02.06.2013

Nourished Baby: 2nd edition!

My favorite book just got a new Makeover!

I Love this book! –a must read.

Read why I love this book so much. It changed my life and how I look at things.

I am not a mom. I don’t have my own kids. One thing I do love–I love information, research, anything that will help me understand life. Life is beautiful and nothing can be better then giving your children the best–there is only one foundation (and that is when you are a baby). Children need to be nourished!

View the book main page here, and look at previews!

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New Credentials:

Nourished Baby : 2nd edition is now part of Nourishing our Children educational material. Sandrine Love (creator of Nourishing our Children) cleaned and sparked up the design as well!

This book was signed off my Sally Fallon (president of the WAPF) herself! How exciting 🙂

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New Information:

The first edition of this book was spectacular. I was thinking “how could it even get any better?” Well it did. Here is what you will learn in this “must read book”…

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New Recipes:

Who doesn’t love new recipes, especially that are “toddler approved”! Here is a list of the new bloggers that contributed 15+ new recipes.

I am honored to be mentioned in this book. 🙂

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 Reviews

Everyone love this book and honestly its priceless. The knowledge you can gain is all for the love of you kiddios! (I have already read this book 2 times I love it so much!)

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Buy it here!!

If you would like to buy Nourished Baby: 2nd edition. Click here –it will bring you to the main page for Nourished Baby 2.

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~Stay Gutsy, Caroline 

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02.02.2013

Orange-Lemon Jello Stars

Let me introduce Katie from www.girlmeetsnourishment.com!

I found Katie’s blog just about a week ago. I e-mailed her telling her how much I loved her blog and mentioned that she should join the VGN network (the blog network I am in). I find out that she is already in the works of becoming a VGN blogger. I am super excited to have connected with her, because I know that all you will just LOVE her recipes and personality!

Arthritis is a curious condition. You feel stiff and it hurts to move whatever part of your body that is affected. But I am getting ahead of myself, let me first tell you a story.

When I was a youngster, I lived on Long Island which is part of New York. I was in first grade sitting in the very front seat of the bus. The bus driver stopped to let some kids out, and I wanted to stick my hand outside to see what the temperature was. Before I knew it, my hand was closed in the bus door right at my knuckles. While it was very uncomfortable, I was too afraid to tell the bus driver that my hand was stuck fearing that I would get in trouble; so I sat forward in my seat with my hand closed in the door until the next bus stop. After my hand was released, I sat quietly back in my seat and vowed never to do that again.

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A few days later, after a big dinner at my grandparents house, my Dad was sitting around the table with the rest of the “grown-ups” chatting. I was doing something in the kitchen and then made my way back through the dining room when my Dad asked me to come over. My knuckles were swollen, red, and large. I still hadn’t told my parents about the bus ride home, and I was sure that must have been what caused it. I told them about what happened on the bus but they didn’t seem to think that was what caused it. They quickly set up an appointment for me with a pediatric rheumatologist. Before I knew it, we were making regular trips to New York City to see a specialist for my Juvenile Arthritis. I began taking these disgusting tasting pills, and since I was too young at the time to swallow pills, I remember my family mashing the pills up into a powder and mixing them into my jello and yogurt. I can still remember the horrible taste!

My body healed itself!

My knuckles looked swollen and I was self-conscious of my hands because I felt they looked disproportioned to other people’s “normal” knuckles. But years passed and in that time, my body healed itself and my arthritis went into remission. I have since grown into my hands and now I do what I can to take care of my joints to avoid any flare-ups or arthritis in the future.

I am strong now!

What is Arthritis?

Most commonly, arthritis is known as an auto-immune disorder that causes your body’s immune system to attack the joints in your body, which results in painful inflammation and movement. However, there are several types of arthritis that have different causes:

  • Osteoarthritis, which is the most common type of Arthritis and usually affects people in their later years of life. It is caused by damage and the break down of the body’s joints over years of use.
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), which is when the body’s own immune system attacks itself causing painful inflammation in joints and eventually will start to breakdown the cartilage in the joints.
  • Gout, surprisingly, is also a type of arthritis which causes painful uric acid to collect in the joints.
  • Septic Arthritis (also known as bacterial or infectious arthritis), is caused by an infection that inflames the joints.
  • Psoratic Arthritis, which has symptoms similar to RA: painful inflammation of the joints that can causing swelling and be accompanied by psoriasis (a skin condition that causes scaly plaques on the skin).

Three Ways to Care for Your Joints

Since there is no cure for arthritis the best thing you can do is start protecting your joints now! These are a few tips I have learned to employ over the years that keep my body healthy and my arthritis in remission. Best thing about these tips, they are all natural and you can start doing them today!

