FREE presentation series on “Getting to the Root Causes of Disease” begins Wednesday, April 30th, 2014 at the Mammoth Lakes Library.  I’m looking forward to this new location: very kid, family friendly and there’s plenty of room in the lower back room.  The sessions will take place for 4 weeks on the Wednesdays to follow beginning at 5:00.  If you missed any of my presentations at the Health food store I’ll cover much of what I presented in January.  If you attended all or many of them I will have new information to share.  If you have questions you’d like me to cover feel free to post them or send me a private message.  I hope to see you there.

Sugar cookies, candies, baked goods, and ice cream are just a few food staples of the American diet.  We do our best to eat them only in moderation, but because they taste good, they’re hard to resist.  As a result we eat them in excess or crave them often.  But as most adults know just because it tastes good or makes you feel good it doesn’t mean it’s necessarily good for you.  Recent peer-reviewed scientific data shows that regular sugar intake increases your risk for cardiovascular disease mortality/death. 

A while back I posted a wonderful 3 minute video on the physiological response after eating sugar.  It explained our dopamine (feel good) receptors in the brain and how they respond to insulin surges created by sugar.  The average American eats about 159 pounds of sugar per year.  Eating sugar wreaks havoc on the stress hormones and provokes a surge of insulin and adrenaline putting the body on a long tumultuous roller coaster ride.  The body in a constant effort of trying to compensate for the sugar surges results in inflammation; inflammation that spreads throughout the body and can and will eventually inflame the brain.  The brain is the master control for our body. 

Data is now showing that the other major organ damaged by sugar is the heart. The study published in February 14th shows that sugar doubles your risk for heart disease.  The study can be found here .

Here are a few tools to do away with sugar:

1.  Be sure that your diet is complete with protein and fats at every meal.  When there is not ample, the brain requires glucose and you’ll resort to either pure sugar or refined carbohydrates (which turn to sugar).

2. READ your labels

3.  Eat real food

Once you stop eating sugar and you fulfill your other nutritional needs you will not crave sugar.  I promise!!! I know. I’ve been there (and wasn’t convinced either :)). 

I’m here if you need help.

Be well,

Lynn

Last year I thought I was genius to ‘write’ a letter to the Easter Bunny explaining that we wouldn’t need Easter baskets since mom and dad were surprising the kids with a basketball hoop.  What a great idea, right? WRONG. 

As much as the kids were surprised by the basketball hoop, Koa cried when he realized he didn’t get an Easter basket.  He’s reminded me throughout the year how disappointed he was that I would suggest to the Easter bunny to not bring baskets.  So this year I’m playing it safe by foregoing a larger present (and saving money) and ensuring that the Easter bunny brings baskets. 

I sent myself on a mission to purchase healthy Easter baskets but was unsuccessful (a great business idea?).  Instead the Easter bunny and I will be doing the work. 

What healthy options are there for Easter baskets that won’t take too much of my time? I’ve begun the research and thought I’d share it with you.  Here are a few great ideas:

1.  Dark chocolate dipped fruit

2. Plastic eggs filled with tattoos, stickers, and even coins. 

3. Sidewalk chalk

4. An iTunes card

5. Favorite snack bars (my kids love Larabars)

6. A sport ball (baseball, football, etc)

7. A tool

8. A fold-able hair brush

9. A jump rope

10. Melt dark chocolate and pour into molds.  I have a sport and a heart mold I acquired from Michael’s on the cheap. 

11.  Annie’s gummies (a little more sugar than I’d prefer but better than jelly beans)

12.  Boiled, decorated, eggs, of course. 

 How about you? Do you have an idea for a healthier Easter Basket? Please do share.

Be well,

Lynn