Water: A Better Body Builder Therapy #1 November 21 2011

The best way to begin building a better body is with water.

Next to oxygen, water is the most crucial thing your body needs. 

• A loss of just 2% of your hydration can begin to affect your thinking ability
• A loss of 15% – 20% of your body’s water can be fatal.
• 75% of all Americans are dehydrated
• 1/3 of Americans have a thirst mechanism so weak that it is mistaken for hunger
• Dehydration is the number one trigger for daytime fatigue

Dehydration can lead to:

• indigestion
• colitis
• appendicitis
• heart burn
• rheumatoid arthritis
• back and neck pain
• headaches
• stress
• depression
• high blood pressure
• asthma
• fatigue
• memory loss
• allergies
• THIS IS JUST TO NAME A FEW

Research suggests that sufficient amounts of water can:

• Reduce colon cancer risk by 45%
• Reduce breast cancer risk by 79%
• Reduce bladder cancer risk by 50%

So where does one start when drinking water? A simple rule of thumb is to :

• Take your body weight (Example: 150 pounds)
• Cut that number in half (Example: 75 )
• Drink that many ounces of water a day ( Example: 75 ounces of water, daily)

Drink even when you don’t feel thirsty. When the human body dehydrates to a certain point, its thirst mechanism shuts off.

Just to clarify, pop, juice and coffee do not hydrate the body. They dehydrate the body and they do not count towards your water intake for the day.

Can’t take just plain water? You can add:

• Fresh pressed lemon or lime juice
• Raw apple cider vinegar and real maple syrup
• Liquid Chlorophyll
• Stevia and fresh pressed lemon
• One drop of Nature’s Sunshine Peppermint essential oil to 16 oz – 32 oz of water
• Nature’s Sunshine Solstic Immune
• Nature’s Sunshine Solstic Revive
• Nature’s Sunshine Solstic Energy
• Nature’s Sunshine Solstic Twenty-Four

If you haven’t been a water drinker in the past and find this difficult, start by increasing your water intake by a glass a day and increase from there. You will find that you’ll start craving it.

The kind of water you drink is important. At the very least, drink water that has been purified in some way.

Spiced Roasted Squash November 09 2011

Spiced and Roasted Squash

1 squash, peeled and cut into cubes

Toss in a dish, drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg to personal preference.

Spread seasoned squash cubes on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 – 425 degrees for approximately 30 minutes or until the cubes of squash are soft on the inside and slightly crisp and caramelized on the outside.

Serve hot.

Depending on what herbs and spices you’ve decided to incorporate, you could toss with pasta and make this a main dish meal. Drizzle with maple syrup and toasted pecans, top with whipped cream and you could have a dessert.

Optional: Omit Nutmeg and try one of the following:

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Apple Pie Spice

Cinnamon and a bit of Xylitol

Emotional Outlook Questionnaire with Essential Oil Suggestions, Activation Part III October 25 2011

Essential Oils have been used as a specific remedy for activating healing for physical, emotional and spiritual imbalances.  However, not all essential oils are created equally. Nature’s Sunshine features a line you can trust. Emotional outlook is crucial to overall well being and activation of healing.

Compliments of Jay VanDenHeuvel, N.D., I have listed below 27 different emotional states and the essential oil you may want to consider for use.

One or more of these oils can be selected for emotional support, however, it is always advisable to start with one oil and work into combining them after you have experienced your body’s response. It is best not to exceed more than four or five essential oils at one time.

The oils can be diluted in Aloe Vera Gel, or Nature’s Sunshine Massage Oil and applied topically. You can mix a few drops of essential oil with water and a drop of Nature’s Sunshine Concentrate (to keep the oil from separating in the water, ) put in a spray bottle and mist on your body or in the air around you. You can also diffuse the oils into the air with the Nature’s Sunshine Diffuser, or use the other accessories that they sell for application which includes Spray Bottles, Roll-On Bottles, Plug-in Diffusers, Funnel, and an Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Guide.  There are many ways to incorporate the essential oils into your every day lifestyle.  Have fun with it.

