Scott Jurek – Ultra Marathoner – Winner of 16 Titles

Carl Lewis – “Olympian of the Century”

Patrick Neshek – MLB Pitcher

Brendan Brazier – Ironman Triathlete

Heather Mills – Olympic Alpine Racing

Stephanie Davis – Professional Rock Climber

Tony Gonzales – NFL

Barny du Plessis – Mr. Universe

Murray Rose – Olympic Swimmer

Robert Cheeke – Bodybuilder

The truth is, I could have listed many more athletes.  What do they have in common?  They don’t eat animal products.   I noticed a few themes when it came to why these top athletes went vegan.  Many did it for health reasons.  Venus was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, Scott wanted to prevent and reverse disease for himself and his family, Barny had acid reflux and other physical ailments.  A year after cutting animal products out of his diet, he won the title of Mr. Universe.  No matter the reasons, all found that it not only improved their health, it improved their athletic ability and mental clarity.  

Australian swimmer Murray Rose, “The Seaweed Streak,” grew up vegan, and won multiple Olympic gold medals. 

Why am I bringing this up?  These athletes had their reasons for not eating animal products, just like we have ours.  But ours is for our walk with God during the Nativity Fast, which trumps any other reason in my opinion.  Many people are concerned, and ask how they will get their protein.  Our culture’s obsession with protein is causing most people with standard meat based diets to be at an increased risk for osteoporosis and kidney disease.  And, since most people eat conventionally processed animal products, they are building disease in their body, not health.

The fact is, you can get enough protein from a plant based diet.  I like to recall Genesis and how much time went by between God giving His people plants to eat, and then sometime after the flood, giving us animals.  A lot of time went by between Genesis 1 and Genesis 9!  He wasn’t concerned that Adam and Eve would not get enough protein through plants to thrive.  Why?  Because He put protein in plants.  For instance, many people say that you can only get high quality protein from animal products, but the fact is, quinoa and spinach are also considered high quality proteins.  This is due, not because of the protein in them per se, but to their amino acid profile.  You see, protein is made up of amino acids, and that is what our body needs.  Now, notice above I put can in bold.  You won’t be getting enough protein with the standard fasting diet which I’ve noticed consists of empty calorie junk food and bread.  You must eat a variety of plants every day to get all the amino acids that you need.  Some plants are high in some, and low in others.  It’s the variety that determines your health.

Bodybuilder Robert Cheeke’s favorite variety of go-to foods are fruit, rice, beans, avocados, yams, potatoes, quinoa, kale, and artichokes.  He also enjoys Mexican, Thai, and Indian food. 

If you want numbers, experts say the amount of protein your body needs is, .36 X your body weight = grams.  For example, a 150lb person needs 54 grams a day…or 1.90 ounces.  This is easy to come by with a variety of plants each day.

Let’s get into vitamin and mineral deficiencies with a vegan or even vegetarian diet.  By the way, I know that some people don’t know the difference between the two styles of eating.  Vegetarians don’t eat meat, but do eat dairy products and usually eggs.  Pescatarians don’t eat meat, but they do eat fish.  During the Nativity Fast, we are a cross between vegan and pescatarian since we cut out meat, dairy and eggs, but do eat fish and shellfish.

Due to most people’s state of health, gut dysfunction, and improper diets, nutrient absorption is a constant issue, even when they are not fasting.  For my clients who are turning their health around, I do recommend a good multi, especially during fasting seasons.  I also encourage the following foods:

For Calcium: Bok choy, kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, watercress, broccoli, and chickpeas.

For Iron: Cruciferous vegetables, beans, peas, dried fruit, nuts and seeds.

For Iodine:  Seaweed or other sea vegetables.

For ALA: Flaxseeds, walnuts, chia seeds, and hemp seeds.

For Vitamin D:  Get outside once a day, even on cloudy days.

For Zinc:  Whole grains, wheat germ, sprouted breads, legumes, nuts and seeds.

