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Holistic Remedies For Depression, Anxiety, Sleep Disorders…

Nancy Addison — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 15:27:13 +0000

Depression is a major problem in our world today. I have people contact me regularly about themself (or someone in their family) who is struggling with depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and even suicidal thoughts.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association, depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15 to 44.3, and affects more than 16.1 million American adults. Nearly one-half of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. (1)

No one is immune from the day-to-day stresses that occur in our lives, especially during these orchestrated fake-demics they keep trying to put us through. (2 & 3) Stresses can be anything from someone cutting us off in traffic, to work-related stresses, to the loss of a close friend or relative. Anxiety can develop from a variety of reasons which could include the state of the world today, poor diet or lack of certain nutrients, exercise or lack of exercise, lack of companionship, fear mongering from the main stream media, and the list goes on.

We may not be able to prevent ourselves or our loved ones from being affected by daily stresses, but we can choose how we react to them, and how our body is able to handle them.

Being a health counselor and nutritionist, I understand that most people these days need some help once in a while with boosting our mood, reducing or handling stress more effectively, or overcoming depression. In the past two years, I have found an excellent way to lift the mood and spirit, while also helping the body with reducing pain and inflammation.

What I am referring to is the non-transdermal Aeon patch. I use them myself, and I also recommend them to many of my clients. The AEON patch has actually been called the “happy patch” because it reduces anxiety, while also helping to decrease pain and inflammation. I put on an Aeon patch when I am feeling a bit low or overwhelmed with things. (If you want to try the new technology non-transdermal patches, my referral number is 1439757. Let me know when you are ordering them, so I can help you place your order, and/or give you tips to use them in the most effective way possible.)

There are a number of foods and supplements that can help reduce the effects of stress on our health, help us to sleep better, and fight depression. In this article, I am also going to discuss a few things to avoid in processed or restaurant foods that can be unknowingly contributing to anxiety or depression.

A basic first step is to eat a well-balanced diet of organic fresh fruits and vegetables. I recommend always buying organic non-GMO foods when possible, because they will have a much higher nutrient content, and less chemical toxins for your body. Eating a more plant-based diet is recommended.

Some of these plant-based foods are listed below.

Organic/non-GMO, sprouted, organic lentils, chickpeas, beans, and quinoa are a wonderful source of protein, but in addition to this, they are rich in B vitamins. The B vitamins have a calming effect on the body. B vitamins can enhance our mood and help reduce anxiety.

Organic/non-GMO, sprouted beans and legumes are healthful boosters of both dopamine (essential for the normal functioning of the central nervous system) and norepinephrine (known as the stress hormone, because it is released in times of high anxiety “fight or flight” situations). Both are both neurotransmitters. (Neurotransmitters are complex chemical couriers that coordinate communication between neurons, which in turn influence every cell, tissue, and system in our body.) What we eat affects the formation of neurotransmitters, and some diet-related neurotransmitters have a significant effect on our mood, our appetite and our cravings.

Organic/non-GMO romaine lettuce, spinach, turnip greens, mustard greens, parsley, collard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, citrus fruits, lentils, basil, arugula, sunflower seeds, and mushrooms all contain the nutrient folate (B9), which helps us attain a calmer mood.

Enjoy organic/non-GMO yellow, orange and red fruits and vegetables. Papayas, beets, apples and red bell peppers have Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and folate, which enhance mood, energize, and repair cells damaged from stress. It is wonderful how eating a piece of fresh fruit can help calm the brain.

Organic/non-GMO green vegetables like romaine lettuce, spinach, turnip greens, mustard greens, parsley, collard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, and lentils are packed with Vitamin A.

Celery and celery seeds have been found to help lower blood pressure, reduce risk of cancer, lower LDL (bad cholesterol), reduce inflammation, and prevent age-related vision loss. It has been found to aid in the growth and development of nerve cells, creating a soothing effect for nerves. I like having a glass of pure, freshly juiced celery juice by itself a few times a week for the health benefits.

Eat organic/non-GMO foods that are purple. These foods contain anthocyanin antioxidants, which can help reduce inflammation which contributes to bad moods. Purple foods include wild blueberries and purple potatoes.

Wild Blueberries have been found (in a fully controlled double-blind study) to prevent low mood and depression. The study examined the effects of the flavonoid-rich blueberries on mood in young people, and found that the blueberries significantly boosted mood, which in turn helped prevent depression in young people.

Wild blueberries have twice the antioxidant power of regularly cultivated blueberries, and more antioxidants than twenty other fruits and vegetables, including cranberries, strawberries, plums, and raspberries.

Purple potatoes were considered “treasures” of the Incas. Purple or otherwise, don’t peel these purple potatoes. The skins of vegetables and fruits commonly contain high levels of antioxidants and nutrients, and are frequently much greater than the fruit or vegetable itself. (This also applies to skins you would not normally think to consume, like lemon skins).

The organic/non-GMO purple potato skins contain iodine, which is the main nutrient that supports your thyroid and helps stabilize hormone levels. This will help prevent mood swings. The health benefits of purple potatoes are that they can stop the blood vessels from feeding cancer cells, they boost the immune system, and they help in digestion health.

My children always loved it when I made purple mashed potatoes when their friends came over for dinner. It made our dinner more colorful and fun.

In addition to fresh, organic/non-GMO fruits and vegetables, here are some effective stress-reducing foods and supplements you can add to your diet:

Maca root is a wonderful superfood that originated in the Andes. The raw powder of the maca root helps the body cope with stress. It contains more than 55 beneficial phytochemical nutrients that help our bodies regulate hormones, relieve the symptoms of depression, reduce stress, elevate mood, and increase stamina. Maca root has been found to fortify weak immune systems and aid in re-mineralizing the body.

Maca root helps the adrenal or suprarenal glands, which can be weakened by stress. These glands are chiefly responsible for regulating our body’s stress response. Common symptoms of adrenal fatigue include dark circles under the eyes, low blood sugar, lower back pain, knee weakness or pain, fatigue, cravings for sugar or salt, chronic infections, and lack of libido. The adrenal glands are very important for our immune system and proper thyroid function. Not many foods support and nurture the adrenal glands.

Maca comes in gold, red and black colors. The red maca is most beneficial for balancing hormones, and increasing strength and stamina. Out of the three varieties, the red type has the highest amount of amino acids (the building blocks of protein).

I buy raw, organic red or black maca root powder, because the raw root is not processed over 118°F, and therefore it retains the live enzymes necessary to feed the cells of the body. You can purchase maca root powder at health food stores or online. Maca root does not have much flavor, so you can add it to many foods. I add it to smoothies in the morning, and it goes well with fruit or cacao smoothies.

Drink plenty of high-quality, mineral-rich water and avoid chlorinated and fluoridated tap water. The chlorine can destroy the Vitamin E and the good probiotics in your body. The fluoride and the chlorine can prevent the thyroid from absorbing iodine, which is the necessary nutrient needed for the thyroid to function properly. The thyroid can directly affect your mood and energy levels.

Balancing Hormones Can Help

Hormones can play a part in how we feel. Depression, anxiety, insomnia, and low libido are all signs that our hormones may be imbalanced.

Food And Beverages Can Help Balance Hormones

Tulsi tea (also known as Holy Basil), is a member of the mint family and a sacred plant in India. It has been shown to help regulate hormones and relieve stress, as well as other health benefits.

Tulsi tea (Holy Basil) is a powerful antioxidant with demonstrated antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition to the tulsi tea, consuming healthy fats like avocado or avocado oil, coconut oil, cold-pressed hemp or flax seed oil (an Omega-3 fatty acid) can boost your mood, as well as help in regulating your hormones.

Also, according to William Li, M.D., President of the Angiogenesis Foundation, beets are particularly good, because eating them contributes a particular bacterium, Lactobacillus reuteri, that supports the immune system. This healthy bacterium will enable your body’s ability to boost testosterone production, help your body reduce fat cell production (so you stay slim) and decrease tumor growth. This beneficial bacterium will actually talk to your brain and have it release oxytocin that makes us feel good.

