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Minerals

Zinc Deficiency

Liz James · October 5, 2021 ·

‘Tis the season to chat about zinc (or lack thereof!). Frankly, we should have had this discussion two years ago…..better late than never, right? First, take a close look at the clues I dropped in the graphic, and then hop back here to tackle this very important topic!


Approximately 25-33% of the population is deficient in zinc. The World Health Organization says zinc deficiency is the 5th leading life-threatening factor in the world, especially in 57% of the elderly population.  Kind of a big deal for a micronutrient! At least 16% of all deep respiratory infections are related to a zinc deficiency (impaired taste and smell, fever, cough, sore throat, generalized weakness, pain and achy limbs, runny nose, and even occasionally…. diarrhea😬 are all symptoms of deficiency btw).


Why? Zinc is one of the white hat good guys . It has over 200 known roles in body function (just take a look again at some of the clues related to low zinc), and is a key player in our immune system:
✅Adequate zinc is essential for preventing viral entry and also supports appropriate viral response in host cells.
✅Adequate zinc supports ciliary strength and action in the lungs. These are tiny hairlike structures in the lungs that help prevent mucus buildup.
✅Adequate zinc levels directly inhibit viral replication.
✅Adequate zinc levels have a supportive role in balancing immune response during a dis-ease process. 


Additionally, 🔥zinc deficiency🔥 has been shown to play a role in:
🔥Type I Diabetes
🔥Rheumatoid Arthritis
🔥Cancer
🔥Neurodegenerative diseases
🔥Depression
🔥Malaria
🔥HIV
🔥Tuberculosis
🔥Measles
🔥Pneumonia
🔥Hormone imbalance


Zinc Factoids: 
👉Excess is not stored in the body. Intake must occur daily. 
👉Both deficiency and excess can negatively impact immune system function. This is but one reason to have thorough blood work run by a healthcare professional who will take the time to do a complete analysis. 
👉Zinc “overload” is rare, but can certainly happen. When it does, it is usually  due to a copper deficiency or zinc:copper ratio imbalance. (again, labwork!)


How did we become a world of zinc deficient people? Toxins and poor farming practices. Overworked soil and fertilizers containing too much phosphorus (which binds zinc) are to blame. Zinc cannot enter into the plants and then fails to make it into the food chain.


High toxin☠️exposure is also to blame. Just one more excellent reason to kick your known household toxins to the curb (toxins typically found in mainstream cleaning products, personal care items, processed foods and beverages, makeup etc).

Thankfully, we have solutions in place🙌 with Young Living Thieves Household Cleaner, a wonderful skincare line, and even our amazing YL Savvy Makeup collection. Kicking toxins to the curb is so easy knowing that pure unadulterated excellence is waiting to replace them!


Other causes of zinc deficiency:
🔥Chronic stress (depletes zinc rapidly)
🔥A high copper to zinc ratio
🔥Leaky gut and digestive disorders (zinc deficiency is both cause and effect!)
🔥Medication usage: ACE inhibitors (blood pressure), antacids and proton pump inhibitors, glucophage, beta blockers (blood pressure), birth control pills, corticosteroids, diuretics, NSAIDS, and statins are among those known to deplete zinc.


The USDA recommended daily allowance for zinc is 10-12 mg/day, but this does not account for the amount of toxins a person may be regularly exposed to. Many functional medicine doctors suggest that optimal daily zinc should be 20-40mg/day. 


Foods high in zinc include pumpkin seeds, grass fed dairy (ex: Kerrygold Butter) , cashews, almonds, spinach, asparagus, dark chocolate, grass fed meat, salmon, mushrooms, and turkey.


Thankfully, we also have several Young Living Supplements containing zinc to supplement what we may get from food:
*Organic dried Wolfberries (1.8mg per 100gms)
* Immupro chewable tablets (5mg/tablet)
*Super B (3mg/2 tablets)
*Powergize (5mg / capsule)
*Balance Complete (4mg/ serving)
*AminoWise (2.1mg/ serving)
*Master Formula (15mg/packet) 
*MegaCal (1mg/serving)
*MightyVites (for the littles….. 1.1mg/tablet) 
*Mineral Essence (contains Zinc and 61 other important trace minerals)
*NingXia Red (contains zinc by virtue of its ingredients. I was unable to determine how much zinc it has per serving)


It’s a good idea to achieve the RDA minimum requirements on a daily basis (especially since zinc is not stored in the body!). My personal preference is to try to achieve the optimal recommendations by way of the foods I eat, and then supplementing with a variety of what is available to us with a Young Living membership. Immupro and Master Formula are two of my faves!   In the event of illness, a larger mg/day may be needed.


