Generally speaking, most of us would consider highly processed, packaged foods, which are high in fat, salt or sugar (or all 3!) to be bad for us or unhealthy. But, depending on who you are, heralded superfoods like kale and coconut oil can often do more harm than good!

I would have thought that collard greens, being packed with antioxidants, potassium, and vitamin C, are super healthy. However, after every time eating them, and noticing that my abdomen would them swell to double the size after eating them, I learned that collard greens are a cruciferous type of vegetable and, due to the sulphur content, may cause bloating in many people… Including me!

Now this isn’t an issue for everyone, but for me specifically, collards are a no-no. For others they are an important part of well balanced diet. The important thing is to find out what is right for you – and thanks to today’s technology, we can now actually do that from the palm of your hand! Thankfully, the only issues I had were poor digestion and discomfort as a result. For some people, eating certain foods can be downright dangerous. One man’s cure can be another man’s poison.

Here are 3 healthy foods that could be dangerous for you:

• Kale, cabbage, and brussel sprouts are great examples for this because they are super healthy greens that are often promoted as very healthy1. However, they are brassicaceae (aka crucifers or brassica). They contain goitrogens which means that they can affect the thyroid and cause goiters^{2, 3, 4}.
• Licorice root is another great example because it’s great for so many things like stomach problems (colic, ulcers, inflammation, heartburn) while also being fantastic for fighting bacterial and viral infections, bronchial problems, coughs and sore throat^5-10. The problem is that it increases blood pressure, which can be dangerous for people who already have high blood pressure^11-15.
• There are pros and cons to phytoestrogenic foods, such as soy and flax. While soy has gained a bad reputation now due to such a large portion of it being genetically modified around the world, flax is promoted as a superfood because it is full of Omega 3, lignans and other great nutrients. Though some women benefit from an estrogen boost^16-20, others need to stay away from it; especially if they’ve had or are currently fighting a hormone-positive type of cancer^21-24.

The key to superfoods is finding the foods that are super for you right now. Everyone is different. We are all genetically unique and we live in various environments, with different lifestyles and levels of stress so naturally we are going to have different digestive systems and unique dietary needs. I don’t have high blood pressure so I can eat all the licorice root I like! I’d better stay away from those collards though unless I want to waste time in pain and discomfort. The opposite may be true for you.

After getting sick of not being able to zip up my jeans, (yes, it does seem quite quite superficial, but the fact is I only have one pair!) I cut collards out of my diet. I’ve personalised they way I eat – getting the nutrients I need from sources that I know are perfect for me right now, rather than following the often farcical food fashions. My digestion has greatly improved as has my bloating. And those jeans slide on without a problem.

The best way to avoid potentially harmful foods is know your body. Find out how it works and how different environmental factors can have an effect on it. Know the quality of foods that you ingest and of course, be conscious of what you are putting into it. Find out what your body wants with Shae. The right food can help you feel like a million bucks and have you in optimum health. The wrong food might well just poison you.

