IS YOUR NECK CONNECTED TO YOUR PANCREAS?

Happy Monday, friends! I hope your weekend was everything you wanted it to be. I had some much needed relaxation time and got to pick up a shift at Pharmaca. I absolutely love my on-call position there! It’s so nice being able to work with other women that are passionate about nutrition, health, and wellness. AND the fact that it’s on-call means that if I have a client heavy day, I just pass on it. WIN!

As I was hanging out on the deck this weekend, I realized I never put a link up to the guest blog post I did for my favorite chiropractor of all time, Dr. Sharonrose Samelak at Seed of Life Chiropractic and Wellness. Dr. Sam and I met when I joined a networking group in Seattle and we clicked immediately! We nerded out over the nervous system, muscle testing, and the connection between muscles and organs.

As a massage therapist since 2001, the connection between the muscles and organs is something that I didn’t really know about until 4ish years ago. And let me tell you, after that my whole world changed! How I see each individual massage client has become way more holistic and foundational than ever. In my nutrition practice it is all about root cause. Why is a particular symptom presenting itself? I now take this same “detective work” into my massage practice with my functional massage. Why does someone have chronic headaches, tight shoulders, or low back pain? Is it postural, structural, trauma, or related to an organ being out of balance? Quite possibly it’s 2 or more. Maybe we can address some of these pieces so the body has space to balance the remaining imbalances. So, if you’re interested in learning more about how your neck and shoulders may be connected to your pancreas, please check out the guest post I did over at Seed of Life.

Also, if you’re interested in booking a functional massage, you can find the info here. If you have any questions about functional massage, please leave me a comment below!

Stay awesome,

Amber

MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH A MAGICAL FOOD

Can I tell you my best kept nutrition secret for satiety, flavor, and a well-rounded nutrient profile? EGGS! Fellow humans, I have a legit obsession with eggs (avocado is a close second). Scroll through my instagram feed and stories and you will probably see eggs every day. Eggs in frittatas, eggs on top of anything and everything, hard boiled eggs for snacks, in stir fry, and the list goes on. Seriously, they’re the best. I once eliminated eggs to make sure I didn’t have a sensitivity and it was HORRIBLE.

In all seriousness though, eggs are a legit nutrient powerhouse.

• They contain all essential amino acids needed by the body.

• Perfect package of fat and protein for optimal satiety.

• Wonderful source of cholesterol which our body needs to produce certain hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and cortisol. Cholesterol is also a vital component of bile, which our body needs to breakdown fats.

• Both yolk and egg white contain selenium, which aids our nutritional antioxidant system.

• Lecithin (phosphatidylcholine) is found in large amounts in the yolk and supports the health of our cell membranes, nervous system, and the liver and gallbladder.

See, magical nutrient powerhouse! But our food is going to be more of a powerhouse if it’s grown or created in optimal circumstances. When looking for eggs, try to prioritize the following:

• pastured

• organic

• NOT vegetarian fed. Chickens are omnivores, not vegetarians. Their innate diet contains bugs, rodents, and other creepy crawlies.

The best and easiest option is finding a neighbor that has backyard chickens or someone at the farmers market that you can have a conversation with regarding these items. Vital Farms is a pretty good grocery store brand and I buy the ones with the brown label a lot…you can’t always get to the farmers market, ya know?!

I hope this love affair story inspires you to add more eggs to your day!

xoxo,

Amber

WHAT IS THE #1 NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY?

Were you guessing some obscure vitamin or mineral?! Most of my clients are shocked to hear that one of the most common nutrient deficiencies is WATER! If you’re anything like me, getting enough water in during a typical busy day can be a struggle. The great news is it’s an easy fix that doesn’t take a huge budget, lifestyle, or time commitment. Keep reading for some symptoms to look out for and some actionable items for optimal hydration.

Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

Not sure if you need more water during your day? Here are some signs that you may be dehydrated.

• Fatigue

• Headaches

• Anxiety

• Cramps

• Irritability

• Cravings

• Joint Pain

• Migraines

• Constipation

Real Talk: These symptoms don’t always mean that you’re dehydrated, BUT a good first step is a glass of water. From here you can reassess and determine if more steps are needed. Now…if we’re going to put the time into drinking more water, let’s dial it in!

• Filtered or spring water is best. Find a fresh water spring near you here. I love our Berkey water filtration device. Ours is equipped with the black and fluoride filters. I also have colleagues that like the GOpure.

• Aim for half your body weight in ounces per day. This is very bioindividual, so play around with it. Find what your body needs depending on details like time of year, activity level, caffeine consumption, etc.

• Sip, don’t chug your water. Give your body time to absorb, not expel. if you find you’re peeing all. the. time., please slow down!

• Set a water timer. It’s so easy to get distracted with life and forget to drink your water. Totally guilty of this! I’ve found that this is the trigger I need to actually drink enough water for my body.

Remember marvelous humans, we’re basically sacks of water walking around this space rock, so make sure you’re loving up on your body and give it the nutrients it needs. Starting with water!

I’d love to know if you add one of these action items into your day, so please leave a comment and keep me updated.

Stay awesome,

Amber