Tag / Healthy Nutrition

by tessbrennan

A Strong Foundation Makes a Difference

When building anything, the quality of the materials  determine the quality of the structure, the maintenance required, and the longevity of that structure’s life.   Humans aren’t any different.  Garbage in = compromised health…  Without quality building materials it is impossible to build a strong temple that can endure and weather the storms thrown at it.

Old Church-WH

If the body doesn’t have the nutrients it needs to build a healthy body, it will do the best it can with what it has, and may open you up to more sickness or degenerative diseases like cancer, stroke, diabetes, heart attack & arthritis.

People frequently ask me, “Where do I begin?”  when wanting to improve their current health issues/state.  My answer is almost always the same – with a healthy foundation of healthier choices.

The issues:

Your body NEEDS many different nutrients & vitamins to build or rebuild a healthy body.

Very few people actually consume the right foods in the correct amounts to provide the body with that “complete” fuel. For this reason, I usually recommend to begin with a solid supplement base/foundation.

An option to correct:

Today, I will outline three levels of foundational nutrition supplementation. “Good – Better – Best” My personal use of supplements goes beyond the “Best” outlined here as I have discovered I have specific needs – so I work to keep those holes filled. These are packages that most of my clients use on a daily basis.

Good: (the most basic)

VitaLea – Multivitamin
Energizing Soy Protein – Protein Smoothee mix
Nutriferon – Immunity Booster

ESPNutriferonvitaLea

My father uses this combination to stay healthy in the Northern climates, after years of being sick multiple times per year – he’s been healthy since beginning this.  ($3.18/day)  I’ve seen results without the Nutriferon, but so many of my clients swear by it and it is a necessity in my household!

Better:

Lean & Healthy Kit
Nutriferon

Lean_&_Healthy_imageNutriferon

The L&H kit offers the most comprehensive supplement package money can buy.  ($6.29/day) I like that different nutrients are delivered where your body needs them so other parts don’t destroy them before they arrive where needed.

Best:

Rx for a Healthier Life

Rx for Healthier Life

This is the most complete foundation.  ($8.13/day) This is my daily  start. Even if I am way behind schedule and running crazy late in the morning, I am SURE I get this foundation into my body for the day.

I’ve seen people spend more than this on sodas, junk, and other bad habits all my life.  I just decided it was time to invest in my own health rather than the destructive habits of my past. SmileIn the long run, I’ve saved tons of cash because I am not needing to run to the doctor all the time with colds and sickness.  Those office & prescription co-pays add up quick.  I pay less for my supplements now than I used to pay monthly on my prescriptions.

I recommend this line of products. After much research and personal experience I’ve had better results, and I trust the company more than other companies who have suffered mandatory recalls and reports of tainted products.

This brand has Never had a recall and is not afraid to pull a product from their line if the quality it demands cannot be met.

I’ve tried other brands and could not tell a difference. When I use the Shaklee supplements I feel better… and I’ve seen others notice significant improvements in as little as 48 hours of starting them.  I’ve seen RLS dramatically improve within 48 hours, energy levels of a thyroid patient skyrocket in the same amount of time, type 2 diabetes quickly eliminated and so much more.. 

The company provides plenty of evidence based research and a lot of peer reviewed journal articles, but that didn’t have the same impact as seeing my family and friends feel good that fast!

Contact me to start firming up your foundation for a Healthier Life!!!

(church photo is an Uncle Walt Haste image – thank you, Uncle Walt!)

by tessbrennan

Why I don’t care if you are skinny!

I actually HATE the word skinny!  I hate it as much as I hate the word fat. I always have and most likely always will.  Let me explain.

Growing up, I was very active.  I participated in multiple sports, FFA, F.I.L.E., my Church, and many contests for public speaking. At one point my father or mother tracked my caloric intake during the peak of my junior year.  I was eating 10,000 calories a day!  Literally. I don’t know how my family kept from going broke.

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Breakfast was usually some hot cereal with butter and brown sugar, a glass of juice and a glass of milk, a multi-raw egg smoothie (because dad was doing it for his running and such, so would I), two large school lunches, mega snacks right after school, a HUGE dinner, and whatever else I could find.  I was a PIG… and I was SKINNY!

