Breakfast Ideas

 Oh, and I think this is an awesome step in the right direction–research about environmental chemicals and their link to childhood disorders like autism and learning disabilities.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/4/prweb9442509.htm  

Melissa sent this email to me..

“It must be Fat Loss! Sherri, you have been so amazing! I feel a lot better, not micro managing food as much, just upping the greens and keeping a good amount of protein in. My runs are stronger as are my other workouts.  My time is improving as well. I do get set backs sometimes, whether I ate too much of something or too fast.  The key for me now is to eat slowly to avoid stomach issues.”  

I have pulled 11 different studies through pubmed about the health benefits of beets.
Want to increase blood flow to the brain and improve cognition–who doesn’t?
Maybe you want your liver metabolizing toxins better?
Perhaps you want to lower your blood pressure or prevent cardiovascular disease?
If beets were a drug, they would be prescribed daily to almost everyone! One of the smoothie recipes I shared with The Palate Magazine is for an Antioxidant Smoothie containing beets (recipe is below). Oh, the rich, polyphenol color to this smoothie brings a happy tear to my eye.

Here is a quick excerpt from an article I wrote for Earthday many years back..

Beets:
“The pigment that gives beets their rich, purple-crimson color-betacyanin-is also a powerful cancer-fighting agent. Beets’ potential effectiveness against colon cancer, in particular, has been demonstrated in several studies
Protection Against Heart Disease
Beets’ Betaine Helps Lessen Inflammation
Protection against Birth Defects
Beets are an excellent source of the B vitamin, folate, and a very good source of manganese and potassium. Beets are a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, magnesium, iron, copper and phosphorus.” (From World’s Healthiest Foods)
* Tip: Keep steamed or baked beets on hand in the fridge and add to salads and smoothies. Juice your own beets or make sure they (Your local juice bar- Sprout? Earthfare?) adds a beet in your fresh juice!*

Antioxidant smoothie
1 small beet scrubbed clean
1 cup frozen pitted cherries
1 medium ripe pear, cored
1 cup chopped purple cabbage
1 cup filtered water

Spring Cleanse!

Cleanse starts April 25th at 6pm!
Join us!

Here is Mark’s Cleanse success story!

“My wife and did the cleanse with Dr. Sherri in January. What a tremendous change for me!!! My goals were to lose some weight and to improve my energy levels. My daily fatigue made me feel just like those “5 Hour Energy” commercials. In two months I have lost 30 pounds, improved all of my pre-cleanse data points, and do not have afternoon crashes anymore. It’s not easy, but with an open mind, a little planning, and a healthy dose of determination, I was able to transform my body and my lifestyle. We have chosen to keep gluten out of our diet and minimize dairy (Tex-Mex isn’t the same without a little cheese). There is a vast array of food choices that we were not even aware of before working with Dr. Sherri that we now enjoy as part of our regular diet. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this cleanse to anyone looking to improve or enhance their lifestyle.”

When I was in school, we had this creative, singer/songwriter in our program. Since we learn so much about detoxification, it was fitting when he did a fun rendition of the old classis song- “50 ways to leave your lover”—changing it to “50 ways to love your liver.” I don’t remember all the words now, but when I am getting ready for a new cleanse group, I often find myself singing the refrain.

So…on the topic of the liver—I need to tell you how important your liver is and how you should not go one day without being extremely thankful for all that it does for you.

If I thought long and hard, I probably could come up with 50 ways to improve liver function, for now, we’ll stick to the basics.

The Basics:

As you can imagine, liver biochemistry is pretty complex, but let’s break it down.

Liver detoxification is composed of 2 phases. Toxins enter phase one and are modified into smaller, more soluble components and sent to Phase2 where they are altered again for excretion out of the body.

Too many toxins and phase 1 can get “backed up” or  if phase 2 is not able to properly convert the toxins to a form that is able to be excreted, vague symptoms start to develop…

Brain fog, headaches, insomnia, nausea, chemical sensitivities, and a variety of chronic health problems have been related to toxicity issues..

This is one reason why some people are  so sensitive to their environment ( smells and chemicals, seasonal allergies, and foods–don’t get me started!)

Imbalanced phase 1 and 2 liver function causes Poor Metabolic Function (read: many different symptoms)

All I can say is—love your liver because if phase 1 and phase 2 are not in proper balance for excreting toxins—you won’t feel so good—bottom line! Check out the diagram below for a quick summary.