1. Exercise

Getting regular exercise is not only good for your cardiovascular system and overall health, it’s good for your joints! Be sure to warm up first which will lubricate your joints and get your body ready for the exercise to come. Be sure to always keep good form when doing exercises and always stretch after a workout which will allow your body to recover. Keeping good form is especially important because any accidental injury we may cause to our joints can put us on the road to Osteoarthritis. Strength training is also important, because the stronger your muscles are around your joints the better protected they will be. Your body is an amazing thing, so just listen to it! If something doesn’t feel right, stop – it knows best!

2. Posture is Key

I am guilty of being a slouch but I do work hard to keep my posture good. I (try to) keep my shoulders down and my back arched just the right way. Keeping good posture protects your joints by keeping your body in natural alignment which causes less strain. Visit this excellent post on Thank Your Body to find three simple stretches for good posture.

3. Eat gelatin rich foods!

Say what? Eating jello is good for my joints? YES! And how sweet it is. Getting gelatin in your diet from rich, homemade bone broths or even homemade jello made with grass-fed beef gelatin is essential to keeping your joints and cartilage strong, according the Weston A. Price Foundation. Gelatin is such a superfood, and research has shown that getting adequate gelatin helped improve symptoms in patients with RA. Gelatin has so many health benefits far beyond what you can imagine, besides just helping to protect your joints, it does a multitude of other amazing things that can be found in the article “Why Broth is Beautiful“. But be sure when you start eating gelatin that it’s the good stuff, not the box you find on the supermarket shelf…in fact, make my recipe for Orange-Lemon Jello Stars below! It’s super easy. Protect yourself with a few of these babies:

Orange-Lemon Jello Stars

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Ingredients:

4-5 large organic oranges
1 to 1 and 1/2 cups organic lemon juice
3 and 1/2 tablespoons Unflavored Gelatin
3 to 5 tablespoons on raw honey (depending on how sweet you like it)

 

Directions:

1. Juice the oranges into a large measuring cup, be sure to use a strainer to catch all the pulp. I got about one cup of orange juice from my oranges and then I added another cup of lemon juice to it, bringing the total amount of fresh juice to 2 cups.

2. Next, in a medium saucepan, combine the gelatin, honey, and juice over medium heat. Whisk until all the honey and gelatin is dissolved and the mixture is warm.

3. Carefully pour into fancy ice cube trays and place in the freezer for 20 minutes (or allow to set in fridge for a couple of hours).

4. Pop out and enjoy these little treats that will keep your joints happy!

Cheerio!

Katie

Sources:
1. WebMD: Most Common Arthritis Types
2. WebMD: Septic Arthritis: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
3. WebMD: Psoriatic Arthritis
4. Mayo Clinic: Arthritis Causes
5. Prevention: Exercising
6. WAPF: Why Broth is Beautiful
7. WAPF: Stocks
8. How Stuff Works: Top 10 Ways to Protect Your Joints

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Posted By 12 Comments
01.14.2013

Jump-out the toxins (Rebounding for lymph drainage).

Is it possible to jump and release toxins?

Yes it is, but its probably not exactly how you are picturing it. The toxins dont just spurt out of your body- you are actually facilitating your detox process. The method to doing this is called rebounding- which is jumping.

 

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My stubborn lymph system

I suffer from a sluggish lymph system and I try and try to get it flowing. I pretty much do all the suggestions below (which takes up a lot of time) and still I get symptoms daily. If you are like me, then it is going to be a process to get your lymph system working properly again, and it could be tied to some other condition- like my hashimtos. I also am slowly introducing a lymph homeopathic form my chiropractor.

Do you have a sluggish lymph system?

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The answer is YES if you suffer from any of these symptoms.

Chronic illness

Autoimmune disorder

Thyroid imbalances (hypothyroidism)

Weak immune system (prone to infections and illness)

Sinus congestion/infections

Headaches

Consistant fatigue

Swollen lymph nodes

Poor circulation

Itching

Allergies

Cellulite

Overweight

Swollen face and/or limbs

“puffy eyes” in the morning.

Fluid retention (enema)

Swollen tonsils

Pressure in head, “full feeling”

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The lymph organs

The lymph organs

What is the lymph system?

The first thing you should know about the lymph system is that is moves very slowly. It has no pump, like your heart pumps your blood. Its up to you to “pump” your lymph fluid. Trust me, you will want to move by the end of this post!

Every wonder why you wake up with puffy eyes? That is because while you are sleeping the lymph fluid does not get to move as much, so the lymph fluid builds up. The fluid retention will be worse if your lymph system is under functioning because of a illness or disease (liver problems, hypothyroidism, edema, sinus problems..).

You have lymph vessels all over your body. Take a look at this chart to see what I am talking about. These vessels open and close. The lymph fluid moves away form gravity. When you jump these vessels open and close several times, allowing the fluid to move back and forth.

