Six Week Slim Down Promotes Anti-Aging

 In my  Six Week Slim Down we aim not only to shed pounds, but also to clean out our digestive systems of junk, help the body reestablish healthy patterns and also protect the body from disease and degeneration... AGING. Here's how...

1. WE GET ENOUGH PROTEIN

Protein is the chief building material of your body. Eighteen per cent of your total body weight is pure protein. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, then approximately 27 pounds of you are pure protein that needs constant repairing, replacing and rebuilding-with more protein, of course.

If you were to analyze a single cell taken from any part of your body-a hair in your head, the tissue in your heart, the lining of your intestines, the muscles in your legs- you would find this tiny cell composed mostly of protein.

In the laboratories, nutritional scientists and biochemists have proved that a diet poor in proteins speeds aging in the human body. Protein foods are the main factor in prolonging youth for the past-forty group, and in maintaining physical vigor and mental alertness in the aged.
Several things start happening to your body cells as we hit and pass age forty. Biologists tell us that "aging is a matter of changes in your tissue cells." First, the tissue cells in older bodies are less elastic, less resilient, less able to recover quickly from fatigue and injury than the cells in younger bodies. Second, the active cells in the older body (especially those in your glands and muscles) gradually grow fewer.

2. WE DON’T EAT SUGAR AND REFINED STARCH

In Six Week Slim Down, we avoid sugar like the plague. According to Dr Nicholas Perricone; “Sugar is exceptionally damaging to your skin because it attaches to the proteins of collagen, causing collagen to “cross-link.” When collagen cross-links, it becomes stiff and inflexible, leading to the wrinkling and stiffness of old skin.”
Dr Nicholas Perricone also says: “Eating sugary and starchy foods shows up on the skin as a loss of radiance, dark circles under the eyes, the loss of tone, puffiness, an increase in fine lines and wrinkles, the loss of facial contours and increased pore size. These foods can also exacerbate acne, which is a systemic, inflammatory disease. I am not exaggerating when I say that sugar can rob you of your youth, health, and beauty.”

3. WE INCORPORATE THE FOLLOWING ANTI_AGING FOODS

Flavonoids are the brightly colored pigments found in most fruits and vegetables. When consumed, they have antioxidant properties and have been associated with improved lung function. We eat LOTS of these! You will see in my recipes how delicious it can be!  Eating 3 or more servings of fruit per day may lower you risk of age-related macular degeneration, the primary cause of vision loss in older adults.
Garlic can counteract the usual result of high fats in the diet and to help reduce high blood pressure.
Raw Cacao is the REAL CHOCOLATE in its purest form and has some of the highest levels of antioxidants of any known foods. We use this in many ways including brownies, chocolate dipped strawberries and chocolate pudding! 
Green tea contains natural antioxidant compounds know as polyphenols useful in fighting tumors as well as helping prevent and treat rheumatoid arthritis.
Vitamin D is also an extremely important vitamin when it comes to controlling the rate your body ages. Unlike other vitamins, Vitamin D is actually manufactured inside your body but only if you receive enough sunlight. Sunlight is necessary to signal the body to produce its own Vitamin D but remember that prolonged exposure to direct sunlight actually accelerates aging.
All of this is built in to the Six Week Slim Down program, and all of my WELLNESS PROGRAMS, all you have to do is follow it.
Start the SIX WEEK SLIM DOWN PROGRAM NOW!
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Wellness From Love, Sex and Romance

As a Holistic Health Educator, people are used to reading my wellness blogs that cover things related to nutrition, foods, herbs, and essential oils and sometimes exercise. However, in honor of Valentines Day... we are going to get physical!

Wellness comes has many aspects such as emotional wellness, physical wellness, spiritual wellness, social wellness and even financial wellness.  However, health does not come from food and exercise alone!  One of the major sources of wellness that is rarely promoted is that which comes from SEX!

Although we all love it, we don't all get enough of it! Luckily, there are other areas of romance and relationships that offer health benefits.  Here are some of the ways to get wellness out of your relationships

1.     Love and Support – One article published in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that men in loving relationships had less risk of stomach ulcers and also less risk of angina (chest pain)

2.     Hugging – Hugging someone releases the cuddle hormone, oxytocin. This promotes feelings of trust and bonding. Hugging also lowers heart rate, lower blood pressure; huggers have fewer feelings of stress and anxiety!

3.     Kissing – The lips have a lot of sensory receptors that make them very sensitive. Kissing creates intimacy by being so close to the person you are kissing, and by stimulating the receptors in the lips, much like the genitals!  Passionate kissing burns calories too, and reduces stress and the effects of stress. Kissing can create feelings of lust, love and attachment.

