Wellness Thoughts: Blood Sugar Metabolism

Put very simply: When we eat a meal the glucose (sugar ) enters our blood stream to be transported to our cells for their use. This blood glucose signals our pancreas to release insulin. Each of our cells have receptors on them that act somewhat like a door. The insulin is what "opens the door" to allow glucose to actually enter the cell. If the receptors (doors) on our cells are damaged, or if there is not enough insulin, or if the blood sugar levels are constantly high (due to high dietary sugar intake) our pancreas may become overworked and not be able to keep up with the insulin production. This can result in hypoglycemia (hyper or tired/irritable highs and lows) and this can easily progress to diabetes.

It is important to provide essential nutrients to ensure healthy glucose "doors" on our cells. We must choose our diet very carefully. Decrease simple carbohydrate intake (sugar, bread, sweets, dairy products, soda, alcohol, commercial juices, refined and processed foods, white flour products, etc.) and increase complex carbohydrate intake (whole grains, legumes, vegetables, etc.) for balanced blood sugars and sustained energy.

We eat much too much sugar...it's in everything! Choose wisely! Important note: do not reduce sugar with artificial sweeteners as these are neurotoxins ( toxic to our brain and nerve cells) and extremely detrimental to our health. Do your homework on these chemical concoctions before using them!

Drink eight glasses of pure water daily. Eating and sleeping on a routine makes it easier to control blood sugars. Regular exercise is very important to improve blood-sugar management.

What Can help You Manage Blood Sugar Metabolism?

These Shaklee supplements can help you maintain health, normal blood sugar levels:

• Glucose Regulation Complex: helps promote blood sugar levels from a unique blend of minerals, botanical extracts and antioxidants.
• B-Complex: a naturally balanced nutritional formula whose primary function is to enhance energy production and nervous system integerity. Helps to control the STRESS in your life. Allows adrenal-pancreas-liver balance of blood sugar.
• Cinch product line: improves insulin sensitivityand neuro endocrine response to thyroid hormone, burns body fat and increase lean muscle mass, approaches body balance in a new and natural way, improves energy to begin an effective weight program, which is needed by many.
• Omegaguard: prevents vascular degeneration and improves insulin sensitivity.
• Soy Protein: your body needs a continuous supply of high-quality protein. Americans eat plenty of protein, but it is mostly from meat, eggs and dairy sources, which are usually high in saturated fat and cholesterol.
• Vitalizer: is the powerful and convenient approach to complete supplementation providing the best spectrum of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, anti-aging phytonutrients, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics, all in one daily serving.

If you would like more information on these products call me or go to http://healthnetwk.myshaklee.com

Wellness Thought: Exercise Break It Up

Do you find it difficult to fit in your recommended 30 minutes of daily physical activity? Don’t think of it as a once-a-day event; instead, break up the time into shorter segments throughout the day. To mix it up try doing different activities for each segment—8 flights of stairs between meetings, a walk around the block at lunch and a deskercise session to get you through the afternoon! Ten or fifteen minutes on breaks, lunch or between floors can add up in a hurry. Start by thinking of activities you can do during the day based on your environment. Next, determine times throughout the day when you can accomplish the activities. Finally, make it part of your daily routine.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to email or call me. Until next time have a wonderful, healthy day!  Let me be your GPS to Optimal Wellness... Naturally!  Your body will thank you tomorrow for the good things you do for it today.

Wishing you health and wellness from the inside out,

Lisa

LQ WELLNESS

Professional Wellness Coach

973-383-0955

lisaquinnwc@embarqmail.com

Interested in Optimal Wellness? Take a look at products available here!

Make sure to follow me on Twitter @lq_wellness

"Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live."  ~Jim Rohn~

Are you struggling with excess weight that won't come off no matter what you try?

Do you wish you could have more energy and less stress in your daily life?

Would you like to take charge of your health so you can feel as good as you did when you were younger?

Do you know what you should be doing to feel and look better but would like someone to support you and hold you accountable for making those changes?

I'm here to help! Working together with you, I will create a personalized program that will help you feel your best and reach your health goals.  I'll support you every step of the way to help you achieve lasting changes that will make you healthier and happier. 

Take the first step and schedule a complimentary ½ hour health breakthrough session to find out how an integrative approach to health can help you.

Meatless Monday: Pass Up Processed Meats For Good Health

One Step At a Time...

