Osmosis Skincare is my favorite holistic skincare line! I have found the founder, Dr. Ben Johnson, MD to offer some of the most revolutionary approaches to skincare. I agree with his philosophy of healing and repairing the gut for improved skin health. As well as the need for less invasive exfoliation and unnecessary need to damage the skin to produce collagen to initiate the repair process. That is an old way and out dated way of thinking. The skin should not need to be lasered or burned off to stimulate collagen! I speak from experience and suffer hyper-pigmentation due to previous laser treatments and chemical peels. Fortunately, Osmosis has products to reverse the damage I initiated on my own skin! YOUR SKIN’S PAST: CATALYST AC-11 & CATALYST PLUS This is for all the damage, trauma, old wounds and scars. **BONUS: Catalyst is patented to treat lesions and prevent cancer. YOUR SKIN’S PRESENT: VITAMIN A Vitamin A Serums come in 3 Levels of repair, plus 1 specific for acne. CALM Level 2, CORRECT Level 3, RENEW Level 4 + CLARIFY Level 1 (Acne). Vitamin A is wonderful for your skin’s daily renewal and repair. Retinaldehyde is the only research proven form of A that stimulates collagen and does not thin the skin. This is not to be confused with the commonly prescribed Retin-A (tretinoin)! For Rosacea clients I recommend to begin with Rescue for repair, then move to Calm. YOUR SKIN’S FUTURE: STEMFACTOR Osmosis StemFactor is human derived growth factor serum. Not a plant stem cell. Human derived growth factors taken from stem cells are important in age prevention because they are easily recognized by the skin to repair damage and aging for a more youthful and radiant complexion. *Clinically proven to show improvement in aging skin. Below is the Osmosis Facial Analysis and Facial Mapping created by Dr. Ben Johnson: Click here to take the Osmosis Skin Quiz
One of the first seasonal changes we see is reflected in the dryness of our skin “Your intact, healthy skin is your body’s primary defense against infections. If you let your skin get dried out and cracked, you could be giving all sorts of bacteria a way in. That can lead to more serious problems.” Dr. Claude Burton, professor of dermatology at Duke University School of Medicine. Dryness occurs not only externally, but internally as well. Our external skin can be an indicator and reflection of what is happening internally. When our skin is dry and flaky on the outside, it can reflect dryness occurring in our inner terrains, dry intestines leading poor digestion and constipation.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the fall season is related to lungs, large intestines and the skin! The lungs are our source of inspiration and create space for new ideas. The large intestines represent our ability to let go and move forward. When imbalanced, symptoms appear as breathing issues, asthma, frequent colds or flu. Dryness both internal and external can affect the lungs, creating dry mouth, dry throat and dry skin. Chronic grief or worry can create a deficiency and/or stagnation in the lungs. Constipation can occur in times when its hard to let go, and can manifest emotionally in the form of depression — we lose all inspiration for life! In Ayurveda, dryness creates separation and can create emotions of fear and isolation. One of my favorite rituals in Ayurveda is the practice of abhyanga. Abhyanga is a head to toe self-oil application to nourish the body from the outside in by improving circulation, strengthening immunity, and calming the nervous system. It is a wonderful act of self-love with gentle touch and warm sesame oil, offering a moment of gratitude to your body to allow a transition through the seasons with a little more ease and grace. A keto diet, which you may sometimes hear referred to as ketogenic diet, low-carb high-fat (LCHF), etc., is a popular low carb diet in which the body produces ketones out of the liver that will be used as energy. However, with lots of things you hear out there, it might be confusing and complicated to engage in the ketogenic diet. But don’t give up! If you are really interested in ketosis, we have gathered the important and helpful information so you can get good help along the way. In this guide, we will teach you some of the major facts, considerations, and options that you want to consider before starting this unique diet. What are the benefits of a keto lifestyle? When you begin a keto diet, you will experience many health benefits, including weight loss and increased energy levels.
