My, how things can change in a week...

I was just thinking how, last weekend, I served in the toddler room at church taking care of some cute little 2-3 year-olds. Other than an increased emphasis on using hand sanitizer, there didn't seem to be much discussion of the coronavirus, and from what I could tell, the congregation was approximately the usual size. The only alarming incident of the day was when a two-year-old escaped her parents in the crowd after the service and could not be found for some time. (Don't worry - after walking around the entire building, I was able to locate her and return her to her parents.)  :-)

One week later, church services and gatherings - as well as schools, universities, library classes, and sporting events - are either cancelled or being held virtually or at a limited scale. (Much to our sadness, my husband and I also cancelled his 50th-birthday trip to Jamaica which we had been looking forward to for many months now.)

As connected as our world is today, a global pandemic was just a matter of time so we should have been prepared, but it's still incredibly alarming. Thank goodness the virus isn't more deadly, as this could be much worse...

Even so, the disruption to our everyday lives is already startling in its scope. Kids are home from school, businesses are shutting down or cancelling events, parents are missing work, stores can't keep shelves stocked, the stock market is hitting daily lows, the travel industry is plummeting (and during the busy spring break season)... It feels like we're inches away from panic in the streets - yet the virus has really only just begun to spread in most countries.

Our job now, as a society, is to do our part to control the spread of the disease. The success of any proposed government action is going to depend on our willingness to participate in control measures. Thankfully, there are a number of things we can do to protect ourselves from the coronavirus and therefore slow its spread throughout our population.

Last week, we talked about a few of the hazards of not getting enough sleep. Unfortunately, this is a problem that far too many people struggle with in today's world.

Like many others (including myself), you've probably had the experience of feeling like you're dragging your feet just to get through the day, feeling dead-tired by dinner time, being foggy-headed at work most of the day, and downing cup after cup of coffee just to try to stay focused.

In fact, people often treat lack of sleep as something to be proud of - even as a sign of how hard they work!

But there IS a price to pay, and the guest article below discusses some of the negative consequences of sleep deficit disorder.

Regardless of the reason for it, lack of quality sleep significantly affects your health, performance, safety, and even your bank account--although you may not even realize it...

Sleep...

We all need it to survive. In fact, you can live for more than twice as long without food than you can without sleep!

It's one of the most natural things in the world, and it's something that most of us enjoy greatly. Yet sleep continues to be elusive for millions of people in today's modern world - and few of us get enough of it.

There are a number of potential causes for our sleeplessness - from stress, to lack of exercise, to that ubiquitous "blue light," but the factors that contribute to your lack of sleep can vary for each person, so it can be difficult to narrow down an exact cause for your own sleep issues.

However, for many people, one thing that can help significantly is to create an environment that is conducive to rest, and then to maintain a consistent bedtime routine before you retire. 

This month's "Freebie" is designed to help you do just that...

For years, it was believed that our bodies were destined to develop signs of aging such as wrinkles, weak bones, weight gain, painful joints, chronic illness, and more.

However, we are learning that, in fact, these symptoms don't have to be inevitable - at least, not at the accelerated rate that we see them happening today. Every day, it seems that we learn more about our body's biological capacity to renew and regenerate itself.

While accelerated aging and chronic disease are widely accepted as "natural" in today's world, the truth is that as humans, WE ALL have the power to actually change our bodies and our minds using scientifically proven dietary, lifestyle, and mindset techniques. By making healthy choices and informed decisions, you can actually change your health destiny, creating radical resilience, healing, and vitality, instead of disease, as you age.

Every cell and tissue in your body has the ability to regenerate and heal. It's just a matter of learning the techniques to provide your body with the nourishment and support that it needs to do what it was originally designed by our Creator to do.

This month's freebie contains 15 powerful tips and techniques for helping you implement nature's tools of resilience and regeneration. Grab your FREE copy of this revolutionary guide here, or learn more below!

Happy New Year! 

I'll be back next week with my annual list of resolutions to inspire you, but I wanted to get your your January freebie right away this week, as I know you may be kicking off the new year with your own healthy resolutions!

CBD is all the rage right now, and while there is some controversy over it, it is getting rave reviews from many users for a number of healthy uses from reducing stress and depression, to better sleep, pain relief, and more. I encourage you to do your due diligence before using CBD oil. Make sure you are choosing a formulation suited to your needs, and use high-quality (and preferably organic) sources. 

One great way to use CBD oil is to add it to your healthy smoothies. Smoothies can be a light and delicious way to consume lots of healthy and nutritious whole foods, and they are often used as part of a detox or cleansing program. These programs are especially popular at the beginning of the year, when you may be wanting to start the year off eating clean, and "detox" from all the unhealthy excesses of the holidays.

Regardless of whether you are doing a detox, or you simply enjoy a healthy smoothie for breakfast now and then, this FREE recipe book will teach you how to add the health benefits of CBD oil to your smoothies. Grab your copy here, or learn more below.

