Tag Archives: liver

Pain on the right side of your body??? You might want to look into this….

Pain on the right side of your body??

In the past two years with the increasing demand on our bodies detoxification systems, one organ in particular keeps taking continued hits: the liver.The Liver is our filtration organ.  It’s constantly detoxing what we consume, breathe and lather on.  Just like a regular filtration system, when the filter is full, it’s not very efficient.  Respectively, the liver begins to sound its alarm to us that it needs a replacement, or in a more effective term HELP.Let’s first dig into the jobs of the liver:– It processes nutrients
– produces bile which helps us digest fat
– produces cholesterol and proteins
– controls 500 metabolic processes
– breakdown alcohol and medications
– detoxes the blood
– destroys old red blood cells
– produces hormones
– releases glucose into the blood
– regulates and stores glycogen
– stores ironThe liver is hit pretty hard when its detoxification phases get overburdened and overwhelmed.  This overburdening also means that those functions I just mentioned above become difficult as the liver struggles to keep afloat because of the high load of toxins.How are toxins being administered?
I think it’s an easier question to answer what isn’t being polluted.
  • Our air is increasingly getting more and more polluted, with aluminum released into the air, and radiation from electromagnetic frequencies (5G and more) creating radiation bubbles. Mold is also becoming an increasing problem with homes improperly built.
  • Our water is laden with chemicals, drugs, antibiotics, fluoride, chlorine, arsenic and most recent findings possible snake venom particulates.
  • Our food is sprayed to the max with chemicals or genetically modified as we like to call it frankenfood.
  • Our meat is sourced with corn and soy byproducts that are filled with mycotoxins
  • Many are injected with unknown particulates from recent vaccinations targeting liver tissue.
  • Beauty products, lotions and potions are filled with fragrances
  • cleaning supplies are laden with chemicals.
  • toxic emotions of fear, resentment, frustration and anger are plaguing our population
I could go on…

The point is.. our liver is SCREAMING for help.  And when we don’t pay attention to the warning signs of the liver, our body will relay it in other ways called referral patterns.

This brings us to the point of how the liver could be connected to the right side of the body….  There are certain pathways in our body called meridian pathways.  They correlate with every organ that we have in our body.  When an organ is not functioning adequately we can look to these meridians for answers as to which organ is having difficulty.

The meridian of the liver is on the right side of the body, going into the right side of the head, jaw, shoulder and shoulder blade, into the right hip, knee and into the foot. 

This means that any of those body location areas I mentioned, could be a result of the liver screaming through that channel…. It’s not always a mechanical problem with a muscle or joint when an area is in pain/tension. In fact, most chronic pain issues are organ related.

I’ve seen such a huge ramping up of the liver struggling in individuals the past two years that it’s almost not normal to find someone without a problem. Hormonal and digestive problems are another huge result of a bogged down liver, and those is through the roof!

So, where does that leave us?

Well, in addition to toxins that we need to take account for in our life, and begin to decrease, there’s also a couple other key points to mention with the liver.

#1 there could also be an underlying infection going on in the liver making it struggle.  Some big ones that I find are liver flukes (parasites), mold or mycotoxins and lyme and co-infections.  The liver will always struggle when there’s unwanted guests

#2 genetic hangups.  Now genetics aren’t everything, we have the power to change their expression, but it is important information to know where your weaknesses might lie.  For instance, there are certain genetic variations that make it difficult for a person in general to detoxify properly.  Which means if they are also bombarded with more toxins they will REALLY struggle.  It’s important to know these facts before going into a detox protocol and to clear things out. It could be really dangerous for a person if they don’t know these facts beforehand.

What to do?

Start working on what you are putting in on and around your body…. This is a big key.  We can’t escape all toxins, but we can control what’s in our vicinity as best as we can.

  • Stick to grass fed/finished foods and organic products to decrease toxins

  • get all natural beauty/cleaning products, check out EWG.org

  • get EMF remediation in your home/work from EMF pro.

  • Keep hydrated, and filter your water!! brita filters are total CRAP.  I prefer kangan water for ultimate hydration

  • start getting off medications and saying no to annual and follow up vaccinations.  Injecting through the blood is the most toxic form.

  • Clean your air through an Air Doc, and if you’re in a moldy home, remediate properly or move!

  • Get your genetics tested, and do a followup with Dr Rachel to customize a plan for you based on what nutrients you need for your liver!

  • castor oil packs are helpful to detox the liver

  • coffee enemas

  • infrared and red light therapy, I like biolight (check link below for discounts)

So.  If you have chronic right sided pain in your jaw, head, shoulder, hip or knee, look into your liver function.  Blood lab work will often miss if the liver is starting to wane, and sometimes only reveals when it’s so far gone.  But some key markers are if your liver enzymes start to rise, your cholesterol starts to rise as well as LDL, and your blood cells aren’t balanced.

