Tips For Adrenal Support

For many years I had very low adrenal function. During that time we learned about things I could do to help my adrenals. So for anyone dealing with adrenal stress or fatigue, here are some tips that might help.


1) Drink a glass of warm salt-water every morning.
I usually put in enough salt that I can taste it, but not so much that it tastes bad. If I was feeling a lot of stress on my adrenals, I sometimes did this up to three times a day. Just be sure to use a good salt, like a mediterranean sea salt, celtic sea salt, etc. (It's the refined table salt that can be bad for blood pressure, etc., because of the way it's been processed.)

2) Do deep breathing.
There are different ways you can do this. I like to do deep breathing while standing. I simply raise my arms over my head while inhaling deeply. Then I hold the breath for a second before slowly exhaling while lowering my arms. You can also do deep breathing while lying on your back. Inhale deeply into your diaphragm, then into your lungs. Hold for a second, then exhale from the lungs and then from the diaphragm. Deep breathing helps boost oxygen and also helps de-stress the body.

3) Get to bed by 10 pm.
This is really important for adrenal function. For years I literally couldn't stay up past 10:00, because my body just quit then. Now that my adrenal function is so much better, I can stay up later. But I still feel better when I get to bed earlier. I know it can be challenging to get to bed early, just do the best you can. =)

4) Have regular lymphatic massage.
This is a specific kind of massage that stimulates the lymphatic system, which is your body's natural detox system. Even a half hour once a week of lymphatic massage can really help your body relax and de-stress, as well as detoxify more effectively.
http://supereigirl.blogspot.com/search?q=lymphatic+massage

5) Spend less time on electronic devices and do grounding often.
The excessive EMF's in the world today do have an affect on the body, especially the adrenals. With adrenal fatigue it's important to minimize EMF exposure. Grounding also helps, which is basically standing barefoot on the ground (as long as it hasn't been sprayed with chemicals like pesticide, etc.). Grounding helps your body release excess EMF's that have built up and also is considered to have strong anti-inflammatory results. People who do grounding regularly usually find they sleep better as well.

6) Try organic dark chocolate.
My doctor started me on organic dark chocolate when my adrenal function was very low. I still eat one or two small squares, usually 2-3 times a day. You can also get a powdered organic chocolate (unsweet) that mixes in water. Organic dark chocolate has many health benefits. Just remember to use it in small portions and get it unsweet or with very low sugar content.

7) Include key supplements.
The most important supplements for me have been vitamin C, magnesium, and B-complex. A good probiotic can also be helpful, but it can be challenging to find one that works for you. You can read my previous post for more info about that.
http://supereigirl.blogspot.com/2017/04/importance-of-probiotics.html

8) Avoid caffeine, sugar, and toxic foods.
These things may seem to give you a temporary fake energy, but they actually put stress on the adrenals, as well as the liver, gut, etc. Instead, make sure you're eating enough healthy protein, healthy fats, and good nutrient-rich foods.

9) Minimize stress, and learn to say "No."
This can be hard, but it's important for adrenal recovery. Look at your current situation and decide if there's any commitments you can resign from, any relationships you need to step back from, or any habits you need to let go of in order to reduce stress factors in your life. Practice saying "No, thanks anyway," when you need to.  

10) Laugh a lot and find joy in the small things.
Laughter is a wonderful medicine, take it often! =) Keep a positive attitude and look for the joys in each day. Practice gratitude and contentment. And hold on to hope, knowing that your body is fearfully and wonderfully made, and that with the right tools and healthy choices, it's possible to have healthy adrenal function again.

I hope this is helpful! Do you have any tips you can add?

Yes, This Healthy Stuff Works

This week I wanted to share a few testimonies about some of the simple changes you can make for your health that can have a big impact.

For some people, making simple changes might not yield as noticeable results as it does for others, but even then you can know it's having a positive impact on your body.

So keep up the good work of making healthy choices and living in hope! =)


"One of the best tips Joanna gave me was to drink more water. I found that the simple change of increasing intake of good water (spring water) improved my digestive system, my skin tone and my ability to detox. If you're not drinking enough water (half your body weight in ounces), why not try it? It's a simple, inexpensive habit that can make a world of difference in your health." -Jan

http://supereigirl.blogspot.com/2013/08/water-for-life.html


"For over twenty years I had dealt with a chronic asthma condition, being both allergy and exercise induced. I was daily taking my emergency inhaler and in the later years was even on a steroid as well. When Joanna challenged me to stop using fabric softener in my laundry, I was really just thinking of the benefits of not using a carcinogenic product on me and my family. It wasn't until 6-8 weeks later did I realize that my asthma symptoms had almost completely disappeared. I got off the steroids without a problem and my use of the emergency inhaler went from 3-5 puffs a day to maybe 1-2 puffs a month. I would have never dreamed this one small change could make such a difference in my health and my pocketbook - asthma medicine is expensive!! I encourage other asthmatics often to stop using fabric softener and see the difference it can make!" -Jenn

