What I learned in 2011

2011 has so far been quite an interesting year for me. I've taken some time lately to reflect on what I experienced and learned thus far on my journey. I've been fortunate enough to have some time alone, in silence and in stillness. The following is what surfaced and stood out. Some are very light hearted and some are more serious. It's a mix of it all.

This past year I learned that:

• Where you invest your love you invest your life. Thank you Mumford and Sons :)

• That if you wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle enough, you will find your inner mojo every time. Thank you LMFAO, lol.

• That earth angels truly exist. You just have to let go of the Ego and allow yourself to see them. Thank you Vicki, my eternal angel.

• Happiness is not found in another person, place or thing. That looking for joy in the external is a very exhausting and futile endeavour. I'm tired of that and done with it. Happiness must begin within.

• Cats are just as amazing as dogs! You just have to remember they can climb on counter tops, open fridges, and still love you when they go off on their own and want their space. Thank you to Ozzy and Bailes.

• That HIV and Cancer are not death sentences! That we are remarkable human miracles that can heal, and regain wellness when we truly face the real problem-emotional and spiritual dis-ease.

• From my HIV clients: That we are greater than our labels, our perceptions and those of others, and our past. From those less fortunate than I: I learned that we all have gifts to give and share no matter how poor, unemployed, sick or "different" we may be.

• That you are the company you keep! There is no getting around this one. The circle of friends you hang out with and surround yourself with, says VOLUMES about you, your own beliefs, and what you ACCEPT in your life.

• That I'm REALLY REALLY REALLY thankful that I did not give in to the pressure to fit in or be cool in my teens and twenties and enter into the party drug scene. I used to wonder if I missed out on that so called "fun" and perhaps led too straight of life. But the universe blessed me with the confirmation that I truly took the better highway.

• That chocolate can be eaten in moderation, in even the worst of times. It actually is a more special experience when I don't over indulge too often :) which leads me to...

• Too much vino, too much vegetarian, too much healthiness, too much of anything or anyone does not serve me well. The lesson of balance keeps coming back to haunt me. And it's good, I need to be hit over the head with this one!

• That dating in your 30s is a huge TEST to your patience and SANITY. I'm still working on this. Actually joking aside, I'm happy and proud to admit I didn't settle just because everyone else was getting married, or moving on or having kids.

• More on dating... That when he doesn't call you back, he really is sane and doing you a favour. It's far worse to be called 10x a day, texted 50 times with freaky messages, and emailed proposals of the future he sees with you, within 7 days of meeting the weirdo. WOW thank God that is over.

• And on a more serious note about dating partners: That my sense of spirituality is very important to me, and I will not negotiate it, or downplay it, or jeopardize it for anyone. That I want to be able to share similar spiritual beliefs with my mate.

• AND...That I respect my body by aiming to eat clean, exercise daily, not drink excessively or smoke, and leading an overall active lifestyle and I want my potential companion to also share and practice these same values. I've overlooked this for some reason lately. I'm letting go of that denial.

• That religion is something you just don't discuss with religious people. Therefore I will avoid to the best of my ability to speak of religion with those who only believe in their religion and have no respect for the beliefs of others. This includes priests, deacons, rabbis, rectors, Imams and Mothers. (Note: Being religious is not the same as being spiritual.)

• That true friends are there for you anytime, any day, any week or any month. They are there regardless of the past, or what was said or not said, and not only when it's most convenient for them.

• That being alone and being lonely are two very different things. Being lonely at times is normal. However feeling alone in life, is debilitating and risks one's health.

• That I can't "save" anyone from themselves or their self destructiveness. Salvation comes from finding the love within and giving it out.

• That my body may not be perfect, but boy does it do amazingly perfect things. I get reminded of this more and more. Like the way it knows when I've had too much Baci Perugine chocolates or chickpeas.

• That a good Cesar is hard to find in this city! Come on people, how hard is it to mix tomato juice with some alcohol and the right spice.

• That a rainy, cold or grey day isn't so bad if you have a cappuccino, a good book and a warm blanket. I'm blessed to have all of those at my disposal. There are many who don't.

• That Toronto isn't so bad. We have been spared natural disasters and destruction, for the most part are tolerant of diversity (I excuse and forgive the one woman on bloor west who took the liberty of calling me a wop), and the CN tower is one hell of a sexy masterpiece. Thank you to the immigrants who built it :)

• From my dad: You are as old as the colour of your hair. Thank God for Just for Men hair dye. Kidding aside his Joie de Vie has truly taught me how vitality and youthfulness is really a result of your ability to have fun, be playful and go with the flow of life. You really are as young as you will allow yourself to feel.

• That spanish is a beautiful language to learn, but going latin dancing on a first date doesn't always mean a good time. Never doing that again. Next.

• That wherever you go, there you are. So running off to another city, country or continent doesn't mean your life problems instantaneously resolve. You can't run from yourself, your issues or the lessons you need to learn. They are here to remind you of what needs attention and care. I'm still working on this one.

• Resistance is futile. Let go and Let God. Also working on this one :)

When are we ever done?

Wishing you the best end of this 2011, and an amazing 2012!!! Ole'!!

Namaste

Piera

Slimming solution or just a Toxic Tea?

I've been asked by numerous clients and friends lately about the safety of "slimming teas". These teas are often found in health, bulk food stores and I even caught them on the shelf of dollar stores. They are sold as diet teas that purportedly support weight loss and suppress the appetite. Many are foreign made and provide inaccurate nutrient information labels.

Once I read the ingredients of these "slimming" teas, alarm bells began to go off.

Two ingredients were in almost every one of these "slimming" potions. One is Senna and the other is Cascara Sargrada. Both these herbs are strong laxatives and diuretics.

At best these teas can encourage some elimination and provide relief for occasional bouts of constipation. I stress the word occasional here. If you suffer from chronic constipation then these teas are not the answer either. Both Senna and Cascara are very harsh on the inner intestines and colon. They may in the long term create dependency and a lazy bowel that will not function optimally on its own.

Your bowels are just like muscles in your body, and need to be "exercised" so to speak. The best way to "exercise your bowels" is to provide healthy doses of whole food fiber which adds bulk. The bulk encourages the peristalsis action of the bowel. This is the muscular contraction that helps encourage healthy, and regular bowel movements.

Slimming teas are not the answer to losing excess weight. They can actually be dangerous as you may lose fluids, and excess electrolytes if you develop diarrhea. You risk dehydration and potentially the ph balance of your body. Potassium is a water soluble mineral that you will lose in large quantities when you experience excess laxative effects. Potassium regulates your heart beat. Since proper heart function is dependent on correct electrolyte balance, a severe deficiency of potassium can make your heart stop beating. Also these teas may encourage your body to crave more food because you may lose many minerals and trace nutrients in their laxative effects.

Many of these teas are imported from China, especially those found in dollar stores. There is really no way in knowing what is in them or the purity of the ingredients. They are mass made and sold.

Read labels and if you see any of the following ingredients steer clear:

• Senna
• Cascara Sagrada
• Uva Ursi (diuretic)
• Kola nut ( stimulant, caffeine, upper)
• Ma Huang (stimulant, upper)
• Guarana (stimulant, upper)

The last two ingredients are often found in diet pills as well. These provide a stimulant effect on your nervous system that may suppress appetite and increase the metabolism. But both these are contentious. The effect on your metabolism may be minimal and not enough to induce a sufficient boost to any weight loss efforts. The danger is that they will stress the heart in addition to the stress the rest of the ingredients pose.

