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Natural Ways to Boost your Health During Corona

It’s more important than ever to be boosting your health right now.

It’s not the time for fueling up on sugar, flour or anything inflammatory to your body.

Inflammation IS the pre-cursor to disease developing in your body.

But right now, during the Covid-19 pandemic our only defense is our own immune system.

We need to fuel our bodies with foods that help us not hurt us especially now.

Our emotional health also has a lot to do with how we fight disease. Right now our stress level might be a bit high to say the least. Learning to process negative emotion is key to handling stress in our bodies.  I just wrote another blog post on Why It’s Good to Feel Bad here which is an important part of being healthy.

When the emotional body and/or spiritual body is out of balance disease develops because often we suppress our emotions throughout our life.  It then might show up as a diseased condition but it didn’t begin at the physical realm.  The thought or emotion that triggered the condition to develop began in an environment that moves much faster; the world of emotion and spirit.  Learning to process emotions is the key to balance your emotional body.

But in this blog post, I want to talk about boosting your immune system through food and natural ways.

We need our own strength to give it a fighting chance not just now but as we age.

I think this is also a wake up call for a lot of people in our country and now realizing how much we need our health in a time like this.  The last 10 years we definitely have grown in this area that our food we eat affects our health.  Yet, the United States still has a growing problem of unhealthy individuals that could be reversible should they just change their daily eating habits.

Here’s 21 ingredients that you should include in your recipes that will help keep your health up:

  1. garlic (chop and let sit for 10 minutes so beneficial chemicals to release)
  2. onion
  3. greens/veggies (kale, spinach, romaine, broccoli, artichoke, arugula, asparagus, swiss chard, collards, broccoli rabe, cauliflower, (colored peppers, eggplant, tomato – night shades and in some, not all, individuals cause inflammation), etc.
  4. radishes
  5. cucumbers
  6. leeks
  7. organic stocks (grass-fed beef, chicken, veggie)
  8. almonds
  9. walnuts
  10. brazil nuts
  11. seeds
  12. ginger
  13. turmeric
  14. beans
  15. berries
  16. apples
  17. apricots
  18. wild fish (i.e. salmon)
  19. quinoa
  20. whole grains (if tolerated)
  21. citrus fruits

Here’s some herbs that can help support your lungs and/or immunity:

  1. mullein leaf (make into a tea along with schisandra berries for a support to your lungs) (delish!)
  2. astragalus (adaptogen to help support your lungs)
  3. ashwaganda (adaptogen to help support stress in your body)
  4. herbal teas such as green tea, echinacea, lemon balm, elderberry, passion tea, etc.

Drink water!!!!

You don’t see anything in a box, nothing has a label.

They are just natural whole foods.

When clients ask me what they should eat, it always starts with whole foods they like to eat and start to crowd out the unhealthy foods, start adding in more vegetables and build from there.  You slowly crowd out the unhealthy foods.

I’m a certified life and holistic health coach, if you need help around navigating and making sense out of your problems or want to get healthy or lose weight, now is always better than tomorrow to start working on making your life the best it could be.  I offer free 20 minute mini-sessions.  Contact me to get a link to my calendar.  I can’t wait to help you!

 

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Create Space for a Morning Routine

This is the perfect time to start a morning routine of creating space for yourself, especially if you have never had one before.

Life is always happening for us not to us.  

With COVID-19/Corona virus circulating in our world right now, it has a lot of us feeling uncertain and fearful.

It feels scary.

Our brains are in 5th gear in trying to keep us safe.   

As a human, we crave certainty. 

I want to offer to you that it’s not anything outside of you that is making you feel uncertainty.   

Not even the corona virus.

It’s in fact our thoughts that is creating uncertainty.

Our feelings are ALWAYS created from our thoughts.

A morning routine can help you create more certainty and direct you to an intentional and deliberate life no matter what’s going on outside of you.

What an AMAZING gift you can give yourself, your life and the humans around you.

My morning routine is sacred to me.  

While I’ve always had some sort of morning routine, creating space for myself every morning has been the best gift to myself since having kids. 

It was even more important when I started a business since I had to be my own boss, employee and go getter!

It brings peace.

It brings awareness.

It brings intention vs. reaction. 

If you want certainty, it must start with YOU.

Start your day with what it is YOU want to create vs. what the world might demanding from you. 

Pings, alerts and human voices in your home or the humans on TV?  Stop it!

