The PMS Diet!

Who else experiences PMS symptoms of existential dread and sadness which suddenly turns into rage and then after 5 minutes you realize you are on an emotional roller coaster and this is not how you really are?? I DO, and it used to be so much worse before I found out we could eat the right foods to lessen these manic feelings!! That’s just the emotional part of it, but the physical symptoms of cramps, acne, breast tenderness, lower back pain, BM issues, bloating, and fatigue can also be balanced with the proper nutrients.

When I was in college I knew nothing about nutrition. I moved away from my luxury of home cooked food, so my diet predominantly consisted of Wendy’s, a lot of prepackaged foods, and eating out a majority of the time. Definitely not the healthiest time period of my life, but we live and we learn! Since 2018 I’ve been implementing healthier dietary and lifestyle choices and now in 2023 I can say with confidence that what we put into our body and how we nourish it is so important.

My mood swings have severely reduced, they do occur on occasion but I can attribute it to my hormones and instead of being hard on myself, I’m trying to be understanding of it. The physical symptoms for me used to be so much more intense than they are now! In Traditional Chinese Medicine, they say if women feel discomfort it’s associated with an imbalance. Eating the right foods help bring your hormones and body into balance.

It’s key to limit and/or avoid high sugar, artificial/processed foods, and foods using white flour such as white bread, pastas, and pizzas. Focus on eating whole foods consisting of lean protein, healthy fats, fruits and vegetables.

Fruits and vegetables contain fiber, vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, polyphenols, anthocyanins that inhibit inflammation which can help with cramps and also protect against oxidative stress.

Omega 3 fatty acids from fish, nuts, and seeds promote a healthy inflammatory response as well and can help with mood.

Dark chocolate can curb the sugar cravings and is a source of iron and magnesium. Iron is necessary due to the loss of iron during our cycle and magnesium promotes a positive mood and relaxes the smooth muscles which can also be beneficial for cramps.

Lentils and beans are a good source of protein for those following a vegetarian diet. Avocados and ghee (clarified butter) are other fantastic healthy fats. Filling in nutritional gaps with food is essential for whole body health.

Prebiotics!

What are prebiotics? They are plant fiber foods that feed the good bacteria in your gut.

Why is this important? We live in a society that is wreaking havoc on our gut health by the overuse of prescription drugs, alcohol, caffeine, processed foods and industrial toxins everywhere. Prebiotics are complex carbs that our bodies cannot digest so they go to the lower digestive tract where the magic happens.

It is so important in today’s day and age to eat foods that are rich in pre/probiotics and if that is not something you normally consume then at least supplement to get what you need. Dangerous agricultural practices and decreased diet quality have caused our food supply to be significantly lower in probiotics. 

Prebiotic rich foods include:

-artichokes

-berries

-bananas

-apples

-asparagus

-dandelion greens

-flaxseed

-barley

-chicory

-garlic

-leeks

-green vegetables

-legumes

-oats

-onions

-tomatoes

Not only does it help keep the cells in the intestinal lining healthy, it helps ferment foods faster to aid with digestion and in turn lead to healthier bowel movements.

Probiotic rich foods include:

-sauerkraut

-kimchi

-pickles (not the ones you find on shelves in the grocery store, it needs to be in a saltwater brine)

-yogurt

-kefir

-tempeh

-miso

-buttermilk

-kombucha

-natto

-apple cider vinegar

Why do we need probiotics? For the sole reason to bring our gut microbiome into balance which can help with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, improved immune function, digestive health, weight management and even improving skins conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. After using 1 dose of antibiotics, your gut microbiome is dysregulated and antibiotics are prescribed like candy which is causing an alarming rate of individuals with gut health issues. If we don’t get a balance of good to bad bacteria, it can lead to autoimmune disorders, digestive disorders such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, IBS, it can also weaken our immune system causing more frequent colds and flus.

Tips for Managing Anxiety

Its wild times right now, the last 2 years have seemed like a bombardment of bad news one after the other. Anxiety is natural when a sense of impending doom looms, so how do we manage it?

