Tag: Holistic Nutritionist

A holistic nutritionist teaches a wholesome way of eating, living, and being. Learn a new method that focuses on wellness as a healthy way to lose weight on a balanced diet. You can use herbal remedies to heal symptoms of illness while also losing weight. A whole foods plant-based diet is the most holistic diet there is. Contact Kelly Gibson, Certified Holistic Nutritionist for help with a plant-based meal plan.

Posted on by

Green Tea for Cancer? See What Nutritional Science Says…

green-tea-for-cancer-mental-health

Green Tea for Cancer? See what Nutritional Science says…

The leading cause of death in America is heart disease, followed by cancer. Cancer affects roughly 1 in 3 Americans in their lifetime. Chances have it, you or someone you know has suffered or is suffering from this horrible disease. It is terrifying for those to have to go through treatment or see their family go through it. While diet and tea is not an alternative to cancer treatment, there are many natural ways to reduce cancer risk and fight off cancer cells through nutrition! Cancer cells silence tumor-suppressing genes, which can effect someone with good genetics. Green tea has been shown to reactivate these genes by simply being dripped on certain cancer cells (1). Over 1.7 MILLION Americans are expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year, and more than a third of those people are expected to die from cancer (2). Every opportunity you get to prevent cancer is another chance to extend your life. It’s amazing that something as simple as a tea plant may have the power to suppress cancer.

Three Ways to Enjoy Green Tea:

Matcha Green Tea
The Whole Food Version of Green Tea

Green Tea:
The Extracts of Green Tea Leaves

Green Tea Capsules:
Take a green tea pill with water and breakfast

Other Green Tea Benefits

Not only can you use green tea topically for benefits, but many studies show benefits on oral consumption of green tea as well!  While water is very important for hydration and my top choice, the next best drink out there is green tea! Why? Because it contains powerful antioxidants that have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer, the second leading cause of death in America (3). Green tea also activates the “alpha” brain waves which triggers the relaxation feeling people get from meditating (4). With all the stress we have to deal with on a daily basis, this is a great way to wind down – especially if you are dealing with the stress of cancer!

There are known side effects to green tea, since it contains caffeine. Ease into it with half a cup or one cup then gradually build up to more cups per day to avoid getting dehydrated or headaches. Try all the little things, and incorporate green tea into your daily routine! Regular intake of green tea can slow cancer growth, and the more cups of tea per day is associated with delayed onset of cancer (by up to 7 years for women and up to 3 years for men) in patients who do have cancer (5).

Following a plant-based diet for weight loss can be enhanced with a daily dose or two of green tea. Stay healthy and fit too with these green tea benefits.

Not all Protein is Created Equal

Why Every Restaurant Should be Offering Vegan Options to the Pittsburgh Vegan Community in 2024

The Journey to Overall Wellness, a Plant-Based Diet

Four Fun Fitness Ideas

What is the Best Protein Source?

4 Ways Plant-Based Foods Can Boost Your Health and Happiness

Veg Out: Budget-Friendly Ways to Adopt a Plant-Based Diet

Diet Secrets for Longevity

Best Oil for Dry Skin

Star Anise for Digestion

Sources:

  1. Greger, Dr. Michael. “How Not to Die.” p10 of Introduction. Copyright 2015. e-ISBN 9781250066121.
  2.  National Cancer Institute. “Cancer Statistics.” Updated April 27, 2018. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics Accessed 8/27/18.
  3. “Consumption of green tea causes rapid increase in plasma antioxidant power in humans.” I. F. Benzie, Y. T. Szeto, J. J. Strain, B. Tomlinson. Nutr Cancer. 1999; 34(1): 83-87. doi: 10.1207/S15327914NC340112. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10453446.  Accessed 8/27/18.
  4. Effects of green and black tea consumption on brain wave activities in healthy volunteers as measured by a simplified Electroencephalogram (EEG): A feasibility study. Edward J. Okello, Awatf M. Abadi, Saad A. Abadi. Nutr Neurosci. 2016 Jun; 19(5): 196–205. Published online 2015 Feb 25. doi: 10.1179/1476830515Y.0000000008. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25714035.   Accessed 8/27/18.
  5. Greger, Dr Michael. “Can Green Tea Help Prevent Cancer?” Nutritionfacts.org. volume 35. Published March 3rd, 2017. https://nutritionfacts.org/video/can-green-tea-help-prevent-cancer/. Accessed 8/22/18.

