The Nutritional Therapy Conference

Once a year, our annual conference brings the NTP's of the world together to talk shop and explore one particular theme. This year the Conference is focusing on natural hormone and fertility health through clean food and supplementation. We have the Conference in beautiful Vancouver, Washington. Besides great fish and fresh veggies indigenous to the area, it's always fun to touch base with what other practitioners are doing with their clients, new research and new protocols.
I will have much to share after these next few days. Tomorrow we will see Chris Taylor's Food Fight and have a talk back with Thetis Sammons and Chris Taylor. To learn a little more about nutritional therapy, check these sites:

www.nutritionaltherapy.com
www.NTPtalk.com
www.bioticsresearch.com

A Votre Sante!

Jennifer

A Visit to Home Sweet Farm

Three weeks ago I had a chance (along with my Pura Vida Tribe friends) to visit a lovely farm in Brenham. What made the experience so unique was that we all brought food for a healthy, farm fresh potluck. Everyone brought natural foods in, from raw milk and cheese, pasturized chicken, salad, fresh greens, grains, meats, eggs...it was fantastic. And it was a very conscious attempt to stay close to nature and eat as whole and as pure as possible. After lunch, Brad and Jenny, the couple who run the farm, along with their children, took us on a tour of the farm. We received great lessons on what the animals do and how each element contributes to the prosperity of the farm. Lessons on how chickens eat, what free range means, why a donkey benefits the farm (animal security from cayotes), how soil is turned, and the greenhouse's need for very specific temperatures. Honestly, I said to a friend, "I had no idea farming could be so cool." And it is interesting. At the end of our tour we bought produce, cheese, eggs and played with the baby goats. For anyone concerned about eating animal products it was also a lesson on how to eat animal by product ethically. When the animals are treated well and more important, living how nature intended for THEM to eat and live, we automatically live and eat in integrity.

I encourage everyone, especially families, to take a day trip to this extraordinary farm...eat well, play hard, laugh, and learn! The Stufflebeams take great pains to nurture the land and do this with love and care. You will rejuvenate your spirit and your attitude about food!

Go to www.homesweetfarm.com for more information and directions. They are approximately an hour and a half outside Houston in Brenham. Brad and Jenny Stufflebeam are also the chapter leaders for the Weston A. Price Foundation in Texas.

A Votre Sante!

Jennifer

The Paleo Challenge

This month a few of the Pura Vida Tribe (for more information contact Jared Maidenberg) decided to try the Paleo Diet.  For those of you who are asking, "What exactly is this diet?  Are you eating dinosaurs???"  Well, not exactly.  But we are eating as close to nature as possible.

 

There are many diets out there.  Some work, some don't, some are gimmicks, and some have great information.  The most famous (and doable) diets seem to be South Beach and The Zone.  So here's the deal:  Be careful of fad diets and dramatic detoxes, etc...if someone is telling you to try the "20 donuts a day diet", you probably have to wonder what the merit is.

 

A strict Paleo diet is great for one month as it can tell you what you are sensitive to...it may even help with allergies, immune, blood sugar and digestion.  We do live in an urban environment, so it may not be realistic to be strict ALL THE TIME. But for a month, it's pretty useful.  So what exactly DO you get to eat?  Everything in nature! If you haven't been to the Farmer's Market, now is the time to get to know your farmer...think local and seasonal.  You can eat nuts and seeds, meats, chicken, fish,  fruits, veggies, eggs, bone broth soups...you get it.  And yes, you can eat butter and coconut oil for fats.  The idea is to reduce processed foods, sugar, dairy (non strict means raw milk and fermented only) , and even grains.  Grains and Legumes are only 5-6000 years old and not considered a paleo life.  I recommend reducing grains as a way of life as it can be very hard to digest and turns to sugar.  The pancreas works overtime and this can lead to insulin resistance.

So what do I eat for breakfast when I always ate cereal?  You might want to try a green paleo shake (with quality protein powder), and eggs.  I do like a little Kefir as well with nuts b/c that is fermented.  Eat your leftovers.  Breakfast should consist of fats and proteins...long, sustainable energy.

Snacks are nuts, nut butters (not soy or peanut as they are legumes and soy is often GMO) with fruit or veggies.  Two books I recommend are Cordain's The Paleo Diet/Paleo Diet for Athletes. and Mark Sissan's Primal Blueprint.  Another great book is called Primal Body/Primal Mind by Nora Degaudus.  Look for cookbooks that feature information on the hunter/gatherer lifestyle...our true anscestors.   Sally Fallon wrote a great book and a wealth of information, called Nourishing Traditions. Eating from nature could greatly reduce the possibility of food related diseases like diabetes, autoimmune disorders and cancer.  

It doesn't mean that you can't have your occasional sweet or treat...just make it quality!  Eat dark chocolate, or cacao, which is rich in antioxidants.  Nor does it mean you can't have wine or coffee.  But pulling yourself off of addictive substances to "retest" later, can give you an indication of your sensitivities--something you can't really know if you are on them.  Our bodies adapt to foods and our environment but it doesn't necessarily mean we don't have a sensitivity or an irritation.  So I recommend one month of "do your best" paleo with one cheat day in the week.  The by products are great:  clear skin, more energy, positive attitude, you sleep better, and you may even lose weight.  If you are athletic, you may find yourself having longer and better workouts with more endurance.

A Votre Sante from Pura Vida!

