I know for most all of us Spring really has not arrived but I am hopeful! And for this coming season I wanted to share a few recipes that I love to have for Springtime. Spring means all those pesky critters come out of the woodwork.
To be able to enjoy the great outdoors without those pesky critters eating you alive you can make this great outdoor spray!
And if you are too busy and would rather pick something up that works just as great, Young Living carries Deet free insect repellent! Yay, I was so happy when they announced this at convention last year!
Another great product that you can pick up from Young Living is their sun screen. Another product I was so so excited about when they announced it last year! I had been waiting for this one! I hate buying sunscreen at the store because I think it is so toxic for us. Now I can feel good about my sunscreen! How great is that? Of course you can always make your own, here is a recipe to DIY it! Love me some DIY’s.
How about for those of us that forget to put the sunscreen on? I have just the thing for you! After sun spray is great stuff. And again if you don’t want to make it Young Living has a great After Sun Spray! This stuff is great for so many things, I highly recommend giving it a try!
What about those annoying spring time issues some of us get when the grasses start growing? Try this great Seasonal roll on blend. Rub it on your ears (never in your ears), on the bottom of your feet, and anywhere else you feel the need!
Seasonal Roll on:
10 ml roller bottle(you can get these from Amazon)
5 drops each of lemon, lavender and peppermint
carrier oil to fill(you can use V6 by YL, fractionated coconut oil, or grapeseed oil)
Hope you enjoy these recipes!
Happy Oiling,
Anna
Sorry I have been absent for the last few weeks. Busy around here and then took a week vacation to California. I wanted to share some info on the gut because it is so important to have a healthy gut. Our gut is sometimes referred to as our second brain because it produces neurotransmitters.
Have you ever heard that if your gut isn’t healthy you aren’t healthy? It is so true!
Our health begins in our gut, if your gut isn’t working your body has a hard time getting daily toxins out, and absorbing necessary nutrients. Our gut also produces neurotransmitters like serotonin which regulates appetite, mood, sleep, and relaxation. In fact 90% of serotonin is in your digestive tract. Also 30% of the nervous system is found in the gut and 70-80% of the immune system is found in the gut. The gut is often the first entry point for exposure to pathogens and your gut immune system needs to be thriving and healthy in order to avoid illness.Have you ever eaten a heavy meal and then experienced brain fog? If your gut isn’t working properly your brain will not work properly. It is so important to have a healthy digestive system! There is also a strong relationship between emotions in the brain and emotions in our “second brain”. Think of nervousness and how it can make you feel like butterflies in your tummy or how about when you have a “gut feeling”.
So what are the organs in your digestive system? The mouth, the stomach, the liver/gallbladder, the pancreas, the small and large intestines and the colon. Each of these organs plays an important part in nutrient absorption. The mouth has specific enzymes that break down carbohydrates, the stomach has hydrochloric acid which breaks down protein, fats are emulsified by the bile secreted by the gallbladder. There are also tons of good bacteria in the gut. These bacteria are often destroyed by the things we do like eating a bad diet, some prescription drugs like antibiotics which kill not only the bad bacteria but also the good bacteria that is in our gut to help keep us healthy. Stress is also not good on our digestive system, I know there’s that word again! Stress is not good for any system in our bodies so if nothing else try your best to lower stress or work on changing how you react to it. I gave suggestions on dealing with stress in previous posts if you would like more info on it.
So how can you support your digestive system? Diet can play a big role fresh fruits and veggies, decrease sugar and processed gunk. Drink plenty of water to help our digestive system digest our food. Exercise is good in many ways, it helps to decrease stress which increases digestion.
Now let’s talk about Young Living products that can help our digestion. Omegagize is a supplement that is great for your cardiovascular system because it has essential fatty acids, omega 3s, but these are also essential for digestion. Life 9 which is a probiotic which helps replace all the good bacteria in our gut. Ningxia Red which helps control our blood sugar, Ningxia Red is a super food drink that I recommend everyone start with because it provides such overall support for our entire body. Our digestive system also needs enzymes to break down our food. There are four supplements that contain enzymes to help with this. Essentialzymes are slow acting, provide overall support and help to rebuild the necessary components of our digestive system. Essentialzyme 4 are fast acting and would be the one to use after a heavy meal. Detoxyzyme is also fast acting. We also have Mightyzymes made specifically for kids.
