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Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie Recipe to help heal and calm the body

Give this is Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie (that’s really purple!) a try to help heal and calm the body.

Over the last few years, many studies have shown that inflammation contributes to a number of health conditions and symptoms. Things like skin rashes, digestive troubles, headaches and migraines, brain fog, fatigue, and more can often be attributed to inflammation.

The foods that cause inflammation won’t surprise you.  Red meat, processed and preserved meats and sausage, dairy, gluten and white flours/starches, refined sugar, and preservatives top the list. A diet rich in these potent foods will most likely cause you to feel cruddy anyway. If you’re susceptible to inflammation, these things can make symptoms even worse.

 

 

What can you do? Consume a diet that is full of foods that fight inflammation is a good place to start.

Focus on foods that are very similar to a Mediterranean diet,  making it super doable for most people in the western world. Heck, I can get all of these things at my local grocery store! It’s hard to make excuses when it’s accessible, right? Here’s the list to focus on:

  • tomatoes
  • olive oil
  • leafy greens + cruciferous veggies
  • fruit, berries + other low glycemic fruits
  • citrus – lemons and oranges
  • fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids – salmon, sardines, mackerel
  • ginger
  • garlic
  • turmeric 



  

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY SMOOTHIE

Green smoothies can help tremendously if you’re struggling to add anti-inflammatory foods to your diet. I’m combine quite a few of the ingredients listed above into this smoothie recipe. It’s nutrient-packed and makes the perfect anti-inflammatory smoothie.  If you haven’t been a smoothie fan yet, I hope this will make you reconsider. Smoothies are easy to make, consume, and even take with you.

  

 

DESCRIPTION

Help calm your body and fight inflammation by blending up this vibrant anti-inflammatory smoothie that is loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and taste!

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 cups baby kale
  • 1small beet (peeled and chopped)
  • 1 cupwater
  • 1orange (peeled)
  • 2 cups mixed berries (frozen)
  • 1 cuppineapple (frozen)
  • 1 tablespoonfresh ginger (grated or chopped)
  • 1 tablespooncoconut oil

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Place baby kale, beet, water, and orange into a blender.
  2. Puree until smooth.
  3. Add remaining ingredients.
  4. Blend again until smooth.

NOTES

  • Carrots can be substituted for the beets.
  • Mango can be substituted for the pineapple.

NUTRITION

  • Calories:264
  • Sugar:30
  • Sodium:66
  • Fat:8
  • Saturated Fat:6
  • Carbohydrates:47
  • Fiber:8
  • Protein:5
  • Cholesterol:0

 

 

Thank you for this one Source 

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Stem Cell Therapy for Autoimmune Disorders

Stem Cell Therapy for Autoimmune Disorders: An Exciting Treatment Approach

Emerging data and research have evolved in the direction of out-of-the-box thinking and away from a medication-only treatment approach. This may be a very exciting time for some. A few details are highlighted below.

 

Autoimmune Disease

“Autoimmune disease occurs when the body tissues are attacked by its own immune system as a result of an inappropriate immune response directed to self-antigens. Patients with autoimmune diseases frequently have unusual antibodies circulating in their blood that target their own body tissues. As a whole, over sixty autoimmune diseases affect about 6% of the population and are the third largest disease burden after heart disease and cancer (1).”

“Autoimmune diseases can be broadly divided into organ-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases depending on the location of the target antigen and clinical features.”

“Systemic autoimmune diseases include diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, and polymyositis. The feature of these diseases is that the targeted antigens are located throughout the body.”

“Examples of organ-specific autoimmune diseases include Sjögren syndrome, Hashimoto thyroiditis, Graves disease, type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes, Addison disease, vitiligo, pernicious anemia, glomerulonephritis, myasthenia gravis and pulmonary fibrosis.”

 

Medication

“The major immunosuppressive drugs of the last three decades in treatment of autoimmune disease have been corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine and methotrexate. In fact, these agents may be effective in auto-immune disease. Nonetheless, these agents are not uniformly effective and are associated with substantial toxicities.”

I agree with the above statement. Toxicity specifically. While I did trust my doctor to recommend appropriate therapies and did try all of the available immunosuppressive medications, I have been an individual who felt much worse while on the various immunosuppressant medications.

I realize immunosuppressant medications may work for some however they did not work for me. Plus, developing additional symptoms that were not present before starting such medications was a challenge to say the least…and getting healthy again afterwards, that was the biggest feat yet.

 




Stem Cell Therapy

Below are a few paragraphs pulled from a clinical article that I see of importance to, at a minimum, be aware of. If you are interested in reviewing the full article, it is linked at the bottom of the page for reference.

There are two types of Stem Cell Therapy “Techniques” (as I will call them) mentioned in the article highlighted below.

  1. An autologous hematopoietic cell transplantuses a patient’s ownbone marrow or blood
  2. An allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantuses a donor’s bone marrow or

An additional term that is important to know: refractory or therapy-refractory. This is when an autoimmune disorder does not respond well or at all to treatment.

