Can we control our genes with nutrition?

It is rather relaxing to believe in fate sometimes, to think that the way things are, are the way things were always going to be.  However, when it come to genetics, we may have more control that we think.  When we develop we have a very specific blueprint which is a code for who we are, for how we look and for how tall we will be.  

We are often aware of our genetic predispositions to certain illnesses and body types and we often use this as a reason to be apathetic about our future health.  However, nutrigenomics (the study of how food compounds and genes interact) is finding that the food that we eat makes a big impact on the way our genes are expressed.  

How our genes make our bodies....

Our body  mass is predominantly made up of proteins.  When we eat proteins they are broken down into amino acids and then rebuilt to reflect our specific genetic expression.  They are given instruction so they can use our genetic blueprint to create more of the same...strand of hair, colour of skin, shape of nose and size of hand.  Our genetic expression is imposed on all proteins that enter the body, our cells contain our coding and this is imprinted on the proteins so they are adapted via receptors sites on the cell surface.

Watch this video for a simple video of how this works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEWOZS_JTgk

Nutrigenomics shows that nutrients and chemicals can affect the way substances such as enzymes and proteins are expressed, which in turn affects new cells as they are created.  This affects our metabolism, hormonal balance and regulation of inflammation in the body.

Therefore if we are depleted of vital nutrients and taking harmful foreign chemicals into the body, then we can affect the way our genes are expressed and potentially develop mutations and irregularities.  We can also make ourselves more prone to developing genetic disorders than if we had a full nutritional profile.

We do have a genetic code in our DNA which makes us who we are, but we also have a great deal of control over how these genes are expressed and controlled within our body.

So, another great reason to eat organic, avoid toxins and keep your body stocked up with vital nutrients!

Josie

Liu, L. and e. al, Gene-environment interactions and epigenetic basis of human diseases. Mol Biol, 2008. 10 (1-2): p25-36

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'My Day has Gone Wrong!' A pulling your hair out Relaxation Technique.

The way our day goes and the way we feel when we go to bed at night is all dependent on how we deal with the feelings and situations that crop up during the course of the day.  Therefore, if you can develop a technique that can quickly disperse feelings of discontentment or stress, then you are in a position of power in life.

If you are finding the day is taking a wrong turn and you feel yourself wishing it hadn't started then a quick relaxation technique may be all you need to get things back on track.  

Here is a technique that I often use:

1.  Take yourself out of the situation (even if that means disappearing to the loo at work) and find somewhere to be alone.  Getting out of the situation that is causing you stress is  the best first course of action.  You may need to return to that stressful place or person, but a little time away from it to gain perspective is great.  This may mean hiding in a cupboard from your five year old!

2.  Take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth.

3. Breathe again.  Make sure you don't hold your breath (we do this when we are upset) and keep it regular.  This is already going to give you more control.

3.  Let's stop these thoughts racing.  Now you are out of the situation you should be able to muster a bit of perspective.  The stressful situation is out of sight, the breathing is calming and suddenly things should seem a little more easy to handle.

4.  Count your breathing. Close your eyes and breathe in for the count of two and out for the count of four.  In for two and out for four.  Keep repeating this while you feel yourself getting more in control.

5. Gain some Perspective.  At this point remind yourself that this situation will not be important next week and that it is not necessary to let it get out of perspective.  Spend a little time focusing on the things that you have to be grateful for and think about how bad some people in the world have it (my problem is usually rather small at this point.)

4.  Forgiveness.  Allow yourself to give the other person or situation the benefit of the doubt and make a mental note to not allow this anger or upset to ruin your day, the day still holds potential for great things.  Forgiving a person or situation is not saying what they did was right, it is basically releasing yourself from this negative experience.

5. BREATHE!!!  Let it all go.

6.  Keep it going.  Continue with this breathing technique until you have to return to the normal world. Just 5-10 minutes should do it.

Stress is the most damaging contributor to ill health in the modern world.  If we can find simple techniques to dispel it then we can usually go back to our day without letting it affect us too negatively.  When we hold on to anger, frustration, resentment and fear then it follows us around for days after a situation occurs.  If you can find a simple technique like this that can help you to release it then you will be a much healthier person.

Of course sometimes it will feel impossible to release something so quickly.  A traffic jam or parking ticket is likely to be easy to disperse with a change of perspective.  However an ongoing family trauma or bullying at work is obviously going to need more focused time.  However, a similar technique repeated every day will still go some way to making the situation easier to manage.

