientists now compare sugar addictions with heroin and cocaine addictions

A Quick History of Sugar

There was a time when sugar was not plentiful.  Going back, way back, to the original homo sapiens who lived in the regions now known as Ethiopia and Tanzania, scientists have looked at the types of food that would have been readily available.  Those foods were fish, shellfish, land animals, and tubers.  Tubers at that time were not like the potatoes we have today.  They were more fibrous and far less starchy.

Notice fruit and vegetables are not mentioned on this menu. But according to Michel Montignac, in “The History of Man’s Eating Habits,” early civilizations did have access to a limited number of wild vegetables and fruits, all of which would have been on the low glycemic index.

Some additional history:

  • Cereals were widely grown by ancient Egyptian farmers and became a staple in the diets of all the people by the time of the Roman Empire.
  • Sugar was known around the world by the end of the Medieval period, but was very expensive and considered a fine spice.
  • Technological improvements and New World sources such as increased sugar beet farming turned sugar into a much cheaper bulk commodity.
  • In 1957 high fructose corn syrup was developed and by 1985 was used in many foods from baby food to Coca Cola. Is it a coincidence that obesity also began to rise in the 1980’s?

While I would not suggest that sugar is the single culprit in the obesity epidemic, it is certainly a factor.  We’ve come a long way from early Man barely eating any sugar! The World Health Organization suggests that our diet should contain no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar per day, while our current average intake of sugar is at least three times that much at around 22 teaspoons per day.

Sugar and The Gut – The Dysfunctional Couple

The human gastrointestinal tract or “gut” is responsible for digestion.  Digestion involves breaking food down into its most basic parts. It can then be absorbed through the wall of the gut into the bloodstream and transported around the body.

The gut contains both good and bad bacteria and yeast, but when the gut is healthy the good bacteria and yeast thrive while the “bad” organisms are kept in check.  Sugar unbalance the gut by feeding unhealthy yeast called candida.  While candida is always present in the gut, an overgrowth of candida disrupts the delicate balance of gut.  Candida overgrowth can take over the appetite and cause nutritional deficiencies to develop.

Both candida overgrowth and nutritional deficiencies can fuel a voracious appetite – particularly one that demands sugar.  In other words, eat more sugar, want more sugar, eat even more sugar, and the vicious cycle of a sugar addiction is born.  But that’s just the beginning of this dysfunctional relationship.

While the gut is primarily responsible for digestion it also constitutes about 70% of the body’s immune system.  Research shows that the consumption of too much sugar throws the body’s immune response system out of balance.

In a 1973 neutrophilic phagocytosis study out of Loma Linda University, researchers found (in laymen’s terms) that sugar depresses the body’s immune system (or the body’s ability to fight off illness) for several hours.   Picture the person at the office binging on birthday cake while being exposed to the nasty stomach virus which is making the rounds.  Sick leave is likely in that person’s future!

Links Between Sugar and Disease

We all know that diabetes, heart disease, and cancer are huge public health concerns.  The family that has not been visited by one of these devastating diseases is actually quite uncommon.  Is sugar the underlying cause in all of these diseases?  No, not directly, but indirectly – YES!

Let’s consider how we consume sugar, aside from sugary soda drinks.  In most cases those with a sugar addiction do not sit and eat sugar cubes to get their fix.  Instead, they eat food containing sugar, feeding their voracious appetite.  These foods may include simples cabs such as sweet cereals, processed breakfast and snack bars, cookies, ice cream, brownies, candy bars….the list goes on and on.

Each of these foods has another commonality besides sugar.  They are loaded with fat.  The obvious result is weight gain (many of us experienced that over the holidays, right?) but the less obvious result is the slow shift our bodies make from insulin sensitivity to insulin resistance.  This shift ultimately leads to Type 2 Diabetes.

This chart explains the process in simplistic terms.  When we take in food, digestion turns it into glucose which cells use for energy.  The pancreas secretes a hormone called insulin which helps sugar move out of the blood and into the body’s cells.

