Ikaria, Greece: Blue Zone Longevity Nutrition

We all tend to take away information from other countries and cultures through the lenses of our own perception. Americans have an even stronger tendency to boil nutritional information and wisdom down into highly restrictive diets and create popular fads. My experience of all the blue zone’s books, shows/documentaries, cookbooks and diet plans was that I suspected this was the case. I was pretty sure that some more balance and critical information may have been missing. While visiting the beautiful blue zone island of Ikaria in Greece I discovered my suspicions were correct and I found the information I was looking for.

I found that the true longevity diet is not a diet at all, but a lifestyle that involves healthy, nutritious foods, healthy habits and a much more holistic approach to longevity. It is important to note that we can eat healthy nutritious foods and even exercise, but if we have unhealthy habits around sleep, stress, mindset and relationships (with ourselves and others), there is no amount of healthy food or exercise that will create optimal health, reduce the risk of disease and create longevity. I wanted to say that front and center! I will write a follow up piece on all the holistic aspects to consider adopting to truly optimize your health and longevity. For now, let’s focus on Ikaria’s longevity nutrition…

Surprisingly the Ikaria’s longevity nutritional approach is much less restrictive than you would imagine. It is focused on balanced, nutrient rich foods, a mindful approach to food sourcing, preparation (to maintain nutrients), eating fresh and in season, specific food pairing and of course, very high (in comparison to the SAD diet – Standard American Diet) in healthy fats. In fact about 30% of their daily calories come from healthy fats such as olive oil, nuts and seeds, fatty fish, egg yolk and avocado.

What do they restrict? The only thing that most Ikarian’s who are or are on the track to becoming centenarians do not eat is refined sugars, fried foods and processed foods. Additionally they steer away from eating bottom feeders (shellfish). But there is much more to consider ‘moving towards’ or adding from their culture around nutrition and only a few things to ‘move away from’ which is to limit, reduce or avoid. As I have been saying for years, we need a more kind and balanced approach to food. One that promotes health and longevity, does not create more stress in our lives and one that reduces the risk of illness and disease. Food is our medicine and one of the most powerful forms of medicine we have in our medicine cabinet or health toolbox.

Let’s first take a deeper look at the US approach to nutrition historically and where that has led us…

The SAD diet is based on a very unhealthy food pyramid that has been taught in schools for decades.

‘In 1974, the first food pyramid was presented to the public with the following message: “A good, healthy diet at a reasonable price”. This pyramid was made up of 3 parts: The base included basic foodstuffs considered essential to the individual’s wellbeing: cereals, dairy products, pasta and potatoes.’ – Alimentarium

In 1992, The US Department of Agriculture developed and published for the public, a food pyramid that impacted the way most people think about their diet and shifted their daily intake. At the bottom of the pyramid were grains and starches, telling us that the bulk of our diet ought to consist of carbohydrates like cereal and bread. Up at the top—in very moderate amounts. Here is a visual –

‘The Pyramid’s emphasis on eating carbohydrates and avoiding fats has been blamed for rising rates of obesity in the U.S. The nation’s food guide has since been updated several times, and now the USDA uses a plate graphic design to promote healthier eating—though it’s still far from ideal.’ – Levels Health

This has led the US and many other nations who unfortunately follow our lead to rapidly increase rates of obesity, type two diabetes, cancer, heart disease, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. There is a solution, one that allows each of us to become empowered to optimize both our current state of health and our longevity. It calls for a return to a more holistic and natural approach to nutritious foods, the way that most centenarians around the world eat.

So now let’s unpack WHAT they eat and HOW they eat it in the blue zone of Ikaria, Greece…

Before I share a few key elements of WHAT & HOW they eat, let me share with you the Ikarian approach in a food pyramid format that I put together –

Now that you have a visual pyramid to guide you, let’s dive into the other key HOW’S & WHAT’s

Balance –

Eat meal consists of a balanced plate with the following included in each meal

  • Healthy fats (add organic virgin olive oil to everything, yes, everything and ideally after it has been cooked)
  • Leafy raw greens
  • Carbohydrates
  • Proteins
  • Probiotics

Nutrient rich foods –

This means whole fresh foods, minimally or not processed, not genetically modified, organic and prepared in ways that retain the nutrients (more on this later).

Plant forward –

This does not mean vegetarian or vegan at all. Plant forward means a focus on consuming large amounts of vegetables and legumes. Think of ½ your plate as being filled with veggies each meal, that is a plant forward approach.

Mindful approach to food sourcing –

I always say that the health of food always starts at the farm, with the soil’s nutrients, then moves into how the plants and animals are raised (without chemicals and animals’ free range and nutrient rich food fed versus soy and processed grains) and finally how they are harvested, packaged and transported. Ikarians follow the guidelines below

  • Grow your own, if possible, if not shop a local farmers market
  • Locally sourced (optimally within 100 miles when possible)
  • Organic and unprocessed or minimally processed
  • Mindful and educated on food origins (example: speaking to the fisherman or fish salesperson to find out how old and big the fish was that their cut is coming from)
  • Eating fresh and in season

Preparation to maintain nutrients – 

You can have clean and healthy nutrient rich foods that then have their health benefits significantly diminished in preparation. Here are a few tips to take away from the Ikarian diet:

  • Never fry
  • Don’t heat oils to high heats (they become carcinogenic)
  • Cook foods on low temperatures and cook slow/longer
  • Don’t grill or blacken poultry, fish and meats (these also become carcinogenic)

Specific food pairing –

This next one is a health game changer! Always eat your carbohydrates; grains, potatoes and even legumes (yes, those are high in carbohydrates too) WITH raw leafy greens. Leafy greens are high in fiber. When we consume carbohydrates in balance with fiber our body is better able to digest, convert and utilize this as energy instead of storing it as fat or spiking our insulin levels. We see many people who eat what we would consider to be healthy here in the US who are developing type two diabetes. This is why. They are not getting enough fiber with their carbohydrates. And grains are the biggest culprit because all grains are somewhat processed, and the processing or milling removes much the fiber creating grains that negatively impact our insulin and glucose levels.

High intake of healthy fats –

At least 30% of the daily caloric intake in most blue zone’s nutrition comes from healthy fats. Our bodies utilize two things for energy, fats and carbohydrates. But healthy fats such as fatty fish, nuts and seeds, olive oil, avocado and egg yolk are ideal for brain health and optimal energy levels. In other words, get ready to drizzle a healthy dose onto EVERYTHING, ideally a nice virgin olive oil that is organic and locally sourced (if possible).

All of the above are then also paired with two critical and actionable elements-

Here is the US we often hear ‘rest and digest’. This comes from the parasympathetic nervous system acts like a brake. It promotes the “rest and digest” response that calms the body down after the danger has passed. The term ‘rest and digest’ has been taken out of context. How this got taken out of context is simple, when the parasympathetic nervous system is in the ‘on’ position it means that your bodies physiology is in a state of calm, not distress or in fight or flight mode which allows the body to be able to put forth energy towards digesting food. This doesn’t mean eat and rest. You should eat and move.

In Ikaria they are taught to:

Eat and move

Fast and rest

Additionally, the Ikarians start and end their day with a cup of light herbal tea and those who do drink coffee do so with breakfast, not before. The herbal teas are made from wild foraged or home grown organic fresh herbs that are native to the island and hold many health and medicinal benefits. Many of these can be found and grown in the US as well. A few of these herbs are –

  1. Mint
  2. Chamomile
  3. Cistus (aka Rock Rose)
  4. Rosemary
  5. Oregano
  6. Thyme

Note, these are the same fresh herbs they use on top of salads as well as mixed into other food dishes for flavor. See my blog on a breakdown of many more of the herbs used in Ikaria both for cooking as well as for medicinal teas HERE

Sources:

George Karimalis, Ikarian, longevity expert and owner of Karimalis Farm and Winery – https://www.ikarianwine.gr/en

https://www.alimentarium.org/en/fact-sheet/origins-food-pyramid#:~:text=In%201974%2C%20the%20first%20food,dairy%20products%2C%20pasta%20and%20potatoes.

https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/how-and-why-the-food-pyramid-diet-recommendations-changed#:~:text=The%20Pyramid’s%20emphasis%20on%20eating,it’s%20still%20far%20from%20ideal.

Sociodemographic and Lifestyle Statistics of Oldest Old People (>80 Years) Living in Ikaria Island: The Ikaria Study

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3051199/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6914977/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8074281/

Estimated prevalence of diabetes in the United StatesTotal: 38.4 million people of all ages had diabetes (11.6% of the population) in 2021. 38.1 million were adults ages 18 years or older. Ikaria in comparison, diabetes is reported to affect 8.0% of the population aged 15 and over

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/4/1386

Diabetes is higher in developed than in developing countries. The number of adults with diabetes in the world will rise from 135 million in 1995 to 300 million in the year 2025.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9727886/#:~:text=Results%3A%20Prevalence%20of%20diabetes%20in,million%20in%20the%20year%202025.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/240883/number-of-diabetes-diagnosis-in-the-united-states/

Top Reasons to Begin a Daily Somatic Practice

Developing a daily somatic practice (at home on your own or get started working with a somatic practitioner for guidance) is a powerful and transformative healing and self-care practice!

