Saturday, July 7, 2012

The Secret to Life...

I have some very exciting news to share with you!  During my journey of finding balance in my world through eating healing foods, I've decided that I want to continue helping others find the same balance by getting my certification at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition to be a Health Coach.  This next year will be a lot of studying and preparation for my new venture and what I hope to do is continue to inspire others to start using these incredible ingredients God has provided us in our universe to heal us.  

I will be studying with approximately 80 well known experts in the field of health, nutrition and business.  It's a holistic approach to wellness and I can't be more excited. 

So what exactly is a Health Coach you ask?  Well a Health Coach offers guidance and inspiration to help people shift their behavior to healthier habits.  Developing a deeper understanding of the foods and lifestyle choices that work best for them, and implement lasting changes that improve their energy, balance and health.  

Instead of prescribing one specific diet a Health Coach focuses on teaching people to eventually be self-sufficient by learning to observe the body's responses to various modifications and choose health-promoting behaviors that work for them.

Since I have 12 years of experience in the food industry and love to cook, I want to teach others to cook using nutrient rich ingredients.  A lot of people know how to cook but they don't know how to cook healthy and make it taste Wickedly Delicious!  When most people think of cooking healthy they immediately think they have to eat boring salads or snack on carrot sticks and celery.  I want to help people learn all about what incredible food is available to eat to find balance. 

I've also learned from overseeing a gourmet-to-go retailer that a lot of people don't even know how to cook.  It blows my mind to think that people don't cook.  But most of them have never been taught so they order take out or prepackaged meals everyday.  

My mission is to teach others and hopefully inspire more people to live life with more balance.

Thanks for stopping by...Stormy

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

There is Light...

For the past 12 years I've been working my way out of a dark hole.  From several challenges of a failed marriage, my father's illness and passing, my heart issues and struggles of a single mother.  However I've been in a much better place by being positive, working hard and learning new ways to help my body and mind move towards the light of higher good and using the tools of the universe to help me in a variety of ways.  This blog is my quest to change my life, through healing in energy and food, connections, and sharing with others to help change their life as well.

8 weeks ago I did some research on the effects of consuming wheat and when I decided to eliminate it completely from my diet, my world made a dramatic change.  My inflammation was gone, bye bye...no more. I can't tell you how freeing that was for me.  I was living with so much pain and I couldn't figure out why.  When I gave up wheat I was immediately consumed by more energy and was able to do things that I couldn't do before due to the pain of inflammation.  In combination with all of the other things that I was doing to make improvements towards a more healthy lifestyle now things were starting work right.  It seems the wheat was holding me back.  

Everything is falling into place now.  Doing DDP Yoga has been another incredible addition to my life.  It's helping me become stronger and flexible.  I'm enjoying it so much and love the incredible workout it gives me with absolutely no impact.  

If your looking for ways to find more energy, feel better and want to make a change.  Look into changing wheat consumption from your diet and incorporate some great exercise such as DDP Yoga.  I believe you will be pleasantly surprised.  

Stormy

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Summer Fruit Salad...Afternoon Delight!


Sweet Mango
Luscious Strawberries
Ruby Red Cherries
Oh My!

Summer is full of beautiful fruits and learning to combine them with the right ingredients can make a boring fruit salad turn into something extraordinary.   Combining different flavor profiles of fruit and elevating the flavors by adding fresh herbs and seasonings make this fruit salad healthy and nutrient rich.  No sugar needed.  Just pure food.


Sweet Mango
The fragrance, the taste and the health promoting qualities of the mango make it a super food also known as "The King of Fruits".  Mango fruit is an excellent source of Vitamin-A and flavonoids like beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin. Together; these compounds are known to have antioxidant properties and are essential for vision. Vitamin A is also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Mango is a very rich source of potassium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Also a very good source of vitamin-B6, vitamin-C and vitamin-E. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen free radicals. Vitamin B-6 is required for GABA hormone production in the brain. It also controls homocystiene levels in the blood, which may otherwise be harmful to blood vessels resulting in CAD and stroke.

