How good do you really feel?

How we feel on a daily basis is a relative thing.

If you mostly feel kinda of crappy then an OK day can seem great.

I love spring - the sun and heat is super invigorating and you can kick your butt back into healthy action by the simple motivation of the sun and imminent bathing suit weather.

How good do you feel today?

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I have a bowel movement at least 1 time a day?

2. Do I wake up feeling good or barely able to get out of bed?

3. I look forward to my day? Or I can't wait to get the day over with?

If just one of these answers is not good - you need to make some changes.

We are a product of a few things and our experiences and how we feel are because of things we do:

1. Are we fuelling our bodies with real foods that feed our organs, or killing them slowly with fake foods and crazy amounts of sugar?

We need real proteins, real live fruits and vegetables and tons of good healthy fat to allow everything in our bodies to function correctly. Processed foods, soda and so called low sugar and low fat additives like aspartame feed disease and inflammation. 

2. Are we sleeping? 

If you're not sleeping properly you're not recovering and rebuilding and detoxing properly. You need a totally dark room (or great sleeping mask) and dim the lights and technology for a few hours before bed. 

3. Are we feeling happy?

Mood isn't just about what's going on in your life. Mood can be distorted and affected by many things we eat: namely sugary carbs. Want to feel happy? Ditch the donut and have a green juice.

In Health,

Amanda

Eat to Live Longer

I'm addicted to several things in life.

1. Lainey Gossip

2. TED Talks

3. Starting something new.

None of these are particularly bad habits to have - but I can tell you just like a good gossip web site, you can get sucked into watching more than 8 TED talks in a row and boom half your day seems to be gone.

I found a super interesting one today.

Ted Talk by Dr William Li 2010

This talk is specifically about Angiogenesis or really how to promote anti-angiogenesis.


Wiki Definition: An angiogenesis inhibitor is a substance that inhibits the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis). Some angiogenesis inhibitors are a normal part of the body's control, some are administered as drugs, and some come from diet.

Blood vessel development is key to the development of  cancer, because it means that if the blood vessels feed the cancer it can grow and turn into something that will negatively affect our health. If the blood vessels don't grow and attach to the cancer cells - nothing bad happens.

Fascinating stuff.

What was most amazing about it though was that it shows the power of simple decisions.

The impact of the difference between reaching for the oreo or simply having a grapefruit.

We know cancer rates have gone up. 

Here's a nugget what else has gone up? Peoples weight. Obesity is at an all time high.

What does fat rely on to grow and increase? increased blood vessel growth.

We know for a fact that the environment that increases blood vessel growth increases the chances of cancer and now many of us are heavier putting us in a higher risk category.

The solution to most diseases is in fact prevention before they occur. And some of the choices are really easy to make. 

You can choose to pick some anti-angiogenesis tips from this video and realize that our bodies really do become a product of what we eat and how we feel and how we treat them.

Some angiogenesis inhibitors:

blueberry

garlic 

red wine

dark chocolate

tomatoes

just to name a few.

In health,

Amanda

I love steak...and K-way jackets

My life is the perfect example of food trends. I've pretty much done them all.

I was a vegetarian for years, then I was a vegan, I'd like to tell you it was for political reasons (it wasn't) I think it was just trendy at the time. For me, it was really like being a carbatarian. Lots of carbs, some veg and no protein. Not so healthy. Then I was a raw food eater for 2.5 years, which was great, but not long term for someone who works out quite a bit. At the end of that period I felt like I might want to wrestle a cow to the ground and just eat right then. I was in serious protein deficit.

Imagine my surprise when after going back to school for Holistic Nutrition I was told that the best diet is:

One of moderation that includes meat, limited grains, fruit, vegetables and healthy fats. 

Yes I needed a 2 year program to basically tell me I should eat like my great great grandmother did.

I've done the cabbage soup diet, I've done the grapefruit diet, I've had friends who even done an all apple diet.... crazy.

