2010

Sound a little far fetched?  Well, in actuality it is not.  Excess weight around the belly is not a vanity issue or just about aesthetics anymore.  In fact, it is a major warning sign of serious health issues brewing behind the scenes in someone’s body.  When I first meet people, I admit it, I can’t help it, but I look at their belly.  I don't stare, I just take a quick glance to see if their belly exceeds their waistline.  Why?  Because it is one of the most simple health predictors going.  In fact, recent science indicates that excess belly fat is one the greatest predictors of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, various cancers and Alzheimer’s. Look around. Start noticing people and their belly.  No, it’s not being rude, you are just making an observation.  And you will realize that we have an epidemic among us.

Unfortunately, most people don’t realize the serious hazard of excess belly fat.  Yet, it comes with serious health consequences.  What is considered excess?  For women, if their belly exceeds their waistline and or/exceeds 35 inches.  For men, if their belly exceeds their waistline and/or exceeds 40 inches.

Belly fat is unlike other fat in your body.  It is charged with fat and inflammatory “switches”.  Ready and waiting at any moment to make fat AND inflammation.   These messages from your belly fat communicate to the rest of your body creating problems that result in chronic inflammation leading to chronic disease.  Inflammation in the belly fat can mean inflammation in any other part of the body – including your brain.

There can be a variety of causes of excess belly fat including, chronic stress, environmental toxins, gut bacteria imbalances, infections, hormonal imbalances, blood sugar imbalances, poor food choices, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, high sugar diet, lack of sleep and much more.

If you or a loved one would like to discover clear goals and an action plan for turning off the ticking time bomb of belly fat, I invite you to join me for a free 30-minute “Beyond Belly Fat & Fatigue" Breakthrough Session (Value $80).  Contact me here to get started!

Be Well & Thrive!

Sarah

• Do you wake-up unrested, struggling to get out of bed?
• Inability to fall asleep? 
• Unexplained Blood Sugar Symptoms?
• Do you have chronic aches, pains and headaches?
• Do you feel an inability to handle stress?
• Do you go through the day with sluggish energy?

You May be suffering from high body voltage where you sleep.  Sound far fetched?  Well, it is not!

We are electrical beings.  Even though we often forget and neglect that we are, our bodies are in great need of being connected to the earth and it’s healing vibrations.  This may sound a little woo-woo but here is what this means.  We are literally meant to be connected to the earth and thus protected by the earth’s negative ions.  When this connection is interrupted, physiological disruption and dysregulation ensue resulting in symptoms such as stress, pain, unrest sleep, blood sugar dysregulation, fatigue, etc.

With the advent of rubber soled shoes and enhanced sleeping areas with raised beds that have wire springs and metal frames, also came the “electrical age” with the invention of electricity and the light bulb.  As a result, we slowly and consistently became more and more out of touch with the earth and it’s powerful source of negative electrons that protect us from the excitatory and invisibly disturbing flow of electricity all around us.  Despite these advances that enhanced quality of life in so many ways, there was an invisible consequence to human physiology.

• The rubber-healed shoes became a barrier to receiving the earth's energy through our feet during the day. 

• The raised beds with wire springs and metal frames disconnected us from the earth’s powerful flow of negative electrons at night.   Night being an especially critical time because it is when the body is repairing and rejuvenating.  This the crux of the impact.

Now, with the saturation of electrical household appliances and electrical based gadgets, we live not only separated from the earths protective electron source, but we are simultaneously surrounded and overloaded by a web of electrical frequency (not mention the immense saturation of wireless frequencies).

Resent research proves that when the human body maintains physical contact with the earth, this maintains the body at the natural electrical potential (voltage) of the earth.  When the body is electrically coupled with the earth, the DC electrons of the earth and its related electric fields then reside on the surface of the body.  This absorbs the excessive electrical fields, thus protecting the body by offsetting the electrical field from the body (has a limited supply of electrons) to the earth (has an infinite supply of electrons).  When the body is shielded with the DC of the earth, the electrons of the body are protected from aggravation.

