Every year in the late summer, early fall while driving around San Antonio or most metro areas, you will inevitably see signs like these at public schools:

No Shots, No School, No Kidding!

Funny thing is, in Texas, this is simply NOT TRUE. In 2003, the Texas legislature passed changes to state statutes that give parents the right to not vaccinate their child if they choose.

While I’m not here to preach about how to raise your child, I strongly encourage you to educate yourself about the safety and efficacy of commonly used vaccinations.

To begin the process, you’ll want to review Dispelling Vaccination Myths by Rev. Alan Phillips.

You’ll also want to learn more about a powerful organization, Parents Requesting Open Vaccine Education, that has many valuable resources to educate you about the dangers associated with certain vaccinations.

I also encourage you to spend some quality time researching on their site and in particular look up the information related to Texas too.

In Texas, you can submit a special form to exempt your child from receiving vaccinations. Schools are required to accept this form – it is the law.

In addition, you can go to the Texas Department of Health to fill out a request for exemption form for your children. Then, you can submit that form to exempt your child from receiving vaccinations. Texas schools MUST accept this form – it is the LAW.

I encourage you to make an informed decision about what really constitutes “the best” for your child by taking some time to educate yourself about vaccines.

Watch the Movie Food, Inc. for Your Health!

Here’s my verdict: Food Inc. is a must-see for your health. It provides a critical look at where our foods are grown and processed. Below are some of the topics the movie covers — as you’ll see, it is a real eye-opener.

Do you really think the foods you eat are truly safe? Do they come from animals frolicking in pastures? Guess again…

The Oscar-nominated documentary Food, Inc. does its part to expose the ugly truths about how our foods are grown and processed, often with health-harming consequences.

So, what is happening to small, independent farmers who are trying to make a living? They are getting bought up and put out of business by huge food conglomerates that are too concerned about profits at the expense of our collective health. Not to mention, some of the organic food companies are owned by huge corporations too. And, of course, governmental agencies like the FDA and USDA are in cahoots with Big Food to perpetuate this ongoing problem.

Not only are animals being horribly abused, but so are the people who work for these companies.

I believe Food, Inc. should be seen by every person on this planet. It is absolutely imperative to educate yourself about what you are putting into your body everyday, where it comes from and how it is made, grown and processed.

Only then can you make informed decisions about what foods you choose to eat, if those food choices are beneficial to you and your family, your health and, of course, the health of this planet.

Lately, Amazon.com has been running specials on this film. If you can’t wait for the DVD, watch it instantly via your Netflix account.

I strongly urge you to watch with Food, Inc. with your family as soon as you can. Even young children are capable of understanding healthy choices and helping you to make changes within your household a little easier.

Always remember, your health should be your most valued and prized possession. As a society, it is up to each one of us to take care of ourselves, and be responsible about our minds and bodies so that we are each high functioning and healthy.

Please take some time to watch Food, Inc. so that you can become a more informed consumer.

Now that spring is fast approaching, I want to encourage everyone to support your local farmer’s market. Supporting local farmers, (particularly if they are trying to grow organic produce), is healthy not only for you and your family, but also helps to support your community.

In some cases, our food can typically travel more than 1,000 miles before it makes it to our dinner table. Can you imagine? Usually, produce is picked weeks before, then transported and packaged and shipped to the store where, again, it sits until we come along and buy it. During this transportation process, the food has lost A LOT of nutritional value.

When you buy your produce from LOCAL farmers, you’re certainly not guaranteed that it was picked that morning, but it sure is more likely that the produce is fresher than purchasing from a supermarket. Be sure to have a conversation with your farmer and ask him about his planting, growing, picking and storing procedures.

Whenever possible, try to support your local farmers and eat locally grown foods. This way you’ll enjoy the health benefits of consuming produce that is actually ripe and nutritionally-dense. What’s more, you’ll help support your local community as well.

If you live in or near San Antonio, here are some websites that can get you started on your search. There are quite a few farmer’s markets throughout San Antonio. If you’re not in the San Antonio metro area, a simple search on Google with the name of your town/state and “Farmers Market” should yield plenty of results.

• PickTexas
• San Antonio Food Shed
• Fruit Stands
• Farmer’s Market Online

or, What’s In Your Corn?

A 2009 episode of the CBS series CSI: Miami (Bad Seed, 10/19/09) centered around two people who had been poisoned. Turns out, both had been exposed to bacteria. One person had eaten bacteria that was exposed to E-Coli and the other had eaten genetically modified organisms (GMO) corn that had been produced with bacteria to prevent insects from eating the crop.

The bacteria contained in the GMO food caused many problems and, in the end, the person died from Botulism.

So it made me start thinking about our food supply. Of course, I’ve known about genetically modified foods. But so many people I talk to have never even heard of it, nor do they know what it means in terms of poisoning our food supply and robbing us of our health.

So what does genetically engineered or genetically modified food really mean? In the simplest terms, a food’s DNA has been altered by a scientist in a laboratory. It’s a process done for several reasons, but the primary one is MONEY. GMO advocates believe if a plant’s DNA can be altered to resist insects, crops can be protected from damage.

The foods involved in this are many, according to the Seeds of Deception website, that has extensive information about GMOs. Here’s a short list of crops affected by the GMO blight:

• Soy: 91 percent
• Cotton: 88 percent
• Canola: 80-85 percent
• Corn: 85 percent
• Hawaiian Papaya: More than 50 percent

That doesn’t take into account a very LARGE percentage of chickens, pigs and cattle that are being fed corn to fatten them up, likely from GMO crops. Consequently, those same animals are being slaughtered and served to us as food, meaning we are ingesting those GMOs indirectly too.

So what are the health risks to humans? Of course, food manufacturers and the FDA would like you to believe that consuming these foods is perfectly safe for humans. But I strongly disagree.

There is much research online about the dangers of “tweaking” our food supply (see resources and links below this post). The bottom line for me is that nature didn’t intend our crops to be tweaked.

