health - - Page 2

April 22, 2018

How To Treat A Yeast Infection At Home With What’s In Your Kitchen

Let’s face it, most of us women have had to deal with a range of “special” problems at some point, from painful periods to yeast infections. While they are certainly irritating, contributor Stefani is here to tell you about how to treat a yeast infection at home and perhaps even stop them from happening at all!

Being a woman can be an amazing thing. We get to grow humans in our womb, nourish babies with our bodies, and let’s be honest – we get to wear all the pretty clothes. We also don’t have to smell like boys (and as a boy mom, I assure you this really is a thing).

But there’s a downside to womanhood.

The pain of our monthly cycles, whether it’s physical or emotional. Hormonal imbalances and the resulting fluctuating moods that will leave anyone feeling crazy (don’t tell my husband I admitted to this). And of course – the dreaded yeast infections.

While not a glamorous subject by any stretch, we’ve all been there.

Whether you suffer from chronic yeast infections or just get them out of the blue from time to time, it’s estimated that 75% of women have had to deal with vaginitis at some point in their lives.

So you’re not alone.

What is a yeast infection?

When Candida yeast has the opportunity to take over its environment, it will.

A yeast infection (aka vaginal candidiasis) is an overgrowth of yeast within the vaginal canal. While Candida normally lives inside the body and on the skin, an imbalance will allow yeast to quickly multiply and cause signs of infection or overgrowth.

The normal vaginal pH – or levels of acidity – in women of childbearing age is between 3.8 and 4.5. This slightly acidic environment helps keeps bad bugs or opportunistic ones – like Candida – in check.

When you add sperm, blood, amniotic fluid, or chemicals this changes the vaginal pH, giving yeast the window they need to multiply and cause vaginitis.

What causes yeast infections?

Contrary to what we may instinctively think, yeast infections don’t happen because you’re “dirty.”

Even those who are the most hygienic can suffer from their fair share of this yeast overgrowth. Though personal hygiene does have an impact on the health of our girl-parts, often, an infection isn’t because you’re not washing well enough.

Washing too aggressively and with soaps that contain fragrances and harsh chemicals is actually counterproductive to vaginal health.

These products can cause a change in the pH of our delicate vaginal biome, which then creates the ideal environment for yeast to thrive.

The best way to keep it clean is gently using a mild soap on the outside only, and making sure to wear clean cotton (or other breathable) underwear.

Those with a weakened immune system also have a much higher incidence of developing yeast infections. This is so prevalent that research suggests any woman with frequent or stubborn vaginal candida or other types of vaginitis be tested for HIV.

Additionally, the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics is actually one of the biggest contributors to the development of yeast infections. Antibiotics encourage the growth of the opportunistic yeast by killing off the normal, balancing vaginal flora.

This is one of the reasons why antibiotics should be reserved for only when you really need them. (Find out how to make your own herbal natural antibiotic here.)

Fortunately, knowing how to treat a yeast infection at home – gently and naturally – will help to create and maintain balance, even after antibiotic use.

P.S. if you DO find yourself in a position where antibiotics are a MUST, try taking Saccharomyces boulardii (a friendly yeast) a few hours away from each antibiotic dosage to keep candida at bay.

Again with the hormones

Women who are pregnant or taking birth control have higher rates of developing yeast infections. Why? Blame it on your hormones.

Research shows that estrogens allow candida to easily adhere to vaginal cells, which allows an infection to bloom. If you’re battling frequent yeast infections, you may be dealing with estrogen dominance.

It has also been discovered that Candida strains contain a receptor for female reproductive hormones, which also helps to provide an ideal environment for growth.

So those pesky hormones aren’t only just a hassle for us (postpartum anxiety, anyone?) to deal with, they could actually be helping the yeast to get comfy and stay a while!

How do you know if you have a yeast infection?

Signs of a yeast infection will vary from woman to woman. But the most common symptoms of yeast infection include:

Vaginal itching and swelling (sometimes the itching is unrelenting and severe)
Pain during sex
Discomfort or pain when urinating
Abnormal vaginal discharge, which many say is thick, white, and lumpy like cottage cheese

Now that I’ve successfully turned you off of cheese for a while (sorry about that), let’s quickly discuss how you know you have a yeast infection.

