Iodine is a trace element that is naturally present in some foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. Iodine is an essential component of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Thyroid hormones regulate many important biochemical reactions, including protein synthesis and enzymatic activity, and are critical determinants of metabolic activity. They are also required for proper skeletal and central nervous system development in fetuses and infants.
 
The following are symptoms of hypothyroidism, as detailed by the Merck Manual, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and the Thyroid Foundation of America:

gaining weight inappropriately
unable to lose weight with diet/exercise
constipated, sometimes severely
low body temperature (feel cold when others feel hot/need extra sweaters, etc.)
fatigued, exhausted
run down, sluggish, lethargic
hair is coarse and dry, breaking, brittle, falling out
skin is coarse, dry, scaly, and thick
hoarse or gravely voice
puffiness and swelling around the eyes and face
pains, aches in joints, hands and feet
carpal-tunnel syndrome, or it's getting worse
irregular menstrual cycles (longer, or heavier, or more frequent)
trouble conceiving a baby
depressed
restless
moods change easily
feelings of worthlessness
difficulty concentrating
feelings of sadness
losing interest in normal daily activities
more forgetful lately
 
The following are additional symptoms, which have been reported more frequently in people with hypothyroidism:

hair is falling out
can't seem to remember things
no sex drive
more frequent infections, that last longer
snoring more lately
have/may have sleep apnea
shortness of breath and tightness in the chest
feel the need to yawn to get oxygen
eyes feel gritty and dry and/or sensitive to light
eyes get jumpy/tics in eyes, which makes me dizzy/vertigo and have headaches
strange feelings in neck or throat
tinnitus (ringing in ears
recurrent sinus infections
vertigo and/or light-headedness
severe menstrual cramps
The Thyroid Gland: Understanding How It WorksThe thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland found inside your neck, right under your larynx or voice box. A two-inch long, brownish red, highly vascular gland, it has two lobes located on each side of the windpipe that are both connected by a tissue called the isthmus. A normal thyroid gland weighs somewhere between 20 and 60 grams.
Your thyroid is responsible for producing the master metabolism hormones that control every function in your body. It produces three types of hormones:

• Triiodothyronine (T3)
• Thyroxine (T4)
• Diiodothyronine (T2)

Hormones secreted by your thyroid interact with all your other hormones, including insulin, cortisol, and sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. The fact that these hormones are all tied together and are in constant communication explains why a less-than-optimal thyroid status is associated with so many widespread symptoms and diseases.
Almost 90 percent of the hormone produced by your thyroid is in the form of T4, the inactive form. Your liver then converts the T4 into T3, the active form, with the help of an enzyme. T2, however, is currently the least-understood component of thyroid function and the subject of a number of ongoing studies.
If everything is working properly, you will make what you need and have the correct amounts of T3 and T4, which control the metabolism of every cell in your body. If your T3 is inadequate, either by scarce production or not converting properly from T4, your whole system suffers. T3 is critically important because it tells the nucleus of your cells to send messages to your DNA to rev up your metabolism by burning fat. This is how T3 lowers cholesterol levels, regrows hair, and helps keep you lean.
Your T3 levels can be disrupted by nutritional imbalances, toxins, allergens, infections, and stress, and this leads to a series of complications, including thyroid cancer, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism, which today are three of the most prevalent thyroid-related diseases.
 
Blood tests do not always measure accurate tissue levels of T3 and T4 (thyroid hormones). The body strives to keep T3 and T4 levels ‘normal’.  A serum Thyroid Anti-body test and a TSH test should be done. However, at home, a ‘basil temperature test’ is often a good way to check your thyroid. If you find your have many of the symptoms on this page and suspect not only an imbalance but perhaps ‘hypothyroidism’ then you must see your doctor as soon as possible. Thyroid imbalances can be successfully addressed with supplements and diet, but a true case of ‘hypothyroidism’ needs medical attention and medication. Nutritional consultants may not diagnose disease.  A thyroid that is in the process of autoimmune failure (a serum Thyroid Anti-body test will show this) can cause hypothyroid symptoms BEFORE the hypothyroidism shows up as TSH outside the normal range.
 
Basil Thyroid Temperature Test
 
Taking your temperature at home is a reliable way to determine if your thyroid gland is unbalanced and either working overtime (hyperactive) or working below normal (hypoactive). Thyroid blood tests measure the thyroid hormone T-4 in the blood but don’t reveal if the thyroid hormone T-3 is getting to the tissues that need it. A person may have a chronically under active thyroid and the symptoms that go along with it but have normal thyroid results from a blood test.
 
