Megan Rand

Tag: Megan Rand

  • 5 Cheap At-Home Health Tests That Don’t Require A Doctor

    5 Cheap At-Home Health Tests That Don’t Require A Doctor

    Have you been searching for a reason that things aren’t quite right or wondering why those annoying symptoms keep popping up? Or do you feel great but are curious how you are doing on the inside? These 5 tests are a great place to start as you search for clues and gather information. The cost of functional lab work that we use to check hormones, detoxification, intestinal permeability (leaky gut) and food sensitivities can cost a lot of money! Although they are often needed, why not start with the basics? Read on to find out how to use these cheap (or free) tests in the comfort of your home. Great tools for monitoring your own progress!

    To test at home: Blood Sugar Levels

    Did you know that balanced blood sugar is the common attribute of people who live to be over 100? Keeping blood sugar from fluctuating is extremely important to health and longevity. Monitoring your levels can give insight into how your body reacts to the foods you eat.

    1)   Buy an inexpensive glucometer. Glucometers can be really expensive and the strips can be even more expensive (I pay $1.00 per test strip since I didn’t have this handy information before!). Amazon has the Tru 2 Go for only $13.25 and the test strips that go with this are $17.50/100 (17.5 cents ea).

    2)   For 7 days – test your blood sugar first thing in the morning before having any food (ideally 12 hours since your last meal) for your fasting blood sugar level. An ideal level is less than 86 mg/dL. Although this is not the number that is considered “normal” at the doctor’s office, this study shows that a person with a fasting glucose level of 90-94 has 49% greater risk of developing diabetes compared with a level less than 85. While testing, I highly suggest that you keep a detailed food journal to watch the patterns. For my more advanced testers you can check blood sugar levels 1,2 & 3 hours after a meal to see how you are reacting to a food. If you want more information about this topic Chris Kresser has an awesome article Why your “normal” blood sugar isn’t normal (Part 2).

    To test at home: Food Sensitivities

    An elimination diet is a good test to find out if you have a food sensitivity. According to Dr. Mercola, food and chemical sensitivities are estimated to affect up to 50% of Americans. Sensitivities are much harder to pinpoint than a true food allergy, because sensitivities cause a slower and more subtle response. The top 5 Food sensitivities are corn, soy, gluten, dairy and eggs. But, your sensitivity could be to any food. If your gastro-intestinal tract is compromised or has been under attack for a long time, you might have devolved sensitivities to many foods. To test: Remove most common food sensitivies corn, soy, gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, and processed foods, alcohol, sugar and anything else that you suspect might cause a problem (I also have my clients remove most beans & grains since this can be hard on digestion for many people) for 2 weeks. Add one new food back in every 2 days and watch for any reaction. Reactions can include digestive problems, skin issues, headaches, or low mood and energy.  A food journal of mood as well as physical symptoms is imperative in this process.

    To test at home: pH

    An Acid-Alkaline balance in the body is an important factor for your health.   Just as we know it is important to keep your pool at a certain pH or funky things will grow, this is the same within your body. Cancer thrives in and acidic environment but cannot survive in an alkaline environment. Maintaining a proper pH will help the body be able to detoxify and will increase our immunity.

    6 days in a row

    1)     Buy pH strips from your local drug store or health food store in the supplement section

    2)     Upon waking (before eating or drinking anything) put one strip in your mouth to test your saliva

    Should be 6.8 to 7.2

    3)     Test 1st urine between 5 am and 8 am – this should be more acidic because during the first 4 hours of sleep your body removes acid from the joints.

    4)     Test 2nd urine (before eating if possible) – This is the most important reading to give you a good baseline of where you are for the day

    Should be 6.8 to 7.2

    To test at home: Candida

    6 days in a row

    Spit in a glass of water 1st thing in the morning when you wake up before eating, drinking or brushing your teeth. Check the glass over 45 minutes. If after 45 minutes your spit is floating on the top, you are good to go. If the spit has formed legs and traveling down, we need to work on your balance. If the spit has completely dropped to the bottom, then candida is planning a major takeover and we need to take care of the candida to improve your health.  

