Fad or Fiction – Food Manufacturing Today

In no period in history have we been so concerned about health and avoiding disease. Why then do so many of us struggle with weight gain, disease and degeneration? Why have we become so addicted to processed flour, sugar and caffeine? Food manufacturing is the largest industry in North America so the competition to put food on your plate is big business. The food manufacturing industry is motivated by profit, not your health. Consuming empty foods, devoid of nutrients, negatively impacts our wellbeing while filling corporate pockets.

What has happened to our food? In order to serve a growing population and a modern culture, the food industry engineer’s food for mass consumption, making it more addictive and reducing essential nutrients. We have traded wholesome enlivening food for convenience. Instead of using food as nature’s medicine, we view food merely as calories and macronutrients. Our taste buds have been manipulated to crave more sodium, sugar and fat while losing the ability to enjoy fresh, wholesome, real food.

The good news is that the answer is easier than you think. The current epidemic of chronic degenerative diseases – obesity, diabetes, IBS, cancer and heart disease – can be reversed using whole foods. Whole (real) food is fresh, local or seasonal food that is unrefined, unprocessed and additive-free.

At Dynamic by Nature, Precision Nutrition (whole food therapy) includes:

• Comprehensive nutritional assessment and profile which will support your goals such as weight-loss, increased energy, hormone balancing and immune boosting.


• Individually tailored system of whole food selection and preparation that fits easily into your work week.


• Meal plan that will eliminate your dependence on junk food, sugar, caffeine and supplements by eating the right whole/natural foods.


• Sustainable shopping guide that will save you time, energy and money.


• Simple, delicious wholesome recipes that you and your family will LOVE!

The quality of your food and how you connect to your environment are the two most powerful choices you make on a daily basis, which create the most permanent change… choose wisely! Eat. Move. Thrive. Connect to Your Dynamic Nature!

Judy Chambers RNCP, CPT - Registered Holistic Nutritionist & Certified Personal Trainer
www.dynamicbynature.com

Spring Salad Surprise Dressing

Spicy Pumpkinseed-Miso Dressing

*Makes 2½ cups

Ingredients:
½ cup Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (*unpasteurized)
½ cup Filtered Water
1 cup Virgin Olive Oil or Cold-pressed Garlic-Chili Flax Oil
2 Tbsp. Omega Pumpkinseed Butter, Hempseed Butter or Tahini
1 Tbsp. Naturally Fermented Miso (*brown rice or barley miso)

Instructions:

1. Place all ingredients in a blender and puree until creamy.


2. Serve over your favorite wild greens.


3. Alternatively, this dressing can be used as a dip or dressing to enliven yam fries, wraps, sushi, sandwiches or nut loafs!

Enjoy!

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Food Cravings

Blame It on the Bacteria in Your Gut

by Judy Chambers RNCP, CPT

Chocolate may seem pretty hard to avoid, but some people crave it every day! New research shows that it might not be lack of willpower that makes you give in to the cravings... your body's bacteria may be to blame!

Chocolate, sweets, carbohydrates, caffeine and alcohol.

Many people actually crave these things, sometimes on a daily basis.

Call it lack of willpower, bad habits or addiction, but the fact remains that some people find the urge to consume these treats too difficult to resist.

Now a new study points to a biological basis for chocolate cravings that has major implications for your health and your weight.

Cravings and Bacteria

A team in Switzerland studied two groups of men, those who crave chocolate daily and those who consider themselves indifferent to it. They found that "people who crave daily chocolate show signs of having different colonies of bacteria than people who are immune to chocolate's allure."

Researchers are not sure if chocolate consumption alters the bacteria content of the intestines or if the bacteria changes, thus triggering the cravings.

Either way, the bacteria/cravings connection is an important one.

Other research shows that the bacteria content of the intestines is different depending on body weight. Normal weight people have one kind of dominant bacteria while obese people's intestines are populated by a different strain.

Again, researchers are not sure what happens first: weight gain or a change in intestinal flora.

Regardless, the findings illustrate that cultivating a healthy colony of beneficial bacteria is a key part of maintaining a healthy weight and freeing yourself from cravings.

