Balms and Manna Blog - Balms and Manna

5 Ways to Start the New Year Off Right

12/29/2021

5 WAYS TO START THE NEW YEAR OFF RIGHT

January-that time of year when the holiday festivities leave us feeling a few pounds heavier, a little more brain fogged and a little less energetic than we'd like to be. It's a New Year and a great time to reset our routines and choices!

Here are five simple ways to start the New Year off right!

DE-STRESS- Start with noticing signs that indicate you are stressed. Even better is to make a list of these things. Focus on awareness of when you are stressed and listening to your body.

Make a list of 10 things you truly enjoy that you feel refreshed and renewed after doing. As you become increasingly aware of when you are stressed, pull out your list and spend 10-15 minutes de-stressing.

EXERCISE- Just 15 minutes of movement every day, especially outside will help to balance your hormones, increase your energy and mood. Talk a walk in the snow, go sledding, ice skating or a bike ride when the weather is good.

GET YOUR SLEEP- Getting 7-8 hours of sleep every night is foundation to everything! Your weight, ability to detox, mood, energy, hormone balance, stress levels and even digestion!

Set a sleep and wake time and stay within an hour of that time frame to regulate your circadian rhythms. Take the 30-60 minutes before bed to turn off all screens, do some reading, journaling, devotions, gratitude or a relaxing bath with essential oils.

If falling asleep or staying asleep is hard for you, try Serenity softgels. They promote deep and restful sleep and are truly amazing!

DRINK WATER- Drinking water hydrates your skin, improves digestion and elimination, reduces feelings of hunger and calorie intake and helps flush out toxins. Half your body weight in ounces daily is the general recommendation

REDUCE SUGAR- The average American consumes 22 teaspoons of added sugar daily! Sugar slows down your immune system, increases inflammation, creates brain fog and drains your energy. It's also contributes to heart disease, fatty liver, diabetes and cancer.

Get my Sugar Substitute Reference Guide

Let's Talk Sleep

7/28/2021

"Sleep is the single most effective thing you can do to rest your brain and body for health" -Dr. Mathew Walker. Better sleep equals a better you!

No amount of change to your diet and exercise will create lasting physical health if you aren't getting good sleep! It's like rowing upstream in a boat with a leak in it.

Not getting enough sleep causes:

Decreased energy levels
Weakened gut
Disrupted hormones
Weak immune system
Decreased brain function (stress, anxiety, memory)
Less emotional regulation
Weight gain

Getting enough sleep involves realizing the value of it and making it a priority. Getting deeper and more restful sleep involves little changes you make throughout your day.

Tips for restorative sleep:

Morning exercise - 20 minutes of morning sunlight boost circadian rhythms
Deep breathing- Deep breathing activates the vagus nerve and calms the nervous system
Regular sleep and wake times - Go to bed and get up within 1 hour of your set time
Establish a bedtime routine- reading, journaling, prayer and listening to music
Turn off screens at least 1 hour before bed- EMF (electromagnetic frequencies) can limit melatonin production, impact circadian rhythms and impact memory and learning
Sleep in a dark, cool room
Don't eat 2-3 hours before sleeping- If you go to bed full, your body will spend time digesting rather than repair, restoring and detoxing
Aim for 8-10 hours of sleep every night

Make Your Hormones Happy!

5/14/2021

Today I would like to share about some of my favorite essential oils to support hormones. While hormones is a broad and complex topic and effects so many areas of our lives, I'll give you a few tips for where to begin.

Stress- Yes, our hormones are responsible for our stress levels. And how we manage stress effects our hormone health.

Basil- supports physical, emotional and mental fatigue
Balance- supports anxious feelings, emotional swings, stress and enhances mediation
Bergamot- promotes feelings of being worthy and supports all areas of stress (emotional, physical, chemical, mental)

Sleep- Our sleep is regulated by our hormones and when we get deep, restful sleep it balances our hormones!

Serenity- calms fears, nervousness, anger, irritability & agitation and promotes restful sleep
Peace- promotes feelings of calmness, peace, reassurance and contentment
Lavender- is calming, soothing and great for helping children and babies sleep better

Weight- There are many factors to consider with weight but curbing cravings is a great place to begin!

