Good morning Green Goddess!

This is super delicious.

I am currently in a green-state-of-mind. I have stages where I embrace and wrap myself in specific colors that I seem to be drawn to - and right now it's lime-green.

So this fits the bill perfectly - and it's loaded with adaptogens and superpower foods to heal exhausted adrenals (which is what suffers when you are under stress - it's what produces cortisol in your body).

So this morning I am waking up to Carla Bruni...

Reading...

“Don't allow your mind to tell your heart what to do. The mind gives up easily.”
-Paulo Coelho, is an internationally acclaimed author best known for his book The Alchemist.


And licking my spoon clean with...

Green Goddess Elixir

• 1 scoop whey (serotonin boosting) 
• 1 tbsp. gelatinized maca (hormone balancing)
• 1/2 c. coconut cream (thyroid activating = fat-burn)
• 8 ice cubes
• 1 frozen banana (serotonin boosting)
• handful kale (immune boosting)

Blend 30 secs and top with raw cacao nibs.

It is SO yummy. Have a great Sunday.

Probiotics more efficient than antidepressants.

Probiotics have time and time again been found to be more efficient that antidepressants. Simply because the main neurotransmitter involved in happy mood - serotonin - 95% is found in your gut. Depression is directly related to malabsorption, food allergies etc. Changing what you eat, changes how you feel - naturally and long-term. 
One of my favorite breakfasts is berries with raw sour cream or just plain yogurt - raw yogurt has higher probiotics contents and thus the antidepressant effect is that much more potent. If I'm on the go I'll layer in a jar - so pretty.

High candy intake linked to lack of impulse control.

Sugar addiction rewires your brain and affects
the neurotransmitters involved in impulse control.

A study comparing children’s candy intake to conviction of crime in adulthood suggests that there is a link. Children who ate candy daily at age 10 were more likely to have been convicted of crime at age 34 years.  69 % of people convicted of violent crimes at age 34 reported eating candy every day in childhood. In comparison only 42 % of the nonviolent study participants ate candy frequently. The scientists speculate that this correlation may be due to lack of impulse control, as they become used to instant gratification. 

Another explanation is that their brain chemistry suffers from a diet high in candy and low in nutrients; ultimately leading to poor brain functioning in impulsive behavior. The average person eats 153 pounds of sugar a year, which is equivalent to over half a cup a day. The average teenage boy eats twice as much sugar as any other age or sex group. Sugar is one of the major components of our diet, and any relation between sugar and behavior is of major interest. There is a plenty of information on sugar and children. However, much of it is controversial: some research shows that it does cause hyperactivity and aggressiveness. Other research shows that it does not seem to cause abnormal behavior. Research by Alexander Schauss, author of Diet, Crime and Delinquency, shows that when sugar is removed from children’s diet, their school grades go up. 

Basically, sugar cravings are a symptom of an imbalance in your brain chemistry. When you self-medicate on high-sugary foods you experience a short-term relief due to the release of serotonin as well as a spike in blood-sugar levels. Both of which makes us feel good instantly. However, this type of self-medication leads to a gradual nutrient depletion. Once the high of the sugar rush wears off, you will be craving your next fix – you are caught in a vicious cycle. 

There are certain associations with specific neurotransmitter deficiencies and food cravings. 

Here is an overview to determine what you might be lacking based on the symptoms you are experiencing:

Craving                   Symptom                          Brain Chemical               Natural Remedy
Sweet + Caffeine -> Weight + Low Energy->  Dopamine  -> Tyrosine, B12, Ginseng, Green Tea

Fatty Foods   ->  Memory + Attention issue->Acetylcholine -> Choline, Omega-3, B-complex

Carbs + Alcohol ->  Anxiety + Sleep issue -> Serotonin or GABA-> Inositol, NAC, Tryptophan

To pinpoint exactly which vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids that you might be running low on, along with determining the effective dosage for your specific biochemistry type, requires an in-depth diet analysis. However, loading up on some of the most basic nutrients in non-toxic doses is usually always a good idea. 

Always consult your doctor if you are on medication that may interfere with specific supplements.

Reference:

More S. et al: Confectionery consumption in childhood and adult violence. British Journal of Psychiatry. 2009;195(4): 366-7. 

Ayurveda for New Moms

How you care for your healing body influences not only your ability to nurture your child, but also your health for the next few decades.

The first 2 weeks after birth your body goes through immense changes hormonally that also affects your brain and biochemistry. 

In Ayurveda this is described as an increase of vata in new mothers - in Western medicine this corresponds to a serotonin related imbalance:

- Cycling emotions


- Anxiety


- Short attention span

 
- Poor memory


- Dry skin, hair and nails


- Stretch marks


- Stiffness


- Poor circulation


- Fatigue


- Low digestive fire


- Constipation

The above symptoms can quickly be addressed if a daily ritual that caters to the resetting of internal rhythms is started upon. The most important aspect is consistency - it takes approx. 2 weeks to set a new internal rhythm.

An easy thing that you can do right away is to get in the habit of waking your body up with a tea that has healing properties for those ailments your body struggles with as a new mom.

NEW MOM TEA RECIPE

What’s in it?

