Wellness Recommendations During COVID-19 (and year round) - Also, How To Work With Me
****NOTE: ROUGH NOTES POSTED FROM 3/16 VIDEO*** Your grace is appreciated as I work to refine this, I just wanted to get it out ASAP for those in need, asking for it.
I’ve been getting a lot of questions about wellness preparedness and I want to share what I do and how it can help you feel more prepared. We are living through some things right now that we, in the US, have not seen in our lifetime.
Before I share, I think it’s important for me to tell you a little bit about myself. Yes, most of you know me, you probably know that I am into nutrition, but I’ve actually been living a natural-based wellness lifestyle for about 10 years.
My boys are 5 and 8 and are rarely sick, recover quickly. Never have had an ear infection, never taken antibiotics…I have our family wellness protocols down! I have an entire “toolbox” of what I use to treat my family at home.
For over 3 years I was involved with the HMN – national nonprofit. OC leader. Planned and lead group wellness events and monthly group classes. I became well connected with local practitioners and have built an amazing tribe of incredibly smart, holistic warrior mamas, as well as health care and wellness professional.
Right now, We don’t know how hard this will hit us or how long it will take for stores to restock. I AM HOPING FOR THE BEST, BUT PREPARING FOR THE WORST. The longer this lasts the more people will panic. I’m sure you noticed that there is very little left in store for medicine and sanitation. Aside from food and toilet paper, basic medicine cabinet supplies, first aid items, and wellness items are starting to run low. I’ve still been able to replenish some of my go-to items, but I see that stock is getting low. I want to help you be prepared and feel confident in the event someone in your family gets sick – either with COVID or just any other illness that goes around this time of year and help you through it, in the event that you cannot get to a doctor due to overwhelm on out medical facilities or because going out in public is too risky.
These are the things that I use with my children – I wrote an article about supplements for my gym clients at Beach Fitness but I could not share everything without writing a novel.
Supplements:
Fish Oil Omega 3 essential fatty acids have a host of immune boosting benefits too long to list.
Pre- and Probiotics Good health begins in the gut! Because 70 to 80 percent of your immune system resides within your gastrointestinal tract, optimizing your gut microbiome year round will play a big role in keeping you healthy.
Food & supplement sources, not all are good for everyone – some people don’t do well fermented foods or need to proceed with caution (histamine intolerance, certain types of GI issues – SIBO, candida overgrowth, some forms of autoimmunity)
Vitamin C – Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant which assists our ability to ward off and deal with infection.
Vitamin D Vitamin D has been called a “pro-survival molecule”. It upregulates your ability to fight infections, as well as chronic inflammation – root of disease
Zinc – Zinc is required for the normal functioning of white blood cells. Supplementing with just 15mg of zinc per day in adults has been found to improve our immune cells’ ability to ward off infection.
Again – these are just the basic supplements that are generally beneficial for EVERYONE to take and you can read more about them in the article I will link to this post.
**Note on Elderberry**
I do not include it as recommended for everyone, the reasons for that being too detailed to go into here – but elderberry is proven to be a powerful treatment against influenzas but can be problematic with some viral infections and in people with autoimmune disorders. I love elderberry, I even make my own syrup, but it’s not for everyone and that is why I don’t include it in my general recommendations.
Now, if you are in an area where your drugstores or natural grocers are out of stock, I do have accounts with a couple nutraceutical brands that I trust.
Nutraceuticals. My suppliers still have stock – vitamins, supplements, homeopathic blends
- Kids problem with pills? Apex line has liquid vitamins – nice because taste good, and absorb better.
• Essential Oils: Antiviral, Antibacterial, Therapeutic, Disinfecting
Essential oils have been found to have effectiveness against viruses, bacteria, and fungus. Here are just some of their amazing antimicrobial properties:
· Herpes, Candida – Lavender, Peppermint, Clove, Tea Tree
· Staph, MRSA – Lavender
· H1N1 influenza – Thyme and Cinnamon
What about coronavirus? There aren’t many studies looking at essential oil activity against coronaviruses, and there are NO studies looking at essential oil activity specifically against the currently circulating 2019 novel Coronavirus.
I use: respiratory support, calming blends, hormonal, fevers
Application: diffuse, balms and rubs & varying application techniques, dilution ratios, and areas of application.
NOT ALL OILS ARE SAFE FOR CHILDREN OR PETS, ESPECIALLY CATS. There are many people out there selling oils who have no idea what they heck they are talking about – some are very knowledgeable and a wonderful resource - but I see incorrect and dangerous advice being given all the time. RULE OF THUMB: Look at their lifestyle – does it match up?
You do NOT have to buy from an MLM company or independent rep but not all oils are of the same quality. What you get at TJ Max is not going to be the best quality = ineffective. The brand you use will have differences in amount and how you use. Some online brands I trust – Plant Therapy, Mountain Rose Herbs, Ancient Apothecary.
Homeopathy: fever, cough, respiratory symptoms, body aches, runny noses, first aid even mental and emotional support.
If new to homeopathy, here are a couple tips that you won’t find written on the bottle or package. Take at least 15 minutes after or before eating. The remedy is absorbed by the delicate lining in your mouth and can be hindered by food.
Do not touch with your fingers. (show how to dispense)
Note on fevers: Yes, they can be scary. But they are good. There are reports coming out of Europe that young people needing ICU care for Covid-19 have used NSAIDs (Advil, Tylenol, etc.) and there is hypothesis that those may escalate the virus. Do NOT give Tylenol! Reasoning could be that these drugs (Tylenol in particular) depletes glutathione. Glutathione is a critical regulator of cell health and is essential for many complex roles within the body including immune function.
There are many remedies to use to make child more comfortable, including EOs and warm baths.
** Do not store your EOs next to your homeopathies** (Compromised by Eos?)
Nutrition – Hard to find food. Dried goods gone. foods that you can freeze – fruits and vegetables, cheese, yogurt, fresh herbs.
- Food shortages: I have resources for farmers with meat delivery and produce – these are still people that will need to maintain their businesses and we are people who need food.
- Seed Saving & Composting – good time to start a garden! (hobby survivalist/prepper)
- WATER! Stay hydrated - Drinking plenty of water ensures that your blood will carry plenty of oxygen to all the cells of your body. This means that all of your body's systems will function adequately, because they'll be getting plenty of oxygen. Your immune system functions best when your muscles and organs are functioning best.
- Nourishment beyond food. I’ll start with this: should you be eating the highest quality food with a wide variety of nutrients? Yes. Does a diet built on junk food make us healthier or sicker? You know that answer. It makes sense, that now, more than ever, we should be eating food that builds health and not detract from it. However, we are not living in normal circumstances. Our relationship with food, for many people, can be complicated. Yes, it is a relationship, and not always a healthy one. It can be pleasurable, but it can also be full of anxiety, shame, guilt, any cycle of combinations of emotions. Stress is one of hardest things on our bodies and a huge drain on our immune system. It might be hard, but letting go of diet mentality, letting go of some of the need for control around what you eat, will benefit you. If you are able, and not on a prescribed diet for medical reasons - Give yourself permission to eat things you would not normally eat, things that may go against your diet mantra, and let the food you have on hand be enough. This is a temporary situation, don’t make it more stressful than it needs to be by placing additional restrictions upon yourself.
Books/Resources: Censorship of Information
• WellnessMama.com – Katie Wells – One stop shop for all things natural living
• Mercola.com – Dr. Joseph Mercola – Articles on everything health related and easy to read
• DrJockers.com – Dr. David Jockers – In depth and scientific, tons of visuals and graphics
• HealthyKidsHappyKids.com – Dr. Elisa Song, MD – Holistic pediatrician with a robust blog section covering most of your most common questions regarding kids’ health. Balanced perspective and relatable.
Book: How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor – How to monitor your kids, assess symptoms, when to call your doctor or seek professional treatment … so much information to empower you - Tummy Aches to Poisoning
This is what I do – Yes, as my job I give personalized nutritional therapy and custom recommendations. But nutrition is only one part of a big picture in healthy living. I consider nutrition as the gateway into major lifestyle changes and, everybody eats, so it is usually a topic that people want to talk about. My jam – the stuff that lights me up – is the synergy between eating well and living a healthy lifestyle, supporting your body as a whole, with holistic modalities. Right now we are living in unprecedented times, I am here to help and support you as authentically as I can.
I hope what I have shared has been helpful – at the very least has eased your mind some, knowing that YES, you can be self-reliant. It has only been in the last few decades where we have forgotten about home health – ancestral wisdom that out great grandparents relied upon regularly, but we have replaced with the luxury of convenience and abundance.
HOW I CAN HELP: Everyone’s individual needs are different. Yes, I can recommend the above supplements because, in general, they are good for everyone. But supplements are not going to do anyone any good if you aren’t absorbing them. Much of what I do revolves around digestion because – you can be eating the healthiest diet in the world, but if you aren’t digesting properly, you won’t be extracting and absorbing to your full power. In times of stress – digestion slows or stops. I have assessments that can be done remotely to determine your digestive power and I have a long list of simple remedies for transitioning from fight or flight (stress response) to rest and digest (parasympathetic state) needed to digest and assimilate nutrients. If you are not getting nutrients, you are not as healthy as you could be, therefore more susceptible to illness.
My entire business is built on helping people be their healthiest by restoring balance and function to body systems. I have a comprehensive intake process designed to assess immune system, liver, thyroid, adrenals, detoxification pathways, hydration and, as mentioned, digestion. Weak areas within your body increase your susceptibility to illness.
In addition to giving you personalized, custom support and recommendations, I am your coach. Like I said, I have been doing this for years! Whether or not I keep nutrition as a career, this is the life I live and not something I’m just now preaching to try to make a buck.
I’m inviting you today to work with me – for your health, your families health, and maybe most importantly, your peace of mind.
It is not my goal to price gouge or take advantage of anyone and I want to help as many people as possible – I am offering 3 ways to work with me right now:
1. A-la Carte Consultation
a. Basic metabolic assessment for your household (up to 5*, max 10)
b. 60 minute consultation with in depth recommendations, answer questions
c. $95
2. Group program (6 weeks, 100% online and phone) CORPORATE OPTION
a. Basic metabolic assessment for your household (up to 5*, max 10)
b. One 30 minute consultation with me to go over your personalize recommendations
c. Weekly group discussion calls (zoom) to go over questions, have some social interaction (30-60 minutes) – bring on guests (ER nurse, homeopath, etc.)
i. As time goes on, we don’t know how long this will last, I will be here for you as a resource.
d. Daily text or email support
e. $275 (Similar package (same level of support from me) Normally $179 for just 1 person for only 4 weeks)
3. 1:1 Support
a. Comprehensive metabolic assessment for you and your household (Up to 5*, max 10)
b. 60-90 minute consultation with in depth recommendations, answer questions
c. Weekly check in phone calls (15 minutes)
d. Daily text or email support
e. Weekly group discussion calls (zoom)
*Over 5 family members for $20 additional each person
- In times of scarcity, we do the best we can with what we have and what we know. I am incredibly resourceful and knowledgeable in these topics. I have a team of MD consultants that support me. If there is something I don’t know, or I need additional information I have my own support network of practitioners who I work with and am able to get insights from professionals in areas that may not necessarily be in my wheelhouse.
- Limited food Supply: Creative cooking, how to feed your family. I can support you with what you have. Now is not the time be a food snob - If all you have is mac & cheese & coca cola, I can will walk you through ways to support your body as best as possible because you will need mineral and digestive support to counterbalance. Is it ideal, no? But, trust me, I can help.
Let me calm your nerves and give you guidance.
If you do not want to pay for my services, please follow me on Instagram, look at the resources and book I recommended, and please, if you have a children, look into joining a HMN in your area and get plugged into a community that can support you in the areas that I have talked about today.
BONUS – We are already a homeschooling family. If you are suddenly finding yourself at home with the kiddos and need help in that department for the next few weeks, I’ve got you covered there as well.