• Are you compulsive, or do you have impulses to do things obsessively
• Do you lack confidence in yourself
• Do you expect failure
• Do you feel inferior, or do you feel that others are more capable and qualified than you are

• Compulsive and/or obsessive behavior
• Lack of self-confidence
• Tension
• Depression
• Anxiety  

• Do you frequently burst into tears or react in a highly emotional way to life’s situations
• Do you feel a lot of tension or congestion in your stomach or solar plexus, as though feelings are stored there
• Do you believe you need to have more serenity in life
• Do you fluctuate between emotional moods
• Do you lack stamina

• Tension
• Darkness
• Stress
• Anger
• Insomnia
• Hyperactivity
• Learning problems
• Moodiness
• Daydreaming
• Impatience 

• Do you anger easily
• Are daily activities sometimes confusing
• Are you easily irritated

• Tension
• Lack of inner self
• Lethargy
• Negative energy

• Do you need to develop more objectivity and perspective about recent life events that trouble or perplex you
• Does your life seem more accidental than purposeful, making it hard to have much insight into, or acceptance of, the people and events surrounds you
• Are you in an elder phase of life, wanting to gather wisdom and reflect on the meaning of your experience
• Do you have concern about aging

• Aging (fear of)
• Immaturity
• Change or transitions
• Drawing wisdom from experienced
• Finding purpose
• Ill fated or undeserved feeling 

• Do you have difficulty with short term memory
• Do you feel out of touch with your intuition
• Do you feel your emotions cloud your perception
• Do you have a sense of detachment from the world

• Memory
• “Seeing” clearly
• Nervousness 

• Do you feel like you are being choked
• Do you feel like you have something to say but are not saying it or expressing it
• Do you have trouble accepting life as it is
• Do you feel separate, resulting in a reduction of energy

• Constraint
• loneliness
• Trouble accepting life

• Do you suffer from unknown fears
• Do you feel unsafe and insecure
• Do you find it difficult to concentrate
• Do you feel like the world is crashing in on you
• Could you benefit from an infusion of faith

• Fear
• Uncertainty
• Poor concentration
• Insecurity
• lack of self confidence
• Anxiety
• Hyperventilation
• Hyperactivity 

• Do you hold grudges or refuse to let go of past hurts
• Do you come on strong or seem overbearing to others even though you are just trying to convey confidence
• Do you feel overly tense or anxious
• Do you suffer from mood swings

• Over excitement
• Anxiety
• Mood swings
• Weakness
• Nervous Tension
• PMS
• Depression
• Letting go of past hurts

• Do you have many plans or intentions that never seem to materialize
• Do you brood, think about or reflect, rather than plan and execute
• Do you feel sluggish
• Have you had a difficult childhood

• Mood swings
• A sense of drowning in life
• Inner child issues – unresolved trauma from childhood 

• Are you in a state of crisis or emergency
• Are you having trouble letting go of “stuck” emotions and hurts from the past
• Is change difficult
• Do you feel emotionally exhausted or disoriented

• Shock
• Pain
• Trauma
• Great for the nerves
• Helps remove stubborn emotions of jealousy, anger and bitterness
• Very healing on all levels
• Can be used for drug detox

• Do you replace your daily life with fantasy
• Do you need constant motivation to complete a task
• Do you wish you had a better sense of well-being

• Impotence
• Grief
• Heartbreak
• Anger
• Depression
• Postpartum Depression
• Finding life’s purpose

• Would you describe yourself as strung out, nervous, or hyperactive
• Do you have difficulty sleeping or are you restless
• Do you have difficulty concentrating when praying or meditating
• Do you suffer from a chattering mind with no clear, calm, concise thoughts
• Is your life out of balance

• Emotional blocks
• Stress
• For sensitive people
• Argumentative individuals
• Meditation
• Universal oil that relaxes and stimulates

• Do your relationships seem toxic
• Are you tense, or do you have unresolved conflict
• Do you have lack of inner life
• Do you describe yourself as being “out of it”
• do you tend to feel that everything is unclean