We first got to remember that anxiety is a biological reaction that stems from fear. We physically feel nervous, shaky, sweaty, panicky, and shortness of breath all because we are EMOTIONALLY FEELING fear. Meditation is a helpful tool to separate the physical sensations of the body from the emotional triggers caused by the mind. Look within to discover the root cause of your fears and try to feel them to really heal them.

Secondly, a lot of things are simply out of our control. We cannot control what others do or say, or what is going on in our external world, for example, the weather will be something we can never control. So from that perspective it’s good to be aware of what you CAN control and what you CAN’T control. At the end of the day, the only thing we really have control over is ourselves, how we react to certain situations or current events. Our reactions to anxiety provoking news, which is inevitable in one’s lifetime, is how we manage our anxiety. If something in particular is triggering your anxiety, remove that trigger as best you can.

When life throws adversities your way, it ok to feel anxiety, because remember, feeling is healing. However, find the opportunities and learn lessons from that unfortunate circumstance instead of being a victim of your circumstance. You can either let something bad turn you angry, bitter, and depressed or you can let it empower you to make lasting change within yourself and help those around you. Let something negative allow you to grow mentally, physically, and spiritually. How can you solve the problem instead of dwelling on it?

So feeling anxious? Try a grounding exercise where you use your senses to navigate back to the present. REMEMBER TO TAKE DEEP BREATHS! Observe how you breathe when you feel anxious, usually its shallow breaths, taking deep breaths helps with alleviating anxiety. Now look for 5 things where you are, touch 4 things, listen to 3 things, smell 2 things, taste 1 thing. When we feel anxious it’s generally because we are not in the present moment, we are either in the future or the past. When you’ve achieved a state of calmness, journal about your experience. Write about your anxious thoughts, how it made you physically feel and usually when you see your thoughts written down on paper its easier to see how far-fetched some tend to be.

Anxiety and depression has been linked to the state of our gut health. Our gut is connected to our brain via the vagus nerve, so if our gut is in dysbiosis, as will our mind. Serotonin and dopamine are neurotransmitters that give us the feeling of happiness and pleasure, and they both are created in the gut so it’s important we feed ourselves with the proper foods to make sure our gut is happy. Limiting sugar, caffeine, alcohol, processed foods, artificial flavors and replacing them with whole foods rich in lean proteins, healthy fats, and a variety of fruits and vegetables will take you a long way! We are what we eat, so if we are eating foods that cause chaos in our gut, then it will cause chaos in our minds as well. Eating fish, magnesium, and probiotic rich foods, or supplementing them will help with mental health in the long term.

Staying active, exercising at least a minimum of 30 minutes whether it be intense running, biking, weight training or tai chi, yoga, gardening, can significantly improve anxiety and depression by simply releasing endorphins that make us feel better. Getting a minimum of 8 hours of sleep is essential as well. Sleep debt is a real thing, if you are constantly losing an hour of sleep each night you will reach a deficit that will compound until it starts manifesting as anxiety.

These are simple habits that can be added each week to feel overall a better state of wellbeing. It’s not hard or expensive and doesn’t include a prescription, the hardest thing is choosing one good habit and sticking to it! Some supplements that are natural and can help with stress and anxiety include ashwaganda, L-theanine, lemon balm, and passionflower.

Remember to be kind to yourself, anxiety is natural and being aware of it and wanting to manage it is a huge step in helping yourself heal. When you notice feelings of anxiousness coming on, take a pause, limit the trigger, decide what you can control in that moment and do something you enjoy. Listen to your favorite song or read a book, dance, walk, jog, drink water, hang out with a friend, use aromatherapy, these will all help you flip the script by creating new neural pathways in the brain!

Magnesium

Magnesium is responsible for over 300 enzymatic reactions within the body and most people are magnesium deficient. This is due to our soils being stripped of essential nutrients because of industrial farming methods. Magnesium is vital for d3 absorption, and both are necessary for bone health amongst a plethora of other health benefits. Magnesium helps with restless leg syndrome, restful sleep, migraines, healthy bowel movements and cramps, to name a few. Are you getting enough magnesium daily?

