everywomanover29

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

Books

A new book: You Can Fix Your Brain by Dr. Tom O’Bryan

By 2 Comments

There is a new book that I think you may be interested in (for yourself or a family member): You Can Fix Your Brain: Just 1 Hour a Week to the Best Memory, Productivity, and Sleep You’ve Ever Had (Amazon link), written by my amazing friend and colleague Dr. Tom O’Bryan.

One of my favorite chapters is chapter 2: The Leaky Brain, where Dr. Tom writes about the blood-brain barrier (BBB), comparing it to a protective cheesecloth-like lining where:

its main role is to block large molecules from entering into the brain from the bloodstream. The brain’s cheesecloth is even finer than the one in the intestine because most molecules are too big to fit in the blood vessels that service the brain. Just as the intestinal lining can tear, resulting in a leaky gut, the cheesecloth of the brain can tear, resulting in a leaky brain. Scientists refer to these tears as a breach of the blood-brain barrier.

He shares the many reasons we can end up with a leaky brain: trauma to the head/a concussion,

“smaller, repeated traumas (think of head butts during soccer practice that can happen 20, 30, or 50 times a day, 3, 4, or even 5 days a week)”, and even excessive exercise (a modest amount of exercise is beneficial).

Dr. Tom also shares the role of inflammation in creating tears in the blood-brain barrier – due to antibodies to wheat and dairy, bacteria, parasites or autoimmune diseases, together with advanced glycation end products (AGEs) from eating charred meats or barbecued chicken.

He shares that the blood-brain barrier typical heals quickly, within 4 hours but “if there is a recurring insult, leaky brain will remain, allowing macromolecules to penetrate the very sensitive brain.”

Dr. Tom suggests having your doctor order the Neural Zoomer blood test from Vibrant Wellness Laboratories, in order to identify if you have ongoing tearing of your blood-brain barrier:

Two of the biomarkers used in emergency rooms for severe trauma to the blood-brain barrier are called S100B and neuron-specific enolase (NSE). If they are elevated, it means that you’re leaking S100B and NSE into your bloodstream. If you have high levels of S100B and/or NSE in your bloodstream long-term (for instance, as a result of playing soccer or football regularly), your body will make antibodies to them in order to get rid of the excess. When you have elevated antibodies to S100B and NSE, it strongly suggests that you have an ongoing tearing of your blood-brain barrier. These are extremely accurate biomarkers that show up with damage to the blood-brain barrier from any cause, not just physical trauma. They identify that the flood gates are open, allowing macromolecules into the brain, which then will activate the immune response, causing the inflammation that eventually manifests as brain fog, forgetfulness, ADHD, seizures, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and eventually dementia, Parkinson’s, MS, and Alzheimer’s.

According to Dr. Tom the Neural Zoomer blood test is:

cutting-edge and is the most sensitive biomarker of brain antibodies available today and includes all six of the most important categories to set a benchmark for: demyelination (the condition of your nerves in your brain, related to MS), the blood-brain barrier [S100B and NSE], peripheral neuropathies (numbness and tingling), brain autoimmunity (antibodies to brain tissue), herpes (there are more than 100 studies connecting herpes simplex 1 and Alzheimer’s), and the genes for Alzheimer’s. I believe this test is a game-changer. It can identify, years in advance, the ongoing mechanisms that can cause degenerative brain diseases. When you can identify the mechanism before there is so much tissue damage that symptoms appear, you have a window of opportunity to do something about it.

If your doctor can’t order the test you can order it directly from theDr.com/neuralzoomer.

Here’s the official book blurb for You Can Fix Your Brain: Just 1 Hour a Week to the Best Memory, Productivity, and Sleep You’ve Ever Had (Amazon link)

For anyone worried about any type of brain ailment, ranging from the chronic conditions to simple brain fog and fatigue, this essential guide covers the full spectrum of prevention to treatment.

We’ve all experienced brain fog―misplaced keys, forgotten facts, a general feeling that you’re just feeling off today. And many of us will experience that “fog” manifesting as something more permanent―either in ourselves or our loved ones.

