Some Helpful Products

I’ve been trying to eat really healthy again lately (after a few months of not being able to for various reasons). As I’ve shopped and read labels and explored, I’ve found a few products that have been helpful for me. So I thought I’d share them in case you’ve also been looking for such things. =)

Protein bars:

RX Bars – I was so happy to find these because they don’t have preservatives and junk in them! They come in several different flavors, including blueberry, chocolate mint, etc. They are pretty chewy, so if you have teeth problems they might not work for you. They also have egg whites, so might not work for those with egg allergies. I like that they have very few ingredients and taste good. They are great to carry with you if you need quick protein, or to have as a snack throughout the day.

*Most grocery stores now carry these. Walmart and Target also sell them by the box instead of as individual bars.

Kefir:

I found a brand of water kefir called Kevita that I really like. It’s carbonated, and it’s sweetened with stevia, so that might not work for some people. The taste is good, though it’s got a bit of a zing to it. There are various flavors, and each one contains different ingredients, so be sure to read the label and make sure you’re ok with the specific ingredients. Some of them have acai or coconut, apple cider vinegar, etc. I don’t usually drink the whole bottle, and so far I’m not drinking one every day. But even with that, it seems to be helpful for me.

*Many grocery stores carry this brand, as well as Whole Foods and some Target stores. It’s usually with the other fermented drinks such as kombucha, etc. (Watch the expiration dates though, as some may have sat on the shelf too long.)

Yogurt:
I’ve had a hard time finding healthy yogurt. One brand that I liked was discontinued. Another kind became very hard to find. So recently I’ve been eating the Stoneyfield organic yogurt for babies, called Yo Baby. It comes in a 6-pack of small servings and has various flavor options, such as peach/pear or apple/blueberry, as well as plain. It has very few ingredients and not too much sugar, so it's been a good option for me lately. 

*Many grocery stores and some Walmart stores carry it.

Probiotics:

Garden of Life brand has a children’s chewable probiotic called Organic Kids+ that I’ve been using lately. Especially if you don’t like to swallow pills, these are easy to take. They do have several ingredients in addition to probiotics, so read the whole label and make sure you’re ok with all of the ingredients. I’m not taking these every day, but I rotate them with another probiotic, and that seems to work well for me. They do need to be refrigerated.

*You can find these at Whole Foods or online (or maybe at your local health food store).

Chocolate:

Bark Thins snacking chocolate has become a favorite this year. These dark chocolate snacks come in different options – chocolate covered almond, coconut, pumpkin seed, etc. The different options have varying sugar content, so be sure it's not too much sugar for you. Also, some of them contain rice ingredients. But in general they seem to be a pretty healthy chocolate snacking option, definitely better than candy bars, etc.

*Most grocery stores, Walmart, and Target now stock these.

Tortillas:

If you’re not gluten-free, but you want to avoid yeast, Mission tortilla brand now has organic options. They have organic white flour and organic whole wheat flour tortillas. They aren’t completely free of preservatives, but short of making my own, they’ve been a good option for me.   

*These are a little harder to find, but some grocery stores and some Target stores carry them.

I hope this is helpful. I'm thankful for these options that are helping me eat healthier and still enjoy what I eat! =) 

Treatment For Lyme Disease

I wrote a post about this back in 2014, and since then I've met even more people struggling with lyme, or wondering if they have lyme. So I wanted to share this information again. I hope it will help someone in need today.


Help For Lyme Disease

It seems like almost every week I hear of another person with serious health problems where lyme disease is either diagnosed or suspected. I also have friends whose lyme disease went undiagnosed or untreated for many years and they are still suffering with it. 

The good news is that I know a doctor who is successfully treating lyme disease naturally - without months of antibiotics, drugs, IV's or other stressful methods. I've mentioned Dr. Smith several times because he's one of the doctors who helped me significantly in 2009 (and since then as well). He successfully treated me for various infections (viruses, bacteria, parasites, etc.), as well as allergies. Several years ago he also developed a method for treating lyme. 

Here's a testimony from a friend of mine about Dr. Smith:

"Hi Joanna! Several of my friends that have lymes have also used him (Dr. Smith) and have had HUGE success. I'm also waaaay improved so I'd love to recommend him to your friends. He also has a good website called lymestop.com if they want more info about the treatment and about contacting him and stuff." -A.

Dr. Smith's website is very well done. I encourage you to read all through it. You'll find testimonies, a symptom sheet to see if it's likely you have lymes, an explanation of the treatment, Dr. Smith's story of how he developed this method, his podcast interview about it, and more.

http://www.lymestop.com/

I know Dr. Smith personally, and I believe that the treatment methods he's developed are an amazing gift from God for this time when so many people desperately need them. They truly saved my life. My mom and I still use his CBT method when needed to treat for allergies, infections, etc. Since I saw him in 2009, he has improved and refined his treatment for lyme. I'm very impressed with all his research and how he is able to treat the various problems - the lyme, any co-infections, parasites, allergies, etc. - all at the same time...all without drugs or antibiotics. It's truly amazing!

(His treatment method works by activating the body's own immune system and ability to heal. You can read more details on his website.)

The lyme treatment takes a few days and has a flat fee around $3,000 I think. This covers all the appointments and treatments needed (for lyme, parasites, viruses, allergies, etc.), as well as a three-month supply of whatever supplements you need to take after the treatment. Comparatively speaking, this cost is very reasonable and definitely worth it for better health. (Some people spend more than $20,000 on lyme treatments, which often aren't successful.)

I can tell you about two people I know personally who have been treated for lyme by Dr. Smith. One of them is almost back to 100% normal function! The other person's health is much improved, though still dealing with some other chronic issues that needed to be addressed. 

Dr. Smith's office schedules apptoinments for lyme treatment several months in advance (because it takes 3 days to complete the treatment, and because so many people are coming for it). The office staff are very kind and helpful, so feel free to call with any questions. They aren't in the office every day, but they will return messages as soon as they can. 

If you know someone with lyme, please feel free to share this information with them. I hope and pray that many more people will find help and healing sooner rather than later. 

If you or someone you know has lyme, please don't put off making decisions about it. Please prayerfully consider this option. It's the only treatment I'm aware of where people are actually improving and recovering long-term. (Some lyme treatments seem to help in the short-term, but often symptoms return as bad or worse than before.) 

And please keep praying for anyone you know who has lyme. It's a serious problem today. May God continue to sustain, strengthen, and give help and healing. 

Blessings,

-Joanna  

P.S. I'm sorry I wasn't able to do a post last week. I thought I'd post this one today, then I'll try to get back to my regular schedule next Thursday. =)