How To Get Off Your Meds

Last night I got a call from my mom. She said, "I saw my doctor today." I paused and asked, "What's wrong?" She said, "My doctor gave me a clean bill of health!" I said, "That's good, Mom." I asked her, "How are your cholesterol levels?" She said, "They're good. They're normal. My doctor was so surprised. He couldn't believe it!"

My mom had been on Lipitor for over twenty years. I urged her five months ago to get off Lipitor and there's a good reason for that. She did what I suggested and now her cholesterol levels are good. 

My mom's a very smart woman. In the last few years she's been really listening to her body. Second, she has a good holistic health coach. That would be me. And she follows my advice. If she has questions she calls me up. We talk and I make suggestions. But I always tell her that she's the one that knows her body best.

If you want to get off your medications get with a good holistic health coach or wellness practitioner. That's really how it's done because most people aren't able to heal on their own. They need someone who's been there and/or who has the knowledge and experience in helping others to heal.

My mom's doctor's response is a funny one. Yes, it is possible to reverse disease and get off medications. It's really very simple. But if you're content taking all of your medications just keep doing the same old same old.

17 Year Old Diagnosed With Fatty Liver

Over the weekend my family and I visited some good friends in our old stomping ground. My friend was telling me that she had decided to get a blood panel done on December 31 for all three of her teenagers. She was frightened for her oldest child. The doctor reviewed his liver test results and told her son that 70 is within normal range. His levels were off the charts at 270. He diagnosed him with fatty liver and said that he needed to change his diet pronto. The boy was very scared after hearing this. My friend had told me years back that the only food that her eldest would eat was chicken and he never ate vegetables. So he started eating less fatty foods and more vegetables. He tried spinach, lettuce, carrots, and cabbage but didn’t like those so well. He ate them anyway. Surprisingly he learned that he liked kale. On top of that he lost about ten pounds from the long hours of dress rehearsals and dance practices for his high school production. Recently he got tested again. He still has fatty liver but his levels are not as high. He surprised the doctor and is still determined to get healthier.

Why are we waiting till there’s a health issue to teach our children proper nutrition? Why are we waiting for a health scare to happen? The truth of the matter is that the parents aren’t eating healthy so the children aren’t eating healthy. The end result is sickness. Doctors aren’t trained in nutrition. They barely have time to eat healthy themselves with their demanding schedules and the number of sick patients waiting in the waiting room.

In ancient China if the doctor was not able to help a patient heal the patient was NOT obligated to pay the doctor. Umm, hello? Our society has it all backwards. Patients continue to look to conventional medicine and accept everything that they are told. They’re told that they have to have their thyroid radiated and so they take thyroid meds for the rest of their lives. They’re told that they need to be on high blood pressure medication for the rest of their lives despite the dangerous side effects. They’re told that they need to be sliced open to remove a part of their intestines. They’re told that there’s no cure for this disease and that disease. They’re told there are no other options whatsoever. All lies. And the people get sicker and sicker every day.

If only people started to question, think for themselves, and get with a good health coach or wellness practitioner to get to the root cause of their condition people would have less health problems and be less dependent on Big Pharma. Because people need the help. They need to learn preventative medicine, which is taught by health coaches, in order to heal. Preventative medicine is the best way to prevent disease. Well maybe it takes a whack on the head and a real health scare for people to start realizing the lies they’re being told every single day.

Yup, my friend’s son is seventeen years old and has fatty liver disease. True SAD story.

The Body Never Lies

My dad retired from the Navy in the summer of 1986 when I was ten years old. From that point my dad prepared the breakfasts. I remember hearing sounds in the kitchen first thing in the morning. I heard the sound of my mom’s Salad Master pans being placed on the stove. I remember the sound of eggs sizzling on the pan and the scent of freshly brewed coffee. And I can still hear the sound of my dad sneezing incessantly echoing throughout the house. One time I counted. He sneezed at least twenty times without pause.

I remember my first autumn in Central New York. Our neighbors invited us over for a bonfire party. They had wine and beer and I was offered a pinot noir. I remember having two and a half glasses. Well, that tipped my alcohol limit. The next day I didn’t feel so well. The alcohol was indeed poison. I believed that I had cold-like symptoms so I treated the symptoms with natural herbal and food remedies. After a while I thought it was strange that I wasn’t getting any better. Then finally after two weeks I realized that I didn’t have a cold. I had allergies. The alcohol was poisonous to my system which triggered an autoimmune response and an imbalance in my body which caused my allergy symptoms. So I made myself the proper natural remedies and in three days I was all better.

The body never lies. It is that smart. It gives us signs all the time but we refuse to listen. When someone sneezes uncontrollably the body is actually alerting us and screaming, “Help! Help!” But instead we succumb to our pitiful existence and do nothing to change our diets and bad habits.

No, it’s not normal to be sneezing twenty to thirty times straight. It’s not normal to have to wipe a runny nose ever. We try to shush our bodies with alcohol, cigarettes, prescription medications, over the counter drugs like Benadryl or NyQuil but as I’ve mentioned the body never lies. And you can never cover up the lies.

Allergies Go Away

Yesterday I sent a text message to a friend.  I hadn’t seen her in a while and just wanted to check in.  She replied that she and her two young sons weren’t feeling so well.  The culprit?  It was allergies.  As I was reading my friend’s messages, my son’s sensei at the karate school came over to say, “Thank you for the eggs!”  He is currently celebrating 40 years of his black belt status.  That’s quite an achievement so I thought I’d give him some local, pasture raised eggs from happy chickens since I remembered that he eats about 30 eggs a week.  He then started to tell me that since my family and I have been coming to his karate school he’s been suffering from allergies.  Allergies, allergies, and more allergies.  It’s that time of the year.

