Could these be contributing to your allergies?

Quote of the month:
“I will not eat this chemical s#@t.
I will not put my fork in it.
I will not eat it in the day.
I will not eat it any way.
I will not eat it in the night.
I will not eat A SINGLE BITE!” – The People’s Boycott Pledge

Do you eat any of the following:
Wheat
Corn
Soy
Canola
Other Fruits and Vegetables

What exactly are GMOs?

Genetically Modified Organisms are created by taking genes from an organism (plant, animal, bacteria or virus) and inserting them into an unrelated organism. In order for a cell to accept another organism’s cell, they must enlist the help of a bacteria or virus. A cell will only accept another organism’s gene when it has a virus/bacteria; otherwise, it is rejected. GMO’s would never occur in nature, and can cause huge environmental risks.

At least 70% of the grocery stores processed food contains Genetically Modified Organisms and food companies are not required to label that the foods are made with GMO’s. The only way to know you are not eating Genetically Engineered food is to eat 100% organic food. Any GMO’s are prohibited in organic food. Foods that are most commonly Genetically Modified are corn, soy, wheat, canola and cotton; but there are more.

Here’s a very simplified example of how GMOs are made:
Roundup is a product used to destroy weeds and any other undesirable plants. It works by blocking a specific enzyme that is necessary for the plant to grow, thereby killing the plant. Using wheat as an example, if a wheat field is sprayed with Roundup, the wheat would die as well as the other undesirables. In order to prevent this, they take the DNA of the Roundup and inject it into the DNA of the wheat using a bacteria/virus (such as the cauliflower mosaic virus). So, now when the wheat is growing and roundup is sprayed, the wheat is resistant to the roundup and will no longer die. It sounds great, except for the fact that now we are in essence ingesting a modified version of Roundup and some version of the virus. This process is the same for corn, soy, canola, etc. This is what’s known as Roundup Ready seed! The problem also becomes bigger as the seed is cross contaminating other non-modified seeds! It makes you wonder why people are having more issues with foods and why we are becoming more toxic!

How to tell what’s GMO
Most fruits and vegetables are labeled and you can generally tell which are GMO and which are not. If the fruits or veggies have a sticker on it check it to see if there is a 4 or 5 digit number. If it is a 4 digit number it is conventionally grown; if there is a 5 digit number beginning with an 9 it’s organic, and if it is 5 digits beginning with an 8 it is GMO. Remember however, they are NOT required to label GMO’s, so a 4 digit number may still be GMO!

Genetically modified organisms tend to provoke allergies and lots of other health issues!

Did You Know?
They’ve found a loophole which Monsanto and other biotech companies will be using in their favour in order to introduce GMO foods into Europe – Europe had previously banned GMO’s.
Alfalfa is the newest GMO target
They’re looking at introducing GM trees and salmon!
Natural and Organic are NOT the same thing!
GMO and GE (genetically engineered) are the same thing
Go to www.Davidsuzuki.org to learn more
Watch for free online the documentary ‘The World According to Monsanto’

Do you experience any of these symptoms:

Fatigue
Arthritis
Food allergies
Joint pain
Rashes
Chemical or environmental sensitivities
Irritable bowels or other digestive issues

What exactly do these symptoms have to do with permeability, and what is ‘permeable’? When it comes to permeability, we’re really talking about your gut; more specifically ‘leaky gut’!

Okay, so what’s leaky gut? According to Dr. Weil:

“Leaky gut syndrome is not generally recognized by conventional physicians, but evidence is accumulating that it is a real condition that affects the lining of the intestines. The theory is that leaky gut syndrome (also called increased intestinal permeability), is the result of damage to the intestinal lining, making it less able to protect the internal environment as well as to filter needed nutrients and other biological substances. As a consequence, some bacteria and their toxins, incompletely digested proteins and fats, and waste not normally absorbed may “leak” out of the intestines into the blood stream. This triggers an autoimmune reaction, which can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as abdominal bloating, excessive gas and cramps, fatigue, food sensitivities, joint pain, skin rashes, and autoimmunity. The cause of this syndrome may be chronic inflammation, food sensitivity, damage from taking large amounts of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), cytotoxic drugs and radiation or certain antibiotics, excessive alcohol consumption, or compromised immunity.”

