The Secret to Healthier Skin

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I’m going to make today’s newsletter short and sweet. We’re going to explore something called the gut-skin axis and how you can support BOTH!
 
Sure, there are tons of skin care products on the market, and some of them are undeniably better than others, but none of them are going to override the impact of your primary beauty secret–your gut!
 
Why?
 
Because when your gut is healthy, it shows on the outside in every way, including your skin.

Because your gut is at the root of your health. 



Your gut is where you take all the good stuff you eat and drink and transform it into the many building blocks your body needs to make energy, think clearly, sleep well, maintain a healthy weight, build muscle, fight infections, and clear out toxins that need clearing out daily so you can thrive. Let’s go deeper.
 

The Gut-Skin Axis

The digestive system and the skin have both endocrine, neurological, and immune functions. They are closely related to each other–so close that a number of studies have shown that gut health affects the skin. How do these two organ systems communicate with each other?
 
Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are often accompanied by skin manifestations. When your gut microbiome is not healthy, gaps are created in the intestinal lining where your gut bacteria and their metabolites can escape to the bloodstream. They then accumulate in the skin and disturb its homeostasis, resulting in inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, acne, psoriasis, and rosacea.
 
We also clear toxins out through our digestive pathways–if not, then they must get out another way and your skin is a major organ of detoxification.

Another way the gut and skin communicate is through their immune function. It’s not only the gut that contains microbes; the skin does too! The skin microbiota maintain skin homeostasis by preventing the growth of pathogenic (disease-causing) microorganisms as well as inflammation.
 
The gut microbes seem to play a role in the health of the skin microbiota. When fiber is fermented in the gut, the gut microbes produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) which promote the growth of skin microbes, thereby increasing the skin’s immune function.
 
The relationship between the gut and skin is undeniable. And the secret to healthier skin can be found in your very own kitchen. Feed your gut with fiber and probiotic foods, fresh veggies, and clean protein, and drink plenty of clean, filtered water daily and see for yourself –it’ll show!

It is my passion is to work with people like you whose health symptoms–like low energy, gut/digestive issues, excess weight, mood imbalance, chronic infections, and skin & sleep problems–are getting in the way of you living life fully and with a sense of freedom in your body. I help you to regain your health so you can feel great and free to enjoy life fully.
 
If you’d like to learn more about how you can discover where your best health has been hiding, I’d love to connect with you!
Apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session. http://bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).

Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health
~Rebecca

Healthy “Ramen” Noodle Recipe

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I’m going to make today’s newsletter short and sweet. Simply, I want to share a recipe I recently created that is tasty, comforting, and gut friendly.

Why am I ALWAYS going on and on about gut health?!

Because your gut is at the root of your health. 

Your gut is where you take all the good stuff you eat and drink and transform it into the many building blocks your body needs to make energy, think clearly, sleep well, maintain a healthy weight, build muscle, fight infections, and clear out toxins that need clearing out daily so you can thrive. 

Healthy “Ramen” Noodle Recipe

In past newsletters, I have shared my love for shiritaki noodles made from the Japanese Konjac root. They are extremely low in calories, provide dietary fiber (which feeds a healthy microbiome) and the best thing is that they don’t really taste like much on their own, so you can use them in SO many recipes as a far superior noodle alternative!
 
So last weekend, I decided to try them with some organic, free-range chicken broth and it reminded me of healthy ramen (I ate the crappy, processed version on occasion growing up). Deelish!

How to:

  1. Get some organic broth of your choice (veggie, chicken or beef) (OR powdered miso soup is very tasty too!). I really like the Imagine brand or Butcher’s Broth brand. Pour a cup or two of the broth into a small pot.
  2. Thoroughly rinse the shiritaki noodles (my favorite brand so far is Better Than Noodles. They aren’t clear like Miracle Noodles so they look just like ramen noodles and I think the texture is great.). Pro tip: when you open up a package of these noodles, don’t smell them, lol! They don’t smell awesome, but they are great stuff.
  3. Add the desired amount of noodles to your broth (around 3/4-1 cup is good). Heat on low-med heat to just warm it up and then, if you like, add a dash of black pepper and dried parsley for a bit of extra flavor (or season it however you want, really). That’s it! Pour into a mug or bowl and enjoy!




