What would Don Draper do?

So, what's your coping mechanism in life?
This sketch is just priceless - it is pure brilliant in portraying how many of us go about our daily life in some way or another, whether we are conscious about it or not, and whatever our "drug" of choice is.

As anyone who has watched an episode of Mad Men knows, Don Draper is the epitome of a civilized addict. His narcissistic behavior and need for control is a direct result of an unstable biochemistry, if he is not engaging in his drugs of choice (cigarettes, alcohol or sex), he is being emotionally abusive.

His inability to handle emotions is why he is succumbing to self-destructive coping mechanisms that temporarily numb him out.

Veteran actor Jon Hamm plays Don Draper in Mad Men.

First step in treating someone like Don Draper is to rebalance his biochemistry so that he no longer deals with those ongoing struggles that cause him to be a ticking time-bomb. He is constantly experiencing peaks and dips in his dopaminergic and seratonergic neurotransmitter system based on what he is doing (or temporarily abstaining from doing). And those drastic brain chemical fluctuations would drive anyone up the wall. You can have all the knowledge in the world on how to deal with emotions etc., but if you are fighting against your biology, you stand to lose.


Treating an imbalanced biochemistry should always come first - that enables people to feel comfortable in the skin they're in effortlessly and without needing to spend countless hours at the shrink's going over semi-invented or not childhood traumas that just are not relevant to keep dwelling on when focus should be on letting go of the past and moving forward.

Balance your brain and everything else in life suddenly seems a lot less dramatic.
Addicts create drama because they are about to crawl out of their skin - that is how uncomfortable it feels to be them, and thus creating some outside triggering dramatic event gives them a temporary relief from focusing on their own inner discomfort.

Once inner balance is restored there is no need to create outer chaos.

Get your brain chemistry evaluated here.

Eating for pleasure.

Sometimes I eat for pleasure.

Sometimes I eat for comfort.

Sometimes I eat because my body demands fuel right now.

What I always do, however, is that I savor the flavors.

I NEVER eat anything that I do not truly enjoy.

Whether it be savoring the bold, earthy richness of Amarone in the bath tub or enjoying the explosion of flavors unfolding on my tongue that comes from dipping salmon sashimi in salty soy sauce mixed with green wasabi that just gives it that perfect "kick" combined with the sweetness of pink, pickled ginger. I believe food is there to be enjoyed - to nourish your body, mind and soul.



Alcohol is off-limits while you are

rebuilding your brain chemistry,

as it blocks the GABA/serotonin receptors.

However, to a STABLE brain, a glass of red wine

does offer benefits due to its contents off resveratrol.

Medicinal nutrition can be tasty. There is nothing pleasurable about stuffing yourself with soggy fries while typing away on the keyboard. You are not even realizing the flavors of what you are eating. Emotional overeating has nothing to do with being a foodie.

I am a foodie, but I do not numb myself with food; rather I use it as one of the many pleasures that are available to every human being.

French double-crème raw cow's milk brie on rustique, crusty baguette and sipping a glass of Amarone as the sun sets.

Did you know that truly... TRULY... enjoying your food and savoring every bite actually boosts anti-aging endorphins in your body?  And that forcing that shot of seemingly good-for-you but absolutely for your taste buds repulsing shot of wheatgrass increases stress hormones as your force it down in an attempt to make up for your sins.  Food is supposed to be a daily pleasure, not a struggle.

Here's something to think about.

'I recently picked a new primary care doctor. After two visits and exhaustive Lab tests, he said I was doing 'fairly well' for my age. (I just turned 77.)
A little concerned about that comment, I couldn't resist asking him, 'Do you think I'll live to be 80?'
The doctor responded by asking, 'Do you smoke tobacco, or drink beer or wine?' 
'Oh no,' I replied . . . 'I'm not doing drugs, either!' 
Then he asked, 'Do you eat rib-eye steaks and barbecued ribs?' "I said, 'Not much since my former doctor said that all red meat is very unhealthy!' 
'Do you spend a lot of time in the sun, like playing golf, sailing, hiking, or bicycling?' 'No, I don't,' I said. 
He asked, 'Do you gamble, go on vacations or have a lot of sex?' 'No,' I said. 

He looked at me and said, . . . 'Then, why do you even give a damn?'

Savoring the flavors of life... on every level.