For B12:  Frankly, here’s the dilemma.  B12 comes from the intestinal bacteria of animals, and from their diet…and we need it.  I know this goes against my Adam and Eve in the garden philosophy.  I am also typically against fortified food, because the vitamins added are most often cheap, synthetic versions that don’t do us much good.  But, in this case, fortified plant-based milk can be helpful, along with a supplements.  

I am an advocate of protein shakes for breakfast all year, but during a fast, they can be especially helpful.  A high-quality pea protein powder usually has the vitamins and minerals needed, plus the natural foods listed above added to the blend.  Two scoops of the powder I use gives me approximately 30 grams of protein, which a great way to start the day any time of year!

And guess what?  There is a great resource to help you eat right, understand your health better, and get inspired to stay the course during the Nativity Fast!  It’s all at My Beautiful Advent.  It’s not too late to join us!

The post How to Thrive Like an Athlete During Advent appeared first on Holistic Christian Life.

but I am doing the very thing I hate.  Romans 7:15

Just as St. Paul struggled with sin, it’s easy for us to become bewildered when it comes to getting healthy.  You can read everything I recommend and teach, and be totally convicted that you want to change, but you continue to eat the same things and choose something besides exercise or sleep when it comes right down to making the right decision.  If there is one thing I would like to convey, it’s this…

Getting healthy isn’t about giving things up, and it isn’t about deprivation.  It’s about changing habits through discipline and intention.

We intentionally pray, study scripture and worship.  This strengthens our faith and benefits our soul.  What I’ve found is that many people do not feel they are worth the time and effort it takes to change their habits and get serious about their health.  Some people don’t have a deep seated conviction that they are worth it, and some may even think that it’s selfish to be concerned about their health. 

You have to start with the knowledge that you’re worth it, your family is worth it, and that the work you do and your purpose in life matters. 

In fact, your family and your purpose matter so much, that you know you need to be your best self.  That will be what drives you.  And just like spiritual and emotional health, our physical health is honed with discipline and intention. 

But should we be spending time and thought on what benefits our health and our bodies?  Do you think you’re worth it?  Most importantly, what does God think?  Does He think you’re worth taking care of?  With all humility I pose this to you…What more evidence do you need than that you are here on this earth right now reading this post?  Obviously the very fact that you were born means that God deemed it necessary for you to be here.  He gave you a family to love and take care of, most people can say they have been blessed with employment, and we were given bodies to carry out our part in these blessings. 

Our bodies are a gift. But they still belong to God.  We must be good stewards.

Many people do not consider their bodies as something they were entrusted with, and that they are Holy.  After all, we are created in God’s image.  Our bodies are baptized with Holy Water, we partake of Holy Communion, and we are anointed with Holy Oil.  So what if we walk out of church, and proceed to abuse that which was just blessed?  Eating food that was created by man against nature, not resting, resting too much, letting stress run our lives?

This is the premise behind Holistic Christian Life. If you’re new here, you’ll find a community who believes our mind, body, and soul are gifts that belong to God, and we all have the desire to worship God with every fiber of our being.  We believe in everything good that He gave us for our health. 

Rest – Food – Prayer – The Church – Nature – Friends – Family 

Our God is a God of abundance, not of deprivation.

The post Our Bodies Are a Gift appeared first on Holistic Christian Life.

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Scott Jurek – Ultra Marathoner – Winner of 16 Titles

Carl Lewis – “Olympian of the Century”

Patrick Neshek – MLB Pitcher

Brendan Brazier – Ironman Triathlete

Heather Mills – Olympic Alpine Racing

Stephanie Davis – Professional Rock Climber

Tony Gonzales – NFL

Barny du Plessis – Mr. Universe

Murray Rose – Olympic Swimmer

Robert Cheeke – Bodybuilder

The truth is, I could have listed many more athletes.  What do they have in common?  They don’t eat animal products.   I noticed a few themes when it came to why these top athletes went vegan.  Many did it for health reasons.  Venus was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, Scott wanted to prevent and reverse disease for himself and his family, Barny had acid reflux and other physical ailments.  A year after cutting animal products out of his diet, he won the title of Mr. Universe.  No matter the reasons, all found that it not only improved their health, it improved their athletic ability and mental clarity.  

