doTerra Essential Oils

Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. They can be both beautifully and powerfully fragrant. If you have ever enjoyed the gift of a rose, a walk by a field of lavender, or the smell of fresh cut mint, you have experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils. In addition to giving plants their distinctive smells, essential oils provide plants with protection against predators and disease and play a role in plant pollination.  

Essential oils are non water-based phytochemicals made up of volatile organic compounds. Although they are fat soluble, they do not include fatty lipids or acids found in vegetable and animal oils. Essential oils are very clean, almost crisp, to the touch and are immediately absorbed by the skin. Pure, unadulterated essential oils are translucent and range in color from crystal clear to deep blue. 

Squeeze the peel of a ripe orange. The fragrant residue on your hand is full of essential oils.

In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants and being beautifully fragrant to people, essential oils have been used throughout history in many cultures for their medicinal and therapeutic benefits. Modern scientific study and trends towards more holistic approaches to wellness are driving a revival and new discovery of essential oil health applications. 

dōTERRA (CPTG) Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade^® essential oils represent the safest, purest, and most beneficial essential oils available today. They are gently and skillfully distilled from plants that have been patiently harvested at the perfect moment by experienced growers from around the world for ideal extract composition and efficacy. Experienced essential oil users will immediately recognize dōTERRA's superior quality standard for naturally safe, purely effective therapeutic-grade essential oils.

Visit my website to learn more about doTerra essential oils. 

Seven Superfood Painkillers in Your Kitchen

What are the superfood pain killers in your kitchen that fight arthritis, backaches, and more?

You can ease your aches with the right foods. A recent research study suggests that some pack as much pain-fighting potency as common pain medications like ibuprofen. Beth Reardon, M.S., R.D., a nutritionist at Duke Integrative Medicine at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina says, "What we eat has a dramatic impact on levels of pain in the body."

View slideshow: 7 Superfoods

Red grapes

This deeply hued fruit contains resveratrol, a powerful compound that blocks the enzymes that contribute to tissue degeneration. In lab experiments at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL, resveratrol protected against the cartilage damage that causes back pain.

Although this research is preliminary, it can’t hurt to fill up on foods rich in resveratrol, including blueberries and cranberries. Or a glass of red wine, if your diet permits it. According to Rush researcher and bio-chemistry instructor Xin Li, M.D., Ph.D. resveratrol in red wine is far more easily absorbed due to the form it is in.

Edamame

Photo credit: 

Shaline Miller

Ginger

Ginger has long been used as a digestive aid and is an effective pain killer. According to a six-week University of Miami study, almost two-thirds of patients with chronic knee pain reported less soreness upon standing after taking a ginger extract. Those who consumed ginger also reported less pain after walking 50 feet than did those taking a placebo – and they needed less pain medication. Christopher D. Black, Ph.D., assistant professor of kinesiology at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia says ginger relieves pain by blocking an enzyme that is a key component of the inflammatory process. Two to three teaspoons or cut a small slice of fresh ginger root a day should do the trick. The ginger can be added to a stir-fry or soup.

Soy

Adding some soy to your diet can cut your osteoarthritis knee pain by 30 percent or more. An Oklahoma State University study found that consuming 40 grams of soy protein daily for three months slashed patients’ use of pain medication in half. According to Bahram H. Arjmandi, Ph.D., R.D., professor at Florida State University, the secret lies in soy’s isoflavones which are plant hormones with anti-inflammatory properties.
Tofu, soy milk, soy burgers, and edamame are some soy options.

Cherries

High amounts of antioxidants called anthocyanins are the key to cherries’ pain-fighting power. In a U.S. Department of Agriculture study, participants who ate 45 Bing cherries a day for 28 days reduced their inflammation levels significantly. A John Hopkins study of rats given cherry anthocyanins also suggested that these substances might protect against arthritis pain. According to a University of Vermont study, a cherry-juice drink reduced symptoms of muscle damage among men exercising. Their pain scores dropped significantly compared with the scores of those who did not drink the juice.

