White Fat vs Brown Fat

I recently stumbled on the brown vs white fat concept, something I had not heard of before.  I'm finding this very interesting.  Who knew!  Below is a brief summary of these two fats.

1. Brown Fat
This fat is composed of several small lipid (fat) droplets and a large number of iron-containing mitochondria (the cell’s heat-burning engine). The iron, along with lots of blood tiny blood vessels, gives this fat its brownish appearance. Brown fat is usually found in the front and back of the neck and upper back.

The purpose of brown fat is to burn calories in order to generate heat. That’s why brown fat is often referred to as the “good” fat, since it helps us burn, not store, calories. Brown fat is derived from muscle tissue and is found primarily in hibernating animals and newborns. After life as an infant, the quantity of brown fat significantly decreases. Adults who have comparatively more brown fat tend to be younger and slender and have normal blood sugar levels.

You generate brown fat by: exercising, which can convert white-yellow fat to a more metabolically active brown fat; getting enough high-quality sleep, as proper melatonin production influences the production of brown fat; and exposing yourself to the cold regularly, such as exercising outdoors in the wintertime or in a cold room. Lowering the temperature in your living and working spaces is another tip.

Bottom line: You want as much of this type of fat as possible. Bring on the brown!

2. White Fat. 
This type of fat is composed of a single lipid droplet and has far less mitochondria and blood vessels, thus resulting in its lighter white or yellow appearance. White fat is the predominant form of fat in the body, originating from connective tissue.

White fat has many purposes. It provides the largest energy reserve in the body. It’s a thermal insulator and cushion for our internal organs, and cushions during external interactions with our environment (that’s code for a soft landing when we fall on our behind!). It is a major endocrine organ, producing one form of estrogen as well as leptin, a hormone that helps regulate appetite and hunger. It’s also got receptors for insulin, growth hormone, adrenaline, and cortisol (stress hormone). So, it’s a myth that fat cells just sit there and do nothing all day long!

White fat is found, oh heck, you know where it’s found. Just look in the mirror! In women, excess fat accumulates around the hips, thighs, buttocks, and breasts until perimenopause (the 40s), when fat is redistributed to the abdomen as well. Men tend to gather excess fat primarily in the belly region most of their lives.

An excess of white fat inside the belly (visceral fat) is associated with metabolic syndrome—a group of symptoms that signal an increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Location of body fat really counts! Excess white fat throughout the body is associated with an increased risk of breast, colon, esophageal, gall bladder, and pancreatic cancer. It’s also associated with sleep apnea, and physical disabilities such as knee arthritis.

Here’s how much white fat a “normal-weight” person would carry throughout a lifetime: Men’s body fat range is 15 to 25 percent; women’s is 15 to 30 percent. Your generic 154-pound person would carry about 20 pounds of fat. One pound of stored fat contains roughly 4,000 calories, so 20 pounds has 80,000 calories of energy storage. If you required 2,000 calories to live per day, you’d last about 40 days on a desert island. These numbers aren’t meant to be perfect or exact, but instead, give you a broad, general idea.

You generate white fat by: consuming too many calories and expending too few calories.

Bottom line: As a species, white fat is very important to our survival. It’s a matter of how much and where it’s located. You want to control your visceral fat level (keeping your waist circumference to less than 35 inches if you’re a woman, and to less than 40 inches if you’re a man) and keep your total body fat within the normal ranges for each gender.

Does white fat interact with brown fat? You better believe it. New research shows that when people overeat, they not only increase their total amount of white fat, but the over consumption results in their brown fat becoming dysfunctional and thus unable to burn calories.

Starting today, make it a point to achieve two major goals: Optimize your brown fat function and manage your white fat load—by doing precisely the same thing. That is, eat whole foods in moderation, stay active, practice stress resilience, and lead a mindful lifestyle. You’ll keep those mitochondria hummin’ while your health and wellness skyrocket!

*Article from Women's Health

Self Care Bundles

Some things are great to stand alone, some things are better in bundles.  Our health is definitely better in the bundle situation.  The more ways we come at our health, the better.  It is so very important that we put our own Self care a top priority.  Without our own mental and physical health, there is no way we can sustain doing all we need to do each day in our busy lives.