Australian swimmer Murray Rose, “The Seaweed Streak,” grew up vegan, and won multiple Olympic gold medals. 

Why am I bringing this up?  These athletes had their reasons for not eating animal products, just like we have ours.  But ours is for our walk with God during the Nativity Fast, which trumps any other reason in my opinion.  Many people are concerned, and ask how they will get their protein.  Our culture’s obsession with protein is causing most people with standard meat based diets to be at an increased risk for osteoporosis and kidney disease.  And, since most people eat conventionally processed animal products, they are building disease in their body, not health.

The fact is, you can get enough protein from a plant based diet.  I like to recall Genesis and how much time went by between God giving His people plants to eat, and then sometime after the flood, giving us animals.  A lot of time went by between Genesis 1 and Genesis 9!  He wasn’t concerned that Adam and Eve would not get enough protein through plants to thrive.  Why?  Because He put protein in plants.  For instance, many people say that you can only get high quality protein from animal products, but the fact is, quinoa and spinach are also considered high quality proteins.  This is due, not because of the protein in them per se, but to their amino acid profile.  You see, protein is made up of amino acids, and that is what our body needs.  Now, notice above I put can in bold.  You won’t be getting enough protein with the standard fasting diet which I’ve noticed consists of empty calorie junk food and bread.  You must eat a variety of plants every day to get all the amino acids that you need.  Some plants are high in some, and low in others.  It’s the variety that determines your health.

Bodybuilder Robert Cheeke’s favorite variety of go-to foods are fruit, rice, beans, avocados, yams, potatoes, quinoa, kale, and artichokes.  He also enjoys Mexican, Thai, and Indian food. 

If you want numbers, experts say the amount of protein your body needs is, .36 X your body weight = grams.  For example, a 150lb person needs 54 grams a day…or 1.90 ounces.  This is easy to come by with a variety of plants each day.

Let’s get into vitamin and mineral deficiencies with a vegan or even vegetarian diet.  By the way, I know that some people don’t know the difference between the two styles of eating.  Vegetarians don’t eat meat, but do eat dairy products and usually eggs.  Pescatarians don’t eat meat, but they do eat fish.  During the Nativity Fast, we are a cross between vegan and pescatarian since we cut out meat, dairy and eggs, but do eat fish and shellfish.

Due to most people’s state of health, gut dysfunction, and improper diets, nutrient absorption is a constant issue, even when they are not fasting.  For my clients who are turning their health around, I do recommend a good multi, especially during fasting seasons.  I also encourage the following foods:

For Calcium: Bok choy, kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, watercress, broccoli, and chickpeas.

For Iron: Cruciferous vegetables, beans, peas, dried fruit, nuts and seeds.

For Iodine:  Seaweed or other sea vegetables.

For ALA: Flaxseeds, walnuts, chia seeds, and hemp seeds.

For Vitamin D:  Get outside once a day, even on cloudy days.

For Zinc:  Whole grains, wheat germ, sprouted breads, legumes, nuts and seeds.

For B12:  Frankly, here’s the dilemma.  B12 comes from the intestinal bacteria of animals, and from their diet…and we need it.  I know this goes against my Adam and Eve in the garden philosophy.  I am also typically against fortified food, because the vitamins added are most often cheap, synthetic versions that don’t do us much good.  But, in this case, fortified plant-based milk can be helpful, along with a supplements.  

I am an advocate of protein shakes for breakfast all year, but during a fast, they can be especially helpful.  A high-quality pea protein powder usually has the vitamins and minerals needed, plus the natural foods listed above added to the blend.  Two scoops of the powder I use gives me approximately 30 grams of protein, which a great way to start the day any time of year!

