6 Ways to Rebalance Hormones Naturally

Hi all!  I'm back and feeling fabulous!  That two week break was much needed and appreciated.  I am still catching up on emails, so please do understand if you haven't hear back from me yet.  There are a lot of questions to answer, some of which are coming up in today's post.

Many of you asked me to share what I did over the past two weeks to revamp my health.  Let me first explain a little of what I've been feeling health-wise and why I felt was time for a revamp.

Hormone imbalance is something I am predisposed to.  I have battled it my entire life.  In 2008, doctors had told me it was unlikely I would conceive.  While I never got a "medical diagnosis," it was likely I had PCOS and possibly cancer cells forming on my reproductive organs.  I decided to take a natural approach to healing.  While taking courses along the way so I could teach the natural detox processes to my own clients, I underwent a year long full body detox process of balancing my hormones and healing my organs.  After going through the completely natural healing process, I finally knew what it felt like to be healthy and living at my optimal potential for the first time in my life.  And shortly after, we were overjoyed to learn that we were expecting our son, Austin.

Since he was born, I have exclusively breastfed my son.  Long story short, after the first few weeks I learned that I wasn't producing enough milk that Austin was asking for on a daily basis.  Trial and error, it turned out I wasn't eating enough carbs.  I was eating Advanced Plan after the birth, but my body needed more carbs to turn into milk.  The things that worked best were oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, and sprouted grains.  Eating a serving of one of these with almost every meal was basically essential to making enough milk for my little man.  As long as I did it daily, we had no supply problems come bedtime.  But what I knew is that sugar is a huge offset to my hormonal balance.

My body slips back into hormonal discourse very easily.  I knew what to expect: weight gain, bloating, fatigue, brain fog, and blemishes.   Now, I was not at all concerned with fast weight loss after pregnancy.  I trusted my body and the breastfeeding process.  However, I have noticed I have gained over 15 pounds since a year ago.  The bloating has been particularly bad in the last few months, and my memory is all over the place, which is just not me!  These were my wake up calls.  It was time to get things under control again.

Austin has started eating food in the last 2 months.  He's been pretty good about eating breakfast and dinner with me every day.  We still breast feed at least 3 times a day, but his feeding frequency has cut about in half from where we were 2 months ago.  I figured this would be the perfect time to make some diet changes (i.e. THE ADVANCED PLAN) and begin a few supplements to casually support hormone balance.  (Note: I am not doing a full hormone or estrogen detox.  While breastfeeding, you want to avoid any supplements that will cause your body to dump toxic estrogen from the body, and essentially into the milk your child will drink.)

I wanted to take two weeks for some ME time because I have also been feeling like I neglect myself since becoming a Mom.  I can see your heads nodding.  It's true, once you become a Mom you put your family's needs first every single time.  But, as we teach our patients, if YOU aren't healthy who will take care of them?  It was time for some Elise focus!  Daily devotions and bible time, bath time without baby, meditation time to clear my brain, and exercise every day.  (Oh yeah, I have probably never mentioned how much I HATE working out??  I've never been athletic.  I always had crafts or something indoors I wanted to be working on.  I still cling to that mindset unfortunately.  Blogging, dishes, cooking...there's always something I would rather be doing.)  I usually get a burst workout in about once a week, but in order to keep my hormones in sync and my weight healthy, I needed to get consistent with at least 3 times per week workouts.

Okay, so here is what I did to revamp my health in 2 weeks!

How To Rebalance Hormones Naturally

#1)  Exercise

Exercise is a huge component for hormone balancing.  Weight training in particular causes a lot of healthy hormone reactions that in turn work to reboot and rebalance.  I recommend consistent burst or surge style exercise for maximum rebalancing affect.

This was a huge one for me personally.  It's all about getting into a consistent routine of both aerobic and weight training.  My 2 weeks of health revamp fell perfectly in line with a boot camp a friend who is a personal trainer was hosting near our home.  It was exactly what I needed as far as accountability.  I also learned a lot of new workout moves to keep the variety going.  This was my first experience with personal trainers and I've got to say I really enjoyed it!  If you are like me and need that accountability and/or a little guidance along the way, I highly recommend looking into a trainer.  The boot camp was so fun!  I worked out burst style 6 days per week, and 4 of the days we were required to do 2-a-day workouts.  Cardio in the morning, weight training in the evening.  I thought I was going to die, but actually those days I felt AMAZING!

#2)  Nutrition & Diet

Guide to the Advanced Plan

I don't mean start counting calories.  Focus on clean eating and cutting out sugar, caffeine, bad fats, dairy, conventional meats, non-organic produce, and anything else that contributes to hormone offset or weight gain.  The cleaner you eat, the better your body will be at detoxing naturally.

For me, this meant two weeks of strict Advanced Plan.  I was so happy that my milk supply was fairly steady with Austin's nursing demands after cutting out the grains!   We had a couple nights at the beginning that I needed to have a little more kale protein shake to catch up from all the exercise I was doing, but we figured it out and the rest has been going great!  I've been trying to eat raw as much as possible.  You'll notice the bloat will dissipate quickly by cutting out the grains.

#3)  Reduce Stress & Fill Your Cup

Schedule in YOU time, reduce daily stress, and get plenty of rest.  I've learned that it's so so important to have some time to yourself on a daily basis to "fill your cup."  Do something you love every day to recharge your batteries!  For me, it's trying out a new recipe in the kitchen while daddy watches the baby, visiting a girlfriend kid-free, working on a craft while Austin naps.  Even if it's just 15 minutes of reading a new book, I always feel better after getting some alone time every day.  The happier you are on a daily basis, the better your hormones will be at adapting to the day's stress and changes.

It's also a good idea to incorporate some meditation and/or stretching, or some other way to clear your mind and relax your muscles daily.  For me and many of my female clients in the past, it's hard to reduce stress in our every day lives.  I find my day goes better if I take just 10 to 20 minutes in the morning to pray, dive into a daily devotions book, read my Bible, or look out the window at nature.  This time is for thinking about you, giving thanks, and clearing your head.  Do not think about your to-do list or what the day will bring.  Unplug for this short time and let the stress melt out of your muscles.  I like to get on the floor and stretch out while I meditate on a prayer or happy thought.  Each line of the prayer is a new stretch or pose.

Sleep is just as important.  When you sleep, your body reboots.  Getting enough sleep each night will give your body the best chance to heal where it needs to.  If you aren't getting enough sleep (6-8 hours a night at least!) then your body will never be balanced.  It's as simple as that.

#4)  Chiropractic & Spinal Correction
Specifically, Maximized Living doctors work to correct the physical structure of the spine when your structure has curved or lacks the perfect structure needed for optimal nerve function.  The doctor can look at your thermal nerve scan or xray and see if your endcrine system or specific reproductive organs are being affected at the root level.  If there is pressure on the nerves, they can then work to remove that pressure and help your body correct the structural problems for a healthier future.  I cannot recommend getting in to see your local Maximized Living chiropractor strongly enough!  If you're going to pick one thing on this list to do, this is the one, because without 100% nerve function going out to your endocrine system, how can you expect anything else on this list to work for those organs?  You don't know until you get checked.  Definitely get checked so you know what is happening inside!

I didn't know until I got checked either.  My first exam warranted a set of xrays be taken.  I had no idea I had a 12 degree scoliosis in my low spine, RIGHT at the nerves going out to my uterus and adrenal glands.  I also had lost the good curvature in my neck, and the straightened out structure was putting pressure on the nerves going to my hypothalamus, pituitary, and thyroid.  It took some time to get my spinal structure corrected, but with each adjustment I felt better.  I had more energy.  I felt like my food was digesting better.  As time went by, my menstrual cycles returned after over 2 years of none.  Weight dripped off my body without even trying to workout.  My metabolism was on the rise!  And my vision improved, I no longer needed to wear my weak strength glasses.  My doctor (aka my husband Dr Dave -- I am so blessed!) monitored my progress along the way.  It was so reassuring to see on the follow up xray that all my hard work was paying off.  I could see the structure correction happening right on the xray!  It wasn't until we had corrected the scoliosis completely that my hormones were completely rebalanced and my endocrine system in sync.  A month after finishing my spinal correction, we conceived.  It was a complete surprise, because I didn't know still if my body would ever be strong enough to hold onto a baby and care for it.  God blessed us powerfully that day!

