Superior Self
  • Start Here
    • Bio
    • About
    • Resources
  • Blog
  • Books & Services
    • Testimonials
    • Services
  • Health & Nutrition
    • Guide to Wellness from Within
    • Free Healthy Meal Ideas
    • Foods I Live By
    • Physical Activity
    • HCG
  • Guest Appearances/Book Me
Connect with me!

L-Theanine to the Rescue!

7/26/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Recently I was reading a blog in the Miracle Noodle website. I am a big fan of konjac noodles and rice, first being exposed to the root vegetable pastes and cubes while living in Japan in the early 1990s. Miracle noodles are made from the konjac root, fibrous and low carb.  I keep an eye on the blogs on their website and love how they bring the science of food to the regular person, helping the non-scientists learn more about what is in our food. This particular blog was researched and written by Judd Handler. As I learned, I was intrigued about the amino acid, L-Theanine. It is usually found in green tea. Green tea also has caffeine, so if one is sensitive to caffeine (I am), then we can reap the benefits of the amino acid without the caffeine by taking it as a supplement. I just ordered a bottle and we shall see how focused and calm I feel after taking it regularly. I am not an afiliate of any product or supplement

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. In addition to protein building amino acids, there are also non-protein amino acids. Researchers believe non-protein amino acids help protect plants against insects. This also allows for the plant species to not go extinct. They can procreate if protected from demise. They also play a key role in plant metabolism. 

What is L-Theanine? L-Theanine is a non-protein amino acid that may help us balance our own metabolism, and  assist with anxiety, helping us to be calm as we need to focus on tasks like work, school, errands, and chores. Modern society is busier than ever, and we need to perform, produce, and feel empowered doing so. 

L-Theanine is naturally found in tea. It is more abundant in green tea leaves because green tea is not heated or fermented for a long time, therefore green tea is younger and dried more quickly. The compound L-Theanine is becoming more popular among consumers for its ability to induce calmness without drowsiness. Who among us doesn't need that these days?

Benefits of L-Theanine:
  1. Cognitive-enhancing 
  2. Supports good mood  
  3. Anti-stress and anti-anxiety properties
  4. Improves sleep quality
  5. Increases attention span

​How Does L-Theanine work? We have brain messengers constantly hard at work regulating our brain function, and all other vital functions. These chemical messengers turn on or off hormones which determine our psychological state. Serotonin is a happy, calm inducing hormone  helping other hormones to control appetite, and sleep quality, attention span, memory, and mood regulation. Gaba is a hormone which regulates anxiety and also helps us not to receive pain if in a happy state. L-Theanine works in part by preserving chemical neurotransmitter messengers and elevating other non-protein amino acids in the body. Another way in which L-theanine works is by boosting alpha waves in the brain, seen to elevate during REM sleep and meditation. (Yet another reason to meditate!) 

I want to thank Judd Handler for opening my eyes on yet another superfood! As always, do your own research, and try out things on yourself with a health practitioner's guidance.

Be Well,
​KJ Landis




0 Comments

Neutralizing Polarities

7/19/2021

1 Comment

 
Picture
In my meditation practice, we are often reminded to steer away from cravings and aversions. If we feel a craving towards something or some action, when we do not get that, it causes a suffering from the desire, the craving. That creates a misery in our lives. When we feel an aversion away from something, someone, or some action, the experience in our past is placing the aversion there. We steer away from it in our future. If it presents itself again and we cannot get away from it, we create a misery in our lives.

How do we find relief from constant craving and aversion? How do we alleviate our miseries, though they may be slight or strong? Maybe our cravings and aversions are a result from a past life experience. Enjoy the moment without craving more and more exactly like it. Acknowledge the past aversions with an openness toward experiencing situations as if for the first time. Let the pendulum in our minds not swing. Stay in the middle mind, no cravings and aversions. Observe the breath more and more with each day, during each quiet time. We can observe with the equal mind by realizing that all of our energy rises up, passes away, and dissipates. Just like us. We are born, grow up, grow older, dissipate, and fade away. 

This is the natural order of things. When we realize we are part of a much larger ebb and flow, we can remain in the middle. This is a way to stay focused on neutralizing our tendencies to be polarized so much of the time. I recommend mindfulness and meditation. My personal preference is Vipassana meditation, but there are many options out there. Our daily practice helps us find peace while in the human experience.

Blessings,
​KJ Landis


1 Comment

Nutrition Basics: Fats, Carbs, and Proteins

7/12/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Today we will land upon a mini nutrition course. We will learn the basics of what general categories foods are in and what they do inside the body. All foods fall into three major categories: fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. These basic building blocks of nutrition are called macronutrients.
 
