How Digestion can help with the Consequences of Chronic Stress and Trauma

 Chronic stress and trauma negatively impacts survivors mentally, emotionally, and physically. It takes a tremendous amount of energy to be in a state of fight or flight. We are only meant to be in fight or flight for a very short period of time. Traumatic events are much more prevalent today. In addition, the amount of chronic stress that we are under daily is incredible from the amount of toxins in our environment, our food, our water to constantly being connected to information, notifications, and EMF’s to working more hours and so much more. Our nervous system cannot tell if we are going into battle or driving on I-77 north of Charlotte during rush hour through a rainstorm or opening an urgent email from our boss.  Urgency has become the norm for so  many of us.   Many of us become stuck in fight or flight or are in that fight or flight mode more so than not. Fight or flight has become a way of life and there are consequences in the form of dis- ease.  Our nervous system was not meant to be in sympathetic (fight or flight) dominance more than parasympathetic (rest and digest). 

Digestion supports the body’s balance in many ways. Digestion is a foundation that is required for optimal health and homeostasis of the body. Digestion supports the healthy function of endocrine health, immune health, cardiovascular health, detoxification, and the nervous system. While recovering from chronic stress and trauma, understanding the impacts of stress on the body can help with healing. 

When your body is stuck in fight or flight like it is from a trauma or chronic stress it is doing all of the things to keep you alive so that you survive.  During this time your body is not working on endocrine health and keeping you fertile to build a family. It is not focused on immunity or cardiovascular health.  When you are in fight or flight your body is not concerned with detoxing. We have heard the saying, stress causes dis-ease, but it is not explained how stress correlates to dis- ease.  In my opinion and after my personal experiences with chronic stress and trauma, stress is the most underrated factor for creating dis-ease within the body.  

Stress

Stress is any thing or any event that contributes to an emotional and or physical burden on the body’s ability to work towards or maintain homeostasis. According to the NTA, “Stress has a huge negative effect on the physiology of digestion. It’s not just the big stressful events, like moving or losing a job, that can wreak havoc on digestion. The body is not wired to handle even acute stress in combination with digestion. Our

responses to stress are guided by the sympathetic nervous system while many

important processes of digestion are reliant on the parasympathetic nervous

system. During times of stress the body will use all its energy to focus on the

stages of stress response discussed above. Depending on the intensity of the stress this may cause digestion to drastically downregulate. (Nutritional Therapy Association, 2020). Stress can create dysfunction in all of the foundations of health.  According to the NTA, “although each of us has unique bio-individual needs, and our genes will respond differently to various foods and lifestyles, the NTA does believe that there are certain fundamental factors that must be in balance to experience optimal health.” The NTA includes the following six factors to be the foundations

‣ Nutrition Eating nutrient-dense, whole food diet.

‣ Digestion: Absorbing and assimilating the nutrients we eat.

‣ Blood Sugar Regulation: Ensuring a steady, balanced supply of energy.

‣ Fatty Acids: Absorbing and utilizing healthy fats for fuel, structure, and

healing.

‣ Mineral Balance: Absorbing and utilizing macro and micro minerals.

‣ Hydration: Supplying cells and tissues with sufficient water. (Nutritional Therapy Association, 2019). 

When these foundations are disrupted through something like trauma or chronic stress it is important to come back to the foundations and begin again. If chronic stress or trauma is not addressed we can see long term consequences in our endocrine system, immunity, cardiovascular system, detoxification. Last but not least our nervous system can be affected as much as it can contribute to the cause. Working with the foundation of digestion can be a helpful step in the right direction to bringing your body back to balance.  

The Endocrine System and Digestion

The endocrine system includes hormones and how the hormones communicate within the body. “The coordinated movement, synthesis, and dispersal of hormones is like an orchestra…all the instruments need to play together to achieve harmony. “ (Nutritional Therapy Association, 2020). Digestive organs perform functions of the endocrine system by secreting hormones.  The digestive organs included in endocrine function are the liver, kidneys, stomach, and small intestine. Though the hypothalamus is not necessarily a digestive organ, digestion begins in the brain so it is included in the process of digestion. The hormones needed for optimal digestion are gastrin, secretin, and CCK. The endocrine system is incredibly sensitive to stressors like stress/ trauma, toxins like endocrine disruptors, poor diet, poor digestion, blood sugar dysregulation, fatty acid deficiency, mineral deficiencies, and dehydration. Supporting your body’s ability to effectively digest and assimilate nutrition will help your endocrine system. Be sure to sit down for meals, take a few deep breaths and relax, then enjoy your food by eating slowly and chewing your food thoroughly.  

