Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Cuddling Up

"If you need extra encouragement to snuggle up to your sweetie, mark
your calendar. January 6 is Cuddle Up Day, and there's ample reason
to join in the celebration. Sharing a hug and holding hands can actually
blunt the harmful physical effects of stress, such as a soaring heart
rate and elevated blood pressure, according to a study published in
Behavioral Medicine. And don't worry that your guy seems too brawny to
get mushy- surprising new research from the Kinsey Institute found that
men crave cuddling even more than women do."

-Prevention Magazine, January 2012

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Power

"Everything we run away from has power over us;
everything we go through, we conquer." -Joyce Meyer

Affection

"Never walk away from someone when you see some faults.
Have patience and realize that nobody is perfect. It's the
affection that matters, not the perfection." -Deejay Nismo

Free Health Fair

The Vitamin Shoppe
Join Us as We Celebrate YOUR Health. FREE product samples, FREE health information, FREE consultations with health professionals and much more. Call your store or stop by for details.
See you there!
WHEN: 12/11/2011, 12:00AM - 3:00PM
WHERE: 1337 N. Hayden Island Dr, Portland
CALL: (503) 286-6237 for more details

Monday, November 28, 2011

Breakfast Cookie

"Most cereal bars are junk. Glutino Gluten Free Blueberry
Breakfast Bars are no exception.
The "blueberry filling" has more sugar, apple powder, white
grape juice concentrate, and water than blueberries. The rest
is mostly chick pea flour, corn flour, and fructose (the
unpopular sugar in high-fructose corn syrup).
It's like having an oversized Fig Newton for breakfast."

-Nutrition Action Healthletter, September 2011

Not So Naturael

"Bionaturae Organic Gluten Free Fusilli is supposed to
"closely match the flavor and nutritional content of wheat
pasta." White pasta, that is. Bionaturae uses organic rice flour,
rice starch, and soy flour, but none of it is whole grain. Save
your spaghetti sauce for something like Lundberg Organic Brown
Rice Gluten-Free Pasta. It has less protein and fiber than whole
wheat pasta, but at least it hasn't been denuded.
As for Ancient Harvest Quinoa Supergrain Pasta, it has more corn
flour than quinoa."

-Nutrition Action Healthletter, September 2011

Curried Red Lentils

"Saute 1 diced onion in 2 Tbs. of canola oil until browned.
Stir in 1 tsp. of curry powder and a cup of red lentils. Add
2 1/2 cups of water. Simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed,
10 to 12 minutes. Stir in up to 1/2 tsp. kosher salt. Makes 4 cups."

-Nutrition Action Healthletter, October 2011

Life

"If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal,
not to people or things." -Albert Einstein

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Ingredients That Dazzle

"Gluten-free peanut flour boasts more than twice the energy-boosting
protein of all-purpose white flour, along with a pleasingly nutty
flavor profile. No wonder more chefs are incorporating it into new
and old recipes."

-Gluten Free Living Magazine, Number 3/2010

Thursday, November 24, 2011

'Tis The Season Of Emotional Overeating

Simple strategies to tame your chew.

While it may be the season to be jolly, for many it is a difficult and frightening time. So, I asked my favorite emotional eating expert, Dr. Denise Lamothe, to weigh in on emotional overeating and a strategy to outsmart it during the holidays. Here’s what she had to say:

Navigating your way through the holiday festivities is a challenge to be sure!

Have you ever really paid attention to how focused our culture is on food? Virtually every occasion we experience has food as a central theme.

Think of Thanksgiving without turkey and pumpkin pie, or Easter without candy eggs. How about Valentine’s Day with no chocolate, birthdays or weddings with no cake, or even meetings without refreshment breaks? How often do we get together with friends without including food? We ask people to meet us for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. We invite them over for coffee or a drink. When was the last time someone asked you to get together just to spend time enjoying each other’s company? Food is everywhere and a part of nearly every occasion.

How can we take care of ourselves in this food-oriented culture? How can we socialize with friends, celebrate holidays and birthdays, go to fine restaurants and relax about it? How can we manage to enjoy ourselves, eat only some of what is offered and feel satisfied? How can we survive this constant exposure to food? If we eat too much, the result is anxiety and we will want to eat to medicate this feeling. If we eat too little, we feel deprived and set ourselves up to binge later. If we have weight to lose, we feel anxious about that and if we have lost the weight we wanted to lose, we feel anxious that we will gain it back. (Many people report that they find it much harder to maintain weight loss than to lose the weight in the first place.) So we eat because we have not lost weight and we eat because we have lost weight. What a dilemma! At either end of the scale, anxiety lurks, and if we don’t know healthy ways to cope with the anxiety, we eat.

It is impossible to be harmonious, balanced and content all the time in social situations or in life in general. If we feel too successful or unsuccessful, for example, we find ourselves off balance and anxious. Anytime things are a little too “good” or a little too “bad” we find ourselves racing to the refrigerator in search of something to help us find emotional balance. We mistakenly think food can provide this for us. It cannot. Only we have the power to cope with our own difficult feelings as we negotiate our way along our own life’s path.

All this can be very confusing and discouraging. Whatever holidays you may celebrate, remember to keep your needs in the foreground and to nurture yourself. Even in settings where opportunities to sabotage yourself abound and your “Chew” is screaming for “treats,” you do not have to feel helpless and victimized. Here’s how:

* Give yourself time before you go out to sit, close your eyes, listen to your internal guidance system, connect with your appetite and breathe.
* Think through the event and decide how you will approach it.
* Be mindful once you arrive and make as many self-loving, conscious choices as you can.
* Enjoy whatever you do choose to eat and never, under any circumstances, beat yourself up. Remind yourself that you are in charge of you–not your “Chew” and remember, there are no mistakes, only lessons.
* So try to relax and be gentle with yourself. The more you nurture yourself in other ways, breathe and remind yourself that you have conscious choices to make every moment, the less important food will become.