As you know,  I am an avid Plexus natural supplements user and share with anyone who will listen to me.  Heck, I even share with those who don't ask!   However, as I am getting my body more healthy from the inside out, I also am working on it from the outside in.  I love to use my Young Living essential oils as well as follow along with workouts from Beach Body.

Some other bundles might be 
Plexus and Paleo
Plexus and Weight Watchers
Plexus and Keto
Plexus and Juice Plus

There is no reason at all not to bundle!  Plexus is NOT a diet. It is a wellness system, a supplementation system. It can fit in seamlessly with your caveman, crunchy, oily, point-counting lifestyle, and make it better! No matter what healthy lifestyle you have adopted, I am confident  you still need supplementation that Plexus provides. 

Let's take a quick quiz to find out:
1. Do you have as much energy as you would like?
2. Do you sleep as well as you would like?
3. Do you crave sweets?
4. Do you have diagnosed vitamin deficiencies?
5. Are your hair and nails healthy?
6. Do you have any "digestive" issues?
7. Do you ever feel like you are in a fog?
8. Do you have consistent physical discomfort?
9. Do you find it hard to stay focused?
10. Do you need help going 💩!?!
11. Would you like to lose weight?
12. Would you like help in  naturally reversing the signs of aging, dark spots, fine lines, dehydration?

If any of these are "yes," I challenge you to add Plexus in for two months and see what a difference it can make. You obviously care about your health, why not bundle up and give your health and even better boost?

Keto Plus Plexus

Anyone out there doing the Keto diet?

Here’s why supplementation is so important...
On a Ketogenic diet, you are basically cutting out all carbohydrates and sugar. Once your body is in a state of ketosis, it is then relying on fat for energy. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, not exactly! If your body is used to high carb intake and you take those away, it’s possible you might experience what is known as the keto flu.   It subsides, but your body feels achy, and you are fatigued and irritable.

 So, here’s how Plexus can help:
Plexus Slim: has  chromium which helps normalize blood glucose levels, reducing cravings and providing energy and less irritably as your body enters ketosis. The prebiotic, XOS, feed the butirate that we NATURALLY have in our system to help produce more fatty-chain amino acids. What does this mean for you? Your body goes into fat-burning mode more easily! AND has only 2 carbs, so it has negative net carb impact on your Keto day! 

Plexus BioCleanse: contains magnesium which will help replenish your electrolyte levels, preventing muscle cramps, headaches, and trouble sleeping. 



Plexus ProBio5: balances your gut health. Starting a diet like this can stress your gut leading to either constipation or even upset stomach as you are introducing higher levels of fats to your body.
 
VitalBiome: reduces bloating and gut distress, improves digestion and regularity, makes you feel calmer, and improves mood. 

XFactor Plus: it’s sugar free, which is important on a keto diet! It contains Aloe, which increases  absorption up to 300%, allowing your body to really absorb the vitamins and minerals. It also has vitamins B and C to help beat tiredness.

Plexus is a TOOL to aid you with overall health! I’ve said it OVER & OVER...Plexus is NOT JUST about weight loss! It’s so much more than that! Get healthy from the inside out with Plexus!
Note: SOME people will look at Slim HC and be concerned over the 8 carbs. However, those doing keto should know to go off of NET carbs (Carbs - Fiber = Net Carbs) That makes Slim HC only 2 net carbs.

7 Reasons you can not lose weight

You know it's not just about diet and exercise! The top 7 reasons and the Plexus products that can help you!

1) SLEEP - If you are not sleeping you will not lose weight. (Probio5 and MegaX)

2) DIGESTION - constipation, bloating, feeling full all the time, a swollen stomach. ( Probio5 and Biocleanse)

3) ENERGY LEVEL- thyroid and iron anemia (X-Factor and Slim)

4) MENSTRUAL CYCLE - if it is off you will have a hard time losing weight because estrogen makes fat. If there is excess estrogen it interferes with the thyroid and increases fat production. (Slim and Biocleanse)

5) CRAVINGS - one way to know you are burning fat is that you will crave NOTHING. If you crave sweets it means your body only burns sugar and not FAT. (Slim/probio5 and Accelerator+)

