MOVING FORWARD….THE JOURNEY.

In the last few days, I've had the opportunity to be part of some very insightful conversations, in regards to separations or long-term marriages/relationships ending.

When a long-term relationship draws to an end, it seems there are so many different emotions that everyone goes through but it's interesting how each step and the length of each step can be so different, from one person to another. First, one person or both people, have to make the decision to end it. Even that first step can seem like a daunting task and it becomes such an emotional warfare, if not for the individual, for both people. If both people have come to a mutual agreement, it seems easier to move forward, to "let go". However, one observation I've made is this; if one person made the choice, alone, the other may not be ready to look toward the future. They can become intwined in the past; what the relationship use to be, what the individual meant to that person and the importance of the life they built together. These are all anchors that weigh us down and can lead to the destruction of the individual. 

It can be the breaking point between lifting your spirit, or disintegrating your soul. 

How does the individual succeed, in continuing their journey? Being with yourself and being comfortable in your skin. Finding the stillness and appreciation for YOU. Immerse yourself in love for yourself; through stillness. Be calm and the love will come.

How to handle situations that disrupt your clarity and calmness? Know that you are NOT ALONE, EVER! Being alone can be one of the scariest moments but it's a blessing to your worth, you are never alone. You are beautiful and strong and amazing! The THOUGHT of being alone scares us more then actually BEING ALONE, so remember that. Also being mindful that you don't let the other person walk all over you, take advantage or disrespect you. We can sometimes find the loneliness too much and we would sacrifice our own happiness to be unhappy in what we know and take comfort in it, even if it's wrong because we ultimately don't want to be "alone".

What drives you forward, within a new relationship? Look at the things in the relationship and in the person you were with, that didn't work. While no one is perfect, neither are you. Admit your faults and change them, that's the first step because if you can't help yourself to grow and change, you clearly will find an individual who can't either. If there are things that require work, DO THE WORK! Find a path that works for you; meditation, exercise, proper nutrition, self-help books, therapy, hypnosis and/or medication (short-term). Whatever helps you achieve your BLISS!!!

These are only the first few steps and I'll share as we all continue the journey. Strap on your backpack and lets pack it full of love, for OURSELVES!

FALL BLISS

I love Fall! The smells, the tastes, the sights, the sounds….they are all delicious and enriched by the beauty. The multi-coloured leaves on the trees, the copious amounts of soups that fill your belly and stimulate your taste buds and the festival of scents wafting through your house; pumpkin and chai!! What do you love most about Fall?

Staying clear in the mud….

Reflecting on the weekend, brought about an observation of other peoples murky attitudes and the challenge of staying clear. If people are unwilling to grow and explore themselves, I notice that they become stuck in the mud. They take their negative traits and attitudes and project them onto others. Is it to make the other person feel uncomfortable or does misery enjoy company? If something makes someone truly happy and they aren't hurting anyone, I see no need to take away that happiness from them.

My struggle is to realize that they are unhappy and are insecure which is not a reflection of me. I'm loving and caring and do my best to make people feel welcome and supported. I remind myself to stay strong in the clarity of who I am and to let the others hang out in their own mud…I choose to be a lotus amongst them.

Thankful for the many blessings...

Thanksgiving 2014…a time to be thankful. Should we remind ourselves to be thankful, more often? Most definately. It seems that everything is about speed and efficiency not stillness and labour of love. How can we get things done faster to cram more things into our day, week, month, year but are we missing the quality of our friendships, the love and patience for our family and the true meaning of a REALationship. There's nothing real about them anymore. We've become disconnected to human beings and more connected to machines that give us nothing in return, except idle information. The blood, sweat and tears that are involved in loyal, caring and compassionate REALationships…are being lost. So I come to you with this….be more thankful and spend more time on the REALationships that empower you to grow, to be strong, to be weak and to be loved.

