When it comes to sweets, are you like me? Eating even just a little, I instantly want more. While it hasn't been easy, I have eliminated most sugar from my diet and so can you! It can be challenging to do, so using the tips in this blog will help.
How does sugar impact our bodies? Excess sugar stresses our body by causing major inflammation, taxing our liver, and damaging our arteries. Sugar simply creates havoc on our immune system. It causes fatigue, bloating, and is the number one food choice of cancer. Because of the inflammation created, this can lead to diseases like fatty liver syndrome, diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.
Why is it so hard to not eat sugar? Speaking at the Get off Your Sugar Summit, Dr. Nicole Avena, an expert in the field of nutrition, diet & addiction, spoke about why sugar is so addictive. Evidence indicates that sugar causes our...
Even with really good intentions, we simply cannot get the nutrients we need from the food we eat or the water we drink.
Avoiding processed food and choosing to eat whole-food is an important aspect of proper health. There are important things to consider when choosing a supplement too. About 90% of supplements today are synthetic so our bodies don't know what to do with them. They will simply go out the other end. Choosing a whole-food supplement will allow your body to benefit.
I feel so much more energized and confident that I've given my body something truly nutritious after . . .
Have you ever found yourself feeling worn down and horribly stressed? That was me. As I was looking for relief, I had a live blood analysis done.
Here's how it went:
When I got to my appointment, the examiner first showed me what healthy red blood cells should look like. They should be round with space between them. That space is oxygen. She pricked my finger and put the slide with my blood droplet under the microscope.
What my cells looked like
As I watched, the screen showed the quality of my blood and the examiner said my blood was . . .
Antioxidants. It’s likely you’ve heard of them but what are they, and do we really need them? Since it's helpful to understand free radicals first, let's start there.
What are free radicals?
Free radicals are atoms with an unpaired electron and are considered “unstable” atoms. To become more stable, they take electrons from other atoms and cause more damage through a process called oxidation.
Free radicals are atoms with an unpaired electron and are considered “unstable” atoms. To become more stable, they take electrons from other atoms and cause more damage through a process called oxidation.
While free radicals are produced naturally in the body and are needed, lifestyle factors like the food we eat, medications we take, the air we breathe, the water we drink, personal care and cleaning products we use, can all accelerate the production of free radicals. As the body ages, it loses its ability to fight the effects of free radicals. This results in more free radicals, more oxidative stress, and more damage to cells, which leads to degenerative processes and illness, as well as “normal” aging.
What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are substances that can prevent or slow damage to cells caused by free radicals. They are sometimes called “free radical scavengers” as they help to release free radicals from the body. There are thought to be hundreds of substances that can act as antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C, E, beta-carotene, catechins, polyphenols, and phytoestrogens.
PomegranatesThe best sources of antioxidants are plant-based foods, especially fruits and vegetables. Each has its own role and can synergistically work with others. Foods that are particularly high in antioxidants are often referred to as a “superfood”.Whole Foods Antioxidants
Taking an antioxidant supplement in a pill form can be helpful, but the body will always use food sources more efficiently. As indicated in this Free Radicals, Antioxidants in Disease and Health study1, antioxidants from our diet play an important role in helping neutralize oxidative stress.
Taking an antioxidant supplement in a pill form can be helpful, but the body will always use food sources more efficiently. As indicated in this Free Radicals, Antioxidants in Disease and Health study1, antioxidants from our diet play an important role in helping neutralize oxidative stress.
It is most beneficial to consume large amounts of whole foods like fruits and vegetables. It is important to eat 5-10 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. 
Wolfberries
WolfberriesNingxia Wolfberries have the highest antioxidants, followed by pomegranates and blueberries. Blackberries, strawberries, spinach, brussel sprouts, beets, and oranges follow closely behind blueberries.
Which would you choose - carrots or juice?
- I include an apple in my morning smoothie, eat berries often, and have lots of veggies every day. Even with a focus, it’s tough to eat as recommended so I drink wolfberry juice daily.
- The antioxidant value of drinking just ONE OUNCE of wolfberry juice equivalent to eating FOUR POUNDS of carrots. As much as I like carrots, I'll pass! 😂
🍎 How many servings of fruits and veggies are you able to eat daily?
Are you interested in feeling better and having more energy? I know first-hand how overwhelming it can be trying to navigate the sea of options. Request my 3 Steps to Change your Life for the Better guide.
I'd be honored to help you. Let's Chat!
Do you assume when buying something that it's safe for you and your loved ones? Yup, that was me! About 10 years ago I learned a few things that disappointed and frustrated me. To help you avoid similar mistakes, allow me to share more and offer safer choices for you and your family.
Why is this even a conversation we need to have?
The Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) of 1976 grandfathered in an estimated 62,000+ chemicals currently used in products today. This means these chemicals haven’t had safety testing. Manufacturers of personal care and cleaning products like cosmetics, shampoo, toothpaste, lotion, detergents, furniture polish, and more, are protected by trade secret laws that allow them to...
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Hi - I'm Jodi. Welcome to my inaugural blog post, and thanks for stopping by!
Much of my adult life has been spent with digestive issues and simply navigating the sea of trying to figure out how to ‘get moving’. I now operate on the mantra of ‘Pooping as you should never felt so good’.
Yup, I really just said the P-word. And it felt good. 😊
Along my journey, I have learned that not only is gut (& colon) health important, but balanced hormones are critical as well. With texts beeping, news blaring, alarms going off, dinner needing to be made, and social media, etc., our bodies are constantly stressed. Even if we don’t feel it. This creates a huge challenge to have balanced hormones, which then affects our energy, weight, digestion, moods, and more.
Truly feeling good and overall wellness does not happen overnight. It takes time and baby steps in multiple areas.
I'll be sharing hormone-benefiting exercise, stress-reducing daily routines, self-care tips, and more. The food we eat has a major effect on how we look and feel, but so does personal care and cleaning products that contain harmful ingredients. While it’s impossible to control what our bodies are exposed to outside our home, stay tuned as I share ways to minimize impacts and how we can cost-effectively control what we use in our home.
And I'm pretty sure I'll be talking digestion and tips for keeping things moving too. ;)
