Your Body, a Microcosm of the Earth

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The climate crisis is front and center, or should be front and center, of our national and international policy conversations. As we think about our personal health and wellness—our fitness, nutrition, longevity—we can draw a link between the state of our bodies and the environment itself.

It’s a concept you’ve probably heard stated before, but I would encourage you to consider it more deeply: the earth itself is a living organism. It operates according to rhythms and processes that intimately mirror our own biology.

Let’s look at some ways our lives and health directly parallel the life and health of the planet.

1. Biodiversity is Integral

Our modern lifestyle drastically impacts the conditions of both our continental ecosystems, and the ecosystems housed within our bodies. The creep of modern pollutants and global warming continues to endanger a variety of species and alter the larger biosphere.

We can see the impaired biodiversity in the natural world first hand. On the bodily level, nutrient deficiencies, chemical exposure, prescription drug use and over-reliance on processed foods causes a similar dearth of healthy gut bacterial and microbial diversity within our bodies. Increasing research points to how the gut acts like a second brain, influencing everything from digestion and nutrient delivery, to hormone regulation and immune response.

We need those essential microbial components that comprise a thriving microbiome. Just like the larger organisms that populate the world, depleting them alters our functionality, ecosystem, and lifespan.

2. Levels of Toxicity

It’s indisputable. There is a direct relationship between toxicity in the environment and toxicity in the body. More of one leads to more of the other. We should be particularly concerned about coal plants, both locally and in developing countries, whose emissions enter the air, circulate the globe, and make their way into our bodies.

Just as the planet’s land, water and air absorb an abundance of toxins, so do our own organs, blood, and breath. In the body of every human you’ll find increasing amounts of:

    • pesticides
    • heavy metals
    • environmental pollutants
    • plastics
    • prescription and recreational drugs
    • chemicals and more

All of this needs addressed at both the macro and micro level. Reducing exposures to toxins, opening up detoxification pathways and optimizing the body’s own innate cellular metabolism is essential to live a long, healthy, disease-free life.

3. Nutrient Deficiency

Nutrient deficiency grows more and more pronounced in our land and water. A lack of crop rotation and other poor farming practices result in diseased plants and rampantly depleted soil. Testing has shown how farm soil from the 30s held far richer mineral content than our current soil..

We humans subsequently exhibit our own deficiencies as we consume a range of foods and produce that lacks its intended nutrient value. Sustainable farms, personal gardens, homegrown herbs, and a push for organic production can make a big difference toward restoring this vital component.

Additionally, the lakes and glaciers in unspoiled regions of the earth contain pure essential mineral nutrients that become contaminated as the water flows into more stagnant and toxic collection points. We’re then required to get rid of these toxins through purification processes that take out the minerals altogether and often add a detrimental dose of substances like fluoride and chlorine.

If you’re interested in restoring your purified drinking water to the same state of mineralization found in nature, check out the Vitalizer Plus—a product that reintroduces these essential minerals and creates the optimized hexagonal structured water found in natural glacier water which perfectly enmeshes with the protein molecules of different cell structures.

4. Water Ratio and Hydration

Have you ever noticed how your body and the earth are each made of 60-70% water? This balance is essential for movement, energy conversion, temperature regulation—the harmony we need to fulfill every biological process. Think of how rivers and lakes operate exactly like your bloodstream, delivering nutrients throughout your body.

While the climate warms and ocean levels continue to rise, so many human activities cause corresponding inland trauma. We’ve noted a rise in desertification and deforestation, much like the dehydration we often inflict on our own bodies through a combination of overexertion and neglect.

Humanity as a whole is stymied when our land can’t hydrate itself to maintain crop growth and appropriate animal populations. We individual humans likewise harm ourselves by habituating an inadequate water intake—and dehydration sets in far more often than we realize. This state of dehydration prevents our bodies from producing optimal levels of energy and properly absorbing the nutrients we ingest. It also slows the flush of cellular waste which can ultimately lead to premature aging and organ dysfunction.

5. Ocean Acidification

As we’ve tested our ocean water in recent years, we’ve encountered a rising level of acidification. This is due to the runoff from farmland that’s been treated with pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers; along with the seismic amount of carbon dioxide we emit into the atmosphere—40 billion tons each year!

Like the planet, the human body is more disproportionately acidic than ever. Accumulated toxins, lack of oxygen (hypoxia), and an ingestion of excess carbohydrates, red meat and processed foods continually acidifies our cells and tissues. This causes inflammation and disrupts proper cellular function. When our bodily pH drops for an extended period of time, diseases are bound to follow, including diabetes, dementia, cardiovascular illness, and even cancer. The body requires an alkaline environment to perform healthy enzymatic function, maintain hydration, and to properly digest the foods we need for nutrient absorption.

The point of these observations isn’t to make us lose hope, it’s simply to point out how our personal health and environmental health are effectively one and the same. Your body is a microcosm of planet earth. It has a remarkable capacity for recovery and regeneration—and so does the planet. Now is the time for taking steps to improve them both!

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The Possibilities of Structured Water Part 3 Water Series

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We’ve talked about how water is a part of every biological process, and how the quality of water differs depending on where it comes from and how it’s filtered or purified. Pure glacial melt or mountain spring water taken directly from the source is the best type of water you could drink as long as it’s free of contaminants such as toxic metals and air pollutants.

If you want watch the highlights video version and read the rest later, click here for the video!

One of the unique properties of unadulterated mountain spring water or glacial melt water is that it naturally retains a hexagonal shape of water microclusters — six molecules of H2O bonded into a hexagonal ring structure called “Structured or Hexagonal Water.” It also contains mineral ions which strengthen the hexagonal bond between these water molecules and allows for faster absorption when they come in contact with cellular membranes. Mineral ions support an alkaline environment which optimizes the biology and function of all living things — including cellular hydration and metabolism. More on that in a moment.

Unfortunately, most of us do not have access to abundant levels of clean glacial water. Instead our potable water comes through municipal city water AKA tap water. Before it ends up in our homes, this water flows from our local body of water into wastewater treatment plants and travels through city filtration systems via long plastic or metal pipes.

