I’m sure you already know this, but stress is one of the biggest health disrupters. It’s also one of the most prominent toxins.

Every day, we choose to feed stress or let go of it. When you choose to relinquish stress, your cortisol levels lessen and inflammation decreases.

The more we move away from stress and step into a mindset where our emotions do not control us, the more power we have over our lives.

During this program, take some time to think about the people in your life, experiences or past stories that cause you stress, and consider relinquishing the hold that these negative circumstances have on your life.

I encourage you to let go of what is not fueling your body on a daily basis, whether it be food, friends or something else.

YOU CAN DO THE FOLLOWING TO DECREASE YOUR STRESS LEVELS AND REFUEL YOUR BODY:

• Write down your fears and stressors in a journal or on a piece of paper and rip it up or burn it.

• Share this experience with a close friend or share it with me.

• Know this may have been a scary experience but this emotion does not serve you. Tell yourself, “I am letting you go. Fear has no purpose here anymore.”

• Be conscious of where you are in your body, your breath, your mind and in this world. Remember you are a unique individual, complete as you are, and that you deserve internal freedom.

• Move your body. Make a conscious effort to move every day. Start walking or more intense exercises like running, biking, crossfit, or boot camps. Moving your body will support healthy serotonin levels, which is the key to feeling good on a daily basis.

• Get your vitamin D from the sun or eat it. There have been studies showing the effectiveness of vitamin D in decreasing inflammation. Make sure you get 20 minutes in the sun per day no matter what time of the year. If you cannot get in the sun, then take a vitamin D supplement.

Candida is detrimental to gut health, it’s a yeast that occurs normally in the body. Though it should be in balance with healthy organisms, stress, antibiotics, birth control, a weakened immune system, or poor diet can cause an upset in your body and lead to Candida taking over.

Normally Candida hides in the intestinal tract, mouth, throat, and genitals, but as it gets worse it makes its way to the blood and other organs. Once Candida starts to proliferate and wreak havoc on your system, a number of symptoms can appear.

SOME OF THE MOST FREQUENT CANDIDA SYMPTOMS ARE:

• Abdominal gas and bloating

• Headaches

• Migraines

• Excessive fatigue

• Cravings for alcohol

• Anxiety

• Vaginitis

• Rectal itching

• Cravings for sweets

• Inability to think clearly or concentrate

• Hyperactivity

• Mood swings

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Hyperactivity

• Itching

• Acne

• Eczema

• Depression

• Sinus inflammation

• Pre-menstrual syndrome

• Dizziness

• Poor memory

• Persistent cough

• Earaches

• Low sex drive

• Muscle weakness

• Irritability

• Learning difficulties

• Sensitivity to fragrances and/or other chemicals

• Cognitive impairment

• Thrush

• Athlete’s foot

• Sore throat

• Indigestion

• Acid reflux

• Chronic pain

The bigger issue is the Candida emits 70 different toxins into the body, forcing the liver and the kidneys to work over time. The overgrowth of Candida affects the adrenals and the thyroid and causes them to also malfunction. This creates hormonal imbalances for some women.

Candida is rarely the root of the problem, meaning something else in the body is not working properly. Therefore, if you suffer from Candida, you must uncover the root of the issue to fully recover. Too often liver is overburdened with toxins or lack of enzymes or hormones are out of balance. Make sure to take your probiotic daily plus support your liver with the tools suggested in the section for reducing toxins.

Liver Smart

Many people with chronic digestive issues suffer with small intestinal bacteria overgrowth.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is defined as the presence of excessive bacteria in the small intestine. SIBO is frequently implicated as the cause of chronic diarrhea and malabsorption. Patients with SIBO may also suffer from unintentional weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, and osteoporosis. It can also be defined as the changes in the types of bacteria present in the small bowel. In most patients, SIBO is not caused by a single type of bacteria, but is an overgrowth of the various types of bacteria that should normally be found in the colon. Less commonly, SIBO results from an increase in the otherwise normal bacteria of the small bowel.

Other types of bacteria can be present in the body, such as strep, h pylori and Clostridium and all lead to complications. You can contact your doctor or see a specialist to have tests done to detect what bacteria is present in the body.

Remember a clean diet, taking probiotics and reducing stress is vital for restoring your gut health.

Imbalances in the gut can occur from as a result of antibiotics, toxins, stress, food, and allergies, and they can disrupt the good balance of flora, otherwise known as good bacteria.

Make sure you pay close attention to your body over the next few weeks and write in your diary and/or journal.

Did you know that the enzymes in your body fuel every one of your systems?

Therefore, when your body lacks enzymes, a vicious cycle begins. Your body cannot properly digest food, and the impaired digestion then leads to malabsorption and poor gut health, among other unpleasantries.

THE TWO MAIN CAUSES OF A LOW ENZYME SUPPLY ARE:

• A poor diet—raw foods are rich in enzymes and processed foods contain barely any enzymes

• Bad eating habits—such as not chewing properly or overcooking foods (cooking foods over 118 degrees Fahrenheit destroys their natural enzymes)

To replenish your enzyme supply, you should fill your diet with as many raw foods as possible.

ENZYME-RICH FOODS INCLUDE:

• Sprouted seeds and legumes

• Papaya, pineapple, mango, kiwi, and grapes

• Avocado

• Raw honey (the enzymes actually come from the bee's saliva)

• Bee pollen

• Extra-virgin olive oil and coconut oil

• Raw meat and dairy

You should also consider taking an enzyme supplement. You can try Digestion Support.

If you’re not absorbing the nutrients you consume, that is a huge problem for your gut health and overall health.

There are many reasons your body cannot absorb nutrients, which can range from simple to complex. For example, your body may not contain enough digestive enzymes to complete the digestive process. Therefore, you may need to do something as simple as integrate a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and take an enzyme supplement.

Celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that makes the individual allergic to gluten, is another cause of malabsorption, as is cow’s milk intolerance.

SYMPTOMS OF MALABSORPTION VARY BUT MAY INCLUDE:

• Weight loss

• Failure to gain weight

• Exhaustion

• Diarrhea

• Foul-smelling or loose stools

• IBS

• Weak adrenals

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you should consult your healthcare provider to determine the root cause.

SOME OF THE KEY NUTRIENTS YOUR BODY MIGHT BE MISSING DUE TO MALABSORPTION INCLUDE:

• Magnesium

• Sodium

• Potassium

• Vitamin D

You may also want to consider integrating easier to digest foods into your diet. I always tell my clients who suffer from malabsorption to feed their own bodies as they’d feed a child’s—with simple, basic, easy-to-digest foods.

A larger issue you may be dealing with if you’re unable to improve your gut health is an autoimmune disease. But don’t fret—1 in 5 Americans suffer from some form of autoimmune.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON ONES TO WATCH OUT FOR:

• Diabetes

• Colitis

• Celiac

• Rheumatoid

• Lupus

• Multiple Sclerosis

• Hashimotos

• Graves

If you think you suffer from an autoimmune, discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider immediately.

Many people don’t realize that hormones are directly tied to digestion. If there is hormonal imbalances, your digestive system can go out of whack quickly. For example, too much estrogen can cause diarrhea. Or, overproduction of thyroid hormones could speed up digestion and cause diarrhea and malabsorption.

Hormones can be thrown off balance for a number of reasons, including menopause, adrenal fatigue and thyroid issues, to name a few.

SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE:

• Hot flashes

• Weight gain

• Moodiness

• Brain fog

• Depression

• Exhaustion

• Trouble sleeping

• Weak sex drive

If you suspect a hormone imbalance, consult your practitioner and request a hormone panel. They will be able to advise you on next steps you should take.