Double wammy of dangers here!

Healthy weight loss really boils down to eating a balanced healthy diet free of processed foods and excess alcohol and sugar. Also incorporating regular exercise that provides enough intensity to keep you sweating and increase your heart rate for 30 minutes 3-5 times per week. Keeping active the rest of the time is also important. So taking stairs, walking more, and generally not sitting around living a coach potato life.

Here is my formula for safe, effective weight loss:

Clean diet + regular intense exercise (30 minutes)+ deep regular sleep + spiritual connection of some sort = Less stress, more energy, healthy weight, and happier YOU.

To your health always,

Piera

Namaste

Occupy Your Heart

The time has come to occupy something else.

It is irrefutably one of the most unsettled ages in history. It seems the problem lies outside of us. Yes, in part there are massive inequalities and destructive energies happening before our eyes in our world today. The scenes we see are upsetting and for many of us infuriating.

So we want to "Occupy" Wall Street, the economy and ultimately our survival. But, what if the solution of the problem lies right within us?

Maybe we need to step away from the tents on the sidewalk and begin a different "Occupy" movement. One that starts right within our own very selves.

The blood we see being shed and the majority of the rest that is unseen is really originating from a disconnect every individual experiences with themSelves. The Self seems to have taken a rather discouraging backseat which in my opinion is the reason we see the strife, pain and madness in our world today. At least it's one of the major reasons.

When I say Self, it is not the "me" I am referring to. The me is the capitalist driven, label shooting, material obsessed and corrupted vibe we see in the "1%" and those of us that have sadly developed that me dis-ease. I call it "me dis-ease" because we have lost our connection to our higher Self and have been disillusioned by the "me" within us to act out of fear instead of love.

There are only 2 energies or ways you can act, think, or speak. Love or fear. So when we avoid cultivating that relationship with Self we are supporting our fear mechanism. The one that tells you "you aren't good enough, have enough, valuable enough or to the extreme end unworthy and unloveable.

I propose we Occupy our own hearts as the very first step to seeing change outside ourselves. From within we create without. This is scientifically proven. This is mentally studied and proven. AND this is spiritually the supreme law.

HOW do we occupy our own heart and Self?

• Stop the negative self talk. This means stop the "I'm fat, I'm not in her/his "league" dialogue, I'm too short, I need more degrees, I don't have enough money, I'm a slob, I'm a pig, I keep messing up, I can't do this, I can't , I should, I could, I don't know how or have the connections. This is massively damaging to your subconscious mind and internal spirit.

• Honour your truth. It's plain and simple. Do what feels right from the depths of your inner being. Not because the Jones are doing next door, or your best friend thinks its cool or because some Kardashian just talked about it. Stop following the crowd, and follow your own desire. This means less T.V, less Facebook, less bullshit from those you simply don't resonate with. This is the definition of living on purpose.

• Walk your talk. Once you begin to honour your truth and come to an awareness of what is really important to you, PRACTICE it every single day. Practice it from the moment you lift your head off the pillow to the very end of the day before you go to dreamland. Live with your purpose on the forefront of all that you do. Do you know what your purpose even is? Read on...

• Define what you value, and is your philosophy in life. WHAT MATTERS TO YOU? beyond your own house, Ferrari, equities, and paycheck. This will lend clarity to that all time question we often think about but are so scared or distracted to consider. What is your purpose here on this planet? If you don't know what you truly value, and what you will not accept as being the highest and best vision for your existence, then you simply can't occupy a dam thing. Occupy the PURPOSE you know is within every single atom of your existence. How do you know it's there? Keep reading...

• Connect to your passion. Every single one of us has a passion(s) for something(s). You know what it is because it's an incredible feeling that permeates your whole being. When you think about it you can't help but beam a smile of those pearly whites. Every ounce of your being feels AMAZING and "fatigue" isn't ever part of the equation, even when you only slept 3 hrs that night. When you occupy your heart, you live your passion. You live on purpose and with honour, and you don't hurt yourself or others in the process! Because it is the very best and most awesome part of you.

Occupy your heart.

Love yourself, and then you can truly love another. The wars we see without are because we don't truly love OURSELVES. For how we treat our sisters and brothers out there, is a direct reflection on how we treat ourselves. The moment we occupy our own hearts, is the moment we share that massive ability to love everything and everyone else.

Namaste

Yours in Light

Piera

Lighter and Brighter- Day 7 of my Fall Cleanse

It has been one full week on my Fall cleanse. I am beaming. I'm like the CN tower at night, all lit up and glowing magnetism.

Physically I feel lighter and have lost 3 pounds. But that isn't really the cause of the joy pangs I'm feeling in my fuzzy heart centre. Letting go of what isn't serving me is what is creating my feel good self to come out and play.

I surrender to what is.

Simply put, I am allowing the present moment to be, without me judging, measuring or comparing it to anything or anyone else right now.

I unplugged from social media, my phone, and most technology for the past 2 days. I can't describe how amazing that was. I intend on having less of Facebook, Twitter, Stumble and the rest of the mumble jumbo in my life now. I realized it was a lot of loud noise that was feeding my ego. It's also an escape from facing one self and being with one self.

A cleanse can allow you to do just that. It can truly reveal a level of awareness of your body, mind and spirit that invites you to renew your sense of faith and love in YOUR SELF.

I have seen how amazing my body works when it has less "junk" to deal with in all areas of my life. Less garbage in means less subtractions in my life. Less ego driven media, less superficial hollywood BS, less toxicity in the form of toxic relationships, jobs, or food.

It all has energy.

Figure out what type of energy you want in your life. Because it really is going to be either a deficit or an investment to your daily energy bank. Everyday you have so much in your reserves to use to nurture your well being, positive actions and direction in your life.

Where do you want to invest your thoughts, emotions and precious time? On people that add to your life? On projects that make you grow and realize your dreams? On activities that will keep you fit, well and thriving physically?

Or

On people that take away from your life and aren't growing in positive ways in their lives? In jobs or work that feel like jobs and work and you simply are working for the weekend? Or sitting on the coach, eating whatever and not making time for physical fitness?

Being honest with ourselves is tough. We are accountable for every action, word and thought we put out there.

I got honest with myself this weekend. I decided I needed to be one on one with the most important person in my life. Me.

If I'm not on good terms with Me, there is no way I can be with anyone or anything else. It's amazing how easy it is to run away from ourselves. When we do run by eating, drinking, smoking, abusing, gambling or any other distraction, we keep from discovering that the very answer is right where we are and have always been.

You can run, but you can't hide. We really can't run from ourselves. Because eventually we realize we take ourselves and the pain and suffering or problems we think we have wherever we go.

A cleanse may be a great starting point for you to learn the power of presence. The present moment is really all we got baby. Let's live and love it! Tell me your experiences. I'm a message away. :)

Namaste

Piera

Day 4: Learn the Basic First Cleanse

Its Day 4 of my cleanse... I'm still alive.

I felt like utter crap (excuse the pun), the first 2 days. Yesterday was better. Today feeling nasty again. I do mean that in every sense of the word actually.

