Does a Cleanse Shake a-day Keeps the Doctor Away?

Nutrolution presenting education last night on a topic that many people are confused over: detox and cleansing. We updated the old saying, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" and turned it into "a cleanse shake a day keeps the doctor away," whereas an apple is a dated method of staying healthy, and a cleanse shake is a more updated antitode to disease. Toxicity is one of the leading causes of both disease and general poor health conditions. We see toxicity manifesting everyday in the form of weight gain, brain issues, digestive problems, low energy, low immune function, and more.

Our foods are polluted starting from growth methods which incorporate pesticides through processing and packing in plastics. And pollution often continues through the cooking process in many cases, when you consider how most people and restaurants still cook with vegetable oils, which are highly chemical-laden and processed unhealthy fats.

Our bodies are adept at clearing toxins, hence we have intricate body systems for such, including the liver, gall bladder, kidneys, gastro-intestines, skin, lungs, and more. Though the level of toxins consumed by the average American far exceed the rate at which the human system can make sense of and clear waste. New toxins including artificial sugars, Splenda and Aspartame, as well as pesticides, antibiotic residues, fake colors and flavors, and preservatives all are integral in our food supply. All the synthetic toxins we've innovated almost make the original toxins like high sugar, fake fats (aka margarine and other hydrogenated oils), alcohol, and environmental smoke and other toxins seem benign, when really they also major contributors to toxicity.

I compare toxicity to a job in which your body can only do so much in one day before the rest of the work backs up. Over a week, it's no biggie, but over a year, 5 years, 10 or more, extra toxins ingested daily can become a monstrous and damaging back log which reaks havoc on the cell, causing all sorts of disturbances including mitochondrial dysfunction, causing chronic fatigue and weight gain, and accelerated aging and cancer from DNA damage.

The idea here is that people who've been consuming and/or exposed to a high level of toxins need to cleanse. Once cleansed, it is a wise idea to maintain the system through a daily cleanse shake and concious food and beverage choices. Nutrolution teaches people how to take their bodies from a state of toxicity through a cleanse system and maintain it. For more information, contact me at RRichardson@nutrolution.com

Nutrolution Moves Forward on an Initiative to Educate Kids

On March 19th, 2010, Nutrolution's Rachael Richardson, RD, LD/N and Ivan Amayo, MBA provided civil service as they spoke a group of seventy five 18-25 year old "core members" about healthy nutrition. It was called Nutrition 101 for Young Adults, and it was geared toward young adults on a tight food budget. The core members are a group of volunteers who work for City Year, a national non-profit organization who focuses on raising the bar of education in the United States, particular focusing on inner city struggling schools. Nutrition 101 for Young Adults was well received, and the day marks the start of a new relationship between City Year Foundation and Nutrolution, Inc.

Nutrolution is now working with City Year and other individuals including 5th Grade Licensed School Teacher Leah Beeson to create a nutrition education curriculum which can be implemented through City Year's existing programming and potentially to a wider audience as well. Leah Beeson is currently a wellness committee member and has already begun to develop and implement wellness concepts cocreated by herself and Nutrolution within her classroom and elementary school.

With weekly topics such as 1.) If it doesn't Grow, it Doesn't Grow, 2.) Your Body is Your Engine, and 3.) Losing Weight the Right Way, this up and coming program is going to lead the way for cutting edge nutrition education directly geared for school aged kids, specifically elementary and early middle. Nutrolution and City Year together will begin seeking funding immediately to develop this much needed program. Please be in touch if you would like to help.

Currently, Nutrolution has published a kids section on their website, where kids (and parents) can find and print a basic nutritional guide for kids. http://www.nutrolution.com/kids.php  Nutrolution has coined the innitiative 'Dunk the Junk' with more to come on bringing this campaign to fruition. With key partnerships and funding, there is nothing which we-Nutrolution-cannot accomplish when it comes to teaching children how to nourish their bodies and stay healthy and disease and medication-free, even amist a world of junk food and incessant food marketing.

With a vision for a healthy future for kids, and a space where nutrolution may be of best service in 2010 and years to come, I smile gently.

Rachael

Nutrolution begins to work with the Miami-Dade County Public School System

On March 1st, 2010, Nutrolution partook in the first ever Teacher Wellness Workday at Devon Air Elementary School, a top-flight school in Miami Dade-Public School system, which borders on the Miami Dade Community College Kendall Campus. We (nutrolution) were the kick off to the day, which also included yoga and other exercise for the teachers. This all took place only 1 week before the major FCAT tests, so the teachers needed some relaxation and personal attention.