My personal thanks, go out to all the people that have supported me through a year that tested me, on so many levels. Separation of my almost 9 years of marriage, the dramatic changes for my daughter and myself, major hip surgery, moving into a new home, the joys of hormone changes, the death of my Grandma (best friend) and a million little things in between. Without you all, I don't know where I would be.  I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Be safe this Thanksgiving and may we are REALly reconnect!

Blessings and gratitude,
Shannon
xx

Vitamins, Herbs and Supplements - AMENORRHEA

The absence of menstruation during any cycle of life is amenorrhea. If a adolescent has not started their period by the age of 16, this is considered primary amenorrhea; for those that have not had a period for 3 or more months that is considered secondary amenorrhea. The is usually no serious cause to secondary amenorrhea and is more common than primary. For example, pregnancy is a cause of secondary amenorrhea. Depending on the cause of amenorrhea, women can experience additional conditions, such as, headache, vision changes, excessive hair growth on the face and/or torso, and a milky discharge from their nipples.

Don't think that getting rid of your period as a good thing because there is a downside. Bone density loss and the increased risk of osteoporosis could be a major concern, especially is you experience amenorrhea for more than 3-4 months. Get adequate calcium, magnesium and vitamin D and talk to your doctor about how to maintain your bone health.

Weight training is another way to help maintain bone density. Contact me today to get started!

In Prescription Alternatives, Professor Earl Mindell and Virginia Hopkins detail these findings: "In a recent study on bone density and exercise older women who did high-intensity weight training two days per week for a year were able to increase their bone density by one percent, while a control group of women who did not exercise had a bone density decrease of 1.8 to 2.5 percent. The women who exercised also had improved muscle strength and better balance, while both decreased in the non-exercising group."

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/010528.html#ixzz1uI2kVxNL

Causes/Risk Factors:
For primary amenorrhea, the cause is usually unknown  but could possibly include dysfunction of the ovaries, abnormal formation of the reproductive organs and problems with the pituitary gland and/or brain and the central nervous system. There are far more contributing attributes to secondary amenorrhea such as, the use of contraceptives, breast-feeding, stress, medication (e.g. antidepressants, anti-psychotics, some chemotherapy drugs), chronic illness, hormonal imbalance, poly cystic, ovary syndrome, low body weight, excessive exercise, thyroid dysfunction (hypothyroidism), pituitary tumor, scars on the uterus (due to Caesarean section or uterine fibroids), and premature menopause.

Prevention and Treatment:
If you are experiencing amenorrhea, you should go see a gynecologist to determine the cause. Amenorrhea is not a disease but a sign, so treatment involves addressing the underlying issues. Your doctor may recommend a hormone evaluation and/or complete physical examination. Determine if its hypothyroidism or hormonal balance, with natural supplements (I carry the FemMED line) or if stress reduction and improved nutrition are needed, can go a long way to correcting amenorrhea.

Must haves:

• Calcium, magnesium and vitamin D. You need to protect yourself against bone loss, no matter what the cause of the amenorrhea is, by taking these bone-sustaining supplements. Recommended doses: calcium-1,000mg daily, in divided doses; magnesium, 500mg in divided doses and 2 hours after calcium; and vitamin D, 400IU daily.
• Caste tree berry. This herb balances prolactin (high prolactin levels are a sign), helps regulate the menstrual cycle, and increases progesterone production. An effective dose is 40 drops of extract in water, taken daily for 6 months.

Other options:

• Vitamin B6. Please contact me for further information if the above treatments show no significant improvement after 6-8 weeks. I can also provide recipes and more information.