Physically, the fatigue is tremendous and quite unsettling. Nasty headaches torment my days and sometimes accompany me at night. I won't describe in detail what is coming out of me. That would be real nasty of me and I love you all too much.

Let's just say for someone who leads a pretty clean life, its amazing to see my toxic release. I can't imagine what a meat/dairy eating, alcohol drinking, nicotine smoking, grease consuming, drug using and coffee brewing Joe would see. Or feel for that matter. Poor soul!

But there is a less painful and gentler way...

Beginners Cleanse

One recommendation I have for those who are embarking on a healthier lifestyle is to go slooooooooow.

If you have not done a cleanse ever, and your current diet and lifestyle would

make me all red in the face from frustration, then I would suggest you just begin by cleaning your diet.

That's it for 3-4 months.

Herbs, water or juice fasts, or specific organ cleansing protocols like a liver flush or heavy metal detox are for much later!

Trust me it will be way too much and you may get too ill doing too much too soon.

What is a clean diet?

That means: No processed food like bread, cookies, muffins, cereal, anything in a box, bag or package. If Momma earth didn't provide it from a tree, bush or shrub don't go there.

Second wean off stimulants like coffee, chocolate, nicotine, caffeine sports drinks or supplements, sugar in any form (honey, white, brown, fructose or rock sugar) it's still refined and HIGH on the glycemic index.

Limit alcohol to 3 drinks a week. It's pure liquid sugar and many empty calories. The best thing would be to forgo it altogether. Alcohol is one of the most toxic things for our brains, livers and whole organism to filter and process. I'll dedicate a whole post on this one day. There is way too much information to go into that here.

Drink 2-3L of pure water. Yes you may be in the bathroom a little more, but your body will get used to it.

On the lighter side of things...

I feel lighter!

Also, my dream world has been quite a joyride. It's been the highlight of these first few days. I've gone to worlds unbeknownst to me. I've intensely visioned vivid landscapes , so magnetizing I did not want to leave. I will have so much material for a book, that I can foresee a series of adventures in print. Who knows.

There is always good in the seemingly "ungood" in life. So even though I feel like a Mac truck hit me, my body is revealing what needs attention and what doesn't.

Chocolate cake really wants me right now. Do I want it? Or a better question is what part of me really wants it- the mind or the body?

Who is the master in all of this?

Aim to be the master of your mind, choices, actions, reactions, and Life. What if that desire or craving were all just a sneaky trick?

The rest truly works itself out...

Peace and Namaste

Piera

Day 2- Fall Cleanse

(You'll understand the pic above by the end of this post. So just start reading)

Last night looked like this:

11pm Got to bed, after having already gone perhaps 20 times to the bathroom that day. 4L of liquids can easily do that.

12:30 am Up to go to the bathroom.

12:31 Back in bed. Fall asleep to the still playing ipod on low volume.

2:30 Up to go to the bathroom. I recall a dream! It was way to racy to mention here, but I'm glad I got up to remember it.

2:31 Back in bed. I hear such a beautiful thing. Complete silence. I nestle right into the most tranquil and comforting position in bed. I'm awake long enough to let the dark depth of the night remind me there is always stillness if we can just get quiet enough. Yes, that is actually what I thought.

4:23 Up and grumbling on the way to the bathroom. Dam dandelion tea. Maybe I put too much in the pot. I just want to sleep and meet my angels. Stumbling back to bed, as I didn't see the dresser that has been there since I moved in over 10 years ago, I stub my toe. Ya profanities came out. I judged that reaction at first, then remembered it's all part of letting go of crap. So I'm off the hook for a few not so poetic words.

Actually I'm allowing myself to be whatever surfaces for the duration of this cleanse. If you call me and I'm not my usual self, well you are forewarned. Just play along and enjoy the show.

I kid you not 5:05 Up again! I'm thinking my kidneys are getting quite a workout by now, and I must be 5 pounds lighter already. Talk about releasing water retention. I crawl back into bed, and safely avoided the dresser and the dog by my bed. Ya a squashed chihuahua would not have been a pretty thing.

I laid in bed and visions of chocolate mousse swirled in my head. Then the mousse was being spread on chocolate croissants by Javier Bardem and he was trying to feed me one and I wanted to curse the cleanse and who ever invented them for eternity. Just as I was about to take the croissant past my lips, I wake up again.

7:00 am What? Where did Javier go? Ugggghhh I realize I was hallucinating or dreaming. I need to pee once again. I've woken up with a gnawing craving. But alas, the day must start and I prepare my green smoothie with Javier still lingering in my consciousness.

Last night was interesting. As much as I know how these cleanses work and no matter how much I prepare myself for facing the first week of this, I still want to whine.

Here is a Green smoothie you may want to try for yourself. I can't promise Javier will come and feed you chocolate croissants, but this will make every cell of your existence smile and do jumping jacks.

Piera's Power Smoothie

1/2 cup organic blackberries

1/2 cup blueberries

2 oz of wheat grass juice

1 bunch of kale

2 tablespoons of hemp seeds

1/2 avocado

2 tablespoons almond butter

1 tablespoon raw honey

2 tablespoons of Chia seeds

1 tablespoon of Spirulina

1 cup of filtered water

Blend all of the above in a blender. Serves 2. Javier's serving is still on the counter. Maybe one day...

Namaste

Piera

My Fall cleanse! Day 1

I'm back to this blog again. Have taken a hiatus. Sometimes life throws us some curves that can block the writing drive. I had to play ball and got struck from a few. Everything passes :)

I return with commencing my yearly Fall cleanse. I'm so looking forward to all this season has to bring to me. It's a time of harvest just before the big retreat of the winter months. It's a time now to truly reflect on the gracious blessings that are in our lives.

I know its been a rather hectic time for me these past few months. So a cleanse is something I fully embrace now as it will allow me to let go of what is not needed right now in my life, and it will help to let go of the past.

How does a cleanse do this? Well for me, I feel things beyond solely the physical plane. A cleanse to me isn't just juicing a little more, taking herbs and eating lighter. I truly take the time to reflect, get introspective and listen to what the deeper sensations within are saying.

Remember when you do a cleanse you are embarking on a whole body, mind and soul endeavour. Only if you are aware and have the intention to do so of course. But why just do a cleanse to see physical benefits only? Why not get the most out of it, and transform even more deeply. Food for thought ;) Make those green foods....

Things I picked up today for my 30 day cleanse:

• Betonite clay- An amazing product that helps to chelate toxins or absorb them from the intestinal wall and pull them out of the colon.

• Psyllium husk fiber supplement- Fiber helps to keep hydration in the colon at optimal levels as well as providing bulk. It will also help the clay move through and do its job more effectively. So these two work in harmony.

• Herbs: Burdock root - a blood cleanser and purifier which helps the detox process.

• Red clovers- another blood purifier. During a cleanse you want to ensure that toxins don't build up in the blood and that they get ushered out as effectively as possible.

• Milk thistle root- one of the best liver detoxifiers in the plant world. Milk thistle will help keep the liver from becoming too overburdened from the colon's release of toxins.

• Licorice root- An adrenal support herb that will lessen the stress during a cleanse.

