Schuller Christmas Card

Wishing you and yours a very special Christmas and may you have much happiness and prosperity in the new year ahead.  We are grateful for our growing family!

Another free digital ecard by Smilebox

5 Ways To Holiday-Proof Your Health

Oh to be young again!  Circa 2001

Have you ever noticed that cold and flu season starts at the same time as "junk food" season?  There's a reason for that.  Processed sugar and fake foods weaken your immune system and hurt your body's ability to fight of infections and viruses.
We are coming into the season of parties which means more eating and drinking.   This is good fun and good for us, with the exception of an unhealthy temptation to eat and drink more than we should.  Over the years I have collected and practiced some great and easy ways to stay disciplined and healthy over the holidays.
We just passed Halloween and for those of you with young children or grandchildren, you may have already been overcome by temptation  (I was!).   It's not too late!  Start following just five simple ideas and you will arrive this January feeling great and ready to set your goals for 2017.

1)  Prevention-With Christmas and other parties right around the corner you want to write a strategy for handling how you will eat in the weeks and months ahead.  It's funny how us women will spend hours deciding which outfit we will wear, but rarely spend any time considering what we will eat or drink once we reach our party destination.   Have a solid plan before you go.  In fact it's a good idea to eat a healthy salad and drink lots of water before leaving your house.  You won't feel as hungry once you get there and you won't be tempted to eat (as many of) those bacon and potato things or any other high calorie treat!   If it's an appetizers and drinks only party, consider hanging around the fresh, raw food.  You can't get in too much trouble if you first fill your plate with things like carrots and celery. Skip the dressing.   Consider substituting your drink of choice with water every other time.  Example:  if you have a glass of wine then drink a glass of water before you imbibe in your second glass of wine.  Same goes with soft drinks. Again, the water will make you feel fuller so you won't drink so much.  Also, you will stay hydrated which is so very important.  If you are going to a formal dinner party, try to eat half the plate only.  No matter how good it is...eat half.  Take one bite of the delicious desert then let it sit.

2)  Relaxation-Shopping, decorating, hosting, baking, children's programs, and any number of things are added to our already busy lives this time of year.  Make sure you carve out some time to center yourself each day.  I like to spend time in prayer and meditation first thing in the morning, even if it's only five-ten minutes.   If you control your stress levels as much as is possible, your body will react in healthier ways and your hormones, including your cortisol levels will stay more balanced.  When you are stressed you actually pack on the fat, and who wants fat!?   Join a restorative yoga class.  I went to my first one last week. A friend of mine plays the cello while the instructor guides the participants to relax and restore.  It was amazing and I felt relaxed and rejuvenated for two days after.

3)  Optimism-This might sound trite or silly but it's important that you actually believe you can and will stay healthy over the holidays.   The way you think affects your decisions and your decisions largely determine the rest.   Picture the person you want to be going into the season.   If there is something bothering you, figure it out now so you can be healthy not only physically,  but also in top shape emotionally and spiritually.  Make amends with that family member who is attending your Thanksgiving meal this year.  Don't just tolerate them, actually find something good about the person and share it before they arrive this year.   See them as God sees them.  Talk gently and in a kind way about everyone, especially yourself.  Be a peacemaker.

4)  Options-Consider what has worked for you and what hasn't.  If hosting your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner has caused you too much stress then think about doing it a different way.  Go out to a restaurant this year.  If you are a control freak who insists on preparing everything (because no one could possibly do it as well as you) think about letting go a bit by assigning dishes for each to bring to your house.  You can even send out the recipe ahead of time if you can't let go any more than that!   I've known hosts who are more concerned with everything being perfect than they are with showing love to their guests.  If you are one of those then please think about what you can do to make everyone feel comfortable and loved.   If you are too stressed and busy to spend at least a little time listening to a relative, a friend, or playing with your grandchildren, then you are doing it all wrong!  People will not always remember how perfect your meal was but they will remember how you made them feel when they were in your home.

5)  Fitness Goals-I know it's tough to stay on your exercise schedule when there's so much going on.   My best advice is this:  put your workouts in your calendar and keep them.   When someone asks you to meet them at the mall and it conflicts with your plans to visit your gym, tell them so.  You can meet them any other time but______(fill in the blank).   Most people will respect you for taking care of your body and you will be a good influence too!   Many of us work and it becomes even tougher to stick to a regular schedule of exercise when holiday extras are tossed in the mix.  You might have to workout earlier or later than you normally do.   This year don't be that person who only shows up to the gym on January 2.  Start today...it will make a huge difference in your life.   And remember.....

