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Cherry Cocktail

9/25/2017

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I’ve been drinking Apple Cider Vinegar for years and I’ve been recommending it to my clients for quite a while as well. Although I’ve (somewhat) acquired the strong, and yes, very vinegary taste of Apple Cider Vinegar, I’m constantly talking to people about how they can cover up the powerful taste and flush it down!
 
I recently discovered what I call my ‘Cherry Cocktail’ - an enjoyable (and very healthy) way to drink Apple Cider Vinegar.
 
I wanted to share the recipe with you AND explain how beneficial the ingredients REALLY are for your health.
 
Here Is The Recipe for my Cherry Cocktail:
 
INGREDIENTS:
1 Tablespoon Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar
1 Teaspoon Raw honey
1 cup Organic Cherry Juice
4 - 8 oz. warm water
 
DIRECTIONS:
Mix 1 cup organic cherry juice and 1 Tablespoon Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar together in a large mug.
Boil 4-8 oz. warm water then mix with cherry juice and Apple Cider Vinegar.
Add 1 Teaspoon of raw honey. Stir and let melt.
Drink and enjoy!
 
My “Cherry Cocktail” has both Apple Cider Vinegar and cherry juice. In order to give you a complete understanding of how beneficial this cocktail will be for your health, I wanted to tell you about the health benefits of both Apple Cider Vinegar and cherry juice (plus, raw honey has some health benefits, too).
 
Here are just a FEW of the many benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar:
 
  • ACV helps to normalize gut flora
  • ACV strengthens hydrochloric acid for proper digestion
  • ACV helps the body produce good cholesterol and rid itself of bad cholesterol
  • ACV helps to control blood sugar
  • ACV provides energy to the body
  • ACV aids weight loss
  • ACV strengthens the immune system
 
According to a July 2017 article published by Healthline, there are MANY well known (but rarely talked about) health benefits to cherry juice as well. Here are the 7 cherry juice benefits outlined in the article:
 
  1. Cherry juice helps post-workout recovery
  2. Cherry juice fights inflammation (as well as arthritis pain)
  3. Cherry juice can work to reduce swelling
  4. Cherry juice is great at boosting your immune system
  5. Cherry juice regulates metabolism and fights fat
  6. Cherry juice helps you sleep
  7. And last, but certainly not least, cherry juice even blocks cancer growth!!
 
As well as putting Apple Cider Vinegar and cherry juice in my Cherry Cocktail, I also add a bit of raw honey to sweeten it up.
 
Raw honey is pure honey that has not been heated, pasteurized or processed. Because raw honey is natural and unprocessed, it has not been stripped of its naturally occurring blend of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants and phytonutrients. Raw honey is part of a balanced, healthy and nutritious diet!
 
Looking for additional simple (yet profound) ways to live a healthier lifestyle? Schedule your live blood cell screening today.
 
When you come for your live blood cell screening we will identify weaknesses and imbalances at the cellular level. Then I will make simple dietary and lifestyle recommendations to improve these weaknesses. But not only will I make simple recommendations - I will make simple recommendations that are specific to your body’s needs.
 
Stop making your health a guessing game. Come get real answers and real recommendations when you have your first live blood cell screening.
 
Enjoy your cocktail, and I’ll see you then!

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Garlic Ginger Tea: A Powerful Immune Boost

9/7/2017

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I hope you enjoyed your Labor Day Weekend this past weekend! I know I did, thanks to this amazing recipe I’m about to give you!
 
But first, let me tell you what I mean…
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Two days before I was leaving for our family trip to Lake Michigan (a trip we’d had planned for a year!) I started to feel a little worn down and a little “under the weather.”
 
I know you know what I’m talking about… That feeling you get when you KNOW you’re about to get sick. A cold or the flu is creeping up on you and you don’t quite know what to do, but you know you HAVE to do SOMETHING!
 
So what did I do? I turned to my trusty friends garlic and ginger and came up with an amazing concoction – it worked SO WELL for me that I just have to share it with you!
 
After drinking several batches of this amazing immune-boosting tea over the course of two or three days, I NEVER GOT SICK! (Seriously, ask my entire family! I felt 100% by the time we arrived on Friday evening.)
 
The original symptoms I experienced were low energy and a few sneezes, but it never progressed any further than that! I was able to knock it before I even had a runny nose. Thanks to this powerful drink, this girl needed NO Kleenex’s and definitely no cough drops either!
 
I know you know how great both garlic and ginger are so I don’t want to bog you down with too many facts, but to summarize, here are some of the reasons you should be using garlic and ginger to your advantage if you aren’t already:
 
Ginger has some very powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also known to lower blood sugar and prevent heart disease, as well as prevent indigestion, lower cholesterol and offer a powerful defense against the flu, colds AND infections!
 
As if that isn’t good enough already, my immune-boosting tea also has plenty of garlic in it. Garlic is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal AND anti-parasitic. It is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin B and many of the body’s most used minerals, including calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium and zinc. Garlic is known to be a blood purifier (trust me, we all need this). It is also known to fight off colds and the flu AND to prevent heart disease.
 
Still not convinced you should be utilizing both garlic and ginger? Both garlic and ginger are known to fight against certain forms of cancer. At the rate men, women AND children are being diagnosed with cancer, it’s no doubt we can ALL benefit from this amazing medicinal property!
 
The primary concern I’ve gotten when telling people about this tea is the taste! Trust me, I completely understand! I was slightly hesitant to try my concoction as well, afraid that it might be WAY too strong!
 
The good news is that it’s not – it’s actually very yummy, thanks to the cinnamon, lemon and raw honey! Believe it or not, when all the ingredients are mixed together, it actually has a bit of an apple cider taste. I know you love warm apple cider in the winter, and I have no doubt you’ll enjoy this tea as well!
 
Here is my Amazing Immune-Boosting Tea Recipe:
 
INGREDIENTS:
4 inches of fresh ginger, sliced thinly
2 tsp. ground cinnamon or 4 cinnamon sticks
8-10 garlic cloves, sliced thinly
4 cups water
4 organic lemons, juiced
4 tbsp. raw honey
 
DIRECTIONS:
1. In a kettle or saucepan, boil ginger, cinnamon and garlic in 4 cups of water for 15 minutes.
2. Remove from the stove and pour through strainer.
3. Immediately add juice from 4 lemons and 4 tbsp. of raw honey. Stir and melt honey.
4. Drink while it is still hot!
 
As fall and winter are approaching us quickly, I’d recommend putting this recipe in your back pocket! When you feel a cold or the flu coming on, don’t give in! Fight back – use these natural ingredients to protect yourself from all colds, flu AND infections!
 
Plus, don’t forget to have a live blood cell screening as we enter the winter months. While bikini and tank top seasons are coming to an end, it’s still important to pay close attention to your health. Don’t let yourself slack off just because you aren’t showing off your skin as much!
 
Come learn what you can do to have great health year-round! This is the ultimate goal, which will lead you to overall health and wellbeing! If you’re looking for more health nuggets to put in your back pocket in addition to this immune-boosting tea, I promise I can deliver just that when you make your way to my office!
 
I look forward to seeing you then!
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The Secret to Great Health

8/30/2017

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If you’re like many of us, you’ve heard over and over that there is no magic pill to fix your health ailments. There is no easy way out and there’s definitely no quick fix.
 
Unfortunately, when it comes to having more energy and vibrant health, many people continue to look for this “magic pill.” They’re still searching for a quick fix…
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I’m here to tell you that there is no magic pill to cure a lack of energy, obesity, heart disease, cancer, constipation, arthritis, migraines, fatigue or whatever else you may be dealing with, but…. there is a secret!
 
The secret? A great diet, regular sleep, better exercise and emotional stability!
 
Are you familiar with the term “wholistic” health?  “Wholistic health” truly takes into consideration the whole person and every aspect of their life, everything from the food they eat to the amount of exercise they get to the TV programs they watch and even the person they are married to!
 
