Be Open to Change

I wanted to be a little candid with you, my readers, about somethings going on in my life as well as the fact that while eating healthy is wonderful, it is important to keep in mind all the aspects of health and wellness. It's not just about the food that goes in our mouths. I have personally had a rough go the past several years, and because of personal situations I am reevaluating my diet, my routine, and my health practices. I am going through a divorce and it is taking a toll on my body. Anyone going through the traumatic stress of a divorce, recent death of a loved one, loss of job, or other detrimental situation must be aware of the fact that when these life situations occur we need to really listen to our bodies, nourish accordingly, and do whatever else is necessary.

First things first, take everything in prayer to God, and set before Him your challenges, concerns, fears, anger, and sadness. He is the great physician. He is in the business of healing hearts and bodies. Trusting your savior, Yeshua, is the first step in healing. Recently, a close dear loved one of mine asked me a question. He said, "What is your job as a Christian?" My response was to share the love of Yeshua, the Christ. He corrected me and said that was merely an off shoot or side dish of what comes from our one job. The answer to the question was to have faith. As the story goes in the book of Genesis chapter 22, Abraham approached the altar, in his mind with his only son already dead, in faith that His God would make all things right, assuming the position of obedience.

Just like Abraham, we are called to have faith. Faith, even that a gift given to us from the Heavenly Father (could He seriously make it any easier?), is necessary for true whole healing. He is our maker. We must handover our fears, doubts, pride, and misconceptions. We must be willing to be in constant transformation. Obeying His Word and being sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading for healing is necessary.

When our bodies are put to the test it is important to listen and watch for signs of stress, deficiency, and not become complacent spiritually or physically. It is often easy, especially for moms with busy schedules, to sacrifice their own well being for that of their family. There is a problem with this common trap. Women are natural nurturers. We must learn how to allow our Heavenly Father and Husband to nurture our spirits and physical bodies as well taking steps to nurture ourselves. It is not kind, generous, or loving to allow yourself to become depleted and neglected.

Different health issues can arise and affect the body in various ways. No one is immune, not even me. Staying strong spiritually is equally important as maintaining physical health. Do attend your place of worship often. No one person can be the church. Man was not intended to be alone. In Genesis 2:18 The Lord said it is not good for man to be alone. Reading the great physicians's handbook, our spiritual love letter from the God of the Universe, the Bible daily is also important for the fluid relationship between you and your creator. Then taking time in unceasing daily prayer is equally as important for growth and trust to be built between us and God. Unceasing prayer doesn't mean you must spend 24 hours praying. That is an unreal expectation, not one placed upon us by God. He simply want our daily regular attention. He desires consultation often, and loves us to a depth we cannot grasp.

Due to stress, some of the once upon a time healthy foods may need to go on hold or be reduced. For me, raw kale will be one of those. I am an avid raw kale lover and always will be. I am also sensitive to the fact that since my thyroid and adrenals are at risk currently it is better to eat it cooked. My female cycles have become extremely intense over the past few months. I have added the supplement Ashwagandha daily to my regimen. It is an adaptogenic herb aiding in adrenal stress, touching on physical, environmental, mental, and emotional stress. I have increased my intake of tulsi tea and maca root powder. Both are adaptogenic plants. Maca is great for hormone balance, energy, and nourishing the hypothalamus. Tulsi works well with Ashwagandha to reduce stress.

I have added a new activity. I'm taking Karate with my sons. This is great for mind as well as the body. It is also two whole hours each week that I think of nothing but karate, how breathtaking. Finding a positive activity to occupy your brain will be later followed by a thank you from your brain. Diffusing lavender essential oil at bed time increases the quality of my sleep. I have also added a massage once monthly. The power of safe human touch will remove loads of stress. Amongst my crazy schedule I am making it a point to spend time with dear genuine friends. Let others care and love you as well, even if its difficult. It is a blessing to others by allowing them to be used by God to bless you.