In the past few years I’ve worked with people whose allergies have pretty much disappeared.  A relative that I health coached had really bad allergies.  She was taking Flonase ever single day. We worked with food and eventually she went from taking the Flonase every single day to once a month to once in a while to none at all. This was just working with food.  Today she doesn’t use Flonase and her blood pressure is almost in normal range that she doesn’t need to take her high blood pressure medication all the time.  She’s even lost a little weight.  A friend had bad allergies last summer.  I made her an allergy herbal tea and in a matter of a few days she was better. Another relative told me that she’s allergic to cats.  I sent her the same allergy herbal tea. After a few months she noticed that she could tolerate being near her cats.  She stopped taking her allergy medicine and consistently drank the allergy herbal tea.  I told my son’s sensei that I’ll be giving him some allergy herbal tea the next time I see him.  

Food is medicine.  it’s pure and it’s gentle.  When you start to understand the medicinal benefits of food and incorporate real food into your diet, your world changes for the better.  It’s so simple.  Just start with food - organic, local, and seasonal.

Do you suffer from seasonal, environmental or food allergies?  How badly do you want them to go away?

Spring, Sneezing, And Allergies

I’ve always loved spring.  To me I’ve always associated it with hope, love, and beauty.  I love the new flowers that start to pop up and the green blades of grass. When I start to see dandelions I know that spring has arrived.

In my elementary school years I was pretty healthy.  I hardly ever got sick or missed school.  My brother on the other hand suffered from asthma and allergies.  My dad used to joke that he was allergic to everything except girls.  

When I worked in the corporate world I noticed that I was getting sick all the time so I scheduled doctor appointments frequently.  I remember going every week for about a month.  Each time I visited the doctor he’d give me some Claritin.  I eventually figured out that the Claritin did nothing for me and that it was the stress from work and my poor diet that was causing my allergies.  When I left the corporate world and fixed my diet my allergies went away.

When someone suffers from allergies it’s a gut issue or an autoimmune condition. I’ve seen it and studied it many times.  Whether it’s environmental or food allergies anyone can heal them.  I’ve been advocating the solution for some time now.  Eat organic, local, and seasonal.

Not everyone understands the concept of eating local and seasonal.  It’s pretty simple.  If something doesn’t grow in your area don’t eat it or don’t eat it all the time. People don’t understand this idea because we have access to foods from all over the world in grocery stores.  I live in New York but bananas don’t grow here.  I rarely eat bananas because they're not part of my environment and they won’t strengthen my microbiome.   

This is why I’m big into CSAs and I believe this is the reason why my immune system over the last three years has improved immensely.  Before I moved to New York my gut health was not its best.  I had just gone through a few traumatic years of health problems.  I was so weak and so vitamin deficient I thought that I was dying.  

People don’t have to suffer.  People don’t have to accept a sick body.  Get with a certified health coach or wellness practitioner.  Run past the fear and trust the process because this process that I and many others teach really does work.

Gut Health And CSAs

I wish you could see these beautiful fresh leaves in person. I just got these spinach leaves from my local CSA delivered straight to my home. The other day I was chatting with a CSA member about this spinach variety being the most beautiful and best spinach in all of Central New York!

You won't ever get this at Wegman's, Whole Foods or any local grocery store. My local farmers harvested these and my other veggies just yesterday. So not only are these super fresh they also contain the much needed microbes that are deficient in grocery store produce.

Three years ago I had just moved from Pennsylvania. My gut health was a mess. I was also recovering from my autoimmune condition and I was still severely vitamin deficient. When I got to Central New York one of the things that I did was look for a local organic CSA that would deliver to my home. I got lucky and started talking to Main Street Farms. I've been spoiled ever since and have been improving my gut health all this time.

How do I know I'm healthy? I don't get sick anymore. I'm not visiting the doctor getting one antibiotic after another. I don't catch the common cold or flu and if I ever get a sore throat it lasts for a day or two at most.

There is no magic pill or supplement that gives good health. People are waiting for some miracle drug to fix them up. The body doesn't work that way and it was never designed that way.

Are you a CSA member?

The Brain And Longevity Part 2

What's your kid's favorite food?

This morning I thought to ask my son about his favorite food. I asked, "If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life what would it be?" He said without hesitation, "Sauerkraut." I said, "Are you sure?" He said, "Yes." During lunch I asked him, "What is your second favorite food?" He said, "Eggs." "And your third favorite food?" He said, "Spaghetti."

All of these foods are awesome for brain health. The sauerkraut is local, organic, and refrigerated. The eggs are from happy, pasture raised, local chickens. And the spaghetti is not your ordinary spaghetti. I add brain nourishing ingredients every time.

My son says "no" to processed foods, sodas, candy, refined sugars and the such. He gets fed three solid meals every day freshly cooked by me. This kid knows more about nutrition than most of the world. My point is that there is a correlation between what you put inside your body and overall health.

There's so much crap on the Internet about nutrition. Very few know the truth. Very few know what to believe. I say go with your gut. Your body will tell you if something is good for you or not. The body is so smart. Ask yourself every time before you eat, "Is this food going to bring me down or lift me up? Is it going to fuel and power me up so that I can live a long, healthy and happy life?" If you get sick or you have gastrointestinal issues then you know.

You can find my son's favorite spaghetti on my blog: 
http://diostiagngina.com/food/2017/10/6/local-spaghetti.