1 tbsp cumin

Builds healthy digestive capacity, reduces vata

1 tbsp fennel seeds


Builds healthy digestive capacity, encourages breast milk production

1/2 tbsp coriander


Builds healthy digestive capacity, reduces inflammation, clears excess fluids

1 tbsp fenugreek 


Rids the body of excess swelling and water retention and encourages breast milk production

1 tbsp wild yam or licorice

Supports the endocrine system and reproductive tissue in healing; has antiviral properties

1 pinch lavender


Calms the nervous system and is antimicrobial

What to do?

Mix the above dried herbs in 5 cups of boiling water. Let steep 10 minutes. Strain and sip throughout the day in addition to always starting your day with a mug of this healing tea!

Saturated fats rate high on satiety index

One of the biggest issues for dieters today -  and that I constantly hear from my clients - is the struggle against hunger. A couple questions quickly reveal that most of them have cut saturated fats down to nothing - something that they've been brainwashed to do by the diet industry. Please keep in mind that the diet industry depends on you failing in the weight loss battle, otherwise they don't get repeat customers: they need you to lose weight and then struggle with cravings and a sluggish metabolism to ensure you gain it all back and come crawling back to them and spend more money.

Your brain, hormones and cells are mainly made up of saturated fats. So common sense will tell you, that this is something your body also needs from your diet for healthy functioning. Mother's milk is made up in large by saturated fats, because it is so essential for brain development etc.

In fact, I often start my mornings with heavy cream in my coffee, grassfed butter on my Ezekiel toast topped with a softboiled egg and a couple slices of delicious avocado and a bowl of banana/blueberries/macademia nuts. So fingerlicking good!

I do not struggle with cravings. I do not go to the gym. I do not count calories. My bodyfat is 18%. This is not due to great genetics - on the contrary, I have low serotonin symptoms running on both my parents side, so I need to pay attention to my metabolic type in order to keep my brain chemistry balanced and inactivate my genes of disease.

This breakfast rich in saturated fats keeps me satisfied without feeling stuffed for a good 5 hours. Whenever I skip my saturated fats and do something commonly thought as healthy, such as oatmeal with almond milk or low fat milk, I feel physically stuffed without being satisfied - I will have more food cravings for sugar and quick carbs that day. Not really a great feeling.

It is imperative that you know your own brain chemistry dispositions in order to know what to eat to feel great. And the right types of fats play a huge part.

Which fats did you eat today?

The Biology of Your Cravings.

Cookie Monster is a perfect example of someone

with a low level of serotonin,

 and perhaps also an excess of dopamine,

making for an anxious, aggressive personality type 

of a carb-loving furry friend.

One of the most typical issues I deal with in my work as a medical nutritionist, is helping clients break addictive behaviors around foods - especially high-carb foods. Cravings and out-of-control eating is always, always linked to brain chemistry imbalances, along with a series of other potential triggers that vary depending on genetic blueprint.

If you fail to recognize the underlying biochemistry imbalances, then you will struggle with this for the rest of your life. One thing I can promise you, is that if left untreated, it will only get worse. That is why 95% of all diets fail - they are not balancing your brain- and biochemistry, rather they are worsening the existing biochemistry problem that caused you to gain weight in the first place! Whether it be an imbalance linked to low metabolic rate (your dopaminergic neurotransmitter system), or it be one associated with addictive and binge behavior patters (your serotonergic neurotransmitter system).

Brain chemistry imbalances and triggers are highly individual and can be pin-pointed according to your genotype via specific lab tests, of which I’ll take you through the most relevant to detect what is causing your cravings. Keep in mind, cravings may be due to an isolated factor or multiple imbalances/allergies, and each one needs to be addressed, before they completely vanish. But vanish they will, once you focus on the cause - which is an imbalanced biology, rather than doing the same thing over and over again. White-knuckling it on one fad diet or another, yet you continue to expect a different outcome. Maybe this time, maybe Monday - it is wishful thinking and you know it.

So let’s go over the most common triggers associated with cravings, and why that cookie jar is oh-so appealing in the late hours...(...)

Read the full shenanigans on FoodFacts here.

Natural Prescription For Hormone Balancing.

Skinny Vanilla Latte Linked to Stroke. Oh, and obesity, cancer, binge eating, palpitations and drug-relapse.

The main issue I have with aspartame is its ability to alter serotonin level and thereby affect everything involved in a balanced mind-body connection - heart rhythm, anger outbursts, insomnia, cravings for drugs, carbs etc. Why I drink my latte with full fat raw milk, pure cream (low casein a1 and lactose) or simply a nut milk; preferably cashew milk. And that's it. If you must have the sweet fix to mask the delectable taste of roasted coffee beans.. which is beyond me... then go for plain, real sugar; your body and brain knows that stuff on a biochemical level and can burn it off. End of story, no permanent damage done. Don't be fooled by the zero calorie count on the nutrasweet pack. It's brain garbage.

Reference: Drug Chem Toxicol. Epub 2012 Mar 2.
Long-term consumption of aspartame and brain antioxidant defense status.
Abhilash M, Sauganth Paul MV, Varghese MV, Nair RH.

Natural Sleep Aids.

The typical alpha male struggles with insomnia 

not only due to work place stress, 

but this type often shows severe depletion 

in their calming neurotransmitters

- namely serotonin and GABA.