Receiving the earth’s supply of electrons essential to prevent and heal disease. When inspections were made of ill patients homes, inspectors found that 90% of the time the sleeping area was an issue.  In 90% of those cases, the most significant pollutant in the sleeping area was the man-made AC electric fields.

To learn more about how high Body Voltage could be making you achy, tired, stressed and sick AND what you can do about it, please contact me, Sarah Reilly at http://getnourished.tv.

Ever drank out of a plastic water bottle? 
Ever heated your food in a plastic container? 

It is not breaking news that plastic has become an environmental hazard.  Plastics are filling our oceans, rivers, backing up landfill areas and contaminating wildlife. It is no secret that plastics have become ever present in modern times.  It is more than obvious that plastics pose a monumental threat to our environment from land, air to sea.  Not to get even more depressing, but to be honest they are also impacting YOU!

However, this is not your fault.  We were not warned when the plastic craze came about:  First with storing our food, then body products, then with the plastic bottled water craze to avoid chemicals in our tap water.  It is a sad affair how detrimental plastics have become to our environment and the continued excessive dependence on plastic.  However, less obvious has been the impact of plastics on human health.  In the last few years research has been emerging and is gaining momentum.  It is undeniable that phthalates have a detrimental impact on human health.

What are phthalates

Phthalates are in plastic. Phthalates are a chemical that help to make plastic pliable, bendable.  Ever squeezed in a water bottle and felt it give and take.  Well, phthalates are making that possible. 

Phthalates are also hidden in body products (makeup, moisturizers, hair products, etc.) and most things with a scent (perfumes, Glade Plug Ins).  They are what the scent binds to for staying power.

Unfortanately, phthalates don’t just stay  put.  They seep into the water you are drinking from plastic bottles, leach into food when even slightly heated, get absorbed into your skin, and respiratory system.  The result?  They end up in you and stay in you!

Why the worry?

1. Well, phthalates don’t just go into your body and then leave.  They are “lipid soluble”.  That means they love fat.  So they hang around for waaay too long – in your fat.  While they are hanging around for lord knows how many years they trigger your body to make more fat.  They can degrade something called your insulin receptors, this can lead to insulin resistance.  Insulin resistance is marked by abdominal weight and is a precursor to prediabetes, cardiovascular disease and various cancers.
2. They create “oxidative stress” in your cell’s mitochondria.  Oxidative stress is toxic so your body has to use it’s own antioxidants the fight the oxidative stress.  The mitochondria is where we produce energy.  The mitochondria is then unable to produce adequate energy.  The result, your energy cycle is decreased.
   
3. Our brain is one of the most mitochondria intense environments in our body.  When our brain’s mitochondria are fighting oxidative stress, the mitchondria get very tired, lose their vitality and can die. 
   
4. They are xenoestrogens.  This means that they replicate the action of estrogen and can trigger excess weight gain and estrogen sensitive breast cancers.
5. Phthalates get passed on with reproduction.  Babies are being born with high phthalates from their parents exposure preconception.  This is setting their stage for endocrine and obesity issues. Scary.  What a wake up call for preconception.  
6. Additionally, they decrease testosterone, steroids and impact the production of your happy hormone, serotonin.
   

So, that is just a snapshot of how phthalates could be making you feel fat, foggy and fatigued.  Have no fear, there IS something you can do about it.

