Karen Creighton 12/7/22 Karen Creighton 12/7/22

Fasting - Why?

Did you know that Fasting has huge long-term effects? In this blog, you will find out a little bit about the science of fasting. Plus we go into the benefits of Collagen and where to get collagen from naturally

Fasting is a fantastic tool to help us detoxify and feel better. Plus, it really can help reduce our biological age. This is pure magic, and all you need to do is follow some simple rules

Did you know that fasting for periods of time can lead to a longer healthier life?
With this you will benefit more if you fast for more extended periods – 2, 3,4 or even 5 days can substantially increase your whole healing process.

Now, this happens through a process that includes telomeres.

What is a telomere?

We are replicating our cells all the time and they just keep on reproducing

Telomeres are a compound structure that is the end of a chromosome, and these telomeres protect our DNA, and our DNA dictates how our cells divide and how it changes. Our DNA is basically our blueprint for how our health is right here and now.

So, what happens throughout our life is that the Telomeres get shorter through wear and tare and can no longer protect our DNA. It is this process that allows us to age.
For example, your Telomeres are like the plastic protection sheath at the end of a shoelace. When that shoelace gets old and tatty, then your shoelaces start to deteriorate. Which means that the little plastic sheath has lost it’s ability to protect the shoelace and the shoelace starts to unravel even more. This is what happens to our DNA when our protective Telomeres get overworked, they deteriorate and so can no longer act as our DNA’s protective sheath.

The telomeres shorten every time that a cell divides and multiplies – this happens millions of times every second through our bodies – when the telomeres lose their effectiveness you then become much more susceptible to oxidation, chemicals, foods, etc. etc.

What the telomeres do is to act like a magnet for all the toxins that bombard our bodies all the time – The telomeres act as a diversion driving the toxins away from the DNA itself. It is quite masterful, in fact if you look at it, it is an act of deception.

There is however a price to pay for this, as every time your telomeres take a hit then they decrease in size and ability to attract to the toxins away from the strands of DNA leaving them unprotected and vulnerable to attack.

So how does fasting help with this.

Research is showing us that restricting the amount of food you eat can help with longevity. Plus, those in the studies who were eating a restricted diet had a significant slowdown in the reduction of telomere length. This makes sense when you understand what the telomeres do, doesn’t it?

The less toxins (that come in the food chain mainly) in our bodies the less workload the telomeres must deal with. This meant that the group who ate less lived longer and had less disease processes going on in their bodies. It was found that this group also had a significant reduction in tumours than the other group 38% compared to 78% which is huge. This is just by eating less!

Now when we get to fasting this is so exciting

That is an enzyme called Telomerase, it is a very powerful enzyme, in fact it is unique it is the only enzyme in our body that can repair Telomeres. This is built into our body – wow isn’t our body amazing?

It can regrow the plastic sheath on our DNA’s shoelaces.
Now, not all cells create this enzyme, they are very special cells, to add to this as we increase in years these cells decrease in our bodies – Therefore, our bodies ability to protect our DNA as the telomeres decrease in their ability to protect us, we start to age in a variety of different ways. Aches, pains, disease processes.
The cells that produce this magical enzyme are called stem cells which I am sure you have heard of before.

Stem cells are the sentinel cells of our body - when our cells become damaged, stem cells swoop in and secrete proteins that initiate the repair process
When our Stem cells die, they give birth to daughter cells that can replace the cells we lose through a process called differentiation – big word I know !

So to recap, as this is so important for you to understand this- The important thing for repair and antiaging where stem cells are concerned, is that they express telomerase, so they tend to maintain long telomeres.
Additionally, cells that are born directly from stem cells likely have longer telomeres than cells that aren’t, based on the simple fact that they’re one cell division away from exposure to high levels of telomerase.
So being as we lose stem cells as we grow older, we really want to find out how to maintain their replication and make sure that they are looked after
The other good thing about stem cells is that they aren’t a one-trick pony, they can also duplicate themselves through a process called self-renewal, creating more stem cells These new stem cells also express telomerase, so their daughter cells will also have long telomeres.