Here are the top reasons to begin your practice and the benefits you can expect:

  1. HELPS YOU RECONNECT & DEEPEN YOUR CONNECTION TO YOURSELF

  2. HELPS YOU RELEASE STORED TENSION, STRESS & TRAUMA

  3. HAS THE SAME POSITIVE BENEFITS FOR YOUR BRAIN, IMMUNE SYSTEM & GENERAL HEALTH THAT MEDITATION HAS

  4. HELPS YOU HEAR POWERFUL FEEDBACK FROM YOUR BODY

  5. EQUIPS YOU WITH TOOLS TO SUPPORT YOUR MENTAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH

  6. IS AN EMPOWERING & HEALING SELF-CARE PRACTICE THAT CAN BE DONE AT HOME ON YOUR OWN OR WITH A PRACTITIONER

‘Somatic practices are about getting to know ourselves more intimately; entering a safe and informed practice that responds to our ever-changing needs as dynamic organisms; reclaiming the ability to make our own choices about our bodies.

Even patterns that were once helpful can become hurtful if we aren’t listening to what they are doing to us and if we don’t give them permission to change.’ – Yoga Anytime

Additional benefits of a regular somatic practice:

1. Increased awareness and clarity
2. Boosted creativity
3. Facilitates processing & releasing negative emotions
4. Helps you ground & center
5. Helps you make better choices that are aligned with your highest good
6. Helps you show up in the world as your best self
7. Increases your capacity to deal with life’s stressors

If you are interested in learning more about somatics or to become a certified Integrative Somatic Practitioner visit: iwacoaching.com/somatic-practitioner-certification The Administrative Team
Integrative Wellness Academy

Coronavirus – 6 Tips to Protecting Yourself

Coronavirus & Immunity – How To Protect Yourself

The Coronavirus… is this a serious virus? Absolutely! Should you be cautious and take precautions to remain safe, definitely! There is a lot of misinformation going around and I want to help you by providing information that is directly from The Center for Disease Control and The World Health Organization to ensure that you have the facts. There are also some effective preventative measures that you can take to additionally protect yourself and your family. 

What we know about the Coronavirus –

  • ‘CDC is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and which has now been detected in almost 70 locations internationally, including in the United States. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”). Imported cases of COVID-19 in travelers have been detected in the U.S.’. – The Center for Disease Control (CDC)

How is it spread?

  1. Person-to-person
  2. Contact with infected surfaces or objects

*Read more HERE

What this means is that it is absolutely important to take mindful precautions and also, that those precautions can reduce risks. I will go into this more later and give you the top 6 ways to protect yourself.

How deadly is it???

Though the Coronavirus can lead to death in some cases and it has, the majority of strong, healthy adults are able to fight it off and experience a severe flu at most. Those with compromised or fragile immune systems such as those with another serious illness or disease, those who are elderly and those who are immune compromised are more prone to contracting the virus and well as experiencing more severe symptoms and a higher risk.

‘Both MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV have been known to cause severe illness in people. The complete clinical picture with regard to COVID-19 is not fully understood. Reported illnesses have ranged from mild to severe, including illness resulting in death. While information so far suggests that most COVID-19 illness is mild, study out of China suggests serious illness occurs in 16% of cases. Older people and people with certain underlying health conditions like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, for example, seem to be at greater risk of serious illness.’ – The CDC

*Read more HERE and HERE

Let’s take a deeper look at how deadly and dangerous this virus is in comparison to other epidemics and infectious viruses and illnesses so that you can get a better sense of the situation as a whole and to what level you or your loved ones may be at risk –

As of early March, the coronavirus outbreak had infected more than 90,000 people and killed more than 3,000 people globally, the majority of whom live in China, where the illness was first detected in December. More than 100 people in the United States have been diagnosed, including at least nine people who have died. By comparison, influenza — known as the common flu — has infected as many as 45 million Americans since October and killed as many as 46,000. Both the coronavirus and influenza are respiratory illnesses. Both have similar symptoms. Both are contagious. Both can be deadly according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you want to see more statistics on this issue but delivered in a fun, less stress inducing way, one of my favorite comedic educators, John Oliver shared all about the Coronavirus on last week’s episode. You can watch it HERE

So, What Do We Do?

Now that we have covered details about the virus itself, let’s talk solutions!

Each one of us is able to boost our immune system to its optimal capacity, each person’s optimal capacity is different, but no matter where your immune function lays (low or high) you can support it in being its best and most effective. Having your immune system operating at the most optimal level is an incredibly important aspect of protecting yourself from the Coronavirus in addition to taking other critical preventative measures.

Here are my top 6 tips for protecting yourself against the Coronavirus. I have then provided even more details as to how you can protect yourself from both contracting the Coronavirus as well as better positioning yourself for a positive outcome if you do contract it:

  1. BE SAFE – WASH YOUR HANDS, WEAR A MASK & GLOVES & PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING

Since Coronavirus is spread not only person-to-person but also through surfaces and objects, be sure to both practice social distancing (6-foot rule), wear protective gear such as a mask and gloves as well as wash your hands immediately after touching something. Avoid touching anything else before washing your hands, especially your face or even worse, rubbing your eyes or sticking your finger in your nose.  You must wash your hands WITH SOAP for 20-30 seconds in order to get germs off.

  1. STAY HYDRATED

Our bodies are up to 60% water! Most Americans are operating at low levels of dehydration. When we are dehydrated the body is not able to flush out germs, viruses and bacteria as easily as when it is properly hydrated. This means you should be drinking a minimum of ½ your body weight in ounces of pure filtered water each day (and a maximum of your full body weight in ounces – be sure to take electrolytes if you are drinking your full weight in ounces).

  1. STRENGTHEN YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

This might be the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself! The top immune system drainers are; mental emotional and physical stress, not enough sleep, processed foods, toxins and chemicals, allergens, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, dehydration, overworking and not resting.

Here are a few specific things additional that you can do to increase your immune function in addition to limiting or avoiding the disrupters I mentioned above:

  • Taking Supplements such as L-lysine, Vitamin D, Colostrum, Chaga Mushrooms, Ashwagandha (to decrease impact of stress on the body), Vitamin C, B Vitamins, Zinc, Echinacea, Turmeric (to decrease internal inflammation which can lead to decreased immune function), Oregano Oil and Lavender Oil. You can also take supplements that have many of these ingredients and target immune support and function such as Immunity Master
  • Ginger, garlic and manuka honey all have antibacterial and antiviral properties
  • Avoid antibiotics whenever possible (sometimes they are necessary, but they are often over used. Also, antibiotics cannot help with any virus!!
  • Sleep for 8 hours per night
  • Make sure to schedule a day of rest and recuperation each week! Relax and have fun!
  • Process and release negative emotions. Try finding a safe loving person to talk to or write in a journal
  • Practice mindfulness and meditation, it has been scientifically proven to reduce stress!!
  • Stay hydrated
  • Give yourself permission to do less and also to say no when you need to
  1. AVOID IMMUNE DEPLETING FOODS

You may have heard the saying ‘Food is medicine’, and I agree with this wholeheartedly. I would also add to that that FOOD CAN ALSO BE YOUR ILLNESS. The wrong foods can make you sick and most definitely deplete your immune system. Processed foods filled with chemicals and preservatives, fast food, chemically treated foods, refined sugar, animal products treated with antibiotics and hormones, excess high glycemic index carbohydrates and dairy products put un-necessary pressure on your immune system. Wouldn’t you rather have the little invisible soldiers that make up your immune system battle to conquer viral or bacterial intruders versus to battle to process the junk in your food?

  1. WEAR PROTECTION (MORE ON MASKS & GLOVES)

So many people have been rushing out to buy masks that they are sold out in many locations. The CDC WAS saying the following about wearing masks and respirators in the prevention of Coronavirus:

‘CDC does not recommend the routine use of respirators outside of workplace settings (in the community). Most often, spread of respiratory viruses from person-to-person happens among close contacts (within 6 feet). CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, such as avoiding people who are sick, avoiding touching your eyes or nose, and covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue. People who are sick should stay home and not go into crowded public places or visit people in hospitals’.

However, late March they shifted this position and released the following statement:

‘We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms.  This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms.  In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.’ To read the full report click HERE

While a mask may not be helpful in large open spaces such as the grocery store or mall if you are staying at least 6-feet away from EVERYONE, however gloves certainly are since any surface you touch may be infected. Yet if you are in close proximity, within 6 feet of others who may be ill, a mask can be helpful as ONE of the ways to protect yourself.  When it comes to protective gear, after reading this, determine what you feel is best for you, for myself and my family’s health I personally will be wearing a mask and gloves if I must go out. However, staying HOME is the best preventative step you can take for your health and the health of others.

We don’t want to hoard masks and limit the amount available to healthcare providers but we do need to be protected. Here is a link to instructions as to how to make your own mask at home – CLICK HERE TO READ

If you are a healthcare professional who may be treating patients infected with the Coronavirus this image shows the recommended protective gear by the CDC –

To read the details of protective gear for healthcare practitioners click HERE

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/respirator-use-faq.html

In regards to influenza viral transmission they had previously released a guide for effective use which included the following, ‘A surgical mask or fit-tested respirator should be worn by healthcare personnel who are within 6 feet of a suspected or laboratory-confirmed influenza patient’ and further described their use in non-health care settings as, ‘Adults can shed influenza virus 1 day before symptoms appear and up to approximately 5 to 7 days after onset of illness; thus, the selective use of masks (e.g., in proximity to a known symptomatic person) may not effectively limit transmission in the community. Young children, immunocompromised persons of any age, and critically ill patients with influenza can shed influenza viruses in the respiratory tract for prolonged periods. Moreover, because no single intervention can provide complete protection against influenza virus transmission, emphasis should be placed on multiple strategies’. The full guide can be read HERE

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/maskguidance.htm

I am not fearing the virus, but I am taking precautions! That means that anytime you are out and about be mindful and safe, but STAY HOME as much as possible. There are wonderful grocery delivery services through Instacart & Amazon Fresh, also direct delivery from CSA’s or farms such as Farm Fresh To You

  1. RELAX, DON’T STRESS!

Since stress is at the root of over 85% of all illness and disease, you can make yourself HIGHLY susceptible by worrying about this! Stress and anxiety break down the immune system and increases your chances of picking up a virus when exposed to one. So, take a deep breath and try to approach the whole Coronavirus issue from a responsible and preventative way while also being VERY intentional not to get on the negative-thought-hamster wheel of worry and despair – it definitely will not help and in fact, it can hurt.

