All posts filed under: Health

Enjoy Food. Don’t avoid food.

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Over the course of the last decade plus, I’ve experimented with countless of different eating styles and diets – Atkins, Vegan, Vegetarian, Octo-Lacto, Pescetarian, Macrobiotic, Paleo, Juicing, Cleansing, high fat, low fat, Intermittent Fasting, Bulletproof, etc. To this day I continue to try new things and research how I feel and how it applies to my life. Each eating style certainly has their benefits but, in my opinion, there is NO PERFECT WAY TO EAT because each and every single person on this planet is unique. There are different body types, people have different goals, different lifestyles, food sensitivities, live in different climates, geography and food availability could be an issue, age requires different nutrients, and even weather play a part in our food needs. Having countless food options increases your chances to achieve optimal health, vibrancy, and your own fitness goals. Whether it’s too much of a particular type of food or too little of certain nutrients, the best way to harmonize the body is by creating balance but as many of us know …

Slowdown The Effects Of Aging With Antioxidants

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Antioxidants are the vitamins and minerals that come from foods that we eat. These antioxidants fight free radicals (unstable oxygen molecules) which cause damage to the skin cells and other cells in the body. When your skin cells are “attacked” by free radicals, this will lead to bad skin conditions and of course, aging. Wrinkles will show and your skin will have a less youthful look to it. The good news is that there are things we can easily do to combat the effects of free radicals on our skin. There are some delicious foods that are rich in antioxidants, which will have a positive effect on your skin’s appearance and delay the aging process. As a nutritionist I believe that eating a diet high in antioxidant rich foods will slow down the development of wrinkles. This is logical, as your skin is being fed the nutritional vitamins that prolong its youthfulness and vitality, resulting in younger looking, firmer and more moisturized skin, and therefore fewer wrinkles. Some antioxidant rich anti-aging foods include garlic, onion, …

Do We Really Need to Eat Organic?

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This is a question that comes up very often. My clients are more concerned over the price of organic foods and if it’s really worth investing in. There is so much discussion about the pros and cons of organic food and whether organic food is better than non-organic food. As a Nutritionist and Mom I personally believe organic is important. I’ve also done a lot of my own research and know there is scientific evidence to show that organic food is better in quality than conventional food. I believer we should know how our food is grown and harvested and more importantly where it comes from. So Why Organic? 1. Organic Food Tastes Better Organic food is more flavorful and studies have actually been conducted that confirm this belief. The chemicals that are used in the production of non-organic food definitely affect flavor. 2. Organic Food is Better for the Body The United States Environmental Protection Agency now lists many of the chemicals used in the production of pesticides and fungicides as potential cancer-causing components. …

SMILE

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So what’s with all of my smiling posts lately? Well here’s the news. I’m so excited to announce my partnership with Smile Natural Foods (which is a division of Kii Naturals) as their Global Nutritionist. Smile is a proactive brand of superfoods, unique blends, cereals, and quality pantry foods that provide added health benefits with value and convenience to make nutrition…simple. Our first product launch is an All-In-One organic whole food blend consisting of superfoods such as flax, chia, hemp, goji berry, cranberry, cacao, coconut, pumpkin seeds, maca powder, oat bran, and cinnamon…just to name a few…you know…all the good stuff. Each spoonful packs extra fibre, protein, and omega fats into your yogurt, cereal, salads, and smoothies. Organic certified, Non-GMO certified, vegan friendly, and no sugar added. Even better we are the first to market a product of this kind around the world so there’s no need to purchase these ingredients individually anymore. I will begin adding these into my nutrition programs ASAP and will announce the launch of these products at retail which will …

Feeling Bloated?