Make sure you avoid using alcohol based or toxic mouthwashes, because these toxic mouthwashes or toothpastes will destroy your beneficial bacteria that are naturally in your mouth. These beneficial bacteria are important to have in your mouth when you are chewing food. (Yes, we all need to slow down and chew our food well.) These bacteria help process things like the nitrates (naturally occurring, not the synthetic variety) in the beets, or the glucose syanaze in watercress. This way you can obtain the most optimum health benefits from consuming healthy fruits and vegetables, like beets, onion, garlic, greens, watercress, and more. When we eat nitrates from plants, the chewing and natural bacteria in our mouth convert these nitrates into nitrites.

These natural nitrites that we have converted from the nitrates, when absorbed, are stored in our cells, and are then turned into nitric oxide, which is a compound that’s proven to relax blood vessels and increase blood flow.

Many people struggle with hormone balance. Using a bio-identical compounded hormone created from yams is beneficial, and avoids the side effects that can come from using synthetic versions. It is recommended to balance estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. A low testosterone can create depression. Low progesterone can affect your ability to sleep.

To determine your individual hormonal needs, have your physician thoroughly evaluate your hormone levels with a blood or urine test. You may need to specifically request non-synthetic hormone therapy. Some physicians are not aware that there is a natural compounded hormone therapy, and you may need to help inform your physician, or find a naturopathic physician who will prescribe this for you.

After starting a natural hormone replacement program, your physician will monitor and re-evaluate your hormone levels, to assure they are maintained at their optimum range.

I order organic/non-GMO foods from the Health Ranger’s store. The Health Ranger, Mike Adams, analyzes the products personally for purity. (He carries a variety of things other than foods, including water purifiers, essential oils, and more.) Click for a link to the Health Ranger Store.

Supplements

Complex amino acid therapy has been found to help with many types of health problems, including lifting mood, calming the mind, and creating a sense of well-being. People who suffer from depression, anxiety and low mood might benefit from supplementing their body with complex amino acids, because they get converted into neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters include serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine, and all of them play a major role in brain and bodily functions.

In a recent study, the researchers found that elderly people given complex amino acid therapy had “unequivocal improvement” with their dementia.

According to researchers, an imbalance of serotonin levels could be one of the causes of bipolar disorder. This is because this chemical is connected to body functions like eating, memory, ability to sleep, impulse responses, learning, and sexual functions. When we are low in Dopamine, we feel no pleasure, our world looks bland, we feel an inability to “love”, and we have no remorse about personal behavior.

There are organic foods that supply complex amino acids naturally. Here are a few good choices:

A. Banana. An organic banana is a natural food source of tyrosine. Tyrosine is the amino acid that neurons turn into norepinephrine and dopamine. Norepinephrine and dopamine are neurotransmitters that are important in creating our ability to be motivated, concentrate and have a more effective memory.

B. Beets. Beets are commonly called beetroot in the UK, while in other parts of the world (such as the U.S.A.) they are called “beets” and their juice “beet juice”. organic beets contain the amino acid Betaine. It is an antidepressant. Betaine acts as a stimulant for the production of SAM-e (S-adenoslmethionine). The body cannot do without SAM-e, which it produces. SAM-e is directly related to the production of certain hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin.

C. Watermelon. Organic watermelon fruit, juice, and watermelon rind are all rich with Vitamins A, B6, and C. Vitamin B6 is used by the body to manufacture neurotransmitters such as serotonin, melatonin, and dopamine. I frequently put the cleaned rind and the meat of the watermelon in a blender and create a delicious healthy drink. It is hydrating, and it has both the fiber and the nutrients.

In addition to consuming healthy foods that contain complex amino acids, 5 HTP is a great supplement that contains these complex amino acids. It has been studied extensively and has been shown to boost the mood in as little as 20 minutes. L-Theanine is a complex amino acid that can help relieve stress and promote relaxation.

Vitamins

Make sure you are not low in Vitamin D. Vitamin D is prohormone and helps prevent inflammation. A deficiency of Vitamin D can cause depression and has also been linked to cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and some autoimmune diseases.

According to Creighton University, “Researchers are challenging the intake of Vitamin D recommended by the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine, saying their Recommended Dietary Allowance for Vitamin D underestimates the need by a factor of ten.” Robert Heaney, M.D., of Creighton University wrote: “We call for the NAS-IOM and all public health authorities concerned with transmitting accurate nutritional information to the public to designate as the RDA, (recommended daily allowance), a value of approximately 7,000 IU/day from all sources.”

What Should We Avoid?

To start off a healthier eating plan to help relieve depression or anxiety, eliminate foods that have additives, preservatives, and food color dyes.

On a side note, if you are a coffee drinker, or have caffeine as a part of your diet, be aware that caffeine has been shown to suppress serotonin, as well as cause deficiencies in magnesium, iron and B vitamins. (B vitamins are essential for our body to have a healthy nervous system, adrenal function and a healthy response to stress). In fact, according to Duke University Medical Center, people who drink coffee have elevated blood pressure and higher levels of stress hormones all day and into the evening, creating a scenario in which the body acts like it is continually under stress.

Coffee’s diuretic effects can cause your body to excrete Vitamins A, D, E, K and the essential fatty acids in the urine. If you rely on caffeine, and suffer from stress or depression, you may want to reconsider if you really want caffeine as a part of your daily diet.

Increasingly since the 1960s, more people have come to depend on processed foods that contain colored dyes, MSG, preservatives and synthetic additives, and high levels of caffeine. Many foods such as juices, soft drinks, candy, gelatins, breakfast cereals, baked and snack foods, chips, crackers, cookies, salad dressings, frozen desserts, and even food you wouldn’t normally suspect, such as pickles or fresh produce, are coated in dye to make them look more pleasing or have MSG (monosodium glutamate) added to make people think they taste good.

A 68-page report called Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risks by the Center for Science in the Public Interest states: “Studies of the nine dyes currently approved by the FDA suggest, if not prove, that most of the dyes cause health problems, including cancer, hypersensitivity, or neurotoxicity (including hyperactivity and behavioral problems). In many ways, we may be able to help ourselves by cleaning up our diet and eating healthier foods.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer. The component glutamate, or glutamic acid, is an excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter in the brain. These neurotransmitters in the brain are normal, but when there is an excess of them, cells will be over-stimulated and die. According to neurosurgeon Dr. Russell Blaylock’s book “Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills,” these excitotoxins will stimulate neurons in the brain until the neurons die as a result. This causes various degrees of brain damage. MSG is now added to almost all processed foods, including the sweeteners NutraSweet and aspartame.

MSG is found in foods at almost all fast food restaurants and even other restaurants you might not suspect. The reason MSG has become such a huge part of the food industry is because it works on the brain as a pleasure trigger, making you think food tastes better. So, food that normally tastes bland may taste great with MSG added to it. The diet food industry has especially benefited from using MSG.

However, MSG can send pleasure impulses to the brain until it kills that part of the brain. This can lead to depression. Dr. Blaylock has tried for many years to educate people about the toxicity of this additive in our food supply.

The FDA has no limit on how much MSG can be added to food. Theoretically, in children, the long-term effects can be attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, and other learning disabilities. In adults, conditions such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Lou Gehrig’s disease, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune disease, sleep disorders, migraines, depression and the inability to lose weight may be linked to excitotoxin damage. Over the years, more and more MSG has been added to foods.

Hydrolyzed proteins, also used as flavor enhancers, are proteins that have been chemically broken down into amino acids. When they are digested, the result can be the creation of free glutamate, which joins with free sodium in the body to form MSG. This means that while the ingredient label will list only “hydrolyzed protein,” the effect on the body is the same as if the product contained MSG.

Free glutamate can cause the body to react as if a drug had stimulated the nervous system. It can affect insulin metabolism, leading to excessive insulin secretion by the pancreas. Some common symptoms of a reaction to free glutamate are anxiety attacks, mood swings, depression, asthma-like symptoms, attention deficit disorder, burning sensations, carpal tunnel syndrome, chest pains, diarrhea, disorientation and confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, flushing, gastric distress, headaches and migraines, hyperactivity in children, infertility and other endocrine problems, insomnia, irregular or rapid heartbeat, joint pain, mouth lesions, nausea and vomiting, numbness of parts of the body such as the fingertips, seizures, shortness of breath, skin rash, slurred speech, stomachaches, tremors, and weakness.

For a complete list of hidden sources of MSG that Dr. Blaylock includes in his book, read his book “Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills.”