For those who are highly susceptible to the Coronavirus (elderly, immune compromised or those with other underlying health conditions) limiting exposure means staying home and self-isolating when possible. If you who still have questions or are having a hard time moving past worry, let’s burst a few more myths about the Coronavirus –

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Images provided by The World Health Organization

May you be healthy, and may you take action to create your own health!

In Wellness,

Dr. Rachel

 

Hormone Health

Why Are Balanced Hormones So Important?

Unfortunately, the subject of hormones can be a subject that people shy away from which can lead to needless suffering and a lack of optimal health and wellbeing. Both women and men live with hormone imbalances without ever getting properly supported. So, let’s open up conversations and openly discuss this important topic.

First and foremost, we need to be having more candid conversations about hormone health, and remove the stigma attached to hormone issues. Our hormones have an impact not just on our sexual health but also on mental, emotional and physical health in huge ways for both men and women. We need to have balanced hormones in order to function properly. Our hormones signal many functions within the body from breathing, how to expend energy, the need to eat and even signal our body to grow. Hormones also regulate, metabolism, heart rate, appetite, circadian sleep rhythms, body temperature, reproductive and sexual function and even regulates stress!

Understanding Where Hormones Are Produced & What They Do…

Again, hormones are not just associated with male and female reproductive organs. We have many glands in the body that make hormones for different purposes. Get to know your hormone producing centers –

  • Ovaries: Sex hormones for use in reproduction
  • Testes: Testosterone and sperm
  • Pituitary: Control center for numerous other glands
  • Parathyroid: Calcium regulation
  • Pancreas: Makes your insulin
  • Hypothalamus: Regulates numerous functions such as body temperature, appetite, mood, sleep rhythms, thirst and libido
  • Thyroid: Regulates heartbeat, effects metabolism and how calories are used by the body.
  • Adrenal Glands: Stress hormones such as cortisol
  • PinealGland: Produces melatonin and regulates the body’s internal clock

What Are Some of the Things That Can Disrupt Our Hormones?

Lack of proper sleep, chemical filled beauty and skin products, stress, toxins we encounter in food and even within the cleaning products in our homes. Stress also has a huge disruptive impact on hormones. A poor diet and lack of exercise are also triggers for hormone imbalance.

Other disruptors include some workout supplements, caffeine, illegal steroid use and some energy drinks.

Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance

First, let’s dive into understanding how imbalances can occur. Hormonal imbalances occur when there is too much or too little of a hormone in the bloodstream. Hormones have a critically important role in the body which is why even a slight imbalance can lead to significant symptoms.

Signs your hormones may be out of balance; Infertility, PMS, postpartum depression, inconsistent or irregular menstrual cycles, brain fog, skin problems, mood swings, increased aggression and anger, decreased tolerance to stress, depression or anxiety, lack of energy, decreased sex drive, headaches, you have diabetes, PCOS or thyroid imbalances or thyroid disease and more. The specific symptoms of hormonal imbalance will depend on which glands and hormones are affected since they each control different functions within the body.

Some of the more common symptoms of hormonal imbalances include:

  • Weight gain or loss that is not a result in changes in diet, exercise or medication
  • Sleep disruptions or difficulty falling asleep
  • Low energy or extreme fatigue
  • Sudden onset of temperature sensitivity (intolerance to hot or cold)
  • Excessive sweating (when not exercising)
  • Skin problems such as acne, dry skin, eczema or rashes
  • Changes in blood pressure or heart rate
  • Changes in your cholesterol levels or blood sugar
  • Mood swings, anxiety, depression or irritability
  • Migraines or headaches
  • Increased thirst
  • Gut issues, leaky gut and bloating
  • Changes in appetite
  • Significant decrease or increase in sex drive or sexual function
  • Hair loss, thinning or brittle hair, including of the eyebrows
  • Infertility in both men and women

Natural Ways to Rebalance Hormones

Since balancing hormones is about supporting the optimal functioning of all of your different hormone producing centers, here are the top natural ways to support them all:

  1. Getting enough sleep – yup, the good old 8 hours a night rule applies here!
  2. Sleep in total darkness – light disrupts hormone production during sleep. Get black out curtains, an organic eye mask and ditch the electronics in your bedroom.
  3. Stress management, stress reduction and increasing your capacity to deal with life’s stressors – this includes learning new tools to deal with stress, better ways to react to stress and also taking action to limit stress.
  4. Exercise – getting enough cardiovascular exercise, strength building exercise as well as stretching or restorative fitness is critical to supporting hormones.
  5. Balanced Diet – Eating a balanced toxic free diet that includes all of the macro and micro nutrients your body needs, for example getting enough protein, healthy fats and also low glycemic carbohydrates.
  6. Reduce alcohol intake and eating processed foods
  7. Swap coffee for green tea
  8. Cut out dairy
  9. Natural supplements (see more below)

*Warning, taking estrogen, testosterone or progesterone supplements without super vison of a health care professional is extremely dangerous. If you feel that you have a hormone imbalance that does not seem to be able to be corrected through diet, exercise, stress reduction and natural supplements that support hormone balance (not ones that include natural bio-identical hormones) then see a professional health care practitioner in order to get tested and treated appropriately for your body’s exact hormone needs.

Specific Foods & Herbs That Help

For Men –

  1. Malaysian ginseng – helps with increasing libido, sports performance, weight loss, helps with production of testosterone and can even help with high blood pressure.

Ashwagandha – Adaptogen herbs such ashwagandha help with numerous hormone producing glands which has also been effective in sexual disfunction and even infertility. Ashwagandha has been used in ancient cultures for centuries to enhance communication in the endocrine system.  It is wonderful at easing stress, thyroid conditions, and strengthening the adrenal system, which is important in balancing sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Ashwagandha has a positive effect on menstrual health and libido.

  1. DHEA – DHEA has been known to help balance hormones and has even been used by some men for ED. It can help in the production of both testosterone and estrogen. *be sure to first check with your doctor before taking DHEA because if your body is not deficient it can sometimes cause the opposite effects on hormones.
  2. L-Arginine – This amino acid helps increase blood flow and may be helpful with ED.
  3. Astragalus – Known for its benefits to the immune system and also its ability to balance all hormones by helping the body to adapt to physical and emotional stress.
  4. Vitamins that also help – Vitamin D, Zinc aid in hormone regulation as well.

For Women –

  1. Evening primrose oil – It has omega-6 fatty acids which can helpyour body regulate hormone
  2. Ashwagandha – Adaptogen herbs such ashwagandha help with numerous hormone producing glands which has also been effective in sexual disfunction and even infertility.
  3. DHEA – DHEA has been known to help balance hormones and has even been used by some men for ED. It can help in the production of both testosterone and estrogen. *be sure to first check with your doctor before taking DHEA because if your body is not deficient it can sometimes cause the opposite effects on hormones.
  4. Maca is an adaptogen herb that can balance hormones depending on what you need. Maca contains flavonoids that can improve mood, reduce anxiety, balance levels of estrogen, reduce hot flashes and night sweats. It can also increase energy, support stamina and help to increase libido.
  5. Astragalus – is known for its immune stimulating action and its anti-aging effect. The latter is attributed to the compound cycloastragenol in the herb which activates the enzyme telomerase that protects DNA from degradation during replication. Beyond that, astragalus was chosen because of its ability to balance all hormones by helping the body to adapt to physical and emotional stress.
  6. Yellow Curcumin – has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries, especially in gynecologic and female disorders. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory that improves estrogen metabolism and estrogen dominance.
  7. Musta – is an emmenagogue, helping stimulate menstrual flow in women. This helps to promote healthy menstruation and regulates menstrual cycle. Combined with other herbs to treat menstrual problems it can help in treating anemia and general weakness during your cycle.

That may seem like way too many different supplements to take, which is one of the reasons Nupeutics created the Hormone Master supplement where you can find many of the needed herbs to support hormone balance within one high quality supplement. To find out more about Hormone Master click HERE

Additional Hormone Information

If you love research and clinical data as much as I do, here are some great articles from trusted sources –

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3079864/

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-study-shows-caffeine-consumption-linked-estrogen-changes

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4377487/

 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/what-causes-depression

 

And these are good reads as well…

https://nypost.com/2019/02/22/nearly-half-of-women-have-been-affected-by-a-hormonal-imbalance/

 

http://www.aikenbellamagazine.com/2019/05/05/could-hormonal-imbalance-be-the-cause-of-your-anxiety/

 

Developing A Gut Health & Care Ritual

Keep in mind that your gut health and care ritual will look different than someone else’s. What works for your gut health may not work for another person and vice versa. Give yourself permission and space to experiment in order to discover what the right balance looks like for you.

Here are some cute care ritual elements to consider trying out:

  • Stress management, stress reduction and increasing your capacity to deal with life’s stressors
  • Mindfulness
  • Meditation
  • Processing & releasing negative thought patterns and negative emotions
  • Proper hydration!!
  • Balanced intentional eating (and serving sizes)
  • Exercise
  • Gut supporting supplements 

Keep in mind that any self-care practice will not be beneficial unless you practice it with consistency. So be sure to create a balanced game plan that will work for your life and commit to that plan!

