This was the game-changer for me while fighting Lyme and Co-Infections, CFS/Fibro and 20 years of chronic illness. My hair tissue analysis revealed several minerals that were very low despite eating a conventional Paleo diet for the first few years. This is the most nutrient-dense breakfast that I have found so far. It is packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. Since many of us with chronic illness are nutritionally depleted, this breakfast is a great way to boost much-needed nutrients. One year after adding these smoothies and switching to the Wahls Paleo Diet, my minerals levels were all in the acceptable range. I usually have 2 or 3 boiled eggs, a tablespoon of fish oil and my smoothie each morning. This provides a more balanced breakfast with healthy fat, protein and carbohydrates.

My Recipe

The nutritional information was found at The World’s Healthiest Foods.

Romaine Lettuce– 2 cups– Romaine lettuce is an excellent source of vitamin A (in the form of carotenoids), vitamin K, folate, and molybdenum. In addition, romaine lettuce is a very good source of dietary fiber, manganese, potassium, biotin, vitamin B1, copper, iron, vitamin C, vitamin B2, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B6, phosphorus, chromium, magnesium, calcium, and pantothenic acid. It is also low in oxalic acid.

Celery– 1.5 stocks-Celery is a rich source of phenolic phytonutrients that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Celery is an excellent source of vitamin K and molybdenum, folate, potassium, dietary fiber, manganese, and pantothenic acid. Celery is also a good source of vitamin B2, copper, vitamin C, vitamin B6, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamin A.

Cucumber– ½ large-Cucumbers are an excellent source of vitamin k, molybdenum, pantothenic acid, copper, potassium, manganese, vitamin C, phosphorus, magnesium, biotin, and vitamin B1. They also contain the important nail health-promoting mineral silica.

Avocado– 1 whole-Avocados are a good source of pantothenic acid, dietary fiber, vitamin K, copper, folate, vitamin B6, potassium, vitamin E, and vitamin C. Although they are fruits, avocados have a high-fat content of between 71 to 88% of their total calories—about 20 times the average for other fruits. A typical avocado contains 30 grams of fat, but 20 of these fat grams are health-promoting monounsaturated fats, especially oleic acid. This fat content helps to keep that nice full feeling for several hours.

Carrots– 1.5 large-Carrots are perhaps best known for their beta-carotene content. In addition, they are a very good source of biotin, vitamin K, dietary fiber, molybdenum, potassium, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. They are a good source of manganese, niacin, vitamin B1, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, folate, copper, vitamin E, and vitamin B2.

Orange–1 whole– Oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C. They are also a very good source of dietary fiber, B vitamins including vitamin B1, pantothenic acid, and folate as well as vitamin A, calcium, copper, and potassium.
Or
Pineapple– 1 cup-Pineapple is an excellent source of vitamin C, manganese, copper, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, dietary fiber, folate, and pantothenic acid. It also contains bromelain which is a proteolytic enzyme that can break down the formation of biofilm in the gut. Note – If you are worried about the amount of fructose you can use berries, green apples or any other 1 cup serving of fruit. This was the only fruit I ate each day while I was healing.

Parsley– 1/4 cup-Parsley is an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin C, chlorophyll, vitamin A, folate, and iron. Parsley is excellent for kidney cleansing and liver detoxification.

Moringa– 1 tsp– Moringa is overflowing with vitamins A, B, C, D, E and minerals including potassium, calcium, iron, selenium, and magnesium. It is strong tasting so play around with the amount. Moringa can be optional.

Water- 6 – 10 oz of purified water. This can be adjusted according to the desired thickness. I don’t use a lot of water because I like mine thick so I can eat it out of a bowl.

Optional – Play around with other things like beets, berries, apples, soaked pumpkin or sunflower seeds.

When I was very sick and going through heavy Lyme and parasite cleansing I often did a green smoothie fast for a day or two. I would eat as much smoothie as I wanted and it really helped to clear the body of die-off toxins. Go ahead and give it a try!