• Dandelion root- a natural diuretic that will eliminate excess retention of water and helps the lymph nodes release toxic build up.

• Ashwahghanda- my favourite adaptogen in existence. It supports the immunity, relieves effects of stress, feeds the adrenals and helps reduce any stress from withdrawal from substances and addictions of any kind.

• Liquid Chlorophyll- the best natural internal deodorizer around. It also purifies the blood, is great for anemic states as it helps fortify the blood and absorb natural iron.

• Spirulina- A potent sea plant that not only provides one of the highest sources of bio available and highly assimilable protein, but also trace marine minerals that support our whole biological make up.

• Ginseng tincture- I include this one for supporting energy levels. During a cleanse you can become very fatigued as your body lets go of toxic build up. Ginseng is a powerful adaptogen that also supports the sexual system as well. So bonuses everywhere ;)

My diet is fairly clean to begin with and I don't do much alcohol. ( Is vino alcohol really? hehe) I'm cutting out dairy, coffee, and chocolate for the next 30 days. Eeeek! I can really do without most, except for chocolate. That will be the temptress in all of this. Oh my mocha madness tendencies will be quite interesting to observe the next 30 days. I'll call out for an SOS if it becomes a problem of dire straits.

However I must mention though, I had given up chocolate for 40 days this past Lenten season and that absence actually helped bring down the addiction quite dramatically overall.

Interesting.

When we let go of our attachments for a sustained amount of time, the mind eventually gives up on trying to seduce us back. With any addiction it's really the first two weeks that are the hardest. After that, it's really all uphill. Just remember your mind is the biggest trickster around. Claim power over that, and you own all that you desire :)

If you have any questions about cleansing or starting a detox, I invite you to message me. Always here to answer the call.

Namaste

Piera

Dirty Dairy Facts- Why dairy can be DEADLY!

The campaign tried to sell us on the white liquid.

Big white moustaches streaked the upper lips on all kinds of celebs who chose to sell out. "Milk does the body good"! was the tag line.

Really???

I didn't buy it. Here is why.

Milk first and foremost is something only we humans decide to drink past our weaning stage. Every other animal on this planet does not drink milk after they are weaned off momma's bosom. They go on to eat grass, plants or wild berries if they are lucky enough. The domesticated ones are subject to the poisons industrial farmers choose to feed them with.

Most dairy cows are not fed natural feed, let alone grass. If you really care to know more about the disgusting dairy industry, I invite you wholeheartedly to read "Eating Animals" by Jonathon Foer. The book explicitly details the atrocious methods, and practices most industrial farmers practice to make as much milk as they legally can in the shortest amount of time.

Here is what your regular milk contains:

• Pharmaceutical grade HORMONES- so no kidding our children are obese by the age of 6.
• Pharmaceutical grade ANTIBIOTICS- keeping large numbers of livestock in warehouses creates a breeding ground for bacterial sickness. So they pump them up with lots of nasty antibiotics to keep them from dying and spreading disease. YUMMMM!
• All the pesticides and artificial fertilizers used to make the feed
• Many also feed the cows other cows, other dead animals. Again YUMMMMM!
• Milk can also contain pus and blood that is present in the mother's utter from infections caused by over lactation and general stress.

Ready to have that latte now?

Here are 5 other reasons why ELIMINATING COW milk is a great idea:

1) Milk is pasteurized: It has to be, considering all the potential for bacteria or viruses to be present. Pasteurization successfully kills bad bacteria, but it also kills the good bacteria you need! So essentially you are getting a DEAD product. NO VALUE. So get over the idea that you need it to get CALCIUM. That is a savvy way the dairy industry SELLS THIS CRAP TO YOU.

2) Lactose Intolerance: I am convinced that this is such a rampant problem now because people have been consuming milk like it was water. Over consumption of anything will cause digestive problems in the longterm with artificial foods like milk. Milk is NOT NATURAL. It is not supportive or nutritious to our bodies. Lactose intolerance gets worse not better when people continue to consume "lactose free" milk. The next point will explain why.

3) PRO INFLAMMATORY: Due to the type of fat milk contains, it causes inflammation in the body. Inflammation is proven to be linked to Cancer, heart disease, and bowel diseases such as colitis, Chrohn's and IBS. Milk, a source of arachidonic acid when consumed in excess, promotes inflammatory cells and hormones. It also disrupts alkalinity in the body, and if you are over acidic in your body PH than you create a favourable environment for disease and free radicals to go haywire.

4) Allergies and INTOLERANCES: With inflammation comes other consequences. One most important one is a LOWERED IMMUNITY. Inflammation stresses the body and therefore takes the bodies reserves to heal. Your immunity becomes compromised and your tolerance for things also is at risk. You are thus more susceptible to allergies and food sensitivities.

It is almost certain that when I see a child for allergies, chronic asthma or digestive intolerances to numerous foods, they consume large amounts of dairy in their diet.

5) Dairy is the MOST MUCOUS FORMING food out there: This means that the whole respiratory system is put in a highly compromised position. Milk creates sticky mucous that coats everything internally. So when you have a respiratory condition already like asthma, or chronic sinusitis, MAKE THE LINK TO YOUR DAIRY CONSUMPTION. It's a HUGE connection. If your airways are coated in sticky goo, then breathing is harder, eliminating phlegm is more difficult, and essentially healing becomes a longer ordeal.

Also whenever you do experience a cold, flu or respiratory infection the first thing is to get OFF ALL DAIRY. Any intelligent and conscientious doctor will advise this. If your doctor thinks this is airy fairy BS than change your doctor.

So to conclude...

Milk does not do the body good!

I would love to hear your experiences, comments and thoughts on this subject.

To your health always,

Namaste

Piera

How to heal HIGH CHOLESTEROL naturally!

So your doc declares you have "high cholesterol". Yet another label to deal with. Not to fret, let's clear the myths from the current facts.

Good vs. Bad Cholesterol is part of the problem.

It was once thought that simply raising the "good" HDL cholesterol was the answer to this problem. It is part of the equation, but not the whole gig. So do strive to include better whole foods in your diet, which are going to fuel the body and not cause an increase in the lousy cholesterol or LDL.

Power foods for lowering bad cholesterol:

• Garlic, Garlic, GARLIC!! - also helps lower blood pressure beautifully
• Omega rich foods such as salmon, mackeral, sardines, flax oil, borage and primrose oil
• Organic virgin Coconut Oil ( also anti inflammatory which is very indicated for those with high LDL
• Beta carotene foods: Carrots, yams, dark greens like Kale, collards
• SPIRULINA- its the elixir to everything period.
• ARTICHOKES- one of the best foods to clear a congested liver, to detox and overall blood cleanser

Oxidative Stress is the other side of the coin

In addition to addressing the LDL cholesterol, we need to understand how serious oxidative stress is to our bodies. This happens when "free radicals" are not kept in check and left to disrupt the balance of our cells and whole body.

Oxidative stress is caused by smoking, ingesting processed foods ( pasta, bread, cookies, anything packaged, boxed, in a carton or bag) , fried foods, sugar, excess alcohol, drugs and conventional medications, HIGH STRESS levels, not exercising enough, over exercising, pesticides and fertilizers in our food, and environmental pollution.

The cleaner your diet, the less oxidative damage is caused to the body. So eating clean must be the first step you take.