References

1. Izydorczyk, Marta, Steve W. Cui, and Qi Wang. “Polysaccharide gums: structures, functional properties, and applications.” Food carbohydrates: Chemistry, physical properties, and applications (2005): 293-299.
2. Choi, Wook Jin, and Jeongseon Kim. “Dietary factors and the risk of thyroid cancer: a review.” Clinical nutrition research 3.2 (2014): 75-88.
3. Hughes, Kiernan, and Creswell Eastman. “Goitre: Causes, investigation and management.” Australian family physician 41.8 (2012): 572.
4. Cartea, M.E., Velasco, P., 2008. Glucosinolates in Brassica foods: bioavailability infood and significance for human health. Phytochem. Rev. 7, 213–229.
5. Isbrucker, R. A., and G. A. Burdock. “Risk and safety assessment on the consumption of Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza sp.), its extract and powder as a food ingredient, with emphasis on the pharmacology and toxicology of glycyrrhizin.” Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 46.3 (2006): 167-192.
6. Tanaka, Aki, et al. “Antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities of water distillate and its dichloromethane extract from licorice root (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) and chemical composition of dichloromethane extract.” Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 88.7 (2008): 1158-1165.
7. Aly, Adel M., Laith Al-Alousi, and Hatem A. Salem. “Licorice: a possible anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer drug.” AAPS PharmSciTech 6.1 (2005): E74-E82.
8. Wu, Tien-Yuan, et al. “Anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidative stress activities and differential regulation of Nrf2-mediated genes by non-polar fractions of tea Chrysanthemum zawadskii and licorice Glycyrrhiza uralensis.” The AAPS journal 13.1 (2011): 1-13.
9. Kim JY, Park SJ, Yun KJ, Cho YW, Park HJ, Lee KT.Isoliquiritigenin isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensisinhibits LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 expression via theattenuation of NF-kappaB in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Eur JPharmacol. 2008;584(1):175–84.
10. Asl MN, Hosseinzadeh H. Review of pharmacological effects ofGlycyrrhiza sp. and its bioactive compounds. Phytother Res.2008;22( 6):709–24.
11. Vora, Chaula K., and George A. Mansoor. “Herbs and alternative therapies: relevance to hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.” Current hypertension reports 7.4 (2005): 275-280.
12. Sontia, Bruno, et al. “Pseudohyperaldosteronism, liquorice, and hypertension.” The Journal of Clinical Hypertension 10.2 (2008): 153-157.
13. Russo S, Mastropasqua M, Mosetti MA, et al. Low doses of liquorice can induce hypertension encephalopathy. Am J Nephrol. 2000;20:145–148.
14. Sigurjonsdottir HA, Manhem K, Axelson M, et al. Subjects with essential hypertension are more sensitive to the inhibition of 11 beta-HSD by liquorice. J Hum Hypertens. 2003;17(2):125–131.
15. Sigurjónsdóttir HA, Franzson L, Manhem K, et al. Liquorice-induced rise in blood pressure: a linear dose-response relationship. J Hum Hypertens. 2001;15(8):549–552.
16. Setchell KDR, Brown NM, Lydeking-Olsen E. The clinicalimportance of the metabolite equol – a clue to the effec-tiveness of soy and its isoflavones. J Nutr. 2002;132:3577–3584.
17. Setchell KDR, Clerici C, Lephart ED, et al. S-equol, a potentligand for estrogen receptor b, is the exclusive enantiomeric form of the soy isoflavone metabolite produced by humanintestinal bacterial flora. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;81:1072–1079.
18. Jou HJ, Wu SC, Chang FW, Ling PY, Chu KS, Wu WH. Effect ofintestinal production of equol on menopausal symptoms inwomen treated with soy isoflavones. Int J Gynecol Obstet.2008;102:44–49.
19. Han, Kyung K., et al. “Benefits of soy isoflavone therapeutic regimen on menopausal symptoms.” Obstetrics & Gynecology 99.3 (2002): 389-394.
20. Huntley, Alyson L., and Edzard Ernst. “Soy for the treatment of perimenopausal symptoms—a systematic review.” Maturitas 47.1 (2004): 1-9.
21. de Lemos, Mário L. “Effects of soy phytoestrogens genistein and daidzein on breast cancer growth.” Annals of Pharmacotherapy 35.9 (2001): 1118-1121.
22. Michels KB, Mohllajee AP, Roset-Bahmanyar E, Beehler GP,Moysich KB (2007) Diet and breast cancer: a review of theprospective observational studies. Cancer 109:2712–2749
23. Duffy C, Perez K, Partridge A (2007) Implications of phytoes-trogen intake for breast cancer. CA Cancer J Clin 57:260–277
24. Benassayag, C., M. Perrot-Applanat, and F. Ferre. “Phytoestrogens as modulators of steroid action in target cells.” Journal of Chromatography B 777.1 (2002): 233-248.

