Orange County, California (PRWEB) January 06, 2012

Join top Nutritionist Stella Metsovas as she heats up the kitchen at Bloomingdales, South Coast Plaza. Metsovas will be demonstrating how one can please their palate and improve their health, with an authentic and delicious Paleo Diet Mediterranean meal.

Named “One of America’s Health Experts” by Woman’s Day magazine, Metsovas is regularly featured in top media outlets such as People, Shape, Glamour, AOL, New York Times and more. Through eight years of research in her private practice, Metsovas has created an entirely unique diet method – the Paleo Mediterranean diet. It is the first of its kind as it stems from the roots of human DNA and incorporates Mediterranean principles that are essential for health.

The Paleolithic diet consists of grass-fed meat, free-range fowl or wild-caught fish, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and generous portions of healthy fats – including nuts, seeds, avocados, olive oil and coconut oil. Grains, legumes, dairy products, sugar, vegetable oils and processed foods are absent from this diet. In essence, it’s what man ate millions of years ago before the dawn of agriculture.

The Paleo diet has been shown to have a host of heath benefits; including it’s proven success in patients with type 2 diabetes. During a 3-month study comparing a Paleolithic diet and a Diabetes diet, the Paleo diet better improved glycemic control and several cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Join Stella on January 14th at Bloomingdales, South Coast Plaza, as she demonstrates how to create her phenomenal low-carb Paleo Moussaka. It is sure to be an afternoon of culinary education and delightful surprises; attendees will also have the chance to win a free FDA Approved Metabolic Test.

About Stella Metsovas
Stella Metsovas is a clinical nutritionist, based in Los Angeles and Orange County California. An expert in Food Science and Human Nutrition, Stella has over 15 years of experience in the health and fitness industries. http://www.stellametsovas.com.

About Bloomingdales, South Coast Plaza
Bloomingdale’s is America’s only nationwide, full-line, upscale department store and a division of Macy’s, Inc. Bloomingdales South Coast Plaza is located at 3333 South Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. For more information visit http://www.bloomingdales.com or call 714.824.4600.

Although alcohol does not contain any fat itself, it is filled with calories. There’s a reason why a beer belly is named as such, and this is it. Alcohol is a source of “empty calories” because it has no nutritional value, but it sure has the calories. And calories from alcohol tend to be stored directly in the gut, causing increased body fat in the last place we’d ever want it!

One beer every night adds 1,036 additional calories per week, or 15 pounds to your stomach per year. While at the time it might just seem like one casual beer, its effects really add up.

In addition to the high caloric intake, there are several other negative affects of drinking alcohol on the body.
Here are just a few:

• According to recent medical studies, alcohol consumption causes the body to cease the maintaining of healthy blood glucose levels. Over time, excessive alcohol consumption can decrease insulin’s effectiveness, resulting in high and often, unhealthy, blood sugar levels.

• A further study revealed at the American College of Gastroenterology showed that just one drink per day for women, or two for men, could lead to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, which causes bloating, gas, abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea.
• Scientists have found that this bacterial overgrowth influences metabolism and weight. How? The different types of bacteria found within our intestines function together to affect how many calories we extract from our food and whether we make or burn fat—two key factors in establishing a healthy weight. So, drinking alcohol can throw off the body’s natural balance and ability to metabolize food properly.

If those aren’t enough reasons to make you think twice about having a casual drink, don’t forget the calorie content. One glass of wine, whether red or white, packs in around 120 calories; and with about four glasses of wine per bottle, that brings a bottle’s calorie total to around 480 calories, nearly as many as in a Big Mac!

Mark Sisson from Marks Daily Apple did a great job breaking down the question: Is alcohol good for you?  The response can be found here.

Yours in Health,

Stella Metsovas

Staff Writer: Katie Husa

Despite recent trends toward dieting and low-carb crazes, heart disease is continuing to strike Americans at an alarmingly high rate. Two-thirds of adults are obese, while children are being diagnosed with Type II diabetes at an increasing rate. It seems as though all the efforts and trends toward a healthier lifestyle have had no effect on the data. So why is this?

A study was performed in rural China in order to determine the connection between nutrition and heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The report has been nationally acclaimed, receiving recognition from The New York Times as the “Grand Prix of epidemiology” and the “most comprehensive large study ever undertaken of the relationship between diet and the risk of developing disease.”