Absolute Alternative Army

I want to start a coalition of sorts.  This is not your mother's  AAA.  This is about healthy choices, integrity and staying conscious in the wake of change.  I have many friends who want to do great things.  Jared's Farm2FrontDoor movement is going to take off.  He is pushing eating locally, seasonally and mindfully.  Sheri in an entrepreneurial acupuncturist as is my brother, who is also exploring energy work.  And I am a nutritional therapist and cycling instructor always looking for the next energizing workout.  My goal is to educate my clients about food and supplementation. But there is also meditation, Buddhism and yoga which have been inflential in keeping me calmly energized and focused towards my personal goals.  But what if we added other like minded people?  People who want to make the world a better place.  Spirituality allows us to bond with nature.  Supporting local Farmers engages us in a dialogue regarding being mindful about where our food comes from.  Then there is Beaver's Chef, Jonathon Johnson who supports the local movement and buys organic produce for his kitchen.  If you are reading this, twitter me at holhealthgirl and add your name.  Join the movement of entrepreneurs who care about prevention, holistic health, outdoor exercise, and bonding to nature and a clean environment.  Make this a year to start the Army moving forward!

A Votre Sante and Happy New Year!!!!

Jennifer

Knowing Your Sources

The other night, I had the pleasure of a terrific (and private) fine dining experience.  Chef Jonathon Johnson (PapaBeav from Beavers) and Randy Rucker (Rainbow Lodge and Greensandbeans) came to a private residence to prepare a wonderful 6 course dinner.  We also were served (at least) 6 different Riazul Tequila cocktails to compliment each dish.  We had everything from Seviche to smoked Rabbit,  pulled pork and beans (Carnitas) , corn polenta with a mustard green marmalade, pumpkin Shrimp/flounder bisque and Churros with chocolate for dessert.  Each dish seemed more delectable than the next.  

When I talked to the chefs, they took me through the timeline of preparation.  The flounder and the fish was caught 2 days before and was very fresh.  In fact, Randy himself caught the fish in the Gulf.  And to that end the flounder was amazing.  Jonathon shops for fresh produce (Monica Pope's T'afia) when he prepares his menus.  He uses organic eggs, meat, and vegetables.  His goal is to support the local farmers and farmers markets in the area while of course, getting the freshest, best quality produce.  And yes, I CAN taste the difference!

Beavers uses grass fed beef in their food and offers a vegan selection on their menu.

This is a perfect example of looking for a dining experience where a chef values organic cooking and knowing the source of your food.  That being said, the carnitas had a great deal of fat, but it  had been marinating for many hours.  The meat was tender and the flavor pure heaven.  However, saturated fat IS good for you, so I say, "It's the holidays!  Have a little fat and be HEALTHY!!!"

For more information on your local farmer's markets, go to www.urbanharvest.com

A Votre Sante!

Jennifer

January is coming

As we enter the holiday season, let us remember to give thanks for a wonderful year and a new year ahead of us.  Let's remember to strive to respect our bodies, be mindful of what we eat and be open to new information.  Going forward look for blog articles on Sugar and Fats...especially the paradigm shift on these two subjects.  Sugar is quite dangerous (the average American consumes 150 pounds a year!!!) and we are learning more about the adverse effects each day.  And Fat is necessary and IMPORTANT, especially in it's unadulterated form.  

Happy Holidays to all of you!

Jennifer

Food, Inc at LuluLemon Athletica

Last week I held a terrific talkback after we screened the movie Food, Inc.  I think most of the audience (almost all had never seen the movie) were stunned in to silence.  And then the questions just kept going...the biggest question and most relevant of the night was, "How do I take what I see and apply it to how I live in a big city, like Houston?  Do I REALLY have control over my food choices?"  The answer is yes and I will tell you how.

Education is crucial to making strong choices on our health.  First, look for as much organic and unprocessed foods as possible.  Look for nutrient dense whole foods.  The more ingredients on the label, the more processed it is.  Most food contains a derivative of corn or soy.  If it does, put it back.  Do not subscribe to the big food industry's words "It's good for you.  It is cholesterol free, fat free, vitamin packed, etc."  Once a food is processed, it is stripped of it's natural nutrient.  Second, look for foods that are NOT GMO.  If it is genetically engineered, it must be put back.  GMO foods are linked to cancers, blood sugar handling issues (especially if it contains HFCS) and inflammation and heart disease.  And finally, buy foods that do not contain antibiotics, artificial dyes, nitrates or hormones.  If you are buying meats, opt for grass fed or better yet, grass finished beef.  Look for free range chicken and turkeys.  Opt for the humane treatment of animals.  Grass fed has more Omega 3's in it, vitamins A and E, and CLA (a healthy fat that has proven to be a cancer fighter).  I urge you to learn to cook easy simple meals and eat out less.  Eating out means that we have less control about knowing where are food comes from.  And it isn't convenient if we get sick.  Over 80 million people in this country have an undiagnosed endocrine problem...much of which comes from our food.

Be mindful of what you eat.  Eat slowly and in a parasympathetic state.  And be joyful of the quality foods you do eat.  Support your local farmers markets and farmers.  Buy their organic produce.  Go to www.urbanharvest.com for more information.

Eat well.  Stay well.  And remember, if it doesn't walk on land, swim in the sea, grow in the ground or fall from a tree, it's not food!

A votre Sante!

Jennifer