Mother Nature’s Magical Elixir
This magical cleansing drink has been my daily ritual for the past 25 years and what I have recommend on a regular basis to my clients and friends. I originally learned about the magic of this drink and especially red apple cider vinegar, when competing at the national level in women’s bodybuilding. After all the months and years of intense training and dieting on a very low carbohydrate diet, I started to notice it taking a toll on my overall health due to my blood pH becoming more metabolically acidic. When I started adding this hot drink to my daily routine I noticed within a very short period of time a significant decrease in muscle and joint inflammation, stomach bloating was eliminated , my energy returned, headaches disappeared and I had no more acid reflux. I found consuming this first thing in the morning on an empty tummy is best, and resets your digestions blood pH. Just before bedtime on a empty tummy is also helpful. Red apple cider vinegar is also great to use on veggies, salads, fresh fruits or as a marinade in stir-drys and other recipes. It is Mother Nature’s health elixir indeed.
A really cool thing about this awesome concoction is that its all natural and anyone can include this morning ritual into their routine! I recommend it especially to those who have over indulged during a vacation or a weekend of partying since alcohol, overeating and consuming lots of acidic foods can also be the culprit. So give it a try, I think you will enjoy the benefits but please remember to add the hot water LAST after all the other ingredients are added, especially the baking soda. Also, remember to brush your teeth after consuming since the vinegar can be tough on your tooth enamel over time.
-Nancy
Prepare in a coffee/tea mug the following and do daily upon arising in the morning on an empty stomach before breakfast and coffee/tea/juice etc.
– 2 Tablespoons Bragg’s Red Apple Cider Vinegar
– 1 Tablespoon organic honey
– 1 Tablespoon fresh organic squeezed lemon
– .25 teaspoon of baking soda
– 15-20 drops Ginger Root (Gaia Organics)y
– .25 Teaspoon Daily Tumeric (by Mega Food)
– 8-10 oz hot water (add hot water last).
Plantar Fasciitis and Morton’s Toe Syndrome
If you have a Morton’s Toe Syndrome, the front part of the foot is unstable when it needs to be stable. Because of this the foot will be forced to pronate (roll inward while walking etc) . A pronating foot will cause abnormal stress on many areas of the foot, including the plantar fascia and the heel bone. It is this type of abnormal stress that sets the momentum for plantar fasciitis and most other foot problems. Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammation of the connective sheath on the bottom of the foot. Often times overworked calf muscles and tight achilles tendons are culprits in this soft tissue issue. Statistically, 80% of all patients that see a podiatrist have a Morton’s Toe!
To determine if you have this condition, and with your socks off, look at your first and second toe and see if the second toe is longer than the big toe. If it is then you have Morton’s Toe. Be proactive and save yourself a trip to the podiatrist by regularly using the Morton Pad under the big toe’s metatarsal head (ball of foot), this will help remedy and prevent the onset of bunions, and painful plantar fasciitis. I also recommend you do rehab stretching and strengthening for your lower leg and feet. Additionally, if you already have plantar fasciitis then I recommend the Strassberg PF Stockings.
-Nancy
The Magic of Mouth Guards when Sleeping
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction or TMJ is a condition where the teeth do not come together evenly, and the person will eventually suffer pain in the jaw joint if it goes untreated. Pain will be the result and often popping or clicking sound can be heard when talking or eating. To self check, feel with your fingers along the bottom of the cheek bone to where it meets the ear, at this point press in gently while opening your mouth as wide as you can. Do you feel pain, and/or popping when opening? Have you been experiencing pain, numbness and/or weakness in your jaw, neck and/or arm? If so, then there are a couple of proactive Self-Health things you can do to alleviate this problem.
I recommend seeing a bodywork therapist who is experienced in working with TMJ, and also a qualified dentist who has experience and treats patients with TMJ. Ask them at regular intervals to check your bite and condition of your teeth, and temporomandibular joint for evidence of clenching and grinding. If you do have TMJ dysfunction then your dentist can make you an “orthotic” for your teeth with a specialized mouth guard to level your jaw and protect your teeth. I don’t recommend buying an “over-the-counter” cheap sports mouth guard, but one crafted by a professional dentist. The result is less myofascial inflammation, pain and dysfunction in your jaw, neck, arms and hands! Remember to ask for the ceramic mould when you pick up your mouth guard. If you ever lose your mouth guard then you can have it replaced much cheaper because you have the mould and won’t need to pay for a new one to be remade.
– Nancy
Morton’s Toe, Imbalance & TMJ Dysfunction
Morton’s Toe is a common forefoot disorder where the second toe is longer than the big toe. Many with this condition will develop a callous under the second metatarsal bone. Pain can migrate to other parts of the body besides the feet and create a chain reaction if ignored. Over time the imbalance in the foot leads to the formation of painful bunions on the head of the first shortened metatarsal, and can even travel as far as the jaw and cause TMJ dysfunction.
To avoid a costly trip to the podiatrist, I recommend you do a Self-Check. Take your socks off and look at your feet to see if your second toe is even or slightly longer than the big toe. If it is then be proactive before you begin experiencing foot pain. Pain can builds momentum and create imbalances that offset body pain in other parts of your body, including bunions, plantar fasciitis and TMJ. What has worked miracles for my clients over the years is the use of the ‘Morton’s Toe Pad’, to prevent or relieve the discomfort, along with give support and balance to the foot strike. These pads can be purchased or made at home with foot pads that adhere to the foot. More information can be found if you go to @amazon.com.
-Nancy