"If you are failing to plan, you are planning to fail."    Dr. Robert H. Schuller

I am proof that the above strategies work!
If you need help with any of the above I am here to talk to you anytime.  That's what I love to do!
Maybe you only need an hour or two of my time.  Let me know by contacting me below.   I'd also like to hear your stories and memories of holiday cheer.   Please write to me.

email:  Donna@HealthyFamilyHappyLife.org

website:  HealthyFamilyHappyLife.org

11 Healthy Ways to Lose Weight

1)  Get more sleep.  Most people need 8 hours a night.  Studies show that people who are sleep-deprived tend to eat more because they mess up their metabolisms.  People who get more sleep have less unhealthy cravings during their waking hours.

2)  Forgive (don't forget) and move-on.  Holding on to anger and resentments will cause you to eat more and drink more.

3)  Exercise.   Find something you like to do and commit.  Put exercise in your calendar and treat it with just as much importance as your hair appointment, your nail appointment, etc.  Longer isn't better-intensity and consistency are.

4) Eat more.  A lot of people skip meals or drastically reduce their calories in hopes of dropping pounds.  There's scientific proof that just eating the right kind of calories will help you lose weight and help with your unhealthy cravings.  Fasting for longer than a couple of days, or depriving yourself of calories you need will only put your body into survival mode.  You will get fatter.

5)  Work, or get involved and participate in a worthwhile project every single day.  You will find more satisfaction and happiness in your everyday life and you won't think so much about eating.

6) Have a small pantry and a large refrigerator and fruit bowl.  You should be shopping every few days because you should consume mostly fresh food.  Stay away from packaged fake food! Do some food preparation ahead of time.   Clean and chop your veggies and put in a place where they are easily accessible.  

7)  Drink plenty of water and have a full glass of water when you feel low-energy or hungry shortly after eating.  Dehydration can cause feelings of tiredness and also increase unhealthy cravings.  A simple rule of thumb: Divide your body weight in half.  Drink that many ounces of water every day.  Use a BPA free container to travel with.  If you must drink bottled water out of plastic, keep it out of the heat and the sun.  

8)  Eat protein at every meal.  It's brain food.  Free-range eggs, wild caught fish, and lean, natural grass-fed meats are obvious choices but protein is also found in plants like avocado, broccoli, spinach, kale, and peas.   Nuts, seeds, and legumes are also excellent food choices.   You can prepare a lot of these in advance too.

9) Say "no to drugs."   The medical model in our society is quick to prescribe that pill for sleep, depression, weight loss... you name it.   Everyone wants a quick fix. Medicine is for emergencies but every drug you put in your body has a side effect.  If you artificially alter your metabolism you will pay in many ways, including healthy weight management.   If you need help or think you are addicted go to SchullerHelp.org. 

10) Love others unconditionally.  You don't have to hang-out with them but try to look at others as God sees them.  Remember, "There but by the grace of God go I." If you can't say something nice about or to someone then don't say anything at all.  Hang-up the phone.  Walk away.

11) Pray often for others.  There is nothing more shallow than telling someone, "I'll pray for you" if you don't mean it!  I hear those words being thrown around in Christian circles as much as the "Let's do lunch" and never hearing back from the person.   Next time someone asks you to pray for them you can ask, "do you want to pray now?" or just email them or text them a prayer.  When you do this  you will see miraculous things take place in your life. 

Sometimes the burdens we carry allow us to hold-on to toxic thoughts and toxic waste which affects our waist.   Embrace God's desire to have a relationship with you by asking Him into your life.  Then communicate with him daily through prayer (talking to God) and meditation (listening to God)

Contact me if you need any help or advice with health issues or family dynamics.  It's what I love to do!

"For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."  
Philippians 2:13

To contact me via email:  Donna@DonnaSchuller.com

10 Minutes To Extend Your Life!

These photos are updated and combined from 1942 and 1962 by Gjon Mili for LIFE magazine. 

For those of you who have read my blogs for a while or who know me, you will know that I love exercise. I like sweat. I like challenging my body, my mind, and my spirit to do more than I think it can.  As part of my practice in the natural health world I have always recommended exercise in conjunction with other lifestyle adjustments.   I have also had to come to a realization that there's a whole lot of you out there who do not like exercise at all!

