migraines Archives -

August 1, 2018

MCT Oil Uses: Improved Brain Function, Fat Loss, & More

You’ll find MCT oil in several recipes here on the blog, but are you familiar with other MCT oil uses? In this post sponsored by Perfect Supplements, I’ll share below all about how and why to use MCT oil, and how to find a good one you can trust.

What is MCT oil and what does it do?

I remember the first time I tried MCT oil. I was at a dinner party and the host had used it in a recipe. I internally rolled my eyes. “Don’t people know it’s healthier to eat whole foods rather than latching on to these fads?”

I went on about my business, and when I remade similar recipes at home, I replaced the MCT oil with other ingredients. Thankfully, my ignorance didn’t last forever!

It turns out that although MCT oil is indeed a derivative of coconut oil, it really is whole food nutrition- and outstanding nutrition at that!

What is MCT oil?

MCT stands for medium chain triglycerides or medium chain fatty acids. It’s a type of fat usually derived from coconut oil, but it’s also found in palm oil, butter, and grassfed beef.

The reason separating these medium chain fats from the rest of the coconut oil makes for such a superior food is because it isolates the very best benefits of coconut oil. While coconut oil is a wonderful, inexpensive source of good fats, it’s largely made up of lauric acid (which is also a beneficial component, but simply doesn’t do for your body what true MCTs can do).

While there are lots of fatty acids in coconut oil, there are only a handful of MCTs:

Caproic acid (C6)
Caprylic Acid (C8)
Capric Acid (C10)
Lauric Acid (C12)

It’s actually debatable whether lauric acid is a true MCT, because it doesn’t behave in the body the way the other MCTs do. The other MCTs (caproic acid, caprylic acid, and capric acid) are rapidly absorbed in your body, having essentially bypassed the digestive tract and gone straight to the bloodstream.

What does MCT oil do?

Because MCTs are readily absorbed by the liver and go quickly into the bloodstream, they are able to be converted quickly into ketones, a desired source of energy for the brain. (This is why so many of us swear by “bulletproof” coffee first thing in the morning: it wakes up your brain!)

Most of us are used to feeding our brains glucose for energy. Our modern diet lends plenty of starches, sugars, and carbs to make sure of it. However, new research is showing that ketones may be the brain’s preferred source of energy.

What are ketones? Ketones are produced when you don’t have enough insulin in your body to turn sugar (or glucose) into energy. Your body then turns to fat instead.

Your liver turns this fat into ketones and sends them into your bloodstream, where your muscles and other tissues can use them for fuel.

Because we fast overnight as we sleep (that’s why the first meal of the day is called break-fast), we wake up with low blood sugar, and many of us wake up in ketosis. Our bodies are primed for using ketones as fuel.

However, the average American loads up on sugary, starchy foods like cereal and oatmeal, thereby going back to glucose for energy.

When we instead turn to good fats like MCT oil to start our day off, we keep feeding our brain ketones, which helps it to function more efficiently.

How ketones benefit the brain

When your brain is able to start using ketones for fuel instead of glucose, a few things happen.

GABA (a calming, inhibitory neurotransmitter) is increased in the brain, while aspartate (an excitatory neurotransmitter which can be neurotoxic) is decreased.
Production of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), the main source of energy for most cellular processes, becomes more efficient.
The brain is able to use this energy more efficiently with less toxic waste that is likely to result in brain inflammation.

This more efficient energy usage can be beneficial for those with a variety of conditions that involve brain inflammation, including:

epilepsy/seizures
bipolar disorder and depression
migraines
dementia
& ALS

Most notably, ketogenic diets and MCT oil have been studied for the effects on seizure disorders, and have been found to inhibit seizure activity.

The benefits of ketones for weightloss

When our bodies start producing ketones due to lack of glucose to use for energy, they are producing them from fat. As you may have already figured out, this fat can come from two places: our diet or our bodies.

This is good news if you’re trying to lose weight, as your body can begin to used stored fat as energy. Cutting out carbs and sugars from your diet and increasing good fats will assist your body in using fat as energy.

This is one reason incorporating MCT oil into your daily diet can be so helpful.

