I MARRIED A NUTRITIONIST Inside Information for Men on Health and Nutrition

The other day, while reaching for seconds, I got into a conversation with my nutritionist about Calories… that mysterious measurement that we immediately link to weight gain.  Or, at least I did.  I had recently read that the term “calorie” is defined as a unit of heat which raises one kilogram of water one degree.  It’s a measurement that goes back a hundred years, but today the calorie is tied to your body’s chemical energy which is created by oxidation of fat, carbs and protein.

And the way you burn all those calories off is with exercise, right?   Well, let’s just say “some” of the calories.  My nutritionist is a big supporter of exercise, but she cautioned that no matter how much you work out, you’ll burn no more than 25-30% of your daily calories through all that huffing, puffing, grunting and groaning.

The majority of your daily calories burn, my nutritionist said, is from doing your everyday activities, such as standing, sitting, breathing, eating, farting, climbing stairs, even watching TV.  Score!  You can figure you’ll burn roughly 11 calories for every pound you weigh, so if you’re clocking 180, your everyday activities will burn roughly 1,880 calories.  Not bad, if you can keep your calorie intake at the recommended level.   The Mayo Clinic says the average male needs a maintenance level of 2,800 calories per day, depending on physical activity, age, weight, metabolism, and muscle mass.  Pile on more and you may win a trip to Chubbyville.

Even with all that burning going on, what you eat is an important piece of the puzzle.  Why?  Well, for one thing, you’ll burn more calories in the digestion process depending on what you eat.  Digesting carbs, for example, will earn you somewhere around 5-10% calorie burn simply because carbs break down easily, as does fat.  And as for protein?  Bingo.  You’ll burn between 20-30% of the calories simply because it takes more processing.

Finally, let’s talk fiber.  The reason why it’s so good is it hangs out in the digestive track longer, like your mother in law who extends her visit without asking.  And some complex carbs, like veggies and whole grains, can even block the absorption of other calories.

So, as you can see, calorie counting isn’t the end all.  What’s more important is the type of calories you put in your cake hole.  It’s good to have protein at every meal, a good source of fiber from your veggies first and whole-grains second.  And if you’re not good with fiber, here’s what I take and what my nutritionist highly recommends CLICK HERE.

And that’s the scoop from Healthy Spouse.  Calorie… Calorah!

Being married to a Holistic Nutritionist who specializes in hormone balancing, I’ve learned quite a bit about hormones and women.  One important thing is that women who are dealing with hormonal issues can, at times, be a guy’s worst nightmare.  And most women will at one point or another deal with this.  It’s not her fault.  Hormonal imbalance can put a woman on an emotional and physical roller coaster that makes her feel like crap.  And, like you do when you feel down, out, or hung over, it ain’t pretty, including for those who are within striking distance.

As a guy, its important for you to know your options.  After all, that’s how we guys work.  Problem?  Task it out.  So here’s the playing field.  A woman with hormonal issues has several options.  One… do nothing and stick it out.  This is old school, and often how her mother, aunt, and women in black and white movies did it.  Problem is she can be miserable for a really long time, and that means you’re miserable, too.

Two… take the pharmaceutical approach and start taking something called HRT (hormone replacement therapy).  Pop the drugs, feel better but greatly increase your risk cancer and other medical problems.  If your wife is on HRT and refuses to explore other options, do your part and make sure all your insurance is paid up, from medical to life.  Study after study shows it can do a lot of harm.  Nothing to mess around with.

Three… something called Bioidenticals.  Not as bad as HRT but the jury is still out on the affect of putting these type of hormones in the human body.  It’s still an artificial hormone and not being produced by the body.

And, Four… solve the problem safe and naturally, the way my nutritionist approaches things.  Get to the root of the problem, adjust diet, perhaps a few lifestyle changes, maybe a few natural supplements, and let the body slide back into balance naturally.  Sometimes it takes a few weeks, other times longer, but it’s rolling with nature not bucking it.

Okay, so why am I telling you this?  For one thing, most guys at some point are going to be on the receiving end of the effects of hormone imbalance, whether it comes from a wife, girlfriend, lover, mother, or woman undercover.  The last one was because it rhymed.  Bottom line, if that special woman in your life is having issues, it’s important for you, as her guy, to understand the problem, understand the solutions and give support that leads to wise choices and safe solutions.  You’ve invested a lot of time and effort in your relationship, protect your investment and enjoy the ride as much as humanly possible.

Regardless if you’re in the L.A. area or on the east coast, if your woman’s struggling with hormone imbalance and you’re feeling like the guy in the picture above, find a creative way to put my nutritionist’s website on your computer screen so your lady sees it.  It’s covert but hey, you’re a guy.  www.karenrothnutrition.com

And that’s the scoop from Healthy Spouse.  You can thank me later.

