Tips to a healthier you !

Whether facing an active health crisis, or just wanting to improve general well being, the body is it's own healer, if we stop pouring gasoline on the fire.

A cleaned up body is the foundation of good health. We often overlook the simplest of remedies, believing it is so simple and cheap, it couldn’t possibly help. Good health it does take work on our part, and is an empowering step to take.

The health recovery process can be summed up simply: 

Hydration

 Fasting

 Using a binder

 Nutrition 

Probiotics

Fasting

Fasting is a natural way to use the body’s own innate ability to detoxify and clean itself. It is a cheap, effective, and non-toxic path to help recover one’s health.

Fasting allows the intestinal tract to rest, and gives the immune and elimination system a chance to focus on clean up duty.

There are various types of fast - dry fasting, water fast, juice fast, etc. Follow whichever suits you. They all work. A 24 hour fast is good. Longer is better. Do what is most comfortable for you. No need to be miserable.

If you are having health symptoms, the body is in overdrive trying to protect itself, and is asking for your help. Cool that fire through fasting for a day or two.

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Fasting may not resolve all issues by itself, but a cleaner body is better able to protect itself, and respond to additional treatment.

 Water Fast - Dehydration is the stealthy culprit behind many health issues. A dehydrated body cannot perform even the basic function when it's crying out for a water. Drink one-half your body-weight in OUNCES of water. Add any one of the following to aid the cleansing process - apple cider vinegar, a bit of baking soda, liquid chlorophyll, fresh lemon juice, fresh lime juice, fresh ginger, raw honey,

cayenne pepper, ginger, a bit of Himalayan pink salt, etc. If you can get fresh coconut water, or packaged coconut water without additives, that is liquid gold. Drink up!

 Juice/Smoothie Fast - Some people choose to use freshly pressed juice during a fast - fruit, greens, or other vegetables are fine. Good choices are watermelon, cucumber, celery, carrots, beets, apples, grapes, pineapple, ginger, limes/lemon, etc.

Note: A juice/greens fast is best done on days off from work. There is a cleansing action that happens initially with juicing until the body adjusts, particularly with celery and beets. You may visit the restroom more often, or you may experience diarrhea. It does not mean you are sick/infected. If this happens, use small amounts of these items, or drink smaller amounts of the juice until your body adjusts.

Note: Temporarily suspend supplement intake during a fast because they must usually be taken with food, and it diverts the body’s energy from cleanup duty to breaking down and converting them into bio-available components for the body to use.

 Bone Broth/Vegetable Broth - Some people prefer to use bone broth/vegetable broth loaded up with celery, garlic, onions, and horseradish for their fast. There are millions of recipes online on how to make bone broth. Miso can be added to the bowl just before consuming for probiotics. DO NOT boil Miso!

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 Pure grapefruit juice can be used during a fast, and is an amazing liver cleanser. Suggested intake - one half the daily water intake in ounces, and the rest in grapefruit juice. Grapefruit juice is available at Walmart for $3, for now. Do not use Ruby Red and the additional crap it has. Grapefruit juice is not the most pleasant tasting as it is sour tasting. Not a people favorite.

 Detoxify during a fast - Liquid milk thistle, dandelion, artichoke, burdock, black radish, Chanca Piedra, etc. Can be added to a little water/juice.

 Binders - Take a binder to help bind up and remove toxic stuff from the body. When using binders the guideline is - take on an empty stomach at least 2 hours before/2 hours after consuming a meal, juice, or broth. Binders to use - eat lots of fresh apples daily, diatomaceous earth, activated charcoal, bentonite clay, etc.

Note: It’s important to drink lots of water to prevent constipation.

Breakdown toxic buildup

There will often be a buildup of undigested proteins, gluten fragments, pathogens, dead cells, scar tissue in the body. An effective way to break down, dissolve, and expel this toxic stuff is to use enzymes.

