As we have learned in recent years, oral health is very important for our overall health. Links have been discovered between the health of our oral microbiome and our gut microbiome. Gum disease has been associated with cardiovascular disease. While researchers aren't yet 100% sure exactly why these links exist, it is evident that protecting our oral health is beneficial to our overall health and longevity.

However, as with several other areas of medicine, modern dentistry hasn't really advanced all that much in the past 50+ years. Some dental techniques and recommendations may not be as effective or beneficial as we may have been led to believe. This is why we should all learn everything we can about protecting and maintaining our oral health.

In preparation for this month's Holistic Oral Health Summit, we're making this helpful guide on holistic oral care available for free to anyone who wants it. Go here to get your copy now, or learn more below.

As we move forward into what will likely be a long and slow recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, most of us are striving to find a new sense of normalcy in an uncertain and ever-changing situation. While the effects of the pandemic will likely be felt for years to come - both in our economy and our emotional state - there are some potentially positive effects that we can try to focus on.

One of these is the tendency of our human, caring side to come through in times of danger. Many communities are now banding together to care for the less-fortunate among them.

Another positive aspect is our ability to appreciate the "little things" in life, and find joy in small moments that we may otherwise overlook.

Still another positive is the fact that many of us are seeking ways to become more healthy and self-sufficient - whether it be growing some of our own food, learning to cook for ourselves for the first time in years, or taking charge of our own health, cutting out unhealthy habits, and learning natural ways to strengthen our immunity.

This summer's Immune Defense Summit online event comes at a time when this topic is top-of-mind for many of us. In preparation for this event, there are a number of helpful resources that you can access right now to help build up your immune system and increase your odds of staying healthy.

I will be sharing these free resources with you via email and social media over the next few weeks, but first of all, I wanted to share a very interesting eBook that I think you will find quite eye-opening. Inside, you will learn what the media hasn't been telling you about the coronavirus, particularly when it comes to how to actually protect yourself from viral infections like this one.

You can grab your copy here now, or read more below...

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.