My Video and Blog Response to "The *Shocking* Truth About Colonics and Enemas"

Video Response Part 1

 

 

Video Response Part 2

 

The prompting of me making this video and write up is actually in response to a video that was put out by a wonderful YouTuber this morning.  I knew something was up when I got tagged in feeds on 3 different groups that I am a member of, got several private messages in my FaceBook email box, 1 phone call and a text message all asking my opinion on what was said in the video.  Lol  

I want to come right out and say that there are very few debates or online drama vortexes that I will ever allow myself to participate in or get sucked into.  The ONLY reason that I even take the time to speak into this particular one is because some of the people that I know personally still have a hard time with discernment when there are two opposing views on a subject and begin to question or feel bad about their choices or healing path. 

Whether one chooses to be for against colonics and enemas does not affect me personally.  I totally respect and honor that not everyone will find things that I think are wonderfully healthy and regenerative to the body to be agreeable to them.  And I am totally okay with that and do not feel it is my calling in life to try to set all the wrongs right or to convince people of my perspectives or to insinuate that my way is the only correct way.  There are other people that can totally own and run the energy of debate, inflammatory statements and sowing disharmony among others and so I will leave the debating up to them. 

The subject of "to enema or not to enema" is not a new one!  lol  The video that was posted this morning and referred to above is not the first, only or last video that is out there proclaiming that colonics and enemas are dangerous.  There are always teachings and beliefs that are on different ends of the spectrum.  I believe that it has always been this way, but also as a sign of the times that we are now living in the polarities in everything are more evident and everyone's bodies both physically and energetically are responding to different things in different ways. 

I am not an M.D.  There are many pioneers in the colon cleansing "industry",  Norman Walker and Dr. Max Gerson to name 2.  There are also other doctors who were pioneers in their own field who all spoke about colonics being a wonderful and necessary support to healing the body,  2 of these doctors would be Dr. John H. Tilden and Dr. Bernard Jensen.  All of these doctors plus many, many more have already written exhaustive papers, books, studies and spoke of their own recommendations and protocols.  I am not going to try and replicate the amazing work that they have have already done, as you can easily google this information and find a treasure trove worth of health and wellness advice.   

I am a colon hydrotherapist and run a holistic wellness center that does colon hydrotherapy.  The reason that I do have colon hydrotherapy in my practice is because enemas and colonics were cornerstone to my own personal healing journey.  I was very, very sick and I needed support to help my body to heal.  Foods and nutrition alone just did not do it all for me.  I was sick to the point of basically reacting to everything that I was putting in my body.  So while my story is different than most people who are simply trying to find a way to better health and more vibrancy I believe that enemas and colonics absolutely helped to save my life.  No one could ever convince me differently.  It is my experiential knowledge and my lived out life journey and truth.

This video and blog post is absolutely not meant to be exhaustive or even extensive of the points that I am choosing to address.  It is simply some of my quick thoughts about some of the general misinformation that is out there and some of the comments that were specifically made in the video I referred to above about colonics being dangerous.  Here is my response to some of the points made in the YouTube video posted this morning:

Point 1: 

People do come from different places of what they consider to be healthy.  That is true.

 

Most people are still in a place where they think drinking gallons of milk and eating animal products  is healthy. 

 
People actually believe that things that are nothing but a package of chemicals and brain altering substances that can be picked up off of a shelf in any local grocery store is healthy just because the box says so.  They will swear by it, and I happen to disagree.  
 
I think that they are wrong and can site studies and personal experiences as to why I believe what I believe.  The nay-sayers think that I am wrong and can site studies and personal experiences as to why their stance is correct and mine is incorrect. 
 
It doesn't have to be the end of the world or mean that either of us with differing perspectives are bad people.  :)  We are just coming from different perspectives of what works and what doesn't in relation to the body's natural state of regeneration, vibrancy and health. 

Point 2:

Addressing a comment made that colonics only treat a symptom and not a cause - namely in the case of constipation: 

I am a holistic practitioner and I NEVER look at symptoms.  I will always address the cause.  It is one of the corner stones of my practice that when people come in and want me to talk to them about their headaches (a symptom) - I talk to them about their diet.  They want to talk about hives (a symptom), I talk about digestion.  They want to talk about depression (a symptom), I talk about what they are putting into their mouths and how often they get out into the sunshine every day.  And even though I run a colon hydrotherapy facility when people come in complaining of constipation I do not advocate using colon hydrotherapy to "cure" constipation. 

Constipation always, always has more to do with what you are putting in your mouth than the function of your actual colon.  I immediately give my clients recommendations to go on a high fruit and vegetable diet, and to cut out the meat, dairy and gluten and to start exercising and moving their body. 

 
It is true that colonics and enemas can surely help to address and relieve the acute issues around constipation but I believe that it should not be used as the only method to combat such a condition.  I can not speak for other colon hydrotherapists, but I can say that in our facility we have not lost sight of the fact that health is a multi-faceted approach that encompasses the physical body, mental body, the spiritual body and the energetic body. 

Point 3:

"Colonics and Enemas will make your colon loose it's peristaltic action.  You may never be able to poop on your own again!"  Lol.  False

This is totally not true.  As a matter of a fact colon hydrotherapy helps to tone the muscles in the colon and actually encourages peristalsis.
 
I would like to note here that there is a HUGE difference between doing water enemas and the enemas that you purchase from the drug store containing chemicals.  Drug store enemas are not natural, no matter what the box says.  These types of enemas are damaging to the colon.  They leave an acid residue inside the colon and can definitely make the body dependent on the stimulation of the colon by these chemicals for the peristalisis to work properly.  I do not ever recommend that you take laxatives or do enemas that are not pure water or other natural implant enemas.
 
