What is Detoxification?

May flowers bring…Allergies

April showers bring May flowers…and seasonal allergy symptoms! Boy, can they make us feel miserable; here are some common seasonal allergy symptoms:

• Itchy, watery eyes
• Sneezing
• Congestion
• Runny nose
• Post-nasal drip
• Tickle/irritation in the ears
• Middle-ear infections
• Scratchy throat
• Asthma
• Hives
• Eczema
• Irritability/mood swings
• Sleep disorders/fatigue – exhaustion
• Decreased concentration/focus
• Decreased decision-making

These symptoms result when our immune system responds to the pollen by releasing histamine and overreacts by producing antibodies to attack the allergen.
If you have certain underlying symptoms, your immune system is more likely to respond in this way. Underlying symptoms can include:
• *Stress
• *Asthma
• Deviated septum
• Polyps
• *Recent trauma/illness/surgery
• Pregnancy
• *and…even Food allergies!
(*Weaken the immune system)
Decongestants, antihistamines, corticosteroids, and over-the-counter allergy medications counteract the histamine produced, but they have a lot of side effects. I am unable to tolerate any decongestants or allergy medications. I sometimes won’t sleep for days if I take one, and once became so dizzy and nauseas from 1/4 dose of Tylenol allergy that my husband had to be called to pick me up in the middle of my massage! Besides sensitive people like me, those who are pregnant or nursing, have high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney or liver disease, glaucoma or thyroid problems should avoid these types of medication.
There are natural remedies for these seasonal allergies of ours. We aren’t all sensitive to each flower, tree or weed that releases pollen, but a majority of people are allergic to ragweed. About 1/3 of those allergic to ragweed are also allergic to foods like cucumbers, zucchini, sunflower seeds, melon, bananas, and chamomile tea.

Foods to avoid if you suffer from seasonal allergies:
• Conventional dairy
• Wheat
• Soy
• Peanuts
• Shellfish
• Sugar
• Chocolate
• Melons
• Bananas (ragweed)
• Cucumbers (ragweed)
• Sunflower seeds (ragweed)
• Bottled citrus juice
• Chamomile (ragweed)
• Echinacea (ragweed)
• Artificial sweeteners
• Processed foods
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
Some of the foods listed above are some of the most common food allergens. Others are highly inflammatory causing bodily stress that will compromise the immune system. However, it’s not all bad news…we can enjoy lots of tasty foods like:

 Raw Local Honey because it contains local pollen and in small doses, like 2 tablespoons a day, can relieve symptoms.
 Probiotic-rich foods like kombucha, kimchee, kefir, sauerkraut, natto, yogurt and raw cheese aid in digestion, increase energy levels and support our immune system which is housed primarily in the gut.
 Pineapples contain an enzyme called Bromelain which is a great anti-inflammatory. They are also loaded with vitamin C, B vitamins that can help reduce our seasonal allergy reactions. All of the nutrients are found in highest concentration in the core.
 Fresh organic produce like apples, onions, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, kale, asparagus, citrus fruit contain a flavonoid call quercetin. Quercetin is a powerful antioxidant that can help to reduce inflammation. Fresh organic produce is also loaded with lots of vitamins and minerals to support your immune system.
 Apple cider vinegar helps break up mucus and supports lymphatic drainage. Mix a drink with 1 TB ACV, 1 TB fresh-squeezed lemon juice and ½ TB of raw local honey daily.
 Hot & Spicy foods will help relieve congestion because they thin the mucous; foods like onion, garlic, cayenne pepper, ginger, horseradish and even cinnamon can help.
 Bone broth made from beef, lamb or poultry can help ease respiratory symptoms helping you to expel excess nasal mucus and reduces inflammation while boosting immune function.
 Clean protein like grass-fed beef, pastured poultry and wild caught salmon provide needed omega-3 fatty acids, various vitamins and minerals and are not taxing on our immune system like meats containing added hormones, antibiotics coming from animals fed poor quality or GMO based food.
 Filtered Water is necessary to keep the body functioning properly; we are 70% water. Staying hydrated allows us to properly detoxify and keeps our mucus from clogging up our respiratory system.

