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Healthy Fall Foods that Ground You

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Your attention span is non-existent, your mind is wandering relentlessly, and you can’t quite feel the earth beneath your feet. The summer is nearly over and for many it’s time to buckle down, get focused and start fresh for fall. Yet, that “spacey” summer feeling might be lingering, making it impossible to concentrate. Ready to come back to reality and regain focus? Now is a great time to add some grounding fall foods to your shopping list.

The idea of grounding foods stems from the Chinese medicine theories of the energetics of food. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that each food has a unique energy that affects your body a certain way. This goes beyond the calories, macronutrients and micronutrients of food. We’re talking about the energetic influence of food on the quality of your life—your mood, your awareness, your energy levels, your health and beyond.  For example, a cow that was treated brutally throughout it’s life, slaughtered, butchered and served to you as a hamburger in a fast-food joint might give your body a predominantly negative kind of energy that could leave you feeling imbalanced and even depressed. Alternatively, that green smoothie that you lovingly prepared with fresh, organic ingredients from the local farmers market offers a pure and beautiful energy to your body that leaves you feeling great, both physically and emotionally. Makes sense, right?

Luckily, those of us who have a tendency to be kind of spacey can use the energetics of food to our advantage. The lazy days of summer are passing and fall means back to business. It’s time to look to some fall foods for their wonderful grounding qualities. As the seasons shift, it’s important to shift your diet as well. These grounding foods will help restore balance to your life and land your feet firmly on the ground.

Roots veggies: beets, carrots, turnips, radishes, ginger, and garlic. All of these veggies have roots that reach down into the ground. The roots of a plant are its anchor; the foundation of life. Adding these foods into your diet can help you become more rooted and grounded in your life as well. Try out some roasted root veggies— they’re tasty and great for shaking off that spacey feeling.

Sweet potatoes and yams: These tasty root veggies get a special mention because they’re not only grounding, they can also curb your sweet tooth, which will really help you shake that spacey feeling. Avoiding processed sugary treats is a great way to support your body with balanced and focus. As the season change, these dense sweet veggies will also help your body adjust to cooler temps.

Quality proteins: Eggs, nuts, and meats offer a grounding energy to the body. They can also help stabilize blood sugar.  Look for organic, hormone free, free-range, etc. Eating nuts that are loaded with pesticides isn’t going to do you much good. Remember that quality foods offer quality energy to your body.

Biking, Triathlon

For those that bike…and have extra friends

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abscess

Have you ever been plagued by very uncomfortable and unsightly skin abscesses?

Last year I struggled with it under my chin. In a bad way. From the bike helmet strap. It was REALLY embarrassing.

This year during Ironman training, aka, lots more miles…I developed a case in the bikini area that really SUCKED. BAD. I couldn’t get my mind to shut up doing the long rides because I was in decent and relentless pain the entire time! The tri shorts/seams had a bit to do with it but the main culprit was…

Not just ingrown hairs but a skin condition called Hidradentitis suppurativa. Which is something I have struggled with my entire life, just to a lesser degree as compared to during intense training. Lots of people have it. Read here.

I’m sooooo RELIEVED to be done with this issue.  Here is what I did.

Purchased a garlic supplement.
Garlic is highly antibacterial. But doesn’t kill our own good gut bugs and end up giving you…(you know). I bought Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract with Vit C, Astragalus, and mushrooms. Took a coupe of weeks to really knock it out. I eat really well and all, and noticed a difference. Nature’s medicine. Check it out on Amazon.
Exfoliated
I exfoliated with Yes to Tomatoes Daily Clarifying Cleanser. Yes to Tomatoes rocks on the face too!
Bought different bike shorts.
The material in the groin is wide, no seams in the crease of the groin.
Started switching shorts
I began to switch shorts from swim to bike (and bike to run) for practices and plan to do the same during the race. You can get the same Yes to Tomatoes face wipes. Very refreshing.
Patience
This skin condition can be a systemic thing, so be patient.  Add more garlic and onions into your diet.  Both very good for you and antibacterial in it’s properties.  Fixing this “surface” issue will also have secret benefits for your body, as the immune issue won’t only affect the skin but other unseen things as well.

Side note:  this approach will work with teenagers with acne, etc etc etc.

