Stress can cause us to get lost and loose our feeling connection to the peace and joy available to us. We have our to-do list and an inventory of shoulds or ought-to’s. We have mental programs running that keep us on task saying, “I have to do this or I won’t be happy” or “If I don’t get this done, my day will be a waste”.

What has happened to simply allowing the day to unfold gracefully and surrendering into it? That is to say to merely slow down long enough to feel what needs to be done, what is calling you to do, or where you are most inspired and take action from there. Too often we hold ourselves separate from life, from peace, and from truly living because we’re too busy doing.

In many ways we are our own worst task master. We push ourselves beyond the natural harmony our body seeks. We drive ourselves past the point of healing or health. We go, and then we go some more. Always seeking…doing. What about being?

The idea of simply being seems frivolous. What does being entail anyway? Simply allowing what needs to be done to be done—and more importantly, being able to know from a feeling place what you need. That is true inspiration.

A list won’t tell you want you need. Your heart can. Your emotions can. Feel your way through you day. Feel your way, gracefully, through your to-do list or need-to list. Find your center before doing anything, that place where your truth and honesty are housed. Simply breathing can take you there.

Consider the following: Your mind follows your breath and your body follows your mind. If you can focus on deepening and expanding your breath in times of stress, tension or indecision, your body will soften into a state of relaxation and your mind will become clear into a place of knowing.

When you bring air into your body, you nourish it, support it and bring in spirit and vitality. Everything can change with just one breath—from doing to being and from thinking to feeling. Take a moment now and recognize the surrender and grace gifted to you through your own breath, then go about your day being inspired and taking action from there.

Making your own lotions is not only fun, but using them will prevent you from absorbing harmful chemicals added to commonly used bodycare products. Your skin is the largest organ of the body and can absorb everything you put on it.

Chemicals that are often used in store-bought products include: parabens (mimic estrogen, preservative), triethanolamine (preservative), artificial fragrances, synthetic colors, and phthalatesto name a few.

Fatty tissue can store these chemicals and may cause health problems when exposed to them over time. In the short term, the chemicals can cause allergic reactions like skin irritation, joint discomfort and headaches. If you’re wondering about the chemicals in the bodycare products you use, check out the Environmental Working Group’s website to get toxicity ratings.

To help you get starting making your own products, here are two simple recipes for making your own products. They are easy to store in used glass jars or you can buy your own at a supply store. They make great gifts too!

I’ll be teaching a class next month on how to make your own bodycare products. Check my class schedule for details!

Cleansing Oil / Dry Skin Oil
2 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
2 small capsules vitamin E
20 drops lavender oil

Combine ingredients and shake well to blend. Keeps for 6 months; no refrigeration necessary.

Simple Creamy Lotion
10-12 tbs. olive oil
2 tbs. beeswax
2 tbs. coconut oil
1 tbs. cocoa butter
20 drops essential oil (optional)

In a saucepan over low heat, melt coconut oil, cocoa butter, and beeswax together. Add olive oil and stir to combine. (You may want to add more olive oil depending on the time of year and climate where you live; the cooler the temperature, the harder the lotion will be. Remove from heat and pour in storage containers. Add essential oil to each and stir. Let cool at room temperature. No refrigeration necessary. (Note: Once cooled, if it is too firm or soft, simply reheat and add more oil or beeswax.)

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) has dominated the news recently. Have you seen articles or news stories about the health threat posed by HFCS? TV commercials contend that high fructose corn syrup can be a safe and healthy alternative to sugar. Food manufacturers note that their products are made with sugar and not HFCS.

What are the facts? Health and nutrition experts often send conflicting messages. Vibrant Horizons is on your side to find and share the facts so you can decide for yourself.

HFCS is made by changing the sugar in corn starch (known as glucose) to fructose. This helps extend the shelf life of products and is a cheaper alternative to sugar. It is heavily processed and is often found in equally processed and de-natured foods. HFCS is metabolized into fat more rapidly than any other sugar and has been linked to obesity and type-2 diabetes.