Kelly Athletics | Author: Kelly Gibson | Holistic Nutritionist | Holistic Nutrition and Fitness | Herbal Remedies | Nutritionist Chandler AZ | Nutritionist Tempe AZ | Nutritionist Phoenix AZ | Nutritionist Arizona | Vegan Nutritionist | Plant Based Nutritionist | Plant-Based Nutritionist | Vegan Supplements | Plant-Based Supplements | Green Tea Supplements | High-Quality Green Tea | Natural Remedies

*Disclaimer: This blog is not to be taken as medical advice. Please see a physician or health practitioner prior to making any changes to your diet, medication, or treatment plan. View our Terms.

Green Tea for Cancer | Kelly Gibson | Holistic Nutritionist | Nutritionist Chandler AZ | Holistic Nutritionist in Chandler
Posted on by

Is prolonged and intermittent fasting safe?

Is Prolonged and Intermittent Fasting Safe?

A doctor named Alan Goldhamer supervises patients through therapeutic fasting that lasts between 5 and 40 days. has reported ZERO deaths from water fasting, after having over 10,000 fasting patients. So, even though numerous adverse side effects can occur with water fasting, the mortality rate is extremely low (1). While I don’t recommend dry fasting or prolonged fasting without doctor supervision, it is highly possible that you could fast for many weeks without it being life-threatening. Prolonged fasts typically end much sooner than planned due to the psychological difficulty of going without food (2) in addition to the physical challenges of feeling hungry and unwell.

fasting-eating-schedule-breaking-the-habit

How long should you fast?

During autophagy, the human body is quite literally detoxifying. That said, it is best to listen to your body and break the fast if you start to feel sick. Fasting has significant psychological effects, like the keto diet due to our bodies need for carbohydrates (2). In some cases, people fast for several days or weeks, then safely return to good health upon breaking the fast with mostly water and health foods. In other cases, fasting for long periods of time can have detrimental effects on people’s health. While some studies have shown that multiple-day fasts are beneficial to human health, more research should be done on best practices.

Most people view starvation as an entirely bad thing – even if it means skipping only one meal – thinking it’s just another type of calorie restriction with short term results. While this can be true for fasting, the negative effects of starvation are more likely to occur when you put yourself on a very low-calorie diet (VLCD). One study determined that after 10 weeks of undereating (due to VLCD without fasting), your hormones change and cause you to feel extra hungry for the next year or longer, leading to weight gain in the long run (3).

water-fasting-dry-fasting-health-benefits

Some people develop a liking for fasting, and practice it regularly.

A 24-hour fast every couple weeks or a daily 16-hour intermittent fast is generally safe for healthy individuals. Intermittent fasting has gained popularity in recent years and has been proven effective for fat loss in many studies (4). Many people find that it feels completely normal to go without food from dinner until the following day at lunch time, which is why the 16-hour fast is usually a good starting point. Some people start with 12 hours, then slowly build up over time to achieve 16-24 hour fasts through practice. Many fasters go beyond the 24 hour mark for days or even weeks to reap the health benefits. However, with the risks associated with prolonged fasting I do not personally recommend it. In fact, a 2017 study shows that intermittent fasting has all the same benefits as prolonged fasting such as weight loss, improved liver function, and glucose homeostasis (5).