Side note 2:  Also.  I have been giving my dog (boxer: pron to cancer/tumors) this Garlic supplement as well and noticed a difference already in her skin!

Happy riding!

Athlete, Diet, Eating

Slightly chubby Irongirl

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I’ve always struggled with weight.

I’ve weighed 210 pounds. That’s size 16.

I’m around a lot of skinny people.

I JUDGE MYSELF. HIGHLY CRITICAL.

I just might have an “I’m enough” issue deep down. Expressing itself as a body self esteem issue.

Seriously?

Two years ago I couldn’t run 1 mile without stopping 3 times and taking 17 minutes. I’m in the best shape of my life.

I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been. I’m gonna be an Ironman soon. That little belief is a BIG FAT LIAR.

I’M ENOUGH. All 156 pounds of me.
(maybe more than enough.  maybe super forkin’ fabulous!)

Yoga

Want to feel JAZZY!?!?!?

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INFLAMMATION cannot live in a highly Alkaline bloodstream! And Inflammation cannot exist when our immune systems are healthy.

More and More we are realizing that Inflammation results in (Cancer, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Arthritis, Gout, Kidney Disease…) which plays a huge role in taking our vitality away from us and keeping is sick, tired and depressed.

If this is true, then what foods help contribute to keeping inflammation under control?

By eating a high alkaline diet and drinking highly alkalized juices actually helps our Immune System stay strong so it can naturally not only fight off viruses, infections but most importantly…fight off inflammatory diseases!

THIS is why it’s crucial we keep our juice intake highly ALKALINE in nature, but also our foods! Here’s a list of the top 10 Alkaline foods:

1. Spinach
2. Cucumbers
3. Celery
4. Almonds
5. Lemons/Limes
6. Alfalfa Sprouts
7. Asparagus
8. Apples
9. Garlic
10. Grapefruit

Remember, you can juice these as well! Also ALL LEAFY greens are highly alkaline, such as Swiss Chard, Kale, etc.,.  INFLAMMATION cannot live in a highly Alkaline bloodstream.  (source: Jay Kordich)

Want more help!?!?! I’m doing a FREE yoga/nutritious chat in July on pH. You will have the opportunity to purchase a simple kit to test your own pH. Simple. Cheap. $5.00

CLICK HERE FOR EVENT INFO

Super cheers, bk

Yoga

Nutrition & Exercise Tips for Type AB Individuals

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Less than 5% of the world’s population has Blood Type AB

Very rare, and the gentle offspring of Type A and Type B blood. This blood type has only been around for about 1000 years. Less than 5% of the world’s population has Blood Type AB. You combine the best and the worst of Blood Types A and B. Most foods that are bad for the Type A and Type B persons, are also bad for the Type AB person, with the exception of tomatoes.

The Blood Type AB person can tolerate tomato lectins well. Like Type A, you do not produce enough hydrochloric stomach acid to digest animal protein well, such as red meat and poultry, yet you do need some animal protein. Therefore, portion size is important, and with less frequency.

Be sure to take bromelain, a digestive enzyme derived from pineapple, to assist with the digestion of your animal protein meals. The best meats for you are lamb, mutton, rabbit and turkey. Also, avoid smoked and cured meats.

Foods that encourage weight gain Foods that encourage weight loss
  • Red meat
  • Kidney beans
  • Lima beans
  • Seeds
  • Corn
  • Buckwheat
  • Wheat
  • Tofu
  • Seafood
  • Dairy
  • Green vegetables
  • Spirulina
  • Sea kelp
  • Pineapple
Yoga

Nutrition & Exercise Tips for Type B Individuals

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Can digest all types of foods with ease

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  • Tolerant digestive systems
  • Cannot digest wheat products containing gluten very well
  • Can handle dairy products

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Persons with Blood Type B have tolerant digestive systems, and can tolerate most foods equally well, with some exceptions.

They are the lucky ones who can digest all types of foods with ease. However, the foods they should avoid are corn, buckwheat, lentils, peanuts, and sesame seeds, as these foods will tend to make them gain weight.

Just like the Type Os, Type Bs tend to have a problem with gluten in wheat products and wheat germ, which can cause a drop in their blood sugar levels, causing symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Blood Type Bs who want to lose weight should definitely avoid wheat products.