Strawberries
Strawberries are rich in Vitamins B and C and are low in calories and fats but rich source of many health promoting phyto-nutrients, minerals and vitamins that are essential for optimum health.  They contain a good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, fluorine, copper, iron and iodine.  Potassium in an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure.  Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase. Copper is required in the production of red blood cells.  Iron is required for red blood cell formation.  
Cherries
Cherry fruit is packed with full of health-benefiting nutrients and unique antioxidants.  Cherry fruits are very rich in stable anti-oxidant melatonin. Melatonin can cross the blood-brain barrier easily and produces soothing effects on the brain neurons, calming down nervous system irritability, which helps relieve neurosis, insomnia and headache conditions.  Anti-inflammatory property of cherries has been found effective in reducing heart disease risk factors by scavenging action against free radicals.
Walnuts
Since ancient times the walnut was a symbol of intellectuality since their kernels have convoluted surface inside the shell resembling as that of brain!  Walnuts are rich source of energy and contain many health benefiting nutrients, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins that are essential for optimum health. Eating just as much as 25 g each day provides about 90% of recommended daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Research studies have suggested that omega-3 fatty acids by their virtue of anti-inflammatory action helps to lower the risk of blood pressure, coronary artery disease, strokes and breast, colon and prostate cancers.  They are also excellent source of Vitamin E. Vitamin E is a powerful lipid soluble antioxidant, required for maintaining the integrity of cell membrane of mucus membranes and skin by protecting it from harmful oxygen free radicals. They are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids.  Regular intake of walnuts in the diet help to lower total as well as LDL or “bad cholesterol” and increase HDL or “good cholesterol” levels in the blood. Research studies suggest that a diet that is rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids help to prevent coronary artery disease and strokes by favoring healthy blood lipid profile. 
Cilantro
 Cilantro contains many notable plant derived chemical compounds that are known to have disease preventing and health-Cilantro is one of the richest herbal sources for vitamin K. Vitamin-K has potential role in bone mass building by promoting osteotrophic activity in the bones. It also has established role in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease patients by limiting neuronal damage in their brain.promoting properties. 
  
So the next time you reach for the vanilla ice cream on a hot summer day.  Ask yourself...Does it pack the punch of nutrients as a sweet summer salad?
Stormy

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Enjoying the Process...

We live in a world of instant gratification - smart phones, skype and downloads.  When making lifestyle changes we want to see instant gratification after a few weeks.  Sometimes we are disappointed that we haven't reached that goal yet.  

When I decided to make some major lifestyle changes I took a few minutes and made a list of all of the things that I wanted to see a change in my life so I could go through the process of enjoying how things were changing.  It's a good exercise to do because when your body and life changes you can go back and remember why you felt the way you did and how you feel when it changes.

What I'm talking about is celebrating the small victories.  Just these past few weeks I've been able to celebrate one or more items off my list.  One of the biggest ones was to get off my heart medication.  I just got the green light from my cardiologist to stop taking both my blood pressure meds and my heart rhythm meds.  Woo Hoo!  That's huge for me.  My blood pressure has normalized my heart rhythm is normalizing and now I have to deal with is the pacemaker implant.  But I'm good with that!

Over the past year, I have transitioned into using only Himalayan Pink Salt in all of my cooking and I carry a little bit with me to use to season food when I'm out at a restaurant.   I have completely stopped using regular table salt and most other salts as well.  Himalayan Pink Salt has 84 trace minerals that if you begin to use this salt consistently it will begin to make positive changes within your body.  I don't live without salt and for me to get off of blood pressure medication and keep eating salt - there's your proof!  

Here's a link to some more information Himalayan Pink Salt.  It's one of my most popular posts.  

Enjoy your food and learn how salt can transform your ingredients by enhancing the flavor.  Who say's eating healthy has to be boring?  I'm living proof that healthy food can be made with a lot of flavor.  Check out my new blog Wickedlydelicious.blogspot.com for recipe ideas.  Submit your email address and each time I post a new recipe it will be delivered to your email so you can stay on top of tips and recipe ideas to help transform your life.

So next time you get down because the scale hasn't moved one day, try looking at your list to see if there is something that can get crossed off.  

Small Victories...Now that's something to celebrate!

Enjoying the process is really the most important part of the journey...Stormy

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Oil of Oregano Healing


Herbs play an important role in the way they transform food.  But did you know that herbs hold power and energy and may be used for healing?  All herbs have healing properties and understanding the essence of the science behind herbs is called Ayurvedic Herbalism.  