Is MCT oil good for you?

MCT oil uses expand beyond losing weight or fueling the brain.

In addition MCT oil may:

increase your overall energy
keep you healthier by combating viruses and bacteria
improve cardiovascular health
& lower bad cholesterol.

How do you take MCT oil? MCT oil uses you can try everyday.

It’s so easy to get MCT oil into your daily routine! The obvious way to use MCT oil is to add it to foods and drinks you’re already eating and drinking. MCT oil is totally tasteless and colorless, so you won’t even know it’s there (which is especially helpful if you’re trying to get it into kiddos).

There’s the ever-popular “Bulletproof Coffee.” Mr. Incredible drinks this every single day and swears by it for waking up his brain and getting him going in the mornings. I prefer drinking a bulletproof latte.

Whether you’re drinking coffee or tea, simply add up to a tablespoon of MCT oil, along with other goodies like ghee or butter and collagen to make your morning cuppa “bulletproof.”

Make keto ice cream. This delicious recipe is definitely one of the tastiest ways to use MCT oil!

Add it to salads. Instead of dressing, drizzle MCT oil over your salad, along with a squeeze of lemon juice or a splash of apple cider vinegar.

Blend it into smoothies or shakes. Regardless of what you’re putting in a smoothie, you can add MCT oil without affecting the texture or flavor. I often make smoothies for myself and my kids with coconut milk, frozen fruit, a scoop or two of collagen, and a generous squirt of MCT oil. It’s delicious, filling, and packed full of nutrition.

Make popsicles. A favorite of my children, making popsicles at home allows you to not only avoid the junkie ingredients in store bought products, but also to customize flavors and sneak in extra nutrition. Try my healthy popsicles featuring extra fat and protein here.

Make fat bombs. Read about how and why you should here.

How do you choose a good MCT oil?

You know I do my research and try a variety of products before settling on something my family will use long-term, so the Mister and I have tried our fair share of MCT oils. Some were ok. Some were overpriced. Some caused major stomach upset. And none of them were organic (always at the top of my wish list for any product).

When Perfect Supplements reached out to let me know they were coming out with an all-new MCT oil, I was super excited.

Other products that I had used from the company had exceeded my expectations because Perfect Supplements:

sources organic ingredients where they can
third-party tests their products for contaminants like heavy metals and pesticides
& offers high-quality products for lower prices than competitors.

How Perfect MCT Oil is different

While many MCT oils on the market are made from lauric acid (which does not bypass the digestive tract or get converted quickly to ketones), Perfect MCT Oil is made only from c8 and c10 fatty acids (caprylic and capric). And while c6 (caproic acid) also converts to energy well, it can cause some stomach upset and may taste bad.

That’s why Perfect Supplements was picky when it came to creating an MCT oil: they wanted to offer something superior to what was available (otherwise why bother?). And the truth is, they delivered!

Perfect Supplements’ MCT oil:

is made from 100% organic sustainable coconuts
is USDA certified organic
contains 100% MCTs (C8 and C10)
is vegan, gluten-free, soy-free and non-GMO
is batch tested (one of my favorite things about Perfect Supplements and their commitment to safe, quality products!)
uses low heat processing; no chemical extraction
is more affordable than lesser-quality MCT products

I’ve been so happy with Perfect MCT oil and use it every single day, whether for coffee, or smoothies, or in ice cream. And I really do notice a difference when I include it in my morning routine: I have better energy, am more clear-headed, and feel happier.

If you’re ready to give it a try, you can get Perfect MCT Oil here.

And as if their prices aren’t already affordable, they offer multi-item discounts and free shipping for orders over $99. If you buy 3-5 Perfect Supplements brand products, you’ll save 25% on your order, and if you order 6 or more, you’ll save 30%! Trust me, that adds up to huge savings.

Some of my favorites include Perfect Bovine Gelatin, Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen, Perfect Desiccated Liver Capsules, Perfect Acai Revive, and Perfect Rhodiola Rosea (read about how much I love Perfect Rhodiola here!). You can see all of their quality supplements here.

PLUS– the kind folks at Perfect Supplements have extended an offer exclusive to my readers to get an extra 10% off any order using the code FAMILYHEALS10, which can be combined with the multi-item discount.