Most of the corn used to make HFCS has been genetically modified, which is suggested to produce long-term side effects and potential allergic reactions. Additionally, at least one of the enzymes used to convert corn starch into fructose is genetically modified. A recent study published in Environmental Health stated that nearly half of commercial HFCS tested contained mercury, which has been linked to a number of nervous system disorders.

The important thing to know is that HFCS is found in many products including yogurt, soda, bread, crackers, muffins, etc. Because of this, many people are consuming a large amount of HFCS without realizing it. Per capita consumption of HFCS increased from less than one pound per person per capita to over 60 pounds from 1970 to 2000 annually. (USDA Economic Research Service)

Don’t be deceived by headlines on the front of packages. “Natural Whole Wheat Bread” may contain HFCS so be sure to check your food labels before buying any products.

Regardless what the media or anyone else tells us, the bottom line is: know your body. Consider what you consume and its effect on your health. What is health-promoting for one person could be deadly for another. Begin to listen and pay attention to your body’s signals, and you will come to a new way of knowing what is healthy for you.

I’ve been making my own toothpaste off and on for a few years now. It’s a fun process and I always feel so empowered afterward because I know what’s in it and know that all of the ingredients support my health.

One of the most important benefits of making your own toothpaste is avoiding fluoride. Fluoride has been known to cause cancer, weaken teeth and bones, and damages the nervous system.

Here are two easy recipes that you can make at home:
3 tbs. baking soda
1/2 tsp. sea salt
2 tbs. liquid glycerin
10-30 drop peppermint essential oil (optional)

This recipe is best used in warmer climates or weather since coconut oil hardens with cooler weather.
4 tbs. baking soda
4 tbs. coconut oil
10-30 drop peppermint essential oil (optional)

Enjoy!

Many people tell me that eating healthy is too expensive for them. I am here to tell you it is doable, even on a budget! What is the best way to eat foods that are health-promoting and still stay on a budget?  Check out these creative budget-friendly tips to help you improve your health.

Buy seasonal foods. Often foods that are in season are cheaper. Check out this list of Washington’s seasonal foods and farmer’s markets in your area. Foods that are in season can be more nutritious as they can be grown and sold locally. Think fresh!

Shop in the bulk section. Buying from the bulk section saves you money and gives you a chance to try a variety of products without having to buy a large box or bag. Many foods in bulk are 100% natural like quinoa, barley, spelt flour, and brown rice. Check your local market for these ancient grains that are tasty and nutritious, and commonly found in the bulk section.

Take a lunch with you to work. Going out to eat can be expensive, and though eating fast-foods can be inexpensive, they are not the healthiest for you. When you prepare the majority of your meals at home you have control over the ingredients and can save on travel money, sales tax, and tip.

Buy some foods organically grown. Eating organically grown foods allows you to avoid exposure to toxic pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics, synthetic hormones, and genetically modified products (GMOs). Check out the Clean 15 and the Dirty Dozen Guide and learn which foods are safe when conventionally grown and which organic foods to invest in for your health.

Prepare your own snack foods. Every time you make your own meal or snack, you have control over the ingredients. Over-the-counter prepared snack foods often have many harmful ingredients that are better avoided. Try some of these simple snacks:  almonds, cheese, stove-top popcorn, dates with almond butter, smoothie with fresh ingredients, hard-boiled egg.

Cook in large batches. Making foods in large quantities saves you time and money. Refrigerate what you will eat in the first 3 days and freeze the rest for another time. Using glass containers is a great way to store food, as it easily goes from freezer, to oven, to dishwasher. Try making extra homemade pancakes or waffles and store them in the freezer. Reheating will be easy in the toaster!

Try vegetarian sources of protein. Beans, peas, lentils, and nuts are an inexpensive source of vegetable protein. Adding slivered almonds or cashews to a vegetable stir-fry or beans to a vegetable soup adds lots of fiber and protein to your diet.

Go shopping with a list and while you’re not hungry. Whenever I go grocery shopping hungry everything looks good. Plan ahead before you leave for the store—eat a healthy snack and make a list of the ingredients you need for what you plan to make for the week.

