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The Four Agreements; Its Okay to Disagree

2015-03-20T18:26:00.004-04:00

One of the 1st lessons I learned was 'never assume'. There are so few things I know of anyone - just what is in front of me - which makes me a naturally curious person. I like to ask questions... a lot of questions. And I don't like to assume - I feel ignorant and disconnected if I assume - good or bad. I used to assume when I was younger, which I think was learned. This is why I know not to look at someone's facebook page or social media presence or anything online and think I know a person. I cannot ever take anything personally that they post personally either - not unless they are specifically mentioning my name...but even then I know its part of their 'stuff' and their experience. I don't use facebook as a way to send out subliminal messages to others because I don't have the courage to say it myself. I don't cruise the pages and watch others without participating because I am afraid what others would think of what I post or say....that's because I just don't judge others I guess. No - I was a participator - bantering back and forth with like-minds and keeping it real. What I do know is that somewhere a long the way in my facebook life - I got a little sick. And I gained a lot of attention - that I did not ask for. However it served its purpose for the friends and family who were genuinely wanting to know and cared to know. What I went through I never wish on anyone. It wasn't just cancer - and it never is just cancer. Everyone is different and every type is different. Stage 4 is pretty up there and a 7 inch tumour is not tiny either. So ya - of course there would be many many problems for surgery and such. My body went through absolute torture and somehow I got through that torture. When its over at the hospital though - that is just the beginning for many. The future world is very very different and again if its one of those cancers where it affects many organs - it can be a long haul. A very private one at that involving lotsa.....privacy! But either way - its a long journey that can really weigh very heavy on you. Its hard to explain to many because I think many only know about and why should they - its rare and the chances for survival are also rare. I have no idea- I can't assume! I did a tonne of research for my condition and there was not a lot to go on - to this day haven't found anyone with a similar situation. Before I get off topic, YES, I am on facebook expressing iron will all the time ...that is who I am - if you know me - you see I am consistent. And I cannot tell you how many emails and messages I get from people telling me how much I have inspired or changed their life positively. And that is wonderful. I didn't have the intention quite honestly but was just simply expressing what I needed to in order to heal properly and be okay with everything. Its a VERY scary and lonely world most of the time people don't want to ask you about you. Or you don't get to see people as much maybe because they think cancer is contagious? Who knows. I do know I am working it all through in balance. I would never expect someone to only be happy 24/7 - that is NUTS and highly repressive I would say. I am good with my BALANCE in my life and have decided that perhaps FB is not the place to be anymore. As an expressive person working down and up my emotional scale - I believe I am ready for the next step...I do not know what that may be - it may be BLOGS or NOT? I have no idea. Expressive people do not keep quiet for long - that is for sure.

My health right now is my priority and I believe it has to be private now. I discovered that some people can only take so much of reality sometimes - which is probably why there is so much editing going on. I cannot edit my life to appease others. I can only function the way I like to function - as a creative thinker and 'be-er'. I like to express. I like authenticity and creativity. I can't do status quo or follow like a sheep. I will continue to attract the amazing, brilliant, generous, loving, honest people that we have been attracting all along. I realize if someone is not in my life - it is because we are on different spinning discs - never going to meet up.
I cannot be sunshine and flowers all the time - that's FAKE to me. We should all be accepting of our RAIN showers - aka tear drops. We all need to release the bad stuff and support one another. NOT assume or judge or take things personally. Funny thing - I see these 4 agreements being posted all the time by people on facebook who assume and take things personally. So you see - it doesn't matter the message - the individual perspective will always be the same - different/unique.

Why not all learn from each other and absorb each other's experience or knowledge. If you are going to do any ASSUMING. Assume we are all in this together. Assume we all just want one thing - and that is LOVE. Assume that when someone you love and know is reaching out and asking for help - they really really need it. Assume that if you are having a bad day - that possibly nobody else is or that someone else is. Either way - don't take any of it personally. Feel with your heart - don't think. Just feel with your heart and its okay to <3 each other and accept each other. Its also liberating being nice instead of judgemental. It feels good to reach out to people in need and be able to fulfill something for them. I <3 you and everyone I come across. I always will. And if you are having a bad day you will not see it that way. We all have them. So lets just be there for each instead of removed or leave the room on them. Nobody in the world is perfect. But if we changed the perspective and thought through our heart centre - everyone would seem perfect wouldn't they?

How to Make Non-Toxic Long Lasting Organic Deodorant

2014-04-20T11:36:00.000-04:00

Below is a favorite deodorant recipe. I am putting it on here because I want to make it one day soon. You don't realize how simple it is to make your own cosmetics from the food you have already in your pantry. And you can add essential oils for a “pretty smell”, if you want or make it scentless!

Deodorant Recipe

Ingredients:

6-8 Tbsp Coconut oil (solid state)
1/4 cup baking soda (aluminum-free)
1/4 cup arrowroot powder or cornstarch (arrowroot is preferred)

Few drops lemongrass / lavender pure essential oils

Directions:

Combine equal portions of baking soda & arrowroot powder.

Slowly add coconut oil and work it in with a spoon or hand blender until it maintains a firm but pliable texture. It should be about the same texture as commercial deodorant, solid but able to be applied easily. If it is too wet, add further arrowroot powder/cornstarch to thicken.

You can either scoop this recipe into your old deodorant dispensers or place in a small container with lid and apply with fingers with each use. Makes about 1 cup. This recipe lasts about 3 months for two people with regular daily use.

Source: Heal Thyself

Glutathione: Ultimate Free Radical Fighter

2013-07-01T15:43:00.001-04:00

No its not the next super-action comic book hero of our century, although after reading this you may re-think that. Glutathione is just popping up in the minds of athletes these days when looking for the best antioxidant foods that will enhance performance, energy and stamina.

If biochemistry were the stuff of comic books, antioxidants would be the superheroes — with glutathione (gloota-thigh-own) being no less than a cross between Superman and Underdog. As the most powerful antioxidant in the body, glutathione works around the clock to fend off nefarious characters. And yet, few people recognize its importance.
Glutathione is likely to get more attention in the near future, as experts begin to connect the dots between depleted stores of the antioxidant and the likelihood of chronic disease. “If you haven’t heard of glutathione yet, you will,” says Mark Hyman, MD, founder of The UltraWellness Center in Lenox, Mass., and a pioneer in the field of functional medicine. “In terms of staying healthy, it is one of the most important molecules in the body
Glutathione is a triple threat to toxins. It neutralizes free radicals, enhances the immune system and detoxifies the liver. But some worry that it has met its match. The trappings of modern life — everything from refined foods to over-the-counter painkillers to stress — rob the body of this vital antioxidant. And, even if you’re doing everything right, aging takes a bite. Around age 45, our glutathione levels start to slip. Ultimately, those levels can dip as much as 50 percent below optimal as we age.
Some scientists are now wondering if low glutathione levels aren’t partly to blame for the free-radical-induced illnesses so common in middle age and later, such as Alzheimer’s, cancer and heart disease. Indeed, research published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that, among people with heart disease, those with the least amount of glutathione in their blood were 30 percent more likely to have a heart attack than those with the most glutathione.
Hyman didn’t understand the full ramifications of a glutathione deficiency until his own health was in peril. In the mid-1990s, he was besieged by muscle pain, brain fog and “bone-numbing” exhaustion. “I went from feeling really healthy one day to really sick the next,” he says.
After months of medical sleuthing, he discovered he had mercury poisoning — probably due to eating contaminated fish and breathing tainted air while working in China. He suspects that the burden of detoxifying the mercury depleted his glutathione levels, leading his body to break down under the strain. “As you detoxify, your body uses up more and more of your glutathione stores until it’s gone,” he says. “That’s when you end up with toxic overload.”
In exploring what went wrong, Hyman discovered he lacked a gene, called GSTM1, crucial to making and recycling glutathione. He estimates that roughly half of Americans are missing one or more of the genes necessary to produce enough of the antioxidant. The percentage climbs even higher among his critically ill patients, the vast majority of whom have rock-bottom glutathione levels. “At first I thought it was just a coincidence,” he says, “but I’ve come to realize that making and keeping a high level of glutathione is critical to preventing disease.”

Gloota-what?

Found in every cell in the body, glutathione protects the cell’s engine, called the mitochondria, from bacteria and viruses as well as toxins. It’s considered “the mother of all antioxidants,” as Hyman calls it, because all other antioxidants, including vitamin C and vitamin E, rely on it to give them a second life.
The average antioxidant has a short life span, sacrificing itself whenever it wipes out a free radical. But glutathione carries enough extra zip to not only bring spent antioxidants back from the dead but also to recharge itself, explains Leslie Fuller, ND, an educator at the National College of Natural Medicine and practitioner at the Nature Cures Clinic, both in Portland, Ore.
Most glutathione is made inside the body from three amino acids: glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine. In addition, some foods, particularly asparagus, spinach, avocado and squash, are high in a plant version of glutathione that the body converts to replenish its supply.
Under healthy conditions, and in a healthy environment, our bodies would be able to churn out plenty of glutathione to meet our daily needs. But cigarettes, alcohol, caffeine, processed foods and certain medications deplete the body’s stash. So does stress. And as Hyman discovered, toxic surroundings may pose an even bigger threat to our body’s glutathione supply.

Radical Riff-Raff

To fully appreciate glutathione, it helps to know a little more about its nemesis: free radicals. Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules created by our metabolism. The instability stems from a missing electron. In a mad attempt to find balance, the misfit molecules rip electrons from their neighbors. As a result, those molecules also turn into free radicals. This damage can eventually snowball and disrupt a cell’s integrity, causing it to behave abnormally.
“Almost every chronic illness known to humankind has been linked in some measure to free-radical-induced tissue damage,” says Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, coauthor of The Definitive Guide to Cancer: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing, Third Edition (Celestial Arts, 2010).
That’s not to say the goal is zero emissions. Indeed, some free-radical damage is natural. Every breath inhaled, every calorie burned, every muscle contracted leaves a wisp of free radicals in its wake. “Even if we lived in a pristine environment, our bodies would make free radicals,” says Alschuler. And, as she explains, some free-radical damage is a good thing because a damaged cell is triggered to be either repaired or destroyed. By sparking either a renovation or a demolition, free-radical damage gets the body’s attention, and, if the body is healthy enough and the free-radical damage is not overly extensive, free radicals may play a role in preventing diseases like heart disease and cancer.
Unfortunately, our bodies must contend with an ever-growing onslaught of free radicals in the environment. Free radicals hitchhike into the body on the backs of chemicals in the air, the water supply and the food chain. The cumulative load is called oxidative stress. Corrosion caused by oxidative stress (or oxidation) inside the body is often compared to the slow rusting of metal when it’s exposed to the elements.
Protecting cells from oxidation is where antioxidants, particularly glutathione, come into play. All antioxidants retard oxidative stress, but because glutathione recharges its allies, it plays a particularly important role in helping the body keep up with our accelerated modern-day demands.
“We are in a situation where our manufacturing and our recycling of glutathione is maxed out,” says David Perlmutter, MD, FACN, ABIHM, author of Power Up Your Brain: The Neuroscience of Enlightenment (Hay House, 2011). “We just can’t detoxify fast enough.”

