A Hidden Killer-Infammation

This is a body, mind, soul health website and today I want to share something that will hopefully help you with some of your aches and pains;  even the hidden ones, possibly in your heart, your lungs, or in any of your major organs.   You can thank my son, Anthony for this post as just yesterday he was asking about this.

I first heard about perna canaliculus a little over two years ago when I was doing a t.v. show for a certain company that marketed it under their label.   Through my work with this company I had discovered something that was life-changing.   The green-lipped mussel is grown in pristine conditions in New Zealand.  The scientific name being, perna canaliculus.

Before extraction

I have been athletic my entire life and thus I have encountered sports injuries and inflammation which can be exacerbated from overuse, eating foods that my body can't properly digest such as gluten, too much stress, or damp weather (I now know why older people move to the desert!)  In fact did you know that inflammation is behind most serious conditions and diseases?

Ouch!

My intent is not to go into any of these conditions because you can simply google "inflammation" and see how it contributes to everything from muscle pain to asthma, to heart disease.  I do want to tell share with you a study that I just pulled up for Anthony when he asked me about different types of Omega 3's including those found in the green-lipped mussels.  It is pretty impressive science, and since I can attest to the nutritional supplement's effectiveness, this just proves that my results are not a placebo.

This is a microscopic view of inflammation

 Read here to learn the science behind PCSO-524 which is a patented process of extracting the natural, beneficial anti-inflammatory properties found in these mussels.  *Note: the study refers to two specific brands, one in NZ and one here in the U.S.  I would not support buying from either of these companies.  I started out ordering from NZ and the product was great but the taxes and the postage were too high.  The other company mentioned does not have high enough milligrams of the mussel but instead added filler to reduce their overhead yet still charges way too much.
 I have found a really pure formula which is also manufactured by a company that I completely trust in "truth in labeling."  They are located in Vermont and they have a long-standing great reputation in the nutritional supplement business.  I also respect that they sell their products at very fair prices.   I use them so I can attest to their efficacy.  To give this prodcuct a try you can either go to my "products" page and scroll to DaVinci Labs or you can pull it up right here.

180 capsules last me 180 days

To get the best results when using this product you may need to take a couple a day for the first few weeks.  It all depends on the intensity of your inflammation;  and keep in mind that we are all very different.  When I first started taking these I was experiencing some shoulder pain so I took two a day until the pain subsided.  I have been taking one a day ever since.  In reading how the product works you will learn that it accumulates in your body and because of this I can even go a day or two without consuming it and I still feel great! And...by the way...I am back to serving overhead during volleyball.  I can play tennis and I can do push-ups and plank without having any discomfort what so ever.  I am very active and if it works for me it will work for you.  Try it and let me know.   

I will occasionally feature a product that I use and believe in so stay tuned...or you can go to my store "products" and check-out all of my recommendations.  All of the companies that I represent on my website are pure, natural, and have the science to prove what they say they stand for.  


  "I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers."
3 John 1:2

180 capsules which last me 180 days

"The Call"

My site is all about body, mind, soul, health and wellness.  As such I believe in encouraging great health in all areas of an individual.  On the 15th of each month I focus on spiritual health and what it means to live a life filled with meaning.   My husband and I jointly host this monthly event.

Today is the 15th of June and this evening we will focus on "calling." What is a call?  How do you know if you are living your purpose and fulfilling your destiny?
Don't let this word scare you because I believe that everyone has a calling, even if they haven't yet discovered it.

If you are questioning your your life's mission or concerned about how to guide a young person as they grow through the stages of life, then join us this evening for "The Call",  a monthly telephone church with no walls service held on the 15th of each month at 6pm PDT.  This evening we will talk about "calling",  pray together, read scripture, and answer some questions.  We will also interview Pastor Greg Chastain who co-founded Committed Heart committedheart.com and Recovered 4 Life recovered4life.com   We will be discussing the tragic prescription drug overdose epidemic among 18-25 years olds in South Orange County and beyond and what we can do to make a difference in stopping this horrific trend.

Join us at 6pm PDT by dialing 530-881-1300   When asked for your code key-in 642848#  Invite anyone who you think could use a mid-month lift in spirits or who may need help in deciding what steps to take in living a life full of meaning and purpose. 