It’s bad enough commercially grown produce is doused with herbicides and pesticides. But now we have to worry about some scientist in a lab purposefully manipulating the genes in the crop and, worse, inserting bacterias to make them resistant to insects…

Does this sound crazy to you too?

As a Naturopath, this is abhorrent to me. The human body is designed — and functions optimally — when consuming foods that are as close to natural as possible. Eating GMO foods are about as far away from healthy as you can get! Exposure to these chemicals is not good for us. Moreover, I believe our tainted food supply is directly contributing to the rise in allergies, digestive complaints, cancers, muscle and nerve diseases (and the list goes on and on) every day.

I urge you to review some of the websites listed below. But, first, I urge you to watch this wonderful 10-minute video lecture conducted by Jeffrey Smith, one of this country’s leading researchers on GMO issues.

If you’re alarmed after watching this video, it’s understandable. You probably realize how much more you have to do to get educated too. In the meantime, here;s some simple tips that will help you make better, healthier decisions today.

1. Always buy organically grown produce.
2. I don’t believe we are genetically designed to eat grains, but if you must, be sure you buy corn and grains that are labeled NON-GMO.
3. When buying meat or chicken, look for grass-fed and free-range options.
4. Buy meat and eggs that contain no hormones or antibiotics too.

Lastly, please feel free to share this information with your friends and family. Our health is directly related to the food we eat. Protect your health by eating as many natural and whole foods as you can.

Skip the poisons and the manipulated foods. Your body and your health will be better for it!

Seeds of Deception

Health Risks of GMO Foods

Safe Food.org

Organic Consumers

Have you ever seen the words Enriched or Fortified on a cereal box, a loaf of bread or flour? Have you stopped to think about what they mean? This article is going to define these words and the detrimental impact they have on our food supply.

Enriched foods

You’ll see this label most commonly on flour, breads, tortillas and pasta. What this means is that during the refining process, valuable nutrients are stripped away. Most commonly, this refining process is done with wheat and results in white flour.

The wheat grain, when processed, contains the hull from the kernel and is brown. Food manufacturers strip that hull (bran) away in the refining process, resulting in white flour and the loss of valuable nutrients. Then, B Vitamins are “enriched” into the flour because they were stripped away in the first place when the flour was made.

Fortified foods

Foods like dairy products, orange juice, cereals and juices have additional vitamins and minerals added to increase their nutritional value. Often, food manufacturers will plaster on a “fortified with essential vitamins and minerals” label.

In the natural health world, however, that is just code for covering up that there is a significant amount of high fructose corn syrup and/or sugar in that box. This happens a lot with cereals. Recently, some food manufacturers have switched to “whole grain” cereals, but don’t be fooled! Just because they are using whole grains, doesn’t make it a healthier option. The sugar content alone is unacceptable in most of these products.

Obviously, if your diet consists of a lot of packaged and processed foods, if you’re shopping down the isles of the grocery store instead of on the outside of the store — where the fruits, vegetables and lean meats are located — you’re missing out on valuable nutrition from your diet and are likely on toxic overload.

Along those same lines, processed and packaged foods are detrimental to your health too. They just don’t contain the necessary nutrients to keep our body in good working order.

Most of the patients I see exist on a mostly processed and packaged food diet, which is why they are looking for some natural health care! When these types of foods are routinely eaten, nutritional deficiencies and imbalances within the body will occur.

A processed food diet can result in quite a laundry list of health symptoms:

• Allergies
• Headaches
• Blood sugar imbalances,
• ADD/ADHD type of symptoms
• Digestion problems
• Fatigue
• Joint pain
• Sleep problems
• Stress

When in doubt about the choosing the healthiest foods for you, remember the golden rule: If it comes in a bag or a box and you got it from the isles of the grocery store, chances are that it’s processed and has little value to sustain a superb level of health. Remember to shop on the perimeter of the grocery store and if you do need to get a few things within the aisles of the grocery store, be sure you’re reading your food labels!

Nature doesn’t produce enriched or fortified foods. If you’re eating the diet nature intended — predominantly vegetables, fruits, lean meats, nuts and seeds — you’ll have no need to purchase anything that has been artificially “enriched” or “fortified.”

Nature has provided everything we need to obtain a superb level of health.

If we have to “enrich” and “fortify” the vitamins and minerals in our foods, then we shouldn’t be eating those foods at all! Stick with natural and whole foods like fruits, vegetables, lean meats and nuts/seeds for a stronger and healthier body!

Essential Oils Kill Deadly MRSA Staph Bacteria

Tests at the University of Manchester conclude that certain essential oils can kill deadly MRSA bacteria within 2 minutes of contact. This is exciting news in the world of essential oils! Unfortunately, mainstream medicine will probably still want to use dangerous antibiotics to try to treat any infection. But it’s nice to know that essential oils are more powerful, safe – and they work.

The essential oil blend “Thieves” from Young Living has 5 single essential oils in it: Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus and Rosemary. These oils all have been found to be anti-viral, antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-infectious essential oils. Studies have been conducted at Weber State University in 1997 demonstrating this blend to have killing power against microorganisms. 

If you want to learn more about essential oils, ask me or look into Young Living Essential Oils – therapeutic grade essential oils that can help keep you healthy and well.

It seems like you can’t read a magazine or newspaper or listen to the news or a talk show without being told by someone to eat your fruits and vegetables.

Of course, I’ve said more than my fair share about that as well on this website. As a Naturopath and Health Coach, Eating More Vegetables and Fruits is my Number 1 recommendation. In fact, you really can’t eat enough of them. Nature was kind enough to leave us with an abundance of colors, tastes and textures, all with their own unique and delicious healing power.

Unfortunately, as I’ve mentioned before, the produce you buy at the store often has been shipped from considerable distances and exposed to various toxins and poisons along the way to you – thus, most have lost much of their nutritional value.

