Take the sugar quiz – 10 signs you might be addicted to sugar

10 quick questions for you to answer that will help you understand IF you need to work on your sugar addiction sooner rather than later.


Let’s run this quick quiz and see how many questions you say YES to.


Do you hide your sugar habit?
Do you need more and more to satisfy your craving?
Do you eat sugary foods even when you’re not hungry?
Do you constantly crave sweets?
Do you crave salty foods?
Do you try to quit sugar but find you have symptoms such as headaches or feeling lethargic for example?
Do you use sugar to soothe your mood?
Do you know the health consequences of eating too much sugar but do it anyway?
Do you go out of your way to get sugar?
Do you have feelings of guilt about eating sugar?

Ok, quiz time is over. 

How did you get on? 

Tot up your total and if you answer yes to 5 or more then you’re invited to join me on this week’s Facebook LIVE and I’ll personally coach you on what to do next! 

Click here to join me on the call. https://www.facebook.com/groups/timetonourish

Every Tuesday I go live at 10am to help you heal your gut and balance your hormones. You can also watch on replay so join us in the community.

How to support your adrenals

What are adrenal glands and where are they located?

Your adrenal glands play a very important role in maintaining your health. They are incredibly small, about the size and weight of a coin. They are located above your kidneys, just below the muscle tissue of your lower back.

What do adrenal glands do?

Our adrenal glands are responsible for many things that assist in regulating our body and hormones, including thyroid and reproductive hormones. They are also responsible for managing stress, the amount of inflammation in our body, our immune system, our blood sugar levels and the electrolytes in our blood. They influence all the physiological functions processes of the body and help stave off physical fatigue.

Signs your adrenal health needs support

When there is something wrong with our body, it will start to signal us that something needs to be addressed. Here is how your adrenal glands will signal you that something is wrong.

  1. Your blood sugar level will either drop or spike suddenly.
  2. Your hormones will be all over the place. One moment you are happy and the other moment you will find yourself crying over something that does not even bother you that much.
  3. You get sick more often because your immune system will not function properly without healthy adrenal glands.
  4. You will be stressed and it will be hard for you to manage your stress levels.
  5. Your sex drive will decrease.
  6. It will be hard for you to complete your daily tasks because those tasks will require a lot more effort than usual.
  7. You will find it hard to keep yourself awake even if you know that you need to sacrifice sleep for a very important task.
  8. You will constantly crave food, mostly salty and savory foods, and it will be hard you satisfy your cravings. You will find yourself craving them more even if you have just eaten something.
  9. Your body will take longer to heal properly.
  10. You will fail to find happiness or excitement in tasks and hobbies that you enjoyed before.
  11. You may find yourself skipping meals.

How to improve your adrenal health

If you suspect your adrenal glands may need some care and attention, try some of the following tips.

  1. Get your sleep schedule in sync:

Make sure that you get quality sleep for 9 to 10 hours. Sleep and wake up at the same times to get your body in a rhythm. It needs to follow a routine to start to heal.

  1. Daily exercise:

Set aside at least 30 minutes a day for exercise, no matter how busy or tired you may be.

  1. Add these to your diet:

To improve your adrenal health, add proteins, healthy carbs, zinc, calcium, and vitamins (especially C and D) to your diet. Also increase foods like coconuts, avocados, olives, chia seeds, bone broth, nuts, vegetables and fish, but make sure you do all of this in moderation.

If you would like to learn more about my tests to measure adrenal health please get in touch.

 

 

 

Healthy Chocolate Making Workshop

 

Healthy Chocolate

Would you like to learn how to make healthy chocolate.

Sign up here

Would you like to learn how to make delicious healthy chocolate ????
I will be running a chocolate making workshop in my kitchen.
2-4pm on the 12th March
This will be vegan friendly, healthy chocolate ????
We will be eating, drinking and making chocolate.
Just in time for Easter. You can learn how to make delicious chocolates for your friends and family.

Biohack for Bulletproof Coffee to support your brain and your hormones

Do you love coffee?

I encourage you to limit caffeine intake as it can be dehydrating plus it can put a strain on the adrenals and the hormones. if you’re like me and you love your one coffee a day or encourage you to try this recipe.