Depending on where you live, your tap water can be contaminated with trace levels of environmental pollutants such pesticides and toxic metals, as well as pharmaceuticals, personal care products and endocrine disrupting chemicals. It’s also treated with antimicrobial agents such as chlorine or monochloramine — an absolutely necessary step to kill off pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites considering that waste water from toilets is retreated and ends up in local waterways where it is repurposed as irrigation and drinking water.

These toxicants accumulate to increase our bodies’ overall toxic load,  burdening and depleting mitochondria that’s essential for energy and cellular function. The end result of mitochondrial toxicity is damage to the gut mucosal barrier, which disrupts our microbiome balance, affects cognitive function, challenges the immune system, reduces cardiovascular and pulmonary function, and blocks our detoxification systems.

Tap water purification to remove all microbes and toxicants is a necessity of modern urban living. I’ve personally used a reverse osmosis purification system for 25 years, and now keep a countertop RO unit in both my home and RV.

But today, I no longer drink RO water. I’ve taken my water optimization one step further to nourish my family and my body with higher quality alkaline water that’s magnetically charged and replete with essential trace minerals, just like what our ancestors consumed.

It’s pure “living” water, or hexagonally structured water. Let me explain.

Ways to Create Structured Water and the Importance of Mineralization

Tiny dissolved minerals like magnesium, sodium, potassium and calcium increase the alkalinity of water which also aids in a host of physical benefits. As mentioned earlier, mineral ions tighten the bonds between water molecules, and improve the hexagonal shape of water clusters.

Generally speaking— pure water (H2O), the universal solvent has a neutral pH (potential of Hydrogen) of 7. It’s neither acidic nor alkaline. The pH scale ranges from 0 -14, acidity to alkalinity, depending on how many hydrogen ions are available to donate within the substance. The more hydrogen available, the higher the acidity, and the lower the pH number. Mountain spring water is alkaline with a pH above 7, closer to 8 – 9 due to its TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) of high mineral content and lower levels of hydrogen ions.

Conversely, distilled or reverse osmosis water, which is stripped of its minerals, has a pH below 7, more like 5.25 to 6.75 due to its higher hydrogen content and lack of minerals. Although RO water is clean purified water free of heavy metals, fluoride, microbes and environmental pollutants, acidity is a byproduct of the purification process and it is considered “unstructured water.”

Therefore, the existence of structure-making minerals is essential to creating hexagonal or structured water. But this is just half of the story. To make optimal levels of structured water for consumption, you need one more component. Let’s dig further.

Another way to improve the production of structured water is by dropping the water temperature to a supercooled state. This form of liquid is much colder than the typical freezing point of water, much lower than 0.0 C, so this is not a consumable option! But one can influence the hexagonal shape of water clusters by incorporating strong energetic fields (magnetically or ionized electrically) as stated by the late award-winning Korean scientist, Dr. Mu Shik Jhon.

In his world renown book, The Water Puzzle And The Hexagonal Key: Scientific Evidence of Hexagonal Water and it’s Positive Influence on Health!, Dr. Jhon revealed that hexagonally structured water produced magnetically is more suitable for human consumption than an ionized or electrolyzed form of structured water. Although one can make structured water through ionization, the stability of the hexagonal water is short-lived, and the water must be consumed in a very short period of time.

Studies also show that magnetically enhanced structured water has increased concentration levels of dissolved oxygen. In summary, to make hexagonally structured water for human consumption, first you need clean, mineralized water, and then you need to find a way to magnetize it!

How Does Structured Hexagonal Water Help the Body?

Beyond the absence of toxins and contaminants, by mineralizing and structuring water, we elevate its health benefits. The health of our body begins with the health of our cells, and a vast number of physical problems begin at the cellular level.

Structured water is shown to hydrate the body with 13 times the efficiency of regular water. It penetrates the cell membrane so quickly, it can immediately get to work assisting with the range of physical processes necessary to continually renew and rejuvenate our health.

Supplying the body with mineralized, structured water can improve:

  • Brain and body energy levels
  • Detoxification and lymphatic drainage
  • Blood circulation and inflammation
  • Cell turnover and tissue repair
  • Skin hydration and youthful appearance
  • Nutrient absorption and premature aging
  • pH balancing and alkalizing
  • Sleep and temperature regulation
  • Digestion and bowel movements
  • Immune System function
  • Weight management
  • Concentration and memory

The body is over 60% water! When you optimize the water, you optimize everything it supports, and you optimize the state of your own life and future.

Creating Structured Water From Your Own Home

So how exactly can we achieve this superior water if we’re not living somewhere that gives us access to pure glacial runoff?

Vitalizer Plus technology has given us the ability to create it right from our kitchen countertop. All you need is clean, purified water — either bottled drinking water, distilled water or RO water (the company emphasizes not using tap or mineral water).

Within minutes you can make structured water in your own home through its patented magnetic action and vortex water spinning system.The Vitalizer Plus REPLACES the beneficial mineral content that’s removed in the water purification process and restructures the molecular architecture of your water. You will create the same intricate hexagonal design found in naturally occurring spring and glacier water and witness the vast benefits of optimizing and accelerating your hydration.

Structured water is the best possible water for drinking, cooking, nutrition and every aspect of your family’s overall wellness. It’s also great for animals and plants! If you’re ready to create the best possible water for your body and lifestyle, take a look at the Vitalizer Plus.

I want everyone to experience the health benefits of pure, alkaline, magnetically energized, hexagonally structured water, so I’ve partnered up with the manufacturer of Vitalizer Plus and is offering this appliance at a significantly reduced rate that’s only available to my private health community.

Use promo code: HEXWATER 

The Vitalizer Plus has never been sold on Amazon, Ebay or elsewhere at this price.

Click here for more information and don’t forget to use the promo code: HEXWATER to get your full savings.

In our next installment, we’ll talk more about the Vitalizer Plus, and include an exceptional offer on a state-of-the-art Reverse Osmosis unit for anyone that doesn’t already own a water purification unit. Get ready to discover the many advantages that come from purified, energized, great-tasting structured water made right in your own home!

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Types of Water — The Differences and Benefits Part 2 Water Series

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Water seems straightforward. But at the molecular level, differing water from differing sources contains differing chemical and energetic content. This content creates a variety of responses as it interacts with our cells, and the behavior of the molecules will affect the way our bodies integrate nutrients and catalyze reactions. Let’s take a look at the attributes and upsides of our primary water types.