No matter what your current brain health state may be, You Can Fix Your Brain will enable and empower you to take concrete steps that will make an immediate difference in your brain’s vitality, clarity, and energy. Your memory will improve, fogginess will disappear, you’ll be less tired all the time, and much more. And, you’ll learn that these aren’t empty promises. Dr. Tom O’Bryan, author of The Autoimmune Fix, knows how to create lasting changes in health, and he’s here to share them with you.

It’s a step-by-step approach to better cognitive function―being selective about what’s on your fork, what’s in your environment, and how you take care of yourself can make a world of difference. With only one hour a week of practice, in 6 months, you can say goodbye to brain fog and welcome a better long-term memory and a sharper mind.

This is my endorsement:

The advice Dr. Tom shares in this book is cutting edge and provides powerful results if you want to have the best possible brain. This book is a must-read if you want to improve your memory and clear brain fog, have amazing sleep, reduce anxiety and ADHD, be productive and even feel happier. I love his message about setting a goal each week to learn just one thing and apply it – it makes this totally do-able for each of us!

If you already know you’d like to buy a copy of the book (or have already bought a copy) go to this link after your purchase to get access to some valuable bonuses.

If you’d like to get a taste of some of the content before purchasing you can check out some snippets in this download: Surprising Everyday Things That Can Damage Your Brain (changing the way you pump gasoline is one very simple changes you can make).

Enjoy! And be sure to leave Dr. Tom a review.

Radical Metabolism: boosting energy, enhancing digestion, improving hormone health and blasting fat

By 11 Comments

Ann Louise Gittleman has a new book called “Radical Metabolism: A Powerful New Plan to Blast Fat and Reignite Your Energy in Just 21 Days.”

Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to interview her! The book is primarily about weight-loss but I chose to focus on other aspects in our interview. We talked about so many valuable topics for boosting metabolism and energy, enhancing digestion, improving hormone health and reducing anxiety.

She shares that no disease can be healed if your cell membranes – which direct nutrients in and poisons out – are weak and unstable:

Radical Metabolism is all about what to eat to rebuild and fortify those lipid (fat)-based cell membranes, so that toxins are prevented from moving up the chain and gunking up the function of every cell, tissue, and organ in your body, from your brain to your thyroid, gallbladder, liver, kidneys, and skin. This is where omega-6 fats really shine.

Here are some of the highlights of what we covered, together with some related snippets from the book:

– our gallbladders and thyroid health

a study out of Finland found that people with decreased bile production are nearly ten times more apt to experience hypothyroidism. With low thyroid on the rise, this provides great hope to the millions of hypothyroid sufferers who experience metabolic slowdown as well as fatigue, dry skin, and constipation. Besides hypothyroidism, studies have also connected poor quality bile with chronic fatigue, migraines, depression, and autoimmune disorders.

– the importance of bile for digesting fat and absorbing fat-soluble vitamins

Bile is stored in the gallbladder to break down dietary fat and remove toxins from the body. Harvard Medical School research has revealed that subjects with improved bile health showed a remarkable spike in metabolism.

– the metabolic benefits of omega-6 fats – hemp seed oil, sesame seed oil, pine nut oil and ghee

Hemp seeds are one of nature’s greatest gifts, perfect little bundles of benefits for your entire body. You can reap the hemp’s benefits by consuming the oil, seeds (typically these are “hemp hearts” which have had their hulls removed), or by blending them into hemp milk. Hemp seeds are about one third healthful fats and one quarter protein, as well as a magnificent source of natural GLA (gamma-linolenic acid). It’s hard to find a food with a better essential fat profile – hemp boasts a 3:1 omega-6–to–omega-3 ratio.

– omega-6s and pyroluria/zinc absorption (my addition)

– why to include these oils if you’re eating a keto or paleo diet

– why bitters are beautiful – the big one is improving digestion and stimulating bile production!

Studies suggest bitters “get your juices flowing” (literally) by stimulating the release of bile, as well as saliva, HCl, pepsin, gastrin, and pancreatic enzymes.