In addition to watching our diets, there are lifestyle changes we can make.

 Irrigate sinuses with a neti pot. You can find pH balanced saline rinses and my favorite product to use is Alkalol; it is an all-natural product containing natural antiseptic ingredients like menthol, camphor, wintergreen, spearmint, pine and cinnamon; you can find it in the pharmacy of major grocery or health stores.
 Shower before bed to remove residual pollen from your skin and hair.
 Regularly launder clothing and bedding to reduce exposure to allergens.
 Keep windows closed and stay indoors on high pollen days.
 Wipe down pets when they come indoors to eliminate additional pollen from joining them.

Give these tips a try this year to see how your symptoms improve over last year! Remember that food sensitivities can contribute to your seasonal allergies. Keep in mind that I am offering a Food Sensitivity Consult special this month. Chat with me about your symptoms and learn about testing options and how to proceed once you receive your results. $30 for 45 minute appointment.

Jen Granlund CNTP

Water: Here’s to your Vitality!

Symptoms of Chronic Dehydration:

• Fatigue/energy loss
• Headaches
• Constipation
• Digestive Disorders
• poor digestion
• gas bloating
• pain
• nausea
• indigestion
• loss of appetite
• High/Low Blood Pressure
• Gastritis/Stomach Ulcers
• Respiratory Troubles
• Acid/Alkaline Imbalance
• Excess Weight/Obesity
• Eczema
• Cholesterol
• Cystitis/Urinary Infections
• Rheumatism
• Premature Aging

Additional Signs of Dehydration:

• 1-2% body weight loss: Thirst, fatigue, weakness, vague discomfort, loss of appetite
• 3-4% body weight loss: Impaired physical performance, dry mouth, reduction in urine, flushed skin, impatience, apathy
• 5-6% body weight loss: Difficulty concentrating, irritability, sleepiness, impaired temperature regulation, increased respiratory rate
• 7-10% body weight loss: Dizziness, spastic muscles, loss of balance, delirium, exhaustion and collapse

We can survive for several weeks without food…but only 5-6 days without water!

Our bodies are 70-80% water

Where do we keep it all?

At the individual cellular level, our cells hold water inside in what is called the cytoplasm, or intercellular fluid.  In addition, extracellular fluid surrounds our cells, filling in the small spaces between them.

Physical Compartments  of water in the body
5%	Blood
15%	Extracellular fluid
50%	Intercellular fluid

Water is essential for maintaining all functions in our bodies.  It is part of chemical reactions at the cellular level, acts as lubrication in our digestive tract, respiratory system, joints, eyes, mouth and protects organs, mode of transportation within the intercellular fluid as well as in the blood, is structural support for molecules, regulates our body temperature through sweat, and maintains our blood volume within our capillaries.

So how much does one need to consume daily to maintain optimal hydration?

Daily liquid loss in liters
Urine	1.5
Sweat	0.5
Lungs	0.4
Intestines	0.1
Total	2.5

What kind of water should you drink?

Bottled water:  FDA regulates bottled water and EPA regulates tap water.  FDA regulation is lax compared to EPA.  Many bottled water varieties are simply unfiltered tap water.  Production & transportation of bottled water in America uses more than 47 million gallons of oil = 100,000 cars on the road. 84% of bottles are not recycled!

Spring & Mineral water:   Spring water is bottled water from a natural spring.  The FDA allows companies to label as spring water even though they may be chemically treated. Mineral water is spring water containing beneficial minerals.

Tap water:  The quality of your tap water depends on where you live.  At the very least, it will contain additives like chlorine and fluoride and most likely pollutants from runoff as well as parasites.  For these reasons, you should filter your tap water.  The best filter will remove the pollutants, additives & parasites while leaving the beneficial minerals.

Best option: filtered tap water that you carry in your own glass or stainless steel container.

