Posts Tagged ‘Add new tag’

Benefits of Cod Liver Oil

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Omega-3 for youCod liver oil is beneficial  as a dietary supplement for many reasons:

  • It promotes heart health and normal cholesterol balance
  • Supports immune system health, mood, memory, joint health, blood sugar health and helps to relieve stress
  • Helps to increase energy level and promote cognitive function
  • Provides immune system support
  • Aids in regulating cell growth
  • Supports a strong skeletal system
  • Supports a healthy inflammatory response

Cod liver oil is able to provide all of these great health benefits because it contains Omega 3 oils.  Omega 3 fatty acids also contain DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and ALA (Alpha-Linolenic Acid).  All are important and therefore when purchasing Cod Liver oil make sure what you are purchasing contains all of the above.

Essential fatty acids are essential to your health and one important item to understand is that your body does not make them on its own and therefore supplementation is recommended.  There are many brands on the market and  each distributor manufactures  fish oil differently, some better than others.  Therefore, when purchasing brands you should look for the following:

  • Make sure your brand is free of mercury, PCBs and other contaminants.
  • Confirm low oxidation levels in the fish or cod liver oil.
  • Check that your fish or cod liver oil contains vitamin E.
  • The taste test - lemon flavoring adds a fresh taste.

Fish oil is very safe to take however contraindications are below:

  • If you have been diagnosed with the relatively uncommon condition of sarcoidosis, you should rigidly avoid sunshine and vitamin D.
  • If you are allergic to shellfish, have a blood coagulation condition, or are taking anticoagulants such as Warfarin (Coumadin®), do not use fish oil.
  • Cod liver oil contains both Vitamin A and D and over consumption of any supplement is never a good thing. Therefore, you many want to get your levels checked before taking fish oil as a supplement.

 

Lori Metroka, Nutrition & Wellness Specialist

Reference:  www.mercola.com/cod-liver-oil.htm

Los Gatos nutrition coaching, San Francisco nutrition coaching, Los Gatos Personal Training,

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Tips for making good cholesterol (HDL)

Saturday, January 30th, 2010

 

Today we are made to believe that saturated fat is bad for us. Eating Steak

Fact

  • - Today CAD (coronary artery disease) causes 40% of deaths in the USA and we have been told that this is because of saturated fat. Therefore, one would expect to see a direct correlation between increase in CAD and increase in saturated fat consumption. Actually, the opposite is true. During 1910-1970 the proportion of animal fat in the American diet decreased from 83% to 62% and butter plummeted from 18lbs per person per year to 4lbs. Over the past 80 years cholesterol intake only rose 1%. During this same time the percentage of dietary vegetable oils in the form of margarines, shortenings and refined oils increased about 400% and sugar and processed foods increased about 60%. - How to Eat Move and Be Healthy, Paul Chek

We are taught that we need to watch fat intake in order to control cholesterol levels but how can saturated fat be the culprit when saturated fat consumption has gone down and sugar and trans-fatty acids have gone up?    It is true, we do need to watch fat intake, however, we are not taught what type of fats should be avoided nor are we taught how carbohydrates also contribute to bad cholesterol levels (LDL). 

Cholesterol is important to our bodies’ it is needed to create bile acids, which are needed for digestion of fats and vitamin D as well as aid in hormone production. So when we are not eating correctly to make healthy cholesterol we are not able to contribute to good cholesterol (HDL) levels.  Below is a list of tips for how to improve your good cholesterol (HDL) and how to lower your bad cholesterol (LDL).

  • 1. Eat healthy fats such as egg yolks, nuts, green leafy vegetables and wild fish such as salmon. These fats are high in Omega 3’s and contribute to HDL.

 

  • 2. Eliminate processed foods. Processed foods are high in carbohydrates and typically are supplemented with unhealthy fats (transfats). These are foods that have a shelf life and are typically found in the center of the grocery store. These items contribute to bad cholesterol (HDL)

 

  • 3. Minimize alcohol consumption. Alcohol is high in sugar which means it’s high in carbohydrates which will lead to bad cholesterol levels (LDL).