Dietary fats are oily, smooth in texture, and have a creamy mouth feel. They are very satisfying to the tongue and tummy. Fats are very satiating, which means after a fatty meal, we can go for a long time before we become hungry again. Some foods containing fats are nuts, seeds and their oils, meats and their skins, rendered lard or tallow, fish and seafood, olives and their oil, avocados and their oils, and dairy.
 
Fats slow down the absorption of the foods eaten alongside of them as well, helping the body absorb at a higher rate the vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals in those foods. The term we use for the vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals in our food supply is called micronutrients.
 
Carbohydrates are the rapid energy givers in our food. Carbohydrates come from fruits, vegetables (both starchy and non-starchy), grains, beans, dairy, and sugars. The textures in carbohydrates can vary wildly, and so can the fiber content. All carbohydrates break down into glucose sugar during digestion. Then our body knows to use it as energy. The glucose further turns into glycogen, which is then stored in our muscle cells for active use. Our body breaks down a candy bar, a glass of orange juice, and a bowl of cabbage into glucose. The difference between the rate of even, balanced energy in the body versus a spike of energy and then a crash, is the amount of fiber in the carbohydrate source. Fiber slows down the rate of absorption and transference into energy. This is better for regulating the body’s supply of energy. We can usually tell after eating each food type whether we feel tired or ready to take on the world.
 
Proteins are the muscle builders in our food. They are made up of amino acids, some of which our body can make, and others which our body cannot make. The amino acids our body cannot make we must get from food. They are called essential amino acids. Protein is found in meat, fish, seafood, nuts, seeds, dairy, and some fruits and vegetables. If we consume more protein that our body needs for fuel, the protein can convert into glucose. This is called gluconeogenesis.
 
As you may have noticed, some foods cross over into more than one category. A slice of cheddar cheese contains fats, carbohydrates, and protein. Black beans are thought to be a great source of protein, but a closer look reveals that they only contain about thirty percent protein. The rest is carbohydrates and fat. Then we must determine what percentage of that protein can actually be absorbed and used by the body. This absorption rate is called bioavailability. Nuts are another food source that have all three basic components in them.

A fun activity that the family can play around with is to list the most typically recognized foods in each category and then decide together which foods have more than one macronutrient in them.

All three components are vital for people to be well at any age. Excess fats, carbohydrates, and proteins can lead to body fat. That is, if you consume obscene amounts of food daily, your body must store the extra fuel somewhere, usually on the hips, thighs, and abdomen. If one is consuming refined, processed foods, convenience foods, and junk foods with little nutrient density, the process occurs rapidly and easily. Our bodies do not know what to do with the unnatural edible food “wannabes.” Real, whole foods slow down the digestion and absorption rate, therefore providing the body with what it needs to thrive. Doesn’t that sound good?

Be well,
KJLandis
​SuperiorSelf on YouTube

0 Comments

Long Term Health Goals

7/5/2021

1 Comment

 
Picture
We are on earth for a limited time. Even our long term goals are really short term goals in the grand scheme of things. It is how we carry ourselves and what we choose to partake in every moment that will make a difference in our health and happiness. It will also make a difference in the legacy we leave behind. If we want to be truly healthy and balanced in mind, body, and spirit, we must change our behavior and then the rest will follow naturally, eventually. Self trust is key too. Trust the fact that you have arrived here and now, reading this blog at exactly the right time in your life. I have seen the perfect body out there...and it is mine. I have seen the perfect body out there...and it is yours. At any stage in our journey our bodies have provided us with our heart, legs, arms, breath, and life. Be grateful for your perfect body. I am.
 
 
I’m not special. I mean, I am extraordinarily special, but not any more special than you. I’m a normal human being going through the regular routines of any active mother, wife, and employee. I’m extremely busy catering to everybody’s needs while taking care of me, too. I am a server (waitress in old-school talk) at a busy restaurant that has food all around, all of the time. I am constantly offered leftovers, tastings, alcohol, food training, and food gifts brought in by coworkers. I have plenty of opportunities to indulge in the wrong foods and the right foods every single day. I must love myself more than the momentary dip into foods that don’t serve my higher purpose. You have the same health and food choices as I do. As I said, I am not that special.

I hope these words of wisdom hit you at the right time in your life.
Blessings,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf channel on YouTube

 
1 Comment
    View my profile on LinkedIn
    BUY REAL HCG HERE
    Facebook Twitter Addthis

    Author

    KJ Landis is her first success story.  She lost 50 pounds in 60 days and has kept it off for years.  Daily research and coaching has fueled her to love others into a better existence.