Your peristalsis can also be greatly affected by the foods that you take in and the build up of impaction around the lining of the colon.  This makes the relaxation and contraction of the colon ineffective and your colon has a hard time moving foods from one digestive station to another.
 
Another factor that can also affect the peristalsis of the colon can be the body's ability to properly break down the food that is in the stomach.  If the body's ability to produce enough hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes is compromised then the body is going to have a really tough time not only assimilating the foods that you are eating but also moving them through the colon. 

Another point of note here is that enemas and colonics are a GREAT way to get a really good indication of exactly how fast the digestion system is actually working.  Sometimes your digestive system isn't as quick or efficient as you might think that it is.  When you clean out the decending and transverse colon during a colon hydrotherapy session it can take the body some time to then move fecal matter down into that area that is usually full of fecal matter ready to be released.  This should be within the next meal or two.  There are cases, however, of people that have the experience of not having a bowel movement for the next day or two after a colonic.  But you cannot necessarily blame that on the colonic.  Your colon transit time was set long before you ever got on that colon hydrotherapy bed! :) 
 
Again, in that case my client and I would be having us a little chat about diet and digestion to get that digestion system working full steam ahead.

Point 4:

Scare tactics.  "Be very, very afraid of colonics and enemas because "fill in the blank":

 

Scare tactics are such a poor way of trying to get your point across to people.  It's such a sad way to exchange information and energy, in my opinion. 

 
That kind of scare tactic goes along the same lines as saying
"Don't eat too much fruit, it will cause you to get fat"  or
"Don't eat too many bananas, your potassium levels will get too high and you will get sick"  or
"Don't drink fresh juice, your triglycerides will go through the roof". 
 
Someone, somewhere may have had any one of those 3 experiences BUT I can tell you 100% that:
you cannot blame weight gain on the fruit,
you cannot blame potassium levels on the bananas and
you cannot blame the triglycerides on the fresh juices! 
 
There had to already be issues in the physical body that were present and manifesting before the experience of introducing any of those things into the body.  The result of the collide would be symptoms that for sure were undesirable but oftentimes, especially in the cases mentioned above the catalyst can absolutely prove to be the healer.
 
It is the same with enemas.   Enemas in and of themselves are very gentle and are very helpful in helping the body to cleanse.  However, symptoms can at times arise from the practice.  These usually indicate a poor digestive system that is not able to fully break down the food that it is taking in, or high acidity in the body, or a presence of heavy medications, a presence of older fecal matter that has presented as impaction around the lining of the colon or pockets of fecal matter that have accumulated through years of misuse of the body as a trash can taking in food indiscriminately along the way, or a myriad of other possibilities that I won't take the time to go further into here.
 
So, express your concern with enemas and colonics = fine.  But scaring people  = bad form :)

 

Point 5:
"People use colonics and enemas as a crutch".  I disagree.

As I went into in item #2 above, I don't ever advocate using enemas or colonics as a crutch to support your continuing abuse of a Standard American Diet and I am very vocal about that. 
 
Stating that all people use colonics and enemas as a crutch is a pretty broad statement and in my experience most people that use them are finding immense relief, not from constipation but from a lowered body toxicity level and the body's having a little help in the realm of being able to eliminate cellular (and solid) waste faster than the body can manage it by just having regular bowel movements.

 

So, overall I believe that the above statement is false and would think that there are very few people who actually use it as a crutch.

Point 6:

"Colonics and enemas damage the body's gut flora".  False.

To quote Dr. Norman Walker who is considered to be a pioneer and expert in the field of colon health "The flora is stored IN the lining".  The school of thought that puts the flora or bacteria swimming around and being produced on the top of the lining is completely false.  That's not the way it works.
 
The glands in the colon produce the intestinal flora needed to lubricate the colon.  Many people, including some professionals, think that enemas and colon irrigations wash out the intestinal flora, also known as benefical bacteria, and deprive the colon of benefical lubrication that it needs to function properly.   When the colon becomes sluggish or is layered with impaction that covers the lining of the colon the glands cannot properly produce the lubricant that the colon needs to function normally.  Anytime that there is a lack of this necessary lubrication there is an increase in the body's overally toxicity levels and usually an increase in the experience of constipation. 

(The goal, though, is to eat a diet high in fruits so that the colon functions beautifully every day and doesn't experience sluggishness or impaction)
 
Dr. Bernard Jensen did some wonderful research and placed the ratios in a healthy colon of friendly bacteria at 85% leaving a level of 15% of unfriendly bacteria.  But when tests were and are sent off to labs during research the findings more often produce ratios that are inverted - being 85% of UNFRIENDLY bacteria and levels of only 15% of friendly bacteria. 
 
What is really cool is that now that research money is starting to be poured into looking deeper into holistic and alternative methods of healing, they are finding that what destroys whole colonies of friendly bacteria is not enemas and colonics as our original video poster would have you to believe, or even nutrition like I could totally jump on the bandwagon saying, but actually…..STRESS! 

That's right folks, you don't have to be afraid of enemas or colonics, you should be afraid of your own inner turmoil and disconnect with harmony in your own life. 
 
STRESS.  It can damage the body's friendly bacteria.
 
Point 7:
"All colonic promotors have abused colonics/enemas and probably done serious damage to their body".

Seriously?  I really loathe to get into a space to answer this but I find it so funny that I can't help but play in this space.

[A note to the original video poster:  I love watching inflamatory statements flying out to try and get people engaged and to get those clicks and views.  It's amazing and as a business woman myself I can totally respect that strategy, although I would caution against actually internalizing that combative type energy, even if you are just doing it over the internet right now, because if you are not careful you will find this type of disharmony with people becoming the norm in your life.  And I see you as an amazingly beautiful and creative person with so much to offer but that type of energy offering is very unbecoming of you.]