Community And Longevity

Orestis Portelos, age 97 from Greece, was interviewed for the Human Longevity Project (https://humanlongevityfilm.com/). He said, “‘Panigiria’ (a Greek festival celebrated during the summer months) is a tradition found from our ancestors. At that time, we had good ‘panigiria’, they were not as crowded as today. We were also organizing them for financial reasons. All the money we were gathering was used for the village’s needs. Even today, all these ‘panigiria’ are organized for this purpose. We are also having fun. We meet with people from other villages. I still go. As I told you earlier, I used to go with friends my age. Nowadays, most people going are young people. I meet with few people now, but I still go.”

It was nice to have good friends over this past weekend as we reminisced the warm, sunny weather we enjoyed in Florida. They shared with us all about the community of their second home. The wife described the close knit community of just a hundred homes. She said the ladies meet pretty much every week and even on the weekends. They have so many fun activities like cooking, exercise, and dancing classes. They even have frequent luau parties. The neighbors are so close that it’s common for neighbors to visit each other’s homes to help with any issues. It truly sounded like a wonderful community of living, learning, laughing, and loving.

This is what the elder Orestis Portelos was describing. Close bonds formed in communities are such commonplace for centenarians living in the Blue Zone areas. Human relationship is such a vital part of life and one of the primary foods that was taught at my nutrition school. You can be successful in health, career, spirituality, and other things but if you lack in the relationship department, you will struggle. It will be like trying to drive a car with a flat tire. Isn’t that what the human condition is all about? The human spirit begs to be loved, adored, and embraced.

On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your relationships? And if it’s taken a back burner what can you do to improve it? It would be wise on our part to model our lives and indeed how we view our relationships after the people living in the Blue Zones. To your health and happiness!

The Consequence Of Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmune disease is the consequence of bad nutritional science.

Last month I started health coaching a lady who wanted help with severe environmental allergies. Not only had she been suffering from allergies for a while she was overweight and had a family history of heart disease and diabetes. She was worried about her A1C levels signaling a high sugar diet and perhaps diabetes in the horizon as her health history suggested. I asked her what her diet looked like. She told me she didn’t eat breakfast or lunch. If she had anything it was a cup of coffee. For snacks she ate candy. And for dinner she ate very little, maybe rice and a little protein. She paused for a moment and then stated that she didn’t cook at all. She said that a lady would come to cook for her husband on the weekends. I asked her what I would find in her refrigerator if I were to come over to her house. She said that there might be some beans and maybe some fruit.

This is the SAD diet, the standard American diet. Not only is it sad in a literal sense, this is people’s reality on a daily basis. There should be joy in partaking delicious, nutritious food rather than people rushing to grab fast food or standing up to eat their meals. For many people home cooked meals is a thing of the past. I felt so bad for this woman and her family. She confided that she had anxiety issues and she was worried about two of her three children. One was living an adventurous, careless lifestyle while her daughter was suffering from mental issues and depression. This is what happens when people are not taught proper nutrition, self care, and self love. Everyone suffers. If we eat poorly then this is the legacy that we pass on to our children and future generations.

The good news is it’s never too late to reverse disease and bad eating and lifestyle habits. It doesn’t matter if someone has stage 4 cancer or was told by the doctors that they have little time to live. No, it’s not a magical, overnight shift that takes place. It takes work, real hard word, patience, and trust in the process. If you’re sick of being sick there is a better way.

You Deserve Better

This morning I was talking to a friend at church. He told me, "I hate drugs and medications! But I have to go see the doctor."

Don't get me wrong. There is a place and time for modern medicine but when we're given one drug after another we have to start asking, "Is this too much? Is this good for my body? What are the side effects?"

We all have choices. You can continue to go the same old route doing the same things over and over again. Guess what? You end up with the same results. Or you can wisen up, start asking the tough questions, and make changes to your diet, lifestyle and conscientiousness. That's what I did about six years ago. I had a sweet, precious baby who I could no longer care for. I was sick of being sick so I sought a holistic doctor, went to nutrition school and got mentored by the world's best health coaches and wellness practitioners. I got to the root cause of my health problems and healed.

If you're on any type of medication or don't feel your best you're not well. I hear this a lot. People tell me their long list of chronic illnesses and symptoms and then at the end they tell me that they are in pretty good health. No, they have just settled for the worst life possible for themselves. They have been sick for so long that they don't know the difference between being sick and being well.

People deserve better. You deserve better.

For Better Sleep

If you want better sleep, read on…

This morning I went to barre class at the local Y. At my friend’s suggestion we went over to the sauna. As we walked in I heard a voice say, “Hi friend! I followed your advice! I quit coffee and I feel so much better!” I turned and said to the gentleman, “That’s great. Congratulations! How so?” He said, “I sleep so much better! My wife just looks at me. She won’t quit but I feel great!”

Small steps count a lot and encourage people to keep working on getting healthy. Depending on a person’s situation I start health coaching with food. I start people off with something so basic like drinking warm lemon water first thing in the morning. This simple step has motivated people to do things they never used to do like exercising.

For someone who’s been hooked on coffee for decades I recommend drinking clean spring water or filtered water (I love our Berkey) in the morning, even just a cup. If you can drink two cups that’s even better. The goal is to replace the coffee with clean water. Eventually you will kick the habit. And like the gentleman I saw at the Y this morning you will start to sleep better and to feel great.

YES to changing the world for the better one person at a time, one step at a time!

Longevity For Our Families And Pets

For dog and pet owners, parents, and families, this one is for you. We can learn a lot about longevity from our elders.

