STRESS Biologically AGES You: Learn WHY and HOW you can turn it back.

The New Biological Clock: How you can turn it back

Guest Post:  Thea Singer, Telomere Expert

Every stress leaves an indelible scar, and the organism pays for its survival after a stressful situation by becoming a little older.

Telomeres sit on the very tips of our 46 chromosomes, which are the threadlike bodies in the nucleus of cells that carry our genes. Telomeres have been compared to the plastic tips on the end of shoelaces—they protect the chromosome from being damaged. As cells replicate, which many do constantly, the telomeres wear down. In healthy times, the enzyme telomerase comes to the rescue, topping off the fraying ends with dabs of telomere DNA; otherwise the cells would stop replicating and die. But telomerase production slows with age; generally speaking, older people have shorter telomeres than younger ones. So do people living with constant stress, Nobel Prize winner Elizabeth Blackburn and UCSF health psychologist Elissa Epel found.

In the above illustration, the yellowish tips are the telomeres. As you can see, each time the cell divides—one cell becomes two, two become four, and so on—the telomere gets shorter. That's what makes telomeres a marker of biological aging—their length indicates the age of our cells. Research shows that people who perceive themselves as being under chronic stress have shorter telomeres by a shocking 10 years or more. But as my book, STRESS LESS, shows, there are many research-backed interventions you can do yourself to slow or even reverse that aging process.

Margie E. Lachman’s office at Brandeis University, where she is a professor and the chair of the Department of Psychology, is enormous and sunlit. Impressionist oil paintings on loan from the school’s famous Rose Art Museum illuminate the walls, and gifts from students—glass flowers, a model of a Vietnamese “longevity” turtle—rest alongside a blue and yellow tin of Lucy’s Predic-a-Mints, of I Love Lucy fame. Lachman, a cheerful, wholesome-looking woman with rectangular glasses and dark wavy hair swept up in a silver barrette, clearly mixes whimsy with her academic rigor.

Lachman specializes in the area of life span development, including the sense of control we feel we have (or don’t have) in adulthood and old age. She was one of the original investigators on the massive study Midlife in the United States (MIDUS I), launched in 1995 to explore the health and well-being of more than seven thousand Americans, and she continues as an investigator on the study’s ten-year follow-up, MIDUS II.

I’m talking with Lachman to try to understand why we baby-boomer women may be the most stressed-out beings on the planet. “Stress is highest in young adulthood and midlife,” Lachman writes in the scientific paper that brought me here. These adults, she continues, “experienced more frequent overload stressors, especially involving children and financial risk.”

Why might that be? For starters, midlife in general presents unprecedented challenges, say social scientists, leaving us more vulnerable to day-to-day stressors from the get-go. It’s at midlife that we become aware of our mortality. Our bodies are no longer under our control the way they once were: no more reversing Friday night’s chocolate-cake binge with one day of Boca burgers and egg whites. Our health—and that of our partners—is increasingly precarious. “We find that a lot of people, as they get older, think that aging is just this inevitable, irreversible process of decline,” Lachman tells me, noting that such thinking can work against us. Lachman knows whereof she speaks: She’s a baby boomer herself—one of the forty-two million women between the ages of forty and fifty-nine living in the United States, according to U.S. Census Bureau data from 2005. It’s a group that comprises more than fourteen percent of the total American population. “The beliefs that people hold regarding aging really do have an impact in terms of how they behave and how they react and what the actual outcomes are,” she says. “People who feel that they are not in control of aging actually look different from people who feel that they are.”

No control. It lies at the heart of everything stressful, to a greater or lesser degree. The economy is in terrible shape. We (and our graying mates) are losing our jobs—maybe even struggling to hold on to our homes. We are caring for growing children with one hand and aging parents with the other, while also trying to save for those kids’ college and our own retirement. A survey from the Pew Research Center on the “Sandwich Generation” presents the stark stats: A quarter of women—particularly those between the ages of thirty and fifty—reported caring for a parent or other older relative. A whopping fifty-four percent of those in such a caregiving role said it caused them “at least some stress,” and twenty percent of that group said they were under “a lot of stress.”

Also adding to the burden is the fact that most of us work outside the home for economic reasons, even as we continue to do the lion’s share of housekeeping and child care (we’re expected to bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan, to paraphrase the old Enjoli perfume ad). Compounding the pressure is that our workplaces are often unsupportive of our multiple roles. If we work on our own as consultants, as more and more of us do as companies shrink, we also have to deal with the loss of work camaraderie and hours of social isolation. (And no, Facebook, virtual office that it can be, does not replace that chat by the watercooler.)

And unlike other generations, we cut ourselves little slack. Boomer women essentially invented the Superwoman syndrome—we would do it all, for everyone, and do it well. Now, at midlife, we’re taking stock, questioning whether we’ve achieved what we could or “should” have—and invariably beating ourselves up for falling short. Baby-boomer women “even made parenting a competitive sport,” notes Cornell University’s Elaine Wethington, a medical sociologist specializing in stress and midlife, in an article in the university’s publication Human Ecology. “It wasn’t enough to have and raise children. They had to have perfect children.”

Such demands can have a steep price: One of Wethington’s recent studies shows that a quarter of American women have had at least one episode of depression—a rate twice that of men.

It’s not just the major stressors that do us in—job loss, death of loved ones, long-term debt. The daily hassles—family fights, traffic, work deadlines—take their toll, too, piling up like bumper-to-bumper cars on a weak bridge. David M. Almeida, Ph.D., a developmental psychologist at Pennsylvania State University, has subjects in his studies fill out daily stress diaries over various periods of time so he can assess how overloads occur. In a weeklong study, he and colleague Melanie C. Horn, Ph.D., found that young adults and those at midlife reported more days with stressors, more days with multiple stressors, and more frequent “overload stressors” than older folks did. More support for Lachman’s contention. I wasn’t surprised.

“It’s at midlife when we are pulled in many directions in terms of being responsible for others, from our own children to our aging parents,” says Almeida. “It’s also a time when we’re more likely to be in management positions at work. All of these things expose us to more ‘danger’ events, the most prevalent types of stressors.” Danger events, he explains, are those that lead us to worry about the future—for example, hearing that the company’s revenues are down just when your son goes off to college, or that your mother, two hundred miles away in New Jersey, has been taken to the emergency room by ambulance. “We’re in the driver’s seat, which supposedly would give us more control,” he says. “But we also have more responsibility.”

Such repeated stress frazzles us. It makes us snap at our partners and kids—even growl at the dog. It keeps us awake at night and clouds our professional judgment. We’ve known for years that it puts us at greater risk for any number of diseases. What we didn’t know until now is that it actually physically ages us, all the way down to the DNA in our cells.

It was through such stressed women—they were caring for their chronically ill children—that2009 Nobel Prize-winning cell biologist Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Ph.D., and health psychologist Elissa S. Epel, Ph.D., both at the University of California, San Francisco, made the groundbreaking discovery from which this book sprang: that chronic stress literally gnaws at our DNA—its tips, or telomeres, to be precise—speeding up the rate at which our cells age by an alarming ten years or more.

