Southern Maryland Dietitian
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December 15th, 2017

12/15/2017

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Special Thanks to the team at Best Mattress Reviews for this guest blog post. 
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Not getting enough sleep makes it harder to lose weight. In fact, not sleeping enough and not sleeping well both lead to a person being at a higher risk for developing obesity. While being sleep-deprived will make weight loss more challenging, you don’t have to give up. It helps to understand why not sleeping makes losing harder and to understand how you can improve your sleep.

Sleep and Metabolism

Not getting enough sleep means that your body doesn’t have as much energy from rest. It tries to make up that energy deficit by consuming more calories so that it can keep your energy levels up and still perform at the level you need it to.

Sleep deprivation cues changes in two important hormones that regulate appetite: leptin and ghrelin. Ghrelin is the hormone that tells you that you’re hungry and it’s time to eat. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body produces more ghrelin, so you eat more food.

On the other side, leptin tells your body to stop eating, that your needs are met and your body is satisfied. When you aren’t sleeping enough, your body makes less leptin, so you eat more than you need.

Together, these hormones regulate your eating. They get thrown off when you don’t get enough rest because they are trying to help you get more energy.  

Sleep and Impulse Control

As if the metabolic changes that come alongside a lack of sleep weren’t enough, sleep also affects the way your brain works. When you don’t get enough sleep, you have more problems with self-control and impulsivity. This means that not getting enough sleep makes it harder for you to resist the unhealthy foods you sometimes crave.

When you combine this difficulty with impulse control with the metabolic changes mentioned above, it’s easy to see why not sleeping makes it so much harder to lose weight. Your body is telling you to eat more and you don’t have as much ability as usual to say no.  

How to Sleep Better

Clearly, getting good sleep is key to making your weight loss journey easier. If sleep is difficult for you, though, it can feel like there’s not much you can do to make things better. However, a few small changes could make a big difference in your sleep.
  • Make your bed comfortable. Get a mattress you love to sleep on. Make sure your pillows support your neck. Pile your bed with blankets you love.
  • Practice good sleep hygiene. Use your bed only for sleeping. Turn off the TV at least an hour before you want to sleep. Limit your naps, too, and avoid caffeine.
  • Think about the environment. Make sure your room is a good temperature for sleeping and that you’ve blocked as much light as possible.

All of these things should help you sleep better. When you’re getting more sleep, you should find that losing weight is easier than it is when you feel exhausted.

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NUTRITION AND SKIN CARE

12/9/2017

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The skin is the body's largest organ and has many important functions. It keeps our bodies held together, it regulates our temperature, fluid volume,  and protects our "inside" bodies from "outside" dangers. It helps in the synthesis of Vitamin D and its vast system of nerves helps us sense our environment. Skin is also beautiful and enjoyable -- think how nice it can be to hold hands with somebody you love. 

As a Certified Wound Care Associate, Lisa Hugh has many years of experience helping people to make their skin as healthy and beautiful as possible. 

There are many types of skin changes and problems and most can improve with nutrition and skincare.

At Southern Maryland Dietitian, there are many tools we can use to help you skin be as healthy and beautiful as possible.
  • Diet changes - to make sure your skin is getting the nutrition it needs.
  • Blood Sugar Control - so your skin can heal.
  • Micronutrient Testing - to find out if there are any functional nutrition deficiencies that need to be addressed.
  • Food Sensitivity Testing - to find out if something in your diet is causing a skin problem. 
  • Supplements - if it is not possible to get enough of what you need from your diet, supplements can help.
  • Genetic Testing - to find out what your genes say about your skin. 
  • Skin Care - to ensure you have a SAFE and EFFECTIVE skincare routine. 

NUTRITION & SKINCARE PACKAGES -- COMING SOON!
(For more information and to be kept up to date on this - send an email to SouthernMarylandDietitian@gmail.com) 
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June 30th, 2017

6/30/2017

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MICRONUTRIENT TESTING

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One of the services I offer clients is advanced nutrition testing. I offer tests to address food sensitivities, genetic markers related to nutrition, and a test that examines the micronutrient levels inside your cells.  Testing gives us a better understanding of how nourished your body has been over the past several months, can help identify problem areas in your diet, and can help in determining if you are taking appropriate supplements. Testing can also give clues to your digestion and overall health. 

