Tag: Healthy

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What’s Wrong With Comfort Food?

Desserts in baskets; what's wrong with comfort food?

With so much time being spent at home these last few weeks, stress and feelings of isolation have really started to affect people’s emotional health. People have begun new hobbies at home to pass the time like working out, painting, and writing, but one of the most common hobbies has been baking. Consuming these breads and other pastries frequently can contribute to the development of worsening of diabetes and heart disease, two of the major risk factors for COVID-19 complications. Let’s discuss what’s wrong with comfort food, and some things you can make instead.

What’s Wrong With It?

Breads, cakes, cookies, and pies have been posted all over social media, and are being eaten more frequently than before the stay-at-home orders started. Unfortunately, these treats are loaded with simple carbohydrates, sugar, and often unhealthy fats like vegetable oil or margarine. If they are made from regular flour then they also contain large amounts of gluten. Many people have noticed they have felt worse after eating these foods, which is common with high-carbohydrate foods as they cause blood sugar highs and lows. However, gluten sensitivity is incredibly common today, and most people who have a gluten sensitivity or intolerance are not aware of it. So, consuming these foods that are full of gluten and sugar can take a toll on how you feel physically, and we need to stay as healthy as possible during this time.

Because these foods are so high in simple carbohydrates, sugar, and unhealthy fats, they can also affect blood sugar levels, heart health, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure. Sugar has been found to be a major contributor to high blood pressure, inflammation, diabetes, insulin resistance, and heart disease. With recent statistics showing that people who suffer from high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes tend to have the most complications when they contract COVID-19, it is now more important than ever to take care of yourself and do your best to reduce your risk of developing these conditions.

Alternatives

The occasional treat can still be part of a healthy lifestyle, but choosing healthier options is important. You can try making keto versions your favorite treats, and there are endless keto recipes online. Keto recipes typically use low-carb flours like almond flour and coconut flour, and low-carb sweeteners like sugar alcohols, monkfruit, and stevia. You can find plenty of keto recipes on our Pinterest page here. You can also opt for unrefined sugars like coconut sugar and maple syrup, but remember that these are still recognized as sugars by the body and should be eaten sparingly.

Food Sensitivities

If you suspect that you may have a sensitivity to gluten, then you can try an elimination diet. Put simply, an elimination diet means you eliminate certain foods from your diet for an extended period of time to give your body a chance to rest. You should take notes of how you feel throughout this elimination period and see if you feel better when certain foods are removed from your diet. Be especially mindful of any changes in headaches or migraines, stomach pains, bloating, gas, fatigue, and acne or skin rashes as these tend to be the more common symptoms of food sensitivities.

After the elimination period, you add each food that you removed back into your diet one at a time and record any negative affects. If you notice headaches come back when you eat gluten or dairy again, then you may have a sensitivity to them. Make sure you keep a few weeks of time between each food you add back in so that you are able to know which food caused changes. You can search elimination diets online for a more detailed guide on how to try one.

Do Your Best

Try to take this time at home to create healthy habits like exercising often and eating healthy foods. However, some people are not financially able to buy healthy foods right now, so just do your best with what you have and we’ll hopefully all have a renewed interest in keeping ourselves healthy when this is over.

You can listen to our Comfort Food Uncomfortable? podcast episode here. You can also listen on our YouTube channel here.

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Comfort Food Uncomfortable?

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For the past month, many people have been spending nearly all of their time inside the house. People have turned to many different hobbies to pass the time. One of the most common hobbies has been baking and cooking. This can be a great way to pass the time and learn some new skills in the kitchen, but most of the food being prepared hasn’t been healthy. Social media has been flooded with pictures of all the breads, cookies, and pies people have been preparing. These foods contain lots of carbohydrates, sugar, and gluten, and people often feel worse after eating them. In this week’s episode we’ll how these comfort foods can make you uncomfortable, and how they connect to diabetes and heart disease.

Products Mentioned in Today’s Show

Zinc Plus – Zinc is an essential mineral that activates more than 70 enzymes, including those that assist with protein synthesis and tissue repair.† For optimal assimilation and pH balance, this formulation uses zinc citrate, the natural form of zinc that is found in human milk. Vitamin B6 and ascorbic acid have also been added to facilitate zinc metabolism.

