You know what an allergy is, right? At the least, you know the symptoms – itchy eyes, sniffling, runny noses and, in more severe cases, rashes or hives. But do you really know why your body is reacting the way what it does? Are you aware of the everyday toxins around you that can cause the reactions? And most importantly, do you know that you don’t have to take over the counter or prescribed drugs to combat them, but can use natural remedies?

First, what is an allergy? In its simplest form, an allergy is an over-reaction of the immune system, the body’s natural defense system. In short, the body responds as though it’s under attack, releasing antibodies and triggering inflammation, even though the stimulus of the attack (the allergen) is normally harmless. So when it comes to allergies, your immune system thinks it’s doing something good, when in reality, genetics and environment have conspired to make cells that are essential for normal immune function...

Did you know that not only do toxins enter our bodies through what we eat, drink, smoke, or breathe but can also enter our bodies through what we put on our bodies?  From soaps to makeup, you could be putting a host of chemicals on yourself of which you aren’t even aware. But how do you know what to stay away from and what’s good for your body when it comes to your beauty and self-care routine? We’ve come up with a handy list for some of the most common (and most dangerous) chemicals to avoid and what to find them in.

• DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), TEA (Triethanolamine) – These are hormone-disrupting chemicals that can form cancer-causing agents. In fact, these chemicals have been linked to liver and kidney cancer.  They are most commonly found in shampoos, soaps, bubble baths, and facial cleansers.

• Phthalates and Parabens –  You may have heard of these before, particularly parabens. There’s been a...

We all know that regular physical exercise has tremendous benefits, right? But, do you believe that a fitness program should be customized to each unique individual? Keeping up with a consistent exercise routine can be challenging, especially when it seems that your hard work isn’t paying off. Maybe that daily run (that you don’t really enjoy) doesn’t seem to be moving you in the right direction at all. Like you’re working out every day and not losing any weight. And why is it that your exercise routine isn’t working for you, but your best friend who does the same thing is losing weight and keeping it off? Hardly seems fair, right?

Whether your exercise routine is truly benefitting you or not, is partly influenced by your GENETICS. Your genetic makeup influences everything from how your body weight reacts to exercise, to how effectively you can build muscle and how easily (or not so easily) recover. You need to use your genes to your advantage!

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You know you should eat right and exercise, but do you really understand just how important sleep is to your health?  Getting enough sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Getting enough quality sleep at the right times can help protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety.  It can even help you lose weight!  On the flipside, not getting enough sleep can cause you to gain weight, feel depressed and lead to such diseases as diabetes and heart disease.  So… are you getting enough sleep?

How much sleep each person needs can vary anywhere from 6-10 hours, but the majority of people need 8 hours of sleep to function properly.  However, this number has been increasingly harder for people to meet in an era of “let’s do 10 things at once” and Starbucks.  What kind of damage might this be doing?  When you are sleep deprived, your cortisol level rises – and so do all...

Have you been working on your fitness routine this new year? Maybe you’ve found exercise you love, maybe you’ve carved out time for this exercise, and maybe you’re still having trouble staying motivated. WHY?? This should all be easier, right? There’s one thing you may not have considered when it comes to motivation, fitness, and weight loss – playing to your strengths.

PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS

So, when I say “play to your strengths” what I mean is something like if you’re a morning person, exercise as soon as you wake up, yes? Not exactly. Strengths in this instance refers to your character strengths. This might be a concept that you’re already familiar with but, if not, character strengths simply refer to the good qualities people possess – positive traits that show their strengths. A concept of those who practice positive psychology, the 24 character strengths are organized under 6 virtues and were first...

If you’re like me, you’ve read so many stories on the internet about how to figure out if a natural hormone balancing strategy will work for you before you try it. And there are SO many opinions on what to do, how to do it and it can all be so overwhelming!  I’ve seen big promises out there too… like:

“Follow this diet and balance your hormones in 10 days!”

“Take these supplements and you will finally have balanced hormones… ”

“Regulate your hormones fast with these yoga moves.”

I remember when I was searching for answers to my own hormone problems, I thought to myself, “I can do this! I can take that!  I will follow everything they say to do!  I can finally do something to get my energy and libido back…”

Well, there was just ONE SMALL problem…

We are all different, we all have hormone levels that are slightly different than each one of our girlfriends! And, there...

What is hormonal imbalance?

Most women experience a hormonal imbalance at some point in their life… and it hurts their health, their careers, and their relationships. Put simply, hormonal imbalance happens when your body’s hormonal system (officially called your endocrine system) is out of whack. Think of your hormones as little chemical messengers that send messages throughout your body. When your endocrine system is not working correctly, your hormones send the wrong messages, and that can wreak havoc on your mind and body.

There are a lot of things that can cause your hormones to shift, such as your menstrual cycle, perimenopause, and menopause. But shifting hormones are different than unbalanced hormones. Things like not drinking enough water, eating too much of the wrong foods, and not getting enough sleep can also negatively impact your hormones and cause them to become imbalanced. Imbalanced hormones can have a range of effects on your body, from causing...

You started off 2021 with grand aspirations, right? You were determined to lose 20 pounds, have more energy, and fit into your “skinny” jeans again. But now that February has arrived where do you stand with those goals? If you’re like the majority of us, your fitness and diet plans have already waned or totally died down. Why is that?

It’s NOT that you lack motivation or aren’t able to do it. The problem is a) resolutions aren’t habits and b) you aren’t taking the time to create the correct mindset for fitness. How can you truly create a fitness habit if you haven’t changed how you think about fitness?

Shifting how you think has been shown to help people cope with addiction, depression, anxiety and more. So, why wouldn’t it help you reach your fitness goals?

THE FIRST RULE FOR A FITNESS MINDSET IS…

To develop a fitness mindset, there’s something you should first understand – whatever...

Have you bailed on your New Year’s resolutions yet? I don’t know why we even bother with them. It’s nearly impossible to keep them. Did you know that 50% of US adults resolved to do more exercise and 48% said weight loss was their goal?¹ It’s pretty much the same every year. And so is this sad fact. By mid-February, 80% of them give up.

Eighty percent!

So why do we still bother setting resolutions for ourselves on New Year’s Eve? They do not serve us well. I know it’s tradition, and while some traditions can be great, sometimes they’re just plain silly and unnecessary. Take Groundhog Day for instance. Cute, but why?

In the case of new year’s resolutions, I have a strong opinion against them. Because this tradition has too often become a stumbling block to the people I work with—mentally and emotionally. When they don’t keep a resolution, they feel like a failure. And they judge themselves harshly.

They become...

Hormonal birth control isn’t for everybody. While it can be extremely effective, there can be negative consequences with long-term use. Chances are if you’re reading this you’re concerned about those long-term negative consequences.

The downfalls of hormonal birth control include:

• heart attack
• stroke
• blood clots
• skin changes
• breast changes
• long-term cancer risk
• estrogen dominance
• hair loss
• effect on libido

And if you’re over 35 and/or a smoker you run the risks of:

• blood clots
• vein inflammation
• breast cancer
• migraines (sometimes with aura)
• high blood pressure
• heart problems
• diabetes
• liver disease

This doesn’t begin to cover the increased chances of depression, suicidal ideation, and mess of hormones this kind of birth control can create. So, what’s a woman to do? How can you protect your health while still being in control of whether you get pregnant or not? Luckily, the answer is easier than you think.

Why Non-Hormonal Rocks

Besides being...