DaDaDa…”50 ways to love you liver” DaDaDa

Let’s start with 2 swooping ways to love your liver (with a few sub-categories)

1. Decrease your exposure to toxins!!
   1. Organic food?
   2. Using plastics?
   3. Indoor air quality?
   4. Pharmaceuticals? How many? Are they all necessary? Talk with your Doctor.
   5. Processed foods?
   6. What is in your cosmetics? Lotions? Bath wash? Soap?
   7. What is in your cleaning products?
   8. Alcohol? Coffee? Sugar?

**all of the above add up over time—trust me!

1. Get rid of toxins
   1. At least 1 bowel movement per day?
   2. Exercise? Breathing? Sweating?
   3. Nutrients? How well the liver metabolizes is based on nutrient intake!
   4. Green leafies daily?
   5. Comprehensive cleanse program 2-4 times per year?

Image from metametrix institute

Spring Cleanse!

Cleanse starts April 25th at 6pm!

 Here is Mark’s success story! 

“My wife and did the cleanse with Dr. Sherri in January.  What a tremendous change for me!!!  My goals were to lose some weight and to improve my energy levels.  My daily fatigue made me feel just like those “5 Hour Energy” commercials.  In two months I have lost 30 pounds, improved all of my pre-cleanse data points, and do not have afternoon crashes anymore.  It’s not easy, but with an open mind, a little planning, and a healthy dose of determination, I was able to transform my body and my lifestyle.  We have chosen to keep gluten out of our diet and minimize dairy (Tex-Mex isn’t the same without a little cheese).   There is a vast array of food choices that we were not even aware of before working with Dr. Sherri that we now enjoy as part of our regular diet.  I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this cleanse to anyone looking to improve or enhance their lifestyle.”
 

(My Free Sweetener Guide Offer Below)

 I want to share with you a recent newsletter from a colleague of mine in Denver, Dr. Jacob Schor. (Denvernaturopahtic.org)

What’s so good about agave syrup?

Reading this morning’s New York Times while watching a storm bluster outside our cabin windows I opened today’s recipe for a beet and berry smoothie that looks more than a little tasty:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/29/health/nutrition/mixed-berry-and-beet-smoothie-recipes-for-health.html?WT.mc_id=HL-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M243-ROS-0312-HDR&WT.mc_ev=click&WT.mc_c=181567

While the Times recipe looks quite good and I was about to forward it to all of you, I noticed that for sweetener they suggest honey or agave syrup.

When or how did agave syrup achieve status as a healthful equivalent of honey?  I must assume some very good marketing firm has been at work.

The following information on agave syrup is quoted directly from a posting on Food Renegade’s website (http://www.foodrenegade.com/agave-nectar-good-or-bad/)

“Native Mexican peoples do make a sort of sweetener out of the agave plant. It’s called miel de agave, and it’s made by boiling the agave sap for a couple of hours. Think of it as the Mexican version of authentic Canadian maple syrup.

“But this is not what agave nectar is. According to one popular agave nectar manufacturer, “Agave nectar is a newly created sweetener, having been developed in the 1990s.” In a recent article now posted on the Weston A. Price foundation’s website, Ramiel Nagel and Sally Fallon Morell write,
Agave “nectar” is not made from the sap of the yucca or agave plant but from the starch of the giant pineapple-like, root bulb. The principal constituent of the agave root is starch, similar to the starch in corn or rice, and a complex carbohydrate called inulin, which is made up of chains of fructose molecules. Technically a highly indigestible fiber, inulin, which does not taste sweet, comprises about half of the carbohydrate content of agave.

“The process by which agave glucose and inulin are converted into “nectar” is similar to the process by which cornstarch is converted into high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). The agave starch is subject to an enzymatic and chemical process that converts the starch into a fructose-rich syrup-anywhere from 70 percent fructose and higher according to the agave nectar chemical profiles posted on agave nectar websites.

“Compare that to the typical fructose content of high fructose corn syrup (55%)!
In a different article, Rami Nagel quotes Russ Bianchi, managing director and CEO of Adept Solutions, Inc., a globally recognized food and beverage development company, on the similarities between agave nectar and high fructose corn syrup:

“They are indeed made the same way, using a highly chemical process with genetically modified enzymes. They are also using caustic acids, clarifiers, filtration chemicals and so forth in the conversion of agave starches into highly refined fructose inulin that is even higher in fructose content than high fructose corn syrup.”
So there you have it. Agave nectar is not traditional, is highly refined, and actually has more concentrated fructose than high-fructose corn syrup. It is not a “natural” sweetener.”

