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Monthly Archives: January 2019

How to Live an Organic Lifestyle on a Low Budget | Saving & Budget

Living a Natural Lifestyle On a BudgetMany people say that being healthy or having an organic lifestyle is expensive, or use money as a decision maker for things related to their health and can miss out from all of the benefits that lving a healthy and organic lifestyle can bring. I get it, we have budgets, we have obligations, and we have a limited supply of money at our disposal….or so we think. Being an entrepreneur my entire life has taught me that having the money or not having money all comes down to a mindset. If you think that you have a limited supply of riches to use then guess what the universe says supply and demand leave you tight, crunched, and stressed clinging on to every penny in your bank account for dear life. I have not always been financially free. In fact, there were days that I was fearful of where and when the other shoe would drop. See, I married young at the ripe age of 16 years old to a sweet, but not incredibly motivated hippie who enjoyed the taste of Bud Light more than water. I had stars in my eyes and naivety in my heart thinking that I could be a great parent with an alcoholic, as a savior and a happy codependent. Why not? What could go wrong we all need love right. Well, Dominion Power also requires payment every month on time. Alas, every day I woke up and told myself if I could continue to live this way then I would continue, piecing things together, being the model parent for my little two years old and trying not to get in my husband’s way. He was never mean just not incredibly lovely or pleasant to me when he drunk. I guess he was a little mean. I love him and am grateful to have a daughter with him. She is indeed a beautiful young girl, yet the responsibility of caring for her in a healthy environment drove me to leave her father and to move back home to California, one of the most expensive places to live in the country.

With no child support, working on a divorce, and caring for a toddler by myself while also caring for the burning desire of becoming a doctor I forged ahead to create a life for myself. So when I say I get it, I mean it. It wasn’t pretty. I worked three jobs, I painfully took public assistance of food when I ran out of money to feed her, I could not depend on anyone to help me and not leave me disappointed and often felt on my own to take control of my life. This was, in fact, such a blessing, because then I discovered how powerful that I really am in my ability to create an experience I love. I knew three things; I wanted to be a doctor, I wanted to work for myself, and I wanted to be a good mother. I was determined. I made sacrifices. I worked round the clock. I sent my daughter to excellent preschools. I went to school. I paid a mortgage payment in nannies and aftercare. I was unrelenting. I used my money to feed my daughter healthy foods because I recognized it was a choice. Sure, I could have saved money by buying boxed Mac and cheese, but I knew the damaging effects of processed foods and prefered the organic lifestlye. I wasn’t raised that way. I was raised with an understanding of whole foods as a vegetarian (and not a pizza and pasta vegetarian).

I didn’t have a budget, because I had no money. No matter what you divide zero by it still makes zero, so what was the point. Count my pennies obsessively. Freak myself about where the next dollar would come from or worse think that all the money I was making was a result of me and only me. Spirit carried me through, G-D created miracles for me that I couldn’t even imagine. Against all the odds, he opened doors, and he showed me the way. I trusted in him immensely mostly because I couldn’t trust anyone else. I didn’t have anyone else I could depend on, because so many people had failed me. Without my faith and my relationship with our creator, I would not be who and where I am today and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Living a natural lifestyle on a budget II 

We talked about mindset, health is a mindset. It is a mindset that you prioritize. Not everything can ever be all done at once. You won’t just magically wake up with your bank account filled or living in your dream house. It requires focus, dedication, and intention. I intended to not settle for anything less than health in my life. I was only willing to invest in my health and not subsidize my illness. That meant clothing shopping at thrift stores in order to go to organic stores. That meant spending money on chiropractors and holistic practitioners over waiting until I got sick. That meant not running to the doctors every time I got sick but rather learning however to heal myself using natural remedies. I was fortunate to be raised more naturally, and having an understanding and importance of health and an organic lifestyle at an early age. I am grateful of this experience and use lots of practical education to help my patients transform their lives.