This post summarizes everything else that I did to reverse 20 years of chronic illness naturally.

Blessings and Best of Health!

Brenda

Everything that I have done to heal myself is available for free on my blog. If you are interested in some additional help I offer online health coaching. Please go to this page for nutritional therapy and hair analysis.

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Everything we eat has the power to heal or kill us. This recipe is super healthy and easy to make. Now is the time to throw out all of the commercially prepared toxic salad dressings that you have in your fridge.  This vinaigrette does not require refrigeration and goes well on almost every salad. It is also very nice on steamed vegetables, baked potatoes or rice. This is my staple salad dressing. I make a large bottle and always have some on hand.

Ingredients

2 cups extra virgin olive oil – Buy a good quality in a dark bottle

1 cup apple cider vinegar with the mother

2 cloves chopped garlic

1 tsp dijon mustard

1 – 2 tsp raw honey

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tbsp nutritional yeast – optional

Pinch of  Celtic or Himalayan salt

Directions

Pour all ingredients into an empty olive oil bottle or glass mason jar with a lid.  Shake up and pour onto your favorite salad. Enjoy all of that nutritional goodness!!

‘Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.’
Hippocrates

Blessings and Best of Health

Brenda

This article outlines everything else that I did to reverse 20 years of chronic illness.

10 Simple Things That Will Boost Your Health in 2020

How Low Stomach Acid Promotes Bacteria, Parasites, Yeast and Viruses

Everything that I have done is available for free on my blog. If you are interested in some extra coaching, please go to this page for nutritional therapy and hair analysis.

If you like this article please feel free to share it!

This is the soup I ate for months on end when I was extremely sick. This and my daily green smoothie. My digestion was terrible and I couldn’t handle any raw salads. My hair analysis revealed very low stomach acid and low minerals across the board. I wanted a nice soup/stew that I could make in large amounts and just reheat for a few days at a time. We even froze it and pulled it out as needed. It usually never made it to the freezer, as everyone in the house seemed to enjoy it. This was a great way to reintroduce red meat into my diet after a  2-year stint as a raw foodist and mostly vegan diet. I wasn’t yet able to handle a beef steak or roast beef, but this soup was amazing. I ate it almost every single day when I was going through the worst of the cleansing from Lyme Disease and other chronic infections. This soup is very nutrient dense, delicious and easy to make.

• 1 pound grass-fed ground beef
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large white or yellow onion
• sea salt and pepper
• ½ head cabbage, chopped
• 4 Roma tomatoes – optional
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 zucchini chopped
• 2 cups of green peas
• 4 cups homemade bone broth
• 1 tablespoon  Italian Seasoning
• Optional vegetables- green beans, white or sweet potato, turnip and whatever else you have hanging around your fridge. This will depend on how low you want to keep your carbohydrate intake.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a skillet brown the ground beef. I always kept the fat and added it to the soup. Add this to your large soup pot.

2. Sautee the onions and then briefly sautee the garlic. Add to your ground beef.

3. Add chopped cabbage, diced tomatoes, celery, carrots, zucchini, bone broth, sea salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Add more bone broth for a thinner soup.

4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and let simmer for an hour. Add frozen green peas about 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.

“FOOD AS MEDICINE!”

If you want great health, eat great food!

My passion lies in helping others with similar health issues.  If you would like a little extra help, I offer nutritional therapy consultations and hair tissue mineral analysis for a fee. Please go to this page for a list of my rates and to book an appointment for health coaching.

Blessings and Best of Health!