When it comes to allergies, the body starts to make antibodies to fight against any of the foreign things which have passed into the bloodstream. These foreign things can be undigested proteins from milk, eggs, wheat, nuts, etc…get it?

Here are 6 steps to help you heal your leaky gut:
1. Use probiotics – only high quality ones; NOT the one’s in yogurt (they’re destroyed with pasteurization and added sugars)
2. Address the stressors to your body – bacteria (antibiotics kill the bad and the good ones!), parasites (we all have them, you’re stool sample is lying), fungii (those wonderful molds), food sensitivities (yes you have those too!),
3. Eat lots of fermented foods such as sauerkraut, home made kefir, tempeh, etc
4. Eat your greens!!!
5. Support your body with some daily essentials: omega 3′s (not from fish), digestive enzymes, D3, antioxidants (for telemere support)
6. Find out what you are sensitive to and avoid them, as these may be irritating your gut and contributing to the permeability problem…

Did You Know?

- 95% of food allergies are delayed reactions – ie symptoms can appear up to 5 days later
- A body in balance cannot exhibit allergy!
- All disease can be traced back to vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- The food labels on packaged goods are allowed to be off by 20%!

Quote of the month:

“Your body is the baggage you must carry through life. The more excess the baggage, the shorter the trip.” – Arnold H. Glasgow

couldn’t resist this one either…

“If diets worked, there would only be one!” – me

According to Dr John Mansfield, a pioneer in the field of allergy and nutrition, food sensitivities are ‘by far the commonest single cause of weight gain’, rather than too many calories or a lack of exercise.

Let’s find out why by asking yourself the following 6 questions:

1. Do you ever have cravings? Are you craving something sweet after a meal? For example, if the level of sugar in your blood drops after eating, you may be having an allergic reaction to one of the items in your ‘meal’.
2. Are there foods that you eat often – more than three times a week? The foods we eat most often are often those we’re allergic to!
3. Do you feel better after eating certain foods or do some of your symptoms disappear after eating?
4. Do you find yourself unable to stop eating (kind of like an insatiable hunger)?
5. Do you have any withdrawal symptoms when you don’t eat or drink something? Coffee is always a great example, back more than 15 years ago, I used to have coffee daily at work. On weekends I would have none. Every Sunday I would have a bad headache. Eventually, I made the connection! In this example, the solution is NOT to keep drinking coffee!
6. Do you suffer from any of the following: gas, bloating, fatigue, acne, moodiness, inability to concentrate, joint pain, fluid retention, diarrhea, cramping, inflammation (may be hidden), headaches, sinus congestion, constipation (1 bowel movement or less daily)?

If you answered yes to any of the above, then food sensitivities are definitely a factor. The next step is whether you’re ready willing and able to do something about it?

Here’s 4 ways of what you can do to start:

1. Find out what foods you’re sensitive to.
2. Avoid those foods for 30 days. If you eliminate from your diet the foods you’re allergic to, you could lose 10lbs or more without making any other dietary changes!
3. Heal your gut! A good way to start is by taking good probiotics – not a little, but billions daily, you can’t overdose. There are other things you can do to help speed things up as well…
4. Slowly reintroduce one food and pay attention to any changes in yourself over a four day period – it could be something subtle!

Did You Know the following 5 things?

1. The top allergens include wheat, corn, soy and milk – and guess what…it’s what we eat the most!
2. According to Dr Oz and Dr Mark Hyman, you can gain up to 30 pounds a year due to an unknown dairy allergy
3. Your body will often store what it’s allergic to in your cells
4. Your heart rate can increase 10-15 minutes after eating something you’re sensitive to
5. 95% of the foods we’re allergic to are ‘delayed onset’ – these symptoms can happen up to 3 days after exposure; many doctors and people aren’t aware of this

We thought we’d start off this month’s newsletter with 5 foods that can help your immune system survive the upcoming season:

1.Garlic – can pretty much scare off any foreign invader
2.Ginger – kills bacteria and viruses; helps with digestion, circulation, nausea (hence motion sickness) and inflammation; essential for those with prostate cancer
3.Turmeric – a powerful anti-inflammatory and immune booster; fights off bacteria, viruses and fungi; loaded with antioxidants (much more than Vit E and Vit C)
4.Sweet Potato – contains glutathione, a very powerful antioxidant; contains beta carotene for immune-system health; especially for your skin
5.Bell Peppers – contain more Vitamin C than an orange

