Megan Rand

Author: Ginger Newtrition

  • Natural Lice Remedies

    Natural Lice Remedies

     

    Today we are talking about home remedies for lice since this went around our house a while ago! We went out and bought the store-bought lice removal kit right away because we wanted the nit brush that comes inside. But, unfortunately, the shampoo that comes in those kits to get rid of lice are extremely toxic. At the time of the lice outbreak I was pregnant.   I am also a lover of all holistic things, so I had to find some natural remedies to use at our house!

     

    The exciting news for me was that our natural nontoxic remedy actually worked better than the shampoo and we never had a reoccurrence.  Many other families using the shampoos were dealing with the lice a month later and came over to ask for some of my natural supplies!!

     

    So, let’s get to it.

     

    Supplies:

    Apple cider vinegar

    Delousing brush

    Coconut oil or olive oil

    Tea tree essential oil

    Lavender essential oil

    Peppermint essential oil (if not pregnant)

    Rosemary essential oil (if not pregnant)

     

    Apple Cider Vinegar

     

    The first thing I gathered was Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). You can use a diluted solution of half water and half ACV. We poured this over our heads the first night. This helps detach the nits (eggs) that stick to the hairs. Let the ACV dry and then comb it out with the special de-lousing brush. The combing is very important and must be down thoroughly. Go through the hair section by section clipping the rest back out of the way making sure the nits are gone completely. I watched a youTube video on how to do it! My daughter could not go back to school until the nits were completely gone and it took me three hours to comb through her hair!

     

    Coconut Oil Concoction

     

    At nighttime we slept with a coconut oil or olive oil concoction on our hair that will suffocate the lice.

     

    1 cup coconut oil (or more as needed depending on how much hair you have!)

    3-4 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil

    3-4 drops Lavender Essential Oil

    3-4 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

    3-4 drops Rosemary Essential Oil

     

    Mix the coconut oil with tea tree, lavender, peppermint, and rosemary essential oils. (I left out the peppermint and rosemary oils since I was pregnant and it still worked for me.) Coat your hair with this starting at the roots since this is the most important area. Cover your hair with a shower cap and keep this on your head overnight at least for 8 hours.

     

    We continued this process every other day for a week and then again a week later. Make sure to follow up a week later since the eggs can live for a week and if you miss just 1 you might have to start the process all over again! In addition, we combed for nits every day for about a week.

     

    Lots of Laundry

     

    The other important step is to wash EVERYTHING in your home. I washed linens and pillowcases every morning for the first week. You can also put toys and stuffed animals in a sealed bag and put them away for two weeks. Lice cannot live away from the human host for this long.

     

    Preventative

     

    If you get a note from your child’s school that lice is going around, you can also help prevent your family from getting it. Put a few drops of tea tree oil in your shampoo to use on a daily basis. You can also use the coconut oil concoction occasionally to help prevent a recurrence. And as a bonus your hair will feel amazing!!

     

    So, I hope that this never happens to your family but if it does, now you know that there is a natural remedy that works!

     

     

  • How to Make Liquid Cod Liver Oil Palatable

    How to Make Liquid Cod Liver Oil Palatable

     

    Who takes liquid fish oil? How do you get it down? If you are the kind of person who just puts it on a spoon and swigs it, I am impressed with you! I switched over to Rosita Real Foods during pregnancy and had always taken capsules prior to that. I was told by a friend that Rosita Real Foods was so clean and smooth that I wouldn’t mind the taste at all….

     

    Not true for me!! My body immediately rejected the fish oil and it wasn’t a pretty sight! So, I had to come up with a way to trick myself into taking the fish oil and keeping it down.

     

    Here is the fishy-flavor cover-up concoction that I came up with that works great to get my Cod Liver down everyday:

     

    Liquid Cod Liver Oil Cover-Up Concoction

     

    1 tsp Rosita Real Foods Cod Liver Oil

    1 tsp Chlorofresh liquid chlorophyll

    1 tsp cranberry concentrate

    Juice of 1/4 lemon

     

    Wondering what the benefits of these ingredients are?

     

    Rosita Real Foods Cod Liver Oil (you can get it here) 

    This is a great source of fat soluble vitamins (namely A and D) in their most bioavailable form (retinol and cholecalciferol). It contains a complete range of fats including Omega-3, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 11. It is a rich source of Omega 3’s EPA and DHA which are essential fatty acids meaning that our body cannot make them and we must consume them from food. They are also great for a baby’s or child’s developing brain! I like this brand because it is unrefined, unprocessed, never heated or exposed to chemicals.