Turmeric

A recent Thai study found that the spice common in many Indian foods fights the rheumatoid pain as effectively as ibuprofen. According to research on rats at the University of Arizona, turmeric also seems to inhibit the destruction of joints from arthritis.

Turmeric inhibits a protein called NF-kB; when turned on, this protein activates the body’s inflammatory response, leading to achy joints.

Add a little turmeric to your cooking.

Coffee 

Ever wonder why so many over-the-counter cold and headache medications contain caffeine? Studies show it enhances the effects of common painkillers such as aspirin and acetaminophen. But recent data suggest caffeine has pain-lowering powers of its own-at least when it comes to the pain associated with exercise. University of Georgia researchers found that moderate doses of caffeine-equivalent to two cups-reduce post-workout pain by almost 50 percent. Caffeine seems to raise your pain threshold, making it easier to keep exercising.

Fish

The omega-3 fatty acids in fish, which help keep your heart in top shape, fish may also tame the pain or inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis, migraines, and certain autoimmune diseases.
Aim for two to four meals a week of fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, or trout. If you don’t like fish, consider a daily supplement containing both EPA and DHA, the key omega-3 fats.
Note: if you are on a blood thinner, check with your doctor first; omega-3s may increase that drug’s effects.

Source:  AARP the Magazine

What is causing your food cravings?

Wonder what is causing your food cravings? The foods, shortfalls, and behaviors in your life are the underlying causes of your cravings. Many people view cravings as weakness, but they are important messages meant to assist us in maintaining balance. When you experience a craving, it is best to analyze it. You need to ask, “What does my body want and why?”

Eight main causes of cravings

1. Lack of primary food. Being dissatisfied with a relationship or having an inappropriate exercise routine (too much, too little, or the wrong type), being bored, stressed, uninspired by a job, or lacking a spiritual practice may all cause emotional eating. Eating can be used as a substitute for entertainment or to fill the void of insufficient primary food.

2. Water. Lack of water can send the message that you are thirsty and on the verge of dehydration. Dehydration can manifest as a mild hunger, so the first thing to do when you get a craving is drink a full glass of water. Excess water can also cause cravings, so be sure that your water intake is well balanced.

3. Yin/yang imbalance. Certain foods have more yin (expansive) qualities while other foods have more yang (contractive) qualities. Eating foods that are either extremely yin or extremely yang causes cravings in order to maintain balance. For example, eating a diet too rich in sugar (yin) may cause a craving for meat (yang). Eating too many raw foods (yin) may cause cravings for extremely cooked (dehydrated) foods or vise versa.

4. Inside coming out. Often, cravings come from foods that you have recently eaten, foods eaten by your ancestors, or foods from your childhood. A way to satisfy these cravings is to eat a healthier version of your ancestral or childhood food.

5.  Seasons. Often the body craves foods that balance the elements of the season. In the spring, we crave detoxifying foods like leafy greens or citrus foods. In the summer, we crave cooling foods like fruit, raw foods, and ice cream, and in the fall we crave grounding foods like squash, onions and nuts. During winter, we crave hot and heat-producing foods like meat, oil and fat. Cravings can also be associated with the holidays; foods like turkey, eggnog or sweets.

6. Lack of nutrients. If your body has inadequate nutrients, it will produce odd cravings. For example, inadequate mineral levels produce salt cravings, and overall inadequate nutrition produces cravings for non-nutritional forms of energy, like caffeine.

7. Hormones. When women experience menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause; fluctuating testosterone and estrogen levels may cause unique cravings.

8. De-evolution. When things are going extremely well, sometimes a self-sabotage syndrome happens. We crave foods that throw us off, thus creating more cravings to balance ourselves. This often happens from low blood-sugar and may result in strong mood swings.

Source:
Integrative Nutrition

Do you love raw desserts?  If so, you have to try Diviana Alchemy's raw desserts!  They are delicious and healthy!  Visit her website at http://www.divianaalchemy.com/.

Joe Cross of the documentary Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead and I at the Moms In Charge Conference in August.  Joe was a featured speaker at the conference.  Awesome story!  I was so happy to finally meet Joe!