As I have gotten older, I have begun to get very interested in the aging process.

What causes aging? Why do our bodies start to break down and wear out over time, when all of our cells are renewed on an ongoing basis?

Every cell in your body is replaced every 7-10 years, so why then don't we live forever? Why do we experience symptoms of aging like wrinkles, gray hair, memory loss, bone weakness, etc., and why are these symptoms earlier and more pronounced in some people than others?

The answer is rather complicated, but some evidence seems to suggest that while getting chronologically older is inevitable, the aging process actually is not. The fascinating video below discusses the root cause of aging, and how to prevent or even reverse these symptoms in our own bodies, so that we can feel vital and youthful no matter what age we are.

Read more and watch the video below to learn tips and strategies for aging better and living longer (and healthier) than you ever thought possible!

Diabetes is one of the most common - and most costly - modern diseases in today's world. Millions of Americans are affected by diabetes, and despite a proliferation of diabetes drugs and billions of dollars in profits to the pharmaceutical industry, there is no cure in sight. Obviously, our current approach to diabetes is NOT working.

However, there is hope.

With the right education and action, it is absolutely possible to change and save the lives of those with or on a path toward diabetes.

This is the subject of this month's Diabetes Essentials Masterclass with Dr. Brian Mowll, a well-known worldwide expert on diabetes. The Masterclass is available all this week, and you can attend for free.

However, even if you can't attend the live Masterclass, you can still download Dr. Mowll's FREE Diabetes Management Cheatsheet, which provides tested strategies to help you regain control of your blood sugar and reduce your diabetic response.

Click here to grab your copy right now, or learn more below...

Do you have gum disease?

Some estimates show that 90% of American adults over 30 years old have some degree of gum disease, and most of them don't even know it.

Common symptoms of gum disease include swollen gums, bad breath, bleeding or receding gums, and loose teeth, among others. Most of us just accept many of these symptoms as inevitable or "normal," but in fact, gum disease is actually a pretty serious condition. Research has found that bacterial issues in our mouths can lead to inflammation, which has been linked to heart disease, cancer, and more.

As with just about any type of disease, the further that gum disease progresses, the harder it is to treat. Prevention is always the best "cure," and reversing gum disease early on can help keep it from developing into a more serious problem.

There are a number of things you can do to prevent gum disease, and of course, it all starts with your diet. Eating lots of foods high in sugar or processed carbs can lead to problems in your oral health. By improving your diet and taking a few other steps to protect your oral microbiome, you can provide your gums with the opportunity to heal themselves naturally. 

Below are a few tips for healthier gums, as well as a simple all-natural tooth powder recipe that can help keep your mouth clean and healthy - without all the chemicals and other junk found in commercial toothpastes.

Up until about the beginning of the 20th century, most people cared for their own family's health at home. Sure, they may have consulted a doctor or herbal healer from time to time for more serious illnesses, but for common ailments or minor illnesses, many people relied on tried and tested home remedies passed down through families from generation to generation.

The advent of allopathic medicine and our modern medical system changed all that, and while there have certainly been some marvelous medical advances in the past century, our current medical system is generally overburdened and inefficient. Not only do we over-use our medical system for things we could easily treat at home (i.e. minor wounds, colds and flu, etc.), but we are now seeing an alarming rise in antibiotic resistance and hospital-transmitted diseases as a result - not to mention skyrocketing medical costs.

Unfortunately, with our over-reliance on modern medicine, and our abandonment of traditional medicinal preparations and techniques, much of the herbal wisdom that had been passed down for generations has now been lost. Most people don't even know how to prepare the most basic of home remedies, and would be unable to identify most medicinal herbs.

Are you ready to change that? Would you like to learn the 8 simple health preparations that everyone should know how to make at home?

If so, you won't want to miss this 30-minute training class from esteemed herbalist and self-proclaimed "Medicine Woman," Marjorie Wildcraft!  Click here to access the FREE training video now, or learn more below...

I was looking for some interesting content to post for you this week, and I stumbled across this video from one of my favorite functional medicine doctors. I thought it sounded interesting enough and thought I would watch just a few minutes of it to make sure it would be suitable to share on the blog... But when I started watching it, it was so fascinating I got totally sucked in and watched the whole thing! :-) 

We are learning so much lately about gut bacteria and how the health of your gut impacts your overall health, from physical to mental. As it turns out, gut bacteria may even be linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinsons, ALS, and more!  This is a breakthrough idea, and it will take some time before it becomes accepted in mainstream medicine, but it has the potential to revolutionize medicine and the treatment of brain disease as we know it.

Whether you suffer from one of these diseases yourself, you know someone who does, or you simply want to reduce your risk, you don't want to miss this eye-opening video - especially if you use antibiotics...