Tag Archive for: digestive health

Your Body Temple or Garage

May 10, 2023/in Healthy Living

Your Body Temple or Garage

Is your body a temple or garage? Stop what you’re doing and ask yourself, “Am I treating my body like a temple? Or am I treating my body like a garage?” Maybe the answer will make you feel really good. Or maybe you won’t be happy with your answer. Either way, both are important eye-openers. Day-to-day life is busy for most of us. We spend so much time inside our own minds that we can forget, we have an entire body we’re attached to. God gave us one body that we’re tasked to love.

God wants us to be happy and healthy. Are you healthy? “Health” looks different to many people. I say it’s not the absence of disease which is how most people define health. However, health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Meaning, when you were fearfully and wonderfully made by our Creator, the intention was for you to be in good physical, mental, and spiritual health. I’ll ask again, are you treating your body like a temple or garage?

I was recently asked to speak on a podcast about this topic, which happens to be my favorite topic! You can listen to it here: Your Body Temple or Garage. As a Naturopathic Doctor, I love helping women with their health.

This podcast is a Christian perspective on taking care of the body. Nikki Davis is the host on her own journey to find holistic healing and go back to God and nature. Nikki is a Realtor, Magazine Editor, Wedding Expert, Artist, and Hobby Farmer. Nikki takes you along for the ride as she navigates the ups and downs of being an introverted, networking-centric small business owner in Midwestern Life.

Her podcast is called This UnBee-Lievable Life.

You can find Nikki on FB At Revival Farms River Valley

Black Bean Lentil Tacos

May 7, 2023/in Healthy Recipes

Black bean lentil tacos are a high-fiber meatless alternative to traditional tacos. They are also more economical and quicker to prepare than meat tacos.

I wanted to share my favorite brand of gluten-free wraps. They are Siete brand and found in the refrigerated section of your healthier grocery store. They also have chickpea and almond flour versions.

Or instead of using gluten-free wraps, I love this on a bed of greens, organic of course. It can always be served over organic rice or quinoa as a taco bowl. Speaking of, like always, use organic ingredients to lower your toxic load.

Being primarily dairy-free is important to me as well so I use many of the products from Follow Your Heart. We love their sour cream and cheeses. Pepper Jack is my favorite version but they have a variety of other dairy-free flavors including cheddar, mozzarella and gouda.

Ingredients

1 small onion diced, 1/3 cup

2 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp salt

3 cups cooked green lentils (1 cup dry)

1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained

1/3 cup salsa

2/3 cup low-sodium vegetable broth

Gluten-free taco shells or wraps.

Optional toppings: tomato, lettuce, avocado, dairy-free sour cream, cilantro, olives

Directions

Heat half the broth over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add and saute the onions for 6-7 minutes.

Add garlic, cumin, chili powder, and salt. Heat for 2-3 minutes.

Reduce heat to low and add lentils and black beans. Stir all to combine.

Add salsa and vegetable broth. Stir and heat for about 5 minutes. Add remaining broth if necessary to keep it creamy.

Spoon into a taco shell or on a bed of greens. Add toppings of your choice.

Makes 6-8 servings or tacos.

Note: Taco seasoning can be made up in advance. I purchase organic bulk herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs and save so much money.

Cauliflower Egg Salad

April 6, 2023/in Healthy Products

Cauliflower Egg Salad

Potato Salad is a staple in the South. At one cookout, there could be 4-5 different potato salads! I don’t know that there is an occasion where potato salad wouldn’t be accepted. According to my Digestive Health Test results, my body doesn’t digest potatoes well. Which is a bummer because I love potato salad as much as the next person. So, I created the best of both worlds! Potato-less Potato Salad! Yep, you heard that right. We’re going to use that vegetable that can replace almost anything, cauliflower. Check out this Cauliflower Egg Salad recipe!

Ingredients

1 head of cauliflower (steamed or boiled)

3 boiled eggs

1/3 cup (appx) veganaise

3 tbs of mustard

3 tbs of pickle relish

1/8 cup of chopped raw onion

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Steam or boil cauliflower and set aside

Boil 3 eggs

Mix all together

chill overnight

optional: you can garnish with egg slices and parsley

Is potato salad a tradition where you live? Do you want to learn more about Digestive Health Testing? We would love to chat! Set up your Wellness Strategy here. If you want to try another, new cauliflower recipe, check out this Broccoli Cauliflower and Apple Salad.

Dr. Bonnie Schnautz Naturopathic Doctor, Digestive Health Specialist and Mental Fitness Coach opening the door

Health Information Forms

March 8, 2023/in Healthy Living

Welcome to B Renewed Wellness Solutions! Your next step is to complete the health information forms. This provides the background of your health and the current symptoms that you are experiencing. The more details you can provide, the better I can help you balance your body and manage your stress.

Please complete the following forms at least 24 hours prior to your appointment.

1. Food and Beverage Intake

Be sure to track your food and beverage for a minimum of 4 days. More is better. We don’t need to know calories, just whether you dine in or out and what time you are eating or drinking.

You can track your food in a notebook and share it with me if you prefer. If you use a food tracking app, you can also share that with me instead of using the forms. The more details you can provide, the better I can help you determine the source of your stressors. If you like to use the online form, you can do that here.

