FAQ

Each person has specific dietary needs based on their unique biochemistry, health history, circumstances, and goals.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach. It’s important to work with someone who understands this philosophy and will be in partnership with you to figure out what best meets your unique needs.

Yes! Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle disease and can be improved or reversed through diet and lifestyle changes.

Note: there are always exceptions and when the damage has been done like neuropathy or blindness, those issues can’t be reversed. However, one can always improve the overall situation.

Videos:

REVERSE DIABETES IN 5 EASY STEPS

REVERSING DIABETES WITHOUT PILLS

REVERSE TYPE 2 DIABETES NATURALLY

Not necessarily, but it’s an unfortunate fact that our soil is deplete of minerals which causes the plants to be deficient and the animals who eat the plants as well.

Some people may benefit supplementing for a short period to help support the body or perhaps even longer.

Proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle should be the first protocol. 

Refined vegetable oils were not available until the 20th century when the technology to extract them became available.

These are extracted from plants using either a chemical solvent or oil mill. Then they are often purified, refined, and sometimes even chemically altered.

Seed oils are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids specifically Omega 6s that can cause inflammation and toxin accumulation in the body. Also, seeds oils can turn toxic and cause a lot of harm to the body when exposed to high heat or reheated multiple times.

Industrial seed and vegetable oils are highly processed, refined products that are way too rich in Omega-6 fatty acids. We need a balance between Omega 6 and Omega 3. With so much processed foods containing seed oils and the seed oils themselves has caused a major imbalance of the two. It should be more around 4:1, but now it’s more around 14:1.

Consider avoiding the following plant oils due to their high omega-6 contents:

• soybean oil
• corn oil
• cottonseed oil
• sunflower oil
• peanut oil
• sesame oil
• rice bran oil
• rapeseed oil
• grapeseed oil
• safflower oil

Replace above with natural and non-refined fats like

• ghee
• butter
• tallow
• duck fat
• lard
• olive oil (pure)
• avocado oil (pure)
• coconut oil (non-refined) 

Also, reducing refined/procesed carbs goes a long way in helping to keep Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratios in balance. It’s much easier to limit Omega 6s than to try to add in Omega 3s. It’s too hard to get in enough to make a difference. Besides, do you want your cells to be made of bleached and chemically altered fatty acids or natural fatty acids that nourish the body?

Videos:

MOST DANGEROUS COOKING

THE TRUTH ABOUT SEED OILS WAS HIDDEN FOR DECADES

THE HISTORY AND DANGERS OF SEED OILS

THIS IS WHAT SEED OILS DO TO YOU

A carnivore diet is generally void of plant based foods like nuts/seeds, grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, and seed oils. 

The focus in on animal based foods like ruminants, poultry, eggs, seafood, and fish as well as animal based fats like lard and tallow.

As with most diets there are variations. Some will include spices, dairy, honey, and fruit. 

Carnivore is great as an elimination diet because most inflammatory foods are eliminated.

Most people doing the carnivore diet have some persistent health issue the keto diet did not completely fix like not enough weight loss,  mental health conditions,  autoimmune conditions, or uncontrolled cravings.

Most can agree that carnivore consists of…

• red meat
• poultry
• pork
• fish
• seafood
• organ meat
• animal fats
• sea salt

Protein is the building blocks of the body. It’s essential that you consume enough protein to build and repair muscles and bones and to make hormones and enzymes.

I generally recommend consuming 1 gram of protein per pound of IDEAL body weight. Of course, this may need to be adjusted depending on activity, age, sex, and other factors.

I also recommend the protein comes from animal sources. Animal based proteins are more bioavailable and don’t have anti-nutrients to impede absorption. 

Videos:

PROTEIN–THE MOST IMPORTANT NUTRIENT FOR HEALTH

HOW MUCH PROTEIN SHOULD YOU EAT?

HOW MUCH PROTEIN DO YOU NEED?

Fat is an essential macronutrient. It’s an important fuel source, helps to protect organs, supports cell growth, helps your body absorb vital nutrients, and is necessary for optimal nerve, brain and heart function.

Animal based fats:

• Butter
• Ghee
• Lard
• Tallow
• Duck Fat
• Chicken fat

Plant based fats:

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Avocado oil
• Coconut oil

*Be sure to research and check the labels of the above plant based fats. Make sure they are not refined or are mixed with seed oils. 