Please take a look at Dr. Denise’s latest book, The Appetite Connection–a splendid gift for the holidays.

____________________________________________________________

Just before the holiday season takes off, Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to take a moment to reflect on all that I have to be thankful for. Your loyalty and support over the last three decades has helped to fuel and inspire my efforts to charter new territory for more advanced health and healing. Together we are journeying into a healthier, albeit more challenging world, and I will look forward to another 30 years exploring new frontiers with you. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

- Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you all a very HEALTHY and HAPPY Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Black Friday E-lert

Smart solutions for e-pollution.

Black Friday is right around the corner. Actually you won’t even have to wait until sunrise on Friday because so many big-box stores around the country are now opening their doors at midnight on Thanksgiving. Electronics promise to be the biggest “best buy” this coming holiday season. Americans will be standing in line for the latest e-readers, iPads, tablets, iPhones, smartphones, and of course, digital toys.

Since our lives today are so intertwined with technology, telling anyone that they are being “harmed” by invisible manmade frequencies is not only alien to the culture, but a very inconvenient truth—especially this time of the year.

That’s why, regardless of what else you buy—you at least owe it to your children—to read Zapped which is all about the way you can learn to outsmart the hazards of electropollution and safeguard your family with the right superfoods, seasonings, and supplements. Since Zapped came out, I discovered a line of products that is available to balance and shield the body against the negative impact of electromagnetic fields. These shields—perfect for your new e-reader, smartphone, laptop, and microwave oven—work on a cellular level in harmony with your own biofield. There are even simple and elegant body shields in the form of pendants, necklaces, and earrings that you can wear on your body to further safeguard your system when using your mobile.

But don’t take it from me. Here is a sampling of articles, blogs, leading studies and opinion makers citing the health hazards of electronic magnetic pollution around us:

Andrew Weil, MD
“Electromagnetic pollution (EMF) may be the most significant form of pollution human activity has produced in this century, all the more dangerous because it is invisible and insensible.”

GQ Magazine, February 2010 “Warning: Your Cell Phone May Be Hazardous to Your Health” by Christopher Ketcham
“Though scientific debate is heated and far from resolved, there are multiple reports, mostly out of Europe’s premiere research institutions, of cell-phone and PDA use being linked to “brain aging,” brain damage, early-onset Alzheimer’s, senility, DNA damage, and even sperm die-offs (many men, after all, keep their cell phones in their pants pockets or attached at the hip). In September 2007, the European Union’s environmental watchdog, the European Environment Agency, warned that cell phone technology “could lead to a health crisis similar to those caused by asbestos, smoking, and lead in petrol.”

The Huffington Post, October 13, 2010 “Are Cell Phones and Wi-Fi Hazardous to Your Health?” by Hyla Cass, MD
“The bottom line is that electropollution—from cell towers, computers, cordless and mobile phones, PDAs, Wi-Fi, even the electrical appliances and wiring in our homes, offices and public buildings—continuously disturbs the sympathetic nervous system. This, in turn, elevates the body’s fight-and-flight response, raising levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Fluctuations in cortisol lead to a wide range of health concerns ranging from belly fat and thinning skin to accelerated aging, blood sugar imbalance, cardiovascular problems, erratic sleep patterns and mood disturbances.”

SELF.com, June 1, 2011 “Cell Phones Linked to Cancer: 12 Healthy Changes to Make Now” by Amy Paturel
“…researchers report that just 30 minutes of cell phone use a day (or more) is a category B carcinogen akin to talcum body powder and pickled vegetables. The conclusion marks a shift from WHO’s original position, stating there were no risks from cell phone use. The experts stressed, however, that the evidence of a link remains elusive and more research is needed to further explore the possible risk.”

Parenting.com, May 9, 2011 “Are Cell Phones Hazardous to Our Kids’ Health” by Jeana Lee Tahnk
“While long-term effects are still being researched, it’s wise to heed the simplest advice of experts like Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman…about cell phone usage and at least keep the phone away from your head and body as much as possible, use a Bluetooth earpiece, and limit cell phone usage for your young kids.”

Microwave News, March 8, 2011 “Connecting the Dots: Putting the Volkow Brain Scans in Perspective”
” ‘Cell Phones Affect Brain Activity.’ That headline has appeared all over the world since Nora Volkow published a PET scan of a brain lit up by a cell phone last month. Her colorful graphics, published in the high impact Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), guaranteed Volkow a large and attentive audience. But all the hoopla shouldn’t obscure the fact that for more than a decade many others, notably Peter Achermann’s group at the University of Zurich, have shown similar types of radiation-induced changes in the brain as well as much more.”

MedCity, June 14, 2011 “Have You Been Zapped?” By Samantha Gluck
“Now the new Group 2B classification of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields marks cell phones and other wireless devices as possibly carcinogenic in humans. The 2B classification can mean that research has found inadequate evidence of carcinogenicity in humans, but sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals. The IARC may classify agents in the 2B category for a number of other reasons as well, including strong evidence from mechanistic or other correlative data.”