    I am now partnered with Buck Books, Good Reads, Author Central, Publishers Weekly, Leading Edge Review, Book Life, Lakanto, and more! Here are some author links for free and discounted items as well as learning more about my journey as an author on their pages!
    ​

    GREAT DEALS LINKS: PLEASE CLICK TO READ MORE AND JOIN FORCES!!
    Here are the links:


    Buck Books: Click here!
    Amazon Author: Click here!
    GoodReads: Click here!

    Apple iBooks :superior self book link: Click here!
    Google books: link to my first book:Click here!


    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014

    Categories

    All
    Action
    Activism
    Add
    Adhd
    Advice
    Affects
    Age Related Deaths
    Aging
    Agriculture
    Air
    Allergies
    Alzheimer's
    Ancestral
    Angel
    Angry
    Anti-cancer Therapy
    Anxiety
    Anxiety Disorder
    Apple Cider Vinegar
    Arthritis
    Artichokes
    Artificial Sweeteners
    Attitude
    Authentic
    Awareness
    BACKACHE
    Back Aches
    Back Bends
    Balance
    Barley
    Batter
    Beans
    Beauty
    Becoming
    Beef
    Beef-jerky
    Biohacking
    Birthing
    Birthright
    Bladder
    Bladder Infections
    Blend
    Blood Circulation
    Blues
    Body
    Brain
    Brain Imagery
    Brassica
    Brathing Techniques
    Bread
    Breast
    Breastfeeding
    Breathing
    Breath Is Life
    Breathwork
    Broccoli
    Budwig Diet
    Bulgur
    Burn
    Bury
    Burzynski
    Busy
    Butter
    Cakes
    Cancer
    Cardiac Arrest
    Cardiac Distress
    Career Change
    Caring
    Cattle
    Cattle-ranching
    Caution
    Caveman
    Charlotte Gerson
    Cheaper
    Cheeses
    Chemotherapy
    Chocolate
    Choices
    CHRONIC PAIN
    City Hikes
    Climate
    Coconut
    Coconut Oil
    Cold
    Comedy
    Comfort Zone
    Community
    Compassion
    Complaining
    Concern
    Concerns
    Connection
    Consistent Kindness
    Constipation
    Contrary
    Cookies
    Cooking
    Core
    Core Exercises
    Core Strength
    Corn-fed
    Corona Virus
    Courage
    Covid 19
    Covid-19
    Cows
    Creative
    Creativity
    Crustaceans
    Dairy
    Dedication
    Dementia
    Demise
    Depression
    Desire
    Dessert
    Determination
    Diabetes
    Diary
    Diet
    Disbelief
    Discipline
    Disease
    Disease Prevention
    Do
    Doctors
    Donuts
    Dream
    Dreams
    Eat
    Edemame
    Effects
    Efforts
    Elderly
    Electrocution
    Elimination
    Emergency Room
    Emotional
    Emotional Distress
    Empathy
    Energy
    Enhanced Foods
    Epigenetics
    Equal Rights
    ER
    Essential Oils
    Estrogen
    Exercise
    Exercise Outdoors
    Exercise Tips
    Expensive
    Factory Farming
    Facts
    Fake Fat
    Falling
    Fall Risks
    Fancy
    Farmers
    Farmers-markets
    Farming
    Fast Food
    Fat
    Father
    Fatty Foods
    Fear
    Fear Based Living
    Feeling
    Feminism
    Fermented Foods
    Fever
    Fight
    Fish
    Fitness
    Flexibility
    Flight
    Flu
    Food
    Food Healing Therapy
    Food Heals
    Food Therapy
    Fortified Foods
    Free
    Free Will
    Frequent Urinary
    Friend
    Functional Foods
    Fur Babies
    Future
    Game
    Gerson
    Gerson Method
    Gerson Therapy
    Gluten
    Glycemic Index
    Glycemic Load
    Gmo
    Goals
    Goal Setting
    God
    Good Fat
    Good Fats
    Grain
    Grass Fed
    Grass-finished
    Gratitude
    Grazing
    Grocery Shopping
    Guardian Angel
    Guilt Trip
    Gut Brain Connection
    Habitat
    Happy
    Healing
    Healing Music
    Healthcare Workers
    Healthy
    Healthy Aging
    Heart Attack
    Heart Healthy
    Helpless
    Herbs
    High Blood Pressure
    High Protein
    High-protein-deserts
    Hiking
    Hill
    Holiday-travel
    Home Health Care
    Homeless
    Hormonal-issues
    Hormones
    Hospital