The implications are clear: For us midlifers, stress has become the new biological clock.

Yet, as the research in this book will also show, there’s good news to go along with that shocking discovery—ways that we can slow, and even turn back, that relentless timepiece. For the Epel and Blackburn findings also reveal that what matters in cell aging is the level of perceived stress, which means that the antidote lies, significantly, in our own hands—or, more precisely, in our minds and our behaviors.

Of course, no scientist would ever suggest that we eliminate stress, whether psychological or biological. Indeed, as stress guru Bruce S. McEwen, Ph.D., puts it, if we got rid of stress, “we’d be dead.” Director of the neuroendocrinology laboratory at the Rockefeller University, in New York City, McEwen has been a leader in the study of stress for decadess, training generations of young scientists who make up a veritable who’s who of stress researchers.

Temporary, or acute, stress, in fact, can be very good for us. Exercise is a prime example. Researchers such as Gordon J. Lithgow, Ph.D., at California’s Buck Institute for Age Research, have shown that acute stress can even extend lifespan. Lithgow, a lanky, enthusiastic man with a broad forehead and inquisitive eyes, studies stress and aging in that most elemental of beings, single-celled worms (C. elegans). He’s shown that acute stressors—say, increased temperature for several hours—enable the worms to live up to thirty percent longer than their nonheated peers. How so? The added heat perturbs the homeostasis, or internal constancy, of the worm’s single cell. The cell in response kicks out what are called heat shock proteins, which, in a process called hormesis, causes the cell to metaphorically thicken its skin, making it better able to withstand future insults that could contribute to its demise. (We have homeostatic systems, too, as you may recall from high school biology. An example is body temperature: We operate at full throttle only when it’s near that constant 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.)

Why do we care about stress in, of all things, worms? Scientists in search of so-called longevity genes—such as the University of Michigan’s Richard A. Miller, Ph.D.; the University of Washington’s Matt R. Kaeberlein, Ph.D.; and Harvard’s David A. Sinclair, Ph.D. — rely heavily on the fact that many cellular responses to stress are conserved throughout evolution. Worms may not be us, but the mechanistic lessons from worms may, they believe, apply to us.

Distinctions also split psychosocial stress—the heart-quickening, stomach-tensing kind we automatically associate with the word stress. Many scientists break psychosocial stress into two categories, and limn how our bodies and brains respond differently to each. There’s challenge stress (good for you), which refers to situations we find demanding but for which we have the resources to cope. Waiting in Whistler at the top of the mountain to slalom to Olympic gold—that’s challenge stress, as is (yes!) sex (see Chapter 3). In contrast, threat stress (very bad) refers to situations that are overwhelming, in which we feel helpless in the face of the onslaught. Caring for a chronically ill child, as the subjects in Blackburn and Epel’s research were doing, qualifies as threat stress.

Stanford University neurobiologist Robert M. Sapolsky, Ph.D., another giant in the stress-research world and author of the acclaimed Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, elaborates. “Our goal isn’t to have a life with no stress—anyone ranging from a development psychologist to a gerontologist knows that,” he wrote in an e-mail before our first meeting. “The idea is to have the right amount of stress. So what’s the right amount? Generally, it’s for challenges/stressors that are moderate in severity and transient in duration. And what does that define? Stimulation. ‘Moderate in severity’—it’s not for nothing that three-minute roller-coaster rides aren’t so severe that they rip your internal organs loose. ‘Transient’—it’s not for nothing that roller-coaster rides aren’t three weeks long. Another way of framing what good stress is: circumstances where you voluntarily relinquish a degree of control and predictability in a setting that overall is benevolent. You’re willing to let yourself be utterly out of control as to when the scary thing happens on the movie screen—because you know that the murderer is going to stay on the screen.”

McEwen, for his part, refines the psychosocial stress categories even further. Challenge stress, he says, encompasses both positive stress, in which you have good self-esteem and relish the chance to rise to the challenge, and tolerable stress, in which “something bad happens, but you have good social support and self-esteem, so you have the tools—economic, personal, and so on—to weather the storm.” Finally, there is toxic stress. “That’s the really bad stuff, where you don’t have adequate resources,” he explains. “Maybe you’re poor, maybe you don’t have good social support, maybe you’ve been abused as a child.” These are the folks who may not be able to rebound, and for whom pathology—major depression, for example—may develop. Blackburn and Epel’s caregivers with the shortest telomeres fit there.

Where do you fall on that stress spectrum? To help you find out, I’ve provided a targeted test at the start of each chapter in this book; use the tests together to develop your own stress profile. Questions they’ll help you answer include: What is my personal stress level? Which behaviors of mine increase my stress level and which ones reduce it? How should I change my lifestyle to bring about the latter so I can slow the aging process? These are not cobbled-together pseudoscientific scales but the actual tests used in scientific studies on stress and the behaviors that inform stress: diet, exercise, psychological outlook, social support, sleep, and more. Indeed, many of them come directly from the studies cited in these pages.

The discussions following the tests delve deep into Blackburn and Epel’s groundbreaking research on stress and aging, as well as that of dozens of other scientists whose hours spent bent over pipettes and petri dishes, crunching numbers from intricate surveys, and analyzing the behavior and brain changes of subjects from rats to people provide crucial new insights into our understanding of stress and how it ages us. They also explore the latest science showing how to manage our stress so we can slow the aging process.

Driving this approach is my own understanding of the mind-set of so many midlife women like me: The how-tos of combating stress are not enough—and not only because we are, constitutionally, it seems, dedicated to understanding the why of things, avidly researching our own health concerns both online and in print. It’s also because, for us, meaning begets action. We act not blindly but with definite intention based on reliable, concrete information we’ve dug up ourselves. We are knowledge seekers. Our old mantra, “Don’t trust anyone over thirty,” has become “Don’t trust the experts alone to tell us what we need to know.”

And so, be prepared to take a collaborative journey inside your body and brain to learn what makes your stressed self tick—and how you personally can slow that clock. The study of how stress contributes to our cells’ aging—which Blackburn and Epel opened the door to—is incredibly new. But be assured: By the time you finish this book, you, too, will be comfortably batting around the word telomere at cocktail parties and the gym, and making the lifestyle choices, based on rigorous science, that speak specifically to you. My intent is not to lay out an ironclad program for you to rigorously follow, but rather to let you, the intelligent and informed reader, pick and choose your strategies for reducing stress. After all, lack of control and unpredictability induce stress. What all of us need, now more than ever, is to trust our own good minds to make our own wise choices.

As Margie Lachman told me: “You can’t stop aging, but you can slow or compensate for it—you can prevent certain changes, or at least minimize them.” That’s what control is about. And control over stress and aging is what this book will teach you, on your own terms.