Recent Studies:

* Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), February 23, 2011; “Effects of Cell Phone Radiofrequency Signal Exposure on Brain Glucose Metabolism.”
* Review on Environmental Health 2010 Oct-Dec; “Scientific panel on electromagnetic field health risks: consensus points, recommendations, and rationales.”
* The WHO/International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), May 31, 2011; ”IARC Classifies Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields as Possibly Carcinogenic to Humans”

____________________________________________________________________________

Are you going to give up your cell phones, laptops, and other electronics? Probably not, at least not anytime soon. However, my book Zapped, and these personal shields can offer concrete solutions to zap-proof our lives in the meantime.

-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman

Monday, November 21, 2011

Good

"A little of what you fancy does you good." -Marie Lloyd

Hope

"Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible,
and achieves the impossible." -Helen Keller

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Lundberg Rice

Almond Brown Rice Stuffing

Cooking Instructions:
* 1/2 cup slivered almonds
* 3 tbsp. butter
* 1 medium tart red apple, cored and diced
* 1/2 cup chopped onion
* 1/2 cup chopped celery
* 1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning
* 1/4 tsp. thyme
* 1/4 tsp. ground white pepper
* 3 cups cooked Lundberg Brown Jasmine Rice (cooked in chicken broth)

Cook almonds in butter in large skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown. Add apple, onion, celery, poultry seasoning, thyme and pepper; continue to cook until vegetables are tender crisp. Stir in rice; cook until thoroughly heated. Use as stuffing for poultry or pork roast, or bake tightly covered in a separate baking dish at 350 degrees 25 to 30 minutes. Makes 6-8 servings.

Recipe courtesy of USA Rice Federation.

Holiday Pumpkin Pie with a Superfoods Twist

Get the most out of your Thanksgiving dessert.

I love Thanksgiving. I especially look forward to the traditional desserts—like pumpkin pie. But as you know, most conventional pumpkin pie recipes are made with granulated sugar and sweetened condensed milk that can result in sugar shock. Even the so-called healthy variations contain too many natural sugars, devoid of nutritional value. So, instead of giving up on this festive treat, I decided to give it a gluten-free superfoods makeover—complete with super seasonings and super sweeteners.

That wasn’t hard to do because pumpkins happen to be extremely rich in nutritional value to begin with. While surprisingly low in calories, pumpkins deliver a powerful potassium punch in just one cup of mashed.

With nearly 600 mg of this heart and cortisol-balancing mineral—1/3 more potassium than a banana—they are also an unexpected source of fiber and carotenoids. Pumpkins offer up more than 2,000 mcg of the vision-protecting carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin—with a decent supply of B complex vitamins and manganese—a trace mineral so important in reducing the swelling, pain, and stiffness in joints.

Here is a quick run-down of some of the other flavorful, highly healthy ingredients that my pumpkin pie contains and that you may already have on hand:

Cinnamon - The spice that can spice up your health, too. A mere ½ teaspoon per day helps to level out blood sugar and can also alleviate arthritic pain.

Nutmeg - An antibacterial spice that is known for improving circulation and concentration while calming down the stomach. A sleep promoter.

Mace – A warming spice that supports smooth digestion.

Ginger - An anti-inflammatory spice, ginger is liver supportive and normalizes blood pressure while acting as a fat-burning agent and flu buster.

Cloves – Strongly aromatic, cloves tonify the stomach, kidneys, and spleen providing immune-enhancing benefits.

Allspice – The name says it all—a combination of the aromatic flavors of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves.

Maple Syrup – My sweetener of choice because it’s actually good for your liver! The liver, as you may recall from my Fat Flush books, is your number one weight loss stumbling block. A liver overloaded with toxins cannot efficiently burn body fat and will sabotage your weight loss efforts. The latest research on this natural sweetener suggests that it not only protects liver function but can decrease elevated liver enzymes. It contains antioxidants, minerals and vitamins.

Date Sugar – A high-fiber sugar filled with minerals including magnesium, calcium, and potassium.

Here’s my Holiday Pumpkin Pie Recipe—

Crust:
1/2 cup almond meal
1/4 cup almond flour
1 teaspoon Stevia Plus
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter, melted



Filling:
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup date sugar
12 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup coconut milk
2 cups unsweetened canned pumpkin
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon mace
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the meal and flour with the stevia. Beat egg with the melted butter and pour into almond mixture. Stir well. Press into a 9 or 10-inch pie plate. As mixture may be sticky, place a layer of plastic wrap over the mixture and press it into the pie plate. When the mixture is evenly pressed into the plate, discard plastic. Bake the crust about 12 minutes or until starts to brown. Let cool. Fold the maple syrup and date sugar into the cream cheese. Add the coconut milk, pumpkin and eggs. Stir in the spices and vanilla and mix until smooth. Pour the filling into the nut crust and bake for one hour or until a tooth pick inserted into the center of the pie comes out clean. Let cool for one hour. Pie can be served chilled. Refrigerate leftover pie.

Bonus Tip: Take Y-C Cleanse before bed and upon arising the next day. All sugars can potentially still feed yeast.

Thanksgiving is an ideal time to celebrate all the things that really matter most…including you.

Wishing you all a very happy and bountiful Thanksgiving!

-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

'Tis The Season

While you are writing your holiday cards, don't forget
to send one to a recovering Army Soldier...

A Recovering Army Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20307-5001

It does make a difference, thank you!

Udi's

Udi’s Announces a New Millet Chia Bread and Omega Flax & Fiber Bread

Here’s a factoid for you: research shows that approximately 3 million Americans, or roughly 1% of the population, has been diagnosed with Celiac disease. This, plus the fact that many people choose to live gluten-free because of how it makes them feel, means that many more gluten-free products are showing up on the shelves of our local Safeways, Whole Foods, Ralph’s and Piggly Wigglys.