“Many studies of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and allogeneic HSCT have been conducted for autoimmune disease in various animal models. Because of the substantial risk of morbidity and mortality associated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, autologous transplants justified trying this approach in patient with severe autoimmune disease who were refractory to current treatments. Remission was achieved in some of the patients and some of them relapsed.”

It seems we are in need of additional studies with continual positive outcomes before we get this right. I hope stem cell therapy will become a successful treatment option for everyone dealing with both systemic and organ-specific autoimmune diseases.

 

Health Success

When it comes to your health, the choice is always yours. Educate yourself on each medication or treatment option that is available to you before moving forward with it. Trust your instincts and know your options. And as always, ask questions. Compile a list of important questions before every appointment so you don’t forget a thing. Time at these appointments is almost always limited so be ready and be prepared.

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4021767/

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New Software May Help Detect Myasthenia Gravis Sooner

The more you know.

 

“Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder, which may lead to paralysis and even death if not treated on time. One of its primary symptoms is severe muscular weakness, initially arising in the eye muscles. Testing the mobility of the eyeball can help in early detection of MG.

In this study, software was designed to analyze the ability of the eye muscles to focus in various directions, thus estimating the MG risk. Progressive weakness in gazing at the directions prompted by the software can reveal abnormal fatigue of the eye muscles, which is an alert sign for MG.

To assess the user’s ability to keep gazing at a specified direction, a fuzzy algorithm was applied to images of the user’s eyes to determine the position of the iris in relation to the sclera. The results of the tests performed on 18 healthy volunteers and 18 volunteers in early stages of MG confirmed the validity of the suggested software.”

Early detection of MG may help people receive treatment sooner. From my own experience, It took multiple doctors and an entire year before I was diagnosed. Which in reality, felt like forever, so my heart goes out to those who weren’t diagnosed right away. 

How do you feel about this new development for early MG detection? 

Originally found here

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51 powerful quotes for those living with Chronic Illness

Positive sayings or quotes, I feel,  have the power to help us through some of the hardest of times. The beautiful arrangement of words provides us with a glimpse towards the possible, a hope for the future and inspiration for the moment. Powerful stuff.

So here, 51 powerful quotes for those living with Chronic Illness…Which ones your favorite??

The Quotes:

1) “She made broken look beautiful and strong look invincible. She walked with the universe on her shoulders and made it look like a pair of wings.” – Ariana Dancu

2) “Behind every chronic illness is just a person trying to find their way in the world. We want to find love and be loved and be happy just like you. We want to be successful and do something that matters. We’re just dealing with unwanted limitations in our hero’s journey.” – Glenn Schweitzer

3) “Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tip Toe if you must, but take a step.” – Naeem Callaway

4) “I fight for my health every day in ways that most people don’t understand. I’m not lazy. I’m a warrior!” – unknown

5) “Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.” – Mary Anne Radmacher


6) “When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven’t.” – Thomas Edison

7) “You wake up every morning to fight the same demons that left you so tired the night before, and that, my love, is bravery.” – unknown

8) “Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think” – A. A. Milne

9) “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” – Dale Carnegie

10) “When the unthinkable happens, the lighthouse is hope. Once we choose hope, everything is possible.” – Christopher Reeve

11) “You shouldn’t focus on why you can’t do something, which is what most people do. You should focus on why perhaps you can, and be one of the exceptions.” – Steve Case

12) “Regret for the things we have done will be tempered by time. It is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.” – Sydney J. Harris

13) “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to just try one more time.” – Thomas Edison

14) “Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside of you that is greater than any obstacle.” – Christian D. Larson

15) “Normality is a paved road. It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.” – Vincent Van Gogh

16) “The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.” – Vince Lombardi

17) “Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work; you don’t give up.” – Anne Lamott

18) “You can’t calm the storm, so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass.” – Timber Hawkeye

19) “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

20) “You are strong when you know your weaknesses. You are beautiful when you appreciate your flaws. You are wise when you learn from your mistakes.” – unknown


21) “You either get bitter or you get better. It’s that simple. You either take what has been dealt to you and allow it to make you a better person, or you allow it to tear you down. The choice does not belong to fate, it belongs to you.” – Josh Shipp

22) “The truth is we’re all a little bit broken. We must learn to love the broken pieces of ourselves – be gentle and empathetic with ourselves, and others.” – Karen Salmansohn

23) “It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority.” – Mandy Hale

24) “Live to inspire, and one day people will say, because of you, I didn’t give up” – unknown

25) Hope doesn’t require a massive chain where heavy links of logic hold it together. A thin wire will do…just strong enough to get us through the night until the winds die down. – Charles R. Swindoll

26) “Nothing is more beautiful than a real smile that has struggled through tears.” – unknown

27) “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

28) “So this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I’m still trying to figure out how that could be.” – Stephen Chbosky