Immediately upon waking in the morning, before getting up, place a thermometer (mercury kinds work best) under the armpit for 10 minutes. Lie quietly during this time. Do this for 3 consecutive mornings to get an average temperature. Add all 3 numbers together and then divide by 3. The resulting temperature should be between 36.5 °C and 36.8°C (97.8°F – 98.20°F). If your average for the three mornings is below 36.5°C (97.8°F) then you may well have an under active thyroid gland. If your results are above 36.8°C (98.2°F) then your thyroid may be overactive. Menstruating women need to take their temperature on day 2, 3, and 4 of their cycle.
 
“Body temperature readings can be compared with your thyroid tests, which usually measure T4 hormone levels in the blood. If both temperature and blood levels are low, then the thyroid is not producing enough T4. If temperature is low but blood levels are normal, then the thyroid is producing enough T4 but the body is not converting enough of it into T3. (T3 is the form needed to activate cells fully, but the thyroid does not produce it. It must instead be converted in the various tissues of the body from the T4 that the thyroid makes.)”
Jennifer Hough, CPT CNC HBA
 
The thyroid gland may be working below average for many reasons. It may be worn out from compensating for other endocrine glands that are working below average (adrenals, ovaries, pancreas) or it may not be getting the right signals from the pituitary gland. There are many foods and supplements you can take (and avoid) to support the thyroid in recovering.
 
Article and food lists for thyroid:  http://hypothyroidisma.com/hypothyroidism-diet.php
 
Lynn Thier, RHN, Certified Cancer Coach
www.cancerhealthcoach.ca
 

Are you overweight, tired, depressed, stressed or anxious?  These are all symptoms of childhood trauma and abuse.  Many women much like myself who were sexually abused as children use food as a way of covering up...Many women wear this access weight as a shield.

I was fortunate to be involved in a lot of physical fitness growing up and throughout adulthood.  Yes, I've struggled with weight, food issues, depression & anxiety for many years.  I was put on anti depressants after a suicide attempt at the age of 15.  Now turning 45 years of age, I have been off my daily dose of any anti depressant medication thanks to Time Line Therapy and shifting my mindset using some great techniques in NLP.  

The WhyWhy a shield? For individuals who’ve experienced a traumatic event, usually some kind of abuse, their weight helps them create a barrier to the outside.
For some, weight serves to minimize their looks and sexuality. In today’s society, thin is in, and if you don’t fit the mold, in theory, people will pay less attention to you and your body. Some women use their weight as protection against future abuse. According to the Survivors of Incest Anonymous:
"If for instance we perceive obesity to be unattractive, and if we believe or were told that we were abused because we were attractive, we may overeat in a misguided yet totally understandable attempt to defend ourselves from further sexual assault."

Emotional Eating - For some, weight is a consequence of emotional eating. Emotions may become too high-risk. They’ve been through so much already that they’d rather avoid any more hurt. They’d rather push down the depression, anxiety, anger, confusion or pain using food.  Others may use alcohol or drugs. They may use food to numb their feelings or soothe their discomfort. Perhaps it started out as a once-in-awhile comforting treat and snow balled into a full-fledged habit: Heading for the fridge or pantry becomes an automatic reaction to upset and anxiety.  WE unconsciously eat out of pure habit, before we know it the bag of chips or the tub of ice cream is all gone!  

How To Heal - Whether your weight is an intentional barrier, a consequence of emotional eating, hormonal imbalances, bad habits or a bit of everything, the following tips may help:

1.  Be open to shifting your habits, mindset development is key.  Seek a therapist who is trained in NLP, Time Line Therapy and Hypnotherapy that can help at the conscious and unconscious level to elicit positive changes.
2.  Seek out resources and support.  Family and friends that are supportive and on board with helping you to make positive shifts in behavior and mindset.  A support group, books, workshops of interest on health, wellness, nutrition and fitness
3. Be gentle with yourself, there are no failures, only learning or feedback.  pick one thing per week that you want to work on and focus your attention on what you want-not what you don't want.  
4.  Self care.  Instead of emotional eating, take a warm bath with Epsom salts and lavender essential oil, get a massage, a pedicure or reflexology.  
5.  Take time to heal - Heal your heart, your body and soul.  Have a Reiki Energy Healing Session or learn self reiki.
​6.  Let go of Negative emotions, beleifs and decisions using Time Line Therapy.  Negative emotions can be gone in as little as 4-5 hours.  Get the results you deserve using techniques that work!

