Hiya Gorgeous!

We’ve all got goals for our health. Maybe we want to eat more clean meals, start a meditation practice or get more exercise. Our goals might be big, juicy and life-changing. Or they might small, yet meaningful—the first of many baby steps toward feeling better. Whatever it is we’re working toward, getting started can often be the hardest part.

That’s why I want to chat with you today about something we often overlook when we tackle our wellness goals. Our gut health!

We look to our guts when it comes to making big decisions, so why don’t we trust what they have to say about our health? Our guts can tell us when we’re sick, deficient, out of balance, stressed—you name it.

So, before diving into our big plans, let’s check in with our gut health.

To make that easy for you, I’ve rounded up my must-have gut health resources in this handy dandy guide. You’ll find the info you need to build a strong foundation for whatever crazy sexy journey you embark on this season!

A quick note: I put this guide together as a resource you can refer back to again and again. Don’t feel like you have to digest it all in one go! Find the sections most relevant to you today and bookmark this page so it’s right there waiting when you need it. 

 

Back to Gut Health Basics

How to Improve Your Gut Health

Only have time for one article? This one’s for you, honey! It covers the down and dirty behind exactly what’s goin’ on in that gut of yours. Click here to learn more about what gut health has to do with mental health and your immune system, plus seven tips for taking care of your terrific tummy!

3 Ways to Boost Your Digestion & Improve Gut Health

Probiotics, prebiotics and digestive enzymes. Sound like a mouthful? This article will teach you what these goodies can do to get your gut health in order. The short story is: Probiotics help keep our systems in balance, prebiotics act as a fertilizer to help grow good gut bacteria and digestive enzymes aid in breaking down food. Plus, you’ll find out how to get plenty of everything with the right foods and supplements.

Fuel for a Healthier Gut

10 Tips For Enjoying More Raw Foods
There’s no time like the present to start adding more raw goodness to your routine! Raw fruits and veggies are pros at getting our digestive health back on track. They provide tons of gut-friendly fiber that’ll have you jumping for joy in no time. Here are my ten go-to tips for gettin’ your raw on!

How to Live in Harmony With High-Fiber Foods
Speaking of fiber, here’s a great resource on all things roughage. Sometimes when folks add more fiber-filled foods to their plate, their digestive systems get a little cranky. But fiber is essential for a happy gut, so don’t write it off! Check out this article for everything you need to know to make friends with fiber.

In Defense of Whole Grains: 6 Reasons to Love Them
Our lovely grain friends get such a bad rap! But what many people don’t realize is that the fiber (yep, there’s that f-word again!) in whole grains acts as a prebiotic to promote gut health. Keep reading here to learn how you can get along with grains!

Healing Your Gut

5 Ways to Heal Heartburn, Acid Reflux and GERD
Ever feel like you’re on fire, and not in a good way? You’ve gotta stay cool to tackle all of your big spring goals—and that starts with your gut. If heartburn, acid reflux or GERD might be getting in the way of optimal gut health, this is the resource for you. It covers common triggers and what you can do to feel better.

4 Major Signs You May Have Gluten Sensitivity
If you’re experiencing stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation or other digestive issues after you eat, your gut might be trying to tell you something about gluten. This article will show you what to look for! Remember that GI troubles don’t necessarily indicate gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, so consult with your doc before you dump gluten.

Your Guide to Health Poop
Here’s the deal, babe: Your turds have a lot to say about what’s going on in your gut. So next time something doesn’t feel quite right on the porcelain throne, take a second before you flush away all of that valuable information. This article will give you the 411 on what the shape, color and texture of your BMs mean, plus how you can become a gold star pooper!

How to Get Rid of Belly Bloating
Gas. Food babies. Unbuttoning our pants at dinner. You know the drill! If you’re feeling like you’re about to float away, take a peek at this article. It covers five common causes of bloating and what you can do to get relief.

I hope this gut health refresh helps set you up for success with whatever you’ve got goin’ on. And remember, your gut is the sun to your universe. Your overall mental and physical health rotate around it. Take good care of it and you might be surprised how balanced and harmonious your universe can be!

Your turn: Tummy troubles got you down? Let me know what’s goin’ on in your gut in the comments below!

Peace and happy guts,

Hiya Gorgeous!

Do you ever feel like your body is trying to tell you something? Sometimes it starts with a whisper—an afternoon energy slump or a dull headache. And then there are the times it feels like our bodies are throwing a full-blown tantrum. Skin breakouts, digestive woes, insomnia—we’ve all been there.

If you’re anything like me, it can be all too easy to silence these signs of stress. A cup of green tea boosts my energy when I’m feeling sluggish and a little cover up hides that pesky pimple. But quick fixes don’t get to the root of the problem. See, those symptoms are our body’s language. It can have good things to say and bad things to say, but it’s saying them for a reason.

So today I want you to practice listening to your body, especially the ways it may be crying out for help. To help us do this, I brought in our nutrition director, Jen Reilly.

