Health FAQ's

Is the Au Naturale Nutrition way of eating paleo, primal, ancestral, low-carb, Mediterranean, or Weston A. Price?

All of the above! All of these dietary labels have common threads: eating whole and natural foods, avoiding refined foods and toxic chemicals that cause disease, and striving for optimal nutrition by eating a nutrient dense diet. Compared to the Standard American Diet, this way of eating is naturally lower in carbohydrates and added sugars.
And although vegetables are fabulous, this website is definitely not vegetarian.

How is "Holistic" health different from the "conventional" health model?

Holistic Health is actually an approach to life. Rather than focusing on illness or specific parts of the body, this ancient approach to health considers the whole person and how he or she interacts with his or her environment. It emphasizes the connection of mind, body, spirit, and emotions. The goal is to achieve maximum well-being, where everything is functioning the very best that is possible.

With Holistic Health, people accept responsibility for their own level of well-being, and everyday choices are used to take charge of one's own health. A holistic health & nutrition educator can work alongside a client to teach them how to integrate these principles into their dietary and everyday choices.
See the American Holistic Health Association for more information.

The holistic health model is proactive "wellness care" of the whole person and takes a functional approach; whereas the modern model of healthcare often treats symptoms (versus a root cause) and is "sick care". Thank goodness we have modern medicine, especially in emergencies and life-saving drugs. So, there's no reason we can't integrate the best of both models for optimum health!

What are the best things I can do to improve my health?

#1 Try to reduce or eliminate unnecessary stress.
Stress magnifies everything. Re-frame your mind, because attitude is everything! Re-structure your life to lessen everyday stressors permanently. Develop new habits to deal with stress as it comes. Play more, have more sex, get plenty of sleep, surround yourself with a supportive community, practice your faith, meditate, laugh, dance, and connect with nature. (Read more.)

#2 Prevent or reduce inflammation.
Inflammation puts the body's immune system on constant high alert, which causes oxidative damage to the cells. It is very destructive to the body, worsens over time, and can be the spark that ignites the spiral of accelerated aging, chronic illness, and disease. (Read much more.)

# 3 Focus on gut health.
The health of your digestive system is directly linked to the health of your whole body. It is an extremely important part of your immune system and determines which nutrients you absorb and which toxins and germs are kept out. Digestive problems, whether you feel them or not, can cause inflammation throughout your entire body. (Learn more.)

How can I learn to eat healthier?

You're in luck! I wrote an e-book that you can download for FREE.

It's called Make a Fresh Start with Whole Foods. The book teaches you how to "Transform Your Life with Nourishment".

You will:

learn about the power of nutrition,
adopt healthy eating behaviors, and
eliminate health-depleting refined foods by replacing them with nutrient-dense, nourishing whole foods.
plus, if you're wishing to manage your weight or naturally detoxify, this book is perfect!!

It's great for a new beginning & a healthier you!

What do you consider to be the healthiest foods?

Bone broth (see my recipe here) - rich in collagen, glycine, and minerals (or buy it here)
Wild-caught sardines - rich in Omega 3 fats and calcium
Avocado - folate, potassium, vitamin E, and magnesium
Liver - vitamin A, the B vitamins, folate, iron, CoQ10
Coconut oil - antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties
Macadamia nuts - heart-healthy monounsaturated fats
Vegetables - phytonutrients, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants

What is "earthing"? Does it really work?

Get Grounded! When is the last time you went barefoot? "Grounding" or "earthing" is as simple as putting your bare feet (or any part of your skin) on the bare ground. The theory is that our bodies develop a positive charge that is slowly dispelled when we touch the earth. Grounding has many reported positive effects, such as improved sleep and increased resilience because it speeds recovery, lowers inflammation, and normalizes cortisol. (Article about grounding.)

Yes, I do notice a real difference from grounding! I feel more calm and centered, plus I sleep much better. During the warm months, I make a point to go barefoot outside as much as possible. I also sleep on a "grounding mat", which can also be put at your workstation under your keyboard. I'm pretty sure this is why people who live in tropical climates are often relaxed: they're connected with the earth! Try it!

How do I heal a "Leaky gut"?

Leaky Gut Syndrome is also called Increased Intestinal Permeability. I wrote a blog post about it. The symptoms are vast (not just digestive) and the condition is quite common. Healing a leaky gut involves cutting out inflammatory foods like grains and dairy, plus working with your doctor to treat any infections. Then the healing process can begin.