Brenda 

By 2007, my health had reached an all-time low. I was given a chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia diagnosis. I was on heavy psychiatric medications for bipolar disorder, major anxiety, chronic migraines and post-traumatic stress disorder. Most days I relied on painkillers for my increasing levels of pain.  By this time I had been sick for over fourteen years. My life was a constant battle to find some kind of stability in the midst of symptoms that included the following:

• severe body aches
• headaches
• migraines
• ongoing constipation
• intense head pressure
• chronic coughing
• extreme fatigue
• overall body weakness
• depression
• suicidal ideation
• anaemia
• weight gain
• bloating
• chronic left sided pain
• dizziness
• blurred vision
• bloodshot eyes
• dry skin
• dry and brittle hair
• ridged fingernails
• body numbness and tingling
• heart palpitations and shortness of breath
• panic attacks
• debilitating anxiety
• chemical sensitivities

On many days, I was barely strong enough to sit up in a chair. I would put on a brave front at mealtime and afterward collapse onto a couch or my bed.

I went to several doctors and received little to no help. The psychiatric diagnosis comes with a bias that seems inclined towards, “you are depressed, and these are the symptoms of your depression,” or “these are the side effects of the drugs.” None of them ever asked me about my diet; no one seemed to be able to offer me a solution.

The problem with this approach is that a drug is seen as the answer: a new chemical, perhaps in combination with a different coping strategy will make life more bearable… without really addressing the underlying problem. And so, I was repeatedly told I was depressed and would have to put up with the side-effects of the medications – a necessary evil.

Finally realizing that the allopathic medical system could not offer real and lasting solutions, I decided to do a little research. Thank heavens for the internet. I knew that something had to change or I wasn’t going to live much longer. I spent many, many hours online, and discovered that the body is a highly adaptive self-healing system. If given the proper fuel, and toxins removed, the body can function the way that it was designed.

Researching online, I slowly began to understand that I needed a holistic approach – one that considered the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of chronic illness. Each aspect is equally important and needs to be addressed. What we eat, drink, think, breathe and believe have tremendous repercussions on the state of our health. Over time, I came to understand that wellness is like a three-legged stool. If one leg is broken, the whole stool will fall over and not function as designed.

The body is a self-healing system.

There were so many testimonials online from people who were healing themselves by taking a body-mind-spirit approach to finding optimal health. Intuitively, I knew this was the way for me. I became hopeful and determined to regain my health using natural interventions. Finally, I would start to address the cause instead of just getting treated for symptoms. It just made plain old common sense, the kind that my Baba (grandmother) from Ukraine would have used.

And so I began my return journey to health. Here are the major steps that were involved.

Remove the bad stuff

1. Processed foods and sugar
2. Foods that create allergy or intolerance – most common are gluten, dairy, soy, corn, eggs, shellfish and nuts
3. Amalgam dental fillings
4. Toxic drugs – I quit all psychiatric medications and painkillers in 2007 and began treating the mania and depression naturally. You can read more about this here.
5. Personal care products – Commercial body lotion, sunscreen, bug spray, toothpaste, make-up, hair care products, hair dyes, soaps, body scents and teeth whiteners, to name a few
6. Toxic household products – Heavily scented laundry detergents and fabric softeners, cleaning products
7. Environmental toxins – Of gassing from new furniture, carpets, new vehicle upholstery, fresh paint, mold in the home or workplace, EMF and dirty electricity exposure, cigarette smoke, air fresheners and  scented candles
8. Chronic infections – I started with a bowel cleanse,  treated parasites, and Lyme disease and co-infections.
9. Stress
10. Unhealthy relationships

Add the good stuff.

1. Real food, plenty of water,  Wahls Paleo Diet that provides all of the essential nutrients for great health.
2. Natural supplements, probiotics, superfoods and herbs to target individual infections, address nutritional deficiencies, correct digestion and heal the gut.
3. Exercise that is enjoyable and you look forward to.
4. Spending as much time as possible in nature.
5. Sweating – sauna or naturally in a hot climate is ideal.
6. Beach therapy – sunbathing, soaking in the sea and walking barefoot.
7. Straightening out the body – chiropractic therapy.
8. Laughter, fun and lots of love.
9. Living as simply and stress-free as possible.
10. Develop a loving relationship with a higher power.