A trip to the doctor can diagnose this for you easier than you can, simply because we just can’t see down there as well as they can, nor can we do advanced testing at home. But since 15-20% of women are asymptomatic when they have yeast infections, they often don’t get to the doctor right away.

If you’re wanting to hold off on a doctor’s visit, there are some home remedies for yeast infection that will go far in alleviating the symptoms or even eradicate it altogether.

Knowing how to treat a yeast infection at home and naturally is the key.

Do yeast infections go away on their own?

If you have a mild vaginal yeast infection, then there is a chance it will go away on its own. Sometimes the vagina needs time to be able to rebalance.

But this only helps if you know it’s a yeast infection. It could also end up being an STD or bacterial infection causing the symptoms. If you’re not sure, ask your doctor to do a test and clarify the situation.

How long does it take to get rid of a yeast infection without treatment?

If you know how to treat a yeast infection at home, then you can certainly give it a try. However, if it’s not getting better within a few days, see your doctor.

It could end up being something else entirely.

How to treat a yeast infection at home

If you want to know how to treat a yeast infection at home and naturally, prioritize prevention.

This requires cleaning gently down below with no perfumes, scents, or chemicals to disrupt the natural balance.

Also, wear clean and breathable underwear. This will provide a barrier and keep other bacteria from getting in and setting up shop.

So:
→ gentle cleansing
→ avoid leather panties. But those sound incredibly uncomfortable anyways.

Most importantly, follow a healthy, real food diet.

Remember that health begins on the inside. Sugar feeds yeast and promotes overgrowth. By eating only nourishing foods, your immune system will have a fighting chance and your body will quickly heal.

Need some healthy recipe ideas? Check out our recipes section.

What remedies can I use for a yeast infection?

Treating a yeast infection at home will encourage your body to heal on its own. And while you won’t find all of them in your kitchen, you may have one or two that you can use right now.

Olive leaf extract – has strong anti-fungal powers and can be taken orally to cut down on yeast. Grab a good one here.
Apple cider vinegar – is a natural anti-fungal, and when taken internally can tone down yeast overgrowth. Many people drink it daily to boost the immune system. Get it here.
Coconut oil – has gentle anti-fungal properties, and can be frozen into suppositories that can be left in overnight. Make sure to wear a pad to absorb what comes back out! Buy high quality coconut oil here.
Tea tree oil – known for its anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, it can be mixed with coconut oil and applied on the outside of the vaginal area. Make sure it’s well diluted, or it could sting. Get the organic tea tree essential oil we recommend here.
Plain Greek yogurt – studies have shown that eating 8 oz of yogurt containing live Lactobacillus acidophilus each day decreases candida colonization. So make sure there’s no sugar added (that feeds the yeast) and get your yogurt on! (And, by the way, you can apply yogurt and kefir topically to replenish good bacteria down there!)
Take quality probiotics. – Also consider drinking kombucha and kefir and eating fermented foods like sauerkraut; these are great ways to get good quality probiotics into your gut. This helps to keep our delicate vaginal (and gut) biome balanced! Get our favorite probiotics here. (Again, you can also apply probiotics topically.)
Boric acid suppositories – you can put these capsules into your vagina at night time. When it’s repeated for a couple of weeks, boric acid suppositories can help get rid of recurring yeast infections. Buy them here.

Many of these natural remedies help to restore balance. And unlike harsh antifungal medications, these home remedies will also preserve the communities of healthy bacteria and yeast in your vaginal canal.

Give a few of them a try, kick that yeast infection for good, and get back to focusing on the stuff that makes being a woman awesome.

April 5, 2018

The Benefits of Cod Liver Oil (& How to Choose a Good One)

If you’re not familiar with the benefits of cod liver oil, you’ll want to read on to learn more about this ancient super food supplement. Contributor Stefani gives us all the details below.

The benefits of cod liver oil have been known for centuries. Natives in northern Europe used it to protect them from the cold winters. (source) At the beginning of the 20th century, it was discovered that cod liver oil was effective in preventing rickets, a disease linked to a vitamin D deficiency.

Parents started giving it to their children, and studies began to show that it reduced upper respiratory infections. (source) It’s no longer as popular as it once was, mainly due to the strong taste, however, it’s beginning to make a comeback in recent years.

What are the benefits of cod liver oil?

