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Tag / lifestyle choice
Well POOP!
It certainly doesn’t conjure up pretty thoughts, does it?
My husband’s friends have many colorful metaphors for it. Movies make fun of it. It’s the first thing that seems to come to mind when things go wrong. (I know, I’ve heard many a person use the metaphor when things have gone wrong. – okay, I’ve used it too.)
The problem is, we don’t talk about it. Poop just isn’t discussed, it is almost taboo. Yet, our poop can tell us a lot! (I’m NOT saying I want you to email me photos of your poop! – have a friend who does this to his wife) What I AM saying is, “When we look at our poop, it can tell us a LOT about our health.” – Current health and even FUTURE health!
Why look at poop?
- Americans are suffering from colon problems that are affecting over 90% of the population!
- 79% of our immune systems are located near our colon & digestive tracts.
- Most colon ‘diseases’ come directly from impaction, miscellaneous debris, or toxic materials that are formed in the colon and generate toxins throughout the rest of the body – a direct cause of many diseases
What GOOD poop looks like. (Yes, I AM going THERE)
- Medium brown
- Prolonged periods of a different color could indicate issues that need investigated
- 1/2 inch in diameter
- The size of a healthy, clean colon
- ~24 inches per day (about 2 pounds)
- NO, you don’t need to measure – just guestimate
- Little to no odor
- Doesn’t leave a mess behind
- Does it sink or swim?
- It should gently and easily “dive” into the pool (toilet)
- It should settle in the water
- Diver – too little fiber in your diet
- Floater – too much undigested fat
- 2-3 times per day (YES, PER DAY)
- Big meal in SHOULD = Big meal out (A healthy bowel moves after every significant meal.
- Big meal in SHOULD = Big meal out (A healthy bowel moves after every significant meal.
What to do when things “don’t look good.”
- Hydrate – constipation is often caused by dehydration. DRINK MORE WATER
- Drink water 30 minutes before your meal and 2 hours after your meal to increase the effectiveness of digestion enzymes
- Technically, you should avoid drinking during a meal to prevent the dilution of those important digestion enzymes
- Supplement with Calcium/Magnesium or VitalMag – magnesium is a gentle mineral that brings water into the colon among many other things
- 7-9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day
- FIBER IS KEY
- Eat nutrient dense foods – not processed crap
- Flax seed is a great way to add fiber
- Lubrication (NOT THAT WAY)
- Exercise – get things a movin’ and a shakin’
Why NOT OTC laxatives?
- Laxatives come with side effects that are detrimental to your health and they don’t FIX IT.
- Mineral Oil is BAD
- the body does not absorb it
- it prevents digestive juices from getting to the food you eat
- it prevents the lining of the intestine wall from absorbing the good nutrients you need
- Herbal formulas increase the peristaltic action of the colon and help it function better
Herbs to move constipation on out…
- Senna leaf
- Alfalfa LEAF (note alfalfa LEAF – not the rest of the plant)
- Anise seed
- Blue malva flower
- Buckthorn rood
- Culver’s root (not their burgers)
- Fennel seed
- Licorice root
- Rhubarb root (NOT their leaves)
When we can say, “That’s some good poop!” we know our immune system and our bodies are in good health, making healthy cells.
For more information on achieving “perfect poop” feel free to contact me. Would love to discuss your health and how we could move it along! 
sources:
Treasures of Health Nutrition Manual, Annette Reeder & Dr. Richard Couey
Why Do I Feel This Way?, Christine Gaber, RHN & Charlene Day, RDC
What is Causing us to “Be Sick?”–Our Products at home?
Last night, in my Temple Maintenance class we were discussing choices. All the choices we make, how many times a day we are voting with our dollars and our actions.
Our overall health is determined by our overall LIFESTYLE. The choices we make profoundly effect our health on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis!
What choices am I talking about? Simple choices made every day.
- —What to eat
- —What to drink
- —What to think
- —How & when to move
- —Products we put on our skin
- —Products we use in our homes
Why are the last two choices on this list? Let me show you. Doris Rapp is a board-certified environmental medical specialist and pediatric allergist. She has done extensive research on the effects of allergens and CHEMICAL exposures.
The photos I am sharing are in regard to studies done with children. As adults, we must realize that if our children are effected, then we certainly are too! These are some of the examples from the above book.
We have so many children being labeled as ADHD these days. We have them sitting in classrooms for 6-8 hours a day with NO recess, surrounded by toxic cleaners that are inhibiting their brains ability to function at its optimum potential.
