Anita Davis, Naturopathic Doctor

05/01/2020

Wise words... hope everyone is safe and sane (enough) - there is some light at the end of this tunnel.

As governments are trying to figure out how to ease back into a new normal, please remember:

🛑 Some people don’t agree with the suggested reopening.... that’s okay. Be kind.

🏡 Some people are still planning to stay at home.... that’s okay. Be kind.

🦠 Some are still scared of getting the virus and a second wave happening....
that’s okay. Be kind.

💰 Some are sighing with relief to go back to work knowing they may possibly save their business or their homes....that’s okay. Be kind.

👩🏾‍⚕️Some are thankful they can finally have a surgery they have put off....that’s okay. Be kind.

📝 Some will be able to attend interviews after weeks without a job....that’s okay. Be kind.

😷 Some will wear masks for weeks....that’s okay. Be kind.

💅🏻 Some people will rush out to get the hair or nails done.... that’s okay. Be kind.

❤️ The point is, everyone has different viewpoints/feelings and that’s okay. Be kind.

We each have a different story. If you need to stay home, stay home. But be kind.

If you need to go out, just respect others when in public and be kind!

Don’t judge fellow humans because you’re not in their story.
We all are in different Financial - and - Mental states than we were months ago. So remember, be kind.

Copy, paste, and share as a reminder to BE KIND! ♥️

04/10/2020

Sleep Masterclass Sneak Peek Interview with our Guest, Dr. Caroline Meyer, ND

I’m hearing so many people in Facebook-land complaining about sleep! It makes total sense, considering: stressful time + lack of routine.

So happy my colleagues are putting out their expertise for free! Tune in for Dr. Meyer - she can also answer questions live! :)

Meet our amazing guest who will be joining us for the Masterclass - Be Your Own Sleep Superheroine! Dr. Meyer will be sharing some massively actionable strat...

03/12/2020

Canadians being urged to help 'flatten the curve' of COVID-19 | CBC News

Are we disappointed that we decided to cancel our March break plans? Yes. But did we feel the need to be prudent and help join the movement to ? Yes.

As my son and I were in the ER last night, My heart just went out to all the front line workers and how resources will continue to be stretched as more COVID cases are detected in Cananda. My heart goes out to Italy’s docs, nurses, and patients and I want us to listen to their warnings without panic but with prudence.

Are we worried about our health and individual risk of catching this virus? No. But I am worried about contributing to its spread to vulnerable people.

As the global number of coronavirus cases hits 120,000 people in more than 100 countries, chances of stopping its spread are now considered unlikely. So public health officials have turned their attention to slowing it down.

03/09/2020

Integrative Oncology | Dr. Meighan Valero ND | TEDxWindsor

My dear colleague did a TedX talk - on a topic dear to her heart.

“A must watch for anyone touched by cancer. The power of INTEGRATIVE care. There is hope. We just need to work together, bringing together the best of both worlds. Please take 17 minutes of your day and listen to this powerful story and message.”

NOTE FROM TED: Please do not look to this talk for medical advice, though some viewers might find advice provided in this talk to be helpful as a complementa...

03/01/2020

Here’s How To Actually Wash Your Hands Properly, According To Science

Instead of stockpiling goods from Costco, let’s review... also if you’re going to hang out in high-traffic areas like Costco... please do review this:

Let's keep those meathooks clean from now on, mmkay?

02/28/2020

My Amazing Colleague - explaining research headlines again - worth a look if you've read about milk and cancer!

In the latest food news, the headlines have basically said, you will die of breast cancer if you drink milk. A 50% increase risk of breast cancer is terrifying. But, let’s break this study down.

What did they do?

They followed 52,795 women who did not have breast cancer – estimating intake based on a food frequency questionnaire and they checked in with 1011 of the 52795 women 6x over 8 years to get a 24-hour recall on their diet. Not too much info.

What did they find?

- Over the 8 years there were 1057 new cases of breast cancer.

- 1 cup of milk a day was related to a relative risk increase of 50%

So…what does that mean?