About Lynn Thier
Lynn has been working in the wellness Industry for more than 20 years and has a magical way of inspiring others to embrace healthy, balanced lifestyles and relish in living their best life!  A Holistic Nutritionist and Cancer Coach, Making even just one of the shifts she suggests can: reduce stress, take pounds off, reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, add quality years and vitality to your life.  Lynn is a highly trained and Board Certified Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Time Line Therapy®, Hypnotherapy, and Coaching which are some of the most powerful tools for personal and professional development today. She also uses Reiki Energy Healing for herself and her clients.  Lynn can assist you to make small shifts, create new healthy habits, move past obstacles, and release unwanted emotions that are holding you back from being your best self!

Stress often starts with your thoughts, in your head with a worry or a fear, and those feelings of overwhelm, anxiety and perhaps even panic, don’t stay there. When you feel stressed, your body ramps up production of the stress hormones cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine.  This triggers the start of the stress response, and, like a snowball rolling down a mountain, it gains traction and speed until you’re ready for the proverbial attack.  "Stress is not a state of mind... it's measurable and dangerous, and humans can't seem to find their off-switch." These words of warning come from renowned author and award-winning neurobiologist Robert Sapolsky in the documentary Stress: Portrait of a Killer. Watch the documentary at the top of this article.
​
Excess stress hormones are released far too often. Your stress response becomes imbalanced; it’s not shutting off. Your immune system suffers as a result, and epigenetic changes are rapidly occurring.  Stress can occur with any event, a job loss, divorce, or traumatic event.  

The stress is triggering systemic low-grade inflammation, and suddenly your blood pressure is up, your asthma is flaring, and you keep getting colds. Your body is out of homeostasis.
You’re having trouble sleeping and, on an emotional level, you feel like you’re nearing burnout. That’s when you notice that you’ve put on some weight, and you’re having digestive troubles too. 

Stress Takes a Toll on Your Brain and Adds Inches to Your Waistline
​Did you know that  stress can also lead to weight gain--of the worst kind? Stress-induced weight gain typically involves an increase in belly fat, which is the most dangerous fat for your body to accumulate, and increases your cardiovascular risk.  Stress alters the way fat is deposited because of the specific hormones and other chemicals your body produces when you're stressed.

Prolonged stress can also damage your brain cells and make you lose the capacity to remember things. Stress disrupts your neuroendocrine and immune systems and appears to trigger a degenerative process in your brain that can result in Alzheimer's disease. Stress can also accelerate aging by shortening your telomeres, the protective genetic structures that regulate how your cells age. In the words of Dr. Lissa Rankin, author of Mind Over Medicine:
"Our bodies know how to fix broken proteins, kill cancer cells, retard aging, and fight infection. They even know how to heal ulcers, make skin lesions disappear and knit together broken bones! But here's the kicker--those natural self-repair mechanisms don't work if you're stressed!"

Stress clearly affects your whole body and can lead to depression, heart disease, digestive problems, frequent colds, insomnia, anxiety and more...  so what can you do?

What you do for stress is a personal choice, what works for some may not for others.  Letting go of negative emotions, beliefs and limiting decisions is one way to help manage stress.  This can be done using the powerful techniques of Time Line Therapy.  Perhaps yoga, meditation or a high intensity workout is in order to help you manage stress.  Eating a healthy diet and drinking plenty of pure water is in order when you are feeling stressed.  Its always great to have support, join group activities or a support group if that is what appeals to you.  One more crucial point is to get adequate sleep!  Lack of sleep will impair your body's ability to handle stress.  A good night's sleep is always a great stress reliever.  

Lynn Thier, RHN
Lynn has been working in the wellness Industry for more than 20 years and has a magical way of inspiring others to embrace healthy, balanced lifestyles and relish in living their best life!  Making even just one of the shifts she suggests can: reduce stress, take pounds off, reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, add quality years and vitality to your life.  Lynn is a highly trained and Board Certified Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Time Line Therapy®, Hypnotherapy, and Coaching which are some of the most powerful tools for personal and professional development on the planet today. Lynn can assist you to end bad habits, create new healthy habits, move past obstacles, and release unwanted emotions that are holding you back from being your best self!