Secondly you should aim to increase the amount of oxidants you eat everyday through food and through supplementation, at least in the beginning phase of your attempt to lower your cholesterol.

High Anti oxidant Foods:

• SPIRULINA
• CHLORELLA
• Acai juice or supplements
• Aloe Vera juice
• Goji berries
• Dark green, red, orange, yellow vegetables
• All kinds of BERRIES
• Wheat grass juice
• Green drinks/supplements
• PLANT STEROLS- concentrated nutrients found in supplements at your health food store

Include these foods everyday! Also take higher doses of Vitamin C and B to counter the effects of stress on the body.

Understand that the body works as a whole. It cannot be dissected and treated in parts, even if conventional doctors will have you believe. Cholesterol is a symptom of an overall in balance in the body. STRESS is the underlying cause of most disease processes.

Therefore, treat that first! Manage emotional and mental stress by taking time for yourself. Lower physiological and physical stress by eating clean and exercising on a regular basis in a way that makes you FEEL GOOD. And set some time to do the spiritual work. You just cannot ignore this last one. Going inwards, taking time to reflect, journal, pray and really appreciate the great things in your life are important for all of this to work.

Once all the pieces fit, you are no longer left with a puzzle :)

In health always,

Namaste

Piera

www.coreconnectionshealing.com

A Tired You is A Tired Thyroid

You feel fatigue. You hardly can get out of bed in the morning without groaning. Just walking to your car seems a struggle. You're achy, and feeling lethargic has now become the mainstay.

What is up with that?

Dealing with chronic low energy is not normal. Many have come to believe that it is just the way it is. We become so used to it that we are unaware of how much it affects our day to day mental, physical and emotional functions. It just may be a poor functioning thyroid.

Getting your thyroid checked is a must. Your adrenals are most definitely also affected and must be treated alongside the low thyroid issue. Hypothyroidism or low functioning thyroid is at epidemic proportions it seems for the overworked, over stressed, over pressured and on demand A types who are nearing a very critically dangerous state of health. When the well runs dry, you simply cannot fetch for more water!

Supplements for Hypothyroidism:

My philosophy with supplements is always to use them in chronic, and depleted states of ill health. I never advocate taking supplements in large quantities or in substitution for a good, clean and nutritious diet. However, 90% of urban people have adrenal fatigue or exhaustion. The only way to build that up is by supplementing for the first phase of their health plan. That is my strategy in practice.

L-tyrosine- an amino acid that is a precursor to thyroid hormone, and must be present for it to function optimally.

B vitamins- All B vitamins are supportive in times of stress. Buy a B complex and take 2 50mg capsules everyday. These support our energy needs, helps stabilize moods especially anxiety, and balances the nervous system. When you are treating thyroid and adrenals STRESS is the number 1 enemy. So anything that can nourish the nervous system and counter the stress response is highly indicated.

Vitamin C: This is required in any high stress state. Our bodies go into vitamin C overdrive, and use up any incoming Vitamin C at a much more rapid and intense rate. Eating oranges is not going to cut it. Unless you have access to freshly picked oranges daily and consume a bushel, I would say take the caps. Vitamin C is just a given. Take 500mg at least 3 times day or to bowel tolerance.

Selenium: One of the most important minerals and antioxidants around. Our soils are now depleted more than ever and so we are not getting enough of this mineral through our diets. It was also found by french researchers to contribute to auto immune disorders affecting the thyroid and creating low functioning thyroid conditions. Selenium supports the thyroid in making thyroid hormone and aids the metabolism.

Great food sources of selenium are : Brazil nuts, tuna, cod, eggs and whole unprocessed grains.

Spirulina and Marine Phytoplankton Algae: These 2 are pure food sources. So go crazy with them. They literally are the most potent and nutrient dense foods we have on the planet.

Spirulina ounce per ounce has more protein, iron, minerals, and vitamins than any animal product out there. Also these supplements build the blood, thereby increasing energy and boosting the immunity like nothing else.

Iodine: A natural source of iodine may help those who have a high TSH number and low thyroid output. The thyroid may not be converting the hormones effectively. If you are going to supplement with iodine do so only with a natural source. Instead of buying pure iodine, the better option is to take bladderwrack herbal capsules, eat seaweed like nori, dulse and take seaweed such as Kelp in capsule form. Again these are food supplements and not extracted minerals condensed into a pill or tincture. Your body will absorb and use what it needs accordingly.

Personal note: SPIRULINA is not just for Thyroid health!

The moment I began taking spirulina my whole physiology changed for the better! I could not believe the immense support this food can give you. It almost seemed miraculous when I first started supplementing with it. I'm literally a Spirulina freak. Yes and some of you who know me personally, would just say ENTIRELY health freaky. I still love you ;)

My energy sky rocketed, my stamina went from struggling to get through a day, to getting back to working out and being active like I used to be. Spirulina and the algaes are SUPER DUPER DUPER foods! Spirulina cured my anemia faster and more sustaining than any iron pills my MD would give me. 2 teaspoons are added to my morning shake every morning! I just don't leave home without it

These are whole foods, and not substances extracted from foods, and therefore YOU ARE GETTING PURE fuel sources.

Your body wants that. Your body craves and is screaming for that kind of sustenance. Your body can assimilate, process and use these types of supplements better than anything else. Consider this whenever you are shopping for health food products.

Remember: When your health is compromised, and you are in a depleted state taking larger amounts of vitamins, minerals and other supplements is safe (I am not referring to mega dosing, just more than what is advised for healthy people on a maintenance health program).

Words of Caution: Make sure to consult with a professional practitioner before you begin any supplementation or healthcare program. The suggestions here are not intended to diagnose or treat your specific situation. A professional must always work alongside your efforts :)

To your thyroid health!

Namaste

Piera

Foods that will HARM your thyroid: Part 2 Hypothyroid Solutions

"Let medicine be your food, and let your food be your medicine".

Hipprocrates knew what he was talking about. Just like a car performs better with higher quality fuel, so does your body and mind.

It still often amazes me how much I hear people complain they feel tired, and sluggish and no desire to move, yet don't see the connection to their really poor food choices. You just are what you eat- day in and day out.

If you are currently eating fried food, fast foods, white processed anything (bread, chips, baked goods, pancakes, pasta, white rice ect ect.) sugar, excessive amounts of alcohol, fatty meats and candy all day long than guess what, you can't perform at your best.

We often feel we will be "deprived" when we are told we should be eating cleaner healthier meals. But don't you already feel robbed and "deprived" of your energy, health and VITALITY?

I've seen some 50+ year olds with more of ENERGY, vitality and vigour than some 30 year olds I know. That infectious energy we all deserve is really our natural state. We just settle to accept it as "part of getting older".

Diet and HYPOTHYROIDISM:

Contrary to what conventional medical doctors believe, your diet can impact the health and function of your thyroid quite significantly. Food like a drug, triggers chemical responses in your body that will activate or suppress a number of reactions and processes. Food impacts hormonal activity, mood modulators in the nervous system, sugar levels and much more.

So which foods are good and which are best to avoid with Hypothyroidism?