Don't allow the dogma of a health and wellness book dictate what you must do. Use wisdom, seek guidance from God, and use common sense. Listen to your body. The only book that is divinely inspired is the Bible. All the rest are written by men. Even take my blog with a grain of salt, and pray accordingly.

Simple Healthy Haircare

Just like skin, we need to not treat, but nourish our hair. Our daily diet affects our hair directly and no amount of chemically made product is going to condition, moisturize, or improve the health of our hair. We must eat right to produce good results. If we are starving our bodies our hair will starve too. Malnutrition doesn't refer to a lack of food being consumed. It refers to a lack of nutrients. Stress is also a large factor with hair health, specifically growth and loss. 

So lets talk about foods for the hair. Our hair, just like the rest of our body, needs to eat! The hair thrives from a wide variety of foods. The main minerals and vitamins our hairs needs are: vitamins B & C, the proteins keratin and collagen, iron, silica, lycopene, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants. Below I will provide a list of foods with the nutrients that they provide. Keep in mind you'll get maximum nutrients with high qualities of these foods, specifically raw and organic or wild.

What to Eat for Healthy Tresses

Keratin (strength and growth): garbanzo beans, eggs, kale, walnuts, almonds

Biotin (B vitamin for growth): halibut, cucumbers, goats milk, strawberries, blueberries, carrots, almonds, walnuts, Swiss chard, and avocado

Other B Vitamins (prevents hair loss): dark leafy greens, eggs, poultry, salmon, whole fat yogurt

Iron (growth): dark leafy greens, nuts, beans, salmon, poultry, eggs

Silica (retains moisture and strength): leeks, green beans, garbanzo beans, cucumber, celery, and strawberries

Omega 3 Fatty Acids (gives moisture): salmon, walnuts, hemp seeds, flaxseeds, chia seeds

Lycopene (antioxidant that helps maintain levels of collagen): watermelon, tomatoes, red bell peppers

Tips to Be Aware of with Foods

There are two types of iron: heme (animal sourced iron) and non-heme (plant sourced iron). The body can actually absorb heme better, the chance of levels becoming toxic are higher. Non- Heme iron is easier for the body to regulate, which is less likely to store up and toxify the body.

What to Stay Away From

Caffeine: reduces absorption of non-heme iron

Excess Calcium: too much of this mineral, especially from processed milk from the grocery store, can inhibit iron absorption; do not ever supplement with calcium if it is not 100% necessary; if you ever do supplement with make sure it from a plant source like algae.

Phytic Acid: some plants contain phytic acid like nuts, seeds, grains, and beans; certain plants contain higher levels; it reduces non-heme iron absorption; a way to reduce phytic acid is to soak your nuts, seeds, and beans beforehand.

Good Supplements for Healthy Hair

Collagen: this is a protein found in the body in our bones. It breaks down over time due to stress and poor diet. Its very important for strengthening hair and it promotes growth. The best source is a sea sourced hydrolyzed supplement from wild fish bones. You can find it sourced from cows and pigs, but I would stay away from those due to toxins and lack of knowledge about antibiotics and hormones.

Aloe: a drinkable aloe supplement is very beneficial because it helps absorb B vitamins and it will add moisture.

Haircare

Often times our hair and skin are victims of over washing. We live in a culture that is obsessed with getting rid of germs and bacteria. A little dirt never hurt anyone, it sure has helped several people though. I cannot stress enough how vital a healthy gut is to our immune systems. That requires trillions upon trillions of good bacteria. When we take antibiotics and eat poorly....oh I digress, back to hair. The over washing makes our hair dry and brittle. That is because the chemicals in the water, I highly doubt you are using a shower filter, strip our hair of moisture and natural oils. Same with our skin. Try to wash your hair every other, or even every two days if possible.

There are so many hair products on the market mainstream and organic. The problem is with organic products its hard to know who to trust since there are no clear or strict guidelines. The word organic without the USDA seal of approval really means nothing. So a hair product can have organic written on it 50 times and it still doesn't really matter. As the consumer we are left with buyer beware. It's kind of disconcerting if you really care about where your money goes, who you are supporting, as well as what goes on your head and the heads of your children.