#5)  Acupressure or Acupuncture

Acupressure and Acupuncture work by stimulating reference points along the body that refer back to specific organs in a means to create healing response.   I really believe in coupling either of these methods with Chiropractic as a method of long term optimal wellness.  Your care provider will be able to specifically focus on your endocrine system, which will help your body put extra attention and energy into those organs and get them working together again faster.

In the past, while trying to beat infertility, I have seen an acupuncturist.  Currently I am seeing a reflexologist.  Both methods are wonderful, but I think I prefer the reflexology personally.  [If you are in the Charlotte area and need a great referral, the woman I see for reflexology is wonderful!  Top notch!  And affordable!! Email me.]

#6)  Supplementation
There are a few more specific supplements than the ones I am about to list that I recommend for hormone balancing and detox.  If you think you are a candidate for a more intense estrogen cleanse or a complete hormone/endocrine system overhaul, please email me to schedule a consultation.  I offer detox consultation packages via Skype or phone.

As I am still breastfeeding, I am taking a very mild approach with my supplements.  I don't want my body to go into full detox dumping mode because any excess estrogen shed will most likely go into my breast milk.  Two weeks ago, and for a while after giving birth, I felt like my body was heading downhill.  I had to be patient and wait to make some changes until Austin wasn't depending on me for food so much.  I wanted to add a few things in to my diet that would stop the downhill progression and help my body to start climbing the other way.  I'm not going for a shock method, but a gradual flip.  I added in:

Nutiva Hemp Oil

-  raw maca powder

-  Magnesium & zinc

-  Vessel Care (the best complete B complex vitamin formulated for optimal methylation; order through me)

-  Phytoganix (my favorite way to get phytonutrients like spirulina and acai; order through me)

-  Estrium (a 'medical food' powder full of herbs and supplements that work to reverse hormone imbalance; order through me)

-  Omega 3s (I added extra raw hemp oil and coconut oil to my diet)

-  And my usuals: Vitamin C, liquid Vitamin D3, probiotics, kombucha and Dynamic Greens (the best organic antioxidant drink I have found!)

Feel free to contact me with any questions.  And again, if you think it's time to take charge of your health and do a hormone reset, please email me to schedule a consultation: elise@healingcuisinebyelise.com.

Top 5 Natural Birth Control Options

We're going a little PG-13 with today's post.  Continue with discretion!

Recently I had a follow up consult with a women who is new to our Maximized Living clinic.  She is middle aged, single, and completely embracing the 5 Essentials of Health.  She gets her spine adjusted regularly following her corrective care recommendations.  She's been doing the Advanced Plan strictly for a few months with weight loss and hormone balance as her health goals.  She has drastically reduced her daily toxic burden by switching to all natural body care products, make up, and cleaning products.  She is burst training at least three days per week.  And WOW has her mindset done a 360 in the last few months -- from a negative "I'll always be sick" mindset to a positive, glowing, "I'm in charge of my health" mindset toward change!  I am so proud of her!

During this follow up appointment, we were to discuss where she is at with meeting her health goals (weight and menstrual/hormonal issues) and talk about ways to speed up her healing process.  The biggest issue this woman wants to overcome is regulating her menstrual cycles and getting her hormones back in sync.  I have explained to her it will take some time, and that toxicity is the major component to an estrogen imbalance.  Not wanting to go back on a synthetic birth control pill, patch, or IUD, she asked about natural birth control options.  "What do you use?" she asked.  She knows that I will not put my health at risk by using something that is potentially toxic or messes with the natural cycle of my body.  I gave her my recommendations, and thought many of you could benefit from knowing the truly natural options that are out there for pregnancy and birth control.

Elise's Top 5 Natural Birth Control Options

#1 - Fertility Awareness Methods & Natural Family Planning

Fertility awareness methods allow you to identify days in your menstrual cycle on which you are most likely fertile.  Most commonly you see movies and TV showing women using this information to help them get pregnant, or try to.  But did you know that it can be used to help you avoid pregnancy and it is proven 99% effective when used properly?  That's more effective than using a condom or birth control pills/patch/ring/shot!

The only "tricky" part if you're trying to avoid becoming pregnant is that you'll need to either abstain from intercourse during your potentially fertile days or use a barrier method of contraception (like a diaphragm, natural lambskin condom, or the FemCap).  I say it is tricky, because when a women is in her fertile period, she is usually the most aroused.  But even so, this is the birth control method I use personally and have been for about 4 years now.  Once you (and your partner) get in tune with your body, you really learn the warning signs of your fertile period.  And once you learn your body's rythm, it's rather easy to stick with one of the Fertility Awareness Methods.

There are a few different methods out there.  Some work better than others.  Some have a religious stigma.  Natural Family Planning is the type that my husband and I use, and yes we are Christians but that is not the only reason we choose Natural Family Planning.  We use it because it works and is the healthiest for us and our future children.  I actually first learned about Natural Family Planning when my friend Allison gave me a book on it and how to chart.  For about 6 months in a row, I monitored my basal body temperature, cervical mucus, moods, and food cravings on a chart as I learned my body's pattern of fertility.  Once I learned my patterns, I now simply watch the calendar and mark down my flow days, always paying attention to mucus/mood/cravings as warning signs of fertility.  Natural Family Planning has been shown to be the most effective Fertility Awareness Method with a 99% effectiveness rate when used properly. The key is understanding how the method works and sticking to it 100% of the time.

Other Fertility Awareness Methods are not as successful, and also not as involved and detailed.  I won't go into the differences of the methods here for sake of time, you can look into them on your own if you wish.  Other methods are: Standard Days Method,  Symptom-based Method, Ovulation Method, Two Day Method, SymptoThermal Method, and the Calendar Rhythm Method.  Many of these still have high success rates and may be a good fit for you.  Do your research and find your best fit!

Resources I use for Fertility Awareness & Natural Family Planning
Period Tracker App (totally worth paying for the Deluxe version)
FertilityFriend.com (FREE)
Fertility, Cycles, and Nutrition
Sexy Hormones
Taking Charge of Your Fertility

Fertility Awareness & Breastfeeding
Maybe you just had a baby and are wondering how a Fertility Awareness Method can fit in to your sex life?  If you're like me and still breastfeeding, you'll be pleased to know that breastfeeding is God's natural birth control!  Most women will stay infertile until their milk starts to dry up naturally (for most women who do "extended breastfeeding," this will fall around the 1.5 to 2 year mark.  In my research, this pertains to the on-demand style of breast feeding, and exclusive breastfeeding for at least the fist year.  Also, breast milk only.  Doing part-time with formula can signal to your body that baby doesn't need as much milk anymore and your hormones start to switch back.  You can actually become fertile faster by feeding your baby only part-time from your beast.).  But if you find yourself weaning your child sooner than 2 years, begin watching for fertility signs as soon as you begin the weaning process.  You need to have had three regular periods to begin using a calendar-based method.  And to test your basal body temperature, you need to measure it at the same time each morning upon waking after at least 3 hours of restful sleep.  These are some things to think about as you notice your baby beginning to wean.  You could ovulate before your first period returns while breastfeeding.  I am finding, personally, that cervical mucus is the best indicator of fertility while I am still breastfeeding.  I continue to monitor daily for any changes...and so far, 11 months in, no changes since giving birth.

