Trudy Scott

Gluten Elimination Challenge: An Easy Way to Figure Out If It Affects You! (part 2)

March 31, 2011 By Trudy Scott 20 Comments

The easiest and most affordable way to figure out if gluten affects you is to do a 2-week gluten elimination trial (and see how you feel) and then provoke or challenge with gluten (and see how you feel). The 2 week trial will mean zero consumption of food containing wheat, rye, barley, spelt, kamut, triticale or oats. Oats must also be excluded as they are frequently contaminated with gluten during processing. It really is best that you eat home-made, real, whole foods (always, but especially during the trial) as gluten is so often “hidden” in many processed foods. Watch for ingredients like hydrolyzed protein, textured vegetable protein and all derivatives of wheat, oats, rye and barley (including barley malt, modified starch, most soy sauces and natural flavoring).

Other wonderful grains and nutritious starchy vegetables

Rice, corn and buckwheat are acceptable, as are the wonderful ancient grains like quinoa and amaranth. You can find gluten-free-everything – pasta, crackers, you-name-it – made from rice, bean, potato, coconut and corn flour. There are also many wonderful recipes books but some call for margarine, soy milk and excessive sugar – so make substitutions as needed. Rather than simply replacing the problem grain with another grain, consider incorporating more vegetables into your diet. Starchy vegetables like sweet potato and squashes are a wonderfully nutritious source of carbohydrates.

Adding back the gluten

Once you have removed the gluten from your diet and seen improvements in your mood and other symptoms (digestive, pain, skin etc), add it back after 2 weeks and see if it affects you adversely. This test is often more powerful for my clients than any lab test. I’ve seen symptoms ranging from severe mood swings to terrible anxiety to stomach aches to general aches and pains to fatigue and brain fog (and all of the above in some very sensitive individuals). If you experience any of the above, then it’s important that you remove gluten from your diet and work with someone to do additional testing. I’ll cover additional testing in a future blog post.

See here for part 1 (Gluten, your mood and your health) and read more about this and other food intolerances in my forthcoming book The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods you eat can calm your anxious mind, improve mood and end cravings. Find out more at www.antianxietyfoodsolution.com

Miso, seaweed and more: protection from radiation and other toxins

March 18, 2011 By Trudy Scott 14 Comments

With regards to what is happening in Japan, here is some sensible advice from Dr Elson Haas, MD: “While none of us really knows exactly what we are facing or what will truly protect us from radiation exposure, we can offer a few suggestions here. We encourage people to eat seaweed and miso soup, which may offer some protection and nourishment. Also, liquid trace minerals to help protect us and detox from heavy metals. Herbal adaptogens such as ginseng, especially Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), schizandra and ashwaganda may be protective as is milk thistle (silymarin), which supports liver detoxification. Also, the antioxidant nutrients that include vitamins A, C and E, as well as zinc and selenium may provide further protection.” Dr Haas also shares this important point: “Please realize that none of this is necessary at this time since we (here in California) are not being exposed directly to the problems occurring currently in Japan. If concerns about radiation levels increase in Japan, you are closer to the fallout, or we are finding increased levels here, we may need to become more proactive.”

While none of this is necessary (right now) when it come to the radiation in Japan, the above suggestions are really things you should consider always – to offer you protection from all heavy metals, environmental pollutants and toxins. We are exposed on a daily basis! And also consider the above suggestions if you fly a lot. You are exposed to radiation during flying. Whenever I’m doing a trip somewhere I eat plenty of miso before and afterwards. And make sure your detoxification pathways are working well by doing a detox a few times a year.

Eating real whole food will, of course, provide you with an abundance of minerals and antioxidants. Include are garlic and onions (high in sulfur) and veggies like broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. Here is some additional information on miso and seaweed…

Seaweed is naturally rich in minerals, including iodine, iron, and magnesium. Try adding dulse or kelp to soups and stews. Nori is the seaweed used in sushi and is a great snack!

Miso is a fermented soybean paste. You can also find miso made from rice, barley, and other beans if soy is an issue for you. Just make sure it’s organic and raw. And don’t heat miso, as this destroys its beneficial properties. Mix about 1 tablespoon into some water and add it to your food, such as a bowl of soup or stew, just before serving. It’s also great as a warm beverage.

This Japanese event is awful beyond words – doing a blog this week just didn’t feel right – but we need to take care of ourselves and our families, give thanks for what we have, don’t panic, do what we can to help in the way of donations, and send our blessings to the Japanese people.