FOODS TO AVOID:

• Processed foods such as: White flour, bread, baked goods, essentially anything that comes in a box, package, box, wrapper, carton or bag. These foods burden the body and place more demands on the body to process, assimilate and eliminate. Your thyroid needs less work, so stay with clean foods.
• RAW Vegetables: some veggies in their RAW form suppress the thyroid function and interfere with iodine assimilation. AVOID RAW:
• Broccoli
• Brussel sprouts
• Cauliflower
• Kale
• Cabbage
• Mustard Greens
• Spinach

• SOY avoid all soy products and beans themselves. SO no TOFU, soy based burgers or hotdogs, tempeh or edamame. These cause hormonal triggers that interfere with your thyroid and iodine assimilation.
• MSG, commercial iodized table salt, artificial sweeteners
• ALL SUGAR!
• Fake fats like margarines, excessive amounts of animal fats
• Commercially raised meat, dairy, eggs and poultry. Regular meat is FULL of antibiotics, artificial hormones and all the pesticides and fertilizers used on the feed they eat. So your ingesting it too!
• COFFEE and caffeinated products, these stress your body and you need to recover and re nourish your body as much as you can right now. Caffeine will just undo everything else.
• Most FRUITS: eat as little fruit as possible, as the sugar poses a strain to cortisol and insulin levels, which already are compromised with thyroid and adrenal deficiency.

Foods To Eat Everyday :

• Cooked vegetables
• SEA VEGETABLES: a great source of natural iodine
• Organic eggs and Brazil nuts: both high in Selenium
• Flax oil, Coconut oil, OLIVE OIL: the best fats your body can breakdown and use
• Sprouted nuts, grains and seeds
• Lean proteins: organic meat, poultry, fish and dairy
• CELTIC OR SEA SALT: these have not been bleached an stripped of the essential trace minerals your thyroid needs
• WHEAT FREE grains: Oats, Quinoa, spelt and kamut
• Nuts and seeds: Almonds, cashews, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds
• Freshly juiced Vegetables, preferably on a daily basis

The key to a Hypothryoid friendly diet is to eat less toxic and unnatural food as possible. The more your body has to work to get rid of the toxins, less reserves it has to heal and help you recover from your low functioning thyroid.

In a future post this will tie in with how important it is to de stress and learn to implement stress management techniques for the health of your thyroid.

A low functioning thyroid is essentially a DEPLETED, worn down, burnt out unhappy camper. It is waving a flag, and saying "TIME OUT! I just can't take it anymore!" and has to slow down.

You too will have to follow suit and GIVE YOURSELF a break....

In health until next time

Love and Light

Piera

THYROID 101- Its time to take ACTION!

I am going to dedicate the next few posts on THYROID health. And more specifically HYPOTHYROID or low functioning thyroid. This has been something I've been dealing with on a personal level.

It can be an immensely frustrating health issue to contend with, especially if you limit yourself to conventional medicine and M.Ds. I have met with 4 different medical doctors and none have even come close to helping me.

Small aside...

The last M.D I saw didn't even look at me when he took the 3 minutes he had to discuss a full panel blood analysis. It is that sad. And when I voiced my concern about a possible Thyroid issue, he suggested I "stop listening to my friends, and Oprah". I was enraged, and really I don't even have the time to watch Oprah. I got up and walked out the door.

However I am not here to bash the system, and God knows how much restraint I need for it. My purpose here is to provide you the opportunity to consider alternatives.

Having blood work is important, and I don't throw everything conventionally based out the window. I do however advocate TAKING RESPONSIBILITY and BEING PRO ACTIVE towards your HEALTH.

Do not allow any one practitioner or doctor to control your desire to heal. GET INFORMED and work with health professionals WHO CARE and make you feel CARED FOR.

Moving on...

My story is one that I believe many women can relate to. I've felt very real symptoms for some time and felt like no one was listening, except when I began searching for other approaches to healing. The first time I met my own naturopath I cannot describe what joy, relief, and sense of hope I started feeling.

Finally someone believed what I was saying and didn't just tell me "I was fine, and to just live with it". I did not feel right, and I knew that chronic fatigue is not my natural state nor was I going to settle with just accepting being tired all the time.

Hypothyroidism is real

Even if your lab results don't show it, you can still have the condition! AND there is help and solutions that will allow you to regain your vitality, body and LIFE back. Having hypothyroid is like a plant that gets watered once a month.

You feel deprived, drained, lethargic and like the walking dead. Most days, it took every ounce of my will and effort to get through a day.

I couldn't think with clarity, felt dizzy all the time, would go for a work out at the gym and need 5 days to recover from it, constipated all the time, felt chilled wearing even 5 layers of clothing, gaining weight even though I maintained a clean stellar diet, felt tired when I had to get up in the morning and wired at night when I needed to sleep, and emotionally down most of the time. I pretended to feel well and of course life responsibilities still had to be met. It really is not a fun place to be.

Actually it really sucked.

And I know that's not the most eloquent word, but it best describes how I felt. I was tired of feeling sick and tired, not being the active joyful me I was, and gaining weight eating BIRD FOOD. But it doesn't have to be this way. And I will show you how to take charge of your own hypothyroidism.

The moment I get excited about a topic, my passion has no limits. So in the upcoming days and weeks ahead you will get cutting edge information and real actions steps you can take to get a hold of this pervasive condition.

Are you one of the 40%?

Dr. Broda Barnes, (good name to google) is the pioneer developer of the "basal body temperature test", and stated that over 40% of women have undiagnosed sub clinical hypothyroidism. That is, their laboratory test results may be normal, yet they have true low functioning thyroids.

Most medical doctors will only base their diagnosis on your lab results if they show a discrepancy in TSH or T3 numbers. Often times these numbers can be "normal" and yet you still present with hypothyroid symptoms which are real and valid.

IT'S NOT IN YOUR HEAD. You still may have a compromised thyroid that needs ATTENTION.

STRESS is a huge cause of HYPOTHYROIDISM!

Even a single episode of hypoglycaemia can depress your thyroid for 18 hours! And we all know how stressed we can become with the daily grind and our westernized lifestyles.

HEALING your thyroid REQUIRES A FULL LIFESTYLE OVERHAUL.

You need to address how well you are taking care of yourself or not. What you eat, how much and quality of sleep you get, how much consistent exercise you get, managing mental, physical and EMOTIONAL stress, are all important considerations!

Thyroid Basics- Your 411 Primer

Function:

• It produces thyroid hormones called T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4.
• The thyroid hormone regulates just about every cell in the body, including those in the central nervous system, heart, liver, kidneys, skin, bone, and muscles.
• Among its most important functions is the control of the rate of metabolism, thermogenesis, and oxygen consumption.
• The predominant thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid gland is the relatively inactive T4. The active form of the hormone, T3 is converted from T4 by peripheral tissues (mostly the liver) as needed. Those with HYPOTHYROID may have a faulty conversion rate and suffer with hypothyroid sometimes without even knowing it. This is where standard testing will not be able to determine the most accurate condition of your thyroid!
• The secretion of these hormones is regulated by another hormone called thyrotropin-stimulating hormone (or TSH).
• TSH is secreted by the pituitary gland in a pulsatile or circadian rhythm. This stimulating hormone activates the release of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland. As thyroid hormones become high (or adequate), TSH secretion from the pituitary gland decreases in what is called a negative feedback mechanism.
  