If you’re looking for more help with your liver, book a genetic nutrition session here:

BOOK HERE

And for those not in California, you can also book a VIRTUAL nutrition consultation through the same link.

Wishing you a happy and healthy month!

Dr. Rachel

Healing in the Holidays Series Part 2

Happy Monday Warriors!

Happy December!!  Only one month left in this year!!!🤯

I hope you enjoyed last month’s topic about healing in the holiday with your nervous system!  We are going to continue on this month talking amount nutritional and emotional tips to help you walk out of the holiday season healthier than when you entered!

The holidays can be a time where you are literally surrounded by temptations!  From work parties, to holiday parties to Christmas cookies, ect.  Everything is always in moderation, but sometimes you can ruin your whole progress in a year with going crazy all month!  So, just like we need to prep our brain and nervous system, we also need to help prep our gut or (second brain).  I don’t even want you to say DIET! That’s assuming food is bad. DIE is not a word we should be discussing when it comes to food. Food should bring life, right?!

It’s ok to eat food, food gives you life. The right food I should say! We just need to change from low frequency food to high frequency living food. I promise when you start viewing food as a frequency giving you life, it’s not hard to say no to bad choices.  But, if you aren’t there yet, here are some tips:

1.  Prep your gut.
With all the bad holiday choices of food, something you can do NOW is prep!
Prepare your digestive system to be more efficient so it can digest quickly all the toxins you will be consuming!

I suggest three different supplements to take to re-acidify the gut so that it can digest things quickly and effectively, and gallbladder support to help break down your food better!  ( If you read on down below about traveling I also recommend this triad as well! )

If we have stagnation within our gut and poor elimination patterns, you will constantly be reabsorbing what you are trying to get out, which includes toxins.

Most individuals with acid reflux and digestion problems don’t have an acidic stomach and intestinal tract that’s WHY they aren’t digesting their food!

2. Food Prep.

One thing you can do is also to prep your own food! There are so many keto and paleo friendly food choices out there that taste the same or better than traditional holiday sweets and carbs.
I recently brought a couple favorite dishes to thanksgiving and they were awesome!

Here is a great resource for many different holiday recipes.

https://www.healthfulpursuit.com/roundup/keto-holiday-recipes/

3.  Portion Control.  Try and keep your portions small.  Believe it or not if you can eat smaller meals more frequently, you will do a lot better than eating ginormous meals all holiday season.
TIP: If you eat a little too much, grab some Doterra Celery Seed Essential Oil to help soothe and break down your food a little easier.

4.  Liver Support.     During the holidays you will probably end up consuming a few beverages as well, which puts a stress on your liver. Thinking ahead and supporting your liver your own unique needs is key.  I do this in my genetic based nutritional protocols, but you can also just add in a little liver detox support if you know you will be consuming more than usual.

Which brings me to my next point.

WHY DIETS DON’T WORK!

Many people experience with diets that they DO end up losing weight for a certain period of time.  But generally what happens is that individual can no longer take such restrictions, falls off and ends up gaining it back quickly.  This is the time of year where new years resolutions will come up as well, so it’s important to prep your mind for what’s ahead.  The point is as I mentioned above.  You have to change your mindset around food.  Does it give you life and raise your energy or not?  WE ALL WANT MORE ENERGY!
I mean, that’s like a GIVEN day to day request of most of my patients.
In order for me to accomplish that, you also need to eat foods that give you life!

A lot of people need to really make a lifestyle change.  It’s not about dieting.  And one HUGE factor many don’t address is toxins.  If you have ANY plans to lose weight, then you need to detoxify your body FIRST.  FAT holds on to toxins so it will make losing weight impossible when you are loaded with them. Again my genetic based nutritional protocols can help get your body detoxing better to set you up for success.

Sometimes a little jump start with a ten day cleanse can be helpful as well, but the goal here is to make a lasting change right?!

5. Probiotics.  Not the pill kind.  Pill probiotics don’t actually re-populate the bacteria.  I will say that again.  In research, it’s shown that probiotics (the pill kind) don’t actually repopulate the gut.  But, they DO create an immune response, which is good.  Taking probiotics in a pill is transitory, meaning they go right through your gut.  A better way to help support those bacteria is to actually feed the good ones you got!  Increase your fiber, eat fermented foods with lactic acid (which they eat)!  This will strengthen the gut, and your immune system!

