Its cold! Lets get some Vitamin D3- but on a beach!

We all want to have some fun in the sun right? Particularly when its so darn cold like it is  here in Boston this week!! But now you have a legitimate health reason to go! In fact, recent studies are increasingly proving that gettting sun on your skin is SO good for you that who knows, maybe one day the insurance companies will even pay for your trips there duing  spring break! Well maybe not in my lifetime – but you never know! 

So here’s the scoop. Your body makes Vitamin D3 from the sun. Simple enough right? Well, guess what it turns out that vitamin D is actually a superstar -to your body that is.. Here`s what you need to know about this vitally important nutrient, including how to make certain you`re getting enough vitamin D to protect your health.

D is NOT a bad grade....it's a VITAMIN SUPERSTAR - get some soon!

According to conventional wisdom, we should be wary of anything that sounds too good to be true. But vitamin D is shaping up as an exception to that rule. Although it was discovered nearly 100 years ago, vitamin D was long believed to have only one important role, maintaining healthy bones. As a result, it was added to milk in the 1930s, as a way to combat the high incidence of rickets in children and then pretty much forgotten.

How things change! During the past decade, a steady stream of news from researchers all over the world is proving that vitamin D helps protect us against such serious health concerns as cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, several types of  cancer (including breast, colon and prostate), diabetes, emotional difficulties, such as depression and bipolar disorder, muscle function and gum health.

And there`s more! Just consider this small sampling of good news from the vitamin D front:

*Vitamin D supports better brain function in older individuals, according to the findings of a recent clinical trial. Researchers at Tufts University found the best cognitive test scores among subjects with high blood levels of the nutrient. Those with high levels of vitamin D were better at “executive functions,” such as organizing, planning and abstract thinking.

*Vitamin D`s role in how well our muscles operate was underscored by a new study showing that low levels of the nutrient during pregnancy makes a woman four times more likely to have a C-section. The same researchers were also struck by separate findings showing that fully three-fourths of the women in the study and their babies had low vitamin D levels, even though they had been taking prenatal vitamins and drinking vitamin D-fortified milk while pregnant. Coincidentally, a new study from Turkey found that infants with low vitamin D levels are more vulnerable to developing respiratory infections.

When you can't get sunshine on your body- take Vitamin D3 supplements!

*And you can add prostate cancer to the list of cancers vitamin D may help protect against. Findings reported in the British Journal of Cancer show that the disease resulted in six times fewer fatalities for men with the most vitamin D in their bodies when compared to men with lower levels.

*There`s more news on the cancer front, too. A recent review of research involving vitamin D, cancer and sunlight (ultraviolet B or UVB) concluded that sun-associated vitamin D was linked to lower levels of colon and breast cancers, as well as kidney and ovarian cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

What`s the sunlight connection? Our bodies can produce vitamin D on their own when exposed to sunlight. Sounds simple, right? Even though making that happen only takes about 20 minutes of dailysun exposure (and please work up to that amount gradually, to avoid burning), there are actually a few factors that may interfere. Be sure you aren’t wearing sunscreen though – it interfere with the process.

Second, the sunlight-vitamin D conversion process is not nearly as effective for people of color. Third, age plays a role; individuals over age 50 are not efficient converters, so even with proper sun exposure, they`re likely to be deficient in the nutrient. Finally, there`s geography. Sunlight during winter months is not intense enough in areas north of Los Angeles, so no amount of sun exposure will help. But if you live north of Atlanta, after September and before June, you should definitely add Vitamin D3 to your diet! I take 3,000 – 4,000 IU a day and would suggest you consider similar amounts – based on your diet and your daily needs. You can always check with your doc too….although since he may even know about the importance of getting sun- these days he might even be on a beach somewhere too! Race you to the beach! Affectiontely, The Naughty Nutritionist

I want to be HERE...don't you???

GNO (Girls Night Out) Good! GMO – Not Good!

(GNO) – GOOD!

 

For us gals, Girls Night Out (GNO) is a treasured event and rightfully so – it’s SO good for us! From pajama parties to cocktails in mini skirts (Sex and The City style), hanging out with the girls is always GREAT!   Why? Because blowing off steam with your gal pals, forgetting about your worries and laughing with friends relieves stress and that my friends makes you feel alive and happy! Why else are we here? SO I hope you will make Girls Night Out (GNO) a regular event – its good for everyone!

Girls Night Out (GNO) is great for everyone!

GMO – NOT GOOD!

GMO  (Genetically Modified Foods) on the other hand do NOT make you feel alive and in fact, more scientific evidence is coming out every day about how damaging it to your health. 