FREE 1 Day Super Green Detox (Guest Post: Young and Raw)

Experiencing sugar cravings, fatigue or an unwanted sloth-like feeling? This one day detox plan was designed to support all of your elimination organs, with a special emphases on liver supporting foods.

Your liver is responsible for doing a large portion of the work when it comes to detoxing your body. By eating foods that help it do its job, you will be facilitating healthy and effective toxin removal.

It is important to rest and nourish yourself while you are detoxing, even if it is just for one day. Take extra time to sleep, read, meditate, do restorative yoga, take a bath or any other activities that feel like nourishment for you. The more you rest and allow your body to heal, the more effective this little detox will be.

Super Green Detox Menu:

Upon Rising: Lemon Basil Vitamin Water Breakfast: Super Greens Smoothie Lunch: Love Your Liver Green Salad Snack: Clean and Green Juice Dinner: Lentil and Cauliflower Detox Soup Before Bed: Herbal Tea

Super Green Detox Recipes:

Lemon Basil Vitamin Water

• 1 litre fresh water
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 5 basil leaves
• pinch Himalayan salt

Instructions: Place your lemon slices, basil leaves and Himalayan salt in your water and allow to sit for 1-12 hours. It can be nice to make this the night before your cleanse to have waiting for you in the fridge when you wake up. The longer you let it sit, the more potent the drink will be.

Why It Works:

• Water: will help to re-hydrate your system after being dehydrated over night.
• Lemon: will kickstart the activity of your liver as well as help to stimulate the emptying of your colon.
• Basil: is a powerful anti-inflammatory herb that will work to help cool and soothe your system which is very important for cleansing and detoxifying.
• Himalayan salt: has all 84 essential trace minerals the body needs to thrive, and it will help to alkalize your body.

Green Super Smoothie

• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1 cup red leaf lettuce
• 2 ribs celery
• 1/3 cup parsley
• 1/3 cup cilantro
• 1 lemon, peeled
• 1 inch piece ginger
• 1 cup water

Instructions: Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth.

Why It Works:

• Berries: will provide essential antioxidants that are crucial to help protect your liver during detox. They are also rich in fibre which will help to cleanse your colon.
• Red Leaf Lettuce: is a slightly bitter green which will stimulate bile production helping to cleanse and clear the liver and gallbladder.
• Celery: will alkalize your system and provide your body with alkaline minerals.
• Parsley: is going to be supporting your kidneys.
• Cilantro: will help to pull heavy metals from your system.
• Lemon: will boost your liver function and the ginger will help to cleanse and clear your whole digestive tract.

Love Your Liver Green Salad

• 2 cups arugula
• 1 cup romaine lettuce
• 1 small beet, grated
• 1 large avocado, pit removed and sliced
• 1 lime, juiced
• option to add oil free balsamic and 2 tbsp. sauerkraut if you wish

Instructions: Place all ingredients in a bowl, toss and enjoy!

Why It Works:

• Arugula and romaine lettuce: will both alkalize your system, help to cleanse and clear your colon as well as providing that bitter taste to help stimulate your liver and gallbladder.
• Beet: is rich in beta-carotene and bioflavonoids, which are essential nutrients for liver detox.
• Avocado: is a precursor for glutathione, which is used in phase two liver detox. It is also rich in other amino acids which are all needed for effective liver detoxification.
• Lime: acts much like lemon in its liver cleansing action.

Clean and Green Juice

• 1/2 green apple
• 3 ribs celery
• 1/2 field cucumber
• 1/3 cup cilantro
• 1/3 cup parsley
• 1 lemon, peeled
• 1 inch piece ginger

Instructions: Run all ingredients through a juicer and enjoy!

Why It Works:

• Apples: are rich in b vitamins which help to support the digestive system and the metabolism.
• Celery: is rich in trace minerals which help to dilate blood vessels, supporting the transportation of wastes from your cells to your liver for removal.
• Cucumber: Cucumber is a super high water content fruit that will help to flush toxins from your system.
• Cilantro: will pull mercury from your body, which is a known neurotoxin
• Parsley: this awesome herb is a bitter green, meaning it will boost bile flow and help cleanse the liver
• Lemon: rich in vitamin C, this fruit will help your body fight any infection it may be dealing with.
• Ginger: is a powerful antibacterial food helping to defend your body from pathogens.

Lentil and Cauliflower Detox Soup:

• 1/2 cup dried lentils
• 1/2 head cauliflower, chopped
• half-inch piece fresh turmeric root, minced fine (or use 1/4 tsp dried)
• 2 cups water
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder or 1 garlic clove
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Instructions: Place your lentils, cauliflower, turmeric root water and spices in a pot and bring to a boil. Allow to cook for 15-20 minutes or until your lentils are tender. Remove from the heat. Add your apple cider vinegar.  Enjoy!

Why It Works:

• Lentils: will provide your body will the needed amino acids so that it can detox properly.
• Cauliflower: is a cruciferous vegetable which means it is rich in sulfur compounds.  These compounds are amazing for protecting the body from cancer as well as aiding in efficient liver detox.
• Turmeric root: contains a compound called curcumin which helps to slow down phase one liver detox, and stimulate phase two. This is a good thing because for most people phase two liver detox can be sluggish and this can lead to poor detoxification.
• The apple cider vinegar: will help to cleanse your whole system including your liver, gallbladder and digestive system.

Herbal Tea - Your choice:

• Chamomile
• Liquorice
• Lavender
• Passion Flower
• Valerian Root
• Lemon Balm

Instructions: Steep your tea in 1 cup of hot water and sip slowly before bed.

Why It Works: All of the above herbs have individual health benefits, though the one thing they all have in common is they are nourishing and replenishing to the adrenals and promote calm and relaxation. The reason we recommend them is because they are all calming and soothing for the nervous system and will help you to fall asleep and rest well.

Shopping lists:

Veggies

• 2 cups arugula
• 1 avocado
• 1 small beet
• 1 head cauliflower
• 5 ribs celery
• 1 field cucumber
• 1 cup red leaf lettuce
• 1 cup romaine lettuce

Fruits

• 1 green apple
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• 3 lemon
• 1 lime

Fresh Herbs

• 5 basil leaves
• 1 bunch cilantro
• 2 inch piece ginger
• 1 bunch parsley
• 1 inch piece fresh turmeric root (or use 1/4 tsp dried)

Dried Herbs

• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Nuts/Seeds/Legumes

• 1/2 cup dried lentils

Grocery

• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• pinch Himalayan salt
• Herbal tea of choice

Guest Post:  Ali Washington Holistic Nutritionist

 Ali is the Resident Holistic Nutritionist for Young and Raw. She came to the natural health field when she was 14, as a way of healing chronic stomach aches, skin issues, weight problems and hormonal imbalances. Years of doctors visits, specialist appointments and conventional medicine had never yielded results, so she tried looking for a natural solution. Going vegan in 2007, and 100% raw shortly after that, she was able to heal her body, and was inspired to share what had helped her so much with others.