So once I made up my mind that regardless of any outside circumstances I was going to live a healthy and organic lifestyle, I let it go and gave it to G-D for further guidance. Practically speaking, I prioritized the things I purchased. Things like food, supplements came well above new clothes, etc. I opted to walk local places rather than driving my car all of the time to conserve gas. I took my daughter to play dates, and park trips for entertainment as well as looked for many free to no cost things we could do because I privatized many of those dollars to her education and after school nanny. I got referrals for after school nannies from people I knew well and negotiated flat fees up front. I would supplement my gratitude by giving them gift cards at the local spa I worked at when I could to say thank you. Being grateful goes a long way when others are helping you. I consolidated, and instead of renting an apartment I rented a large master bedroom with master bath with groups of women, that way I could save on rent because again my childcare expense was literally a mortgage payment. I did not depend on any financial support from the government as I made too much money to their standards, my ex was still (and is still) getting his life together so could not consistently pay any child support. So, it literally was just me and G-D, taking it step by step. That is how I lived my life, in order to not succumb to my friend overwhelm which whom would show up anytime I would want to pull the victim card. I acknowledge my fortitude, my dedication, and calculated tenacity. Some of your reading this choose not to make the sacrifices necessary in order to get to where you want to go. Some of you are already coming up with excuses in your head and mentally tell me that I couldn’t possibly understand the position you are in, and in a lot of ways you are right. I am not there with you. I don’t know your situation or circumstances or the product of your choices at this point in your life. All I know is that there is life on the other side of the victimhood. There is life on the other side of the chaos. There is a peace and a calm that you could only dream about and it is possible for you to create the life of your dreams with all the organic food you could imagine…. as I now learn to grow my own hydroponic produce to again reduce costs and have further quality control over my food.

Recognize that your food is your medicine and living an organic lifestyle doesn’t have to be expensive. What you have in your fridge and in your home to eat can hurt or harm you. Choose health over bottom lines, take a leap of faith and surrender your life over to a source larger than yourself because he can help you. I am not speaking religiously, I am speaking spiritually. Walk with him, rest in him, and he will help show you the way. He did me, and I am eternally grateful for his messages and his calling to see me through eh darkest of times. I can help you show the way if you are stuck, and help you get back on track when it comes to living a healthy and organic lifestyle. I’m just a phone call away.

*All information contained in this blog post is intended for informational and educational purposes only, and is neither intended nor suited to be a replacement or substitute for professional medical treatment nor for professional medical advice relative to a specific medical question or condition.

A Busy Moms Guide | How to be a Healthy Mom in 2020

A Busy Moms Guide to Scheduling a Healthy Life

I get it. You’re exhausted, worn down, and probably reading this by phone light in bed in an effort of 5 mins of peace before bed, in the bathroom, or during one of your recreational hobby times of googling your symptoms. As moms, we juggle a ton, from schedules to appointments, to dinners, to grocery shopping, and cuddle times. Moms are like the grand central station of the home with everyone coming and going and needing something or other from them. It is important in this process that we support our own health in the process of running errands, parenting, and making demands. It is easy to forget the most important person in the process. In case you are wondering the most important person, is you?

Many parents come to my office with the best of intentions. There son or daughter is having some challenges, and they are at their wits end with the whole thing. So they seek a professional to help support them through the process of healing their son or daughters health issues. As a good holistic doctor and medical detective, I often uncover unhealthy behaviors being passed down, as well as many intuitive children feeding off the primary parents,  range of stressful emotions. When I speak with the parent about the idea of them treated as well in the process they shake it off and say, no Sally or Johnny first. Meaning their children before themselves. I think this is counterintuitive to the process of healing. I get that Mom and Dad may be on a fixed budget or Mom may be the only one supporting the babies, which is all the more reason for mom to ensure she is healthy that way she is able to show the babies what it means to be healthy.

Intuitive children these days without mention match and mirror the behaviors of the primary parent. So if the primary parent neglects themselves, doesn’t take breaks, rest, or supports themselves and their healthy baby will also do the same. In fact, between 0-8 years old the subconscious mind develops. This is where unconscious thought forms are most at play. Let’s pretend for a moment that Little Johnny (or Sally) sees Mom working no stop 10-12 hour days both at home and at work. She comes home and even exhausted still pushes herself to keep the house clean, do laundry, etc. instead of recruiting the entire family to help or minimizing the number of things in the home to make it easier to clean. This cycle goes on a one, and Little Sally (or Johnny) never sees. Mom sit down, take a break, or even relax. In fact, Mom is pretty high strung, stressed out, doesn’t sleep well, tends to be irritable at times with a short fuse, very reactive even at the slightest measure. This is a product of Mom not prioritizing herself and putting herself first. I get it, busy mom, you are last not the schedule. I get it, so much to do, so little time. I get it if you only knew this or that.