Cleanup Crew

Found throughout the body, glutathione is concentrated in the liver. The body’s primary detox organ, the liver is charged with giving nutrients the nod to be absorbed and giving toxins the boot. But expelling a toxin isn’t easy. In phase one, liver enzymes must convert the toxin into a compound that can be flushed. In phase two, glutathione is used to grab hold of the toxin and escort it out of the body via urine or bile. If there isn’t enough glutathione on hand, the toxins stack up like so many cars in a traffic jam.
Glutathione owes much of its detoxifying prowess to cysteine. A sulfur-rich amino acid, cysteine is abundant in eggs, garlic and whey protein. “Sulfur is a sticky, smelly molecule that acts like flypaper trapping toxins in the body,” explains Hyman. This is why vegetables high in sulfur, including garlic and onions, have been at the heart of detoxification diets for years.
Another plant substance, called cyanohydroxybutene (found in broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage) helps restock the body’s glutathione supply. “We’ve always been taught that broccoli and other cruciferous veggies are important to the detox protocol, but we didn’t fully understand why,” says Perlmutter. “Now we know that it’s because they enhance glutathione production.”
Green tea, fish oil and resveratrol also house substances that switch on genes responsible for making glutathione, Perlmutter notes. Aerobic exercise and yoga are thought to goose glutathione levels as well.
Although glutathione doesn’t come in a simple pill form, Perlmutter says, “You can take and do things that turn on your body’s genes to make more glutathione, and that’s pretty powerful stuff. You are modifying your own genetic expression.”
Logically, if more glutathione means better detoxification, people with the highest levels of the stuff should live the longest. That was the theory that drove Danish researchers to enroll 41 centenarians in a study of glutathione levels. Their results, published in the journal Age and Ageing, found that glutathione levels were highest in the healthiest seniors. Additionally, they discovered that the centenarians had higher levels of glutathione than people 20 to 40 years younger, hinting that glutathione may be one reason why their subjects had lived to such a ripe age.

Need More? Make More

Recognizing when the body is running low on glutathione takes some detective work. Because it oxidizes quickly outside the body, the antioxidant does not lend itself to a blood test. So some healthcare practitioners, like Hyman, look for missing genes. Others consult indirect biochemical markers, such as short telomeres (the caps of DNA on either end of a chromosome, like handles on a jump rope) or high levels of oxidation in the blood. A history of chronic illness is also a clue.
But don’t wait until you’re sick to think about glutathione. High stress levels, certain medications, past infections and a poor diet can all nibble away at the body’s glutathione stash. The average American consumes only 35 milligrams of glutathione per day, says Alschuler, far short of the optimal daily intake of 250 milligrams. “This, coupled with decreasing glutathione production as we age, leaves most of us deficient.”
The good news: Protecting your glutathione levels is fairly simple, says Perlmutter, and “the health implications can be profound.”

Easy Ways to Maximize Glutathione Production and Activity

Eat lots of glutathione-rich foods, such as asparagus, spinach, avocado, squash, melons, grapefruit and peaches. Whenever possible, eat these foods raw or minimally heated, since heat — and microwaving — tends to destroy antioxidants.

Eat more colorful, antioxidant-packed produce, such as strawberries, bell peppers and mangoes, all of which are particularly high in vitamin C. The more one-shot antioxidants you’ve got on board, the less your body needs to lean on its glutathione reserves.
Eat more foods high in cysteine. The sulfur-rich amino acid is a key building block for glutathione. The best sources are eggs, garlic and whey protein. If you buy whey protein, make sure it is bioactive and made from undenatured (or nondenatured) proteins, meaning the bond between the amino acids is preserved, and the cysteine is more bioavailable.
Limit exposure to toxins by buying organic produce, filtering your water, cutting down on refined foods, and avoiding chemical-packed personal-care and cleaning products. Minimizing your toxic burden will help preserve your body’s ability to produce glutathione, and also reduce excess demands on your body’s glutathione supplies.

Catherine Guthrie is a health writer in Bloomington, Ind., and a contributing editor to Experience Life.

Brain Buffer

The brain makes up only 2 percent of the body’s weight but eats up roughly 20 percent of its oxygen. Because the body spews free radicals when it uses oxygen, the brain is awash in rogue molecules. Glutathione helps protect the brain against their ravaging effects.
Uncontrolled free-radical damage is the tie that binds a handful of diseases that target the brain, including schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s. Evidence suggests that a shortage of glutathione is a factor in all of the above, but some of the most telling evidence is in people with Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s disease corrupts the files in the brain that make dopamine, a chemical instrumental in coordinating the body’s movements. When researchers looked at the brains of people with Parkinson’s disease, they discovered that the area that makes dopamine, the substantia nigra, contained up to 40 percent less glutathione than the rest of the organ. “So, here’s an area that’s being damaged by free radicals, that’s low in glutathione, and therefore [is] at more risk for free-radical damage,” says neurologist David Perlmutter, MD, FACN, ABIHM.
While much about Parkinson’s disease remains a mystery, a role for glutathione seems certain. For his part, Perlmutter sees glutathione as a vital treatment option. “We are all about getting as much glutathione to the brain as possible,” he says. “It really is one of the most protective agents around.”

The Next-Best Things: Glutathione Precursors

One reason that glutathione wallows in relative obscurity is that, unlike vitamin C or E, it isn’t easily shoehorned into a supplement you can swallow. “With glutathione it’s not that easy,” says David Perlmutter, MD, FACN, ABIHM, author of Power Up Your Brain: The Neuroscience of Enlightenment (Hay House, 2011).
That’s because to succeed as an oral supplement, a nutrient must be able to wiggle through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream, he explains. Otherwise it’s doomed to be destroyed in the gut. Here is where glutathione’s size works against it. A large molecule, called a tripeptide, glutathione cannot sneak through the intestinal wall intact. Instead, its three amino acids are broken apart during digestion and reassembled in the blood. (To get around this problem, many practitioners give therapeutic doses of glutathione intravenously.)
Experts disagree on exactly how much oral glutathione reaches its final destination, but all agree the best bet is to deliver plenty of building blocks (a.k.a. precursors) the body needs to make glutathione on its own.
In addition to eating glutathione-rich foods (see above) here are four more ways to get the raw materials you need:
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC): NAC supplements are made synthetically from the amino acid l-cysteine. The small molecule slips seamlessly into the blood where it combines with glutamic acid and glycine to restock the liver’s supply of glutathione. A potent liver detoxifier, NAC is approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a tool to limit liver damage caused by acetaminophen overdose.
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA): A key antioxidant, alpha-lipoic acid (not to be confused with alpha-linolenic acid) is both water- and fat-soluble, meaning it can vanquish free radicals throughout the body, including in the brain. That’s no small matter, since oxidative damage is tied to many brain diseases, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The best dietary sources of ALA are organ meats (such as liver) and brewer’s yeast.
Selenium: A mineral found in Brazil nuts, meat and seafood, selenium boosts the body’s ability to recycle glutathione. “Eating just one to two Brazil nuts daily supplies enough selenium for most people,” says Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, coauthor of The Definitive Guide to Cancer: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing, Third Edition (Celestial Arts, 2010).
Vitamin C: One of the most well-known antioxidants, vitamin C is glutathione’s crime-fighting cohort. In studies, people with high levels of vitamin C typically have high glutathione levels, as well. The two antioxidants work in tandem to rid the body of water-soluble toxins.

For more information on how you can get more Glutathione from a proven source, visit: www.cleansewithlittleorganic.isagenix.com
http://www.isagenixhealth.net/the-whey-to-glutathione/
http://www.isagenixhealth.net/what-shake-helps-restore-glutathione-to-youthful-levels/

Article by Catherine Guthrie April 2011 “Experience Life” magazine.

Top Organic Foods to choose to EAT and How

2012-01-16T20:04:00.000-05:00

It seems there is still a question of price when choosing food for many. And until we begin to put nutrition instead and ahead of today's modern medicine as the way to go, here is a list of foods that if you HAVE to buy organic - these be the ones. At the bottom of this list is a list that are OK by standards to eat, that, even though they are NOT organic, they are least likely to be treated with pesticides/herbicides and other chemical sprays/additives that are proven harmful to our bodies and our soils:

Environmental Working Groups' Organic List

Here's a reliable sources review of what to buy organic. Of course, it would be optimal if we could buy everything organic, but with soaring produce and food prices this list can help you pick and choose the organic produce that you should buy.

(worst: highest pesticide load) Peaches
Apples
Sweet Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Lettuce
Grapes-imported
Pears
Spinach
Potatoes
Carrots
Green Beans
Hot Peppers
Cucumbers
Raspberries
Plums
Oranges
Grapes-Domestic
Cauliflower
Tangerine
Mushrooms
Cantaloupe
Lemon
Honeydew Melon
Grapefruit
Winter Squash
Tomatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Watermelon
Blueberries
Papaya
Eggplant
Broccoli
Cabbage
Bananas
Kiwi
Asparagus
Sweet Peas-Frozen
Mango
Pineapples
Sweet Corn-Frozen
Avocado
(best: lowest pesticide load) Onions

Non-Organic Foods

These foods are safe to buy non-organic:

Cabbage
Kiwi
Mangoes
Papaya
Pineapple
Asparagus
Avocado
Sweet Potatoes
Cantaloupe
Sweet Corn
Onions
Sweet Peas
Eggplant
Grapefruit
Mushrooms

HOW to Make it EASY when shopping for ORGANIC and eating more UNPROCESSED foods:

If you are lucky enough, like us, to live in an area loaded with environmentally-conscious farmers, health food stores and organic foods delivery services, it will be easy to purchase locally in the spring/summer/fall season. Asking your produce manager at your local grocery store is good and otherwise, look for online organic food delivery services in your area.
If you are thinking about this time of year, considering canning or investing in a dehydrator and preparing ahead of time. There are WAY too many opportunities now to prepare and buy organic cheaper so you can provide the best for you and your family these days. Online stores have all sorts of good deals happening along with FREE shipping to anywhere in Canada.
Eat more RAW & organic where you can, including NUTS & Seeds. Local health food stores all stock these items and if not, look online. These days in Canada, you can find RAW organic SEED Butters in every national grocery store chain. These are alkalizing foods compared to most available NUT butters that use acidic processes or nuts as well as adding processed salt.
EAT more satiating FOODS. This doesn't mean cooked foods, this means nutrient-rich foods and drinks. Once you break the habit of reaching for 'dead foods', you will naturally crave the better foods for your body. Turn off the TV if you have to for a month and watch how different you think.
Use more unrefined sea salt so you can absorb more nutrients and are getting those trace minerals.
Eat more and take regular seaweed baths. Seaweeds are indigenous to Canada and 99% of us do not take advantage of the most abundant plant on this planet.
LOVE your Food. Regardless of your food choices. always eat when you are feeling good and always feel good about the food you eat. If you are vibrationally happy with what you put in your body, chances are your body will get the most from it and will digest it easier then if you didn't.

