Category Archives: Inflammation

    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 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 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 Advice, Biohacking, Chronic Pain, Diet, fatigue, flare up, food allergies, food sensitivities, Health, hope, Inflammation, motivation, pain, Physical Pain

    Invisible Illness

    The unknown truth about invisible illness is that people live with it everyday and those around them usually have no idea. You might see a girl with a big smile going about her day hiding the pain she is experiencing. Only those close to them truly know and understand their pain. Even loved ones have trouble understanding their pain. There are many conditions that fall into this category and ehlers-danlos syndrome is one of them. This is the syndrome that I have lived with for years and never truly understood until a few years ago when I went to see a geneticist. Some of the symptoms of this syndrome are chronic pain, chronic fatigue, digestive issues, frequent infections and skin problems. I was the poster child for this condition. I had every possible symptom except a heart condition. Thankfully that was the one thing I didn’t manifest even-though I did need to see a cardiologist because I had frequent fainting episodes. The day I decided to see a geneticist I knew that this expansive list of symptoms had to be related somehow and I was right. The sad truth is there is no cure or treatment for it. The most you could do is use natural alternatives, exercise, diet modifications and prescriptions to help control symptoms. I was sick of using prescriptions and had already started incorporating diet changes and natural alternatives to help me feel better. I had reached a point in my life that covering up one symptom with a prescription that caused another problem was not an option. I wanted to get rid of all the prescriptions and I was well underway by the time I saw the geneticist. She told me everything I was doing was perfect. She said to continue my diet and fitness routine, use methods of stress relief and stay hydrated. At this point I was far from healthy but my body was slowly improving day by day. I had lived with pain to the right side of my body for almost 20 years. I remember feeling excruciating pain on my right arm beginning in 8th grade. The pain and symptoms worsened into adulthood. By the time I was 30 my right arm was always numb and in severe pain. By the time I was 35 my right leg was also affected and became numb as well. Any episodes of less physical activity or fitness routine would make all the pain and numbness worse. So I focused on staying active and eating what I thought was right. I was far from truly understanding my body and the foods that were harmful but I had already identified gluten and corn as huge culprits. By the age of 39, I had undergone a bunch of surgeries and I knew that more were eminent if I didn’t find a way to heal my body. Then one day my friend Daisy, who has Multiple Sclerosis another invisible illness came back into my life. She was experiencing some of the same symptoms and had found some relief in recent years. She spoke to me about nutrigenomics and using nutrient rich supplements to impact inflammation in the body. I was absolutely intrigued but I had to research it for myself. I took several months to research oxidative stress and nutrigenomics to see if it was my answer. I also had to research the ingredients to make sure I could take it. You see with all my food sensitivities, I had to be certain before I took the leap. Then one day, I jumped. I was pleasantly surprised that my energy was improving within the first few weeks. My pain pleasantly was down to 5/10 from 8/10 within a few months. After 4 months my numbness was gone and my pain was under control. I started to truly understand my body and the right fitness routine for me. This state of less pain also helped me identify more foods that caused symptoms to arise. I had flare ups and injuries at times but nothing compared to the life of severe pain I used to live. I was finally happy in my own skin and able to enjoy the world. I no longer had to hide behind a fake smile. I had a beautiful real smile that light up the room. I started to spread my story to the world. I am here to tell you invisible illness is real. You can never truly understand it unless you live it. People that live it need compassion and support. If you know someone with an invisible illness, I urge you to share my story with them. A story of hope is always a great thing to share. It is nice to know that you aren’t alone in the world. It is nice to know someone is here to support you if you choose to change your life. I fought back and won. It is a lifelong battle but I am here to support anyone through it with love and guidance.

