But, “You don’t look sick”.

This statement use to really hurt me to my bone. The reason I personally allowed my body to get so sick was because I didn’t look sick. This is something I have endured my entire life. I have had pain issues and eventually did end up in a wheelchair during my childhood, but most of my pain issues were “idiopathic” and my fatigue was because of mono. I had no obvious deformity or growth in my body, but I was getting sicker and sicker despite medical attention, I continued not to take it seriously. Now I have the knowledge and experience on why you shouldn’t ignore your body and I hopea you will not do the same.

I thought the older you get the more pain you get, so everyone must feel this sh*tty all the time. Plot twist, you aren’t supposed to feel that much pain or THAT tired in your twenties. In our society we are taught to suck it up and keep on working. That’s how we get to extreme burnout and allow our bodies to get so sick. It’s okay to work hard, but your body has to be a healthy place to do so. As we get more and more tired, we eat easier to make and more unhealthy foods. We stop taking care of ourselves and go into fight mode. Our body thinks it’s in survival mode and our bodies to continue to get sicker. By doing so this allows our body functions to decrease or cease. So the whole “you don’t look sick thing” ignore it. You DON’T want to let your body get to that point of looking sick. Once your body is that sick your adrenals (stress hormone center) will be shot, your thyroid (another hormone regulator) will be shot and you will have 10x the amount of work to get your body back to “normal”, rather than listening to it in the first place.

You know your body better than any practicing professional. That being said is why you shouldn’t give up on feeling better. Find a doctor that will work with you and not give up on you. Find one that will look for the root cause and won’t continue to shove medication after medication into your body after months and months of no results.

I’m not anti-medications by any means. Personally since childhood I’ve been on more antibiotics than I can count just because it could help. Trust me when I say these medications are doing more harm than good if you don’t NEED them and are just being taken for the hope that they will work. A lot of medications are for the symptoms and not the cause. While the cause of your illness will probably continue and you may continue to get sicker. While medications are important if they help fix your illness or imbalance, if you aren’t seeing a change after the time your doctor said to give it, stop it. Of course do this while working with your doctor. Each medication takes time to work and wean off. Trust someone who’s been on more medications than most adults combined, being on a medication hoping it will help is terrible for your body. The more we put into our body unnecessarily the harder our kidneys and liver had to work to excrete them. Our gut is becoming leakier and making us sicker by leaking out toxins and waste our body couldn’t process. Our brain receptors are becoming flooded and not allowing our brain to work at the best potential. We are basically feeding into anxiety and depression because we are assisting in altering our brain chemicals (neurotransmitters).

If this is known science then why do doctors keep prescribing us medications repeatedly “hoping” to help us? Sadly that’s all they know and what they are taught. Western culture makes their money though pharmaceuticals, insurance and treating chronic illnesses. Herbs and natural medicine is normally not something that can be charged through insurance. I now know that Hollistic healing with food and natural medicine is very effective. There are countless of studies done that food and nutrition can help heal 90% of our illnesses and diseases. Yet we would rather continue to be lazy, sick and taking “magic pills” than to have a slight lifestyle change. It may sound brutal, but it’s the honest truth. If you told college me that I would have to give up half the food I eat daily I would have laughed. But if you told me I was going to struggle with pain, anxiety and chronic brain fog and fatigue would I have listened differently ? Who knows, but now I truly understand the importance of food nutrition and gut health and I hope you will take it serious too.

If you’ve ever had mono in your life (EBV) you may battle this reactivation of fatigue and should work with a practitioner who understands the virus to allow you to function a normal and healthy life. Check out my last post on this virus and check out these books which go into detail the importance of EBV and how it’s the underlying reason disease and illnesses are able to enter our body.

  • The Rain Barrel Effect: How a 6,000 Year Old Answer Holds the Secret to Finally Getting Well, Losing Weight & Feeling Alive Again!
  • The Epstein-Barr Virus Solution: The Hidden Undiagnosed Epidemic of a Virus Destroying Millions of Lives through Chronic Fatigue, Autoimmune Disorders and Cancer

You are not your illness, and there is hope. I hope that this mindset helps someone. I am unsure if years ago myself I would have been ready to listen. But if I help even one person avoid years of pain and countless medications and procedures, it’s worth it ❤️

Things I wish I knew going into dealing with a chronic illness

If you are suffering chronic pain, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and so forth, I feel you. I know how debilitating each day can be and you do your best anyway. I know how desperate for relief you are, and how you will try any medication or procedure for the hope of relief. After years of this, I want to share with you what I’ve learned and how to skip a few painful lessons on your own health journey.

The first and most important lesson is to get professional guidance!

I’m considered a medical professional but this isn’t medical advice, just my own experiences. Even though I have medical knowledge and thought I could do this on my own, I needed help. I went to specialty after specialty after realizing I needed help, but finding the right help is the next step. I have another blog post on all of the doctors I’ve rotated through if you need help deciding where to start. From both ends of the spectrum of western medicine to anything Holistic, a naturopath has been the most helpful for me.

Commit to your health as the #1 priority.

This one is hard. I know a lot of you are moms and have to work 40 hours a week to pay bills. But try your best to put yourself first. Let it be okay — the house will stay dirty and accept it’s not worth exhausting yourself more. Being a perfectionist with a chronic illness is hard, but you also learn what is a priority and what’s not.