Shannon Jonas
PTS, RHN, OAS
healthierathome@hotmail.com
416-617-2523
*Natural News (August 6, 2005 article)

Vitamins, Herbs, and Supplements-ADRENAL FATIGUE

Adrenal fatigue is a syndrome (a collection of signs and symptoms) that point to overburdened adrenal glands that can't do what they are suppose to do...efficiently produce HORMONES. There are generally 3 stages of fatigued adrenals:

• Stage 1: The adrenals begin by responding to stress by increasing the secretion of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol;
• Stage 2: When stress is chronic or persistent (driving in traffic, kids being bratty, being sick or ill, not eating properly, exercising, your significant other and you fighting) it causes excessive production of certain hormones, especially cortisol, in an attempt to minimize the damage to the body, caused by the stress;
• Stage 3: When the glands can't make enough cortisol to keep up to Western societies major stresses, they become fatigued and cortisol levels drop excessively low.

Many symptoms and signs can arise during this time, that can range from mild to severe.

Cortisol's most important function is to HELP THE BODY RESPOND TO STRESS! Any kind of stress, be it physical (surgery, illness), emotional and/or environmental, by converting proteins into energy, fighting inflammation and releasing glycogen for energy (which in turn your muscles aren't getting). It also helps fight infection, maintain blood pressure (boss yelling at you, driving in traffic, not making enough money), and REGULATE METABOLISM of fats, proteins and carbohydrates (this is why I am so PICKY about your meal plan and proper eating). When your body works away at these stresses for a short time, that's fine, the body will respond well BUT if there is CHRONIC stress, your cortisol levels will remain high, then the cortisol attacks the body and weakens the immune system. The result ADRENAL FATIGUE! Statistics show that approximately 80% of people in North America experience adrenal fatigue at least once during their lifetime. It can last anywhere from a few days, to a week and for others it can linger for months or years. You can ask your doctor to perform a simple test, the ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) challenge test. When this hormone, which is made by the pituitary gland is injected into the body, an increase in adrenal hormone should occur. If it does not, adrenal fatigue is probable.

Causes/Risk Factors:
As discussed, stressors such as nutritional deficiencies, chronic physical and/or emotional stress, exposure to environmental toxins (e.g. secondhand smoke, household solvents, pesticides, food preservatives), use of stimulants (e.g. caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, sugar, cocaine), chronic infections, especially respiratory (e.g. bronchitis, pneumonia) and genetics, can all play a roll in adrenal fatigue.

Fatigue can leave you tired, muscle weakness, swollen fingers and/or toes, low blood pressure, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, intolerance to cold, sleep disturbances, depression, and allergies, among other symptoms. The good news; it can be prevented and treated successfully using a natural approach!

Prevention and Treatment:
As hockey coaches say your best defense is your offense. With that said, your best offense is nutritious diet, adequate sleep, conscientious stress reduction and management and avoidance of toxins (alcohol, smoking, drugs). Temporary adrenal stress can easily be address with lifestyle changes and  supplementation. In permanent causes, removal of the pituitary or adrenal glands, congenital adrenal hyperplasia or Addison's disease, require hormone replacement but can also benefit from nutritional supplements. The biggest prevention is learning to manage, control and minimize your stress.

Must haves:

• Vitamin C.  Recommended 3,000 mg daily can help reduce elevated cortisol levels, psychological stress, and blood pressure.
• DHEA.  As mention earlier, stressed adrenals lose their ability to produce adequate DHEA. Supplementation with DHEA may also help protect against overproduction of cortisol by the adrenal glands. Have your levels tested before beginning supplementation. The typical recommended dose is 20-50mg per day.
• Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid). Plays a key role in adrenal health and is necessary for the production of cortisol. The recommended dose is 1,500mg daily.
• Magnesium. This mineral plays a major role in adrenal function and you should supplement with magnesium aspartate. Recommended dosage 100 to 300mg daily.

Other Options:

•  L-theanine, Asian Ginseng and Melatonin. Please contact me for further information if the above treatments show no significant improvement after 6-8 weeks. I can also provide recipes and more information.

Shannon Jonas
PTS, RHN, OAS
healthierathome@hotmail.com
416-617-2523
*Food and Healing by AnneMarie Colbin

Vitamins, Herbs, and Supplements-ACNE

As promised, this is the start to your health and wellness. This week we'll address ACNE.

