10 Rules For Weight Loss
Mind Body Green posted this article a few days ago about top ten rules to live by to lose weight. It emphasizes many of the guidelines we use at Optimal Body Balance. I think it’s great to see this other people spreading this information around; and it’s good to hear the same things from different sources — so please read! (more…)
Skim Milk Does Not Protect Against Weight Gain
Low Fat, fat free and diet food and beverage products do not have a very good track record at helping people lose weight or keep it off. At Optimal Body Balance, we know this. We believe that healthy fat must be part of a well-balanced diet. You have to eat fat to lose fat. You also have to eat fat for your brain to function effectively, to create necessary hormones, to absorb fat-soluble vitamins and to be a happy person. Fat free dairy is a huge thing in our society. Almost any doctor or dietitian you talk to will say that fat free dairy is the way to go — never buy the full fat version. Recently though, there have been a few interesting studies about fat free milk vs whole milk and weight gain in children.
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Chemistry of a Craving -Part 3 of 3
Part 1 of this series established how brain chemicals called neurotransmitters are responsible for cravings, especially for sweets and soda; Part 2 (link to this post) established the process by which cravings happen. This post will outline a program to help you eliminate your cravings.
Chemistry of a Craving – Part 2 of 3
In Part 1 of The Chemistry of a Craving, we established that brain chemicals called neurotransmitters are responsible for those strong, urge-type cravings (especially for sweets and soda) that control many people. The basic biochemistry goes something like this: the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine are involved in controlling your mood, as well as the appetite center of your brain. When your body senses that it doesn’t have enough serotonin, it tries to make more. In order to increase serotonin levels in the brain, your body needs more of the amino acid tryptophan, the major precursor of serotonin. (more…)
Chemistry of a Craving – Part 1 of 3
Everybody has had a craving for a certain food at one time or another, whether that is for a good salad after a vegetable-drought or your favorite ice cream on a warm summer evening. But some people suffer from insatiable cravings that drive them on a regular basis. I’m talking about a “get between me and my chocolate and you risk kissing the floor” type cravings. If you are one of those people, or know somebody that has these, read on. (more…)
Neurotransmitter Imbalance – The Unknown Cause of Many Health Conditions
Neurotransmitters are a class of chemical messengers in the body that help regulate, either directly or indirectly, most of the other systems and functions in the body. If there are imbalances in these neurotransmitters, many bodily functions will start to function inappropriately, which can lead to a number of unpleasant or debilitating symptoms. (more…)
What’s Your Diabetes Risk?
Last week, federal health officials reported that only 11% of the 79 million Americans who have pre-diabetes know that they are at increased risk. At Optimal Body Balance, we talk about diabetes and insulin resistance all the time, and we know that everyone has some degree of insulin resistance. In fact, our entire eating plan is designed to balance blood sugar and prevent insulin resistance. (more…)
More Ways to Improve your Mood with Food
Last week we talked about how eating regularly throughout the day can improve your mood by balancing your hormones and controlling your blood sugar. This week, we have three new tips for you. (more…)
April Allergen Free Potluck
The Natural Path Health Center and Optimal Body Balance would like to invite you to our allergen-free potluck! (more…)
Eat to Improve Your Mood
What you eat and when you eat it can have a big impact on your mood. (more…)