On average, we should ingest as much water as we are releasing every day.   The types of food you typically eat, determine how much water you should get from drinking.  If you eat mostly fruits & vegetables, you need to drink less because you are getting water from the foods you eat.  However, a good rule of thumb is this:  Your body weight ÷ 2 in ounces.  So if you weigh 160 lbs, you should drink 80 oz (2.37 liters) of water a day.

~Jen Granlund CNMT~

Emotional Eating

I was recently asked why we crave comfort foods when we are under stress.  There are a couple of different things at play.

First, let’s talk about cortisol.  Cortisol is our ‘stress’ hormone but it governs many functions in the body like glucose metabolism, blood pressure, immune function, and the inflammatory response. It is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands and derived from cholesterol.  The body doesn’t understand the difference between being chased by a tiger and your overly full In-Box on your office desk.  Stress is stress.  The body will always choose survival over other bodily functions, so we tend to produce cortisol over other hormones.  Because cortisol is made from cholesterol, we crave fatty foods when highly stressed so that we can replenish those stores to continue to manufacture cortisol (and hopefully some other hormones).  Additionally, we tend to crave sugary foods when stressed because cortisol is involved in blood sugar management.  If we are in a constant state of stress, our adrenal glands will not be able to keep up with the demand for producing cortisol resulting in poor blood sugar management.  Instead of releasing our stored glucose reserves, we need to replenish sugar ‘in the now’.

We also tend to crave salt if we are in a constant state of stress.  Our body regulates our blood pressure through the hormone aldosterone which utilizes our salt levels.  Water follows solute; in other words the body wants our salt and water level to be balanced.  If we are funneling all of our resources to make cortisol, we make too little aldosterone which results in a dehydration state. Our body craves the salt to maintain hydration and blood pressure.

Second, let’s discuss the addictive properties of gluten and dairy.  When we digest the proteins gluten (wheat) and casein (dairy), they can become a gluteomorphine or a caseomorphine.  These substances are able to cross the blood-brain barrier and fit into our Opioid sensors in the brain. They relieve physical and emotional pain by releasing the feel good chemicals in the brain.  Over time, your body makes a connection that when you eat bread or cheese you get “high” so when you are feeling low, you tend to crave these foods in order to feel better.

How does any of this apply to “Emotional Eating” you may be asking yourself.  When we are in state of emotional turmoil, the body simply perceives that as “stress”.  So the food choices we tend to make in this state are motivated by a metabolic drive to satisfy the needs for these nutrients as a result of our stressed emotional state.

What are your “comfort” foods?  If I am having a bad day, I tend to crave something salty…like McDonald’s fries or Lay’s potato chips.  At my old job, they always knew if I was having a tough day because I would run across the parking lot for the $1 bag of Lay’s at 7-11!  I tend to want savory foods when upset or stressed…lasagna, cheeseburgers, etc.  Others tend to crave more sugary foods like pastries, ice cream, etc.  Maybe there is a food your mom used to make that just reminds you of the love and protection she afforded you when you were young.  For me, this is also lasagna – one of the favorite dishes my mom used to make for us!

When we eat these foods, they make us feel better temporarily because we have more nutrients to produce or regulate some hormones that are affected by stress.  In addition, we may be getting “high” off of the dairy and gluten products we eat as a result of them being able to cross our blood-brain barrier.   This can affect our choices.

I recommend that my clients make the best choices available to them in the moment.  Are you craving salt?  Add some sea salt to your water instead of reaching for the fries or chips.  Ensure you are eating a balanced meal and or snack so that you are not faced with such strong sugar cravings.

Don’t totally deprive yourself because this can just set you up for binge eating.  Instead, recognize what is happening in your body and that you are in a state of stress.

Nutrients like Vitamin C with bioflavonoids, B Complex, Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar and Magnesium are all very helpful for a body in a stressed state and could help to curb some of those cravings!

~Jen Granlund C.N.T.P~

NIKKEN: Start 2017 off on the RIGHT FOOT

 

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