4.     Sex – reduces stress, promotes relaxation, improves the immune system. A Pennsylvania study found that sex one or two times a week improved Immunoglobulin A (IgA) by 30%! (Charnetski CJ, BrennanFX. Sexual frequency and salivary immunoglobulin A. Psychology Report, 2004;94:839-44. Having orgasms also increases heart rate similarly to cardiovascular exercise and releases stress reducing chemicals in the brain.

It should also be pointed out that if you are single, you could get many of the same health benefits by enjoying the plutonic company of others. Being around genuine friends creates a sense of belonging. The bottom line being, relationships are important for your health on many levels. Make the time and space in your life to nurture them.

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Curry for healthy gut!

My awesome friend Barbara flattery delivered this homemade curry dish to me. What a nice treat I'm so lucky! If you're not using turmeric yet you need to start! It is been used for balancing the body's natural  flora,which is especially important if you suffer from candida related illnesses. Turmeric root is a natural pain reliever or, anti-inflammatory, protects cells from mutating (cancer) helps with digestion and improves liver function. 

Eat some curry today!

Online programs to get healthy are available at

Www.mywellnessexperience.org

10 Reasons NOT to eat bread, no matter what Oprah says...

The reason to eat or not eat bread is more than just a weight loss debate... here are 10 reasons (there are more) why you shouldn't eat bread, and only 1 of them has to do with gaining weight! 

1. Increases blood sugar levels: Wheat contains amylopectin A, a type of molecule that is more efficiently converted to blood sugar than just about any other carbohydrate. After the consumption of wheat your blood sugar levels increase and in a matter of 2-hours you’re bound to be foraging through the fridge once again in an effort to satisfy your appetite. Wheat consumption puts the body through a series of highs and lows, where the body becomes stuck in a vicious cycle of constant hunger.
2. Bread is addicting: Researchers from the National Institute of Health discovered that the gluten found in bread tickles the brains opiate receptors eliciting a sense of euphoria when consumed. Meaning quite simply, the more we eat it, the more we want it.
3. Difficult to digest: Bread almost always contains gluten, a protein composite found in foods processed from wheat and other grains. Gluten is very difficult for the human body to digest and it requires a very strong acid in the stomach to process it. It can sometimes take as long as 4-weeks to digest a meal containing mostly wheat.
4. Nutritionally deficient: During the refining process, bread is stripped of its healthy elements including bran and germ. This means most of the vitamins and minerals are lost leaving you with nothing but a mucus forming, addictive slice of bread to butter your toast in the morning.
5. Bread Contains Other Harmful Substances: Most commercial types of bread contains sugars or high fructose corn syrup. Sugar causes many adverse effects and eating processed foods that contain it is likely to have detrimental effects on health.
6. Bread contains phytic acid: Phytic acid is a molecule that strongly binds essential minerals like calcium, iron and zinc, preventing them from being absorbed. Soaking grains before baking can degrade the phytic acid, which should improve the availability of minerals.
7. Mucus forming: Bread is part of the refined grain family joining other grains like barley, oats and rye all of which produce mucus in the body. Mucus is the body’s natural defense mechanism to protect our cells, tissues and organs from the harmful acid found within bread. While mucus forms as a means of protection it is not side-effect free. A build up of mucus often means the lungs and nasal passages become congested and digestion is hindered.
8. Breads (even gluten free) can cause weight gain – All breads that contain a grain are high glycemic, which means that it breaks down to sugar in the body and need to be burned off before you can use fat for fuel. The starches in bread get broken down quickly in the digestive tract and enter the bloodstream as glucose. This causes a rapid spike in blood sugar and insulin levels. Learn more about this is Six Week Slim Down.
9. Whole grain breads are not any healthier: Even whole grain bread usually isn’t made out of actual “whole” grains. They are grains that have been pulverized into very fine flour. Even though this process reserves the nutrients, it causes these products to be digested rapidly.
10. Bread can speed aging! Elevated blood sugars can also cause glycation at the cellular level when the blood sugars react with proteins in the body. This is one of the components of ageing.

To lurn more about eating healthy, visit www.mywelllnessexperience.org and take the online program Six Week Slim Down!
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Chocolate Every Day!

Nicole Carter

The Wellness Experience

A LITTLE CHOCOLATE IN YOUR DAY!

Would it be hard to convince you to eat a little bit of chocolate every day?  Most people trying to lose weight consider chocolate a serious no-no.  However raw cacao was originally used as a health tonic especially for the digestive system and for the kidneys as well as for health conditions such as anemia, fatigue, fever, low sex drive and respiratory problems.

Cornell University food scientists discovered that cocoa powder has nearly twice the antioxidants of red wine, and up to three times the antioxidants found in green tea.  Raw cocoa has the highest antioxidant value of all the natural foods in the world!