A healthy life does not entail one that is confined or restricted; it is about living the life of your dreams, and you can  only do so if you are not numbing yourself via self-destructive behaviors. It's not the glass of red wine or the couple of French truffles in the evening that is killing you: It's trying to find happiness at the bottom of the scotch bottle after work; It's raiding the cookie jar and disconnecting from yourself and your emotions and needs.

Lick it! Nature's Viagra: This Valentine's get your SEXY on!

Do you know that your sex drive is an indicator of your overall health?
If your libido is diminishing, then this is simply a symptom of imbalanced hormones and a messed up brain chemistry! Factors that put you at risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes type-2, dementia and other inflammatory based diseases!


Before you resort to Botox in the quest of eternal youth do this...
Yes, your passion in the bedroom affects one of our greatest anti-aging hormones being HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE. This secret-to-eternal-youth hormone helps boost collagen production and keep cellulite at bay. Yes, you heard me... sex may very well be an underestimated cure for cellulite. Cellulite being a major issue for most women when they hit menopause - as their hormones drop, their libido vanishes and their mood fluctuates... just coinciding with those less-than-flattering derriere dimples appearing. It's NOT a coincidence. Hormonal imbalance sets off a major cascade of aging biochemistry reactions in your body!


And no, I am certainly not recommending Viagra here - the side effects are vast and many, and quite frankly, this is a disaster of a drug.


Lick it, baby!
What I am recommending is that you eat these two foods daily for a period of 6 weeks, and watch your sex-drive rise!
Apart from that you hereby have Rx to eat dark, decadent chocolate daily, the health impact of these two natural aphrodisiacs  go far beyond the bedroom, as they help to boost dopamine and serotonin levels, as well as balance your hormones NATURALLY and without any side-effects! 
So yes, lick every drop of that dark chocolate!


The scientific low-down on the two SEXY foods:

The Mayan Super food of the gods...
Dark chocolate contains a high concentration of phenethylamine. This chemical stimulates the nervous system and triggers the release of pleasurable opium-like compounds known as endorphins. It also potentiates the activity of dopamine, the neuro-chemical associated with sexual arousal.


The Incan secret to strong stamina... from the bedroom to the boardroom!
It's called MACA baby! And to be honest I have never seen anything quite as efficient with regard to boosting your sex drive! MACA is a Peruvian root that is one of the few foods that act like an adaptogen (balancing your hormones), support exhausted adrenal glands by lowering cortisol levels. However, dosage is crucial to notice any effect whatsoever; I have found that 1-2 tbsp. daily boosts libido for the majority of my clients dramatically within 6 weeks! Mix it in smoothies, yogurt or add it to flour in recipes when baking.


The taste of SEXY is dark, decadent and delicious...
You can get hold of RAW, high-potency and organic cocoa nibs and MACA here.


Reference: 

Dillinger TL, et al. Food of the gods: cure for humanity? A cultural history of the medicinal and ritual use of chocolate. J. Nutr. 2000 Aug:130(85 Suppl):2057S-72S

Analyze this: The celeb with a serotonin overload!

Calista Flockhart has long been speculated to suffer from Anorexia. Although she has vehemently denied those speculations in the past, she admitted in an interview after finishing filming The Ally McBeal Show, that a grueling work schedule, made her stop wanting to eat. Flockhart says, "I was seriously stressed. I was working 15-hour days on the set and then I was dealing with the end of the show, which was basically my life. I started under-eating, over-exercising, pushing myself too hard and brutalizing my immune system. I guess I just didn't find time to eat."

Here is the thing: how people respond to stress is based on how their brain is wired. Your stress management skills, the way you perceive life and your personality traits reveal how your brain is wired.

Just as Britney Spear's deficiency of serotonin sets her up for binging behaviors, Calista Flockhart's behaviors reveal that she is disposed to have an excess of serotonin.

Brain chemicals need to be balanced - a surplus of any one neurotransmitter is just as health threatening as a deficiency.

So, which key things stand out that reveals that Calista has an excess of serotonin?

• Anxiety (chronic stuck in fight or flight mode)
• Obsessive compulsive behaviors (counting, exercising, washing your hands over and over again etc.) 
• Perfectionistic 
• Rigid
• Structured
• Hyperactive
• Feeling stuffed after especially carbohydrate rich meals 
• Always pushing yourself 
• Distorted bodyimage 
• Inability to relax and calm down - always running around or fidgeting. 
• Passive-aggressive

So what is the natural reaction to help calm down an overexcited central nervous system due to elevated serotonin levels?
Well, you begin to starve yourself - because restricting (especially carbs), depletes serotonin - and you begin to feel a bit more comfortable in your own skin.