#2 - CycleBeads

CycleBeads are an affordable way to help make the Fertility Awareness Methods easier.  The beads can be used either virtually on your computer/phone or physically hands-on to monitor your cycle.  CycleBeads are a color-coded string of beads representing a woman's menstrual cycle.  You move the rubber band around the bead string each day of your cycle.  Different color bead represent different days of your cycle so you'll know when you are fertile and when you're not.  Read more on CycleBead's website here. 

#3 - Lady Comp

This machine runs on the higher end compared to everything else we're discussing today, BUT I can see why people fall in love with their Lady Comp.  I don't own one myself, but would seriously love to try one out for a while.  It takes the guess work out of Fertility Awareness!  It's a computer that does all the fertility monitoring for you.  You keep the small device on your night stand and take your temperature orally every morning at approximately the same time.  Once it gets about 3 cycles worth of data, it will give you a Red light for "No" or a Green light for "Go" whether or not you can have sex that day.  HOW COOL!  I have friends who use this machine and that's all they've ever had to use, no worrying about numbers or phone apps or graphs or calendars.  I hope to try it myself some day!  Check out Lady Comp's site or buy one here.

FemCap

#4 - FemCap
I have not used a FemCap or a diaphragm personally, but many many many of my girlfriends use the FemCap and tell me they prefer it over a regular diaphragm.  FemCap is a non-hormonal latex-free contraceptive device made of silicone.  It is reusable and hand washable with soap and water.  My friends that use the FemCap tell me they like it as their regular birth control method because it is has fit to their size options (never pregnant, c-section, or vaginal birth) but doesn't require a professional fitting with their midwife or OBGYN.  And they say it just feels good in, no pain or discomfort, as well as easy to remove.  You can read more on FemCap's website to see if this option is the best fit for you.  Diaphragms have a 90% effectiveness rate.

#5 - Natural Lambskin Male Condoms 
Natural lambskin condoms are made from the intestinal membrane of a lamb, and, believe it or not, are the oldest type of all condoms.  There are records of lambskin condom use during the early part of the Roman Empire.  Kind of amazing if you think about it... The other condom options out there are made of synthetic latex or polyurethane, both highly toxic and used to make things like mattresses, paint, and tires.

In case you need a condom for other than just birth control, you should know that small natural pores in the lambskin condoms make them ineffective in protecting against sexually transmitted diseases.  The viruses that cause STDs can enter through the pores.  Lambskin condoms do provide pregnancy protection since the pores are too small for sperm to pass through.  Find natural lambskin condoms here.  Natural lambskin condoms have a 95% success rate.

Copper IUDs Did NOT Make the List

Copper IUD

In general, I am not a fan of inserting foreign man-made objects into my body for any amount of time, let alone 10 years!  I am against both the copper IUDs and the hormone IUDs.  The latter is a given (the artificial hormones!).  Why copper in the first place?  Copper kills sperm.  But, does that mean we should put copper in our vaginas??  Maybe you have seen the recent (ParaGard) commercials on TV for, what the drug companies are marketing as, the "natural copper IUD" or "safe copper birth control."  I strongly disagree.  The copper in IUDs is absorbed by the body over time, and yes it is possible to get copper poisoning.  It takes about 2-3 years for your body to build up so much eroded copper from the IUD that symptoms get so intense that your immune system crumbles.  But even a little too much copper in your blood stream throws your hormones off and causes extreme immune compromised health symptoms. And remember, this copper leaching happens to EVERY WOMAN who uses a copper IUD.  It is listed as a risk on ParaGard's packaging.

And, did you know there is a 1% chance that you can get pregnant while using the copper IUD??? (That is the same effectiveness as the Natural Family Planning method, but the copper IUD is toxic to the body!)  I alone have 3 close girlfriends who each got pregnant with the copper IUD inserted for many months prior.  And the chance of having an ectopic pregnancy if you do get pregnant with the IUD in is high.  For me, that's too many risks, plus the laundry list of symptoms that can go along with the IUD.... I'll pass and stick with a truly natural method by listening to my body for ovulation signs.

That is my Top 5 list for natural and non-toxic birth control.  Do you have a natural method you'd like to share?  Comment below!

Our Baby is Here: Austin Wayne Schwartz

Announcing the arrival of our first bundle of joy, Austin Wayne.  Born Sunday, September 18 at 5:32am, 7lbs 4oz, 21 inches.  We call him our smiley baby:

Austin had his newborn photo shoot this past Tuesday, and our photographer, Lora, was able to capture some of his most precious moments, including this photo of Austin smiling sweetly.  Warms my heart every time I look at it!

Austin is such a sweet, sweet baby.  He's almost always in a good mood, and we just can't get over how cute and cuddly he is!  He's always making us smile.  Dave and I could just sit and stare at him all day!  Here is more of Austin smiling:

Adjusting to the life of parenthood has been going well.  I am enjoying our Babymoon, spending all hours with Austin, most of the time in bed getting to know each other and bonding.  I love this little man so much!!  He is entering his first growth spurt already (already!), eating every hour and sleeping allll day.  My baby is getting chubbier every day and his newborn onesies are getting tight.  Everyone told me how fast babies grow up, but experiencing it first hand is surreal.

Back to recipe posting soon!  Have been out of the kitchen since Austin's arrival and Dave has been head chef of the house.  I also have a few GREAT product reviews and giveaways coming up soon!  So stay tuned, you'll want to enter the giveaways for sure!

Thank you to all of you who had us in your thoughts and prayers while we patiently waited for Austin and brought him into this world.  We so appreciate the support and love all around!  ((hugs))

Natural Birth & HypnoBirthing

For the past 9 months I have been meaning to do a little write up about the type of birth we are planning.  Must admit these past 9 months have been quite interesting with all the moves, starting a business, and adding the baby into the mix.  I'm in the "home stretch," baby Schwartz will arrive any day now.  Mild contractions have been coming and going for the last few days pretty consistently, so I know labor is on the way and I couldn't be more excited!

When we found out we were pregnant back in January, after the initial shock wore off (not going to under exaggerate... it took us at least a week to accept the fact that we were truly pregnant, that I was actually healthy enough to conceive!), I remember that moment when we looked at each other, got that stir of excitement in our stomachs and we knew we were both on the same page about how we wanted to bring this child into the world.  It was a no-brainer for me, ever since I started on the journey for the last 3 years to heal my body to be "baby ready" I have wanted to do a natural home birth.  Dave was right there with me.  Of course he played the sweet husband card and asked, "Are you sure this is what you want?  I will support you wherever you will feel the safest and most calm."  And as we were moving from Orlando to Charlotte, we did play around with the idea of birthing at a birth center with a midwife and doula, but over the last few months I've really learned a lot about birth, the process, different techniques, and for me it just feels right to do it in the comfort of our home.

As these last few weeks have been flying by (haven't they?!) and the day I get to meet my baby has been closing in, I have been growing more and more excited not only to meet baby but to actually DO THIS.  We will work together, the three of us, and it will be the most extraordinary experience of our lives.

I want to share a little about the birthing technique we have chosen to use.  And this isn't just for a home birth, it can be used anywhere you would like to birth.  It is called HypnoBirthing.  It was developed by a woman named Marie Mongan, however the techniques have been used innately by women since the beginning of time.  HypnoBirthing is a special alternative technique to traditional Lamaze or Bradley Method classes that many moms-to-be take.  Now, the name "HypnoBirthing" might sound a little..."out there"... to some.  But it's just in the name.  The basic premise behind HypnoBirthing is that it is a "unique method of relaxed, natural childbirth education enhanced by self-hypnosis techniques." (www.HypnoBirthing.com)  For me, being a Type A personality always on the go, striving to be perfect perfect perfect..I really needed to work on relaxation and ways to self-relax.  HypnoBirthing sounded fabulous to me and after talking with numerous friends who used the technique in their beautiful home births, I was ready to explore more into it.  Sounded like exactly what I needed to have a successful natural birth.