 

What is Biohacking?

Biohacking is the process of making changes to your lifestyle in order to “hack” your body’s biology and feel your best. Biohacking is improving the health of your body using external tools, and the term is gaining popularity as part of an increasing move toward improving health and wellness.

Here are a few simple biohacks I recommend to my perimenopausal and menopausal clients

  • Do not use alarms to wake yourself up with a sudden jolt; start waking yourself up naturally and gradually
  • Incorporate smart supplementation into your diet to support the adrenals and your gut health. Vitamins A, C, D, magnesium and zinc are all fundamental to gut health and hormone balancing.
  • Incorporate some good fat into your daily diet. Coconut oil, avocado, hemp oil and cashews are all good fats that help hormone harmony.
  • Try breathing deeply throughout the day. Diaphragmatic breathing is a great way to control stress and support the digestive system
  • Love dark chocolate? Try eating sugar-free dark chocolate.
  • Track your sleep length and quality; start trying to get at least 8 hours every night. The earlier you go to bed the better it is for happy hormones.
  • Try bulletproof coffee

 

What is Bulletproof Coffee?

Bulletproof coffee is a type of coffee used to enhance cognitive abilities. Concentration, attention, focus, and intelligence are all cognitive abilities that affect the performance of our social and professional lives. Bulletproof coffee is one way to enhance that performance and stay alert in all situations.

Bulletproof coffee is becoming increasingly popular among athletes and business people to improve their cognitive abilities and attain higher levels of energy.

The magic ingredient in bulletproof coffee is unsalted grass-fed butter. Yes, this coffee has butter in it, but it also has the highest performance and lowest toxin level. It has all the benefits of healthy fats without the casein proteins found in milk.

 

How to Make Bulletproof Coffee

Here is a simple recipe for bulletproof coffee for improved cognitive abilities and energy.

 

Ingredients:

Organic coffee beans ground fresh

Unsalted grass-fed butter

MCT Coconut oil

 

Recipe:

Using filtered water, brew 1 cup of coffee just off the boil along with 2½  tablespoons of coffee beans that have been freshly ground. Gradually add about 1 tablespoon of MCT oil to the hot coffee. Follow with 1–2 tablespoons of grass-fed, unsalted butter. If you do not have unsalted grass-fed butter, you can use grass-fed ghee. Blend until it is frothy for 20-30 seconds.

 

 

 

How To Maintain Gut Health In Self-Isolation

Staying indoors for a week can be stressful. More importantly, it also transforms your routine. Unfortunately, these factors can affect your gut health. Indeed, we all know how important it is for a healthy gut to stick to healthy habits and manage stress levels. So, here are some helpful tips to help you go through a week at home without putting your gut health at risk. 

The NHS track and trace app plays a significant role in reducing risks of contagions and tracking the virus spread. As such, when you receive a warning to self-isolate because you’ve been in contact with someone who’s tested positive for COVID-19, you know what to do. 

Depending on your level of exposure, the app may recommend different self-isolation approaches. However, for most people, the app suggests one week at home. The track and trace team will also get in touch with individuals in self-isolation to check their location at any time during the week.

Check items in your online grocery shopping

When you can’t buy your grocery directly from the shop, you will need to arrange for delivery. Thankfully, plenty of websites let you pass an online grocery order, including Ubereats. In other words, you won’t find it too challenging to get the food you need delivered to your home. You may not be able to find your usual products in your online shopping list. But, you can find safe alternatives for your gut.

Understanding how to read food labels (they are part of the information you get online) can be a game-changer. Once you understand the composition and ingredients in each product, you can make smart choices that support intestinal transit. You can use a simple list of nutrients to avoid and those to focus on to guide your shopping. Additionally, it’s important to use food labels for guidance rather than marketing messages. However pretty the packaging might look, don’t trust the claims it makes unless you can verify them through the list of ingredients. 

Make sure you don’t miss out on prescriptions

Do you have any medications you trust to support your gut health when you can’t follow the routine? Now is the perfect time to order these from a safe and practical platform such as Simple Online Pharmacy. You want to be prepared to make sure you can handle stress and change of habits seamlessly. Your gut is highly sensitive to sudden variations in the routine, so it’s best to take precautions.

