Prevent Blood Sugar Crashes

Did you know coconut oil prevents blood sugar crashes! For those of you who get blood sugar crashes (aka really tired, ‘hangry’, lightheaded, etc.) or feel like you have to eat every 2 hours or you will crash and burn and feel terrible - this is for you!   

By getting in 1 TBS of coconut oil in the morning and lunch it will stabilize you blood sugar levels and help with all the symptoms listed above as well as minimizing sugar cravings! Since it is a fat it does not spike up your blood sugar but instead gives you slow, steady burning energy throughout the day.  This helps tremendously with energy, focus, attention and emotions when blood sugar levels are stable! 

A simple way to get your coconut oil in is put it in your coffee or tea.  Stir it up and drink away!  You can add it to smoothies or dip almonds in it.  Plus, if you add it to anything that is warm it will melt and you shouldn’t even notice it is there.  Or you can try this homemade chocolate too!  You could have one for breakfast and lunch as a little treat!

Also, if you are prone to blood sugar issues- cut the quick carbohydrates and processed sugars.  Have a protein and fat at each meal and make your snacks protein and fat dense too.  It will help tremendously and prevent needing a quick sugar pick me up where we tend to grab all the wrong things.

Food Sensitivity Testing

One of our services at the office for established patients is food sensitivity testing. Through muscle testing, we test around 100 foods ranging from different nuts, meats, fruits/veggies, as well as a large amount of known food sensitivities in autoimmune patients. If you haven’t had it done yet, we highly recommend it because eating foods that you are sensitive to creates inflammation in the body. Inflammation results in pain, fatigue, bloating and, honestly, many of the symptoms that people have. We have seen joint issues, pain and swelling go away, skin clear up, people lose weight, more normalized energy just by eliminating foods they were sensitive too!

We DO NOT do this the first 1 to 3 visits because  patients are usually so inflamed and full of toxins when they first come in. Through my experience if we do it right away patients typically have a large list of foods they are sensitive too. They leave feeling overwhelmed and stressed out which creates more inflammation and problems. After patients have been on guided and specific support at the office (like a cleanse/detox, digestive healing supplements, etc.) they aren’t as inflamed and reactive to so many foods. So after a few visits, the food sensitivity testing doesn’t leave patients with a huge list of foods that they are reactive too!

If you have any questions at all or are an existing patient and want to schedule a visit please feel free to contact our office at 615-656- 3558!

Natural Mono Remedy

This time of year we see a lot of Mono patients or hear of friends or family members who are suffering with it.  Mono is caused by a virus (Epstein-Barr Virus aka EBV) and people suffer from severe fatigue, a sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes and glands.   These symptoms can last months and honestly even years!  A lot of the time people walk in the door with chronic fatigue and I believe it is still the past EBV causing their symptoms.  To me it is very, very important to kick the virus right away so you don’t have issues 3, 5, 10 years down the road.  There are so many great herbs for viruses, so don't be fooled into thinking there is nothing you can do!

Personally, I have seen many cases of mono clear up within a week of being on the right supplements.  They regain their energy very quickly and start feeling human again.  In chronic fatigue cases (where they had mono 10+ years ago but still feel run down and have very sluggish energy), it can take up to a month to start feeling energy again.  It isn't perfect in a month, but they start to feel that glimmer of energy come back!

Below are recommendations and what we suggest for patients:   

Beginning Stages (Wouldn’t hurt to do if you have had MONO in the past)

Astragalus- 6 to 9 per day and VS-C TCM- 4 per day

Months 2 and 3

Astragalus- 4 per day and VS-C TCM- 2 per day.  This helps to ward off any further infection and keep the immune system up.

3 Months and after:  

It would be a good idea to stay on 3 to 4 Astragalus per day.  We have had numerous cases where people test strongly for mono months out and notice when they go off Astragalus their energy starts to dip.  It’s an amazing herb for the immune system and I personally take 4/day to keep my immune system strong during cold/flu season!

Both Astragalus and VS-C TCM are Nature Sunshine products.  For ordering information click here.

Please give us a call at 615-656-3558 if you have any questions or want to schedule a visit.  If you believe that many of your symptoms started after having mono years ago I would give the protocol above a try or give us a call. 