Do you love to research? Take a deep dive into the research and sources from this blog and my gut health blog series:

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/digestive-system-how-it-works

 

https://med.nyu.edu/medicine/gastro/about-us/Gastroenterology-news-archive/your-gut-feeling-healthier-digestive-system-means-healthier

 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/leaky-gut-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-mean-for-you-2017092212451

 

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-human-microbiome-project-defines-normal-bacterial-makeup-body

 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-gut-bacteria-improve-your-health

Prebiotics & Probiotics

Is everyone you know on the probiotic band wagon? Here’s why… they are the power houses of gut health & even your wellbeing! You may be confused about what probiotics are and what they do. You may have even heard of probiotics and now find yourself even more confused.

What is the difference between prebiotics and probiotics?

Probiotics are live (good) bacteria

Prebiotics are food that support the good bacteria in your gut, this is like fertilizer for a garden. They serve as food for the probiotics (good bacteria). They are indigestible fibers (by humans) that are fermented (by bacteria) along the GI tract.

Do you need both? Yes! They both work together and support the human body’s production and maintenance of healthy bacteria and microorganisms.

Foods rich in prebiotics

  • Asparagus
  • Bananas
  • Apples
  • Oat Groats (whole), and steel-Cut Oats
  • Dandelion Greens
  • Flaxseed
  • Leeks
  • Garlic

Foods rich in probiotics

  • Sauerkraut
  • Pickles
  • Pickled beets
  • Kombucha
  • Yogurt
  • Acidophilus Milk
  • Kimchi
  • Kefir

May your gut be filled with health and proper amounts of both pre and probiotics!

In Wellness,

Dr. Rachel

Foods That Support Gut Health

Nutrition plays a HUGE role in your gut health and overall wellness of your microbiome. The saying ‘food is medicine’ is true AND good food is great preventative medicine!

Here is a little cheat sheet for good foods (and drinks) for your gut –

  • Probiotics & Prebiotics through foods and supplementation
  • Raw Green Fibrous Veggies
  • Fermented Foods
  • Water, Water & More Water
  • Prebiotics Rich Foods; Bananas, Asparagus and Artichoke
  • Polyphenols Rich Foods; Olive Oil, Berries, Nuts & Green Tea
  • Pineapple – For digestive enzyme properties
  • Peppermint – For digestive properties

Since gut health is dependent on your unique microbiome, be sure to listen to your body when it comes to food choices. Using my Wellness Journal Template can be helpful in tracking what works and does not work for YOUR body. You can download that template within the FREE Cleanse & Create 30-Day Whole Person Wellness & Detox Program. Visit cleanseandcreate.com to enroll!

In Wellness,

Dr. Rachel

The Mind-Emotion-Gut Connection

Science is FINALLY catching up to ancient health and wellness knowledge used for thousands of years to both prevent and cure illness and disease. This new paradigm for health has been coined the mind-body movement. Yet, it is only partially beginning to express the deep connection between the mind and the body. We now know that there is a mind-body-emotion connection that impacts our health and wellbeing.

Our mind and our internal thought life create thoughts and thought patterns that then begin to be experienced in the body as emotions. These thoughts and emotions then manifest or materialize within the body impacting health on a cellular level.

Negative thoughts and emotions cause acidity which leads to an imbalance in proper gut function, causes inflammation and a decrease in overall gut health. Since we know that gut health is directly linked to the health of numerous other systems and organ function within the body such as the brain, immune system and entire digestive system function, working towards healing negative thought patterns and processing as well as clearing negative emotions has a powerful impact!

Most of us do not learn effective ways to address our internal landscape, both negative thoughts and negative emotions. This is why taking accountability and seeking to learn new tools and techniques will empower your future health.

When our gut is out of balance it begins to not only negatively effect our physical health but also mental and emotional health. So the cycle of negative thoughts-negative emotions-gut imbalances ends up spinning out of control and feeding the continuation of this cycle which can lead to or trigger symptoms of anxiety and depressions.

If you struggle with mental and emotional health issues, please get the support you need from a professional and also look deeper into your nutrition and gut health as well.

In Wellness,

Dr. Rachel

A Dose of Healing… From Nature?

That’s right, nature delivers a power packed shot of medicine! We are wired to spend time moving our bodies, breathing fresh air, being around trees, grass and beautiful landscapes. But so often us modern busy-bees spend time outdoors, away from computer screens WAY less frequently then our health and wellbeing calls for.

Did you know that most Americans have lowered levels of vitamin D which can lead to depression, lack of energy and even a decreased immune system? That’s right we NEED sunshine. We also need nature. Being in nature reduces anxiety, anger, fear, and stress and increases feelings of wellbeing and happiness. All of which increase our immune system function AND support our parasympathetic nervous system.

The parasympathetic nervous system is one of three divisions of the autonomic nervous system. Sometimes called the rest and digest system, the parasympathetic system conserves energy as it slows the heart rate, increases intestinal and gland activity, and increases gut health, digestion, decreases internal inflammation and acidity.

Exposure to the outdoors not only makes you feel better mentally and emotionally, it increases your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones in addition to the benefits of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Research shows that being in nature can reduce stress significantly, which in turn also positively impacts our bodies wellness through how your nervous, endocrine, and immune systems are working. Furthermore, there is a body of evidence, proving what we all know to be true: nature is good for us and has both long and short term mental and physical health benefits.

Some additional health benefits of being out in nature”

  • Produces feelings of calmness & clarity
  • Boosts energy
  • Positively impacts your vision
  • Sunlight helps reduce pain
  • Stimulates brain function

Being in nature for only 20-30 minutes a day has a hugely positive impact on physical, emotional and mental health and wellbeing. It fights depression and anxiety and improves inner peace.

For all of these reasons, as a Doctor of Natural Medicine I highly recommend that people spend more time outdoors, in nature. Try to make it a daily practice. Incorporate nature into your mindfulness and spiritual practices as well as your health and self-care rituls.

Mental Detox, A Game Changer!

We can all relate to how toxic our thought life can be at times. We can easily get sucked into negative and spiraling thoughts. Anxiety filled thoughts. Fearful thoughts. Anger thoughts. Resentful thoughts and more. Once our thought life becomes toxic it sends signals not only to trigger emotions but also to trigger our fight or flight response. This slows digestion, reduces our ability to think with clarity and even disrupts our hormone balance and hormone production.

If you have ever heard the phrase ‘holding onto a resentment is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die’? Yup, that is one hundred percent a reality within our physiological response to negative and toxic thoughts and thought patterns. Additionally, our self-talk or the thoughts we think about ourselves, when these become negative, they also have a toxic effect on our system. There are also real physical toxins that our mind and brain can be impacted by.

First, it is important to understand what is toxic to the mind (brain) and entire mental system (brain + though life + mindset)? Here are a few:

  • Environmental toxins (the air & pollutants)
  • Foods, beauty products and household products with harmful chemicals in them
  • Stress (mental, physical & emotional stress)
  • Negative thoughts (mind set, self-perception, self-talk & thinking patterns)

How toxins effect the mind (brain) and entire mental system (brain + though life + mindset) –

  • Negative and toxic thoughts and mindsets impact mental and physical health significantly! They even change your body Ph. level and the ability to digest and absorb nutrients properly
  • Impact brain health and can cause brain fog, cause headaches, lead to increased anxiety & depression as well as decrease overall brain function
  • Decrease the brains ability to make and balance hormones and neurotransmitters
  • Decrease the ability to mentally focus

Detoxing and cleansing the mind (brain) and entire mental system (brain + though life + mindset) requires both an outside-in approach AND an inside-out approach simultaneously!

Outside-in detoxing requires behavior changes, supplements and nutritional changes to eliminate toxins and also new, healthier choices.

Inside-out detoxing detoxing requires learning new tools (and applying them) to increase balance in your thought life, overcoming limiting beliefs about yourself and others as well as shifting your overall mindset towards positivity.

What are some of the benefits that you can experience after detoxing and cleansing the mind (brain) and entire mental system (brain + though life + mindset) –

  • A more peaceful thought life
  • Optimized brain function
  • Decrease in health issues
  • Decrease in anxiety and depression symptoms
  • More clarity
  • More joy!

I am so passionate about cleansing and rebalancing the WHOLE self; mind, body, heart & spirit that I created a FREE 30-Day program in partnership with Nupeutics Naturals. You can enroll HERE

 

 

 

The Importance of Emotional Detox and Cleansing

We have all heard of cleanses and detox programs for the body. But what about our emotions??? Yes, our heart can become highly toxic and effect not only our emotional and mental wellbeing and health, it can have a massive negative impact on our physical and spiritual health as well.

First, it is important to understand what is toxic to the heart (emotional system; emotions, relationships with self and others). Here are a few:

  • Heavy metals and toxins – yes these create toxicity that impacts our emotions!
  • Stress (mental, physical & emotional stress)
  • Stuck or unprocessed negative emotions (such as anger, resentment, fear, guilt & shame)

How these toxic things effect the the heart (emotional system; emotions, relationships with self and others) –

  • Negative and toxic emotions and relationships (with yourself and with others) impact emotional, mental and physical health significantly! They even change your body Ph. level and the ability to digest and absorb nutrients properly
  • Can trigger negative DNA markers
  • Decreases immune system function
  • Can (when emotions are suppressed or stored long-term) lead to diseases such as cancer and heart conditions
  • Impact your ability to speak your truth in a kind and loving way, as well as to create and maintain healthy boundaries
  • Decrease the brains ability to remain emotionally balanced
  • Decrease the ability to react appropriately
  • Decreases your ability to show up for yourself and others at your best
  • Gut issues

Detoxing and cleansing the the heart (emotional system; emotions, relationships with self and others) requires both an outside-in approach AND an inside-out approach simultaneously!