Massage is one way of quickly creating a boost in serotonin.

The key, however, is to change your dietary strategies,

 so they support your chemical imbalances,

 and thus enables you to live the life you really want.

Sleep is one of the most important pillars to good health - during sleep is when your brain recharges, most of your fatburning takes place and collagen and cell renewal. Yet, most of us find it increasingly difficult to sleep without either numbing ourselves out with afterwork drinks or rx sleep medication (highly addictive and you do NOT enter those deep layers of REM sleep btw. - that's why you continue to feel groggy!).

Insomnia is just about always associated with an imbalance in your serotonergic neurotransmitter system; and this is something you can rebalance with the right nutritional therapy within 6 months time completely - depending on severity.

A couple of no side-effects natural strategies that I use initially, depending on the client's genetic make-up, are based on Ayurvedic principles on how to calm down an overexcited central nervous system - some work better on certain people than others.
I will use one or more while rebalancing their neurotransmitter system, depending on their unique genotype.

You can incorporate herbs with sedative properties into your daily routine similar to as most of us have gotten used to our coffee fix - change routines, and repeat it until it becomes a natural no-frills habit.

- A warm herbal bath with drops of essential oils of lavender, chamomile, neroli or rose before going to bed works wonders to loosen tense muscles and quiet an overactive mind.

- Stuffed herb pillows with catnip, lavender, lemon balm, or orange blossoms, have been used traditionally to aid sleep.

- Warm milk (preferably goat's or casein a2) with ground almonds and a piece of nutmeg or cardamom helps digestion and nerve system.

- Herbal teas or tinctures of some of the following herbs support proper sleep pattern: lavender, hops, passionflower, chamomile, skullcap, lemon balm, valerian root and kava. These can be used in combinations or alone as suggested by your practitioner.

- A powerful herb for cultivating balance in the central nervous system is ashwagandha. This well-known Ayurvedic herb is helpful in nourishing a depleted and worn out nervous system.

Do remember that which strategies and dosages that will enable you to finally sleep sound, all depends on your genetic make-up and how your brain is wired - that's why custom natural medicine works and generalized advice is hit and miss.

Change Your Body Set-point.

If you've reached a weight-loss plateau, or even having difficulty losing any weight in spite of monitoring every morsel that passes your lips, you need to change your metabolism and brain chemistry, as these two factors are what will ultimately determine if you are able to keep your body-fat down, get ripped abs and no longer struggle with the munchies. I've said it a million times and I'll say it again: fat-burning has NOTHING to do with willpower, but everything to do with brainpower, and understanding how to harness the power of your brain chemistry and genotype - matching it with the right supplements, amino therapy and dietary strategies for your unique genetic blueprint and brain chemistry wiring.

There are, however, a couple factors that you may not be aware of that are crucial in order to kickstart your body into fat-burning gear:

You can change your metabolism:  A study of sets of twins where one was fat and the other thin found that fat cells in heavier twins underwent metabolic changes that make it more difficult to burn fat.  Physical activity can reverse the effect.

Stress can make you fat: Stressful circumstances can cause cravings for carbohydrate-rich foods. Stress hormones also increase fat storage.

Zac Efron- His physique is not a matter of willpower:
He doesn't stick to a fanatic diet or exercise regime;
it simply flows - because what he is doing,
whether conscious or not about it,
matches his genetic blueprint!

Sleep more to promote weight loss:  Sleep deprivation upsets your hormone balance, triggering a decrease in leptin (a hormone that helps you feel full) and an increase of ghrelin (a hormone that triggers hunger).

Sugar is addictive:  Research has determined that foods people like excite the same parts of the brain that are activated in drug addicts.

Antioxidants are also anti-fat:  Free radicals damage the cells that tell you that you're full. Get rid of them by eating colorful, antioxidant-rich vegetables.

Pine Nut Oil Suppress Appetite: In a paper being presented in an American Physiological Society session at Experimental Biology 2006, "the greatest effect was observed after just 30 minutes, with the 18 women reporting a 29% reduction in "desire to eat" and a 36% drop in "prospective food intake" scores. The experiment found a parallel and significant increase in cholecystokinin (CCK) of 60% and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) of 25% that remained as long as four hours after ingestion. CCK and GLP1 are appetite suppressors, which "send signals of satiation to the brain diminishing the desire to eat and food intake usually significantly


To determine your genetic blueprint you can sign up online for a metabolic typing session with The Nutrition Doctor here - the web portal will be online in September.

According to New DSM-5 Criteria: YOU're An Addict!

Well, more likely than not the new criteria will open up for future inclusion of disorders that were previously diagnosed as impulse control disorders rather than actual addictions. However, fact remains that a lot of those behaviors, prescription meds and chemicals added to foods these days directly stimulate our dopaminergic neurotransmitter system which is one of the key pathways in your reward system activated by drugs such as coke, speed, meth etc.

And another interesting aspect is that internet, texting etc. stimulate dopamine boosts as well - making for a generation that is used to instant gratification and has a super vulnerable brain chemistry for hard-core drugs; or simply a chronic need for stimulation that goes hand in hand with a low tolerance to pain (emotionally and physically). This makes for the perfect "binge" generation that constantly seek out distractions they can numb out in to avoid feelings (sex, cutting, shopping, drugs, food, gambling, texting, online stimuli, stealing, lying, gaming, hysteria and rage tantrums etc. etc.). And because everyone these days are doing something to manage the everyday pain of life, when you are not content in the skin you are in and the life that YOU ultimately have chosen to live... we have indeed become a nation of addicts - as I see it.