 Serrapeptase, Nattokinase, Lumbrokinase, Bromelain, or Papain taken on empty stomach are all good at dissolving and removing unwanted matter.

 Sunshine - If you live in an area with sunshine, appreciate the gift you have. Go outside into the sunshine, in modest but minimal clothing. Allow the sun to bathe and regenerate your body with life saving Vitamin D.

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AT THE END OF THE FAST

There are many things you cannot control. Whatever you are putting in your mouth is serving as fire kindle for your health issues, and your food is definitely within your control.

During the fast, take a critical look at diet. Remove anything processed - junk food, fast food, flours/gluten products, sugar, toxic oils and fats, sweeteners, additives, etc. With some exceptions, if it did not grow naturally on a tree or in the ground, get rid of it. (Of course in times of a famine, you would eat whatever you can get.)

What you should be left with is a relatively cleaned up diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs & spices, and organic meats/eggs/cheese. This is not a mandate. Just suggestions for cleaning up the diet. The final determination is yours to make.

Reintroduce food. Add back supplements particularly a good quality

multivitamin, Vit D3 & K2, magnesium, Iodine, Vitamin C, MSM.

(Check in with the forum for suggested supplements to address specific issues.)

Sprouts/Microgreems - These are nutrition powerhouses, and are cheap and easy to grow,

Probiotics - Increase probiotic intake by using a good quality probiotic supplement, homemade kefir, home brewed kombucha, miso, homemade yogurt, homemade kimchee, homemade sauerkraut, etc

Omega 3 - most seafood are likely contaminated with radioactive isotopes from the Fukishima meltdown, plus mercury and other contaminants. I am not convinced that seafood is a clean source of Omega 3. So a cleaner alternative might be Chia seeds.

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Digestive enzymes - with the poor nutrition in contemporary foods sources, the body is often low on enzymes for digestion. Take either a digestive enzyme with meals, or Swedish/Digestive Bitters (Warning - bitters is nasty tasting).

Cook regularly with lots of spices and good oils - onions, garlic, celery, ginger, horseradish, cayenne pepper, black pepper, curry powder, cilantro, thyme, rosemary, coconut oil, basil, parsley, tarragon, fennel, etc.

Wrapup

These measures seem too cheap and easy, so are often dismissed. But the beauty of it is, they are powerful and readily available to everyone.

Whatever you put in your mouth largely determines the state of your health. So your health condition is largely a direct result of your own actions. The good news is, you can change that dynamic whenever you choose.

Take charge of your health. Learn to your own research. Once you get the hang of it, you will find yourself relying less and less on doctors. You will assign them their proper role, that of an advisor.

Doctors have a place in emergency situations (bad accidents, arterial wounds, etc). Most health conditions are not emergencies. And most people are totally capable of reversing their health conditions. But they must put in the work. No one is/can be more interested in your health than you.

Not every remedy will work 100%. But that is no worse than what allopathic medicine offers an exponentially higher cost.

There are tons of inexpensive health and nutrition books on Amazon that are useful, plus millions of health and wellness websites. We are not lacking information. We are lacking the personal responsibility and commitment to our own health.

What is the benefit of Seamoss?

Chondrus crispus—commonly called Irish moss or carrageen moss —is a species of red algae which grows abundantly along the rocky parts of the Atlantic coast of Europe and North America. In its fresh condition this protist is soft and cartilaginous, varying in color from a greenish-yellow, through red, to a dark purple or purplish-brown. The principal constituent is a mucilaginous body, made of the polysaccharide carrageenan, which constitutes 55% of its dry weight.

Irish Seamoss has so many wonderful benefits that they can’t all be listed in one article. So, we’ve narrowed it down and I’m excited to unveil my top 10 benefits of seamoss.

We consume Irish Seamoss regularly, and after extensive research, I believe that anyone with a heartbeat should give it a go.

