Feeling Alive!

It's been a long journey for the last year. I've had ups and downs with my health journey as I navigate the challenges that everyday live can bring. It feels sometimes as if every challenge in life is trying to steal our energy, steal our attention, create stress, and ultimately drain us until our health gives way to the weight of the world. I know, I know, if you are from Bethel Church, you recognize right away the victim mentality in that perspective and hear: "woah is me". And the truth is, there are too many people who do fall victim. They fall victim to the strains that life brings, they fall victim to the quick-fix solutions that ultimately exacerbate the issues, they fall victim to the food industries brilliant marketing, and none of us are immune from these constant challenges. "Yes, I am tired and all I want is to order pizza and eat chocolate right now"--"It's too time consuming to prepare meals" --"It's too expensive to eat healthy" --"I just need this heavy dose of aspirin right now to help with my headache" --"I'm too tired to exercise". Of course I've been this person many, many times. Yes, I've been the victim in my life. Yes I've blamed everyone else for my adrenal fatigue and hormonal imbalances. It's your fault I am stressed out and have this throbbing headache. As Danny Silk would say, "probably so" or "how is that working out for you?".

Here is the resolve: your body, your health, your family, your friends need you to become a powerful person. A person who takes responsibility for what they put in their mouth. Takes responsibility for what they say and do. A person who takes ownership on how they spend their time and how they want to live their life.

Being a powerless victim will wreak havoc your overall health and life. It's okay to have hard days, we don't control our circumstances, we can only control our stance. Some of us have season of trauma or tragedy that require all that we have---it takes time to regain our strength from these situations---trust me, I know---but if you don't start taking a stand, your circumstance will eventually steal everything you have. When are you going to start taking ownership of your life? Of your health?

For all you Jesus-lovers out there, you know that Jesus came that you might have life, and have it abundantly. So my question is, how many people have life, but feel as if their poor health is stealing from the abundance that Jesus came for?

He's made a way---there is hope---there is abundant life--there is optimal health--but there is also an enemy trying to steal, kill, and destroy you---and we must take a stand and be powerful. We must go after the abundance that He has for us.

Today was a good day. After over a year of pursuing health, I am finally beginning to see my body regain health and strength. I feel myself crave those cruciferous vegetables and savor the cold pressed extra virgin oil gracefully mixed with the sweetly-bitter balsamic vinegar simply seasoned with unprocessed celtic sea salt and freshly ground peppercorn. Who knew that someone could taste such delight in what used to be a dull, bland, distasteful salad. Its as if my body and my taste buds can finally see clearly and crave correctly after being so confused with chemical-infused, processed foods. Ahh... the taste of the bioflavonoids and phytonutrients perfectly designed in a vitamin and mineral rich cruciferous vegetable never tasted so good! Something has changed in me---and changed for the better. For a little less pleasant description for the reader, I never knew having a perfectly formed, regular, and easy bowel movement  multiple times a day could make life so wonderful.

As I am a healthy-looking 24 year-old woman, who went through terrible digestive dysfunction for YEARS with no available help from the medical field, along with terrible hormone imbalances and adrenal fatigue, I can only imagine how many others are silently suffering like I was. The ones who know something is not right with their body, and are only given a prescription to hide the symptoms. Those that are desperate for help, they know they are too young to feel this run-down, or that are given a bill of health without feeling as if they actually have any health at all. There is hope---there is so much hope. God designed nature wonderfully to give us abundant health.

Yes, a year seems like a long time to finally feel like I have my health back. But when you realize that for years and years I treated my body so poorly---that from an early age I was spiking my blood sugar and putting stress on my adrenal glands---that I was eating heavily refined and processed foods for as long as I can remember---one year to feel healthy again is pretty freaking great! Sure there will always be room for improvement---it's a daily challenge in the country I live in to choose healing foods instead of disease-causing foods. But right now, my body is thanking me, and it makes all the extra time and money spent on properly preparing, nutrient-dense, real food worth it!

Life is good. Be powerful. Live it well.

for more information on how you can begin your journey to optimal health today, email me at : ealderson(at)westmont.edu. Blessings to your health!