GMO is NOT good for you

GMO Foods are basically when the genes or bacteria from one organism have been spliced into the genes of another organism. They don’t even have to be from the same species. Did you know that those tomatoes you are eating in your salad are probably GMO and if they are, they probably contain genes from a fish? That’s right, years ago when tomato crops kept being damaged by early frost, scientists found a fish that survives in cold water and spliced the fish’s genes into tomatoes. Voila! Tomatoes that withstand the cold. Brrrrrr.  And no, they still can’t swim like a fish - but that’s probably next. Can’t you just see it now? Tomatoes that can do backflips in your tomato soup? Would certainly give those dancing grapes on the Fruit of the Loom ads a run for their money! Anyway, in all seriousness, almost all commercially grown tomatoes are now  GMO.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t want a fishy tomato. Do you?  By changing the DNA of the tomato, scientists (and Monsanto) have changed the way your body recognizes it. Why is this a problem? Well, there is mounting evidence that this can change and damage your own body’s DNA.You do know don’t you that your DNA is constantly changing? Well it is. In the old days, the belief was that you had one fixed set of DNA for your entire life but that has now been proven wrong. SO when you eat food that is not natural (and I can assure you there is nothing natural about GMO foods) your body and your DNA basically say “WHAT  the F***K  is this?” Sorry for being so blunt. But this is serious stuff.  Anyway, ever wonder why more and more people have food allergies and are gluten intolerant?  Could it be the flooding of our food supply with GMO products which has been occuring at exactly the rise in both of these? The jury is still out but do you really want to donate your own health  or that of your family’s to this experiment?  Did you know that Europe bans GMO foods? France in particular. Now there’s a country who knows about food! Makes you think doesn’t it? Well I hope it does. 

 SO Why Avoid GMO Foods?

Yes to GNO but NO to GMO

From anti-GMO activist and best selling author Jeffrey Smith’s recent News With Views Internet article, “Doctors Warn: Avoid Genetically Modified Foods,” “World renowned biologist Pushpa M. Bhargava goes one step further. After reviewing more than 600 scientific journals, he concludes that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a major contributor to the sharply deteriorating health of Americans”.

“Among the population, biologist David Schubert of the Salk Institute warns that ‘children are the most likely to be adversely effected by toxins and other dietary problems’ related to GM foods. He says without adequate studies, the children become ‘the experimental animals.’”

In addition to you and your family’s personal health risks, the whole human race is endangered as Monsanto pursues it’s stated goal of owning the world’s food supply. Genetic engineering alters genetic codes of the DNA in organism by splicing in other genes from other forms of life, including other plant forms, insects, bacteria and even viruses. This creates mutant organisms and dangerously mutating genes, solely for  the profits of a few large corporations.

How To Avoid GMO Foods

Avoid the big four, which has become five now: The highly genetically engineered crops are soy, corn, canola and cottonseed. Add sugar beets, which are now becoming GMO.

Most blended oils in North America contain canola and cottonseed oils. Use extra virgin olive oil instead. Avoid all soy products and oils as well. The healthy alternative is usually not so healthy after all, since most soy is GMO unless it is specifically labeled non-GMO.

Most corn is GMO. Items like corn flakes and corn chips are from GM corn. Corn based products, corn starch, corn oil, corn syrup, and high fructose corn syrup appear on the ingredients labels of many processed foods. Corn in various forms is prevalent in the vast fast food supply that dominates our culture.

GMO corn is fed to cattle and other livestock. If you eat beef, pork or chicken, you are probably a second hand consumer of GM corn. So dig a little deeper and get grass or alfalfa fed or free range livestock meats only.

Sugar beets are added to the big four to make it five. Now more and more sugar beets are GMO. Sugar from sugar beets is less expensive than cane sugar for refined sugar; therefore, it is popular with food processing groups. So if you haven’t stopped using sugar or products with refined sugar, you might want to reconsider now.

Obviously, buying organic and from local farmers is ideal. Forget convenience. Buy bulk and eschew packaged foods. So what if you have to soak legumes the night before cooking them. If you buy locally, through a local health food store or at a farmers’ market, you can determine by direct communication how the crops were raised.

Want to learn more? I hope you do, so download your FREE Non GMO Shopping Guide  created by The Center for Food Safety http://www.responsibletechnology.org. Also visit http://www.nonGMOproject.org Your health and that of your family’s could depend on it.  To be well you need to be informed.

Party Time with the Gals!

So I say, lets all enjoy our GNO but stay away from GMO! Are you with me? Hope so!

With great affection

The Naughty Nutritionist

Lets drink to your health this year- but with water!

The new year is well on its way. But are your  new years resolutions? My resolution this year is one that I hope you all will join me in. Its to drink more water. Yup I am finally going to commit to drinking 8-12 glasses of pure water every day! And when you learn about how important water is to your health, skin, organs, vitality and energy I hope you will add 8-12 glasses to your daily diet too! So read on……

Our bodies are not just works of art - they are 60% water!

Did you know that your body is 60% water (brain and muscles are 75%, blood and lungs are 90%)?  Did you also know you need 8-12 glasses of water a day?  Sounds like a lot. But you need it. Lets do the math together. Each day you lose 6.3 cups of water from urine, 4 cups from breathing, sweating and bowel movements and 2-3 cups from digestion. That’s 12 cups  even before you factor in things like stress or exercise.  Sadly, most of us  don’t drink this amount of water and are walking around dehydrated but don’t know it. When you are dehydrated, you are easily fatigued and nothing works efficiently. In fact, without sufficient water, your body thinks it’s in danger, so like a squirrel hiding nuts before winter, it stores whatever water it can get its hands on, and hides it in the nooks and crannies between your cells. This shows up on the scales as weight gain or as swelling in your feet, legs and hands. But great news, when you finally give your body the water that it needs, all that stored water can be released and when it is, your energy increases too.