Detox and Optimize your Liver (7 reasons and 3 awesome recipes inside!)

Hey Informed Beaute!

Did you know that if you're suffering from a hormonal imbalance, skin problems like acne or eczema, or even if you're feeling more fatigued than usual, this is a sign that your liver needs some love.

Your liver is a control center for detox pathways in the body.

It's constantly filtering out excess toxins, working with the kidney's to detox dangerous chemicals you breathe in from the air, and consume from food and water.

Detox and Optimize your Liver    

Your liver is one of the hardest working organs in your body. Responsible for over 500 functions, your liver performs essential roles in your metabolism, your immune system, your digestive system and your detoxification system.

The liver is most commonly known as the bodies main detox organ.  The liver filters every single quart of blood you have meaning that it is working all day and all night to protect your body from the damage that toxins can do to you.

Your liver is also responsible for filtering and processing all of your hormones. If your liver is not functioning properly it can lead to hormonal imbalances such as excess estrogens, faulty insulin production and more. If you are dealing with any kind of hormonal imbalance focusing some attention on your liver is essential

Liver Detoxification

The liver detoxes your body in two phases:

Phase 1: In phase one, the liver will take a toxin and convert it into a less harmful toxin through either oxidation, reduction or hydrolysis. Simply put, the liver makes something that was once very toxic into something that is less toxic through a chemical reaction. This process does create other toxic byproducts that need to be neutralized through the ingestion of anti-oxidants and in phase two detox.

Phase 2:  In phase two the liver attaches a buffer molecule to the toxin which makes it less toxic still. The toxin is then processed so that it becomes water-soluble which means that the body can now easily excrete it through the urine. Most toxins begin their journey in a fat soluble state which is very hard for the body to excrete.

Both phase one and phase two liver detox must be working optimally and in tandem for safe detoxification to happen. If you are not eating adequate nutrients, if either of the phases is working at a faster pace than the other phase or if you are over loading your system with toxins, you may run into troubles.

7 Reasons You May Need To Detox Your Liver

1. Eating a Diet Rich In Saturated and Processed Fats: If you are eating a lot of processed foods that contain processed fats (think margarine, canola oil, corn oil and peanut oil), fried foods, or lots of non organic animal foods your liver will be working over time. That is because these foods all need to be processed by the liver and they are hard to break down and digest.  They also produce lots of toxic byproducts when being digested.

2. Eating A Diet Rich In Processed Carbohydrates: In the same way that processed fats can over tax the liver, processed carbohydrate foods like white breads, white pastas, sugary drinks and candies all demand extra effort from your liver to keep your blood sugar levels stable as well as to remove the toxic substances these foods contain. Eating a processed carbohydrate rich diet will mean your liver is working over time.

3. Drinking Alcohol or Taking Prescription Medication: The liver has to filter every single substance you ingest, and alcohol and drugs are some of the hardest for it to filter. Consuming too many of these substances over a period of time can lead to liver damage, and even fatty liver or cirrhosis of the liver. These substances can actually inhibit the proper functioning of your liver, making them extra toxic.

4. Breathing Polluted Air: The air you breath can be amazing and pure, or stagnant and full of pollutants. If you are living in a city and are exposed to car exhaust, air conditioner, cleaning products, second-hand smoke (or first hand smoke), and other industrial byproducts your liver may need a boost. All of the toxins you breath in through your lungs must run through your liver to be processed. This means that toxic air can lead to an over loaded liver.

5. Not Getting Enough Sleep and Rest: In order for the liver to perform optimally, you need to be getting enough sleep. The liver is most active between the hours of 1 and 3 am. If you are consistently not getting to bed early enough so that you are in a deep sleep by the time the liver kicks in it is possible that it is not getting the time and space it needs to do its job properly. Adequate rest is essential for a healthy, optimally functioning liver.

6. Over Exercising: This one may surprise you, but did you know that working out causes the production of free radicals? Now, this is not to say that you should not work out in order to avoid free radical production. On the contrary, getting adequate activity is essential for pumping your blood and your lymph so that they move through the liver more efficiently which supports the detox process. However when you are over working yourself you will start to over produce free radicals that the liver may not have the resources to properly deal with in a timely matter. If you have been over training it is possible that you need to take a break and give a little love to your liver.

7. Eating A Nutrient Poor Diet Overall: As mentioned in the description of the liver above, both phases of liver detox reply upon essential nutrients to facilitate their function. For example phase one relies upon a steady supply of Vitamin C, folic acid, Vitamin B3 and B6 and Vitamin E, just to name a few.  Phase two requires that you are ingesting plenty of sources of essential amino acids like Glycine and Taurine, as well as Calcium. If you have been eating a diet that is low in nutrition (ie a diet rich in processed foods, or a diet that is just not providing you with adequate food and calories overall) you may need to detox your liver because there is a chance that it will be over run with toxins that it was not able to deal with due to the lack of nutrients.

3 Awesome Liver Detox Recipes

If you feel that your liver could use a boost, try adding one of these recipes to your daily diet for a few weeks.

1. Liver Boosting Beet Juice:

• 1 beet

• 1 carrot

• 1 lemon, peeled

• 1 handful parsley

Instructions: Run all ingredients through a juicer and enjoy.

2. Deep Green Liver Detox:

• 1/2 cucumber

• 2 cups kale

• 1 lime, peeled

• 1 cup swiss chard

• 1/2 lemon, peeled

Instructions: Run all ingredients through a juicer and enjoy.

3. Liver Detox Green Smoothie:

2 oranges, peeled

• 1/2 rib celery

• 1 lemon, peeled

• 1/2 cup dandelion greens (or other bitter green)

• 1/2 cup parsley

Directions: Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.  Enjoy!

Bonus Liver Supporting Foods and Herbs

Here is a list of foods that you can ingest on a regular basis to help support your liver and its detoxification processes:

• Beets

• Carrots

• Lemons

• Limes

• Grapefruits

• Dark Leafy Greens

• Sulphur rich foods like onions and garlic

• Cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower

Beet Root: Taken as a supplement, beet root can help to cleanse the liver of impurities.

Bitters: Bitters will help your liver to produce bile, an essential function in the digestion of fats. These herbs can help to support overall liver function.

Burdock Root: Burdock root is an extremely bitter root that is a powerful blood purifier. This will help to support your liver in its blood filtering work.

Dandelion Root: Dandelion root works to support the cleansing of the liver.

Milk Thistle: Milk thistle can work to cleanse and repair the liver tissues. This is most likely the most common of the liver supporting herbs.

Not sure if your body is showing the signs of a sluggish liver or a liver in need of detox?  Click here to visit the young raw site for  The 7 Reasons You May Want to Detox Your Liver.

Guest Blog & Thank You:  youngandraw.com

Optimize, Repolarize and Detoxify with Polar Mins! (One of our best kept secrets inside)

Optimize your beautiful health with Polar Mins!   

