Category Archives: autoimmune

    Categories autoimmune, autoimmune crisis, Digestive Issues, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Fibromyalgia

    Grateful for My EDS III

    I know it sounds completely strange that I am grateful for my genetic debilitating condition.  I have Ehlers Danlos SyndromeBut the fact is that if I wouldn’t have been plagued with pain, symptoms and illness I wouldn’t have Published a book.  I am truly grateful for the years of pain, numbness and discomfort my condition gave me because it awakened me to the possibilities of a life without pain.  If I wouldn’t have lived most of my life in excruciating pain than I wouldn’t understand the gift of wellness I achieved.  So let me explain my pain a little better for you to understand the extent of my transformation.

    I began with symptoms in childhood with anxiety and digestive issues.  I don’t remember if I had physical pain at the time but I probably did.  I do remember I always had a Band-Aid or injury on the mend.  I did have a lot of infections, allergies, urinary tract infections and skin conditions.

    Fast forward to 8th grade, I already had pain in my neck and right arm.  The digestive issues were worse and feminine issues emerged. I began having frequent vaginal infections and chronic menstrual cramps.  The feminine issues progressively worsened because of my allergies to ingredients in feminine products but I had no idea.

    Fast forward to adult life, I spent countless hours at doctors’ offices and specialists because all the symptoms were overwhelming.  I was on tons of prescriptions and antibiotics regularly.  My debilitating symptoms progressed to the point where my right arm and right leg were completely numb.  My pain level was 9/10 constantly and needed modifications at work through ergonomics assessments.

    The conditions worsened with stress and during my nursing career disability emerged. II had a special chair which had neck, lumbar and butt support. And this chair took years to find after many alternatives didn’t work.  My arm was in so much pain that during my MSN education I had to get transcription to software o write my papers and assignments. I had a multitude of symptoms at this point in my life: reflux, IBS, bloating, injuries, skin infections, UTIs, vaginal infections, chronic pain, migraines and fatigue.  Wow I know that is a lot for anyone to handle.  It was a tough life but it made me the woman I am today.

    I am grateful and thankful for all those symptoms because they created an awareness inside me to change.  If I wouldn’t have been at rock bottom and filled with symptoms I wouldn’t have fought for a better life.  If I wouldn’t have known the truth about pain I wouldn’t have known there was a better way of life.  My awareness of discomfort pushed me into action.

    And those two beautiful gifts are part of what I teach today in my book, “The Truth about IBS and Anxiety.”

    The book is more than a triumph over digestive issues, bloating and anxiety.  It is a triumph over autoimmune disease, Fibromyalgia, insomnia, POTS, EDS III, Reflux, and Anxiety.

    My path to understanding my body came from a place of pain but it brought me to a deep sense of relief.

    So here I am almost 43 years old and in the best shape of my life.  I am more active now than I ever was in my teens and young adult life.  I have more energy, strength and vitality than I ever dreamed.  But if I wouldn’t have come from such a dark and lonely place I wouldn’t have achieved it.  And that is why, I created a Podcast, “Goddess Unleashed’ because I truly believe “Your Medical History doesn’t have to be Your Fate.”  If I could overcome a genetic condition that progressively debilitates you into a life of surgeries, physical therapy and immobility; than you can overcome your own genetic predisposition.

    The day I was diagnosed was an eye opening experience because the doctor praised me for everything I was doing to support myself.  And this came at a time when I was still plagued by pain.  And because I came from such a dark place I truly see, feel and experience the gifts I have been given.  I am truly grateful and thankful for my new life without pain and symptoms.  I am thankful that I don’t need prescriptions, surgeries and conventional treatments.  And that unique perspective is what I share on my podcast to bridge the gap between Conventional and Alternative Medicine on a path towards disease prevention and health promotion.  If you are looking for a way out of your debilitating symptoms, indigestion or anxiety than schedule your Free Clarity Call.  You have nothing to lose because you are already plagued by symptoms.  But you have everything to gain if and when you achieve your own unique wellness. Download journal tips, meditations and a FREE Copy of the book.

    Categories Advice, autoimmune, autoimmune crisis, Biohacking, Chronic Pain, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Emotional pain, Fibromyalgia, flare up, Health, hope, Inflammation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, pain, Physical Pain

    Manifest Wellness

    What is wellness? How do you know you have achieved wellness? Is it the same for everyone?

    Can I go from feeling crappy to happy? Can I stop the cycle of feeling sick and tired all the time?

    Does my medical history have to be my fate?

    Wellness is a state of wellbeing and good health.  Wellness is achieved progressively as we develop our own supportive routine and lifestyle.  Wellness includes a variety of activities, choices and lifestyle shifts throughout our life span.  We can each experience our own unique wellness regardless of life’s challenges and obstacles.  Your medical history doesn’t have to be your fate.  It took me 7 years to find my Wellness because I lacked the understanding of the importance of tackling life’s challenges with a synergistic approach.  My journey was difficult and traitorous because when my health crisis happened I was stuck in the scientific and conventional world of medicine.  Conventional medicine is amazing for life saving approaches but it is lacking insight in health promotion and prevention.  Prescriptions are designed to cover up one problem and new symptoms emerge.  Going outside the box of conventional medicine is the way to truly tackle to root of your illness, disease and symptoms to heal the body.  It took me years of suffering through meltdowns, rock bottom moments and illness because I was unaware of the importance of tackling the emotional and physical root of illness and disease simultaneously. The gift I learned in the process is that the journey doesn’t have to be so difficult or torturous.  You deserve to find your unique wellness.  Everyone deserves to feel better.

    My name is Diane and I have a genetic condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome type III (EDS III).  This condition impacts the entire body requiring many prescriptions, treatments and surgeries to deal with the overwhelming symptoms. I went to see a geneticist because I knew as a nurse that something wasn’t right.  It wasn’t normal for a 35 years old to be taking more than 13 prescriptions and spend most of her life in doctor’s offices.  By the time I was diagnosed I had more than 6 surgeries and more to come.  I also spent months in physical therapy for frequent injuries.  The health issues caused me to spend my life at neurologist, allergists, endocrinologists, gynecologist, pain clinics, rheumatologists and gastroenterologist’s offices to deal with the expanse list of symptoms.  Trust me that is not a happy or healthy way to live.  But after suffering for so long, I realized prescriptions, surgeries, injections and physical therapy were not my answer.  I was in search of a true solution and desperate to feel healthy and free inside my body.  I had felt trapped and helpless for so long that I was desperate for a solution.  And I chose my health and myself for the first time in my life.