    Hospitalization
    Hot-flashes
    Hybrid-agriculture
    Hydrolyzed Fat
    Ill
    Immune Strength
    Immunity
    Impulse Eating
    Independence
    Industrial Ranching
    Inflammation
    Ingredient Labels
    Ingredient Reading
    Innate
    Interactive
    Intestines
    Journal
    Journalig
    Junk Food
    Just Do It
    Kaiser
    Kitchen
    Kitchen Fables
    Knee Replacement
    Knowledge
    Laughter
    Laughter Therapy
    Legacy
    Life
    Lifestyle Change
    Lists
    Living
    Living Well
    Love
    Lunch
    Makeup
    Manipulation
    Mat Pilates
    Max Gerson
    Meal Replacement
    Medical Social Worker
    Meditation
    Melasma
    Memory Loss
    Menopause
    Mental Illness
    Mind
    Mindful
    Minerals
    Minerlals
    Mini Stroke
    Mollusks
    Moment To Momemt
    Monks
    Monounsaturated Oil
    Mother
    Mothering
    Motivation
    Mountain
    Movement
    Msg
    Muse
    Music
    Musicians
    Nadi
    Nadi Breathing
    Nature
    Negative
    Negative Domination
    Negative Living
    Neutralizing Polarities
    Never-ending Love
    New Exerciser
    New Year
    Night Nurse
    Nurse
    Nurses
    Nursing
    Nutritional-healing
    Nuts
    OA
    Oats
    Oil
    Old
    Olive Oil
    Omega 3
    Onion Rings
    Open
    Openness
    Options
    Organic
    Osteoarthritis
    Overcome
    Oxygen
    Pain
    Paleolithic
    Pandemic
    Panic Attack
    Paralyzed With Fear
    Parenting
    Party
    Patient Care
    Pets
    Pharmaceuticals
    Pilates
    Plan
    Planning
    Plans Change
    Play
    Playing
    Pleasure
    Polyphenols
    Positive
    Power
    Practices
    Pray
    Prediabetes
    Preservatives
    Prevention
    Produce
    Protein
    Proud
    Questions
    RA
    Radiant
    Radiant Energy
    Raw Foods
    Reaction
    Reading Food Labels
    Rebellion
    Recipes
    Reduction Of Sugar
    Red Wine
    Repetition
    Replace
    Rest
    Resveratrol
    Rheumatoid Arthritis
    Ritual
    Rye
    Sabotage
    Sacred
    Safe Wearing Masks
    Same
    Savory Elements
    Science
    Seafood
    Seeds
    Seeing
    Self
    Senior Citizens
    Senses
    Sensitivities
    Sexual Desire
    SF Bay Area
    Shellfish
    Sickness
    Simoncini
    Singing
    Sister
    Skin Care
    Sleep
    Snacks
    Snacks On The Go
    Social Justice
    Sodium Bicarbonate
    Solidarity
    Soup
    Soy
    Soybean Oil
    Spending Dollars
    Spider-veins
    Spinal Discectomy
    Spinal Fusion
    Spinal Laminectomy
    Spinal Surgery
    Spine
    Spine Surgery
    Spirit
    Stability
    Stand
    Stew
    Stories
    Stories-connect
    Stress
    Stroke
    Struggles
    Success
    Sugar
    Superfood
    Super Foods
    Supplements
    Surgery
    Survival
    Swap
    Sweats
    Sweet Desserts With Protein
    Sweeteners
    Sweets
    Symptoms
    Tempeh
    Thinking
    Thought
    Tofu
    Tough-questions
    Trace Minerals
    Tradition
    Travel
    Truth
    Try
    Type 2 Diabetes
    Uncomfortable
    Unhealthy
    Unions
    UTI
    UTIs
    Vacation
    Varicose Veins
    Vege
    Vegetables
    Veins
    Virus
    Vision
    Visiting Nurse
    Vitamin B 12
    Vitamins
    Walk Tall
    Walk The Walk
    Warriors
    Wear A Mask
    Weight-loss
    Wellness
    Whole Food Sources
    Work
    Workplace
    Workshop
    Worry
    Write
    Writer
    Writing
    Yoga
    Yoga Is Meditation
    Your Story

    RSS Feed


    RSS Feed

Contact Copyright © *|2014-2023|* *|SUPERIOR SELF|*, All rights reserved. Workshops and Coaching
Photo used under Creative Commons from wonder_j
  • Start Here
    • Bio
    • About
    • Resources
  • Blog
  • Books & Services
    • Testimonials
    • Services
  • Health & Nutrition
    • Guide to Wellness from Within
    • Free Healthy Meal Ideas
    • Foods I Live By
    • Physical Activity
    • HCG
  • Guest Appearances/Book Me