Now here’s a recipe that incorporates some of these ingredients. If you like sweet potatoes, try this one:

Sweet potato Salad:

2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch cubes
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp fresh rosemary (1/2 tsp dried)
1 clove minced garlic (optional)
Dash of sea salt and pepper
Roast the above at 350 degrees for 25 minutes (don’t over cook) and allow to cool. Transfer to a medium/large bowl. Add 2 tbsp each of the following – diced sweet onion, toasted pecans, dried

cranberries. Add 1/4 cup chopped yellow pepper and 1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley.
Dressing:
In a small bowl whisk together 2 tbsp each of the following – olive oil, fresh lemon juice and honey. Mix in 1/4 tsp salt a dash of pepper and 1/8 tsp chiptole pepper. Drizzle over potato mixture

and serve warm or cold. Note: never tried adding some ginger to the dressing, but it would probably go well too!

To finish off, we thought we’d send out this amazing story we received from a friend. It’s a great message for this time of year (and every other day too)!

After 21 years of marriage, my wife told me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, “I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with

you.”

The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and three children made visiting difficult.

That night I invited her to go out for dinner and a movie. “What’s wrong, are you well?” she asked.

My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. “I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you,” I responded.

“Just the two of us.” She thought about it for a moment, and then said, “I would like that very much.”

That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with

her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel’s. “I told my

friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed,” she said, as she got into the car. “They can’t wait to hear about our meeting.”

We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read

large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. “It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were

small,” she said. “Then it’s time that you relax and let me return the favor,” I responded. During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation – nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent

events of each other’s life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, “I’ll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.” I agreed.

“How was your dinner date?” asked my wife when I got home. “Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined,” I answered.

A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn’t have a chance to do anything for her. Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a

restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined. An attached note said: “I paid this bill in advance. I wasn’t sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates –

one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you, son.”

At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: “I LOVE YOU” and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the

time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till “some other time.”

Did You Know…
Most of our brain does not regenerate as we get older; however all is not lost, the area that governs your memory and learning does!
The cells in your intestinal tract replace themselves every week – so yes you can heal as long as your food sensitivities are avoided
You may have a toxic liver, but it can replace itself in about 5 months – just give it the support it needs

Wishing you happiness this holiday season!

Quote of the month:
“He who takes medicine and neglects his diet wastes the skill of his doctors”. ~Chinese Proverb

Last month we spoke about ulceration. This month, we’re going to talk about stage 6 – Induration. According to the Meriam Webster dictionary, Induration refers to a pathological (ie. disease) condition in which a tissue has become hard and which is produced by overgrowth of fibrous tissue and other changes or by increase in interstitial tissue and other changes – also called hardening or sclerosis. This is the final stage in which the body still has control over it’s cells.

So basically, in this stage, in a continued effort to protect itself the body creates a thickening or hardening of the tissue. With this stage there is a specific intended purpose for the body. Toxic materials that are threatening the body are surrounded by hardened tissue. You can think of this as a quarantine. The contents within the hardened tissue has often been referred to as a tumor and is sometimes misdiagnosed as cancer. As a simplified example, consider what happens when you wear new shoes or learn how to play guitar for the first time. The body would first create an ulcer (blister) on the foot or fingers and then with continued stress, the body will eventually create a callous (hardening of skin) to protect itself from that continued irritation.

If a person does not make any serious lifestyle changes at this point, the cells of the body will ‘go out of control’. They will become parasitic. As with true parasites, the cells get their food and nutrition from or at the expense of its’ host (us). The constant poisoning has finally altered their genetic encoding. They become wild and disorganized no longer under the control of our brain. When cells go wild in this manner, the condition advances to stage 7…Fungation…also known as CANCER.

Here are some basic examples of induration:
arteriosclerosis/hardening of the arteries
multiple sclerosis
callouses
boils, carbuncles
Now here’s 6 basic tips on what you can do to protect against induration. Hate to repeat some of them, but these steps are essential and important for your health:

Get your train out of the station. By this we mean start getting the toxins out by getting your colon moving properly 2-3 times daily! What doesn’t come out, must go elsewhere!!

