Practical Nutrition

Leaking when you laugh, jump, or cough? Pain in your pelvis, tailbone, or pubic bone? Struggling to engage your core during exercise? These symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction are common, but NOT normal. The dietitians and Maria chat with Dr. Ali from 417 Female about pelvic floor health and how their physical therapy practice can help with all of these symptoms. Contact Ali at www.the417female.c...

The holidays are a joyful time of year filled with family, friends, parties, cheesy Christmas movies, and of course- delicious foods, sweets, and beverages. It’s a time when we put aside our woes… and sometimes our nutrition and fitness routines. A 2015 study by Harvard University found that Americans eat -on average- an excess of 200 calories per day within the 5 week period leading up to New Yea...

We welcome newest dietitian, Anthony. The dietitians and Maria discuss types of coaching styles, the pros and cons of each, and how to help you identify which style will help you achieve your best.

The dietitians and Maria discuss the validity of 4 common wellness tests: IgG "Food Sensitivity" Test, Hormone Tests, Cortisol/Stress Tests, and DNA Nutrigenomics Tests. Are they worth the money? Are these backed by science? Are the tests necessary for my wellness journey? Are the results being accurately interpreted by my clinician? What are the pros and cons of these tests?

Have you ever had a gut feeling that a health professional's advice might be a little... concerning? Unfortunately, that is becoming more common as wellness becomes a trendy place to spend more time and money. The dietitians and Maria break down the scopes of practice for specific health care professionals. What is their education process like? What are they allowed to do or not do? What are s...

In this episode the dietitians and Maria interview AYB client, Christian Seyler. Cristian is a 23-year-old engineering student who has used nutrition and training services at AYB for the past 7 months. During his time here, he has made remarkable strides in his health goals. Christian discusses his personal journey with Ozempic, weight-loss, nutrition, training, and most importantly to him: mental...

In the world of (what seems like) a zillion different kinds of allergies, there's a new addition that has caught everyone slightly off guard, and it’s caused by a tick bite! The attention of researchers and healthcare professionals have been drawn to learn about a new allergy: Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS). This unusual allergic reaction to red meat has left many confused as to how it came about an...

Artificial sweeteners (also called low-calorie sweeteners, non-caloric sweeteners, and sugar substitutes) have been around for over 100 years. They became extremely popular during the 1950s-1980s by ultra-processed food and beverage companies as a “healthier alternative” for those with diabetes and/or weight management goals. Last week the World Health Organization made a statement about  using ca...

As sports dietitians, we have been using the words “pre-workout” for years, but what most people think about when they hear “pre-workout” is totally different from what we have been talking about. Nowadays, the term “Pre-workout" is more about which pre-workout supplement you use instead of “what is your pre-workout food and fluid”. We are going to dive into what pre-workouts are, if they wor...

Today we are talking about SUGAARRR (cue the Maroon 5 song). Sugar is one of the most consumed items across the US. The American Heart Association recommends 25g or less of ADDED sugar daily. This is about 4-5 teaspoons of sugar per day. This seems reasonable, but did you know the average person consumes 17 teaspoons per day?! This is about 68 grams of sugar, almost triple the amount we want to ha...

Whether you’re a long-time fitness enthusiast, or a fitness newbie, you have probably experienced muscle soreness after a hard workout. Recovery is one of the most vital parts of a health journey, because it allows you to live with less soreness, have quick turnaround time between workouts, and reduce the risk of injury. In our current culture, there are many trends that promote physical and menta...

That illusive good night's sleep: everyone wants it, but few of us get it. How can we use nutrition to improve our sleep? How can we learn more about our own sleep cycles? What does a healthy bedtime routine look like? The dietitians share research-based information about improving sleep patterns.

Everyone has felt like this before: hungry and angry, or hangry ! What causes us to feel this way? How can we get more in touch with our hunger cues? How can we improve our nutrition to prevent that hangry feeling?

Featuring special guests Nikki and Stephanie: co-owners of SUMITS Hot Yoga in Springfield, MO. We discuss the health benefits of yoga, how it compliments other types of fitness, misconceptions, classes that SUMITS offers, and what to expect for your first class.

Today we discuss the 5 most important components of a well-rounded fitness routine. We walk through recommendations and benefits of cardio, strength training, balance, mobility, and recovery. The dietitians chat about their favorite types of exercise.

It's all over the news: Diabetes drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy being used for their side effect of weight loss in non-diabetics. Is this safe? Is it effective? What are the side effects? What are the positive effects? The dietitians and Maria discuss the facts behind these drugs.

Today we continue our discussion on body image. What affects it? How can we improve it? How can we help others have a positive body image? We chat about non-appearance compliments, affirmations, mindfulness, and how parents and adults can lead by example with body positivity for younger generations.

Today we discuss the factors that can impact body image with special guest: Cassie's 19 year-old daughter, Madison Dimmick. She shares her insight on body image as a child, pre-teen, and young adult. We also discuss ways that parents can talk to their children about body image and social media. Stay tuned next week for part 2 focusing on adult body image.

We sit down with NFL linebacker Dylan Cole to discuss his personal wellness journey and nutrition/wellness in the NFL. Dylan is a local athlete who played for Logan-Rogersville High School, Missouri State University, the Houston Texans, and now the Tennessee Titans. Learn about his workout schedule, pre-game fuel, meal planning advice, and food for thought about being in tune with his body an...

A delicate dynamic to navigate: How to be a supportive partner during someone's health journey. Be encouraging, but not pushy. Be interested, but not too inquisitive. How do we get on the same page with our partner to find balance and compromise when it feels like things are changing? We'll break this down into 10 tips for being a supportive partner when a loved one is going through a health journ...

We are joined by local private chef, Anna Saunders. Among her many talents, she is a chef, recipe and menu developer, as well as a food stylist. Anna's niche is  preparing fresh, healthy foods, with uber-artistic plating, using many ingredients that she forages from local wildlife. Today we chat with Anna about how she became a forager and a chef, her popular local culinary classes, and how s...

Today we discuss the newest nutrition category of "-etarians".... Reducetarians. What is it? Are you one? If you want to be one, what are some steps you can take to become one? We also discuss the impact of eating animals vs. eating plants has on the environment, and how we can include more plants in our nutrition habits. 

We welcome our guest, Amy Anfinson with Amy Anfinson Coaching! Amy is a positive change coach and intuitive mentor. She discusses her business and how she built her career. She also shares with us the power of positive self-talk, being in-touch with our emotions, daily meditation, journaling, and more. Go to her website for more information on her services and resources! www.amyanfinson.com Follow...

Oh the dreaded colonoscopy... But is it really that bad? Learn about the updated guidelines for colon cancer screening and prevention. Cassie shares her personal experience with a recent colonoscopy and encourages everyone to get tested! Follow us on social media: Facebook – Achieving Your Best Instagram – aybspringfield Twitter – AYBspringfield

There have been countless FADS, detoxes, diets and more that have been popularized on various social media platforms. The newest buzz on Tik Tok is something called Parasite Cleanses. This is described as any supplement, diet or other “detox” product that is intended to eliminate parasites from your body without using prescription meds. Before we go into more detail about this topic, we have a spe...