Grow Your Beneficial Bacteria to Banish Sugar Cravings

A healthy inner ecosystem is made up of the friendly microflora (good bacteria and yeast) that aid your digestion and help you get the nutrients you need to stay healthy. Unfortunately, most North Americans today have an imbalanced inner ecosystem, which can lead to food cravings and obesity.

By re-establishing a healthy inner ecosystem, you can free yourself from chocolate and sugar cravings as well as maintain a healthy weight.

The easiest ways to encourage the growth of good bacteria is to add fermented foods and probiotic supplements to your diet.

Fermented foods and probiotic supplements are carefully cultured with strains of beneficial bacteria and yeast to populate your gut and enhance your health.

Long a tradition of ancient cultures, fermented foods and drinks are becoming more popular in the health-conscious Western world.

Fermented foods and drinks include:

• Cultured Vegetables (unpasteurized sauerkraut)


• Young Coconut Kefir


• Yogurt or Milk Kefir


• Cultured Kimchi


• Fermented Kombucha

Probiotic superfoods innoculate, colonize and feed the growth of good microflora in your body. Yes, they are a must for boosting your immunity, but they are also essential for stopping those cravings for the sugars that sabotage your ability to lose weight and stay healthy.

Keep in mind, though, that a desire for the sweet taste is quite natural. Finding pleasure and a sense of satisfaction in the sweet taste and constant cravings for sugars or alcohol, however, are definitely not the same.

We humans were created to actually enjoy that sweet taste (part of the five elements – sweet, salty, sour, bitter and pungent) but do so with whole foods that don't harm us or age us quickly.

Easy Probiotics

With the stress of everyday life it is oftentimes difficult to take care of your health AND everything else. We know that you are serious about supporting your inner eco-system with healthy fermented foods and drinks but may lack the time or equipment to prepare them.

That's why many modern manufacturers have created naturally fermented foods, beverages and probiotic supplements for you, such as; unpasteurized sauerkraut, kombucha soda by Fairy Tonic and the latest living probiotic supplement ProAlive Probiotic by Ascended Health.

Living ProAlive Probiotic is an all natural, vegan liquid which contains beneficial flora, along with a high concentration of the various by-products from these friendly bacteria, such as "B" vitamins, enzymes, natural support elements (bacteriocins) which defend against the bad bacteria, yeast and fungal inhibitors plus other substances necessary for inner balance or homeostasis.

One of the main flora (Paracasei) is a healthy cleansing flora that works in the liver and digestive tract to help flush out toxins and works as an anti-fungal agent. Research indicates that the Curvatus lactic acid microbe has the ability to produce anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-mold agents to inhibit detrimental organisms from flourishing in your system.

So it's not about willpower. It's actually about what you are feeding your body and whether you are consuming foods and drinks that create or upset your inner ecosystem - balance in body, mind and spirit.
Spring into action with a probiotic-rich, wholesome diet designed to create a balanced inner eco-system. Dynamic by Nature is commited to supporting you in this quest... to learn more about balancing your personal eco-system, cutting-edge workshops, eco-products or to subscribe for FREE tips, check out www.dynamicbynature.com today!

Sources:

Borenstein, Seth, "Scientists Explain Chocolate Cravings," WashingtonPost.com, 12 Oct 2007. www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/12/AR2007101200019.html

How the Bacteria in Your Gut Affect Your Body Weight - And How to Get the Balance Right
www.bodyecology.com/07/01/04/bacteria_affect_weight_balance.php

Fun-damentals of Healthy Eating for Kids Workshop

Fed up with trying to get your kids to eat healthy? Join Judy for a fun food adventure filled with tips, tricks & recipes for transitioning kids to a healthy whole foods way of life! Tasty tidbits included!

Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Place: Terra Breads Falsecreek Location
Head Office Test Kitchen (2nd floor)
53 W. 5th Avenue (5th & Ontario),
Vancouver, BC
(Enter through Front Administration Door, next to the Café)

Cost: $35 (+GST)

You can pre-register at www.dynamicbynature.com/classes.html

Secrets to Super Natural Immunity

WAIT! Before you’re scared into believing you’re at risk for getting the H1N1 flu, read this article on the realities of natural prevention and super food immune support. You may find that probiotics, a healthy diet and plenty of rest are the best ways to boost your immunity and protect yourself.