"Ayurveda means “The Science of Life.”  It is a science of living that encompasses the whole of life, and which relates the life of the individual to that of the universe.  As such it is open to and includes all life, and all methods that bring us into greater harmony with life. Ayurveda is not of the east or the west, of ancient or modern time. It is one with all life, a knowledge that belongs to all living beings"

Frawley, Dr. David; Lad, Dr. Vasant (2001-11-01). Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine

I've been researching Oil of Oregano and had an encounter with a medicine woman recently at a local Whole Foods Market.  She called herself Eagle Woman and had studied healing with American Indian Tribes and evidently works on the weekends at the local Whole Foods store.  I was discussing my issue with my psoriasis and sinuses and she took one look at my hand and handed me a bottle of Oil of Oregano.  I thought, what the hell - I had just read about that and I'll try it.  After some research I found the following information that I believe you will find pretty interesting as well.

Wild Oregano has been helping people in the Mediterranean maintain good health for centuries. Studies have been performed and confirmed on the powerful antibiotic, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties of Wild Oregano. Oil of oregano is one of the most potent antiseptics known to man.   Its anti-microbial properties have been thoroughly tested.   It is so effective that in terms of its ability to kill a wide range of microbes, there is nothing better in either synthetic or natural medicine.

A long list of ailments that have been effectively treated with the use of Oregano Oil:

acne, allergies, arthritis, asthma, athlete’s foot, candida, constipation, croup, dandruff, diarrhea, digestive disturbances, insect bites, bronchitis, canker sores, colds, flu, earaches, fatigue, gum disease, headaches, menstrual irregularities, muscle pain, parasites, pulmonary tuberculosis, pneumonia, psoriasis, toenail problems, seborrhea, ringworm, rosacea, sinusitis, varicose veins and warts.

Oregano is high in Carvacrol which is a type of phenol and is only found in a few herbs, most notably, oregano. Phenols are well known as being potent antiseptics and synthetic phenol, known carbolic acid, was the standard antiseptic in use for much of the 20th century.  Even as late as the 1950s, carbolic acid was used in hospitals to sterilize instruments prior to surgery.

According to research done at Georgetown University in 2004, it even kills antibiotic-resistant super-germs. And it does this without causing any bacterial resistance.  This is something that even powerful pharmaceutical drugs are unable to do. 

The Greeks used oregano to treat conditions such as headaches, wounds, lung disorders, snake bites, and even congestive heart failure. But what can it be used for today?  

Teenagers can use it to treat acne.  Just add a few drops of the oil to the liquid soap and also lightly dab directly onto the skin. Don’t apply it to skin that is broken or it burn slightly.  

Since arthritis is an inflammatory disease, oil of oregano possesses very strong anti-inflammatory powers, which makes oil of oregano an ideal treatment for arthritis.  It may be taken internally or by rubbing it on the point of pain, therefore it will help alleviate the pain.  Phytotherapie Research published a study that showed that the oil had morphine-like properties, and so is well-suited to pain relief. 

You can increase your intake of vitamin K, which is one of the more commonly undervalued fat-soluble vitamins. Increased vitamin K intake can help improve your cardiovascular system by keeping calcium away from your arteries, among other things. And speaking of calcium, vitamin K is also effective for keeping your teeth and bones healthy as well as reducing risks for diseases such as osteoporosis.

Oil of oregano also increases your intake of essential minerals such as manganese and iron. Iron helps in lowering risk for cancer and treating insomnia as well as improving your sleep. Iron is also known to strengthen the immune system. Manganese, on the other hand, is known to aid in calcium absorption, metabolism, and regulation of blood sugar levels.

Oil of oregano is obtained from the oregano plant. But not all oregano plants are the same, and the medicinal quality oil is distilled from specific species of wild oregano, usually grown in the pristine mountains of the Mediterranean. As far as its antiseptic properties go, the medicinal variety of oregano bears no relation at all to the commercial oregano grown for food production. This point often causes a great deal of confusion.

Sinusitis can be treated using oil of oregano.  Recent studies at the Mayo Clinic showed that mold is the contributing factor to sinusitis and it was growing in the sinus cavities.  Oil of oregano is the perfect solution to treating mold plus it can assist with opening up blocked sinus passages.  This is the first reason I purchased oil of oregano.  I was having persistent sinus issues and didn't want to take a decongestant due to my heart

But beware that you shouldn't use oil of oregano inside the nasal passages, as they are far too delicate. There is also an oil of oregano nasal spray available, called SinuOrego and it is ideal for this purpose.   

Oil of oregano’s compounds, including carvacrol and thymol, are very effective in killing Candida, one microbe that is suspected of causing eczema and/or psoriasis.  In this respect, oregano oil can be a good alternative for treating these skin ailments.