The lymph system removes excess fluid from the tissues and in between the cells. It also absorbs protein and gives it to the blood. Pathogens, toxins, and cancer cells are all removed my the lymph system.

This system absorbs fat soluble vitamins from your digested food. If you are interested in the lymph anatomy (like me) then take a look at these pictures of the face, head, and neck lymph system. Here is the whole body chart.

I bet you didn’t know..

You have main lymph valves in your arms and legs.

You have over 300 lymph nodes in your neck and head area.

The lymph nodes are designed to drain toxins before they reach your brain- so even more of a reason for these nodes to work better!

Your liver is packed with lymph vessels too which are activated when you rebound.

Lymph fluid cleanses and transports.

Lymph organs include bone marrow, spleen, lymph nodes, and thymus.

There is more lymph in your body then blood. You are the “pump” for your lymph system, no organ will do it for you! Move!

Most people with chronic illness have problems with their lymph system.

The body is separated into 2 parts -right lymph ad left lymph.

The left lymph covers most of your body. It is a very uneven proportion, look at a picture here. (notice the bluish color on the man’s right side and the neutral color on his left side.)

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lymph pic

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What is rebounding?

It is simply jumping. A trampoline allows your knees and body to bounce back without stress. If I just jump around, my knees get sore. I would suggest a trampoline- I got mine  here (the reviews say it breaks fast, but I have had mine fore over a year without problems). It also makes you more inclined to jump!

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Unleash your toxins!

The lymph system needs help. It is sluggish. Bouncing forces the fluid to start moving. The fluid moves out toxins and debris and gets your detox organs to kick into gear.

You may feel a flush or rush of energy when you start to rebound. Your energy and lymph fluid are getting stirred up and flowing (this is good).

If you start to feel fatigued or any other detox symptoms, cut down on the time or stop. Rebounding is a powerful detox so play it safe and start slow. Allow your body to be the conductor- more is not always better.

Once the toxins are released your body has to get rid of them. Assist your body by taking a sauna or clay bath (instructions here). Just like any detox, you might feel worse before you feel better.

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How to jump?

Its simple-jump. Up and down. Lift off your toes. Nothing too strenuous. Watch this video to get a feel for exactly what to do. Use a trampoline. I bought a mini one from amazon (actually a kids one) that cost like $40. Mine has not broken and I have been jumping on it daily for 1 year. You will want to get one that is right for your body (weight) and durable.

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How I jump

I grabbed my sister to have her demonstrate rebounding for you. It was a good study break for her to get the blood moving to her brain :). Rebounding is pretty simple. This is how I usually do my jumping. I alternate between the little toe jump, the regular jump and the tuck jump. I like to mix it up so its fun. I also like to move my arms. Im not very coordinated so I just let them fly around :).

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Internal_organs

Rebounding has a direct connection to increase lymph flow in your body’s organs.

Happy organs/body.

Digestion: Expect your insides to feel jiggly (hey you are jumping). Rebounding stimulates your digestion, allowing the food to well…evacuate faster! My sister says it feels like a “body reset” every time you jump.

Intestines: There is a special name for the lymph in the intestines- chyle. Its role is to hold the absorb the fat from your food.

Muscles: Rebounding is in fact engaging tons of muscles, even though it seems so easy and fun…wait till you jump for 10 min. After a few weeks you will notice your muscles might have more definition or are just stronger and more flexible. You are using muscle groups that would not normally be used.

Liver and detox organs: As you jump, the lymph fluid gets circulating around your liver. More blood and lymph fluid = more oxygen & more nutrients. As the blood gets shunted to your liver and detox organs, they can preform their task more efficiently (which is detoxing!) Allowing your liver to function better will put less stress on your lymph organs like the spleen.

Lungs/Brain: I always feel like I can breath better after a rebounding session. The increase in oxygen and allowing your lungs to fully expand gives your brain the oxygen it has been asking for. So much of our life we don’t breath fully and are really starving our brains as well. If you need a “work or study break” just jump. I sometimes stop my siblings when they are studying really hard and have them jump to get their brain working better!

Mood: I cant say exactly what increases someones mood, but when you jump, it sure works. I mean, how could it not after reading all these positive benefits for the body. If your body is happy your mood is happy. I challenge you to rebound without cracking a smile…its hard!

Metabolism/circulation: People seem to love this word, right? Rebounding does help to reboot your metabolism because all your other organ systems are being recharged. If your body is working, you metabolism will follow. If you have cold fingers and toes (like I do) rebounding will become your best friend. I wake up in the morning eager to jump to get some warmth in me.

Immune system: Your lymph system is directly connected to your immune system. It helps remove destroyed cells, debris, toxins, and cancer cells. Your thymus (a lymph gland) plays a key role in your immune system and fighting infections as well.

