Sweet Christmas Ideas and Coupon

Essential Oils are always great stocking stuffers. Whether it is to introduce someone to aromatherapy, there’s or to add to their collection.

These three essential oils can be used for diffusion, massage therapy, as well as for their therapeutic properties. Not sure which one to choose? Lavender, Sweet Orange, Eucalyptus, are quite popular. Or try the blends of Prana Breathe, Anti-Stress or Zen Medication.

ZEN MEDITATION essential oil complex tailor made for meditation, with Sweet Orange, Black Spruce, Cedar and Somali Frankincense. Zen’s mild, sweet and mildly woody fragrance is ideal for calming the mind and promoting relaxation. Known for its spiritual characteristics, this incense has long been used in sacred rituals and practices. With its combination of fresh and invigorating conifer and orange essences, Zen sets the stage for deep meditation and inner peace.

BREATHE PRANA SYNERGY ORGANIC - Prana is an essential oil complex that helps combat winter ailments. Eucalyptus Radiata, Niaouli and Cineol Rosemary are invaluable herbs once winter rolls around and help fight respiratory tract infections. The freshness of Peppermint, Fir Balsam and Ravintsara, along with the rich fragrance of Palmarosa, gives Prana its fresh, pleasant, minty scent.

The Breathe Prana essential oils blend is used in aromatherapy to help relieve colds and cough.

Add a few drops in a diffuser, in a bath by diluting them with any unscented or lightly scented foaming product (shampoo, shower gel, bubble bath…) or with EMULSIUM, our emulsifier which is a dispersant for essential oils in water (perfect for bath, DIY body mists and room sprays). It can also be used for massage therapy by diluting with one of our carrier & beauty oil.

ANTI-STRESS - Anti-Stress combines our most relaxing and calming essential oils to alleviate nervousness and mild anxiety. Sweet Orange, Lavandin Super and Red Mandarin relax and calm the body to promote rest and sleep. The fresh scent of Lemon and Exotic Verbena combines with the rustic fragrance of Spanish Marjoran to provide the perfect finishing touch to a relaxing complex that restores your equilibrium when life is spinning out of control. Used during a massage, in the bath or inhaled, Anti-Stress is the perfect antidote to life’s daily stresses.

The Anti-Stress essential oils synergy is used in aromatherapy to help calm the nerves.

Warning: Never add essential oils directly into your bath water, they are not water soluble as the drops will just float on top of water, creating a surface layer of oil which may cause skin irritation. Remember to use essential oils sparingly as they are very powerful.

LE COMPTOIRE DIFFUSERS - creates eco-friendly collection of diffusers made of respectful and recyclable materials: bamboo, wood, glass, ceramic, recycled bamboo fiber, recycled plastic. They prioritize simple packagings. They limit most as much as possible the use of plastic in packaging. They reuse boxes of their suppliers to reduce waste and over-consumption.

SEQUOIA SOAPS - the soaps are carefully handmade with Organic Shea Butter and Organic Castor Oils, along with other skin nourishing oils such as olive oil, coconut oil and canola oil. Each bar is a work of art with swirling colors and exclusive scent mixes. Some may contain herbs which they’ve picked ourselves. Gorgeous and a variety of fragrances make these bars a perfect gift!

My favourite Sequoia mist is Blackberry Sage - Two ingredients that are widely used in herbal medicines, Blackberry Sage Mist combines the sweet and tart scent of blackberries and herbal tones of sage.

• water based formula
• no perfume base
• 95% natural ingredients

A very popular Oil is their Sweetgrass OIl, and also comes with in the lotion and mist. I currently have some of the 2.5 oz mists, so shop early as they are sold out on their website.

For the Kiddos, don’t forgetl the Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty and the amazing and fun Waboba balls for stocking stuffers

These gift ideas will be 15% off with the following coupon

Coupon, please clip and present at time of purchase or display on your phone.

We just don't have a Sweet Tooth

We just don’t have a sweet tooth,

 Damn, we got a sweet belly?

Sugar and carb cravings sabotage any well-meaning promises to eat better on the daily!

I know even myself, a Certified Nutritional Practitioner can fall prey to carb cravings.  Carbohydrate cravings aren’t always a behavioral problem or lack of will power, but instead have genuine, biological causes that can be helped with various strategies and natural high quality supplements. 

What drives the sugar cravings??

1.   Candida overgrowth can cause extreme cravings for sugar and simple carbohydrates. Candida is a type of yeast that is naturally present in everyone’s digestive tract; however if your immune system is weak and your digestion is poor, Candida levels can get out of control. Grapefruit Seed Extract, Caprylic Acid, Undecylenic Acid, Berberine, Garlic, Horopito, Saccharomyces boulardii, Clove oil, and Coconut Oil are some natural ways to help kill Candida overgrowth. 