You have to continue to put yourself first, even on hard days when you want to give up and let it all take its course. I would try something new that someone recommended or that I read and committed to, but it wouldn’t work. At the end of each trial I was still sick; I would say it’s in my head and I would give up, then repeat. Commit to your health. You owe it to yourself and your family, and you are worth it. Being run-down with brain fog and pain is not okay; no matter how many of your friends also suffer like this, it’s not normal. It may be a simple fix – as little as a diet or attitude change or as big as a chemical imbalance or infection. Either way, invest the money in a practitioner. It’s so helpful to have someone give you guidance rather than guessing yourself. Being let down time and time again only adds to the depression of feeling ill.

Stop letting what others thing about you matter.

Guess what — it doesn’t matter. You matter and your health matters. In a year, the opinions of others will mean nothing compared to having your mental and physical health. Yes, you have your tribe of people, and you NEED them or someone on this journey to support you, but at the end of the day, YOUR health mentally and physically is what is important. By letting yourself care about what other people think, you allow doubt and negativity in. You do you, and you’ll find yourself. As soon as I stopped caring about others’ judgements toward me is when I started reaching out to the right people and finding actual answers and seeing progress. Nothing is worse than thinking others assume you are a hypochondriac and it’s all in your head, but it’s your body and you are trying the best you can. You have to believe in yourself; you know your body the best.

Patience

This is the hardest one, the one I still struggle with. Especially if you’ve been struggling with something for a while and feel like you’ve tried everything, you have to give everything a few months, not days or weeks. This is the hard part because it takes time. But this is why it’s important to get the proper guidance. With the proper help, you minimize wasting time trying to tackle this all on your own. The more you fail and continue to suffer, the more fear for the future, depression, and anxiety is created. You have to believe in the process, but having help getting there is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s worth every dime to minimize the time it takes to heal yourself and get you to your best self.

Your food and environment are essential to your recovery.

It’s okay to eat out and enjoy yourself. You don’t have to go vegan or never eat your favorite food again, but you do have to be aware of proper nutrition and the toxins in the standard American’s diet. The food we feed ourselves and things we put in and on our bodies has been shown to harm us dramatically. Here’s an old post on how to live a chemical-free lifestyle. It’s hard at first, but it’s worth feeling better. This one is important and can be the hardest for a lot of people. Even before learning my blood nutrition results from my practitioner, I ate healthy. But sometimes what you think is healthy isn’t for you — another reason why it’s worth the time and money to have someone run these tests for you.

It’s so important to know what your gut and body actually need. I’ve written a previous post on the importance of avoiding preservatives and eating organic foods. When you feed your gut, you truly are feeding your health. The gut-brain connection is a proven yet ignored thing. Your diet can dramatically change your mentality and decrease inflammation in your body. By fixing our diet, we eliminate the cause of many “symptoms” that we are put on medications for. Eating well gives your body the fighting chance to work in synergy, to heal, and to provide us with the best health we can give ourselves. I know it sounds easier than it is, but start small. Small wins lead to big changes!

Your mindset is everything.

If you know me, you hear me preach about mindset and the importance of good energy and healing. You don’t have to be as spiritual as me, but your mind is truly a powerful thing. Meditation, yoga, gardening, etc. are all great relaxing tools and are needed to help your mind heal. Check out this old post on the importance of your parasympathetic nervous system and tips on staying grounded.

I’m not saying these steps are the all cure — but it could save you a lot of time and money by avoiding the months of medication trials, diets, and specialists.

My personal health journey has led me to a naturopath practitioner. She was able to connect all of my issues to Epstein-barr Virus (EBV). This virus is commonly known as “mono.” 90% of the population has had it and carries antibodies for it. Most people’s immune systems handle this fine. For others it creates havoc in the body, triggering gut issues, brain fog, pain, depression, and autoimmune issues. Your body fights itself, depleting the thyroid and adrenals, and your body continues to get sicker with no explanation. The research done on this is crazy — yet western medicine ignores this virus because as mentioned above, most people carry the antibodies and are fine. But there are a lot of chronically ill people out there, and the way we eat and live our lives these days trigger the illness to become more and more active, oxidizing and depleting our bodies. Feel free to contact me because I would love to help you heal as food is honestly the best way to do so with any inflammatory virus.

Thanks for reading and I hope you start to feel better soon. I can’t wait to post about my healing journey and all its success and hear about others! Stay positive and keep fighting; you’re worth it ❣️

Food is medicine

Food is medicine. By both avoiding and adding certain foods into our diet, we are able to nourish our bodies. The foods that we feed ourselves provide us with antioxidants, nutrients, and the fuel needed for our bodies to heal and function properly. It’s a simple science, yet we would all rather go for the quick fix. A quick fix can be a processed meal a few times a day to another medication that may help mask the symptoms you’re showing.

Our body is constantly warning us when something is off balance with our “symptoms.” Anxiety, pain, skin inflammation, hormonal issues, and so forth pop up. All of these things are heavily treated by medications to hide our unknown imbalances. Your body is giving you a warning signal and screaming for help! You may need to work on your gut, your diet, your posture, your breathing, etc.

This all sounds so simple, but how many of us actually focus on all of these as a priority? Without finding the root cause, you continue to mask the issue, allowing your body to get sicker and allowing system after system in your body to compensate. The longer you mask and suppress the symptoms, the sicker you become.