This is what I have done to regain my health. It really seems like a daunting set of tasks. It began as a very steep learning curve and took me six years to complete them all. Why so long? Well, think of regaining your health like peeling back the layers of an onion. I just happened to be an onion with many, many layers.

I was very, very sick when I started to work at reversing my physical state. The report back from my first hair tissue mineral analysis looked like someone that was slowly starving to death. I was extremely low in all minerals except for two of them.

The slowest and most frustrating part of this entire process has been dealing with chronic infections; I spent about 4 years on this alone. I finally was diagnosed with Lyme and several co-infections in August 2012. I tried and failed with several different treatments for Lyme Disease and co-infections. I have now been in complete remission from everything since November 2014. I have just celebrated another year of Lyme Free Living! You can read about it here.

Some people may be restored to health in a relatively short time by changing their diet and perhaps doing one or two other things. I think it really depends on the level of toxicity, length of illness, nutritional deficiencies and level of damage to the body. In other words, there is no set timetable for recovery from illness. The body sets its own pace, based on what it needs.

It doesn’t seem fair for one person to have to deal with so many health-related issues. However, in many ways, my poor health was not unlike that of many others today. In a real sense, our health is a product of our times. And we are living today in what is probably the most toxic era in the history of humankind. Here are 12 Myths I Ignored to Recover 20 Years of Chronic Illness.

Despite this, it has all been worth it. The changes I’ve made have become a lifestyle that I wouldn’t give up for anything. To wake up each day without a headache or debilitating body pain and be able to walk five or six miles is a blessing beyond my wildest imagination. I am in complete remission from depression,  mania, Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia, all co-infections,  hypothyroidism, chronic migraines, adrenal fatigue, anaemia and nutritional deficiencies, since November 2014. I  have been medication-free since October 2007. Food is powerful medicine!

If you have Lyme Disease and are not recovering please read this article –
10 Reasons You Can’t Get Rid of Lyme Disease, Parasites, Candida and other Co-infections

Everything that I have done to recover my health is available here for free on my blog. If you would like a little extra help, I offer health coaching and hair tissue mineral analysis for a fee. Please go to this page for a list of my rates and to book an appointment for health coaching.

Blessings and Best of health!

Brenda

If you like this article please feel free to share it!

I never, ever thought I would be back in school at the age of 54.  Since recovering my health from lyme disease, chronic fatigue Syndrome, fibromyalgia, bipolar disorder, hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, chronic migraines and several co-infections, I felt I needed to help others.  I have been in complete remission since November, 2014.  You can read about everything that I did to recover here.

Last summer, August 2016, I walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain. This was a promise fulfilled in thanksgiving for my healing. I prayed about what my next steps should be in life.  After hiking over 900 kilometers, it was loud and clear that I was to get my certification with the Nutritional Therapy Association as a Nutritional Therapy Consultant. Once I read through their philosophy and reading list, I knew this was the right fit for me. I already had many of these books in my collection, so the decision was an easy one to make. This certification is the perfect complement to my work as a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) Practitioner with Trace Elements Lab and Lyme Disease Coach.  My previous college diploma in Addictions Counselling has enabled me to work with several clients that have disordered or addictive eating patterns as well.

NTA’s Philosophy

Nutritional Therapists, as envisioned by NTA, teach the importance of properly prepared whole foods that are delicious, nourish our bodies, and restore good health. Once foods have been highly processed, as most foods in America are, there is no combination of carbohydrates, fats, and protein that will ultimately be healthy. As dietary fads alternate between diets high in carbohydrates, and others high in protein and fat, one thing has become very obvious, there is no one perfect diet for everyone. While some people thrive on a diet relatively low in fats, for others the increase in carbohydrates is devastating. Likewise, Atkins-like diets high in fat may have helped some people, but for others have been completely inappropriate and even dangerous. NTA teaches the concept of bio-individuality. There is no perfect diet for everyone. Nutritional Therapists are trained to help each client find the right types of whole foods that will restore balance and enhance their ability to heal.