    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 Biohacking, Health, Inflammation, Sexual life

    Yeast infections No more

    Yeast infections used to be a monthly occurrence for me and it went hand in hand with frequent urinary tract infections.  I would finish one treatment to start a new one a few weeks later.  It was a constant battle to dealing with infections, OTC treatments, prescriptions and little hope for improvement.  The infections were so frequent, I ended up on daily antibiotics to prevent urinary tract infections.  I also had huge sensitivities to feminine products, lubricants, condoms and soaps.  These allergies resulted in frequent skin infections as well.   My infections and treatments were spiraling out of control.  I decided something had to change for my health and symptoms to improve.  These infections disappeared like magic after using Nutrigenomics for 3 months.  Nutrigenomics is the science of using nutrient rich compounds to impact genetic expressions and wellness.  To establish a healthy vagina the body needs to have a healthy balance of good bacteria in the gut and vagina.  A huge part of my treatment was finding a good probiotic that was effective for both vaginal and gut flora.  Before nutrigenomics, I had used a multitude of products with little improvement.  At the time I didn’t realize that not all probiotics are created equal.  Probiotics don’t always have the right bacterial strain for both areas.  Probiotics also have to pass the stomach acid and make it to the intestines to be effective and not all probiotics make it past the acid.  This probiotic was the answer to my prayers, it had an immune component and a special coating to protect it in the gastic acid.  It finally offered a way to combat my weak immune system, weak digestive tract and vaginal flora.  Thankfully, the treatment was very effective, I have been infection free for almost 1 year and a half.  I recently acquired my first infection from using a new vaginal lubricant.  Since, I am so sensitive to latex, vaginal products and lubricants, I knew it was a possibility and tackled it quickly.  I actually was excited that I found an OTC test to check for yeast infections.  The test is a simple way to test your vaginal flora at home.  It contains a small swab to insert into the vagina and test your vaginal flora for bacteria or yeast infections.  If the swab stays yellow you have a yeast infection and using an OTC Monistat product of your choice will treat the problem.  If the swab changes color then you need to see a doctor for further testing and treatment.  My results showed a yeast infection and I chose 1 day Monistat treatment which worked great.  My symptoms resolved quickly and I was back to normal in a few days.  You can also call your doctor for a prescription cream or pill for the yeast infection. Diflucan is an oral medication that kills the yeast with one dose.

    Now, let’s tackle yeast infections and find the root cause of the problem.  It seems simple, get an infection use an OTC medication and its over.  But the fact is most women don’t experience only one infection.  Yeast infections are a sign of an underlying medical problem that is lingering in hiding.   Candida can be growing rapidly throughout your body and symptoms can be vague and seem unrelated.

    Some common signs of Candida:

    • Fatigue
    • Cravings for sweets and sugar
    • Brain fog
    • weak immune system (frequent infections)
    • Bad breath
    • Hormone imbalance
    • Frequent UTI (urinary tract infections)
    • Lack of libido
    • Chronic sinus and allergy issues
    • Digestive problems (gas and bloating)
    • White coating on your tongue
    • Joint pain

    So let’s talk about the systemic yeast infections a little further.  There can be a bigger health issue at hand when you have frequent yeast infections.  Some health concerns that are related to yeast overgrowth are leaky gut, diabetes, weak immune system and even medications. The list above explains a bunch more symptoms of yeast infections.  Some medications that cause issues are antibiotics, birth control, corticosteroids and cancer treatments.  If you are experiencing multiple symptoms then its time to look at your overall health because systemic yeast can continue to grow and multiply.  Building your immune system with nutrient-rich compounds, probiotics and omega 3 fatty acids will help strengthen the immune system, build gut flora and support your body.  Diet is also a huge factor in yeast infections.  A diet high in sugar and carbohydrates feeds the yeast and allows overgrowth to continue.  So truly combating yeast is complex and the body needs the right nutrition to fight back.  If you simply have vaginal symptoms than keep reading, you might have some sensitivities.  I will write a more thorough article about system yeast soon.