Let me tell you something, what needs to come first is You, no one else or nothing else. No dish, no pile of laundry, no soccer game. You need to love You as I love you, which means you need to show up for you. If that means you tell the kiddos that they are going to free play for 15 mins while you go in the other room in meditate, or you prepare little breakfast snack bags for them to help themselves before you come downstairs in the morning you need to work your life around you and your needs. Trust me the kids will confirm, especially if you tell them that if they disturb you in your meditation, then they will immediately go to nap time. I guarantee you won’t hear from them for a while. Kids must learn to take care of themselves, comfort themselves, Dan smooth themselves. When my daughter was little an older and wiser couple advised my ex-husband, and I do not only let her soothe herself but also taught us not to be super quiet every time she slept. So now my 14 years old literally could sleep through a freight train. This is an example of me being a busy mom, working many hours and not wanting to creep around my house like a cat burglar. I think at times we are almost afraid of our children in the sense that we have been taught by our parents to give selflessly, relentlessly, and without a boundary; as a result, we have created some pretty entitled kids thinking that the world revolves around them, sound familiar?

A busy moms guide to scheduling a healthy life II

I am not saying that there is not a balance between your needs and there’s but what I am saying is that you need to find the balance before the lack of balance finds you, because it will and it probably already has – co-sleeping at 15 years old. I’m not passing judgment anywhere if you are happy with how you have raised your child I applaud you, but ultimately it needs to work FOR YOU not against you. If it is not working for you changes need to be made to create better balance; otherwise, you will constantly be catching your breath instead of flourishing. Before we go here are a few tips on how to be a healthy mom and manage your busy schedule:

  1. Make time for you – even if it is 15 mins trapped in the bathroom. Make sure you have some dedicated time every day just for you
  2. Get on a schedule – Children love routine it helps them feel safe and builds discipline
  3. Learn to teach your children how to be autonomous – I loved Montessori for this as it taught my daughter how to pour her own drinks, get her own snacks, and be independent. Teach them how to meet their own needs, so you are not turning into the household butler.
  4. Do something to help your stress level. Whether that is yoga, Pilates, cycling, or the gym. Make sure you take time to relax and relieve your stress.
  5. Don’t jump at every whim. Every cry, every yell, every scream, every demand is not the bat signal. You can let them cry it out (yes I said it). Our children train us if we run and jump at every cry they will learn they are in charge. If we pause, allow them to breathe and then approach calming to ask what is wrong then it gets them thinking—- how do I handle this if she is not here
  6. It’s okay to let them fail. If they don’t get everything right on the test or are picked for every sports team, its okay. Also if they make choices and the cause and effect scenario doesn’t always work in their favor its okay. They will be okay. Failure is a part of life and the more they learn about resilience, the better equipped they will be to handle life.
  7. Allow them to be who they are, try not to force a round peg in a square hole. It’s truly okay if they are different and if they zig instead of zag. The world needs more leaders, outliers, and those that are able to teach the world some big stuff.
  8. Grocery shop online and pickup, then prep veggies with the kids in front of the TV. This one is my fav. Online grocery shopping is such a time saver- I love it. Just click pick up. Some even deliver. Then on the coffee table (yes I said coffee table) put a big chopping board and chop veggies and then have the kiddos bag them for you. I weigh broccoli crowns into neat 2-4 oz servings for easy grab and go or grab and steam action. This can be done with fruit, veggies, nuts, just about anything and everything. I love it. It teaches them how to be healthy, the importance of meal prep, and is a HUGE time saver come dinner time. WIN WIN WIN!
  9. Relax, you’re not perfect. It’s okay, you’re good, they are good., Some days they will be crying, some days you will be crying, some days everyone will be crying. Other days there will be yelling, and so on and so forth. Teach your children how do handle emotions, and care for your own emotions even if that means you need to put yourself in time out.