___________
Traveling!

If you are one of the lucky ones that get to travel somewhere tropical for the holidays, I also have some tips to help prep you!!  

1. Skin!

In the winter we don’t see as much sun (Well some of us!).  Back in the 1940s there was documentation that calcium is needed by the skin and needs a fatty acid to shuttle it.
When there is sufficient calcium in the skin, the skin can withstand the stress of the sun, and not get damaged i.e. sunburn!!

So if you want that nice tan, and to not burn and damage the skin you need a GOOD source of calcium and a fatty acid to take with you!

The ones I like are whole food sources.  You CANNOT just use any calcium.  Most on the market are INSOLUBLE and are Toxic!

You have use whole food forms which I can offer you.

Calcium lactate is the form of calcium that the body prefers in the bloodstream.  It is extremely bioavailable.  it converts only once in the stomach, and once this happens it’s in a form that the body can pick up and use.  But you always want to take it on an empty stomach!!

You also want to take a fatty acid to shuttle it to the skin!!  Cataplex F or flax seed works really well for this.

Take a dosage in between meals 8-10 calcium lactate and 5 cataplex F, every 4 hours you are in the sun!  

Calcium is water soluble, so you can’t overdo it, you will be using it up while you are in the sun.  So you have to keep replenishing it.  You literally won’t burn!!  

*These are products you can only get through my care.

2.  Digestive Support.  These are ones you should always take with you….

You hear of people always getting sick in Mexico, or some island so always make sure you have Hydrochloric acid, it’s your best protector against food poisoning.  When your gut is acidic, it will kill them quickly.

Digest forte and AF Betafood.  Are two digestive supports I HIGHLY recommend and take every meal I eat while traveling.

3.  Alcohol. When you’re in the sun you aren’t as hungry, but the third thing to bring is liver support.  You might have an alcoholic beverage right?
But your liver will take a hit when you do that!  Take some milk thistle to protect the liver.

SUPER TIP!  If drinking wine gives you pretty bad side effects…. I have a tip for you!  (No I don’t recommend drinking a lot of wine haha, but here is a TIP).  If you can’t break down wine well, that is because of the preservation that happens with wine.  You have a genetic component in the SULFUR pathway that doesn’t allow you to break them down.  Here’s the HACK:
Use one drop of FOOD GRADE hydrogen peroxide in your cup of wine.
It breaks the bond of the sulfites and tannins.
YOU’RE WELCOME!;)

 

 

OIL OF THE WEEK

On the spotlight this week is DoTerra’s Celery Seed oil!  A great one to have for the holidays and digestion support!

Celery was used as early as the 5th century by the Chinese, and is widely used in Indian Ayurvedic practices today. Conventionally grown grocery store celery looks nothing like the celery seen at local farmers’ markets. The celery plant grows up to three feet tall, is bright green, and radiating with life. Celery has a complex, strong, sweet, and spicy aroma. The plant takes two years to fully mature and produce its small fruit, which are tan to brown in color. The seeds are the primary repository for essential oil. Limonene, the dominant constituent, puts Celery Seed oil in the same league as the refreshing citrus peel and fir needle oils. Soothing digestive issues is one of the many benefits of Celery Seed essential oil.* Experimental research suggests that it may soothe muscles and help joint discomfort when taken internally.* The oil creates a calming, relaxing, and positive environment while providing cooling and soothing effects.

Uses

  • Consume one to two drops morning and night to promote healthy digestion.*
  • Soak in a relaxing, sleep-inducing Epsom Salt bath adding three to four drops to warm bath water.
  • Blend with Fractionated Coconut Oil for a soothing massage.
  • Diffuse to promote a positive and uplifting mindset.

Directions for Use

Diffusion: Use three to four drops in the diffuser of your choice.
Internal use: Dilute one drop in 4 fl. oz. of liquid or use in a veggie cap.
Topical use: Dilute one to two drops with a carrier oil, then apply to desired area. See additional precautions below.

 

 

 

That is all for now,

Have a happy and healthy week.

 

DR Hamel

 

 

 

Skin Reactions, Allergies & A Sick Liver

 

Happy Monday Everyone!  Last week’s topic was about the Skin and the Brain. It’s always vital for us to make sure our brain:our number one asset to always be addressed first and foremost. If you missed it, make sure you go check in out here:

The Skin/Brain Connection

This week, we will continue talking about the skin and dive a little into allergies and their relationship to a big organ: Your Liver. 

We are hearing and seeing more and more each day of children AND adults with sensitive skin, skin reactions, rashes and allergies, allergies, allergies. 

Why is that? 