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liver lymph

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Liver lymph connection:

The key to a healthy lymph system and drainage is keeping the liver in tip-top shape. (I know I have some work to do with my liver- dandelion greens here I come!)

There is a big connection between a healthy liver and a properly functioning lymph system. That is because 25-50% of lymph that flows through the thoracic duct is produced by the liver. The thoracic duct is the main duct (from you neck all the way down your abdomen) in your body for the lymph system. It transports most of the lymph to the bloodstream.

The lymph in the thoracic duct carries nutrients from the intestines into the blood stream and draws lymph from both halves of the body. If that much lymph comes from your liver and flows into the main “vessel” of the lymph system then it makes sense why a healthy liver=healthy lymph.

There are countless ways to get your liver functioning properly. I prefer to focus on gentle ways that wont stress the body too much in the process. Liver detoxing with dandelion greens, milk thistle, burdock, healthy fats, eating grass fed liver, caster oil pack, acupuncture…There are countless ways to clean up your liver and give it that extra boost so it can do what it does best -detox and produce lymph! Glutathione is important to help detox your liver as well.

Good news is that your liver has the ability to regenerate. The liver is comprised of certain types of cells that actually rebuild and replicate to form a healthy liver- even after injury to the liver. This “regeneration” mechanism has been studied and witnessed since ancient times. A liver can grow and adapt in size and mass. As little as 25% of a liver can regenerate back into a whole liver.

There have been studies done that show liver regeneration actually can be compromised by chemicals (we have plenty of those in our world). Despite this, there is hope with your liver, but that doesn’t mean you can be “mean” to it and drink and eat all the bad food you want.

When you support your liver with herbs and exercise, detox is natural. Cleansing will come before rejuvenation and it can take a few moths to many years (depending on the condition you liver is in now). If you care for your liver, all your other systems and organs (gallbladder, lymph, colon, etc.) will benefit and create a healthier body overall.

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Massage

Massage facilitates lymph flow

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How else to get lymph system moving

Dry skin brushing. I do this every day, and I actually look forward to it. There are special techniques so read about it here. Sometimes I even brush my skin with my shower brush, but dry brushing is more effective then wet. I use this brush.

Massage/Face massage. My mom massages my neck and shoulders when they are tight or if my ear won’t drain. It gives immediate relief too. I like this link for face massage instructions. Trust me these techniques work- I stroke my face and neck every morning like this video explains and I see a difference in my face. Here is a good book to learn more.

Any exercise. Rebounding is just the most effective for lymph. Exercise is hands down the most effective lymph system “pumper or drainer”. You cannot live without it! I find swimming or yoga are 2nd best to rebounding for lymph movement.

Chiropractic care. If you get the right alignment, the fluid can drain properly. I always get immediate results with this.

Oil pulling. Swishing a spoonful of oil (coconut, olive, sesame) in your moth for 20 min each day will aid in lymph flow in your sinuses. Nothing feels better to me then clear sinus. I find that it also unplugs the mucus in my ears as well as reduces the swelling the lymph nodes under my chin. I use coconut oil.

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Acupuncture. The lymph organs (spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes) all have special meridians which can be stimulated. I get my lymph points needled and I find relief. Acupressure also is helpful too.

Drink water. Clean water of course. Without water the lymph system cannot flow properly. Not too much though.. don’t over do it (you can be over hydrated, trust me, I was). I use a berkey with ceramic filters.

Inversions: Headstands, downward dog, “legs crawl up the wall” are all simple positions the let your head hang. Inverting your body uses gravity to help your lymph system drain. Go do a handstand..or work on it anyways.

Deep breathing. Seriously just do it. Right now. Fill those lungs and make sure your shoulders don’t move (your belly should). My sisters in choir taught me how to breath. First start by laying of your back. Breath. Do you see you stomach rise. Now try it sitting. Its harder isn’t it? Just practice. This link will help you.

Poop/enema: Yes getting your colon moving is a good idea. Remember its not all about fiber but the good bacteria that helps you eliminate too. A coffee enema or colon cleansing can give your liver a nice detox (don’t be squeamish or scared- your body may need it), which is going to help the lymph system in return.  I wrote a whole post to help you here. I bought this nontoxic enema bucket. When your colon is cleaned up, this puts less stress on your other organ, especially your detox (liver, kidney, lung) and lymph (spleen) organs.

Loose clothing: Constrictive clothing (especially in the lymph node areas) can block lymph flow. That includes underwire bras- so just wear them only when you have to. Here is a good bra without wires and is cotton.