“Although all wellness-minded doctors appreciate the importance of proper diet and nutritional supplementation, it is often very difficult for them to do the proper evaluation and dietary counseling necessary to support optimal healing. Nutritional Therapists are trained to work alongside these practitioners either in their offices or in private practice to support the doctors’ diagnosis and other therapies. The NTA website can be found here.

The picture below was taken in Las Vegas at our recent 3 day workshop. We had the privilege of meeting Gray Graham the founder of the NTA. He is an amazing teacher and really walks the walk as a  great nutritional therapist.

Today

I have been really busy trying to keep up with my clients, plus take the necessary time for study.  Somehow, I am managing to keep up! I am fortunate to be able to study and work entirely online. I am so amazed at what I am capable of accomplishing each day with a laptop and a great internet connection. We are called digital nomads, and are becoming more and more common all over the world.

I am still living in Playa del Carmen in my tiny one bedroom apartment. My life is quite simple but very focused. Each day I exercise, shop, work, study, eat and repeat!  There hasn’t been much time for socializing, but that will come again in time.  My body continues to heal and gain strength.  My mind is getting clearer and the cognitive issues from years of chronic Lyme Disease are becoming fewer and fewer.  I am still very determined to open my guest house here  for those with chronic illness. Hopefully, it will be up and running by January, 2018.

All and all, I am living a purpose-driven life.  It feels good to be healthy, productive, peaceful and happy. This is so different from my 20 years of sickness.  I honestly can’t believe that I am the same person.   Food is powerful medicine!

Blessings and Best of Health,

Brenda

Photography – Ashlie Woods 

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Here is my recent interview with Mackay Rippey of Lyme Ninja Radio.  Lyme Ninja Radio is a podcast for and about people with Lyme Disease. It’s produced by acupuncturist, Mackay Rippey and his daughter, Aurora. Together they bring you Master Classes with the latest treatment options  as well as interviews with people like you, the Lyme Ninjas who are battling Lyme every day.

You can listen to the interview here!

Blessings and Best of Health!

Brenda

If you like this interview, please feel free to share it!

The two main types of intestinal parasites are helminths and protozoa. Helminths are worms with many cells. Tapeworms, pinworms, and roundworms are among the most common helminths in North Americans.  Protozoa have only one cell.  They can multiply inside the human body, potentially leading to the development of various kinds of serious infections.  In the U.S., the most common protozoa are giardia and cryptosporidium.  Intestinal parasites are usually transmitted when someone comes in contact with infected feces (for example, through contaminated soil, food, or water).

Common Symptoms of a Parasite Infestation

Intestinal Problems – Constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, burning sensation in the stomach, digestive problems, gas and bloating.

Fatigue – Chronic fatigue, weakness and lethargy

Weight and Appetite Issues – Parasites live undetected and rob the host of much-needed nutrients. Many persons with chronic infections of any kind will be nutrient-deficient. This can produce the urge to eat constantly and gain weight, while never feeling satisfied. Parasites can also cause their host to become underweight for the same reasons.

Sleep Problems – Examples include teeth-grinding, multiple nighttime awakenings, over-sleeping and insomnia.

Mood and Anxiety Problems – Mood swings, depression, forgetfulness, unclear thinking, anxiety and restlessness.

Muscle and Joint Pain – Pain in the back, thighs, shoulders, arthritic pain, muscle cramping, numbness in the limbs, heart pain,  irregular heartbeat and pain near the belly button.

Blood Disorders – For example, anemia and hypoglycemia.

Sexual and Reproductive Problems– Menstrual pain and irregularities, cysts and fibroids, prostate problems, yeast infections and male impotence.

Skin Disorders and Allergies – Hives, sores, eczema, crawling sensations, itchy skin, dry skin, dry hair, hair loss, brittle hair, itchy nose and itchy anus.

Parasites can be easily treated with a variety of herbs. I made my own dewormer to deal with a very serious tapeworm, roundworm, fluke and ropeworm infestation. You can find my recipe here.

Blessings and Best of Health!

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