Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/146934
guts& glory GO WITH YOUR GUT: It's your best advisor You're on the cusp of a big decision: Having a baby, changing jobs, or maybe quitting work altogether—without knowing the next step. How do you know which is the right choice? You've got to trust your gut, says Chariti Gent, a certified professional co-active coach (or life coach) who founded Pink Stiletto Coaching in 2010, just for women. "Your body has a lot of intelligence," Gent says. "Oftentimes we are trained through social standards to pay attention to the more rational way of doing things, and not what the body is doing to inform us." But how do you know when those little bombs in your belly are your intuition sending a red flag, and not just stress-induced worry? How can you hone your inner wisdom? Gent recommends an easy technique called "a gut-head check." First, stop and take a deep breath. Then sit with your hand on your heart, stomach, or both. Ponder a life-changing event. Close your eyes and start "really breathing into that idea." Sit with your body and see what feelings come up. "If your heart feels warm and your stomach feels calm, and it feels like a wash of gentle rain comes over you, that's the gut check that says 'all systems go, sister. Go ahead,'" Gent says. Rather than relying entirely on the logical, rational brain, this helps ensure you make the right decision, which can significantly contribute to your long-term happiness and wellness. "If you don't use the gut check with the head check, it's an incomplete process," says Gent. It's much the same as the common belief in women's intuition, which actually exists. The key is to trust it. –Marni McEntee Build a Healthy Plate The USDA's simple guide dairy veggies protein of Americans live with IBS. –Meriter Health Services fruits grains of women with IBS are not being treated for the condition according to Dr. Gary Griglione of Meriter Health Services Need to Know: Cleanses Wondering if the hype is worth it? Shelby Retzlaff, certified holistic health coach with SRR Health Coaching, weighs the options They say... But wait... MASTER CLEANSE Due to the restrictive calorie intake, this common cleanse leads to drastic weight loss. The lack of food—especially inflammatory foods—also gives your digestive system a break. This is a definite short-term fix, says Retzlaff, who herself was only able to maintain this cleanse for five days. The lack of proper nutrients in this intense, monotonous tasting diet can lead to an internal imbalance. JUICE FAST In addition to weight loss and a recharged digestive system, nutrient-rich juice cleanses can leave you feeling clear minded and full of energy. They can also decrease issues such as bad breath, fatigue and general aches and pains. As with a Master Cleanse, you must consider what happens after, says Retzlaff. "If you go on a juice cleanse for 10 days and lose 20 pounds, as soon as you go off of it, you have to make some permanent lifestyle changes otherwise your results will be temporary." RAW FOODS DIET You'll naturally lighten your toxin load and begin to thrive simply by the raw foods you're consuming. It can be hard to say goodbye to certain foods in your life. "You have to wrap your brain around the fact that what you're eating now is for optimal body function, " says Retzlaff. This strict detox calls for a daily concoction of water, lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper as well as an occasional salt flush. A liquid-only cleanse, juice fasts let you mix things up using fresh-squeezed (or juiced) fruits and veggies for up to 10 days. Swap processed foods and animal proteins for fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds and sprouting greens on this au naturel detoxifying diet. Stomach Savers: Keep GI pain off your plate with simple rules from Jacqueline Sullivan, clinical nutritionist at UW Digestive Health Center Keep it calm: Eat in a mindfully relaxed way. 36 BRAVA Magazine Keep it small: Larger meals are more likely to trigger GI distress. August 2013 Mind your 'ol's: Those with sensitive GI tracts should cut down on ingredients ending in 'ol' such as sorbitol, mannitol, etc. Say 'hard cheese!': If you're lactose sensitive or intolerant, opt for hard cheeses and cultured yogurt, which are generally tolerated. Keep close watch: Even healthy foods like fruits, veggies or legumes can cause discomfort. Consider starting a food journal to spot troublemakers.