2. General Health Assessment

Complete the Health Assessment

3. Hormone Assessment for Women

This applies to women over the age of 13 or who have started menstruating.
Complete the Hormone Survey

4. Mental Fitness Assessment

Curious about what a mental fitness assessment is? There are two parts to the assessment. One is the percentage of time you are being hijacked by the negative saboteurs that we all have. These negative saboteur thoughts are creating loads of stress which is impacting our mental and physical health. Take the Mental Fitness Assessment here.

The second part of the assessment is your total PQ score. This measures your potential for happiness and success in everything you do. Once complete, you’ll receive the results (two separate results) via email. Forward those to me at bonnie@brenewed.com.

I’m looking forward to helping you overcome your health challenges and restore your body and mind to wholeness. You deserve this!

If you have any questions, please email or call. Or check out our page of Frequently Asked Questions.

Thank You and God bless.

Bonnie Schnautz DHS, ND

Note: The consultation is not designed to treat, cure or diagnose an illness. This is for educational purposes only.

Rev 1/31/2024

What’s destroying your gut

February 23, 2023/in Healthy Products

What’s destroying your gut health is a popular question. So many people now realize that gut health is foundational to our overall health. It’s even been called our second brain!

Your microbiome is a complex ecosystem, home to an estimated 38 trillion living microorganisms and comprising over 10,000 types of bacteria and other microbes. These contribute more to your survival than your DNA. They digest food, supply vitamins, support the immune system, and create neurotransmitters.

Most of the bacteria in your gut help support your body. But, about 15% of the bacteria in the gut can have some negative impacts on your overall health. Most of the time this isn’t a problem, because as long as the good bacteria outweigh the bad (by about six times) things tend to work pretty well. If the balance of bacteria shifts, the undesirable bacteria can start to have more of an effect, leaving you feeling less than your best.

Here are 10 of the most common things NOT supporting your gut health:

1. Gluten

Gluten is a type of protein that’s found in many grains, including wheat, rye, and barley. It gives foods good texture but can wreak havoc on your gut. While it’s true, some people are more sensitive to gluten than others, research has shown that even if you’re not gluten-sensitive, eating gluten can have significant, long-term effects on your gut bacteria. In turn, it can affect pretty much any part of your body. Go gluten-free, God’s way, naturally, with fruits, vegetables, and greens. Along with nuts and seeds that have not been cooked in oil. Packaged gluten-free products are made mostly of junk grains such as white rice, potato starch, or tapioca.

2. Sugar

This one includes sugar and sweeteners in all forms: white sugar, brown sugar, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, etc.

You may be asking, why is it so bad for your gut bacteria?

Well, just like you, your bacteria have to eat. They get their food from the food that you consume. While some foods are prebiotic, meaning that they break down into substances that feed the good bacteria in your body, others, including sugar, feed the bad guys. The more sugar or sweeteners you eat, the more they can grow, and eventually start crowding out the good bacteria, which has all kinds of effects on your body.

Try this instead: There are lots of natural sweeteners that you can use to replace sugar; honey is one of the easiest to find and use. It is also a potent prebiotic to boot. Plus organic monk fruit powder and organic stevia are also options. Pay close attention to wine as the residual sugar can be high (especially in whites). Buy organic when possible or obtain wine from other countries as grapes in the U.S. are heavily sprayed with pesticides.

3. Fried and Processed Foods

We know that fried and processed foods contain trans fats. They’re detrimental for the same reason as sugar: they break down into components that feed the less hospitable bacteria in your gut. In one memorable experiment, professor of genetic epidemiology, Tim Spector found that when his adult son ate strictly fried foods and junk foods for a week, he lost about a third of the species of bacteria in his microbiome, including many beneficial ones. Among the species that stuck around, one linked to problems with weight really flourished. Similar results have been found in other studies.

Besides the obvious issue with the inhospitable bacteria, the reduction in species of bacteria in the gut––aka gut diversity––is a huge deal. You see, the more diverse your gut microbiome is, the better your health is likely to be. While part of this comes down to easing up on our modern overzealous notions of cleanliness, another part is making sure that the foods we’re eating aren’t devastating bacterial populations. Switch up your probiotic, variety is key!!

Try this instead: if you’re just dying for some french fries, try having some oven-roasted organic potatoes or even prebiotic-rich jicama fries instead. Make fried foods somewhat healthier by changing the oil that you cook them in, so try using coconut oil or avocado oil instead of canola or vegetable oil. Unlike many other oils, these don’t break down into harmful components (transfats) when heated, making them a better choice for anything you’re frying at home.

4. Dairy

Like gluten, some people are going to be more sensitive to dairy products than others. But research has shown that a diet rich in dairy products has significant negative effects on your gut microbiome.

Another issue with dairy? The possibility of consuming antibiotics in it. Antibiotics can’t tell what bacteria are good or bad, so they kill beneficial and non-beneficial bacteria alike. Throwing your microbiome out of whack.

Since antibiotics can show up in our food, many of us are exposed to more antibiotics than we realize. While FDA regulations in the U.S. state that lactating cows can’t be given antibiotics (since they leach into the milk), a small percentage of farmers have been found to violate those regulations. Your dairy products might not be as antibiotic-free as you’d think.

Try this instead: Make sure you get the highest quality, organic, grass-fed, rBGH-free, and preferably raw dairy you can. Some people take an “organic and raw or not at all” approach and although it’s hard, it’s worth it.