Immune Health and Digestion 

Healthy digestion is crucial for immune health. Digestion plays a role in immunity through the upper gi, small intestine, and large intestine. When there is poor stomach acid production macronutrients are left partially digested or undigested.  This alone can make the body vulnerable to harmful pathogens and bacteria but it can also contribute to food reactions.  When undigested food and microbes move into the small intestine they can cause damage and/ or cause an immune response.  The undigested food and other particles can then enter into the bloodstream aka “leaky gut” which can trigger an immune response. Chronic stress is a major contributing factor to a weakened intestinal tract.  Any particles that make it into the large intestine can push out good bacteria which can then lead to an overpopulation of things like parasites, fungus, and bad bacteria. “The microbiome is mainly disturbed by antibiotics, stress, and diet.  Any long- term imbalance in the diet can disturb the intricate optimal balance of the gut microbiome. “( Nutritional Therapy Association, 2020) 

Cardiovascular Health and Digestion

The cardiovascular system is very much affected by the digestive system.  Not only is healthy gut bacteria needed for the health of the cardiovascular system but gut dysfunction like leaky gut can contribute to high LDL numbers which is a sign of inflammation with the cardiovascular system.  Proper digestion is necessary for making necessary amino acids for the heart. Good stomach acid balance is needed to absorb calcium and to digest B vitamins needed for cardiovascular health. Proper liver and gallbladder function is needed for the digestion of healthy fats and fat soluble vitamins needed for cardiovascular health. Finally proper bowel flora is needed to produce vitamins B1, B2, B12, and K2.  

Detoxification and Digestion

Detoxing is a function that occurs when we are in a parasympathetic state, when we are resting and not fighting or flighting or under chronic stress. The detoxification system includes the cardiovascular system, our skin, the lymphatic system, urinary system, respiratory system and digestive system.  The gastrointestinal tract plays a major role in detoxing.  It scans the food we consume for pathogens, bacteria, and more and then it detoxifies poorly digested food and fermented toxins.  It filters the food and intestinal bacteria and then it eliminates toxins and other unusable substances from the body. The digestive system provides detoxification through the integrity of the GI membrane and maintaining the necessary bacterial and chemical environment. Optimal digestion is necessary for detoxing.

The Nervous System and Digestion  

The nervous system is like water.  It can be still or slow and calm and relaxing or it can be fast and forceful, creating a life or death situation.  The nervous system can become dysregulated through trauma and chronic stress and in turn the dysregulation creates dysfunction with the foundations through digestive stress, blood sugar imbalance, mineral depletion and more. A dysregulated nervous system can be a contributor to dis-ease. However, a dysfunctional digestive system can contribute to a dysregulated nervous system.  Regardless of what initiated the dysfunction, one can become stuck in an unpleasant cycle of dysregulated nervous system and dysfunctional digestive system and that can result in a lot of uncomfortable symptoms like anxiety, brain fog, depression, and more. When going through a healing phase it is  important to address both the digestive system and the nervous system.  What happens in the gut is communicated to the nervous system and what happens in the nervous system is communicated back to the gut.  If the digestive system senses trouble it stops the process of digesting food and allows the body to focus on surviving through heart rate, stress hormones, and breathing. This creates vulnerability with the potential to allow pathogens, bacteria, viruses and more to enter the body.  On the other hand, if we are eating in a rush while driving in rush hour traffic, our nervous system is going to sense danger and basically do the same thing by taking the focus away from digestion and focusing on surviving. 

 All systems of the body work together in a beautifully orchestrated way that is always trying to keep us alive. When we provide our body with the materials, tools, and energy that it needs it can not only work towards keeping us alive, it can help us thrive. Regardless of what we have been through or have experienced the body is always wanting to work in our favor and healing is possible.  Start with digestion. Eat your meals sitting down, take a few deep breaths, smell your food, and then eat slowly.  Chew your food into a consistency of applesauce, savor it. To help with digestion even more, you can add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to 4 ounces of water and drink that before eating.  Avoid drinking during your meals so that your digestive juices can focus on the incoming nutritious food. Short, gentle walks after meals can also help with the digestive process. Small, simple steps can be taken on your path to recovering from trauma and chronic stress. 