It is my passion is to work with people like you whose health symptoms–like low energy, gut/digestive issues, excess weight, mood imbalance, chronic infections, and skin & sleep problems–are getting in the way of you living life fully and with a sense of freedom in your body. I help you to regain your health so you can feel great and free to enjoy life fully.
 
If you’d like to learn more about how you can discover where your best health has been hiding, I’d love to connect with you!
Apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session. http://bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).

Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health
~Rebecca

Can Lack of Sleep Mess Up Your Gut?

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Your body works in a 24-hour body clock known as the circadian rhythm. This rhythm controls your daily schedule for sleeping, waking up, the release of certain hormones, detoxification and cell repair, and much more. That’s why, messing with your internal clock affects not only your mood but also your metabolic processes.
 
Over the years, the problem of sleep deprivation has increased due to lifestyle, stress, and other factors. Approximately 50-70 million Americans are affected by sleep disorders today!
 

When you lack sleep even for a night or two, you feel it. You get easily irritable or lose patience with things you normally wouldn’t. Those suffering from sleep disorders have also shown poor concentration and experience reduction in productivity and quality of life.
 
The emotional and psychological effects of sleep deprivation are more obvious compared to the physical, long-term effects. However, the physical effects are equally debilitating.
 

The Physical Effect of Long-Term Sleep Deprivation

Have you heard about sleep debt? Just as it sounds, sleep debt is the amount of sleep you owe your body after a night of not getting enough sleep. If you should be sleeping for 8 hours a night but you only get 7, you have an hour of sleep debt. If you keep on lacking an hour of sleep every night, then you have an accumulated sleep debt of 7 hours in a week. But unlike other types of debt, you can’t regularly deprive your body of sleep and then make up for it by sleeping all weekend. There is a very short window for paying back sleep debt and if you continue to “borrow”, your health will suffer: Lack of sleep weakens your immune system and, over time, the health effects of sleep deprivation adds up and increases your risk of developing chronic illnesses including hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack, and stroke.
 

The Relationship of Sleep and Gut

Your gut is at the root of your health. 

Your gut is where you take all the good stuff you eat and drink and transform it into the many building blocks your body needs to make energy, think clearly, sleep well, maintain a healthy weight, build muscle, fight infections, and clear out toxins that need clearing out daily so you can thrive. 

Earlier, I mentioned that the circadian rhythm or our body clock also controls the release of hormones. One of these hormones is leptin, a hormone that suppresses appetite. Just a night with not enough sleep decreases leptin. This is part of the reason that people working night shifts often end up binge eating…only they don’t properly digest the food they ate.
 
Because your gut, together with your brain, is also affected when your sleep-wake cycle is disrupted. Your gut is knocked out of sync when you lack sleep. Your gut naturally wants to be in repair mode, not digestion mode during those nighttime hours. Your digestive juices are highest during the day and lowest at night. This explains why people working on night shifts and those having jet lag experience stomach pains and other gut problems.
 
My advice is that you take these tips to improve your sleep:

  1. Keep a sleeping routine – Make sure to sleep and wake up at about the same time every day. Allow yourself to enjoy a full night’s rest with 7-9 hours of sleep. Also, keep in mind that oversleeping also has its own consequences, so do your best to stay within the 7-9 hr range. 
  2. Mind what you eat and drink – It takes hours for the effects of caffeine, alcohol and nicotine to wear off. So make sure to avoid them before sleeping to get quality sleep. Do your best to stay away from heavy or large meals a couple of hours before sleeping so that your food is adequately digested–you’ll sleep better!
  3. Get active – While you need to avoid exercise 3-4 hours before sleeping (as this is the time you already need to slow down), being active during the day is the only way you can prolong deep sleep, according to Harvard Health News.
  4. Go outdoors – Your body’s circadian rhythm is influenced by your exposure to light. Getting enough sunlight, which is many times brighter than any indoor light, is enough to help improve your sleep-wake cycle. You need that light during the day and you need darkness at night to keep your body clock in good shape.

