Nourish Balance Thrive

Michelle Tam and her husband Henry Fong are the authors of the New York Times bestselling cookbook Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans and the Webby award winning app of the same name. If you've ever wondered how good the Paleo diet (and a website) could look, head over to Michelle’s blog.

When I first met Nicole McPherson, she was desperate—desperate for a life without the constant digestive issues that plagued her, and desperate for relief from excruciating menstrual pain each month. You see, for years Nicole had been careless with her diet. As a naturally thin person with a high metabolism, she never paid much attention to healthy eating. Although her digestion was not great, she could get by. It wasn't that Nicole was uninformed about her body and its systems. In fact, she is a biomedical researcher with a background in clinical research. However, a busy work schedule and the day-to-day race of life distracted her from her own health, and she ignored the warning signs that her body sent her—until those signs were too severe to be pushed aside any longer. After a trip to India, she contracted a severe stomach virus, one that took a full six months to work its way out of her system. At the same time, work stress increased and the drama of a property renovation took its toll. Nicole's body finally returned to normal after the virus—but she began to realize that "normal" was not good enough. Normal was too painful. Starting a Paleo Lifestyle Nicole joined a CrossFit gym and discovered the Paleo diet and lifestyle. She understood its ancestral health background and its emphasis on whole living, so she began live by those guidelines. "It cleared up a lot of digestive issues," she says. "As well as brain fog and tiredness and things like that. I loved Paleo—I was really on board." However, a year after beginning her Paleo diet, Nicole began to develop other symptoms. The pain during her menstrual cycle became horrible, and her fatigue got worse. It seemed her Paleo diet was falling short. Trying Conventional Medicine Desperate, Nicole visited doctors, following the route of conventional medicine, but no one was able to completely resolve the symptoms that troubled her. "I did a lot of my own kind of troubleshooting with supplements," she recalls. "I've probably spent thousands of dollars on supplements over the last couple of years, and none of those really helped." Nicole is not alone. I see many individuals who suffer from chronic, unexplained health issues attempt to boost or improve their body's function using supplements. Occasionally they see improvement; more often, the costly purchases end up in a kind of supplement graveyard in the bathroom cabinet. After her failed attempts to find the source of the problem, Nicole turned to Paleo-style medicine. She visited a female doctor with Paleo leanings but soon found that the doctor's foundation was still in conventional medicine. Nicole's progesterone was low, so her next stop was a gynecologist who diagnosed her with PCOS and recommended surgery and a topical cream to boost progesterone. However, the benefits of the cream disappeared after just two months of use. She felt like she was right back where she started. Connecting with the Right People One day, Nicole happened to hear me speak on a Robb Wolf podcast, and she thought, "I have to get in touch with this guy. He seems to get it." The first test that I recommended was a 4-point saliva test. Nicole had just 16 points of cortisol for the day—a drastically low count. Ideally, she should have double that amount. "At this point, I just could not get out of bed in the morning," Nicole remembers. "My boyfriend would say, 'Let's go get coffee and breakfast,' and I just did not want to get up. I couldn't even cope with going to the gym, even if it was just for a light workout." The feeling of being dragged down, of lacking energy to the point where moving seems like an overwhelming task, affects many people. This feeling points to a cortisol problem, as well as to an issue with the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. Discovering the Importance of Testing Nicole had been