Burn Fat for a Good Nights Sleep

Many people who have taken the Tonic H.E.A.L Academy Beat Sugar ecourse have reported that they now sleep much better. It’s common for someone with blood sugar imbalance to have disturbed sleep and wake frequently through the night. Here’s an explanation as to why that might be:

When your body is craving carbs and sugar, you tend to rely on this for energy – which is a very short lived energy supply as they burn really quickly which creates a high, then a low in your energy.

A properly nourished body with stable blood sugar will burn fat at rest – and while you sleep. In fact your ability to sleep through the night depends on this very ability to burn fat as fuel – not carbohydrate. Fat is a very long lasting fuel which can keep you going for at least 8 or 9 hours – which is around how long you should be sleeping for ideally.

If your body is not used to burning fat – only sugars and other quick burning carbs – you will find yourself waking every few hours. This is your body running out of energy to get you through the night. So essentially your body wakes you to look for food.

If you want to try the Beat Sugar ecourse the full details are at www.tonichealacademy.com. It’s really fun and we have a great support group of students over in the Clients Only area. The healing results are great too because training your body to burn fat for fuel instead of carbs will really kick off a great weight loss if you need it.

Amazing Client Update!

Amazing update from one of my lovely ladies! Fitness addict but struggling with weight loss. Outstanding results without dieting. Go girrrrrl!

“3 months totally “Tonic” eating – 17lbs off!! Plus I’m feeling better sleeping better than forever!
Haven’t changed my exercise routine – still doing same as before so it’s totally down to diet and I’m definitely eating more than I was!!”

Losing weight or maintaining weight isn’t about diets, extremes or restrictions – or pills, potions and shakes. Just eat the good stuff and lots of it! I can offer private consultations for lifestyle change or I run an awesome little group called Slinky Minxes which is just £20 to join and you’ll get a whole host of lifestyle change and weight loss options.

Plus, I’m just about to redesign everything into an awesome ecourse so all current members will get an automatic free upgrade to the new sparkly course. https://www.facebook.com/groups/slinkyminxes/ so get in quick! Message me for joining details.

Good Morning Chlorophyll!

When you get that first whiff of chlorophyll on a morning and every cell in your body starts jumping up and down shouting “WOOHOO! GREEN ME!” 😂 I’m sure that’s not just me.

Chlorophyll is your wonder drug (that’s the green stuff). It will protect your very DNA from damage. Studies into colon cancer revealed that damage to the colon from eating fast foods and fried foods was reduced in those who consumed leafy greens to those who didn’t. Fried junk foods contains chemicals which will directly attack and mutate the DNA of the colon and it’s cells. But, that is not a green light to go and eat junk then follow it with a smoothie. Just avoid potential damage all together.

Greens also blast all your cells with pure energy from the sun’s rays. Literally, eat those sun beams!

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Diet

OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) is on the rise in our children. It’s actually now the fourth most common mental disorder and is nearly as common as asthma or diabetes. But can diet play a part in controlling it? Well, yes in a lot of cases it can!

OCD is a disorder in which the sufferer experiences unreasonable fears, thoughts and compulsions. This may include aversion to being dirty resulting is obsessive hand washing, hoarding, checking, arranging and measuring. It disorder also comes with a lot of anxiety.

Scientists at the US National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) have investigated whether a bacterial infection could play a part in the disorder and have come up with some interesting findings. Streptococcal bacteria, which cause strep throat, scarlet fever and other infections, has been linked to having negative effects on the brain which could trigger OCD, or a syndrome which is very similar, by affecting brain enzymes. This an affect communication between the neurons which can lead to a tic disorder termed “paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococci” (PANDAS).

These bacteria can live in food, most commonly unpasteurized milk, ice cream, cheese, eggs, custard, shrimp and lobster. Although pasteurisation of milk should kill most bacteria, studies have shown that many will survive. Milk can also carry other pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella, Tuberculosis bovis and Brucella. Interestingly, Brucella is very common in women but goes largely undiagnosed because of the “vague” and non-specific nature of the symptoms. Symptoms include light fever, joint pain, mild flu, chills and fatigue. A qualified Homeopath or Naturopath should be able to diagnose it. It’s pretty difficult to get rid of and is usually resistant to antibiotics. However, with the right diet and treatment it can be overcome.

Inflammation in the gut of children, and certainly of adults, can lead to neurotoxins disrupting brain function also causing OCD or other mental or emotional disorders. An anti-inflammatory diet and one which promotes gut healing and immune defence can be really beneficial in treating the symptoms.

Of course OCD and other mental or emotional disorders aren’t all caused or made worse through diet, but it’s a really safe and beneficial avenue to explore as it commonly will bring great results.

Health and Diet – Make the Connection

Hello lovelies! Ask yourself this – what’s stopping you from achieving your health goals? I’m not talking about having great skin or losing some weight. I’m talking about getting well. Healing a health condition.

For many people using food as medication instead of pills can be an alien concept. We’re so used to visiting the GP to be sent away with a truck load of topical creams, antibiotics, stronger pain medication or just being told we need to live with it. NO!

I can’t stress enough how your health is directly linked to what you put in your mouth. You can heal or greatly alleviate many conditions just by changing your diet. It’s that simple.

If you find yourself going back and forth to your GP and not achieving the health results you’re looking for, why not try a different avenue?

I have many clients with a range of different health conditions enjoying the best health of their lives simply by looking at healing through diet. I can guide you and let you know which foods may be causing or making certain health conditions worse. I can design a personalised plan just for you with ongoing support and coaching to get you through to wellness.

Your body is awesome. It WANTS to be well. Many people see huge progress within just a few weeks. A dietary approach is the safest and simplest avenue to try – no toxic drugs, no crazy supplements…food. That’s it.