Actually, as I have said in earlier paragraphs I do not condone using colonics or enemas as a crutch or as a way to cover over symptoms that the body is trying to get your attention with.  Personally I find colonics to be a wonderful addition to my overall health and wellness practices.  It is not the only thing that I do but is something that has really helped me to heal and has allowed my body to move ahead years faster than it could do with just using raw foods (lfrv) alone.   

Again, I cannot speak for other colon hydrotherapists but I can assure you that my colon is in beautiful shape!  :)  It is not damaged or dysfunctional in any way, but thank you for your concern.  Lol

Point 8:
Addressing the comment "The only reason you feel good after a colonic is because your adrenals are working overtime".  Not True.

That just isn't how it works at all.

Our adrenals are so important to our overall body operation.  They are the true "workhorses" of the body and there are very few functions that happen in the body without your adrenals playing a key role.  And yet, most of us today are walking around with chronically deficient adrenals.

Colonics do NOT stimulate any fight or flight response in the body or cause the body to have to DO anything.  Actually, the lowering of the cellular waste and solid waste in the colon brings the overall toxicity level in the body down and helps the adrenals to be less stressed.  Instead of an increased burden on the adrenals people can experience greater efficiency with their adrenals and consequently many functions in the body work much better creating an overall better feeling and sense of wellbeing.

People feel good after a colon hydrotherapy session because the sewage system of the body has been wonderfully cleansed and the colon has gotten very hydrated.
________________________

There are so many other areas that I could go into here about the positive side to colonics and enemas.  We could and probably will do whole videos just on subjects like the colon being an absorptive organ, on auto-intoxication, on Hepatic Portal Circulation and on the portal venous system.   There is so much more to it than the mocking and childish turning up your nose at the thought of a gentle cleanse of our colons.  Our body is so complex and is so wonderful and efficient at healing itself.

I definitely want to make sure that I also acknowledge and express my respect for every single person who has ever sent a warning, made a video, blog post or article either for or against any natural health modality.  We all have something amazing to offer this world.  We all have infinite worth and I for one am grateful for the opportunity to have the glimpse into the mind and beliefs of the person who made the original video. 

I know that just as I am coming from a place of love right now as I type out my response, as they made the original video against colonics and enemas they were also coming from a place of love and expressing a message that they felt passionate about. 

It's not always black and white.  Everyone is different and our bodies are unique in not only what they respond to but the speed at which they respond and the things that are beneficial to maintain a state of health and vibrancy.  I, for one, definitely think twice before issuing statements that throw out  "facts" that certainly are subject to interpretation and then applying my "facts" broadly over the entire population.. 

Colonics and enemas are safe and gentle.  They are an amazing way to detox the body and support the elimination of cellular and solid waste.  They do not push matter further up into the colon, they do not stress our adrenals or cause us to loose peristalsis and therefore never be able to poop again.

In a perfect world our bodies would not need any support and would function at top capacity all the time.  Everyone would be hydrated, be full of fruit, love, life and laughter.  But we do not live in a perfect world.  Not with the air we breathe, the food we eat or the emotions that we process. Enemas and colonics are certainly a gentle and natural way to support our body's healing efforts and you don't have to be afraid.

Learn to listen to your body.  Learn to feel what is in alignment with you and what isn't.  Don't do or not do anything for your health just because someone says so.  Think for yourself and practice that connection with your own inner guidance.

I love you all and hope that this information was a blessing to you in some way.  Have a wonderful day and remember to keep smiling!

 

When Your Child Has Food Allergies - How To Deal With YOUR Emotions :)

It can be hard to navigate our way through all of the social, educational and professional activities in our lives when we have food intolerances ourselves.  It is a whole different ball game when we are talking about our children having food allergies or food intolerances.

It can seem that at every turn there are cookies at school and sports functions, parties, get togethers, meals on the run and temptations and cross contamination at every turn.

If that were not daunting enough we as parents also have to deal with our own emotions that we sometimes unconsciously project upon our children.  We assume that our kids are going to experience their lives and come to the same conclusions in situations that we did.  In reality, two people can experience the same situation and come out with very different perspectives and lessons.

For a child that has food allergies it can be a landmine to navigate the young years.  Many times intolerances and allergies from the foods that they are taking in affect not only their bodies but also their minds and emotions.  When we give in and give them a "treat" what we don't realize is that they are the ones that will be paying the price for days or sometimes weeks to come.  We, as parents, don't always put 2 and 2 together when the next week our kids are having emotional meltdowns or are demanding or not feeling well.  We can get frustrated and be short of patience and don't make the connection to that split second decision the week or day before when we decided to "reward" our child and give in to a "treat".  Now our precious baby is getting in trouble or is experiencing our lowered tolerance for unbecoming behavior and they are not in control of themselves.

It can literally be like walking through life in a fog when our brains are allergic to the foods we eat.  We can interpret life differently and respond totally different to a multitude of situations when we are reacting than we would if we were not. 

When your child is reacting they are basically powerless.  They cannot often times verbalize or even realize that the way they are feeling is not normal. 

I know it is hard but I would encourage all parents to stop and think twice before giving in to that "treat" next time and to realize that you are not doing your children any favors by doing it.  You are leaving their bodies and minds to experience the fallout for days inside their own internal world.  It is good practice when you have strong emotions in any situation about your child not being able to eat the same as others to stop and ask yourself are you projecting your beliefs or emotions onto your child?  Are you acting on what you would feel in that situation?  Sometimes just the acknowledgement of an unconscious thought stream in the mind can be enough to think through a situation differently. 

Also, when there are food allergies and intolerances present that means that there is a whole and different CAUSE of the problem.  Allergies are only a SYMPTOM.  When you keep introducing the item that is causing the body pain or illness you are just prolonging the time it takes the body to heal itself. 

