Please read if you drink Diet Sodas!

I wanted to blog about artificial sweetners because I know so many people who drink diet soda and it scares me. I have joked with friends about it being poison, but it really is. It's probably one of the worst things you could be consuming regularly. And I know people arent just consuming it through diet sodas. You see more and more products now that are sweetened with aspartame or splenda. Especially those flavored powders people put in their bottled water, and even gum! Almost every single pack of gum you pull off the shelf has aspartame in it!! I know you have heard over and over about how bad aspartame is for you, but I am going to post a few things about it. First of all, in 2010, 927 million cases of Diet Coke were sold and 892 million cases of Diet Pepsi were sold. HOLY MOLY! that's way too much soda consumption!! The University of Texas presented some research to the American Diabetic Association. they followed 474 diet soda drinkers for 10 years, and guess what they discovered? their waists grew 70% more than regular soda drinkers!! and that was despite regular exercise and healthy eating. Another study done by the same research team suggested this:

"These results are consistent with data from community-based epidemiologic studies in which the consumption of diet sodas was shown to be associated with increased incidence of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. They suggest that aspartame exposure may in fact directly contribute to increased blood glucose levels, and thus may contribute to the associations observed between diet soda consumption and the risk of diabetes in humans."

 The above study was conducted on lab rats.
Artificial sweetners do NOT trick your brain into thinking its getting sugar or satisfying that sweet craving. Your brain knows the difference in real sugar and artificial sugar. So, if you're brain doesn't get satisfied, what do you think is going to happen? well if you didnt conclude it yourself..if your brain doesn't satisfy that sweet craving with real sugar, it's going to continue to crave, thus causing you to eat more sweets even after having that diet soda.
OK, so do you think you are doing better because you choose Splenda instead? NOPE!! One thing I found out when I was studying this topic, is that Splenda was never proven safe for human consumption!!! What?! If you would like more info on that, send me a message or post a comment and i would be happy to share. I wanted to post a few facts about Splenda: It reduces the amount of good bacteria in your intestines by 50% and this good bacteria is essential to our overall health. It also increases the pH level in our intestines.
Here's some common side effects of Splenda that have been reported: Gastrointestinal problems, migraines, seizures, dizziness, blurred vision, allergic reactions, blood sugar increase, weight gain. You can learn more about Splenda at http://www.thetruthaboutsplenda.com/
So, basically, when you drink diet drinks, your brain doesn't get satisfied, thus creating a craving for more sweets. My next blog will take you through how to deal with your cravings. And let me just say, if you drink diet soda on a regular basis....QUIT!! you are most likely addicted so it may take you a while to come off of them. Let me know if you would like my help through that process.

Crowding Out

One thing I have been taught while studying at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition: how to crowd out. Let me explain...How many times have you tried to diet? How many times have you failed? Do you think it could be because you eliminated nearly everything you enjoy from your diet? You can't take everything you enjoy away, you'll be miserable. But if your diet consists of mostly processed sugary junk..you can learn how to "crowd out" You just need to add healthy items to your daily diet and slowly crowd out the unhealthy. it doesnt have to be drastic, unless you feel like you would do better with a drastic change. But I recommend keeping a few things that you really like. You can treat yourself once a week or so with these items and it will help you stay focused and on track. So, I have had to crowd out too. I started extremely slow and now have realized that it was time to be drastic. these are some things that have always been in my cabinets: marshmallows, poptarts, pudding, cheezits, goldfish, fruit cups, instant oatmeal, and fruit snacks. My toddlers used to drink apple juice most of the day. I have replaced these items with this: grapes, strawberries, cantaloupe, blueberries, bananas, apples, organic yogurt, granola, dried berries,  Annie's homegrown cheese bunnies(found at Target) also found graham cracker type bunnies made by Annie's. I have also replaced my kids apple juice with organic flavored teas and sweeten them with either honey or agave nectar. I stopped buying capri suns for my 7 year old. Now, you may think this is harsh on my kids that I am keeping them from enjoying anything. But I am not going to keep them from enjoying certain things. Yes, we will make a batch of brownies every now and then and yes, we will have birthday cake. I will let them have whatever is given out at church. I will not let my child sit and watch other kids get treats. I think that is wrong. But I am trying to replace the bad with good. I know its hard to do this when you are on a tight budget, but as soon as you stop spending money on the processed junk, you will be able to afford the good stuff. you just have to budget and watch for sales. If you really want to do it, you can. I promise.
If you would like to schedule a practice health history consultation to help me out with school, please email me at leahsox@gmail.com I will email you the information for you to fill out and email back and then we'll have a phone conversation that should last about 45 minutes. I can start seeing clients very soon... getting excited!!

