Preventive Health & Root-Cause Medicine

Post #6 CV 101…… What we Know to be True about Viruses (aka…. the care and feeding of a virus).

What?!? You don’t want to care and feed a virus of any sort?

Well, then….. let’s set the stage for what it might look like to create an inhospitable environment should a virus want to step foot into your personal space. 😉

Please refer to Post #5 for Action Points #1 & #2 ’cause I’m just gonna dive right in to…….

Plan of Action #3: Viruses (in general) cannot set up camp and unpack their “bug in” bags unless some things go awry in a body ⛺️

If a virus enters into your personal space, one of the first things its going ask itself is this:

“Does this body have impaired glutathione production?”…. or is it gonna put up a fight?”

What the what? I thought we needed a strong immune system to fight off any viruses? Yes, that you do. But let’s unpeel a layer of that onion shall we? 

Glutathione is something our body manufactures in every single one of its cells. It is often considered the most important cellular defense/ antioxidant that allows the body to prevent and fight infections and disease.

It also plays a crucial role in immune response, DNA repair, and the detoxing we must be doing constantly to ward off the damage done by medications, household (or other) chemicals, radiation, & our own metabolic wastes.

(Ya’ll… if we are laden with these wastes, chemicals, and broken DNA…. ain’t no way we will be able to effectively fight off bacteria, viruses, and destructive toxins that constantly assault our body).

HERE’S A BONUS IN THE DEAL, GLUTATHIONE IS ALSO THE PROTECTOR OF OUR IMMUNE CELLS. IT EFFECTIVELY FEEDS, PROTECTS, AND STRENGTHENS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND BOOSTS WHITE BLOOD CELL PRODUCTION (TO FIGHT INFECTION) …. …. THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF OUR LIVES IS LITERALLY DEPENDENT UPON GLUTATHIONE.

Normally, glutathione is recycled in the body…. except when the toxic load is too much of a burden, and/or the simple building blocks (which I will talk about in a bit) are lacking….And that is where trouble happens.😬

Who might have impaired glutathione production? ….well… glad you asked!

👵👴 The elderly

💉 The vaccine injured (another topic for another day)
🔥 Those with acidic internal environments (Remember, we need to be constantly striving for a slightly alkaline body pH…. all diseases…. including viruses, love an acidic environment)

🚬 Smokers

🍔🍟 Those who are nutritionally deficient. Not to make light of the current virus situation, but 1 in 5 deaths in the USA is related to nutritional deficiencies…. that’s 11 million people a year friends. 😳 #easilypreventable

💊💊 Those who are on certain medications. Some meds deplete glutathione in the body…. and this acquired deficiency usually gets misdiagnosed as a side effect (and more medication is prescribed instead of correcting the deficiency …. heavy sigh)

If you are taking medications in any of the following drug classes, you’ll want to pay special attention to how to help improve glutathione production:
💊Acid Blockers (ex: Nexium, Pepcid, Prilosec, Protonix etc)
💊Analgesics (ex: Acetaminophen or any product containing acetaminophen including Hydrocodone)
💊Antacids that contain Aluminum (please, in Jesus name, do not knowingly consume Aluminum anyway! 🙏
💊Certain Antibiotics (including amoxicillin, zithromycin, cephalexin and related, doxycycline, quinolones, and sulfamethoxazole )
💊 Anti-inflammatory meds: (NSAIDS, Steroids, and Aspirin)
💊 Diuretics (ex: Furosemide and HCTZ)
💊 Birth control and synthetic hormone replacement therapy
Ugggh. That was a long list 😔

How might we go about improving glutathione production, and in the process…. improve our immune function? #wehaveourways 

We need a sulfur donor! Sulfur (not to be confused with the drug class “sulfa”) is required in our very DNA, and it’s a major building block needed for Glutathione production.
Common sulfur food sources include broccoli, kale, collards, cabbage, cauliflower, and watercress, and raw milk. Sadly, our soils (even on many organic farms) are depleted of minerals due to farming practices, so supplementation is a really good idea.

One of my most favorite YL supplements is called Sulfurzyme. As you might guess from its name…. it’s a rock star sulfur donor. 😉 I take it for a variety of reasons that I’m not even gonna go into today, but cannot imagine my life without it, especially now that immune health is a pertinent topic these days.

🍊 Secondly, glutathione production needs a natural source of Vitamin C. (Synthetic abounds…. try to avoid it if you can…. it’s derived from GMO’d corn). #justsaynotoGMO

My favorite source of naturally sourced Vitamin C is Young Living’s Super C Chewables. It also comes in a non-chewable form, but I take them daily as a healthy “treat” ’cause they’re kinda tasty!