Don't forget to breathe!

Josie :) Was this useful?  Like My facebook page... :)

20 Uses for bicarbonate of soda in the home.

Are you worried about harsh chemicals affecting your families health?  Reach for a tub of bicarbonate of soda from your local health food store and start doing things more naturally.

Here are 20 tips on using bicarb in the place of bleaches and other harsh cleaners...

Kitchen

A box or small bowl of baking soda in the refrigerator, freezer, or any cupboard will keep away unpleasant odors.

Similarly, baking soda will keep away garbage odors; sprinkle the bottom of the pail, and then sprinkle again after you put a new bag in.

To clean surfaces, sprinkle baking soda on a damp cloth. Wipe, then rinse with clean water.

To remove stale smells from food containers, rinse out with hot water and baking soda. If the smell persists, let the container soak overnight in the baking soda and water mixture.

To clean silver, use a paste of 3 parts baking soda to one part water. Rub the paste onto each item, then rinse with warm water and dry with a soft cloth.

To remove scuff marks or grease spills from the floor, sprinkle with baking soda and then wipe with a warm, damp cloth. This is even safe for no-wax floors!

For burnt-on food in the bottom of pots, sprinkle with baking soda, then add hot water. Let soak overnight; the dried on food will come loose much more easily.

Bathroom

To remove stubborn stains from most surfaces, use a baking soda paste (3 parts baking soda, one part water). Apply, let stand, then scrub or wipe clean.

Hairbrushes and combs can be cleaned in a baking soda solution.

To avoid clogged drains, pour 1/4 cup baking soda down weekly. Rinse through with hot water.

House

To remove scents from a carpet, sprinkle with baking soda. Let stand for at least fifteen minutes, then vacuum. Repeat as needed.

Baking soda in the litterbox will help prevent odors.

To quickly clean pets and remove "wet dog" odor, sprinkle with baking soda and brush out their fur.

To help remove spills, blot as much as possible. Then clean as you normally would. When finished, sprinkle with baking soda. Vacuum. This will decrease the chance that some of the spilled item will remain in the carpet and cause unpleasant odors later.

Children's toys can be cleaned using 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart warm water. Submerge in this mixture (or wipe with a cloth dampened in it), then rinse with clear water.

Washing

Replace half of each measure of laundry detergent with baking soda to keep clothing fresh.

To remove grease stains, either add baking soda to the wash load or pretreat the stains with a baking soda paste.

Outside the House (Garden and Garage)

Baking soda can be used to help clean up grease spills.

To remove burnt food from the grill, sprinkle with baking soda, then soak. After several hours, the charred pieces will come loose easily.

Before packing away your camping gear after a trip, sprinkle with baking soda.

Happy Cleaning! :)

Josie

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Top Tips for keeping your home chemical free!

Our homes are full of toxic chemicals that get absorbed into our bodies daily by sinking through our skin, getting inhaled via the lungs and even getting ingested from our hands and crockery. 

Why?  

Because we buy them from the shops, spray them generously and soak our homes in them, simple as that.  We splash them everywhere without a second thought.  These chemicals make their way into our systems and put a strain on our liver as it attempts to detoxify them.  

When it comes to harsh cleaners the simple fact that there is a skull and crossbones on most of these bottles should be a reason to question its presence in your kitchen cupboard.  The truth is there is really no need to use such harsh chemicals to get things clean, it is simply not necessary.  

Top Tips!

1. Lemon is great for clearing plugs and basins.

2. Bicarbonate of soda is perfect for hard stains (see my blog on the 20 uses for bicarb: http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/20-uses-for-bicarbonate-of-soda-in-home.html)

3. Vinegar is good for cleaning surfaces and toilet bowl.  If it is used with newspaper it is fantastic for sparkling windows! 

4. Tea Tree oil diluted in water (15 drops to 500ml) in an atomizer can be used to freshen the air.  You can also use this spray to kill bacteria on surfaces.

5. There is always a natural option out there; we didn’t always have these branded, colourful chemical cocktails.  Your local health store will have lots of healthy alternatives.

In the meantime, go through your cupboards and start to question whether these products are really a good idea in your family home.

Good Luck 

Josie.

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She Let Go

She let go. Without a thought or a word, she let go.

She let go of the fear.  She let go of the judgments.  She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head.  She let go of the committee of indecision within her.  She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons. Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go.