Udi’s is one of those companies that caters to us gluten-free diners. Its products include breads, bagels, granola, buns, cookies, muffins, pizza crusts, and cinnamon rolls. With these in the house you can almost forget you’re gluten-free! The products are easy to source and well-known and, in case you didn’t know this second factoid, its white and whole grain breads are the #1 and #2 top sellers in the segment.

The company has just introduced Millet Chia Bread and Omega Flax & Fiber Bread, which are fiber- and nutrient-rich, and fortified. I’m picturing a post-Thanksgiving turkey sandwich on these breads! Early 2012 will bring fortified muffin tops, fudgy Double Chocolate Brownie Bites and three flavors of frozen gluten-free pizzas.

-Triumph Dining

To Be

"To be YOURSELF in a world that is constantly trying
to make you SOMETHING ELSE is the greatest accomplishment."
-Girly Girl Graphics

Evol Bowls

Product Review: Evol Foods’ gluten-free bowls
by Emily K., November 4, 2011

The other week, Evol Foods mailed me some coupons so I could try out their gluten-free, microwavable bowls. Excellent. I totally dig coupons.

And, obviously, since I’m writing about them — I dug the Evol Bowls, too.

Evol started as a burrito company, then got acquired by the people behind Bear Naked and expanded to include flatbreads pizzas and bowls. Only the bowls are gluten-free, so that’s all we’re talking about here.

Four gluten-free flavors:

* Teriyaki Chicken (dairy-free, contains soy)
* Fire-grilled Steak (soy-free, contains dairy)
* Chicken Enchilada (soy-free, contains dairy)
* Bean & Cheese Enchilada (soy-free, contains dairy, vegetarian)


I liked several things about the product. First and foremost, I like that they’ve taken about as many precautions as anyone could possibly take to make a frozen, microwavable meal green. Carbon offsets, compostable bowls made of sugarcane pulp, and outer packaging that is at least 35% post-consumer waste content / 100% recyclable. Added bonus, my microwave is old and finicky, but these cooked up quickly and evenly (between 3 and 4 minutes).

Second, I like that they list their meat and dairy providers — all of which are free of GMOs and rBGH/rBST. Some you might recognize, like Niman Ranch. Others were new to me, like Wilcox Family Farm’s free-range eggs. Neat.

Third, I thought they were tasty (as if I would write about something that tasted bad). When I was in a hurry but hungry for something warm (and something that would leave me feeling good), these totally fit the bill. The Teriyaki Chicken is definitely the healthiest (in terms of fat, calories, sodium, and cholesterol), but my favorites were the two enchilada flavors.

As is often the case with frozen meals, Evol bowls aren’t spicy — which makes them perfect for dosing with your favorite gluten-free hot sauce (or not, if you aren’t a fan of heat).

I picked mine up at our local Whole Foods, but they’re fairly widely distributed and you should be able to find them at your local health food store or grocery store (a quick search on their website turns up options in most places).

-Triumph Dining

Vitamin A and Celiac Disease

Vitamin A Worsens Gluten’s Inflammatory Effect For Celiacs
by Emily K., November 9, 2011

The last thing I want to be is alarmist, so I don’t always post every little health scare that I find on the internet here.

For a while I’ve been hearing murmurs of concern as regards Vitamin A, and I’ve resisted posting. Finally, though, there’s some hard data to back everything up — which means it’s time to talk.

Vitamin A is a necessary part of everyone’s diet, celiac or no. According to the NIH, Vitamin A plays, “an important role in vision, bone growth, reproduction, cell division, and cell differentiation,” while also regulating the immune system, promoting, “healthy surface linings of the eyes and the respiratory, urinary, and intestinal tracts,” and more. It’s also often found in acne medications.

However, it turns out that Vitamin A is also inflammatory. And if you’ve been reading up on your celiac disease and gluten intolerance, you’ll know that inflammation plays a big role.

The study in question was published in March in the journal Nature, and contains research from a number of respected American institutions. As the abstract explains, individuals with celiac disease, “develop inflammatory T-cell and antibody responses against dietary gluten.” Retinoic acid, a metabolite of Vitamin A, plays a role in regulating intestinal response — and, “in a stressed intestinal environment, retinoic acid acted as an adjuvant that promoted rather than prevented inflammatory cellular and humoral responses to fed antigen.”

Huh?

In short, what it means is that if you stress your gut out — eg if you get glutened — the Vitamin A floating around your system might make the reaction worse.

My interpretation: This isn’t to say that those of us with celiac disease should avoid Vitamin A (it’s important stuff). However, if you know you’ve exposed yourself to something bad it might be prudent not to eat something full of Vitamin A for a little while.

What foods are high in Vitamin A? Healthaliciousness.com reports liver, paprika/red pepper/chili powder, sweet potatoes, carrots and dark leafy greens as the top 5 foods. Yum…but also, who knew?

-Triumph Dining

Nutrition Educator

Become a Nutrition Educator or Holistic Health Coach.
Is educating others in nutrition or holistic health your dream?

Then join me in putting your passion for health and healing to work. I am so excited to tell you about how I can help you do that and about the National Institute of Whole Health.

Established in 1977, the National Institute of Whole Health (NIWH) is the most credentialed integrative health certification program in the country. Finally there is an accredited, evidence-based nutrition program I can stand behind!

Students in the NIWH program learn from world renowned experts and faculty who bridge the gap between traditional medicine and the alternative healing arts through video classes that are streamed online from actual courses conducted at leading medical schools and hospitals.