At 9 am we began our show, entitled Nutrition 101 for Teachers. As well, we brought in a sponsor, Fit 2-Go, who provided a delicious and healthy meal for the teachers. Our main goal was to raise awareness for the Power of Nutrition and to provide the teachers with plenty of practical tools and tips as well.

I must say, I was most pleased with the result of the presentation. The teachers were enthusiastic and participatory. I realized that this group of teachers is clearly devoted to learning. The teachers felt the presentation opened their eyes to a lot of things they never knew or only partially understood. My sister, Leah Beeson, one of the teachers at the school told me that later that day, teachers were still talking about my presentation and noone would reach for the junk food provided at an afternoon meeting.

Clearly, we sparked something yesterday. My goal is to continue to ignite teachers toward a much higher level of awareness and understanding about food so that they may continue to educate our nations children. What a profound effect this could have on the financial and health of our country, and I cannot thank my sister and the team at Devon Air enough for providing this unique and worthwhile opportunity.

Thank you's are also in order to Fit 2-Go for an excellent meal, and another partner, CID Botanicals for their donation of Stevia to the teacher's lounge to provide an alternative for artificial sweeteners.

Till next time... Rachael

Nutrolution @ David Barton Gym in South Beach, The Flamingo

Tomorrow evening, 5-8 pm, Ivan Amayo, MBA and I (Rachael Richardson, RD, LD/N) will be educating people about how to choose a healthy Whey Protein Powder. The Promotion will also include freshly made protein power smoothie samples provided by Nutrolution, Body Fat Analysis by the personal trainers at David Barton, and free samples and promotion for another workout supplement called "React", by RRD Corp. I'll also be available for "Ask the Nutritionist" over the counter nutritional advice, and we'll be passing out our Nutritional Program for Athletes. Anyone who attends will receive a free workout at this gym which overlooks the Biscayne Bay and is in the epitome of South Beach Hip Lifestyles.

I'm looking forward to seeing new and old faces, mingling and sharing some of my favorite Whey Protein Powder and other favorite Sports Supplements with people, and of course, getting the word out that Nutrolution is the place to go for pharmaceutical grade nutraceuticals and the BEST nutritional ADVICE! (no really, I'm not biased ;) I hope to see you tomorrow! RSVP to be added to our guest list : RRichardson@nutrolution.com

Start the Week with Self Care and Love by Batch Cooking Your Meals Ahead

Yesterday, I spent the day with a client as we planned, grocery shopped and batch cooked two meals which will likely last her all week. Once she gets the swing of it, it will be a quick process to make meals for the whole week. For breakfast she'll be eating probiotic rich yogurt, chopped apple or papaya and walnuts (excellent for the brain!) For lunch an egg frittada which also has homemade red potatoes, onions, scallions, mushrooms, and spinach. And for dinners she'll be having some fried rice which is dense in carrots, onions, scallions, basil, and garlic, as well as organic eggs and shrimp, cooked together with brown rice and healthy coconut and sesame oil. She seemed quite pleased and prepared for her week upon finishing, and this is the perfect way to spend the day in self love and care. Personally I couldn't think of a better way to spend my time. (well, maybe a couple, but it was surely a special experience for me as well)

Amazing & well-researched Probiotics

I can almost guarentee that any person (young or old) who walks in my door will benefit from taking probiotics. Why? Because the vast majority of people living in the US suffer from "dysbiosis". Dysbiosis is an imbalance of bacteria in the intestines. It happens when you don't have healthy protective bacteria in your system, such as after taking antibiotics, or in the case of a baby who wasn't breastfed.

Breastmilk is where we originally obtain our healthy bacteria, and without it, all sorts of microbes have a shot at colonizing your intestine. Long term, bad bacterial and/or yeast colonization will turn into GI problems such as constipation, gas, bloating, IBS, and even ulcers and other acute conditions. Immune problems also increase when there's no good bacteria present in your intestines. And I strongly believe that the overwhelming still relatively new problem of autoimmune disease is in large part due to dysbiosis. It is connected through a process by which dysbiosis leads to a leaky gut, which send proteins into the blood stream, causing immune system dysfunction.

So what's the solution? Take probiotics. And they must be the right kind, as found on my web site, http://www.nutrolution.com/ . Human grade, pharmaceutical grade, and FOS free to begin. I've posted a couple research studies below which highlight the benefits of probiotic supplementation with pregnant women and the elderly. There is so much more research available, not to mention clinical experience to support the regular use of probiotics for general health and disease prevention.