2.   Altered gut flora, new studies show that certain gut bacteria, require different substrates for different strains, to grow and reproduce. for example, Bacteroidetes grow with fats as a substrate while Prevotella grows best on a carbohydrate source. To help, substitute sugar with Manuka honey as it provides antimicrobial benefits to the gut, which help to promote the growth of bacteria that are good for your gut health while reducing cravings. High quality probiotic supplements also will help with sugar cravings, aim for 10000. Several strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus have been shown to improve anxiety- and depression-like behavior, which also tend to alter eating behaviour.

3.   Insulin resistance - Supplementing with a high-quality multi-vitamin is also beneficial toward reducing your sugar cravings and balancing blood sugar levels through improved insulin sensitivity. A daily vitamin ensures you meet recommended levels of minerals like zinc, chromium and magnesium — all of which are involved in maintaining healthy blood sugar and insulin levels. Myoinositol and D-chiro Inositol have been shown to reduce insulin increase. Researchers at the Linus Pauling Institute have identified a compound from Hops that significantly improve markers of metabolic syndrome and reduced weight gain,  Gymnema tincture - Gymnema helps our cells take in sugar more effectively (hence not needing more), and improves sugar metabolism. Have a few drops on your tongue before you eat and help your sugar cravings lessen - it literally blocks the sugar receptors on your tastebuds. Cinnamon is also beneficial for help maintaining blood sugar. Eating Fibre, Protein and Quality Fats also help to regulate blood sugar. 

4.   Hormonal Imbalances; For women who feel worse around their menstrual cycle, try taking vitamin B6 (200mg) or P5P, its more bioavailable form. This helps ease the deficiency of the "feel good" hormone prostaglandin E1 (when this hormone is low, irritability and sugar cravings can result). If mood swings accompany the sugar cravings, it could be from excess sugar thats blocking your ability to turn a substance called GLA (gamma linoleic acid) into the DGLA (dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid) needed to produce prostaglandins that improve mood. Eveing Primrose Oil provides GLA, as does Borage Oil. Chastetree also helps PMS. 

For those whose sugar cravings increase when they enter perimenopause in their 40s, estrogen and progesterone deficiency may be driving sugar cravings.These supplements are helpful, B complex, Vitamin D3, and Omega3’s, Magnesium, Fiber, Liver Detox supplements and don’t forget a great quality Probiotic. Magnesium takes a big dip in menopause and we need magnesium for mood, relaxation and sleep. Herbals that help perimenopause are, Maca; Black Cohosh; Dong Quai; and Angelica Root,

For men, testosterone deficiency associated with andropause can also cause sugar cravings. D-Aspartic Acid. D-Aspartic acid is a natural amino acid that can boost low testosterone levels. Vitamin D, Tribulus Terrestris, Fenugreek, Ginger, DHEA, Zinc, Ashwagandha. Naural Bioidentical Hormones may also be helpful.

5.   Depression or a bad mood can mentally and physically affect cravings too. Sugar consumption increases serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, appetite, memory, and social behavior. Because sugar boosts serotonin, you feel happier, temporarily, so your brain craves this. Oh serotonin also is made in your gut, so you need great gut health to produce your own serotonin. St. John’s wort, SAMe, 5-HTP, Omega-3, Vitamin Bs, Vitamin D, Saffron, Kava Kava are used to help combat depression. This article is not meant at medical advice, please consult a licenced Natural Health Practioner for guidance.

6.   Stress If you have cravings and are under stress, feel anxious much of the time, or you have insomnia, it can be related to your adrenal function, specifically a type of imbalance that can lead to exhaustion. You may notice that you need caffeine to wake up, and you crave sweets, salty foods, and more caffeine during the day — then carbohydrates or alcohol at night. If your adrenals are totally shot, these well meaning strategies don’t even cut it because you still feel run down, lethargic and no amount of sugar peps you back up. This only leads to a vicious cycle. There are many adrenal support supplements that help your adrenals combat stress. Aswaghanda, Rholdiol, Holy Basil Leaf, Licorice root, Curcumin, and Phosphatidylserine (PS) are excellent for supporting adrenals. Stress also causes the hormone cortisol to flood your body, releasing glucose from your liver, which in turn raises your blood sugar. The same list that helps adrenals also helps to reduce cortisol levels with the addition of Cordyceps, and Bacopa.

