Marisa Wiewall- Holistic Health Coach
  • Home
  • About
  • Programs
  • Fall Cleanse
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact

Happy Spring (allergies)?!: Preventing and treating seasonal allergies naturally.

3/25/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Aaahhhh, Spring is in the air!! and I must say it is MY.FAVORITE.SEASON of all! The (slightly) warmer days, longer nights, first buds coming out of trees, the sight and smell of daffodils and tulips and the energy of the people coming out of hibernation... What a great feeling!

However.....

I suffer from seasonal allergies.  Yes, I'm allergic to pollen. {And yes, we have a farm...}

So, the past few years I've really studied and researched (and tried, and tried again) different natural methods to #1- PREVENT, and #2 TREAT MY SEASONAL ALLERGIES, naturally. It has gotten SO much better, or even non-existent!

But, first of all...

What causes seasonal allergies?
When an allergen trigger like pollen lands on top of receptors in our nasal passage it alerts the body to release histamine. Histamines are naturally occurring. They initiate a series of reactions that are designed to help the body get rid of unwanted visitors. The problem is when the body overreacts to non-harmful substances. That’s when we end up with the constant itchy eyes and runny nose. For some people these reactions can become increasingly bothersome and in some instances can make it difficult to breathe.

Preventing & Treating Seasonal Allergies:
Some of these are best if you start a month or so before allergy season.  I explain each as follows: 

#1- Quercetin- A natural plant-derived compound called a bioflavonoid, quercetin helps stabilize mast cells and prevents them from releasing histamine. Citrus fruits, onions, apples, parsley, tea, tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce and wine are naturally high in quercetin, but allergy sufferers will most likely need to use supplement to build up enough of this compound to prevent attacks. The recommended dosage is about 1,000 milligrams a day, taken between meals. It’s best to start treatment six weeks before allergy season.

*Note: Those with liver disease shouldn’t use quercetin, so please consult your doctor before using this or any other supplement — especially if you are pregnant or nursing.

#2- Stinging Nettle- If you decide you need an antihistamine but want a natural option, stinging nettle behaves in much the same way as many of the drugs sold to treat allergies, but without the unwanted side effects of dry mouth and drowsiness. Nettle actually inhibits the body’s ability to produce histamine. It’s a common weed in many parts of the United States (we have them at the farm!), but the most practical medicinal form is a freeze-dried extract of the leaves sold in capsules. Studies have shown that taking about 300 milligrams daily will offer relief for most people, although the effects may last only a few hours.

#3- Nasal Rinse/Neti Pot- This is my favorite! what could be simpler than rinsing away allergens with saltwater? Neti pots, small vessels shaped like Aladdin’s lamp, have been used in India for thousands of years to flush the sinuses and keep them clear. It’s an idea that takes some getting used to for most Westerners, but it’s a bit like using nasal spray. A little douse of saltwater can rinse away those prickly pollen grains and help treat allergies and other forms of sinus congestion.

#4- Lemon/ACV/LOCAL Honey Elixir (on steroids!)- You’ve heard me talk about the morning lemon elixir, and for allergy season I put it "on steroids”! Organic raw apple cider vinegar promotes alkalinity and PH balance of the body, which is one reason why it works great as a natural remedy to ward off all types of allergies.

The best way this will help is to be consistent. Mix 1 tablespoon ACV with 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1/2 tablespoon raw bees (LOCAL) honey and drink twice a day. Start a few weeks before allergy season for best results. Be patient as this mixture begins to balance out your GI tract and build up your natural immune defenses to fight off all types of allergies.

#5- Bee pollen-  High in protein, as well as other antioxidants and vitamins, it is one of nature’s perfect superfoods. Bees go from flower to flower collecting pollen to bring back to the hive where they create these granules. Bee pollen actually reduces histamine, which is the same target over -the-counter medications act upon. It can be effective for a wide range of respiratory diseases, ranging from asthma to chronic sinus infections.

Always buy LOCAL bee pollen to ensure you're building up an immunity to the plants in your area.  While it does come in pill, powder, or liquid form, it's best to consume the actual granules that the bees make. The granules have a sweet taste and powdery texture that can be used in smoothies, sprinkled on oatmeal or yogurt, or combined with granola.

Start gradually (½ tsp.) a day and work your way up to 1-3 tablespoons by the end of four weeks. I usually take a spoonful with my breakfast or add it to my morning smoothie or oatmeal. It's best to take with food, especially fruit. The fruit fibers will activate the pollen faster and cleanse your colon simultaneously. Again, gut and immune health are closely linked in regards to severity of allergies!