If you want watch the highlights video version and read the rest later, click here for the video!  And here’s a link to the EPA document on how to protect the waterways that I reference in the video.

Tap Water

This is your literal run-of the-mill municipal water. Toilets, showers, dishwashers, kitchen sinks, laundry machines, sprinkler systems — the functional water we employ throughout the day. It’s considered drinkable in most regions of the United States, but also prone to a variety of additives and toxins such as chlorine, chloramines, fluoride, solvents, drug residues and heavy metals. This makes tap water a suboptimal source for ideal hydration and cell function, and it will often exacerbate issues related to fatigue and indigestion. 

In worst case scenarios, tap water can be outright dangerous. Despite legislative measures, contaminants and pathogens do make their way into the local water supply (Think: Flint, Michigan), and these substances may include anything from trace amounts of aluminum, gasoline additive MTBE, pesticides and lead — to life-threatening levels of waterborne legionella bacteria (remember the 2014 Legionnaires Outbreak?) 

Well Water 

Though sometimes a reliable source of drinking water, well water these days should always be purified. Since it comes out of the ground, you may not be ingesting the added chemicals present in other processed water but, on the other hand, because it’s unfiltered, you’ll want to test it for bacteria, nitrates and chemicals and run it through a proper filtration system. So many pollutants unfortunately leech their way into groundwater and contaminate what would otherwise be a more useful method of water retrieval. 

Well water often harbors a number of bacteria as well as parasites and, though the water status varies by site and location, its risks frequently supersede its benefits.   

Mineral Water

Mineral water is spring water with extra minerals added to it. This type of water is crowded with extra material — but the good kind! Magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium are trace substances in mineral water, but often want in higher supply. Mineral water is alkaline water and provides these natural components via the mineral spring it’s taken from, and tastes mildly saltier than other forms of water. 

As a downside, mineral water is minimally filtered so there’s also an occasional risk of undesirable substances like mercury or arsenic finding its way in, and people with certain health conditions such as heart or neurological disease may actually be better off with a purer source of drinking water.

Distilled water

The exact opposite of mineral water, distilled water contains nothing extra. It’s been boiled and condensed back into its liquid state removing ANY additional substances. The good news is, there’s nothing in there to harm your health. It’s 100% H2O, so a good choice for purified clean water, but it’s also devoid of minerals to alkalize cells and improve hydration power.

While distilled water can be a good choice for diluting concentrated liquids as well as for hydrating infants and toddlers with pristine pure water, keep in mind that it does attract charged metals easily so you’ll want to monitor how you store it and what material it comes in contact with. 

Avoid storing distilled water, or any liquids for that matter, in metal including stainless steel, brass, copper or aluminum containers, as well as plastic water bottles. The best types of water containers are glass bottles and jugs. 

With no solutes, distilled water is extremely clean but involves a boiling and re-condensing process which takes a lot of time and electrical or gas power, so it tends to be impractical to carry out in your own home — and the expense of buying it bottled can add up fast! Distilled water only comes in plastic bottles, another good reason to find a better source of purified drinking water to reduce plastic exposure and minimize environmental impact.

Filtered vs. Purified Water

Water can be filtered through two different methods to remove chemicals and contaminants.

Filtered water means water has been filtered through a carbon filtration process. A carbon filter system costs less than a reverse osmosis or distillation unit and uses a filter that contains layers of charcoal and other adsorbents that can remove most impurities including dirt, fungi, bacteria, and other microbes. 

However, the majority of carbon filtration systems only filter out particles up to 50 microns, and the most efficient only achieve .2 microns. This means it doesn’t take out heavy metals that are much smaller in size. They also tend to leave in fluoride, radioactive materials such as uranium, and the residues of medications, pesticides and solvents. 

Reverse Osmosis (RO) Purification System employs a partially permeable membrane to separate water ions and harmful substances removing up to 99.9% of undesirable contaminants including toxic metals and fluoride by filtering particles as small as .00010 micron. 

To give you an idea how small one micron is, it’s 1/1000 of a millimeter. An average strand of hair is 100 to 150 microns, pollen is 10 microns, bacteria can be as small as 1 micron, and viruses down to .001 micron.

The average size of heavy metals is .00015 microns, so small that it will absorb straight through the human cellular barrier– into your skin, eyes, nose, lungs and gut. This is why all humans have some level of toxic metals in our body, even newborns. 

Therefore, RO purification system is the most effective process to make the cleanest of water with minimal energy consumption. This system is what I use in my own home and RV. Keep in mind that once tap water goes through the RO process, it does ten to drop the pH due to the removal of minerals, but there is a remedy for the acidity which I’ll share later in the series!

Glacier and Natural Spring Water

In the hierarchy of water, true spring or glacier water is the ultimate for its ideal molecular composition. When this water is actually glass bottled from the best natural springs and glaciers, it contains the minerals we need, and exhibits a proper electric charge, with undetectable levels of chemicals or heavy metals. 

However, people who prioritize health and optimal hydration often grow frustrated that many springs tend to vary in their purity, and some of those name brand bottles can’t always be trusted. Additionally, buying your water supply in the form of bottled spring water is usually never financially feasible or environmentally appropriate.

Water experts have long looked for a way to take purified water and replace the hexagonal molecular structure interrupted by the reverse osmosis process. In the comforts of your own home, with a touch of a button, you can create delicious tasting, alkaline, structured water similar to unadulterated spring or glacier water for an affordable price.

In our next blog, The Possibilities of Structured Water, we’ll look closer at this form of structured, hexagonal water and its potential advantages in enhancing our lives by optimizing our physical systems and processes, beginning at the cellular level.

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Why Is Water so Important to the Human Body? Part 1 Water Series

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Every organism on the planet needs water to regulate its every function — especially human beings. Keep in mind that every breath, thought, sensation, and muscle twitch relies on millions of tiny processes happening at a microscopic level. Let’s look at the major ways water works within our own bodies. 

Heat Regulation

Critical to every biological process is heat regulation. Energy expenditure puts out heat, and our bodies need a cooling mechanism to keep that heat in check. Because water requires a very particular level of heat to raise its temperature, it’s able to absorb a significant amount of excess heat that would otherwise cause enzymes to burn out and cease to properly function.

