Call The Backup Guys (When Regular Immune Help Ain't Helping)

This is the fifth day of being sick with this mega bug going around and it's driving me nuts!  I am feeling much better but this virus that everyone is getting must be some super bug because more people got sick this time than usually and they stay sick much longer.


I don't remember last time I got anything seasonal.  And I don't remember a time when I was sick for this long and this intense either.  So on the fourth day I said, Ok, I get it, I take on the chalenge.  It's time I step up my game! I'm calling my Backup Guys, because my regular cold and flu fixes just ain't fixing it.


So I dragged myself to a nearby natural health store (and I sincerely apologize to all the store workers for the less than attractive view of this teary, snotty and sneezing blond girl with oily bed hair wandering around the isles, I hope I didn't get anybody sick!) and I got two things that I knew would help me win this battle (two because I already had the third).  

1. Number One - Immuno-Shield 

Immuno-Shield by Irwin Naturals is my go to when things get serious in the immune department.  I like its blend of vitamins (C, E, Zinc and Selenium) and herbs (Echinacea, Astragalus, Cat's Claw, Andrographis, Olive and Citrus extracts, and Oregano Oil) and a small dose of Bifido probiotics. During the years I worked at a supplement store, each time I recommended this product I received more than positive reviews from my customers.  You can get one HERE.   

One thing that throws me off a bit is the dosage: 6 liquid soft-gels at a time.  But the soft gels are narrow and they swallow very easily.  And that's coming from someone who was afraid to swallow any pill until 33 years old (me!). My regime with Immuno-Shield is six soft gels three times a day. Yeah, that's a lot. But it works.

2. Number Two - Bio-K

This is the ultimate of the ultimate among probiotics! Bio-Ks look like little yoghurt containers, each having two servings.  They come in regular dairy (green), strawberry dairy (red), Non-GMO organic soy (orange), and rice (blue).  These are most powerful when it comes to battling seasonal illness - according to me and to the hundreds of customers that were buying them by cases (they come in 6 and 12 pack cases). Most of the customers said that two days on Bio-K (about 3-4 times a day) and you're back on your feet.  I'm not sponsored by nor affiliated with Bio-K brand.  This is from my personal experience.  I just can't believe I didn't get them when I first got sick!  I must have been... well, sick.

3. Number Three - Neti Pot

Neti pot is this cool little invention that's design to clear out your sinus pasagges.  You can get a small packet of specialty salt HERE that you stir into clean water, and pour into the neti pot.  The pot has a long spout; you insert the spout into one of your nostrils, tilt the pot and let the solution run through your sinuses and out the other nostril.  It's pretty cool.  After I've done it (it wasn't especially pleasant experience, I had uncomfortable pressure under my nose bridge for about 3 minutes), I blew my nose and a lot of weird green stuff came out.  My nasal passages felt a lot better after the procedure.  You can get one HERE.

Honorable Mention: Sweat Bath

Sweat Bath gets an honorable mention because of its amazing ability to remove the toxic buildup through the skin (after all, it's the toxic virus you're trying to get rid of, aren't you?), and it's ability to double and triple up the white blood cells in your body.  It means that it brings your immune function that much higher and allows your body to fight that much harder (white blood cells are the ones that fight diseases).  Whenever I do sweat bath, I make sure to not make the water too hot, I monitor how I feel all the time, and I drink loads of water (for me it's about half a gallon in the bath itself).





There you have it.  After calling my back up guys, I am doing much much better.  Not perfectly enough to go back to work today, but I have a hunch that tomorrow I'll be back on my feet full time. Which makes me triple happy!  What do you think? What are your Immune Backup Guys you always call in an emergency?

Meet Brooklyn: A Girl With A Beautiful Heart

  

Let me tell you a story about Brooklyn, a little girl that showed more kindness and compassion than a lot of the adults I know.  

Brooklyn is a little 8 year old girl, and like other little 8 year old girls she is full of energy, is fun, bubbly, likes to dress up and be around friends. But unlike most little 8 year old girls, Brooklyn enjoys acting in commercials and movies, she models beautiful dresses, and she goes to a lot of auditions.    

Brooklyn's 8th birthday was coming up, and like any other kid, she wanted to have a birthday party, to receive gifts and have friends over. But this year, Brooklyn decided to do something different. She decided she doesn't want toys and gifts for her birthday.  She didn't even want a party this year.  She said she wanted to help those who are less fortunate instead.  