 

  • 4. Exercise. Exercising helps to burn unused sugars for energy. So rather than the sugar getting stored as bad cholesterol it can get eliminated through exercise.

 

  • 5. Rotate your protein. Eat chicken one day, red meat the next, fish the next day and so on. This way you are getting a variety of nutrients as well as getting fat from a variety of sources.

 

If you just start to become aware of what you are putting into your body and just start with the tips we have listed above you are one step closer to a healthier body.  If you would like more information of how to eat or what you should be eating join us for one of our Wellness lectures, visit www.replenishingsoul.com/our-events.com

 

 Lori Metroka, Nutrition & Wellness Specialist

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Stress and the Brain

Saturday, November 14th, 2009

We’ve all been there one way or another: You hit the snooze button too many times, leaving you with no time for breakfast and scrambling to get out of the house only to be stuck in bumper to bumper traffic all the while panicking about missing that first all important meeting at work, and it’s only 8a.m. For many of us the stress doesn’t stop there. We rush through work all the while thinking about everything we need to accomplish afterwards, whether it’s obligations with our kids, household chores, making dinner, getting to the gym, or like many of us, all of the above. As our minds keep telling us to “Go, go, go”, “Hurry up”, and “I don’t have time”, the stress placed on our bodies is telling us “I can’t keep up”, “You’re wearing me out”, “Slow down!”.                  

As we’ve mentioned in previous blogs, hippocampusthis constant stress response promotes the over-release of the stress hormone cortisol which can lead to a cascade of problems including weight gain, poor sleep, a decreased immune system, cardiovascular damage and many more. In addition, research has found that high cortisol levels can cause your hippocampus (as seen in blue in the picture on the right), a structure in your brain that is responsible for short-term memory and mood, to atrophy and SHRINK! This can actually be seen on an MRI. When this happens, you increase your risk of depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances and short-term memory loss. Researchers are also now finding that the first symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is depression.

 The good news: Scientists are now saying that the hippocampus is one of the few structures in the brain that can regenerate. This means that you CAN heal your brain by making some changes in your lifestyle. Remember, the food you eat, the thoughts that go through your head, and your exercise routine can all either help or worsen the situation. To learn more, sign up for our Wellness 101 Lecture on our events page. Workshop dates for 2010 are coming soon!

 

We’re always happy to discuss your health concerns in person or over the phone, feel free to call us for a complimentary consultation.

 

 

Dorothy Lizak

Nutrition & Wellness Specialist

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Inflammation – redness, swelling and pain

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

inflammationWhat is inflammation?  By definition it is …Pathology. Redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, heat, and disturbed function of an area of the body, esp. as a reaction of tissues to injurious agents.

Typically one thinks of inflammation as a cut or a sprain that may become red and swollen and this is the extent of what one thinks of when it comes to inflammation.  I am here to tell you that inflammation is more than just a cut or a sprain.  Just as the definition above states it is a disturbed function of an area of the body do to injurious agents.  For the purpose of this blog entry I will be discussing areas of the body that are susceptible to inflammation and explain what the injurious agents are.

First of all, any part of the human body can become inflamed.  That means that muscles, joints, nerves, organs and skin are all vulnerable to inflammation.  Becoming inflamed does not just happen from being injured from an accident.  Becoming inflamed as stated above in the definition comes from injurious agents.  What I need all of you to understand is  that an injurious agent can come from the food you eat, the beverages you drink, lack of sleep, emotional and physical stress, etc.  Each of these agents can affect your body in different ways but all can end up causing inflammation.

We see so many people that come into our offices not feeling well, feeling tired, knowing that something is wrong with them but yet nothing is found during a doctor’s visit.  More times than not these individuals bodies are trying to fight inflammation and our job is to find the source of the inflammation.  Typically what is given to treat inflammation are anti-inflammatory drugs and at times this is necessary but what I want all of you to know and understand is that if the injurious agent is not removed then you are only treating the symptoms and not the problem.