6) INFLAMMATION- means the adrenals are not strong enough. It sucks the energy from the body and slows metabolism. (Mega X, EASE and NERVE)

7) STRESS - if the body is stuck in stress mode and it cannot relax the adrenals are overloaded and you have too much body stress. (X Factor, Slim and BioCleanse)

Plexus Cheat Sheet

Here is a little cheat sheet for secret Plexus stalkers

Better Sleep: Slim - add MegaX & ProBio5 for amazing changes in your sleep issues

Cholesterol, blood pressure, lipids: Slim, MegaX

Energy: Slim - add Edge for a game changer

Mental clarity: ProBio5, MegaX, Edge, VitalBiome
 
Skin Issues: ProBio5 & Body Cream
 
Weight loss: Slim, ProBio5, BioCleanse (TriPlex) - Optional...add Block, Accelerator or Boost, P96 
Protein shakes
 
Discomfort, sore muscles, and swollen/achy joints: Ease and/or Nerve capsules & Ease cream
 
Nerve issues: Plexus Nerve
 
Sugar cravings: ProBio5 & Slim
 
Tummy issues, Digestive issues: BioCleanse and Pro Bio5
 
Stress: ProBio5, Slim, & Vitalbiome
 
Mood: VitalBiome, Slim & Accelerator
 
Better hair & nails: XFactor & MegaX
 
Reduced absorption of sugars/starch: Block
 
Glucose stabilization: Slim & Block
 
Hormones: Slim & ProBio5

Skin care: Joyome
 
*These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diseases.

Inflammation

Inflammation...a nasty little thing that causes poop issues, joint issues and difficulty losing weight. There are several things you can do to help fight the inflammation, I am going to hit on three of them here.

WATER: Drink 1/2 your weight in ounces every single day. EVERY single day. You can add a bit of lemon juice to it first thing in the morning to help cleanse the liver. Also, if you don't drink enough water, you body will go into dehydration mode and hold on to any liquid it gets. This causes inflammation in the form of water weight. While in dehydration mode, your body will also pull fluid from wherever it can get it. This includes your joints. You know those squishy pads between your bones that keep things cushioned? Those things (in simple terms) start to dry up and this causes even more join pain. 

FOOD: Many things we ingest on a daily basis contribute to inflammation. One of the biggest culprits is sugar.
*Sugar can be found in baked goods, candy, energy bars, soda, and lots of well known sugar foods. But then there are the not so well know such as refined carbs, peanut butter, fruit juice, sweetened yogurt and condiments.
*Vegetable oil: Mayonnaise, salad dressings, barbecue sauce, crackers, bread, potato chips.
*Fried foods: french fries, fried chicken, fish sticks, chicken tenders, onion rings.
*Refined flour: Pizza, white bread, crackers, pasta, pretzels, flour tortillas, breakfast cereals, bagels.
*Dairy: Milk, soft cheeses, yogurt, butter.
*Artificial sweetener: No-sugar-added products, no-calorie “Diet” soft drinks.
*Artificial additives: Breakfast cereals, processed foods containing fruit, candy, ice cream.
*Saturated fat: Burgers, pizza, candy, chips.
*Processed meat: Bacon, hot dogs, bologna, sausage, jerky.
*Trans-fat foods: Margarine/shortening; baked goods like doughnuts, cookies, and muffins; non-dairy coffee creamers; frozen pizza; frosting.
*Fast food: You know what I'm talking about, I don't need to type it out.

EASE: Are you familiar with turmeric? This powerful spice is in Plexus Ease and is packed with anti-inflammatories and antioxidants. Turmeric has been proven to fight off destructive free radicals, rejuvenate cells, cleanse the liver, protect the heart , boost moods and supports healthy brain functioning. BUT normally, turmeric taken in pill form is ineffective because you need FAT with it. Our Ease has a superior one in the form of the Green Lipped Mussel, an Omega3 fatty acid, which is up to 100 times more effective in reducing inflammation than a regular Omega 3 supplement! Plexus Ease also contains serrapeptase & Green Lipped Mussel! Google those ingredients, you’ll be impressed!
**Do not take with a shellfish allergy**

Don't go cheap with your health

I am all about finding ways to save money on products I purchase. I love Aldi, WalMart, Dollar General and thrift stores. However, not when it comes to my health. I only have one body and it is something I no longer scrimp on. I have decided to make ME a priority and invest in myself.
It is also so very important not to get sucked into thinking a product is healthy just because it uses the eye catching right words. Remember....Peeps are gluten free



Fit and Active
6g fat
24g carbs
19g sugar
10g protein

P96
1g fat
4g carbs
0g sugar
15g protein

Take the time to look at labels and ingredients. If sugar is in the first few ingredients, put that package right back on the shelf.
Are you ready to begin the discussion about prioritizing you? Let's talk.