The first step for us was purchasing the HypnoBirthing book which I found pretty inexpensively on Amazon.com.  It comes with a preparation CD in the back of the book with affirmations to listen to as you begin to condition your body to go into a relaxed state by yourself.  As we were deciding where to live and where we'd be for the birth of baby S, whether it would be Orlando or who knows where else, we stuck with reading the book on our own and doing the conditioning techniques outlined in the book.  It is highly recommended to take a set of courses from a HypnoBirthing instructor (just like with a Lamaze or Bradley course).  So as soon as we found out we'd be in the Charlotte area, I sought out a HypnoBirthing instructor who I found thru HypnoBirthing.com.

I can't tell you enough how great the sessions were for me.  Dave and I did them together, and did 4 sessions in total.  Some instructors will even do 5 or 6, depending on your needs. They were so informative and powerful.  Learning the philosophy behind HypnoBirthing has changed my entire outlook on birth and the 9 months leading up to it.  Everything we have learned just makes sense to us -- it's supposed to happen the way God intended it to.

Basically what mom learns is how to get into a meditative, relaxed state during child birth, which can help the mom to better cope with it.  You can look up a few videos on YouTube, there were some really good ones on there.  Most women usually look like they’re having a nice, relaxed birth.  In a number of cases, you wouldn’t even know they’re experiencing child birth.  It's quite interesting to watch that for the first time and wrap your head around the possibility!  And when it comes down to it, whether HypnoBirthing can work for you or not all depends on one important thing -- practice, practice, practice.  The old saying runs true, "practice makes perfect!"  On a daily basis you need to practice your breathing, listen to the CDs (you get more supplied by your instructor) and do the conditioning exercises with your spouse.  The more you practice, the easier it is for you to enter into a relaxed state, and the better your odds that you can do it on birthing day.

And, on a side note, the techniques you learn on how to relax translate over into all areas of life!  Like I said, it has changed my life.  After being supplied with the steps to acheive self-relaxation, I am now able to relax in any given situation.  It's going to stick with me forever, and I can see these new skills coming in very handy once baby is here and is throwing his/her first tantrum.  :)

Here is a break down of just a few of the differences HypnoBirthing offers, to give you an idea of if it's right for you:

1.)  Language:  There is a preferred positive language that should be used.  For example, we say "surge" instead of "contraction" and "birth companion" instead of "coach".  We say "birth breathing" instead of "pushing" and "birthing time" instead of "due date".   There are more, but you get the idea.  Personally, I really like the word suggestions and we've been using them thru my pregnancy.  I feel much more relaxed saying the word "surge" or "pressure" instead of "contraction" or "pain".  The HypnoBirthing language relaxes me and the medicalized language tenses me.   Once I got about a month in, it was clearly apparent that I respond better to the positive wordings.

2.) “Emergency Room” vs “Healing Room”:  These are not actual rooms, but rather states of mind.  The book does a great job of illustrating this -- in life we should strive to only be in the emergency room (stressed, high alert, tense state) for about 2-5% of our lives at the most, during those rare instances that legitimately require a fight or flight response such as emergencies, etc.  The rest of our time should be spent enjoying the "healing room".  Most likely, in today's times, we all spend more than 2-5% in the emergency room, but being aware of this and making an effort to increase the time we spend in the healing room is a good start.  When we’re in the healing room, our breathing is deep and relaxed, our digestive system is relaxed and running efficiently, and we feel good.  When we’re in the emergency room, we’re tense, on alert, breathing is labored, digestion is put on hold, etc..  And this is extremely important during child birth because if a woman is in the "emergency room" state of mind, her cervix can tighten making birthing more difficult and increasing the chances of complications/intervention.

3.)  Visualization and Surrounding myself with Positive Birth Stories:  Our instructor explained the importance of hearing positive birthing stories, and how it can do more harm than good when people share their birthing horror stories.  She said that as baby grows and my pregnancy becomes more obvious, I might be surprised how family members and strangers will feel compelled to share their “not so great” stories.  And, I must admit, she was right!  Dave and I learned we needed to simply walk away, often excusing ourselves to use the restroom or whatever convenient "out" we could think of to save our minds from hearing a negative.  And on the other hand, I sought out positive natural birth stories from my friends and watched some fabulous documentaries and movies.  And what I've come to form now is a constant visualization of what I want our birthing experience to be for baby and me.  You know the common saying, "What you think about, you bring about."  I truly believe that the universe supplies what you bring upon yourself.  So I am doing my best to SEE and walk thru my birthing experience every day.  Not to say it will happen like that 100% just as I see it, but it's the main basic points, like seeing baby's head clearly approaching, and seeing our first feeding taking place...those are the visuals we want to make reality.

So these are just three of the basic differences HypnoBirthing offers.  It may not be a technique for everyone, but it really resonated with me and I am excited to put these last months of practice into action soon!  If you're not sure if HypnoBirthing may be something for you, I encourage you to email or call a certified instructor in your area and talk to her/him about it.  They'll be able to determine if it is something you and baby would benefit from.

Have any of you tried HypnoBirthing before or heard of it?  I'm always interested to find out who has used it before, often mamas I would have never expected!

Looking forward to announcing the birth of our baby soon!

7 Tips to Raise Baby Green on a Budget

With a pregnancy comes the realization that babies are expensive.  But is that really true?

Since Adam and Eve, people have been having babies and it didn't seem to pinch their pocket books with families of 10, sometimes even 20 children.  In my opinion, even today, having a baby doesn't mean you have to kiss your money goodbye.  Green moms are way ahead of the curve when it comes to raising baby on the cheap.  The old saying applies to “stuff” we accumulate or think we need when raising children… “Use it Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do, or Do Without”.  There is no reason we need to fall victim to the marketing hype that declares we NEED all the latest baby gadgets, equipment, body and health care products, and toys. Here are my top 7 tips to raise baby green… and cheap!

Buy Used – Check out yards sales, thrift stores, consignment stores, and CraigsList.com to buy baby items like clothing, stroller/car seat, books, and toys.  While yes, organic clothing is certainly worth it, the benefit of used clothing is that it has been sufficiently washed so that pesticide residue is no longer an issue.  Buying used saves you money, but also energy resources used to make new clothing.  Babies don’t need expensive outfits -- they can’t read the label to know if it's name brand or not.  We were blessed to be given almost all of our baby items from friends at church and family.  Ask around, you never know what people are happy to give away.  And when you're done with your items, consider continuing the giving circle for a family in need or selling at a baby consignment store to keep the clutter out of your home.

Extended Breastfeeding – Why buy expensive formula when you have milk on tap?  It's the healthiest food you could ever give your child and it is FREE!  And while you are at it, don’t rush solids.  There is no reason to start your 4 month old baby on solid baby food, as the mainstream "what to expect when…" books are advising.  I recommend waiting until at least 6 months.  We'll probably be waiting until around 9 months as baby's teeth will have come in by that time, signifying their digestive tract is mature enough to process solid foods.  Conventional medicine says that waiting to introduce solids can help prevent food allergies, too.  And feel proud to extend breastfeeding past the 1 year mark!  Two, three, even four years of breastfeeding will not only save you food money in the long run, but will supply your child with immune boosting milk every feed and aid in bonding with your child thru the toddler years.

Wear Your Baby - Investing in a good baby carrier or wrap can save money in the long run.  When you choose to wear your baby you can often forgo a bouncy seat, rocking swing, or other device meant to entertain your baby so you can be hands free.  You would be surprised how much you can get done while wearing a baby in a wrap!  And (notice the pattern) it helps you to bond with your child thru skin-to-skin contact.  Modern "stuff" does nothing to help you and your child form a deep attachment.  Slings and wraps have been used for thousands of years by many different cultures.