If you would like more information about how food, beverages, lack of sleep, emotional and physical stress become injurious agents sign up for our Wellness 101 lecture.  Visit www.replenishingsoul.com/our-events for more information or write us your questions, we would love to hear from you.

 

Lori Metroka,PT

Nutrition & Wellness Specialist

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The impact of negative thoughts

Saturday, October 10th, 2009

What type of thoughts do you have on a daily basis?  Are they positive thoughts or are they negative thoughts?  Did you know that when you have negative thoughts that this is stress on the body?  This stress that the body feels will cause the body to react in the same way that it reacts to other forms of stress: nutritional stress, impaired sleep, physical or just the pressure you feel on a day to day basis.  When stress takes place within your body it just does not cause you to become tense, anxious or just cause a headache but it also affects you on a cellular level. sick-water

Look at the top right photo.  This is a picture of a water droplet that was taken after someone sent negative thoughts to it.  This same affect is what happens to your body on a cellular level.  Now look at the bottom right photo, this is a photo of a water droplet that had thoughts of love and gratitude prayed over it.  Again, when you fill your body and mind with happy positive thoughts your body down to its cells will react the same way.

So, I ask you, what do your thoughts consist of on a daily basis?  Are they happy thoughts or sad thoughts?  Positive or negative?  Either way these thoughts are trying to tell you something and should not be ignored.  Positive thoughts remind you of what is good in your life and what is working.  Negative thoughts are there to tell you what is not good in your life and what needs to change.  Maybe these thoughts are telling you that you need to bring something into your life or get rid of something that is not fulfilling its purpose. love-gratitude-pic

Many times people walk around knowing that something needs to change but usually there is the feeling of fear attached and making change can be a scary thing.  Keep in mind though that you always have a choice.  You can choose to be happy or choose to be sad and even though it can be scary along the way, it’s it scarier to remain in an unhappy place and live each day like this.  Below is a list of a few items that will get you on track to having happier thoughts.

  • Get a notebook/journal and write down negative thoughts
  • Under each negative thought written, nullify it by turning it into a positive thought.
  • Eventually, you won’t need the notebook; you’ll start to do it mentally.
  • Focus your thoughts/energy on things THAT FEEL GOOD
  • REMEMBER, you are attracting whatever it is you are thinking about, so use your thoughts to your advantage.

We hope this helps you get started to living a happier and healthier life.  Feel free to write us your comments/experiences on our blog.  We would love to hear from you.

Lori Metroka

Nutrition & Wellness Specialist

Photos from whatthebleep.com

Research on this topic performed by Dr. Emoto

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Are you a supplement junkie?

Friday, September 11th, 2009

supplementsIf you walk into any health food store you will find a supplement for everything and you will be promised results, guaranteed! There is always a new craze and always will be but I am guessing that many of you out there have spent tons of money and don’t feel any better or look any different? Are you persuaded easily by supplement ads that promise weight loss, anti-aging or just general wellness?   If so, read on…

This blog article is not about bashing supplements but it is about giving you insight on when and how supplements should be used.  We use supplements in our office however, the supplements are used after running detailed lab work.  What you need to understand is that typically when you are feeling tired, have trouble sleeping, suffer from skin reactions, headaches, night sweats, and constant infections or just want to loose weight it is because something in your body is not in balance.  This is where people go wrong.  They usually walk into a store or see an ad on TV and they begin to self diagnose and self treat.  When you ask the clerk for some guidance they walk you over to the aisle for what they “think” may help you based upon what they know about the supplements themselves but what they don’t have is the information that is pertinent to you.  What you need to remember is that everyone is different and requires different supplements for treatment.

In our practice we believe that supplements are just that, that they supplement what is needed or lacking at the time until we get your body back into balance. As I mentioned above the body goes astray when it’s out of balance and the way it goes out of balance is through poor food choices, lack of water, lack of sleep and stress just to name a few.  So, these are the strategies that we begin to work on within our practice and help you by setting up a lifestyle plan.