Water gives you the gift of health. Will you accept the gift?

Drinking 8-12 glasses of water a day is not only key to having more energy, its vital for great health. Period. And its easy to do. So why not? But if you’re still not convinced, consider what happens when you get dehydrated.  Without water, you’d be poisoned by your own waste products.  Whoa! That got your attention didn’t it? Sorry for the drama but its basically true.   During dehydration, the water surrounding your cells is reduced and what little is left become stagnant with toxins. As dehydration continues, since your body absolutely has to have water surrounding its cells, it pulls out the water from inside your cells. Yup, like a fugitive on the run, your body literally “steals” water where ever it can find it – from inside your cells, from inside your blood, your organs, and even your colon (and is a big contributor to being constipated). This continues until your cells lose all or most of their internal water, shrivel, malfunction and even become damaged. Of course, you  can stop this dehydration process any time simply by drinking more water. But most people have no idea they are dehydrated. In fact, even some health conditions could be corrected, just by drinking more. But who knew? Well, now you do.

You need to keep replenishing the water in your body - just like your goldfish bowl!

And here’s one final visual:. When you were a kid, you likely had a gold fish. Right? Remember what happened when you didn’t change the water in your fish tank and it got all murky? Your goldfish seemed depressed, was less active, stopped swimming or worse – died.  Poor thing.  But once you cleaned out the tank and replaced it with fresh water, little “Goldy” was likely back doing laps around the fish tank. Maybe even back flips like a character out of Dr. Seuss’s book “One Fish Two Fish  Red Fish Blue Fish”  Well, the cells in your body are just like little Goldy. They need a constant supply of fresh water and if they don’t get it, they slowly but surely shut down- just like your friend Goldy did. Without a daily supply of fresh water, the water around your cells also gets dirty, murky and toxic. Just like the water in your goldfish bowl did. Yuk. Who wants dirty goldfish water sloshing around inside them? Not me! Not Goldy. And not you either! So drink up. Drink often. And hopefully drink with our NaughtyBits™ !!

 With great affection

xoxo

The Naughty Nutritionist

New Year and New YOU!!!

 

Happy New Year! Wow we finally got here and what a year 2012 is going to be! I’m excited are you?

If you’re like most people, this is a great time to think about improving your health and losing  weight! So, to help you, I am going to tell you the simplest, easiest, thing you can do or add to your diet that will not only help you lose weight, but will improve your health, your energy and your vitality! Sound good? So what is it? Well, its algae. And yes, I know, that’s what we sell here at The Naughty Nutritionist. In fact we fondly call our algae tabs “Naughtybits  So I hope you will forgive me and will not consider this post to be an act of  crass self-promotion but our algae really will help you with your weight loss goals. They are in fact the healthiest food in the world and those aren’t our words – that’s what NASA and even the United Nations say about algae . So bear with me and read on. A slimer, newer YOU could be right around the corner. All you need is algae.

Want to make weight loss easier? Just add algae to your diet

Dieting is hard. Algae can make it easier

Losing weight is hard. We know. Losing one pound of fat means you have to cut or burn 3,000 calories. And healthy weight loss takes time. Sick of eating celery sticks for months? Ya, we’ve been there too. It’s no fun being tired, hungry and grumpy is it? Wish it could be easier? Well, it can be. Just take our algae tabs. Diet or no diet, a handful of our SKINNYbits algae tabs can fill you up – and all for just one calorie per tab. How does good bye hunger, hello tiny waistline sound? All thanks to algae. Why does it work? Well, because algae is 60% protein and protein fills you up. Not only that, but healthy plant protein like algae doesn’t have all that nasty fat or extra calories like other proteins (like red meat). Did we mention algae is also easier and cheaper. No assembly required. Hate to cook? You’re going to love this stuff!  Even NASA says its the healthiest food on earth. You might even say its out of this world because they feed it to their astronauts on their space trips. Seriously. Heck algae is such a superstar that we think it should be given its own star on the Hollywood walk of fame  So regardless of which diet you are on – Weight Watchers®, South Beach®, Atkins®, Vegetarian, Mediterranean, Paleolithic, Neolithic (just kidding about that last one) or one of the thousands of other diets, our SKINNYbits algae tabs can help you stick with it. And all because you aren’t tired, hungry or grumpy any more. Sweet

 

 

 

 

 

 

Win the battle of the bulge with our algae tabs!