It’s estimated that 64% of men and 67% of women in the United States are not receiving an adequate dietary intake of magnesium. In addition to soil depletion, excess sodium intake, high alcohol and caffeine intake, and proton pump inhibitors used for acid reflux can also contribute to low magnesium levels.

Here is a list of magnesium rich foods, and if you don’t generally eat these foods, supplementation is suggested to get your daily intake of magnesium. For men 420mg and for woman 320mg is the recommended dietary allowance.

-Dark Chocolate

-Avocados

-Almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, peanuts, and brazil nuts

-Legumes

-Tofu

-Flax, pumpkin, and chia seeds

-Wheat, oats, barley, buckwheat, brown rice and quinoa

-Salmon, mackerel, and halibut

-Banana

-Kale, spinach, collard, turnip, and mustard greens

-Swiss chard

-Lima beans

-Okra

Not all magnesium is the same either, so which one do you need?

–Magnesium citrate is easily absorbed and the most bioavailable form that’s used to help with constipation, it’s also used for mood disorders as well such anxiety and depression.

–Magnesium L threonate is a form of magnesium that crosses the blood brain barrier that’s beneficial for memory and cognitive health, it also supports positive mood and helps with cramp.

–Magnesium acetyl taurate was recently tested and has been shown to support PMS cramps and symptoms of stress which include nervous tension, anxiety, irritability, headache, fatigue, and depression.

–Magnesium oxide and chloride is beneficial for migraines, and digestive symptoms such as indigestion, constipation and heartburn.

–Magnesium sulfate also known as Epsom salts helps with muscle relaxation and stress relief.

–Magnesium glycinate is the best form for sleep and can also help with migraines, heart disease and diabetes.

–Magnesium orotate promotes heart health by supporting the energy production pathways in the heart and blood vessel tissues.

The best way to know if you’re magnesium deficient is to get tested for it!

Foods That Help With Depression

The following foods are the top foods to help fight depression. Why?

Watercress

Mustard, turnip, or beet greens

Collard greens

Swiss chard

Spinach

Chicory greens

Kale

Oysters

Nuts/seeds (flax and chia)

Lettuce (red, green, romaine)

Peppers (bell, serrano, jalepeno)

Fresh herbs (cilantro, basil, parsley)

Beans

Wild caught salmon, sardines, trout, mackerel, and (not canned) tuna

Probiotic foods (kimichi, kombucha, miso, sauerkraut, tempeh, tofu, yogurt, kefir)

Wild caught fish, nuts and seeds are a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids which is vital for brain health. It helps boost serotonin (our happy hormone) which is a neurotransmitter for mood regulation.

Beans are an awesome source of protein and fiber which stabilizes blood sugar levels. They also contain folate which is a B vitamin that helps the body produce DNA, RNA, blood cells and it also metabolizes proteins.

Dark leafy vegetables contain ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) which is one of the 3 main types of omega 3s, the other two are DHA and EPA. They also contain phytonutrients that nourish your body with a plethora of vitamins and minterals. FIBER FIBER FIBER! Having 30-50 grams of fiber daily does wonders for your gut health. Soluble fiber lowers cholesterol, blood sugar, and insulin, it prevents cancer, balances hormone levels, and removes excess estrogen which reduces the risk of breast cancer.

Eating whole foods allows our body to digest and assimilate nutrients effectively. The Standard American Diet consists of processed foods filled with artificial ingredients and preservatives which have 0 nutritional value. We need to consume wholesome foods that regulate our gut microbiome which in turn will positively impact our mental health.

So look out for those foods rich in vitamins and healthy fats to nourish your body and mind. Avoid those highly sugary and processed foods, which are high in omega 6 fats that lead to inflammation.

The Health Risks of Blue Light!

What is blue light? On the light spectrum, the color blue has the shortest wavelength and contains the highest energy, this is beneficial to boost attention, mood and reaction times. Sunlight is the main source of blue light, that’s why when the sun rises our bodies already know it’s time to wake up and stay alert, in its natural form it’s completely healthy for us. The problem arises when we are exposed to artificial blue light from digital devices toward the evening when our bodies are ready to wind down for sleep.