Note: Some people may be very sensitive to bee pollen, especially us allergic to pollen, of course! Place a few granules in your mouth and wait 2 minutes. If you experience no symptoms (watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing), chew slowly and swallow. Wait another 24 hours and monitor your body for any symptoms. If you don't experience any, gradually increase as stated above.

#6- Eliminate food triggers- There are foods you may be sensitive to that will cause inflammation for you as well as lower your immune system response.  Its important to find out if you are and which foods these are.  Through an elimination diet (followed by reintroduction of foods) you can identify which foods you are sensitive to, and learn alternatives to these.

Also, and most importantly, by cleaning up the body of toxins and eating nutrient-rich food you will boost and strengthen your immune system for a smoother allergy season! 

Contact me if you need help or have further inquiries on how to do an elimination diet.

Have a happy and healthy spring!

0 Comments

Confession: I'm in a rut.

12/11/2014

0 Comments

 
There I said it.  I just came back from the gym, where I was out of breath doing things I've done before, no problem (and I mean only two weeks ago!) and I realized it- I'm in a rut. I kind of knew it since my sleep has been horrible, I can't focus, I'm low energy, I'm back to craving sweets, etc... 

The reason I can tell is because after my cleanse in October I was feeling SO MUCH vitality!! I was focused and very productive with my business stuff, sleeping great, feeling strong, everything going well. Then we had house guests for pretty much a whole month during November (and THAT was great as well, by the way) but obviously you get off routine.  We went out to restaurants, events, Thanksgiving came about, there were leftover cookies, couldn't make it to the gym.. need I say more? You just get in a rut, and it happens very quickly.  

But after leaving the gym this morning I said to myself- "What are you doing?? This is what you do for a living! You know exactly what you have do to fix it! and I need to fix it now."  Why? Well, for one, my daughter has one week left of school before Winter break- which means I have ONE week to work on my Winter programs, buy presents, work on Christmas cards, etc..... not to mention I'd like to enjoy the holidays with energy, good mood, focus and clarity- for myself and my family!

So here is what I JUST did and will be doing:
  1. Juicing:
    A great way to get my body to quickly alkalize (it is probably acidic right now and my blood needs to oxygenate) I just made myself a powerful green juice with whatever I found on the refrigerator- kale, celery, ginger, lemon and half an apple.  Super alkalizing and an energy boost!!  
  2. Drink WATER:
    Yep, I filled up my 27 oz. Klean Kanteen and I intend to drink two of those today, in addition to the juice, lemon water, and herbal teas. Water also helps oxygenate the body to give it more energy, as well as help with cleansing.
  3. Meditate- Breathing exercises:
    See, when you get in a rut, is not just from the foods you eat.  I tend to read more emails, browse (random stuff) online, and just get out of focus. So I know I need a little centering.  All I did was 5 minute of closed eyes and focused breathing and voila! it prompted me to write this blog post and focus on what I have to do next.  Yay!
  4. Plan my Lunch + Dinner:
    Lately I haven't been great at planning my meals (again lack of focus and energy? yes).  So while I juiced, I roasted a sweet potato and plan to have it with a salad for lunch.  I also looked at my refrigerator and planned tonight's meal- salmon with broccoli. Perfect, quick, and easy!
  5. Plan a 3-Day Mini Cleanse:
    I developed a 3-Day Mini Cleanse for my peeps that went to class last week so, its time for me to do it! Next week- Tuesday 12/16 to Thursday 12/18.. that's it. Easy and quick little reboot!

    Want to join me s
    tart the HOLIDAYS off right??? It's completely FREE and I will be here to support and guide you through it!
    And 
    no, no juicing or starving, you actually EAT! (EASY and DELICIOUS RECIPES INCLUDED!), click here to get your FREE copy and I'll send you the document and an invite to a private Facebook Group for support, camaraderie, and accountability!

Oh men, I already feel more energized thinking about it!! (or maybe it's the green juice?!) ; )


XO,

Picture
0 Comments

I HATE the word DETOX... but it changed my LIFE.

9/16/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
I've been talking about and promoting my 11-Day Fall Detox program but I will be VERY honest with you...  I HATE the word DETOX. In fact, next time I might call it something else.

The thing is, there is too much out there these days with "detox", "cleanse", juice this, smoothie that, fasting, etc... and you know the skeptical in me doesn't like fads! 

However, a "DETOX" CHANGED MY LIFE.  A year ago I had to do my first detox for nutrition school in a class called "Digestion and Detoxification".  I had already been in nutrition school for 3 years and thought "I don't need this?!". Boy was I wrong.  