- It doesn’t mean that 1 in 2 women will get breast cancer or that you have a 50% chance of getting breast cancer. It means that in this study 1 in 50 women got breast cancer. If the risk increases by 50%, it means the incidence rate is now at 1.5 women in 50. These results matter but aren’t as scary as the headlines indicate.

What didn’t they find?

- Soy did not increase breast cancer risk or lower it

- Cheese & yogurt consumption did not increase breast cancer risk either

What can’t this study do?

- It’s an observational study – it can’t tell us about cause and effect. While the headlines are dramatic, it can’t say that milk causes breast cancer.

What else has been shown to have a 50% increase in risk of breast cancer?

- 1-2 glasses of alcohol per day. And this research has been replicated in over 100 studies.

I haven’t had a glass of milk since my teens although I do like cheese.

I don’t think dairy is a requirement for health.

I also know I am at much higher risk of dying of heart disease than any type of cancer…specifically, looking at female mortality data from 2014 in the US, it was found that 1 in 3.3 deaths was attributed to CVD while 1 in 31.5 deaths was attributed to breast cancer.

At the end of the day, take nutritional studies with a grain of salt.

01/12/2020

Ki Pills - Prepare to be Safe

From a colleague~

Dear Local friends:
If you’ve received the alert on your phone about the Pickering Nuclear Plant, the alert was sent in error and there was no external leak at Pickering and no risk to the public.
But did you know that if you live within 50km of the Pickering Power Plant, you are eligible to receive free potassium iodine tablets?
In the very unlikely event of a nuclear emergency and a release of radioactive iodine to the public, potassium iodine pills will help prevent the development of thyroid cancer, and are especially effective at safeguarding children's thyroid glands. It is important for each household to have a supply of these pills because they are most effective if taken just before or soon after exposure to radioactive iodine.
Order yours for free here:

Learn about potassium iodide (KI) pills and use our map to find out if your home or business will be receiving a supply of KI pills in the mail.

12/01/2019

This Inexpensive Action Lowers Hospital Infections And Protects Against Flu Season

This doctor noticed high flu rates in her pediatric hospital. Then she went and got her masters in Architecture and studied how building environments affect health and infection! Talk about a bad ass.

It takes an average of 17 years for medical research to be put into practice. She’s not waiting around for this one!

Take away: “...one factor stood out above them all, and it shocked the research team. The one factor most associated with infection was (drum roll): dry air. At low relative humidity, indoor air was strongly associated with higher infection rates. “When we dry the air out, droplets and skin flakes carrying viruses and bacteria are launched into the air, traveling far and over long periods of time. The microbes that survive this launching tend to be the ones that cause healthcare-associated infections,” said Taylor. “Even worse, in addition to this increased exposure to infectious particles, the dry air also harms our natural immune barriers which protect us from infections."

Harvard Researcher Says This Inexpensive Action Will Lower Hospital Infection Rates And Protect Us For The Flu Season

11/27/2019

Please share! My amazing colleague is running free virtual classes about healthy vegetarianism!

Don't miss out!
This Saturday November 30th I am offering a FREE virtual summit. If you have a teen or know of any teens who are vegan or vegetarian - then this is for them!

Sign up here:
teenvegansummit.app.virtualsummits.com

I interview 5 experts to help parents and teens know all the juicy details to maintain their health!

11/26/2019

[Via .] ☂️My husband out-performed me this week. He’s really killing it - not only does he work a demanding job but he also hosts dinner parties and cleans and deals with bedtime toddler tantrums and packs school lunches. He’s F-ing Mary Poppins. ☂️

Normal people would maybe react to this in a good way - ‘WOW, I’m SO lucky to have an exemplary human being as a partner to help me in life’ - but you may be surprised. My original reaction was to beat myself up! All my negative self-talk would swim around me not being good enough or not accomplishing enough or failing as human or a mom or a doctor (depending on the day).

NO MORE. My gratitude practice has grown. And I’m reaping the benefits. I have turned this into such love and appreciation for all that my partner does in my life that it’s spilling over into our relationship, family life, and we are now a stronger team when tough moments come up.

