All posts tagged Get skinny

November 19, 2014 · Blog

Discipline; the Engine that gets you to good health

One of the biggest roles I play as a health coach is motivator. So many clients want to feel better and see changes in their health but in the beginning they just can’t seem to resist the ice-cream or the chocolate or fill in the blank with your fave food. Part of it is physical addiction but the biggest hurdle is plain old discipline.

One of the best things I have developed through my life is strong discipline. It’s because of lots of self talk that says “Joy it’s not worth it!” Whether it was watching the pounds or detoxing.

I believe the most important thing is to ask yourself “Self, what is your motivation?” And make sure you give yourself one heck of an answer.

We can talk ourselves into or out of anything. It all comes down to your motivation. It has to be strong and it has to be purposeful.

Once, I healed a bad case of gastritis with diet. I learned to de-stress with yoga, breath deeply, and I followed a strict diet of protein, vegetables and good fats. Discipline was key. I had important goals I did not, no, would not mess up. The choice was stay on medication that could destroy my digestion for life or heal naturally. I’d say that’s a strong motivation, especially when you have a family who depends on you.

The only way to whole-body health is by harnessing your discipline and putting into action all the knowledge you know will change everything.

There is a sense of power and happiness that comes from dedication to your self.

We have to grow up and realize that choices have consequences and the world owes you nothing.

Make good choices about the foods you eat and smarter choices about lifestyle. Add movement into your day, consciously relax; meditate or tap away stress. This stuff is so life changing its crazy. Most people need support to stay with it at the beginning. Once you start and see the symptoms change its so much easier.

So define your motivation. What is it for you?

October 29, 2014 · Blog

Bulletproof Coffee

From the time I was a little girl, really little (like 3 or 4 years old), I remember begging my mother for a little of her coffee poured into my milk. Maybe it was the delicious aroma I smelled every day as my mom perked a pot of coffee in the morning, or how special it seemed to the adults around me. My Mom called it my coffee, as in “I can’t function until I have my coffee.” That’s important stuff! So it’s not surprising that I love coffee.

As I got older, and I was finally allowed to drink coffee, I realized I didn’t feel so good when I had it. I became all shaky and felt weird from the caffeine. So I had decaf coffee. Later on in my late twenties, as I was getting more and more into healthy eating and lifestyle, I gave up drinking coffee. I learned how it was acidifying, and that it was like drinking pesticide juice because of how the beans are commercially grown and processed.

I discovered grain coffee, a coffee-like drink made from barley and chicory. It was okay, but nowhere near the taste and smell of real coffee. If you are a real coffee lover, it’s not gonna bring it home for you. Twenty-five years I settled for walking into Starbucks, getting an unsweetened iced tea and watching my husband drink his delicious latte. At least I got to smell it!

Then a great thing happened. I started reading about something called Bulletproof coffee. All over the Paleo community, people were talking about it. Healthy coffee? I couldn’t believe it. I heard it from all the experts. Mark Sisson was drinking it, but it was hard for me to believe because even the best organic coffee gave me terrible headaches and stomach aches. Then I went on the Bulletproof website, Upgradedself.com, and I heard the greatest pitch ever from Dave Asprey, the Bulletproof executive. He claimed that the micotoxins, mold, and pesticides found in commercial coffee are responsible for making people sick from coffee and not the coffee itself. If you tell me there is a possibility that I can drink coffee, well you know I am going to try! So I ordered the purest, best Bulletproof Upgraded Coffee and put it to the test.

I am having my freshly ground and perked coffee most mornings, bulletproof style, blended with 1 tbsp. grass-fed butter and 1 tbsp. MCT oil (concentrated coconut oil). So delicious! Full of antioxidants and good nutrition. Yum, and I didn’t get the least bit sick! No headaches, no stomach aches. They claim that the good fats mixed together with the coffee slow down the absorption of the caffeine, as well.

Of course, my family caught on to this amazing coffee and two of my kids claim that I ruined any other coffee for them. Since they’ve been drinking Bulletproof coffee, they actually taste the pesticides in all other coffees and they can’t drink it. This makes me so happy!

I always say I am a human science project; I test everything on myself first. Let me know if you try it and what your experience is. It is one thing you can change that will make your life a whole lot healthier. I love to start my day with coffee; there is something nostalgic and cozy about it, my coffee.

October 1, 2014 · Blog

Preparation is Gratification

I had an enjoyable conversation with a beautiful young mother today. She wanted to hear what I eat so she could determine what would be a good way for her to eat.

