Healthy with Jodi

Curb Carb Cravings! Healthy Glucose Control

    Control Pre-Meal CapsulesTM
    30 servings $38.95

    Self-control now comes in a capsule

    Benefits:
    * Can help curb cravings and reduce appetite
    * Neutralizes starches found in processed carbohydrates
    * Can support stabilized blood glucose
    * May enhance mental alertness, endurance and stamina

    * Helps you feel satisfied faster and takes the edge off your cravings
    Purium`s CONTROL Pre-Meal CapsulesTM are specifically designed to help you eat less and reduce the impact of simple carbohydrates and sugars, lessening the possibility that your body will convert them into fat. It is a great addition to any weight loss regimen.
    Instructions: Take two capsules three times per day (approximately one hour prior to meals) with 8oz of water or, take two to three capsules prior to any fatty meal or dessert followed by 8oz of water.
    Interesting Facts:
    * Nopal (Opuntia Streptacantha): promotes weight loss by absorbing water and providing a feeling of satiety. It has a positive effect on blood sugar and helps reduce the appetite and control carbohydrate cravings. It can also reduce cholesterol by promoting the excretion of fats from the body, and aids digestion by absorbing toxins from the bowel as well as increasing the rate at which food passes through the system.
    * Garcinia Cambogia (fruit): inhibits the synthesis of fatty acids in the liver and promotes an increased availability of glycogen in the liver, thus sending a “full” signal to the brain sooner.
    * Green Tea Extract: Extract: research has found that green tea increases the amount of energy spent by the body and holds promise as a treatment for obesity and other weight problems.
    * American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius): Dr Lin Yutang, a Chinese research scientist who spent a lifetime learning about ginseng, summed up his work by saying that, “The magic tonic and building qualities of ginseng are the most enduring, the most energy-giving, restorative qualities known to mankind, yet it is distinguished by the slowness and gentleness of its action.”
    * White Kidney Bean Extract (Phaseolus Vulgaris):

    Final word from Dave:
    Drawing from the wisdom of ancient culture, we have put together a product for the ages. From the shaman we take Opuntia, from Chinese medicine – Green Tea, from Ayurvedic – the garcinia cambogia, and the power of White American Ginseng and the newly discovered effect of the amazing white kidney bean. Brought together to give you the ultimate in CONTROL, self control, appetite control, glucose control, energy and most importantly, your weight.
- Dave Sandoval

    Understanding Auto Immune disorders

      Who understands auto immune disorders and how they affects us and our loved ones?  Here is a brief overview of what it is and a link if you want to research correct information further.

      When an intruder invades your body—like a cold virus or bacteria on a thorn that pricks your skin—your immune system protects you. It tries to identify, kill, and eliminate the invaders that might hurt you. But sometimes problems with your immune system cause it to mistake your body’s own healthy cells as invaders and then repeatedly attacks them. This is called an autoimmune disease. (“Autoimmune” means immunity against the self.)

      Autoimmune diseases can affect almost any part of the body, including the heart, brain, nerves, muscles, skin, eyes, joints, lungs, kidneys, glands, the digestive tract, and blood vessels. The classic sign of an autoimmune disease is inflammation, which can cause redness, heat, pain, and swelling. How an autoimmune disease affects you depends on what part of the body is targeted. If the disease affects the joints, as in rheumatoid arthritis, you might have joint pain, stiffness, and loss of function. If it affects the thyroid, as in Graves’ disease and thyroiditis, it might cause tiredness, weight gain, and muscle aches. If it attacks the skin, as it does in scleroderma/systemic sclerosis, vitiligo, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), it can cause rashes, blisters, and color changes.

      Many autoimmune diseases don’t restrict themselves to one part of the body. For example, SLE can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, nerves, blood vessels, and more. Type 1 diabetes can affect your glands, eyes, kidneys, muscles, and more.

      KEY WORDS

      Acquired immune system. The part of the immune system that develops as a person grows. It employs antibodies and immune cells to fight harmful substances.