     

    Liquid Chlorophyll

    I like to add liquid chlorophyll because it is great for detox as well as helping to bind to and slowly get rid of heavy metals. It is known as an internal deodorizer so maybe if you stick to this habit long enough deodorant will be a thing of the past!

     

    Cranberry Concentrate

    Cranberry concentrate is a staple ingredient in the Detox Elixir that are a part of my seasonal detoxes. It is great to flushing the lymphatic system and therefore beneficial to detoxification and immune system support.

     

    Lemon

    Another ingredient that can help support your liver and detoxification. Not only is this a great way to support your digestion in the morning, it is also the key ingredient to covering up the fishy taste!

     

    So, for all of you pregnant mama’s out there trying to focus on nutrient density but struggling to keep anything down, give this little recipe a try to get some more nutrients in to support your baby’s developing brain!

     

    Periscope Video

    Want to watch an amusing video of my daughter making this drink and trying it for the first time on periscope?  Let’s just say she doesn’t find it quite as palatable as I do!! You can watch the replay of this video (and all of my periscopes!) at katch.me/Gnewtrition.

     

    [image url=”http://gingernewtrition.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Screen-Shot-2015-12-10-at-12.53.25-PM-300×240.png” raw=”true” alignment=”center” margin_left=”0″ margin_right=”0″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ link=”https://katch.me/GNewtrition/v/717c5cbf-7251-3661-bb11-0ff2490cba69″ target=”_parent” width=”300″ height=”240″]

     

  • Medicinal Teas for Adrenal and Overall Health

    Medicinal Teas for Adrenal and Overall Health

     

    When we think of supplementation, we often think of pills, capsules and tinctures. But another method of introducing a variety of nutrients and unlocking the healing powers of nature is by consuming herbal teas. Medicinal teas have many different uses, but today we are going to talk about how tea can help support mineral balance, detoxification and support the immune system.

     

    Below is a list of teas that I keep in my cabinet and rotate as needed. Don’t get overwhelmed by how many options you have! Just start by adding one new tea at a time and eventually you will have an arsenal to lean on when you need them. My favorite way to consume most of my teas is to blend them in my Vitamix with some coconut oil, collagen, ginger, cinnamon and honey!

     

    Nettle Tea

    Nettle tea is loaded with minerals that are essential for restoring your adrenal health and is also helpful to combat inflammation. I have been drinking nettle tea consistently during my pregnancy because it is easy to become depleted of essential minerals while growing another human inside of you. Although nettle tea is not the only change I have made, this pregnancy has been much easier than my first!

     

    Licorice Root Tea

    Licorice root tea can be very helpful if you have low cortisol levels (your stress hormone).   Low cortisol levels are common in the later stages of adrenal dysfunction. If you have checked your salivary cortisol pattern with functional lab work, than you might be aware that certain times of the day your cortisol levels are struggling to reach the functional range. At this time of day, licorice tea can be used to help boost your mood and energy.   This tea is not for everyone and is contraindicated for those with high blood pressure.

     

    It is important to note that it is always necessary to keep trying to understand the underlying cause of any imbalance or symptoms. In the meantime using medicinal teas as a temporary boost can help you give you the energy or focus you need to keep working on your health.

     

    Ginger Turmeric Tea

    This tea is one of my favorites (as maybe you could have guessed by my business name). Ginger and turmeric are anti-inflammatory, powerful antioxidants and support the immune system. Drinking daily ginger turmeric tea was an important part of my protocol to restore adrenal function.

     

    You can easily make it yourself by steeping the ginger and turmeric roots in boiling water. I can usually find ginger root year round at the grocery store, but turmeric seems to depend on the time of the year. If you do not have access to the roots, feel free to substitute with powdered ginger or turmeric. I chop a 1” section of ginger root and1/4” section of turmeric root, add boiling water, and let steep for 5-10 minutes.

     

    Chaga Tea

    Chaga is a mushroom that is traditionally used in Chinese medicine. It is excellent for detoxification as it nourishes kidneys and liver. It is also loaded with anti-oxidants and minerals as well as vitamins including calcium, iron, manganese, and vitamins B, K, and D2.