 

 

Cut hunger and calories but not nutrition

We know this sounds like a dieters dream but we assure you, it isn’t. There are tens of thousands of scientific studies and 50 years of use of algae in Asia that validate all this. Some of the findings from all that research can be found on our website in the section called Scientific Research on the tab called “MORE” at www.naughtybits.com  So here’s the deal. Our algae tabs are pure algae. Nothing added. Nothing subtracted. And, each tab is just ONE CALORIE EACH and 60% protein. This is the highest concentration of protein of any food on the planet and since its already in the form of amino acids, (unlike animal protein which your body needs to break down to amino acids before absorbing it) its virtually 100% absorbable. Why do you need protein when you are dieting? Because it satisfies your hunger, balances your blood sugar, cuts your cravings for sweets and keeps your metabolism high. But you need to cut your calories when you’re on a diet too. So how do you do that and still get your protein needs met when just a single serving of skinless chicken breast has 250 calories? Well, that “million dollar question”  has alluded dieters for years. Until now. The solution? Algae tabs. With 60% protein and ONLY ONE CALORIE per tab, you can eat our algae tabs all day, or night, with meals, before meals,  after meals, in-between meals even instead of meals, and not only get all your protein needs met, but achieve a low daily calorie count too. Frankly, eating  algae tabs when on a diet is quite possibly like having someone throw you a life preserver when out on some rough seas. We’d like to throw you one.  Say hello to what may soon become every dieter’s new best friend. Algae.

 

Its party time with algae by your side!

Say Goodbye to Dieters Fatigue

When dieting and eating low calorie foods, you often end up with limited nutrition, fatigue, irritability, brain fog and hunger all of which sabotage your efforts. But not with SKINNYbits.™  These algae tabs may be small and may only have 1 calorie but they are packed with 40 vitamins and minerals and may well be the most nutritionally dense food on the planet. And that’s not just our opinion. Way back in 1974, the United Nations declared algae to be the ‘best food for the future’. Wow. That’s quite an endorsement. We’re blushing. And guess what? Olympic athletes and astronauts eat it too. And why not? It’s been found to have over 40 times more iron than spinach and almost 100 times more beta-carotene then carrots. All this and the highest concentration of protein in the world too. Talk about a dieter’s dream come true.  Even NASA says that 1 gram of algae is nutritionally equal to 1,000 grams of vegetables and fruit. That’s not only a big savings in groceries – but in calories too! So save yourself some of both and take a handful of SKINNYbits™ with your next breakfast lunch or dinner, or instead of it!  They’re even a great meal replacement. Did you know I eat 50-75 of our naughtybits™ each day for breakfast and nothing else (other than green tea), I then work out for an hour (or two sometimes and they STILL keep me full for hours. All for just 50-75 calories? So so give them a try. They’ll fill you up too. Just be sure you eat (or swallow) enough of them. You can’t overdose on them. Heck some people eat 150 -200 of them a day. Yes I know they look like pills but they’re not.  They’re food. Super Food. Just ONE calorie each and loaded with protein. What have you got to lose? (sorry about the pun). And even though our algae tabs ARE tiny (about the size of a tic tac®,) and even though they fill you up, they’ll never make you feel bloated. Nope. Never.  This is particularly great news if you’re a dancer or performer or like to wear body hugging clothes.  They’re portable too and come in slim (like you!) pocket sized tins, making them easy to carry every where. So now you can have a low calorie, healthy, high protein snack any time of day or night. And with no more hunger, you’ll be wearing those skinny jeans sooner than you think.  Promise

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks NaughtyBits algae tabs! We did it!

Get the energy boost to stick with your diet

 

So look, diets are like a marathon. You need energy and stamina to stick with them. That’s why adding our SKINNYbits or ENERGYbits™ algae tabs to your diet should help. Both are 100% spirulina –  a nitrogen based algae that helps your body release all important nitric oxide when you eat it. Nitric oxide is what helps athletes give a top performance. It opens up blood vessels so more blood, oxygen and nutrients can reach your brain and muscles – all of which gives you more energy, stamina and endurance. And that’s what you need to cross any finish line – whether it’s a marathon, or a diet. Let our algae bits help get you there -  one Bit at a time!

 Which Naughtbits™ to Take to help your diet?

SKINNYbits or ENERGYbits™  (100% spirulina algae)

So, good luck with the New Year and the New YOU! May all your diet dreams and other dreams come true!

With great affection,

The Naughty Nutritionist

 

Bethlehem and its hidden meanings

Merry Christmas to you! Isn’t this season great? It’s the one time of year when  magic and serenity is palpable. Wouldn’t it be great if we could feel this way all  year round? That’s the message of Christmas isn’t it? Peace and Goodwill to all mankind.

Today I found out that the town of Bethlehem – you know – where Jesus was born,  means “The House of Bread.”  Pretty wild eh? Jesus was born in a town named after dough! BTW if you want to see a really funny and modern day utube video about how social media like twitter would document the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, click this link. I promise you will be entertained. It is hilarious!  http://bit.ly/g5d3MX

Anyway, finding out that Bethlehem means bread, started me thinking about the many historical associations with food in general and with bread in particular. For example, did you know that bread is considered such a staple of life in most Roman Catholic towns in France or Italy, that the boulangerie (the bread and pastry shop) is usually the only store legally allowed to be open on Sunday mornings!  Here in Boston there is a very successful cafe chain called Au Bon Pain (www.aubonpain.com) whose name translates into ”get to the good bread.”

So what's the point kiddo??

So what’s my point? Well, I guess my point is that there are usually deep cultural, historical or religous reasons why entire  countries or people eat certain foods and very often these foods have been handed down from generation to generation and never questioned. Yet often a  particular food gets out of step with the times or the ingredients start to be grown differently (for example, here in the USA much of our wheat is now grown using GMO seeds which never existed in the time of Jesus and which are currently banned throughout all of Europe due to their health concerns).