    To test at home: Thyroid Health

    3 days in a row

    Take your temperature first thing in the morning when you wake up. Put your thermometer under your armpit and then get back into bed for 10 minutes. You can also take your temperature before you go to bed and 20 minutes after each meal. If you are consistently under 97.4 then you might have a sluggish thyroid.

  • Signs Your Adrenals and Cortisol Aren’t Helping your Athletic Performance

    Signs Your Adrenals and Cortisol Aren’t Helping your Athletic Performance

    I was on my way to becoming a professional marathon runner when all of a sudden I got knocked off course by my out-of-whack hormones.

     

    Okay, so maybe I wasn’t exactly a professional, but I ran my first marathon in Honolulu in 2009 and finished without dying!! I think that is pretty professional, and it makes for a much better story than the truth; I was a recreational runner who ran a few races, got the itch to run faster, train harder, do speed workouts, and increase the long runs but ended up dizzy and dehydrated with a painful IT band, low cortisol and imbalanced hormones instead.

     

    Is anyone else in this boat? A lot of us are, but if you are thinking, “Not me, I am in my prime!” then this is the perfect time for you to get ahead of the game. You can find any small imbalances and restore balance before you would have suspected they might be there.

     

    Many of the practitioners in the holistic health field spend a lot of time trying to help other people avoid making the same mistakes that they made, and I am here to do the same. Symptoms are the last thing to occur as a sign of imbalance. This means that we may have lost 30% of our optimal function before our body gives us a sign! Using functional lab work, we can find and correct this imbalance at its earliest stages.

     

    For an athlete, this is exciting. This is a chance to make sure we are getting the best possible performance out of our body, maximizing our potential and endurance, while also fending off the potential for burn-out.

     

    Top signs your body is sending you that your adrenals might be struggling include:

     

    1)   Brain Fog – Did I take my vitamins today? I think I did, but I am not sure. Sound familiar? Or maybe you can’t remember  🙂

     

    2)   Slow recovery from exercise – I used to think it was normal to have a headache and need a nap an hour after a hard workout. If you are still trying to recover from a workout more than 30 minutes later, then your adrenal glands might be struggling.

     

    3)   Up and down energy and mood swings – Sleeping at your desk in the afternoon is a true sign of adrenal dysfunction. You might tell yourself that it is only because you had a hard workout that morning, but often it carries over to days that you don’t work out. Ideally, our cortisol level is highest in the morning, which gives us enough energy to get up and go, and be able to keep up for the rest of the day.

     

    4)   Carb and sugar cravings – Hitting up the vending machine or taking a quick trip to Starbucks no matter how many times you tell yourself you will quit tomorrow. When our cortisol output is low due to chronic stress of all kinds, we turn to carbs and sugar for quick energy.

     

    5)   Loss of libido – Although we are talking about athletic performance, performance could be lacking in other areas as well. When all of our hormonal resources are used for cortisol, the stress hormone, our sex hormones are often depleted.

     

    6)   Trouble sleeping – ‘Tired but wired’ is a classic sign of adrenal dysfunction. Ever feel so exhausted but once lying in bed you can’t seem to sleep because your monkey mind starts jumping from one crazy thought to the next? Or do you feel like you are tired all day and then get a second wind around 8 or 9 pm? Elevated nighttime cortisol, when it is supposed to be going down so that you can sleep, is a really common finding with my clients.

     

    7)  More allergies and sensitivies – You never used to have a problem with hay fever or gluten but now you do. Instead of just blaming this on the seasons or your new dog, consider this a warning sign from your body.