Not Why, but How to make it happen

You've made the decision to get more healthy, you know WHY you want to do it, you are motivated and ready to begin.  But....HOW do you go about this?  This can be a bit tricky, even just trying to figure out where to start. The beginning can be a bit overwhelming.  You are ready, willing and able to reach your goal...you just don't know how to get there.

* First step is to DEFINE your goal.  Make it specific.  Not just lose weight by my wedding, class reunion, summer....etc.  How much weight/inches do you want to lose?  Not just to eat better, but how do you want to be eating?  Not just exercising, how often, what type?

* Second stop is to lay out a plan to get there.  Make a map to get you from where you are to where you want to be.  Know up front that you WILL make wrong turns on this journey.  It is going to happen.  This is why your map is so important, it will help you become aware of your wrong turns and get you back on your journey.

 If you don't have a plan and aren't tracking small changes, you may not see the progress you are actually making! You may also have no idea that something IS or IS NOT working!

Your HOW needs to be a plan. And that plan may change but you NEED something to get you started with clear direction.

You can search Google for ideas and make your plan.  You can hire a professional to help make your plan.  The point is to make a plan for your goal and work that plan!

Benefits of Celery

Celery is that crunchy green stuff normally enjoyed with dips or to cool the mouth while eating hot wings.   It is not normally a go-to snack for most people....but maybe it should be.  Celery has many health benefits. 


**This vegetable is actually loaded with significant amounts of vitamins (A, B, C, K), calcium, magnesium, and potassium. But if celery were to have an elevator pitch, the hook would be its phytonutrients. These chemicals are used by plants to keep insects and damaging sun rays away, but the effects on humans are far more impressive.


Phytonutrients have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, they can enhance the immune system and intracellular communication, and they can repair DNA damage that results from toxins. According to the US Department of Agriculture, consuming phytonutrients on a regular basis has had measurable results as an effective strategy in combating cancer and heart disease.

Celery is low in calories (one stack is only 10-15 calories) and its fiber content of 1.6 grams per cup can put a stop to unhealthy cravings.  

If you’re at risk for cardiovascular disease and cancer, adding celery to your diet can help you prevent chronic inflammation (which is a condition that’s closely related to those diseases).

A study by the University of Chicago found that a chemical found in celery called phthalide reduced cholesterol levels by 7 percent and blood pressure by 18 percent.

People who suffer from stomach problems and constipation know the importance of including fiber in their diet. Celery’s fiber content can help keep your bowel movements healthy, among other things.

Vitamin A, one of the main vitamins found in celery, is known as a vitamin capable of protecting the cornea. This vitamin is also effective in treating dry eyes.

The magnesium in celery is known to have a relaxing effect in the nervous system. In fact, Hippocrates, the father of medicine, once wrote that celery should be used to calm the nerves and for falling asleep. It’s also been historically used to treat disorders related to the nervous system.

  Because of its low acidity, celery can help you stabilize the PH levels in your body and stop acidic buildup. 

**Based on article in providr.com      

Now that you know there is so much goodness to this simple green veggie, why not keep some cut up in the fridge and ready to grab as a go-to snack?  What have you got to lose?

Research the Keto Diet

This keto diet is appropriately controversial because there are DEFINITELY pros and cons. It’s the cons that worry me. And this article does a good job of covering most of them. That said, you also need to know that ketosis over a long period of time is extremely hard on your kidney and liver. If you are considering this diet or currently doing it read this piece.

https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Pros-Cons-Keto-Diet-44104824

I am not completely knocking the Keto Diet, I only ask then if this is something you intend to do, please seek the advice of a nutritionist to help oversee you.  Also, do your own research and don't just follow a variation of this diet because you saw it on the internet or your friend said to do it this way...but they do not have a nutritional background.