Hydrate yourself properly. At least half your body weight in ounces daily….by this we mean water…tea and coffee and pop does NOT count. When you are hydrated your body can properly communicate with itself.

Listen to your body and what it’s telling you. Symptoms are a warning signal. At the same time NO symptoms does not imply health! Just think about those with high blood pressure or high cholesterol…do they necessarily have symptoms?

Take in more vegetables and greens in whatever form you can handle – whole, powdered, capsule or in smoothies – ask us for a few good recommendations.
Avoid anything genetically modified – the top ones are wheat, corn and soy…PS… unless they tell you it is not, it most definitely IS!

Seek out and get advice from a qualified health professional.

Did You Know…

Rashes may be a sign of toxicity and an overworked liver.
Vaccinations may not be as effective as we thought. Check out this vaccination article.
Try Magnesium for constipation or restless leg symptoms

Quote of the month:

In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired. ~Author Unknown

Last month we spoke about inflammation. This month, we’re going to talk about stage 5 – Ulceration. According to the National Cancer Institute, an ulcer is the:

“formation of a break on the skin or on the surface of an organ. An ulcer forms when the surface cells die and are cast off. Ulcers may be associated with cancer and other diseases.”

So basically, in this stage, some of your tissues and cells are now being or have been destroyed. Common areas affected may include your skin, nose and digestive tract. Ulceration can be one of the ways in which the body still tries to get rid of excess toxins (note that if you address this toxicity, the ulceration will heal). For example, an ulcer on your skin may ooze (not so pleasant), but it is a way in which the body tries to literally create another exit point in order to excrete excess toxic buildup. This stage can be very painful and when medication doesn’t help enough, you may end up with surgery to removed the damaged area(s) or section(s) – again it may stop the pain, but you won’t address the cause(s) this way – you need to find the triggers.

Here are some basic examples of ulceration:

1.Stomach or peptic ulcer
2.Cankers
3.Cold sores
4.Ulcerative colitis
5.Boil/carbuncle

Now here’s 5 basic tips on what you can do to protect against ulceration:

1.Unplug the drain. By this we mean start getting the toxins out by getting your colon moving properly 2-3 times daily!
2.Take out the garbage. Support your organs and tissues with activating, building and cleansing herbs in order to remove the toxins buried deep in your cells!
3.Take in the good. It’s pointless taking out the garbage if you keep putting it in. Remember you are literally what you eat, drink absorb and inhale.
4.Avoid the top 4 – wheat, dairy, corn (all forms- sugar, syrup), soy
5.Take in more vegetables and greens in whatever form you can handle – whole, powdered, capsule or in smoothies – ask us for a few good recommendations.

Besides those just mentioned, you also need to do these 5 things (these are very helpful for the upcoming flu and cold season, too):

1.Stay away from all sugars(especially the sugar free variety) – just 1 teaspoon shuts off your immune system for up to 6 hours
2.Get your Vitamin D3 – 1000 IU may not be enough for you; we have a great sublingual or spray you can use.
3.Rest..by this we mean sleep before 11pm!
4.Address your stress – ask us how we can help with that
5.Take lots of real garlic, Vitamin C (the real kind), probiotics (not the stuff in yogurt), and oregano oil – very powerful anti virals, anti bacterial anti everything. We have an undiluted oregano oil for you to try. Just not a good idea to take oregano oil when you’re pregnant.

Did You Know…

•If you drink skim milk, you won’t absorb Vitamins A, D, E and K – why…because they are fat soluble – they need to be consumed with fat in order to be absorbed.
•The synthetic, manufactured form of Vitamin D in the milk you purchase is D2 and is a waste of your time.
•About 50% of ear infections in children disappear if they stop consuming dairy.

The Physics of Overload

If you overload a circuit, it blows.
If you overload a boat, it will sink.
If you overload a truck, it won’t roll.
If you overload a plane, it won’t fly.
If you overload a train, it won’t stop.
If you overload a bridge it will collapse.
If you overload a flash drive, you get an error.