In the cells, the body can use sugar to make energy.  According to Dr. Kelly Traver, “All cells have insulin receptors. But for some reason, the fat cells remain sensitive to insulin, even when the muscle cells become more resistant. So, the sugar is preferentially let into the fat cells rather than the muscle cells. Once inside the fat cells, the sugar is not used for creating ATP; instead, it is just used to store fat. This is handy if starvation is right around the corner (as it often was for our prehistoric ancestors), but for most people today, this is an issue. The real zinger here is that fat cells secrete a chemical that encourages the muscles’ insulin receptors to become less sensitive. This means that the pancreas has to churn out more insulin (which the fat cells grab), the fat cells become even fatter and secrete more of their chemicals, and the vicious cycle continues.” As this cycle continues, and vital cells fail to receive much needed energy from glucose, the body becomes at risk for cardio vascular disease, liver disease and cancer as well, just to mention a few.

The Science of the Addiction

Animal studies tell us that sugar is more rewarding and addictive than cocaine.

Yes, more. It appears that this is because we are hardwired to seek out sugar.   After all, our cells have evolved to rely on sugar as their number one fuel source.

But eat too much sugar for too long, and you’ll find that
your brain rewires itself to look something like the brain of a heroin or cocaine addict.

This is because drug and food cues use the same circuitry within the brain.   Brain chemicals that are similar to the chemicals in heroin and marijuana (known as opioids and cannabinoids) make you “like” the taste of sweet.

A surge of dopamine makes you “want” the taste of sweet.  Scientists have backed up this research with brain PET scans of both obese people who ingest a large amount of sugar and cocaine addicts.  The brain scans are eerily similar.

Chris Kresser, M.S., L.Ac, writes in LET’S TAKE BACK YOUR HEALTH — Starting Now. “A recent body of evidence suggests that gut microbes might play a significant role in influencing cravings. Given that microbes co-evolved with us and constantly depend on the incoming dietary substrates that we provide for their own sustenance, it’s really no surprise that they are able to preferentially shape our eating preferences to improve their own chances of survival.  In other words, our gut potentially has great control over our eating habits, whether they be healthy habits or unhealthy habits.”

So What’s the Solution?

If you believe you may have a sugar problem, don’t panic! You’re not alone. There are simple steps you can take to free yourself from the addiction.

First, PLEASE don’t attempt to go cold turkey! You’ll only make yourself miserable. Instead, gradually back off the sweets and replace them with healthier options.

It’s always easier to add than to take away so before eliminating sugary foods I recommend adding healthy, low-sugar foods to your diet. Nutrient dense foods like green vegetables give your body the raw materials it needs in order to function well. They also begin to retrain your taste buds to accept low sugar foods.

Green smoothies as a meal replacement or snack are a convenient way to get more veggies in your diet. There are many recipes online, just be sure to avoid recipes that are dairy based (using milk or yogurt) or include high sugar fruits like bananas. Choose green smoothie recipes that use either water or a nut or seed milk as their base, have lots of leafy greens, and use low sugar fruits such as berries for a bit of sweetness (TIP: ¼ – ½ an avocado adds a nice creaminess similar to yogurt but without the inflammatory response).

My favorite green smoothie recipe includes:

  • 8-10 oz hemp milk (or just water)
  • 2 handfuls (or more!) of arugula (also called rocket)
  • 2 handfuls of blueberries (fresh or frozen)
  • a few fresh mint leaves (or a pinch of dried)
  • Cardemom and cinnamon to taste
    (BONUS! Cinnamon helps with blood sugar control!)
  • You can use a few drops of liquid stevia if you like a little more sweetness
  • Add a quality protein powder and you have a complete meal!

I have found that sour foods help eliminate sweet cravings. Try a Bubbies brand dill pickle (BONUS! The natural probiotics in this brand help your gut) or a tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar in a little water. Taking 200mcg of chromium polynicotinate with meals helps reset insulin receptors and minimize cravings.

Ready to Kick the Sugar Habit?

I can help! Click here to get started on your healing journey.

 

 

 


Lenoir, M., Serre, F., Cantin, L., & Ahmed, S. H. (2007). Intense sweetness surpasses cocaine reward. PloS one, 2(8), e698.

Ahmed, S. H., Avena, N. M., Berridge, K. C., Gearhardt, A. N., & Guillem, K. (2013). Food addiction. In Neuroscience in the 21st Century (pp. 2833-2857). Springer New York.

DiLeone, R. J., Taylor, J. R., & Picciotto, M. R. (2012). The drive to eat: comparisons and distinctions between mechanisms of food reward and drug addiction. Nature neuroscience, 15(10), 1330-1335.