Grow your own herbs. No matter the time of year, you can have an indoor herb garden that is low maintenance and that provides you with fresh herbs for your meals. The more fresh foods we add to meals, the healthier our diet becomes.

Look at the store flier for sales. Nearly every grocery store produces a flier with their weekly specials. Scan through it when you enter and check for any products that are on your list. Also, seek out sale items that are fresh like vegetables, fruit, dairy, and meat— foods that are found in the perimeter of the grocery store.

1. Use a Toaster Oven in Place of Your Microwave
* Microwaves cause the molecules in food to vibrate at high speeds, creating friction and heat that destroys healthy vitamins and enzymes.
* Microwaves reduce the nutritional value of all foods/beverages heated inside.
* The chemical alterations may cause lymphatic malfunctions, which affect the body’s immune response.
* Microwaves may form free radicals which are atoms or molecules with unpaired electrons. They become highly reactive and are associated with oxidative damage (aging and cell damage), which is why antioxidants are so important to health and healing.
* People ingesting microwaved food show a higher-than-normal percentage of cancer cells in their blood.
* Studies have shown that humans, animals, and plants that are located within a 500-meter radius of an operational microwave show a decreased function in vital energy.

2. Use Stainless Steel or Cast Iron Pans
* Aluminum and tephlon cookware has been connected with brain disorders such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, behavior abnormality, poor memory and impaired motor/visual coordination.

3. Seek Out Alternatives to Plastic
* Use glass storage containers to store food, like Pyrex, that can go from your freezer directly to your oven.
* After purchasing food stored in plastic from the grocery store, remove and repackage in glass or ceramic that is lead free.
* Always recycle one-time plastic containers; don’t reuse.
* Use stainless steel or glass water bottles for every-day use.
* Store flour, sugar, and other pantry items in glass containers. (Try reusing finished containers of almond butter or pickles.)
* Use a wooden cutting board.
* Use a wooden spatula.

Did you know that bee pollen contains more than 5,000 enzymes and co-enzymes? Enzymes are powerful and life-promoting. Enzyme-rich foods = energy!

Bee pollen also contains 22 amino acids including the eight essential ones. Amino acids are important to sustaining energy, building blocks of proteins, and aid in metabolism. Bee pollen also has 27 minerals and an array of vitamins, hormones and fatty acids. Check out your local farmer’s market for a fresh, local supply.

Been pollen has been used successfully to treat a variety of ailments including allergies, asthma, low energy, arthritis, cancer, and menstrual irregularities.

How to take bee pollen
Start with a small amount and slowly build up to one tablespoon or so a day. Bee pollen has detoxifying effects and may provoke an allergic reaction for those taking it for the first time, so it is good to start off taking a small amount.

You can mix bee pollen in with your oatmeal, smoothies, or add it in with your honey and spread it on toast.

Note: Be sure the bee pollen has not been dried at temperatures higher than 130 degrees because high temperatures deactivate the live, active enzymes.

Spring is here finally. The earth is beginning to wake up again. Nature is showing signs of life and vitality, and the days are finally getting longer.

This a perfect time of year to take a look at your life and assess what is serving and supporting your life and what is not. It is so easy to accumulate “things” all around us—from clothing to an overload of unnecessary paperwork and “stuff”. It can be a challenge trying to maintain a sense of order with so much going on and inundating our lives constantly. We live in a fast-paced world and in order to maintain our own sense of personal harmony, taking good care of ourselves is of utmost importance.

Here’s a few tips I like to use personally and recommend to clients when trying to simplify, do away with the clutter, and create harmony in life.

Create a sanctuary.
One of the best ways to keep your mind free of excessive thinking and encourage inner peace is to create an area in your home where you can retreat for quietude. It can be as simple as a corner of a room where you can sit and simply be, and where you know you won’t be disturbed or distracted. Even sitting in a cozy, quite spot on the couch wrapped in an enveloping blanket can create an energy that is nurturing, supporting, and calming.