There is no quick fix, there is no short cut and there is no easy way out! That’s it – that’s the secret right there!
 
Time and time again I talk to people who want better health, but don’t really want to put in the work. Let me give you some examples: They want their stomach problems to go away, but they continue to want a bedtime snack (cookies, usually) every night. They want their migraines to go away, but they refuse to drink more water (much less give up the sugary beverages). They want more energy, but refuse to sleep over 5 hours a night. They want less stress in their life, but don’t want to address the people and circumstances that are stressing them out.
 
Some of these people might be willing to make a change in ONE area of their life, but they don’t want to address the whole picture.
 
Do you remember what I told you about “wholistic” health? Every aspect of your life MUST be addressed.
 
Dr. Sidney Baker, M.D. is known for his great example of the “Tacks Rules” when trying to get to the root cause of his patient’s medical problems.
 
There Are Two Rules:
 
Rule #1: If you are sitting on a tack, it takes a lot of aspirin to make it feel better.
 
Rule #2: If you are sitting on two tacks, removing just one does not result in a 50% improvement.
 
(You could replace the word “aspirin” with anything else, such as the newest herbal supplement for removing pain, a greens salad, vitamins, psychotherapy, surgery, chiropractic, etc.)
 
Did you catch that? The removal of one tack does not reduce the pain by 50%. The pain still persists because you are still sitting on one tack. ALL of the tacks have to be removed in order for the pain to go away.
 
When I think about “wholistic” health, I think about the Rule of Tacks. You can’t just remove and/or “fix” one tack – you have to remove and “fix” all of the tacks.
 
All areas of your life (including the food you eat, the exercise you get (or lack thereof), your sleep schedule, stress reduction, and emotional wellbeing, etc.) have to be addressed to make sure they are supporting your health and vitality and NOT becoming a hindrance to your health instead.
 
Can you see why there is no magic pill? There is NO herbal supplement that can take away your pain and heal your body just like there is NO pharmaceutical prescription that can cure your worst disease.
 
Yoga alone is not the answer and a kale salad can’t make up for the sleep you did not get.
 
And no, not even the highly thought of (and very successful) Cannabis oil can cure ALL of your health ailments. While it might help at removing one of those “tacks,” there are probably more tacks that still need to be addressed!
 
This email is not intended to discourage you, but rather, to empower you!
 
I encourage you to stop looking outward for answers about your health (trust me, you won’t find the magic pill by doing a Google search – it just doesn’t exist), and start looking inward instead!
 
Ask yourself some or all of these questions (keep in mind that this is not a complete list):
 
  • What areas of your life are causing you the most stress?
  • Are the relationships in your life toxic, or are they nurturing?
  • How do you feel after you eat a meal? Which foods give you energy and which foods take your energy?
  • Could you be making better food choices?
  • How much physical activity do you get?
  • How much time are you spending watching pointless TV shows and/or browsing social media?
  • Do you have pain in a particular part of your body? What triggers that pain?
  • Are you suppressing emotions that should be discussed, such as anxiety, grief, fear, anger or depression?
  • Do you eat three meals a day and drink plenty of water?
  • Are you getting the proper amount of protein, healthy carbs and beneficial fats and oils?
  • What are your bowel habits?
  • Are you happy in your career and at home?
  • When is the last time you detoxed your body? Are you suffering from over-toxicity?
 
These are just a few examples of the questions you could be asking yourself about the state of your health! The possibilities are endless!
 
My only desire is to encourage you to take up the reigns and to embrace the process that comes with improving your health and living life to the fullest, physically, emotionally and spiritually!
 
It’s not an easy fix – it’s a process that takes time, dedication and work.
 
Through Cell Harmony, I primarily address one area of a person’s health: physical health. I do this by analyzing a sample of my client’s blood at the cellular level. If you are looking to take up the reigns and improve your overall health, improving your physical health might be a great place to begin the process of complete healing.
 
Come have a live blood cell screening and together we will identify weaknesses and imbalances at the cellular level that are becoming a hindrance to your health.
 
Come learn what little tweaks you can make to your lifestyle in order to greatly improve your physical wellbeing!

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What Is Leaky Gut Syndrome?

8/10/2017

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“Leaky gut syndrome” seems to be the newest buzzword, and to be honest, it’s almost worthy of being laughed at when you first hear about it!
 
Because this “leaky gut” thing is so misunderstood, I want to do my best to make some sense of it…

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What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?
 
“Leaky gut syndrome” does in fact have a fancy medical name: increased intestinal permeability. Leaky gut syndrome, or increased intestinal permeability, is a condition characterized by microscopic holes in a person’s digestive tract.
 
Our digestive tract, or digestive system, is actually considered an “external” system. It is a 25 to 35-foot hose that runs from mouth to anus, with one primary function: to turn the foods we consume into microscopic particles which are absorbed into the body and used by our cells for energy (and to rid itself of the remaining waste).
 
Because the digestive system is an external system, it acts as a barrier between the outside world and what is actually being absorbed into our bodies. Because of its critical role as a barrier, the digestive tract plays an important role in immune function.
 
As I previously mentioned, when a person suffers from leaky gut syndrome, they have microscopic holes in their digestive tract. Their digestive tract is no longer able to act as a barrier between the outside world and the rest of their body, and unwanted bacteria, protein, food particles and other waste particles are allowed into the body.
 
3 Reasons Why Leaky Gut Is So Harmful to a Person’s Health:
 
1. Holes in the digestive tract allow undigested food particles, bacteria, and yeast to leak out into the bloodstream.
 
The digestive tract is naturally “permeable,” meaning it naturally allows liquids, nutrients and small particles to pass through it. This is how the nutrition in our food makes its way from our digestive tract into our blood stream, then ultimately to our cells for nourishment.
 
The problem results in there being unwanted waste seeping out into the blood stream. This is associated with many unwanted health conditions, such as arthritis and inflammatory joint disease; skin problems, such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis; food allergies and sensitivities; asthma; autism; Crohn’s disease; chronic fatigue syndrome and celiac disease.
 
2. Holes in the digestive tract allow good bacteria to escape from the gut and allow bad bacteria into the gut.
 
One of the roles of the digestive tract is to keep an optimal balance between good bacteria (gut flora) and bad bacteria. A leaky gut allows too much bad bacteria into the gut and too much of the good bacteria out.
 
This is harmful to a person’s health for two reasons:
 
1. Without a proper amount of beneficial bacteria, known as flora, a person cannot have proper digestion of food and elimination of waste through the stool.
 
2. Unwanted bacteria in the gut often form chemicals that are harmful to the surrounding cells. Unwanted bacteria produce many different chemicals, including amines, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. In addition to producing chemicals, the “bad” bacteria within the gut also become a hindrance to good digestion and the healthy elimination of waste.
 
3. Leaky gut can lead to a compromised immune system.
 
70% of our immune system is found in the gut-associated lymphatic tissues (GALT), which is located in the lining of the digestive tract and in the intestinal mucus. Leaky gut syndrome is a disruption of our digestive tract lining and the associated mucus, disrupting our immune system as well.
 
Primary Causes of Leaky Gut Syndrome:
 
There are many different causes of microscopic holes in a person’s digestive tract, known as leaky gut syndrome, including genetically modified foods (contain GMO’s), poor diet (particularly too many sugars and simple carbohydrates), antibiotics, prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s), chronic stress, too many toxic substances and environmental contaminants, as well as a bacterial imbalance in the gut.
 
What to Do to Heal Leaky Gut Syndrome:
 
There are a number of steps that can be taken to begin to heal the lining of the digestive tract.
 
1. Remove GMO’s and other gut-damaging foods from your diet, such as refined sugar, grains, conventional meat and dairy (they contain antibiotics given to animals) and gluten.
 