ONLINE Stores in Canada:
http://www.upayanaturals.com - located in Ontario
http://www.rawnutrition.ca - located in Ontario
http://www.realrawfood.com - located in British Columbia
http://www.totallyrawdogfood.com/ - organic/Raw DOG food - located in Atlantic Canada
www.veg.ca - directory of vegan/raw foods and communities in the Toronto area

DIRECTORY: http://www.cog.ca/about_organics/buy_organics/

Set Yourself Up in 2012: Top 10 PREP Tips to Accomplish Anything

2011-12-30T20:44:00.000-05:00

Aaaah yes, tis the inevitable time of year when we choose to make changes in our lives for the better. Some do, some don't and some do, but don't follow through. Either way, we have the good intention to make change for obvious reasons....to better one's experience. So if you are looking back at any changes you wanted to make previously, maybe make a list of things that perhaps helped or hindered your progress. Sometimes it helps to just lay it out with 'What will help' and 'What will hinder'. Either way, set yourself up to win with a master plan to your approach

Top 10 Tips - What Will Help
1/ Meditate - Reconnect - Quiet your Mind >
Quiet the chatter in the brain to help you relax and reconnect with yourself. As little as 15 minutes a day is required. Meditation is in so many forms and may be easiest when you first wake up. Just choose a quiet area (use ear plugs if you have to) and concentrate on removing any thoughts/sounds in your head/mind. If challenging at first - start by softening the thoughts - eventually you will develop the habit of stopping all thought and you wake up looking forward to this time to yourself. It's quite liberating.
2/ Self-Care - Take Care of You >
Many adults get into a routine of caring for their partner, children/family, before they would consider taking care of themselves. Probably one of the most unfulfilling habit is living your life for someone else, if you don't take care of your own personal desires and needs and are PEACE with this, quite simply, it won't work. You cannot take care of anyone 'well' when you have left #1 behind. This could be anything from taking a healing bath every night to reading books you never get to read or building that 'dream board' you never get to do. Either way, do what you like to do at least once a day - so you can give back!
3/ Love Your 'Self' >
Practice daily affirmations for you. This may seem a little 'Stuart Smalley' to some, but it is probably the #1 issue in many relationships because when you are not practicing self-love, you seem to find the things you don't like about yourself through your partner or worse - your children! Whatever you do, do your work. There is no reason to spread self-hate when you simply have to turn your finger around to yourself and take responsibility for loving yourself. It will make it that much easier for those around to love you also.
4/ Be Consistent >
You know intention is everything but habits die hard - so make it your intention to keep consistency to reach your goal and have a contingency plan if you miss a day or two. This is where the self-love and meditation comes in most.
5/ Be Happy >
We all have this choice. There is not one thing that can make us happy but us. Not material, not people, not music, not even raw, healthy food living (tongue in cheek). We know what it feels like to feel happy and all we need to do is close our eyes and feel that positive vibration within us. The more you choose this emotion, the less you will think you need to feel happy. And through this positive vibration comes many many more happy situations and people. You will find eventually the negative stuff becomes less and less.
6/ Be You >
Who cares what others think?! At the end of the day, did you honour your own intentions? Did you fulfill your wants and needs? Were you your higher self for others? Because that is you. You are love and if you continue to care about what others think, you will lose your connection to yourself and start to blame or whatever you do. In other words, when you are in touch with you more often, you will feel happier, balanced.
7/ Live Now >
Living in the past is what's holding you back from moving forward. Learn from your past, but don't relish in it and by all means, enjoy each moment. Don't wait for the pictures or videos or FB comments to realize you already live a pretty happy, good life - so might as well enjoy it now.
8/ Learn NEW good habits and SHAKE bad habits >
Start with one new good habit and grow from there. Sometimes we don't realize where we learn our habits from and once you do, its absolutely liberating to understand that 'that' isn't you. So why do something you don't like that was someone else's to begin with. Give yourself 3 weeks to feel the positive change take place. Once you do one, the next will be easier. Keep it simple - don't overfill your plate.
9/ Spread the good stuff - fix the bad stuff on your own >
You ever have a bad day and nobody seems to be around to hear about it? Well chances are, they were having a good day and that is why you are in different 'zones'. We all have our days, so do yourself and everyone else a favour and take time to do the above steps until you can choose to feel good. Than tackle whatever problem there was, if there was to begin with.
10/ Be OPEN >
If you are putting things out there to the universe / 'God' or where ever you express you desires, you can't expect to do it all on your own. That's unless you like paddle the boat upstream as opposed to letting the paddles out of the water and trusting the flow to go your way. In other words, no longer try to control situations with your emotions or thoughts, instead just feel good and know that all the good stuff you like and want is coming, you just have to get out of the way and trust.

All of the above steps are just some things I learned in the past year and prior that really helped me to be happier and healthier in my mind and with my body. I continue with my self-care and making my happiness the priority by doing things I like to do. I appreciate my journey more and more everyday and the people and things that come into my life because of it. Enjoy your new thoughts in 2012.

SENSITIVE SKIN PRODUCT PROFILE: CETAPHIL CLEANSER

2011-10-25T21:25:00.000-04:00

Rosacea

Recommended by Dermatologists across the nation, Cetaphil is a cleanser marketed to the industry for sensitive and very dry skin types. What is most fascinating about this cleanser is that all of the ingredients are either alcohol, alcohol derivatives or sulfates and added in for fun; three different types of parabens!

The full ingredients list for Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser: Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Stearyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben.

Now since the best way to take your vitamins is trans-dermally, this means all of this ingredients is going directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the GI tract altogether, so now not only is your skin going to have to figure out what to do with all of this synthetic and drying ingredients, now its in your bloodstream! It is hard to believe that Canada has some of the lowest cosmetics and food standards in the world. When I found out, it took awhile, but you travel around the world and get sick in a few countries and you figure it out very quickly about the difference; like night and day. I also found out the 'European' brands are now making a version for the North American market and one for the global market. Why? Because a) North America is the largest consumers of cosmetics in the world and b) it is cheaper so their profits go through the roof! And c) they can!

And how easy is it to get Canadians to pay attention to your brand? Not with ingredients - by marketing it really well. This was figured out a long time ago by the big Pharmaceutical brands and people are still putting PETROLEUM JELLY on their newborns?! What goes through a mother's head when she is putting the same based ingredients that we fuel our cars with and later on wondering why their child has a skin condition or allergy?!

It's all a matter of paying attention to your inner self. Your instinct has always been right and you know if you cannot eat it, why are you putting it directly onto your skin and into your bloodstream over and over again? Think everything from skincare to the lipstick that has LEAD in it that you lick off every time you talk or eat something and then try to figure out why your skin is just not like it used to be.

One of the most common things I have noticed and learned is the relationship between mercury fillings and Rosacea. 10 times out of 10, anyone I have ever asked that has Rosacea if they have mercury fillings does. The only one that didn't, had them removed 2 years prior. There is a connection between problems in our body and chemicals we are exposed to. We know this innately - which is why we purposely do not eat chemicals if they are marked this way - however, just because it is in a bottle or a tube or a box on a shelf in a familiar branded store, it doesn't make it safe either. Use your brain and trust your own judgement - and if your doctor or Dermatologist is not listening, keep looking for someone who shares the same philosophy as yours - to be healed!

Want to learn or know more?

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/

http://articles.mercola.com

http://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/On-your-radar/Naturals-and-organics

What to keep away from:
Products that start with any of the above ingredients or contain any of the above ingredients especially the parabens. If the alcohol (depending on the derivative) is low on the list - take concern with the top ingredients first and go from there.
PEG's - AKA - Polyethylene Glycol
UREA/formaldehyde - which Canada has banned in its insulation materials because of the known toxicity levels that leech
Mineral Oil - same as petrolatum ingredients
Parfum/Parfume/Natural Fragrance - http://www.davidsuzuki.org/blogs/queen-of-green/2011/06/companies-wont-disclose-parfum-ingredients/

This is a short list - but all in all - keep it simple - look at the label of ingredients - if it sounds good - then use it - if there is doubt - DON'T! Because guess what - you are a great judge and you are the one that has to use it or put it on your family's skin.

Vitamin Good? or Vitamin Bad?

2011-08-15T13:02:00.000-04:00

So a blog by Dr. Andrew Weil caught my interest on FB newsfeed today. Dr Weil mentioned a study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), showing an increase in supplement consumption from about 40 to more than 50 percent. The report noted that "most adults and teenagers (with the exception of girls between the ages of nine and 18) likely receive enough calcium through their diets and from supplements."

Dr. Weil gave his take on this study, "a well balanced diet should supply most of your nutritional needs, but many people, for a variety of reasons, don't eat optimally on a regular basis." Read the rest of the Article here

So at the bottom of his blog, there is a link taking you to see 'Dr. Weil's Personal Vitamin Routine' - whaaaat???? So here is his list of what he takes on a daily basis: See Dr. Andrew Weil's list of vitamins Well, I did my research on what vitamins Dr. Weil takes and sure enough, they are substandard and if not anything that would meet a whole food or raw form of anything, adding in several unneeded fillers and preservatives, of which, we have no idea in what amount they are in each tablet. Not to mention he completely contradicts his statement(s) about fulfilling your diet through your food intake. C'mon Dr.Weil, what's going on??

I can see why people get confused?! There are so many misleading articles and misconceptions out there let alone cheap vitamin brands that don't do 'bupkis' for you, that cause people to doubt their own instincts. It's easy for everyone to understand getting whole food is better than processed food, what makes them think you can do this with vitamins? Most vitamins in Canada and the U.S. are from a synthetic source, missing all of the co-factors required for absorption that are found in nature and in a whole food form. Vitamins are supposed to be micro nutrients for our body, but without the co-factors, required for absorption, it is like pouring a can of orange juice over your head; useless. It is no wonder so many people are sick even when taking vitamin supplements, since they have now introduced something that is an 'incomplete' form of the nutrient they are wanting - can you imagine what this does for your body's cellular activity let alone functionality? Our body's health is analogous to keeping a healthy garden, you know by adding nutrient rich soil that you will have a garden/lawn that is incredibly healthy and sustainable for that year; meaning it won't require much maintenance because it has all of the building blocks to give back healthy vegetables & plants, but next year there needs to be a replenishment of nutrients, we are no different. In some parts of the Mari-times even today, gardeners will harvest seaweed to add to their garden, so the soil is rich in minerals & vitamins. We need whole, rich nutrients from the ocean, just like the garden. So wherever you can get it and however you can prepare it - do it. Your body needs it and you will discover a whole world of healthy food that you didn't realize tasted SO good. It's just not commercially advertised (YET) or available in the big chain grocery stores (YET). Variety is key but so is good health and longevity is so much more fun than regular hospital visits and prescriptions!

Great whole/raw food vitamin sources:

Isagenix - whole food, based on certified organic ingredients with over 72 trace minerals in a bio-available form. Available online or through Isagenix Associates, Chiropractors, Nutritionists, Health Spas, etc.

Garden of Life - whole food, raw food, supplements based on micro nutrients and certified organic growing methods.

Women & Self-Care; Changing the Script of Prevention'

2011-05-23T16:05:00.000-04:00

Since launching my 'little organic day spa' this past February, besides being thrilled with the notion I am doing something I love to do every day, it has also turned out to be an experience to show me how many women express a 'want' to take care of themselves, and struggle to. Myself included. There are many excuses that come up - and they sound so genuine and so not like an excuse, that we, as women, actually convince ourselves to be true and use to prevent ourselves from our own self-care. I am becoming familiar more and more with my own behaviour.
Now that we have the spa going, my 'script' is 'I don't want to do more laundry' OR 'it takes too long' OR 'it's too late now'...just so many things come out of my mouth or into my head when all I have to do is 'LET GO'. I know that all I would need to do is ask my partner, to do the laundry for me or help with the timing of my day so I can squeeze it in. And I am slowly getting back into my own world of self-care, simply by being aware of those around me as I hear them sound a lot like me. I notice many new mothers that have this 'script' and even worse they can actually drag the grandmothers into this script of prevention..."I have no time, I'm a new mother" OR "I will once we get into a routine" - and new mothers are the ones that require it more than anyone I would think.

I am grateful for those that have shown me what 'self-care' can do for my health and most importantly, my spirit. In the coming months and year, I know that in order for myself to move forward with a healthy and happy journey, that my attention to self-care will allow that to happen much faster and much easier. I can make it as easy as I want or as hard as I want...I choose easy.

How does seaweed & Thalassotherapy detoxify?

