Evolve, Health

What is a ZYTO scan?

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Holistic wellness and medicine is gaining prominence in the medical and health community, and supplements are one of the main products at its core. However, with little regulation on these products, especially in the United States, and with so many supplements to choose from, it can be difficult to know what you need and what is actually going to work.

This is where ZYTO scans come into the equation.

ZYTO is an international company focused on producing software designed to give insight and guidance for health and wellness decisions. Founded in 2004 by Dr. Vaughn Cook, ZYTO is one of the leaders of biocommunicaton technology in the world.

My story

I have to admit, I was greatly skeptical of the ZYTO software the first time I came in contact with it. I had been struggling with chronic health issues for eight years, and it had gotten to the point that my digressing health consumed much of my energy and time. After multiple doctors had failed to successfully treat my diagnoses, or even realize what was wrong, I tried the ZYTO scan as a last ditch effort to improve my health.

After spending much of my life being poked and prodded with needles and more invasive procedures, the idea of having my health problems understood simply by placing my hand on a cradle seemed much too simplistic. When the scan was finished, I was given a long list of supplements recommended to bring my body to a more balanced state. Because neither the scan nor the supplements were covered by insurance, I disappointedly handed over hundreds of dollars that day with little hope that anything in my life would change.

However, after years of struggling to find help and a cure for my illness, it was only a mere two weeks after taking the supplements that I began to feel a difference. My irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and leaky gut symptoms improved, my headaches and body pain began to fade, and the heaviness I had felt for years started to lift away. I had more energy, a larger appetite, and a new zest for life. My mood improved, as did my capacity to mentally handle tasks that before had been challenging. As time went on, I began to be able to eat foods that before had been restricted from my diet, and I began to chase dreams that I had never thought  possible, such as running across the country last summer.

How does a ZYTO scan work?

So, how does the ZYTO scan work? First, it’s important to recognize that the ZYTO scan is not a diagnostic tool. It is not meant to replace doctors or western medicine, but it is meant to serve alongside these other health modalities to create a holistic wellness program. The hope is that the supplements recommended will help support someone who is pursuing a healthy lifestyle.

To recommend supplements, the scan uses a galvanic skin response, which measures fluctuations in electrical conductivity of the skin. You may be familiar with this technology as it is used in lie detector, or polygraph, tests. Galvanic skin responses have also been used to do psychological research, psychotherapy, media and ad testing, usability testing, and neuroscience. By using a galvanic skin response, the ZYTO technology is able to tell if your body has a positive or negative response to different substances, including different foods, supplements, and health services, such as massage or chiropractic care. The ZYTO software analyzes the responses given to determine which of these foods, supplements and health modalities can help bring the body into a balanced, healthy state.

Is the ZYTO scan for me?

The best thing about a ZYTO scan is it can help anyone, no matter where they are in their health journey. Whether you are currently being treated for a medical diagnosis, working on losing weight or building muscle through personal training and/or nutrition coaching, or just trying to live a healthier lifestyle, the ZYTO scan is a tool that will only benefit your health journey. It serves alongside your current medical and health treatments to better help you achieve your goals and have a healthy lifestyle.

Getting a ZYTO scan

If you are interested in getting a ZYTO scan, or just learning more about the technology and what getting a scan looks like, consider using Evolve. I offer ZYTO scans at a competitive, affordable price because I strongly believe everyone should have access to becoming their healthiest self. I work with Nature’s Sunshine, a reputable supplement company that has been offering affordable, high-quality supplements for 50 years. Most importantly, though, I want to work with you. Getting a scan with Evolve means that your health goals and personal lifestyle will always be taken into account, and the supplements I recommend will always be secondary to suggesting dietary and lifestyle changes that will help you achieve the life you want without having to buy anything. My goal is always to help you become the healthiest, happiest version of yourself through the most natural means possible.

To learn more & schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation, click here.

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Travel

Traveling with chronic illness: What’s in my carry-on bag

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Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product after clicking the associated link, I will earn a small commission off of that purchase.

One of the most important things to have on a long flight is a smartly packed carry-on bag.

