This Valentine’s Day was definitely a love-filled day to remember. My husband gave me the best gift ever – a pig!! You must be thinking how romantic <insert sarcasm>, right? Husband gives wife a what? That’s right, a pig.

This unusually, perfect gift brought me to uncontrollable tears. I turned to absolute mush when I opened my adorably-fitting Valentine’s card, which included the picture below of my piggy, Maxine, and her courageous story. Isn’t she lovely?

Maxine lives at the Heartland Farm Sanctuary. We do not own Maxine; however, we are sponsoring her, which means we help provide her with a safe barn, green pasture, quality food, veterinary care, and plenty of attention from caregivers. Maxine was rescued with her sister Beatrice after falling off a cattle truck. Rather than letting these smart and loving creatures die, they were saved and brought to their new home, which is dedicated to saving homeless farm animals in Wisconsin.

Surprisingly, there are homeless and injured farm animals that are continually abandoned, abused and left to die, similar to what you hear about homeless dogs and cats. This sanctuary gives them a second chance, while the animals ironically give vulnerable youth another chance.

As stated from the Heartland Farm Sanctuary’s website: “Heartland isn’t just about people helping farm animals. It’s also about farm animals helping people. We believe the natural bond between humans and animals has tremendous healing power for vulnerable youth, such as kids with challenging home lives, or children with physical, emotional, or cognitive delays. That’s why we’re developing a series of animal-assisted therapeutic programs for special needs and at-risk youth.”

We plan to visit our “400lbs of charisma” this summer. I must admit, she puts Miss Piggy to shame. I want to give a special heartfelt thank you to the Heartland Farm Sanctuary and my unbelievably wonderful and loving husband who both gave the gift of life to a defenseless and selfless animal. Now that is what I call love!

If you are interested in sponsoring a farm animal or learning more about Heartland Farm Sanctuary, click here for more information.

We can learn a lot from our childhood favorite, Popeye the Sailor Man. The more obvious takeaway is to eat your spinach; it will make you big and strong, just like Popeye. Dark greens, such as spinach, are loaded with vitamins and minerals that offer a wealth of health benefits.

The other less prominent takeaway is Popeye’s positive approach to eating food. Rather than focusing on what NOT to eat based on all the possible consequences, he focused on what to eat based on overall health benefits. Not only is this a very encouraging approach that keeps health top of mind, but it also allows you to eat food with less guilt.

It’s amazing how a positive outlook on food can translate into a positive outlook overall. Over the holidays, I witnessed this exact scenario with my niece. She ran up to me with a huge smile on her face as she adamantly told me that she was eating her fruit to stay healthy. She radiated with happiness as she devoured her health-promoting fruit.

When was the last time you picked up food and thought about how it would positively impact your body? This type of mindset will lead you to food that is more nourishing to your body vs. questions such as “how many calories does this have?” or “how much fat does this have?”

Do you need some extra motivation to get your body moving? If so, I recommend finding a reason to exercise beyond improving your health. Find a great cause!

It has been a lifelong goal of mine to run a marathon and nothing got me more excited when I had the opportunity to run on behalf of my favorite, furry organization, PAWS (Pets are Worth Saving). While I was raising money to help countess dogs and cats in Chicago, these same animals ironically helped me. They kept me focused, motivated and dedicated to training and eventually running across the finish line. PAWS became my accountability partner and it gave me additional purpose beyond self-improvement.

As a member of TEAM PAWS, I contributed to a huge, amazing success. We collectively raised over $420,000, which helped cover one-third of the cost to operate PAWS Chicago in the following areas:

• PAWS Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic performed 17,699 (69% free) spay/neuter surgeries
• The Adoption Center found loving homes for 4,268 pets
• PAWS took in 2,661 animals from AC&C
• PAWS Rescue & Recovery Center treated more than 1,640 dogs and cats with extensive medical care
• The Crisis Care Pet Food Bank Program distributed 53,960 pounds of food and pet supplies to at-risk families
• The Community Cat Program assisted in the trap, neuter and return of over 938  feral cats

Wow, that feels good! By working to achieve my own personal health goal, I also helped save lives. The next time you need a little exercise nudge (no matter big or small), think about finding ways to incorporate a cause! It will keep you healthy, hold you accountable and fill you with happiness.