Parenting is tough. The 1940s wife who stayed at home with her full-time housewife role in a lot of ways had her wits about her. The superwomen to whom we have become today are nothing short of walking miracles, and I encourage you all to pat yourselves on the back to be managing two full time plus jobs. It truly is awesome for you to keep the dream alive. Just remember in the whole process, don’t lose yourself, remember to be kind and to love yourself like I love you and even more. Everything you need to get done will get done in the perfect timing, just breath. Now that you know how to be a healthy mom in 2020 while managing your busy schedule go out their, make a plan, and remember to give yourself a breather.

*All information contained in this blog post is intended for informational and educational purposes only, and is neither intended nor suited to be a replacement or substitute for professional medical treatment nor for professional medical advice relative to a specific medical question or condition.

Why are More Families Choosing Holistic & Alternative Medicine in 2020?

Why Are More and More Families Choosing Holistic Medicine

We did it! We made it to 2019! How exciting. If you are anything like me, the end of the year is a great time for reflection of the previous year and what went well, what went wrong, and what totally failed. Sometimes my goals were lofty, but sometimes my intentions were not grand enough. Either way, I love the feeling that I get from a new year. It almost reminds me of a nice shower after a workout in the gym or a new outfit on the first day of school. The new year signifies a time of transition and great change. Holistic medicine is no different. That is one of the reasons I love about healthcare. It is always changing, progressing and shifting, good or bad. Most recently I began watching the Resident on Hulu, a doctor show of course! I secretly love all doctor shows, and watch them on my downtime as a means of relaxation.. haha!

This show is pretty interesting as it explores the various aspects of healthcare regarding a lack of patient care combined with doctors with unscrupulous billing practices. Thankfully, there are “the good guys” in healthcare played by the lead character Conrad Hawkins and his on and off again ex-girlfriend nurse Nic. He is very much a rebel in the hospital working to set people straight with his own rules of patient care. I often reflect how this pertains to my practice. I see many similarities in fact. Many of you know that I am a mother and I have been one for the last 14 years. There is not anything I wouldn’t do for my 14-year-old daughter especially for her health, yet the more I began to learn and complete my training the more I saw a huge gap in patient care for families from a holistic perspective. Many families would love to offer their children healthier alternatives to conventional practices, such as holistic medicine yet don’t necessarily know what to do and are often afraid to step outside of the box in treating them. Sure, Google has its perks, but these are your children we are talking about.

Alas, when I got pregnant, I was a proud vegetarian. I ate lots of veggies during pregnancy, yet was unaware of my severe anemia which led me to eat beef (even though I did not want to, pregnancy cravings are intense) Little did myself, or my awesome OBGYN, know what nutritional supplementation I could have used to balance not only my anemia but prevent any other host of complications. My OBGYN was terrific as an allopathic doctor but was unaware of holistic medicine to guide me along in the process of my desire to have a natural pregnancy as well as delivery. I felt all alone, by myself and even come delivery time was often mocked by the nurses because I showed up with my birthing ball and essential oils (this was well before this was a thing). Alas, I perceived without Doula, Midwife, or any other support person I could have used to walk myself through the process of natural birth. Sadly, my daughter ended up being born via C-section as I was told the cord was wrapped around her neck, and I had stopped dilating at 9.5 cm (who knows if this was accurate, but later realized that my pause in dilation was a natural resting period. My daughter was not provided any of my bacteria from my vagina to help support her immune system and was immediately taken away, which later created difficulty in breastfeeding. I tell you all of this to explain that had I would have been more educated on my options, or was aware of what I could do that was more in alignment with my lifestyle I would have gladly obliged, but my allopath had no experience in that type of practice. In fact, if mentioned she may even suggest that there was no scientific basis for any of the methods mentioned.

