Friend and nutritionist Michelle Sugiyama changed my life with a workshop she gave on brain health and food. She’s changing it again giving us improved energy, focus and health with a new detox program Michael and I began with her a month ago. It’s easy, and I do mean EASY, affordable and best of all, starting the first week, we noticed we had so much more energy and that overall, we feel better. There’s a reason for that and I asked her to share it, below. It’s not a diet, it’s a healthy eating style and frankly, one of the best things about it is I don’t have to count anything, nor do I have to prepare food three times a day. And I know I’m doing the right thing for my body.
Read on! Here’s Michelle’s post:
Super Tips to Supercharge Your Vitality in 2019
“Health is #1” – Kinuyo Sugiyama, 1907 – 2008
More energy, mental clarity, awesome productivity — who wouldn’t want more of that?! I can totally relate if you want all that, plus less stress and more happiness.
Before my wellness career, I received a M.S. in chemistry and worked in corporate America for 10 long years. I travelled a lot, ate out all the time, was stressed out and suffered from an eating disorder. I felt like I completely lost control of my life. Back then I didn’t know that productivity, stress and even happiness can be directly related to nutrition.
Inspired by 101 year-old Grandma
My big inspiration was my 101-year-old Grandmother. Let me tell you, she did not live a stress-free life. My Grandpa was a serial entrepreneur and Grandma was at the helm of them all. She was the CPA, grew, boiled and sold peanuts, cashiered at movie theaters and raised TEN kids. Grandma was only 4’10” but had a six-foot smile. She was mindful about what she ate, what she thought and how she moved. Her mantra was Health is #1. You could be rich, smart and talented but if you don’t have your health, you could have nothing.
My 2nd inspiration is my daughter, Mikaila. I need to stay healthy and energetic for her. As she gets into college, gets married and has kids(fingers crossed), I want to get down on the floor and play with those babies. But, the important. part is getting up off the floor, LOL!
Who inspires you to live healthier and with more energy?
Do you have a Mikaila in your life? It could even be a neighbor, friend or aging parent. We need to stay healthy and energetic for the ones we love and care about.
For over 17 years, I’ve helped people increase their productivity, vitality and happiness level. Take Jessie, in her 40’s, tired, overweight and really didn’t smile. After working together, she lost body fat, had more energy and smiled a whole lot more.
I’d love to share three things that helped Jessie and I know will help you.
1. When you wake up in the morning, your mouth is dry, right? Well, you’re parched and dehydrated. Even mild dehydration can affect energy levels, cognition and mood. When you’re dehydrated you can feel tired, less focused and even tense. Drinking water will also start you metabolism, flatten that little pooch and help you detox since it helps move things through your body. Jessie now keeps at tall glass of water on her bed stand. When she rolls over, it’s the first thing she sees and it reminds her to hydrate.
Supertip #1 Hydrate right away and throughout the day. Additionally, it’s so important to Detox Not Diet. Ask Carol Cassara about the no starvation, real food detox she and her hubby began almost a month ago!
2. Did you know that what you eat affects body and brain chemicals?
Carbohydrates promote serotonin, which is good for contentment and sleep. Protein promotes norepinephrine and dopamine for alertness and activity. And, our brain is 60% fat so we need good fats to nourish it. For a snack, Jessie enjoys a handful of nuts because it contains quality proteins and fats. Even though they’re high in fat, they contain monounsaturated fat, the fat that raise your HDL, the “good” cholesterol and lower LDL, the “bad” cholesterol.
Supertip #2: Focus on quality proteins and fats – A handful of nuts a day keeps the doctor away. If you’re allergic to nuts, grab some sunflower seeds or avocado.
3. Fruits and vegetables. It’s irrefutable that plants reduce your risk for major setbacks like cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s; and help immunity, digestion, skin and eyes. Consider one apple— it contains 10,000 phytonutrients or plant chemicals. Scientists don’t even know how all those phytonutrients work together, in synergy, to promote health and healing at a cellular level. As you know, when you’re just a little sick, it’s hard to be productive. Prevention truly is the best medicine.
Super tip #3: Strive for TEN handfuls of fruits and vegetables everyday. That’s VERY hard for most people, even me. So I take and recommend a whole food. supplement called Juice Plus that come in capsules or tasty gummies. It’s an awesome way to flood your body with clean, non-GMO, fruits and veggies everyday.
It’s free for kids up to college (!) and has kept Mikaila doctor-free for four years! I’ve also seen amazing things happen to me and other people – eczema disappears, gum pockets gone, digestive issues heal, blood lipid levels normalize and more – Really! Even Dr. David Katz, Founding Director of Yale’s Prevention Research Center, takes it and recommends it to his patients.
This is just the tip of the nutritional iceberg! I can go deeper into all of these things, give you personalized tips and so much more. I truly want you to start the New Year strong and am offering a Winter Detox Special that comes with a cookbook, snack ideas, accountability and community, which is really key. Here’s to a fantastic start in 2019!
If you don’t start somewhere, you’re gonna go nowhere. Bob Marley
Reach Michelle Sugiyama at michelle.mindfuleating@gmail.com or 651-747-7779. Her website is www.mindful-eating.com
Thanks for this insightful article, Carol.
For point #2, I enjoy Protein and Fats for Breakfast to keep focused and a steady amount of energy throughout the day, as well as Carbs closer to night time as these will help with relaxation before bed.
I need to drink more water. THANKS FOR THE REMINDER. At lunch and dinner I eat veggies. At breakfast complex carbs and usually some blueberries. COLORFUL FOODS.
It sounds like a good plan!
Love the Bob Marley quote that is so relevant to diet and health!
Diet and health become so much more important as we age, don’t they?
This is a great post and I am working with a chemist who is helping me to detox and motivate my body – she and I had a great Podcast interview yesterday.
Thank you, there’s something about knowing a chemist is looking at a program that makes me confident.