Despite the current trend towards dietary sensitivities (gluten, dairy, sugar, you name it—at least one of my friends has it!), I spent almost the entirety of my life living with the discomfort of an undiagnosed lactose intolerance.

Every day, and nearly every meal, came with awful stomach aches. I tried all sorts of diets and elimination regimes to figure out what I might be allergic to, but I was never quite sure what it was.

And it wasn’t just my internal organs that suffered. Along with the tummy aches came awful bloating. I looked like I was 5 months pregnant after every meal, and would often be embarrassed to eat in public. Not to mention that indigestion doesn’t make you feel very sexy.

Still, though, by the time I turned 30, I felt relatively resigned to the reality that I would probably live the rest of my life with a hyper sensitive digestive system.

And then I started using ph360. After completing the initial assessment and entering my measurements, I jumped as fast as I could to my FOOD results. I wanted to see what my phenotype (my measurements and the way that I looked on the outside) could tell me about the insanity my digestive was up to on a daily basis.

When it put all dairy on my Foods to Avoid list, I wasn’t surprised. I had tried eliminating dairy before, but it never stuck. This time things were different, though. Because ph360 also provided a huge list of new Foods to Eat that gave me a way to distract myself from what I couldn’t have with new foods that were yummy AND good for me.

Instead of lamenting the ice cream I couldn’t eat, I decided to try some of the new foods recommended for me. Grapefruits, endive, sunflower, and sesame seeds turned into an amazing new salad that was super nourishing and refreshing. And although I was nervous to be too adventurous with new foods and my sensitive digestion, once I stuck to eliminating dairy, I barely had any tummy aches at all.

And while I was glad to be out of years of discomfort, I was equally over the moon to watch my bloated belly deflate faster than I ever could have ever imagined. Goodbye bloat, hello flat belly!

I can’t wait to try all the new foods from my ph360 FOOD dashboard that will keep my system happy, outside and in.

Last week over dinner, a friend I’ve known for 15 years told me that I am “aging well.” I was both flattered and intrigued by the compliment. Of course I quickly realized this didn’t mean I wasn’t aging at all, but that there was something about the way that I was aging that stood out to him.

I thought about the comment over the next few days, considering what “aging well” meant to me. As I slide into my 40s, aging well to me isn’t just about counting the lines on my face, it’s about protecting my health. Aging well is about taking care of myself so that I can enjoy the next 40 or so years of my life with energy, low stress, vitality, limber joints, strong muscles, and organs that do their job and don’t get sick. And it’s also about using epigenetics to my advantage so that if I carry any genes for disease those genes don’t get expressed.

Of course, my perspective on aging has changed radically since I started using ph360. I actually feel grateful to be aging, because I feel so much more comfortable in my skin today than I did 10 years ago. Thanks to ph360, I feel like I have a reference guide as I age, an interactive map that can steer me in the right direction and help me to avoid the choices I could be making that would accelerate aging.

What are the changes I’ve seen? While my internal health has transformed—my digestion has healed, my sleep is better than ever, and my joints are no longer painful and inflamed—I regularly notice the difference externally as well. My body looks and feels great.

Most of my same-age peers have gray hairs already, which I thankfully do not (despite the fact that my parents both went gray in their thirties). And despite my heavy sun-worshipping years, my wrinkles and sun damage have dramatically decreased since I’ve been following ph360. I notice these things every day when I look in the mirror. And although I appreciate them, I also think my friend was talking about more than this.

Because beyond gray hair and wrinkles, I think aging is an attitude—and aging well means facing life with a youthful spirit. ph360 has helped me find new vitality for my everyday routine, particularly as it allowed me to discover changes to that routine that made me healthier than ever.

I’m actually excited to continue aging well over these next years of my life. More than ever before, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. I’m not out to impress anyone, to prove myself, or to conquer the world—I feel very much at peace with who I am and where I am in my life.

And if that’s aging well, I’ll take it!

Discover your own roadmap to aging well at ph360.me.

Can you be addicted to sugar?

Yep!