You CAN heal from food allergies and intolerances but it does require removing the offender. 

Be kind to yourself and remember that you want to empower your children to be the best that they can be.  We are amazing parents and all doing the best that we can with what we have at the time.

I hope that my video and post was a blessing to you in some way.  Have a wonderful day and remember to keep that smile on your face!

Do You Hate Vegetables? Tips On Resetting Those Taste Buds!

An issue that stops many people that are eating a Standard American Diet from beginning a new dietary lifestyle is often the fact that they greatly dislike the taste of fruits and vegetables. 

Oftentimes the very fact that there is a strong distaste for vegetables and fruits prevents people from even considering or being open to ways of eating that don't involve processed chemical laden foods. Add to that the fact that sometimes when people who don't like vegetables see others seemingly adding vegetables to their diet easily and reaching a level of "success" and they personally find it impossible and you have a recipe for self-esteem disaster. 

It makes me sad to see anyone stuck where they are and feeling like they are in a state of powerlessness when that is not the case at all.  You have the power to bring new experiences into your life! 

Here are a few tips and some encouragement in dealing with the issue of being repulsed by the tastes and textures in vegetables when you are wanting to gravitate to a more healing and life giving diet.

Some suggestions that I talk about in the video are:

1. You can fast.  Fasting is probably the quickest way to reset those tasters but is sometimes a bit more extreme for people who are wanting a slower approach to a lifestyle change.  However, to someone who is currently battling an acute or chronic serious health illness fasting is a wonderful way to give the digestive system a break and allow the body to delegate more energy to the healing at hand.  There are many, many different ways to fast and so if this feels harmonious with you I encourage you to look into methods that you can make work for you.


2. Cut out all added salts and chemicals and eat fresh natural foods.  I totally get the fact that this  can be tricky for those with little will power because you don't like the things that I am telling you to eat!  However, you can just start with a few foods that you do like and make it a point to not take in any chemicals.  In a very short period of time you pallete that stays saturated with salts and chemicals will begin to change and your taste for foods will begin to get real. 


3. Another fast way to help the taste buds to reset is JUICING.  Start with the fruits and very mild vegetables.  Drink your juice every day and gradually increase the amount of vegetables in your juices.  This will help to tackle your cravings and give your body the nourishment it is asking for while priming those little taste buds for some better for ya foods!

You CAN do this!  I promise that you are so worth the effort.  Give it a chance.  Don't compare your journey to the journey of others.  And just like most things in life this is something that you are going to have to walk out.  I have said it before and I will say it again, there is NO MAGIC PILL!!  I wish there were, but that is just not the way it is. 

Keep on trying and babystepping your way to your goals and don't forget to be kind and give yourself grace along the way.  You are probably doing better than you think!

Blessings to you and don't forget to smile a lot today!

A Mindset of Abundance Instead of Restriction

When you are changing your diet, whether it is because you are faced with fighting your way back to health or because you are wanting a higher state of vibrancy and vitality in your life it is easy to begin looking at what you can't have instead of what you can.

 

If I could change one thing years ago when I became gluten, dairy, soy, sugar, dye, chemical and preservative free it would be to look at the abundance of what I could have instead of all of a sudden focusing on the items that were taken out of my diet. 

 

I would look at the thousands of fruits that not only had I never tried but I had never even heard of!  I would immediately begin cultivating my taste buds to enjoy the taste of beautiful vegetables instead of trying to replace the foods that I had spent my life loving with imitation recipe combinations (that never, ever lived up to my hopeful expectations). 

 

A diet change can give you life at a level that you have never experienced.  Especially if you have food intolerance's, you don't even realize some of the symptoms that you are living with and as those begin to fall away you will discover who you really are - mentally, emotionally and physically. 

 

 

When you are faced with changing your diet it is a time to create new habits.  Find new loves.  Don't look back.  Keep moving forward and make new friends with food.  I know it is hard at first but I promise, with time you won't even miss some of the things that your body is calling out for now.

Try to cultivate a mindset of abundance.  Break out of the 20 or so foods that you eat over and over and over again that don't provide you with the results health wise that you want and begin to explore a world that is waiting for you full of amazing new and sometimes exotic tastes, textures and smells. 

You are worth the effort!

I love you all!

Make Your Own Liquid Hand Soap!

For those who are trying to heal their bodies, dealing with allergies or are simply trying to improve their health making your own hand soap can be one more step in supporting the body's pathway to health.

Inevitably, when on a journey of healing your attention will come to how to reduce the influence of toxins and chemicals in your daily life.  You can make choices and changes one step at a time and looking at the hand soaps that you and your family are exposed to is a great place to start.

One way to make liquid handsoap is to make it out of Castile Soap.  This product can be found easily in your local grocery store or Wal-Mart, usually in the health food section or green cleaning products section. 

Most Castile soap products are made out of an olive oil base but some preparations can have a base of coconut, hemp, avocado, almond, walnut or oil.  Castile soap can be used as a body soap, as shampoo or can even be used as a household cleanser.  Castile soap is known for being non-toxic and made of natural ingredients. It is non-allergenic, eco-friendly and gentle on the skin and delicate surfaces.

It is so very quick and simple to make your own liquid handsoap.  All you will need is:

• Liquid Castile Soap (scented or non-scented)
• Filtered or Distilled Water
• Essential Oils for scent or theraputic properties (optional)
• Used soap dispenser bottle, or you can purchase one for this purpose

In selecting your Castile Soap I definitely recommend that you go with a non-scented version if you are dealing with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, MCS, or food allergies and intolerances.  Any chance to lower the body's exposure to scents and chemicals helps to keep the toxic body burden down. 

