Cryotherapy at CryoLuxe: Is the Juice Worth the Freeze?

I’m about to go full Elsa on you here talkin’ about CRYOTHERAPY.  

Full disclosure: the cold DOES bother me, Elsa.  I’m trying to remember why I still live in Chicago where the weather is cold most of the year, but back to the topic at hand!  With all of the associated health benefits and my curiosity for all that is wellness related, I was super excited to try Cryo at CryoLuxe for the first time. 

Why in tarnation would someone want to do this?

Lots of reasons, actually! Before I dive into my personal experience, let me give you some background on these associated health benefits I just mentioned.  Basically, the science behind the therapy is that being cold will reduce inflammation.  Reducing inflammation helps improve circulation.  You may have heard of athletes taking ice baths or maybe you’ve even put that pack of frozen peas on an injured muscle… same concept. 

Cryo, however, uses nitrogen vapor to get.. well, REALLY friggin’ cold.  Down to temps as low as 200 degrees below zero for up to 3 minutes. Yes, you read that correctly.

There is science behind this therapy, although, more research is needed to support all of the claimed health benefits. For the purposes of this blog, I’m just going to share with you my personal experience and how I felt, but I always encourage you to do your own research! The other suggested benefits straight from CryoLuxe’s website include:

-quicker tissue repair

-less inflammation and/or pain

-sometimes used for treatment of autoimmune disorders (arthritis, MS, fibromyalgia)

-accelerated production of collagen and reduced appearance of cellulite (WHAT?!)

-metabolism boost, burning up to 800cals

What to Expect.

SO. Now to my first visit. I arrived at CryoLuxe in the South Loop of Chicago and was greeted at the desk by a friendly staff member.  Staff members are trained in how to operate the chambers.  I was quickly escorted to the Cryotherapy chamber and provided a gown, socks, boots and gloves to change into.  I was instructed I could keep on undergarments if I wished and guided through what the session would be like.  The staff member then informed me that I would be under supervision for the entire treatment and could ask to stop the treatment at anytime. The last 30 seconds are the coldest, FYI.  You keep the gloves and boots/socks on during treatment and just remove your robe.  Naturally, I chose to keep my beanie on because it couldn’t hurt, right? 

The staff member asked for my height and set up the step inside to make sure my head would remain out of the chamber (much appreciated) and I got in!  Having someone supervise you is awesome because… safety, but also because it’s a distraction!  I was chatty Cathy asking questions to try to distract myself from the severe cold.  However, I pride myself on being a bit of a bad*ss so I was determined to make the full 3 minutes.  I asked questions about recovery, benefits, how often sessions were recommended and then suddenly… my 3 minutes were up!  Seriously, it’s only 3 minutes which is pretty cool!  The cryo chamber was shut off, my gown handed to me and the door opened and the staff member left me to get changed back into my clothes.  Done aaaaand done.

Did I feel any different after?

Afterwards, I immediately felt like I’d been on a run in the cold weather.  You know when your legs are kinda tingly?  Yeah, that.  But I also felt… PUMPED.  Hello endorphins!  Or was that adrenaline?  Probably both.  This mini-high went on for a while after my session.  I also felt a sense of calm as the day went on and by bedtime I was ready for and was ABLE to get a good nights sleep! 

My other sessions following were very similar to this.  I even went on the coldest day so far here in Chicago, but that day I gave myself a break and only did 2 minutes. I still felt pretty great after!  I typically went for a session of cryo after a hard workout or when I was sore.  I remember after one yoga class in particular where my knee had been giving me some trouble… the aching was totally gone after the session.  Kid. You. Not. My muscles were less sore the next day.  And I didn’t have trouble falling asleep which can occasionally be difficult for me!  It’s hard to turn this brain off sometimes... 

Last Word.

SO, final thoughts.  I dug it!  I workout just about every day and an improvement in muscle recovery or achy joints is more than worth it to me. The energy boost after was pretty great, too.  ALWAYS check with your healthcare provider first because there are some health conditions where it may not be advised, but if you’ve ever been curious or have any pesky symptoms, such as achy joints, muscles, headaches… give Cryotherapy a try!!  Elsa would be proud. Please forgive me for all of the Frozen references. Let me know if you’ve ever tried Cryotherapy or would give it a try!