Outside-in detoxing requires behavior changes in HOW you react outwardly to negative emotions, releasing negative emotions (or clearing them), supplements and nutritional changes to eliminate toxins and also new, healthier choices as well as honoring your boundaries through action.

Inside-out emotional detoxing requires learning new tools (and applying them) to increase balance in your thought life, resolving core emotional issues, changing HOW you process emotions & forgiveness.

What are some of the benefits that you can experience after detoxing and cleansing the heart (emotional system; emotions, relationships with self and others) –

  • More fulfilling & harmonious relationships with self and others
  • Optimized immune system
  • A more balanced emotional life
  • Decrease in depression & anxiety symptoms
  • Ability to respond to negative emotions in a healthier way
  • More joy!

I am so passionate about cleansing and rebalancing the WHOLE self; mind, body, heart & spirit that I created a FREE 30-Day program in partnership with Nupeutics Naturals. You can enroll HERE

Ways to Reduce Your Environmental Toxins

We live it a world filled with environmental toxins. They are all around us, in the products we use, the food we eat and the air we breathe. So how do we reduce enough to make an impact on our lives and our health without living in a bubble?

Since we can’t do anything to make the air quality better in this instant, it’s about reducing the biggest toxins that we are CHOOSING while also reducing our foot-print so that we contribute to a better and less-toxic tomorrow. That’s right, every time we buy a product or order food we are literally making a choice.

Many of us have given up on trying to figure out what all the crazy ingredients listed on the back even mean or feel overwhelmed by all of the toxic things that are potentially in our food, water and products that they are not transparent about or that we feel we have no control over. That is correct. We do not have control over cutting ALL environmental toxins out of our lives. So let’s focus on the simple and easily accessible fixes.

Before we dive into these solutions, let me give you a brief idea WHY it is hugely important to invest some energy into this endeavor first.

Environmental toxins are the harmful elements found in air, food and products we use. These negatively impact or mental and physical health.

‘Like most complex diseases, cancer results not from a single flawed gene, but rather the interplay of multiple genes and any accumulated damage to DNA caused by environmental factors such as exposure to chemicals, or aspects of lifestyle, such as smoking’ – Amy Roeder, Harvard Public Health.

‘More than two decades of research has shown that air pollution can trigger heart attacks, strokes, and irregular heart rhythms, particularly in people who have or are at risk for heart disease’ – Deepak Bhatt, MD, MPH.

‘Put simply, what you eat directly affects the structure and function of your brain and, ultimately, your mood. If your brain is deprived of good-quality nutrition, or if free radicals or damaging inflammatory cells are circulating within the brain’s enclosed space, further contributing to brain tissue injury, consequences are to be expected’ – Eva Selhub, MD.

*All quotes above are from a conference at Harvard Medical School called Taking It All In: Environmental toxins and your health. You can read the full transcripts HERE.

Here are some impacts you may personally be experiencing from environmental toxin exposure –

Here are some simple steps you can begin taking now in order to reduce the environmental toxins you are being exposed to (and effected by) daily…

  1. Shop organic foods at farmer’s markets
  2. Avoid foods & products in plastic
  3. Switch to organic & natural beauty products that come in glass containers
  4. Switch to using organic non-toxic makeup
  5. Switch to natural non-toxic cleaning products
  6. Diffuse essential oils to clean the air (Lavender oil or OnGuard from Dottera – you can get them HERE)
  7. Store foods and drinks in glass containers
  8. Filter ALL your water (for cooking, drinking & showering)
  9. Use an air purifier
  10. Eat organic non-GMO whole foods
  11. Carry your water in a non-toxic bottle (glass is best)
  12. Ditch the toxic deodorant & switch to a natural, non-toxic one (Read my blog review of the current ones on the market HERE)

 

To see some of my favorite non-toxic products, click HERE

At the end of the day it is all about making progress in a balanced way! Try not to get bogged down and overwhelmed. Taking one step to reduce one toxin from your life is better than none. Start where you are and move forward from there.

In Wellness,

Should Armpit Detoxing Be the Next Fad?!?

DETOXING INFO Plus… Natural Deodorant Review & Detox

My top favorites AND a simple under arm detox and care routine that will boost your immune system!

But first, why consider armpit detoxing at all? Why is it INCREDIBLY important to both detox your under arm lymph nodes AND make a permanent switch to a natural and non-toxic form of under arm deodorants, like yesterday?

First you need to get to know your pits a bit… we have so many lymph nodes just under the surface of our arm pit area and these little lymph’s have the job of fighting off infections. Lymph nodes pull out toxins and secrete them out of the body. When our under arm lymph nodes are continually coated with toxins like aluminum or blocked from sweating out the toxins they can become blocked and the toxins build up.

‘The lymphatic system is one of the body’s primary tools for fighting infection. This system contains lymph fluid and lymph nodes, which occur in critical areas in the body. Cancer cells sometimes enter and build up in the lymph system.

Lymph nodes are responsible for filtering lymph fluid and detecting chemical changes that signal an infection is present. When these filter points are in the armpit, doctors call them axillary lymph nodes.

As axillary lymph nodes are near the breasts, they are often the first location to which breast cancer spreads if it moves beyond the breast tissue.

The number of axillary lymph nodes can vary from person to person, ranging from five nodes to more than 30.’ – Rachel Nall, RN, BSN, CCRN

Here are is my self-care routine to keep your under arm’s stink free while also stimulating your under arm lymph nodes to work optimally in order to increase your immune system, fight off illness and decrease the risk of cancer.

PIT-CARE & DETOX ROUTINE

#1 Go Non-Toxic – Switch to an organic, non-toxic deodorant (see my review and recommendations below)

#2 Exfoliate – A full body exfoliation is an amazing detoxer for all skin & helps with lymphatic drainage as well. Exfoliate in the shower 2-3 times per week – I like using exfoliating mits, find them HERE

#3 Dry Brush – Use a dry brush weekly to stimulate lymphatic drainage – don’t have a dry brush? Get my favorite one HERE

#4 Sweat It Out! Hit the gym and get your sweat on or sit in a steam room or dry sauna for 20-40 minutes

#5 Armpit Detox – Detoxing the lymph nodes is hugely important! I use this under arm detox with the built in roller for additional lymphatic massage, I call it Lymph Rescue and you can purchase it HERE or you can simply mix activated charcoal, bentonite clay, apple cider vinegar and coconut or Argan oil – coat your underarms with it and let it soak in for about 30-45 minute and then wipe with a moist HOT towel – be sure to use a dark towel to avoid the charcoal staining the towel.

#6 Massage – Get a lymphatic massage or try an Ayurvedic Abhyanga self-massage

#7 Switch Your Soap – Skip toxic deodorant soaps with chemicals and fragrances– Opt for organic and clean non-toxic soaps, this means you should recognize ALL the ingredients and they should be natural. Use an organic all natural non-toxic soap that does not have perfumes in it. If you like scented soaps make sure they are scented with 100% pure essential oils. You can find some good options at Whole Foods and check out the ones I use HERE or I love these ones infused with essential oils HERE

Ok, Drum roll please….

I have been testing natural deodorants for over 4 years, including homemade options. Yup, this long experiment has been a challenging one, but I feel so strongly about this that it was worth it in order to share my results with every single one of you! All in all, over the years I have tested over 100 different natural and non-toxic deodorant options. I am not going to list them all, only the winners and a review of a few popular ones on the market today.

DEODERANT REVIEW

Over the last few years I have tested and compared over 50 different types of natural, organic and non-toxic deodorants. I like to circle back around and re-test every once in a while to see if new and better cleaner options (for my body and for the environment) have been released. Here is my top reviewed deodorant products of 2019 along with the products pro’s and cons:

#1 – First Place Winner – Schmidt – Charcoal & Magnesium

In theory this one is my favorite because of all of the additional health and detox benefits that you get from the charcoal and magnesium. However, slight warning, it is a tad stickier then my #2 pick below so if slight stickiness really bugs you go with #2. This one smells great, works and helps detox you as well as give your body a much needed magnesium boost… for anyone who has ANY stress in life, this is very beneficial. You can buy it HERE

#2 – Second Place Winner – Milk & Honey – Coconut Lemongrass

Absolutely the best so far for performance. It gives dry pits and a non-sticky feeling. Excellent odor protection. Clean ingredients. Gentle on the skin. You can buy it HERE

#3 – Third Place Winner – Dottera

I absolutely love the Doterra products because of the non-toxic ingredients, ethical sourcing and plethora of research and transparency they provide on each product. The deodorants smell amazing since they are infused with high quality and locally sources essential oils. You can buy it HERE

Other deodorants tested…

Lume – Jasmine Rose

Somewhat stickier then others but worked for 24 hours and smells good! Buy it HERE

Love, Beauty & Planet – Argan Oil & Lavender

Sticky and stays sticky but works moderately. Leaves a coating on the skin – be sure to exfoliate after using this product. Buy it HERE

Crystal – unscented solid mineral stick

This is one that I REALLY wanted to work because I do not typically like stick deodorants because of the stickiness. I tried this product multiple times of a 2-year period. I kept circling back hoping it would work, it didn’t AT ALL L

Everyman Jack – Cedarwood

Do not recommend – thumbs down, to sticky and only hides the funk, aka covers it up.