5. Soy

You would think that soy would be one of the healthier foods. After all, so many of the foods we consider to be healthy are made with it, and it’s an incredibly common substitute for meat. But here’s the thing—while soy that’s made in very traditional ways can be healthy, most of the soy we consume today is genetically modified and processed in ways that make it less-than-ideal for our bodies.

Studies have shown that a diet high in soy products can have rapid, large-scale negative effects on gut bacteria, particularly Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria, two strains of bacteria that are incredibly important for microbial health.

Try this instead: Organic soy can be healthy, especially when it’s fermented (as in the case of natto, tempeh, or miso). Just be sure to read the label carefully for the NonGMO label to avoid GM soy.

6. Red Meat

While having the occasional organic, grass-fed, responsibly farmed steak isn’t likely to throw your whole system off, eating a diet that’s heavy in meat can be tough on your body. Especially if it includes a lot of red meat. While research is ongoing, it’s been shown that eating high amounts of red meat affects your gut bacteria rapidly, increasing the bad guys and decreasing the good guys.

Another thing to consider is unless you’re getting high-quality, responsibly produced meat, chances are that it contains antibiotics, steroids, and GM grains in it. Fact: 80% of antibiotics used in the U.S. are given to livestock!

Try this instead: Look for organic, grass-fed meat wherever you can, or better yet find a local farmer. It’s not only much tastier, but it’s also much better for your health.

7. Tap Water

Staying hydrated is absolutely fundamental to good health. And no surprise, given that our bodies are 55-60% water. So while we would never recommend you put down your water glass, it might be better to make the switch over to filtered water. While your water is absolutely drinkable when it comes out of the tap, it’s also treated with a number of chemicals, including chlorine, which can have significant negative effects on your gut bacteria.

Don’t forget about the presence of antibiotics and other chemicals. When we consume antibiotics either as medicine or through our food supply, they get processed by our body and released into our wastewater, which is then sometimes recycled for drinking water. While it is (of course) processed before it makes its way back to your tap, the water can still have the residue of antibiotics in it, which in turn affects your gut microbiome.

Try this instead: This one’s an easy fix! You can easily put a filter under the sink or tabletop filter and go for filtered water instead of tap.

8. Eggs & Chicken

Eggs aren’t bad if the chickens were raised responsibly. While eggs that come from chickens who are fed a healthy diet, allowed roaming, and not dosed up with antibiotics are generally fine for your health; your standard factory farm-raised eggs are not. Again, it comes down to the possibility of getting those residual antibiotics, hormones, steroids, and genetically modified components into your food.

Try this instead: Eggs are one of the easiest foods to find healthy alternatives for, so by all means, keep up the omelets––just make sure your eggs are coming from happy, drug-free, free-range chickens. Ask farmers if they use GM grain! Yes, I’ve paid $6-$7/doz (.50/egg) for years. I’m worth it and so is your family.

9. Farmed Fish

Have you been to a fish farm?!

Conventionally farmed fish are often kept in overcrowded pools and fed a diet that’s not ideal for their health. To compensate, the people raising the fish often give them antibiotics directly or in their food, which can then be passed on to you. Also, farmed fish are often fed growth hormones and genetically modified corn that can deplete your beneficial bacteria.

Another potential issue is that some types of larger fish have high levels of mercury in their flesh. Not only is that bad for your overall health, but heavy metals are also associated with lowered levels of good gut bacteria. Consume larger fish (tuna, swordfish, orange roughy) in moderation and stick to smaller fish.

Try this instead: Consume only wild-caught fish and smaller fish (salmon, sea bass, flounder, cod). Don’t be afraid to ask your server when dining out where the fish came from and if it is wild-caught or farm-raised.

10. Genetically Modified (GM) Foods- Are you Roundup-ready?

GM foods were introduced in 1990. One of the main areas of focus is the negative effects that glyphosate (an herbicide used in growing some GM foods) has on the gut microbiome. Other research points to changes in the genes of the microbiome: one study has shown that when humans digest genetically-modified foods, the artificially-created genes transfer into the bacteria of the gut and alter their function.

Try this instead: Look for foods that are grown using traditional methods with non-GMO ingredients.

In our modern Western culture, chances are you’re going to eat some ice cream, (enjoy our cookie dough energy bites), or have a glass of tap water every now and then, so don’t worry if you can’t avoid all of these things all the time. You’re not doomed to poor gut health. Instead, do what you can to live a gut-healthy life by taking the best possible care of your body, and giving your microbiome the support it needs to thrive—like making healthy changes to your diet and taking a premium probiotic to replenish your beneficial gut bacteria.

A healthy microbiome is so fundamental to your well-being, and it’s so easy to get started on your journey to optimal gut health. A switched-out ingredient here, a water filter there, and you’ll have already made some great strides in supporting your gut. We know you can do it- believe us when we say that your gut will thank you for it!

Bonus: Hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes are notorious for destroying your good bacteria. Stop it! Use essential oil-based products that do not kill good bacteria. We need to be exposed to germs, viruses, etc. Living in a bubble will wreak havoc in the near future. SmartSilver is our favorite! It’s hydrosol, not a colloidal silver so there is no toxicity. To kill viruses you can swab your nose, diffuse it, and more! Ask us to send you a recommendation as it’s a healthcare professional grade.