Multigreens help support normal Ph levels and increase oxygen. Sulfurzyme supports your liver and stomach. Comfortone increases movement in the intestines. ICP is a product similar to Metamucil but without all the additives.
Oils that support a healthy digestive system are Peppermint vitality, Digize Vitality, and any of the Citrus vitality oils. Before Young Living when my kids were little I kept candy canes around for upset tummies. There is something about peppermint that soothes the tummy!
If you want a great book on cleansing the body I highly recommend Inner Transformations Using Essential Oils. You can find it here https://www.discoverlsp.com/inner-transformations-using-essential-oils-2nd-edition.html Three of my daughters, my husband and I have used this book and let me tell you the benefits from following her advice are amazing!
I also found a great article that talks about gut health and although not as thorough as the above book it is a great article. Here is the link http://drhyman.com/blog/2010/04/28/ultrawellness-lesson-4-gut-digestive-health/
Happy oiling,
Anna McElligott
Onto the thyroid gland, the thyroid gland is a small, butterfly shaped gland located in the base of the neck just below the Adam’s apple. Although relatively small, the thyroid gland plays a huge role in our body, influencing the function of many of the body’s most important organs, including the heart, brain, liver, kidneys and skin. Ensuring that the thyroid gland is healthy and functioning properly is vitally important to the body’s overall well-being.
The thyroid is responsible for regulating body temp, calcium absorption, hormone balance, neurological development, and growth.
The thyroid uses iodine, a mineral found in some foods and in iodized salt to make its hormones. The two most important thyroid hormones are thyroxine(T4) and triiodothyronine(T3). Thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH), which is produced by the pituitary gland, acts to stimulate hormone production by the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland also makes the hormone calcitonin, which is involved in calcium metabolism and stimulating bone cells to add calcium to bone.
A simple way to check if you are low in iodine is to paint a square of iodine on your forearm, if it goes away in less than 24 hours you may be low on iodine.
Thyroid problems can be defined by either low, hypothyroid, or high, hyperthyroid.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism are
1.Low energy
2.Weight gain, difficulty losing weight
3.Dry skin
4.Hair loss, thinning hair
5.Cold hands and feet, cold intolerance
6.Constipation
7.Joint problems
8.Muscle aches
9.Infertility and other hormone imbalances
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include
1.Fast heartbeat
2.Sudden weight loss
3.Increased sensitivity to heat
4.Difficulty in sleeping
5.Sweating and skin changes
6.Mood swings
7.Lighter and less frequent menstrual cycles
8.Bowel dysfunction
The symptoms listed are not a complete list and if you think you have a thyroid issue it is of course always a good idea to visit your doctor who can get a blood test to determine whether you in fact have hyper or hypothyroidism.
There are natural ways to support your thyroid. Vitamin D is important for thyroid health, your doctor can check your vitamin D level and recommend how much your body needs.
There are lifestyle and diet changes you can make to support thyroid health, they are eating a health diet consisting of fresh food, healthy proteins, less of the unhealthy foods like sugar and processed foods. Foods high in iodine are the dark greens like kale and spinach.
Reducing stress of course is a great way to help your health not just thyroid but overall, stress wreaks havoc on our health. As we’ve talked about before there are many ways to decrease and handle stress, exercise, meditation, yoga, and deep breathing.
Now let’s talk about Young Living products that support thyroid health. Thyromin, a supplement made by Young Living to support healthy thyroid function. Omegagize is full of omega 3’s. There is some evidence that Omega 3’s can increase thyroid hormone uptake. Omega 3’s also reduce inflammation which is a cause of hyperthyroidism. Ningxia Red is a powerful whole body supplement and is packed with superfoods to support overall wellness. It’s benefits include support for energy levels, normal cellular function, and whole body and normal eye health. Master formula is a full spectrum multi nutrient complex providing premium vitamins and food based nutriment to support general health. Vitamins and nutrients may help fight the underlying causes of thyroid disorders.