The Healthy Deodorant – Vanilla Lavender (sold at Whole Foods)

Do not recommend. I SO wanted this one to be excellent, but it was less than excellent for sure. Did not keep odor away at all.

Native – Coconut & Vanilla (has some chemicals)

Moist but not sticky at first application. Nice scent but less clean ingredients than other competitors, still non-toxic. Worked somewhat well keeping odor away, however it did not stop me from sweating all day and getting my t-shirt wet. Buy it HERE

EO Organic Deodorant – French Lavender Spray

Love that it is a spray, excellent for delicate clothes that you can’t get sticky with a roll on or stick deodorant, and has a nice scent. Does not have strong coverage but works excellently if you wash your pits once and re-spray midday and after exercise. For those who hate any form of sticky or deodorant stick, this one is your winner. Buy it HERE

Nuud

Do not recommend. Sticky and did not keep odor away, so thumbs down but major points for the mindfulness to the environment!

Tips & Tricks Transitioning to Natural

Keep in mind that everyone’s body responds differently based on your unique body chemistry and Ph balance. Because of that you may have to try a few options before you find the right product and pit-care routine that works for you.

There is also a noteworthy detox period. So imagine that you have been creating layers and layers of toxins over time, these toxins will begin to release out but will take up to 1 month to full cleanse from your body. This may add to your odor. So if you think, ‘Oh these natural deodorants make me smell worse’, it’s most likely NOT the deodorant, it’s the previous gunk that is no longer being suppressed in your body finally beginning to escape.

The pit-care self-care tips I gave above will DRAMATICALLY reduce the detox time and help you pull those toxins out!

Please note: There is also a detox period so the first week or two you may need to shower more often. Stick with it, it gets better!

Warning: Hey Ladies…

…You NEED to know this!

Did you know that most tampons are filled with toxic and even dangerous materials such as:
  • Non-organic cotton
  • Fragrance
  • Chlorine
  • BPA
  • Dioxin (chemical is a result of chlorine processing)
 
What does this mean?
Organic cotton tampons may lower the risk of TSS. Organic feminine products are free of synthetic elements and potentially-harmful ingredients, so they carry a much lower risk of toxic shock syndrome. This is because organic cotton tampons won’t have elements that increase your risk of bacteria and other infections. Previous testing of tampons have found pesticide residue, parabens and phthalates linked to hormone disruption, antibacterial chemicals like triclosan, and various carcinogens including styrene and chloroform… and as we now know carcinogens have been linked to some forms of cancer development.
Bottom line? Time to make the switch to organic.
My personal fav’s are:
  1. Lola (absolutely the best & what I use)
  2. Seventh Generation
  3. O.B. Organic Tampons
  4. Veeda
Do your research and make sure you read ALL of the ingredients used in organic tampons. Just because they use the words ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ on the box doesn’t always mean there aren’t toxic elements or ingredients. If the ingredients aren’t listed, call the company directly and ask!

Building a Healthy Relationship with Fear

The emotion of fear gets a bad rap. As a teacher, writer and coach I have seen, read and heard countless blogs, posts, articles, books and conversations about how fear must be eradicated and removed from life. Let’s take a quick step back and access this from a psychological and biological position.

 

  • All emotions are responses that are wired into our makeup and are part of the full spectrum of human emotions and experiences.

 

  • Fear is one of the largest tools for feedback to ensure safety and survival.

 

  • It is impossible to remove our ‘fight or flight’ responses.

 

When we have a healthy relationship with fear it can be a guide versus a roadblock!

 

So why can fear be so awful and crippling at times? How can we learn to harness this normal emotion to better serve us? How can we work with fear versus against it? How can we better understand ourselves and our life through fear? How can we move beyond the negative impacts of fear? How can we experience and create a healthier and more balanced relationship with fear?

 

When we have an unbalanced or unhealthy relationship with fear it can block us from moving forward, having clarity, making good choices, effectively solving problems and overcoming life’s challenges, stressors and obstacles.

 

First, let’s understand health fear…

 

Fear is a response that is meant to warn us and keep us safe. Unfortunately, many people have become ‘triggered’ into a fight or flight or fear based state 24/7 and thus respond to non-threatening issues as if they were life threatening on a physiological level. This means that the things that may not normally cause fear or stress do.

 

Let’s try a shift in our perspective about fear…

 

What if, just what if FEAR was actually there to help you?

What if FEAR was trying to work for your highest good?

 

Here are some simple steps to begin shifting your relationship with FEAR:

 

  1. Reset

Pause and reset versus reacting to fear.

Things like meditation, yoga and even simple breathing exercises can help us get back to a neutral place which will better enable us to evaluate our fear more effectively.

 

  1. Ask Yourself Powerful Questions

Engage your brain in order to get clarity.

Instead of allowing your mind to run away with the fear, as yourself powerful questions that will lead to self-discovery, effective problem solving and solutions. Questions like, ‘why am I feeling fear’, ‘what feedback or alert message is fear trying to share with me’?

 

  1. Assess

Analyze the situation.

Look at the situation that is causing the fear objectively and try to see the bigger picture, the broader meaning or the direction it is leading you towards and ask yourself WHY & HOW.

 

  1. Breath Through It

Process and release the negative aspects of the emotion while keeping the lesson or alert.

Feeling our feelings, then processing them and letting it go or releasing it is an important way to not only move forward more effectively but also to bring more balance to you mentally, emotionally, physically and even spiritually.

 

  1. Make a Plan

Based on your self-discovery and analysis make a plan of actionable steps.

Write out very specific action steps to take to begin moving towards solutions or achieving goals.

 

  1. Get Support

Gain the tools, techniques, mentors, friends or coaches to help you!

Don’t go it alone! Everyone can relate to feelings of fear and also sometimes getting stuck because of them. Talk about it with friends and loved ones, research tools and techniques or even see a life coach (preferably an Integrative Life Coach iwacoaching.com) who can help you become more equipped to handle fear and stressors as well as to overcome their negative effects and successfully move forward.

 

Living A Holistic Life

Living A Holistic Life

By Rachel Eva, C.HT, M.NLP, MTILC

Founder of IWA (Integrative Wellness Academy), Integrative Life Coach & Health Practitioner

 

We hear the word holistic and holism tossed around a lot in integrative wellness and natural medicine. These terms have already flooded the health and wellness markets and made their way into popular culture.

 

But what exactly does this mean?

What is ‘holism’ and how can it be ‘lived’ in everyday life?

 

As the founder of IWA (Integrative Wellness Academy), myself and the IWA team trains and certifies thousands of integrative life coaches each year. As part of how we teach our students to coach their clients we educate them on holism as a core element to help their clients achieve health, success and balance through applying ‘holism’ through the Holistic Life Model, which I will share with you!

 

First, let’s define holistic and holism so you can get some simple clarity. According to dictionary.com, here are the definitions:

 

Holistic –

 

Philosophy – characterized by comprehension of the parts of something as intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole.

Medicine – characterized by the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the physical symptoms of a disease.

 

Holism –

 

The theory that parts of a whole are in intimate interconnection, such that they cannot exist independently of the whole, or cannot be understood without reference to the whole, which is thus regarded as greater than the sum of its parts. Holism is often applied to mental states, language, and ecology.

 

 

What does this mean in more simplistic and applicable terms?

 

Every part of us, our minds (mental), bodies (physical), emotions (emotional) and spirits (spiritual) are interconnected and have an effect on each other, as well as an effect on each of the major areas of life; health, career & finances, family & relationships, spirituality & self-development. Furthermore, each of the major areas of our life have an effect on all aspects or parts of self (the 4 systems); mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. We need to VIEW and CARE care for the whole picture collectively, versus just a few parts in order to live the best life possible.

 

Before I dive in and introduce you to the Holistic Life Model, I need to further share my definitions with you for the four systems or parts of self:

 

Mental –


The Mental System is your thought life, including your self-perception and thought patterns as well as our beliefs and conscious perceptions. This is also the way we view other things out in the world.

 

Emotional –

 

The Emotional System are your feelings and your emotions. It’s also your relationships with other people and also the relationship you have with yourself.

 

Physical =

 

The Physical System is your physical health, as well as the tangible physical things you have in our life.

 

Spiritual –

 

The Spiritual System is our true-self, our personal development, connection to community, world and our connection to a higher power, whatever that definition is or is not for you.

 

The Holistic Life Model

 

The holistic Life Model is living your life, caring for, balancing and bringing health to all aspects of self and all major areas of life, in other words, caring for the whole self with a ‘big picture’ approach.

 

So how exactly can you begin to care for and bring balance to all of these aspects of self? Here are a few steps to begin moving your life towards aligning with and practicing the Holistic Life Model:

 

  1. Set an intention to pay attention to and care for ALL of the systems/aspects of self and all of the major areas of life
  2. Put this intention into daily practice through actions!
  3. Make a ‘to do’ list of actions you can take to bring more wellness, health and balance to each system and to each major area of your life
  4. Schedule it! Put these actions steps into your schedule and stick to them

 

Remember it’s a process, not an event and the goal is to MOVE towards what you want to have, do, be, experience and achieve!

How Your Yes’s & No’s Shape Your Future

The third or fourth word that many people learn to speak is either yes or no. The first words are often mamma, dada and if a person has a dog, then dog is number three, followed by yes and no.

Yes and no are two words in the English language we learn early on and use to exercise our power, express our needs and our preferences.

A yes or a no can have a significant effect on how we create what we experience in life. Often this is approached unintentionally from a place that is not rooted in self-love or honesty with oneself.