      Antibody. A special protein produced by the body’s immune system that recognizes and helps fight infectious agents and other foreign substances that invade the body.

      Antigen. A foreign substance that triggers the production of antibodies when it is introduced into the body.

      Autoimmune disease. A disease that results when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues.

      Corticosteroids. Potent anti-inflammatory hormones that are made naturally in the body or synthetically (man-made) for use as drugs. They are also called glucocorticoids. The most commonly prescribed drug of this type is prednisone.

      Diabetes, type 1. A condition in which the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, making it impossible for the body to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in children and young adults.

      Graves’ disease. An autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormone. This causes such symptoms as nervousness, heat intolerance, heart palpitations, and unexplained weight loss.

      Immune system. A complex network of specialized cells and organs that work together to defend the body against attacks by foreign invaders, such as bacteria and viruses.

      Thyroiditis. An inflammation of the thyroid gland that causes the gland to become underactive. This results in symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, weight gain, cold intolerance, and muscle aches.

      Vitiligo. A disorder in which the immune system destroys pigment-making cells called melanocytes. This results in white patches of skin on different parts of the body.

      The National Institutes of Health (NIH)—The Nation’s Medical Research Agency—includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH visit:

      https://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/

      Is Chewing Gum Bad for You? (One Ingredient Is Linked to Gut Destruction)

        Disturbing side effects of chewing gum.  Alternative bad breathe ideas and reasons why you should rethink putting gum in your mouth.
        Gut Destruction

        Chewing gum manufacturers have been turning to an ingredient called titanium dioxide for years. Now used in nanoparticle form, this extremely tiny metal compound is posing some serious emerging health threats. This is probably the scariest reason to avoid gum.

        Generally recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration, this compound is often used in nanoparticle form to create a bright white pigmentation in paints, plastics … and chewing gum. (2) It’s also found in tons of other foods, like candies and powdered white sugar (donuts!) and even bread. Although it’s allowed on store shelves and considered safe, scientists are starting to paint a different picture.

        In fact, a 2017 study published in the journal NanoImpact shows that nano-titanium oxide ingredients like titanium dioxide can severely impact gut health. Researchers exposed small intestinal cells to a meal’s worth of nanoparticles over four hours (acute exposure) or three meal’s worth over five days (chronic exposure). What they found is a bit shocking.

        Chronic exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles in the diet:

        Weakened the intestinal barrier
        Slowed down metabolism
        Triggered inflammation
        Weakened the gut’s defense against pathogens

        Blocked nutrient absorption of key nutrients like iron, zinc and fatty acids
        The nanoparticles actually blunted the effectiveness of the small intestines’ microvilli. Microvilli are tiny projections that jut off of small intestinal cells and work to absorb nutrients our bodies need to survive. (3)

        People also face this type of titanium dioxide exposure through toothpaste, and it’s even sometimes used to created a smoother texture in chocolates and to create a brighter appearance in skim milk.

        In 2012, Arizona State University found that titanium dioxide nanoparticles turned up in five percent of products tested, including Twinkies and mayonnaise samples. Under public pressure, Dunkin Donuts stopped using nano-titanium dioxide in its donuts’ powdered sugar in 2015.

        “To avoid foods rich in titanium oxide nanoparticles you should avoid processed foods, and especially candy. That is where you see a lot of nanoparticles,” — Gretchen Mahler, PhD, study co-author and assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Binghamton University, State University of New York. (4)

        Beyond that, many chewing gum products contain emulsifiers to retain flavor and keep gum from sticking to your teeth. (5) The trouble is, many emulsifiers act almost like detergent in your digestive tract, throwing off the natural balance of your gut flora. In fact, research in lab animals suggests certain emulsifiers used as food additives could contribute to colon cancer development.