Multi-Element Buffered C – Vitamin C is important for immune function and antioxidant protection, as well as collagen and connective tissue production.† Multi-Element Buffered C adds calcium, magnesium, and potassium to ascorbic acid to create a buffered product that is gentle on the stomach. This formulation includes zinc, manganese, and copper in well-utilized forms. Quercetin, a powerful bioflavonoid, and reduced L-glutathione, an antioxidant, are included to potentiate the function of vitamin C.†

Active Mega Multi – Contains activated forms of folate and vitamin B12, along with efficiently utilized mineral forms and fat-soluble vitamins. Compared to common, over-the-counter multivitamin products delivered in 1 tablet daily, this formulation offers enhanced antioxidant protection, broader trace element nutrition, and augmented B vitamin support. This core foundation of essential nutrients can help provide an extra measure of nutritional protection.

You can also listen to on our YouTube channel here.

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Cleaning Your House Naturally

Mop on wood floor; cleaning your house naturally.

People have been panic-buying household cleaners and disinfectants for several weeks now without giving a second thought as to whether these products are really safe. Most of these cleaners contain many different chemicals that can be hazardous to your health and the environment. Long-term use of many cleaning solutions and disinfectants has been linked to respiratory problems like asthma and wheezing, migraines, fertility issues in men and women, hormonal imbalances, and nervous system damage. Fortunately, you don’t have to use these products because there are many things you can use to clean your house naturally.

Natural Alternatives

There are several things you can use to clean your home that are much safer than the chemical solutions people have been stocking up on. Hydrogen peroxide, white distilled vinegar, and rubbing alcohol are good alternatives you can use, but remember not to mix products without a safe recipe to follow as you could create harmful substances by mixing the wrong things together.

Hydrogen peroxide can be used to disinfect non-porous surfaces, simply spray it onto the surface and let it sit for around ten minutes, then wipe clean. Rubbing alcohol can also be used as a disinfectant as long as it is at least 60% or higher in concentration, which is why it is included in hand sanitizers. Spray the rubbing alcohol onto a surface (avoid inhaling the droplets) and leave for five minutes to ensure the area is thoroughly disinfected. Rubbing alcohol kills most bacteria and viruses within ten to twenty seconds, but some more resilient bacteria like tuberculosis can take as long as five minutes. Vinegar can also be used to disinfect, though it isn’t very useful against viruses and should be used as a last resort.

Recipe for Bleach Alternative

Consider using this recipe for a bleach alternative for white clothing.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 Cup Basic Liquid Formula (see below)
  • 1/4 Cup Borax
  • 1/4 Cup Lemon Juice or Vinegar
  • 6 Drops Lemon Essential Oil

Basic Liquid Formula

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/4 Cups Liquid Castile Soap
  • 1 Tablespoon Glycerin
  • 3/4 Cup Water
  • 10-15 Drops Lemon Essential Oil (or other essential oil of your choice)

This recipe makes enough for one load of laundry. Keep the lemon juice seperate from the rest of the solution until you are ready to use it. Combine all ingredients into a plastic container and shake a couple times before adding it to the washing machine.

You can listen to our Cleaning Yourself to Illness? podcast episode on our website here. You can also listen to it on our YouTube channel here.

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Cleaning Yourself to Illness?

Microphone and computer; early warning signs of a thyroid problem.
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Disinfectant products and other household cleaners have been flying off the shelves in the last few weeks, but how safe are these products? Long-term use of many common cleaning solutions and disinfectants have been linked to a number of health problems like asthma, wheezing, migraines, low sperm count, nervous system damage, and hormonal imbalances. People who these products regularly to clean their homes or offices, or janitors who use these chemicals almost daily, will typically experience more symptoms than someone who occasionally uses them. Fortunately, there are many other options for natural cleaners and disinfectants so you can avoid cleaning yourself to illness.

Products Mentioned in Today’s Show

Benfotiamine – This fat-soluble form of vitamin B1 has higher bioavailability compared to water-soluble forms. Benfotiamine inhibits several pathways involved in glucose-induced vascular changes and supports healthy neuron function.†Clinical studies show that benfotiamine supports healthy neurological structures and glucose metabolism, limiting the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs).† Benfotiamine may also be a preferred choice after bariatric surgery as thiamine deficiency is frequently found in these people due to malabsorption.

