It’s time to stop hiding and start living

I am on vacation this week and have a testimonial in place of a blog entry. It’s from a former client Sera. She’s wicked smart, focused and fearless, although she didn’t always know that until life tested her with a Desmoid tumor. She took the challenge, is recovering spectacularly and is now running to help others who have Desmoid tumors in the upcoming Philadelphia Distance Run (PDR).

Her story is below. I know marketing gurus tell you testimonials are only supposed to be a formuliac paragraph, but if you’ve ever struggled with your weight, body or food, you can learn so much from Sera’s story. She’s a fiesty young woman who makes you believe people are kind, honest and trying to be their best. I didn’t edit a thing. It’s all straight from the heart, and a very big and courageous one at that.

“The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own.” ~ Benamin Disraeli

There are many people who’ve come in and out of my life in the 27 years, but  very few have touched me like Ali. I still am not sure how Ali came into my life or how I was so fortunate to gain such a valuable friend, but I know one thing for sure – I will forever live a better, stronger, happier life because of her influence.

When I first met Ali I had no idea that she would become such an influence on me. I would venture to guess that many would not know what kind of caring, knowledgeable and charismatic person lives inside that 5’4”, petite frame.

After our first consultation I knew I had met someone that understood me – finally! Someone could speak to my innermost fears and help me answer questions that I had spent 27 years hiding from. I remember leaving our first meeting so light and free with so much hope, something I had not had in a long time when it came to my body.

I reached out to Ali because I had a tormented relationship with food and my body and I was so tired from it. I had spent 27 years starving myself, binging, purging, over-exercising, winning and losing my every day battle with food and my body. I knew I had to stop this battle, but I had no idea where to start.

I was skeptical when I first met Ali. It’s true she was a jolt of light and inspiration that I needed in my life, but she asked me to do things I had been utterly opposed to for years of my life: drink whole milk (no way: skim = slim), get off artificial sweeteners (and just how am I supposed to drink my coffee??), try new vegetables (hello, I eat so many fruits and veggies – how could you possibly show me anything new)? I did not follow  every idea she gave me right away and it took weeks (and months) for some things to sit well with me.

But that’s the special thing about Ali – I have never met a more patient, yet politely persistent, ‘I know what I am talking about and can give you more info if you want it’ individual then Ali. During the process of working through some very difficult patterns in my life, that I learned were the foundation of these eating problems, Ali unwearyingly sat on the sidelines and was my coach, interjecting just the right cheers when I needed a push, but letting me blaze my own path to set myself free. With Ali’s encouragement, wisdom and patience I have set myself free.

I have become a new, courageous individual that not only has a positive relationship with food, but I have become a woman with a little more hope, a little more faith and a lot more patience. Ali came into my life to help me transform my relationship with food, but she did so much more than that. Sure, she got me drinking whole milk, preaching to others when they use artificial sweeteners (you would really put that in your body?!), picking up kale and bok choy every time I go to Whole Foods (yes – there are many, many greens and veggies I knew nothing about), but more importantly Ali showed me how to trust myself, be patient with my body instead of torturing myself, be aware and accepting of life and the “mistakes” I make or challenges I face and learn from them.

I never anticipated how important the lessons she taught me would impact my life and how quickly I would reap the benefits. Several months after I started working with Ali and began to break down the walls I had so meticulously built around food and my body image a routine doctors appointment turned my world upside down when I found out that I had a tumor in my abdominal wall.

For a girl that lived and breathed, nutrition and exercise and how I looked, the news of this tumor and the accompanying surgery that I would need to go through to have it removed was the biggest, darkest nightmare I had faced in my life. Thank my lucky stars that I had Ali as a part of my support system during this process.

Her faith, hope, support, nutritional and meditative advice through the diagnosis, surgery, and recovery were nothing short of amazing. From pre-surgery meditations, to post surgery healing recipes and to recovery chats of confidence (not to mention a heroic realization during this whole process that I had a horrible gluten intolerance) Ali was a friend, mentor, health coach and ray of light. I may never figure out how she came in my life and how she joined me on my journey at just the right time, but I will forever be changed because she was a part of it.