We understand life is busy! We want simple solutions as much as you. Here are some super simple changes that you can start to make today:

Probiotics- We’ve all heard of them, right? But did you know that there is such a thing as prebiotics and postbiotics too? These are all great options. Remember to switch it up! Variety is key to supporting all the good bacteria in your body. Here is one of my favorites.

Digestive Enzymes – These enzymes will help break your food down so your body can digest and assimilate the nutrients.

Organic Plants- Making sure you are adding in more organic plants, daily, will help your body get more nutrients, naturally. (Did you know the chewing motion stimulates digestive enzymes? So the more you chew your greens, the more your body can actually absorb what they have to offer). Struggling to eat your greens, try drinking them. This powdered produce provides 37 different ones.

Fiber – We aren’t overweight, we are over-toxic. We NEED fiber to detox. Eat lots of clean plants and add a scoop of clean plant fiber powder to beverages. Conventional retail fiber products contain chemicals and GM ingredients that disrupt our gut.

One thing you can count on from us, we will always talk about gut health and why it is so important to our lives. Our goal is to live disease free and this is how we start! We don’t just suggest others follow these suggestions, we follow them too.

If you are feeling overwhelmed or need help getting started, you can book a free consultation with me. We love hearing what has and hasn’t worked for others. Follow us on Facebook and join our women-only group!

Natural Solutions to Psoriasis

October 29, 2022/in Health Issues

If you are searching for natural solutions to psoriasis, there is hope. I’ve seen dramatic improvements with clients by incorporating dietary changes and enzyme therapy. Don’t let anyone lead you to believe that medication is the only answer.

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is identified by excessive cell replication. In affected areas, cells reproduce at 1000 times
the normal rate, exceeding even the rate of skin cancer. Normal skin regenerates itself every 28 days. In
psoriasis, this process occurs every 3 to 4 days. As the skin reproduces new cells at this rate, the
the area becomes red and inflamed and can rise to three times its normal thickness.

There are different forms of psoriasis, but all involve scaly red patches in various shapes. The patches can
appear on the scalp, knees, elbows, buttocks, and sites of trauma, but there are cases in which the entire
body is involved. Typically, psoriasis begins with a small scaly spot that does not heal. Psoriasis can also
affect the nail beds.

Psoriasis is the fourth most common skin disease in the US after acne, warts, and eczema. In 50% of
people with it, there is a family history of psoriasis. People with psoriasis have a higher-than-average rate of rheumatoid arthritis. About one person in 20 with psoriasis has some form of arthritis, and about one in 20 with arthritis has psoriasis. It can manifest at any age but the peak onset occurs between 15 and 35 years. However, it can begin as early as three years of age and as late as 55.

What causes psoriasis?

The cause of psoriasis has not been determined, but the factors associated with it include food, allergies,
metabolic issues, liver, and colon problems, hyper or hypo, thyroidism, and stress.

As with most health issues diet plays a major role.

Germany had a high incidence of psoriasis prior to World War II. During the war, the disease nearly
disappeared when foods, notably Sugar, were in short supply. After the war, as the economy recovered in
food supplies, and returned to normal, psoriasis came back.

Specific metabolic factors have been linked to psoriases, such as abnormal fatty acid metabolism, elevated
levels of homocysteine in the blood, hypothyroidism, and abnormal elimination of toxins. Structural
problems and nutritional factors can also contribute to the issue.

According to John Pagano, DC, author of Healing Psoriasis, “psoriasis is the external manifestation of the
body’s attempt to eliminate internal toxins, out of accumulated in the lymphatic’s, and bloodstream by
seeping through the intestinal walls.“ The body’s elimination system, primarily the liver and the kidneys,
try to filter out these toxins. When the liver is overloaded, toxins are eliminated through the skin. as the
toxins accumulate, psoriasis begins to develop.

Undigested food can escalate skin issues, but psoriasis is aggravated by certain foods in particular. These
include undigested proteins, vegetables from the nightshade family, such as eggplant, tomatoes and
peppers, refined, sugar, pork, and alcohol. Bacteria can convert partially digested proteins into toxic
substances which contribute to excessive cell proliferation and psoriasis.

How to eliminate or reduce the symptoms

Enzyme formulas, herbal remedies, and topical creams can all support reducing or eliminating the
symptoms of psoriasis.

A diet of whole, clean, unprocessed foods and no refined or synthetic foods is key. Some even suggest a
vegetarian diet, while others believe that organic meat, with the exception of pork, is acceptable. If you have psoriasis and arthritis, it is best to avoid the nightshade family of foods. Sugar and alcohol are known to aggravate psoriasis.

Enzyme therapy

Since this is a digestion issue, enzymes are a great resource to alleviate and heal the body. However, getting the right enzyme is key. The enzyme to use for psoriasis depends on the individual, their digestive needs, and their symptoms. Some may
require more protease and others more lipase or cellulase. Some may be sugar intolerant. The best way to find out is to utilize digestive health testing. One pattern that is common for those with psoriasis is hypothyroidism.

Herbal remedies

Some herbs can support the reduced symptoms of psoriasis. These include burdock root, milk thistle, cleavers, red clover, Oregon grape root, saffron, and slippery elm. Please work with a Naturopath or herbalist before adding these.