Because everyone's an addict does not make it right - it's a problem, and it's growing as both our environment, food and norms are supporting various addictions that overlap.

Look, I know what you're thinking "Oh come on now! Give me a break! No one's perfect!" That's not the point. The point is, there is a very...very... fine line before something, that we trick ourselves into thinking that we are in control of, gets in control of us. And if you can't go even a week without your drug/behavior of choice, without throwing fits of rage or crying over everything and nothing, there is a problem that is not going to disappear on its own.

Once you stop engaging in your distractions, you'll realize how you really feel about your life... and that is not always pretty.

When you are not happy in the skin you are in without numbing yourself out; it's only a matter of time before you will find yourself controlled by behaviors or substances... where every decision you make depends on whether you will be able to ultimately get your fix... so you only see your friends during "happy hour"... cos if it's not happy hour, you're not happy. Don't get me wrong: I love my Amarone too! But there's a huge difference between "nice to have" and "need to have". And "need to have" is never nice.

And on a side note - Sylvester Stallone's son, Sage, has just been found dead in his LA apartment. Make no mistake: Addiction will kill you - it is a slow suicide. And sometimes, not so slow. You can get the latest details on this on TMZ.



"The fact that binge drinking is so pervasive among college students and other young people indicates not that it is the norm, and therefore OK (not a problem), but that it is a very big problem indeed. Arguing otherwise is like saying that since so many Americans are obese, it needn’t be addressed because it is a cultural norm."

- The Fix

Read more about the controversy about the new diagnosing criteria to be included in the DSM 5 here.

Autistic Kids: It's A Nutrigenomic Issue!

Cute kid. Unfortunately, the stereotypical breakfast
of milk and cereal is one of the top triggers
of autism and the associated not-quite-so-cute behavior.
A breakfast overflowing with opioids found in milk and wheat gluten
- whole grain or not, besides the point here.

When kids suffer from behavioral disorders, looking into food allergies and nutrient therapy is crucial. Genetic traits and brain chemistry imbalances are hereditary and gradually worsened through generations; so if you haven't taken care of yourself by matching your lifestyle to your unique metabolic type, you can be sure to see a worsening of your vulnerabilities showing in your kids.

Autism have become one of the most widespread issues amongst kids these days; however, it is very easily treated if you understand how autistic symptoms relate to brain chemistry and triggered by opioids found in common food products.

So what characterizes the brain of a kid suffering with autism?
Autistic children generally have high levels of serotonin in their blood platelets, but LOW level of “free” serotonin. This may mean high serotonin in blood cells, but low serotonin in brain!

Research also comments on the fact that autistic children have high beta-endorphin levels. The literature does not reference baseline beta-endorphin but talks about an exaggerated stress response. Measuring beta-endorphin evokes stress, so the high levels they see may be a function of the exaggerated stress reaction. Stress evokes BE, and generally serotonin modulates the spike. If the serotonin system is impaired, there could be nothing to tone the beta-endorphin spike down so there would be a constant spiking and crashing.

BE is designed to kill pain, it creates “numb”. This can be life saving in a crisis, but it does not do well for bonding. Researchers used a drug called Naltrexone that sits in beta-endorphin receptor sites and does not allow the heightened BE reaction to charge the system; thus the kids treated had fewer autistic symptoms. However, this method does nothing but treat the symptoms temporarily (you can't be on these drugs forever - as with anything, there are side effects that only worsen over time causing a multitude of other health problems); it does not target the underlying issue.

Sugar, wheat gluten and dairy contain opioid peptides and raise BE levels more. So we know there is a direct link between the biochemistry imbalances that are associated with autism and that which are dietary related!

What to do now? 

Well, if your kid suffers with autism, even if you don't have the financial means to have a brain chemistry and metabolic typing done (contact for more info), you will want to try this out for 28 days (my experience is that in 90% of cases this solves the issue): move your kids to a food plan that has no wheat, no hard-core dairy (whey protein powder is ok because it does not have casein), and no sugar.

Anderson, G. M., D. X. Freedman, et al. (1987). Whole blood serotonin in autistic and normal subjects. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 28(6): 885-900.

Anderson, G. M., A. W. Zimmerman, et al. (2004). Autism clinical trials: biological and medical issues in patient selection and treatment response. CNS Spectr 9(1): 57-64.

Blum, I. , Y. Vered, et al. (1992). The influence of meal composition on plasma serotonin and norepinephrine concentrations. Metabolism 41(2): 137-40.

Buitelaar, J. K. (2003). Why have drug treatments been so disappointing? Novartis Found Symp 251: 235-44; discussion 245-9, 281-97.

Bursztejn, C., P. Ferrari, et al. (1988). Metabolism of serotonin in autism in children]. Encephale 14(6): 413-9.

Cazzullo, A. G., M. C. Musetti, et al. (1999). Beta-endorphin levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and long-term naltrexone treatment in autistic children. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 9(4): 361-6.

Awakenings.