Well, if we look to the liver we might get some insight… 

Unfortunately, we are fire hosed with things surrounding us all the time.  We are literally attacked from all angles.  Our environment, polluted food and soil, the products we use, and to top it all off we are asked literally every time we even step foot into a medical facility if we’ve had “a vaccine”.

Frustrating!  No, I’d like to keep my immune system thanks, and keep your agendas away!

Note here: * Vaccines in themselves can also create allergies to form because of the mix of proteins mixed with the chemicals together.  It creates an immune response in your body to attack it.  For instance, many are cultivated in egg or nut, and when mixed with harsh adjuvants such as polysorbate, formaldehyde or aluminum, it makes our immune system go beserck, making it compromised and WHAM, hello allergies.
(Yes, these are actual ingredients in vaccines, always make sure you read their labels!)  They cannot create immunity!  Nothing that injects chemicals in you can ever be for good.

Point is, Toxins are EVERYWHERE.  This is why it is super important to educate about our future generations.  Not only for the topic we are diving into today, but a sick liver can also can cause mood problems, gut dysfunction,  and more.

So what happens with the liver?

Let’s talk about what the liver does for starters and then we can go from there.  The liver is our filter system.  It’s big job is to filter the blood coming from the digestive tract, and direct it to the rest of the body.  Additionally, it detoxifies chemicals and metabolizes medications.  Finally, it is the creator of a substance called bile, which is vital for us to digest the fats we consume, but also to metabolize proteins and carbs.

Additionally, it is a storage center for the fat soluble vitamins and carbs meaning it stores energy, and then delivers it to our body when we need it.

It has quite a few roles right?

What really HAPPENS, with these conditions though is that the liver kind of gets overwhelmed.  Not only does it have to do its roles mentioned above, but also it gets gummed up so to speak with all the toxins we are exposed to.  And because it is a big digestion metabolizer, even it’s role in digesting our foods becomes difficult when it’s pipes are clogged.

How does this relate to the skin? 

I’m so glad you asked!  The skin, our largest organ, is really the expresser of our internal environment.  When the liver, can’t eliminate these toxins well, our skin then has to do it.  Either through the skin or into your gut ( and as we know our gut health is our immune system).

So rashes in general are really signs of how well your liver and gut are functioning.  Rashes, ezcema, psoriasis, dandruff, ect… These organs aren’t working properly.

What really is a “sick liver” though?

Well, when  the liver isn’t working well, which means digestion isn’t working well ( our immune system), we are WAY more susceptible to get infections. 
The more toxins we are exposed to, the more our immune system is down, the more we are susceptible to the bad guys.

The thing additionally about vaccines, is they also bypass our means of our digestive system and immune system and go straight into organs.  Making them weaker and more susceptible.

The Sickness I find consistently in my office that NEVER fails is liver viruses.  This is why we call it a sick liver.  It really is sick, and can’t take on any more than it already is burdened with.  This means more skin reaction, food allergies, and mood problems.

Are you someone or do you know someone with a zillion allergies, or all of a sudden starts becoming allergic to things?  They have a sick liver. 

How do we fix this?  Normal blood testing won’t show a sick liver.  Unless your liver enzymes are high, but usually it goes under the radar.  The only treatment I utilize for effectiveness is craniobiotic technique.  Once we find the suspected virus, our body eliminates it out, then we can do an effective liver cleanse to clean up the toxins and gunk.

What will happen?

Well, you’ll feel better, your skin will get better and you’ll be way less sensitive to things.

Trust me, I used to be one of those million allergies people. 

Connecting Detox and Weight Loss

Connecting Detoxing and Weight Loss

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope you’ve enjoyed the topics this month all around detoxing.  We’ve talked about the 4 pathways of elimination and detoxing your brain so far.  Today we will continue on with detoxing’s influence of healthy weight management.First I want to start off with a topic called “Endocrine Fallout”

This term basically means that your endocrine (hormone) system within your body is not working efficiently.  That might manifest for you as fatigue, weight gain, mood disruption, sleep disruption, irregular menses, hot flashes, ect.If you are like many people with endocrine fallout, it may seem like your body is hanging on to an additional 5, 10 or even 20 pounds for dear life.  No matter how little you eat and how much you move, those excess pounds refuse to budge!  Well, you may be relieved to learn that there’s a physiological reason for this.

The root of the problem lies in your liver…..

As we have talked about previously, the liver is responsible for removing toxins from your body.  The toxins from your home cleaners, beauty products, foods, plastics, ect.  It does so by turning fat soluble toxins into water solubles ones so they can be excreted through your large intestine, kidneys and skin.  When you already have a hormonal problem however, your liver’s function is compromised (clogged). This mean it doesn’t work as efficiently and unable to remove what we are constantly exposed to as rapidly as they build up.