In class last night I referenced this piece, below, and the reaction the girl had to Choline bleach exposure – through the ductwork of the home. Mom was in the basement laundry room and the girl was in her bedroom. What effect is that bleach having on the person who is actually acutely exposed? (We don’t use bleach in our household – we use the Get Clean line of cleaning products.)
Below, the Teacher is commenting on the change in the student’s writing pattern. An outsider, with no knowledge of what was going on, noticed the difference in the before and after.
Finally, here is an example with Pinesol. This parent changed to the Get Clean line of cleaners for a week, didn’t believe that it could have that big an impact on her child, so went back to the Pinesol to test her hypothesis.
The Solution? (pun intended)
Switch out the toxic cleaners in your home for cheaper, concentrated options. Vinegar and baking soda are one option. Here is the option I choose!
Price is something that concerns many of us. Not me, I’m saving SO much on my cleaning products, its amazing!!! And they WORK! Just ask my skeptical husband. 
These products are available piece by piece if you choose to finish what you have on hand first, OR – as a kit to swap it all out at once, as I did, or even in mini kits for the different areas of your home!
Begin voting today with your dollars, not as many dollars as you have been using. Tell the toxic industry, we are no longer interested in what they have to sell. We do not wish to pay them to poison ourselves or our families.
For exhausted, busy moms… They can clean all day and we know they are safe. (So are our pets if they decide to wash them too!)
8 Tips for eating healthy with picky kids and husband.
My win over obesity wasn’t overnight. My husband didn’t just “magically” give up his “lifestyle choices” because I wanted to be healthier and weigh less. The quest to improve my health happened gradually and includes many of the “sneaky” ways I incorporate better health into my family’s diet.
- If they don’t like it, shred it! (These veggies cook down to opaque or nearly invisible in red sauces) I include these veggies in refried beans, chili, veggie chili, soups, spaghetti sauce, and many other dishes.
- Carrots
- Zucchini
- Summer Squash
- If they don’t like it, mince it! (When they can’t see it, many times they don’t even realize it is in there) I include these in Cream of Anything casseroles & soups, chilies, omelets, tacos, and others.
- Onions
- Mushrooms
- Spinach
- Peppers
- Smoothee’s in Opaque Glass with a Lid and Colored Straw. (I can feed many healthy things to my 7 year old, disguised as a smoothee) When you mix banana, oj, pineapple, strawberry, and other sweet fruits you can get away with a lot!
- Ground up supplements (b complex to help her focus in school, Nutriferon to help build her immune system, others as needed)
- Spinach – never even realizes its in there
- Protein powder – I don’t need to sneak this one, but it is an added bonus.
- Also, can freeze these into smoothee pops!
- Color is FUN! and healthy! (even when the color is blended into other meals)
- Fruit salad with a touch of homemade whipped cream is a favorite of my daughter. Lots of colors = lots of nutrition! (I’m not talking skittles or starburst here)
- Its your only option. (Many times, I simply tell my husband and daughter, its your only option, this is what I made for dinner.) IT works. OR… I tell my daughter, you have to try it and eat ## bites before you can have something else.
- Frozen fruit pops/ smoothee pops/ organic freezer pops await when you finish your meal. (This doesn’t work so much with my hubby, but it does with my daughter.)
- Try new recipes: I LOVE Spinach chocolate treats (brownies) We call them by different names though, so we don’t get the answer, “this doesn’t taste like ####”
- Finally, Garbanzo beans are a GREAT meat substitute in chili – hubby didn’t realize there wasn’t any “beef” in the chili until he’s eaten it 6 times for 6 different meals and I TOLD him. LOL (Wondering where else I can sneak these in.)
In many other countries, there are no issues with your children not “wanting” what is fixed for dinner, they eat what everyone else is eating.
Warning: Graphic conversation I actually have with my 7 year old.
I still have issues with my 7 yr old, but we implement numbers 5-6 and we discuss A LOT how #4 is important for nutrition and health. She is expected to take responsibility for her own health. (ie: having trouble pooping? How many fruits and veggies did you eat yesterday? How much water did you drink yesterday?)
I HAD a WART on my face! Cheap, easy, safe, GONE!
My hubby has always had issues with warts. He’s tried most everything, but basically just continues on with them… On his feet, one on his leg and one on his hand…
Three months ago, I had a blemish on my face, it didn’t go away, and I am ashamed to say, I am a picker. I would brush it during the day, while I was out and before I knew it I would have scratched the top off of it. It would heal over and get bigger.
Last month I realized it was a wart. A big, ugly, witchy looking wart… right on my face!
Here is the wart on my face on May 25, 2014. 