But what if you can pick your own food at a local farm? I’m not talking about growing your own fruits and vegetables, although that would be ideal, but few us have the space nor the time!

Turns out, numerous farms throughout the United States offer this service. Visit Pick Your Own.org to find a farm near you and start picking your own fruits and vegetables.

Not only does this support a local farmer in your community, best of all, your fruits and vegetables will be fresh which will help them be better absorbed and utilized by your body.

Bring a natural travel kit for healthy travels

Many of my clients ask me about healthy remedies to take when traveling, so I’ve put together a list of some essential items for your consideration. I recommend that you always take these items with you just in case.

1. Homeopathic Arnica — You can find it in pellets, drops and ointment. Good to use in ANY injury to calm down inflammation.
2. Bach Rescue Remedy and Bach Rescue Remedy Cream — This product is one of my all time favorites. Bach Rescue Remedy itself helps in times of stress, so you can use it before a flight or boat trip if you get nervous and stressed out. The cream can be used for scrapes, skin abrasions, rashes and cuts. Click on the link to learn more about the various Bach Flower Remedies.
3. Nutribiotic Grapefruit Seed Extract — Take this extract as a preventive measure to protect your body against foreign invaders. Mix 10-15 drops with 4 ounces of a strong juice like grape juice, stir well and drink 2-3 times per day. Also, I use this amazing product to clean fruit and vegetables. If you’re camping or cooking in your hotel room, this product is essential to keep your food clean and fresh.
4. Probiotics — Good to keep your digestive system in running order!
5. Ginger Capsules — Great for preventing and treating nausea.
6. Essential Oils — There are several essential oils I never travel without:
   
   • Pan Away soothes any muscular inflammation that I might incur while hiking.
   • Peppermint Oil eases headaches and nausea.
   • Lavender treats bites, burns, or inflammed skin and also to help you sleep in strange places.
   • Purification cleanses the stale air in hotels or musty cabins.
   • To learn more about these therapeutic grade essential oils, click here.

I consider these items essential for traveling, and don’t leave home without them! Also, remember to drink plenty of water while traveling to keep your system hydrated, especially if you’re going to be on a plane.

Getting plenty of sleep is also essential to keeping your immune system healthy! And, remember not to go crazy with your diet. Eating plenty of fresh whole foods with the occasional splurge will result in you feeling your best while having fun traveling!

One of my favorite additions to my smoothie recipes is fresh ground Golden Flax Seed, jam-packed with tons of nutrition and Omega-3 Fatty Acids.

It’s the healthy lignans and the high quantity of Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA, the Omega-3 fatty acid) contained in flax seed that make it so special and can help with a wide range of health conditions, including:

• Cholesterol problems
• Blood sugar imbalances
• Joint inflammation
• Constipation
• Menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and bone loss
• Blood pressure problems

There also is plenty of research out there that suggests consuming fresh ground Golden Flax Seed daily may prevent heart disease and certain cancers (prostate, breast, ovarian and colon).

Which one: Golden or Brown?

I prefer the Golden Flax Seed over the brown because it has a nutty flavor and really adds that flavor to my smoothie. Some people like to sprinkle it on cereal or oatmeal, add it to yogurt or a salad and even bake with it.

What about Flax Seed Oil?

My preference is to always consume the food in its most natural form. So, for your good health, I recommend eating Organic Whole Golden Flax Seeds. Also, it is not advisable healthwise to consume these seeds in the whole form, so you’ll need to purchase an inexpensive coffee grinder (you can easily find one at Wal-Mart or Target).

Grinding golden flax seeds fresh for each use is a far superior way to consume them and get the maximum health benefits.

I don’t recommend flax seed oil for several reasons:

1. Potentially, the oil will become rancid.
2. You’ll miss out on the important fiber you get by eating ground whole seeds.
3. Sometimes the lignans and the essential fatty acids are damaged when converted to oil.

How much golden flax seed do I need?

I recommend consuming at least 3 heaping tablespoons each day. These can be added to different foods. For example, mix a few with a smoothie and add some to your salad for dinner. But the important thing to remember is to get in those 3 tablespoons daily.

To make it easier, grind up about a cup’s worth and store it in an air-tight container in your freezer for easy access.

If you are wanting to get started with Young Living and take advantage of the true healing power of essential oils, there are three ways that you can order. 

Becoming a member of Young Living (YL) is pretty straightforward, and I’ll explain the 3 types of memberships below. If you decide to become a Young Living member, please know that I am here to support you and answer any and all questions you have about the use of the essential oils and their other products.

Young Living offers three types of memberships:

Retail Customer:
With this option, you will pay full price for all Young Living Products. Benefits include FREE sign up, and and there is never any obligation. You will receive email announcements of company product specials including buy one – get one free opportunities.

Preferred Customer:
With this option, you will receive a 12% savings on all products. There is a requirement to purchase at least $50.00 worth of products every month. In addition to the savings, preferred customers can earn an additional 10% reward (a rebate) back on every monthly order – plus FLAT RATE shipping. Rebates are redeemable towards future FREE products.

Wholesale Buyer:
With this option, you will receive a 24% savings on all products. There is NOT a requirement to make a monthly purchase, but there is a one-time fee ($40.00) in order to setup the wholesale account. Wholesale accounts are obligated to purchase at least one time every twelve months. In addition to the savings, wholesale buyers may earn a 10% reward (a rebate) back on orders. Additionally, if interested, wholesale distributors can participate in an affiliate referral program.

If you are ready to become a member:

• Contact Me and let me know you’re ready to place an order. I would be happy to assist you, and I would also like to answer any questions you may have.
• Join now online - select one of the 3 membership types above, and you’re ready to place your order!

As always, I’m available to discuss these essential oils and help you with deciding which oils would be best for you and explain how to use them. Let me know if I can help you!

