Dealing with unhealthy skin, weight, stress, anxiety, depression, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, allergies, IBS, chronic pain, or a weakened immune system?

Wow! Research is showing all those health issues have something in common: “an unbalanced gut microbiome” and the good news is we can do something to change it!

So what is the gut microbiome? A microbiome is the microorganisms in a particular environment (your gut – intestinal tract- in this example).

What causes it to become imbalanced and unhealthy?

  • Drugs, antibiotics
  • Diet: sugar, vegetable oil, certain margarine, animal protein, fried foods, high fat
  • Alcohol
  • Illness
  • Toxins from the environment
  • Excessive washing can compromise gut microbiota

How we can make our gut microbiome healthier?

  • Reduce or eliminate the avoidable triggers listed above
  • Add probiotics to your diet: naturally found in yogurt
    (however dairy is a frequent cause of allergies in some people), kefir, non-dairy: via a supplement, sauerkraut, kimchi, tempeh, miso soup, sour pickles, olives, fermented tea called kombucha and dark chocolate
  • Add olive oil, nuts, avocados (have a protective effect), fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, fiber, lean meats, and seafood

Additional resources:

Getting healthy begins with small changes everyday. Our bodies are amazing in the healing and recovery ability we have with the proper nutrition. Part of becoming healthy involves continuous education, especially as new discoveries are made in health and wellness, so that we can make those changes and get healthier.

This health and wellness blog is intended to be a quick read, sharing information I’ve discovered as concisely as possible but providing links with more detailed information and resources on the subject matter for further reading. In regards to health and wellness, before making any changes, you should always discuss with your doctor, due to unique factors in every person’s health.

Essential Oil Uses

Essential Oils are trending and popular right now and the directions suggest applying it topically, mixing with oils, lotions, gels, shampoos, body wash or adding to a diffuser for its aromatic qualities, but I still had a few additional questions regarding the Arbonne Essential Oils I have:

“What are the benefits? And why use them?”

I decided to share what I found, because you may have the same questions as I did. Each oil below is linked to an article with more detailed information for further reading.

Tea Tree Oil use: antibacterial, anti-fungal treatment

  • treat acne
  • athlete’s foot
  • lice (combined with lavender Oil)
  • dandruff (added to shampoo)
  • improves “stale air” or offensive smells

Peppermint Oil use: pain relief, anti-inflammatory

  • headaches
  • muscle aches
  • itching
  • seasonal allergies
  • promote hair growth
  • treat acne (with lavender oil)
  • increase energy
  • repel bugs

Lavender Oil use: anti-inflammatory

  • heal wounds/bug bites
  • helps with sleep
  • helps with anxiety
  • prevent hair loss/promote hair growth

Lemon Oil use: anti-oxidant, anti-aging, anti-microbial properties

  • relieves nausea, especially morning sickness
  • nourishes and hydrates skin
  • relieves allergies
  • relieves coughs
  • natural cleansing

Many of these oils have been used for hundreds to thousands of years medicinally, but are not currently FDA approved in the USA. Because topical treatments are absorbed into your bloodstream in less than a minute, it is important to discuss potential interactions with your health care provider regarding any other medications you are taking before trying natural solutions.