2. Replace with gut-healing foods. These foods include (but not limited to):
  1. Bone broth (high in collagen, which is a structural protein that helps to heal the gut lining)
  2. Raw cultured dairy (kefir and homemade yogurt)
  3. Raw sauerkraut and fermented vegetables
  4. Kombucha (fermented tea - very beneficial for gut health)
 
* All “cultured” or “fermented” foods are great for overall gut health! Put as many in your diet as you possibly can.
 
3. Use supplements to continue to heal the gut lining and fight dysbiosis (the imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria). These supplements include (but not limited to):
  1. Digestive enzymes
  2. L-Glutamine  (an essential amino acid beneficial in repairing the gut lining)
  3. Probiotics (contain the good bacteria needed in the gut)
 
During a live blood cell screening, there are several cell forms that reveal digestive issues and there are two in particular that point specifically to leaky gut syndrome. These cell forms are referred to as symplasts and protoplasts and are visible particles of undigested food that are floating around in the blood.
 
Having a live blood cell screening is one way to gather information about the condition of your digestive tract and about your overall health in general. Schedule your live blood cell screening today if you’re ready to take this next step toward a healthier gut, better digestion and improved health in general!
 
Related blog posts:
If You've Ever Taken An Antibiotic, You'll Want to Read This!
 
3 Reasons Why Good Digestion Is SO Important for Optimal Health
 
Are You Experiencing Symptoms of Gut Dysbiosis?

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Do You Want Better Energy & More Vibrant Health? STOP Counting Calories

7/20/2017

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Are you looking for a low calorie diet? Do you know someone else who’s looking for a low calorie diet? You’ve come to the right place. Not because I’m going to give you tips for a low calorie diet, but because I’m going to give you every reason why you SHOULDN’T even consider being on a low calorie diet. And if you’re already on one, I’m going to encourage you to STOP today so you can have better energy and more vibrant health.
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I’m going to explain to you why a low calorie diet and a “calorie counting mentality” (as I like to call it) can actually be harmful to your health.
 
I know, I know. This sounds ridiculous. How could a low calorie diet possibly be harmful to a person’s health? I mean everyone’s talking about them.
 
But let’s face it. We aren’t doing something right. While everyone is counting the amount of calories going into their bodies, the collective society continues to get heavier and heavier.
 
From the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, more than 1 in 3 adults are considered to be obese and more than 1 in 20 adults are considered to have extreme obesity. Even more horrifying is the fact that more than 1 in 6 children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 are considered to be obese!
 
We aren’t doing something right, and I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to put an end to this. I’m ready to take a stand for what I know to be true. Low calorie diets might be the fad, but they aren’t the answer.
 
I’m ready to be honest with you.
 
So, if you’re the kind of person who’s sensitive to the honest truth, I’d keep scrolling. You might want to skip this one. But if you’re the kind of person who’s ready to make a change – I mean really make a change – then you’re going to want to read this one. Read every word and really let it sink in. This could revolutionize the way you eat and the way you view food. Seriously, you’re going to want this information.
 
I’m going to answer the question, “what is a calorie?” but first, let me share with you a conversation I recently had with a friend.
 
The conversation began when my friend told me she ate a candy bar on her way home from work one day because she was starving - she hadn’t eaten all day. I responded by telling her that I also keep snacks in my car and purse for when I need a “pick me up.” I told her I often snack on raw nuts and seeds between meals because they are a great source of protein and tend to be a very substantial snack. She responded by saying that she couldn’t eat nuts and seeds because, at least in her opinion, they were way too high in calories.
 
I responded with a simple explanation of what a calorie really is and she returned a facial expression that let me know she was completely confused.
 
This is when it hit me. She was counting her calories but had NO idea what a calorie really is. It also hit me that many people are like this – walking around counting their calories while having no idea what a calorie really is or why it is important.
 
So, what is a calorie? A calorie is simply (drumroll please)…. a unit of energy.
 
Did you know that? A calorie is nothing more than a unit of energy. That is actually what you’ve been counting all this time – the amount of energy going into your body. And for some reason you believed it was a bad thing!
 
A calorie is not a bad thing!
 
You see, in order to achieve real success (and real health), we have to rethink. Rethinking involves unlearning something we were previously taught, and then learning something new.
 
So I’m asking you right now to unlearn what you’ve previously been taught about calories. Remove any thought from your mind about calories being bad and instead believe me when I say that a calorie is only a unit of energy.
 
Low calorie diets tend to be low nutrient diets, and limiting our nutrients is not beneficial to the body! When we put food into our mouth, we are not feeding our mouth. In fact, we aren’t even feeding our stomach (or intestines, for that matter). What we are feeding is (another drumroll please)… our cells! We’re feeding those most basic building blocks that make up all of our tissues, organs and systems. Our cells need energy from nutrients to function properly.
 
When we’re talking about calories, (in my opinion) all foods fit into one of four general categories: (1) low-calorie, low-nutrient foods, (2) low-calorie, high-nutrient foods, (3) high-calorie, low-nutrient foods, and (4) high-calorie, high-nutrient foods.
 
A person with a “calorie counting mentality” might argue that a person should be eating only low calorie foods: those in categories (1) low-calorie, low-nutrient foods, and (2) low-calorie, high-nutrient foods.
 
BUT the whole purpose of this blog post is to convince you that a person (including you!) should only be eating high nutrient foods: those in categories (2) low-calorie, high-nutrient foods, and (4) high-calorie, high-nutrient foods.
 
You see, I’m more concerned with counting the number of nutrients in my food as opposed to the number of calories. I know that I consume a substantial amount of calories, but my body needs them because it needs energy. I could not possibly function without these calories!
 
I want to give you a real idea of what I’m talking about – I understand you might be feeling confused and overwhelmed by all of this new information. Remember, I’m asking you to rethink. I want you to throw out every false belief about calories being bad for you. They aren’t, and here is what I’m talking about.
 
Below are all the ingredients (as well as calories in each ingredient) that I put in my morning smoothie:
 
Ingredients                                        Calories
 
2 oz. Aloe Vera Juice                         4
1 Tbsp. Flax seed oil                         120
1 Tbsp. Chia seeds                            138
2 raw eggs                                          144
1 scoop Greens First                        55
1 scoop Bone Broth Protein           85
¾ cup kale                                          24.75
¾ cup fresh mango                          75.25
1 cup Silk Almond milk                  30
 
Total Calories                              676
 
This does not include the Tablespoon of Hemp oil I eat before making my smoothie, which has a whopping 120 calories!
 
The point I’m trying to get across is that I consume nearly 800 calories before leaving the house (and please note, this is a typical day for me). I regularly drink this smoothie for breakfast. It is a nutritional powerhouse and keeps me full and energized for hours. Literally, hours!
 
This smoothie is made up of both low-calorie, high-nutrient foods (i.e. Aloe Vera Juice) and high-calorie, high-nutrient foods (i.e. raw eggs, Chia seeds and Flax seed oil). While some of the foods are low-calorie and some are high-calorie, they are all high-nutrient foods!! This is what keeps me healthy – counting my nutrients instead of my calories!
 
Are you following me?
 
Instead of asking how many calories you’ve had in a given day, I want to recommend asking a new question: How many nutrients have I had today? I have provided the following list of questions you can choose to ask yourself instead of asking how many calories you’ve had:
 
  • How many servings of vegetables have I had?
  • How many servings of fruit have I had?
  • How much fiber have I had today?
  • How much protein have I had today?
  • Have I had healthy fats and oils today?
  • Have I eliminated my bowel today?
  • Have I eaten foods that support good digestion and gut health?
  • Have I gotten an appropriate amount of physical activity today?
  • Have I had too much sugar or too many processed foods today?
  • Have I had the recommended 8 glasses of water today?
  • Have I been sleeping a recommended 7 to 8 hours each night?
 
All of these things (and more) play a role in our overall health, which includes our weight. If you have a “calorie counting mentality” and it’s just not working for you, I’d stop counting calories and pursue a new method of evaluating your diet – think about counting nutrients instead!
 