• Issues of self
• Tiredness
• Lethargic
• Anxiety
• Feelings of impurity
• Universal emotional balance 

• Do you suffer from every day fears
• Are you overworked
• Do man people comment you don’t seem happy

• Sadness
• Stress

• Do you need a sense of comfort
• Are you having difficulty getting over losing someone in any way
• Are you sensitive or impatient
• Do you feel melancholy

• Heavy sighing
• Loneliness
• Rejection
• Insomnia
• Grief
• Tension
• Inappropriate sexual behavior/desire

• Do you have trouble exercising patience
• Is there a tendency to self-destruct
• Do simple things irritate you
• Do you suffer from a loss of stability

• Hyperactivity
• Stress
• Lack of inspiration

• Do you have trouble making decisions
• Do you anger easily
• Do you often think, “What’s the use?”
• Do you have general anxiety of fears

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Tension
• Upset for no reason
• Low Libido
• Fear
• Lack of self confidence
• Sexual Problems

• Do you have trouble looking into a mirror and honestly saying “(Your Name), I love you.”
• Do you have difficulty seeing yourself as a unique individual
• Do you feel your life is painful

• Pain
• Issues of self esteem
• Gives synergy to other oils for use in blends 

• Do you always need to be right
• Do you have difficulty with decisions
• Do you suffer from apathy or indifference

• Anxiety
• Stress
• Trapped emotional energy

• Do you lack energy or stimulation
• Do you find it hard to get motivated
• Do you find it hard to get through the day
• Do you have trouble being creative

• Insomnia
• Laziness
• Lethargy
• Sluggishness
• Mental cloudiness
• Low energy
• Poor concentration
• Good for students
• Helps with digestion of the body and the mind

• Is it hard to find direction
• Do you have harsh expectations of yourself
• Is it hard to let go of past mistakes or failures

• Pity
• Guilt
• Blame
• Exhaustion
• Self Criticism

• Is your heart heavy or sad
• Do you lack comfort
• Do you need to develop greater courage to confront rather than retreat

• Shame
• Depression
• Grief
• Irritability
• Shyness
• Inspires: Joy, Love, Confidence, Love of self, Inspiration, Renewal, Independence

• Is there a side of you that needs more attention or understanding
• Do you tell white lies or are you living a lie
• Do you have trouble accepting your spiritual side or do you question it
• Do you see the world as pieces and parts rather than a meaningful whole
• Are you forgetful or are your extremities cold

• Confusion
• Exhaustion
• Bitterness
• Nightmares
• Inspires: Wisdom, Truth, Peace, Meditation, Creativity

• Does life seem overly chaotic
• Do you have trouble organizing your life
• Do you suffer from a chattering mind or where daily activities and worries are constantly thought about – possibly obsessive compulsive

• Hyperactivity
• Negative programming
• Enhances meditation and prayer 

• Do you often deny your own needs
• Do you care more about everyone else instead of spending time on yourself

• Builds emotional strength 

• Do you spend time trying to understand the meaning of life
• Do you feel like there is not enough time in your life to do everything you want to do
• Do you feel that it’s not fair that we age

• Issues of time and trying to beat the clock
• Speeds healing of tissues
• Builds: Strength, Courage, Longevity, Concentration

• Do you wear a mask of cheerfulness while you feel different on the inside
• Do you judge before you act and are you even aware of it
• Do you ever have difficulty really hearing what others are saying
• Do you have difficulty with imperfection, either in yourself, or others
• Do life’s unfolding events often irritate you

• Hyperventilation
• Shock
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Nervousness
• Anger
• Bitterness
• Depression
• Lack of interest
• Jealousy

Profound – Simple – Free, Activation Part II October 12 2011

You’ve had a few days, since the last post, to consider the thoughts and beliefs that are roaming in your head and how they might be affecting your capacity towards health and wellness. Let’s discuss some practical applications to help you stimulate and activate healing.