This is one of my favorite "little secrets" to optimizing both the value of nutrition, and your very own health internally and externally.  Learn more about Polar Mins, and the easy - key assets it brings to your every day life.  

Main Benefits:

• Polar Mins detoxifies and repolarizes raw, uncooked fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, and other raw foods.     

• Helps to remove harmful pesticide residues.

• Helps with rapid repolarization of your body.

•   A Geomagnetic, Colloidal Ocean Mineral Concentrate from the South Pole.

•   The most complete, electrochemically charged and trace element mineral tonic in the world

•     A rich, natural and highly concentrated source of all minerals and trace elements from the deep, pristine Southern Ocean near Antarctica

•     100:1 concentrate: 1 gallon of Polar Mins is equal to the minerals found in 100 gallons of ocean water

•     Derived by a proprietary sun-evaporation process from ultra-pure Antarctic-originated water; over 97% of the salt (NaCl) has been removed, leaving a pure, highly ionized mineral concentrate

•     Natural, ionized minerals are the most easily absorbed and are necessary for literally all body functions as well as efficient, deep-seated detoxification *

•     Excellent as a mineral spray to detoxify and repolarize food

•     A highly electrically charged mineral concentrate for whole body super-health and wellbeing *

The Origin of Polar Mins

The Southern Ocean surrounding the South Pole. Polar Mins come from one of the purest, most uncontaminated oceans on earth, the Southern Ocean, located near the South Magnetic Pole - the point on the Earth's surface where the geomagnetic field lines are directed vertically upwards - producing unusually excellent mineral ionization.

The highly ionized minerals in Polar Mins assist in breaking down chemical accumulation within the body. These same minerals are also easily absorbed by cells and aids in hydration and flushing out toxins. Only a small amount in a glass of drinking water is needed to deliver these ionized minerals.

How to Detoxify and Re-polarize Food

To detoxify and repolarize raw, uncooked fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, and other raw foods, fill a spray bottle with 90% purified water and 10% Polar Mins by volume. Shake a few times to mix the ingredients. For each individual food item (such as a tomato, apple, or banana), spray over approximately 4 times, wait 30 seconds and rinse before eating.  For other produce like collard greens and broccoli, spray the stems or roots in addition to spraying the entire food item, wait for 30 seconds and rinse thoroughly. When soaking nuts, grains, and legumes, add a few drops to the soak water. Make sure to rinse thoroughly.

Since a raw food item is still in a living state, the Polar Mins spray acts as an excellent electrochemical "foliar feed," supplying badly needed ionized minerals to detoxify any toxic components of the food as well as allowing the food item to absorb highly beneficial minerals which helps create electromagnetically superior "structured water" inside its cells. This procedure is excellent even for organic foods which are still typically deficient in mineral content (as compared to optimal mineral levels).

Dermal Mist

The Polar Mins Spray may also be used to "mist" skin areas on the body such as the arms, legs, face, head, hair, etc. Just as raw foods are able to absorb ionized minerals, human skin can easily absorb them as well. Use 1 to 4 sprays at a time on various body areas (spray directly on bare skin) as an excellent energy boost or to supply ionized minerals to specific body areas. To avoid unnecessary detoxification, allow some time between misting (if more than 4 sprays are used).

Keeping Your Plants Healthy

House plants love Polar Mins! For enhanced, more luxuriant plant growth (inside or out), either water them with a 10% solution of Polar Mins once a month or spray them frequently. Plants need ionized minerals, too!

The Phosphate Dilemma

Food grown on land that has been treated with commercial forms of acid-treated phosphates do not incorporate the phosphate into its molecular structure, but instead, trap the phosphate in a free form. In contrast, natural electrochemical colloids (as found in sea minerals) prevent this effect, so the phosphate can be properly arranged within its molecule.

When people eat commercial foods grown with excessive amounts of acid-treated phosphates, they excrete a high percentage in their urine. In contrast, foods grown with colloidal phosphate have a balanced phosphate structure in their cells; when people eat these foods, the body will conserve them and not need to dump them out in the urine. People who go on high levels of raw foods that have been grown on soils treated with acid-treated phosphate will begin to have health concerns with their water balance, creating artificial dehydration.

This is one of the main reasons for steaming or boiling commercially grown vegetables and grains. The heating process releases trapped free phosphates which would be harmful, yet leaves good colloid phosphates already in place to be active when consumed. It is best to throw out the leftover water from steaming or boiling commercial produce because it will be high in free phosphates.

Worldwide research (from Popp, Korzykski, LeBon, Picardi, Sckwenk) has demonstrated the importance of electrochemical compound colloids. Researcher Albert Popp of Germany found that the structure of water is determined by minute quantities of electrochemical compound colloids. The structuring of water in body fluids can enhance or detract from the transmission of blueprint information to DNA. If the water in body fluids is more structured (and therefore will have a higher surface electrical charge), it will have a higher energy potential. This means the water, through the effect of the electrochemical colloids, will be able to transport energy (such as heat, electromagnetic energies) at much higher, more efficient levels in and out of cells - in short, increased cellular energy and function.

Sea minerals are very high in electrochemical compound colloids so when consumed, the body can function at much higher efficiency. Polar Mins are an unusually excellent source of the full spectrum of sea minerals from the deep, pristine sea near Antarctica so they deliver a superior source of colloids for immediate use by the body's cells.

Polar Mins

Serving Size: 2.5 ml (1/2 teaspoon)

Servings Per Container: about 100

Sodium   90mg

Potassium   116mg

Calcium   0.02mg

Magnesium   422mg

Sulfur   69mg

Carbon   109mg

100% pure Antarctic-derived mineral concentrate  (over 97% of salt has been removed)

All supplements are sold at Kasia, and may be ordered via telephone.  Stop by Kasia Organic Salon for additional questions.    612 824 7611

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This health product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.  Health Products USA recommends consulting a physician before taking any health supplements.

Older than 30? A must have supplement to optimize your detox pathways, digestion and skin's complexion!

Optimize your detoxification pathways, digestion and skin's complexion!

Nutrient depletion coupled with today’s toxicity issues leave us critically vulnerable to  degenerative “Beautiful Health.” Hydrochloric Acid (HCL) has the ability to help the stomach to break down fats and proteins in the food we eat. It also assists the general detoxification processes in the body. It is an essential component for metabolizing and absorbing food, and is particularly needed for assimilating proteins, vitamin B12, calcium and iron.

 

Over 30?  It’s a must have…. Our western diet have diluted the stomach’s ability to produce hydrochloric acid and  by the age of 30, you are compromised  and need an HCL supplement as their most important digestive aid to properly break down their food.

Rotting Food and Bacteria Rotting food is a breeding ground for parasites and bacteria. Heartburn and acid reflux are actually caused by a lack of HCL. Without enough HCL, the food starts to rot and produce lactic acid which causes the acid reflux. Anti-acids actually make the condition worse. HCL addresses the cause by helping to digest the meal properly.