     

    This my favorite recipe for drinking Chaga Tea:

     

    Chaga Chai Tea

     

    2 Tbsp chaga mushroom powder (I get mine here)

    2 cups hot water or coconut/almond milk

    ½-1 Tbsp coconut oil or ghee

    ½” ginger root

    1 Tbsp collagen

    ½-1 tsp cinnamon and nutmeg

    1 tsp-1Tbsp raw manuka honey

     

    1) Mix the chaga powder, hot water or milk substitute and coconut oil in a mug and let steep for a few minutes while you prepare the rest of your ingredients.

     

    2) Blend the ginger, collagen, cinnamon, nutmeg, honey and chaga tea mixture together on high in a blender that is made for hot liquids*. Blend until your tea is smooth and frothy!

     

    *It can be dangerous to use a blender that is not approved for hot beverages since they can explode and burn you!

     

    Dandelion Root Tea

    Dandelion root is my favorite tea to support detoxification of the liver and kidneys! As well as helping to remove toxins, dandelion root tea also helps to re-establish your electrolyte balance. Since I don’t love the taste of the tea plain, I always mix this into a tea concoction just like I do with the chaga! Please make sure that you are also drinking plenty of water throughout the day after your dandelion root tea since it is a diuretic. I avoid dandelion root tea while pregnant and nursing because I do not want to force my body into detoxification sending unwanted toxins and metals into my milk supply or to my baby! Also, do not consume if you have a ragweed allergy.

     

    Burdock Root Tea

    This is another tea that despite its somewhat undesirable flavor, it has some great health benefits! Burdock root supports the liver and also cleanses and purifies the blood. This is a good tea if you struggle with skin issues like rashes or eczema, as this can improve circulation and detoxification to the area.

     

    Pau D’Arco

    Pau D’Arco is great to combat candida, yeast and even aspergillus (mold) which many of my clients have found growing in their homes. It also supports the immune system. Personally, this is a tea that I rotate in to keep candida at bay.

     

    Chamomile Tea

    I used to just think of chamomile tea as a bedtime tea, but it is much more beneficial than just helping you sleep at night. Chamomile helps to soothe the gastrointestinal tract and combat inflammation, which is important for restoring gut dysfunction and optimal health. Having a small chamomile tea with some raw maunka honey before bed great for sleep, just avoid drinking so much that you are up all night running to the bathroom!

     

    Lemon Balm & Lavender

    My good friend always served me fresh lemon balm and lavender tea with leaves picked from her yard! I became obsessed with this tea and later learned why the two herbs were so helpful to relieve my stress and anxiety. Lemon balm and lavender both have a calming effect that can help reduce anxiety and depression. You can read about the many benefits of lavender from the Wellness Mama!

     

     

    Teas have so many amazing properties to offer us! Start rotating new teas into your routine to support your health journey. Let me know which ones are your favorites!

     

  • Using a Thermometer to Track Your Hormonal Health

    Using a Thermometer to Track Your Hormonal Health

    Today’s guest blog post is written by Elissa Cohen.  Elissa asked me to edit her At Home Guide to Body Temperature Testing and as I was reading through it I knew that this was something that I would want to share.  She created a very concise guide with step-by-step instructions about how to track your body temperature.  She also includes a chart making your daily tracking easy and gives you the ability to watch for patterns.  Luckily, she agreed to share this resource as well as explain why we might want to track our body temperature in the first place.

     

    [image url=”http://gingernewtrition.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Elissa.jpg” raw=”true” alignment=”left” margin_left=”0″ margin_right=”10″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ width=”216″ height=”221″] Elissa Cohen is the brains behind the amazing blog – http://www.herestothewholelife.com. She covers topics ranging from food, exercise and recipes to sleep habits and hormonal health. She is a Physical Therapist and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner in training.  She loves helping others make changes toward a healthier life, especially women who struggle with fertility issues.

     

    Check out today’s guest blog post by Elissa —>

     

    ————————————————————————–

     

    Do you only use your thermometer as a way to see if you have a fever when you are sick? If so, you are way under-utilizing that little thing you keep tucked away in the medicine cabinet.

     

    Your thermometer can be a great way to track the health of your hormones and the overall health of your body.

     

    You see, our bodies are meant to function within a specific temperature range. This is a range in which our enzymes work the most optimally. When our body temperature falls out of that range, those enzymes begin to suffer along with the functions that those enzymes perform.

     

    Measuring and tracking your body temperature can give great insight into the health of your hormones and important glands including your thyroid and adrenal glands. You can also use tracking your body temperature as a way to predict fertility (to either get pregnant, or not get pregnant!)