Georgios Stenos, age 85 from Greece, was interviewed for the Longevity Human Project (https://humanlongevityfilm.com). “All of the Ikarians are trying not to buy products with pesticides and fertilizers. I only use animal manure which I get from people who raise animals and I use it for my plants.”

Ikaria is one of the highly regarded Blue Zones, one of the few places in the world that produces the most number of centenarians. I remember talking to my son’s sensei at his karate school about his brother in law’s dog. He said that the dog had cancer and went on to say that every dog in his brother in law’s street and neighborhood had cancer. He continued to say that the whole neighborhood sprayed their lawns with chemicals and fertilizers. The lawns were green but all the dogs were sick.

If the dogs are being poisoned and being diagnosed with cancer what more is happening to that neighborhood’s young? Start reading labels. Start asking questions. Are you aware that Roundup is a known carcinogen? Do you use toxic house cleaners around the house? Toxicity is everywhere. Start protecting yourself and your loved ones including our beloved pets.

The Brain And Longevity

I teach my son about good health and longevity every day. One of his favorite foods is sardines. It was also one of his lolo’s (grandfather in Filipino) favorite foods. His lolo lived to be 107 years old and even near the end of his earthly life he was very sharp and aware. His memory was impeccable as he would perform memory games every night before going to bed.

Sardines is serious brain food. Why do you think many people living in the Mediterranean are blessed with long, happy lives and great brain health? They enjoy seafood including sardines. I introduced my son to it at a very early age and he loved it! But I feed him quality sardines that’s BPA free and sustainably caught. I like the brand Wild Planet. I don’t mind paying a little more because I know that I’m feeding my family the good stuff.

Invest in high quality, organic, chemical free food and you will notice a difference in the health of yourself and your loved ones. Alzheimer’s and dementia are no longer health issues for the elderly. More and more young people in their 20s and 30s are suffering from brain fog and memory problems. We have choices. Make the ones that will help you in the long haul and help sustain good health and happiness.

Slime, Contact Lens Solution, And Borax

When I was a kid I did what all the other school children did. I ate the food prepared at the school cafeteria. I sucked on the honeysuckles at the school playground. I got jelly shoes just like a lot of the other girls in my elementary school. When friendship pins were in I got a friend to make me one almost every week for about a month or two. I followed what the teachers told us so that I could go outside for Freedom Friday to hang out with my best friend and the other kids. I learned how to think on my own but for the most part I learned to be an order taker because just like every kid out there I wanted to fit in.

Slime is all the rage among school children these days. I think if I were still a kid I would be one of those kids fascinated with the texture, colors, and glitter affects. I’d probably be viewing YouTube every single day to learn how to make my own slime.

On the surface slime is a kid’s toy but if we take a closer look at what slime is made of we will see that it consists of sodium borate which is better known as borax. Borax is linked to infertility and reproductive damage. It is also found in the controversial Gardasil or HPV vaccine. Some people may believe that borax is harmless and is perfectly fine since it’s used for cleaning in many households. I caution those who believe that borax is safe and suggest that you dig deeper and do your own research. Recently, I came across a pediatrician’s blog post regarding slime and borax. She noticed that more and more of her patients were coming in for horrible skin rashes. After interviewing several parents she learned that her patients were playing with slime as an after school activity on a daily basis. She concluded that the borax from the slime was causing these horrible rashes on her patients’ hands and noted that it would take several months for the rashes to heal. So is borax safe? I believe it’s better to be safe than sorry.

As I did more reading on the slime topic this led me to my current problem with contact lens solutions. A friend, mentor, and fellow health coach just last week mentioned that slime can be made with either borax or contact lens solution since the solution contains sodium borate. Sure enough almost every contact lens solution in the market contains sodium borate. I found one that did not but CIBA Vision Clear Care No Rub contains an ingredient called Pluronic 17R4 (a Cleaning Agent). What the heck is that?! I have never heard of it and there’s not enough information online about what it is and any potential side effects. Who knows? Pluronic 17R4 could be another name for sodium borate or borax. So again I follow the better be safe than sorry rule.

So this got me thinking and then I got really pissed off. I’ve been wearing contact lenses since I was in middle school. That’s decades of pouring borax onto my hands and fingertips as well as applying borax directly into my eyes. I never thought to read the labels for contact lens solutions like I do for the food that I consume. Just like many patients who wear glasses or contact lenses I listened to the optometrist and did exactly what I was told to do. As a result my vision worsened over the years. On top of that I just noticed how rough especially the palms of my hands are and how blood shot my eyes are.

I’ve made a couple of decisions from what I’ve gathered in the last week. If you know me personally, you will notice that I’ve begun to wear my prescription glasses after decades of contact lens use. This is a new routine for me. I do have some good news though. My hands are starting to improve and they do not feel as rough. I also found a very interesting course on how to regain eyesight naturally. When I was younger I just accepted that my eyesight continued to worsen as I kept wearing glasses and contacts. I never thought that wearing glasses or contacts was the problem. I am nearsighted with astigmatism and I am blind as a bat. For children that may be having eye problems, this course encourages parents to seek a pediatric ophthalmologist for their child as the chances of your child having to wear glasses is just 2 percent. By visiting an optometrist the chances of being prescribed glasses is 35 percent.

I’m fascinated with the idea of correcting my vision naturally. That would mean tossing out the glasses for good. How awesome would that be?! I’ll keep you informed on my goal to reclaim my vision.

So three things that I’ve learned since last week: 1) slime and contact lens solution are made of borax which is linked to infertility, reproductive damage and skin rashes, and 2) glasses and contact lenses cause vision to worsen, and 3) it is possible to reclaim your vision.