Have you ever exercised for a cause? If so, what are some of your favorite organizations?

Paula Deen, the popular Southern belle of cooking, revealed that she has had Type 2 diabetes for three years.This unfortunate news ironically presented her with a lucrative opportunity as the new face for Novo Nordisk, a pharmaceutical company that makes diabetes medication.The Food Network chef, known for her unhealthy guilty-pleasures, has been the target of negative press, particularly from critics with an “I told you so” attitude.

I find this news extremely heart-breaking. First and foremost, my heart goes out to Paula Dean, regardless of her food preferences. While I could dwell on the consequences of eating a diet that is primarily made up of fried, fatty and sugar-filled food, I rather focus on a larger issue: the underlying message that this announcement is reinforcing to the public.

The message: Rather than focusing on prevention or improving your overall health, just take a “magic pill” that will “manage” your disease, so you can continue to carry on with the same lifestyle.

Okay, I know this is a bit over-dramatic, but it’s not far from the truth. Too often, we rely on medication to quickly mask diseases rather than getting to the real issue. What? Why? and How? It’s time to start asking questions and finding answers.

Diabetes should not be an acceptable lifestyle. We should not be able to find a Diabetic Living magazine next to a Better Homes and Garden magazine nor should there be a grocery store aisle dedicated to diabetes. Even worse, pharmaceutical companies should not be thriving from a growing, “sick” clientele. This is not normal. In fact, it is unacceptable!

It’s time to focus on prevention rather than disease management. If only Paula Deen had accepted an endorsement that reinforced healthy ways to prevent/reverse diabetes…

For those interested in learning more about diabetes including ways to reverse it, check out Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes (Fantastic book and doctor and one of my favorite instructors)!

What are your thoughts on Paula Deen’s announcement?

Calorie-counting will make you crazy! Not to mention, it completely takes the fun out of eating food. My advice, plain and simple: stop counting calories. Calorie-focused diets will often do more harm than good. Here are some tips to help you kick the calorie obsession:

• Pay attention to words, not numbers. I encourage you to read the ingredients vs. calorie levels and claims. Just because a food is low in calories, doesn’t mean it is good for you. Food products that heavily market calorie levels are often loaded with artificial, unhealthy ingredients (i.e., harmful garbage). Using Michael Pollan’s famous words, “do not eat foods with ingredients that a third grader cannot pronounce” and “avoid food products containing ingredients that no ordinary human would keep in the pantry.”
• Focus on maintaining health, not weight. Rather than obsessing over the amount of calories that you ingest, focus on eating a variety of healthy, fresh foods (which just happen to be lower in calories). Nutrients and vitamins are far more important than calorie quotas. Ask yourself if you’ve had a variety of dark leafy greens, fruits, fiber, protein, etc. I also encourage you to learn about the benefits of foods. For example, did you know dark leafy greens are cancer fighters? I don’t know about you, but that benefit alone makes me what to eat greens like candy.
• Calorie calculations are useless. We are all different people with different metabolic rates, genes, body types, lifestyles, exercise regimens, etc. Calculators may underestimate while others overestimate. Basically, there’s no “one-size-fits-all,” “magic” calorie number (despite what the FDA recommends). It is imperative that you listen to your body to determine the amount that is right for you. Also keep in mind that moderation is key; your body will certainly notify you if you’ve overeaten.
• Calories are not evil. In today’s society, we are programmed to hate calories. What a shame! Calories are vital for our existence; they provide us with energy. It is important to find the right balance between diet, exercise and lifestyle, so you get the best use of your calories. Too many calories can make you tired and lethargic, while too few can leave you feeling weak and well, lacking energy!

Calorie-counting becomes an obsession that distracts people from focusing on what truly matters, eating fresh, clean food that keeps you healthy and happy. My words of wisdom, kick the calorie calculators to the curb and leave the counting to Count Dracula.

What are your thoughts on calorie-counting? Have you struggled with calorie-focused diets?

It has been quite some time since I last wrote a blog post. I apologize in advance to all my readers. Why the silence? Well, I needed to practice what I preached to my clients. In short, I needed to take more time to focus on myself. Life gives you curve balls which can make it difficult to find balance in life (the key to health). Thus, it is even more important to make your health and happiness a priority.