References:
1.  http://www.pbs.org/shows/ 
2.  http://lissarankin.com/10-signs-you-have-way-too-much-cortisol 
3.  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/07/05/stress-effects.aspx#_edn1
4.  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/07/05/stress-effects.aspx

You probably know this feeling of being trapped in negative emotions or limiting beliefs. You may be blocked by anxiety, insecurity or depression. You may believe that you are not good enough or not worthy to have things you want the most in life.  Or you may you have felt that the lack of energy or chronic physical issues such as chronic pain, allergies or auto-immune diseases, prevent you from reaching your goals.  You have tried “everything” to change, improve and heal, but somehow there is still something holding you back from reaching your goals. May be you have even started to give up on your dreams to have the life you desire.

Imagine how good it would feel to:

• Discover and address the deeper root causes of your mental, emotional and physical blocks and limitations
• Free yourself from subconsciously stored negative emotions and limiting beliefs
• Erase self-sabotaging patterns and create congruency on all levels
• Re-program your mind and cellular memory to greater peace, confidence and self-worth
• Access your true potential to heal, change and thrive
• Have the skills and tools to be in charge of your thoughts, emotions and actions – and to continuously grow and create more balance, success and well-being in your life.

This can all be achieved using Time Line Therapy....It is used to release negative emotions, such as anger, sadness, fear, guilt, shame and limiting beliefs (for example I am not good enough, I don not deserve) through hypnotic regression and subconscious learning.

Most clients require only 6-8 sessions, which can be once a week OR spread over a time period of 2-3 months to breakthrough their blocks and reach their goals.  Each session is 1.5 - 2 hours long, so that there sufficient time to go deep and create powerful shifts and momentum. During the sessions you will work consciously with your subconscious mind, activate your mind-body-spirit connection and spend some time in a very pleasant, relaxed light trance state. By using specific mind-activating modalities and techniques you are able to resolve deep-seated emotions and limiting beliefs and gain a new perspective on yourself and your life. In the process you will learn and acquire effective tools and strategies, which allow you to further solidify the changes and quickly implement your growth in your daily life.

Who are the Personal Breakthrough Sessions for?  
Our Techniques of NLP, Hypnosis & Time Line have been proven to be highly effective for a variety of challenges such as:

• Stress and Anxiety
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Phobias
• Insomnia
• Depression
• Chronic Pain
• Cancer
• Irritable Bowl Syndrome
• Auto-immune Diseases
• Migraines
• Addictive Behaviors

Send Lynn a message to start your Personal Breakthrough Program Today by clicking HERE!

ABOUT LYNN ~ Lynn has been working in the wellness Industry for more than 18 years and has a magical way of inspiring others to embrace healthy, balanced lifestyles and relish in living their best life!  Making even just one of the shifts she suggests can: reduce stress, take pounds off, reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, add quality years and vitality to your life.  Lynn is a Certified Hypnotherapist, Certified Time Line Therapist, Practitioner of NLP, Certified Cancer Coach, Registered Holistic Nutritionist & Personal Fitness Trainer.  

There’s compelling evidence supporting the notion that high-fructose diets are responsible for many chronic diseases and conditions, including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Fruits contain fructose, which is why some caution is warranted with their consumption.

That being said, in vegetables and fruits, the fructose is mixed in with fiber, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and beneficial phytonutrients, all of which help moderate the negative metabolic effects. If you are healthy, eating small amounts of whole fruits is fine and potentially beneficial.

However, if you suffer with any fructose-related health issues, such as insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, obesity, or cancer, you would be wise to limit your total fructose consumption to 15 grams of fructose per day. This includes fructose from ALL sources, including whole fruit.

If you are not insulin resistant, you may increase this to 25 grams of total fructose per day on average. Let me restate my recommendations on fruit and fructose consumption as simply as possible:

1. If you're insulin or leptin resistant (are overweight, diabetic, hypertensive, or have high cholesterol), then it would be advisable for you to limit your fruit intake. As a general rule, I recommend limiting your fructose intake to a maximum of 15 grams of fructose per day from ALL sources, including whole fruit.
2. If you are not insulin/leptin resistant, (are normal weight without diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol) and regularly engage in strenuous physical activity or manual labor, then higher fructose intake is unlikely to cause any health problems. In this case, you can probably eat more fruit without giving it much thought.
3. However, if you are in category two above, you might benefit from a further refinement. Fruit will still increase your blood sugar and many experts believe this will increase your protein glycosylation. So my approach is to consume the fruit typically after a workout as your body will use the sugar as fuel rather than raise your blood sugar.
4. Additionally, if you're an endurance athlete, you can probably get away with eating fairly large amounts of fruits, since your body will use most of the glucose during exercise, so it won't be stored as fat.
5. If you're still unsure of just how stringent you need to be, get your uric acid levels checked and use that as a guide. See below for details…

