How to Feel 10 Years Younger

Posted by Aug 22, 2024 Blog Post
How to Feel 10 Years Younger

Want to feel 10 years younger? 

Try sleep. 

The relationship between sleep physiology and the gut microbiome remains unclear, but the human gut microbiome can influence health through the brain-gut-microbiome axis and growing evidence suggests that the gut microbiome can influence sleep quality, too. A recent study found that when people were well rested and alert, they felt  4 years younger than their natural age. When they were sleep-deprived and tired, they felt 6 years older. 

Not only that, but previous studies have shown that feeling younger than your natural age is actually associated with living a longer, healthier life. 

Lagniappe Health Tip

berry cream dessert

Fermented foods are rich in probiotics, so they are commonly recommended to support the gut microbiome. But proceed with caution!

Fermented foods and probiotics are not for everyone. 

  • Some people already have an overgrowth of beneficial bacteria.
  • Some people have inflammation, sensitivities, and compromised digestion. 
  • Some people need to do some healing before being able to handle these foods. . 

What’s best for you depends upon the composition of your unique microbiome at this moment. 

Did You Know?

When the gut microbiome gets shifted out of balance, it’s called dysbiosis. It can happen because of:

  • Loss of beneficial bacteria
  • Overgrowth of potentially harmful bacteria
  • Loss of overall bacterial diversity

Or all 3!

Research shows that disruptions of the gut microbiome are associated with conditions that affect digestion, metabolism, weight, blood sugar, and even neurological health. 

If you are curious, A Lagniappe Lifestyle can help you develop a “way of eating” that will not only help you feel better but allow you to enjoy food and eating again. Check us out on Instagram @alagniappelifestyle to learn more!

family having dinner together

Rebuild Your Microbiome

Posted by Aug 21, 2024 Food for Thought Blog
Rebuild Your Microbiome

In the News

A new study found that a unique bacteria that used to be plentiful in the gut microbiomes of hunter-gatherers is now rare or even nonexistent in human samples from modern industrialized societies. 

It’s a bacteria that breaks down cellulose (a fiber in many foods) so that other bacteria can feast on that fiber as fuel. 

The loss of this bacteria is probably because of humans eating more processed food and good motivation for us to focus on feeding our microbiome! 

Lagniappe Health Tip

Everything from antibiotics to pesticides, processed foods, and alcohol can disrupt the gut microbiome. When it’s time for a reset, consider these things:

1️⃣ Consume probiotic-rich foods or drinks, like yogurt, kefir, kombucha, and sauerkraut.

2️⃣ Increase prebiotic-rich foods, like artichokes, asparagus, onions, and bananas. 

3️⃣ Focus on diversity in your diet, emphasizing colorful whole foods rather than processed ones. 

4️⃣ Stay hydrated with water and tea, keeping alcohol to a minimum. 

5️⃣ Exercise at least 30 minutes a day at least 3 days a week.

6️⃣ Follow a regular sleep schedule for a healthy circadian rhythm.

And remember: You are unique! 

If you feel like you are doing everything “right” but still struggle with gut health, we can help. 

Did You Know?

The gut microbiome influences so much more than just your digestion. 

You need those trillions of microorganisms for nutrient synthesis (like B vitamins & vitamin K), neurotransmitter production (like dopamine), detoxification (of drugs & toxins), immune function, & more!

This is why you’ll want to keep that list ☝️of ways to rebuild your microbiome handy. 

The registered dietitians at A Lagniappe Lifestyle can help you rebuild your microbiome! Reach out to Robin or Mindy for nutrition consultations that are covered by insurance through the Fay Nutrition platform.

Micro-Habits for the Microbiome

Posted by Aug 10, 2024 Blog Post
Micro-Habits for the Microbiome

In the News

The gut microbiome has been linked to health and disease, but here’s a new study that found the microbiome does not function alone!

Actually, it is a combined effect of changes in the microbiome along with factors like nutrient intake and body mass index that work together to determine disease risk. 

This means YOU have incredible power over your health destiny!

Lagniappe Health Tip

Your gut microbiome is working on your behalf to keep you healthy all day every day. Here are some things you can do for it!

🥗 Eat Microbiome-Friendly Foods

The Mediterranean Diet, fermented foods, fiber-rich foods, and polyphenols (colorful compounds in plant foods) have all been found to benefit the microbiome. 

🏃‍♂️ Get Regular Exercise

Exercise (as long as it is not training to exhaustion) benefits the diversity of the gut microbiome.

💤 Honor Your Circadian Rhythm

Unnatural disruptions in the sleep-wake cycle or short duration of sleep may alter the gut microbiome and intestinal health.

The benefit of doing these things?

Better digestion, stronger immune system, healthier metabolism, sharper brain function, and overall wellness. 

Did You Know?

The gut microbiome is the most widely known, but we actually have 5 microbiomes:

Each of these has their own distinct composition of microorganisms to keep us healthy and balanced. 