Cloth Diapers – Deciding to go cloth can mean a hefty initial investment in diapers, but it also means a large cost savings in the long run.  To keep costs low, use pre-fold diapers and diaper covers.  Another option is to buy used.  There is a HUGE market for used cloth diapers on Facebook and eBay.  Google cloth diaper forums.  They're out there!  Doing it this way enables you to try dozens of different diaper types to see what ones you like best.  Many moms are willing to trade, too, so you don't have to shell out any cash, just ship the items you are trading to each other.  And if you're worried about the laundry, believe me, it won't be that bad.  Baby is still on the way for us, but we've talked to dozens of moms about this and it just means an added 1-2 loads of dump and go laundry per week, which costs you just a dollar and cents per load.  I encourage you to make your own laundry soap, too, for added cost savings and to eliminate chemicals from your baby's laundry.

Make Your Own – You can save a lot by avoiding commercial mainstream versions of the products you need.  Puree your own baby food in a food processor or blender.  Simply set aside some of the food that the big people are eating and blend it for baby.  Make your own natural baby products.  We are making our own shampoo, body wash, wipes, lotion, diaper cream, etc, for baby.  (Recipes will be posting as I have the time to do so, but trust me, it's so easy!!!)  And go reusable whenever possible.  We're not only making our own wipes solution, but homemade flannel wipes as well.  Extend the DIY products to anything your baby uses -- dishwasher soap, liquid dish soap, laundry detergent, spray and floor cleaning solution...  You will not only save money, but more importantly prevent the exposure of thousands of chemicals to your baby.

Co-sleep – Who ever said you had to buy a crib or cradle for baby?  You already own a bed, so why buy another?  Co-sleeping is very safe and extremely convenient for breastfeeding moms.  You can co-sleep as long as you'd like.  I know some families who do it until their child is 6 or 7.  Whatever you are comfortable with.  Just doing it for the first year or two alone will save you hundreds (and in some cases thousands) on a bed, bedding, and decor.  An added bonus for co-sleeping parents is the deep bond you form with your children.

Forgo The Gadgets – Simplicity is key.  There is a huge market out there for baby gadgets.  Marketers are really good at making mom feel like she NEEDS something to make her life easier.  Think about it before you buy -- Do I really need this wipes warmer or stroller attachment?  Probably not.  Keep life simple.  It will keep you sane and save you money.

Any other tips out there from experienced moms on Raising Baby Green?

The Post Partum Visit: What the family needs

As time seems to be flying by and I can tell D-day is approaching (that's Delivery Day), I've had some time to think about what will happen after the birth, adjusting to a new way of living with baby in our world, and all the visitors to come.  I guess in a way we are lucky in that we recently moved many hours and states away from family and haven't made too many close friends yet here in Charlotte.  I'll tell you why this is a good thing for the first few months after the birth...

First, to sum it all up, I wanted to share these two fabulous posts from other natural moms on the post partum visit and how to be the best visitor you can be:

"HOW TO BE THE BEST POST PARTUM VISITOR IN 15 MINUTES OR LESS" by There Are No Ordinary Moments

"AFTER THE BIRTH, WHAT A FAMILY NEEDS" by Gloria Lemay, birth blog

I think these ladies did an excellent job summarizing what we new parents, and especially new mom and baby, need most from our visitors.  I personally am going to be focusing my first month with baby on our "Baby Moon," the time that we take together (basically in isolation) to get acquainted with our new life together, to learn our personalities, love on each other, and bond.  It is such an important foundation building time for every baby.  This time allows for plenty of skin-to-skin contact, meaning I (or in general, mom) won't be presentable for drop-in visitors.  And not to mention we'll be super tired as we adjust to this new life.  So what I meant about it being a good thing that we live far away from everyone we know is that we won't have a ton of unannounced visitors or people calling to come over and meet baby.

As a new mom, what we need from our visitors is a quick in-and-out visit.  While bringing food over is a nice gesture, I think we'd more appreciate it if you loaded the dishwasher or ran a pile of clothes thru the wash on your way out the door.  It's the little things that catch up on us fast.  I like how both of these ladies pointed that out in their articles.  So keep these words of advice in mind when visiting your new mama friends in the future!  It'll make mama so happy! :)

How To: Dry Brushing

Have you heard about Dry Brushing yet?  It's been getting some buzz recently in magazines and news programs as the method makes a comeback, even to "the rich and famous," as a simple way to exfoliate your skin and get a glowing complexion.  Let me fill you in on a little more.  There are several other health benefits to dry brushing that make it so worth it to add to your morning routine.

A tip of the hat to Finland, where my family originated just three generations ago.  Dry brushing is said to have originated in Finland as a step in the cleansing process when taking a sauna.  From there it spread thru many European countries for use at home and is still used today in many upscale spas.  Eventually it was noted that dry brushing was doing much more than simply removing dead skin cells from the surface, as people were experiencing amazing health changes.  Weight loss, increased circulation, and many diseases healing from the body with no other changes to lifestyle.  Dr. Paavo Airola, a doctor from Finland who took a natural approach to disease treatment and prevention, noted this and began implementing Dry Brushing into the care of his cancer patients (as well as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and arthritis patients) beginning in the 1960's as a way to rid the body of toxins naturally.  Great results were noted in his files through the rest of his career.

Dry brushing has a lengthy history, dating back many centuries.  And while dry brushing is commonly promoted today as a preventative method for dry skin and whole body exfoliation, leaving behind super soft new skin, there are many other health benefits as well:

Benefits of Dry Skin Brushing:

1. Diminishes the appearance of and eventually removes cellulite. (Cellulite is toxic!  Cellulite is toxic materials that are accumulated in your body’s fat cells as they are unable to be eliminated. Utilize the dry brushing techniques coupled with the Advanced Plan and burst training exercise. It will break down the unwelcome toxic body deposits and send them scurrying out of your body through your detox channels.)

2. Cleanses the lymphatic system to drain toxins into the colon and out of your body. (After a few days of dry brushing, you may notice gelatinous mucoid waste in your stool.  This is a good sign that your lymphs are clearing out!)

3. Removes dead skin layers to help improve skin texture and cell renewal
 
4. Strengthens the immune system
 
5. Stimulates the hormone and oil-producing glands, helping all body systems perform at peak efficiency
 
6. Tightens the skin by increasing blood flow, preventing premature aging
 
7. Tones the muscles and evenly distributes fat deposits
 
8. Stimulates circulation, encouraging body to discharge waste
 
9. Improves the function of the nervous system by stimulating the nerve endings in the skin
 
10. Helps digestion and nutrient absorption
 
11. AND an easy, inexpensive way to pamper yourself!

So how does this all happen?  As the body’s largest organ, the skin is responsible for eliminating about 1-2 pounds of waste every single day.  This means the skin is responsible for up to a quarter of the body’s ability to detoxify by getting rid of toxins through the sweat glands and pores.  Receiving 1/3 of the body’s blood circulation, the skin is the first place we see signs of illness, dis-ease, and lack of care when it is not stimulated properly.  Dry brushing the skin is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to awaken blood flow, massage the organs, stimulate nerve endings, mobilize fat, avoid water retention, and much more.  Over time the body functions at a higher level, just like after defragging your computer.  It's cleaned out so it can work more optimally.

How to Dry Brush Your Skin

1. Purchase a natural, NONE synthetic, bristle brush.  I purchased this one from Amazon.com.  Be sure your brush has a long handle, so that you are able to reach all areas of your body.

2. Dry brushing should be performed once a day, preferably first thing in the morning before taking a shower.  It should be performed on your dry, naked body.  If you are feeling ill, do it twice a day to aid in the healing process.

3. Begin brushing your skin in long sweeping strokes starting A) from the bottom of your feet upwards, or B) from the top of your head and face down downwards.  Sweep from the hands towards the shoulders, and on the torso in an upward direction.  Always brush towards the heart.  Try to brush several times in each area, over-lapping as you go.  Brush in a circular motion over your lymphs in the armpit area and groin area, and then continue to brush toward the heart.  This circular motion will massage the lymphs further and encourage the release of toxins.