supplementing with a topical progesterone cream before we met, and interestingly, the numbers on the lab work were normal whilst she continued to suffer the symptoms of low progesterone. My theory is that topical creams supersaturate into the subcutaneous fat and eventually lead to the downregulation of internal production and sensitivity. Organic acid testing of her urine found several problems, though, most of which could be easily resolved with targeted supplementation. With a little guidance from me, Nicole found supplements that matched her unique needs. The test revealed that her body required supplemental L-carnitine, a micronutrient essential for fat burning. Low levels can affect body composition and energy levels. Three markers in Nicole's Organix profile indicated a need for additional CoQ10, an enzyme vital to energy production. A look at her methylation revealed insufficient folate. Organic acids testing is an amazing tool for pinpointing the root cause of chronic health complaints like Nicole’s. More often than not the result shows small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) which causes malabsorption and an uncomfortable bloated sensation after the afflicted person consumes carbohydrates. Revealing the Infection The Paleo diet, the testing, and the supplements were all key factors in her recovery. But for Nicole, the most important test was the stool antigen test. A stool antigen test checks for antigens, which are pathogenic organisms, bacteria, or parasites residing within a person's bowels. Nicole had Blastocystis hominis, a smoldering gut infection contributing to her fatigue and joint pain. Once I discovered the infection, I suggested that Nicole combat the bug using artemisia, a broad-spectrum antiparasitic and oregano oil. Checking Blood Glucose Levels Nicole began checking her blood glucose levels consistently. Although she started with high numbers, the levels are gradually dropping with the use of the supplements and the pursuit of proper diet and exercise. It is normal for blood glucose to be slow in returning to recommended levels, and the damage done by years of unhealthy eating and overindulgence in carbs and sugars and it does not happen overnight. Exercising Effectively Busy people must find an exercise schedule and style that is effective without adding yet another source of stress to their lives. A little strength training, a daily swim, a fun dance class, a walk, or some light aerobic exercise can be a good start. Some people need a flexible type of exercise that they can do wherever they are, while others benefit from a structured class that forces them to take a break and focus on improving their bodies. Doing Guided Meditation Guided meditation played a major part in Nicole's recovery. "I love Headspace. I discovered it a year ago and it took me a while to get used to it; but now I use it pretty much every day for at least 15 minutes." Headspace provides regular meditations, guided sessions, or SOS sessions for particularly stressful days. These sessions build emotional resilience so that users can better handle the negative experiences and the drama of everyday life. Experiencing the New Normal A few weeks after her results came back, Nicole had her new supplements on hand. With a targeted plan based on thorough testing and a fresh commitment to her Paleo diet, she renewed her pursuit of better health. Soon, her energy and digestion improved, making her feel like a new person. "I'm three weeks into the parasite treatment and I've totally noticed a difference with my digestion," says Nicole. "It's a lot better, and I never realized how bad it was before." After her 60-day program, Nicole will go through the retesting process to ensure that the infection is gone and that all her levels have returned to the acceptable range. "I went so long without testing," she says. "It's really powerful to have a complete picture of what's wrong with you. And it's so nice to know that you're not going crazy and that there is a reason why you aren't feeling great." With testing, meditation therapy, and targeted treatment, Nicole is well on her way to a new, more pleasant, and much healthier normal.