Starvation becomes your addiction, because you use it to cope with emotions and control your mood.
Any weight restoration program or recovery program that does not take this into consideration is bound to fail, due to the simple fact, that eating foods that do not match your brain and biochemistry type will set the individual up to become wired and overload the brain with serotonin. Thus the fear of feeling worse when eating is enforced and you go back to starving yourself to feel somewhat better.

However, if you know which nutritional strategies to take in order to balance those chemicals, then you will experience that you can actually feel better while in recovery.
And ultimately, a stable brain chemistry enables you to focus on other things that are much more important than weight, looks and the size of your neighbors thighs.
When you FEEL good, you will automatically LOOK good!
It's about understanding how to treat what is causing you to feel and look like trash.
Once you understand why you are acting the way you are, and that you are NOT nuts - but your brain chemistry is - then you are on the path to a STRONG MIND in a STRONG BODY. Effortlessly and permanently!

You are welcome to contact The Nutrition Doctor to hear more about what we can offer you on your path to recovery!


Take care of yourself - life is short!


Eat, Breathe & Love
Christina Santini
Medical Nutritionist & Lifestyle Coach
Specializing in Biopsychology

Analyze this: The celeb with a serotonin deficiency!

Now as some of you know Britney Spears has undergone some dramatic weight changes throughout her career.

Rumors have it, that she is suffering from bulimia, which is characterized by consuming excess amounts of food in one sitting, only to purge it up shortly thereafter. Unfortunately, this is a very inefficient way of losing weight long-term, as your body responds by speeding up its ability to absorb calories - the absorption of calories from those doughnuts has already begun once the first bite has been taken. This is also why bulimics often are in the normal - overweight weight range.

Britney has previously undergone treatment at Promises rehab for alcohol abuse (one of the most frequent abuses connected with Bulimia). Furthermore the pop princess is notoriously known for binge shopping and episodes of borderline behavior.

Now why am I focusing on these things in particular?

Because our behaviors, eating habits, weight fluctuations and personality traits all reveal how our brain is wired and which communicators are out of whack, so to speak. Those communicators - neurotransmitters - can be rebuilt, and your brain can be rewired in order to combat cravings effortlessly!

In Britney's case there is a clear cut correlation between her key issues and a serotonin deficiency.
Serotonin is the neurotransmitter in our brain responsible for keeping us happy and collected as well as keeping our appetite in check. Serotonin (and its resulting delta brain waves) is produced in the brain's occipital lobes and controls your brain's ability to rest and resynchronize and is also involved in vision. When your serotonin levels are balanced you can sleep deeply and think rationally. You are able to live in the moment and enjoy the simple things in life, such as eating a good meal or watching the leaves play in the wind.

Key signs of a serotonin imbalance are:

• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Carb cravings and alcohol abuse
• Impulsive
• Anger/ Rage/ Emotional outbursts/Anxiety
• Appetite dysfunction: chronic hungry/obsessing over food
• Overly self-critical
• Adrenaline junkie/ thrill seeker
• Depression
• Restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Palpitations
• Binging behaviour (food, shopping, kleptomania, sex etc.)

These signs are simply the symptoms of the cause - which is an imbalanced brain chemistry! In order to treat these issues you need to understand which nutritional strategies, supplements as well as meds that support your brain wiring! When you engage in extreme behaviors you are simply self-medicating on things that give you an instant relief from your pain and imbalanced brain. The key, however, is to rebalance your brain and all the symptoms then painlessly disappear! - Quitting an addiction is NOT about willpower! It's about understanding which chemicals in your brain are responsible for making you crave certain substances and then how you can alter it.

Every time Britney goes on a diet she will deplete that chemical further.

Especially if it's a low-carb diet or a vegan type of diet - both extremes have been proven to screw up serotonin balance big time. And this is something which females are particularly vulnerably to as estrogen and serotonin levels are connected (also why most females crave carbs and suffer PMS during certain times of their cycle - because they are experiencing a drop in serotonin levels due to fluctuating estrogen levels. However, this is something that is preventable - PMS is NOT normal!).

Contact The Nutrition Doctor to get you back on track to a STRONG MIND in a STRONG BODY!