 Questions?  Contact me at:  donna@donnaschuller.com

You Can't Afford To Entertain Negative Thoughts

"You are what you eat, drink, breathe, think, say and do."  Patricia Bragg

Patricia Bragg

   
   Imagine my surprise when I visited the Crystal Cathedral on Sunday and saw that my friend Patricia Bragg was the guest!    Although my husband and I have known her for several years, we hadn't seen her in a while and I had no idea that she would be there!  When I last posted I said that in my next blog I would address the effects that your thoughts can have on your overall health.  When I laid eyes on her Sunday I knew that I had been given a real gift.
 Patricia is the ultimate optimist and energizer bunny!  She is a warm, lively, and great person and her spirit of health and love is contagious.  She was dancing and full of life as she appeared to everyone that morning.

A page from Bragg Healthy Lifestyle book

Our thoughts can be our friend or our foe.  I like the saying "Don't believe everything you think" because it's so true!  Make sure you bombard your mind healthy thoughts and great ideas in order to increase your overall mental, spiritual, and physical health.  There are many scientific studies that prove that your thoughts can help make you well.  The flip side of that is that they can also contribute to your demise. (You can click here to read a few)   

In Romans 8:6 the Bible tells us that "a mind controlled by the Spirit is life."  If we live by the Spirit we should trust that everything we go through has a purpose and a reason.  This doesn't mean that we  enjoy it all but we must try to find the deeper meaning in everything.
 As God breathed the breath into Adam, his spirit also breathes life into you each day.  If you let this inherent life force become the central part of your being you will encounter God's infusion of hope for the future and faith in the outcomes.  You must conscientiously choose to make sense out of chaos and lessons out of painful situations.   You must pray like you believe in a positive outcome even in the toughest times.
 I have learned not to beg God yet instead pray with conviction and assurance that my prayers will be answered in time.  Not in my time but in His time.  I also don't always receive the answers I want but I "pray like it all depends on God yet work like it all depends on me."  St. Augustine
 Let me give you an example of praying with the belief of a positive outcome:  Instead of, "Dear God, help me to____(fill in the blank).  I ask you to be with me as I face_____(fill in the blank).    Guide me and lead me to______(fill in the blank)....and so on and so forth as you pray in this vain.   Instead this is how I try to pray and it has made all of the difference in my attitude towards God and towards prayer:  "Dear God, I am convinced that you are with me as I go through____(fill in the blank).  I am confident that you are right here with me as I_____(fill in the blank).  I am assured that you are leading me through this_____(fill in the blank).  It is you that I trust and lean-on with assurance during this time of_____(fill in the blank)  **I am not giving you a complete prayer including the "amen" but I hope you get the picture.

 "The first thing that comes to mind when you think about God is the most important thing about yourself."  Tozer

Do you really believe in a God who can do all things?  Then pray like it and act like it.  Others will see this in you and their lives will be influenced as well.

Bragg products

And make sure that you embrace the healthy lifestyle that Patricia Bragg espouses.  She is living proof that "you are what you eat, drink, breathe, think, say and do."  Check out the Bragg website here.  I've asked if I could have a link on my website but they would prefer it if you'd just go to the store and buy it.  Some of the products that I won't do without are, Bragg Sprinkle, Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar,  Bragg Olive Oil, Bragg Amino Acids, Bragg Nutritional Yeast.   In Southern California you can buy all of them at Mother's Market and most health food stores. I've also noticed that some of our more conventional stores are starting to carry Bragg as well.

Have you ever wondered why I sign with "God is blessing you" instead of "God bless you?"  It is all in the attitude of how we say things.  I believe that God is in process of trying to bless us all of the time so I don't say "God bless you" as in he might do so.  Instead I say with conviction, "God is blessing you."

**If you need hope or encouragement please join my husband Robert and I on "The Call" on June 15th at 6pm Pacific Time.   We will have a short service including prayer and scripture reading.   Find out what a call is and how to find yours.   All you need is a telephone and to call:  530-881-1300  at 6pm PDT  When prompted key-in: 642848#

Be assured that He is blessing you right now.  Donna

"The Scientific 7-Minute Workout"

At the risk of being accused of emulating my daughter,  Christina Sinclair (what better compliment to her?) I have decided to post on the physical aspects of being human.  After all this blog, as well as my wellness practice, is about body, mind, and soul health. 
  I have spent years espousing how important it is to take care of our bodies, and I am convinced that  it honors our creator to do so.  Many times I have referred to 1 Corinthians 12:14-20  "...there are many parts but only one body..."  Please read it as a great reminder that how we treat one part of our body will effect each and every other part.  Just as I have spelled-out in my online store  here , each and every thing you put in or on your body, what you eat, how much you exercise, or your sleep habits,  will have either a positive or a negative effect on your overall health. 