Prayer: Scientific studies have proven that patients who were prayed for, fared better than those who were not prayed for. Prayer, a profound, simple, free, curative.

Affirmations: Positive thinking actually provides an electrical stimulus through the nervous system, thereby activating the healing energy of the tissues. You can use positive affirmations and statements to enhance your healing process. A person with a broken bone could say, “My bone IS whole and strong.” Use the present tense as though the healing has already happened. (Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1)

If you are struggling with emotional issues, you could ask yourself, “What would it feel like if…….. I were happy? I were motivated? I were peaceful and calm? I had clarity? 

The only way your mind and body can answer these questions is to start generating the feelings desired by envisioning oneself as peaceful, happy, serene, bold, courageous. (Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.)

Deep Breathing and Relaxation: It really is amazing how many of us practice shallow breathing instead of deep breathing. When you breathe deeply, it allows the tissues to be oxygenated, which fans the spark of life throughout the body. Deep breathing also allows you to get in touch with buried feelings that need to be brought to the surface and resolved. Feelings buried alive, don’t stay dead and quite often, rise up in an unpredictable manner. 

Deep breathing enables the body to relax. In our fast paced culture, we desperately need to give our body a chance to relax and to bring balance to our autonomic nervous system. In studying the oxygenation of the body, I could literally write several pages on the benefits of a properly oxygenated body. 

A practical and easy technique for deep breathing and relaxation is to sit in a comfortable chair, slowly relaxing each part of your body, allowing the muscles to tense then relax, breathe slowly from the abdomen and then focus and count when breathing, “In – two, three four, out –two, three, four.” With practice, you will find that you can quickly de-stress using this method.

Visualization: When relaxed and breathing deeply, many people use visualization for activating healing. Cancer patients have been encouraged to visualize their white blood cells gobbling up the cancer cells and destroying them. Amazingly enough, studies again have proven that such visualization actually enhances immunity and healing.

Touch: Hugs are healing. Massages are healing. Holding hands is healing. Being intimate with your spouse is healing. Each of us has energy and far infra-red within us that can bring healing to others.

Did you happen to notice that all five methods of Activation that we discussed today incorporate the physical, emotional and spiritual? Our bodies were created to heal themselves when given what they need. This doesn’t mean that we will never get sick or that we’ll live forever. We do live in a fallen world. But we were not left without hope or remedy.

Pray. Affirm. Breathe. Relax. Visualize. Touch.

Profound. Simple. Free.

Take a few days to incorporate these activation methods and in the next post, we’ll talk about specific remedies which will include essential oils, herbs and flower essences.

This is part two of a three part series.  Please see previous post.

It Couldn’t All Be In My Head – Could It? Activation – Part I October 07 2011

Apologetically and with a nervous chuckle, the young woman who had been suffering from some long term health issues said, “This is going to sound weird, but I think I started to feel better right after calling you to set up the appointment.”

Was it just in her head? There were actually a couple of dynamics taking place.

First: Most of us have heard of the Placebo Effect. People are given sugar pills and a certain number of them will get well just because they believe that this pill will make them well. 

However, there is also something called the Nocebo Effect. In one study, cancer patients were given sugar pills, but were told it was chemotherapy drugs. 30% of the cancer patients lost their hair. Why? Because they believed that they were being given chemotherapy drugs and knew that a side effect was hair loss.

The Placebo and Nocebo Effects lend credibility to the idea that a person’s attitude and emotional state can cause a physical problem to appear or disappear.

Your thoughts matter and what you believe matters.

This young woman, at some level, believed that it would be beneficial to at least set up an appointment and come to see me.

Second: Another dynamic that took place with this young woman was that by setting up an appointment, she gave herself HOPE. Hope is an amazing thing. Take it away from someone and what have you got left? Scripture says it perfectly:

Proverbs 17:22 – “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Unless you are already dead, there is always hope.

Third: There is a systematic approach to natural health and healing referred to as the A B C + D Approach. The “A” is activation. Activation is always the first step in the healing process and it may well be the most critical.  You probably already utilize this concept and aren’t even aware of it.