Elise Hawkins
Nutritional Therapy Practitioner

“The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease. ~ ”

― Thomas A. Edison

The truth about Cholesterol

I get quite worked up when I hear about people constricting their cholesterol intake in their diet. Not sure if you all have heard yet, but Cholesterol is NOT the problem in heart disease---inflammation is!
Let me explain in basic terms:

Cholesterol is what your body uses in emergencies to patch up your weakened arteries to prevent them from tearing open---it is not the CAUSE of heart problems, it is the bodies natural response to try and protect itself when there are no other options. Cholesterol is also essential in brain development, hormone production, and healthy function of the body---Low cholesterol is AS dangerous, if not MORE dangerous that high cholesterol.

If you have "high" cholesterol levels, you don't need to constrict your good, quality fat intake---you need to support you're bodies natural anti-inflammation systems---your Prostaglandins (PG1).  Sugar, highly processed and refined foods, alcohol, all can cause stress on your body and block anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. These prostaglandins are synthesized from a balance of Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9 fatty acids----so constricting your good fats can actually prevent your healing. You need to make sure that your digestion and assimilation of these Essential Fatty Acids is optimal and there is nothing inhibiting this process.

IBprofen is a good way to INHIBIT healing. IBprofen works by blocking your Prostaglandins (both pro and anti-inflammatory) so yeah, you don't inflame as much (which is your bodies response to heal itself), but you also block your bodies ability to anti-inflame. Taking "statin" drugs or a low-dose IBprofen maybe inhibits some of the inflammation to occur, so yeah you feel better, but you have completely wiped out your bodies natural ability to heal itself. Is the medical system on DRUGS?! Yes, yes it is.

Sorry, don't mean to take a shot at the medical system as I am so unbelievably appreciative for their ability to save people from death---but lets keep in mind that taking drugs might not be the best route in preventing disease. It just doesn't make sense and isn't natural. You body is beautifully and wonderfully created with checks and balances to be able to defend and heal itself from disease----the best thing we can do is support it's natural system through properly prepared, nutrient-dense, real-food instead of working against it with consumption of toxic, refined, genetically modified, processed, hormone injected, pesticide ridden, heavy medal laden "food" and drugs.

Below is a great article about heart disease for those interested:
http://myscienceacademy.org/2012/08/19/world-renown-heart-surgeon-speaks-out-on-what-really-causes-heart-disease/

The source of health

And the studies continue... What a journey Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) school is! I have never been so overwhelmed yet eager for more information about a subject in my life! The more I learn, the more I want to learn--this is not just a one-year program, this is a life long journey of learning!

On my prayer walk the other day, I was asking God how can I help others to have optimal health---beyond the books and science, beyond the endless sources of information and research, what it is the root. What is the underlying key to supernatural health in the Spirit, Mind, and Body? Papa God has a lovely way of painting metaphorical pictures to help me grasp what He is revealing.

The Source--In order have optimal health, the nutrients needed to grow and thrive, we must have good, quality soil, along with plenty of water and sunlight. 
Now let me unpack the above statement.

Ironic enough I was on the Minerals module of my course and learning about how plants get their mineral density from the soil they grow in. Farmers can manipulate soil with minerals (like sulfur and phosphorous) that support large, rapid growth; however, the important nutritional minerals need to support optimal health may be severely lacking in these plants. That is why organic produce from farmers who use soil rich in vitamins and minerals is so important to our health as opposed to GMO or mass produced produce from food giants who are looking for a quick profit, rather than a quality product.

Now lets translate this to people for a minute---what is our source of life? Obviously what we consume is essential to sustaining our life---but what is the source? How can we thrive in different environments and dessert seasons of our life?

The Maker---He is our main source of life---He can provide the nutrients and minerals we need in the hardest of seasons, in the dessert and in the storm. He is our sunshine, our water, our soil, our source.

The other necessities of optimal health include: community, quality relationships, the great outdoors, good quality food the way God created it, balance, structure, exercise, financial health, emotional health, and everything else you can categorize as foundational to optimal health.

The key here is finding your source, your energy, your life.

So moving forward in my pursuit, I realize keeping Him in His proper place is key. He remains as the ultimate healer, doctor, pharmacist, medical practitioner, nutritional coach, etc.