– watercress as a great bitter food bile booster

Watercress is kind of the forgotten stepchild of the cruciferous family – a peppery-flavored cousin to cabbage, arugula, and mustard greens. Recent studies have put watercress back on the menu thanks to its powerful health-stimulating benefits, which is why it deserves a starring role in the Radical Metabolism plan

Besides being a bitter food bile-booster, in a study led by nutritionist Sarah Schenker a small group of women lost an average of 17 pounds in six weeks on a watercress soup diet. The exceptional antioxidants in watercress pump up your energy while exercising, while at the same time protecting you from exertion-related DNA damage. According to head researcher Dr. Mark Fogarty, watercress contains ten times as many beneficial chemicals as any other fruit or vegetable.

– how coffee and cacao work as bitters and dandelion tea as a good alternative (also bitter) if you can’t tolerate coffee

– and grapefruit as a bitter fruit (and one of the reasons why the grapefruit diet worked!)

– why testing ferritin is so important (and why to avoid cast iron pots)

Here is the audio of our interview. Enjoy!

And here is the recipe for: Creamy Dreamy Watercress Soup

This soup is not only fat-burning, but filling and flavorful. The recipe makes about one day’s worth of soup on the 4-Day Radical Intensive. You can either prepare it daily or cook up four batches in advance—whatever works best with your schedule.

Makes 6 cups

4 cups bone broth, either homemade (page 216) or Kettle & Fire

1/2 large bulb celeriac (celery root), (about one 5-inch bulb), brown exterior removed (do not to remove too much); cauliflower works as substitute

1 bunch leeks, cleaned and sliced

1 daikon radish, roughly chopped

1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped

1 to 2 teaspoons sea salt, to taste

1 Radical Lemon Cube

1 large bunch watercress, roughly chopped

Optional: Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon miso to each warm bowl of soup

Bring the broth to a simmer in a saucepan. Add the celeriac, leeks, daikon, and ginger. Add enough water to the pot to just submerge the vegetables. Simmer for 20 minutes, or until the veggies are tender.

Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until creamy. If too thick, you can always add a bit more water. Stir in the salt, lemon cube, and watercress. Simmer for 5 minutes, then blend again with your immersion blender.

Serve in a mug or bowl with or without the miso.

Note: To make Radical Lemon Cubes: 3 lemons quartered, 1 cup filtered water

Place the lemons and water in a blender or food processor and puree. Spoon the puree into ice cube trays and freeze.

Ann Louise Gittleman, New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books including The Fat Flush Plan series and Before the Change, has been revolutionizing the rules of health and nutrition for more than three decades. She holds an MS in Nutrition Education from Columbia University, the title of Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) from the American College of Nutrition, and a PhD in Holistic Nutrition. Gittleman has also served as the Chief Nutritionist of the Pediatric Clinic at Bellevue Hospital and is the former Director of Nutrition at the Pritikin Longevity Center in Santa Monica, CA. She currently sits on the Advisory Board for the International Institute for Building-Biology & Ecology, the Nutritional Therapy Association, Inc. and Clear Passage, Inc. Read more about her at www.annlouise.com.

Grab your copy of Radical Metabolism on Amazon here (my Amazon link). Grab bonus ebooks and details about the private Facebook group here

Enjoy! And do let us know what you think of these tips and the watercress soup recipe. And be sure to leave a review for Ann Louise.

The Autoimmune Solution Cookbook by Amy Myers MD

By 6 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.

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).

 

Cooking for Hormone Balance: a new book by Magdalena Wszelaki

By 1 Comment

Cooking for Hormone Balance, a new book by my dear friend Magdalena Wszelaki, a hormone expert and chef and now author. It’s a magnificent book with a refreshingly unique combination of sage advice for hormone balancing, together with wonderfully delicious and therapeutic recipes and meal plans. It will inspire all of us women to fall in love with hormone balancing cooking plus guide us in learning to listen to our bodies as our hormones become more balanced!

The hormone quiz is great and the hormone overview comprehensive. It’s a

breakthrough program with more than 125 tempting, nutrient-dense recipes for thyroid conditions, Hashimoto’s, adrenal fatigue, menopause, endometriosis, fibroids, breast health, PMS, PCOS, and other hormonal imbalances.