There are numerous Harvard Health medical studies that show blue light exposure suppresses the release of melatonin which is what is needed to fall asleep at night, therefore disrupting the circadian rhythm. Keeping our circadian rhythm balanced is crucial for our overall health. Maintaining restful and healthy sleep allows our bodies to heal overnight, without this, it’ll lead to health problems such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, depression, and obesity.

The indoor sources of blue light that we simply cannot get away from include phones, tablets, TVs, computer monitors, fluorescent and LED light bulbs. Ways to limit exposure so it’s not compromising our hormones and our eyes is to wear blue blocking glasses, cut back on screen time 2-3 hours before bed, dim the brightness on phones or use night mode, use the blue light filter as well. Fun little fact, incandescent light bulbs which are thing of the past because of how much energy it consumes contains the least amount of blue light compared to LED and fluorescent bulbs!

Our eyes are not very good at blocking out blue light. Artificial blue light passes through the cornea and lens, penetrating the retina, and over exposure can damage light sensitive cells which can eventually lead to macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is the loss of vision due to damage in the retina and typically occurs in our older years, however, now its occurring earlier due to digital devices.

The Dangers of Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs)!

With our technological world advancing rapidly, there is a link between high exposure of EMFs (electromagnetic fields) and negative health effects such as cellular damage. First off as human beings we have an invisible electromagnetic field surrounding our bodies, you know this when you get a static shock… we are electric! When we are exposed to fields that interfere with ours, that when our cells start mutating on a genetic level leading to cancer, for example.

The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer claims that EMFs are possibly carcinogenic to humans and could lead to a higher risk of various cancers, including leukemia. One of the largest studies involving high exposure of cell phone usage to a brain and spinal cord cancer known as glioma shows that this type of cancer is more often found on the same side of the head that people use to speak on their phones.

Over 2 dozen recent studies suggest that low frequency EMFs may cause neurological and psychiatric problems, causing changes in human nerve function within the body, affecting mood and sleep. Devices that emit low frequency EMFs include microwaves, radars, radios, cell phones, TVs, tablets, computers, computer screens, laptops, electrical power strips, cable boxes, Wi-Fi-routers, Bluetooth devices, cell phone towers, Wi-Fi towers, light dimmers, and powerlines, are only some, X-rays and MRIs emit higher frequency radiation. Constant exposure to these things in our environment and devices on a daily basis build up over time that’s why it is vital to implement grounding devices to protect your immediate area from radiation exposure.

Grounding devices can be expensive, some ways to limit exposure to radiation on a budget is to turn off any power strips in your room while you’re sleeping so the TV, cable box, computer and screen are turned off, put your phone on airplane mode away from your head. Make sure all electronic devices are shut off and put far away from your body, most people use TV to help fall asleep, however, the artificial light emitted from the screen is depleting our melatonin levels (the sleep hormone).

Prolonged exposure over time to these low frequency emitting devices may cause symptoms such as headaches, chronic fatigue, insomnia, issues with memory and concentration, irritability, nausea, weight loss, loss of appetite, anxiety, and depression, and possible changes in electrical brain activity. There isn’t anything to be worried about if you are aware of the concern and you take the steps to reduce exposure. I’m not one of those conspiracy theorists claiming 5G caused Coronavirus, haha but it is important to be aware of what we are exposed to in our environments and what it’s doing to us on a genetic/biological level. If you are interested in creating a completely EMF free zone look up how to create a Faraday Cage.

Reference: https://www.healthline.com/health/emf

What Foods Cause Inflammation?!

Recently, research suggests that chronic diseases such as heart disease, strokes, hypertension (high blood pressure), cancer, depression, anxiety, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, osteoporosis, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, COPD, autoimmune disorders such as colitis, IBS, Crohn’s, lupus, and multiple sclerosis are the result of chronic inflammation. These are all lifestyle diseases that can be prevented if you become mindful of what you put into your body, and you could avoid getting on prescription medications for these diseases if that is what you want.

