Want to Feel Better? Go Nuts!

By Mary Langfield, Certified Holistic Health Coach dedicated to increasing awareness to improve your health and outlook on life.

Did you know that all nuts are seeds, but all seeds are not nuts? Even crazier, a nut is actually a fruit, according to Merriam-Webster. Although the nitty-gritty of scientific classification may not be a page turner, the health benefits of these small edibles is definitely worth learning.

Many nuts, such as walnuts, are an excellent source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, a type of fat necessary for brain cells and mood-lifting neurotransmitters to function properly, and can even help some people with depression. (Other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, sardines, flaxseeds, and omega-3 fortified eggs)

Nuts are also high in phytosterols (substances that lower your cholesterol naturally) and contain potassium and magnesium, both of which help lower blood pressure.

And let’s not forget that nuts are delicious, add tons of flavor, are easy to add to dishes, and great for snacking!

Top 5 Seeds and Nuts to Lower Cholesterol:

·         sunflower seeds

·         pistachios

·         pumpkin seeds

·         pine nuts

·         whole flaxseeds, freshly ground

Instead of your typical midafternoon snack, opt for almonds for a great source of protein and calcium that keeps your energy going and lifts your mood.

Looking to add more calcium to your meal without relying on dairy? Sesame seeds are a good source of calcium. Just sprinkle them onto your typical salad or greens to add a health boost to your meal.

Who would’ve thought going nuts could feel so right?!

Do you have a favorite snack or meal involving nuts or seeds? Share your fresh idea!

Want to use this article in your Ezine, Blog, or Website? 

You're welcome to share this article! When you do, please include this compete blurb:

"Would you like to learn more about how increasing your awareness of basic diet and lifestyle changes can have tremendous positive effects on health and outlook on life? Check out my website, marylangfield.com, for more resources or to schedule an appointment and learn how health coaching would work for you. Start believing in yourself and seeing results!”

The Dark Secrets of Artificial Sweeteners

By Mary Langfield, Certified Holistic Health Coach dedicated to increasing awareness to improve your health and outlook on life.

Do you use artificial sweeteners in your coffee or tea? Do you enjoy diet drinks and diet foods? Most of us have opted for things labeled “diet” to avoid the typical high-calorie sweeteners in drinks and foods. But what if I told you that you can be addicted to artificial sweeteners and that they might be causing you to eat more food or gain weight?

Cutting back or eventually eliminating your consumption of artificial sweeteners may lighten your mood, remedy some of your health problems, and may even result in weight loss.

In her book The Diet Cure, author Julia Ross, M.A., explains that “more than ten thousand aspartame [common artificial sweetener] users have reported over one hundred adverse symptoms, compiled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They include everything from menstrual changes, weight gain, and headaches to severe depression, insomnia, and anxiety attacks.”

Have your cravings for sweets and fatty foods (and possibly your weight) increased with your aspartame use? Ross explains that the connection between eating more unhealthy foods, gaining weight, and consuming artificial sweeteners has been confirmed through several studies in both animals and humans.

What’s worse, when you consume aspartame, the fake sugar’s ingredients are actually in competition with tryptophan, blocking its conversion into the "fog-clearing and mood-enhancing chemical serotonin.” This means that diet sugars may actually be preventing you from feeling positive and having a clear mind.

Next time you reach for your typical artificial sweetener or diet soda, consider going without the sweetener or replacing your diet soda with hot water and cleansing lemon oil from Young Living Essential Oils instead. You may just find that in time you start to find your mood elevating and your waistline shrinking from these easy diet adjustments.

I’ll leave you with this encouraging quote about Richard Simmons:

“In 1996, Richard Simmons, the diet and fitness guru, announced that he had given up diet sodas after years of addiction and suddenly lost ten pounds.” If that’s not a success story, I don’t know what is!

Are you interested in learning more about healthy living and ready to have more energy and feel better? Schedule a Nutrition Breakthrough with Me Today!