Plan and make a list of preferred foods when getting started on keto diet. Toss all the garbage foods out of your refrigerator and cabinets and start with a clean slate. You should have a varied list of foods on your shopping list. The types of foods you eat on a keto diet will depend on how fast and easy you get the result. And the stricter you are in lowering your carb intake, the faster you get into keto state. Keep the carb level limited and don’t eat refined carbs like wheat. Don’t eat grains (wheat, rice, corn, cereal, etc.); sugar (honey, maple syrup, agave, etc.); fruit (apples, bananas, oranges, etc.); and tubers (potato, yams, etc.). On a keto diet, you can eat meats, leafy greens, above ground veggies, high-fat dairy, seeds and nuts, sweeteners, and other fats. Don’t get stuck starting your keto diet because planning is difficult. This is just an excuse and you know it. If you are looking for an easy route for getting a detailed shopping list of meal plans and recipes that are made ready, there are dozens of these services online which very often give you the choices of gluten free and/or low carb. Refer to these meal plans and practice a proper diet so you can see the best results. How do you reach ketosis? A keto diet might appear to be complicated and confusing, especially if you have well-meaning friends giving you faulty information. But if you know the important steps of how to achieve a straightforward ketosis, you will be guided regardless of the distractions you heard anywhere else. Reaching keto state is as simple as these steps below:
Measuring Progress and Your Results No doubt, one of most motivational things about losing weight is being able to see and measure your results. I mean, you look in the mirror and see a leaner you and your clothes are getting looser. Can you imagine how great that feels? Those are great feelings to be sure. But, you need to measure your progress truly to get the reassurance you need that the Keto diet is working. There are different ways to monitor your success on this plan. One way is by measuring ketosis. The way this is done is by testing the bi-product ketones of the process that are released from the body. They come out in your breath, sweat, and urine. Self-testing urine strips for testing your urine allows you to see when your body first goes into ketosis and that you are staying in ketosis. The strips are neutral in color and change to shades of pale pink to deep purple during ketosis. The darker the color the more ketones you are burning. Later one you can purchase a blood ketone meter. Another option is to have a complete blood chemistry test done before you start and then 1 month into the diet. This will show your cholesterol and blood sugar changes. You can measure weight loss by weighing yourself once a week, preferably at the same time. During the first week, you will likely see a significant change. But, don’t be fooled. Some of it will be fat loss but some is also retained water loss. Measure yourself to keep track of weight loss. If you are working out while on the diet, you may gain weight through lean muscle mass. To measure that you are losing weight you need to see if you are losing inches. Measuring and tracking your weight loss while on the ketogenic diet is an easy process and will help keep you motivated to continue. HOW TO KNOW YOU ARE ALREADY IN KETOSIS? To know you are in ketosis, measure it through blood strips or urine. However, if you prefer not to use these kinds of measuring processes, you can try other options available. You may use the short list of the physical symptoms, which will allow you to know if you are already under the keto state. Increased Urination: Keto diet is naturally diuretic, so you may more likely find yourself going back and forth to the bathroom more often. The acetoacetate, which is a ketone body, is excreted in the process of urination, which can lead to more and more bathroom visitation, particularly for those who are getting started with the diet. Dry Mouth: When you experience an increased urination, you will often experience a dry mouth and become thirstier. With this, you must make sure that you often drink plenty of water and replenish your electrolytes, such as magnesium, salt, and potassium. Bad Breath: Acetone was a ketone body, which is partially excreted in your breath. It may smell like a sharp over-ripe fruit, the same with the nail polish remover. Don’t worry, this is just temporary and it is a part of the process. It may disappear in no time. Reduced Hunger and Increased Energy Level: After you get past a keto flu, usually, you will find yourself experiencing a low hunger level while acquiring a clear and energized mental state. Don’t obsess with different methods of measuring and testing and certainly don’t compare yourself to others. Just focus more on the aspect of proper nutrition to make sure that you are eating the proper foods and staying within the range. Types of Ketogenic Diets Carbs are not necessary to effectively build muscles in the body and a keto diet is one of the excellent ways to achieve a good muscle build. However, the protein intake is very crucial when it comes to this. If you want to gain mass, you need to eat about 1.0 to 1.2 grams of protein per lean pound of body mass. On a keto diet, putting muscle on can become slower because the body’s total fats are not increasing that much. If you want to put on body fat for some reason at the same time as building muscle, carefully choose the type of keto diet from the list below: 1. Standard Keto Diet (SKD) This is a classic and a common keto diet most people know. Lots of people are performing this and had seen a truly amazing result over the process. 2. Targeted Keto Diet (TKD) This is a good variation in which you are eating the Standard Keto Diet, but at the same time, having an intake of fast-digesting carbohydrates before working out. On this keto diet, the carbs are only a small amount. 3. Cyclical Keto Diet (CKD) This a good variation of keto for the bodybuilders and for the contest goers, which generally gives one-day-a-week to carb up and then resupply the glycogen stores. For those who are working out or exercising intensely, the best keto diets you can try are the TKD and the CKD. While there are other types of keto diets available today, these three mentioned above will work wonders if followed properly. Physical Performance Lots of people have conflicting thoughts about the keto diet’s impact toward physical performance for athletes. To make it clear, keto diet is not affecting the physical performance in the long run. In some cases, others might experience some drops in their physical performance, but this will subside as they continue replenishing electrolytes and fluids while adapting to the fat intake. According to this study, keto diets had no effect on athletic performance at all. The study was done on 8 professional gymnasts, which acquired the same results. The group was fed on a strict diet using green veggies, high-quality fats, and