        Is Chewing Gum Bad? More Reasons to Stop

        Migraines

        For children and adolescents dealing with vicious migraines and tension headaches, the natural solution could be right under their noses: Stop chewing gum. A small study published in Pediatric Neurology discovered that nixing gum led to significant improvements in 26 out of 30 adolescents in the study. Amazingly, 19 of them experienced complete headache resolution. No pills, no treatments — they just stopped chewing gum. (6)

        If you’re trying to figure out how to get rid of a migraine naturally, your gum habit is a great place to start. In tweens and teens, common proven headache triggers include stress, lack of sleep, hot weather, video games, noise, sunlight, smoking, skipping meals and menstruation. Now we can add gum to the list. Researchers aren’t sure if it’s the artificial sweeteners or a TMJ issue related to gum and headaches, but the good news is we can stop many headaches with this simple step. (7)

        Sinister Sweeteners

        You’d expect fake sweeteners like aspartame in diet soda, but chewing gum? Come on! Different chewing gum companies turn to ingredients like aspartame, sorbitol, high-fructose corn syrup, acesulfame K, sucrolose and xylitol. Some actually use multiple fake sweeteners in a single gum product.

        These ingredients are linked to serious health issues like tooth decay, liver fat buildup, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, leukemia, lymphoma, kidney tumors and more. Acesulfame potassium, also known as acesulfame K, is among the most common artificial sweeteners detected in breast milk. That’s troubling, since the ingredient is also linked to thyroid dysfunction. Sucralose harms the gut, throwing off healthy levels of enzymes and disrupting the microbiome. (8)

        While xylitol and sorbitol may seem more natural, these processed sugar alcohols aren’t absorbed well by the body and cause an allergic reaction for those who have a sensitivity to it. And then there are the digestive sugar alcohol and xylitol side effects, including bloating, gas, cramping and diarrhea. And get this: Its laxative effect is so pronounced that it’s actually part of the chemical makeup for many over-the-counter laxatives.

        Special note to dog owners: Xylitol and other sugar alcohol-based sweeteners are life-threatening toxins to dogs. Be mindful of breath mints, candies, sugar-free gum, frozen desserts and other foods when your pets are around. (9)

        Better Bad-Breath Fighters & Gum Alternatives

        Bad breath is a good excuse to reach for gum, but as you can see, the side effects are bad news, especially for your gut. Luckily, there are better ways to cope. After ruling out potential underlying issues for bad breath, you can turn to these things to naturally improve your breath:

        Eat parsley.
        Drink enough water, especially tap into the benefits of lemon water.
        Learn how to safely tap into peppermint oil benefits.(Not recommended for young children.)
        Learn about oil pulling with coconut oil.
        Avoid grains and added sugars.
        Final Thoughts on ‘Is Chewing Gum Bad for You?’
        American played a huge role in spreading the popularity of chewing gum all around the world.
        However, today’s ingredients include fake dyes and flavors. But perhaps most concerning is nanoparticle-sized titanium dioxide, an ingredient used in everything from gum, candy and bread to paint and plastics.
        Nano-titanium dioxide helps create a vibrant white color, but scientists now show that it can impact small intestinal cells in a way that blocks absorption of key nutrients, slows the metabolism, increases inflammation and weakens the gut’s ability to protect against dangerous pathogens.
        Chewing gum is also linked to migraines and tension headaches in children and adolescents.
        There are still some chewing gum companies that rely on old-fashioned, real-food ingredients, but they are sometimes harder to come by.

        Source: www.draxe.com

        Outside Allergies & cross reacting foods

          Environmental allergens/Cross-Reacting Foods

          I hear my clients or friends talk about the plants they are allergic to, what about the foods that we take in from those same plants and trees, do you consider those? It’s easy to feel the immediate effects of the blooming trees but not the delayed response of gluten or dairy allergy 2-5 days later.  

          When your immune System is low, the outside allergies present themselves quickly.  A food panel is more valuable and  important to your health then knowing what tree you are allergic too.  Let’s take a look at the inside of our bodies first and build those systems up so the outside environment has less of an affect on us.  