Essential oils which support a healthy thyroid are Endoflex Vitality , Copaiba Vitality , and Lemon Vitality. I use all three daily, you can put them in a capsule or add them to your water. I also use Endoflex as a perfume because I Love the smell.
I hope you have enjoyed my series of posts on the Endocrine System. And as always I am not here to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. I love reading and researching about health and wellness, everything I share is what I have learned from using my oils in my personal journey to live a healthier more balanced life. My experience may not be yours, every body is different and therefore responds differently to different things. But I think we can all agree that by taking steps to eating right, exercising more and supporting our bodies with essential nutrients we can get closer to the life we are meant to live!
Happy oiling,
Anna
The thyroid is responsible for regulating body temp, calcium absorption, hormone balance, neurological development, and growth.
The thyroid uses iodine, a mineral found in some foods and in iodized salt to make its hormones. The two most important thyroid hormones are thyroxine(T4) and triiodothyronine(T3). Thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH), which is produced by the pituitary gland, acts to stimulate hormone production by the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland also makes the hormone calcitonin, which is involved in calcium metabolism and stimulating bone cells to add calcium to bone.
A simple way to check if you are low in iodine is to paint a square of iodine on your forearm, if it goes away in less than 24 hours you may be low on iodine.
Thyroid problems can be defined by either low, hypothyroid, or high, hyperthyroid.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism are
1.Low energy
2.Weight gain, difficulty losing weight
3.Dry skin
4.Hair loss, thinning hair
5.Cold hands and feet, cold intolerance
6.Constipation
7.Joint problems
8.Muscle aches
9.Infertility and other hormone imbalances
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include
1.Fast heartbeat
2.Sudden weight loss
3.Increased sensitivity to heat
4.Difficulty in sleeping
5.Sweating and skin changes
6.Mood swings
7.Lighter and less frequent menstrual cycles
8.Bowel dysfunction
The symptoms listed are not a complete list and if you think you have a thyroid issue it is of course always a good idea to visit your doctor who can get a blood test to determine whether you in fact have hyper or hypothyroidism.
There are natural ways to support your thyroid. Vitamin D is important for thyroid health, your doctor can check your vitamin D level and recommend how much your body needs.
There are lifestyle and diet changes you can make to support thyroid health, they are eating a health diet consisting of fresh food, healthy proteins, less of the unhealthy foods like sugar and processed foods. Foods high in iodine are the dark greens like kale and spinach.
Reducing stress of course is a great way to help your health not just thyroid but overall, stress wreaks havoc on our health. As we’ve talked about before there are many ways to decrease and handle stress, exercise, meditation, yoga, and deep breathing.
Now let’s talk about Young Living products that support thyroid health. Thyromin, a supplement made by Young Living to support healthy thyroid function. Omegagize is full of omega 3’s. There is some evidence that Omega 3’s can increase thyroid hormone uptake. Omega 3’s also reduce inflammation which is a cause of hyperthyroidism. Ningxia Red is a powerful whole body supplement and is packed with superfoods to support overall wellness. It’s benefits include support for energy levels, normal cellular function, and whole body and normal eye health. Master formula is a full spectrum multi nutrient complex providing premium vitamins and food based nutriment to support general health. Vitamins and nutrients may help fight the underlying causes of thyroid disorders.
Essential oils which support a healthy thyroid are Endoflex Vitality , Copaiba Vitality , and Lemon Vitality. I use all three daily, you can put them in a capsule or add them to your water. I also use Endoflex as a perfume because I Love the smell.