Cod liver oil is just as it sounds: it’s an oil made from the livers of codfish. It’s a good source of vitamins A & D, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Because the Standard American Diet is too high in omega 6 inflammatory fatty acids and too low in omega 3 anti-inflammatory ones, taking a cod liver oil supplementation is wise.

Cod liver oil:

relieves achy joints and muscle pain
provides fatty acids known to improve brain health and may help with depression and other mental illness
is useful in elderly populations for increasing bone density and reducing fractures
may be useful in treating glaucoma due to its ability to reduce intraocular pressure. (source)

Additionally, the benefits of cod liver oil go beyond pain relief and healing glaucoma, to actually boosting and maintaining immune function in the body.

How vitamins A and D improve the immune system

One of the biggest benefits of cod liver oil is its impressive offering of high-quality vitamins A & D. Vitamin A is essential for the immune system, and our bodies don’t produce it so we must get it from an outside source. It’s responsible for the growth of bones and cells, the function of our skin and epithelial tissues, and reproductive functionality. (source)

Vitamin A deficiency causes an increased risk of infection. Additionally, infections increase the body’s need for vitamin A, which creates a downward cycle of health.

Direct sunlight is the best source of vitamin D, but our indoor lifestyles, cloudy climates, and increasing air pollution affect the amount we receive. Therefore, researchers believe that half of the world’s population is vitamin D deficient. (source) Our culture’s overuse of sunscreens also decreases the amount of sunlight we receive. Wearing a sunscreen of 30SPF reduces vitamin D absorption by the skin by more than 95%.

Adequate Vitamin D not only prevents rickets, but reduces the risk of common cancers and other diseases. It’s been shown to reduce type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and more. (source)

The superior omega fats in cod liver oil

In addition to vitamins A and D, cod liver oil contains essential fatty acids. (Read more about why you need those and the best way to get them here.)

The beneficial omega 3 fatty acids that are present in cod liver oil are eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA and DHA). These are the same fatty acids that you can find in cold water fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines.

EPA and DHA are far superior to other omega 3 fatty acids such asalpha-linolenic acid (ALA), found in chia seeds and flax seeds. While ALA still has benefits, you’d have to eat a great deal more of these foods than those with EPA and DHA to get the same benefit.

EPA and DHA are extremely beneficial for lowering systemic inflammation levels throughout the body. When studied, they showed the ability to lower the risk of heart disease by minimizing arterial inflammation. (source) Scientists believe that the protective omega 3s in fish oils also reduce triglycerides and increases HDL cholesterol, further supporting the health of the cardiovascular system. (source)

Why you should avoid cheap cod liver oil

Gaining the benefits of cod liver oil is simple, but your top priority should be finding a high-quality source because not all of them are created equal. The biggest concerns to consider when choosing a cod liver oil are the source of the fish, the process of extraction, and whether or not there are any other additives.

Cod liver oil is highly fragile. It oxidizes easily when exposed to light and oxygen, which ruins the product. This is why great care must be taken during the production process to prevent oxidation (spoilage) and protect the nutrients in the cod liver oil.

A to D ratio: an important consideration

It is important to AVOID cod liver oil that contains low levels of vitamin D in relationship to vitamin A. The ideal ratio of A to D is no greater than 10:1 (for every one unit of vitamin D there should be no more than 10 units of vitamin A).

With industrialized processing, these ratios can become imbalanced and the risk for vitamin A toxicity becomes greater.

You will find that the purest, least processed cod liver oils have a ratio near the ideal 10:1, because when the vitamins are naturally occurring, rather than synthetic, they are naturally balanced.

Who needs the benefits of cod liver oil most?

Cod liver oil is a traditional, ancient super food that various cultures have long depended on for health, vitality, and fertility.

Yep- cod liver oil is super important for fertility. Those planning to become pregnant, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding need cod liver oil the most, as the omega fats in cod liver oil nourish the brains of growing babies and children.

Yep- kids need it too. Growing brains and bodies can benefit greatly from cod liver oil supplementation. Especially in the winter.

Yep- vitamin D is scarce in the winter. Which means we can all benefit from cod liver oil supplementation, particularly during gray and cloudy seasons, in order to bolster the immune system when the sun can’t give us the vitamin D we need.