What I learn in NTP school is an amazing resource, tool, assignment (if you will), into bringing Heaven (where there is no sickness or disease) to Earth---that is my calling. I remember Pastor Bill Johnson declaring Redding, CA to be a cancer-free zone. Obviously only God can make that happen, but I can be the hands that help prevent disease in this city. All my studies so far are pointing me in a direction to finding a recreating The Garden, encouraging healthy choices, emotional health, and ultimately to Jesus---who is the source of abundant life.

I realize that I may have many non-believers who read my posts and I used to be so afraid of making statements of faith, especially as it is going to relate eventually to my professional career, as I didn't want those readers to disqualify my credibility or shut down because they can't relate. I am realizing more and more, that it is important for me to be transparent, vulnerable, and speak openly about my relationship with God---to allow other to feel free to speak openly about their beliefs, opinions and ideas. My hopes are that those who disagree with my faith can find connection over and beyond agreement, and still experience healing.

In everything, I am thankful---thankful to learn and share my journey. Thankful for health and thankful for incredible opportunities.

THE BIG FAT LIE

THE BIG FAT LIE 

Myth: Fat makes you fat

Fact: You need fat to burn fat

The human body NEEDS fat. Fat is one of 3 of the fuel components.

Fat is imperative for:

• Healthy cholesterol levels
  
• Optimal liver and gallbladder function
  
• Healthy hormone balance
  
• Cell wall integrity {permeability}
  
• Production of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins
  
• Main fuel for the muscles (this includes the heart muscle)
  
  
  And remember, fat is the main slow burning, long acting fuel.
  Thus, fats are ABSOLUTELY necessary for blood sugar regulation, and gallbladder/liver function, and therefore optimal weight control. (Optimal Health)
  Caveat
  There is a difference in the QUALITY of the fats available.
  
  
  GOOD FATS -vs.- BAD FATS
  
  
  The difference between a Good fat and a Bad fat is in the way they are processed, not in the inherent nature of their source. Exception: canola, soy, cottonseed oils
  Bad fats are extracted from their sources using high heat and/or chemical solvents.
  
  The human body needs a balance of the various components of saturated and unsaturated fats
  i.e.: saturated fats are necessary to digest proteins

How do we know the difference???

When reading a label (READ LABELS, you will be amazed ) look for these terms:

GOOD FATS

• Cold Pressed
• Unrefined Expeller Pressed
• Organic
• Extra Virgin

BAD FATS

• Hydrogenated

• Partially Hydrogenated
• _______ oil ( name of polyunsaturated vegetable oil) i.e: sesame oil,
sunflower oil, olive oil etc
• Cold PROCESSED is a dirty trick on words

THE HUMAN BODY CANNOT (does not have the capability to) DIGEST REFINED OILS

Our choice of fats and oils is one of extreme importance. Most people, especially infants and growing children, benefit from more fat in the diet rather than less. But the fats we eat must be chosen with care. Avoid all processed foods containing newfangled hydrogenated fats and poly unsaturated oils. Instead, use traditional vegetable oils like extra virgin olive oil and small amounts of unrefined flaxseed oil (never heat flax oil or any other omega 3 oils.) Acquaint yourself with the merits of coconut oil for baking and with animal fats for occasional frying. Eat egg yolks and other animal fats with the proteins to which they are attached. And finally, use as much good quality butter as you like, with the happy assurance that it is a wholesome, - and indeed and essential- food for you and your whole family.
Organic butter, extra virgin olive oil, and expeller pressed flax oil in opaque containers are available in health food stores and gourmet markets. Organic coconut oil can be found in health food stores.

*Provided by Colleen Dunseth, CCHT, CNT 

Healthy Hormone Diet....Find Balance In Your Body

Food Craving? Find out what you really need!

Nourishing Traditions Book Review

Well, studies are well on their way, so hopefully I'll be able to post about what I am learning. For starters, here is a book review that I wrote for an assignment in my Nutritional Therapy class. Check it out as you might find some of the content interesting. This is my first paper of the class, so forgive my rusty writing skills. Hopefully they will sharpen with time.

Enjoy!

1) What is the "Big Idea" of this book?

2) List three things you learned about nutrition from this book.

3) Did you find anything contradictory to the philosophy of this class?

4) What are your thoughts/comments/perspectives about this book?