Here is what I got out of that detox:

1. Energy from WITHIN.  Not from coffee, sugar, or any outside stimulus. I learned what my body is supposed to feel like and it is amazing!

2. Energy ALL DAY LONG. Not just in the morning followed by an afternoon crash, but even energy throughout the day.  Actually the afternoon crash disappeared!! (And hasn't come back!) :)

3. FOCUS and CLARITY of Mind.  My mind was so clear, there was no fogginess.  I knew exactly what to do and had the energy to do it! My mood improved as well as my sleep.

4. Food SENSITIVITIES. I learned I am sensitive to caffeine, gluten, and sugar. But this is where bio-individuality comes to play. You learn what foods are good for you and which are not. One person's medicine can be another person's poison.

5. New HEALTHY HABITS. I learned and implemented healthy habits that I STILL do, some of them DAILY! Starting my day with warm lemon water, tongue scraping, dry brushing, green juices, building my meals around vegetables, epson salt baths, etc...

The thing is, I learned that detoxification is a very scientific treatment, and this type of "therapy" has been used for thousands of years in the east to treat many illnesses, as they believe (as I do) that "all disease starts in the gut".  To heal any disease or condition, you have to start by healing the gut- where 60% of your immunity is. And a detox is an EXCELLENT way to do JUST THAT! 

In today's world, our guts (and livers) are overworked, and damaged to a certain point, with so many toxins coming from processed foods, chemicals, antibiotic overload, poor air and water quality, etc...

Most disease happen over a long period of time.
 And some mild symptoms like cravings, fatigue, poor sleep, skin conditions, bloating, constipation, etc.. can lead to more serious conditions. A detox will not only help heal and clear some of these symptoms, but give you a great jumpstart to clean eating and a healthier lifestyle!

So? Ready to get rid off those "symptoms" before disease manifest??
SIGN UP for the FALL DETOX here.  We are less than 2 weeks away from START DATE!

XO,
Marisa

0 Comments

    Author

    Hi, I'm Marisa and I am here to spread some health, peace, love... and lots of kale!
    More about me? click here.

    Archives

    September 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014

    Categories

    All
    Alcohol
    Alkalinity
    Allergies
    Ambien
    Anxiety
    Apple Cider Vinegar
    Artificial Sweeteners
    Autoimmune
    Bacteria
    Bee Pollen
    Bento Box
    Breathing
    Caffeine
    Calcium
    Cancer
    Carcinogen
    Cardiovascular Health
    Carrageenan
    Clean Eating
    Cleanse
    Coffee
    Cold
    Colon Cancer
    Commodity Crops
    Corn
    Cravings
    Cruciferous
    Dairy Substitute
    Dates
    Detox
    Diabetes
    Diet Sodas
    Eating Psychology
    Elimination Diet
    Environmental Costs
    Epsom Salt
    Exercise
    Externalized Costs
    Fall-detox
    Farm Subsidies
    FedUp
    Fermented Foods
    Fiber
    Flu
    Food Policy
    Food Politics
    Food Triggers
    Fruit
    Glucose Intolerance
    Gratitude
    Greens
    Guilt
    Gut Health
    Health
    Health Care
    Healthy Food Expensive
    Heart Disease
    Honey
    Hot Lunch
    Illness
    Immune System
    Immunity
    Inflammation
    Insomnia
    Iron
    Journal
    Juicing
    Kale
    Kids Health
    Lavender
    Lemon
    Love
    Lunch
    Lunchbox
    Magnesium
    Marion Nestle
    Meditation
    Michael Pollan
    Micro Biome
    Milk
    Mini Cleanse
    Moderation
    Multiple Sclerosis
    Nasal Flush
    Nasal Rinse
    Neti Pot
    Nettle
    Nuts
    Phytic Acid
    Phytochemicals
    Potassium
    Probiotics
    Progress
    Quercetiin
    Rest
    School Lunch
    Self-compassion
    Self-love
    Shame
    Sick
    Sleep
    Sleep Drugs
    Smoothies
    Soy
    Spinach
    Spring
    Stevia
    Stimulants
    Stinging Nettle
    Stress
    Success
    Sugar
    Sunshine Vitamin
    Supplements
    Sweet Cravings
    Thyroid
    Valentines
    Virus
    Vitamin D
    Workout

    RSS Feed

Marisa wiewaLL is not acting in the capacity of a doctor, licensed dietician-nutritionist, psychologist or other licensed or registered professional. Marisa wiewall is not providing health care, medical or nutrition therapy services and will not diagnose, treat or cure in any manner whatsoever any disease, condition or other physical or mental ailment of the human body. It’s always best, and recommended, to consult with your doctor when making any changes to your diet and/or lifestyle.