The buying of hair products can get extra interesting when food allergies or intolerances are hanging out as well. Yes, if you have food allergies, especially to gluten, do be aware of what goes on your head! It makes a huge difference. Remember these things are going on our scalps, and it goes into our blood streams. I do think there are a few trustworthy lines available. It goes without saying that a hefty price tag is sometimes attached.

As a mom and follower of Yeshua, I really do take these little things to heart and pray. It's not worth stressing over though. I've watched moms literally stress over which products to purchase at the health food store where I work. Nonetheless these products are bought with God's money going on the houses for His Holy Spirit so we want to be responsible. I can share with you a couple brands that I have researched, feel comfortable with, and/or have used. I havent used all of them. Honestly, I've tried to make my own, and I haven't been satisfied yet, but will let you know if I become successful. Any brands I list are also gluten free. It's too arduous to go through every product line that isn't labeled gluten free. There are too many ingredients and terms that are disguised with crazy jargon you'd never know was gluten. Save yourself the trouble and only buy products with the gluten free label.

Safe Brands

• Honey Bee Gardens

• Alaffia

• Hugo Naturals

• Surface

• Desert Essence

• JR Ligetts Shampoo Bars

• Latherandlove.com shampoo bar

Major Toxins in Hair Products

You want to be on the look out for the following toxins. When you see these you automatically know to move onto the next bottle:

• Sodium Laurel/Laureth Sulfate: overly processed detergent that after processing contains carcinogens

• 2,5 Diamine Toluene Sulfate: toxin linked to blood disorders

• Peg-3 Cocamide: carcinogenic foaming agent

• Aminomethyl Proponal: pH adjuster usually used at much higher than safe levels

• Parabens: preservatives linked to neurological disorders and cancer

Final Odds and Ends

I usually wash my hair every other day. During one day of washing, usually mid-week I do a baking soda wash and vinegar rinse. It's a safe and inexpensive way to rid your scalp of excess product, brings hair back to life, and makes the hair shiny. I don't use shampoo or conditioner this day, other than possibly a little conditioner on my ends. To deep condition my hair, usually twice a week I massage organic, unrefined, virgin coconut oil into my scalp, and all through my hair. I sleep on it in a shower cap, and wash it out in the morning.

To wash with baking soda use 1 part baking soda and three parts water. Try 2 Tbsp baking soda and 6 Tbsp water. Mix it in a small bowl or jar into a paste. Rub into hair and scalp, let sit for 1-2 minutes. Rinse in the shower. To rinse with vinegar you need 1 part water and 1 part raw apple cider vinegar, like Braggs. Try 1/4 cup water and 1/4 cup of vinegar in a jar, shake to mix well. Then pour onto hair slowly all over your head. You can add 5-6 drops of essential oils for a more pleasant scent, maybe try lavender or rose.  Do not rinse. Dry and style as usual.

For styling I use argan oil like a gel. It keeps the frizz down, and argan oil is great for hair health. It's not too heavy or greasy. I've also been using Honey Bee Gardens alcohol free hair spray and I really like it. Hugo naturals has a hair gel that I'd like to try out. I will let you know if I do :) For guys a tip I picked up watching a documentary, which I currently can't remember the name of, was to use UNPETROLEUM JELLY (not to be confused with petroleum jelly), for hair pomade. Any good health food store should carry that product. It's made up of healthy oils.

What do you do to keep your hair healthy?