Have you tried any of these MCT oil uses? What benefits have you experienced?

March 2, 2017

Herbal Pain Killer Shot for Headaches & More: Stop Taking NSAIDS!

Migraines have been my longest-standing, most life-disrupting health problem since I can remember. And while lifestyle changes have helped tremendously, as soon as my diet lags, my sleep gets disrupted, or my stress levels rise, headaches are the first thing to get worse. I recently created this herbal pain killer shot and have been pleasantly surprised at how effective it is.

Do you need an herbal pain killer?

The big question is: why wouldn’t you just take an over the counter pain killer? They’re cheap, readily available, and easy to pop down with a little water.

However, taking these over the counter pain killers (aka NSAIDs- non steriod anti-inflammatory drugs), has serious consequences for your health. As a long-time migraine sufferer, I have taken more NSAIDs than I care to admit.

Why you should avoid NSAIDs:

increased risk of heart failure- by 19%! (source)
kidney damage (if you have any level of kidney disease, you SHOULD NOT take NSAIDs)
gut damage and GI distress, as well as ulcers and internal bleeding (source)
liver damage
muscle regeneration delay and reduction of ligament, tendon, and cartilage healing (not ideal for post-workout pain!) (source)

I used to take them like they were candy. Headache? Down a couple 200 milligram ibuprofen. Full-fledged migraine? Take three or maybe a couple acetaminophen.

In the last year or so, it was taking 800 mg at once to take the edge off of my worst migraines, and I was still taking over the counter pain killers on occasion even recently… until I discovered this herbal pain killer shot.

I whipped it up on a whim knowing each of the components alone can be good for relieving pain. I had a monster migraine setting in and I was feeling the pressure. My natural attempts at relieving the pain weren’t working but I didn’t want to take a toxic over-the-counter drug.

Out of desperation, I made my concoction and downed it… and within minutes, my pain began to ease. I was astounded!

A little while later, when the pain threatened to return, I made and took another shot, and this time the pain stayed gone for good.

Now, anytime I feel like I could possibly have a headache coming on, I take my herbal pain killer shot, and I’m happy to say I haven’t had a headache, let alone a migraine, since I first took this shot.

What’s in it?

Just three simple ingredients. It doesn’t taste too bad at all, and takes just a minute to mix up.

Herbal Pain Killer Shot: The Players

#1. Turmeric- extensively studied and found to be beneficial in relieving respiratory illnesses, including asthma, turmeric is also a powerful anti-mucosal.

You already know it’s great for dental health if you’ve tried my tooth powder recipe (if you haven’t, you should!).

But what about turmeric for pain relief?

The active compound in turmeric, curcumin, is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Curcumin is known to inhibit inflammation by suppressing nuclear factor κB (NF-kB), a protein complex responsible for creating cytokines (some of which are responsible for pain responses), restricting various activators of NF-kB as well as stemming its expression. (source)

Because black pepper increases the efficacy of turmeric up to 2000%, I keep a bag of bulk organic turmeric on hand with a little black pepper already mixed in. (I mix with a small amount of whatever ground black pepper I have on hand- less than two teaspoons of pepper per cup of turmeric.)

Buy the organic ground turmeric I use here.

#2. Ginger extract- theoretically, you could use ground ginger along with the ground turmeric, but I haven’t tried that, and I’ve had great success with ginger extract for a variety of conditions, including pain and swollen lymph nodes.

According to one study,

Ginger and its constituents also show a vital role in anti-inflammatory processes. Earlier studies on in vitro investigations of ginger preparations and some isolated gingerol-related compounds showed the anti-inflammatory effects of ginger such as inhibition of COX (the enzyme blocked by pain killers) and inhibition of NF-kB.”

Buy the organic ginger extract I use here.

#3. White willow bark- one of my recent favorite discoveries, white willow bark is an old folk remedy that was used for pain relief prior to the invention of Aspirin, and has been found to be as effective without the side effects.