References

(Nutritional Therapy Association 2020). Sleep, Stress, Movement Module. Retrieved from: https://nutritionaltherapy.instructure.com/courses/247/pages/ssm-%7C-core-reading?module_item_id=20925

(Nutritional Therapy Association, 2019). Student Welcome Guide. Retrieved from: https://nutritionaltherapy.instructure.com/courses/247/pages/class-resources?module_item_id=20706

(Nutritional Therapy Association, 2020) Endocrine Module. Retrieved from: https://nutritionaltherapy.instructure.com/courses/247/pages/endo-%7C-core-videos?module_item_id=20947

(Nutritional Therapy Association, 2020) Immune Module. Retrieved from : https://nutritionaltherapy.instructure.com/courses/247/pages/imm-%7C-core-reading?module_item_id=20961

Pictures: 

#1 picture from @betheobserver .  Retrieved from https://www.pexels.com/photo/city-cityscape-florida-sunset-sky-8948802/

#2 picture from @betheobserver. Retrieved from 

https://www.pexels.com/photo/waterfalls-17722464/

How Nutritional Therapy can help aid in the Recovery of Trauma and Chronic Stress

How Nutritional Therapy can help aid in the Recovery of Trauma and Chronic Stress

     Over the years I have heard plenty about what to do to lose weight, to optimize health, to build muscle, to build physical endurance, how to do all the things except for how to support the physical body when the figurative rug has been pulled out from underneath and you’ve been punched in the gut by an event or events that brought you to your knees from despair and drained you of all the tears you thought you had and more. When recovering from a traumatic event, going back to the basics can be helpful in recovering physically. According to the NTA, “although each of us has unique bio-individual needs, and our genes will respond differently to various foods and lifestyles, the NTA does believe that there are certain fundamental factors that must be in balance to experience optimal health.” The NTA includes the following six factors to be the foundations

‣ Nutrition Eating nutrient-dense, whole food diet.

‣ Digestion: Absorbing and assimilating the nutrients we eat.

‣ Blood Sugar Regulation: Ensuring a steady, balanced supply of energy.

‣ Fatty Acids: Absorbing and utilizing healthy fats for fuel, structure, and

healing.

‣ Mineral Balance: Absorbing and utilizing macro and micro minerals.

‣ Hydration: Supplying cells and tissues with sufficient water. (Nutritional Therapy Association, 2019). 

A traumatic event no doubt is depleting emotionally, mentally, and spiritually but it can also be incredibly depleting physically. It can knock the body out of balance in many ways. Nutritional therapy can help support the body through trauma and chronic stress. 

 

 I have experienced multiple traumas and chronic stress over the course of my life and each one was very different in the experience but also very different in how I felt with each one. I recently lost my soul dog, my unofficial emotional support. The trauma of losing him pushed my mind, body, and soul beyond anything I have ever experienced before. I did experience trauma while he was living and he helped me more than absolutely anything. There are many ways to process and cope with traumatic events and I urge you to get help and seek support emotionally and mentally. It is ok to ask for help. Aside from outside help and coping therapies there are ways to support the body physically, nutritionally.   According to Bessel van der Kolk M.D., author of The Body Keeps Score, “ Trauma is specifically an event that overwhelms the central nervous system, altering the way we process and recall memories. “Trauma is not the story of something that happened back then," he adds. "It’s the current imprint of that pain, horror, and fear living inside people.” Psychotherapy Networker (2014).  After experiencing a traumatic event, life can be overwhelming in so many ways. I do not want to add to that overwhelm of things to do or not to do.  This blog post is about how to support the body nutritionally and so I discuss all the ways to support the body nutritionally.  However, please understand that doing all the things may not be possible because some days just getting out of bed is a major task when recovering from trauma or chronic stress.  As you read this, please keep in mind that you do not have to implement everything all the time, just do what you can when you can.  If you are not in a place to consume more information than maybe save this post for later, for when you are ready.  That is ok!  

