Today’s episode is a story about pain and struggles and how these experiences help develop passion and purpose. Autumn Smith, joins us today to share her own wellness journey of healing from IBS and her mission to inspire people to take care of themselves. She gives tips on diet and nutrition, exercise, drugs/medicines, and routine for greater physical and mental health, including the importance of consistently testing your blood sugar levels. You don’t want to miss this one!
Autumn suffered acute digestive issues since she was a teenager and numerous experts failed to offer solutions that worked. Very concerned, her husband, Chas took matters into his own hands. His extensive research led him to the paleo diet.
Together they implemented its principles for 30 days and by the end, Autumn's IBS was completely resolved. With this wonderful learning experience, Autumn focused on disseminating information to facilitate wellness for everyone. She achieves this through Paleovalley and Wild Pastures.
Paleovalley creates products with integrity that are free from problematic ingredients and teeming with ingredients that promote vibrant health. Their products are a labor of love, and their only hope is that they help your family feel as vibrant as theirs. I, myself, testify to that.
If you want to know more about their products and try them for yourself, visit their store here. Get 10% off of your products by using the code: KETOKAMP10.
In this episode, you'll discover:
[00:30] From Pain to Purpose
- Autumn started to have digestion issues as early as 10 years old.
- They jumped from doctor to doctor and nobody really gave her a ‘healing’ answer.
- Autumn managed her pain on her own and she now knows that there’s a profound gut and brain connection.
- With Autumn’s decision to manage it instead of address it, her mental health started to deteriorate.
- It was so bad that Autumn was kicked out of her parents’ house before she even graduated from high school.
- This experience helped her develop the level responsibility she has today.
- From rock bottom, she pulled it together, got to college, moved to LA, pursued a dance career where she worked for Tracy Anderson, a celebrity fitness trainer.
- Her husband noticed that she is still suffering a lot that they decided to visit one last doctor. Still, no ‘healing’ answer was given.
- Through their self-guided research, she and her husband healed her digestive issues with the paleo diet.
- Within 30 days of the paleo diet, her digestive issues completely went away.
- Through Paleovalley, Autumn’s purpose is to facilitate wellness for everyone else by disseminating excellent nutritional information and organic food products with 100 million people worldwide
[5:50] Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Feeling bloated after meals.
- Experiencing pain and cramps in the lower abdomen.
- Getting itchy skin rashes or blisters.
- Deteriorating mental health.
- Unstable blood sugar levels.
[6:40] There is no cookie-cutter approach on regulating your blood sugar levels.
- Keto diet has been shown to improve blood sugar control.
- Regulating your blood sugar level is similar to a fingerprint. It is very unique.
- Number 1 step: Test your blood sugar levels.
- It is important to test. You cannot get all the information you need from the glycemic index and glycemic load.
- Fifty (50%) of people today are insulin resistant → highly correlated with the number of people with mental health issues.
[9:33] Mental Health, Drugs and Nutrition.
- Anti-anxiety drugs increase the risk of addiction in just 4 days.
- The pharmaceutical industry taught us the depression is just a case of serotonin-deficiency.
- Dietary intervention for people with mental health issues:
- Stabilize your blood sugar level.
- Address nutrient-deficiency.
- Track nutrition & count calories. (e.g Cronometer)
- Most mental health issues today are rooted with the immune system inflammation.
- Make sure you are not eating inflammatory foods.
- Identify your food sensitivities and gut issues.
[15:58] Foods, Anxiety and Depression
- Foods that trigger anxiety and depression:
- Sugar
- Gluten
- Back in the 1950s, there’s an association with gluten and schizophrenia
- Dairy
- Gluten and dairy breakdown into exorphins.
- These chemicals make you feel good in the moment but a little while after, they take you down and make you feel terrible.
- Caffeine
- Foods that reduce anxiety and depression:
[23:20] Story behind Paleovalley
- To heal her digestive issues, Autumn eliminated refined foods, shopped at local farmers’ market, ate fresh organic fruits and vegetables, grass fed meats and wild seafood.
- By the end of a 30-day period, Autumn's IBS was completely resolved
- Autumn and her husband, Chas, originally focused on disseminating information. They soon realized that there simply weren’t many truly healthy food products on the market.
- Realizing that they had an important job to do, they launched Paleovalley which aims to create products with integrity that are free from problematic ingredients and teeming with ingredients that promote vibrant health.
[27:35] Folate vs. Folic Acid
- Folic acid is a synthetic form of vitamin B9.
- Research suggests that your body won’t use it as efficiently as folate.
- Folate is the food form of vitamin B9.
- People with MTHFR, a genetic mutation 50% of the population has, won't be able to use these fake B Vitamins which interferes with the metabolism of the real ones.
[30:00] Differentiating grass fed animals from the others
- Grass fed animals are fed with grass and grains.
- They are free to roam around in their pasture.
- They are not exposed to pesticides.
- Products of grass fed animals have higher nutrient levels, better fatty acid profile, higher antioxidant levels and higher mineral content.
- Grass fed farmers can use a number of different grazing styles.
- Continuous grazing
- Animals graze a pasture for an extended amount of time with no, or infrequent rest to the plants from grazing.
- Not ideal since it degrades the environment
- Rotational grazing
- Mimic nature
- A system where a large pasture is divided into smaller paddocks allowing livestock to be easily moved from one paddock to another
- Stimulates rapid grass growth
[38:18] Autumn’s decision of not being in retail stores
- Paleovalley’s goal is to produce affordable products for consumers.
- “If we don’t go to retail, we don’t pay the extra costs associated with going into retail.”
- This allows them to keep their integrity high.
- “Our ultimate goal is to make it accessible. Retail, sometimes, does the opposite.”
AND MUCH MORE!
Resources from this episode:
This podcast is for information purposes only. Statements and views expressed on this podcast are not medical advice. This podcast including Ben Azadi disclaim responsibility from any possible adverse effects from the use of information contained herein. Opinions of guests are their own, and this podcast does not accept responsibility of statements made by guests. This podcast does not make any representations or warranties about guests qualifications or credibility. Individuals on this podcast may have a direct or non-direct interest in products or services referred to herein. If you think you have a medical problem, consult a licensed physician.