There is also excellent coverage of gut health, low blood sugar and blood sugar balance, and the importance of the liver in hormone health. I love the 3-legged stool analogy!

The dairy reintroduction categories are practical – with explanations about cow and goat dairy and fermented dairy – not something we often see addressed.

I love the PFF breakfast (protein/fat/fiber), the 14-day meal plans, the fun tips like using the lemon rind and why, the section on castor oil packs, the seed rotation rationale/recipes, the Food Apothecary with superfoods and herbs and spices, and the fabulous healing teas. I also I love that this approach encompasses Paleo, AIP, Anti-candida and Low fodmaps

And of course, I love the recipe section, with all the beautiful and yummy images and the lovely blurb above each recipe – it feels like Magdalena is right here in the kitchen with me.

These are some of my favorite recipes: Coconut Yogurt, the Hearty Beef Stew, the Zucchini Olive Muffins, the Seriously Mushroom Soup, and the Raspberry and Green Tea Lime Melties (this last one is also my favorite picture in the book).

 

Raspberry and Green Tea Lime Melties
(from Cooking for Hormone Balance by Magdalena Wszelaki)

I’ve even had the good fortune of having Magdalena actually make some of these recipes for me and some colleagues at a conference (how lucky were we): the Farmer’s Wife Breakfast and the Decadent Chocolate Cherry Smoothie (I switched out the chocolate for carob and added some extra protein powder).

I can’t wait to try the Grain-Free Pizza with a topping of medicinal mushrooms, the Tart Cherry Sorbet, and Kudzu Calming Pudding!

It’s a recipe book (and much more) and I highly recommend it for all women and for practitioners who work with women. I know many of you – my community of anxious women and practitioners – are already enjoying it and it’s a book I’ll be recommending over and over again!

Grab your copy – Cooking for Hormone Balance: A Proven, Practical Program with Over 125 Easy, Delicious Recipes to Boost Energy and Mood, Lower Inflammation, Gain Strength, and Restore a Healthy Weight – from Amazon or your favorite online retailer or physical book store and enjoy it.

First chapter, 6 recipes and demo videos

If you’re still on the fence about getting a copy of the book, you can get access to chapter 1 and other bonus goodies here

Here is what the 1st Chapter Bundle contains:

  • The ABCs of Hormones
  • 6 recipes (everyone’s favorites are the dairy-free cheesecakes called “Melties”)
  • 6 videos of these recipes (so much easier to learn by watching)

Here’s a glance at some of the delicious recipes you will get:

  • Farmer’s Wife’s Breakfast
  • Honey Glazed Tarragon Chicken
  • Grain-Free Pizza – Two Ways
  • Red Velvet Grain-Free Brownies
  • Raspberry and Green Tea Lime Melties (this is the picture above! Gorgeous isn’t it!?)

Seed Rotation Method

Magdalena’s been teaching the seed rotation method and helping thousands of women for several years and it’s covered in detail in the book.

It can help you if you’re struggling with PMS, irregular periods or lack of periods and if you’re going through perimenopause or are already menopausal. The seed rotation method is a simple, natural yet effective way to help us women rebalance our hormones.

This technique starts with flaxseed and pumpkin seeds to help rebalance estrogen levels. The second rotation requires sunflower and sesame seeds to help increase progesterone levels. The seed rotation technique has been taught to naturopaths as one of the first step in balancing hormones naturally and now you can learn how from Magdalena.

If you don’t yet have a copy of the book you can download the wonderful guide called Seed Rotation for Hormone Balance and learn how to implement this technique. In this guide you will discover:

  • How seeds can help painful PMS, irregular cycles, no periods or mid-cycle spotting
  • How to overcome menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and mid-belly fat
  • How to mitigate the hormonal rollercoaster of perimenopause
  • Recipes to add these seeds to your daily diet

Workshop: “How to Use Food to Rebalance Your Hormones”

And if you need more practical help than you can get with the book, Magdalena will show you how in her upcoming online workshop: “How to Use Food to Rebalance Your Hormones”

You may be struggling with hormone imbalance but don’t even know it. Check the list of symptoms below to see the surprising hormone imbalance that may be behind it…