Now, here comes the simple part: 

1. Add a small amount of castile soap to your soap dispenser, approximately 2 to 4 Tablespoons, depending on the size of your container and also your preferred thickness of the soap.  (Admittedly, commercial soaps that we are used to will be much thicker than what you will make at home with this recipe - but this is so much cleaner, healthier and allergy friendly and works just as well).
2. If you chose to purchase castile soap with no scent you can add drops of your favorite therapeutic grade essential oil here, or just leave your soap unscented.
3. Fill your container the rest of the way with either filtered or distilled water.  Attach the lid, and shake your new gentle soap to mix your ingredients.

And that, folks, is all there is to it. 

There are many ways to make different qualities of soaps and this is not meant to be an exhaustive course by any means.  Sometimes when your life is revolving around allergies or chemical sensitivities even the simplest changes can feel daunting.  So, with this recipe you can start simple and increase in complexity when you are ready.

I love you all to pieces and hope that this simple recipe is a blessing to you and helps you to realize that it can be very easy to begin replacing some of the common every day products that we use that may be toxic to our health with gentle homemade versions that are so much better for you.

Have a wonderful day!

Candida Bustin' Garlic Tea

Candida is a yeast overgrowth in the body that can be tough to overcome.  I dealt with candida overgrowth for years while I was recovering from a lifetime of illness.  I want to share with you today a recipe that I have used for a garlic tea.

Research has shown that garlic is effective against a wide range of fungi, yeast, and bacteria with some anti-viral and anti-parasitic properties as well.  I personally have used garlic in my diet for years with very good results. 

I understand that garlic certainly isn't for everyone and I am not going to even try to play it off like it is yummy in a tea, but sometimes pain can be a powerful motivator and we will try anything to regain our health, and it was certainly a piece of the puzzle that I used to help fight my way back to health and vitality.

Candida Busting Garlic Tea

To make the garlic tea you will need:

• 4 cups water
• 4 medium cloves of garlic, crushed
• juice of one freshly squeezed lemon
• ginger root, grated (optional)

Bring the water to a boil and then remove from heat.  Add the lemon, garlic cloves and ginger (optional) to the water and allow this to steep for 25 minutes.  Strain the garlic cloves from the water. 

Your goal is to drink the 4 full cups of garlic tea per day.  In the beginning, though, I had to start with much less and work my way up.  You may find that to be the case for yourself as well.

Another option is to add the tea to freshly made savory tomato juice or carrot/celery juice.  Basically you can add the garlic to anything that helps it be a little more palatable to you, because I am warning you that this tea is strong! :)

Enjoy! lol

Favorite Juices of the Week!

I absolutely love to juice.  I believe that it is one of the most amazing things that I have ever done for myself and I am so grateful every single day to have been introduced to this amazing healthy habit. 

I get messages all the time asking for some juicing recipes to the juices that I regularly make.  So in no particular order here are my top 5 juices of the week:

 



Happy Juice: 
6 to 8 carrots, 1 cucumber, 4 celery stalks, 2 red delicious or gala apples

Green Gatorade:
1 large cucumber, 4 stalks of celery, 2 golden delicious apples

Kale Kicker:
5 to 8 leaves of kale (depending on the size of the leaves), 1/2 lemon with rind, 6 to 8 carrots, 1 gala apple

Sorbet:
1 lemon with rind, 2 golden delicious apples, 2 handfulls of spinach

Dessert Juice:
1/4 cantaloupe, 3 handfulls spinach

The juice combinations that you can make are endless.  Experiment.  Try new foods!  Try a new green every week.  And know that with every sip you are doing something amazing for your body and you are totally worth it!

What If Money Was No Object?

If you could do anything and money would be no object what would it be?  What would you do with your time, with your resources, with your mind and with your creativity?  What would you pour into?  What are the hearts desires that are placed deeply within your own very soul?  At your core, who are you?

"I always ask my students; What do you really want to do for the rest of your life? After they answer, I ask again; What do you really want to do forever, that you love, that you really care about? Then when the truth is given I tell them; Then go do that! Live life happy, giving, satisfied!"

This video is an exerpt of an amazing lecture from the late Alan Watts.  It's 3 minutes that will hopefully inspire you to take a look at what you are doing with your life and look closely into who you are and what direction you are taking your journey.  It may just be time to take the next fork in the road and travel down a path that goes in a different direction.

Blessings to you all!

Amazingly Inspirational Video

This video is the inspirational tale of disabled veteran Arthur Boorman.

Arthur is an inspiration to all of us in demonstrating that you CAN take control of your life and it can change faster than you think. His story is proof that there are no limits on what we are capable of doing! 

Whether you are trying to heal from physical disabilities like Arthur or struggling with the seemingly insurmountable task of trying to heal your body from food intolerances and sensitivities let his story serve as hope that you can do it.  You are strong and you are worth it. 

Where in your life do you need to apply this type of faith in yourself? 

10 Beautiful Reasons To Be Happy

My gratitude list from this morning:

• I am happy to hear the birds singing.  Even though the sun isn't quite up this morning the birds are expressing their gratitude for life and it reminds me to express gratitude for mine.
• Clouds.  Clouds in a clear blue sky make me happy.  They are bright and beautiful and make all kinds of shapes for the imagination.  I love it when my kids and I spend time looking at all of the dragons, lions, apples and pirate shapes that the clouds make.  And they remind me of just how big and vast of a creation that this world is.  It really is a beautiful world.
• Change makes me happy.  I am so thankful that every day is a new day and it is never too late to start doing something different than we did yesterday, or than we have done for our whole lives prior to today as a matter of a fact.
• Soul friends.  My soul friends make me happy.  There are those people who God has put in my life that just get me.  They just do.  They get me and accept me for all my quirks and eccentricities.  I don't get to talk very often to some of my soul friends but when I do it's like no time has passed at all.  My spirit sees your spirit.  We know each other and we feel blessed because of it and that makes me happy.
• Age makes me happy.  As I grow older I get happier.  With the experience of life my perspective on time and people and the world expands and I feel so much more relaxed and able to navigate through this journey.  Every year I learn how to live, really live, better.  And so I welcome each new year and I find it refreshing that I have no resistance to aging, only an excitement of what each new day has in store for me. 
• Faith is such a beautiful thing. I spent most of my life depending only on myself and trying to fill the void in my heart that only God can fill.  Saying that I am deeply grateful for my faith does not even begin to do it justice.  I suppose only the Lord can hear this prayer and praise in my spirit of thanks for lifting me out of the miry clay and setting my feet on solid ground.
• Fruits make me happy.  I mean, what is not to like about fruit?  They are inherently happy foods.  They open up my joy channel and help my body feel clean and my energy flow so clearly.  Fruits.  They are beautiful and they make me happy today and most every other day, too.
• Laughter is going to have to make it on my happy list today.  I intend to hear lots of laughter and to laugh lots myself.  Laughter is such a wonderful exchange of high vibrational energy waves.  I mean, when someone really laughs, can't you just feel it?  I love to laugh with people that are laughing and for the fact that laughter makes me happy I just couldn't imagine leaving it off of my list today.
• My dog makes me happy and she would be totally happy to know that she made it on my happy list.  She is a great example of being present all of the time.  She forgives quickly and is quick to rejoice with anyone that is rejoicing.  She also is quick to sympathize with anyone that needs sympathy.  She is just happy to be her and lives through the storms of life without resistance.  Our lives would definitely have a piece missing from it without her.
• I am so thankful for music.  It is such a beautiful expression and adds so much depth to my life.  Music can occupy any mood or emotion and I find that so cool and amazing.  So today I feel happy in my heart that I can hear and feel and experience such a wide variety of musical sounds.

My list could go on and on but that was the 10 things on my gratitude list today.  What about you?  What things are you grateful for today?  What makes you happy?

Personal Happiness

Your personal state of happiness at any given moment should not depend on someone else.  Don't look to your partner to make you happy.  Be happy by getting to know who you are.

How Often Should You Do Enemas?

Enemas are a common way that people who are fasting or trying to heal from physical illness support the body in getting rid of toxins. 

I get asked the question at least once every week of "How often should I do an enema?".  My answer to that is always the same and probably not necessarily helpful "Well, it's different for everybody".   And that is true.  My answer is different from someone trying to heal their body from serious autoimmune issues or from cancer or any other illness that seriously affects their quality of life vs someone who is just doing a juice fast or detox to do a bit of spring cleaning in the colon so to speak. 

In today's video I talk about some of the benchmarks that I use for myself and clients that I am coaching through fasting or detox as well as how Dr. Gerson used enemas in his protocols for his cancer patients. 

If you have questions about enema frequency I hope that this video helps you to decide a frequency that feels right for you and helps you support your own self healing.

Have a wonderful day!

Is Juicing Dangerous?

Is there danger in drinking freshly prepared fruit and vegetable juices?

This is the question that I am talking about in today's video.  This past week there have been a couple of times that either people were asking me if some aspect of juicing is dangerous for the body or where I witnessed someone trying to warn other people of how dangerous juicing is. 

I want to set the record straight - don't blame it on the juice!  I will freely admit that there are certain circumstances where it is very difficult for the body to handle certain foods, especially when food allergies or intolerances are present.  In these types of situations even the juices of certain foods can cause a reaction in the body.  That does not, however, mean that juicing is dangerous.

Juicing is one of the most beautiful and gentle methods of cleansing, healing and rebuilding the body that I know.  I attribute a large amount of my own personal healing to the drinking in of nature's most perfect medicine. 

If you or someone that you know is having or has had issues with juicing that is an indicator that there are underlying issues with the digestive system or elsewhere in the body that need addressing.  And juice is one of the best ways to do that! 

As I mention in the video, you may just want to work with tweaking what kinds of juices that you take in and put your foods on a type of rotation diet while you work on healing the digestive system. 

You do not have to be afraid of juicing.  It is one of the best things that you can do for your body and your mind! 

Go make yourself some juice today!

Pine Needle Tea For Cold & Flu Season

Pine needle tea has amazing immune boosting benefits for the body and is also a great mood lifter.  Here in Georgia we have no shortage of pine needles to go around!

Here is a great tutorial on how to make it.  Enjoy <3

Pine Needle Tea

Hard to Find Organic Clothing

This is just such a great site to find organic clothing that I just had to share.  You can even find organic bras and underwear here (which are so hard to find)!  Check them out.

www.Faeriesdance.com

VLOG 21 - Fun With the New Zip Line

Good morning, everyone!  Yesterday we had the awesome experience of putting up a new zip line in our back yard for our boys.  We all had so much fun playing on it.  Here is a video of the very first trips down the line! 

Hope you enjoy!

Yummy Dehydrator Cracker Recipes

I just love the website www.MyNewRoots.blogspot.com.  I was cruising the web this morning and came across her dehydrator crackers recipe and immediately wanted to make some and then wanted to share the information with you! 

I am definitely going to get my dehydrator cranking and try a rosemary garlic version of her base cracker! Yummmmmy!

Let me know if you try out any of these recipes and how they work out for you.  Much love to you all and thank you for being here <3

My New Roots - Happy Crackers

Top 10 Awesome Daily Habits

It was hard to narrow down the daily habits to share in this video down to just 10, but I did it just for you!

In this video I am sharing 10 habits that I try to incorporate into my life on a daily basis.  All of these habits are things that I consider cornerstone practices that keep me clear mentally, feeling good physically and stable emotionally.

