20 Feb
Uncategorized

My Health Journey 💓

Part of the reason why I wanted to start this blog was because my health journey has been SO challenging. I’ve been very depressed to the point where I’ve been in bed in SO much pain for weeks. Without the support of my amazing friends and family and honestly just hope and perseverance because sometimes even the people closest to you truly don’t understand what you’re going through, I would have never gotten through it. I feel that I need to dive into the beginning of my health journey so that you can fully understand all the trials and tribulations it took for me to finally start feeling better! It wasn’t an easy journey by any means… So, I first realized I had chronic migraines when I was around 15-16 years old. I thought I just had regular old headaches, as did my parents, but when they started getting more intense and were accompanied with nausea, blurry vision, brain fog, and fatigue I realized they were so much more than just a headache. After going to multiple doctors and trying a variety of pain medication, my dad recommended that I go see his Chiropractor friend Dr. Gina Travis(My dad went to school and practiced Chiropractic for most of his life). Once meeting her and telling her my story and what I was going through, she put me on a tight regimen of fruit and vegetable supplements taken 2x daily, neck and shoulder exercises to strengthen the spine, and chiropractic adjustments 2-3x a week. After one year my migraines miraculously disappeared! I went on for 3 years feeling pretty good, with the occasional migraine or two a month but not as debilitating or frequent as they had been. Fast forward to March 2017, after getting engaged to my wonderful fiancé Erik, I decided to go on birth control which ended up being the worst decision I have ever made, because once I started the birth control my migraines came back and worse than ever. I then went on to abuse Ibuprofen and Excedrin to get through work and life. Once, the pain meds stopped working I knew I had a BIG problem. So I made appointments with multiple neurologists to help get to the bottom of my problem. I got an MRI done on my brain to see if I had a brain tumor which thankfully I did not, and the search continued. After months and months of trying various preventative medications with horrific side effects I came across an amazing neurologist who suggested I try both Botox and Aimovig. I had to get prior authorization for Botox(which was my first choice) so I opted for Aimovig. The first month was tough, I had minor side effects and didn’t really see a huge difference in the number of migraines I was having a month. During this time, I was also having sever digestive discomfort and decided to just tackle everything at once and went to go see a gastroenterologist as well, and with lots of testing was told that I had SIBO, IBS, and severe acid reflux. I started changing my diet significantly and tried to be on a mostly alkaline diet, taking out specifically acidic foods since that was what bothered me the most, and incorporating more alkaline food and beverages. With the change of my diet and month three of Aimovig I started feeling SO much better! I originally had 20-25 migraine days a month and as of month three I had five. FIVE!!! I’m tearing up thinking about it now, because I was so miserable and in SO much pain, I thought that was going to be my reality forever. So here I am now, almost a year and a half later while quarantined because of COVID-19 and finally having time to tell my story! As of now I have 1-3 migraines a month, most of my digestive discomfort is manageable if I stick to my strict diet and I feel like I am finally living a somewhat normal life, while still taking necessary precautions to make sure I don’t get sick. I wanted to start this blog for many reasons but my main reason was to be able to help anyone who is going through the same thing that I went through. While I was in my worst state, I took the time to research everything about health and nutrition and follow so many bloggers who were bravely talking about their stories in the hopes to help someone who was going through similar things like me. I learned so much from them, as in what foods heal your body, natural ways to mange migraines, and supplements that help manage symptoms. So my blog will consist of yummy recipes that I love, supplements that I take, diving into which foods heal your body from within and which foods cause more inflammation and may be the culprit of why you feel sick, and miscellaneous Health & Wellness information! Stay tuned 😊

 

#health #healthfood #healthandwellness #migrainesufferer #SIBOsufferer #chronicpain #healingwithfood #healingfromwithin #healthiswealth

10 Feb
Uncategorized

Why do I drink Alkaline Water?

I get asked this question a lot because I am always seen carrying around an Essentia water bottle and advocating to all my close friends and family to start drinking this healing water! lol So I wanted to be able to explain all the AMAZING health benefits of alkaline water and why it’s so important to incorporate into your daily water routine. I was first introduced to Alkaline water in my teenage years when my mom was going through breast cancer treatment. My dad who has studied nutrition for over 20 years, brought alkaline water into our home for all of us, and mostly my mom to drink because it is known to neutralize acid in the body which helps fight off chronic disease. Also about a year ago, while I was vacationing in Hawaii I developed a horrible stomach ulcer, that has stayed with me for the most part until now, and was told by my nutritionist to go on an all alkaline diet, which includes drinking heavy amounts of alkaline water.

 

A little history on Alkaline water:

Alkaline water is known to help slow down the aging process, regulate pH levels of the body and prevent various chronic diseases. Alkaline water neutralizes acid levels in the body, which normal water cannot do. According to scientists, if you have high acid levels in your body, you are more susceptible to chronic disease.

 

What makes water Alkaline?:

Alkaline water is water that has been ionized, which means the pH level of water has been increased. The pH level is a number that measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is on a scale of 0 to 14. For instance, is the level is 1, it means the substance is very acidic and if it is 13, it is very alkaline. Alkaline water has a pH level of about 8 or 9 and pH level of normal tap water is 7, which is neutral. It is believed that alkaline water helps people with excess acidity as it helps neutralize the acid in the body; thanks to its alkaline nature.

 

Most people are known to have excess acidity in their body if they regularly consume processed foods, sugar, fried foods, dairy, red meat, acidic fruits and vegetables, alcohol and soda.

