Have You Heard Of The Leaky - Gut Epedimic ?? Hear Is One Way To Help Heal Your Intestinal Lining.

When your intestinal lining is repeatedly damaged from Inflammatory foods it becomes unhealthy, cells mutate and die which results in literally a leaky gut.  These damaged cells called microvilli become unable to do their job properly. They become unable to process and utilize the nutrients and enzymes that are vital to proper digestion.
Eventually, digestion is impaired and absorption of nutrients is negatively affected. As more exposure occurs, your body initiates an attack on these foreign invaders. It responds with inflammation, allergic reactions, and other symptoms we relate to a variety of diseases.
Leaky gut is the root of many allergies and autoimmune disorders, for example. When combined with toxic overload, you have a perfect storm that can lead to neurological disorders like autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities.
The best diet is an elimination diet, which means taking out all inflammatory foods. This includes high-fiber foods, processed foods, and anything that is going to be difficult to digest.
One of the main foods that you can use is bone broth, because not only is it very easily digested, it also contains profound immune-optimizing components that are foundational building blocks for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
As your leaky gut begins to heal and your health improves, certain foods are added back in, but bone broth remains a staple because it is so incredibly nourishing for your body. This is why, even if you don't have gut issues, it is still a wonderful staple food to include in your diet.

Top Reasons to Eat Bone Broth

There are many reasons for incorporating good-old-fashioned bone broth into your diet. The following health benefits attest to its status as "good medicine."

Helps heal and seal your gut, and promotes healthy digestion: The gelatin found in bone broth is a hydrophilic colloid. It attracts and holds liquids, including digestive juices, thereby supporting proper digestion	Inhibits infection caused by cold and flu viruses, etc.: A study published over a decade ago found that chicken soup indeed has medicinal qualities, significantly mitigating infection1
Reduces joint pain and inflammation, courtesy of chondroitin sulphates, glucosamine, and other compounds extracted from the boiled down cartilage	Fights inflammation: Amino acids such as glycine, proline, and arginine all have anti-inflammatory effects. Arginine, for example, has been found to be particularly beneficial for the treatment of sepsis2 (whole-body inflammation). Glycine also has calming effects, which may help you sleep better
Promotes strong, healthy bones: Bone broth contains high amounts of calcium, magnesium, and other nutrients that play an important role in healthy bone formation	Promotes healthy hair and nail growth, thanks to the gelatin in the broth

Choose High-Quality Bones from Grass-Fed Animals

The recipe that follows is from The Heal Your Gut Cookbook: Nutrient-Dense Recipes for Intestinal Health Using the GAPS Diet. Written by Hilary Boynton and Mary Brackett, it shares helpful tips on how to "heal and seal" your gut so that profound healing can take place.
Hilary Boynton is a food advocate and a certified holistic health counselor who runs several local food co-ops and teaches cooking classes out of her home. Mary Brackett is a photographer and whole foods advocate who seeks out projects that illustrate the importance of healthy choices.
This bone broth recipe is a classic and one you'll want to keep for future reference. Below I've also included tips on how to make this recipe using a slow cooker or different types of bones, such as chicken. Perhaps the most important caveat when making broth, whether you're using chicken or beef, is to make sure the bones are from organically raised, pastured or grass-fed animals.
As noted by Sally Fallon, chickens raised in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) tend to produce stock that doesn't gel, and this gelatin has long been valued for its therapeutic properties.³ As noted by Boynton:

"You definitely want to get the best bones you can get—bones from pastured animals. If you can't find a farmer in your area, reach out to your local Weston A. Price chapter leader... There are also resources to get homemade bone broth if you can't make it yourself. ...If you can only get CAFO bones, I guess you go with that. You can still get some healing benefits. But it would be better to go with bones from pastured animals."

A Basic Bone Broth Recipe

The recipe that follows calls for beef bones, but you can also make bone broth using whole organic chicken, whole fish (including the head) or fish bones, or pork. Each will render a different flavor. Boynton and Brackett actually suggest starting with chicken because it has the mildest flavor (beef tends to be more overpowering). If you're using chicken, simply place the entire chicken, raw, into the pot in place of the beef bones and proceed with the recipe as follows.
One note, if cooking a whole chicken, the meat should start separating from the bone after about 2 hours. Simply remove the chicken from the pot and separate the meat from the bones. Then place the bones back in and continue to simmer. You can even use bones from a roasted chicken or turkey carcass to make bone broth, which is incredibly cost effective since you would otherwise throw them away.

Bone Broth From the Heal Your Gut Cookbook, Boynton & Brackett Ingredients: 3-4 pounds beef marrow and knuckle bones 2 pounds meaty bones such as short ribs ½ cup raw apple cider vinegar 4 quarts filtered water 3 celery stalks, halved 3 carrots, halved 3 onions, quartered Handful of fresh parsley Sea salt Method: Place bones in a pot or a crockpot, add apple cider vinegar and water, and let the mixture sit for 1 hour so the vinegar can leach the mineral out of the bones. Add more water if needed to cover the bones. Add the vegetables bring to a boil and skim the scum from the top and discard. Reduce to a low simmer, cover, and cook for 24-72 hours (if you're not comfortable leaving the pot to simmer overnight, turn off the heat and let it sit overnight, then turn it back on and let simmer all day the next day) During the last 10 minutes of cooking, throw in a handful of fresh parsley for added flavor and minerals. Let the broth cool and strain it, making sure all marrow is knocked out of the marrow bones and into the broth. Add sea salt to taste and drink the broth as is or store in fridge up to 5 to 7 days or freezer up to 6 months for use in soups or stews.