http://supereigirl.blogspot.com/2017/06/goodbye-fabric-softener.html


"I struggled with getting a good night's sleep for months. I would lie in bed wide awake for hours, often staying awake until 1 or 2 a.m. When I did finally fall asleep, I was not getting the deep restful sleep that my body needed. Joanna sent me several suggestions for sleeping better, and I realized that there were several things that I was doing wrong. The two most obvious mistakes I was making were having the wifi router on the nightstand within one foot of my head, and keeping my cellphone right next to that and it was always on and charging. Although I was somewhat skeptical, I decided to move the wifi box downstairs, and turn the phone off at night. Since then, I have been sleeping much better! The only time I have woken in the middle of the night since then, was a few nights ago when the cat was screaming outside to be let in. Other than that my sleep has been much better. I will be turning the phone off every night from now on." -Jason

http://supereigirl.blogspot.com/2013/09/sleep-sweetly.html


Do you have a testimony to share of a simple health change that made a big difference? Please share with us in the comments. =)

Where In The World Is Joanna?

Hello friends! I hope you are doing well today and staying encouraged in spite of any challenging circumstances.

I'm happy to report that I've had a wonderful summer of travels! I'm still amazed at how far God has brought me! Ten years ago I wouldn't have imagined I'd be able to do all the things I've been doing lately. Praise God!

My friends told me to take a lot of pictures this summer, so I did...I think I've taken over 2000 photos during the last five weeks. =) I thought I'd share some of them here. For me, these photos are a reminder that -
*God hears our prayers.
*We can hold on to hope even when we can't see. 
*God has good plans for us even through the pain.
*Our suffering isn't wasted. 
*God is able to do more than we can ask or imagine!

So here are a bunch of photos of me...I apologize if that's boring for you, haha. I have hundreds of pictures of beautiful scenery, but in this post I want to give God glory for what He's done for me and all the places He's taking me...places I didn't dream I'd be able to go. I hope this encourages you that God also has good plans for you, He does hear your prayers, and He will bring something good from your suffering.

God bless you!

Scotland 

The beach at St. Andrews is lovely! 

I enjoyed visiting the Edinburgh museum.

Enjoying the park with friends.

 

Yes, that's me on a slide! =) 

  

It was so cold in the Scottish Highlands! But worth it for the incredible view! 

 

We visited a wild animal park. The tigers were impressive!

I love this beautiful waterfall in the countryside!

Northern Ireland 

Visiting Glenariff, a breathtakingly beautiful place!

Waterfalls!!!

My friend and tour guide, Alan. =) 

Me riding on a train from Belfast! It was actually pretty fun. =)

Going on a hike, believe it or not. =) 

 

Visiting the village of Carnlough on the coast.

Getting ready to ride horses in County Down!!!

I tried to get my horse to stand still for the photo, but she loved to go! =) 

My new buddy, "Bud."

So enjoyed seeing the Mountains of Mourne and the beach at Newcastle again. 

(I was there in 2000 and loved it!)

 Norway 

Taking the ferry to the islands in the Oslo Fjord. Loved it!

 

Visited some ancient ruins from the 1100's, quite an experience. 

The view over Oslo and the fjord is amazing! 

Picnic at the harbor in Holmestrand.

 

So enjoyed the botanical gardens in Oslo. 

 

Stopping to smell the roses. =) 

View from the Opera House in downtown Oslo, with a glacier sculpture in the background.

We found a sweet little bridge up on a hillside. =)

Downtown Oslo, the city of the tiger.

 

I crossed this bridge several times while in Olso.

 

Practicing my ski jump position. =) 

Sweden 

 

Visited a friend's art and music store. Loved it! 

  

Still so much to see! 

And now I'm heading back to Florida today. It's hard to say goodbye to all these special places and the wonderful people I've been blessed to spend time with. I'm so thankful for God's many gifts! And I'm looking forward to what He has in store for me next. =)

"Think And Eat Yourself Smart"

This is the title of Dr. Caroline Leaf's latest book. She is a brilliant neuroscientist whose books and videos have helped me learn so much about healthy living.

Here's a little video of her being interviewed about the content in this book, "Think And Eat Yourself Smart." I think it's very helpful and explains what's happening today.

Please take a few minutes to watch, and then leave me a comment with your thoughts. =)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ktt6F6uVkiQ

Frankincense Oil - A Powerful Tool For Healing

If you already use essential oils, then you probably know what a great tool frankincense oil is for healing.

If you haven't tried essential oils yet, then maybe you'll want to give frankincense oil a try.

I started using it over a year ago, and I'm so thankful for its many benefits!

Frankincense oil has helped my body in several ways - balancing hormones, fighting inflammation, boosting immune system, improving mood, etc.

I don't usually use it everyday because it is a fairly strong oil, and because it does cost more than other oils. So far I haven't ingested it, as some experts advise caution about ingesting essential oils. But using it topically, orally, and diffusing it are all very helpful uses of it. It's a very versatile and effective oil that I'm thankful I can benefit from.

If you are extremely sensitive to any smell at all, then frankincense oil may have too strong of a fragrance for you (event though it's natural). When I had extreme smell sensitivity, I wasn't able to use it. However, now I really enjoy its fragrance.