One of the important things people should do is accept responsibility for taking care of themselves. It’s important to question and understand your doctor’s advice, whether she/he is an MD or a provider of alternative medical care.

There are many examples of people whose health has been tragically damaged as a result of a medical mistake. More than 100,000 people die each year due to medical errors. In the event you find yourself in a hospital or doctor’s office for health-related reasons, here’s a to-do of things you can do TODAY to protect your health.

1. Know what medications you are taking. Yes, I know this sounds very basic, but you would be surprised to know how many people don’t actually know this information. I’ll see some in my office sometime… Some men will leave it up to their wives to “keep track of that stuff.”

This is a problem. Absolutely, you must take your own health seriously and know what medicines you’re taking. It is not your spouse’s job to know that information… It is YOUR job. This also includes herbal or nutritional supplements.

You don’t have to memorize the list, but be sure to carry one with you of ANYTHING you’re taking and take the list to any medical appointments. Also, be sure to update it with new information as often as necessary.

2. Get a second opinion. If you are facing a health crisis, be sure to get another opinion. Years ago, I recall one man on the Oprah Winfrey show got five opinions before he found the one doctor who would treat him not so aggressively. Despite getting a six-month prognosis, he’s still here, 18 months later.

3. Question everything. Yes, some doctors might get offended, but TOO BAD. In fact, they should welcome your input and your questions. If you’re unsure about something, ASK. And ask again.

When you’re in the hospital, make sure you know what the nurses are putting in your IV. They won’t mind you asking, because they want to make sure there are no mistakes made either. This keeps everyone on their toes and tells your medical team you are actively involved in your own health care.

Despite what you might believe, health professionals really like that. They want someone who will ask questions. Don’t take anything for granted! Nurses and doctors are human and make mistakes just like the rest of us, so ask!

And, if you’re not able to be as involved in your care because you are recovering, make sure you have a family member who will advocate for your health!

4. Watch out for infections. When dealing with health care practitioners, make sure you see them wash their hands before they touch you. This seems like common sense, but they get busy rushing from patient to patient. Recently, I heard a story from a patient the other day, about a Doctor coming in from another room and starting to examine him without washing his hands. Make sure they wash their stethoscope too! Speak up and protect your health, as if no one else will!

5. Verify your prescriptions. If a doctor gives you a prescription, don’t just take the script and leave. It is important you ask him/her what the drug is, the dosage, what it does and how to take it. Write this info down, especially if you are getting multiple prescriptions! A doctor’s handwriting can be a serious problem too, resulting in many errors at your local pharmacy. Again, speaking up and asking questions will ensure you get the medication you need that is right — and safe — for you.

6. Listen to your body. You have that “gut” feeling that something isn’t quite right. You go to the doctor and they run a test that results in a “negative” diagnosis. They tell you “you’re fine, but you still have that nagging feeling something is wrong with your health.

Go to someone else. Get another test, ESPECIALLY if you have symptoms that mirror this issue. Misdiagnoses happen all the time, but they can be prevented. Follow your inner guidance.

7. Discuss your surgery. If you are having surgery, I would recommend phoning the anesthesiologist the day before to discuss your case. Of course, you will meet this person the day of your surgery, but calling in advance lets them know you are taking responsibility for your health. Ask all the questions you need answered.

This person will be responsible for making sure that you are “out” during the surgical procedure, so it is important you get to know each other. Be sure to discuss any concerns or questions with them.

8. Mark Your Body. Be sure to mark the “surgical spot.” There are MANY documented cases of the wrong fill-in-the-body-part being operated on and the wrong organs being taken out… It happens all the time. Don’t be afraid to write “cut here” and “don’t cut here” on your body!

9. “Whatever You Say, Doctor…” Unfortunately, I see a lot of patients who believe in the Doctor is God complex. This is simply not true. Saying that “I’ll do whatever you say, Doctor” or “I’ll take whatever you give me, Doctor” is not in your best interest.

Doctors are only human, after all. Not only do they make mistakes: Sometimes, they have very different opinions from one another.

If someone is suggesting you take a prescription medication or have surgery or some other aggressive treatment, be sure to get the facts. Is there no other possible way to deal with this issue than drugs or surgery? What other options would be available?

If it doesn’t feel right to you, chances are there may be another way of handling it. Even if that means going to another doctor or several other doctors; don’t be afraid to do it. Don’t put them on a pedestal.

The bottom line: It is YOUR body and YOUR health. Speak up for yourself!

10. Seek out alternatives. There is often a natural or alternative way of handling a diagnosis. As a Naturopathic Doctor, it is my job to evaluate your unique health care situation and recommend lifestyle changes and natural nutritional support to help you through a health crisis.

Because there are many different alternative and natural healing modalities out there, be sure to visit several different practitioners if you have a health crisis. Again, ask lots and lots of questions. You must feel comfortable with ANY health care team member you entrust to protect your health and wellness!

Lastly, I recommend everyone watch Food Matters. This film is guaranteed to educate you and help you make better health choices for yourself and your family!

Stay healthy, everyone!

Last week, I had another client experiencing chronic headaches. From a Naturopathic point of view, we have a completely different perspective as to why they happen, and we always want to look at the cause! We will not band-aid them by giving pain-relieving medication, but instead look at what is causing them and help you eliminate that from your life.

In my professional opinion, food allergies and chemical sensitivities are one of the main causes of headaches, whether they are chronic headaches, tension headaches, migraines or even “cluster” headaches. The foods and chemicals we ingest every day are 100% responsible for how we feel in our body.

If you’re suffering from a headache right now, skip to the remedies – if not, read on to learn more about the causes of your headaches and ways you can actually prevent them.