    I began my journey outside the box of conventional medicine to truly tackle my illness once and for all.  In the beginning I had tunnel vision that blinded me of the full picture.  I started with nutrition, fitness and supplementation to heal and repair the severe damage my body had undergone since childhood.  By the age of 35, I was taking 13 prescriptions and injections for pain were a monthly must.  I was diagnosed with EDS III after several years of focusing on nutrition, fitness and supplementation.  I went to the genetics simply to prove that my hypothesis was correct and the doctor’s that had treated me were clueless.  My hypothesis was “Nutrient malabsorption, poor diet, lack of exercise and genetics was causing my expanse list of symptoms.”  My visit to genetics was proof for myself that I was on the right track.  When I was diagnoses I was already 60% better but there was a missing element I hadn’t realized yet.  Nonetheless the geneticist and my specialists were all astonished at the transformation I had already achieved.  I was on only two prn prescriptions (as needed), pain was under control without prescriptions and I was living a healthier lifestyle.

    Nutrition, fitness and supplementation worked on the physical root of my illness and disease.  This is the physical stress we experience when life stress and diet create inflammation, toxins and damage in the body.  I had that under control with supplementation, nutrition and fitness but injuries, pain flare ups and irritable bowel symptoms still occurred frequently.  My worst symptoms to control were indigestion, heart burn, bloating, fatigue and chronic pain.  My digestive flare ups would trigger the muscle pain and fatigue to return.  And my gastroenterologist decided a psychiatrist was the answer to calm my anxiety and reduce stress with a prescription.  I started on Celexa to help control my symptoms and finally had to face the fact that my symptoms had an emotional component.  I didn’t want to accept that my emotions were triggering my symptoms but after they diminished the truth was clear.  The quest then became to tackle that emotional pain without a prescription and truly overcome my symptoms. I did not want to be on anti-anxiety medications my whole life.  It was a difficult journey but worth the fight because I knew I wasn’t alone in this struggle.  I am not the only person that is sick and tired of being sick and tired all the time.  I am not the only one who is sick of all the prescriptions that wreak havoc on the body and cause more problems than good.  I am not the only person that feels trapped inside their body. I am not the only person that wants to find a solution to all their symptoms.

    Fast forward to 2018, the missing element, emotional pain, would prove to be my most difficult obstacle to face and overcome.  I realized that there was an emotional root to my symptoms that stemmed from my childhood.  By this time, I was trying to overcome a new fear and my physical symptoms were back with a vengeance.  My fear of being seen and being heard.  I desperately wanted to share my story and create videos on social media but my emotions kept getting in my way.  I underwent hypnosis to tackle the subconscious blocks and self-limiting beliefs from my childhood.  And suddenly, the symptoms were less frequent and I was making great progress with my fears.

    We all have experienced negative thoughts, self-limiting beliefs and emotional pain.  This occurs due to unprocessed emotions from our childhood.  We experience events, circumstances and situations in our childhood that are difficult for us to understand and process because we were never taught ways to process and release our emotions.  This vicious pattern continues throughout our lives as we re-experience these emotions and feelings.  The simple truth is that we all have a negative voice inside our heads.  And this little negative character controls are actions and reactions to everything we perceive in our lives.  I call these negative voices, Negative Nancy and Negative norm.  My Negative Nancy was a dominant voice in my head that controlled all my actions in life causing me to feel frozen and stuck.  She was holding me back from my dreams and hypnosis helped me realize that I could regain control of my subconscious mind.

    The simple truth to share with you now is that your physical and emotional symptoms are connected.  You may be skeptical as I was in the beginning but it a very powerful truth.  To achieve your own unique wellness there needs to be a shift in the physical and emotional realms to truly create a lasting effect.  And once that is introduced into your lifestyle, you can absolutely go from feeling crappy to happy.  You can prove to yourself and others that your medical history doesn’t have to be your fate.  It will end the cycle of feeling sick and tired all the time.  It will help you thrive and create the life you dream.  So the question is… Do you want to Thrive?  Do you want to find Your Unique Wellness?

    Categories Anxiety, autoimmune, Emotional pain, Health, motivation, Physical Pain, Transformation

    Keep Your Head Up!

    I woke up this morning with a song playing in my head.  As the words played, I remembered that everything is always evolving for the greater good.  The music playing in my head is all a beautiful sign that my day is starting off in alignment with my bright, intuitive, positive and creative nature.  Trust me it has been difficult for me too.  I may not be working at the bedside as an RN because my chronic illness and autoimmune disease lead me to a different role but I still experience plenty of stress.  I am the lucky nurse that calls families with Covid-19 results.  I am the special person that was chosen to give the news weather good or bad to families.  And trust me those calls can be difficult, stressful and challenging.  But my resilience and mindful practices support me so that I can be strong and support the families in the community.

    Life tends to through us plenty of obstacles.  Even with all the mindful activities that I practice and my perseverance, some days are harder than others.  And one of the things that seem to disappear when I am stressed is my creativity and writing.  Most people don’t realize this little secret because they see me on social media and assume that everything is perfect.  I used to write on this blog consistently before the spring of 2019.  But over the past year stress, challenges and obstacles kept throwing me off track.  And even though I was writing a little and publishing books, I still felt frozen and stuck.  And this phenomenon can happen for all of us on a regular day but now in the midst of a pandemic the stress is heightened. Trust me those days that I have to call a patient with a positive result aren’t easy.  But my unique stress reduction techniques propel me forward and help me stay healthy, happy and positive.  And it is essential because if I fall apart then everything around me will fall apart too.  If I make that phone call feeling sad, gloomy and upset – the families will feel it too.  And if the families I call feel it on the phone – imagine what my family feels as we are all confined in our homes.

    Stress and overwhelm reaches everyone you come into contact with and everyone you love.  You may not realize that the way you feel impacts those around you but it absolutely does.  Yesterday, I had a weird day, I wasn’t stressed or anxious but I didn’t feel connected to my creativity or productivity.  I wasn’t my typical fun and creative self.  I usually incorporate some fun creativity in the day for Lucas but I didn’t.  I usually plan an art project, game or science project.  These activities give us time for bonding, laughing, creativity and fun.  But yesterday I didn’t do any of that.  And Lucas spent all day entertaining himself which resulted in anxiety and sensory overload before bed.  And it resulted in him having anxiety and difficulty sleeping.

    The biggest secret I learned in my journey overcoming chronic illness and debilitating pain is that it is crucial to tackle the emotional and physical root simultaneously.  And the emotional stress is the most complex.  It is essential to shift the negative thoughts in the subconscious mind and staying positive.  And during this Pandemic Crisis it is absolutely crucial to stay positive and optimistic.  When we fail to see the positive in our days it makes us stay frozen, fearful and stuck.  This pandemic has been difficult for all of us.  But the beautiful gift is that there is a reason for everything, even this crisis.  And there is always sunshine after the storm.  The gift we have all received from this quarantine is more quality and quantity time for bonding and connecting with those we love. We all have more time to be with our children.  We all have more time to call up a friend and say hello.  We all have more time to video chat with extended family.  We all have more time to sit outdoors and meditate.  We all have more time to exercise and take time for ourselves.  But if we get stuck in the negative thoughts and distractions we can’t appreciate the positive gifts we have received.

