Questions, we all have them and sometimes the answers just lead to more questions. Ever googled something you needed to know and ended up down some rabbit hole that you can’t quite get back out of? A click here and there and you might just end up with answers to questions that you didn’t even know to ask. Then there’s Dr Google, who has all the answers to all of your ailments and sends you off on a goose chase of who to trust with their opinion, medical or otherwise. There is no end to opinions, theories, research and hypotheses, but how does that help you with your lack of sleep, what to eat in the morning so you don’t get hungry an hour later and is eating sugar really that bad, to name a few that I’ve had emailed in from loyal listeners. What can I do about muscle cramps came up a couple of times, so I’m not sure what is going on there, but of course I know you want answers. Maybe there could be a spin-off version of Alexa or Siri that is like a hospital specialist and has a focus on nutrition, diet, and how to live a healthy lifestyle.
So today on EAT THIS with Lianne, I’ve saved some of your questions and am going to answer them and direct you to previous episodes to learn more. Your insatiable appetite to know more is inspiring.
As well as the standard questions like “I can’t sleep, what should I do?” Most questions can be answered with a “what’s my next step” kind of answer. Not all questions have answers that lead to the garden of Eden when it comes to health, but as with everything that I talk about here, taking one step in the right direction, away from wherever you are at, is truly the best way forward. Whatever your symptoms or situation, it took a while to get you here, so it’s not going to go overnight – although that would be really, really nice!
Let’s start off with one that came to me on @sproutRight’s Instagram page.
What is spirulina and is it a superfood or some kind of fad?
Spirulina is a blue-green algae is a freshwater plant that is now one of the most researched, along with chlorella, which are known as superfoods.
Benefits – Detoxes heavy metals from your body, especially arsenic.
- helps balance microflora all over the body. Not only in the gut but the nose, mouth. It’s antimicrobial, especially for candida or yeast infections.
- Helps ward off infection, boost the immune system and even prevent cancer.
- Lowers blood pressure, reduces the chance of stroke and reduces cholesterol
- boosts energy and speeds up weight loss and helps alleviate sinus issues.
- Chlorella has a cleansing action on the bowel and other elimination channels, as well as its protection of the liver, helps promote clean blood and bowels.
- Freshwater blue-green algae, Spirulina, has one of the most nutrient-dense profiles on earth, making it the ultimate superfood for nourishing all cells.
Both are found in my Take This by Lianne Kid Boost and Skin Boost superfood powders, along with so many other superfood powders that include Organic Broccoli Sprout Powder, Organic Barley Grass Juice Powder, and Organic Acai Juice Powder, Organic Parsley Powder, Organic Beet Juice Powder and Organic Pomegranate Juice Powder, Organic Blueberry Juice Powder, Organic Spinach Leaf Powder, so it’s off the charts for vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other health benefits that we don’t know yet.
This one came in from a reply to my weekly newsletter that I send out to those subscribed through both liannephillipson.com and sproutright.com.
What foods can I eat to feel better?
We all want to feel better, don’t we so this one is something that I’m going to ask you a few questions back before I give a few specific foods to try? Yes, there are foods that support your energy, mood, and give you a boost that lasts, not just for the moment that it hits your lips like chocolate. So first, what self care do you need to offer yourself before you head to the fridge or cupboard? Typically people go for their comfort foods, so I love this question, thank you. It’s a loaded one depending on how you define ‘better’, so how about I give you a few foods to try – remembering that this is about eating one mouthful at a time, so try one food and when you eat it, be in the moment and tune into how you feel.
Foods that make you feel good:
- Colourful foods – eat a rainbow every day – foods like beets It’s hard to beat the amazing beet. Beets contain betaine, which supports serotonin production in the brain, elevating your mood along the way. Beets also have a potent dose of folic acid in them, which stabilizes emotional and mental health, improving your chances of happiness with every bite.
- Protein-rich foods like eggs are loaded with mood-promoting omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, B vitamins, and iodide, and because they’re packed with protein, they’ll also keep you full and energized long after you eat them.
- Dark chocolate – The cocoa treat also gives you an instant boost in mood and concentration, and improves blood flow to your brain, helping you feel more vibrant and energized.
