#bellyfat

What is the Glycemic Index and Glycemia Load?

Oct 23, 2018
5 min

What is the Glycemic Index and Glycemia Load?

Glycemic this and glycemic that. Does it matter? You'll notice that they bother begin with "glycemic." That's one tip that they have to do with sugar and carbs. Not only how much sugar is in foods, but more importantly, how it affects your blood sugar levels. In general, diets that are high on the glycemic index (GI) and high in glycemic load (GL), tend to increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease. FUN FACT: Starches like those in potatoes and grains are digested in

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The Stress Mess: How it Messes With Your Health

Kathy Morris

Oct 16, 2018
3 min

The Stress Mess: How it Messes With Your Health

We all have some level of stress, right? It may be temporary (acute), or long-term (chronic). Acute stress usually won't mess with your health too much. It is your body's natural reaction to circumstances, and can even be life-saving. Then, when the "threat" (a.k.a. "stressor") is gone, the reaction subsides, and all is well. It's, when chronic stress that's a problem. You see, your body has specific stress reactions. If these stress reactions are triggered every day or ma

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Kathy Morris

Oct 9, 2018
4 min

Foods that Trigger Inflammation

You've likely heard a lot about inflammation, but do you understand what kind of foods cause it, and what effects it has on the body? Inflammation is your body's response to invaders, and it shows that your body's white blood cells are working hard to fight for you. For example, when it comes to arthritis, your immune system is trying to fight off invaders hat don't really exist. As a result, your body starts to attack itself, and the inflammation ensues. Inflammation can b

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Reduce Inflammation With these Key foods

Kathy Morris

Oct 2, 2018
4 min

Reduce Inflammation With these Key foods

Inflammation. It's not just for health headlines. It's a fact. Scientists are measuring levels of inflammation in our bodies and finding that it can be pretty bad for our health; this is especially true when it's chronic (i.e. last a long time). But, instead of writing all about what it is, how it's measured, and where it comes from; why don't I focus on some foods packed with anti-inflammatory antioxidants that are proven to help reduce it? Here are my top anti-inflammatory

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Kathy Morris

Sep 25, 2018
3 min

Ways to Have A Healthy Autumn

With back to school and cooler temperatures, fall is always the time of year when focusing on your health seems to be put on the back burner. You don't have to let this busy time of year take the wind out of your sails though. There are certain things you can do to have a healthier fall for you and your family. 1. Make the most of seasonal foods We always think about apples and pumpkins in fall because it's prime season for them. While pumpkin pie and pumpkin spice lattes

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Kathy Morris

Sep 18, 2018
4 min

Phytic Acid, The Mineral Reducer

Do you soak or sprout your nuts, seeds, grains and legumes? Is it to help improve their digestibility? To help increase their nutrition? Perhaps, it's to reduce phytic acid? Phytic acid is naturally present in most nuts, seeds, grains and legumes; it is the plant's storage form of the mineral phosphorus and is used as energy when the plant starts to grow. The highest levels of phytic acid are found in rice bran, wheat bran, wheat germ, almonds, and walnuts. Phytic acid and

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You Can Still Eat Healthy Around the Campfire

Kathy Morris

Sep 11, 2018
3 min

You Can Still Eat Healthy Around the Campfire

With so many outside activities to enjoy in the sunshine, it can be hard to let summer go. There's still plenty of time to enjoy the outdoors before the cold really settles in, and one of my absolute favorites growing up and RV-ing in my adult years was to enjoy the cool weather and camping. As you get ready to pack up for a big camping trip, you might be wondering how you can make delicious and healthy meals while in the great outdoors. Camping can indeed present some chall

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Have You Ever Wonder What a Paleo Diet Is?

Kathy Morris

Sep 4, 2018
4 min

Have You Ever Wonder What a Paleo Diet Is?

This week we are discussing Paleo Diet 101. You may have heard of the "paleo" diet. It was the world's most popular diet around 2013. Scientist and "Paleo Mom" Sarah Ballentyne, Ph.D defines it as: "The Paleo diet is a nutrient-dense whole foods diet based on eating a variety of quality meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. It improves health by providing balanced and complete nutrition while avoiding most processed and refined foods and empty cal

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Kathy Morris

Aug 27, 2018
4 min

How Do I Keep My Blood Sugar Stable?

Oh, the words "blood sugar." Does it conjure up visions of restrictive eating, diabetes medications, or insulin injections? Blood sugar is the measure of the amount of sugar in your blood. You need the right balance of sugar in your blood to fuel your brain and muscles. The thing is, it can fluctuate. A Lot. This fluctuation is the natural balance between things that increase it; and things that decrease it. When you eat food with sugar or starches ("carbs"), then your dig

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Kathy Morris

Aug 21, 2018
4 min

How Can I Get Enough Vitamin D?

When we think of "vitamins," we know they're super-important for health. But vitamin D is special. It's difficult to get enough vitamin D; vitamin D is, therefore, a very common deficiency. So, let talk about how much of this critical fat-soluble vitamin we need, and how you can get enough. The three ways to vitamin D are exposure to the sun, consuming vitamin D containing food, and through supplements. Why is vitamin D important, and how much do we need? Vitamin D helps us

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Kathy Morris

Aug 14, 2018
3 min

Adrenal Fatigue: What Is It?