 I just finished reading the new Time Magazine article, "The New Science of Exercise" and if the results of the studies being sighted in this article are not enough to get you doing some form of physical activity on a regular basis, nothing is!

 The pendulum is finally swinging the other way and younger people in particular are trying to be more natural and more healthy.   I think they know that there's got to be a better way to live.  The first comprehensive study on the striking benefits of exercise is being done now and it's sponsored by the NIH (The National Institute of Health)   If you study medicine and body movement as far back as Hippocrates (400BC) who is known as the father of medicine, you will find that humans have always known, almost instinctively, that exercise is good for them.

Can't do anything about the loose skin but weight-lifting keeps me strong at 60!

 Fast forward to the very early 1900's when a couple of very wealthy families in the USA found a way to sell medicine and make a ton of money.   The story just goes on and gets worse from there.  Here we are in 2016 and people are fatter, sicker, more miserable than ever.  Alcoholism and drug abuse (prescribed drugs as well),  to name just two addictions, are epidemic and things don't seem to be getting any better.  The latest fad diet books are still best-sellers and even for people who do exercise, they just can't lose the weight they should for their health.   Bad, fake food is the culprit combined with too much sugar and /or too many calories.  It  doesn't matter if you ride a bike, hike, play sports, or do any kind of strenuous exercise that burns, say 500 calories a workout.  If you are eating even 600 calories more than you should for optimum health, you are going to start putting on weight.  The latest studies on exercise don't show that it causes weight loss unless it's combined with a healthy diet.

So what does this Time Magazine breakthrough article called, "The New Science of Exercise" say then?  What is the good news?  First off, you need to buy the magazine and read it (I tried to download and provide a link here but they want me to subscribe and I already get the paper copy)  I am providing a few of the stand-out facts from the article below.  These are direct quotes from the genetic metabolic neurologist who is co-leading the study.


 
1)  "The most  effective, potent way that we can improve quality of life and duration of life is exercise." 
2)  "If there was a drug that could do for human health everything that exercise can, it would likely be the most valuable pharmaceutical ever developed."   This comment is made after the study of the blood of subjects being drawn and looked at right after completing exercise.
3)  "The scientific benefits of exercise mean slower aging, better mood, less chronic pain, stronger vision, and the list goes on.  These results are real, measurable, and almost immediate."
4)  "Medicine shifted it's focus from the prevention of disease to it's treatment.  In the 1905 Journal of The American Medical Association the authors reported that they mourned how many people were losing sight of the health benefits of exercise."
5)  In this study, "they think they will be able to identify every single molecule in the body that is tweaked or turned-on by exercise."
6)  If you are willing to do HIIT  (high intensity interval training) you will gain the benefits of exercise in as little as 10 mins!  Most are not willing to do "intensive" training because it's just too hard.  I think it's fun and also very effective if you have only a small window in your day. in which to get in your exercise.     I have written a bit about this is the past.  You can read one of my older blogs on "quick"  exercise here.
7)  "Standing more and sitting less is linked to a lower risk of cancer, diabetes, and early death from any cause."
8)  "You can't just walk, you have to do some kind of weight-bearing exercise to reap all the benefits."
9)  "Even very ill people can benefit from exercise.  It can help them get well!
10)  "Some of the best results of the benefits of exercise don't require a gym membership at all."

So if the above was just too much for you because you just do not like exercise,  I am sorry but "it's the facts, only the facts."

Let me know if there is some way I can help you with your health.  Besides being a nutritionist I also hold a second-degree black belt in TaeKwonDo and I love teaching about high intensity, short burst exercises as incorporated in a healthy diet and lifestyle.

 Donna@DonnaSchuller.com

The Silent Killer

Most of us know that dangers of high blood pressure:  heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and damage to the blood vessels in the eyes, to name a few. High blood pressure can have deadly consequences so you'll want to make immediate lifestyle changes if you've been diagnosed with high blood pressure.  A very successful treatment for high blood pressure is chiropractic adjustment.   This article here lists a study that was done using chiropractic adjustments of the cervical spine and the effects on neck pain and blood pressure.   
Like anything in life, you'll want to find the best possible chiropractor so if you need a recommendation you can contact me and I will refer you to a great one.