Finally, there is a test you can do at home. It’s called a zinc tally/challenge (you can find more info on this online). It is an oral “taste test”. What you taste (no or weak taste versus a strong metallic taste) is an additional clue for the “health” of your zinc levels. 


As always, do your research, and consult your favorite healthcare professional who should be well versed in analyzing blood work if you suspect you may have a zinc deficiency.
xoxo~ liz

#sharingiscaring
#ThanksYL
#watchyourzinc
#Goodmedicine
(PS: if you do not have a health care professional, I do offer blood work analysis)

October Free Gifts

Liz James · October 1, 2021 ·

I cannot believe we are already in October! (Gah!! Has anyone started their Christmas shopping yet? 😀)
I learned yesterday that the word Autumn means “increase”. Young Living is certainly handing us all the ways to INCREASE our health and wellness options with the gifts with purchase this month.
I’m not a fan calling this season “Fall” because to me, it has negative connotations. I mean…. who wants to fall below the wellness line? (“I do”…. said no one ever😬).
Let’s take a look at what we’ve got available to us for free this month:
Cinnamon bark and clove. Both are amazing oils for cooking and baking. They are also 2 of the 5 oils in Thieves….. and we all know what Thieves does for us, right? Both of these oils are considered “hot” oils, so you’ll want to dilute with a carrier oil if using topically. You can create some delicious autumn diffuser recipes with these too.
Autumn is a time to love on your adrenal glands. The body naturally wants to rest and recover as the days grow shorter. It’s a great time to shower your adrenals with affection, and any time you diffuse or use nutmeg in all the ways you are certainly doing that! Have you smelled nutmeg? It makes me so happy! Try a couple drops with some orange or Citrus Fresh in your diffuser……. soooo good!
Patchouli. Do you like it? This is a fantastic oil for the skin, but did you know it is also great for digestive disturbances? (Should we be surprised?….. it’s one of the amazing oils found in Digize). Remember, the skin is a mirror to the gut. No wonder it is known for both skin AND gut health!
Immupro is a chewable tablet that is on my order every single month! Ya’ll….. this is a powerhouse wellness tool that I feel is probably under utilized by the general YL population. Bonus points for its double duty. Chew one tablet before bedtime, for a better night’s sleep too. Mushrooms and melatonin for the immune supportive win! (Do a little quick research on the benefits of the reishi, maitake, and mushroom mycelium if you are the curious👀 sort!)
The Turmeric Herbal Tea and Tea mug are the icing on the cake. I plow thru my herbal teas from October to March. The turmeric herbal tea is one of my favorites! A tiny bit spicy….. it warms me right up and does great things for my body too. Tea with benefits is always a bonus! (It’s a close 2nd favorite for me…. have you tried the Slique Tea?…. oh my word! I LOVE LOVE LOVE me a mug of Slique tea!)
Remember to keep your Subscribe to Save (formerly known as Essential Rewards) activated. Please reach out to one of us if you have any issues or confusion with the new ordering platform. You’ll notice that at the 400PV level, we are receiving back product valued at $220.80 this month. That is without factoring in points too….. 10% back for the first 3 months, then 20% back until the 25th month, and after that, we are blessed with 25% back. To put that in perspective, it adds an additional $40, $80, or $100 back into your pocket (in the way of product credit). Savings like that cannot be beat!
Enjoy your day and Happy October Friends!
xoxo~ liz
#savvywellness
#IfYouKnowYouKnow
#ThanksYL
#sharingiscaring
#Immunesupportissoimportant

Health Clues from Your Hair -part 2

Liz James · August 24, 2021 ·


💈In addition to hair loss, the hair and scalp scalp also give clues.


💈Brittle hair may be the result of something as simple as regular exposure to harsh treatment. This may include parabens or sulfate laden hair “care” products, tho those companies who create such products certainly aren’t using ingredients that actually do care for hair!  Hair that is heavily treated with commercial dyes, perms, and relaxers is also prone to brittleness. Do not underestimate the destructive power of a toxic☠️ personal care product. These commercial mainstream products can be so damaging to hair, scalp, and even have an effect on us internally. Remember, skin (and scalp) is like a sponge….what you put on your body is absorbed and affects the body systemically. Young Living continues to stand in the gap by providing an amazing line of shampoos, conditioners, and body care products that are safe and wonderfully beneficial to our bodies!