When we say yes to something we are aligning ourselves with that. A yes is also an invitation for it to be in your life and in a sense, it is agreeing with it. A person, place, thing or situation such as a request or voiced expectation from a loved one, diagnosis from a doctor or even an invitation to go on a date, gives us the opportunity to be intentional about what we allow and create in our lives.

One of my favorite and self-loving things to say is ‘I’m going to say no to this so that I can say yes to something else’. Another favorite is when I am told what I should do, before I say yes to that or agree with it, I allow myself the time and space to consider what has been shared with me as feedback. Then I determine what, if any, of that feedback will be helpful for me to take and incorporate into my life.

 

Give yourself permission to change your mind. You can try on a yes for size and discover it needs to become a no and vice versa.

When we say yes because we feel like we should, like it is expected of us, but it is not our truthful response, we are essentially stepping out of alignment with our true selves and saying yes to things that conflict with our truth. When we are in conflict, even on an unconscious or subconscious level, it creates chaos, unhappiness and many other problems in our lives.

We have all heard the famous saying ‘be true to thine self’ – however many of us don’t realize the consequences and disconnection from self we experience when we choose to say yes when our truth is a no.

We can still show up for our responsibilities and obligations, however we can do so in ways that do not conflict with our personal values and our authentic truth. Boundaries are helpful in managing this effectively.

In addition to setting healthy boundaries for yourself (not creating rules and controlling others – see my blog on clearing toxic relationships and boundaries) it is also important to ask ourselves the following questions when presented with invitations to make choices and express a yes or a no:

  1. Will saying yes or saying no serve me more?
  2. Will saying yes or saying no lead towards balance and harmony in myself and in my life?
  3. Do I want to say yes or say no? (Be honest with yourself) and then ask yourself ‘Why?’.
  4. Which answer helps me best take care of myself while also showing up for life?
  5. What does my gut say?
  6. What’s the bigger picture? What will saying yes or saying no invite into my life and create, what will it lead away from?

Asking ourselves these questions helps us move beyond any beliefs or perspectives that are limiting us. It helps to step away from expectations that do not serve us (typically self-inflicted expectations) and gain clarity about the bigger picture of what we are creating and moving towards in our lives.

I invite you to let go of that which no longer serves you and to give yourself permission to say yes or to say no. Practicing intentionality towards your yes’s and no’s will empower you to create the life you want and to decrease the stress and negative things impacting your life.

Let all of your answers come from honoring your higher self, your truth. Boldly curate your life with intentional yes’s and intentional no’s.

 

 

 

How to Break Up with Stress

First let’s identify and understand stress and stressors a bit so that you will have a deeper understanding about where it may be creeping into your life.

First, stress has been proven to lead to physical illness, mental illness, injury, obesity and disease. In fact, stress is considering the leading cause of these! Even if you have a genetic pre-disposition towards an illness or disease, stress activates that gene. It essentially flips the light switch from the off position to the on position within our DNA. The numbers are staggering, research has shown that between 94-98% off ALL illness and disease is caused (related to?) by stress!

Stress is not just emotional. It can be mental (happening in our thought life), emotional, physical and environmental. Toxins we encounter causes stress to the immune system and our entire body functions.

So why not just remove stress from our lives? Well, in order to do this, we would have to live in a bubble and that would be stressful too! It is not the goal to completely remove all stress but to reduce stress while INCREASING OUR CAPACITY to deal with or handle stress.

Another important aspect of becoming empowered to breaking up with stress you need to consider is…

Where may I be adding to, or creating stress, in my life?

What do I gain from doing this, what do I get out of it?

Sometimes we create stress and chaos in our lives, or at the very least feed it, in order to avoid dealing with or acknowledging something we are not yet ready to face, resolve or change. It’s like creating a big loud clanking distraction that makes it almost impossible to hear or notice anything else. In order to truly break up with stress we must take ownership and accountability for the part we play in it.

So here are some simple steps to reducing stress and increasing your capacity to handle life’s stressors:

  1. Reduce Stress

Emotional Stress Reduction

First and foremost, recognizing and honoring our emotions is a critical part of emotional stress reduction. We need to both be aware of our feelings, then process and release those emotions in a healthy and balanced way versus suppressing, avoiding or ignoring them. Secondly, we need to take ownership of our emotional life. If we are experiencing negative emotions blaming others will not help. We must each find healthy ways to experience and express our emotions. No one else can make you FEEL any emotion without your permission and YOUR participation.

Reducing emotional stress is best done through aligning yourself with your values. When our job, relationships and all other aspects of our lives are aligned with our values and our true self (versus all the beliefs and thoughts of what SHOULD be) emotional stress will be significantly decreased.

Also learning healthy boundaries and how to say NO to the things that add un-necessary emotional stress to your life will set you free from an overabundance of emotional stress.

Physical Stress Reduction

Physical stress comes when we do not properly care for our bodies and our physical environment, as well as when we are exposed to toxins through the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. Obviously trying to control this by completely removing all physical stressors would create an even bigger imbalance, and more stress. Try to find ways that you can limit physical stressors. Balancing and responsibly managing finances, life tasks and even cleaning (decluttering and organizing greatly reduce physical stressors).

Another way to reduce physical stressors is by making a commitment to yourself to get enough sleep, water and healthy balanced meals in your system each day. You can reduce the toxins you ingest by drinking more filtered water, packing foods in glass versus plastic, eating foods that are fresh, made by you and include fruits, veggies, lean proteins and healthy fats and avoiding eating pre-prepared foods.

Mental Stress Reduction

Whenever I mention ‘mental’ health or ‘mental’ stress people often think I am referring to intelligence or expanding the mind. When I am speaking of mental stress, this is referring to your thought life. The thought life are the types of thoughts you think, especially the recurring ones. Are they negative, filled with fear, optimistic, pessimistic, balanced, loving or reactionary? You are in control of your mind and the thoughts that you think. I am not recommending avoiding negative thoughts, instead invite yourself to avoid getting into a relationship with negative thoughts and negative thought cycles. In order to have a relationship with someone or something you must invest time and attention to them. So don’t invest in your negative thoughts and allow them to go on and on and around and around repeatedly. Also learn how to let things go. Obsessing is not problem solving and only causes you to suffer.

Environmental Stress Reduction

Similar to some elements that I mentioned under ‘physical stress reduction’, environmental stressors can also be toxins. These can be in the air you breathe or the materials within the four walls where you live or work. Again, we cannot healthfully completely control our environment but we can choose to reduce environmental stress by intentionally increasing time in less stressful environments. Less traffic, less pollution, less toxic materials. Intentionally investing time in environments that ‘feel better’ will automatically begin reducing your exposure to environmental stress. We must learn to listen to what environments ‘feel’ good or better.

The two simplest ways to reduce your environmental stress are to increase time in nature, amongst its beauty, out in the cleaner air and to clean up the environment you are most in. Cleaning up your environment means participating in reducing your own foot print because we all are co-creating this toxicity we experience. It also means being intentional about your home and work space where ever you are able to do so in a balanced manner. Keeping your space clean, removing toxins, filtering your air, purifying your space and purchasing environmentally safe items such as non-toxic clothing and furniture will do more for reducing your environmental stress then you may ever imagine!

  1. Increase Capacity to Deal with Stress

 It is unrealistic and also not healthy to try to avoid everything stressful. This simply weakens our ability to cope with life. Just because something may feel difficult or ‘bad’ does not mean that it IS bad for you. Overcoming and dealing with life’s stressors not only strengthen our character and increase our capacity to cope with stress but it also builds our character. It helps us grow and expand into the type of person who can feel inner peace and have clarity and calmness of thought even amidst difficult challenges.

When increasing our capacity for stress, the metaphor I like to use most is; imagine that you are carrying around a glass of water that is half full. Every time you encounter stress it’s like adding another ounce of water in your glass. Now, if you don’t take frequent sips to empty the glass, eventually those little one ounce stressors will make your glass so full that the next one-ounce stressor will cause an overflow, a mess, that will pour out everywhere. If we are continually intentionally emptying the stress we are not thrown off balance when we encounter a new stress.

Here are some ways to increase your capacity to deal with stress and proactively manage the stress you already have:

Self-Care 

Self-care gives you the energy you need to handle stress. It should be approached as a non-negotiable, non-optional practice in your life. If you are too busy or overloaded for self-care I recommend that you schedule it into your daily life with the same priority you would a work meeting, family obligation or doctor’s appointment! Self-care can be anything that you find helpful, enjoyable or recharging. Here are some self-care ideas I shared in one of my recent blogs, The Self-Care Home Spa Experience

Healthy Boundaries

Healthy boundaries that are rooted in love are a game changer for the way you experience and enjoy your life, career and relationships. Boundaries are not rules you demand from others. That is called control, not a boundary. A boundary is something you personally set and you personally respect and abide by in order to honor yourself, your needs, your values and those of the people you love. You are the only person in any relationship that can honor your boundaries. It is up to you to do so and if you do not, you are not a victim of someone else, don’t place blame on them if you did not respect your own boundary.

Most of us never learned about healthy boundaries, I know I didn’t. A great resource for beginning or expanding your personal understanding and relationship to boundaries is the book ‘Boundaries’ by Townson & Cloud.

Let That Shit Go!

