Pesticides linked to ADHD
environment, news
17th May 2010
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Our foods are not as safe as we think.
I know, it hurts to hear this, but you have to know about it.
It’s time to wake up. Ignorance is not bliss – it only keeps you sick, tired, unfocused, and overweight.
There are more studies showing that the chemicals that we are being exposed to through the plastics and household goods we use every day are contributing to developmental problems and endocrine disturbances. And now a study in the journal Pediatrics associates exposure to pesticides to cases of ADHD in the U.S. and Canada.
According to this article in Time:
The team analyzed the levels of pesticide residues in the urine of more than 1,100 children aged 8 to 15 years old, and found that those with the highest levels of dialkyl phosphates, which are the breakdown products of organophosphate pesticides, also had the highest incidence of ADHD. Overall, they found a 35% increase in the odds of developing ADHD with every 10-fold increase in urinary concentration of the pesticide residues.
Researchers note that children are getting pesticides in their system through their diet – from the fruits and vegetables that they are eating on a regular basis.
How can you limit your risk?
Eat more clean food: According to the Environmental Working Group, you can eat fruits and vegetables that have minimal exposure to pesticides. They have a great list of the dirty dozen and the clean 15 on their site. You can also eat more organic fruits and vegetables.
While organic may be more expensive in the short term, the long term costs of getting exposed to pesticides is far more costly.
Ban the plastics: Get rid of the old Tupperware, and the plastic water bottles. Get yourself a metal water bottle like the Klean Kanteen 
Review of Food Rules by Michael Pollan
food
11th Mar 2010
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I don’t know any woman who hasn’t had some sort of weird food rules at one time or another. When I was a teenager, my food rules were of this variety.
They revolved around calorie counts and fat grams. Diet Coke was my drink of choice. I weighed myself religiously, forever hoping to lose those 5 pounds, and beating myself up mentally when I failed to do so.
I had no food rules in college, and it showed.
I didn’t care what I ate or how it made me feel, and so I felt terrible a lot of the time. I lived on coffee made in my dorm room. I loved the curly fries in the student center. Free food was always a bonus, and my friends and I would often go to events just for the food. In fact, that’s how the college lured us to most of the events.
These days, my food rules are quite different. They’re a lot more aligned with the ones that Michael Pollan outlines in new book. Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual
- which were:
Eat Food, Not Too Much, Mostly Plants.
In Food Rules
And if you’ve read my blog for any amount of time, that’s what I recommend, too.
It seems like common sense, but so many of us are confused on what to eat – and this is no accident.
It’s a concise book that does not go into great detail and that you can flip through in about 30 minutes. But it can serve as a pocket reminder for how we should think about food most of the time but seem to forget a lot of the time.
You can pick up a copy of Food Rules
What are your food rules? Share them with me here.
Is canned or frozen food as good as fresh?
food, news
25th Jan 2010
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What would you guess – what’s the best option for healthy food?
A- Eating fresh is the only way to eat
B – Frozen is as good as fresh
C – Canned, fresh or frozen are all equal
Any takers?
Here are some things to think about:
Fresh food is great – when you can get it.
However, think about eating fresh fruits and vegetables when you live in a Northern climate. What do you get?
Usually if you go to the farmer’s market, all you can find is potatoes, apples and cabbage. Now, I happen to like all of these, but let’s face it – who wants to only eat potatoes, apples and cabbages all winter?
If you go to the grocery store, you can get any sort of fruit or vegetable any time of the year. But where is it coming from? Most of those options are from South America where it’s summer when North America is in winter. Produce from Argentina, Chile, Brazil has to travel such a long way before it gets to your table. How long ago was it picked? How much of the vital nutrients have been lost from the transit time from vine to plate?
Frozen food is actually a good option, too.
Foods that are frozen are usually preserved this way at their peak of ripeness. No loss of nutrients. And frozen foods are convenient – your frozen spinach will last months in the freezer while only lasting days fresh in the refrigerator.
But frozen foods are not very green. They use up more energy than fresh foods – they have to be stored at a certain temperature. The refrigerator is one of the biggest consumers of electricity in the house.
Canned food – nothing wrong here right?
Wrong.
Unfortunately, the cans that our foods are stored are lined with a chemical compound that contains Bisphenol-A. This chemical has been show to leach into canned goods. And according to the Centers for Disease Control, 93% of the U.S. population tests positive for the chemical.
The issue is that BPA is an endocrine disruptor that mimics the hormone estrogen. When your hormones are disrupted or go out of balance, many things can go wrong with your health.
BPA can cause a decline in male sperm count, trigger early puberty in girls and induce feminine characteristics in men. It can also play a part in insulin resistance, tumor growth and promoting the spread of cancer cells.