  1. Flab and cellulite (high estrogen or high insulin)
  2. Poor sleep (low estrogen and/or progesterone, high or low cortisol)
  3. Weight gain (high or low cortisol, high or low estrogen, low thyroid or high insulin)
  4. Fatigue (low thyroid, high or low cortisol, low estrogen, high insulin)
  5. Incontinence (low estrogen)
  6. Hair loss, thinning hair (low or high thyroid, high testosterone or high estrogen)
  7. Crying spells (low cortisol)
  8. Belly fat (high testosterone or high insulin)
  9. Hip and thigh fat or cellulite (high estrogen)
  10. High cholesterol (low thyroid hormones)
  11. Foggy brain (low thyroid hormones, low estrogen, low cortisol)
  12. Anxiety, depression, feeling “blah” (low thyroid, low progesterone, high/low cortisol)
  13. Facial hair (high testosterone or high estrogen)
  14. Water retention (high estrogen)
  15. Miscarriages (low progesterone, low thyroid)

If you are suffering from any of these symptoms you need to get your hormones balanced!

Even if you think you know a lot about hormonal health, you’ll be surprised and inspired by her simple solutions and delicious hormone balancing recipes.

I’ve done this online cooking workshop and I know many of you in my community have done it (and then even gone on to do the longer 5-week cooking program with the amazingly supportive community).

You can register for the workshop here and get inspired even more: “How to Use Food to Rebalance Your Hormones”

You may recall our wonderful interviews on the Anxiety Summit. I know Magdalena is a favorite with you – my community – and I know you’ll love this and everything in her new book.

In summary here are those links again

Be sure to share this with all your women friends, your mom and sister, your sister-in-law, your daughter, your wife and any other special women in your life!

If you are already part of Magdalena’s community you get full access to her updated 5-week program – enjoy it! And enjoy the new book too!

The Lyme Solution by Dr. Darin Ingels

By 1 Comment

I highly recommend Dr. Darin Ingels, ND new book The Lyme Solution: A 5-Part Plan to Fight the Inflammatory Auto-Immune Response and Beat Lyme Disease. As a functional medicine practitioner, he provides a natural approach to treating Lyme disease that is both comprehensive and designed to each person’s own unique needs i.e. he doesn’t use a one size fits all approach. His uniquely holistic approach to treating this rampant disease, treats both the infection and the resulting autoimmune response. He’s also recovered from Lyme disease himself so he really gets it!

According to the CDC, over 300,000 cases of Lyme are reported every year in the U.S.A.

As you can see, many conditions can mimic Lyme disease, including anxiety and depression.

Many in my community have both Lyme disease and anxiety and many nutritional solutions, such as GABA (a calming amino acid supplement), can ease their anxiety while my client is working with a doctor such as Dr. Ingels in order to address and eliminate the Lyme disease.

Tricia Soderstrom from Abounding in Hope With Lyme shares her Lyme GABA story here: GABA helps with Lyme anxiety (while addressing the underlying disease)

Dr. Ingels shared this with me when I asked about what GABA products he likes and why:

I use DFH PharmaGaba and Allergy Research Liposomal GABA, which also has theanine. Liposomal GABA works beautifully for anxiety and sleep disturbances in my Lyme patients and children with autism. I also love how quickly it seems to affect people, often within 10-15 minutes of taking it.

Including the latest research about the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme, The Lyme Solution provides a path to wellness by strengthening the body’s ability to heal from within. Dr. Ingels suggests an actionable 5-Part Plan to:

  • Fortify gut health and restore the immune system
  • Follow a diet that increases immunity and reduces inflammation
  • Thwart and target an active infection
  • Identify hidden toxins that worsen Lyme
  • Lifestyle suggestions to help healing

Here are some of his gut support protocols: digestive enzymes, glutamine, resveratrol, herbs like slippery elm and marshmallow, fish oil and probiotics:

The Lyme Solution is a simple guide for how you can advocate for your own health and use innovative treatments to maintain wellness, using the least invasive ways to facilitate treatment. By following this plan, you can become even stronger than you were before the Lyme and better equipped to manage recurring symptoms.