So many times people need supplementation because they are lacking nutrients due to poor food choices.  If your diet (we define diet as a food plan…not a food restriction) consists of processed foods, sugar, caffeine and alcohol then it may be a good idea to begin slowly removing these items from your diet and begin eating more live foods:  organic meats, poultry, fish, fruits and veggies.  Remember supplements are meant to supplement temporarily not be a permanent fix or a quick fix for that matter.  Getting healthy and staying healthy takes times. If you would like more information about supplements or have comments please feel free to contact us or visit us on the web at www.replenishingsoul.com

 

Lori Metroka

Nutrition & Wellness Specialist

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The Chakra Energy System: The Fourth Chakra

Sunday, May 3rd, 2009

 

253_chakra_chart_-_ancientThroughout your body you have seven main energy centers called chakras that spin in a circular motion and are located along your spinal column up to the crown of your head. Each chakra radiates a different energy frequency of vibration, and is represented by a different color of the rainbow that resonates at that same level of vibration. Each chakra main center is connected to your being on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level. On the physical level each chakra governs a main organ or gland, which is then connected to other body parts that resonate the same frequency. Your chakras are interdependent on each other for harmony and balance.

Medical science has proven that toxins, which include negative thoughts, poor food choices, chemicals and preservatives, lack of sleep, and various other forms of internal and external stress influence your body. These constant forms of “pollution” can cause your chakras to become imbalanced, which may eventually affect you on a physical level. When unbalanced, your chakras can be either too open or too closed. By understanding the chakra system and working to bring it into balance you’ll be able to help improve your own state of health and well being.

Understanding the Fourth Chakra: The Heart Chakra

The heart chakra connects your physical body with your higher spiritual self. This chakra allows you to relate to others with unconditional love, however it is not dependent on others (as compared to your first chakra, the root chakra). This chakra is concerned with forgiveness and accepting others with compassion. It is with this acceptance that you begin to also develop self-acceptance.

The heart chakra is located in the center of your chest. On a physical level, this chakra governs your heart, chest, lungs, and circulation. Physical dysfunctions that can result from an unbalanced heart chakra include shallow breathing, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer.  Emotional problems include co-dependency, melancholia, and fears related to feelings of loneliness, commitment and betrayal. 

Is Your Fourth Chakra Balanced?

 Select the group of words that best describe you: 

1. Possessive, loves conditionally, witholds emotions to “punish”, overly dramatic

2. Fears rejection, loves too much, feels unworthy to receive love, self-pitying

3. Compassionate, loves unconditionally, nurturing, accepts others for who they are

 

*If you chose #1, this chakra is too open, meaning it’s spinning too fast.

*If you chose #2, this chakra is blocked, meaning it’s spinning too slowly or  not spinning at all.

*If you chose #3, this chakra is balanced, meaning it’s spinning at the correct speed and maintains equilibrium. 

 

Try the Following Daily Affirmations to Help Balance Your Fourth Chakra:

I am grateful for all the love that is in my life.

I am open to receive love from those around me.

I choose to let go of the hurt I feel and choose to let love in.

Just because someone doesn’t love me “enough” doesn’t mean they aren’t loving me with all that they have.

It’s so easy to get wrapped up in meeting the needs of those we love, that we forget to love and honor ourselves. Take the next couple of weeks to pay attention to how your body is feeling, and determine what your fourth chakra needs are. Feel free to contact us with questions or to learn specific exercises you can do to work on balancing your fourth chakra. For those of you in the area, our Rejuvination Class that meets every Sunday incorporates several chakra balancing poses (see events page for more information).

In a couple of weeks, we’ll discuss the fifth chakra, the throat chakra. If you suffer from sore throats, neckaches, thyroid problems, or asthma this information will be of particular interest to you.

Write in and let us know your feeling or experiences. We’d love to hear your story.

 

 

 

References:

Simpson, Liz The Book of Chakra Healing, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 1999

 

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