Ditch the Dirty Chai!

We all have our weaknesses.

Mine is the Dirty Chai Latte. It would not be so bad if it did not have so much sugar. Sugar is one item that I cannot have in excess. I monitor my intake closely. When I am lax, I can guarantee that I will end up with a skin outbreak. Sugar is also highly addictive. It is added into many packaged foods. Check your labels! A few common names for sugar are: barley malt, corn syrup, maltose, sucrose, glucose, dextrin, and lactose.

For those who know me well, I am allergic to EVERYTHING. I have had professional allergy testing. This testing was done as a result to histamine outbreaks, lifelong eczema, sinus issues, and swollen eyes. I have had panic attacks and syncope (passing out) post over the counter common cold and flu medications. I am allergic to cats and dogs. Yes, I have a dog but he is hypoallergenic. We have done extensive research on breeds. We also spent a lot of time with the puppy litter to ensure that the family would not have any issues with our dog. I am allergic to mold, dust, dyes, trees, and grass to add to the list. So, I know you are wondering if I pop allergy medication daily. I don't! We do keep Benadryl and some type of 24 hour allergy medication in the house. I only really need it if I visit my brother who has a cat and short haired shedding dogs. Otherwise, I do not have to many daily problems.

How do I manage all of these allergies?

WATER (remember I spoke about hydration) and DIET! I do not call myself a Vegan or any title, but I do eat mostly a whole food diet most days. For my Naturopathic Mastery class, my first assessment done was on MYSELF. Up until then, I always joked that I am a twigs and berries type of girl. The assessment was correct! Fruits, veggies, seeds, and certain nuts (cashews and almonds) are ideal items for my diet. Sounds pretty limiting right? It IS! And, it can be difficult to do when you have a family that can eat a more diverse range of foods.

Due to holiday treats and the kids being home every day, my diet has veered off the rails and into the ditch. A supplier sent cookies to my home. My neighbor dropped off sugar laden popcorn. My hubby's contractor gave us a LARGE bottle of sangria. And, my love of Dirty Chai Tea lattes have got out of control!!! The scale has definitely inched into the WRONG direction. How do I get back on track? I have personally started on Tip #1 Hydration. Adding in the water has helped me manage my sugar cravings better. Tip #2 Meditation is a regular thing I do unless I am exhausted.

Tip #3 - ADD IN A LARGE GREEN SALAD

Most people do not eat enough vegetables. When I make a conscious effort in eating at least one large green salad a day, I eat less junk throughout the day. There are a few elements that I add (and avoid) within the salad ingredients. I add seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, hemp seeds or flax seeds), nuts, avocado, and sea salt. These additions are specific to my personal assessment. I will be offering these assessments to the public in the future (more to come!). I stop putting FRUIT in our salads. This is one critical deletion I advise everyone to make. Fruit is one item that should always be eaten ALONE. Different categories of food digest differently within your body. Since fruit is easily digestible, it's a great way to break a fast as the first food for your day. Otherwise, get creative with your salads! Experiment with different veggies. Make a simple olive oil dressing with your favorite seasonings in it. Add in meat if you like such as wild caught salmon, tuna, or boiled eggs.

I made my trip already to Whole Paycheck for my organic salad items. I picked up some fruit also to round out my eating for the days ahead. I am working my way up to a FAST and DETOX. Let's do this!!!