everywomanover29

Food, Mood and Women's Health – Be your healthiest, look and feel great!

The Human Longevity Project – Secrets of the World’s Healthiest People

By Leave a Comment

The Human Longevity Project is a first-of-it’s-kind 9 part online documentary filmed over 2 years, in over 50 locations, with over 90 expert interviews!

Join Health Researcher, Jason Prall, as he travels the world investigating why certain people live extraordinarily, healthy, happy and long lives.

Here is a trailer to inspire you to watch and learn and go on this amazing journey with Jason and the people he interviews:

With this documentary he wants to share that there are

  • populations all over the world that are virtually free of chronic disease
  • places where people typically live well into their 90s and 100s
  • ways to live a healthier, longer and happier life, using strategies that work for the oldest populations… free of fad diets and short-lived health trends.
  • ways to get clear on what naturally works to cure depression, anxiety, and overwhelm
  • new and proven ways to treat and prevent most epidemic diseases
  • tools to turn your mitochondria into a powerhouse for your body, so you get more energy and stamina throughout the day

Jason not only traveled the world to learn from these healthy populations, he interviewed leading researchers, doctors and experts to uncover the underlying mechanisms that afforded them such long, healthy and happy lives.

The results are stunning and scenery is superb!

(It’s truly magnificent and I’ve only seen snippets! It takes me back to my late 20s when I backpacked through Europe and lived like the locals did, eating amazing local food, explored beautiful Greece and Turkey and met incredible people!)

What’s wonderful is that you can now learn the secrets of the world’s healthiest people, and how to apply their wisdom to your modern life.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from just a few of the amazing speakers:

Yes to having a sense of purpose – a sense of purpose is the only one thing you need! Purpose is SO important and Deanna Minich, PhD shares why on The Human Longevity Project.

Do you have a sense of purpose? And how has it helped you heal and live a fuller life?

I know that quitting my computer job over 15 years ago and going back to school to become a nutritionist was the best thing I ever did! Helping others finding nutritional solutions for their anxiety symptoms is so incredibly rewarding. It’s my purpose in life – that’s for sure! I actually consider my own anxiety and panic attacks a gift now – a gift that led me to what I do today!

I love this quote from Preston Smiles:

It’s not the happy people who are grateful, it’s the grateful people who are happy

And don’t you just love his name and lovely smile too!? So much wisdom!

And wisdom from 68-year old Cristina in Costa Rica – go barefoot and walk on the ground to raise our defenses and build immunity.

Ayako, from Japan, is 83 years old and she says this:

The most important thing is balance in your way of eating, sleeping and work. If there is an imbalance you will get sick

I hope you feel as excited about this as I do! You can register for The Human Longevity Project here

Enjoy every beautiful minute of it!

GABA, 5-HTP and melatonin isn’t working anymore for my insomnia and tryptophan gives me a migraine – what should I do?

By Leave a Comment

Today I’m addressing a great question I received on a recent tryptophan blog about insomnia and the use of the amino acids GABA and 5-HTP in a combination product together with melatonin, and what the next steps should be when you are not getting the expected results. And if continuing with tryptophan is a good idea when it seems to be causing a migraine and isn’t leading to a whole night’s sleep. Here is the question:

I have suffered from insomnia for most of my life. I just got your book and am loving it! Thank you for all that you do. My symptoms seem to be high for both low GABA and low serotonin [here is the questionnaire].

I also believe I have a blood sugar problem, so I’m starting to follow your suggestions for that.

I’ve been taking a supplement for sleep that has both GABA and 5-HTP in it, along with melatonin. It worked for a year, however it just recently stopped working.

I thought maybe I should try tryptophan. After taking only 220 mg per night, along with 5 mg of melatonin, I was able to sleep, but not through the entire night. However, the next day I woke up with a horrible headache/migraine. I know it was the tryptophan because I did a trial and tried a night without it and then again with it and the nights I took it, sure enough, the migraine would return.

I must add that I had bloodwork done and tested low for melatonin, which is why I was adding the melatonin into my protocol.