You Can Go Meatless One Day For All Three Meals

If you favor sizzling bacon and salty slices of ham, you might want to reserve these menu choices for special occasions, thanks to a growing body of science that says “No” to consuming processed meats. Researchers have linked higher consumption of these meats—bacon, sausage, hotdogs, processed deli meats like ham and salami—with a number of poor health outcomes, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and premature death.

Heart disease: 

A Harvard meta-analysis, that included data on more than 1.2 million people found that processed meats were linked to a 42 percent higher risk of coronary heart disease (Circulation, 2010).

Type 2 diabetes: 

Data from Harvards’ Health Professionals Follow-up Study, which followed more than 442,000 participants, revealed that eating a daily 50-gram (1.75 ounces) serving (about one hot dog or sausage) was linked with a 51 percent increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Cancer: 

While processed meat intake has been associated with a number of cancers, the most conclusive link is with colorectal cancer. In the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study, that included more than 500,000 adults, a significant increased risk of colorectal and lung cancer was observed with higher intake of processed meat. The American Institute for Cancer Research warns against eating any amount of processed meat in order to reduce cancer risk. 

Premature death: 

A study published in March 2012 in the Archives of Internal Medicine evaluated data from more than 120,000 men and women over 28 years. The researchers found that a daily serving of processed meat increased the risk of death by 20 percent.

Why the risk?

There are several plausible reasons why processed meats may raise your risk for disease. These meats are often very high in saturated fats, which are known to raise “bad” LDL cholesterol levels, heart disease risk, and promote inflammation, a root of chronic disease. An ounce of pan-fried bacon (about one strip) has about 4 grams of saturated fat, 20% of your budget for the whole day. In addition, processed meats are typically very high in sodium; an ounce of pepperoni contains over 450 milligrams, about 20 percent of the daily allotment for healthy individuals. Keeping your sodium intake down can help protect you from high blood pressure and stroke. And more: Processed meats are prepared with carcinogen-forming compounds, such as nitrites. Your healthiest bet is to keep these processed meats to a minimum or avoid them entirely. Focus on fresh, minimally processed animal foods such as chicken, turkey, and fish, as well as more plant-based proteins, such as soy foods, beans, lentils, peas, nuts, and seeds.

Healthy Meatless Recipe: 

Garden Veggie Egg Bake

(adapted from Taste of Home )

Looking for a healthy day-starter? Children will actually enjoy eating their veggies when they’re baked into this cheesy, nutrition-packed egg dish.

Ingredients

• 5 eggs
• 2 cups egg substitute
• 1/2 cup 2% cottage cheese
• 1/3 cup shredded pepper Jack cheese
• 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 1 medium zucchini, chopped
• 2 cups fresh broccoli florets
• 2 cups coarsely chopped fresh spinach
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered

Directions

• In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, egg substitute, cheeses, pepper and pepper sauce. Stir in the vegetables. Transfer to an 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray.
• Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting. Yield: 6 servings.

Enjoy and Bon Appetit! 

Healthy Weekly Motivator: 

Do the Best for Your Breasts

Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer diagnosed in American women. And although it's more rare, men can develop breast cancer, too. Fortunately, eating a healthy and balanced diet (especially high in fruits and vegetables), exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption may all lower your risk of developing breast cancer.

This week, evaluate your current breast cancer prevention practices and check to see when your next screening should be. If you're between the ages of 50 and 74, you should have a mammogram once every 2 years. If outside of this age range, talk with your physician about your risk factors and when you should get screened for breast cancer.

Have a great week everyone and remember a better tomorrow starts with what you eat today! Do you have a favorite meatless recipe you would like to share with us? Send it my way!

Wishing you health and wellness from the inside out,

Lisa

LQ WELLNESS

Professional Wellness Coach

973-383-0955

lisaquinnwc@embarqmail.com

Interested in Shaklee? Take a look at products available here!

Make sure to follow me on Twitter @lq_wellness

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming 

gardeners who make our souls blossom."

 ~ Marcel Proust ~

Are you struggling with excess weight that won't come off no matter what you try?

Do you wish you could have more energy and less stress in your daily life?

Would you like to take charge of your health so you can feel as good as you did when you were younger?

Do you know what you should be doing to feel and look better but would like someone to support you and hold you accountable for making those changes?

I'm here to help! Working together with you, I will create a personalized program that will help you feel your best and reach your health goals.  I'll support you every step of the way to help you achieve lasting changes that will make you healthier and happier. 

Take the first step and schedule a complimentary ½ hour health breakthrough session to find out how an integrative approach to health can help you.