Indigestion by Esther Hawkins

I’ve just experienced the three most frustrating days (and very long nights) that I can remember and I have a feeling it’s not over yet. The reason, you may be wondering is that my beautiful yet constantly fussy 10 month old is teething. It’s not fun, especially as I’ve decided not to give her infant Tylenol. Call me crazy but all all the research I’ve looked into links Tylenol to digest disorders, mainly liver failure. I absolutely believe that digestive disorders are the root cause of most health problems today and so I’d rather face a few sleepless nights than take the risks associated with infant medications. I have a few natural remedies I use to ease her distress but it seems that cuddles are the best comfort.

I am fully convinced that one of the best ways that we can take care of our health and to avoid visits to the doctor is by taking care of our digestive system. Studies conducted by the Methodist Hospital of Houston, Texas* revealed the following information:

· 60 – 70 million people are affected by digestive disorders annually
· 13% of all hospitalizations are for digestive disorders
· Digestive disorders account for 50 million physician office visits per year.
· Digestive disorders cost $107 billion in direct medical costs and indirect costs each year
Here are some things you can do:
· Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables; the enzymes in fresh food help your body digest food well
· Avoid drinking liquids with your meals (especially iced drinks) – they dilute the acid needed to digest the food. Drink 20 minutes before or after a meal.
· Listen to your body - stop eating when you are full so that your body is not overwhelmed trying to digest too much food at once.
· Don’t eat in the evening – eat your biggest meal in the morning and reduce quantities as the day goes on. You’ll be amazed how much more energy you have.

And finally, if you do suffer from indigestion or heart burn, the absolute worst thing you can do is take an antacid. Yeah, I know you’re probably looking at me funny, but just hear me out for a minute. The reason your body is producing so much extra acid is that it doesn’t have enough in the first place to effectively digest all the food you’re eating (our bodies naturally produce less stomach acid around the age of 30 as we don’t require as much food). To overcome the problem that you have all this food to digest but not enough enzymes or acid to do it, your body overproduces hydrochloric acid so that you don’t end up with rotting, decaying food in your stomach. When you take an antacid to neutralize that acid, you may get temporary relief, but your body’s natural response is to produce even more acid. It sounds like a vicious cycle doesn’t it? Well, ask anyone who takes an antacid and you probably won’t find anyone who found a long term solution but is stuck taking them with just about every meal.

To find relief from indigestion take a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar. Don’t believe me? Just try it. Hey, if I’m wrong, at least you won’t go into a coma! Seriously though, I’ve done it and it works instantaneously. It’s pretty strong so if you don’t like the taste, just mix it with a little honey and it will be easier to swallow.

Simple ,Natural Ways to Manage Health at Home By Esther Hawkins

I was talking to a ‘veteran Mom’ a few weeks ago and something she said impacted me so much that I know I’ll carry it with me throughout my journey as a mother. She said, “before you have children, your heart is protected inside you, but once you become a mother, you wear your heart on your sleeve.’
This is true in so many areas of our children’s lives. We want them to be safe, happy, secure, popular, successful and, well …. just happy. It’s easy to fret and worry so much about our children, especially when it comes to their health. With the cost of health care on the rise and most people’s finances in a somewhat shaky position nowadays, healthcare can become a big concern. Let’s face it, kids get sick and kids hurt themselves and as parents, we are responsible to protect them and fix it all when it happens.
Something that struck me years ago when I first moved to America and went to see a medical doctor was how hopeless I felt when I left her office. Not only did the appointment cost me a fortune, I was basically told that the breast lump I had found would more than likely turn into cancer but to just return to her in about 20 years so they could do tests. I was incredulous at the time, and even more so 6 months later after changing my diet and doing some bowel cleanses and finding that the lump disappeared on its own.
Now, as a mother to a 2 year old and a 9 month old, I am ever more aware of the huge responsibility we hold in our hands with the lives of these little ones. I’m so thankful that the tools I have been given through natural living and remedies has equipped me to take care of my children without fear, and with the hope that they can have a wonderful, vibrant life.
I wanted to share with you some tips for natural living so that you and your family can also live a healthy, confident life.

1. Gain confidence as a mother

Motherhood can be quite the guessing game. We often feel like we’re muddling our way through this journey of raising children but there is an instinct in each of us that knows our children’s needs better than anyone else. Take the time to really get to know your child, connect with other mothers who you respect so that you can learn from them, and if faith is part of your life, include God in your decisions and dilemmas. He knows your child even better than you and will help to guide you in the decisions you make, and give you confidence once you’ve made them.

2. Reassess your lifestyle

Stress is the most destructive force on our minds and bodies, even more damaging than poor nutrition. Stress has an acidifying effect on our bodies, producing an environment that is conducive to sickness as disease can only exist in an acidic body. Reducing stress where possible, and learning to manage it when it can’t be avoided are really important.

3. Good nutrition

It is not always easy to eat healthful foods, especially when we’re busy, funds are tight, or meal times are a battle with the kids. However, nutrition is the absolute foundation to good health. Every cell in your body has the ‘intelligence’ and ability to do its job excellently to keep you in the best of health but the only tools our bodies have to function properly is the food we put in them. Fresh, whole foods have all the nutrients needed to nourish our bodies, and all of the active, live enzymes that are crucial for digestion. Junk food, processed food, even cooked food compromise the integrity of nutrition and can actually do more harm than good.

4. Supplement

Supplementing your diet can keep you healthy, but can also equip your body to heal itself if you do get sick. Unfortunately, much of our food today is lacking in some nutrients because of modern agricultural practices. Even those who are able to eat a largely organic diet may still be missing some key nutrients, not to mention the fact that stress and environmental toxins can deplete nutrients in our system. Supplementing your diet through the use of herbal products and vitamin / mineral supplements ensures that your body is getting everything it needs to stay healthy.

5. What’s in your medicine chest?

Most people reach for a painkiller, fever reducer or other such product when they have a headache, their child starts teething, catches the flu or starts to vomit. It is very difficult for our bodies to recognize and effectively utilize chemical products. The list of side effects that these products produce is an indication of the body’s struggle to manage them. Most of the time, these products only address the symptom, but don’t deal with the root cause of the issue. When we just mask the problem, it is more than likely going to reoccur at a later date, possibly with more severity.
By replacing your medicine chest with herbal products that are highly effective in dealing with sickness, you not only address the symptoms, but also the cause. My son woke up with an ear infection a few months ago (the first one he’d had). I gave him Silver Shield and CBG Extract both orally and in his ear. He went back to sleep and woke up with no symptoms the next morning. Two days later, his urine was extremely brown as the infection was able to safely leave his body. He hasn’t had an ear infection or any other symptom since.

It is possible to live healthy lives and to avoid visits to the doctor but, like every aspect of motherhood, it takes courage and determination. Being a Mom is not an easy job but we can be confident in knowing that in every decision we make, we have the best interests of our children at heart.

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CHILDREN

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