    Staying positive during the difficult times can be easier than you think.  Somedays might feel super complicated and impossible to overcome.  Trust me I have had some pretty horrible days over the past few years.  I have had days that made me want to curl up in bed and stay there.  I have had days filled with physical pain.  I have had days filled with sadness and frustration.  I have had days that made me feel like crying constantly.  But I pushed through them because I knew that staying in that negative space would only make things worse.  And I knew every new day is always a fresh start.  And with a fresh start comes a new outlook. And with a new outlook comes new possibilities.  Sometimes it is hard to remember the sunshine will come out tomorrow.  Trust me I completely understand.  These days have been difficult for me too.  But if you keep your head up, stay positive and shift that subconscious mind anything is possible.

    Like the song says, we have to stay in the positive, keep your head up and stop worrying.  The secret to manifesting your wellness is to stay focused on your goal and stay positive.  If we allow the stress to overcome us and live in fear then Covid-19 wins.  Somedays are harder to feel relaxed, calm, peaceful and healthy.  But the secret is remembering there is always a rainbow after the rainstorm.  There is always sunshine tomorrow if you shift those thoughts and stay positive. Tomorrow is always a fresh start to achieve your dreams.  The obstacles, challenges and this pandemic is only a bump in the road. The sunshine will come again if you breath, relax and stay positive.

    Today is a fresh start to embrace the beauty and gifts around us. Are your ready to Manifest your own Wellness?  Do you want to stay Positive during this pandemic? Do you want to Thrive?  You can manifest your own wellness and stay positive.  If I can manifest wellness inside a body filled with autoimmune disease and genetic predispositions than anyone can. And you can manifest wellness now even amidst a pandemic. So, are your ready to stay Positive? Do you want someone to motivate you to stay positive? Then check out this exclusive program to support you during this crisis.

    Manifest Wellness with Diane

    Thanks Andy Grammer for waking me up with your beautiful song.  The song that played was You gotta Keep Your Head Up! 

    Categories autoimmune, autoimmune crisis, Biohacking, Chronic Pain, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Emotional pain, Empath, Fear, Fibromyalgia, Inflammation, kids, Mommy, motivation, Physical Pain, positivity, Speak your mind

    A Pandemic Within

    In the light of this new life stress and pandemic crisis, I realize that God was preparing me for this very moment in time.  Over the past 2 years, I have been evolving and learning to deal with my constant stress state. Most people don’t realize the constant stress and anxiety that I have been living in my whole life.  And the case is the same for anyone with a chronic health issues, genetic disease or chronic illness.  I never thought that I would be sharing my story of triumph over a debilitating genetic condition but here I am.  I never thought that I could learn to relax and release stress to reduce my physical symptoms, pain and stress but here I am.  I never thought that I could support others to deal with stress, illness, digestive issues and grief but here I am.  And this past year, I have done that and more.  And I never thought that I would use my techniques to help me deal with the stress of claustrophobia in a pandemic, and yet here I am.

    Most people don’t realize that my body has been under constant stress since childhood.  Most people don’t realize that their stress reaches their children.  Most people don’t realize that to truly tackle stress and calm the nervous system you need to address the subconscious mind.   We all have a Negative Nancy or Negative Norm with in our minds.  But there is power in transforming those negative thoughts into the positive.  Trust me I was a skeptic at first.  Shit I have been pushing through my negative thoughts and fears for years.  I push through them everyday to write an article, post a video or be my authentic self.  But the beautiful gift I learned in the process is that working on your Negative Nancy and Negative Norm actually impacts everyone around you.  Have you ever noticed when you enter a room with a Super Negative person, your mood completely plummets?  Have you ever noticed that when a high energy happy friend calls you, your energy and mood skyrockets?

    Well the same thing happens inside YOUR home.  If you are stressed, anxious and overwhelmed your children feel it.  If you are stressed, anxious and overwhelmed your family feels it.  If you are stressed out your customers, colleagues, partners and the world around you feels it.  It isn’t hard to shift that Negative voice but it does take a little time and effort.  And in the midst of this crisis we all have extra time to evolve and grow in our stress reduction practices.  We all have more time inside our homes.  We all have more time with those we love.  And to truly value that time and soak in the delicious goodness of these quiet times we need to go within.  Trust me I am beyond scared to have to wear that Hazmat suit and care for patients.  But I am ready for the task.  I was brought to this world to help people who are ill, anxious, stressed and overwhelmed.  And I know it because that has been my life experiences up until now.  I have become an autoimmune warrior, chronic pain survivor, chronic illness guru, digestive health prophet and so much more.  And it was all preparing me to help others in this time of great stress and anxiety.

    Trust me I have been avoiding my gifts for a long time.  I have been too scared to share videos of meditations and hypnosis.  I have been to scared to show the world that you can truly transform your stress and impact those around you.  But I learned this special fact at home.  Over the past year, I published a book, The Truth about IBS and Anxiety, and in that time I also wrote a children’s book to help my son with anxiety, sensory overload and stopping the stress response.  And the book has been sitting in my computer because I was too scared to show the world the truth.  And now in this moment of extreme stress I realize the injustice I am doing by not being authentic.  So today, I will finally get out of my own way and share my gifts and secrets in a special Support Group for this Crisis.  I will share simple bonding and stress relief techniques for mom’s to reduce their stress and support their children.  The strategies I teach have astounded my physicians, they have no idea how I have been able to stop my frequent infections, pain, migraines, chronic lung issues and more…  They are completely surprised because this is not something that is taught in nursing or medical school.  This practice is something I learned by going within and learning my own body using the scientific background from my nursing career to hack my immune system and nervous system.  Yesterday, my colleague and the founder of the non-profit Family Friendly Hands, came to me asking for a live to support families.  Trust me I was scared shitless to share my gifts and story on social media, yet here I am.  And yesterday, I recorded a healing audio on Facebook despite my own internal stress and resistance.  And today, in the midst of all the chaos and stress, I will go LIVE with Elsa Murguia Clarke to support the community and families with special needs children. And I will continue to push through my fears and anxieties to support the community with COVID-19 inside the Hospital and Outside.  Why?  Because inside the Hospital my role is to support families as they receive these results positive or negative.  And in the community my role is to help people slow down their nervous system, boost their immune system and release stress.

    This is a vital role I play because the ones that are impacted the most by our stress is our children. Trust me I didn’t want to believe it either.  But I lived a life of chronic illness, anxiety and digestive issues.  And it all began in my childhood.  As an empath, I was born with special gifts to sense stress in those around me.  And many of our special needs children and regular children have the same gifts.  And our stress reaches all of them.  Let me tell you a story, when I was a little girl my mom was always under stress, she had chronic illness, chronic pain and anxiety.  And the days she saw her mom the stress would multiply because her mom was a Negative Nancy.  I love my grandma but the fact is she didn’t know how to cope with her predominantly negative mind and it impacted her physical health.  Well that stress and tension crossed the generations to me.  And I have been learning to deal with those special empathic gifts over the past 7 years.  And finally, I am ready to teach people that you can reduce stress, improve your mood, calm your nervous system and boost your immune system.  And I know it because I proven it at home, with my children and with my clients.  So if you want to learn to calm and relax in the midst of this chaos, join the movement I am creating inside my support group.  I’m here to support you through this stress. Join my free Facebook group Unleash Your Inner Strength to an exclusive video I will share today, The proof your kids feel your stress.