More on Activation in Part II.  In the meantime, ask yourself, “What’s in my head?”

To Run Again – A Testimony of Healing September 29 2011

She lumbered into my office appearing to be 12 months pregnant with triplets. Just three weeks prior, she had suffered a heart attack at the age of 33, and she was desperate to find hope for regaining her health and raising her children. Doctors had opened her up, saw the mess, closed her back up and refused to touch her. All of her organs were pushed to the front of her enlarged abdomen; one doctor saying she was filled with diseased fat cells, the other doctor saying it was cancer.

Her desire, in addition to living and being able to raise her children, was stated in writing on my intake form. “I want to be able to walk and run and exercise again.”

Simplicity was crucial. After discussing options, she decided upon Black Seed Oil, Silver Sol, Go Greens and the Hot House.

Laying on her back required the use of two extenders for the Hot House to fit over her. In a week and a half, she no longer needed either one. She found herself passing a great deal of urine and copious amounts of fat globs and bloody masses with her stool. Her doctor, stunned with her progress, explained that her body was ridding itself of the diseased fat cells and to continue with whatever she was doing.

She was ecstatic. She had ankles again. She could feel her ribs again. She had a waist again. She could see her wrist bones again. Her nephew caught her running – again.

Update: I first saw this client June of 2011, shared her testimony in September of 2011 and received a call from her sister January of 2012. Per her doctor, blood tests confirm that she is cancer free. She gives all glory to God her Heavenly Father, believing that he orchestrated her healing.

Guiltless Zucchini Brownies September 22 2011

I love it when a delicious yet healthy dessert option comes along. Thank you to my friend Marcia for sharing this with me. I love texture, so I add extra of anything and everything that adds textural interest. Makes me sound like an interior decorator which is actually true. I want the inside of my body to have the best edge possible.

This recipe is also great for kids to make because it does not require the use of a mixer. Indulge!

Zucchini Brownies (which makes excellent cupcakes as well)

Mix together:

1 1/2 cup organic sugar or xylitol or a mixture of the two

1/2 cup olive oil or butter

2 teaspoons of organic vanilla

1 egg, add liquid to measure 1/2 cup ( you can use milk, water, almond milk, rice milk etc)

one quarter to one half cup of cocoa – I use Organic Dutch Processed Cocoa

2 cups of shredded zucchini

Mix together and add:

2 cups of flour ( you can use organic white, spelt, whole wheat or a mixture of them)

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

Optional:

Add 1 cup of dark chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped walnuts, almonds or pecans

1 cup of unsweetened coconut

Grease a 9 x 13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 25 – 30 minutes or until your toothpick comes out clean.

Cupcakes – take about 15 – 17 minutes.

No frosting required. Absolutely delicious and they freeze well.

Did You Want Bugs, Dirt, Mercury, and Mold, with that Supplement September 18 2011

There are thousands of brands of supplements to choose from; so why did I choose Nature’s Sunshine? I can assure you it isn’t because they are the cheapest. I can assure you that it has everything to do with Purity, Safety, Potency, Integrity, and Quality. Every raw material that comes into the Nature’s Sunshine Warehouse is tested for impurities and every year incredible amounts of raw materials are rejected by “The Terminator,” Lynda Hammons, Vice President of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs for NSP.

Because raw botanical materials are paid for by weight, suppliers will grind up dirt, stems, and rocks to add weight. NSP rejects those shipments. They test for heavy metal contamination, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and PCB.

A shipment of St. John’s Wort was rejected because a sample test showed that it was the wrong species. An incoming shipment of Slippery Elm failed the gel test which means it didn’t meet activity criteria. A particular shipment of oat straw was rejected because of mercury and dirt contamination. There was a several month long period when Pau D’ Arco was unavailable because every shipment contained mold. Better to have no product than a bad product.

Harvesting can be tricky as well. Peppermint harvested on a shady, cool day has different actives than if it’s collected on a sunny, warm day. Good cayenne peppers need very hot days and cool nights. Without cool nights, the peppers don’t contain the correct amount of Capsicum to meet NSP standards. Who knew? NSP knew.