Some of the ingredients aren’t MSG when they are put in food, but they create MSG when they touch saliva. Many of these look just like “normal” food ingredients (a few examples of these: textured protein, bouillon, broth, stock, flavoring, natural flavoring, seasoning, spices, hydrolyzed oat flour, malt flavoring and/or extract, enzymes, and soy protein concentrate or isolate). Many of them are added to alternative meat products sold as vegetarian foods. That is why it is becoming more and more important for your health to buy whole, fresh foods and make meals yourself.

Avoid Soy

Another food to avoid is soy. Avoid soy and soy products that aren’t fermented. Soy foods are promoted as being healthy, but they are very hard on the body and extremely high in goitrogens (substances that are known to suppress thyroid function and actually promote hypothyroidism). Unfermented soy is also high in phytic acid and can keep the body from absorbing other essential nutrients like calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc and particularly protein.

The thyroid is a master gland which controls almost every system of the body, including the heart, GI tract, and your weight, as well as sleep, mood, and the growth of hair, skin and nails. One of the most reliable ways of spotting a thyroid problem is a basal body temperature below the normal 98.6 Fahrenheit – check your morning temperature three days in a row to confirm the actual average. Research shows a natural supplement containing both iodine and iodide is very important to healthy thyroid function. Iodine and Iodide have different functions and we require both for optimum functioning of the thyroid.

I have always found that working in my garden or preparing food for the table to be a very relaxing and calming experience. When you are preparing a meal, light candles, put on nice music, enjoy a cup of warm chamomile tea (natural caffeine-free chamomile tea has a calming effect on the body), and make it a wonderful, peaceful experience. This can set the tone that can help relieve stress and anxiety.

In conclusion, mood can be boosted tremendously by consuming healthy foods and supplements that fight depression, and avoiding ingredients that can cause depression and anxiety. By eating a nutritious diet, a person can not only lift their mood, but also live a happier, healthier life.

Sources:

1. Trends in U.S. Depression Prevalence From 2015 to 2020: The Widening Treatment Gap. https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(22)00333-6/fulltext

2 Dr David E. Martin PhD – C…d Summit – European Union Parliament May 2023. https://rumble.com/v2ncp8w-dr-david-e.-martin-phd-covid-summit-european-union-parliament-may-2023.html

3.Dr. David Martin’s 2nd Address to the European Union Parliament (Sep 13, 2023)

https://rumble.com/v3j0wde-dr.-david-martins-2nd-address-to-the-european-union-parliament-sep-13-2023.html

Nancy’s 7 books on Amazon are also in Audio and some of them are in large print:
https://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Addison/e/B00E6K5KGY/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1
Nancy’s website is: https://www.organichealthylife.com
Support Nancy’s work – Donate on venmo – @Nancy-Addison

Medical Disclaimer:

Information provided in this podcast, blog, article, video is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.
Do not use the information provided in this blog, audio podcast, article, video for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this email.

Information provided in this video or audio and the use of any products or services related to this video by you DOES NOT create a health counselor-client relationship between you and Nancy Addison, certified health counselor. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

The post Holistic Remedies For Depression, Anxiety, Sleep Disorders… appeared first on Organic Healthy Life - Nancy Addison - Nutrition.

Holistic Sleep Remedies

Nancy Addison — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 20:47:43 +0000

More and more people of all ages have told me how they either have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Sleep is a vital part of our lives and our well-being, but lack of sleep can become a problem in today’s fast-paced world. This article has some of my best holistic sleep remedies.

As we get older, we don’t produce as much melatonin, which is the hormone that helps us sleep. If we don’t have enough melatonin, our body will pull it from our serotonin reserve in order to make it. I have started using the drug-free, non-transdermal, phototherapy “Silent Night” patches. They really help me. Silent Night patches can help regulate sleep through helping the body with melatonin production. The Silent Night patches also help reduce oxidative stress, because melatonin is an antioxidant. I have been using them about 3 years. I love them.

If I am having a tough time relaxing, or I am dealing with a lot of stress, or an injury, I might also use the drug-free, non-transdermal Aeon patch. It can reduce anxiety, lift your mood, as well as helps decrease pain and inflammation. (If you want to try the non-transdermal patches, my referral number is 1439757. Let me know when you are ordering them, so I can help you place your order, and/or give you tips to use them in the most effective way possible.)

You can also supplement melatonin. These melatonin supplements usually come in different strengths (one to three milligrams).

Dr. Gary Massad has researched melatonin and sleep problems in depth. He told me that the studies show that if you take half a milligram of melatonin around three or four in the afternoon, and another half milligram about an hour before bedtime, it will work most effectively. If a melatonin supplement is taken, it saves our reserves of serotonin, which affects our mood. If you aren’t draining it, you will have more serotonin to help with sustaining positive moods.

Melatonin works much better with ample Vitamin B in your system. If you are concerned about vitamin B, take a good whole-food Vitamin B complex supplement. Some medical experts think that a Vitamin B spray under the tongue is the best type of supplement source, because it is absorbed more effectively. Vitamin B’s are water-soluble and need to be replenished daily.

Hormone (progesterone) imbalances can also disrupt our sleep patterns. Many of the toxins in our environment can disrupt our hormones. I feel that we are constantly trying to keep our bodies in balance, and detoxified from all of these toxins that are so prevalent in our air, water, and food.

I use the Lifewave SP6 patch. This patch naturally balances my hormones. It’s easy, and I find it very effective. (If you want to try the Lifewave patches, my referral number is 1439757. Let me know when you are ordering them, so I can help you place your order, and/or give you tips to use them in the most effective way possible.)

If you are supplementing, I recommend only using a vitamin from a whole food or naturally mined source. I do not recommend ever taking synthetic vitamins or minerals.

Experiment to find out what works best for you. In fact, what works for you might even change from time to time.

What Lifestyle Suggestions Can Help You Sleep?

Eat a light, early supper.

Exercise and breathe deeply.

Make the bedroom a place of peace and tranquility, with as little EMF (electromagnetic field) disturbance, noise, and light as possible.
I sleep on a grounding sheet at night. It’s amazing how I fall asleep so quickly now and also sleep deeply. I highly recommend it.

Write down a list of things you must do tomorrow. (This will get all of those thoughts out of your brain about the next day.)

Think calming thoughts that are positive, uplifting, and filled with gratitude and thankfulness for 20 minutes right before bedtime.

Write down five things that you are grateful for, or five miracles that happened to you or your loved one, or child today, or five things that you want to happen tomorrow.

Focus on the most positive things you can. (I found this was a perfect time for me to fill in my children’s baby books. It’s positive and it contains their first words, steps, discoveries, accomplishments, food favorites, people they met, funny events, and more.)

Stay hydrated. (It takes 24 glasses of water to rehydrate after one soda. Carbonated drinks are not hydrating. CO2 is our body’s waste and it is putting waste into the cells.)

Try a sleep CD to help relax the mind and body. You might also listen to recorded sounds of rain or ocean waves to help with sleep. They can relax your mind.

All of these things will contribute to your relaxation, and you can rest with peace for a healing sleep.

Food and Sleep Patterns

When you sleep, your body heals itself. I suggest you try to eat lighter at dinner, and give yourself at least three hours between your meal and bed. If your body has to digest and process food, then it has to work hard, and it’s not able to rest and restore.

Give your body a break and have some soup for dinner or a light vegetarian meal. It would help to make your breakfast and lunch the main meals of the day.

If digestion is an issue, lie down on your left side for about 20 minutes. According to Ayurveda healing tradition, when we sleep on the left side, our lymphatic system drains more efficiently, our heart beats more smoothly, our spleen function is supported, our bile flows easier, and because of gravity, our food moves more effortlessly from the small intestine to the large intestine. When you lie on the left side, the stomach and pancreas hang naturally, allowing for optimal and efficient digestion. Good advice comes from an old Ayurvedic remedy.

If your body is acidic, try drinking a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water to neutralize the acid. I add a pinch of unrefined, mineral-rich sea salt to this as well. What an easy, inexpensive solution! Drink healthy, hydrating fluids during the day, but don’t drink too much right before bed. Then you won’t have a need to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.