While doing some online searching, I was surprised to see that there was very little information about things to pack in a carry-on bag for people with different needs. As someone who has dealt with chronic illness for over the last decade, I know that symptoms can, and often do, flare up during travel. Luckily, as an experienced traveler, I have some insight on what someone with chronic illness may need on a long flight.

To be clear, most of the specialty items that I packed were for fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but anyone who suffers from any type of gastrointestinal upset or chronic pain could find benefit from these products.

So, here is what I have in my carry-on bag for my upcoming trip to Arizona (a six hour flight with a four hour layover in Denver), including the usual, mundane items everyone has, and a couple of extra special items that I think you may find helpful for your next trip.

1. Book

For a long flight, it’s important to have something to pass the time. I personally enjoy catching up on my reading while flying. Currently, I am reading Brain On Fire: My Month Of Madness by Susannah Cahalan. I haven’t finished it yet, so I can’t give you a formal review, but thus far, it has been truly captivating and difficult to put down. I am very much looking forward to finishing this book during my trip.

2. Magnesium Plus Stick

This balm is a lifesaver. The Magnesium Plus Stick from Jordan Essentials is a lotion bar enhanced with magnesium, peppermint, basil, lavender, and frankincense. It provides fantastic relief for headaches, muscle aches, and other inflammation associated with chronic pain. After rubbing it on, the effects are almost instantaneous. I never go on a trip without it. 

3. Extra supplements/medications

Most of my supplements/medications are packed away in my luggage, but there are a few I like to have on-hand just in case of some pain or stomach upset, or on the off-chance that the airline loses my luggage. I have extra doses of all of my essential pills in my carry-on, as well as a few extras, just in case. 

For general health and wellness, I use an adult multivitamin from Equate. As a nutrition coach, I recommend everyone take a multivitamin daily to make sure they are getting in an adequate micronutrient intake. 

I manage my IBS with the supplement form of Magnesium Citrate from NOW supplements, which helps regulate the typical wave pattern of constipation and diarrhea for this disease. 

Insomnia is a very common side-effect of fibromyalgia. When your body is tense, it’s difficult to relax enough to fall asleep. To help with this, instead of taking prescription sleeping pills, I use a Melatonin supplement from Nature Made, the only supplement company regulated in the United States (for all other supplements, I make sure they are from reputable companies approved by foreign governments, like Canada, that regulate supplements; except for Nature Made, the FDA does not regulate any supplement companies in the U.S.). 

When traveling, it can be difficult to get in enough vegetables, which are incredibly important for general health, gastrointestinal function, and inflammatory balance in the body. Just in case I am not able to eat my veggies, I packed my Amazing Grass Green Superfood Capsules, which offer a full serving of vegetables along with probiotics, digestive enzymes, and spirulina. 

I never know when IBS symptoms are going to flare up, especially when traveling, so I always pack some Gas X Extra-Strength Soft Gels in case I need to calm my finicky intestines. On this note, I also packed TUMS, just in case my stomach has any trouble.

The last “just-in-case” medication I packed is Aleve. I always try to relieve my pain symptoms as naturally as possible, but sometimes, when the body aches won’t go away, an anti-inflammatory pill is a good solution. Aleve is my favorite because it won’t irritate my stomach the way ibuprofen will, and it provides pain relief for 12 hours.

4. Electrolyte powder and an empty, reusable water bottle

When you’re traveling, it can be difficult to drink enough water. No one wants to be constantly running to (or trying to find) a bathroom. To get the most out of the water I am drinking, I bring Propel electrolyte powders. They help give my body the hydration it needs, and they are low-FODMAP, so they aren’t going to upset my IBS. 

You can’t get through TSA with a bottle of water. However, once you are through, you can fill up an environmentally-friendly, reusable water bottle. I like the Contigo brand of water bottles – the tops lock to reduce spills, they hold a lot of water, and they aren’t too expensive.

5. Protein bars

Everyone gets hungry when they are flying high in the sky. I personally like to pack protein bars to help me feel satiated for a long period of time. Simply Protein peanut butter cookies are not only delicious, but they are made with all-natural ingredients (unlike most protein bars, which are packed full of chemicals and/or sugar). 