I hope you have enjoyed my series of posts on the Endocrine System. And as always I am not here to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. I love reading and researching about health and wellness, everything I share is what I have learned from using my oils in my personal journey to live a healthier more balanced life. My experience may not be yours, every body is different and therefore responds differently to different things. But I think we can all agree that by taking steps to eating right, exercising more and supporting our bodies with essential nutrients we can get closer to the life we are meant to live!
Happy oiling,
Anna
Now let’s talk about how to support your adrenals. There are many ways to support your adrenals to keep them happy and healthy! Let’s start with diet. Increase protein and decrease sugar, I know sugar is so yummy but do we need it? Not really. Decrease processed food, no one needs this, I know it’s easy, convenient and tasty but have you checked out the ingredients? Yuck! And obviously increase fresh food, not so easy if you live in a remote area I know! But do your best! I have been doing the Whole 30 and it has made a huge difference in how I feel! It’s basically eating meat, fruits and veggies and eliminating those foods that can cause inflammation in the body. If you would like to check it out here is their website https://whole30.com. I know it’s not for everyone so if you aren’t wanting to go on such a strict regimen then do what you feel like you can. Start out slow and add more fresh and decrease those things like sugar and processed foods. It’s also important to eat a good healthy breakfast and be consistent with your meal times. Here is a great article that goes more in-depth on diet and adrenal fatigue https://adrenalfatiguesolution.com/adrenal-fatigue-diet/?utm_expid=78249309-21.7csbiCjoQdqCYFnLPf_JvA.0&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F.
Exercise and movement is also important for your adrenals, not only is it great for keeping you fit it is also a great stress reducer which is a major contributor to adrenal issues. But be careful if you are in stage 3 or 4 adrenal fatigue and are tired all the time too much or too strenuous exercise is not a good idea because it can tax your adrenals. The best type of exercise is low impact like yoga, walking, stretching or swimming.
Deep breathing and meditation are really helpful as they reduce stress and and normalize our adrenals and cortisol levels. Another great exercise is journaling, I am talking about the kind where you vent on paper. Let it all out and let it go. For some this really helps to reduce their stress level. Reading is also a great activity to reduce stress, as long as the book you are reading is not stress inducing! How about this new adult coloring?
Now onto Young Living and some of the supplements and oils you can use to support your adrenals.
Endogize which is a supplement that supports a healthy endocrine system, also Powergize which contains ashwagandha root extract which may help maintain normal cortisol levels and mediate stress responses in the body. Super B because research has found that vitamin B deficiency may be associated with stress on the adrenals. Ningxia Red because antioxidants are great for your body,PD 80/20 which contains DHEA. DHEA is used up in stress. Life 9 because your health starts in your gut. Life 9 is a probiotic. And Mineral Essence because Minerals are Essential to your health.
Essential Oils are a great place to start. This is where I started my journey to supporting my adrenals. Endoflex Vitality is a great help in supporting your endocrine system as is Nutmeg Vitality, all of the Citrus Vitality Oils, Frankincense Vitality and Lavender Vitality. If you are just beginning your journey into essential oils why not give the three that are in your kit a try. Lavender, Frankincense, and Lemon! If you are not quite brave enough to ingest your oils yet try putting them on the bottom of your feet right about in the middle of your foot. But I highly suggest trying the Lemon Vitality in your water, it really is not too bad! Other oils that are great to try are the emotional oils. Don’t we all need some emotional support? I know I do😁.
There is great information about one of our oils in our usage group, if you are on my team ask me how to get into this group, then go search up Progessence Plus. That’s all I can say about this amazing wonderful Oil I call my lifesaver!
I hope you have gotten some help from this post and remember I am not a doctor, I am not here to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. If you think you are suffering from adrenal fatigue it is always a great idea to visit your doctor or Naturopath to have a work up done. My suggestions are just that, suggestions. These are some of the things that have helped to support my Endocrine System and maybe they can be a help to you also! My go to to begin would be the Ningxia Red, give it a try see if it doesn’t make a difference in how you feel! That and Endoflex Vitality are the two that have helped me the most.