And that means that all of these systems ☝️can be affected by things we do to support or disrupt our microbiome.

The registered dietitians at A Lagniappe Lifestyle can help you get your microbiome on the right track! Reach out to Robin or Mindy for nutrition consultations that are covered by insurance through the Fay Nutrition platform.

Why Choose a Distance Dietetic Internship?

Posted by Jul 31, 2024 Blog Post
Why Choose a Distance Dietetic Internship?

We love the phrase “There’s no growth in the comfort zone.” But we also know that starting a DI is getting out of the comfort zone enough! Relocating, finding a place to live, navigating a new city …… it’s a lot on top of attending rotations and grad school. That’s why choosing a distance dietetic internship is a great idea.

The distance internship format can seem more daunting considering you must work on finding sites and preceptors, but chances are good that you have developed a network right where you are. Locations where observations took place, sites where you’ve volunteered, places you’ve worked, people in your community who you know that are at potential rotation sites – all add up to resources that can help you craft the perfect internship.

Here are some comments we’ve received from graduates about the benefits of a distance program:

“I liked the flexibility of rotation sites and I got to intern at a functional medicine clinic that aligned with my interests.” A.V.

“I loved it. I didn’t have to move or travel so it took out the stress of being in a new city along with doing an internship.” K.W.

“The distance dietetic internship internship option was wonderful because it allowed me to be able to complete the internship requirements without having to leave my home state or uproot my family. Also, having classes online was really helpful as they allowed me to take a lunch break at my rotation, attend class, and then complete the rotation in the same day without having to go home or take a half day at the rotation. In turn, this allowed me to stay on track with completing internship hours in a timely manner.” E. C.

The LWDI distance option has a little lagniappe, too! Do you have friends or relatives in another city you’ve wanted to visit (who can put up with you for a few weeks LOL?) Do some research and find a site there! Use our Preceptor Resource Packet to get started or reach out here for guidance on securing a site with the necessary paperwork and you’ll be on your way!

What is “Lagniappe”?

Posted by Jul 24, 2024 Blog Post
What is “Lagniappe”?

la·gniappe | \ ˈlan-ˌyap, lan-ˈyap\

lagniappe: a little something extra; something given for good measure

Example: The meal was served with a lagniappe of freshly made cornbread.

Mark Twain’s Thoughts on Lagniappe

“We picked up one excellent word, wrote Mark Twain in Life on the Mississippi (1883), “a word worth traveling to New Orleans to get; a nice limber, expressive, handy word-‘lagniappe’…. It is Spanish-so they said.” Twain encapsulates the history of “lagniappe” quite nicely. English speakers learned the word from French-speaking Louisianians, but they in turn had adapted it from the American Spanish word la ñapa. Twain went on to describe how New Orleanians completed shop transactions by saying “Give me something for lagniappe,” to which the shopkeeper would respond with “a bit of liquorice-root, … or a spool of thread.” It took a while for “lagniappe” to catch on throughout the country, but by the mid-20th century, New Yorkers and New Orleanians alike were familiar with this “excellent word.”

~Merriam-Webster.com

LWDI Is Not Your Average Internship

We chose this “excellent word” for our program because we believe in the spirit of lagniappe for the program and for our interns. We seek it out in applicants and continue on our end to develop it for a program like no other.

LWDI Program Lagniappe

All internships have the usual rotations that allow interns to gain the experiences necessary for entry level competence. LWDI goes beyond that:

  • Interns listen to podcasts focused on current issues in dietetics and then come together for live discussion boards. We have even had podcast hosts join in on the discussions!
  • Interns contribute to the LWDI Intern Blog by writing an evidence based post on a topic of their choosing around our focus area, Diabetes and Obesity Prevention and Treatment.
  • Interns participate in a focus area module taught by a certified diabetes educator and the founding dietitian of our partner, the National Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute (NDORI).
  • Interns participate in a custom RD exam content course through RD Bootcamp throughout the entire internship
  • Program directors offer evening and Saturday morning chats that are a quick text message away.

LWDI Intern Lagniappe

We appreciate the little something extra interns bring to the program through the uniqueness of each: as a person, in past experiences, in developing philosophies of dietetics practice. When we interview applicants, we ask them “What lagniappe will you bring to your internship?” because we value the diversity that makes each cohort truly unique. This shines through during live discussion boards and intern written blog posts where interns can show the world of dietetics and beyond who they are, what they value, what they bring to the table.

We encourage interns to think and get outside the box to find rotations that are of interest to them. LWDI program directors work with preceptors to craft rotations that accomplish the ACEND driven objectives but also foster the interests of the interns. Examples of out-of-the-box rotations include professional and collegiate athletics, farms, corporate wellness, and retail grocery outlets.

We value previous work experience of our interns and encourage our applicants to apply for credit for Prior Assessed Learning for up two rotations.

We believe everyone has a little lagniappe in them. Check us out to find out how LWDI can bring yours into the light!