How does your body handle this??

Well.. It basically sends those fat soluble toxins your fat tissue.  For the short term, this protects your liver because it minimizes it’s load.  The problem is, it becomes more difficult to shed weight. Your fat cells don’t want to let go of these toxins, because your body KNOWS that doing so would pollute your bloodstream and create a toxic environment for your organs, including your heart and your brain.

Let’s talk about what kind of hormones get stuck in the fat tissue…

1. Estrogens–  Usually from exogenous exposure.  This means non organic and GMO foods, non organic cleaners, beauty products, plastics, receipt paper, birth control ect..

2.  Stress hormones–  When there is a constant state of stress, cortisol gets stored in the fat cells as well.  I also see many individuals that burn out there adrenal glands not only on emotional stress but physical stress.  People can train way too hard and do too much excercise wise, that the body can’t keep up with.

3.  Insulin- Keeping your blood sugar stable with every meal, every day enables your pancreas to spit out only the amount of insulin required to move the glucose where it needs to go.  This prevents highs and lows.  A big part in this is actually not always high blood sugar but low blood sugar as well.
We are also more inclined to give into temptation when your blood sugar levels are all over the place.

Hypoglycemia happens with two causes:1. You may be on a ridiculous “diet” of luna bars and coffee and consider that a meal… If you don’t have adequate food intake, your levels will be low.

2.  Overindulging in carbs. This means more than 1/2 cup! Your pancreas pumps out a flood of insulin to bring your blood sugar back down, but it often miscalculates the amount which gobbles up too much glucose, and leaves you with low blood sugar, although you just stuffed your face.  This is where many people get frustrated and think you have no willpower, head to the pantry to refuel on peanut butter M&Ms even though you just ate less than an hour ago.

Fortunately, there is ways to get your body to release it’s grip on the fat tissue.  This is by upping your dietary and supplemental forms of certain nutrients.  Vitamin A, B, C, glutathione and other antioxidants and herbs.  These help your liver do its job.  I recommend a 21 day cleanse with a company I use using whole food nutrition to effectively clean your liver out entirely and gently.  I haven’t found anything else like it out there, and I myself do one every year, sometimes twice a year.  Its preventative and also mandatory I find.Meal wise:
– Fill your diet with plenty of veggies, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, beets
-Lemon and oranges (Essential oils are better).  Put a drop in your water every day
-Caraway and dill seeds

……For those women who are pre-menopausal or menopausal… You know what I’m talking about the dreaded “pooch”.  For this case, it works a little differently, but the same concept.

When you go through menopause, or are prepping for it, the ovaries begin tostop producing estrogen and progesterone.  However, we still need these hormones for many functions.  The natural version of these hormones….  So, our adrenal glands start taking over the job of producing the hormones in small amounts.

The problem is, most women go into menopause with already compromised adrenal glands ( which pump out different hormones, the most important being stress hormone cortisol) because of stress and toxins, so the adrenals can’t cope with the job.  Here comes hot flashes, weight gain, ect.  So, the body starts building fat cells to begin to make and store the hormones.  Because as I mentioned previously fat loves hormones!

That is why during this time it is almost impossible for menopausal women to lose this region.  It is their “source” of hormone production.  I’ve worked with several patients through this time, and you can significantly decrease the symptoms naturally, NOT USING SYNTHETIC or BIOIDENTICAL HORMONES I will say.. Those are a big no no in my book.  Sometimes we do get the weight down, other times because it is the source of production, some women will actually need natural forms of fat elimination like laser or light liposuction or fascia blasting to eliminate them.

Make sense??? The liver is HUGE for weight Loss/Gain.  And since we are bombarded with hormones all the time, and live stressful lives, it’s an ever increasing problem.  Fortunately we have safe and natural options.

Ensuring the Liver is functioning well through nutrition, Stress relief techniques I use in my office, and organ and nervous system relaxation I have great success efficiently detoxing the body and getting you toward your healthy weight.

Interested in the cleanse??  Ask me how you can start your healing journey!

What’s also very interesting and pertinent is that most all cases of women with their gallbladder’s removed will eventually get a hysterectomy.  Why?  The gallbladder has a huge connection with the hormone system.

Women comment that their body was thrown out of balance or that “things have just not been the same since” as well as “weight gain that I’ve never had an issue with before the surgery.”

The liver and gallbladder are so closely interconnected, so digestion and detoxing are huge for weight loss!

 

 

Oil of the WEEK.

On the spotlight this week is DoTerra’s Slim & Sassy.