How to Make Bone Broth Using Your Slow Cooker

Bone broth is an example of a traditional food that's easily adaptable to your modern lifestyle. Even if you're away from home most of the day, you can still prepare homemade bone broth by using a slow cooker. To use a slow cooker, you will need to first bring the broth to a boil in a pot on your stove, then skim the scum off the top. Pay careful attention to this stage, as once the broth begins to boil the scum is rolled right back into the broth. The scum are the impurities that you want to remove. You can then transfer the broth to your slow cooker and turn it on to low heat for 24 to 72 hours.

What Is In The Products You Are Using On Your Body Everyday? Are They Really Healthy??

Are You Using Antibacterial Hand Soaps and Sanitizers? 


Well that antibacterial hand soap you think is important to keeping you healthy, may be doing just the opposite. Triclosan is the ingredient added to soaps and other products such as clothing, kitchenware, furniture, and toys. It also may be added to personal care items such as body washes, toothpastes, and some cosmetics.


Several recent studies have come out that indicate that it is not the benign substance first thought. In fact, it is a highly toxic pesticide that has become ubiquitous in our environment and our bodies through widespread use.


Triclosan is In Everything
Companies have jumped on the bandwagon of antibacterial products and have put it in everything — it’s in baby toys and kitchen utensils as well as personal care products. This increases human exposure to it exponentially. These companies benefit from the public misconception that we must kill all bacteria in order to be well.


However, an article in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases 2007, entitled Consumer Antibacterial Soaps: Effective or Just Risky?, concludes that antibacterial soaps show no health benefits over plain soaps.


This follows a recommendation by the FDA Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee in 2005 in a statement that antibacterial soaps and washes are no more effective than regular soap and water in fighting infections and may not be worth the risk of spawning resistant bacteria.
Industry Representatives Object


Representatives of soap and detergent companies say their products live up to their labels, which claim that they significantly reduce the presence of germs on the hands.
“We believe that the benefit of reducing harmful germs on the skin is apparent… We are concerned that consumers’ access to these products might be limited in some way,” said an industry rep.
Of course he is concerned. When people realize how toxic it is, they will stop using it.


WARNING:


Triclosan has been Found in Body Fluids
Triclosan has been found in human urine, as well as in blood and breast milk and umbilical cord blood. In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) report found triclosan in the urine of 75 percent of the U.S. population.
This can’t be good.




Triclosan Alters Hormone Regulation in Animals
A study published in Toxicoological Science in 2009, found that exposure to triclosan substantially decreased levels of testosterone and thyroxine, (an important thyroid hormone), in young male rats.
Another study published in the same journal, Toxicological Science in 2010 found that triclosan affected estrogen-mediated responses in the pubertal and weanling female rat and also suppressed thyroid hormone.
You can draw your own conclusions about the effects on small mammals as it pertains to humans.


Fetal Growth and Development
This study published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2011 reveals high levels of triclosan in pregnant women. Using a nationally representative sample of the United States population from the NHANES 2003-2004 data, researchers found triclosan to be more highly concentrated in pregnant women than in the non-pregnant population.
Other studies in bacteria have raised the possibility that triclosan contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics. We all know at this point, that antibiotic resistance is a HUGE problem in this country.


Allergies
In a study published in the journal Allergy, November 2012, triclosan exposure and allergic sensitization in Norwegian children was investigated. The researchers found that triclosan concentrations were associated with allergic sensitization, especially inhalant and seasonal allergens, rather than food allergens.
They concluded that these results are consistent with recent findings in other studies and provide additional evidence for an association between triclosan and allergy.
The authors indicate that additional research is needed to clarify the precise mechanism by which triclosan influences allergic sensitization.

The link between triclosan and allergic sensitization is difficult to explain, given that little information is available from experimental data on the mechanism of triclosan in relation to allergic disease outcomes.

Whether we understand the mechanism or not, children are becoming more and more allergic in recent years and it can be life threatening.


Toxic Breakdown Products
In the Journal of Environmental Science and Health in 2010, Fang reported that triclosan was found in finished drinking water, surface water, wastewater, and environmental sediments, as well as in the bile of wild fish, indicating extensive contamination of aquatic ecosystems.
A study published in the Journal of American Water Works Association in 2009 found triclosan to be extremely toxic to algae which in turn will affect the population of aquatic creatures that feed upon it.
According to the EPA’s Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey triclosan was detected in 92 percent of sewage sludge samples collectedfrom across the United States.


Phasing Out Triclosan
Beyond Pesticides and Food & Water Watch are two organizations that are actively involved in a campaign to phase our tricolsan. Studies have increasingly linked Triclosan (and its chemical cousin triclocarban), to a wider range of adverse health and environmental effects than previously disclosed —  including skin irritation, allergy susceptibility, endocrine disruption to antibiotic resistance, tainted water, dioxin contamination and destruction of fragile aquatic ecosystems.
If you have been reading this blog for a while you know that I am in favor of supporting our beneficial bacteria and the microbiome we house in our gut. Using a substance such as triclosan is simply counterproductive and clearly unnecessary.
 
The Solution
Stop using any antibacterial soap product. Check the ingredients in your personal care products.


To take it a step further we are starting to carry and even make our own Natural Products here at Take A New Approach Health & Wellness Center using.  Products like Natural Soaps, Linen Sprays, Hand Sanitizers, Disinfectant Sprays, Healthy Foot Rubs to name a few.  Coming very soon is MMS Solution! 