So many people go and get stem cell implants – but just wait before you book yourself an appointment – You can increase your own stem cell production, read on – now we know a little about stem cells and what they can do to help us, what does fasting have to do with it?

When we go through a period of prolonged fasting 48 – 72 hours or more encourages your body to produce more stem cells which in turn produce more Telomerase which will help protect your DNA, enabling true healing to occur.

When you break your fast, differentiation starts happening- as the stem cells start dying off when their job is done, they give birth to multiple daughter stem cells, they, in turn, create more Telomerase – so the more often you do multiple day fasts the stronger your body becomes and more able to cope with the toxins that inevitably come our way!!

You are in effect giving yourself your own stem cell implant!!! Turning back time!!

Most people know that broths are great for them, but do you know why?

Did you know that 30% of all the protein in your body is collagen protein?? Amazing, isn’t it?

The benefits of collagen are many.
They include: -
Skin
Hair
Nails
Gut Health
Joint Health

As you know Bone broths are made from the connective tissue of animals Grass fed beef and chicken
and after cooking all the liquid comes out as a concentrated superfood. – in the broth you have collagen – More about that in a bit – Hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and chondroitin plus other vitamins and minerals.

Now did you know there are 28 types of collagens and 5 are the most common in our food. But 3 types of collagens are the most important for our health – type 1, 2 and 3.

Beef has high levels of type 1 and 3 Collagen and chicken has high levels of type 2. All three are equally important, especially when you are on your fasting journey, after all you are getting more Telomerase so your body is all ready and waiting to repair and by putting this wonderful superfood in your body – which is also delicious – your body can repair with superior nutrition.!!
Type 1 and 3 collagen makes up your skin, hair, nails, bones, discs, plus part of your gut lining.
Type 2 is what makes up your ligaments, tendons, connective tissue, fascia and so many other areas including gut.

In theory type 2 collagen is the most important collagen that would be recommended every day even when you have finished our program as it is quite simply superior nutrition.

When you look at the statement, I made in the beginning of this section that collagen makes up at least 30% of our protein in our body make up then it would make sense to take about 30% or more of the protein ingested as broths made from bones.

Did you know that there is more collagen in your bones than calcium – in fact there is more collagen than all the minerals combined!! Plus, it is vital that you understand that collagen is vital for healthy gut health.

Let’s just come off collagen and move onto Hyaluronic Acid – this is our other antiaging nutrient and there it is in Bone broth!!!

Hyaluronic Acid

This nutrient is found in the most absorbable from broth, skins and the meat off the bone of the chicken, beef, Fish, Pork

Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in all vertebrates including us humans. Foods containing hyaluronic acid include the whole bodies including the heads of fish, including mackerel, sea bream, and eel, as well as the cartilaginous tissues of beef, pork and poultry. According to the research, the highest concentration of hyaluronic acid is found in the eyes and joints of the animals.

Luckily for vegetarians, there are plant-based sources of hyaluronic acid foods such as leafy greens, bell peppers, carrots, potatoes, avocados, and nuts contain hyaluronic acid.

However, there isn’t enough research been done on the absorbability of vegetarian sources. Because of this, for now we will stick to the tried and true of broths!! Plus of course when you have broth you are getting the collagen as well!!

What is Hyaluronic Acid

This substance breaks down very quickly in the body and so needs to be replenished on a very regular basis. If you do this, you are less likely to sustain injuries and if you do get injured you will repair quickly.

Hyaluronic Acid is necessary to keep your eyes moist and operating well, again acting as the eyes shock absorber!! Because of this it can support great vision and eye health.

For example, if you have cartilage problems your body can repair itself if you drink lots of Chicken broth. Add a beef bone broth and you have a magical combination of balance of collagen and hyaluronic acid which are a dynamic duo that work together as a team. To bring about healing, not only for skin, and bones but your whole body if you give it time enough!!