I encourage you to read this detailed article on the many benefits and uses of frankincense oil, (it also includes recipes for using it in home and skin care products). 

https://draxe.com/what-is-frankincense/

Goodbye Fabric Softener

I've posted about fabric softener before, but I felt compelled to revisit it again this week. In the last few months I've traveled a lot and stayed in various homes and hotels. I've found that even worse than pesticide or perfume exposure, what bothers me even more is toxic fabric softener. This product contains so many harmful chemicals, including known carcinogens (cancer-causing agents). It is mind-boggling to me that anyone still uses this product. But I realize that many people simply don't know what's in it and how dangerous it is. 

If there was ONE change I could convince people to make for their health, it would be - say goodbye to fabric softener (or switch to a natural alternative...see the article below). 

For those of you who understand this issue, please continue to share the facts with others as you have opportunity. And if you've never heard about this, please consider the following information and make an informed decision for your own health and family.

Dangers of Fabric Softener

The facts on fabric softeners are undeniable, yet millions of people still use this dangerous product. 

Some people simply have no idea about the harmful chemicals they're exposing themselves to. Other people ignore the dangers, saying, "I want my clothes to be soft." 

It grieves me to think that anyone would chose "soft" clothes over protecting their families' health from carcinogens, respiratory irritants, chemicals and toxins.

Unfortunately, the people who use fabric softener aren't the only ones who suffer from this unhealthy choice. 

- For years I felt the harmful effects of my neighbor's fabric softener almost daily as it came from her dryer vent through our front and back yards. 

- Many children, who have no idea of the dangers, are wearing toxic clothes laundered with fabric softener. 

- People who work in hospitality industries are exposed to these toxic products daily. 

So if fabric softener is so dangerous, why is it still sold everywhere? Where is regulation, you ask? I can't answer why so many toxic products are still approved for sale, but I can assure you that the research has been done and the facts are clear. 

Fabric softener contains known carcinogens (cancer-causing agents), respiratory irritants, toxins that cause nervous system disorders, as well as substances that are listed on the EPA's Hazardous Waste list. 

Fabric softener is a toxic cocktail that becomes even more dangerous when heated, and which is made to last a VERY long time. It absorbs into the skin (through clothes and bedding) and wreaks all kinds of havoc in the body. 

If you know someone with asthma, this is the first change I recommend for them to make. One of my friends said that after quitting using fabric softener, her asthma improved dramatically! Another friend had chronic hives for months, which completely cleared up once he stopped using fabric softener. The list of possible problems from using fabric softener goes on and on, not to mention the long-term effects it has on people.

 

I hope by now I've either convinced you to avoid this harmful product, or inspired you to share the facts with others you know who still use fabric softener.

 

For more information on this topic, here's a helpful article by Dr. Mercola that shares some of the dangers of fabric softener and also lists easy and inexpensive natural alternatives. 

 

There are a lot of unavoidable toxins in our environment. Let's not add anything unnecessarily to that load. Let's keep spreading the word so that more people can make healthy choices and live well.

 

The Low-Fat Myth

You've probably noticed that many foods in the grocery store now seem to have a "low-fat" option. Supposedly, less fat is healthier.

This emphasis on "low-fat" everything is actually a myth. In fact, "fat" is a healthy thing, when we understand it properly.

If we look at it logically, foods like dairy products, meat, etc. are naturally full of fat. But today, people take those foods and artificially extract most of the fat from it. Then they call it "healthier" than the original state of the food. Does that sound logical?

For thousands of years people ate food in its naturally occurring form, and they didn't have the strange health conditions that are common today.

The truth is that our bodies need fat. They just need healthy, naturally occurring fats. They don't need man-made fats, such as margarine, hydrogenated oils, etc.

If God created something for us to eat, I think He knew how it was supposed to be in order to be healthy for our bodies.

Healthy fats, such as grass-fed butter, coconut oil, grass-fed beef, etc. are foods that people have consumed for generations. And they have many health benefits.

Basically, when deciding what is a healthy fat or non-healthy fat, we can stick with what God has created, versus what man has manufactured somehow.

The body needs healthy fat for many functions, including the ability to repair itself as well as maintaining a healthy weight.

In my case, after years of health problems my herbalogist actually told me to eat a spoonful of natural ice cream every day. At that point my body had difficulty consuming fat, even though I needed it desperately. So I started with that one spoonful of ice cream, and gradually I was able to start consuming coconut oil, butter, etc. Even now, some days I can feel that I haven't been getting enough healthy fat. Then I'll eat some organic greek yogurt or even a spoonful of coconut oil to get some quick healthy fat. It's amazing how much better I feel when I'm consuming adequate amounts of healthy fat.

If you'd like to read more about this topic, here's an article by Dr. Mercola about healthy fats.
http://www.mercola.com/nutritionplan/beginner_fats.htm

If you have questions, please leave a comment for me. I hope you'll look into this and discover what a great tool healthy fats can be for your health and wellness!