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Diet Variation Strategies, The Quickest Ways To Lose Weight

I coach many individuals who suffer from hormone dysregulation and the inability to lose weight, regardless of following a strict diet and exercise regime. From these clients, I’ve learned effective techniques to break through the frustrating state of weight loss resistance, as we simultaneously work upstream to identify the real cause (R:1) of why they can’t lose weight or don't feel well. Since studying and experimenting with many ancient health principles and ancestral lifestyle habits, I discovered a strategy that is one of the quickest ways to lose weight, and also supports healing at the cellular level. I’ve observed outstanding results with very challenged clients, but the tactic is great for anyone who wants to get leaner and feel better in the modern age of GMOs, toxic foods, and numerous physical, chemical, and emotional stressors. I’m excited to share this information with you in the second installment of the series on my Top Five 180 Degree Solution™ Strategies for Your Best Ever Health. And if you missed Strategy #1, you can read the article here.

Diet Variation Strategies the Quickest Ways to Lose Weight.
Strategy 2 of the Top 5 Strategies for Your Best Health Ever!

180° Solution™ Strategy #2: Diet Variation

Reflection upon our rich history, there is plenty to be learned from our ancestors to live healthier modern lives. During time spent visiting beautiful Jackson Hole, Wyoming, I came across some powerful principles that I’ve implemented with the clients I coach, and in my own life, with great success. One of the strategies I call diet variation, an adaptive technique that takes advantage of the body’s innate desire to survive. I’ve found that when we vary our diet, the hormonal shifts for adaptation re-establish and trigger the body’s ability to burn fat for energy. Diet variation is one of the quickest ways to lose weight! Pretty cool, eh?

Upon studying our ancestors’ lifestyle and eating patterns, I noted that they didn’t eat the same foods 365 days a year. During the cold season they would stockpile meat and animal fat to provided hardy sustenance for energy and it was food that could be stored and used throughout the season. Once spring and summer returned, vegetables and fruit were abundant, which they consumed to their heart’s content. Nature’s perfect timing provided a high-fat diet in the winter for strength, and shifted to a lighter, plant-based diet in warmer months to provide other key nutrients. The variation delivered the nutrition needed to survive each season, thereby keeping them healthy and adapted year-round. This is how our bodies were designed to thrive: eating seasonally, locally, and exclusively whole foods.

Why Eating 3-5 Meals a Day Could Be Aging You

Our bodies were also set up to survive and thrive in times of both feast and famine. Eating in correspondence with the seasons was the first thing our ancestors did right (not that they had a choice). In addition, they did not sit down to 3 squares meals plus 2 snacks per day, at regular time intervals. Their ever-changing environment required them to follow a feast or famine style of life, characterized by alternating periods when food was either in abundance or short supply. Therefore, they ate when food was available and fasted when food was not. Contrary to popular thought, the periods of lack and abundance of food were actually beneficial to their health because the body was designed for it. It’s perfectly natural to be physically uncomfortable at times and experience true hunger, a feeling to which many today are unaccustomed. And going without food for short periods has some extraordinary health benefits, such as re-booting the immune system, improving insulin sensitivity, promoting longevity, repairing the digestive tract, increasing anti-aging Human Growth Hormone (HGH), and most importantly, reducing cellular inflammation, the root cause of most present-day disease.

A modern application of this principle is intermittent fasting (IF). I’ve written many times about the advantages and styles of IF in previous posts (click here for more information) and am a huge believer in fasting as a tool for restoring health. There are different ways to approach fasting: one can choose to eat within a compressed time window each day (daily IF), fast a day or two each week, or do longer block fasts for 4 or more consecutive days. Fasting helps to diminish food cravings, the need to eat on a regular schedule, and can help you look and feel younger (via the boost in HGH). Since implementing fasting with my clients and myself I’ve observed incredible benefits, and truly believe it’s one of the most unappreciated and under used healing tools available.

Becoming a Fat-Burner

Before our ancestors started growing grains for food, most were in a state of ketosis many times a year. When in a ketotic state, carbohydrate intake is so low that the body shifts over from burning glucose as a primary source of fuel to using fat its own fat stores for energy. Essentially, when in ketosis you become a “fat burner” instead of a “sugar burner.” Our ancestors remained in ketosis during the cold season, eating a low-carbohydrate diet of mostly meat and lots of quality fat, and then naturally shifted out of ketosis in the summer due to the consumption of plentiful seasonal produce.

I think it’s important to point out that healthy humans have the ability to burn both fat and glucose for energy, but because glucose is potentially damaging to the cell it will burn the glucose first to protect itself. Pretty smart, right? But what happens when we consume a high carb diet rich in grains (even whole), fruits, and modern day carbs like sports drinks and bars as our daily routine? You end up stuck in sugar burning mode with no hormonal ability to burn fat for energy.

