Sugar, Sugar

Good morning. I am a terrible blog writer so it seems. Three posts in a week followed by 3 weeks of silence. Not the way to get followers that's for sure. I woke up today and read a few pages of my last reading assignment for this semester (YES!!!) from a book called The Schwarzbein Principle. This book is part of a class called Lifecycles and Aging and the focus is about slowing down metabolic aging and maintaining a younger, vibrant and healthier internal body. One of the main culprits that screws with our metabolisms and increases the rate at which our bodies decline is sugar. Of course sugar gets a bad wrap everywhere you look: websites, magazines, the news. You may know that when you eat sugar, your body processes it rather quickly, causing that quick "high" followed by a crash and probably, a craving for more. Perhaps you've fed that viscious cycle, which may have resulted in a decline in your mood, your ability to concentrate and your enegy level. But what else is sugar doing that isn't so apparent?
There's been talk lately about probiotics. In simple terms, probiotics are the good bacteria that live in our guts. They are invaluable for many reasons including synthesis and absorption of the fat soluble vitamins in the colon and they fight the bad bacteria, viral toxins and other invaders that our bodies encounter everyday. Probiotics play a huge role in maintaining a strong immune system. These good bacteria thrive on the same foods that help our bodies thrive in general, vegetables, quality proteins, live, cultured dairy products (yogurt and kefir) and other whole foods. The food of choice for bad bacteria and other unwelcome organisms is....sugar! You may have noticed, if you are a female, that you got a yeast infection once and maybe you connected it to a day when you ate lots of sugar or maybe after a weekend of high alcohol consumption (alcohol is a sugar also). Yeast, is not a bacteria, it's a fungus, but it's still an unwelcome one in our bodies. Yeast feeds on sugar and will grow exponentially when there is some around. Normally, the body can rid itself of a little yeast, but when there is an abundance, it can take over, causing an infection. This infection can be a common one like women experience or it can be in your blood, a condition called candida. Viruses also feed on sugar. When these toxic organisms are able to feed and multiple in our bodies, the good bacteria get overwhelmed. So if you want to keep your immune system functioning optimally this winter, try this simple step and watch your sugar intake. And remember, it's not just sugar in the obvious forms (soda, sweets, ice cream); sugar is added to yogurt, juice, breads, soda, and breakast cereals. Concentrate on eating whole foods, lots of leafy green vegetables and low sugar fruits like green apples and underripe bananas. Limit alcohol consumption and avoid binge drinking. Staying healthy this winter just got easier!

The Chili!

The chili I made yesterday was by far the best chili I have ever made. It was rich and flavorful with just the right amount of spicy kick.

Power Breakfast

It's procrastination time! Homework is just not my strong suite but cooking I'm pretty good at. Right now I have a pot of delicious smelling, dark, rich black bean and beef chili simmering away. Another snow storm in D-town put me in the mood for a winter favorite!

Bad Habits

The more I learn in school, the easier it is to make better dietary choices. When you start incorporating fresh vegetables and greens into your daily habits, it seems like you may be missing out on other foods, but your body knows what's getting and your body responds positively.

Eating well on a budget!

Surprisingly (not really), the wheat/dairy free experiment was not successful. No excuses. Just wasn't the best week for the experiment. I will be continuously experimenting with this topic though. I have faith in myself that soon I will be able to go two whole weeks.

Experiments for the Week or Adventures in Self Control

For the past month and before I went on vacation, I've been attempting to eat wheat and dairy free. For the most part this isn't terribly difficult. I stopped drinking cow's milk, trading it for Silk Light Soy Milk almost a whole year ago. I can live without bread and pasta since it used to take me months to use one loaf of bread and I developed a low level of tolerance to pasta

Breaking the Ice

Hello friends and family (and maybe complete strangers, if I am lucky)...
As many of you know, I am enrolled part-time in a holistic nutrition program at the Nutrition Therapy Institute here in Denver. The idea has plagued me for a while to start a blog where I can share my knowledge and answer questions you may have about nutrition and also overall health/ wellness. I have always had a great interest in these subjects; from reading every health, fitness and wellness magazine and article I came across and researching topics that spike my curiosity to pursuing a degree in cellular and molecular biology in college. I have worked in some aspect of health care since graduating from college, was once certified as a Personal Trainer, considered careers as a physical therapist and pharmacist, and now, the pursuit of a greater understanding of nutrition especially in the capacity to heal.