Cacao is one of the highest sources of flavonoids, potent antioxidants that have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and other aging diseases.  The high antioxidant levels have also been shown to have a beneficial and protective affect on the skin and may protect again sun damage and even skin cancers as well as improve skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and burn.

The chemical components in cacao and their effects are impressive and include:

anandamide - a euphoric substance

arginine - a natural aphrodisiac

neurotransmitters - stimulate and balance brain activity

tryptophan - an anti-depressant

antioxidants and other beneficial compounds known to have rejuvenating and anti-ageing elements.

Magnesium- essential for helping the heart to pump blood efficiently, building strong bones, and lowering blood pressure. (may explain the strong desire for chocolate during the female menstrual cycle)

sulphur – a mineral responsible for healthy skin, nails and hair.

Theobromine – may help with coughs

Dark chocolate can also help you lose weight! Because it has appetite-suppressant properties, cocoa is often added to weight loss products to help control hunger.

While you may have been told that chocolate is “fattening”, the truth is that the fats found in cocoa butter are actually healthy fats! Cacao contains oleic acid, a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat which is also found in olive oil and is believed to raise the level of the “good cholesterol” known as HDL cholesterol (the acronym HDL stands for “High Density Lipid”).

When it comes to chocolate, we are talking about the purest, unpolluted form of chocolate called cacao.  This is harder to find and is a far cry from a Hershey bar, however it still is chocolate! Cacao is naturally bitter, when consumed in its raw state cacao nibs.  But you can get all the benefits of cacao in dark chocolate and it only takes a very small amount consumed regularly.

Despite it’s benefits, chocolate is still high in calories so it should be eaten early in the day.  Since cacao naturally contains low levels of caffeine, consuming too late in the evening could potentially interrupt your sleep. Eat small amounts (less then ½ ounce) each day after lunch.  Enjoy this treat daily and known that you are doing something great for your body, guilt free.

Here’s my Fast and Easy Sugar Free Chocolate Recipe

1 c coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup monk fruit power
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
1 tsp Himilayan Sea Salt
Sliced raw almonds (0ptional)
Get more info on healthy eating with my FREE MEAL PLAN at www.healthywithnicole.com

5 Ways to Avoid Holiday Smack Down!

This the the month we get a holiday smack down! Unless you stick to your diet, reduce stress and get enough rest!

Here are my 5 tips for avoiding the Holiday Smack Down!

1. Reduce Sugar consumption- use natural sweeteners such as stevia or monk fruit powder.
2. Reduce alcohol intake - only drink clear alcoholic beverages and for every cocktail drink 1 8oz glass of water in between!
3. Get 20 minutes or more of cardio exercise daily, this helps increase endorphins and reduce the effects of stress on the body.
4. Get enough rest. Rest reverses the cortisol effect on the body which creates weight gain among other problems. Get to bed 1 hour earlier when things get hectic.  You can't get the sleep back later!
5. Turn off your phone for 10 minutes each day, mid day and close your eyes. Listen to your breath or far off sounds. Don's speak or think about your to-do list. This is the simplest for of meditation!


Watch the the Video here: https://youtu.be/g7lLrREN9Ms

Also...
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Eat Fat to Lose Weight!

For those people thinking that fats are something to eliminate from the diet, consider this…Fat is a major source of energy and aids your body in absorbing vitamins. It's important for proper growth, development and keeping you healthy. Fat provides taste to foods and helps you feel full so you eat less! Fats are an especially important source of calories and nutrients for infants and toddlers. Dietary fat also plays a major role in your cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is important in manufacturing chemicals and hormones in the body and especially the brain.

Somewhere along the way it was decided that eating fat was a bad thing. Why fat was singled out, I can only guess, is because it has more than double the calories as carbohydrate and protein (9 calories per gram vs. 4 calories for carbs and protein). It is true fat is more calorie dense, but it is also naturally occurring in smaller amounts in nature. For example, fruits are often larger and nuts and seeds smaller. So we still eat fats, just not as much.

There are fats we need and fats we should definitely avoid.

Here are the GOOD FATS THAT CAN HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT…

Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) and Omega 3 Fatty acids – These fats are not manufactured by the body, so we need to include those in our diet. They are needed for basic functions in the brain, and eating them can actually help you lose weight.
Omega 3 Fatty acids come from plants and fish that eat plants. I like chia seeds the best, which is a complete protein and has many other health benefits. Omega 3 fats help your body create a hormone called Leptin, which is responsible for telling your body when to stop eating. It also helps the body covert fat to fuel. Omega 3 fats help you to feel full longer, balance the blood sugar, reduce inflammation in the body and help the hair, skin and nails stay strong and supple. Omega 6 and 9 Fatty acids are also good, but the 3’s are the ones we get the least of and need more than the rest!
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) – This potent nutrient is called conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, and the best possible sources of CLA are grass-fed beef and raw (unpasteurized) dairy products that come from grass-fed cattle.