The post What Do These Athletes Have In Common? appeared first on Holistic Christian Life.

Dr. Gundry realized that the dietary changes his patient made looked a lot like a paper he himself had written in med school.  After adopting it himself, (for some reason he hadn’t taken his own advice prior) his health was greatly improved, and now thousands of his patient’s health.  Besides adding supplements, he has taken out lectins. 

Lectins are the protein molecules found in the skin and seeds of plants.  It protects the plant from predators.  An animal eats it, doesn’t feel so well, and knows to stay away.  Humans eat it, don’t feel so good, take a pill, and go on eating it.  Gluten is a perfect example of a lectin.  This makes sense then as to one more reason why gluten affects so many people in a negative way. 

What else are lectins found in?  Legumes, (Beans, Peanuts, Cashews) Grains, Soy, and vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplant…also known as nightshades.

I’ve had the pleasure of taking many cooking classes, and whenever they have been based on classic cooking techniques,  tomatoes were first plunged into boiling water for 30 seconds, had their skins slipped off, and have been given a good squeeze to get the seeds out.  Now I see how that makes the tomato more digestible, and allows better absorption of nutrients.  Considering lectins, which are found in the bran and hull of grains, white rice is actually considered better for you than brown…especially if it is cooked in a pressure cooker.  How is that for going completely against what we’ve been told for so many years? 

There are many diets out there that are based on taking out lectins, but if you don’t want to cut out major food categories right now, skinning and seeding your nightshades vegetables, using a pressure cooker, and sprouting your beans and grains can help with better digestion and improved nutrient absorption.  Want to take it a step further?  Try a nightshade free diet for a few weeks and see how you feel.  Try a Paleo diet, and test the same thing.  You will start to see trends as to what your particular body can and cannot handle. 

The post Why You Should Peel and Seed Your Tomatoes appeared first on Holistic Christian Life.

I’ve had many people look at the baggie of supplements that I take on a daily basis and ask me what the black ones are.  When I say “activated charcoal” I often get a quizzical look.  “You mean like charcoal briquettes that you grill with?”  Uh, no…yuck.  So often I have to remind myself that not everyone submerges themselves in the same stuff I do everyday!  Today I’m presenting a primer for activated charcoal.  Sounds fascinating, right?    Well, prepare to be fascinated!  Activated charcoal is almost as cool as apple cider vinegar, affectionately know as “ACV,” which I am tempted to rivet you with next week!

The type of activated charcoal you want to get is made from coconut shells, and no sweeteners or other added stuff.  Make sure you know your source and read the ingredient list!  When taken, it traps toxins and chemicals and ushers them out of your body through the process of adsorption.  Adsorption is different from absorption, which I won’t get into because I can barely understand it myself!  But, you can count on me to get to the crux of what’s in it for you… 

It’s been used for eons all over the world in ERs to save the lives of people who have been poisoned or have overdosed on drugs, as many times it’s even more effective than stomach pumping…but what about every day use for the average person?  Here are some of the awesome ways you can use it:

Bloating and Gas – Take 500mgs one hour before eating with two full glasses of water.  Much safer than prescription or over the counter pills!

Whitens Teeth – Now this can get pretty messy, and there are some caveats, but not only does it whiten, it also helps with bad breath, kills germs, and even helps prevent cavities.  Just dip your wet toothbrush in, pay special attention to teeth that may be coffee/tea/berry stained, then rinse, and spit, spit, spit, until you’re clear.  Be careful though…activated charcoal is very powdery and can stain…so do this over the sink!  Aim for about 3 times a week.  (I’m working on a toothpaste recipe that includes AC, so stay tuned!)