She caught me on a good day. If this were last week, I would have told her ‘I am barely eating enough’. I was recently very off in the timing of my meals. I was just too busy. That happens sometimes. If it continues too long it will effect blood sugar levels, cravings and energy levels.

A good friend listened to me complain about my weight going up a few pounds and we looked at what I was eating. It was not enough, which was throwing off my whole metabolism. This week I got my priorities in order and each day prepared my meals so that I got to eat at the proper times.

I am simple with what I eat. For breakfast lunch and dinner I eat raw greens like baby arugala, spinach and mesculin. I like to add a few other colorful raw or cooked veggies. I prefer plain salad these days with no dressing. I am enjoying tasting the vegetables. I have been having my fat as a couple of slices of avocado or a few olives. I may also cook my eggs with a bit of grass fed butter. I always like to have some fermented vegetables with each meal, like sauerkraut or fermented carrots or a naturally fermented organic pickle. Variety is truly the spice of my life. Last but not least I add a serving of a good quality protein. Eggs prepared in a variety of ways, chicken, wild fish, beef or lamb. I have a snack, which is usually my PaleoZip protein powder in some type of shake with berries and almond milk. These days as the weather is getting cooler, I love having hot water with lemon throughout the day.

I prepare any food I need to take with me, grab a kombucha tea and I’m off.

As we talked I realized preparation is key to a healthy diet. It is an expression of self-love, really. When we eat well we feel good. All of us should practice extreme self-care and self-love. Preparing and taking time to sit down and eat is gratifying. We are worth it.

Check out this blog post for more tips about preparation……..http://www.joyharari.com/the-zen-of-cooking-healthy-meals/

September 17, 2014 · Blog

What is Vitamin P?

My newest goal in life is to include more play and pleasure into my everyday, which are equally as important as good food and exercise.

I woke up on Sunday morning to a clear, cool, and sunny day.“What a great day to go rent bikes in Central Park, ride to the Boathouse and have a drink,” I said to my husband. This was not my idea, but was a good idea given to me by friends as we walked on the High-line in Chelsea last Saturday night. I made a mental note and thought, wow, I have to do this! I don’t always have such great ideas myself, but I am good at picking them up wherever I can and putting them to good use.

So, that Sunday, I skipped my morning workout, which is usually not so much fun, or very long, and rode a bike with my husband through Central Park for a few hours. We laughed and enjoyed the beautiful park together, and I hardly realized I was riding! Okay, maybe it was the Paradise Martini at the Boathouse (which I highly recommend), but really I think it was the exhilaration of good company and plain old having fun. Here’s to exercise that doesn’t feel like work! Cheers!

We went for an early dinner. I had a tricolor salad and tuna steak with a red wine reduction, spinach and mashed potatoes. It was delicious, I might add. I ate slowly, happily and enjoyed every bite.

The result of my fun day was so amazing for my mind and body. I was relaxed, in a great mood and I slept soundly at night. I actually felt my endorphins elevated and I just felt good!! I also noticed how good my digestion was in this state. This is called the Cephalic Phase Digestive Response, which basically means that happy chemicals = good digestion.

I read a book by Norman Cousins, The Anatomy of an Illness. In it he wrote about how he cured his disease with laughter. He watched I love Lucy and other comedies and laughed so hard that it stimulated all the healing chemicals of the body. There is something to play and pleasure. If stress, as we know, is harmful, well what’s the opposite?

Beyond nutrition and physical activity, we can infuse joy into our food, and fun into our exercise. It is a mistake to assume diet is the only reason for good or bad health. Even when the intake of food is perfectly figured out, we should never forget that play and pleasure are key components of good health.

Think of play and pleasure as Vitamin P. A big dose is recommended very often!

http://www.prevention.com/mind-body/emotionalmental-health http://www.nifplay.org/opportunities/personal-health/

January 22, 2014 · Recipes

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

1 head of cauliflower, cut into florettes

1 onion, chopped

2 stalks of celery, chopped

1 tablespoon of coconut oil

4 cups of water

himalayan salt and black pepper to taste

-sautee onion and celery in coconut oil until wilted

-add cauliflower, salt and pepper, and water

-Bring to a boil and then simmer for approx 20 minutes or until vegetables are soft

– puree the soup

– Enjoy!

*You can substitute bone broth for the water for an even hardier, healthier soup 😉

January 22, 2014 · Blog

Is Butter Secretly Ruining Your Health?