proteins. Thus, even if they did a long bout of cardio, a keto diet did not affect performance or intensity. The only real time that keto diet affects the physical performance is in a certain exercise that needs an explosive action and hardcore workout. But if you are often on this kind of activity and want to boost your performance while in ketosis, you can begin to carb up by taking 25 to 50g in half an hour before you go on with the training. Possible Dangers The ketone production in the body might get too high, which is called ketoacidosis and it is not a normal situation. For many, it is a challenge just to get into the optimal range for the keto. There are many misconceptions regarding low-carb dieting, which had primarily caused an unpopular outlook in terms of ketosis. Over the last thirty years, many studies have looked at the beneficial effects of high-fats and few carbs in the body and the effect on overall health. And in some cases, other people are having a confusion about the high-fat, high-carb diets that can be terribly fatal to the body. In fact, if you often eat lots of fatty foods, which are also high in sugar, you may more likely get yourself into serious health trouble. When you are eating high-carb and high-fat foods, your body is naturally producing glucose. The carbs are the easiest element that the body can process, thus, the body will initially use them, so the excess fats will be stored quickly. As a result, this will cause weight gain and other health problems might exist or develop which can be associated with high-fats, high-carb diets. Furthermore, if you are thinking to opt for a low-fat diet, the best thing to do is to switch to a keto diet as it is better when compared to low-fat dieting. Make sure to see your doctor and seek a medical advice before starting a keto diet. If you are taking medications, you should also be more vigilant with your eating. And if you are a mom who is breastfeeding, you should be careful as you may more likely need to intake higher amount of carbs to keep your milk supply flowing. WHAT IS KETO FLU? For the beginners, the keto flu is common but don’t worry, this flu-like feeling will go away after a few days and it is not permanent. When you are transitioning to the keto diet, you can feel some slight body discomfort such as nausea, fatigue, cramps, headaches, and more. For the keto flu, there are few reasons why someone experiences these symptoms, but there are two main considerations: You are TransitioningThe body is equipped to process carb intake. To make this possible for the body, it may create enzymes. During the process, the brain’s energy may run lower which can possibly lead to headache, nausea, and grogginess. Reduce your carb intake if you have a big issue with this. Keto is DiureticYou will often find yourself going to the bathroom to urinate. This attributes to the electrolyte and water loss in the body. Make sure you increase your water intake to replenish the depleted electrolytes. Once the body gets used to your new way of eating, these symptoms will subside and you can enjoy your newfound energy. COMMON SIDE EFFECTS ON A KETO DIET Just like other types of diets, a Keto diet also has its own side effects that you don’t usually experience from other types of dieting. The following are the side effects of a Keto Diet.
LESS COMMON SIDE EFFECTS ON A KETO DIET There are common side effects when you are on a keto diet but there are also effects that don’t usually happen to others. These less common side effects will let you know that it can also happen to you if you are doing a keto diet.
TROUBLESHOOTING FURTHER There are questions that everyone wants to have an answer to get familiar with a keto diet. When you are on a keto diet, you may ask about the weight you will lose. The weight loss may depend on your way of doing the diet. If you want to lose weight quickly, integrating exercise into the diet is a good idea. If you want to track your carb intake, you can use a mobile app, which is convenient. Even when you have the app, it does not necessarily mean that it can already track your net carbs but it can calculate your intake of carbs and of fiber. There are several apps nowadays that can be used for carb tracking. There are instances where you will cheat on your keto diet. You don’t have to worry about it because you can always get back on track. Just keep in mind that you should be strict when it comes to your fighting your cravings. In addition, if you are someone who does not eat dairy, eggs, or meat but still wants to try a keto diet, you can do so. The diet does not have any real rules but always keep in mind that you should eat foods that are low in carbs. Also, you must only have a moderate intake of protein. When your keto diet is successful, it is always best to maintain the diet because if you start going back to your bad eating habits, your weight will come back, which will make you start this weight loss cycle all over again. Weight loss is a way of life, not a quick fix with an end date. TAKEAWAYS Being on a keto diet can create a big impact on your body because you are eating more fats than carbs. This diet is hard at the beginning but once you get used to it, you will surely feel it is easy and can handle it. If you really want to thrive on this diet, follow these tips:
How to Test Blood Sugars at Home Anyone who has diabetes, with high sugar level, or desires to master their metabolism should monitor or test their blood sugar level regularly. If you are aware of and know your blood sugar level, you can make your plan for keeping your disease in check. Testing blood sugars is also applicable to anyone who is concerned about his/her health issues. Visiting a doctor regularly is very time-consuming, but you don’t have to worry about this if you wanted to test your blood sugar regularly. You can already do it at home basis, you may discuss your testing needs with your doctor. Your doctor might recommend you the three different times of testing or often over the course of several days. Below are these three different testing times:
• With diabetes: 80-130 mg/dl • Without diabetes: 70-99 mg/dl After meal • With diabetes- below 180 mg/dl • Without diabetes- below 140 mg/dl Your target numbers may differ from one person to another. It may also change over time depending on your health, weight, age and other factors. But before doing a home test, you should also consider the important guidelines that your doctor will give to you. If you have diabetes, it cannot be easily diagnosed just by home testing. You should still need further testing from the doctor. A LOVING DISCLAIMER Drawing on my background, training, skills, and life experiences, I support my clients—spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. I am not a medical doctor, dietitian, or nutritionist. I do not hold a degree in medicine, dietetics, or nutrition. I make no claims to any specialized medical training, nor do I dispense medical advice or prescriptions. What is Autoimmune Disease?