Apple Cider Vinegar Drink

You are working towards your goal of drinking ½ your body weight in water, right?! It is a great, simple, cheap New Year’s resolution and your body, skin and mental clarity will thank you for it. But, if you need a little variety try this!

Grab a Pellegrino Mineral Water (I love this stuff) and add in 1 TBS of apple cider vinegar.

Note: It will fizz up and spill over if you don’t take a couple sips of the Pellegrino first.

Next, add in a TBS of honey. Put the lid back on the Pellegrino and shake up. It has a mild sweet apple taste, but more importantly fantastic health benefits from the apple cider vinegar. You can add more ACV if you would like and just sip on the drink thought-out the day!

Benefits of apple cider vinegar
Improves digestion and helps with GERD and acid reflux!
Improves your energy!!
Balances blood sugar levels and lowers them in diabetics
Revs up metabolism
Keeps your immune system up and kills off pesky bacteria and candida
Helps with allergies! Drink at least 3 TBS and see if it helps!

You can even apply ACV topically for warts, breakouts, and to soothe skin!
 

How much should I drink a day?

Specifically, for digestive benefits, drink 1 tsp to 1 tbs per meal in a small amount of water. Start with a teaspoon and see if you can work up to a tablespoon at each meal.

For overall support, add it to the water you drink throughout the day! Start drinking 3 TBS throughout the day and see if your energy increases.

Tips for Ear Infections in Little Ones

This one is for all the parents! This time of year we see a lot of ear infections in little ones. Below are a couple at home remedies to help ease infection!  

Breastmilk
If you are nursing, a few drops of breastmilk can do wonders!  Breastmilk is loaded with antibodies to help fight illnesses and does wonders against infections and clearing fluids.  For stuffy noses or sinuses, place a few drops into the nostril while baby is lying down.  For clogged tear ducts or pink eye, put the drops into the corner of the eye (Warm breastmilk may be less of a shock to the little one).  For earaches and infections, put a few drops (warmed) into the ear to help soothe and dry up fluids.  There’s a reason they call this stuff liquid gold!

Garlic Oil
I am sure you have heard us tell you many times that garlic is a wonderful natural antibiotic and drainage supplement.  This definitely applies to earaches!  At the onset of ear pain, place 3-4 drops of warmed garlic oil into the ear.  This will help to soothe the pain and dry fluids while fending off any start of infection. Nature Sunshine makes garlic oil in a softgel cap. You can poke a hole with a needle in the softgel cap and put 3-4 drops of the garlic oil in their ear.

Silver
When in doubt, there is always Silver Shield!  Colloidal Silver is a fantastic and effective natural antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal and so much more.  For pink eye, place a drop into the corner of the eye.  With an ear infection, drop into the ear.  With any kind of respiratory issue, stop by the office to pick up a nasal spray bottle.  You can put the silver shield into the bottle and squirt up the nose to get directly into the sinuses and lungs.

Chiropractic Care
At the onset of an ear infection, chiropractic care can do wonders! It helps the little one’s immune system to function properly as well as ensure their ear is draining properly. If it isn’t it becomes very vulnerable for an infection. So if they start complaining about their ear or in infants start tugging on their ear, get them into your local chiropractor! (Or give us a call!)

If you try these or want additional help please do not hesitate to give us a call and remember we have sick visits where we can quickly see your little ones and figure out exactly what it is they are needing!

How much water should you drink?

Any guesses?! ½ your body weight in ounces of water!

To find that magic number: Divide your weight in half and that is your goal.  For example, if you weigh 150 lbs, then you need to be drinking 75 oz of water.  Not just any liquid, but pure WATER! 

It is so important to get in pure, clean water to help keep your body hydrated and get rid of toxins.  I can’t tell you how many times I have seen patients with fatigue, mental sluggishness, and just feeling run down who have had their lives changed simple by drinking the right amount of water. Their energy increased, they can think clearer, are pooping better and feel better overall!

Its free and super super easy to do, but we just need to do it. I personally get out a 24 ounce mason jar every morning and drink 1 in the morning and 2 in the evening and anything else during the day is bonus!  If I didn’t mentally keep track, I would never drink enough. I would sip on water here and there, but know I would never drink enough especially in the winter months. So keep track somehow- it will really make a difference!