After years of suffering from chronic pain and following elimination diet after diet, I finally have hope. Having your food antibodies tested is something I had never even heard of until working with a naturopath. Contact me for more information as I have learned of easier ways to get these tested. From my learned experiences, chronic unsolved issues or the unknown anomaly is actually a bigger problem and requires more than a quick fix. I’m stubborn and work in the healthcare field and thought I could “figure this out” on my own… I couldn’t. Lucky for you, I now have the knowledge to help you find the right help and point you in the right direction.

The body is complex and there are way too many variables that can affect your health. There are plenty of elimination diets and supplements out there to trial. You may find one that works, or you may not. After a few failed ones, you’ll get frustrated, or you may find help but it might only be temporary. Trust me when I say save yourself the time and the money by doing it under professional guidance. Let someone help you connect the dots and give you the chance of finding relief.

They make tests (beyond a simple food allergy test) that can see what your body is sensitive to or causing inflammation. This allows you to be on an elimination diet that fits your body’s results. There are tests that show your sensitivities to common triggers beyond food and look into environmental triggers. The truth is that 90% of the population carry most viruses and allergens, but sometimes it effects certain people harder than others. Having the right help to analyze your blood and gut nutrition allows these professionals (may it be a naturopath, functional nutritionist, etc.) to develop a dietary plan on top of the right herbs and supplements to combat any other ailments that you may be fighting. If your body has been suffering for a long time, it has been compensating for awhile and you may have multiple body functions to fix.

Most people who are reading this are tired of being so chronically ill and are in the same boat that I was. Why suffer every single day if you can simply make a lifestyle change? Sadly, most people would rather suffer with chronic fatigue and pain than cut out foods they eat daily or drinking at parties. I’m not saying you have to cut out alcohol or your favorite food, but in my case, it was my favorite foods that my body needed a break from. Notice how I said a break. This doesn’t mean your favorite foods, alcohol, etc. are gone forever. A temporary separation is worth feeling like a human again though, isn’t it?

The body is very intertwined. Brain and gut connections are becoming more known and important to society. What’s scary is that this isn’t new ground-breaking information. These are all known facts, but we rather suppress and ignore them and continue to live unhealthy lives. Our food can affect our brain chemicals which in turn affect our moods, emotions, skin, hormones… everything.

I’m not fully healed, but I’m finally on the healing journey. This journey is as much mental as it is physical. I thought I was eating healthy, but the healthy options I was eating daily were actually feeding my “gut bugs” and in turn feeding my illnesses. Just because something is a healthier option doesn’t mean it’s the right option for you. After years of this chronic fight and misdiagnoses, I’m beyond thankful to have answers and even happier that it’s a simple diet change. It won’t be days but within time, my body’s systems will get stronger one by one, and I’ll be able to be live my life authentically and pain-free.

Don’t be stubborn; eat food that’s good for your body. Heal yourself starting from within. Living in pain isn’t the answer, but your food is.

Compassion and Happiness

I use to have a hard time having compassion for others while I am suffering myself. This was unknowingly selfish of me, because others have great compassion for me by listening to me while I am still throwing myself a pity party. I’m not saying don’t complain, because struggling day to day silently is also not healthy. It’s healthy and okay to reach out and talk to others about your struggles. Compassion can lead you to happiness. Whether it be in relationships with your friends or family, into your work or environment etc. By including this into your daily life you can change your mindset by changing your behaviors. Being a nurse I naturally have compassion for others, but meaning it is different. It takes time to mean it, but it’s necessary to help you heal from your own pain.

If you have chronic pain, anxiety and/or depression, you wouldn’t wish it upon anyone…I hope 😉. No one chooses unhappiness over happiness. Suffering with these ailments makes life suck or seem not worthwhile some days. Becoming compassionate for others helps you become more present and appreciative of your surroundings outside your pain. You learn empathy and are able to connect with others and stop focusing all on your struggles.

Pain, anxiety and depression all hit similar transmitters and parts of our brain. Our gut helps impact all of these three as well. It’s hard to work towards rewiring our brain and healing our gut until your able to get your mind into a more positive mindset.

By showing compassion and being able to empathize with someone else’s struggles you are able to take a break from yours and stop feeling and wishing for your own struggles to end and wish for another’s happiness. You are triggering other parts of your mind and are tuning into being more aware. Mindset can impact our lives tremendously. It doesn’t get rid of our issues, but it does open our eyes making us more aware that we can control our body more than we think. We can help stop our thoughts from going down into that dark tunnel of sadness and self pity. When you express compassion or do something go for others for no reason…you feel good right? You trigger endorphins and you become full of happy fuzziness and are able to sit up straighter and think clearer. Now I’m not telling you to donate all your money to charity, but to simply do more kind gestures to others.

It’s hard to listen, to want to do things for others, to actually care for others while you are struggling. It’s hard to get the feeling of happiness and joy for others when you yourself are hurting. But with more practice your mindset will shift. Your compassion towards others will help lower your pain, anxiety and/or depression or maybe all three! It’s not a magic answer or quick fix. As I said earlier, no one chooses to be unhappy.

So choose to feel happiness and give compassion a try. You have nothing to lose by being kind to others. You’ll gain more connections with friends and strangers, you’ll learn more about your true self and you will see happiness on others faces which will in turn bring you joy.