Drink herbal nighttime teas (chamomile tea is a good choice), which can encourage rest and sleep. Also, eating tart cherries or consuming tart cherry juice can assist in obtaining a better night’s sleep.

Take a magnesium supplement after your dinner meal. You might try a supplement with a combination of magnesium forms like BIOptimizer or Organixx brand of magnesium 7, with different forms of magnesium in them. (I like these the best.)

What do some of the various types of magnesium do?

Magnesium taurateis a magnesium salt bound to the amino acid taurine, which is produced within the body and is concentrated in the muscles, heart, brain, and eyes. Both taurine and magnesium stimulate and stabilize the nervous system, creating a state of relaxation and helping to “calm the nerves.”

Magnesium orotate can have a postive effects on the myocardium under conditions of stress ranging from myocardial infarction to intense physical exercise.

Magnesium Chelate (Muscle Recovery) Chelated forms of magnesium provide the best absorbency in comparison to non-chelated. Published research by the New York Headache Center discusses that 400 mg of chelated magnesium a day is especially helpful for pre-menstrual syndrome, as well as foot and leg cramps.

Magnesium Glycinate (Sleep, Anxiety & Brain Health) One of the best forms of magnesium, magnesium glycinate (also known as magnesium diglycinate or magnesium bisglycinate) is a chelated form of magnesium that contains the amino acid glycine. Glycine is the amino acid that is able to cross the blood-brain barrier. It is known for beneficial characteristics relating to sleep and brain health. I like a drink called Moonbrew link, that has this type of magnesium in it, along with other helpful ingredients for deep sleep.

Enjoy a relaxing evening bath or foot-bath, as this will calm you before bedtime. Fill up a warm or hot bath and soak for ten minutes or more. I like to put mineral salts (Magnesium-Chloride Bath Flakes) in my bath.

I also add a little organic apple cider vinegar to my bath water to aid in adjusting the PH balance in my body. Right before I step into the tub, I add a few drops of one of my favorite essential oils. I add them last, so they won’t evaporate before I can get in and enjoy the aroma.

For night-time relaxation, my favorite essential oil is lavender.
My formula for my bath water is 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 cup Magnesium-Chloride Bath Flakes, 1⁄4 cup of baking soda, and 5–10 drops of essential oil.

I have a water purifier on my shower head, and I fill my bath through my shower head. I don’t like to have chlorine and fluoride in my shower and bath water, because our skin absorbs things so quickly and easily. (That’s why so many medicines are on patches.)

Both chlorine and fluoride are carcinogens. Did you know that chlorine was the first chemical developed to kill in warfare? That’s why I avoid it whenever I can. The purifier also removes fluoride and other toxins.

Peppermint, rosemary, and eucalyptus oils invigorate me, so I use those in the morning. If you can’t take a bath, a good foot soak can be beneficial and relaxing as well.

After your shower or foot bath, dry off and put on a soothing body lotion, cream, or oil (example: pure organic coconut oil) to seal in the moisture. This helps avoid itchy, dry skin during the night. If you’re like me, you sleep better in comfortable clothing and sheets, so you might splurge on the quality of your bed linens and night clothes. It makes me feel better, and I look forward to putting them on and getting into bed. I feel like I’m pampering myself.

I hope one or more of these suggestions will help you get a deep, relaxing, and restorative night’s sleep!

Nancy’s 7 books on Amazon are also in Audio and some of them are in large print:
https://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Addison/e/B00E6K5KGY/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1

Nancy’s website is: https://www.organichealthylife.com
Support Nancy’s work – Donate on venmo – @Nancy-Addison

Medical Disclaimer:
Information provided in this podcast, blog, article, video is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.
Do not use the information provided in this blog, audio podcast, article, video for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this email.

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Wheatgrass – The Health Benefits

Nancy Addison — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 20:04:08 +0000

The amazing healing benefits of wheatgrass were brought to the public’s attention by Dr. Ann Wigmore in The Wheatgrass Book:
How to Grow and Use Wheatgrass to Maximize Your Health and Vitality.

When I started learning about cleansing approximately 30 years ago,
I learned about the positive effects that grasses have on our body.
I learned about barley grass as well as wheatgrass. The chlorophyll-rich grasses have enormous amounts of antioxidants and are highly alkalizing. There are so many benefits from consuming juice that has been freshly extracted from grasses.

Here are some of the benefits of wheatgrass juice, according to Dr. Ann Wigmore:

1. When externally applied to the skin, it can help eliminate itching almost immediately.
2. It can soothe sunburned skin and act as a disinfectant.
3, When rubbed into the scalp before a shampoo, it can help mend damaged hair and alleviate itchy, scaly scalp conditions.
4. It can soothe and heal cuts, burns, scrapes, rashes, poison ivy, athlete’s foot, insect bites, boils, sores, open ulcers, tumors, and so on. (Use as a poultice and replace every two to four hours.)
5. When consumed, it can return gray hair to its natural color and act as a beauty treatment.
6. Drinking wheatgrass juice will cleanse your blood and help rejuvenate aging cells, slowing the aging process down, and making you feel more alive right away. It will help tighten loose and sagging skin.
7. It can lessen the effects of radiation. One enzyme found in wheatgrass, SOD, lessens the effects of radiation and acts as an anti-inflammatory compound that may prevent cellular damage following heart attacks or exposure to irritants.
8. Consuming wheatgrass can restore fertility and promote youthfulness.
9. Wheatgrass can be used as a sleep aid. Place a tray of living wheatgrass near the head of your bed. It will enhance the oxygen in the air and generate healthful negative ions to help you sleep more soundly.
10. When gargled, it can sweeten the breath, and firm and tighten gums. [i]

Many health clinics in the United States today (like the Ann Wigmore Foundation and Retreat Center, Hippocrates Institute, and the Tree of Life, just to name a few) use wheatgrass as a mainstay of their healing programs.

The grass is high in antioxidants, oxygenates the blood, and is nutrient-dense. It is such an easy and simple healing modality.

[i] Wigmore, Ann. (1985). The Wheatgrass Book. Avery.
Excerpt from “How To Be A Healthy Vegetarian” 2nd edition,
winner of 8 awards.

Nancy’s 7 books on Amazon are also in Audio and some of them are in large print:

https://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Addison/e/B00E6K5KGY/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1

Nancy’s website is: https://www.organichealthylife.com

Support Nancy’s work – Donate on venmo – @Nancy-Addison

Do not use the information provided in this blog, audio podcast, article, video for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this email.

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Holistic Remedies For Better Sleep

Nancy Addison — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 17:24:02 +0000

Sleep is a vital part of our lives and our well-being, but sleep can become a problem in today’s fast-paced world.

More and more people of all ages have told me how they either have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. As we get older, we don’t produce as much melatonin, which is the hormone that helps us sleep. If we don’t have enough melatonin, our body will pull it from our serotonin reserve in order to make it. You can buy melatonin as a supplement at the store. It comes in different strengths (one to three milligrams).

Dr. Gary Massad has researched melatonin and sleep problems in depth. He told me that the studies show that if you take half a milligram of melatonin around three in the afternoon, and another half milligram about an hour before bedtime, it will work most effectively. If a melatonin supplement is taken, it saves our reserves of serotonin, which affects our mood. If you aren’t draining your melatonin reserves, you will have more serotonin to help with sustaining positive moods.

Melatonin works much better with ample Vitamin B in your system. If you are concerned about Vitamin B, take a good whole-food Vitamin B complex supplement. Some medical experts think that a Vitamin B spray under the tongue is the best type of supplement source, because it is absorbed more effectively. Vitamin B’s are water-soluble and need to be replenished daily.

Hormone imbalances (specifically low progesterone) can also disrupt our sleep patterns. Have your doctor check you for a hormone imbalance, or an adrenal or vitamin deficiency.

In the last two years, I have been using a marvelous new technology that activates and elevates the body’s copper peptide
GHK-cu (copper) peptide, and It’s called the X 39. This peptide resets 4000 genes to a younger state, helps repair collagen in all tissues, activates stem cell production, encourages apoptosis of cancer cells and discourages metastatic cancer cells. Using X39 people have better sleep, less pain and less inflammation.

This company also makes a wonderful “Silent Night” patch, that many of my clients are using at night to get a better, deeper nights sleep. Some of my clients said they have been told they are not snoring any longer also.