May these tips help you get that good night’s rest and support your gut to be healthy.
 
It is my passion is to work with people like you whose health symptoms–like low energy, gut/digestive issues, excess weight, mood imbalance, chronic infections, and skin & sleep problems–are getting in the way of you living life fully and with a sense of freedom in your body. I help you to regain your health so you can feel great and free to enjoy life fully.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can discover where your best health has been hiding, I’d love to connect with you!
Apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session. http://bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).

Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health!

~Rebecca

Are you ready to move your “health needle?”

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Hi there!
Today I have a special announcement to share with you. 📣

Since 2001, I have been helping folks to feel healthier and more at home in their bodies.
Ever since I was a kid, I watched my Dad and other relatives struggling with their weight and other symptoms ranging from anxiety to heart conditions…and I saw a whole lot of unhealthy habits too. As a kid, I didn’t know how to help. I didn’t understand that almost all of those awful symptoms were linked to habits…choices that got made over and over again every day that were keeping the people I cared about sick or unhealthy and definitely not showing up in the world as their best selves. Sound familiar?

Clearly this struggling fueled me to want to be able to help make a difference in people’s lives and to help them discover how they could feel better in their own skin.
As many of you already know, this is the mission that I’ve been on most of my life. 😍

I’ve helped a lot of people over these decades through customized programs, testing, and one-on-one coaching. But there are people (maybe you’re one of them) who just aren’t ready to take that next step to do that level of work either by yourselves or with someone to support you. And that’s okay. I really appreciate that you are part of this community and reading these newsletters and thinking about how you can move your health needle. 🙏🏻

Because of you, during the pandemic, I decided to create a program called Unstoppable Health Basics. 🎉

If you think about health building as climbing a ladder, this is the rung on which we all need to start.
The purpose of UH Basics is for you to start to lay the most essential health foundations so that you can have the physical, mental, and emotional vitality to show up as your best self. In this program we will explore the essential strategies, tools and habits you need to start steering your health in the direction that will lead to long-term, sustainable results. This is a group based and self-paced program which allows me to offer it very affordably and for you to participate flexibly on your own schedule.
Enrollment is officially open!!! 🥳

If you’d like to learn more about it and see if it’s a good fit for you, I invite you to apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session with me. 👉🏻 bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).

Again, I’m so grateful that you are part of this health building community and I’m thrilled by the possibility of you moving your health needle to the next level! 💗

Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health!
~Rebecca

Why Salmon is Good for Gut Health

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Last week, we tackled some anti-inflammatory foods. These are foods that are free from refined grains, sugar, and chemical additives. 
 
This time let’s focus a little more on one of the best anti-inflammatory foods: salmon.
 
Did you know that salmon is good for your gut?
 
Salmon is an oily fish and the reason behind its efficiency in reducing inflammation is its Omega 3 fatty acid content.
 
We know that Omega 3 fatty acid is good for health, but how does it exactly reduce inflammation, particularly in the gut?


 
In a study done by British researchers, they found out that women who consumed Omega 3 fatty acids and have high levels of Omega 3 in the blood have more diverse gut bacteria.
 
In addition, this diverse gut microbiome is able to produce beneficial compounds including butyrate and n-carbamyl glutamate (NGC). Butyrate is produced by anti-inflammatory bacteria and is good for digestion. NGC is a compound itself that lowers inflammation and reduces damage by the free radicals in the gut.
 
A healthy gut lies in the diversity and the richness of the bacteria that reside in it. A diverse and rich gut microbiome boosts your immune system and makes it more stable. It is a key to a healthier you, as we know that all health conditions originate in the gut.
 
