I teach workshops to help anyone expand and grow. These workshops facilitate powerful growth and change, as we progress through 2012! No matter what you plan to shift or expand in your life, I have something you will not want to miss.

During 2011, I spent my teaching time with a group of students in Sacramento, California. It has been so enjoyable and fun to see all the students expand and grow as they learned. This year, I will be teaching workshops in Iowa once again!

Here are courses I will offer in 2012 (see the workshop page on my website for more information):

• Reiki Level 1 & 2:  February 25th and 26th will be a weekend intensive. The tuition is at a discounted rate for 2012, and tuition includes a course manual. This course is open to all individuals! Registration deadline is February 17th. 
• Advanced Reiki Training:  March 2nd will be a one-day intensive course. The tuition is discounted for 2012, and includes a manual. Reiki Levels 1 & 2 are prerequisites for this course. Registration deadline is February 17th.
• Access Intuition 101:  This course will be offered May 18th – 20th. This course is open to anyone interested in learning how to make better decisions and lifestyle choices by using your intuition! It is easy and magic. This course is a prerequisite for the certification in Medical Intuition. Make sure to register for this course before the space fills up!
• Certification in Medical Intuition, Part 1:  This course will be offered September 17-19 in Sacramento, California. This is the first step in the process in Certification in Medical Intuition. The prerequisite for this course is Access Intuition 101. Make sure you register for this course before the space fills up.

2012 will be an exciting year with many opportunities for learning in my courses! Make sure to take advantage of all I have to offer. My courses will help you on your personal path of growth and self-discovery.

I love teaching and spending time with students. I hope you will be one of the people who come to a workshop in order to learn new life skills and to expand and grow. See the workshop page on my website for all the details. And yes, I will of course continue to see clients in my office!

A note from Biotics Research: Biotics Research has changed Bio-Immunozyme Forte™ from a tablet to a capsule. The formulation was not changed and so the recommended dosage remains the same.

Have you cleaned your house lately? By your house, I mean your body. This is the ideal time of year for your body to become renewed by detoxifying the collection of chemicals and toxins that have not been metabolized. These toxins may have been in your system for months or even years! Sooner or later, the build-up of these toxins creates symptoms of a disease or unknown obvious cause.

Personally, I have detoxified annually for years. The benefits for me include:

• Eliminating cravings, especially after the holidays
• Relieving headaches
• Increasing my mental clarity
• Creating a jumpstart on losing pounds accumulated during the holidays and winter
• Eliminating joint aches and pains

Each person will experience a unique set of benefits, as each person has a different body chemistry that needs to be cleansed.

The best way to understand the process and advantages of detoxification is to watch this 4-minute video on Detoxification by clicking here. After watching this video, I can help you take the necessary steps to implement this health plan!

Many places of employment offer Flex Benefits to employees. Are you taking advantage of your Flex Benefits?

Some of my services are covered under many Flex Benefits Programs. These are listed under the FlexSystem reimbursement in the IRS Tax Code, which was updated in November 2010.

Some of the categories included in the programs:

• Dietary Supplements: medically prescribed for a specific medical condition. 2 examples of diagnosed conditions include osteoporosis and menopause.
• Elective Procedures: Nutritional Evaluation

Utilizing your Flex Benefits can be very helpful in assisting with the cost of your Integrative Medicine / Nutrition approaches that I offer. Just ask for a receipt at your next visit. Take full advantage of the benefits offered to you!

Make this the year of you! This year, 2012, is the year of expansion and change. We can all feel it in the air. Have you noticed? Many of the old ways of our lifestyles are not working as well as they once did. Spread your wings by doing something new to adapt to the changes in your life!

Do you know how to reduce stress in your physical, mental, and emotional body? The first step in reducing stress is to examine what you are telling yourself. What are you nattering about? What old tapes are you playing? These all take mental and physical energy, reduce our focus in the present moment, and drain us. Do you want to change this? Begin by looking at the big picture. Step back. Look at the entire flower garden instead of just one wilting flower that is done blooming.

Allow yourself to visualize a bigger picture, and know that everything happens for a reason. Guess what? You may never fully know the reason, but there is always a lesson in the experience. Be willing to change. It will make life easier.