Additionally, missing out on other prescribed medications when you can’t go to the pharmacy yourself or visit a doctor can be a source of anxiety. Be kind to your gut; avoiding unnecessary stress will help your gut ease into this new situation. The online pharmacy platform is designed especially for these situations when you can’t physically get hold of your medications. An online order that’s checked and approved by a medical expert can save you time and hassles.

Create a water schedule

Not drinking enough water can dramatically affect your gut health. Indeed, drinking plenty of water has a beneficial effect on your gut flora balance. But when your routine has been disrupted, it’s tricky to stick to healthy habits. The truth is that you might find yourself accidentally forgetting to drink. So, if you are worried about staying hydrated at home, you may want to create a drinking schedule. You can find plenty of apps that can remind you via a notification to drink regularly. You can also set up frequent alarms throughout the day, which would effectively replace the app notifications. You can also make things easier without a digital assistant by investing in a time-marked water bottle. Time-marked bottles can be kept on the desk or in your bag, ensuring you drink regularly and enough throughout the day. 

Make time for at-home workouts

Gut health is a complex topic. Introducing gut-helping workouts at home will help support your digestive health during this week at home (and hopefully later). All you need is a laptop and a yoga mat, and you’re ready to boost your gut health with targeted workouts. Joe Wicks has got some fantastic abs exercises that can encourage bowel movements and improve digestive health. These are great if you are struggling with constipation issues. You can also refer to yogi Adriene Mishler who has a helpful yoga for gut health workout that is both gentle and therapeutic. 

Keeping your gut in tip-top condition when you are self-isolating at home may be challenging at first, But there is plenty you do to support hydration, a healthy diet, medicated assistance, and natural digestive health. More importantly, staying calm and not feeling pressured will help handle the sudden change of routine peacefully. 

 

5 Natural Supplements To Help You Relax

According to the Mental Health Foundation, ‘74% of UK women have felt so stressed at some point over the last year they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.’ Stress symptoms can severely affect our relationships, work life, and our health. To ease the strain, it’s important to find ways to relax especially during perimenopause and beyond.  Stress will have a significant impact on gut health and your hormones. 

The natural world provides us with many plants that are perfect for relaxation. For some ideas to inspire you, consider these herbal remedies. When introducing a new supplement to your diet always follow the stated dose.

1 . Bacopa monnieri

Bacopa monnieri, sometimes called Brahmi, is one of the principle herbal remedies of Ayurvedic medicine. According to Research from HVMN, ‘In patients with anxiety, Bacopa monnieri had an anxiolytic effect, simply meaning an anti-anxiety effect.’ Taking a Bacopa supplement has many relaxing benefits including reducing the stress hormone, and regulating serotonin.

  1. Rhodiola

Rhodiola is a plant that grows across the mountain regions of Asia and Europe. The roots of the herb work as adaptogens, these support the body to adapt to situations of stress. For centuries people have used the herb to treat depression, fatigue and anxiety, particularly in Scandinavia.  It is an excellent herb to reduce cortisol and support unwanted menopause symptoms. 

One rhodiola study examined the effects of the herb on women who were suffering from long-term stress. The study participants took a rhodiola supplement over a course of four weeks. The results found, ‘significant improvements in symptoms of stress, such as fatigue, exhaustion and anxiety.’

  1. Passionflower 

Passionflower is a purple plant which comes from the Passiflora family. Studies have suggested that the herb can ease the effects of stress, anxiety and insomnia. Consuming the supplement seems to raise GABA levels in the brain, which is responsible for the relaxing effect. One passionflower study discovered that, ‘passionflower decreased anxiety and improved memory in rats.’ Passionflower can be purchased in capsule form, or you could try passionflower herbal tea.

  1. Hemp

Hemp is a type of Cannabis Sativa plant which has a THC content of 0.3 (or less). Hemp plants are often used to make CBD oil. Due to the low THC content, CBD is not psychoactive. When you consume CBD oil you’ll experience a calming effect. Many women use CBD to sleep better, or to handle anxiety symptoms in menopause. Several studies have praised CBD as a useful supplement for stress, insomnia and anxiety. For an excellent range of CBD products, take a look at Bloom Farms Wellness.