Stephan is an obesity researcher, neurobiologist, and author. He has an undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of Virginia and a PhD in neurobiology from the University of Washington. His blog Whole Health Source is a free resource for anyone who loves the science of health. I'm embarrassed to admit that I first discovered Stephan’s work whilst attending AHS14 where I saw him give this fantastic presentation on the causes of leptin resistance.

Leo Babauta is a simplicity blogger at Top 25 blog Zen Habits and a best-selling author. In 2005, he was overweight, sedentary, deeply in debt, addicted to cigarettes and junk food, with a life full of clutter and no time for anything important, like his wife and kids. That's where he started his journey of life changes. Over the next few years, he changed everything ... one step at a time: Quit smoking  Started running, ran several marathons & a 50-mile ultramarathon  Started eating healthier, eventually became vegan  Lost 60 lbs.  Simplified and got rid of clutter  Got out of debt  Started a successful blog, quit his day job  Overcame procrastination, wrote numerous books  Found time for health, family, writing, reading And much more Since then he's helped tens of thousands of people change their life through habit change. Babauta is a husband and father of six children, and in 2010 moved from Guam to San Francisco, where he leads a simple life. The Zen Habits book is already fully funded (and then some) on Kickstarter.

Carolynn Romaine is a gifted athlete. She's good at everything she tries, but she loves to ride her bike. I first met her at the famous Downieville All Mountain Bike Race in 2012, two years after she made the brave decision to follow her passion, quit her job, sell her possessions and take to the road. Competing in enduro mountain races across the country, Carolynn was living the dream. Competition was stiff, and Carolynn was soon feeling the pressure. She spent her winter in Arizona, taking advantage of the exceptional weather to pack in the extra training hours. Recovery times gradually started to lengthen, and benefits rapidly diminished. The niggling digestive issues that had plagued her for as long as she could remember became unbearable. Her legs were constantly tired. Even climbing stairs was a big ask. Eventually the joy of riding disappeared, and by the time we got together to discuss functional medicine as a potential solution, she was ready to chuck it all in and return home to New York. Now Carolynn is back, energized and free of digestive issues, winning the Tiger Mountain Enduro in Washington last weekend. So how exactly did she do it? In contrast to dysfunctional medicine, functional medicine addresses the root causes of common chronic health complaints. If you're a women with PMS symptoms, your doctor will likely prescribe oral birth control. If you're a man with low libido, Viagra will be the answer. But what do either of these do to address the underlying root cause of the problem? I found this out the hard way, having spent thousands on medical bills figuring out my own digestive and hormonal issues. The solution was elegant and exciting enough to persuade me to become trained in functional medicine, leaving a position as a software engineer at a hedge fund to start a new practice.  First of all, Carolynn slowed down. The temptation to push even harder when the results aren’t happening is strong, but it must be resisted. Long endurance rides and strength training were switched out for yoga, mindfulness meditation and nature walks with the dog. Secondly, Carolynn hired an expert cook and food scientist to assist her with optimizing her diet via a shared food diary. Out went the added sugar and gluten free baked goods, and in came quality grass fed protein and healthy fats. Skinless, boneless chicken was replaced with a diversity of meats and nose-to-tail eating. Liver is rich in B vitamins and vitamin A and several other nutrients lacking in Carolynn’s diet. Since dietary cholesterol does not have a significant impact on blood cholesterol, eggs were back on the menu because of the choline in the yolks. Fermented foods, like sauerkraut, were introduced. Because they are loaded with good bacteria, fermented foods are excellent for gut health. Carolynn’s overall macronutrient ratios are now around 60% fat, 15% protein, 35% carbohydrate. Thirdly, Carolynn collected samples of saliva, urine and stool for lab analysis. The saliva revealed low levels of the primary stress hormone cortisol, in addition to low levels of its anabolic counterparts DHEA and estrogen. Progesterone was extremely low, and testosterone was normal. As these hormones work together in unison, the numbers pointed towards testosterone dominance, a strong risk factor for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This kind of hormone imbalance is extremely common in athletes with any kind of health complaint, and the primary underlying root causes are chronic stress and blood glucose instability. The urine sample gave insight about the inner workings of Carolynn’s metabolism, and it enabled me to design a highly targeted nutrient replacement program. This type of organic acid test reveals problems with fat burning, blood sugar stabilization, energy production, methylation, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter turnover and intestinal bacterial overgrowth, all of which are crucial for the highly tuned athlete. The most significant findings for Carolynn were insufficient coenzyme Q10 (an essential component for energy production), B vitamin deficiency and intestinal bacterial overgrowth. At this point, we had an excellent understanding of why Carolynn felt so tired and bloated after consuming carbohydrates.  The final test that Carolynn took was designed to detect the presence of specific pathogenic bacteria (like H. pylori and C. difficile) and parasites (like Cryptosporidium parvum and Entamoeba histolytica). In this case, none were found, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Typically, I see about 60-70% of these come back with some abnormality, and it’s the leading cause of fatigue that I see. Why such a high rate? Because everybody I work with has suffered from chronic stress, and stress lowers immunity. There’s no doubt the solution to most chronic health complaints is rooted in diet and lifestyle, but for the hard charging athlete targeted supplementation is important, too. Carolynn got relief from her fatigue symptoms shortly after starting an adrenal support program consisting of adaptogenic herbs. A sixty-day antimicrobial program dealt with the bacterial overgrowth. A high quality multivitamin, fish oil, soil-based probiotic, liver support, CoQ10, and free-form amino acid supplement took care of the rest. You spend countless hours training, working out, eating right and buffeting your body, and hundreds or even thousands of dollars on gym equipment, training equipment, health supplements, healthy food. Perhaps you spend cash on race entry fees, too. If you’re overlooking your hormone and digestive health, you’re often either taking two steps forward and one step back, or stagnating in your performance and fitness. Worse yet, you could even be getting worse results. Go take a look at the results from your last workout or event. What was the time gap between you and the top of your category? Did you beat your last workout or make the progress you wanted? 5%? 10%? Functional medicine can make up that gap and more. No need to see me in person, sample collection for lab work is done at home and consultation done online.