     

    8)  Digestive issues – When your body is in a state of stress, the fight-or-flight reaction kicks in and digestion takes a back seat to survival. This is great for the occasional life-threatening chase by a bear, or when you are about to win the Boston Marathon, but not so great when this is your day-to-day life. For runners with digestive issues, we know how horrible (and embarrassing) this can be.

     

    9)   Weak immune system – Chronic infections are the name of the game for people with adrenal fatigue, and include bacterial, viral, fungal, yeast. I was in the “best physical shape of my life” yet came down with shingles at age 28 during my marathon training. Don’t ignore the signs that your body is giving you.

     

    10)  Training harder with little improvement in muscle tone – Making gains quickly in beginning, but then plateauing or getting worse, is a dreaded situation for an athlete. DHEA and testosterone are important for muscle building. Most of my client’s have very low DHEA and testosterone since the master hormone pregnenalone has been consumed by the constant need for cortisol.

     

    11)   Injuries – For me , it was IT band issues. The dreaded pain in your knee when you are 10 miles out on a 20 mile run! Although an injury might seem completely unrelated to your hormones, the more injuries stacking up, the more we suggest you get those levels checked.

     

    Wondering how to get your hormone levels checked? It is quite simple, and there is no need to drive to a lab or get an appointment with your doctor. As a part of my 4 month program I will send you an easy at-home test that requires you to spit into four vials during the day. All you do is seal them up, put them in the self-addressed return package, and drop them off at FedEx. In 2-3 weeks, when I receive the lab results we will discuss how well your lovely hormones are doing and help to balance anything that has gone astray!

     

  • Simple Radish Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette

    Simple Radish Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette

    (Makes 2 Servings)

    2 cups mixed greens

    ½ bunch watercress

    ½ cup cucumber, chopped

    2 to 3 radishes, thinly sliced

    ¼ cup parsley, chopped

     

     TOMATO VINAIGRETTE

     

    1 large Roma tomato

    1 to 2 sundried tomatoes

    ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

    1 scallion

    1 teaspoon basil

    1 teaspoon oregano

    1/8 cup fresh parsley, chopped

    1/8 cup fresh cilantro

    1 tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar

    Sea salt to taste

    Black pepper to taste

     

    Make the vinaigrette. Add your fresh tomato, sundried tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, scallion, basil, oregano, parsley, cilantro, raw apple cider vinegar, sea salt, and black pepper. Blend until well incorporated. Set to the side to allow the flavors to marinate for at least 10 minutes.

     

    Prepare your salad. Wash your mixed greens and add them to a bowl. Then wash the watercress. Remove thick tough ends of the watercress and place in a salad bowl. Add radishes, cucumber, and parsley. Mix and top with your tomato vinaigrette.

  • Berry Mood Stabilizer

    Berry Mood Stabilizer

     

    1 cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk

    1 cup fresh or frozen blackberries or blueberries

    1 Teaspoon maca powder

    1 Tablespoon almond butter

    1 handful of spinach

    1 Tablespoon raw, organic honey or stevia to taste (optional)

    Blend and Enjoy!

     

  • 20 Healthy Foods Found at Costco for Less

    20 Healthy Foods Found at Costco for Less

     

    I am sure that prices vary in different locations, but in sunny San Diego I have gotten pretty used to a large chunk of my check and my right arm going toward groceries.  If you are like us and also look for these kind of items; organic, grass-fed, pastured, non-GMO, chemical/nitrate/additive-free, then you know what I am talking about!

    How can we eat healthy or buy organic food when on a budget?  This seems to be a top request from clients so I thought I would do a little research at Costco.

    After 1 hour with a 3 year old clinging to my leg, here are the 20 items that made it into our cart! We didn’t have time for the fruit and veggie section, but I know that they carry a good amount of organic produce, so check that out as well!

    Top Finds of the Day:

    1)      Albacore Tuna (Wild Planet) – $14.99 for 6-5 oz. cans

    2)      Almond Milk- unsweetened (Silk) – $7.79 for 3- ½ gallons

    3)      Organic Apple Juice (Evolution)- $5.69 for 64 oz.