29) “I often say now I don’t have any choice whether or not I have Parkinson’s, but surrounding that non-choice is a million other choices that I can make.” – Michael J. Fox

30) “If opening your eyes, or getting out of bed, or holding a spoon, or combing your hair is the daunting Mount Everest you climb today, that is okay.” – Carmen Ambrosio

31) “Resting is not laziness, it’s medicine!” – Glenn Schweitzer

32) “Don’t forget you’re human. It’s okay to have a meltdown, just don’t unpack and live there. Cry it out and then refocus on where you are headed.” – unknown

33) Some days are better, some days are worse. Look for the blessing instead of the curse. Be positive, stay strong, and get enough rest. You can’t do it all, but you can do your best. – Doe Zantamata

34) “I can’t tell you when, but I can promise you it will get better, it will get easier, and it will all be worthwhile. Just promise me you won’t ever give up.” – unknown

35) “The strongest people I’ve met have not been given an easier life. They’ve learned to create strength and happiness from dark places.” – Kristen Butler

36) “Maybe life isn’t about avoiding the bruises. Maybe it’s about collecting the scars to prove that we showed up for it.” – Hannah Brencher

37) “Please be patient with me. Sometimes when I’m quiet, it’s because I need to figure myself out. It’s not because I don’t want to talk. Sometimes there are no words for my thoughts.” – Kamla Bolaños

38) “Those you love will go through hard times. Don’t give up on them. Patience + Caring + Empathy = Love.” – unknown

39) “We are stronger in the places we have been broken.” – Ernest Hemingway

40) “Sometimes you will be in control of your illness and other times you’ll sink into despair, and that’s OK! Freak out, forgive yourself, and try again tomorrow.” – Kelly Hemingway

41) “I don’t want my pain and struggle to make me a victim. I want my battle to make me someone else’s hero.” – unknown

42) “At any given moment, you have the power to say this is not how my story is going to end.” – unknown

43) “Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.” – Iain S. Thomas

44) “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” – Napoleon Hill

45) “What would the hero of your life’s movie do right now? Do that!” – Joe Rogan

46) “Maybe it’s not always about trying to fix something that is broken. Maybe it’s about starting over and creating something better.” – unknown

47) “Do not believe the things you tell yourself when you’re sad and alone.” – unknown

48) “The reason why people give up so fast is because they tend to look at how far they still have to go, instead of how far they have gotten.” – unknown

49) “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

50) “Never let the things you cannot do prevent you from doing the things you can. ” – Coach John Wooden

51) “If you stumble, make it part of the dance.” – unknown

 

Source: GLENN

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A Mess: Food and Stress

There are 50 million Americans living with autoimmune conditions (That’s almost one in six people!). 

 

A Mess: Food and Stress

I have lived with an autoimmune disorder since the age of 17.  To make a long story short, just before I was diagnosed I was under an extreme amount of stress as well as eating poorly (tons of sugar and processed foods or not eating enough at all).  Years down the road when I realized how much food and stress affected my body I started to remove myself from stressful situations, address any stress that was affecting my mental health, pay attention and shift the processed food I was loading into my body and I really started to notice a big difference. It makes sense though, right?  

Food

We all know that what we eat directly affects each cell in our body. I mean, our bodies literally break down the food we consume and turn it into the building blocks that sustain and repair ourselves. With that small reminder, wouldn’t it be a good idea to supply the body with fresh and wholesome foods?


Remember that saying, “we are what we eat”?  Well its true!  Much of our body is made from what we put into it!  Try incorporating more fresh fruits and vegetables -cooked or lightly steamed vegetables.  Much of the packaged foods today are not wholesome or nourishing let alone food at all.  It is more or less a combination of ingredients and preservatives designed to taste good and have a long shelf life.  I’m not saying all pre-packaged foods are bad but you must be conscious of your choices and don’t be afraid to read the label!  If you are, its probably not the best to buy in the first place! 

Stress

Ahhh stress. Everyone experiences it in one form or another.- family, work, school or just day-to-day life experiences.  Regardless of where it comes from it wrecks our body. It can break down our mental and physical self slowly leaving us feeling haggard and tired. This is why along with food we must be conscious to rid ourselves of stress as much as possible. We must decompress in a healthy way to not overwhelm ourselves with stress causing the slow decline of our mental and physical self. 

This is a little reminder to pay attention to your current stressors and either remove yourself in a healthy way from them or if you can’t, learn stress reduction techniques. I love to listen to meditation tracks on my iPhone (I use an app called insight timer) and just zone my mind out on some positive tracks. I also sit outside and listen to nature – whatever sounds may be going on. And one of my favorites although pricy is experiencing the calming effect of a floatation tank. I wrote about my experience here.


There are small things we can do every day that will add up over time and turn our body into less of mess. These are good reminders for everyone but especially us with an autoimmune disorder. We already have enough riding on us and If we can make a few small healthy adjustments to improve our body our mind and our life, then why not?

I hope you join me and try out some of the things mentioned above.  Let me know your thoughts!