By Food Babe

Growing up, butter was an absolute staple in my household. We thankfully never got into the margarine craze because my mother believed that butter was good for the brain. Turns out, she was right about that and scientists have now concluded that butter is actually good for you in other areas too. It’s high in a compound call CLA that protects you from tumor growth and cancer, is not inflammatory like man-made oils from corn, canola or soy, and provides a nice dose of Omega 3 fatty acids, if you get it from the right source. But finding the right source can be tricky given all the buzz words and fancy marketing these days. Choosing the wrong type of butter can secretly ruin your health without you even knowing it! Here’s a look at what’s really going on and how to choose the healthiest butter for you and your family.

Beware of Monsanto Butter

MonsantoButter

I call conventional butter “Monsanto Butter,” because it comes from cows fed almost entirely genetically engineered or GMO grains and Monsanto is the largest producer of GMOs.

Conventionally raised cows are most commonly fed GMO corn and soy, however, some farmers fatten up their feed with additional sugar from GMO sugar beets and cottonseed. Cotton is the most toxic crop because it isn’t treated as a food crop but as a textile (it has less regulation.) And then conventional dairy cow feed is sometimes fortified with additional protein, Omega 3 fatty acids and CLA from GMO rapeseed (canola) because the cows are not getting these nutrients naturally from the grass. GMO alfalfa hay is also commonly fed to cows. So basically, conventionally raised cows are almost entirely getting their food from GMOs – food that was created in a laboratory, that hasn’t been tested long term, but has produced horrific results in several alarming animals studies.

Over 49% of all GMO corn is fed to animals or livestock. Only 2% of the GMO soybeans grown are actually fed to humans, the other 98% get fed to animals. Those figures are pretty scary once you consider the astronomical amounts of herbicides being sprayed on these GMO crops and what they are doing to the increase cancer rates, harm the environment and ourselves.

Land O’Lakes = Monsanto Butter

Land O’ Lakes was a staple in my household growing up. We’d use the whipped butter like it was nobody’s business – my mom would use it on her infamous parathas (Indian stuffed flat bread), in countless desserts and to make homemade ghee. Once I found out what was really happening at Land O’Lakes, my Mom and I had a little chat. I explained to her that Land O’Lakes is owned by a pro-GMO company called Dean Foods. Land O’Lakes co-developed genetically engineered alfalfa, directly contributing to the GMO animal feed supply. I also explained that Land O’Lakes contributed nearly $100,000 to the “No on I-522 Lobby” – the bill to label GMOs in Washington State. This is all on top of the fact that Land O’Lakes is not organic, raises their cows with growth hormones linked to cancer, antibiotics and harmful pesticide ridden GMO feed. I told my Mom she has to stop buying Land O’Lakes if we are going to change this world!

Knowing all these facts, plus the health risks of consuming GMOs, my Mom finally asked “what butter can I buy?” Well there are many brands out there that are light years ahead of Land O’Lakes. Here’s a Butter Buying Guide that will help you (and my Mama) navigate the butter aisle next time you hit the market:

ButterChoices

How to Choose The Most Nutritious Butter

Organic – First and foremost, look for organic butter. This will ensure there are no growth hormones, antibiotics, harmful pesticides and GMOs being fed to the cows. Growth hormone or rbGH that is used to raise cows conventionally is linked to cancer and often accumulates in highest concentration in animal fat. One organic brand I’m suspicious of however, is Horizon, they are owned by Dean Foods (the same company that owns Land O’Lakes). The Cornucopia Institute has filed complaints for labeling their product organic while maintaining factory farm production methods. I won’t buy Horizon organic for that reason.
Grass-fed – Grass-fed or pastured raised cows are going to be more nutritious than cows raised with grains. Remember, the highest amounts of the most beneficial CLA and Omega 3 fatty acids naturally come from grass-fed cows. Also grass-fed cows produce butter with 50 percent more vitamin A and E and 400 percent more beta carotene (which gives the grass-fed butter a deeper yellow color).
Ghee – Ghee is clarified butter where all the proteins, milk solids and lactose is removed. This makes the butter more digestible, concentrated with nutrients and really great for immunity building. Ghee does not need to be refrigerated, it can stay on the counter for a few months without going bad. People with dairy allergies or sensitives often do ok consuming this type of butter. Pure Indian Foods, Purity Farms and Ancient Organics have the best offerings in that they are both high quality, organic and grass-fed.
In an ideal world, you would be able to find butter that is both organic, grass-fed and no additives like Organic Valley (in the green foil wrapper) , but sometimes that’s just not the case. In that circumstance, I would go for either an organic butter or grass-fed butter like Kerrygold (please note – Kerrygold uses some grains that could be GMOs a couple of months out of the year because grass doesn’t grow year round in Ireland – they admit that 3% of their feed could contain GMOs). Choosing regular organic butter will lessen your exposure to pesticides but will also provide less nutrition since the cows will mostly be fed organic grains vs. grass. Regardless, these choices are superior choices over conventional butter and both options (in light green on the chart above) will lessen your exposure to GMOs.
Beware of butter mixes with labels like “with olive oil” – 9 times out of 10, these butters will have one or more GMO ingredients like soybean, corn or canola oil. These mixes may have questionable additives in them too – check the ingredient list just to be sure!
Don’t Eat Butter? Here are some Vegan Substitutes – If you are vegan, skip all the “butter like” or fake butter spreads like Smart Balance that contain GMO oils, artificial ingredients made from petroleum and unnecessary preservatives. Instead, choose 100% coconut oil, olive oil, red palm oil (that is sustainably harvested from Ecuador and does not hurt the rainforest) or hemp oil instead. Also coconut manna, or butter works well too, when slightly heated it spreads just like butter. (These are also much healthier than organic spreads like Earth Balance that are usually a combo of inflammation causing oils).