The constant glucose spikes drives cellular inflammation and our cells ability to hear the hormones we need to burn fat. Thyroid hormone, leptin and insulin all play a significant role in our ability to use our fat for energy. When our cells can’t get the message from these hormones due to an inflamed cell membrane (driven by a constant high carb diet), you can’t burn stored fat despite what you eat and how much you exercise… AKA “weight-loss resistance”.

Today, nearly all Americans are stuck in a sugar-burning state, which promotes chronic inflammation, cellular oxidation, and premature aging. The state of ketosis, conversely, helps to slow down the body’s aging process because it downregulates inflammation and oxidative stress. Ketosis also positively impacts many common and chronic health conditions, and I’ve found it to be especially helpful for neurodegenerative diseases and weight-loss resistance. The high intake of good dietary fat helps the brain function better via an increase in ketones, which are the byproduct of fat metabolism and the brain’s preferred source of fuel. Eating lots of good fat also helps to fix the hormone receptors located on the cell membrane (also made of fat) which supports hormone balance to produce weight-loss (for more in-depth info on ketosis and the diet, read my two part series: part 1 and part 2). I’ve used ketosis as a tool with some of my most challenged clients, and myself, with great success. Once cellular inflammation is down-regulated remarkable things start to happen, and the body can begin to heal itself.

A permanent keto-adaptation diet is not for everyone; however, utilizing the diet as a tool to move in and out of has been a little miracle I discovered by chance. There are those who struggle to get into ketosis for reasons such as perimenopause, thyroid conditions, and/or toxicity. There are also those who get in to ketosis that still don’t lose weight. Read on, there is still hope!

The Magic Bullet for Weight-Loss Resistance

But what’s one to do if the ketogenic diet isn’t producing weight-loss? Enter diet variation. I began implementing the method of diet variation because I had clients who were simply not able to keto-adapt or lose weight when in ketosis. In a healthy individual, ketosis should be one of the quickest ways to lose weight; however, if suffering from certain hormonal challenges, typically driven by cellular toxicity, one does not easily shift into the fat burning state. The keto-adaptation phase, i.e. shifting from a sugar burner to a fat burner, normally occurs in 2-3 weeks (confirmed by measuring ketones with a blood ketone meter), but I’ve had clients take as long as 2-3 months before they adapt and get results. However, there are some folks who never fully adapt, and others who do adapt yet disappointingly experience no weight loss or results.

If you’re following the ketogenic diet and not seeing results, you must incorporate diet variation to “mix it up” and trigger a metabolic shift. The method has worked like magic for clients who were stuck in a state of weight-loss resistance. Here’s an example of how it works: follow the ketogenic diet for a few months, then switch to a higher carb version of the C ellular Healing Diet (up to 150 grams/day), still avoiding all grains and sugars but including “safe” starches like berries, sweet potatoes, squash, plantains, etc. for a few months. Then, once again shift back into the keto diet and…BAM! Weight finally starts to shed. Overtime, weight-loss may plateau again; if this occurs, simply shift back to the Cellular Healing Diet, and weight loss should resume. I’ve repeated this cyclical diet variation method with several cases seeing consistent, excellent results.

Boosting Weight-Loss with Another Type of Diet Variation (the 5:1:1 Rule)

Here’s a special bonus tip. After plenty of self-experimentation, I created a tool to include along with diet variation to support breaking through the plateaus of weight-loss resistance. I call it the 5:1:1 Rule. Here’s how to implement it: for 5 days of the week, consume a low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet (testing ketones to confirm you’re in ketosis); 1 day per week do a full 24 hour water fast or intermittent water fast, consuming high quality fat (like raw coconut oil or grass-fed butter oil) throughout the day if needed for energy; and 1 day a week do a carbohydrate or protein “load day,” in which you dramatically increase carbs or protein for diet variation and also to remind your body it is not starving. Depending on your health condition, a carbohydrate or protein load day may be preferable, and load days may also be altered weekly. The key is in the variation! For more on this rule, read the article here.

Why You Stop Losing Weight or Hold on to Fat In That One Area You Hate

It’s always about survival. The body will hang on to that last 10-15 lbs, especially in that area we hate the most. It does this just in case it needs the energy for future emergencies like times of famine. When carbs intake is low for long enough the body gets fearful, and becomes very efficient at burning fat. I have found it slows the fat burning down in two ways. One, by plugging up the fat cells with water to slow down the burn. In this case, you get a weird, loose, cellulite type of fat right where you hate it the most. And two, by blunting the insulin receptors, which makes you store more fat and stops fat burning.

The 5-1-1 rule, or even just adding in a carb day a week, tells the body it has plenty and the fat is good to burn. This works like crazy and it makes staying on the diet so easy knowing this day is coming. My high carb day is always Saturday. I even eat breakfast on this day, which because I intermittent fast daily I never eat breakfast, so it’s a great day. Well, sometimes… Caution: Don’t go overboard or you will regret it. I know now that if I over do it, I walk around full and tired all day. The good news? Two days afterwards (even after the days I overdo it) I am visibly leaner. It works.

