- Detox Moxie - choose better * be better

Be Careful With Your Detox Kids!

Time and time again when I consult with people, I always get that email/phone call a few days after they have made a healthy change and they say, "If I'm doing something so healthy, then why do I feel like cr*p?!" And time and time again, I tell them the same thing.

Your body is an incredible machine; more complex than any man-made whosamawhatsit in the history of the world. Once you give your body a chance to get rid of built up toxins, it will take advantage of that opportunity; it just knows what to do. This is both great ... and uncomfortable at times. I always strongly caution people to make changes SLOWLY ... one tiny step at a time.

If you are looking to change a lifetime of bad lifestyle, eating and exercising habits; make your list, and then choose ONE to focus on first. Give your body time to process the toxins it can and then, once you feel better than before, move on through your list.

Too much of anything can be a bad thing. Symptoms of detox of the body, mind and spirit run the gamut from chills, fever, aches and pain, runny noses and coughing up extra mucus, dizziness, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, the need for lots of additional sleep or, alternatively, a few nights of little sleep, nightmares, daytime 'fuzziness' in the head, among many others. If any of these symptoms lasts for more than a few days to a week (on the outside) while you are making changes, consult with your alternative or allopathic (standard) healthcare practitioner - something else might indeed be going on.

Heck; I just went through a period of a week or so after moving to the northern California coast, where during my morning jogs through these beautiful hills, I would get crazy dizzy ... my body had no idea what to do with all the unpolluted oxygen that I was now pumping so gleefully into my lungs. My solution? I went back to walking again while my body got used to the extra O2. Sometimes you have to step down to step up.

If you have decided to cut out any and all soda (aspartame) from your diet, try cutting down first and THEN phasing it out. If you have never fasted before ... try it for ONE day first; and don't do a water-only fast, go with fresh juices. If you have never followed a deep breathing program before, go slow and work up to three focused sessions a day. If you are changing your eating habits and cutting out meat or dairy, be prepared to feel your body go through some changes as its adjusts; women especially as your body now has to adjust to functioning with only your set of natural hormones and not those of the animals as well.

Every healthy change causes the body to go into a detox period while it removes the remnants of your old habits. Patience folks. Have faith. If you know you are making a health-supportive change, eventually these symptoms of detox will go away and you will be left feeling more vibrant and your body will be functioning at a higher level than before. You didn't get to where you are overnight ... don't put so much pressure on yourself to get the bad habit gone TODAY. Love yourself.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me any time at msmoxie@detoxmoxie.com.

Call It Moxie

Being in a new place, I have had the distinct pleasure of meeting many new people ... and inevitably 'that' question comes up. "So, what do you do?" When I mention my pursuit of a Masters Degree in Holistic Nutrition, the first follow up question is always, "So you want to be a nutritionist?" ... and the first few times I was asked this ... I had to stop and think.

Truth to tell, ultimately, I want to use the knowledge from this course of study (in combination with my interest and experience with meditation and other spiritual pursuits) and be a whole body/spirit health consultant that works WITH the lifestyles of real people.

My theory is that there are some standard regimes and modalities that take up a lot of time, effort and money. I encourage everyone to seek the help of professionals and those 'in the know' when they are ready to make changes, but my guess is that if recommendations take TOO much time, or effort, or money, that people will only be able to sustain their efforts towards a healthier way of being for so long before life gets in the way and rising frustration levels may make it impossible to continue.

So here's my way of thinking. My first question to those interested is always, "What are you willing to give me?" ... and thus far in my experience, this simple query seems to really perk up the ears, almost as if whoever I speak with is saying, "Wait. You aren't going to tell me?"

Nope. I'm not. If you are a 40-year old woman who has no designs to quit smoking. Fine. There are things you can do to encourage your own health in many other ways. Do you like your red meat and beer? Most excellent. Still more choices that you can make to support your natural way of being. Never taken a moment to sit still and check your head? Great. Let me give you the basics of meditation and take 10 minutes a day and call me when you are ready for more.

There can be balance found in ANY lifestyle; and for each lifestyle there are hundreds of options for promoting better health. Small choices for change that work seamlessly into your present lifestyle will be much more effective than changing up your entire routine. As your new choices become habit, I also have faith that most folks will desire to then take additional steps towards health. I'm always here when people are ready to step it up again.