 Rarely is low blood pressure mentioned in the media so most don't even think of low pressure as a sign that something might be wrong. For those of us that are athletic we are accustomed to a low resting pulse rate (mine is between 48-58 beats per minute-BPM) and blood pressure on the low side (mine is typically 110/70 with 120/80 considered normal)  Did you know that low blood pressure can also be a warning sign for some serious health problems?  Conditions such as adrenal fatigue, hyperglycemia, or even the onset of diabetes might be a culprit if you have too low blood pressure.
When the blood pressure is not sufficient to deliver enough blood to the organs of the body, the organs do not work properly and may be permanently damaged.  

The older we get the more important it is to know what our blood pressure is and it's now really easy to be proactive and find out, especially if you have any symptoms of hypertension, dizziness or chronic fatigue that are not going away. .  And remember,  lack of symptoms does not mean that everything is okay.  That's why they call it the "silent killer."

 I was recently introduced to a digital blood pressure monitor by Vive Health. I ordered mine online and it arrived within days.  It's so easy to use because you no longer have to "jump through hoops" hoping to get an accurate reading while you take a person's pulse whilst check your stop-watch and waiting to calculate the results.  This great device does most of the work for you!  Now you don't have to wait weeks to see your doctor because with this latest technology in blood pressure monitors anyone can check their own blood pressure.  The best part is it's very reasonably priced!

 If you are interested in your own digital blood pressure monitor I highly recommend the one by Vive Health (picture above).  You can click here or here for more information.  This knowledge you gain by having your very own blood pressure monitor just might save your life.



"My people perish for lack of knowledge."  Hosea 4:6
 

 To contact me you can email me:  Donna@DonnaSchuller.com

Always Look UP!

I recently had my second go at wake-boarding on Lake Powell in Arizona.  My first time enjoying this fun sport was only three years ago.   I love being able to still participate in athletic activities like this, especially at my age,  and I get really frustrated if I can’t do things well without too much effort.  As I was attempting to stand up and wake board for more than 10 seconds at a time, my host, who was also the driver of his ski boat, yelled out over the water at me to “look up, keep looking up!”   With that one command I was able to achieve several nice rides and I finally dropped the rope (pictured in my last ride above)  because I needed a break! 

As I finished that day’s adventure I was reminded that looking up is a great rule for everything in life. Any endeavor I’ve ever attempted and achieved has involved looking straight ahead or up at the goal in order to stay focused.  Life is filled with many distractions and there’s always something or someone who is trying to tempt us to take our eyes off of our goals.  Stay focused.  If you live your life with faith and hope, while keeping your eyes on your goals,  you will achieve great things.   Look up, and look to God, for he leads to an abundant life.   Always look UP!

Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.                 Isaiah 40:26

To contact me: Donna@DonnaSchuller.com

Grandparenting For Better Health

Haven (2 yrs old) dressing as a pirate at Opa and Grammy D's 2011

I remember when I first heard I was going to be a grand parent.  I was so happy for my oldest son and his wife.  Since Bobby is my “step-son” the message that came to my mind was something like, “well this is great for my husband but I’m not quite old enough to be a grandparent yet!”  

Haven came into the world in December 2009 and it was “love at first sight!”  As soon as her parents would let her Robert began taking care of her each and every Monday.  It was so rewarding to watch her grow and learn.  Through her eyes we once again learned to appreciate the littlest of things in life, as seen through a baby and a small, inquisitive child.  When Haven was just 2 years old Robert and I attended a fun, pirate-themed party where the hosts passed out all kinds of “pirate booty” which we in-turn took home.  For months Haven would dress up like a pirate and to this day all of our grandchildren still play with the “gold” coins and wooden treasure chest, the eye-patch, the sparkly beads, the pirate head scarf, and the “Captain Hook hand.”

Our second grandchild, Robert IV (Cohen), arrived just two years after the first and although it was a bit tougher watching two, we still set-aside Mondays as the day dedicated to our “littles.”

Fast-forward to May of 2014 and along came Christian, who was born to our youngest daughter, Christina (Sinclair) and her husband Chad.  Since Christina had to return to work as a fitness instructor just six weeks after Christian was born we once again had the privilege of taking care of yet another grandchild.  This time it’s nearly every day, and I can tell you that this is by far the most rewarding and purposeful activity in my life.

 As I write this I am just a few days away from flying to Dallas for our second visit with our fourth grandchild, Exley, born to our oldest daughter, Angie (Schuller) and her husband, Chris Wyatt, in March 2106. 

There is nothing more important than being with your family.

