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The experiences we have and people we meet along the way shape our lives and help to write our story. The same holds true with food. Your past experiences, the information that has been shared with you, and many other factors help develop your food story, a piece of your life story.

So, what is your food story? How would you describe what food is to you?

We know that the car and fuel analogy is broken as the human body and food are far too complex and miraculous to fit into that tiny box. So if food is not fuel, what is it?

Food, in a way, is information that triggers events. To elaborate, when you consume food your body sends signals to your brain letting it know that food is coming in. These signals orchestrate the digestion process allowing your body to process and utilize the nutrients that are coming in. Just as your food story is a story within your life story, your food has a story to tell as well.

The story begins with you. It begins when you eat, where you eat, what you eat and who you eat with. It includes the meals you share with friends and the feeling that brings you. It begins with how you feel about what you are eating and how you feel about food in general.

Once the food is off the table and in your mouth we head to digestion…What to do with all these macronutrients (proteins, carbs, and fats)?

Incoming carbs trigger the blood sugar to rise. Carbs are then broken down to glucose which sends the message, “hey, release some molecules and send them over to the pancreas.” The released molecules say, “hey pancreas please send out some insulin”. This one message triggers an entire process that prepares the rest of our body to receive the glucose that’s on its way and the communication and story continues.

Incoming proteins and fats send their message straight to the gut, “hey gut please send a little cholecystokinin (CCK), a hormone.” Chatty CCK goes straight to the pancreas and demands the production of enzymes that help break down the protein chilling in your small intestine. That’s not the only message CCK send though, it also asks the gallbladder to share a little bile to further help with digestion and lets your brain know when you have reached capacity. And, since its chatting with the brain already it interacts with the neurotransmitter systems that are involved with your mood.

Once digested these food compounds are sent to our cells, little Drill Sargents that put peptides and amino acids to work doing what they do best, building muscle, creating enzymes and more.

What happens with the other macronutrient? Fat components integrate into the cell membranes and help to fuel the creation of hormones.

That’s only the macronutrient chapter. There are several other chapters in your food’s story that cover the many processes the body has to utilize the food you consume.

Your body, your food and the way the two interact and communicate is nothing short of amazing. Your food holds power and information that triggers communication throughout your entire body! The right food has the ability to nourish you with positive side effects like mental clarity, clear skin, and a joyful mood. And, the right digestive supplements have the ability to help your body utilize these nutrients.

Here is the best part, this is your story to tell and it always begins with the food you choose to consume.

Joy, happiness, determination, mental clarity…these feelings may have to do with something called Phenylethylamine.

Phenylethylamine, or PEA, is a molecule that exists throughout nature. Often referred to as a “feel-good” chemical, PEA is naturally produced by the body, and is also found in fungi, bacteria, chocolate, and our own organic Wild Microalgae, a blue-green algae called Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA).

A natural stimulant, PEA is highly soluble in plasma and can cross the blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier is a “structure” composed of capillaries, astrocytes (a type of brain cell), and a permeable membrane that allows certain substances to pass, not only to nourish but also protect the brain. It is very selective as to what may pass.

PEA binds with a trace amino-associated receptor (TAAR-1), which results in both the release and inhibition of the reuptake of dopamine and serotonin, neurotransmitters that affect mental processes and emotional and physiological responses. This leads to an increase in these neurotransmitters and the responses they control.

Dopamine plays a role in movement, memory, pleasurable reward, behavior, cognition, attention, sleep, mood and learning. Serotonin’s roles include mental processes, mood, cognition, and physiological responses. When dopamine and serotonin levels are low, attention levels and mood may also be low.

PEA helps to regulate these neurotransmitters and, therefore, the roles they play.

So what does this all mean? Adding PEA to your diet can contribute to elevated mood, pleasure, and mental alertness in an all-natural way.

You’ve likely heard the phrase, “the human body is like a car, it requires the right kind of fuel.” So, going off of this there are three types of fuel for vehicles, diesel, regular gas or premium gas, and each car requires a specific kind of fuel. If you put the wrong kind of fuel (like gas in a diesel) it’s catastrophic and your car is going straight to the mechanic.

Does that sound like your body? If you eat a donut does it send you straight to the ER? Typically not. What about fuel levels? If you keep your Subaru full is it going to carry around a little extra fat? Definitely not. So your body really isn’t like a car after all. Rather, your body is a living organism that requires a fine balance of nutrients.

That poses the question, what is food? If your body is not a car then food is not just fuel, it’s a little more complex than that. Food is filled with energy, calories, fuel, micronutrients, phytopigments, amino acids, water and more. It’s the vessel for the many nutrients our bodies crave.

It’s this variety that breathes life. Let’s look at a couple of them a little more closely.

Micronutrients are a combination of vitamins and minerals that we absolutely need in our diet as they help to prevent our bodies from breaking down.

We are talking about minerals like potassium, magnesium and calcium and vitamins like folic acid, vitamin K and the many vitamin B’s. Each vitamin and mineral has an area of “expertise”. For example, calcium helps to build our bones, and regulate blood pressure while magnesium transports other minerals and helps to regulate blood sugar.

Phytopigments fill our lives with color. There’s a reason the saying “eat the rainbow” exists, it helps to ensure we consume the many different phytopigments like Beta-carotene (orange), Chlorophyll (green), Phycocyanin (blue) and more. Each delivers a variety of beneficial antioxidant benefits to the body.