Healing your pain is not always an easy fix, a quick pill or diet. It’s a journey and hard work physically and mentally. Nourish your body with good food and energy. Life is worth living, and it’s worth being able to enjoy a happy more present life ❣️ Namaste 🙏🏻

Acceptance

This is something I’m still working on, but I have came a long way and so can you. Since I can remember I was always trying to fit in. Never confident of my own choices, outfits, likes and dislikes. Instead of believing in yourself you begin to look for acceptance from others. This is natural, but it’s gotten to an unhealthy point in the world. Social media isn’t going away but our children need to learn to believe in theirselves. Of course there are morals of right and wrong, but being embarrassed of who you are is not a way to feel at any age.

I have always cared so much of what others thought. The music I liked, how I dressed, how I looked and so on. Instead of listening to the people’s thoughts who actually mattered who have always told me “it doesn’t matter what others think”. I have never really been confident, and have been self conscious most of my life.

I really cared what people thought about me and my pain. Afraid people thought i was attention seeking. But honestly, not hiding the pain and talking about how I am “actually” feeling has opened eyes to others but mainly myself. Life has become much easier since I have accepted my feelings and truths. I have accepted this is my body, these are the issues and things need altered. Notice how I did not say changed or fixed.

It can and did take a long journey of doctors and medications before this realization and acceptance came. Refusing to accept this being my normal and the pain. By accepting you are able to look deeper into your self for a root cause, as it may be a deeper and harder thing to fix than a quick pill.

I have accepted my love for health, Hollistic medicine and healing. By accepting it’s okay to believe in what you love with no judgement. I know my Hollistic and spiritual beliefs may not be believed by others, but I have accepted this fact and don’t care! I actually don’t care what others think. I respect their thoughts and I believe my journey has led me here, to a place of healing and progress.

Many spend all their money and time focusing on the “fix”. Some times things don’t need changed, some byproducts of our life and mind can simply spiral our body and sometime lives out of control. I spent thousands on medical doctors before finally seeking a naturopathic doctor, which in the long run would have been cheaper and on the road to my best self sooner.

Being unbalanced for so long can absolutely lead to health issues and diseases. Being balanced is not an easy task. Especially with all our processed foods and chemicals, it becomes easier and easier for people to fall out of balance. People are experiencing emotions and pain more and more these days. Which leads them to doctor to doctor, medication to medication. If this sounds like you and you are reading this looking for a quick fix (a supplement or diet) even though nothing is working, I challenge you to look deeper.

Look to see if you accept who you are and your thoughts and desires. If you are not ready to accept them then why? The answer is within you and you may not even know it.

I refused to have my rest of life in the amount of pain I am in, understandable. But the route of spending thousands and thousands of dollars, trying every herbal supplement and diet around wasn’t the answer. This just led to further frustration, anxiety and depression. It wasn’t until I believed in myself that I made some positive strides. Maybe it was a big combination of issues over the years that led me to where I am, but I feel all the chronic pain folks are always grasping at straws as I have. It’s not just one thing or one answer, it’s years of combined and ignored issues that built up and more sensitive over time.

If your know me, you probably know my love for Yoga, Ayurveda and chakra energy. All of these things are combined mainly with digestion and energy being are life forth. Allowing us to dictate and heal our bodies by nourishing our bodies with the food that is needed to keep us balanced and by opening the line of energy though the body. Energy and gut health is the basis to almost every other countries medical treatment but ours. People walk around with blocked energy for years before realizing they have the power to balance their own lives, naturally. With simple diet changes, meditations and mantras. Again this is not a quick fix. It’s amazing with ancient knowledge how this easy medicine is not used more. By realizing your “issues” you can find what is unbalanced and blocked. By establishing these connections, you are able to actually find answers. Not hypothesized ideas that this medication or procedure could help you. Actual proof of millions over the years and results. I’m not healed, but I’m on my journey of getting there. I hope my journey can help lessen the time it takes you to live your best life, as I can’t wait to truly live mine.

People are going to judge you. It’s sadly to egotistical world we live in. Not everyone is going to love what you do. But people also don’t like when people are trying to hard to fit in. Being genuine and honest is much more becoming to others and on your soul. The more you believe this, the easier you will be on yourself, and one day be carefree of what others think of you!

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Back to the basics

As we go through this trying time of COVID-19, I feel that we are all going back to our roots. We are connecting with others more as well as ourselves. Emotionally, Spiritually, and Physically. We are becoming aware of how important it is to have a clear mind. Mentality is a crazy strong power that we control. It’s very easy to lose control of this in our egocentric world. Spiritually, we have to have faith that this too shall pass and we can fight this. Physically it’s teaching us how important it is to nurture our bodies. We’re reminded of the chemicals and dangers that we have been putting into our world. It’s a stressful and unknown time, but it’s also an eye-opening, self-reflecting time.

Having a hard time staying grounded?

The easiest and cheapest way to get connected to “your roots” and to ground yourself is by exploring nature!