Thirdly, glutathione production needs a source of Magnesium. Natural sources are always best ( dark chocolate, avocados, nuts, beans, chickpeas, pun’kin seeds), but once again…. soils are depleted of minerals, so I supplement. Young Living does not yet stand in the gap for us for this supplement, but I’ve found a plant based brand I feel comfortable recommending: NATURELO Magnesium Glycinate.

🍄 Finally…. selenium and Vitamin E… both are needed in small amounts. I take a supplement that has trace amounts of selenium, and that… in combination with mushrooms, grass fed beef, eggs, and oatmeal will do my body good.

Natural sources of Vitamin E include nuts, sunflower seeds, spinach and broccoli, so I’m pretty well covered there as well.

Other ways to boost glutathione production:
👉exercise! #justdoit
👉Vitamin B’s…. (folate, B6, & B12)
👉Milk Thistle
👉 Prayer & Meditation (would you believe that regular practice of these has been found to boost glutathione production by as much as 20%?) #Godwantsushealthy

Alrighty friends…. signing off for now. Stay tuned for Post #7… there’s lots more to unpack!

Holler at a friend who practices a Young Living healthy lifestyle (or at me) if this series has interested you and you’d like to learn more.

(and as always, this post is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or tell ya what to do in the case of a pandemic… I am not a doctor…. just a pharmacist who has been around the block a few times 😉)

xoxo~ liz

#knowbetterdobetter
#immunesupportiskindaimportant
#ThanksYL

Yesterday was a looooooong day of research and writing as I built a class for my peeps on the Coronavirus. I’m looking forward to separating fact from fiction in real time with them today…and then stepping in my “therapy session” 😉…. working in the garden and with my horses the rest of the day …. decompression time feeds my soul.

Time spent in nature is critical to every single one of us…. even if you weren’t raised in an “outdoorsy” lifestyle. Science has proven that it will:
🌳 Decrease your stress load
🌳 Make you happier
🌳 Relieve mental fatigue
🌳 Increase creativity
🌳 Increase generosity and kindness
🌳 Make you feel “more alive” instead of simply going thru the motions of day to day living.

And it’s free to every single one of us! 💕. I’ve long said that my therapy is our farm. There are times I think we should have named it “Prozac Pastures” 😂…. yes, farm life is alot of work, but daily immersion in nature keeps my husband and I balanced and sane.

I spend a great deal of time writing, researching, and studying as I help others live their best possible lives. Occasional breaks throughout the day to go pull weeds in the garden or brush a horse (if even for 20 minutes) is balm to my soul and my body.

Do you have a place in nature? If not, please….. find one. There are public parks and nature trails throughout the world and in every town in the United States. Chronic stress is no joke. It can literally kill you if left unchecked. Do yourself a favor….. go outside. Go for a walk. Put your phone on airplane mode or turn it off. Doing this regularly just might keep you out of the doctor’s office 😉.

hugs and love, liz

#plantsaregoodmedicine
#proudtohugatreeandadogcathorseandcow
#thanksYL

(Apologies for taking so long to get part II of my adrenal reset post out…. I’ve been taking my own advice and have been in Hawaii on a much needed business / vacation / relaxation time! 😉) #ThanksYL

Today’s the day we say goodbye to 2019, and while most are discussing plans to hit 2020 hard and heavy, I’d like to introduce a thought on behalf of your adrenal glands: consider allowing yourself some time this winter season to rest and recover.
YOU KNOW HOW WE POWERED THRU THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS…..ALL THE WHILE SECRETLY WISHING WE COULD JUST CURL UP ON THE COUCH WITH A GOOD BOOK AND READ OURSELVES INTO A BLISSFUL WINTER’S NAP? IF YOU HAVE THAT FEELING, YOU’RE NOT ALONE…. THAT’S YOUR BODY TRYING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. IT NEEDS TIME TO REST AND RECOVER FROM THE RAT 🐁 RACE! WE ARE NOT DESIGNED TO RUN 24/7/365.
❄️Winter is a time for fallen leaves, hibernation…. an energy reset. That’s an inaction not just reserved for nature! Prior to man-made electricity….. it was what we humans did too. We haven’t changed ya’ll….. allowing ourselves time to be still and quiet (ESPECIALLY in the Winter) will help boost internal health and go a long way towards setting the tone for your health in 2020.
❄️Winter is especially important for an adrenal gland / kidney / bladder reset. (Think water….. in the winter, water tends to slow down to a crawl…. especially if frozen).
Our adrenal glands are the little party hat shaped organ that sit atop the kidneys. They produce the stress hormone cortisol….. an absolutely critical factor in regulating metabolism, and helping us “power thru”. Too much tho?….. and trouble begins to brew. The body cannot keep up. Dysregulation occurs, and adrenal fatigue may result.
🔥Common signs of adrenal fatigue: deep, long lasting exhaustion, water retention, weight gain, lack of motivation, depression/anxiety, brain fog, insomnia, feelings of chronic stress.🔥
The emotion of fear is based in the kidneys, and allowing chronic stress into your life will only guarantee a fear based emotional lifestyle. #lovenotfear
Stay tuned…. Part II is to come….. but in the meantime….. that bucket list for 2020?….. consider allowing time for a winter reset so that you don’t fizzle and can be all you are meant to be in 2020 with vibrant health! 😘
Hugs and Love xxooxx ~ Liz
#ThanksYL
#loveyouradrenalglandsandtheywillpayyou1000fold
#theresanoilforthattoo

