Follow Us on Social
Weight Loss & Management
This information is not intended to replace appropriate professional advice. Please check labels for contraindications and consult your pharmacist if you are on prescription drugs. These suggestions are based on over 40 years of customer experience at Jo Anne's Place.
Achieving a healthy weight is about much more than a number on a scale. Focus on caring for YOURSELF and take pleasure in making changes that improve your health, your confidence, and quality of life. Make changes slowly, progress does not happen overnight. Most of all, treat yourself with love and kindness during the process.
A Balanced Alkaline Diet
- Drink 7-10 glasses of filtered or spring water. Chlorine can interfere with thyroid function, which impacts weight.
- Consume a diet that is 75-80%
alkaline forming with antioxidant rich fruits, vegetables, raw seeds, nuts, beans, legumes and whole grains. There is mounting evidence that a whole food, plant-forward diet is the best way to maintain a healthy weight and reduce your risk of cancer and heart disease.
- Organic foods are the safest way to nourish yourself - a wise investment!
- Have complete protein no later than lunch for better assimilation of amino acids.
- Combine foods for optimum digestion: fruit on an empty stomach 30 minutes before others foods – animal products and starches digest in very different gastric secretions and should not be eaten at the same meal (according to
food combining guidelines based on Ayurvedic practices).
- Take 2 tsp apple cider vinegar and honey (opt) in tepid water with meals. It increases thermogenesis, aids digestion, regulates blood sugar, and reduces fat storage.
- Have a ¼ teaspoon of nut butter (raw almond is alkalizing) at intervals through the day to balance blood sugar, stimulate your liver, and ease food cravings.
- 1-3 tbsp ground flax to promote hormone balance and a feeling of fullness.
- Use coconut and MCT oils to balance blood sugar levels and aid in fat burning.
Basic Supplements - Elevate nutrition from adequate to optimum
- Bio-Strath – aids in digestion, assimilation, elimination, and energy production. Promotes health of gut and intestinal microbiomes.
- Vitamin D – 8,000 IU for one month then reduce to the upper limit of 4,000 IU daily – a deficiency is associated with obesity.
- Vitamin C - anti-inflammatory, reduces anxiety (helps lower cortisol) and fatigue.
- Magnesium – necessary for muscle development and resetting metabolism.
- Omega-3 fatty acids – anti-inflammatory, promotes hormone balance.
- Probiotics – correct pH, improve digestion, support the immune system, helps ease stress and anxiety (the gut-brain connection).
Special Aids for Weight Loss - For short term use
- Acetyl L-Carnitine – converts fat into fuel, regulates blood sugar levels, improves circulation and cardiovascular functions, increases energy.
- Black Seed Oil (cumin) – increases metabolism, supports weight loss and immunity.
- Have ½ tsp of manuka honey as a tasty “dessert” after meals. Manuka boosts your immune system, increases enzyme activity for better digestion, and the levulose content metabolizes slowly so you feel satiated longer.
- Holy Basil and other herbal teas are helpful between meals when food cravings arise. Also helps to reduce stress and relieve cortisol levels.
Diet Fine Tuning
- There is no accurate magic daily calorie allowance. To achieve a lighter body you want more light filled food. Have juicy fruits, vegetables and broth-based soups or bone broth. You can have as much of those as you want without counting another calorie.
- Each day, focus on living food and their fresh juices first. Add a little protein to one meal and a little grain or starchy veg to another. Keep it simple. Fuel your body like a Lamborghini!
- Classify your food choices as “moving forward” or “moving backward”. Think about what you are eating and what it is doing for your body and your health.
- Concentrate on building your discipline muscles. Abe Lincoln defined discipline as choosing between what you want now, and what you want most.
- Avoid distractions like TV when eating (I know, it's hard!). Listen to your body. Give your meal your full attention and practice stopping when satiated, a little before feeling full.
- Healthy eating is a preference, not a prison. Set aside a day each week as a treat day and indulge in some fun foods. Pay close attention to how your energy and sense of well-being are affected by not so healthy foods. You may be quite happy when you return to your healthier menus!
Crank Up The Activity Dial
- Time outdoors has multiple benefits. We just feel more alive connecting with Nature. Get some outside/exercise/fresh air/sunshine time every day.
- Dr. Zack Bush has a 4-Minute Workout you repeat 2-3 times a day. It boosts nitric oxide production which increases energy and encourages fat loss.
- Another easy exercise to fit into your day is rebounding. As you gently bounce for just a few minutes 100,000 pounds per square inch of gravity will be pushing back, toning your muscles and flushing your lymphatic system. VILPA is another option!
- Get a pedometer (or use your phone) and challenge yourself to walk an extra 100 steps each day until you are routinely walking 10,000 steps.
- The lungs are an excretory route for fats! Through exercise you naturally breathe more but you can practice rhythmic breathing anytime. Most loss takes place while you sleep and by developing deeper breathing patterns while awake, you will naturally breathe more efficiently when sleeping. Alkalinity improves, too!
- A sluggish lymphatic system leads to weight gain. Dry body brush 2-3 times a week.
- If 'working out' is not your thing, give gentler forms of movement a try. Yoga, Mat Pilates, and walking are all amazing ways to get your body moving and blood pumping!
Final Suggestions
- A cleanse is a great kick off to a new lifestyle. It will likely result in some weight loss and tune up your metabolism. One of the ways the body protects itself from damaging acids is to create more fat cells to store it.