  

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism:

• Low body temperature, causing you to feel constantly CHILLY even in warm temperatures
• Hair Loss, eyebrow thinning
• FATIGUE- constant sluggishness, or exhaustion from little effort, particularly in the morning.
• Insomnia or SLEEP DISTURBANCES : The "hard to wake up in the morning and hard to fall asleep at night" syndrome so many stressed people experience. You literally feel you have to drag your butt out of bed and it takes at least an hour to get going in the morning. Then at night when you need to get some rest, you are completely wired and have difficulty sleeping.
• POOR CONCENTRATION- brain fog, inability to focus, and poor memory when once you were sharp as a knife
• Dry, coarse skin
• WEIGHT GAIN and developing an intolerance to intense exercise, when once you had no issues with physical exertion
• Inability to lose weight even when drastically cutting calories or maintaining a sensible diet
• DEPRESSION and mood swings, feeling apathetic, unmotivated and just plain blah
• Constipation, and difficult digestion with pain, and bloating
• Adrenal fatigue or exhaustion

Testing:

• Full thyroid panel is a good baseline and can indicate if the thyroid is high or low fucntioning. TSH, T3, T4
• Basal Body temperature testing: If your average body temperature is consistently lower than 98.6 degrees, it may be a strong indicator for hypothyroid condition.
• Adrenal testing should also be considered with a saliva test done by your natropath/homeopathic practitioner. Most often the adrenals are also affected and should be treated alongside the thyroid.

Most at Risk:

• Women, 40+ especially those peri menopausal.
• People who are chronically emotionally, mentally or physically stressed.
• Those with a family history of thyroid disease or other endocrine conditions.
• Those suffering from another chronic pathology and/or are on prescription meds for it, such as bowel or digestive diseases, cancer, cardiovascular /heart disease, liver conditions, kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, ect, ect.
• Those exposed to radiation.
• Women right after pregnancy.
• Already have another autoimmune disease : i.e. Lupus, MS, arthritis, colitis, allergies
• Injury or traumatic accident
• Those with HIV/AIDS
• Over 60

Next post: Learn which FOODS TO AVOID and harm your hypothyroid.

To your health,

Namaste

Piera

www.coreconnectionshealing.com

5 Ailments you can treat naturally and without resorting to harmful medications.

Popping pills has become a disturbing habit among people looking to find relief from many common maladies. It is always wise to have a full physical, including a full blood panel analysis annually. This way you can rule out any serious conditions or pathologies. Ideally we want to prevent disease from taking place in the first place. Knowing the vital blood markers for health will help you identify any possible areas of concern.

If you suffer from occasional minor headaches, colds, cuts or bruises, coughs, or indigestion there are natural alternatives you can implement instead of reaching for the over the counter chemical based medications.

Remember each time you take a suppressing pharmaceutical drug, you are numbing and not healing the ailment you are experiencing. What you resist PERSISTS!

Headaches:

Remedy: WATER

Consider how well hydrated you are. How much water are you drinking daily? Also how many caffeinated beverages are you consuming? Caffeine based drinks rob your body of vital fluid, and the caffeine often can lead to tension based headaches. Often times headaches are a symptom of a poor diet and a low level of hydration. So cut out artificially sweetened foods and drinks (ie. aspartame based drinks like diet pop), processed foods such as white bread, baked goods, fried foods and anything that comes out of a fast food restaurant. ANYTHING processed has ADDITIVES and chemicals that may be TRIGGERING your headaches. Also you may have a food intolerance or allergy. Most offending allergens are: Wheat, corn, sugar, dairy, eggs, peanuts, soy and gluten.

Indigestion, Nausea, Upset Stomach:

Remedy: GINGER, PEPPERMINT, PRO BIOTICS

Indigestion can be caused by overeating, a food allergy, a virus, ulcers or other digestive diseases and STRESS. So for minor and occasional discomfort you can reach for ginger. Ginger is one of the best anti nausea and tummy settling herbs around. It can help with morning sickness for those expecting, motion sickness from traveling, and nausea brought on by flus or bacterial infections.

My motto with diets and health always is to get your nutrition from whole foods given by mother earth. Supplements have a place, however they should not be relied upon to achieve a sound diet. Probiotics is one supplement that I would say is required by everyone living in a modern industrialized nation. We are far too stressed, rushed, and eat poorly for the most part, to sustain a healthy digestive tract.

Probiotics is the best digestive and immune insurance you can invest in.

It is proven to increase overall immunity, prevent and treat digestive disease such as ULCERS, COLITIS and IBS and symptoms that lead to pathology such as constipation or diarrhea. Probiotics are healthy gut bacteria that will keep a healthy balance of flora in your system.

Sore Throat and Ulcers

Remedy: Licorice Root (tea or tincture formula)

Licorice is an herb with demulcent (soothing, coating agents) and expectorant (rids phlegm and mucous from the respiratory tract) properties. As such it is highly beneficial for minor upper respiratory tract ailments such as coughs, sore throats, and sinus infections. It is also HIGHLY beneficial to those with ulcers, and any inflammation in the digestive tract. Licorice helps to decrease the burning pain that ulcers are known for.

Inflammation is a symptom that should not be left ignored. Your body is telling you something is not balanced, and left supressed with pharmaceutical pills only will eventually cause more serious problems later on. Address the issue underlying the problem by really looking at your lifestyle and what needs to be CHANGED. You alone are responsible for what you eat and how you choose to live your days.

Bruises, Cuts, or Scrapes:

Remedy: Homeopathic Arnica, Olive Oil

Every single household should have Arnica in homeopathic form and topical cream in their medicine chest. This is one of the "miracle" first aid remedies for injuries and 1st stage trauma to tissues. I have seen arnica heal bruises, speed up the healing of bone injuries, muscles and tendons tears and ligament injuries. Nothing works like Arnica.

My own mother suffered a bad fall and nearly broke her nose. I gave her 3 doses of arnica minutes after the fall. She experienced no pain, no blood loss and bruising diminished within a few days!

A patient of mine who suffered minor injuries in a car accident reported that just 2 doses of Arnica (which he had in his car at the time of injury, smart dude!) right after the accident reduced bruising, and pain "miraculously". What should have been major bruising and pain from the impact on his shoulder and face, was minor and healed within 2 days of the accident! Go buy some now if you don't have any, it's really that good!

Olive oil is another healing agent you should consider for cuts and scrapes. The ancient egyptians not only drank this elixir for health, but they slathered it on their bodies to heal the skin. Olive oil has anti bacterial properties and will help heal cuts thereby reducing any chances of SCARRING. Its more than just a tasty salad dressing ;)

To your health always,

Namaste

Piera

The VOICE in your head may destroy your best efforts!

Art work by Glenn Mcleary

There it is again. Do you hear it? "You aren't doing this right! You really are screwing up again. Why are you so stupid? Why can't you get it right? Hurry up, you don't have time to waste! Your hair looks like crap, and its a another fat day." And on and on and on and on it goes.

Does this voice sound familiar?

It's all in your head, and yet the frustration seems so real. The words go on lingering. Your whole body takes on a different state. You become the neurosis, you breath the chaotic voices, your whole being seems to take on the identity of the voice inside your head.

THIS is where it becomes problematic.