Remember, low calorie diets tend to be low nutrient diets, and limiting our nutrients is not beneficial to the body! We NEED calories because they provide our cells with energy from the nutrients in our food!
 
If you're struggling with excess weight, I can assure you it's because there's an imbalance within your body.

The first step to better health (and real, long-term weight loss) is to understand what is going on at the cellular level. I highly encourage you to schedule a live blood cell screening so together you and I can identify what kinds of foods and nutrients your body is crying out for.

I want to be clear here. Many people are fearful about having a live blood cell screening because they're afraid of what they might discover. If this is you, let me encourage you by saying that whatever is going on at the cellular level, no matter how bad it might initially appear, can be improved upon...and even REVERSED! Nothing is permanent. You can improve your health if you so choose. Within you lies everything you need to be a better and healthier version of yourself!

Your future, more energized and more vibrant self will thank you for taking the first step toward better health! You won't ever look back!

I look forward to hearing from you :)

More about live blood cell screenings: 
http://www.cellharmony.net/microscopy.html

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Artificial Sweeteners Are "NO-CALORIE," Right??

6/28/2017

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I recently published a blog post about sodas and the many ways they are detrimental to our health. If you read that blog post, you probably remember that sodas are 10,000 times more acidic than water, and therefore, it takes 32 glasses of water to neutralize one soda. I also mentioned that sodas are known to be great at removing rust, cleaning the toilet bowl and even killing mice!
 
As a follow-up to that message, I received several questions about beverages that contain artificial sweeteners and I wanted to address the question, “Are artificial sweeteners part of a healthy lifestyle?” The short answer to that question is, “No, they are not.”
 
As always, here is my explanation to that answer:
 
One of the primary issues with artificial sweeteners is that they are “no-calorie.” While at first this might appear to be a favorable benefit to using artificial sweeteners, it definitely is not. When we consume no-calorie beverages, the body thinks it’s starving - it NEEDS calories for energy. And when the body thinks it’s starving, it is very quick to turn the calories it does have into fat. This way it can store calories for later, in case the body doesn’t get more calories in the future.
 
You see, our bodies were designed for feast and famine; it was designed to react when it thinks it’s starving, and it does! When we trick the body into thinking there’s a famine coming, it will respond by turning the few calories it does have into fat. The catch here is that not too many people in America truly have a famine coming: food tends to be at our fingertips (and quite literally, when you consider all of the “finger foods” eaten like chicken tenders and French fries). We are generally feasting with NO famine on the way.
 
I have seen that too much of what I call a “calorie counting mentality” can be harmful to a person’s health. The truth is that we all NEED calories. However, these calories should come from good food sources. Generally, I consider foods “good” when they are from God, and foods “bad” when they are man-made. Our Creator knows what our bodies, His creation, needs: calories from good proteins, carbs and fats. We should get these proteins, carbs and fats from God-made foods: they will provide the body with the nutrients it needs at the cellular level.
 
My mom and I enjoy this little saying about food: “If God made it, it’s good. If man made it, it’s madness.” I encourage you to live by this saying in your everyday life when you’re considering what foods and beverages to consume for good overall health.
 
In addition to being “no-calorie,” there are other known issues associated with artificial sweeteners, such as they lead to insulin resistance and promote glucose intolerance. Glucose intolerance is the precursor for metabolic syndrome (pre-diabetes) and Type 2 diabetes.
 
In a recent newspaper article titled Why You Should Always Avoid Artificial Sweeteners written by Bryant Stamford, he says, “Unfortunately, getting free of artificial sweeteners may not be easy. Studies on rats suggest that artificial sweeteners taken over a long period of time may be addictive. Indeed, rats who were used to consuming artificial sweeteners were later exposed to intravenous cocaine. When given a choice between the two, most of the rats chose artificial sweeteners.”
 
I realize cutting artificial sweeteners out of your life can be difficult if you’re someone who’s been using them for a long time. Because I know it can be difficult, I want to provide you with some alternatives to artificial sweeteners. Of course, this is not intended to be a complete list, but to provide you with ideas for healthier beverages.
 
Here are some alternatives to consuming artificial sweeteners (beverages that I personally enjoy):
 
  1. Green or herbal tea (either iced or hot), sweetened with local raw honey
    1. Local raw honey is a source of sugar, of course, but a natural sugar (assuming it really is raw, meaning directly from the beehive, not processed). Local raw honey is rich in B Vitamins and is also very beneficial for seasonal allergies.
 
  1. Lemon water (again, either iced or hot, whatever you prefer)
    1. Not only does lemon add additional flavor to your water, it is also known to be excellent at detoxing the liver. In addition to lemon, you can do other fruits, such as oranges or limes. Don’t forget to add mint if you like that too!
 
  1. Kombucha (either store-bought or homemade)
    1. Kombucha provides the body with many benefits, such as being rich in natural probiotics, enzymes and B Vitamins, aids in digestion and improves the function of both the pancreas and the liver.
 
Substituting beverages such as green tea, lemon water and kombucha for beverages containing artificial sweeteners is an excellent way to improve your overall health! For additional help in improving your overall health, be sure to schedule a live blood cell screening. This will allow us to pinpoint weaknesses and deficiencies at the cellular level and get your health moving in the right direction!

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3 Reasons Why Good Digestion is SO Important for Optimal Health

6/20/2017

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If you’re the kind of person who thinks eating all the right things (a.k.a. veggies and grass-fed, lean meat) and hitting the gym a couple times a week is all you need to do to get fit and healthy, then this one’s for you!
 
Proper digestion can literally change the way you feel and the course of your health!
 
When I’m talking about proper digestion, I’m talking about the body’s ability to eliminate waste. It should take about 12 to 24 hours for food to pass through the digestive tract – this is TOTAL transit time. A person with healthy digestive habits will have a large bowel movement (what I like to call a “complete elimination”) at least once a day. A complete elimination happens when ALL waste is eliminated from the bowel. (Hint: If you wipe and it’s not clean, you didn’t get it all. It’s not a complete elimination).
 
I know you’ve heard the saying, “what goes up, must come down.” I have to admit that I’m still not entirely sure what that saying is all about, but I’ve come to know and believe in a similar saying: “what goes in, must come out!” Input should equal output, and if all is running (or should I say, “moving”) smoothly, output should equal input! I think you can see where I’m going with this…
 
Although there are numerous reasons why digestion is vitally important for optimal health, I want to give you three specific reasons why you should focus more of your energy on improving your digestion (but keep eating those veggies and hitting the gym, too).


1. 70-80% of the immune system is found in the gastrointestinal tract (gut). The immune system is just that, a system, which is primarily located within the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a large system as well and, as you might expect, is primarily located within the gut! The part of the lymphatic system that takes place in the gut has a specific name, known as the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT).

To understand the importance of this information, I think we need to better understand what happens when the immune system becomes compromised. As you might expect, a person could get a runny nose or a cold when their immune system becomes compromised. But in addition to that, they could also develop more serious illnesses and diseases. The immune system is the body’s army, or defense system, fighting all disease that enters the body.

According to the National Institutes of Health, “disorders of the immune system can result in autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases and cancer.” That’s right, a strong immune system can offer protection against almost all illnesses and diseases, even those for which a cure is unknown.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states that “a strong immune system may offer protection from seasonal illness such as the flu and other health problems including arthritis, allergies, abnormal cell development and cancers.”

2. The gut is where almost all nutrients are absorbed from the food you eat. Many people use the saying, “you are what you eat.” However, especially for those with digestive issues (96-99% of the population), you are not what you eat –you are what you absorb. Even if you’re eating a spinach salad with a side of asparagus every night with dinner, you’re only as healthy as the number of nutrients your gut is capable of absorbing.

Nearly 90% of nutrient absorption happens in the small intestines. At this point, the nutrients are deposited into the bloodstream where they are used by the body. When waste isn’t moving through the intestines, it is blocking the ability of the intestines to properly absorb nutrients. A healthy gut and proper digestion will lead to better nutrient absorption!