And since cultural habits run deep, we  tend to keep eating those foods, even though they may no longer be good for us. Why do we do this? Well usually because we grew up eating it and never stopped to question it.  

Don't eat on autopilot! Think first!

But perhaps its time to question some things that you are eating, like our bread here in the USA.  And if you do, you’ll likely come to the same conclusions I have, which is that most bread here in the USA does not really cut it (sorry for the pun). 

The reasons for this are many, not the least of which is that bread tends to be just empty calories and unless its organic, is likley made from GMO wheat (and is thus not good for you). Have you noticed there is a large and growing segment of the population that can’t even eat bread any more because they have gluten allergies? And, its spreading rapidly. What’s causing this? Are you curious? Worried? I am. 

And once you start to question whether bread should continue to be a staple in your life/diet  hopefully you will start to question all the other packaged foods or questionable foods that you are eating too. In fact, this new year why not give  yourself a “Nutrition Intervention” and get rid of all those things that you know are not good for you but that you have continued to eat  because…____________(fill in the blank). Bottom line. If you aren’t happy with your health or your body, take charge  by taking inventory of what you eat. Don’t keep eating something that gives you stomach pain or makes you feel fat, gassy, sleepy or jumpy. Don’t keep eating something just because your parents did. And don’t keep eating something because the television ads have convinced you that you will be beautiful, sexy and thin if you do.  I’d rather you be alarmed rather than charmed by any all of this. Why? So you’ll take a stand and make a change. Yes, I know change is tough but once you’ve started making them, your health and vitality will be returned..one bite at a time!

Ho Ho Ho

So, enjoy the holiday season, share the love and the joy that is everywhere and as you get ready to embrace the new year, know that anything is possible - especially when it comes to improving your health with your diet. But don’t let symbolism, history, family habits or advertisers make your food choices for you. Its your body so it’s your choice. Your fork can be  your best or worst friend. My wish for you is that you chose wisely.

 Best wishes for a wonderful and healthy holiday! With great affection,

The Naughty Nutritionist

xoxox

Great Health – The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Merry Christmas! Be Naughty and Be Healthy!

Since this may be my last post before Christmas, I thought I would share a few thoughts with you that are related to this holiday season. This weekend, I had the good fortune to attend an absolutely breath taking candle light carol service at the Trinity Church here in Boston (www.trinitychurchboston.org).  Attending services at Trinity is an inspiring experience since their architecture and choir are truly magnificent but their carol service was really heart stopping.

Now, I’m not really your typical “church goer” and frankly I used to be better known for worshiping a sale at Saks but I find myself increasingly in awe of Trinity Church. For, even though they are an historic institution (277 years old) they are hip and in touch with the times. Hard to believe but true. Even their website is slick! And their sermons? Well, lets just say that I wouldn’t miss one for the world – sort of how many of you may feel about an episode of Mad Men! They may not be as “Hollywood” as Mad Men, but to me, they are just as contemporary and exciting. So this got me thinking. If a 277 year old church can update their approach to be relevant with the times, maybe each of us can do the same thing when it comes to our approach to our health and our diet? In the last 25 years, our crops have become soaked in pesticides, many of them are now GMO (Genetically Modified), our farm animals have become increasingly raised in “factories”  and the amount of processed and packaged food that we buy and eat has grown to over 80% of our grocery store shelves. Is this right? Is this healthy? I don’t think so.

A case in point. The other day, I looked at the ingredients in a protein bar. Do you know that there were 90 ingredients ? Almost all of them chemicals or artificial ingredients. Is this right? Is this healthy? I don’t think so.

So, my wish for you this holiday season is quite simple. I wish for your good health.  And, I wish that you will empower yourself to learn more about your food (and your body).

Once you do you will become healthier. Because, once you know what you need, its hard to ignore those needs. And think about it. You don’t buy shares on the stock market without due diligence and you don’t buy a computer without research.  So why overlook something you’ll have for much longer? Something that is far more complicated and far more important. Your body. Your health.

So this holiday season as wish lists grow longer, my wish for you is great health.  And if your health is not in the greatest shape (hmmmm sort of like your butt?)  rest assured that with proper care and feeding, it can be returned! It may not be returned quite as easily as that Bloomies Christmas gift from your Aunt Dorothy, but then again you don’t have to stand in line to have your health returned. All you have to do is make a stand! 

My Christmas Gift of Health - to YOU!

 With great affection

 The Naughty Nutritionist

Want to Feel Fine? Eat Alkaline when you Dine!