Eat a nutritious breakfast and snack healthfully.
Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day. It sets the pace for your entire day. When you take the time to eat a nourishing meal to break your nightly fast, you are giving your body important nutrients to support and nourish your body. Snacking on nutritious foods between meals will help you sustain your energy levels throughout your day and assist in reducing physical stress and maintaining your mental focus and clarity.

Stay organized.
Sailors have a saying, “A place for everything and everything in its place.” Have a “home” for everything—a small basket for keys, a drawer for important paperwork with clearly labeled files and folders. Have a system to keep ingoing/outgoing mail and paperwork organized. Keep your personal space clean and organized. When you know where to find the items you need, you can use your precious free time for doing the activities you enjoy instead of searching for that lost or misplaced item. Check out more tips here!

Try a cleanse.
The liver and gallbladder are the organs associated with spring in Traditional Chinese Medicine. We live in a world that is quite polluted—from the pesticides in our food supply to the chemicals in our air, water, and body care products—it’s hard for anyone’s liver to not be overtaxed. If the liver is overloaded from toxic chemicals, constantly having to detoxify the blood and body, it can lead to physical ailments or dis-ease.

A simple way to cleanse naturally is to remove all processed foods (anything that comes from box or bag, those that can be stored for a long period of time, or products that contain sugar or sugar substitutes). Removing the stressors on the body is the best way to support your body’s natural detoxification processes. Try eating vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, and seeds for a few days in a row or just once a week. As always, drink plenty of fresh water each day as well. Here is more information for ways to detoxify your body.

Get enough sleep.
Your body repairs and heals itself when you sleep. It is important to allow yourself enough time to regenerate during the night. After a good night’s sleep you will wake up with energy to maintain your schedule, tasks, and activities that are important to you. Stretching, breathing and relaxation practices, and bathing before bed are ways to increase your ability to get a good night’s sleep.

Here’s a list of 10 foods to help support a reduction of inflammation in the body. These are important additions to any diet. Also, begin to pay attention to what in your diet promotes inflammation in your body. That is key to long-term improvements in your personal health and healing.

1. Fermented Foods and Beverages are anti-inflammation stars for many reasons. They build immunity and help control infections that are often an underlying cause of inflammation. Fermented foods also promote healthy digestion. I personally love making my own kombucha and kefir! Those two are a great place to start then you can try making fermented foods like sauerkraut and kim chi.

2. Broccoli is a superfood and contains vitamin C and calcium. It also fights eye inflammation. Make sure you lightly steam your broccoli to digest it well.

3. Hemp oil and all other oils with omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation. Most Americans consume too many omega-6 fatty acids, so it’s important to incorporate more omega-3 fatty acids. Hemp oil also has gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) to further fight inflammation. Remember to look for unrefined organic oils. Also, never heat your omega-3 oils. They are most healthy used raw like on salads or added to smoothies.

4. Wild-caught salmon is another way to get beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. You can also try other fatty fish like cod and sardines. Try steaming your salmon to keep in those healthy oils.

5. Tart cherries can reduce inflammation ten times better than aspirin! Tart cherries help reduce your risk for heart disease. How many ways can you find to add cherries into your diet?

6. Soaked walnuts make a delicious and inflammation-fighting snack because of vitamin E and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Soak your walnuts and other nuts before you eat them to remove the enzyme inhibitor. This makes them easier to digest.

7. Onions and Garlic. Onions not only provide a sweet taste to your savory meals, but also they have lots of quercetin, a potent antioxidant that can help your body fight inflammation. Try onions with your grain dishes, or prepare with eggs and greens. Garlic has long been a folk remedy for colds and illness, and its anti-inflammatory properties are amazing! Garlic contains sulfur compounds that stimulate your immune system to fight disease.

8. Pineapple is a tart fruit that has bromelain, an antioxidant that boosts your immunity naturally.

9. Spinach has plenty of carotenoids, one kind of inflammation-reducing antioxidant and it also contains vitamin E. Make sure to steam your spinach for ultimate digestion.

10. Spices: Ginger & Turmeric
Turmeric is a spice used extensively in other cultures, and for good reason. It contains curcumin, a substance that actively reduces inflammation. Try sprinkling turmeric onto cooked squash or quinoa for a different flavor.