So, what did I do? Very simple. Apple Cider Vinegar, a tiny piece of paper towel and a circle band aid. I soaked the small square of paper towel (4 layers thick) in ACV and then placed it over the wart with a circle band aid and went to sleep. 
8 hours later I woke up, took the little band aid off and it was all white and puffy, so I put another band aid over the wart to go to church. (I envisioned people staring and making comments similar to a movie about a shark and a laser) 
After church, in the car on the way home, I took the band aid off so it could breathe and air out. When I took off the band aid… it all but fell off! See below.
The top right photo is what it looked like when I took the band aid off. Then, the whole thing just fell off into my hand. The lower right photo is of the wart (dead and removed) on my index finger.
The left photo is what is left. It is healing very well, just after 1 day. I will use my Enfuselle C&E Repair cream on it to assist in the healing process. And will update as it heals.
When my daughter had a wart removed by the Dr. it cost us $200 and was VERY painful for her. This method was used ON MY FACE and there was NO PAIN.
I did feel some tingling when I first applied the ACV, but no pain.
Inexpensive, easy, pain free, and done at home with no co-pay!
Hope this helps… I will also post some before and afters of my hubby’s feet as we use this method on those nasty beasts!
Make it a GREAT day!
###-FREE does NOT == HEALTHY!
SUGAR-FREE, FAT-FREE, GLUTEN-FREE, BANANA-FREE…
Marketing experts have figured out that the typical American will purchase anything with the word “FREE” on it. And as consumers, most of us have proven them right.
Besides the fact that we are already programmed to pick up any package that says “NATURAL” on it and assume it is and it will be healthy… the marketers have turned other word combinations against us as well!
Sugar-Free
This leads us to believe a sweet utopian experience is on the horizon. Yet, our body is about to be assaulted if we consume such toxic poisons!
It is VERY well known, in many circles, that Aspartame, Saccharine, & Splenda can cause serious side effects. They are chemicals with side effects.
In fact, studies are showing that people who consume Diet Soda’s actually WEIGH MORE than those who drink regular sodas. (do NOT imply that I am condoning soda pop!) 
In my book it is raw, organic sugar, honey, or fruit to sweeten whatever it is!
Fat-Free
“The problem is that sometimes “fat free” is also, well, taste free. And to make up for that lack of taste, food manufacturers tend to pour other ingredients — especially sugar, flour, thickeners and salt — into the products. That may boost the calorie content.
“Plus, if the foods aren’t that appealing, they may lead to overeating to make up for the lack of satisfaction.” (WebMD)
INSTEAD: Think GOOD FATS and NOT fat free! Our brains actually NEED good fats to function properly…
Gluten-Free
Manufacturers have figured out that “Gluten-FREE” is the latest buzz word! Heck, they are even labeling things that NEVER HAD GLUTEN… as gluten free! Many people are jumping on the gluten free band wagon. Many people DO have a gluten intolerance and eliminating it can eliminate symptoms and pain.
Nowhere else in the world is there such a large percentage of people who are gluten intolerant. Many other places in the world have outlawed the use of it. A study released this past month looks at the question of “Is it gluten or glyphosate?”
My main gripe about the whole gluten-free issue is that so many manufacturers are using the term “gluten-free” as a synonym to “healthy” and people are buying it. 
Highly processed food is Highly processed food! My rule of thumb is whole foods made in the home. Ideally, foods that come from sources/people I know and use farming practices that match my desires. We buy local and organic and I make all of our bread.
Banana-Free
Yeah, I just thought it sounded funny and would grab your attention! Did it work?
Take it easy, have a GREAT week! Enjoy your life, your family, your food, and take time to INVEST in your health.
For more information or to schedule a personal coaching session, contact me!
Hungry? Nutritious Tip — Try the Apple Test!
When attempting to make healthy choices, many times people feel challenged when they begin to feel hungry.
If you feel hungry:
- Drink an 8-16 ounce glass of water and wait 20 minutes.
- If you are still hungry after the 20 minutes, grab an apple.
- Look at the apple, study the apple… Do you want to eat the apple?
- If the answer is YES! GREAT eat the healthy, organic apple.
- If the answer is NO! You are not really hungry. Go back to what you were doing before your subconscious distracted you.
Many times, we mistake thirst for hunger.
Step 1 allows us to assess whether we are really hungry or if we were actually thirsty.
Step 2 then addresses the issue of mindless eating, that so many suffer from. When we take the time to look at the food, think about the food, assess our actual state of hunger…
I may find that I was not hungry at all, just had a rogue thought or a bad habit that was trying to rear its ugly head!
HEALTHY EATING!
For more information or helpful tips & personal coaching, feel free to contact me.