    Something that may surprise you about yeast infections.  Safe sex might be giving you yeast infections.  Sounds crazy, I know but I experienced first hand.  If you are a using condoms or lubricants and experiencing yeast or bacterial infections, then stick around.  Speaking from experience with frequent UTIs and yeast infections, vaginal sensitivities could be the culprit.   Vaginal tissue is already very delicate and finicky but add skin sensitivities to the mix and you have a big problem.  Over the years, I had to learn my body, patterns, symptoms and products that caused irritation and flare ups.  I learned that I have an extremely sensitive and allergic vagina.  I experienced tons of yeast infections and UTIs after safe sex practices and learned a lot about my body.  Soaps, lubricants, feminine products (tampons and pads) and condoms are all part of the phenomena.  These products are filled with chemicals, irritants and fillers that can impact vaginal flora and irritate the delicate skin.   Body wash and soaps can cause irritation to the vulva and outer labia when you shower.  If you feel dry, itchy or irritated after a shower, try buying a hypoallergenic feminine wash with out scents.  I have been using Summers Eve feminine wash for more 20 years to avoid this issue.  Now there are store brand options as well with the same ingredients, so use those if you prefer.  Not all lubricants are created equal, it might take several tried to find the right lubricant for your vagina.  If you are not using condoms coconut oil is a great natural option that hydrates the skin.  There are a bunch of water based hypoallergenic options.  Definitely, look at the labels and read ingredients, less is better, so read and compare.  It make take a few tries and repeat infections before you find the right one for you.  I found one lubricant called aloe cadabra that appears to be very pure, no chemicals, additives, hormones or estrogen.  I am trying this one myself to see how it works.  But the battle is not over, trying to find the right condom is also essential.  So now that you have a pure lube, if you continue to develop issues with safe sex practices, then its time to look at the condoms.  First, eliminate latex condoms and try another option.  There are a variety of options out there but remember lamb skin does not protect against STDs, so use only to avoid against pregnancy.  The condoms are also tons of options, so read the boxes and compare to find your best option.  It make also take a few tries before you find one that works for you.  Be patient and learn your body, its okay if you don’t figures it out right away.  I know the infections are uncomfortable and annoying but your health is important and learning your own body is key.   Now, back to feminine products, tampons and maxi pads can also irritate your delicate skin.  I experienced tons of issues with feminine products and learned a lot about my body by testing my options.  Maxi pads and tampons are filled with chemicals to absorb the menstrual blood and stop odor.  These chemicals can irritate the delicate tissue and even cause abscess or infections.  I experienced monthly abscesses and infections with menstruation until I figured this out.  I tried all the top brand maxi pads and experience symptoms requiring frequent antibiotics.  Vaginal abscesses are extremely painful and sometimes require draining by a physician.  Hopefully, you don’t need one because draining an abscess in the vagina can be extremely painful because the skin has a huge blood supply and does not numb effectively for procedures.  Let’s just say, ouch, I hope you don’t need an incision and drainage  in your vaginal labia.  I tried for months, maybe even years to find my answers because there was just no information out there for people like me.  I went from top brand to to organic options and ended up with washable fabric pads.  In my case, I stayed away from tampons completely because there was no way I wanted irritation inside my vagina, it was bad enough to have issues in the labia.  I stayed using fabric washable pads for years and then alternated between those and organic cotton disposable pads.  But I can tell you eventually, i just got sick of the trouble and decided to get an IUD to avoid menstruation completely.  Thankfully, after my hysterectomy, I have one less vaginal issue.

    More facts about vaginal sensitivity you might not realize.  Vaginal sensitivity can go beyond the typical products I mentioned before.  It can include exam gloves and foley catheters too.  I am a huge advocate for myself at the doctor and hospital to ensure any product to approach my vagina is absolutely free of latex.  Unfortunately, I learned it the hard way with a severe kidney infection.  After having a c-section for my first son, I got a severe bladder infection that went to my kidneys.  I felt irritation with the foley but didn’t pay much attention.  After the infection, I started thinking and realized the foley was latex.  I learned and started advocating for myself quickly after that day.  I keep an eye on doctors and gloves to make sure they are latex free.  I also ensured the hospital was aware for my second c-section.  So, if you are sensitive to latex condoms, advocate for yourself and make sure your doctor and hospital know, before they come anywhere near your vagina.  The most important thing to remember to to listen to your body, learn your symptoms and advocate for your health.

    Simple tips for vaginal yeast infections:

    • warm soaks in bidet or tub to soothe skin
    • keep area dry
    • avoid excess sugar in your diet
    • drink plenty of fluids
    • use a topical cream for the itch
    • take a test before using OTC vaginal treatments
    • avoid irritating soaps

    Preventions is key:

    • wear cotton panties
    • keep area clean and dry
    • wash area with feminine soap and water after sex
    • take off wet bathing suits and put on a dry one
    • pay attention to soaps, lubricants, feminine products and lubricants

    Categories Advice, Detox, Diet, flexibility, Health, Inflammation, motivation, Sexual life

    Learn to Love Your Body!

