Prevention::Part 3

Hello loves!

So it has definitely been a little too long since I blogged last, so I wanted to change that and continue talking about preventative health. I have been doing lots of research on many health related things and I would encourage you to do the same. The more you know, the healthier you will be! :)

I know there are a lot of people out there with high blood pressure so I thought it would be a great issue to talk about! I know that not everyone may like the food that I am going to tell you, but...... celery is a great way to lower your blood pressure. I feel that celery is one of those veggies that you either love or hate. I love it, my husband hates it. But if you are someone who loves it, eat lots of it! It has been used for centuries in Asia as a remedy for high blood pressure. Researchers have confirmed this remedy through research and they found that 81% of people who eat it are able to cut their medication in half! Now that is impressive.

One of my hopes in people reading my blog is that they would look to the things that are natural cures, and ditch the prescription medications! You can live a healthy life without them, I promise! Depending on your problems, it may take a little bit of effort to get everything straightened out, but give things a try and don't always depend on pharmacology!

Besos,

Courtney

Prevention::Part 2

Hello peeps!


So I just wanted to share that I bought my first yoga mat today and I am soooooo excited! Now that I got that out of the way, lets talk about preventing something. Preventing high cholesterol. I don't know that much about cholesterol, but when I went back to the doctor the other day, I found out that I have too much "good" cholesterol. It doesn't seem like that would be a problem, but it is. Too much cholesterol, whether it is good or bad is not a good thing to have.

How do you prevent this? I'm glad you asked!! It is with this yummy stuff that we call cinnamon. Cinnamon can cut your triglycerides and total cholesterol by 12 to 30 percent while it boosts your body's ability to store blood sugar. All you need is a half a teaspoon each day so eat that cinnamon! It is great in the morning with your breakfast. Put it in your coffee, cereal, oatmeal, toast, or anything else you can think of and get your health on the right track the natural way!

Oh and I feel the need to mention that cinnamon rolls... do not count. Those would unfortunately do more harm than good. So no cheating, only make healthy choices! :)

Besos,

Courtney

Prevention::Part 1

Hello Everyone!

So I have been reading some interesting information about preventative measures that can help boost your overall health so I wanted to share. There are going to be 4 or 5 parts to this so work with me!

We all know that there is one word that affects millions of people in the world and scares the rest of us half to death.. Oh what is it you ask? Cancer. Yikes!

Ok so none of us obviously want cancer and many of us think that there is nothing to do to avoid it, but you are wrong! Many of the top notch med schools, research labs, and health centers in America are starting to say other wise.

So what can we do? Eat berries. Yes, it really is that simple. Do you like berries? I'm totally obsessed. I eat raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries. Well research shows that these little guys are full of a fantastic thing called ellagic acid. Ellagic acid is proven to be a cancer-stopping compound that actually blocks the effects of cancer-causing chemicals in the body. Not only do they contain ellagic acid, they also contain flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acid, and lignans that help keep you beat cancer too! They not only limit cancer cells, but cause renegade cells to die. They help to "starve" the cancer cells and are also effective in preventing, halting, and even reversing cancer.

The good thing is that they are not harmful like medication can be.. They are 100% healthy with 0 side-effects! This is a great thing to know, and even though it's not a 100% proven cure, it's a great thing to do to help prevent this terrible thing from happening to you. So eat up and enjoy these wonderful, tasty treats! :)

Besos,

Courtney

A Not So Typical Salad

Hello everyone!!

So I found this great recipe for a not so typical salad that I wanted to share with you. I haven't gotten to try it yet, but I am SO excited to!!

Here it is:

1/4 cup olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Zest of 1 lemon, grated
Salt and pepper
1 bunch celery, trimmed and thinly sliced on the bias
1/2 cup hazelnuts, toasted and roughly chopped
4-ounces grated Parmesan plus additional Parmesan for shaving over the top


Whisk the olive oil, red wine vinegar and lemon zest together. Season with salt and pepper. In a large bowl, toss the celery with the Parmesan, hazelnuts and grated Parmesan. Add the dressing and toss to coat. Taste for balance and adjust seasoning. The dressing should be assertive and the salad textured. If need be, add a squirt of lemon juice, salt, pepper or extra olive oil.

