Autism Speaks 2011

This year, we were given an opportunity to have a booth at the resource fair at the annual Autism Speaks walk.

Over 9000 people showed up and we had an amazing time, meeting some amazing people.

It is TRULY REMARKABLE how dietary changes can influence a child's behavior and symptoms related to Autism.

We were very fortunate to be able to meet some of these outstanding parents who have committed their time and energy to making the changes necessary for their children. Their dedication was inspiring.

(We gave away and an amazing basket of

wheat-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, & casein-free goodies)

Supplements - A Multi-Billion Industry

How many of us have taken and continue to take supplements? Often times, we take them only because someone has told us that they take them and we feel as though we should as well. And media has marketed the use of supplements outrageously - helping make this a multi-billion dollar industry.

I always tell my clients

though - that a supplement is just that: a supplement. Defined as "something added to complete a thing, supply a deficiency" (Reference: Dictionary.com). We should be getting most of our needed vitamins, minerals, & nutrients through the whole foods that we consume throughout the day. Supplements are only a part of your lifestyle when you are not consuming enough of a nutrient, or your body in its current state can not absorb all the nutrients you are providing it.

And as if it isn't hard enough to figure out what exactly you need to supplement and what not to - there's aisles and aisles of the same key ingredient with different packaging waiting to end up in your kitchen cabinet (along with the other supplement bottles you have collected over the years).

How do we know which one to choose?

First, what exactly are in your supplements (besides the ingredient for which you are purchasing?

- Binders – hold tablet together (ex: cellulose, gum Arabic, lecithin, honey)

- Fillers – take up empty space in your tablet/capsule; most companies will choose the cheapest synthetic form (ex: talc, silicon) but they can also be food derived (ex: corn starch, lactose, cellulose)

- Lubricants - prevent clumping or caking of materials & prevent them from sticking to the equipment/machinery while being processed (Usually in the form of vegetable stearate)

- Colorants - create uniform color; An array of FDA approved synthetic colors are used- natural ones include beet, carrots, chlorophyll

- Sweeteners/Flavorings - Usually in the form of fructose, malt dextrose, sorbitol, maltose

-Coating Materials - protect tablets from

moisture & prevent them from crumbling during manufacture; Zein (corn derived) is common, brazil wax, shellac (difficult to breakdown in compromised digestive tracts) or gelatin for capsules

What exactly is the difference between Synthetic and Natural Supplements? Does it make a difference?

There is DEFINITELY a difference between synthetic and natural supplements. Though they may be identical in chemical characteristics (contain the same number and type of atoms), their configuration and structure is different. Some may say this is a small difference, but our bodies can tell.

An example of this is how Natural Vitamin E is 3x more absorbable than its synthetic counterpart.

Additionally, natural sources often also include co-factors, enzymes, and myriad of phytonutrients that provide a synergistic effect.

So, what should we look for?

There are a few companies that have developed supplements without the use of the above and have termed it "pure encapsulation"

1) Expensive isn't necessarily best & cheaper isn't necessarily the worst

Don't focus on price - rather try and find quality products that can be found at affordable prices

2) Packaging and Potency Preservation

Most nutrients can be degraded by exposure to light, heat, or moisture

Opaque or dark colored containers are preferable to preserve the supplements purity and potency though the expiration date on the label

3) Descriptive label

The more information, the

better (source, expiration date, recommended dosage)

4) Choose standardized extracts

They offer guaranteed and consistent levels of "active" constituents of the herb.

5) Choose those supplements that explicitly label that they are free of excipients.

Most pharmaceutical grade companies will have a section under the supplement facts that say: “This product contains NO yeast, wheat gluten, milk/dairy, corn, sodium, sugar, starch, artificial coloring, preservatives, or flavoring".

6) Choose those supplements that do not contain food products that you may be sensitive or allergic to.

If you are sensitive to any of the ingredients, you may be doing more harm to your health, than good.

7) Ask your healthcare professional

My message here is not that you should not take supplements, but I also don't feel it's necessary to spend ridiculous amounts of your hard earned money on chemicals that will do your body more harm than good. Instead, opt to spend that money on some fresh produce at your local farmer's market and nourish your body, and your soul :)

We're Back!

I know that we have been 'Missing in Action' when it comes to blogging! And it's only because we are continuing to work hard to optimize people's health.

'the balance clinic' is growing - and we want you all to continue to be a part of it.

So here is my commitment to you - regular posts and updates on how to live your life to the fullest :)

And, I couldn't think of a better time to commit as yesterday was Diwali - and today is the first day of the New Year on the Hindu calendar :)

Cheers!

Happy New Year!

Hi Everyone!