Why You Need Stress to Be Healthy

Another example of the magic of variation for increased health is the principle of stress and rest as it applies to exercise. Consider our ancestors: one day they climbed a mountain to kill a wild beast, and the next day they feasted on the kill and restored by celebrating the achievement. Stress and rest involves periods when the body is pushed to the physical limit (stress), followed by time for the system to recover (rest). Modern translation: if you’re always doing the same routine at the gym or jogging route around the neighborhood, progress will halt as the body soon adapts to a predictable regime. Therefore… Mix. It. Up. Then take time to recover from training. The most efficient and effective exercise regime for rapid weight-loss includes intervals of intense workouts, followed by a day or two of rest when the body is given sufficient time to recover. Periods of proper rest are vital to peak performance, and promote both physical and mental fortification.

A perfect contemporary way to put the stress and rest principle into action is a type of workout called Burst Training (or High Interval Intensity Training). Burst training mixes bouts of high intensity, short duration exercise with periods of rest. For example, try sprinting for 30-60 seconds then resting for 60 seconds, and work up to doing this cycle for ten minutes. There’s no need to spend hours pounding the pavement or at the gym. Try following this workout 3-4 times a week—that’s only 40 minutes a week!–and you’ll be shocked with the results it brings in short periods of time. Burst training is my favorite type of exercise for efficient fat burning, weight-loss, longevity, and even offers anti-aging effects because it helps to boost HGH production. It allows you to work out smarter, not harder, and makes the body very metabolically efficient. A win-win!

Variation: The Key to Your Healthiest Life

I believe this principle works so well because of our body’s basic innate intelligence to survive. Healthy bodies thrive when forced to adapt both physically and mentally. The diet variation, just like exercise variation, works because the body will adapt by raising life saving hormones. Hormones, like human growth hormone, maintain valuable muscle the body may need in flight or fight and cause the fat it stored for energy to be burned and used. Whether it’s single days of variation, like the high carb day in the 5-1-1, or months of a low carb diet and shifting to a healthy higher carb diet, it works because of what I call “hormone manipulation”. After all, weight loss and aging slower are more about hormones than how much we exercise or even the foods we eat.

Our ancestors followed the way of life for which our bodies were designed: a life of variation. They spent most time outdoors, in tune with nature and the seasons. They consumed fresh, seasonal, and indigenous foods, and if there was no food to eat, none was eaten and they fasted. Conversely, if food was in abundance, they feasted. They went on physically demanding quests, pushing their bodies to the limit, and then rested. Our ancestors were forced to live a life of unpredictable variety, and were healthier for it.

This is why variation in both diet and exercise work so well for supporting modern health challenges (like weight-loss resistance) and keeping our bodies in a peak state of health: it takes advantage of how we were built to function. If you’re not seeing results with your current diet and exercise regimen, try shifting between ketosis and periods of higher healthy carb intake, experiment with intermittent fasting, and change it up at the gym. I believe one of the worst things we can do is stay on one diet or one exercise program. You’ll not only become a more efficient fat burner, but it will positively affect your whole body and mind. And speaking of fat burning, I’ll next let you in on the most significant thing I do each day to maintain a lean, healthy body….

Stay tuned for the next 180° Solution™ strategy #3 for your best health ever!

Key Takeaways for Implementing Diet Variation:

If you’re looking to lose weight, increase brain function, and decrease inflammation, experiment with the ketogenic diet.
Once in ketosis, switch from the keto diet to the Cellular Healing Diet.
Continue the diet cycling every few months, or seasonally to leverage the body’s innate adaptive mechanisms for survival.
Experiment with intermittent fasting (“feast or famine” principle).
Remember to “stress” the body with healthy exercise, and provide adequate rest time for physical and mental restoration.

^{Top 5 Strategies for Your Best Health Ever Part II
Edited by Meredith Dykstra}

Orange Vanilla Dream Smoothie

2 oranges, peeled
1 can unsweetened, full-fat coconut milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. sea salt
2 Tbsp. grass-fed collagen powder

Put all ingredients, excluding collagen, in a high-speed blender and mix on high speed.
Once thoroughly mixed, add collagen and incorporate at low-speed.
Garnish with orange zest.
Enjoy!
Serves 2

My Top 10 Toxic Foods

“Our bodies do not need help healing, they just don’t need interference.”