Know your ingredients

Knowing what is in your supplements is important. Don't just take anything...and don't just grab the cheapest stuff off the grocery shelf.  Do your research and ensure the ingredients you are putting in your body are not only safe, but know what they are supposed to do. 

🔹️Chromium allows insulin to be used more efficiently. Most people know insulin is needed to regulate our blood sugar but you probably don't know that it is also a fat storing hormone. By controlling your insulin you can allow your body to build muscle and burn fat daily. The main ingredient in Plexus Slim is chromium.

🔹️Probiotics have been shown to affect both your health and athletic performance. Here are just some benefits: Enhanced immune functioning. Improved sleep and less sugar cravings. Improvements of blood lipid levels. Reduced muscle damage and improved muscular recovery. ProBio5 is a probiotic unlike any other that actually breaks through the exoskeleton of the yeast in your gut.

🔹️Magnesium plays a number of roles in the body, being required for more than 325 enzymatic reactions, including those involved in the synthesis of fat, protein and nucleic acids, neurological activity, muscular contraction and relaxation, cardiac activity and bone metabolism. The main ingredient in plexus BioCleanse is magnesium.

🔹️Omega supplements provide various health benefits which include a reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, as well as anti-inflammatory properties, and enhanced brain and joint function. They also have muscle-building and fat-loss benefits for athletes.  MegaX is an amazing omega supplement that uses plants as their source of omegas instead of fish. No fish burps!

🔹️Multivitamins: For the human body to complete all the tasks it has in a normal day, it must be given a wide and complex variety of vital nutrients. Combine these with the power of aloe to increase vitamin absorption and you have a supercharged multivitamin. XFactor+ is a patented multivitamin that actually has aloe Vera in it which allows your body to heal itself from the inside out and also helps your body absorb vitamins up to 300% better! And it's fully methylated!

Don't skip breakfast

Eating breakfast within an hour of waking seems to be common sense, but some of us might do it after a commute to the office or even after arriving at the office.  Or we may be part of the 10-30% of people who skip breakfast entirely.We all have our excuses why we don’t eat breakfast immediately after waking.  We may be pressed for time or we’re just not hungry.  But the benefits of eating breakfast within the first hour of waking are really great. If you can do so, every day it’d be a productive and happy one.

This is what will happen when you eat breakfast after an hour of waking:

1.  When you eat within one hour of waking your blood sugar and insulin levels become regulated and you kick-start your metabolism.

If you’re looking to lose weight or even maintain your weight eating breakfast within the first hour allows the body to immediately regulate insulin and blood sugar levels and kick-start your metabolism. When your blood sugar and insulin levels are regulated the body has the necessary energy resources to power you throughout your day.

When you sleep your metabolism naturally slows down because your body has fewer requirements. By eating breakfast within the first hour of waking you give your metabolism a jump start by initiating thermogenesis (the metabolic process of digesting and transporting food). To keep your metabolism running at full capacity you must eat frequent meals, beginning with eating breakfast within the first hour of waking.

2.  When you don’t eat breakfast within one hour of waking you may be more likely to eat low-nutrient, high-calorie foods out of hunger.

I’m sure you have experienced a time when you didn’t eat breakfast within the first hour of waking up and waited to eat until lunch time.  Most likely during lunch you consumed high-calorie and low-nutrient foods.  The benefit of eating breakfast within an hour of waking is that it helps you eat sensibly throughout your day.

When you eat breakfast within an hour of waking you ward off hunger pangs which in turn combats overeating throughout your day.

3.  Studies have found eating within one hour of waking improves your mood and cognition for the day.

Some research suggests eating within an hour of waking improves your mood by feeding your brain immediately.  Thus in turn, allows for improved clarity, memory and cognitive ability.

Think of skipping breakfast as running a car low on gas.  The car is low on energy and it doesn’t perform efficiently.  Food is fuel for your body. By fueling your body within an hour of waking it prevents you from feeling tired and irritable throughout your day.

Conclusion:

Eating within the first hour of waking can be hard. We may be strapped for time or not hungry at all.  But when you make the choice to eat breakfast within the first hour of waking you set your mind and body up for a successful and energetic day.