“God made seamoss and it does everything”

Dr Sebi

Carrageenan is commonly used as a food additive for its binding, thickening and stabilizing effects. It’s used in food products including almond milk, coconut milk, hemp milk, creamers, yogurt, canned soups and frozen pizzas.

Carrageenan is also an active ingredient in some conventional medicine solutions.

Sea moss is also valued for its algal polysaccharide, which is extracted from carrageenan and has medicinal and health-related properties. Studies propose that algal polysaccharide aids:

• immunity enhancement

• antioxidant effects

• antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities

• tumor inhibition

• hypertension prevention

• high cholesterol prevention

• blood sugar control

In addition to its carrageenan and algal polysaccharide content, sea moss is also rich in:

• proteins

• peptides

• amino acids

• lipids

• pigments

The potential health benefits of this red algae are linked to its neuroprotective and immune-boosting constituents.

Benefits

There are some potential benefits of sea moss, but the studies evaluating these effects have been done in labs or on animals. There certainly isn’t a clear understanding of how Irish moss may improve the health of humans, but the nutrient content in the seaweed is promising.

1. Aids Digestion

Irish moss works as a prebiotic, allowing it to influence the composition of our gut microbiota. It’s also a mucilaginous food that has a sticky texture and helps stool move through the gastrointestinal tract more easily.

In a study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, rats fed Irish moss showed significant improvements in gut microbiota composition.

Researchers suggest that, based on these findings, sea moss may help improve gut health and immune modulation. It was able to increase the population of beneficial bacteria and decrease harmful bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae.

2. May Boost Neurological Health

Studies suggests that red seaweed may have neuroprotective effects because of its ability to alleviate oxidative stress. For this reason, researchers indicate that C. crispus may be a promising ingredient in pharmaceutical applications for potential novel anti-neurodegenerative drugs for humans.

3. Boosts Immune Function

Research published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology indicates that red seaweed enhances host immunity and suppresses the expression of what’s called “virulence factors,” or molecules that are produced by bacteria, fungi and viruses.

This study was conducted in a lab, but researchers concluded that its results suggest that components of C. crispus may play a health-promoting role in animals and humans.

4. Increases Satiety

When combined with liquids, Irish moss has a gel-like texture that is thick and sticky. It acts as a soluble fiber that helps keep you full longer.

Adding Irish moss to meals may increase satiety and, therefore, possibly cut down on the amount of calories you consume. There isn’t scientific evidence to back this up, but the idea is that sea moss works similarly to chia seeds and aloe in this respect.

5. May Have Anti-Tumor Effects

There are some lab studies suggesting that Irish moss has anti-tumor effects that are due to its algal polysaccharide content. Researchers don’t have definitive answers about why this occurs in lab trials, but they indicate that it may be due to polysaccharide’s ability to enhance the body’s immunity and improve its antioxidant activity.

6. Rich in Iodine

A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that iodine in C. crispus is high and bioavailable. Both low and high iodine intake levels can increase the risk of disease, so it’s important to consume the right amount.

Iodine rich foods support thyroid function, healthy metabolism and brain health. Your thyroid, for instance, must have high enough iodine levels to make thyroxine, a key hormone that works to regulate important, everyday biochemical reactions.

Thyroid disorders that may arise from low-iodine levels can lead to symptoms like sluggish appetite, heart issues, mood changes, weight fluctuations and appetite changes.

7. May Boost Skin Health

Sea moss is used in skin care products because of its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also rich in nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A and magnesium.

Using sea moss topically may help hydrate and soothe your skin, while fighting damage and infections. There isn’t any scientific research on the benefits of Irish moss for skin, but its vitamin and mineral content alone is promising for promoting

Why hire a wellbeing coach?

People tend to hire health coaches to help them with a broad variety of health issues, such as weight loss, stress reduction, the management of chronic conditions, improving diet and exercise, tobacco cessation, addiction, and adjusting to a life-altering health event, like a heart attack. There is overlap between what a health coach does and what a life coach does, but a life coach’s domain is much broader, and includes career issues, executive coaching, and professional effectiveness.