Someone once said that the only good thing about Alzheimer’s is that you never have to watch reruns on TV.  Although that may be true, Alzheimer’s is certainly nothing to take lightly.  It’s a touchy subject that’s on everyone’s mind.  Perhaps that’s because the disease afflicts 5.2 million people in the U.S. and is the seventh leading cause of death.

Mary Newport, MD, medical director of the neonatal intensive care unit at Spring Hill Regional Hospital in Florida, knows a lot about Alzheimer’s Disease.  Her husband came down with Alzheimer’s, and when drugs such as Aricept, Namenda, and Ecelong proved little help for her husband’s condition, she took matters into her own hands and did some serious research.

Dr. Newport discovered that with Alzheimer’s disease, certain brain cells may have difficulty using glucose (made from the carbs we eat), which is our brain’s main source of energy.  Without fuel, the brain’s neurons begin to die.  Digging further, Dr. Newport learned that there’s an alternative energy source for the brain cells, known as Ketones, which the body produces when you consume medium-chain triglycerides oils (MCT’s).

Now, here’s where it gets interesting.  Doctor Newport uncovered that the ingredient that was showing so much promise in drug trials was none other than MCT oil, which is derived from coconut oil.  According to the latest research, coconut oil not only protects against Alzheimer’s, but may actually reverse it! And the good news doesn’t stop there.  Coconut oil is also a potential treatment for Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease, drug-resistant epilepsy, brittle type 1 diabetes and type 2 (insulin resistant) diabetes.

Okay, so if this is true, why haven’t you heard about it?  The answer is, because coconut oil can’t be patented and made into a pharmaceutical.  Enough said.

Now, back to Dr. Newport’s husband.  He began taking the coconut oil twice a day and soon showed signs of steady improvement.  Over the next year, the dementia continued to reverse itself and a recent MRI shows that the brain atrophy has been completely halted.  Where synthetic Alzheimer’s drugs have failed, a natural substance seems to have done the trick.  If you would like to learn more about this, visit Dr. Newport’s website.

Coconut oil can be found in many health food stores and even some grocery stores.  My nutritionist recommends getting Organic, Extra-Virgin, Cold Pressed coconut oil that’s not refined, deodorized or bleached.  We cook many of our foods in coconut oil.  It’s not only incredibly healthy for you but it makes your food taste great and house smell fantastic!  We hope you will share this information with anyone you know who suffers from Alzheimer’s, and everyone you know who is concerned about their general health.

And that’s the scoop from Healthy Spouse!

Allergies suck, there’s just no way around it.  In addition to making your nose run, eyes itch, head feel like a balloon, they can really alter your quality of life and really screw up some weekend play time.

A lot of people take Antihistamines, which can provide some relief.  However, they can cause side effects such as drowsiness, depression and digestive upset.  You know, it wasn’t until I was in my 40’s that a doctor actually explained that, although antihistamines can provide relief, the drying of sinuses can also clog the tiny drainage hole at the bottom of the sinus cavity and cause sinus infections!

Okay, let’s switch gears and I’m now going to share with you some “natural” remedies for allergies that my nutritionist shared with me.  The first, and perhaps best thing that’s ever worked for me, I stumbled upon by accident.  As you may have read, I shoot competitive archery.  A few months back I dove heavy into golf lessons and, add a little tennis in the mix, I came down with tendinitis.  My nutritionist suggested I start taking a product called MSM, a powder that dissolves in water and helps with joint and tendon inflammation.  MSM is an organic sulfur-containing nutrient, a naturally occurring compound in the environment and in the human body.  Hormones, enzymes, antibodies and antioxidants all depend on it.  MSM also prevents allergens from sticking to the respiratory tract.  Bingo!  After taking MSM for a few days, I suddenly noticed I could sweep the patio and work in the backyard during heavy allergy season and have zero reaction.  I even got out the blower and walked through a dust cloud on the patio. Nothing.  Check out MSM on my nutritionist’s website and read complete details about the product.  GO TO MSM.

Quercetin-Nettles – This bioflavonoid has powerful antihistamine properties and many practitioners consider it a must for treating allergies.  Quercetin can be found naturally in foods such as apples and onions, however you really can’t eat enough to blast the allergies away.  I have friends who swear by Quercetin-Nettles for allergy relief, year-round.  Once again, I suggest you visit my nutritionist’s website where she provides the highest quality, professional grade Quercetin-Nettles for the money.  You can also read more details about the Q-N to see if it’s right for you.  GO TO Q-N.