The leading researcher on this project, Dr. Campbell, author of The China Study, states of his research, “I propose to do nothing less than redefine what we think of as good nutrition. You need to know the truth about food, and why eating the right way can save your life.” Early in his career, Dr. Campbell promoted better health by eating more meat, milk, and eggs. However, after doing research in the Philippines as to why so many children were being diagnosed with liver cancer, Dr. Campbell discovered that children who consumed the highest amounts of protein were most likely to get liver cancer. The China project was ultimately inspired by this research, resulting in the partnership of Cornell University, Oxford University, and the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine.

What were the findings of this study? According to Dr. Campbell, “People who ate the most animal-based foods got the most chronic disease…People who ate the most plant-based foods were the healthiest and tended to avoid chronic disease.”

Although the China diet as set forth by the findings of Dr. Campbell has obtained a large amount of publicity, there is an equal amount of criticism to his findings. China study criticism includes comments made by Dr. Eades, a well-known blogging nutritionist.  Of the China study, he wrote, “But in the end it is still only an observational study. And even though—again, according to Dr. Campbell—there are over 8000 statistically significant correlations, correlations are not causation.”

Dr. Eades is correct in his statement that correlation does not prove causation, as in the case of Dr. Campbell’s findings in the China study. As writers for The Weston A. Price Foundation note, “The Chinese recognize the relationship of diet to good health, and believe that the ideal diet is one that stresses both diversity and balance.” Finding a balance between consumption of proteins and plant-based products is the best way to ensure a healthier lifestyle and protect against cancer and disease.

To buy the China Study from Amazon click here.

Yours in Health,

Stella Metsovas B.S., CCN

Staff Writer: Katie Husa

What is oregano? We often associate it with pizza, but oregano’s benefits go far beyond topping cheese. Oregano is an herb that flourishes in warm-temperate climates like western Eurasia and the Mediterranean region. It has an aromatic, warm and sometimes bitter taste, and its flavors can vary in intensity based on the conditions in which its cultivated. Oregano is prominent in Italian-America cuisine (it’s often called the “pizza herb”), but is also found in Greek, Spanish and Latin American dishes.

Oregano oil is composed of two key components, carvacrol and thymol, which provide many health benefits. The oil is known to strengthen the immune system, improve respiratory functions and digestive functions, increase joint movement and treat skin infections. Oregano could naturally help eliminate allergies and sinus problems. A few drops of oregano oil mixed with juice is a natural remedy for sinus congestion. According to an article by Amr Edris published in Wiley InterScience, essential oils like oregano oil can help protect the body against carcinogenesis and suppress and prevent cancer.

Oregano oil can be purchased at most health or nutrition stores. For the greatest benefit, look for oil that has a carvacrol concentration of at least 70%.

Favorite brand of therapeutic use of oregano (always check with your doctor before taking any new supplements, especially if you’re taking prescribed medications): Gaia Herbs Oil of Oregano

Stella’s Greek Spice Rub

Yours in Health,

Stella Metsovas B.S., CCN

Staff Writer: Libby Craig

W8less Nutrition

Los Angeles / Laguna Beach

The average American spends the majority of each day sitting—whether it be in a car, on the couch, or at a desk. Some exercise routinely but still live a sedentary lifestyle. What is sedentary? It refers to a lifestyle containing little or no physical activity. As Americans, we race from the traffic-jammed highways to our constricting desks at work. But is this type of lifestyle increasing the risk for chronic disease?

Researchers at the University of Missouri say “yes”. They have found that physical inactivity, a lifestyle led by a quarter of Americans, is “the primary cause of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity and fatty liver disease.” And according to John Thyfault, assistant professor in the departments of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology and Internal Medicine, exercise may not be enough to combat the risk.  Thyfault claims, “If people spend the majority of their time sitting, even with regular periods of exercise, they are still at greater risk for chronic diseases.”

What is chronic disease?

In addition to diabetes and obesity, one type of chronic disease is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which “is a relatively new epidemic related to the recent increase in obesity and physical inactivity rates”, explains Scott Rector, assistant professor in the departments of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology and Internal Medicine.  Although a new epidemic, NAFLD is the most common chronic liver condition among adults in the United States.  As a result of excess fat in the liver, the body possesses a stronger resistance to insulin which can ultimately lead to type II diabetes.