Share the knowledge with your family, friends, and loved ones. Stay curious. Start to think outside of the box and keep asking the hard questions. Our families and loved ones depend on us to keep them safe and well. To your health and happiness!

Health Coaching For Humanity

I recently had the privilege to interview IIN health coach, naturopath, entrepreneur, and humanitarian, Dr. Mary Jean Netario Cruz or Dr. Maggie, for Health Coach Week.  I admire her for so many reasons including her charisma, dedication and work in the health and wellness field, empowering marginalized communities,  interceding in times of local and national disaster and crisis, and her ability to heal and touch the poorest of the poor in the Philippines.  

Dr.  Maggie has received accolades by top magnesium authorities and scientists for her research and work and her Magiteque therapy.  

• Dr. Carolyn Dean MD, ND, the world renowned magnesium expert and author of The Magnesium Miracle called her "The Magnesium Maven."  She has also noted that Dr. Maggie is the only one that she knows who does magnesium therapy in a clinical setting.
   
• Dr. Stephanie Seneff of MIT said Dr. Maggie is a "co-warrior in the field of organic sulfur."

What is the importance of all of this?  It actually matters plenty.  According to Dr. Maggie, she has seen results with her Magiteque therapy for pain management, viral infections, dengue, influenza, measles, chicken pox, postherpatic neuralgia, shingles, herpes, ESRD for dialysis, enlarged thyroid, mental health conditions, comatose, eczema and other skin problems, dementia, Parkinson's disease, mental health issues, and tumors, paralysis, seizure, central nervous system issues, and much more.

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A Conversation With Dr. Maggie

How did you become so passionate about health and wellness?

I am an accidental health coach!  Prior to this journey, I was a business consultant who did business automation, business systems and controls, and business software distribution until I found myself wanting to help empower disenfranchised communities. I earned an IIN scholarship because I connected an indigenous peoples organic farming project to a healthy meals school project.

What has been your greatest achievement as a health coach and as a naturopath doctor? 
 

Prior to becoming a health coach, I had no idea what it was.  Initially I thought it was a way to learn more about nutrition in a non-traditional setting.  As I began studying I realized it was more similar to consulting in the health realm.  I am more interested in helping disenfranchised communities so I focused my health coaching skills on community pain healing missions in remote and poor places.  I have also provided assistance whenever there is a disaster, like when the Philippines was devastated by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), and more recently in the Marawi siege. Helping the displaced peoples in Marawi is probably one of my greatest successes.  The protocols I developed for people suffering from PTSD was adapted by Mindanao State University, Iligan Medical School Foundation and the Armed Forces of the Philippines among others.

What are the challenges of being a health coach in the Philippines?
 

I am not a typical health coach.  I focus more on addressing health-related social issues, particularly pain management for the mind, body and spirit – a “human system approach” for poor communities.  Currently my private practice and the contributions of wealthy individuals and organizations fund this initiative, but continuing to fund community healing missions is my biggest challenge.

I am intrigued with the Magiteque Pain Therapy Center.  Can you describe how the process of healing happens and what sessions look like for a patient?
 

Magiteque Therapy is an integration of both of my disciplines as a certified health coach and naturopath doctor.  Magiteque Therapy, depending on the health issue, can be done transdermally, orally or by inhalation.  It is safe for all ages and even for pregnant woman.  Clinical Magiteque Therapy starts with learning the patient’s health history followed by two hours of mineral spraying, inhalation or with an oral protocol combination.  For muscle pain, I combine trigger point techniques and energy healing.  The Magiteque Therapy concludes by taking a warm bath and then reassessing the patient’s condition.  Results are immediate.  A treatment plan can be designed after the first treatment, but in most cases is not needed. 
 

Congratulations on your new restaurant Chives Bistro and Market!  Please tell me what patrons can expect and experience.
 

If you have the palate for exquisite yet affordable food, Chives Bistro is the place to go.  Chives is a blend of Asian and European cuisine - fine dining in a casual setting.  We use nothing but freshly harvested food and no artificial flavorings.  Plus the passion our chef has for sumptuous healthy meals can really be tasted!  And I’m not just saying that because my son is the chef because I am not easily pleased when it comes to food, and the food really meets my standards.    I highly recommend that you visit us if you are ever in Manila!   

Please discuss your initiative the Community Home Substance Abuse Recovery Program or CSARP in connection to the war on drugs campaign of President Duterte.
 

Having taken the course “The Addicted Brain” at Emory University, I understand the role of electro-ionic minerals in neurotransmitters and this gave me a rare perspective especially in the Philippines.  When the war on drugs started, I began attending to addicts suffering from Substance Abuse Withdrawal Syndrome.  I had been treating similar symptoms in patients previously.  I created the “Seven Days Neuro-Detox Program” incorporating Magiteque therapy, EcoTherapy, Psychological First Aid and Positive Psychology.  Addicts have been thankful for this initiative. And I give lectures and seminars for those who want to learn more.  For my efforts, I was recognized by my hometown with the Dangal ng Pililla Award.

What's next for you in your amazing life journey?
 

Lots of things!  I am coming out with my first book, followed by “how to” booklets on the Magiteque therapy for different health issues.  Our FDA license is in process, which means we will be able to make affordable mineral sprays for the mass market soon.  This will definitely help a lot of people dealing with various pain issues, and will also fund the community healing missions we are doing.  I am beginning to focus on diabetes and would like to develop protocols to treat diabetes without the use of drugs, and then train medical professionals who are willing to learn about these protocols.  Long term, I dream about having my own well-being farm, where people can come to heal!