The combination of Collagen and the Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid and collagen complement each other when it comes to creating a diet for optimal skin. While collagen firms the skin, the hyaluronic acid hydrates and retains that collagen by holding onto water. However, if your skin doesn't have an ample supply of collagen, there's not as much for the hyaluronic acid to keep moist and supple.

Sin isn’t the only are that is helped by this duo of power, if you are regularly having good quality bone broths you can heal almost everything

For example, if you have cartilage problems your body can repair itself. If you drink lots of Chicken broth. Add a beef bone broth and you have a magical combination of balance of collagen and hyaluronic acid which are a dynamic duo that work together as a team. To bring about healing, not only for skin, and bones but your whole body if you give it time enough!!

The benefits of gelatine are just like beef bone broth, but you can find it is satisfying when you are fasting as it is a great textural change from liquids.

I have personally found gelatine to be much better for my skin and hair than collagen powders for example.

I had been using gelatine for many years – about 8 in fact and I decided to try collagen powder and what I have noticed is that my skin lost a lot of flexibility and my hair started to fall out in far greater amounts than it had ever done.

When I started on the Ultimate Detox I had just accepted that my hair was falling and that my skin was aging very quickly. What I noticed after only 10 days is that my hair loss had dramatically reduced, and my skin was feeling much better, I am still waiting to look 20 years younger – but I am sure it will happen (maybe not 20 years, but definitely I know I will improve.
What I have noticed in my physical self is that my bowels are working so well, I decided to have LBS!! in my cupboard but not to use them unless I missed a daily bowel motion and I haven’t missed a beat, which is very interesting. Being as I have a history of constipation from overuse of laxatives – due to an eating disorder I had for a while – more about that later in this book – in my personal journey!

Two other nutrients that are in bone broths are Glucosamine and Chondroitin

So what are they and what are they helpful for

You have probably heard of these two nutrients, especially if you have suffered from long term joint pain and for very good reason.
Glucosamine is an amino sugar. Your body uses it to build cartilage. When we have enough nutrients, the connective tissue is tougher than muscle but more flexible than bone.
Amongst other things, it pads the end of your long bones. It thereby cushions these bones from impact and plus keeps joint motion flexible.

One mineral that your body needs to build and repair cartilage is sulphur. Glucosamine contains natural sulphur. Sulphur works alongside Glucosamine which helps your cartilage absorb and utilise this nutrient.

Natural glucosamine is found in the shells of shrimp, lobsters, crabs, and other shellfish. It can also be found in corn, wheat, and certain fungi, however, nature made glucosamine is often hard for people to digest. For example, the glucosamine sourced from corn is derived by first fermenting the grain. Since natural sources of glucosamine are hard to find, most people stick to supplements however using broth on a daily basis is a delicious absorbable multi nutrient powerhouse

Glucosamine is used by body builders, Why?

The reason bodybuilders supplement with glucosamine is that it prevents joint deterioration. Most bodybuilders because of the exercise regimes, are hard on their joints. They have to push themselves to get the results. By using supplements such as glucosamine, they can protect their cartilage from breaking down and help it remain flexible.

In addition to preventing deterioration of the joints, glucosamine can help with joint pain and back pain as well as with weight loss. The weight loss is due to the inflammation reduction, which in turn reduces stress within your system.

What foods are high in glucosamine?

Unfortunately, there are only a few glucosamine containing foods. Rich natural sources of glucosamine include animal bones, including the bone marrow, the fluid around joints, shellfish and some fermented foods

Traditional diets used to provide this nutrient through their cuisine, and you can too. You have probably guessed by now that In order to get enough bioavailable glucosamine, you’ll have to do what traditional societies did, which is to drink bone broth!! Here are some suggestions of glucosamine foods:

Eat the tough parts of your steak

People love tender, succulent steaks that melt in your mouth. However, a tough steak might be better for you. If it’s got cartilage, instead of cutting it or spitting it out, you might try eating it. The natural cartilage found in meat is a great source of the nutrients you need to make your own cartilage. The easier way is of course to do a long slow cook so that the cartilage/gristle is easy to eat and you will absorb it easier.