Vital Detox – This advanced blend of green plant concentrates and enzymes helps protect the body against chemicals ingested in the daily diet and through everyday environmental exposure. This formulation is rich in chlorophylls from Chlorella and contains a unique broccoli extract with glucosinolates. The chlorophylls in Chlorella form tight molecular complexes with a wide variety of everyday toxic chemical compounds, reducing their absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. A high-strength enzyme blend also breaks down dietary antigens and may support assimilation of beneficial constituents of Chlorella.† Glucosinolate compounds in broccoli are powerful inducers of natural phase 2 detoxification processes in the liver. Most substances detoxified by the liver are released into the bile for excretion through the intestinal tract. Chlorella helps trap these toxins to reduce reabsorption.†

You can also listen to Cleaning Yourself to Illness? on our YouTube channel here.

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Being Grateful Through Difficult Times

Sunset; being grateful through difficult times.

These are tough times for many people physically, emotionally, and even financially. Maintaining an attitude of gratitude by focusing on the positive may help these next few weeks seem a little brighter. Spending all your energy and time worrying about things can have negative effects on both your physical and emotional health, and being grateful for what you have and recognizing how fortunate you are can help you see things from a different perspective. Being grateful through difficult times isn’t an easy task, but it is worth it.

It Might Be Difficult

It can be difficult to stay positive and grateful during stressful life events, but it’s not impossible. As we have said many times over the last few weeks, focusing on the positive and doing something each day that brings you joy are two simple things you can do to help keep your mood up. It’s ok to feel sad or angry about your situation, but the important thing is that you don’t let it control you or dominate every thought and feeling you have. Acknowledge the positive and negative feelings you have, but make an effort to give more attention to the positive. It can be something as simple as still having one of your favorite foods in the house, or being grateful for the ability to sleep in more often. The little things each day is what will help each of us get through these next few weeks with a better attitude, and hopefully a recharged mind and spirit when this is over.

Take some time each day to do something that calms you down or brings you joy, learn a new skill, work on your spiritual life, or anything else that makes you feel good. Remind yourself of all the things you are blessed with, whether it be still having a job or a place to live, having a healthy body, or getting to finish a new show. These next few weeks might lead to a lasting reminder in all of our lives to be more mindful of what really matters to us, and might make us rethink whether the small daily inconveniences are really worth getting upset over.

You can listen to our Maintaining an Attitude of Gratitude podcast episode on our website here. You can also listen on our YouTube channel here.

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Staying Strong Through the Storm

Microphone and computer; early warning signs of a thyroid problem.
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With fear and anxiety heightened due to current world events, many people are spending each day worrying about many different things, often things that are out of their control. This worry and stress takes a toll on both mental and physical health, and doesn’t do any good. In this week’s episode we’ll talk about staying strong through the storm by keeping your mind focused on the positive, and staying busy while you’re at home. Spending this extended time at home to complete chores you’ve been putting off or start a workout program you’ve been wanting to try are just a couple of the many ways you can stay busy and productive during this time. We have also received many more questions about what can be done to help support immune health, so we’ll answer some more of those questions in this episode.

Products Mentioned in Today’s Show

EZ Relax – We’ve teamed nature’s greatest stress management ingredients to create a uniquely effective combination. Formulated with Ashwagandha, valerian extract, L-theanine, and GABA.

GI Immune – AC-11® is a patented, water-soluble botanical extract of Uncaria tomentosa shown to uniquely support immune function, healthy inflammatory response and the body’s natural defenses at the molecular level against oxidative stress, supporting DNA integrity.† This formula combines AC-11® and larch arabinogalactan to support immune responsiveness and the body’s natural DNA repair capacity.† Arabinogalactan is a polysaccharide that stimulates beneficial immune cells resulting in a powerful immunomodulating effect.†

You can also listen to Staying Strong Through the Storm on our YouTube channel here.

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Staying Positive at Home

Coffee and books; staying positive at home.

Recent world events have caused many people to experience anxiety, depression, and even feelings of isolation. These feelings can take a toll on your overall mental and physical health, so its important to do what you can to stay positive. Focusing on the positive and doing some activities that make you happy may help make these times easier to get through, and this situation may even make you reevaluate your priorities. Let’s go over some things you can do to help you stay positive while you’re at home.