Tang, D. W., Fellows, L. K., Small, D. M., & Dagher, A. (2012). Food and drug cues activate similar brain regions: a meta-analysis of functional MRI studies. Physiology & behavior, 106(3), 317-324.

 

Filed Under: blog, Blood Sugar, Healthy Living

3 Ways To Eliminate Election-Night Heartburn

November 9, 2016 by Marla Leave a Comment

electiondayheartburn

If you’re like most Americans, you’re spending tonight gathered around the TV and social media watching the election results come in. This has been one of the most divisive elections in modern history and many people are feeling the stress.

The digestive system is one of the first systems to suffer in stressful situations so with all the drama tonight I’m certain heartburn abounds!

While antacids work quickly to relieve the pain of heartburn, they actual impair digestion. You see, lowering stomach acid relieves symptoms, but with less acid we digest less of our food. Over time this leads to nutrient deficiencies and a host of symptoms.

Most people don’t realize that heartburn is actually the result of too little stomach acid.

Huh?

That’s right. You see, stomach acid is what closes the valve leading from the esophagus to the stomach (the lower esophageal sphincter or LES). This prevents stomach contents from splashing back up into the esophagus causing heartburn. Without adequate acid the valve doesn’t close completely leading to heartburn.

So how does this relate to stress? Stress shuts down the digestive system and diverts energy to muscles so we can fight or flee. This is why heartburn and indigestion are so common when we’re upset.

So what home remedy might help your election-induced heartburn? Here are 3 things you probably already have in your kitchen:

1.      Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

applecidervinegar

Since ACV is an acid it helps increase the acidity of the stomach, relieving heartburn. Raw, unfiltered ACV has the added benefit of probiotics. Simply take 2 tablespoons in about ¼ cup of water. You can repeat this every 5-10 minutes until the heartburn subsides.

 

2.      Lemon Juice

lemon-squeezer-609273_1280

Lemon is a stronger acid than ACV so can be more difficult to drink, but it does contain vitamin C which boosts the immune system (stress lowers immunity by the way!).

Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons) into a glass and add about ¼ cup of water. As with the ACV remedy, you may need to repeat this 2-3 times for full effect.

 

3.      Your Last Resort – Baking Soda

baking-soda-768950_1280

Baking soda is a base, not an acid, so it actually reduces stomach acid the way antacids do. While this is not an ideal remedy sometimes you just need relief.

Mix ½ teaspoon of baking soda into ¼ cup of water. Wait 5-10 minutes and repeat if needed.

We all experience stressful times in our lives and these home remedies can help get you through them.  But if you’re dealing with frequent heartburn it’s important to uncover and eliminate the root cause before your health gets worse.

Remember: Just because heartburn is common doesn’t mean it’s normal. No symptom is normal! They’re all warning signs that something isn’t right and needs your attention.

Nutrition and lifestyle play a key role in digestive health. If you’d like help improving your digestion, click here to schedule your 20-minute complimentary consultation.

 

To Your Best Health!

marla

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Filed Under: Digestive Health, health issues, Herbal Remedies

Why a Functional Nutritionist?

October 22, 2016 by Marla Leave a Comment

What is Functional Nutrition?  

A leading-edge, evidence-based approach to health that focuses on identifying root causes and system imbalances to significantly improve patient health outcomes.  

Sound complicated?  Let’s simplify it.

A functional nutritionist looks at the whole person to discover the underlying root causes of symptoms.   A functional nutritionist emphasizes real food, nutrient density AND food quality, as well as how that food promotes health.  The role of a functional nutritionist is to focus on building health while helping to restore the body’s proper function and balance.

“Just how can a functional nutritionist help me?”

Woman

That question holds so much frustration and pain.  Maybe you’re suffering from exhaustion, brain fog, blood sugar issues, chronic digestive issues, food sensitivities, or hormone imbalance.  Yet despite all the doctors, despite all the miracle products and empty promises of super cures, you have not found relief.  After all this time you’re on information overload and don’t know who you can trust.  How can you know what information is true and what’s just snake oil?  And more importantly, who can you trust to translate the information into sizeable bites that truly apply to your situation?

Here’s the good news!  Your search has led you to me, Marla Evans, founder of Reclaimed Health.  My story may be similar to yours.