One comfortable step at a time; because slow and steady always makes for a better race in the end.

I look forward to speaking and working with more of you and discovering together where you can create some more balance today.

Namaste.

Ms*Moxie

Moving on Up

As of July 10th, I will be in the process of relocating. Once settled, I will back and posting from sunny California.

See you soon!

STEVIA UPDATE

Wonderful and exciting! I just saw on my morning news program that STEVIA all-natural sweetener has now been granted GRAS status by the FDA; GRAS meaning "Generally Recognized As Safe".

So, instead of needing to be in the supplement aisle of mainly health food stores (and forward-thinking major market chains), you will now be able to find Stevia next to "The Other Chemical Packets" in the sweetener section of your favorite stores very very soon! And if they don't have it yet, go to Customer Service and ask when they are getting it in!

Supply and demand is a wonderful thing ... the more consumers demand healthier, non-chemical alternatives to what is out there, the more natural (truly natural) products will be offered on the shelves of major chains.

Awesome. Do your body a huge favor and get rid of another chemical in your life by switching to Stevia. YES, the taste is different than the blue, pink or yellow, but you'll get used to the difference ... and your body will thank you!

To Jumpstart A Healthier Lifestyle

The human body is a miraculous machine, able to repair itself from damage in many ways if cared for and fueled properly. Make the decision to contribute to your own healing by making small changes in your diet/daily routine. By implementing even a few of the below recommendations, you will be making great strides towards better health and increased vitality.

Please discuss your desires to make any/all of the following supportive choices with your health care professional.

Top 10 Recommendations

1. WATER WATER Everywhere. If you aren’t already drinking 6-10 glasses of water every day (up to 80 ounces or about 2.5 liters of water), now is the time to start (sodas, coffee/tea, anything less than 100% real fruit juice, and alcohol don’t count). Without sufficient water, our bodies (which are ~ 66% water) cannot function properly. Water helps the body to perform the millions of chemical reactions that need to occur each day in order for us to survive. Flushing the body with water also helps to more effectively eliminate debris (damaged cells, toxins, etc.). Don’t like plain water yet? Use liquid Stevia and fresh lemons, make yourself some all-natural body-alkalizing lemonade and feel free to drink as much as you like in a day-eez good for you! ALSO, there is no need to drown your body with water. As with everything else in life, balance is everything. Anything over 100 ounces per day (or 3 liters) is unnecessary unless you work out constantly or live and work in extremely hot/humid parts of the country.

READ YOUR LABELS! Learning to read a food label is a big step towards better health.

2. High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). Almost all nutritionists finger high fructose corn syrup consumption as a major culprit in the nation's obesity crisis, along with diseases associated with obesity. This inexpensive, usually genetically-modified, corn-based sweetener flooded the American food supply in the early 1980s; curiously at just about the same time that the nation's obesity rate started its unprecedented climb. Some health care professionals theorize that the body processes the fructose in high fructose corn syrup differently than it does old-fashioned cane or beet sugar, which in turn alters the way metabolic-regulating hormones function. It also forces the liver to kick more fat out into the bloodstream. The end result being that our bodies are “tricked” into wanting to eat more and at the same time, we are storing more fat. Read your labels and start putting down ANY product with HFCS in it.

3. Partially Hydrogenated ANYTHING. These are your TRANS FATS; and they are a killer. Hydrogenation is the process of heating oil and passing hydrogen bubbles through it. The fatty acids in the oil acquire some of the hydrogen, which makes it dense. If you fully hydrogenate, you create a solid (a fat) out of the oil. But if you stop part way, you get semi-solid partially hydrogenated oil that has the consistency of butter, only it's a lot cheaper. Because of that consistency, and because it is cheap, it is a favorite as a butter-substitute among "food" producers. It gives their products a richer flavor and texture, but doesn't cost near as much as it would to add butter. The bad news is that, unlike pure butter or virgin coconut or olive oil, hydrogenated oils contain high levels of trans fats. A trans fat is an otherwise normal fatty acid that has been altered by the high-heat processing of a free oil. Normally essential and ‘good for you’ fatty acids can be double-linked, cross-linked, bond-shifted, twisted, or messed up in a variety of other ways. In short, trans fats are unnatural substances that interfere with the metabolic processes of life by taking the place of a natural substance (essential fatty acid) that performs a critical function. Ladies and gentlemen, that is the very definition of a poison, just like arsenic or cyanide, and your body has no defense against them. Read your labels and avoid anything that contains the word "hydrogenated". That means partially hydrogenated oils, hydrogenated oils, and mono-diglycerides. If it doesn’t say “100% trans fat free,” put it down and find an alternative.

4. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG). Used by almost every fast-food chain restaurant and in pre-packaged foods, this highly addictive additive is another way that Big Business makes their food ‘taste better’. Shockingly, through hundreds of studies, MSG has been scientifically linked to: attention deficit disorder, addictive behaviors, alcoholism, allergies, ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, atrial fibrillation, autism, blindness, cancer, celiac sprue, depression, diabetes, dizziness, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, heat stroke, high blood pressure, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, irritable bowel syndrome, general chronic inflammation, migraine headaches, multiple sclerosis, myopia, obesity, pituitary tumors, rage & panic disorder, rosacea, sulfite sensitivity, tinnitus, and sleeplessness.

If that isn’t enough information to make you leery of ever eating anything with MSG again ... Just some of the possible reactions THAT YOUR BODY can have to MSG are: arrhythmias, extreme rise or drop in blood pressure, rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), angina, flu-like achiness, joint pain & stiffness, depression, dizziness, light-headedness, loss of balance, disorientation, mental confusion, anxiety, panic attacks, hyperactivity, behavioral problems in children, lethargy, sleepiness, insomnia, migraine headaches, numbness or paralysis, seizures, sciatica, slurred speech, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, stomach cramps, bloating, shortness of breath, chest pain & tightness, runny nose, sneezing, hives/rash, mouth lesions, temporary tightness or partial paralysis (numbness or tingling) of the skin, flushing, extreme dryness of the mouth, blurred vision, and difficulty focusing.

Can be listed as: Monosodium Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Hydrolyzed Protein, Hydrolyzed Plant Protein, Plant Protein Extract, Sodium Caseinate, Calcium Caseinate, Yeast Extract, Textured Protein (Including TVP), Autolyzed Yeast, Hydrolyzed Oat Flour, Corn Oil, Malt Extract, Malt Flavoring, Bouillon, Broth, Stock, Flavoring, Natural Flavors/Flavoring, Natural Beef or Chicken Flavoring, Seasoning, Spices.

5. Aspartame is an excitotoxin sweetener made from two amino acids, phenylalanine and the excitotoxin aspartate. It should be avoided at all costs. Aspartame complaints accounts for approximately 70% of ALL complaints to the FDA. It is implicated in everything from blindness to headaches to convulsions. Sold under dozens of brand names such as NutraSweet and Equal, aspartame breaks down within 20 minutes at room temperature into several primary toxic and dangerous ingredients: 1. DKP (diketopiperazine) (When ingested, converts to a near duplicate of a powerful brain tumor causing agent), 2. Formic Acid (ant venom), 3. Formaldehyde (embalming fluid), and 4. Methanol (causes blindness...extremely dangerous substance). Some common examples are diet soft drinks, sugar free gums, sugar free Kool Aid, Crystal Light, childrens' medications, and thousands of other products claiming to be 'low calorie', 'diet', or 'sugar free'. Switch to STEVIA for your “packet sweetener” (they also make liquid), and use 100% pure maple syrup and honey instead. Also try more exotic sweeteners like Yacon syrup and agave nectar.

6. Avoid Fast and Pre-Packaged Food. High in sugar, fat, sodium, and some or all of the above additives, foods such as these, which are hard for our systems to digest, may raise your risk for chronic disease. Avoid these foods as much as you possibly can. If you must have some easy/quick frozen meals on hand, switch to the organic brands that can be found in almost every major supermarket chain.