Thank you Ali, for being you, for always having hope, for sticking by me when I wanted to give up and for believing I had a beautiful, promising future waiting for me – you were right and I am forever grateful. ~Sera S. Philadelphia, PA

To donate for the research on Desmoid tumors and help support Sera during the PDR, click here: www.active.com/donate/sera_dtrf

Is nothing sacred anymore?

They say never to talk politics or religion, especially if you are in business for yourself. Considering I’m in the holistic health field, that is tricky. Food and health care are all about politics. Spirituality (not religion but along the same vein) is something intrinsically tied to well-being and a personal fascination of mine. On top of all this, I grew up in family where we regularly discussed world affairs as my Dad is and has always been his own self-constructed news center – reading, listening and watching anything he can get his hands on.

And, I just happen to have a big mouth.

So while I’ve never been good at shying away from controversial topics, I was always told and thought sports were a safe spot. It’s especially easy when you hail from Pittsburgh, the city of Champions. I love the Steelers and who doesn’t? But now comes along Michael Vick and his signing with the Eagles. Seems I’m doomed.

Despite there being plenty of other athletes who have done equally reprehensible things, this seems to be the controversy that won’t go away here in Philly, kind of like Vick himself. And while I’m not sure how I feel about the entire situation, I KNOW many people support animal cruelty everyday with the food they eat, the pharmaceuticals they use and even as Alex Baldwin pointed out in a recent blog, the cars they purchase as live animals are used by some Detroit car makers for testing.

So while it’s easy to point the finger at Vick, and rightfully so, I believe a more constructive route would be to be the change we want to see in the world and start making more humane decisions ourselves.

I think Peter Singer, the founder of animal rights,  said it best in an article with the Philadelphia Inquirer, “…people who are very quick to jump on Michael Vick maybe could spend some time thinking about how they participate in the cruelty to animals just by walking into the supermarket, spend some time thinking about what happened to that animal before it was turned into meat. There are pigs, probably millions, on factory farms,” he said, “who are having a worse time than Michael Vick’s dogs. That’s what I find a little incongruous about the response to what he did.”

He goes on to discuss how cruel pigs are treated but for some reason, people care more about dogs. And given my own knowledge in this field, I know it’s not just pigs who are abused in the food industry. It’s every animal you eat that is at your favorite fast food joint, most restaurants and in your grocery store. If it isn’t organically, pasture/grass-fed or raised on a small farm, it’s probably been inhumanely treated.

I’m not saying don’t eat meat. I do myself. But I pay the extra couple of dollars at my farmers market because I know the animal has been raised humanely and in a win-win, tastes better and is healthier for me.

So if you are outraged with the whole Vick situation, remember that cheap meat is all about profit too. And here’s what you can do to be part of the solution and not the problem, in terms of food purchases:

1. Go see Food, Inc.

2. Read or watch Fast Food Nation

3. Purchase meat from your farmers market or meat labeled grass-fed, pasture-raised or organic.

4. Stop eating fast food and at restaurants that don’t offer humanely treated  meat

5. Become a Steeler fan

August Newsletter

August already? The summer has flown by without much relaxation and I’m feeling the effects of maintaining such a crazy pace. The antidote? A week this month in Pittsburgh for organic food straight from Mom’s garden, workouts with Dad at the YMCA, yoga with old friends, and simply soaking in the suburban quiet.

Relaxation and time-outs may seem unproductive, but they help preserve energy and enthusiasm for life, but more on that when I debunk Myth #3 around health: I’m always exhausted and drained, but that comes with getting older.