butter substitutes

Sharing the truth is the first step in changing the food system. If you know someone who is buying Monsanto butter, please share this information with them. Our choices can really change the marketplace, make us healthier and change companies decisions to use these unhealthy ingredients.

Much Love,

Food Babe

January 8, 2014 · Blog

Fermented Cod Liver Oil; Why Should We Take It and How to Get It Down

What is so great about fermented cod liver oil? Well if you are one of my clients you know I absolutely insist that this is one of the few supplements you must take.

It is an insurance policy that makes up for a lot of dietary mistakes. Kids are slammed from every direction with candy. The bus driver, school, the hairdresser, just about everyone wants to make your kid happy with candy. Please make sure they get their cod liver oil, please!

When taking fermented cod liver oil people notice a decreased incidence and duration of illness. Many see improvements in PMS symptoms. Dr. Weston Price used it to reduce tooth decay and to treat connective tissue diseases.

It provides Vitamin D, which does all of the following;

-Helps mineral reabsorption in bones

-Protects against infection

-Prevents heart disease

-Reduces radiation poisoning

-Helps high blood pressure

It also provides vitamin A which;

-Improves reproductive abilities

-Fights depression and anxiety

-Has a positive effect on hormones

It has omega 3 fatty acids they;

-Protect against oxidative damage

-Improve skin health

-Protect against cardiovascular disease

The next question is why fermented cod liver oil? The best reason is that it is not an industrial product; it’s the real deal.

-It has no alkali refining

-No bleaching

-No winterization

-No deodorization

-no stripping of vitamins A and D

Many processed cod liver oil supplements are stripped of vitamins A and D and then synthetic vitamin A and D are added back in. Not good.

Fermentation is the traditional way that people took Cod liver oil. It adds probiotic goodness and a deeper and broader range of nutrients including CoQ-10. Basically you are getting more bang for your buck!

Ok, now the million-dollar question… How to get it down! I agree it is not pleasant tasting. However, there is a cinnamon flavor that is really doable. I also recommend the orange flavored capsules. The cinnamon liquid is much more cost effective than caps and you are getting more CLO.

I recommend Green Pasture ‘s Blue Ice brand. For kids start with ¼ tsp. Adults ½ tsp. Pregnant and nursing moms take more, 1 tbsp. For people with depression and anxiety also up the dose. I have been known to advocate a bit of bribery to get this into your children, a few stevia chocolate chips or points toward a toy. The best idea (which I say all the time) is to be a good example and let your kids watch you take your dose of Cod Liver Oil.

Take it! Let me know how you feel in the comments below!

December 11, 2013 · Blog

The Real Truth About Workout Food

What’s wrong with the fuel most people are using? I call them Frankenfuels. From Gatorade to power bars to those creepy gel packs with the chemicals they contain and synthetic “nutrients”, I really don’t know how we got so far from real food.

Those Frankenfuels have very high sugar content. Gatorade was recently forced to take out the brominated vegetable oil, BVO. Another ingredient in many sport drinks is TBHQ it is a preservative also an anticorrosive agent found in diesel oil!

Many of the protein powders people use have artificial sweeteners and chemicals that lead to brain fog during a workout.