This program is ideal for holistic-oriented distance learners who want to facilitate lifestyle transformation for themselves and others, increase their scope of healing expertise, and educate others on the philosophy and principles of optimum health. The NIWH Whole Health Education programs focus on the physical, emotional, nutritional, environmental and spiritual aspects of an individual’s lifestyle.

For those who want to expand their nutritional knowledge for service in their community, church, school system, senior citizens’ homes or health food store, you can choose from the following:

* Whole Health and Wellness Nutrition Certificate of Study - Provides 20 whole health and nutrition courses. Open to all who wish to have the nutritional knowledge and tools to prevent disease and live a long and healthy lifestyle. Student has up to twelve (12) months to complete the 20 courses. Upon the successful completion of the program, the graduate will be awarded a diploma in Whole Health and Wellness Nutrition.
* Whole Health and Wellness Coaching Certificate of Study - Provides 26 health science and coaching skills courses. Optional health coaching practicum with a master certified coach mentor available. Upon the successful completion of the program, the graduate will be awarded a diploma in Whole Health and Wellness Coaching.



These courses can also provide a wonderful foundation in the health sciences for the layperson who is considering a career in the allied health field that may include aromatherapy, meditation, yoga, hospice, personal training, energy healing, or homeopathy and more.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

For the health, wellness, fitness, and education professional who is interested in a professionally accredited continuing education certification, NIWH offers the following:

* Whole Health Educator™ and Wellness Coaching Program – Provides 24 core courses plus additional video preparatory courses culminating in a final project. This program is accredited and endorsed by over a dozen national health care organizations and comes with continuing education contact hours. Upon the successful completion of the program, the graduate will be certified and receive a diploma as an NIWH Whole Health Educator.
* Whole Health Educator and Health Coaching Program for Nurses – Provides over 240 ANCC contact hours. Endorsed by the American Holistic Nursing Association and qualifies the graduate to sit for the national Holistic Nurse Certification Exam. Upon the successful completion of the program, the graduate will be certified and receive a diploma as an NIWH Whole Health Educator.
* Whole Health Nutrition Educator™ Program – Designed for health care professionals whose scope of practice includes nutrition education. This course is open only to degreed or licensed nutrition, nursing, culinary or clinically trained professionals who can utilize nutrition education in their current professional capacity. Upon the successful completion of the program, the graduate will be certified and receive a diploma as an NIWH Whole Health Nutrition Educator.



Special Offer!
I am so sure that you will benefit from this educational opportunity that I have made special arrangements for you to receive $150.00 off your tuition. Please email my office at info@annlouise.com and let me know when you are enrolling, so I can send you the special coupon right away! Please contact NIWH (www.wholehealtheducation.com) directly for any program related questions or inquiries you may have.

Learn more about how you can use these integrative and cutting-edge programs to reach your personal, professional and educational goals—please click on the above links to visit the NIWH website and take advantage of this incredible opportunity. And, with the holidays approaching, what a great gift for the up-and-coming or health professional in your life!

-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Help For SAD

"If you are one of the many people who suffer from seasonal
affective disorder (SAD), ask your healthcare provider about
using St. John's Wort for the mild depression that is often
a symptom of the condition. Other ways to cope with SAD? Try
bright light therapy and get outside midday for at least 20
minutes- a brisk walk in natural light can help. Bodywork such
as yoga, Reiki, and massage is useful. Be sure you're getting
enough omega 3s, vitamin D, and magnesium too. They've been
found to help reduce SAD symptoms."

-Taste For Life Magazine November 2011

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Are Cupcakes Crack?

A growing body of research is focusing on the idea of processed foods sharing the same addictive qualities as drugs. Can we afford to feed this addiction?

Sure, we know soda and fatty processed foods aren’t good for us, and we know that they are largely responsible for the surge in obesity in this country. And still we snack on. But do we really understand the psychological impact caused by the foods we’re eating? A growing body of research is focusing on the idea of processed foods sharing the same addictive qualities as drugs. Yes, ice cream, cupcakes, French fries—you get the idea—could all be as addictive as cocaine.

The culprit: modern food processing

Once a neglected sector in science, food addiction research has produced a flurry of studies with relatively consistent results. Although it seems we have always eaten sugars and fats, the changes in modern processing are changing the way our bodies respond to food. We now have concentrated levels of sugar, sodium, or unhealthy fats loaded into foods without any added nutritional benefits. These foods can cause high spikes and lows in blood sugar, which research has found leads to our cravings.

Let’s face it, these foods are everywhere, and they’re affordable—more affordable than healthy foods. So what happens when we constantly feed our cravings?

Dopamine, cocaine and cupcakes

A 2010 study conducted by the Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter, Florida, fed fatty and sugar-laden processed foods such as cheesecake and frosting to rats. As they did, they used electrodes to measure the activity in the regions of the rats’ brains that account for reward and pleasure.

The rats that had access to the sweets for an hour a day began to binge eat, ignoring the healthier foods to which they had 24-hour access. The rats that had ongoing access to the processed foods became obese. The brain pattern that became apparent in this study paralleled that of a person taking an increasing amount of cocaine.

Cocaine (and heroin) signals the brain to release the chemical dopamine, signaling reward. (Dopamine can naturally be produced by exercise.) With increased drug use, the dopamine response is harder to trigger, leading users to increase their intake. The same thing can be attributed to food.

The researchers concluded that access to or an intake of excessive food could lead to damage in the reward centers of the brain, and the regular or daily consumption of these products can actually change our neurological pathways.