Gratitude is an appreciation for what you have - no matter where you are on your journey. And last weekend’s event solidified that you can’t create abundance out of FEAR. You can literally create good things in your life, from a place of and .

Playing with this concept is fun!! If you’ve always wanted to try practicing gratitude and shifting but don’t know where or how to start, DM me for some easy prompts and practices!

11/15/2019

We're smack in the middle of Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Month. Did you know Canada has one of the highest rates of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in the world? 1 in 150 Canadians has IBD and the number of new cases is rising every year - research predicts 1% of the population of Canada will be diagnosed by the year 2030. That's 400,000 people. ⁠
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[Fish Oil/Cod Liver Oil Tip below]⁠
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F***l Calprotectin is a great screening test to help diagnosis and monitor active flare ups. Not invasive, and you can collect the sample at home!⁠
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We know inflammation and and immune dysregulation is involved, but did you know how important the microbiome and 'bad' bacteria can drive inflammatory processes? ⁠
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When I was in naturopathic school, there wasn't much info on the vast number of diets that have now been studied to help with IBD> there were a few new things I learned at last weekend and I'd love to share some tidbits:⁠
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🌱Mediterranean Diet and Low FODMAP diets can improve symptoms⁠
🌱Any diet that feeds your microbiome and raises BUTYRATE in the colon can help reduce inflammation. ⁠
🌱Research supports Guar Gum to improve gut lining and wound healing! (who knew)⁠
🐟Cod Liver Oil can clear out LPS - a bacterial trigger of inflammation in your intestines!! (I'm switching out fish oils for this for some of my IBD patients). It also contains fat soluble vitamins like A and D which are needed for wound healing and immune regulation...⁠
💤sleep is essential and lack of it has been associated with flares. ⁠
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The physiology of IBD is complex and there are many stages of naturopathic treatment. The goal is always to work with the patient and where they are at (including which medications/biologics they may be on), and try to make daily life easier, reduce stress, reduce risk of flare-ups and help safely lower acute bowel irritation.⁠
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There is always something we can be doing to promote health in the bowels. DM me for more info! ❤️

10/07/2019

Stolen Childhood

This is a clip from one of our top professors and clinicians here in Ontario - she was featured in a documentary on PANDAS: infections/brain inflammation that causes neuropsychiatric symptoms in children - so scary for families to go through.
I hope sharing this can help bring awareness!

Here is the story of Dr. Sonya Doherty and her son Rowan!

"When he was 3 he got strep throat and after a round of antibiotics ended, he developed trichotillomania which is a form of OCD where they pull out their hair." - Sonya Doherty

As a naturopathic doctor who had been aware of PANDAS, and had already been treating children with Autism and ADHD, Dr. Doherty took matters into her own hands to learn more about PANDAS and start to treat her son by treating the root cause.



You can also view this video on Youtube at https://youtu.be/yUxujbXNnow

09/27/2019

Plastic teabags release microscopic particles into tea

Oh wow - microplastic is just pervasive. Here’s another source to watch out for my tea drinkers!

Many people are trying to reduce their plastic use, but some tea manufacturers are moving in the opposite direction: replacing traditional paper teabags with plastic ones. Now, researchers have discovered that a soothing cup of the brewed beverage may come with a dose of micro- and nano-sized plasti...