Measuring Your Uric Acid Level Can Help Determine How Much Fruit Is Right for You
The higher your uric acid, the more sensitive you are to the effects of fructose. The safest range of uric acid appears to be between 3 and 5.5 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl), and there appears to be a steady relationship between uric acid levels and blood pressure and cardiovascular risk, even down to the range of 3 to 4 mg/dl.

According to Dr. Richard Johnson, the ideal uric acid level is probably around 4 mg/dl for men and 3.5 mg/dl for women. If you are one of those who believes fruit is healthy no matter how much you eat, I would strongly encourage you to have your uric acid level checked to find out how sensitive you are to fructose. Eat the amount of fruit you feel is right for you for a few weeks and then check your uric acid level and see if your levels are healthy.

If they are elevated, you might try reducing the fruit to recommended levels and rechecking your uric acid level. Many who are overweight likely have uric acid levels well above 5.5. Some may even be closer to 10 or above. Measuring your uric acid levels is a very practical way to determine just how strict you need to be when it comes to your fructose – and fruit -- consumption

Article written by Dr. Mercola.

"Gluten-Free" does NOT always mean healthy, and a lot of foods with that label are still just as bad for weight gain as their gluten-filled alternatives.  Dr. Thomas O'Bryan states that gluten is completely indigestible by humans. 

For millions of people, even the tiniest amount of gluten triggers an immune reaction that could result in severe stomach pain, damage to the gastrointestinal tract, systemic inflammation, vitamin and mineral deficiencies and a host of other painful and debilitating symptoms.  When I think of "gluten-free" foods, I think of foods that have never had gluten in them in the first place -- like fruit, vegetables, meat, nuts, etc...But lets talk about gluten free foods that are packaged...that would normally have gluten in them (crackers, breads, baking mixes etc.) -- that have been made gluten free by using different ingredients.  While these foods don't have gluten in them, they are often made with substitutes that are just as high glycemic as their wheat based counterparts -- like rice, corn, and potatoes. Which means they will harm your blood-sugar regulation system as much as wheat does.

On top of that, these gluten-free foods still contain common allergens, including ALL other grains, soy, dairy, & corn. All of these can cause systemic inflammation, and frequently lead to weight gain.  some also have aspartame, corn syrup, sucralose and more...make sure you read the ingredients carefully before making your decision to buy. If it's stuffed with these harmful ingredients - you really don't want to be eating it - ESPECIALLY if your goal is to lose weight.

You can bake gluten free yourself by using coconut, almond, pecan flours instead as well as sweeten with stevia, raw honey, molasses or real fruit.  Just remember "Gluten Free" does not always mean healthy, read your labels carefully!

Lynn Thier, RHN
Certified Professional Cancer Coach

Dr. Axe talks about Coconut benefits and uses - Known as the “tree of life,” the coconut tree has long sustained civilizations in the tropics. They are grown abundantly in many Asian countries like Malaysia and the Philippines. All parts of the plant have several functions and about 10 million people directly or indirectly rely on either the processing or sale of coconuts as their primary source of income.

When processed, the coconut fruit yields several products, and one popular example is coconut milk.

Now, some of you may be wondering: is coconut milk the same as coconut water? The answer is “no.” They are very different from each other. Before I delve on the properties and composition of coconut milk, let me clear the confusion about these two coconut products.

Coconut Milk vs. Coconut Water
If you pick up a fresh coconut at the store and shake it, you’ll hear liquid splashing inside. This liquid is coconut water. There is evidence suggesting that next to pure water, coconut water is one of the best options to rehydrate yourself on a hot day or after an intense workout. It’s packed with numerous nutrients, including electrolytes.

On the other hand, coconut milk is made by grinding coconut meat and diluting it with plain water. It’s rich in protein and fat, and has a consistency similar to fresh cow’s milk.  

Coconut milk does not have the mild sweetness that coconut water has, so to compensate for its lack of flavor, it is usually accompanied by other ingredients, like spices and vinegar. In Asian countries, specifically Thailand and the Philippines, coconut milk is commonly added to delicacies and beverages.

