Wednesday 26 August 2015

Stress Relief through EFT with Dr. Linda Wilson

Do you feel like stress has become your norm?  Or that you are way too busy but can't see how to reduce your load?  Do you have trouble letting go of stressful events, and end up in constant anxiety?

My interview guest today is Linda Wilson, a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a hypnotherapist and an Faster Emotional Freedom technique who is based in Melbourne, Australia.  She is also the author of Stress Made Easy:  Peeling Women Off the Ceiling.

"It's about the degree of stress and how we interpret it."



Here's a few things you'll learn from Dr. Linda:
  • Under stress, blood moves away from the forefront of the brain, involved in connection, creativity, problem solving
  • Chronic stress effects your heart, your gut, your immune system
  • Weight gain, insomnia, headaches are common complaints in chronic stress
  • The fatigue of chronic stress can cause negative thinking and emotions
  • The Faster Emotional Freedom Technique, which uses the meridians of Chinese Medicine, touch, images and language to create change.
"Stress is predominantly a learned response."

To learn more about Dr. Wilson and her resources, visit her very pretty website here.

Dr. Linda has a video where you can quickly learn Faster EFT.  This is the one I mention on the audio recording that I tried and it did work for me.





 For more info: http://www.bridgitdanner.com/
 

Wednesday 19 August 2015

The Micronutrient Miracle with Mira and Jayson Calton

Mira and Jayson Calton are super passionate and knowledgable about micronutrients, and my podcast recording with them is a taste of the fun and adventure they've created in their lives.

Mira was a busy publicist in New York City, living the dream, except for increasing, debilitating pain.  She was diagnosed with advanced osteoporosis, and advised to move home with her family and recuperate.

In her search to figure out her osteoporosis, she met Jayson Calton, a clinical nutritionist who did not specialize in osteoporosis,  but agreed to dive into this project with Mira.  Her osteoporosis was completely reversed, and meanwhile she and Jayson fell in love and got married.


You have to listen to the podcast to hear about how they have only spent 8 hours apart in 12 years together, and how they make that work to build an amazing life and business.

They journeyed for 7 years to 134 countries to learn the diets and lifestyles of many cultures, and synthesized that information into books and supplements with lots of research behind them.

The podcast covers the tenets of their new book, The Micronutrient Miracle:  The 28 Day Plan to Lose Weight, Increase Your Energy, and Reverse Disease.

"It's all about education, not limitation."  Mira Calton

Their new book is highly educational, but also very practical.  There are quizzes to find out where you might be deficient, and plans to follow (including meals for a whole month) for different health goals.

For a limited time (through August 31, 2015), you can buy the book and get $200 in Healthy Gift Certificates.

What do you get?  
  • $50 to spend at Wild Things Seafood
  • TWO free months + $20 to spend at THRIVE Market (like an online Costco for health food)
  • $50 for US Wellness Meats (high-quality, clean meats)
  • $50 for Vital Choice Seafood (high-quality, clean seafood)
  • $25 to spend at Kasandrinos (The BEST gourmet Olive Oil out there!)
Once you've signed up at this link, then just buy the book at the seller of your choice (including local bookstores or kindle) & send your receipt to book@MyMiracleGifts.com.

In this episode, we talk about:
  • How BPA is in more places than you'd think, and how it raises your insulin levels
  • How adequate vitamin C can moderate your stress response
  • Why iron should be taken away from most other supplements
  • The best form of chromium (it's polynicotinate)
  • The most important nutrients for thyroid health
Enjoy this episode on the player below, or, better yet, subscribe in iTunes or another podcast player.  To be informed of the next episode and our other online resources, be sure to opt in to our free gift on the right hand side of the homepage.  Cheers!

For more info: http://www.bridgitdanner.com/blog/the-micronutrient-miracle

Monday 17 August 2015

Broth Bar Grand Opening in Portland!

Last week I attended the grand opening party of Broth Bar, the creation of sisters Tressa and Katie Yellig.  Broth Bar is the baby brother of Salt, Fire and Time, Tressa's mainly online business, serving up homemade, nutrient-dense foods like broth, coconut yogurt, date truffles and kombucha. 

At Salt, Fire and Time, Tressa found that her customers preferred to pick up in person and to interact.  So she wanted to create a hub where people could do just that. Thus, Broth Bar was born.

Broth Bar is bright and clean, with a little counter space to watch the rain while having a cup of hot broth with a friend.  It also offers the other products made by Salt, Fire and Time, as well as some other locally-made healthy foods.  Tressa also stocks some non-local favorites, like high-quality cod liver oil.

While I visited, I enjoyed some very rich miso broth, and went home with a gluten-free handpie, some fancy maple syrup, mineral drops for my water, and Salt, Fire and Time's delicate coconut yogurt.

Broth Bar is in a great, centrally-located neighborhood, just north of East Burnside at 115 NE 6th Ave.  Like every other close-in Portland 'hood, it seems to be evolving at at rapid rate, with adorable new shops and sleek offices popping up. 

As a a traditional food lover, I love to see a new way we can interact with traditional foods.  I hope Portlanders and our visitors find Broth Bar and get inspired!

For more info: http://www.bridgitdanner.com/

Thursday 13 August 2015

How Your Adrenal Glands Work with Dr. Saman Rezaie, NMD

Our little adrenal glands (we've got a pair with each kidney) are getting more attention nowadays.  Why?  In one word:  stress.  The stresses of modern life- whether it's traffic, deadlines, pollution, processed food, or late night tv- are really taking a toll on our adrenals.



