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Are you ready to move your “health needle?”

Hi there!
Today I have a special announcement to share with you. 📣

Since 2001, I have been helping folks to feel healthier and more at home in their bodies.
Ever since I was a kid, I watched my Dad and other relatives struggling with their weight and other symptoms ranging from anxiety to heart conditions…and I saw a whole lot of unhealthy habits too. As a kid, I didn’t know how to help. I didn’t understand that almost all of those awful symptoms were linked to habits…choices that got made over and over again every day that were keeping the people I cared about sick or unhealthy and definitely not showing up in the world as their best selves. Sound familiar?

Clearly this struggling fueled me to want to be able to help make a difference in people’s lives and to help them discover how they could feel better in their own skin.
As many of you already know, this is the mission that I’ve been on most of my life. 😍

I’ve helped a lot of people over these decades through customized programs, testing, and one-on-one coaching. But there are people (maybe you’re one of them) who just aren’t ready to take that next step to do that level of work either by yourselves or with someone to support you. And that’s okay. I really appreciate that you are part of this community and reading these newsletters and thinking about how you can move your health needle. 🙏🏻

Because of you, during the pandemic, I decided to create a program called Unstoppable Health Basics. 🎉

If you think about health building as climbing a ladder, this is the rung on which we all need to start.
The purpose of UH Basics is for you to start to lay the most essential health foundations so that you can have the physical, mental, and emotional vitality to show up as your best self. In this program we will explore the essential strategies, tools and habits you need to start steering your health in the direction that will lead to long-term, sustainable results. This is a group based and self-paced program which allows me to offer it very affordably and for you to participate flexibly on your own schedule.
Enrollment is officially open!!! 🥳

If you’d like to learn more about it and see if it’s a good fit for you, I invite you to apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session with me. 👉🏻 bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).

Again, I’m so grateful that you are part of this health building community and I’m thrilled by the possibility of you moving your health needle to the next level! 💗

Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health!
~Rebecca

Simple Tips to Keep Your Gut Happy This Holiday Season

Well, the holiday season is already in full swing even though for many of us it feels very different with the pandemic also in full swing.
 
Though this holiday may look and feel very different than in years past, there’s bound to be celebrations of some kind going on. This usually involves a feast or two and the hustle and bustle of holiday traditions.  That’s why I want to talk to you about how to keep your gut healthy throughout the holidays; because a healthy gut is a happy gut!
 
Your gut is home to countless microbes that are continually doing hard work for you to keep your physical, mental, and emotional health up. But without your help, your gut can’t be at its best.  Putting into practice the tips below will help your gut keep up the good work and allow you to not only enjoy your holiday season more, but allow you to feel good in your skin and step into 2021 feeling great!


 

1. Indulge yourself while taking care of yourself.

 A great way to do this is to upgrade your recipes by swapping out processed, harmful ingredients for higher quality and healthier ones (i.e. swap sugar with one of the countless healthier and delicious options like monk fruit, erythritol, allulose, stevia, xylitol or hybrids such as Lakanto, Pure Cane, Swerve, etc; swap wheat flour or high glycemic flours with coconut, almond, flax, hazelnut, or cassava flours; swap vegetable oil or margarine with avocado oil, olive oil, coconut oil, ghee or butter).
You can also incorporate gut-helping foods into your feasts. For example, you can add a good amount of dietary fiber to your dishes because they are good for gut microbes. Other prebiotic foods include asparagus, carrots, Brussels sprouts, sunchokes, onions, garlic, and nuts.
It can also be great to try new recipes so that you can add more gut-friendly ingredients on your dishes.
 

2. Slow down on alcohol.

If there ever was a holiday people wanted to numb out with alcohol, this is it. But do you really want to add a hangover, extra pounds, and gut inflammation to this extremely difficult year? No thanks! Skip the alcohol or drink small quantities of better quality alcohol like organic wine, gluten-free beer, hard cider, kombucha, etc. Mixed drinks that add a lot of extra sugar make it harder to drink in moderation and add a lot of extra work on your liver (which disrupts your hormones, sleep, mood, waistline, blood sugar, blood pressure…the list goes on and on).
 

3. Maintain a normal sleep routine.

Losing some zzz’s lessens the number of your gut microbes. It doesn’t totally mean that you should avoid evening celebrations, but it’s a great idea to opt for earlier celebrations and dinners whenever possible and keep your later nights to a minimum. 
 

