Gastrointestinal discomfort, or tummy trouble, is one of the most common health conditions I encounter in my nutrition practice.

Some of the more familiar symptoms include: bloating; cramping; heartburn; gas; constipation and/or diarrhea.  The associated discomfort levels can range from mild to debilitating and the causes, consequences and potential cures, are equally diverse.

What I want to talk about today are some of the founding principles and practices we can put in place to help lay the groundwork for gastrointestinal health….

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In simple terms, our metabolism is the rate at which our bodies utilize calories.  The higher our metabolic rate, the faster our bodies expend calories.

Our metabolism may be influenced by a number of variables including our age, gender and genes – factors which may seem completely out of our control. The good news is that there are certain things we can do to help maximize our body’s calorie burning potential and improve our global health.

The strategies I set out in this feature are science-based. To be sure, I know of no magic pill, pouch or bullet that will do for you what exercise and sound dietary choices can. …

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In my last nutrition feature I talked about the importance of sleep and discussed dietary/lifestyle strategies for achieving it. The piece generated some good discussion in the comments section so if you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, be sure to drop by to take advantage of that information as well.

One of the most common concerns I encounter in my nutrition practice is low energy levels and fatigue. Whether it’s difficulty getting out of bed in the morning, the classic afternoon slump, crashing early evening or low energy levels persisting throughout the day, fatigue can strongly impact our work productivity, mood, motivation and the quality of our interactions with others. …

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I’ve always been mystified by the characterization of weight management as a simple matter of ‘calories in vs. calories out’ – a reductionist approach that leaves plenty unsaid.

Our weight may be influenced by a myriad of factors including metabolism, hormones, medication, sleep patterns and stress.  And while none of these factors absolve us of personal responsibility for our health, they may mean that the picture is more complicated than we are often led to believe….

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If you’re coming out of the holiday season feeling like you need to take a little break from the sweet life but aren’t having the easiest time shaking it, you’re not alone.

Sugar has a very powerful effect on the reward center of our brain.  There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that the chemistry underlying sugar addiction is virtually identical to the chemistry underlying drug addiction in that both are driven by dopamine – the neurotransmitter that controls the brain’s pleasure reward circuit.

When we consume sugar it stimulates the release of dopamine and we experience a sensation of pleasure. We get cued by sights, sounds and smells that evoke powerful memories of pleasure and keep us coming back for more.  Every time we succumb to addictive foods we reinforce the circuit of desire and reward further, making it harder for us to break the pleasure cycle. In short, the more we eat sugar the more we want to eat sugar, and vice versa.  Some of us may have inherited a biochemistry that makes us especially vulnerable to this cycle. …

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