There are several main food allergies that I want to talk about:

MSG (Monosodium Glutamate or otherwise labeled as Glutamic Acid or Glutamate) — This chemical is commonly found in Chinese food; salad bars; fast food restaurants; sausages; luncheon and deli meats and cheeses; frozen meals, canned foods such as soups and vegetables; canned parmesan cheese; soy sauce; salad dressings; packaged gravies, etc.). Nearly any kind of processed or pre-packaged food has a pretty good chance of having MSG in it, so be sure to read the label and avoid it! The other problem with this chemical is that the government allows food manufacturers to use other names for it.  So when you’re checking labels, be sure to check for these ingredients also: caseinate, autolyzed yeast enzymes, beef or chicken broth, natural flavoring, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, soy protein concentrates, soy isolates and autolyzed yeast extracts. These names are all disguised names for glutamates, but the FDA allows these names to be used as long as the actual glutamate is less than 99 percent pure! So watch out and read your labels!

Aspartame (50% of which is Phenylalanine) – This toxic chemical is common in so many things: Diet Sodas, flavored drinks, chewing gum, juice, frozen foods, yogurt, diet or no-sugar foods. Aspartame is absolutely insidious and should be avoided at all costs. Unfortunately, as a nation, we are consuming WAY too much of it because it is in everything. Anything diet related or sugar free, is going to have this chemical in it. Even if you’re just chewing gum, that’s enough – there is enough of that chemical in a stick of gum to completely disrupt your brain chemistry! If you’re chewing gum because you’re worried about your breath, you can use Peppermint Essential Oil instead to freshen your breath. Peppermint essential oil is completely 100% pure and toxin-free.

Artificial Sweeteners (Splenda/Sucralose, Saccharin, etc.) - These are the pink, blue and yellow packets you see on restaurant tables. They are commonly added to Iced Tea or Coffee to sweeten. But beware! These chemicals significantly affect brain chemistry and absolutely can be causing your headaches. So opt for using REAL sugar, or carry packets of “Stevia” (an herbal sweetener) with you.

Food Colorings – Beware of the food dye colorings in some foods like juice, ready-made meals, frozen foods, cereals, cakes, cookies, chips, frostings, etc. Red Dye #40 and Yellow Dye #5 in particular are very common additives in many items such as yogurt, flavored powdered drinks; Energy drinks, etc. so please check your label and avoid food dyes as these are known to trigger headaches.

Other Known Food Triggers – Here is a list of some common foods that have been shown to cause headaches: yellow cheeses (cheddar), aged cheeses (blue cheese, gorgonzola, etc.), caffeine, chocolate, beer, wine, mushrooms, pickled meats like herring, wheat products (bread and pasta), nitrates in hot dogs, lunch meat, dairy foods.

Also, there are the other triggers like lack of sleep, lack of exercise, too much stress, and hormonal fluctuations. And one of the other common culprits is not drinking enough water! Please see this post about the importance of water and how it helps your body!

The best Homeopathic Headache Remedies

In case you’re suffering from a headache right now:

• Soak your feet in a tub of hot water and apply an ice pack to the back of the head
• Have a friend rub your neck and scalp
• Rub Peppermint or Lavender Essential Oil on your temples (be very careful to avoid your eye area!) or at the base of your neck
• Do some EFT – a gentle tapping technique
• Drink fresh Ginger Tea
• Use other Homeopathic Remedies: There are many different homeopathic remedies for headaches and they are all based on the exact symptoms you have. To find the best remedy, you should consult a natural health practitioner. But, these 4 seem to be the most common remedies used, so you might try them: Lachesis 30c, Ignatia 30c, Nat Mur 30c, and Nux Vomica 30c. You can find them in a health food store.

My best advice on avoiding headaches altogether: Read all of the ingredient labels on the foods you buy. Avoid the “fake” foods. No “Diet,” “low/no fat” or “no-sugar” type of foods. They are laced with chemicals and absolutely can be causing your headaches.

Instead, use real sugar or Stevia (all natural herbal sweetener available in health food stores). It is best to always eat the food in as natural form as possible; that will always be fresh. Steer clear of the internal aisles in the grocery store where all the packaged and processed foods are located. Instead, shop on the outer aisles, spending most of your time in the produce section!

Buy a new cookbook that focuses on preparing natural, fresh, food and start cooking! Check out my Recipes for healthy, simple recipes that you can make easily in your own kitchen! There are soups, salads and casseroles, and I will constantly be adding new healthy recipes. Check back often, and don’t be afraid to try something new!

If you are struggling with headaches, you really need to dissect everything you’re eating to determine if any of your “regular” foods are contributing to this problem. One of the easiest ways to do this is to keep a daily journal. Get a spiral bound notebook that you can carry with you. Every day, write down everything you eat or drink and log the times of your headaches. This way, you can find out your trigger foods and then make the necessary nutritional changes in your life.

You can get relief from headaches! As you can see from the chemical list above, there are a lot of possible ways that you might be ingesting these chemicals. They are known to contribute to many different varieties of headaches. So before you reach for a pharmaceutical drug, please explore your diet and what you’re consuming everyday that might be causing your headaches. There are alternatives to chemical-laden food: buying fresh, organic food and preparing your own meals (rather than eating out all the time) so you have control over what goes in body. Your body will thank you for that extra care and you will find yoursel feeling better than ever!

Additional Resources to help you determine the cause of your headaches:

http://www.msgtruth.org/
http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-side-effects.html
http://www.red40.com/
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/393504/food_dye_yellow5_.html?cat=5/

A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives: Descriptions in Plain English of More Than 12,000 Ingredients Both Harmful and Desirable Found in Foods by Ruth Winter

A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives is back again, in an updated sixth edition. This valuable reference gives you all the facts about the relative safety and side effects of more than 12,000 ingredients that end up in your food as a result of processing and curing, such as preservatives, food-tainting pesticides, and animal drugs. For example, drugs used to tranquilize pigs may sedate diners!

There are hundreds of new entries to this edition, and topics covered include information about recently discovered resistant strains of bacteria credited to the antibiotics added to animal feed, as well as startling statistics on the amount of money spent on certain additives each year – $1.4 billion – on just flavorings and flavor enhancers.