I don’t focus on “New Year’s Resolutions.” Why resolutions and why the New Year? Instead, use each day as a starting point with clear intentions for what you want and where you are going in your life process.

Intentions are different than resolutions. At this time of constant change, resolutions do not keep up with the changes or allow us to incorporate new things. Resolutions are stated in the future. For example: I am going to exercise 4 times per week in 2012. Intentions are stated in the present or as if they already happened. For example: I am exercising 4 times per week in 2012. The change and quality in the words we tell ourselves make a huge difference vibrationally for what will actually manifest. Revisiting your intentions daily or weekly will allow you to change with the times as you grow to expand in your own life!

Energy Healing / Reiki sessions help us relieve stress and pain, gain clarity, focus, and help to maintain a sense of peace and well being. Would you like to get started or clarify your intentions? The Energy Medicine sessions I offer will facilitate this throughout the year!

When you eat a meal that is appropriate for your nutritional needs at the time, your body will feel fully nourished and satisfied. The sense of satisfaction is something we must look for after our eating experiences.

A nourished body will not crave other foods. When properly fed, your body will forget about food for a while and you will be able to focus on other aspects of your life. You can stop craving sugar and other foods that are not good for you! Contact Terri about further evaluation for this problem.

An overly fed body is not a pleasurable feeling. Listen to your body’s signal of pleasure as you are eating. Once eating is no longer pleasurable, stop eating. Your body will signal pleasure as long as it needs the nutrients from a particular food. Once your body is nourished, your body will stop giving you pleasure from eating it.

You must always remember to respect and listen to your body. It knows its nutritional needs. By using your sense of desire, smell, taste, and satisfaction, your body will guide you in proper food choices. When to eat, what to eat, and how much to eat are all components of your bodily intelligence. Enjoy!

Tasting delicious food is a great pleasure in life. If the food does not give you a pleasurable taste, then it is not the right food for you. Recognize that your sense of taste is one way your body’s innate intelligence communicates with your conscious self.

Respect your sense of taste. Your body tells you the proper mix of nutrients it needs by giving you pleasure when consuming them.

Several factors can alter your sense of taste. First of all, processed foods contain chemicals that can dull your sense of taste. Not only are these chemicals toxic to your body, they affect your sense of taste for a lengthy amount of time. Stop eating processed foods in order to restore your sense of taste and your body’s proper balance.

Nutritional deficiencies can also alter your sense of taste. Consume a natural, balanced diet of a variety of whole foods, and your sense of taste will return. Toxins in your mouth can also affect how you taste your food. Good oral hygiene ensures that toxins will not hinder your sense of taste.

Your sense of smell gives you lots of information about the food you consume. To be in touch with your body’s intelligence, you must respect your sense of smell. By smelling your food, you learn if it is safe to eat, has been contaminated by chemicals, if it is fresh, and if it is suitable for your body’s immediate needs.

If it is something that your body needs at the moment, the food will smell very enticing. If the food is not something that will keep your body in balance, the food will not smell good to you. Enjoy the aromas of your food and feed your body properly!

Unfortunately, in today’s world many people have a damaged sense of smell due to chemicals and synthetic perfumes. Manmade chemicals that block the olfactory receptors in our noses surround us. Once the receptors are blocked, we are unable to smell new substances – even food!

Synthetic perfumes are found in laundry detergents, soaps, cleaning supplies, fragrant candles, air fresheners, and perfumes. To restore your sense of smell, eliminate fragrant chemicals in your living and working environments. With the absence of the chemicals, you will once again have your proper sense of smell, and you’ll be able to rely on your sense of smell to select your proper nutritional needs.

There are several nutritional deficiencies that cause people not to be able to smell. Call Terri to have this evaluated.

How do we nourish and feed ourselves properly? Each of us has a unique heredity, anabolic cycle, energy production, autonomic nervous system, acid/alkaline balance, and water and electrolyte balance. All of these factors affect what we need to eat and how our body processes the food.

Luckily, your body has an innate intelligence, and it tells you what it needs to be fed. In order to recognize what your body is communicating, you need to be in touch with your senses.