This leads me to the next reason why proper digestion is so important…

3. What you do not eliminate, you accumulate! It is very important to eliminate waste from the body. When waste is not eliminated from the body, it doesn’t just stay in the bowel - it recirculates through the body, leading to more toxicity, inflammation and stress on the body and organs.
 
I hope you’re starting to see that improving your digestion REALLY IS one of the greatest things you can do for your health! And if I haven’t convinced you yet, let me leave you with one more thought. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, said, “ALL disease begins in the gut.”
 
I believe this to be true for many different reasons, but primarily for the reasons listed above. When the gut is unhealthy, leading to suboptimal digestion, the body is incapable of absorbing the nutrients it needs. As if that isn’t bad enough, our immune system is also much more likely to become compromised, considering the large majority of the immune system is located within the gut. On top of all that, when we aren’t eliminating our stool, it begins to recirculate throughout our body, leading to unwanted stress, toxicity and inflammation.
 
As I’ve stated, 96-99% of the population suffers from some sort of digestive issue, and I want you to know that I am part of this large majority of the population. In no way am I above the information I am sharing with you. I share this information with you because it has impacted my life in such a strong and profound way. Having this information has changed my life in a positive way, and I want it to change your life and your health, too!
 
Please hear me when I say that I want to help you.
 
If you don’t know whether or not you suffer from digestive issues, err on the side of caution (actually, err on the side of health) and just assume that you do! At least assume that your digestion could probably be improved! Better digestion is for all people, not just those with cancer.
 
There are numerous different cell forms (at least five) I can see during a live blood cell screening indicating digestive issues that need to be addressed. This will allow us to discuss a plan of action to get you eliminating waste from your bowel better! Please give me a call or send me an email to schedule your appointment today!
 
Plus, I have other blogs that will provide you with more detailed information about digestive health. A blog about “good” gut bacteria can be found here and a blog about good food combining can be found here. And if you’ve ever taken an antibiotic, you’ll also want to read my blog about the side effects of antibiotics here.
 
Adding kombucha (a sweet and tangy fermented tea beverage) to your daily regimen is one very beneficial thing you can do to better improve your digestion. Kombucha is rich in probiotics (good gut bacteria) and is an easy, fun and cost-effective way to improve your digestion. For more information on kombucha, read my blog here and watch my YouTube video here.

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How to Make Kombucha (Fermented Tea) – Includes VIDEO Instructions

5/30/2017

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If you’ve been reading my previous emails and blog posts, you probably know that gut health is a topic I love talking about! Gut health is SO important because 70-80% of the immune system is found in the gut. In addition, many health experts (including Hippocrates – considered one of the most important figures in the history of medicine) believe that ALL disease begins in the gut. In order to keep our gut healthy, we must maintain a healthy balance between beneficial and harmful bacteria in the gut.
 
Kombucha is a beverage produced by fermenting sweet tea. The sweet tea is fermented using a SCOBY (an acronym for Symbiotic Colony Of Bacteria & Yeast). During the fermentation process, the sugar in the sweet tea feeds the colony of bacteria and yeast, and in turn, the SCOBY provides us with beneficial probiotics, enzymes, vitamins and other nutrients. Consuming a fermented beverage such as kombucha is one way we can replenish beneficial bacteria in the gut and improve overall health!
 
Kombucha provides us with many nutrients and health benefits, some of which are listed below:
 
  • Contains 20% of daily recommended B Vitamins
  • Aids in liver detoxification
  • Improves pancreas function
  • Increases energy levels
  • Rich in natural probiotics; aids in digestion
  • Reduces candida (yeast)
  • Helps with nutrient assimilation
  • Rich in enzymes and beneficial acids
 
Now that you have a better understanding of some of the health benefits of kombucha, I want to tell you how to make it!
 
Ingredients for One Gallon of Kombucha:
 
  • A gallon-size glass jar - Make sure your jar is really clean!
  • 1 SCOBY (Symbiotic Colony Of Bacteria & Yeast)
  • 1 gallon of sweet tea, using 1 cup of cane sugar, 8 organic black tea bags and good, filtered water
  • 1 cup of kombucha, used as a “starter”
  • Fermentation cover to place over the top of your jar – a coffee filter, towel or cheesecloth – because the SCOBY is a live culture, it needs to breathe
 
**The ingredient measurements can be adjusted for different batch sizes. For example, if you were brewing two gallons of kombucha, you would brew two gallons of sweet tea using 2 cups of cane sugar and 16 tea bags. In addition, you would need 2 cups of kombucha as a “starter.”
 
How to Make One Gallon of Kombucha (in 6 easy steps):
 
  1. Prepare the sweet tea. To make one gallon of tea, use 8 organic black tea bags (I use Newman’s Own Organic Black Tea, which can be purchased from Amazon or a health food store) and one cup of cane sugar (I use Wholesome Organic Cane Sugar, which can also be purchased from Amazon or a natural health food store). Use good, filtered water instead of tap water.
  2. Allow the sweet tea to cool to room temperature (hot tea can kill the SCOBY). I usually make sweet tea the evening before I need it and let it cool through the night. In the morning I know it has cooled and I can then make a fresh batch of kombucha.
  3. Add your SCOBY to the gallon of sweet tea. And with that instruction, I can hear the question running through your head: “Where in the world do I find one of these SCOBYs?” The easiest answer to that question is, “From someone you know who already makes kombucha.” If you think you don’t know anyone who makes kombucha, I’m here to tell you that you do know someone who makes kombucha! That someone is ME! You see, every time a new batch of kombucha is brewed, a baby SCOBY is grown. I am more than willing to share my baby SCOBYs with you. Please follow this link to learn about the SCOBY sharing process.
  4. Add 1 cup of kombucha. Again, I can hear the question running through your head: “Where do I get kombucha if I’ve never made it?” You can either use kombucha from someone you know who makes kombucha (potentially the person you receive a SCOBY from) or you can use store-bought kombucha.
  5. Using a rubber band, cover your kombucha with a fermentation cover (coffee filter, towel or cheesecloth) to keep bugs and gnats out. We use a cheesecloth or towel because the live SCOBY has to breathe or it will die off.
  6. Place your kombucha in a warm area away from direct sunlight – either on your counter or in a cupboard – a couple feet away from any other fermentation products. The ideal temperature of the area should be 75-85 degrees for optimal fermentation. The fermentation process takes between 7 and 10 days. I have personally found that 7 days is generally enough time for my kombucha to brew. You’ll know your kombucha is ready when you take a sip and it is no longer sweet like sweet tea. It should have a bit of a tangy flavor. You don’t, however, want your kombucha to brew too long. When I first started brewing kombucha, I was under the impression that the longer you brewed kombucha, the healthier it got. This is simply not true. The longer you brew kombucha, the more it turns to vinegar and the fewer probiotics it has. So, for starters, brew your kombucha for 7 to 10 days. If you find you need to make adjustments, please do!

Here is the link to the YouTube video I promised. 

Kombucha can be purchased in many grocery and health food stores, so why make it at home?
 
Purchasing kombucha can be very expensive: most 16 oz. bottles of kombucha are at least $3, but sometimes as much as $5 per bottle. If kombucha is something you wish to consume regularly, purchasing it could become a burden on your wallet. Because you can make an entire gallon of kombucha using only 8 tea bags and 1 cup of cane sugar, making kombucha at home is very cost effective!
 
Plus, it takes minimal time to make kombucha! And when I say minimal time, I’m talking about the amount of time it takes to brew sweet tea: no more than 10 to 15 minutes. (Personally, I can’t make it to my local health food store to pick up a bottle of kombucha and back home in that amount of time).
 