Sauna: The heat gets your blood and lymph fluid flowing (hence the sweat). It is healthy to sweat because it releases toxins in each sweat droplet. (I used to not sweat and I knew my detox and lymph system were impaired. But after a few months on detox baths and sauna’s I am now sweat. I bought this sauna. I also use a near infra red light with this holder.

Castor oil packs: Applying a castor oil pack/with heat on your liver draws more blood to flow around your liver and helps it function better. Remeber a healthy liver = more lymph flow! You need flannel and the castor oil.

Food. Proper nutrition is key too. Your body relies on nutrients to keep the body healthy in all aspects. Take out foods you are sensitive or allergic to, because they can but a big toxic burden on your whole body and mind. For me, food and environmental allergies cause face puffiness and fluid retention in my body.

Magnesium oil: Proper magnesium (do you use magnesium oil?) and calcium balance help with muscle action by “squeezing” the lymph system along its way. I use this oil spray and these magnesium chloride salts. You can also use epson salts (magnesium sulfate) too.

detox bath Herbs/essential oils. I just ordered some essential oils that are suppose to be good for lymph drainage. Cypress, orange, grapefruit, rosemary, ginger, peppermint, lemon. I take a few drops internally or apply them onto my lymph glands under my neck or arms. Homeopathics made from a mixture of herbs can be very effective too.

Clay baths. Detox-Clay baths not only deeply cleanse the body’s largest organ (the skin), but they stimulates the lymphatic fluid. See step by step pictures on how to take a clay bath here. I use this clay and love it!

 

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The lymphatic system

The lymphatic system

What to expect?

Expect your body to feel more “balanced”. All you organs are being worked, its like an organ workout! Toxins will be released, so make sure to drink some water afterwards. A clay bath can help too- to soak up all the toxins. Wear comfortable clothes. Feel prepared to think and feel better. Have fun!

 

 

 

 

 

Resources:

http://www.lymphnotes.com/article.php/id/151/ http://www.soulhealer.com/anatomy-imm.htm http://www.starbounding.com/35_lymphatics.htm http://www.akealife.com/helping-your-lymphatic-system-to-help-you/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18484610 http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/T/thoracic_duct.html

 

Photo credits:

http://www.stockfreeimages.com

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

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Posted By 52 Comments
01.13.2013

How to Detox with a clay bath

Clay. Its what you used to play in as a kid (or still do). Was there an “instinctive” reason why kids do this? Clay naturally detoxes, so it makes sense why the human body would be attracted to it. How can you incorporate clay into you life today?

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Im toxic:

Or let me rephrase that, I was. Let me explain.

The reason why Im writing this post is because I actually just took a clay bath. If you know anything about clay baths- they absorb toxins and detox.

So what did I get into? A new i-phone.

I was so excited to finally get an i phone. I got it all set up yesterday and fidgeted around on it like all-day-long. By mid day I was starting to get a headache but just passed it off as not drinking enough water or eating food (because I was so engrossed in my phone). By the end of the night I was going to take a clay bath but my body was sooo exhausted.

Something wasn’t right, Im not normally exhausted after sitting on my butt all day. I just prayed that I wouldn’t wake up with an allergic reaction. Too bad- I woke up and my face was puffy. My skin was red. My head was foggy. My head hurt like a brick fell on it. The first thing that came to my mind was the i phone. Usually my first instinct is right.

There was no going back now, so I decided to eat a few bites of liver (hey my body needed that extra boost) and hopped in a clay bath. Now that im done with it, my head hurts a lot less and my head doesn’t feel as “heavy”. My face is still puffy but I think my lymph system is one of my weak points so it might take a day or two to “drain”.

A clay detox bath is my go to when I feel “toxic” or blah. I can’t live without it. Let me share my clay detox secrets…

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detox bath

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What is a clay bath?

A clay bath is a bath with clay stirred in it. It looks just like the picture above. Some clays are lighter some darker. I find that each one is effective, though the source is important. This is the clay I use to drink and bath in. A clay bath is a gentle detox because it absorbs the toxins instead of forcing them out (like a sauna). I always feel more relaxed and “clear headed”.

How does clay detox?

Believe it or not, the clay particle actually pulls the toxins inside the clay molecule. Isn’t that cool or what? That is why clay is so expansive. (Clay not only absorbs toxins but nutrients too).

A toxin carries positive electron. A clay particle carries negative electrons. This is why the toxins are attracted and “pulled” inside the clay molecule. When you take a clay bath you will see this “science” actually happen.

When you sit in a clay bath or rub clay on your body, sometimes there will be globs of clay stuck to random spots on your skin.    These “glob spots” wont come off as easily as other places. You might have to rub the clay off with a rag or your finger nail.  That spot on your skin is where the toxins have surfaced and the clay is still very attracted to that spot.

If I have lots of the globs left on me I try to soak in the tub for a few minutes longer (usually they are all gone by 20 min). Am I the only one fascinated by this?