The first step to properly feeding yourself is listening to your body’s desire. Desire for a certain kind of food is your body’s way of telling you what it needs. Each time you become hungry, stop and ask yourself this question: “What would I desire to eat right now?” Avoid emotional eating of sugar, fat or large portions of food. Resist getting in your body’s way by deciding what you should eat.

Desire is your body’s innate intelligence letting you know what will keep it healthy, happy, and energized. If you eat what your body desires, you will digest the food well, and your body will maintain its state of proper balance.

It is important to avoid processed foods. In today’s world, we are surrounded by processed foods that are addictive. Listening to your body’s desire for food only applies to natural foods. Avoid all processed foods, and your body will only desire natural whole foods.

To practice self-induced healing is only possible when we listen to the messages our bodies give us. Once we hear our bodies, we must also imagine the desired outcome.

Our bodies communicate with us to let us know when we are out of balance. This is your body’s way of trying to restore your internal balance. If your body responds in situations because of past mistakes, you need to 1) acknowledge the message your body is sending; 2) accept your emotions; 3) forgive yourself and others of past mistakes; 4) be aware of the choices you are making.

We can use the GIFT method to help let go of past experiences and mistakes:
G – gratitude: this teaches us to change our perception of present events
I – imagination & intention: shows we are ready to change and allows us to create a different desired outcome in our present situation
F – forgive: we must forgive and accept ourselves and others in order to move forward
T – trust: we must trust and believe that what we want to happen will happen, which trains our bodies to respond in a new way.

By imagining a world of positive possibilities, we will perceive that world to be true.

Our minds are powerful things. You have the ability to heal yourself on many levels because your body believes what your mind tells it. Understanding this gives us a lot of possibility – and responsibility – in changing our lives for the better.

Children play to learn and grow. They are experts in having fun because they believe anything is possible through using their imaginations. We all have the ability to play, but we often don’t exercise our imaginations in our daily adult lives.

Think about a book you’ve read or a movie you’ve seen. We can get drawn into the stories, and our bodies respond to the scenes as if we were really there. This is an example of our imagination changing our body chemistry in response to imaginary situations. We can elicit this same reaction in our bodies when we change our mindset or perception of a negative event in our lives.

We tend to let past experiences affect our present and future choices and responses. Many times we have trained ourselves to repeat past mistakes because our perception of reality is actually a misperception. Once we are able to view our past mistakes as misperceptions, we are able to learn from them and forgive ourselves (and others) of blame. This allows us to experience new things with an open and positive mindset. By changing how we think, we are able to induce healing for ourselves.

Next week: how to put self-induced healing into practice

Many studies are reported in the news that have lots of hype, make grand, conclusive statements, and have substantial flaws. It is up to us to determine what we should believe by looking at the details and validity.

Some of the information that was incomplete in the study, “Dietary Supplements and Mortality Rate in Older Women” include

• study participants were not asked how much of any specific vitamin or supplement was consumed, the form of the supplement, or the quality of the supplement consumed.
• there was no verification of the accuracy of answers provided by the women in the study
• none of the women were asked why they were taking specific supplements
• no causative analysis was done on the cause of death of the women participants

Steve Mister, president and CEO of the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) had advice for people when it comes to examining this study:

“Consumers continue to look for the best way to live long and healthy lives, and as much as we would like for science to give us answers, the fact is that science is not black and white. But even more concerning is the recent drive to combine political agendas with what should be pure science.”

It is in your best interest to avoid the news hype surrounding these studies, and determine for yourself the validity of the research. Make an appointment with me to help you simplify the findings into accessible information that we can use to determine the best wellness approach for you.

You might have heard an alarming news report last month: “Dietary Supplements and Mortality Rate in Older Women,” a study published in the American Medical Association’s Archives of Internal Medicine, concluded that multivitamins and some dietary supplements may have an adverse effect on life expectancy in older women.

News like this would be alarming to anyone, particularly because so many of us regularly take multivitamins and dietary supplements to help prevent disease and maintain wellness. Before we believe everything we hear on the news, it’s important to examine the facts, avoid the hype and frenzy of such stories, and examine the details with a trusted professional like myself to determine the validity of sweeping statements.