          Five categories of cross reaction and some of the key foods involved.
          This is not intended to represent all possible environmental allergens, or all possible cross-reacting foods. Instead, it is meant to provide you with examples of common pollen allergens and commonly cross-reacting foods.

          Environmental Allergen                  Cross-Reacting Foods
          1. alder tree pollen                               1. almonds, apples, celery, cherries, peaches, pears, parsley, hazelnuts

          2.grass pollen                                       2.melons, tomatoes, oranges

          3.mugwort weed pollen                    3.carrots, celery, coriander, fennel, parsley, bell peppers, hot peppers, sunflower seeds

          4.ragweed pollen                                 4.bananas, cantaloupe, cucumbers, zucchini, honeydew, watermelon, chamomile

          5.birch tree pollen                             5. almonds, apples, apricots, carrots, celery, cherries, coriander/cilantro, fennel, hazelnuts, kiwifruit, lychee fruit, nectarines, oranges, parsley, parsnips, peaches, pears, bell peppers, hot peppers, persimmons, plums/prunes, potaotes, soybeans, wheat

          Environment-food cross reactions can be as complicated or even more complicated to recognize as food allergies and food intolerances. On the environment side, they might be seasonal and only a problem during certain times of year. On the food side, they are likely to be year round, and may involve a half dozen or more foods. Blood work is strongly recommended to identify the cause of “allergy Symptoms”.

          For more information I can order the correc labs for you to get the answers you are looking for, just email, call or text me and we can set up a consultation.  If you would like more information on this article:

          http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=faq&dbid=51

          Selenium for your Thyroid Health

            Selenium Health Benefits and the Best sources

            Do you have an under active Thyroid? Are you getting the vitamins and minerals needed to support the process?  Here is some info on why Selenium is important to the process.  Soaking your nuts and seeds for best absorption will help your already stressed out body.

            Antioxidant Protection
            Selenium is required for the proper activity of a group of enzymes called glutathione peroxidases. (sometimes abbreviated “GPO” or “GPx” for a glutathione peroxidase enzyme.) These enzymes play a key role in the body’s detoxification system and they also provide protection against oxidative stress. (Oxidative stress is physiological circumstance in which there is excessive risk of oxygen-related damage to the body.) Of the eight known glutathione peroxidase enzymes, five of them require selenium.
            In addition to the activity of glutathione peroxidase, selenium-containing enzymes are involved in recycling of vitamin C from its spent form back to its active one, allowing for greater antioxidant protection.

            Support Normal Thyroid Function
            A selenium-containing enzyme is responsible for transforming a less active thyroid hormone called T4 into the more active T3. As you’ll see below in the Relationship with Other Nutrients section, selenium and iodine work together to keep thyroid function strong and consistent.
            Like the antioxidant protection issue, this is not just an esoteric concern. Researchers have been able to induce problems with the thyroid gland in just two months of a low-selenium diet.
            Probably, if you’ve read about food sources of selenium, you’ve read about Brazil nuts as a strong source of the mineral. Depending on where they are grown, this is likely to be true—one ounce of Brazil nuts may contain as much as 10 times the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) recommendation for selenium intake.
            Other exceptionally selenium-rich foods include oysters, clams, liver, and kidney. Each of these foods is likely to contain double to triple the DRI in a serving.
            Fish and shellfish make up an outsized proportion of our excellent and very good sources. After these come other animal meats, many of which fall in the very good category. Close behind are whole grains and seeds, both of which are well-represented in our good selenium sources category.
            http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=newtip&dbid=144&utm_source=daily_click&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_email

            Urinary tract Info and Suggested Natural healing approach

              Urinary tract Info:
              Commonly also call bladder infections. There is a disturbance in the bacterial flora that protects the urinary track and anabiotic’s lead to reoccurring infections.

              Doubling probiotics such as L. Acidophilus is highly recommended. At least 20 billion CFU’s. 50-100Billion CFU’s would be more beneficial and HIGHLY recommended.