What kind of clay?

Bentonite clay is the clay suggested to use for a clay bath. Be careful of the source though. Since clay can absorb toxins easily, you want to make sure to get a clean uncontaminated source. I would suggest this clay. Its so pure you can drink it too (and I do).

How much clay?

I usually put in 1-4 cups of powdered (it comes powdered) bentonite clay. Its not cheap, so I try to save it- though the price does not stop me from using it because my body needs it. To me drinking clay and taking clay baths is like “food”. I usually only take clay baths when I feel I “need” one. Because of this, I like to do the clay body mask. I feel like it saves clay and it more effective.

How you I know when I “need” a clay bath?

Do you ever get …

headaches

body aches

pimples

eczema

allergic reaction

digestive distress

fatigue

head “fog”

pressure

sinus congestion

… you see where this is going.

Most illnesses are caused by the body not functioning properly. Toxins are an easy culprit for most illnesses.  Detox is the word to get rid of these toxins, though it is not that easy to just flush all the toxins out of your body.  Detox takes patience, time, the right tools, and a gentle touch.

Our body is designed to detox. Think of the organs, the gallbladder, the spleen, the liver, the skin.. all there to detox. After years and years of junk food and pollution or even just wearing new clothes or living in a new house, these organs get stressed and “clogged up”. Herbs, acupuncture, enemas, sauna’s are all things people do to detox the body. Clay is just another solution to rid the body of toxins. I find it the most gentle of all the detox methods and the most effective.

If I have a really bad reaction, the first thing I do is jump in a detox bath. Its as simple as that. I feel at least 70% better the the end of the 20 min bath. You wont know if you like it until you try it.

 

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The Clay Cure:

If you are a clay freak like me, can you tell its a passion of mine? Read this book  (The Clay Cure) you will love it!

How to prepare the clay:

If you have tried a clay bath you probably end up in a chunky mess, right?At first I tried to sprinkle the clay in the tub. Fail. The clay just clumped up and never dissolved.

Instead I have found a way to allow it to get incorporated into the water much better. Start off by measuring your clay into a bowl. Pour a few cups of water in the powdered clay and mix with your hands until it forms wet clay. Spread this mixture all over your body or plop in the tub and squish through your hands to mix into the water. It takes a few minutes but it makes bath time fun! Squish squish squish.

Can it clog my drain?

Yes- it can. Don’t let that scare you- there is an easy solution. I got a screen with the Magnetic Earth company. You could maybe use something like this too. I place it on top of the drain before I drain the clay water and it catches the big particles of clay. You could also line the drain with cheesecloth or mesh and just hold it here until all the water drains. You will be left with clumps of clay that you can toss in your soil or garbage.

 

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The clay body mask:

Silly picture right? This is just my technique because I find it more fun, more effective, and more frugal. You use less clay over all (instead of dumping cups into the tub). The wet clay is spread directly on your body so it can “pull” the toxins out easier-direct contact. Use the instructions above under the heading “How to prepare the clay”.

Precautions:

  • Drinking clay with medications or supplements or even food can make then less effective or “block” certain minerals from the food. Wait at least 3-5 hours after medication and ask your dr. before doing so- don’t play around.
  • Don’t sit in the bath for over 20 min. Sitting in a detox clay bath for 20+ min can cause stressful detox symptoms. Generally a clay bath is a gentle detox. Too much of a good thing can be bad.I once over did the 20 min (just because I HAD to test it) and I got nauseous and felt dehydrated. I was detoxing too much. I wont do that again.
  • Don’t slip in the tub or the shower. Clay is slippery to make sure to lay a bunch of towels down around the tub and you can even lay a small towel in the tub to keep your feet from slipping when you stand up.
  • Drink water before and after the clay bath. I make sure to eat something salty beforehand too- because I tend to crave lots of salt afterwards. Eating it beforehand helps.
  • Wear a mask when you pour the powdered clay. The clay powder is very fine and not good for your lungs. Strap on a mask  to scoop and mix the clay. Take it off when there is no more clay powder left.
  • If you have long hair, you might want to tie it up (like a bun). Mine always falls down and I actually sometimes get it wet in the clay water deliberately. It dries out my hair a bit, but I actually feel like it detoxes my hair as well (kinda like that feeling after you go swimming in the lake- it just wont be silky, but you will feel even more “natural and clean”.) The dryness only lasts for a day and you can put some apple cider vinegar on it afterward if you need. I just use baking soda. You choose.
  • Don’t drink the clay water or reuse it. After you sit in there for 20 min the clay is now saturated with your toxins..so the waster is in fact “toxic”!
  • Don’t get the clay stuck in your body holes (ear, nose… ) Sound funny, but its not. I got it stuck in my ear once and it was no fun. If that does happen use hydrogen peroxide and it will bubble out.
  • If you have high blood pressure, heart disease , or any other condition that prevents you from taking a bath (too weak, old age…) please contact your dr. first. You can still benefit from clay but a foot soak (1/2 cup of clay in warm water) will be better for your condition.