Let’s first examine the study: it is an analysis of data retrieved from 38,772 postmenopausal Caucasian women whose average age was 62. The women filled out 3 surveys over a period of 19 years, first in 1986, then in 1997 and 2004. In the surveys, the women were asked questions about lifestyle, diet, supplement use, weight, smoking, hormone replacement therapy, and whether or not the women had diabetes or heart disease.

Many research scientists and health professionals believe the study is seriously flawed in methodology, analysis, and conclusions that are made. Possibly the only conclusion that can be securely stated is that there is a slight statistical association based on a limited set of data, and a simple association does not reflect causation. Even the authors of the study state, “it is not advisable to make a causal statement of excessive risk based on these observational data…” We must take this into account while determining our own conclusions.

Next week: learn more about the flaws of this study, and find out how you can read between the lines to make your own decisions.

Give a gift that everyone will love! Gift certificates optimize the health of people in your life, and they make great holiday presents, stocking stuffers, special thank-yous, and even hostess gifts. Avoid the consumer “dustables” that aren’t used again, and give something of healthy value.

Consider giving a maintenance supplement such as Vitamin C, a Multiple Vitamin, or Bio Immunzyme Forte Multiple Vitamin with an immune system booster for winter.

Give the personalized gift of health. Nutrition consultations and evaluations, Reiki sessions, and Medical Intuitive sessions all make great gifts. See descriptions of the different services
offered on my website. If you need ideas tailored for specific people in your life, contact me.

It is the time of year to boost your immune system with a generous intake of seasonal foods high in Vitamin A. I have enjoyed this recipe for years! The recipe is from my sister, Beth, and all foods in the recipe are organic.


Ingredients:
2 Acorn Squash (about 2lbs each)
2 Butternut Squash
8 Tbsp. Butter
8 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
3 Carrots, peeled and halved
1 large Onion, thinly sliced
10 cups Chicken Stock
¾ tsp. ground Mace
¾ tsp. ground Ginger
1 pinch Cayenne Pepper

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut squash in half, length-wise, scoop out seeds & discard
Place squash, skin-side down in a shallow roasting pan.
Place 1 Tbsp. butter and sugar in each cavity
Arrange carrots & onion slices around squash
Pour 2 cups of chicken stock in pan, cover tightly with foil and bake for 2 hours.
Remove pan from oven and let cool slightly
Scoop the squash pulp out and place in a soup pot
Add carrots, onions and cooking liquid
Add remaining 8 cups of stock & seasonings, and bring to a boil
Reduce to simmer for 10 minutes, uncovered.
Puree soup in batches in a food processor.

This recipe is delicious and is full of Vitamin A.

[See more about boosting your immune system with yellow & orange vegetables from my blog entries of October 2010.]

As many of you know, I just returned from a spiritual pilgrimage to Glastonbury England. The experience was transforming for me. The pilgrimage was a week of walking the land of sacred places that were created in a time when the land and seasons were honored in daily life. We visited these sacred sites: Stonehenge, Glastonbury Abby, the Chalice Wall, the Tor, Merlin’s Cave and Mound, King Arthur’s Castle, the Hermit’s Cell, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Roman Baths. Each of these sites carried its own history, meaning, and healing energy for the larger geographical areas. I travelled with a wonderful group of 13 women and an extremely knowledgeable tour guide, John Flanagan of Divine Light Tours.

Along the way, the road sign that read “Give Way” caught my attention. I did not realize at first that it was a “Yield” sign – thank goodness I was not driving! The words “Give Way” resonated strongly for me in thinking about my reason for the pilgrimage. To give way, to surrender, to let go of old thoughts, beliefs and habits that do not serve me anymore on my path as a daughter, mother, wife, and healer.

It is not necessary for you to go on a pilgrimage to surrender to what your intuition guidance, or higher power is trying to tell you to change. Avoid delaying a change in your own life, even if it means you only take baby steps towards the change at first. Every action counts and everything is connected. This makes a substantial difference in how easily each day can move with the flow of life. Relinquish control over to your higher power, hold steady, and step aside. This takes practice, but can provide much less stress in your life!