2011-04-02T20:24:00.004-04:00

It has become more than apparent that detoxification is important, but what about replenishment? Our bodies need nourishment and the best way to take your vitamins is actually through your skin. Thalassotherapy is the layering of raw ocean components onto the skin, so the over 60 trace minerals, plus vitamins, essential amino acids, proteins, omegas, can be absorbed directly into your bloodstream. This gives the body balance; called 'Homeostasis', practiced for over 5000 years and recognized as a treatment of every human ailment at one time. Regular thalassotherapy treatments are essential to us in our modern lifestyles and processed living because of so many reasons. All of us, even those on raw-organic-only diets, are exposed to halogens and synthetic ingredients/materials/waters by simply living in North America, that push important minerals out of our bodies and permanently blocking the re-absorption. Much of our auto immune diseases in Ontario today are related back to the 1920's when there was a huge outbreak of Goitre. Many studies were done and iodine with seaweeds were the common and known treatment for Goitre and Thyroidism for centuries prior to this. In the ocean, seaweeds job is to filter and can convert heavy metal poisoning including cadmium, mercury and Stronium 90 and convert back into the water as a harmless salt. In our bodies it stimulates the lymphatic system to help remove toxins from the body that otherwise have been dormant. But, just like upgrading your nutrition plan, you need to have regular seaweed treatments to gain the important benefits, especially if you need them most. Since seaweeds literally contain everything we need to survive, even the most challenging vitamins and minerals we can find to eat, are easily drawn into the body, including iodine, that is hard to find in regular and even organic raw food. The nutritional benefits anything by 10-100 times in terms of potency. The cosmetic effects alone include soft, vibrant, youthful looking, elastic skin. Any inflammation is calmed or healed. Overall analgesic effects are reduced aches and pains, followed by an overall sense of well-being that can last up to 72 hours.

Thalassotherapy treatments are highly recommended and globally practiced in treating autoimmune conditions including arthritis, colitis, fibromyalgia, thyroidism, eczema, psoriasis and chronic skin conditions like rosacea, acute/hormonal acne and sun damage.

In the Mediterranean & some parts of Russia today, doctors regularly prescribe to their patients with cancer, arthritis or bronchial issues to walk along the ocean shore so they can breathe in the trace minerals for 2-4 weeks everyday. Why do you think Canadians flock to the ocean during the winter months? We need it more than ever these days as it is apparent with everyone getting so sick. Since there is no program in place to address this, it's time to take back your health and start taking care of your body.

advertising, done the old way

2011-03-06T17:36:00.000-05:00

Opening up a new urban day spa retreat here in Picton, ON, was a new venture in several ways.
One was the realization that this town is not as small as you think when you go door to door, yet small enough that going door to door to introduce your new business is still an effective way of advertising. little organic day spa opened its doors the first week of February. It has been a dream of ours to open our own spa/treatment/learning center for years, since we started to work together and realized we shared so many similar philosophies. Coming to Picton from Vancouver, B.C., we weren't sure what to expect quite honestly. We followed our instincts when moving back. As we walked Main street of Picton, going door to door, handing out our flyer/spa menu, you could see it was a surprise to see the face attached to the business so soon. Yet, everyone was so welcoming and seemed pleased to have a personal invitation directly from the therapists. I thought it was important to make the connection with everyone. There are specific people, we know, that will be drawn to our location for treatment. Whether it's for a therapy to heal a chronic condition or just a place to truly relax and feel quiet inside or talk about science and the ocean and, of course, Canadian seaweeds.
We look forward to the growth and getting to know our clientele. For anyone from the PEC area, please visit our site to check it out: www.littleorganicdayspa.com
If you cannot make it, but want to purchase some truly unique, Canadian, whole, organic skin & hair care online: www.cansospagroup.com

Leave Me Alone

2011-02-16T15:05:00.001-05:00

I am sure everyone remembers 9/11/2001. I remember it for a different reason. It was the last day I spoke to my mother when she was my mother. We all did in fact and if 9/11 didn't happen - it probably would have been a few weeks before I talked to her again and a less meaningful conversation.

My mother smoked for 40 years and drank coffee for 40 years and didn't eat healthy for 15 years before suffering from a burst brain aneurysm the day after 9/11. She had been diagnosed wrong a few times before the doctor finally discovered it was her thyroid that was the issue and started treating her with radioactive iodine. It was and still is very challenging to know she will remain in a special care facility in a wheel chair and in a different space in her head, sometimes not recognizing her kids/friends/family. Hard to write about it. I myself used to be very overweight, eating unhealthy. smoking and bitter also, for many reasons before I woke up one day and listened to my sister and read a book she gave me. It's not about the book, it was just time. I eventually discovered great ways to become healthy and wanted my parents to be healthy too. I would listen to my mother cough and see her weight go up and up and we all tried to assist our parents to gain more perspective about their health without relying on the meds they were prescribed and adopting a North American diet. My mother used to say all the time "Leave me alone!" She would get annoyed and one day I told her I didn't want her to die. It was hard. Especially since my Dad used to stick up for her and allowed her to smoke and shake and cough as they sat there night after night in front of the TV watching their shows like their neighbours. As daughters we all knew it was not good. Today, I have no choice but to leave them alone so I try to help others who are open and wanting to live life happily and healthfully. I feel as though I have the key to a good life and if I could help people for FREE I would - OM goodness I would!

Cheers to all of those that have a zest for good living and good energy. Listen to your friends and family if they have health advice that worked for them - they are doing it because they care. I know that is my muse. Life doesn't have to be in a pill and as long as you are relying on a glass of wine or beer at the end of the day to help you feel better, something is definitely wrong, BUT you are free to be whatever you are as long as you are happy. This is what life is truly about. Get your groove on and dance baby dance!

Jack Canfield; Stories Inspired By Nutritional Cleansing

2011-02-06T11:52:00.000-05:00

Jack Canfield's Story on Nutritional Cleansing:


Jack Canfield of 'Chicken Soup for the Soul'

"Every day more and more people are discovering the astounding power of nutritional cleansing. Some are looking for weight loss, others for improved health and yet others for a common-sense solution to maintain long-term wellness. Many will tell you that in nutritional cleansing they have found the missing link for achieving their health goals.

In October of 2002, John Gray, the author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, told me he had discovered Isagenix®, an innovative company that had recently introduced its revolutionary nutritional cleansing systems to the world. He said Isagenix's nutritional cleansing systems have helped him and his clients better manage their weight, their moods, and their overall health. Needing to lose weight myself, I decided to check it out.

I had been struggling for seven years to lose 30 pounds, and no matter what I did - Jenny Craig, Slimfast, Body for Life, the Zone Diet, the Atkins diet, and Eat for Your Type combined with a lot of exercise - nothing seemed to work for more than a short while. I just couldn't seem to maintain the diet or control my urge to eat.


Aug. '08 with daughters Jen/Kim

When my Isagenix® products arrived, I started to use them immediately. I was amazed at how easy it was to do and how quickly I started losing weight. All my cravings for sugar, chocolate, carbohydrates and alcohol completely disappeared, and the weight came pouring off. I lost 12 pounds in a relatively short amount of time, and continued on until I had lost 33 pounds* My waist went from 43 inches to 37 inches* I had more energy and I felt great.
Within weeks all of my family, friends and staff were asking me what I was doing. When I told them, they all wanted to try Isagenix®, too. Everyone saw immediate weight loss and health benefits ranging from better sleep, more energy, improved health and an elevated sense of overall well-being.
As we began to realize that everyone using Isagenix® was experiencing similar amazing results, we felt that this was a story that needed to be told to the world. And so we began to gather people's stories...

Personally, I have used Isagenix® products every day since I learned about them last year. I have lost weight, improved the appearance of my skin, and feel healthier overall. In addition to the cleansing systems, I really like Ionix Supreme® , an incredible nutrition drink, and their skin care line. The products are natural, very affordable, and extremely effective."

It took Rod and I, two years from the time we were introduced to Isagenix to finally jump in and see what it's all about. We cannot say enough about the CLEANSING/HEALTH products and how they have literally transformed our lives in so many ways. The company is incredible, the people have such good energy and motivation - the fact you can help others and everyone benefits. It's a perfect model for success. You just have to be open and believe. We would love to coach you through a 30 day program and help others achieve too.

Call us for recipes, information, inspiration and more: 1.877.523.3334 or email: info@cansospagroup.com

DETOXIFICATION STEPS to START

2010-12-30T16:22:00.002-05:00

What is Detoxification and how does it work?
Essentially detoxification means cleaning your blood. It does this mainly by removing impurities from the blood in the liver, where toxins are supposed to be processed for elimination. The body also has the ability to eliminate toxins through the kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymph and skin. However, when this system is compromised, impurities aren't properly filtered and every cell in the adversely affected, leaving you with a weak immune system and inability to process nutrients and minerals that are needed to survive and live a healthy life.

Who Needs to Detoxify?
Everyone in North America or on a western diet should detox at least once a year and otherwise quarterly. Scientific studies show that to detoxify is beneficial for health.

A Regular Detox Program helps with:

· Fatigue

· Irregular bowel movements/IBS

· Achy muscles or joints

· Poor appetite

· Bloating

· Infections

· Low-blood iron – dark circles or puffy eyes

· Thin and unhealthy skin

· Menstrual difficulties

· Regulates thyroid

· Allergies

· Cellulite

· Building a healthy immune system to prevent/ heal disease

· Edema

· Lack of concentration

· Yeast Infections/Endometreosis or Endo Cysts

· Improve memory and brain functionality

Choosing a Detox Program that is Right for You

Again it is highly recommended to seek professional advice as far as diet plans, exercise and other practices. With the right amount of effort and regular follow up, the body will start to function properly with an increase in energy, better skin, higher immunity to sickness, your sex-drive, and proper digestion.

What is colon cleansing and liver cleansing? Though integral in every detox program, it doesn't have to be about spending a lot of money on supplements that do not do what they say they will do. Why are not all vitamins the same and how can I tell the difference? To learn more about recommended POST DETOX and REPLENISHING programs on the market you can download a complete program here: HEALTHY DETOX

Either way, make sure you follow a program that includes replenishment, as many only supply supplements or suggestions for cleansing. What you need is a combination of both. The best part about a proper DETOX program is that you lose weight, only if you need to lose it. With regular cleanse programs, you lose weight, however going back to your regular routine and no program, you gain your weight back and in many cases gain more.

I have done at least a dozen detox / cleanse programs and most of them do not meet the standards of what I have discovered about the manufacturing process of herbs and supplements. Think of it as getting your vitamin C; you know the best way is by eating a whole piece of fruit that is high in these vitamins that also contains all of the co factors. Simply put, when your body is fed with foods that are complete, you notice you are satisfied and for a longer period of time. When you start a program you may have issues with the first couple of days, simply from habit of putting hand to mouth or chewing, however when you are on a cleanse program, if it contains everything you require including, healthy fats, healthy proteins, healthy sugars, healthy salts, amino acids, etc - you lose your cravings for unhealthy foods and the best part is, your conversion program after the cleanse will be that much easier. Why choose the rotten apple off the cart when you can choose the best one in the bin? Some of us just need guidance until we discover our own journey that is right for us. After all, you truly are what you eat.