Once the raw materials are tested and pass inspection, they move from the holding warehouse to the plant where they are made into supplements. The final product, once made, must then pass about 500 tests, assuring that they meet all specifications, before being allowed out of the plant and into your home and your body.

Nature’s Sunshine, they do it right, they do it well.

There's a New Meaning for Going Green, and You Can Drink To It September 18 2011

When I consult with clients, I offer them one of four drinks: Plain Water, Water with Liquid Chlorophyll, Water with Raw Apple Cider Vinegar and Maple Syrup or Tulsi Tea. The choices I give have significance. Today, it’s the green stuff.

Liquid Chlorophyll from Nature’s Sunshine has a refreshing mint fresh taste much like spearmint gum, but without the sweetness. And it is very green. Being made from alfalfa, and spearmint oil, it provides a wonderful diversion from plain water, can be taken hot or cold and offers the following benefits – just to name a few:

• Improves Circulation
• Improves Cardiac function
• Mild antibiotic action
• Destroys bacterial growth in wounds
• Destroys anaerobic fungi and yeasts in digestive tract
• Helps remove drug deposits from the body
• Negates harmful effects of radiation, toxins and many carcinogens
• Normalizes production of digestive fluids
• Stimulates peristaltic action – relieving constipation
• Improves liver function
• Encourages regeneration of damaged liver cells
• Relieves Inflammation
• Can help to purify the blood
• Neutralizes body odor and halitosis (bad breath)
• Inhibits gum infections and tooth decay
• Helps to eliminate water retention
• Enhances breast milk production
• Soothes nervousness
• Stimulates enzyme production of Vitamins A, E and K
• Rejuvenative tonic – can relieve fatigue and enhance your energy
• Used in treatment of anemia and anemic conditions
• Can relieve a sore throat
• Can reduce inflammation associated with arthritis
• Soothe spasmodic stomach and abdominal pain
• Helps balance the pH of the body
• Natural Therapy for Cancer
• Great for pets – add to their water bowl
• Detoxification from vaccines
• Beneficial for Raynaud’s Disease, Rosacea, Sickle Cell Anemia, Toxemia, Free Radical Damage, Gout, Bulging and Slipped Disks, Emphysema….and the list goes on.

I can’t really think of anyone who wouldn’t benefit from indulging in Liquid Chlorophyll and it makes a wonderful alternative to pop, juice and energy drinks. By purchasing it through Nature’s Sunshine, you are assured that you aren’t imbibing an inferior chlorophyll made by something such as the excretion of silk worms. Gross but apparently true according to a speaker that I heard. Nature’s Sunshine Liquid Chlorophyll, made available to you at wholesale and dropped shipped right to your doorstep.  Life doesn’t get any easier.  For more information on wholesale ordering options, please see my “Products” page.

The First Call September 11 2011

I remember the morning vividly. Upon rising in the wee hours before dawn, I finished my daily scripture reading. There was a recanting of the wanderings in the desert and reiterating the division of the territories to the different tribes. Finishing the reading for the day, I laid my Bible aside and sighed, “Lord, I was really hoping to hear a special word from you today. I don’t know where those territories are and I don’t have any interest in them.”

Instantly, my heart was seared with a thought that was not my own. “There is territory that I want to give you – that I want you to take in my name.” I gasped and wondered where the thought came from. A seemingly meaningless piece of scripture, became priceless and the memory of the revelation has been burned into my memory.

I now look at every step that I take, as new territory that I can win for Christ. Whether it is smiling at a stranger, crying with the broken hearted, rejoicing with celebrants or helping a client resolve a health issue, my endeavor is to do it to the glory of the Holy One. It can be while shopping at my local grocery store or far away when on business or vacationing. It matters not where I place my foot next or when I open my mouth, the possibility exists : an opportunity to take ground and offer hope.

It is my greatest desire that you find HOPE throughout the territory of my web site and that you share that hope with others.