If you’re among the many who are worried about the flu this season, you have probably read a lot on this topic already. But I’m certain you’ll appreciate the following tips on how to naturally support and boost your immune system using powerful food solutions.

5 Super Natural Ways to Strengthen Your Immunity and Prevent Flu:

1. Consume Probiotic-rich Fermented Foods and Beverages
   
   The best way to boost immunity for the flu season (and all year round) is to introduce naturally fermented foods into your diet. The probiotics (healthy or beneficial bacteria) found in these foods are far more effective than any supplement.
   
   A new study published in Pediatrics shows that a daily dose of probiotics may reduce the incidence of cold and flu-like symptoms in children by 50 percent.
   
   If your new to a natural whole foods diet, or don’t have time to ferment at home, I highly recommend you stock up on naturally-fermented or cultured fruits, vegetables & drinks such as unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, sauerkraut, coconut kefir or kombucha soda. Just 2 oz. per day is all you need to boost immunity.


2. Pay Attention to Your Vitamin D
   
   Vitamin D influences immunity and is best taken in a supplement form in conjunction with food sources such as organic butter, eggs & wild fish. Adequate vitamins A and D have been strongly associated with flu prevention and better outcomes in studies (see Vitamin D council website). A good prevention strategy is 1 tsp. of High Vitamin Cod Liver Oil and 2,000-5,000 IU Vitamin D3 per day during the winter season. Starting right now!


3. Eat a Healthy Whole Foods Diet and Avoid Sugar
   
   
   Super natural immunity begins with the bounty of nature (whole or unprocessed). First choice should always be what’s fresh, local and seasonal.
   
   Then get cooking with quality Unrefined fats (i.e. virgin coconut oil, organic butter or cold-pressed olive oil) and natural Unrefined seasonings (i.e. “Le Paludier” sea salt).
   
   Word to the wise… remember to limit the white stuff as well, 1 tsp. of refined white sugar has been shown to suppress your immune system for up to 5 hours!


4. Get Plenty of Sleep and Reduce Stress
   
   
   
   
   
   A good night’s sleep strengthens your adrenals. Strong adrenals are essential for creating the energy to run your body on each day, managing stress and to fight an infection.


5. Support Your Body’s Natural Detoxification Systems
   
   There are many benefits to cleansing toxins or pathogens naturally. If you feel like you are coming down with the flu, be sure to include plenty of the following foods; filtered water with lemon, chlorophyll-rich foods (dark leafy greens, seaweeds & green herbs), berries (especially elderberry), fresh ginger and turmeric.

So if you want to stay healthy this flu season, you can start by following the steps above. Concentrate on boosting your immunity with a healthy whole foods diet which includes plenty of naturally-fermented probiotic-rich foods.

Don’t panic or let the media scare you. Instead learn everything you can about the realities of the flu www.mercola.com . And above all, Prevention is Key… and that means healthy diet, good attitude and balanced lifestyle. Exhaustion, fear and anxiety weaken your immune system so don’t work yourself into the ground or let fear and anxiety build up in your body!

Hopefully, the flu won’t be a reality for you this winter. Either way, start building your immunity NOW with a healthy kick start and rest easy knowing you’ve given your body a leg up on good health.

© Judy Chambers RNCP, CPT
Photo Credits: Insiya Rasiwala-Finn (www.yogue.net)

Secrets to Super Natural Immunity Workshop

Interested in learning about how to effectively protect and boost your immune system using key natural foods? Join me for an inspiring, informative and playful workshop featuring super food samples!

Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Place: Terra Breads Falsecreek Location
Head Office Test Kitchen (2nd floor)
53 W. 5th Avenue (5th & Ontario),
Vancouver, BC
(Enter through Front Administration Door, next to the Café)

Cost: $35 (+GST)

You can pre-register at www.dynamicbynature.com/classes.html