First, a couple of updates:

1. My new Lounge & Learn teleclass series kicked off in July. What a success! DailyCandy.com picked up the new offering and the feedback on the “Living Gluten-Free Happy Belly” teleclass has been phenomenal. The recording and all the handouts are available for purchase on my website here. The second call, “Get Up, Wake Up, and Stay Up” will be August 17 from 7:30pm – 8:45 pm. If you have trouble sleeping and need more energy, this call is for you. The last teleclass sold out, so I strongly suggest signing up today.

2. My new website www.alishapiro.com is about to be launched (the old site is up now). I’m so excited! If you’d still like to receive my newsletter, you’ll have to sign up through this new site. I’ll let you know when this happens, but please note you’ll need to take action if you want to keep receiving my monthly health insights.

So, upward and onward to dispelling Myth #3: I’m always exhausted and drained, but that comes with getting older. That life is supposed to be one big energetic and health decline after your 20s is simply not true. In all honesty, walking around the city each day, I rarely see people who look healthy, energized, and alive. Without a doubt, life is hectic. Believe me, between juggling being a health counselor, running my own business, and being in graduate school, I can sympathize with you. But what I also know is that I have more energy than I’ve ever had in my entire life because I’m doing what I love. You maybe thinking, Yes, Ali, but you are one example and being healthy is what you do.

Both of these sentiments may be true, but they aren’t excuses for you not to be energized and excited about your life. I’m going to get a little harsh here—yes, many of you like using this myth as an excuse to justify how you feel and not to change. Well, I’m not going to let you and here are five problems and solutions to not let your age become an excuse for declining health.

Problem: You eat like crap (and have been for years). What you put in your mouth becomes the building blocks for your cells, blood, bones, and tissues. Your body cannot regenerate and run on high fructose corn syrup, sugar, and hydrogenated oils. Would you expect your car to run on sludge? You may get a temporary surge of energy, but gradually it wears down and eventually kills the motor.

Solution: Eat real food, not imitation food…now. Real food doesn’t come in packages and doesn’t have an advertising team convincing you to eat it. Real food has vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins and carbohydrates that regenerate your body and talks to your DNA about whether to turn disease on or off. The body is resilient and with a commitment to eating whole foods, you’ll feel better than you ever imagined.

Problem: You don’t understand your medication. While many medications are helpful in masking symptoms, most of them do not get to the root of your health problem and meanwhile are causing you all kinds of nasty side effects. According to the Archives of Internal Medicine, eight million people are hospitalized annually for disease brought on by prescription drugs and 17 percent of all hospital admissions are caused by the drug side effects administered by an MD.  For example, inflammation often causes high cholesterol. So, while a drug may lower your cholesterol, your body is still inflamed by your diet, lifestyle choices, or an infection. So while your lab numbers may go down, there’s still a fire going on inside your body.

Solution: Work with a healthcare professional trained in functional medicine who can get to the root of your problem and not just mask the symptoms. Even diagnoses that seem irreversible like Lupus, IBS, and Chronic Fatigue can be corrected with cleaning up your digestive system. To find a doctor trained in functional medicine, click here. If it’s something diet and lifestyle related like IBS or high blood pressure, find a health counselor who can help you make better choices that’ll give you quality and quantity of life.

Problem: You can’t sleep anymore. Many people seem to have a difficult time falling asleep the older they get. Why? Added stress, poor diet and lifestyle habits make it more difficult to absorb the nutrients that help you sleep.

Solution: Watch my NBC clip on sleep tips here or join my teleclass on August 17. You’ll feel invigorated with new ideas and all the sleep you’ll finally deserve.

Problem: You never relax. You can try and fight your body, but it’ll always win. Unlike man-made laws, nature’s laws never change. You cannot go, go, and go and expect not to burn out. The body needs to rest because that’s when it’s repairing itself (rebuilding tissues, regulating blood pressure and blood sugar, and other maintenance work) in order for you to perform at your peak. Plus, what’s the point if life is one fire drill after another?