So Brooklyn, with her mom's help decided that instead of having a birthday party this year, they will go and help feed the homeless people.  They created a social media event and invited all her friends to come to the event and help. They also began taking donations to give out care packages.  

The day before the event, Brooklyn spent a lot of time preparing the sandwiches.  Her mom helped her get cases of bottled water and things for the care packages, which included personal care items like moisturizers, shaving accessories, socks, toothbrushes, and snacks.    

It took 3 large carts to load up all the water and care packages the next day.  They were pretty heavy to lug around, but Brooklyn had a lot of help from her family and friends that showed up for the event.  

On a day that any other kid would love to have their birthday party, Brooklyn chose to walk the city streets handing out care packages and waters to the homeless.  I thought it was such a beautiful, selfless act of kindness and compassion.  Such a young heart, but already understands that everybody needs helps, and she was willing to go and be that help herself.  Brooklyn can be an example to many adults, teaching them how to open their hearts and give, instead of always receive.  

George and I were honored to do LTCandG media coverage of the event. 

Below is a little video snippet of the event. Bless your heart, Brooklyn!  

15 Inspirational Quotes for Healthy Mind, Body and Soul

I'm reading an amazing book.  A book full of inspirational and practical advice on how to live a healthy life in mind, body and spirit.  A book that I often go back to to read chapters and snippets from.  No, it's not the Bible, although I could say the same and more of it.

The book I'm reading is called The Ministry of Healing and it has been written in 19th century by a woman who has finished only 3rd grade of education.  Absolutely amazing.  

So today I want to share with you some of the quotes from the book.  I created completely free graphics for you to copy onto your computer, and if you like them, please do share them on your social media, or pin them on Pinterest.  I hope you'll love them as much as I do!

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George's Top Cold & Flu Natural Remedies

We were invited to a wedding.  We love seeing people being happy together and wedding is such a beautiful event. The day came, the venue was set.  George lived about two hours from the wedding venue, I lived about 50 minutes away.

The day before George was feeling kind of.. iffy.  A bit of sore throat, general aches and pains, nothing too serious.  He took a bunch of supplements, did organic coffee enema to take the load off the liver, did a sweat bath, and expected to feel better the next day.

The next day, instead of feeling better, he felt outright miserable.  Raw throat, nose running a river of snot, chills and sweats and possibly a slight fever.  And he really did try.  He got in a car, he drove, and the more he drove the more miserable he felt.

You're absolutely right, we did not make it to the wedding.  Instead, we went to a supplement store to load George (and myself too, just in case) on some powerful immune boosters, and I sent him home with a strict regimen.  So today I'm going to share with you:


George's Cold and Flu Regiment

Oregano Oil  

Oregano oil is my top immune boosting supplement out there.  It's powerful, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory.  It comes from -as the name suggests - from the Oregano herb.  It's so powerful that it acts as nature's antibiotic.  I would not recommend it for children, however, because of its strength, and for adults to only use it in diluted forms (usually 1 part oregano oil, 3 parts carrier oil, such as olive oil).  It tastes nasty, but if you take it in a capsule form you'll spare your taste buds.  George will take one in the morning and one at night, and if his tummy feels ok, one during the day as well.  

Garlic

Now here is the question: what matters most, being social or being healthy?  Let's prioritize, because there is no social without being healthy.  Am I right or am I right? Garlic is a master in combating sickness, especially cold and flu.  Raw organic garlic, when crushed and let sit for about 3 minutes produces a sulfur compound called allicin.  That very compound is responsible for the strong smell, but it's also responsible for the incredible immune boosting properties. 

Can't handle the taste or raw garlic? Here is a simple recipe to try:

-Cup of Almond milk (or rice, or coconut, pick your favorite)
-1 Tbs of raw organic honey
-1 head of raw organic garlic

Peel garlic, chop into fine pieces, let sit for 3-5 minutes.  Add chopped garlic to the cup of almond milk, and stir in the honey.  Keep stirring it it melts.  Now stir some more and when it still swirls, you drink it, together with the pieces of garlic without chewing them.  Just swallow it.  Then stir is some more and repeat till you drink all the chopped garlic.  