During the festive holiday season if you really want to feel fine – eat alkaline when you dine! Here’s why:

Alkaline Diets

To be healthy, not only do our bodies need to maintain a constant temperature of 98.6  they also need to maintain a constant pH of 7.4 – the middle point between being acid and alkaline. It’s quite likely that you’ve never heard about this alkaline/acid balance before but it has been around for about 75 years – its just not well known in the mainstream. So here’s the scoop – virtually all physical activities (even breathing) have an acidic affect on your body, so its important to eat as many alkaline foods as possible – to bring your body back into balance. Everything that you eat either makes you acidic or alkaline and the more acidic your body, the easier it is for disease to take root. If you eat too many acidic foods, your body will automatically do things like steal calcium (which is alkaline) from your bones to bring your pH back into balance. And guess what? This is one of the main causes of osteoporosis!  But before you run and grab a glass of milk to protect yourself, be aware that milk is HIGHLY acidic!  In fact, drinking milk can actually rob your body of calcium – not provide it. Frankly, milk isn’t good for you for a whole host of reasons and being acidic is just one of them. Heck even the world famous Dr. Spock went on record advising people not to drink milk after the age of two. So if HE didn’t think you should drink milk, you might want to think twice about that milkshake or bowl of cereal?

think twice about that glass of milk!

But look, I’m no party pooper and I’ll also admit that I love most of the same acid foods you probably do (wine, cheese, bread). So I have found that the answer is to eat as many alkaline foods as possible and enjoy smaller amounts of everything else. A girl has to have some fun…right?? So go ahead, be a bit naughty and enjoy that glass of wine like I do, but try to balance it out with other alkaline foods like the ones I have listed below. If you want to see a more detailed chart, just click here.acid-alkaline balance.

If you don't want to eat your greens, maybe you could wear them!

One very important addition to this list of alkaline foods is algae. As you know, we sell algae tabs at www.naughtynutritionist.net because algae is quite possibly THE MOST ALKALINE food in the entire world! It also has the highest concentration of chlorophyll (5%) and the highest concentration of protein (60%) and a roomful of other antioxidants like beta carotene. So, if you find it difficult to add more greens and alkaline foods to your diet, just take algae and you’ll get all of the same health benefits!

Bottom line, the medical community is finally understanding the benefits of an alkaline diet, so maybe its time you learned about it too?  The expert on all this is Dr. Robert O. Young. His website is www.phmiracleliving.com. By the way, Dr. Young also believes that negative emotions cause the body to become acidic (especially fear, anger, and resentment) so, don’t be angry that you didn’t know about this! Just be happy that you do now! Enjoy the holiday season and every season! And may they always be filled with lots of naughty greens! Hmmmmm I wonder if this is what Dr. Seuss had in mind when he wrote his Cat in the Hat book “Green Eggs and Ham” www.seussville.com) Makes you wonder!

Cat in the Hat is my hero!

Alkaline Foods:

Fruits: lemons, limes, watermelon grapefruit

Vegetables: Algae, all greens, spinach, broccoli, brussel sprouts, green beans, garlic, cauliflower, radishes, chives, watercress, turnips

Nuts, Seeds: almonds, pumpkin seeds, sprouted seeds, sunflower seeds,

Drinks: water, green tea, lemon water, herbal teas,   almond milks

Oils and Fats: olive, avocado, flax, evening primrose, flax

Acidic Foods:

Meats: pork, beef, chicken, turkey, seafood (salmon is not included)

Dairy Products:  milk, cream, cheese, yogurt, eggs, ice cream

Fats: saturated fats, hydrogenated oils, margarine, corn oil, vegetable oils,

Nuts: peanuts, cashews, pistachios

Fruits: Fruits other than the ones in the alkaline category are considered acidic.

Drinks: sodas, tea, coffee, beer, spirits, fruit drinks, dairy smoothie, milk

Affectionately yours,

 The Naughty Nutritionist

Greens cocktails rock. Shaken not stirred!

EAT TO BEAT CANCER

It’s holiday party season and time to celebrate! My priority here is keep you informed about how to have a great life, lots of love and endless fun- some of it even naughty! But this week a good friend of mine had someone in his family diagnosed with cancer. This comes on the heels of another good friend being diagnosed with lung cancer, my younger sister being diagnosed with breast cancer and my father being diagnosed with leukemia.

I am so fortunate to have had my nearest and dearest make full recoveries, but there are others who are not so lucky. My wonderful Naughty Nutritionist colleague, Emily Cash recently lost  her father and both her grandfathers to cancer in the same year. That’s just not right.  BTW, Emily’s family has started their own charity dedicated to raising money for funding for progressive cancer research. Check out their mission at www.cashmemorial.org. Did you know that estimates are that 2 of 3 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime? That’s unacceptable to me and I hope its unacceptable to you too. Want to protect yourself and your family? You can. 

So here’s the scoop. Yesterday I found yet another article stating that breast cancer is being cured just with a particular vitamin. Harvard Medical School also claims this vitamin cures 77% of ALL other cancers.   Here is the link to the article.

I’ve done a lot of research on this topic (almost 2 years) and I am now pretty convinced that the power of this vitamin to heal cancer and other illnesses is legitimate. So what vitamin is it, you ask? Is it expensive? Exotic? New? Rare? Imported? Bizarre? Well, the answer to all of these questions is no, no, no, no, no, no and no. The vitamin that seems to provide this amazing ability to heal cancer is nothing more pedestrian than Vitamin D3. No fanfare. No marching band, no drum roll, no dazzling lights, no paparazzi. Nope. Nadda. Nothing. Just plane old, frumpy Vitamin D3 that’s been around for over a century. So how did we miss this until now? Well sometimes the best things are staring us in the face but we don’t see them because they are just well, so obvious. This recently happened to me but for something else. So look, we all potentially have a solution for wiping out breast cancer – just take Vitamin D3!  Trouble is, this seems so simple that no one believes it. At least not yet.