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With today’s typical diet being low in nutrients and high in empty calories coupled with high levels of stress and added medication, it’s no wonder that more and more people are suffering from some kind of bloating. In addition to feeling discomfort bloating can come with every embracing symptoms such as gas or needing to go to the bathroom very quickly. So what are the most common symptoms of a bloated stomach? If your stomach protrudes outwards and you constantly feel uncomfortable because you have built up gas inside of you then this is a sign of bloating. In fact many sufferers from bloating even joke around saying how pregnant they feel because of the need to unbutton their pants when their bloating becomes severe. The great news is a bloated stomach is very different from actually gaining fat mass around your stomach since the bloating is temporary with air simply being stuck around your abdomen causing the tummy to distend outwards. Even better, stomach bloating can be rectified very quickly by simple changes to …

“I LOST 45 LBS (AND LOOK AT THE MIDSECTION DIFFERENCE!!!) AND MY LIFE HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER!”

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What can I say about the gorgeous Celine who came to me dreading shopping and a goal of covering up her body every time she went out. And… I cannot have any of my STRONG GIRLS feel like that so we put together a strategy to get that weight off using plenty of food, creating dietary structure, lots of food variety, and resistance training to shape her body…and shape it we have! To date, Celine is down 45 lbs down along with 8 inches off of her waist, 8 inches off of her hips and 4 inches off of her thighs! Insane. Celine says, “I was yo-yo dieting with my weight for such a long time and when I signed up with Jenny, I was the heaviest I’ve ever been. I was blown away by my friend Ilana who is a Strong Girl and looked absolutely stunning and it took me a while to take the plunge and commit. I wanted to lose weight and dreamed of being fit. Today my lifestyle has changed for …

Fat Loss, Digestion, and Eating Slower

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When setting up a good nutrition program, most people are alarmed with the amount of food they are starting off to eat. Of course since the diet is all whole food sources, we are dealing with low calorie/high volume food versus high calorie/low volume junk food. Eating food creates a “demand” on our metabolism in the same manner as lifting weights puts a demand on our muscles to grow, become stronger, and take shape. By eating high quality whole foods, we are putting a demand on our metabolism to grow more powerful and oxidize our food more efficiently. With metabolism rising through eating, we also have increased body temperature which also require more oxygen uptake (just like fire needs oxygen). This is also where we get the old adage “starve a fever” when we’re sick. When we add digestion into the mix, the process of digestion is designed to break down food into microscopic morsels that it can be sent to your cells and combusted with your increased oxygen uptake for energy release (i.e. “oxidized”) which …

The Scoop on Himalayan Pink Salt

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Salt often gets a bad rap… I’m certain we’ve all heard someone say that we have to cut out sodium to avoid cardiovascular disease to be our healthier but, in actual fact, salt is an extremely important electrolyte and essential mineral for us.  One of the health benefits of sodium is the integral role it plays in enzyme operations, muscle contraction and also its importance for fluid homeostasis maintenance within the body. Some other health benefits of sodium include improved heart performance, nervous system regulation, and glucose absorption. Personally I’m an advocate of all quality food sources and I never believe in cutting anything out completely. What is bad food anyway? If we label something bad, we either feel bad when we consume it or we want it more. The solution to this is to learn about food and have deeper understanding of it by learning about the vitamins and minerals our bodies need to feel our best.  Ask yourself, “Are there better choices and how can I incorporate these sources into my diet?” As a Nutritionist, I opt …

How to Manage Eating Out

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For everyone that know me (or has worked with me), I am a HUGE believer in food flexibility! When it comes to dieting, I disagree with eliminating food groups and depriving yourself of what you crave or love because that is just plain ol’ restricting. When I diet, I’m very meticulous when it comes to calculating how much I eat along with choosing what I eat but, if my diet is on point for the week, having 1-2 responsibly chosen FREE MEALS to spend with family and loved ones is certainly not going to curtail my goals especially since I’ve been using this strategy for years and also have a solid understanding of what I’m eating (** this is key **) In saying that, for the majority of people (especially busy moms) eating out is inevitable and can happen more than just a special occasion.  What we order can have social implications and a negative effect on our waistline.  With the restaurant world in my blood (and dining out with my husband on a constant …