Tips for Phthalate Reduction in your life

1. Don't let phthalates seep into what you eat!  Store food in glass containers NOT plastic.  Check out this site for durable glassware for storing food.  http://www.anchorhocking.com
2. Avoid plastic water bottles.  Get a Klean Kantine or glass bottle to store your filtered water. http://www.kleankanteen.com
3. Don't lather yourself in phthalates. Check your body products to make sure they don’t contain phthalates and other harmful chemicals.   http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com
   

Find out if you are Phthalate toxic

If you are concerned that phthalates could be making you feel fat, foggy and fatigued don’t be alarmed.  You can do something about it.   You can get tested.  In my practice I run the gold standard test for assessing phthalates.   It is a very simple urine test that you do at home.  It will show you if you have high phthalates, and how you are detoxifying them and how those phthalates are impacting your ability to burn fat and create energy.  In my practice I  create a detoxification and nutrition program tailored to your unique test results and needs to help you get rid of the toxins and repair your metabolism. If you would like to learn more about this, please write me at www.getnourished.tv to set up a consult time. 


May you be well and thrive!
Sarah

Ever wonder what makes your body age?  Or what makes your body create disease?  Well, once again science has pointed at the same implicating factor of aging. This most resent research follows the discovery of three different genes which all significantly increase the chances of living past 100.   These genes indicate the implicating factor of aging is the sensitivity of our cells to "insulin".

The human body and brain require a steady amount of glucose throughout the day.  Glucose comes from the foods we eat. Insulin is a powerful hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates the level of glucose (sugar). Here is how it works:

• Insulin opens the door to your cells for sugar to get in. So, basically, insulin keeps our blood sugar under control.
• When blood glucose levels are high, insulin stimulates cells in the liver, muscles, and fat. These cells combine glucose into something called glycogen, which essentially stores energy for later use.
• BUT, if someone has too much sugar and carbohydrate intake over a long period of time insulin WILL get very tired of hearing the message over and over to store MORE sugar into the cells and it won’t be able to store the sugar anymore in the cells to be used for energy.
• The result is Insulin Resistance.  
• Insulin Resistance is when insulin can not open the door of your cells for the sugar to be burned.  Too much sugar begins to damage the tissues of the body and is also stored as fat and Triglycerides.  Insulin is a fat storage hormone.  It is also one of the most potent growth hormones that can generate cancers.
• Excess Insulin also wears down our “telomeres”.  Telomeres are like socks at the end of our DNA that prevent our DNA from degrading.  Too much insulin over a long period of time degrades (and ages) your DNA.
  

Insulin Resistance is a very serious matter and growing rampant in this country and around the world.  It has been shown to increase systemic inflammation, degrade collagen (increase wrinkles), cause mismanagement of lipids (increase bad cholesterol & Triglycerides), increase risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.  In other words, insulin (unmanaged) causes aging.

If you are confused and tired of trying to figure out “when what and how" to eat, contact me at www.getnourished.tv for a free 30 minute strategy session where I will share with you the latest in nutritional science, that will help you balance your blood sugar and prevent insulin spikes, all the while eating yummy, satiating meals.  Through my simple diet and lifestyle strategies you can discover effortless weight loss, increased energy and focus, regulated blood sugar and less aches and allergies too.  Healthy lifestyle habits and eating nutrient dense, glycemically balanced meals (and snacks!) are the foundation to preventing chronic disease and premature aging.

In the meantime, here are a few tips to incorporate into your life TODAY.

1. Sleep - Get AT LEAST 7-8 hours of solid sleep per night.  Recent research shows that just ONE night of LESS than 7 hours of sleep, increases your risk of insulin resistance.  Yep, sleepless nights increases insulin AND lowers your growth hormone which keeps you young.
   
2. Stress - Manage your stress.  Research shows that high stress increases insulin.  Try deep breathing exercises when feeling overwhelmed.  Breath in for a count of 8 and out for a count of eight. 
   
3. Exercise - And I don't mean for long arduous hours of aerobic exercise.  I mean exercise EFFECTIVELY with "burst" exercise. Short burst of about 30 seconds of all out effort (running, biking or walking) followed by a recovery for twice as long, ie. one minute.  This decreases insulin.  Long arduous aerobic actually raises our stress hormones thus raising insulin.  Result = you gain fat.
4. Glycemically balanced meals - Simple as this - 

• clean, lean protein
  
• lots of low starch veggies
  
• limited starchy carbs
  
• Healthy fats (ie, olive oil, hemp oil, avocado, nuts and seeds) 
• Super Foods - green powders,  nuts and seeds, sea veggies (nori, dulse, etc)
  

 For a quick overview of glycemically balanced meals, sign up for my 5-Day Free Video Report Series on my home page. 