Are any cans safe? The only company that currently has safe canned goods is Eden Foods. And they also are the only ones with safe Organic Tomatoes 
According to this article in Total Health Breakthroughs, you need to be particularly careful when it comes to acidic foods such as tomatoes. And heating your leftovers in plastic containers is not a good idea – chemicals from the plastics can easily leach into your lunch.
So, fresh whenever you can, frozen for ease and convenience, and be selective when it comes to your canned goods.
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Curious about what it’s like to work with me? Contact me to learn more about my services.
Get into the rhythm of winter
career, fun, happiness, inspiration, self care
22nd Dec 2009
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Yesterday was the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. The Solstice marks the start of the winter season. It’s time to get cozy and rest.
Many animals are going into hibernation during this time of year. Us crazy humans, though, are running around, going to holiday parties, staying up late celebrating the season and wearing ourselves out with all of the activity. To get more connected to the rhythm of the season, try one or more of these tips:
Sleep more – go with your natural body rhythm. If you’re feeling sleepy in the early evening, consider turning in earlier than you would normally do. If you’re ready to go to sleep at 9 pm or earlier, go for it. Getting adequate sleep is essential for good health, building your immune system and allowing your body to repair itself. Sleeping more can even help you lose weight and stay slim.
Warm up – eat more warm foods. You may notice cravings for hot foods, hot beverages, and warming spices. All of those things are perfect for the season and essential for keeping you healthy during the winter months. A nice beverage to have any time of day is a mug of hot water with a squeeze of lemon juice in it – soothing and delicious.
Slow down – take more time for yourself. The energy of winter is very yin – inward focused, contemplative, intuitive. It’s the perfect time to spend more quite time with yourself dreaming, journaling, taking a quiet walk in the winter snow. You can take stock of where you are now and where you want to go in the new year – and get a jumpstart on creating the life you desire before the new year rolls around.
How to avoid insomnia
self care
7th Dec 2009
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Last night I woke up at 3:30 am – and couldn’t get back to sleep. I tried, really. But I had too much on my mind. So I got up at 4 am and started working on some things quietly in my office.I knew I would be tired, but I have ways of handling it.
I used to have insomnia on a regular basis. While part of it was a caffeine problem, another aspect was definitely my tendency to stress out big time about small (and sometimes not so small) things.
I learned that not sleeping was not the end of the world. You can usually catch up the next day if you let yourself, and most of the time it won’t hurt you… too much.
If you find yourself not sleeping, here are a few things you can do:
1 – Don’t panic. The more you worry, the worse your insomnia will be. Cover up the clock, try to relax.
2 – Deep breathing and meditation – these can help you relax, and sometimes you’ll even fall back asleep. Try tensing and relaxing each part of your body separately, starting with the feet and working your way up to your head.
3 – Get bored – read something that would normally put you to sleep. The dictonary, a user manual or a dry research report work well. No mystery novels or romances, please – too exciting.
4 – If stress keeps you from sleeping, make a to-do list before you go to bed. That way, you won’t have to worry about the next day’s must do tasks – they’re on your list.
5 – Make your bedroom a quiet place – no TVs, electronics or computers. Reserve this room for only sleeping and sex. Make sure it is sufficiently dark and cool enough to fall asleep easily.
If you still can’t sleep, cut out caffeine and get to bed at a normal sleeping hour. Caffeine withdrawal may be painful, but it will likely get you back on track faster than anything else.
Just announced – fall cleanse classes
cleanse, diet, events, food
30th Sep 2009
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Fall is here, and that means it’s time for the Fall Cleanse! For those of you who have never experienced the joy of fall cleansing, let me tell you a little bit about it.
Cleansing was one of the ways that I started getting into holistic healing. When I did my first cleanse a few years ago, I couldn’t believe how great I felt. Eating nourishing foods (my cleanses don’t require fasting), reflecting and taking extra special care of myself, I felt completely balanced and centered once I completed it. Once I learned how to keep myself healthy, life became more exciting and fun.
I landed a more lucrative job and that was more challenging but also fun. I fell in love with my then-boyfriend (now husband). And I got clear on what I wanted.
But don’t just listen to what I’m saying – see what other people thought of it.
If you’ve been feeling stuck or tired, want more energy or get rid of sugar cravings, I urge you to try one out. The first one starts October 13 – Just 2 weeks away.
Want to sign up for my cleanse classes? Check out the Cleanse Classes pages for the latest dates.
The fastest way to true wealth
career, inspiration, mindset, relationships, self care, tips thursdays
3rd Sep 2009
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Why am I talking about wealth on a health blog? Because they’re connected. Everything is connected, as you’ll learn when you work with me.
When your health improves, your wealth improves, too.
Taking care of yourself physically will give you a more positive outlook on life… more energy to do what you really dream of doing… and attract better things in your life, including…
More money
Better career opportunities
Happier relationships
More upbeat friends and colleagues
A stronger connectedness to life
A greater sense of purpose
So, what’s the fastest way to true wealth? Eat healthier.