    4)      Avocado Oil (Chosen Foods) – $9.49 for 33.8 oz.

    5)      Bison Burgers (Kiva Sun) – $13.49 for 6 burgers

    6)      Organic Brown Rice (Lundberg) – $13.79 for 12 lbs.

    7)      Chia Seeds (Nutiva) – $13.99 for 32 oz.

    8)      Organic Chicken Breasts (Coastal Range)- $16.89 for 3 lbs.

    9)      Organic Cold Pressed Juice (SUJA) – $29.49 for 9-12 oz.

    10)   Organic Frozen Strawberries (Pure Nature) – $8.99 for 4 lbs.

    11)   Hemp Hearts (Manitoba Harvest) – $14.89 for 28 oz.

    12)   Himalayan pink salt (Kirkland)- $3.99 for 13 oz.

    13)   Hummus (Pita Pal) – $5.99 for 32 oz.

    14)  Grass-Fed Butter (Kerry Gold) – $6.99 for 3-8 oz. bars

    15)  Coconut Oil (Nutiva) – $22.49 for 78 oz.

    16)   Organic ground beef (Kirkland) – $17.99

    17)   Organic sundried tomatoes (Kirkland) – $8.99 for 4 lbs.

    18)   Organic Quinoa (Truroots) – $18.99 for 64 oz.

    19)   Organic Raw Coconut Water (Harmless Harvest) – $15.89 for 4-16oz

    20)   Tangerine juice (Evolution) – $5.69 for 64 oz.

     

    What else have you found at Costco?  I would love your input in the comments below!

     

    Happy Shopping.

  • What is Adrenal Fatigue?

    What is Adrenal Fatigue?

    Look around.  Stress and stressed out people are everywhere!

     

    Is this the most stressful era in which to live?  Maybe, or maybe not. But we seem to be getting hit with stress from all sides.

     

    We have one type of stress that comes in the form of a stressful situation, like the death of a loved one, a demanding job or a physical injury. These are the known stressors, whether they are physical or mental/emotional.

     

    But we are also affected by hidden stressors. Hidden stressors include eating the wrong food for your bio-individual type, being exposed to heavy metals or living with bugs and parasites.  In a world where toxins and chemicals are in everything–our air, water and food–we are constantly bombarded by stress.

     

    All stress, no matter what kind, invokes a response from the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are a triangle shaped endocrine gland that sit on top of the kidneys.  These little glands, no bigger than a grape, are required to produce the hormones needed to regulate energy production, immune function, heart rate and other stress reactions.

     

    What happens when we repeatedly produce cortisol, the stress hormone, in response to the many stressors in our life?

     

    Let’s break it down a bit.  The release of cortisol in response to stress or danger is lifesaving when you are being chased by a bear.  However, the same chain reaction occurs while watching a violent movie.  Although there is no inherent danger, your blood is redirected to your arms and legs to get ready to fight, your heart rate increases, and your airways open. In this state, other functions such as digestion, reproduction and repair are put on hold.

     

    It makes sense. I mean, what good is great digestion anyway if you were just eaten by a bear?

     

    Although it makes sense, repeated exposure to increased stress hormones can wreak havoc on the body. In modern times we enter this fight or flight mode at every hour of the day in response to things such as traffic, a crazy boss, too many bills or our children screaming.  The constant production of cortisol starts to deplete our valuable resources needed to make other hormones.