 

The Importance of a Nutrient Dense Diet when Recovering from Trauma and Chronic Stress

 

It takes a tremendous amount of energy expenditure to experience a trauma in the event as it is happening but also in the recovering process. It takes energy to cope, to process, to heal. Our cells require fuel to be able to fuel that energy that is needed. The fuel that supplies our cells with that energy comes from macronutrients also known as proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Oftentimes we eat food that is packaged, processed, filled with other non-food things like preservatives, additives, and dyes. The more processed, the less nutrients. Since trauma and stress deplete nutrients rapidly due to the energy being used it is important to consume the highest quality food to get the most nutrients possible. According to the Mayo Clinic, “The USDA guidelines describe organic foods on product labels as 100% organic, organic, made with organic, and/ or organic ingredients”.  Mayo Clinic continues to explain that benefits of organic food include small to moderate increases in nutrient profiles, higher levels of omega 3 in organically raised livestock, lower levels of cadmium, lower levels of pesticide residue. By consuming organic foods vs conventional you are lowering your toxin load and therefore lowering stress on the body. Anytime there is an opportunity to lower stress on the body, that should be seriously considered. 

 

Why Digestion is Important in Recovering from Trauma

 

Digestion is a north to south process.  It starts in the brain with the central nervous system. The brain smells the food and our mouth starts to water, producing saliva as our body gets ready to consume food. So the process begins before the food even touches our tongue. We need to be in a parasympathetic state with our nervous system, otherwise known as rest and digest. The entire digestive process is dependent on our nervous system being in a state of rest and digest, a state of calm. I recommend sitting down to eat in a calm environment and taking 5 deep belly breaths before you begin to eat. Stress depletes stomach acid so focusing on chewing is important for trauma survivors. If you experience heartburn, try taking one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar before each meal to help stimulate the stomach acid.  If your nervous system is still activated, you may not have much of an appetite.  The feeling of not having an appetite means that stress hormones are running the show and it can seem counterproductive to eat when you are activated.  If you are in that state and not sure what to do, choose the food. Your body still needs the fuel and though you may not digest it all it’s best to give it a try for the nutrients. 

 

The Importance of Blood Sugar Regulation and Trauma Recovery 

 

Blood sugar regulation can be helpful after experiencing trauma or major stress. When we experience a traumatic event or stress our body perceives the danger and releases stress hormones because it wants to protect you and give you the energy you need to protect yourself through your trauma. Keeping our blood sugar at what would look like a gently rolling hill versus large, steep spikes and drastic distance between the peaks and valleys is the goal in regulating blood sugar. We want to avoid spikes and the release of adrenaline and cortisol since our system was flooded with them during the trauma or chronic stress.  The large spikes are where the symptoms start to occur. We can strive for the gentle rolling hills with how we eat, how much we eat, when we eat.  There are things you can do to help bring your blood sugar back to balance. Eating protein, fat, and carbohydrate at each meal, going for slow gentle walks, or getting in gentle movement after eating for 10 minutes can help. Eating within an hour of waking up and eating every 3 or 4 hours can also help regulate blood sugar. After experiencing trauma, blood sugar regulation will help take the body out of fight or flight by preventing the release of adrenaline in a way that you can control. Trauma takes away many things that we cannot control but there are things within our control that we can focus on while healing. 

 

Why we Need Fatty Acids when Recovering from Trauma

 

Fats are critical to optimal health. When healing from trauma, the body requires a tremendous amount of energy and fuel. Fats are a source of slow burning energy, they provide protection for the organs, they help with satiety, and they make food taste good. Essential fatty acids are essential to the body because the body does not make them, we can only get them from the food that we eat. These are called omega 3 and omega 6’s. Essential fatty acids control the inflammatory response in the body through the making of prostaglandins and the prostaglandins can only be made with the essential fatty acids.  It is important to focus on the quality of fats as well as having a balance between the omega 3s and omega 6s. Omega 6s will come from nuts, seeds, eggs while Omega 3s will come from oily fish, grass fed beef, and walnuts. Steering clear of the heavily processed oils that you would not find in your ancient ancestors' kitchen like canola oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil. When healing from trauma, do not forget the fats. 