ZYTO Bio Feedback Testimony at Take A New Approach health & Wellness Center Lexington, KY

A clients testimony from having a ZYTO Bio-Communication screening follows:


"I first went to Take A New Approach Health and Wellness Center in November 2013.  At the time I was feeling very worn down with no energy and a good case of the blues.  I had a ZYTO Scan completed and several areas of concern were determined.  The ZYTO scan was really neat because not only does it recommend nutritional supplements for certain areas of concern, but it also recommends other specific action steps that would be most beneficial for your specific needs.  Such as certain bodywork or certain exercises or breath work even affirmations!  I really related to a multilevel approach of addressing the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual components needed in the healing approach.  With the nutritional supplements that were recommended for me and receiving several foot detox sessions that are also offered at the center, I began feeling better pretty quickly!  Nine or so months later I am still doing great!  I want to thank you Gwen for the service you provide and for being a large component for helping me get my health and energy back on track!"  Susan

ANOTHER TESTIMONIAL ON THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A ZYTO 5.0 HEALTH SCREENING - AT TAKE A NEW APPROACH

 In January of this year, I was experiencing some health issues that caused me to ultimately have to have a hysterectomy.  I am someone who dislikes needles and other than child birth, I'd never had a major surgery.  Once I decided to go ahead and have the surgery.  I realized there were several health concerns I needed to address in my life. I spent some time before and after the surgery with Gwen Jones at Take A New Approach Wellness Center... and I have to say it has been extremely beneficial to both my body and mind.
 After the surgery, I was experiencing shortness of breath and chest pains and my doctor wasn't able to pinpoint what the cause was. He ordered me to have a heart cath.  I was thankful the results of the heart cath were normal but the heart pain and shortness of breath were not going away.  I turned to Gwen and she performed the Zyto scan on me and we determined that I was lacking magnesium and quit a bit of it.  I followed the dose she recommended and sure enough the shortness of breath and the heart pain decreased dramatically!  The Zyto scan was really amazing at all it detected!


Take A New Approach was also instrumental in helping me quit smoking..... AND helped me drop some weight by attending a 6 week weight loss group they offered at the center.
 
If you want to expand your options and look into a natural non-invasive way to improve your health, I suggest a little one on one time with Gwen at Take A New Approach!
 

M. Adkins

Lexington, KY

ZYTO ELITE 5.0 - TESTIMONIAL @ TAKE A NEW APPROACH

We are sharing a recent testimonial from someone that came in for a Bio-Energetic Screening. 


(For those that are not aware of what the ZYTO Bio-Energetic or also known as Electro-Dermal Screening Software is all about - in brief it is a software that reads the body energetically and can tell you where it needs attention and what it needs to return to balance at the time of the screening.
Please check our web-site for links and further description.) www.TakeANewApproach.com  


At twenty-eight years old, I was dragging.  My body had never recovered from a difficult pregnancy, postpartum depression and the grief from losing my father and grandmother in one year.  I had a myriad of symptoms: I was tired, my hair was falling out, and I had strange rashes on my body.


I had tried everything--lots of doctors, lots of specialist, injections, medications, counseling--nothing worked.  No one addressed my symptoms as a whole, instead trying to treat them one-by-one, as isolated incidences.  I was frustrated and demoralized, as each treatment didn't bring improvement.


When speaking with a friend, she mentioned that she was seeing Gwen Jones at Take A New Approach.  That's what I needed--a new approach.


Meeting with Gwen, she patiently listened to my story and six weeks after our initial meeting, I am a new woman, well on the road to recovery.  After starting a regimen of vitamins and supplements, it is hard to remember how bad that I felt.  I wake up every morning alert and rested, ready to take on the new day.  Take A New Approach comes with my highest recommendation.


-Katherine
Lexington, Kentucky

Are You Getting Enough Magnesium In YOUR Diet?

Calcium deficiency is a common nutritional concern, but how many folks consider the vital importance of magnesium in human health and disease?  



New research published in the journal BMC Bioinformatics indicates that magnesium's role in human health and disease is far more significant and complicated than previously imagined.

While it is well known that all living things require magnesium, and that it is found in over 300 enzymes in the human body, including those enzymes utilizing or synthesizing ATP (the molecular unit of currency for energy transfer), the new studied titled, "3,751 magnesium binding sites have been detected on human proteins," indicates that a deficiency of magnesium may profoundly affect a far wider range of biological structures than previously understood.

The proteome, or entire set of proteins expressed by the human genome, contains well over 100,000 distinct protein structures, despite the fact that there are believed to be only 20,300 protein-coding genes in the human genome.

The discovery of the "magneseome," as its being called, adds additional complexity to the picture, indicating that the presence or absence of adequate levels of this basic mineral may epigenetically alter the expression and behavior of the proteins in our body, thereby altering the course of both health and disease.

Indeed, modern medicine and nutrition fixates primarily on calcium deficiency (due, in part, to the WHO's highly unscientific definition of osteoporosis), even in the face of accumulating peer-reviewed research indicating that excess calcium consumption can greatly increase cardiac morbidity and mortality. 

Magnesium Research

Research relevant to magnesium has been accumulating for the past 40 years at a steady rate of approximately 2,000 new  studies a year. Our database project has indexed well over 100 health benefits of magnesium thus far.  For the sake of brevity, we will address seven key therapeutic applications for magnesium as follows:

• Fibromyalgia: Not only is magnesium deficiency common in those diagnosed with fibromyalgia,  but relatively low doses of magnesium (50 mg), combined with malic acid in the form of magnesium malate, has been clinically demonstrated to improve pain and tenderness in those to which it was administered.
• Atrial Fibrillation: A number of studies now exist showing that magnesium supplementation reduce atrial fibrillation, either by itself, or in combination with conventional drug agents.
• Diabetes, Type 2: Magnesium deficiency is common in type 2 diabetics, at an incidence of 13.5 to 47.7% according to a 2007 study.  Research has also shown that type 2 diabetics with peripheral neuropathy and coronary artery disease have lower intracellular magnesium levels.Oral magnesium supplementation has been shown to reduce plasma fasting glucose and raising HDL cholesterol in patients with type 2 diabetes. It has also been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and metabolic control in type 2 diabetic subjects.
• Premenstrual Syndrome: Magnesium deficiency has been observed in women affected by premenstrual syndrome. It is no surprise therefore  that it has been found to alleviate premenstrual symptoms of fluid retention, as well as broadly reducing associated symptoms by approximately 34% in women, aged 18-45, given 250 mg tablets for a 3-month observational period. When combined with B6, magnesium supplementation has been found to improve anxiety-related premenstrual symptoms.
• Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality: Low serum magnesium concentrations predict cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.  There are a wide range of ways that magnesium may confer its protective effects. It may act like a calcium channel blocker, it is hypotensive, it is antispasmodic (which may protect against coronary artery spasm). and anti-thrombotic.  Also, the heart muscle cells are exceedingly dense in mitochondria (as high as 100 times more per cell than skeletal muscle), the "powerhouses" of the cell," which require adequate magnesium to produce ATP via the citric acid cycle.
• Migraine Disorders: Blood magnesium levels have been found to be significantly lower in those who suffer from migraine attacks. A recent Journal of Neural Transmission article titled, "Why all migraine patients should be treated with magnesium," pointed out that routine blood tests do not accurately convey the true body magnesium stores since less than 2% is in the measurable, extracellular space, "67% is in the bone and 31% is located intra-cellularly. "The authors argued that since "routine blood tests are not indicative of magnesium status, empiric treatment with at least oral magnesium is warranted in all migraine sufferers." Indeed, oral magnesium supplementation has been found to reduce the number of headache days in children experiencing frequent migranous headaches, and when combined with l-carnitine, is effective at reducing migraine frequency in adults, as well.
• Aging: While natural aging is a healthy process, accelerated aging has been noted to be a feature of magnesium deficiency, especially evident in the context of long space-flight missions where low magnesium levels are associated with cardiovascular aging over 10 times faster than occurs on earth. Magnesium supplementation has been shown to reverse age-related neuroendocrine and sleep EEG changes in humans. One of the possible mechanisms behind magnesium deficiency associated aging is that magnesium is needed to stabilize DNA and promotes DNA replication. It is also involved in healing up of the ends of the chromosomes after they are divided in mitosis.

Best Sources of Magnesium In The Diet

The best source of magnesium is from food, and one way to identify magnesium-containing foods are those which are green, i.e. chlorophyll rich.  Chlorophyll, which enable plants to capture solar energy and convert it into metabolic energy, has a magnesium atom at its center. Without magnesium, in fact, plants could not utilize the sun's light energy.

Magnesium, however, in its elemental form is colorless, and many foods that are not green contain it as well. The point is that when found complexed with food cofactors, it is absorbed and utilized more efficiently than in its elemental form, say, extracted from limestone in the form of magnesium oxide.


Article By: Sayer Ji, Founder of Green Med Info


Note:  If unable to get enough quality Magnesium from your diet - We recommend and carry a Pure form of Magnesium Glycate - which is readily absorbed by the body and that contains no fillers or by products.

Using Lemon To Detox Or Freshen Up Your Water? Please Read.......

How Germy Are Those Lemon Wedges We Plop Into Our Water Glasses At Restaurants??

A slice of lemon can spruce up plain-old water, but you might be drinking more than you bargained for. Turns out, those seemingly innocuous water glass garnishes (see also: iced tea and diet soda) could be serving up a host of unappetizing organisms.


For one Journal of Environmental Health study, researchers swabbed the rinds and flesh of 76 lemons from 21 restaurants collected during 43 visits and found that a whopping 70 percent of them produced microbial growth. The samples were collected as soon as the beverage (either soda or water) was served, before drinking or touching, and while the researchers couldn’t pinpoint the exact origins of the microorganisms, they speculated that they may have come from the restaurant employee or raw meat or poultry contamination, among other sources. “Although lemons have known antimicrobial properties, the results of our study indicate that a wide variety of microorganisms may survive on the flesh and the rind of a sliced lemon,” the authors wrote in their report. “Restaurant patrons should be aware that lemon slices added to beverages may include potentially pathogenic microbes.”


Philip Tierno, Ph.D., clinical professor of microbiology and pathology at NYU Langone Medical Center, has conducted dozens of similar experiments, including one commissioned by ABC news, which found that half of lemon wedges collected from various restaurants were contaminated with human fecal matter. What’s more, the ABC cameras nabbed employees handling lemons with their bare hands. And in Tierno’s experience, restaurants may not be diligently washing lemons — or they rinse them, but don’t scrub. It’s also easy for a worker’s hands, whether it be a bartender serving up a drink or a chef slicing the fruit in the kitchen, to cross-contaminate after dealing with patrons, washing glasses and handling food.
“We found in every single group of specimens from different institutions, representations from the three body sites that men usually impart their flora,” Tierno tells HuffPost Healthy Living of his research. Those include bacteria from the intestines (in the form of fecal matter), the respiratory tract (think coughing, talking, sneezing) and the skin. Among the specimens collected were E. coli, staphylococcus epidermidis and candida, a fungus commonly found in the vagina. While his team didn’t test specifically for viruses, such as norovirus (a.k.a. the stomach flu) or the cold virus, this type of contamination is typically an indicator that they are present, he explains.
But beyond the gross-out factor, how likely is a lemon to actually make you sick? The answer, according to Tierno, is that there is a decidedly small but distinct risk. “The usual course will probably result in no infection, but there is a possibility,” he says, with a caveat: “You can’t live in a bubble. Your immune system is usually pretty good.”
Germaphobe lemon lovers might opt to squeeze the juice directly into the water instead of letting the wedge float about for the duration of a meal — doing so will reduce exposure, though not eliminate it, as Tierno points out that even the flesh of the lemon can be contaminated.
But before you freak out, here’s some perspective: His research has turned up similar organisms all over restaurants, from ketchup bottles and salt and pepper shakers to menus and table surfaces. And the same likely goes for a variety of other drink garnishes, including onions, limes and your cherry on top. Aside from basic hygiene, like hand washing and choosing a clean restaurant, sometimes you really do have to trust your immune system to do its job. “Microbes are ubiquitous … You’re not going to escape unscathed forever,” he says. “You do your best to prevent unnecessary illness.”