To serve, plate the salad on a large platter. Garnish with extra Parmesan shavings and a good drizzle of olive oil. 

This is compliments of the Eatsy Blog which is part of etsy.com. The great thing about this recipe is that it is simple. I like simple. Not to mention that it's healthy, and most importantly, gluten-free!! Enjoy!


Besos,


Courtney 

No Pain, No Gain

Hello loves!

Sorry I didn't get a chance to write over the weekend, it ended up being very busy!! I hope everyone got to watch the SuperBowl and watch poor Christina completely humiliate herself... I feel really sorry for her! Well speaking of sports, I wanted to share a little bit about my workout routine that I have been doing. I have already seen results and it has only been a couple of weeks. So here is some information about myself: I am not athletic and I am definitely NOT coordinated! With that being said, if I can do it, you can do it.

So my best friend and I signed up to take spin class twice a week. I had heard really good things about it and about how it's something that will whip you into shape asap, and let me tell you... It. Is. Intense. For those of you who may not be familiar with spin class, it is as simple as it sounds. You ride a bike for an hour. But it's not just taking your time and fiddling around, you are pushed to your limit every time you go which is absolutely fantastic! I don't know about you, but I have really bad knees so this is the perfect work out for me because it's low impact and I don't walk out of the gym limping because my knees hurt, now I just limp because my legs are shaky and feel like they are going to fall off before I get to the car. Ok maybe a little drastic, but it's not too far fetched! I am totally loving this class and I have NEVER said that before about working out! The class I am in also offers abs after our hour of hardcore peddling so that just adds to the terrible pain I am already feeling, but again, it's fantastic! I would definitely suggest finding a class that combines the two if you can. Also, you really do get a full body workout. We even workout our arms and I haven't fallen off the bike doing the exercises YET which is amazing. Talk about burn... I have weak, little, twig arms so those too are usually crying after our few minutes of arm exercises. It is so hard for me, but I know that it is SO worth it because I am not only going to get the results that I want, I am going to be healthier because of it.

Now that I have rambled on about my love for spin, I want to tell you about something else I have been doing that I love just as much. YOGA! Since I am only doing spin 2 days a week, I figured I should probably have something to do at least 1 or 2 more days a week, so I thought something a little less intense would be nice. Yoga has been great and I never realized all of the wonderful health benefits it has beyond just toning and strength. The main thing yoga does is help with circulation and when you have good circulation everything else in your body just absolutely loves you! It is great for depression, stomach or organ problems, energy, balance, posture, and the list just continues. I don't go to a class because I missed the deadline to sign up so I have been doing it at home. Some great yoga options for those of you who may not have access to a class is Wii Fit or Netflix. I have been doing it through Netflix, but I am definitely going to look into some other options that are online. I will let you know if I come up with any great websites!

Now that I have gotten my food situation somewhat taken care of, I want to make sure that my physical health follows suit so I encourage you to do the same!! Exercise is one of the best things you can do to stay healthy so do it at least 3 or 4 times a week. Even going on a brisk walk or lifting some weights can be very beneficial so get those bodies moving! Until next time... Remember: No Pain, No Gain.

Besos,

Courtney

Double Whammy

Hello Everyone!