Your body cools itself by sweating. So of course the water that leaves your body when you sweat needs to be replaced. Drinking water throughout the day revives the body by allowing it to maintain its natural cooling process and by preventing dehydration — particularly important during the summer time when people are more prone to heat exhaustion and stroke.

Universal Solvent

Water is made out of two hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom. This chemical bond draws both positive and negative ions, so when water mixes with other substances, positive ions move toward the water’s oxygen atom, while negative ions move toward the hydrogen atoms. This setup allows water to break down a variety of compounds. Within our bodies, water dissolves many of the chemical material we need to survive — like the glucose in the food we eat. That content can then be moved throughout the body via our bloodstream and catalyzes all the crucial reactions our body executes to stay alive.

Metabolism 

Take all the chemical reactions that go on inside of an organism — we refer to that summation as metabolism. Water is the chemical that contributes to these reactions and fuels ALL the processes that keep plants and animals alive from moment to moment.

In plants, water facilitates photosynthesis, the process plants use to turn sunlight into food. In animals, water facilitates respiration. Respiration brings oxygen into our cells which is then used to make ATP. ATP gets divided into ADP and phosphoric acid. This division releases the cellular energy that powers every reaction, and removes waste molecules from the body after the respiration cycle has finished.

This metabolic cycle is part of the process that naturally removes the build-up of toxins within our bodies — toxins that typically come in the form of cellular waste.

Detoxification 

The pile-up of cellular waste throughout the body de-optimizes the lifecycle of our cells. Cells rely on water to turn over regularly and efficiently, and to provide for the healing, growth, and recovery we need to live our best lives.

We can’t build muscle, lose fat, gain flexibility, or improve our skin if cellular waste weighs down our metabolism and slows the process. This is why many sports physiologists actually suggest drinking plain water rather than sports drinks that tout an abundance of electrolytes. Because electrolytes comprise much of our typical diet anyway, and we ingest these salt ions via vegetables and other nutrient-dense foods, it makes more sense to workout with pure water that can dilute and flush out the cellular waste our bodies need to remove.

The process of anaerobic respiration breaks down sugars and results in waste like:

  • Carbon dioxide 
  • Nitrite
  • Succinate
  • Sulfide
  • Methane
  • Acetate

Water helps to eliminate all of this.

Inner Environment

Through our bloodstream, water also acts as the insulation and conduit that delivers energy to all regions of our body, and keeps every organ system in operation. The unique ecology of our gut bacteria requires a continual supply of adequate water to break down and synthesize the nutrients we consume. And all of it must be sorted and allotted for use in energy, growth, maintenance, and healing.

Picture the complicated job of our digestive, urinary, and circulatory systems. These systems are tasked with breaking down every substance that enters our body, using it as energy, delivering it where it’s needed, and then expelling it as waste. How could our bodies achieve this without water as a processing agent? 

Water makes way for every bodily operation by clearing space for new cells and diluting the debris that needs to be flushed out in sweat or urine. Traces of heavy metals, for example, sometimes get stored in fat and must be cleared out to improve our functioning. This process of diluting and flushing works toward the health of every system — including the lymphatic system. Metabolic waste molecules impair our immunity when they build up to clog the lymphatic system and create a honey-like consistency that needs to be more fluid.

Weight Loss 

If you’re attempting to lose a few pounds, water intake is crucial. Water helps you suppress your appetite and metabolizes the fat you want to be breathed out and excreted a little at a time. If your kidneys aren’t operating with the correct amount of water, the liver steps up to do the job of eliminating toxins. The downside of this? If the liver is needed to fulfill the role of the kidneys, it’s not converting your fat into energy. Instead, your fat stays in place and continues to store itself.

Any aerobic or weight training program designed to shed body fat must be accompanied by plentiful water intake to maximize your success. When your system is working harder than its use to, you have to give it every advantage.

Disease Prevention

Because of water’s role in these many crucial processes, every doctor advocates property hydration as a defense against:

  • Chronic joint diseases
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Inflammation
  • Poor cartilage health
  • The visible signs of aging
  • Constipation
  • Diabetes 
  • Hypoglycemia 
  • Obesity 
  • Arthritis 
  • Kidney stones
  • Dry skin 
  • Wrinkles 
  • Cataracts
  • Glaucoma

You can see why water is such a critical component of our makeup, as it leads all of the biological interplay that allows us to exist. Just as the earth is an ecosystem reliant on water for its many cycles and dynamics, the human body is also its own complete ecosystem, and the right choices keep it healthy! 

In upcoming blogs, we will discuss the different kinds of drinking water on the market, and which provide the most benefit for our daily functioning and extended longevity. Stay tuned! I’ve got more valuable tips and techniques right around the corner!

Click here to watch a short intro video to kick off the water series!

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This Summer’s Three Biggest Skin Health Concerns

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As we move into the peak weeks of summer, those outdoor activities continue to beckon. We welcome the warm weather and fresh air of beaches, parks, and walks around the neighborhood. With social distancing still in effect, we’re opting for open air spaces as often as possible.

But more time outside means sun and bugs and expended water. Let’s take a minute to refresh on the skincare tips that help us fend off free radicals, avoid mosquitoes, and maintain the hydration that allows us to function.

Sun Exposure

Although the best way to improve your vitamin D level (optimal: 50-70 ng/mL) is from small doses of daily sun exposure, you still have to be aware that 9,500 people receive a skin cancer diagnosis every day in the US. Yes! That’s EVERY DAY! In the last fifty years, melanoma cases have tripled, and non-cancerous sun damage grows increasingly pronounced as we age.

But before you lather on the sunscreen for protection, read the label and be mindful of its content. For optimum defense, find sunscreens that offer UVB protection — not simply UVA. Avoid products with oxybenzone (most toxic), octocrylene and homosalate. These common sunscreen ingredients have damaging side effects — altering birth weight, interfering with male sperm function, and acting as a potent estrogen and androgen hormone disruptor. 

Instead, look for an organic mineral-based formula (not a spray that can irritate eyes, nasal and lung mucosa) containing zinc oxide. Zinc oxide is my favorite way of protecting my sensitive skin without the harmful chemicals found in typical sunscreen formulations. Don’t forget to apply it frequently during your outdoor events, especially after water sports such as surfing and snorkeling, as well as if you’re excessively sweating during your afternoon run or hike. 