In today's interview, Dr. Saman Rezaie, NMD of the Integrative Health clinic in Scotsdale, AZ, explains:
  • How our adrenal glands work
  • The difference between adrenal disorder and adrenal disease
  • The stages of adrenal disorder
  • Why getting tested for adrenal fatigue is not performed in a standard MD's office
  • A few simple things you can do to be nice to your adrenals
Listen to the interview at the player below now or, better yet, subscribe to the show through iTunes or most any podcast player.
Be sure to grab our free gift at the side bar and stay in touch with our weekly guest experts!

For more info: http://www.bridgitdanner.com/blog/how-your-adrenal-glands-work

Tuesday 4 August 2015

Eliminating Food Sensitivities for the Whole Family with Tom Malterre

I met Tom Malterre on a dance floor getting sweaty to hip hop music.  Yup.

We were both at health conference with a party event, and there were a few of us who clearly shared a love of dancing full on, late night.

Tom is a certified Functional Medicine Practitioner through the Institute of Functional Medicine, and he holds a master's degree in Nutritional Science.

He co-authored a new book with his wife, Ali Segersten, called The Elimination Diet:  Discover the Foods that are Making You Sick and Tired, and Feel Better Fast.

He and his wife have also co-authored two other books mentioned in my podcast interview with Tom:
  • Nourishing Meals:  Healthy Gluten Free Recipes for the Whole Family
  • The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook:  Over 300 Delicious Whole Food Recipes, including Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free and Egg Free
You can find all their books, plus The Elimination Diet support program on their site, WholeLifeNutrition.net.

 
On this episode of the podcast, Tom talks about:
  • How removing inflammatory foods eliminates symptoms throughout the body
  • How doing an elimination diet can be as easy as learning a dozen new recipes
  • How children's moods (and adults!) can be effected by foods
  • Why we are sensitive to foods in the first place
Tom has a truly heart-felt desire for people to feel healthier, and his enthusiasm and positivity are contagious.
Hope you can take time to listen to this episode through the player below, or better yet, subscribe on iTunes or your Android podcast player.

For more info:http://www.bridgitdanner.com/blog/eliminating-food-sensitivities
 

Monday 3 August 2015

What I'm Eating for Breakfast

My Big Fat Breakfast

I wanted to share a new breakfast I made up this summer that could be called "my big, fat breakfast."  If you heard me on a recent podcast with low carb expert Jimmy Moore, you know I'm interested in the idea of a ketogenic diet.  If you missed that episode, you can check out this link.

I'm not yet doing a full experiment in ketosis (a high fat, low carb, moderate protein diet in which you burn ketones for fuel,) but I have been trying to up my fat intake and lower my carbs.

Even this brief experiment in high fat diet has made me feel slimmer, and I can go longer after a meal before getting hungry.

"What do you eat for breakfast?"

It's a question I get quite a lot, so I hope this article gives you some inspiration.  

I'll share two more low carb breakfast resources below, after the recipe.

Why low carb in the morning?  

In the morning your blood sugar is naturally higher as a result of your high morning cortisol (your energy/ stress hormone.)  If you raise your blood sugar even more with juices and starches, then it spikes to an unhealthy level.

Your ever-so-smart body knows this is dangerous, so it stores calories as fat, to manage your blood sugar.  This could be fat in the abdomen, or fat in the liver, if you consumed excess fructose.  Or you may not be a person you gets fat easily, but instead your liver will get taxed or your brain will get foggy (as a result of dropping blood sugar.)

Luckily reducing carbs in the morning can be easy and delicious, as with this recipe.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup fresh, seasonal berries 
  • 1/4 - 1/2 cup whipped coconut cream (you'll need canned coconut cream, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla)
  • 1/4 - 1/2 cup raw pecans
  • 1 T raw hemp hearts

What to Do:

1.  The first thing you'll need to do is make the whipped coconut cream.  I am teaching you a fancy way, but, trust me, I'm not always fancy at home.  You can also just use a big scoop of coconut cream straight out of the can.

Just like making dairy whipped cream, it works better when chilled.

A.  Put your whole can of coconut cream into the fridge for at least an hour before making.

Coconut cream is denser and fattier then coconut milk.  It is best for this recipe.  This link shows a coconut company with BPA free cans.  If you can't get canned coconut cream, I bet just using the fatty section at the top of a can of full fat coconut milk would work.  I buy the coconut cream at Trader Joe's, in a brown can with white writing.

B.  Scoop out your can of coconut cream into a mixing bowl.


C.  Add a 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 nutmeg, and a dash of pure vanilla extract if desired.

D.  Beat on high until the mixture starts to peak.

E.  Store reminder in fridge for more breakfasts or desserts.  **Note that once whipped, the mixture goes bad faster.  Use it within a week,  freeze it or half the recipe.

2.  Add fresh, seasonal berries to the bottom of a small bowl.  Berries are lower in sugars than other fruits, and have wonderful fiber and antioxidants.

3.  Layer on a small amount of raw pecans.  Store pecans in the fridge for freshness.  These will give you more fat, some protein, and some magnesium and B 6 that is great for women.  And they have a naturally sweet taste.

4.  Add your cream...as much as desired, but don't worry about having too much fat!


5.  Top with the hemp hearts.  They have a nice variety of micronutrients, fats and protein.  Store these in the fridge too.

I find that I get full quickly on this dish, so you may just want to start with a small bowl have seconds if needed. You can totally swap out ingredients, or add your own twist.  Experimenting is an important part of learning to cook! 

Here are those couple resources for more breakfast ideas I wanted to share:

The first is from Noelle Tarr at the great site, Coconuts and Kettlebells.  This is a free collection of seven egg-free paleo breakfasts.

The second is from Caitlin Weeks, aka the Grassfed Girl. This is an ebook with 52 recipes that costs about $10. 

For more info: http://www.bridgitdanner.com/blog/what-im-eating-for-breakfast