Living the lie. 

I believe it's human nature to be an addict. 
And I also believe that the temptation to give in to instant gratification makes for an outcome where we tend to gravitate towards ultimately (self)destructive behaviors that we become addicted to by repeating them again and again; reinforcing the reward mechanism and mapping out new paths for pleasure in our brain.

A brain that gets addicted to misery, unnatural highs and extreme lows. Insanity becomes our new sanity. We feel comfortable when we engage in patterns that our brain is used to recognizing and rewarding with a cascade of pleasure chemicals such as endorphins, serotonin, glutamate and dopamine. Every high, every instant gratification, outburst of rage... whatever our shadow is... is followed predictably with a crash. And so we must do it again - and often times in a more extreme manner, as we adapt to drugs and behaviors; dopamine is only stimulated by novelty. We get used to this way of being, and our brain responds with pain whenever we try to change our ingrained behaviors. Because it has no reward system attached to the new (healthier) habits we are trying to develop. Yet, that is.

Addiction is not limited to drugs - it's everything and anything.
Shopping, sex, drugs, alcohol, food, cutting, gambling, Internet and... even something like being a drama queen. You become addicted to the highs and lows, and your constant fits of rage and hysteria... you are actually turned on (unconsciously) by the emotional pornography and manipulative spiel you participate in. When you engage in a fight with someone, your body releases beta-endorphins - our natural painkillers - which are highly addicting. So yes, even "personalities" can be addictive.

Destructive behaviors are tempting for our basic instincts, when we have not become conscious yet. They tap into our shallow desires on a very primitive level. Now I am all for following basic instincts, but you need to be able to be driven on a much deeper level than what feels like s prickling sensation on your skin. Sensations come and go - passion (with reason) remains. But much worse is that when you give into the prickling, tingling sensation on your skin, it typically slits your veins when you least expect it, and leaves scars that often run soul deep.

So how do you know when you are following a shallow temptation?
When you are not selling your soul, you need no legislation or permission from anyone. Because it feels right. When you try to manipulate yourself and others by giving a thousand reasons why something is OK. It's not. It goes against your core beliefs. You can play mind-games with yourself. Distract yourself. Tell yourself you are fine. Everything is fine. Everybody else is doing it.

Wait. What. When did something become right, just because everyone else is doing it? 

Everybody's doing it... is how the worst scenarios in history unfolded.
Your life being no exception to this excuse.

Look yourself in the mirror. Do you recognize yourself? Self-loathing is tied to selling yourself short.
Why is this message so important for me to repeat over and over again - because I know this is the key to unlock every human being's bright light and endless potential. I know how painful it is to be a sleepwalker. And once you wake up, you can't go back to sleep.
All the pain and misery we feel is tied to a longing to connect with ourselves on a soul level. Follow your calling and become you. Become whole. And suddenly life is not that hard anymore.

Life, in fact, is very easy. 

Don't follow the herd as they run off the cliff, because that is essentially what we are doing - look around you - how many are not struggling with some type of destructive behavior to deal with life. AND LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL. It's not that tough, it really isn't - it's all in our minds. And whether we choose to numb ourselves and ignore who we really are.


It is living the lie that is killing us and leads us down a road towards lifestyle diseases due to the suicidal lifestyles we choose to "cope" with the lies we tell ourselves - and others.
I don't have to tell you what's right - you know it. I don't know your truth. I don't know the lies you tell. But anyone who is not a sleepwalker can recognize the pain and suffering in others that are still lost in a haze.
If something makes you smile - just makes you radiate from within - do it, and do it again. Because then it's right. Everything else is tied to lies. You always get that slight metallic aftertaste that you need to wash down with a couple drinks if not. Just a little Anesthesia to take the edge off of your contradicting choices in life.

You numb yourself into unconsciousness.
And with no consciousness we don't think about the long-term consequences. All that matters is here and now. Typically because our choices cause chronic pain we get stuck in a drive for release this very moment, right now... want it now, need it now... nowNOWnow!
Or we will simply go insane. Or so we feel.

Posing for the cameras.
How many drugs does this lie take to sustain.

Feelings.
Of pain, rejection, discomfort in the skin you are in.
And wherever you look, there is a giant billboard screaming with a commercial for whatever "drug" or behavior you engage in; that you are fine. Everything is fine. This is normal. You are normal.
Paris Hilton does it. JLO is doing it. Heck, even your neighbor is doing it.
Do they seem like happy people to you? Why do you think they need all that makeup, botox and designer clothes... to cover up their hollowness inside... this is not rocket science.

Have you looked at how normal people are feeling and living lately?
All the silent screams. All the tears that never dry. All the pretension; the constant legalization of whatever we are doing, it's OK. Distracting yourself. Pretending it's not happening.

Go ahead dive in. Be part of the misery. Sell your soul.

Because that is essentially what you are doing, when you switch off the lights. Drowning in the darkness. 

And yet, if you can recognize any of these thought-patterns, it's too late to turn around, to go back to sleep, because you have seen the cuts... the blood stains on the floor. The vividly red streams cutting into the deep bottomless black that is within every human being.

