The Core Balance Diet
August 2009
Do you have chronic health issues? An inability to lose weight? Are you moody or irritable? Fatigued? Food cravings? Learn how your body's systems are connected and how changing our diet can improve imbalances in our hormones, thyroid, adrenal glands, sleep patterns, digestive health, blood pressure, cholesterol, arthritis and other chronic conditions. Check out The Core Balance Diet Book, by Marcelle Pick, who addresses these issues from a functional medicine perspective by looking for imbalances in each of these six areas, all of which can fuel cravings, fatigue and the inability to lose weight:
- Digestive imbalance - Food sensitivities, yeast overgrowth, deficient enzymes, overly acidic and parasites
- Hormonal Imbalance - Insulin resistance; ratio is off between estrogen, progesterone, testosterone levels; excess belly fat, moody, irritable
- Adrenal Imbalance - Constant stress leads to high cortisol levels which can create inflammation; feel tired, wired, hyper, hungry, depressed
- Neurotransmitter Imbalance - Fatigue, depression, craving for carbs
- Inflammation Response - Overtaxed immune system, which affects your metabolism; often diet sensitivities & digestive imbalance - Arthritis, allergies, hypertension, cancer, Crohn's, diabetes
- Detoxification Imbalance - Toxins like heavy metals, air pollutants, mercury, lead, plastic - Acne, bad breath, bloating, headaches, dark circle under eyes
They all affect each other! The good news is changing your approach to nutrition will help you drop the weight, feel better and restore your body to health. You can read more about functional medicine here and find a practitioner in your area.
In the Core Balance Diet book, there are six food plans depending on your particular imbalance, recipes, nutritional support and six different assessment tests to determine which system, mentioned above, is most of balance. Work on the system most out of balance first by following the recommended eating plans, nutritional support and asking for specific diagnostic tests (blood work, saliva test, urine, insulin test, etc) that will help you treat your unique imbalance. The accompanying website, womentowomen.com also offers four tests you can take to assess your current health.
The biggest culprits in our diet that lead to chronic health issues such as cancer, arthritis, thyroid and hormone imbalances, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, mood issues and weight gain are:
- gluten
- wheat
- dairy
- corn
- sugar
- too many carbohydrates (cereals, bread, crackers, pasta)
- toxins such as aspartame, pesticides, mercury and lead
These substances lead to a systemic response in the body which causes inflammation. Try reducing these from your diet for 30 days (the elimination diet in the Core Balance Book) and notice if you feel better. What we put in our body has the power to heal and fuel us or put us in a state of dis-ease.
We no longer have to hold the belief "It's my genetics." Our genes are influenced by what we put in our body. They can be activated or quieted depending on what substances are triggering the switch. Doctor's are now challenging the the idea that our health is driven by our genes. Our biography no longer has to be our biology. Check out Bruce Lipton's book, The Biology of Belief, that debunks conventional wisdom about genetic destiny.
If you'd like some assistance getting your system back in balance, try a complimentary 30-minute sample coaching session. See how coaching can get your nutrition on track and provide support managing your mindset so you can feel great and accomplish your goals. 847-971-3643 andrea@hgcoaching.com