     

    Most of us have heard about symptoms of low thyroid function: fatigue, thinning hair, constipation, slowed thinking, cold all the time….the list goes on. But did you know that the symptoms of adrenal fatigue can sound very similar to that: brain fog, hair on extremities can be sparse, irritable GI tract, dry skin, poor temperature regulation.

     

    The symptoms of low thyroid function and adrenal fatigue can be quite similar but the adrenal component may be overlooked. And often, if the adrenals are dysfunctional, treating the thyroid will be unsuccessful in the long term because the adrenals can’t keep up.

     

    And maybe you have seen your doctor with symptoms of low thyroid function and blood tests come back negative and so your symptoms are dismissed.

     

    Well, testing your body temperature can be a great start to monitoring your health at home, and may give you some indicators that you need to dig a little deeper. When measured and tracked properly, you can notice patterns that would indicate low thyroid function, low adrenal function, and even if you are sensitive to certain foods.

     

    In my At Home Guide to Body Temperature Testing, you can learn when is the best time to measure your temperature, how to track it properly, and how to interpret the results. I also give you a graph to track a month’s worth of temperatures on to really look for patterns in your temperatures.

    [image url=”http://gingernewtrition.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/At-Home-Guide-To-Body-Temperature-Testing-238×300.png” raw=”true” alignment=”center” margin_left=”0″ margin_right=”0″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ width=”238″ height=”300″]

    So, put your thermometer to use and download my At Home Guide to Body Temperature Testing. Sign up for my newsletter at herestothewholelife.com and get my Guide in your inbox!

     

     

  • Cellulite & Detox

    Cellulite & Detox

     

    One of the cool side effects of participating in my own Seasonal Detoxes is that my cellulite disappeared!! I always attributed this to the implementation of daily dry skin brushing, but there are so many different ways during the detox that we are helping to remove toxins that are hiding in our fat cells. After the detox, I have kept the majority of the detox tools as a part of my daily routine.

     

    Cellulite is a sign that your lymphatic system is having a hard time getting rid of the excess toxins. If you are ready to cleanse out the liver, ditch the cellulite and regenerate the cells, then try some of these suggestions.

     

    1. Clean up your diet.  The most important aspect of participating in our seasonal detox is that we are eliminating processed foods and foods that you might be sensitive to.

    2. Dry skin brushing. Cellulite is toxins trapped in fat cells. By skin brushing daily, you can reduce cellulite.

    3. Exercise!!  There is not much that needs to be said about this one.  Exercising is one of the best ways to move the lymphatic system and keep things from being stagnant.

    4. Drink away your cellulite!  Make a carrot, beet and cucumber juice to help flush away the cellulite, consume fresh juices daily or add a super green like chlorophyll to your water. Greens support healthy liver flow and support the release of toxins in the body.

    5. Balance excess estrogen by eating cruciferous vegetables. If you have thyroid issues, you can lightly steam your vegetables.

    6. Add sea vegetables such as dulse, nori and kelp to your diet. These may be new foods, but they are powerhouse cellulite reducers and by adding 2 tablespoons 3 or 4 times a week, you will support your thyroid, adrenals and re-mineralize your body. (When adding sea vegetables this is a great source of iodine but make sure to also include selenium in your diet. I like to get mine from 2 brazil nuts a day!)

    7. Add a daily toxin flusher to your diet such as grapefruit, lemon, lime, apple slices and antioxidants like berries.

    8. Eat enough healthy fats like avocado, flax oil, and medium chain fatty acids like coconut oil, as the liver needs fats to flush fat.

    9. Drink tons of water and Natural Gatorade, as minerals and hydration are essential for healthy liver flow and reducing cellulite.

    I hope that these tips and tricks all work as well for you as they did for me!! The true test will be to put them into action after I have my baby 🙂

     

  • 3 Tools from a Behavioral Analyst To Make Positive Changes in Your Life

    3 Tools from a Behavioral Analyst To Make Positive Changes in Your Life

     

     

    Ever found that you really want to change something in your life, but you just can’t seem to make it happen? Or when you do get around to making a change it just seems so hard that you give up?

     

    In a previous post  I asked a Behavioral Analyst, Courtney, how to overcome resistance to change and she walked us through 5 questions to ask yourself if you are really ready to change. Once you have confirmed you are ready, try out these 3 easy tools to set yourself up for success when trying to implement new habits.