Creating space and a morning routine for myself keeps me centered in the direction I truly want.  Even in times of what feels like a lot of uncertainty.

Here’s my usual morning routine.  I hope it helps you create one for yourself.

If you have never had one before, you can start small, just do #1 and #2.

Create space for you and your own brain not everyone else’s.

  1. Put your phone on silence before you go to bed.  I set mine to automatically go to bedtime at a certain time.
  1. Wake up early.  Or, at least 1-2 hours prior to when you normally awake to create this special and sacred space for yourself.

Research shows our brains are sharp & creative in the morning regardless if you are a “morning” person. 

  1. Upon waking, do not look at your phone or flip open the news.  

Do not let your inbox, messages, or any social media, or TV upon waking become the director of your day.  You be the director!  

Our brains  natural instinct is to keep you safe so it looks to be startled.  You get and decide to be in charge of what you intend to consume.

  1. Enjoy a full glass of room-temperature lemon water

Benefits:  lots of vitamin c, boosts your metabolism, oxygenates your blood and supports your gut/digestion and metabolism.

  1. You can skip coffee or tea and just enjoy lemon water.  But, when I’m ready to sit, I enjoy a cup of Four Sigmatic Coffee/Chaga Mushroom mix.  I started this a few months ago and I love it.  

I drink it black.  It tastes like coffee.  

Prior to this I was drinking homemade bullet-proof coffee but I had to ditch the dairy and it was an easy switch for me!

It it still helps my brain focus and think better!  Mushrooms are one of the most powerful foods you can eat for your health!  

Mushrooms have been used for thousands of years and are beneficial for disease prevention and/or healing including cancer!

  1. Journal.  I start with Dear God & Universe, 

List, state and visualize 3-5 things you’re grateful for — big or small it doesn’t matter.  

Everyone on this planet has something to be grateful for.  Get creative!

Being grateful immediately puts you out of fear and raises your emotional state.

You can not be grateful and fearful at the same time.

  1. Next, do a complete brain dump and get what is in your brain out on paper so you can have a look at it!  Don’t assume you know what’s in there.  A lot of our thoughts are negative and sub-conscious.

Write it with pen & paper in your journal, not typing.  Research shows a connection in using a pen and paper is much more effective than typing.  

See what your brain is thinking.  

Our thoughts ultimately are creating our life whether we like our life or not.  

It’s a good idea to see what it is you are actually thinking.  

Do not judge yourself and the sentences your brain is thinking. Just write and continue to write until you have nothing left in there.

As you get comfortable with journaling, you might not think you have anything else to write.  You can start asking yourself questions to prompt you.  

When you ask your brain questions, it immediately looks for answers.

Don’t worry about if someone will see it.  And, if you find yourself holding back because of that, just write in on paper and you can throw it away.  If you are new to journaling than it might take some practice to get use to it.  Think of it as a gift not a chore.

  1. Set an intention for the day.  How do you want to show up?  Write it down.  Go after it in every single thing you do!
  1. If you are not a meditator, take a few quiet minutes for breathing so you can get present and create space for yourself.

Here’s two breathing techniques that help reduce anxiety, bring you into the present moment, and promote overall well-being.  

I highly recommend them and you literally can use these techniques any time you are feeling stressed not just in the morning.

Dr Weil’s 4-7-8 breathing technique 

Alternate Nostril Breathing 

  1. Read.  Spend time reading even if for 10-20 minutes.  I love personal development whether it be learning something new in health, business or inspirational so it sets my creativity and intention in full mode.
  1. Okay, so now you are ready to move your body.  You, of course, can exercise first — before journaling.  Do what works for you. 

Movement or exercise gets your blood and lymph moving. 

It immediately moves you out of your current state and into a higher vibration.  Your vibration or emotional state is what drives you to take the actions or inactions in your life.  If you are feeling kind of low, you will not have the drive to take the actions you truly want.  When you are in a raised higher vibrational state, you attract more of that into your life.  It’s the law of attraction working for you not against you.

It immediately helps your brain get clear and focused.  Clarity is power! 

Circulating your blood and stretching your body is key to staying young and vibrant no matter your age.  

Now you are ready to start your day! 

Instead of looking at your phone/news/social media immediately, you have created space – for YOU to create a conscious and deliberate life on your terms not everyone else’s. 

As you practice this daily, you will get even more intentional, aware and direct your life into a routine that is conscious and deliberate to what you do want.  