Contact me by text at 214-2302-9243, if you want to know more. If you order them, please use my referral number, 1439757, so I can help you use them in the most effective way possible.

Experiment to find out what works best for you. In fact, what works for you might change from time to time.

What Can Help You Sleep?

· Exercise daily and breathe deeply.

· Make the bedroom a place of peace and tranquility, with as little EMF (electromagnetic field) disturbance, noise, and light as possible. (I sleep on a grounding bottom sheet now. It’s amazing how I fall asleep so quickly now and sleep so soundly. I highly recommend them. I wake up feeling so rested and refreshed.)

· Write down a list of things you must do tomorrow. (This will get all of those thoughts out of your brain about the next day.)

· Think calming thoughts that are positive, uplifting, and filled with gratitude and thankfulness for 20 minutes right before bedtime. (You might write down five things that you are grateful for, or five miracles that happened to you or your child today, or five things that you want to happen tomorrow).

· Stay hydrated. Drink healthy, hydrating fluids during the day, but don’t drink too much right before bed. Then you won’t have a need to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.

· Try a sleep CD to help relax the mind and body. You might also listen to recorded sounds of rain or ocean waves to help with sleep. They can relax your mind.

· There is a technology company that makes non-transdermal patches. I use them, and there is specific patch for better sleep. It is called Silent Night. I have been wearing these patches for the past year and a half.
I noticed almost immediately that I was sleeping more soundly and I even began to have positive vivid dreams. If you wish to know more, click here to see how patches with phototherapy works. (Contact me (214-202-9243 and text me first), if you wish to know more.)

· I suggest you try to eat lighter at dinner, and give yourself at least three hours between your meal and bed. If your body has to digest and process food, then it has to work hard, and it’s not able to rest and restore. Give your body a break and have some soup for dinner or a light vegetarian meal. It would help to make your breakfast and lunch the main meals of the day.

· If digestion is an issue, lie down on your left side for about 20 minutes. According to Ayurveda healing tradition, when we sleep on the left side, our lymphatic system drains more efficiently, our heart beats more smoothly, our spleen function is supported, our bile flows easier, and because of gravity, our food moves more effortlessly from the small intestine to the large intestine. When you lie on the left side, the stomach and pancreas hang naturally, allowing for optimal and efficient digestion. That is good advice comes from an old Ayurvedic remedy.
If your body is acidic, try drinking a ½ teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water to neutralize the acid. I add a pinch of unrefined, mineral-rich sea salt to this as well. What an easy, inexpensive solution!

· There are some sleep enhancing food and beverages. Drink herbal teas (chamomile tea is a good choice), which can encourage rest and sleep. Note: You may want to drink this an hour or two before bed, so you are not compelled to get up during the night. Also eating tart cherries or consuming tart cherry juice can assist in obtaining a better night’s sleep.

· Take a relaxing evening bath or foot-bath as this will calm you before bedtime. Fill up a warm or hot bath and soak for ten minutes or more. I like to put mineral salts (Magnesium Chloride Bath Flakes) in my bath. Right before I step into the tub, I add a few drops of one of my favorite essential oils. I add them last, so they won’t evaporate before I can get in and enjoy the aroma.
For night-time relaxation, my favorite essential oil is lavender.
My formula for my bath water is 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 cup Magnesium Chloride Bath Flakes, 1⁄4 cup of baking soda, and 5–10 drops of essential oil, like lavender or frankincense.

After your shower or foot bath, dry off and put on a soothing body lotion or cream to seal in the moisture. This helps avoid itchy, dry skin during the night. If you’re like me, you sleep better in comfortable clothing and sheets, so you might splurge on the quality of your bed linens and night clothes. It makes me feel better, and I look forward to putting them on and getting into bed. I feel like I’m pampering myself.

I hope one or more of these suggestions will help you get a deep, relaxing, and restorative night’s sleep. I wish you sweet dreams.

Nancy’s 7 books on Amazon are also in Audio and some of them are in large print:

https://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Addison/e/B00E6K5KGY/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1

Nancy’s website is: http://www.organichealthylife.com

Support Nancy’s work – Donate on venmo – @Nancy-Addison

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Ways to Nurture Children Through All Stages and Challenges

Nancy Addison — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 20:59:11 +0000

(This article is written by Kristin Louis)

While some stages are easier than others, parenting is constantly changing and challenging moms and dads. Since kids need different things at various ages and developmental phases, it can be tough to know how to handle situations and behaviors. To help parents with the struggle, Organic Healthy Life presents some ways to nurture kids through each stage and challenge.

Know What’s Normal in Infancy and the First Years

Welcoming a new baby is a big transition—and new parents need guidance and solid knowledge to get through sleepless nights and postpartum recovery. Then, it’s on to the fast pace of infancy and toddlerhood.

Looking at Your Newborn: What’s Normal
What the First Week with a Newborn is Really Like
Milestones During the First Two Years

Manage Expectations with The Terrible Twos and Threes

Toddlers are known for their daring behavior and desire to be independent. These resources can help parents to maintain healthy expectations—and handle naptime wrangling.

Toddlers and Challenging Behavior: Why They Do It and How to Respond
Best Ways to Help Children Fall Asleep at Nap Time
15 Tips to Survive the Terrible 3’s

Transition to Preschool and Beyond with Confidence

Preschoolers are ready and willing to embrace independence and begin learning how to navigate school. Parents can help by engaging in educational activities and targeting kindergarten skills.

4 Imaginative Activities for Your Preschooler
7 Educational and Entertaining Activities for Young Kids
The Skills Kids Need for Kindergarten Readiness

Help Your Children Traverse the Elementary Years

Elementary-age kids are experiencing big changes, which means big responsibilities for parents. Support with friendships, behavior, and extracurriculars are crucial for elementary kids.

8 Ways to Help Your Child Make Friends in School
School-Aged Kids Discipline: Strategies and Challenges
Helping Your Child Choose a Sport

Address Tween and Teen Challenges Upfront

Tweens and teens have a reputation for being hard to handle. But there are ways to make parenting kids in these stages easier.

How to Stay Close as Kids Move into Adolescence
Teaching Internet Safety

Fast Internet Can Ensure Continuous Learning Opportunities at Home
7 Smart Tips for Setting Boundaries

Parenting isn’t always easy, but the right support makes all the difference. By implementing new strategies—and adopting a new perspective—to handle your child’s needs, your parenting journey can be less stressful. Then, you can experience fewer frustrations and spend more enjoyable time with your whole family.

This article is written by Kristin Louis
Kris Louis is mom to two rambunctious boys. Her oldest is 10 and her youngest is 7. A former advertising copywriter, she recently created parentingwithkris.com, where she puts her skills to work writing about the trials and tribulations of parenting. Kris, her husband, and two boys live in Durham, NC.

Limits of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty

The author and publisher shall not be liable for your misuse of this material. This blog is strictly for informational and educational purposes. Nancy Gibbons Addison and Kris Louis offer information and opinions, not a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or healthcare provider before taking any home remedies or supplements, or following any treatment suggested by Nancy Gibbons Addison, or by anyone listed in the books, articles, or other information contained here. Only your healthcare provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.

Warning – Disclaimer

The purpose of this book is to educate and entertain. The author and/or publisher do not guarantee that anyone following these techniques, suggestions, tips, ideas, or strategies will become successful. The author and/or publisher shall have neither liability, nor responsibility to anyone with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book.

Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this blog is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC, AADP. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. Information provided in this book and the use of any products or services related to this book by you does not create a counselor-client relationship between you and Nancy Addison, CHC, AADP.

The post Ways to Nurture Children Through All Stages and Challenges appeared first on Organic Healthy Life - Nancy Addison - Nutrition.

Embrace The Present And Take Care Of Yourself

Nancy Addison — Sun, 10 Nov 2019 20:33:52 +0000

As Autumn and the holidays embrace us and we have more activities, errands, and social occasions, it is always a good idea to take a little time for ourselves.

I have noticed that most people are so busy doing everything for everyone else, that they aren’t making enough time to nurture and take care of themselves. Let’s face it, the better we take care of ourselves, the better we can take care of the ones we love.

We all need to take some time each day to slow down, calm the mind, and rest. If we don’t take a little time for ourselves, stress can get hold of us.