  • Plant something: Not everyone has a green thumb so start with easy things. Plant succulents or get a snake or pothos plant. If the frost has passed, plant some wild flowers and easy gardening veggies, like squash and cucumbers. Nourishing and caring for something as a seed and watching it grow gives you so much gratitude as well as confidence in yourself and in working with nature in general. Plus it’s much healthier and cheaper to eat food that you grow vs the chemically-sprayed stuff 😉.
  • Forest bathing: Forest bathing is simply “taking in the forest” and is a free way to connect with nature. It has been shown to dramatically change our brain chemicals in positive ways. By consciously connecting with nature, you are able to calm your thoughts and “gerbil mind” to appreciate the little things in nature — things that our great ancestors had and were able to also enjoy. It’s quite amazing when we think about it!
  • Plant medicine: Now don’t go around eating random mushrooms; start with common, easy-to-grow or naturally occurring herbs such as rosemary, basil, mint, and dandelions. If you don’t have these options then good grade, safe therapeutic essential oils are great for this. You can ingest them (cook with them) or simply enjoy them topically or with aromatherapy through a diffuser. The simplicity of smelling the aromas of the herbs ignites all our senses. This opens your mind and spirit while allowing you to calm and quiet your thoughts. Find joy in whatever you are doing — eating, massaging, bathing, diffusing — while enjoying the great smells and energy! In Ayurveda, there is a term called “ama,” which translates to toxins and bad energy that build up in your body. By increasing our good vibrations or “prana” (good energy), our minds and moods are boosted. Simply by cooking with herbs, you can remove ama and increase prana, thereby grounding yourself. Being thankful for the nature of it and putting good intentions into your cooking can go a long way! It sounds silly, but it’s free — so why not try it?
  • Moon cycles: This is also free! You can spend some time outside stargazing and enjoying the fresh air at night. This is fun while learning and might give you flashbacks to middle school astronomy classes. There are a ton of apps and online resources for this. I use the app Moonology. You can track the moon phases which give off energy and provide so much for us in nature. This practice incorporates the known things — such as the tides, planting, and harvesting — as well as wishes and intuitive stuff that you may or may not be interested in or believe in. Horoscopes also fall in this category, which is a whole science of its own.

The importance of our health during this time

Most of us know how important it is to eat healthy and exercise, but over the years, it’s gotten more complicated when it should be easy! Eat more fruit and veggies, exercise, drink water… Sounds basic, right? We are “going back to basics.” As a society we are learning to garden and make more and more at home, which is great. But no supplement, medication, or food is going to make you a healthier person unless you mentally and physically change your mind and lifestyle. I am guilty of this and have spent endless amounts of money on herbs and vitamins looking for a quick fix, when ultimately I just needed to fix my diet and my gut biome while throwing out all of the junk and preservatives in my pantry that have became common staples in our diets! Check out my last post if you want help transforming your lifestyle into a healthier one.

Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic

I’m not sure if everyone knows the difference, so I’ll explain this in layman’s terms to help you understand the toll that stress places on your body.

  • The Sympathetic Nervous System is the “fight-or-flight” part of your body. We too commonly live in a stressed and anxious state these days, especially if you suffer chronic pain like I do. Being in this mode more often than you should messes up your hormones. This is because you are constantly releasing cortisol and causing adrenal fatigue. You are also messing up your gut because you can’t digest properly if your body is always in that “fight-or-flight” mode, leading to nutrient deficiencies or a leaky gut. Simply put, it’s not good on any part of your body. Every single organ and cell is affected by a constant activation of our sympathetic nervous system. How do we turn this off if we’re always so stressed? To start, we need to learn how to turn on our parasympathetic nervous system. If you are thinking, “Oh my — this sounds like me,” then you should first seek medical help as I’m not a doctor. This is just what’s worked for me and is not medical advice.
  • The Parasympathetic Nervous System is what we know as the “rest and digest” part of your body. This is the mode that you should be in mainly when your body is balanced. When you become stressed, live in chronic pain, or have bad anxiety, your body becomes sensitive and lingers in the fight-or-flight mode all the time. I learned about this way too late in life, leaving me with tight muscles, bad posture, bad breathing, and worsening pain. If you are falling or have fallen down this path, don’t ignore the warning signs. Luckily, there are free and easy ways to improve:
    • Mediation
    • Yoga (especially restorative)
    • Essential oils
    • Diaphragm breathing
    • Avoiding multitasking and over-stimulating tasks

Granted, we all work or have kids running around, which almost makes this impossible. Well, this is why self-care was invented and has become such a big part of combating today’s stigma. You can spend an hour on yoga, use oils at work, or even download a meditation app and just give 1% of your day to it. It’s easier than you think. That negative attitude isn’t going to help you get out of that fight-or-flight mode! Heal your body and take some time for yourself. Go back to the basics 😉

The vicious migraine cycle

Everyone’s migraines are different, their are so many different kinds of migraines, different pains and symptoms. I love reading the research and notice my cravings and odd behaviors before and after my attack are common. It’s even harder if you have chronic migraines and your are constantly cycling through the four stages of migraines. It’s difficult when you aren’t sure if it’s going away or coming back. It’s all apart of a learning curve while you figure out how to heal and help your body.

Here are the four stages of a Migraine. As migraine wasn’t complicated enough. It may be helpful to realize one is coming and if medications work for you, you may be able to prevent a full blown attack.

These stages of pain and discomfort that can play out for an entire week plays a toll on anyone’s emotions. Especially if they cycle over and over again like I’ve experienced. I know when I get into my migraine phase I feel all the emotions I hate feeling.