Why dreamers should celebrate...'ode to the doers'

2010-12-24T08:37:00.000-05:00

As a business owner of 5+ years now, I have come to a new appreciation of my parents' who were also business owners. My mother worked alongside my father when they moved to King street in Brockville and opened up their 1st store together. In between all of this, they had 4 girls in 5 years time. They even managed to take us on vacation to their countries', where they grew up; Belgium and Trinidad as well as a trip to Vancouver, Florida and Scandinavia. Wow. I remember when I got older during Christmas they worked up to the last hour - anticipating someone would buy or order something big enough so they could fill our tree with gifts for the next morning. We lived on top of our father's store and so we had access down and up whenever we liked; unless it was Christmas Eve when they would tape the door shut (yes scotch tape) and tell us we were not allowed down there (we always knew they were wrapping gifts). For years as a child I wished my dad didn't work as hard as he did and later on, I wished my mother didn't, but I now know why they did. My dad even told me that they were that close to moving to a larger city because business would be better there, but they didn't want to disrupt our growing up and lifestyle - can you believe? Wow. These sacrifices were not known unfortunately at the time and I really didn't get to appreciate who they were until I grew up much later and now it's changed. In the 1990's, after 3 out of 4 of us moved away to other cities and in my case to another province, their environment changed and they fell into the world of watching TV and poor eating habits, that they used to preach against when we were young; which helped to contribute to their developing chronic illnesses. Dad had a stroke in the early 90's and he later developed Angina for which he was instructed to take a few prescribed pills a day. My mum suffered with hypothyroidism & then later hyperthyroidism, she developed a brain aneurysm that burst the day after 9/11/2001. After much struggle for years with my father not dealing well with it, he later died from a heart attack. My mother is now in a special extended-care home and is pretty despondent at times and lonely, but maintains her brilliance and her shine when faced with good energy, like visitors - it's quite fascinating actually. I have called her up for advice and though she is still in a different state, gives me a comprehensive answer that I would only expect from such a grounded person. Unfortunately, as business owners, they didn't take care of their finances/life insurance and this had a toll on everything afterward.
Years later, I didn't know I would also have my own business, but after working with some of the greatest people and companies that are the 'best of the best', I discovered my own talents and abilities. Reading about successful people and how they started in business inspired me to dive in! I had the opportunity to travel around the world, visiting and backpacking in over 30 countries world-wide. Being a naturally inquisitive mind, I soaked up culture, history and relished every moment I had writing in my journal(s). I discovered the world of health and wellness outside of North America and was enamored immediately with the lack of dependency that Europeans, Asians and Kiwis had on TV and a medical system. I was especially impressed by the Asian cultures; so down to earth and connected to the common-sensibility we all have and was able to adopt this. I had spent 10 months traveling at that time and impressed with the realm of knowledge locals had about their own natural resources, never discussing illnesses nor noticing any. They also seemed, quite happy at just 'being', at least this was my experience.
When I returned, I found my voice and calling & got into the spa/health industry in Vancouver working behind the scenes for an 'organic' skincare distributor where I learned 'a little too much' about the industry, if you get my drift. I then began consulting on the side; helping business owners with their small spas and wellness clinics, sharing my new found understanding of how the North American market is attracted to marketing and commercialization, teaching them simple solutions of bringing in more traffic, increasing profits and cutting costs. I seemed to have a niche for recognizing good marketing or so I've been told. I supported spas with consistency and care and it reflected back in my work. After my decision to leave my 'job', I approached my life partner Rod about starting up my own consulting business. With his approval & support we launched CANSO out of our home office condo in Vancouver. We discovered the world of seaweeds while working on a consulting contract with a company that harvested off the coast of Vancouver Island. What we discovered on our own, was a world of untapped resources that nobody in Canada seemed to know about; iodine and the many forgotten elements that are key to our life and longevity of life. After a year working on my own, with Rod helping out when he could spare the time, he left his job and joined me full-time. His background is chemistry, physics, massage therapy and the hospitality industry; the science was his draw of course. For me, it was the discovery of all of the health conditions, including my families, that seemed to dominate the news and TV. Together we embarked and discovered many more 'gaps' in the industry that catapulted our knowledge base from 0 to 60 around health, wellness & spa and along with our consulting, started sharing the research Rod uncovered about the components of iodine and the undiscovered resources here in Canada. It was the fall of 2006, when my father passed away and this had a profound affect on me living so far away from my sisters and my mother, so we made the decision to move back to Ontario & arrived in July of 2007. We sold most of our furniture & possessions and gave away what we could to make our drive across the country to Ontario less expensive and less harrowing. When we got here, we hadn't worked with many spas/health care professionals here yet, so it took us a few years to discover the industry in Ontario was much different from the industry we were used to working with on the west coast. We were not only dealing in the Ontario market, but we were working with all of eastern Canada to the coast of Nfld. We traveled down to the U.S. as well as this was part of some of our contracts. Our life was no different from many small business owners, sacrificing weekends and long hours, giving up any type of social life; it has its ups and downs for sure. Unfortunately, because of my experience growing up and watching my parents struggle as much as they did, it eventually got to me. Keeping up with bills and keeping our credit good; these became the focus and all of a sudden, our love for what we did, seemed to get left behind. We didn't want our dreams to get left behind and soon realized that it wasn't about making ends meet and paying bills and having steady income, it was about what we loved to do. Many of the greats struggled and depending on their upbringing or mindset, all persevered because they had a few things in common; passion & focus.
We have had a wonderful past year, reflecting and growing more and more, both as a couple and individually. I am so appreciative to know what I know today and sticking with it. Our business has evolved as well; we have a strong philosophy on health and wellness training and tying it into the consulting side of things to help others realize their own personal health and business goals. It's both rewarding and delicious knowing we are into this and love what we do. We get up every AM and meditate for at least 20 minutes and have done so for over a year now. We love and support each other every day to reach our own personal goals and assisting others to do the same. This has become a true calling. It took 5 years and more to realize that what some refer to as risks, are simply just stepping stones to your dreams and look forward to sharing many stories to help others achieve theirs also.
My parents were my inspiration, though years ago I wouldn't say so. They taught me invaluable lessons of never giving up, staying focused and dedication. Enjoy every aspect you can of what you, yourself have achieved and the people that work alongside and with you, following your heart. Even if it takes a few times to get there, it's worth it! Happy Holidays everyone!

Thalassotherapy & Iodine; why you need it & why you cannot live without it

2010-11-28T11:28:00.002-05:00

Description of Thalassotherapy/ the layering of ocean components; containing whole seaweeds, ocean water and ocean minerals over the body, allowing absorption of important vitamins and minerals in a chelated form, for the purpose of achieving mind, body, balancing.

Historic points of interest in Thalassotherapy

Ancient Egypt (3000 B.C.E.) Recognized in ancient Egypt, thalassotherapy comes from the Greek words for thalasso (sea water or sea goddess) and therapeia (to heal)

Hippocrates (350 B.C.E) - the father of modern medicine, prescribes his patients ‘Go to the ocean to heal’

Euripides (420 B.C.E) - ‘The sea cures men’s diseases’

Herodotus (484 B.C.E) - Sun cure and sea cure are sovereign remedies for most diseases and particularly for women’s ailments – also in Egypt

15th Century, Machu Picchu: Natives living at 16,000 ft elevation in the Andes mountains carry a carefully guarded pouch that contains kelp obtained from the ocean; a month's travel by foot, used to ‘protect the heart’

1578 – France; King Henri III bathed in the sea at Dieppe to heal the outbreaks of scabies by which he was afflicted – thalassotherapy practiced in England

1697-The first medical thesis published on sea water in England

1750 - Dr. Richard Russell published ‘One should drink sea water, bathe in it and eat every product of the sea in which its virtue is concentrated’ The first ‘modern’ doctor to document the medical benefits of seawater as a therapeutic instrument.

The rich & famous would gather with the Royals to elicit the therapeutic benefits of the ocean

1778 - First Institute of Thalassotherapy opened in Dieppe, France, by Lepecq de la Cloture.

1791 - John Lathan opened the first seaside hospital for the treatment of anemia and infectious diseases

1811 - Iodine Discovered in France by Bernard Courtois (1777-1838); discovered while manufacturing gunpowder for the Napoleonic wars

1823 - French Physician, Jean Lugol developed his now famous 'Lugol's Solution' for the treatment of infection diseases. Also used as a health tonic, antiseptic, disinfectant and drinking water purification for treatment of depression, obesity, slow metabolism, menstrual problems, breast and uterine fibroids, tumors, cancer and overall promoting better health.

1867 - ‘Taking to the waters’ became en vogue where royals, rich & famous would gather and experience the benefits of mind/body/balancing, by bathing in the Mediterranean and whole seaweeds.

1812 - Iodine was confirmed as a new element by independent French & English chemists; Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac & Sir Humphrey Davy.

1904 - Rene Quinton, also in France, published the medical work ‘L’eau de Mer, Milien Organique’ (Sea Water, Organic Medium). Successfully Treated: Typhoid, Cholera and infant-Cholera, gastro-intestinal infections (entercolitis, dyspepsia), cirrhosis of the liver, eczema, psoriasis and alopecia.

1907 - Rene Quinton's 'Seawater Cure' published September 22nd in the NY TIMES - 'Coming to America'

1918-20 - Dr. David Marine discovered Thyroidism and the ‘Goitre Belt’ around the Great Lakes in North America

1924 - Iodine was added to salt in the U.S., flour and milk

1929 - Canada iodized salt, following with iodine in the flour and iodine in the milk (staples of the North American diet)

1939-1945 - Nazi Germany fluoridated water to induce cloudy thinking

1945 - Brantford becomes 1st city in Canada to fluoridate their drinking water. (3rd city in North America)

"Fluoridation is the greatest fraud that has ever been perpetrated and it has been perpetrated on more people than any other fraud has." Professor Albert Schatz, Ph.D
(Microbiology). Discoverer of streptomycin and Nobel Prize Winner

1950’s – Iodine was removed from milk

1980’s – Iodine was removed from flour

2008 - U.S. Dr David Brownstein, M.D. (www.drbrownstein.com) publishes 3rd Edition book: "Iodine – Why You Need it, Why You Cannot Live Without It" - National Bestseller.

2009 - Thyroidism and Goitre take place across Ontario and North American cities. Problems most common in areas furthest from the sea. Auto-Immune Conditions including Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Crohn’s, Psoriasis, Eczema, Endometriosis, Fibrocystic Breasts, Cystic Ovaries, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) & Cancer are at an all time high.

Today: 98% Of Western Europe Has Rejected Water Fluoridation. This includes Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. In Canada, cities in Ontario are looking to stop fluoridating of drinking water. Cambridge and Kitchener have both achieved this.

"Most physicians today would be surprised to learn that their predecessors thought of iodine as the universal nutrient and a panacea for all human ails." ~ Dr. Guy Abraham

For more information and history about iodine, seaweeds, ocean water and the therapeutic benefits, follow: www.thalassotherapyandiodine.blogspot.com

Endo Cysts be gone! (my experience in getting rid)

2010-11-14T20:32:00.003-05:00

Prior to moving to BC, in 1994, I had suffered from cysts on my ovaries. I was living in London, Ontario at the time and one night my pain was so bad, I was rushed to the hospital. I was told it was my appendix and they strongly suggested removing it that night!? That just seemed improbable for some reason. You know when you know? Well, luckily, the pain subsided and I managed to convince them I was fine and go home. Shortly after, I moved out to the beautiful coast of BC to live in Whistler.
The first month I was there, I had the cysts again, however it wasn't as painful, but I still checked in with the clinic for an ultrasound and that was where I was told about the cysts on my ovaries. I was told it was common for those from Ontario & Quebec?! They didn't have any nutritional advice for me unfortunately at the time either (it was 1994), but they did tell me the option to slow down the cysts was to either A/ Have a baby (Uh no), B/ go on the pill (Uh no) or C/ stop having sex altogether (fill in the blank here). I didn't do a thing to tell you the truth. I was 24 at the time and thought maybe if I reduce my stress that may help AND instinctively cut down on eating junk food. Here is the thing. That was the very last time I had pain from cysts on my ovaries and didn't have any the summer of 2007, when I moved BACK to Ontario. Yup!

When we moved to Ontario, our knowledge of the ocean went from what seems like the basics today, to WHOA! We were blown away when we would visit spa after spa after spa meeting with the owner and staff only to find out how many women are dealing with the effects of endo cysts as well as a myriad of auto immune diseases, including thyroidism. The fact that my thyroid was under active for the better part of my 20's and into my 30's as well as my sister and mother diagnosed with thyroid ism, was the driving factor behind all of this for me.