👉Chronic dehydration is another cause of brittle hair. Are you prone to split ends? 25% of hair is water, and this may be a very telling sign that you are not consuming enough water daily. Have you noticed how many clues there are that lead back to low grade dehydration? Approximately 75% of the population in the USA are chronically dehydrated! Think about how many irritating clues might vanish by simply drinking more good clean filtered water! If water isn’t your jam because it lacks the flavor you crave, get yourself the Young Living Vitality Drops. The bonus is that Lavender Lemonade and Grapefruit Bergamot also contain needed electrolytes, while the Jade Lemon Berry and Spearmint Tangerine flavors provide an added  energy boost! My workouts are visibly better when I’ve added one of the energy flavors to my water while at the gym.


👉Other possible reasons for brittle hair include zinc deficiency (something that will ultimately affect your immune system function), a thyroid disorder (a full thyroid lab panel can reveal this easily), or too much processed food and not enough Omega 3’s in your diet. Unless a diet is absolutely loaded with natural Omega 3’s, I’d highly encourage adding OmegaGize3 or MindWise to your daily routine. 


👉Certain medications may cause hair to become brittle, altered in texture or color, or change in receiving a color.  Antidepressants, birth control pills, chemotherapy meds, anesthesia, statins, singulair, biologics, anxiety meds, and certain blood pressure meds are among those which may be considered likely suspects.
“Gray hair is a crown of glory: it is gained by living a godly life.”
~ Proverbs 16:31


💈Gray hair is usually well earned, but sometimes, medications, life events, and deficiencies can cause it to happen too early. Prematurely gray hair may happen with a B12 deficiency, an extremely stressful life event, or occasionally, certain medications. 


💈The scalp also holds clues! Dandruff is often due to a gut imbalance, an unbalanced diet (where are your Omega 3’s?), or a sensitivity to a food ( commercial dairy is often the perpetrator).

There are really 4 main types of dandruff:
👉Dry skin dandruff: This may happen from washing hair too frequently, living in a very dry atmosphere,  or chronic low grade dehydration. It is characterized by small white flakes. YL Copaiba Vanilla Shampoo is formulated for dry and damaged hair. What’s good for the hair is also good for the scalp! 
👉Oily skin dandruff: These flakes tend to be yellowish and larger in nature. This type of dandruff requires more frequent washing.  A diet high in processed foods is frequently the culprit. YL Lavender Mint Shampoo is formulated to lift away product residue and pollutants and excess scalp oils.  
👉Yeasty dandruff: Candida infections can and do commonly appear on the scalp. Candida is opportunistic and is prone to setting up camp when the conditions are right. A suppressed immune system, an unhealthy diet, chronic stress, certain medications, and harsh chemicals in hair care products all may contribute to ideal conditions for candida to become a problem. Candida generally has larger flaky scales than dry skin dandruff, and the areas involved may appear somewhat moist.
👉Eczema and Psoriasis may also appear on the scalp appearing as patchy areas which may appear thicker than the normal skin and the flakes are generally quite large. Both eczema and psoriasis are immune system and gut health/diet related. Remember, the skin is a reflection of the health of the gut!


Overall, the most important thing you can do for the health of your hair and scalp is exactly what you’d do for the rest of your body…. A well balanced healthy diet, avoiding toxins however you can, and managing stress and sleep. 


If you have been blessed with baldness, here’s some love for you! 
BALD EAGLE BALM  
10 drops of Cedarwood Essential Oil
10 drops of Carrot Seed oil
5 drops of Myrrh
½ cup organic jojoba oil
Mix oils, shake well and massage onto that beautiful bald head after showering.
xoxo~ liz
 
#sharingiscaring
#ThanksYL
#lovingyourtressesisgoodmedicine
#goodmedicine

Health Clues from Your Hair – part 1

Liz James · August 17, 2021 ·

Hair is a sensitive and personal subject for many people. Globally, the hair care market is estimated to be about 87.9 BILLION dollars annually. Clearly, people like their hair!. So, if hair goes missing, thinning, or begins to fall out in handfuls, it may be an emotional experience.


Typically, the average adult head loses 80-100 strands of hair a day. If you’ve noticed greater hair loss, the first clue is to determine if thinning hair happened gradually or abruptly and if in patches or across the entire scalp.


One of the most common hair loss triggers is stress and/or😷 illness. Our body perceives mental stress in the same way it responds to excessive physical stress. Persistent high levels of cortisol arrests hair growth and contributes to excessive shedding of hair. If stress remains elevated for an extended period of time, hair will often thin and even turn gray. Bacterial and viral infections can also certainly trigger hair loss, specifically if fear or angst are emotions carried by the individual.
The good news is that stress related hair loss usually stops several months after the stress or sickness has abated.

Stress management is a KEY component to a healthy lifestyle and healthy hair. At no time does it become more important than when the body is already fatigued from fighting an illness. Do not underestimate the power of emotionally supportive oils such as Young Living’s 🙏Stress Away, Peace and Calming, and Valor🙏!

