Your Gut Is Essential For Your Health

Your Gut Is Essential For Your Health

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The holidays can be a time when we indulge in more than we normally would. More food, most likely more alcohol, more activities, and less sleep. All of these can contribute to feeling behind the curve as we enter the new year. Do you know what’s at the root of this feeling? It’s your gut. Your gut is essential for your health.

There are many things that influence your gut health. These are primarily related to what you put in your mouth – whether solid or liquid – as Dana learned recently when she reached out for my help.

Dana, a young wife and mother to a 4-year-old daughter, realized she was spiraling downward and knew she needed help. She reported that she wasn’t doing well even before the holidays, but since Thanksgiving had been feeling like it was all getting worse.

Her gut was not happy – indigestion was a common experience – so she often avoided food. She also wasn’t sleeping well, which made her groggy throughout the day. All the added Christmas festivities were making things worse, so she picked up her phone to send an SOS to me.

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Do You Struggle With Holiday Blues?

Do You Struggle With Holiday Blues?

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The Christmas season presents a wide array of stimulation for our senses. The music, images in commercials, colorful decorations, and the food … oh, the food. For many, these holiday hallmarks evoke joy in the season, but some struggle with holiday blues.

Surprisingly, a survey by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) shows that 64% of people experience holiday blues.

The holiday blues are “feelings of anxiety or depression during holidays that can be associated with extra stress, unrealistic expectations, or even memories that accompany the season.” These “blues” refer to sad feelings, yet those experiencing holiday blues may feel worried, frustrated, or even disappointed.

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Bloating – A Call For Action

Bloating – A Call For Action

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Are you one of the 20-30% of our population dealing with gas and bloating on a regular basis? It is an uncomfortable signal that your body – specifically your digestive tract – needs your help. Though it may seem to be your norm, bloating is a call for action on your body’s behalf.

Many experience this as abdominal distention after eating throughout the day. Some of my clients have called it their “food baby.” If this is you, do you find you need to loosen your belt or choose to wear an elastic waistband for greater comfort?

Or are you reluctant to eat very much because you get bloating and discomfort afterward? Yet lack of nutrition causes malnourishment and can lead to loss of muscle mass.

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Good For Them and For You!

Good For Them And For You!

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What is your focus in these last few days before Thanksgiving? Have you set the menu for the meal and prepared your grocery list? Are your thoughts dominated by arrangements you need to make for guests, or perhaps the calorie overload that comes with the traditional feast?

Or perhaps you are one who thinks of where you will settle for your post-turkey nap?

All of these demands on your attention are significantly contributing to your stress level. This hinders your digestion, affects your heart and lung function, and makes you susceptible to viral illness.

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Not A Scary Situation, Or Is It?

Not A Scary Situation, Or Is It?

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 Here in the US, we may have an assortment of witches, ghosts, and princesses showing up at our doors this evening. Many of them will have cute kids’ faces beaming over the neckline of their costumes, though some may be hidden behind masks. It’s not a scary situation, or is it?

You know what’s really scary in this situation played out in neighborhoods or businesses? The amount of sugar that accumulates in the bags of the trick-or-treaters.

It can seem innocuous. Lots of little candies – suckers, fun-sized packs, or candy bars. All small portions, right?

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Add Some Fun to Your Fall

Add Some Fun To Your Fall

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There are a variety of vitamins that have been identified as necessary for your body to function well. No doubt, you have heard of Vitamins A, C, D, E, and the many types of B vitamins. There are some that have not been recognized by science, yet they play an important part in our overall wellness.

I’m referring to Vitamin J (Joy), Vitamin G (Gratitude), Vitamin F (Fun) and more. Remember the old adage that “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”? It also contributes to a less than vibrant health. Vitamins J and F are key “nutrients” all year, but let’s explore some ways to add some fun to your fall.

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What’s D Got To Do With It?

What’s D Got To Do With It?

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Since the pandemic, we’ve seen an increase in recommendations to boost Vitamin D. It was not an unknown vitamin until then. We have all heard that spending time in the sun could increase Vitamin D levels – but do you know why your level is important? Are you curious what’s D got to do with it?

Vitamin D is both a nutrient and a prohormone – a precursor to the hormone, calcitriol. It has many functions in the body touching the gut, bones, hormones, immune system, and gene expression. It’s an important part of healthy living.

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The Way You Breathe Matters

The Way You Breathe Matters

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If you are reading this, you are breathing. We tend to take breathing for granted unless we are having difficulty – then it is all we can think about. Have you ever paid attention to how you breathe, whether through your nose or your mouth?

You may think it doesn’t matter because both routes provide air for your lungs. Actually, the way you breathe matters.

Your body’s primary means of breathing is your nose, with your mouth being the backup route to bring air into your lungs. But some of us grew up with restrictions to nasal breathing, such as allergies causing congestion or a deviated septum. As a result, it became a habit to breathe through our mouths.

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Unlock the Secrets of Longevity – Eat Like a Blue Zoner

Unlock the Secrets of Longevity – Eat Like a Blue Zoner

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Have you heard of the term ‘Blue Zones’? It was coined by National Geographic journalist Dan Buettner that refers to areas renowned for their exceptional longevity and remarkably low rates of chronic diseases. These regions include Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Nicoya (Costa Rica), Ikaria (Greece), and Loma Linda (USA). Blue Zones have become the focus of extensive research to unlock the secrets of longevity and eat like a blue zoner.

Not surprisingly, a significant part of these secrets lies in their dietary habits. Let’s explore how to eat like a Blue Zoner.

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Why Is Detox Vital For Health?

Why Is Detox Vital For Health?

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Detox is vital for health because our bodies are constantly bombarded with toxins. You don’t see them, taste them, and often don’t smell them, but they are there. Toxins are permitted to be sprayed on produce, added to processed foods and our water. They are included in our personal hygiene products and found in building and furniture materials.

The constant bombardment of our bodies with these toxins damages our ability to get rid of those very same chemicals. A downward spiral for certain, until you are aware and make changes.

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