Autoimmune disease is a medical condition where your immune system starts targeting the beneficial microbes and the healthy cells of your body. The immune system normally defends your body against invading microbes that are hazardous to your health, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The antibodies, produced by immune system, turn against healthy cells instead of fighting only against harmful invaders. The different types of autoimmune diseases will affect everyone’s body differently and the amount of damage done to your organs and healthy cells will also vary. There are around 80 types of medical conditions known to be autoimmune diseases and a person can experience unusual organ growth and malfunction in some cases. The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) stated in their research report that roughly 50 million Americans are victim to autoimmune diseases. Another study was carried out which reported that 20% of the world's population is suffering from this condition. The variation in so many of its sub-diseases and resembling symptoms are the reasons why it is so tough to find a cure for these diseases. Symptoms and diseases frequently persist in high and low intensities and could lead to flare-ups (harsh symptoms). The types of organs, muscles, and proteins attacked by your immune system will determine your autoimmune disease. For example, in Rheumatoid Arthritis, the antibodies attack your joints and bone tissues that cause severe inflammation and pain. The thyroid gland is affected in the Hashimoto's disease which causes hormone imbalance, leaving you vulnerable to many dangerous disabilities. Autoimmune conditions are also the harbinger of diabetes because the antibodies destroy insulin (sugar controlling hormones) which is responsible for controlling blood sugar levels. Factors that can Lead to Autoimmune Disease There is a mixed debate over this heated issue of what causes autoimmune diseases. Some experts emphasize environmental factors, food, and lifestyle while others claim that this has links with genetics and this runs in families. The American Autoimmune Related Disease Association (AARDA) found out that 75% of American women are predisposed to autoimmune disease simply by their genetic makeup. Many other experts all over the world blame the environmental and dietary factors for autoimmune conditions. Research has proven that autoimmune disease is a consequence of certain elements of your lifestyle, such as stress, sleep, your job, and, most importantly, the food you consume. Hormones also play a vital role in affecting the immune system. Higher levels of estrogen have a slight chance of hindering the function of your immune system. Other bacteria and viruses, especially Epstein-Barr virus, can also trigger other autoimmune diseases. Exposure to radioactive metals and other toxins can promote the growth of autoantibodies in your system that directly leads to autoimmune diseases. Symptoms of Autoimmune Disease The symptoms of autoimmune disease can differ greatly and are usually hard to distinguish because of the variety of different diseases. The basic symptoms include fatigue, constantly falling sick, and frequent fever. These symptoms may go away themselves but can give you a harsh experience during flare-ups. You can also have a combination of many symptoms of these various diseases. The following symptoms can indicate if you are suffering from autoimmune disease:
Why Does a Person Need an Autoimmune Protocol? One of the effective treatments to counter these autoimmune conditions is the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol, also known as AIP. AIP consists of a specialized diet and healthy lifestyle that are crucial for the rejuvenation of your immune system. It limits the consumption of all the foods that are considered a menace for your gut and ultimately the immune system. A person who is suffering from intense autoimmune symptoms should follow this focused diet plan. AIP puts huge emphasis on special nutrients that are essential for healing the gut, hormone production, and keeping the immune system in balance. The foods that AIP features contain vital nutrients for the growth and perfect function of the body. They have no elements that hinder your health. These foods include vegetables, leafy greens, seafood, and white lean meat. On the other hand, the food it eliminates from the diet usually contains harmful ingredients that deteriorate several systems of your body inducing various diseases. Prime examples of these foods are artificial sweeteners, refined grains, and fatty oils. This AIP diet is designed with many complexities but it judges the food on the benefits and drawbacks, thus concluding whether to allow it or not. Ultimately, it only allows the most nutrient-enriched foods and rejects foods that contain elements that can cause harm to your gut and possibly cause your gut to malfunction. Even the neutral food items that have both benefits and drawbacks (nightshades such as chili peppers and tomatoes) are completely prohibited. This prevents any risk that is posed to the health of your body. This diet can be very strict because it simple does not compromise even a little bit but it has proven benefits. This diet is a collection of all the benefits that many other diets offer. Research has proven and bolstered its restorative potential to cure autoimmune condition and halt the process of severe sclerosis. How Does The Autoimmune Protocol Work? The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) focuses on four important aspects that play vital roles in the rejuvenation of immune system and elimination of other chronic diseases. The AIP operates to ensure that conditions are sufficient for your body’s ultimate health. The first and the foremost aspect of this protocol is nutrient density. The human body is comprised of a complex system where the immune, neurotransmission and digestive systems are the most significant features. This system needs a constant supply of mixed nutrients to function properly. These vital nutrients include proteins, carbohydrates, amino and fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and some other microbes such as probiotics. Inadequacy or disproportion of any of these important nutrients can result in