At the very least, you start to become aware of your thoughts so you can make conscious changes and create the life you do want instead of being at the effect of everything around you. 

If you need help around what’s getting in your way or you just need help to navigate a problem you are experiencing, send me an email.  I offer free mini sessions, so you can walk-away with some tools and get a mini-experience of what coaching can do to help you, today!  

Remember life happens for us, not to us.

I’d love to hear back from you either via email or in the comments, if creating space and a morning routine has changed your life.  

It certainly has mine.

I can honestly say that out of 365 days in the year, I most likely only have skipped this 1-2x throughout the year due to unforeseen circumstances/travels.  

At this time, with COVID-19 as our circumstance it seems like it’s filling our lives with uncertainty and fear, but really it’s our thoughts that create that.  

This is a great practice to start so you can get a hold of the certainty, intention and the deliberate life you crave and want.  It’s still possible with everything happening around you!

Namaste. 

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12 Ways to Improve your Health

1.  Eat mindfully

Put the phones down, computers away.  Really be present with your food, the textures, smells and the visual plate that is in front of you.  Be grateful for your food.

2.  Eat a varied whole foods diet

Eliminate junk and processed food.  Eat a diet that whole food based.

3.  Don’t eat based on how you feel

Many times we are eating because we are bored, lonely, frustrated, angry, anxious, fearful, etc.  Try your best to move through your emotion without relying on food for comfort. Go for walk, exercise or journal and try drinking water first despite you may not feel like it – or face head on and deal with what you are avoiding.

4.  Don’t replace sleep with caffeine

This will become a vicious cycle and the only way to avoid it is not drinking caffeine when you feel tired especially after 12 pm.

5.  Reduce stress

Meditate.  Breathe. Journal.  These are all good ways to release stress

6.  Eliminate sugar

The best way to control sugar cravings is cold turkey for a minimum of 2 weeks.  After 2 weeks you will notice sugar does not control you

7.  Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day

Drinking as much water as you can will help release toxins, hydrate and help you eat more than you desire

8.  Incorporate self-care in your daily or weekly regimen

Doing something just for you, whether that means getting your nails down, facial, just spending some time alone possibly reading a new book, journaling, or even organizing things you have been avoiding

9.  Reduce and limit alcohol to 0-1x a week (limit to 1 drink)

Despite people thinking drinking a glass of wine a day may be good for you.  No amount of alcohol is good for your health. Drink in moderation or leave it for a special occasion.

10.  Exercise 3x a week for at least 20 minutes

Any movement you do outside of your regular daily day will enhance your health for the better.  Start today by simply fast walking.

11.  Eliminate toxins in your cleaning and skin care routine

There are so many natural products on the market there is no excuse not to change up your cleaning and skin care routine.  This includes everything you put in and on your body as well as in your house. These toxins build up in your body over time and cause stagnation in your lymph and blood circulatory system.  Organs have to work much harder to release them out of your body causing stress.

12.  Eat one extra vegetable a day

Eating extra veggies everyday will always be a good idea.

What’s one new habit you are going to try this week?  Let me know in the comments!!!

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12 Uses for Lavendar Essential Oil

Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is one of the most popular doTERRA essential oils because of its light, powdery aroma, and its myriad of uses for everyday life. Taken from the highly aromatic lavender flower, lavender oil has been used for centuries for its distinct aroma and powerful benefits. Whether you need to soothe the occasional skin irritation, ease feelings of tension, or promote restful sleep, lavender oil has many practical uses.*

As a naturally soothing and calming essential oil, you will find that lavender is a helpful oil to keep on hand. I love it and use it for a restful sleep every night as well as for scarring and skin irritations.   It really is amazing.

 

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Dairy – Is it good for you or not?

It seems the 20 years of the “Got Milk” campaign has really got us believing that milk is so good for our health and bones.  But is Dairy really good or not?

Now a days there are all kinds of nut milks on the market. Is it a fad, is everyone allergic or lactose intolerant?

There are some cultures that can tolerate lactose (milk sugar) – but many do not. There is also casein (one of the proteins found in milk – the other is whey) which is another issue for some and is slow to digest – it takes around 7 hours to digest.

Dairy was not even consumed until after the agricultural revolution. Here in the U.S. parents usually switch their babies to cow’s milk after age 1. We are the only species that drinks another animal’s milk which if you think about it – it’s kind of weird! Babies produce lots of lactase which is an enzyme that helps absorb our mother’s milk.  After weaning, they stop producing as much lactase which is why some become lactose intolerant. Like I said, certain populations tolerate it better(1).