Here is a great description of why this test is great. Questions? Email me at SoutherMarylandDietitian@gmail.com

(The image above shows how test results are reported. The image below shows what is included in the test.)
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Genetic Testing for Micronutrient Tendency

6/20/2017

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Southern Maryland Dietitian and Genetic Direction are very excited to announce the release of another new genetics-based program, GxNutrient! Starting today, you can obtain detailed and personalized information about how your genetics and nutrition overlap.

Here are a sample report and an overview of the program: 
  • GxNutrient analyzes 42 genetic markers (SNPs) associated with 15 micronutrient tendency traits. Each trait has a rating based on the participant’s genetic test results, along with corresponding nutrient recommendations.

  • Overlap with GxSlim and GxRenew: GxNutrient has significant overlap with GxSlim and GxRenew. Of the 15 nutrients analyzed in GxNutrient, 6 are tested in GxSlim (vitamins important to metabolism and digestion) and a different 6 are tested in GxRenew (minerals important to organ and bone health). Three nutrients (Iron, Phosphorous and Vitamin E) are only available in GxNutrient.

  • Pricing: Gx Nutrient is $249, the same as GxSlim and GxRenew. However, if you purchase 2 tests, you receive $20 off your order. If you order 3 tests, you receive $50 off your order.  (These prices are well below retail pricing.)                                                                                                                                                                     
  • Existing GxSlim/GxRenew clients: Please check with me if you have already completed a genetic testing program. We can find out if we can generate a report based on existing data or if you will have to submit another sample.                                                                                                                                                           
  • Have you already done testing through 23andMe? We may be able to use your sample on file to generate other Genetic Testing reports at a discount. Email me with details and we can go from there.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
  • Coming Soon: GxPerform: Genetics-Based Peak Athletic Performance Program
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Which Probiotics Should I Use?

5/19/2017

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 Probiotics 

 The human microbiome is complex and with trillions of bacteria in our gut, it can be a lot to manage. Your gut bacteria are an essential part of your body’s ability to digest food, boost immunity, and fight infections. Your gut flora makes up 70-80 percent of the human immune system -- making it so important to regulate in our everyday lives. Having a bacterial imbalance can lead to numerous health issues including arthritis, constipation, diarrhea, feelings of depression and anxiety and overall poor nutritional status.
 So how do we care for and manage this system? One of the biggest ways is taking Probiotics!

 Probiotics can be consumed to help rebalance your gut flora. You can find probiotics in many different forms. You can eat naturally fermented foods like sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir, and miso. However, sometimes you need to add in a higher potency probiotic supplement that has a variety of live, active cultures to get you back on track.

 Each individual has different needs and with so many products on the market yet little information about them it can be even more difficult making the decision. In the past, we often heard that all probiotics were good and to look for one with a high count of active cultures. Now, much more research is being done on the various strains and how they work in the body.  Health care providers and consumers now have more options and resources to identify which strains and products can help them with their specific concerns and symptoms.

 A research team at reviews.com tested 277 probiotic supplements on the market. You can find their full review here: http://www.reviews.com/probiotic-supplement/. They consulted with nutrition specialists, natural medicine doctors, and microbiologists to discover what to look for in an effective probiotic supplement. Their top picks are listed here: 

Best Probiotic Supplement for:

General Health: Garden of Life RAW Probiotics Colon Care

Weight Loss: MegaFlora Probiotics

Antibiotic Recovery: Custom Probiotics 11 Strain Probiotic Powder

Immune Booster/Anxiety and Seasonal Allergies: Renew Life Ultimate Flora Extra Care 30 Billion

IBS, IBD, and Acute Infectious Diarrhea: VSL #3

Lowering Cholesterol: Innovix Labs Multi-Strain Probiotic

Lactose Intolerance: Bio-Kult Advanced Probiotic Multi-Strain Capsules

Women's Health: Garden of Life RAW Probiotics Ultimate Care

In addition to their findings, the Clinical Guide to Probiotic Products also has a breakdown chart of products that are suggested for adult and pediatric health. 

My clients also ask me about probiotics for specific health conditions.

The ones I recommend most often are:
MegaSporebiotic. This probiotic can help relieve constipation and promotes healthy cholesterol levels, produces important nutrients, and helps prevent and treat allergies and infections. This product is available for purchase in my office, and soon will be available online. 