various medical conditions and autoimmune diseases. The AIP diet concentrates on a balanced supply of these rich nutrients that interact and combine their benefits to modulate the immune system properly. This diet also repairs all the damage done to your organs and other parts of the body. The second aspect is your gut and the digestive system. Gut dysbiosis and bloating can cause the immune system to malfunction, which results in autoimmune disease. The gut bacteria (also known as probiotics) have a symbiotic relationship with the immune system as they promote the growth of antibodies. Foods that destroy these bacteria and cause digestive disorders are completely condemned while foods that recover your gut barrier function are encouraged. The third key aspect is the regulation of hormones in your body. These microorganisms are responsible for all the actions and reactions in your system. Eating certain foods or overeating can cause an imbalance in the production of these hormones that directly affects the immune system. The AIP avoids the foods that stimulates or hinder the production of hormones that affect your immune system both positively and negatively thus keeping them in balance. Last but most importantly, AIP directly affects immune system regulation and ensures that the diverse microbes are working in harmony. All the important features of this diet are linked with the healing and enhancement of your immune system. AIP is vitally important in reversing inflammation, which can severely harm the immune system and induce many chronic diseases. AIP works with food power which is the natural remedy to heal all the problems in a human body, but certain other factors also come into play. The condition, severity, and time duration of your autoimmune disease will decide whether AIP can completely restore your health, decelerate the process of autoimmune disease, or just show few effects. Whatever the effects may be, it is undeniable that good food can make your life much better and healthier. What to Eat and What to Avoid The Autoimmune Protocol has built its reputation by recommending only a nutrient-rich diet that is composed of health-boosting foods. It completely condemns those foods that provoke inflammatory conditions and factors that autoimmune diseases thrive on. The following food items are encouraged for you to eat in moderate quantity while following AIP:
Following are the foods that should be excluded from your diet:
Another important part of this AIP diet consists of balancing sugar, salt, and fatty acid intakes. Fructose can be taken in the form of fruits and vegetables around 10 to 25 grams per day. High fructose intake, even when supplied by healthy berries and fruits, can raise the blood sugar too high, which can affect the way the body digests its food. The AIP diet plan is specially devised to assist those who suffer from autoimmune diseases. This diet contains essential nutrients required to prevent many disorders furthermore, it is free from all those constituents that upsets the gut, cause dysbiosis and stimulates your immune system. Everyday Life Factors that Influence Autoimmunity The AIP will play the key role in suppressing the autoimmune condition but living your life with balance and healthy tactics is also equally crucial. Sleeping is important for you to recover and keep your system functioning properly. Deprivation of sleep or insomnia can cause fluctuation in metabolism that triggers the appetite and sugar cravings. This can lead to various inflammatory diseases, mainly diabetes, that indirectly induces autoimmune diseases. Your body requires at least 8 hours of sleep to operate vigorously and many adults survive on much less each night. Stress is yet another leech that can exacerbate the immune system. Try meditation and relaxing exercises to counter stress on regular basis. Morning exercises are vital for regulation of a good energy flow and combat against many chronic diseases. It is not necessary for the exercise to be intense. Yoga or simple stretches early in the morning can do wonders for your health and your stress level. Keeping busy with other activities and socializing will keep you distracted from stress and other negative thoughts. Consider spending time with friends or enjoying any of your favorite hobbies. Removal and Reintroduction The autoimmune protocol diet is an unorthodox one and some complexities may occur in this very strict diet based on ample nutrients. It can be excessive in calories and there is an absence of some major nutrient-containing foods, such as grains and dairy products. The plethora of some nutrients, your health history, and your adaptation to certain foods can cause fluctuations in your everyday life. There is a chance you may suffer from food intolerances and on the other hand, cannot cope up without some foods that are eliminated in the AIP. The AIP is definitely a nutrient-rich diet that is free from foods responsible for health problems but the removal of these foods can be reversed with time. This means that you can reintroduce the foods, banned by the AIP, in your diet after some time of healing your body. Process of Reintroduction It is ideal to follow AIP for 3 weeks or a month before reintroducing the prevented food. Normally you should do it after you start feeling positive effects of the AIP diet on your body. You will feel the effects yourself if the AIP has replenished your body back to its ideal condition. The best way is to reintroduce a single food in every week and analyze if you feel any reaction. Following are symptoms to observe after the reintroduction:
There is a specific strategy for reintroduction of the food which will yield quick results and identify whether the food is causing any reactivity or it is now safe for you to consume. Pick a food you desire but make sure it is not too harmful. Grains or eggs are ideal to start with. Experiment by consuming it three times a day and then refrain from it for the next few days. Eat it a little at the start and wait for any reactions to happen in the next two or three hours. If any of the symptoms occur, prepare to stay away from that food for a very long time. If nothing happens, consume it at least twice in your meal. For the next five to seven days, do not consume it while analyzing for any possible reaction of an autoimmune symptom. Reintroduce this food if the results are clear and you did not suffer from any of the mentioned symptoms. It would be wise not to rush in this regard and take your time to implement the reintroduction phase. Stress and Autoimmune ProblemsMany studies have found a connection between stress of everyday life and autoimmune diseases. Stress is a major threat and the harbinger of many medical conditions; furthermore, it influences the immune system to a greater extent. The stress-relieving hormone is known as cortisol, which triggers when your mind senses stress. The production of this hormone decelerates when your stress become out of bounds. This also has an impact on your immune system that becomes vulnerable to autoimmune conditions due to the imbalance of these hormones. It is important to have regular, stress-relieving sessions as a part of the autoimmune disease treatment. Gut Dysbiosis and Autoimmune Disease It is no surprise that the condition of your gut has a direct impact on your immune system. In fact, 80% of the immune system is present in your gut. The probiotics, or good bacteria, are in a symbiotic relationship with the immune system maintaining a smoothly functioning body. Gut dysbiosis is a condition related to the gastrointestinal tract when growth of small intestinal bacteria takes place. This is known as SIBO for short and SIFO in case of a fungal overgrowth. A diet that consists of excess refined sugar and alcohol will promote the growth of bad bacteria that suppresses the function of your immune system. The dysbiosis will cause a leaky gut through which all the waste particles, toxins, and microbes will enter your bloodstream. Your immune system will be triggered immediately to start eliminating the infection. These infections, toxins, and food particles resemble with your body's vital cells and tissues, which causes the autoimmune disease to appear, where the antibodies attack good cells and proteins along with the bad ones. It is very important to protect your gut from dysbiosis or any other digestive disorder to prevent a leaky gut. Similarly, the thriving of good bacteria inside the gut is equally as important, too. Do You Have Support for Your Autoimmune Disease? Suffering from an autoimmune disease and getting through the treatment can be a tiring process and leaves a person mentally drained. Good support from people you love can change the entire scenario and can provide you with the encouragement to fight this condition. Some people may try to keep this condition a secret but they may also isolate themselves from the world nevertheless as a result. When you have a support group, your stress level will decrease naturally because you will not feel alone anymore. You also will need someone to take care of you in case of any worst-case scenario where you need to rely on someone for sudden help in case of any unforeseen situation. Sharing your condition with friends and family will prove to be a good decision and they may be able to help you in your everyday life. A LOVING DISCLAIMER Drawing on my background, training, skills, and life experiences, I support my clients—spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. I am not a medical doctor, dietitian, or nutritionist. I do not hold a degree in medicine, dietetics, or nutrition. I make no claims to any specialized medical training, nor do I dispense medical advice or prescriptions. I highly recommend seed cycling for your hormone health! Seeds contain nutrients that are the precursors to our body’s hormone production and fertility health. Flax and pumpkin seeds support the estrogen dominant time of the month while sesame and sunflower seeds support the progesterone peaks. Estrogen dominance is commonly associated with constipation, heavy menstrual bleeding, dark red or clotting menses, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, PCOS, endometriosis and infertility. Avoiding xenoestrogens, reducing hormone disruptors and supplementing with DIM (diindolylmethane) have been effective in reducing estrogenic effects in the body. Proper bowel elimination is necessary to eliminate excess estrogens. Constipation can lead to estrogens being reabsorbed in the colon. Triphala is an excellent herbal remedy for occasional constipation without the laxative effect. Please be aware ground seeds are susceptible to oxidation and can go rancid fairly quickly, it is best to keep refrigerated and grind fresh daily. For Women Begin seed cycling on the first day of your menstrual cycle. If your cycle isn’t regular, you don’t have a cycle or in menopause, use the days corresponding to the phases of the moon. Note: If you are on birth control pills this might not be helpful since birth control pills already effect the hormone process. From Day 1-14 of the menstrual cycle (or new moon to full moon)
Would you like to connect with your cycle through an embodiment practice? Connect with the four phases of your lunar cycle with the below Spotify playlists: For Men Flip seed cycling in reverse! Seed cycling for men is opposite of the women’s cycle and helpful for boosting male fertility. Full Moon to New Moon
Dr. Ritamaries's Thyroid & Hormone Support Elixir
Proper nutrition is a key element to achieving thyroid health. This recipe has the foods, herbs, and supplements that will help you repair your thyroid gland and balance your hormones. Ingredients:
I brought Energetix homeopathic and botanical remedies into my practice because of their outstanding opening channels program's ability to open up the channels of elimination and drainage pathways. Energetix is dedicated to providing outstanding resources and solutions. The Opening Channels Program is a unique combination of homeopathic, botanical, and nutritional supplements designed to “set the stage” for healing by opening the pathways of elimination in the body, including the colon, liver, spleen, kidneys, etc. The synergistic ingredients in the Opening Channels products have been used traditionally to aid and assist with digestion, elimination, hydration, pH balancing, and liver/gut function. Elimination and Drainage is necessary for appropriate detox. The body naturally has the capacity to find and eliminate toxicity to maintain balance within the body.