It’s been quite a wild ride! I took on another full-time job, started volunteering/partnering with non-profit organizations, ran two half-marathons and a marathon for PAWS, traveled to beautiful destinations and spent a lot of time on personal development (e.g., meditation, reading, cooking, self-reflection, self-reflection and self-reflection). Whew!

It’s a new year! While I’m rethinking Brumberry’s direction, I’ve decided to dedicate the majority of my time to this blog. With my posts, I hope to improve the lives of others and make the world a better place through nutrition, lifestyle, sustainability and animal welfare education. I am incredibly passionate about these topics, particularly because they are all interrelated.

As my husband brought to my attention, influential bloggers are influential for a reason – they give their opinions. They take a stance! So, I’m ready to put it all out there. You may not always agree with me, which is absolutely fine. At the very least, I hope my posts stir up conversation, bring light to controversial topics, spread awareness about difficult issues and leave you asking more questions. Most importantly, I hope it pushes you to take control of your health through research and education. I promise to make you smile and laugh along the way. After-all, laughter is the best medicine.

Feel free to drop some of your favorite topics in the comments section. I will do my best to cover them. Let’s get the conversation going and get healthy!

To kick it off, I leave you with this really sweet, funny and heart-warming video: Jazz for Cows. I think we could all benefit from a little jazz in our lives…

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the top three leading causes of death are heart disease, stroke and cancer. These are all largely food-related, preventable diseases. Today, the standard American diet (SAD) is made up of highly processed food that is filled with salt, sugar, fat, artificial ingredients and chemicals. It’s not only “sad”, it is downright depressing! These foods are not “real” foods; they are more like “science experiments” filled with foreign ingredients not made from nature. In addition, the “SAD” diet is typically made up of excessive animal products vs. plant foods. The result – a very unhealthy nation!

When I was in school, I had the opportunity to learn from world-renowned experts in the field of nutrition. Two of the most inspirational and influential speakers were T. Colin Campbell, PhD, author of The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health, and Neal D. Barnard, MD, author of Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes. Both led studies and conducted extensive research to uncover a strong correlation between diet and disease.

These two amazing men have joined forces with other doctors and nutrition experts including Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., MD, award-winning surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic, and his son Rip Esselstyn, author of the The Engine 2 Diet: The Texas Firefighter’s 28-Day Save-Your-Life Plan that Lowers Cholesterol and Burns Away the Pounds to create a documentary that clearly links poor diets with disease. This incredible film is called Forks Over Knives and I highly recommend it. I had an opportunity to view a screening of the film and it was life-changing to say the very least. It is jam-packed with eye-opening statistics, research and patient testimonials.

The title says it all – Would you prefer to eat high-quality, healthy whole foods with a fork or endure heart bypass surgery with a knife? I don’t know about you, but I would pick forks over knives any day!

The film hits theaters March 11, 2011. It’s a must-see! Check out the movie trailer below for a sneak peak!

What do you think about the movie trailer? Do you think diet affects our health? Please leave your comments below.

I was recently asked to become a guest blogger for McKinley Chiropractic: A Creating Wellness Center in Chicago, IL. This center stands out among the rest in the city. I’ve never seen doctors take as much time as they do to understand and help their patients; this is something that is very rare these days. Thus, I am beyond honored to be a part of their blog.

This month, I have provided my thoughts on GMOs (genetically modified organisms): http://www.mckinleychiro.com/2010/02/the-abcs-of-gmos-guest-blog-by-natalie-drugan/

Post your thoughts on GMOs below…

After living in Chicago for nearly four years, I’ve enjoyed many of the city’s finest foods, including the ever-popular deep dish pizza and Wrigley Field’s famous hot dogs. Sometimes I think these foods lure tourists more than the main attractions (e.g., Sears, now Willis, Tower, Michigan Avenue and Navy Pier)

Along with these city favorites, I found myself more and more dependent on quick and easy foods that met my schedule’s needs rather than my body’s needs. Yes, that’s right! I frequented every “healthy” take-out restaurant or deli and purchased every “healthy” processed food you could imagine from the grocery store.

It wasn’t until last year that I learned my cholesterol levels were climbing closer and closer to the “hey, maybe you should keep a watchful eye on this” range, which actually translates into the “borderline-high risk” range. My overall cholesterol reached 202 mg/dL (the optimal range is between 125-200 mg/dL). This was alarming, since high cholesterol is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease (the leading cause of death) and strokes, AND I still have my whole life ahead of me. This was unacceptable!