Source(s):


huffingtonpost.com


I personally recommend to soak all produce in fresh water and 1 cup of vinegar for 20 minutes upon arriving home from the grocery, removing all stickers 1st - or remove stickers & just use a spray bottle of white vinegar and spray on produce & let stand for 20 minutes and rinse.  As for the restaurants - skip the lemon or bring your own!!  ♥

Make Your Own Toothpaste And Other SIMPLE Recipes!

TOP 5 - Personal Care Products You Can Make At Home Using All Natural Ingredients!

Many people are moving over to all natural, plant-based, organic personal care products and for good reason! There are many reasons to start making your own products, here are a few:

1.) It is beneficial for your health to limit the amount of exposure of toxic chemicals to the skin.

2.) It is also beneficial to the environment as less toxins will be going down the drains.

3.) You will be producing less waste from bottles and other packages.

4.) Over time, if enough people started doing this it could help put an end to animal testing.

5.) Making your own everyday personal care products can be very economical over time.

6.) It can be fun to customize and experiment with your favorite smells and oils.

7.) Making your own products can bring peace of mind as you know exactly where the ingredients are coming from and – what they are.

At first, when you look at the ingredient lists of these products, you might be thinking well, that stuff is very expensive, how would this be saving me any money? Just keep in mind that only a few of these products are expensive, but they should last you a long time. Luckily, some of the ingredients listed in the products are actually really cheap and will certainly make up for the more expensive ones. Overall, making your own everyday personal care products will save you money 100%.

1.Deodorant

If you are still using anti-perspirant then you should definitely consider some new options! Yes, this stuff does wonders to keep your underarms dry and smelling fresh, but do you ever wonder what happens to the sweat that would have been expelled via the armpits but never was? Our bodies sweat; it is a natural process that assists with the elimination of toxins within the body. Not only do anti-perspirants stop that from happening but they leave aluminum and parabens in its place! Have you ever had a white shirt that eventually gets yellowish colored stains on the under arms? Those are not sweat stains; they are actually caused by the aluminum that is in the anti-perspirant.

For those of you who already use natural deodorant, how well does it work? For me it never has really worked at all except for a few hours after the application. It has a smell, which covers up some odor, but wears off fairly quick and has to be reapplied several times throughout the day. Not only that, but it is fairly expensive as well.

I have heard of homemade deodorant before, but I never really believed that it would work considering that I wasn’t having any success with the natural store bought deodorant. I figured if this worked so well, why wouldn’t these brands that make natural deodorant have figured out the recipe by now? It wasn’t until recently when a friend told me about how well this homemade deodorant actually works, that I decided to give it a try. I am so glad I did! It works so well, and I kid you not, it lasts all day! Even through strenuous exercise and hot days in the garden, it is a miracle! And here is the recipe: (from wellnessmama.com)

• 6 T coconut oil
• 1/4 cup (4 T) baking soda
• 1/4 cup (4 T) arrowroot or cornstarch
• essential oils (optional)

Mix all of the ingredients together and then store in a container. In the summer months or in hotter climates this mixture will get very soft and even turn to liquid, so just be aware of that. Apply a small dad to each underarm area and rub it in. That’s it!

2. Toothpaste

Toothpaste is another product that generally contains a lot of chemicals and can be beneficial to switch to a more natural option. Again, many of these natural toothpastes that are available can be quite expensive. Why not make your own? There are many recipes on the web, but here is one that I found to be economical and works great! Here is the recipe: (from diynatural.com)

•  2/3 cup baking soda
• 1 tsp. fine sea salt (optional – direct application of the minerals in sea salt is great for teeth, but can be left out if the taste is too salty)
• 1 – 2 tsp. peppermint extract or 10-15 drops peppermint essential oil (or add your favorite flavor – spearmint, orange, etc.)
• Filtered water (add to desired consistency)

3. Shampoo

Here is a product that seems to be so complicated as there are literally thousands of different types for literally every single hair type and every single color, dyed hair, natural hair, thick hair, thin hair, flat hair and everything else in between. This recipe is so simple you may not believe it until you try it. Yes, there are many great natural plant based shampoo products available, especially at health food stores. But did you know that you can make your own using one, dirt cheap ingredient?

•  Baking soda

That’s it, unless you include water as an ingredient. Simply use between 2 and 4 tablespoons of baking soda mixed with 3 times as much water (depending on length and thickness of your hair) I use a squeeze bottle and it works great! Start on your roots on dry or wet hair and distribute evenly through your hair. You may want to avoid your ends unless they feel particularly greasy. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes and then rinse it all out. There are a few benefits to this:

1.  Seriously, this definitely one of the cheapest ways to wash your hair.
2. You should be able to wash your hair less often.
3. This method is all-natural and you won’t be piling gunk and chemicals all over your hair that actually cause it to get greasy over time.
4. You will be helping the environment by eliminating the waste produced from shampoo bottles and harmful chemicals that go right down the drain.

Don’t knock this method until you try it! It works great and is well worth a shot!