A simple answer, I know. So let’s delve into more details.

Our sweet receptors evolved during ancestral times as a reward signal for the brain. Mother nature’s natural sweet treats like fruit and honey are nutritious and often full of calories we need. So our brains recognized foods that have a sweet taste as a special treat that makes the body feel good.

It’s the DR Dopamine gene receptor that is triggered by anything we see as reward and it reacts in the same way for who are addicted to drugs or alcohol as for those who are addicted to certain foods – like, say, sugar. What’s more is that the super sweet stuff, like artificial sweeteners and refined sugar, can be an even bigger trigger in the brain’s mechanism than the effects of cocaine. So just like being exposed to smoke can trigger a craving for a person trying to quit cigarettes, images of palatable foods can trigger biochemical cravings too.

So the more we activate the pleasure centres of the brain through repeated consumption of sweet foods, the more we anchor this relationship and deepen the addiction. Scientists have found that the same applies for other food cravings, with the most addictive substances being sugar, fat, flour, wheat, salt, artificial sweeteners, and caffeine.

So is this why most diets don’t work?

Yep!

Again, it’s a simplified answer so let’s look at why.

Most diet approaches are based on food restriction (that instigate stronger cravings) which can be quite successful in reducing the undesired weight. But if the initial addiction isn’t being managed, then it’s only normal to eventually return to the unhealthy food and begin the addiction all over again. I personally am great at quitting sugar! I’ve done it hundreds of times! Haha!

What really and truly works is lifestyle changes that are adapted slowly. First, the physical cravings must be dealt with. Then you can abstain completely. And not all addictions at once. And since food cravings and food desires can be based physiologically, psychologically, socially or environmentally, it’s important to recognize the triggers and deal with them one at a time. So whether it’s getting everyone in the family to eat healthy and drop the sugar, avoiding having sugar anywhere in the home, changing the types of snacks available, finding activities to do at times cravings are strongest, or whatever other strategy you can come up with, it’s these small steps that will make big differences.

Knowing exactly what is right for your health as an individual can help enormously too. Apps like ph360 and ShaeTM can make optimal health easy so you can concentrate on ditching your sugar addiction. Change your behavior. Change your attitude. And then you’ll be able to change your addiction.

As the seasons change and daylight savings shifts the amount of light you’re getting each day, your body may be in need of a tune up to get back in the groove. Light, temperature, and lifestyle can all dramatically affect the way our bodies process hormones, which means that a small difference on the outside could set us up for a big shift internally. New hormone levels bring changes in mood, metabolism, and mentality. And these fluctuations may influence feelings of self worth, body image, and how sexy you feel on a daily basis.

The way to get back on track is to recognize that these changes are bound to occur as your environment shifts—and to have a set of tools you can draw from in order to manage them successfully. Here are our top 5 ways to keep the mojo flowing year round, no matter what’s going on out there.

1. Eat for the season. As the seasons change and the temperature shifts outside, your body needs different foods to metabolize and function properly. Most notably, during the cooler autumn and winter months your body will need warmer foods to maintain balance. In the summer, cooler foods will be necessary.Eating the foods that keep you nourished and your metabolism active will naturally and easefully boost your confidence. It will also help you feel grounded in your body and conscientious of your body’s needs.
2. Drink H20. No matter what time of year, your body needs water to function. Water helps keep digestion moving smoothly and supports all physiological processes to run efficiently. If you’re dehydrated, you may feel fatigue, brain fog, lack of energy, and decreased libido.Take a reusable bottle of water with you to work and refill it as you drink throughout the day.
3. Adjust your sleep schedule. As it starts getting dark earlier in the day, you may find that it’s helpful to readjust your sleep schedule to go to sleep earlier as well. You’ll have more waking hours of sunlight by rising earlier, and your hormones may have an easier time coming into balance.A fully rested you is much more likely to have a confident sense of self and an ease in your body. A rested mind will serve you in everything you do, from your relationships to your work.
4. Move your body. It can easy to feel disconnected from your body, which is why even a brief daily workout or movement sesh can transform how you’re feeling. Remember that every body needs a different kind of exercise—no need to force yourself to take the trendiest exercise class in order to see the results you want.When scheduling gets tough, take a brisk walk during your lunch break or do squats while on a conference call. Get creative, and reap the benefits of daily movement.
5. Do something special every day. If you’re not feeling your sexy best, make a point to do something special for yourself every day. Even taking a small moment to appreciate something about yourself, buy yourself flowers, or take a walk somewhere peaceful can completely shift your perspective.
   