The truth is that we should be putting as natural a food source as possible into our bodies especially during and after strenuous physical activity. To understand why we need to understand carbohydrate delivery and the maximum rate of fluid absorption; Osmolality.

Most sports drinks have 6-8% concentrated solution. Bars. Energy packets and gels have 10-30% concentration of carbs. When you consume them absorption is not ideal unless you drink tons of water with them. Many labels suggest drinking at least 8 oz. of water with it and most people don’t follow directions. Anything above a 4% concentrated solution will result in GI distress and fluid emptying.

Another thing that’s been hyped up to sell sports drinks is electrolytes. The body can maintain plasma levels of electrolytes and salts several days without running out. The body maintains this via the kidneys as it slows down the rate of sodium excretion. Sports drinks actually speed up the loss of electrolytes through the sweat.

Why don’t people just eat real food? Well you can’t patent and make money off raw almonds. Real food takes time to plan and prepare. It is so much easier to grab a power bar at the gym. People have been led to believe they need to train with the fuel they will use during competitions. At the time of an iron man competition it is not very aero dynamic to carry bags of food along.

However, here are some good ideas of things you can prepare and take along;

-Chia seeds 3-4 tbsp Soak in water add lemon and stevia and make a slurry. Its clean burning food.

-Pemmican (rendered fat) or jerky

-Rice balls using pressure-cooked white rice, you can add eggs and meats or coconut, blueberries, raw honey and dates. Put in the food processor and make balls.

**Skip the rice if you are low carb and want your body to use fat to burn fuel.

-Raw seeds and nuts with a little dried fruit.

-Nut butters mixed with coconut oil and raw honey.

-Grain free granola

-Hydrolyzed Collagen Protein like PaleoZip by Joy Harari

Real food alternatives require less water than bars and gels. Bars and Gels contain fermentable carbs like fructose and maltodextrin, which causes gas and bloating and indigestion afterwards.

For post workouts, the ideal scenario is to eat a real meal. Don’t worry about protein carb fat ratio the experts say it is not necessary. Just eat your regularly scheduled highly nutritive meal.

So lets all commit to a more natural source of healthy energy to fuel our workouts. It will keep you healthier and younger looking in the long run.

April 24, 2013 · Blog

Juicerexia

Each year spring rolls around and I just want to purge; My house gets cleaned in a big ‘vacuum out the dust under the fridge’ kind of way. My clothes get sorted out. The best thing that happens is that I start craving green leafy vegetables and wheatgrass.

Our bodies have an internal clock that knows spring is here. Dr. John Douillard says if you detox in the spring, you won’t get sick the following winter. That word “detox” is loaded these days. My clients will call me and insist I give them a good detox. Every magazine has articles on detoxing. What is goin’ on?!

This is the bottom line; your body knows just how to accomplish this task. It does it on a daily basis. If we consistently eat good quality, fresh, unprocessed foods and drink lots of pure water that detox system will be free to work its magic. Yup that’s all you have to do. No torturous crazy protocols of lemonade only. Eating in season helps too. Fresh young greens come up in spring so eat up! Eating things that are in season is always a good idea.

Getting an enzyme rich veggie juice from one of the beautiful Juice bars that are popping up is always a great idea, but according to Courtney Rubin in Marie Claire Magazine it may be wise to skip the “juice fast”. “One expert calls juice cleanses ‘the perfect pathway to disordered eating”, with an alarming power to seduce otherwise healthy women.”

Juice cleanses have become uber trendy, that’s for sure. “Even Starbucks has expanded into Juices. And as interest in them peaks, public health professionals and doctors are dealing with the fallout; an epidemic of malnourished, run-down young women- Juicerexics- some of whom have stumbled into full-fledged anorexia or bulimia.”

“Of most concern? For women already in the throes of anorexia or bulimia, juice fasts provide a great cover….. People say, ‘oh, good for you. That’s so healthy.’ It’s society’s most accepted form of eating disorder.”

The best situation I have seen is at a beautiful Juice bar called Jus by Julie, which has recently expanded to a second Brooklyn location, and a third location in Cederhurst, NY. Julie Maleh is a Certified Health Coach and is very “Hands on” with her clients. She described to me how she monitors her clients closely when they do a cleanse.

“I do not allow the young teens to do a full juice fast. I insist they incorporate the juices into their lives and have at least 1 meal. None of my clients are permitted to do consecutive cleanses. Three days is the maximum, then they incorporate the juices into their daily life. I like them to wait a month to do another 3 day cleanse, I am very strict! I monitor everyone to avoid these problems. I am 100% on top of it.”