Since learning the importance of proper diet and lifestyle through my own personal health challenges (Please click here to read my article on R1 – Removing the Source of Toxins), I share this list of ten toxic foods with the hope that it helps to change others’ lives for the better, as this information has dramatically changed my own life. The following list provides dietary guidelines to integrate into your lifestyle for overall improved health, brain function, detoxification, hormone regulation, and weight-loss. I do not believe that there is one specific diet that is right for every person; however, making these shifts in eating habits decreases inflammation in the body, which is at the root of most modern disease. Avoiding these toxic foods will jumpstart the healing of any health condition at the cellular level. For more detailed information on the dietary protocol for true cellular healing and plenty of delicious and fun recipes, check out my book, “The Cellular Healing Diet.”

AVOID these foods for radically better health:

1. Grains (Even Whole Grains!)

Did you know that eating two slices of whole grain bread raises blood sugar just as much as drinking a 12 ounce can of soda? Grain products such as bread, pasta, and crackers quickly turn into sugar in the body and promote inflammation at the cellular level. When cellular function is compromised due to chronic systemic inflammation, cells cannot communicate well with each other and vital hormones become unbalanced causing weight gain and a host of other ailments. Grains also contain anti-nutrients, the plant’s innate self-defense mechanisms, which make grains very difficult for humans to digest and assimilate.

Eating exclusively “whole” grains does not solve the problem either. Although whole grains contain some fiber, vitamins and minerals, they are very high in a sugar called amylose. Amylose drives cellular inflammation by spiking blood sugar, which is the same reaction that occurs after consuming non-whole processed grains.

Perhaps most importantly, the majority of grains today are genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The genetic modification of grains causes the denaturing of proteins and carbohydrates to the point that the body no longer recognizes them as foods. The immune system then creates an inflammatory reaction in response to these denatured foods, which creates an ideal environment in the body for illness to arise. Grains are not the healthy food that people think they are, and should be avoided for optimal health.

2. Vegetable Oils

Scary fact: the half-life of trans fats (a partially hydrogenated vegetable oil), found in foods like french fries, is 51 days. This means that after 51 days, only half of the negative effects of this man-made fat have been processed by the body. An additional 51 days (totaling 102 days) are needed to remove the majority of this toxic fat. Makes you think twice before downing that plate of fries, eh?

Man-made fats like hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, margarine, and trans fats are often used to extend the shelf life of foods. These bad fats have replaced natural, good fats (or “God” fats), and are found in many foods today due to their low cost. These oils denature very easily, since they are sensitive to heat and light, and are likely rancid before they make their way into your kitchen or restaurant meal.

Vegetable oils cause cellular congestion, and are a huge health concern due to their wide-spread and excessive consumption. These oils are linked to chronic inflammation, and may even lead to cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, neurotoxic syndrome, chronic fatigue, and other serious diseases. But the solution is simple: remove the bad fats and replace them with good fats such as organic butter and cream, coconut oil, flax oil, MCT oil and hemp oil. Good fats are the number one most lacking nutrient in the modern American diet, and are essential to hormone production, decreasing inflammation, and yes, even weight-loss.

3. Refined Sugar

If you want to age faster than anyone in your neighborhood (Please click here to read my article on the 5 Diet Secrets to Anti-Aging), simply raise your blood glucose by eating plenty of refined sugar. Refined sugar unnaturally spikes and elevates levels of glucose and the hormones insulin and leptin. Prolonged spiking and elevation of insulin and leptin lead to insulin and leptin resistance, which means that the cells cannot hear what the hormones are telling them to do in order to function normally. This hormone resistance not only leads to premature aging, but to diabetes, heart disease, ADD, ADHD, high cholesterol, cancers, and the inability to lose weight. Consumption of refined sugar also lowers function of the immune system, and promotes systemic yeast overgrowth (called Candida), which has nasty side effects like thrush, vaginitis, and skin outbreaks.

Sugar is also an anti-nutrient, comparable to grains, and interferes with the absorption of other important nutrients. Sugar robs the body of its precious nutrient stores, and offers insignificant amounts of vitamins and minerals. Refined sugar is very toxic stuff, and consuming it regularly will no doubt put you on the fast track to looking older than your age, and what’s worse, getting sick. To add sweetness to my diet, I use a bit of Stevita stevia supreme, which is an incredibly sweet herb native to Paraguay. The sweeteners steviosid and rebaudiosid A, extracted from the plants, are 300 times sweeter than regular sugar, so you don’t need to use very much, and are not metabolized and contain no calories. Stevita stevia is 100% naturally extracted, tastes wonderful, and is a great alternative to nasty refined white sugar.

4. Genetically Modified Foods (aka GMOs)

I like to say, “If man changed it, exchange it.” GMOs are bad news, friends. Herbicides, like glyphosate, which are sprayed on GMOs, disrupt hormone balance, kill beneficial gut bacteria, create psychological issues, impede natural detoxification, and promote obesity. I recently discussed the very real dangers of GMOs with Jeffrey Smith, the leading consumer advocate promoting healthier non-GMO choices. Smith’s exhaustive research documents how biotech companies are putting the health of society and the planet in danger by continuing to promote and produce GMO crops. The interview shares why genetically engineered foods are destroying the health of our nation by causing numerous diseases, and the pressing need for consumers to reject GMO ingredients from their diet. To watch the interview and learn the shocking facts click here.