4. Increase your level of serotonin.

This is perhaps the busiest time of the year for most of us–which can definitely be a source of stress. When your stress level increases, your colonic bacteria suffers. On the other hand, when your gut microbes are healthy and balanced, they can help you build resilience against stressful situations. A primary reason for this is because most of your serotonin (aka your happy brain chemical) is made in your gut! You can support your mood and serotonin levels in the following ways: exercise (especially aerobic exercise), getting plenty of sleep, getting outside in the light or getting bright light in the morning/day (if you don’t have much sun this time of year, consider a light box), and eat plenty of protein and nutrient dense carbohydrates (veggies, fruits rather than breads and sweets).
 
I’m sure that by choosing healthier options this holiday season, your gut will thank you, and in the end, it’s you who will benefit from it.
 
It is my passion to work with people like you whose health symptoms are getting in the way of you living life fully and with a sense of freedom in your body. I can help you to regain your health so you can feel great and free to enjoy life fully.
 
If you’re ready to discover where your best health has been hiding, I’d love to connect with you!
Apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session. http://bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).

Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health!
~Rebecca

Natural Pain Relief for Arthritis

No one likes to be inflamed and in pain, so today I’d like to share some natural therapies for arthritis pain.

There are 2 types of arthritis:

1. Osteoarthritis – caused by the wear-and-tear damage to the cartilage of your bones. Cartilage plays a role in preventing friction during joint movement, so once it is damaged, bone grinding on bone occurs and causes pain on the joint.

2. Rheumatoid arthritis – an autoimmune type, in which the immune system attacks the joint capsule, the membrane enclosing all parts of the joint. This causes inflammation, characterized by pain and swelling.

While there are many medications available for arthritis, you have a choice to opt for natural alternatives. In fact, according to the Arthritis Foundation, there are 8 natural therapies for arthritis pain. I’ll summarize most of them below. Plus, I’ve got a surprise addition to this list!

First, to reduce pressure on your joints, release excess body fat. Just losing one pound relieves your swollen joints from four pounds of pressure. You can achieve this by combining a healthy diet with ample amounts of exercise and physical activity (and yes, if you have arthritis, you will likely need to modify the types of activity you do: yoga, tai chi, qi gong, swimming, and weight training are some great options).

Second, movement should be part of your daily routine.  Performing a low-impact exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. As I mentioned above, both yoga and tai chi are great options. Yoga originated from India while tai chi from China, but both relieve joint pain and stiffness (and are great for reducing stress levels!).

Third, soothe yourself with techniques such as acupuncture, massage, or physical therapy. Acupuncture uses tiny needles inserted through the skin on different acupoints in the body so that your natural painkillers are activated and your nerves, muscles, and connective tissues are stimulated. Massage uses gentle manipulation of the body while applying some sort of pressure. Physical therapy also provides ways to lessen the pressure on swollen joints, to reduce stiffness, and improve movement patterns and mobility.

Fourth, electrical stimulation, also known as TENS (transcutaneous electrical stimulation) can be helpful. To relieve pain, a bit of electrical stimulation is used by applying small electrodes on the affected area. The electromagnetic current from the device is applied to the skin through the electrodes.

Fifth, is the topical CBD cream, such as the Lassen Labs Nano CBD Relief Cream. I’ve gotten great feedback on this product from clients and family members so I definitely recommend checking it out.

As I discussed in a previous newsletter, you have cannabinoid receptors in every part of the body and they help regulate pain and inflammation (amongst other things).

For more info about CBD use for arthritis, read here.

Lastly, the health of your gut makes a big difference! To have strong, healthy joints and a balanced inflammatory response, you need to be properly digesting and absorbing your food and keeping your immune response in check–this all happens in your gut! You’ve heard me say many times that your gut is at the root of all your health. Diet and lifestyle make a HUGE impact on gut health. Eating high quality protein and produce, hydrating, getting at least 7 hrs of sleep per night, exercising and moving your body regularly, spending time in nature, managing stress…these are powerful healthy habits that build the foundation for a healthy gut.

It is my passion to work with people like you whose health symptoms are getting in the way of you living life fully and with a sense of freedom in your body. I can help you to regain your health so you can feel great and free to enjoy life fully.

If you’re ready to discover where your best health has been hiding, I’d love to connect with you! Apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session. http://bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).

Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health!

~Rebecca