Hangover Prevention –  Ok, I know the HCL community probably doesn’t consist of major drinkers, but this is good to know!  One glass too many on Pascha?  Just realized you had a drink with alcohol on an empty stomach and it really hit you?  If taken, AC can reduce blood alcohol levels and also help usher out any other toxins that contribute to hangovers.  For example, for a gin and tonic, the chemicals in the tonic water. (Tonic water is notorious for high fructose corn syrup and “natural flavors” which we all know is code for toxins)

Lyme Disease, Mold Exposure, and other Biotoxin Illness –  As you can guess, if you follow me regularly, this is why I’m taking it.  It has helped do wonders for getting the biotoxins ushered out of my body.   For those of you in the Houston area or Florida…or anywhere hit with water…even those of you who have been in the fires this year, and suffered water damage…please see my post on mold illness.  If you have the symptoms, and know that you have been exposed, this can help tremendously.  I take two caps a day 2 hours in between food, medications, and supplements. (see warning below)

Reduces Cholesterol – I love this!  I am on a crusade to help people who are suffering the consequences of being on cholesterol meds.  Research on Pub Med shows that “Patients were treated for 4 weeks with activated charcoal at a dose of 8 g three times a day. Plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol decreased by 25% and 41%, respectively, whereas HDL-cholesterol increased by 8%. Side-effects were negligible.”  It’s a small study, but it’s gaining traction!  I can’t legally tell you what to try, and must tell you to talk to your doctor, but…

Topical Remedies – Acne?  Mix with Aloe Vera, apply, let dry and rinse off.  Bites?  Stings?  Mix AC with coconut oil and apply.  For spider bites, bee stings, etc, pack it on and bandage it up.  Thoroughly wash area and re-bandage with more of this mixture every two hours.

Reap the Benefits of Lowered Toxins in Your Body – I know, Cynthia is telling you once again that toxins are the enemy…boring…  But we aren’t perfect, are we?  AC can help you through any lapse of judgement.  Also, maybe you went over to a friend’s house and found out too late that you got exposed to stuff you wouldn’t normally allow in your own house?  Take 2 for the next couple days.  Keep it on hand for these times.  Toxin free bodies mean:

Higher Immune System – Younger Looking Skin – Better Digestion – Better Nutrient Absorption – Lower Inflammation and Disease – Less Joint Pain – Increased Energy – Better Brain Function – Healthy Kidneys – Healthy Liver – Better Mood

This leads me to some important instructions.  Drink a lot of water if you take AC!  A lot means two glasses with the pills and your regular goal of 1/2 your body weight in water the rest of the day.  Per my note above, DO NOT take it within 2 hours of food, medications, or supplements, as it can usher out what you want to have absorbed.  The exception is if it’s being taken before a meal to prevent gas and bloating, or after a meal if you think you have food poisoning.  Also, if you are on prescription drugs or have medical issues, take a look at this resource first. 

If you have a use for Activated Charcoal that I haven’t mentioned, feel free to share with the rest of the community!

The post What is Activated Charcoal? appeared first on Holistic Christian Life.

Reasons you may also be nutrient deficient:

You don’t eat a good variety of  real food.  Organic food the way God created it (no labels needed) is full of bio-available nutrients.  But let’s say you read Step Two, and haven’t been able to change your eating habits, or you have, and you are still experiencing fatigue.  Let’s look at how your body loves nutrients:

1.  It embraces the food you give it, gives it a big hug, and absorbs it’s love (nutrients),
2. Can’t identify it, and just kicks it out through the colon. (No love)
3. In the case of intestinal permeability (leaky gut), food leaks outside of the intestines, the immune system thinks it’s an invader, and attacks it as a threat to the body.  (No love)

The first two ways are pretty clear.  Real food, Fake food.  Did God create it?  It’s real.  Does it have ingredients that come from a chemistry lab?  It’s fake.  So let’s zero in on number 3 and what causes gut dysfunction which leads to a lack of nutrient absorption.