Stress is called the “silent killer” for a reason. Stress will put the body into survival mode, and it will break down the immune system. The last thing we need to be doing to ourselves during this busy time is to break down our own immune system.

A nice hot bath or foot soak at the end of the day is always a wonderful way to relax and release stress. You might add some magnesium to the soak. Magnesium is an excellent mineral that can alleviate sore muscles, tension, and headaches. Magnesium can also help promote a good night’s sleep. Magnesium is a water-soluble mineral, so we need to replenish it daily.

I have found that magnesium chloride is the most absorbable version of magnesium. Most magnesium supplements are synthetic. The one I’m using now is naturally mined and is food grade. You can also use a lotion topically, which is very effective. This magnesium chloride I use can be ordered from Elektra Magnesium. (Call to order Direct at 305-788-7629 and use the code NancyA10).

Along with that, here are additional techniques on how to get a handle on stress, and boost the immune system as well!

First – Breathe! Breathe deeply into the diaphragm. When we are stressed, we tend to hold our breath and/or only breathe into our upper lungs. When we do this, it cuts off much of the oxygen to the brain, which makes it harder to think. This type of shallow breathing also tells the body that we are in a fight or flight mode.

Research that has been done with deep breathing exercises has shown an immediate positive impact affecting blood pressure and the PH of the blood. According to Esther Sternberg, a physician and researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health, and author of several books about stress, “Slow Deep Breathing can actually stimulate the body’s reaction that will calm us down.” She says deep breathing is like putting on the brakes of your car.

Pranayama yoga uses breathwork as a regular part of their practice. Cleveland’s Integrative Medicine Clinic has their chronic disease patients learn and practice breathing, using yoga techniques.

Mladen Golubic, a physician at the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Integrative Medicine, says “You can influence asthma, you can influence chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and you can influence heart failure.” There are studies that show that people with those conditions who practice breathing exercises regularly, benefit greatly.

According to Sternberg, when you’re stressed, the body immune system’s ability to do its job to fight infections is seriously compromised. If you want to handle a stressful situation, boost the immune system, and ultimately feel better, you need to breathe deeply and slowly on a regular basis. It’s free, easy, and you can do it anytime and anywhere!

Second- Eat whole organic foods (that are in their pure form, not from a package or fast food container), and eliminate caffeinated beverages from your diet. Many people rely on and become dependent on beverages that contain various forms of caffeine to help them deal with fatigue, which can be caused by stress. Caffeine will actually raise the level of stress hormones in the body, is a bowel irritant, and it is also dehydrating.

Get off the roller coaster of caffeine and try for a steady, even stride of energy. Hydrate your body with abundant amounts of water first thing in the morning, as soon as you wake up and before eating anything. Then eat a densely nutritious breakfast. When our body is really fed on a deep cellular level, we are giving the body the fuel it needs to run on.

Dehydration is a major cause of disease and illness, so hydrate with water or coconut water between meals. Don’t drink water with meals. Drinking water with meals waters down the digestive juices and can keep the body from fully digesting the food. Drink water between meals for hydration. Add a tiny bit of whole unrefined sea salt (electrolyte is a fancy medical term for salt) to the water for additional minerals. This will help the body absorb the water more effectively.

Third: Get a good night’s sleep. Every night, make the last 30 minutes before bed a time of reflection, gratitude, and positive, peaceful thoughts. Sleeping is where our body rejuvenates itself.

A good night’s sleep can make a world of difference in our health and well-being. What we focus on before bed is what our mind is going to ponder over for hours throughout the night.

Have your sleeping space free of clutter and electronics. Make sure that your bedroom can be completely dark. Light can disrupt the sleeping pattern, even if it is just a little nightlight.

Get off your computer or cell phone at least 30 minutes before going to sleep. Unplug your wifi. Free up the mind by taking about 20 or 30 minutes to focus the mind on something positive, joyful and peaceful.

You can also download f.lux (for free) to your computer to help block the blue light as it gets closer to evening. The blue light from cell phones, ipads, or computers can negatively affect our melatonin hormone, which can cause sleep disorders. The elimination of the blue light and tech from your bedroom will create a more peaceful healing environment for restful deep sleep.

Make a list of the things that are on your mind and also things that need to be done the next day. Put them down and get them out of your head. Release the thoughts about problems, and shift the focus to solutions.

Studies done by the Heartmath Institute show that when we focus on positive thoughts like gratitude, compassion or caring, we can actually activate healing responses in the body to the point of even activating our own stem cells.

Meditate, and if you like, you can do it with some soft uplifting music or sounds of running water. If you do need to do something, then read or watch something that is uplifting, positive and relaxing.

Fourth: Make time for laughter! There have been numerous studies revealing clear evidence that episodes of laughter helped to reduce pain, decreased stress-related hormones, boosted the immune system, and decreased anxiety.

I’m actually a certified laughing yoga instructor because I believe in the power of laughter so much. There are now laughter clubs around the world, because there have been so many documented cases that laughter can cure all kinds of health problems and increase the quality of life.

Cancer Centers of America uses laughter therapy now, and says it can:

Enhance oxygen intake
Stimulate the heart and lungs
Relax muscles throughout the body
Trigger the release of endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers)
Ease digestion/soothe stomach aches
Relieve pain
Balance blood pressure
Improve mental functions (i.e., alertness, memory, creativity)

Laughter therapy may also help to:

Improves overall attitude
Reduce stress/tension
Promote relaxation
Improve sleep
Enhances the quality of life
Strengthen social bonds and relationships
Produce a general sense of well-being

(With the opioid crisis killing over 140 people a day, more people have died from opiods than died in the Vietnam War. Don’t you think laughter may be a healthier solution?)

This last year, my daughter Amanda showed me a wonderful free app called Snap Chat. It is easy to use, and it has a part of it that allows you to create funny faces and scenarios. If you follow me on Instagram (nancy.organichealthylife) or facebook (Nancy – Organic Healthy Life), you have probably seen some of the ones I have done with my daughter or my mother.

My mother, who is 92 and doesn’t get out much, absolutely loves it. Each time we find ourselves laughing so hard, I smile the rest of the day or week! It can be a fun thing to do with anyone. It’s easy, free, and can release tension and lift spirits in moments.

I recommend finding something like that, or a great song or movie that makes you feel joyful. Play it whenever you need to shift your energy or lift your mood.

When we are laughing, we can’t be worrying about the past or the future. It makes us completely present. Try it, you may like it.

In conclusion: I heard that in today’s world, we are confronted with more input in one day than our grandparents were in a whole year. As life is speeding up, it is important to know how to slow down, take some time to stop and smell the roses, and focus on what is important in life. Ultimately it is a choice.

If you are feeling depressed or low, find a place to volunteer, or get involved with a group that is doing something that interests you. When we are helping others, or getting involved, we find ourselves feeling empowered, and it can lift our mood and create happiness in our life.

Breathe deeply, eat and drink whole fresh food, focus on the solution and positive things in life, find something that can make you laugh, and release stress from your life.

I send you wishes and love for a marvelous fall season.

By Nancy Addison CHC, AADP

Nancy Addison is a certified health counselor, nutritionist, chef, as well as a certified practitioner of Psychosomatic Therapy. She teaches people about living a healthier, happier life through nutrition and lifestyle. She has appeared on NBC, Fox, CBS, and in documentaries (one example- “Eating You Alive”). You can reach her on her website, Organic Healthy Life, or find more easy, healthy recipes in Nancy’s award-winning books, which are half cookbook. Here is her author page on Amazon. Author.to/nancyaddison

Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this article, book, podcast, website, email, etc. is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC, AADP. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.

The post Embrace The Present And Take Care Of Yourself appeared first on Organic Healthy Life - Nancy Addison - Nutrition.

How To Sleep And Rest Better

Nancy Addison — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 17:34:20 +0000

Sleep can become a problem in today’s high paced, stressed-out world.

It’s World Sleep Day, and so I’m addressing a vital part of our lives and our well-being.

I’ve heard more and more people of all ages tell me how they can’t get to sleep, and that they have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.

In addition to this, as we get older, we don’t produce as much melatonin, which is what helps us sleep. If we don’t have enough melatonin, our body will pull it from our serotonin reserve in order to make it. You can buy melatonin as a supplement at the store. It comes in different strengths (one to three milligrams).