Common genetically modified foods include corn, soy, milk, canola oil, sugar beets and wheat. To avoid GMOs when shopping look for the Non-GMO Project’s label on food items. Also, start asking questions and stay informed! If we quit buying GMOs, they will stop being produced. Support labeling of GMO foods and vote with the almighty dollar.

5. Conventional Meat

You aren’t what you eat: you’re what you’re eating ate! There is an important distinction to understand between conventional meat and organic, grass-fed meat: the difference lies in the meat’s fatty acid ratio. Scientists now believe that a meat’s ratio of fatty acids, like omega 3 and omega 6, is more important than the measure of the singular fatty acids themselves. For example, cows were designed to eat grass. When fed an unnatural diet of grain, instead of grass, changes occur in the cow’s fatty acid ratio and denature the good fats into bad fats. Conventionally raised meat has fatty acid ratios which are greatly disproportionate to those of organic, grass-fed meat. When conventional meat is consumed by humans, the unbalanced fatty acid ratio contributes to a myriad of health problems, such as hormonal issues, skin conditions, Type 2 diabetes, and slower brain development and ADHD in children.

Plus, hundreds of current studies link conventionally produced meats to cancer and heart disease. The bio-accumulation of commercial pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics and hormones in meats is alarming, and far higher than those found in commercial vegetables. And those feed lot operations are just plain sad. When shopping, I stick to 100% grass-fed, organic meats, and support local farmers when possible. The meat tastes much better than conventional meat, and when purchasing quality meat you’re voting against the inhumane animal feeding operations that are wrecking the health of America.

6. Conventional Dairy

Did you know that 99% of dairy products in the USA contain a toxic protein called A1 Beta-Casein? This protein is 23 times more toxic than gluten, and is referred to as “The Devil in the Milk”, by authors Keith Woodford and Thomas Cowan, who wrote a book of the same name. A1 Beta-Casein is a transmuted gene in cows that has affected the majority of dairy products in this country and around the world. This gene mutation occurred thousands of years ago in Europe, and it still causing trouble today. It’s no surprise that so many people react negatively to dairy products, but few understand the root of the problem. This genetic mutation in cows, which produce the toxic dairy products we consume regularly, holds the answer to the many who suffer from mild to severe milk allergies. Symptoms linked to dairy from A1 cows include digestive issues, auto-immune conditions, infertility, type 1 diabetes, autism, neurological deficiencies, and heart disease.

Additionally, twelve different pesticides have been identified in conventional cow’s milk, according to the USDA Pesticide Data Program. And don’t forget about the loads of steroids, hormones, and antibiotics pumped into cows to force them to produce milk in massive quantities. Yikes! Pasteurized and homogenized A1 dairy products definitely do more harm to our bodies than good.

However, consuming cultured dairy products from cows that do not have the A1 Beta-Casein mutation can offer remarkable health benefits. These cows, known as A2 cows, do not produce dairy that has the ill-effects that milk from A1 cows seem to trigger. To find out where I get my A2 dairy products, which I believe are the healthiest and most delicious available today, click here.

7. Chemically Produced Coffee

Stop and take note of how you feel after finishing your morning cup of joe. Do you feel energized? Is your brain super-charged? Are you ready to take on the world? If you’re feeling less than stellar, reconsidering your coffee bean choice could make all the difference in how you jump-start each day. Coffee beans are typically grown in countries that do not regulate the use of chemicals and pesticides, which coat the beans that we grind and drink daily. And most coffee sold in stores is at least eight weeks old and already stale, which greatly decreases the coffee’s beneficial free-radical fighting anti-oxidants. What’s worse, coffee beans are often covered in toxic mold, called mycotoxins, which may cause a variety of serious issues like kidney disease, brain damage and hypertension.

But, luckily, the health benefits of drinking coffee outweigh the risks, though you will only reap the benefits if you are consuming coffee in the right way. I recommend and personally drink the Camano Island Coffee Roasters brand coffee, which is USDA certified organic, shade-grown with high anti-oxidant levels, mold-free, and sustainably harvested. You can get a free pound of this superior coffee here. And click here to watch my video on how to make your coffee a brain-charging super health food.

8. Commercial Soy Products

So-called “health foods” such as tofu, soy milk, soy cheese, soy burgers and soy protein are not health promoting foods at all. According to the USDA, 93% of soy is genetically modified. And due to the serious dangers of consuming GMOs (see number 4 on the list) you want to avoid processed soy products as much as possible. GMO soy lurks in many processed foods under other guises such as lecithins, emulsifiers and protein powders, so always check ingredient labels to make sure to avoid this toxic ingredient.