Toxic Overload Without HCL, the body is not detoxifying itself in an optimal fashion. Things that the body would normally expel remain lodged in the system. This leads to toxic overload, and the type of inflammation related to chronic disease.

No Nutrient Absorption Low stomach HCL reduces the efficiency of absorbing nutrients from our food. Reduced HCL production affects the amount of protein and calcium we can absorb and can interfere with bone metabolism and pH. Incomplete protein metabolism can imbalance intestinal flora. HCL promotes absorption of nutrients.

Arthritis and Infection HCL also has superior anti-infective properties and can be useful, at higher dosages, with any bacterial infestation. At very high dosages, for a long term (6-18 months) it has the potential to help the body dissolve calcium deposits, which is the underlying issue with arthritis.

 

 

Main Functions of Hydrochloric Acid

1. It is the primary digestive juice responsible for breaking down proteins, preparing them for assimilation.

2. It acts as a protective barrier, killing many potentially harmful micro-organisms in our food.

3. It acts as a venting mechanism for the build-up of excessive concentrations of hydrogen ions in our blood and interstitial fluids. In other words, we consume acid forming foods and / or engage in acid forming activity. The stomach acid once combined with food is eventually neutralized further down the alimentary canal by alkaline pancreatic secretions.

Other conditions that Betaine HCL may help the body improve include:

Acne Eczema Asthma Diarrhea Hay fever Dermatitis Gallstones Stomach ulcer Chronic hives Food allergies Thyroid malfunction

Inner ear infections Iron-deficiency anemia Rhinitis (nasal inflammation) Candida & Yeast infections Stomach or esophageal disorders General malabsorption of nutrients General indigestion and heart burn Acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Arteriosclerosis (hardening/loss of elasticity in the arteries)

Anti-aging and Fountain of Youth Benefits: A marker of aging is the number of methyl groups in the cell. We use up about 1200 per day, if eating a raw food diet or using HCL for digestion after each meal. When eating cooked food without the HCL support, we use up 1800 methyl groups per day. Once gone, the cells are aged and degenerated. So using the Premier HCL and Premier HCL Activator can save up to a third of your life.

But even better news...when you add Premier HCL, you begin a re-methylation process. As you recover these methyl groups over time, you regain a portion of your life...and health.

•                      Contact our team at Kasia Organic Salon to purchase or inquire more about your adequate HCL needs.   (612)  824 7611

Look Younger by Balancing your Hormones

Lifeless hair, dull skin and wrinkles can be helped by improving your health. Learn the eight major hormones that can impact your appearance

Do you have lifeless hair, dull skin, and weak nails? If so, your new year’s resolution may be to turn back the clock and resolve these issues. I suggest starting your anti-aging regimen with an inside look at your hormones. Hormones affect everything from our immune response and inflammation to cellular growth and tissue repair. Let’s address each of the major hormones that impact our appearance and discuss methods you can use to achieve the healthy balance necessary for radiant, youthful looking skin.

Insulin High levels of insulin can accelerate wrinkling of the skin. Excess insulin occurs with an overindulgence of foods high in sugar, such as pastries, muffins, white pasta, white rice and juice cause spikes in blood sugar and insulin. Avoiding these foods while also consuming a balanced diet of protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats every three to four hours will help keep your insulin levels balanced. Supplements such as chromium or conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) may help improve your insulin sensitivity, which results in less insulin release and overall lower insulin levels. Sleep deprivation is also associated with high insulin levels, so a good “beauty sleep” is essential.

Cortisol Stress is not only bad for your health, it also has documented aging effects on our skin cells. Studies conducted on laboratory rats, revealed that cortisol-induced collagen loss in the skin is ten times greater than any other tissue; It is one of the biggest culprits of dull, thin, and sagging skin. Anything that beats stress, beats aging too – adaptogens are great for reducing excess cortisol levels and increasing youthful DHEA levels. For best results, take two pills at night and one in the morning.

Estrogen Estrogen is produced by the ovaries prior to menopause and by the adrenal glands after menopause. Your adrenal glands will produce less estrogen if they are fatigued, which is common with a stressful lifestyle, sleep disruption, irregular eating habits or illness. Estrogen levels begin to decline in most women in their mid to late 40s although some women, particularly those who are very thin, may experience a drop much sooner. Less estrogen production that naturally occurs with age makes our skin thinner and less elastic, which leads to more wrinkling and sagging. As estrogen dips, less collagen and elastin are produced. Estrogen also helps skin stay moist by boosting hyaluronic acid. A 1997 study of 3,875 postmenopausal women concluded that estrogen supplementation helped aging women have younger looking skin and also helped maintained skin’s collagen, thickness, elasticity and ability to retain moisture.

Simple dietary changes can also help support healthy estrogen levels through the intake of phytoestrogens, such as flaxseed and fermented soy products. Have one serving of organic, non-GMO soy along with two tablespoons of ground flaxseeds in your smoothies or salads, daily. Increase your intake of vegetables such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts—they contain indols, compounds that are essential to healthy estrogen balance. Herbal products such as licorice, angelica, red clover or black cohosh are also used to support healthy estrogen levels. Natural hormone replacement in the form of creams containing two types of estrogen (estriol and estradiol) may also be beneficial, but these need to be obtained by prescription through your MD or ND practitioner.

Testosterone Excessive testosterone, in women or men, may result in acne on the face, chest or back. With age, women tend to experience an increase in androgen (a male sex hormone) levels and a decline in estrogen, while men tend to experience the opposite – an increase in estrogen and a decline in testosterone, which causes the skin to dry out. If a testosterone deficiency is suspected, herbs such as tribulus terresteris, stress management and weight-bearing exercises may help to restore optimal levels for both men and women. You can also ask your health practitioner about bioidentical testosterone cream. For women who suspect too much testosterone, consider a supplement of saw palmetto.

DHEA Dry skin is a problem that increases with age. Interestingly, DHEA turns on oil production and seems to help combat this problem and improve hydration. DHEA is a hormone that is a precursor to other hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone. DHEA levels tend to decline with stress as well as with age. DHEA also increases the production of collagen, making skin appear smoother and younger looking. Our skin’s immunity also appears to improve with DHEA, which may help healing. DHEA supplements are not, however, without risks and, like all other hormones, should not be taken unless a clear deficiency has been established through proper assessment. Relora has been found useful to increase DHEA levels and to lower levels of cortisol. Good sleep habits may also help establish healthy DHEA levels.

Melatonin A proper beauty rest is achieved by sleeping in a pitch black room. Melatonin and serotonin, our happy hormone, are produced in our skin from the amino acid tryptophan. Note that if we do not get enough protein in our diets, melatonin levels may also decline. According to a July 2005 article from the journal Endocrine, melatonin is involved in hair growth and protection against melanoma. As an antioxidant hormone, melatonin guards us from UV radiation and appears to play a role in repairing burned or damaged skin. Whether it’s applied topically or taken internally, melatonin may shield us from environmental and internal stressors. If you choose to supplement with melatonin, 1 to 3 mg taken sublingually at eight to nine p.m. is optimal.

