Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous: A Nutritionist’s Guide to Living well While Living It Up
From *Esther Blum, an expert nutritionist at Dr. Perricone’s flagship Manhattan store, comes the breakthrough news that, yes, you can eat and drink what you love and still look and feel gorgeous. Esther reveals the secrets to beautiful skin, a fantastic figure, and peace of mind all while living the good life.
It’s about knowing how to make the right choices: Which cocktails cause the least damage, is a Merlot better than a Margarita? What natural supplements combat out-of-control hormones? With a troubleshooting section on treating specific ailments, delicious recipes, and fast fixes, Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeousmakes it possible to have that piece of cake and eat it, too. Sounds good to me.
*Esther Blum is a Registered Dietitian and Holistic Nutritionist practicing in Connecticut
On a similar note:
**Don’t Miss: Brad King discusses the FIT, FUN and FABULOUS Lifestyle with Kathy Hartford, author of “Fit, Fun and Fabulous at Any Age” (along with its companion journal and cookbook) on “Transforming Health” at VoiceAmerica.com
What good is a size 2 body if your hair ends up looking like hell?
photo credit below
I recently read an article about a nameless 42 year-old publicist from San Francisco who ended up losing a significant amount of hair due to extreme dieting. Seems sometimes we just can’t win. This girls goal was to lose 15 pounds in the first month, then re-evaluate how much more she’d need to drop after that – all with the assistance of a nutritionist.
Her calorie intake was just 750 a day, consisting of a protein shake for breakfast, soup and a shake for lunch, then salad, steamed veggies and 6 ounces of protein (like a piece of grilled chicken the size of a bar of soap) for dinner. She was still famished but wasn’t about to argue with the results – and lost every pound. The follow up visit with the nutritionist consisted of being told to set her target weight even lower and stay on the plan.
The trouble started four months later. The clothes were looser but her nice shoulder-length hair was much sparser. At first just a bit in the shower (which can be common) but in a matter of weeks she was dropping tons of hair – she has fine hair to begin with. She began to inspect her brushes after each stroke to see how many strands were tangled up in the bristles and had to disguise the hair sparseness by pulling it up into a bun or back in a ponytail as you could really see the difference when it was worn down.
The nutritionist would not entertain the idea that the diet had anything to do with it. She on the other hand, was not so sure. She eventually ditched the diet and started eating more sensibly, incorporating larger amounts of protein *(particularly red meat) into her meals. After a few months the shedding stopped, hair started to get back to normal and finally she’s at a healthy (but not supermodel thin) weight. *Whole grains, nuts and tofu/tempeh for vegetarians.
My brush
The Diagnosis:
Humans evolved from a feast-or-famine lifestyle: we cycled through periods when we had plenty of food to gobble up and periods when we had little to eat. Genetically, our bodies have a long memory, and in some ways they still react as if we’re living in prehistoric times. So if your body senses that you’re heading towards famine (hello, crash diet!), it diverts energy away from functions that are less essential, like growing hair or strong nails. If you start to undergo dramatic shedding, see your doctor for a blood workup; sometimes the problem could be the result of a chronic health condition, like hypo-or hyperthyroidism. Eating a healthy diet that includes all the food groups can help, as does popping a daily multivitamin, just to be sure you’re getting the nutrients that your hair needs. – Melissa Pilang, dermatologist, Clevelend Clinic.
NOTE **Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America. Here’s the link:
You will find that both your mood and your energy improve when you work out.
This advice feels as repetitive as the fifteenth bicep curl, but the fact remains: Exercise is, hands down, the best anti-ager.
Everyone has a different strength capacity & choice of what works for them. Ideally the best strategy for me is a combo of running, yoga & weight training. When done properly (which is not always the case) it’s a winning combination. A lot of times I don’t really get around to using actual weights as I should so sometimes I’ll run with little wrist weights and hope that the running and some yoga moves are enough weight bearing exercise. Do what you can – no excuses. Also try not to beat yourself up when you can’t bust a move like the yoga instructor – pigeon anyone? It’s best not to stress. Read on…
John Ratey, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the author of Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain (Little, Brown), explains how a little sweat can rewire your brain.
A fascinating and entertaining journey through the mind-body connection, presenting startling research to prove that exercise is truly our best defense against everything from depression to ADD to addiction to aggression to menopause to Alzheimer’s. Some questions:
How does aerobic exercise help the brain: “It improves your brain’s ability to form new neural connections. It promotes blood flow to the brain, creating a rich environment for brain cells to grow and withstand stress. It also appears to trigger the growth of new brain cells.”