Slim & Sassy- promotes increased metabolism, curbs cravings, promotes blood sugar balance
Grapefruit- promotes weight loss, curbs sugar cravings, encourages release of excess fluid
Cinnamon- promotes blood sugar balance

Menstrual Cycle Regulation- This is what most of us think of when we think of hormones- progesterone, estrogen and testosterone balance.

Clary Calm- promotes hormone balance, eases PMS, calms cramping, and supports regulation of flow, balances mood and hot flashes.
Grapefruit, Thyme- promotes healthy progesterone levels
Fennel- promotes healthy estrogen levels and healthy ovaries
Ginger- promotes healthy menstruation and eases cramping
Clary Sage- promotes healthy estrogen levels, after baby hormone balancing, promotes labor, eases occasional hot flashes

As women, hormones affect all aspects of our daily lives. And when they are out of whack, we feel less than optimal. But the good news is, you don't have to live like that! That's my passion!

If you are tired of feeling run down, moody, carrying extra weight or not sleeping, I would love to connect with you and help you discover what needs supported and balanced in your life! Together we will do some testing to see where you are at, create a personal plan and some lifestyle changes that will make all the difference in the world for you!

Sign up now to start your journey to feeling amazing!

Stress. Who of Us Can Say We Don't Have Any?

9/4/2020

Whew! Does anyone else feel like the last six months have pushed you to the edge? I have! As we have all faced so many changes, uncertainty and fear, our bodies have felt it too!

Stress isn't just something we deal with. It's the major cause of most health problems! We probably all know that stress isn't good for us and we should do something to manage it but what should we do?

Sometimes our stress is obvious but are there times where our bodies are stressed that we don't even realize it? Our body constantly gives us signals to tell us what it needs. We just have to listen. Stress can be manifested by:

weight gain- especially in the belly area
headaches
sleep disturbances
depression
irritability
insulin dependency
sugar cravings
fatigue
feeling overwhelmed
heart palpitations
digestive discomfort
hormone imbalances

As I've felt the impacts of increased stress in the last few months, I've had to increase my stress management skills. These are a few my favorite go-tos:

Avoid sugar and eat whole foods
Exercise daily
Journal and take time to be still!
Supplement with magnesium, B-Complex, Nervous Fatigue and Ashwaganda (all available at the Country Cupboard)
Sleep 7-8 hours every night

If you give your body what it needs, it will heal itself! Do yourself a favor and give your body some self care!

Hormones...We all Have Them but Don't Always Like Them!

7/1/2020

In my daily interactions with women, it seems like the topic of hormones frequently come up.

I hear conversations like, "I think my hormones aren't balanced. What is the best way to know?" and "I'm suffering from really bad mood swings for no reason," and "My husband says 'Please ask Becky to help you with your PMS'".

We all have hormones and they are beautiful, amazing things when they are balanced. Hormones are responsible for our metabolism, regulating body temperature, healthy inflammation levels, building muscles and bones, sleep cycles, stress levels, weight, energy and many other body functions.

But in the society we live in, it's easy for hormone imbalance to be a real thing that many women deal with! Pain, irritability, fatigue, weight gain, difficulty sleeping, poor digestion, food sensitivities are all symptoms of imbalanced hormones.

Stress, nutrition, exercise and toxins are fundamental building blocks of healthy hormones. With a little awareness of what your body is telling you, some education about how the body works combined with diligence and time will go a long way to bringing your hormones back into the balance that God intended them to be.

I would love to encourage you on that journey! I offer a 6 month personalized program to help you restore that balance using supplements, lifestyle modifications, nutrition education and encouragement along the way. Email me to schedule a time for us to start your program!

Adaptiv. What We All Have to be Right Now

5/15/2020

Adaptiv is a new blend that doTERRA came out with last fall. Little did doTERRA know how much we would need this oil in six months! It's become my purse buddy and goes with me everywhere I go!