Processed soy also contains compounds called phytoestrogens, which are similar to the hormone estrogen that our bodies naturally produce. Phytoestrogens can cause hormonal, thyroid, and reproductive concerns in sensitive individuals. Soy may also drive bad estrogen metabolites, which increases the risk of cancer development. For more information on estrogen imbalance and it’s connection to cancer risk, read my wife’s story here.

On the other hand, organic, non-GMO, fermented, soy products such as tempeh, miso, tamari, and natto can be consumed in small amounts, depending on individual tolerance. These products boast loads of beneficial cultured bacteria, which help to promote and maintain a healthy gut. Fermented foods are a vital, but hugely absent, component of the modern American diet. Try to consume fermented foods often to reap the numerous health advantages, and approach soy with extreme caution.

9. Mercury-Filled Fish

Due to the massive contamination of our oceans, many fish are filled with toxic levels of the heavy metal mercury. And pregnant women are not the only ones who should be concerned about eating toxic fish. Mercury poisoning is no joke. I myself experienced it from a different source (silver amalgam fillings) and know first-hand how dangerous and life-altering the condition can be. You can read about my story and return to health by clicking here. I’m blessed to have recovered from the serious poisoning episode and am passionate about bringing awareness to others of the havoc that mercury damage can inflict on the body.

Avoiding certain fish can help to greatly lessen your mercury exposure. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the fish with the highest levels of mercury are Mackerel (King), Marlin, Orange Roughy, Shark, Swordfish, Tilefish, and Tuna (Bigeye, Ahi). Steer clear of these most mercury-toxic fish whenever possible. Also, beware of levels of the radioactive chemical cesium that have been detected in Pacific Ocean caught fish due to the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Smaller fish, like sardines and anchovies, tend to be less toxic. Know where your seafood is coming from, and stay educated.

10. “Diet” and Gluten-Free Processed Junk Foods

If you want to get fat or stay fat, keep eating and drinking the plethora of modern diet junk foods on the market today. Low-fat, low-calorie, processed “food” items are filled to the brim with chemicals, preservatives, and tons of sugar. These products are devoid of the health-promoting nutrients found in whole foods, are highly addictive, and keep you on a blood sugar roller coaster that leaves you sick, tired, and, ironically, still fat.

In addition, the current gluten-free craze is adding fuel to the fire. The market is now flooded with gluten-free products, with many folks endorsing their health benefits. The problem is that these products are filled with starches from potato, rice, corn and tapioca which spike your blood sugar just as badly, if not worse, than other glutinous grains or even refined sugar. Overconsumption of these “super sugar” ingredients can end up leaving you fatter than ever. For those with a true gluten allergy, it’s wise to eat only naturally gluten-free foods like, organic, grass-fed meat and dairy, vegetables, nuts, seeds and some low-glycemic fruits.

Bottom line: if you’re looking to lose weight and improve every area of your health, quit eating packaged and processed diet and gluten-free junk foods. And don’t fear fat! Fat does not make you fat: it’s your body’ inability to burn fat. The body simply needs to shift from a sugar-burning mode to a fat-burning mode to lose weight and keep it off long-term. To become an efficient fat-burner you should eat plenty of healthy, good-quality fats (see number 2 on the list) and cut out grains and sugars, following core principles of my Cellular Healing Diet. You will gain amazing energy, and even improve brain function by adding the right fats to your diet. Just say NO to processed “health foods” and begin changing your diet by adding in the good fats. I believe your life will change, as I’ve seen so many patients lives transform by making these shifts in their daily diet.

Now you may be wondering “If I need to avoid these toxic foods, what should I eat?” My next article will reveal the Top 10 Healing Foods, for improved brain function, weight loss, energy, and overall enhanced health and well-being. Stay tuned!

Carob Carrot Cream Smoothie

1 can unsweetened, full-fat coconut milk
3 large carrots
1/4 cup carob powder
1 tsp. ginger powder
2 tsp. maca powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground clove
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. sea salt
2 Tbsp. grass-fed collagen

Put all ingredients, excluding collagen, in a high-speed blender and mix on high.
Add collagen and incorporate at low speed.
Enjoy!
Serves 2
Variation: Add 2 tbsp. grass-fed gelatin. Mix and refrigerate overnight for a carrot cake like pudding the next morning.