When intermittent fasting, choosing a vegan version of the ketogenic diet during your eating window is much less harmful to our bodies than the animal-based version. Low-carb plant-based foods may reduce risk of heart disease as opposed to increasing the risk (like meat does) (6). However, it is not required to eat low-carb foods to reap the benefits of ketosis when fasting. Regardless of what diet you follow, make sure you are getting enough calories, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. If you have an eating disorder, nutrient deficiency, or Type II Diabetes, you should not attempt fasting. Hire a vegan dietitian, nutritionist, or nutrition coach to help prepare a healthy and safe plan for you. As always, talk to a medical professional before making any diet changes and to discuss any health risks associated with fasting.

Written by Kelly Gibson, Owner at Kelly Athletics LLC. Kelly is a Personal Trainer and Holistic Nutritionist in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. She is passionate about being a vegan coach, and loves to help women transition to a plant-strong diet.

Subscribe to my Nutrition Blog

fitness-plant-based-nutrition-blog-home
 

References:

  1. Gustafson, Craig. “Alan Goldhamer, dc: Water Fasting—The Clinical Effectiveness of Rebooting Your Body.” Journal of Integr Med (Encinitas). Vol 13(3): 52–57. Published June 2014. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4684131/. Accessed Aug 3, 2018.
  2. Mehrpour, Maryam et al. “Autophagy in health and disease: 1. Regulation and significance of autophagy: an overview.” American Physiological Society, vol 298, issue 4. Published April 2010. https://www.physiology.org/doi/10.1152/ajpcell.00507.2009. Accessed August 1, 2018.
  3. David Baker and Natacha Keramidas. “The psychology of hunger.” American Psychological Association. Published October 2013, vol 44, No. 9. http://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/10/hunger.aspx Accessed July 29, 2018.
  4. Kollias, Helen. “Weight Loss & Hunger Hormones: Why ‘willpower’ may not be your problem.” https://www.precisionnutrition.com/fast-weight-loss-changes-hunger-hormones. Accessed July 31, 2018.
  5. Moro, Tatiana et al. “Effects of eight weeks of time-restricted feeding (16/8) on basal metabolism, maximal strength, body composition, inflammation, and cardiovascular risk factors in resistance-trained males.” J Transl Med. Published 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5064803/ Accessed July 24, 2018.
  6. Kyoung-Han Kim & Yun Hye Kim. “Intermittent fasting promotes adipose thermogenesis and metabolic homeostasis via VEGF-mediated alternative activation of macrophage.” Cell Research Journal. Published Oct 17 2017. https://www.nature.com/articles/cr2017126.  Accessed July 31, 2018
  7. DJ, Jenkins et al. “Effect of a 6-month vegan low-carbohydrate (‘Eco-Atkins’) diet on cardiovascular risk factors and body weight in hyperlipidaemic adults: a randomised controlled trial.” BMJ Journals. Published Feb 5 2014. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24500611 Accessed July 25, 2018.
Posted on by

Non-Diet Keto: How to Get into Ketosis without Food

Non-Diet Keto: How to Get into Ketosis without Food

Did you know that the keto diet is an artificial way to get into ketosis? Ketosis is most naturally induced by fasting – not by eating! Fast, you say? Yes! Fasting is a non-diet state of restriction in which food is given up altogether for short periods of time, historically done for spiritual reasons or to cleanse the body of impurities. During fasting, people report burning fat much quicker than any diet on the planet. How?

Because without any food intake, the digestive system takes a break and our ketone levels rise, allowing the body to focus on fat burning. (Medical Disclaimer: I am not suggesting you change your diet or stop eating; I am simply sharing information based on scientific studies on fasting. Do not attempt fasting or the keto diet without talking to your physician first.)

fasting-no-food-ketosis-autophagy

Fasting = no food.

Fasted Ketosis: People have reported entering ketosis in as little as 16 hours on a dry fast (no food or water) and within 72 hours on a water fast (no food just water). While there are benefits of being in ketosis from fasting, carb restriction is not the same; digestion is still in full force when eating. Eating anything at all may slow down the process and therefore reduce the benefits. Also, ketones from low carb diets can increase blood acidity, leading to poor athletic performance, coordination, and concentration (Skolnik 16).