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Is clay safe pregnant or nursing?

Since I am not a dr. I would suggest you first check with your Dr. first before taking a clay bath.

A clay bath is detoxing which can put stress on your body as well as your baby’s. A foot bath would be a better option, because it is much more gentle on the body. Doing a foot bath will not detox your body as much, but at this time in your life (especially if you are nourishing a baby), your body should not be going through full body detoxes. At this time in your life you need to be gentle and its all about rebuilding. The toxins released can get absorbed by your baby.

Drinking clay is another story. Actually in some cultures women drink clay to promotes fertility. This could be because it is cleansing, which helps makes the body ready for a baby. Pregnant women and nursing women should make sure to only drink clay at least 2 hours away from food because it can absorb nutrients. You don’t have room for clay to be soaking in your nutrients when your baby needs them. Also, you want to find a very pure source, because it is not just affecting your body, the the baby’s too. Living clay is a great one. I would recommend to start slow and small.

How to take a clay bath:

1. Fill up your tub with warm water. You want it as warm as you can handle but still be comfortable. This helps your body’s circulation flow, allowing the lymph system to circulate all the toxins so the clay cam “mop” them up. Not too warm– you don’t want your pulse racing.  (In the picture you see a sack attached to the spout. That is just our bath chlorine filter. We took the bag out of the plastic ball and tied it to the spout, it works pretty well. I used the brand, click here.)

2. Make sure to use a good drain plug. You don’t want the clay chunks to seep down the drain.

3. Scoop the clay; 1-4 cups of powdered bentonite clay.

4. Mix the clay with enough water to create “wet” clay. I use this brand. Squish with your hands. (Dont forget your mask!)

5. The clay will soak up more water within a few min so make sure that you add a bit more water if needed. If you are doing the body clay mask, don’t make your clay too watery or else it will be harder to spread on your body.

6. You have 2 choices. #1 Clay body mask: spread the wet clay all over your body like in the picture above. I even put it on my face and the tops of my feet. Hey why not get a facial while your at it! #2 Clay bath: dump the wet clay into the bath directly and squish around while you are in the tub to get that “mucky” clay water.

7. Sit in the bath for 10-20 minutes. If you are a newbie and don’t know how you will react, try 10 min or even 5. Never go beyond 20 min (ok ok i have gone 25 and still been ok). Anything over that could make you lightheaded or nauseous from detoxing too much.

* tip* If you have the clay body mask on the clay will slowly get softer and dissolve off your body into the tub. I always make too much wet clay for just my body so I squish the rest into the tub water. So I guess I do both ways at once. Don’t scrub the clay off, just let it “slip” off by itself. When the 20 min if getting closer to being up, run your body with a wash cloth  to get off the rest of the “globs” of clay.

*tip* If you put clay on your face, the clay can dry up within 20 min so you might want to wet your face with a wet washcloth to keep it moist, otherwise it kinds hurts and cracks. ouch.

8. 20 min up yet? If so take a cool shower to rinse off the clay residue. I wash my hair with bakings soda, do what ever you do. If you let your hair in the clay tub it may be a tad dry. The cool water also closes your skin pores after the warm bath. Make sure your shower water temperate is cool-not cold (don’t shock your body).

9. Moisturize. You will probably notice you skin is super dry afterwards. Clay seems to draw water out of the skin, or else its just that I sweat so much. Whatever reason it is, I always use coconut oil or beef tallow for the dry spots.

1o. Dress Warm. After your detox clay bath and then cool shower make sure to dress in warm clothes. Keep the “heat” in your body. Your body just worked hard to detox so the extra warmth will give it a break and allow your body to relax and recharge.

11. Oh yeah, don’t forget to drain the tub. Ask my family how many times I do that?! Haha. Use a screen or mesh to catch the big clay chunks. Let the clay water drain. Toss the big chunks in the soil or garbage.

12. Re-mineralize with sea salt, food, electrolytes, and magnesium oil. I explain below.

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clay ba2th

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What to do after a clay bath?

Replenish and remineralize are the words. Drink clay. Drink salty water (minerals).

I would suggest a small spoonful of clay in water. I drink this brand. This will help to soak up any toxins that got released on the inside. Make sure to drink a few glasses of sea-salted water afterward too. When your body sweats it releases toxins and minerals. Drinking sea salted water and/or rubbing magnesium oil (make your own with instructions here) on your body will help balance your body’s minerals back out.