My question is: do I continue with a higher dose of GABA, 5-HTP and melatonin, since it worked for a year i.e. do I up the dosage of the supplement I’ve been taking? Or do I continue trying different doses of tryptophan?

I shared this response in my comment (with some additions for this blog post).

Always first address the nutritional foundational aspects

Firstly, I was glad to hear she is loving my book The Antianxiety Food Solution (my Amazon link) and implementing dietary changes. This is so foundational to any protocol for both anxiety and insomnia. Too often, someone hears me talking about the amazing amino acids and forgets the nutritional basics of real whole food, quality animal protein (like wild fish, pastured eggs and chicken, grass-fed red meat), organic veggies and fruit, healthy fats (like olive oil, coconut oil and butter), fermented foods and broths, and no gluten, caffeine or sugar.

I don’t ever have clients push through

With regards to her trial of tryptophan I shared that I don’t ever have clients push through on a product that is causing any adverse effects, and especially when it’s a migraine. She was smart and trialed the tryptophan twice to make sure it was the tryptophan that caused the migraine and not something else.

Capitalize on what has worked and increase one at a time

With regards to the GABA, 5-HTP and melatonin I shared that I always like to capitalize on what has worked in the past (or is currently working) and would rather increase the 5-HTP and/or melatonin and/or GABA one at a time.

Notice that I said increase these products one at a time. She is taking a combination product so it’s impossible for her to do this. Maybe her GABA levels are now good (because her progesterone levels have improved due to be on a regular zinc supplement or because she has been doing regular yoga sessions) and maybe she needs more serotonin support (because her estrogen levels are off because of recent exposure to xenoestrogens in plastics).

Even though is research showing that a combination product containing GABA and 5-HTP improved sleep and sleep duration more than the use of either of the two amino acids alone, based on her feedback, if we were working together I would have her do each of the GABA, 5-HTP and melatonin separately. This way it’s easy to mix and match and increase one and possibly lower the other, until the ideal combination is found for her unique needs at this time in her life.

She mentions the amino acid questionnaire so it sounds like she is clear on her symptoms: low GABA physical anxiety affecting her sleep and low serotonin mental worry-type of anxiety affecting her sleep. So as she trials the individual amino acids she can see how she does symptom-wise in order to find the ideal amount.

Other factors to consider with insomnia

It’s often straight-forward with the amino acids and the great thing is that one you have the correct combination you will see results in a few days to a few weeks. But There are other factors we may need to consider with insomnia:

  • Keep in mind that 5-HTP can raise cortisol and low blood sugar can indicate adrenal issues so looking at high cortisol as a factor in the sleep problems would be something to consider. A 4-collection saliva test will measure this and my favorite product for lowering high cortisol is Seriphos. Other nutrients for adrenal support may be needed too.
  • Just addressing low blood sugar can often improve insomnia. Eating to support blood sugar swings, early morning sunlight and no blue light after dark can make a world of difference.
  • Other sleep factors we always want to consider: sex hormone imbalances, parasites (they are more active at night and can keep you awake and play a role in high cortisol), accidental gluten exposure, SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), candida, sleep apnea and mouth breathing, EMFs (WiFi in the home, commuting with the iphone on, a new cordless phone etc.) and medication side-effects (benzodiazepines are a common one).

I really appreciate questions like this being posted on the blog so others like you also get to benefit. This question also demonstrates just how our needs for certain nutrients can change over time and how we may to keep adjusting what we are doing.

In case you have questions about specific products that I use with clients, here is my supplements blog and more information on GABA for the physical type of anxiety and 5-HTP/tryptophan for the worry-type of anxiety.

Can you relate to this scenario? Feel free to ask your questions about sleep, GABA, 5-HTP, tryptophan and melatonin and share your experiences with these products and how they have helped you or if you’ve had issues with any of them.

The Autoimmune Solution Cookbook by Amy Myers MD

By 4 Comments

There is a wonderful new recipe book out this week and I want you to know about it!

Dealing with an autoimmune or other chronic health condition such as Hashimoto’s, IBS, Celiac, RA, Psoriasis, chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia, or even just committing to your family’s health does NOT have to mean giving up delicious foods!