- Pumpkin seeds are like crunchy little nuggets of happiness. They’re one of the best food sources of tryptophan, an amino acid that helps promote the production of serotonin in your brain. Tryptophan can also have a calming effect, making it easier to hit the hay at night and wake up feeling refreshed. If you haven’t tried it before, pick up some pumpkin seed butter to use instead of peanut butter. Very often I have a spoonful of it with slices of Honeycrisp apple and I’m set for a while so my mood isn’t affected by my blood sugar crashing.
This question came from a listener from a radio station that I’m an expert for each week called myFM that is on about 17 stations across Ontario:
Energy Drinks…parents who may be concerned with their teens energy drink addictions. What are these drinks? Are they getting any energy from them? Or is it all in their mind? What else are they doing to their bodies? Can you overdose on them?
Basically, energy drinks are a hybrid of coffee and pop. Can you guess as to what I’m going to say about this mixture? Adrenal fatigue springs to my mind, but likely not to yours. The combination of both of these tax the liver in so many ways; think of the road to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and a very overworked detoxification system.
Side effects of consuming too much caffeine include changes in heart rate, increased blood pressure, anxiety, sleep problems, digestive issues, headaches and dehydration. No one needs any more of those issues in their life, especially during puberty and the teen years.
No teens should not be consuming energy drinks, but we all know that they are. Take the Rockstar Energy drink – it has 29g of sugar (that’s over 7 teaspoons or 2.5 tablespoons). There’s 160 to 240mg caffeine depending on the size you buy. That’s about the same for a regular 8 oz cup of coffee.
The addiction comes from the combo of sugar and caffeine because as they come down off the high of all that, they want more, and more, and more. Sugar cravings come from consuming sugar, it’s as simple as that. And with sugar as addictive as hard drugs, so that feeling like you need coffee to get through the day, is an addictive chemical. The combo is one that I suggest is avoided at all cost! I did try an energy drink that had an impressive ingredient list with NO artificial sweetener or sugar, called GURU, and it sure tasted good!
How to kick start the body to lose weight. I’m in a diet plateau but am eating the best I can on a strict plan that has eliminated carbs, sugar. After losing 40 lbs I need a change.
First of all, well done with losing 40lbs. First, change or increase your exercise intensity and whatever you are doing. Create more muscle mass with resistance or strength training so that your metabolism is burning calories faster. Then eat less of what you are eating. Leave 15% on your plate at each meal. That way your body will not switch into famine mode and hold onto everything that you’ve lost so far.
Listener question – Kyle: Are protein shakes really that healthy?? What is the point of them or the theory behind when we NEED to be taking them? I’ve found myself more into fitness and taking care of myself this past year…and I’ve known people to invest big money into these powders and shakes…but I’m weary as to what they are. Gimmicky? Or actually helpful?
First question to ask yourself is why do you need it? Protein powder is there to supplement your diet, not replace it. Your body needs protein from food first. Protein comes from nuts, seeds, dairy products like plain Greek yogurt, milk, cheese and legumes; beans and lentils. There’s some in rice and soy and of course, fish, poultry, eggs and all meat and plant based alternatives.
Then there is casein, soy, powdered egg white, collagen, pea protein, hemp or pumpkin seed powder. Which do you choose? It depends on what you need it for. Whey protein powder on paper is the most bioavailable protein, but as it comes from dairy that is the number one food allergy, it’s not always best for everyone.
You need about 1 gram of protein for 1kg body weight to keep your immune system strong, your microbiome happy, rebuild muscles and bones and all other functions. Each scoop of powder can vary from 10 to 30 grams, depending on the type of protein. Supplements used for building muscle contain relatively more protein and supplements used for weight loss contain relatively less.
Choosing the right one depends on a bunch of things. You have to discern what’s on the label.
- muscle-building,
- weight-loss-promising,
- be-healthy-faster powders
Then be prepared to see if it is to your taste, that it doesn’t upset your belly and give you gas or diarrhea, make your skin flare up with a rash or itchiness. You also need to make sure that it’s not contaminated too because lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury or bisphenol-A–BPA (which is used to make plastic) can be present.
For the best one to choose from, listen to episode 68 of EAT THIS with Lianne and hear what our guest expert, Dr Davis Brockenshire, Functional Medical Expert has to say.