I instantly thought, “What? How can this be?” I felt good, I didn’t have any symptoms and I was exercising on a regular basis?!? However, my body was silently having negative reactions to this so-called “healthy” diet and lifestyle. This wake-up call along with my passion for nutrition led me on a self-healing journey.

Last New Year’s, I put myself on my own Brumberry program that was customized to my lifestyle. I started making tiny, step-by step changes to my diet, which included more fruits, vegetables and whole grains and less animal products and processed/artificial foods. Additionally, I engaged in regular physical activities and I had an incredible support system with my husband being at the very top of the list.

In just one year, I significantly improved my cholesterol levels, and let me tell you…I felt like I had won the lottery! Literally, I was running around my house screaming with excitement! My overall cholesterol dropped from 202 mg/dL to 168 mg/dL!!! Additionally, my LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides (blood fats) plummeted, while my HDL (good cholesterol) increased to a very healthy level. I would also like to point out that these changes were not accompanied with medication. If I can do it, anyone can do it!

Do you have high cholesterol? Have you been challenged with finding a healthy, sustainable diet? Do you need the education, resources and tools to improve your health?

This past weekend, I watched football with my husband, while multi-tasking during commercial breaks. Like most, I rarely watch commercials unless it’s during the Super Bowl. However, the latest Taco Bell “Drive-Thru Diet” commercial really got my attention; it literally stopped me dead in my tracks.

Is it just me or do the words “drive-thru” and “diet” not belong together? It’s like putting the word “sugar” and “diabetic” together. Something just doesn’t seem right?

In the commercial, Taco Bell markets “7 incredible options” under 9 grams of fat from their Fresco Menu, which include different variations of tacos and burritos. In addition, Christine, their spokesperson, claims she has lost 54 lbs in two years on the “Drive-Thru Diet.”  As stated on the Taco Bell Web site, Christine claims the following: “As you know, the Drive-Thru Diet® menu is not a weight-loss program. It’s about making different choices. For me, I didn’t want to cut out my fast food so I started choosing Fresco items from the Drive-Thru Diet® menu and making other sensible choices. I reduced my daily calorie and fat intake by 500 calories to 1250 calories a day, and, after two years, I ended up losing 54 pounds!”

Again, the words “fast food,” and “sensible choices” do not sound like a good pair to me. However, I do like the sound of “making different choices,” albeit with higher quality food and lifestyle improvements, not the lesser of two evils on a fast food menu. Calorie reduction can also be very positive depending on the person, but the key is to ensure that you are feeding your body with nourishing foods that promote good health. I’ve heard of the “gummy bear diet” too; it’s low in calories. Well then, it must be good for you – right?

While the new Taco Bell food selections are a vast improvement from the “Nacho Bell Grande” days, I still wouldn’t go as far to label them as diet-worthy. All the tacos and burritos appear to be very similar to their existing menu items minus the cheese and sour cream. They also include saturated fats as well as high levels of sodium. For example, the Fresco Burrito Supreme Chicken has 1410 mg/per serving (the FDA recommends a daily value less than 2,400 mg). Hypertension anyone? Even worse, Taco Bell uses “partially hydrogenated” oils, also known as TRANS FAT, which has been linked to heart disease, the #1 leading cause of death. Is this type of diet really worth it?

Beyond the food itself, drive-thrus generally do not encourage healthy eating habits. The first obvious reason is that you are driving, not walking or running, to get your food (i.e., no physical activity is involved). Additionally, drive-thrus usually promote bad habits, such as eating on the run while quickly scarfing down your food, rather than slowly eating and relaxing at a table. This type of unconscious eating behavior can often lead to weight gain.

I recommend reducing trips to fast food restaurants or skipping them all together, rather than stabilizing your fast food addictions. Additionally, a “sensible choice” would be to incorporate more organic, fresh foods in your diet along with a regular exercise plan, healthy relationships, satisfying career, etc. The so called short-term effects of this diet, depending on the person, are nothing compared to the devastating long-term effects.

It seems like the Taco Bell “Think Outside the Bun” slogan should strive to be “Think Outside the Calories.” Healthy living is not just about weight loss and calorie intake.