Scarlett Johansson Oscars 2011: snacks and salmon!

March 3, 2011 By Trudy Scott 16 Comments

Scarlett Johansson looked absolutely stunning at the 2011 Oscars and you’ll never guess what she ate before she came – salmon!

Scarlett was interviewed on the Red Carpet and was asked: what is the most important thing about getting ready for the Oscars – the dress, the hair, the jewellery…?

And this is what she said: For me, what I eat before I come to the Oscars, is the most important thing. She said she’d actually just eaten some salmon and that it’s important to eat something good to control your blood sugar. She also said that it’s a little known fact that the celebs bring snacks to the Oscars.

Awesome and brilliant! Having some salmon or other form of protein or fat like eggs, meat or chicken before heading out to a big event will do wonders for keeping your blood sugar stable and keeping you feeling great, calm, stress-free and focused. Some great snack ideas to carry with you when you know you won’t be eating for awhile: nuts, fruit, grass-fed jerky, salmon jerky and my all time favorite, pemmican. A boiled egg is great too but may not go down well at the Oscars!

And yes I watched the Oscars! I have so much to learn about style and fashion! I’m a late bloomer….I’m the typical outdoorsy tomboy – love to travel, camp, bike, climb, ski and generally I’m happy to “rough-it”. But last year I decided to up-level my image and I worked with image consultant Anne Berit Olvsk. I had my colors done and I now actually enjoying shopping for clothes. So I figured the Oscars would be a great way to see some great style – outfits, hair, make-up, accessories, colors and more – and it was not disappointing! Scarlett looked stunning (check her out here and here), I got some great tips and heard Scarlett’s great food and snack advice! Yay Scarlett Johannson!

Gluten, your mood and your health (part 1)

February 28, 2011 By Trudy Scott 17 Comments

Looking at whole-wheat with a different set of eyes is so important if you have any mental or physical concerns! Perhaps you are one of the many people who cannot tolerate wheat and other gluten-containing grains. Wheat, rye, barley, spelt and kamut all contain gluten. Oats is often contaminated with gluten during processing and transportation. It really is best that you eat home-made, real, whole foods as gluten is so often “hidden” in many processed foods. Processed foods often contain ingredients like hydrolyzed protein, textured vegetable protein and derivatives of wheat, oats, rye and barley (including barley malt, modified starch, soy sauce and natural flavoring).

There are many studies supporting the gluten-mood connection – anxiety, social phobia, depression and schizophrenia. A study titled” Psychiatric symptoms and celiac disease” states that celiac disease “should be taken into consideration in patients with psychiatric disorders particularly if you are not responsive to psychopharmacological therapy, because withdrawal of gluten from the diet usually results in disappearance of symptoms”. Gluten can also cause fatigue, aches and pains, poor focus and of course digestive problems like constipation.

I assess all my clients for gluten intolerance and the majority have seen dramatic improvements on a gluten-free diet – improved mood, no more anxiety, more energy, better sleep and improved digestion. One of my clients saw an almost complete resolution of the eczema that had been plaguing her for over 10 years, was able to get off her antidepressants and lost over 10 pounds. Another client has her Hashimotos thyroiditis (an autoimmune disease) under control as a result of removing gluten from her diet. I’ve seen a number of people who have seen improvements in their rheumatoid arthritis (also an autoimmune disease) when they quit gluten.

You’ve probably seen it as a common theme in many of my presentations and many of my blog posts, such as Good Day Sacramento, Exercise and Food for Mood and Detox, Get Healthy and Lose Weight

I cover this subject extensively in my forthcoming book The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods you eat can calm your anxious mind, improve mood and end cravings. Find out more at www.antianxietyfoodsolution.com

This is part 1 of the gluten-mood connection – part 2 is all about doing a 2-week gluten elimination trial so you can determine is gluten is possibly a problem food for you!

Food and Mood on Good Day Sacramento: Eggs are ok!

February 2, 2011 By Trudy Scott 27 Comments

My Food-Mood TV debut on Good Day Sacramento was a blast! And there really was a green “Green Room” where I waited to go on and watched what was happening in the studio. It went by so fast but I was well-prepared and loved it! And I was thrilled to share my message about Food and Mood for stress, anxiety and worry, depression, irritability and mood swings.

Now you get to enjoy it either watching and listening or reading the summary below. If you watch and listen…take note right at the end when someone (he’ll remain un-named!) yells that they want the sugar! It’s too funny!

Change Your Food – Change Your Mood!

