charleston

10 Tips for Healthy Eating in Charleston

Charleston, SC is stunning and can captivate you with its allure of food and beauty. Therefore, I offer you 10 tips for healthy eating in Charleston. Maintaining a healthy diet while dining out can pose challenges, but you can certainly achieve it by making mindful choices. Having moved from a Midwest town with limited healthy eating options in Evansville, IN, my husband and I feel fortunate. We are true foodies who used to drive almost two hours to Louisville, KY, where we discovered a great selection of farm-to-table restaurants. Evansville had earned a reputation as the chain food capital of Indiana! Although many covet chain restaurants, we typically avoid them due to their reliance on processed foods.

Here are the top 10 tips for healthy eating when dining out in Charleston:

Plan ahead: Check the restaurant’s menu online before your visit. Look for healthier options and decide your order in advance, reducing the chances of making impulsive, unhealthy choices at the restaurant.
Control portion sizes: Restaurants often serve larger portions than necessary. Consider sharing a dish with a friend or requesting a half portion if available. Alternatively, you can pack half of your meal to take home.
Choose water or unsweetened beverages: Opt for water, herbal tea, or sparkling water over sugary drinks or alcoholic beverages. These options are lower in calories and won’t add unnecessary sugar to your meal.
Prioritize veggies and fruits: Seek out dishes rich in vegetables and fruits. These provide essential nutrients and fiber while often being lower in calories compared to other options.
Be cautious with dressings and sauces: Many salads and dishes can become unhealthy due to high-calorie dressings and sauces. Ask for dressings on the side and use them sparingly or choose lighter options like olive oil and vinegar.
Avoid fried and breaded items: Fried foods are typically high in unhealthy fats and calories. Instead, opt for grilled, baked, or steamed dishes for a healthier alternative.
Limit added sugars and refined carbs: Be mindful of hidden sugars in sauces, desserts, and even some savory dishes. Also, choose whole grains when possible, such as brown rice or whole wheat bread.
Control your appetizers and sides: Select healthier appetizers like salads, soups, or dishes with lean proteins. Steer clear of deep-fried or heavily processed options. For sides, opt for steamed vegetables or salads instead of fries or creamy dishes.
Eat mindfully: Slow down and savor your meal. Listen to your body’s hunger and fullness cues, and stop eating when you’re satisfied. This will prevent overeating and allow you to enjoy your food more fully.
Be cautious with desserts: If you desire dessert, consider sharing it with others at the table. Alternatively, choose a lighter option like fresh fruit or sorbet to satisfy your sweet tooth without overindulging.

Remember that occasional indulgences are okay, but making healthier choices most of the time can help you maintain a balanced diet when dining out. When my husband and I first moved to Charleston, we got caught up in trying everything and developed some unhealthy eating habits, including indulging in heavy appetizers and alcoholic beverages. While there is nothing wrong with this occasionally, making it a weekly habit for us was not advisable. Unfortunately, it reflected on our scales, resulting in some unwanted belly fat.

If you want to discover my top 10 healthiest dining spots in the Charleston area, you can find more information here.

I knew nothing about it much less natural solutions to adrenal fatigue. In 2013, a client came to me sharing that she had been diagnosed with adrenal fatigue. I had worked with clients that had various health challenges but this was a new one. She was already eating clean and working with an Integrative MD so this was going to be a challenge. The only unique factor was her stress level was extremely high as she was experiencing extreme burnout in her career.

To be honest, her symptoms were puzzling. I kept trying to figure out exactly what it was she was feeling but I just couldn’t connect to her symptoms. Usually, my clean eating, resting, and supporting the digestive process was the answer but in this case, it wasn’t enough. I left it to “I can’t help everyone”.

Then approximately a year later I started to experience signs of extreme fatigue and emotional sensitivity. I remember the thought of performing simple household chores like changing the linens on our bed was equivalent to running a 5K. Some days I couldn’t even perform these simple tasks. When and if I did, I had to lie down and rest.