Chronic vs. Acute

So what’s the solution?

Rector recommends that adults and children alike take at least 10,000 steps each day. Making small changes to daily routines can gradually increase this number and thereby prevent the weight gain that can raise the risk of chronic disease. Going to the gym regularly will often not be enough—it takes conscious daily changes in order to lead a fully active lifestyle. Rector suggests, “taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking to a coworker’s office rather than calling, or planning time for short walks throughout the day.” On average, Europeans walk 10,000 steps per day, while twenty-five percent of Americans take less than 5,000 steps per day. In addition to making daily changes, the use of a pedometer watch can assist in getting more steps per day.

My recommendation for getting in more ‘steps per day’ is using a watch-pedometer (includes a heart rate as well):  I have a New Balance HRT FIT, although you can purchase any of these from Google Shopping Link

While merely going to the gym may not be enough to prevent chronic disease, incorporating exercise and activity into daily routine, in addition to limiting intake of high-caloric foods, are the best solutions.

Yours in Health,

Stella Metsovas

Staff Writer: Katie Husa

W8less Nutriton

Laguna Beach / Los Angeles

Deciding to purchase organic fruit can be daunting, but teasing out the fruits with the highest pesticide loads can help you prioritize when you shop. Steering clear of the 10 worst non-organic fruits can help prevent you from harming your body and the environment.

Shopping Cart Filled With Fruit

Before deciding whether or not to buy “organic” it is important to understand what the term means. By definition, organic foods are produced without any pesticides, chemical fertilizers, artificial additives, antibiotics, or any genetically modified organisms. Food producers that label their food as “organic” must meet specific criteria and obtain a special certification. The United States Department of Agriculture regulates national organic standards set by the federal government. Organic food products are currently the fastest growing sector of the food industry in the United States. The organic sector uses more natural substances than those used in conventional production, reducing harm to the environment during production.

The List

The Environmental Working Group generates a list, ranking the various fruits and vegetables from best to worst when in regards to pesticide contamination. The list helps consumers prioritize which fruits and vegetables they should aim to buy organically. From 2000 to 2008, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Federal Food and Drug Administration analyzed 49 most consumed fruits and vegetables that during that time period. The list reflects the overall pesticide load found in common produce.

Top-ten Dirtiest Fruits

So how do your favorite fruits measure up? The list ranks peaches as the fruit with the heaviest pesticide load. The following fruits make up the list of 10 worst non-organic fruits ranked from highest to lowest pesticide load: strawberries, apples, blueberries, nectarines, cherries, grapes, pears, plums, and raspberries.

Pesticides

The pesticide analysis conducted by the USDA and the FDA found that more than 96% of peaches tested positive for pesticides. Nectarines were not far behind with 95.1% testing positive for pesticides, and then apples with 93.6% testing positive. Additional findings from the analysis show that strawberries and domestic blueberries each had 13 pesticides detected on a single sample. Second were peaches and apples, with 9 pesticides on one sample. Peaches had also been treated with more pesticides than any other produce, and they contained combinations of 67 different chemicals. Strawberries were second-worst, with 53 pesticides, and then apples with 47 pesticides.

Buying organic produce often times costs more so it is helpful to dedicate your top dollar to the fruit with the highest amounts of pesticides, those which are the most harmful to your body and the environment.

Yours in Health,

Stella Metsovas B.S., CCN

Head Staff Writer: Michele Wolff

Do you need to supplement with digestive enzymes?  We naturally produce digestive enzymes in saliva, stomach, pancreas, and the small intestine.  If our bodies naturally produce enzymes to facilitate digestion, then why do we need to supplement digestive enzymes.

The Westernized diet is pretty much devoid of fresh foods that naturally contain living enzymes.  When you’re filling up on processed foods (they contain no living particles because of processing and pasteurization), the body will work in overtime trying to digest these foods.

Digestion

Naturopathic physicians strongly advise in using digestive enzymes to enhance digestive capabilities.  Many uses for supplementing with digestive enzymes include:

• Digestive enzymes for bloating
• Digestive enzymes for candida
• Digestive enzymes for diabetes
• Digestive enzymes for acid reflux
• Digestive enzymes for intestinal cleansing
• Digestive enzymes and weight loss

Should you take digestive enzymes before or after eating?  My advice is 15 minutes prior to consuming your meals.

