What is Your Toxic Footprint?

Posted on by

0

By Dr. Jen O’Sullivan

We are often told to do various audits in our lives such as a food audit, financial health audit, and even health audit. Within a health audit, have you ever looked at it from the perspective of your own personal toxic footprint? I recommend that you perform a toxic footprint audit on your living and work spaces. Work to eliminate as many toxins as possible. 

While many products and companies try to greenwash us into thinking many of their synthetic items are safe and therefor non-toxic, this is simply not true. If you use essential oils in your home or items like ozone machines and natural cleaning products, these will fight to breakdown synthetic substances and potentially cause toxicity for you and your family. Your pets and little ones are especially susceptible to small amounts of synthetic toxins. One of the worst offenders is fragrance. 

It is extremely important to remove all items that contain synthetic fragrance such as Windex, 409, other cleaners, personal care products, perfumes, soaps and detergents, scented candles, air fresheners, etc. Work at removing as many fragranced items as possible. See the Avoid List below.

AVOID: 

  • Alcohol (Wine / Beer / Spirits)
  • Candles (Scented)
  • Coffee / Caffeine
  • Colorings (like Red 40)
  • Dairy (Casein)
  • Drugs / Smoking
  • Fats (Trans / Saturated)
  • Flavorings (like MSG) 
  • Gluten / Wheat 
  • GMOs (like Soy / Corn)
  • High Fructose Corn Syrup 
  • NSAIDs (like aspirin and ibuprofen)
  • Preservatives
  • Processed Meats
  • Soda / Juices 
  • Sugar Alternatives
  • Sugar (Processed)
  • Synthetic Cleaners
  • Synthetic Fragrance 
  • Synthetic Medications
  • Synthetic Products
  • Toxic People

Activated Oxygen and Why You Need It

Posted on by

0

By Dr. Jen O’Sullivan

No process in the body can function without oxygen. The human body performs best at 100% oxygen saturation. Humans are deprived of oxygen due to air pollution, shallow breathing, poor nutrition and junk foods, sedentary lifestyle, and even poor posture. 

You can utilized a special form of oxygen called ozone. Ozone is essentially an energized and activated form of oxygen. It helps restore the oxygen balance in and on the body.

Ozone (O3) is formed when one stable bond between two molecules of oxygen combine with a third atom of oxygen. This third atom becomes a free-radical fighting powerhouse. 

This activated oxygen can be used in many ways, but it is most accessible and effective in carrier oils such as jojoba, olive, and hemp oil. Jojoba oil is the preferred oil infused with ozone for facial serums because it is the closest match in pH to our skin, absorbs extremely well, and doesn’t stain clothing. Jojoba oil is also great for regulating and balancing the oiliness of facial skin. It boasts natural fungicidal and antibacterial properties. Jojoba is also naturally hypoallergenic and may help improve the look of your skin by hydrating and protecting the outer layer.

One of the best sources for activated oxygen in a serum and balm form using Jojoba is through o3serum.com 

Check out the reviews for the products and all the info on the O3 Serum website. Using ozone is one of my favorite ways to support the health of my skin!

Fungus, SIBO, Yeast Infections, Candida Overgrowth

Posted on by

0

By Dr. Jen O’Sullivan

Candida are fungi that we often call “yeast”. This is because they exists in the yeast state during a part of their life cycle. We all have candida as they are a part of our healthy microbiome. When the microbiome is balanced, candida live in the small intestines. They act as a blood barrier protector and they consume the food that we do not digest properly. When there is an abundance of undigested food in the small intestines, it becomes an extra source of food. This will cause an overgrowth of candida, which is unhealthy. This may present in the form of yeast infections, SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), and even uncontrolled foot fungus and jock itch. 

There are many things that contribute to candida overgrowth such as the use of antibiotics, antacids, steroids, hormone replacement therapy, contraceptive pills, alcohol consumption, excessive consumption of sweets and processed foods, mercury in dental fillings, smoking, tap water consumption, chronic stress, and lack of sleep. There are two things that you may not know about that contribute to candida overgrowth.

It may seem simple enough when you eat a meal, that you enjoy a glass of water or beverage of choice while you eat. You may chew your food a little less than you should. Little do you know that these simple acts may be the cause of candida overgrowth in your body that can lead to a plethora of various symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, gastrointestinal upset, sinus issues, fits of rage, rashes and other skin issues, inflammation, depression, headaches, as well as many other issues.

When you consume more than four ounces of any beverage while eating, your stomach acids become placated more and some of your food will pass undigested into your small intestines where the good candida live. It will sit there and ferment causing gas and bloating and also will allow the good candida to thrive and populate more aggressively. When you do not properly chew your food, again some of your food will pass into your small intestines undigested. The candida will then have an abundance of food with which they can thrive more vigorously.

It is important to keep candida overgrowth from happening, so make sure you chew your food fully before swallowing, and also keep the beverage consumption to four ounces or less during your mealtime. Also make sure to go back over the list of items mentioned above that contribute to candida overgrowth.

If you are experiencing candida overgrowth there are some things you will want to consider changing in your life for at least one month.

30 DAY CANDIDA PROTOCOL

  • Change your diet and eat foods that are healthful and not processed.
  • Focus on low glycemic index foods like broccoli, cabbage, celery, and dark leafy greens.
  • Add good fats to your diet such as coconut oil, avocado, and healthy nuts.
  • Add raw garlic to your diet.
  • Remove all sugar consumption for one month. This includes fruit.
  • Limit dairy to 10% or less of your total intake.
  • Chew your food fully, especially animal protein.
  • Use an HCL supplement 5-10 minutes into a meal high in animal protein.
  • Use digestive enzymes regularly.

Interactions with Natural Supplements

Posted on by

0

By Dr. Jen O’Sullivan

Many people do not realize the medications they are taking may interact with supplements. Here are some tips on how to avoid issues.

  • Do not take natural supplements at the same time as coffee or highly caffeinated drinks (green tea is safe). Doing so will block the absorption of some vitamins and minerals.
  • If you are on a blood thinner regimen from your doctor, please pay extra attention to which supplements you should avoid, as they will cause a doubling effect. 
  • Do not take natural supplements at the same time as pharmaceuticals. Doing so may cause your liver to not process your medications properly, or it may double up the effect you are needing, which could cause dizziness or fainting. Give a two to four hour buffer between consuming caffeine and/or pharmaceuticals and any natural supplements.
    EXAMPLE: If you are supposed to take your medications in the morning, shift all natural supplement use to lunchtime. If you are supposed to take your medications at night before bed, shift all natural supplement use to dinnertime. 

Are Your Meds Depleting Vitamins and Minerals?

Posted on by

0

By Dr. Jen O’Sullivan

How do you determine if your meds are depleting certain vitamins and minerals? How do you know if they are interacting or counteracting any supplements you are taking or vice versa? Here are some steps to take to make sure!

STEP 1: First look up the name of the drug and what it is used for.

STEP 2: Next look the drug name up on https://mytavin.com/ to see what it depletes.

STEP 3: Next do an online search using the name of the drug along with the words “side effects”.

STEP 4: Next do an online search using the name of the drug along with the words “what to avoid”.

STEP 5: Next do an online search using the name of the drug along with the words “supplements to avoid”.

STEP 6: Go to your doctor and show them your findings. Determine what medications need to be changed or timed differently. Determine which foods you need to avoid and when to take your supplements (4 hours away from medications is best).