4. After brushing your skin, rinse off in the shower.   It is recommended to alternate temperatures in the shower from hot to cold.  This will further invigorate the skin and stimulate blood circulation, bringing more blood to the outer layers of the skin.  Proceed with washing your body as usual.  (Be sure you are not using toxic body care products as your skin will readily absorb the chemicals!  Visit www.ewg.org to search the toxicity level of your products.)

5. After getting out of the shower, dry off with a towel.  You may notice the first few times you implement dry brushing, skin may peel off your body during dry off.  This is normal (and GOOD!), simply rub all the dead skin cells away.

6.  Follow up your shower by massaging in a pure plant oil (such as coconut, olive, almond, or apricot oil) or a completely food-grade organic lotion (such as MiEssence Body Cream or Earth Mama Angel Baby Body Butter) to your skin.  Your skin will soak up these nutrients and your pores will say thank you!

A few things to remember:

-  Clean your skin brush once every couple weeks with soap and water (I use castile soap).  After rinsing, place skin brush in a sunny widow to dry and prevent mildew.  The sun will naturally kill any bacteria.  And be sure that each family member has their own personal dry brush, for sanitary reasons.

-  Do not dry brush over skin rashes, sensitive areas, open wounds or cuts.  Let your body be your guide.  If it doesn't feel right, don't brush over that spot.

-  Apply as much pressure as you'd like while dry brushing.  Start out light as you get used to how the brush feels (it will be coarse and feel rough at first).  Condition your skin over time and increase the pressure you apply as you can stand it.

-  To begin to notice changes in your skin, it will take about 30 days of routine dry brushing.  For a full lymphatic cleanse and detox, it will take at least 3 months of daily dry brushing.  Keep it up from there -- the results are worth it!

And that's it!  It's that simple to dry brush.  I'd say all-in-all, it takes me about 15 extra minutes every morning, and now it's routine.  I've been doing it since January, when I found out I was pregnant.  I began implementing it daily as I knew when you are pregnant, your whole circulation system slows down a bit with the increased blood volume and all the hormone changes going on.  This is why many pregnant ladies get swelling in the feet and legs (or all over), not to mention pain in joints and other common pregnancy issues.  I knew that while these are "common" among the pregnant, it is not normal to experience these symptoms, so dry brushing has been my main technique to prevent any of these!  And let me say, it has been working!  Not a day of swelling yet, and I'm in my last few weeks.  No pain, no discomfort, great circulation and blood flow, and my skin has never ever looked or felt better!  I will be keeping up my dry brushing every day after baby arrives.  :)

Here is a great video from Amon Maternity on dry brushing while pregnant.  The technique and brushing pattern applies to all of us, but I can't recommend it enough to dry brush while pregnant!

I hope you'll try dry brushing!  It's such a simple technique to add in to your Maximized Living lifestyle for maximum health!

Product Review & GIVEAWAY: Earth Mama Angel Baby

Hi everyone, I'm back!  We had a busy whirlwind week last week.  For the last couple months, we've been renting a single room from a woman in Charlotte.  We had a goal set to find our own apartment by July 1, and well, it happened!  Quick as that.  Everything fell into place, found a great two bedroom, very spacious and good price to boot.  Last week was dedicated to making the move and getting settled in.  Still no Internet at home though, but we're working on it.  So I write to you from pool side, enjoying the sun and the free wifi near our apartment's clubhouse.  (But golly it's HOT out here!  Better make this post quick so I can retreat back to the A/C!)

I have a FABULOUS company and product review to share with you today.  And don't leave to quickly, because there's also a giveaway at the end that you are free to enter!

First, I wanted to offer up my tips for achieving ageless, hydrated, glowing skin.  Most of the time when we think about skin care, we think of it from the outside-in approach.  Lotions, cosmetics, serums.  And I think we are all aware of the marketing that goes in to cosmetic companies -- promising the fountain of youth in a tiny bottle, making billions of dollars off of the fear of aging skin.  Doing a little bit of research, you'll find those tiny bottles and multi-stage skin care lines actually contain hundreds of various chemicals that were never meant to touch your skin, let alone absorb into your organs.

I approach skin care from the opposite side, an inside-out philosophy.  Simplicity is the key to pure, smooth, health skin.  I work on making sure my organs that refer out to my skin are healthy and clean first.  This helps to prevent blemishes, cellulite, clogged pores, puffiness, wrinkles, etc.  Once you are supporting your skin from the inside, then you can add in steps on the outside to further support and feed your skin for that glowing affect.

It may take you a moment to realize that your skin is biological, not chronological, and disease/aging/imperfections can be reversed.  Conditions like acne, rosacea, eczema and dermatitis, etc, are all linked back to how healthy you are on the inside.  If you cut out the junk that you use on your skin and switch over to a more healing diet (I always recommend the Advanced Plan of the Maximized Living Nutrition Plans), you will see these skin conditions fade and heal.  And more importantly, your organs will be healing and functioning more optimally, too!

Here are 9 of my personal skin care tips:

-  The power of food: clean up your food routine.  Cut out the sugar completely and increase your raw foods and antioxidants.  I recommend the Advanced Plan for at minimum 1 month before switching to the Core Plan.  You should notice by week 2, cleaner and smoother skin.  Results only get better the longer you stay Advanced Plan.  You'll also notice you'll smell better all around, and your hormones will begin to re-balance.

-  Increase your Omega 3 healthy fats.  This is a must while pregnant, as baby's brain needs these healthy fats to grow and develop.  Even if you're not pregnant, everyone, man and woman alike, needs omega 3's to thrive.  You'll notice more hydrated skin within days of increasing your intake.  My general rule is 4-6 grams daily of a pure fish oil.  You can also add in more thru avocados, almonds, coconut milk, olive oil and hemp seeds.

-  Add in probiotics and fermented foods.  Your gut is the main group of organs that refers out to your skin.  The health of your skin depends directly on the health of your gut.  Regular probiotic intake will help to combat yeast overgrowth in the gut and will help to heal any other underlying conditions going on deep down in there.  If you suspect you are suffering from something a little more extreme, like candida, have food sensitivities/intolerance, IBS, or digestive issues that affect your life daily, then it's time to take action!  Contact your naturopathic doctor or send me an email for direction on the next steps.

-  Increase your water intake.  At minimum, you need to drink half your body weight in ounces every single day to stay optimally hydrated.  More water when you exercise or are outside in the sun.  Not only is your skin directly dependent on water to stay hydrated, but optimal water flow thru the body will flush out toxins and impurities, helping your skin stay clean and smooth.

-  Exercise.  I won't preach too much here, we all know we need to do it.  You'll have healthier organs inside.  Also, sweating will push out toxins thru your pores, leaving behind a cleaner complexion.  Check out MaxT3 if you'd like to see the workouts Dave and I do in just 12 minutes a day.

-  Vitamins and Supplements: If you're suffering from a skin condition that needs more support than from nutrition alone, you can add in the following supplements to help.  Vitamins A, C, E, zinc, silicia, sulfur, selenium.

-  Get some rest!  Sleeping at least 8 hours a day will really make a huge impact on the condition of your skin (and you'll feel great, too!).  I know, these days it's all rush, rush, rush.  I encourage you to start making it a point to get to sleep by 10pm every night.  Take that time for you.  Your body needs to recharge and reboot.  While you sleep is when your nervous system actually works the hardest.  It is literally like rebooting a computer.  It works as you sleep to repair damage, rebuild, and regenerate.  Given enough time every night, you will truly notice the difference of letting your body have its time to do its natural healing work!

-  Exfoliate by dry brushing.  I'll be doing a complete post on this topic later.  But for now, just know dry brushing is amazing for not only the exfoliation of your skin, but the detox of your entire body!

-  If you are going to use lotions and cosmetics, make sure you research first and know what you are putting on to your skin.  Slathering on a toxic product full of chemicals will only have negative affects on your skin and overall health.  Use the Cosmetic Database - Skin Deep to research the toxicity level of your products BEFORE you buy.