Type Bs can handle dairy products okay, compared to the other blood types. However, easy does it; if you consume too many high-calorie dairy products, you will gain weight! If you get hypoglycemia after eating a meal, sipping licorice tea would be beneficial for you. It is not advisable to take licorice supplements, however, unless under the supervision of a doctor.

Foods that encourage weight gain Foods that encourage weight loss
  • Chicken
  • Corn
  • Wheat
  • Buckwheat
  • Lentils
  • Peanuts
  • Sesame seeds
  • Green vegetables
  • Red meat such as lamb, mutton and rabbit; liver; turkey; pheasant
  • Eggs/low-fat dairy products, including eggs from chicken
  • Seafood, especially deep ocean fish such as cod and salmon, also flounder, halibut and sole
  • Licorice tea (Licorice tea is great to sip after a meal, as this will prevent hypoglycemia)
  • Soy foods
  • Olive and flaxseed oil
  • Oatmeal
  • Oat bran
  • Millet
  • Rice bran
  • Spelt
  • Puffed rice
Yoga

Nutrition & Exercise Tips for Type A Individuals

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People with Blood Type A were the original farmers and grain gatherers.

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  • Fragile digestive systems
  • Cannot tolerate animal protein
  • Classic “vegetarian”
  • Do not absorb Vitamin B12 properly
  • Prone to pernicious anemia
  • Usually lactose intolerant
  • Feel good after calming, centering exercises

[/tie_list]They have fragile digestive systems. These people cannot tolerate animal protein well, and should be the proverbial, classic “vegetarian” of the human species.

They also are usually lactose intolerant, as well. Persons with Blood Type A should avoid animal protein and dairy products, and would do well with whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables.

Tofu and Hawaiian Spirulina should become the Blood Type A person’s best friends.

Tofu and Hawaiian Spirulina contains high-quality vegetable protein. Persons with Blood Type A do not produce enough hydrochloric acid in their stomachs, and that is why they have a difficult time digesting animal protein well.

This also gives them a predisposition toward getting stomach cancer, and should never eat smoked or cured meats due to the sodium nitrites in them. Animal protein and dairy products tend to rot and ferment in their digestive tracts, and the toxic bacteria backs up into their tissues and muscles, thereby causing digestive distress.

A lack of sufficient hydrochloric acid in their stomachs is another reason that persons with Blood Type A do not absorb Vitamin B12 properly from the foods they eat. Vitamin B12 is normally found in red meat, although B12 is also found in superior vegetable protein foods such as Hawaiian Spirulina, soy products and sea kelp.

Supplementing Blood Type A diet with Vitamin B12 and iron is critical.

This inability to absorb Vitamin B12 sufficiently from food tends to make the person with Blood Type A prone to pernicious anemia. Therefore, supplementing the diet with Vitamin B12 is critical.

Also recommended is supplementation with digestive enzymes such as betaine, bromelain and papain. Bromelain is derived from pineapple, and assists with the digestion of animal protein. Betaine will help to increase the amount of hydrochloric acid in their stomachs.

The best exercise for these persons is not the heavy, vigorous workouts, but more calming, centering exercises like Tai Chi, Hatha Yoga and golfing. These soothing types of exercises will relieve the Blood Type A person’s stress in a more beneficial way.

Foods that encourage weight gain Foods that encourage weight loss
  • Meat
  • Dairy food
  • Kidney beans
  • Lima beans
  • Wheat (in excess)
  • Sugar
  • White flour
  • Vegetable oils, such as olive and flaxseed
  • Soy foods
  • Spirulina
  • Vegetables
  • Pineapple

Other foods to avoid:

Meat & Poultry bacon, beef, ground beef, buffalo, duck, goose, ham, hart, lamb, liver, mutton, partridge, pheasant, pork, rabbit, veal, venison, quail.
Seafood anchovy, barracuda, beluga, bluefish, bluegill bass, catfish, caviar, clam, conch, crab, crayfish, eel, flounder, frog, gray sole, haddock, hake, halibut, herring (fresh & pickled), lobster, lox (smoked salmon), mussels, octopus, oysters, scallop, shad, shrimp, sole, squid (calamari), striped bass, tilefish, turtle.
Cheeses & Dairy American, blue cheese, brie, butter, buttermilk, Camembert, casein, cheddar, colby cheese, cottage, cream cheese, edam, emmental cheese, gouda, gruyere, ice cream, Jarlsberg, Monterey Jack cheese, Muenster cheese, Parmesan, provolone, Neufchatel, sherbet, skim or 2% milk, Swiss, whey, whole milk.
Oils corn, cottonseed oil, peanut, safflower, sesame.
Nuts & Seeds brazil, cashews, pistachios.
Beans & Legumes copper, garbanzo, kidney, lima, navy, red beans, tamarind beans.
Cereals cream of wheat, familia, farina, granola, grape nuts, wheat germ, seven grain, shredded wheat, wheat bran.
Breads & Muffins English muffins, high-protein bread, matzos wheat, multi-grain bread, pumpernickel, wheat bran muffins, whole wheat bread.
Grains & Pastas white & whole wheat flour, semolina & spinach pasta.
Vegetables cabbage (Chinese, red, white), eggplant, lima beans, mushroom (domestic), olives (black, Greek, Spanish), peppers (green, jalapeño, red, yellow), potatoes (sweet, red, white), tomatoes, yams.
Fruits bananas, coconuts, mangoes, melon (cantaloupe & honeydew), oranges, papayas, plantains, rhubarb, tangerines.
Juices orange, papaya, tomato.
Spices capers, plain gelatin, pepper (black, cayenne, peppercorns, red pepper flakes, white), vinegar (apple cider, balsamic, red wine, white), wintergreen.
Condiments ketchup, mayonnaise, pickles, pickle relish, Worcestershire sauce.
Herbal Teas catnip, cayenne, corn silk, red clover, rhubarb, yellow dock.
Beverages beer, distilled liquor, seltzer water, all sodas, black teas.
Yoga

Nutrition & Exercise Tips for Type O Individuals

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Blood type O is the oldest blood type in the world.

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  • Hardiest digestive systems
  • Meat-eaters, need animal protein for good health
  • Cannot digest wheat products containing gluten very well
  • Digestive systems contain a lot of stomach acid
  • Low thyroid and sluggish metabolisms
  • Feel good after vigorous workouts

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People with Blood Type O have the hardiest digestive systems. They are the meat-eaters. Persons with Blood Type O need animal protein for good health, as well as vegetables and fruits. However, carbohydrates should be kept to a minimum, since the Blood Type O person cannot digest carbohydrates very well, especially wheat products containing gluten.

Type O Individual will do well on a high animal protein, low carbohydrate diet; and, dairy products should be kept to a minimum.

Persons with Blood Type O produce a lot of hydrochloric acid in their stomachs, and it is this great abundance of stomach acid that allows them to digest animal protein favorably. And, because their digestive systems already contain a lot of stomach acid, they should avoid drinking coffee, since coffee will cause them to produce even more stomach acid, and this tends to make them prone to peptic ulcers, especially if they are constantly under a great deal of stress. They should drink more green tea, instead of coffee.

Persons with Blood Type O tend to have low thyroid and sluggish metabolisms; therefore, they should supplement their diets with sea kelp and seafood to obtain natural iodine to stimulate their thyroids.

The best exercises for these persons are the vigorous workouts like jogging, power walking, aerobics, weight training, etc. The harder they exercise, the better they will feel. Get the heart rate going, and sweat up a storm to burn calories, alleviate stress and eliminate depression!

Foods that encourage weight gain Foods that encourage weight loss
  • Wheat gluten
  • Corn
  • Kidney beans
  • Navy beans
  • Lentils
  • Cabbage
  • Brussels sprout
  • Cauliflower
  • Mustard greens
  • Sugar
  • White flour
 Sea kelp (iodine)

Seafood: bluefish, cod, hake, halibut, herring, mackerel, pike, rainbow trout, red snapper, salmon, sardines, shad, snapper, sole, striped bass, sturgeon, swordfish, tilefish, white perch, whitefish, yellow perch, yellowtail.

Red Meat: beef, buffalo, heart, lamb, liver, mutton, veal, venison; Vegetables: kale, spinach, broccoli.