If you have any health condition then I can probably help but here are a few examples of what I successfully deal with on a regular basis – IBS, food intolerance, kids health, arthritis pain, autoimmune, eczema, psoriasis, acne, anxiety, depression, type 2 diabetes, sugar cravings and hormone imbalance.

My method is to create a healing environment in your body. Doing this will allow your body to do all the work – it will make itself well all by itself given the right opportunity – and quickly too.

Message me now to book a consultation. How could you be feeling within a few weeks? tonicnutrition@gmail.com or grab me at the Tonic Facebook page here >> 

Sunny Mega Raw Breakfast Pot

Beautiful day for a mega breakfast pot. Banana, raw coconut flakes, mixed berries, more flakes, walnuts and 85% dark chocolate so not 100 % raw but im ok with some artistic license 😂

What’s on the menu for you today? Get involved and let’s talk food!

The Diet/Mental Health Connection

I treat clients through diet for many different health conditions; arthritis, autoimmune, hormone imbalance, skin conditions, food intolerance, IBS, acid reflux etc. But one I see regularly is anxiety and depression. Though changing my clients diet we can get awesome results in curing or managing anxiety, depression and panic attacks. In fact, I have had clients who have been too anxious to even leave the house alone, who are now almost fully recovered or able to manage their symptoms and reduce or eliminate medications. So, I read some latest medical studies with interest as they seen to back up the success I, and I’m sure many other naturopaths, have had with their clients.

(Source: Biological Psychiatry, 2015; 77(7): 607)

The study suggests that a typical Western diet, which is high in saturated fats and sugars, could be responsible for depression and psychiatric disorders. Now, I know this to be true so it’s brilliant that medical studies are proving this too so patients have other options than simply being reliant on prescribed medications.

A diet high in undesirable fats, sugars and processed foods will change the bacteria in your gut (these are known as the gut micro biome). Your gut bacteria are responsible for the health of all your body as a whole – including your brain. Changes in gut bacteria can affect cognitive ability, memory and increase anxiety.

A typical Western diet is also responsible for causing persistent inflammation in the body and, you guessed it, in your brain too. So this not only leads to depression but also to more serious psychiatric disorders too.

Test subjects eating a typical Western diet appeared to show behavioural problems which included anxiety, impaired memory and repetitive actions similar to OCD. They also showed symptoms of inflammation in the body and brain as well as gut permeability – this means that the lining of the gut has been damaged to the point of letting food particles, toxins and faecal matter seep into the blood stream.

This is something I explain to clients who come to me looking for a solution to their anxiety of depression. The toxins from a leaky gut can be neurotoxins which will directly affect brain function.

Eating a more authentic diet will greatly reduce inflammation in the body, repair the gut and clean the blood. This is vital for overall heath – including mental health.

Interestingly, it’s not just adults who suffer with the mental effects of diet – I see it very commonly in children too. Symptoms include tantrums, lack of concentration, tearfulness, aggression, and slower learning in school. Physical symptoms can include persistent or regular runny nose, ear, nose and throat infections and regular virus or raised temperatures.

Health is wealth! Simple changes in your lifestyle can bring the most profound improvements in your wellbeing.

Breaking News: I’m not Perfect *gasp!* haha x

We’ve all got strengths and weaknesses when it comes to our diet. It can be really easy to beat yourself up about how you’ve over indulged or had too much sugar in your tea or cracked and ate 3 extra biscuits. My weaknesses are definitely crisps on occasion and some days having one too many decafs. Sometimes I even go out with my friends and drink too much and flare up my Gilbert syndrome for the next 2 weeks 

But screw all of that. Did I enjoy the extra coffee? Yup. Did I totally love my weekend bag of salt and vinegar Tyrells? You freaking know it! Did I have an awesome night out? Of course! Good then! Move on!

Let’s focus on the good instead:
Most of the time I eat a fully raw diet
Most of the time I drink enough water
Most of the time I remember to take the supplements for my Gilberts syndrome

So, my point is don’t focus on what you perceive to be the bad parts of your diet. Look at the good! I bet it’s better than you think.

What are the best bits about your diet?

Cheeky Monkey Breakfast Stealer

Trying to have breakfast with these two veg monsters around is pretty impossible!

When it comes to kids and smoothies do yourself a favour and get a really decent blender or bullet. At least 800W.

Most kids hate bits – it’s just a kid thing so make it easy on them and offer up a smooth smoothie. Riley (pictured) will drink muddiest, greenest, bittiest, thickest concoction I could give him. But his brother Charlie – no way. If it’s not straight up chocolate, banana or strawberry he won’t drink it. But he will eat all his veg so I’m good with it.

If you’re just changing your eating habits don’t expect overnight results from your kids. It takes time, consistency and for you to lead by example. TRUST ME. I have a lot of mommas in my groups and slowly but surely they report big achievements from their kids. Don’t give up!

Any of my amazing mommas want to share their stories please feel free!

Raspberry Bakewell Choc Chunk Muffins

 

Were raspberry bakewell choc chunk muffins a good idea? Sshhyeah? Obviously! I used a doughnut tin for these as i couldn’t find my muffin cups but really this mix will go in anything.
2 cups gluten free flour
2 cups spelt flour (yes you can use all gluten free if you want)
2 tsp almond essence
3 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp coconut sugar (or use agave or similar)
150g pure dark chocolate chunks
1 cup raspberries
2 tsp baking powder
2 cups liquid (i used almond milk and water. Add more if needed)

Mix everything together. Spoon into your cups or trays. Bake at 200 degrees C for 20 minutes.

How about these for lazy Sunday munchies? If you make ’em remember I want to see the pics