Vitamin D – I have a post on this blog called “What Men Need to Know About Vitamin D.”  In it, I didn’t mention allergy relief; sorry, I was too busy focusing on how Vitamin D can possibly save your life.  Now, let’s talk about sneezing.  Vitamin-D is extremely important for a healthy immune system which is essential to fight off allergens, viruses or bacteria.  GO TO VITAMIN D.

Fruits and Vegetables – Eating a wide variety of nutrients from fruits and veggies can help with respiratory distress.  According to C. Leigh Broadhurst, PhD, author of The Whole Family Guide to Natural Asthma Relief, “Many studies have shown that as the intake of fresh produce in the diet goes down, the risk of asthma goes up.”  I like eating fruits and veggies, but if you’ve been reading my blog, nothing can beat Juice Plus+.  I don’t know about you, but there’s no way I can eat a half-cup of 15 different fresh, pesticide free fruits and veggies per day.  In the four years that I’ve been taking Juice Plus, allergy season has been much easier.  That, along with my not having been sick with colds for flu for four years, puts Juice Plus+ on the top of my list!  GO TO JP.

And that’s the scoop on natural allergy relief from Healthy Spouse.  Enough with the allergies, already.

Okay, here’s one of those big picture tips I’ve learned from my nutritionist which can potentially extend your life in a major way.  Get to know Resveratrol.  It’s a phytonutrient found in the skin of grapes, wine (oh yeah, that’s good!), grape juice, peanuts, and berries, and it’s often been recommended for its life-extending properties.  Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent cancer, cuts inflammation, lowers cholesterol, and may lower risk of colon cancer.  If you know of someone with Alzheimer’s disease, it may slow  its progression.

Pretty impressive, huh?  Well, new studies have shown that resveratrol also has the potential to help with weight-loss and can kick up your metabolism.  It even helps with blood flow through the body by opening blood vessels, and guys, you know what that means.  Can’t guarantee you’ll be walking down the hall at work with a binder in front of your belt buckle, but you may be pitching more tents… without going camping!

Oh, and gentlemen, if your wife is dealing with symptoms of menopause and you’re reeling from the effects, too, a new study revealed that resveratrol may be just as effective as HRT (hormone replacement therapy) in cutting symptoms of menopause (without the cancer risks!)

Now, if you drink a boat load of wine every day to get your resveratrol, well, you might feel good (except in the morning) but that’s counter productive.  And, it’s hard to down too much grape juice, peanuts and berries on a regular basis.

So… here’s my tip.  My nutritionist has me on something called Juice Plus+ Vineyard Blend.  It’s nothing but 9 varieties of berries and grapes in a capsule form.  Nothing but food in a capsule in highly concentrated powder form.  Couldn’t be simpler.  It’s made from all pesticide and chemical free fruit and there’s a boatload of primary research to back it up.

Check it out at www.allyourservings.com And that’s the scoop from Healthy Spouse.

Okay, this is a huge health tip I’m going to pass along.  It’s probably one of the most important things I’ve learned from my nutritionist.

Many Americans falsely believe they get sufficient Vitamin D in milk or through their multivitamin, and that’s good enough.  Or, they feel spending some time in the sunshine will do the trick.  Well, the truth is… unless you’re a nudist and spend 30 minutes a day in direct sunshine without a stitch of clothes on, you’re not getting enough Vitamin D.

Somewhere between 90-95% of all Americans are deficient in Vitamin D.  And that’s a big problem!

According to my nutritionist, Vitamin D deficiency puts you at risk for a host of very serious health conditions including… auto-immune diseases, high blood pressure, prostate problems, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, among others.  Pretty serious stuff.

Vitamin D…

• Prevents cancer.  New research now shows that 80% of ALL cancers could be prevented simply by raising Vitamin D blood levels.

• Strengthens your immune system and helps fight off infections, colds and flu.

• Improves cardiovascular health by easing calcification of your blood vessels. Hardening and stiffening of the arteries will dissipate.

• Strengthens muscles so they can work at optimal efficiency.

• Improves your mood.

• Strengthens bones and teeth.  Works better than fluoride in hardening teeth and preventing dental decay.

• Speeds up metabolism.

So, how much Vitamin D should you be getting?  A good rule of thumb for adults is about 5000 IU per day for a healthy person and more when seriously ill.  If you’re interested, click on the picture below to see what I take and what my nutritionist recommends.  It’s professional grade Vitamin D and about the best you can buy at a great price.

In addition to health benefits, this tiny little Vitamin D capsule gives me a huge piece of mind that I have a security blanket against some really serious health conditions.  Knowing how toxic our environment and food supply have become, I sleep better at night!

And that’s the scoop from Healthy Spouse.