Research Study #1: Probiotic Supplementation During Pregnancy May Be Beneficial


Reference:"Impact of maternal probiotic-supplemented dietary counselling on pregnancy outcome and prenatal and postnatal growth: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study," Luoto R, Laitinen K, et al, J Nutr. 2010 Feb 4:1-8. [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Department of Paediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, 20520 Turku, Finland).

Summary:In a randomized, placebo-controlled study involving 256 pregnant women, results indicate that probiotic supplementation and dietary counseling during pregnancy may improve pregnancy outcomes and reduce risk of gestational diabetes and larger birth size. The women were randomized in their first trimester to one of three groups: 1) diet+probiotic group: received intensive dietary counseling and probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12); 2) diet group: received intensive dietary counseling; 3) diet+placebo group: received intensive dietary counseling and placebo. During pregnancy, 13% of women in the diet+probiotic group were diagnosed with gestational diabetes, compared with 36% in the diet+placebo group and 34% in the diet group. Additionally, probiotic supplementation was associated with reduced risk of larger birth size. Thus, the authors conclude, "The results of the present study show that probiotic-supplemented perinatal dietary coun seling could be a safe and cost-effective tool in addressing the metabolic epidemic. In view of the fact that birth size is a risk marker for later obesity, the present results are of significance for public health in demonstrating that this risk is modifiable."
 
Research Study #2: Probiotic Supplementation May Be Beneficial For Chronic Constipation

Reference:"Efficacy of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) supplement in management of constipation among nursing home residents," An HM, Ha NJ, et al, Nutr J, 2010; 9(1):5. (Address: Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, Seoul 139-742, Republic of Korea. E-mail: aashhm@hanmail.net ).

Summary:In an intervention study involving 19 nursing home residents with chronic constipation, results indicate that supplementation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB: beneficial probiotics) may be effective in improving constipation. The subjects were assigned to LAB (3.0 x 1011 CFU/g) twice (to be taken 30 minutes after breakfast and dinner) a day for 2 weeks. At intervention end, increase in frequency of defecation and amount of stool excreted in defecation habit was observed. Additionally, tryptophanase and urease enzyme activities of intestinal microflora significantly decreased. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "LAB, when added to the standard treatment regimen for nursing home residents with chronic constipation, increased defecation habit such as frequency of defecation, amount and state of stool. So, it may be used as functional probiotics to improve human health by helping to prevent constipation."

Nutritional Treatment for Bipolar disease

So for many reasons, this is a very pertinent topic lately. Just this week, I began working with a new client who is suffering from bipolar disease. The client takes numerous prescription medications, and is still suffering with severe depression, insomnia, and addictions. He's been using food (specifically sugar/starches) to self medicate at bedtime when not even Ambien is putting him to rest.

The interesting thing about this case is the timing at which his most recent episode with bipolar depression began. During our initial conversation, we discovered that this episode- which has lasted 5 months and is still full blown- began right around the time that he cut out most animal proteins. As we delved into his diet, it became clear that he is highly deficient in protein, and many other essential brain nutrients. So needless to say, we began him on a program to increase complete proteins, which are the key building blocks for serotonin. As well, we've increased his DHA through food and supplemental sources, needed for opening brain cell receptor sites. We also added specific micronutrients including vitamin D3, B Complex, and a multimineral. Last but not least, we're ensuring balanced blood sugar through more balanced eating, and reducing gluten and other chemicals that could be affecting his brain negatively. In this particular case, digestion appears to be in tact, however had it not been, digestive repair including probitoic supplementation, specifically HLC Mindlinx would bevery important. Now the only thing that stands between seeing results is time and the ability of this client to stay on course. This will certainly be an interesting case for me personally, and I look forward to sharing results as they occur.

On a more grandiose note, I've seen so many people struggling lately with depression, addictions, attention deficit disorder, and other brain-related imbalances. It happens around this time of year, when vitamin D levels are at there lowest from less light. Also due to less sunshine, fatty acid malabsorption is more likely to occur, which again, impacts the brain cells.

Nutrition is one avenue that most people haven't explored in the treatment for brain problems. Yet clinical research and experience point to the fact that nutrition is an effective first step for treatment for mild to moderate brain imbalances. As well, people who are already on medications can benefit from dietary changes and nutritional supplementation to restore deficiencies.

I personally hope to begin to reach family doctors, psychiatrists, physcologists and therapists to start letting them know that there is absolutely more that they can do for their patients.  Nutrition could be a huge key to restoring a healthy quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people. From a health practitioner perspective, as well as on a personal level, I feel very connected to this topic and will be sharing more with you as I learn in my journey.