Health Benefits of Epsom Salt Baths

Life can be stressful, so it's nice to have some anti-stress tools that you can count on. A relaxing Epsom salt bath is one of my favorites.  Not only does it promote relaxation, but provides many other benefits too. 

Epsom salt isn't really salt, it's a mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate.  Soaking in an Epsom salt bath allows Magnesium to be readily absorbed directly through the skin, which is the body's largest organ.  Many people are Magnesium deficient for a variety of reasons, including eating a diet high in processed foods, depleted minerals in our soil and drinking caffeinated drinks and other diuretics.

Taking Magnesium supplements orally is helpful, but sometimes people don't absorb it as well that way and Magnesium has a laxative effect when taken in higher dosages.  You can avoid this effect by using transdermal magnesium therapy.  There are also other transdermal options such as Magnesium oil or Magnesium Flakes, but Epsom salt is easy to find, available in your local drug store or grocery store.  It's an inexpensive, effective, and gentle way to raise magnesium levels. 

Some of the benefits of Epsom salt baths include:

*Readily absorbs Magnesium into the body via the skin      

*Relieves sore muscles and joints

*Reduces inflammation

*Reduces stress

*Improves sleep

*Draws out toxins

*Reduces water retention

*Soothes skin issues

*Increases circulation

How to use Epsom salt:

Dissolve 1/2 cup of Epsom salt per 50 pounds of body weight in bath water and soak for up to 40 minutes to get the maximum benefits.  It's best to have a water filter so that you are soaking in the purest water possible.  Please check with your doctor before using Epsom salt to treat any medical conditions, before using it while pregnant and before using if you have skin cuts or abrasions.

Learn more about one-on-one health coaching sessions with me and health coaching packages here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/482438540/coaching-sessions-by-professional?ref=shop_home_active_14

This article is for information purposes only.  I am not a doctor and this does not constitute medical advice.

Estrogen Dominance Symptoms-Natural Progesterone Benefits

If you suffer from symptoms such as weight gain that won't budge (especially around the stomach, hips and abdomen), cravings for sweets, anxiety, PMS, fatigue, hair loss and foggy thinking then you might be experiencing estrogen dominance.  Estrogen dominance, a term coined by Dr. Lee, is a condition where a woman may have deficient or normal levels of estrogen, but have little to no progesterone.  Progesterone balances out estrogen, so  having little to no progesterone causes estrogen dominance and a variety of unpleasant symptoms can follow, including but not limited to: 

*PMS

*hair loss

*low libido

*fatigue/exhaustion

*irritability/mood swings

*sweet and/or salt cravings

*foggy thinking

*breast tenderness/pain

*weight gain, especially fat around the hips, thighs & stomach
*headaches/migraines
*hypoglycemia
*memory loss
*PCOS
*infertility or miscarraige
*water retention/bloating
*depression
*dry eyes
*accelerated aging
*adrenal fatigue
*thyroid malfunction
*hot flashes


Low progesterone typically occurs during peri-menopause and menopause, but often happens even earlier in your mid to late thirties or sooner.  The good news is that supplementing with natural progesterone can help.  Progesterone is your body's natural anti-depressant and anti-anxiety hormone.  It is made in the body by the ovaries, the adrenal glands and the placenta when a woman is pregnant.  Many things can cause low progesterone including high stress.  Progesterone is used to produce cortisol, so when the body is under stress and cortisol and adrenaline increase, progesterone decreases.  Using a natural progesterone cream is a safe, effective way to increase your levels of progesterone.  Some benefits of progesterone and supplementing with a natural/bio-identical USP progesterone cream include:


*it's your natural anti-anxiety and anti-depressant (yay!:)
*builds bone/protects against osteoperosis
*it's a natural diuretic
*can protect against cancers caused by having too much estrogen
*necessary for a normal, healthy pregnancy
*promotes restful sleep
*anti-aging
*weight loss
*reduces symptoms of menopause including hot flashes
*increased energy
*balances blood sugar
*can help you get and stay pregnant
*stops hormone related hair loss


The best choice is a topical natural USP progesterone cream, not a synthetic progesterone.  Creams that contain only Wild Yam and not USP progesterone are not the same.  Wild Yam can be converted into progesterone in a lab, but there is no indication that it can be converted into progesterone by the body.  The best places to apply progesterone are on the palms of your hands, inner arms, feet, breasts, face and neck, avoiding fatty areas which will store the progesterone instead of allowing it into the bloodstream.  Men also produce progesterone in the testes, can have low progesterone and can benefit from natural progesterone cream.  An excellent resource for learning more about progesterone and dosage information is http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/. I am not affiliated with them, but find they offer a wealth of extremely helpful information. 

This article is for information purposes only.  I am not a doctor and this does not constitute medical advice.  Please consult with your doctor before using progesterone cream.