Release the toxins:

Do you feel it? Nothing is quite like it, the feeling after a clay bath. So clear and fresh-toxin free. I even find that after a clay bath my eczema has disappeared or on the rare occasion when I get a pimple-it is comes to the surface (I feel like the clay “pulls” the toxins under the skin to the surface). My hair even gets a detox because it always ends up getting wet in the clay water. Oh well! Why cant you have a little fun when you detox too?!

aaa

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caroline

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01.12.2013

New Changes at Gutsy & 10 things about me

It is 2013. There will be new changes here at Gutsy. Don’t worry they are all good 🙂

#1 post more often.

2 words. So sorry. I have been a bad blogger the past few months. My health was first priority and still is, though I will have time to blog now. I will give you a full recap once I get the post finished (its getting longer and longer by the second). If you follow me on Facebook (click here), then you know that I am going through intense NAET treatments. Please forgive my absence.

 

#2 Tell you more about my life- not just bits and pieces.

I give stories from time to time about my health but you really don’t know what I do all the time. At first I thought telling my whole story would be too much (I am way weirder then you think). I now know that many of you are interested in what I am doing to heal, and I promise to do some more posts on “about me” and my life. It also helps put the whole “picture” together. It will also be easier to post more often if I don’t have a specific detailed post that I have to create or write.

 

Want to know a few things about me that are “current”? Here it goes.

1. I have done 21 NAET treatments and they have changed my life. I used to be not able to touch or breath anything without getting an allergic reaction, and now I can. What is NAET- find out here. 

2. I live in Minnesota and I go cross country skiing on the lake I live on. Our neighbors drive cars on the lake (we have too but its scary!) and wear plaid shirts and ice fish. Yes people do say “you bet’cha” here.

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Me and my older sis on the frozen lake

3. I have a cat and a dog. My cat’s name is Ollie and even though my younger sister is allergic she still lets him snuggle with her and just deals with the hives later. My dog is Jasmine. We have a thing for naming our animals after characters. Our old dog was Snoopy (he died a year ago) and our old cat was Tigger (she got eaten by coyotes…)

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Me and my ollie or “wall” as we like to call him. This was taken after a bath 🙂

4. I have a mom, dad, older sister, me, younger sister, and a younger brother. I love my family 🙂

5. Currently I only eat bison (raw and cooked, the bones, the tallow and the organs) and nettle tea, oil of oregano, ginger, water, and salt. Im working my way up to eating more things. I don’t eat non-GAPS food but I cant say that I would consider my diet “GAPS”. Im really not sure.

6. I am a terrible speller. I probably already misspelled a few words on this post. I promise you I recheck my posts but sadly it is a weak point of mine. My family calls me the “creative speller”. I have been this way my whole life.

7. After NTA I want to go to acupuncture school. I could study meridians all day long. If you are even slighlty a nerd  (like me) look at this meridian cart-click here! LOVE it.

8. Im 18 years old. You may have already know that. 🙂

9. My favorite thing in the world is swimming, I dream about it during the winter months. As soon as the ice melts I will jump in that lake…Im serious, I have a wet suit.

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Summer please come soon!

10. Im 5 feet tall. Short but sweet 🙂

 

#3 Not every post will be about recipes.

Im starting NTA on February 8 (yikes so soon!) so I will have loads of information that I will want to share with you..I don’t want to waste any of my valuable research 🙂 Also, as I am healing, my energy tanks fast so my time in the kitchen is very limited.

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Still one of the recipes I have to share with you…

#4 Gutsy does not revolve around the GAPS diet. 

This may be a shock to some of you, but when I first created this blog I wanted a name that could grow with me. I will always have a gut-check! I wont always be on GAPS. I actually feel like I’m under the requirements for the GAPS diet. I cant eat any ferments yet and im still allergic to most the food- I tried GAPS for 13 months. Most likely the recipes I will post will still be GAPS friendly, though I want to expand my posts on Gutsy to be about anything related to the gut and gutsy living. This is an interesting article if GAPS isn’t quite doing what you expected (read here).

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ok your turn, any questions you want to ask me? Be honest-will you mind that change in my blog?

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P.S.

Sorry If I have not replied back to your e-mail or comment on my blog. I cant just read and forget (that just isn’t who I am), though because I have been going through so much, I couldn’t reply back, so I decided to stop for a few months. I still have all your e-mails and will slowly get through them one by one. Each one means alot to me-remember that. If something is more urgent, please e-mail me again! Thanks

 

Im off…

Ok Im off to go read more books from the Wellness e-book bundle. Nobody can pull me away from the computer tonight!  Want to join me in reading these AMAZING books click here to find out “what I learned” form these books.  Only 1 more day and a few hours left to take hold of the deal.

Night!

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~Stay Gutsy!

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