Posts Tagged ‘liver enzymes’

Cancer prevention.  Maybe I should have titled the subject line “Illness Prevention.”  But the big C always gets people’s attention.  Especially when 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men are getting cancer now.  So why not change a few things to reduce your risk?

1 Eat more vegetables
Vegetables aren’t just delicious and filled with vitamins and nutrients; they also contain a lot of fiber, antioxidants, and beta-carotene.  All of these help reduce your risk. Eating vegetables makes your body more alkaline, which is also good for preventing any illness.
For more on why eating a more plant based diet is better for you and the environment, please read another great resource at GoVeg.

2 Go organic
Organic food not only tastes better, it doesn’t have all those pesticides, antibiotics, steroids and growth hormones that can make you very sick.  A lot of people say to me organic costs more.  One trick is to go to your local farmer’s market right before closing.  The vendors are practically giving their products away.  Plus, eating organic is much cheaper than getting sick, missing work, and having medical expenses.

3 Sweat more
Sweating releases toxins through the skin.  Fewer toxins in your body, the lower your risk of getting sick. Go for a hike, take a power yoga class, or sit in a sauna on a regular basis.

4 Do a liver cleanse on a regular basis
If you’ve been getting my newsletters for a while, you know I’m a fan of doing a SAFE cleanse at least once a year.  Along with sweating, a liver cleanse will flush out the bad stuff that’s stuck in your liver.

5 Taking care of your mental health
Stress can weaken your immune system.  Thus, making you more susceptible to getting sick.  So whether it’s meditating, therapy, a spiritual practice, exercise, or all of the above, please take care of you!

6 Avoid sugar, including sugar substitutes, and dairy
Sugar feeds cancer.  Eat some fruit instead. And dairy is mucous forming, since it’s mucous too.  Try milk alternatives, such as hemp, almond, or rice.  You can get really creative and make your own.

7 Deep breathing
Cancer cells won’t thrive in a highly oxygenated body.  So take out that yoga mat and breathe.

8  Don’t store or cook your food in plastic.
Highly heated plastics release dioxin (carcinogens) into your food and ultimately into the cells of the body.  In fact, avoid using plastic altogether.

See?  That wasn’t so hard, was it?  Knowing that you’ve taken the first steps to being disease free can be so liberating.

Live natural.  Live well.
Heather


Do I Need to Detox?

I get asked this question a lot. Our bodies aren’t made to handle the amount of toxins we’re constantly exposed to. Toxin overload can lead to a whole host of illnesses and side effects. Take the quiz below to see if you need to do a cleanse.

• Do you eat processed foods, fast food and/or eat out regularly?
• Do you eat non-organic animal products and produce?
• Do you consume genetically altered foods?
• Do you eat foods containing hydrogenated oil?
• Do you or have you used artificial sweeteners (Nutrasweet/Aspartame, Splenda, Sweet n Low)?
• Do you eat foods containing preservatives, additives, dyes, or sweeteners?
• Do you charbroil or grill foods?
• Do you drink coffee, soda or alcohol regularly?
• Do you drink unfiltered tap water?
• Do you use a microwave?
• Do you microwave/cook/store food in plastic containers?

If the majority of your answers are yes, then your diet contributes significantly to your toxic load. Most likely, you’re also exposed to other irritants such as pollution, cigarette smoke, dry cleaning fluids, cosmetics and beauty products, exhaust fumes, cleaners, and medications.

You might want to consider detoxing, if you’re experiencing any of the following:

Weight gain

Fatigue

Food cravings

Insomnia

Reduced mental clarity

Poor digestion

Low libido

Autoimmune disorders

Cancer

Hormonal Imbalances

Thyroid Disorders

Adrenal Exhaustion

Infertility

Arthritis

Not all cleanses are created equal. Many of my patients try one, that ‘everyone’ is doing with no results.  Sometimes, they even feel worse. It’s important to have a qualified physician help you find one that is right for you. When done correctly, the results can be life changing. And remember, if you go back to your old habits once you’ve completed a cleanse, the benefits won’t last. I see a lot of people go through the effort, but don’t change their lifestyle. I highly recommend avoiding unhealthy foods and products to guarantee long lasting results.

Live natural. Live well.

Heather