6. Neck pillow and eye mask

To rest my aching neck, or to catch a couple minutes of sleep, I like the ZOYLEE twist memory foam travel pillow. It can be formed to different shapes, so no matter how you are sitting, you can find a comfortable place to rest your head.

To block out the light, I use the Alaska Bear natural silk sleep mask. It’s comfortable, stays pretty cool, and protects my eyes from any light trying to break through.

7. Laptop

As a blogger, this is an essential on my trip. I absolutely love my MacBook Air. It has lasted longer than any other laptop I have ever owned, and it still works just as good as the day I bought it. It’s also sleek and lightweight, which makes it perfect for traveling.

To keep my laptop safe, I use the Lalumix plastic hard shell with keyboard cover and screen protector. Sunflowers are my favorite flower, so my choice in decoration was obvious. However, Lalumix has plenty of designs to make anyone happy. 

8. Essential oil roller bottle

High stress situations mean flare ups, both for fibromyalgia and IBS. To help curb this problem, and to keep my cool in general, I use the Jordan Essentials “peace” herbal blend roll-on. It’s a blend of grape seed, orange, ylang ylang, patchouli, clary, and frankincense oils. It is quite simply tranquility packaged in a bottle. 

9. Headphones

Music and podcasts are a necessity on a long trip. I also use these in place of earplugs when I am trying to sleep. I love my JLab Audio JBuds Air Sport True wireless bluetooth earbuds. They have the longest battery life of any bluetooth headphones I have ever owned, and they are sweat resistant, which makes them perfect for running once I get to my destination.

10. Hand sanitizer

We are in the middle of a pandemic – enough said.

11. Peppermint tea

Ordering a cup of hot water, either on the plane or at a coffee shop, is a simple way to bring instant bliss when you have tea on hand. STASH peppermint tea is calming and soothing, not just for the mind, but also for the gastrointestinal tract. 

12. Journal

I am a writer. I never go anywhere without my journal. I personally love this Busy Bee design from Lady Jayne Ltd. because I feel like it captures my personality perfectly. It makes me smile every time I look at it. 

That’s it! I hope you have found this list helpful, whether you struggle with chronic illness or not, to help you create a carry-on bag that provides entertainment, peace of mind, and preparedness for any trip. 

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Lifestyle, Relationship

Ratatouille date night

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Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product after clicking the associated link, I will gain a small commission off of that purchase.

Since the beginning of the novel coronavirus and stay-at-home order, date nights went from going out to dinner and a movie on a Friday night to cooking a nice meal at home and watching Netflix. At first, this was a welcome, intimate change, but after a while, the creativity seemed to run out. You can only eat the same meal and watch the same movie so many times before it starts to get old.

I have a solution for you. It’s still dinner and a movie, but with fun, inventive spin.

I love having themed date nights, when the activities, food, drinks, and movie all fit together for  one entertaining experience. My latest themed night was based on the Disney Pixar film, Ratatouille.

It is a fun, family-friendly movie that’s perfect for a family movie night, or for just a chill night with your significant other. The biggest plus for this movie is that it is definitely going to make you feel hungry, which is perfect because this date night is filled with lots of food. 

I hope you enjoy! If you try out this date night for yourself, please let me know how it goes. I would love to hear about your experience, and if you added any fun ideas of your own.

Drinks

As a little sneak preview to the night ahead, I made café au lait. This is a French coffee recipe that uses equal parts coffee and steamed milk. The recipe is just below.

I also recommend picking up a nice French wine, such as a tasty bottle of champagne or a Bordeaux to pair with dinner or dessert. 

Café au Lait

Makes: 2 servings

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup strong brewed coffee
  • 1 cup steamed milk (see Notes)
  • sweetener of choice, to taste (see Notes)

Directions:

  1. Steam milk with desired amount of sweetener. 
  2. Pour hot coffee into a mug and top with milk. Sprinkle with cinnamon, if desired.