Note: When learning about kombucha, some people become concerned about the sugar content. However, the beneficial bacteria in the SCOBY consume the large majority of the sugar used; the sugar is used to “feed” the bacteria. Without it, the bacteria would (quite literally) starve and die. By the time the kombucha is fermented, there is very little (if any) sugar left in the tea. What remain are beneficial probiotics, enzymes, vitamins and other nutrients – all things necessary for good health!
 
Another thing to keep in mind is the importance of only using glass and/or plastic when making kombucha. You’ll want to stay away from metal, as it can be damaging to the beneficial bacteria in the SCOBY.
 
Restore the beneficial probiotics in your gut without killing your budget; brew kombucha at home!

View my SCOBY Sharing page here and don't forget to schedule your live blood cell screening. 

It is extremely important that we maintain a healthy amount of beneficial probiotics in the gut. A live blood cell screening can and will reveal fermentation, which is a byproduct of yeast and fungus. This is the result of not enough beneficial bacteria in the gut.
 
For additional information about gut health, you’ll want to refer to my previous blog posts Are You Experiencing Symptoms of Gut Dysbiosis? and If You’ve Ever Taken an Antibiotic, You’ll Want to Read This!

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If You've Ever Taken an Antibiotic, You'll Want to Read This!

5/22/2017

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The University of California, Berkeley, writes on their webpage Understanding Evolution, “Only a few decades ago, antibiotics were considered to be wonder drugs because they worked so well to cure deadly diseases. Ironically, though, many antibiotics have become less effective, precisely because they have worked so well and have been used so often.”
 
Antibiotics are still effective today, especially when they are used appropriately to treat bacterial infections, such as strep throat, urinary tract infections and whooping cough (pertussis).
 
However, as with many medications, there are side effects associated with the use of antibiotics. One risk is that antibiotics are so effective in killing bacteria that they tend to not be selective in the bacteria they kill.
 
It is well known that the human body is largely made up of bacteria. (Specifically, good bacteria). While there are 100 trillion cells in the human body, there is ten times that amount of bacteria. That’s right – for every cell in your body, there are ten bacteria! More than anything else, we are microbial.
 
The excessive use of antibiotics can be harmful to the good bacteria in our body and as a result, our overall health.
 
These good bacteria are most concentrated in the gut – they make up our microbiome.
 
The bacteria in our gut are beneficial for our health for a number of reasons:
 
  • They help us digest food
  • They help protect us against gastrointestinal tract disorders
  • They aid in the production of some vitamins, such as Vitamin B12, Vitamin K, thiamine and riboflavin
 
More than anything else, the bacteria in our gut help to strengthen our immune system. This is because 70-80% of the immune system is found in the gastrointestinal tract (gut), the same place as these beneficial bacteria.
 
When we harm the beneficial bacteria in our microbiome (either through the use of an antibiotic or by another means), the “bad guys” are allowed to take over in the gut.
 
Have you ever heard of someone having a yeast infection after being on an antibiotic? This is because the antibiotic was so effective in killing bacteria that it killed both the good bacteria as well as the bad bacteria. Without the good bacteria in the gut, yeast is allowed to grow and flourish.
 
As with all of the bacteria in the body, we strive for a healthy ratio of 80% beneficial bacteria and 20% harmful bacteria in the gut. A few of the “bad guys” are actually okay because they help keep the immune system in check and working properly.
 
What we do not want is for this ratio of beneficial versus harmful bacteria to get out of balance (for example, only 60% beneficial bacteria and as much as 40% harmful bacteria). This imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria is known as dysbiosis and is very damaging to our overall health. The overuse of antibiotics is one cause of dysbiosis, simply because they kill the good and very necessary bacteria.
 
It is extremely important that we maintain a healthy amount of these good bacteria in the gut. A live blood cell screening can and will reveal fermentation, which is a byproduct of yeast and fungus. This is the result of dysbiosis - not enough beneficial bacteria in the gut. In addition, it will allow me to make real recommendations to improve the imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria (dysbiosis) taking place in the gut.
 
Call or email TODAY to set up your live blood cell screening to find out if yeast and fungus are conditions you’re living with. PLUS, check out my blog post Are You Experiencing Symptoms of Gut Dysbiosis? to learn more about an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the gut.

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You Don't Really Believe Soda is "Bad for Your Health," Do You?

5/1/2017

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You don’t REALLY believe soda is “bad for your health,” do you?
 
This may sound like a joke, but I’m being sincere.
 
While it may not be a flat out lie that soda is “bad for your health,” such a phrase certainly does not reveal the complete truth about sodas.
 
Many health experts are quick to share that sodas are “sugary, sweetened beverages” and they “contain excess calories.” It is often noted that these calories from sugary drinks are quick to turn to fat in the body.
 
And while all of this is true, I’m afraid it’s only a glimpse into the true detriment of sodas on our health.
 
I realize you may already know that soda isn’t good for your health, but the truth is I see SO MANY PEOPLE drinking sodas that I believe it’s worth mentioning anyway.
 
“The average American drinks more than 53 gallons of carbonated soft drinks each year, more than any other beverage, including milk, beer, coffee or water!” - Jeff Primack
 
Whether you personally are a soda drinker or not, I strongly encourage you to read the entirety of this email. You may be able to provide information and encouragement to a friend or family member who is struggling with a soft drink addiction.
 
I want to begin by taking a look at the pH of the blood…
 
As I have mentioned in past emails and blog posts (such as The Connection Between Minerals and pH Balance), in order for life to exist, the blood must remain at a pH of 7.4 on the pH scale. This is slightly above 7.0, which is neutral. If the pH of our blood deviates from 7.4 in the slightest, life cannot exist.
 
While our blood must remain at a pH of 7.4 for life to exist, sodas have a pH of anywhere between 2.8 and 3.4.
 
But to fully understand the severity of this number, we need a better understanding of how the pH scale works. You see, a pH of 7.0 is neutral, and while it may initially appear that a substance with a pH of 6.0 is only slightly more acidic than something with a pH of 7.0, this is simply not true. A substance with a pH of 6.0 is actually ten times more acidic than a substance with a pH of 7.
 
The pattern continues and a substance with a pH of 5 is 100 times more acidic than a substance with a pH of 7. Likewise, a substance with a pH of 4 is 1,000 times more acidic than a substance with a pH of 7.
 
This means a soda with a pH of 2.8 – 3.4 is roughly 10,000 times more acidic than water, which has a pH of 7.
 
Soda is known to be great for removing rust, cleaning the toilet bowl and even killing mice. Seriously! If you don’t believe me, Google it! It’s been said that it takes 32 glasses of water to neutralize the acidity of one soda. Just imagine the detriment it’s causing your body. Actually, let me tell you about the detriment it’s causing your body…
 
When you consume a substance as acidic as soda, the body is forced to compensate for such acidity. To compensate, the body’s alkaline minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and iron) are stripped from the body and moved to the bloodstream.
 
In the words of Jeff Primack, author of Conquering Any Disease, “Your blood pH must remain precisely at 7.4 or you will die in a few minutes. So why haven’t all the diet soda drinkers passed away yet? The body has an intelligence. In order to maintain that ideal range for the blood pH of 7.4, our bodies will leach calcium (which is alkaline) right out of our bones and teeth to correct an overly acidic condition. Can you say osteoporosis?”
 
When I talk about the detriments and the acidity of soda, I’m talking about everything from Classic Coca-Cola to Diet Pepsi to Dr. Pepper, Big Red, and even Grape Soda and Sprite. ALL carbonated sodas contain phosphoric acid and carbonic acid, which are the two ingredients that form the rust-cleaning, mice-killing pH of 2.8.
 
I want to leave you with one final thought. My father passed away on June 28, 2015 from a brain tumor. Lying in his hospital bed, reflecting back on his life, he told my mom and I plainly that not drinking sodas would have been one of the easiest and most beneficial things he could have done for his health. “You have to tell them,” he said. He was talking about soda and the terrible affects they had on his health.
 
Unfortunately, he was not aware of the information I am sharing with you today until it was already too late – he was already dying.
 