Have fun with it and add fruit or mint to give your water a little more flavor!

Now go get a new cup, create a system and get to drinking… your body will thank you for it!!

Simple Way to Add Coconut Oil to your Daily Routine

By now you all know that we are huge fans of coconut oil!  Coconut oil is essentially a super food for the body. It's great for the immune system, thyroid, liver, digestive system, hair, and skin. It is antimicrobial and will help kill off nasty invaders that get you sick! Its perfect for rashes and skin conditions too! 

Today we're going to talk about simple ways to sneak coconut oil into your diet every morning.  I typically recommend getting 3 tablespoons of coconut oil internally daily. Some people may think I am crazy, but fats (good healthy ones like coconut oil) are AMAZING for you!

Most people drink something warm in the morning- whether it is tea, coffee, hot water with lemon, etc. Just simply add 1 TBS of coconut oil to what you are drinking! It will melt so you don't even know you are drinking it.

The first sip is mostly coconut oil, but if you have expeller pressed you won't taste a thing.  Easy as that! It is a fantastic way to start your morning and give you a little energy boost too! It is also crucial to do when there are so many people sick. Coconut oil tremendously helps out your immune system and I have had many patients come in and swear that coconut oil is keeping them healthy even when they are around sick people. Why not give it a try?!

One TBS down… 2 more to go!

Coconut Oil Pulling

Sore throat got you down? Here is a simple trick to help!

Coconut oil pulling can do wonders during the cold/flu season. Coconut oil is anti-bacterial, fungal and viral which is why it is super important to get it internally (eat it, cook with it, put it in smoothies, or put a TBS to melt in your coffee or tea). If I wake up with a sore throat I will do this simple trick and say goodbye to my sore throat!

To do coconut oil pulling all you need to do is put a tsp or more in your mouth and swish around like mouthwash for 5 to 20 minutes. Yep, 20 minutes may seem like a lot but you get used to it. (DO NOT swallow it. It is pulling toxins and gross bacteria out.)

At first it may seem strange, but once the coconut oil melts in your mouth it’s no big deal.  It will be solid when you first put it in your mouth and then it warms up to your body temperature and starts to turn to liquid. I personally would wake up and walk into my kitchen first thing and scoop a TBS coconut oil and start swishing around during my morning routine which took about 10 to 15 minutes. You want to do it for AT LEAST 5 minutes and can go up to 20 minutes.

Once you have done that make sure to SPIT OIL INTO A TRASHCAN. This is super important because if you spit it in the sink, the coconut oil will turn solid when cold and clog up your sink. So, spit into a trashcan and then immediately rinse your mouth out with hot water with a dash of sea salt or apple cider vinegar.

Swish around and then you can spit that into the sink. Brush your teeth after and you are done! Not only will your sore throat feel better, but your teeth feel squeaky clean. A lot of people do this daily to whiten their teeth. Coconut oil is amazing people!

Optional- add a drop or 2 of melaleuca/tea tree essential oil to the coconut oil before you start the coconut oil pull. Tea tree has great antimicrobial properties that are amazing for when you are sick!

Natural Ways to Fight the Flu

I post and update this blog every year because I get A LOT of questions about the flu shot this time of year- "should I do it?"  "What are the risks?" "It's free to get it- why not?" 

Some people feel pressured into getting it by their medical doctor, employer, insurance company, family member, etc.  Others are fearful of the flu or getting sick.

I am not going to get into whether you should or shouldn't.  I will just tell you what I choose to do during flu season! 
1) Skip getting the flu shot
2) Have supplements on hand in case I do get sick
3) Eat 3 TBS of coconut oil a day and try to do a daily coconut oil pull
4) Eat lots of fruits and veggies

First, you need to understand that if you get sick and let your body fight it off, your immune system actually gets stronger.  That means the next time you get exposed to a bacteria or virus it will be stronger and more equipped to fight!  

Secondly, if you keep supplements on hand and eat good foods (plenty of fruits, veggies and protein) you will get vitamins and minerals that are fuel for your immune system.