29,000 Somali children under 5 dead in famine

Um?? America gets fatter every day and there are thousands and thousands of children dying in other parts of the world. Which makes me ask myself...why am I not satisfied? Why do we feel like we have to have these "comfort foods" or as a matter of fact I am going to take this down a different road, why do we always have to be comfortable period? Most of us are never satisfied with what we have, whether its the food in the cabinets or the house that we are living in. Or the car that we drive. Or, the clothes we wear. I am no saint..we have had our house up for sale for a long time, too long...why do we want to sell it? well, we say its because we are outgrowing our house. we are a family of 5. we have 3 growing boys...we need more space...but, do we? why do we want more space, so we can be separated from each other? When a dear friend told me the other day that she lives in a house with 3 bedrooms and she has 4 children..(3 of her boys share a room) she didnt say it like it was a burden to live like that...she said it with a look of pure happiness on her face..like that was what her life was supposed to be like. and i thought...wow...why don't I just appreciate what God has given me? Will He bless me with more if I dont feel satisfied and content with what He's given me now? I am not saying I will take that for sale sign out of the yard just yet, but I know that I will rethink my prayers from now on. And on the top of my prayer list right now will be Somalia. I feel so helpless sitting over here with all that junk in my kitchen and those children are dying! Sure puts a new perspective on things. Good night! Praise God for the blessings in my life!!!

Blood Types

First let me start off by saying that basing your diet soley off your blood type is not what they teach at the school I am attending. The Blood Type Diet is a dietary theory. And remember, not every diet is one size fits all. However, I totally believe that your blood type can have an affect on certain things that you can and cannot eat or may have a difficult time digesting. I will type in this post what I have learned about blood types while attending the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. you take it how you want it, just remember, I am not encouraging anyone to base their entire way of eating off this dietary theory.
Type O: Dr. Peter D'Adamo maintains that modern people with this blood type function best on a meat centered diet. and have a hard time metabolizing wheat and dairy. The founder of my school that people with this blood type don't necessarily need as much protein as Dr. D'Adamo claims and that too much protein could lead to serious health issues. Type O's tend to do better eating brown rice, millet, quinoa and amaranth.
Type A: function best on a plant based diet.
Type B: better able to consume dairy (also balance plant and animal foods)
Type AB: can be highly sensitive and can tolerate a mixed diet in moderation

This is not in detail, but it shouldn't be. I do not want anyone to think that I am suggesting just this diet alone. But at least you can see that your blood type plays a role in what your body may or may not be able to handle. think about what you eat and how well you digest food. for me, it rang true. it may or may not for you. Leave me a comment if you agree or disagree or have any similarities to this theory.