Dairy in general is inflammatory, mucus producing and is growth producing.

It has been linked to ear infections in children, tumor growth, joint inflammation, increases insulin, skin issues like acne, psoarsis and eczema as well as respiratory and cardiovascular issues.

Dairy sometimes produce vague symptoms. And, by vague I mean you are not having an acute reaction to it.  It shows up in different ways – usually inflammation of some sort. If you are lactose intolerant, you may have an acute type reaction usually within an hour or so – such as stomach pain, diarrhea, gas or bloating.

If you are drinking conventional dairy you are likely adding hormones and antibiotics that causes issues in your gut and disrupts your endocrine system. Furthermore, most milk here in the U.S. is produced from A-1 cows which is part of the problem. And before I totally go off in another direction on A1 vs. A2 cows because that in itself is a whole other story. I’ll just give you the short version. Regular milk mostly here in the U.S. contains A1 beta-casein, which is partly broken down to beta-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7) in the stomach. BCM-7 has been linked with several adverse health effects. In Europe, they have A-2 cows and it seems they do not have the problems we do with dairy.

RAW, full-fat, organic grass-fed dairy on another hand is said to be extremely beneficial to our health. New York is one of 26 states where it can be bought with restrictions although where I live I have not come across where you can buy raw milk. California for example is much more readily available and even sold in stores because it’s legal. Pasteurization in conventional milk kills any nutrients that are valuable to our bodies which is why raw milk is the better option.  Raw milk contain live bacteria which is what makes it beneficial. If you do find raw milk in your area, make sure you are aware of the farmer’s practices so to be sure it is safe.  The FDA will demonize raw milk, however, I don’t have confidence in an agency that is paid by the US treasury as well as receives pay checks from drug companies. They are far from protecting us from dangerous foods on the market.

Organic, raw, grass-fed fermented diary in the form of kefir or yogurt has beneficial nutrients and in some cases healing to your body. Be sure to make sure the yogurt you are buying is not filled with sugar and other fillers.

What about Calcium?

There really is not a high amount of calcium in milk and there are much better sources. There is actually more calcium in leafy greens then there is in dairy.  Nuts and seeds are another excellent source of calcium besides it also has fat which helps absorption. Many people are under the assumption drinking low-  or no-fat milk is good but it leads to low absorption of calcium. Sardines is another excellent source of calcium. Dairy is acidic and vegetables are alkaline so another plus for eating vegetables over dairy for calcium. Plus, because dairy is acidic your body naturally aims to neutralize the body and will take calcium from your bones. Much contrary to many beliefs about dairy for preventing osteoporosis.  Studies show vitamin D is better for your bones than calcium.

Bottom line:

For me, I don’t drink milk or eat yogurt for quite a number of years. But I do eat grass-fed butter, ghee (which his actually dairy free but I mention it as a butter alternative as it also has a lot of healing properties) and occasionally eat cheese. When I do eat cheese, my joints are inflamed and my face breaks out – so I always regret it.  It also causes me digestive distress and bloating. It has caused me more harm than good so I stay away for the most part.  I seem to be okay with grass-fed butter on occasion or at least I think so.  Even with all the negative side affects it has been the hardest for me to 100% give up.  I try not to focus on it honestly and it works for the most part.
It’s always good to declare you don’t eat something rather than you can’t have something (even if it’s only you are talking too :).  When your brain hears can’t it connects it with deprivation.
Now, that’s not to say you will have the same issues. Some tolerate dairy well but I’d source your dairy from grass-fed cows at the very least.  And, if you are able to get raw dairy from a reputable farmer/source that would be your best option to reap the beneficial nutrients.
Cows that are raised on pasture and eat grass have a different nutrient profile than cows that are eating grain (which actually makes them sick which is why they need to give them antibiotics). Grass-fed/grass-finished cows have more more Omega-3 fatty acids and up to 500% more Conjugated Linoleic Acid.  The omega-3 to 6 ratio in grass-fed cows is perfect.  Grain-fed/conventional raised cows omega-6 ratio to omega-3 ratio is about 20 to 1.  The much higher ratio in omega-6 creates inflammation.  And if the cow is eating antibiotics so are you causing disruption to your microbiome.  This is the same for eating conventional beef vs. grass-fed.
Dairy sometimes has vague adverse symptoms and the best way to see if you have a sensitivity is to do an elimination diet for at least 7-9 days then reintroduce it for 3 days and see how your body reacts.  Most people do not even realize that dairy is in fact causing a lot of disruption to your health until you take it out.
Here is a website I found very informative about milk facts from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences – Cornell University.
How well do you tolerate dairy?  What’s your take on it?  I’d love for you to share in the comments.
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Is your Microbiome Balanced?