[Dr Schor writing again]
If agave syrup is just a sweeter version of high fructose corn syrup, why have so many health conscious shoppers become enamored with it?  Clearly this isn’t evidence based.  Searching PubMed for scientific journal articles describing agave syrup’s effect on health yields only 3 citations.      A similar search on honey yields, 5,470 articles.  There’s no comparison.  Scientists are not singing praises for agave.

The most recent article on agave is revealing.  Published in Physiology and Behaviour back in 2009, Figlewicz et al fed rats moderate amounts of different sweeteners including high fructose corn syrup or agave.  Agave’s effect on the rats was similar to that of high fructose corn syrup except that “serum triglycerides were higher in the Agave” group. Looking at the overall effects of even moderate consumption the researchers wrote: “We conclude that even moderate consumption of fructose-containing liquids may lead to the onset of unfavorable changes in the plasma lipid profile and one marker of liver health, independent of significant effects of sweetener consumption on body weight.” [1]

High fructose syrup isn’t particularly healthy.  We’ve known since the 1970s that high fructose aversely impacts cardiovascular risk factors.  If anything agave, because of its higher fructose content, may be worse.

The only good thing about agave syrup is cost.  Perhaps its expense may limit use.  Let’s not let them fool us though.  Agave syrup is not natural and not particularly good for us.    Better stick to honey.

[1] Figlewicz DP, Ioannou G, Bennett Jay J, Kittleson S, Savard C, Roth CL.Effect of moderate intake of sweeteners on metabolic health in the rat. Physiol Behav. 2009 Dec 7;98(5):618-24. Epub 2009 Oct 6.

At the end of the day, there is really no perfect sweetener. My favorite is coconut sugar, stevia and xylitol (and a few of the other sugar alcohols)…occasionally some brown rice syrup. With the goal always to use as little sweeteners as possible.

Would you like a copy of my Sweetener Handout? 

Send me an email and I will give it to you–free of course! 

Contact@HealthECoaching.com

Spring Cleanse!

http://anymeeting.com/WebConference/RecordingDefault.aspx?c_psrid=E950DC828946

 Endia finished our last cleanse!

I recently completed Dr. Sherri’s metabolic cleanse and I was really amazed, and for many reasons!
I have an old knee injury, and because of my gait, I often have sciatica or wake up with joint pain. During the cleanse, I noticed my joints were feeling much better, and by the end I realized I hadn’t had any sciatica at all
Also, I noticed a shift in my mental energy…I felt much more calm and balanced.
Lastly, I noticed a difference in both my energy level and my skin clarity and glow.Even my husband commented on how happy and healthy I seemed.
I highly recommend Dr. Sherri’s cleanse to anyone, whether you are looking for a short term detox, or a long term life change. She will give you the tools! E. P.
 

  Are You Using These Potent Antioxidants?

 Warming Turmeric Tea

 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk or raw milk

More info? Link to cleanse webinar:

http://anymeeting.com/WebConference/RecordingDefault.aspx?c_psrid=E950DC828946

Endia finished our last cleanse!

I recently completed Dr. Sherri’s metabolic cleanse and I was really amazed, and for many reasons!
I have an old knee injury, and because of my gait, I often have sciatica or wake up with joint pain. During the cleanse, I noticed my joints were feeling much better, and by the end I realized I hadn’t had any sciatica at all
Also, I noticed a shift in my mental energy…I felt much more calm and balanced.
Lastly, I noticed a difference in both my energy level and my skin clarity and glow. Even my husband commented on how happy and healthy I seemed.
I highly recommend Dr. Sherri’s cleanse to anyone, whether you are looking for a short term detox, or a long term life change. She will give you the tools! E. P.

http://anymeeting.com/WebConference/RecordingDefault.aspx?c_psrid=E950DC828946

 Amber just finished the cleanse for the 2nd time. Here is what she had to say. Thanks Amber!

 ”Dr. Sherri’s cleanse is a great way to change your life, refresh your health, or just renew your commitment to taking care of yourself and making health a priority. She approaches health in a refreshing and unique way, and helps you take steps toward optimal health through well researched information, advice and options. She listens and helps you meet your goals. Meeting Dr. Sherri and deciding to do her cleanse one year ago gave me improved mental clarity, overall health, appearance, energy, and literally changed my life. I made critical life decisions that have altered my life and career for the better, and I can’t thank her enough. By continuing to work with her after the cleanse, we were able to find difficult to identify disease that traditional doctors weren’t thorough enough to find and did not take time to diagnose. I do her cleanse program at least once a year and maintain a lot of what I learned and the practices daily. I highly recommend the cleanse to anyone regardless of health status or goals. Just sign up…challenge yourself, and you’ll be glad you did.”