    Love your body, seems simple right.  Well it truly is a complex process, there is nothing simple about it.  Learning your body can take months or even years to achieve.  It took me 20+ years in a constant health struggle to decide; there had to be a better way to Love my body.  I was oblivious to the potential my body had to offer, the gifts I was given and the path my journey would take me.  I wasted years eating the wrong foods, hiding my emotional/physical pain and avoiding physical activities.  This constant physical assault on my body caused my physical and emotional illness to develop and my self-love to diminish.  Over the past 5 years, I learned the foods that were optimal for my body, the physical activities that made me heal, the importance of caring for yourself, and the optimal routine to maintain my health.  My true understanding of my body came over the past year.  Finally, I was free of pain and able to feel and understand the messages my body was sending.  I became aware of the tension forming in my muscles, when stress was at its peak.  I realized that taking the time to address this tension early on, helped prevent the development of severe pain and helped maintain a state of homeostasis or balance.  I learned to develop techniques and strategies to promote my daily healing, detox, muscle relaxation, repair and rejuvenation.  I learned that there is a huge connection between physical and emotional pain.  This fact made me more aware of emotional stress and its impact on my body.  I was able to incorporate relaxation and stress relief into my routine to reduce the impact stress had on my body.  Over this year, I developed my tension-buster routine, its unique for my body, my tension and my pain.  But the fun fact is, it can be adapted and developed to help others achieve the same benefits.  I learned to use my environment, gravity and body weight to stretch each and every muscle in my body.  I learned to feel the tension in each muscle and learn ways to release the stress, toxins and tension from each one.  Wether the pain is in your shoulder or your leg, our muscles are all interconnected and effective stretching needs to target this complex muscle network.  I learned that my bodies weakness is toxins and poor circulation.  My techniques help me optimize my bodies potential to release these toxins and enhance my circulation to reduce inflammation, stress and pain more effectively.  The best benefit of my tension-buster routine and health journey, was rediscovering my libido.  My libido had gone, completely dormant for 10-15 years, due to my severe illness and build up of toxins.  It was an amazing benefit to see that all the work and effort I put into healing my body, helped me reap such powerful physical and emotional benefits.  Over the past few months, I further adapted my routine to include Kegel Yoga.  This Kegel Yoga routine is specifically designed for women to enhance libido, improve vaginal muscle strength and improve orgasms.  This yoga is part of my daily routine and the benefits are outstanding.  I am thankful that my friends and peers are now seeing the benefits of the courses, I offer.   Kegel Yoga is designed to help women develop an intimate relationship with their bodies, combining the tension-buster yoga with kegel strengthening to enhance and reengage sexual desires.  So, there it is, if you want to learn your body and reconnect with its unique abilities, give me a call.   I am here to share my routines with you, in groups or private sessions.  Learn to love your body, feel it, experience and achieve all you desire. Book an appointment, today, what are you waiting for?

    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 Biohacking, Detox, Diet, Elimination Diet, flare up, Health, Inflammation, Weight Loss

    Case Study: Weight Loss & Inflammation

    Case Study: Weight Loss

    Author: Diane Vich

    Key words: Weight loss, Inflammation & Bloating

    Introduction:

    Lourdes Mogal is a mom of two. She has tried countless diets and her weight will not come off. She has a big vacation coming up and would like to shed some weight before the trip.  She is frustrated that diets are not working for her. She also has some digestive issues and bloating with certain foods.  She is motivated and ready to start her plan right away, the clock is ticking.

    Case Presentation

    Lourdes does not have time to incorporate exercise yet but really wants to establish a healthier eating plan.  She wants to lose 15-20 pounds in the next 2 months.  She is highly motivated and ready to start her detox plan.

    Management

    • Weight gain and inability to lose weight is caused by oxidative stress, inflammation, cortisol levels and insulin resistance in the body, impacting the body’s ability to burn fat lose weight. The treatment plan will provide a diet that will enable to diet to reduce sugar and inflammation build up, promote detox, remove fluid buildup in lymphatic system and promote weight loss.