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My Story

What started in my late 20s as muscle tightness became, by my mid-30s, extreme fatigue and a host of other health concerns. At my worst I could barely even shower in the morning. I knew that I needed to take major steps to reclaim my health, but didn’t know where to turn. All the doctors did was prescribe medications that simply made my symptoms worse and all those “super juices” and supplements did nothing for me.

A misdiagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, with all the accompanying medications, propelled me into the world of natural health.  I intuitively knew there was a way to control my symptoms with food and lifestyle changes.

As I began this journey, I investigated everything from Paleo to Weston A. Price to Raw Vegan.  My research taught me how to clean up my diet and I started feeling better!  I switched to non-toxic cosmetics, personal care products, cleaners and laundry detergents.  I continued to improve.

MarlaSleuth

And through this whole process, I also found that I had developed an abiding passion for teaching others and helping them find change.

I lost over 15 years of life to my poor health – I don’t want you to do the same.

I continued deepening my knowledge of the interaction between body and food by attending the Nutrition Therapy Institute and obtained my Master Nutrition Therapist designation.

I haven’t limited myself to Google searches and guesses. I have invested in working with experts, professionals, and attending in-depth educational programs so that I can bring you the best practices and most current knowledge in the field.

As a result of my training and my journey, I am able to guide you out of information overload, help you find answers, and help you develop an action plan geared to your individual needs.

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How Can a Functional Nutritionist Help Me?

Let’s take a look at a few symptoms you may be experiencing and how, through Functional Nutrition, I can help.

Symptom #1:  Fatigue/Low Energy

Fatigue has many causes:

  • Stress or lifestyle choices
  • Dietary issues such as food sensitivities or nutrient deficiencies
  • Blood sugar imbalance
  • Hormone imbalances
  • Toxin overload
  • Or all of the above!

I take the time to do a thorough health history, lifestyle evaluation and diet analysis. This allows us to unravel the complexity of your fatigue so you can reclaim the energized body you were meant to enjoy!

Fatigue & Brain Fog got you down?
Register for
the Total Energy Upgrade!

SYMPTOM #2:  Digestive Problems – gas, bloating, GERD, reflux, heartburn, IBS, Celiac

  • Leaky gut is associated with all these digestive issues
  • A well-functioning digestive system is the cornerstone of good health
  • The “gut” is actually called our second brain; the intestinal nervous system is wired directly back to the brain
  • Poor gut function can lead to autoimmune conditions such as MS, RA, Celiac, Hashimoto’s, and other autoimmune diseases.
  • Skin issues such as eczema and psoriasis are also directly connected to the gut
  • Seasonal allergies are connected to gut health
  • Diet and toxins can cause a disruption in the neurotransmissions causing your health to suffer
  • Medical and nutritional experts agree that good nutrition is directly related to good digestive health

If you are concerned about your digestive health or are suffering from poor digestion, my gut repair program may be your answer! While my philosophy is to focus on food as medicine, there are times when the body needs more help and supplements are necessary. My gut repair program includes diet and lifestyle modifications along with a supplement routine proven to repair the gut.

SYMPTOM #3:   Food Sensitivities and Intolerances

  • Food intolerances can contribute to neurological, autoimmune and digestive disorders as well as pain and inflammation
  • Food intolerances are directly related leaky gut
  • A food intolerance can often arise after the digestive tract has been compromised due to poor diet, stress, or imbalanced gut bacteria

Food sensitivities are not the same as food allergies.  Food allergies are potentially deadly while sensitivities are not.  However, food sensitivities are still serious.  They indicate a poorly functioning gut and create inflammation in the body. Inflammation damages tissues leading to symptoms such as muscle or joint pain, headaches, stuffy nose, and brain fog or trouble concentrating.

Identifying food sensitivities and intolerances can be tricky.  I can perform lab tests and/or design an elimination diet to identify the foods your body is reacting to. We then work on healing the gut to eliminate food sensitivities.

SYMPTOM #4:  Hormones!  Not Just for Women!  – Minimize Symptoms during Peri-menopause or Andropause (male menopause)

  • Hormones are critical to the function of virtually every system in the body
  • Our hormones are intricately connected. When one is too high it causes another to be too low
  • Hormones are balanced through a combination of diet and lifestyle adjustments

A person who is experiencing “brain fog”, slow metabolism, moodiness, willpower or motivation issues can find a solution!  I can run lab tests to determine hormone imbalances then get to work identifying the root cause –  whether it be blood sugar, the adrenal glands, or the GI tract –  and design a diet and lifestyle program that works for your body.