Solution: Reframe how you view downtime. We all have 24 hours in the day. Time is the great equalizer. How we manage our time is what defines us. If you think of life in terms of energy management versus time management, you’ll see why others seem to have it all while you are spending two hours a night exhausted in front of the TV, your lunch break at the doctor or weeks battling a cold or allergies. When you relax, you recharge. Taking an hour for yoga or 30 minutes to read a great book will give you a fabulous return on your investment in quality of energy, less sick days, and peace of mind (remember, quality of life matters as much as quantity!)

Problem: You are boring. Think about it, when was the last time you experienced pure bliss? Or when you were working hard at something you believed in? When’s the last time you laughed so hard almond milk came out your nose? Here’s a little hint: you can eat all kale in the world, but if there isn’t something in your life inspiring you to get out of bed in the morning, who cares? Who wants to live longer when you aren’t enjoying the life you have now?

Solution: Build a life that matters to you! Think about what feeds your soul. Somehow along the way, many of us traded in fun and free time for possessions and jobs that pay for stuff we don’t need. Having a life you love is like a sugar high that doesn’t end. Start with easy things: who can you spend more time with in your life that energizes you? What hobbies have you dropped or would like to try? Pretty soon, you’ll realize the Puritan’s had it all wrong and this fun thing matters if you want to be a better person. And who knows, you may be so giddy you move onto a job that reflects this new found happy person. To get inspired, check out KT’s success story, a client who realized her emotional eating was a spiritual journey to find a life aligned with her strengths and values.

When I work with my clients, they often realize by changing over to a whole foods lifestyle, their lives become more whole in the process. They want to relax and fun seems to find them and with the clarity, energy, and confidence that comes from firing on all cylinders, their lives match how they feel, not their age. Don’t become a victim of low expectations: Getting older really means getting wiser if you take care of your body and soul.

Ezra Taft Benson, a devoted farmer and steward of the land said, “When you are tempted to look elsewhere for greener pastures,  just remember someone else is probably looking at yours. And if another pasture looks greener, perhaps it is getting better care and attention. Grass is always greener…where it is watered.”

I’m off to take my own advice. Lots of rest, relaxation, and fun exploring Pittsburgh with great family and friends. The fall will certainly be busy, so if I rest up now, I’ll be in shape for all the excitement life has to offer.

Be Well,

Ali

It’s Not All About the Food

Here’s a recent client testimonial. This is an inspiring example of the tie between what feeds us in our life like relationships, career, and spirituality and it’s connection with food. I must acknowledge KT and her adventurous spirit for really living life on purpose. We can all learn from her about finding what feeds our soul.

I decided to have an initial consultation with Ali because I was feeling over-stressed, overweight, and generally unhappy with my lifestyle.  I had a history of disordered and emotional eating and I was tired of “yo-yo” dieting.  I wanted to understand how my food choices were affecting my body, my moods and my stress-levels.

In the beginning of our work together, Ali and I talked a lot about the incorporating ‘whole’ foods into my diet.  We worked on phasing out the processed foods and introducing more nutrient-rich foods like leafy greens, whole grains and lean proteins.  It was not long before I realized that I felt better and had a lot more energy!  Plus, I discovered my love for cooking!  I got a lot of great recipes from Ali and I found that preparing fresh meals at home tasted so much better!

In addition, I dramatically reduced my caffeine intake.  I had gotten into the habit of having three to four cups of coffee and/or soda a day, but once I cut that out, I noticed that my moods and cravings were much more stabilized.  A year later, I feel much better physically and I know that I will continue with these healthy habits for many years to come.

One issue in particular that I have always struggled with is emotional eating.  Prior to working with Ali, I thought that my emotional tie to food was a weakness or a lack of willpower.  With her integrative approach, Ali helped me realize that my emotional eating was triggered by a lack of ‘nourishment’ from other aspects of my life.  With Ali’s help, I focused my attention on activities and people that give me joy and inspire me.  By making a conscious decision to incorporate exercise, massage, meditation and quality time with friends and family into my life, I found that I did not need more food because I was already ‘full’!

