Ultrametabolism By Dr. Hyman

Stress does not get enough attention when related to health and weight loss.  We all have heard that we should reduce stress, but don't make many changes, because stress is just a part of life.  We are under a constant level of stress which leads to weight gain and a breakdown of health.  Following is a survey by Dr. Hyman which can be an indicator of how much stress you are coping with:
  • Do you have low blood pressure?
  • Do you get dizzy when you stand up?
  • Have you been diagnosed with hypoglycemia?
  • Do you have cravings for salt or sweets?
  • Do you have dark circles under your eyes?
  • Do you have trouble falling asleep and or staying asleep?
  • do you feel groggy and not refreshed when you wake up?
  • Do you experience mental fogginess or trouble concentrating?
  • Do you get headaches?
  • Do you get frequent infections (for example, colds)?
  • Do you feel tire easily on doing any exercise or feel very fatigued after exercise?
  • Do you often feel stressed?
  • Do you have panic attacks or startle easily?
This list goes on - what it indicates is a stressed adrenal system.  When we are under so much stress, we lose the natural rhythm of our bodies.  We no longer sleep well, which leads to fatigue, which leads to sugar cravings, which leads to weight gain... and so on and so on.  To resolve this, we have to go back to simplifying our daily lives.  We need to slow down, support our systems with whole foods, water and supplements, get out in nature, and most of all, relax.  Stress affects every part of our lives.  Have a relaxing weekend - Shanna


 
Ultrametabolism by Dr. Mark Hyman

This is a great time of year to talk again about whole foods.  The farmer's markets in Minnesota are opening, and fresh, local food is more readily available.  Although we all need different diets, one thing is the same for all of us, we benefit more from eating whole, fresh, organic and locally grown foods.  According to Dr. Hyman, "Some of us need more fat, protein or carbohydrates than others  There is no one perfect diet for everyone.  You need to find out what works for you."  He recommends looking for foods that are as close to their natural state as possible.  We are better off eating fruit, rather than processed fruit juices.  If we could avoid food with labels, we would be eating whole foods (this definitely doesn't mean fast food is a whole food!).  Our bodies do not know what to do with all of the chemicals and additives that are in many processed foods.  When people switch from one diet fad to another, they are not doing their bodies any favors.  A great first step in losing weight is to focus on clean foods.  It is the chemicals, and things like high fructose corn syrup and trans fats that causes our bodies to hold on to fat.  Eating a whole foods diet can improve energy, weight, and appearance.  It is worth the effort, and after a while, it won't seem like any extra effort at all.  I will be posting blogs on and off during the summer ~  Enjoy!  Shanna
 
Ultrametabolism by Mark Hyman, M.D.

I talk about sugar a lot - mostly because we are inundated with sugar in the majority of processed foods that we eat.  According to Dr. Hyman, the average person eats about 180 pounds of sugar a year - which comes out to about a half pound per person per day.  Yikes!  If you look at the ingredient list on many foods, it won't look like there is a lot of sugar in the product - This is because the sugar is hidden under names such as corn syrup, dextrose, sucrose, fructose and more.  Dr. Hyman recommends looking at the sugar grams on the ingredient list on the following products:  Breakfast cereals, salad dressings, luncheon meats (also watch for nitrates), canned fruits, bread, peanut butter, crackers, soups, yogurt, relish, chewing gum, jellies and jams, and frozen desserts.  These are a few products that we don't necessarily expect a large amount of sugar, but it is hidden there none the less.  If you want to cut back on sugar consumption, I do not recommend switching to artificial sweeteners - there are numerous health concerns that are caused by these products.  I first recommend avoiding or eliminating corn syrup, corn sugar, and high fructose corn syrup.  This one change can make a huge difference in sugar consumption.  Have a great day - Shanna