Progesterone Contrary to estrogen, progesterone levels often begin to decline in women in their mid to late 30’s, which leaves our skin looking dull and lacking luster. Ever wonder why pregnant women seem to have that special glow? The secret is the high level of progesterone. This revitalizing hormone is beneficial for skin elasticity and circulation. Progesterone levels decline with menopause as well as with stress. Low progesterone levels are also associated with conditions like PMS, fibrocystic breast disease, infertility, increased risk and incidence of miscarriage as well as polycystic ovarian syndrome. Men with prostate conditions also tend to have low levels. Progesterone levels may be supported with the use of evening primrose oil, herbs such as vitex (chasteberry) or natural progesterone creams. Stress management and sleeping well is also crucial to maintaining healthy progesterone levels.

Growth hormone If your skin is sagging—in your cheeks, chin or above the knees—declining growth hormone is probably the culprit. Since growth hormone tends to drop off as we get older, supplements are promoted as a way to “reverse” the effects of aging. Growth hormone is essential for skin-cell repair and the prevention of sagging. The production of growth hormone is closely linked to our exercise, sleep and nutritional habits. If we fail to exercise, sleep well or do not consume enough protein, we are literally accelerating the aging process because of a decrease in this repair hormone.

Guest Post: Natasha Turner, N.D.

Sauna comparisons, tips, and contradictions.... (details inside)

Which saunas are best? Detoxification is a life-long process and Kasia Organics provides health services and products to support your lifestyle, void the chemicals.   Take an additional look at the many benefits of using a sauna, the comparisons, tips, and contradictions.

Scientific Proof

Scientific evidence shows that thousands of drugs, food additives, pesticides, and other pollutants remain stored in the body long after exposure. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, everyone has 700 chemicals on average in our bodies, while babies have 70 on average. When toxins are not excreted from our body, they accumulate in our fat tissue and do ongoing damage. It’s one of our body’s defense mechanisms to keep toxins away from the vital organs. The heat stress of a sauna is an effective method of removing fat-stored toxins from the body.

 

SAUNA COMPARISON

There are many types of saunas, including the conventional Swedish or Finnish sauna, far infrared, and near infrared. Let’s do a comparison:

• Traditional saunas consist of a small room that is heated with a heater powered by electricity, gas, wood or other fuel. Heat from conventional saunas penetrates only a few millimeters even though the temperature can range from 180-220 degrees Fahrenheit. With traditional saunas, your sweat is 2-3% toxins.

• Far infrared saunas use ceramic, metallic rods, or carbon (the best) for heating that mainly emit in the far infrared range.  Infrared heats you, rather than the air, with penetration 1.5 inches or more. Air temperature ranges from 120-150 degrees normally. With infrared saunas, your sweat is 15-20% toxins.

• Near Infrared saunas use incandescent infrared heat lamps or carbon for heating. They emit mainly near infrared, some middle infrared and perhaps a tiny amount of far infrared energy. Again, the rays penetrate about 3 inches. The air temperature can be kept at a comfortable 110-140 degrees, allowing people to sauna who are sick or sensitive to heat. With infrared saunas, your sweat is 15-20% toxins.

• Steam rooms can be very hot and may not allow many to stay in for very long. While you do sweat in a steam room, you won’t enjoy the benefit of deep penetrating infrared rays. The steam room heat will penetrate a few millimeters like a traditional sauna.

Far and near infrared have many of the same benefits, but clinical research shows that different parts of the infrared spectrum are more effective than others at targeting various health benefits. Below is a chart so you can seek out the part of the spectrum that meets your needs.

Infrared Wavelength	Benefits
Near Infrared	Cell health/immunity, Wound healing, Skin purification, Pain relief
Mid Infrared	Pain relief, Improved circulation, Weight loss
Far Infrared	Weight loss, Detoxification, Blood pressure reduction, Relaxation

NEAR INFRARED

New research on near infrared therapy (NIR) proves the following health benefits, though many of these benefits are also enjoyed with far infrared therapy.

• BOOSTS METABOLISM – The mitochondria (power plants of the cells) produce more ATP (energy currency of the cells) when NIR (near infrared rays) is introduced.

• WOUND HEALING – Physicians from NASA and the Medical College of Wisconsin found that NIR LED light significantly promotes faster cell regeneration, wound healing and human tissue growth. Human cell growth increased by 155%-171% in some cases and wound size decreased by 36%.

• INCREASES ENERGY – NIR activates the color sensitive chemicals (chromophores & cytochrome systems) to depths of 23 centimeters (or about 10 inches), stimulating the energy processes in cells.

• IMPROVES CIRCULATION TO THE MUSCLES – NIR causes the release of nitric oxide.  This stimulates vasodilatation of the microcirculatory system, bringing more blood to the muscles.

• BETTER ENDURANCE – Muscle fatigue was reduced by up to 42.2% when exposing muscle to NIR.

• INCREASES STRENGTH – Growth hormone release is induced by an increase in body temperature and not by exercise itself.  Growth hormone increases muscle mass, calcium retention, and lipolysis (the breakdown of stored fat).

• FASTER RECOVERY TIME – Certain tissue regenerating genes including integrins, laminin, gap junction proteins and kinesin proteins have shown a two- to five-fold increase upon exposure to NIR.

• REDUCES VISIBLE CELLULITE – Cellulite is fat mixed with toxins that are trapped, in part due to an underactive circulatory system.  Cellulite is so visible, in part due to weakened connective tissue.  NIR helps rebuild connective tissue, reducing the appearance of cellulite.

• REJUVENATES SKIN – DNA synthesis of fibroblasts, which affects the elasticity of skin, increased five-fold with NIR.  The result is younger-looking, more beautiful skin.

• PAIN RELIEF – Penetrating heat from NIR has long been proven to reduce pain in joints and muscles by reducing inflammation and increasing circulation to areas of discomfort.  NIR has also been shown to significantly increase the range of flexibility.

• HEALS INFECTIONS - Raising body temperature powerfully assists the body to kill bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses.  Many people have a low body temperature and, for this reason, cannot get rid of chronic infections.  Common sites of infections are the sinuses, ears, eyes, bladder, throat and intestines.

• HEALS CANCER – NIR helps kill many types of abnormal cells mutated by radiation or damaged by other toxins, including tumors.  Tumors, for example, tolerate heat poorly.  Raising body temperature hastens their death.  Though not a conventional method, hyperthermia is a well-researched therapy for cancer.

FAR INFRARED

Research from Japan and other countries prove the many, many benefits of far infrared therapy (FIR).

• WEIGHT LOSS – FIR burns 200-600 calories an hour! It is the perfect complement to a weight loss regimen.