Things You Can Do at Home

Some people may be unable to leave their house for the next couple of weeks, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it or make some personal progress. Taking a warm bath, watching your favorite show, playing a video game, playing a board game with family, baking or cooking, ordering food from your favorite restaurant, and journaling are all good ways to help pass the time and provide some positivity. You can also do any chores you’ve put off for a while like organizing your closet or going through old clothes. Doing a home workout is another good activity that will help pass the time and have some health benefits. If you are feeling lonely or isolated, try calling a friend or family member and talk for a while, or if you have a pet in the house you can keep it close to you.

We’ll Get Through This

These are tough times, but we will come out of this together and stronger than ever. Situations like these often help people realize what’s truly important to them, and not having sports or concerts to occupy our time may be what some people need to see things in their life more clearly. Although you can’t choose your circumstances, you can choose how you react to them. Take some time each day over these next few weeks to write down how you feel and what’s on your mind. Write down what is important to you, what you’re worried about, what you’re excited about, and anything else you can think of. Using this as a time of self-reflection could potentially lead to some healthy changes in your life. Focus on staying positive while you’re at home, and do some of the things that make you happy, and we’ll get through this.

You can listen to our Escaping Fear and Finding Joy podcast episode here. You can also listen on our YouTube channel here.

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Common Doesn’t Mean Normal

Tired man; common doesn't mean normal.

Many people live with different problems like headaches, joint pain, bad breath, anxiety, insomnia, and digestive disorders like indigestion, gas and bloating. Regardless of how common these issues may be, they shouldn’t be accepted as normal, and they may be symptoms of more serious health conditions. Many people ignore these symptoms, but they often have a root cause that should be addressed. Let’s take a closer look at why common doesn’t mean normal and why you shouldn’t overlook these symptoms.

Common Symptoms

The majority of people deal with at least one symptom each day, and for many people it’s the same type of symptoms each day. Think about all the people you know, and how many of them have headaches, joint pain, bad breath, insomnia, anxiety, depression, heartburn, IBS, or more than one of these. These issues have become so common that people tend to brush them off and view them as a normal part of their life, but they shouldn’t be viewed that way. Many of these symptoms are the first warning signs of health issues that may come later in life, and they often have a cause that can be fixed early on before it gets worse.

Possible Causes

Sometimes these symptoms are due to a problem that’s relatively easy to fix like chronic dehydration, stress, or vitamin and mineral deficiencies. However, sometimes they are due to more complicated issues like heavy metal toxicity, mold exposure, and unknown food allergies and intolerances. Some of these possible causes are quite common, although doctors and patients often don’t consider them. For example, one survey found that an estimated 75% of Americans were chronically dehydrated. The human body uses water in all of its cells, tissues and organs, so adequate water intake is crucial to overall health. Although this is a very common issue, most people don’t know the damage it can cause, so education is key.

What You Can Do

Some of the more complicated issues would require extensive testing that’s often unreliable to identify if it’s the cause or not, so trying to fix the simple causes first is a good place to start. Headaches are commonly caused by dehydration, and if you are chronically dehydrated, which can occur if you consistenly drink less water than your body needs, then the occasional headache can turn into chronic headaches and migraines. So, drinking enough water each day, which is about 64 ounces for the average adult, is a good habit to get in to. You should also make sure you are getting enough electrolytes each day.

Another simple habit to add is taking a multivitamin each day, as this can help ensure your body is getting the nutrients it needs each day. While eating a diet that contains plenty of fruits, vegetables, good fats and meats is one of the most important things you can do for your health, it can still be difficult to get all of the necessary nutrients from food alone. Much of the soil used to grow produce is heavily depleted in minerals, meaning the plants that grow in that soil will also be lower in nutrients than they should be. This is why taking supplements is much more important than it used to be.

If you begin consuming enough water and electrolytes each day, eating a healthy diet, and taking a multivitamin, and you still don’t notice a difference in your symptoms, then you may want to consider some of the more complicated causes. However, testing for these issues can quickly get expensive and stressful, and in the case of heavy metal toxicity and mold exposure, testing is often unreliable and inaccurate, so ruling out the simple causes first is usually easier. Even though these symptoms have become more and more common, they shouldn’t be considered normal. Your health is one of the most valuable things you have, so do your best to take care of it!