So what's the best way to really eat and be healthy?

Well that's like me telling you the best way to have sex... I can't because frankly it's individual and personal.

Our bodies are all different. 

Some can handle grains, many can't, a small percentage and I mean really small can handle dairy - most can't. Some people will get ill if they eat gluten, some don't. Some people will have violent reactions to foods most won't...

How did you find out what works for you in other places in your life?

You tried things and see if they agreed with you.

Food is the same.

The best bet is to go on a Non-Inflammatory diet for 30 days and see how you feel. 

Then reintroduce a few possible 'yucky' foods and see how you and your body react. 

It's that simple. They will either be neutral or you'll feel better or worse.

My practical tips: 

1. I don't believe in vegan. - I know i'll get flack for this - I'm okay with that because frankly I did it. So I know about what I speak. If you are vegetarian or vegan you really need to know what you're doing. And you must take some supplements. Bottom line we need certain things to live that only come from animal products so you might choose to eat this way but it is not natural. Children should definitely not be vegans. 

2. Spend more money on clean, real food and eat less of it.

3. Listen to your body after you eat. 

On a total aside from food I went shopping this weekend with my sister and re-found K-Way jackets. K-way Jackets

I love them. Seriously retro love for these simple, practical and stylish waterproof jackets. 

Gotta love spring oh and my new favourite show House of Lies. Terrible people, awful business, awesome show. 

In health,

Amanda

Really red meat will kill me?

So a few weeks ago a Harvard Study came out saying that red meat will kill you.

Hmm. 

I've read the study and I've read the responses to the study. So you can read responses on Robb Wolf's blog, or Mark Sisson's Daily Apple.

The truth is at the end of the article about the study - it just pissed me off.

So far pretty much anything you eat or drink or look at can somehow kill you, maim you or cause some kind of cancer... seriously. It feels that way on any giving day reading so called health publications...

So can red meat kill you?

Personally - i think you'd have to work pretty hard at eating enough red meat to kill you. Well healthy organic grass fed red meat.

Junk food that's a whole other story - it will kill you too just a whole lot quicker.

All you have to do is watch Super Size Me from years ago to see your blood work will be messed up after just 30 days of fast food meals.

If you want to find a study that says something is bad for you... - you 'll find it.

If you want to find a study that says something is good for you - you'll likely find that too.

Real health is about moderation and enjoyment. 

So my take on the everything i like to eat may kill me...ignore it.

1. Eat paleo style of at least old fashioned.  This means clean, real food that is not pumped up on additives or preservatives or sugar or 'stuff'. A quarter of your plate should be good meat, and the rest should be vegetables, preferably green and colourful.
2. Eat it in moderation - not too much, not too little.
3. Don't drink sugar or drugged drinks....
4. Move more - use your muscles.

That's it. 

Sounds easy - we know it's not.

Coffee update:

So yes it hasn't been that hard to go mostly cold turkey. Did 2 weeks without it and felt good. Now I have 1 coffee a week on Saturday and that's good.

I would say I feel more calm and less racy around. Nothing too crazy though. So is it worth giving up coffee? Ask me in a few weeks - I've just started my early morning get my ass ready for bikini weather routine...doing lunges without coffee at 5:15 sounds hideous so we'll see how long it lasts. 

in health,

Amanda

The last frontier of giving sh*t up...

I think today may be the last straw in what was the last standing member of my so called bad habits.

Sure, I've been a good girl, well as far as nutrition goes.

I've eaten my greens, I've had my 8+ cups of clean water and yes I only eat grass fed or organic meat.. and have the food bills to prove it.

My last bad habit?

Coffee.

well at least that's the one you need to know about.

I have a really lovely espresso machine and it does a beautiful americano and frankly I enjoy 1 every single morning unless I feel yucky which happens well, I can't remember the last time it happens.

So why am I clinging to this last bastion of normalcy in my diet?