Stressed? Tired? Craving Sugar? Cant' sleep? All of theses can be related to the constant stress we feel in our lives. We know that stress can have a huge impact on our health and wellness. And, since your adrenal glands produce stress hormones, adrenal fatigue (or "HPA Axis Dysregulation,") is a popular theme lately. (The hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis is our central stress response system. The HPA axis is an eloquent and every-dynamic intertwining of the centr

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The Gut-Brain Connection: How to Feed Your Brain

Kathy Morris

Aug 7, 2018
4 min

The Gut-Brain Connection: How to Feed Your Brain

If there was ever a call for "digestive health," this is it! Yes, it's true. Your gut is considered your "second brain." There is no denying it anymore. And because of the new scientific discoveries about the vagus nerve, the enteric nervous system, and the amazing influence your gut microbes can have, it's no wonder what you eat feeds not only your body but can directly affect your brain. I find it amazing (but not too surprising). Was exactly is the "gut-brain connection."

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The Coconut Oil Craze-Should I Jump on the Bandwagon Too?

Kathy Morris

Jul 31, 2018
3 min

The Coconut Oil Craze-Should I Jump on the Bandwagon Too?

Yes you should (end of post). But what exactly is it about coconut oil that makes it so healthy? And which type is best? Let's dive into some of the fascinating research and find out. Coconut oil is a special kind of fat Coconut oil is fat and contains the same 9 calories per gram as other fats. It is extracted from the "meat" of the coconut. Coconut oil is a white solid at room temperature and easily melts into a clear liquid on a hot day. The ideas of adding coconut oil t

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Kathy Morris

Jul 24, 2018
4 min

The Truth Behind Artificial Sweenteners

You probably Know the negative health effects of eating too much sugar, especially"added sugars" like in soda, candy, baked goods, and many commercially-available cereals, just to name a few. Added sugar is hiding just about everywhere in the grocery store. Yes, ingesting refined sugar spikes your blood sugar and insulin, and increases your risk for a whole host of issues. Awhile ago, one of the food industry's responses to the demand for lower-calorie foods that still taste

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Raw vs. Cooked - Which Contains More Vitamins and Minerals?

Kathy Morris

Jul 17, 2018
4 min

Raw vs. Cooked - Which Contains More Vitamins and Minerals?

Let's finally put an end to the debate of raw vs. cooked. Of course, in the grand scheme of a well-balanced, nutrient-dense, varied, whole foods diet, the cooked vs. raw debate isn't that critical for most people. Where this can become a consideration is for vitamin and mineral deficiencies (or "insufficiencies"). these may be due to digestion or absorption issues, or avoidance of certain foods (due to allergies, intolerance's, or choice). And I'll tell you that the answer is

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Kathy Morris

Jul 10, 2018
4 min

Is My Poop Normal?

Yes, I'm serious! (And don't you sometimes wonder anyway?) You already know that your poop can reflect your physical, and sometimes even emotional, health. You may get constipation or have diarrhea when you eat something that "doesn't agree with you," or when you're super-nervous about something. And what about fiber and water? If you’re not getting enough, it’ll probably show in your poop. What about the all-important gut microbes? If they're not happy, it'll probably show i

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Five Weight-Loss Friendly Snacks You Will Love

Kathy Morris

Jul 3, 2018
3 min

Five Weight-Loss Friendly Snacks You Will Love

The words “weight-loss” and “snacks” often appear in the same sentence. But that might also bring thoughts of "tasteless," "cardboard," and "completely unsatisfying." Right?' What’s my criteria you ask? They have to be nutrient-dense whole foods where a little goes a long way; foods that contain protein and/or fiber. 1 - Nuts It’s true - nuts contain calories and fat, but they are NOT fattening! Well, I’m not talking about the “honey roasted” ones, of course. Those probably a

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Can My Symptoms Actually Be a Food Intolerance?

Kathy Morris

Jun 26, 2018
4 min

Can My Symptoms Actually Be a Food Intolerance?

Food or "sensitivities" can affect you in so many ways. And they’re a lot more common than most people think. I'm not talking about anaphylaxis or immediate allergic reactions that involve an immune response. Those can be serious and life-threatening. If you have any allergies, you need to steer clear of any traces of foods you are allergic to, and speak with your doctor or pharmacist about emergency medication, if necessary. What I'm talking about, is an intolerance, meanin

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Kathy Morris

Jun 19, 2018
4 min

All About Digestive Enzyme

Not everyone should be taking digestive enzyme supplements; and not all of them are created equal. As a practitioner, I find that many people with digestive issues want to jump straight into using a supplement. And many times I would rather try other strategies first. Not to mention, that some supplements can be harmful if used inappropriately. So, let’s dive into a few of the common digestive enzymes, what they do, and who should NOT take them. What are digestive enzymes? Te

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How to Naturally Lower Stress Hormone (Cortisol)

Kathy Morris

Jun 12, 2018
3 min

How to Naturally Lower Stress Hormone (Cortisol)

STRESS!!! Its causes are absolutely everywhere. Would you agree? Our natural “fight or flight” stress response can sometimes go a little overboard. It’s supposed to help us escape injury or death in an emergency and then return to normal after we’ve fought or flew. But, that doesn’t happen too much in our society - it becomes a long-term reaction. It becomes chronic. You’ve probably heard of the main stress hormone, called “cortisol.” It’s released from your adrenal glands i

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