How Is Your Nutrition?

Nutrition: the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for HEALTH and GROWTH. 

How would you rate your nutrition? Are you eating a balanced diet that will provide your body with the opportunity to heal and grow? Don’t let all of the fad diets and “health” trends drive you to distraction. Instead, remember the 4 key facts provided by Harvard Health Publishing:

1. “What you eat affects your appearance, your energy and comfort, and — above all — your health.
   
2. America is on the wrong track. Two out of every three of us are overweight or obese. Diabetes and high blood pressure are on the rise. Heart attacks, strokes, and cancer are distressingly common. Many factors contribute to these complex problems, but the basic reasons are simple: we eat too much, we choose the wrong foods, and we don’t get enough exercise.
   
3. Scientists know what diet is best for health. The fine print has changed and is likely to change some more, but the key facts are in.
   
4. Good eating is not a punishment, but an opportunity. If you know why it’s important and what to do, you’ll find it enjoyable and satisfying. And if you establish an overall pattern of healthful nutrition, you’ll have plenty of wiggle room to savor the treats that matter most to you.”

Two Diets We Recommend…

PALEO/CAVEMAN DIET:

The Paleo Diet advises eating foods that would have been available to Paleolithic humans. The diet is based on avoiding processed foods.

The basic guidelines to live by on the Paleo Diet are:

• SAY YES: organic vegetables (including root vegetables), fruits (including fruit oils), nuts, fish, meat, eggs and organ meats.
• SAY NO: dairy, grain-based foods, legumes, sugar, and processed foods.

KETO DIET:

The Keto diet is a low-carb diet where you get more calories from protein and fat and less from carbohydrates. This diet is based on avoiding easily digestible carbohydrates.

• SAY YES: organic meat, fish eggs, nuts, vegetables (avoid high-carb vegetables like potatoes), and low GI fruits.
• SAY NO: processed foods, dairy, grain-based foods, sugar.

Burnout is a special type of work-related stress — a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity. Some experts think that other conditions, such as depression, are behind burnout but, whatever the cause, job burnout can affect your physical and mental health.

Burnout Symptoms:

Ask yourself:

• Have you become cynical or critical?
• Do you drag yourself to work and have trouble getting started?
• Have you become irritable or impatient with colleagues, friends or family?
• Do you lack the energy to be consistently productive?
• Do you find it hard to concentrate?
• Do you lack satisfaction from your achievements?
• Do you feel disillusioned about your job or obligations?
• Are you using food, drugs or alcohol to feel better or to simply not feel?
• Have your sleep habits changed?
• Are you troubled by unexplained headaches, stomach or bowel problems, or other physical complaints?

If you answered yes to several of these questions, you may be experiencing Burnout Syndrome.

Possible Causes:

Burnout can result from various factors, including:

• Lack of control. 
• Unclear work/home-life expectations.
• Dysfunctional workplace/home dynamics. 
• Extremes of activity. 
• Lack of social support. 
• Work-life imbalance. 

Risk Factors:

You might be more likely to experience job burnout if:

• You lack a balance between your work life and your personal life.
• You have a heavy workload.
• You try to be everything to everyone.
• You work in a helping profession.
• You feel you have little or no control.
• Your job is monotonous.

Consequences:

Ignored burnout can have significant consequences, including:

• Excessive stress
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Sadness, anger or irritability
• Alcohol or substance misuse
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Type 2 diabetes
• Vulnerability to illnesses
• Mental Fog

What To Do:

TAKE ACTION!:

• Evaluate your options. Discuss specific concerns with your supervisor and family. Work together to evaluate expectations or reach solutions. Prioritize goals for what must get done and what can wait.
• Seek support. Whether you reach out to colleagues, friends or loved ones, support and collaboration might help you cope.
• Try a relaxing activity. Explore activities that can help with stress such as yoga, meditation or tai chi.
• Get some exercise. Regular physical activity can help you deal with stress and take your mind off work.
• Get some sleep. Sleep restores well-being and helps protect your health.
• Mindfulness. Mindfulness is the act of focusing on your breath flow and being intensely aware of what you’re sensing and feeling at every moment, without interpretation or judgment. In a job setting, this practice involves facing situations with openness, patience, and without judgment.
• Eat a nutritious diet. By providing your body with the nutrients it needs, you will also be providing it the ability to cope with stress, function optimally, and maintain mental clarity.

Using Nutrition Response Testing, we can determine what your body is lacking then suggest whole food, plant-based supplements to correct any dis-ease!

June is World Infertility Awareness Month, so we are taking a deeper dive into the facts about infertility. 

Did you know? 
-One in 8 couples (that’s 7.3 million American women!) will experience difficulty conceiving.
-PCOS  is the most common cause of infertility with 70% of PCOS cases still undiagnosed.

What is PCOS?
PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder in females. Although experts cannot conclusively state an exact cause, elevated levels of androgens and insulin may be related to the condition. This chronic “invisible illness” can affect females of all ages ranging from adolescent to post-menopausal.

Common Symptoms