The primary pathways of elimination are: digestion (intestines), liver, lungs, kidneys, and lymph! If you have symptoms of any type inflammation, your body is compensating due to toxic load in your primary pathways of elimination. Our secondary pathways of elimination are: skin, sinus and reproductive system. If you are experiencing chronic headaches & sinus congestion, acne or skin inflammation, irregular or painful menstrual cycles, your body is sending you messages! These symptoms are indicating there is an issue with your primary elimination pathways. These are definite imbalances in the function and effectiveness of the body's primary pathways of elimination and therefore are clogging the secondary pathways of elimination (skin, sinuses & reproductive organs) leading to these disruptive and uncomfortable symptoms. The body is a flow system designed to heal via cellular communication, nourishment and the cleansing of toxicity and metabolic bi-products. If the primary pathways are clogged, function will diminish and toxicity and waste products will back-up, clogging and affecting the secondary pathways of elimination. When the body is congested it cannot rest, repair, or regenerate. Let’s face it, Texas doesn’t really relate to the typical seasonal flow! We are usually somewhere between hot and HOTTER! However, we are technically still in winter season, yet our temps are already in the 80’s reflecting the spring season. If you are already suffering from seasonal allergies or want to prevent the stuffy, sneezy head sniffles it’s time to boost your immune system! The winter season is the perfect time to nourish the kidneys, adrenals and bladder! By nourishing these organs during the winter season, it allows us to move into spring with less congestion. Seasonal lifestyles are key to mitigating common colds and allergy flare ups! Eating seasonally allows the body to work in sync with nature to allow the body to cleanse, eliminate toxins, and allergens naturally. Adding the homeopathic remedy Drainage Tone from Energetix can be helpful in making sure drainage is properly happening to prevent allergy flare ups. Flu Tone homeopathic remedy is another great product to have on hand, just in case you get a dose of the flu. Signs of imbalance this season include insomnia, stress, worry, constipation, colds, flus, allergies and joint pain. In addition to the above winter wellness foods it is best to reduce sugar intake, get daily movement, and practice self-care practices like dry skin brushing and self-massage with warm lymphatic massage oil. Enjoy the below tonics on a daily basis to boost metabolism, nourish the kidneys, and remove toxins. Lemon Cravings Tonic This lemon tonic will increase your metabolism, suppress hunger, increase your energy, reduce bloating, lower cholesterol and reduce indigestion! 1 cup warm water Juice from 1 lemon or lemon slices 1 tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar* 1 teaspoon local raw honey, maple syrup, or a few drops stevia to taste (optional) 1 dash of cinnamon powder or small cinnamon stick (optional) Dash sea salt *NOTE: If you feel nauseous or experience tightness in the chest after drinking the morning tonic, please omit the raw apple cider vinegar. This reaction can occur when the body releases bacteria and toxins during detox. Continue to drink the Lemon Cravings Blaster, but omit the apple cider vinegar. Cranberry Flax Tonic This tonic is full of phytonutrients to reduce free radicals, has high fiber to block fat absorption, increase fat excretion, and bind toxins for elimination! 2 tablespoons cranberry juice concentrate* (no sugar added) 1 teaspoon psyllium powder or ground flaxseeds 12 oz. water Juice from 1 lemon Dash of cinnamon 1 teaspoon of raw honey, maple syrup, or stevia to taste (optional) *NOTE: You can replace cranberry concentrate with pomegranate or cherry concentrate. Shanah McCrary, Digestive Health & Skincare Specialist I am a Certified Holistic Health Coach and Licensed Esthetician. As a stomach cancer thriver and my own challenges with stress, digestion and acne, I approach my clients with compassion and understanding. I encourage clients to implement a holistic and balanced lifestyle through mind, body awareness and whole foods. Crashing and Cancer…
It was October 23, 2007 and I woke up feeling awful, but it was normal for me to power through; I could rest later. Only an hour into work and progressively feeling worse, I began to realize the stomach pangs and increasing nausea were not going to subside. Walking to the restroom my vision became blurry and legs went weak. I was fortunate to be surrounded by caring co-workers who quickly came to my rescue, calling an ambulance as I began to project profuse amounts of blood into a small office trash bin. Panic set in when I saw the blood on my hands and in the trash can. Sharp pangs continued to increase with every heartbeat as the paramedic put in a saline drip. My blood pressure crashed and as they brought in the crash cart and my blood pressure began to stabilize I saw the nurses suited up in hazmat protective gear… I knew something was terribly wrong. They inserted a nasogastric tube, which is one of the worst things I've experienced. It feels as though your nose and throat are being scraped with sand paper and crushed glass! I quickly realized why all the protective gear was necessary, as the tube was inserted I was gagged and blood projected across the room. Realizing the blood wasn’t stopping, I was rushed for an endoscopy and two blood transfusions. When fear becomes reality… An ulcer on top of a golf ball size tumor was discovered in my stomach and surgery was scheduled for the following morning. The biopsy returned what seemed to be benign, but was quickly diminished on my last day in the hospital