    Enriching your Environment

     

    Enriching your environment is a process of setting your environment up to support you. What is your goal? Pick an aspect of that goal and start to mold your environment around it.

    For Example: Goal – Stop eating processed sugar

    Step 1) Take the ice cream out of the freezer and stop buying more

    In behavioral terms, this is called increasing the response effort.   By removing the ice cream from the house it takes much more effort to get a hit of sugar. Now instead of fighting with yourself the measly 7 steps to get to your freezer, there is much more involved. Is the ice cream worth getting dressed, getting in the car, driving to the ice cream stand, standing in line and ordering an ice cream?

    Step 2) Find a healthy alternative to keep on hand

    Getting used to each change you implement can take anywhere from a week to 3 months. I craved everything that I removed, or changed. So instead of creating an environment of deprivation, keep a healthier version of your favorite treat in the cupboard.

    Step 3) Surround yourself with people who like activities other than pie-eating contests

    Step 4) Read articles and watch documentaries about the effects of sugar to really remind yourself of why you wanted to stop eating it

    Step 5) Find an activity that gives you the same rush of dopamine to replace sugar consumption

    After practicing this for years, I have barely any foods in my house that have added sugar, I have healthy alternatives and I have greens in my fridge. But keep this in mind,

     

    Behavioral Momentum

    Big words, easy concept. You probably already do this many times a day without realizing it.

    What it boils down to: easy-easy-hard

    Start each task, by doing the easy item first and build up your momentum to complete the harder tasks. How often have you put off cleaning the basement because it’s huge and so unpleasant? These daunting tasks can be broken down into small steps in order to get our mind and body in motion without as much resistance.

    For example:

    I am going to clean the house

    First I eat (gotta get my fuel)

    Then I do the dishes (look at me doing chores already – woo!)

    Then I pick up a few things (because hey I’m up, and it will make it easier to vacuum and its easier than deep cleaning)

    Then I get out the mop and clean (go me!)

    Structure your time so that you don’t put the hard things first, that makes your hurdles higher, and it is not the most efficient way to get things done.

     

    Premack Principle

    Stupid name I know! This is also known as “grandma’s rule”.

    Get used to hearing the words “firstà then”

    Make a list of things that you like. This will help you roll through your days, and to make these life changes more tolerable.

    The things that you use don’t have to be “reinforcing” necessarily. When I was in grad school and I hadn’t been able to clean my house in 2 weeks I’d tell myself, “first finish your homework, then do the dishes” (no I’m not insane I hate dishes, but it was a better break from homework, and I was still getting all the things done that I needed to get done).

    You’re entire day can consist of this. My day looks something like this

    First get ready for work – then eat

    First get your stuff together – then get coffee

    First start with annoying emails- then do the behaviors assessment

    First finish your ISP paperwork- then eat lunch

    .. and I talk myself through this all day long.

     

    Now that we have discussed the three tools and you are ready to put them into action, I think this is a good time to talk about positive self-talk. I am in the therapy business, so I am pretty good at talking and I am a behavior analyst, so I know the importance of reinforcement (something that makes a behavior more likely to happen in the future) .

     

    I encourage you to embrace your inner dialogue. To notice the steps that you take, to praise yourself for these steps (Look court look at you! I’m so awesome, that recipe was awful- but I cooked – go me!)

     

    It helps you to create a positive spin on life, makes your good days better, and your bad days – hey I have bad days but I notice when I’m being negative, I allow myself to do so, and I try again tomorrow. Noticing helps a lot.

     

    Guest post by Courtney Buckley

     

  • How and When to Overcome Resistance to Change

    How and When to Overcome Resistance to Change

     

    Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you “know” that you need to make a change, but just can’t seem to make it happen? Intellectually you are 100% on board, but no matter how hard you try, the shiny, new habit does not make it to your inner circles of daily ease and comfort.

     

    This resistance is strong and real so don’t underestimate it!

     

    I am so fascinated by this resistance. It seems there is a certain point of success in any new program, whether it is a new way of eating or exercise plan, where self-sabotage often sets in. During my health coach training we were warned that often session number 4 is when this resistance hits clients. They won’t show up or they will have an excuse why they can’t move forward. This is usually following steady improvements in the first 3 sessions.

     

    Resistance can show up in many forms. It can mask itself as procrastination, fear, putting others first, feeling not worthy or “never having any time”.