Chicken soup made from the whole chicken, including the feet and necks

Oxtail soup – I have very fond memories of delicious oxtail soups on cold winters days or you could try roasting marrow bones and adding to soups and broths – this really increases the depth of flavour and texture, making the broth silky smooth.

Mussels, especially your green lipped ones are very high in Glucosamine – plus they have an enzyme inhibitor that can be a rescuer for your joints.

Nearly every supplement of glucosamine contains chondroitin – so what is the difference between them?

Like glucosamine Chondroitin is a molecule that occurs naturally within our bodies. It is a major component of cartilage. It is the tough connective tissue that acts as a cushion for our joints.

When you purchase this in supplement form it is most often made from shark and bovine cartilage. However it normally comes from synthetic sources and as such is difficult for the body to utilise fully.

Chondroitin helps to keep cartilage health and flexible. It does this by absorbing liquid and acting like a shock absorber.
As well as joint and connective tissue health Chondroitin has been found to help with bladder conditions such as cystitis and overactive bladder. There are many other things that this nutrient is said to help with such as heart disease, some cancers and osteoporosis for example. However there are no studies to evaluate this.
The only natural sources that I can find so far is bone broth including fish bone.

The great thing about Glucosamine and chondroitin is that they are in our bone broths and we don’t have to worry about taking pills etc. They have an abundance of nutrients that are bioavailable so that our bodies can enjoy the effects very quickly!!

I am sure you can see by now how beneficial for your whole being it is too fast on these wonderful broths.

Before we move on, I would like to discuss the benefits of fasting on our emotional and spiritual health.

This is a vital part of this program as I feel it is important that we look after us as a whole being, not put into categories.

We are all unique and so your reaction to this program will be a journey that is totally and utterly unique to you. So we may not cover exactly what you are going to go through – but in the client sharing pages you will probably identify with much of what the ladies have experienced.

When we fast, all sorts of things come up as we go through the stages. What I would recommend is that you stick with the process no matter what happens,

For example, if you have been floating along feeling awesome but after 10, 20 or even 30 days on the program you feel awful, this is what we call a healing crisis

Our new Program - Ultimate Detox 12 week Challenge includes Fasting in a very beneficial way + you are supported in a group environment - our New challenge starts on 10th September 2022 and would love for you to join us - click here to get started

Karen Creighton 11/11/22 Karen Creighton 11/11/22

Fasting benefits - emotional (mental) physical and spiritual

Is fasting beneficial for Physical, Emotional Spiritual well-being?

We as a species, especially in the western world, are dealing with so many diseases, obesity and health issues more than ever in our history.

We also crave a sense of belonging, a sense of community that is part of it. But for many, it goes so much deeper than that. We want a deeper understanding of belonging. More than ever before, we are looking for a sense of purpose. What’s it all about, is a saying that comes to mind.

In our world, mental health issues such as depression and anxiety are growing at alarming rates. We are seeing people in such a wrong way emotionally that we could be lulled into thinking that it is beyond our control. However, all of this could be helped using a tool that we humans have used for well over 1000 years, probably for the whole time humans have been on this planet. Fasting!

First up, let us look into fasting for our emotional wellbeing

Fasting for mental health is a winning combination! Let’s dive deeper!

According to the CDC statistics - These are official stats that I am sure have increased since this time

Between 2013 and 2016, 8.1% of American adults aged 20 and over had depression in any two weeks.
Nearly 80% of adults with depression and anxiety said it affected their work, home and social life
Women were almost twice as likely as men to suffer from depression and anxiety (10.4% and 5.5%, respectively)

We have to ask the question - Why are so many people of all ages struggling with depression and anxiety? I believe these problems are just symptoms: your body is trying to tell you something! Something is wrong, and it needs to be looked at.