Take it away, Jen!

 

5 Ways Your Body Cries Out For Help

by Crazy Sexy Nutrition Director Jen Reilly, RD

Thanks, Kris! This is such an important subject to cover because all too often we end up ignoring our body’s cries for help. And it’s not because we don’t want to be healthy and happy, but because we’ve gotten so used to the symptoms that they start to feel normal.

We deserve to feel great, though! That means paying attention when our bodies show physical signs of stress. First thing’s first—let’s unpack some of the common stressors that can send our bodies shouting from the rooftops:

• Physical or emotional stress
• A heavy diet: too many rich, spicy or highly acidic foods
• An unbalanced diet: too much sugar, too little fiber, too many processed foods or all of the above!
• Poor gut health
• A food allergy or sensitivity
• A sedentary lifestyle

Now that we’ve covered some of the common causes of stress, let’s get into my list of the five ways our bodies might sound the alarm when something is wrong:

1. Waking up exhausted

One of the most common signs of stress is waking up exhausted after what the clock says was a good night’s sleep. Eight hours of shut-eye provide powerful restorative and regenerative benefits. So, if you’re always worn out in the morning or you can never seem to fully wake up, that means something is getting in the way of good quality rest.

Snooze better with these tips:

• Try some stress-reducing meditations before bed.
• Get an essential oil diffuser for your bedroom. Lavender is the perfect stress buster and it smells heavenly!
• Turn off screens an hour or two before bed and cut off the caffeine after noon.
• Consider trying an anti-inflammatory diet for 3 or more weeks. Inflammation can lead to an increased production of proteins called cytokines, which can cause insomnia.
• If you snore, consider having a sleep study done to see if have sleep apnea.

2. Digestive problems

Until the you-know-what hits the fan in a big way, most people write off digestive issues as no big deal. But if you’re experiencing gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea on a regular basis, your body is trying to tell you that something is off-kilter. It could be too little fiber, certain medications you’re taking, out-of-balance bacteria or food sensitivities—something needs a fix!

Here are some ways to resolve tummy troubles:

• Consider trying supplemental probiotics, prebiotics and digestive enzymes to boost your good bacteria and help you get more nutrition out of your foods.
• Make sure you’re getting plenty of fiber and water in your diet for optimal digestion.
• Get some exercise. If you don’t move your body, your digestive system doesn’t move either.

3. Inability to lose weight

If you’re struggling with weight loss and feel like you’re doing everything right, it’s possible that your body is sending you a message. Perhaps you have a slower metabolism because you’ve lost and gained weight several times in the past. Or maybe you’ve hit that golden menopausal age. It’s time to tune in to what your body is really trying to tell you.

Try these tips to get back on track:

• Eat more plant foods and check out the other metabolism-boosting strategies here.
• Work on getting a good night’s sleep every night. Your resting metabolic rate is slower when you’re deficient on zzz’s.
• Ensure you’re getting half your body weight in ounces of water daily (at least 1 liter for women and 2 liters for men). Even the tiniest bit of dehydration can lower your metabolism.

4. Skin breakouts and rashes

Skin breakouts and rashes can certainly be cyclical or seasonal, but they can also be one of our body’s signs of stress. Remember: what’s on the outside is often a reflection of what’s on the inside. If you’re skin is acting up, take an inventory of potential stressors.

Try these remedies for stressed out skin:

• Avoid skipping meals and steer clear of sugar and dairy, which may cause inflammation.
• Consider supplementing with omega-3s, especially if you’re experiencing dry skin or repeat rashes.
• Consider increasing your intake of vitamin C-rich foods such as bell peppers, citrus fruits and greens. Vitamin C is a wonderful skin vitamin that can also boost your immune system.

5. Irritability and short-temperament

Do people get on your nerves a lot? Even sweet neighbors and your loved ones? A short fuse is another way your body might tell you something is askew. It could be a lack of rest or an unbalanced diet. Next time you’re feeling ticked off, take a deep breath and listen in to what might be going on under the surface.

Find peace with these tips:

• Queue up the Instant Stress Reduction meditation from Kris’s Extraordinary Meditations for a Magnificent Life album. It’ll have you feeling calmer in no time.
• Consider introducing stress-relieving supplements like magnesium and ashwagandha into your routine.
• Limit caffeine and alcohol. Both can put you on edge, even days later.
• Focus on eating whole rather than processed foods. Each meal should include healthy doses of plant protein, complex carbs and healthy fats.

The best thing you can do for your body is to pay close attention to what it says. And if any of the physical signs of stress persist or get worse, check in with your integrative doc for additional evaluation.

Thanks, Jen! Remember—your body is your precious home. Treat it with love and respect by listening to its wisdom. It won’t steer you wrong.

Your turn: I want to hear what messages your body sends, and how you respond. Let me know in the comments below!

Peace and staying in tune,