              Acidity levels are too high in the body when the pH is disrupted there is fermentation of vaginal glycogen to lactic acid. Alkalinity is Key, must add more Green into the diet. ORGANIC EATING is SO Very IMPORTANT!!!

              Eliminating of dairy, yeast, and soy products are recommended to rebalance pH. Limiting grains, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol, and refined carbohydrates.
              At least 64 oz water a day. Decaffeinated tea counts as water. Eliminate food allergens. Allergy Blood work is your best Road map to gut and immune support and healing.  Blood Tests are available and easy!

              Recommended foods:
              Use healthy cooking oil such as olive oil (don’t heat olive oil) or coconut oil.
              Eat Less red meats and more lean meats such as fish, but no soy.
              High fiber foods include beans root vegetables such as yams or sweet potatoes and psyllium husk.
              Antioxidant rich foods including vegetables like bell peppers and squash.
              **Fruit in the morning including cranberries, blueberries,and cherries. If you’re going to drink juice make sure that it is unsweetened. Please eat your fruit, better for you unless you are juicing. Best for digestion if fruit is first thing in the morning and by itself or for your first snack, eaten alone.**

              Recommended Vitamins:
              Probiotics and digestive enzymes ALWAYS!! Double if taking antibiotics!
              Multi Vitamin
              Vit D: 2000-4000 IU
              Fish oils 1000mg and or Flax seed, 3x a day. Could go up to 6000mg
              Super Greens
              Amino Acids
              Vit C: 1000mg a day
              Grape seed oil 100-300mg
              Magnesium 200-300mg 3x a day
              Zinc: 30mg a day

              Recommended Botanicals:
              Cranberry
              Aloe Vera: up to 32oz per day
              Gotu Kola is great extract tea to help balance pH. 60-120mg
              Uva Ursi ( upland cranberry or bearberry) is a powerful antiseptic herb.
              Dried leaves or tea: 1.5-4.0 (1-2 tsp)
              Goldenseal herb has antimicrobial agents. Dried root or tea: 1-2g

              Other herbs that are recommended: green tea, cats claw, milk thistle, and reishi mushroom.

              Allergy Testing Explained

                Allergy testing At a Glance

                I’m all about questions and explaining why. When we understand “Why” we do things, programs or guidelines become easier to follow and results tend to be easier to maintain when education is behind our actions.  Let me help you stop the guess work and customize your eating and supplement plan so you can be the best version of yourself you can be!!!

                Formal name:
                Allergen-specific IgE Antibody Test
                Why Get Tested?
                To help diagnose allergies; sometimes to monitor the effectiveness of immunotherapy (desensitization) treatment
                When to Get Tested?
                When you have symptoms such as hives, dermatitis, nasal congestion, red itchy eyes, asthma, or abdominal pain that your health care provider suspects may be caused by an allergy
                A Sample is Required
                A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm or finger prick at home test.

                No Test Preparation Needed

                What is being tested?
                Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is a class of antibody (immune protein) associated with allergic reactions. It is normally found in very small amounts in the blood. This test measures the amount of allergen-specific IgE in the blood in order to detect an allergy to a particular substance.
                IgE is an antibody that functions as part of the body’s immune system, its defense against “intruders.” When someone with a predisposition to allergies is exposed to a potential allergen such as food, grass, or animal dander for the first time, that person becomes sensitized. The person’s body perceives the potential allergen as a foreign substance and produces a specific IgE antibody that binds to specialized mast cells in the skin, respiratory system, and gastrointestinal tract, and to basophils (a type of white blood cell) in the bloodstream. With the next exposure, these attached IgE antibodies recognize the allergen and cause the mast and basophil cells to release histamine and other chemicals, resulting in an allergic reaction that begins at the exposure site.
                Each allergen-specific IgE antibody test performed is separate and very specific: honeybee versus bumblebee, egg white versus egg yolk, giant ragweed versus western ragweed. Groupings of these tests, such as food panels or regional weed, grass, and mold panels, can be done. Alternatively, the health practitioner may pick and choose selectively from a long list of individual allergens suspected of causing a person’s allergies.