Do you even know where most Vitamin D3 comes from? Can you guess? Its from the lanolin oil in sheep’s wool! That’s right. Sheep’s wool! It makes total sense when you think about it because the process is the same for sheep as it is for us. Our skin gets irradiated from the sun, molecules then form Vitamin D3 and then this oil is absorbed through our skin so that it can strengthen our immune system and do a host of other great things for us! The process is the same with sheep but with them, the oil stays on their wool (instead of being absorbed into the skin like with us). Here’s an even cooler factoid. Did you know that one of the reasons that dogs lick themselves is to ingest the Vitamin D that is created on their fur from sunlight? What a riot eh? And hey I don’t make this stuff up! So just think – we could possibly wipe out cancer just be giving everyone Vitamin D3. Currently over 90% of all American’s are Vitamin D deficient and its worse in cities (where skyscrapers block the sun) and for the elderly who rarely get outside. Virtually everyone in the USA north of Atlanta is Vitamin D deficient because the sun isn’t strong enough for our bodies to make Vitamin D between September and May. Of course the good news is that now you have a legitimate reason to take a winter holiday somewhere warm because when you get your D3 from the sun, its FREE!! On the other hand if the recession has shut down your travel plans this winter, just turn up the heat, put on your bikini, crank up the tunes and take 3,000 – 4,000 IU of D3 on a daily basis (which is what I take).

Other Foods help cure Cancer too!

OK, we’re on the home stretch here, but I want to leave you with a few final thoughts because, its not just Vitamin D that will help prevent or fight cancer, you need to watch everything you eat! So here are a few tips: Sugar FEEDS cancer so if you have been diagnosed with cancer, you should eliminate all sugars from your diet (including fruit). And, since cancer cannot exist in an oxygenated state, you need to eat foods that bring oxygen and antioxidants to your cells. These are foods that are alkaline and rich in antioxidants such as greens, green tea and algae. Fortunately you can buy algae (we call ours NaughtyBits) from our website www.naughtynutritionist.net and you can buy greens and green tea at whole foods www.wholefoods.com or your local grocer.

And as a final suggestion, I would urge you to look at booking into any one of the many excellent alternative health care centers in the USA that are dedicated to helping people become healthier or to heal from cancer through nutrition and green diets. The best one I can recommend is The Hippocrates Health Institute in Palm Beach Florida. www.hippocratesinst.org.

So as you dance to your own beat of the holiday festivities, I’d like to leave you with the thought that to BEAT cancer, just take away the letter B, and you are left with EAT. You already know that in the best of times you are what you eat, but in the worst of times don’t forget that it’s possible to BEAT cancer by what you EAT.

My love to all of you who may have cancer, have lived through cancer or know of anyone with cancer. In fact if you know anyone with cancer, PLEASE share this post and the linked article with them so they will know about the importance of Vitamin D3. You could save their life. Now that’s a gift worth giving! Gift wrapping optional.

With great affection,

The Naughty Nutritionist
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Holiday Survival Strategies – From Leftovers to Hangovers!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving full of family, joy, and love… and NOT too much sugar, fat, and belly aches!

Now with one holiday down we have more than a couple to go!  Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Years, and whatever else you may celebrate!  Throughout the cheer, spirit, and insanity of the season, the Naughty Nutritionist will be here offering you continued support all the way through the New Year and beyond.  But as always… you can’t have the nice without the naughty.  *Wink!*

Now that the holiday season is officially underway, how can I enjoy them without drinking too much alcohol or blowing my diet? - Patti the Partier

Dear Patti,

Thanks for this great question!  The holidays are the perfect time of year to have fun, go partying, and look great in your little black dress!  But try to remember why it is that you are even going out to the holiday party!  Hopefully its not to get so bombed that you can’t remember what a good time you had or how fabulous you looked… although when this does happen, one of your friends is SURE to capture your hot look and solo performance on top of your boss’s dining room table… even if you wish they hadn’t!  So lets think this through!  You want to have a good time, but not live to regret it, right? So here are a few calorie and alcohol survival tips (which could also ultimately save your job too!)

1) Be sure that you eat something before you head out – preferably protein. This will absorb the alcohol you are drinking so that you won’t get as drunk as you would on an empty stomach. It will also prevent you from snacking on all those high calorie, high fat finger foods.

2) Order your first drink like everyone else, take a few sips, then go back and order sparking water the rest of the night (or part of the night).  If you request that the bartender put it in the same type of glass as your first one, I assure you that no one will even notice that you aren’t drinking alcohol.

3) Dance, talk, cuddle or flirt with your date a lot since this will keep you so busy and giggling that you won’t have time to drink or eat!

4) Be the designated or unofficial photographer for the party since this will keep you so busy you won’t have time to go to the bar or buffet.