4.Conditioner

This is pretty much just as simple as the shampoo recipe above, one ingredient only: apple cider vinegar. It may seem strange to put vinegar in your hair after washing it, but this method works exceptionally well especially after washing it with the baking soda method. You will be surprised how well and soft this makes your hair feel, even if it is thick, curly, frizzy or all the above. This treatment even works wonders for those who experience dandruff. You will want to make sure that you use unpasteurized apple cider vinegar to be sure all of the beneficial nutrients are still in tact. Simply put 1 part ACV to 4 parts water into another squeeze bottle or a spray bottle even works well for this and apply all over hair and again wait for a minute or two before you thoroughly rinse off with cool water. You’ll be amazed how easy it is to comb through your hair and how soft and shiny it will be after it dries. Please note that this can leave your hair smelling slightly vinegary, feel free to add a few drops of essential oil to the mixture to help lighten up the vinegar smell.

5. Hand, Face and Body Lotion

Women across the globe spend billions of dollars on skin care products and anti-aging creams annually. Yes, men do too, but nowhere near to the same extent as women, all in the name of beauty. The interesting thing here is that a lot –actually most of the products contain a large amount of chemicals including parabens, and fragrances that are actually very toxic to us. In the pursuit of youthful glowing skin it seems that in some cases we are actually making it worse, less glowing and less elastic. Anything that goes onto your skin goes into your bloodstream as well. So, I think it is safe to say that we shouldn’t be putting anything onto our skin that would be unsafe to ingest. Makes sense right? The same way that what you put in your skin can get into your bloodstream, what you are eating can directly effect the appearance of your skin. Be sure to drink plenty of water, and try out this natural homemade body lotion.

•  ½ Cup Coconut Oil
• 1 tsp. Liquid Vitamin E Oil
• 5-7 Drops of Lavender Essential Oil or Rosewater

Combine all ingredients and store in a little jar. A little dab is all that is needed morning, evening or both.

Article by Alanna  Ketler

Collective Evolution Web Site

Massage Cupping - Also Known As Medi-Cupping Offered @ Take A New Approach Health & Wellness Center

(I came across this excellent article found in The Institute for Integrative Healthcare written by Lydia Riedell - LMT.  She does a wonderful job, explaining Massage Cupping or as we call it, Medi-Cupping.... Just another one of the modalities we are offering here at Take A New Approach Health & Wellness Center in Lexington, KY.)

"Massage Cupping:  Feeling Issues In The Tissues"

Over the last decade, cupping therapy has moved rapidly into the mainstream of Eastern bodywork therapies. Once seen as an ancient healing technique used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) from as far back as five centuries, modern cupping therapy introduces a wide array of instruments – as well as application techniques – to treat soft tissue presentations that massage therapists see every day on their massage tables.

The Physiological Response

Cupping falls well within the scope of practice for an LMT. Massage cupping is the combination of massage movements and negative pressure with the use of a suction device on the skin. Just as in the art of massage, the art of cupping draws fresh blood and lymph into the tissue to accelerate the healing response. The creation of suction (or negative pressure) from cupping disperses or drains stagnation caused by the accumulation of cellular waste, such as lactic acid and other toxins that form deep within muscle tissue or joint as a result of injury, trauma or overuse.  Excessive stagnation that resides within deep tissue reservoirs creates inflammation, pain, swelling, stiffness and decreased range of motion.
The application of the vacuum created with cupping penetrates into the deeper reservoirs of muscle tissue to relieve inflammation created by stagnation. The vasodilatation effect created with the application of cups is identical to the application of external heat; however, vasodilatation is reached faster due to the penetrating effect of the vacuum. As tissue layers release heat, congestion caused by toxic waste is liquefied and brought to the surface of the body where small blood capillaries and the lymph system carry away cellular waste. When there is less inflammation/heat within the tissue, it becomes more receptive to fluids (less dehydration), oxygenated blood flow and other nutrients. Separation of tissue in this manner can be a catalyst for change as the body begins to eliminate chronic congestion and lymph becomes more fluid.

Tools

Today, a variety of cups can be used to assist the bodyworker in the application of cupping massage techniques. When working on the larger areas of the body, like the back, the bodyworker can begin to practice various massage cupping techniques using silicone cups that do not require the use of fire. These cups allow the bodyworker to compress the bulb to remove oxygen from the cup to create suction. The level of suction, light or deep, can be manipulated by varying the compression of the bulb.
Silicone cups are flexible, come in different sizes and shapes, and can be applied on curved areas like the shoulder and neck for stationary cupping. MediCupping™ therapy, based on the foundation and structure of ACE Massage Cupping™ therapy, utilizes a machine with glass or plastic cups to create suction on the body surface. The ability of the MediCupping™ machine to control the vacuum and the release of tissue makes it unique. The equipment performs the pumping techniques while the therapist concentrates on the movements. Results are easy to document through regulation of equipment settings, and successful results are achieved due to the consistency of application.

Techniques

A typical massage cupping treatment, just like massage with the hands, begins with warming up the fascia, engaging the parasympathetic nervous system to induce relaxation, and palpating tissue and joints to locate areas of restriction or immobilization due to injury or trauma. When heat is generated via friction from repetitive gliding massage strokes (effleurage), fascia becomes supple after 5 minutes for normal tissue and longer when its elasticity is compromised by injury or trauma. This same effect can be obtained with the application of cups using gliding strokes in half the time and at a higher level of efficiency and effectiveness.
The application of lightweight oil, such as sunflower or safflower, helps the cups move over the back as gliding massage strokes are applied. Further, suction allows the therapist to “lift” the skin when applying gliding strokes, releasing adhesions in the superficial fascia and toxins from associated deeper muscle tissue. A cup can be placed directly over the spine, sacrum, and iliac crest and the skin lifted to create more space and to break up adhesions in these areas.  Gliding cupping strokes applied over the paraspinal muscles create a soothing effect that engages the parasympathetic system.
As heat is generated through repetitive gliding cupping, different skin coloring will become apparent. The color of the skin is information that the therapist can use to determine specific massage cupping techniques. For example, areas that are deficient in blood and fluids are colder to the touch and will appear white to light pink/red. Areas where stagnation and excess toxins accumulate will feel hotter to the touch and will appear dark red to purple in color. Massage cup movements to address patterns can be sedating or stimulating. (Anita J. Shannon demonstrates these techniques in the video mentioned in the references.)