Unfortunately, as a society, we tend to focus on the symptoms. Instead of trying to find the root cause of the problem, your doctor, and often your naturopath, will prescribe medicines that suppress those symptoms. In other words, they offer a short-term fix instead of a long-term solution.

This is a big mistake and a considerable part of the problem. Instead of helping people, they’d instead prescribe antidepressants and other medications that do nothing to treat what’s causing these health issues in the first place. You are suppressing your emotions - I feel that emotions are meant to be felt and expressed as we are emotional beings. For example, we tend to hide anger or grief as society tends to frown on the face.

However, fasting for mental health may be beneficial in so many ways. It allows the release of cellular memory in your cells, which you may or may not feel. But it can and will be released if given the right internal environment.

As a western society, we are always looking for a quick fix; take an aspirin for a headache, for example, rather than ask why you feel like this - it could be you need some water or rest.

The use of antidepressants prescribed is on the rise. The increase from 2005 to 2018 increased by 400% and rising!!

Plus, this isn’t just for a short period, those who take these medications, 60% of them are likely to take for two years or more. Some of my clients have been on this medication for over 15 years!!

This isn’t good news.

So, instead of reaching for that tablet or visiting the doctor. Our first port of call is to look at our diets and lifestyles first!

Of course, suppose you are taking anti-depressants already. In that case, you can work on reducing the symptoms and then, when you are ready, stop taking them altogether -this is something you need to work with a practitioner who has experience slowly reducing as the side effects of withdrawal can be crippling!

Instead of reaching for medication first, it’s time to get to the root cause of the issue. One way to do that is by fixing your cells. If you cleanse the cells, you will get well!

Fasting can help your mental health - there is a link between food and depression!

There are many possible reasons for depression and anxiety, but one potential that doesn’t get the attention it deserves is the food we eat. For example, studies indicate there is a link between gluten and depression:

Gluten and other lectin-containing foods can cause allergies, which may cause malabsorption, which is the inability to absorb nutrients properly. As a result, brain functions may be compromised.

There is a theory that gluten might affect the amount of tryptophan and serotonin in the body, which gives feelings of happiness

If you or someone you love are suffering from depression and anxiety, it would be a good idea to look at the foods you eat.

So Many foods can contain gluten:- In fact, there are so many more than you think as they are often hidden in foods you would never believe, like potato crisps, corn chips, bread, pasta, sauces, soy sauce, most restaurant meals - not all but the majority. - You need to become a detective for your health and well-being

Removing gluten is one step in removing this potentially harmful ingredient from your diet. Doing so could be vital in alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety, and other mental health issues. However, you will very often need to detox to help alleviate the root of the problem.

Not just gluten can be a problem; there are many, many other problem foods out there, as there are foods that contain oxalates, phytates, silicates, lectins, plus so much more. It can be a minefield for anyone who wants to improve their mental and physical well-being.

We use a dietary exclusion program as part of our Fast Track To Health and Ultimate Detox programs.

As a creator of programs, I used intermittent fasting as an essential part of the Fast Track program; we started doing this in 2010 as it simply worked - this was before science caught up.

In our Fast Track Program, the eating window is a maximum of 9 hours, eating between 11 am to 8 pm - this works so well for many.

In our New Ultimate Detox program, we recommend fasting for 24 + hours once a week, if you desire - the reason why is straightforward but oh so exciting. Many of us on trial for this program did anything from 4 to 6 days on the fast!

With intermittent and longer-term Fasting, you will probably be aware of the physical benefits - Like

Weight loss, speeding up detoxification, anti-ageing etc. If you would like more info, you can visit my blog Here.

We will cover a bit more about the overall benefits of fasting.

Fasting for emotional/mental Health

Before I recommend that you fast, I'd like to explain why it would benefit you. So let’s have a look.

Many of the foods we eat today are loaded with sugars, preservatives, and food colourings, plus they contain other ingredients like gluten and other natural chemical ingredients. Other toxic elements include flavourings, food additives, preservatives, and GM foods.