Emotional Roots of psoriasis

Since the majority of our health issues stem from our emotions, we must consider the underlying issues. Psoriasis has a root of emotional insecurity, fear of being hurt, grief, depression, or anxiety. To learn more about the emotional and physical connections of health, I recommend Craig Miller’s work and book, Breaking Emotional Barriers to Healing.

Essential oils

Tea tree oil (melaleuca alterfolia) can be used to relieve skin and mucous membranes issues as well. It
also contains antiseptic, antibacterial, and germicidal properties. However, be sure you are using a pure source. Other essential oils that may help include lavender, bergamot, and helichrysum.

If you suffer with skin issues and found natural solutions, I’d love to hear what worked for you. However, if you still are, know there is hope and I’d love to help. You can schedule a complimentary phone chat or text us at 843-203-8003.

Top 10 Ways to Prevent Colds and Flu

June 28, 2021/in Health Issues

Colds, flu, and sinus infections are now part of history for our family. For me, it has been over 20 years since I’ve experienced any of these unpleasant symptoms. Some of the benefits of less sick time include more quality time with my family, productive time in my business, hundreds of dollars saved in toxic over-the-counter and prescription medications, and much less misery in general!

Obviously, there are no guarantees but these are things that have worked for me, my clients, and many others who have experienced the same benefits.

I don’t buy into the germ theory as I’m around sick people quite often. And, if this theory were true, then why is it I no longer get sick as I did for the first forty-plus (unhealthy) years of my life? I can tell you it is not because I’m getting a flu vaccine or any other “preventative” vaccine. I’ve learned to put the right (whole, clean) foods in and let my body do the rest! And, I thank God for creating such amazing work in us that this process can and does happen. Can I get an amen?! So here is my top 10:

Eat predominantly organic and non-genetically engineered foods to eliminate toxic pesticides and herbicides. Not sure you understand the dangers of genetically engineered foods? Watch Genetic Roulette.
Eliminate or greatly reduce dairy and gluten. Both are extremely difficult for most people to digest, highly inflammatory, and therefore, can stress the immune system.
Replace toxic personal care and household cleaning products with natural, safe, non-toxic versions. This includes products such as antibacterial soap, hand sanitizers, toothpaste, mouthwash, laundry detergent, and cleaners. Note that antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers contain highly toxic chemicals and destroy the good bacteria that we need. Regarding personal care, which includes cosmetics, shampoo, deodorant, etc, consider switching to a more natural version.
Reduce dining out and become a vegetarian when you do. Animal products are loaded with antibiotics, hormones, and genetically engineered chemicals. Unless you can locate a restaurant that serves grass-fed meats (highly unlikely in the tristate), become a temporary vegetarian!
Reduce sugar and sodium! Read ingredient labels on food as they are in everything from ketchup, pasta sauces, soup, and more. Even organic foods can be loaded with sodium and sugar.
Grow your own food. Vine-ripened produce grown organically provides the highest nutrient values possible. Produce that has been picked green and sat in a store for a week, can lose up to 50% of its nutrient values. Find a local farmers market or CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) in your area.
Eat more plants than animals. Plant-based foods are naturally anti-inflammatory, alkaline, and contain antioxidants and fiber. Animals do not meet this criterion which is a key to health and easing digestion.
Use a plant-based whole food superfood powder to fill the gap between what you are and aren’t able to eat every day. Getting the recommended servings of organically grown, vine-ripened, fruits, vegetables, and berries a day is almost impossible for most of us. And even if you do, our food is low in critical minerals. I use an ancient sea minerals powder that is simple (mix with water) and tastes delicious.
Take a plant-based digestive enzyme with each meal especially if you are over forty years of age. Most of us have consumed enough processed food, alcohol, and medications to reduce our natural production of enzymes.
Reduce or eliminate alcohol, caffeinated coffee, soft drinks, and drink filtered water instead. A better filter system is reverse osmosis. A great company is Aquasana for under the sink or whole home. We’ve purchased both.

So, I know many of you may be thinking that this sounds expensive, hard, or just plain not fun. In my opinion, what is hard, expensive, and not fun would be having triple bypass surgery, being diagnosed with cancer, put on a respirator, or leaving a void in my family. You have to value your health and life first and then the rest is easy. Your body truly is a temple so please treat it as one. YOU are worth it. As always, reach out as we can walk you through each step one at a time.

How Adrenal Fatigue Can Develop

May 4, 2020/in Health Issues

My Journey on How Adrenal Fatigue Can Develop

Here’s How Adrenal Fatigue Can Develop. I am sharing my own personal experience with Adrenal Fatigue, not just as a healthcare provider. There are many health conditions that cannot truly be understood until you experience them, and adrenal fatigue is one of those. So, I say God blessed me with Adrenal Fatigue so that I could help others.

Stress was the underlying cause

Stress, whether it be emotional, physical or nutritional is truly at the root of all chronic disease. Regarding adrenal issues, you will hear different labels including adrenal insufficiency, a medical diagnosis, or adrenal fatigue or even burnout. Whatever you call it, it is stress and it impacts the body and mind.

In 2013, a client came to me sharing that she had been diagnosed with adrenal fatigue. I had worked with clients that had various health challenges, but this was a new one. She was already eating clean and working with an Integrative MD, so this was going to be a challenge. The only unique factor was that her stress level was extremely high, as she was experiencing extreme burnout in her career.