Marawi Siege PTSD Prevention And Care Initiative

You can learn more about the Battle of Marawi or the Marawi Siege HERE.  The battle happened in May 23, 2017 and lasted for five long months.  It's known as the longest urban battle in recent Philippine history.  

Dr. Maggie's PTDS Prevention and Care Initiative in Marawi was facilitated by Archbishop Gilbert A. Garcera of Lipa with ArchbishopTony Ledesma of CDO and with the late Bishop Nitz Galido of Iligan to help Bishop of Marawi Edwin dela Peña.  

This is Dr. Maggie with Fr. Teresito "Chito" Soganub, the Marawi priest who was taken hostage, and who was under the care of Dr. Maggie for coaching and naturopathic treatment.

Below are some pictures during the Marawi Siege PTSD Prevention and Care Initiative.  There were trained volunteers who helped destress the Marawi IDPs.

Follow Dr. Maggie on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/epigeneticsprecursors 

Email:  magiteque@gmail.com

Follow Chives Bistro Restaurant and Market on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ChivesPH

“I am not a typical health coach.  I focus more on addressing health-related social issues, particularly pain management for the mind, body and spirit – a ‘human system approach’ for poor communities.”

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What Is The Role Of Health Coaches In Healthcare?

I’m Abby, a holistic health coach who graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and I’m continuing my education at Functional Nutrition. I am the founder and owner of curechoices.com.  I help people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, type 2 diabetes, and weight loss. My friendship with Elaine started in 2016 when we became accountability coaches for each other as part of the IIN curriculum. I would like to thank her for giving me the opportunity to write in her blog.

Everyone has a reason why they want to choose their career.  It was my own health problems that motivated me to choose a career in holistic nutrition and wellness. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 2009, 10 months after giving birth to my second baby. When I was diagnosed, I was not happy with the idea of getting on a prescription medication for the rest of my life. I was looking into the possibilities of curing the disease. I discovered that I had to follow a disciplined protocol where I needed to make some dietary changes, along with the supplements and exercise to address the root cause of the problem. I was mentally prepared to do whatever it took to accomplish that.  Within few months I started to feel better.  I started to see the numbers of the anti-thyroid antibodies coming down and then gradually it came down to normal range.  I was able to put my Hashimoto’s in remission. In this journey of healing my disease, it dawned on me that the most important aspect of healing any disease is taking care of yourself by getting the proper nutrition, making the appropriate lifestyle changes, getting enough physical activities, and last but not least believing in yourself.

Over the last few decades there has been a significant rise in chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, food allergies, and obesity. When you visit a doctor for these kinds of illnesses, doctors work primarily to identify the symptoms and treat for the symptoms. They really don’t have enough time to dig deep to find the root cause of the problem or to find what is really going on with the patient.

This is where the role of health coaches comes in.  They can step in and provide support. The main role of a holistic health coach is to guide the clients toward a healthy lifestyle.  They help them not only with food but in all areas of their life – their relationships, spirituality, exercise, and career.  They can help their clients balance these because the imbalance of one can adversely affect the other areas.

Each person is unique with their individual requirements. One person’s physiology, cell structure, metabolism, and body structure are different from another person's. Each person has unique needs according to their age, gender, size, lifestyle, blood type, and ancestry. A holistic health coach can work according to the specific needs of their clients.  They can give you recipes and diet guidelines, exercise and lifestyle changes which can help their clients to achieve optimal health goals. Health coaches educate and support their clients throughout the process of healing.

A health coach is a mentor, friend, cheerleader, and guide.  He or she can help by recommending lifestyle and behavioral changes and by challenging the client to listen to their inner wisdom, identify their inner strengths, and transform their dreams into action!

I hope you enjoyed this article and feel free to leave comments!

Website: www.curechoices.com

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CureChoices/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curechoices/

“A health coach is a mentor, friend, cheerleader, and guide.”

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Choice Meets Courage

Ever wish for life to slow down? Speed up? Change, but then don't. The “why is this happening right now?” feeling?  In a perfect world everyday would be filled with kindness and success right? There would never be children without food, or homeless. Families would always be thriving and happy. Our rivers and lakes would be teeming with life. The air would be clean and all races would respect and love one another. Only a few examples of course, yet when I think about this “perfect world” and even if those things, and more were the case all over the world -we would still naturally react from emotions; our human aspects exist. Somebody would still feel lonely, shed a tear from falling down, accidentally forget and burn the dinner, (you get the point), and pain and suffering would show up eventually. Somehow, the ability to appreciate all the light, all the goodness that is present, often comes hand in hand, from experiencing darkness.

Could feeling good be found in choice, and if so, what are we choosing?

Today we live in a place where we can get a lot of instant results. Push the button, search the web. Anything you do repeatedly will become habit. Even convenience. So, while knowing that goals take hard work, we hardly give them the daily effort they truly require. We convince ourselves there’s an easier way. A shortcut. Maybe an inspired moment will come and then we’ll be able to get the project done. And then a month goes by, and where are we? Same place, except not. We’ve changed, still. But in a way that’s made it more comfortable to accept the belief that we haven’t changed. That we aren’t built for the goals, or have enough resources to achieve them. This is just a perspective. I believe we are always in a process, it’s just a matter of what direction we are headed, and how we are feeling about it.