Why hold on to old resentments? They are only poisoning you! No one is perfect and everyone is doing the very best they can with the information and resources they have at the time. Would you be angry at a deaf person for not hearing you speak? No, of course not. Why do we get angry and hurt when people are unable to give or do something they are not capable of? This doesn’t mean we continue in toxic relationships and it doesn’t mean that it’s okay for someone to treat you poorly. Refer back to boundaries, take responsibility for how you react and respond to others behaviors that offend or harm you. You can honor yourself, remain safe and have healthy boundaries while also no longer feeling the venom of anger and resentment in your life. A wonderful and free resource for this is found on Byron Katie’s website called The Work. Spending 10 minutes completing the free downloadable form changed my life and my perspective on the most difficult relationships in my life – www.thework.com

Put On Your Big Kid Undies and Deal with It

Stop making everything such a big F-ing deal, seriously! It’s up to you what you take offense to. I choose not to take very much personally. If you are a person who is reactionary, you are simply a bomb waiting to go off…this makes you a victim of every circumstance and completely robs you of your power! It is only when I do choose to make it all about me and take offense to something that I experience stress and pain. When a situation or circumstance is less than your desired outcome or when someone says or does something you wished would have been different, more, less or better make a conscious choice to put on your big kid undies and deal with it from a peaceful, tolerant and loving place.

Practicing Preference Versus Attachment

I am very intentional about my life, my goals, my plans and the thoughts and actions I participate in. I have a specific goal or desired outcome AND I also allow for my goals and desires to show up looking a bit different. I practice preference versus attachment. My happiness and success is not contingent on things being one way, my way or what I perceive to be the right way. In that same vein I do not have unrealistic demands or expectations on how other people in this world behave, show up in the world or what beliefs their lives reflect. I honor others and experience much peace within this world of diverse beliefs and behaviors simply because my beliefs, perspectives and values are things I have a preference for versus an attachment to.

When we are attached to something it is narrow, rigid and reflects a ‘this is the only way’ attitude. This limits us versus offers expansion, growth and the potential for greater success. Practicing the art and science of living a life guided by preference versus attachment is something that takes intentional daily practice in order to master! When you practice continually you will build your ability to do this the way you strengthen a muscle by repetitive exercise. As you weave this art into the framework of your life you will see stress melt away like a glassier exposed to 100-degree weather. You will also experience a dramatic shift in your capacity to handle stressful people, places, things and situations.

Breathing Exercises & Meditation

Both breathing exercises (deep, relaxed intentionally focused breathing) as well as meditation (any and every form) has been scientifically proven, by countless respected institutions to significantly reduce stress and increase our capacity to cope with stress. Developing a meditation or intentional breathing practice should be a custom creation by you and you alone. Try on a few, experiment and then practice the ones that work best for you as consistently as you are able. Developing a 2 minute a day practice will still have a positive impact on your stress levels. If you are new to these concepts or even just interested on my perspective on this, check out a recent blog I wrote on Demystifying Meditation

What Now? Thriving in The Trump Era

Many people, from both parties, have been conflicted, angry, disappointed, afraid and frustrated since the US ushered in a new president.

Issues of equal rights, safety, human rights, acceptance and tolerance have been a high concern for many and I have seen the backlash concerning this all around us. There has been and continued to be much negativity and accusations being spewed across social media and even news sources. I only have two things to say about this:

  1. You cannot combat or overcome hate and fear effectively with hate and fear. It takes loving action.
  1. We as a people have co-created where we are and need to consciously co-create what we want to experience moving forward.

Please know that no problem can be addressed if it is not something we are aware of consciously. This brings to light the fear, hate, desperation, judgement and division of our country. Now, the spotlight has been shined on many issues we want to change. As it is at the forefront of our awareness, we as a people can be the change. We each can be a part of the solution. This problem cannot be solved by any one politician or any single group or party. It is a collective problem that WE Americans have and only WE Americans can fix through love, tolerance, unity and understanding. We must each participate in love. We cannot change these issues of hate and fear with more hate and fear.

By choosing to read, tweet and retweet, post and repost anger based messages, all you are doing is participating in furthering anger, hate and division. Be the solution. Be the change. First by removing yourself from the negative hamster wheel of conversations, thoughts and media. Next by giving some thought about what you want this world and this country to be like. Followed by coming up with an action plan, some small steps that you can take that are rooted in love, to BE THE CHANGE and create positive change.

What we all need are loving and strong leaders right now. Leaders lead, they blaze a path and set an example. They do not simply sit around moaning and groaning about what they hate. Anyone can do that. It is easier to complain about what you don’t like, not take responsibility or any accountability while putting the ownership and responsibility solely on someone else.

When we focus our attention on something we magnify it. It becomes bigger. When we focus on something it turns into an intention, or the place we send our energy to. When we focus on the problems we magnify the problems. However, when we shift our focus to the solutions we magnify the solutions!

During an extreme time of violence in US history, a group of meditators came together in Washington DC to meditate on peace, love and harmony. They set their focus and attention on this. During the exact times that they meditated on this, the crime rate dropped! Our focus and intention is powerful and it is powerfully positive when done from a place of love.

Set your focus and attention intentionally on the solutions (or finding the solutions) to create the positive changes you want to see happen in this world. Make sure that you check your heart and are honest with yourself… can you do this from a place of unconditional love and acceptance of other people, even if they do not believe or behave the way you would like them to?

Taking accountability for our part of creating positive change will lead us to great places individually and collectively! As Dr. Seuss put it so eloquently… “You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so… get on your way!”.

Love,

Rachel

PS – Join me in sharing the solutions through Social Media!

Twitter: @rachelevaonline

Instagram: @rachelevaonline

Facebook: Author Rachel Eva

 

Self-Care – The Art of the Home Spa Experience

Self-care is a huge part of not only my physical and emotional practices but also my spiritual practice. Nurturing and caring for oneself allows for a deeper and more intimate relationship with self, community and a deeper spiritual life.

When I am investing in myself it is as if I am putting deposits into the bank, think of these deposits not as money but as energy that can then be spent of the things you want such as deepening relationships, expanding career or achieving goals.

We cannot possibly show up and give successfully what our lives require of us unless we first have it to give away. If we simply give away all our energy from a depleted account that is when we lack excellence, balance and joy! It is also when we wear ourselves down and eventually break down.

Self-care needs to address our mental, physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Self-care can be anything that works for you or recharges you in a positive way.

I have created a self-care home spa experience that I incorporate into my self-care routine frequently (in whole or in part depending on the time I have set aside). Self-care does not have to be complex. In fact, most of mine is fairly basic yet highly effective. May this be helpful to you on your continued journey and exploration into the benefits of self-care!

Create Sacred Space

Start your home spa self-care experience by setting the tone or creating a sacred space. Turn the lights down, diffuse some lavender, light candles and play some beautiful relaxing music!

Breathe

Sit and close your eyes. Give yourself permission to put your ‘to do’ list away mentally and to let go of anything that you need to. Give yourself to feel whatever comes up. Spend a few minutes simply focusing on your breath. Breathe deep and relaxed breaths for a few minutes and just allow yourself to BE.

Detox Soak

Not only does a good detox soak in a tub reduce stress and tension mentally, physically and emotionally, it also helps to pull toxins out of your largest organ… your skin! Here is the detox recipe I use in my weekly baths, all of these ingredients can be found at WholeFoods or for more affordable option, on Amazon:

2 cups colloidal fine grain organic oatmeal

2 tablespoons of Coconut Charcoal

1 cup Apple Cider Vinegar

½ cup Arnica Oil

2 cups Magnesium Flakes

¼ cup Castor Oil

Draw a warm bath, stir in ingredients above. Feel free to add any essential oils you might enjoy as well such as lavender (for relaxation). Soak for at least 30 minutes.

Abhyanga (Self Massage)

You don’t have to set aside time and money to get a professional massage or miss out on the benefits if you either can’t afford one or simply don’t have time. Abhyanga is an Indian self-massage ritual that has many restorative and destressing perks in addition to the fast, accessible and in expensive aspects. All you need is a good clean (organic preferred) pure oil! The oils I recommend are Aragan, Almond or a good Ayurvedic oil blend. Generously apply oil starting from your feet and slowly massaging the oil in and working your way all the way up your body, even to your face and head! Rinse off after, but do not soap up. You will want some of the oils to be able to seep in throughout the day or overnight.

‘Details’

This is a time where I will give myself permission to pamper myself by paying attention to all the care and maintenance of the small ‘details’ such as putting on a face mask, giving myself a manicure or pedicure, plucking eyebrows, etc.

Stretch & Flow Restorative Yoga

Roll out your yoga mat or even a towel on the floor. Move your body through some light yoga stretches and restorative poses. If you don’t know any you can google some restorative yoga videos on YouTube or I highly recommend Cheri Clampett’s restorative yoga classes that are available on the Yoga Anytime Channel on Amazon. Whatever you choose, remember the goal is not to workout, the goal is to restore and nurture your body. So listen to your body, ask it what it needs and try to provide that. Your body may need to just stretch out and rest fully or spend a few minutes in one restorative pose. Either way, let go of expectations and let your body lead you.

Ritual

Finish up by creating a little ritual for yourself. A ritual can be anything as long as it has the following elements:

  1. Set an intention
  2. Invite in connection and guidance from a higher source (this can be God, nature, love, etc.)
  3. A sacred place/space (which you should have already created at the beginning of your self-care home spa practice)

Your ritual can be done through the use of artistic expression like painting or drawing, through burning incense, sage or Palo Santo wood, it can be done with crystals, with movement such as dance, it can be done communing in nature or anything else. Rituals should be personal and meaningful and breed connection with your higher true self and with God, Spirit, the Divine (or whatever is aligned with your beliefs).

 

 

Copyright Dr. Rachel Dew 2019-2021. All Rights Reserved
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