It’s such a pleasure to catch up with the lovely Lee from Supercharged Food. I have to say she is one of the nicest people I’ve come across in the wellness industry. She always makes an effort to answer questions and make time for people. And she has lots of great info for us all! Read on to find out more…
Celina: I’ve personally suffered from Stress, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia in my previous career, and I now work as a therapist and coach with busy clients that suffer from stress. Are there any particular foods good for combatting stress and/or are there any dietary changes women should make living a fast paced and stressful life?
Lee: I have found that a diet high in vitamin B rich foods is really good for stress so they are foods such as leafy veg, green peas, salmon and nuts. Also good fats help to balance mood and satiate like omega 3’s and sardines and fish have a good amount of them.
Celina: Are there any particular foods or lifestyle changes you recommend to help increase energy?
Lee: B vitamin rich foods help with energy, again dark leafy greens such as kale and spinach and chicken, fish and eggs.
Celina: I now understand and believe the health of our gut is fundamental to our overall health both physical and mental, can you tell us more about that?
Lee: Yes in my Heal Your Gut online program I talk about the importance of the gut at great length and cover why a healthy thriving gut is central to your health. Our lower gastrointestinal tract is home to almost 100 trillion microorganisms, most of which are bacteria. They are mostly, “good” bacteria that help us digest food and release the energy and nutrients we need. They also crowd out bacteria that can trigger disease. But when things go awry in our guts, they can also go awry with our immune system and in our brains which can lead to digestive problems, weight gain, depression, anxiety and disease.
Celina: It seems a lot of people are becoming more allergic and intolerant to certain food groups, and a lot of people are not aware that this is may be the case for them, particularly for the lesser known naturally occurring chemicals in food. For example, my CFS was much worse if I ate certain foods, even organic, as they contained naturally occurring Amines and Salicylates. Do you know why people are becoming more sensitive to different foods, and do you have any advice for people with food intolerances to Amines, Salicylates and Glutamates?
Lee: I think many people are becoming more sensitive to certain foods because their micro flora in their gut is not in balance and it is setting off a chain reaction and immune system responses. The best advice for food intolerances is to keep a food diary and note down which foods you are reacting to and go on an elimination diet. When you do an elimination diet you basically eliminate certain foods for a period of time, usually three or four weeks, then slowly reintroduce specific foods one by one and monitor your symptoms. There are many variations of the elimination diet but they usually all advise to remove gluten, dairy, soy, eggs and corn. Other common offending foods that you might want to eliminate are pork, beef, chicken, beans and lentils, coffee, citrus fruits, nuts and seeds, and nightshade vegetables. Then at the end of the elimination period, you pick one food you eliminated—like gluten, OR dairy—only one, and eat it. Notice how you feel over the next 48 hours. If you have no reaction after two days, eat that same food again and look out for any reactions. From there, based on how you feel, you can decide if you want to reintroduce that food into your diet on a regular basis. Then, you pick another food and follow the same steps. Throughout the diet and the reintroduction process, you need to pay very close attention to how you’re feeling and track any physical, mental, or emotional symptoms. Keep a food journal and monitor your sleep, mood, energy levels, digestion, skin… For example notice if you have insomnia, fatigue, joint pain, skin breakouts or rashes, headaches, changes in your bowel movements, bloating, brain fog or sinus issues. The whole process will take between 5 to 8 weeks depending on how many foods you eliminated but, at the end of the experiment, you’ll have learnt alot about how your body responds to different foods. It is a very empowering tool. You’re like your own health investigator and don’t have to rely on a lab or a doctor to tell you what’s right for your body as many of the tests can have false results. If you have problems with Salicylates, which are in many fruits, veg, nuts herbs and spices, jam, honey and coffee and tea then its best to identify these and eliminate them and see how you progress. Amines are found in cheese, chocolate, wine, yeast extract and certain fruit and veg like bananas, avocado and tomatoes and glutamate is found naturally in many foods such as cheese, mushrooms, sauces, stock cubes, and yeast extracts.
Celina: You’ve written a book of recipes for kids, what advice do you have for parents for their children’s health and diet?
Lee: In my book Supercharged Food for Kids, I am hoping that it inspires parents to create fresh, wholesome and nutrient rich meals that children will eat again and again. And hopefully it will help kids develop good eating habits they can maintain for the rest of their lives. I’ve included tips on how to remove sugar and processed food, my top ten nutrient army, eating for special diets and allergies, packing and presenting a creative lunchbox, a bunch of tips for busy families, a chapter on sneaking super foods into everyday kids’ meals and information on mood, concentration, energy, performance and squad food which I think are important areas in a child’s development. There’s also a shopping list and Monday to Friday Lunchbox menu as well as some really fun lunchbox ideas that can be made with gluten free sandwiches and wraps.
The kind of recipes I encourage children to eat are healthy versions of yummy standards, recipes such as Cauliflower Mac and Cheese, Pirate Muesli Bars, Cacao Bomb Crackles, Cheesy Mini Tartlets, Crunchy Chicken Drummers, Rice Crispy Bars, Zoo Poo, Watermelon Ice Blocks, Gluten Free Pita Pockets and Savoury Breakfast Muffins.
Celina: You also have a program Heal Your Gut, which looks brilliant, what does the program involve?
Lee: The Heal Your Gut online program is a four week program which guides and nurtures people on an eating and holistic wellness plan to heal themselves from the inside out and enjoy vibrant health. If you’ve been feeling bloated, gassy, foggy or tired lately or getting sick more often than usual, then this program can help. Or if you’re suffering from a condition that can be aggravated by diet and a poorly functioning digestive system, food allergies or intolerances, rashes, acne or IBD, IBS, Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease, leaky gut, inflammatory issues, thyroid problems, neurological disorders, obesity, diabetes, arthritis, fibromyalgia or other auto immune conditions. The Heal Your Gut program provides information and a healing gut protocol along with easy to make, anti-inflammatory and easy to digest delicious recipes. By following the protocol you’ll feel more vibrant and alive and have energy to burn. Although changing the way you nourish your body and following the Heal Your Gut diet will have a major role in healing your gut, this program is not only about telling you what to eat and what not to eat. Food can nourish or harm your body but other factors can have the same effect too. If you are sleep-deprived, hate your job, constantly argue with your partner and overload your body with toxins and chemicals, your health will suffer as well. This is why I share a holistic approach to healing your gut where I encourage you to look at all areas of your life and reconsider what being healthy means. I teach self-care, stress-relieving practices and ways to avoid toxins in your body, house and emotional life. To see long-lasting results, you need a holistic approach that goes beyond eating a good diet only. The simple changes I will show you during the program will impact your health in such a positive way, your body and mind will thank you for it.
Celina: How do you personally manage your wellbeing juggling work and being a mother? Any health and wellbeing tips for other working mothers?
Lee: My biggest tip is to try and take time out for yourself each and every day and not feel guilty about it!
Thanks so much to Lee for sharing this valuable information with us.
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Celina x
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