As modern day's idea of health is blurred by a political fog related to food production, Nourishing Traditions, written by Sally Fallon, brings clarity by providing accurate information about our food that is supported by years of history and research. As placed on the title, this cook-book "challenges politically correct nutrition and the diet dictocrats" as well as emphasizes the importance of real, properly prepared, nutrient-dense foods of our ancestors.  Three of the most interesting items I learned about from this book include: the process of hydrogenation, pasteurization of milk, and the refining of salt--all which have significantly harmful effects on their consumers and simple remedies. 

  To be quite frank, the process of hydrogenation of oils and the creation margarine is quite repulsive. In the hydrogenation process it " turns polyunsaturates, normally liquid at room temperature, into fats that are solid at room temperature" by a manufacturing processes that "begin with the cheapest oils…already rancid from extraction--and mix them with tiny metal particles…then subjected to hydrogen gas in a high-pressure, high temperature reactor." As if that weren't enough, "soap-like emulsifiers and starch are squeezed into the mixture to give it a butter consistency" and "Margarine's natural color, an unappetizing grey, is removed by bleach. Dyes and strong flavors must then be added to make it resemble butter" (Fallon 14). To think that these manufactured products are in almost every American's pantry and are regularly consumed in the American family is astounding! Just a simple step of removing these toxic substances, that can be found in "Skippy's peanut butter" and "I can't believe it's not butter", along with many other products, can substantially make a difference in a person's overall health. Another interesting fact on hydrogenated oils is that, "during the 1940's researches found a strong correlation between cancer and the consumption of fat--the fats used were hydrogenated fats although the results were presented as though the culprit were saturated fats" (15). This unclear research led many to believe that a "low-fat" diet was beneficial, when in reality, it led to more consumption of highly processed, low-quality foods. Using real food, like raw (unpasturized) butter, that our ancestors have been using for generations, not only make food taste great, but are chalked full of natural vitamins, enzymes, and minerals that are nourishing to our bodies. Our modern day food has been compromised of quality because of various events throughout history; another great example of this being the pasteurization of milk. 

  During the great depression when people were desperate to sanitize milk from sick cows, they turned to pasteurization, or heating of milk, to kill off infectious diseases, but it also destroyed many of the vital nutrients that raw milk contains. As Sally describes, "Heat alters milk's amino acids lysine and tyrosine, making the whole complex of proteins less available; it promotes rancidity of unsaturated fatty acids and destruction of vitamins…the Wulzen or anti-stiffness factor is totally destroyed as is vitamin B12 needed for healthy blood and a properly functioning nervous system" (34, 35). Even though it is no longer necessary to pasteurize milk if obtained from healthy cows and farms that use great sanitation practices, Americans continue to consume these compromised products void of nutrients. In addition to killing the nutrients, "pasteurization destroys all the enzymes in milk--in fact, the test for successful pasteurization is the absence of enzymes" (35). Milk, in it's raw state, is packed with enzymes that help your body to digest it and assimilate the nutrients it contains. This perfect food becomes difficult to digest and void of nutritional value in modern day processing. A simple remedy is to find a local dairy farm that has healthy cows where you can obtain raw milk. A simply adjustment, such as your source of milk, can significant impact your overall health. 

  Another interesting/repulsive fact I learned about food is that most store-bought salt is refined. As Sally describes, "to keep salt dry, salt refiners adulterate this 'pure' product with several harmful additives, including aluminum compounds" (48). In order to provide a "nicer" consistency for salt to pour, corporations have added harmful substances. Salt, in it's natural, unrefined state is a great source of essential minerals which are lost in the refining process. Sally explains that, "to replace the natural iodine salts that are removed during processing, potassium iodide is added in amounts that can be toxic" (48). It's a tragedy to know that our food is being polluted in such a harmful way and many people are completely unaware of the toxins being put into their bodies. Again, a simple solution is finding a source of Celtic sea salt, or unrefined sea salt and getting rid of polluted, refined salt. 

Reading Nourishing Traditions, not only was highly informative, but it also reignited my passion to help educate people about real food and help them achieve optimal health. There are simple remedies to degenerative diseases and it begins by educating the general public to obtain real, unadulterated foods and properly prepare them for optimum nourishing of their bodies. Throughout this book, I didn't read anything that I found contradictory to the philosophy of the Nutritional Therapy class, but I found much information that was supplementary to the teachings. I love everything about this cook-book and I look forward to following the recipes and sharing them with my future clients.