A local one-day ski trip with my son, Anthony in 2012

If you've been reading my blog for a while you know that I am a die-hard exercise enthusiast.  I play tennis, beach volleyball, run, hike, snow-ski, wake-board, lift weights, do yoga, pilates, barre classes, and "HIIT" classes.  I earned a second-degree blackbelt in Taeknondo in my forties. Call me crazy but a lot of my fun comes from the above activities.  I also love the challenge of trying something new. The best part is, Christina is my instructor of choice so I get to spend time with her too!

Like a lot of you there are days when I think I am just too busy to work out.  News flash! According to new scientific studies, that can no longer be an excuse for any of us, nor do we need any expensive equipment. Here is a chart which is an example of  a 7-minute "high intensity interval training" workout.  You can find many online and once you 'get it', you can make up your own.

**Be careful stepping-up on the chair and always keep your chest up when doing a squat.

"A recent article in the American College of Sports Medicine’s Health & Fitness Journal¹ shows how you can fulfill the requirements for a high intensity exercise using nothing more than your own body weight, a chair, and a wall.

Best of all, this science-backed routine only requires a seven minute investment, as the program calls for as little as 10- to 15-seconds of rest between each 30-second exercise, which should be performed in rapid succession.

As reported by the New York Times²:

“'There’s very good evidence that high-intensity interval training provides “many of the fitness benefits of prolonged endurance training but in much less time,' says Chris Jordan, the director of exercise physiology at the Human Performance Institute in Orlando, Fla., and co-author of the new article.”

The health benefits of high intensity interval training are well-established at this point, and include:

 

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Significantly improving your insulin sensitivity, especially if you're on a low-processed food-, low-sugar/low-grain diet	Optimizing your cholesterol ratios, when combined with a proper diet	Boosting fat metabolism and optimizing your body fat percentage (as a result of improved conservation of sugar and glycogen in your muscles)
Virtually eliminating type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure	Naturally boosting your levels of human growth hormone (HGH)	Increasing your aerobic capacity

                                                                                                           

One of the added boons of this 7-minute program is that since you don’t need any equipment, you can easily take this routine with you when traveling. You’d be hard-pressed to find a hotel room that doesn’t at least have a chair in it. When done at the appropriate intensity, which should hover around 8 on a scale of 1-10, the following 12 exercises, which are outlined in the report, equate to doing a long run and a weight-training session.

 Examining data from participants in the reality TV show "The Biggest Loser,” researchers found that diet alone was responsible for more weight loss than exercise, but only 65 percent of that weight loss was body fat. The remaining 35 percent reduction in total body weight was a reduction in lean muscle mass. Exercise alone resulted in fat loss only, along with a small increase in lean muscle mass."    source

Here's the conclusion:  eat healthy and make sure you also exercise.   You need those muscles, plus a muscular body needs more calories so you can eat more!   Seven minutes a day is a good place to start.  When I do "HIIT" workouts I usually do 5 exercises, a minute each (I use the timer on my iphone), and I do them four times each, resting only one minute after each set of the 5 exercises.  All of this in just 24 minutes.  Here's one of my sequences: sit-ups, squats, knee-highs, push-ups (I start w/ regular then go to my knees), jumping jacks or jump rope (if you have the room).  X 4  Try it and let me know how you like it.     
Next post I will address how your thoughts can have either a positive or a negative effect on your body, mind, soul health too.
                                                

In Remembrance

 Today I have another guest post, written by a friend of ours.   It touched me and it is a reminder of what this weekend is really all about.  I honor and thank all of the active, retired, and deceased brave men and women who have given so much for our nation.  I am truly grateful. 

Thank you Steve.

Veterans,

In remembrance of the day; Memorial Day....

The people call it a holiday.. a day set aside from the rest. 

The nation moves, the cities change for an instant and homes are different. 

The people call it a holiday.. a day set aside from the rest. 

The many travel, the offices close, in backyards there are barking dogs.

The people call it a holiday.. a day set aside from the rest. 

Craig and I can't speak this day; I buried 458 soldiers, he never counted. 

The people call it a holiday.. a day set aside from the rest.

We came home from a war, spat upon and hated.

The people call it a holiday.. .a day set aside from the rest. 

Craig and I held the caskets of fallen hero's.

... . And... ...................I held the bodies of America's Best.  

Memorial Day Tribute To Our Fallen Hero's 

Saltwater Steve
US Veteran, US Navy
Vietnam, Decorated