Coconut Milk Nutrition: It’s All About the Good Fat
I strongly believe that people should have an upwards of 50 to 70 percent healthful fat in their daily diet. You’ll want to avoid unhealthy processed varieties, and opt for high-quality fats from the best sources, such as coconuts and coconut oil.

Coconut milk is no exception, as it possesses high amounts of beneficial fat – about 17 to 25 percent -- in the form of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). Unlike long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) primarily found in vegetable or seed oils, MCFAs are easier to break down and do not require special enzymes for metabolism. They are converted to energy rather than stored as fat. Lauric acid, a type of MCFA rarely found in nature, can be found in coconut milk.

Other nutrients found in coconut milk include:

• Vitamins C and E
• B vitamins, such as B1, B3, B5, and B6
• Minerals, such as iron, selenium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus
• Fiber

Coconut milk is lactose-free, and is a popular dairy substitute for people with lactose intolerance.

Coconut Milk Recipes to Try - Using coconut milk as an ingredient in cooking can make for more flavorful and nutrient-rich dishes. It is similar to regular milk, and can be used in curries, smoothies, shakes, or as an alternative to dairy products in baking. If you’d like to try it out for yourself, here are two quick recipes:

Fish Curry  Ingredients:
4 pieces (or 16 ounces) salmon or any white fish of your choice, skinned and boned 
1 onion, sliced 
1 tomato, chopped 
1 green chili, deseeded and chopped 
1 cup coconut milk 
1 tablespoon olive oil 
Curry Paste:

6 dry red chilies 
1 tablespoon coriander seeds 
½ tablespoon cumin seeds 
½ tablespoon minced ginger 
½ teaspoon minced garlic 
½ tablespoon tamarind paste* 
½ teaspoon turmeric powder 
5 tablespoons water or as requiredMakes 4 servings

Procedure:

1. Create the paste by grinding all the paste ingredients together until well-blended. Set aside afterward.
2. Rub the fish slices with salt and a pinch of turmeric powder. Set this aside for five minutes, then rinse well and drain.
3. Heat oil in heavy pan. Sauté onions over medium heat for five minutes or until the onions turn golden brown.
4. Place the curry paste and tomatoes. For two to three minutes, continue sautéing.
5. Mix in the coconut milk and water, and bring to boil. Add the fish, together with the green chilies and salt. Mix gently and let it simmer on low heat for about four minutes or until the fish is ready.
6. Best served with brown rice.

*You can find this at Asian food markets.


Banana Ice Cream
Ingredients:
4 over-ripe bananas
2 tablespoons lecithin granules (this is optional, but it adds creamy texture)
1 ½ cups coconut milk (can be nut or rice milk, or half and half) ¼ cup sugar*
1 teaspoon vanillaMakes 1 quart

Procedure:

1. Using a food processor, liquefy the bananas and the lecithin granules. You may also use a juicer to homogenize the bananas. While the processor or juicer is running, add the remaining ingredients.
2. This can make up to four cups of liquid, depending on the size of the bananas. If necessary, you can add more milk to produce one quart of liquid. Afterward, pour the mixture into baking sheets or ice-cube trays. Freeze until they become solid.
3. If you’re using sheets, cut the frozen mixture into strips. If you’re using ice-cube trays, just remove the cubes from the trays. Transfer the frozen pieces back to the food processor or juicer until they are homogenized. Serve immediately.

Tip: If you place the juicer body, cutter, blank, and bowl in the refrigerator 30 minutes before use, you can produce thicker and creamier ice cream.

Variations:
Enjoy flavored ice cream varieties:

• Chocolate-banana flavored
  • Add ½ cup cocoa or carob powder, plus an additional teaspoon of vanilla to the recipe above.
• Tropical flavored
  • Use two over-ripe bananas, ½ cup strawberries, ½ cup finely cut pineapples, 1 ½ cups milk, ½ cup sugar, and two tablespoons lecithin granules (optional).
• Coconut flavored
  • Use two eggs, three tablespoons lecithin granules, three cups coconut milk, 1/3 cup sugar, and one teaspoon vanilla.

*Please note that this recipe contains high amounts of sugar, and should be consumed in moderation. I do not recommend this for diabetics or those suffering from insulin-related conditions.