Once you have awoken from your sleep, there is no escape. All EXITS are locked. You can either swim or drown, but you can't tread water anymore. Knowledge is power, but it comes with responsibility to take action.
You can't know and NOT do: If you've chosen to pull the curtain, you must stand up to whatever sight comes with it. There is no sneak-peaking once the curtain falls.

The first step is to wake up and stop pretending.

However painful that may be.

What's FOOD got to do with your MOOD?

GI disorders on the rise: The case for WHITE rice.

Of course the Asian cultures with their influence

from Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine

have chosen to make white rice a stable part of their diet for a reason.

And now the West is finally beginning to grasp a grain

of what they have known and implemented for centuries: white rice is better than brown!

Just don't expect your health care practitioner to recommend this tomorrow

- as with all break-throughs in medicine it takes decades for it to reach the mainstream.

Just when you thought there were certain things in the health field that would never change - i.e. a pint of Haagen dasz is never going to be on the bottom of the food pyramide nor is anything white: white flour, white rice, white sugar... and so on.
After all, all things white is the reason why the West is getting fatter yet more malnourished by the minute, is it not.

Well, turns out it's not that simple - and cutting out white rice in exchange for brown may only be leading to further GI disorders. Now hang on a second before you just write this off as wish-washy alternative nonsense.

Let's start from the beginning.

Gastro intestinal disorders and gluten intolerance issues have reached epidemic proportions.
This is a catastrophe, because our knowledge of gluten intolerance is still at a baby stage and conventional medicine simply does not know how to treat (and much less properly diagnose!) inflamed gut and damaged villis.

Many of the meds you may be taking for secondary reasons are preventing your gut from healing by thinning the mucosal lining along with the fact that every Rx leads to your blood pH being more acidic. Now I'm not saying that Rx is always a no-no, it is always a question of pros vs. cons. However, in cases of inflamed gut you will have a load of symptoms that are all secondary: Osteoporosis, low T3, hormonal imbalance, mood disorders etc. etc. And they will continue to be present until you heal the primary reason for your disease - which is your gut.

With GI disorders every other disease under the sun follows, which is why it is critical to first heal your gut and then focus on any other issues you may be having. Simply because if your gut isn't healed step 1, whatever goes into your body either adds toxins and ferments due to indigestion or simply just exists your system without you having absorbed any nutrients at all.

Now back to the white stuff. Brown rice (which Asian cultures only use for the poor or to feed the pigs) contains something called phytic acid. Phytic acid binds to minerals in foods and limit our digestion of the minerals.

What about the fiber you ask? Well, turns out that more fiber is not the cure we thought it once was. Especially not the sort of roughage that stems from grains - bran, which is a typical recommendation to bulk up your fiber intake, literally tears your insides to shreds and prevents nutrient absorption (mind you, you still have to eat your fruit and veggies - it is only the grain roughage that is an issue). Brown rice is white rice with a thick hull around it. It is kind of like eating a walnut and not taking the shell off. There are nutrients in the hull, but they have a very poor bioavailability. Our bodies spend a lot of time and effort trying to break down the shell, which will use up energy and slow our metabolism.

Ever been on a juice diet where you actually consume zero fiber? Point: You do not get constipated from lack of roughage in your diet, you get constipated when you eat things your system cannot digest properly - i.e. most conventional casein a1 milk products and gluten (if this does not match your genotype).

(White) rice is one of the least allergenic foods there is on the grain side, and it is especially great as part of your diet for people low on serotonin as they need some quicker carbs to help boost insulin so that it can transport competing aminos out of the blood stream to the muscles, leaving the larger molecule tryptophan (precursor of serotonin) free to enter the brain-blood barrier.

Note: Also why a strict vegan or high protein diet is a disaster for people with low serotonin - first diet does not contain the building blocks for serotonin, and the second contains too many competitors so tryptophan will never be converted into brain-serotonin - and that's why some people experience crazy carb cravings on the Atkins diet (only those low on serotonin)!

..And is there anything more comforting 

than eating a bowl of steaming hot 

Indian spiced basmati rice glistening 

with pasture butter. And then we can get into 

the whole discussion of why saturated fats 

are not all created equal etc. - that's for another post!

Bottomline: You are what you absorb - so eat your rice WHITE like the Asians do!
I recommend the long-grain variety as they are slightly more nutritious.

If you want a great easy-read on why white rice is better (yesyes, I know you're almost suffocating there on your coffee reading this, admittedly it took me some time to get comfortable enough to finally put this down in writing even), then I recommend you grab the book by Jason Bussell  MSOM, Licensed Acupuncturist, The Asian Diet: Simple secrets for eating right, losing weight, and being well.
Mind you, this book is not a magic key per se, and admittedly I'd have preferred some more brain chemistry explanations and insights to be included, as this is always a pet-peeve of mine when determining if something is worth it - that said, it is still great on getting insight on why white rice indeed is better than brown from a gut-perspective!

And if switching from brown to white makes all your alarms go off due to the glycemic index, then read my case for why the gi index is a useless tool.