• Unchecked Food sensitivities – Either you know you have them or you don’t want to know…either way…you’re eating something that your body doesn’t like.  (I recommend a food sensitivity test)
• Sugar abuse.  Sugar is fuel for bad bacteria and throws off your microbiome.  This creates allergies, inflammation, weight gain, insulin resistance, skin issues, brain dysfunction, and toxins that lead to disease…not to mention nutrient deficiencies.
• Environmental toxins from heavy metals, plus chemicals from water, air, and products that have touched your body.
• Genetic Factors
• Abnormal Bacterial Growth (It is AMAZING how many people have gut infections and don’t know it!)
• Some Prescription Medications
• Alcohol Consumption
• Smoking
• Stress
• Past surgeries in the digestive area, including intestines.  (Common with gastric bypass/sleeve/etc)
• The consumption of cheap, synthetic supplements that pass right through your body and are a waste of money.

The key to knowing if this is one of your issues is to get an Organic Acids Test.  It’s a simple blood test that will tell you if you are experiencing deficiencies.  This is one of the ways my doctor found out that my Krebs cycle is not working right.  Despite taking high quality supplements for years, we found out (many hundreds of dollars later) that my body couldn’t absorb them.  One thing led to another which confirmed complications of an environmental exposure to toxic mold that began breaking down my body.  Had I known, I would have had an organic acids test done years ago!  If you’re not sure where to go for one, and/or your doctor doesn’t understand the need…you can go here to order a test. 

Does this sound like a possible issue for you?  Let me know!  Do you think this could help someone you know?  Please pass it on.  To quote a doctor I heard from recently…sharing is caring!

The post Step Nine to Increased Energy – Nutrient Deficiencies appeared first on Holistic Christian Life.

Remember, symptoms are not diseases. 

High cholesterol for instance is only a symptom that something is wrong.  It doesn’t mean that you have a statin deficiency!

Here are just a few categories of medications that cause fatigue, and how it happens:

Blood Pressure Medications – (High Blood Pressure) By depressing the entire nervous system, as well as depleting the body of the vitamins and nutrients it needs to produce energy.

Statin Drugs – (Cholesterol) Due to inhibiting muscle growth and the production of energy at the cellular level

Benzodiazepines – (Anxiety, Insomnia, Depression) Due to their sedation effect

Proton Pump Inhibitors – (Acid Reflux) By depleting your magnesium stores

Antidepressants – (Depression, Anxiety and Chronic Pain) Due to inhibiting and blocking natural hormone production

Antibiotics – Due to destroyed good intestinal bacteria

Diuretics – Due to severe mineral deficiencies

Now, I’m definitely not saying that you should just stop taking these medications cold turkey and without the assistance of a doctor.  That would be dangerous!  What you want to do, is make sure that you are working with a doctor who understands the side effects, and is in your corner on trying to get off of them.  Also, this doctor needs to understand what lifestyle changes need to be made, and/or have you work with their health coach for support.  This may involve finding a new doctor who has the same sensibilities that you do.  If you need help searching, just reach out to me, and I will see what I can do to help!

The post Step Eight to Increased Energy – Pharmaceuticals appeared first on Holistic Christian Life.

Hormones are affected by what you eat, how much exercise you get, how much stress you are under, and our growth and aging processes.  Environmental issues also play a role, such as EMF exposure, as do chemicals like fluoride and other toxins.

I’m going to go over just a few, how they can go awry, and how to be tested if you want definitive answers.  Similar to my post on genetics, I’ve learned a lot through my own personal experience and working with my clients.

Adrenals:

Estrogens, Progesterone, Pregnenolone, DHEA, Cortisol and Testosterone – If these are out of balance, fatigue is one of the many symptoms that set in.  If your adrenals are constantly under pressure from mis-managed stress, they will affect these hormones.   Again, I feel I must stress that these imbalances can also lead to diseases like cancer.  So getting tested is a good idea even if you think your fatigue is the least of your worries.  It may be a symptom of something more.  Along with getting these levels tested, I also recommend a “cortisol slope” test.  If it is high in the morning, this is good…but it should sustain you throughout the day.  If you experience afternoon fatigue it may be a sign of adrenal stress.  For instance, when I first got tested, mine crashed around 11am.  The good news?  This can be healed. 