In yet another study at Princeton, researchers gave lab rats a sugar water solution that mimicked soda. The researchers found that when the rats were allowed to drink it every day , they would drink more and more of the sugar water and eat less and less of their regular food. When the researchers withdrew the sugar water, the rats went through the same withdrawal symptoms—anxiety, shakes and tremors—that are common in drug addicts.

What about our kids?

As adults we are responsible for our intake of food, but what about the kids whose parents are giving them these foods on a daily basis? They’re not set up to fight addiction. But they are being set up to have a life long addiction to food, if not more. In short, we have allowed our food system to change more than just our weight.

Obesity and our future

Currently, a third of adults (33.8%) and 17 percent of children (12.5 million) are obese (30 pounds or more overweight). This number is triple what it was in 1980, and it is projected that 43% of adults will be obese by 2019. Carrying this much extra weight has been shown to not only reduce life expectancy, but according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it has also been shown to increase the risk of heart disease, certain cancers, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and diabetes.

The increase in obesity has paralleled an increase in diabetes. Roughly 25.8 million children and adults in the U.S. have diabetes, with another 79 million estimated to be prediabetic. Which raises another point: It is estimated that obesity will cost us roughly $344 billion in medical-related expenses by 2018—more than double the $147 billion a study in Health Affairs reported in 2008. Can we afford to feed our food addiction?

-Delicious Living Magazine, Week Of November 9, 2011

Halt The Fat-Making Hormone

Stop the Feeding Frenzy and Zap Sugar Cravings.

Its not calories but the hormonal effect of food that is making Americans fat. Nearly 75% of us now qualify as being either overweight or obese.

And—insulin—is America’s fat promoting and storage hormone. It is fed by high glycemic carbs, think cereal, bagels, rice cakes and sugar—which we now consume to the tune of 180 pounds per person per year.

If Americans knew the dangers of sugar and how it feeds insulin, the sweet stuff would be categorized as a drug. Sugar is not only a non-food substance that spikes hormonal imbalance but sugar is, in fact a toxin. Important nutrients such as chromium, manganese, cobalt, copper, zinc, and magnesium are stripped away in sugar refining, and our bodies actually have to use their own mineral reserves just to digest it.

With insulin rising, lots of calories but no nutrients, refined foods, sugar and its substitutes are the number one cause of Americans weight gain.

Constant sugar intake sets the following sequence of events in motion:
1) Insulin levels remain high.

2) Insulin struggles to convert all the glucose for storage but succeeds only partially, your body fat increases.

3) Excess body fat is an active organ, producing proteins that prompt inflammation, which further inhibit insulin and energy usage.

But more insidiously, sugar feeds yeast—like Candida alibicans—that sets cravings into a never-ending roller coaster ride.

My advice:
Forget about counting carbohydrate grams or calories even in light of the upcoming holiday season where temptations abound at every celebration. The best recourse is to kill the feeding frenzy that sugar triggers by eliminating those cravings in the first place.That’s why I developed Y-C Cleanse—which is my personal willpower in a bottle.

You see, when yeast overcomes the body, it can change into a more aggressive form of fungus which bores its rootlike structure into the GI mucosa. This allows the fungus, its toxins, and partially digested proteins into the bloodstream and from there—into every part of the body. Y-C Cleanse contains homeopathic ingredients that will both neutralize the yeast as well as putrefactive substances (skatolum and indolum) from the system and enhance immunity with homeopathic ingredients like echinacea. Y-C Cleanse homeopathic formula will help you put a lid on sugar cravings by tapping into your body’s natural healing powers.

Personally, instead of using the product once per day, I don’t take any chances. I use it upon arising and before bed.

One of my moderators, Chris P., said it best: “Not only did my cravings cease but I lost 80 pounds and tons of inches in my midsection. Ridding myself of yeast rid me of my bloat. With no more cravings I have been able to keep the weight off…”

And so can you!

-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman

Thursday, November 10, 2011

1-2-3 Gluten Free

Just in time for Thanksgiving, we've got Olivia's Outstanding Multi-purpose Flour Mix on sale now.

You can use this flour in your Thanksgiving cooking and baking -- everything from thickening your gravy to making your pies! And, this is the only GF flour mix in the US that is fortified. So, while your family is enjoying that yummy pie, they'll be getting their iron, calcium and B vitamins.

No need to enter a promo code, simply:
purchase the flour on our website.
Just our way of saying,Thank you!

We appreciate your business.

Customers like you make doing business a real pleasure.

Kim Ullner
1-2-3 Gluten Free
Sale prices through November 16.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

The New Coconut Oil

"Most older studies that gave coconut oil a bad rap
involved partially hydrogenated oil loaded with trans-fatty
acids. But the unrefined virgin coconut oil now available
in many health food stores is not chemically treated and is
trans-fat free. Marisa Moore, a spokeswoman for the American
Diabetic Association, a nonprofit organization of nutritionists,
explains that the main saturated fat in coconut oil is lauric
acid, a medium-chain fatty acid that can help increase levels
of HDL (good cholesterol)."

-Natural Awakenings November 2011

Dish Up Some Pecan Pie

"Who doesn't relish a slice of pecan pie for Thanksgiving
dessert? New research from Loma Linda University (LLU)
demonstrates that naturally occurring antioxidants in
pecans may help contribute to heart health and disease
prevention. Earlier LLU research showed that a pecan-
enriched diet lowered levels of LDL (bad cholesterol)
by 16.5 percent. Both studies were published in the
Journal of Nutrition."

-Natural Awakenings November 2011

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Breakfast For Champions

It’s breakfast for about a buck!