     

    These neglected hormones are necessary for every single human function.  So, you can imagine why we end up with symptoms like these:

     

    • Weight gain in waist, inflammatory hormonal fat
    • Increased appetite and cravings due to blood sugar fluctuations
    • Low libido
    • Loss of muscle mass
    • Poor memory
    • Excess mood responses after eating carbohydrates such as pasta, breads, and sugar
    • Bone loss
    • Sleep disturbances, tired but wired feeling
    • Thyroid issues
    • Increased risk for GI infections
    • Increased inflammation, lower back pain
    • Hypoglycemia – shakiness, lightheaded
    • Sugar cravings
    • Salt cravings
    • Low blood pressure
    • Allergies, chemical sensitivities
    • Stressed out feeling, depression
    • Cold body temp
    • Excessive sweating or perspiration with little activity
    • Dark circles under the eyes
    • Chronic infections (bacterial, viral, fungal, yeast)
    • Tendency to startle easily
    • Cystic breasts
    • Premature aging
    • Dry, unhealthy skin with excess pigmentation
    • Hard time recovering after exercise

     

    That doesn’t sound fun does it?

     

    You will also notice that these symptoms affect many different parts of the body. One of the reasons that the symptoms are so varied is that there are 3 phases of adrenal fatigue.  Although you might experience a kind of a “high” in phase 1 with increased anxiety and the tired and wired feeling, by the time you reach phase 3 you might just barely be able to get out of bed!

     

    So, are you ready to stop experiencing all of these symptoms? I know I was. Read Top 10 Tips for a Tired Mama for the easily-implementable steps that I used to help restore balance to my adrenal glands.

     

    Which of these symptoms can you relate to?

  • Top Ten Tips for a Tired Mama

    Top Ten Tips for a Tired Mama

     

    Two years ago I didn’t have the energy to brush my teeth. I would lie in bed before work thinking about what body part I could break that wouldn’t be that painful but would keep me out of work for a few weeks? Yes, I was THAT tired. I was in phase 3 adrenal fatigue. There is no phase 4.

     

    Two years later, things are quite different. I am able to juggle a full-time corporate job (although not for much longer!), build my own health coaching business, attend courses for continuous education and keep delicious, nutritious food in the house all while running after a 3 year old.

     

    Don’t get me wrong, my health is always a work in progress, but the difference between 2 years ago and today is night and day.

     

    As you can guess, one of the most common questions I get asked is this “What did you do to restore your adrenals and your energy?” Here are my top ten tips for the busy person or mom who suspects adrenal fatigue or hormonal imbalance.

     

    1) Start with the numbers. Get your hormone & cortisol levels checked with a Functional Medicine Doctor or a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) practitioner like me. We use a saliva test with samples taken at four times during the day. This provides a baseline of the state of your hormones and also gives clues into what other areas need investigating. An individualized supplement protocol based on your lab work can offer support and improve energy while we are digging to find the root cause of your adrenal fatigue. Sometimes we need a little boost before we can make lasting changes in diet and lifestyle.

     

    2) Blood sugar balance is key. This was incredibly important for my shift in energy. I learned that when you eat is just as important as what you eat. One study looked at the fasting blood sugar levels of nearly 2,000 men, over a 22-year period. Men with fasting glucose levels over 85 mg/dL had a 40 percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease. The same study indicated that with fasting blood sugar between 85-90mg/dL, there is a 20 percent increased risk of dying of a stroke or heart attack; from 90-95mg/dL there is another 20 percent risk of dying of a stroke or heart attack. (1)

    • When to eat. This is the most important factor when trying to maintain blood sugar balance. For busy mamas who get up and go, you MUST eat breakfast. I know, I know. How many times have we heard that this is the most important meal of the day? But it is true! Eating within 30-60 minutes of waking will set you up for a balanced day. Establish a route of preparing all of your smoothie supplies the night before, or make an egg burrito ahead of time and heat it in the toaster oven.
    • What to eat. For every meal and snack, include a carbohydrate, protein and fat. All carbs are not created equal when it comes to blood sugar regulation. Complex carbs such as quinoa, brown rice and sweet potato are ideal. After eating a half of a sweet potato every day at lunch with cinnamon and coconut oil, my blood glucose numbers stabilized.
    • Test your blood sugar.  Consider buying a glucometer at the drug store. Take your blood sugar first thing in the morning and then thirty minutes before each meal for a week. This will give you an idea of exactly how you are reacting to what you are eating.