For those of you trying to lose weight, one of the more important things you must learn is how to listen to your body. That means identifying how hungry and full you are.

Before each meal, you should take a moment, take a very deep breath and try to identify how hungry you are. With that thought in your mind, look at the scale below. Are you at a Level 1, thus completely famished and ready to eat the entire contents of the fridge?

One of the things I recommend to clients is to eat every 2 hours to maintain blood sugar, even if it’s only a handful of almonds, a hard-boiled egg or a stick of cheese… Any kind of protein source that will help you feel more stable. When it comes time to eat a meal later on, you’re not starving and thinking about wolfing down the refrigerator!

Also while eating, it is good to check in with your body. Eat slowly, chew your food thoroughly until it is liquified. Be very conscious and concentrate on eating and enjoying your food. Put down the fork and take some deep breaths between each bite as this significantly aids in the digestion process. Notice how you feel and stop way before you get to Level 10 and you’re so stuffed that you can’t move.

The rule of thumb is to start eating at about Level 3 or 4 and stop eating at Level 6 or 7.

The Hunger Level Scale

Level 1 — Famished

Your stomach is completely empty; you’re weak and light-headed.

Level 2 — Starving

You’re uncomfortable and irritable and unable to concentrate.

Level 3 — Uncomfortably hungry

Your stomach is rumbling.

Level 4 — You’re slightly uncomfortable

You’re beginning to feel the signs of hunger and can’t wait to eat.

Level 5 — Neutral and comfortable

You’re more or less satisfied.

Level 6 — Completely satisfied.

You’ve eaten just the right amount of food and are completely comfortable. The key is to stop here.

Level 7 — Satisfied

At this point, you may be feeling a bit too full. If you don’t stop at this level on the hunger scale, you’ll soon feel ill.

Level 8 — Uncomfortably full

You feel bloated and are starting to feel uneasy.

Level 9 — Very uncomfortable and full.

You feel like loosening your clothes.

Level 10 — Completely stuffed and miserable.

You feel nauseated and need to take something for stomach relief. You can’t function, and you want to lie down.

Keeping this scale in mind before and during eating will help you to control your food intake and ultimately result in weight loss.

In my opinion, Food Matters is another MUST-SEE documentary for everyone on this planet, right after you finish watching Food, Inc.

Not only does this film discuss the importance of nutrition in our lives, but how we are being over-medicated by the medical community and BIG PHARMA at the expense of our good health.

Many of us already know these things intuitively, but this film really does a great job of bringing the facts out into the open!

The moral of Food Matters is one with which I very much agree: We must begin to actively accept and take responsibility for our own health, rather than relying on our doctors — who have very little if ANY nutritional training — to make the best decisions for us. Moreover, we must educate ourselves about the habits and foods that truly help our bodies heal.

If you are suffering with an illness, please know that your body can heal itself! But you must use the right tools and surround yourself with the right conditions — and people — in order to transform your health.

You can get better. You can get rid of your disease. You can get off your medication! This movie will answer a lot of your questions and help you understand why nutrition — not drugs — is the way to go! We need to have education and valuable nutrition in our lives, not more medication and poisonous toxins.

Please, watch Food Matters with your family and friends. (Buy the DVD directly from the online store or watch it instantly via Netflix streaming.)

Changing your lifestyle one step at a time adds up over the long term to support a new and improved optimum level of health for you. It’s not as hard as you think!

Every day I see and talk to clients who live with chronic pain. Sometimes, these people have been in pain not only for several months, but for 10, 15 or even 20 years. To me, living in pain for up to two decades seems pretty extreme, yet people do it every day.

It is important to educate my clients on all of the options available to experience relief from their chronic pain. One of my challenges as a Naturopath: Many people don’t realize that natural remedies can make a SIGNIFICANT difference in their pain level. Changing your diet and lifestyle and adding nutritional supplementation and essential oils, believe it or not, can make a HUGE difference in how you feel.

Part of that education is showing patients how their bodies works. I do this by recommending to them that they purchase at least one, if not both of the following books, written by Pete Egoscue:

Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method For Stopping Chronic Pain

Pain Free for Women: The Revolutionary Program For Ending Chronic Pain

Once you have a basic understanding of how important posture and structure is to the human body, you can better understand how the pain can be remedied when you start taking responsibility for your health and well being. The physical dysfunction that so many people experience as pain can be corrected once the body is able to maintain musculoskeletal functionality. This functionality can be accomplished by doing The Egoscue Method.

I highly recommend these books and The Egoscue Method to anyone in pain. Visit www.Egoscue.com to learn more about how you can take an active role in your life (and find a clinic near you) and relieve your pain permanently. Please Contact Me for recommendations on supplementation that can help you feel better in the interim too.

Emotional Freedom Technique releases energy blockages to improve your emotional health

You may have read about Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) on the Web without really understanding how easy it is to learn and master or appreciating just how effective a tool it can be.

Although the importance of emotional health is largely overlooked, it is absolutely essential to your physical health and well being. EFT helps to eliminate these emotional barriers and often works when nothing else will.

The EFT tool is a form of acupuncture, without the use of invasive needles. Instead of the sharp stuff, your fingertips tap on various meridian points throughout your body to release energy blockages that, left untreated, can create emotional problems and be very detrimental to your well-being.

This technique often provides very rapid and long-lasting results for many different emotional health issues. Among them:

• Trauma
• Abuse
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Fears
• Phobias
• Depression
• Grief
• Addictive cravings (food, cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, etc)
• Hundreds of physical symptoms like headaches, body pains and some breathing difficulties.

Gary Craig, the pioneer of EFT, developed this technique more than a decade ago and has been using it with extremely successful results. Because of its high success rate, even medical practitioners are using EFT as part of their practice. I have also successfully used EFT in my practice to help people with a wide range of symptoms.