Lastly, our trusty friend coconut oil is antibacterial, viral and fungal.  It helps to kill off invaders that would get you sick and it helps to boost up your immune system!

The supplements I always have on hand:
1) Immuplex- Take 6 per day when sick (Mainly for Viruses)
2) Silver Shield- take 3 to 6 TBS when sick (Works on bacterias and viruses) 
3) Elderberry Defense- Take 6 to 9 per day when sick- This also has vitamin D in it which is crucial for your immune system (Mainly Viruses) and notoriously low during the fall and winter months due to lack of sunshine exposure.
4) Congaplex- Take 6 per day when sick (Mainly for Bacteria; Great for sinus issues)

OTHER:
-Herbal Throat Spray- Perfect for sore throats
-High Potency Garlic- Antibacterial, fungal- great for sinuses and congestion
-Astragalus- Antiviral, but overall immune support (GREAT if you had MONO in the past)
-Olive Leaf Extract- Antibacterial, viral and fungal- It has been working great this year
-Thymex- Overall immune support 

What I Take Daily for Prevention:
-Usually 3 Astragalus and 3 Immuplex (I’ll switch between Immuplex and Congaplex) 
-If I feel something coming on I use my arsenal above

Standard Process is carried by health care practitioners only. We carry it at our office, or if you are not local, click here to find the closest practitioner to you. Do not order on Amazon - first it’s illegal for us to sell Standard Process on there and people who do have the prices double or triple what you would find in our offices.

If these do not help, let us know and we have many other great supplements!  These are not the end all be all, but they can REALLY help during the cold/flu season.  With good nutrition and preventative supplements (and the right ones when you do get sick), you have a great foundation.  If you have any questions or these don't seem to help - call us!  We can get you in the same day for a sick visit and figure out the exact supplement you need to be on!

ALSO- This is my personal flu fighting remedy.  I never pressure any patients or make anyone feel bad for their choices.  I want to help you find a course of action that best suits you!  Learn other options no matter what they are, educate yourself and then choose what is best for you!

**Quick note on coconut oil pulling: Take 1 spoonful of coconut oil and swish around in your mouth like you would mouthwash.  You can start with a small amount if you are new and work up to 1 TBS. The goal is to do this for 15 minutes, but again if you are new start with 5 minutes. I have been adding in 1 or 2 drops of melaleuca (aka tea tree oil) for more antibacterial effects. DO NOT swallow the coconut oil- it is pulling out bad bacteria and toxins!

After you have swished it around in your mouth spit it into a TRASH CAN! This is very important because the coconut oil will get hard when its cold and clog up your drain. After spitting out the coconut oil, rinse your mouth with hot water with a little apple cider vinegar or 1 tbs of salt (this can be spit into a sink). Once you are done with that brush your teeth and you are good to go! Your teeth will feel squeaky clean and sore throat should be gone or drastically decreased.

If you want to read more into the flu shot read this blog post by Lindsay Bentley.  Or The Pill Profit.  They are great posts!

Trouble losing weight? Try these tips!

A lot of people come into the practice and one of their top 5 concerns or issues typically has something to do with weight.  95% of the time a Candida issue has something to do with it as well as an underlying thyroid issue, our metabolic control center.  Once these things are taken care of, people notice significant changes in their weight and energy levels as well as mental clarity.

Below are some tips to jump start metabolism!

1) Drink a full glass of water immediately upon waking in the morning.  Set the glass of water on your nightstand and have it ready to drink right when you wake up.  This gets you hydrated right away in the morning and jump starts your metabolism.

2) Drink one glass of hot water with ½ lemon daily (or more). This revs up metabolism and gets the liver filtering out toxins that can contribute to weight gain.

3) Stop eating after 6pm.  This gives your body more time to break down food instead of trying to process it during the middle of the night when your metabolism is the slowest.  Set a time to stop eating, even if it is not 6 pm. Sticking to your rule will help keep you from wandering into the kitchen looking for snacks and mindless eating.  Most people eat late at night not because they are hungry, but out of routine!