  1. Siberian Ginseng

Siberian Ginseng is extracted using the roots of the Eleutherococcus senticosus herb. It’s an adaptogen which can help the body to relax and combat stress. There are several other health benefits associated with the plant. It’s associated with reduced fatigue and increased energy. Evidence also suggests that the plant can improve cognitive function and boost your immune system.

The above supplements can be purchased via my website and in health food shops, and some pharmacies. With so many amazing herbal supplements, you should find something that works for you. If you take medication you should discuss any new supplements with a doctor. 

If you are struggling with addiction to drugs and alcohol please consider getting in touch with https://www.okrehab.org  Are partnered with over 140 clinics of this nature across the UK and abroad to help individuals break free from the shackles of addiction and find a treatment that’s ideally suited to their needs. They offer a variety of ways to assist you or your loved one in seeking out effective addiction treatment:

  • An over-the-phone assessment to determine if you require addiction treatment
  • Access to over 140+ clinics across the UK and abroad
  • Advice relating to outpatient, residential and home detox services
  • Access to detox clinics regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
  • Fast access to emergency detox treatment, is appropriate
  • Access to professional interventionists across the UK
  • Advice by staff members who are themselves in recovery
  • Information on both private and statutory funded addiction treatment providers

If you would like me to review your supplements and recommend something suitable please book a free discovery call here https://p.bttr.to/2MZVUKN

I have a great understanding of the journey to recovery and I welcome your call.

 

The Benefits of Yoga

Yoga, Nutritionalist
Yoga is a disciplined Hindu exercise routine that focuses on breathing, posture, and mindfulness. The practice of yoga was initially founded in ancient India and is a part of Hindu religious practices. It has grown in popularity and is now practiced by a large population of people searching for health and mental peace.
The main goal of practicing yoga is to attain “moksha,” which means “liberation.” According to many yoga gurus, there are five main goals or elements of yoga. These five main elements are:
Yoga, award winning nutritionist

  • Being disciplined toward attaining a goal
  • Controlling your body movements
  • Controlling your mind
  • Connecting with your spiritual self
  • Attaining the highest level of self-awareness
  • Yoga provides a lot of benefits to our body, health, and mind. Here are just a few of them.

 

  1. It improves your body’s flexibility.

Yoga can help make you more flexible and agile, especially with regular practice yoga. This flexibility can help prevent injuries or strain and help relieve muscle and nerve pain.

  1. It helps build muscle strength.

With regular practice, yoga can also help build muscle strength and tone. This strengthening of our muscles can also help protect us against pain and various diseases like arthritis.

  1. It improves your posture.

Yoga can help improve your posture, preventing backaches and neck pains and strain. Young yoga practitioners have also reported an increase in height due to the improvement in their posture. A straight spine can balance your whole body much more easily than a spine that lacks good posture. Poor posture can cause your body to strain and cause you to feel lazy and tired. It also puts you at higher risk for degenerative arthritis of the spine.

  1. It improves the overall health of your bones.

Yoga can help improve your bone strength and health and prevent breaks or fractures.

  1. It regulates the circulation of your blood flow.

Regular yoga practice can help improve the circulation of your blood flow, especially in your feet and hands. This prevents your body from swelling or becoming inflamed. A healthy and regulated flow of blood in your body encourages overall better health. It also helps provide oxygen to your lungs and regulate the transfer of oxygen to your tissues by boosting the level of red blood cells and haemoglobin in your body. All of this can help reduce your risk of stroke and other forms of heart diseases and illnesses.

  1. It lowers stress levels.

Yoga brings you mental peace by helping you manage your stress levels through deep breathing exercises and practiced mindfulness.

  1. It helps maintain your blood pressure.

Regular yoga practice has been found to be greatly beneficial in maintaining your body’s blood pressure.

  1. It helps in regulating your adrenal glands.

Yoga can help lower your cortisol levels, helping to regulate the functioning of your adrenal glands. Healthy adrenal glands can help you in losing weight and maintaining overall health.

If you would like to learn more about my 8-week gut healing and hormone balancing program, click here
Yours in health and wellness,
Trish Tucker-May

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