Ginger works in a way similar to turmeric to lower inflammation and in some studies has been shown to reduce pain associated with arthritis.

These spices are great this time of year too! Very warming.

Source: Body Ecology

Using the Body’s Intelligence to Understand the Foods We Eat

“Eat this, not that.”
“You should try…”
“My friend told me…”
“He said…”
“She said…”

How often do we hear statements like these about food or regarding a supplement? It always seems to be an external source telling us this is good for you or that is bad for you. But, how often do we hear “I feel like this is good for my body…” or “I feel like my body needs…”

Feel. What a powerful word. Eating and making food decisions has become an external decision. We learn and hear about that latest and the greatest on TV, and from the news, magazines, friends, etc. Most of the time, they conflict. This can get very confusing and may cause more harm than good.

Our hunter and gatherer ancestors relied on instinct to identify nourishment. Generations upon generation later, we still have the same guiding tool. Today, we call it Neuro-Lingual Testing (NLT).

The tongue connects to our central nervous system and acts like an extension of the brain. When we place something in our mouth that is harmful or stressful in some way, the body elicits a physical response, such as an increase in heart rate. The hunter and gatherers used this technique to choose foods that supported and sustained their lives.

Today, we walk into a grocery store and assume everything in it is edible. Do you think that is really the case? Certainly not. Over the years, 75,000+ chemicals have been added into our food supply. Food dyes, artificial flavoring, natural flavoring (which is not so natural, by the way), pesticides, preservatives, denatured fats, genetic modification, the list goes on and on…

We can use NLT to identify foods that create a negative or stressful reaction. It is a simple technique that you can try with any food, beverage or supplement.

Directions to determine if any food substance causes a stressful response in your body:
* Sit down in a kitchen chair, relax and take a deep breath.
* Take your pulse for one full minute and record that number. (This is your baseline pulse.)
* Place the “test” food in your mouth. Hold it on your tongue and be sure not to swallow it. Keep it there for at least 30 seconds. (It is more effective to test a single item versus one that has several ingredients.)
* Retest your pulse keeping the “test” item in your mouth and record it.
* Discard the “test” item and be sure not to swallow it after recording your pulse.
* An increase from your baseline pulse of three to four beats per minute is a sign that your body responded to the “test” item as stressful.
* If you responded stressfully to an item, rinse your mouth out with purified water and spit it out.
* Wait at least two minutes until your pulse rate returns back to the baseline number.
* Begin with your second “test” item and repeat the directions.

It is a good practice to seek out foods that do not cause the body stress or harm and begin to understand why your body responds stressfully to any specific food item. Note: Test results may be invalid if you are taking a drug that controls heart rate.

Food cravings, overeating, the need for sugar or other stimulants like coffee, are examples of your body communicating with you. Our bodies are far more sophisticated than we give them credit for. They are working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to maintain balance. All we have to do is learn to listen and respond appropriately.

Begin to notice how your body feels, what foods you crave, and how your body responds to what you eat. The foods we choose to eat can be driven by the body’s desire to maintain balance. Start to unravel the language of your body. Neuro-lingual testing is one way to enhance the communication process. Another way is to simply observe and notice.

When we bring our consciousness to something, doors open. Have you ever been apartment hunting? You searched online and traveled around the city looking. Did you notice “for rent” signs even after you found your new abode? Consciousness is energy directed toward something.

When we slow down just a little and pay attention to what our bodies need for balance, we make conscious choices. Eating then becomes an empowered decision – one that contributes to health, well-being, and a deeper connection to Spirit.

If you are interested in learning more about your body and how it responds and communicates with you, open the door to listening…to observing…to feeling. The answer has been part of you all along.

Originally published by Jenelle Strine in the New Spirit Journal, January 2010: http://issuu.com/newspiritjournal/docs/newspirit_journaljan10?mode=embed&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspiritjournal.com%2Fissuu%2Fwhite%2Flayout.xml&showFlipBtn=true