Other foods to avoid:

Meat bacon, goose, ham pork.
Seafood barracuda, catfish, caviar, conch, herring (pickled), lox (smoked salmon), octopus.
Cheeses & Dairy American cheese, blue cheese, brie, buttermilk, Camembert, casein, cheddar cheese, colby cheese, cottage cheese, cream cheese, edam, emmental cheese, goat milk, gouda, gruyere, Jarlsberg cheese, kefir, Monterey Jack cheese, Muenster cheese, parmesan, provolone, Neufchatel, ricotta, skim or 2% milk, string cheese, Swiss cheese, whey, whole milk, yogurt, all varieties and ice cream.
Oils corn, cottonseed, peanut, safflower.
Nuts & Seeds brazil nuts, cashew, litchi, peanuts, peanut butter, pistachios, poppy seeds.
Beans & Legumes copper, kidney, navy, tamarind, lentils (domestic, green & red).
Cereals cornflakes, cornmeal, cream of wheat, familia, farina, grape nuts, seven-grain, shredded wheat, wheat bran, wheat germ.
Grains & Pastas bulgur wheat flour, couscous flour, durum wheat flour, gluten flour, graham flour, soba noodles, semolina pasta, spinach pasta, sprouted wheat flour, white flour, whole wheat flour.
Vegetables avocado, cabbage (Chinese, red, white), cauliflower, white & yellow corn, eggplant, domestic & Shiitake mushrooms, mustard greens, olives (black, Greek, Spanish), potatoes (red & white), alfalfa sprouts, brussel sprouts.
Fruits blackberries, coconuts, melon (cantaloupe & honeydew), oranges, plantains, rhubarb, strawberries, tangerines.
Juices apple, apple cider, cabbage, orange.
Spices capers, cinnamon, cornstarch, corn syrup, nutmeg, black & white pepper, vanilla, vinegar (apple cider, balsamic, red & white wine).
Condiments ketchup, mayonnaise, pickles (kosher, dill, sweet & sweet pickle relish).
Herbal Teas alfalfa, aloe, burdock, coltsfoot, corn silk, echinacea, gentian, goldenseal, red clover, rhubarb, Saint-John’s Wort, senna, shepherd’s purse, strawberry leaf, yellow dock.
Beverages coffee (regular & decaf), distilled liquor, all sodas, black teas.

 

Exercise Tips for Type O Individuals

More than any other blood type, O’s rely on physical exercise to maintain physical health and emotional balance.

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  • O Individuals Respond well under pressure to vigorous exercise.
  • O Individuals Need efficient metabolism to stay slim and energetic.
  • O Individuals Need constant and intensive training program.

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O individuals are athletes. They have more physical strength, and needs exercise to release stress, worries, fears and anxieties. Doing so helps them better assimilate information more quickly later on. For an O individual, vigorous exercises such as hiking, bicycling, swimming and jogging are best—and a morning routine suits them well. If they will exercises first thing in the morning, they goes through the day calmer, more peaceful, and better at problem solving.

Athlete, Education, Yoga

What keeps you upright

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Did You Know: The dynamics and supportive properties of the human spine are provided by:

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  • an intricate network of blood vessels
  • countless specialized nerve endings
  • hundreds of small nerve fibers which connect to structures of the spine
  • more than 220 specialized ligaments
  • greater than 120 individual muscles
  • over 100 intricate joints
  • 34 vertebrae
  • 24 presacral vertebrae (movable)
  • 5 sacral and 3-5 coccygeal vertebrae (non-moveable)
  • 31 pairs of spinal nerves
  • 23 intervertebral discs

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The human spinal column provides flexibility for movement, support for weight bearing and protection of nerve fibers. The spinal column surrounds and protects the spinal cord, which is the main pathway of communication between the brain and the rest of the body. The spinal column also protects the nerve roots and part of the autonomic nervous system.

The spine has three major types of joints:
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  • synarthroses
  • diarthroses
  • amphiarthroses

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The vertebral column consists of 24 presacral (moveable) vertebrae
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  • 7 cervical vertebrae
  • 12 thoracic vertebrae
  • 5 lumbar vertebrae

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The sacrum and coccyx are composed of fused vertebrae and are also considered part of the spinal column.

The cervical vertebrae are the most mobile of the 24 presacral spinal vertebrae.

The 12 thoracic vertebrae articulate with 12 pair of ribs. The thoracic spine is designed for a minimum of movement, thus providing protection for the internal organs.

The large stocky lumbar vertebrae are designed to support the weight of the body

Info By American Academy of Spine Physicians
Art by Andrea Schillaci

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