In addition, I realized that my corporate job leaves me stressed-out, exhausted and personally unfulfilled at the end of the day.  Ali spent a lot of time helping me to assess jobs and careers that may better suit my needs and interests.  She helped me to assess my personal values and strengths.  In our work together, I realized that I wanted to make a career change for my overall health and well-being.  I have decided to start graduate classes this summer and I have never been happier!

After working with Ali for a year, I learned a lot about nutrition and the science behind different foods but I also learned so much more.  Ali’s approach was truly unique as she incorporated physical, emotional, and spiritual support into each of our sessions.  She is a coach, a counselor, a friend and a true inspiration to those who hope to find a healthier lifestyle!  With her support and guidance, I have found a happier, healthier me!

-KT, Philadelphia, PA

Another way to be Patriotic

I have a few grips in life that as I get older, make me laugh more than get all huffy and puffy like I did when I was younger. I realize now that getting angry and presenting facts don’t do much to change people’s minds who have their own anger and facts. It doesn’t work all the time, especially when it comes to health-care.

One thing that makes me curious all the time, especially since 9/11 is what it means to be patriotic. America was founded on a radical vision, intelligence, progressive ideas, separation of church and state and white guys trying to get out of paying taxes. Except for the later, these ideals are trashed in much of the media and on the Bill O’Reily right as either “elitist”, “liberal” or “socialism”. Especially these days as the debate on health-care heats up (I’ll write more about this later).

But what if we just re-instilled progressive ideas as a value? What if we took a conservative approach and got back to basics when America at one time was about the best and brightest, not about the biggest pocket book. Because in exchange for a few industries making huge financial profits, we are suffering catastrophic financial and quality of life calamities on a citizen level. For example, 1 in 3 citizens lives with chronic disease, 1 in 2 men will get cancer and 1 in 3 women will get cancer. And the outcomes of these diagnosis is poor: our health-care effectivness rating in 2000 was 37th (out of 191) and is currently ranked next to Serbias despite spending more than any other country.

What if we did whatever it took, like our Founding Fathers and Mothers and looked to what other countries are doing, many considered “third-world”, who have healthy and happy citizens? What if we considered all ideas – yes even from those “socialist health-care systems” who get much better results than America’s current corporate dominated health-care INDUSTRY?

Instead of getting defensive and simple-minded that America is “the greatest country” – what if we acted like the greatest country and did whatever it took to get this beautiful country back on track versus come from a place of fear? That is being truly patriotic.

But always preferring to be part of the solution than the problem, I’ve found a couple great answers from Slovenia. Part of my family origin is Slovenian, a beautiful country with beautiful people I had the pleasure of visiting in 2002.

My Aunt sent me this wonderful article from the Faster Times about what we in the U.S. can learn from Slovenia in terms of food and effect, health. You see, real health-care doesn’t happen in your doctor’s office. It starts in your kitchen with real food and taking personal responsibility for your health. It’s a perfect blend of being radical and conservative at the same time.

Check out the article here and then get to your farmers market! This time, the revolution starts in the kitchen.

Ali’s Intern Speaks

Ali’s note: Due to the busyness of my schedule, I asked my intern Kristina to write a blog post about her experience working with me this summer. I find that I can write and talk all about healthy eating but it’s in my client’s stories (and now Kristina’s) that people grasp the power of nutrition. Below is Kristina’s entry – I only made minor grammatical edits (and her review isn’t dependent on this either!).

What a crazy summer it’s been. Between the weather and the nice winning streak the Phillies have been on, (cross your fingers!) time is flying by.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Kristina and I’m Ali’s Intern. I found this opportunity through the business school at Temple University, where I’m studying marketing and public relations. Since this is going to be my third year there, I thought it was time to get some real world experience, which lead me to find the business development internship in the Health Counseling field. I thought this summer I would assist Ali in whatever she needed but never thought she would be able to help my health along the way.