No one knows this better than my dear friend and world-renowned functional medicine physician, Amy Myers, MD.

Amy Myers reversed her own autoimmune condition by addressing the root causes of her illness and diet played a HUGE role. She continues to follow the same dietary program that she recommends to her patients and community.

We actually ate out together in Melbourne at the recent Bioceuticals Symposium and I saw her put The Myers Way® (her proven program) of eating into practice at the restaurant, making sure everything she was eating was safe and would not trigger an autoimmune flare. Our server worked hard making sure all her questions were addressed in a satisfactory manner and she set a great example for all of us.

She does this in her wonderful new cookbook, setting a great example and guiding you to make the right choices in order to reduce inflammation, heal your leaky gut and help you move toward the optimal health side of the autoimmune spectrum and stay there.

Here I am with integrative pediatrician Elisa Song MD and functional medicine physician, Amy Myers, MD.

Amy inspires you to cook delicious meals at the same time. She helps you change the way you look at food, both when you’re cooking at home for our families, and when we’re eating out and traveling.

This new book, The Autoimmune Solution Cookbook (my Amazon link), contains over 150 absolutely delicious, easy-to-make, autoimmune-reversing recipes. Amy shares this:

Whether you’re a five-star chef or just getting started in the kitchen, I created these recipes to be a piece of cake (YES! There’s even a birthday cake recipe I created for my daughter).

This cookbook is perfect for you if you:

  • Have an autoimmune or other chronic condition
  • Know that autoimmunity runs in your family
  • Currently follow an autoimmune, Paleo or ketogenic diet
  • Have read The Autoimmune Solution and have already followed its thirty-day protocol, this cookbook is the perfect companion for spicing up your diet and adding more variety to your mealtimes
  • Are dealing with leaky gut, seasonal allergies, asthma, or eczema
  • Have Hashimoto’s, Graves’, or any other type of thyroid issue
  • Deal with digestive issues such as bloating, gas, constipation, and more
  • Have food allergies or food sensitivities
  • Have a loved one dealing with any of the above issues and are looking for the perfect gift for them
  • Are looking for a gift for your doctor or other health practitioner

Here are 2 yummy recipes to get you tempted, your mouth watering and cooking: Refreshing Mango-Avocado Salsa and Coconut Shrimp.

Refreshing Mango-Avocado Salsa

With summer approaching, this refreshing mango-avocado salsa makes the perfect poolside snack or cookout appetizer served with plantain chips. Or add it to grilled fish, shrimp, or chicken for an extra boost of inflammation-fighting Omega 3 fatty acids. Makes 2 cups

Ingredients:

1 mango, cubed
1 avocado, cubed
½ red onion, finely chopped
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Juice of 1 small lime
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½ teaspoon ground cumin

Instructions:

In a bowl, combine all ingredients and mix gently. Serve immediately

 

Coconut Shrimp

When I was growing up in New Orleans, my grandparents took the family out to dinner at the Yacht Club for special occasions, and I always ordered a fried shrimp po’ boy—a traditional Louisiana sandwich. This substitute for fried shrimp is a healthier option that everyone will love. The shrimp are tossed with coconut flour and shredded coconut instead of breadcrumbs— and they are so easy to make! My husband and I served this as an appetizer at our wedding and they were a huge hit! Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons coconut flour
½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¾ cup full-fat coconut milk
1 ½ tablespoons coconut aminos
1 pound wild-caught shrimp

Instructions:

  1. Heat oven to 400°F. In a shallow bowl, whisk together coconut flour, shredded coconut, garlic and onion powders, salt, and pepper.
  2. In another shallow bowl, whisk together the coconut milk and coconut aminos.
  3. Dip each shrimp into the liquid mixture, and then into the dry mixture to coat. Arrange in a single layer in a baking dish. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown. For extra crispiness, remove the pan and set the oven to broil. Broil the shrimp for 4 to 5 minutes.