Like Aspirin, white willow bark is a nonselective inhibitor of COX-1 and COX-2 (those enzymes targeted by pain killers), used to block inflammatory prostaglandins. (source)

I make my own white willow bark extract by combining white willow bark and vodka in equal parts in a glass jar and allowing to sit in a cool, dark place for at least six weeks. I shake the jar as often as I can remember during this time.

Get white willow bark here.

Keep in mind, white willow bark may not be safe for children or for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. For use with children, you can replace the white willow with meadowsweet. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, these ingredients are best left out of the formulation.

In addition, those exhibiting symptoms of chicken pox or flu, those with asthma, or those who are allergic to aspirin should not use white willow or meadowsweet.

Get meadowsweet herb here.

Note: Due to the natural blood thinning effects of this combination of herbs, people with blood disorders or taking anti-coagulants should talk to their care provider before taking them.

Herbal Pain Killer Shot: The How-To

When I’m in need of some pain relief, I fill a glass with about a quarter cup of water, add a dropper-ful each of ginger and white willow bark extract, and about 1/2 teaspoon of ground turmeric and give it a stir before drinking it down in one gulp.

I generally feel relief within minutes.

Who needs NSAIDs?

I’ve been so thrilled to finally be able to ditch over the counter pain meds once and for all. This herbal pain killer shot has been so effective, I can’t imagine ever needing to go back, as it stops pain in its tracks every time.

Best of all, the ingredients are non-toxic and even promote long-term health benefits and overall wellness.

Are you ready to ditch your toxic pain killer pills? Share for a friend who needs relief!

July 4, 2016

Natural Migraine Remedies: Get Relief Now!

If I had to give you one single reason for eating the way I do and working so hard to heal my body, it would be migraines. I’ve suffered from migraines since I was a teenager, and though I get them less frequently these days, I still find myself in need of these natural migraine remedies from time to time. (You can read more about my story here.)

Conventional migraine medicines make me sick and are toxic, so as I’ve learned more about treating various conditions naturally, I’ve tried lots of different natural migraine remedies. The thing about migraines is that the cause might change from one migraine to the next, so the remedy that works one time may not work the next time.

If you’ve suffered from migraines, you know how painful they are. Below, I’ll give you my best natural migraine remedies so that you can find what works best for your migraine headaches.

My natural migraine remedies

Before I get into remedies to combat a migraine that’s already underway, let’s talk about migraine prevention.

It’s important to note that the best thing I’ve done to prevent migraines is to eat a good diet. When I originally removed grains and refined sugar, my incidence of migraines went down. I also began to sleep better, which had its own positive effect on lowering the frequency of migraines. To prevent migraines, consider

removing grains, dairy, sugar, and artificial foods from your diet (read about the first five ingredients you should remove from your diet now)
doing a gut-healing diet like GAPS (which can heal the underlying conditions that cause migraines)
ensuring you get good rest; going to sleep by 10 pm is best (extreme fatgiue will get me every time!)
reducing stress to avoid tension headaches
staying hydrated to decrease the odds of a dehydration headache

While the above steps have definitely decreased the frequency of migraines for me, when I do get a migraine, I want to try all of my natural migraine remedies before I resort to taking something over the counter. Here’s what I use:

Magnesium

When a magnesium deficiency is present, most of our bodily functions are affected. Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include weakness, muscle cramps, nausea, fatigue, headaches, and more.

There is a type of magnesium formulated especially for brain health, which can pass the blood-brain barrier in order to nourish the brain, called magnesium L-threonate. I find that if I have a headache coming on, sometimes I can take a couple of these magnesium capsules and the pain will begin to ease.

I wrote in detail about the brain-nourishing benefits of this type of magnesium and how it has helped our oldest son with with behavioral problems in my post Our Favorite Supplement to Treat ADHD and Other Behavioral Problems. Get my favorite magnesium L-threonate, called MagMind, here.

Sole water

If I’m taking a couple of MagMind capsules, you can bet I’m swallowing them down with a glass of sole water. I’ve written extensively about the benefits of drinking sole water in my post How to Make Sole Water and Three Reasons Why You Should, but what you need to know is, sole water

is mineral-packed
promotes hydration
aids in detoxification
creates cellular energy.