     

    Where is this resistance coming from? Have you ever stopped to question if you feel you are worthy of true happiness? Were you taught that happy, healthy people with an abundance of money and resources are not to be trusted? Do you identify with a certain part of yourself that you are afraid to lose? Hiding behind extra weight because it “protects” you?

     

    The first step is to recognize these deep-seeded beliefs and patterns.

     

    How do we get beyond this pattern once we have recognized it? I turned to a behavioral analyst friend for real life tips to implement into our daily lives if we find ourselves stuck in these patterns.

     

    Meet Courtney. Behavioral analyst. She has shared an amazingly raw & transparent story of her personal journey and struggle. It wasn’t easy for her to maintain a healthy lifestyle that supports her personal views all while accommodating the dietary restrictions that she discovered were essential to here health. You can read her story here.

     

    Here is the question that I proposed to Courtney, from a behavioral analyst perspective, how can we overcome resistance to change?

     

    Here are Courtney’s tips to overcoming resistance to change:

     

    Let’s Analyze the Situation

     

    Start with these questions to find out more about yourself and your position.

     

    1. What is your goal?

    I mean YOUR GOAL. Not other people’s goals for you. Mine are:

    • To reduce waste (recycle please!)
    • To be outside often
    • To enjoy my life and my friends
    • To feel good

     

    1. What are other people’s goals? The people around you. 
      • My partner or doctor says I need to get healthy
      • My mom wants to be a grandmother

     

    3.  What is the environment in which you live?

    • I have a roommate and can’t always control my environment
    • My environment is kid’s toys, kid’s snacks & a hot-dog, pizza eating husband
    • My only me-time is 10 minutes alone in the shower
    • I have a lot of control over my choices
    • I surround myself with healthy things and healthy people

     

    1. What do you like? For real…
    • I like reading, being outside, exercising, coffee, chocolate, going out to meals with my friends and being alone.

    Be honest and make the longest list possible

     

    1. And the most important part- Do YOU, do YOU, do YOU really want to change? I mean YOU.
    • Check if your goal is in YOUR GOAL statement, or if it was only in the “other people’s goals” section

     

    If the answer is “Yes, I really want to change. Yes, this is MY goal” then let’s do this!!! Read 3 Tools from a Behavioral Analyst To Make Positive Changes in Your Life and take action immediately.

     

    For those of you that discovered you don’t want to make a change, but instead it is other people want you to make a change. This is a good discovery as well and will help you understand why there is so much resistance. Let it go, the time will come when you find a change that resonates with you, and you will be ready to make it on your own terms! And then you will give it 100%.

     

    Guest Blog Post by Courtney Buckley

     

  • Severe Stomach Pain and the Elimination Diet

    Severe Stomach Pain and the Elimination Diet

    I am so excited to share this guest post blog series with you!! Courtney Buckley is a Behavior Analyst with a great personal story to share here as well as 2 follow up blog posts:

     

    1) How and When to Overcome Resistance to Change

    2) 3 Tools from a Behavioral Analyst To Make Positive Changes in Your Life

     

    Let’s jump right in!!

     

    I am Courtney. In my day job I am a behavior analyst. I help people change their behavior through scientifically proven techniques, individually tailored to each person and their environment. In my personal life, I am just like you and many others out there. I struggle to maintain a healthy lifestyle that supports the personal views I have as well as accommodating the dietary restrictions that I have discovered I need to practice.

     

    In 2008 I started having severe stomach pain. This was a curl up in a ball and cry after dinner kind of pain. A don’t walk or move unless it is towards the bathroom kind of pain. I went through many rounds of tests with my doctor, but what ended up helping me most was an elimination diet. Through systematically eliminating different foods, I found out that unnatural fats such as deep fried foods (not healthy fats from avocados or nuts) caused me all of this pain and that I could not digest fats.

     

    I embarked on a mostly fat free diet, uneducated, and unsupported. And then I turned into a bulimic.

     

    I didn’t realize that not having fat meant not being full. I didn’t realize that there were different types of fats, and my doctor didn’t really educate me about this fact. So I ate, and I ate, and I ate fat free foods and felt really horrible. I felt horrible about myself, about my situation, and about … almost everything. I had gained 10 lbs and had started running again. But while exercising I was even more insatiable. I was just a raging mess.

     

    With the bad fats removed the pain disappeared for a while, but when the pain came back it was different this time. It was kind of in the same place, but obviously not triggered by the same foods. And I was having MAJOR cravings.