Coconut Milk for Your Hair and Skin
Coconut milk’s uses extend beyond the kitchen. You can apply it topically as a hair treatment or use it after styling procedures like blow drying, curling, and straightening. You can even use it on your hair after long exposure to sunlight. Some shampoos and conditioners even contain coconut milk because of its positive effects on hair.

Rather than go to the salon to have a procedure done, you can enjoy this DIY treatment at home by massaging coconut milk into your scalp and hair strands. Once done, tuck your hair into a shower cap and leave on for about 30 minutes. Remove the cap, wait another 30 minutes, and then rinse and shampoo as usual.

Coconut milk can also be used on your skin as a moisturizer, or added to your bath water. Mix ¼ cup of coconut milk with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and 1 cup of sea salt for a moisturizing body scrub, or add ½ cup coconut milk, along with a few drops of essential oil, to your bathwater for a refreshing coconut bath.

How to Score a High-Quality Coconut Milk Product How coconut milk is made is similar to how its dairy counterpart is produced. The coconut meat is grated from the shell and submerged in hot water. Once the cream rises, it is removed and the liquid left behind is squeezed through a cheesecloth or by hand. The result is coconut milk. A second squeeze or press can create thinner milk.

Coconut milk is available in supermarkets and Asian food stores, and is sold in tins, cartons, or in powder form. Appearances can be deceiving, so make sure you select a high-quality product by being a savvy reader of labels. Avoid products that contain synthetic additives, which may affect the quality of the milk.

For instance, coconut milk with a bright white color is not necessarily high-quality, and may contain bleaching agents. A bit of black liquid, which comes from the coconut shell, may naturally appear in some products. In some production methods, the sulfur-based preservative E224 is added.

You may also find low-fat or non-fat coconut milk products, which contain higher amounts of water to reduce the milk’s fat content. However, some manufacturers add guar gum in order to keep its creamy consistency. While guar gum does not induce side effects in most consumers, some people may not be able to tolerate it, especially those with an existing digestive condition. If you experience reactions like loose stools, diarrhea, or gas after consuming products containing guar gum, I recommend avoiding them.

Canned coconut milk is one of the most common coconut milk products available, but I recommend avoiding it (as with all canned products) because it might contain toxins like bisphenol-A (BPA), which may transfer to the milk. If you cannot avoid using canned products, look for BPA-free brands.

Make This All-Around Tropical Oil a Part of Your Daily Life, Too
Like coconut milk, coconut oil is packed with healthful fats and other nutrients. You can use it as a cooking oil or add it to your foods. You may also eat a spoonful daily, like I usually do. Take it with your daily vitamins to help improve the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients

Coconut oil can be applied topically or added to personal care products. Some of its uses outside the kitchen are:

• Makeup remover
• Facial cleanser
• Body and facial scrub
• Eye and cuticle cream
• Hair conditioner
• Deodorant
• Lip balm
• Insect repellent

Sadly, coconut products are considered exotic in the Western Hemisphere, the United States included. There are only a handful of establishments that carry fresh coconuts or high-quality coconut products.

You can find these products in Asian or Latino food stores, farmers’ markets, and small health food stores.

If you’re interested in experiencing the coconut oil advantage, you can try Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, as well as my Certified Organic Coconut Flour. Sourced from fresh, young coconuts, these products can make a world of difference in your cooking, baking, and other practical applications.

So, try these amazing coconut products, and discover why the tropics has celebrated (and continues to do so) this fruit for countless years.

 www.draxe.com
www.cancerhealthcoach.ca 

This is a blog post written by a fellow RHN Sharon Pendlington that I found to be an excellent description of what we do as Holistic Nutritionists.  

WHO can benefit from working with a nutritionist?
Everyone can successfully achieve greater health and wellness by:
1) understanding the root cause of their health concerns, and
2) using tools that address their unique nutritional deficiencies to help bring their body back into balance

WHAT does a Holistic Nutritionist do during a consultation?  A Holistic Nutritionist assesses your current dietary intake, medications and supplements, your current lifestyle and your symptoms to identify any nutritional deficiencies or imbalances that may be contributing to your health concerns. He/she then suggests specific foods, natural supplements and lifestyle recommendations.