Opa and Cohen (1 yr old) at petting zoo 2012

Spending time with your grandchildren, helps them developmentally and at the same time it helps you to maintain good health, mentally, physically, and spiritually.   Here are just a few of the benefits I experience when spending time with them:

1)    Children are a great way to slow-down and enjoy the simple things in life.  You will view a butterfly, a flower, a crashing wave, a duck on a lake, or even a dump truck, in totally fresh and new ways.  Grand parenting helps you become more aware of your surroundings and of God’s creations.

2)    Most of the time you need to get “down and dirty” with your grandchildren and this might include, building blocks, jumping up and down, dancing, play-acting out a scene, giving piggy-back rides, climbing on the jungle gym (so they don't fall), or building a fort.   This kind of movement keeps you flexible and helps you forget about any kind of pain you might otherwise dwell on. 

3)    There is nothing more important than your time and children know when you are distracted by other things.  When I am with my grand children I try not to take phone calls, text, or email.  Besides, if I take my eye off of Christian he is likely to try to climb over the balcony, scale the fireplace, or flush something down the toilet!   The experience of living in the present is a great benefit of grand parenting.  They help you “stop and smell the roses.”

4)    Playing board games or cards, teaching them to count, painting or doing crafts, or putting together puzzles…all of these activities help to keep your mind sharp and focused.   Most of us get caught in ruts as we age but being around your grandchildren will keep you thinking  “out of the box!”

5)    Healthy cooking is also a great sideline.  Although I’m a nutritionist and thus try to eat as healthy as possible at every meal, my daughter prepares every meal for Christian and he is only allowed organic meats, fruits and vegetables.  Off the list are grains and foods that contain refined sugars, dairy, and of course, no packaged or “fake” food ever!  It’s a great reminder that the food we eat today is building the body we will become tomorrow.   

6)    A sense of appreciation and love that is felt and passed along when we are with the youngest generation is very real and is a great benefit to our emotional health. There is so much to be thankful for and spending time with our extended family reminds us  to embrace an attitude of gratitude.  Adults have so much stress and worry and it’s great to be with children who really only care about the here and now.

7)    Faith in a new generation and faith in action as you help teach your grandchildren about God and His creation: how to pray and then you pray with them.  I recently sat down to lunch with my daughter and my grandson and as we started eating our meal Christian shouted out, “pray!”  Wow, did that get our attention!  Children learn early how important it is to acknowledge God who is the giver and sustainer of everything good in life.

"D" and Christian (2 yrs) June 2016

These are just a few of the many health benefits that I've observed by being involved in my grandchildren's lives.  I offer time, encouragement, and support for them, but the benefits I gain far out-weigh what I give.  I am helping to raise the next generation of peace-keeping, God-loving, good people and what could be more important than this?

  If you don’t have any grandchildren you can do what we used to do in our church: find older people and match them up with children who don’t have grandparents.  These “foster” grand relationships  provide the love and influence that only comes through inter-generational contact and experiences. 

Be Healthy.  Be Happy.  Be Peaceful. 

 Join me on the 15th of every month for "The Call" at 6pm pacific time.  Dial 641-715-3865 and then 642848# for access.

 Questions or information about The Call or your health?    Donna@DonnaSchuller.com

Got Inflammation?

You can get 20% off of the best supplements available by ordering from me which will help me with my goal of getting drug addicts into treatment and recovery so they can live a healthier life.  It's a win-win!

Featured in the photo is one of my favorite products from Metagenics. Even if you don't think you have any gut issues the truth is that most all health (or sickness) starts in the gut.  I take this supplement, by way of a scoop, every day by adding it into my morning "green juice" which is a combination of dark green leafy vegetables (changed each week for variety), half an avocado, half a banana or whole apple, ginger root, protein powder, water and ice.  Blend on "whole juice" setting in my BlendTec mixer and I am awarded with an amazing, healthy, filling real food breakfast of champions!

"Inflammation" has now become the new buzz word yet the truth is if you keep your gut healthy you keep your whole body healthy.  Most of us know what it feels like to have an inflamed back, neck, or shoulder, but did you know that unresolved inflammation can be a cause of sleep deprivation or problems with memory?  It can also lead to heart disease, cancer, and other types of debilitating health issues.  If you only add this one product to your diet, you will be taking a HUGE step towards bettering your physical health.  A healthy body means a stronger mind, and a much more open, loving, and fulfilled soul.