Discover your personalized guide to balancing your body and getting your sexy back on ph360.me!

When I first started exploring my ph360 FOOD dashboard, I have to admit: I was overwhelmed. My Foods to Avoid list was filled to the brim with foods I ate every day. And my Foods to Eat list was filled with a lot of foods I’d never even heard of. I had to take a moment to remind myself why I was doing this: I was tired of fatigue, of recurring illness, of skin problems, digestive troubles, extra weight, and a multitude of other daily physical complaints.

Above all, I wanted to feel happy about the foods I was eating. I had tried pretty much every diet imaginable, the most recent of which was the low-carb diet. And although ph360 suggested I avoid processed sugars and flours, it was clear that whole grains and fruit sugars were actually important parts of the diet it proposed.

In fact, I think the most encouraging thing about my FOOD dashboard was that it didn’t feel like a diet. Instead, it was an adjustment in how I thought about food. Rather than thinking solely about flavor, I was suddenly considering nutrients, vitamins, digestion, and the times of day I should be eating. Notably, it recommended that I eat breakfast, a meal I often skipped.

So before I let my overwhelm take over, I decided to engage in my own personal food revolution. For me, this started at the grocery store.

I made a list of all of my 5-star foods and promised myself I would try five new things from the store that day. I also made a private agreement not to buy anything below 3-star.

Walking into the grocery store I saw things in an entirely new light. There were five 5-star foods I was determined to sample, two of which I’d never eaten before, ever: Fennel, endive, grapefruit, lemon, and sesame seeds. Although fennel and endive were new to me, I had spent a bit of time searching recipes online and decided to make a salad with these ingredients and Himalayan sea salt.

Arriving home with bags full of foods that would supposedly transform me from the inside out, I felt excited. Would they give me unprecedented levels of energy?

I threw together a quick salad with those 5-star foods, and was thrilled at how good it all tasted to me. Who knew I loved fennel and endive?! That night, I went to bed feeling nourished but not bloated. Balanced.

The next few days, I had to force myself to eat breakfast, a meal I wasn’t used to. But I quickly found that the sugar cravings I used to experience between 11 am and 3 pm were disappearing. My body really was changing!

Newly inspired, I cleared the kitchen of any foods that weren’t on my 3-, 4-, or 5-star lists. It’s been super fun to get creative in the kitchen, and bring my list to the farmers market, butcher and local fishmonger. I love knowing that these foods are so good for me, and being able to feel the difference so immediately!

Discover your own 5-star food list today on ph360.

Robotic hands produced by digital printers. Therapy on the go via mobile phone. Contact lenses that sense blood sugar levels. Personalized health has gone truly technological. But are all these future health technologies actually making life easier? It depends on how they’re used.

Dr. Robert Pearl of Stanford University commented, “These wristbands, sensors, headsets and even ‘smart clothes’ can obtain and transmit huge amounts of data on anything from heart rhythms to blood pressure. But there’s little evidence those wearing them overcome abnormal heart rhythms or elevated blood pressures better than those who don’t.”

As alluring as the concept of futuristic health tech transforming our lives for the better may be, it’s yet to be integrated fully into user’s lives. Dr. Pearl explained, “Physicians would love a tool that truly helps patients better manage their diet, exercise and stress levels. Many applications available today claim to modify behavior through alerts, reminders and real-time feedback, but few have demonstrated measurable success.”