2011 is going to be a fabulous year! I can already feel it :)

Here, at 'the balance clinic', it is going to be a year full of excitement. Lots of new initiatives and fun things for everyone to get involved with.

To help jumpstart the New Year and everyone's health resolutions, 'the balance clinic' has partnered up with an awesome personal trainer named Lucy Ramon and "Your Body Center" to offer you an UNBELIEVABLE "Total Body Wellness Package".

It includes everything you need to get you started in the New Year for a new YOU:

- 12 one-on-one personal training sessions with Lucy Ramon, CPT

- one month membership at EliteFX Studios (to work out in between your training sessions with Lucy)

- Personalized nutrition/meal plan

- Allergy testing (food and environmental sensitivity testing to make sure you are eating right for you to optimize your results)

- Detox protocol (help flush/cleanse your liver and other organs to ensure proper elimination and maximum results from all your hard work)

- Personalized vitamin/supplement recommendations (we'll do a full nutrition scan to see what your deficiences are and what supplements will indeed supplement your active and healthy lifestyle)

- 1 week of unlimited yoga and pilates classes at "Your Body Center" (All their classes are soooo great - I especially love their Hot Yoga class)

I know...it really is THAT great!

Check out the poster/flier for more details :)

Register online at http://www.thebalanceclinic.net/ or call us at (832) 412-1822.

Anti-aging Secret from China!

So here's something that I found that was featured in the book, "Passport to Beauty", written by Shalini Vadhera.

Apparently, this is the anti-aging beauty secret used amongst the woman in China. And I mean, we all know how gorgeous their skin is and how well they age!

So here it is:

Take some ground powder green tea. Add some white tea and lemon juice to make it into a paste like consistency. Use it all over the face as a mask. Let it sit for a while. Rinse with warm water and pat your face dry.

So why would this work? You know enough about me by now to know that I need some sort of scientific backing for these types of claims. Well...

Green tea, as we know, is a very powerful anti-oxidant. So all that stress and pollution that takes a toll on our skin by use of free radicals can be minimized by not only ingesting anti-oxidants, but also using them topically.

White tea is also a power anti-oxidant and works in the same way to prevent premature aging from all that life throws at us.

Lemon juice - as in my last post, helps with discoloration and hyper-pigmentation, thereby promoting even skin tone.

So there you have it! I haven't given this one a try just yet - but will keep you posted on what I think once I try it. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it also.

Oh and want to maximize the effects? It doesn't hurt to add a cup of green or white tea to your daily menu. Why not fight aging in all ways possible?

Cheers to being young forever - on the inside and out! :)

Home Remedy for FABULOUS Skin

So I came across a home remedy that not only has people raving about it - but it also has scientific evidence as to why it would actually work.

So here it is for you:

Mix 1 tbsp of plain yogurt with 1 tsp of sunflower oil and 1 tsp of lemon juice.
Mix this up well and rub it into your skin.
Rinse off with warm water and pat your skin dry.

So how does it work?

The yogurt is a natural skin exfoliant because of the lactic acid that it contains.

The sunflower oil will help seal in moisture, keeping your skin hydrated, thereby preventing wrinkles.
The lemon juice helps balance the pH and is also a whitener which inhibits melatonin that results in age spots.

So give this a try - I know I will.

I would love to hear your thoughts - before and after :)

Cheers to FABULOUS skin! :)

Organic or not?

So a lot of people have been asking me the same question: "Does it really make a big difference whether we buy organic or not?" and so I thought I would put up some valuable information about this and some of the misconceptions that exist.

Well, simply put, if you can buy it organic - do! But with everyone tightening their belts amongst this rocky financial arena and the prices of organic produce being ridiculously high compared to its conventional counterparts, we can be smart about it.

Luckily, we have some wonderful organizations that can help us make the right decisions. The EWG (Environmental Working Group) has done extensive research on the most common produce and pesticide levels. Pesticides have been linked to nervous system damage, cancer, lowered immune systems, and endocrine problems. In short, this is what EWG has found:

Buy the following ORGANIC (because they tend to have the highest pesticide loads):

1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Sweet Bell Peppers
4. Celery
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Kale
9. Lettuce
10. Grapes (imported)
11. Carrots
12. Pears

And the following is pretty low on the pesticide list and can be bought CONVENTIONALLY grown:

1. Onions
2. Avocados
3. Sweet Corn
4. Pineapple
5. Mangoes
6. Asparagus
7. Sweet Peas
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Papaya
12. Watermelon
13. Broccoli
14. Tomato
15. Sweet Potato

For an extensive list of about 50 foods and the order of the pesticide levels, and more information about your foods,you can visit their website at www.foodnews.org.