References:

Pharm Dev Technol. 2010 Sep-Oct;15(5):526-31.
Gastro-intestinal sustained release of phytic acid by molecularly imprinted microparticles.
Cirillo G, Curcio M, Parisi OI, Puoci F, Iemma F, Spizzirri UG, Picci N

Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2009 Dec;60(8):688-93.
Iron absorption from brown rice/brown rice-based meal and milled rice/milled rice-based meal.
Trinidad TP, Mallillin AC, Sagum RS, Briones DP, Encabo RR, Juliano BO

Dig Dis Sci. 1990 Oct;35(10):1205-10.
Drug-induced esophageal injury. Histopathological study in a rabbit model.
Brewer AR, Smyrk TC, Bailey RT Jr, Bonavina L, Eypasch EP, Demeester TR

Drug Saf. 2000 Mar;22(3):237-49.
Drug-induced oesophageal disorders: pathogenesis, incidence, prevention and management.
Jaspersen D

Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2010 Apr;24(2):91-7.
Adverse effects of drugs on the esophagus.
Tutuian R; Clinical Lead Outpatient Services and Gastrointestinal Function Laboratory

Gastroenterol Clin Biol. 2004 Apr;28 Spec No 3:C58-61.
[Esophageal complications of non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs].
Bigard MA, Pelletier AL

Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2004;18 Suppl:73-81.
Aging and upper gastrointestinal disorders.
Pilotto A

Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2012 Jan 31. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2982.2011.01872.x. [Epub ahead of print]
Life style in persons with functional gastrointestinal disorders - large-scale internet survey of lifestyle in Japan.
Miwa H

BMC Gastroenterol. 2008 Sep 23;8:43.
The clinical overlap between functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome based on Rome III criteria.
Wang A, Liao X, Xiong L, Peng S, Xiao Y, Liu S, Hu P, Chen M

I can't believe it's NUT milk!

My favorite indulgence before bed is to savor a tall glass of milk. Cashew milk, that is.

Cashew milk. SO creamy. SO rich. So good for you!

Regular pasteurized cow's milk, containing the for humans difficult to digest lactose and casein, is an absolute health disaster. Pasteurized milk consumption has been tied to everything from allergies, asthma, eczema and mucus production. Pasteurized milk is simply one of the biggest contributors in our diet to inflammatory based diseases. Everything you know about cow's milk is probably part of the Dairy Industry myth. All cow's milk - regular and organic - has 59 active hormones and allergens. Most cow's milk has measurable quantities of herbicides, pesticides, dioxins (up to 200 times the safe level), up to 52 powerful antibiotics (perhaps 53 if you include LS-50), blood, feces, dead bacteria and pus. Cow's milk can have traces of anything the cow ate, including such things as radioactive fallout from nuke testing; the 50'ies strontium-90 problem.

Now how's that for enjoying dipping your home-baked cookies in - yummy in your tummy. Or not.

And that's why I make my own cashew milk - not only is it nutritious, but even more importantly: it is simply delicious!I crave rich, creamy and full-bodied flavors and cashew milk's got it!

So, what's in it?

• 1 cup of water
• 1 tbsp. cashew-butter OR 2 tbsp. cashews
• 1 medjol date
• 1 pinch of sea salt

Add a banana with your cashew milk before bed to calm down your CNS!

And I like to add a scrape of real vanilla pods as well. Sometimes I switch vanilla for 1/2 tsp. each cardamom and maca which gives it a deep fragrant, earthy flavor! You can get hold of maca here.

So, what to do?

Pour everything in a blender or vita-mix and hold tight for 30 seconds.

That's it!

Nutritious and delicious - once you go nuts, you never go back!

What would Don Draper do?

So, what's your coping mechanism in life?
This sketch is just priceless - it is pure brilliant in portraying how many of us go about our daily life in some way or another, whether we are conscious about it or not, and whatever our "drug" of choice is.

As anyone who has watched an episode of Mad Men knows, Don Draper is the epitome of a civilized addict. His narcissistic behavior and need for control is a direct result of an unstable biochemistry, if he is not engaging in his drugs of choice (cigarettes, alcohol or sex), he is being emotionally abusive.

His inability to handle emotions is why he is succumbing to self-destructive coping mechanisms that temporarily numb him out.

First step in treating someone like Don Draper is to rebalance his biochemistry so that he no longer deals with those ongoing struggles that cause him to be a ticking time-bomb. He is constantly experiencing peaks and dips in his dopaminergic and seratonergic neurotransmitter system based on what he is doing (or temporarily abstaining from doing). And those drastic brain chemical fluctuations would drive anyone up the wall. You can have all the knowledge in the world on how to deal with emotions etc., but if you are fighting against your biology, you stand to lose.


Treating an imbalanced biochemistry should always come first - that enables people to feel comfortable in the skin they're in effortlessly and without needing to spend countless hours at the shrink's going over semi-invented or not childhood traumas that just are not relevant to keep dwelling on when focus should be on letting go of the past and moving forward.

Balance your brain and everything else in life suddenly seems a lot less dramatic.
Addicts create drama because they are about to crawl out of their skin - that is how uncomfortable it feels to be them, and thus creating some outside triggering dramatic event gives them a temporary relief from focusing on their own inner discomfort.

Once inner balance is restored there is no need to create outer chaos.

Get your brain chemistry evaluated here.

Eating for pleasure.

Sometimes I eat for pleasure.

Sometimes I eat for comfort.

Sometimes I eat because my body demands fuel right now.

What I always do, however, is that I savor the flavors.

I NEVER eat anything that I do not truly enjoy.