                When is it ordered?
                One or more allergen-specific IgE antibody tests are usually ordered when a person has signs or symptoms that suggest an allergy to one or more substances. Signs and symptoms MAY include:

                **Fatigue is number one symptom!**
                * Hives
                * Dermatitis
                * Eczema
                * Red itchy eyes
                * Coughing, nasal congestion, sneezing
                * Itching and tingling in the mouth
                * Asthma
                * Abdominal pain or vomiting and diarrhea
                * Bloating, excessive gas
                * Skin breakouts
                * Sluggish
                * Stomachache, discomfort within 30 mins of eating
                * Trouble concentrating, brain fog

                A test may also be ordered occasionally to help evaluate the effectiveness of immunotherapy or to determine whether a child has outgrown an allergy.

                Sources:
                American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
                Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: What are allergies?
                American College of Allergy, Asthma,
                American Academy of Family Physicians: Food Allergies
                Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN)
                Nemours Foundation: All About Allergies
                American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology: What is Allergy Testing
                American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology: Tips to Remember: Allergy Testing
                National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

                Candida Control

                  Candida Control
                  Enzyme Science
                  $34.50

                  Candida Control™ includes two enzymes for maintaining normal yeast production.* The enzyme cellulase breaks down the cell wall of candida, while protease removes the toxins expelled during cell death.* This combination may ease discomforts common to cleansing (die-off).* Broccoli Seed extract, as well as beneficial microflora (probiotics), work together to support healthy detoxification.* Enzyme Sciences exclusive Thera-blend™ enzymes are effective throughout the entire digestive system, thereby ensuring complete digestion.* When formulated for therapeutic purposes, Thera-blend enzymes are customized for optimal performance throughout the entire body.
                  Servings Per Container: 42
                  Take 2 capsules three times per day on an empty stomach (1/2 hour before or 2 hours after a meal). More may be taken as directed by your healthcare practitioner.*

                  Serving Size: 2 capsules
                  Amount Per Serving
Cellulase Thera-blend™ … 70, 000CU
Protease Thera-Blend™ … 230, 000HUT
Broccoli Seed Extract … 40mg
Probiotic Blend … 1 Billion CFU
Bacillus subtilis, l.rhamnosus, l.casei, L.acidophilus, L.plantarum, L.bulgaricus, L.salivarius, L.paracasei
                  Other Ingredients: 100% vegetarian capsule (cellulose, water)
                  Contains NO: Dairy, egg, preservatives, salt, sucrose, soy, wheat, yeast, nuts, corn, gluten, casein, potato, rice, artificial colors or flavors
                  Contraindications: Candida Control should not be taken with any timed released medications that use cellulose as its time-release mechanism. Keep closed in dry place; avoid excessive heat.

                  What Does Eating Healthy Mean? 16 Healthy Eating Principles You Must Know!

                    What does Eating Healthy Mean?

                    1- Mitochondrial Energy Production:

                    Mitochondria definition: and organelle found in large number in most cells, in which the biochemical process of energy production occurs. It has an inner and outer layer.

                    2-Organic sourced foods: look up EWG.org

                    The environmental working group is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment.  Learn what organic means

                    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a great resource

                    3- Delayed food allergens: and allergy is an adverse reaction due to immunologic mechanism. A delayed onset food allergy is an auto immune disease that causes your immune system to overact when you ingest certain foods. The immune cells mistakenly attack food particles and treat them as foreign invaders and produce anti-bodies to try to fight what they perceive as toxins. Known allergies we can the immune and digestive systems, draining the body of energy.