Other additional tress “de-stressing” tips include:
*Incorporating a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables and food high in Omega 3’s, while avoiding processed foods! If you feel that you may not be getting enough Omega 3’s in your diet, add in Young Living’s OmegaGize3 to fill in the gaps! You’d be surprised at how much our bodies (and hair) actually need. Consider also stepping into an anti-inflammatory diet. (Message me privately and I can connect you with a wonderful 28 day program that has helped many people walk through this in a community setting.)
*Detox your body, making sure to drink plenty of water in the process
*Get plenty of sleep
*Let hair air dry
*Avoid using toxic chemicals or synthetic ingredients on hair and scalp, especially those that contain sulfates and parabens.
*Thankfully, we have a full line of healthy and natural body and hair care products available to us with our Young Living membership!


💈Other causes of hair loss include:
👉Hormonal changes due to pregnancy or post pregnancy
👉Too much vitamin A or selenium in a diet or supplement regimen.
👉Not enough protein in a diet
👉Genetics ( male or female pattern baldness)
👉A hormonal imbalance (including PCOS)
👉Low Iron, biotin, Vit D, or Zinc
👉Certain autoimmune diseases
👉A thyroid imbalance
👉Losing weight too quickly (also commonly happens after bariatric or metabolic surgeries)
👉Over processed or chemically exposed hair/scalp
👉Gluten sensitivity
👉A calcium to magnesium ratio imbalance. If the calcium to magnesium ratio is “heavy” on the calcium side in the body, calcification can occur in areas of the body (dangerously in blood vessels) including hair follicles. The calcification stifles hair growth and starves the area of nutrients. While calcium excess is stored in the body, magnesium is not. Additionally, there is a strong cry to “take calcium” to prevent osteoporosis, but rarely do we hear much about taking magnesium to prevent it. Too much calcium and not enough magnesium will eventually contribute to brittle bones. Not all magnesium supplements are created equal in terms of bioavailability. Thankfully, Young Living has done a masterful job of incorporating the right kinds of magnesium in supplements like Super Cal Plus , Master Formula, and the Kidscents Unwind!


Finally, there are many many medications that may cause hair loss:
💊Certain blood thinners such as warfarin and heparin
💊Beta blockers and ACE inhibitors (two classes of blood pressure meds)
💊Biologics (commonly used for certain autoimmune disorders) such as Humira, Amjevita, and Enbrel
💊NSAIDS (the longer the use, the more likely the hair loss)
💊Some antidepressants including Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, and Wellbutrin
💊Anabolic steroids (leads to a hormone imbalance)
💊Metformin (depletes folate and B12 which are needed for hair growth)
💊Certain acne meds containing isotretinoin (a Vit A derivative… see above)
💊Antibiotics (long term use is especially problematic. The gut lining becomes damaged and nutrients required for hair growth are not absorbed properly)
💊Anticonvulsants
💊Statins
💊Neurontin (commonly used for neuropathy)
💊Hormone therapy (including birth control pills)
💊Some acid reducers (including Tagamet and Pepcid)
💊Heavy metals and poisons including arsenic, thallium, and mercury
Certainly, hair loss may sometimes be out of our control, but there is much that can be done to mediate it, once the reason(s) has been identified! Thorough lab work including a full hormone panel, thyroid panel, and testing for nutritional deficiencies often provides solid evidence as to why a body’s northernmost real estate has become sparsely populated.
“Treat your hair like royalty. It’s the crown you never take off.”
xoxo~ liz


#sharingiscaring
#healthyhairisagoodclue
#goodmedicineisknowningyourhair
#ThanksYL