So, perhaps the world, as it is, with the good and the bad is more perfect than we ever thought it could be. And maybe the challenges throughout our day, truly do make us stronger, wiser, and more kind to the next person we meet. With this understanding I can attempt to move through my tribulations with more attitude of gratitude. And I can step forward into my troubles knowing that they are not permanent. Because like seasons, we are always shifting, changing, and given full opportunity to become more than we are at this moment.

As a Health Coach I’ve come to know that even when it looks like nothing happens in a day, and sometimes in a week, when there can be little obvious change, this is not the ultimate truth. Something is happening. Those small, maybe invisible, first steps are just as significant as the middle of the road. I am building awareness for what is changing and not only what lies at the end result. We often see the winter as cold, and long. Both true, but with every passing day, the sunlight is getting a little warmer, and the time until spring is actually becoming closer than ever before. So, perhaps a lack of success (right now) is related to becoming stuck feeling defeated, in thinking and mindset, and not fully embracing the process of evolving.

Today’s Effort is a platform where each person can take responsibility for their power, and use it to become the individual you want to be. To make the conscious effort in a direction that is ever flowing, ever changing, and be okay with that. To recognize that perfection is never stagnant, but always evolving. With each day we are given the power of choice and courage. To know this and to use these gifts are not one in the same. With my Health Coaching I strive to bring awareness and understanding to that simple difference. To feel the courage to make the choices that align with you as a whole being, then, I believe true healing takes place.

I am an advocate for health and wellness. I believe in health of the spirit as much as the body, and I know that every little effort that we make on a daily basis, will bring us closer to the life, and wellbeing which we all deserve and possess.

I encourage using a plan of daily action, which I call Today’s Effort, to achieve our intentions in life. Incorporation of daily action directed towards a purpose, can be a powerful way to embrace change. With this consistent effort I am brought a little closer to my goals, yes, but I am also a little more empowered by my strength and determination each day. I want to then follow up the next day with another small action step. This builds on itself and naturally I am drawn into my daily choices because they make me feel good. We don’t always have to experience the pain to appreciate the love. It’s there to show us the contrast, but not to last. We just have to remember to use our courage, and make the choices, in order to see and feel the change.

Today’s Effort : do something, a small action, that brings even the slightest feeling of lift to your shoulders. It can be anything that brings a smile. Maybe it's music, reading, or hobby work. Maybe it's finishing your school, or assignment on time. Choose something that you want to do because it ignites a feeling of joy. It’s in those moments, that the shift is happening.

In Joy,

Shaman

To learn more about Today’s Effort and the support a Health Coach can be for you, please visit todayseffort.com or connect with our vibe on social media @todayseffort

“And I can step forward into my troubles knowing that they are not permanent. Because like seasons, we are always shifting, changing, and given full opportunity to become more than we are in this moment.”

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My Journey Into Health Coaching And What Makes Me Passionate About Helping People

The First Shift

My first major shift in my life occurred shortly after my divorce. I would have to say, I was in the best shape of my life... so I thought. I was exercising constantly to try to help myself with all the things I was going through. I had just endured a few years of very intense constant stress. I was taking care of three children by myself. Trying to work at a very stressful 100% commission sales job. I lived in an area where I had limited support and no family. I had thought I had made it through and was maybe headed into an upswing.

On a May morning I got up from bed to let my dogs out. I was walking and all of a sudden I fell. I got up and fell again. I repeated this a few times and then I realized something was very wrong. I won't go through all the gory details I will just say I had a stroke at 40.

Once at the hospital, the doctors told me this was caused by a tear in an artery in my neck most likely caused by a severe trauma or injury.  I did not have any severe trauma or injury. Unless you count the couple of years of severe stress. Yup, that was it!

I was very lucky to be alive and with no major damage. I was told by the doctors "Take it easy". "Don't run anymore". And my personal favorite "You are a delicate flower". However, I couldn't live with any of that. I did a lot of research and it was bleak. Until I found an article about a football player who had a similar experience and went on to continue to play football. That was it! Right at that moment I stopped and decided I would go with that one positive story. I decided I loved running and continued to do so . It was very challenging in the beginning but I worked through it and ran my first 5k in December that same year!

I have run 1 Marathon, 5 Half Marathons, and 4 Ragnars ( 200 mile relay race), among many other fun races. So far I'm still kicking and still running today! The lesson I took away from this was don't take anything for granted and enjoy your life now. Not at some endpoint you're going to reach. I get caught up in life just like everyone else but I always bring myself back to a balanced place and I continue to learn more about being successful living on purpose!

The Second Shift

My second major shift was in 2013-2014 when my mom became ill. In a matter of two months she went from being a vivacious lively woman to being gone. She had passed away from cancer. Apparently it was so metastasized that there was not really anything they could do. While my family had some time to prepare it was unbearable to watch this happen. I felt very frustrated and helpless.

My Call To Action

These events created a call to action in my life. I was watching family members and friends struggle with auto immune diseases, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and weight gain. I myself struggled with stress, acne, and added weight around my midsection. Many of these issues are shared with the majority of the population including children. I decided I needed to figure out a plan to improve my odds, stay healthy, and help others do the same! My lesson from all these events in my life led me to the Institute of Integrative Nutrition to get certified as a Health and Wellness Coach. This is where I learned the concept of primary food and secondary food. Primary Food is your physical activity, health, education, career, finances, creativity, spirituality, joy, social life, relationships, home environment, and home cooking. Secondary food is your nutrition. You need to create balance between all these things in order to live a healthy life. This is where I come in. During my health coaching sessions I will help you achieve this step by step!