     

     

     

    Categories accomplishment, Advice, Anxiety, autoimmune, autoimmune crisis, Chronic Pain, Digestive Issues, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, fatigue, Fibromyalgia, gym, Health, hope, pain, Physical Pain

    Autoimmune Warrior

    What does it mean to be an autoimmune warrior?  It means you fight hard to overcome your symptoms and live the life you dream.  It means that there are battles and sometimes your fail but you get back up and do it again.  But most of all it means that once you finally succeed, it is time to share your story and help others accomplish the same.  It wasn’t an easy journey.  It was filled with obstacles and challenges.  It took me 7 years to perfect my process.  There were tons of rock bottom failures.  But we all learn from our mistakes.  That is when you find a way out, dust yourself off and do it again.  There were many times that I wanted to give up and eat junk food.  There were many times I wasn’t motivated to exercise.  There were plenty of hard days.  There were plenty of horrible days.  But every challenge I faced only made me stronger.  I have autoimmune leaky gut and a genetic syndrome called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.  The combination can be pretty debilitating and overwhelming.  If I wouldn’t have chosen to make my health a priority my life would be very different right now.  It wasn’t an easy decision to put myself before others.  After all I am a mom, wife and nurse.  All those amazing things means you put everyone else before you.  And I absolutely love doing that but when my health started to fail and it impacted my children’s joy, I stopped to reflect.  If I didn’t find a way out they would be faced with the hardships of having a chronically ill mom to care for and they didn’t deserve that fate.

    Leaky gut is a condition that allows particle of food to travel throughout your body.  These particles begin to wreck havoc everywhere.  Then your immune system begins to attack the food particles and your own body in the process.  Leaky gut and autoimmune disease is a backfiring of your own immune system.  Your body attacks itself creating physical symptoms and pain. I suffered from symptoms since childhood.  But I had no idea what or why it was happening until my 30s.  I’ve learned a lot on this journey to find wellness.  My journey took me through an educational journey to find answers for others that ended up helping me.  My career evolved from a Special Education teacher to a Registered nurse in hopes of helping children with special needs overcome their health battles.  And the amazing gift that unveiled was the very answered I needed for myself.  In the process my health eventually failed and crisis struck.  I desperately searched for a solution to my horrible digestive issues. Slowly my body began to heal and transform.  The journey helped me develop an incredible technique that I have used to support my clients and children.  I reduced and practically eliminated all my symptoms in my body.  And boy were those symptoms extensive.  I used to experience all of these symptoms almost daily: reflux, bloating, cramping, anxiety, fatigue, chronic pain, frequent illness, migraines, headaches, etc.  The symptoms became overwhelming and my life seemed to be falling apart.  I knew that there had to be a better way to live.  And I knew my children deserved better.  And I am so thankful and grateful for the journey that brought me here. But to truly understand the hardship, it is time to take you into a journey about genetics.

    I went to countless specialists and as my research evolved I knew there was a genetic condition behind all my extensive medical diagnosis and symptoms.  But it wasn’t easy to find.  I went to rheumatologists, Gastroenterologists, neurologists and then finally a geneticist.  And that was finally when I got the answer I was looking for, I was diagnosed with EDS III. Ehlers Danlos Syndrome is a debilitating condition that impacts every organ, muscle and tissue of your body.  Most people with this condition have tons of surgeries and need assistive devices.  The pain and frequent injuries leave you feeling ashamed and useless.  Thankfully I was able to overcome that dreadful time in my life.  It has been amazing to see that I was able to develop a routine that has helped me become more active and energized.  It has been a long journey.  But I learned a lot along the way.  And the most valuable gift was that all genetic conditions, illnesses and diseases have a root cause that needs to be addressed synergistically for true success.  Trust me I was skeptical. I didn’t believe myself for years.  I didn’t truly accept that there were 2 root causes of my illness.  And then suddenly in 2019, as I wrote my book, “The Truth about IBS and Anxiety,” everything became crystal clear.  As I helped people heal, I truly began to see the transformations that were possible with my process and the gifts they experienced.  You see the truth about what I teach, is that it doesn’t only help mom, dad, grandma, or grandpa; it helps the kids and grandkids too.

    Think about it this way.  Reflect on your week or your month.  Was there a day that you were super stressed, anxious or overwhelmed?  Did it change the way you behaved?  Did it change the way you felt? Did it change the way you spoke to others?  Did it change their reaction? I bet if you truly think about it, you will say, YES, YES, YES.  I will give you an example.  My client, Demi, suffered from chronic illness, reflux, chronic pain and fatigue.  She felt hopeless and alone when we began working together.  She was sure she was doomed to fail and hopeless.  As we worked together to create a supportive routine for her, she began to transform easily.  Her weight seemed to melt away.  Her symptoms seemed to disappear.  Her energy and motivation increased.  And her life completely changed.  But it didn’t stop with her, it extended to the entire family.  Her husband and children began to eat healthier.  The more energetic and happy she became, the more fun and exciting their relationship became.  And her children began to change too.  When we started working together her youngest had anxiety and trouble sleeping.  He often complained of stomach aches and headaches.  As she began to improve the way she felt, their health began to change too.  She began to really see that her own health impacted the entire family.  She began to notice that the days she was stressed and overwhelmed, everyone was stressed and overwhelmed.  She noticed that when she screamed and lost her temper, her kids suddenly had a symptoms arise.  She noticed that when she wasn’t following her routine, it affected the world around her too.

    The beautiful gift she thanked me for her compassion and courage

    The funny thing is that I didn’t realize I gave her that gift until now.  I actually created that audio about courage and compassion for myself.  Because getting on camera, writing my book and sharing my story has been a difficult journey.  It has tested my resilience and perseverance.  It has tested my patience and kindness.  It has tested me in all facets of my life.  But Demi reminded me that my journey is not only to help women.  She reminded me by helping one person, I help everyone around them heal as well.  Because if one person can make a different to transform the world around them, imagine the possibilities if more people do the same.  We all deserve to feel happy, energized and vibrant.  We all deserve to thrive in life.  We all deserve to reach our ultimate potential.  And it all starts by working on yourself first.  I never thought I could overcome my chronic debilitating pain.  I though I was destined to live a life of pain and fatigue.  I thought that surgery and physical therapy was the only way to reduce my symptoms.  But now I surpassed all my physical limitations.  I went from a girl that never exercised or played sports because her pain was so intense.  To a girl that rock climbs, dances and repels down waterfalls.  And it all began with a decision to work on me first.  And the same magical transformations happen when my clients unveil their own healing powers.