Apply oil of oregano topically to the affected skin area. Mix 2 drops of oregano oil with 5 ml of extra virgin coconut oil and rub this mixture in the affected area twice a day.  If your skin is irritated and develops a rash, discontinue this procedure and just take it internally.

Take 2 to 4 drops of oregano oil daily. You can put it under your tongue or you can mix it with a glass of water, juice or tea.  If you are able to use this oil topically, taking it internally as well will facilitate your healing.
.  
I just purchased Oreganol brand to use.  It's pretty expensive...about $30 for a very small bottle.  But, I'm hoping to have it assist with healing my psoriasis and sinus issues I'm experiencing.  My inflammation has halted since I started a wheat free diet which is the best news I've received in a very long time!  However I'm still experiencing issues with my psoriasis.   So hopefully using this oil of oregano will do the trick!  Have you had an success using oil of oregano?  If so, share your story with me.

Thanks for stopping by...Stormy 

 

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Ready For A Transformation...

It's been 7 years since I felt normal.  I know that's difficult for many of you to understand and I honestly I don't know what feeling really good feels like since I've been searching for relief from my pain that I have been experiencing with my inflammation from my psoriasis and arthritis that I have developed from the psoriasis.  For a long time I wasn't sure what was wrong with me besides the psoriasis.  

Since I started writing my blog and discovering the powers of the universe I had been searching for the truth and wanting to incorporate natural elements to help heal me.  This is where the Twist of Life came from.  My search to regain life and share my journey with others.

Last summer my psoriasis was so severe that I was extremely miserable.  I had been avoiding going to a dermatologist because I knew I would be pumped full of medication that had worst side effects than the healing of the issue.  I had tried several creams and everything I could find to help me and I know there are other people out there with the same issues.  

When I saw the doctor last year he started me with an ointment that worked a little bit.  Then he decided to do a more aggressive treatment and have me give myself shots.   I started doing it in October last year and it didn't help my psoriasis but it did help my inflammation and the pain that was penetrating my body.   However the side effects scared me but I was desperate.  I gave myself shots once a week.  It would help some but I still felt bad. 

These shots eventually started making my hair start to fall out and my face was getting some little bumps on it.  I freaked out and now I have stopped taking my shots.  The first week I was in pain, that is when I started to stop wheat.  The second week it eased up and then the third, even better.  This past week was week four and I don't have any pain.  Wow - I can't tell you how good I felt today.  I noticed it so much more. That makes me exited to see how the next few weeks will be for me.

I believe that I am utilizing as many things as I can to help me.  Using good quality food ingredients from Himalayan Pink Salt as a replacement for all of my salt consumption.  I carry a little bit with me to season my food when I'm not at home.  Cutting salt from my diet wasn't an option, I believe it elevates the flavor of food.  Since switching to Himalayan Pink Sea Sat it has made a major difference in the way I feel.  It's so pure and filled with 84 trace minerals that are healing to the body.  It flavors food like no other salt I've ever used before.  Knowing that is helps lower blood pressure and restore the body from lost minerals only works if it's consumed daily.  

Taking steps to make better choices, cook for myself daily using whole ingredients is the key.  Over the next few months I know I will see big changes in body.  My blood pressure is normal and hasn't been that way in a long time.  I hope to back off my heart medicine and begin to live a more normal drug free life.

I hope that I can help others see that there are other options out there than drugs and frustration.  So far it's working for me and if you are struggling with the same issues or know someone who is, please try these same things I'm doing and let me know if it works for you too.

Many Blessings...Stormy


Thursday, June 7, 2012

This week I can dance...

It's been an exhilarating last couple of weeks!  Business has been busy and I've have been feeling really good.  It's been almost a month since I cut wheat from my diet and then this past 2 weeks I've really transitioned into consuming whole foods, nothing processed.  I can't tell you how much of a difference I feel inside.  My energy level is through the roof and I have a little skip in my step. 

The inflammation in my body is lessening and I can tell a major difference in the way I feel.  My psoriasis is getting better and I have lost...10 lbs!

I've been DDP Yoga and I'm loving it.  My body feels so much better.  I need to keep doing it to see it transform my body but I know it's working.

Making a commitment to change the way I cook and eat is baby steps.  Here are some of the things that I believe are making a difference.


Stop eating fast food
Omit Wheat
Change your ingredients to nutrient rich products
Cook Daily
Omit Sodas
Omit Alcohol (...I know)
Move

If your interested in recipes that I've been making during this transition, check out my new blog where I post Wickedly Delicious recipes and tips. 

Thanks for stopping by...
Stormy