                    Energetic Health Institute…an innovative 501(c)3 California Non-Profit & Gold Rated by GuideStar.org for transparency. School approved by the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP)

                    I’m a Certified Holistic Nutritionist who can order you the right lab work to complete and over see this process.

                    https://www.energetichealthinstitute.org

                    4- 60% Alkalizing   pH scale  0-14   Acid vs. Alkaline

                    Certain foods can effect of the acidity and pH of bodily fluids, including the urine or blood, and therefore can be used to treat and prevent disease

                    5- Green Food

                    Chlorophyll turns into new blood. Green promotes health and energy.

                    6- ORAC Value of Food

                    Oxygen radical absorbance capacity Is the unit of measurements of antioxidants found in food. (calories are a unit of energy)

                    http://superfoodly.com/orac-values/

                    7-Refined Sugar

                    A healthy adult has approx 5 liters of blood circulating at any given moment and needs 1 teaspoon of sugar available during a fasting state. That’s all the body needs to function.

                    12-ounces of soda or energy drinks typically contain approx 10 tsp of sugar. That raises the blood sugar 10x above what the body needs to function and typically within a matter of minutes.

                     

                    1 Teaspoon of Sugar = Approx 4 Grams of Sugar

                    Take the total grams of refined sugar & divide by 4 to learn how many teaspoons of sugar you are consuming per serving.

                    8-Naturally sweet:

                    Think Real food

                    9- Fiber: 8-12 grams  per meal.  Average 25-30 grams a day.

                    Adds bulk to you diet and aids in digestion.

                    Insoluble fiber: found in wheat, bran, vegetables, and whole grains. It helps speed passage of food through the stomach and intestines.

                    Soluble Fiber: attacks water and turns into gel, slowing digestion.  Found in foods like oat bran, barley, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, peas, and some other veggies and fruits.  Can help lower cholesterol.

                    10-Raw foods

                    Raw foods contain enzymes.  Enzymes help break down food and aid in digestion.

                    Proteases: breaks down Protein

                    Lipase: breaks down fat

                    Amylase: breaks downs carbs

                    11- Healthy Preparation Methods

                    12-Environmentally Safe Meats and Fish

                    EWG.org

                    13-Environmentally safe Cookware

                    NO TEFLON!

                    14-Friends and Family MOODS

                    15- Beverage 8oz or less

                    16- Burn off what you consume!

                    Exercise/movement

                    How to Reduce Anxiety – Herbs for Anxiety Reduction – Reduce Anxiety with Herbs

                      Herbs for Anxiety

                      Not looking to use Conventional Drugs to help ease Anxiety?  Try some of these herbs.

                      Licorice Root contains a natural hormone alternative to cortisone, which can help the body handle stressful situations, and can help to normalize blood sugar levels as well as your adrenal glands, providing you with the energy necessary to deal with the stressful situation at hand. Some claim licorice stimulates cranial and cerebrospinal fluid, thereby calming the mind.As a soothing tonic, drink it warm as in a tea.

                      Kava Kava, an herb from the South Pacific, is a powerful muscle relaxer and analgesic. Kava Kava is also effective at treating depression and anxiety associated with menopause. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/5-herbs-that-reduce-stress-and-anxiety.html#ixzz3zjWfhIxL

                      Valerian

                      Some herbal supplements reduce anxiety without making you sleepy (such as L-theanine), while others are sedatives. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is squarely in the second category. It is a sleep aid, for insomnia. It contains sedative compounds; the German government has approved it as a treatment for sleep problems.

                      Valerian smells kind of nasty, so most people take it as a capsule or tincture, rather than a tea. If you want to try it, take it in the evening—not before you go to work! Valerian is often combined with other sedative herbs such as hops, chamomile, and lemon balm.

                      Hops

                      Yes, it’s in beer, but you won’t get the tranquilizing benefits of the bitter herb hops (Humulus lupulus)from a brew. The sedative compound in hops is a volatile oil, so you get it in extracts and tinctures—and as aromatherapy in hops pillows.