Stimulating Techniques: Shaking, Vibration and Friction

Deficient areas, identifiable by white to light pink/red coloring, require a lighter suction as the healing response is induced by stimulating strokes such as vibration and shaking.

• With vibration, a stationary cup is placed over the area requiring stimulation and the skin is lifted up and down, no more than an inch, at a rapid pace for several seconds. The cup can be moved to adjacent areas and the technique repeated.
• With the application of shaking, the cup is applied with a lighter suction and rapidly glided vigorously back and forth over identified areas. The skin and body will shake with this application. Shaking can be applied directly over bony prominences and areas of scar tissue to loosen attachments and adhesions.
• A greater friction response to break up fascial adhesions can be applied using two cups applied side by side. Slowly, each cup is pulled away from one another, lengthening fascial tissues and the family of connective tissues, as similarly performed in Myofascial Release.

Sedating/Draining Techniques: Pumping, Rolling Rotation and Parking

Areas of excess/stagnation exhibited by darker reds to purples indicate inflammation or congestion and require draining or sedating techniques. When these areas are identified via palpation and coloring of the skin cues – pumping, rolling rotation and parking techniques are useful for breaking up the area of congestion. Static placement of a cup over an area for over three minutes, or parking, draws stagnation to the surface so it can be dispersed. Parking a cup allows for the following therapies:

• Trigger point or neuro-lymphatic point work.
• Joint manipulation, as attachments are lifted.
• Two-cup soft tissue traction or fascial release techniques.
• Scar release techniques that facilitate separation of tissue from bone or other soft tissue. Certain scar release techniques may require placement for longer than 3 minutes to facilitate release of an internal adhesion. Smaller cups are used and congestion dispersed after the adhesion is released.

Through the technique of suction and release, a pumping action is created to quickly drain areas of excess/stagnation. In this technique, the cup is placed on the skin for several seconds, and lifted up and off the skin repeatedly over an area.
Rolling rotation requires a stationary cup to lift the skin as the cup is moved in a circular motion.  As the cup is rotated over the same location, restrictions can be identified when the cup “pops” off of the skin. The direction that the cup pops off indicates the location of a fascial restriction.  Such restrictions can be addressed using stimulating techniques.

Role of the Practitioner

In massage cupping, the cup becomes an extension of the therapist. Many therapists say they feel no boundary when using a cup and can feel “issues in the tissues” even more so than with their bare hands. Clear glass or silicone cups tend to magnify the tissue, making it easier to observe tissue conditions such as restrictions, stagnation and inflammation, as indicated by various skin coloring. The cups will stop or drag in areas that reveal fascial restrictions and show the direction of the restriction. As the body reveals excess or deficient states, the therapist uses visual cues that are revealed through various skin coloring to customize a unique cupping treatment for each individual client.

Article written by:

Lydia Riedell - LMT

June 19th, 2014

Recommended Study:

Cupping for Massage Therapists

References

Bentley, Bruce. “Cupping Deficiency.” The Lantern:  Volume 8, No. 2, 2011. Web. 9 May 2014. www.healthtraditions.com.au/essays.htm
Bentley, Bruce. “Mending the Fascia with Modern Cupping.” The Lantern:  Volume 10, No. 3, 2012. Web. 9 May 2014. www.healthtraditions.com.au/essays.htm
Shannon, Anita J. “The Art of Massage Cupping.” Massage Magazine, Inc., 2008. Web. 9 May 2014.
http://www.magnificent- http://www.magnificent-you.com/files/Download/MassageCupping_Description%20for%20website.pdf
Shannon, Anita J. “Massage Cupping Therapy for Health Care Professionals.” Massage Today, February 2004, Vol. 04, Issue 02. Web. 9 May 2014. http://www.massagetoday.com/archives/2004/02/04.html
Shannon, Anita J. “MediCupping™-CAM Applications for VacuTherapies™ in Massage and Bodywork.” April 25, 2011.  Web. 10 May 2014. http://massagecupping.com/category/article/#sthash.uG81P3Dk.dpuf
Shannon, Anita J. “Top 7 Massage Cupping Techniques with MediCupping™ Machine.” ACE Massage Cupping Video. [demonstration]. Web. 10 May 2014.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCocRCidOs37o3bdn5gTTCWg/videos
Shannon, Anita J. “What the Massage Cupping Therapy Marks Can Indicate.” Ace Massage Cupping Video. Web. 10 May 2014. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCocRCidOs37o3bdn5gTTCWg/videos
Sullivan, LMT, Ryan. (2014, May 3 & 6).  Personal interview and cupping treatment.

ZYTO 5.0 Elite Bio-Communication / Bio-Energetic Surveys What is it?

I often get asked about this new ZYTO 5.0 Elite software that I currently use here at Take A New Approach Health & Wellness Center - Lexington, KY -  Gwen Jones OTR/L-LMT-ZYTO Practitioner

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Mainly....

How Does it Work?