Happy Oiling,
Anna
Exercise and movement is also important for your adrenals, not only is it great for keeping you fit it is also a great stress reducer which is a major contributor to adrenal issues. But be careful if you are in stage 3 or 4 adrenal fatigue and are tired all the time too much or too strenuous exercise is not a good idea because it can tax your adrenals. The best type of exercise is low impact like yoga, walking, stretching or swimming.
Deep breathing and meditation are really helpful as they reduce stress and and normalize our adrenals and cortisol levels. Another great exercise is journaling, I am talking about the kind where you vent on paper. Let it all out and let it go. For some this really helps to reduce their stress level. Reading is also a great activity to reduce stress, as long as the book you are reading is not stress inducing! How about this new adult coloring?
Now onto Young Living and some of the supplements and oils you can use to support your adrenals.
Endogize which is a supplement that supports a healthy endocrine system, also Powergize which contains ashwagandha root extract which may help maintain normal cortisol levels and mediate stress responses in the body. Super B because research has found that vitamin B deficiency may be associated with stress on the adrenals. Ningxia Red because antioxidants are great for your body,PD 80/20 which contains DHEA. DHEA is used up in stress. Life 9 because your health starts in your gut. Life 9 is a probiotic. And Mineral Essence because Minerals are Essential to your health.
Essential Oils are a great place to start. This is where I started my journey to supporting my adrenals. Endoflex Vitality is a great help in supporting your endocrine system as is Nutmeg Vitality, all of the Citrus Vitality Oils, Frankincense Vitality and Lavender Vitality. If you are just beginning your journey into essential oils why not give the three that are in your kit a try. Lavender, Frankincense, and Lemon! If you are not quite brave enough to ingest your oils yet try putting them on the bottom of your feet right about in the middle of your foot. But I highly suggest trying the Lemon Vitality in your water, it really is not too bad! Other oils that are great to try are the emotional oils. Don’t we all need some emotional support? I know I do😁.
There is great information about one of our oils in our usage group, if you are on my team ask me how to get into this group, then go search up Progessence Plus. That’s all I can say about this amazing wonderful Oil I call my lifesaver!
I hope you have gotten some help from this post and remember I am not a doctor, I am not here to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. If you think you are suffering from adrenal fatigue it is always a great idea to visit your doctor or Naturopath to have a work up done. My suggestions are just that, suggestions. These are some of the things that have helped to support my Endocrine System and maybe they can be a help to you also! My go to to begin would be the Ningxia Red, give it a try see if it doesn’t make a difference in how you feel! That and Endoflex Vitality are the two that have helped me the most.
Happy Oiling,
Anna
Let’s talk about the adrenals because they are so important to our health especially since we live in such a hectic high stress society always rushing everywhere.
The adrenals are two little organs that sit over your kidneys and control our response to stress and our blood sugar. There are two layers to the adrenals, the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla. We are going to be focusing on how stress effects our adrenal glands and can lead to adrenal fatigue.
When you stress your body goes through three stages, alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. This is the fight or flight response. When this happens our bodies release cortisol which mobilizes carbohydrates and fat for instant energy so we are able to deal with whatever is causing the stress. The problem arises when we are under constant stress and the cortisol levels stay high instead of returning to normal like its intended to do. When cortisol levels are constantly high it can cause all kinds of health problems. Some examples are impaired healing and cell regeneration, imbalances in other hormones, weight gain, low sex drive, sleeplessness, to name a few. Here is a great article on this topic https://www.womenshealthnetwork.com/adrenal-fatigue-and-stress/negative-effects-of-high-cortisol.aspx
There are three stages of adrenal change
1.Acute
2.Adrenal fatigue
3.Adrenal exhaustion
Here are the signs of each stage, you know you are in the acute stage if you have an injury, are in danger, or get stressful news. Your body is preparing the fight or flight response to the stressor. If it is functioning at its optimal level it can take on the stress and get through it to the other side. If not and it is subjected to more than it can handle you will end up with adrenal fatigue. The symptoms of adrenal fatigue are more tired than normal, you may have blood pressure issues, heart issues and irritable bowel syndrome, depression, weight gain to name a few. Here is a great article on the symptoms https://www.jillcarnahan.com/2015/05/17/signs-you-might-have-adrenal-fatigue/ . In stage three adrenal exhaustion you may find you need antidepressants, stomach acid medications, are tired all the time, your hormones are way out of balance.