with a cancer diagnosis (gastrointestinal stromal tumor). As the surgeon explained this rare form of cancer and the pros and cons and while they believed they removed all of it and surrounding tissue there was a possibility the cancer could have spread to other organs via the bleeding ulcer. My heart sank and I began to cry, I was 32, single, felt alone and unsure of the outcome and my fear became reality. I went into a deep depression and didn’t share my feelings with friends or family, I suffered in silence. I felt alone, broken, scared and tried to live as normal as I could. With each bite of food my stomach hurt, I slowly began gaining weight, feeling tired, and sluggish. I literally felt drunk every morning. Cellulite was creeping up my thighs and I was breaking out with painful cystic acne. My blood-work continued to be questionable with extremely low white blood counts and we danced around bone marrow testing. Candida, fibroids, shakes & supplements... Obviously I did not feel my best and definitely did not look my best, only added to my insecurities. I searched for detox options, mostly for my skin. I discovered a spa that did detox wraps and signed up at a nearby spa. Upon my arrival the owner asked me why I was seeking a detox wrap…. skirting around the issue for about 30 minutes I finally shared my story and symptoms. We discussed my diet and stress, and discovered I had candida. Dr. Trihn was a chiropractor focusing on women’s health and was running the spa. She put me on a no sugar diet for 2 weeks, then moved me to a 28-day Standard Process cleanse. Talk about a life changer! I couldn’t believe how much better I felt! I had more energy, was waking up without an alarm clock and my skin was improving. I went to my oncology appointment and he couldn’t believe how much my lab work had improved. He informed me that my blood work was at least 30% better than it had been. As my health was improving I started experiencing extreme blood loss during my menstrual cycle and passing blood clots larger than my palm. I had been on birth control pills since I was 18 to manage painful cramps I had since high school. Went in to my gynecologist and while I knew I had 1 fibroid a few years prior, she informed me I now had 3 and we might have to discuss a hysterectomy if we couldn’t manage the blood loss with birth control pills. I followed up with a vist to Dr. Trinh and she advised me to get off birth control pills and recommended an ovarian/uterine cleanse. I weaned off of birth control pills and began the recommended cleanse. Six months later, no fibroids! I became a shake loving and supplement popping girl! Most of my friends laughed at me or thought I was losing my mind! Dr. Trinh has since moved to Duncan, Oklahoma and opened Varai Health Center. I highly recommend visiting Dr. Trinh if you live in the Duncan, OK area. A girl walks into a bar… A few months later I noticed a clicking in my throat. Went to the doctor and they found a small nodule on my left thyroid, however my thyroid levels appeared to be within normal range. I felt as though my body was falling apart. I would get a glimpse of hope, then another symptom would appear. An afternoon out with friends we ended up a restaurant for dinner. I met a man sitting at the seat next to me while waiting for a table. We all began chatting and he shared he researched efficacy of supplements. I was all ears! As I shared my supplement journey he shared his thoughts and informed me he was a functional medicine practitioner and was only seeing private clients. He was reluctant at first but eventually gave me a business card to schedule an appointment. Mind blown! He quickly became my practitioner, nutritional guru and mentor. He opened my eyes to so many various healing modalities… energy medicine, muscle testing, magnets, pyramids, mud packs, epigenetics and the power of perception. I couldn’t get enough information about nutrition and my free time and most weekends consisted of researching nutrition, products, supplements, and attending various wellness workshops. I became immersed in learning as much as I could about nutrition, epigenetics and digestion. In 2011 I registered for the Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s online program, and spent weekends at various health and wellness trainings and certification programs. Allowing reality to unfold into a blessing… It took some convincing, but I eventually left the corporate world and moved to Austin. I went to Yoga Teacher Training, which seems to be the path with most of the women in Austin. I quickly began to feel all the feelings of confusion and questioned what I had done. I had uprooted my life and left all my friends behind. It was a lonely time of feeling disconnected. I lost myself in studying and nutrition programs to fill the void. I found Qoya, a movement practice for women that creates community, a sense of belonging and a place to remember and allowed me to process a majority of my emotions! I went to esthetician school to allow me to connect with clients in a much deeper, sacred way. A facial is an intimate way to connect with gentle and soothing touch, while being able to discuss wellness and digestive issues at the same time. Clients tend to reveal themselves in a more open manner when they are half dressed and vulnerable on a massage table. I am always honored when I can connect in such a nurturing way. When was the last time you had someone cleanse your skin with the intention of purely nurturing a part of you that represents so much of how we show up in the world? I am allowing my reality to unfold into a blessing by bringing more balance to my life and sharing the wisdom with others. Here’s to embodying inner wisdom & outer beauty! |
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