So what causes chronic inflammation? Certain foods trigger an inflammatory response within the body, the following foods release inflammatory markers:

Canola/vegetable oil (inflammatory fats including trans and saturated fats)

Dairy

Gluten

Refined sugars

Refined grains

White flour (cakes and pastries)

Food additives (artificial ingredients)

Fried foods

Alcohol

Processed meats

These are foods that our body simply cannot break down and digest and also lack the essential vitamins and minerals to establish a feeling of wellbeing. Constantly incorporating these foods in your diet exposes your body to oxidative stress, and it causes leaky gut which also contributes to chronic inflammation by allowing toxins to pass through the intestinal wall to the bloodstream (this leads to mental health issues as well), and weight gain. Stay tuned for a post on leaky gut coming soon!!

Diet and lifestyle are major key players for reducing inflammation, this includes eating a whole foods diet rich in vitamins, nutrients, and healthy fats like avocados, nuts, ghee, coconut and olive oil and eliminating a processed/artificial diet. Getting proper sleep and reducing stress is so vital for health and wellness, without adequate sleep our hormones and digestion go out of whack, this in turn leads to many other disorders! Obviously exercise is a necessity for optimal health and also reducing stress, it releases endorphins, and strength training regenerates new cells and strengthens bones. Living a sedentary lifestyle can cause muscle atrophy and osteoporosis and even contribute to anxiety and depression.

Start reducing inflammation by integrating some of these foods into your diet! Some ANTI-inflammatory foods include:

Salmon

Bone broth

Coconut oil

Turmeric

Green leafy vegetables

Bok choy

Ginger

Broccoli

Celery

Beets

Walnuts

Flaxseeds

Chia seeds

Blueberries

Pineapple

Have a great week everyone!! Stay safe! 🙂

How Is Gut Health Related To Mental Health?!

Recently the word “gut-brain axis” has been everywhere, but what is it?! Scientists have discovered the connections between our gut, its microbiome (bacterial quantity & quality) and our brain.

The gut (our digestive system) and the brain are connected via the largest nerve in the body called the vagus nerve. Through this link, the gut and the brain have a bi-directional (2-way) communication. Simply put, the brain and gut send signals to each other!

Did you know that many hormones and neurotransmitters are created in the gut? The top 3 neurotransmitters that everyone may have already heard of are Serotonin, Dopamine, and GABA, these all regulate mood and emotions.

• 95% of serotonin is produced in the gut and contributes to the feeling of happiness. It also regulates appetite and digestion, and is a precursor to melatonin so it regulates sleep and our circadian rhythm.
• 50% of dopamine is produced in the gut, and contributes to the feeling of accomplishment, reward and motivation.
• GABA contributes to controlling the feelings of fear and anxiety. Studies on mice have shown that taking certain probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus) increases GABA production in the gut, reducing depression and anxiety.

Now lets redirect to our gut microbiome, we have trillions of bacterial colonies (approximately 40 trillion) that are so important for digestion. They break down our foods and assimilate our nutrients, and it is vital for immune health as well. Our microbiome which has been developing since we were in our mother’s wombs is responsible for killing off any viruses and bad bacteria that may cause illnesses and diseases. Without these diverse warriors our health is compromised!!!

When our gut microbiome has a higher number of bad bacteria to good bacteria (dysbiosis) it causes what is known as leaky gut. This is is when the tight junctions in our intestines are permeated with holes that allow these adverse substances such as fungi and viruses to pass through into our blood. This excess exposure to toxicity causes our body to react with releasing an inflammatory toxin known as lipopolysaccaride (LPS). Chronic inflammation and high levels on LPS in the blood have been linked to severe depression, dementia and schizophrenia.

So what can we do to begin healing our gut? EAT REAL WHOLE FOODS!!! Cook your own foods with lean meats, vegetables, fruits, seeds, and nuts. Eliminate sugar because it feeds the bad bacteria and artificial ingredients that our body does not recognize as food. Eliminate gluten as it is a gut irritant that contributes to leaky gut. Eat foods that contain prebiotics and probiotics.

PREbiotic foods: dietary fiber that feed and increase good bacteria.

• dandelion greens
• garlic
• chicory root
• onions
• jerusalem artichoke
• asparagus
• bananas
• apples
• leeks
• oats
• flaxseeds

PRObiotic foods: have beneficial bacteria that studies have shown decreases the amount of cortisol that is released (stress hormone).