Just what is the microbiome?

It’s actually the epicenter of your health.

“All disease begins in the gut”

~ Hippocrates

Not until recent years have we realized just how powerful our microbiome. Your gut microbiome is made up of trillions of bacteria, fungi and other microbes. The amount of bacterial cells within the human gastrointestinal tract outnumber the host’s cells 10x. The genes encoded by the bacteria resident within the GIT outnumber their host’s genes by more than 100 times. Wow, that’s a pretty impressive comparison when you think about it. These microbes have tremendous potential to impact our physiology both in health and disease. They protect against pathogens. They contribute to metabolic function which in turn affect our physiological functions both directly and indirectly.

These microbes affect our hormones way more than we think.

It controls how we digest our food, absorb our nutrients and directly affects our immunity.  If you are eating healthy but are not absorbing your food, you will become nutrient deficient which is the bigger part of the puzzle.  The villi in the small intestine is responsible for absorbing the nutrients and which then seeps into the bloodstream so our body can use these nutrients for energy.

When dysbiosis (an imbalance of good vs. bad bacteria) occurs it can cause all sorts of havoc. Including IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), IBM (inflammatory bowel disease), gas, bloating, pain, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, nutrition malabsorption, skin issues, etc. Recently evidence indicates that the gut bacteria can alter the way we store fat, balance our blood sugar, respond to hormones and atopy (genetic tendency to develop allergic diseases).  Therefore, affecting wider systemic diseases such as obesity and diabetes 2. It also affects your brain and mental health as there is a direct connection between them.

If you want to avoid your yearly bout with the common cold, I might suggest starting with cleaning up your gut.

It’s where your entire immune system lives and boosting your gut health will greatly improve your ability to fight off common viruses, improve your brain health and help you fight off other more serious health conditions such as cancer.

What I found is that the gut is the driving force of our health in every way.

It was the culprit of many of my own health conditions such as cystic acne, eczema, psoarsis, graves disease, etc. However, at the time, I literally had no idea and still if I were to mention this to my endocrinologist today he’d most likely roll his eyes.  Thankfully, I am a multi-passionate woman and nutrition and holistic methods were my love next to cooking.

Research after research pointed me to what you were eating or not eating that is greatly affecting our guts much more than we even realize.

There are a lot of factors that can disrupt your gut flora as well as cause inflammation.

Namely,

  • Sugar
  • Processed foods/fast food
  • Unhealthy fats and oils
  • Dairy
  • Gluten
  • Not eating a diverse diet
  • Stress
  • Lack of prebiotics (non-digestible parts of food)
  • Lack of probiotics
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Antibiotics
  • Medications
  • Heavy metals
  • Lack of sleep (your gut follows a circadian rhythm)
  • Smoking
  • Taking over the counter medicines such as acid blockers, nsaids (pain killers, aspirin, ibuprofen such as tylenol and aleve, advil and such)
  • Not enough exercise

All these things can have a serious impact on your gut health. It’s not only about the imbalance of bacteria but over time you can develop intestinal permeability aka leaky gut.  This occurs when damage to the small intestine causes bacteria, waste and particles to escape from your intestine and into your bloodstream. Your body goes into an autoimmune response because these particles do not belong there so it can cause so many different type of symptoms. It can range from a headache, digestive upset, skin issues, joint issues, and so much more. It honestly can be different from one person to the next so it’s very important to listen to your own body and what it is telling you.

Often we put band-aid approaches to symptoms that we need to pay attention to.  And, it’s also disheartening to go to the doctors only to be told there is nothing wrong with you or that these symptoms are normal.

Never underestimate the knowledge you have about your body and how you are feeling.

Listen to your “gut” literally!!!

Scientific fun fact:  The gut also has its own nervous system and does not have the ability to “doubt” like your central nervous system does.  So – always go with your “gut”, it’s never wrong ~ is really true and can serve you much more than you think!