While investing in wearables like the FitBit or Jawbone could be valuable, it may be more important to find a technology that actually knows what to do with your data. Particularly as new products like the Apple Watch and HealthKit app come to market, a health tool that can provide targeted guidance about diet, health, and lifestyle is more important than ever. Information is interesting, but doesn’t do much to help you change your habits. This is where the development of a personalized health app like ph360 becomes more critical than ever.

As a personalized health app that integrates the cutting edge technology of epigenetic science (the study of how your genes are expressed) with endocrinology (the study of hormones) and nutrition, ph360 has the unique capacity to provide individualized diet and health plans that reflect the data harvested by wearables. The web-based app is designed to be used in concert with treatment from healthcare professionals, augmenting the relationship an individual may have already established with their physician.

ph360 is powered by an algorithm that uses anthropometry—the scientific assessment of the body’s measurements—to determine what each individual needs to thrive. Recommendations for foods to eat and foods to avoid, specific exercises for distinct body structures, and suggestions for the best environments and professional and social situations will support revitalized health for both body and mind.

So while we can all marvel at the most recent developments in health technology, the path to lasting health starts with actionable insights. Synthesizing scientific discovery and ancient wisdom, ph360 offers the best of both worlds. Data grounded in everyday life. Ready to help you become the best version of yourself.

Start today at ph360.me!

The rhythm. The wind on your face. The sky. The speed. The ground covered. The rush of endorphins. The power of a good run…

Running is one of the most popular forms of exercise today, and yet it’s also potentially one of the most damaging forms of exercise to the body. According to Scarborough Research, 57 million Americans jogged or ran in 2012. But how many of those 57 million know if running is really the best exercise for their body?

There are many benefits of running, not least of which that it is a high-powered way to trim excess body fat, build lean muscle, and boost mood via floods of endorphins. But that’s all information you probably already know, especially if you’re a runner. What you don’t know is how to determine the best form of exercise for your unique body profile.

Because here’s the truth: Every body under the sun has unique needs for its physical structure. And the best way to determine what works for your body is to look to the expression of your genes. This expression is your phenotype: The way you look in the mirror.

The science of epigenetics takes this a step further. Epigenetics allows us to understand the influence of the environment on the way your genes are expressed. What does this mean?

It means that everything about the world around you, including the place you grew up, the place you live now, the foods you eat, and even the people you spend time with, influences your gene expression. So while you may have genetic predispositions to certain diseases and physical characteristics, epigenetics determines whether or not those predispositions ever come to fruition.

And there is a way to eat, exercise, socialize, work, and live that can make the most of your particular epigenetic needs. While some athletes are designed to move with speed and agility, others are better suited to flowing movement, and still others to power and force. The most important thing you can do for yourself is to take a clear physical assessment of your body profile and get the support you need to understand your unique best form of exercise.

A program like ShaeFit can help you with this assessment, and provide you with a personalized program and training plan that takes into account your individual body structure and epigenetic demands. Understanding these inherent qualities can help reveal your best sport to play, the ideal role for you on a team at work, and even some of your natural skillsets.

If you’re a runner that has a body perfectly suited to running, ShaeFit can help reveal the best days to run, as well as the ideal times, lengths, and intensity levels. And if you’re a runner whose body has been suffering from the joint pain and muscle stiffness that is common amongst those whose bodies are not well-suited to the sport, ShaeFit can help guide you to recover, heal, and target an exercise plan that will both challenge and uplift your body.

All based on what really works for you—not every other runner out there on the road.

Learn more with ShaeFit today!

In 2015, the National Institute on Aging will award up to $500,000 to researchers studying the association between epigenetics and age-related disease. As a scientist in the personalized health field who is passionate about the power of epigenetics, I couldn’t be more excited about this next step towards empowering people to take control of their health.

Epigenetics is a relatively new scientific field, examining the influence of environment and lifestyle on genetic expression. The insights that the study of epigenetics may lead to are all-encompassing, providing information about individualized ways to heal disease and reach optimal health. Most importantly, epigenetics shows us that health solutions must be personalized in order to be effective. I am thrilled that the National Institute on Aging is choosing to invest significant funds into these studies.