Several reasons:

1. I like coffee
2. It's a habit and it's one I like
3. I sometimes wonder if I give up all my habits that aren't soooo bad will I just take up another one that is really bad? ( maybe this is wishful thinking)

Anyway, as you may or may not know I eat what is called a non-inflammatory diet with what I call a Paleo twist.

So what do I eat?

meat
eggs
mostly green vegetables
some other vegetables
for a treat I will eat something gluten free like an organic chip or something

I eat no sugar
no wheat
no gluten
nothing fake, processed or with vegetable oils

oh and I eat no dairy so my famous daily coffee is with almond or coconut milk.

The guy at my local coffee shop feels the lack of milk is a good enough reason to give up coffee but not me I've stuck by it even with the coconut milk.

Geez it looks terrible when I list it out.

Oh but I still drink booze. You have to live a little. Only gluten free lower sugar booze but there you go.

So even though my list of food is somewhat pathetic my North American standards. I actually feel great, am healthy and have no problem keeping a fit and slim weight and am generally a happier person on this diet.


So new research just came out and it turns out that Coffee reacts with gluten anti-bodies....


That's like in highschool when you find out your boyfriend made out with your best friend at the last party. Coffee is a lying b*tch.


I've been thinking coffee was -sure an adrenal stimulate but not a evil gluten conspirator.

This also means that likely even though I have a sensitivity to gluten and feel better without it I could probably feel even better without this Coffee working up all my gluten anti bodies...


Bottom line:

The coffee's gone.

At least until I see if I can feel a difference.

I think I'll buy a bottle of tequila and wash away my coffee sadness.

For more information on this research have a look at Dr. Clark's website.

Coffee and Gluten Antibodies

Amanda

Your Ass Loves A Wheat Free Diet!

Just a short a sweet blog today. I've been busy with back to school, work and a big renovation.... but wanted to let everyone know about a great book.

Wheat Belly, by Dr. William Davis

Wheat Belly. It is fantastic. Already on the NYT bestseller list and has a deep science take on the anti-wheat debate. What is especially intriguing here is not just the problems with wheat with your body but the connection with mental disorders. Fascinating stuff. A must read for anyone but especially parents or those constantly battling the last ten pounds.

If you're not sure you're interested in the book try the podcast 95 at Robb Wolf's site, amazing information.

Robb Wolf - Dr Davis Podcast




Have a super day.

Amanda

An Ass without Fat? Not so good.

Hmm. I like to be informed. In a way I have to be about anything food or diet related because well it is one of my jobs. I probably have about 44 friends on the Dukan Diet right now. Which in theory seems OK for several reasons:
1. no sugar and processed foods allowed
2. it will likely make people lose weight and therefore feel better
3. It's French and a French Diet sounds more exotic than one from some hot chick in Illinois.

Anway, I you don't know the Dukan Diet, you can check it out at www.dukandiet.com, but the basics are this: you have 3 phases one which includes only protein for about a week to kickstart things, and then you can add in vegetables and then it progresses from there....

My BIG problem with it?

Longterm it's a bit of a health nightmare and not for the reason you may think.

It is very similar to the Paleo Diet which also extols the health virtues of giving up grains and processed foods but the Dukan Diet allows for Oat Bran pancakes which is a bit weird and totally not doable for anyone who is gluten sensitive. The kicker for me though is the fact that FAT is BAD in the Dukan Diet.

Ay Carumba????!!@$

How many times do we have to be told that good fats like Omega 3's that are found in items like eggs, grass feed beef and fish are good for us. We need fats to survive, they make us thrive and they really really don't make us fat. Now I'm not talking about margarine, margarine is poison. I'm talking about the good natural fats.

So try the Dukan if you must and even lose weight but please don't ignore your fats...in the long term it can cause hormonal, adrenal and a plethora of other problems.

A great eating blog that is paleo friendly and fat friendly is Mark Sisson's Daily Apple www.marksdailyapple.com

In Health,

Amanda