Medium Chain Triglycerides (MTC) – coconut oil, palm kernel oil (non hydrogenated)
These fats increase the metabolism, help the body use fat for energy instead of storage (body fat) and curb the appetite. Medium chain triglycerides are a form of fat that the body prefers to burn immediately, rather than store. Unrefined coconut oil is a very large source of MCTs, on average about 66% of it is MCT oil. This oil is great for cooking because it has a high smoking point, and can be used in all forms of baking and cooking where oil is needed. In addition to helping with weight loss, coconut oil has been used to prevent heart disease, cancer and diabetes as well as strengthen the immune system and improve skin and hair.

Some of the foods you might want to include over the holidays include those with Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Chia seeds, sardines, salmon, flax seeds and walnuts are excellent food sources of omega-3 fatty acids. For the CLA sources include grass fed beef in your recipes as well as cheese plates made with raw cheese and maybe some raw milk or creamer in your coffee. The last one is easy, MTC is best in pure coconut oil. This you can get my just replacing any oil you normally bake with.
Learn more about healthy weight loss by taking the Six Week Slim Down!

Nicole Carter is a Holistic Health Educator with 15 years of teaching and public speaking experience in wellness.  To book her for a presentation or learn about online learning opportunities please visit www.mywellnessexperience.org

Essential Oils For Women

Essential Oils for Women
Nicole Carter – The Wellness Experience

 Women have so much to deal with in our bodies. We have crazy hormones, PMS, pregnancy, births, menopause and countless other things along with way.  Thankfully we have an arsenal of natural products now available to help us with everything we encounter. My favorite is using essential oils, because they are multi-faceted for women with many needs! They help us on a chemical level, on a mental level, on a cellular level, on a spiritual level. So many ways to use and enjoy oils!  It can be overwhelming, or it can be an extremely fun and empowering adventure! I hope for you it is the latter! To make it simple to start, here are 10 easy oils to start with. I promise you its totally addicting! To learn more about using essential oils TAKE THE ONLINE PROGRAM ESSENTIAL OILS FOR WELLNESS!
The following TOP 10 Women’s Oils offer something special that women often need. Each oil is unique in its benefits!

1. Clary Sage

• anti-depressant
• soothing properties
• beneficial during women’s menstrual cycles and mood swings, eases discomfort

You can add a few drops into an Epsom-salt bath or, if the oil is labeled safe for topical use, you can massage a few drops directly onto your abdomen to ease cramps and discomfort.

2. Lemon

• energizing and de-stressing properties
• wonderful for cleaning and cooking

I add a drop of lemon essential oil into a glass of cold water each day. It is so refreshing, and I believe it is the reason I have been able to stay so healthy the last few months.

3. Lavender

• reduces stress and calms nerves
• helps with sleeping problems
• aids with skin irritations

This is probably the most-used oil in our home. We diffuse it aromatically before bedtime, add it to our baths, and apply it to the soles of our feet before bed.

4. Geranium

• balances oil
• aids with skin irritation
• conditions skin

Add a drop to your facial or body moisturizer, and to your shampoo or conditioner to help balance oil production and moisturize your skin.

5. Basil

• soothes sore and tired muscles
• can be used in cooking
• helps memory function and focus
• soothes insect bites

Apply directly to an insect bite or sting, and if you are feeling sore from an extra hard workout, add a few drops into a massage oil and massage tired muscles.

6. Wild Orange

• invigorating, mood lifter

Add a few drops into your body scrub and feel refreshed and awake as you step out of the shower each day.

7. Oregano

• boosts immunity
• works like a natural antibiotic

You can diffuse oregano aromatically to purify the air, or add a drop into a teaspoon of honey to soothe a sore throat.

8. Melaleuca

• contributes to healthy skin and nails
• antibacterial

Add a few drops to your laundry detergent for its antibacterial benefits.

9. Frankincense

• mood lifter
• helps with skin injuries and irritation

Add a drop to your moisturizer if you have sensitive skin or diffuse it aromatically for a boost in mood.

10. Ginger

• aids digestion
• helps eliminate motion sickness, nausea
• alleviates joint discomfort

Apply a drop to the bottom of your feet after a meal to help aid digestion, or add a drop to a glass of water to tame nausea.

To learn more about using essential oils TAKE THE ONLINE PROGRAM ESSENTIAL OILS FOR WELLNESS!