If you are having any serious or unusual symptoms such as sudden headache, chest pain, stomach pain, bloody stool, etc. consult your physician or call emergency services immediately.

You can listen to our When Feeling Bad Becomes Normal podcast episode here. You can also listen to it on our YouTube channel here.

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When Feeling Bad Becomes Normal

Microphone and computer; early warning signs of a thyroid problem.
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With the almost half of the people in the United States living with at least one chronic health condition, many people have accepted that the way they feel is normal. Feeling tired, depressed, irritable, or having brain fog, insomnia or trouble focusing shouldn’t be normal. While chronic health conditions can be difficult to treat, there are many things you can do to help support your body. When feeling bad becomes normal, feeling good again may seem impossible, but your body can do amazing things when given the right nutrients. In this week’s show, we’ll go over some things you can do to help promote a healthy body and mind throughout life.

Products Mentioned in Today’s Show

Resvera-Max – Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound with antioxidant activity found in grapes, wine, blueberries, cranberries, and peanuts. While red wine has been popularized as an important source of resveratrol, amounts vary widely. The maximum content of resveratrol in red wine extracts available for use in dietary supplements is 20%. In contrast, root extracts of Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) provide up to 50% trans-resveratrol content, the same form as found in red wine.

Active Mega Multi – Active Mega Multi contains activated forms of folate and vitamin B12, along with efficiently utilized mineral forms and fat-soluble vitamins. This formulation offers enhanced antioxidant protection, broader trace element nutrition, and augmented B vitamin support. This core foundation of essential nutrients can help provide an extra measure of nutritional protection.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine – Research on this acetylated derivative of L-carnitine has centered largely on its role in maintaining brain and nerve function during aging.† The acetyl group can serve as a metabolic source of acetylcholine, a brain neurotransmitter, while the L-carnitine component carries fatty acids into mitochondria of nerve, heart, and muscle cells for use in energy production.† Other actions benefit membrane stability, production of nerve growth factor, and cerebral blood flow.†

You can also listen to When Feeling Bad Becomes Normal on our YouTube channel here.

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Staying Healthy This Season

Mug by icy window; staying healthy this season.

Around this time of year we usually start seeing more sicknesses like colds and flus, so we start getting more questions about how to keep the immune system healthy and how to decrease your chances of getting sick. This may be especially important for healthcare workers, teachers and anyone else who is likely to encounter more sick people. Fortunately, there are many supplements you can take and habits you can implement to help you and your family stay healthy this season.

Washing Your Hands and Playing It Safe

One of the best things you can do to help decrease your chances of getting sick is to wash your hands often and thoroughly. It is recommended that you wash your hands before handling food, before you touch your face or eat, after being in a crowded area and when you get home, and/or after shaking hands. You should wash your hands with soap and running water, scrubbing your hands for at least twenty seconds. Be sure to clean under the nails, and the back and sides of your hands as well. You can also use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when you are not able to wash your hands. It is also advised to avoid being in close contact with people who are sick when possible, and to avoid going to work, school or public places when you are sick. Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and then throwing that tissue away is another good habit to get into.

Diet and Supplements

Supplements are not a replacement for a good diet, but they can help provide nutrients you may not be getting enough of from your diet alone. It is always important to eat a varied diet that consists of lots of organic fruits and vegetables, high-quality meats, and good fats, but it may be even more important around this time of year. Eating a variety of healthy foods can help provide the nutrients your immune system needs to function optimally. Taking supplements that contain vitamin C, certain types of mushrooms, and elderberry extract may also help support the immune system. Products like Liposomal C, Immune Essentials, and ViraPro are some great choices.

There are many ways to help keep your immune system healthy this season, and eating lots of organic fruits and veggies is a great way to do support the immune system and other bodily systems. Engaging in light exercise a few times a week may also help increase blood flow and immune system function. So, incorporate more fresh, whole foods into your diet, take a walk a few times a week, get at least seven hours of quality sleep each night, and try some of the supplements mentioned above to help keep your immune system healthy throughout this season.

You can listen to our Remedies for Cold and Flu Virus Symptoms podcast episode here. You can also listen to it on our YouTube channel here.