Since the addition of these in our food chain, there has been a significant rise in health issues such as obesity, mental health issues, autism, ADHD and autoimmune disorders. These ingredients make us sick in ways people never imagined 30 years ago.

Did you know fasting is the oldest health solution we have used for at least a thousand years?

It is used by nearly every religion as a way of connecting to a higher source. Fasting doesn’t just heal someone physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

When we use intermittent fasting like on our Fast Track program, we aren’t eating for 15 hours or more.
This means that we aren’t eating foods that could make us sick in the first place and allowing our bodies to heal from the inside out.

Then by removing foods that could add to the problem and only eating less inflammatory foods - like the list in Fast Track, Ultimate Detox and, of course, the Carnivore Diet. You are giving your body even more time to heal, as it no longer has to work so hard by dealing with the cycle of inflammation and then dis-ease. It can put the energy into healing at the root of the problem.

When you stop eating these foods, your body can produce what it needs to help us be physically and emotionally healthier. With emotional well-being, for example, your body will be able to make more of the feel-good hormones - tryptophan and serotonin - if you do this, you will no longer need the medication that gives you a chemical version.

When we fast, we can also remove toxic residue from the cell. It does this through Autophagy, which means that your body will eat the bad cells and tissues as energy before using the good cells.

When we look deeper, our damaged and unwanted cells cannot use fat as energy; they begin to die off and become food for the body. This is why fasting for your mental health is so valuable.

Unlike allopathic medicines, which suppress symptoms of anxiety and depression, fasting goes directly to attacking the bad cells, which may be linked to mental health issues. This is the foundation of healthy living and our programmes.

Did you know that In 2014, $14.51 Billion US was spent on antidepressants, with $16.80 billion expected to be sold by 2020? Unlike this potentially damaging medicine, fasting costs nothing. Even if you purchase some support products, you will be saving money! For example, if you cut out eating breakfast every day for 365 days a year, well, let's say 313 - you might want breakfast once a week for a treat. Your breakfast might cost you for ease of maths - not my strong point $5, you can save $1565 per year, or you could put that towards better foods through the rest of the day.

Many people are hesitant to try intermittent fasting for mental health because they are not used to not eating for an extended period. However, those feelings of doubt are quickly diminished when you try it, as it does have excellent health benefits. It is straightforward when you feel and see the results.

Give intermittent fasting for mental health a try. Your body will thank you!

Now intermittent Fasting is fantastic - but why not take it a step further and fast for 24 or more hours?

What we have found, once we get started on our Ultimate Detox program, you get on a roll, and 24 hours turn into 48. 72, and even more?
When we introduced the more extended fasting version of our program, using support products to help your body eliminate toxic residue - emotional and physical. Then the results spoke for themselves.

Everyone who participated in our first trial. I just loved the way the fasting made them feel. They loved the weight drop and the feeling of lightness in their body.

But most of all, apart from the weight loss - which for many was substantial, the most common theme of the feedback was that they felt much better emotionally.

Feelings of positivity became commonplace; mental clarity was the order of the day. All of this, in time, becomes habitual, and bad days become fewer, and I would say, if you follow our regime, you won’t recognise yourself after a few months.

Plus, after a prolonged fast of 4 days or more, the other benefit was feeling more connected with the source - whatever that might be for you - God, Jesus, Allah, Buddha, etc. This is why many religions use fasting as a religious practice.

I FELT MORE CONNECTED WITH MY SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE when I did my long fast on the 5th day of a six-day fast (I can only speak for myself on this).
I picked up more information spiritually and got to know my purpose. My guides have been sharing more; my connection is a prominent channel.

Since then, the connection has become more substantial. Then all that you attract is in alignment with your energy, which brings you to create a positive energy vortex that helps you see why we are here, what our purpose is, and also helps you find direction. Plus, as a by-product, you attract more abundance. Of all things!

What is the purpose of sharing this? I know that Fasting has a considerable place in health and well-being, and I want to shout this from the rooftops as I know how good it feels when you do it!