To be honest, her symptoms were puzzling. I kept trying to figure out exactly what it was she was feeling and why, but I just couldn’t connect. Usually clean eating, resting and supporting the digestive process was the answer but, in this case, it wasn’t enough and I left it to “I can’t help everyone.”

Approximately one year later, I started to experience signs of extreme fatigue and emotional sensitivity. I remember the thought of performing simple household chores like changing the linens on our bed was equivalent to running a 5K. Some days I couldn’t even perform these simple tasks. When and if I did, I had to lie down and rest even with 7-9 hours of sleep.

Testing for Adrenal Stress

Ironically, at about that same time I decided to add saliva hormone and neurotransmitter testing to my menu of services, and the first thing I do with a new service is put myself through the test. My results revealed that I was in Phase 3 Adrenal Fatigue. I was devastated and scared. It was at that point I started reading and researching everything I could find on the condition. I learned that Adrenal Fatigue is categorized as Phase 1 (Alarm), 2 (Resistance) Phase 3 (Exhaustion).

I connected to a private Facebook group for those with Adrenal Fatigue. I did learn quite a bit from the group, but the negativity was so overwhelming that I decided to stop following. Most of the group seemed to be strong Type A, perfectionists, overachievers and/or controllers, which makes sense why many end up here! I embodied many of these traits which contributed to my outcome.

The adrenal fatigue research scared me. Stats, such as, it takes up to five years to recover or some cases lead to adrenal cancer as well as Addison’s disease. Addison’s is where the adrenals have been damaged and one symptom is a golden bronze skin pigment. Now I understood why people were asking me if I had been to Florida recently or why my skin was so bronze in the middle of winter, in the Midwest! All of the pieces were coming together. It was a wake-up call for me.

What is Adrenal Fatigue

Unfortunately, it is not recognized by conventional medical community. It is not a proven medical condition but a “syndrome” where fatigue and other symptoms are caused by a poorly working adrenal gland in people who are under chronic mental, emotional, or physical stress. They do recognize “adrenal insufficiency” which states that only drugs/steroids can be used to treat it and that supplements could be harmful. So, I asked myself, are my adrenals in need of more toxins to “treat” it or should I use whole clean food and pure sources of supplementation along with retraining my thought processes to balance my body? As a Naturopath, you can guess the answer.

So how did I end up here? Two reasons, one was opening a brick and mortar (physical location) business, which we were renovating. The second was that our adult son was struggling with serious health and financial issues. In my quest to “take care” of him and my business/clients, I failed to take care of myself and ended up in severe adrenal fatigue or Phase 3.

I remember sitting at the table crying and saying, “I don’t think I can do this anymore.” “This” meaning taking care of everything and everyone else. I couldn’t function. My dream of opening a wellness center and serving others started to feel like a nightmare. My temper was short and breakdowns, behind the scenes, were not uncommon. So, instead of taking a “why did this happen to me” approach, I saw it as a way to serve others with the same challenges. God again blessed me with another health challenge, so that I can share and serve others.

The light at the end of the tunnel is that it isn’t going to take me 5 years to recover because I had access to the best holistic health mentors/experts in the world and access to the best whole food products. Read more here on the next steps of my journey.

If you’re struggling to, I would love to help. Book a Wellness Strategy and let’s chat!

Natural Solutions to Adrenal Fatigue

July 24, 2015/5 Comments/in Health Issues

I knew nothing about it much less natural solutions to adrenal fatigue. In 2013, a client came to me sharing that she had been diagnosed with adrenal fatigue. I had worked with clients that had various health challenges but this was a new one. She was already eating clean and working with an Integrative MD so this was going to be a challenge. The only unique factor was her stress level was extremely high as she was experiencing extreme burnout in her career.

To be honest, her symptoms were puzzling. I kept trying to figure out exactly what it was she was feeling but I just couldn’t connect to her symptoms. Usually, my clean eating, resting, and supporting the digestive process was the answer but in this case, it wasn’t enough. I left it to “I can’t help everyone”.

Then approximately a year later I started to experience signs of extreme fatigue and emotional sensitivity. I remember the thought of performing simple household chores like changing the linens on our bed was equivalent to running a 5K. Some days I couldn’t even perform these simple tasks. When and if I did, I had to lie down and rest.

Ironically, about that same time, I decided to add saliva hormone and neurotransmitter testing to my menu of services. So the first thing I do with a new service is to put myself through the test and this was no exception. I received the results that I was in Phase 3 Adrenal Fatigue and was devastated. It was at that point I started reading and researching everything I could find on Adrenal Fatigue. I also connected to a private Facebook group of fellow Adrenal Fatiguers. I did learn quite a bit from the group but the negativity was so overwhelming that I decided to stop following. The majority of the group seem to be strong Type A, overachievers, and/or controllers which makes sense why many end up here!

So what is Adrenal Fatigue? It is not a proven medical condition but a “syndrome” where fatigue and other symptoms are caused by a poorly working adrenal gland in people who are under chronic mental, emotional, or physical stress. The medical community does recognize “adrenal insufficiency” which states that only drugs can be used to treat it and that supplements could be harmful. So I asked myself, are my adrenals in need of more toxins to “treat” it or should I use whole food and clean sources of supplementation to balance my body? For those who know me, you can guess the answer.