Stay Wild,

Danielle

MS, RDN, LDN

Chill Out and Make the World a Better Place

My session began with the staff offering me tea.  I chose the mint tea.  SO GOOD.  Then I sat in the lounge while the workshop was setup.  I checked out some candles, bath products that all smelled like heaven.  I sat in a chair swing for a bit and zoned out before moving myself into the back room with lounge cushions next to a fountain where I listened to the calming sound of flowing water while sipping my mint tea.  When the workshop was ready I went in the room to discover cushions big enough to lie down on and then I had 60 minutes of pure bliss.  Half of the workshop was just the sound of crystal bowls (which if you don't know what those are, I encourage you to check it out) and half a guided meditation.  A whole hour of meditation was a gift I don't often give myself and it was SO worth it.

This was my recent experience at Chill Chicago (check them out here), a local meditation, yoga and massage center in Chicago.  A peaceful environment, but the real reason I went was to help find the peace within.  

Ahh peace.  Something we're always seeking externally that is actually hidden within.  I've been feeling somewhat turbulent, heavy energy lately.. (since the Mercury Retrograde really, if you're into that sort of thing..) and it's been pushing me towards more grounding activities.  More yoga practice.  More meditation.  More deep breaths and slowing down... which isn't easy for me.  The slowing down.  In times of turbulence in the past I never really used to respond this way.  I responded to overwhelming energies pretty mindlessly, not even thinking about it.  Not that I've mastered the art of constantly being at peace, but I'd say this is growth.  

So in this instance I decided to book myself a Crystal Healing Bowl Meditation workshop over at Chill Chicago and I was inspired to share my experience and journey to meditation with all of you.

I'll spare you the details, but have you ever been through a dark or chaotic time in your life?  OF COURSE YOU HAVE.  We all have.  That's life.  There are highs and lows.  Chaos can come from both.  And sometimes we deal with chaos in not-so-healthy ways.  My whole life I had never really thought about dealing with chaotic times in any way whatsoever.  I was kind of just floating around and dealing with things in probably not-so-healthy ways, without really intended to.  Until I discovered meditation.  And I realized I could calm myself in moments of chaos and choose what energy to take on and what to let go.  HOW. FREEING.  Not that it's that easy in a world of chaos to find the quiet... it's a practice you have to make some time and space for.

Luckily, meditation centers, like Chill Chicago, are popping up and we need them more than ever.  Especially in America!  America is a great country, but I think we are behind in that we still "live to work" rather than "work to live."  We are stressed.  And hurried.  WE NEED TO CHILL.  And enjoy life.  Otherwise, what's the point?

Not to mention the physical and mental effects that not chilling out are having on our health.  As a Registered Dietitian, I am passionate about holistic health and I believe healthcare should focus on mind, body and spirit and sometimes I truly believe stress effects us more than even what we eat or if we exercise.  Obviously, I'm saying that with a grain of salt... nutrition and physical activity are hugely important, but we tend to ignore the stress factor.  Physically stress manifests in increasing cortisol in the body leading to holding on to more adipose tissue along with a number of other issues.  Mentally, stress can manifest in depression, anxiety and, in extreme cases, crazy acts of violence.  

The thing is, when you meditate, it causes you to focus on the present moment.  When you focus on the present moment, it tends to interrupt feelings of depression over things that happened in the past and anxiety over what might happen in the future.  It quiets down that mindless chatter our brains make that cause us to be preoccupied on things that are over or things that haven't even and may never actually happen.  Mediation helps the brain quiet the chatter and feel the joy of just simply being. 

In my own experience, I find myself going towards breath and meditation in times of stress or if someone ticks me off.  I mean, not always.  I still swear a lot in traffic.... it's an ongoing practice... :)  But the fact that I think to do that at all is pretty impressive to me! 

The really cool thing is, this isn't just my opinion, but research studies are looking into the benefits of meditation and yoga on mental health issues and finding positive results!  I'm hoping to see the day where meditation becomes a regular part of the school day and becomes part of the norm. It's becoming more main stream and hell, if this is the newest "trend" so be it!  People are already out there complaining about the commercialization of yoga and I'm sure meditation to follow.  I get where they're coming from to a point, BUT if it helps a whole lot of people WHO GIVES A FLYING F.  Commercialize awayyyy as far as I'm concerned.  Again, people just need something to chatter about.  Less talky, more meditatey please.  