    Categories autoimmune, autoimmune crisis, Chronic Pain, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, food allergies, food sensitivities, hope, Inflammation, insomnia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome

    I am Grateful for My Pain

    Yep I am absolutely grateful for all my debilitating pain.  I am grateful for my EDS III.  I know it sounds completely strange that I am grateful for my genetic debilitating condition.  But the fact is that if I wouldn’t have been plagued with pain, symptoms and illness I wouldn’t have Published a book.  I am truly grateful for the years of pain, numbness and discomfort my condition gave me because it awakened me to the possibilities of a life without pain.  If I wouldn’t have lived most of my life in excruciating pain than I wouldn’t understand the gift of wellness I achieved.  So let me explain my pain a little better for you to understand the extent of my transformation.

    I began with symptoms in childhood with anxiety and digestive issues.  I don’t remember if I had physical pain at the time but I probably did.  I do remember I always had a Band-Aid or injury on the mend.  I did have a lot of infections, allergies, urinary tract infections and skin conditions.

    Fast forward to 8th grade, I already had pain in my neck and right arm.  The digestive issues were worse and feminine issues emerged. I began having frequent vaginal infections and chronic menstrual cramps.  The feminine issues progressively worsened because of my allergies to ingredients in feminine products but I had no idea.

    Fast forward to adult life, I spent countless hours at doctors’ offices and specialists because all the symptoms were overwhelming.  I was on tons of prescriptions and antibiotics regularly.  My debilitating symptoms progressed to the point where my right arm and right leg were completely numb.  My pain level was 9/10 constantly and needed modifications at work through ergonomics assessments.

    The conditions worsened with stress and during my nursing career disability emerged. II had a special chair which had neck, lumbar and butt support. And this chair took years to find after many alternatives didn’t work.  My arm was in so much pain that during my MSN education I had to get transcription to software o write my papers and assignments. I had a multitude of symptoms at this point in my life: reflux, IBS, bloating, injuries, skin infections, UTIs, vaginal infections, chronic pain, migraines and fatigue.  Wow I know that is a lot for anyone to handle.  It was a tough life but it made me the woman I am today.

    I am grateful and thankful for all those symptoms because they created an awareness inside me to change.  If I wouldn’t have been at rock bottom and filled with symptoms I wouldn’t have fought for a better life.  If I wouldn’t have known the truth about pain I wouldn’t have known there was a better way of life.  My awareness of discomfort pushed me into action.

    And those two beautiful gifts are part of what I teach today in my book, “The Truth about IBS and Anxiety.”

    The book is more than a triumph over digestive issues, bloating and anxiety.  It is a triumph over autoimmune disease, Fibromyalgia, insomnia, POTS, EDS III, Reflux, and Anxiety.

    My path to understanding my body came from a place of pain but it brought me to a deep sense of relief.

    So here I am almost 43 years old and in the best shape of my life.  I am more active now than I ever was in my teens and young adult life.  I have more energy, strength and vitality than I ever dreamed.  But if I wouldn’t have come from such a dark and lonely place I wouldn’t have achieved it.  And that is why, I created a Podcast, “Goddess Unleashed’ because I truly believe “Your Medical History doesn’t have to be Your Fate.”  If I could overcome a genetic condition that progressively debilitates you into a life of surgeries, physical therapy and immobility; than you can overcome your own genetic predisposition.

    The day I was diagnosed was an eye opening experience because the doctor praised me for everything I was doing to support myself.  And this came at a time when I was still plagued by pain.  And because I came from such a dark place I truly see, feel and experience the gifts I have been given.  I am truly grateful and thankful for my new life without pain and symptoms.  I am thankful that I don’t need prescriptions, surgeries and conventional treatments.  And that unique perspective is what I share on my podcast to bridge the gap between Conventional and Alternative Medicine on a path towards disease prevention and health promotion.  If you are looking for a way out of your debilitating symptoms, indigestion or anxiety than schedule your Free Discover Call.  You have nothing to lose because you are already plagued by symptoms.  But you have everything to gain if and when you achieve your own unique wellness. Click this link for a Free Discover Call.

    Email me for a FREE Copy of the book at coachdianevich@gmail.com

    “The Truth about IBS and Anxiety” formerly titled the IBS Cure Eliminate Bloat. It will be ready in a few weeks.

    Categories Antioxidants, Anxiety, autoimmune, Biohacking, Chronic Pain, Developmental Delays, Emotional pain, fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Fitness, flare up, flexibility, food allergies, food sensitivities, Health, Inflammation, libido, orgasm, pain, Physical Pain, Sexual life

    Biohack Your Future

    Biohacking is the future of healthcare.  Health and wellness is evolving rapidly with a new focus on health prevention and health promotion.  Biohacking incorporates nutrition, fitness and lifestyle modifications to impact quality of life and promote wellness.  Biohacking has become a unique experience as each individual tweaks their lifestyle to develop routines that enhance their own unique bodies.  There is a simple step to make the most intense impact on your genetics using nutrient-rich substances but most people have never even heard of it, much less understand the potential impact it has on their health.  The remarkable phenomenon is nutrigenomics which brings high quality nutrient-rich supplements to the table.  The fact is that not all supplements are created equal.  Many supplements actually cause more damage creating an over flow of nutrients that are harmful to the body.  The biohacking revolution is evolving exponentially with nutrigenomics.  Nutrigenomics provides people with a unique wellness experience.   Nutrigenomics uses naturally occurring phytonutrients, coenzymes and antioxidants to activate pathways in the body that impact genetics.  Nutrigenomics enables the body to create its own antioxidant enzymes to impact stress in every cell of the body.  This enables the body to rejuvenate and repair itself at remarkable rate.   It is so simple and effective that many people feel its like the fountain of youth.  Nutrigenomics continues to evolve and adapt to enhance the biohacking experience enabling biohackers like myself to become the best version of themselves.  It provides vital nutrients to enhance the entire body including internal organs, skin and cells.  There is no other pathway more powerful at anti-aging as the Nrf2 pathway.  Activating this pathway reduces oxidative stress which is the cause of more than 200 diseases.  Oxidative Stress is recognized in the scientific community as the leading cause of disease and aging.  There are more than 93,000 published studies on oxidative stress published in the National Institute of Health Library.  If you are in the medical field, you know the NIH is the library of choice, it is where you want your research article to live.  The fact that oxidative stress is the leading cause of aging is huge.  Let’s make it simple for anyone to understand.  I was 30 years old and felt like a 60 year old.  The stress and tension had accumulated due to poor diet, stress and anxiety creating disease in my body.  My bad genes turned on like a fire, every breathe I took made it worse until I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.  

    The good genes of energy, vitality and vigor were shut OFF permanently.  Well I used to think it was permanent but it turned out my answer was biohacking.  Let me explain the pain a little further.  Due to the build up of toxins, allergens and free radicals my body was breaking down cell by cell since childhood.  The junk food I ate was filled with additives and toxins that created an exponential impact on my physical body.  I began with fatigue, migraines and pain in my right shoulder.  As the years passed my pains expanded and radiated down the right side of my body.  Eventually my entire right side was numb and tingly.  Now, let me get really simple, imagine a piece of clay that you lay to dry.  The clay shrinks and becomes dry and brittle.  Eventually it loses all its moisture until it cracks and breaks into infinite pieces.  That is what was happening in my body, all my muscles were shrinking and tightening.  The stress and tension was building leading me to illness and eventual death.  Yes, I said it, death.  The fact is if you don’t target the rusting of your body, now, death is the end result.