Which exercise is best: “Look for activities that get your heart rate up to the point where you’re sweating but also provide coordination challenges. Activities like tennis, Zumba, kickboxing, or spinning all force you to plan your next move, which makes your brain work harder than if you were just doing a rote movement.”
How can I tell if it’s working? “You should notice an improvement in your overall feeling of well being. If you don’t, then you’re probably doing too much – more than 90 minutes a day – or too little. When people start an exercise program, they often overdo it, which not only increases risk of injury and burnout but also can impact brain function. Once you work out, you should find that your mood and energy improve for the rest of the day.”
Fill in the blank – I work out because……………………….
“I work out because I feel stronger and healthier and it makes me look better”
Also, **Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America.
EAT WILD GREENS + choose the right vitamins & minerals. B Green in Mind and Body for good skin and optimum overall health.
YOUR SKIN is a reflection of your inner being. Aside from lifestyle and genetics, what you eat plays a role in your skin health. Eating the right foods will not only enhance your natural beauty, it will help minimize wrinkles, acne, inflammation and other skin-related conditions. Most people treat their skin with chemical-ridden products, but don’t address the root cause, which may lie within. Your best-kept beauty secrets are sitting right there in your grocery store! Be sure to eat foods that include these nutrients often, and you’ll reap the benefits of having a beautiful, glowing and healthy skin.
Vitamin C
Like vitamin E, vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant. Vitamin C helps to reduce oxidative stress to the body and may lower cancer risk. Vitamin C is also involved in the synthesis of collagen, an important protein for making your skin supple. Many fruits and vegetables are great sources of vitamin C, so be sure to include them in your diet. Food sources high in vitamin C include: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, bell peppers, guava, acerola, beet greens, grapefruit, strawberries, red and green bell peppers, parsley, collardgreens and turnip greens.
Selenium
Selenium is a powerful antioxidant trace mineral that is responsible for maintaining skin firmness and elasticity. This mineral not only prevents acne but also aids in skin cancer prevention. It promotes absorption of vitamin E and enhances the antioxidant function of vitamin E, which is mainly stored in the skin. The end result is glowing skin and less deterioration to the skin’s collagen. Food sources high in selenium include: brazil nuts, walnuts, red snapper, tuna, liver, wheat germ, herring, onion, seafood, whole grains, brown rice and poultry.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is one of the key vitamins for skin health. When combined with vitamin A, vitamin E is especially effective at preventing certain skin cancers. Because of vitamin E’s antioxidant properties, it helps fight free radicals caused by pollution, smoking, processed foods and sun exposure. Free radicals are the catalyst for premature skin aging such as wrinkles. Food sources high in vitamin E include: almonds, eggs, walnuts, avocados, asparagus, sunflower seeds, pine nuts, spinach, oatmeal, and olives.
Omega-3s
These essential fatty acids (EFAs) offer healing benefits in various inflammatory conditions such as eczema. Omega-3s also manage overexposure of cortisol levels, which in turn helps keep skin supple and guard against wrinkle formation. EFAs are also responsible for skin repair, moisture content and overall flexibility. Since the body doesn’t produce these fatty acids, they must be obtained through your diet. Food sources high in omega-3s include: walnuts, salmon, mackerel, sardines, flaxseeds, and chia seeds. You can also supplement with a fish oil pill.
Vitamin A + Beta-Carotene
Vitamin A is critical for skin repair and maintenance. If you suffer from flaky or dry skin, it could be a sign you’re deficient in vitamin A. Beta-carotene, the precursor to vitamin A, is an antioxidant found in brightly colored foods. This antioxidant helps to reduce free radical damage that occurs due to skin damage caused by sun overexposure. Foods sources high in vitamin A and beta-carotene include: liver, collard greens, asparagus, peaches, beet greens, kale, spinach, eggs, sweet potato, cantaloupe, and red peppers.
Zinc
Zinc is an important trace mineral that helps repair damaged tissue and heals wounds. Another important use for zinc includes protecting skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. If you suffer from acne, it may be as a result of a zinc deficiency. Zinc may help prevent acne and regulate the production of oil in the skin. Foods sources high in zinc include: oysters, pecans, poultry, pumpkin seeds, ginger, legumes, seafood, mushrooms and whole grains.