Some foods naturally improve and “seed” the microbiome such as:

  • Fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kombucha, kimchi, tempeh & miso
  • Starch resistent foods such as bananas
  • Prebiotic foods such as broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, onions, leafy greens and avocado
  • Blueberries
  • High fiber fruit & veggies
  • Diverse range of foods
  • Raw apple cider vinegar

Stress also plays a critical role in how your gut functions as well as your brain health.  Having a meditation practice in place helps reduce stress and boost your beneficial bacteria while stress kills it. An imbalanced microbiome can cause brain fog as well.

And, of course taking a high quality probiotic supplement is beneficial to your digestive health and gut flora.

Do you have digestive issues or other symptoms that might indicate that your gut is out of balance?  Please tell me in the comments.

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Cinnamon Pro’s & Con’s

Surprisingly, cinnamon is a lot more than just a spice you bake or cook with.  Although when you do, the aroma is quite warm and comforting, isn’t it?   It is considered a “warm” spice that can literally warm you up when you ingest it.  Not only do I love the aroma, I love the numerous health benefits it brings.  Cinnamon is considered an ancient superfood, has been prized for it’s medicinal properties and is one of the oldest known spices.  It has been used for thousands of years according to Ayurveda medicine (one of the world’s oldest holistic (“whole-body”) healing systems).  In Ayurveda medicine, it is considered a “fire” element due to its warming properties and may be used to stimulate and/or balance where appropriate.

Quality Counts:

The type you use does make a difference!  After some research, Saigon cinnamon which I use has high levels of coumarin.  Coumarin is actually toxic to your liver when consumed in high amounts.  Yikes!  Ceylon cinnamon has low levels of coumarin and is the one to use!  Ceylon is the best/true source of cinnamon.  Mexico is the biggest importer of Ceylon cinnamon but is native to Sri Lanka (90%), India, Madagascar, Brazil and the Caribbean.  Saigon cinnamon comes from Vietnam and is a bit more spicy than Ceylon which is mild and sweet.  The most common here in U.S is Cassia cinnamon which also has high levels of coumarin.  If you are using cinnamon to boost your health or even using it in baking be sure to check which type you are using.  I know I’m now switching over to Ceylon cinnamon pronto!

How it’s Made:

Cinnamon is made by cutting the stems of the cinnamomum tree. The inner bark is then extracted and the woody parts removed from it. When it dries, it forms strips that curl into rolls, called cinnamon sticks. The sticks can be ground to form cinnamon powder.

The distinct smell and flavor of cinnamon is due to the oily part, which is very high in a compound called cinnamaldehyde (2).  Cinnamonaldehyde, an essential oil within the bark, is what gives cinnamon its unique aroma and flavor.  Cinnamaldehyde is also an effective insecticide.

Benefits:

It’s commonly used for matters of the immune system, and to help the body fight off bacteria or viruses that is constantly in our environment.  Naturally has antibacterial, antifungal and antimicrobial properties!   The oil can also be useful for cleaning, air quality, and mood support believe it or not.   Studies show that it supports blood sugar balance along with proper diet.  You can use cinnamon as a powder, cinnamon sticks or an essential oil.  One or two drops is more than enough as it’s very potent.

Cinnamon is loaded with powerful antioxidants, such as polyphenols.  Polyphenols are phytochemicals, meaning compounds found abundantly in natural plant food sources that have antioxidant properties.  Polyphenols play an important role in maintaining your health and wellness.

It is this compound that is responsible for most of cinnamon’s powerful effects on health and wellness.

How to use doTERRA Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil:

  • During your nightly routine, add one drop of Cinnamon to two ounces of water and gargle for an effective mouth rinse
  • Place two to three drops in a spray bottle with water for a quick and effective cleaning spray
  • During the winter months, dilute Cinnamon with Fractionated Coconut Oil and create a warming massage for cold, achy joints
  • Place two to three drops in a doTERRA Veggie Cap to maintain a healthy immune system*
  • Place one drop of Cinnamon essential oil in hot water or tea and drink slowly to soothe your throat*
  • Add to your favorite recipes in place of ground cinnamon for a delightfully spicy flavor
  • Supports healthy metabolic function*
  • Naturally repels insects
  • May promote healthy circulatory function

Risks of Using Cinnamon

While cinnamon can support your health, too much is not good. Ingesting high levels of coumarin (a natural chemical) found in Cassia & Saigon cinnamon can cause toxicity to your liver. Ingesting high amounts of dry cinnamon powder is dangerous! Not too long ago, teenagers were trying to do the “cinnamon challenge” from ingesting dry cinnamon powder. It caused numerous hospitalizations across the country as well as some deaths due to lung complications!

