13 More Answers To Your Questions – Sweet Potato Power, Wheat, Ketosis, and More!

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What’s the deal with wheat–is it really that bad for you? What should I eat right after a workout? Sweeteners are okay, though, right? What’s this ketosis thing I’ve been hearing about?

Chances are you’ve wondered one of the above questions yourself, and finding the answers can be frustrating. There’s a lot of information floating around there, and here at WellnessFX we want to bring you experts in the field of health and nutrition to help you make the right decisions for a healthy lifestyle.

A couple weeks ago we kicked off the WellnessFX Webinar Series with Ashley Tudor, author of Sweet Potato Power (click here if you missed it!). We gave the audience a chance to ask questions. There were a lot! We already released the first batch answered by WellnessFX’s very own  Medical Director Doctor Murdoc Khaleghi. Be sure to check that one out, as there’s a lot of great information!

Wheat Allergies and Cholesterol: A WellnessFX Member Success Story

A person can be shaped good, but not in good shape . . .

The Problem

Virtually everyone who works at WellnessFX is a health nut (as you can imagine, we love what we do). As the saying goes: we eat our own dogfood, and we eat it well! Our Wellness Network Development Director Drina Boban is no exception. She was a serious triathlete for many years and even competed in the 2004 USA National Championships. While she no longer races, Drina has maintained her commitment to living a healthy and active lifestyle. She eats well, is an avid runner and cyclist, and swims or lifts weights several times a week in addition to teaching boot camp classes on the side.

When she had her first draw at WellnessFX back in May of 2011, she expected her numbers to reflect how she felt: darn good. Her only ‘problem’ was a mild wheat allergy, but seeing as how she didn’t experience any of the common GI issues that comes with it, it was easy to forget about. She had no complaints about virtually anything. In short, she was super healthy, and her numbers were going to be super healthy.

Holiday Recipe Series: The Wrap-Up + Holiday Potluck!

2012 is almost over. Bellies are stuffed. The bases of Christmas Trees are littered with torn wrapping paper. Pens are clicking, ready to jot down New Year’s Resolutions.

But that Times Square ball hasn’t dropped yet! There’s still a few days left in this year and plenty to celebrate (the world didn’t end, for example!). So, of course, that means more holiday parties! And here at WellnessFX, we believe that ‘fun’ and ‘healthy’ can actually be synonymous. This holiday season we’ve brought you 20 healthy, nutritious, and downright delicious recipes in many different categories. Here’s a secret though: you can use them all year-round!

What is YOUR action plan?

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What does it take to lose 85 pounds? One of our newest members is on a quest to find out! Recomp Hacks is a personal fitness journal with weekly reviews of diet, exercise, and commentary on general progress. Recently the author had a blood draw and consult with WellnessFX; he’s now using his results to bring himself closer to his goal.

His numbers turned out quite well. Specifically, there were no visible problems with cholesterol levels even though he expected them to be slightly higher. His Vitamin D levels were a little low, and his ALT (a biomarker for the liver) turned out a bit high.

12 Gifts of Wellness!

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Christmas is only a day away. For those of you finishing up your last minute shopping, consider choosing something this holiday season that will stay with your loved one for a long time to come! No, we don’t mean diamonds. We’re talking about something much more important: wellness! Nothing says I love you

Whether you’re shopping for someone training for a marathon or whose idea of an active week is one where the remote is lost, there’s something for you! From workout equipment to winter wear to cooking classes, the following gifts were taken from three sites: Ben Greenfield Fitness, Greatist, and WebMD.

Holiday Recipe Series – Drinks and Desserts: The Tastiest Healthy Treats You’ve Ever Had

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Wheat. Gluten. Sugar. Dairy. Trans fats. Common ingredients on dessert plates around America this holiday season.

But they’re the best part of anyone’s meal, and probably your favorite as well! So instead of skipping it, let’s make it better!

In this last entry in WellnessFX’s Holiday Recipe Series you’ll find four dessert recipes that are healthy and wholesome. What better way to wrap up the season?

11 Answers To Your Questions – Inflammation, Diet, Genetics, and More!

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With more knowledge comes more questions. Over the last few decades we’ve learned more and more about our bodies, how they work, and how to keep them running in tip-top shape. We learned cholesterol was bad; now we know there’s more to the story, with good and bad cholesterol with different roles. We thought all around fat was bad for you; recently it seems fat is less the culprit, and high-carb, high-processed foots are making America less and less healthy. We can now map our genome and learn what traits are specific to us; but how do we use this information? Where do we go from here?

Last week we kicked off the WellnessFX Webinar Series with Ashley Tudor, author of Sweet Potato Power (click here if you missed it!). She answered a lot of your questions, but naturally there just isn’t enough time to get to them all in one sitting. But we saved them, shifted through, and picked out the ones we think our readers would enjoy the most.

Best of #AskGreatist – In Case You Missed It!

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With outlets like Twitter and Facebook, social media is not just a way to keep in touch with old friends. Now, more than ever before, the world is at your fingertips. Want to know the guidelines for ‘organic’ food? Google it. Think you felt an earthquake but not quite sure? Check Twitter. Need some quick health advice? #AskGreatist.

Last week WellnessFX teamed up with Greatist to answer many of your health questions on Twitter–in real time!  Our Medical Director Doctor Murdoc Khaleghi tackled questions about exercise, supplementation, and fighting the common cold. AskGreatist is hosted by Greatist and various guests every Tuesday at 7pm. Just log-in to Twitter at that time and search for the #AskGreatist hashtag! 

WellnessFX Practitioners Are Awesome!

Last month we shared with you a glimpse of what some of our members had to say about their WellnessFX experiences.

A big part of WellnessFX Baseline is the consult after the blood draw. We have an extraordinary list of talented, thoughtful, and immensely helpful practitioners, dietitians, and fitness experts to choose from.

Holiday Recipe Series – Vegetarian Dishes: How to Make Your Guests Forget About Meat

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There is still on-going debate about the health benefits of excluding animals from your diet. We’re not going to go into that today. Our goal is to supply our readers with healthy recipes for the holiday season, regardless of their eating beliefs.

In this post you’ll find recipes that range from loosely vegetarian (includes eggs, for example) to strictly vegan. If you’re trying to convince a friend or two during the holidays this year that getting rid of the meat doesn’t mean getting rid of the taste, you might want to try one of these!