 

The Importance of Balancing Minerals when Recovering from Trauma

 

Minerals like magnesium are quickly depleted during times of stress.  Minerals act as cofactors for enzymes.  Minerals are required for contracting and relaxing the muscles. Minerals facilitate the transfer of nutrients across cell membranes.  Minerals regulate tissue growth; they maintain proper nerve conduction. When it comes to minerals, balance is important.  You do not want to focus on just one mineral, they all work together.  When recovering from trauma or stress I would start by adding a pinch of high-quality sea salt to 8 ounces of water.  Magnesium lotion can be helpful in the evening.  Raw milk from a quality source can be an incredible source of minerals including calcium.  Raw milk is also nutrient dense, including fat, carbohydrate, and protein.  Almost everyone gets enough calcium but there are usually missing cofactors that allow for the body to absorb and use it. If you can get outside and soak up the sunshine for 20-30 minutes a day (depending on the season) this will help with absorption.  Focusing on stomach acid is also important for the absorption of calcium as we discussed under digestion.  Nettle leaf tea is a great addition to a daily routine as it has a lot of helpful minerals.  

 

Why Hydration is Important in Recovering from Trauma

 

Many people live in a state of chronic dehydration. Water transports nutrients, it regulates body temperature, helps to flush toxins, enables the digestive process, empowers the body’s natural healing process, and so much more!  Remember to stay hydrated when recovering from trauma.  You can start your mornings with a glass of water, and a pinch of sea salt. Drink water when you have a sensation of thirst. Keep an eye on your urine color. Light yellow or straw colored is good hydration.  Hydration is necessary internally but it can also be incredibly healing externally.  Being in, on, or around water is calming and grounding for our nervous system.  Regular baths or visits to areas around you with water like waterfalls, oceans, rivers, and lakes can be incredibly helpful in your healing journey. 

 

In conclusion, the foundations that nutritional therapy provides can help you with your recovery from trauma or chronic stress.  Please do not hesitate to ask for help. It is ok to ask for help and support.  

 

 

In memory of my beloved Bruiser

March 2007- March 2023 

My little Bruiser, you were my greatest love, my bestest friend, my most loyal companion, and now you are my greatest healer. I will never forget you, thank you, I love you.

 

REFERENCES

 

Mayo Clinic. (2022). Organic Foods: Are they Safer? More Nutritious?. Retrieved from  https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/organic-food/art-20043880

 

(Nutritional Therapy Association, 2019). Student Welcome Guide. Retrieved from: https://nutritionaltherapy.instructure.com/courses/247/pages/class-resources?module_item_id=20706

 

Psychotherapy Networker (2014). VIDEO: When is It Trauma? Bessel van der Kolk Explains Is Your Client Traumatized? For the Answer, Look to the Body. Retrieved from https://www.psychotherapynetworker.org/post/video-when-it-trauma-bessel-van-der-kolk-explains#:~:text=As%20van%20der%20Kolk%20notes,and%20fear%20living%20inside%20people.%E2%80%9D

 

Pictures: 

 

#1 personal picture of Megan and Bruiser, the beloved nervous system regulating dog that inspired my healing

 

#2 picture from @betheobserver .  Retrieved from https://www.pexels.com/photo/beach-cliff-coast-beach-break-ocean-water-8795023/

#3 picture from @betheobserver. Retrieved from https://www.pexels.com/photo/dog-dogs-sleeping-puppy-8795181/

The Misunderstanding of Megan the H.S.P.

 All of my life I have felt misunderstood, unheard, unseen from everyone. I quite literally have felt like an alien. Years ago, I was really upset that someone didn't get me and I was venting to a friend and she said, "Megan, not everyone is like you.  They don't think like you or get things like you. You're really different".  That gave me comfort, oddly. For a brief moment I took those words to heart and saw a different perspective. But I still felt like an alien in the grand scheme of beings. It's been an ongoing discussion with myself, in my head.  Loved ones telling me I "need" this or "should go do" this to feel better or for anything. Those statements or suggestions cut the deepest because it was so obvious that I was not being understood. 