Some of the other recipes I’m really looking forward to trying are the creamy zucchini-basil soup, the herbed roast chicken, the world’s best Asian flank steak, the rosemary sea-salt crackers (made with cassava flour), the spinach artichoke dip (I’ll replace the spinach with low-oxalate dino kale), raspberry cheesecake bites (I’ll make it with blueberries instead of high-oxalate raspberries), and the apple crisp.  There are so many delicious recipes!

There is no perfect eating plan for everyone and Amy has created this eating plan and recipes to cater for the majority of those with an autoimmune condition. I really appreciate that recipes are marked as being autoimmune-friendly, thyroid-friendly, suitable for candida and SIBO, and low histamine.  However, if you do have oxalate issues you will need to adjust some of the recipes. Also, if you have issues with collagen making your anxiety or insomnia worse then I recommend adding some protein powder to the recipes that call for gelatin or collagen, and/or consider a trial of tryptophan.

Here’s the official book blurb:

The companion cookbook to the revolutionary New York Times bestseller The Autoimmune Solution, filled with more than 150 nutritious, easy-to-prepare, every day recipes to heal symptoms of inflammation and autoimmune disorders, including Graves’ Disease, Psoriasis, Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Celiac disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and Multiple sclerosis.

Nine in ten Americans suffer from inflammation or an autoimmune disorder—conditions for which conventional medicine has no cure. Minor irritations like rashes and runny noses are ignored, while chronic and debilitating diseases like Crohn’s and rheumatoid arthritis are handled with a cocktail of toxic treatments that fail to address their root cause. But as Dr. Amy Myers revealed in The Autoimmune Solution, there are solutions. In this invaluable cookbook, she now shows you how to repair your body and reverse your symptoms by eating your way to good health.

The Autoimmune Solution Cookbook delivers more than 150 grain-free recipes designed to prevent and reverse the full spectrum of autoimmune diseases, including allergies, obesity, asthma, cardiovascular disease, fibromyalgia, lupus, IBS, chronic headaches, fatigue, multiple sclerosis, colitis, Graves’ disease, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. As our food and environment becomes more toxic, the health of millions of us have been impaired. Thanks to Dr. Myers, you no longer need to rely on prescriptions—with troubling, sometimes dangerous side effects—to counteract your body’s over-reactive immune system. The Autoimmune Solution Cookbook is the healthy alternative to cope with and conquer inflammatory-related symptoms and diseases.

If you’re ready to enjoy amazing meals that will help you take back your health and your life, this book is an absolute must-have, so get your copy of The Autoimmune Solution Cookbook today – on Amazon here (my affiliate link) or from your favorite book store.

This cookbook is the perfect companion to The Autoimmune Solution (my affiliate link), a wonderful book that introduced The Myers Way®, empowering so many to reverse their autoimmune conditions.

Learn more about the book and claim the book launch gifts here.

And stay tuned for an email notification from Dr. Myers about the upcoming Autoimmune Program webinar being held online on May 17. She’ll be sharing more about her group program if you’re the kind of person looking for a community-based program.

Happy cooking and do let us know how you enjoy the recipes!

If you have questions or feedback please post them in the comments below.

KetoNutrition: From Science to Emerging Applications and Practical Implementation

By Leave a Comment

I had the pleasure of hearing Dominic D’Agostino, NASA crew member, researcher and Associate Professor at the University of South Florida present on “KetoNutrition: From Science to Emerging Applications and Practical Implementation” at the 6th BioCeuticals Research Symposium in Melbourne last weekend. His presentation was based on decades of evidence that supports the anticonvulsant and neuroprotective properties of nutritional ketosis. It was one of my favorite presentations and I’m thrilled to share some of the highlights with you here.

Ketones are alternative fuels and neuroprotective signaling metabolites – increasing longevity, lowering inflammation, dampening oxidative stress, lowering glutamate and raising GABA.

In this slide he shared how the proven applications of nutritional ketosis are extensive – including epilepsy, type 2 diabetes, weight loss, NAFLD, mitochondrial disease and inflammation, GLUTID Syndrome, PDH Deficiency, Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, Dravet Syndrome and Rett Syndrome.