Please enjoy a photo album from my pilgrimage:

Breast health is about maintaining healthy breast tissue. This is done in much the same way as maintain our overall health. Breast health includes eating live, whole foods, exercising, drinking plenty of water, consuming 5-9 servings of fruits & vegetables daily, thinking positively, and practicing positive beliefs that support a healthy lifestyle. In addition to these healthy habits, you can specifically promote breast health by using self lymphatic breast massage, and you can take a homeopathic liquid for lymphatic drainage. Together, these keep the lymph flowing and toxins circulating out of your system.

Lymphatic breast massage assists the lymph fluid of the breast to flow into the normal lymph circulation, which in turn moves accumulated toxins out of the tissue and into the kidneys, the body’s filtration system. Accumulated toxins contribute to abnormal cell growth (please refer to the blog entries in November 2010 and others under the category of Environmental Medicine), so it is important to aid in the circulation of the toxins out of the body.

Lymphatic Breast Massage:

• This can be done daily in the shower or bath.
• Massage your breasts in a specific way to support movement of the lymph fluid to keep it moving through the breasts, up into the armpit and chest lymph system.

When massaging your breast tissue... (see illustrations below courtesy of the Breast Health Project)

• Create Motion
• Use a pumping action to assist the flow of lymph:
• Move the breast in the initial direction, use some pressure.
• Then release and let the breast return to its normal position.
• On the move up, use pressure and then release to allow the breast to return.
• Finally, massage the underarms in a circular motion to move the lymph away from the breast (ex: under the left arm, the hand moves outward to the left; under the right arm, the hand moves outward to the right). This enhances the natural movement of the lymph system.

I have a strong sense of community with close friends. Community provides not only a social network, but it also expands my sense of purpose in who I am and how I am supported.

I plan to live to be a Centenarian. People in areas all over the world accomplish living to be 100 years or more. In Dan Buettner’s Book, The Blue Zones, he finds 5 areas of the world with the largest population of Centenarians. In doing research in these places, Buettner finds that one of the only shared characteristics of the cultures is that the people have a strong sense of community. The people have a strong purpose in their lives, they have strong familial ties, and they have a close network of friends that has been maintained over long periods of time. The sense of community that helps people to live longer has also been shown to make much happier people.

My sense of community comes from various groups of friends I maintain. I belong to a Gratitude Group, a Circle, and a Zillionaire Club. Each of these groups has a different purpose, and each group has evolved over the years. I always look forward to seeing my groups of friends. I have learned so much from each person in these groups.

Find a strong sense of community commitment by joining a group, starting a group, reconnecting with old friends, and always being on the lookout for new friends. We are communal beings, and we are enriched in so many ways through our connections with each other.

I journal frequently in order to balance my emotions by letting them go on paper. Journaling involves writing you thoughts and feelings on paper. Generally journals are for our eyes only, and we do not share them with others.

How does journaling work for me? I ask myself questions, for example: why am I so angry about a particular circumstance or situation? Why does it make me feel so sad? Then I write down my answers. I do not filter my thoughts; I just release them onto the paper. This practice significantly lightens the burden in my head and heart.

There are many ways to journal, and the benefits are vast. Here are a few journaling techniques you may want to try…

Gratitude Journaling:
• Look for things during the day for which you are grateful
• Make a list each day of at least 5 things you’re grateful for at the end of the day; this may be a list or it may be in paragraph form
• You will look at things more positively because of this, and even obstacles become opportunities to appreciate

Morning Journaling:
• When you wake, write everything you can in paragraph form
• Clear your mind by getting rid of negative thoughts or fears
• Liberate yourself to allow the goodness of the day to enter your heart

Victory Journaling:
• Keep track of all the small victories in your day
• This builds self-confidence and enables you to make bigger actions for bigger victories each day.

Dream Journaling:
• Keep track of all your hopes, dreams and aspirations
• By having these in writing, your attention will be on achieving them
• Your dreams will become your goals and then your successes

Each day I allow myself to select the thoughts and emotions I want to have, and I listen to what I am telling myself. I am a firm believer in the Law of Attraction.

The Law of Attraction is the belief that we create our own reality. We attract those things in our life that we place our focus on.