Technically, the human body does not require a single carbohydrate.

Our bodies are designed to make any necessary glucose it needs. That is not true of protein and fats. Those are essential and cannot be produced by the body, so they must be consumed.

That being said, whole food carbohydrates can be part of a healthy diet depending on the goals of the person, current health situation, and tolerance level. 

The number of meals needed depends on the person.  Generally speaking, most people do well with 2-3 meals/day. You should not need to snack if you eat enough protein and healthy fats and limit refined carbohydrates at meal times.

Those who are very active or are trying to gain muscle may need more. 

There is conflicting information when it comes to fiber. Some claim that the microbiome needs fiber and that it improves digestion and keeps them regular. Others say it has made their digestive issue worse, including mine.

Fiber is mostly indigestible, and passes through the entire digestive tract untouched.  According to experts, insoluble fiber is good for us because it speeds up digestion.

However, there is a different story. Fiber does not dissolve in water or stomach acid. It tends to be abrasive to the large intestine, and basically incompatible with our entire digestive tract.

The benefits of fiber have been overrated. Matter of fact, many studies have demonstrated that excess intake of fiber may actually be harmful, particularly for gut health.

Between my own experience and that of many others, it seems that many people who struggle with gut issues like IBS, constipation, diarrhea, diverticulitis, and/or Crohn’s do much better after eliminating fiber.

Fiber may be good or needed for those who continue to eat the Standard American Diet.

Research:

Insoluble fiber and IBS

Lack of Effect of High-Fiber Cereal

Intake of Supplemental and Total Fiber and Risk of Colorectal Adenoma

Stopping or Reducing Dietary Fiber Intake Reduces Constipation and its Associated Symptoms

Myths and Misconceptions About Chronic Constipation

Videos:

FIBER IS NOT A NECESSITY FOR A HEALTHY DIET 

FIBER WORSENS CONSTIPATION

HOW MUCH FIBER DO YOU NEED EACH DAY

Book:

Fiber Menace by Konstantin Monastyrsky

Refined carbohydrates are simple carbohydrates that have been heavily processed like sugars (e.g. glucose, fructose, sucrose) or anything made from grains which have had the fibrous wheat germ and bran removed.

Grains which have been refined also lose most of their vitamins and minerals in the process.

All refined carbohydrates are made up of short chains of molecules, which are rapidly and easily converted to glucose in your body, causing a sudden blood sugar raise, or ‘spike’, soon after eating. This causes your body to produce lots of insulin to allow the glucose to enter your body’s cells to be used as energy.

Issues with refined carbs:

• Lack of nutrition
• Effects on blood glucose levels
• Linked to chronic disease

Some examples of refined carbs:

• white bread
• pizza dough
• pasta
• pastries
• white flour
• white rice
• sweet desserts
• breakfast cereals

Water is the most important nutrient in the body.

You can survive about 8 weeks without food, but only days without water.

Water is essential for every single body function. It helps to flush toxins from your organs, transports nutrients to your cells, cushions your joints, and helps you digest and eliminate food.

We lose fluid every day through sweating, urinating, and breathing, but do we all need a at least  8 glasses of water a day?

First of all, this amount comes from a 1945 U.S. Food and Nutrition Board recommendation which was not based on research.  And the recommendation also includes other beverages and food. Basically, the recommendation has no scientific bases.

Second, the amount we need varies from person to person and depends on factors like

• Age
• Activity level
• Processed food and sugar consumption
• Urine color
• Thirst
• Environmental conditions
• Elevation
• Chronic and acute disease
• Pregnancy and lactation

In other words, the amount needed is not a one-size-fits-all.

If you rarely feel thirsty, have energy, and your urine tends to be clear or light yellow, you’re probably getting enough.

If you have the following symptoms, you may need to increase your fluid intake.

Early signs of dehydration:

• Thirst
• Fatigue
• Dry mouth
• Dark urine
• Cravings
• Muscle cramps
• Anxiety
• Headaches
• Foggy brain

Chronic signs of dehydration:

• Heart burn
• Joint pain
• Back pain
• Constipation
• Colitis
• Exercise asthma

Note: it’s important to get adequate electrolytes in your water as well.  

I prefer to give general guidelines, so a client can make up their own meal plans.

However, I do include it as an option with the 3 and 6 month nutrition service packages.