Starting when I was young, I’ve always had health issues. At 13 I found out I had cysts all over my kidneys and ovaries that caused me extreme pain. Since the age of 15 I’ve been going to a chiropractor for my back. Starting dance at a young age added to the strain on my back and even affected my knees causing me to see a physical therapist so I could walk without pain. On top of that, I always believed I had arthritis in my hands and was allergic to random items like rhodium, purple dyes, and tree nuts that I thought gave me rashes. I’ve lived with it all, always exercising and eating right, and at 140 lbs. and 5’8, I thought I was healthy.

When I turned 20 by body stopped producing periods. Going from doctor to doctor, the only thing they could tell me was that the cysts on my ovaries and kidneys were not the cause. After a year of searching for answers, I thought I was just infertile and would have to live with the idea that my body could not have children.

After explaining this all to Ali one day in her office, she looked at me and said, “You’re allergic to gluten and most likely have Celiac disease” I didn’t even know what gluten was. Being Italian, I had eaten bread, pastries, and pasta all my life. Was I really allergic to the “healthy” food I had been eating all these years? Apparently in my case, whole grain doesn’t mean it is good for you. This was just the start of things I learned from Ali.

Since meeting with her I have stopped eating bread and pasta, switching to a Gluten-Free diet. Many college kids my age just care about their image and weight but for me it was much more than that. I was looking at facing infertility, arthritis, back pain, headaches, the list went on and on for me if I didn’t change my diet. Living on a limited budget has been hard to stay on track but I truly think if I can change my nutritional decisions, there is no reason why someone else couldn’t. I’ve even gone as far to make a Gluten-Free alcohol guide so I knew what my beverage options were instead of beer and cheap wines.

After being off gluten for a few weeks, many of my symptoms disappeared. I went home to my parent’s house and was really missing my Mom’s baking. I thought, “what if this is just making me feel better because all I eat is insanely healthy foods and I’m not really allergic to gluten?” I conducted my own experiment that weekend and ate as much gluten as I could in 24 hours after being gluten-free for two weeks. I’m talking about pizza, hoagies, bagels, cookies, pasta, and even a few beers. By noon the next day, I didn’t want to move. The arthritis in my elbows, hands, and knees were back. My head and back hurt, along with crazy stomach pains. I’m not a licensed doctor but I then decided I am without a doubt allergic to gluten. (Ali’s note: what Kristina did without realizing it is an Elimination Diet – removing the suspecting food allergy for 2-3 weeks and then adding it back in to see the effects. It’s the best way to test for food allergies, especially gluten and dairy.)

I appreciate medicine and all that doctors do to cure disease. But throughout my experience, I don’t need to go to one every time I think I have a problem with my body. Taking a pill and wanting an instant cure is not the answer. We as consumers rarely read the side effects of the medication we’re given and more often than not, the doctors don’t explain them to us. When I have a headache now, instead of reaching for an Advil, I think, am I hungry or tired? Your body is telling you something and in order to keep it in pristine condition, you need to listen to it.

Every day is different for me, and I still have yet to get used to going to a restaurant and asking the waiter if anything on the menu is Gluten-Free. I want a healthy life, free of disease at all cost. Being gluten-free doesn’t affect who I am but without it I’m happier. I actually feel 20 again, without the pain.

So my summer had turned out to be life changing, who knew? I joined Ali to help her expand her business but she gave me the life I didn’t know I could have. That’s pretty awesome to me.

Why don’t you ask yourself, how great do you feel today? If the answer isn’t fabulous, what are you waiting for?!

You May Have Grandma’s Genes But Not Her Environment

What a month! The Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup and I traveled to Sweden as part of my Master’s program at the University of Pennsylvania.

But, before we go into more details, here are some updates.

I’m now on Facebook and Twitter. Find Ingredients for Inspired Living here and Twitter here. You’ll receive great recipes, news, and information to help you stay inspired and healthy.