Simple Healthy Skincare: Exfoliation

Our skin is a precious commodity. It's what presents a first impression when people meet us. Our epidermis, that's the technical name for skin (blah blah), is a billboard for our internal health as well. Before we've talked about the environmental pressures and how everything our skin touches and pores breathe in and soak in affect what we see. Well, you've probably heard the expression "That only runs skin deep."There is most definitely depth to our skin as it comes in layers. In order for our skin to have new growth it needs to actual shed. I realize the idea of shedding skin to some of you probably seems gross or possibly hasn't even occurred to you. Perhaps you thought only reptiles shed their skin. We do it too though, it's one way our body detoxes. That shedding of skin is called exfoliation. To exfoliate means to come apart or be shed from layers. (Ya know that dust on the coffee table....yeah, ewwwwww, I know!)

Often times, since we simply don't live in a perfect world, our skin that should be naturally exfoliating just doesn't. Our skin comes in contact with so many disturbances and just plain "yuck" from our environment that our skin can become coated with toxins or films that prevent proper exfoliation. Stress is also a huge culprit for causing our bodies not to operate in the way that they should. When our skin holds in those toxins that creates more damage to the body. We will discuss two ways to encourage exfoliation: scrubs and skin brushing.

Scrubs are a wonderful easily made at home and simple way to exfoliate. You can use scrubs all over your body. A scrub is made of something mildly abrasive that you massage on your skin to shed those dead skin cells. After scrubbing new skin should be revealed by a slight pinkish glow. The best way to apply a scrub to your skin is first make your skin is dry. To apply scrub to your face or other parts of your body by using an applicator like a Popsicle stick and place some on your finger tips. Then massage the scrub into the skin in a circular motion for 1-3 minutes then rinse with cool to warm water.

Skin brushing is an old practice that is a positive stimulator for the lymphatic system. It lies right beneath the skin. The lymphatic system is made up of special vessels that carry a fluid called the lymph. Due to diet, stress, and the physical environment our lymphatic system can get clogged with toxins. Skin brushing assists the lymphatic system with the flow of fluid. It is very important for this fluid to keep moving so toxins will be released. In order to perform skin brushing you will need a body brush with medium to firm bristles. You can find these at superstores, pharmacies, and health food stores. You want dry skin. The idea is to perform quick, firm strokes heading toward the heart. This practice should be done 1-3 times a week, each session lasting 15-30 minutes. It is extremely relaxing. Children who deal with any sensory issues usually benefit from skin brushing as a healthy form of relaxation. Since dead skin cells will be removed topically I usually do this right before I shower. Watch my video to see a short tutorial.

Do you skin brush or have a scrub recipe? Share your experiences below.

Simple Healthy Skincare: Detoxing with Masks

We talked about the function of our skin in the last post. Since it is the largest organ in our bodies it is most worthy of being taken care of for certain. Our skin is covered in little holes called pores. Some are larger than others. Our pores serve the purpose of allowing the skin to breathe as well as release toxins from the body.

Something to keep in mind with our skin is if you are topically experiencing irritation like acne, rashes, bumps, etc then understand it goes deeper than your skin. Our skin is like a window into what is going on in the other areas internally in our bodies. We tend to think topical applications will solve our issues. In most cases an internal regimen is needed like dietary changes and certain supplements.

All than being said topical regimens are not to be discredited. They are certainly needed. Also topical regimens become internal through the absorption of whatever we apply into the bloodstream as well.

The most powerful form of topical applications are detoxifiers and antimicrobials. Today's topic of detoxification for skincare are masks. Due to air pollution, dirt, make-up, particular skincare products, and internal issues our pores can become clogged. In a perfect world our skin would cleanse and detox itself perfectly. Truth be told that just isn't the case.

Using masks 1-2 times a week for detoxification of the skin is a wonderful practice. It allows impurities to be brought to the service and washed away. The use of natural clays for masks also softens the skin. Clays are typically mineral deposits from either rock quarries, volcanic ash, or extracted from mountains. There are different types of clays. My three favorite are: French Green, Rhassoul, and Bentonite.

French Green Clay: It is pale green in color, rich in minerals such as manganese, phosphorus, silicon, copper, and selenium. It also contains decomposed plant matter, which gives it the green shade. If its not green, its not French green clay. It should never be gray or white. Even though the names indicates that it comes from France, that is not always the case. It can also be found in the USA, other European countries, and Asia. It promotes blood flow in the skin and soaks up excess oil. While being gentle and great for all skin types, it deeply cleanses the pores.