The Amazing Health & Beauty Benefits of Raw Cacao

If you're like me, you love chocolate.  What if you could have your chocolate and get amazing health benefits too?  Win win. :)  Raw cacao is cold pressed to preserve the vitamins and minerals while cocoa powder is processed, heated, and stripped of it's nutrients and often contains hydrogenated oils.  Raw organic Cacao is a nutrient dense superfood that is:

*Full of anti-oxidants which are beautifying and can slow the aging process

*One of the richest sources of flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory properites 

*A good prebiotic because the good bacteria in your gut love flavonoids

*High in essential vitamins and minerals

*Mood enhancing-contains phenylethylamine, a brain chemical also known as "the love drug"=BLISS

*One of the highest food sources of Magnesium, which many people are deficient in

*an energy booster

*Alkalizing

*Beneficial for hair, skin and nails

So go ahead and treat yourself to some chocolate!


Disclaimer: I am not a doctor.  This does not constitute medical advice.

17 Signs to Help You Spot a Narcissist

I know the word narcissist is thrown around a lot but with a true narcissist, a person with narcissistic personality disorder, we're not talking about someone who is just vain, but someone who can do you real harm and can leave your life in shambles.  Your experience with a true narcissist is likely to be a bad one, especially during the discard phase.  I've had my own experience with a narcissist, but I'll save the details for a future post because I'd like to focus on how to spot a narcissist and protect yourself.  Below are some of the signs that he (or she) is a narcissist:

1. Self centered-it's all about them
2. No remorse for their wrong doings
3. Doesn't care about consequences of their actions-engages in risky behavior
4. No empathy-insensitive to others
5. No real values
6. Pathological lying (sometimes mixed in with the truth to make it hard to distinguish & they are typically good liars having had a lot of practice)
7. Lies about even little things when it would've been easier to tell the truth
8. Controls or tries to control you
9. Hangs on to resentment
10. Blames you/others-nothing is their fault
11. Has little to no conscience
12. Has a Secret life-hides money, other relationships, etc.
13. Tries to make you dependent on them for control reasons
14. Manipulates you/others to meet their needs
15. Gaslights you-a form of psychological abuse that manipulates you into doubting yourself.  For example: doubting your own memory,  your perception of things, and even your sanity.
16. Love bombs you by lavishing attention on you (like constant compliments) and trying to move the relationship forward too quickly.
17. Mirrors you by pretending as if they are like you (copying your attitudes, the way you talk, etc.)

Remember they also put on a convincing front of being a good person by acting kind and caring when it suits them, usually to manipulate you and other people.  This isn't a comprehensive list, if you feel you may be dealing with a narcissist educate yourself as much as possible.  Pay attention to red flags and your intuition. Love bombing and moving a relationship at lightening speed are big red flags.  Make sure you create healthy boundaries for yourself.  Really taking the time to get to know someone is important, anyone can put forth their best behavior in the beginning.

Homemade Brown Sugar Scrub Recipe

Sugar scrubs are so easy to make and are such a luxurious way to pamper yourself without spending a fortune.  We all need a little TLC and self care and what better way to treat yourself than to give yourself a little spa experience in your own shower or tub?  If you don't have the exact ingredients for this easy, chemical-free, DIY, brown sugar scrub, don't worry, you can substitute.  For example you could use coconut oil instead of sweet almond oil.  You could use whatever sugar you have on hand and your favorite essential oil.  Vanilla with brown sugar makes for a heavenly experience.  Pamper. Exfoliate. Glow. :)

Recipe:

1 C. Organic Brown Sugar

1/2 C. Sweet Almond Oil

2 Tbsp. Vegetable Glycerin or Castor Oil

1 Tsp. Rosewater, or Pure Vanilla Extract

Or

Add 15-25 drops of Your Favorite Essential Oil

Mix all ingredients together and use right away or store in a container with lid.  (I like using mason jars).

Savory Roasted Garlic Green Beans

We all know we should eat more vegetables and less junk foods, but sometimes we forget how something so simple can make a great snack.  This is a quick and easy recipe to add to your "go to" list of healthy snacks. Of course, it also makes a fabulous side dish.  And just when you think you never want to see another green bean again, you can substitute with another one of your favorite vegetables.  Almost any vegetable tastes amazing when you add a healthy fat and roast it. 

Recipe

1/2 lb. of Fresh Green Beans (Preferably Organic)

1 Tbsp. Grass-Fed Butter (Coconut Oil is great too)

Chopped Garlic or Garlic Salt to Taste

Parmesan Cheese to Taste

Salt and Pepper if desired

Place green beans in pan, drizzle melted butter evenly over green beans and sprinkle with chopped garlic or garlic salt. Roast @ 350 degrees for 20 minutes (or until desired tenderness).  It's good to stir at least once to mix green beans with the melted butter.  I sprinkle the cheese on near the end.  Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy this idea, stay tuned for more healthy meal and snack ideas as well as beauty tips and holistic health posts. :)