These simple laws of physics are easy enough for children to understand.
What’s not so easy to understand is why — as grown adults — we think our bodies and minds are any different.
Your personal overload is increasing your risk of getting sick, whether you feel the weight or not.

Last month we spoke about the third stage of dis-ease – irritation. This month, we’re going to talk about stage 4 – Inflammation. In this stage, the body works the hardest to restore itself. This is the stage where pathology can often be found by physicians. It does involve pain. Pain does have a purpose. It is the body’s most effective warning signal. It’s very effective in getting your attention! In other words, it’s telling you that if you don’t do something now, you’re seriously going to endanger yourself.

Chronic pain indicates that your body is getting desperate. The problem is that we haven’t been taught to recognize pain in this manner. Instead we go to the doctor, have some tests done and often they will find some kind of pathology (dis-ease). At this point a drug may be prescribed. The drug can suppress the symptoms but will not remove the true cause of the problem! In addition,the drug will add to the person’s toxic load. If the drugs do not work, surgery can be the next step. Again, this does not address the ’cause’.
At this stage if serious actions are not taken to improve health, the body will fall into a deeper dis-eased state…stage 5.

Here are some examples of inflammation:

sinusitis, colitis, tinnitis, arthritis, tonsilitis, dermatitis, gastritis, rhinitis (anything ending with ‘itis’ shows that the organ is overburdened)
asthma
allergies, sensitivities, hypersensitivities, intolerances
infections, colds, fever
atherosclerosis
diabetes
obesity
cancer

Here are 5 important things you must do to help address inflammation in your body:

1. With the help of a qualified professional, cleanse your body of toxins – this is not a one time deal!

2. If you don’t maintain your home, dust and dirt will start to accumulate and things willbreak down.

3. Consume omega 3 essential fatty acids. They are great anti-inflammatories but must be taken in a ratio of 1:1 with omega 6′s – fish oils are about a 1:10 and plant based forms are not absorbed well! Remember your body can’t make them, so you need to consume them!

4. Eat non-dairy, wheat-free products with a large focus (80%) on vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds – if possible, NO bar codes! Most of your immune system is in your gut – around 70% or more, so you need some good probiotics (acidophillus) and sorry folks, but your bowel movements need to be at 2-3 daily.

5. Take time for yourself to de-stress and relax!

Did You Know…

1. The glycemic index of whole wheat flour/bread is the same as white flour/bread, so your best bet is to avoid bread all together and eat the actual grain itself!

2. If you’re allergic to ragweed, you may also be sensitive to bananas, melons, cucumber, zucchini, cammomille, sunflower seeds or honey.

3. If you’re suffering from allergies now, Cockle, Mugwort, Dock, Amaranth, Pigweed, Lamb’s Quarters, Plantain and Russian Thistle may also be an issue…not to mention mold

Quote of the month:

“The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not (eventually you’ll like it!)”

Seeing as Ragweed season is soon (if not already) upon us, we thought it would make for a great newsletter.

Did you know that seventeen species or types of ragweed grow in North America? Ragweed also belongs to a larger family called Compositae. Other members of the family that spread pollen by wind can also cause symptoms. They include sage, burweed marsh elder and rabbit brush, mugworts, groundsel bush and eupatorium according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The main types of ragweed are common ragweed, western ragweed and giant ragweed. On a side note, don’t confuse goldenrod (tall with lots of tiny yellow flowers) for ragweed.

Up to a third of allergy sufferers experience cross-reactions. In other words people can react to foods that may be chemically similar ragweed. Symptoms may include the usual itchiness, tingling, and swelling of the tongue, mouth, and throat. Cooking reduces the reaction — enough for some allergy sufferers to be able to indulge — but it’s not a solution. So if ragweed pollen affects you, watch out for: bananas, cantaloupes, honeydews, watermelons, cucumbers, zucchini, chamomile tea, and sunflower seeds.

Here are a few other examples of cross reactions:

If birch pollen makes you sneeze, watch out for: apples, apricots, cherries, kiwis, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, tomatoes, carrots, celery, green peppers, parsnips, peas, potatoes, anise, caraway, cumin, dill, fennel, parsley, almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and walnuts.
If grass pollen makes you sneeze, watch out for: kiwis, melons, oranges, tomatoes, and celery.