Do you need any special tools?

For intermittent fasting, No.

To get the best out of your fasting, yes, have some minerals, and ensure you are topped up with electrolytes, magnesium and other minerals, which are vital foundations to excellent health - no, not the commercial stuff with lots of flavours. Good Quality salt can do it.

If you get cravings, then I would recommend signing up for our Fast Track To Health program as it has the products to help you on your way - the Spray helps with the cravings (plus helps with allowing your body to get out of stress mode and into using Fat as energy - Blog on that soon) The magnesium helps on so many levels - info Here.

Prolonged Fasting?

When we talk of prolonged, as opposed to Intermittent fasting, we talk about 24 hours or more.

When you fast, traditionally, we tend to talk about water fasting. This, for many, is a hard ask, especially if you cannot go away and rest for some time.

You could go on a juice fast, but this has its problems, too, as most of the liquids contain lots of sugars, so you can be out of the frying pan and into the fire as far as cravings and symptoms are concerned. I know this because I have been there; I did many fasts with Juices, the longest being 40 days. I quickly returned to old habits, and then all my symptoms would return.

This is why I haven’t, until June this year - 2022 - taken clients through fasting - I took hundreds through the juice fast, and most clients found the same as I did.

So, earlier this year, I started researching. I knew there was something out there to help my clients struggling with what was happening in the world. Each time I began to look at what would help, then fasting popped up.

I knew that for many, water fasting was not feasible. Then I remembered research I had done ten years ago when I was looking to improve my Fast Track To Health program, which came up with beef bone broth. At the time, powdered broth was unavailable, especially ones that didn't contain ingredients that I knew would be detrimental. So I recommended that clients add good quality gelatine to the program, which helped with so many.

After remembering about broth, I was guided to create Ultimate Detox.

It is a step-by-step guide to get you started on longer-term fasting. Plus, it gives you support remedies and products to help keep your body. So that it can remove debris with ease, as opposed to having severe detox reactions, which many people can experience. Plus, you have the benefit of having some nutrients that will encourage your body to have even healthier cells and, therefore, a healthier body. My blog about fasting takes you into the benefits of fasting with Broth.

Why do products go alongside?

This is a question that is commonly asked, and I understand why.
Suppose we lived in a world, like 150 years ago, where there were very few pollutants, and our food came from the field to the table. Then the need for fasting was only occasional. You would typically do fasting because you had a fever, which would be the natural course of action or because of your religious belief. So you would probably have a loved one feeding you water and the occasional broth while you were recovering.

In today’s world, we are exposed to toxins every minute of every day. The food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and even the energy field contain toxins from wifi and phones. We are also bombarded with negative news and hear about negativity from nearly every angle.

So for our bodies to do all the work is an uphill battle, which can be challenging. At least it might make you feel a bit off-colour. However, sometimes some organs are so overloaded that they can break down. So providing support makes so much sense. Look at our programme Ultimate Detox; if you are interested in the benefits of long-term fasting - click Here.

If you want to get into intermittent fasting, lose some excess fat, and gain other tremendous benefits, click Here.

Before creating the Ultimate Detox, I felt stagnant and lacking in direction. Even though I knew I was helping many people with their health and well-being, I knew I needed more; I needed to detox all that wasn’t serving me emotionally and physically. But little did I realise when I embarked on the journey with 12 other brave souls who jumped at the chance to try my new program. How much would I change? How my life would change, and we have only just started!!

Since I first wrote this, we have taken many more lovely clients through the Ultimate Detox program, and I am excited to say that the results are still amazing.

Karen Creighton 10/21/22 Karen Creighton 10/21/22

The dangers of Alcohol consumption - and how to mitigate it!

In the last couple of years, I was drinking daily, like so many of us, thinking I was doing ok. Now I have had over 3 months off, with the Ultimate Detox and oh my, I feel so much better without it!! I have had the occasional glass of wine since being on the strict part of the program and I really don’t like the way it makes me feel!!