     

    3) Drink water with minerals. Are you constantly thirsty but then when you drink water it doesn’t seem to quench your thirst? This is really common for those with adrenal fatigue. Making sure you are getting enough water is important, but the quality of the water is just as important for adrenal health. Our body is craving the minerals that are naturally in spring water. Since nowadays it has become necessary to filter our water, the good stuff gets filtered out with the bad. We drink a tall glass of water and our body is thinking “where the heck are the minerals that I asked for?” My suggestion is to buy spring water if you can. If you cannot, then you can add the minerals back in with a product like Concentrace Trace Mineral drops.

     

    4) Sea salt on everything! Salt is bad right? Not anymore! I remember when my nutritionist told me to put as much Pink Himalayan salt as I could stand on all of my food. Sure! Sea salt is packed with minerals that support the adrenals and it is delicious.

     

    5) Chicken Bone Broth just like Grandma said. Christa at The Whole Journey taught me that daily bone broth with help someone recover from adrenal fatigue 30 percent faster! I don’t know how I would measure that 30 percent, but bone broth was an important part of my protocol. Bone broth made from organic raw chicken bones (all of the bones!) that is cooked over a 24-hour period helps with gut repair, has highly absorbable forms of calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and sulfur and is an easily digestible protein. It’s the perfect food for someone in deep adrenal fatigue who needs the maximum nutrients with minimum effort.

     

    6) Don’t forget Vitamin C! Healthy adrenal function requires vitamin C. Tissues in the body use more vitamin C during times of stress. Vitamin C is found naturally in a lot of foods such as citrus fruits, leafy greens, tomatoes, sprouts, kiwi, papaya, red pepper, and cauliflower. One teaspoon of Camu Camu powder added to a smoothie has the same amount of vitamin C as eating 6 oranges, so this is a good option for those of us who really need a boost!

     

    7) Magnesium is essential. Magnesium was really important for my journey out of zombie-land. I would add 2-4 ounces of Magnesium oil, 1 cup Epsom salts and lavender in a bath and soak most evenings. The same thing can be accomplished with a foot bath while you read a book or watch TV. It is a great way to help your body relax while you are also absorbing your way to feeling better!

     

    8) Sleep! Maybe this should have been #1, because this is very important. Every hour of sleep that you get before midnight is like 2 hours in terms of rest and recovery for the adrenal glands. Aim to be in bed by 10pm every night. Don’t forget that the lights from the TV or electronic devices stimulate the pineal gland and can throw off your sleep cycle. I ask my clients to avoid all screen time after 8pm.

     

    9) Less Stress, more massages. As a mom, we sometimes feel that we have to do everything. Create a list of all of the top activities that drain your energy. Brainstorm which of these activities are critical and which could be put on the back burner or delegated. This might sound silly or simple, but this is crucial! We must give ourselves the space and energy for recovery if we want to be able to restore balance.

     

    10) Minimize alcohol & caffeine. Do you wish you had an intravenous drip of caffeine every morning but instead settle for multiple cups of coffee? Although VERY common, heavy use of alcohol and caffeine is very stressful to the adrenals. They give us a quick fix that leaves us ultimately in a more depleted state, causing us to need even more the next time around. This is a very rough cycle.

    If you are heavy coffee drinker, start by switching to organic and try to get yourself down to only 1 cup. Always make sure to eat you breakfast first. If you really love the morning ritual of coffee, you could try something like Teechino, an herbal coffee alternative or green tea.

     

    Note: In addition to the above recommendations, the basis of all of my programs to restore hormonal balance starts with eating whole foods while minimizing refined packaged foods, additives, chemicals, toxins, alcohol and caffeine.

     

    Disclaimer: Please see your Doctor to rule out any serious conditions. This information is not meant to diagnose or treat disease, but is just what I have personally found to work well for me.