There are chemicals in our food, air and water that disrupt the endocrine system. We now cleverly call them endocrine disruptors. Trust me- if you want to feel good- you want a highly functioning endocrine system. 

Here is a link to a CBS News article about obesogens

 CBS News Story

I am personally inviting you to be a part of our next 

21 Day Metabolic Cleanse

Uncover the hidden obesogens and endocrine disruptors in your diet!

As Amber said so well in her success story…

“I highly recommend the cleanse to anyone regardless of health status or goals. Just sign up…challenge yourself, and you’ll be glad you did.”

 1. You always choose the low-fat or fat free options when grocery shopping

I am a farm to table nutritionist and I strongly believe in eating as close to nature as possible. Every cell in your body is made of a bi-lipid fatty membrane and guess what- it needs healthy fats to work well! Low-fat options usually contain more sugar, go through too much processing and are not very satisfying. Choose close to nature and as always, eat in moderation. Eat to nourish!

2. You eat plenty of fruits everyday, At Least your recommended 3 servings

Vegetables are much more important than fruits and honestly, fruits contain way too much sugar for many people. Eat your veggies! Stick to your dark berries as a good fruit source and let most other fruits be treats or to satisfy a sugar craving.

3.  You make sure you eat an early dinner and do not have anything else for the rest of the evening.  If you eat too late at night, you will gain weight.

For most people, especially with impaired metabolism, going that long without food will cause a blood sugar dip in the middle of the night…leading to a cortisol rush, insomnia and we know that adds up to weight gain! Most people do better by having a small, balanced snack in the evening.

4. You eat egg white omelets to avoid elevated cholesterol.

Egg whites and egg yolks go together-like a perfect marriage and they should be eaten together (unless you have a food sensitivity). Cholesterol from your food does not increase blood cholesterol and there are specific nutrients in the yolk that help you absorb the white. Remember- eat close to nature!

5. Soy is great for hormonal balance and cancer prevention so you incorporate it into your daily meals.

Soy is highly processed and allergenic for many people. It is something we eliminate during the cleanse. If you want healthy digestion and optimal thyroid health, avoid soy products like vegan “meats”, soymilk, soy protein shakes and bars. If you are not sensitive to soy, you can find health benefits from miso and tempeh.

The word “cleanse” is a buzzword. We hear it in the media from celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Beyoncé. The word invokes images of juices, powdered concoctions and frequent trips to the bathroom. For some it seems ridiculous. For others, it may seem glamorous, like a surefire fix when you need weight loss and clear skin for a red carpet event.

But what is a cleanse, really? And who needs a cleanse, really?

The word “cleanse” conjures up so many different images because there isn’t a unified definition of cleanse. People promote whole body cleanses, bowel cleanses, juice cleanses, raw foods only, and water cleanses. One of my professors used to say that a cleanse is different for everyone, depending on where they are in their health journey. For one of his patients, an older gentleman without much regard to his health at all, a cleanse meant stopping the nightly box of Oreos and starting to walk 2 times per week. All of this variety leaves the public confused about whether or not they need a cleanse.

In my practice, a cleanse is a concerted effort to eat and live in a way that supports health and vitality. It is about making conscious choices and being aware of how the foods, activities and environmental exposures affect every aspect of your health. It is about learning how to eat clean, unprocessed foods and eliminate inflammatory foods that cause vague symptoms like, fatigue, headaches, gas/ bloat, weight gain, allergies and skin issues. It is a learning process- food affects every aspect health.

Each one of us needs a cleanse because each one of us carries a body burden load. Body burden or toxic burden is the term scientists give to measure the amount of environmental chemicals found in the body. With increasingly high levels of daily chemical exposure, from the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink and the chemicals we put on our skin, everyone has a body burden. As far as you can get from your body burden, or toxic load, the better you will feel.  A cleanse is about learning ways to reduce your body burden, creating a new and lasting level of health.

I recommend a cleanse, like the one I have described, at the change of each season, ideally 4 times per year.  We all get off track and this is a great way to help you re-focus and re-establish your health goals. Remember, a cleanse does not have to be extreme and it definitely does not have to be a “celebrity fad”  diet.  Choose a cleanse that has been around while, time tested with exciting testimonials. Make sure the cleanse offers support and guidance throughout and make sure it is something that makes sense to you. After all, you want to be healthy for a lifetime, not just for a red-carpet event!