HOW does it work?  Food and lifestyle suggestions will help to provide the body with the physical, mental, emotional and psychospiritual support that it needs to naturally heal itself.  Nutritional counselling may be helpful for many health issues, including (but not limited to):

• Digestive and Intestinal Health (irritable bowel, gas and bloating, acid reflux, gallstones, constipation, food sensitivities, Candida overgrowth, parasites)
• Women’s Health (fertility, prenatal support, PMS, endometriosis, fibroids, hormonal imbalance, menopause)
• Endocrine Imbalances (thyroid imbalance, weight management, adrenal fatigue, reproductive function and prostate health)
• Liver support (including cleansing protocols), Kidney Function (including kidney stones, bladder infections) and Skin Health
• Chronic Illness (cancer support, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis)
• Heart Health (blood pressure, elevated blood fats, atherosclerosis and heart disease, anemia)
• Emotional and Mental Health (depression, anxiety, insomnia, stress, ADD/ADHD, Parkinson’s and Alzheimers)
• Immune Support (cold & flu prevention, infections, allergies, asthma, autoimmune conditions)

WHERE do I find a Holistic Nutritionist?  Schools of Natural Nutrition (such as Canadian School of Natural Nutrition) often have a member list that you can use to find a LOCAL nutritionist with their specific designation.

You will want to find a nutritionist that will work alongside you to create a CUSTOMIZED wellness plan that addresses your health and wellness goals by incorporating specific nutritional as well as lifestyle suggestions and protocols.

WHY work with a nutritionist?  We are fortunate today to have access to a wide variety of  alternative health care practitioners and modalities today! You will often want to see more than one type of practitioner to ensure you are advocating for your best health possible.

A consultation with a Holistic Nutritionist will give YOU the power to take your health into your own hands. He/she can help you assess your imbalances, provide information and tools to address those imbalances, and give you the support you need, but it is ultimately YOU who creates your health! This means that you don’t need to visit your nutritionist every week to see results. It feels amazing to be in charge of your own health rather than being reliant on someone else, and it saves you time and money too!

WHEN should I see a nutritionist?  Why wait? The life of vitality and vigour that you imagine for yourself, that is your birthright, is within your reach!

As a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Certified Professional Cancer Coach, Yoga/Fitness Instructor and Certified Personal Trainer,  I am able to offer private nutritional consultations to support individual wellness goals; educational seminars and more... food preparation demonstrations and classes; grocery store tours and pantry cleanses; as well as group and private yoga classes (including prenatal yoga). I am a member of the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition Alumni as well as a member of the National Association of Professional Cancer Coaches.  Contact Lynn today for your first appointment to wellness!  Click HERE to send her an email.

Did you know that carrying around a few extra pounds of fat increases your chances of getting cancer. The fact is that obesity is a frequently overlooked factor that can contribute to an increased cancer risk.  In the December 2014 edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, obesity is “quickly overtaking tobacco as the leading preventable cause of cancer.”  

Did you know that most DIET foods will actually make you FATTER?  Unfortunately the media SPECIFICALLY targets women far more than men when it comes to fat loss – and offers diet advice that
simply doesn't work…They tell us to eat healthy yogurt that is full of sugar, additives and toxic ingredients.  Diet pop and fruit juices that contain sugar, aspartame and have no nutrition whatsoever.  Prepackaged diet food items that will grow your midsection and lead to chronic inflammation in the body.  Many health foods contain ingredients that are not actually healthy for us at all but damage our gut and brains.

When you try to stop eating these damaging frankinfoods, you also will go through withdrawals making it even more difficult to quit.  With all the misinformation out there, it’s no wonder obesity (and the other terrible health conditions that come with it, diabetes, cancer,) is such an epidemic right now…

Why not learn from a Registered Holistic Nutritionist on what foods to eat and which foods to avoid?, How to balance your hormones naturally and heal digestion, thyroid and other conditions that are sabotaging your weight loss goals.  

Nutritional assessments are based upon your symptomatology.  Forms are completed on all your body systems and we work together to find a plan that is right for you and your goals.   Assessments are 2 visits where you will meet with me for approx 90 min in the first appointment and in our second appointment, I present you with a completely individualized plan to help you achieve all your personal goals.  Complete with diet + lifestyle recommendations, recipes and all the tools you need to succeed! 
Health Investment ~ 175.00

What are the Benefits of Working with a Holistic Nutritionist:

• Improve digestive health
• Increase energy
• Stress reduction
• Improve sleep
• Restore hormone balance including PMS and Menopause
• Improve skin clarity (eczema, acne)
• Address food allergies and/or sensitivities
• Immune support
• Lose weight if you need to
• and so much more!