Balms and Manna Blog - Balms and Manna

Corn Syrup- A Hidden Imposter

10/2/2020

Corn syrup is a cheap food filler that is found is most processed foods. It is produced from corn that is likely sprayed and GMO and is a sign of very poor quality of food. Our bodies aren't able to process corn syrup in the way we typically metabolize food. It bypasses the pancreas and goes straight to the liver where it is stored as fat. So why does that matter? This triggers the production of cholesterol which can contribute to leaky gut and increased inflammation.

Corn syrup increases:

risk of insulin resistance
triglycerides
food cravings
risk of fatty liver disease

This is an ingredient that I am adamant about staying out of my diet and life! If I do accidentally eat something with corn syrup, I notice that I have cravings for sugar for the next several days and have terrible irritability.

This imposter is hiding is so many foods that are in everyone's cupboard:

cool whip
ketchup
salad dressings
mayo
barbeque sauce
marshmallows
cereals
bread
soda
juice
cough syrups
crackers
pretzels
cottage cheese
yogurt
ice cream
pickles
baked beans
most packaged and processed foods

If you are going to make one change to have a healthier diet, this is the most important- eliminate corn syrup! It's not hard to do. Just start reading labels to become aware of where it's hiding and then look on the shelf next to the product. There is generally another brand that doesn't have corn syrup in it. Do yourself and your family a favor by taking the steps to live a corn syrup free life! They will thank you for it!!

Simple and Easy Immune Booster!

9/18/2020

Right now, staying healthy is on most people's minds! Having a strong immune system is always a priority to me pandemic or no pandemic!

OnGuard Protective Essential Oil Blend is my go-to for year round immunity support! This blend of Clove, Cinnamon, Wild Orange, Rosemary and Eucalyptus not only smells so warm and inviting but it's easy to use!

* Add 6 drops to your diffuser
* Add 30 drops to a 10 ml roller and fill with Fractionated Coconut oil and roll 1 circle on the bottom of your feet twice daily. (Or just purchase a OnGuard Touch which is a 10 ml roller already diluted and ready to go!)
*Add 1 drop of OnGuard to a glass of water or under your tongue

For an even more powerful immune boost:
14 drops Lemon essential oil
10 drops Tea Tree essential oil
10 drops OnGuard essential oil
8 drops Oregano (or Thyme for kids) essential oil
Add to a 10 ml roller and fill with Fractionated Coconut Oil. Apply 1 circle to the bottom of feet twice daily.

Lastly, if I feel something coming on and I need something more, I pop an OnGuard softgel in my mouth twice a day until I feel better. Works every time!!

Our immune systems stay strong when we support them consistently so these recommendations give the best results when done daily.

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!

6 Benefits Of Fennel Essential Oil

7/10/2020

Fennel essential oil is steam distilled from the crushed seeds of the fennel plant. It's a sweet, somewhat spicy and licorice like scent. Use Fennel to go from unproductive to flourishing!

1- Breast feeding or low milk supply- use in a capsule or water to stimulate milk supply

2- Stomach discomfort- Take in a capsule or massage over abdomen to ease occasional gas, upset stomach or tension.

3- PMS or menopausal issues- Take in a capsule or massage over abdomen to balance and tone organs

4-Move fluid- Combine with grapefruit and take in a capsule or massage over affected area to stimulate movement of stagnate fluid

5- Blood sugar balance- Take in a capsule to curb cravings

6- Sluggish bowels- Combine with lemon and take in a capsule to keep things moving

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!

Who's Wants A Natural Bug Spray?

6/15/2020

So many people have been asking what I use instead of bug spray with all those nasty chemicals. As summer heats up, so do the pesky pests when you are outside. I'm so grateful doTERRA has an amazing blend of oils called Terrashield to make my experience outside a pleasant one!

Terrashield comes in a convenient 30 ml spray bottle that is safe to use on babies and adults and is small enough to slip in your purse or bag. I love the invigorating, vanilla scent even though the pests seem to think it smells bad. A few squirts on your wrists, ankles and neck and you are all set!

Get your own bottle!

Understanding Lab Tests

6/3/2020

Do you ever get your labs results back from the doctor and wonder what it means if your numbers are out of range? And then what should you do about it?

Conventional lab ranges are based on a bell curve distribution of test results. What this means is conventional ranges are based off the "normal" person and those ranges get wider and wider as the population gets sicker and sicker. Optimal ranges are based off of what is best for optimal health.

Looking at optimal ranges of lab tests can provide valuable information about body function and processes. It's one of the tools I use to identify risk factors and for lifestyle recommendations for optimizing health. By taking a look at all the results together, it can provide pieces to a build bigger picture of the person's health as a whole.

If you would like more information about lab tests and how they can help you identify risk factors, let me know. I would be glad to help you!

*I do not willfully diagnose or treat diseases or medical conditions, nor do I perform any invasive bodily procedures. I do not prescribe or administer drugs or controlled substances to another person.

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.

Iron...How do I Know if I'm Low?

5/1/2020

I've had several women in the last few months come to me with complaints of low iron. Many of them didn't know their iron was low until they did a blood test. In America, 20% of women are iron deficient.

What are the symptoms of low iron?
1- Fatigue
2- Pale skin
3- Dizziness, lightheaded, weakness
4- Fast heart rate, chest pain
5- Headaches
6- Stomach pain
7- Joint pain
8-Craving to eat items that aren't food- ice, dirt, or clay

Raising iron levels through supplementation:
1- Always get a blood test before starting supplementing
2- Ferrous gluconate form is gentle on the bowels
3- Take vitamin C with iron supplement to increase absorption

Raising iron levels through diet:
1- Beef
2- Liver
3- Turkey
4- Chicken
6- Fish
7- Spinach
8- Pumpkin and sunflower seeds
9-Firm tofu
10- Beans and lentils

I'm New to Essential Oils. Tell Me More About Them!

3/27/2020

You’ve seen them on store shelves, you’ve smelled them on the person sitting next to you on the airplane, but what are essential oils exactly? Are they simply a fancy beauty product? Are they a new fad that’ll soon pass?

The truth is, millions of people use essential oils every single day for things like cooking, cleaning, personal hygiene, fitness, sleep, overall health, and more.

They are the essence of plants, taken from roots, bark, flowers, seeds, and other plant parts. Essential oils can also protect a plant from predators or environmental conditions.

Learning how to use essential oils is easy.
Essential oils can be used to:
· Promote healthy-looking skin.
· Cleanse the air and eliminate odors.
· Help maintain a healthy respiratory system and feelings of clear breathing.*
· Support good oral hygiene.*
· Promote healthy digestion.*
· Create an uplifting atmosphere.

Here are a few examples of ways you can use essential oils:
· Diffuse a few drops of essential oil using a diffuser.
· Place a drop of oil in your hands, rub your palms together, and inhale deeply.
· Apply essential oils to the wrists and wear as a personal fragrance.
· Add a drop of oil to your moisturizer or face cleanser to promote healthy-looking skin
Put a few drops in a glass of water for internal benefits (Lemon oil and Grapefruit oil work well for this).

Don’t wait another day to experience the amazing benefits of essential oils. Still wondering how to use essential oils? It’s easier than you might think. Leave a comment below and I’ll answer your essential oil questions!