Adaptiv helps your body adjust to stress by supporting healthy cortisol levels. What that means is, it helps you to:
*Sleep better
*Feel less anxious
*Sustain attention
*Ease irritability
*Improve energy

It has a fresh but calming scent with Wild Orange, Lavender, Copaiba, Spearmint, Magnolia, Rosemary, Neroli, and Sweetgum oils in the blend.

*To use- Roll on wrist or back of the neck or diffuse 2-3 drops to ease tension and stress. Learn more here.

Dealing with Chronic Stress

2/8/2019

Did you know that prolonged stress can lead to adrenal fatigue?

Our adrenal glands are responsible for producing and secreting steroid hormones like cortisol, estrogen and testosterone. These hormones affect every tissue and organ in your body but also effect the way you think and feel. The primary function of the adrenal glands are to help your body deal with stress.

When you are chronically stressed, you can fatigue and depress your adrenal glands leading you to feel like this:

Trouble sleeping
Irritable
Feeling wired but tired
Muscle tension
Feeling run down, overwhelmed and exhausted
Dark circles under eyes
Sugar and carborhydate cravings
Weight gain
Light headness
Hair loss

Nervous Fatigue has been personally helpful with reducing the effects of chronic stress and is my go-to recommendation for anyone who is feeling wired but tired! Vitamin B6 can also be very helpful to support your sleep cycles, mood and brain function!

Nervous Fatigue TCM Concentrate

Relieves stress
Promotes feelings of well-being
Nourishes the circulatory and nervous systems
Supports digestion
Promotes sleep
Invigorates the body

Vitamin B6

Supports brain function
Regulates mood
Regulates sleep cycles
Eases PMS
Eases morning sickness
Promotes healthy blood pressure levels
Nourishes eye health
Raises plasma levels
Promotes healthy blood vessels

This week save $5 off both Nervous Fatigue and Vitamin B6 at the Country Cupboard.

Contact me for more information about chronic stress and adrenal fatigue!

Sleep! Sleep! Sleep!

3/1/2017

Good sleep is as necessary as exercise and good nutrition is for optimal health.

Sleep affects our

weight
emotions
attention and processing
behavior
well being and immunity
reaction time
cardiac health

Some natural tips to improve our sleep are

exercise daily
manage stress
good sleep hygiene (consistent wake up/bed times, quiet, dark rooms)
natural supplementation
avoiding caffeine in the afternoon and evening
avoiding alcohol and sedatives
avoiding eating too close to bedtime
avoiding use of technology 30 minutes prior to bedtime

Serenity Restful Blend is wonderful to support you for that good night's sleep. Either diffuse or apply to the bottom of your feet. The Serenity Restful Complex is a natural supplement that calms the mind and helps with a better night of sleep. Take 30-60 minutes before going to bed.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

Come see the newly categorized supplement section at the Country Cupboard! Easily find the supplement that fits the body system you want to support.

A drop of Slim and Sassy Essential Oil in every piece! A tasty way to suppress your appetite. $11.33

Looking to clean up your laundry detergent?
This detergent works great and isn't full of
harsh chemicals!

Only $36.67 for 64 loads!

Quest for Knowledge

Basic Essential Oil -For those who are new to essential oils or just starting to use them. Space is limited. Register early!
March 6th.

Green Cleaning with Essential Oils -Stoves, toilets, microwaves, tubs, counters, furniture, windows...Cut the chemicals. There is an oil for anything you want to sanitize or clean. Learn how to make a simple multi-purpose cleaner and take home your own tub or toilet cleaner. Cost-$5
March 16th.

Using Oils Daily
This is our most popular class! Learn how to dilute, know which oil to use, and how to incorporate your oils into daily use. Space is limited; register early! Thursday, March 30th

Success Stories

My favorite oil is a mixture of Aromatouch and Balance. When rubbed on the bottom of the feet and above the ankle it relieves pain from nerves and decreased circulation. It has given me such relief that I would recommend this to everyone.

ASK BECKY

I think I might have irritable bowel. What do you recommend for that?
Try 1-2 drops of DigestZen, Terrazyme (which is a digestive enzyme) and PB Assist (probiotic) with every meal.