• INCREASED HEALING – FIR increases blood circulation and oxygen supply to damaged tissues aiding reduction of chronic joint and muscle pain or sport injuries.

• REDUCES BLOOD PRESSURE – German medical researchers concluded one session of FIR for over 1 hour can have significant reduction of blood pressure thanks to persistent peripheral vessel dilation. They also noted that blood viscosity was improved.

• IMPROVES SKIN – FIR opens pores that have been malfunctioning for years, forcing out clogging cosmetics, and loosening dry outer skin, healing acne and scars.

• PROMOTES HEALTHY ARTERIES -
When the normally smooth, firm lining of the arteries become thickened and roughened by deposits of fat, fibrin, calcium and cellular debris, it reduces their ability to expand and contract, slowing the movement of blood through narrowed channels. These conditions make it easier for blood clots to form. FIR is able to neutralize blood toxicity and smooth the walls of arteries, capillaries and veins.

• HEALS UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS -
FIR has proven to be outstanding for asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, colds, flu, sinusitis and congestion as it clears inflammation, swelling and mucus clogged passages. FIR kills viruses and bacteria that cause upper respiratory infections.

• DETOXIFICATION – FIR enhances white blood cell function, thereby increasing immune response and the elimination of foreign pathogens and cellular waste products. 
It also removes accumulated toxins by improving lymph circulation.

Far infrared therapy is being used all over the world to treat a wide array of diseases and conditions. There have been hundreds of clinical trials reporting success with the use of FIR treatment for the following:

• Acne (clears acne and blackheads).

• Adhesions (common in competitive athletes, trauma, and repetitive stress syndromes).

• Arthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis (relieved or improved).

• Asthma, bronchitis.

• Body odor.

• Brain contusion (accelerated healing).

• Bursitis (eliminated).

• Cancer pain (greatly relieved pain in later stages).

• Cardiovascular health (improved).

• Carpel tunnel syndrome (positive results in 70% of patients).

• Crohn’s disease.

• Chronic middle-ear inflammation or infection.

• Cirrhosis of the liver (reversed).

• Compression fractures (pain eliminated or reduced).

• Dandruff (increased blood flow through the scalp).

• Disc-protrusion related neuralgia.

• Duodenal ulcers (eliminated).

• Ear, nose, and throat conditions.

• Eczema and psoriasis (respond well).

• Exercise recovery and muscle pain.

• Gastritis (relieved).

• Gastroenteric problems.

• Hemorrhoids (reduced).

• Hepatitis (eliminated).

• High blood pressure (reduced).

• Insomnia.

• Keloid scars (significantly softened and, in some cases, completely gone).

• Lacerations (healed quicker with less pain and scarring).

• Leg ulcers (healed when previously static and resistant to other care).

• Low-back pain (relieved).

• Menopause.

• Muscle spasms (reduced or eliminated).

• Nose bleeding (reduced).

• Post-surgical adhesions (reduced).

• Scars and pain from burns or wounds (decreased in severity and extent).

• Sciatica.

• Sore throats.

• Spinal chord shock (reversed post traumatic shock).

• Tinnitus (chronic severe case cleared with 10 infrared treatments).

• TMJ arthritis.

• Whiplash.

SAUNA TIPS

Here are a few tips to turn you into a sauna pro!

• HOW LONG – Begin with only 10-20 minutes in the sauna.  After a few weeks, if you feel well enough to do so, you may increase to between 30-60 minutes.  Never begin with sessions longer than 20-minutes once a day because this can cause massive healing reactions that are unpleasant and even dangerous.

• HOW OFTEN – Work up to regular use over time. It will take you one year to completely detox when using the sauna every day to every other day. After this, you can maintain your clean, healthy body by using the sauna twice a week.

• HYDRATE – Be sure to properly hydrate with fresh, pure water before and after taking a sauna. After all that sweating, I recommend you replace your electrolytes with coconut water, nature’s Gatorade, or sea salt in your food.

• GET NAKED – Infrared emitters do not work through clothing. Disrobe as much as possible to optimize the heating and sweating effects. A bathing suit is fine.

• ASK – Always consult a health professional if you have a chronic illness and are not sure about sauna use.  Keep in mind that many mainstream doctors may not be aware of a sauna’s benefits and may be skeptical about its benefits. Most people who have diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses have found no problems in using a sauna.  Infrared sauna sessions are a must for those with cancer.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Seek permission from your doctor prior to use for the following conditions:

• Under 12 years old

• The Elderly

• Cardiovascular Conditions

• Chronic Conditions

• Silicone Breast Implants. Sauna makers tend to suggest avoiding saunas if you have implants, however, after doing some research it seems it is safe to use saunas with breast implants. The general consensus seems to be that saunas can contribute to the demise of the implants, but there is no proof of this. If you experience pain in your breasts while in a sauna, get out immediately and see your doctor.

Infrared sauna use is contraindicated for people with the following conditions:

• Pregnancy

• Hemophilia

• Hyperthyroidism

• Fever

• Insensitivity to Heat

• Alcohol Abuse

• Hip replacements

• Metal implants

• Lupus

• Multiple Sclerosis

  Contact Kasia Organic Salon today to schedule your INFRARED SAUNA SESSION!  

A big THANK YOU (blog post guest)  to Wendy from Liveto110.com

Weight loss + detox are two of the many benefits of regularly using an Infrared Sauna.

Infrared Sauna + Detox at Kasia 

If you’re having trouble losing weight, have a lack of energy, are sick, or suffering from a chronic disease or condition, toxin accumulation is contributing to the problem. Infrared sauna therapy is one of the safest and most powerful ways to eliminate toxins and increase your overall health.

The infrared heater produces radiant energy, which is the same as the heat from the sun, only without the harmful ultraviolet rays.

 Infrared creates 90% less energy and heats much faster than traditional saunas.  The infrared rays penetrate the body over 1.5 inches, which creates a deep heating effect in the muscle tissues and internal organs without stressing the heart muscle. 

The top 3 things accomplished during your sauna session:

1. Waste products and toxins such as pesticides, alcohol, and heavy metals are removed from the cells and excreted through the pores of the skin.

2. The skin sheds any old skin cells leaving it glowing and immaculately clean.

3. As the body expends energy to produce sweat, the heart beats harder and faster, which has a conditioning effect on the cardiovascular system plus is an effective weight control for people who can't exercise.

The infrared sauna is time well spent supporting the natural detoxification systems of the body and relaxing deeply into a comfortable heat.

Schedule a 30 minute sauna session into your week and receive these BENEFITS: 

• Increase the metabolism, burn calories, and help you to lose weight

• Relieve muscle and joint pain

• Remove toxins and improve the immune system

• Improve the appearance of cellulite

• Reduce stress and fatigue

• Improve the skin

• Improve a poor circulation

• Reduce depression and mood imbalances

  

 Contact Kasia today to schedule your sauna session today. 

 Learn more HERE!