    Fast forward to March of 2018 when everything began to change.  I took a leap, for my health and my family.  My children deserved to have a healthy mom that could love and nurture them.  I deserved to put myself first.  I deserved to advocate for myself and treat myself right, literally.  So, I did, I started to incorporate holistic treatments and nutrigenomics to improve my quality of life.  I was looking to improve all my symptoms of disease and illness but I experienced exponential health benefits from biohacking.  The first thing to return was my energy, I finally didn’t feel exhausted morning, noon and night.  Next, my pain started to dwindle day by day until is disappeared.  Then my numbness and tingling faded away to an oblivion.  I though that my dreams had come true and my prayers were finally answered but the benefits didn’t stop there.  My anxiety also faded away and became less influential in my daily experiences.  The most beneficial and rewarding benefit took me and everyone around me by surprise.  The valuable gift emerged and continues to evolve month by month.  So, what is this gift? I bet you want to know.  Well, its libido and the gift of orgazmik yoga.  It is an intense connection with myself mind, body and soul.  It is a benefit that I never expected but definitely appreciate, every day.  It unveiled a magical experience that continues to evolve into new orgazmik experiences.  This never would have been possible without nutrigenomics, holistic treatments, fitness and nutrition.  My physical stress and inflammation was reduced to a manageable level where holistic treatments, massage and yoga were more effective and sustainable.  My treatments were all more effective (massages, chiropractic care and holistic treatments).  These treatments lasted for longer periods of time with less relapses of pain.  Then I began to learn my body, muscle by muscle, creating a deep emotional and physical connection.  This intense connection can be replicated and duplicated for women that can tap into themselves: mind, body and soul.   If you want to know more about this orgazmik yoga, stay tuned.   Your medical history doesn’t have to be your fate.  Biohacking is the answer.  Nutrigenomics is the tool.  And coaching is the trick that guides you through your health transformation and wellness.  Let me help you pop the bubble of symptoms, disease and illness.  Let’s start your journey together.

    Categories autoimmune, autoimmune crisis, Diet, flare up, food sensitivities, Psoriasis

    Psoriasis

    Psoriasis truly sucks and the unsightly spots impact self-esteem. Flare ups can come out of the blue and target any part of your body. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease triggered T cells that travel to the skin to attack.  The skin becomes over active and swollen as skin begins to pile up and develop patches of scaly skin.

    The common causes of psoriasis are:

    • Poor diet
    • Overactive immune system
    • Emotional stress
    • Poor small intestine permeability
    • Bad protein digestion
    • Genetics
    • Poor liver function
    • Vitamin D deficiency
    • Hormonal changes
    • Increased T cells floating in the bloodstream attacking the dermis and epidermis

    Some people develop large patches at joints or scattered patches throughout the body.  There are different types of psoriasis.  Studies show a link between leaky gut and psoriasis.  In my case, I have leaky gut, food allergies, stress and anxiety that impacts my break outs.  Looking at the common causes of psoriasis basically puts my weaknesses to light.  I have 8 of the 10 common causes which means I really need to tackle the problem.  My breakouts have changed over the years.  During periods of extreme stress, like my wedding, I develop patches at my hairline and scalp.  My nails have always been weak and scaly.  I have always gotten scattered tiny red spots around my body.  This past month the quantity of these tiny spots has increased and spread from my head to my toes.  I have spots on my face, neck, chest, back, torso and legs.  The worst breakouts have occurred all over my face.  The patches are red, swollen, itchy and unsightly.  As the days progress my face gets more red, blotchy and swollen.  The patches will worsen if I don’t fight back quickly.  These last few weeks, I have had multiple flare ups and blotchy days.  This week was the worst of all with patches on my nose, forehead, jawline, cheeks and hairline.  It is time for me to fact back fast and hard.  I have reached a point in my life that I refuse to use steroids or prescriptions to tackle my health issues.  My body has enough stress to deal with adding a prescription and side effects is not an option. So I tackle it using holistic health strategies and natural remedies.

    Here are the images of my most recent flare up:

    Saturday Morning    11.24.18                                                Sunday Morning 11.25.18

     

    Natural treatments for psoriasis:

    • Hydrate- drink plenty of water
    • Reduce stress- meditation, yoga, stretching, deep breathing and mindfulness
    • Exercise – reduce stress and remove toxins throughout the body
    • Natural topical remedies- essential oils, aloe, avocado oil, tea tree oil and Oregon grape extract.
    • Homeopathic treatments, acupuncture and ayurvedic medicine.
    • Psoriasis diet
    • Salicylic acid

    Salicylic acid is a great way to dry up the psoriasis, remove the dead skin and reduce the redness.  I notice huge difference in just a few treatments.  Using essential oils remedies helps soothe and moisturize the skin but the salicylic acid is the most effective treatment I have done.  Salicylic acid is sold in facial soaps, body wash, shampoo and facial peels.  The strength of the acid ranges but they are all effective.  I used 3% shampoo this week, scrubbing all my scaly skin and scalp.  I allowed it to penetrate the scalp and skin for 5 minutes then rinsed.  Since my redness was at extreme heights I reapplied it again.  Using this several times a day helps speed the recovery and remove the scaly skin quickly. I woke up the next day and my face was no longer red and blotchy. I only had light pink patches on my face and neck today.  But my problem is far from over, it’s time to treat the root cause fast.

    Tackling the true root cause of the problem with stress reduction, supplementation and diet.  You see if you don’t target the actual cause of the inflammation the problem will continue to flare up.  I realize my diet has been less than ideal lately.  I also have not been compliant with my Omega 3 and probiotic supplements.

    Psoriasis diet is important to reduce the inflammation throughout the body.   Leaky gut syndrome causes poorly digested food to travel through the bloodstream throughout the body and attack the skin causing psoriasis to flare.  Leaky gut also can lead to a variety of other health issues like migraine headaches, muscle pain, chronic fatigue, anxiety and depression.  Eliminating inflammatory foods from your diet involves identifying your harmful foods.  Diary has never been my friend, even though I love to eat it.  Dairy causes constipation, gas and psoriasis flare ups.  I am also sensitive to sugar and sweets which it turns out flare up psoriasis as well.  It is essential to avoid foods that trigger symptoms like, fried food, simple sugars, conventional dairy, hydrogenated oils, processed foods and alcohol.

    Psoriasis diet:

    • Probiotic foods – this enhances digestion, removes toxins, boosts the immune system and reduces inflammation. (kombucha, cultured kefir and fermented vegetables)
    • Aloe- soothes the skin and digestive tract to enable healing.
    • High fiber foods – reduce constipation and support healthy digestion to detox the digestive tract. (Fruits, beans, vegetables and seeds)
    • Wild-caught fish
    • High antioxidant foods
    • Zinc – reduces pain and inflammation. (grass-fed beef, lamb, kefir, chickpeas and pumpkin seeds)
    • Vitamin A – essential for skin healing (fruits and vegetables that are orange, yellow and dark green: mango, watermelon, carrots, kale and collard greens)
    • Raw dairy – rich in enzymes and vitamin D (I’m skipping this one)
    • Herbs & spices – provide an anti-inflammatory effect and filled with antioxidants. Pile on the turmeric.