Notes:

  • The best way I have found to steam any kind of milk (without a fancy milk steamer) is the following: Place milk in a food processor or blender and pulse for 30 seconds, or until the milk is frothy. Pour into a mug and heat in the microwave for 30 to 45 seconds (until hot but not deflated). This yields the perfect consistency and temperature. It works best for whole milk, but any type of milk will still gain body through this process.
  • I personally like to drink my coffee dark, but Joseph likes a little sweetener. What I have found works best is to put the sugar right into the milk before pouring it into the food processor. It helps add even more body to the milk, and it gently sweetens the coffee without being too over-powering.

Music

No date night is complete without a proper musical selection. I really enjoyed the French Cafe Lounge playlist on Spotify. Joseph and I listened to it while we made dinner, which lead to much more dancing than cooking (which, I have to admit, was really the goal all along).

Activity

Well, this would be cooking, of course! You have it easy tonight. Get in the kitchen together to make all of your dishes. The dessert is “build-your-own” style, so it is even more fun for everyone to get their aprons on and spend time in the kitchen together. 

If this seems too simple, I recommend adding in a little extra dancing with your significant other. It’s incredible how just a little music can completely change the ambiance in the room. With the music playing in the background and each of us gazing into each other’s eyes, the kitchen turned into a delightful little café on the streets of Paris in moments.

Food

This is the fun part.

For dinner, the choice was obvious: Ratatouille. I am currently on a low-FODMAP diet, so I used the recipe from Wholesome Yum for inspiration, but tweaked the ingredients slightly to fit my diet. If you are free from any low-FODMAP restraints, feel free to head over to the Wholesome Yum website to follow that recipe. Otherwise, look below for my little notes and edits.

Low-FODMAP Ratatouille

Makes: 2 generous servings, or 4 to 6 smaller side dish-sized servings

Ingredients:

For the sauce:

  • 1 14.5oz can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp Herbs de Provence (see Notes)
  • 2 tbsp fresh basil
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt, or to taste

For the vegetables:

  • 3 medium roma tomatoes, sliced
  • 2 medium (about 12oz) zucchini, sliced
  • 1 small (about 1 pound) eggplant, sliced (see Notes)
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1/8 tsp ground black pepper

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Combine all the sauce ingredients in the bowl of a blender or food processor. Puree until smooth. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
  3. Spread the sauce in a thin layer in a 1.5-quart round or oval casserole dish.
  4. Arrange tomatoes, zucchini and eggplant in a spiral, alternating them. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper.
  5. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the sauce is bubbly at the edges.

Notes:

  • Herbs de Provence is a blend of thyme, basil, rosemary, tarragon, savory, marjoram, oregano, and bay leaf. We did not currently have this in our cupboard, but what we did have was Italian seasoning, which is a blend of basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage, and coriander (if you are on a low-FODMAP diet, check your Italian seasoning blend closely – some like to sneak in a little garlic). So, we used Italian seasoning and marjoram, and it turned out fine. 
  • Eggplants tend to be much bigger than zucchini and tomatoes, so you may need to cut your slices into halves or quarters to make them similar in size. My eggplant was rather small, so I was able to leave my slices whole.

For a little extra protein, we ate some shrimp with our ratatouille, but truly, the ratatouille was our main dish. 

We paused the movie halfway through to eat dessert. I chose to do crepes. I also considered making macarons, but they are rather finicky to make. So, I decided to do something a little easier and more interactive for anyone who is not the main baker. 

It may surprise you, but most crepe recipes are a little heavy in the carbs. Because they are so thin, I thought they would be healthier than pancakes, but no such luck occurred. So, I searched for a healthy crepe recipe and fell in love with the one posted on A Sweet Pea Chef. It is tasty and light, which is exactly what everyone wants their crepe to be. 

Feel free to head over to A Sweet Pea Chef for the original recipe, or look below for a low-FODMAP version with my personal notes.