Here's to you and your success to Get Nourished, be well and thrive!

 Sarah

www.getnourished.tv

While thinking about sweets for my sweetie this Valentines Day I began looking at what kind of sweetener I was going to use in my straight from the heart, homemade, yummy chocolate treats.    I want the best for my sweetie.  He loves chocolate but there will be NO "refined" sugar or "natural and raw" sugar for this man.  "Refined" and yes, "natural and raw"  sugar are toxic to the body for 2 reasons.

(Side step and FYI - I won't even go into the artificial camp of sweeteners here (ie. Aspartame, Equal, NutraSweet, Splenda.  Bottom line they are neuro-toxic....this means they damage your brain neurons - NOT good!)

Ok, on with the prelude.  First, sugar lowers the ability of our immune system to fight disease.  After consuming sugar your white blood cells (the warriors of your immune system that quench pathogens) are literally crippled for about 6 hours after consuming sugar containing beverages and foods. This leaves you vulnerable to infection......lord knows we need all the support we can get these days to fight sneaky bugs.  Secondly, it results in a damaging sequence that stresses your pancreas, brain, adrenals, not to mention waistline.

So, now on with my dramatic discovery....actually not MY discovery, this is actually well documented, known by many healthy practitioners, written up in scientific journals AND it has been bugging me for a long time! 

So, in my pursuit of "healthy" chocolate recipes, they all contained Agave Syrup.  Annoying.  Agave is everywhere! It is being touted as the lone star to save the day as a healthy sweetener, which couldn't be further from the truth.

Agave Syrup - the High Fructose Cactus Syrup

I may be bursting your bubble here but Agave Syrup is NOT all it is cracked up to be.  Yes, it is hailed as the super ultra healthy, low glycemic, safe for everyone, especially Diabetics, kind of sweetener......but this stuff is really just High Fructose Cactus Syrup.

 Blood Sugar Buster

Speaking personally as a very "glycemically sensitive person" this stuff can really land me on my face.  In my gut (not to mention pancreas) I know there is a serious glycemic response.  This symptom of feeling like I’ve just downed a bunch of sugar after eating (or drinking) Agave led me to look behind the scenes at why this stuff has been given the low glycemic vote of approval. To my surprise it is not the sweet savior to refined sugar we have been led to believe.

 The Process Busted

Yes, it is true – Agave is low glycemic.  But we must understand WHY it is given that title.  It is due to the fact that it has 90% fructose compared to the small amount of glucose (10%).  This ratio of fructose to glucose does not occur  naturally anywhere else in nature.  So, why does it occur with Agave?   Well…. the sap of the Agave plant is collected and then heated to concentrate the liquid into a syrup AND to develop the sweetness.  When the Agave sap is heated, it becomes FRUCTOSE. The fructose-rich solution is then filtered to obtain the desired products that range from dark syrup with a characteristic vanilla aroma, to a light amber liquid with more neutral characteristics.  So basically, Agave is just hydrolyzed fructose.  Yuck.  Why yuck? Well, liken it to High Fructose Corn Syrup where they have manipulated the molecules to create a dangerous, artificial substance.

Harboring High Fructose

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is a HUGE nightmare in the current food industry dilemma and accounts for much of the increase in obesity over the last 10 years.  It lurks silently in numerous products such as sauces, juices, enhanced waters, breads, crackers, cereals, protein bars, etc.   (HFCS) in soda contains an even less concentration of glucose to fructose ratio at 55% (HFCS) than compared to Agave at 90%.  Even though fructose is low on the glycemic index, there are numerous problems associated with the consumption of fructose in such high concentrations as found in concentrated sweeteners.  Here are some examples:

• Fructose makes you age faster!.  Research indicates that fructose induces oxidative stress.  Scientists found that rats given fructose had more cross-linking changes in the collagen of their skin than other groups fed glucose.