Rhassoul Clay: It is reddish brown in color. It is the high iron count that makes it red. It also contains silicon, magnesium, potassium, lithium, and trace elements. It is wonderful for removing dead skin cells. It reduces dryness and makes the pores smaller. Egyptians have used it for at least 2000 years as a shampoo and cleanser. It comes from the Atlas Mountains in Moracco.

Bentonite Clay: I am such a huge fan of this clay. It is a grayish/cream color. If it is pure white, it is not pure bentonite. It is from volcanic ash. There are three types of bentonite clay: calcium bentonite, sodium bentonite, and potassium bentonite. Calcium and sodium varieties are used for skincare. Potassium bentonite is used for medical treatment, engineering, and farming. Bentonite is a drawer of toxins, especially heavy metals. Calcium bentonite can actually be ingested. It pulls the toxins from the colon. I often suggest liquid bentonite for my health counseling clients. Topically it draws toxins, and is good to calm skin irritations.

Any of these clays can be used for facial or full body masks. Masks can be done 1-2 times a week. Much more than that can be too drying to the skin. Feel free to alternate the clay types weekly or monthly. All of these clays should be able to be found in most natural health food stores. Ask if the clays are available in bulk so they can be purchased by the ounce that way you don't have to invest a lot to try them. Clays should be stored in glass since they soak up toxins. Do use a plastic lid though. Clays, Bentonite, in particular, doesn't do well with metal. You can make additions to your masks by adding essential oils and flower petals. I usually do one facial mask and one facial scrub per week.It's like a spa at home...well, sort of anyway. During your mask, if it is possible, do it in the evening then sit and soak your feet in epsom salts with lavender essential oil. Drink a cup of sweet rose tulsi tea and read a good book for 20 minutes.

Here is a simple mask recipe that you can make in advance. Keep dry ingredients in a nice glass jar with a plastic lid. Mix with liquid at time of use.


Rhassoul Rose Mask Recipe
4 oz Rhassoul (Red) Clay
1 Tbsp Dried Rose Petals

*Use 1/2-1Tbsp of dry mix in glass or ceramic bowl
 Mix with 1-2 Tsp rosewater with a small bamboo or plastic spoon
 Apply to face, allow to dry completely
 Wet cotton washcloth with warm water
 Open washcloth and let sit on face for 15-20 seconds
Gently wipe away mask, wet washcloth again if needed
Use a little rosewater on a cotton ball to remove residual clay
If desired apply organic unrefined virgin coconut oil to skin afterwards 
 

Simple Healthy Skincare: Feed Your Skin

Recently I taught a natural skin care class at church for a ladies event. It was a ton of fun and I wanted to share some of the concepts here with you. This will be the first entry in a series of the topics I spoke about that evening. The first thing you need to understand is our skin is the largest organ in our bodies. It is not just a covering for our inside parts. It serves a great purpose. Our skin works with our liver and gallbladder as a detoxing station for the body. It is directly part of the lymphatic system, our glands. Our glands are right beneath our skin and we need our glands to stay clear and healthy. When our glands become stressed then our hormones are not properly secreted, which is a danger zone for our health.

The best start to healthy skin care is eating a healthy diet composed of lots of real, fresh, raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds as well as clean animal foods, gluten free grains, and legumes. Making sure to consume plenty of clean water daily is also a must. Our skin is like a gigantic sponge. It soaks up everything we put on it from make-up, lotions, creams, make-up remover, to perfume. It all goes straight into our blood streams. Being aware of this fact should make us conscious of what we put on it. What we feed our body is reflected in our skin.