Best (& worst) cod liver oils

Best cod liver oil

Rosita Extra Virgin Cod Liver Oil- EVCLO is unprocessed, which is superior to other processed cod liver oils. The naturally occurring omega 3 fatty acids and vitamins A and D are already present in the right ratios, which allows this type of cod liver oil to provide far better benefits than other kinds. (source)

Each batch of Rosita EVCLO is carefully handcrafted without heat, chemicals or exposure to metal in Rosita’s dimly lit, cool facility.

How is it processed?

First, after removing the livers from the fish, they gently expose them to near-winter conditions (like the cold waters where the fish swim). They then gently allow the livers to warm up to just a bit above freezing. This gradual shift in temperature and pressure breaks down the liver cells. Within an hour or two, they release the oil with all its nutritional goodness.

The oil is then gently filtered using a natural marine material that absorbs contaminants like a magnet for easy removal. Next, the oil goes through a series of paper filters. Each batch is tested twice to meet strict EU standards for export and to ensure it’s free of heavy metals and contaminants.

In addition, tiny amounts of a carefully selected organic rosemary extract and full spectrum vitamin E is added to ensure freshness.

Rosita Extra Virgin Cod Liver Oil is truly an artisan product and gives you the nutritional benefits of a whole, nourishing food. The truth is that I would rather give myself and my children smaller doses of this high quality oil and ration it than use a cheaper oil.

Extra virgin cod liver oil is the highest quality cod liver oil available. You can purchase both liquid and capsules here.

Worst

Please note that we do not recommend fermented cod liver oil at The Family That Heals Together.

We’ve written extensively about why we don’t recommend fermented cod liver oil. You can read about that here, here, and here. All signs point to fermented cod liver oil being rancid and causing health issues. In addition, the product appears to contain vitamin D2, not the desirable and absorbable D3, and the A to D ratios are way off.

In addition, testing found that the oil used in fermented cod liver was not even true cod!

As far as processing, fermented cod liver remains shrined in secrecy, so it’s unclear how the oil is actually fermented, lending to the uncertainty of safety and possibility of rancidity.

What about cheaper oils available online and at health stores?

While the benefits of cod liver oil are many, they are dampened by chemical processing and added ingredients. While some lesser quality oils may provide some beneficial omega fatty acids, they should not be depended on for quality vitamin D supplementation.

The cod liver oil industry has huge differences in the quality of oils from the various companies that produce it. The best way to ensure that you are getting the incredible benefits of cod liver oil is to thoroughly research the product, practices, and source prior to making a purchase.

October 4, 2016

Heavy Metal Toxicity: How to Help Kids Detox

Heavy metal toxicity is a challenge many of us face every day, but we may not even know it. There are ways to help your child detox on a regular basis, but here, we’ll tell you about the ways children are routinely exposed to heavy metals and what to do about it.

After the recent disaster in Flint, Michigan, you may be concerned about heavy metal toxicity, particularly lead, in our water. Though your water supply should be a concern, we should be concerned about the heavy metals lurking elsewhere and accumulating in our bodies as well. From the air to our water, and and even produce, heavy metals abound, and cause destruction in our bodies if they are not properly detoxed.

Heavy metals do not easily detox from the body, so it’s necessary to complete a detox regularly, or following a particular assault of heavy metals on the body, to avoid heavy metal toxicity.

How does heavy metal toxicity occur?

Heavy metals are, unfortunately, found all around us. They’ve been found in our soil, in our water, on our produce, in the lead or copper pipes in our homes, and in medications.

Tests and symptoms to determine if you need a detox

Most of us would benefit from a heavy metal detox, but you are particularly susceptible to heavy metal poisoning if you:

consume non-organic produce
live in a home built before 1970
have unfiltered water through lead or copper pipes.

The symptoms of heavy metal toxicity may include:

low body temperature or chills
sensitive teeth or a metallic taste in the mouth
prone to allergies
rashes
sensitivities
muscle weakness, twitches, and sensitivity
headaches
frequent illness.

In a child, heavy metal toxicity may show as delayed speech and focus, loss of facial asymmetry, loss of balance, muscle twitching, sudden allergies, eczema or asthma, digestive issues, sudden mood changes, and frequent runny noses and colds.

Like any illness, heavy metal toxicity brings different symptoms to different individuals. The best way to know if you have heavy metal toxicity and need a detox is to complete a lab test.

You can test heavy metal levels through hair follicle testing and blood testing. You can order hair follicle testing online, or request one from your current physician.