A health coach is a certified fitness professional that helps individuals build positive and lasting lifestyle change. Health coaches focus on building confidence and self-awareness, managing and relieving stress, setting healthy sleep patterns, improving nutrition, and creating healthy habits.

If you are serious about changing your lifestyle habits, a health coach can give you the tools you need to follow through and improve your nutrition, sleep, stress management, and physical activity.

Here are our top five reasons to hire a health coach:

1. They will help you set realistic goals.

A resolution is not a realistic goal. Resolutions often address a symptom rather than an underlying problem—focusing on bodyweight versus eating habits.

Health coaches recommend setting SMART goals: goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. They all agree that it’s best to start small and to make one change at a time.

• “Pick the smallest change that will give you the biggest impact; not the other way around.”

• “List a goal that can be accomplished in just one week: veggies at lunch for five days, meal prep for the week, one more glass of water each day.”

• “Take a look at your end goal and break it down into smaller goals. List those in order of ease to accomplish, then tackle each goal one at a time.”

2. They will keep you accountable.

If you set goals that are measurable, it is easy to monitor your progress and stay accountable. Health coaches are invested in your success and will help you determine the best way to stay on track with your goals.

We define a realistic frequency as well as how the client will be accountable to that habit, like tracking calories burned through exercise with a wearable device.

3. They will introduce you to healthy ways to relieve stress and anxiety.

The trick is to disconnect and change your scenery. Leave your phone at the house while you walk the dog or take the first five minutes when you get home to meditate and focus on your breath. Our lives are full of distractions and, for many of us, our ‘normal’ is to constantly juggle priorities and tasks. We don’t give ourselves the time to reduce the ‘noise,’ focus on the moment, or even the mental space to re-group and re-ground ourselves. There are many ways to cope but it may take time to find the mechanism that you consider a relief to stress or anxiety.

4. They will help you see beyond the scale and improve your confidence.

Everyone is obsessed with the number on the scale, but there is more to it than those pounds!

Tracking weight isn’t the best use of your time or energy and it will drag your self-image down. Working with a health coach to identify the right numbers to track for you is the best way to improve your self-image over the long-term.

Log three things about yourself each day that made you feel good. For example: I woke up early today, I drank more water, I wore the blue shirt I love, I rocked the presentation.

5. They will help you achieve positive change. 

Pick one thing you can easily change this week and do it 100%. Celebrate it! Next week, add one more small, easily attainable change while you maintain the first change. Continue this process, letting each positive change snowball into the next, leading you into your end goal of a healthier, sustainable life.

Focus on the positives, build yourself up, and remember your self-worth. What are you good at? What are you proud you can do that you couldn’t before? What is something you overcame today? What would your friends or family say are your strengths? Everyone has things to improve upon but that doesn’t de-value all that is great about you. Find the small victories in every day so you’re empowered to crush your challenges!

What is the difference between a psychologist, a health coach, a physician, a nutritionist and a counsellor.

A psychologist is a mental health professional who uses psychological evaluations and talk therapy to help people learn to better cope with life and relationship issues and mental health conditions.

A health coach is your personal health cheerleader, guide and partner. They help you implement lifestyle changes to improve your physical health. The service is often available through corporate wellness programs. Your doctor may also recommend health coaching if you have a chronic health issue like diabetes.

A doctor in the field of medicine is someone who has graduated from medical school and is a holder of an MD or does.

Nutritionists typically work with individuals or populations to teach them more about general nutrition, food and health. Their focus is on food behavior. This includes working with individuals to devise and implement meal plans that improve the individual's or family's nutrition.

A counsellor is a professional who has been trained in counselling. Counselling is a type of talk therapy that aims to help people work through any problems or difficulties they may be having in their lives.