When I say skinny… I mean NO CURVES, NONE. (Well, I did have some lovely calves.)  No butt, no hips, no chest (even with a padded training bra), nothing.  A skinny girl with short hair and braces!  To the point that during long jump at a track meet, a classmate thought it would be funny to register me as one of the boys… The track official didn’t even notice the different uniform!  I hated to buy clothes because nothing fit and it all fell off because of how I was built. (My dad would go shopping for clothes without me to save me the frustration.)

Everyone used to comment how “skinny” I was! Meanwhile my mom was struggling with weight in the other direction, wishing she had my metabolism.

Fast forward to grown-up life. Post college and all its intermural sports, the walking to class, and the dancing the night away. LIFE… and 200+ pounds.

 BeforeJingle Jog 2013

I want to tell you, you can be healthy, look great and be happy and NOT be skinny! 

Today, I am at 145 pounds. I’ve been told that my ideal weight is 135, but I am comfortable, happy, and healthy at 145.  The extra 55 pounds didn’t make me fat… they made me sick and unable to function. 

By making smart choices, healthy choices, by choosing foods and supplements that SUPPORT my health and eliminating the poor choices… many of the aches and pains, the need for my prescription meds, the inability to participate in things all went away and all the extra weight went away too!

I am thankful for friends who showed me healthier ways. Thank you Betsey for guiding and teaching. The research I am seeing today states that losing just 10% of your body weight (when overweight or obese) could GREATLY impact your health!  Its time to get started!

Contact me, when you are ready to begin making healthier choices! We can discuss the best route for your needs!

As my dad used to say, all. the. time. “Zig Ziglar says, Keep on, Keepin’ on!”

by tessbrennan

Tasty (beginner’s) Smoothie

I am just beginning to delve into the whole “green smoothie” thing, so this morning I made my first attempt. 

I couldn’t even taste the spinach!

Here it is!

8 oz Soy Milk
5-6 Fresh Raspberries
1/2 Banana
1 Big Handful of fresh, washed, organic spinach
2 scoops of Vanilla Cinch Shake Mix
2 drops of Almond Extract

Pour it all into your blender, turn on the blender and let it chew it all up good.

Beginner Green Smoothie

Pour tasty treat in a beautiful glass

Try to drink it before your 5 year old steals it and devours it so you have to make another one! Smile

(Thank you to MaryAnne Holtz for letting me know how well my blender would work with spinach!)

 

by tessbrennan

Gluten Free Banana/Zucchini Bread

Delicious, healthy, gluten free bread recipe.  It stays moist and so very yummy!  My family and co-workers LOVE it!

 

IMG-20120819-01765

 

INGREDIENTS

3 eggs 1/2 cup instant protein
1/2 cup applesauce 1 cup Buckwheat flour
1/4 cup grape seed oil 1 cup rice flour
2/3 cup packed brown sugar 1 cup oat flour
1/2 cup white sugar 1 TBSP ground cinnamon
2 med. grated zucchini 1 tsp nutmeg
3-4 med ripe bananas 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup dried cranberries (optional)
1/2 cup chopped pecans

 

PUT IT TOGETHER

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Grease & flour two 8×4 inch bread/loaf pans.
  2. In large bowl, beat eggs until frothy & light yellow. Add oil, brown sugar, white sugar, grated zucchini, bananas, and vanilla; blend together until well combined. (My kitchen aid mixer works well for this.)
  3. In a separate bowl mix instant protein, flours, spices, baking powder, baking soda, & salt.
  4. Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients in big bowl.
  5. Divide the batter evenly between the 2 prepared loaf pans.
  6. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes with our oven.
  7. Allow to cool in the loaf pans on wire racks before removing & serving.

Enjoy this tasty treat! It stores nicely in plastic bags in the fridge, or freeze a loaf to enjoy in the future.

 

by tessbrennan

Magnesium for Muscle Cramps

Thank you to Heather Lloyd LMT for your question regarding Magnesium for muscle cramps and specifically, how do I find a supplement that won’t work against me with my IBS.  Here is what I have found in my research. Continue reading →

by tessbrennan

What you eat for breakfast shapes your whole day. 2 of 2

So, yesterday we discussed how EVERYONE eats breakfast, just at different times and choose different things to consume.  We looked at the spikes in blood sugar when we eat refined carbohydrates for our first meal of the day and then throughout the day.