Go Julie!!

Stephanie Zakay the Pure Juice Cleanse proprietor is also totally on it with guiding her clients. Her main goal is to encourage people to get more fruits and vegetables into their daily routine. “People that come to me use the cleanse as a way of making a commitment to a new way of eating and say good-bye to the processed junk foods they were putting into their body.”

With responsible guidance like Stephanie and Julie provide, the safety and benefit of juice is fully realized.

February 27, 2013 · Blog

little sugar addicts

-Does your child ask for sweet foods all the time?

-Does she have meltdowns that end in tantrums or tears?

-Is he impulsive, restless, and wildly dramatic or talk a lot and fast?

– Does your child have a hard time paying attention or lock in on a task and then forget to do anything else?

-Does she cry easily and frequently?

– Is he moody and exhibit low self-esteem?

-Does your child have a lot of allergies, or persistent ear infections? Is he overweight?

All of these things may sound like normal childhood behavior, or everyday life. “Mood swings, inability to concentrate, temper tantrums, and the most significant-low self-esteem are all the affects of too much sugar in your child’s diet.” Says Kathleen DesMaisons author of Little Sugar Addicts.

Knowing how horrible sugar is for us, and especially our children, makes me want to jump up and down and shout “STOP GIVING THEM SUGAR!!!” Also knowing that will not help the situation and that a softer approach is always better, I try to contain myself and help those who are ready to be helped. I know how difficult it can be, so no judgement. Just a little education ;).

Little children don’t handle or process sugar the same way as an adult. You may be surprised at how strong an effect a small amount of sugar has on a child’s body. “ If you have an adult who drinks a 12 ounce can of soda (40 grams of sugar)”, explains DesMaisons “they are having one gram of sugar per four pounds of body weight. But if you give a can of soda to a 40 pound child, the dose relationship is very different. For a child that is the equivalent of four cans or a six pack”!!!

What does sugar do to kids? It effects their brains and bodies, blood sugar, serotonin and beta endorphin levels.

Serotonin is affected by sugar. “ Serotonin is a chemical that quiets the brain,” writes DesMaisons. It makes us have a feeling of well being and peacefulness. “Sugar sensitive children have lower levels of serotonin than other children.” By changing diet, these levels can be raised, creating more self-confident, in-control children with a much happier outlook.

Beta-endorphins, DesMaisons calls “ the brains own pain killer”. Children who are sugar sensitive are much more sensitive towards physical and emotional pain. Children who eat too much sugar tend to feel inadequate and unworthy, even if they are smart”, once the sugar wears off.

From all the research I have read over many years, I can say with confidence that the precursor to all addiction is sugar.

Researcher Dr. Robert Lustig says sugar is as addictive as cocaine according to brain scans.

Kiber Stanhope, a biologist at the State University of California Davis, believes that a calorie is not just a calorie and over consumption of high fructose corn syrup increases the same risks as sugar.

In his article in the Huffington post Dr. Mark Hyman wrote “people can be biologically addicted to sugar in the same way we can be addicted to heroin, cocaine or nicotine. Binging and addictive behaviors are eerily similar in alcoholics and sugar addicts. In fact most recovering alcoholics often switch to another easily available drug: Sugar.”

For those with personal struggles with food addiction, remember it is not a moral failing or lack of will power. There is help available.

In my practice I see many children. I have witnessed the huge change in their self-esteem and confidence when they are taken off sugar. I am here to tell you it’s not impossible!! Many parents are seeking help and the results are astounding!! Teachers are the first to comment. “ He’s a different child, so focused and calm.”

These are results that make my heart sing!! I have clients as young as 6 years of age who proudly proclaim “I don’t eat that, its not healthy!” When they are offered sugar laden treats. They influence their peers and become empowered to make good choices.

DesMaisons has seven steps to fight sugar and its effects:

1.Eat breakfast with protein: and do it within the first hour of waking, to beat a drop in blood sugar.

2.Make connections between food and mood. Never reward a child with food-especially sweets.

3.Change snacks. Children under the age of 18 should eat every 3 hours to avoid a drop in blood sugar. In addition to good, well-balanced meals, your child should get several high-protein snacks throughout the day.

4.Eat protein lunches. Foods like poultry and meats, eggs and nuts are all essentials.

5. Cut any white flour breads and pastas from your diet.

6.Take out the sugar. (“Notice that taking out sugar is not step one. It is step six,”)

7.Take care of life. Relax have fun and spend time with your family.

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