Ironically, about that same time, I decided to add saliva hormone and neurotransmitter testing to my menu of services. So the first thing I do with a new service is to put myself through the test and this was no exception. I received the results that I was in Phase 3 Adrenal Fatigue and was devastated. It was at that point I started reading and researching everything I could find on Adrenal Fatigue. I also connected to a private Facebook group of fellow Adrenal Fatiguers. I did learn quite a bit from the group but the negativity was so overwhelming that I decided to stop following. The majority of the group seem to be strong Type A, overachievers, and/or controllers which makes sense why many end up here!

So what is Adrenal Fatigue? It is not a proven medical condition but a “syndrome” where fatigue and other symptoms are caused by a poorly working adrenal gland in people who are under chronic mental, emotional, or physical stress. The medical community does recognize “adrenal insufficiency” which states that only drugs can be used to treat it and that supplements could be harmful. So I asked myself, are my adrenals in need of more toxins to “treat” it or should I use whole food and clean sources of supplementation to balance my body? For those who know me, you can guess the answer.

The research scared me. Stats like it takes up to five years to recover or some cases lead to adrenal cancer as well as Addison’s disease. JFK had Addison’s which one symptom is a golden bronze skin pigment. Now I understood why people were asking me if I had been to Florida recently or why my skin was so bronze in the middle of winter! Again, all the pieces were coming together along with test results which was a wake-up call for me.

So how did I end up here? Two reasons, one was opening a brick and mortar (physical location) business which we were renovating as well. The second was that my son was struggling with serious health and financial issues. In my quest to take care of him and my business/clients, I failed to take care of myself and ended up in severe adrenal fatigue (Phase 3).

I remember sitting at the table crying and saying, “I don’t think I can do this anymore.” “This” meaning taking care of everyone else and everything. My dream of opening a wellness center and serving others started to feel like a nightmare. My temper was short and breakdowns were not uncommon but all behind the scenes. Instead of taking a “why did this happen to me” approach, I saw it as a way to serve others with the same challenges. God again blessed me with another health challenge so I can share and serve others.

The light at the end of the tunnel is that it isn’t going to take me 5 years to recover because I had access to the best holistic health experts in the world and access to the best supplements and herbs.

So what was my life-changing adrenal fatigue protocol? Only products that were clean, non-GMO, and gluten-free sources of plant-based herbs, enzymes, and food.

My mornings started with Sole water which is a solution of Himalayan salt and water.

I’d start my morning with a green smoothie using a plant-based protein powder with various greens such as kale, spinach, dandelion, etc. plus two tablespoons of flax, hemp, or chia seeds. For extra nutrients, I added plant powders.

The following supplements are from Pure Encapsulations. I use this brand because they are genuinely pure, using non-GMO, no additives or preservatives, and gluten-free ingredients:

B Complex Plus – 2 times/day with food,
ADR Formula- 2 in am 1 hour before food,
Dopa Plus – 1 in a.m. 1 hour before food,
Ashwagandha – 3 times/day with food and
Liquid Vitamin D *4-5000 (4-5 drops) based on my test results

From Loomis Institute, I used:

Loomis Digestive Enzymes, 2 before each meal (VSCLR was specific to my needs, please utilize our Gut health or 24 Hour Urinalysis testing to determine yours)
Loomis Organic Iron blend and Female Herbal blend after each meal
- Loomis products are healthcare professional grade. Please contact us if you’d like to order.
Organic Excellence Progesterone Cream – 1 pump or 20 mg 30 minutes before bedtime.

Again, these are products that worked for me based on the current condition of my body and health. There is not a one size fits all approach to any health challenge. It is recommended that you utilize a Holistic Health Coach and nutritional testing to determine the state of your health. Contact me if I can help as we can ship test kits anywhere and help you across the miles.

If you would like to learn more, request our free guide called Top 3 Tips to Overcome Adrenal Stress to begin your path to balance your body and regain your energy. Or if you are looking for the best diet, foods, and supplements for adrenal fatigue, check out our Best Foods & Supplements for Adrenal Fatigue Guide.

And if you have experienced Adrenal Fatigue, I’d love to hear from you. And if you aren’t sure where to start, schedule a free call with me.