Rise and shine! I know—you’re not a big breakfast eater. But, you won’t mind starting your day off right with my quick and easy Whey Delish Omega -3 Pancakes—so good even the kids will beg for more!

You know the drill: Breakfast is the most critical meal of the day. Your body has been without food for a good twelve hours and needs to be nourished. Eating a well balanced breakfast helps rev up your metabolism, gets your energy in high gear and evens out blood sugar levels. Moreover, it fills and satisfies, so you’re less likely to be tempted by the stimulating energy highs (and lows) of caffeine and sugary breakfast pastries.

What a whey to start your day! With 20 grams of protein per serving, these pancakes really satisfy with a touch of natural sweetness from some added fruit (1/2 cup mixed berries) or a tablespoon of Black Cherry, Royal Fig, or Red Raspberry jam (I like the St. Dalfour brand, personally). And if you want, you can even throw in a couple of tablespoons of chia seeds for extra fiber power.

Whey Delish Pancakes

2 eggs
1 scoop (or 5 tablespoons) Fat Flush Whey Protein, vanilla
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
Olive oil spray

1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until well mixed.
2. Heat a nonstick pan, and spray with the olive oil spray to lightly coat the pan.
3. Spoon the batter (about 3 tablespoons) into the pan, spreading it to create a pancake by gently shaking the pan.
4. Flip the pancake when the edges are lightly browned. Continue to cook for a few seconds longer.
5. Remove the pancake from the pan and place on a flat surface.
6. Repeat until all the batter has been used up.

One serving makes about 4 to 6 3-inch pancakes.

You’ll notice I mention the Fat Flush Whey Protein powder by brand name. This is because it is essential that whey protein powder is hormone-free, lactose-free, non-GMO, non-denatured (unheated), and most importantly made with A2 milk—unlike the A1 milk used to make most other whey protein powders that has been linked to diabetes, heart disease, and digestive problems.

These pancakes are also one of my favorite “beauty foods”—they provide immune-enhancing and anti-inflammatory benefits that help to guard your skin from the drier, colder air that tends to trigger skin problems this time of year.

Confession of a Whey Delish Pancake Fan: “I sometimes will use these for dessert and call them crepes. I love them with powdered Flora-Key instead of sugar.”

So when it comes to breakfast, please don’t flip out, flip my pancakes! Want more breakfast ideas? Check out my Fast Track Detox Diet.

-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Health Hazard In Your Pantry

"Keep your dog away from onions and garlic. These foods in
any form- cooked, raw, or powdered- can contribute to anemia
in pets." - Andrew Weil, MD

-Prevention Magazine, December 2011

Dr. Travis's Smoothie

"Get out your blender and give this breakfast shake
a whirl!
3/4 cup fruit or berries
1/2 cup milk or yogurt
1 Tbsp almond butter"

-Prevention Magazine, December 2011

Eat Your Water

"If you are hydrated (and you are if your urine is pale yellow
every time you pee), there's no proof that gulping more water
does anything for your skin. But "if your cells aren't able to
retain moisture well, your complexion can still become dehydrated,"
says dermatologist Howard Murad, MD, author of The Water Secret.
How do you get cells to hang on to water? Load up on raw fruits
and vegetables. Thanks to an added boost of antioxidants, fiber,
and other nutrients, they help your body retain H20 longer than
if you simply drank water."

-Prevention Magazine, December 2011

No Outback Fundraiser

Just a reminder that there is NO OUTBACK FUNDRAISER
on Saturday, November 19th.

So sorry for the inconvenience!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Simple Solutions To Shield Your Body From EMFs

Earthing, cell phone, cordless phone, laptop and computer protection.

Folks, we have a problem.

The children?

They’re overdone.

The dog?

He’s toast.

And you and me?

We’re steadily burning ourselves to a crisp.

Is this a blog about sunscreen?

Nope.

It’s about personal technology and how we’re using all of our favorite gadgets and gizmos and TV screens and computers and appliances to literally cook ourselves from the inside out.

As Dr. Andrew Weil once said, “Electromagnetic pollution may be the most significant form of pollution human activity has produced in this century, all the more dangerous because it is invisible and insensible.”

Think about it. With every technological innovation—including the not-so-smart Smart Meters—we are bombarded with more and more pulsed microwave radiation that can collectively damage DNA, reduce fertility, activate heat shock proteins, and alter cellular membrane metabolism which causes calcium to leak from the cell membrane walls.

So, since most of us are not ready to give up those smartphones just yet, what can you do about the sea of electropollution that surrounds us? Plenty.

First off, get grounded. I don’t leave home without my conductive wrist band which plugs into any grounded outlet and normalizes my body’s electromagnetic field to that of Mother Earth. When the body is grounded it seems to prevent environmental electrical interference from disturbing my system. It’s almost like static electricity in the bedroom, or office or wherever is dispelled—I feel like I’m protected in a cocoon of healing electrons.

Since the earth’s surface is teeming with electrons, getting “earthed” every day or at least every night when you are sleeping is one of the best ways to ensure abundant antioxidant protection against aging and dis-ease. Earthing during sleep is the most practical way to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.

Based on the research that I uncovered in Zapped, I learned that human beings are very susceptible to distorted electromagnetic fields that are emitted from all things digital and electronic. This is because water (and to a lesser degree minerals) are major conductors of electromagnetic energy—and our bodies contain nearly 70% water!

Lately, I have been on a mission to find even more protective devices to safeguard our precious bodies. After all, even if you get rid of every single digital device and electric appliance in your house, you will still be surrounded by them every day at work, in your car, and in public places like restaurants, theaters, malls and airplanes.