Now, I have a fabulous, wonderful product line to share with you!  The products are safe for mama and baby, but the beauty is you don't have to be a mama to use their products!  I must confess, I actually have been using their body lotion for quite some time, even before I found out I was pregnant.  The company is Earth Mama Angel Baby.

Earth Mama Angel Baby sells boutique style products that are organic, natural and free from harmful chemicals, and have never contained dangerous chemicals:

“Cruelty-free, certified vegan, kosher, and 100% free from toxic ingredients — that means no Quaternium-15, 1,4-Dioxane, formaldehyde, phthalates, petrochemicals, parabens, SLS, artificial preservatives, artificial fragrances or dyes.”

Uh, LOVE IT!!

The company was so kind to send me a bottle of their Earth Mama Body Butter for review.  I have been using the body butter for the last month on not only my 7-month-big baby belly, but all over my body after I do my dry brushing and shower.  It's like heaven!  I've also been alternating it with olive oil for stretch mark prevention on my belly, love handles, bum, and thighs.  I love how this lotion smells -- a clean scent from pure essential oils.  I also love how this lotion makes my skin feel.  A little goes a long way, so it will last you a good while!  A little dab here and there does my body great.  And isn't it the greatest when you get home from a long day and slip on your pajamas only to notice your skin is still so soft and has just the lightest scent left from the lotion?  It's a little pleasure of mine.  :)

The Earth Mama Body Butter combines organic calendula and organic chamomile in a shea butter body lotion, all in a safe-for-pregnancy-lotion that won’t aggravate morning sickness.  I love that it's vegan, cruelty-free and toxin-free (no artificial preservatives), and is made with 95% certified organic ingredients (certified to the food-grade level!). It’s one of the purest lotions you'll find, and this is why I encourage even those of you reading who aren't pregnant to try this (or any of their products).  You'll be doing your body good!  You’ll love it for moisturizing and encouraging your skin’s natural elasticity.

Giveaway

Earth Mama Angel Baby would like to share the same gift with one of you!  One lucky winner will receive their own bottle of Earth Mama Body Butter, shipped direct to their door!  Contest is open NOW thru Monday, July 11th at 11:59pm.  Open to U.S. and Canadian residents only.  I will use Random.org to select a winner.  Winner will be announced HERE at Healing Cuisine on Tuesday morning, July 12th.

How to enter:

Mandatory:  To enter, visit the Earth Mama Angel Baby website and leave a comment back here at this post telling me one other product to you’d love to try.

Additional bonus entries:

1.)  Subscribe to Healing Cuisine via email or RSS
2.)  "Like" Earth Mama Angel Baby and Healing Cuisine on Facebook
3.)  Follow Earth Mama Angel Baby and Healing Cuisine on Twitter
4.)  Follow Healing Cuisine on Google Friend Connect
5.)  Sign up for Earth Mama Angel Baby's newsletter
6.)  Tweet or mention this giveaway on facebook.  Place a link back to your tweet or facebook mention in the comments section here at the bottom of this post.

Alright, now get to entering!!  Good luck to all!  This is a fabulous giveaway, so excited to be sharing this with you! :)

Healing Cuisine was not compensated for this review or giveaway.  The company did provide a sample for the review, but this did not influence our opinion of the company or the product.

How To: Bladder Infection and UTI Remedy

This article is more so for the women, guys.  But keep reading!  You never know when you might find yourself suffering from a urinary tract infect (UTI) or bladder infection.

It's been my latest battle over the last three months.  Yes, three months.  My bladder infection came along due to pregnancy, one of the most common times a woman will experience the infection.  As baby grows, he pushes down on the bladder and can prevent all of the urine from escaping when mom relieves herself.  Bacteria then has time to grow and multiply.  Voila!  Perfect formula for infection.

Thank goodness my infection has been painless.  My only symptoms were frequent urination with little flow and cloudy urine.  My midwife tested and detected my infection, which I was clueless to for who knows how long.  I just thought frequent urination was part of normal pregnancy!

Other common symptoms of a UTI/Bladder Infection whether your are pregnant or not:

-  Pain, burning, or discomfort when emptying your bladder
-  The need to empty your bladder more often than usual
-  A feeling of urgency when you urinate
-  Feeling the need to urinate shortly after emptying bladder
-  Blood or mucus in the urine
-  Cramps or pain in the lower abdomen
-  Pain during love making
-  Chills, fever, sweats, leaking of urine without control
-  Change in amount of urine - either more or less
-  Urine that looks cloudy, smells foul or unusually strong
-  Pain, pressure, or tenderness in the area of the bladder

If you suspect you have a bladder infection, you can seek out a naturopathic doctor or midwife who can test your urine for you and let you know the grade level of your infection (how much E. coli is present), or you can test yourself by purchasing urinalysis test strips from your local health store.  I have been monitoring my infection on my own since my initial midwife appointment.  It's a lot cheaper to test on your own, and really in my opinion, it doesn't matter how much of the bacteria is present.  Keep following my remedies to follow until your test comes out negative!

WHY TO AVOID ANTIBIOTICS

What is the most common way people get rid of their bladder infections?  They go in to their medical doctor and the doctor writes a prescription for antibiotics.  Antibiotics are a "quick fix" for many types of infections, but we have to take a step back and ask the question, "Does taking a pill really FIX the problem?"  The answer is no.  It is simply covering up the symptom for a short time until it either returns as the same infection multiple times, or comes back even stronger in the form of a more severe infection or disease.

Has anyone ever told the you effects antibiotics have on your body?  I'm sure your medical doctor hasn't.  Speaking from personal experience, antibiotic use can lead to extreme health problems and disease.  Here's why:

Throughout your body, especially prevalent in your stomach, intestines and colon, are millions and billions of healthy, good bacteria.  This is how we are born.  The good bacteria not only help you digest your food, but are one of your strongest immune system defenses.  You want to keep your army of good bacteria strong throughout your life to ensure healthy immune function and defense against disease.

When you take a round of antibiotics, it knows no difference between good/healthy bacteria and the bad bacteria that is infecting your bladder. Antibiotic literally means "against life."  Once you swallow that pill, it goes through every part of your body to kill off ALL bacteria, good and bad!  Your immune system is instantly weakened.  And how many times have you taken an antibiotic?  It very rarely stops with one round in a lifetime.  Use of antibiotics does severe damage to your digestive organs, primarily causing Candida.  This is what I suffered from for so many years and was causing infertility in my body, until recently remedying it naturally thru Maximized Living and personal intense detoxification measures.  Loss of good bacteria in your body can lead to an array of health problems other than Candida, so I strongly encourage you to avoid antibiotics at all costs!  Your body was designed to heal and can combat all disease if given the chance.

HOW TO REMEDY A UTI OR BLADDER INFECTION NATURALLY

Since my infection was pretty hard to get rid of, most likely thanks to baby's position on top of my bladder, I implemented a multi-level natural remedy system that eventually did the trick.  Once I got all of these components working together at the same time, my infection was gone within 2 weeks.   It took me three months to research, research, research to find how all of these components work together to heal the bladder and UT naturally.

1.)  Get Adjusted.  This is the most important thing you can do!  Your body has an amazing ability to heal itself.  That power starts in the brain and travels thru the spinal cord to every organ and cell of your body.  Chiropractic looks for any interference in the spine which prevents the healing power from traveling to the places it needs to.  Your Maximized Living doctor will take the best care of you to assess your nervous system and look for blockage going to your bladder and urinary tract (not to mention reproductive organs -- so important when carrying baby!!)  My Maximized Living chiropractor, Dr. Dave, did just that.  Sure enough I had blockage in the bottom section of my spine.  I went in more often for my adjustments, every other day, for the three months and I know this greatly accelerated the healing of my infection.  Visit MaximizedLiving.com to find a Maximized Living doctor near you!