Value what your body offers, and treat it with respect. Love it and take care of it – give it healthy, delicious foods. Eat when you’re hungry, and know when you’re not hungry. Enjoy eating the healthiest, highest quality foods you can afford – and know that each day that you’re building the foundation for a better life.
You’ll savor the wonderous flavors of food that you didn’t even know could taste so good.
And you’ll love the way that you look as you naturally slim down seemingly without effort or deprivation.
When you start eating this way, your energy will soar. Your outlook on life will improve, and you’ll start noticing beauty in simple, everyday things.
Strange and wonderful things will happen.
Your relationships with your partner and family will improve.
If you’re single, you’ll start attracting more potential partners, even if you’re not looking for them.
Your work life will improve and you’ll inspire your boss to give you a raise – or you’ll attract more money through a better offer.
You’ll feel more in tune with yourself and more confident than ever.
How do I know this works? Because it worked for me – and number of people that I’ve worked with.
Beat the recession snacking blues
mindfulness, news, self care
15th May 2009
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The recession may be shrinking wallets, but for some it’s expanding waistlines.
A couple of months ago, the NY Times reported that candy sales were up – not fancy candies, but corner store and nostalgic varieties. And a recent survey by Career builder showed that people were snacking more due to worries about the recession.
This is alarming in many ways.
First, eating candy is only a temporary relief of stress. Once people get on the blood sugar roller coaster that inevitably happens when they indulge in large amounts of sugar, they will alternate between euphorically happy and weepily depressed.
Second, sugar encourages many diseases to flourish in the body. It contributes to imbalances and helps create a highly acidic environment, perfect for viruses and pathogens to thrive. It weakens the immune system so that your body will have a harder time repairing damage being done to every area.
I could list about 100 different harmful things that sugar does to you, but what’s more important is finding better ways to deal with stress if it is causing you to eat massive amounts of sugar. So…
Go on a media diet – turn off the news, stay away from the gloom and doom. You will not miss anything, I promise. If something really big happens, someone will tell you about it.
Take care of yourself – make time to do things that you love to do. The things that give us the most joy don’t cost much as all to do. For example, I love to read novels, walk around my neighborhood, and listen to music. None of those things cost a lot of money but I get a lot of joy from them.
Be grateful – if you’re feeling poor and thinking poor, then you are poor. But if you start appreciating all that you have in life, you’ll never feel poor again. Keep a journal of all of the things that you are grateful for – write down a short list of 3-5 things per day.
Do this every day for a month,and I can guarantee that you will have forgotten about your fear and lost the need to snack it away.
Preventing breast cancer
diet, food
11th Mar 2009
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Yet another reason for women to get healthy and happy: did you know that you can balance your hormones by eating healthful, nutritious food? By keeping your thyroid working properly by eating whole foods, and making sure your estrogen and progesterone levels are balanced, you can dramatically reduce the risk of breast cancer.
In brief, women should get tested for:
* Estradiol, estrone, progesterone, and estrogen metabolites.
* Low thyroid and thyroid antibodies if you have any reason to suspect your thyroid is under-active.
* Post-prandial glucose and insulin levels to ensure you are not developing insulin resistance.Once you have an accurate reading on these vital hormone levels, an appropriate supplementation and dietary plan can be applied as needed.
This article on the Total Health Breakthrough website gives a great explanation of how you can prevent breast cancer.
Is red wine the secret to eternal youth?
food, news
26th Jan 2009
1 Comment »
CBS’ 60 Minutes ran this story about resveratrol and how it could keep us from aging faster than we do. But can taking resveratrol really save us all?
Scientists are looking into extracting this naturally occurring substance from grapes and concentrating it into a potent supplement. They’ve had some success in giving it to mice, but of course, mice are not the same as humans. There’s also the assumption that it is the life-long consumption of resveratrol through red wine that has kept the French healthy despite their high fat diet and cigarette habit. This is a good theory, but it is not necessarily accurate.
The French have a very different food culture compared to Americans. They treasure their social time and will linger for hours at a dinner table. By spending time with friends and family, socializing leisurely over a meal, they take their time when they eat. They may eat many courses at a meal, but they don’t eat huge portions. Often there is a long lag time in between courses, too, so there’s time to digest. They chew their food and eat slowly while they discuss their lives with people they enjoy. I know this from experience – when I lived with a French family in high school, this is how we ate.
Compare this leisurely pace with the dashboard-dining phenomenon that on-the-go Americans have made famous. We shovel food into our mouths without even paying attention to what we are eating. Often we eat alone, while reading a newspaper, magazine, watching TV or in front of a computer. If we do sit down with friends or family, the experience is usually quick – 30 minutes at most. And so many of us suffer with indigestion, bloating, and gas. Just look at how many antacid products are on the market – we wouldn’t need any of them if we took time to chew, relax and enjoy our food.
Now, who is getting more nutrients out of food? Who is getting more experience out of life?
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