And on that note, I think I should take my own advice and wrap it up here.  But if you can find 10 minutes or more in your day to give to yourself, welcome meditation into your life.  And if you have an amazing center near you like Chill Out Chicago, take your lunch break there!  Meditate, lay back for a couple minutes or just get a chair massage!  Notice how the rest of your day after that changes.  And thank me later for your newfound zen. ;-)  

Wishing you all so much love and light and peace.

Stay Wild,

Danielle

MS, RDN, LDN

Adventures in TV-land...

If you don't know, now ya know...

And, boy, I’m glad to have that off my chest!  I’m referring to a little documentary I’ll be on airing next Thursday, April 20th, on Lifetime TV network (yikes!).  Yes, I am on this season of Married at First Sight. ::gasp::  I know.  It’s crazy.  It’s nuts.  I’ve somehow managed to keep it quiet for a bit now and I still think it’s crazy!  What can I say.. I told you I like adventures.  Not to mention, I'm a hopeless romantic (hidden in tough-girl skin) and believer in the Universe working things out and letting them fall into place.  So, when this came my way, I figured it was my path for a reason and I rolled with it.  Lawdy, it’s been one wild ride. 

And the ride’s not over.  Coming up is (arguably) the scariest part of the adventure.  The TV part. 

Listen, I’m well aware I signed up for a televised documentary and have known it was coming for a while now.  Does that make it any less unknown or terrifying?  Nope. Not even a little bit.  The build-up has probably made it worse, if anything! 

I’d like to think of myself as an “I don’t care what others think about me” kind of person, but that’s easier said than done.  I expect there will come a lot of judgement and harsh words because that’s just the nature of the beast for anyone on a “reality-esque” show.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't guilty of judging people on TV, too.  You better believe my outlook on that has changed substantially since participating in this (and with the help of yoga and practicing non-judgment).  The assumptions and comments on social media have already begun and the show hasn’t even aired! 

My yogi-skills are going to have to kick into high gear here over the next few months.  This will give me a lot of practice in patience, trust, letting go and staying present.  But, I mean... I get it, man.  People like to talk.  And I have a pretty solid sense of humor so I can (and do) laugh at a lot of it. 

Even still, as with all things in life, I know there will be balance.  I’ve already met some AMAZING people on this journey so far and had some AMAZING experiences through it.  Thus far, it has opened my mind and my heart and helped me continue to grow and explore more.   And for any negativity, I hope to be met with supporters and kind hearted folks, as well.  I’ve already seen the well-wishers and supporters and believers in finding love out there in the social media world, too.  High fives to y’all! <3

After all, the documentary part can only show a portion of our journey.  There's only so much air time and it's not going to be possible to show everything, so I hope those watching will keep that in mind before judging too quickly or too harshly. 

Aside from any anxiety I’m working through regarding the TV part, I don’t want it to sound like it’s a total drag!  There’s a ton of fun things I’m super stoked to see on the show!  There’s going to be highs and lows, true to any relationship and true to life.  Heck, I may even dig the TV part of this.  It may be fun… who knows??  It’s just all unknown territory which is scary and exciting.  And that sounds like the perfect combination for an adventure.

So, I’m going to learn to ride the wave and try and have as much fun as I possibly can in an odd situation over the next few months.  Yoga is teaching me to learn how to be comfortable with the uncomfortable and I’d say this situation falls under that category!  I hope you’ll come along with me for the ride and wish me (and all the participants) luck!  Love n’ light, y’all!

Rock ON.

Stay Wild,

Danielle

MS, RD, LDN

Bulletproof Golden Milk Latte Recipe

This baby...  MMMM, mmm.  It's got the best of everything all rolled into one.  First, a little background.

I am a BIG coffee fan.  Not in the sense that I need it to wake up in the morning, because I don't.  I just dig it.  And depending how you have it, there can be solid health benefits.

I typically don't even have coffee until mid-morning.  Going along with my bod's natural cortisol circadian rhythm, I'll wake up and either work out or not (listen to your bod).  I won't sit here and say that I jump out of bed singing every morning, but quite honestly, once I'm up I'm pretty alert and feel good and ready for the day.  This is assuming I didn't stay up too late or have a night of indulgences, which happens.  I'm human.. GUILTY.  Within about an hour of waking or following my workout, I'll have breakfast that, generally during the week, consists of eggs and a green smoothie.  Healthy cortisol levels SHOULD be highest in the morning, allowing us to have the most energy at this time to prepare for our day and then steadily decline with some variations as the day goes on so that by the time we rest our pretty little heads on our pillows, we're ready for some quality sleep (1). 