How do you feel about your gut?

Did you know that you have roughly 100 trillion bacteria (3-4 lbs worth!) sharing your personal space with you?…. more to the point…. inside you? Our “friends” within us are terribly important to our health. They keep the bad bacteria (aka: the bullies) in check. When our gut is healthy, approximately 80-85% of our bacteria is good, and 15-20% are bad. At this ratio, the good bacteria are able to keep the bad bacteria “in check”. The good bacteria are team players. When they are healthy, and there are enough of them, they are able to keep the bad bacteria from overpopulating and causing damage, dysfunction, and disease. 

In addition, good bacteria in the gut play a major role in many body functions…. including digestion and pooping, preventing inflammation of the intestinal wall, AND helping prevent  leaky gut syndrome. Surprisingly, our little bacteria friends also play a large role in our mental health. Poor gut health has been found to be directly correlated with OCD, ADHD, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, learning disabilities, memory, and mood…. not to mention general poor gut health. Our gut population is also responsible for approximately 80% of our immunity, AND not having enough good bacteria can lead to autoimmune disorders, allergies and infection. Good gut bacteria is also important to our weight!

Gut health plays a huge part in overall body inflammation. When your intestinal lining is compromised, total body inflammation or inflammation in certain parts of the body… including the brain is virtually guaranteed. Inflammation within the brain is painless, and yet it is a factor in Parkinsons, Alzheimer’s, MS, and Autism.

Finally, as we age, our good bacteria tend to naturally die off… and this is not good…not good at all. (Everyone “of a certain age” should be on a probiotic for optimal health). Go back and re-read the paragraphs above…. is it any coincidence that the elderly have regular issues “being regular”, having brain fog/memory lapses, sleep disorders etc? 

There are many ways we unintentionally damage and abuse our gut bacteria on a regular basis:  

• Overuse of antibiotics. If you must use them…. Always, always always use a heavy round of probiotics both during and following antibiotic use (making sure to separate the antibiotic and probiotic dose by at least 2 hours).
• Alcohol, processed foods, refined sugar, and refined carbohydrates. All of these products feed bad bacteria and promote inflammation
• NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). They cause gut inflammation, damage the gut lining, and recent research indicates that their use induces gluten sensitivity.
• Antacids and Acid Reducers. (Did you know that most of these are not FDA approved for use longer than 8 weeks). Long term use promotes Candida (yeast) overgrowth. 
• Minimize and control your stress levels. High levels of stress can cause major GI damage over the long term.

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And finally…. when we reach ‘a certain age’, our good gut bacteria begins to naturally die off. When this happens, our overall body health is compromised unless we supplement! 

Young Living offers one of the finest probiotics on the market: Life 9. And no, not all probiotics are created equally. Case Adams PhD, wrote a book: Probiotics-Protection Against Infection. In his book, he outlines what to look for in a good probiotic….. The type of capsule (HPMC), the diverse strains of bacteria (YL has 9 strains: 4bifido, 4lacto, and 1 strepto), the quantity of bacteria per capsule (10-15 BILLION Colony Forming Units is recommended for maintenance dosing), the container itself (glass with a metal lid…not plastic), and a moisture control (calcium carbonate). All of these requirements are so important… and they cumulatively make Life 9 the powerhouse for our health that it is. I know that there are tons of probiotics on the market, but MOST do not follow this advised criteria. Do your homework and then pick up a bottle of Life 9!
So, in a nutshell… we truly ARE what we ingest! But the zoo within us needs regular TLC and protection. Without that, you may end up with a gut gone rogue…. and that, my friends, is one of the worst things that could happen to your overall body health.


Hugs and Love~ Liz
(PS: Young Living makes a top notch probiotic for kiddos too…. it’s called Mighty Pro. ;))

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