All of my life I have been over- understanding of others. I remember things they say that others forget. I have gone out of my way to make others feel heard, seen, and understood. I thought that everyone was born with this way of behaving. Even further, I know things. I know when people are lying.  I know when I'm being duped. I grasp things quickly that others do not.  I just see things differently and it various ways. Granted, I have not always listened to myself but I can go back and remember that voice in my head saying, "this person is no good, they are going to do you harm" and I would learn the hard way. I feel things so deeply. I understand the word "empath" is really overused these days and I stopped using it because many just don't get it. But I feel things on such a deep level and they exhaust me.  I feel others emotions, their pain, I understand them probably more than they understand themselves.  I get it. And I really thought that we were all born this way and that other people would get me so deeply the way that I get them.  But they never did and it always broke, breaks my heart. 

I felt like my dog, Bruiser got me. He just got me. He knew what I needed and when. Losing him has been the most deeply painful experience of my existence. Because he got me. He knew my love language.  It was almost as if God knew all of the things that I would be going through and he sent me Bruiser to help me.  And he did.  Even his death he is helping me now. Six months has felt like an eternity. It has also felt like an ayahuasca trip that I did not sign up for. I have been cracked wide open and I have felt things I never knew possible. It's incredible how 15 pounds of fur and unconditional love made me feel so safe and grounded and understood. My little Bruiser, my greatest love, my bestest friend, my most loyal companion, now you are my greatest healer.

My partner Angelo may not always get me but he showed up for me and loved me in the exact way that I needed to process grief. He didn't try to change or fix or rush anything. He holds me and lets cry and doesn't let go until I am finished, rinse and repeat......many, many times. I never knew how powerful letting me in my feelings would feel. I have been very lucky to have him in my life.

As I was scrolling through streaming services to find something light that will help me relax before bed, I stumbled across a documentary, Sensitive the Untold Story . I was in awe the whole time watching it. I stopped feeling like an alien. Interestingly enough I always felt drawn to Alanis Morrissette. I loved her music. Her song, All I Really Want, felt like it was written for me, like she understood me and wrote a song for me. Alanis was featured in this movie as an HSP, a Highly Sensitive Person. I have heard the term before no doubt. I feel like the word "empath", the term sensitive person is also over used so I didn't pay too much attention to it. However, highly sensitive people are actually a thing. Psychologist Dr. Elaine Aron did extensive research as she became aware of her own gifts. There ARE others similar to me and others that GET it. Granted, I haven't met them (or maybe I have met some?) and we don't meet monthly for support groups but still.....I'm not an alien. What a powerful revelation that has brought me some peace and much less frustration with.............................so many people. 😬 It would have been really helpful and powerful for me to understand all of this when I was in high school but I suppose the lessons are what is important. It makes a huge difference in my life to learn this at the young age of 42, one less thing to contemplate over.

You Need Acid....in your Stomach

 This is not medical advice. This was one of the most mind blowing things that I have learned in Nutritional Therapy School. We learn the physiology of the body, how it should function, and how dysfunction can occur, and how to support the body with foundations so that it can come back to a state of homeostasis or balance. HEARTBURN.  Have you had it?  Do you have it a lot? I used to get it often and I would eat tums or Rolaids. I even went to a doctor and he stuck his finger up my booty which after learning some more stuff I think that was an actual violation. I digress. I did the Pepcid stuff. I had one doc give me Prilosec.  I’m glad I didn’t get into the habit of taking those things because they actually deplete our body of nutrients which then causes other issues. You NEED stomach acid. Heartburn happens because you are consuming food in a stressed out state. Eating too fast, eating while driving, eating while running around the house, eating while reading emails, eating while scrolling the phone or watching cartoons…I could go on because there are so many stressors. 

The sympathetic (stressed) state and acid-lowering drugs such as Pepcid effectively "shuts down" stomach acid production. Because of this, foods do not get digested in the stomach and do not move on to the next stage of digestion efficiently. Instead, the chyme starts to rot in the stomach and cause gas and bloating to build up, as well as bacteria, yeasts, and fungi are not killed off, so pathogens can enter the rest of the digestive system. The bloating pushes up on the LES aka lower esophageal sphincter and weakens its closure. The chyme is not acidic enough to prompt the pyloric sphincter to open to move on to the duodenum as needed, but is too acidic for the sensitive lining of the esophagus, so it causes irritation/heartburn if it eventually pushes up through the LES. Your stomach acid is what kills pathogens on food that you consume (they exist everywhere). 