Vitamin C

This is a very well known cold remedy, and an effective one too.  Even as a child, my mum would always give me vitamin C tablets to suck on when I was sick.  But now I prefer to take it in its natural form, free from binders and fillers, preservatives and coating colors.  So George will be drinking a lot of freshly squeezed lemon juice with warm water and a tablespoon of raw honey all throughout the day. Also, he'll munch on oranges, and if possible, we'll try to get him some Camu Camu powder, the highest source of vitamin C in nature.  

Water

Drinking lots of water, especially when you're sick is important for a couple of reasons.  Water acts like a carrier to get the toxins out of your body, and it helps with creating fever and keeping it in check.  Fever is beneficial because that means the white blood cells are multiplying (these are the guys that fight illnesses) and your body is fighting.  So you don't have to beat the fever, you want to assist and control with with drinking lots of water.  

We lose 10 glasses daily just by living and breathing.  We need more when we're sick or working out or sweating in a sauna.  If you want to learn more, check out my article about Drinking Water. 


Sleep

I want to say this is the most important remedy in getting well from cold and flu.  Mainly because you don't recover if you don't sleep.  Our bodies are designed to regenerate, restore and heal when we sleep.  And the hours between 10pm and 2am are the healing hours.  That's when the 'magic' happens. 

See, George has this habit of going to bed late.  Late, meaning past midnight sometimes. And when that happens for a while, the immune system goes down and he becomes that much more susceptible to catching viruses.  That's why proper sleep at the proper time is essential for recovering my any disease.     

What are your favorite immune boosters? Feel free to share your top natural remedies in the comments :)





Sources:
Authority Nutrition

Manage Stress With Forest Bathing

How would you like to learn the ultimate stress management method? One that will truly work, remove anxiety, reduce blood pressure, increase your energy, improve mood, help with better sleep and boost your immune system? And one that is virtually free? Too good to be true, you say?

Aha, but think again! There is one, simple, fool proof technique that does all of this and more, and you don't have to pay a dime for it.   It was "invented" by the Japanese in the early 80's and its popularity skyrocketed among the stress laden Japanese people.

Shinrin-yoku

Shinrin-yoku means Forest Bathing.  People have done it for ages, but only as recently as 1982 Japan has proposed it as a stress reducing method and a good lifestyle practice.  It became popular fast as a public health project, and now it's making a big comeback all over the world!

Forest Bathing is basically a trip to a forest that involves soaking up the environment, and being in the presence of trees.  Forget iPhones or Fitbit step counts.  You don't have to walk fast.  You don't have to walk at all.  You can just meander or sit down among the trees and breathe in the phytoncides, which are the wood essential oils and other compounds derived from trees.        

But these are not just musings of a forest fanatic or a devout nature lover.  There are now scientific studies backing it all up.  And yet, I find it rather sad that the natural, God given healing methods, methods that are results proven to work in lives of many people, are often taken with a grain of salt, unless studied and proven scientifically.

So if you're one of those who cling to science for dear life, here are some hard facts.  From 2004 to 2012, Japan has spent 4 million dollars studying the physiological and emotional effects of forest bathing on humans.  Based on the results, they are now prescribing 48 hours forest bathing therapies. Another study in 2009 showed increased activity in cells boosting immune system and responsible for cancer prevention during the week following forest bathing therapy.

The Benefits? 

There are plenty! Forest bathing boosts your immune system, reduces blood pressure, reduces stress and improves mood, improves sleep, increases energy, accelerates recovery from illness or a surgery and it has shown to increase the ability to focus, even in children with ADHD.  

But there is more.  Being among the green giants will increase your sense of happiness, it will boost your creativity and appreciation for the small things in life.  If you go forest bathing with friends, it will deepen your friendship.  It will open up your senses to nature and creation all around you,  it will open your heart and mind for better communication with the Creator and it will heighten your dependence on the love of God.   

Many inspired authors agree that nature is God's second book and spending time with it creates a sense of joy and peace, as well as general feeling of content and thankfulness. It also sharpens our sensitivity to other people's needs and tragedies,  and increases the desire for prayer, meditation and communion with God.      

John Muir himself said "Thousand of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find that going to the mountains is going home.  Wilderness is a necessity." 

