Studies have shown that people that have a healthy spiritual life tend to be healthier mentally and physically as well. Here’s a verse to meditate on.

For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. – 1 Timothy 4:8

Okay I posted this on my FB page a while back and thought I’d share it here too. It’s very appropriate for this time of year when everyone is still very high on resolutions to get healthier. —–

As we enter into the time of year where everyone is making resolutions to get healthier and lose weight among other things, I would like to address a few things. If you are one of those making such resolutions, this should really apply to you. This season I want you to remember a few things.
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Hello…. anybody out there? lol. I bet you have been wondering what’s going with me and if I was going to post again. Well, truth is, I have been extremely busy working on research and case studies.

I am still on the “starve the yeast” program and making great strides. I hope it will be cleared up soon so I can get back to some normal eating. I do miss my mushrooms, quinoa and brown rice. The sugar part of it is not big deal, but I do miss certain carbs.

On way I can tell that I am getting better is that we have had a lot of humidity in our area lately including some rain ad snow. Usually, I get these tremendous migraine headaches when it’s going to rain. I have not had one. I also have not been reacting to winter rye grass as much this year either, which is one of my major allergies. In addition, I have taken off few more pounds…without even trying. I did meet my target BMI a while back, so this is great. Now I am on my way to a lean BMI!

I’ll keep you posted.

Just when you thought I was gone, I’ve returned. lol.  Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. October was a horrible month for my family. First, it rained constantly in our area, a record amount, kicking mold and fungus counts through the roof. Then swine flu was in the kids school. All three kids plus my husband and myself ended up getting sick one right after the other. I also ended up on antibiotics (which I absolutely hate) for sinus infection and bronchitis. Of course you know moms are not allowed to be sick, so it was slow going. Now I’m trying to get back to the grindstone.

First let me start by saying to those of you that were following my detox progress. I did take off some additional weight after ending detox. I’m within 2 pounds of my target BMI. However there has been a new development. Which now marks my next journey. And after attending an in-depth seminar given by a wonderful master herbalist, a new passion has sparked within me as well. I aim to spread the word and help as many possible as I can.

So here’s the deal. I’ve been diagnosed with Candidiasis. Candidiasis is also known as Yeast Overgrowth or Candida Overgrowth. Not only me but my two daughters has it as well. Candida overgrowth can be present even outside of a “yeast infection.” If left too long it can affect every major system in your body and manifest it self in many, many ways. Things that may seem unrelated can be a symptom of candida. As candida grows, it release toxins all over your body and every system can be compromised and your immunity shot. Plus, it doesn’t take much to get out of balance. Our bodies need a million good bacteria to keep one candida cell in check. And when your immune system is compromised and the good bacteria killed off, the candida grows very rapidly, taking over.

For years, although I thought myself to be fairly healthy and tried to eat the right things and do the right things, I always knew something just wasn’t quite right. For a while I thought I was pre-diabetic. I would get very tired and sleepy after eating. I still get really tired during the day and sometimes have to take naps. I’ve always experienced some sort of fatigue constantly, indicative of an adrenal problem. Adrenal supplements do help, but that may not be the underlying problem after all. I had three major bouts of depression in the last seven years which required medication and a couple of years ago I was diagnosed with PMDD. Now I have come to learn that all these seemingly unrelated things can be traced back to one culprit-candida.

I am now about to embark on a “Kill the Candida” program. The eating restrictions will be even more intense than the detox, but in the end totally worth it. Among other things I will not be able to eat any sugar (which I don’t do much of anyway) or anything that turns to sugar like starches and some grains. I will also not be able to eat any fermented products like miso, tempeh and soy sauce. Since my diet is mostly vegetarian these days, this will be hard. In addition, I can have no mushrooms or anything created with a fungus or mold like cheese. I will have to take major amounts of probiotics and enzymes to digest the candida after it’s killed. It will be hard, but I am willing to do it.

I also learned that candida can be a major factor in allergies. (A very long story to explain here, but if you are interested in more information please contact me and let me know, I’ll happily share.) So I’m excited to see what good it will do for my girls who have severe allergies after getting the candida cleared up.

Did you know that kids can be born with candida already if the mother has it? And if it goes unchecked, can cause major problems including allergies, rashes and digestion problems.

Did you also know that the antibiotics in food can kill off your good bacteria, giving candida a chance to grow? Another reason to eat organic, antibiotic-free meat and dairy. Everything that the animals are given end up in your system too when you eat it.

Many people have candida and don’t even know it. It can show up most obviously as a yeast infection in women or jock itch in men, but also as athlete’s foot, rash, dry skin, eczema, fatigue, bloating, gassiness, spots in your eyes, brain fog, inability to lose weight and other things. Things you would not even think of being related. If can even show up as a mold or yeast allergy or allergy to mushrooms. Because it can affect any and every system you never know how it may show up.

I’m going to post a checklist shortly for you to look at. If you think you may have candida, there is a simple test that you can do at home that does not require any test equipment or kit to perform. If you discover that you do have a candida overgrowth, I urge you to get it under control. Your health may depend on it. Some of the testimonies I heard are amazing. I hope to have my own amazing story in a few weeks. If you need info on clearing out candida effectively, drop me a note. I’d be oh so happy to share. Otherwise, please feel free to track me and my family on our journey to health and wellness.

It’s been almost two days since the last “official” day of detox. I feel so great. I love that I can wear my favorite jeans again without having a muffin top and feeling like my circulation is cut off. lol. They are actually feeling a little loose today. I will be working on losing those last 10 now though. I really want to do it before the holiday season so I can have a few treats here and there without feeling guilty. I miss my organic super dark chocolate.

As mentioned, I decided to go another few days before adding food back into my diet. I think I’ll start with my favorite whole grains, oatmeal and quinoa. I actually could have had those during detox, but since my supplements had it in there, I chose not to have extra. I will be putting off any other allergen food for a little while though. I’d actually planned to have eggs first since it is my preferred protein of choice, but after reading a PETA story about male chicks, I’m having a hard time reconciling that. I purchased some organic extra firm tofu today so I might decide to have a great stir fry soon. Our family is celebrating a special occasion this weekend, so I have to be careful about what I select to add back in because I won’t be able to have anything else new for a few days. I have opted to stay off wheat products for as long as I can. I’ve found that my body does not do well with wheat and considering two out of my three kids have wheat allergies, it’s probably best anyway. No sense in cooking it for only part of the family. I really like pita bead though, so I may have to find an alternative. I already make oat bread for my girls. Maybe I can figure out a recipe for oat pitas. I think I will work on that.

I’m creating a new exercise routine for myself and hopefully I can kick my body into gear and get exactly where I want to be. What are you doing for yourself to get healthier?

By the way, I now have a link set up for supplements and homeopathic remedies I like. You should check it out. (www.mynsp.com/livingnaturally) Don’t let the  “business opportuntity” look fool you. The products are excellent and affordable. I highly recommend them. Many other NC’s and health professinals do too. I would not recommend anything that I wouldn’t use myself. You won’t be disappointed.