How I Work With People

I like to follow a plant based (vegan) whole food diet. I stress whole food meaning real food because in this day and age a large part of the population does not eat real food. People ask me all the time, "Do I have to be vegan to work with you?" The answer is no, absolutely not. We are all different and our bodies need different things. It's best to learn what works for you personally. Do I push veggies on people? Definitely! :)

Because of my background I plan on specializing in working with busy women helping them de-stress, unplug, focus on self-care, get rid of those extra pounds, and create health and balance for themselves and their families. I can't stress how important it is to take care of yourself so that you can take of the people you love and enjoy your life.  Are you ready to take back your health and freedom to live a balanced full life? Are you ready to live on purpose?

I continue to love to share everything that has worked for me and strive to find the best things for everyone on their path to a Healthy Balanced Life! 

Take care of you,

Xo

Tina Stinson

Healthy Balanced Living

www.tinastinson.com

“The lesson I took away from this was don’t take anything for granted and enjoy your life now. Not at some endpoint you’re going to reach. I get caught up in life just like everyone else but I always bring myself back to a balanced place and I continue to learn more about being successful living on purpose!”

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Spreading Joy And Love Through Painting And Health Coaching

Hello from my small country of Lebanon!  I am Lulu, painter and wellness advocate, following my passion for painting to wellness synchronizing my education, knowledge, and experience, trying to spread joy and love.

Throughout my life I have suffered several health issues which mainly were related to digestive irregularities.  I knew there was a misdiagnosis in my case.  I began searching and researching following my curiosity to know the root cause.  Never by any chance did it occur to me that I would someday study holistic health coaching.  It was as if all the pieces just fell into their places and the big white canvas became a complete painted artwork.  The Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) not only gave me the knowledge but expanded my perspective.  Becoming a wellness advocate and counselor was tantamount to being a creative artist (my original specialty).

Lebanon went through a very destructive civil war during the mid-seventies till 1990.  It was devastating.  It ruined and wounded Lebanese.  I studied fine arts under bombardment and explosions.  There was no water and no electricity but life went on.  I even earned a scholarship to pursue my masters in Italy.  Working, living, and surviving every day was always a challenge.  Even after the war ended there was always the realization that civil war could break out again. 

My education was enhanced by the introduction of essential oils and energy healing.  My exploration of integrating all-natural foods and herbs helped to restore my body, mind, and spirit, resulting in more of a state of peace and gratitude.  Art and painting were my antidotes to the poisonous, negative thoughts of war and hatred.  Through my art, I colored my life to be the grateful person I am now. 

Artwork By Lulu Baassiri

Black Magic Woman 100x100 oil on canvas 1993.  Exhibited in Washington, DC in 2012.

Sunflower 60x80 pastel on velour 2011.

102x82cm pastel on velour paper 2011.

Mosaic With Mixed Media.  110x110 real Venetian mosaic 2000 - 2001.

Red Rose 70x62 pastel on velour paper 2011.

“Never by any chance did it occur to me that I would someday study holistic health coaching. It was as if all the pieces just fell into their places and the big white canvas became a complete painted artwork.”

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Do You Want To Live Or Do You Want To Thrive?

Do you want to live or do you want to thrive?  This was the question I asked myself so many times! 

Hi!  My name is Jurgita Caballero and I am an IIN Certified Holistic Health Coach and a student at The School of Applied Functional Medicine and The Institute for Functional Health Coaching. 

My interest in a healthy lifestyle started about 16 years ago.  But it really took a turn about four years ago when I lost my beautiful mother, my best friend, to cancer.  I wanted to know why people are getting sick so much more than ever?  What is causing it?  What are we missing? What are we not doing right?

I had many health issues growing up.  I was on a prescription antibiotic for seven years since my birth.  At one point in my life, I was more than 40 pounds overweight.  It took me years of trial and error, but thankfully it has been more than 15 years that I am at my healthy weight. 

I know what it feels to be hopeless.  When you are not feeling well and no one can give you any answers, and you can’t enjoy your life to the fullest, it stinks! 

People often ask me what do I eat, what do I do to keep my weight in balance and stay healthy.

I say, it doesn’t really matter, because in reality what had worked for me, might not work for another person. That’s BIOINDIVIDUALITY. The secret is to discover what works for that unique body.

Becoming educated in the field of functional medicine gave me an opportunity to really dive deep in understanding how all our body parts, glands, organs, hormones work together.  There are no islands.  Everything is interconnected.  No one way of eating or lifestyle works for everyone. 

My passion is helping people to find what works for them, identify the triggers that are in their way for maximum wellness, and help them to change it at the pace that feels comfortable for them. 

We are so used to popping a pill to numb our pain, without realizing that the body is sending us signals that it needs our attention.  By ignoring those symptoms, we are only promoting the diagnoses of some sort of ailment or disease in the long run. 

It doesn’t have to be that way.  I coach people to learn to listen to their bodies and address these symptoms by getting to the true root cause of the problem.

How do we do that?

Maximize what their unique body needs (food, sleep, raw materials your body needs to function optimally, oxygen, water).

Minimize what their unique body struggles with (toxins, infections, allergens, stress, trauma, limiting beliefs, fear, negative expectations).

Prioritize and create an environment for healing for this unique person (sleep, rest, laughter, stress reduction, exercise, stretching, breathing, meaningful relationships).

My goal is to Educate, Inspire, and Empower people to own their wellness!  True health starts with us when we decide to be well!  

Do you want to know how a healthy body feels like?  Then let me help you!

Thank you,

Jurgita

www.JurgitaCaballero.com

www.LivingAnAbundantLife.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LivinganAbundantLife365/

“Do you want to live or do you want to thrive?”

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