Stress is the accumulation of normal and abnormal pressures of daily living that test the individual's ability to cope. Chronic stress - real or perceived, physical, emotional, or environmental - takes a tremendous toll on the body, mind, and spirit, and is a major cause of disease and even death. When the body's stress response is always on, the constant surge of chemicals and the increase in heart rate and blood pressure causes the stress to become "toxic" in both the brain and the body.

Spring is here and, once again, so is my desire to clear out all of the clutter and clean everything. In addition to cleaning up around our homes, this is also the perfect time to clear away toxins that clutter our bodies on the inside as well. After a long winter of indulging in heavier foods, breathing poor quality indoor air, and having less sunlight and less physical activity than usual, we can find ourselves feeling heavy, tired, sluggish, and toxic. A spring cleanse offers us the perfect opportunity to replenish, recharge, and renew ourselves on every level.

Making lifestyle changes are key to long term weight control and overall health. It's about lining up your eating and physical exercise with your real goals and desires. Be it cancer, weight loss, or just feeling better about one's self, a lifestyle change provides the most effective and sustainable result.

"If you thought the FDA does a subpar job in regulating what goes into our food supply, you'll be equally appalled, if not more, on its regulation of cosmetic and personal care products. The same way you look at food labels, you should do the same for your beauty products." ~ Vanessa Cunningham, Nutrition & Wellness Expert

Fort Bragg is a tiny coastal town 150 miles north of San Francisco. You’ll find the roar of city traffic is replaced by the soothing sounds of ocean waves. Their city lights are bright stars in a black sky. The air is fresh; the water clean and clear. Secluded beaches, walks to waterfalls, dog parks, and horseback beach rides thrive. Whales live there year-around, birding abounds, and if its redwoods you want to see, then Fort Bragg is the place to be.

"Calorie density is the simplest approach to healthful eating and lifelong weight management. This common sense approach to sound nutrition allows for lifelong weight management without hunger, more food for fewer calories, and is easy to understand and follow. In addition, by following the principles of calorie density, you will also increase the overall nutrient density of your diet."

Robert Emmons, Ph.D, and the world’s leading expert on gratitude, states that it is easy to feel grateful for the good things, but no one feels grateful when times are bad. He goes on to say that it is vital to make a distinction between feeling grateful and being grateful. We cannot easily will ourselves to feel grateful, but being grateful is a choice. And when disaster strikes being grateful provides a perspective from which we can view our life in its entirety and not be overwhelmed by temporary circumstances. He also says that this perspective is hard to achieve - but totally worth it!

Bottom line is if you are consuming a food or beverage created in a lab instead of by nature, you can be assured your body doesn't recognize it, and doesn't have the enzymes necessary to break it down, metabolize or eliminate it.

The holidays are coming!!! As I shop for Thanksgiving dinner this next week, I will also begin to stock my kitchen for the holiday season. With increased gatherings, activities, and gift shopping on top of our already busy schedules, it's a time when our healthy diet can seriously suffer! While I am all for enjoying the holiday season and the extra treats it brings, I also like to "make a plan" and stock my kitchen with lots of healthy choices so I don't end up reaching for something less healthy when tired, stressed, or in a hurry.