Low-FODMAP Crepes

Makes: 2 to 4 servings

Ingredients:

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk of choice (I like to use unsweetened almond milk)
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp 100% pure maple syrup (not pancake syrup)
  • 1/4 cup gluten-free flour blend (I used King Arthur Flour’s all-purpose gluten-free flour blend)
  • fillings and/or toppings of choice (see Notes)

Directions:

  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all the ingredients.
  2. Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat and lightly grease with cooking spray. 
  3. Ladle about 1/4-cup of the batter into the skillet and gently rotate the pan to spread it evenly over the base of the skillet (the thickness should be similar to that of a tortilla).
  4. Cook on low to medium heat, flipping as needed until cooked (see Notes).
  5. Place the cooked crepe on a plate, add your favorite fillings, and fold or roll up. Add toppings of choice.

Notes:

  • There are so many delicious ways to fill and top crepes. I chose a traditional French version – I folded my crepes and then squeezed lemon juice on top and sprinkled them with powdered sugar. Joseph went for the more American version, with chocolate chips, powdered sugar and peanut butter. Other delicious filling and topping ideas include fresh fruit (such as berries or banana slices), Nutella, or whipped cream. Feel free to get creative with whatever you have in your pantry!
  • I always find that when I am making crepes, the first few are a disaster. When I was making these, I tried to flip them as little as possible. I waited until the last possible second, when it was starting to get rather brown, and then flipped the crepe, and they turned out perfectly. The crepes I flipped sooner were under-done in the middle and fell apart. It may take a few tries to get yours just right, but don’t worry! Ugly crepes are still delicious crepes.

Movie

At the end of your date, or just after dinner to strengthen your appetite for dessert, snuggle up on the couch and turn on the cartoon favorite, Ratatouille. It’s a fun way to end your French-themed day, and the movie is surprisingly moving at any age. 

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Health, Recipes

The best low-FODMAP turkey burgers

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I remember when the ground turkey craze first started. Finally, there was a viable, healthy alternative to eating chicken in every meal. Ground turkey became the new star of so many of my favorite dishes.

The only problem was, while ground turkey seemed to make a great substitute for beef, it just didn’t possess the same level of flavor. In some dishes, like spaghetti, I was able to mask the lack of flavor from the turkey with the richness of other ingredients. However, any dish where the turkey was supposed to be the star always ended up being disappointing. 

Burgers were the dish that disappointed me the most. I have fond memories from my childhood of lazy summer afternoons, my father grilling succulent burgers on the back deck. I wanted to be able to experience that delicious flavor again, but still be loving my body while eating it. 

Now, I have the answer. After years, I am surprised to say that I have discovered a low-FODMAP way to create the best turkey burgers I have ever tasted. 

This discovery was made with my fiancé, Joseph, while we were grilling this summer. He had decided to start eating turkey burgers as a healthier alternative, and I was attempting turkey burgers again because the low-FODMAP diet made my veggie burgers now a forbidden food (I must bid a sad farewell to my favorite MorningStar burgers). 

I found a simple burger seasoning recipe online, and after tweaking the ingredients a little, it was a low-FODMAP achievement that deserves a spot in every cookbook. The secret is this: Instead of mixing the seasoning into the meat, Joseph had the brilliant idea of using it as a rub on the already-formed, raw burger patties. The result is a spicy, flavorful, succulent burger that dares to compete with the burgers from my childhood. 

Check out the recipe below, and leave me a comment about what you think! I would love to hear how they turned out for you, and your favorite ways to use ground turkey. 

Low-FODMAP Turkey Burgers

Makes: 4 burgers

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound 93% lean ground turkey
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Directions:

  1. Mix seasonings together in a small bowl.
  2. Form turkey into four patties. Spread the seasoning evenly over each patty, then rub the seasoning over the surface of the meat. 
  3. Grill to your desired level of doneness. Enjoy!

Notes:

  • The thicker the burgers, the more juicy and succulent they are. We have found that making four burgers out of one pound of meat is the perfect amount. 
  • The seasoning recipe was originally inspired by the Easy Burger Seasoning Blend recipe on The Spruce Eats. If you aren’t restricted by a low-FODMAP diet, check out their recipe – it just adds a little garlic and onion, which I am sure would be a delicious addition. 

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