Want help navigating the crazy world of hormones?
Schedule an
appointment with me

SYMPTOM #5:  Nutrient Deficiencies

  • The immune system is dependent upon a variety of nutrients
  • Infection and lack of nutrients are often linked together
  • Certain foods may help reduce the risk of certain diseases

Nutrient deficiencies prevent the body from functioning at its best and can lead to a host of health issues. Nutrient deficiencies can even turn on genes that predispose us to disease. Through lab tests and diet analysis I can identify nutrient deficiencies, determine the cause of the deficiencies (poor diet, poor digestion, stress, etc.), and design a diet and lifestyle plan to replace the missing nutrients.

SYMPTOM # 6:  Medication, Medication, Medication, but I still have the Same Problem.

  • Medications treat symptoms and temporarily make us feel better
  • Medications DO NOT treat the underlying problem so the symptoms keep getting worse
  • High blood pressure, type II diabetes, high cholesterol, thyroid issues, and more, are all symptoms of larger underlying issues

If you’re tired of all the meds and want to reduce or eliminate them, I can work with you and your doctor to design a diet and lifestyle plan to reach your goal. Only your doctor can alter your medications, but I can help restore your body’s balance which in turn improves function and reduces the need for medications

If you are one of the fortunate few and none of the above symptoms apply to you, Congratulations!  But you still want to eat healthy, learn more about the value of certain nutrients, and shop smarter.  Again, you are overwhelmed by the amount of information available and have little or no idea where to start.  The answer is right here!

FOOD PREP AND NAVIGATING THE GROCERY STORE

  • Select recipes with key nutrients and proven results
  • Shop with a trained expert – learn to read labels, determine “low fat” from “good fat”, and the importance of quality food
  • Prepare meals in your own kitchen and learn new prep and storage methods

Reclaiming your Health is all about becoming informed and making good choices.  In the constantly changing sea of information, I can provide information that is specific to your needs, apply that information in a manner that will treat your whole person, and help you make choices that will lead to long-term GREAT health.

 

 


http://www.nutritionist-resource.org.uk/articles/tiredness.html

http://clinical.diabetesjournals.org/content/28/1/12

1990 l\/l0Collum Award Lecture. Nutrition and immunity: lessons from the past and new insights into the future

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/71/6/1660s.short

 

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Filed Under: Blood Sugar, health issues, Hormones, Stress

Laughter, Stress and Candy Bars – Say What?

September 8, 2016 by Marla Leave a Comment

Friends on my personal Facebook page have seen me posting “giggles” posts several times a day. I post funny videos, corny jokes, whatever makes me laugh. Why do something so “pointless?” All it does is clog up people’s news feed with “useless” stuff.

Well, I started it after my own Facebook feed grew so very negative. There were posts about police shootings, corrupt political candidates, race wars, religious wars, natural disasters and more. It seemed that the world had gone mad and all the joy had been sucked out of life. I found my stress level growing worse and worse and my world growing increasingly dark.

So I decided to do something about it.

I started reposting things that made me laugh.

Why do this?  Because I understand how damaging stress is on the body and I understand the power of laughter. I wanted to help brighten my friends’ day and lower their stress level even if it was just for a moment.

 

Why Is Laughter So Important?

Laughter Stress and Candy Bars

“A cheerful heart does good like medicine,
but a broken spirit makes one sick.”

Proverbs 17:22 The Living Bible

 

 

Laughter has several healing qualities. For example, research has shown laughter can relieve stress by:

  • Increasing oxygen intake which stimulates organs and increases endorphin production
  • Activating the parasympathetic nervous system (the calming side of the nervous system)
  • Stimulating circulation and aids muscle relaxation
  • Boosting the immune system
  • Relieving pain
  • Improving mood[i]

With all laughter has to offer, why would you NOT want to laugh?

 

The Consequences Of Chronic Stress

stressedWhy should we be concerned about stress? What’s so terrible about it? Sure it can cause anxiety sometimes (like if you have a terrible job) or a poor night’s sleep, but is it really so bad for your health?

In a word, yes!

Chronic stress negatively impacts every single area of the body. Just a few examples include increased incidents of:

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Anxiety
  • Frequent colds
  • Memory loss
  • Hypertension
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Insomnia
  • Fatigue
  • Depression
  • Infertility
  • Irregular menstrual cycles
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Digestive problems[ii]

Let’s take a look at how the stress response relates to an all-too-common problem, blood sugar management.