Pimples, bumps, cysts, redness and inflammation...fun! Every day people wake up to acne, also known as acne vulgaris. It even sounds vulgar! It is a chronic skin condition that affects approximately 85% of Canadian teenagers and up to 12% women and 3% men will continue to have acne until their mid 40's. Acne can range from mild to severe, it all begins the same way: oil glands (sebaceous glands) in the skin secrete an oily substance (sebum) into the hair follicles. The sebum lubricates the hair and skin, but if too much sebum is produced, it can block the skin pores and trap dead skin cells. A plug then forms and develops into a closed dome (whitehead) or open dome (blackhead). If bacteria gets into the dome, the skin becomes inflamed and pimples form. Sometimes pimples fill with pus and invade deep into the skin, forming the painful scars known as cysts. When pustules and cysts form scar tissue when they heal, they can leave pits in the skin.

Causes:

Acne usually appears during adolescence and is largely caused by hormonal changes. The hormone change stimulates the sebaceous glands to increase sebum production, a process that usually subsides by the age of 20. It is not uncommon for acne to appear for the first time in adults though and in this case it may be a genetic disposition, hormonal changes (related to menstruation or high testosterone levels), reaction to certain cosmetics and from use of certain medications, such as, lithium, corticosteroids, oral contraceptives and phenytoin. Poor diets, nutrient depleated food, fat, protein and sugar excess, mineral-water excess and organ malfunction (usually kidney or liver).

Prevention and Treatments:

You can reduce the severity of acne and take steps to decreasing the impact it has if you:

• Avoid picking, popping or irritating the pimples.
• Eat a whole-foods diet that includes for to five servings of green vegetables daily as chlorophyll is good for the skin and also eat lots of fiber. This is extremely important as our organs of elimination are NOT in fine working order. The fact that these and many other conditions clear up after the removal of dairy products, indicates that cow's milk and its derivatives because of their high content of buildup elements or protein and calcium, may be closely associated with them.*
• Use mild soap when washing your face and avoid harsh cleaners or scrubs.
• Avoid use of cosmetics that contain oil, which can clog your pores, or those that contain lanolin, isopropyl myristate, laureth-4, D&C red dyes and sodium lauryl sulfate.
• Wash hair frequently.

All natural supplements and treatments can take a longer time to move with your body, so be patient and give 6-8weeks to see results.

Must haves:

• Tea tree oil is a must! When it is applied to acne, it may reduce bacteria and improve inflammatory symptoms. Tea tree oil has fewer side effects, compared with benzoyl peroxide. Apply a drop or two to each lesions three times daily or use 5% gel twice daily. Personal note: For myself I use Tea Tree Oil Facial Moisturizer by @mosphere and I LOVE IT! Also, I take Progesterone because my levels were slightly low and I find that has helped balance my hormones too.
• Vitamin A or beta-carotene. Suggested amount would be "up to 25,000 IU daily of vitamin A is considered safe for postmenopausal women; a comparable dose of beta-carotene is 30,000mcg. For women who are pregnant or who could become pregnant, take no more than 10,000 IU daily of vitamin A or 6,000 mcg or beta-carotene."
• Vitamin B complex. Two to three times daily, take 25 to 50 mg. "Also include extra vitamin B6 and take 25 mg twice daily for severe acne, once daily for mild to moderate acne." If you find that acne flairs up only happen during your menstrual cycles, take 50 mg of vitamin B6 daily.

Other Options:

Copper, Zinc and Aloe Vera are also other options. Please contact me for further information if the above treatments show no significant improvement after 6-8 weeks. I can also provide recipes and more information.

Shannon Jonas
PTS, RHN, OAS
healthierathome@hotmail.com
416-617-2523
*Food and Healing by AnneMarie Colbin