I begin feeling:

  • Envy: envious of others for not having to deal with this pain.
  • Guilty: I’m guilty that I am on the couch and not helping around the house, with family, or any other activity that I planned.
  • Anger: Angry that I am sick like this.
  • Depressed: Why is my life like this, why is nothing working.

It’s hard to pull yourself back from these emotions. It’s completely acceptable to feel all these emotions. But the important part is to not let the emotions win. You have to become stronger than your emotions. Accept and feel them for a little and then realize that feeling sorry for yourself isn’t going to help you get better. Being strong and fighting is the only way you are going to figure out and heal your headache and body.

I was using my mediation app after a rough migraine attack. They used a Sanskrit word in the session, which is is exactly what I needed to hear to help me get out of my funk. Mudita. Feeling unselfish joy and good fortune for others. When you let yourself accept the emotions of pain, jealously, sadness…it’s easy to not feel joy for others. Especially when you can’t feel this for your self. But this is what you need to do, or at least work on to pull yourself out of the rut and get back on track to positive thoughts and your own version of joy. This will help you continue to work on your journey which will only help you and healing your self.

An organic and healthier lifestyle

Eating healthy can be expensive. It took me a couple of years to get where I am now. I’m going to share with you my secrets and tips on eating healthier. I’ll include what is worth changing and what is okay to let slide. Feel free to ask any questions and let me know your experiences.

Why eat healthier?

We all know that eating healthier can help us lose weight, but the changes on the inside are more important. Eating healthy helps regulate our hormones and neurotransmitters, and it allows our brains and bodies to function at the best level. This is especially important for people with pain. You cannot begin to heal until you allow your body to be in a healthy condition first. Did you know the toxins in preservatives and pesticides are not only linked to several types of cancers but dramatically impact our hormones, which play a huge role in our daily health? We are getting sicker and sicker, essentially poisoning ourselves. The “health food” we eat today is sadly not the same as a hundred years ago. For those of you looking to lose weight, I lost 20 lbs when I cut out preservatives and have kept it off effortlessly. It’s not a diet; it is a lifestyle. I previously cooked almost all of my meals and believed I was eating healthy, but secretly I could have done better. Even though I’m still in pain, the rest of my body has never been healthier.

Organic food expense and what’s worth buying

Eating organic isn’t necessary, but if you want to truly be chemical-free, you should try your best to buy what you can organic. If you have never heard of the Environmental Working Group, it’s worth looking into. I follow their “Dirty Dozen” rule while buying produce and use their Food Scoring app for packaged or bottled foods.

We can’t always be perfect and eating organic is expensive. I try to buy my produce organically from the “dirty dozen” list. When I shop, I stick to organic for most of my berries and greens. For produce with a peel, I tend to let it slide more often (oranges, mangos, onions, melons. etc.). You’ll find what works for you and what you can afford. My produce bill hasn’t increased too much as compared to my bills prior to shopping organic. People think it’s the produce that’s expensive but it’s actually pantry and baking supplies that cost the most. If you are not buying organic, make sure you are properly washing your produce. Even organic veggies and fruits need washing and (unless stated) triple-washed. Make it easier on yourself by shopping at stores that have a large organic selection, or if it’s the right season, a farmers market.

If it says “Natural” does that mean “Organic?”

NO! I fell for this trick before becoming educated. “Natural” is better than other options, but it’s not “organic.” Products that are listed as “natural” promise not have any artificial dyes or flavors, but it does not mean that these items are free of pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, or GMOs (as the USDA’s definition of “organic” promises). Side Fact: A lot of these “natural” labeled foods are loaded with fructose and other unhealthy sugars and oils that you should avoid in general.

For a food to be labeled “USDA Organic,” it must pass heavily regulated rules. The food must be grown free of all prohibited chemicals and pesticides for over three years before earning the label. It is GUARANTEED not to contain toxic pesticides, chemicals, synthetic growth hormones, antibiotics, GMOs, artificial additives, or preservatives.

In this case I make sure all my pantry supplies are organic. I’d rather splurge here than use cheaper flour and broths full of additives, antibiotics, growth hormones, and preservatives. Also choose glass over aluminum if you can for your pantry items.

BPA

Your pantry can quickly get overstocked with canned goods and expired foods. I use containers that make it easy to notice when I need to buy more (pasta, rice, oatmeal, etc.). It’s best to avoid a bulk supply to help cut down on waste. Check your canned foods for BPA, and watch out for all the preservatives. If you can afford the foods in glass containers, always lean towards those brands. Another tip is to switch your drinking and storage containers to glass. It’s pricey at first, but worth it in the long run as they last forever. Below are food brands that use BPA as well as some BPA-safe brands. As with all of the other toxins and chemicals mentioned, BPA can impact our health in negative ways.

These are just a few! Get in the habit of reading labels. It gets easier the more you do it.

Preservatives and MSG: what’s the scoop?

My migraine diet currently has me 90% preservative-free. Obviously some foods need to have preservatives in them, but there are healthier and more natural options. Look for food preserved with lemon, vinegar, salt, or sugar. Citric acid and some gums are okay in small quantities. Until I began reading labels, I had no idea about the extent of preservatives in almost everything I ate. One goal I try to follow is the following: if the ingredient list has more than 10 ingredients, then I shouldn’t be eating it. Honestly, I try to aim for less than 5 ingredients, but you have to start small. Preservatives are hidden in your food labels with loads of MSG (Monosodium Glutamate). Neither are good for you. Preservatives are linked to causing cancer, and MSG can give you a whole slew of side effects, such as migraines. Below I’ve included lists of common preservatives to avoid, hidden names for MSG, and what you should generally avoid in those long ingredient lists on food labels.