There is emerging evidence for acne, PCOS, exercise performance, wound healing, longevity, cancer, CNS Oxygen Toxicity, autism, Angelman’s Syndrome, ALS, MS, Neuropathies, Alzheimer’s disease, brain injury, neurodegeneration, anxiety, depression, bipolar and schizoaffective disorder.

Seizures, cancer and the ketogenic diet

 

In his TEDx talk from 2013 Dr. D’Agostino shares the benefits of a ketogenic diet for seizures and how while studying the effects of gasses on the brains of Navy Seal divers, he developed an approach for metabolically starving cancer cells through diet and compressed oxygen, replacing chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation.

He ends by saying this:

Future treatments and prevention of many diseases may fall back on the ancient wisdom of Hippocrates when he said “let food be thy medicine”

As you can see from the applications slide above, much more research has been done on the therapeutic benefits of a ketogenic diet since this 2013 TEDx talk.  And food truly is medicine!

In one of his studies, the first paper above, ketone supplementation was found to have an anti-anxiety effect – Exogenous Ketone Supplements Reduce Anxiety-Related Behavior in Sprague-Dawley and Wistar Albino Glaxo/Rijswijk Rats:

We conclude that ketone supplementation may represent a promising anxiolytic strategy through a novel means of inducing nutritional ketosis.

Adenosine and the adenosinergic mechanism

He shared a number of studies that describe how the anti-anxiety and anti-convulsant effects of ketone supplementation are mediated, in part, through the adenosinergic mechanism. This was one of his papers – Anxiolytic Effect of Exogenous Ketone Supplementation Is Abolished by Adenosine A1 Receptor Inhibition in Wistar Albino Glaxo/Rijswijk Rats.

Adenosine is a neurochemical which many coffee-drinkers may be familiar with since: “Caffeine increases wakefulness [and often anxiety] by antagonizing adenosine receptors, and adenosine itself promotes sleepiness” and a feeling of calm.

Older research finds that there is the “involvement of adenosinergic receptor system in anxiety related behaviours.” More recent research describes adenosine as “a mediator with multisystemic effects”, and it is produced by almost all cells, playing a role in heart function, sleep, bone health, activation of the immune system and mediating the effect of various hormones. I expect we’ll be hearing a great deal more about adenosine in relation to ketogenic diets in the near future.

The microbiomes of astronauts sync up and so do their serotonin levels

This was one of my favorite presentations at the BioCeuticals Symposium and it was really great to meet Dominic afterwards and learn more about future anxiety research. He shared that his lab has planned research on the benefits of ketosis for both anxiety and improved cognitive function.

It was also fascinating learning from someone who has been in space and hearing how the microbiomes of the astronauts sync up when they are all in space together. And so do their serotonin levels.

If the ketogenic diet is new for you or you want to see the latest research, check out Dominic’s work at Keto Nutrition. And if you want to learn more from Dominic and other keto experts, the Keto Edge Summit runs all of next week.

I also write about two schizoaffective case studies here and share questions and concerns I have about the ketogenic diet. It’s not a panacea for everyone in all instances. But the therapeutic benefits are profound when someone needs to adopt this dietary approach.

Feel free to ask questions and share you experiences with a ketogenic diet – in the comments below.

Healing PCOS: a new book by Amy Medling

By Leave a Comment

Big congrats to my friend and colleague Amy Medling on the launch of her book this week: “Healing PCOS: A 21-Day Plan for Reclaiming Your Health and Life with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.” This is a proven 21-day diet and lifestyle plan to help women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) take back control of their health and resolve their symptoms from a certified health coach and founder of the large PCOS Diva online community.

I’m excited to share this book as a PCOS resource for you because anxiety and depression are common symptoms with PCOS – as a result of insulin resistance, low blood sugar and high cortisol:

  • In the short term, insulin resistance is at the heart of most PCOS symptoms, including infertility, obesity, hirsutism [male-pattern hair growth in women], hyperandrogenism (elevated androgen levels), chronic fatigue syndrome, immune system defects, eating disorders, hypoglycemia [low blood sugar], gastrointestinal disorders, depression, and anxiety
  • many women with PCOS may naturally have higher cortisol levels. Being overweight also increases cortisol production. Raised levels of cortisol change the way your body manages other critical hormones, putting you at risk for insulin resistance, anxiety, depression, and thyroid dysfunction.