How to detox heavy metals safely

Before beginning any detox, evaluate how well your child is currently processing toxins. Does your child sweat a lot? Good! Never sweat? They may have a backup which needs to be addressed.

Does your child have bowel movements daily? If not, or there are other digestive issues; correct these first before beginning a detox. It’s a good idea to do a digestive tract cleanse before beginning a detox, so that your body will process out the toxins correctly. Otherwise, you may just be moving them around and overloading your liver, pancreas, and colon.

Start from the bottom of the digestive tract (colon) to the top (stomach).

Here is a very simple and gentle method:

Cleanse the colon by adding some raw, organic fruit and vegetable juice and fiber into the diet. Psyllium husks are a great fiber to use. If your child will allow it, enemas can be helpful for clearing blockages and cleansing the colon. You can also try Pooper, a new supplement from BIORAY Kids which helps kids keep their bowels moving. Get it here.
Cleanse the liver by adding turmeric, and dandelion and milk thistle teas. Also, add potassium to the diet (bananas and potatoes are good sources). Try BIORAY’s Liver Life formula for liver support. Get it here. (Read about how to support the liver here, plus a tip for mamas!)
Support the stomach by adding pre- and probiotics. Prebiotics, such as potato starch, are essentially the foods which feed the good bacteria. Feeding good bacteria ensures that they will thrive in your gut. These good bacteria will help ensure the toxins do not return to take up residence.

Now, you’re ready to begin your heavy metal detox! Begin by detoxing through the skin, then building up the gut to prepare for ingested detox supplements.

Detox through the skin

Your skin is your largest organ, and holds the most surface area to expel toxins. Start these steps to get your little one sweating out all the bad:

Baths: Epsom salts and essential oils will draw metals out of the body through the skin. You may also try bentonite clay in the bath. Try a lukewarm bath 3-4 days a week with 1/4 cup of Epsom salts and detoxifying essential oils, such as tea tree, peppermint, rosemary, grapefruit and lemon.
Skin Brushing: purchase a skin brush and begin brushing your little one’s skin (always towards the heart) before each bath. This moves the blood and lymph fluids back to the center of the body to be processed and detoxed if necessary (Mom tip – I’ve actually lost weight since I started brushing, so get two).
Sweating: get your child outside and work up a good sweat. If you are in a colder climate, you can also use a sauna at a local health spa or purchase a portable, home-use sauna like this.

Build up the gut

To properly detox heavy metals through the gut, which is susceptible to heavy metal toxicity,

Clean up your diet: cut out processed grains, food dyes, and chemicals (read about the five ingredients you should remove from your diet NOW). Purchase organic produce, grassfed meats and dairy, and try a paleo or GAPS diet.
Add a probiotic: purchase a quality probiotic and supplement it at high doses for at least two weeks prior to beginning the supplemental detoxes below. Jaclyn’s note: in my experience, you should build up to a higher dose of probiotics slowly in order to avoid too much die off. Get my favorite effective probiotic here.

Supplements

Now you are ready to start the movement of metals out through the digestive system. Monitor your child closely (yes, check out each bowel movement!).

Chlorella supplements and tinctures: chlorella can be found in tablets, in powder, or as a tincture. I give my son 1 teaspoon of the tincture in two juices or water each day.
Cilantro: juice it, chop it, or add it to food. Try to have your child consume two tablespoons of juice every 2 days, or consume a tablespoon of it raw every two days during your detox. If your child will not consume it as a juice or raw, try a tincture.
Juicing: juice fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. Try to have your child consume one drink per day, at a minimum. Jaclyn’s note: add a raw egg yolk and homemade creme fraiche to turn it into a “GAPS shake” and to provide extra liver support.

How long should you detox?

If this is your child’s first detox, complete this regimen for two weeks. If your child responds well, wait another two weeks and begin it again. This can be performed up to four times per year, ideally at the equinoxes.

After a detox, be sure to keep giving your child organic fruit and vegetable juices to supplement vitamins and minerals and continue supporting the liver.

Have you detoxed your child from heavy metal toxicity? What worked for you?

Please share this post for friends whose children may also need a heavy metal detox.

June 21, 2016

What Are Fat Bombs? The Yummy, Healing Treat You Should Be Eating!