She didn’t ask anyone for advice. She didn’t read a book on how to let go.  She didn’t search the scriptures. She just let go.  She let go of all of the memories that held her back.  She let go of all of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward.  She let go of the planning and all of the calculations about how to do it just right.

She didn’t promise to let go. She didn’t journal about it. She didn’t write the projected date in her Day-Timer. She made no public announcement and put no ad in the paper. She didn’t check the weather report or read her daily horoscope. She just let go.

She didn’t analyze whether she should let go. She didn’t call her friends to discuss the matter. She didn’t do a five-step Spiritual Mind Treatment. She didn’t call the prayer line. She didn’t utter one word. She just let go.

No one was around when it happened. There was no applause or congratulations. No one thanked her or praised her. No one noticed a thing. Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go.

There was no effort. There was no struggle. It wasn’t good and it wasn’t bad. It was what it was, and it is just that.

In the space of letting go, she let it all be. A small smile came over her face. A light breeze blew through her. And the sun and the moon shone forevermore.

by Rev. Safire Rose

How to Relieve Back Pain

Back pain can be one of the most persistent and depressing of all ailments because it seems to hijack your whole body!  I understand how debilitating and tiring this pain can be.  So, here are my five top tips for relieving back pain.

1. Heat.  

So you have been told by your chiropractor to apply ice?  Well if you want to, go for it.  I tried that too.  But really, in reality, it is the most uncomfortable thing I ever tried and if you try to move your body while the area is still icy, then your tissues can get aggravated.  I like heat, because it feels good and it seems to give me the most relief over ice.  Do what feels right, ice has never felt like a good idea to me unless the injury was done in the last 24 hours.

2. Keep Moving.  

I know this seems hard and staying in bed feels like the safest place, but in reality, lying there is not going to do you any favours.  Of course you need to rest it a bit, but just make sure you keep moving around, the big balance balls are quite nice to flop over and get the circulation going.  I was told to lie on my back for two weeks when If first hurt my back, this was the worst advice I was ever given.

3. Think Positive.  

I know from personal experience how terribly hard it is to feel anything but wretched when we are in pain, but those negative thoughts really do have an effect on the way you hold yourself and the speed of your recovery.  Mine took six years, so I am not pretending it was easy, but once you master looking at the positive side of things, it really does start to move you forward.

4. Massage.  

Sports massage and deep tissue remedial massage is not always cheap but it is really worth investing in to get circulation to the area and release the associated tissues.  I always recommend a complete full body massage.  After all, the body is connected at every angle, how can you release one area without releasing the areas that hold that muscle in tension?  Some masseuses have a habit of going in really hard on the point that hurts without releasing the tissues around it; this is of no long term use.  I can recommend Megan Bennett in Shaftesbury as the most inspired back pain therapist I have ever come across ( 01747 855339 & 07977 050 878).  If not look for some who does SLM therapy or fascia release.

5.  Acupuncture.  

This is not going to necessarily heal the actual injury first time as it works on all the body's systems.  It will however, relieve pain, which will put your body in a better position to heal.  It will also balance the rest of your body's systems so they can be in a better position to support the inflammation.

I hope this helps, for support with back pain, please feel free to contact me.  I will understand the muddling journey you are on very well!

Josie :) Was this useful?  Like My facebook page... :)

A little kindness goes a long way...

How I beat back pain.

Just to set the scene a little I am a back pain veteran   I know all about being in pain and although that is not a very pleasant thing to be a pro at, at least I can share my experience of pain to give you the advice I wish I had found first time round!

Back pain is caused by so many different factors.  It could be from injury, accidents, poor posture or repetitive strain injury.  Whatever the cause, you will be happy to hear, there is a way out!

My Story....

I fell down a long flight of stairs at the age of 21 and hit every step at break-neck speed.  Only, I didn't break my neck, or my back for that matter.  I simply smashed my left bum cheek very hard, about 30 times.  6 months later?  Sciatica, leg pain, lower back pain.  12 months later? Neck pain, arm pain, calf pain...you name it.  My whole body was an aching, twinging, nervy mess.  Hot baths relieved it, massage soothed it, but nothing seemed to stop the feeling that my body did not want to be upright anymore.  This went on for two years.