     

    Back to my computer to research and the evidence pointed to sugar. It is an addictive substance, has withdrawal like symptoms, and could cause massive cravings. So I set out to eliminate sugar, which turns out to be much harder than eliminating fat (if you ask me).

     

    After removing sugar all of the pain was gone. I had peeled back another layer and was discovering how my body responds to different food. Although it took 2 years of misery and research I have found a happy balance.

     

    Conveniently, all through my food struggles I received my masters Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis. I have been able to systematically apply some of the tools of my profession to my life. And I would like to share them with you.

     

    Continue reading the series below:

    1) How and When to Overcome Resistance to Change

    2) 3 Tools from a Behavioral Analyst To Make Positive Changes in Your Life

     

     

  • My Morning Routine

    My Morning Routine

     

    You do that every morning?!

    This is what I hear whenever I share my favorite daily detox tools and personal care products. It sounds like a lot to fit into a morning, but once it becomes a part of your routine it is really very easy! Being able to do two things at the same time such as oil pull while I am taking a shower definitely helps speed up the process. I am always perfecting and changing my routine, but I will share with you what I am currently doing!

    My Morning personal care routine & detox tools:

    Lemon Elixir

    Depending on my mood, I start the day with either warm lemon water (half of a lemon in a full mug of water) or room temperature water from my Berkey. When I drink room temperature water I add a half of lemon and 1 -2 tablespoons of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). This elixir will warm up your digestion to get you ready for your day and also aids in clearing any toxins that your liver has been working to eliminate throughout the night.

    Note: Because ACV is a ferment with live bacteria, do not heat the ACV or you may kill the live bacteria – be sure to add it to your room temperature water.

    Some people have an aversion to ACV because it makes them feel nauseous. This feeling may go away in a couple of days or it could be a sign that you have a candida or bacterial overgrowth. As always, test what works best for you! If that feeling doesn’t go away or you have a tightness in your chest, ditch the ACV and stick with lemon water. I recommend checking back in every so often to see if you are able to tolerate the ACV

    After my lemon elixir, I have some ME time. I try to wake up before my daughter so that I can do some stretching or writing. This is when I do my most creative work, so I avoid checking my email or social media until later in the day!!

    Tongue Scraper

    Next I head to the bathroom and start with my tongue scraper. I have a Dr. Tung’s Tongue Scraper which is such a good investment in your health at only around $7!

    All night long your body is repairing itself and getting rid of toxins. One of the exit routes for these toxins is on your tongue. If you notice that you have a thick yellow or white coating on your tongue, this is a sign that your body is working hard to try and get rid of extra waste. You can help your body out by scraping this film off instead of swallowing it again and having to get rid of it again the next night!

    Detoxification support is not the only benefit or tongue scraping. It is also great for oral health since you are removing a significant amount of bacteria that can lead to bad breath and dental issues. In addition, by removing this coating on your tongue you improve your ability to taste food, which makes it more satisfying. By reigniting your taste buds, you eliminate the need to add more sugar, salt and excessive spice to the food to make it more flavorful.

    Oil pulling

    Next I put one tablespoon of coconut oil in my mouth and literally pull it through my teeth. You can start with a few minutes and build up to the recommended 15 – 20 minutes. This is a long time to be oil pulling, so starting small and working up is better than nothing at all!

    The antibacterial properties of the oil will pull out bacteria and fungus, alleviating inflammation, congestion and even allergies. It helps with bad breath, bleeding gums, cavities, gingivitis, plaque, sensitive teeth and will make your teeth noticeably whiter. If you’ve ever had any dental work or root canals, this is something you should commit to for at least a month. Make sure you check with your dentist if you have crowns or loose fillings as this can pull them out.

    I leave the oil in my mouth and move on to…

    Dry Skin Brushing

    Dry skin brushing is an amazing detox tool. You can find watch my Periscope on dry skin brushing here  (as well as all my other Periscope broadcasts) or read a blog post about How to Dry Skin Brush. There is an in depth, how-to explanation of how to do this.

    In general, dry skin brushing is spectacular for losing weight, diminishing cellulite, flushing the lymphatic system and overall boost to your immunity.

    You can find a dry skin brush on Amazon or your local health food store.

    After I finishing dry brushing, I hop in the shower and continue to oil pull. When I’m done pulling, I spit the oil in the trash – not in the sink – so that I don’t clog the pipes with oil!

