Research the Keto Diet

This keto diet is appropriately controversial because there are DEFINITELY pros and cons. It’s the cons that worry me. And this article does a good job of covering most of them. That said, you also need to know that ketosis over a long period of time is extremely hard on your kidney and liver. If you are considering this diet or currently doing it read this piece.

https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Pros-Cons-Keto-Diet-44104824

I am not completely knocking the Keto Diet, I only ask then if this is something you intend to do, please seek the advice of a nutritionist to help oversee you.  Also, do your own research and don't just follow a variation of this diet because you saw it on the internet or your friend said to do it this way...but they do not have a nutritional background.

Help with the sugar cravings

I am seeing several social media groups holding No Sugar challenges.  In fact, I am teaching a 'Five Days of Clean Eating' myself.   I love seeing so many people putting more of a priority on their health.

When doing the no sugar/cleaner eating thing, the cravings can make you really re-think this whole getting healthy thing.  Cravings are TOUGH.   You drink your water, eat your fresh and clean foods, cut out all the simple carbs....and you would gladly give a little Girl Scout $100 for a single box of Thin Mints!

In the video below, Dr. Axe gives some great advice on how to get through this cravings in a healthy way.    I love that he talks about Chromium, B Complex and Probiotics because these are all ingredients I talk with my clients about as well with my clean Plexus supplements.  Keep in mind, not all supplementation is created equal.

I applaud you for taking this step on your health journey!  Don't give up, don't give in, stay on track and be strong!

Put the Diet Coke down!

Have you seen the hype about the New flavors of Diet Coke? I see the sleek cans and new graphics...but I can still read a label and know that the ingredients are horrible for us!! YIKES!

Diet Coke decided to come out with some fancy cans and flavors so they can cater to millennials.

I think it’s really messed up because they want to continue to POISON people!!

ASPARTAME‼️
PHENYLALANINE‼️
ACESULFAME POTASSIUM‼️
GMO’s‼️
46mg CAFFEINE‼️

THESE INGREDIENTS CAN KILL US...they could cause cancer, seizures, headaches, depression, ADHD, weight gain, birth defects and WAY MORE.

I know the cans are cute and fancy,
I know that it may taste ok.
Do your health a favor and don’t drink this.

I can assure you...their pocketbook DOES NOT care about your health or well being, but I do. Please read your labels and educate yourself on the dangers of these ingredients. Your long term health is way too important. Share to help educate others.

Stay away from the fake sugar

Knowledge is Power!

If you are still using artificial sweeteners, You need to read this! 

Artificial sweeteners are your worst enemy! Here's why:

Studies have shown that tasting something sweet enhances your appetite, regardless of calories, and consuming artificial sweeteners has been shown to result in even greater weight gain than consuming sugar.

Aspartame appears to have the most pronounced effect, but the same applies for other artificial sweeteners, such as acesulfame potassium, sucralose, and saccharin. Unfortunately, weight gain is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the health hazards of artificial sweeteners.
Artificial sweeteners raise your risk of diabetes. A recent study in Nature told us why—they alter your gut microbiome for the worse. For example, best-selling artificial sweetener Splenda (sucralose) can destroy up to 50 percent of your beneficial gut flora.

It’s been known for some time that consuming sucralose can cause or aggravate inflammatory bowel disease because of its interference with gastrointestinal function.
Both animal and human studies have shown that Splenda alters glucose and insulin function, thereby promoting weight gain, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.
But there are additional concerns that sucralose may cause DNA damage, and when heated it releases chloropropanols, which are members of the extremely dangerous class of carcinogens called dioxins.

Artificial sweeteners are a group of chemical additives that should be completely avoided.

Instead of the fake stuff, stick with natural sweeteners such as raw honey, stevia and raw sugar. 

Know your ingredients

Knowing what is in your supplements is important. Don't just take anything...and don't just grab the cheapest stuff off the grocery shelf.  Do your research and ensure the ingredients you are putting in your body are not only safe, but know what they are supposed to do. 

🔹️Chromium allows insulin to be used more efficiently. Most people know insulin is needed to regulate our blood sugar but you probably don't know that it is also a fat storing hormone. By controlling your insulin you can allow your body to build muscle and burn fat daily. The main ingredient in Plexus Slim is chromium.

🔹️Probiotics have been shown to affect both your health and athletic performance. Here are just some benefits: Enhanced immune functioning. Improved sleep and less sugar cravings. Improvements of blood lipid levels. Reduced muscle damage and improved muscular recovery. ProBio5 is a probiotic unlike any other that actually breaks through the exoskeleton of the yeast in your gut.

🔹️Magnesium plays a number of roles in the body, being required for more than 325 enzymatic reactions, including those involved in the synthesis of fat, protein and nucleic acids, neurological activity, muscular contraction and relaxation, cardiac activity and bone metabolism. The main ingredient in plexus BioCleanse is magnesium.

🔹️Omega supplements provide various health benefits which include a reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, as well as anti-inflammatory properties, and enhanced brain and joint function. They also have muscle-building and fat-loss benefits for athletes.  MegaX is an amazing omega supplement that uses plants as their source of omegas instead of fish. No fish burps!