The animal-based foods included in a ketogenic diet contain massive amounts of cholesterol, saturated fat, omega 6 fatty acids, and in some cases too much protein, which is known to cause health problems long-term such as fatty liver disease and insulin resistance (2).

Fasting Benefits: Fasting is so powerful that it has been shown to slow the growth of cancer tumors and improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy leading to long-term survival (3). People also report healing their bodies from various ailments during fasts. Fasting is something people use for other health benefits like wound healing and emotional healing, but this natural therapy is done through a process called autophagy. In simple terms, autophagy is a mechanism at the cellular level in which cells “clean” themselves to detoxify and achieve homeostasis.

Autophagy seemingly protects healthy cells while causing death of unwanted cells (4). Since toxins tend to be released during autophagy, it is quite common for beginners to feel unwell during this stage of fasting. (It may help to take Epsom salt baths and drink lots of water if you experience toxic build-up). While fasting, you can experience autophagy within the first 24 hours without even being in ketosis.

fasted-chemotherapy-treatment

Fasting enhances the effects of chemotherapy and extends cancer survival rates.

Why it’s Better: It is uncertain whether a ketogenic diet can induce autophagy since the digestive system is still in action, but autophagy is the reason fasting can be good for you! You can experience the benefits of autophagy by practicing intermittent fasting without eliminating carbohydrates from your diet. Eating carbs between fasts will not take away the benefits of autophagy but eating unhealthy food can disrupt healing.

If you want to get into ketosis while intermittent fasting, you can stick to low-carb foods during your eating window or fast for longer time periods. As described in the previous article, vegan keto is the healthiest type of keto diet due to its higher nutrient density and reduced risk of illness.

water-fast-detox-weight-loss

Water helps remove toxins from our bodies during a fasted state. It is very important to stay hydrated before, during, and after prolonged fasts.

Starvation

You might be wondering “Isn’t fasting the same thing as starving yourself?” Essentially, fasting is a form of starvation – but only temporarily as the body heals itself from ailments and utilizes fat for energy. Our bodies naturally go into ketosis, in order to have energy to find food when unable to eat. We naturally turn away food when we are sick because our bodies want to heal quicker. It seems like the keto diet is not a natural way of life, because you would be forcing yourself to avoid the very foods your body wants and needs – carbohydrates.

Ketosis

Ketosis should only take place for short periods of time WHEN you are sick or WHEN you have no access to food. Forcing your body into a prolonged state of ketosis (especially without ongoing autophagy) likely will have undesirable side effects. However, fasting on an intermittent schedule for health reasons is safer than carb avoidance through low carb dieting. Water fasting can be beneficial to our bodies if we want to experience ketogenic healing, allowing the water to flush out toxins (without putting new toxins in). Much of the weight loss experienced during ketosis can include water weight. This can be regained after a fast or when discontinuing a keto diet.

Discover if fasting is safe for you – on the next page:

fitness-plant-based-nutrition-blog-home

References:

  1. Heidi Skolnik and Andrea Chernus. “Nutrient Timing for Peak Performance.” Human Kinetics. Published 2010.
  2. Christophe Kosinski and Fracois R Jornayvaz. “Effects of Ketogenic Diets on Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Evidence from Animal and Human Studies.” MDPI Nutrients – Open Access Journal of Human Nutrition. Published May 19, 2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5452247/ Accessed on August 2, 2018.
  3. Lee, L. Raffaghello, S. Brandhorst, F.M. Safdie, G.Bianchi, A. Martin-Montalvo, V. Pistoia, M. Wei, S.Hwang, A. Merlino, et al. “Fasting cycles retard growth of tumors and sensitize a range of cancer cell types to chemotherapy”. Sci. Transl. Med., 4 (2012), p. 124ra127. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22323820. Accessed August 1 2018.
  4. Maryam Mehrpour, Audrey Esclatine, Isabelle Beau, and Patrice Codogno.“Autophagy in health and disease. 1. Regulation and significance of autophagy: an overview.” American Journal of Physiology – Cell Physiology. Published April 1, 2010.