What can you do?  Digestion starts in the brain, you have to be in a relaxed state for proper digestion.  Cooking, smelling the food, preparing food are all things that start to signal to your brain that food is coming. Sit down to eat.  Take a few deep breaths, turn off the distractions, and enjoy your food. Chew it several times, until it is mush. Your stomach doesn’t have teeth, your teeth are part of the digestive process. Give a little gratitude for the food, too.  

Acid blockers not only mask the symptom of heartburn.  (Heartburn is a symptom and symptoms are how the body talks to you to let you know change is needed. It is a subtle way that the body talks to you whereas major dis-ease are screams. ) Acid blockers also deplete the body of essential nutrients  like b7 and b9 (folate), calcium, chromium, iron, coQ10, as well as depleting the body of beneficial bacteria,  which will then create other symptoms down the road.  

If you’re not taking acid blockers and experiencing heartburn, your digestive system is more than likely not absorbing the nutrients in the food that you are eating which in turn creates more stress in the body, and also you’re missing out on the nutrients that you consumed which your body needs to function optimally in order to prevent dis- ease. 

Sit down, relax, chew your food until it’s applesauce consistency, and fuel your body because your body is a magical vessel that can detox, heal, prevent all on its own just by supporting it in the way it needs. No detoxes needed.  Thank god for never having to do another juice cleanse or other miserable cleanse. 

Root cause nutrition helps to solve the problem. Eliminating trigger foods offers temporary relief and doesn't fix the root cause. When you reintroduce those foods again, you will have symptoms. Symptoms are your body talking to you, letting you know change is needed. Letting you know there is dysfunction.

I'll be taking clients in early 2024!

📷 by @7AVMedia 

Sour Caroline

Sour Caroline, bum bum bum. This one is negative folks, I gotta vent. Life is not all hippy dippy happy happy joy joy. The negative stuff matters, too. 

It feels like I have been in a negative vortex since the moronic, self- serving elitist government douche canoes shut us down for a man made virus. Miami wasn't great. I am not a city girl, not at all, not even a little bit. But I am a water girl and the ocean and the sand provided me with balance and helped ground me.  The lockdowns sparked my fear flame and ignited my government created PTS. With not many options and not knowing what the jackwagons were planning I pushed for us to move to the Lake Norman area sight (and sound) unseen (and unheard).  We moved into a disgusting and moldy apartment. Maybe there was some other stuff going on, too like radon?  I don't know it was awful. 

Shortly after we moved here we took our paddle boards out for a paddle on Lake Norman. It felt so weird to me, the water loving, self proclaimed mermaid. We paddled out and hung around on the board. Angelo jumped in and swam around which is exactly what I usually do in bodies of water. But I froze. I couldn't do it. Something did not feel right. I listened to my body and stayed dry but also very bummed. Long story short...Lake Norman has some creepy history first of all.  Second of all it's toxic A.F. surrounded by coal ash but I didn't realize that until we moved out of the moldy apartment in a rush (literally like a day) to this other apartment in Mooresville aka Race City aka Cancer Cluster.  I learned about the toxic coal ash and the water and the cancer clusters. Damn it. 

I was so focused on mold when I checked this place out I didn't hear the constant humming of 77.  Our windows face 77 and a little drive that leads into a private business, that people with modified, loud vehicles use it as a drag strip when I'm trying to sleep.  Apparently Fast and Furious is still cool and people like to drive like that are in it while  disturbing the peace.  It's awful for my nervous system, being startled regularly.  I need peace and quiet!  It has been negative after negative here in this cesspool of man made toxicity and I am desperate to move us out! The energy feels heavy and overwhelming for this sensitive empath. I have no energy, it's the weirdest thing. After desperately asking my acupuncturist what's wrong with me she asked a few questions about where I live.  Turns out that in Feng Shui, living near a highway, hospital, cemetery, cell tower are all negative things and give off negative energy and we are surrounded by them here in this energy vortex of an apartment here in Race City aka Cancer Cluster. 