So here is it, from my heart to yours: go out into nature.  You don't need to drive far to find redwoods or any special kind of trees.  Trust me, any woods will do.  And I can guarantee that you will come back a changed man and woman! So Leave The Couch and Go! ;)

Sources:
Wikipedia
Quartz Media
Shinrin-Yoku

How To Beat Morning Stress

Let's face it.  Many times the beautiful pictures of morning zen yoga outdoor poses and steaming hot coffee in a white kitchen with checkered table cloth are just that: pictures! As far removed from reality as possible!

How many times you find yourself waking up barely half hour before your 9 to 5 begins, searching for clothes with mouth full of half chewed food, tripping over your own feet while realizing that you're already late for a meeting, and running out the door with your hair wet, while praying for enough red lights to at least put some mascara on?

Hello anxiety, hello stress, hello "can't wait for Friday" torture.

Mornings Can Be Beautiful

Yes they can, and I'm going to tell you how to make them beautiful.  In fact, I'll tell you what I have learned to make my mornings stress free.  It is possible, and it's not as hard as you think.  All it takes is a little bit of planning and determination, and once you create certain habits, you won't even have to put any effort into it, because it'll be a second nature to you.  So let's begin!

1. You must begin the night before.  

This is one of the most important steps in the process.  Skip it, and watch your morning fall apart before you can even say 'coffee'.  And I get it, you're tired, exhausted, all you can think about is your pillow and it's a miracle you haven't passed out yet.  I get it.  But that's where the choice come in. Make the choice to begin preparation the night before: pick your work clothes the night before and lay them out. Accessorize, from top to bottom.  Pack your work bag, paperwork and keys and place them in strategic place where you just won't miss it.  Prepare.

2. More Time. 

Give yourself extra time in the morning.  Set the alarm half hour earlier than normally. What works for me is setting at least 3 alarm times.  Seriously, I have 6:15, 6:30, and 6:35 going. I'm having hard time waking up early and this works for me.  6:15 wakes me up for the first time, I turn it off, I don't want to get up, I snooze, 6:30 wakes me up again, I'm already annoyed and half asleep anyway, so I get up because I know I'll just be more annoyed come 6:35.  Do whatever works for you, but get up half hour earlier.

3. Hello Today 

Welcome the day with gratitude that you're alive and have a job.  Project a good day ahead and leave negative thinking behind.  Even when bad things happen, do not allow this to set the mood for the day.  You're above it all.  In the morning, bundle up if it's chilly and go outside for 5-10 minutes. Look at the trees, leaves, flowers, watch them wake up and unfold.  Take 10 breaths, inhaling and exhaling deeply.  Don't rush.  Feel your heart beat and think what a wonderful living miracle you are.

 

4. Lemons and Honey

Warm up some water, add some lemon juice and a tablespoon or two of honey, stir it up and sip through a straw.  Shouldn't take more than 5 minutes to make it.  Then take it outside with you. Sipping it will allow you to slow down and gracefully enter the day.  No rush.  Plus, lemon water will help your body and mind feel better.  It helps your liver after hard night's work, detoxifies your body and starts your digestion the right way.  And warm water is much more soothing to the stomach than cold.  You can also make fruit water.  Slice up half a lemon or a strawberry and let is infuse your water.  Fruit waters looks so fresh and pretty, so allow your heart to smile at its beauty.

5. Morning Me Time

Set aside at least 15 minutes for your personal Me Time.  It has to be inspirational, motivational, positive, uplifting and reinforcing.  Whether you read, look at motivational pictures, read inspirational quotes, write down things you are grateful for... it's up to you, your life, your heart.   My morning Me Time consists of 3 things.  One, I do organic coffee enema cleanse, which detoxifies my liver.  It's a lovely, peaceful process where I lay on my right side for 15 minutes.  Two, I read a paragraph of inspirational quotes from either the Bible or a Christian writer.  Something we call a devotion. Three, I quietly pray to God, my Creator, thanking Him for waking me up, keeping me safe and for blessing me with so many beautiful things.  I also ask for peace, love for others and guidance in stressful situations. 

In A Nutshell

Give yourself 30 minutes in the morning and watch how it changes your day and your attitude. Watch how it changes your health, and how you react to and handle stress.  Watch how you can positively influence other people.  Only 30 minutes can do so much!

-5 minutes to prep your lemon water

-5-10 minutes outside

-15 minutes of Me Time 

It's easy, it's simple.  I invite you to give it a go.  And I'd love to hear how it made your morning beautiful! <3 div="">