I think we are all over the notion now that eating fat makes you fat. Right? Mmmkay. So, since that’s out of the way, let me tell you more about why you should be eating fat, lots of it, and how fat bombs can help you do that.

What are fat bombs?

I’m not even sure who started the “fat bomb” craze, but fat bombs are one of my favorite health trends in a while!

Obviously, fat bombs contain fat. They also contain a sweetener of some kind.

Seriously, like, sign me up!

Why are fat bombs good for you?

Not only do our bodies need fat (and lots of it) for basic functioning, but during times of crisis, fat can be exceptionally healing.

Personally, fat bombs were a huge part of my recover from adrenal fatigue earlier this year.

While fat is very nourishing to all systems of the body, helping to heal the gut, power the brain (the brain is, after, comprised mostly of fat and needs plenty of fat to function well), and lubricate joints, when paired with an easily-digested sugar, it has remarkable effects on the blood sugar.

A constant blood sugar roller coaster can contribute to adrenal fatigue, as the adrenals are responsible for helping to regulate blood sugar levels. When the blood sugar becomes unsteady, the adrenals become overworked, and, eventually, begin to give out. In return, blood sugar becomes even more unstable. When I was experiencing severe adrenal fatigue, I would wake up in the mornings starving, and and would be extremely irritable until I ate some breakfast.

I would get spacey and forget things and my heart would race. I felt totally out of control and hated knowing how cranky I was with my family. I knew I had to figure out how to fix whatever was wrong with me.

What is adrenal fatigue?

As I mentioned, adrenal fatigue occurs when the adrenal glands become too taxed to perform their duties. Lack of proper sleep, poor diet, or too-rapid detoxification can cause adrenal fatigue. Mine came on suddenly and I later realized it occurred when I began taking a very strong probiotic, which was extremely effective, but too strong for me to have taken in full doses. (I now take only 1/3-1/2 capsule at a time.)

For months, I suffered from:

hair loss
extreme fatigue
insomnia
irritability
and a confused circadian rythm (I was tired during the day, but would get a burst of energy and want to clean house at 10 o clock at night!)

I relied on a number of therapies to heal my adrenal fatigue, and once I really tackled it, it went away fairly quickly!

I’ve written about using sole water as part of my adrenal-healing protocol, but fat bombs were a huge help as well!

When talking about healing the adrenals, Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride (author of Gut and Psychology Syndrome) says, “I recommend making a mixture of raw butter or coconut oil with some raw honey: get the butter (or coconut oil) soft at room temperature and mix a little honey according to your taste. Put this mixture into a glass jar and carry that jar with you everywhere. Eat 1-2 teaspoons every 15-20 minutes all day long. This mixture will maintain your blood sugar at a normal level and help your adrenals recover.” (source)

The trick is, the honey helps to raise the blood sugar, but the fat acts as an anchor and doesn’t allow it to raise too high or too quickly.

I did, in fact, carry around a jar of fat bombs with me, and it was only mildly embarrassing. 😉

How to make fat bombs

Here’s the awesome part: making fat bombs is so easy!

You’ll need some softened fat (my personal favorite is brown butter ghee, which has the most amazing caramel flavor, but you can also use coconut oil, butter, ghee, or even nut butter).

Now add some raw honey (a good rule of thumb is to start with a 4/1 ratio of fat to honey). Give it a taste and add more honey if need be, up to equal parts. I generally like about 1/2 cup ghee or butter with 1/4 cup raw honey.

Adding some real salt to the mixture imparts both a nice flavor, as well as the mineral-boosting benefits of good salt (as I discuss in my post on sole water).

If you want a specific recipe, my coconut melt candies are delightful, and your kids will definitely love them too!

When I’m in a hurry and feel my blood sugar threatening to tank, I grab a spoon, stick it in my honey jar, scoop up some honey, then stick that same spoon in a block of grassfed butter and scoop some of that onto the spoon, too, and eat a big ol’ spoonful of fat bomb. And you can bet if my kids are around, they gather around like baby birds and beg for a bite too. (Don’t worry, I don’t regurgitate it for them.)

Did you know fat bombs could be so beneficial? Share using a link below so your friends can enjoy the craze too!