                      “It’s very bitter, so you don’t see it in tea much, unless combined with chamomile or mint,” says Blumenthal. Hops is often used as a sedative, to promote sleep, often with another herb, valerian. Note: Don’t take sedative herbs if you are taking a prescription tranquilizer or sedative, and let your doctor know any supplements you are taking.

                      Chamomile

                      If you have a jittery moment, a cuppa chamomile tea might help calm you down. Some compounds in chamomile (Matricaria recutita) bind to the same brain receptors as drugs like Valium.

                      You can also take it as a supplement, typically standardized to contain 1.2% apigenin (an active ingredient), along with dried chamomile flowers. In one study at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, in Philadelphia, patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) who took chamomile supplements for eight weeks had a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms compared to patients taking placebo.

                      Passion Flower

                      The University of Maryland Medical Center states that passionflower has shown in a few studies to work as well as some of the benzodiazepine medications that are usually prescribed for treating anxiety.

                      A four-week double-blind study, for example, compared passionflower with oxazepam. Results showed oxazepam worked more quickly, but by the end of the study period, both treatments were shown to be equally effective. Bonus—side effects like daytime drowsiness were fewer with passionflower.

                      A second study also showed that passionflower helped ease symptoms like anxiety, irritability, agitation, and depression in participants going through withdrawal from an opiate drug addiction.

                      Dosage: Try one cup of passionflower tea three times daily, 45 drops of liquid extract daily, or about 90 mg/day.

                      Lavendar

                      A 2010 multi-center, a double-blind randomized study of lavender oil compared to anti-anxiety medication lorazepam found that both were effective against generalized and persistent anxiety. Bonus — lavender had no sedative side effects.

                      “Since lavender oil showed no sedative effects,” researchers stated, it could be an effective and “well-tolerated alternative to benzodiazepines” to treat generalized anxiety. An earlier 2000 study found similar results.

                      Dosage: Try about 80 mg/day of the supplement, or use the oil as an aromatherapy solution.

                      Lemon Balm

                      Though usually found in combination with other herbs, lemon balm also has anti-anxiety powers on its own.

                      Research published in 2004, for instance, gave participants a single dose of lemon balm extract (300 mg or 600 mg) or a placebo, then measured their mood after one hour. The higher dose resulted in reduced stress and improved calmness and alertness. Even the lower dose helped participants do math problems more quickly.

                      Dosage: Use in aromatherapy, try 300-500 mg of dried lemon balm three times daily, 60 drops daily, or 1/4 to 1 teaspoon of dried lemon balm herb in hot water for a tea four times daily.

                      Ashwagandha

                      A 2012 double-blind, placebo-controlled study gave participants either placebo or a capsule containing 300 mg of high-concentration full-spectrum ashwagandha extract, twice a day. The study lasted for 60 days. Those taking the ashwagandha showed significant improvements. Even the levels of the stress hormone cortisol were substantially reduced in those taking the extract. And there were no serious side effects.

                      In an earlier 2000 study, ashwagandha had anxiety-relieving effects similar to those of lorazepam.

                      Dosage: Typical dosage is 300 mg standardized to at least one to five percent withanolides, once or twice a day.

                      L-Theanine

                      This one isn’t really a herb — it’s a water-soluble amino acid,  but it’s gotten such good research behind it, we had to include it here. It’s found mainly in green tea and black tea and is also available as a supplement.

                      Studies have found that it acts directly on the brain, helping to reduce stress and anxiety—without causing drowsiness.

                      Research from 2008, for example, found that those participants taking 50 mg of L-theanine a day had a greater increase in alpha (relaxed brain waves) activity than those who took a placebo.

                      An earlier 1998 study found that 200 mg a day leads to increased alpha brain waves and a relaxed, yet alert, a state of mind.

                      A later 2011 study found that it was also associated with reduced anxiety, and was well tolerated and safe for participants.

                      Dosage: A typical cup of black tea contains only about 25 mg of l-theanine and green tea only about 8 mg. While a cup of tea may be calming, if you want more potent effects, try a supplement, about 200 mg a day.