Dr. Gary Massad has researched melatonin and sleep problems in depth. He told me that the studies show that if you take half a milligram of melatonin around three in the afternoon and then another half gram again about an hour before bedtime, it will work most effectively.

If a melatonin supplement is taken, then it saves the store of serotonin, which affects our mood. If you aren’t draining it, you will have more serotonin to help with positive moods. Melatonin works much better with ample Vitamin B complex in your system. If you are concerned about Vitamin B complex —( it really matters to everyone, but if you are a vegan or vegetarian, it can be especially important) —take a good whole-food Vitamin B complex supplement.

Some think that a Vitamin B complex drops under the tongue is the best type of supplement source, because it is absorbed better and faster. Other hormone imbalances can also disrupt our sleep patterns, so have your doctor check you for any hormone imbalance or a vitamin deficiency.

I recommend only using a vitamin from a whole food source. I do not recommend ever taking synthetic vitamins.

Contact me by text at 214-2302-9243, if you want to know more. If you order them, please use my referral number, 1439757, so I can help you use them in the most effective way possible.

You might also listen to recorded sounds of rain or ocean waves to help with sleep. They can relax your mind. Experiment to find out what works best for you. In fact, what works for you might change from time to time.

What Can Help You Sleep?

Eat a light, comforting early supper.
Exercise and breathe deeply.
Make the bedroom a place of peace and tranquility, with as little radiation, annoying noise, and light as possible.
Sleep on grounding sheets or a grounding bottom sheet. (It helps me immensely!)
Use the Lifewave X39 in the day and the Silent Night Patch at night.
Write down your list of things you must do tomorrow. This will get all those thoughts out of your brain about the next day.
Think calming thoughts that are positive, uplifting, and filled with gratitude and thankfulness for 20 minutes right before bedtime.
Write down five things that you are grateful for, or five miracles that happened to you or your child today, or five things that you want to happen tomorrow. Focus on the most positive things you can. (I found this was a perfect time for me to put these in my children’s baby books for them for the future, so they read about what they were doing as they grew up. First words, steps, discoveries, accomplishments, food favorites, people they met, funny events, and more.)
Stay hydrated.
Read a good book, with a positive message.
Try a sleep CD to help relax the mind and body.
If your mattress is more than 10 years old, consider replacing it.

All of these things will contribute to being better able to relax later and rest with peace for a healing sleep.

Food and Sleep Patterns

When you rest is when your body heals itself. I suggest you don’t eat anything about three hours before bed. If your body has to digest and process food, then it’s working. Allow it to rest and restore overnight, it needs to be free of chores and responsibilities. So give your body a break and have some soup for dinner or a light vegetarian meal. It would help to make your morning and lunch meal the main meals of the day.

If digestion is an issue, lie down on your left side for about 20 minutes.

According to Ayurveda healing tradition, when we sleep on the left side our lymphatic system drains more efficiently, it makes our heartbeat easier, supports the spleen function, our bile flows easier and because of gravity, it encourages the food to move more effortlessly from the small intestine to the large intestine. When you lie on the left side, the stomach and pancreas hang naturally, allowing for optimal and efficient digestion.

Good advice comes from an old Ayurvedic remedy. If your body is acidic, try drinking a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water to neutralize the acid. I add a pinch of unrefined, mineral-rich sea salt to this as well. What an easy, inexpensive solution! Drink healthy, hydrating fluids during the day, but don’t drink too much right before bed. Then you won’t have a need to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. Drinking herbal nighttime teas can also help promote rest and sleep.

Relaxing Bath To Help With Sleep

Consider taking an evening bath to relax and calm yourself before bedtime. Fill up a warm or hot bath and soak for ten minutes or more. I like to put mineral salts (Epsom salts or sea salt) in my bath. I also add organic apple cider vinegar to aid in adjusting my PH balance in my body. Then right before I step into the tub, I add a few drops of one of my favorite essential oils. I add it last so it won’t evaporate before I can get in and enjoy the aroma. For nighttime and relaxation, my favorite is lavender oil.

My formula for my bath water is 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 cup dead sea or magnesium chloride salts, 1⁄4 cup of organic apple cider vinegar, and 5–10 drops of essential oil.

I have a water purifier on my showerhead and just fill my bath through my shower head. I don’t like to have chlorine and fluoride in my shower and bath water because our skin absorbs things so quickly and easily. (That’s why so many medicines are on patches.) Both chlorine and fluoride are carcinogens.

Did you know that chlorine was the first chemical developed to kill in warfare? That’s why I avoid it whenever I can. The purifier also removes fluoride and other toxins.

Peppermint, rosemary, and eucalyptus oils invigorate me, so I use those in the morning.If you can’t take a bath, a good foot soak can be beneficial and relaxing as well.

When finishing a bath, make the final rinse a cool rinse to lock in the moisture to shrink the pores. After your shower or footbath, dry off and put on a soothing body lotion or cream to seal in the moisture. This helps avoid itchy, dry skin during the night.

If you’re like me, you sleep better in comfortable clothing and sheets, so you might splurge on the quality of your bed linens and night clothes. It makes me feel better and I look forward to putting them on and getting into bed. I feel I’m pampering myself.

Air Purifier and Humidifier

I have an air decontamination (purifier) machine, which purifies the air in my home and in my bedroom. This machine cleans my air of mold, virus, fungus, and bacteria from the hard and soft surfaces as well as in the air. I also like the sound my portable machine makes, because it drowns out the sound of the outside world. There is an induct system that also works on the air conditioning system that makes no noise, if you prefer that. This air decontamination machine also makes the oxygen in my environment more bio available and easier to breathe.

There are also humidifiers for winter when the heat can dry out the air. This can help with anyone who has trouble with nosebleeds in the winter. The inside of the nose gets too dry and can crack and cause bleeding. A cotton swab dipped in olive oil or coconut oil and rubbed inside the nostrils a few times a day will keep them moist and less likely to dry out and crack. Doing this helped my family, especially when we were in high-altitude places in the winter.

So, happy sleep day and I wish you a restful nights sleep!

Love, Nancy

By Nancy Addison CHC, AADP

For more information go to www.organichealthylife.com or find Nancy Addison’s award-winning books on Amazon. Click here for the link.

The information from Nancy Addison and Organic Healthy Lifestyle LLC is not offered for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of any disease or disorder nor have any statements herein been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We strongly encourage you to discuss topics of concern with your health care provider.Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this email, article, book, podcast, website, email, etc. is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC, AADP. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.

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Holistic Remedies For Depression, Anxiety, Sleep Disorders…

Depression is a major problem in our world today. I have people contact me regularly about themself (or someone in their family) who is struggling with depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and even suicidal thoughts.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association, depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15 to 44.3, and affects more than 16.1 million American adults. Nearly one-half of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. (1)

We may not be able to prevent ourselves or our loved ones from being affected by daily stresses, but we can choose how we react to them, and how our body is able to handle them.

A basic first step is to eat a well-balanced diet of organic fresh fruits and vegetables. I recommend always buying organic non-GMO foods when possible, because they will have a much higher nutrient content, and less chemical toxins for your body. Eating a more plant-based diet is recommended.

Some of these plant-based foods are listed below.

Organic/non-GMO, sprouted, organic lentils, chickpeas, beans, and quinoa are a wonderful source of protein, but in addition to this, they are rich in B vitamins. The B vitamins have a calming effect on the body. B vitamins can enhance our mood and help reduce anxiety.

Organic/non-GMO romaine lettuce, spinach, turnip greens, mustard greens, parsley, collard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, citrus fruits, lentils, basil, arugula, sunflower seeds, and mushrooms all contain the nutrient folate (B9), which helps us attain a calmer mood.

Enjoy organic/non-GMO yellow, orange and red fruits and vegetables. Papayas, beets, apples and red bell peppers have Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and folate, which enhance mood, energize, and repair cells damaged from stress. It is wonderful how eating a piece of fresh fruit can help calm the brain.

Organic/non-GMO green vegetables like romaine lettuce, spinach, turnip greens, mustard greens, parsley, collard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, and lentils are packed with Vitamin A.