     

    References:

    1. Bjornholt JV, Erikssen G, Aaser E, et al. Fasting blood glucose: an underestimated risk factor for cardiovascular death. Results from a 22-year follow-up of healthy nondiabetic men. Diabetes Care. 1999 Jan;22(1):45-9.

  • Is your clogged liver making you fat?

    Is your clogged liver making you fat?

    Talking about the liver is one of my favorite topics.  I don’t think the liver gets enough press, I mean this organ is pretty darn cool.

    The liver is the largest solid organ in the body and weighs approximately 3.5 lbs! It is a HUGE filter.

    Important functions of the liver:

    • Detoxifies the blood to rid it of harmful substances such as alcohol and drugs.
    • It makes and secretes bile to help your body absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K).
    • It metabolizes and stores carbohydrates, fats, sugars, vitamins (and other nutrients obtained from the foods we eat) for energy and brain function.
    • It breaks down harmful chemicals (bilirubin and ammonia) produced by the body and keeps the body regulated and healthy.
    • It manufactures proteins to help maintain blood purity and proper flow.

    What does this have to do with weight gain?

    If the liver is overburdened with toxic substances day in and out, other important functions such as metabolism will be compromised.  The liver is responsible for helping to metabolize fat through the production of bile.  A compromised fat metabolism leads to weight gain as well as feeling bloated and sluggish.

    Anger and the Liver

    Did you know that anger is the emotion tied with the liver?  Have you ever noticed that alcoholics or people who regularly abuse their liver tend to be angry?

    Signs that your liver can’t keep up with the junk you are sending it:

    • Headaches
    • Don’t feel like eating first thing in the morning
    • Food allergies and chemical sensitivities
    • Dark urine
    • Loss of appetite
    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Diarrhea, and light colored stools
    • Enlarged blood vessels, easy bruising
    • Anxiety and depression
    • Mental confusion
    • PMS
    • Exhaustion and fatigue
    • Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin
    • Impaired libido (sex drive)

    If the signs above point to a clogged liver and you would like to confirm that, there is a lab test we can run.  This lab would also make sense if you have been making a lot of effort to reduce stress on your liver and want to see your progress.

    How will I know if my liver is congested?

    As a Certified Functional Nutrition Practitioner, examining liver function is one of the first 2 lab tests that I complete with a client.  The BH 101 collects data on digestive and detoxification functions by looking at the Urinary Bile Acid Sulfates (UBAS). When the liver cannot filter efficiently the bile acid sulfates spill over and are present in the urine.  A high UBAS is a clue into what is going on within the body.

    How can you support the liver?

    1)      ½ Lemon in 16 oz water in the morning (warm or room temp) – the lemon water will help flush out the liver.

    2)      Increase your intake of greens – dandelion greens, kale, parsley and collards

    3)      Herbs that support the liver – milk thistle, dandelion, burdock root & turmeric (curcumin).

    4)      Avoid eating out– the added chemicals, “natural flavors” and additives in restaurant food (even healthy restaurants) are much higher than in any home cooked food.

    5)      Eat liver – The Native American cultures believed that if you want to support an organ you should eat that organ of an animal.  With 2 wise Native Americans in my house, I am going to take this advice to be true! If you are into eating odd, squishy foods, go for it. Get yourself some liver and chow down. Are you grossed out by the idea of eating liver?  You can also get desiccated liver capsules by Radiant Life and take them first thing in the morning.

    6)      Give the liver a break! Limiting your intake of highly processed foods, dairy and meat and replacing that with vegetables, fresh juices and soups for a few weeks (if not always!).  I like to do this at the change of the seasons.

    In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Spring is the time of the Liver and the Gallbladder.  This is why every Spring I like to give the liver a break from the toxins, chemicals, alcohol and processed foods. During my 2 week cleanse I also support this liver with herbs, chlorophyll rich foods, and a special detoxifying beverage!

    Resources: liverfact.com