If I allow myself to have negative thoughts, emotions, and to pass judgments, those will come back to me and will affect the results of my intentions. If, however, I allow myself to have positive thoughts, emotions, and to say positive things, those will also come back to me. Keeping my mind focused on the positive side of things makes all the difference in how my day turns out. I am able to take responsibility for my thoughts and emotions. I am able to shift my thinking and emotions if I start to get off-track.

When I get too busy, I get stressed. Stress blocks my creative thinking, generates unbalanced emotions, and does not allow me to see opportunities for success. When my mind becomes bogged down with the stress, I lose touch with my intuition. My intuition is the compass in my life, and following it helps me to feel comfortable. Without my intuitive 6th sense, I feel as if I would be lost.

Under stress, I have learned to slow down and remove my stressed self the situation. It is best if I let myself rest overnight and see what my intuition tells me the following day. I do believe in a higher power than myself, and I have decided that He/She works best at night!

Time and my intuition bring a peace to any situation. It really works; you should try it, too. Always remember to express gratitude and happiness. The only people who are truly happy are those who express gratitude.

Exercise is very important to me, and it should be important to us all! I am fortunate to be able to exercise under the guidance of an excellent trainer. She knows my limits and knows when I need to forge ahead.

It seems like when I am stressed, I tend to let exercise fall on my priority list. Times of stress are when our bodies need exercise the most. My trainer knows this, and she has kept me on track many times.

Even if you don’t have access to a personal trainer, you can keep your exercise a priority, too. Choose an activity you love, and put it in your schedule. Find a friend to exercise with you – this keeps you both accountable to each other, committed, and motivated.

Exercise has many benefits:

• it can make you feel less anxious & relax you
• it can make you feel better about yourself
• it can help you eat better – one good choice leads to another.

I eat a food plan that fits the needs of my body, and usually I make food choices intuitively according to how I feel on the particular day. Is my body feeling like more protein, more green vegetables, etc.? I listen to my body’s needs. I have to be aware of the effects stress can have on my food choices. It is easy for me to grab unnecessary carbs when I am short on time. I must remind myself that my energy levels stay much more balanced if I eat a balanced food plan.

I am thrilled to bring to your attention the beginning of my unprecedented sale. This is a wonderful opportunity to buy Biotics Research products for a significantly reduced rate through my office and the distributor, Metabolic Management.

The sale begins September 1, 2011 and provides a 5% discount on all Biotics Research products purchased through the Metabolic Management online webstore. Order at least $140 of supplements online, and then your 5% discount is as much as your shipping costs – it’s like getting free shipping! In other words, the more you order, the more you save!

This promotion does not apply to phone orders. To receive the discount, you must order online!

• Go to www.getbiotics.com and use this Access Code: DFILC622.
• The promotion code for the 5% off is 5XDISC.
• The website may be accessed through the Online Store link on my website.

Don’t miss your chance to benefit from this discount program offered to you by a local practitioner. Biotics Research Corporation supplements are the best combination of science and nature on the market. If you are unfamiliar with Biotics products, contact me immediately so I can offer professional assistance in choosing maintenance products and / or seasonal products that provide nutritional support for the desired age group. Metabolic Management covers all the bases in nutritional support!

The importance of snacks should not be underestimated. Snacks provide nutritious fuel for after-school activities kids are involved in. Nutritious snacks not only provide extra energy for kids’ high-energy needs, but they also help to maintain blood sugar levels. Healthy snackers make for more energetic and less grumpy kids.

Here are some suggestions for grab-and-go, healthy snacks:

• Apples or carrot sticks with hummus or a nut butter like almond butter
• Graham crackers with a nut butter or plain yogurt
• Air popped popcorn
• Low-fat string cheese
• Plain yogurt with berries or a banana
• Dried fruit
• Almonds
• Frozen Grapes

Here are some suggestions for easy to prepare, healthy snacks:

• Ants on a log: spread peanut butter on celery sticks and top with raisins
• Banana Ice: peel several very ripe bananas, break them into 1-inch pieces and freeze in a plastic bag. Combine a couple pieces of frozen banana with a small amount of water or juice in a blender and serve.
• Ice Pops: freeze fresh, unsweetened juice in ice pop molds or ice cube trays,
• Trail Mix: combine whole-grain toasted oat cereal, chopped walnuts, and dried cranberries.