* Article from Lifehack.org 

Is Food Enough?

Dr. Mark Hyman: " ‘Can I get all the nutrients I need from food?' a patient will occasionally ask. On the surface, this makes sense. After all, if you are eating a whole, fresh, unprocessed foods diet, shouldn’t you be able to get an abundant supply of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients?

Unfortunately, things aren’t that easy. We cannot get away from the need for nutritional supplements. Even with a perfect diet, the combination of many things—including our depleted soils, the storage and transportation of our food, genetic alterations of traditional heirloom species, and the increased stress and nutritional demands resulting from a toxic environment—make it impossible for us to get the vitamins and minerals we need solely from the foods we eat.

Simply put, the evidence shows we cannot get away from the need for nutritional supplements."

Quality health supplements are essential to our health!

The Mighty Avocado

Mmmm....I LOVE a good avocado.  The problem I have though is I am not very good at picking a good avocado from the store.   I look at the color, I give a gentle squeeze, I ask by-standers for help.  I am avocado picking challenged.

This is usually what I end up with.

Don't even get me started on how expensive these nutrition packed fruits are.  And then to end up scooping out a whole lot of bad spots or outright throwing the whole thing away.  The whole process can be quite maddening.   

Not anymore!  I have discovered individually quick frozen avocado chunks and I am in love!  This product makes it so easy to get my healthy fat in without the waste.  I simply take a few chunks out to thaw and use as if they were the fresh thing.  I add to my daily protein smoothie, spread on whole wheat toast, add to salads or even just eat the way they are. 

Why am I so obsessed with the mighty avocado?  You just sit right back and let me tell you about this super food.

Here are some of the most abundant nutrients, in a single 3.5 ounce (100 gram) serving:

• Vitamin K: 26% of the RDA.
• Folate: 20% of the RDA.
• Vitamin C: 17% of the RDA.
• Potassium: 14% of the RDA.
• Vitamin B5: 14% of the RDA.
• Vitamin B6: 13% of the RDA.
• Vitamin E: 10% of the RDA.
• Then it contains small amounts of Magnesium, Manganese, Copper, Iron, Zinc, Phosphorous, Vitamin A, B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin) and B3 (Niacin).

This is coming with 160 calories, 2 grams of protein and 15 grams of healthy fats. Although it contains 9 grams of carbs, 7 of those are fiber so there are only 2 "net" carbs, making this a low carb friendly plant food.

Avocados contain more potassium than bananas.  Potassium is an important mineral that most people don't get enough of. Avocados are very high in it which may help support healthy blood pressure levels.

  Avocados are loaded with heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, they are a high fat food.  In fact, 77% of the calories are from fat.  But not just any old fat, this is GOOD fat.  The majority of the fat comes from Oleic Acid which has been linked to reduced inflammation and been shown to have beneficial effects on genes linked to cancer.

Let's talk fiber for a moment...yep, these babies are loaded with it!  Soluble fiber is known to be able to feed the friendly gut bacteria in the intestine...so so so very important, but good gut bacteria is a post for another day. The high fiber content also help you to feel more satisfied, which may lead to less snacking, which may lead to weight loss.  WIN!

Avocados may help reduce total cholesterol levels significantly, reduce blood triglycerides, lower LDL (bad) Cholesterol and increase HDL (good) cholesterol.  Seriously, who couldn't use a little help in the heart health area?

When eating your healthy veggies, would you like to absorb the most nutrients possible?  Well of course you would.  Some nutrients are "fat soluble," meaning that they need to be combined with fat in order to be utilized.  This includes vitamins A, D, E and K... along with antioxidants like carotenoids.  The mighty avocado can dramatically increase the nutrient value of other plant foods you are eating.

Speaking of antioxidants, not only do avocados increase antioxidant absorption from other foods, they are also high in antioxidants themselves.  This includes nutrients called Lutein and Zeaxanthin, which are incredibly important for eye health.

 To sum it up, avocados are an awesome food. They're loaded with many nutrients that are sadly  lacking in the modern diet.  They are weight loss friendly, heart healthy and... last but not least, taste incredible.

What more could you ask for in a food?