 

According to the Bangalore based Nutritionist, Dr. Anju Sood, “Your body secretes out a lot of juices. Now these juices are basically acidic in nature. So at that time alkaline water will neutralize. the acid. We always suggest having foods that are least 70% alkaline and 30% acidic, so that once it is consumed; the pH of the body will be neutral. Alkaline water is suggested when you are not consuming food that is not balancing your pH levels in the body.

 

Just to summarize in case you need another reason to switch over to alkaline water or you need strong reasoning when trying to convince a family member or friend who is suffering that may benefit from switching over to Alkaline water!

 

Benefits of Alkaline water:

1. Alkaline water has ultra-hydrating properties compared to normal water. This can beneficial for people who work out on a daily basis and require more amount of water in their body. Scientifically speaking, the water molecules in alkaline water are smaller and more readily absorbed by your cells, which help your body re-hydrate quickly.

 

2. Alkaline water benefits also include boosting immunity. Your immune system may help neutralise the acidity in your body, which is caused by poor diet, stress and environmental toxins.

 

3. Alkaline water is said to have various minerals like magnesium and calcium, both of which are important for maintaining healthy bones.

 

4.Alkaline water has many potent antioxidants that help prevent the growth of cell damaging free radicals in the body, which can further rush up the aging process.

10 Feb
Uncategorized

The Everyday Green Smoothie that helped me lose 10 lbs! 🥬

When I think back on what first jumpstarted me to start living a healthier lifestyle, the first thing I started to do was make my signature green smoothie every morning! I add plant based protein to help keep me full throughout the day and extra fiber to make sure I stay regular 😉 and of course LOTS and LOTS of greens. My philosophy on health is you want the food you put inside your body to heal you from the inside out. When you eat good you FEEL good. So here is my signature green smoothie that I literally drink EVERY day! Of course modify to your liking but every ingredient I add is important for a complete nutritious breakfast.

 

Ingredients:

 

1 handful of greens (I use spinach/arugula combo, but you can use kale or swiss chard as well!)

Spinach and arugula are both high in Vitamin A and Vitamin C.

 

1/2 handful of parsley

Increases immune function, anti-inflammatory, and detoxes your kidneys!

 

1/2 handful of dandelion greens

Promotes liver health and aids blood sugar control.

 

1/4 cup of Organic frozen wild blueberries (Can also sub for blackberries or raspberries)

Blueberries are high in antioxidants and help protect against aging and cancer!

 

1/2 of a banana

Bananas are HIGH in potassium, aid in digestion and can help beat gastrointestinal issues.

 

1 scoop of Nutiva Hi-Fiber Hemp Protein

Hemp protein is the easiest protein to digest. Hemp is also great for heart health because it’s high in Omega 3 fatty acids.

 

1 teaspoon of Psyllium Husk

Great for extra added fiber to help with digestion!

 

1-2 teaspoons of chia seeds

Chia seeds are rich in antioxidants and provide good sources of fiber, iron, and calcium.

 

Coconut water

My favorite liquid to use to blend with fruits and veggies in smoothies because it’s not only great for hydration but also doesn’t make the smoothie consistency super thick.

 

1 dropper of Sakara life or any other brand of Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is great for detoxification, weight loss, and skin healing.

 
 

Blend all the ingredients together and enjoy your nutritious and delicious green smoothie!

10 Feb
Uncategorized

Hangover no more!- How to drink and NOT feel sick the next day…

If you are someone who gets sick every time you decide to indulge in an alcoholic beverage, worry no more I have found a remedy! I used to be the exact same way, I was diagnosed about 3 years ago with fatty liver, due to all the Ibuprofen and alcohol I was consuming. Every time, and I mean every time, that I used to drink even ONE alcoholic beverage whether it be a glass of wine or a vodka tonic, I would get so sick and vomit for hours the next day. So you could understand why I would be so turned off by all alcohol. I was determined to figure out a way to still be able to enjoy a drink here and there while on vacation or during a night out with friends and not feel horrendous the next day, so I started researching and testing every supplement and herbal remedy out there, eager to find something that would work and thankfully I found a few supplements that to. this day work for me! I continue to take them every time I drink and I no longer have any hangover symptoms the next day! So if you are someone who struggles with terrible hangovers I would recommend trying out one or even all of these supplements! (I will link the products below)

Here are the supplements that I swear by!:

 

Milk Thistle:

Milk thistle is known to have antioxidant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. It has traditionally been used to treat liver and gallbladder disorders, prevent and treat cancer and even protect the liver from snake bites, alcohol and other environmental poisons.

 

The Milk Thistle I use(Infused with Turmeric which had anti-inflammatory properties):

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Cheers!(As Seen on Shark Tank):

This multi enzyme supplement was designed to reduce alcohol’s negative health effects and aid in hangover prevention and digestive support and helps to boost the immune system. Cheers! After-Alcohol Aid reduces next day hangover symptoms by 50%!!!

 

I use both the capsules and the electrolyte powder:

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Alpha Lipoic Acid:

Alpha-lipoic acid is used as a therapeutic agent in a number of conditions relating to liver disease, including alcohol-induced damage, mushroom poisoning, and metal intoxication. Alpha-Lipoic acid supplementation helps aid in diseases affecting liver in which oxidative stress is involved.

 

Alpha Lipoic Acid supplement I use:

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NAC(N-ACETYLCYSTEINE):

NAC helps with detoxification and prevents or diminishes kidney and liver damage. NAC plays an important role in your body’s detoxification process. It can help prevent side effects of drugs and environmental toxins.

 

NAC supplement that I use:

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Activated Charcoal:

Alcohol is a toxin, and activated charcoal absorbs toxins in the body. So activated charcoal helps sop up any excess booze that’s circulating in your system and can help you avoid the morning-after head throbbing, fatigue, and stomach ache.

 

Activated Charcoal supplement that I use:

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