Monday, April 26, 2010

I Am Officially a Health Coach

Good news! I'm officially launching my career as a health counselor!

To receive weekly tips on how to improve your health simply and easily, visit my site at http://www.emilyhopehealth.com, and become my fan on Facebook under Emily Hope Health!

Last year I graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition with an AADP certification as a Holistic Health Practitioner. I've taken the steps to wind down from my full-time job editing book manuscripts, even leaving behind my company, Pressque (which continues to do fantastic work!), to become a Whole Health Coach, which is a much less scary-sounding name, in my opinion.

Because health shouldn't be scary or strange or foreign or boring. It's our natural state, and it's within our control.

Right now I do free consultations by phone or in person, so even if you're long-distance contact me and we can talk about your health questions. You know, all those things you want to talk about to your doctor but don't want to bother him/her with, or that he/she never seems to have time for or wants to hear? I can assist you with weight loss so that it becomes easy in a way you've never dreamed possible. And if your doctor tells you you need to change your diet, I can help you plan your meals and overcome your resistance to changes. Everything is confidential.

Of course, I'll never tell you to contradict your doctor's orders. What we'll be doing is helping your body--and your quality of life in many other areas--heal, along with whatever medical care you may or may not be under.

Let's change illness to wellness! Spread the word! And don't forget, for more information visit my new Web site, www.emilyhopehealth.com!

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Beating Sugar (and other) Addictions

I recently discovered a blog called Nourishing Your Sober Self written by Deborah Dunn. The thing that caught my eye was that she includes caffeine and food in her list of addictions people struggle to overcome, as well as drugs and alcohol, which I find to be an eye-opening approach.

This week's post was about sugar cravings, which have something interesting in common with caffeine, alcohol, and even drug addiction: these are all creators of yin energy, which is light and expansive. Sounds good, right? Too much, though, and you're flying high, or off the handle. A balance with yang, or contractive, grounding energy, is vital to prevent cravings.

The following are foods that offer grounding yang energy: corn, carrots, onions, beets, winter squashes, sweet potatoes and yams, turnips, parsnips and rutabagas, red radishes, daikon, green cabbage, and burdock root.

These aren't exactly spring foods, but they provide the "sweet" sensation without the addictive qualities of yin. Dark, bitter greens like kale, collards, Swiss chard, spinach, arugula, etc., are also great for cleansing the palate and the blood, promoting healthy digestive flora for the maximum absorption of nutrients, and then adding nutrients such as vitamin B and calcium to the body, which reduce cravings. Vitamin and mineral deficiency can cause the body to crave strange things in the search for nutrition.

To get some of these foods into your diet in an easy, tasty way, try this great base recipe for One-Pot Spring Chicken Soup from RealSimple magazine. I added kale and sweet potato to the recipe for additional nutrients; cabbage and turnips are another great addition; and the stock base is hydrating.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

White Hot Truth and the Firestarter Sessions

Calling all entrepreneurs, frustrated cubicle workers, and dreamers without a country!

This week's blog isn't about food you eat but rather food for thought. What we put into our minds generates health just the way what we put into our bodies does. A major inspirational force in my life, Danielle LaPorte of the blog White Hot Truth has packaged her $500 Firestarter Sessions in a new digital book for $150. Preordering starts tomorrow. Check it out!

As her blog title suggests, Danielle is a proponent of truth and self-knowledge in its purest form. This woman has got some serious insight and inspiration, and she doesn't pull her punches. I read her blog religiously and hired her for a Firestarter Session myself as I prepare to leave my editing business behind and launch full time as a Whole Health Counselor. This was one of the most amazing interactions I've ever had with a total stranger, who in an hour's time felt like someone who not only knew me, but what was best for me.
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Charleston, SC, United States
As a food therapist and certified holistic practitioner, I help people develop a healthy relationship with food.