09/01/2019

I promised tips for bloating!⁠
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But first: If you've tried EVERYTHING and SEEN EVERYONE about bloating and digestive issues - please go get evaluated by someone who focuses on gut health!! ⁠
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Knowing when to test for Small Intestinal Bowel Overgrowth, H. Pylori, food sensitivities, parasites, yeast overgrowth - it can be very overwhelming - not to mention EXPENSIVE (if you're in Ontario). Tools are available RIGHT NOW to rule out common causes of bloating and it's a huge relief to my patients to find out more info about their tummy troubles! Spread the word! ⁠
Here are some basics:⁠
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1. Chew your food well, eat mindfully. ⁠
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2. Take a few drops of bitters before meals. ⁠
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3. Deal with constipation: drinking enough water and moving your body are the first steps here. Then you can always try magnesium supplementation and abdominal massage before investigating further. ⁠
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4. Have a trial elimination of common food intolerances and sensitivities. The top ones are: legumes, eggs, wheat/gluten, lactose and fructose. Try eliminating fried or fatty foods as well if you eat these often. You can try one at a time to see if bloating goes away, or you can try a more comprehensive elimination diet - this is always best if you can plan ahead and do it thoughtfully and deliberately. ⁠
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5. Try a Low FODMAP diet. Common FODMAP foods are onions, garlic, cabbage, broccoli, beans, apple, pear - they all contain fermentable fibers and sugars that bacteria will eat and make gas!⁠
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08/28/2019

Bloating. Ugh. ⁠
Where is it coming from? ⁠
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Sometimes all you'll need is a digestive tune-up with lifestyle changes but sometimes you need to investigate whether something bigger is going on. ⁠
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Here are the most common reasons for bloating that I see in my gut-focused practice (from a perspective):⁠
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Constipation and bloating that comes along with it can be part of an pattern. Often, these people have increased pain perception in their gut (called visceral hypersensitivity). ⁠
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Excess gas and discomfort can be a sign that your body has been knocked out of 'rest and digest' mode. You're STRESSED, busy, can't shut off and relax, nor can you produce enough stomach acid or enzymes to break down your food, and it sits there and ferments. ⁠
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Bloating can be a sign that you have a FOOD SENSITIVITY or INTOLERANCE. Maybe certain foods or too much of one kind of fibre or protein makes you hurt. ⁠
Bloating can be related to your HORMONES. Your pre-menstrual progesterone rise causes slow transit times (constipation and bloating), while 'too much' estrogen can cause water retention and bloating. ⁠
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Bloating may also be a sign of DYSBIOSIS - an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in your gut. These bacteria eat and ferment what you eat and produce gas that you can feel! ⁠
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Constant bloating with no let up should be evaluated by your primary care provider. ⁠
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Stay tuned for tips you can try at home to beat the bloat.

08/20/2019

Have you been googling your tummy troubles? Chances are you've heard of - small intestinal bowel overgrowth. It is a condition that is linked to , , and , and . ⁠
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If you have irregular bowel movements ( OR ), excessive burping and gas, progessive throughout the day, and suffer from regular heartburn and nausea - you may want to get tested. ⁠
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A breath test will tell you if bacteria have set up shop in your small intestine - a place that is supposed to be relatively sterile, compared to your colon. These bacteria ferment all the healthy foods you've been eating - think - fermentable fibers and sugars from veggies and fruits - and cause bloating and discomfort. ⁠
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The fist step is finding out if you have it. Then if you test positive:⁠
1. prep your body for treatment⁠
2. eliminate the bacterial overgrowth with herbs or antibiotics⁠
3. heal the gut, starve out remaining bacteria with diet changes. ⁠
4. Prevent relapse. ⁠
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Any questions?? Ask away!! :)⁠
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08/16/2019

Does eating healthier make you feel worse?⁠⁠⁠⁠
Sometimes it's not a one-size-fit-all approach to gut health. Healthy foods are higher in fiber - which is a common aggravator of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Small Intestinal Bowel Overgrowth. Yeesh, no?⁠⁠⁠
Often my patients will come in and say - "I feel the best eating white bread and potatoes. This can't be right!" And I agree - foods that are devoid of micro and macro nutrients may help you feel less bloated and keep washroom breaks in check - but NOT ideal for the long term. ⁠⁠⁠⁠
If something's strange in your intestinal neighborhood, who you gonna call? A gut detective! Ask about the tests and diets that investigate the cause of your peculiar gut reactions. ⁠
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07/24/2019