Health Detective Tip – blood clues

Liz James · August 10, 2021 ·

My husband calls me “the noticer” on our farm because I notice even the slightest irregularities or inconsistencies… It doesn’t matter if it’s a person, plant, or beast. Often what I notice is nothing to be concerned about, but acknowledging trends or patterns will oftentimes save time and heartache if we can “nip something in the bud” before we have an all-out crisis.
It doesn’t matter if you live on a farm👩‍🌾 or in a city apartment🏢, becoming a casual “noticer” hones skills that may keep you safe, alive, and healthy. Pairing “noticing” with instinct (what I prefer to call Holy Spirit-led discernment😉), along with a bit of knowledge goes a long way as a skilled “noticer”. We all become amateur paramedic sleuths🔎 when a temperature is taken, a throat is examined for spots, sleep is lost, pain is felt, or a quick look is taken at what just dropped into the toilet😳😱. Those are all clues that we see after the fact…. changes within the body have become noticeable enough that they can no longer be ignored.
“Blood goes round and round” air goes in and out; any variation from this is bad.”~ Paramedic 101
*Blood should move efficiently and effectively throughout the body. If it does not, trouble is on the horizon. Blood transports oxygen and nutrients throughout the body and removes carbon dioxide and other waste. It also helps regulate body temperature and pH and is a shield of protection within us by way of its finely tuned clotting mechanisms (so that we won’t bleed too much or too little) and role in immune system function.
*Healthy “clean” blood makes more efficient oxygen and nutrient deliveries to cells which ultimately leads to better mental health, cleaner clearer skin, better regulation of cholesterol, and enhanced liver and lung function (which allow for better offloading of cellular and pathogenic waste and toxins).
*Does your blood appear to move efficiently throughout the body?
Try this “hands-on” clue to assess whether your vascular system may (or may not) be serving blood to the nether regions of your body well (your hands and feet!).
The Capillary Nail Refill Test is a simple test you can do on yourself or a family member:
*Note the color of unpolished nails. They should be light pink in color.
*Gently and firmly press on the nail bed of a fingernail for about 5 seconds. The nail will turn pale.
*Holding the hand above the heart, release the pressure on the tip of the finger and watch for the amount of time it takes for the original color to return to the nail.
*Upon release of pressure, the nail should return to its original color within 2 seconds.
Now, what do the results from this clue mean? If the nail bed color takes more than two seconds to recover its color, it may mean any (or all) of these things need to be addressed:
👉Dehydration (blood simply cannot flow well if there isn’t enough water in the blood)
👉Anemia
👉Hypothermia (if someone has poor peripheral circulation as with Raynaud’s Syndrome, a cold room can certainly affect the outcome of the press test. This in itself may be a clue, as Raynaud’s is often associated with autoimmune disorders such as lupus, scleroderma, RA, and Sjogren syndrome).
👉Peripheral vascular disease (commonly caused by a buildup of plaque inside artery walls which ultimately leads to narrowing, blockage, and vascular spasms in legs and sometimes also in arms. This is another clue if the pain is exacerbated during exercise and improves when at rest.)
Poor oxygenation throughout the body is the Number One cause of declining health and disease. Blood needs to flow, oxygen needs to be delivered, and waste needs to be disposed of constantly.
What are some things you can do to encourage and support a healthy vascular system?
*NingXia Red! Our favorite red drink supports both the vascular system and the blood flowing through it…. I encourage you to pick up a copy of NingXia Wolfberry: the Ultimate Superfood by Gary Young to learn more! You’ll never want to be without NingXia Red after understanding how valuable and supportive this drink is to our health.
*Eat plenty of fresh cabbage, lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, garlic, grapefruit, lemon, and oranges to encourage detoxification. Fruits like apples, plums, and pears have pectin fibers that are also useful in cleansing the blood.
💫Strive to keep a slightly alkaline body. In 1931, Dr. Otto Warburg won a Nobel Prize for proving that highly oxygenated, slightly alkaline blood creates an inhospitable environment for cancer cells.
*Diaphragmatic Breathing: Use ALL of the lungs when breathing. Most people only breathe using the upper portion of their lungs. Make your diaphragm work when you breathe at least several times a day (if not always). Pairing “mindful breathing” with positive emotions and gratitude improves the oxygenation of blood!
*Stay well hydrated! If you don’t like to drink water, my guess is that you’ve never tried the Young Living Vitality Drops! (Grapefruit Bergamot is my fave!)
🌟Glutathione: This is the master antioxidant. Sulfurzyme provides the body with essential tools needed to make glutathione. This is another one of my personal all-time favorites!
🌿Chlorophyll, as is found in the leafy greens mentioned above, also provides key nutrients for healthy blood. It’s hard to get enough of it though for most people. Young Living’s Multigreens is a fantastic way to get concentrated chlorophyll into your body on the days you just can’t eat enough kale and spinach!
💥Vitamin B12 and Folate (Super B for the win!)
💪Exercise and movement! The mere act of standing up triggers chemical changes within the body that benefit blood flow.
*Increase joy and reduce stress in your life (Have you read Dr. Emoto’s book, “The Hidden Messages in Water”?)
👐Massage: It improves circulation and mood!
Poor circulation can be painful and even dangerous, and the ideas above are just a few ways to support a healthy vascular system and blood supply.
What is something that you consciously do to encourage cardiovascular health?
xoxo~ liz


#caringissharing
#happybloodisgoodmedicine
#joyinmyheartisgoodmedicine
#goodmedicine
#ThanksYL

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Elizabeth James

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