Desert Health News - March-April 2024

. www.DesertHealthNews.com March/April 2024 Natural Options The Valley ' s Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 11 www.myoknetix.com Maribel Medical Massage Practitioner Sally Reiki Master Celeste Sports Massage Therapist John Strength/Conditioning Coach Hannah Manual Therapist Frank Fascia Stretch Therapist Functional Performance Health & Wellness Perform, Function & Live Pain-Free 760.695.4202 72205 Painters Path Palm Desert w .myoknetix.co Check out our monthly classes and events Offering: Medical Massage • Fascia Stretch • Rehabilitation & Movement Strength Conditioning • Nutrition • Holistic Health Anti-Aging Skincare • Sound Baths • Meditation & more! www.barefootbalance.com 760-401-1568 barefootbalance. om Bryan Paul & Stacey Michele Blackwell Certi ed Health Coaches We practice a holistic and balanced approach to health and wellness considering how all areas of your life are connected. Personal ized Integrat ive Heal th Coaching Stay balanced Gut health and hormone health for men and women Personalized nutrition planning Targeted meal plans Complimentary 30-minute virtual consultation You’ve probably heard the buzz – researchers and health professionals everywhere sounding off on the potential health risks associated with consuming industrial seed oils, such as soybean, canola, corn, sunflower and safflower oils. These oils, once heralded as heart-healthy alternatives to saturated fats, are now being scrutinized for their destructive effects on our brains, guts, hormones and overall health. I want to share a brief history of seed oils, their mass production process, their impact on health, and how we can make healthier choices at home and dining out. Seed oils can be traced back to the early 20th century, with the introduction of industrial processing techniques that enabled extraction of oil from seeds previously deemed unsuitable for human consumption. Mass production of these oils involves high heat, chemicals like hexane, and deodorization processes that strip the oil of nutrients and introduce harmful compounds. This highly unnatural process transforms what could be a nutritious ingredient into a product laden with trans fats and oxidized byproducts linked to chronic inflammation – a root cause of countless diseases. Consumption of industrial seed oils is associated with numerous health issues. In our brains, these oils can disrupt the delicate balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids (which are essential for brain health), leading to cognitive decline and increased risk of neurological diseases. In the gut, they can disrupt the composition of the gut microbiome, worsening conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Hormonally, the imbalance caused by excessive omega-6 fatty acids can disrupt insulin sensitivity, thyroid function and reproductive health. Thankfully, there are much healthier alternatives to industrially processed seed oils that can easily be incorporated into home cooking: Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a superior substitute when used for low-heat cooking and dressings due to its heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and anti-inflammatory properties. Coconut oil and grass-fed butter are better options for high-heat cooking. They provide saturated fats that are stable at high temperatures and beneficial for brain health. Avocado oil is another versatile, healthy fat for both cooking and cold dishes. When dining out, navigating the omnipresence of seed oils can be challenging, but not impossible. Politely asking your server if the kitchen can prepare your meal using olive oil, butter, or any available healthier fat can make a significant difference. Choosing foods less likely to contain seed oils, such as grilled meats and vegetables, salads with olive oil-based dressings or steamed dishes, is also helpful. The transition from industrial seed oils to natural, minimally processed, healthful fats is not simply a trend or dietary preference; it is a crucial step towards protecting our health. By making informed choices and advocating for healthier alternatives, we can mitigate the damaging effects of seed oils on our brain, gut and hormonal health. The journey begins in our kitchens and extends to our choices when dining away from home. Stacey Michele Blackwell, owner of Barefoot Balance Holistic Health, is a certified health coach specializing in integrative nutrition, digestive and hormone health. She can be reached at (760) 401.1568 or through www.barefootbalance.com Seed Oils: Industrial Revolution to Health Revelation By Stacey Michele Blackwell, CHC Living with Jennifer Di Francesco Wellness Our emotions can rule our lives. Imagine wearing a backpack full of rocks. Each rock has an emotion written on it that ranges in size and significance. This “mental satchel” may carry resentment, anger, anxiety, fear, despair or embarrassment - emotions that create stress and tension and can manifest in the physical body as headaches, tension, stomach issues or worse. If these emotions are stuffed away in one’s backpack for too long, residual harm to ourselves and potentially others may occur as we navigate this human experience. As children, we may remember walking with a lighter and more carefree essence. There was more time to play, imagine and dream. We can return to that lightness by developing some “mental feng shui.” As Rumi reminds us in his poem “The Guest House,” we can invite these emotions into our home and “entertain them all.” The following strategies can help us return to our inherent lightness and regain emotional sovereignty: Step I: Take each rock out of the mental satchel and hold it. Take each emotion out into the light and hold it with compassion. This act of loving kindness and taking stock of what is in your backpack moves the process from denial to acknowledgement. Supportive activity: Journaling to arrive at the heart of the matter is a cathartic process. Displaying the emotion on paper has the potential to expose what Carl Jung referred to as the prima materia – a spark of raw material we may find to expose the deeper callings of our heart. Step 2: Release the rock. Merely realizing that all our rocks are thoughts and thoughts are transitory (they come and go), can be reassuring. When insight towards an emotion turns to supportive realization, the weight of our backpack changes. Supportive activity: Meditation allows us to observe the transitory nature of the mind. By going inward and imagining that we are cradling a sensitive emotion, and in the next moment, releasing it without harm, we create personal agency. Step 3: Make time for play, rest and use of the imagination. What activities drop awareness right into the present moment? Is it taking time for tea, partaking in a sport, dancing or being in nature? When we start to engage the mind in a creative way instead of a habitual way, we move away from a fight or flight response and in a direction of emotional bandwidth, which creates a stronger ability to manage one’s emotions. Supportive activity: Become familiar with what brings you joy by making a list and ensuring these activities are part of each week. This personal list will be unique to each individual. By exposing, feeling and releasing emotions that weigh us down, we grow exponentially. As the Rumi expressed, “Even if they are a crowd of sorrows who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight.” It is difficult to imagine that uncomfortable emotions might not be the obstacle on our path; however, they could indeed be the beginning of a path towards growth. Jennifer Di Francesco is a wellness explorer and desert adventurist and can be reached at www.coachellabellaboho.com . Creating Emotional Sovereignty