I had started to get used to chronic pain.  With this pain all my dreams, ideas and sense of self were diminished, but at least I could work 20 hours a week now.  I was managing to be a living person and still see my friends.  So, it was not so bad, at least it was familiar,  although my days were plagued with fears of the future.  Then, I suffered a whiplash injury in a car accident, suddenly things were less manageable to the point of lying on the toilet floor at work on my five hour shifts.  Not really great for the self esteem of a 24 year old.  I would get home from work and go to bed and usually straight to sleep because when your body is in that much pain all the time, your whole system is in total collapse.  It is similar to having chronic fatigue.

This was the point of no return, of not being able to function and live, of feeling like I was being pulled back to the ground from the moment I woke up.  It was time to get to the bottom of back pain once and for all!

When I first experienced the pain I tried medication for about two  months before I decided that was not the way to move forward.  I then tried...

-Physios
-Chiropractors
-Reflexology
-Osteopaths
-Acupuncture
-Reiki
-Aromatherapy
-Sports Massage
-Remedial Massage
-Holistic Massage
-Pilates
-Yoga
-Meditation

The list goes on...

After spending thousands of pounds on things which often supported me, increased my knowledge and gave me temporary relief from pain, but didn't heal me, I was still searching for something that would take away my pain for good.  I found it.

I am not discounting any of these methods of treatment, but none of them fixed me, or gave me the tools to manage my own pain.  They gave me quick fixes, but none of them gave me a long term answer.  I do believe the journey that they took me on and  the knowledge I gathered on this journey are the only reason I reached the end of my healing quest and I still use reiki, aromatherapy, acupuncture, yoga and pilates as part of my health regime, so I am certainly not discounting them.  But, they didn't give me the key I needed to unlock my body.

Then, as I searched one day on the Internet at work (yes, instead of working) for treatment for upper back pain I chanced upon Steve Lockhart's website.  Suddenly someone seemed to make sense.  I bought his program which at this point was a massive commitment (when you have tried everything then you get a little cynical/careful) I followed his program religiously and saw tremendous benefit, I then went to Thailand to be a 'pain sufferer' in his training programme and came home 60% better!

With the help of Megan Bennett (trained in his SLM technique) who lived two hours away from me in the South of England I started to reach 80% recovery!  She helped me emotionally and physically to overcome really deep seated imbalances in my body which were working against me.  She released my body from a point of pain in a dedicated and knowledgeable manner, she is a healer in the most practical sense. I now work full time, rock climb, move furniture (despite my boyfriend's pleas) and feel like a normal person again.  

They helped me heal my body using all the techniques they teach you when you contact them for treatment:

-Alkaline Diet
-Heat
-Massaging myself!
-Deep Tissue targeted Whole body massages
-SLM yoga (all done on your back so even serious pain sufferers can do this)

I cannot recommend these people more highly.  They gave me my life back and most importantly they gave me the tools to manage my own pain rather than telling me to keep coming back.  Their motto is 'If you have to keep going back to your therapist, then they are not doing their job, they are not fixing you!'.  This is not a faceless program, you get constant email support, DVDs and ongoing advice as well as meeting other back pain sufferers in the forum.  

All I want to do here is share my appreciation for something which made me feel like a human again.  I am deeply grateful to these people every day.

Contact them if you connect to my story and are looking for your own way out of pain.  I know they will help you too!  Feel free to contact me regarding pain management and more information on their programs.

Good Luck!

Steve Lockhart: www.backpain.com.au


Megan Bennett: toptotoze@sky.com

                          01747 855339 & 07977 050 878


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Heal your thyroid gland naturally!

Why does the health of your thyroid depend on your digestion? 

Your gut and your liver play an important role in converting the T4 thyroid hormone to the T3 hormone. Look at this simple diagram: it shows you that the pituitary gland (located in your brain) is excreting TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) which gives the thyroid a kick and says “Hey thyroid, produce some T4”. The T4 hormone produced by the thyroid is an inactive hormone – this means it does not do much for you.

It is T3 that’s the active hormone –this means this is the very hormone that fuels us and is responsible for our metabolism (hence body fat and energy), brain function (hence depression, anxiety, foggy brain), healthy hair, skin, nails and so much more.

Now, here is a piece doctors do not tell you: you convert T4 (the inactive one) to the active T3 hormones in the gut and the liver.

Did you know that? This means if your gut is not healthy (because your are chronically constipated, gassy and bloated) and your liver is sluggish, which, rest assured, is the case with majority of thyroid patients, it’s no surprise you are depressed, anxious, overweight and fatigued.

Learn how to heal your gut and thyroid with myself and thyroid coach Magdalena here, at www.thyroiddetox.com

Josie :)

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