Skin conditions like acne, eczema, overly oily or dry skin, and rosacea are all usually results stemming from malnutrition. You can eat plenty and still have a malnourished body. Acne and rosacea are usually issues beginning with an unbalanced gut. They are often symptoms of a yeast infection. That's right, a yeast infection. Yeast infections display themselves in the body in all different ways. While I don't intend to get too deep into how to heal a yeast infection, I will say that taking antibiotics is not a solution and will only make it worse. What has to happen is a specific kind of dietary cleansing for a period of time, the use of a few natural supplements, and then proper maintenance. I offer health counseling sessions to heal the gut from yeast overgrowth and infection. Contact me at www.kingdom-health.com if you'd like to set up a consultation.

Back to our skin, so in general we need to eat well. Here are just a few foods that are extremely beneficial:

Avocados, coconut, nuts, seeds: provides healthy fats which give moisture and softer skin

Watermelon, coconut water, cucumbers: provides water along with necessary minerals for hydration

Citrus fruits: provides real vitamin C for purification and proper pH balance

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar: provides pH balance (makes a great toner)

My most favorite food for skin care over the entire body is coconut oil! Keep one jar in the kitchen and one in the bathroom! In one of my superfood posts I wrote about the wonders of the coconut. Coconut oil for over all body care is paramount because it is composed of medium chain fatty acids: capric, capryllic, and lauric. Each fatty acid holds anti microbial and anti bacterial properties. They help control and prevent acne. Lauric acid specifically is converted in the body to a compound called monolaurin. This monolaurin is an amazing and pertinent immune system builder. The only other food to contain it is breast milk.

Years ago the main oil used in our foods was coconut. When the myths started circulating that it wasn't healthy for the body we switched to truly unhealthy oils like canola and soy. We are paying a high price for that now. Not that using these oils are our only problems nutritionally, though it has definitely caused major issues for our immune systems. Big pharma is making a fortune by our frequent trips to the doctor.

Since the skin soaks everything in using organic unrefined coconut oil is like feeding the body a highly nutritious meal. It makes an excellent make up remover, over all moisturizer, face cleanser, anti microbial application, and much more! Oil also diffuses oil. Our bodies were designed so intelligently by our Creator Yeshua that when we use something natural to the body like oil, which is a food, our bodies know what to do with it. The skin will acclimate itself to the oil and either stop over producing or under producing. Our skin does not know what to do with lotions and creams. It doesn't know what to do with harsh cleansers either. Rule of thumb for the skin, if it came from the grocery isle and it is nourishing to the inside of of the body, then it is good for the skin. If you go to to the cosmetics or toiletry isle, and you wouldn't eat it, then it's not good for your skin.

How to Use Coconut Oil in Beauty Care

• Keep a popsicle stick in your coconut oil jar for application. If using it as a facial moisturizer a little bit goes a very long way. Just apply some to your clean finger tips and massage into skin. Same goes as a moisturizer for the body. Feel free to add essential oils.

• To use it to remove make-up simply apply some to a cotton ball and gently wipe away the make-up on your face.

• To use as a cleanser use like you would in removing your make-up, then add the additional step of washing. Simply get a clean cotton wash cloth, wet it with warm water, open it up, place over the face for just a moment. The warmth will open the pores, then gently wipe the face with the cloth. Its that simple!

• Apply to rashes, skin irritations, and small cuts.

Below is a simple recipe for a great face and body scrub! Gently exfoliating our skin helps the skin do its job and remove toxins.

Coconut Face & Body Scrub

1/2 cup of raw sugar & ground oatmeal mixed
1/4 cup of organic, unrefined, virgin coconut oil
1 tbsp avocado, sweet almond, or apricot kernel oil
6 drops genuine frankincense essential oil

Mix all together in a bowl. Keep in a glass jar. Keep away from sunlight. Stick a popsicle stick in the jar for easy application later. I keep my jar in the shower. Again this is for face and body. When applying on your face just gently rub the scrub with your finger tips all over the face and neck in a circular motion.This can also be relaxing and therapeutic.Take your time with it to de-stress for a few minutes.Then simply rinse.