I want to move. I want a house with a yard, I want roots so bad. I want us to settle down somewhere.  Alas we are renting because the housing prices are ridiculous. I am not paying $300,000 for a 2 bed, 1 bath, no garage, .25 of an acre built in 1955 with no upgrades.  Get out of here. So we are forced to pay $2,000 + for an apartment (which is almost as bad but without the commitment) because the apartment management companies know that they can charge an arm and leg.  It sucks so bad. I feel so ungrounded it is distracting me from other things like living and happiness.  With very little options I am choosing to surrender and trust in the universe to lead the way.  Trying to Believe, Love, Understand, Empower.....trying real hard. 

Good Grief

 On March 12th we helped our dear sweet Bruiser cross the rainbow bridge just a few days shy of his sweet 16th birthday.  It was and is the hardest thing I have ever done or experienced, hands down. 

Just a couple of days prior I ended up in the emergency room.  I woke up from a sleep with a high heart rate, panic, dizziness, heavy chest. Luckily (?) I live across the street from the emergency room so it was a short drive that my partner made for me while Bruiser was sleeping.  Allopathic medicine is like an abusive ex boyfriend. It does nothing for me and when I'm vulnerable and desperate I get sucked in. That experience will be another post. 

Being the worrier that I am, I have been anticipating losing B for years but nothing can prepare you for such a loss. When we took a trip over the holidays to see family in the north, B had a seizure. It was horrific and I didn't think we would be bringing him home. I said my goodbyes on the drive to the Vet ER in NY as I held him. That whole time I showed no emotion. I was so focused on keeping Bruisey calm and feeling loved that I shut my emotions down quite easily. He came home with us and I rarely left his side for the next few months. We made trips to the vet, I researched and tried hail marys and I loved on him so much. And I jumped up when he needed rescued or helped from falling or not being able to get up. He became my sole purpose and focus. I wanted him to know how much I loved and appreciated him.  

Looking back on the last few months I recognize that I was pre-grieving or had anticipatory grief. That is a thing! I have all of this book knowledge and wisdom with regards to the nervous system and the mind body connection. But, all of my experience have been with working through past grief, stress, and trauma. Why is that? Well because with all previous traumatic, stressful, grieving events, I shut down or pushed through. I dismissed my experiences because I thought that's what I should do. I held back tears as much as I could, I put on a happy face, I faked it. I was told to let go, move on, don't focus on the negative, be positive, think positive thoughts and when I talked about the "stuff", the feelings that I was feeling I was dismissed and invalidated.  I didn't know it then but looking back and going through this I recognize it quite clearly. What happens when we're not able to process our feelings and negative experiences? Our body remembers and it stores it for later because it needs to be processed eventually.   And that's what I have been working on....processing past traumas, body work that releases that energy, and the like. But this experience is brand new. 

I have never experienced anything like this loss, this pain , this sadness in losing my soul dog. Bruiser was there for me through trauma, through negative, he was there for me when I wanted to end my life, he literally woke me up from night terrors, licked away my tears, and when everyone else dismissed me or wasn't able to show up for me in the way that I needed (which is fine, I don't blame anyone.) he was there. He was there when I was awake all night scared and angry. He knew my love language. He grounded me. And that's why pets are so special, that's why they can be service animals, the unconditional love, constant friendship and loyalty.....it's just so precious and their lives are too short. 

I'm learning so much with this new experience in grief. My partner did something that I never knew I needed before until it happened. I started crying and Angelo came right over to me and he held me.  He let me be sad. He didn't tell me it was ok or will be ok because he knew it wouldn't be, it wasn't. He has done that for me each time that I break down in tears. And the tears come in waves and they come unexpectedly and he drops what he is doing and he holds me, he hugs me, he lets me be. The first time he did it, I thought to myself as I was balling my eyes out, "oh, wow. This is helpful. I don't have to tense up or choke back my tears. I can let the snot run and the tears flow and he doesn't let go. He doesn't let go until I am done processing that cry. I feel safe. I feel seen. I feel heard. "  And I realized that when I feel held and supported and validated I can process emotions in real time. I can move that energy and not hold onto it for years and years. That is so powerful and incredible. 

I'll be here sharing this experience in grieving and processing. I feel compelled to share, to start writing again. 

Rest in peace my dear sweet Bruiser. I miss you so much it literally hurts.