Thyroid:

There are many reasons for a thyroid that isn’t functioning optimally.  It may be that your adrenals are looking to your thyroid too often for help.  It may be that you have intestinal permeability (aka: leaky gut syndrome,) gluten is getting through your digestive tract and into the rest of your body where it doesn’t belong.  Whatever the cause, make sure that your doctor knows what a full thyroid panel looks like, and is going by functionally optimal numbers.  This is quite different from what most doctors were taught in med school.  I can point you in the direction of some good resources online if you would like to compare your numbers.

Melatonin and Seratonin:

Often just associated with sleeping and waking, melatonin and seratonin have many functions within the body.  Dr. Mercola has a great article on this.  Typically we know that people struggle with not being able to sleep due to melatonin deficiencies, however, some have an excess that needs to be regulated.  This can affect your energy throughout the day, but can be remedied. 

Leptin, Ghrelin, and Insulin:

Typically these hormones are related to food regulation…cause and effect.  It is key to understand these hormones when trying to lose weight.  For our purposes today, the message is this – any hormone that is produced in the gut, or is related to food intake, is also at the mercy of the nourishment your body is given.  Bad nourishment equals hormone dysfunction and low energy.  Good nourishment has the opposite effect. 

A person whose diet too low in fat will typically have hormonal issues and fatigue.  Hormones are created with fat and cholesterol.

This is just touching on some key hormones that play a part in energy production and fatigue.  How do you know what is going on in your body?  Aside from the blood test for thyroid function, a simple adrenal test will tell you a lot.  The latest in adrenal testing is called the DUTCH Test.  It’s a dried urine test which is easy to do.  It is the most comprehensive test on the market today, surpassing blood and even saliva tests.  However, I’ve used saliva testing for great results in the past.  Depending on which one your doctor chooses, a personal protocol will be created based on the results.  If your doctor isn’t familiar with these tests or doesn’t understand the importance of them, I can point you in the right direction to get the job done.

Next up?  Weight.  I promise you that it will go beyond the obvious!

Like this post?  Please share it! 

The post Step Six to Increased Energy – Hormones appeared first on Holistic Christian Life.

Here’s what you can do…

First, I’m not saying that you should run out get your genetics tested now.  The first steps involve living a healthy lifestyle. (See steps 1-4 so far.)  Give it time.  Cleaning up what you put in your body and on your body will help keep new toxins out.  Increasing your water consumption will help flush toxins out.  Exercising regularly will help release toxins.  Proper sleep habits will support detoxification through your liver, kidneys, brain, etc.  Stress management will ensure that you’re making the right decisions about your health.  If after 6 months you are not feeling your best, it might be time to consider the next steps.  If you’ve already looked into adrenal and thyroid issues, you’re on the right track.  If these tests have come up normal, genetic testing is a good option.

After my initial test results came in from my cardiologist, I decided to drill down further to get specifics.  I used 23andMe.

The next step is to have your results read.  I used a couple different companies, but here is a great run down on your options. 

The next step is to work with a practitioner who understands genetic SNPs, and how to work with them.

Knowing your genetic profile gives you an advantage to overcome pain, fatigue, and head off disease.

So why have I told you about my own issues?  I have the belief that God uses whatever we go through for the purpose of helping others.  If I hadn’t looked into my genes further, I wouldn’t have the answers I have today.  I would have also continued to feel confused and like an imposter as a health coach.  In light of what I know now, I realize that He saved my life.  If I hadn’t become a health coach, and hadn’t been practicing what I teach, you probably wouldn’t be reading this blog today.  There wouldn’t be a Holistic Christian Life, a My Beautiful Lent, or The Holistic Christian Woman.  I just wouldn’t have had the energy or clarity of mind.  Thanks be to God in all things…in sickness and in health!

Next week…Hormones!

The post Step Five to Increased Energy – Genetics appeared first on Holistic Christian Life.