The research scared me. Stats like it takes up to five years to recover or some cases lead to adrenal cancer as well as Addison’s disease. JFK had Addison’s which one symptom is a golden bronze skin pigment. Now I understood why people were asking me if I had been to Florida recently or why my skin was so bronze in the middle of winter! Again, all the pieces were coming together along with test results which was a wake-up call for me.

So how did I end up here? Two reasons, one was opening a brick and mortar (physical location) business which we were renovating as well. The second was that my son was struggling with serious health and financial issues. In my quest to take care of him and my business/clients, I failed to take care of myself and ended up in severe adrenal fatigue (Phase 3).

I remember sitting at the table crying and saying, “I don’t think I can do this anymore.” “This” meaning taking care of everyone else and everything. My dream of opening a wellness center and serving others started to feel like a nightmare. My temper was short and breakdowns were not uncommon but all behind the scenes. Instead of taking a “why did this happen to me” approach, I saw it as a way to serve others with the same challenges. God again blessed me with another health challenge so I can share and serve others.

The light at the end of the tunnel is that it isn’t going to take me 5 years to recover because I had access to the best holistic health experts in the world and access to the best supplements and herbs.

So what was my life-changing adrenal fatigue protocol? Only products that were clean, non-GMO, and gluten-free sources of plant-based herbs, enzymes, and food.

My mornings started with Sole water which is a solution of Himalayan salt and water.

I’d start my morning with a green smoothie using a plant-based protein powder with various greens such as kale, spinach, dandelion, etc. plus two tablespoons of flax, hemp, or chia seeds. For extra nutrients, I added plant powders.

The following supplements are from Pure Encapsulations. I use this brand because they are genuinely pure, using non-GMO, no additives or preservatives, and gluten-free ingredients:

B Complex Plus – 2 times/day with food,
ADR Formula- 2 in am 1 hour before food,
Dopa Plus – 1 in a.m. 1 hour before food,
Ashwagandha – 3 times/day with food and
Liquid Vitamin D *4-5000 (4-5 drops) based on my test results

From Loomis Institute, I used:

Loomis Digestive Enzymes, 2 before each meal (VSCLR was specific to my needs, please utilize our Gut health or 24 Hour Urinalysis testing to determine yours)
Loomis Organic Iron blend and Female Herbal blend after each meal
- Loomis products are healthcare professional grade. Please contact us if you’d like to order.
Organic Excellence Progesterone Cream – 1 pump or 20 mg 30 minutes before bedtime.

Again, these are products that worked for me based on the current condition of my body and health. There is not a one size fits all approach to any health challenge. It is recommended that you utilize a Holistic Health Coach and nutritional testing to determine the state of your health. Contact me if I can help as we can ship test kits anywhere and help you across the miles.

If you would like to learn more, request our free guide called Top 3 Tips to Overcome Adrenal Stress to begin your path to balance your body and regain your energy. Or if you are looking for the best diet, foods, and supplements for adrenal fatigue, check out our Best Foods & Supplements for Adrenal Fatigue Guide.

And if you have experienced Adrenal Fatigue, I’d love to hear from you. And if you aren’t sure where to start, schedule a free call with me.

Benefits of Chia Seeds

May 6, 2013/in Healthy Products

Do you know the many benefits of chia seeds? They are truly a superfood. Many of us have heard of the Chia Pet. Some of us even remember the silly “chi, chi, chia” jingle! But have you heard of eating chia seeds? Chia seeds are one of the most nutritious superfoods known yet so few people are enjoying them.

I made this video to help share the beauty of chia seed consumption and I’ve got loads of chia seed facts below the video. After you’ve learned a thing or two about the amazing chia seed, get yourself some and add them to your diet for wonderful nutritional benefits.

How to Prevent Chronic Disease with the benefits of Chia Seeds

The gel that forms when a chia seed is soaked is due to soluble fiber in the chia. In your digestive system, this gel actually slows down the conversion of carbohydrates to sugar, thus helps to stablize blood sugar.
Chia is an excellent source of Essential Fatty Acids, which are critical for concentration and other brain functions.
Chia nutrients like proteins, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, fiber, and complex carbohydrates energize you.
Chia seeds swell in water and help to make you feel full and potentially eat less which can help in weight loss efforts.
Chia contains soluble fiber has been shown to help lower cholesterol.
Chia is high in protein and helpful in a weight loss or muscle building diet. Plus it’s even low-carb and vegetarian!
Chia contains calcium and contains the trace mineral boron which speeds the rate at which calcium is absorbed and utlized by the body.
Remember that chia seeds are loaded with over 60% omega-3 essential fatty acids. Not only are they good for your mental clarify, those same essential fatty acids help skin, nails, and hair grow strong and healthy. Plus, they’re also a great source of protein, which is essential to grow healthy hair, nails, and skin. They contain more omega-3’s than flax seed. Omega fatty acids are important for concentration and brain health as well as other metabolic processes.
Chia has an extremely low glycemic index of 1, and actually helps to lower the rate at which other carbohydrates are converted to sugars.

