I woke up early in Mexico while on vacation with my husband; I couldn’t sleep due to the sunburn I earned the first day here. Yes, you think I should know better than to fall asleep in the sun with my pale white skin. But it felt so good to sleep in the warm sun!  Yes, even old health coaches are human.

Yes, and even health coaches find it challenging to be in an all-inclusive resort and not be tempted by the #1 ingredient…sugar!

 

Let’s face it. Our culture (particularly if you are from the United States) thrives on sugar, alcohol and empty carbohydrates from government subsidized GMO (genetically modified organism, i.e. injecting foreign bacteria into DNA) grains. We are all addicted from a very young age. Even our most popular infant formulas and baby foods are full of questionable products that encourage diabetes, obesity and cancers.

 

Do your own research; once you get through the marketing hype, see what’s in infant formula and notice the synthetic chemicals and GMO’s versus real nutrition. Here’s the top ingredients in the “sensitive formula” of one of the top baby food formulas:

 

“Corn Syrup, milk protein isolate, High Oleic Safflower Oil, Sugar, Soy Oil,”

 

Need I say more? One source said corn syrup (GMO) was 42.6%! As this mother said, “No wonder my baby slept through the night at 3 months old, she was chalked full of corn syrup, one of the hardest and most processed ingredients to digest.” This is the #1 formula for sensitive tummies. It’s not difficult to see how this predisposes the child to future health challenges.

 

Other shocking facts is that baby formula cans are lined with BPA and now almost all formulas include a synthetic additive form of DHA that may have been extracted with hexane gas in the process (a known neurotoxin which has been banned in Europe but not here in the USA). No wonder we spend more than any other country in healthcare only to be at the bottom of the list for health. As a new grandmother, this is unacceptable!

 

I woke up burned, dry and dehydrated, thinking how simple the solution for my sunburn. Hydrate with clean water, lemon or lime, eat lots of vegetables and a little fruit full of antioxidants and phytonutrients. Eat cucumber with silicon is also so very hydrating and guacamole for the essential fatty acids, and jicama or (non-GMO) corn chips with sea salt for the minerals. Admittedly, I have a hard time saying no to the fruity drinks, desserts and coffee after over stuffing myself. Fortunately, every restaurant now has gluten free options and don’t get me wrong, the food here is literally “to die for.”  There are also lots of decadent options to “live for” too!

 

So how do we manage to remain healthy and self-loving when temptation is all around? What’s the Savvy Secret? When going to the all you can eat buffet, simply ask yourself before choosing,

“Is this (real food) going to give me life affirming energy and help me feel good or 

will I feel like a beached whale afterwards?” 

 

Water with lime never tasted so good! Ceviche, guacamole, and a cornucopia of greens, sprouts, tapenade and papaya…..Yes I am in heaven here… eating, sleeping, and sometimes over indulging.

(See below for a workshop on why spring cleanse is a good idea.)

 

Carpe Diem!

PS I’m back tonight. Come Join Us Tomorrow for a Free Yoga Workshop!

Asana Clinic: Bring all your Questions about Yoga..from Meditation to Asana 

ABOUT LISA JACKSON, RN, CHC, RYT

Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker, retired RN, certified health coach, and yoga teacher.

Her book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think & Thrive: Seven Steps to Optimal Health is a self health book to enable healing from within. Her goal is to inspire wellness and to help others look and feel their best at any age.

Lisa is part of the New Self Health Movement, the International Health Coach Association and the Wellness Inspired Network. She is the mother of four adult children, a Grandmother, and believes that optimal health should not be a secret! When she is not coaching, speaking and writing, you can find her practicing yoga and joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance at every opportunity.