Let’s look at what causes it.
1.Pregnancy-adrenal fatigue can begin in the womb. In the beginning of pregnancy baby uses moms adrenals, if you are stressed your baby will feel it too. During the end of pregnancy when the babies adrenals are developed if mom is stressed she will start relying on babies adrenals. The baby can be born with adrenal fatigue.
2.Chronic stress is a major problem.
3.Trauma can lead to adrenal fatigue. Trauma can be an accident, surgery, the death of someone close to you.
4.Hormone imbalance, if estrogen is high, cortisol is high.
5.Bad diet choices.
6.Chronic toxicity from heavy metals.
I am not trying to scare you here, it can be fixed! We just need to work on supporting our adrenals and limiting or changing how we react to stress.
I must mention again I am not a doctor just a mom and wife learning how to help myself and family with a passion to share with others. Not here to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Just share what I am learning in hopes of helping others to live a life of health and wellness.
In my next post I will talk about ways to support the adrenals.
Blessings,
Anna
The adrenals are two little organs that sit over your kidneys and control our response to stress and our blood sugar. There are two layers to the adrenals, the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla. We are going to be focusing on how stress effects our adrenal glands and can lead to adrenal fatigue.
When you stress your body goes through three stages, alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. This is the fight or flight response. When this happens our bodies release cortisol which mobilizes carbohydrates and fat for instant energy so we are able to deal with whatever is causing the stress. The problem arises when we are under constant stress and the cortisol levels stay high instead of returning to normal like its intended to do. When cortisol levels are constantly high it can cause all kinds of health problems. Some examples are impaired healing and cell regeneration, imbalances in other hormones, weight gain, low sex drive, sleeplessness, to name a few. Here is a great article on this topic https://www.womenshealthnetwork.com/adrenal-fatigue-and-stress/negative-effects-of-high-cortisol.aspx
There are three stages of adrenal change
1.Acute
2.Adrenal fatigue
3.Adrenal exhaustion
Here are the signs of each stage, you know you are in the acute stage if you have an injury, are in danger, or get stressful news. Your body is preparing the fight or flight response to the stressor. If it is functioning at its optimal level it can take on the stress and get through it to the other side. If not and it is subjected to more than it can handle you will end up with adrenal fatigue. The symptoms of adrenal fatigue are more tired than normal, you may have blood pressure issues, heart issues and irritable bowel syndrome, depression, weight gain to name a few. Here is a great article on the symptoms https://www.jillcarnahan.com/2015/05/17/signs-you-might-have-adrenal-fatigue/ . In stage three adrenal exhaustion you may find you need antidepressants, stomach acid medications, are tired all the time, your hormones are way out of balance.
Let’s look at what causes it.
1.Pregnancy-adrenal fatigue can begin in the womb. In the beginning of pregnancy baby uses moms adrenals, if you are stressed your baby will feel it too. During the end of pregnancy when the babies adrenals are developed if mom is stressed she will start relying on babies adrenals. The baby can be born with adrenal fatigue.
2.Chronic stress is a major problem.
3.Trauma can lead to adrenal fatigue. Trauma can be an accident, surgery, the death of someone close to you.
4.Hormone imbalance, if estrogen is high, cortisol is high.
5.Bad diet choices.
6.Chronic toxicity from heavy metals.
I am not trying to scare you here, it can be fixed! We just need to work on supporting our adrenals and limiting or changing how we react to stress.
I must mention again I am not a doctor just a mom and wife learning how to help myself and family with a passion to share with others. Not here to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Just share what I am learning in hopes of helping others to live a life of health and wellness.
In my next post I will talk about ways to support the adrenals.
Blessings,
Anna