Sugar: Do You Know How Much You're Eating?

Just a quick blurb about the white stuff. Sugar consumption is an epidemic in the USA. The way white sugar and artificial sweeteners alter the brain is comparable to cocaine. You can experience sugar addiction. Sugar like white table sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and corn syrup all pull minerals from the body. Sugar also contains bleach...do you want to eat bleach? The best way to defeat sugar addiction is adopting a whole foods based lifestyle and adding in more and more healthy food daily. This concept is referred to as crowding in by The Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

In case you didn't know, fat doesn't make you fat...sugar does! Our bodies need fat for proper cognitive function in the brain, joint health, heart health, lung health, and dental health. There are better types of fat to consume though than others. We want to focus on healthy saturated fats like organic unrefined coconut oil, real butter, nuts, and seeds. Monounsaturated fats are good as well like in olives.

Sugar isn't all bad. Sugar is measured on a scale called the glycemic index. It needs to be on the low end a majority of the time.We need to use wisdom when and how we consume it. Sugar along with fiber like in fruit is wonderful. Eat fruit though in moderation, but you get can too much fructose, which is the sugar in fruit. In other whole foods like raw honey and coconut nectar in moderation it is also fine. Choose low glycemic grains and pseudo grains like brown rice, black rice, quinoa, amaranth, and millet.

Eating mostly vegetables, especially greens, lots of raw ones for enzymes and proper digestion, some fruit, some healthy grains and pseudo grains, some healthy fat, and a little clean animal products in addition to drinking plenty of clean filtered water on a consistent basis will cure the sugar addiction.

 Check out this info graphic from Dr. Joesph Mercola. It is a chart showing how much fructose, usually genetically modified fructose from corn, is consumed by the American public.

Discover the fructose content of common foods, beverages, sauces, and even sugar substitutes in our infographic "Fructose Overload." Use the embed code to share it on your website.

Discover the fructose content of common foods, beverages, sauces, and even sugar substitutes in our infographic "Fructose Overload."

Vitamin and Mineral Misconceptions 2

What's one thing all of these foods have in common: lemons, acerola cherries, amla, camu camu, oranges, spinach, grapefruit, kale, bell peppers, broccoli, and kiwi? They are all loaded with real vitamin C. High amounts of vitamin C is necessary for the body to function properly. Vitamin C is essential for a healthy immune system.

The best way to ensure we get enough vitamin C is to have a wide variety in a highly plant based diet. While that may not be a surprise, perhaps what could be is the vitamin C we get from our food is not the same vitamin C that is in most supplements on the market, including "all natural" supplements.

Check the back of your multivitamin or vitamin C bottle. Does it says ascorbic acid? Ascorbic acid is not vitamin C. It is an isolate or a fraction of vitamin C. It is a separated portion of the whole food originally provided by our Creator, Yeshua the Christ. It is most often times synthetic, which means man made, from genetically modified cornstarch! Taking vitamins in isolate forms are dangerous to the body. These isolates because they are divided from their whole food form do not operate as they should.

Ascorbic acid, unlike whole vitamin C, actually does not support the immune system. It runs right through the body into the urine, not contributing any health benefit. What it does, however is increase the white cell count and deplete minerals from the body.

There are a select few whole foods sourced vitamins on the market. You always want whole foods sourced supplementation. We only take in vitamins and minerals from our food. My absolute favorite vitamin C on the market is Healthforce Nutritionals Truly Vitamin C Powder. I love powders because they are easy to regulate depending on your needs. It's made from real fruit! I always put it in my water and smoothies when I need an immune boost. I eat a plant based diet, so I don't supplement with it daily. This brand is a real food though, so it's completely safe.

Be a savvy supplement shopper. Know that superstores and pharmacies do not usually carry the best brands. Do not trust everything you read on a label either. Do your research. See if what something says is really true. Don't believe everything infomercials say or what doctors on talk shows say either. Use wisdom. I hope this entry was helpful. Feel free to ask questions at the bottom.