Tag: gut health

Water is NOT Overrated. Don’t Skimp on it.

Inner Pearl Wellness3 Comments on Water is NOT Overrated. Don’t Skimp on it.

Drinking water is very important and is one of the best ways to maintain your health. It is the best option for hydration. Instead of grabbing, soda, punch, juice, coffee, alcohol…grab water.

It is also gluten-free, sugar-free, nut free, egg free, dairy free, alcohol-free, paleo, aip, keto and whole 30 approved. 😉 So basically it’s for everyone…no excuses.

Why should you stay hydrated by drinking WATER? I’m glad you asked. 🙂 Here are just a few reasons:

  1. To reduce fatigue, increase physical, mental capabilities, and motivation. Especially when exercising…be sure to replace those fluids as you lose them.
  2. To increase energy levels and brain function.
  3. To prevent and eliminate headaches which can be triggered by dehydration.
  4. To help maintain body temperature.
  5. To help/keep things (urine/bowels/toxins) moving along eliminating that waste from your body. It helps with digestion.
  6. To help with absorption.
  7. To help treat kidney stones.
  8. To help prevent hangovers.
  9. To aid in weight loss.

Try to drink about 8 glasses a day.

  1. Drink two when you first get up.
  2. Drink at least one 30 minutes before each meal.
  3. Drink one before your bath.
  4. Drink one before bed or at least 2 hours before bed if you have trouble with sleep or urinary incontinence.

Unfortunately, some people don’t like the taste of water or think its boring.

Here are a few tips that might help you drink more water:

  1. Use filtered, spring, or sparkling natural mineral water.
  2. Keep a cup, glass, or bottle of water available to sip from throughout the day.
  3. Infuse it! Add sliced or chopped fruit…citrus, tropical, berries, melon, and others. Add sliced or chopped vegetables…cucumber, carrots, celery, or even hot or sweet peppers. Add fresh grated, or ground spices…ginger, cinnamon, cayenne pepper; etc. Add herbs…mint, sage, rosemary, basil, cilantro, thyme, lavender; etc. Any variety will do.
  4. Keep a large jug or pitcher filled with the amount that you want to drink for that day. Drink glasses from it throughout the day until it’s gone.

For an extra boost to your health, add apple cider vinegar.

Now drink up!!!

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My favorite infused water is frozen mixed berries with a slice or two of lemon in S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water. However, I try to drink filtered or Deer Park Spring Water with lemon & lime or lemon & cucumbers more often.

What is your favorite way to drink your water?

Need a Reset for 2018? Start with the Whole30 Challenge & Reset Your Health.

Inner Pearl Wellness2 Comments on Need a Reset for 2018? Start with the Whole30 Challenge & Reset Your Health.

2018 begins in a few days and you want a healthier you. What better way to accomplish that then starting on the inside? Start the process of healing your gut and brain, balancing your hormones, and clearing up your skin. Those who are interested in losing weight…yes, that will probably happen too.

Try the Whole30 approach which eliminates chemicals, preservatives, antibiotics, and foods/drinks that may cause inflammation, gut/skin issues, brain fog or allergies as a result of food intolerances/sensitivities.

Many “diets” exist promising all types of results. There is Paleo, AIP (Autoimmune Paleo), Keto, DASH, Mediterranean, Weight-Watchers, Plant-based are just a few. The truth is, some may work for some yet not for others. That’s because everyone is different and there is no one fix for all. If your main goals are losing weight, healing your gut, or/and reducing nagging symptoms; it is best to up your nutrient density while eliminating the foods/drinks that are known to wreak havoc in most humans.

I'm Not Telling You It's Going to be Easy

Whole30 is a perfect way to get started and to reset. You can do it for 30 days and see how you feel but you don’t have to stop there. After the 30 days, you can choose to do it again or gradually add back other foods selectively but be sure to take notice of symptoms and how you feel. You can also go right from the Whole30 into another healthier eating protocol of your choice.

How do I get started on the Whole30? I’m glad you asked!

Prepare to eat only nonprocessed, nutrient dense foods…basically lots of vegetables, some fruit, meats, seafood, eggs, natural fats, herbs, spices, and selective nuts.

Do NOT eat:

  • Added Sugar (real or artificial)
  • Alcohol (any form)
  • Grains (oats, barley, rye, wheat, quinoa, starch, bran; etc)
  • Legumes (all beans, peas, peanuts, soy)
  • Dairy (Cow, sheep, and goat’s milk products such as cheese, ice cream, butter, sour cream, yogurt)
  • Baked goods, junk foods, or substitutes. (cakes, cookies, chips, donuts, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, brownies; etc.)
  • MSG, carrageenan, sulfites.

Whole30 Rules

A few exceptions from the above “do not eat” list:

  • Ghee or clarified butter (it’s stripped of the milk proteins)
  • Fruit juice (as an ingredient or natural sweetener in some recipes)
  • Certain legumes (green beans, snap peas, snow peas)
  • Vinegar-most forms except for malt vinegar
  • Coconut Aminos (even though it says “nectar”). Great substitute for soy sauce.

Choose the best quality eggs/meat/seafood possible. Grass-fed/finished red meat, organic, pastured pork/poultry/eggs, and sustainable, wild-caught seafood. If you can’t find or can’t afford the grass-fed or organic protein, find the leanest cuts available and remove the skin and fat before eating. The skin and fat of the animal stores the bulk of the chemicals, steroids, antibiotics that cause issues in the human body.

If you decide to join us, we don’t want you to stalk the scale. If you choose to, weigh yourself the day or morning before you start the Whole30. Do not touch that scale again until those 30 days have ended. You should also start a food journal/dairy just to keep track of any physical changes. As long as you follow the rules and do not cheat, there will be changes.

So who’s with me? Are you ready to jumpstart your health? There are a few more days left in 2017. Commit yourself to beginning January 1, 2018. You can start now if you like.

Go ahead and plan your market stop. The shopping list is simple:

  1. Meat (best quality you can find or/and afford)
  2. Vegetables
  3. Fruit
  4. Natural Oils (Olive, coconut, avocado, macadamia nut, ghee; etc)
  5. Herbs
  6. Spices

In future posts, I will teach you how to work with what you have and I will also be sharing recipes.

I’m sure the Whole30 concept may sound daunting to you if you’ve never done it before. Fortunately, it is possible and I already know that you can do this. It will take discipline and effort but it will be worth it. No cheat days allowed. Things will change for the better. Just do it…watch…and take note of the results.

Are you ready??? Let’s do this!!!

Join us here for support, directions, and tips!