I would recommend visiting Gary Craig’s site on EFT to learn more about this wonderful tool and download a free manual. There are videos on his site you can watch that will explain this powerful technique in more detail too. If you want to find a practitioner, you can search on his website to find someone close to you who has been specifically trained in this modality.

The Tapping Solution

If you’re the least bit skeptical about EFT, even after doing your homework on Gary Craig’s site, I urge you to watch The Tapping Solution, a moving documentary that follows 10 people who use EFT for four days on a variety of issues. I won’t give away the results, but I bet you’ll be impressed by the outcomes.

The movie features notables in a variety of fields, including Jack Canfield (who created Chicken Soup For the Soul), Dr. Joe Mercola (founder of the most popular natural health website on the internet), EFT Master Carol Look and Cheryl Richardson (author of The Unmistakable Touch of Grace) and more.

I recommend it highly, both for your own viewing and, even more importantly, to share this information with friends and family who may need it most.

Learn more about the film, the authors and view a trailer at The Tapping Solution.com.

One last thought… For every copy of the movie you buy, the creators of the movie donate one copy to a needy organization! So your purchase can foster some serious change in people’s lives and, in the long run, change the consciousness of our planet.

Clients and friends are always asking me what is the number one thing I recommend for them so they can start on their quest for better health.

Becoming healthier is a journey, not a destination. Achieving and sustaining good health will be something that is ongoing throughout your life. Working toward and achieving a better level of health takes patience, perseverance and work. It’s never too late to start and it doesn’t matter if you’ve gotten a recent diagnosis or if you’ve had an illness for 20 years…there are definite things you can do to help yourself attain a better level of health NOW.

The first thing — ALWAYS — will be to change your diet and to increase the amount and the type of nutrition you are feeding yourself. This rule is not flexible….our body sustains itself by the type and amount of food (fuel) we feed it. You must feed it well, in order to get good results.

One of the best and easiest ways to do this is with fresh, raw fruit and vegetables.  Most people do not consume anywhere near what they should in this category and unfortunately, our state of health shows this!  I think there is a misconception that people think it will take too much time to eat healthy and swinging into our favorite fast food drive-thru is quicker, but severely damaging our health.

The good news is, good health doesn’t have to take a lot of time to achieve.  You won’t have to be standing in your kitchen for hours on end, chopping and dicing fruits and vegetables and eating boring salads all the time.

The Vitamix to the rescue! This machine makes incorporating raw fruits and vegetables into your diet, simple to do. This machine is more than just a blender… It’s a work horse!  From smoothies and soups to making healthy ice creams and grinding grains, this machine can do it all.

It is an investment in your health. See my Recipe page for some of my favorites I use. I will be continually adding recipes, so check back on my page often! I use my Vitamix machine several times a week. My health wouldn’t be the same without it!

Here are some of my reasons for owning one:

• The benefits of consuming all your fruits and vegetables fresh and raw which means you get all the vitamins, minerals, enzymes, phytonutrients and antioxidants that come from eating whole foods naturally.
• Studies show that eating live, whole food can enhance your health and help to turn illness, into health!
• You can make a terrific smoothie for breakfast, grind some grain to bake a wholesome bread and then make a healthy, nutritional and tasty soup to go with it for lunch! All with one incredible machine!

Currently, the Vitamix company is offering a special promotion so you can get Free Shipping, a savings of $25 off the cost of the machine! Click here to learn more about this fantastic machine…be sure to watch the online videos! And, as always, be sure to comment with questions!

A Quick Start to Health

Clients often ask what they can do quickly to bring about some positive change in their health. If you’re not ready for an appointment just yet, but you are ready to start feeling better, this is a fantastic time to do some internal body cleaning!

Cleansing your body will help to get rid of some unhealthy eating habits, extra pounds and toxins! Below are some suggestions to follow to help your body get healthy!

Who knows, you might like it enough and feel so good that you’ll want to continue throughout the year! In either case, this will give your body a much needed rest and help to rebuild your health.

Eliminate the White Stuff: White Flour, White Sugar, Salt and Cow’s Milk… All of us know how damaging sugar, salt and flour can be to our bodies. Unfortunately, not too much has been said about cow’s milk, but I believe it is very damaging to the human body too.

For one, cow’s milk is extremely allergenic for most people and therefore they are unable to digest it (possibly explaining all the “lactose-free” products on the market today). Secondly, cow’s milk is an extreme catalyst for mucus forming in the body. For those of you suffering from extreme allergies, cutting out cow’s milk might make a significant difference in how you feel. Avoid diary products for 3 weeks to really test it out your body’s response.

Buy Organic: Make it a point to try to buy all your produce organic if at all possible, as the pesticides and other culprits that lurk among produce are quite scary. Also, even if you buy organic whole foods, please wash all of your fruits and vegetables before consumption. I use Grapefruit Seed Extract from Nutribiotic to wash all of my produce. Grapefruit Seed Extract contains an ingredient that is very useful in killing pathogens. Washing fruits and vegetables in it is just one of its many uses.

Exercise: All of us know we need to do it. And research is now showing that even 10 minutes a day is significantly better than nothing! So take the stairs instead of the elevator, or park FAR OUT in the parking lot instead of trying to find the spot closest to the store. My good friend Eddie Baran has developed a wonderful exercise program that is simple and QUICK and you can do it in your own home! Click on his name to learn more!

Juicing: Juicing is a wonderful way to get lots of nutrition in your body RIGHT now. Basically, it is predigested, since it is in liquid form, but has all of the vitamins, enzymes and nutrition. I love using my Vitamix for this purpose. It has so many uses and allows you to keep all the healthy fiber in your drink!

Massage: Having a massage once a week or even once a month provides many health benefits. Increasing circulation, promoting lymphatic drainage and helping with stress levels are just a few of them. Incorporating this into your wellness routine is a great way to get rid of toxins in your body and help you feel more relaxed!