- Keep all pathways of elimination open. As your body casts off waste and excess fat you won’t want anything obstructing its exit! Dry body brush to keep skin pores clear and the lymphatic system flowing. Take enough magnesium and vitamin C to keep bowels moving easily.
- Keep a journal to track your progress and celebrate your wins along the way.
It takes a certain single mindedness to make lifelong lifestyle changes, but what could be more worthwhile? 😊
*Updated December 2024
An Easy, Nutritious Path
Did you know what your skin needs changes based on the seasons? As seasons, and therefore weather, changes our skin adapts to maintain balance. These adaptations can take time, and you can support them with the proper products and ingredients!
Happy Easter! Looking to switch it up and try some new recipes this year? Here is a roundup of Easter recipes featuring some old favourites and some new additions:
This information is not intended to replace appropriate professional advice. Please check labels and consult your pharmacist if you take prescription medication. The kidneys are an amazing organ system! In Traditional Chinese Medicine they are considered, along with the adrenal glands, a master organ. They perform the critical functions of capturing and recycling nutrients and eliminating liquid acidic waste. When the kidneys fail to perform this detoxification, patients must have their blood filtered through renal dialysis. A Healing Diet - This mirrors recommendations from studies done on kidney function: Drink 7-10 glasses of filtered or spring water. Chloride is a potential carcinogen and potentially damaging to the kidneys as well as the entire body. Consume a diet that is 75-80% alkaline forming. A urine pH maintained in the range of 6.5-7.4 allows your kidneys to readily eliminate acid waste. Chemical free, organic foods are the safest for kidney health. Make vegetables, fruit, raw seeds, nuts, legumes, beans, and wholegrains the mainstays of your diet. Limit red meat and sweeteners. Studies show a whole food plant based diet and the Mediterranean diet can benefit patients with chronic kidney disease. Fermented foods improve digestion and have a positive effect on pH levels. Apple cider vinegar used as a condiment or mixed in water with meals aids in assimilating nutrients, corrects pH, and dissolves calcium and acid crystal deposits. Replace salt with Herbamare for full flavour but 1/3 the sodium. The combination of whole sea salt with other herbs provides a better sodium/potassium ratio. Cook gently. High heat causes acrylamides and advanced glycation end products, both risk factor in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Basic Supplements – to avoid common deficiencies Bio-Strath – 100% digestible whole food tonic, providing B vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and cofactors. Used by more staff at Jo Anne’s than any other supplement. Buffered vitamin C during fall and winter months. A powerful antioxidant that protects cells from damage and degeneration. Vitamin D 8,000 IU for one month then reduce to the upper limit of 4,000. A steroid hormone precursor that reduces inflammation and the risk of infection. Magnesium – has over 300 biochemical functions. Essential fatty acids – anti-inflammatory, help regulate blood pressure and a deficiency is associated with the development of type 2 diabetes. Probiotics – intermittent use to strengthen the immune system and correct pH Dietary Aids for Kidney Health - Special foods with science backed benefits: In studies ginger, garlic, and onions improved symptoms of kidney disease and increased renal function. Regular consumption could provide significant protection. Watermelon is 92% alkaline water which helps flush the urinary system of stored toxins. It supports the liver to process ammonia thus easing the strain on the kidneys. Finally, it can actually be used to dissolve kidney stones! Some people perform a watermelon fast one day a week, eating only melon wedges when hungry. Urine testing is a convenient way to monitor chemistry. The best time to check is in the morning prior to consuming food or drinks (other than water). If it’s initially difficult to achieve readings between 6.5-7.4 take 1-2 AlkaPure pH capsules upon rising. Once optimum readings are achieved, test periodically. Special Supplements for Kidneys - For an annual or biannual kidney cleanse: Astragalus – numerous studies show this herb has a protective effect on kidneys, liver, and spleen. It is also used in the treatment of cancer, diabetes, and immune disorders. It has been shown to slow tumor growth and significantly extend the lives of those who have undergone chemotherapy or radiation. Nettle is a wonderful cleansing herb for the kidneys. It also helps with all conditions related to inflammation, including arthritis and allergies. Burdock provides a whole body detox by increasing urine output and drawing out stored toxins. It is a natural option to use instead of prescription diuretics but consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are already on diuretics before making a change. Exercise, fresh air, deep breathing with complete exhalation all benefit the kidneys. For those days that you’re pressed for time perform the 4-minute workout by Dr Zack Bush. This easy routine performed 2-3 times boosts nitric oxide production and kidney function. See it online. Following the diet and basic supplement suggestions should have a beneficial effect on your kidneys and your overall health. One of the biggest changes you hopefully will notice is an increase in energy level. Keep a journal to track your progress. *Revised July 2023
Are seed oils bad for you? You may have seen some Social Media influencers claiming that they are. Is there any truth to this? What are the benefits of not eating seed oils? Let's find out.
Who run the world? Girls! March is Women's History Month, and March 8th is International Women’s Day. What better time than this to lift up the women around us!
What is Circadian Rhythm?
Baked Pasta, better than regular!
Try out some of these delicious international food recipes, most of which you can make with ingredients from our store! There's a lot of diverse recipes in here from Japanese to Indian food!
Celebrate the luck of the Irish with these festive, healthier St. Patrick's Day recipes! We've added some brand new recipes to the list for 2025 - Slainte!