Slim & Sassy, our proprietary metabolic blend, combines powerful essential oils known to promote a healthy metabolism when ingested.* The flavorful blend of Slim & Sassy helps manage hunger throughout the day while supporting healthy metabolism and promoting a positive mood.* Slim & Sassy contains Grapefruit, Lemon, Peppermint, Ginger, and Cinnamon. When taken with a healthy eating and exercise plan, Slim & Sassy Metabolic Blend can help you reach your weight management goals.*

Uses

  • Add to water or tea and drink before working out for a revitalizing energy boost.*
  • Consume before meals to help control appetite and overeating.*
  • Take internally as a part of a healthy weight management program.*
  • Add a few drops to Slim & Sassy TrimShake or V Shake.

Directions for Use

Diffusion: Use three to four drops in the diffuser of your choice.
Internal use: Dilute four drops in 4 fl. oz. of liquid.
Topical use: Apply one to two drops to desired area. Dilute with doTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil to minimize any skin sensitivity.

Cautions

Possible skin sensitivity. Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas. Avoid sunlight or UV rays for up to 12 hours after applying product.

 

 

 

Try these great recipes to help clear your liver daily!

Cucumber Lemon Water

Ingredients:

1/2 cucumber
1 lemon
A few sprigs of mint
Water

Directions:

Wash and slice the cucumber and lemon, and rinse the mint. Place cucumber and lemon into a water jug.

Fill the jug with water, mix, and leave to steep overnight in the fridge. You can keep topping off the jug with more water for a few days until you need to change the fruits/herbs.

What does it do?

Nutritionist Meryl Pritchard of Kore Kitchen says that lemons help to kick-start digestion while flushing out toxins. The vitamin C will also brighten up your skin.

Recipe courtesy of Nichola Whitehead, RD.

Strawberry Basil Water

Ingredients:

10 fresh whole strawberries
2 lemon wedges
Freshly squeezed juice from 1/2 lemon
Handful of fresh basil leaves

Directions:

Start with 1 gallon of purified water (room temperature is fine). Combine the other ingredients in a glass container, stir gently with a wooden spoon, and refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours to allow all ingredients to mingle. Serve and enjoy.

What does it do?

Strawberries are high in antioxidants, potassium, vitamin C and many other nutrients. Basil has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Recipe courtesy of Dr. Edward Group, DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM.

Ginger Mint Water

Ingredients:

1 cucumber, thinly sliced
2 inches fresh, peeled ginger root
2 lemon/lime wedges
10 to 12 fresh mint leaves
Pinch of Himalayan salt
A dash of peppermint essential oil

Directions:

Same as above.

What does it do?

Ginger can be used to ameliorate a variety of ailments like an upset stomach and a sore throat because of its anti-inflammatory properties.

Recipe courtesy of Edward Group.

Mango, Lemon, and Pineapple Water

Ingredients:

Pineapple and mango, cubed (enough to fill 1/3 of a glass)
A few lemon slices
Water

Directions:

Combine all ingredients and serve.

What does it do?

Pineapple is chock-full of bromelain, an anti-inflammatory enzyme. Mangoes help improve digestion to help de-bloat flatten your tummy as well.

Recipe courtesy of Eat This, Not That.

 

 

 

That is all for now.

 

Wishing you a happy and healthy week!

 

 

 

The 4 Pathways of Detox

The 4 pathways of detoxing

Happy Monday everyone, and happy New years eve!  This year flew by! Since the holidays are just about over, it’s time to start the new year talking about detoxing!  Last week I mentioned our 21 day detox group session beginning January 7th!  If you are interested and want more info, we will be placing orders this week!  Let me know if you have any questions!

Detoxifying is really something we should do on a daily basis, since toxins are LITERALLY everywhere.  But it’s a fabulous thing to do at the beginning of the year to start the new fresh, and with a clean slate.  Many people do goal setting and new year’s resolutions.  Many to lose weight or to get healthier.  Well, in order to affectively lose weight you really MUST detox.
Why?

Fat LOVES toxins.  So diet and exercise alone cannot make you lose weight if you are toxic, and most of us are.

This is why we are doing the 21 day group cleanse! This comes with a private FB group to help you along the way!

If you missed the live video describing the detox watch here: (click image)

Because we are surrounded on a daily basis, it is important that our pathways of elimination are always working for us!  It’s going to get a little personal today, so put on your seat belts we will be talking about elimination!The legend goes that at one time the most important person in the ancient Chinese emperor’s court was the “royal physician”, who had the very critical task of inspecting the emperor’s morning bowel movement.  Sign me up for that job? …..