🔹️Multivitamins: For the human body to complete all the tasks it has in a normal day, it must be given a wide and complex variety of vital nutrients. Combine these with the power of aloe to increase vitamin absorption and you have a supercharged multivitamin. XFactor+ is a patented multivitamin that actually has aloe Vera in it which allows your body to heal itself from the inside out and also helps your body absorb vitamins up to 300% better! And it's fully methylated!

Don't forget to DO

It is nice to realize there are things we want to do and accomplish in our lives. We dream about how life will be when these things happen. It gives us the warm fuzzies.

However, just dreaming about this future life and accomplishments isn't going to make it happen. WE make it happen! We think about what we want and then decide the best course of action to get it. Some things will require only small changes on our part. Others will demand more of our time.

Dreaming and thinking and planning are all important aspects of getting what we want, but action...truly living our life in a way that promotes these aspects, is what will ultimately help us to reach our goals.

Natural Detox Bath

I love to soak in the tub.  Soft music, candlelight, glass of water and me alone with my thoughts to relax.   A great way to either begin or end the day.

However, I also enjoy a good hot detox bath as well.  It is hot, I sweat, I drink a lot of water and I rid my body of all kinds of yucky stuff that makes me unhealthy.  It can be used as a preventative to illness or a way to shorten the life of the illness.  There is so much sickness going around right now, anything we can do to help ourselves naturally is a step in the right direction. 

A detox bath is also very beneficial after working out as it calms the body and helps reduce inflammation, making less discomfort in the joints and muscles.

My detox is:

1-2 Cups Epsom salt

1-2 Cups Baking soda  (Aluminum free!!)

Make the water as hot as you can deal with.  Pour ingredients in and stir well.  Drink plenty of water before, during and after the soak to help from becoming dehydrated as well as helping to remove toxins.  Pull the shower curtain closed to keep the heat in...you want to sweat!   Soak for 30 minutes.  Rinse in a cooler shower afterwards.

The reason water as hot as can be tolerated is typically used is because this initially draws toxins to the surface of the skin.  Then, as the water gradually cools down, the toxins are pulled into the water via the principle of osmosis – the weak energy from the cooling water draws from the strong energy from the body heated up initially by the very hot water. 

Using an exfoliating  cloth will also help to remove the toxins from the skin after soaking.

*A detox bath can leave you very relaxed and maybe even sleepy* 

Epsom salt is actually a naturally occurring pure mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate.

Studies have shown that magnesium and sulfate are both readily absorbed through the skin, making Epsom salt baths an easy and ideal way to enjoy the amazing health benefits.

According to the Epsom Salt Industry Council, a simple soak is beneficial to heart and circulatory health, can lower blood pressure, helps ease muscle pain and eliminates harmful substances from the body. It also improves nerve function by encouraging proper regulation of electrolytes.

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, provides a naturally alkaline substance with a reputation for helping to remove toxins.  Yep, this is the same stuff you use in baking and to freshen your refrigerator.

The baking soda helps to detoxify and alkalize your body.  You should also notice a softness of your skin.

Another way to detox is with Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). 
Add 1-2 cups to a very warm bath and soak for 30 minutes.   It is very important that you do not mix the ACV with the epsom salt and baking soda.  One bath is alkaline and the ACV bath is acidic.  The two will fight against each other.

 - Fungus fighter

ACV helps clear up quite a few pesky skin conditions, including fungus and bacteria that like to settle on your skin. Your regular soap or body wash won’t always kill these unwanted guests.

- Sunburn soother 
 Not only will it soothe the painful sunburn, but it may also help you heal faster so you can continue to enjoy sunny afternoons.

- Body odor
Admit it, we all occasionally suffer from the stinky and sometimes embarrassing stench of body odor. Slathering on more deodorant is not the answer. In a promising environment that is warm and slightly moist, bacteria tends to mix with your natural sweat.
This combination doesn’t bode well for those of us who like to smell our best. Over time, bacteria buildup in places with these criteria, such as your armpits, start letting off that odiferous smell. Bathing in AVC can help get rid of this bacteria backup and ward off against stink, by creating a less hospitable home for future odor.

- Healthy hair
ACV works wonders as a hair detox. The acid in the vinegar helps strip off the oily residue that builds up on your hair, restoring its natural shine.  It also keeps your hair soft, supple and even prevents split ends and reduces dandruff.

-  Friend to your feet
Feet can be gross. They stink, sweat and sometimes grow strange things on them. Our feet are often abused and neglected.  Not only does this amazing vinegar help reduce that unseemly odor, but it can also even eliminate warts and athlete’s foot!

- Joint pain relief
You stand up, your back hurts, kneel to pick something off the ground, and your knees creak and groan. If you suffer from joint pain, ACV may help.

An ACV bath draws excess uric acid out of the body. Uric acid is created when the body breaks down substances called purines in certain foods and drinks. Most uric acid is eliminated via the kidneys in the urine, but some folks such as those with gout can have issues with excess levels. 

I would recommend a detox bath at least twice a week and an ACV bath once a week.  I cannot stress how important it is to drink lots of water before/during/after this process and avoid alcohol and caffeine.