Healthy Keto Insights

How has the ketogenic diet worked for you?

I'm Tracy Mc Mahon. I've followed a ketogenic diet for over a decade now, and I'm still learning how to make it work for me!
As a keen study of the impact of nutrition and micronutrients on my family's health, I'll be posting about my wins and fails with keto. 😍

Will you be healthier after the lock-down?

Why not use this slow-down as a reset - make a little change that costs you a small amount of effort and builds years of benefit.

Whatever the state of your health, there’s always room for improvement. Small improvements count, especially when you think of the ‘compound interest’ you build by sticking with them over a long period of time. You can undo a lifetime of damage, given enough 'compound interest'...

So, where to next? Step 2 focuses on your *fruit and veggie consumption* for protective nutrients.

Why do you need them?

Your immune system is your body’s army and your best (only?) defence on exposure to any virus; this is also true for COVID-19. The soldiers in your army need generous supplies of food and ammunition.

In fact, your immune system is like a sophisticated balance scale.

The invaders go on one side: harmful chemicals and toxins, bacteria, viruses, moulds, anything that your body needs to deal with to keep you healthy.

On the balance go the micronutrients that feed your immune system: Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, Flavonoids, Carotenoids, other antioxidants, minerals such as iron, selenium, zinc, magnesium and copper, etc.

To stay healthy, the micronutrients must outweigh the invaders, and in the gap that most of us live with is what depletes our immune system and lowers our resistance to infection.

Your first source of protective nutrients for your Immune Defence System must be your food.

Plan to consume gradually more and more fruit and veggies until they comprise roughly half your food volume each day. Banting is really only healthy if you're doing this anyway - and you can even stretch it further to as much as 2/3 of your daily food volume!
Use the suggestions below to make the best choices you can every day to ensure maximum effect...

***Go for darker, richer colours

Usually, the darker and richer the colour, the more nutritious. That's because it contains more of nature's crayons (Carotenoids and Flavonoids), which are excellent food for your body's antioxidant defence system.

***Eat cruciferous (brassica) vegetables every day.

Cruciferous veggies seem to offer strong protection against cancer - and most people don't eat them more than once a week. Are you getting a serving of these every day?

***Variety. That’s what really gives you wings...

Do you end up eating the same foods every day for breakfast, lunch and supper? If you never eat berries, for example, you'll never get the antioxidant protection they offer. Your body needs an orchestra of nutrients on a regular basis to function properly.

As a rule of thumb, try to eat at least 4 - 5 different fruit and veggies in each meal - and try to vary that list each day across my week. The increment in cost will pay for itself in your improved health.

Leapfrog ahead now with a super-healthy immune booster that will deliver benefits in just 20 days that would take you years to attain otherwise. Keen to know more? Read more below, and WhatsApp me, Tracy Hesslewood on 083 222 5482 for more info or to order.

Please stay safe # # # Tracy

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4 simple steps to balance your immune system - here's step 1.

Your best offence against any virus is your immune defence system. Everything we hear about C19 confirms this, and it is patently clear that balancing your immune system is not just a maybe, it's a must. Lift yourself out of the vulnerable category or simply ensure that the infection you get is milder by balancing your immune system. It’s a simple 4 step strategy, and here’s step 1 today:

Every person has a large number of bacteria in their digestive tract (around 2.5kg in an adult). This bacteria is a balanced mix of friendly and harmful types (or strains), with the friendly bacteria commonly called ‘Probiotic bacteria’.

Your probiotic bacteria are vital to your immune system health. First and foremost, a healthy intestinal wall is vital so you can absorb the nutrients your body needs. Your probiotic bacteria keep your intestine healthy and absorbing nutrients, primarily by keeping harmful bacteria under control. Probiotic bacteria even manufacture key nutrients like Biotin (for metabolism of sugars, fats and amino acids and for cell growth), and Vitamin K2 (for healthy blood clotting).

Sanitizers kill these bacteria, and so you can expect to damage your ability to absorb nutrients, particularly fats, fat-soluble nutrients, and minerals. You may see a surge in your allergies or digestive discomfort. You may become less resistant to infections over time, particularly the tummy bug type. Most importantly, you deplete your best defence against C19 and many other conditions!

How do you fix this? Use your hand sanitizer wisely and consciously. Take care to rinse it off your hands before touching your mouth (the start of your digestive canal), and keep it away from your food. Realize that your skin absorbs it too, and you will need to replenish your probiotic bacteria as much as possible by starting your day off on an empty stomach with a capsule of a reliable multi-strain Probiotic such as Probiflora Intensive (9) or NeoLife Acidophilus Plus.

Step 2 to follow soon...

Banting is actually better described as a diet based on plenty of fresh vegetables, moderate amounts of meat, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts and seeds - and a little fruit.

Whether you're just starting out, or getting back on the wagon after letting things slide, you might find a phased approach easier to begin with.

Remember that small changes always stick better. So set a small goal for the week, then build on it next week with another one. Compound interest for nutrition works wonders over time..

It’s more about what you DO eat - veggies, healthy fat and generally nutrient dense food. Focus on these first and avoiding the things you don’t want to eat gets more possible too

What we aren't eating is killing us, global study finds Poor diet is the top risk for death and disability around the world, according to a new 27-year global study of 195 nations.

A long read but very worth it. Banting is a ketogenic diet, and the facts are clear - it is healthy for you

Ketogenic Diet Myths vs. Facts | Nina Teicholz Nutrition experts use scientific data to debunk myths about the ketogenic diet. Get the facts so you can make an informed decision about the ketogenic diet.

If you've read anything about coconut oil in the past few days, it probably wasn't good, and might have left you worried about causing heart disease for you and your loved ones! No need to be concerned, and I'm still using my favourite oil. Have a read of this solid article.
http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/17220478

Coconut Oil: What You Haven't Been Told About That Study This week's nutrition world has been awash with the ...

Banting can be unhealthy - if you eat more meat than your standard portion size (the palm of your hand), and don't eat enough veggies. At each meal, aim to eat twice as much veggie mass as your protein. This is obviously approximate when it comes to nuts, seeds etc, but the proportion is a useful guideline because that way you can make sure you get all the protective nutrients and fibre your veggies provide - critical for optimal health.

Ever wondered what the fuss is about sugar? Here's a quick video on what it does in our brain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEXBxijQREo

How sugar affects the brain - Nicole Avena View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-sugar-affects-the-brain-nicole-avena When you eat something loaded with sugar, your taste buds, your gut and ...