• yogurt
• miso
• kefir
• kombucha
• kimchi
• pickles
• sauerkraut
• buttermilk
• tempeh

Are you in need of a gut reset? Do you need help healing your mental health? Click on my website (Rainbow Body Vitality) in the menu above and fill out a FREE health history to start your journey today! Let me help you help yourself and get that gut-brain axis in order 🙂 We can work on getting your gut regulated, inflammation reduced and mental health back to 100%.

Have a great week everyone ❤

What Are Bach Flower Remedies?

Last year I went to a Naturopath who introduced me to the Bach Flower Remedy. It is a blend of flower extracts derived from wild plants and there are 38 different kinds discovered by Dr. Bach, these extracts are watered down and mixed in brandy. As I’ve written in previous posts, negative emotions store in different organs and after years of these stored emotions, the body begins to manifest diseases like heart disease, diabetes, liver issues, kidney issues, cancer etc. (Check it out!) These remedies work on healing negative emotions such as fears, uncertainties, lack of motivation, loneliness, sadness, and over-sensitivity are to name a few, which will ultimately lead to healing physical illnesses. The belief in homeopathy is that the body can heal itself, and when your mind is balanced it is easier to bring your body and soul into equilibrium!

Each flower remedy is specially personalized for what you are feeling at that present time. When I used my own personal blend, I happened to be having irrational fears of losing my parents, I was having negative thoughts about my relationship, and I was angry because I was insecure and sad. After using my remedy for 4 weeks I felt like I was a new person – I felt so emotionally balanced, I was no longer angry and was so nice and positive – I had the motivation to conquer my dreams! During this time I began holistic health coaching school, I started my health blog, and I was reaching new heights of sobriety – it felt like for the first time I was getting my life together! I call these flower remedies flower power juice because of how awesome they made me feel during and after taking it.

It’s been a year now since my last Naturopath session and my flower power blend so I am ready to go back and continue my healing journey. This past year I have witnessed the deaths of many loved ones and I feel like healing never truly quite ends, it’s a constant process and when you’re feeling low in life, seeking a little help from nature may help you flow back into positivity! This post is dedicated to my uncle Milind Nayak one of the creative legends in my ENTIRE family. RIP ❤

Weary About Vaccines? Try Homeoprophylaxis, the Homeopathic Alternative!

In the last 10-15 years there has been more and more information coming out on the risks of vaccinations. At first, the collective seemed like a bunch of anti-vaxers going around smearing that vaccines cause autism but now if you do research about the toxic ingredients in vaccines and the side effects they could possibly cause other than autism is mind boggling! This post isn’t slamming vaccines, I’ve been vaccinated so my fate is sealed in that department, however, I could observe that I have sinus allergies, asthma, eczema, and ADD- like behavior and that could all very well be linked. There are much more health concerns that stem from gastrointestinal health to very possibly autism but you should DEFINETELY look into that yourselves (if you are reading this you are meant to expand your knowledge!!), especially if you’re ever going to have children. The one thing I do have to point out and put out there is that 70 years ago prior to the 1960s there was no nationwide vaccination program, vaccines were not mandatory and for the most part only administered by private practice doctors for an out of pocket cost; in exception to some state and local governments providing funding for local immunization programs. In the 60s there were 3 recommended vaccines for infants til the age of 6: polio, smallpox, and DTP but now in addition to those 3, hepatitis A & B, influenza, MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), varicella zoster virus, and rotavirus are given to infants til the age of 6 (there are more, I didn’t include them all!). I should mention that today the media plays a sneaky part in fearing viewers by showing news stories of people dying from the flu and also many places give the flu shot for free… hmmmm….. I sense some pharmaceutical fishery going on here!!!