Check out my new, improved online store here at HealthyFamily.Metagenics.com   All first-time users will get 20% off of everything.  You can also take a free health assessment once you enter the store. You need supplements anyway so why not order through me?

Last, but certainly not least, I am always available to answer your questions or if you need health coaching to see how you might take your health to the next level of greatness.!

Donna@DonnaSchuller.com       Nutrition for the body, mind, and soul

Be Healthy, Be Happy.

A Gut Feeling (2)

 

You've heard the sayings, "I have a gut feeling about this," or "trust your gut." These are two sayings which refer to intuition yet science has discovered amazing truth in these two short, smart proclamations.   

  The truth is nearly all health originates in the gut. 

 Your gut microbiome becomes ill first and you cannot become well again, until it becomes well. Fact. 

Almost all illness has been linked to a loss in the diversity of your gut bacteria. Your microbiome or gut flora are essential to your good health.

When diversity is lost, certain ´bad´ bacteria are free to cause problems - they may make toxins, they may cause inflammation; and they may even cause the body to produce an immune reaction against their activities. An immune reaction throughout the body.

It has doctors and oncologists in America really worried, so much so that the American Government spent $173 million dollars just on one research project! 200 top scientists across America collaborated. The Europeans have a similar project. 7,000 research studies, over 100 clinical trials in just the last few years.

In 2012 and 2013 major research studies appeared regularly - the bottom line? Problems in your gut flora can cause chronic inflammation and lead to all manner of diseases like Diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, MS, Arthritis, IBS, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, and Cancer. In fact, there is no illness that seems exempt. 

But your doctor probably knows very little about it all. Why? Because it will involve a huge Paradigm shift in Health Treatment. You see, there´s an inconvenient truth: Drugs make matters worse!

Text books will tell you that the human body is an organism of 7 trillion cells and 25,000 genes. But it’s not - it is a Super-organism of 100 trillion cells and 100,000 genes. And these ‘extra’ genes direct messages, good and bad, throughout your body; making you ill; helping you get better. In fact, you cannot get better until the owners of these extra genes get better.                                                   source

The good news is this:  you can do something very simple to make a major change in your gut health, and thus your overall health,  even if you’re not willing to change your diet.  If you add a daily supplement, which targets gut health,  to your existing diet you should soon experience noticeable changes in your overall health.   Check-out this product  here     You will get an automatic 20% off of your first time order!

 Make sure you contact me directly if you have any questions or need a one-on-one meeting.  Even if you live out of my area, I do most of my health coaching over the telephone and you may only need one appointment to get you on the right track. 

 The even better news is that you will be helping my mission of coaching people who can't afford it.  Buy the products (that you need anyway!) from me because I love giving of my time to help people become healthier in body, mind, and soul.  

 Health products helping restore health-it’s a win-win!

To contact me email me at  Donna@DonnaSchuller.com

 

Probiotics For A Healthier Life!

Probiotics For A Healthier Life!

Did you know that 80% of all health is radically influenced and determined by the health of your gut?   I have written about this before, in fact twenty years ago (yes 20) my husband and I hosted body, mind, and soul health seminars and we had various health experts teaching all about the benefits of taking probiotics (supporting life) verses anti-biotics (against life).  We have practiced "gut health" for years and it's about time everyone else catches up!

If you want to read what I previously wrote on gut health called  "A Gut Feeling" you can click here .
It's pretty detailed and includes scientific reasons for taking care of your gut.

If you are looking for a really high quality pro-biotic check out my store at Metagenics by clicking here.  For a nutritional powder that I add to my daily protein drink, one that helps with inflammation in the gut and in your whole body, check-out this product here.  Metagenics is known for it's truth in manufacturing practices and in having the research available on all of their products.  They are "third party assayed" too so you can be assured of what you are buying.   I have been with this company for twenty years.
If you want help figuring out your nutritional needs: what you are feeding your body, your soul, your mind, then contact me and I can help you.   

To contact me:  Donna@DonnaSchuller.com

Are You Contributing to Opioid Abuse?

Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.”  Hippocrates 

Are You Contributing To Opioid Abuse?

Are you as a parent, a grandparent, a caregiver of children, unintentionally adding to the likelihood that your children will grow-up to abuse drugs? 

 

From the time most of us are born we are indoctrinated to believe that we need drugs and invasive practices to help prevent or “save us” from things that might make us ill in the future.  We are hoodwinked into believing that the only way to assure good health is to intervene with our perfectly designed bodies natural processes for immunity and healing.