Back to school time is just around the corner! It is an exciting transition for children and families, and there are many changes and adjustments that will occur in our daily lives. We must remember that in order for children to grow up strong and healthy, and in order for children to fulfill their potential in a school environment, they must have proper nutrition.

It is important to start each day with a healthy breakfast. Children’s growing bodies and cognitive development rely on the regular intake of food. By skipping breakfast, kids run the risk of physical, intellectual, and behavioral problems. The short amount of time it takes to prepare and eat a breakfast filled with protein, whole grains, and fresh fruits is an opportunity to start the day well for you and your kids.

Pack a lunch for your kids to take to school, and avoid school cafeteria lunches. Kids, like adults, have many opportunities to eat poorly. We must ensure that our children have a diet full of whole foods – protein, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables – to adequately supply all the nutrients their bodies need. A diet rich in these whole foods allows for proper development and helps to keep children healthy. By packing a lunch, you are able to provide a much more nutritious lunch than they would get at school.

Make an appointment with me to discuss your child’s nutritional needs. Let’s make this school year great by maintaining proper nutrition!

Over 60 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, allergies are the fifth leading chronic disease, and autumn is the most difficult season of all for allergy sufferers.

Along with ragweed, there are many other weeds that bloom and cause us to suffer allergy symptoms. Outdoor molds are another large cause of allergies. Mold spores are common in the soil and on fallen leaves. Mold spores rise into the air during the warmest parts of the day, and then fall back to the ground during the evening and nighttime hours.

Symptoms of seasonal allergies:

• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Itchy & watery eyes
• Asthma
• Fatigue

How to protect yourself from allergens:

• Shower frequently
• Launder your clothes frequently
• Vacuum your house frequently
• Avoid being outdoors for long durations on windy days
• Rake your yard to free it of leaf cover & clean your gutters

Specific supplements support an allergy challenged body by reducing or eliminating symptoms, no matter what the time of year is or which allergies you have. Make an appointment with me to discuss allergies you possibly have and treatments that are available.

Hay fever is an allergic reaction. It is the response of your immune system to foreign material in the air you breathe. Hay fever generally refers to allergies from outdoor, airborne materials such as pollens and molds. Approximately 15-20% of the population of the United States has some degree of hay fever. It is found equally in men and women.

In research that correlates with projections by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, plant and allergy experts found that ragweed pollen season lasted as much as 27 days longer in 2009 than in 1995. The further north you are in the Western Hemisphere, the more dramatic the change in the length of pollen season.

Ragweed was used in the research because its season is naturally easy to track, although the studies probably hold true for other pollens, too. Ragweed begins blooming when the days get shorter, meaning after the summer solstice on June 21st. Ragweed stops flowering with the first frost. This means that the later the frost, the more pollen we will have.

Treat hay fever before it treats you! Here are some tips for treating hay fever:

• Avoid known or suspected allergies if you can.
• Reduce dairy, wheat, and sugar in your diet.
• Increase servings of seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Boost your immune system.
• Use a Netti Pot. (Ask me for some recipes for nasal rinse solutions to find which is best for you)
• Thin the nasal mucus to avoid sinus congestion and future infections.
• Natural antihistamines are available (These are invaluable for people who can’t take over the counter antihistimines.)

Call for an appointment today for more help in treating hay fever.
 

With nutritional deficiencies, we can experience mood changes and depression. Don’t be treated for depression without having your nutritional status evaluated!

Certain essential vitamins are not stored for future use in our bodies, particularly when we are under stress. Also, depending upon how we eat, our food sources of these vitamins may not be in the proper forms to prevent deficiencies.

Research has shown that nutrition plays a large role in how our bodies maintain balanced biochemicals, which control brain hormones and neurotransmitters. In other words, our neurotransmitters need proper nutrients to function at an optimal level to prevent mood changes under stress.

Certain vitamins are destroyed by alcohol, refined sugars, and caffeine. Unfortunately, these foods are often the first we eat when we are under stress. More coffee for energy, drinks to relax, and sugar to boost our mood. These are all temporary effects, and these foods ultimately have detrimental effects on our energy level, relaxation, and mood.

It is also important to note that many drugs can contribute to nutritional deficiencies, especially when taken over a long period of time.

