coconut gut

I have been down with a tummy bug for three days now and training has shifted to daily cardio workouts until I am eating normal again. It has not been a fun three days with cramps, loss of appetite and achy muscles. I wonder if it has anything to do with my navel piercing being taken out and my meridian channels all re-aligning again. Meditation has been interesting as I can feel everything inside moving around, trying to heal, attack the virus and flush out! Still, I managed to put on my sweats and attended a talk last night at The Body Group on Gut Health by Caroline Rhodes and a sampling menu based on Gut and Psychology Syndrome Diet (GAPS Diet), prepared by Shima Shimizu, Sesame Kitchen. I only tasted a slice of the almond crust pizza as I didn't think my stomach could take the home made Kombucha (which i LOVE),  Chinese cabbage wrapped sauerkraut or fermented grain crepes with dark chocolate coconut spread. At the talk, I learned about more uses for coconut oil, gut health from as early as birth and what being strong at 53 can look like!

Do you ever feel super bloated after eating a heavy carboy meal? Are you just normally a little puffy? Pass a lot of wind? Have you been training and can't seem to trim the weight off those love handles? It could be related to your gut health and could trace as far back as whether or not you were born through a cesarian section or natural birth.

I picked up the recommended book, "The Coconut Diet" and started reading. First, let's clarify that the word diet must have a new attitude attached to it. The book has "weight loss", "drop 10 pounds this week" all over it and I think it devalues the gems between the covers. So let's get clear on the word, diet. 

Diet
noun: The kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats.  
verb: restrict oneself to small amounts or special kinds of food in order to lose weight. 

We use the word diet as a verb, more often than a noun and that's where we are failing to see that adopting a new diet (incorporating different kinds of foods), can actually lead to a healthier lifestyle without restricting yourself to small amounts or special kinds of foods. If we understand the word diet, as defining the kinds of foods or types of foods one eats, then wouldn't you want to know what kind of diet you are on? Chances are, you've never thought about it before so go ahead, write down your eating habits for the next three days and take a good look. Are you being good and investing into your long term health through what you eat?  

The Coconut Diet in short, is a 21 day cleanse for your gut, you get a plan to clean up your diet, eat whole foods, cut the addiction to sugar (like cigarettes, you don't care for it once the
addiction is gone), add coconut oil into your meals everyday and the bonus- you'll probably lose weight as a result. Don't let that be the driving force in your decision to take on the coconut diet, paleo diet or a plant based diet. Remember what girl crush, Kirsteen Thain mentioned in my last post, "shallow objectives get you nowhere." Focus on cleaning up your diet, your intestines, your immunity, as you grow older because what you ingest now, will either give you returns in health bills, or a clean bill of health later!

There is a chapter dedicated to The Big Fat Misconception and it goes into detail how we've ruined our bodies with "low-fat" foods and that they aren't working. Most of them are quick fixes and loaded with sugar, like those protein or snack bars you pack as a backup- SUGAR. Since strength training and conditioning in the gym in the last year, I've heard over and over again that, "preparation is key!" to a healthy diet.

Eating something low-fat doesn't mean it's necessarily better for you, having a whole food, full fat diet is better for a longer, healthy life. Great sources of fat include eggs, butter, fresh cream, raw milk, fish, fish oil, nuts, avocados and coconut oil. These sources have MCT's, medium chain triglycerides (fatty acids) that promote weight loss. They cause thermogenesis in our body, which increases the body's metabolism and therefore having more energy. Coconut oil isn't the only cure and if you find that your high fat and protein, low card diet isn't working, I'd look deeper into where you're getting your meats from, because you're consuming what they've been fed!

Coconut oil contains lauric acid which can help fight against bacteria that cause diseases like influenza, cytomegalovirus and even herpes – yup, even herpes.

Here are my top 5 uses for coconut oil

1. HAIR- For those of us who love to colour, perm, heat, straighten, curl our hair, coconut oil helps in the regrowth of damaged hair. It is also a great conditioner for your scalp if you have dandruff and can keep it lice free.
2. MOUTH- Replace oil with coconut oil and eat it! The short chain fatty acids in coconut oil help take off excessive weight. It’s easy to digest and can increase your metabolism by removing stress to the pancreas. It also helps you to better absorb other vitamins, nutrients and amino acids.
3. CUTS- You can apply it to cuts and bruises as it forms a layer to protect dirt and other bacteria from irritating or infecting your cuts.
4. SKIN- A natural moisturizer that is chemical free, leaves your skin feeling soft, silky and smelly oh so good which brings me to…
5. SEX- Keep a small bottle of coconut oil beside your bed and give your partner a sensual massage while enjoying the scent of coconut oil aromas. It can also be a great lubricant but don’t use it with condoms as coconut oil breaks down latex! 

Buy your coconut oil at

The Body Group (They also carry a coconut ginger drink mix- yum!)

Good Life Nutrition House (best value for money in convenient locations) 

Nature's Village (convenient and has those evil rice chips!)

Just Green  (convenient and carry specialty items) 

iherb  (For all your supplements too!)

TRAINING and NUTRITION COACHES THIS ONE IS FOR YOU: 

Caroline suggested that if you are going to eat fruit, eat it in the morning because it passes through your system a lot faster and don't eat it at the same time as when you have your protein. Do you agree? 

girl crush tip of the day "I eat a diet high in fat, lots of greens, berries and protein. I start my day with 2 eggs and a green juice with fresh seaweed. I'm 53 this year and I can do pull ups, handstands, headstands, I love yoga and at 17% body fat." Proof that the right diet can lead being strong and looking good!



Caroline Rhodes

Founder of The Body Group, Physiotherapist, Cranio-Sacral therapist  and Emotional Freedom Technique Practitioner and trainer.