Here they are in no particular order:

1. Juicing - Rocket fuel for the body, Baby!  Just get some fruits and vegetables and juice the crap out of them!  Let's don't over think this or get any stress over it - Just Juice!  I find juicing helps with any cravings that I may have, helps with my energy and overall mental focus.
2. Living Foods Diet - The higher my diet content is of living fruits and vegetables the better I feel.  I can tell a huge difference in the amount of physical energy, mental energy and clarity of life that I have when I am consuming a diet high in living foods.
3. Scripture - Scripture speaks my soul language.  It speaks into who I am in my core.  I begin every day in the Word.  It is a light unto my path.
4. Journaling - I love the practice of journaling.  I love to be able to look back over the past years and see how much I've grown or where I may be repeating patterns that aren't serving me well.  Journaling is such a wonderful outlet for my emotions and creativity.
5. Breathwork - Every day I set aside time for breathwork.  Quiet breathing time to oxygenate my body, pay attention to what is going on inside of my physical body and still my mind of any disordered thoughts.  It is such a wonderful practice that I would recommend to anyone.
6. Exercise - Just move your body!  Expend all of that pent up physical and emotional energy and get your flow going so that you will have more energy in the bank!
7. Get Outside - Every day I try to get outdoors.  I love to connect with nature and remind myself that this world is so big and is so vast and we are a part of it.  We have a tendency to get so narrowly focused on our lives around work and home that we forget that there is so much more.
8. Goals - I set goals and I keep them consistently in front of me to remind me of what I am trying to create or be in this life and to also make sure that I keep moving forward.  I have short term goals and long term goals.  This is just a practice to be sure that when I am launching arrows I am actually shooting towards the bullseye instead of off in left field somewhere.
9. Gratitude - Practicing gratitude is a beautiful reminder of all that we do have.  I work in every situation to try and find something to be thankful for.  I try to start and end my day reminding myself of all the things in my life that have already come or are coming that I can be grateful for.  It does my heart good.
10. EFT - I literally tap every day.  Tapping is a great way to deal with the thoughts and emotions that seem to get us "stuck". 

So there you have it.  My top 10 daily habits.  I hope that some of what I have shared is a blessing to you.  Let me know, what are the habits that you do that keep you groovin'? 

When You and Your Spouse Eat Differently

The subject of how to handle it when you and your spouse or your household have different eating styles comes up so often in my Wellness Center that I made a video about it.  Here are some of my thoughts and experiences about how to handle it when this situation arises.

It is so easy to get so identified in our minds with our diets and we forget that what we eat is not who we are, and conversely what our spouse eats or doesn't eat isn't an indicator of who they are as a person.  I hope that you enjoy the video and that if you are in this situation that something here resonates within your heart and is a blessing to you. 

VLOG 20 A Fun Morning at the Park!

A quick peek at us heading out to the park to hike some trails and play in the river. 

Remember to get outside today!  It is guaranteed to help keep you smiling!

Steve Crider lost over 100 lbs in 1 year using fruits and vegetables

Today I sat down with Steve Crider and talked with him about his journey over the past year.  Steve went from dealing with obesity and other debilitating ailments to finding a lifestyle of balance and beauty. 

Steve has dealt with his depression, anger and emotional instability, sleep apnea, painful joints, chronic dehydration, obesity and high blood pressure all by using fruits and vegetables.

Listen to his inspiring story and realize that where ever you are and whatever your current state you can experience profound shifts in all areas of your life by incorporating fruits and vegetables into your diet and removing all of the processed foods and chemicals.

Remember, you have the ability to bring new experiences into your life.

 

Food, Inc Documentary Review

Here is a review that I was asked to write for one of my very good friends who is having to do a paper for one of her college classes on the documentary Food, Inc. Watching the documentary has changed her life and I highly recommend you take the time to watch it if you haven't already. Below is what I wrote for her to insert into her paper:

 

 

 "Food Inc is an excellent documentary whose timeless message definitely needs to be spoken to a society who has largely become disconnected not only with themselves but with the world around them. This documentary takes the position of helping people connect the dots and become more conscious about what we are putting into our bodies and into our environment. The food that we consume as Americans has become more of a hazardous industrial product than something that brings nourishment, vibrance and vitality to our bodies.

I see people in my clinic every day who are paying the high price of ignorance ab...

out the foods that they have been putting in their bodies. They pay in diminished mental capacities, compromised emotional states, chronic degenerative body conditions and the feeling of hopelessness and loss of control.

It is very hard to fight our way back from the consequences of consuming dead, denatured, chemical based foods as the main-stay of our diets and due to the amazing job of PR that the fake food industry has done in altering our view of what real food actually is most people have no idea how to even begin.

Awareness and education in a way that people can relate to and apply into their own lives is definitely a step in the right direction and one of the reasons that I have and will continue to recommend that everyone watch Food Inc and other documentaries like it. The message definitely needs to get out there. It saves lives - in more than one way!

Lori Goodwin, HHP, CNHP
InternaPure Holistic Health Center"

 

If you have Netflix you can view the documentary HERE

VLOG 19 Rock Balancing

Our family has a really neat hobby that I'd love to share with you.  This past year we took up rock balancing as one of the ways that we sometimes spend our evenings.  Rock balancing is an art that has been practiced for many years and is as simple as balancing rocks on their tips or ends or any other interesting nook that you may find on your rock. 

Anyone can rock balance.  It is fun to get out in nature and is something that the whole family can get in on.  Even young kids love to get into the "rock stacking" if they aren't where they can find the balance yet. 

Also, we spend so much of our lives disconnected from the world around us and rock balancing is a great way to reconnect.  You can feel the solidarity of the rocks and it is a great way to be reminded that the world is more than our computers and cellphones.

For our fun we simply got some rocks from our woods and around our yard and plopped them all down in our front flower bed and started balancing away.