Why I choose not to eat Meat

Warning! I will talk about poop in this blog entry:) if you don't like that, then stop reading please. LOL. I just wanted to share the reasons why I became a vegetarian. One of my dearest friends let me borrow a book called Skinny Bitch...yes, the title is bad and yes, the book is horrible as far as language. but, it is full of good information. the girls that wrote the book are actually hard core vegans, which means they eat nothing that comes from an animal..no dairy, no meat. When I read the book, what really made me want to stop eating meat was the information they give you on what meat does in your colon. It doesn't move very fast through our digestive track. so, I started doing some research and I found: as soon as an animal is killed, putrefaction begins. freezing the meat stops the putrefaction process but as soon as its unthawed, it starts again. It can take 3-5 days to digest meat and in the elderly, 2 weeks! if you eat meat on a regular basis, your intestines are never clear and it putrefies in your colon. I could go on and on about what this causes but I need to stop and add this: being a vegetarian is not for everyone. I do not try to convince people to quit eating meat just because I choose not to eat meat. Not too long after I stopped eating meat I discovered that certain blood types thrive on a vegetarian diet, and I am one of those people. Here's a more personal reason: I have never been "regular". I would go to one extreme to the other with my poop (hehe) One week I would be constipated and the next week I would have to make sure I was close to a restroom for several hours. Once I stopped eating meat, this irregularity was cured. amazing!!! Most people want to know where I get my protein. well here's some research I would like to share: the body manufactures protein from just about any food and that we can not be lacking protein unless we stop eating or were malnourished. This is confirmed by research done in 1957 (Rose, W. "The amino acid requirements of adult man" - Nutritional abstracts and reviews) confirming that nearly all the complex carbohydrates, such as those in whole grains, beans or potatoes, have amino acid profile adequate for human protein needs. these are also high in protein: Peas, lentils, chick peas, kidney beans, fish, tofu, green grapes, iceberg lettuce, collards and kale. I just recently chose to add fish back into my diet. Yes, I am one of "those" I call myself a vegetarian but I eat fish. Whatever, who cares, I feel better!! One thing I should be taking is B12. I haven't forced myself to take it yet, and I need to. I do not miss meat and i do not have a hard time finding things to eat. I cook meat for my family because they want to eat it and I do not believe my husband would thrive on a vegetarian diet. SO, feel free to ask me any questions you want.

Are you weary?

Lately I have been a bit tired. Not tired as in I am not sleeping well. I sleep fine most of the time. I have been tired as in, weary. Have you ever felt weary? The definition of the word weary is to be without strength or endurance. Now, you may be thinking that the reason I feel weary is because I have 3 little boys and I am a stay at home mom who is going to school online and also have commitments to my church and of course have to keep up with family, friends and write this blog..blah blah blah. yep, one should assume that this is why I am weary. But I think that even though I may be a bit over committed in some areas, my weariness at this moment comes from the burden of my finances. Now, without revealing to you all of my business..I will let you know that there are times that I wonder how we'll make it. and there's been times when we've had to call on family for help. But you know what I started to realize today as I sat in front of this computer screen stressing over where the money would come from? I realized that I forgot who I needed to go to first for answers. Duh! why didnt I think of this a month ago when we ran out of money? now, I do not mean that if I ask for money, He will put money in my hands. but why do I think I can handle every little thing on my own? Why don't i ever realize that I should go to God BEFORE I get weary? so, I took my Bible, and I went to a room in this house where no one would come (my bathroom) and I sat on the floor and I prayed. And I opened my Bible. something told me to head over to the book of Isaiah. and I turned to 40:29-31 "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." So, I begged for strength from the only One who can give me strength. I will conquer this weariness, my strength shall be renewed. And you know what?? I WILL REJOICE!!!! I am a believer in Christ and the way I choose to handle my struggles sets me apart from unbelievers. Enduring these struggles does not grant me salvation. My salvation that I already have is what gets me through the struggles.

Want to Lose Weight?