The ocean contains 97% of the earth source of bio-available iodine; which our bodies require for optimal health.The ironic part is, Canada has some of the most abundant and healthiest sources of seaweeds in the world today but you would have an easier time finding Canadian seaweeds abroad than finding a Canadian seaweed in Canada to eat. There are enough harvesters but no demand in Canada unfortunately...and the only seaweeds we find Canadians eating is the DULSE, which is considered the weed of seaweeds in terms of the broad spectrum of nutrients you get from the browns, that are so abundant on either coasts.

I remember when I was young, my mother, who is from Trinidad, saying she had never heard of arthritis until she moved to Canada. Trinidad as we know, is a small island that surrounded by the ocean with mineral rich tropical fruits that contain trace amounts of iodine that they eat everyday. In Canada, like Japan, we were blessed with seaweeds. That is how it works. Indigenous foods are meant for the people that live there. Don't you think it odd the earth set itself up for the residents to have to travel from country to country to get their vital nutrients because they cannot find it in their own? Think about it - think. Okay - lots of thinking here...now keep learning...Ever since I discovered the massive and somewhat hidden history and science behind iodine; I have incorporated Lugol's Solution (potassium iodide/elemental iodine in an aqueous solution), seaweeds, sea salts and Isagenix into my body; especially now living in Ontario. Lugol's Solution has been around since 1829 and used by the medical community up until the 1950's prior to today's 'modern medicine'. I specifically got into Isagenix; because it can be challenging to eat seaweeds everyday, and on occasion I forget to take my Lugol's, at least I know I am getting kelp from my shakes and iodine in a bio-available form. AND, since it is a whole food source with B vitamins, Selenium and C vitamins needed for re-absorption, I know I am getting it in. Today, I am so thankful for my health and no more pain or problems with cysts, thyroidism, fibrocystic breast disease and anything else I may have prevented.

People always ask, why isn't the medical community aware of this and treating people with iodine? Good news! There is a group of Doctors in the U.S. known as the 'Iodine Doctors', made up of Dr David Brownstein, Dr Guy Abraham, Dr Fletchas and Dr Shevin. They formed this group just a few years ago, in order to bring awareness back to the medical community of a what was once known as the universal medicine 100 years ago and this group is growing. This is especially important in view of that fact that 94% of people in North America are iodine deficient today. It may seem like we are beating a dead horse here, but when you know what we know, it is hard to not share when people around you don't and are suffering because of it. Either way, I know with more awareness and onus on the end of the patient to the Doctor, will take it to the next good chapter and though it may seem its getting worse - I beg to differ. I see a great divide to those that seek their own answers like I did and if it means I may not have a tight relationship with friends or family for being persistent; if they are able to prevent or stop something they otherwise didn't want, than that is the most important and the type of friend I would want for myself.
Here are some sites to visit in your leisure. I recommend to visit Dr Brownstein's site and buy his book; Iodine Why you Need it and Why Cannot Live Without It - 4th edition and give a copy to your Doctor.
www.drbrownstein.com
www.breastcancerchoices.org
Seaweeds for consumption:
https://www.seaveg.com/shop/
Course and Nutritional Information:
www.cansospagroup.com
http://thalassotherapyandiodine.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Iodine4Health

Slow metabolism got you down?

2010-11-12T18:30:00.001-05:00

I was just standing in line havin a giggle at one of the tabloids and noticed the story on Penny Marshall and her 'cancer fighting' drugs that caused her weight to skyrocket to 250lbs. It dawned on me that I don't think many know why they gain weight when they are on these harsh prescriptions or what weight gain reflects? Anyone who is overweight has a slow metabolism. Whether it's from medication or from poor nutrition; either way it is not the medication that causes the weight gain per say; it is the slow metabolic function that is always the reason why anyone is overweight. Plain and simple. The medication, depending on the harshness 'factor', can actually slow the metabolic rate; robbing the body of any nutrients it has left. It's interesting to note that more people die every year from side effects of synthetic prescription drugs, than they do of cancer: http://foodmatters.tv/.

The body knows what it needs and knows what to do when it is introduced to something 'fake' or synthetic, whereas we were taught somewhere along the way that they help? I'm not sure about you but I am afraid of taking ibuprofen, so I cannot imagine how my body would feel about harsh prescriptions day after day after day and me thinking this is a good thing. Poor nutrition or lack of proper nutrients also causes the metabolic rate to slow. Most importantly lack of iodine in the body puts it into a complete state of disarray; virtually coming to a halt. What happens is that blood is pumped through the thyroid gland every 17 minutes and than it is distributed to the rest of the body to feed nutrients and do what it needs to do. Since the thyroid is the main provider (not storage house) of iodine for the body and in charge of the metabolic rate, it released a tiny bit of iodine into the blood so that the body can distribute and function optimally, also helping to provide iodine for the thyroid hormones; T4 and T3. That is the quick version of it, but the biologically accurate quick version.

Thyroid Gland

So here is the thing, if when the blood passes through the thyroid and it doesn't contain the proper nutrients and trace minerals, what happens? The same thing when you starve yourself, you slow down, the thyroid does too. The body needs nutrients, not fillers. It needs good food and if it gets all of the nutrients in a whole state, it will be able to easily recognize and synchronize the nutrients to the cells and it will show on the outside. When the body is on medication that messes with the metabolism, this means weight gain is inevitable for some, but you can always supplement your body with whole food nutrition and you would be amazed how quick your body responds. We know what the choices are in terms of eating well. I think that there are so many fast food options now that it is very hard to stick to making and eating more raw and whole foods. The same way you develop a routine to brush your teeth or do the garbage or go to the gym everyday, you must commit to being healthy. And I think we can all agree that there is one thing we all innately know about us and our health; we are what we eat.
I remember when my thyroid was slow, I was going to the gym probably 4-6 times a week and I didn't understand why I wasn't seeing results. I wasn't even partying that much or eating that much bad food. Later on I came to realize, when learning about iodine and our body's desperate need for trace minerals and whole foods, that it was probably the worse thing to do was take my body to the gym. When you have a slow metabolic rate, you cannot make it go faster by going to the gym, find out why it is slow to begin with and usually it just has to do with the nutrition levels. If you take it to the gym you are actually sweating out, whatever trace minerals you have left in the form of salt.

And if there is no proper replenishment, your thyroid continuously battles for proper nutrients, essentially panicking and fluctuating to a hyper state and eventually goitre or worse. Today, after 15 years of religiously going to the gym and sweating it out, I don't have a membership anywhere and haven't for 3+ years. And considering I don't lift weights now either, I'm amazed at how well I am doing in terms of fitness, but because my metabolism is clearly back to where it was when I was a wee thing, I am able to focus on other things I like to do. I walk 20 minutes a day and always include a wicked hill and get the muscles warm and blood pumping so that my body can properly move any toxins out and I replenish myself. At this time of year when all of the holiday parties are coming out, I am extremely thankful for knowing that I know what to do the next day after a few cupcakes...eat better!

Retailers>this the season! Tips for a successful open house

2010-11-10T14:43:00.002-05:00

Yes it is November and tis the season for every retailer to get their shelves stocked, hire extra help and get ready for the inevitable hustle and bustle of heavy duty shoppers. Unlike most retailers, the spa industry has an abundance of opportunities to increase traffic without relying solely on gift certificates to keep the dollars flowing in January. Open Houses are not only fun, they are extremely important for making that connection to your community; the abundance just follows from there.

Here are some quick tips and guidelines to get you started:
ACTION>Get prepared by creating a plan of action. Write down your vision of expectations; if you are going on appointments, write down how much you want it to increase or how many new clients you want.
PLAN>Start your planning now! From your vision, write down in point form, what you think needs to get done in order to reach these goals.

Choose a DATE and TIME: Call 10 of your top clients and let them know the date you are looking at holding it. Be sure to share WHY you are calling THEM; they will be flattered to know you are thinking of them.
MAIL INVITATIONS: You can arrange your invitations online at a low cost professional printing house. We suggest VISTA PRINT: www.vistaprint.ca. They provide low cost, yet professional looking layouts and templates of several different products from postcards to flyers.
EMAIL MARKETING: There are countless choices of email marketing sites available these days and most offer a FREE TRIAL. We find Constant Contact (www.constantcontact.com) to be a reliable site and best known for their choices of ready to use TEMPLATES that allow you to simply drop in your logo, pictures and write some text and voila! You can make a coupon!
SOCIAL MEDIA: Social Media is probably one of the BEST tools available to reach clients; yet the spa industry is very slow on getting on board with setting up their FACE BOOK pages or BLOG sites and TWITTER accounts. With Social Media, you get to attract the clients you know will like what you have to offer at your location.
INVITE LOCAL ARTISANS/CRAFTERS: Connect with your local community artisans and craft makers and invite them to come for your open house. Just because you don't carry their line, it will bring in some contacts of theirs and be a special treat for your regulars to see something new and different. This would be a great TEST to see if this can be something you regularly offer there AND form a new relationship with a local business!
OFFER HOLIDAY SPA TREATMENTS: Think of this time of year when it is so busy and what would appeal to the average spa goer/shopper and appeal to this. Offer something out of the extraordinaire like hand treatments or scalp treatments or a treatment that will not use much product, but allow a small connect with your client and introduce them to your favourite brand.
GIVEAWAYS/DRAWS: Offer giveaways throughout the evening for major discounts on in-house services. Make sure you choose a service that totally makes you stand out from the rest and will leave them floored! Have a DRAW at the end of the night for a REAL amazing package of services and products. Make sure it is NOT stock that you are getting rid of; they will want to buy more when they run out and if you don't have it; buy bye!
STOCK UP: Nothing worse than attending an open house and there is hardly anything to see or buy for that matter. I have been to a few already this season and was in and out of there with money to spend. Abundance begets abundance; simply put.
BRING IN PRODUCT REPRESENTATIVES: A true test of your relationship with your supplier. All product manufacturers and/or distributors should offer some sort of onsite service, especially during the holidays. See if they can offer a Gift with Purchase based on volume.
FOOD AND DRINKS: You don't have to offer alcohol but this would be the time to do it. You can have a juice bar or if you are wanting to introduce any new teas or nutritional cleansing drinks, now would be the time to serve them. Spread the food in different places if you can to keep the flow moving and not limit them to the one area. If you can sell it, even better for profit!
RETAIL SPECIALS: Offer a special discount on all retail products on this day only. Go for 20% off if you can and watch the products fly out the door. Otherwise sales or discounts in a spa environment any regular time of year may indicate to your customer that you are getting rid of it.
INTRODUCE A NEW TREATMENT or BRAND: So many retailers are 'afraid' (my most unfavourite word) to invest in a new product line or launching a new treatment or program. Listen, if you are hosting an open house where most of your year round regulars are going to be coming through; give them something new and exciting to see or experience; it is ideal! Offer a special discount for booking a treatment that is out of this world good like 40% off your 1st treatment.
SERVICE>MAKE YOUR BUSINESS STAND OUT: Service, service, service, will always prevail! Bring your business to the level of which the consumer sees your success and wants to participate.Above all, it all comes down to vibration, vibration, vibration. People love to come into a place this time of year with good energy and generosity.
FOLLOW UP: Want to blow their mind? After the event, set some time aside to make a round of calls thanking them for their attendance. Do a draw after the event and announce it via Email Marketing so everyone can be involved and it is professional looking.

Otherwise, have fun. Make it simple and include any help from volunteers; both family and friends. This is the time of year to share and keep sharing. And in the retail world, your January will reflect what you put in today.

Why is Extra Virgin Coconut Oil considered the healthiest oil on earth?