    Brush my Teeth -The Dirt

    I brush my teeth with The Dirt, which is a trace mineral tooth brushing powder. I love this toothpaste (or powder)! My daughter uses the MCT oil toothpaste from the same company which is another option if you can’t get into using powder on your teeth. Most toothpaste (even the “healthy” ones) contain glycerin, fluoride and other chemicals so this is a fabulous alternative. You can get 15% off with this link.

    Fatface Skincare

    Fatface offers clean skin care products that use healthy fats and organic ingredients. They are chemical and toxic free.

    Every day after my shower I use the Myrrhaculous Face Cream but while I am pregnant I use the one without myrrh (you can mark that on your order and they will send you one without myrrh!). After I give my face some love, I also rub Body Butta  all over your belly and body.  Last winter the Body Butta made all the difference in my skin since, because I HATE dry skin! Last winter was my first winter back East in almost 10 years, and happened to be the longest, driest winter in a while!!!  The Body Butta is also fabulous during pregnancy to help keep form getting stretch marks (if you are wondering about other tips for stretch marks, grab my free Holistic Pregnancy Guide) .

     

    Next it is time for my breakfast and my vitamins. That sums up my morning routine. Now I am off to workout with my trainer Jocelyn (well not really off to workout since she comes to me via Skype!). Don’t forget to keep your lymphatic system moving with some daily exercise!!

     

     

  • Tools for Reducing Constipation

    Tools for Reducing Constipation

     

    As with so many symptoms that many of us experience on a daily basis, constipation is extremely common, but that does not mean that it is normal!!  Constipation is a sign that there is a deeper underlying imbalance in the body. Keeping things moving daily through the digestive tract is extremely important for our health. When waste is not removed from the body consistently we start to reabsorb the toxins, by-products and hormones.

     

    Why work to hard to support your detoxification pathways and balance your hormones if you are just going to be reabsorbing the waste you were trying to get rid of? 

     

    There can be many different causes  for constipation from a candida or bacterial overgrowth such as Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), thyroid issues to food sensitivities and more.  Every person is unique and the trigger or reason can be different as well.

     

    If constipation is a consistent problem for you, I suggest that you start investigating with some health detective work.  Start with the basics such as drinking adequate water, getting daily movement or exercise and removing the processed foods out of your diet.  Next up I suggest a basic elimination diet if you haven’t already completed one.  You will be amazed how one food that you eat daily could be the cause of your slow digestion.

     

    Finding the underlying imbalance is an important, but in the meantime here are some tips.

    Tips To Relieve Constipation:

    • Drink plenty of water and start your day with warm lemon water or Lemon Water Elixir.
    • Avoid processed foods and foods that you are sensitive to. Although this is an obvious one, sometimes we tend to forget how much our daily meals can contribute to this problem.  I have had multiple clients who find that their constipation disapears after removing a food that were sensitive to.
    • Add a good quality probiotic . By doing so, you are taking huge steps towards colon health and good bowel movements.
    • Fermented foods and cultured drinks work well. By adding fermented foods to each meal, you add vital bacteria to your gut as well as detoxify the colon.
    • Digestive enzymes help break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. If there are chronic digestive issues, you can add an enzyme or consume the Lemon Water Elixir 20 minutes before a meal to enhance your natural digestive enzymes.
    • Make sure to chew your food!! Don’t forget, digestion starts in the mouth (well actually the brain).
    • Add 1 ounce of aloe vera to your green juice or lemon water daily.
    • Mix 1 tablespoon of chia seeds with 10 ounces of water.
    • Magnesium is wonderful too. Rub the bottom of your feet with magnesium oil  or you can take in the supplement for such as with magnesium citrate. Follow the directions on the bottle.
    • Vitamin C is awesome for increasing bowel movements. I suggest you follow the instructions on the bottle. I consume 2000 mg per day with bioflavonoids
    • Walk briskly for 30 minutes daily.
    • Try 4 prunes soaked in warm water.
    • Try the squatty potty and make sure you are doing your daily squats.
    • Triphala is a great supplement you can find at your local health food store or buy online. Follow as directed on the bottle.

     

    Here are lots of ideas to get started with but you have to promise me that you will dig for the underlying cause.  If you have covered the basics and are still stuck as the reason for your constipation, look for a Functional Doctor in your area or FDN practitioner.

     

    Happy Pooping!