July 24th is International Self-Care Day in Canada - symbolizing that the benefits of caring for yourself can be felt 7 days a week, 24 hours per day. Looking after yourself impacts your community, the people you interact with everyday. ⁠
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Caring for your own physical and emotional needs is a struggle for people grappling with their mental health - for obvious reasons - Depression and anxiety siphons off your energy, motivation, confidence, and the executive functioning part of your brain (that is in control of your reasoning, judgment and problem-solving) is not working up to s***f. ⁠
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Here's a few things I'm working on for my self-care routine - and have seen a huge change in myself and my family over time:⁠
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1. Starting with small easy things - noticing things I like - either about myself or about where I am and what I'm doing - and focusing on it. ⁠
2. Watching what I say to myself - noticing any automatic thoughts that aren't helpful and what triggers them. ⁠
3. Using all 5 senses - to create a relaxing and grounding mini-break! Experts agree that this works, either in the moment or planned ahead of time. At bedtime I set up a sensory 'spa' so I look forward to getting to bed at a decent time - I use headphones and have a guided meditation I like, have an essential oil ready to sniff, the lighting is perfect with my new 'smart lamp' and finally have nice pillows that support my neck. This has helped me get some necessary extra ZZZs instead of blowing off an early bedtime for mindless reasons!. ⁠
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What have you found has made a big difference for you or your family?⁠
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07/20/2019

It's as hot as Delhi out there! My daughter literally cried when I said we had to walk home in the sun (she's two, but I totally got her mood). Whether it's homemade popsicles or electrolyte powders in your water - keep hydrated folks, and take care of your human children, your pet children and your vulnerable neighbours! ❤️❤️⁠
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06/12/2019

Keep Calm and Have an Epic Bowel Movement⠀
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You can't treat a digestive issue without dealing with stress. You CANNOT. Here is where the modern medical system fails us. When you go see a , there is no discussion of your nervous system, stress management or anxiety or depression. There's is not even any discussion of diet and nutrition. How do I know? I used to be a patient, and then I focused the last 8 years of my practice seeing patients with IBS-like symptoms and have had all the tests and seen all the specialists. ⠀
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STRESS can negatively affect your gut by decreasing blood flow to the area and reducing stomach acid and enzymes that help break down your food, kill off bad germs, and signal your gut to move and function properly. ⠀
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Anxiety can tend to increase our intestinal motility (read, loose stool) and depression (generally) leads to constipation. These changes in stomach acid and motility can all lead to downstream issues of , , h. pylori infections...you name it. This is why I focus so much on , , and nervous system health if people come to me tummy troubles. ⠀
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How do you manage your stress and activate your 'rest and digest' system? Bonus points if you have incorporated some sort of daily management practice ;)⠀
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06/11/2019

Tip #6: Stay Boring, and Have a Hum-Drum ROUTINE. ⠀
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Ok, you don't have to be boring - but a regular schedule to wake, eat meals and sleep will have a powerful effect on your health. This is definitely a sticking point for a lot of my busy patients with lots of stuff going on. ⠀
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Fact: Your gut microbes and intestines run on their own circadian rhythm. Disrupting this rhythm can make our intestinal cells vulnerable to injury and increase our risk of and :(⠀
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Evidence points to 3 major ways we disrupt our gut rhythms:⠀
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1. Eating meals at erratic times or late at night. ⠀
2. Eating a SAD diet (processed foods, not a lot of veg/fruit/whole foods). ⠀⠀
3. Disturbed sleep - waking up multiple times/shift work. ⠀
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The great news is that we have a certain amount of control over these factors. We can set our digestion (and so many other things) up for success:⠀
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1. Have regularly scheduled meals (whether your intermittent fasting or eating every 3-4 hours) and avoid eating past 8pm⠀
2. Eat a diet (with a high variety of plant foods)⠀
3. Practice good and get to bed on time. Seriously, dude. Sleep.⠀
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05/16/2019

I need your help! I'm drafting a super amazing talk I am going to take on tour to help people with Gastrointestinal issues to think about IBS differently and tell people about NEW strategies to address their discomfort and issues!

What OPENING LINE HOOKS YOU in the best??