Here are some suggestions to help you lose weight, as outlined in the book Integrative Nutrition by Joseph Rosenthal(founder of IIN):
1. Always eat breakfast.
    -when you skip meals, you become calorie deficient and will usually binge later. Snack throughout the day.
2. Drink more water.
    -replace soda, alcohol, or coffee with water. think about all the calories you are taking way, just by doing this one simple thing!! You could probably drop 10 lbs easy. Also, try drinking water before your meal to help break down your food.
3. Make your own meals. (don't eat out as much)
4. Reduce your stress levels.
    - most people eat more when they are stressed.
5. Get enough sleep each night.
    -lack of sleep increases your appetite
6. Keep moving. (walk more)
7. Keep track.
    - weigh yourself on a regular basis, it helps motivate you
8. Be a food detective.
   -read labels and dont eat anything you can't pronounce
9.  Identify your temptation foods. (do NOT buy them)
10. Take a multivitamin.

I took this tips straight out of the book that my school is based on. you can purchase this book on Amazon.com.
it could change your life. http://www.amazon.com/Integrative-Nutrition-Joshua-Rosenthal/dp/097952640X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313253383&sr=1-1

What I am currently working on~

So let me bring you to where I am now. Earlier this year, after much prayer and scripture seeking and encouragement from a dear friend and my husband, I decided to quit my full time job at a doctor's office to be a stay at home mom and a full time student at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I will graduate in April of 2012 and when I graduate I will be a Certified Health Counselor. I will also be eligible to become a member of the AADP-American Association of Drugless Practitioners. My goal is to change the world:) well, I will start with my community first. There's so much I could say on this subject of nutrition and eating healthy, but I will do it through my posts everyday. I don't want to say too much at once. I will say that I will not be counseling people to eat the way the government says we should eat. I will teach people that no diet is one size fits all. Its all about bio individuality and figuring out what works best for each person. I can't wait to help people change and feel better!! I will end this with a quote from the founder of the school I am attending: "America is a great country. We have the security, freedom and lifestyle desired by many people around the world. But Americans are overweight, unhappy and unhealthy. Every year healthcare costs increase while overall health decreases; people continue to eat poorly, gain weight and depend on medications and operations to maintain their health." Joshua Rosenthal

A peek at what I have been through

So, I have started a new blog. Yay! Since this is my first entry, I am going to tell you a little of my testimony, well, the last 5 years or so, to bring you where I am today. Then, tomorrow, I will tell you what I am working on and what I hope to do in my future. This may be lengthy, sorry about that. Let me just start off by saying that when I was 14 years old I accepted Christ as my personal savior. I have been through a lot since that time and yes I have done many things I am not proud of, but I have learned something and gained something through every dark time in my life. I'd never be who I am today without my faith in God. Ok, so in 2006 my husband suffered a stroke caused by a heart defect. Whoa...yes, this brought me to my knees. Crying out to God for answers. He comforted us and brought us to the other side. Michael is fine now, with no residuals. Then in 2007 while we were desperately trying to get pregnant, I had a miscarriage that brought me to my knees again, crying out to God. He again, brought me to the other side, and I got pregnant again at the end of 2007. In June of 2008, I was 26 weeks pregnant when I started leaking amniotic fluid and was forced to lay in a hospital bed for as long as it took to hold that boy inside me:) again, I was brought to my knees(well that time not literally) crying out to God again. And He comforted me. He comforted me enough for me to know that if Landon were born at that moment, he would be just fine. He was born at 29 weeks..2lbs 11oz. They called him Mr. Fiesty. He was amazing and perfect. He was home in 6 weeks. Aside from a little infant apnea and reflux, he was fine. Then 5 months later, I end up pregnant again!! I was in shock for a week or so, but after that, I accepted that God had big plans for us. In 2010 I was brought to my knees again when my father n law passed away after a very short battle with cancer. And again, God brought me to the other side. My point in sharing these stories is to just give you an idea of what I have come from and to let you know that my faith is what's most important to me. A few things you should know: I am currently enrolled at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where I am training to become a Certified Health Counselor. I am a vegetarian...I am strongly opposed to vaccinations, so I will be posting information regarding the dangers and risks involved when you choose to vaccinate. My goal isn't to offend people, but educate. So, I think that's enough information for now. I look forward to sharing my stories with you!!