This list is specifically for people following the Heal Your Headache migraine diet, but these are also hidden names for MSG. Spices and “natural” flavors are the sneaky ones I wasn’t aware of.

Bad sugars and oils

These are probably the most known as bad sugars and oils have gotten the most exposure over the years. Refined sugar is something we do not need in our diet, yet almost every food label has sugar in it. Even if it’s pure cane or coconut sugar, it’s still sugar. Artificial sugars are just that: artificial. If you must eat an artificial sugar, stick to a plant-based Stevia or Monk fruit. As with any sugar, use these options in small amounts. Once you remove sugar from your diet, you’ll be able to enjoy the natural sweetness of fruit and vegetables. Not only will you enjoy food more, you will gain the health benefits of a low-sugar diet. Read labels! Products you might think are sugar-free often have hidden sugars (your granola, nut butters, juices, etc.).

Oils have gotten some exposure over the years. Mainly we’ve learned that not all oils are bad for you and that some can provide health benefits. This is true if you are eating good oils with good fats and omegas. Please stop thinking vegetable, canola, or soybean oils are healthy. They have no nutritional value and are extremely processed. Instead I’m a fan of olive oil and ghee. Make sure your olive oil is extra virgin so you can get the nutrients in the oil. Also be sure that your oil is packaged in a dark container to prevent oxidation. Ghee is clarified butter and I slather it on everything. Ghee actually helps you maintain a healthy weight; it’s filled with vitamins and helps with inflammation and energy in your body. Below is a list of oils to choose vs avoid and a list of the additional benefits of ghee.

Skip the refined and processed food!

I’m not perfect. I don’t cook every single meal, but I try my best. The more you cook, the easier it gets. Meal prepping also saves you more money than you realize and is the best thing that you can do for your body. Meal prepping can be as simple as planning your weekly meals and chopping up your ingredients. Build up to taking an entire day for making meals and freezing them; it gets easier the more you do it!

There are also “healthier” frozen options. Follow the rules above and look for the “bad” ingredients. Frozen foods tend to have more preservatives and use the “bad oils.” Yet there are healthy and easy meal options: Trader Joe’s makes a ton (but beware that not all are safe). Frozen veggies and fruit are easy and safe frozen foods that make your life easier. Look into what you can freeze; freezing fresh food, bone broths, cooked meals, and desserts will become your best friend.

Building a healthier lifestyle doesn’t mean you can’t eat out. There are a ton of healthy options nowadays. Just avoid white pasta, sugar, and high-flour or fried meals. Pick foods with some nutrients still intact and go to a healthier restaurant. Skip McDonald’s unless it’s the last option. It’s okay to splurge once in awhile, but make sure it’s worth it – something you will enjoy and not feel guilty about.

I hope this helps you understand how to live a healthier lifestyle and the secrets of reading food labels for hidden preservatives, MSG, and highly processed food. Here’s to a healthier life and healthier you!

A chemical-free home

It’s impossible to avoid all chemicals. We need some of them; that’s why they were created. But they are abundant in almost every product we use when they don’t need to be. Fragrances are the biggest culprit. On average, they contain a combination of 50-300 chemicals to make that scent. There have been over 80,000 chemicals added after the 1940s and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act hasn’t been seriously updated since it was passed in 1938.

It’s overwhelming once you learn about all of the chemicals in your daily deodorants, toothpastes, soaps, detergents, and (obviously) cleaning sprays. An easy way to educate yourself is to download the Think Dirty or EWG apps. Search your normal go-to items to learn about what’s bad in the products you use and why. I always tell people to swap out one or two things at a time. Swap for a healthier cleaning option once you empty a bottle of something. Otherwise you will be spending a lot of money and making more waste. You don’t need to buy all new stuff — many chemical-free alternatives can be used for your cleaning, laundry, dishes, etc. But if you have the money, always opt for chemical-free and donate the old unused stuff. We can’t save everyone quite yet!

Why I went chemical free?

If you’ve read my blog or know me, you’ve come to the conclusion that I have some health issues. Chemicals can affect every body system from neurological to digestive (head to toe). By controlling what I can, I give myself the best health I can offer my body. You only get one body; you need to nourish it. I was amazed how quickly my body adapted to being chemical-free and how sensitive I became around high-chemical products. My migraines have always made me super scent sensitive, but it’s amazing how your nose adapts after chemicals. You will cringe at scented trashcans and Yankee candles. Most people find that scary and wouldn’t want this, but it’s amazing how in-tune you can become with your body once you are able to listen to it. Removing the chemicals and preservatives from my life allowed me to focus on my health issues without other obstacles that the food and chemicals were causing me without my knowledge.

Where to start?