Epigenetics is what dictates the differences in appearance and health between two twins that may have been separated at birth and lived very different lifestyles. While DNA may plainly show a predisposition for certain disease, genes can be turned on or off, just like a light bulb. Epigenetic factors determine whether a gene is switched on or off.

For example, disease and aging may appear differently in two people with the same exact DNA if one smokes and the other does not, or if one is malnourished and the other is not. Other epigenetic factors, like climate, light, career, stress, and exercise can all influence the likelihood of disease expression in aging.

Ten years ago, I began my own journey with epigenetics and healing from disease. As I worked with physicians and epigenetic specialists to reach greater levels of health than ever before, I was inspired to find a way to share the efficacy of this approach with the world. This year, a team of international scientists, physicians, and other personalized health specialists founded ph360.

ph360 is a web-based personalized health app that integrates the cutting edge science of epigenetics with the wisdom of anthropometry (the scientific assessment of the body’s physical measurements) to deliver individualized suggestions for diet, exercise, weight loss, and lifestyle. As scientists backed by the National Institute on Aging work to improve the range of potential treatments and health solutions available to the aging population, ph360 will provide ongoing daily solutions based on epigenetic insight.

Last week, GenomeWeb reported, “The institute said these studies will focus on using epigenetics to address important questions in the emerging field of geroscience, which aims to relate the biology of aging to the development of chronic diseases and conditions that are prevalent among older populations.”

In the meantime, I invite you to explore the power of ph360 to enlighten you regarding the potential of epigenetics and personalized health solutions!

I love my vacation self. Vacay-me is relaxed, more fun, and sleeps better. When I’m on holiday, food tastes better, I have more energy and I fully enjoy every experience I have. This is because, on vacation, I live in the moment. My headspace isn’t taken up by work deadlines, neglected chores and worrying about things that haven’t even happened yet, like it is in everyday life.

On vacation, we tend to experience more fully the world around us. Overall health helps enormously with mental wellness, and technology like ph360, and the newmake it easy. But how can we bring some of this holiday magic home? Here are some easy ways to get more headspace and be present in day-to-day life:

1. Notice when you stand up or sit down. Put everything out of your mind for a few seconds and consciously observe the change in contact and posture. It sounds so simple, but it can be quiet challenging to purposely concentrate on something that has become so second nature.
2. Count your breath. A few times a day pause, close your eyes and concentrate on the air going in and out of your lungs. Count ‘one’ on the inhale, ‘two’ on the exhale and so on until you get to ten. Takes less than a minute and you can do it almost anywhere.
3. Set an hourly reminder on your phone. Sometimes, in the buzz of a busy day, it can be hard to even remember to breathe. Having something to gently nudge you to just pause and take in your surroundings can go a long way.
4. Look out the window. Even if it means walking away from your desk, go and look at the outside world for a few minutes. Observe the wind in the trees or the people walking by on the pavement. It will remind you that there is whole world outside your head.

5. Scan your body. This is another one that can be done almost anywhere. Close your eyes and scan your body from the top of your head to the tips of your toes, noticing any discomfort, unpleasant or pleasant sensations. Don’t judge your body for hurting here or being uncomfortable there – just observe.
6.Listen to the sounds all around you. Close your eyes and let your sense of hearing take over. Don’t try to concentrate on any particular sound. Just open your ears and let the sounds come to you – the ones close by and the ones far away. Another great one for getting outside your own head.
7. Don’t eat in front of the TV or with any other distractions. Every once in a while sit down and really concentrate on what you’re eating. Look at it, smell it, taste it and focus on what you notice.
8. Download Shae™ – personalized health in the palm of your hand. Once launched, Shae™, your personal health assistant will be able to prompt you to take time out for yourself at the times that are best for your health. The most comprehensive personal health assistant, she will know you better than you know yourself.