    Getting the right balance of nutrients can be hard with just diet alone. Supplementation with high quality supplements enhances healing and promote quicker recovery.

    Supplements to support healing:

    • Fish oil –(1,000-2,000 grams daily) Omega 3 fatty acid with vitamin D3 to reduce inflammation, enhance immune system function and aid skin healing.
    • Hydrochloric acid (1-3 capsules with meals) – aids in protein digestion and reduce flare ups
    • Milk thistle (250 milligrams three times a day) enhances liver detox and reduce cellular growth
    • Probiotics (6 billion daily) enhance digestion by increasing good bacteria in the digestive tract.  The probiotic I use enhances immune function, promotes gut integrity, builds flora and promotes brain gut connection with its unique controlled-release technology.

    Essential oil remedies:

    • Tea tree oil – promotes healthy immune system while cleansing and rejuvenating skin
    • Frankincense oil– rejuvenates skin and reduces blemishes
    • Myrr oil- helps sooth skin, cleansing and promotes youthful skin
    • Cedarwood- relaxing and soothing aroma and promotes healthy clear skin
    • Lavender- promotes calm, relaxation and enhances speedy skin recovery
    • Geranium- calming, stress reduction qualities and promotes healthy skin
    • Roman chamomile- calming and soothing effect on mind, body and skin
    • Thyme- purifies and cleanses skin
    • Bergamot- reduce tension and stress while promoting clear skin
    • Helichyrsum- increases localized blood flow and promotes rapid skin healing.

    These essential oils are all safe to use topically without dilution.  Creating blends enhances the benefits by combing a variety of oils with carrier oils.  Coconut oil or avocado oil are great carrier oil options.  They promote skin healing by hydrating skin and reducing inflammation.  Using blends helps facilitate using oils by creating personalized blends that are easy to use quickly and carry with you.  I used avocado oil to create my blend, combining a variety of oils with 15 ml of carrier oil.  I added 5 drops of each oil into the carrier oil.  You can easily combine all of the oils together or use the ones you have on hand.

    My Psoriasis Blend

    Avocado oil – 15 ml

    Tea tree oil – 5 drops

    Lavender oil – 5 drops

    Bergamot oil- 5 drops

    Helichyrsum- 5 drops

    Roman chamomile- 5 drops

    Frankincense oil- 5 drops

     

    Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition and will be a life-long struggle but they key is learning your body, trigger foods and strategies to fight back.  The psoriasis diet and supplementation will help keep you on track and reduce symptoms.  Keeping salicylic acid on hand and using peels periodically on psoriasis spots will tackle the problem on the spot. Using essential oils helps hydrate and soothe the skin to promote healing.  Remember to eat healthy, exercise, stress reduction strategies and use supplementation to support a healthy lifestyle and support your immune system.

    Categories Advice, Anxiety, Autism, autoimmune, autoimmune crisis, brain disorders, Diabetes, Diet, Elimination Diet, Fibromyalgia, Inflammation, Thyroid, Weight Loss

    Why Can’t I Lose Any Weight?

    Weight loss can be a constant struggle for both women and men.  There are a variety of variables that can impact weight loss.  It is important to identify the issues that might be impacting you, specifically.  Most individuals that seek assistance from Health Coach or professional to assist in identify your obstacles and create a plan that is right for you.  I’m writing this post because I have 2 clients that are currently facing this struggle and I am developing an individualized plan for each them.  Let’s discuss the most common obstacles to weight loss.

    Lack of Sleep – sleep quality and quantity impacts health and weight loss.  It is double edged sword because high stress impacts sleep which then impacts stress, weight loss and other health factors.  Research shows that even small sleep alterations can increase cortisol levels and create insulin resistance.  Lack of sleep is associated with a variety of health issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, mood disorders and depression.

    Poor nutrient intake – nutritious foods are essential for a healthy body.  It is more important than you think to eat fruits, vegetables, healthy proteins and nuts.  A diet high in nutritious foods that focuses on anti-inflammatory meals helps promote weight loss. Its important to avoid processed foods, granola bars, cereals and bread because they are filed with empty calories and create inflammation in the body.  A diet high in healthy fats, protein and healthy carbohydrates from fruits and vegetables revs up the metabolisms and gears you up for a healthier lifestyle. Check out my presentation on You-Tube to see what harmful ingredients can be impacting your gut, brain and causing your weight gain.

    Inflammation– inflammatory foods, like those in the video I shared, create a slow and constant inflammatory response that disturbs our body in many ways.  The biggest problem with inflammation is that it is invisible, if people could actually see the damage inflammatory foods cause at the cellular level, they wouldn’t eat the foods that cause it (See video if you haven’t yet).  Inflammatory foods are foreign invaders to our bodies and it responds with systemic inflammation.  The cycle continues and inflammation multiplies, leading to a multitude of diseases anemia, autism, Alzheimer’s, carpel tunnel, gallbladder disease, GERD, autoimmune leaky gut, fibromyalgia, Hashimoto’s, psoriasis, Crohn’s, celiac disease and many more… (The purple diseases are some of my personal conditions related to chronic stress and inflammation).  Some symptoms of inflammation are tired, fatigues, sleepy, brain fog, attention issues, upset stomach, bloating, achy joins and muscle pain. These are signs your body is going through inflammation and its time for an anti-inflammatory elimination diet to identify your food triggers.  Now, let’s talk specifically about inflammation and weight loss.  Inflammation impacts a hormone that regulates fat in the body.  The hormone called Leptin, controls your metabolism and appetite.  Healthy people get the message from leptin, causing their bodies to suppress appetite and speed up the metabolism, thus burning fat.  Chronic inflammation impairs the bodies ability to receive the message from leptin to suppress your appetite, causing you to eat more and gain weight.  As you can see inflammation can be a vicious cycle, the good new is you don’t have to tackle it alone.  Back to ways to fight the chronic inflammatory response. The best way is to identify your inflammatory trigger foods, develop a diet and supplementation plan that will help build up your digestive tract, immune system and reduce the inflammation. Ask me how?

    Chronic stress– stress is the biggest obstacle to weight loss and everyone has stress on a daily basis. We are faced with highly stressful fast paced lives, and stress is not going anywhere.  Stress in the body causes a flight or fight response which impacts your cortisol and adrenaline hormones.  This is a normal response but our bodies are faced with it too rapidly and frequently.  This response elevates cortisol levels, which can cause weight gain.  These continuous state of chronic stress impacts the immune system, lowers good gut bacteria and places individuals at risk for infection and autoimmune disease.  Unfortunately, after 20 years of age our bodies lose the ability to properly fight stress at a cellular level.  The simple fact is that our bodies no longer produce the antioxidant enzymes that help the body heal and recover from stress, thus it accumulates daily throughout our adult lives.  The only true way to impact this stress daily is by fighting back with nutrigenomics.  Ask me more?