Stress & overwhelm – Eat breakfast always & include protein. THE most important tip for all my clients is to eat breakfast every single day and include some protein such as eggs – this sets them up for the rest of the day so they don’t have blood sugar swings. And eggs (including the yolks!) really are ok to eat!
Anxiety & worry – Quit caffeine and try some herbal tea. There are a subset of people who are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine, found in coffee, tea, sodas, medications and even chocolate.
Depression – Eat grass-fed red meat and salmon or sardines. Beef jerky is one such choice. Grass-fed red meat actually has the same amount of omega-3s as salmon!
Irritability – Quit sugar and diet sodas. Sugary foods are empty calories and they deplete us of nutrients we need to feel calm and happy – like the B vitamins and zinc. 1 soda has a LOT of sugar: approximately 12 teaspoons and if you drink 5 sodas a week you’re consuming 60 teaspoons of sugar. Fruit is a much better choice. Sugar also has many other harmful effects
Mood swings – Avoid wheat and other gluten-containing grains such as oats, rye & barley – use rice and other non-gluten grains instead

In summary eat like our grandparents ate or as you did as a child – real whole food – quit the processed foods with sugars, additives, colors and ingredients you can’t pronounce!

You can use the amazing healing power of foods to improve your mood naturally so you can feel on top of the world without having to resort to medications!

I would like to add that is very simplistic and we are all unique individuals with our own unique biochemistry and nutritional needs – so what may work for one person may not work for the next person …but making the change to real whole food is a great starting place and implementing some of the above changes makes a huge difference for most people.

Much of the information covered is addressed in a special report called 5 Simple Steps to Reduce Anxiety Now, available at www.antianxietyfoodsolution.com

Vitamin D for seasonal anxiety and depression, good immunity and more

January 21, 2011 By Trudy Scott 17 Comments

Have you had your vitamin D levels checked lately? And are you aware how common low vitamin D levels are, especially in the winter? And why it’s important to make sure your levels are good? Read on….

I have all my clients get their vitamin D level checked and the majority of them have low levels, especially during winter. Keep this in mind: if you completely cover yourself in sun-block during the summer you may find your levels are low during this time of the year too. During colder and darker days of winter, the winter blues or seasonal depression is more common and having sufficient vitamin D can actually improve your mood. As well as the winter blues, certain people who are prone to low serotonin have more severe anxiety during the darker days of winter – I call it the winter mauves – and vitamin D can help with this too! Winter is a season when you especially want your levels to be good because good levels are so important for immunity – so get your levels up and avoid the colds and flu. This amazing nutrient is also crucial for optimal bone and heart health and also helps protect against cancer and fibromyalgia.

Have your doctor check your vitamin D status with a simple blood test. This is what should be tested: 25-hydroxy-vitamin D.

There is a ton of vitamin D research going on and there are some differences as to what is considered the ideal level and how much to take.

Dr. John Cannell, founder of the Vitamin D Council makes these recommendations which I am totally in agreement with:

– the new vitamin D guidelines, released in November 2010 (600 IU /day for adults up to age seventy) are still too low

– take 5000 IU daily until your level is between 50 and 80 ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter), the midpoint of the current lab reference range of 32 to 100 ng/mL

– once your levels are ideal, take a maintenance dose of 2000 to 5000 IU per day

– and then test your levels every three months (you should see your levels increase pretty quickly over a 3 month period)

When supplementing, be sure to take vitamin D₃ (cholecalciferol). You can now find really good vitamin D supplements in 1000 IU, 2000 IU and 5000 IU doses and many companies are now making it in convenient drops which are easier for some of my clients (and also children) to take.

Dr. John Cannell and the Vitamin D Council is a great resource for recent findings and information www.vitamindcouncil.org

And don’t forget to eat your deep water oily fish like sardines and salmon and plenty of pastured or organic eggs – all of which are great sources of vitamin D. Your body can also make its own vitamin D when you’re outdoors so get out in the sunshine and go for a walk or do something fun outside. And again a full-spectrum lamp is great to use during the winter. But if your levels are low you will need to supplement because food and sunshine (especially when further north like much of the USA) won’t be enough.

I find vitamin D so important for my clients with anxiety, and I devote a whole section on this important nutrient in my new book The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods you eat can calm your anxious mind, improve mood and end cravings. Find out more at www.antianxietyfoodsolution.com

Good vitamin D levels means feeling on top of the world, not getting sick, having a healthy heart and strong bones – and so much more.