Controlling Blood Glucose – Top 5 Strategies for Your Best Health Ever

A client recently asked “What are the five most important things you do every day to positively impact your health?” It’s an excellent question, and my response may surprise you. As a constant self-experimenter, I’ve been known to use some unconventional methods in seeking my best possible health. I fought a long battle against mercury poisoning and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), and through much trial and error eventually got my life back. It was only through these challenges that I was able to learn the information needed to restore my health and support those I now coach. I’m truly grateful for the sufferings; not only for the life lessons they imparted, but also because of the health strategies I came across that I would have never learned otherwise. Turning 50 this year is a milestone, and a reminder of how far I’ve come in my journey. I’m actually healthier and leaner now than in my younger years, with clarity of mind and plenty of energy to keep up with my teenagers, results that have only come from practicing what I preach. I call these 180° Solution™ strategies because they take an opposite approach to increasing health, challenging mainstream culture codes and ideals. In a five part series, I’ll share these timeless tips and tricks in hopes that they will transform your health and life as they have mine.

Top 5 Strategies for Your Best Health Ever!

180° Solution™ Strategy #1: Controlling Blood Glucose

The first key to living a longer and healthier life is controlling blood glucose (blood sugar). As I like to joke, it’s the 800lb gorilla in the room: the obvious truth that is being ignored. Many well-intentioned folks are constantly seeking the next pill or potion to increase health, but the bottom line is if your blood sugar is out of whack, you’ll never maintain significant weight loss or your best health. And since so many Americans suffer from blood sugar challenges, it’s an extremely important topic. But why does our blood sugar level have such an impact on overall health? Let me explain…

Spikes in blood sugar contribute to accelerated aging.

If you want to age faster than anyone in your neighborhood, simply raise your blood sugar. A repetitive blood sugar roller coaster produces substances called AGEs (Advanced Glycation End Products) via a glycation reaction. AGEs are aptly named since they cause cellular oxidation and inflammation by literally accelerating the aging process from the inside out, contributing to an array of degenerative diseases. Think of glycation like rust forming on a car bumper, but it’s slowly eating away at YOU. Furthermore, constant blood sugar spikes shorten something called telomeres, parts of cells that act as a human “biological clock” and affect how we age. Science has shown that by looking at the length of your telomeres, you can understand the age of your cells. You may be 45 years old, but your telomeres could show your cellular age clocks in at 65. In effect, out of control blood sugar ages you prematurely AND shortens your telomeres thereby shortening your life.

Blood sugar spikes dysregulate hormones.

Hormones are directly affected by our blood sugar levels. And when it comes to anti-aging, weight-loss, and optimal cellular function, hormones are the real answer. Blood sugar spikes equal cellular inflammation, and cellular inflammation equals hormone problems that are typically not solved by taking more hormones. As an example, think of diabetics: they suffer from cellular membrane inflammation which consequently triggers hormone dysregulation and the host of problems that go with it. To explain, hormone receptors reside on the cell membrane, including receptors to the hormone insulin that allows your body to use glucose for energy. When the cell membrane is inflamed, hormones cannot communicate with the receptor to get the message into the cell where it needs to go for normal function. Simply put, the cell cannot “hear” the message from the hormone insulin to bring the glucose needed for energy into the cell. As a result, glucose builds up in the blood leading to elevated blood sugar levels and more inflammation. This is the state of hormone resistance, or in the case of diabetes, insulin resistance.

Moreover, remember that diabetics do not die of diabetes. Rather they age prematurely and develop other inflammatory diseases such as heart disease, stroke, obesity, and more. Diabetics literally age faster at the cellular level, evidenced by outward signs such as age spots and wrinkles, and symptoms such as necrosis (lost appendages due to nerve degeneration). Once AGES are produced due to out of control blood sugar, the degeneration process begins and disease soon follows.

Most diabetics end up with thyroid problems because the thyroid hormone receptors, like most hormone receptors, are also on the cell membrane and are blunted by glucose driven inflammation. This is why many people take thyroid hormone and the blood work improves, but they don’t feel any better. If the message from the thyroid hormone (T3) can’t get in the cell, due to inflammation, then the blood levels of hormones can be normal, but your hair keeps thinning, energy dropping, and weight going up (or at least stalling despite what you eat). You must get to the real cause. Hormones can be crutches, but are no long-term lasting answer. I’d like to emphasize that regenerating and decreasing inflammation of the cell membrane are so important they are included as two of the five steps in my 5R’s of PompaCore Cellular Detox and Healing™ approach I use to get very sick clients well (read more here).

Blood sugar levels are massively affected by grain consumption.

Now, I know most everyone recognizes that sugar should be avoided for good health, but did you know your morning bowl of oatmeal spikes blood sugar as much as a 12 oz. can of soda? Most Americans, even the “healthy” ones eating a daily bowl of steel cut oats or twelve grain toast, experience major blood sugar spikes throughout the day due to grain consumption, and this includes whole grains. Imagine a typical day: cereal for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, pasta or pizza for dinner . . . This diet creates a blood sugar roller coaster that contributes to cellular inflammation, premature aging, and chronic disease. Grains are simply not the healthy food we have been led to believe.