Ultra Flora Control: This probiotic has been shown to help people reduce calorie intake by allowing them to feel fuller after meals. Ultra Flora Spectrum: This probiotic contains several strains of bacteria and a helpful yeast.  These probiotics are available through my website and all customers receive 20% off of their first order.

Consultations Available
These are just a few of the many high quality probiotics available. If you are considering a new probiotic you might also benefit from a consultation to help identify the best choice for you. Appointments can be made online.  Do you have questions? Send me an email at SouthernMarylandDietitian@gmail.com 

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How Can Genetic Testing Help Me With Weight Loss and Healthy Aging?

2/21/2017

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Good nutrition & good health is influenced by a lot of things...how we eat, our environment, our genetics, and many other factors. We have all heard about how some things affect people differently, how certain diets affect people differently, and that every BODY is different. We all have a unique genetic make up, and now genetic testing is available to identify which genes we have that affect our weight loss and our aging process. For more information about how DNA affects aging click here. For more information about how DNA affects your ability to lose weight click here. 

Southern Maryland Dietitian is now offering two Genetic Tests: GxSlim and GxRenew.

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GxSlim is a scientifically based weight management program that identifies your unique genetic makeup and then provides diet and exercise strategies that are tailored to your genotype. This is not guesswork, one-size-fits-all or fad dieting of any kind. Gx Slim provides diet and exercise based on your own DNA. Click here for a sample GxSlim report. This test is most useful to people who have healthy eating and exercise habits and would like more specific direction. If you are interested in weight loss and have not yet developed healthy eating and exercise habits Southern Maryland Dietitian can make an individualized plan to help you. 
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GxRenew is a DNA based healthy aging program that identifies a person's unique genetic makeup and then provides health management strategies that are tailored to their specific genotype. This is not guesswork or some potion. GxRenew provides healthy aging recommendations based on your DNA. Would you like to see what is included in a GxRenew test? Click here for a Sample Report. 

Questions? Send an email to SouthernMarylandDietitian@gmail.com or click here to schedule an appointment. 
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Order Your Own Labs

2/16/2017

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So a lot of clients have been asking how they can get specific lab tests that have not been ordered by their doctor or that their insurance does not cover. TrueHealthLabs.com allows you to choose which tests you want, to make an informed decision regarding cost, order tests without going for a doctors appointment, and allows for greater participation in your own health care. 

Have you used this service? Share your experience in the comments. 
Questions? Send an email to SouthernMarylandDietitian@gmail.com
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Client Success with Food Sensitivity Testing

2/15/2017

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One of my clients, Jenifer, has recently had a great experience with Food Sensitivity Testing and Treatment. She has agreed to share her experience so that others can learn more about what to expect.

Here is an excerpt of a recent email exchange:

Q: Why did you get tested for Food Sensitivities?
A: My digestion was super slow and I had stomach aches all the time.

Q: What symptoms did you have?
A: Stomach aches, headaches, nausea, bloated, gassy, numbness in hands and feet and face, brain fog, dizzy spells, spastic colon.

Q: Do you feel better?
A: I feel unbelievably better.  Better than I have in 3 years!

Q: How has your life changed?
A: I have to read every ingredient to be safe, I do not eat out as much, I eat so much more healthier, I feel better every day, no more stomach aches unless I eat something I know I shouldn't.  I've learned to eat raw and fresh foods and enjoy them because I know I won't get sick.  My family has been very supportive and has seen a positive change in me and my life. 

Would you like to learn more about Food Sensitivities, Testing, and Treatment? Send an email to SouthernMarylandDietitian@gmail.com 
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What is the LEAP Protocol for Food Sensitivities?

2/2/2017

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What is the LEAP Protocol for Food Sensitivities? Learn more from Susan Linke in this great video. 
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Why Mediator Release Test is the Best

2/2/2017

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Are you considering Food Sensitivity Testing? Susan Linke explains why the Mediator Release Test and the LEAP Protocol are the best.
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    Lisa Hugh, Registered Dietitian.

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Southern Maryland Dietitian, 4560 Crain Highway Suite 12, White Plains MD 20695
SouthernMarylandDietitian@gmail.com
phone: 240-210-9725
  • HOME
    • ABOUT
    • BLOG
    • SUPPLEMENTS
  • CLIENT PORTAL - SCHEDULE ONLINE
  • WORK WITH ME
  • BODY COMPOSITION & LABS