Guess What Drug 2 Handfuls of Cashews Mimick?

April 08, 2015 by Christina Santini in Biochemistry Balancing, Depression, Superfoods In Recovery

Prozac. That's right, 2 handfuls of cashews are the therapeutic equivalent of a prescription dose of Prozac. Consider that antidepressant work by by affecting serotonin. However, with time antidepressants have been found to actually DRAIN brain serotonin and deplete much needed B vitamins - why suicidal rates actually increase on antidepressant ironically. 2 handfuls of cashews provides two thousand milligrams of tryptophan. Tryptophan is the precursor of serotonin, which will work as well as prescription antidepressants and without later side effects of draining existing serotonin levels!

Raw vs. Cooked Food

April 01, 2015 by Christina Santini in Biochemistry Balancing, Addictions, Eating Disorders, Superfoods In Recovery

In response to last week's article on the energetics of food, I want to answer a question I get all the time from clients, "should I be eating raw, isn't that superior in nutrient contents to cooked foods?'. The answer is it depends - on your body's current state of health. You need to determine the vessel in which the fuel goes into, before mindlessly thinking that one-size-fits-all fuel will automatically be the best. Energetically, raw foods are very airy, energizing and "elevating". They are NOT nurturing, grounding or calming. This means, if you are sluggish, heavy and toxic as many of us are, who have been living off to much chemical laden take-away stuff, then going raw can be a God's sent to restore energy and vibrancy. However, through an addiction lens, raw foods is not ideal for making out the majority of your meals in nutrition in recovery. The very essence of anyone struggling with an addiction or disordered eating is that the air element is out of whack. In Western science terms, the air element refers to our central nervous system. This means, you want to eat to feel more grounded, calm and connected - not eat to feel even more airy and disconnected, which is what living off a raw diet will do, if your air element is out of balance.

The Energetics of Food and Your Mood

March 25, 2015 by Christina Santini in Addictions, Biochemistry Balancing, Binge Eating, Eating Disorders, Superfoods In Recovery

When you are restoring your brain and body from the damage of intense abuse from alcohol, food and drugs, you want to understand how to eat to best support your recovery. What you eat in recovery can make the process towards thriving again in your body a lot easier. If you want to cure the underlying imbalance, it is essential to understand the dynamics that make for addiction - whether that be food, drugs, alcohol or disordered eating behaviors. What is interesting to me, is that these self-abusive behaviors all have that in common, that the energetics are out of whack in a similar fashion. For those of you who prefer neuroscientific terms - the brain chemistry component; particular serotonin and dopamine. This means that we will benefit from adhering to a strategy that helps to re-align that imbalanced energy in our body, that literally makes our skin crawl and go after self-destruction, self-distraction and acting out. Different foods have different signature energetics. Often we are so focused on what science has proven regarding nutrient and antioxidant value that we are blind to the fact, that foods have a lot more value than simply antioxidant value and glycemic index. What is food energetics you ask? Click to read on.

An ancient time-tested remedy for brain + central nervous system.

March 17, 2015 by Christina Santini in Addictions, Biochemistry Balancing, Superfoods In Recovery

After stress, drugs or alcohol your brain and central nervous system suffers greatly. Many in recovery feel like their nerves are raw. When you talk to them, you can almost feel how exposed they are. They have no filter. They have no tolerance for anymore stressors. They are naked. This is not a great feeling - pretty stressful in itself actually. This explains why many go back to drugs, foods, alcohol to try to numb out again. A key remedy to help restore strength, stamina and satisfaction, including being a memory and intelligence enhancer, is black sesame paste.

CARROT JUICE TO RESET YOUR BLOOD CHEMISTRY

February 17, 2015 by Christina Santini in Addictions, Biochemistry Balancing, Superfoods In Recovery, Binge Eating

Did you know that carrot juice is almost identical to healthy blood? This is critical information to apply to any recovery program. Drugs and alcohol severely affect blood chemistry for the worse, thereby also increasing cravings and decreasing nutrient absorption. Healthy blood chemistry is the flow of life through your body. When your blood chemistry is compromised, every organ is too. Carrot juice acts therapeutically to restore and replenish healthy blood.

3 Supplements That Crush Sugar Cravings

January 06, 2015 by Christina Santini in Binge Eating, Biochemistry Balancing, Addictions, Superfoods In Recovery

Today I am going to reveal the top 3 supplements that CRUSH sugar cravings. Especially an issue for anyone coming off drugs, alcohol or binging behaviors.

Top 3 Fats That Heal The Addicted Brain.

November 18, 2014 by Christina Santini in Addictions, Binge Eating, Superfoods In Recovery, Biochemistry Balancing

Addictions - whether food, drug or alcohol - overlap in that they are all based in the brain. Addiction is not a willpower issue - it is a brain disorder. Addicts typically suffer from ragged nerves, anxiety and lack of impulse control. These are all issues tied to a weak brain. Mind you - NOT a stupid brain, or low IQ. Just a brain that doesn't have enough fat to protect the nerves from stress, trauma, toxins and high-sugar diets. Our brain mainly consists of FAT. The types of fats we eat directly impacts our brain health and ability to deal with stress, breaking addictions and minimizing withdrawal symptoms.

Why We Thrive on Different Diets

November 12, 2014 by Christina Santini in Biochemistry Balancing, Superfoods In Recovery, Eating Disorders

The debate of whether raw, vegan, paleo, high fat-low carb, low fat-high carb, Atkin’s, fruititarian, macrobiotic etc. is better, is a complete waste of time at best. Our body is constantly evolving and changing depending on our phase in life, environmental triggers, toxic exposure, stress levels, age – and obviously also our gender.

More water is NOT the cure to dehydration.

October 21, 2014 by Christina Santini in Biochemistry Balancing, Superfoods In Recovery

Show me someone who has struggled with an addiction or eating disorder, and I will show you someone who is severely dehydrated. Dehydration is a major issue that we need to focus on immediately during early phase recovery. No healing can take place on a biochemical level, if we are not properly hydrated. Our cravings intensify, our mood becomes depressed and we just can't function. Our neurotransmitters and hormones require a stable level of hydration to function and communicate messages across the body correctly. Now one would think, well, I'll just gallon up then. No - actually drinking excess amounts of plain water is detrimental to your health. Your urine does not need to be clear for you to be properly hydrated - that is a complete myth.

Top 4 Anti-Anxiety Supplements

September 30, 2014 by Christina Santini in Addictions, Biochemistry Balancing, Superfoods In Recovery

One of the most frequent drug prescriptions today, are anti-anxiety drugs. There are many reasons for that, aside from that every addiction or eating disordered is always related to some sort of anxiety. And this regardless of whether one is aware of it or not. There is always an element of anxiety when we use food, starvation, overexercise or drugs to suppress this inner sense of "unsettleness". When we have an overexcited nervous system, always feel wired, work with technology all day, drink too much black coffee, get too little deep sleep before midnight in order to repair brain cells, and perhaps also struggle with a digestion not functioning due to painkillers and antibiotic popped like candy these day, we will feel anxious - or unable to be calm. Thus we look for an external fix