    Toxic overload– We are exposed to harmful toxins and chemicals throughout our lives.  These toxins are in the water, food, hosehold cleaning products, lotions, cosmetics, paint, candles, plastic containers and much more.  Even items that seem healthy can be filled with harmful chemicals, like toothpaste, bread and shampoo.  These toxins can create inflammation and hormonal imbalances in the body.  This also impacts the bodies Leptin response and created inflammation in the body.  These toxic levels can stop your bodies weight loss even with exercise and healthy diet.

    Estrogen Imbalance– More estrogen than progesterone can play a role in weight gain.  Estrogen dominance causes increased cravings and decreased metabolism.  The most common cravings are sugary foods, if this is the case and you can’t control your cravings, estrogen might by the culprit.  Increased cravings, more calories and slow metabolisms promote weight gain.  You can try to attack the inflammation in your body with an elimination plant to see if the cravings improve.

    Low testosterone – It is well known that testosterone levels drop with age.  This drop causes increased body fate, heart disease, insulin resistance and cancer.  Interestingly, obesity can also cause testosterone to drop.  The most visible sign of low-testosterone is belly fat and difficulty loosing weight.  So if this sounds like you, its time to attack that inflammation and fight back.

    Insulin imbalance – Insulin resistance occurs when the body is not able to absorb extra blood glucose and keeps generating more from the food you eat.  The liver convert the glucose into fat and its a vicious cycle.  Inability to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels creases excess belly fat and difficulty with weight loss.  Processed foods, which we discussed earlier cause insulin resistance, inflammation, chronic stress, etc.  It is important to find someone that will support you in your journey.  Someone that can help you identify the foods that are harmful for you and develop a plan to fight back.

    Losing weight can be a difficult journey but it is possible.  The most important part is finding your particular challenges or obstacles and creating a plan with a Health Coach to tackle them.  If you feel stressed or overwhelmed by all the information and possibilities, let me help you develop a plan that you can stick too.  Some of these obstacles may require medications or supplements specific for that condition. If you are not able to resolve these issues with diet modification and supplementation, you may need medical attention, so make an appointment with your physician.

    Categories ADHD, Antioxidants, Autism, autoimmune, autoimmune crisis, Biohacking, brain disorders, Developmental Delays, epilepsy, fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Health

    Food Sensitivities and Nutrition

    Food sensitivities and food allergies are a growing problem. These food sensitivities are impacting the brains of children and adults. Research shows the most common food sensitivities are: gluten, dairy, corn, sugar and artificial sweeteners. These foods are negatively impacting brain health everywhere.

    The Center for Celiac Research conducted a study of gluten allergies because they had noticed a critical increase of patients with a variety of symptoms that increased significantly over time. These patients exhibited symptoms of Celiac Disease but testing continued to be negative. These patients continued to return with the same symptoms. Many patients began gluten-free diets and their symptoms improved. They reached the conclusion that though this group of people did not have celiac disease, their symptoms were related to the disease (Fasano 2012).
    The researchers discovered that one of the culprits for this phenomenon was related to agricultural changes in wheat. Centuries ago gluten grains did not exist. Wheat, triticale, rye and barley are new grains that have been introduced to our modern diet. Our bodies have not evolved in order to digest them properly. In recent years the protein content in modern wheat has increased significantly and 14% of dry wheat is gluten. This amount of gluten is high. This phenomenon is happening because more gluten gives food desirable characteristics that look appetizing and delicious (Fasano 2012).
    There is a significant connection between brain function and gluten. People with gluten sensitivity exhibit symptoms of gas, bloating, pain, constipation and diarrhea. The interesting fact is that the brain could be impacted at a molecular level even with out any digestive symptoms (Perlmutter 2013). Degenerative brain disorders are linked to inflammation and oxidative stress. In recent years, they have discovered the exact triggers of this inflammation. The research shows that high carbohydrate diet and gluten stimulate the inflammatory pathways that reaches the brain (Perlmutter 2013). Gluten sensitivity is caused by elevated levels of antibodies against a protein found in gluten. The protein known as gliadin combined with the antibody anti-gliadin when people eat food containing gluten.  As a result of this reaction, specific genes are turned on. These genes then cause inflammatory chemicals are created called cytokines.  Cytokines directly cause damage and impact brain function. The brain does not like inflammation thus, it responds negatively to cytokines. This phenomenon of turning on genes that negatively impact brain health and function (Perlmutter 2011).  This connection between gluten sensitivity and the brain has been studied for the past decade.
    According to Dr. Maios Hadjivassiliou of the United Kingdom, a recognized world authority on gluten sensitivity: “gluten sensitivity can be primarily and at times, exclusively a neurological disease.”  People can manifest gluten sensitivity by having issues with brain function without any gastrointestinal symptoms at all. Dr. Hadjivassiliou indicates that the antibodies that a person has when they are gluten sensitive can be directlyand uniquely toxic to the brain (1996).  Since his original investigations in 1996, there has been an explosion of scientific papers describing this relationship between gluten sensitivity and brain disorders.  Researchers in Israel have noted neurological problems in 51% of children with gluten sensitivity. They also describe a link between gluten sensitivity and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).  As authors in a recent issue of the journal, Pediatrics, stated in their research, “This study suggests that the variability of neurologic disorders that occur in celiac disease is broader than previously reported and includes softer and more common neurologic disorders including chronic headache, developmental delay, hypotonia and learning disorders or ADHD”(Pediatrics 2004).
    These research findings pose an interesting problem in a society bombarded by processed foods and gluten filled products.  There is a significant need for education and advocacy throughout the community.  The key to health prevention and wellness is knowledge.  Knowledge gives people to power to make decisions that can improve their health and wellness.   The incidence of health issues, developmental delays, Autism and a multitude of diseases continues to multiply every day.  The most interesting part of this phenomenon for me, is that Maria found it through research and I found it through my own health crisis.  This phenomenon impacted my health from the beginning of my life until my adult autoimmune crisis.  The significance of my food allergies and sensitivities as a child was never really addressed.  I continued to live a life eating foods filled with corn, diary, sugar, gluten and artificial ingredients.   As a child, my symptoms were abdominal pain, constipation, anxiety, fatigue, attention issues and learning disability.  As a teen, my symptoms were migraines, IBS, constipation, abdominal pain, severe cramps, anxiety, brain fog, fatigue and attention issues.  These symptoms multiplied and worsened into adulthood until my eventual autoimmune crisis.  Thus, research and my own experiences, truly show the significant impact a relationship between autoimmune conditions and gluten sensitivity.  The impact of gluten sensitivity on our brains and bodies is significant.  The phenomenon should not be taken lightheartedly, knowledge is power, take action and advocate for your health.  Schedule a Free Consultation to learn how to fight back. Click the Brain and watch the Presentation, Today.