That's in a perfect world.  Thanks to environmental factors, stress, etc., many people's cortisol circadian rhythm's do not function in this perfect way.  There are ways to reset your circadian rhythm and this dietitian here would be more than happy to help you out with this if that's you (Danielle@dietitiangonewild.com). *Shameless Plug*  ;-)  But anywhooo...

Since I've nourished my bod well, I wake up with natural energy and fuel myself with proper nutrients to keep that energy sustained and as the morning progresses and my cortisol levels dip down a bit, that's when I'll take my coffee.  During the week I'm pretty structured and weekday coffee for me isn't that exciting.  But the weekend.... OHH, the weekend coffee.  I dress it up.

I dig the bulletproof coffee (ghee, coconut oil, the works), I dig the Golden milk (turmeric, spices) and I love my Vital Proteins beef gelatin (gut health defender) so basically I combine all of these and I have myself a time.  ::insert nerd emoji here::

Weekday or weekend, I will use Bulletproof® Brain Octane Oil.  This is a very pure form of the Medium Chain Triglyceride, Caprylic Acid.  MCT's are VERY easily absorbed, even for those of us with gut probs and may even IMPROVE gut issues (2).  They are processed in the liver and provide a quick source of energy that can provide longer satiety.  Fats are big players in hormone production and immune function; therefore, having a readily absorbed fat on board (especially for those with difficulty absorbing fats due to gut health issues) can be a game changer (2).  Not to mention, gut health and immunity and brain function are all HUGELY intertwined (3).  If you're into podcasts the Bulletproof Radio podcast, "Connecting Your Gut and Your Brain with Dr. Perlmutter" is simply fan-frickin-tastic.  I'm not endorsed by Bulletproof in any way, btw.  It's just good stuff you deserve to know about.

As a holistic dietitian, I need to reiterate that just because I'm telling you what I like to take and the potential benefits, it does NOT necessarily mean I think you NEED it.  Everyone's different.  And depending on what's going on in your bod, this may not be for you.  You may very well not see any benefits incorporating this into your diet if there are other ish's (issue's) going on that need tending to first. 

That being said, if you want to give it a go, here's my weekend coffee party recipe.  CHEERS!

Bulletproof Golden Milk Latte Recipe:

-10oz coffee (it's the weekend... treat yo'self)

-1 scoop Vital Proteins Beef Gelatin

-few dashes Turmeric

-few dashes black pepper

-few more dashes cinnamon

-1 teaspoon vanilla extract

-1 teaspoon vanilla bean ghee

-1 tablespoon Bulletproof® Brain Octane Oil

-Sun Potion Ashwagandha and Cordyceps optional**

Make your coffee.  Keep this coffee hot if you're using beef gelatin, as it WILL gel in cold beverages and.. ew.  Add all ingredients and blend.  Beef gelatin blended into your coffee will make it foamy like a latte without even adding any nut-based milks.  You may sub these in instead if you're not feeling the gelatin.  Pour into your coffee mug.  Maybe get crazy and throw a dash of cinnamon or turmeric on top for presentation and.. VOILA!  Enjoy with your favorite healthy breakfast.   

[Click link to getcha self some]

[Click photo link above to getcha self some]

Stay Wild,

Danielle

MS, RD, LDN

References:

1. Chan S, Debono M. Replication of cortisol circadian rhythm: new advances in hydrocortisone replacement therapy. Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2010;1(3):129-138. doi:10.1177/2042018810380214.

2. Rial SA, Karelis AD, Bergeron K-F, Mounier C. Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Health: The Potential Beneficial Effects of a Medium Chain Triglyceride Diet in Obese Individuals. Nutrients. 2016;8(5):281. doi:10.3390/nu8050281.

3. Purchiaroni F, Tortora A, Gabrielli M, Bertucci F, Gigante G, Ianiro G, Scarpellini E, Gasbarrini A. The Role of intestinal Microbiota and the Immune System.  Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2013 Feb;17(3):323-33.