Proudly at 14, my daughter has never been vaccinated, nor has she ever taken an over the counter drug. She has only used homeopaths, and if she gets sick, she often rests, drinks tea, and knows how to care for her own health better than many adults. Once I took her to an allopathic doctor for a check-up around the time she was coming of age, just to see what perspective I would gain from them if any (a girl can hope right). They asked multiple times if she was sick, to which repeatedly I let them know she was not and we just wanted routine blood work to monitor her health. Perplexed, they obliged but only after my insistence. It was actually pretty comically. The mindset of only taking your child to the doctor if they are ill and never monitoring their health or teaching the child what it means to be healthy. I celebrate that in my practice. I often ask children questions about what it means to be healthy and encourage them to take ownership of their own health. I also educate parents on how to set healthy boundaries, how to not allow their children to walk all over them, and assist parents in breaking unhealthy parenting patterns that they developed from their parents. After all most children don’t come with owners manual if any, and this conscious group of kids coming out today is pretty incredible leaving many unaware parents perplexed, frustrated, and downright stressed out attempting to manage them. Combine that with work pressures, relationship pressures, in-law pressures, and more and many moms are just trying to go to the bathroom in peace let alone take on the world of parenting.

Why are more and more families choosing holistic medicine II

I like to think of my practice as a safe haven for parents seeking the option of raising their children on a natural path, helping them understand proactive health versions reactive health. I often find that parents have many questions that their other doctors either can’t answer, won’t answer, or will shame them for the asking. Is it safe for me to vaccinate MY child? What do I need to be feeding my son/daughter? What nutrition are they lacking from their diets? What can we do for their sleep, behavior, mood that does not involve medication? There are many questions that parents ask in an effort not to overmedicate their children. Surely there are moments to which their children may need medication, but we want that to be the last resort for many parents, and we want a comprehensive view of their health. Many child well visits have mainly be reduced to vaccination appointments, and if the family chooses not to vaccinate, they find there is very little need for the visit. We offer Homeoprophylaxis, which works to educate the immune system without the toxic substances found in many vaccines to date; however, that is not the main purpose of their visits. Sometimes we discuss their school, their friends, even how they feel about certain life events such as a divorce, death, or previous exposures to abuses. We provide the tools to build emotional health even before they become inundated with various stressors that can potentially have them spiraling out of control as adults. That is our goal really, to provide children with the tools to be fully functioning and self-actualized adults. We have the advantage now more than ever to equip our children with the necessary tools for living a healthy life, and I am very proud of creating a practice that I would want to take my children too, even equipped with a crowd favorite train table set, color books about health topics, and a host of various grade and age level books. Children often enjoy visiting our practice so much they request to come back and also don’t want to leave, which provides a great opportunity to flex some pretty precise parenting skills. It’s time to go, little Johnny.

Children that come to our practice begin to associate getting well with coming to our practice. This jogs a memory of a little gal I treated for behavioral symptoms which we had to remove medications with her psychiatrist and rework her entire neurological protocols in order to help her gain her health. Long story short, we got her all balanced, healthy, and back to normal after some intensive medication side effects and whenever she felt “off” would tell her Mom. “It’s time to go see Dr. Steele.” I’ve treated this little mama since she was 3 years old, she is now 9.

I am truly grateful to the parents that trust me, listen to me, and most importantly follow my directions whether their interest is to start a family, take care of the family they have, or just take care of themselves, we serve a very unique place in the healthcare space. The often underserved, underappreciated area of true holistic medicine. The are that builds health rather than fights disease. If you are interested in being one of the families that our practice supports in your holistic healthcare journey feel free to reach out to us to schedule an appointment. Typically, we charge one consult fee per family.

*All information contained in this blog post is intended for informational and educational purposes only, and is neither intended nor suited to be a replacement or substitute for professional medical treatment nor for professional medical advice relative to a specific medical question or condition.

Spring Detox II

SPRING DETOX II

 

3.0 Spring Detox II

 

March is Spring Detox. This class will focus on our 21 day detox program and how the changes of the seasons is a perfect time to detox and heal the body. We will answer questions relating to healthy detoxification practices and discover the various forms of detoxes including DOs and DONT’s to Detox the body naturally.