The most common supplements known to help repair the gut lining are aloe, zinc, DGL (Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice ), and glutamine. Digestive enzymes help you digest and absorb nutrients better. It is also important to have good gut bacteria, which can be re-populated by taking a good probiotic supplement. (This is NOT intended as medical advice. Always consult with your personal practitioner before using new supplements!)

Gelatin/collagen and bone broth are both super healing for the gut, too.

What can I do for an autoimmune condition?

According to the expert Sarah Ballantyne, PhD, individuals with autoimmune conditions often have a "leaky gut" (see above). They need to remove offending foods and chemicals and focus on eating a super nutrient-dense diet, plus eliminate stress. Her book is: The Paleo Approach: Reverse Autoimmune Disease and Heal Your Body, and the corresponding cookbook.

The TEDx talk below is by Dr. Terry Wahls, who had a miraculous improvement in her Multiple Sclerosis by implementing a nutrient rich diet. (see Dr. Wahls book & protocol) It's an incredible story!

Is _________ oil healthy?

I get asked this question almost weekly! I put together a one-sheet list of the healthy vs. unhealthy fats and oils. Click HERE to see the guide and print it out. It tells you which oils can be used in high and low heat, which foods contain healthy fats, plus which fats to avoid completely.

In general, look for labels that say: cold pressed or expeller pressed, unrefined, extra virgin, and organic. However, the fats to avoid contain excessive Omega 6 fats and PUFA’s. A good general rule is to avoid consuming the oils that require processing on a large scale.

Do you have any weight-loss tips?

I wrote a 4-part series of blog posts on weight-loss, that I think you'll really like!
Losing weight should NEVER involve deprivation. In the series, I address some common weight-loss myths, plus I discuss foods to eat and eliminate, behavior changes, dealing with cravings, addressing stress, and hormone balance.
Click here for: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.
Also read: Are Toxins Making You Fat? The Connection.

Why should I avoid gluten?

Gluten is found in wheat (the most prevalent offender), rye, and barley. According to Dr. William Davis, author of the fantastic book, Wheat Belly, the wheat of today has been hybridized. This has caused a change in the proteins, and most humans cannot digest this franken-food. Gluten causes much inflammation and distress to all parts of the body.

Have brain fog? The brain is also very affected by gluten. The book, Grain Brain, by Dr. Perlmutter, explains how whole grains can cause dementia, ADHD, anxiety, chronic headaches, depression, and completely ruin your health.

Read the Au Naturale Nutrition series on Gluten:

What's wrong with dairy?

Which type of dairy? Raw milk and dairy products, which come directly from the cow (or animal) can be nutrient rich, healing super-foods. Grass-fed butter, like Kerrygold brand, is fantastic! Raw cheese, too.

However, the modern dairy products of today have been pasteurized and homogenized, which degrades the nutrients in raw milk. Pasteurization also destroys all of the beneficial probiotics, enzymes, and antibodies in raw milk. Modern dairy can cause problems due to inflammation and digestive issues.

I think you'll enjoy my series on dairy:
Part 1: RAW MILK & DAIRY - THE HEALTH BENEFITS
Part 2- THE PROBLEMS WITH MODERN DAIRY
Part 3- DAIRY - DIGESTIVE ISSUES & ALTERNATIVES
Part 4- A HANDY GUIDE TO CHOOSING DAIRY

How can I have a healthy pregnancy?

If there is any time in a woman's life when she cares the most about nutrition, it is during the time encompassing pregnancy. The woman's body needs to be a haven for conception and for a healthy baby to grow. Both an unborn and nursing baby demand a hefty supply nutrients for its rapid rate of growth and development. The mother also needs nutrients to deal with the huge changes happening to her body.

You'll find a wealth of information in my articles about How to Have a Nourished, Holistic Pregnancy: PART 1 and PART 2.
Also read: Hoping to Get Pregnant? Why MTHFR and Folate are SO Important

Which probiotics are helpful?

One of my previous posts, The Relationship between Digestion and your Health, discussed how the health of your digestive system is directly linked to the health of your whole body. Probiotics can make an ENORMOUS difference in gut health, mental health, and overall health!

Different probiotics are used for different needs:

For gut healing, I love the top-of-the-line Prescrip Assist.
For general use, I love Garden of Life: Primal Defense.
For infants & children, Life Start & Healthy Start products come highly recommended.
For use when taking antibiotics or travelling abroad, I take the special strain Sacharomyces Boulardii.