The medical doctor’s role was dedicated to creating the emperor’s daily meal plan and itinerary of activities based on his daily inspection.  Regardless of the legend being true, this coincides with the tenants of traditional Chinese medicine that we can observe so much about our health from our OWN bodies. For one, our stool is an important indicator for our overall health.  It’s actually one of the only things we can actually examine to determine where our health is headed.  The signs of congested elimination are literally in front of your eyes every single day.

Truth of the matter is, when your pathways of elimination are congested, your body cannot get rid of toxins such as chemicals that interfere with the production, release, transport, metabolism or elimination of the body’s natural hormones which can occur through air, water, soil, food and consumer products.    Now pile on the issues of mismanaged blood sugar ( a good majority of us) and adrenal fatigue (yup all of us again at some point), which further interferes with your body’s natural ability to clean out it’s own system, and you’ve got a monopoly free pass collect 100 dollars to hormone imbalance.

Your stool isn’t the only way your body gets rid of toxins though.  There are four other pathways that also deal with elimination and they are all interconnected.

1.  Liver and Large Intestine
These are your internal garbage processors, compacting and moving the big stuff such as digested food, toxins, chemicals and hormonal waste every single day!  
The liver’s primary purpose is to convert fat-soluble toxins (most) into water soluble waste through at two step process so that your body can excrete them via sweat, urine and bowel movements.  Hormones are fat soluble because that allows them to stay in the body longer.

Phase 1– the liver breaks them down using nutrients like glutathione, B vitamins, and C vitamins (from the food you eat).  This breakdown causes free radicals which are toxic, and so phase 2 is also vital and needs to happen.

Phase 2- Selenium and amino acids in the liver combine these free radicals and make them harmless and water soluble.

It then enters into the gallbladder, mixes with bile and leaves the body via the large intestine.  The last substance needed is adequate fiber so the large intestine can bind the waste and make sure it leaves quickly.

** Now an important point here, you can’t just supplement with these nutrients and expect the pathways to clear.  These nutrients don’t become bioavailable when you take them as typical supplements, if you eat them as they naturally occur in foods, the body can easily recognize them.  It’s important to consume enough and use whole food supplementation as needed to fill in the gaps and support both phases of detoxification.  If you don’t complete phase 2 because of a lack of nutrients, you’re exposing yourself to a greater degree of toxins.

When you wake up in the morning, have a glass of water and feel the urge to have a bowel movement within about 20 minutes of waking, this is successful elimination in this pathway.  If it’s longer than that, or if you require a cup of coffee to get things rolling your are constipated!. Even if you go later in the day. The reason being is because the liver stops working around 3am in it’s cycle, so by the time you wake up, you have been clearing yesterday’s waste for the past 12 hours.  If you don’t get proper elimination, the toxins and other chemicals work their way back through and become reabsorbed through the bloodstream.  This can lead to menstrual, fertility, libido, and chronic conditions.

2. Skin
Your skin is your largest organ!  That’s why products in your home were so important to be clean.  It has to handle whatever the large intestine and liver are unable to eliminate.  It does so by exerting waste, by sweat. Have you ever noticed when you are stressed or upset, the sweat from your armpits smells foul?  That’s a sign your pathways of elimination are congested and your skin is trying to expel it.
Cystic acne, rosacea, eczema, often are all signs the other systems haven’t been working well!

3. Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system is a network of organs, nodes ducts, and vessels that produce and transport lymph, a fluid made up of white blood cells.  This system sweeps up metabolic waste, toxins, dead cells, and excess fluid from your organs and deposits them into your bloodstream, which eventually transfers them to the liver and large intestine.  When it’s clogged, the  organs and parts of the body that deposit waste into it become backed up too.

When it works efficiently, your lymphatic system directs white blood cells to germs and other invaders and helps you fight off infections.  When congested, it still attracts these bugs and transports them throughout your body, dumping them into the bloodstream, putting at a greater risk.
You can also experience allergies, high blood pressure, chronic sinusitis and can develop autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus with clogged lymphatics.

4. Kidneys
Just like the liver, the kidneys process toxins all the time and are very sensitive to chronic exposure.  Instead of eliminating through the bowels, it’s elimination is through the urinary system.  An over abundance of chemicals, hormones and low numbers of minerals and electrolytes leading to dehydration puts this organ and relationship out of balance, and can also lead to kidney stones, low back pain and infections.  

So there it is…..
I would also state that our oral health and respiratory system and lungs are also areas that are pretty vulnerable to these toxins.
Oil pulling is a great option here!

 

 

Oil of the WEEK.