7.  Poor quality sleep , When we sleep poorly or go for long periods of time without sleep, our bodies make more ghrelin. Ghrelin is a hormone that controls our cravings for carbohydrates and simple sugars. In one study, participants went from getting eight hours of sleep to five hours of sleep. This reduction led to a 15% higher level of ghrelin in their bodies. As Ghrelin increases so does sugar cravings.  Leptin is produced by our fat cells. It influences our satiety or feeling of fullness. When we are inadequately rested, we tend to produce less leptin, making us want to eat more. Again, when we are tired, we resort to more quick energy foods, simple carbs to keep ourselves awake. In the same study mentioned above, the sleep-deprived subjects demonstrated a 15% lower level of leptin, leading them to eat more. To help eas you back to more restful sleep, there is Melatonin, Hops, Passion Flower, Valarian, 5HTP, Tryptophan, L-Theanine, and Glycine.

8.  Mineral deficiencies might be another reason for your cravings. An iron deficiency will zap your energy, leaving you feeling fatigued, weak, and spurring cravings to perk you up. Calcium, zinc, chromium, and magnesium imbalances can manifest themselves as sugar cravings too. so here again, a high quality vitamin helps supply you with the nutrients you cannot get from food alone.

Other alternatives for natural sweeteners include maple syrup, coconut sugar, monk fruit and xylitol, (which also provides dental benefits) 

Eating well with whole foods to supply necessary nutrients is a part of the answer that helps combat food cravings. Of course avoiding the overly processed junk foods is also a must. Getting proper sleep, adequate exercise also factor in to help curb sugar cravings. Many of the supplements mentioned above also come in formulas specific to the issue. Keep in mind this is not an exhaustive list, but it is a great start for you to consider adding these supplements if you have never tried any before. The right quality nutrients and supplements will help maintain your body and stop your sweet belly from growing out of control! In fact all these great tips could help shrink your sweet belly!

Stress, Anxious and Depressive States and Attentional Difficulties

Have stress at work, with life, relationships or feeling depressed, anxious, attentional difficulties - a combination of these may help.

Clinical Human Studies have demonstrated that Vitamin D is helpful when feeling depressed. it is widely known that Vitamin D deficiency is one of the factors is Seasonal Affective Disorder that results over the winter months. This is prevalent for people living in northern latitudes as there is insufficient sunlight exposure during the winters to stimulate the production of vitamin D in skin.

There are over 90 clinical studies on Melatonin, on many different type of sleep issues on adults and children, individuals with mental health issues, such as neurodegenerative disorders, shift workers, travellers, etc and is relatively safe in even higher dosages.

D-Stress, Lavender has shown efficacy in many issues, such as PTSD, depression, anxiety and chronic fatigue!

Chill Pills will improve your concentration, reduce your stress levels, calm your nerves, and help you work more effectively! 

Sleep 8 helps you get to sleep naturally, an effective, safe, nonaddictive sleep aid! 

Magnesium is among the most important minerals essential to our wellbeing, a factor in over 300 enzymatic reactions that affect all aspects of metabolic function, intestinal absorption, skeletal storage and release of calcium, along with nervous system function, and is great for stress management. Unfortunately, even the foods that are traditionally good sources of magnesium are often grown in magnesium-deficient soil these days.

Omega 3 may effectively alleviate depressive moods without dangerous side effects and helps to restore structural integrity to brain cells that are critical in performing cognitive functions! Apparently, although a higher ratio of DHA is beneficial for babies, a higher ratio of EPA is better for children, for cognitive function and attentional difficulties and adults with affective mental health concerns. Dosage also matters to be effective. For neurodegenerative disorders such as cognitive decline, dementia, Alzheimers, MS, Parkinson's, a 2:1 ratio EPA/DHA fairs better!

Studies have shown that Vitamin D and Omega alone in combination with prescription medicinals for mental health issues may also help symptoms, when the prescription alone is not sufficient. Chill Pills and Sleep 8 however, are not to be combined with prescriptions for mental health needs.Certainly clean eating is also key, including, fresh organic vegetables and fruits, high quality mono/poly-unsaturated fats, and organic quality protein.  Omitting the sugar, junk foods, highly processed foods with fillers, additives, and dyes will also help in these areas. Allergens such as wheat, dairy, corn, soy, eggs, and others also need to be investigated especially where attentional issues are a concern for children. 

To know if a combination of these are going to be effective, a regimen of 3 - 6 months is necessary. If you would like more assistance on choosing a regimen that may assist you please contact me. These supplements are available at Life Sustainers in the store, and other brands are available in my Dispensary! Any information provided here is not intended to replace medical advice offered by a physician nor should this information be used to treat any health problems without first consulting with a physician or paediatrician.