I’m also offering my first Lounge and Learn teleclass on July 13 on how to transition into a gluten-free lifestyle. If you suffer from any kind of inflammation, high-cholesterol (read here how one of my clients dropped 4 dress sizes and her cholesterol 96 points from going gluten-free), stubborn weight loss or digestive problems, you should consider calling in to learn how reducing or eliminating gluten from your diet can dramatically improve your health. All the details are here, along with my latest NBC clip where I give an overview of gluten.

Due to a narrowing food supply and environmental stresses, gluten sensitivities are sharply on the rise. In Sweden, I studied their progressive (and no, it’s not socialist!) healthcare system and their environmental leadership. I observed how by protecting their environment, their health challenges are not at severe as what we face here in the United States.

During my travels, I was also reading The Secret History of the War on Cancer by Dr. Devra Davis. It’s a worthwhile read for anyone looking for common sense answers (backed by hundreds of pages of research) to the “Big C.” The issue has never been what causes cancer, but how to create confusion around this disease that allows companies to continue to pollute the environment and profit from their cancer-causing products (from cigarettes to artificial sweeteners).

All of this was occurring during the Pen’s incredible Stanley Cup win. This victory brought me back to the last time the Pen’s won the Stanley Cup in 1992 and I was receiving my first round of chemo. Part of what contributed to my cancer was pesticide poisoning and while it’s not surprising, it’s still sad, how little progress has been made in 17 years to clean up our environment from these carcinogens. Part of healing from trauma is using our experiences constructively and so I’m heightening my commitment to the environment; I hope this newsletter will give you some ideas on how you can too.

The seemingly disparate events above come together this month to debunk Myth #2: Grandma got away with eating and drinking what she wanted, smoked, and lived to be 90 and so should I. You see, when Grandma was growing up, her environment was much cleaner and safer. When Grandma was growing up:

There weren’t 5,000-plus untested chemicals floating around in her water or air.

The EPA, FDA, NCI, and NIH weren’t filled with “leaders” from chemical, food, and drug companies. This means there wasn’t chemotherapy waste or PCBs in her water and artificial sweeteners at her table (proven carcinogens made legal thanks to Donald Rumsfeld’s inside connections – check out The Secret History of the War on Cancer for all the details).

There wasn’t a sea of radiation from cell phones, wireless connections, and medical tests like CT Scans

The soil—from which she ate real, not processed food—was less polluted and thus richer, making food more nutritious

Sweets were a big treat and often available only on special occasions and in small portions.

Food intake wasn’t as narrow as ours with the base of most people’s diets coming from soy, corn or wheat.

She walked up the hill (both ways) on her way to school, thus getting in more movement. And with that walk, was there ever a mention of a 64 ounce diet soda, Slurpee or Oreos? No, because our food supply has changed more in the last 50 years than the previous 10,000!

She had a sense of community from her family and church/temple being nearby, which reduced isolation and loneliness.

All of the above culminates in a less invaded and thus much stronger immune system. And, when you’re strong, you can get away with more. Today, being strong involves standing up to special interests in order create an environment conducive to a healthy life for kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews and ourselves.

As Peter Hawken said in his inspiring commencement speech, “You are brilliant and the earth is hiring.” Here are 10 ways you can make a difference in your health and clean up the environment right now:

1.    Shop at your local farmer’s markets. (Philadelphia locations can be found here and locations in other cities are just an internet search away. Shopping at these markets cuts down on pesticide and herbicide use as well as green house gases from shipping your food across the country.
2.    Replace meat once a week with a vegetarian option like Portobello mushrooms. You’ll reduce your green house gas emissions by 700 lbs per year and save the amount of water it would take for a four-hour shower – each week!
3.    Go see Food, Inc. and take two friends who aren’t as food savvy as you.
4.    Support organic whenever possible. To learn about all the chemicals on and in your food, click here
5.    Stop buying bottled water. The plastic is destroying the environment and you’re getting scammed. Bottled water isn’t always regulated nearly as closely as tap water. I use an Aquasuana home-filter and use a Sigg bottle. Perfect solution.
6.    Investigate your skin care products here to see how toxic they are for you and the environment and then use the database to find better choices.
7.    Support organizations that are focused on disease prevention through healthy living and environmental stewardship. The Environmental Working Group or Organic Consumer Association are some great options.
8.    Figure out your carbon footprint here and then shrink that foot!
9.    Next time you read an article attacking common sense of complimentary medicine (like Newsweek’s recent article on Oprah), follow the political and money trail. And don’t just resign to being cynical, write an op-ed or support independent publications. There are amazing people doing amazing work out here. Go find them!
10.    Spend your time in nature versus destroying it. We aren’t off the hook simply because we buy a canvas grocery bag. Shop and consume less and be in nature more. You’ll be inspired and reminded of what a beautiful world we are renting. If you do this, the desire to tread more lightly will become part of your nature.

That’s all folks. I’m headed to the beach (on public transportation!) for some rejuvenation. Thanks, Mother Nature – what would we do without you? If we start making smart choices, we’ll never have to find out.

Be Well,

Ali

Food Inc. Opens In Philadelphia

If you care about anything in life, go see Food Inc.This movie will show you how every bite makes an impact on your health, the environment, animals, human rights and happiness. Food touches all aspects of our lives and now, our very lives depend upon us making better choices.

This film is like Omnivore’s Dilemma on the big screen and a great reminder to keep shopping at farmers markets and putting your health and in effect, everything that matters to you, a top priority. I love getting the most bang for my buck and that’s what you do every time you vote with your food choices. When you support local farmers, you vote for your health, your families health, a cleaner environment, everyone’s access to human rights, animal rights and your national safety. What a deal!

For more info and showtimes for Philly, click here

C.O’s On-the-Go Gluten Free Life: 4 Dress Size and 96 Point Cholesterol Drop!

When I first met with Ali, it was an emergency situation. At 26, my cholesterol was over 280 points, my triglycerides were out of control, and I was 40 pounds overweight. I had stomach problems, migraines, and a variety of other issues. I had seen doctor after doctor, but none could give me an explanation or relief.

Ali almost immediately recognized a pattern in my symptoms and suggested I try cutting gluten out of my diet for 2 weeks. Since I eat out for pretty much every meal every day, it was hard at first. But then I started to feel better, and I realized I had a lot of food options. After 3 months I had gone completely gluten-free, and I never felt better. I dropped 4 dress sizes and 96 points from my cholesterol with just that and some exercise. Now I don’t even go near anything with gluten and I feel great. I’m an entirely new person who looks forward to eating, buying clothes, and living a healthy life – all thanks to Ali!

~ C.O., Philadelphia, PA

Dishing on the radish

Radishes are always something I’ve seen at the grocery store but never had a desire to try. I’ve eaten them in salads but never cooked with them. I try to cook with a new food every month so I finally brought this interesting vegetable into my home.

I’m not in love with the radish. It’s OK (kind of like the nice girl or guy at the office or gym – nice is OK but if that’s all they got, there’s more interesting people to learn from) but not up there with so many of the other vegetables I love.

But, radishes are rich in the bone building vitamins such as calcium and magnesium and help stave off muscle cramps with their potassium. And for good measure, loads of vitamin C to help bolster immunity. They taste really great paired with other yummy vegetables in recipes. Check out next Thursday for a great Fourth of July recipe for a summer slaw recipe great for a cook-out. It’s one of my favorites.

Fun radish fact:

Citizens of Oaxaca, Mexico celebrate the radish in a festival called Noche de los Rábanos (Night of the Radishes) on December 23 as a part of Christmas celebrations. Locals carve religious and popular figures out of radishes and display them in the town square.