I love the art because of the stillness of mind and body that it requires.  It is really hard to balance rocks when your mind is racing or your body is in inner chaos.  You literally have to become the balance that you want to see.

We love you all deeply.  Have a wonderful day!

VLOG 18 Family Vacation Fun

We love vacations!

Every year we take a week in September and get away from it all.  This is our vlog from this year's September get away. 

We went to the mountains and stayed in a beautiful chalet in north Georgia.  We filled our days with hiking, shopping, eating, laughing, waterfalls, white water rafting, shuffleboard, watching the river, playing outdoors and celebrating our oldest son's 12th birthday.  Hope you enjoy!

You are BLESSED!

VLOG 17 Post 4th of July Juice and Eyebrow Magic

Hi Everyone!  It has definitely been awhile since my last post.  So much has been happening that blogging just hasn't made it on my to-do list. haha  But don't worry, I am back!  I love to roll with life and feel that certain activities and habits come in and out just like the seasons.  So, for now blogging is back in!

This video is actually a video that I edited back in July.  I am posting the video here in September and I honestly only remember the main subjects that I was talking about and not much else.  It seems to be a long and rambly vlog and I don't want to take the time to go back and review so I am going ahead and posting the video for your long rambly vlog enjoyment!  :)

You are blessed!

Garlic Enema Recipe for Anti-Fungal, Anti-Bacterial Healing

Here is the next video in my Enema Series.  This is my personal recipe for doing a garlic enema implant.

I usually use 3 to 4 cloves of fresh garlic.  Then I crush or press the garlic and put it into the water.  I, personally, let the garlic infuse into the water overnight without heating but it is also perfectly acceptable to simmer the water with the garlic in it on the stove for 15 minutes.  Let the water cool and then strain the garlic pieces out of the water.  What is left is your infusion water.

Whenever you are doing an implant the goal is to be able to hold the implant for up to 15 minutes. 

Keep in mind that the garlic implant is a very intense healing modality and can cause a burning sensation if it is too strong and also can cause a lot of die-off which can have some rather intense side effects in and of itself.

As stated in the video, I am NOT a medical doctor and I am not giving medical advise.  This video is for eductional and entertainment purposes only. 

I hope this video is a help and a blessing to you as you are on your journey for optimum health.

Wonderful Chia Seed Recipe for Energy Boost and Digestion

Chia seeds have long been known as "The Ancient Seed" and are absolutely one of my most favorite foods.  I not only have experienced wonderful results in my own health as a result of adding chia seeds to my diet, I see people who come through my clinic that add chia seeds to their diets and also get wonderful results as well.

My favorite way to take in chia seeds are through the chia gel that I make to go in my smoothies, and that is what I am teaching you today.

I hope that you enjoy this video!

Chia Gel Recipe
2 cups warm water
1/3 cup chia seeds (raw, organic is best)

Pour seeds in water and stir.  Let sit for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Store in refridgerator.  Will last 5 to 6 days.

Chia Pudding
4 to 5 Tablespoons Chia Seeds
2 Cups Almond Milk
2 Tablespoons Raw Honey or Agave Nectar (or amount to taste)
1 Teaspoon Vanilla or Cinnamon (to taste)

Pour seeds, almond milk, agave and vanilla in blender and pulse.  Pour in bowl and let the seeds gel for about 15 minutes.  Stir and enjoy!

Banana Nut Bread   (Dehydrator Recipe)
2 cups of vegetable pulp from your juicer (carrot is yummy!)
8 Tablespoons of Chia Seeds
3/4 cups of Walnuts, chopped finely
3/4 cups of Raisins
4 Bananas (Very Ripe!)

Mix all ingredients together, form a "loaf" on a teflex dehydrator sheet, and put into the dehydrator overnight.  You may have to adjust your dehydrator time according to your dehydrator model and your preference.  The loaf is best served warm and will remain moist inside.  So delicious!

Resetting Your Relationship With Food Project

Relationship With Food Project
I want to further expound upon the project that I am working on in creating a protocol addressing our Relationship With Food.

I am looking to add a few more people who would like to participate in my pilot program. I am hoping to roll the program out over the next month or so (but don't hold me to any date, I have a lot on my plate right now and I am really working on my life balance! lol).

There will be no charge for participating at this time since I am only rolling out the pilot/trial program, but I do want people that will give me honest feedback about the changes that they may be experiencing in relation to their relationship with food. I also want to know if the program does not work at all for you. This includes:

• the thoughts you have around what you are eating
• food cravings
• food/chemical addictions
• digestive system health i.e. issues or challenges that you may be experiencing
• the way you relate to your own self image
• motivational changes that you may experience to exercise or incorporate other healthy life practices
• areas that you may be "stuck" in that suddenly you are able to work through
• emotional eating/self soothing responses and habits around food
• the letting go of emotional triggers and habits
• any other areas of self growth or life change that you may experience while on the program

The program is not necessarily a diet of what foods to eat, although I will make those recommendations, but will center around a music track that you will listen to each day for a set number of days.

Compliance should be relatively easy and I am looking for measured and progressive tangible results physically and emotionally in participants. If you think that you are interested please send me an email stating some of the main points that you see in your life around your relationship with food and how you would like to see that change. You can send your email to blessings @ ikeepsmiling dot com. Please put "Food Project" in the subject line.

(If you don't know what I am talking about in this post you can watch the video where I mention it here.  )  :)

VLOG 16 - Life Update, Weight Loss Project, Videos and Victoria Boutenko

Hi Everyone! 

Thank you all so much for watching and for being here on my blog.  I hope it is a blessing for you!

This weeks update covers a little bit about what I have been doing for my own body physically, some new projects that I am involved in and a recommendation for the book Green For Life by Victoria Boutenko.

I love you all and hope that you have a fabulous day!