2010-11-02T19:20:00.001-04:00

I WISH I was brought up on this oil let me tell you. About 6 years ago, my brilliant sister shared some information about Extra Virgin (or Virgin to some) Coconut Oil being healthy for you? Of course, knowing she is rarely wrong and was previously my source for the hottest global health tonic discoveries; we checked it out. Luckily, my partner has an extensive science background and including Chemistry and was equally excited and if not, more excited about why it is so healthy than me; we haven't looked back.
VCO (Virgin Coconut Oil) is a medium chain fatty acid (saturated fat) that doesn't break down when heated to high temperatures of up to 177 degrees Celsius. It is raw and extracted from the flesh of the coconut within a very short time of being cut open. What this means in terms of being healthier than most and if not all other cooking oils available today in Canada, is that it doesn't require the use of insulin, so it maintains sugar levels for diabetics and doesn't require much energy to break down/metabolize it, if any. In fact, when you take the suggested 3 tablespoons per day of it, VCO actually helps those that are overweight to lose weight because it helps regulate the metabolism. The reason why so many are obese is simply because their metabolic rate has slowed due to poor nutrition - not lack of exercise, that is just a short-term solution. If your body has slowed it's metabolic rate due to lack of good nutrition and you force it to exercise, that is probably 10 times worse than if you didn't. That might even put your thyroid gland into a hyper or hypo-state!
Virgin Coconut Oil or Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) also helps with normalizing the body's temperature, it lowers high blood pressure, regulates the heart, clears up clogged arteries, helps regulate the thyroid, boosts energy and the immune system as well as a myriad of other health benefits that will continuously show up as you incorporate it into your life. We LOVE it and share this information with everyone when we do our Thalassotherapy and Nutritional courses, as it helps to support and maintain a healthy lifestyle and especially for those that suffer from auto immune diseases. Because we teach about holistic therapies from the ocean, this talks about the immune system and getting healthy fats into the diet to synchronize and boost metabolism and immunity.

Stay away from oils that have a 'smoking point'

Everyone seems to think that Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the answer but, yet, you cannot heat up any imported olive oil to high temperatures and especially the commercial brands that are out there, not to mention the endless shelf life of VCO! Now you can find very expensive Extra Virgin Olive Oil with a low acid content that is healthier to eat and cook with, again not even close to the benefits of VCO. The hype with VCO will happen too, so when it becomes mainstream like olive oil did a few decades ago, you will notice many different 'brands' and ways of marketing healthy coconut oil. When we first moved to Ontario from BC, we thought we would have to travel to Toronto to get it, but our local Good Health Mart in Belleville, Ontario, kindly ordered us the 2 Gallon version and we use this. It takes us about 6 months to go through it at $125 and that is a bargain since we are talking antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobial and nutrients it offers!
Just be smart about the part where it says UNREFINED or CERTIFIED ORGANIC or EXTRA VIRGIN or VIRGIN...these are key. You want these. If the bottle talks about the MCT's and the high Lauric value; great, but make sure it is the key points! Marketing is great in Canada and the U.S.; have you noticed? I love figuring it too! It's easy once you look at things in a certain way; well the body is the same way. It knows fake foods and it knows real foods and when it gets really good food; it shows. Your eyes are brighter, your mood is brighter, your skin is brighter and you are brighter...(see more on the brain benefits: http://www.youtube.com/watch Dr Mercola.

When you body gets bad oil or a bad form of oil, it becomes defiant, really. You may not realize because you are blaming the broccoli or the salad or the beans or something else the morning after, however the results of eating bad fats doesn't show up right away either. It takes a while for the body to figure out bad fats and so usually what happens initially is cravings for salty or sugary foods. Bad fats kinda bring your mood down, so you naturally crave something you 'think' would boost your mood. This is why good fats is also good. I think if more women in Canada over the age of 30 ate Extra Virgin Coconut Oil everyday, that we would have less sensitivities and moodiness and menopausal issues occurring; plus fitter mamas! Don't you think that would be great? Healthy fats are good because you are what you eat, but...you want what you need. And if you are not feeding it to your body, it's gonna get is somehow! We are basically made of salt, fat, water, etc. and if we don't feed our body the main components on good functioning, it robs your body of it somewhere. Either from your skin, causing psoriasis or eczema or from your arteries or joints! And if your body, that needs fat, isn't getting good fats, but fake fats, it starts to slow down and get real sick. Most don't realize when the body is dehydrated of fat, it really is thirsty for fat, not more water! Water is what our bodies need to help push toxins out, but the toxins are not leaving unless your body feels satiated and satisfied you are taking care of it...I know.

The funny thing is, there are countries that have coconuts growing in their backyard and they don't use VCO for cooking or for eating, but only for the skin and hair. That is perfect, because it is great for skin and hair, but wouldn't you like to live like your ancestors did; healthy and fit and joyously enjoying FAT?! It was only in the 50's that a DR published a document that saturated fats were the main cause of heart disease so the non saturated fat companies went on a band wagon with the marketing against VCO and that is how we got to know 'canola oil' or 'safflower oil' and don't get me started on those!
In terms of VCO and cooking with it; it is perfect for the vegetarian diet and totally healthy for young children. It contains over 50% lauric acid; which is the most important essential fatty acid in building and maintaining the body's immunity. The only other source found in such high concentrations as in VCO is mother's milk.
So when you are looking for VCO, go to the health food store (not the typical commercial 'health stores') that carries a variety. We have noticed a few brands like 'Heartland' and 'Nutiva' here in Ontario that have gallon sizes. This is what you want to get since it is a WAY better price and since it doesn't have a shelf life; no rush! There are MANY brands in the larger metropolis', but if we can find it in our town of 4000 people in Ontario, you can where you are! And don't be shy to ASK for IT from your favourite grocer either. We have been pleasantly surprised to find it in Loblaws and some other chains that are throughout Canada. Also, there is a difference in VCO's for those that don't like the 'coconut taste'; you can look for the VCO without the aroma, however it has been twice pressed now and therefore is no longer a first pressing. You always want the first pressing; but at least you are getting the benefits of the MCT's. Now don't be shocked by the price and compare it to the commercial brands of oils you have been using in the past and including olive oils and safflower oils or sunflower oils; there is no comparison. It is not expensive. I always say (now I do anyhow), buying raw and organic doesn't cost, it pays!
And when people see me for the first time in a long time after losing all of this weight, they ask how I did it and I love saying "I eat lots of fats and lots of salt" it's not an accurate statement since both are unrefined and raw in nature, however I always like a stimulating conversation. Remember do your own research and don't hesitate to ask questions. All info is based on proven science and happy to share more links and articles written by very important individuals in the health industry! Me? I have my own reasons:)

sea salt = trace minerals?

2010-11-01T10:22:00.003-04:00

When I was growing up, I remember table salt being a staple at the table and predominantly my choice over the pepper (if there was a pepper option). What I didn't know is that that table salt was iodized back in the late 20's to help control the outbreak of goiter that was occurring around the Great Lakes at the turn of the century. However the salt itself, was and still is a refined salt, meaning, it has been processed from its natural state and therefore the molecular structure and benefits, depending on its origin, are completely stripped and can be very harmful to the body to ingest or soak in. There have been several types of processed salts introduced over the last century that are toxic when heated and reprocessed, and all has been related to so much occurrence of obesity and heart disease and stroke. Ironically sea salt, in its natural and unprocessed state, is actually good for you. In fact, our bodies' blood plasma was proven to be chemically identical to that of ocean plasma by Dr. Rene Quinton, in France at the turn of the 20th century in his book: "L'eau de mer milieu organique" - (1912: Ed. Masson) Reprinted: Ed. ENCRE 1995: http://oceanplasma.org
When digested or soaked in, the body responds very positively to sea salt and becomes balanced; called homeostasis. Technically, Homeostasis is 'The maintenance of an equilibrium within a living organism'. In other words, when the body stays the same on the inside no matter what is happening on the outside. And when the body is introduced to any healthy food, either transdermally or through regular digestion, the body's immunity gets stronger; able to fight flu bugs when needed for instance. Did you also know that unrefined sea salt or Pink Himalayan salts contain over 70 trace minerals, that our body needs and very much responds to, especially when we add it to our raw food or other food recipes? Trace minerals are important for us because we need them in order to synchronize our nutrients to our cells. Otherwise, without the presence of trace or chelated minerals in our foods or vitamins, there is little absorption going on. They are called 'trace' minerals because we only need a little of them at a time as they are only introduced to us naturally by the earth in trace elements. People get sea salts and Pink Himalayan salts mixed up. Both are good and both from the ocean and the pink Himalayan you are usually guaranteed the source, where as sea salts could be from any ocean any where in the world and sometimes it is processed or bleached. You want to ensure that any food you are eating, you know the source is clean and there is very little process or no processing at all. The sea salts, or, let's call them trace minerals here, help the body absorb more nutrients from our foods and they also help us digest even more trace minerals from the foods that contain them when we eat. So just like anything good for our body, they help us to live a healthy long life and survival rate. Without trace minerals, the body is very much lost in terms of its functionality; it breaks down quicker. Here is something interesting that we teach, is that 97% of the earth's iodine and trace minerals are in the ocean. So how it is supposed to work is that the trace minerals travels through our soil, and we get it from our foods that are picked fresh. People talk about organic vs non-organic and most don't realize that it's not only about the chemicals being sprayed into the soil and onto the seeds or flower, its about the lack of nutrients and trace minerals that are not in foods, making it harder and harder for our bodies to be and stay healthy. That is why so many of us crave foods even after having, what we would call an average meal. When the body is not satiated, it will indicate hunger; so we are to feed it with whole foods including good fats and good salts, because it is looking for this. Herbicides and pesticides get rid of any remnants of trace minerals through farming, so literally when you eat food that is not grown organically, you are missing out on ALL of the trace minerals you are supposed to be getting on a daily basis, plus introducing your body to a bunch of fillers that are virtually worthless in nutrient value. When the body gets this over and over again, it eventually slows down everything because it realizes it may not be getting anything valuable in awhile. And unfortunately, lack of trace minerals doesn't just show up like a cold or a flu bug, it shows up in very different and sometimes subtle ways down the road, like psoriasis, eczema, arthritis, thyroidism, heart disease, etc. So many are confused and are staying away from any salt, therefore completely depriving their bodies of any trace minerals at all. So the foods they eat, are of less value than if they had some sea salt on them. What is most unusual to me is when people are told that any salt is bad for them, when millions of people live and millions more flock to the ocean and mineral baths every year to absorb the wonderful elements, 24 hours, 7 days a week and come back feeling like a million! You ever notice someone who is your age, that looks and sounds better? Chances are they are getting their trace minerals.

So there I was in Paris, no money...and a pack a schmokes

2010-10-29T19:39:00.003-04:00

We all have stories to share of overcoming some bad habit; whether it be taught or self-taught, either way, everyone can relate to some rate of success when they say they are going to do something and getting it done with great satisfaction. I think 3 of the top 'bad' physical habits that most seem to want to kick would be smoking, poor eating habits and drinking coffee everyday; of course everyone has their opinion, hence the blog.