More benefits of chia seeds…how to prevent digestive health issues

Chia seeds can soak up to ten times their weight in water! If it were to soak for half an hour or so, the gel effect is even more dramatic. The gel is an actually soluble fiber that is swelling in the water into hydrophylic colloid that has a medicinal affect for many digestive health issues.
Chia seeds provide calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, zinc, and even boron (which helps the absorption of calcium by the body).
Chia is a gluten-free source of fiber and nutrition. Chia is beneficial to the digestive system.
Chia is composed of over 20% protein, which is about 2 to 3 times higher than other seeds and grains. If you are a vegetarian looking for protein sources, chia seeds are a good source. Plus, the protein source in chia is readily digestible and available to the body.
Chia has both soluble fiber (which forms the outer gel), and insoluble fiber. Both types of fiber are healthy for the digestive system. The insoluble fiber helps cleans the intestinal tract. The soluble fiber can act as a prebiotic and help feed the good bacteria in your digestive system.

Note: Chia seeds do not need to be ground for their nutrients to be available to the body. Plus, chia is very shelf stable without the need for special packaging or concern of rancidity.

Share your favorite Chia seed recipe! I just finished wild blueberry chia gel with maple syrup. It was delicious.

Smoothie Recipes

December 17, 2012/in Healthy Recipes

The simplest and most delicious way to add more plants to your diet is through easy smoothie recipes. Consuming plants add more fiber and antioxidants to your diet. Plants are the key to reduce disease and inflammation plus maintain a healthy pH for proper digestion.

Protein Options

If you need a clean, tasty plant-based protein powder that is also delicious, try PowerMeal which is what I use and recommend. This link will save you 20%.

Smoothie Recipes

Here are a few recipes I love:

Cherry Pie Smoothie

1/2 cup frozen organic cherries
1/2 cup organic vanilla plant-based yogurt
1 cup water or coconut milk
1/3-1/2 frozen banana
1 scoop vanilla plant-based protein. Blend all in a blender or Vitamix. Enjoy!!

Winter Spice

3 oz organic apple juice
1 red organic apple sliced
1 scoop frozen organic vanilla plant-based yogurt
1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
1 scoop vanilla plant-based protein

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Christmas Coconut:

1/4 cup apple juice or water
1/2 cup grated unsweetened coconut
1 T coconut oil or coconut cream
1 tbsp. coconut milk
1 banana frozen
1 tsp Honey
1 scoop vanilla plant-based protein

Peppermint Delight

1 cup plant-based milk (use oil free brands like Malk or Califia)
½ cup vanilla organic plant-based yogurt
1/8 tsp Peppermint Extract or 1 drop peppermint essential oil (food grade)
1 scoop vanilla plant-based protein

Pumpkin Gingerbread Smoothie

1 cup water
1/4 cup rolled oats
1 tbsp chia seeds
1/2 cup pureed pumpkin, organic (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 tbsp blackstrap molasses
1 small frozen banana
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
pinch nutmeg
Ice, if desired

Soak the oats, almond milk, and chia seeds for at least an hour or overnight. This helps them digest better and it also gives the smoothie a smoother texture.

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Add ice if desired.

Pear Ginger Smoothie

1 organic sliced pear
1-1 1/2 inch of ginger root (peeled)
2 cups of water or plant-based milk plus ice
2 scoops of vanilla plant-based protein
2 scoops Phytogolds (ginger, turmeric, mango, cardamom, vanilla bean and black pepper fruit)* optional

*Phytogolds powder helps optimize digestive health and antioxidant capacity with a blend of phytonutrient-rich superfoods and fermented golden botanicals.

Blend all in blender or Vitamix. This is one of my favorites! Makes 2 servings.

Chocolate Covered Cherries

1 cup water or plant-based milk
½ c organic sweet cherries pitted fresh or frozen
1 scoop chocolate plant-based protein
Add a few ice cubes if you use fresh cherries versus frozen if you like it chilled

Blend in blender or Vitamix and enjoy!

No Sodium Taco Seasoning

May 2, 2011/in Healthy Recipes

No Sodium Taco Seasoning

Finding no sodium taco seasoning in the store is almost impossible. So I decided to start making my own that contains real ingredients only. Also, you’ll know that this seasoning does NOT contain preservatives and unsafe additives, dairy or whey that the store-bought packets often do.

This is an ingredient list and nutritional facts of a conventional taco seasoning packet. The sodium is 16% (yikes) plus whey (What the label doesn’t tell you: hormones, antibiotics, GMOs, glyphosate) and potato starch (more GMOs and glyphosate). The levels are only assuming you eat two tacos. Each time you make a healthier choice, you are protecting your gut (the foundation of immune health), your liver, kidney, brain, and all vital organs.

This no-sodium taco seasoning recipe takes minutes to make, saves money, and protects your health! I triple the recipe so I always have enough for a couple of extra meals, saving time. With this taco seasoning recipe, you can adjust the level of spice to your tastes.

This makes about 2 Tablespoons or enough for 1 pound of ground meat or beans. I double or triple the recipe to keep on hand to add to soups and stews as well. I purchase all organic spices as well. Typically, I buy in bulk from Mountain Rose Herbs to save additional money as they ship in bags instead of glass bottles. I save the store-bought bottles and refill them as needed.

Ingredients:

1 T. Chili Powder
½ t. Paprika
¼ t. Garlic Powder
¼ t. Onion Powder
1½ t. Cumin
¼ t. Red Chili Pepper Flakes
¼ t. Oregano

Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. If you are storing or making a double or triple batch, I mix in a glass pyrex cup with a pour spout and use a funnel to pour into my glass jar.