UPDATE: April 20, 2018 – My actual review  

I highly recommend this book if you have Lyme disease or if you suspect that Lyme disease may be playing a role in your ill-health or have chronic anxiety (or another chronic health condition) and have not yet found a solution. I also highly recommend it for practitioners who are both treating Lyme disease patients and those, like myself, who want to really understand all aspects in order to make good referrals for Lyme treatment.

I read it cover to cover in one sitting and could not put it down!

Chapter 1 – An excellent discussion about the problems with long-term antibiotics for chronic Lyme disease and when antibiotics should be used. The chronic inflammatory autoimmune connection is unique to Dr. Ingels’ approach for treating Lyme disease and makes a great deal of sense. The Lyme facts are invaluable: Lyme spirochete going dormant and hiding in scar tissue and lymph nodes; the nymph the most dangerous; Lyme-reactive antibodies form against proteins in the brain, giving rise to neurological symptoms.

Chapter 2 – Covers complex and controversial issues with diagnosis and pitfalls of the various testing that is available. It contains Lyme signs/symptoms and a Lyme questionnaire. It was eye-opening to learn that the bull’s-eye rash is Lyme specific and that changes in handwriting and mixing up words may be a sign of chronic Lyme disease. This is one of my favorite chapters of the book and is very comprehensive.

Chapter 3 – Gut and immune restoring protocols and more on the autoimmune connection. Addressing gut health is key to any condition and Dr. Ingels reiterates that addressing the immune system is key for recovery from Lyme.

Chapter 4 – Immune boosting diet and the importance of alkalinity. This is my least favorite chapter because I’m an advocate of the Paleo diet and have found that when done well with large amounts of vegetables, it is healing and alkaline. (He did connect with me on this and agrees in principle with a Paleo diet that does include plenty of vegetables). I am pleased to see coffee is off the list but would have liked to hear his experiences with intermittent fasting.

Chapter 5 – Covers targeting the infection in a way that doesn’t impact gut flora and undermine the immune system. This chapter has extensive coverage of the herbal protocols Dr. Ingels has found to be effective for his patients: Zhang protocol, his version of the Cowden protocol and others. He goes into great detail for each herb, including products to help with a Herxheimer reaction, as well as the rationale and protocols for breaking up biofilm. It’s also one of my favorite chapters in the book.

Chapter 6 – Cleaning your home and environment and getting rid of toxic chemicals and products, as well as addressing mold. This is also common-sense to address for any condition so it’s great to cover for Lyme.

Chapter 7 – Sleep, exercise and stress reduction. This is also common-sense to address for any condition. I do have a professional difference of opinion for the GABA recommendation for sleep and typically start my clients on much lower doses. I also love GABA for stress and anxiety.

Chapter 8 – Advanced protocols for specific symptoms: mitochondrial issues, neuropathy and balance, low dose immunotherapy, LDN and other approaches where you’ll need to work with a health care provider. Another favorite chapter of mine.

Chapter 9 – Additional lab testing, SIBO, Mast cell activation syndrome and POTS are addressed in relation to Lyme disease. This chapter is enlightening.

The case studies throughout the book reflect the complex nature of Lyme disease and help us get a better understanding about unexpected symptoms, as well as Dr. Ingels’ level of expertise. One such example is Peter’s story: he developed tics but none of the other classic Lyme symptoms, PANS was found and then Lyme disease.

Given that neuropsychiatric symptoms are common in Lyme disease I hope to see more coverage of this in a later edition or follow-up book. I work with individuals with anxiety and underlying Lyme disease is very common, with benzodiazepines and SSRIs commonly prescribed. Using nutritional approaches for the anxiety and/or depression and since it gets to the root cause it’s more effective, plus it lowers the toxic burden and side-effects of added medications. (He also connected with me about this and said he agrees but word-count was the challenge in this first book).

Overall, this book is an excellent resource and I highly recommend it! It offers practical solutions and hope for those who are been suffering with chronic Lyme disease and are seeking a solution.

Learn more and get your copy here on Amazon (my link) or at major bookstores. Get access to a digital version of chapter 1 here.