This post is about the homeopathic alternative to vaccinations, the safer alternative to a pharmaceutical company’s gold mine. It is called homeoprophylaxis and is effective by 90% in clinical studies, the best thing EVER is that it’s a non-injected alternative, I’m sure all babies in the world wouldn’t mind skipping the needle first thing after birth. Immunization against a disease transpires by either contracting the infection and/or by environmental exposure, with homeoprophylaxis a highly diluted nosode (or pellet) can communicate information about a certain disease to the immune system so that the body can make a response after learning the disease. It is essentially stimulating the body’s natural immunity to fight off diseases by exposing the body to the energetic memory of the disease. Major difference here: vaccines contain the actual strain of the disease, the homeopathic alternative does not contain a single molecule of the disease, and instead it contains its frequency, making it the safest method to fight off diseases! This method is administered by placing the pellet under the tongue to dissolve, the doses are spread apart with just one disease at a time, allowing the body to slowly adjust instead of giving too many combinations of vaccines all at once, which could lead to bad side effects.

Once again let me say that if you are reading this, you were brought here because you were called by this topic, it sparked your interest! So let me encourage you to do your own research and spread your knowledge!

https://immunizationalternatives.com/ https://immunizationalternatives.com/homeoprophylaxis-vs-vaccination/ https://immunizationalternatives.com/homeoprophylaxis/

Kids From the 21st Century!

We have a whole generation, ranging from infants to teenagers born from the year 2000 and onwards that have grown up with a cellphone or some type of screen in their hand and in front of their face. At my job at an optometrist office, I see parents my age handing their cell phones to their babies in the stroller to keep them entertained during their eye exams. The bright lights off a screen releases dopamine in the brain, that’s the same hormone you release when you eat sugar, do drugs, have sex, eat good foods, it is the pleasure hormone. The instant gratification of how fast everything is on a phone today prevents kids from learning to be patient and wait for what’s important. When it comes time for the parents to take their cell phones back, their kids start screaming, crying, and throwing tantrums because their “drug” has been taken away. Obviously now people are becoming more aware of the chaos that is ensuing so I feel like the people I know have the same mentality as me, keeping a cell phone away from their kid for as long as possible! I didn’t get my cell phone til I was 13 years old.

I was born in 1992 and am so grateful for having the simplicity of the 90s, the frustrations of dial-up internet but also not long after that receiving the blessing of speedy cable internet! I know how it feels not to have a cell phone and when I didn’t have one I played outside with my friends, rode my bike, walked around finding creeks and trails to walk on. I played bad-minton in my backyard with my cousins and skated around playing street hockey and little league baseball.

Kids are developing more back and neck issues caused by staring down at their phones. It’s so important to hold your phone up at eye level to maintain proper back posture for optimal spine health. If you know a child who doesn’t receive much physical fitness, try encouraging them to get out more, the world is NOT a scary place!! It’s fun to fall and scrape your knee and wear cool band-aids!

Physical activity in children improved test performances in school, better behavior, and a reduction in the use of medications, especially asthma and ADHD medications. Kids with developing brains DO NOT need to be taking medications that are a legal form of methamphetamine (meth). They do surely bring focus, but the long lasting effects of this drug is far more harmful than beneficial. If your child is hyper, that is absolutely normal, they are young and filled with energy, imagine a puppy. You wouldn’t give a puppy meth to calm it down, you tire it out naturally by playing with it. Same goes for children, take them outside, exhaust them by having them run, bike, or skate around parks and playgrounds.

Being out in nature is not only good for releasing endorphins like dopamine but if you walk around outside bare foot you ground with the earth receiving positive ions and release the negative ions from your body. It’s like a cycle exchange of energy, we are electrical beings! Breathing in fresh air is so important today because children under the age of 10 are being diagnosed with fatty livers due to the toxins found in household cleaners and furniture. Obviously food is a major cause of this as well, feeding children sugary cereal first thing in the morning is not going to help with hyper activity. Commercials on TV advertise foods for kids that are filled with artificial ingredients. We can’t be giving our youth poisonous foods with no nutrition. They are growing humans that need real whole foods filled with vitamins and minerals so they can become healthy, happy adults who can deal with stress effectively.

La Fin! Have a good week everyone!

Do You Dream?

Dreaming is such a cool concept, we are entering different dimensions/consciousness while we rest and recover every night. Some people dream all the time and remember their dreams while there are those that never remember their dreams and also people who never dream at all.

Did you know there are 8 different kinds of dreaming?