2.)  Cranberry Juice/Capsules.  You want to look for organic unsweetened cranberry juice.  Follow this pattern for an entire day (as long as you are awake):  16 oz water, wait 1 hour, 8 oz cranberry juice, wait 1 hour, 16 oz water, wait 1 hour, 8 oz cranberry juice...etc.  Follow this pattern thru the entire day.  You'll urinate just about every hour, and that is precisely what you want to happen.  Pure, unsweetened cranberry contains hippuric acid which acidifies the urine and prevents bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder.  Drinking plenty of water thru the day will allow you to flush out all of the bacteria lurking in your bladder and UTI.  It is okay to mix stevia in with the cranberry juice to help against the bitter taste.  Can't stomach the juice?  You can substitute with organic, pure, unsweetened cranberry capsules (don't skimp on the quality!  You get what you pay for!)  Unfortunately, I found out the hard way that I am allergic to cranberries, so I was unable to stick it out with the juice or capsules.  Instead I implemented D-mannose (#3).

3.)  D-Mannose.  What's interesting about the bacteria E. coli is the way it attaches itself to the bladder walls.  The bacteria's endings look like "grappling hooks" and easily hook on to the walls of the bladder and adhere almost like Velcro.  It has been proven that D-mannose causes a direct attraction to the E. coli bacteria.  If D-mannose is present in the urine, the bacteria will detach from the bladder walls and go to the D-mannose molecules.  You then pass them out as your urinate.  D-Mannose is simply a naturally occurring form of sugar.  I personally don't think it tastes like much.  It has a very low carbohydrate value, and thus doesn't taste very sweet at all.  Dosage:  2 teaspoons 8x per day in 8 oz water.  Follow each intake with another full glass of water to help flush out the bladder.

4.)  Herbal Tinctures.  Thru each day, I added liquid herbal tinctures to my water.  Various herbs support different organs and heal the body in different ways.  Here are the ones I recommend for UTI:

Uva Ursi:  AVOID IF PREGNANT, antibacterial, 30 drops 4x daily
Usnea (lichen):  USE INSTEAD OF Uva Ursi IF PREGNANT, broad spectrum antimicrobial, 30 drops 4x daily
Marshmallow:  reduces inflammation, 1 tsp 3x daily
Nettle: immune booster, kidney support, 20 drops 3x daily
Super Echinacea: immune system support, 30 drops, 3x daily
Dandelion Root: direct support to bladder and kidneys, 100 drops 3x daily

5.) Vitamin C, Vitamin D & Garlic.  Add in 5,000-10,000mg of Vitamin C daily, 1,000IUs of Vitamin D daily, and 500-1000mg garlic daily to boost your immune system and help snuff out the infection.

6.)  Advanced Plan Diet.  If you aren't already on the Advanced Plan, switch over immediately.  You want to eliminate all sugar from your diet as long as you have the infection (this goes for any infection of the body, btw) -- with the exception of D-mannose which will help you.  Eliminate processed foods, refined sugars, honey, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, alcohol, all grains, juice, pop, fruits, root vegetables.  Up your antioxidant intake.  Add in a probiotic supplement for immune and digestive support.

7.)  Take Care of Yourself.  Drink, drink, drink your water!  8-16 oz every hour will keep your bladder flushed so bacteria can't sit stagnant and grow.  Empty your bladder immediately as soon as you have the urge to do so.  Empty your bladder before and immediately after love making.  Avoid love making while suffering from the infection, especially if painful/swollen.  After emptying bladder, always wipe from front to back.  Wash vaginal area with water only -- avoid soaps, douches, and bathes.  Wear all-cotton underwear, avoiding use of thongs and pantyhose, and air out vaginal area at night as you sleep.

8.)  Homeopathic Remedy.  As recommended by my friend, Allison, during the last few weeks I added in homeopathic support.  There are a few different remedy options to choose from, which you can read about here based on your symptoms.  I also recommend speaking with a homeopathic practitioner to ensure you are dosing properly for your body's needs.  The one that was right for me was Cantharis 30X.

So there you go, folks!  My 8 simple steps to combating a UTI naturally!  And let me say, while it may take a few days longer to snuff out the infection compared to taking a harmful antibiotic, your body will thank you!!!

If you have other tips that you follow for UTI/Bladder Infection remedying, comment below.  Sharing knowledge will help others!

Baby Belly - 26 Weeks!

I've been really poor at sharing baby updates here on Healing Cuisine!  I just get too recipe and food focused I think!  I have been meaning to post a belly pic here for you, those of you who want to see the baby's progress.  I just did a baby update post on our family blog that you can read here.  In short, baby's healthy, I'm healthy, we're doing great and feeling great!  Thanks again for all the support and prayers thru this pregnancy!  We can't wait for the birth to come and finally find out if this little life is a boy or girl!  :)

Questions Answered: Aches & Pains During Pregnancy

Laura commented on yesterday's post, Exercises During Pregnancy.  I thought she had a great question, and found myself giving her a full on consultative response.  Wanted to share with everyone as this may benefit many of you.  Here's Laura's question:

"Love these Elise. Can you recommend any (or others) that will aid in pelvic aches during pregnancy?  I had pretty bad ones with Ella, and like clockwork, as I start Month 5, am feeling the aches of my joints loosening and shifting again.  I'm determined to be more active with this pregnancy, so I'm curious about what will best alleviate these aches/pains so I can continue my yoga/run-walking/biking through full term?"

My response:

Hi Laura!  Congrats on your 2nd pregnancy! :)  How exciting!

So you already participate in yoga regularly?  That would be my first recommendation, to get those joints and ligaments stretching regularly, at least 3 times a week if not daily.

Second, if you aren't already a member of a Maximized Living health center, I strongly encourage you to get involved asap!  Not only are the chiropractic adjustments crucial to a safe and healthy pregnancy/birth, but your pain could be caused by nervous system interference.  Your Maximized Living doctor will be able to tell you if this is an issue for you and how to correct it.  To find an ML clinic near you, type in your zip code: www.maximizedliving.com

Third step is making sure you are consuming enough Omega 3 fat.  This is important thru your pregnancy in general as baby's brain is composed almost entirely of fat and needs fat to develop (the healthy fats).  Beyond that, healthy fats are a natural anti-inflammatory, so they will help to relieve the pain you are feeling.  Include about 2-4 Tbsp of healthy fats per meal (avocado, butter, olive oil, coconut oil, raw nuts, etc).  On top of that, you should be supplementing with a high quality fish oil, 2-4 grams daily (6-8 grams when you are in pain).  I recommend the Innate Choice brand of fish oil.  Just be sure the brand you choose is third party tested to be pure and heavy metals-free.

Step four, make sure you are consuming enough protein.  While pregnant, you want to consume a minimum of 80 grams of protein per day.  If you aren't consuming enough, your body could be eating away at your existing muscle to make up for it.  This could be the cause of your aches and pains.  Keep a food long for 1 week, adding up your protein intake each day.  You'll quickly see if you are eating enough protein or not by day three.  Work to increase, which can be done simply by adding a high quality protein shake (20-30 grams).  I recommend Sequel Vega or Garden of Life Raw Meal.

And step 5, when in doubt, take a bath for a short-term fix.  A bath can help to get you relaxed enough to sleep, if the pain is a huge discomfort.  Keep the water a touch on the cooler side, under 100 degrees, as baby doesn't yet have a way to cool itself off like we do (sweating or getting out of the water).  I also don't draw the water up as high so my belly isn't completely covered.  I usually stay in the bath about 40 mins max.  You can add 2 cups of Epsom salt to the water to help your body draw out toxins, which could also be a contributing factor.  And treat yourself to some relaxing essential oils -- my favorite in the bath is lavender.  :)

Let me know if you have further questions on this.  Hope some of this helps!  And seriously, get in to see your ML doctor!!  If not for your aches and pains, to at least get your pelvis checked!  Many blessings and best of luck!