So I have some exciting news... I was able to get the results of my genetic test that I had done to test for the genetic disposition of Celiac Disease (gluten intolerance) and gluten sensitivity. They e-mailed me the results and the good news is that I do not have the genetic disposition for Celiac; however, I have 2 (yes, two) genes for gluten sensitivity. Talk about a double whammy. Thanks mom and dad for that one! So basically that means that I am highly sensitive or have a low intolerance for gluten. I figure it's practically the same thing as having Celiac, so either way, no gluten for me for the rest of my life! Not sure how I feel about that exactly, but I think I'm okay with it! :) Since I have been gluten free for almost a month now, I have to admit I do feel really great and have A LOT more energy than I did beforehand. I also have only had one headache compared to having one every single day. Looks like we are on the right track, and I can't wait to update you on what I find out next Friday when I go to the doctor to find out the rest of my results!!! Tune in tomorrow to talk about a topic I know we all can relate to whether you are sick or healthy! -- Just a side note-- Natural Health Magazine is a great way to learn more about eating healthy, recipes, and a whole lot more! You can buy the mag or check it out online @ naturalhealthmag.com

Besos,

Courtney

Three Little Letters

Hey everyone!

Have you ever wondered what makes the US so different from other countries around the world? We all know the obvious things like economy, language, culture, and our love for fast food, but there are many other things that make a HUGE difference. Ok so if you recall in my first post, I said that ALL of my problems went away while in Spain. What most of you may or may not know is that in Spain they eat A LOT of bread. The fact that we are now looking at Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance as one of my main issues was very surprising to me. How could that be? We ate a loaf of bread a day while I was in Spain. It was used as another eating utensil besides the fork, knife, and spoon. That is one thing that I didn't mind about Spanish culture because I loveeee bread!

With all of that being said, how could I eat gluten in Spain and not be able to handle it in the US? Well I am about to expose you to something most people who live in the US have no idea about. It is three little letters that make up this HUGE problem... GMO. This stands for Genetically Modified Organism. I had no idea that almost all of the foods containing seeds--anything with gluten--is genetically modified. This means that our cereals, breads, pastas, etc. are all UNNATURAL!

So what does this mean for us? Well as seed that is genetically modified contains 50% MORE gluten than a natural seed! This now puts the puzzle pieces together for me. I was able to handle the low amount of gluten found in European products, but my body cannot handle the larger amounts found in genetically modified seeds. GMO's are allowed in practically anything in the US, but for a GMO to be allowed in Europe, it must pass through an approval system which is intended to assess its safety for humans, animals, and the environment called The GMO Panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). With that being said, stricter regulations mean less food with GMO's.

Producers of GMO's think that they are mimicking the natural process perfectly. But they aren't. Research done in Australia on GM peas proved this wrong. Mice who ate regular peas were fine. Mice who ate the genetically modified peas showed an immune response, producing antibodies to the GM protein. That's the key. The protein that is being produced is different and foreign and therefore producing an immune response to the consumers of that product. Another reason for GMO's is that Mansanto, the seed company who controls the seeds in the US, has made their seeds to be resistant to their main herbicide, RoundUp. I know that most of us have used this product on our own lawns, but this company is responsible for a lot more than killing the weeds in your yard. They are responsible for the majority of GM seeds in this country.

Be on the look out for GMOs. Brands that use them include: Kellogg's, M &M/Mars Co., Frito Lay, Nestle, Heinz, Hershey's, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Dannon, Similac, Cadbury, and  PepsiCo. These are just some of the more popular brands, but there are plenty of others. To find a list of companies that do NOT use GMOs go to: nongmoproject.org to find a great list of your available options! If you have a gluten intolerance or sensitivity this is especially important for you, but these companies are taking it a step further and are now creating GM corn, soy, and even trying to enter into the dairy sector. Good luck and happy shopping! :)

Besos,

Courtney

Could this be me?

Hello everyone!

Sorry I have already skipped a couple days in between posts! I am going to work on getting better at that! So now that I have given my story, I want to start out by educating you on what Celiac Disease and Leaky Gut Syndrome exactly is.