1. Day dreaming is obvious since everyone does it. This is the state between sleep and wakefulness, and occurs when our minds wander and our awareness decreases due to imagined thoughts and fantasies. You can say that day dreaming takes us away from the present moment due to the past or future.
2. Healing dreams are messages regarding our health – our bodies are communicating with us through our dreams, its a warning before the physical symptoms occur.
3. Nightmares are a response to real life trauma, this is known as Post-traumatic Stress Nightmare. They also occur when the dreamer is ignoring or refusing to accept something in their lives. Research shows that most people who experience nightmares have family history is psychiatric problems, drug abuse, toxic relationships, and/or suicide. **IF YOU EXPERIENCE REGULAR NIGHTMARES, THIS IS AN INDICATION THAT OUR SUBCONSCIOUS FEARS MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND HEALED.
4. Lucid dreaming is something I aspire to experience. This is when the dreamer realizes they are dreaming and then can control their dreams. Usually to lucid dream its important to find some sort of time in your dream, upon finding the time is when you enter lucid dreaming.
5. Recurring dreams occur because the conflict within the dream may not be resolved in real life, resolving any loose ends in your life may lead to the discontinuation of that particular recurring dream.
6. Signal dreams allow you to solve problems or make decisions in real life. I wish I could signal dream, that would’ve really helped me out in school!!
7. Epic dreams are so vivid that they are unforgettable, almost life-changing.
8. Prophetic dreams are also known as precognitive or psychic dreams. These dreams foreshadow the future, premonitions.

What are your dreams telling you? Do you remember your dreams? Share in the comments, I’d love to know!!

Personally for me I recently had an epic dream in my house with all my friends and family fighting off a zombie hoard. It was very scary as if a nightmare, however, I didn’t wake up in fear, if anything I could say it was signalling me to act and make decisions if ever faced with a zombie apocalypse.

Have a great week!!

IKIGAI “Our Purpose”

The Japanese people are one of the healthiest and longest living communities in the world. Why is this? Besides their walking lifestyle, and traditional diet consisting of rice, seaweed, meat and fish, the Japanese believe in something called IKIGAI.

What is Ikigai you ask? It means “a reason for being”. It is one’s soul’s purpose in life. The Indians call this Dharma. An individual is always searching for their life’s purpose, without this, one feels unfulfilled. We may have jobs that we are not passionate about yet provide us with so much money, while others may have found their passion yet it makes them no money at all. Every human has a unique gift to share with this world, that is why we are all here! It’s our journey in life that allows us to become in tune with our reason for being.

Have a wonderful week filled with purpose, peace, and love!

Emotions Store In Your Organs!

Last week I wrote about how chronic pain in your body may be linked to your emotional state of mind. This week I take it further and dive into Traditional Chinese Medicine and the science that says different emotions store in different organs within your body. So think twice when you want to dwell in sadness or rage out in anger because your organs are keeping count and eventually chronic inflammation within those organs will manifest into chronic illness.

• stress and frustration will affect your brain health
• tension is stored in your neck and spine
• lack of trust will affect your thyroid health
• fear and worry affects the heart & kidneys
• sadness is stored in the lungs
• anxiety manifests into digestive issues
• anger is stored in the liver & gallbladder
• the sympathetic nervous system of “fight or flight” will affect the adrenal glands
• feelings of guilt affect the spleen

A major life lesson that has stuck with me is “stress isn’t the problem, it’s how we react to it”. Stress is inevitable, life is stressful but we can alleviate any bodily harm our emotions can cause by noticing them at its source. When we feel the start of an emotional reaction, we can observe how it makes our body’s feel in that very moment. This is triggering the awareness within ourselves, we are becoming mindful of our bodily sensations.

To release inner anger that is stored in the liver, eat leafy greens like spinach and kale, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. These foods will detoxify the liver from heavy metals, pesticides, and any toxic chemicals. Eating apples and beets will provide the liver with nutrients while also detoxifying the blood. Eating whole foods allow the liver to self-repair.

Have a wonderful week! Remember to keep tabs on those emotional ups and downs and instead of identifying with it, just simply observe it and allow it to pass. Don’t allow it to store in your organs!