 

 

Class is from 5:30pm – 7:30pm 

Spring Cleanse: A Holistic Approach to Renewing Your Body

Spring Cleanse: A Holistic Approach to Renewing Your Body

As the winter months come to a close, many people start to think about spring cleaning their homes, but what about spring cleaning your body? A spring cleanse can be an excellent way to jump-start your health and wellness goals for the year. As a holistic doctor in family practice, I’ve seen firsthand the benefits of a spring cleanse. In this article, we’ll explore what a spring cleanse is, why it’s important, and how to do it safely and effectively.

What is a Spring Cleanse?
A spring cleanse is a short-term diet and lifestyle change designed to help your body eliminate toxins and reset your system. Toxins can come from a variety of sources, including processed foods, environmental pollutants, and stress. When your body is overwhelmed with toxins, it can lead to a variety of health issues, including fatigue, headaches, and digestive problems.

A spring cleanse typically involves eliminating certain foods and drinks from your diet and incorporating more whole, nutrient-dense foods. It may also include other detoxifying practices, such as dry brushing, saunas, or lymphatic massage.

Why is a Spring Cleanse Important?
A spring cleanse can provide a variety of benefits for your body, including:

Boosting your immune system
Increasing your energy levels
Improving your digestion
Clearing up your skin
Enhancing mental clarity and focus

In addition to these physical benefits, a spring cleanse can also help you feel more motivated and empowered to make positive changes in your life. By taking control of your health and well-being, you can set yourself up for a healthier, happier future.

How to Do a Spring Cleanse Safely and Effectively
Before starting a spring cleanse, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider to ensure that it’s safe for you. This is especially important if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking any medications.

Once you’ve received the green light from your doctor, it’s time to start planning your cleanse. Here are some tips for doing a spring cleanse safely and effectively:

1. Start with a Plan
Before starting your cleanse, create a plan that outlines what you’ll be eating and drinking during the cleanse. This will help you stay on track and avoid temptation.

2. Eliminate Processed Foods and Sugars
During your cleanse, eliminate processed foods, sugary drinks, and other sources of refined sugars. Focus on eating whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

3. Drink Plenty of Water
Staying hydrated is important during any cleanse. Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water a day, and consider adding lemon or cucumber slices for added flavor.

4. Incorporate Detoxifying Foods and Drinks
There are a variety of foods and drinks that can help support your body’s natural detoxification process, including:

Green tea
Dandelion root tea
Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and cauliflower
Leafy greens, such as kale and spinach
Berries, such as blueberries and raspberries
5. Take Time for Self-Care
During your cleanse, it’s important to take time for self-care. This can include things like meditation, yoga, or gentle exercise.

6. Ease Back into Your Regular Diet
After your cleanse is over, it’s important to ease back into your regular diet slowly. Start by adding in one food group at a time and pay attention to how your body responds.

Conclusion
A spring cleanse can be an excellent way to kick-start your health and wellness goals for the year. By eliminating toxins and nourishing your body with nutrient-dense foods, you can renew your energy, improve your digestion, and boost your immune system. Remember to always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new diet or lifestyle changes, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking medications.

If you’re looking for a safe and effective way to do a spring cleanse, a holistic doctor in family practice can help guide you through the process. By taking a holistic approach to your health, you can optimize your body’s natural healing abilities and set yourself up for a healthier, happier life.

FAQs
How long should a spring cleanse last?
A spring cleanse can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on your goals and preferences. It’s important to listen to your body and not push yourself too hard.

Can I still exercise during a spring cleanse?
Yes, gentle exercise is encouraged during a spring cleanse, as long as you listen to your body and don’t overdo it.

Will I experience any side effects during a spring cleanse?
Some people may experience mild side effects, such as headaches, fatigue, or digestive upset, during a cleanse. These symptoms typically go away on their own within a few days.

Do I need to take supplements during a spring cleanse?
Supplements are not necessary during a cleanse, however if you want to do a deeper cleanse it is best to have your labs drawn and reviewed to create and build a safe detox program.

Can I do a cleanse if I have a medical condition?
It’s important to consult with a healthcare provider before starting a spring cleanse, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking medications.

If you are looking for a custom detox program check out our 21 Day Detox program.