5) When you are eating, be sure to stick to the vegetables, salads and grilled dishes and do not eat things with sauces, pastries or anything fried. Those cute baby quiches or mushroom tops may look harmless because they are so dainty, but it’s easy to eat 2 days worth of calories with just one plateful of them! But at the end of the night if you did have too many alcoholic drinks and don’t want to have a hangover the next morning, be sure to drink a large glass of water before going to bed preferably with 15-20 of our NaughtyBits™ RECOVERY algae tabs which are 100% chlorella algae.

Why chlorella?  Well, 50 years of research has shown that chlorella absorbs toxins-including those from alcohol (the Japanese first discovered it absorbed toxins after the bombing of Hiroshima.  When they gave chlorella to people, it helped them detox from the radiation – seriously!).  So heck if chlorella can get rid of toxic radiation, you can be darn sure it will help you avoid a hangover when you’ve had just a wee bit too much to drink!

So party on, enjoy the festivities and you will sail through this holiday season!

‘Tis the season to be naughty and healthy!

Warmly,

The Naughty Nutritionist

ThanksGIVING is not the same as ThanksEATING!

Now that the holidays are (almost) in full swing, I’ve been getting a LOT of questions on how to get through them!  And no, I’m not taking about how to handle your crazy mother-in-law… I’m talking about how to survive overeating all that delicious food!!! So read on for my tips on how to stay strong against temptation, thanks to this great question from one of our readers…

How can I survive Thanksgiving without putting on weight? – Jessica W.

Dear Jessica,

I’m so glad that you asked this question. Every year we all wonder the same thing, and Thanksgiving is just one of many holidays that sabotage our best laid plans to get into our skinny jeans isn’t it?? So listen up. First of all, try to reflect on the real purpose of Thanksgiving. Yes, it is a day we all eat! But more importantly, it’s a day when we gather those we love and give thanks. That’s why it’s called ThanksGIVING. Its not called ThanksEATING! So, rather then see this as a day when all rules about eating are mysteriously suspended or sent to some parallel universe, remember it’s a day we celebrate and give thanks for all the people AT our dinner table, not all the calories ON it. And at the risk of pointing out the obvious, the same thousands of empty, sugary calories that are in that pecan pie on Thanksgiving are also there Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and every other day of the week. So don’t fool yourself into believing that Thanksgiving is a free pass to eat what ever you want without it having an impact on your body or on your health!

So now that we have that out of the way, let’s look at how you can resist the temptation to over-eat on this day. There are two parts to this answer. The first part is strategic since it relates to your emotions and the second part is tactical. So lets tackle the more thorny, emotional issue first. Almost all of our over-eating (even mine!) occurs, not because we are actually hungry but because one of our old habits or buried emotions are triggered. Here’s a real life example. Years ago I dated a terrific guy, but whenever we went out for a nice dinner, he would put his head down over his plate and literally shovel his meal into his mouth. He’d finish in about 1 minute! Definitely a romance killer!! Finally one day I asked him why he ate in such a frenzied and rapid way. Turns out he was raised in a large Irish working class family with 10 kids, and at dinnertime the kids had to eat quickly if they wanted to get seconds of anything! So 35 years later, here he was, wealthy, successful, sophisticated, educated but STILL eating like he was a starving 6 year old – all because food triggered an emotional response that was so ingrained in him that he couldn’t stop himself. Crazy, but true. And ALL of us have emotional triggers that cause us to eat or behave in ways that put us on autopilot. Thanksgiving is a biggy because in most cases, it’s a day that emotionally sends us back in time and triggers behaviours that are linked to a happy or unhappy past. Either way, we seem to forget that Thanksgiving dinner is just ONE of the 365 meals we’ll eat this year. And just like all meals, it has the potential to tempt us with empty calories, sugar and lots of other things that marketing companies try to convince us that we need to eat but which are really unhealthy for us. So try to eat intelligently, not emotionally.

That’s the emotional, strategic part of my answer!  The tactical part is a lot simpler!  To keep your calorie count to a reasonable number on Thanksgiving, all you need to do is load your plate with vegetables and salads, stay away from salad dressings, pastries and high calorie hors d’oeuvres.  Enjoy a satisfying portion of turkey or protein (no larger than the size of your fist), don’t have seconds, and if need be, allow yourself just a small taste of the high calorie goodies like stuffing, cranberry or gravy. Dessert is a no no no because it is a landmine of calories and even one bite will lead to more.  So try not to fall down this rabbit hole of temptation! Just keep remembering how great you will feel in your bikini or skinny jeans when that plate of chocolate chip cookies heads your way!! I’d also strongly recommend you take a handful (15-20) of our NaughtyBits™ algae tablets (http://www.naughtynutritionist.net 20 minutes prior to eating because they fill you up with healthy protein, contain only 1 calorie each and the enzymes in them will help you digest your Thanksgiving dinner! In summary, the most important thing to stay focused on is the real purpose of Thanksgiving. Its your chance to share a special day with the special people in your life you love. And good news! Since love has NO calories, be sure to give yourself and everyone you care about, second and even third helpings of LOVE this Thanksgiving!!! But be forewarned…you’ll be back for more! 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Affectionately yours and with much love,

The Naughty Nutritionist