While no one can wave a magic wand and remove all of the electropollution from our lives, I believe I have discovered a line of products that will at the very least offer another level of protection that is accessible to all of us.

On my recent trip back East from the inland Northwest, I wore a personal body shield from Safe-Connect Plus+. Even after arising at 3 AM in the morning to make the flight, I didn’t suffer my usual jet lag. The pendant I wore, like all the other products, is embedded with over 200 resonant frequencies including the 7.8 Hz frequency of the Earth (discovered by German physicist Winfried Schumann). These frequencies are encoded into the nano-crystalline and resin base of the entire product line.

The company offers a stellar lineup of very practical shields. These include:

* Cell Phone Shields/Bluetooth Shields: Reformat EMFs from all cellular and cordless phones, handheld computers, watches, blow dryers and iPods, etc.
* Personal Body Shields: Wear as a necklace or place in pockets/undergarments (preferably on left side of body). These strengthen the human biofield and aid homeostasis-balance.
* House Shields: Plug into a single wall outlet to transform the entire circuitry of home or office.
* Laptop and Microwave Shields: Transform EMFs from electrical and microwave sources, reformatting all waves into harmonious waves when touching or near electrical appliances. Can also be placed into your pocket or attached to any appliance or computer.

The products are very reasonably priced and have been tested with special biofeedback equipment known as EAV equipment (electro-acupuncture according to Voll), dark field microscopy, and thermography. View the studies online at: http://annlouise.safeconnectplus.com (choose “Links” on the main navigation and click on “Research and Testing”)

Cumulative and consistent exposure to low level radiation is not a problem that will go away any time soon. But we can begin addressing it in our lives almost immediately for virtually pennies a day. And feel better than ever!

-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Gluten-Free Made Easy

"Gluten-free specialist and nutritionist Melissa Diane Smith's
newest book, Gluten Free Throughout The Year, is a one-of-a-kind
"blueprint" for living without gluten day by day, month by month.
For example, the book is designed to carry you through each season
with timely topics, such as how to eat gluten free over the holidays,
at parties, or while traveling. Smith also offers myriad solutions
to problems common among gluten-free dieters- from avoiding weight
gain to getting enough fiber in your diet. Simple, delicious recipes
and fantastic product suggestions are also included.
To learn about Smith's online "Going Against The Grain Group" or her
free newsletter, visit againstthegrainnutrition.com. For info about
her long-distance consultations and nutrition coaching programs, visit melissadianesmith.com. Here's to the best (gluten free) year of your life!"

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Water Down Your Migraine

"Sidelined with migraines or chronic headaches? Drink up!
According to a study published in the European Journal of
Neurology, participants who drank just over 4 cups more of
H20 than their usual daily intake experienced 21 fewer hours
of pain throughout 12 weeks than those in a placebo group.
They also had less-intense headaches overall. Why? The area
of the brain that triggers thirst also prompts migraines,
explains Peter Goadsby, MD, Ph.D, director of the Headache
Center at the University of California, San Francisco. The
less thirsty you are, the less likely the cells that cause
headaches will be activated."

-Prevention Magazine, December 2011

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Taking Charge Of Hormone Havoc: The Progesterone Connection

I couldn’t have made it through perimenopause without natural progesterone.

If there was ever such a thing as a single natural remedy for the widest number of conditions, bio-identical progesterone would lead the pack. It is by far the most deficient hormone found in salivary hormone testing—whether the issue is PMS or postpartum depression—or perimenopause, menopause or beyond.

I have always wondered why progesterone levels seem to be so universally low. As I discovered in Before the Change, progesterone – not estrogen – is the first hormone to decline during the perimenopausal years (often beginning at 38 years of age and lasting until 50 in some women). Perhaps it is the lack of precursors like zinc in the diet or not enough B-6 or too many antidepressants—all of which take their toll on healthy progesterone levels. But whatever the reason, the signs of progesterone deficiency can’t be ignored. They include:

* The inability to lose weight
* Pain
* Inflammation
* Depression
* Lack of libido
* Insomnia
* Anxiety
* Mood Swings
* Nervousness
* Osteopenia and Osteoporosis

Bio-identical progesterone has the same biochemical structure as the progesterone a woman makes naturally in her body. The physiological dose of 20 mg per day (that is dispensed with one pump of ProgestaKey) can help improve libido, enhance the immune system, increase hair on the scalp, elevate the metabolic rate with resulting weight loss, act as a natural diuretic, boost the thyroid, and stimulate the production of bone while relaxing smooth muscles and promoting the strength of the myelin sheath.

Since hormones can be tricky, it is best to take a salivary hormone test and measure—at the very least—the ratio between progesterone and estradiol (one of the most potent forms of estrogen). The ideal ratio is about 300:1 according to my late friend, the brilliant Dr. John Lee who taught me so much about this magical hormone.

ProgestaKey was the formula I developed over twenty years ago. It is preservative free with a delightful lavender scent. Depending upon your age and stage of life, there are different protocols, but in general the topical crème should be applied to the face, hands, chest, abdomen, inner arms, thighs, and thyroid area. Rotate these as much as possible so that the receptor sites will all have a chance to be well nourished.

For Menstruating women – Apply once or twice a day starting on the 12th day after the first day of menstrual flow through the 26th day.

For Perimenopausal women – Apply once or twice a day starting on the 7th day after the first day of menstrual flow through the 27th day.

For Menopausal women – Apply once or twice a day for a maximum of 25 consecutive days. Resume after a five day break.

To evaluate your body’s bio-available Progesterone levels (and 5 other hormones), consider UNI KEY’s Salivary Hormone Test.

-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman