Monthly Archives: May 2012

Is the Food You’re Eating the Cause of Your Discomfort?

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By Vicky Luedtke, Nutrition Response Testing Practitioner, SuNu Wellness Center

When food allergies come to mind, your first thought may be of extreme anaphylactic shock, epi-pens and NO peanut zones! Well, the reality is that a food allergy can be much less dramatic. Ongoing symptoms may be subtle, yet irritating. Conditions such as fatigue, hormonal imbalance, bowel irregularities, eczema, infertility, low energy, and foggy thinking may be indicators that a food sensitivity is the root to your issues.

 

The old adage, “you are what you eat” really holds true. If you’re feeding your body with foods that are causing a mild reaction on a daily basis, the symptoms can manifest in a variety of ways. Rather than trying to eliminate each food one-by-one in a guessing game, Nutrition Response Testing (NRT), or kinesiology, can determine what foods are causing you problems by how your body responds to them through simple, non-invasive muscle testing. People of all ages can benefit from this process.

 

Meet Max, a 7-year old boy who spent an entire school year lying around like a slug on a couch, feeling terrible from bouts of diarrhea, bloody noses, and general fatigue. After a treatment plan using whole food organic supplements and subtle changes in diet, Max is out on the baseball field playing and happily digesting his nutrients. Now meet Susan, a 26-year old struggling with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis. Once she found out food and nutrient deficiencies were causing her menstrual issues, she changed her eating habits and started to feel better. Then, with some simple shifts and rebuilding the gut, Susan unexpectedly became pregnant!

An informed approach is key to understanding what’s really going on inside your body. It’s important to find out what foods may be the root cause, so you can play an active role in improving your family’s health and well-being. Nutritional Response Testing is an affordable, non-invasive process that will enhance the quality of life for you and your family.

Do you think you have a food allergy? A sensitivity to gluten or sugar? What are your symptoms and how have you tried to alleviate them?

Find Vicky Luedtke, NRT Practitioner at SuNu Wellness Center in Minnetonka, MN. SuNu Wellness restores health and energy through holistic medicine. They offer ways to refresh the body and restore the mind with chiropractic care, therapeutic massage, nutrition support, life coaching and more. They are present and focused on meeting the wellness goals of each client and their family.

This week, get Nutritional Response Testing, a consultation and follow-up appointment for your entire family at an affordable 50% off. Click here for this week’s deal. You can also find SuNu Wellness on Facebook.

How I Kicked My Sugar Addiction

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by Beth Schupanitz, Registered Nutrition Consultant and Certified Health Coach, Inspiring Health

My name is Beth and I’m a recovering sugar addict. When I was in elementary school, I’d eat half a cup of pure sugar so I could run faster in track races. I’d sneak spoonfuls of white sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar and, best of all, red hots. I couldn’t help myself, I craved sugar.

I had bronchitis 15 times by the time I was 19 years old and suffered from headaches and digestive issues. Two-thirds of our immune system is located in our digestive tracts and when chemistry, enzymes and flora are “off,” the rest of the body does not function at optimal levels.

Once I learned that real, quality whole foods and nutritional supplements can repair the digestive tract and heal the body, I changed what I ate, controlled my sugar cravings and got rid of my allergies, body aches and constant colds and flus.

 

According to a great deal of recent research sugar is toxic. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease and even some cancers can be traced back to over consumption of sugar.

The average American eats two to three pounds of sugar each week – that’s between 135 and 155 pounds of sugar every year – in the form of table sugar (sucrose), corn sugar (dextrose) and high-fructose corn syrup. High levels of sugar are found in surprising places like processed bread, cereal, mayonnaise, a plethora of microwave meals and many products labeled “low-fat” or “non-fat.”

Eating wholesome, healthful and unprocessed foods crowds out the sugar in your diet and helps you lose weight, diminish pain, lose the bloat, increase energy and control blood sugar (among many other benefits). But it’s tough to know where to start and working with a health coach or a community of like-minded people can help demystify the process and get you moving in the right direction.

Health coach Beth Schupanitz’s tips to cut out the sugar:

  • Eat whole foods in balance to control blood sugar levels. That will control cravings.
  • Eat small meals or healthy snacks every three hours.
  • Find non-food activities or items to comfort yourself and prevent emotional eating.  

How are you making sure food is nourishing and healthy and how are you cutting sugar out of your diet?

 

Beth Schupanitz of Inspiring Health, Registered Nutrition Consultant and Certified Health Coach, The mission of Inspiring Health is to customize an individual nutritional program to create a healthier you.  Beth creates awareness and education about how real, quality, whole foods and daily preventative measures can heal the body and provide vibrate health for life. She specializes in life-long weight loss, balanced eating to control blood sugars, and support to lower cholesterol through customized meal planning, supplementation, exercise protocols and stress management.  Beth is known as the “Sugar Mama” because she helps people understand the chemistry behind sugar cravings and lick the sugar habit once and for all.  She conducts a very successful “Seven Day Sugar Cleanse” to jump start healthy eating and eliminate sugar cravings.  www.inspiringhealthsolutions.com. The next Seven Day Sugar Cleanse begins May 30. Click here for discount admission.

Is a Toxic Body the Root of Your Health Problems?

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by Dr. Suzy Youngquist, D.C., Revolution Chiropractic Wellness Center

I am trained, as a chiropractor, to find the root cause of a person’s ailment. Can’t seem to lose weight no matter what? Instead of solely looking at the number of calories you consume and how much you exercise, I look at all of you – your habits, your background and even things you may not ever have thought could be an issue.

Heavy metal toxicity
Heavy metal toxicity develops over long-term exposure to metal. Since many of our parents were part of the “lead generation,” we were born exposed to that particular heavy metal. While many vaccines are now available without the mercury-based preservative Thimerosal, that is a recent development and most, if not all, of us have been exposed to small amounts of mercury through vaccinations. However, the biggest risk of heavy metal exposure facing adults today are amalgam (silver) fillings in teeth.

Amalgam contains mercury. A handful of Scandinavian countries have banned its use as a dental filler because of concern over the amount of mercury that leaches out over time with exposure to heat, chewing, etc.

Over exposure to mercury and heavy metals can affect the hypothalamus (the brain’s “control tower” over the body). A person may experience symptoms such as unexplained anxiety, insomnia, depression, weight loss resistance, chronic sinus infections and more. A simple urine test can be performed to detect the levels of heavy metal present in your body.

Biotoxicity
Anyone exposed to a moldy environment can suffer serious health repercussions. Many people disregard household mold or even wet basements as normal, but mold can be very damaging and should be treated as a toxic substance. My sickest patients have lived in homes where basements have flooded. They’ve been diagnosed with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, inability to lose weight, depression and anxiety.

You must discover the root of your health struggles in order to truly be healed. A few simple tests can determine your level of exposure to heavy metals and biotoxins and, once you know what you’re dealing with, you can take healthy steps to mitigate the damage and reduce your exposure in the future. For a limited time, get 60 percent off Neurotoxic Consultation and Testing at Revolution Chiropractic. Click here for this week’s deal and find out if toxicity is at the root of your health problems, so you can get back on the path to good health.

 

Dr. Suzy Youngquist has her degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University with a focus on nutritional healing, detoxification therapy and corrective chiropractic care. After launching Chicago’s largest nutrition and detoxification center with her sister, Dr. Youngquist moved back to Minnesota and again teamed up with her sister to provide life-saving wellness services. Revolution Chiropractic Wellness Center’s mission is to educate and empower individuals and families to express full and vibrant life by providing tools, services, and practical resources on natural living and disease prevention.

 

 

Say Yes to You

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Jen Vertanen, founder, The Wholehearted Life

Working Mom

 

If you are a woman and you have children, you are a working mother – end of story with a great big exclamation point.

You may be CEO of an international company, budding entrepreneur, part-time student, or a stay at home mom; regardless of your title, the role of motherhood and all the lovely bits that come with are yours and yours alone and balancing life’s demands can be daunting at best.

 

Giving in to Life’s Demands
So many of us easily succumb to those demands (from children, spouse, family, friends, work, volunteering, you name it) because we want to be in service to everyone and everything but here’s the thing: when we give in to life’s demands, we stop being of service to ourselves.

We stop finding time to read a book or go for a walk or take that stained glass workshop we’ve been dying to try. We stop going away for long weekends with our girlfriends to relax and rejuvenate.

We can’t possibly find time to exercise or prepare a deliciously nutritious homemade meal because there isn’t enough time. Instead, we drive through McDonalds … again.

How often do you find yourself saying, “I can’t do that, I don’t have the time.” And how often is that “thing” you’re saying no to something that you would actually love to do because it would fill your cup, making you feel reenergized and refreshed?

I get it, I really do. I’m a mother of three and a budding entrepreneur. But here’s my question for you: Are you able to be as effective serving others if you’re not serving your needs?

Instead of feeling exhausted, tense, sluggish and, let’s be honest, sometimes resentful imagine feeling rested, relaxed, balanced, patient and energized.

  • How much more effectively could you tackle the demands in your life?
  • How could your relationships improve?
  • How might your relationship with yourself be different?
  • How could your entire life change?

24 Hours – The Great Equalizer
Each of us has the same 24 hours in a day. Regardless of our titles and demands, all of us are given the same 24 hours and here’s the really cool part ~ you get to define how you spend those 24 hours!

You get to say “yes” or “no,” you get to decide whether you return a phone call or take a bath, you get to set boundaries and limits – even with your spouse and children. And you decide if you show up in the world each day rested, relaxed and energized or tense, impatient and exhausted.

What’s Your Decision?
How can you find ways in your day to say no to something (or someone) and say yes to you? Let us know in the comments below. Then take a deep, cleansing breath and smile. You are amazing, you are a working mother and you are beautiful. Having trouble making time for yourself or making you a priority? Let us know that too, we’re a community filled with great ideas.

 

Jen Vertanen is the founder of The Wholehearted Life where she coaches and guides women to fall in love with themselves and their imperfectly beautiful and oftentimes messy lives.  Jen can be found coaching, inspiring, dreaming up the perfect party for her clients, and sharing just a bit too much at http://www.jenvertanen.com, Facebook, and the Twitter.

 

Access the Best for Less, Locally

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Restore was created to help you make informed health and lifestyle decisions. That’s why I’m so excited to announce Restore’s Weekly Deals, launching on May 20! I know it sounds like we’re joining the online deal frenzy, but Restore Weekly Deals are different.

 

Here’s what sets us apart:

  • Our Weekly Deals coincide with Restore’s topic of the week. For example, you’ll learn about and discover local options for infertility treatment, children’s healthcare, energy healing, detoxing, healthy beauty products and much more!
  • Whatever the topic, we’ve done the research to find credible practitioners and businesses in the Twin Cities to support the weekly focus. Not only will you have access to great deals to try out fantastic local opportunities, you’ll learn what they’re really about so you can continue to build on your relationship, if you choose, after you’ve “tried them on for size.”
  • Restore’s Weekly Deals were created with conscious living in mind. We all deserve to play an active role and have a voice in what we do or have done to our bodies. It’s not black or white, what works for me may not work for you. That’s for you to decide. Being able to try local products and services at a discounted price is a great way to find what works for you.
  • Our Weekly Deals are highly limited. If you’re interested, you’ll need to act fast because there really are only a limited number of deals available for purchase. Why? Because we’re connecting you with the best and the entire Restore community strives to ensure you receive the best service possible. This is an opportunity to explore your options and feel good about the decisions you make, whatever they may be.

Sign up at restorehealing.com and, beginning May 20, you’ll have an all-access pass to products and services from high-integrity local businesses so you can truly discover what’s right for you and your family. When you sign up we’ll even give you a $5 credit on your first deal! Be sure to share the wealth (and health) and tell all your friends about Restore Weekly Deals as well.

We look forward to connecting with you in this new and unique way!

Sincerely,

 

 

Stop Your Struggle with Gravity: Eliminate Tension and Back Pain

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by Kevin McCarthy, Owner, In|Form Rolfing

Standing on two feet means finding balance at every moment of our upright lives. But by doing so, we’re opposing gravity. Struggling against gravity for so much of our lives can cause back and neck pain, unhealthy posture, tension, headaches and more. So how do you stop working against gravity and start working with it so your body feels better?

Rolfing
Ida Rolf, the creator of Rolfing® Structural Integration (SI) realized that gravity was responsible for many kinds of bodily imbalance and dysfunction. Her method was developed to help free the body from this struggle, to work with gravity rather than against it.


Try this right now: However your body is poised right this instant, just let go. Relax your muscles completely. Unless you were lying on your back and reading this on the ceiling you probably just felt your body slump or collapse in some way. That’s because your body was out of balance and you were exerting muscular energy to stay focused on this page.

But before you start hearing your mother’s voice in your head shouting, “Sit up straight!” give yourself a break. Posture isn’t about willpower and you’re not weak. You just need to let go of old, unhealthy habits and welcome in new ways of doing things.

All the work you’re doing to keep your head level while reading this page, all the energy you’ll use to maintain your off-balance body when you stand up and walk away, is energy that could be used in better, healthier ways if you could “fall into” the support of your own body.

Instead of putting your whole weight onto your feet and trusting the ground to support you, you’re likely tensing your body and creating patterns that increase stress and pain. When you learn to use gravity as source of support instead of continually struggling against it you’ll begin to feel what is to live in a body that’s at ease with itself: balanced, flexible and free.

Some basic Rolfing exercises to try right now:

  • Sit back in your chair, close your eyes and listen to the sounds behind you. Feel that strain in your brow releasing? You’re giving your back, neck and eyes a break.
  • Take a deep breath and pay attention to where you feel your body expanding most. The parts that don’t move (or barely move) are likely tight now and may hurt later. Pinpoint that spot and stretch it gently, holding the stretch for one gentle breath. Pay attention to releasing these tight spots and you can reduce tension and prevent pain in the future.
  • Brace both hands on your desk or the arms of the chair you’re sitting in. Push down as hard as you can. While pushing, take a breath. Feel that restriction? Now, holding your hands in the same way, reach through your hands instead of pushing. What does this breath feel like? The difference is that when reaching your body only uses half of the effort used when pushing, thus freeing your entire body to stay relaxed and strong.

How would you benefit from your body and muscles moving more efficiently? Have you ever heard of Rolfing and would you try it?

 

Kevin McCarthy is a Certified Rolfer™ through the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration® and a Board Certified Structural Integrator through the International Association of Structural Integrators. He maintains a private practice in Minneapolis, MN. Kevin combines his years of experience in the Western medical world with his intuitive skills as an accomplished and widely trained energetic healer to bring a grounded and broadly based holistic approach to his Rolfing practice. To learn more about Rolfing or to schedule an appointment visit www.informrolfing.com. New clients who mention this post can receive a free consultation, normally a $60 value. Get more news and connect with In|Form Rolfing on Facebook and Twitter.

Rolfing®, Rolfer™, Rolf Movement® and the Little Boy Logo are service marks of The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration®, Boulder, CO.