BTW, did you know there is a big difference between sunscreen and sunblock formulas? Sunscreen chemicals such as oxybenzone and octocrylene absorbs the UVA and UVB rays and scatters it before the rays can penetrate and damage the skin, whereas sunblock agents such as zinc oxide actually sits on top of the skin as a barrier and protectant, directly blocking the harmful rays by reflecting them.

Stay mindful of the environment as well, and don’t use products with petrolatum or titanium dioxide, which is known to hurt marine life. Hawaii has already passed a law banning products with coral-bleaching oxybenzone and octinoxate. It goes into effect in 2021. Mahalo!

Mosquitoes 

You definitely want to keep those blood-suckers at bay. One minute you’re enjoying the peaceful mood of a beautiful sunset, the next you’re maniacally scratching a cluster of fresh bites. 

People think of mosquitoes as an unavoidable summertime pest. An annoying presence that simply forces us to make do. But keep in mind, just because they’re commonplace doesn’t make them less dangerous. 

Mosquitoes might be a nuisance, but their bites can often be harmful to your health. Mosquitoes can carry deadly pathogens which enter the bloodstream and cause mild to severe symptoms — or even disease. Mosquitoes are vector insects that can spread viral infections such as West Nile, Dengue Fever, Chikungunya disease, Zika infections and more. Mosquitoes can also carry blood parasites causing diseases such as malaria and babesiosis which comes with its own bundle of acute and chronic complications.

A solid repellent seems like an easy solution, but remember, perhaps more than sunscreens, many insect repellents on the market contain extremely detrimental components that are harmful to your skin, lungs and major organ systems. 

The chief ingredient in most repellents is N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide aka DEET — a chemical that won’t stop the mosquitoes from landing on you, but does prevent them from biting you. My concerns with using DEET are the studies indicating how it affects your ability to break down a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, triggering movement and neurological disorders. Another older study connected DEET to childhood seizures and brain toxicity. 

Although many scientists and doctors consider DEET to be relatively safe, just the smell of it makes me think it’s toxic in some way! I am a mosquito magnet, and for years I have tried the all-natural approach of lotions and potions that include herbal ingredients such as citronella, rosemary, lemongrass, clove and more, but nothing…nothing works as well as magnesium oil! Really!

I found this amazing secret by accident 7 or 8 years ago, on one of my many trips down to Mexico.  Every vacay I would come back with at least 5 to 7 or more mosquito bites, even after using a mosquito net over my bed. One day, my muscles were really sore after working out hard with push-ups and beach sprints, so I put magnesium oil all over my arms and legs several times a day for the pain and stiffness. And as my muscle soreness dissipated over the three days of application, I noticed I didn’t have any mosquito bites either! 

My theory is that mosquitoes have a strong aversion to the taste of magnesium chloride oil because it’s super bitter. So ever since, I have been using magnesium oil as my all-natural alternative to the toxin-filled sprays. It delivers excellent results on top of your daily magnesium dose. Try it out and tell me if it works for you too!

There is one other natural solution if the magnesium oil isn’t an option for you…and that is cedar oil. That’s right, it comes from the cedar tree and actually kills and repels all types of insects including mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, flies, ants, mites, chiggers, noseeums, cockroaches and more. It’s for people, pets and can also be sprayed indoors. BTW, cedar oil will not harm the bee population, which is good…we need more bees on our planet! I get the cedar oil spray from cedarcide.com, and I have also used the lawn spray to get rid of ticks and fleas in the yard to protect my little pup Lola!

One more thing: be practical about your attire. If you know you’re going into intense bug infested terrain, look into broad-brimmed hats with mosquito netting, and wear long-sleeved thin cotton shirts and pants that provide you a stronger defense, although some mosquitoes have been known to bite you through your clothing! 

Hydration

We all sweat or glisten, depending on the verbiage you prefer. But sometimes our hydration levels can sink imperceptibly throughout the day as we fail to keep up with our water needs. You don’t have to be outside running marathons in the heat. You can dehydrate in the coolness of your air conditioned office simply from long periods of talking and interaction. 

Your body’s water should be continually replenished and replaced — and more often during the warmer months. Drinking half your bodyweight (pounds) in ounces of water is a good rule of thumb for your minimum daily intake. Make sure you’re opting for drinking purified water rather than tap water that’s been chemically treated and contaminated with chlorine, fluoride, chloramines, lead, arsenic, MTBE (methyl-t-butyl ether) and more. 

Be cautious of mineral water or spring water — both of which may contain minute levels of toxic metals (arsenic and nickel) or other “natural” metals such as thallium, titanium and silver that you might not want mixed into your system. Definitely ask the water company for the 3rd party water analysis test. Fresh water bodies across the US have tested positive for mercury, so that spring water you think is so untouched actually may harbor its own share of trace contaminants. 

On that note, if you are interested in digging deeper into the health benefits of water, hold on tight…my next blog will be all about my favorite natural healing element: water! 

In the meantime, take advantage of every outdoor opportunity while you can! This time of year can be extremely soul-nourishing — a small reprieve from the stressors of the pandemic. With a few slight adjustments to your purchases and routines, you can count on a summer of good health, great skin, and a thriving lifestyle.

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Supplements for CoronaVirus Protection

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In the video below, I dive into the exact supplements I take myself and which ones I prescribe to my patients to boost their immune system and protect against the SARS-CoV-2.


Did you know one of the fastest ways to boost your immunity is through the gut! Kimchi to the rescue!

Kimchi increases immunoglobulin A and G as well as interferons that help fight against coronaviruses including SARS, MERS and the SARS-CoV2.

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Dr. Susanne’s Morning Supplement Ritual for 2020

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Here is my list of supplements I take every morning with my Apple Fresh Green drink (ingredients below)!

You can find them in my store…and I have also hyperlinked each supplement for you for your convenience. Some of the formulas you will need to call my office for assistance 310-315-1514.

Use the Promo Code: HNY2020 for 20% off on all supplements until 2/29/20!