OPTION 1: Probiotics are not going to solve your problems.
OPTION 2: Your bowels don't have to control your life.

05/13/2019

Hello. I'd love to have a (free) 20 min sit-down with you to give you options for taking your health to the NEXT LEVEL. We have some NEXT LEVEL tests and programs rolling out soon! Don't hesitate to ask me any questions :)

04/26/2019

TBT: Becoming a mother was one of the most profound experiences in my life. It changed my psychology. The way I viewed myself. The way I viewed my role in the world and my role with others. The way I viewed my career paths and future goals. ⁣
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It's been a long 5 years of learning and evolving! But man, what I've gained is EXPONENTIAL love and growth. 💓And 2 humans who love to dance and snuggle.💓⁣
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My mindsets have slowly shifted to adapt to performing WHILE being a parent of young children. Here is what I'm working on to stay sane:⁣
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1. Tracking and celebrating "Wins". ⁣
2. Progress and growth is a win. ⁣
3. Perfection is not a goal. Growth is. ⁣
4. Where you are is not who your are. Solidifying who I *really* am, and what I *really* value.⁣
5. I am good enough and have all that I need to deal with any S&% # that comes our way. ⁣
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Who are you? What do you value? ⁣
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04/23/2019

Do you work...while you eat meals?? Back to Basics digestive health tip #5 is all about being in a zen state while you eat - it's a thing. How To guide for busy people is below - because you don't have 5 minutes to contemplate a banana. ⁣
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Stress impacts your digestion. Your body flips on your sympathetic nervous system, which essentially suppresses digestion and healing. Because you need to mobilize energy stores to run away from that bear - fight or flight mode, right? The PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM turns on your 'rest and digest' factors. ⁣
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The first stage of digestion is started BEFORE you put food in your mouth! It's called the CEPHALIC PHASE, and it is thought to account for 30-40% of your digestive response to food! It begins with the BRAIN anticipating food through your 5 senses. Saliva, enzymes and stomach acid start revving up, and your muscular tubes start grooving to a rhythm to help prepare for digestion and assimilation.⁣
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We know, through research, that your body perceives DISTRACTIONS as stress. And we know that when we mindlessly eat at our desks or on the couch, that we can ignore important hunger/fullness signals or emotional cues that can lead to weight gain, bloating, or malnutrition. ⁣
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So here are 4 tips to eat more mindfully:⁣
1. Eat with others, at set times and set places ⁣
2. Use all 5 senses (when possible) to savour your food⁣
3. When eating, just eat - don't multitask⁣
4. Consider where your food came from while eating it. ⁣
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04/16/2019

Tip #4: Have an Epic Lemon Water for an Epic Bowel Movement. ⁣
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Everyone's doing it. Squeezing lemon in their water and drinking it. Do you know why? Are you doing it right? Oooooh I love telling people why! Recipe below!⁣
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Firstly - it's good to just rehydrate after a long period of not drinking anything. You've just woken up from a (hopefully) restful sleep where your BRAIN has just shrunk and flushed out toxins (I'm not crazy - google that Scientific American article) and your body's immune system and liver has been working hard to help you recover and clean shop. A few glasses of H2O can help flush the waste out from the night's cleaning session, and can boost your ALERTNESS, and fend of feeling SLUGGISH. ⁣
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Secondly - there is the GASTROCOLIC REFLEX which stimulates a mass movement of stool through your colon when water fills the stomach and activates stretch receptors!⁣
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But the lemon twist is that BITTER essential oils from the lemon PEEL stimulates a cascade of events that improve your whole digestive functioning. It increases enzyme production and stomach acid - to help digest and absorb food while killing germs; it stimulates bile flow to help digest fats and lubricates the bowels; it also increases gastric emptying - making sure food doesn't sit in the stomach and ferment - causing tons of gas and bloating! ⁣
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RECIPE: To make sure you maximize these amazing bitter benefits - chop the lemon and soak it overnight in a jug - leave it at room temp and drink away first thing! Sip on it all day for continuing benefits!⁣
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