Celiac Disease affects 1 out of 133 people in the United States. Unfortunately, 97% of those people are either misdiagnosed or go undiagnosed. So what is Celiac Disease exactly? It is a lifelong, genetically based disorder that occurs when gluten- a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley- triggers an abnormal immune response that damages the lining of the small intestine interfering with the absorption of nutrients. Because this is a genetic disorder, it can be triggered at any age in life. Many people think that it only affects children, but in all reality it can be triggered by pregnancy, surgery, gastrointestinal infection, or STRESS! If you have a wide range of symptoms including diarrhea, constipation, bloating, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, or skin issues... this could be you! It is often misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue syndrome, anemia, stress, fibromyalgia, etc. And just a side note: children with autism or ADD/ADHD can be affected and benefit from their parents knowledge on food (mostly gluten)! I am waiting on the results of a genetic test that I had done about 2 weeks ago so we can see if I hold the genetic disposition for this disease.. I will let everyone know the results!

In my last blog, I also mentioned "Leaky Gut Syndrome." This is something that is not as well known, and not recognized by some medical doctors. Here is the thing. It exists! It is mostly recognized by the naturopathic/homeopathic community, but it is becoming something that is being talked about to doctors by their patients. Basically, Leaky Gut Syndrome means that you have a damaged stomach. It makes sense that it would go hand in hand with Celiac Disease, but it can also be caused by more things than gluten. People who have a sensitivity or an intolerance to wheat, corn, soy, eggs, and milk or those that have a Candida Albican (yeast) overgrowth in their stomachs are also among those who suffer from this. So to break it down, your intestines kind of look like a row of bricks with shag carpeting on top. Once damage occurs, your shag carpeting turns into outdoor carpeting and your bricks are broken down and the mortar breaks and they become separated. (I know this is a horrible attempt at a demonstration, but just follow along). Once there is separation and damage, it allows unprocessed proteins from your food to leak into your bloodstream. This throws your immune system into a frenzy! It builds an immune response to what it thinks is foreign, when it's really just food, and your body is having a battle with itself.

So now the question remains... What do I do to fix this? Well to fix Celiac Disease is "simple." You have to be gluten-free for life. It doesn't sound that bad, but you don't realize what all contains gluten until you can't have it. It then becomes a hassle and it's not so fun UNTIL you get it figured out! :) I have been doing quite of bit of research on things that I will be able to eat and things that I wont so I want to share them with you! Things TO eat: fresh (preferably organic) fruits, vegetables, and juices; coffee and tea; UNPROCESSED meats, fish, and poultry (no lunch meat); eggs, milk, and aged cheese; beans, nuts, and seeds; corn, rice, potatoes, tapioca and flours made from them. Things NOT TO eat: bread, pastas, pizza, cookies, beer, etc. (you will have to read the labels for these) hydrolyzed vegetable protein, flour or cereal products, vegetable protein, malt or malt flavoring, modified starch or modified food starch, vegetable gum, soy sauce or soy sauce solids, stabilizer, starch, flavoring, emulsifier, hydrolyzed, plant protein. Ok so now that I have bored you with long lists, there are a few other things to beware of that are a little more common and are probably in your home! This includes stamps, envelopes, stickers, and lipstick!! Crazy I know! I was so shocked to find this out. Also take precautions and if you know or suspect that you have another allergy or intolerance to something that is listed above, cut that out of your diet too. You can never be too careful.

That point brings me to telling you how you cure Leaky Gut Syndrome. This is something that will need testing and assistance from your doctor. You have to figure out what is causing your unhealthy stomach and stay completely away from it and any other foods that can cause a reaction. The best way to have these things tested is through a stool sample. It is more telling than a blood test. Also, these things cannot be found by going to an allergist and getting an allergy test done. It may or may not show some food related items that cause a reaction, but if it were an ALLERGY you would know it! An intolerance or sensitivity is completely different than an allergy!

The best way to test for any suspected intolerance or sensitivity on your own is to take whatever it is (gluten, soy, dairy, etc) completely out of your diet and see if things improve. If improvements occur and you introduce whatever it is back into your diet and you start to have symptoms again, you know you are on the right track! I know that this isn't the most exciting stuff to talk about, but I wanted to start by informing my readers about what these things are before I start talking about other, very interesting things! Stay tuned and get excited for the things to come! Hopefully you are asking yourself... Could this be me? :)

Besos,

Courtney