Apple Fresh Greens, with walnut milk, Arthroben Collagen, and almond butter

? Daily Vitamin/Minerals

Apple Fresh Greens

Activated B Complex

Ultra Potent C

Vitamin D 5000

Ultra K2

Essential Minerals

Readisorb Methyl B12 spray

3ACalcium

? Brain Support

Super ALC- Acetyl L Carnitine

GPC clarity

Pure PC Phosphatidyl Choline

CDP Choline

Acumen (Bacopa Extract)

Annatto E300

Annatto GG

Liposomal Glutatione (Tri-Fortify Watermelon)

Siberian Spirulina F3-BioSuperfood

? Structural Support

Synovox DJD Factors

Regenemax Plus

TestoPlex Plus

Pycnogenol

Arthroben Collagen

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5 Natural Anxiety Soothers

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In my last blog post, I talked about a little known health issue called Pyrrole Disorder which tends to be genetic and often results in severe zinc and vitamin B6 deficiencies.

Both my son Cody and I tested positive for this disorder, so we supplement with zinc and B6 to avoid any issues like anxiety from popping up, which can be caused by zinc and B6 deficiencies.

Anxiety comes in many forms and can have many causes and contributing factors, like chronic stress, trauma, nutrient deficiencies (especially zinc and B6), and lack of sleep. But there’s hope, because anxiety is easily treated at home with some key lifestyle strategies.

So today I’m sharing my 5 best tips and strategies for preventing and treating any form of anxiety naturally.

5 Natural Anxiety Soothers

Aim to incorporate at least 1 or 2 of these strategies into your daily routine. First thing in the morning is easy to remember and helps to set you up for a fantastic (and anxiety-free) day!

Practice Meditation – You’ve probably heard all about the endless benefits of practicing meditation, things like increased productivity, better focus, better sleep, and less stress. And let’s be sure to include anti-anxiety in that list, because a regular meditation practice is one of the best ways to prevent and manage any type of anxiety.

If you’re new to meditation, it may be helpful to start with some guided meditation audios, videos, or in-person classes in until you get comfortable practicing on your own, or you can continue practicing guided meditation if you prefer. It’s just as effective either way, as long as you practice daily!

I created a set of three guided meditation audios for my patients and students – one for morning, one for afternoon and one for evening.

The morning and afternoon guided meditations are to optimize your energy level, mental focus and resiliency throughout the day. The evening one is to activate the parasympathetic system at bedtime, to wind down and go into a deep sleep state. Most people who use the evening meditation fall asleep quickly while they’re still listening to it!

Meditation really helps to clear your thoughts and feelings, calming the monkey mind and soothing away tension, stress or anxiety. I highly recommend making meditation a priority in your life and experiencing the difference for yourself.

Tickle Your Vagus Nerve With Laughter – Laughter’s many benefits have been proven in multiple studies, and decreasing anxiety is definitely one of the best perks of having a good chuckle.

Can you believe that the average child laughs about 200-300 times PER DAY!? But the average adult? A wimpy handful of times per day. So we’re missing out on an incredibly fun and easy way to be healthier and happier here!

One of the reasons that laughing frequently can help to prevent and reduce anxiety is because it stimulates our vagus nerve in the back of our throat and diaphragm, which also connects to all of our critical organs (including the brain, gut, heart, lungs and liver!)

Vagal nerve stimulation restores the parasympathetic tone, and helps to ensure proper functioning of each organ, so it’s super important to have optimal vagal nerve function.  

But unfortunately, due to our modern lifestyles with chronic stress, lack of sleep, and poor nutrition, most of us are running on high alert throughout the day, and ends up creating an imbalance between the sympathetic (fight/flight) and parasympathetic (relax/rest) nervous system. When this happens, a slew of unpleasant symptoms and diseases can easily follow.

Luckily, science has discovered some simple ways to help tone up your vagus nerve, and laughter is at the top of that list for me! Laughing also increases blood flow and feel-good endorphins in the brain. Check out my recent laughing exercise video on Instagram here and try it for yourself today and every day!

Supplement with Glycine – Glycine is an amino acid found in collagen that acts as a balm for the central nervous system. It can help with generalized, low-level anxiety and can also be used to relieve panic attacks in real time when they strike.

Glycine may just be my #1 favorite anti-anxiety supplement of all time! I recommend starting with 500 mg twice daily and then increase the dose up to 2-3,000 mg per day.

GABA/L-Theanine Topical Cream – The natural inhibitor and anxiety reliever neurotransmitter GABA (gamma amino-butyric acid) and the amino acid L-Theanine found in green tea, also help immensely in soothing a frazzled brain and nervous system.

Supplementing with GABA can even help to stop a panic attack in its tracks. I personally use this This topical cream by Xymogen before going on stage or TV show, as it sure cuts my fears down quickly! This product is sold only to physicians, so if it’s something you want to try, just email us at [email protected].

Vitamin B6 and Zinc Supplements – Deficiencies in Zinc and Vitamin B6 is a common condition and also found in people who have pyroluria, a genetic condition as discussed in my previous blog. And a common symptom of these deficiencies is a feeling of overwhelm and anxiety. But taking these two micronutrients together as supplements can easily correct any deficiencies and prevent or eliminate anxiety.

Start with 15mg twice a day for zinc and 20 mg twice a day for B6.

There’s no need to suffer needlessly with anxiety any longer. Start to work a few of these strategies into your daily life and within a few days to a few weeks, you’ll be amazed at the difference that simple natural interventions can make!

 

To your most vibrant life,

Dr. Susanne

P.S. Follow me on Instagram for my ultimate wellness tips and strategies delivered on the regular, along with my travels and adventures!

 

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Lyme Disease 101 and Simple Prevention Tips

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My family loves to exercise and spend time out in nature! The sun, the plants, the water, the fresh air – it’s all wonderful and necessary for our health and wellbeing. But it’s also super important to take some precautions to avoid tick borne diseases like Lyme disease.

I recently had a scare with my little dog Lola. I found a huge tick on the back of her neck (eek!!!) and after I carefully removed it, I sent it to https://www.tickreport.com/ to identify the type of tick and have it tested for pathogens that might make Lola sick, like the ones that causes Lyme disease.

Thankfully the report came back all clear (whew!), but I recommend using this service if you find a tick attached to you or any of your loved ones, whether they’re of the human or furry variety. It’ll also help your doctor quickly adjust towards the best course of treatment protocol to get you well.

