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Posted by in News, Nutrition Articles

Inside the World of Gut Bacteria and Probiotics.

  The human gut and its role in our health has become an area of intense research over the past decade - for excellent reason. You may have heard the statement “we’re more bacteria than we are human” due to the fact that we have roughly 10x more bacteria than human cells in our body. The ‘normal’ gut has hundreds of bacterial species, each of which has profound effects on our health and well-being. Some of these species are considered good, and beneficial, while others are detrimental when conditions allow them to grow out of control. The gut plays major roles in digestion, metabolism, immunity, protection from infection, and regulates 80% of our immune system. Granted the scope of our gut and its relationship to the rest of our body, I’m always surprised at how poorly people treat it (usually secondary to having no education on the subject). There are a few kinds of bacteria to understand first, let’s take a look at those. Each type as a ‘time...

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Posted by in News, Nutrition Articles

THORNE AMINO ACIDS

This article on amino acids has been long-time coming – it’s part one of several! Among the supplements I recommend to my clients, amino acids (AA’s) are high on the list, for several reasons - some of which I’ll cover here. Let’s start with the basics. Many people aren’t familiar with the term amino acids, or, aren’t aware of what they are. There are three key players in the nutritional world of macronutrients (macro = something large-scale, nutrients = substances that provide nourishment essential for growth). Proteins, Carbohydrates, and Fats. Collectively, these three macronutrients (often referred to as macro’s) provide the bulk energy we need to function. Try exist without them and you’ll quickly find yourself grumpy, fatigued, and sick. Protein can be broken down further into what are called amino acids - 20 of them, specifically. 8 are categorized as ‘essential’ because they cannot be made by the body, and thus must be obtained from the diet - these 8 will be the focus of this article. Essential...

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Posted by in Nutrition Articles, Training Articles

Make a Comeback (featured in STRONG magazine)

Slash your recovery time with these four science-backed supplements. Written by Ashleigh Gass, MS, CSCS, CCN, CNS, CISS N & the STRONG Editors Dietary supplements are a hot button topic these days. With sports nutrition becoming more mainstream, a lot of us are wondering if popping the right pills can really help with everything from muscle building to a faster recovery, and if so, which ones are best? Although numerous studies have recently questioned the quality and reliability of some brands of pills and powders, plenty of science still backs the benefits of supplementation when it comes to post-workout recovery, particularly when supported by a sound nutrition strategy. Check out the full article here: View PDF...

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Posted by in Nutrition Articles, Training Articles

Featured in STRONG Magazine

This article was just released in STRONG Fitness magazine, in their digital training guide for this quarter. HOW DO YOU GET PUMPED UP FOR A GOOD WORKOUT? Do you throw some high-energy tracks on your playlist and blast it on your drive to the gym? Or do you watch the latest viral fitspo video circulating the Internet? Or are you like a growing population of fitness buffs that turn to a pre-workout formula to help get you through the grind? Check out the full article here: View...

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Posted by in Ashleigh In The News, News

The Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy

For those of you with interests in Integrative and Functional Nutrition (IFN), a fantastic resource has just been launched and I'm privileged to be a part of the advisory board.  Sheila Dean​, a long-term friend, mentor and colleague has launched The Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy (IFN).  Here's an overview of the mission statement of the academy, along with a link to the advisory board and website.   "IFN training includes skill-building in key clinical areas including: nutrition-focused physical assessment, conventional and functional labs and diagnostics including nutrigenetic testing, mind-body modalities such as meditation, yoga, breathing techniques, art and science of dietary supplements and other lifestyle-oriented practices. A “whole food as medicine” approach is central to IFN therapy, thus an understanding and application of culinary nutrition concepts, condition-specific healing foods and bioactive compounds in the “food farmacy” will also be included".   http://www.ifnacademy.com/meet-the-experts/ifna-advisory-board/ Till next time, Ashleigh Gass Brilliant Fitness and Nutrition, INC. www.brilliantfitnessandnutrition.com www.brilliantathlete.com MS, CCN, CSCS, CISSN, Pn1 Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Medical Exercise Specialist Certified...

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Posted by in Ashleigh In The News, News

New eBook available on Amazon!

The 12 Practical Steps to a New You Forever: From Shame and Sadness to Sheer Bliss This new eBook was written by Dr Francisco Torres and Ashleigh Gass and is a practical approach to weight loss, health, and more!. It is now available on Amazon... Here is a link where you can download your copy today! Click Here This book is dedicated to all those who are working on managing weight for a healthy lifestyle. Your perseverance encourages us. When times get tough, remember that you can and will win. Thrive to be forever young! This is an example of one client that has flourished in part because Ashleigh taught her years ago to follow key points covered in this book... In September, 2012, I was referred to Ashleigh. For a few years, I’d really been having challenges. Kidney transplant in 2005, hysterectomy in 2011, years of immune compromise, with a frozen shoulder to boot. At that time, I was also on full dose medications for infections, chronic shoulder and neck pain, and...