Today, I want to look at the difference in blood sugar levels when you choose to begin your day with a low-glycemic protein. Continue reading →

by tessbrennan

What you eat for breakfast shapes your whole day. 1 of 2

Do you eat breakfast? I bet you do.  Whether your first meal of the day is at 5:00 AM or at 1:00 PM, you ARE eating breakfast.  That first meal of the day is breaking the fast.  What you choose to eat for this meal is just as important as when you eat it.

The American diet, and school breakfasts tend to offer many different refined carbohydrates. Muffins, toast, bagels, breakfast cereal, pop tarts…  This source of fuel allows our blood sugar to jump quickly.

Blood Sugar Roller coaster Continue reading →

by tessbrennan

Decrease Weight = Increased Productivity

Obesity

According to the Centers for Disease Control, absenteeism increases with weight.  So whether you rely on your own efforts for an income, or the efforts of your employees, lifestyle and what you/they eat is an important part of your business.  Obese women with a BMI of 40 or greater missed an average or 141% MORE time due to sick leave than women of a normal BMI.

MSNBC reported in 2010 that Loss of productivity due to obesity costs as much as medical expenditures for the condition, according to a new study that pegs the cost of obesity among full-time workers in the United States at $73.1 billion per year.

A report from UCLA’s Insights Health care states:

When people don’t eat right, the No. 1 thing that happens is they become less energetic, less able to think clearly and less able to do their jobs.

Productivity will go down when you’re not eating properly and nutrition is very, very important for mental activity and to maintain productivity.

For people in business who have physical jobs, it’s even worse. Anyone who’s in a physical job requires very good nutrition or they’ll lose their muscles and possibly be injured.

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Many studies have shown that even after a life threatening illness like cancer or heart attack 90% of people refused to change their habits, what can we do to make , easy changes?Healthy Local Vegetables for Healthy Diet

What can be done to change poor habits?

All you have to do is eat a healthier diet, which means a lot of colorful fruits and vegetables.

One of the things I find very helpful for executives, which I wrote about in my book is to take a shake in the morning similar to what weightlifters used to take. (DR. DAVID HEBER)

This would be made with soy protein, nonfat soy milk and frozen fruit in a blender. This is a great way to get 25 to 35 grams of protein. Then exercise about 30 minutes a day — this should include weightlifting and aerobic exercise. The important thing is to start out gradually and get advice from an exercise specialist. 

Even walking a short distance with a gradual increase in distance and duration can make a difference!

So the next time you opt to order in for your employees, instead of a greasy pizza, consider being a good example of promoting productivity and opt for healthy salads or vegetable heavy meals!

Have a GREAT Weekend!!!

by tessbrennan

Triple Strength CoQHeart (CoQ10) with Q-Trol

Research has documented an age-dependent decrease in CoQ10. Blood levels drop by as much as 65% by age 80.

Other factors leading to a deficiency include inadequate dietary
intake, environmental stress, strenuous exercise, and selected prescription drugs.

Why this product over others?

Enhanced up to 500% more bioavailable than competitive powders, 333% more bioavailable than soft gels, and even 33% more bioavailable than a leading bioavailability-enhanced soft gel.

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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

**Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. (See nutrition information for total fat and saturated fat content.)

†Products providing 800 mg or more of plant sterols and stanols daily, consumed with two different meals as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. Cholesterol Reduction Complex provides 1,000 mg of plant sterols and stanols per serving and 2,000 mg daily when used as directed.

If you’ve got the Drive, we’ve got the Vehicle!

The Healthy Grease Monkey is a project by Tess Brennan dedicated to writing useful blog posts for consumers who are smart about Nutrition & what they put in & surround their body with, passionate about protecting our environment, and are committed to supporting local entrepreneurs. Those who are about healthy weight loss & dynamic living. If you would like to find out what it is like to live a healthy life, we invite you to explore our product line or find out more about our services.

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