So if you have problems with digestion or inflammation such as leaky gut, try incorporating Omega 3 fatty acids in your diet. Getting them in your diet (like salmon!) is better than supplements, but If you cannot eat Omega 3 rich foods regularly for some reason, taking a high quality Omega 3 supplement, like krill oil, can be helpful.
 
Here are some salmon recipes to try!

Take control of your health. Eat right. Nourish your gut microbiome. 
 
It is my passion to work with people like you whose health symptoms are getting in the way of you living life fully and with a sense of freedom in your body. I can help you to regain your health so you can feel great and free to enjoy life fully.
 
If you’re ready to discover where your best health has been hiding, I’d love to connect with you!
Apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session. http://bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).

Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health
~Rebecca

3 Easy-to-Make Anti-Inflammatory Breakfast Recipes

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“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.”
― Ann Wigmore
 
So true.
 
Every cell in your body relies on the food you eat. 
 
And did you know that the greatest threat to your health is inflammation? 
 
When you accidentally cut your skin–it swells, reddens, and becomes painful. This is acute inflammation.
 
On the other hand, the other type of inflammation–chronic inflammation–continuously wreaks havoc on your immune system so that you are more prone to different kinds of health condition like obesity, heart disease, leaky gut syndrome, and even mental illness.
 
So how do we fight chronic inflammation?
 
The answer is right there: what you put on your plate.


 
There are foods that trigger inflammation. These foods in particular are found in the standard diet of Americans today: refined grains, sugar, chemical preservatives, and a lack of nutrient dense foods like vegetables and clean protein. So the very first step to preventing chronic inflammation and achieving your best health is to stop eating inflammatory foods.
 
The second step is to replace those foods with anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense foods that balance blood sugar while delivering easily absorbed nutrients. 
 
In this newsletter, I’ll give you three simple anti-inflammatory breakfast recipes.

Turmeric Hot Chocolate

This is an easy-to-make morning drink that warms you up and also boosts your immune system. Add a scoop or two of some flavorless protein powder to round out the nutrition in the recipe (whey, egg white protein or collagen).
Turmeric is a close relative of ginger and is found in southern Asia. Numerous studies have been conducted and proven that curcumin, found in turmeric, is a powerful anti-inflammatory compound.
 
To make turmeric more effective, make it a part of your daily diet. You can even try other recipes that call for it such as curry. Yum!

No-Bake Chocolate Chia Granola Bars

If you’re looking for breakfast on the go, then this energy bar is perfect for you. Aside from the anti-inflammatory properties, chia seeds are rich in fiber which makes you feel full and helps control blood sugar and weight.
 
Dark chocolate is another rockstar anti-inflammatory food because of flavanols. Flavanols also keep the lining of your arteries healthy.

Refreshing Smoked Salmon Avocado Toast

So, so good. Though this requires that you’ve prepped a keto bread, you can also buy one. My fave is the coconut bread by Julian Bakery, but I also really enjoy their Seed Medley flavor and another brand Base Culture is a great option too.
 
Salmon is among the fatty fish rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, which reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke as well as cancer. It boosts your brainpower and immune system and ff course, is anti-inflammatory!
 
Salmon also contains quality protein and sodium. Though there’s a common notion that sodium is bad for your body, it is actually an important electrolyte for your cells. 
 
I hope you enjoy these recipes! In closing, I want to add that ANY food can be inflammatory if your body reacts to it for whatever reason. Really common reasons that your body might attack otherwise healthy food is imbalances to your gut health caused by diet, lifestyle or genetics. If you’re trying to control inflammation, it is extra important to make sure you aren’t fueling the fire by what you are eating every day–testing can be a game changer!
 
It is my passion to work with people like you whose health symptoms are getting in the way of you living life fully and with a sense of freedom in your body. I can help you to regain your health so you can feel great and free to enjoy life fully.
 
If you’re ready to discover where your best health has been hiding, I’d love to connect with you!
Apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session. bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).

Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health!
~Rebecca