On the spotlight this week is DoTerra’s Grapefruit!
Commonly known for its sour and tangy taste, grapefruit is the rotund, yellow-orange fruit of an evergreen citrus tree. Grapefruit essential oil is derived from the rind of this fruit and is cherished for its many uses and benefits. The aroma of Grapefruit essential oil matches the citrus and fruity flavors of its origin and provides an invigorating and energizing aroma. Diffused Grapefruit oil invokes a sense of clarity, and due to its main chemical component, limonine, can help to uplift mood. With its powerful cleansing properties, Grapefruit oil is valued for its skin care benefits and ability to promote the appearance of clear, healthy-looking skin when applied topically. When used internally, Grapefruit oil can help support a healthy metabolism.*

Grapefruit Essential Oil Uses and Benefits

  1. Teenage years can be rough, and with constant blemishes making their appearance, feelings of self-consciousness can quickly add to already existing frustrations. For a simple way to help your teenager improve the appearance of blemishes, add Grapefruit essential oil to his or her nightly facial routine (avoid sun exposure for up to 12 hours after applying any citrus oil topically).
  2. Are you trying to shed some extra weight or stick to a diet? Use Grapefruit essential oil to help you meet your goals. Add a few drops of Grapefruit oil into a diffuser to help increase motivation.
  3. The fruity and spry flavor of Grapefruit essential oil makes a great addition to a variety of different foods and drinks. To enliven the flavor of your smoothies and also give your body the benefits of Grapefruit oil,* add one to two drops of Grapefruit essential oil to your favorite smoothie. If you are looking for a good way to add a brightness of flavor to your morning, make an Acai Bowl for breakfast and add a drop or two of Grapefruit oil.
  4. Grapefruit is well-known for its ability to support a healthy metabolism.* Support your metabolism at home or on-the-go by adding one to two drops of Grapefruit oil to your water. This essential oil addition to your drinks will also give your water a flavor-filled and vitalizing boost. Take the benefits of Grapefruit oil wherever you go by carrying it in your purse or briefcase and adding it your water at restaurants or at work.
  5. Enjoy a soothing massage with Grapefruit essential oil. For a good pick-me-up after a long day, apply Grapefruit oil and massage in needed areas. The Grapefruit oil will leave behind a light, uplifting fragrance and will also help improve the appearance of blemishes where it is applied. For the areas massaged, avoid UV light for up to 12 hours after applying citrus oils topically.
  6. Improve the relationship with your body by giving it some essential oil care. Rub one to two drops of Grapefruit essential oil on your stomach to help you have a healthy emotional relationship with your body.
  7. Push the tense feelings away with the aromatic and topical benefits of Grapefruit essential oil. If you are feeling tense or down, rub one to two drops of Grapefruit oil onto your neck and shoulders for positive vibes. Grapefruit essential oil will help promote feelings of vitality and will uplift mood.
  8. Make sure to spread the effects of Grapefruit essential oil to your entire body by adding it to your body scrubs and body wash. This essential oil addition will emit an invigorating scent and help smooth the skin.
  9. Often times, reading or studying for long periods of time can cause the mind to wander and lose focus. For those moments when you need a boost to help you study or you are wanting to finish up the last pages of a book, diffuse Grapefruit essential oil. Diffusing Grapefruit oil will help promote a sense of focus while studying or reading.
  10. For a citrus diffuser blend you can’t get enough of, put two drops of Grapefruit, two drops of Juniper Berry, and one drop of Wild Orange in a diffuser. Limonene, the main chemical constituent of both Wild Orange and Grapefruit oils, will produce the uplifting aroma emitted from this citrus blend, while Juniper Berry’s woody scent will create a calming and grounding effect. You will love the stimulating effects of this amazing blend.

Fun Fact
The name “grapefruit” is attributed to the fruits growing in clusters that resemble those of grapes.

 

 

 Try this great DETOX SALAD!

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 cups kale
  • 2 cups broccoli florets
  • 2 cups brussels sprouts, roughly chopped
  • 2 cups red cabbage, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup carrots, roughly chopped
  • ½ cup fresh parsley
  • ½ cup almonds
  • 1 to 2 Tbsp sunflower seeds

For the dressing:

  • 3 Tbsp olive oil
  • ½ cup lemon juice (or juice of two lemons)
  • 1 Tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and grated
  • 3 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp. honey (or maple syrup)
  • ¼ tsp. sea salt

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Using a food processor, process all the veggies up to the parsley until finely chopped and mix together in a large bowl. This may take a few batches.
  2. Add almonds to the food processor and pulse, until roughly chopped, and mix in with the salad along with the sunflower seeds.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the dressing and drizzle over top of the salad OR place in a jar and use as needed. Enjoy!