Some easy swaps to start with include the following:

  • Toss your perfumes and sprays. Look into investing in essential oils. I use doTERRA personally. You need to find a reputable brand that makes 100% pure oils. Avoid “aromatherapy grade” and “fragrance grade.” The best companies are as follows: doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy, or Edens Garden (the cheapest).
  • Swap your deodorant for a natural one. Our common deodorants contain parabens and aluminum which affect our hormones. *Look for ones with essential oil fragrances, not ones that just list “natural fragrances.” I like the powdered ones but Native is a safe and available stick brand.
  • Throw out your dryer sheets and get some wool dryer balls. The chemicals in dryer sheets and some softeners can cause eczema as well as asthma and hormone issues. You can add quality essential oils to the dryer balls to add scent. There are still safe laundry softeners out there; brands I use are listed at the end of this post.
  • Toss out your plastic. This is an easy but expensive one; switch to glass storage and drinking canisters or stainless. They will last forever and are safe from any chemicals. They even make cute sleeves to protect them from drops and falls!
  • Toss the plug-ins. Buy a diffuser; make or buy beeswax candles. Learn to have a green thumb by using plants/herbs to cook, clean, and purify the air with. If you can’t tell, I love my oils. But I love plants even more. I wish I was able to grow everything I get as an oil. Luckily what I can’t grow, I can replace with a couple drops of oils. I despise air fresheners, and this is an easy and healthy way to live chemical-free and help your health and your families. Making candles are fun and can save you money in the long run. If you want to buy them, look for beeswax candles with essential oils, not “fragrance.”
  • Look into paperless cleaning. Norwex has an awesome antibacterial rag that you can clean without cleaner!
  • Make your own cleaning solutions! There are hundreds of “healthy” or natural” cleaning companies. To deep clean, you need chemicals. Some are better than others, and the best have simple ingredients that you can make yourself for a quarter of the price! Here’s a supply list to get started:
    • Glass spray bottles
    • White vinegar
    • Castile soap
    • Natural salt
    • Baking soda
    • Borax
    • Peroxide
    • Lemons
    • Essential Oils (Pure)
    • Click this link for some cleaning recipes

Not ready to conquer your inner homestead lifestyle and make your DIY cleaning supplies?

Totally fine! I’m all about convenience and time management, so I understand. Do yourself a favor and download the Think Dirty or EWG apps for your phone. They will help you look up what you clean with, why it’s bad, and what to use instead. Here are some safe brands I keep around the house, all available at Target:

  • Seventh Generation (fragrance-free)
  • Dr. Bronner’s (all products!)
  • ECOS
  • Puracy
  • Attitude
  • Molly Suds

I hope this helps you live a more chemical-free lifestyle! Feel free to ask questions.

With everything going on in the world right now, we are learning the power of germs. Now that more people are becoming increasingly aware, pay attention to the chemicals that you put in you and your family’s lives. Stay Well and Live a Long and Healthy Life!

What is being present to you?

First off what is being “present” ? More and more people are using this word, making this their goal, but what does it mean? This word I’m sure has a google definition, but it is whatever it means to you. To me being present is to give all of your mind and self to the current situation. Being mentally aware of your surroundings and simply being joyful for what life presents you.

This can be hard for us to do in our busy lifestyles. We were all raised to be thankful but we were also raised to get our lists and chores done. It’s hard to breathe some days when life hits you and the list gets longer. When you feel this overwhelmed feeling is when you need to pause and appreciate “the little things”. Something I blogged about a few blogs back, and doing so allowing yourself to be present.

Think of where you have the most stress in your day and how you can mold it into a positive by being present. If you feel stress at work (most of us), start with something small. First off, take that lunch break that you don’t get paid for. Do some breathe work, meditate, go outside, put on some essential oils and get off your phone. Read a book or journal. Enjoy your food instead of shoveling it in. A harder one to build up to, but is most important to me, is to eat alone. You are with these people all day, you need a break to be present and reconnect with yourself. It will help lower your stress of your work day and it allows you to just enjoy your time alone and b r e a t h e. If you are eating with coworkers, simply get off your phone, make eye contact to your colleagues and engage in a conversation that brings you away from work (meaning not gossiping about work or your annoying client/patient). We are all guilty of lunch time gossiping. At home start with a routine something small such as journaling, morning tea or meditation and work up to a bigger commitment such as hiking in nature daily.

In today’s rush we all think too much, seek too much, and forget about the joy of just being

Eckhart Tolle

For my pain sufferers, I know this is easier said than done. Turning off your mind while your right in the middle of your pain cycle can be hard. My mind is constantly going to that annoying noise, smell or trigger to my migraines. Putting me in a downward spiral and allowing my anxiety to surface, allowing the fear of the pain that is going to come enter. When you realize you are doing this, stop, turn off the hamster wheel in tour head and ACCEPT you cannot change or avoid every environment that has triggers. Personally, when I catch myself in this downward spiral or if I’m already suffering in pain at work I pause, and allow myself to be present. Look around at your day. What have you gotten done, look at the positives and just be thankful for your day so far. My pain is a huge part of my life, but it doesn’t control me. Some days it does, but it does not and will not control my life. I can control how I react.

If you know me personally you would never know how much pain I’m in. I mask it well until it’s too much for me to get through and am stuck on the couch with ice over my eyes. I’m not saying ignore the pain. Ignoring it was a bad mistake I did for years. Accept that you are in pain but you are in control of your mind, and let it know you are boss. But more importantly not letting it ruin every day of your life. Enjoy being present and what it in front of you, instead of retreating and sorrowing in pain.