For example, Beta-carotene is a carotenoid, a naturally occurring orange pigment found in plants. This pigment is converted to vitamin A in the body, an antioxidant that supports our vision, lungs and immune system. Beta-Carotene is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals. While chlorophyll is a green pigment found in plants. It facilitates the absorption of sunlight in plants and is vital for photosynthesis, the process in which plants get their energy from light. This wonderful pigment has beneficial antioxidant properties. It supports cellular cleansing and renews red blood cells.

It’s through our food and supplements that we ensure we are getting the variety of nutrients our bodies require. When your body is lacking, it does not hesitate to let you know and leaves you feeling pretty crummy.

When we feed our bodies with proper nutrition, it awards us with mental clarity, lasting energy, glowing skin and more.

Food is not merely fuel and our bodies are certainly not like cars. Both are far more complex and amazing!

Smoothies have been a staple health food since the 1930s. They have even enjoyed several upgrades with the addition of vitamins and supplements. Now the smoothie has finally evolved. Say hello to the smoothie bowl.

The smoothie bowl has become an internet sensation since exploding on the scene in 2016. This thicker version of the smoothie offers a whole new set of options to spice up the traditional health drink.

The Making of a Smoothie Bowl
If you haven’t tried one of these delicious bowls yet, then you are in for a treat. The main difference between a smoothie and smoothie bowl is the base. The base of a smoothie bowl is thicker and creamier than your traditional smoothie. To accomplish this consistency add a little more frozen fruit or veggies than your traditional smoothie.

After you blend up your base, pour it into a bowl and let the fun begin. The next step is to decorate the top of your creamy mixture with your favorite healthy toppings. You can add items such as granola, chia seeds, and fruit slices. You can also garnish your concoctions with coconut butter and even collagen powder. You are only limited by your imagination and your calorie counter.

Not sure where to start? Try out one of our favorites!

Tropical New Earth Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients:
1 cup of frozen pineapple
1 cup of frozen mango
1 handful of spinach
1-2 emptied capsules of Mind
¼ cup of coconut water (enough to get your desired consistency)

Poor a small amount of coconut water into your blender. Add the frozen pineapple, frozen mango, a handful of spinach, capsules of Mind, and coconut water. Slowly add in more coconut water until you reach a thickness you like. Keep in mind; you want to be able to eat it with a spoon. Once you have reached your desired consistency pour it in a bowl and top with your favorite fruits and nuts!

Why Not Make it a Wild one
If you are looking for the perfect addition to your smoothie bowl, then you should consider adding in one of our favorite superfoods, organic Wild Microalgae (which is a type of blue-green algae). Our preference is a product we call Mind, a concentration of the nutrients you can find in New Earth’s organic Wild Microalgae. Mind is the heart of the algae with the cell wall carefully removed, allowing greater access to the high overall amino acid content, which makes Mind an abundant source of raw materials for building the neuropeptides that feed and enhance brain activity.*

Join us on Instagram (@newearthco)!
We are always blending up and whipping up new creations. Follow us on Instagram to access the latest and greatest creations!

Happy blending!

_{*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.}

Brain fog, we all get it from time to time. It causes tasks to take longer than normal, concentration to wander, and leaves us feeling on the lethargic side. Simply put, its a generalized sense of not feeling 100 percent. So the question is: Why does this happen and what causes this annoying brain fog?

Let’s start with what its not. Brain fog is not a serious condition or abnormality. There are no studies that suggest that it is a sign of early dementia or disease either. The cause is simply lifestyle.

Every day we are exposed to a variety of toxins and substances that are less than helpful for our health. This daily exposure adds up over time and sometimes it’s more than the body can handle. When this happens it adversely affects many organs in the body, specifically the gut and the brain.

The gut and the brain are directly connected. The Gut-Brain Axis, as it is called, drives the body as a whole.

During human embryonic development, the nervous system is the first system to develop in the body. It develops almost simultaneously with the gastrointestinal system, and in fact, is “hardwired” into the gut—this is called the enteric nervous system, or ENS. The ENS is in constant communication with the central nervous system.

In a nutshell, the brain is directly affected by the state of the gut. When the gut is happy the brain is happy. The reverse is also true.

The gut microbiota, the microorganisms in the GI tract, play a crucial role in overall health. When you keep this ecosystem balanced and in a state of homeostasis, it helps to keep you happy and healthy.

As your system is overloaded with toxins and other substances the gut microbiota can fall out of balance and cause what we know as brain fog.

With that, the foods and supplements we put in our bodies have a big influence on brain fog. Foods can either support or harm the state of our mind as they directly impact the gut microbiota. When the gut microbiota is out of balance and begins to favor non-beneficial bacteria we often experience the fatigue and symptoms associated with brain fog.

Addressing an out of balance gut microbiota is oftentimes not an overnight task, it can take time and require lifestyle changes. Remember, health and wellbeing start in the gut. When we treat it with respect and properly provide nourishment, it will keep us healthy in return.

Is the gut microbiota the only cause of brain fog? No, but it is a typical suspect. So, what can you do to help kick brain fog? Here are a few tips for you:

1. Get plenty of rest. Go to bed at a decent hour and wake up around the same time each day.
2. Manage stress. Practice daily meditation, yoga, deep breathing or tai chi.
3. Move your body. Our bodies were meant to move each and every day.
4. Minimize toxins. Look at what you are putting in and on your body each day, the products you are cleaning your house and washing your clothes with and turn to natural alternatives where you can.
5. Support your gut. Turn to enzymes and probiotics to help support your gut. At New Earth, we recommend a packet of Essentials a day.
6. Experience nature. Get out in nature daily if possible.
7. Keep alcohol consumption to a minimum.
8. Hydrate. Drink plenty of water each day.
9. Smile, laugh and enjoy life.