I am begging you to not wait until it’s too late to give up soda - TODAY is the day!
 
Plus, I encourage you to share this information with someone you love. I understand it’s not always easy to challenge and/or bring attention to someone’s “not-so-healthy” lifestyle habits, but sometimes doing so is the best way to truly love them.
 
For more information about the importance of a proper pH level in the bloodstream, refer to my blog post The Connection Between Minerals and pH Balance.
 
Having a proper pH in the body is one of the greatest things you can do for your health. After all, disease does not exist in an alkaline environment.
 
Call me today to schedule a live blood cell screening to see how acidic or alkaline your body is. Plus, I’d be happy to help you make some very easy and very beneficial changes to your diet. Your body will thank you in the future!

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Are Your Bowels NOT Moving?

4/26/2017

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As I mentioned in my most recent blog post about magnesium, the most important way to work magnesium into your lifestyle is by eating magnesium-rich foods. But if you’re like many of us (myself included), a magnesium supplement can be extremely beneficial and even necessary!
 
The second best way to work magnesium into your everyday routine is by taking a magnesium supplement. Although there are many magnesium supplements a person can choose from, there are two I’d specifically like to recommend: Natural Calm powdered magnesium and ReMag.
 
Natural Calm is a magnesium citrate powder and is most commonly mixed into warm water and taken at bedtime. However, it can be taken in the morning or even throughout the day.
 
As I mentioned in my first post about magnesium (4 Reasons Why Your Body Loves Magnesium), both calcium and magnesium are necessary for proper muscle function. While calcium causes our muscles to contract, magnesium causes our muscles to relax. It’s the contracting and relaxing together that causes our muscles to work properly!
 
At least for me, when I think of muscles, I usually just think of my legs and arms. However, magnesium is good for more than just these primary muscles! Magnesium (and specifically the supplement Natural Calm) is also very beneficial for our bowel. Magnesium relaxes the bowel, increasing the chances for good bowel movements.
 
Natural Calm is beneficial in relaxing the bowel because it is not 100% absorbed at the cellular level. Although this might sound like a bad thing, what this actually means is some of the magnesium will make its way to the bowel, aiding the bowel in “releasing” waste from the colon. Because 96-99% of the population suffers from digestive issues (i.e. the inability to properly rid the body of waste), I highly recommend Natural Calm for the vast majority of people.
 
In addition to Natural Calm, there are other very effective magnesium supplements out there. Another magnesium supplement I recommend is ReMag.
 
ReMag is a liquid form of magnesium and while Natural Calm has a laxative affect, ReMag does not. This is because ReMag is 100% absorbed at the cellular level and never makes its way to the bowel. Both forms of magnesium are very beneficial and can be used in conjunction when necessary. However, as I mentioned above, for the vast majority of people, Natural Calm is the magnesium supplement I would recommend.
 
Both of these supplements can be purchased on Amazon as well as at a local health food store.
 
Although it may seem like work now, it won’t take long until you’re enjoying magnesium-rich foods and reaping the benefits of a magnesium supplement. Personally, magnesium is a very important part of my healthcare protocol – a nutrient I never want to go without.
 
In case you missed my recent blog posts about the vital importance of magnesium, click here to get that information! It’s definitely information you don’t want to miss out on!
 
Call today to schedule your live blood cell screening to find out whether you are magnesium deficient!

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Coconut Date Protein Balls

4/24/2017

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In my recent blog posts, I’ve talked about the many benefits of magnesium and why it is so important to eat a diet rich in magnesium. Click here to see those posts.
 
Now that you have a more thorough understanding of the importance of magnesium, I want to talk to you about the different ways you can work magnesium into your everyday routine. Of course, the first way to do this is by adding magnesium-rich foods to your diet.
 
The following foods are known to be extremely rich in magnesium:
 
  • Dark leafy vegetables, such as spinach and chard
  • Nuts and seeds, specifically almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts and pumpkin seeds
  • Yogurt and kefir
  • Black beans
  • Buckwheat
  • Avocados
  • Bananas and figs
 
Because I know some of these foods might seem bland and boring and even a little challenging to cook with, I want to share a recipe with you as something to try, or if nothing else, just for ideas! Coconut Date Protein Balls are a snack I enjoy often and they have two of the above foods in them – almonds and cashews.
 
Coconut Date Protein Balls
 
Ingredients:
½ cup raw almonds*
½ cup flaked unsweetened coconut
6 oz. Medjool dates (weigh after the pits have been removed)
½ cup raw cashews*
1 ½ tsp. unrefined coconut oil
 
*Note: measure the almonds & cashews before grinding them in the food processor.
 
Directions:
 
Blend almonds & coconut in a food processor; add dates and blend until well chopped. Add cashews & coconut oil and blend completely.
 
Scoop out a heaping tablespoon of the mixture into your hand & press into a ball. Freeze the protein balls on a parchment lined baking sheet until firm & transfer to a freezer bag or sealed container.
 
Yield: Approximately 22 protein balls
 
Avocados are another food rich in magnesium, but I know it can be challenging to figure out how to eat them. One way I enjoy eating avocado is cut up and placed on top a warm bowl of soup. Of course, avocado can be eaten in many other ways as well, such as sliced and eaten with fried eggs in the morning or eaten as a mid-afternoon snack.
 
As a mid-afternoon snack, cut an avocado in half vertically, remove the pit and put a couple scoops of salsa in the middle. This makes a fun guacamole-inspired “dip” for veggies, but is also good eaten just the way it is!
 
Of course, some of us are so magnesium deficient that we need a magnesium supplement in addition to eating magnesium-rich foods. For information about the importance of a magnesium supplement and the specific supplement I recommend, check your inbox later this week!

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If You're Taking a Vitamin D Supplement, You'll Want to Read This!

4/18/2017

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In my most recent blog post I described the relationship between calcium and magnesium. Very similar to that relationship is the relationship between Vitamin D and magnesium - this is what I want to talk to you about today!
 
In today’s world, Vitamin D is the newest “fad” supplement that many doctors, nurses, personal trainers and even health coaches are recommending for their patients and clients. After all, Vitamin D has many health benefits, such as it promotes healthy bones and teeth and is said to have a protective affect against cancer, type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
 
What many people fail to realize is that (contrary to what its name suggests) Vitamin D is NOT actually a vitamin, but rather, it is a hormone. There are many differences between hormones and vitamins, but one distinct difference is that hormone levels are regulated through a feedback system while vitamin levels are not. Let me explain what this means…
 
Vitamin D is the specific hormone responsible for grabbing calcium from a person’s diet and putting it in his or her bloodstream. When there is not enough calcium in the bloodstream, Vitamin D levels rise and the Vitamin D grabs more calcium from the diet. However, when there is enough calcium in the bloodstream, Vitamin D levels will begin to drop naturally – this is the way the hormone was designed to work.
 
When we don't allow the body to regulate Vitamin D naturally, we can supplement with more than is necessary. This excess Vitamin D can cause us to accumulate so much calcium that it sends us into magnesium deficiency! (To better understand the health implications of too much calcium (and not enough magnesium), be sure to check out my blog post Why Your Calcium Supplement Just Isn’t Working).
 
But this isn’t the only reason a high dose Vitamin D supplement has the potential to deplete magnesium levels. In addition, magnesium itself is necessary for changing Vitamin D from its storage form (which is the same as its supplement form) into its active form. When a person takes a high dose Vitamin D supplement, more magnesium is needed to change the Vitamin D into an active form, potentially depleting magnesium levels.
 
If you are currently taking a Vitamin D supplement, you may be depleting your magnesium levels! Remember, it is for two reasons Vitamin D has the potential to deplete magnesium: (1) Vitamin D pulls calcium from food and puts it into our bloodstream, and (2) magnesium is responsible for turning Vitamin D into its active form.
 