Lyme Disease 101

Lyme disease is caused by an infection from a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi and it’s usually transmitted from deer ticks, which are teeny tiny – the nymphs (babies) are about the size of a poppy seed and the adults are about the size of a sesame seed. They’re commonly found in wooded and grassy areas, on leaves and brush and on logs. Keep in mind that studies show Borrelia can also be transmitted by other biting insects such as mosquitoes, spiders and fleas.

Lyme disease was first diagnosed as its own condition in 1975 in a town named Old Lyme, Connecticut (hence the name!) and the bacterium that causes it (Borrelia burgdorferi) was discovered in 1981 by Dr. Willy Burgdorfer (hence the name again). Many people think it’s only prevalent in the Northeast, but it can be found all over the US and in many other countries as well. I treat a lot of cases here in California and globally.

These days, approximately 300,000 people in the US are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year and experts believe that many more are affected but haven’t been diagnosed. To put that number in perspective, that’s more than the number of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer (the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in women) in the US each year, yet we don’t hear anywhere near as much about Lyme disease.

Usually an infected tick must be attached to you for 36 to 48 hours before the bacteria can spread, so if you find a tick on you within a day or two and remove it right away, you may be ok even if the tick was infected.

The longer a tick stays attached, the more likely it is to transmit any pathogens that it may be carrying.

Signs & Symptoms

Lyme disease has been called ‘The Great Imitator’ because its symptoms mimic many other diseases. It can affect any organ of the body, including the brain and nervous system, muscles and joints, and the heart.

You’re most likely to be bitten by an infected tick in the spring and summer, and symptoms may appear within a few days to a few weeks, although you may not even know you’ve been bitten, as the tick falls off eventually, and you may be asymptomatic for a period of time or even indefinitely.

The most common sign of infection is an expanding area of redness similar to a bull’s eye. It’s often called a bull’s eye rash, but it’s usually not itchy or painful. It may take anywhere between 3 and 30 days from being bitten before the rash appears and 25%-50% of infected people never develop the rash, but they may experience flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, joint pain, low energy) and think that they’ve just come down with a nasty cold or flu.

Because it’s symptoms are so common, many people with Lyme disease are misdiagnosed with similar diseases like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis.

There are currently two main tests used to diagnose Lyme disease beyond looking at a person’s symptoms. If the doctor is knowledgeable about it (many are not), they may order the ELISA test, which looks for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi, though it may produce a false positive result and so it shouldn’t be used alone in diagnosis. Often if the ELISA test is positive for Lyme disease, then something called the Western blot test is done to look for several proteins which are produced by the bacterium.

In my practice, I order the Immunoserology of Lyme Panel B test from Immunosciences Lab which includes both Elisa and Western blot tests and looks for antibodies and proteins from Borrelia burgdorferi and other co-infections that may complicate the patient’s condition, as ticks often carry other infectious organisms (studies have shown that over 50% of those diagnosed with Lyme disease also have co-infections), such as Babesia, Bartonella and Ehrlichia.

Conventional medical treatment usually consists of antibiotics, but some choose to go a more natural route and treat it with various herbal and lifestyle therapies.

Most people fully recover from Lyme disease if it’s caught early, but the CDC estimates that 10%-20% of those who are infected with Borrelia burgdorferi and treated with antibiotics will have lingering symptoms, which may last for months or years. Many people are infected with the bacterium in childhood and don’t go on to develop major symptoms until they’re middle aged. In those cases it’s often triggered by some sort of trauma, such as an accident, viral infection, or extreme prolonged stress.

This is known as Chronic Lyme disease, but there’s a lot of controversy about its condition and how to treat it, which can make it difficult for sufferers to find proper treatment from a doctor who understands the disease.

An Ounce of Prevention…

You may have heard the old saying ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’, which means that it’s much better to stop something bad from happening in the first place than to try to repair the damage after it happens. This definitely rings true when it comes to Lyme disease, especially given its tendency to go undiagnosed and to become chronic and debilitating for some people.

Here are your best bets for avoiding Lyme disease. I recommend using as many of these methods as you can for the best insurance. Better safe than sorry.

  • Stick to paved or cleared paths and trails and avoid brushy areas and areas with high grass, as well as sitting on or leaning against on trees.
  • Wear light colored clothing to make it easier to spot and remove ticks.
  • Wear a long sleeved shirt, pants, and a hat (and gloves if it’s cold outside) to minimize exposed skin. Wear white socks over your pants to spot ticks more easily before they get too far.
  • Use a DEET-free insect repellent, because DEET is a chemical with health risks of its own. I use and recommend a product called Cedarcide and it works great for my family. It’s an organic insect repellent made with cedar oil, which is safe for wildlife but kills the nasties (ticks, fleas, etc.)! It can also be used on your house, lawn, and pets (with caution, as some pets may be sensitive to cedar).
  • When you get home, check yourself thoroughly for any spots or small bumps that may be a tick. A good scrub in the shower right away can help to wash off any unattached ticks.

We can help to prevent the spread of this disease by becoming better educated about it and sharing that knowledge with others. Please feel free to share this information with those you know who are often active outdoors.

Ok guys, that wraps it up for today. If you know of any other helpful Lyme disease prevention tips, please do tell! 

 

To your most vibrant life ever,

Dr. Susanne

 

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Introduction to Methylation: How to Hack Your Genes Naturally

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By Dr. Susanne Bennett

Your body is constantly going through key biochemical reactions and one very important process is referred to as methylation. In basic chemistry terms, it means that the metabolic process takes a single carbon and three hydrogen atoms called a methyl group and adds it to another molecule or substitutes an atom of that compound with a methyl group. For methylation to occur properly, you need optimal functioning enzymes, which are produced by your genes.

I hope I haven’t lost you already!

Bear with me now, because once you understand that methylation can turn your body’s genes on and off; meaning it can affect your genetic code (DNA), that’s when it gets really sexy and exciting!

What this means is that every one of us who’s been dealt with crappy genes by our parents and grandparents, whether it’s allergies, migraine headaches, heart disease, diabetes, manic depression, Alzheimer’s or even the Big C (cancer), we have the ability to turn those bad genes off by manipulating your methylation processes.

In this article, I am going to explain why methylation is important to look at for restoring your health and how to start improving these biochemical pathways in your body to start feeling better today!