    Treatment

    • Supplementation/Dosage: (2) Nrf2, (2) fat burners twice a day, essential oils and (3) Probiotic.
    • Diet: High in low sugar fruits, gluten free, high in green vegetables, beans, organ meats, bison, fish, shrimp, eggs and turkey (rare carbohydrate like cereal, cakes and dessert).  No sugar or iodized salt.  No inflammatory vegetables or fruits.  No processed foods.  Sea salt and spices to taste.
      Coaching: 2 months of coaching recommended
    • Motivation statement: My thinking is peaceful, calm and centered. I am ready to take on the obstacles before me.

    Discussion

    A multitude of diseases (200+) are linked to oxidative stress and inflammation.  Oxidative stress is an imbalance between antioxidants and Free radicals.  Patients with weight gain and inability to lose weight have high levels of free radicals in the body.  They cause damage to the body on a daily basis.  The body has poor capability of creating antioxidants like glutathione, catalase and SOD.  These antioxidants are the only way to fight free radicals, so as they decline illness, disease and decline progressively continues through life.  By enabling the body to produce antioxidants and remove toxins, they client will reduce inflammation, bloating and fat build up to promote weight loss.

    Outcome

    1 month: Lourdes has started the detox plan.  She is enjoying the detox soup and meals.  She is motivated to lose weight for her trip.  She noticed that she experienced some bloating after a few meals.  She reached out for some coaching to relieve her symptoms.

    • Coaching Session: Lourdes health goal is to lose weight for her trip.  This will improve her ability to feel better about herself and be happy in her own skin.  This was desperately important to her because she has been sad and depressed that she has not been able to lose weight.  All of these things were important to her because she will be happier, and motivated to enjoy her life.  She decided the diet and treatment plan is going to help her achieve her goals.  Elimination plan: After her digestive issues, she asked the coach for some digestion relief suggestions. The coach added essential oils for digestion and an elimination plan to determine her food sensitivities.  She was able to identify “tomato and black pepper sensitivity.”  Her symptoms improved and she realized the importance of keeping these ingredients out of her meals.  She was happy that she had the essential oils and tips to help her if new problems arouse.  Craving support: She will continue to call in weekly for support and to deal with temptations and cravings.  She knows that she has trouble dealing with temptation at parties and asked her coach if she could reach out during these times for a little motivation.

    2 month:  Lourdes was so motivated to the plan that she did not even use any of her cheat days.  She did not want to eat any carbs because she really wanted to reach her goal quickly. She contacted her coach 3 times during the last month to get support during times of temptation and some food sensitivities.  She felt confident that she had the tools to deal with her temptations and she kept on the diet even at parties.  She lost 20 pounds.

    • Coaching Session: Lourdes was happy with her progress. She did realize the support was important and wanted to continue with a Maintenance plan after her vacation.  Elimination plan: She is glad she has essential oils and natural remedies that she can keep with her all the time.  Through her food trigger journal and coaching she was able to identify some additional foods to avoid.  She realized raspberries and mixed fancy green salad caused her symptoms.  She plans on signing up for 6 months of coaching to help her incorporate some paleo recipes in her routine, to keep her satisfied and meet her desire for some desserts.  She signed up for some shopping, easy workout sessions and cooking lessons. Lourdes really wanted to learn to make healthier desserts and snacks, in order to maintain her weight loss.

    6 months: (After 6 months of coaching)

    • Coaching Session: Lourdes successfully incorporated all the strategies for the 6 months of her coaching.  She felt energized and happy.  Elimination plan: She continued her food journal to monitor food sensitivities.  She identified two more triggers during her maintenance plan.  She identified apples and watermelons were trigger foods.  She is glad that she has the tools to identify, treat and deal with her food sensitivities.  She was able to participate in yoga and exercise regularly.  She truly enjoyed the quick exercise tips because she was able to do them wherever she was to ensure she was active.  She loved the shopping session because she truly understood how to read food labels, buy foods that were right for her body and eat for her blood type.  The cooking lessons helped her learn the benefits of using a variety of herbs to enhance food flavors and enjoy her healthy eating habits.  Lourdes felt excited and ready for new challenges. She maintained her weight loss and successfully incorporated all the strategies she learned for the 6 months.