Here are 7 tips to help improve the functioning of your body’s immune system:

1. Drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces daily
2. As most of your Immune system is in your intestinal tract (at least 70%), you need probiotics to help heal – we recommend Nature’s Sunshine Probiotic 11 or Threelac.
3. Cleanse monthly to keep on top of all that debri building up in your body which can trigger allergies in the first place!
4. 80% of your foods should be without bar codes – in other words, real food with lots of greens and bright colours
5. Take essential fatty acids…we recommend Auum instead of fish oil(ask us why). They are anti allergy and anti-inflammatory.
6. Alkalize your body – your body’s pH plays a large role in your health.
7. If Ragweed really bothers you, come see us for some laser acupuncture to help bring your body back into balance so that it no longer reacts to it!

Did You Know?

- Propolene Glycol (anti-freeze) is used in cosmetics, moisturizers, ice cream, salad dressings and dog food (to name a few), to keep things smooth and creamy
- On another not so pleasant note…red raspberry flavouring comes from the anal glands of beavers…yum!

Quote of the month:

“I’ve experienced several different healing methodologies over the years – but none of them will work unless you really want to heal.” – Lindsay Wagner

Last month we spoke about the third stage of dis-ease – irritation. This month, seeing as it’s summer, we’ll keep things a little more lighthearted.

Here’s a great summer recipe for Pad Thai (taken from the book Meals That Heal Inflammation); by the way, it’s also a great recipe for this heat!

Ingredients:
1 medium zucchini
1 large carrot
1 green onion, chopped
1/2 cup shredded purple cabbage
1/2 cup cauliflower florets
1/2 cup radish or mung bean sprouts

Sauce:
2 tbsp tahini
2 tbsp almond butter
1 tbsp lime or lemon juice
2 tbsp tamari (wheat free)
1 tbsp raw honey
1/4 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp ginger root, grated

Directions:
Grate carrots and zucchini in order to create noodles. Place them in a large mixing bowl and top with the vegetables. Whisk sauce ingredients in a bowl (sauce will be thick). Pour sauce over noodles and vegetables and toss.

Did you know?
•1/8 cup (1 shot) of apple cider vinegar daily may help block your body’s production of histamine and it’s cheaper and safer than buying over the counter anti-histamines for allergies.
•Mullein and lobelia are great herbal remedies for asthma type symptoms.
•Allergies are a form of inflammation.

Last month we spoke about the second stage of dis-ease – toxemia. This month, we’re going to talk about stage 3 – Irritation. In this stage, the body increases it’s internal activities in order to process/unload the toxin buildup. With irritation, you may not feel enough discomfort to visit a doctor, but you may attempt to block out the discomfort or even end up in the local pharmacy looking for some kind of immediate relief – with allergies, it may be some kind of anti-histamine. For someone experiencing discomfort in the form of pain you may find yourself taking something to temporarily alleviate the pain.

Here are some examples of irritation:

1. Urination/Defecation – when we have the urge to go and ignore it until you have no choice but to give in to the urge. By the way, the colon and the bladder are the main elimination organs of the body.
2. Itchy skin – the skin is another major elimination organ. When toxins are forced out, the areas may become itchy and irritated.
3. Feeling nauseated, particularly in the morning.
4. Jumpy, uneasy, short-tempered or flying off the handle for no reason (sounds like our teenage son).
5. Feeling or behaving in a way which is not your ‘normal’ self – may include anxiety, worry, nervousness, panic, depression.
6. Trouble sleeping.
7. Weight gain – toxins are stored in your body often in fat cells.
8. Frequent headaches.
9. Minor aches and pains – pain can come from the body tissues when there is an inadequate supply of oxygen or nutrients (from poor food choices) to the cells or even from excess water retention creating pressure in and around the cells. In other words, the body’s cells are ‘irritated’.
10. Dark circles under the eyes.
11. Menstrual problems – these are normal occurances, but it’s not natural to have them.
12. Bad breath, body odour.
13. Allergies – over the counter products only cover the symptoms.

To summarize, these are all warning signals from your body, the key is to pay attention to what your body is telling you. Applying band aids and other quick fixes will not solve the problem, but instead add to the toxic load on the body.