The methylation processes control billions of on & off switches throughout your body that are vital to important cellular functions such as:

  • The natural detoxification of chemicals, mercury and other heavy metals, environmental toxins and even hormones.
  • Your body’s inflammatory and immune response.
  • Repairing DNA and cellular damage caused by free radicals.
  • Energy (ATP) production by the mitochondria
  • The production and recycling of antioxidants such as glutathione (a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and reduces inflammation throughout the body!). You can go to my RadioMD page to check out one of my recent Nature’s Secret’s segment on Glutathione.
  • Methylation helps in the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine and supports other brain chemistry.

As you can see, methylation is extremely important to a healthy immune system, your energy level, your mood and brain activity, as well as naturally detoxifying your body of poisons!

Sounds pretty important, wouldn’t you agree?

Some of the symptoms and diseases associated with methylation issues are:

  • Elevated homocysteine (associated with heart disease and stroke)
  • Decreased ability for detoxification which shows up as headaches, tiredness, nausea and brain fog
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia
  • Allergies and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities
  • Autoimmune conditions such as Multiple sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Infertility and miscarriage
  • Birth defects including spina bifida and cleft palate
  • Cancer
  • Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Bipolar, depression, anxiety and other mental disorders
  • Autism
  • Insomnia
  • Thyroid disease

We all suffer from some of these issues don’t we?

Cutting edge science tells us the best way to circumvent these bad genes is through nutrigenomics (foods and nutrients that alter your genes) and epigenetics (your environment and lifestyle factors).

Let me give you an example to help you understand how food and environment can cause chronic and debilitating illnesses.

My son Cody was pretty much born with crappy genes, I had eczema and irritable bowel issues growing up and my husband George had asthma and chronic infections as a child.

Little did I know about mercury toxicity in the early 90’s, and I ate a great deal of tuna fish during my entire pregnancy and while I nursed Cody for a full year. I would eat tuna 4-6 times a week, and sometime twice a day! Cody started showing skin and respiratory symptoms at around 3-months old. His eczema and asthma got so bad that at 5 months old, I shaved off his hair and had it analyzed for toxic metal levels.

His level for mercury was over the top in dangerous poisonous levels! I felt so bad that I had been poisoning him with mercury during his entire life, even when he was in my body.

The mercury overload in baby Cody caused a great deal of stress and inflammation in his organs and cells, damaging them, especially his liver and lungs, where methylation is crucial to clear out the heavy metal.

The cellular stress and mercury was blocking the enzymes necessary to detoxify the mercury out of his little body, which triggered his food and environmental allergies, asthma, mucus filled loose stool, and the most severe– anaphylactic reactions. Mercury toxicity was just one of the reasons why he was so sick but a big reason for sure.

So what was the #1 strategy to turn off Cody’s bad genes and improve his enzyme reactions, his methylation pathways?

I immediately stopped eating tuna, cleaned up our nutrition, and cleanup our environment to reduce the toxic load and cell burden and within days, Cody’s symptoms subsided and he started to improve!

The body does amazing things when you take all of the chemicals and toxins away… it wants to be healthy, it wants to be free of symptoms.

By manipulating all of the different foods, nutrients, environmental and lifestyle factors we turned the bad genes off and turn on his good genes to heal and restore!

By the time Cody was 3 ½ years old, all of his debilitating symptoms disappeared, even his anaphylactic reactions.

Cody got healthy through Nutrigenomics and Epigenetics.

Nutrigenomics is the study of how food and nutrients influence gene expression. And Epigenetics is the study of how environmental and lifestyle factors influence gene expression.

Identical twins may have the exact same genetic variants that increase the risk for a disease, but only one gets the disease.

It’s because each twin affected the methylation process in the body differently… remember methylation is the volume control of our genes, and it all depends on the food we eat, the supplements we take, the environmental factors, the lifestyle decisions we make, it all affects the methylation process.

“If you’re going to eat junk food, you’re going to have junk genes!”

There are a number of dietary “do’s and don’ts” that can help provide you the key nutrients that will best support your methylation process.

As usual, please consult with your doctor before changing your diet, taking supplements or exercise program substantially in any way, as only your doctor knows your underlying health condition and medications.

Where do you start?

In my book The 7-Day Allergy Makeover, I go into detail on how to clean up your nutrition and environment, I will go into just a few strategies today.

Clean up your Environment with the 3 C’s

  • Clean Water- drink purified reverse osmosis water not tap water filled with toxins and chemicals, that is damaging to your genes
  • Clean Air- we live indoors 90% of our time! Get some fresh air, get an air purifier, with HEPA and charcoal filtration
  • Chemical- Free: use less chemicals in your home and what you put on your body

Clean up your Lifestyle with the 3 S’s

  • Sleep- 8 hours of deep uninterrupted sleep (ideal sleep cycle: 10pm-6am, or 11pm-7am)
  • Stress- Deep Belly Breaths and Nature bathing!
  • Stop- Smoking, Alcohol, Drugs

Clean up your Nutrition

  • Eat only whole, natural, real foods!
  • Dark, leafy green veggies have a lot of natural folate, very important nutrient for methylation support
  • Foods rich in B vitamins (B2, B3, B6, B12, folate, choline): eggs, animal proteins, nuts and seeds, dark green veggies and beans.
  • Better yet, get on a good B complex supplement. Note that many people (especially vegans) are deficient in B vitamins, in particular, vitamin B12. Best to use sublingual B12, such as liposomal methyl B12 that absorbs rapidly
  • Eat healthy protein to promote healthy methylation: animal protein, poultry, chicken, eggs, wild salmon, .
  • Organic, non-GMO, no hormones/antibiotics, etc.
  • Try a modified allergy elimination diet to reduce inflammation in the gut and body… Remember that anything that increases inflammation will affect your methylation pathways.
  • Heal your gut to maximize absorption of healthy nutrients and improve stomach acid levels (take a daily probiotic!).
  • Optimize micronutrients by taking a multi-vitamin and multi minerals… All of these nutrients are necessary to optimize the function of the methylation enzymes!
  • One more thing: Stay away folic acid in fortified foods and supplements, folic acid is synthetic version of folate and it actually can hinder the methylation process.

Discuss methylation with your doctor, and ask him/her to test for your homocysteine level, and check your vitamin B levels. Ask your parents about their health too! Start with the basics and improve just one thing, today, either in your diet or your vices!

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