Well, your body is energetically connected and constantly in communication with itself. The primary function of this communication is to maintain overall health and functionality. Bio=communication between your body and ZYTO software takes advantage of this and is a breakthrough method for 'listening to' and 'communicating with' your body.
By interacting energetically with your body the ZYTO software will essentially 'ask your body questions' and record your body's responses or 'answers'. Information gathered in this way can help you be more proactive about your health and help you and your healthcare provider make better decisions regarding your healthcare.
ZYTO scans do not diagnose or recommend treatments, they simply provide information that should be considered by a qualified healthcare professional in determining a course of action.

Here Are Some ZYTO Technology Definitions:

Baseline - A reference value derived from hand cradle measurements of the energy of the skin that are used in conjunction with the response value to determine biological preference.
Biological Preference - Using biocommunication, ZYTO software is able to measure response coherence or changes in the energy pattern of the skin.  Responses resulting in greater coherence indicate what is referred to as biological preference. Biological preference will vary by individual and over time.
Energetic Field - Living organisms are composed of and impacted by energy.  Some animal species have highly developed energetic senses and use them to hunt and communicate.  ZYTO software interacts with the body’s energy when it sends VSI data and measures the body’s response.
Galvanic Skin Response or GSR - All tissues in the human body, including skin, have the ability to conduct electricity. This electrical energy is constantly changing and can be measured and charted. The skin's electrical conductivity fluctuates based on certain bodily conditions, and this fluctuation is called the galvanic skin response.
Negative Response - When the response to the VSI results in a loss of coherence in the body’s energy pattern, it is interpreted as negative and is referred to as a biological aversion.
Positive Response or Coherence - When the response to the VSI results in greater coherence in the body’s energy pattern, it is interpreted as positive and is referred to as a biological preference.
Response - The natural, energetic reaction the body has to the VSI.
VSI or Virtual Stimulus ITEM (Stimulus) - A digital signal that is correlated to something physical, sometimes referred to as a representative computer signature. Computers only communicate with binary digital code (ones and zeros) so the VSI is created digitally and then associated with the physical item it represents using a proprietary entanglement process called linking.  Once linked, the VSI allows ZYTO software to communicate with the body. 


References shared from  ZYTOtechnology.com


I wanted to load this video, but unable but you can go to this link to watch a short video on how it works with the body.


http://youtu.be/cLHVIosyacw

What is Magnesium Stearate...and why is it in most of our supplements these day??

Magnesium Stearate - What is it?

	Magnesium stearate in supplements

Magnesium stearate is a white substance, solid at room temperature, used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical and supplement tablets and capsules. It is composed of magnesium and stearic acid, and oftentimes, palmitic acid as well.

Why do so Many Companies add it to Their Supplements?

The primary role of magnesium stearate in supplements is to act as a lubricant to prevent tablet and capsule contents from sticking to the machinery that processes them. This ensures that production machinery can operate at maximum speeds and profit targets can be met. In other words, it is primarily used for financial reasons. Read a detailed explanation of magnesium stearate’s role as a lubricant in manufacturing facilities.

What are the Pros and Cons of Magnesium Stearate?

Pros

The pros are for manufacturers that want to improve profit margins. It is far more costly and time-intensive to produce supplements without magnesium stearate.

Cons

Reduction of dissolution time

Brand X With Stearates - Will Not Dissolve		Dr. Ron’s Dissolves Easily

It is commonly noted in medical literature that magnesium stearate increases the time it takes for tablets and capsules to dissolve due to the film it forms on capsule or tablet ingredients. Magnesium stearate coats a good portion of the molecules in a tablet or capsule, requiring digestive enzymes to break down the magnesium stearate coating before being able to access the nutrients it envelops.
In a study published in the journal Pharmaceutical Technology (April, 1985), the percent dissolution for capsules after 20 minutes in solution went from 90% without stearates to 25% with stearates. In other words, stearates reduced the rate the capsule dissolved by 65%! This may result in the nutrients not dissolving in the appropriate section of the intestines as intended. We are particularly concerned about individuals with impaired digestion who may have more difficulty absorbing nutrients coated with magnesium stearate.

Are There Metal Catalysts in Your Supplement?

Hydrogenated oils are a common source for the magnesium stearate used in pharmaceuticals and supplements. The stearates are made by hydrogenating cottonseed or palm oil. Cottonseed oil has the highest content of pesticide residues of all commercial oils; cotton crops are heavily sprayed. In the hydrogenation process, the oil is subjected to high heat and pressure in the presence of a metal catalyst for several hours, creating a hydrogenated saturated fat. Hydrogenated vegetable fats contain altered molecules derived from fatty acids. According to Udo Erasmus in Fats and Oils, the metal catalyst used in the hydrogenation process may also contaminate the stearates produced.

Contamination

Are your supplements contaminated?

In December 2011 The World Health Organization reported that several batches of magnesium stearate were cross-contaminated with zeolite (sodium aluminium silicate), calcium hydroxide, dibenzoylmethane, bisphenol A and Irganox 1010. While some of these substances may not be harmful, as is the case with zeolite, others are known to be harmful, such as bisphenol A (BPA). The industrial chemical BPA is an endocrine disruptor and has been found to have other harmful effects. The European Union has banned its use in baby bottles and several consumer groups in the U.S. have petitioned the FDA to ban its use in food containers. But whether or not the contaminants found in the magnesium stearate are benign or harmful is not the issue. The issue is that it was contaminated at all.


Premier Research Labs the product of my choice, and the main stay here at Take A New Approach Health & Wellness, performs batch testing on all of their products.  This company boast that they do not use Magnesium Stearate or other fillers, ever in their products. 
Premier Products for Rapid Cellular Response. 


Information & resource in part from: Dr. Ron's Ultra Pure