Sole water is so simple and cheap to make, there’s no good reason not to try it! Use one cup of mineral-rich salt and three cups of filtered water to fill a quart-sized jar with a plastic lid. Give it a shake, then leave out on the counter overnight. Use a teaspoon of the mixture each morning in a glass of water, then work your way up to using more.

I use a tablespoon in a glass of water when I have a headache coming on, then drink several glasses throughout the day when I’m battling a migraine. Get my favorite Real Salt for making sole water here.

Extra virgin cod liver oil

When I have a headache coming on, I reach for a bottle of extra virgin cod liver oil, one of the best ways to get brain-boosting omega fats into my body.

Those omega fats are anti-inflammatory, while the saturated fat in the oil nourishes the brain. It’s best to take a dose of cod liver oil daily, but when I have a migraine coming on, I’ve been known to take a teaspoon every hour until it goes away.

I take a liquid version with no additives or flavors, and just drink it down with some filtered water. You can read about why our family switched to extra virgin cod liver oil here. Get the best quality, extra-virgin cod liver oil here.

Turmeric

Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory spice used medicinally in many places. If I have any turmeric capsules on hand, I’ll pop a handful when I feel a migraine coming on. The turmeric helps to ease the inflammation, thereby easing the migraine headache. Read more about the benefits of taking turmeric and how to make your own turmeric capsules here, or purchase organic turmeric capsules here.

Peppermint essential oil

This is the first thing I reach for when I have a headache. I dab a drop directly at the point of pain (unless, of course, it’s one of those gnarly migraines that settle in the eye).

The cooling sensation instantly brings relief. Usually, when the oil wears off, I have to reapply it, but I’m okay with that because it really does help. Peppermint essential oil also helps to clear the sinuses, which can be a reason for a migraine.

I often dab it on my forehead, scalp, and sinuses, which can be a little intense and sometimes makes my eyes water, but leaves me feeling clearer-headed once the initial sting clears. Get peppermint essential oil here.

Neti pot

If a migraine is due to sinus congestion, or even underlying sinus infection (and sometimes, it’s not as obvious as you’d think that the problem is in the sinuses), using a neti pot can help clear the problem.

I have found sometimes that doing a rinse of my sinuses with a neti pot can stop a migraine in its tracks. I add about half a teaspoon of real salt to some body-temp filtered water in each nostril to thoroughly give my sinuses a good rinse. Get a neti pot like mine here.

Lymph massage

Massage is helpful to clear the sinuses as well, and I love to give myself a quick lymphatic massage in the shower in the mornings when I remember. This is one of my favorite natural migraine remedies because it’s simple and non-invasive, and I can do it, even if I’m lying down in pain.

By doing lymphatic massage, you clear your lymph nodes of toxins that can build up and cause pain. Watch the short video below to see how it’s done:

Coffee enemas

Finally, I saved this tip for last because I know not everyone will try it, but it is one of the most effective natural migraine remedies because it helps get to the root cause of migraines. In fact, when I began doing coffee enemas regularly a few years ago, my incidence of migraines decreased dramatically.

Coffee enemas clean the blood and increase glutathione (the mast antioxidant needed for detoxification). They provide such immediate, intensive detoxification, that I’ve experienced a coffee enema instantly relieving a migraine that had previously lasted for days and had not responded to even over the counter pain meds.

To do a coffee enema, boil two tablespoons of freshly-ground, organic, light or medium roast coffee in about one cup of filtered water. Bring to a boil for five minutes, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

Strain the coffee into a quart-sized jar, then fill the rest of the way, checking to ensure the coffee ends up slightly warmer than body temperature.

Use an enema bag to use the coffee as an enema, and retain the enema while lying on your right side for 15 minutes before expelling. If you’d like to read in greater detail, you can read all about the benefits of coffee enemas here. You can get a kit especially for coffee enemas here.

Natural migraine remedies: just try it!

I’ve given you lots of options for the next time you have a migraine, so just pick a remedy and give it a try! If that doesn’t work, move down the list. 😉 If you suffer from migraines, you have my sympathy, but hopefully, using these tips, you can prevent and get rid of those nasty, painful headaches that show no mercy.