 

The Candy Bar Effect of Stress

You’ve heard of the stress hormone called cortisol. You probably relate it to excess belly fat since people with chronically elevated cortisol levels often have excess fat around their middle.  Cortisol is released in response to stress whether emotional stress (a bad job or poor relationship), physical stress (illness or injury), or mental stress (worry or reliving past stressful experiences).

cortisolreleaseOne of cortisol’s jobs is to stimulate the release of stored sugar, called glycogen, providing muscles with the fuel they need to escape the threat or turn and fight it. Often referred to as the “fight or flight” response, this mechanism was very handy back in cave man days when we had to escape sabretooth tigers.

Trouble is, in our modern sedentary society we don’t go out and fight that tiger. We sit at our desk all keyed up and angry over an unpleasant interaction with our boss. Cortisol has released a shot of sugar into our blood stream, but we don’t use it up by exercising. As a result, our blood sugar rises.


That’s how stress can have the same effect on the body
as eating a candy bar, but without the joy of the treat.


This is one reason why diabetics can have trouble controlling their blood sugar. There’s a stress in their life that is triggering cortisol which raises their blood sugar.

But you don’t have to be diabetic to have blood sugar trouble.

 

The Blood Sugar Continuum

bloodsugarspectrum

There’s a whole continuum of blood sugar dysregulation that ends with Type 2 Diabetes. Symptoms occur anywhere along that spectrum. The scary part is 46% of the American population is either diabetic or pre-diabetic. Many people don’t know they’re pre-diabetic!

Signs of blood sugar issues include:

  • craving sweets
  • afternoon sleepiness
  • fatigue after meals
  • hungry soon after eating (even after eating a big meal)
  • lightheaded or moody if meals are missed
  • blurred vision
  • difficulty losing weight despite regular exercise

 

forgetfogflabfatigue

I often refer to blood sugar symptoms by the three biggest culprits: Fog, Flab and Fatigue.

  • Brain Fog: the inability to think straight, concentrate, or remember things
  • Belly Fat: or extra flab, especially around the middle
  • Fatigue: despite a good night’s sleep

These blood sugar disorders can result in some pretty unpleasant consequences:

  • Decreased thyroid production (low metabolism, weight gain, hair loss)
  • Increased risk of cancer
  • High blood pressure (increased cardiac risk)
  • Systemic inflammation (This is a biggie! More on that in another post)
  • Increased risk of Alzheimer’s (researchers are beginning to call Alzheimer’s Type 3 Diabetes)

“We conclude that the term “type 3 diabetes” accurately reflects the fact that AD [Alzheimer’s disease] represents a form of diabetes that selectively involves the brain and has molecular and biochemical features that overlap with both type 1 diabetes mellitus and T2DM [type 2 diabetes melitus].”[iii]

Are you at risk for blood sugar problems?
Take the Quiz and find out!

I hope you can see that managing both stress and blood sugar can go a long way toward maintaining your health. I’ve only just touched on them in this post. Stress and blood sugar are each easily whole volumes on their own and I’ll be discussing them in greater detail in upcoming posts.

For now, keep your blood sugar under control by managing stress whether the source be physical, mental or emotional.

 

Solutions

Stress Management:

Mental/emotional stress: explore Splankna therapy, Heart Math, prayer and meditation, and time out in nature

Physical stress:  consider if you may be under or OVER exercising, possible hidden infections (viral, bacterial, parasitic, SIBO or other gut dysbiosis), nutrient deficiencies, poor gut function, poor diet.

These hidden physical stresses can be very tricky to track down. A functional health practitioner can help. you find them more quickly

Diet:

Developing a personalized menu that keeps your blood sugar at optimal levels is vitally important to blood sugar management! You can do this yourself by using a glucometer (blood sugar meter) to test your glucose and aim to keep it below 115 after meals. After a while you’ll have a collection of meals you know work for your body.

I cover this and much more in my blood sugar class, Total Energy Upgrade and also in private nutrition coaching sessions.  Sign up for my newsletter and follow me on Facebook to be notified the next time I run the class.

 

 

 


References:

[i] http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456

[ii] http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/12/17/stress-makes-you-sick.aspx

[iii] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2769828/

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Filed Under: Blood Sugar, health issues, Stress

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