Other Troubles with Grains

An issue near and dear to my heart, I must mention a few other big problems with grains. Aside from spiking blood sugar, grains contain toxic anti-nutrients like lectins, gluten and phytates. Gluten may be the most famous, however all of these denatured proteins lead to problems for those who consume grains in large quantities or have leaky gut. Most of these denatured proteins in grains, like gluten, came from the hybridization of grain that took place in the 1970’s. After grains were hybridized to make them easier to grow and harvest, the proteins became a foreign invader to the humane immune system. This is especially true when they end up in our blood stream from a leaky gut that allows them to cross into the bloodstream un-digested. The grains (before the 70’s) did not contain these new proteins, and therefore were not the issue they are today. This answers the question we have all had…”why were we not sensitive to gluten in grains when we were kids?”

But there is two parts to this story. The second part of the story, or problem, is a chemical called glyphosate, or as most of us know it as Roundup. This chemical is being used in massive amounts today unlike when we were kids. Studies show that it causes holes in our gut linings (leaky gut). It has also been shown to disrupt our good gut bacteria, which affect multiple other functions from normal brain activity to immune function, and compromise detox pathways. This chemical is being used on all conventional grains and I believe leading to a modern day epidemic of unexplainable illnesses. The majority of this nasty chemical is being used on genetically modified organisms such as grain.

GMO’s are a much greater threat than gluten. Conventional grains provide a massive exposure to GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). Unlike hybridization, where a gene is changed, a GMO is an organism that has been genetically engineered so that a new DNA is added to a specific plant or organism to change how it functions. For example, corn crops have been genetically modified to resist drought or the herbicide glyphosate. Monsanto is the creator of the Roundup Ready seeds that have been genetically modified to withstand large amounts of the herbicide glyphosate. Glyphosate, as noted above, is the active ingredient in Monsanto’s product Roundup. That’s right, they produce the seeds that can handle more of their chemical. That’s a profit machine at the expense of billions of lives!

The Gluten Craze: Good or Bad?

The current gluten-free craze is adding fuel to the fire. The market is now flooded with gluten-free products, with many folks endorsing their health benefits. These products are filled with starches from potato, rice, corn and tapioca which spike blood sugar just as much, if not more, than other glutinous grains or even refined sugar. Overconsumption of these “super sugar” ingredients can end up leaving you fatter and sicker than ever. I’ve found that all grains and sugars must be eliminated until blood sugar is controlled and cellular inflammation is reduced. Not to mention many of these products contain GMO ingredients like corn. If information on the dangers of GMOs can catch on like the gluten craze there is a chance this message can get out to the masses. Monsanto is fighting with everything they have to keep label laws from passing, which will make it law to label foods that contain GMO ingredients. After all, if they are so healthy and as great as Monsanto claims then what are they afraid of?

As I always say, if man changed it, exchange it. For more info on GMOs read my articles here and here.

To look young, regulate hormones, have all day energy, and simply feel your best, control your blood sugar. Begin by removing, or strongly limiting, grains from your diet, following core principles of my Cellular Healing Diet. When I was sick, I didn’t consume grains for at least 5 years, which helped to decrease inflammation and heal my cells. Simply replace all the grains with plenty of organic vegetables, high quality proteins, low-glycemic fruits, and lots of healthy fats to keep you satisfied. Quality dietary fat is necessary for blood sugar regulation. I love to eat lots of good fat in the form of coconut oil, MCT oil, grass-fed animal protein, sprouted nuts and seeds, and raw, cultured, full-fat, grass-fed dairy. Increasing saturated fat and cholesterol from natural, whole food sources is a key 180 degree solution™ approach to controlling blood sugar and improving overall health. Yes, that means eating a spoonful of butter is A-Okay in my book (grass-fed, of course). For more info on why you need good fat, read the article here and for grain-free recipe ideas read the article here.

Also note, consuming a moderate, not high, amount of protein is critical to controlling blood sugar. Overeating protein actually spikes your blood sugar via a process called gluconeogenesis, which ends up creating the same problem you were trying to avoid in the first place. I’ve found a higher fat/moderate protein/lower carbohydrate ratio controls blood sugar very well, and therefore works to slow down the clock. Staying around or below 100 grams of healthy carbs a day is a rough estimate, and gender, age, activity level, genetics and other factors play a role so experimentation is key to finding the right range for your body. However, this carb amount and dietary ratio are NOT hard and fast rules, which lead to my next point – I believe that staying on the same diet could be the most destructive thing to your health…

Key Takeaways:

Control blood sugar by eliminating all grains and sugars, following core principles of my Cellular Healing Diet.
Increase healthy dietary fat intake.
Do not over-consume protein.

Cellular Healing Diet Book
Coconut Oil
MCT Oil
X-Factor Butter Oil
Beyond Organic SueroGold and Amasai

^{Controlling Blood Glucose – Top 5 Strategies for Your Best Health Ever}

^{Edited by Meredith Dykstra}

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