4) Eat protein at each meal. Ideally you want 30 grams of protein at each meal. You will be amazed at how this little trick can help you feel full longer, lose weight and keep your energy up. Some simple foods to keep a protein filled diet are: almond butter, nuts/seeds, deli meat (make sure it is preservative free… aka nitrates, -ites), chicken, eggs, fish, beef, CLEAN protein powders (we have plenty at the office) and, my favorite, collagen! Collagen has 20 grams of protein per serving. Plus, it is tasteless and can dissolve in cold or warm drinks/food.

Try these easy steps and see how much it can help you!

Sunburn Relief

We all love to spend time in the sun during the summer to get that perfect sun kissed look.  Sometimes suntanning turns into sun damage and leaves us searching for relief.  Instead of turning to products full of chemicals and additives, there's a simple, natural solution to soothe the skin.  I bet you already have this product in your pantry!

Coconut oil has many uses whether it's for cooking, cleaning, beauty or health products.  When you've spent too much time in the sun, use coconut oil on that painful sunburn.  Use multiple times a day to soothe and help the skin heal more quickly.

Cheap, simple and natural solution to help you and your family this summer!

Bug Bite Remedy

Summer is here and so are the bugs!  It's hard to enjoy time outside when the bugs won't leave you alone.  Want to know how I help relieve itching from those pesky bites?

1. Put Tei Fu Essential Oil on the itchy bug bites.  This helps to quickly stop the itch!
2. Put Silver Shield Gel on the bug bites to help them heal faster!  It is antibacterial and parasitic too, so its great for any type of bug bite including spider bites. 

Both are available in the office or online through Nature Sunshine.  The Tei Fu Essential Oil stock number is (1618-7) and Silver Shield Gel stock number is (4950-1).  

Hope this helps against all those pesky bugs out there! 

Allergy Season and Supplements

Allergies.  We all have them, and we could all live without them.  With allergies still lingering around, let's talk about what causes allergies and a few supplements that I have found to work wonders on those pesky allergies.

If you suffer from allergies this means your body is not eliminating out histamines properly.  The supplements below work on the histamines (allergens), but the real reason you are suffering is that your filters are pretty clogged up (aka liver, kidneys, lymphatic system, etc).  Working on cleaning up the filters will help you minimize allergies for the long haul versus having to take allergy supplements/medications for the rest of your life. 

Yes, even people we have been working with for awhile still have to take allergy supplements but, in 95% of the them, their allergies are greatly reduced from when they first started. 

Allerplex (SP)- Great for seasonal allergies and drying up mucous.

ALJ (NS)- This is great for seasonal allergies and clearing up mucous.  Are you suffering with pressure in your ears?  Then this may be the product for you. ALJ is also more of an herbal blend than Allerplex.

Histablock (NS)- Does literally what is says, blocks the histamines.  This product is great for people with allergies, but also those who suffer with general allergies all year round due to pollen, dander, dust, etc. 

Antronex (SP)- A sinus drainage product.  If mucous is stuck and cannot come out, or if you are prone to sinus headaches this is a great product for you.  This can also help with bowel movements and sore throat due to lymph node swelling. 

Each of the products above can be started a month before allergy season at 1 per meal.  If symptoms start to get bad, adults can go up to 2 or 3 per meal.  

Standard Process (SP)- Available in our office or through a health care practitioner.

Nature Sunshine (NS)- Available in our office or you can order online by clicking here.

Conjuctivitis (pinkeye) Natural Remedy

Conjunctivitis (pinkeye) is something that is very easily treated all-naturally, no matter if you are a human, dog or cat.  There is no need to suffer or run for antibiotics or eye drops.  

One weekend, my dad was telling me that their dog's eye seemed red and infected.  Guess what I suggested?  Silver Shield! It's such an amazing universal healer with antibacterial and antiviral (also anti-parasitic) properties.  The liquid tastes like water and is safe to put in the eyes, ears and nose (as nasal spray) to administer the antiseptic properties in each of those areas.  Needless to say, my parents put a drop of Silver Shield in Mo's eye 2 to 3 times a day and within a day or two, it was gone!  No crazy treatments, just trusty Silver Shield.

Nature Sunshine's Silver Shield is patented, and one of the best colloidal silver's on the market. The next time you or your loved one (it's great for kids) gets pinkeye or some sort of eye irritation or infection, use Silver Shield.  You will not be let down!  To order click here and search "liquid silver shield!"