Depression is a complex illness with many possible causes and treatments. Call for an appointment to evaluate your entire self in order to heal your entire self.

Depression is a common complaint among many of my patients. Depression has many forms and many symptoms, and it is often difficult to recognize in oneself.

The most common treatment for depression is medication. While medication does have value for many people, it is too often the only treatment pursued. Medication can be supportive during a traumatic time, but it can also turn into a lifetime crutch.

A holistic approach to conquering depression goes far beyond medication. In order to experience healing from depression, the whole person must be treated.

We might consider these questions when exploring your depression:

• What triggered the depression?
• Was it a gradual or sudden onset?
• Has the trigger been resolved?
• If not, how can the trigger be resolved?

It is also important to consider spiritual elements of healing that can create a more balanced life. You must be willing to do self-reflection to promote spiritual growth to create a change in your life. An individual’s person growth evolves when there is a change in thought patterns, beliefs, and behaviors. Great healing can occur by looking at the world with new glasses. This can be accomplished through meditation, journaling, spiritual counseling, and reading specific books. Most people need support through this process, and I am there to provide it.

Remember that in order to heal your entire self, we must consider your entire self.

Next week: Nutrition & Depression

Today is the birthday of the United States of America.
There has been much evolution in the 235 years of our country.
Today is a day to celebrate our strengths and not complain about our weaknesses.
It is a day to reflect on how we are contributing to our communities and living sustainably for the future.
“Let’s Live For Today,” Grass Roots, 1967… and make each day count!

At this time of year it is easy to eat a diet rich in antioxidants. We can choose from a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables from our local Farmers’ Markets. The Farmers’ Markets provide many choices in produce that are packed with vitamins and minerals.

Antioxidants are vitamins in certain foods and supplements that block oxidation by preventing damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals target the DNA, fats, and proteins in the body to change cell structure. Free radicals contribute to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and aging. Free radicals come from the air, toxins in our food, cosmetics, lotions, buildings, and the sun, to name a few sources.

Key antioxidants include Vitamin A, Beta Carotene, Vitamin C, E, and Selenium. Of lesser importance is CoQ 10 and L-Methionine. Although we cannot completely control our exposure to free radicals, we can have the best sources of antioxidants by eating the seasonal fruits and vegetables and rotating the foods we eat.

Foods rich in antioxidants:
Highest in all the yellow, red, and orange vegetables, including tomatoes.
Any dark skinned fruit, especially blueberries
Dark green leafy vegetables, such as Swiss chard, collard greens, and spinach

The minimum daily requirement is 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables. Keep in mind that one serving of cooked vegetables is the size of ½ of a tennis ball. One serving of raw vegetables is equal to the size of 1 tennis ball. One serving of berries is 2/3 of a cup, or 6 oz.

If you cannot eat enough fruits and vegetables in your daily food plan, take Bioprotect from Metabolic Management (www.GetBiotics.com). This is the best antioxidant supplement on the market, and it covers all bases for daily support.

The sun protection factor, known as SPF, only blocks UVB rays and not UVA rays, which are the most damaging rays. Everyone should wear SPF 30. It should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure, and it should be reapplied approximately every 2 hours.

• SPF 30 blocks 96% of the sun’s UVB rays
• SPF 15 blocks 92% of the sun’s UVB rays

In choosing a sunscreen lotion or spray, it is easy to feel lost in the list of ingredients on the package. Avoid any sunscreens with mineral oil included. Mineral oil does more harm than good to the skin.

Your goal should be to block the UVA rays. To do this, find a source of SUNBLOCK, not sunscreen. Look for these ingredients in the proper concentration to block UVA and UVB rays:

Parasol (avobenzone) or Mexoryl in concentrations of 3%
Zinc Oxide 7.5% or Titanium Dioxide 7.5%, if they are listed alone. Less concentrations of each are needed if they are in combined products.

It is important to use the proper sunblock every day of the year, and you should apply frequently to all exposed areas.

Supplements can also assist. It is important to take antioxidants to fight free radicals and reduce abnormal cell growth, which is the damage to cells from the sun and other toxins. With the proper use of sunblock, we must ensure we have adequate intake of Vitamin D. Please call me for further evaluation.