Whether it be savoring the bold, earthy richness of Amarone in the bath tub or enjoying the explosion of flavors unfolding on my tongue that comes from dipping salmon sashimi in salty soy sauce mixed with green wasabi that just gives it that perfect "kick" combined with the sweetness of pink, pickled ginger. I believe food is there to be enjoyed - to nourish your body, mind and soul.



Alcohol is off-limits while you are

rebuilding your brain chemistry,

as it blocks the GABA/serotonin receptors.

However, to a STABLE brain, a glass of red wine

does offer benefits due to its contents off resveratrol.

Medicinal nutrition can be tasty. There is nothing pleasurable about stuffing yourself with soggy fries while typing away on the keyboard. You are not even realizing the flavors of what you are eating. Emotional overeating has nothing to do with being a foodie.

I am a foodie, but I do not numb myself with food; rather I use it as one of the many pleasures that are available to every human being.

French double-crème raw cow's milk brie on rustique, crusty baguette and sipping a glass of Amarone as the sun sets.

Did you know that truly... TRULY... enjoying your food and savoring every bite actually boosts anti-aging endorphins in your body?  And that forcing that shot of seemingly good-for-you but absolutely for your taste buds repulsing shot of wheatgrass increases stress hormones as your force it down in an attempt to make up for your sins.  Food is supposed to be a daily pleasure, not a struggle.

Here's something to think about.

'I recently picked a new primary care doctor. After two visits and exhaustive Lab tests, he said I was doing 'fairly well' for my age. (I just turned 77.)
A little concerned about that comment, I couldn't resist asking him, 'Do you think I'll live to be 80?'
The doctor responded by asking, 'Do you smoke tobacco, or drink beer or wine?' 
'Oh no,' I replied . . . 'I'm not doing drugs, either!' 
Then he asked, 'Do you eat rib-eye steaks and barbecued ribs?' "I said, 'Not much since my former doctor said that all red meat is very unhealthy!' 
'Do you spend a lot of time in the sun, like playing golf, sailing, hiking, or bicycling?' 'No, I don't,' I said. 
He asked, 'Do you gamble, go on vacations or have a lot of sex?' 'No,' I said. 

He looked at me and said, . . . 'Then, why do you even give a damn?'

Savoring the flavors of life... on every level.

A healthy life does not entail one that is confined or restricted; it is about living the life of your dreams, and you can  only do so if you are not numbing yourself via self-destructive behaviors. It's not the glass of red wine or the couple of French truffles in the evening that is killing you: It's trying to find happiness at the bottom of the scotch bottle after work; It's raiding the cookie jar and disconnecting from yourself and your emotions and needs.

Lick it! Nature's Viagra: This Valentine's get your SEXY on!

Do you know that your sex drive is an indicator of your overall health?
If your libido is diminishing, then this is simply a symptom of imbalanced hormones and a messed up brain chemistry! Factors that put you at risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes type-2, dementia and other inflammatory based diseases!


Before you resort to Botox in the quest of eternal youth do this...
Yes, your passion in the bedroom affects one of our greatest anti-aging hormones being HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE. This secret-to-eternal-youth hormone helps boost collagen production and keep cellulite at bay. Yes, you heard me... sex may very well be an underestimated cure for cellulite. Cellulite being a major issue for most women when they hit menopause - as their hormones drop, their libido vanishes and their mood fluctuates... just coinciding with those less-than-flattering derriere dimples appearing. It's NOT a coincidence. Hormonal imbalance sets off a major cascade of aging biochemistry reactions in your body!


And no, I am certainly not recommending Viagra here - the side effects are vast and many, and quite frankly, this is a disaster of a drug.


Lick it, baby!
What I am recommending is that you eat these two foods daily for a period of 6 weeks, and watch your sex-drive rise!
Apart from that you hereby have Rx to eat dark, decadent chocolate daily, the health impact of these two natural aphrodisiacs  go far beyond the bedroom, as they help to boost dopamine and serotonin levels, as well as balance your hormones NATURALLY and without any side-effects! 
So yes, lick every drop of that dark chocolate!


The scientific low-down on the two SEXY foods:

The Mayan Super food of the gods...
Dark chocolate contains a high concentration of phenethylamine. This chemical stimulates the nervous system and triggers the release of pleasurable opium-like compounds known as endorphins. It also potentiates the activity of dopamine, the neuro-chemical associated with sexual arousal.


The Incan secret to strong stamina... from the bedroom to the boardroom!
It's called MACA baby! And to be honest I have never seen anything quite as efficient with regard to boosting your sex drive! MACA is a Peruvian root that is one of the few foods that act like an adaptogen (balancing your hormones), support exhausted adrenal glands by lowering cortisol levels. However, dosage is crucial to notice any effect whatsoever; I have found that 1-2 tbsp. daily boosts libido for the majority of my clients dramatically within 6 weeks! Mix it in smoothies, yogurt or add it to flour in recipes when baking.


The taste of SEXY is dark, decadent and delicious...
You can get hold of RAW, high-potency and organic cocoa nibs and MACA here.


Reference: 

Dillinger TL, et al. Food of the gods: cure for humanity? A cultural history of the medicinal and ritual use of chocolate. J. Nutr. 2000 Aug:130(85 Suppl):2057S-72S