It's not that the voice is a problem, or the real culprit here. It's your thinking thoughts about the voices. Its your judgements on what the the thoughts may mean. The moment you begin to judge, criticize, interpret or define that voice, then you have fallen into what I call the EGO TRAP, and that is one icky, sticky, and painful trap to get caught in.

We all have the voice. We all have rambling thoughts that seem to go on and on and on. It's what you do with them that makes or breaks your present moment. If you allow the thoughts to define you, or if you begin to judge the feelings you feel as "bad" or even worse that YOU are bad, stupid, not good enough, not smart enough, not working hard enough or whatever than you will forever be a slave to the suffering and pain you feel.

So here is a suggestion.

Just be.

Sounds too simple? Maybe. But why does everything in life need to be complicated, hard or "not easy" in order to be valid? Why must we have to suffer, slave, live in a continous state of stuggle and challenge in order to feel we have earned a badge in life? A badge which at the end of the day, means ZERO and only pain and suffering to YOU.

Just sit with your pain, suffering, anxiety, neurosis, depression, grief, heartache over a break up, betrayal, anger, sadness or whatever you want to label as your stress or feeling. Without resisting it, and just feel it. You won't crumble, vanish or die. You go inwards, and feel what it is to be human. Then you learn, by purely observing what happens.

Here are 3 steps to break free from that INNER HEAD GAME:

1) Sit and STOP yourself:

Stop for 2 minutes, 3 times a day. That's a huge grand total of 6 minutes of your day. 6 minutes to reset your whole nervous system, and charge your internal connection to source energy. 6 minutes that will give you far more leverage than any cup of coffee, pill or food will ever deliver. Those 6 minutes will increase your productivity like nothing else. Try it, before you blow it off. Then let me know what happens ;)

2) FEEL :

After you physically stop, just feel whatever it is that you are feeling, but here is the kicker : WITHOUT commentary, judgement, or interpretation. This is what we in the mind/ body field call "Be the observer" or the witness to whatever it is that is going on right now in your body, mind and whole being.

3) BREATH:

I just don't get tired of suggesting this one, because time and time and time AGAIN it has brought me to experience peace and internal calm. I can't rave about this enough. Your breath is directly linked to your state of being. As soon as you are STRESSED, anxious, or hurting your breath changes right along with it. YOU NEED TO BREATH with conscious awareness EVERY SINGLE DAY. This means tuning in, and actually feeling your breath move in and out of your body. It has an almost INSTANTANEOUS calming affect! Trust me this is a SAVIOUR to your whole well being.

In health always,

Namaste

Piera

What the heck is Homeopathy? How Homeopathy heals disease and the proof to show it!

Similia Simibus Curantur = Like Cures Like

Homeopathy is a system of natural medicine that is founded on the principle that "like cures like". Homeopathic remedies are made from substances found in nature such as plants, minerals and animals. These remedies are made from substances that in pure or crude form cause the same symptoms in healthy people. Hence the "like cures like principle".

So for example, when you cut raw onions, you most likely will begin to tear, your eyes get red, and itchy. This is "similar" to that of a histamine reaction in someone who has an allergy. So giving the homeopathic remedy allium cepa (onion), often can help alleviate allergic type symptoms. This is a very basic example to explain the premise here. There are other remedies specifically indicated for the particular reaction you experience. Hence the highly individualized nature of prescribing remedies and treatment.

Homeopaths practice in a manner that offers a very personalized prescription. Patients are given a very thorough session where a record of all their symptoms are recorded. The chief complaint you come in with is often only highlighted for a brief period during the intake. There is an emphasis on understanding ALL the emotional, mental and physical symptoms and their interrelationship . A symptom picture emerges based on the WHOLE individual and not just the allergy or headache. A remedy is then chosen which matches this very specific personalized intake.

Homeopathy also relies on the principle of "minimal dose and dilution". So homeopathic remedies are prepared in a very precise way using highly diluted solutions. The belief is that the higher the dilution, the stronger the potency of the medicine. This goes against the laws of conventional chemistry. However, as we have made and continue to make discoveries in quantum physics and nano biotechnology, we have VOLUMES of documentation to prove how minute substances are far more powerful than once thought.

Scientists such as Greg Braden, Bruce Lipton, and Jacques Benveniste (google these guys when you have a chance, they will blow your socks off!) just to name a few, have astounding research to prove how the quantum world is truly our gateway to medical breakthroughs, and puts the current conventional system in the dinosaur category.

There has been recent heat and debate over the validity and efficacy of homeopathic medicine. It often is a result from conventional medicine attempting to undermine any effort that is not pharmaceutical based healthcare. Big Pharma wants to sell sell sell. The bottom line is their business model. This often comes at the risk of YOUR health. Their ethics are highly questionable. If you don't believe me check this article out and read how studies on medications were faked to pass regulations and get on market shelves:

http://www.naturalnews.com/028194_Scott_Reuben_research_fraud.html

So here are 3 prime examples of how well homeopathy has treated illness.

The following are scientifically documented studies and cases that provide proof for those still skeptical.

1) Cuban Leptospirosis Study:

The largest homeopathic study took place in Cuba, and involved 2.3 million Cuban patients. They were all given 2 doses of homeopathic remedy as a preventative treatment for a hurricane-triggered disease called leptospirosis. With this treatment the infection rate for this bug dropped down to nearly ZERO! Check this site for more info

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/197128.php

2) Bristol Homeopathic Hospital

From 1997-2003 we have documentation of one of the most comprehensive patient outcome surveys that analysed over 23,000 outpatient consultations at Bristol Homeopathic Hospital in the U.K. The follow up records show that more than 70% showed clinical improvement following homeopathic treatment. Impressive were the following results for these specific disease ailments:

• Asthma improved in 89%
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome improved in 72%
• Crohn's/Ulcerative Colitis improved in 76%
• Depression improved in 71%
• Eczema improved in 82%
• Chronic headaches and migraines improved in 74%
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome improved in 71%
• PMS and Menopausal symptoms improved in 77%
• Rheumatoid Arthritis improved in 70%

Need more proof? Then please check out :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/bristol/somerset/4454856.stm

3) The Lancet Allergy Study:

The Lancet has been hot and cold towards homeopathy, however this particular 8 week trial was published with a huge amount of supportive attention. The trial examined 28 patients who were divided into a double blind study for 4 weeks. One group received a homeopathic remedy of their allergen in a 30CH potency. and the other received a placebo. Participants were tested by using the conventional prick test for allergies. After the first week 9 of the 11 experienced improvement compared to the 5 of 13 in the placebo group. The homeopathic group experienced a median 53% increase in histamine resistance compared to only 7% in the placebo group.

Homeopathy is an incredibly effective, deep acting yet gentle treatment for disease and illness. It promises a less invasive way to address disease symptoms. It often can help prevent further progression of disease and in many cases cure pathologies. This is however dependant on a number of factors.

It is said that when the student is ready the teacher appears. Well with healing, I believe that when the patient is ready, the healing and cure appear to support the patient's own healing capacity. You must have the intention to want to heal, and let go of what is in the way of that.

Sometimes that is our own selves. Our thoughts, actions and words all play a part in what results in our lives. Let's aim at being our own best friend, instead of our own worst enemy :)

In health always,

Namaste

Piera

www.coreconnectionshealing.com