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Posted by in News

Medicare Ruling Levels Playing Field Among Nutrition Professionals and Registered Dietitians in Hospitals

  June 11, 2014 CHICAGO, IL—A landmark federal ruling that all qualified nutrition professionals—not just Registered Dietitians—may order therapeutic diets in hospitals, has leveled the playing field between nutrition professionals and Registered Dietitians. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) ruled [i] that: “all patient diets, including therapeutic diets, must be ordered by a practitioner responsible for the care of the patient, or by a qualified dietitian or qualified nutrition professional as authorized by the medical staff and in accordance with State law.” [emphasis added] The ruling adopts the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists’ (BCNS) formal recommendation to CMS that qualified nutrition professionals obtain any privileges granted to Registered Dietitians. The ruling goes on to state: “We agree with commenters that the regulatory language for § 482.28 should be inclusive of all qualified nutrition professionals. We do not agree with commenters who requested that we use the term “registered dietitian” or define “qualified dietitian” as an individual specifically registered with the...

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Posted by in Nutrition Articles

Great Guts 2: Gallbladders are good!

A little while back, I wrote an article called "Great Guts", where I covered the basics of our gastrointestinal (GI) system, otherwise known as the "second brain", and the "enteric nervous system". Ever wonder why our GI system is referred to as the "second brain"? It's because this organ system has its own, independently working lymphatic and nervous systems - and a huge amount of whole-body resources dedicated to it (2). In "Great Guts", I focused primarily on the big picture of the GI system, covering the basics of structure and function as a whole, the importance of its health, and a bit about what can happen when it's sick. Briefly, I outlined some steps necessary to improve it, which included food and supplement strategies. A few clients as of late have inspired this next article. On the positive side, clients whom, after restoring healthy gut bacteria, have finally rid themselves of allergies and asthma, while reducing inflammatory markers and losing fat (around the abdomen, mainly). On the "makes...

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Posted by in Ashleigh In The News, Nutrition Articles

Rebuttal to recent general media articles “Skip the Supplements” and “Herbal Supplements Are Often Not What They Seem”.

Ashleigh Gass, MS, CSCS, CISSN, CCN, CNS. Recent media articles “Skip the Supplements” and “Herbal Supplements Are Often Not What They Seem” caught my attention and inspired this rebuttal. Even though some of the information presented in these articles was correct, we weren’t given any information about the other side of the story. This is significant - because the other side of the story would have given consumers an opportunity to learn about hundreds of excellent nutritional supplement companies and their respective products. Yet again, the general public was left flapping in the breeze of misleading, incomplete nutrition articles geared towards “poo-poo-ing” the nutritional supplement industry. Perhaps these articles were written with the intention to “protect” the public from purchasing supplements from certain companies, or to discourage people from taking nutritional supplements in general. If the former is correct, the articles would have had far greater value if they’d pointed out the many companies following stringent manufacturing practices. If the latter is correct and the articles were written to...

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Posted by in Ashleigh In The News

Ashleigh Gass joins ARIIX Scientific Advisory Board

http://clearwatergazette.com/Ashleigh-Gass-joins-ARIIX-Scientific-Advisory-Board-11212013 Published: November 21, 2013 BOUNTIFUL, Utah – Local Clearwater health and fitness professional Ashleigh Gass has been named to the Scientific Advisory Board of ARIIX, a health-based company that develops toxic-free products to promote healthy living. An athlete nearly her entire life, Gass brings extensive knowledge and experience in kinesiology, nutrition and exercise physiology to the board. For nearly 15 years, she has provided professional support for both personal clients and elite athletes, helping them achieve their goals through healthy nutritional choices and customized training programs. "I'm excited for the opportunity to be a part of bringing life-changing health products and fitness education to professional athletes and health-conscious people around the world," Gass said. Gass has a master’s degree in Human Nutrition, certifications as a Sports Performance Nutrition Advisor, Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN), Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), Certified Sports Nutritionist through The International Society of Sports Nutrition (CISSN), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and Medical Exercise Specialist (MES). She is also a published writer and speaker, providing...

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Posted by in Ashleigh In The News

Ashleigh Gass joins ARIIX Scientific Advisory Board

http://www.prlog.org/12238897-ashleigh-gass-joins-ariix-scientific-advisory-board.html Nov. 8, 2013 - BOUNTIFUL, Utah ARIIX, an international opportunity company that promotes healthy, toxic-free living, is excited to announce the addition of accomplished health and fitness professional Ashleigh Gass to the ARIIX Scientific Advisory Board, an exclusive group of extraordinary individuals that help shape the decisions and direction of the ARIIX wellness product line. Ashleigh brings to the Board extensive knowledge and experience in kinesiology, nutrition and exercise physiology. For nearly 15 years, she has provided professional support for both personal clients and elite athletes, helping them achieve their goals through healthy nutritional choices and customized training programs. She's been privileged to work with male and female athletes, ranging from rugby pitches to sand courts, to wind surfing and dojos. Her true specialty is creating a blend of customized nutrition, performance enhancement and injury prevention strategies with her clients who seek improvement in all areas of life. Ashleigh has been an athlete her entire life and currently competes in nationwide figure shows. "As a member of the...

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