I promise you will notice a big difference in the way your skin looks as you feed your body the nutrients it needs!
Brad King’s ULTIMATE WILD GREENS – PURE & RAW. Vegan supplement for natural energy. AMAZING!
Taken from Mind, Body, Green
**Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America.
Whether it’s an early-morning fruit-juice fix or pulverized carrots and kale for lunch, may of us are taking our meals in liquid form. But do the health claims justify giving juice a whirl?
You can’t walk down the street these days without seeing someone sipping juice. From trendsetting celebs to health gurus like Dr. Oz and Oprah, it seems everyone is enjoying their salads through a straw. And making some pretty big claims about the benefits. Juicing, they say, can help you turn back the clock, shed unwanted pounds fast and even fight a whole host of diseases.
Doctors, dietitians and nutritionists are divided as to whether juice cleanses have all the detoxifying, diet-transforming and disease-fighting properties their advocates so reverently profess. From a medical standpoint, doctors say our bodies (specifically the kidneys and liver) are equipped to naturally remove toxins from our systems.
One thing most experts can agree on is that juicing in moderation (think a glass a day as opposed to a meal replacement) can supplement an already decent diet or help jump start a range of healthy behaviour, such as more mindful eating in general. The bottom line is It’s fine to occasionally drink your fruits and veggies as long as you eat them often too.
Whole or pulverized, fruit and vegetables are essential to a healthy diet, so if it takes a glass of juice to help you get more of them, then that’s not entirely a bad thing. Experiment with ingredients like ginger for energy, or antioxidant-rich beets, which are high in folate, to help protect your heart.
For a super smoothie try mixing up some high grade protein powder with wild greens, blueberries, yogurt, banana, flax seeds, wheat germ & green tea powder.
Also: **Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host BradKing for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America. Here’s the link: http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/1686/transforming-health
excerpts taken from Health Trends – Chatelaine Magazine
Chronic diseases are on the rise and so many people we know are suffering from something, getting tests done and taking over-the-counter or prescription medications. My gut feeling says THIS IS NOT NORMAL!
MOST PEOPLE today have some degree of gut damage which is a serious problem because both health and disease start in the gut. What’s happening?
When our gut is damaged, it becomes more challenging to lose weight, digest food properlyand maintain stable moods and energy levels. Gut damage also makes us more vulnerable in the long run to chronic disease. It is through gut repair that we can address the root of our health problems and avoid disease in the future. Now there’s a new book that addresses these problems:
In Clean Gut, Alejandro Junger, M.D, New York Times bestselling author of Cleanand creator of the world-famous Clean Program, delivers a complete toolkit for reversing disease and sustaining life-long health. He explains why understanding the gut is one of the missing factor in thinking about our health.
All of today’s most-diagnosed ailments can be traced back to an injured and irritated gut. The gut is an intricate and powerful system, naturally designed to protect and heal the body every moment of every day And yet for far too many of us, this remarkable system is in disrepair, which leads to all kinds of health problems—from extra pounds, aches and pains, allergies, mood swings, and lack of libido, to heart disease, cancer, autoimmune disorders, insomnia, and depression.
But we no longer have to be sick to get healthy. In this groundbreaking program, Alejandro Junger, M.D. explains how instead of treating the symptoms as they arise, we can preemptively attack disease before it takes root in the gut.
No matter your current state of health, you will benefit from this program: Clean Gut will help you put an end to everyday ailments, reverse chronic disease, and achieve true, long-lasting health.
Book available on Amazon.com & Harper Collins
Also, Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America.
Brain Waves – the purpose to keeping brain function strong.
Thebrain…one of the largest and most complex organs in the human body, made up of more than 100 billion nerves that communicate in trillions of connections called synapses.
When people start to experience forgetfulness (what did you just say?), free radicals (those little suckers) may be the cause. Neurologist David Perlmutter, the author of “Power Up Your” Brain (Hay House) says this is the case. These by-products of processes as basic and vital as breathing hurt the structure of cells. “When your brain cells become damaged, your brain kills them off. Nobody can afford the results,” says Perlmutter.
“Certain foods can help by triggering the brain to make antioxidants, which protect healthy cells from harm,” and at levels far greater than you can achieve with supplements,” he says. Add green tea, omega-3 fatty acids, broccoli, tumeric, and garlic to your diet, and exercise regularly, Perlmutter suggests.