  This belief starts immediately after birth with all the inoculations thrust upon us to theoretically protect us against anything and everything we might encounter.  The pharmaceutical industry has done an outstanding job at lobbying our government, while at the same time spending billions upon billions of dollars to convince us that this is the only way to protect our families.  It’s as if God has made a mistake in designing the human body’s immune system and we can’t possibly have enough faith to allow the body to grow and mature as it should:  drug and chemical free.  (Click here to read how many shots are encouraged by age 18)
 

  For most, the situation escalates from there.   The minute a baby gets a tummy ache most of us ask our doctors to give us some medicine to help. A few months later as they begin teething and experiencing pain in their gums, or a fever, an easy solution is to just load them up with children’s painkillers of all sorts.   Soon, when they start school we get them their booster shots, and even a few new ones to protect them in case there is an outbreak of something.   In elementary school they fall on the playground and they skin their knee, but not to worry, the well-meaning school nurse might be able to administer a pain-relieving pill for that as well.  And then a month or so later they stay at home in bed with a stomachache, and while watching the t.v. a commercial comes on promoting that there’s another pill or a liquid that can help.  Diarrhea, no problem! There’s a drug for that too! In fact there’s a medicine, a pill, an injection that covers us for anything that can possibly “go wrong.”

The child grows a little older and the teacher lets us know that he or she is having a hard time paying attention in class (no joke, they are bored stiff!) Not to be too concerned because of course, there is a solution.  She suggests that there is a prescription pill for that too.  We want our kids to fit-in and to do well in school.  We want them to be healthy yet we are all too quick to find a doctor to (once again) prescribe something because we are too busy or too lazy to change the child’s diet or find other natural ways to help them succeed in class and in life.

Fast-forward to high school and the same student is having a tough time studying for a test.   Along with the well-meaning advice of other parents, and another doctor appointment, sure as heck there is yet another drug to help with that too.   *Meanwhile, at the same time, high schools all over the country are conducting assemblies encouraging the youth to stay “drug free.”

 

A year or two later and at around 16 years old, unfortunately the same student’s parents have filed for divorce.  The teenager is having a tough time sleeping and is dealing with anxiety and worry.  A quick trip back to the doctor and they are given yet another drug to help with sleep and to assist them in dealing with a myriad of emotions.   To “dumb them down” and numb them so they can’t even feel, and to hopefully make them “all better.”

   At this point in the teenager’s life it’s unlikely that they can make it through the weekend without drinking a bit here and there (it’s a great painkiller for a while) and why wouldn’t they try the latest pill since it will help them have more fun, help them fit-in, and help the emotional pain go away for a while?  

If any of the above sounds familiar you are among the majority of people who started out innocently brainwashed into believing that this is the right or the only path to follow when it comes to raising children. Yet, in truth, many of the things we perceive as unnatural and painful (physically, emotionally, spiritually) are just small chapters; sometimes longer episodes, in life that help us to grow, mature, and gain character.   Physically, even something as simple as a fever acts to kill bacteria and viruses that are competing to take over our health. 

  

Think way back, once again about that little baby or that very young child.  What if we questioned and became educated regarding every foreign substance before we allowed it to be put in our perfectly healthy child?  What if natural, drug-free remedies (including changes in the diet) were used at a young age to help mitigate the discomfort of teething? Or massage was used to help a headache or a stomachache?  What if a parent did the necessary research and tried the variety of functional medicine modalities available, including the addition of specific nutritionally rich protein drinks (food) to the diet to help with all kinds of symptoms and issues?  What if they found a practitioner who could naturally release neurological pressure on a child’s brain, which could also help with behavioral problems?  How about taking a child to a specialist who could give the child, and the parent, real life tools for success for the future?

 What if we cared enough to spend the time necessary to investigate and to learn what it is that our children might be sensitive to?  Things like certain chemicals, food dyes, and GMO that are in a lot of what we eat and drink.  

Most importantly, what if we lived our lives as outstanding examples for our children and young people?  What if we showed them that when we got a headache, a stomachache, or experienced any other unpleasant challenge in life, we didn’t first grab for a drink or a pill, yet instead handled situations in holistic ways?  What if they saw us pray, saw us use relaxation and deep breathing techniques, saw us mediate, and witnessed us seriously seeking to find what could be adding to the inflammation and stress response of our perfectly designed human bodies?  What if we shared our knowledge and educated them to grow in this way?