7. Increase intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Whole, fresh fruits and vegetables (6-9 servings a day) are important to eat for their natural antioxidant, vitamin, and mineral content. However, if you have any kind of chronic pain you may want to avoid the “Nightshade” family of vegetables. Tomatoes, white potatoes, red and green bell peppers, "hot" peppers such as chili and paprika, eggplant, as well as tobacco are part of the Nightshade family of plants and contain a chemical alkaloid called solanine which can trigger inflammation/pain in some people. While there is no formal research regarding this claim about nightshade plants, you can avoid them for a few weeks to see if pain relieves. Make it a point to have some fresh fruit for breakfast and some raw, or lightly steamed, vegetables with both lunch and dinner and you’ll be well on your way.

8. Meditate. Meditation has been proven to deliver myriad health benefits (lower blood pressure, relief of stress and all the problems that come with stress) with a practice as little as 20 minutes per day (10 mins morning/10 mins evening). Start simply by sitting in a straight back chair with feet planted flat on the floor, palms up or down on the thighs. Sit straight without straining (you will find a naturally comfortable position). Close your eyes. Breathe in slowly through the nose. Focus on the breath going in and how it feels as the lungs fill. Then slowly breathe out through the nose. Keep focused on the breath. Focus on filling the lungs from the belly first, then into the chest, then up into the collarbone area; breathe out in the reverse direction—collarbone, chest, belly. Let thoughts in your head come and go ... and whenever you find yourself mentally wandering; just gently bring your focus back to the breath.

9/10. Breathe/Exercise. At this point, our final two tips almost go without saying. The body must intake oxygen in order to function. In fact, without oxygen the food we eat cannot be digested. Strive for 30 minutes of exercise a day on most days. Find a friend and walk. It’s the easiest way to start if you do not follow a regular exercise routine as yet. Outside of simply exercising, consider developing a deep breathing practice as well; just 10 deep focused breaths two times or more per day can change the levels of oxygen in your body for the better. For under $20 on Amazon.com, Max Strom presents a wonderful breathing instruction program in his DVD “Learn to Breathe”—I highly recommend it and its link can be found on my sister web site, The Inside Out - http://www.theinsideout.typepad.com.

*Information presented herein has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. If a product or treatment is recommended, it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information contained herein is meant to be used to educate the reader, is in no way intended to provide individual medical advice, and should be used in conjunction with the guidance and care of your own qualified health practitioner. Make your physician aware of all medical conditions that you may have, as well as the medications or supplements you may be taking. If you are pregnant or nursing, please consult with your doctor. All information contained herein is received from sources believed to be accurate, but no guarantee, express or implied, can be made. Readers are encouraged to verify for themselves, and to their own satisfaction, the accuracy of all information, recommendations, conclusions, comments, opinions, or anything else contained within these pages before making any kind of decisions based on what they have read herein. By reading this post, you agree to these conditions.

Cancer - It's Only A "C" Word

I include this in the 10 Tiny Changes section because the following books all contain incredibly health supportive information for anyone going through an experience with cancer of any kind.

Education is key to making the dis-ease less daunting to face. Inspire your Self or someone you know by providing them with information and help healing begin from the inside out.

After reading the information contained in these books, I recommended both probiotics (to aid in keeping the digestive system healthy) and Amrit (an Ayurvedic super-antioxidant) to my own mother who is healing from Stage 2 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and her reports of side effects from her chemotherapy are minimal at most.

The Answer to Cancer: Is Never Giving It a Chance to Start by Hari Sharma, James G. Meade, and Rama K. Mishra, is a brilliant offering of small, everyday changes that can create huge differences in both preventing and healing from various forms of cancer.

For more in-depth information on the history of alternative cancer treatments, including the story of Harry Hoxsey and the widespread political implications of his reputed 'cancer cure', I highly recommend When Healing Becomes a Crime: The Amazing Story of the Hoxsey Cancer Clinics and the Return of Alternative Therapies by Kenny Ausubel.

... back to it ...

Well. I have found myself back at a place where it is time to refocus.

Get back to detoxing. Get back to rising. Get back to living my life as I believe the 'best' of it to be.

Looking forward to getting back here I must say. Additionally, I have a new blog in conjunction with this one. Please join me over at The Inside Out too!

Søren Kierkegaard

Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward. —Søren Kierkegaard

Dude looks full-on like Gizmo (yeah, the mogwai) ... hair included ...

But that up there? That's deep yo.