Anxiety symptoms can also be due to low progesterone, estrogen dominance, thyroid issues, and overall inflammation.

She shares so many gems: how it’s so important to begin your healing journey by establishing your PCOS Diva mindset and practicing mindfulness; that the best movement for women with PCOS is whatever you enjoy; that the best way to overcome gym anxiety is to think like a PCOS Diva i.e. don’t wait until you have lost weight and then go; the importance of the vagus nerve and improving vagal tone.

The sections on the difficulties of getting a diagnosis, testing and medications are invaluable.

The section describing the different types of inositol when it comes to PCOS is also excellent. She writes that research suggests that women with PCOS may not be able to efficiently convert other inositols to D-chiro-inositol (DCI).

When I shared the new book announcement on Facebook, Katie Moon Bodily posted this:

I love the opening paragraph that defines what a PCOS Diva is. She is full of hope, chooses to thrive, takes charge, advocates for herself, and looks beyond physical management and also cares for her mind and spirit. I love that Amy starts with retraining the mind before she dives in to making physical changes—unless you change the way you think, the changes won’t last. Her words are full of hope and encouragement. She holds your hand through the changes so that you do t get overwhelmed and start to feel like “hey, I CAN do this!” Everything she does impresses me, and it’s so exciting to see it all compiled into one book!

I have to agree! As well as being a fabulous practical PCOS resource, it is a wonderfully hopeful and encouraging book and you can feel her warm support with you throughout the book. I really love the opening pages where Amy says this:

I deserve to be a PCOS Diva. I need to be a PCOS Diva.

A PCOS Diva is a woman with hope. She has taken charge of her health and happiness and takes steps every day to enhance both. She chooses to thrive with PCOS and is empowered by the knowledge she gathers as she educates herself about PCOS.

Here is the official blurb:

“PCOS is one of the most common hormonal disorders, and the most common cause of female infertility, affecting roughly five million American women. Because it’s symptoms are widespread—including stubborn weight gain, acne, mood swings, abnormal hair loss or growth, and irregular menstrual cycles—women suffering from PCOS are often misdiagnosed and treated with “Band-Aid” pharmaceuticals with uncomfortable side effects that only mask PCOS’s root causes. While there is no cure for PCOS, women can learn to control their symptoms naturally. In this welcome guide, Amy Medling shows how to combine an anti-inflammatory and hormone-balancing diet, daily movement, and stress-reducing self-care to successfully treat their PCOS.

Grounded in the latest medical research and filled with the knowledge she’s acquired dealing with PCOS herself and working with thousands of women, Healing PCOS offers women small, manageable steps that help alleviate their symptoms and control the inflammation, hormonal imbalance, and insulin resistance that underlie the condition. Amy’s revolutionary program consists of:

  • A 21-day anti-inflammatory, hormone-balancing and gluten-free meal plan, including meal prep and plan-ahead tips to make eating this way simple and fast
  • 85 delicious recipes—half fan favorites and half new dishes
  • Daily self-care exercises, including meditation and journaling prompts

Amy has helped tens of thousands of women with PCOS take back control of their health and their lives through lasting, healing, and sustainable lifestyle change. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have struggled with PCOS, her revolutionary program can now work for you.”

Get access to chapter 1 of Healing PCOS here

Grab your copy of Healing PCOS on Amazon (my link)

Feel free to post questions below and do let us know which steps have helped you (or your patients/clients).

 

The ketogenic diet for mental health, weight loss, inflammation and disease prevention

By 6 Comments

I wasn’t aware until recently that “KETO”, “Ketones” “Keto diet”, “Ketogenic lifestyle”, “Ketosis” and “Ketogenic diet” are some of the MOST SEARCHED terms on the internet today.