To get a better understanding about a potential magnesium deficiency in your body, call today to schedule a live blood cell screening! In addition to magnesium deficiency, there are many other deficiencies that can be seen, such as a deficiency in Vitamins B and C, iron, as well as other minerals and antioxidants! Call today to begin the journey of restoring your health at the cellular level!
 
Plus, stay tuned for information coming later this week on several different ways to get more magnesium into your everyday routine! I will be sharing with you some of the most magnesium-rich foods, yummy recipes you’ll love and information about a very effective magnesium supplement!


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Why Your Calcium Supplement Just Isn't Working

4/10/2017

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I mentioned in my most recent blog post that I’d be sharing with you why your calcium supplement just isn’t enough when taken without magnesium, and I’m here to share that information with you!
 
There are two primary reasons why calcium is not enough when taken without magnesium:
 
1.The Standard American Diet is rich in calcium, but lacking in magnesium.
 
Hundreds of years ago people didn’t consume nearly the amount of calcium we do today. They didn’t drink milk from dairy cows, they didn’t eat such large amounts of cheese, yogurt and butter and they certainly didn’t drink calcium-infused orange juice. At the same time, they were eating more magnesium-rich foods (as compared to what we eat today).
 
However, the times have changed and in today’s world, we tend to eat a diet that is VERY high in calcium, while being extremely low in magnesium. While there should be a 1:1 ratio between calcium and magnesium, the Standard American Diet is said to have a 10:1 ratio between calcium and magnesium - it has ten times more calcium than it does magnesium. Calcium-infused orange juice has a 27:1 ratio – 27 times more calcium than magnesium!
 
Now, I want to be very clear. In no way am I saying calcium is the problem. Calcium is not the problem. The problem lies in the fact that, as a society, we are consuming calcium and magnesium out of proper proportions. Instead of having a 27:1 or a 10:1 ratio between calcium and magnesium, we should have a 1:1 ratio (received from all water, food and supplements we consume).
 
2.While the body stores up all calcium consumed, it flushes out any excess magnesium.
 
The human body was created to hold onto calcium. This is for our protection so that our body has enough calcium when it needs it. Remember, eons ago they weren’t eating large amounts of cheese and butter. The human body wasn’t exactly designed for a calcium-rich diet, but rather, to hold onto the calcium found in a low calcium diet.
 
The human body, on the other hand, never holds onto an excess of magnesium. In fact, magnesium is said to have a “fail-safe” mechanism. When we consume more magnesium than is needed (usually through supplementation), the body will flush out the excess through our stool.
 
In today’s world, we are not only consuming a lot more calcium than we are magnesium, but we’re also holding onto the excess calcium we consume. I think you can probably start to understand that the body’s desired 1:1 ratio between calcium and magnesium is often times out of balance for two reasons: 1) because we are consuming a diet that is rich in calcium, but often lacking in magnesium, and 2) because the body stores up calcium while it has a fail-safe mechanism that flushes out any excess magnesium.
 
So, what does this mean for our health?
 
An excess of calcium over magnesium in our bones is not a good thing! Too much calcium and not enough magnesium in our bones cause them to be very brittle and frail, making a fractured bone or hip all the more likely. With the right amount of magnesium, our bones become resilient and “flexible” and the prevention of broken bones is more likely.
 
Not only is this excess of calcium over magnesium not good for our bones, it is also not good for the rest of our body. When we have an excess of calcium over magnesium, the body simply cannot use it all. Therefore, as we learned, the excess calcium is stored in the body. The problem lies in the fact that the calcium is not only stored in our bones. It is also stored in our kidneys, coronary arteries, cartilage and even in our breast tissue.
 
For this very reason there is a very strong correlation between high calcium intake and heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, some forms of arthritis and even kidney stones and kidney disease.
 
We have been conditioned to believe that consuming foods rich in calcium and taking calcium supplements is one of the best things we can do for our bones and teeth. However, this may not be true.
 
In the words of Dr. Steven A. Abrams, MD, FAAP (Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics), professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, “Calcium is important, but, except for those children and adolescents with very low intakes, may not be more important than magnesium.”
 
In her book The Magnesium Miracle, Dr. Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D. refers to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, which reports, “Neither milk nor a high-calcium diet appears to reduce the risk of hip fractures.”
 
If you or someone you know struggles with bone and joint health, magnesium could be the missing part of your healthcare protocol! Check your inbox later this week for information about some of the best magnesium-rich foods as well as the most effective magnesium supplements.
 
Of course, I’d love to work with you individually. If you’re ready to have a live blood cell screening, simply respond to this email and I’d be glad to set up an appointment with you.
 
Or, click here if you’re interested in learning about the many things that can be discovered through a live blood cell screening. 

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4 Reasons Why Your Body Loves Magnesium

4/6/2017

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“Our physical wellbeing is more directly dependent upon the minerals we take into our systems than upon calories or vitamins or upon the precise proportions of starch, protein or carbohydrates we consume.” – U.S. Senate document number 264, presented in 1936
 
For decades it has been known how incredibly important minerals are for our health; however, a large portion of the general population still tends to be relatively uninformed on the vital importance of such minerals.
 
Today I want to talk to you about the importance of one specific mineral: magnesium. In this email I have outlined 4 reasons why magnesium is one of the most important minerals found in the human body:
 
1.Magnesium provides energy to the human body.
 
Energy is produced in mitochondria, which is an organelle found in large numbers in almost every cell in our body. Our mitochondria use an enzyme known as ATP (adenosine triphosphate) to produce energy - ATP must be bound to a magnesium ion in order to be active.
 
Not only is magnesium a necessary cofactor (must be present for proper function) for ATP, but it is also a necessary cofactor for 700 to 800 other necessary enzymes as well. Without magnesium as their cofactor, these enzymes cannot function properly.
 
2.Magnesium is necessary for proper muscle function.
 
In addition to binding with ATP to produce energy, magnesium has many other important roles – one of these being that magnesium is intimately involved in the proper function of our muscles. Two primary minerals are needed to make our muscles work properly. The first mineral is calcium, which causes our muscles to contract. The second mineral is magnesium, which allows our muscles to relax after they’ve contracted.
 
It’s the contracting and relaxing together that causes our muscles to work properly. When we only have calcium and we’re deficient in magnesium, our muscles tend to get stiff and we experience muscle cramping and pain.
 
3.Magnesium is extremely important for many of the body’s vital organs, including the heart and brain.
 
Magnesium is extremely concentrated in the human body, so much so that a human cell has 100,000 times more magnesium than it does calcium. However, magnesium is the most concentrated in the heart (specifically the left ventricle of the heart) followed by the brain. These two vital organs use the largest amount of magnesium of all the organs throughout the body. It has been discovered that a lack of magnesium can contribute to calcification of the arteries, heart disease and stroke as well as depression, anxiety and panic attacks.
 
4.And lastly, magnesium plays the important role of regulating many of the other electrolytes used by the body, including potassium, calcium and sodium.
 
Magnesium regulates how much of these primary minerals we have in each of our cells. When a cell needs more potassium, for example, magnesium will allow more potassium to flow into the cell. When there is an excess of potassium, magnesium will force some out. Without magnesium, our cells do not have the proper amount of each of these minerals, and therefore, cannot function properly.
 
Magnesium is vitally important for optimal health. If you think you may be magnesium deficient, call today to schedule a live blood cell screening. There are specific cell forms within the blood that indicate a magnesium deficiency. We will get you started on a magnesium supplement (as well as magnesium-rich foods) to start reversing the negative effects of a magnesium deficiency.
 
You don’t want to miss what I have coming later in the week! If you’ve been (or currently are) taking a calcium supplement, but it’s just not doing what you thought it would, find out why! I have great information coming your way about the delicate relationship between calcium and magnesium and why your calcium supplement just isn’t enough taken without magnesium.
 
Plus, don’t forget to sign up to receive a FREE copy of my Immune System e-Book and receive other health tips and wellness tricks!


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