Water: Yes, it bears repeating: Make sure you’re drinking half your weight in ounces of fresh, purified water every day. Even if where you live is not as hot as Texas or maybe it’s wintertime, you still need to consume adequate amounts of water.

Emotional Cleansing: Dealing with our negative emotions every day can make us physically sick. While you might be embarking on taking care of your “physical” self, don’t neglect your emotions! In fact, now is the best time to do some emotional cleansing.

First and foremost, let go of the past. Whatever did (or didn’t) happen in the past, it is important that you don’t carry those feelings with you. Secondly, it is important that you focus on all the positive things that have occurred in your life. Those emotions that are associated with good, positive changes will fuel you into taking better care of yourself. Lastly, make some goals for the future. They do not have to be “resolutions,” but simply goals and dreams that you would like to accomplish over the next year.

If you’re still struggling with some emotional issues, contact me today to learn more about a custom blend of Bach Flower Remedies that can help! You can also read more about the flowers and how they can help you manage stress in my Natural Stress Remedies section.

There you have it – some great ideas to get started to a new and healthier you. Even if you only pick one or two to get started, that’s a positive step, and your body will thank you for it!

On the subject of women’s health, I feel it is important to discuss breast health. As a Naturopath, naturally I am concerned about the number of cases of breast cancer that are diagnosed each year. In my natural health practice, I focus on prevention as well as teaching and coaching my clients to follow good health and lifestyle habits.

Since we do stress natural health, most Naturopaths are not advocates of mammograms. In fact, we believe they are harmful for several reasons. First of all, they are extremely painful — as any of you that have had one know first-hand. Secondly, we believe exposing such delicate and sensitive breast tissue to radiation is not a very smart thing to do.

The good news is, as in almost all health issues, there is a safer alternative to mammograms. Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) is a simple, non-invasive, non-toxic and completely pain-free technique used to detect breast pathologies — without using radiation — that takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. This test is reviewed by radiologists who have been specifically trained in reading thermal imaging reports.

Read more information about DITI at www.meditherm.com.

For San Antonio and surrounding area locations, point your web browser to www.ditiimaging.com/.

For locations that offer DITI services in United States, check out www.thermologyonline.org/Breast/breast_thermography_clinics.htm.

Poetically called the “life force” of a plant, essential oils are very complex. Essential oils are stored in special cells, ducts, or glandular hairs that are distributed among the roots, leaves, bark, stems and flowers of the plant.

Essential oils protect the plant from insects and other herbivores, from bacteria, mold, fungi and other microorganisms, and also help to heal infected wounds. These unique characteristics make essential oils highly beneficial to humankind.

A single oil may contain hundreds of constituents that are molecularly aligned in exactly the right manner to trigger a number of responses in the human body. Very concentrated and very powerful, a drop or two of distilled therapeutic grade essential oil can produce quick and significant results.

Essential oils work because fragrance consists of volatile molecules that float in the air. Millions of olfactory receptor cells line the nose. Aroma causes these nerves to fire and send messages to the limbic area of the brain. From there, messages travel to other parts of the brain, activating thought and memory. The pituitary gland is also stimulated to release chemical messages that travel via the blood to glands and organs that create physical body responses. Hence a scent has the power to activate a number of physical and emotional responses. It happens in less than a second! They also are rapidly absorbed when applied to the skin.

A drop of distilled, therapeutic grade essential oils can produce quick and significant results.

As a Naturopathic Doctor and proponent of Natural Heath Care, I specifically use Young Living Essential Oils. They are the most pure oils I have found. I have been using them not only on myself but also with clients over the last 10 years and have had some remarkable healings take place. Most of the brands you see in the health food store are NOT pure oils. Many have additives like alcohol and other preservatives. Young Living oils are the pure essential oil and contain no additives of any kind.

Visit Young Living for more information or learn about the different ways to order.

One of the things I try to stress to my clients is the importance of reading the ingredient labels on the foods they are consuming.

Obviously, the more you eat natural, whole foods — vegetables, fruits, nuts, and grains — the better it is for your health. But if a portion of your diet consists of something out of a box, bag, or can, you should read the ingredient label and find out what you’re really ingesting.

To that end, here are some general guidelines to help you translate food labels into a simpler language anyone can understand.

1. The ingredients appearing on the food label, are listed in order of quantity, from most to least. So when reading a food label for cereal for example, you’ll typically see Whole Wheat listed first because the majority of the product will be made with it. Generally, Sugar or High Fructose Corn Syrup will be listed next because most commercial cereals have massive quantities of one or both in them.

When purchasing any food, for your health’s sake, look for sugar to be listed much further down the ingredients list (if at all).

2. You’ll see words on the labels that you will be unable to pronounce, much less define. My personal rule of thumb is that if you can’t pronounce a food ingredient OR, you don’t know what the food ingredient is, don’t eat it!

Make a point to try to buy your products when you’re able to identify everything on the ingredient list. There are literally thousands of food additives that can cause health-related problems. The book Consumer’s Guide to Food Additives is a great source that defines each individual, and often unpronounceable, ingredient.

3. Food manufacturers can be very tricky and clever. For instance, when you see High Fructose Corn Syrup on a food label, that is just another way of saying SUGAR. That “trick” can be found in beverages, candy, frozen desserts, dairy products, meats, luncheon meats and ketchup, just to name a few.

4. When you’re reading a food label, don’t scan the Nutritional Facts box for calories and fat content and assume those numbers are for the entire item you’re holding. Most of the time, those numbers apply to the serving size — a portion — of that product.

For instance, when looking at a can of soup, you can quickly see that it contains 150 calories and 10 grams of fat. Look closer, and you’ll notice those numbers are based on a serving size of a half-cup. But most soup cans are approximately 1.5 cups, so you would need to multiple the calories and fat content by 3 in order to accurately calculate how much you’ll really be consuming.

For more information on deciphering the code of the Nutritional Facts label, here’s a great explanation from the FDA.