My favorite best digestive enzyme supplements include:

• Garden of Life Omega-Zyme
• Life Extension Enhanced Super Digestive w Probiotics (my personal favorite)
• Enzymedica Digest Gold, CarbGest

I also recommend reading Enzyme Nutrition by Dr. Edward Howell.  You can purchase from Amazon, here.

Always consult with your medical doctor before beginning with supplementation.

Yours in Health,

Stella Metsovas

You may be wondering to yourself, “What does BPA stand for.” If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably heard people talking about it on the news a lot in recent months. So what’s the BPA-free craze all about and why should you care?

Chemical Structure: Bisphenol A or BPA

Bisphenol A (referred to as BPA), has been linked to several health issues that might concern you. Studies have shown that BPA mimics estrogen, binding to the same receptors as the natural female hormone in our bodies. Repeated exposure to BPA may be associated with infertility problems, sexual dysfunction, breast cancer, prostate cancer, early onset of puberty, and other health issues. This industrial chemical is used in plastics and numerous consumer products. You can find BPA in canned food especially, used to prevent corrosion and food contamination.  It’s no coincidence that BPA free food storage containers are the new craze. There is even the Starbucks BPA-free contigo travel mug.

A recent study conducted by the Breast Cancer Fund and Silent Spring Institute found that families that avoided canned foods or foods packaged in plastic, and instead ate clean, fresh food, had 60% lower levels of BPA after just three days. So how can you avoid exposing your body to this harmful chemical? Look for BPA free dinnerware and BPA-free baby bottles, never microwave plastic, avoid plastic containers marked with the number 7 on the bottom, and until there are BPA free cans on the market, buy foods from cardboard cartons instead. Try to use glass or stainless steal containers when storing food, and as always cook cleanly, using fresh foods you make yourself.

For mothers who’d like to make baby food at home, Stella Metsovas recommends the baby brezza bpa free one step baby food maker.  You can find the product here.

Article by Michele Wolff

You may have been hearing about gluten sensitivity in the media a lot lately, but what does being intolerant to gluten really mean? And how can you tell if you are being affected by gluten in your diet? First off, “gluten” is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and other grains that can trigger a reaction in the immune system and intestines among people with a sensitivity to it. Gluten is typically found in foods like bread and bakery items, pasta, cereal, pizza, fried vegetables, products containing flour, as well as many other processed foods. Experts estimate that 1 in 20 people have some form of gluten sensitivity symptoms, varying among cases.

Inflammatory Reaction to Susceptible Persons Caused by Gluten

When someone if intolerant to gluten, the body thinks that gluten is a foreign invader and creates antibodies to fight it off, attacking the small intestine and generating gastrointestinal problems. Common symptoms that arise in people with sensitivity to gluten present themselves in the form of stomach issues and bowel problems, including gas and bloating, headaches, fatigue, and balance difficulty.  Gluten intolerance and losing weight can be closely related because of the inability to properly digest the protein found in gluten.

Although there is no official testing for gluten intolerance and there are no defined symptoms per se, experts recommend that if you think you may be sensitive to gluten that you first receive a blood test for Celiac disease. As for now, there is no treatment for gluten intolerance and following a gluten-free diet is the best you can do to manage your symptoms (List of foods containing gluten can be found here). Luckily there is an increasing availability of gluten-free products on the market these days. Sales of gluten-free products last year were estimated to be $2.6 billion. And with all this attention surrounding gluten sensitivity it might not be too long before a gluten free McDonalds pops up in your neighborhood.

Yours in Health,

Stella Metsovas B.S., CCN

Staff Writer: Michele Wolff

Interested in learning more about the Paleo Diet?  Of course you could purchase a popular book, like Mark Sisson Primal Blueprint, or Google ‘primal diet’ to learn more about the basic fundamentals of what’s involved.  The fun of learning about the primal lifestyle can be found in popular primal diet blogs.

• Mark Sisson Blog ‘Mark’s Daily Apple’
• My Quirky Life on Tumblr
• Jen’s Gone Paleo
• Girl Gone Primal
• Everyday Paleo
• Living Primal
• Vegetarian Paleo Diet

FYI:  The information suggested above does not mean I recommend the Paleo Diet.  This is for informative purposes only.
Yours in Health,

Stella Metsovas B.S., CCN