In closing, my question is this:  Why are we so surprised when our child or grandchild begins using drugs that we have not supported or given to them?  If you’ve read the model I’ve sketched out above, I think one answer could be that for their entire lives they’ve been taught that there’s a pill or a potion that could solve most all their problems.

 

  If more of us would embrace and practice the faith that we profess to have instead of looking for immediate “quick fixes,” in a half a generation I believe we would see a huge dent in and reduce the occurrence of substance abuse, including alcohol, opioids and other mind-altering drugs. 

My opinions are just food for thought. 

Disclosure: I realize that many of you are dealing with life-threatening situations and are doing the best you possibly can.  My opinions start with a person who has been born perfectly healthy and they go from there. The above is not meant to make you feel badly or shamed in any way.  

To contact me for questions or health/nutrition advice you can email me here:  

Donna@DonnaSchuller.com

Coconut Oil For Great Health

 

Let’s face it, we are exposed to an alarming amount of toxins on a daily basis. From the BPA that lines your canned goods to the pesticides liberally sprayed on anything alive these days, our bodies are constantly absorbing an outrageous amount of chemicals.

Even though you may try to live as pure a life as possible, sneaky sources of dangerous metals are everywhere, even in the so-called “all natural” products that fool consumers into believing these ingredients are safe. These "all natural" pre-packaged foods are usually the worst of them all!

Over time, high concentrations of metals build up in our systems and can lead to a wide variety of conditions, including, but not limited to: Anemia, Dizzniess, Fatigue, Dry Skin, Joint or muscle aches, Loss of appetite, Blood pressure issues, Nausea and even Vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Try as you may, there’s just no getting around the obscene amounts of toxins we are exposed to daily.

Introducing the Coconut Oil Pulling Method:

Modern naturopathic practitioners are joining with ancient Ayurvedic health practitioners in an understanding of just how powerful a detoxification and healing tool oil pulling really is. Although coconut oil is not the only oil that can be used to oil pull (others include sesame, sunflower and olive), we love its long list of health-promoting properties (for both oil pulling and/or coconut oil ingestion), listed below:

• Antibacterial—stops bacteria that cause gum disease, throat infections, urinary tract infections and ulcers in their tracks
• Anticarcinogenic—keeps dangerous cancer cells from spreading while boosting immunity
• Antifungal—destroys infection-promoting fungus and yeast.
• • Anti-inflammatory—suppresses inflammation and repairs tissue.
  • Antimicrobial—inactivates harmful microbes and fights infection.
  • Antioxidant—protects from free radical damage.
  • Antiparasitic—can help rid the body of tapeworms and other parasites.
  • Anti-protozoa—kills protozoan infection in the gut.
  • Antiviral—helps to kill dangerous viruses that cause influenza, measles, hepatitis and more.
  •  
  Some positive side effects of oil pulling
  may include the following:
  
  
  • Overall strengthening of teeth, gums and jaw
  • Plaque prevention
  • Prevention of halitosis (bad breath)
  • Prevention of cavities and diseases such as gingivitis
  • Prevention of lip, mouth and throat dryness
  • Possible remedy for jaw soreness and TMJ
  • Relief of migraine headache
  • Hormone imbalance correction
  • Inflammation reduction
  • Support of normal kidney function
  • Relief from sinus congestion
  • Relief from eczema
  • Improved vision
  • Pain reduction
  • Aids in detoxification
  • Helps with insomnia
  Follow these instructions to perform the oil pulling method:
  1. Oil pulling should be done on an empty stomach (preferably first thing in the morning)
  2. Use one tablespoon of organic virgin coconut oil – you may want to start with ½ tablespoon and work your way up to a tablespoon.
  3. Swish the oil around in your mouth slowly and be sure that the oil reaches all parts of your mouth – do not swallow.
  4. Swish for five to ten minutes. Try to work up to twenty minutes if you can.
  5. Spit out all of the oil when you are done and rinse your mouth with water.
  6. Brush with a natural toothpaste afterwards.
  Note: Some people may feel a bit ill during or after oil pulling – this is generally a good sign that your body is removing toxins and should dissipate as you become healthier.
  Daily oil pulling with organic coconut oil along with consuming a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise and sleep will help your body stay sharp and ready to defend the onslaught of toxins you face each day! And your dentist just may be amazed at your next appointment in a few months at how much better your oral health is becoming!
   Source
   
  Donna@DonnaSchuller.com