May 22, 2016

Joy is More Important to Your Health than Food – Here’s Why

I love Megan’s message of choosing joy over the stress of a perfect diet… heck, I’ve been eating all sorts of things I never thought I’d eat again, and not only has my health not suffered, but I’ve gotten a great sense of joy from relaxing about food. It doesn’t mean I won’t still nourish my body with good foods, but it’s not the most important thing right now. You can read a little more about how I’m walking that out in my post Do You Have Dirty Diaper Faith?

I’ve been where you are. Several years ago I was sick, and my kids were sick. I spent almost 10 years totally depleted and exhausted from chasing my tail in the world of natural healing.

As you know, food is a huge part of natural healing. Somewhere early in my path of healing Hashimotos, adrenal fatigue, food intolerances, anxiety, and my son’s Autism Spectrum Disorder, food became more than just food. As I dived into research, everything I read pointed to food as the culprit of all my family’s health issues. I started worrying about every bite of food that passed our lips.

Then started the downward spiral of jumping from one restrictive diet to the next. A lot of stress, time, and expensive food later, not much had changed.

I felt even more exhausted than before. I had an overabundance of advice, but no real answers. It is hard to be a mother wanting to heal herself and her children, with nothing but conflicting opinions.

Sound familiar?

Everywhere you turn, there is new information or “science” telling us what foods to eat and what foods to avoid. We see stories of how people have lost weight, gained weight, cured cancer, gotten cancer, healed pain, created pain, etc. – all through what they are or aren’t eating.

We have given food so much power over our lives – particularly our health. And it’s exhausting people and causing a great deal of anxiety. I have had to work through this myself, and I see it with clients all the time. Well intentioned, health conscious people come to me overly stressed about food on a weekly basis.

The Stress Is Worse Than The Food

I’m here to say, it’s not the food, but the STRESS that’s making you sick. The stress is worse for your health than the food. A lack of joy can create ill health quicker than “bad” food can.

The fear mongering in the alternative health community has taken its toll on all of us, and it’s time to step up and take back our joy!

The importance of joy

Joy, laughter, and play stimulate the release of feel good hormones in our body. It shuts down cortisol, adrenaline, and other health deteriorating processes in the body. Our body can’t heal when it’s in a state of stress. So, it makes sense that if you’re stressing about food, you aren’t healing.

From my book A Handbook for Healing:

“Have you ever heard the old saying that laughter is the best medicine? Science is starting to prove that it’s true! Laughter sets off a chain reaction in the body that promotes physical and mental health. Laughter lowers stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Laughter also strengthens the immune system and relaxes the nervous system. Laughter and play clear the mind and decrease anxiety and nervousness.

‘Don’t think about fun as a reward, think of it as a responsibility,’ writes Richard Branson.

When the body is in a state of relaxation, it has the opportunity to heal. A quick way to get into that relaxed state is to play and laugh.”

Joy heals.

So, what happened when I dropped the stress about food and just focused on cultivating gratitude and joy in my life? Pretty incredible things, actually. When I stopped believing I was broken, dropped the struggle, and finally let go, I HEALED.

I was always searching for the big secret to my health. I thought there was one big mysterious puzzle piece that I had missed. And, there was. But, it wasn’t a superfood, a supplement, a modality, or anything like that. It was JOY.

Your divine purpose isn’t to have a perfect diet and stress about food. Your divine purpose is to feel joy, spread joy, love, forgive, and share your gifts with the world.

Sometimes we get so caught up in healing, that we forget to enjoy our lives. So, just for today, put the diet books down and go play. Have a dance party. Go the park. Play a game. Go to lunch with a friend. Watch a funny movie. Let joy fill your body, and watch your health transform!

Do you struggle with choosing joy over the idea of a “perfect” diet? Share using a link below for friends who may be having the same struggle!

Megan Buer is a Certified Emotion Code Practitioner, author, health coach, and blogger. She spent several years of her life sick with an auto-immune disease, adrenal fatigue, food intolerances, anxiety, and panic disorder. After years of work and over ten years of research, she learned how to naturally heal herself of each symptom. She has worked with clients as an energy medicine practitioner for 3 years now. Through her work, she found that the same tools she used to heal herself are the same tools that also empower her clients into healing their lives also. She is the author of Handbook for Healing, a book that simplifies all the tools she used to heal her health. In her second book, Keys to Calm, Megan provides the reader with all the tools she used to specifically heal anxiety, overwhelm, and panic. She can be found at her site Harmony Restored or on Facebook .