If you are taking statin drugs which also has side affects of liver damage, you should be careful, as well as anyone taking blood thinners.  Always check with your doctor for any medications you are currently taking that may have complications with any supplements, herbs or anything else you might be taking. According to drugs.com, adverse reactions to cinnamon have not been reported in doses up to 6 grams daily.

The Take Home Message:

Cinnamon is delicious and one of the healthiest spices on the planet!   It has impressive health benefits ~ just be sure to get Ceylon cinnamon and/or use a pure essential oil such as doTERRA Cinnamon Bark essential oil.  doTERRA essential oils are pure and are natively sourced which is extremely important.  Plus there are no synthetic additives.

As always, quality counts in food and supplements!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Sources for this article:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23297571
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22518078
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22518078
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25331834
https://www.drugs.com/npc/cinnamon.html
http://www.rxlist.com/cassia_cinnamon-page3/supplements.html

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The Most Undiagnosed Condition – Thyroid Disease

This is an issue near and dear to my heart!  When I was 19 years old, I was diagnosed with Graves disease. Graves disease is an autoimmune disease that causes your thyroid to produce too much thyroid hormone causing hyperthyroidism. I spent months not knowing what was wrong with me before finally going to the doctor as my symptoms got worse.  Even though I was super-hyper I also had extreme exhaustion all in the same day not to mention all the other symptoms that come along with Graves. Although Graves disease dates back to the 1800’s, I don’t remember not one doctor explaining to me that this is an autoimmune disorder.   Frankly in the 80’s doctors believed there is not much you can do about an autoimmune disorder and even now 30 years later there is this very same misconception. Honestly, I found that out through my own research when I started studying health and nutrition many years later that Graves disease was an autoimmune disorder. Not having a thyroid now has honestly made complications with weight management as well as just regulating the amount of thyroid hormone I need to take to keep everything else in check in my body.  This makes me very frustrated because I could have possibly avoided having my entire thyroid removed.

According to Dr. Mercola, your thyroid is responsible for producing metabolism hormones that control every function in your body.  When your thyroid levels are out of balance, so are you. Too much or too little hormone secretion in this gland can wreak havoc for your overall health.  Hormones secreted by your thyroid interact with all your other hormones, including insulin, cortisol, and sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. The fact that these hormones are all tied together and are in constant communication explains why a less-than-optimal thyroid status is associated with so many widespread symptoms and diseases.

Yet so many people are living with thyroid symptoms and not even know it.  Or, have just settled on taking synthetic hormones to try to help regulate your thyroid but yet still suffering.  Synthyroid  was one of the top selling drugs in this country for the last several years.  Crazy!  It’s why I went in the health & wellness field in the first place so I can help people heal naturally.  Unfortunately, for me it’s a bit too late to change my thyroid condition but it may not be for you.  Did you know that eating gluten is the one of the worst things you can eat if you have a thyroid condition?  Did you know that eating iodine rich foods such as sea vegetables can help nourish your thyroid.  Of course, this is not the only thing but don’t be fooled into thinking there is nothing you can do to help nourish and regulate your thyroid.

The truth is approximately 30% of the population will get a thyroid related condition in their lifetimes.  It’s slightly higher if you’re a woman. And 60% of those people, who will have thyroid disease…

They won’t ever know what’s making them so sick.

Thyroid disease and it’s many different types and conditions is far, far more common than you might think – and it’s one of the most often misdiagnosed medical conditions on the planet. Furthermore, the treatments offered by conventional medicine are seriously lacking, but there are solutions that no one really knows about- I want to change that.

Even if you’ve never even considered the idea that you might have a thyroid problem, I urge you to take a minute and watch the trailer to an explosive new documentary.  It was created by Dr. Izabella Wentz, a pharmacist who was diagnosed with thyroid disease and wouldn’t accept a lifetime of suffering.  She has put together an amazing documentary and it’s called The Thyroid Secret and the World Premier will be released on March 1st – Absolutely FREE for everyone to watch online!

Watch the trailer now and reserve your spot for the main event!   Dr. Wentz has also put together an online quiz if you are interested in finding out if any of your symptoms might be related to your thyroid.

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