I personally smoked for 15 years of my life. And as many smokers tend to learn, my mother smoked as well as siblings and such. Like my siblings, I eventually learned to quit and quite honestly knew I would someday even when I started, which is probably why I surrounded myself with many non-smokers and healthy minded people; I was the lucky one I guess. It's funny because I remember hiding up in my room when I was in high school and sitting by the window, blowing the smoke out and thinking that I wouldn't get caught by my parents. I also hid it from some of my friends! I didn't smoke a lot at first, just when I got home from the bars and later on in the bars. I stuck with smoking well into my 20's taking it out to BC; known as Canada's healthiest province and....continued to smoke there. I eventually developed a want to quit, every time someone said, "You smoke?" made me think, "I KNOW?!" So eventually I quit. I didn't quit right away however, I found something to replace my time and kept me busy and that I loved to do, and than I used that as a reason to focus and quit. At the time, I was totally into going to the gym and spending time outdoors. Whistler was a good distraction and so were all of the amazing and talented people you could meet in one small place. When they became the first city in Canada to ban smoking indoors; that was timely! Eventually I traveled around the world, where everyone seemed to smoke everywhere, literally! Torturous for someone just trying to give up. Luckily, I didn't enjoy the taste of cigarettes from other countries as much so that helped me even more grow less and less interested. One thing I did notice, was how much everyone smoked and in certain parts of the world. When I got back it was just a short few weeks before I permanently stopped and moved down to Vancouver. Within a few weeks, I did notice my urge to want to drink coffee more (that story later) and other habits, including walking and going out! I knew I had to figure some things out ahead of time and find my foods, I wasn't expecting to like everything healthy but I also knew that I was going to find my favourites, there is so much choice, you just have to 'do something different'. Glad I did and do. But eventually I found my groove and figured out the better habits both socially and nutritiously to fulfill whatever it was at the time that my body was looking for. Immediately I noticed my energy increased and I was more sensitive to taste so my favourite foods tasted even better. My breathing was better and I didn't get sick, hardly at all. I did have a breakdown about 6 months after quitting smoking with some friends on the patio on a holiday weekend. It only took a few puffs before I had to stop. I thought to myself, I have no idea how I started that habit, but man, was I happy I didn't like it anymore. I just never imagined I would be quitting after all those years, but I somehow knew I would. How's that hey?

*Here are some good things that happen to your body once you stop smoking:

Within 8 hours:

carbon monoxide level drops in your body
oxygen level in your blood increases to normal

Within 48 hours

your chances of having a heart attack start to go down
your sense of smell and taste begin to improve

Within 72 hours

your bronchial tubes relax and make breathing easier
your lung capacity increases

Within 2 weeks to 3 months

your blood circulation improves
your lung functioning increases up to 30 percent

Within 6 months

your coughing, stuffy nose, tiredness and shortness of breath improve

Within 1 year

your risk of smoking-related heart attack is cut in half

Within 10 years

your risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half

Within 15 years

your risk of dying from a heart attack is the same as a person who never smoked

There are many other good reasons to quit smoking:

You'll set a good example for your children
Your smoking will no longer affect the health of people around you
You'll save a lot of money - a pack of cigarettes a day adds up to more than $3000 a year!
You'll have more energy to do the things you love
You'll pay lower life insurance premiums *provided by Health Canada.

How deep is our skin?

2010-10-22T20:57:00.003-04:00

I always say if you want to test your skincare for toxicity, dilute some of it into water and water your plants with it regularly. This is a test yes, but this analogy helps those to think about what they are putting on their skin AND if they are a good gardener what they are putting in their garden. Now the good gardener would definitely think twice about this - and even the ones that use chemicals in their garden would think twice about this however as it turns out the chemicals that are used for treating your lawns are actually found in some of our skincare here in Canada; special isn't it? The western diet has allowed North Americans to believe that if it's on the shelf or advertised or your friends do it, than it must be okay? The standards in North America in terms of ingredients that are allowed into our food and skincare is astronomically low and unfortunately turned Canada and the US into the top consumers for chemical cosmetics globally! In fact, we allow ingredients into our food and skincare that have been banned by the European Union for over a decade. Hence the BUZZ on 'DETOX' and 'Nutritional Cleansing'...we are definitely toxic! It is now said that the average North American should detox every season in order to get their bodies back to balance. Funny, if we just kept eating unprocessed and organic fruits and veggies and the medical world kept using IODINE regularly, we would be in tip top shape! Now, after living through the last couple of decades, even if we were to go back to our 'old traditional ways' of cooking, it would take up to 20 years for our bodies to cycle out the toxins; if you make it that far!
When we teach about nutritional cleansing and the importance of whole ingredients for your body and skin, I tend to use the 'garden' or the 'wild' as an example simply because our skin is not that thick and when you look at the earth, the soil is super super super deep; but yet when you throw chemicals directly into the soil, you notice how things die within weeks or days or hours? Ever wonder what it's doing for you?
Did you know the best way to take your vitamins is trans-dermally; through your skin? So that means that literally everything you put onto your skin is absorbed and yet, most don't think about this when they put on their 'white creamy' skincare and products and what that will do, not to mention that they are looking for the results the label tells them they are going to experience the next morning!? Wow.
So how about prevention or slowing aging and making the body healthier so the immune system is strong? I always say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and today everyone knows this to be true...not that everyone is practicing this, but still, day by day, there is more awareness and though it seems that the stats are against us, the dark ages of the cosmetic industry and food industry here in Canada and the U.S. are soon to be over. From contrast always comes beauty and good so set yourself apart and make the decision based on the fact you want to live a LONG and healthy life. Me? I'm going for 150!

End of a 30 Day Cleanse...The Beginning of Something New

2010-10-10T10:54:00.007-04:00

me at almost 230lbs

I was always intrigued with the thought of making some extra money on the side and quite honestly, who isn't? When I was living in Whistler over 10 years ago a few people at my work were into Amway. I remember astigmatism I had about multi-level marketing for some reason...still influenced by others I suppose and quite honestly couldn't get excited about the products. Ok, so a few years pass by and Rod and I were introduced to another 'mlm'. We knew the people who were already doing it and decided to try it out. By the time we got the products, we were not impressed with the ingredients whatsoever I have to say so this was an expensive lesson. There were only a few products also and were not so cutting edge; you could find better in a health food store and for the same price, so I really wasn't expecting to find anything that we would like for ourselves. About 5 years passed and a colleague of ours and her husband were on Isagenix and introduced us and we didn't think the products met the standards in terms of trace minerals, whole foods source, organic, super foods, nutritional standards, vegan, etc. so we kindly thanked them for the info they shared and since went on from there. Now both have a very similar high standard so we didn't totally close the door on this; we watched for a bit and did more research. After 2 years passing and watching their business grow and hearing about another trip they are taking and another vacation and so on, we came to a point in our life that we took another look at it. I have to say, we were more than pleasantly surprised to know the nutritional cleansing system products were much better than we imagined. We also learned about the formulations and how they work so well with the North American diet, sparing the 'ups and downs' with a little fat here and a little sugar there so when they go OFF the Isagenix cleanse, they don't put on the weight they just lost. You get addicted to feeling good - so why stop? It's meant to be a support system and in many ways than just the one.

me today...

We enrolled for the 30 day nutritional cleanse, and a little nervous I have to say; changing lifestyle habits and daily routines for a whole month while others know you and expect to see results:) And I did! I felt regularly energetic, no dips and such. We both lost about 10+ lbs each and look and feel great. I continue with the Isalean shakes and the fish oil supplements because they passed the test, plus the GREENS and other. We really like the benefits and the business model is outstanding in terms of being lucrative, easy and definitely motivating. We find with our education and understanding of the ingredients and the body's ability to adjust, digest and balance, helps us to help others when starting out. It's not about losing weight, it is about cleansing the body from the everyday toxins we are exposed to. Even if you eat all organic and raw, if you live in North America, you should do a nutritional cleanse every season; can you imagine if you are not eating organic and raw foods what kind of build up there is in your colon? Its for your health and if you have kids; share the good habits, it will help you and them excel! As far as the weight loss goes, at one point in my life I reached 230lbs and it wasn't that long ago, so if I can commit myself to myself and do the program, than anyone can. It`s delicious and so easy. Good nutrition has been shown time and time again to help the body heal and fight disease, it allows us to live long and healthy lives so that we can enjoy all of our years and die naturally like we are meant to; from old age, from length of life....not heart attacks and thyroid conditions or something caused by years of being on synthetic drugs. We love to share our experiences with you...stay tuned!

Changing my tune...discovery of healthy thinking

2010-09-27T11:01:00.001-04:00

Talk about age of awareness. Wow. No doubt this is a good time to be living with so much change taking place in so many areas; technology, education, ways of thinking, religious beliefs, social attitudes, entrepreneurship, spirituality, communication, etc. "I wish I knew than what I know now" type thing.

Personally I believe that many people have been aware for many years and those of us that are just beginning to open our eyes are now noticing the difference. We watched the biography of Werner Erhard last night.Do you know this name? In the early part of the 70's, he had introduced a program called est training all about the modern teachings of 'transformation' to the 'main stream crowd' and became an icon for 2 decades all across the United States. He had workshops that were 3 or 4 days long in various locations; charging $250 with upwards of 600,000 attendees at any given time. He positively influenced many important leaders of today including Harvard professors, U.S. Presidents and celebrities, all went to his workshops to learn his profound, yet simple way of looking at oneself and 'letting go' or 'starting new' as he would put it into his own words, because reality is not real; it's our own interpretation. Millions attended and hundreds of thousands of people sought and found personal relief and transformation. You would think we would know about this man and apparently those that may remember him would know about the controversy that surrounded his workshops/programs and virtually everything he did; this was media influenced unfortunately and led him to closing his doors and moving away permanently. Since than, Werner continued and continues today to teach around the world in places like Asia and Europe; teaching those how they can leave their past behind and live now. I do recommend those that haven't heard of this man and are into transforming oneself and/or practice connecting to our higher selves. He didn't have much personal education, he just seemed to be in-tune with how we all think and was able to reinterpret this back to whomever he was coaching at the time; its fascinating to see and learn about. A man with little or no formal education and hardly any spiritual guidance, influenced successful leaders of today just because he was inspired to do so. Wow. We all have this ability to inspire, achieve and be what and whomever we choose to be. I know many who inspire others every day simply by living the life they choose to live and being happy; no microphones, no stage, no tickets, no charge. You just have to choose the path and why not opt for happiness or happy thoughts - they are much easier to think, no? So simple.

Lack of Iodine: Growing up with monthly reminders

2010-09-15T17:14:00.000-04:00

I remember when I was growing up and just discovering the perils of turning into a woman; my experience with menstrual cramping was out of this world. No seriously wasn't I the only one? As I discovered later

on in life, there were a lot of us going through this monthly living 'hell' that I called it at the time; behind closed doors, staying home from work or school or just drudging through the day trying to stay lucid...yes this bad. I am sure someone can relate. Okay, so what about the tender breasts every single month? Experience that? How about now? You know what I noticed is that my tender breasts or should I say the proper term; Fibrocystic Breast Disease, wasn't really prevalent until my late 20's and early 30's. And probably up until now, I would be suffering from painful breasts every month; IF I hadn't discovered why I was suffering from this and it's not just from our monthly period ladies, that is just the gift we have been given as woman; to have monthly reminders of what is happening in our body so that our bodies can communicate to us what adjustments we need to make.

So you remember what I had written previously about most North American women lacking iodine today compared to only 10% about a 100 years ago: well as it turns out, our 'indicators' are these monthly symptoms and if we have sufficient amounts of iodine in our bodies, we wouldn't suffer from painful breasts and/or Fibrocystic Breast Disease and we also wouldn't suffer from menstrual cramps. Seriously, that stage in our life and currently in our life, would be virtually eliminated if it weren't for this one crucial element that is needed by every human on this planet; but that North American's are missing today. Wow.

97% of earth's iodine is found in the sea!

Read it again. There is more, but for now - this is something more to read and think about and share. If you have suffered from any of the following conditions or know of anyone suffering from auto immune diseases such as: Anemia (low blood iron), Thyroidism, Arthritis, Psoriasis, Eczema, Fibrocystic Breast Disease, etc. Here are links for you and suggested reading material that is both comprehensive and fascinating, that you can share with your physician, nutritionist, esthetician, RMT, Naturopathic Doctor or whomever you are seeking health advice from these days:

*www.drbrownstein.com

www.altcancer.com

www.breastcancerchoices.org

*recommended reading: Thyroidism; Why We Need It, Why We Cannot Live Without It and share it with your Doctor!