• Fructose actually promotes disease more readily than glucose. This is because glucose is metabolized by every cell in the body but fructose must be metabolized by the liver.  This makes fructose convert to fat and  increases triglycerides (blood fats) significantly as well as the potential for a fatty liver.

•  Fructose may make diabetic conditions even worse.  It reduces the sensitivity of insulin receptors which are essential for glucose to enter the cell and be burned for energy.  This can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes.

So, the moral of this story is to beware of any substitute sweetener, read between the lines and be a conscious consumer, even if it does claim to be all natural and low glycemic.  Get the facts!  If you want to add sweetness to something try using Xylitol or Stevia.  Xylitol is antibacterial and actually helps you burn fat.  Stevia is derived from an herb and is NON-glycemic AND it helps to regulate blood sugar.  One of my favorites is Stevia Sweet Leaf.  It even comes in little pouches you can carry with you and have on hand.  They also have drops in a variety of flavors. 

Here's a simple recipe to help you on your way...

Chocolate Pudding to Knock Your Valentine’s Socks Off!

Gluten Free, Sugar Free……and full of nutrition & LOVE!

This nutrient dense treat contains super stars such as:

• Coconut milk – antimicrobial , healthy fats that don’t make you fat
• Avocado – loaded with vitamin E and more healthy fats that don’t make you fat
• Raw Organic Chocolate – high in Magnesium and powerful antioxidants
• Stevia – a natural sweetener that is non-glycemic and will help keep your blood sugar balanced.
• Whey Protein Powder – The most bio-available form of protein which enhances energy, immune function and detoxification.
• Walnuts – heart healthy fats
• Raspberries - a tasty low glycemic fruit that contains fiber, manganese, Vitamin C, flavonoids, B vitamins & ellagic acid.

Directions

• ½ Cup of Coconut Milk (canned)
• 2 TBS filtered water
• ¼ Avocado
• 2 TBS water
• 1-2 TBS of raw Cocoa Powder
• 2 drops of liquid Stevia
• 1 scoop of Whey Protein Powder
• 1 TBS of chopped Walnuts
• 1/4 Cup Raspberries

In a blender add coconut milk, avocado, water, cocoa and stevia.  Blend until smooth.  Then add protein powder and blend to desired consistently.  Top with chopped walnuts and raspberries. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or eat ASAP!

Enjoy, be well & thrive!

Sarah

Trecking out of the post office today I looked up to the FINALLY blue sky.  A patchwork of puffy white grayish clouds and a soft blue sky hanging like a silken canvas.  I closed my eyes, breathing in deeply as though on the edge of the shore, thinking how nice it was to smell this fresh clean post storm air.

Then to my surprise - I suddenly thought I was choking - nose burning - stomach turning.  The smell of gas burning around me. Good God I thought, what on earth?! 

Low and behold, I had walked into the parking lot as a car was pulling out of the parking lot......leaving me enveloped in a cloud of exhaust.  Probably doesn't sound like a big deal.  However, if you could see the chemicals that were in this invisible air behind the vehicle you might think again.    I quickly made a 180 and went back inside the post to regain my breath.

As my nose continued to burn I thought about those specific chemicals in exhaust.  As I stood there people passed in and out, especially many women -  with manicured nails with fingernail polish.  It was then I remembered how the chemical makeup of fingernail polish and exhaust have some similar counterparts........chemicals such as Styrene, Benzene and Toluene.  And there I sat to pause for a moment thinking of all the people  that have NO idea that they are putting seriously toxic stuff on their their nails.  So, I did a quick look for the latest "environmentally friendly" nail polish.....