But there is a good reason for this and host of  The Keto Edge Summit (which runs from May 7-13, 2018), Dr. David Jockers shares this:

The goal of the ketogenic lifestyle is to adapt the body to utilize FAT as its primary fuel source instead of SUGAR.

For our ancestors, eating three meals a day just wasn’t a thing. Instead, they’d hunt and forage for the foods they could find. When there wasn’t food, they wouldn’t eat.

Sometimes they’d go for days without food. To sustain life during times of scarcity, the body is thought to have developed the ability to utilize fat as an alternative fuel source.

Today, there’s an abundance of food available to most of us at all times. We regularly eat three meals per day with intermittent snacking between them.

This kind of frequent eating, along with an overemphasis on carb-rich and sugary foods, causes a REDUCED ability to burn fat. Because we don’t have to hunt or forage for food; we’ve become “sugar burners.”

As these sugar-laden foods damage our bodies, we rely MORE on sugar and lose the ability to produce ketones – as a result, massive blood sugar spikes, inflammation, hormone imbalance and ultimately many of the chronic diseases that plague us today.

In a traditional nutrition course, you’d learn that sugar is the body’s PRIMARY fuel source, while fat is secondary. What we’ve learned now (and so much research is supporting this) fat can be a healthier and more sustainable source of energy.

Ketones help you burn fat for energy, powerfully reduce inflammation and show promise in preventing and eradicating diabetes, cancer, autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and they can even play a role in alleviating symptoms in mental health conditions like anxiety, depression and schizoaffective disorder.

One of the amazing speakers on the summit is Dominic D’Agostino, researcher and Associate Professor at the University of South Florida. I attended the Bioceuticals conference in Melbourne this past weekend and had the pleasure of hearing him present on this topic live and all I can say is wow! I don’t want you to miss out and now you don’t have to when you tune in via the Keto Edge Summit.

Here is one of the slides where he shares the many proven and emerging applications of nutritional ketosis:

The applications of nutritional ketosis are extensive – including epilepsy, type 2 diabetes, weight loss, NAFLD, mitochondrial disease and inflammation, with emerging evidence for acne, PCOS, wound healing, cancer, autism, ALS, MS, Alzheimer’s, the brain and anxiety.

(anxiety and depression fall under brain on the right and also under inflammatory disorders on the left)

I shared these case studies a few weeks ago in a blog post – Ketogenic diet: reductions in auditory hallucinations and delusions, better mood and energy, and weight loss. Two schizoaffective patients working with Dr. Chris Palmer, a psychiatrist from Harvard’s McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, tried a ketogenic diet for weight loss:

  • After four weeks on the ketogenic diet, the female patient had resolution of her delusions and lost ten pounds.
  • The male patient experienced similar results with “dramatic” reductions in auditory hallucinations and delusions, as well as better mood and energy. He also lost weight, losing 104 pounds over the course of a year.

There is also research reporting the following results:

the patient’s behavior and intellect improved in regard to hyperactivity, attention span, abnormal reactions to visual and auditory stimuli, usage of objects, adaptability to changes, communication skills, fear, anxiety, and emotional reactions

ketone supplementation may represent a promising anxiolytic strategy through a novel means of inducing nutritional ketosis.

As Dr. Jockers states:

The GREATEST health discovery of this century may ALREADY be inside your body!

During this health summit, you’ll discover:

  • What is ketosis (and how does it work)?
  • Myths, and how to separate fact from fiction!
  • How to overcome the challenges of being “keto adapted.”
  • Whether you should start a keto diet (or not!).
  • How to shop, live and eat on a ketogenic lifestyle.

The Keto Edge Summit is online and available at no-cost from May 7-13, 2018! Register here

I will be in learning mode with you for the Keto Edge Summit. I’ve been following Dr. David Jockers for awhile and I’m very excited about the applications of a ketogenic diet for anxiety and depression, given what we’ve learned so far. It’s going to be a great educational opportunity for all of us.

Have you experienced benefits from a ketogenic diet? If yes please do share what benefits?

If you’ve had challenges being on a ketogenic diet please share those challenges too, so we can all learn.