Wendy Myers, CHHC, NC, is a certified holistic health and nutrition coach. She is the founder, head writer and Chief Eating Officer of Liveto110.com. She is passionate about spreading her health message through her writing, podcast, speaking and her Modern Paleo Cooking show.  Wendy attended the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York and has a degree in Entrepreneurship from the University of Southern California. She is certified in Hair Mineral Analysis and is currently seeking her masters in clinical nutrition at Bridgeport University in Connecticut.  Wendy’s interest in nutrition began with the death of her father from esophageal cancer. She vowed to finnd out what made him sick, what role his treatment and medications played in his demise, and how she could avoid the same fate. The more Wendy learned, the more she realized that all the answers to health do not lie in our medical system. Food, detoxification and natural healing modalities must be used to compliment the advances in modern medicine.  Thus, Liveto110.com was born. Wendy’s site aims to inform readers about how to achieve optimum health, energy and vitality. Liveto110.com empowers readers to improve their health through the Modern Paleo diet, hair mineral analysis, detoxification and natural treatments for their health conditions. Wendy urges visitors to take responsibility for their health by learning about alternative treatments for their health conditions. Most doctors are only trained to oer medications or surgery, which are not an appropriate rst line of treatment for many health conditions. Health is not merely about the absence of disease or symptoms.

Lee McCormack is a world renowned MTB skills instructor. He wrote the books Mastering Mountain Bike Skills, Teaching Mountain Bike Skills, Pro BMX Skills, Welcome to Pump Track Nation, Pump Up the Base and Prepare to Pin It. Lee is the skills development director for NICA, the national high school mountain bike league. He works with riders of all styles and levels, from beginners to world champions.

Jeremy is the co-founder of Paleo Living Magazine, and he believes that nourishing and caring for your body is the first step toward living a life you love. When he's not working, Jeremy loves rock-climbing, ultimate frisbee, and reading fantasy. You can also check him out at www.jeremyhendon.com.

Anese Cavanaugh is the creator of the IEP Method (Intentional Energetic Presence) as well as a leadership & collaboration advisor, strategist, and thinking partner for business leaders in the design, service and innovation spaces. Through her speaking, writing and creative leadership programs, people learn how to optimize their leadership and presence, bringing their best selves to the table for greater collaboration, impact, and cultural success. Follow her @anesecavanaugh.com Save 20% on your registration fee for Anese’s upcoming live event in Sacramento using the code IMPACT.

Rachel Albert has been a natural foods chef, freelance food and health writer, cooking instructor and nutrition educator for more than 25 years. She is an award winning cookbook author, thriver, a survivor of stage IV metastatic breast cancer, and advocate of the ketogenic diet for cancer. Find out more about Rachel's books, and read her blog, The Heathy Cooking Coach.