(Sidestep - this takes me back to the time that a friend had just put on her "organic toe polish"  I mean, it was sold at Whole Foods and was labeled "environmentally friendly" - - so it should be ok - right???  Wrong!!!  First of all,  I nearly keeled over after being with in 2 feet of her and her sparkly, still wet toe nails.  Secondly, it is not as "safe" as you might think.)

Ok, back to my research on the "safe enviro toe nail polish"......Agasp!  It still contains Styrene!  What is the big deal? Well, Styrene is a potential carcinogen and causes oxidative stress in our mitochondria.  Our mito-what??  Our mitochondria.   This is like the furnace in our cells where we we create energy.  And once this stuff gets in - it is hard to get it out!  This can slow down what is called our Krebs Cycle.  The Krebs Cycle is this amazing energy creating process that takes place in our mitochondria. 

As for the conventional toe nail polish, well it contains a very long list of toxic chemicals, including Formaldehydes Benzene, Toluene and Styrene - which are also in exhaust.  All toxic.  All potential carcinogens.

Who'd have thought that breathing in a bunch of exhaust would have led me to this blog of toe nail polish!  Well, no surprise I guess.  I don't know about you, but they BOTH make my nose burn and make me want to hold my breath!  

So how did I get nourished to remedy this little blip that felt like it depleted me.  I came home and took a slug of my MonaVie.   MonaVie?  This is a phenomenal whole food tonic that contains amazing Antioxidants that will help neutralize those free radicals that are caused by exhaust inhalation.  Sure enough, a few minutes later, I was feeling perky, clear and back to normal!  

Well, this blog just of rolled out of me....had no intention of writing about nail polish....I don't even paint mine!  Haven't for years now.....just going a la natural:)  I hope this has helped someone our there!

May you be well & thrive!

Sarah

Do you use a cell phone?  Do your children? Do your loved ones?  Well, it's time -  high time, to take the time to catch up on the latest science about the consequence of cell phones.  I know it is hard to imagine.  They are so convenient, and the consequence seems so  invisible.  So, how could there be a problem?  Well there is a problem - a very BIG one.  Recently released is yet another scientifically validated study that confirms cell phones DO in fact harm human health.  

A landmark paper by Igor Belayev's team at Stockholm University has
reported that very low intensity microwave radiation from mobile phones
inhibits DNA repair processes in human stem cells.  THIS IS HUGE!!!

So, what does this mean?  It means that cell phones damage your DNA.  What is DNA?  It is the blueprint for every cell in your body.  DNA controls every message of your cells to create, repair and function.  The consequence of damaging DNA? Well, to put it bluntly - Disease and death of cells.  This could manifest in such ways as  inflammation, chronic pain,  premature aging and disease, especially cancer.   

In the authors' words, "this represents a direct mechanistic link to epidemiological data showing an association of Mobile Phone exposure with increased cancer risk."  The data obtained from human stem cells is of "utmost relevance for assessment of possible health risks of exposure from mobile phones."  Most, if not all adult tissues and organs including blood, skin and brain contain stem cells.

 Children are especially at more risk.   A recent report proved that children are more at risk from mobile phone use than adults.   The risk of glioma is more than 5-fold in children but just more than 2-fold in adults.  This is not just skepticism.

The author went on to say "In children,  almost all organs and tissues possess stem cells and stem cells are more active in children (since their bodies are growing at rapid rates).   The possible relationship of chronic exposure and various types of tumors and leukemia especially in children should be investigated."

This issue is very close to my heart.  Speaking from personal experience, I have encountered health issues from wireless technology.  Had I not had the sever symptoms I did from wireless technology, I would not be as keenly aware of the devastating impacts. I am not against cell phones.  Yes they can be helpful in times of emergency.  However, I am all for DISCRETION.  Currently there is no discretion regarding the use of cellphones.  People have no clue.  We MUST be conscious consumers and users of this powerful technology.  For information on how you can protect yourself from the invisible impact of wireless technology (ie cellphones), please contact me at www.getnourished.tv.

May you be well & thrive,

Sarah