PLUS:
**Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America.
An Interview with David Kirsch, fitness expert and author of “The Ultimate New YorkDiet” (McGraw-Hill). David owns the Madison Square Club, a private training gym in New York City, and has worked with Heidi Klum and Liv Tyler. This is an excerpt from his interview with Courtney Balestier.
Kirsch equates exercise with brushing his teeth or talking a shower. It gets the day going. If you have that attitude, it’s easy to take fitness on the road.
Get motivated bright and early: Here’s a universal truth – if you’re not working out in the morning, you probably won’t do it later in the day either. You’re going to be tired from meetings, buzzed from the wine at lunch, later for your dinner reservation, and so on. Whether you’re on a vacation or business trip, get 30 to 45 minutes of cardio out of the way first thing, and it’ll energize your day.
Use your hotel: Predictability is a good thing at the hotel gym. Don’t fool with machines you’re not familiar with – stick with the treadmill or elliptical. If you’re in a country that’s on a metric system, be less concerned with speed and more dialed into pushing yourself.
Improvise: But you don’t need a gym – or a vacation’s worth of free time. My Hotel workout includes Spider-Man push-ups (feet on the bed and hands on the floor) and hand-offs with a pillow (lie on your back with arms stretched overhead and legs in the air, hold a pillow between your shins, then pass it from legs to hands and back). You can do lunges and step-ups using a chair or ottoman. Do three sets of 10 reps each for the push-ups, 10 to 15 reps for the pillow hand-offs, and 10 to 15 reps per leg for the lunges and step-ups.
Be adventurous: Travel is the perfect excuse to change your routine. If you usually run three miles, bring a great pair of cross-trainers (I like Brooks) and power walk for an hour around a new city. If you’re a fitness-class-person, ask the concierge about great classes nearby. This is often entertaining too – a body-sculpting class conducted in French can be pretty funny.
Also – **Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America.
Pretty girls sample wine at the Vista d’oro Winery in Langley, B.C. Fun!
We’re all guilty of social indulging especially during the holidays or while vacationing.
THE GOOD NEWS: A month or so is unlikely to cause any lasting damage, according to internist David Katz, director of Yale University’s Research Prevention Center. As long as you’re not drinking to the point of absolute obliteration (anyone?) or you’re unable to stop topping up when the festivities end.
THE BAD NEWS: some minor issues to overcome from the night before – puffy eyes, sallow skin, a pounding headache, a more snug waistband. Ugh!
Little TIPSy that won’t make you feel the worse for wear:
PACE yourself before hitting a party. If you know you’ll be going out more than usual then it makes sense to try to be as healthy as possible the rest of the time. Get enough sleep, eat well and take care of your skin. Do not drink on an empty stomach because you will get very drunk, very fast. Eating protein like eggs, nuts & cheese are good choices beforehand because they’re digested slowly so the alcohol won’t be absorbed quite as quickly into the bloodstream. Oh, and if you go for a peel or microdermabrasion make sure to do it well before your event. Alcohol can increase bruising.
EAT (again) while Drinking. If you didn’t eat enough or at all – match every drink with something containing fat and protein. Since half the pain of a hangover is dehydration then water it down with a glass of water or seltzer to tame the alcohol. Studies show that clear beverages like gin, vodka or rum are less likely than darker booze to leave a drinker in discomfort. And the tannins in red wine increase blood vessel dilation which leads to ruddy, inflamed skin. Also calories to consider – you cannot drink a lot and eat a lot and stay thin. Something has to give and hopefully it won’t be your waist. That means that mixed drinks like margaritas can count as both a drink and a dessert.
POST PARTY – consider heading off a headache by taking an aspirin (non acetaminophen) and drinking a cup of coffee. In a 2010 study, rats were given both a dose of caffeine and an anti-inflammatory and were spared the production of acetate – the compound associated with hangover headaches. Another study found that a vitamin B6 supplement can reduce symptoms by 50 percent. The endorphins from a brisk walk can also go a long way toward making you feel good immediately. And ultimately, the bottom line with savvy drinking is similar to that of savvy dieting, it’s not about willpower, it’s about strategy.
Info. taken from an article by Liz Krieger about simple holiday drinking strategies that will help you enjoy the party season. And let’s face it shouldn’t life be party most of the time?
Also: Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America.
Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous: A Nutritionist’s Guide to Living well While Living It Up
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
You must be logged in to post a comment.