Eat organic/non-GMO foods that are purple. These foods contain anthocyanin antioxidants, which can help reduce inflammation which contributes to bad moods. Purple foods include wild blueberries and purple potatoes.

Wild blueberries have twice the antioxidant power of regularly cultivated blueberries, and more antioxidants than twenty other fruits and vegetables, including cranberries, strawberries, plums, and raspberries.

My children always loved it when I made purple mashed potatoes when their friends came over for dinner. It made our dinner more colorful and fun.

In addition to fresh, organic/non-GMO fruits and vegetables, here are some effective stress-reducing foods and supplements you can add to your diet:

Maca comes in gold, red and black colors. The red maca is most beneficial for balancing hormones, and increasing strength and stamina. Out of the three varieties, the red type has the highest amount of amino acids (the building blocks of protein).

Balancing Hormones Can Help

Hormones can play a part in how we feel. Depression, anxiety, insomnia, and low libido are all signs that our hormones may be imbalanced.

Food And Beverages Can Help Balance Hormones

Tulsi tea (also known as Holy Basil), is a member of the mint family and a sacred plant in India. It has been shown to help regulate hormones and relieve stress, as well as other health benefits.

These natural nitrites that we have converted from the nitrates, when absorbed, are stored in our cells, and are then turned into nitric oxide, which is a compound that’s proven to relax blood vessels and increase blood flow.

After starting a natural hormone replacement program, your physician will monitor and re-evaluate your hormone levels, to assure they are maintained at their optimum range.

I order organic/non-GMO foods from the Health Ranger’s store. The Health Ranger, Mike Adams, analyzes the products personally for purity. (He carries a variety of things other than foods, including water purifiers, essential oils, and more.) Click for a link to the Health Ranger Store.

Supplements

In a recent study, the researchers found that elderly people given complex amino acid therapy had “unequivocal improvement” with their dementia.

There are organic foods that supply complex amino acids naturally. Here are a few good choices:

Vitamins

Make sure you are not low in Vitamin D. Vitamin D is prohormone and helps prevent inflammation. A deficiency of Vitamin D can cause depression and has also been linked to cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and some autoimmune diseases.

What Should We Avoid?

To start off a healthier eating plan to help relieve depression or anxiety, eliminate foods that have additives, preservatives, and food color dyes.

Coffee’s diuretic effects can cause your body to excrete Vitamins A, D, E, K and the essential fatty acids in the urine. If you rely on caffeine, and suffer from stress or depression, you may want to reconsider if you really want caffeine as a part of your daily diet.

However, MSG can send pleasure impulses to the brain until it kills that part of the brain. This can lead to depression. Dr. Blaylock has tried for many years to educate people about the toxicity of this additive in our food supply.

For a complete list of hidden sources of MSG that Dr. Blaylock includes in his book, read his book “Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills.”

Avoid Soy

In conclusion, mood can be boosted tremendously by consuming healthy foods and supplements that fight depression, and avoiding ingredients that can cause depression and anxiety. By eating a nutritious diet, a person can not only lift their mood, but also live a happier, healthier life.

Holistic Sleep Remedies

More and more people of all ages have told me how they either have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Sleep is a vital part of our lives and our well-being, but lack of sleep can become a problem in today’s fast-paced world. This article has some of my best holistic sleep remedies.

You can also supplement melatonin. These melatonin supplements usually come in different strengths (one to three milligrams).

Hormone (progesterone) imbalances can also disrupt our sleep patterns. Many of the toxins in our environment can disrupt our hormones. I feel that we are constantly trying to keep our bodies in balance, and detoxified from all of these toxins that are so prevalent in our air, water, and food.

If you are supplementing, I recommend only using a vitamin from a whole food or naturally mined source. I do not recommend ever taking synthetic vitamins or minerals.

Experiment to find out what works best for you. In fact, what works for you might even change from time to time.

What Lifestyle Suggestions Can Help You Sleep?

Eat a light, early supper.

Exercise and breathe deeply.

Make the bedroom a place of peace and tranquility, with as little EMF (electromagnetic field) disturbance, noise, and light as possible. I sleep on a grounding sheet at night. It’s amazing how I fall asleep so quickly now and also sleep deeply. I highly recommend it.

Write down a list of things you must do tomorrow. (This will get all of those thoughts out of your brain about the next day.)

Think calming thoughts that are positive, uplifting, and filled with gratitude and thankfulness for 20 minutes right before bedtime.

Write down five things that you are grateful for, or five miracles that happened to you or your loved one, or child today, or five things that you want to happen tomorrow.

Focus on the most positive things you can. (I found this was a perfect time for me to fill in my children’s baby books. It’s positive and it contains their first words, steps, discoveries, accomplishments, food favorites, people they met, funny events, and more.)

Stay hydrated. (It takes 24 glasses of water to rehydrate after one soda. Carbonated drinks are not hydrating. CO2 is our body’s waste and it is putting waste into the cells.)

Try a sleep CD to help relax the mind and body. You might also listen to recorded sounds of rain or ocean waves to help with sleep. They can relax your mind.

All of these things will contribute to your relaxation, and you can rest with peace for a healing sleep.

Food and Sleep Patterns

When you sleep, your body heals itself. I suggest you try to eat lighter at dinner, and give yourself at least three hours between your meal and bed. If your body has to digest and process food, then it has to work hard, and it’s not able to rest and restore.

Give your body a break and have some soup for dinner or a light vegetarian meal. It would help to make your breakfast and lunch the main meals of the day.

Drink herbal nighttime teas (chamomile tea is a good choice), which can encourage rest and sleep. Also, eating tart cherries or consuming tart cherry juice can assist in obtaining a better night’s sleep.

Take a magnesium supplement after your dinner meal. You might try a supplement with a combination of magnesium forms like BIOptimizer or Organixx brand of magnesium 7, with different forms of magnesium in them. (I like these the best.)

What do some of the various types of magnesium do?

Magnesium orotate can have a postive effects on the myocardium under conditions of stress ranging from myocardial infarction to intense physical exercise.

Enjoy a relaxing evening bath or foot-bath, as this will calm you before bedtime. Fill up a warm or hot bath and soak for ten minutes or more. I like to put mineral salts (Magnesium-Chloride Bath Flakes) in my bath.

I also add a little organic apple cider vinegar to my bath water to aid in adjusting the PH balance in my body. Right before I step into the tub, I add a few drops of one of my favorite essential oils. I add them last, so they won’t evaporate before I can get in and enjoy the aroma.

For night-time relaxation, my favorite essential oil is lavender. My formula for my bath water is 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 cup Magnesium-Chloride Bath Flakes, 1⁄4 cup of baking soda, and 5–10 drops of essential oil.

I have a water purifier on my shower head, and I fill my bath through my shower head. I don’t like to have chlorine and fluoride in my shower and bath water, because our skin absorbs things so quickly and easily. (That’s why so many medicines are on patches.)

Peppermint, rosemary, and eucalyptus oils invigorate me, so I use those in the morning. If you can’t take a bath, a good foot soak can be beneficial and relaxing as well.

I hope one or more of these suggestions will help you get a deep, relaxing, and restorative night’s sleep!

Wheatgrass – The Health Benefits

The amazing healing benefits of wheatgrass were brought to the public’s attention by Dr. Ann Wigmore in The Wheatgrass Book: How to Grow and Use Wheatgrass to Maximize Your Health and Vitality.

Here are some of the benefits of wheatgrass juice, according to Dr. Ann Wigmore:

Holistic Remedies For Better Sleep

What Can Help You Sleep?

Ways to Nurture Children Through All Stages and Challenges

Embrace The Present And Take Care Of Yourself

How To Sleep And Rest Better

Make the bedroom a place of peace and tranquility, with as little EMF (electromagnetic field) disturbance, noise, and light as possible.
I sleep on a grounding sheet at night. It’s amazing how I fall asleep so quickly now and also sleep deeply. I highly recommend it.

For night-time relaxation, my favorite essential oil is lavender.
My formula for my bath water is 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 cup Magnesium-Chloride Bath Flakes, 1⁄4 cup of baking soda, and 5–10 drops of essential oil.

The amazing healing benefits of wheatgrass were brought to the public’s attention by Dr. Ann Wigmore in The Wheatgrass Book:
How to Grow and Use Wheatgrass to Maximize Your Health and Vitality.