Here are a few reasons to either knock alcohol on the head or at least limit its consumption.

Today I thought I would talk about some of the dangers of alcohol and most importantly, how to lessen the damage if you do decide to drink.

We all know that drinking alcohol has a dark side, but do you really know what it is doing to you? Many of your symptoms could simply be caused by that daily tipple. We go over, what it is doing and how you can protect yourself.

I have known about this for a very long time, and there was a time when I didn’t drink anything for many years. Then it sneaked into my life, by stealth !! And for the last couple of years, I was drinking daily, thinking I was doing ok. Now I have had over 3 months off, with the Ultimate Detox and oh my, I feel so much better without it!! I have had the occasional glass of wine since being on the strict part of the program and I really don’t like the way it makes me feel!!

Here are a few reasons to either knock alcohol on the head or at least limit its consumption.

Alcohol poisons your brain, and that is why you feel drunk. It shrinks neurons, destroys your gut lining and leads to inflammation within your whole body, not just your gut. It depletes NAD levels, which are critical for longevity and ruins your sleep.

Here's what it does to you:

Gut Damage

The first place it harms is your gut.

Alcohol disrupts the microbiome leading to dysbiosis—this in turn compromises the gut lining, which leads to a leaky gut allowing endotoxins to pass into your bloodstream causing loads of inflammation and constipation plus other gut issues

Liver Damage

Alcohol causes many to have liver damage. The reason is that with the gut lining being compromised, the gut lining allows endotoxins to pass through to the liver causing inflammation and oxidative stress as well as fat deposits in and around the liver.

Alcohol depletes the liver's detoxification pathways and in turn, disrupts the ability to detoxify other harmful substances. Which can cause so many other health problems as we go along.

Brain damage

Ethanol is very toxic to the brain as it bypasses the blood-brain barrier. It is what causes us to feel the effects of alcohol when we are drunk.

One of the ways it causes damage is via gut and liver damage - these are the long-term effects of that night on the town. It does this via an immune activation and inflammation is caused in your brain. Hence the hangover effect.

Alcoholics have reduced Grey matter - areas of neuron density - in the brain which is one of the reasons why they have trouble learning and memory loss.

However, it is not just alcoholics that have issues, studies have shown that just 1-2 drinks per day are associated with brain damage that is the equivalent of ageing 10 years over a 1-year period. I must admit this sounds a bit quick, however, I felt as though I had aged considerably over the last couple of years and now, since doing the detox ( The Ultimate Detox that is ) am feeling as though I have turned the clock back again, which feels good!

Low Testosterone + Increase in Oestrogen

Alcohol usage will increase oestrogen and decrease testosterone. This happens via multiple mechanisms

Alcohol increases aromatase expression in the liver which converts testosterone into Oestrogen. Excess S+Oestrogen will also lower testosterone and reduce Testosterone synthesis.

Many alcohols also contain potent Pythoestrogens. It is the Hoppy beers that contain these and they basically increase your levels of Oestrogens. What this means is, if you drink enough of these beers, you are getting very close to a dose of the birth control pill!!

Deplete B Vitamins, NAD and vitamin A

I am sure you know what B vitamins and vitamin A are. NAD is a newish kid on the block and here is a short explanation

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is found in every living cell, serving as an essential cofactor — the compounds necessary for the activity of molecular machines (enzymes) — involved in fundamental biological processes. Initially discovered in 1906, NAD+ has seen a resurgence in research continually showing that NAD+ is critical for maintaining the health of our cells, tissues, and bodies.

So in a nutshell - Alcohol depletes many critical vitamins and nutrients. NAD is depleted during the detoxification process.
NAD is critical for almost every metabolic process, including:-

Circadian Rythym
Glucose metabolism
Cognitive function
Cell renewal
Cell repair

Alcohol isn’t just processed by the liver, it actually makes it’s way to every organ, which requires NAD to dispose of it.

When NAD is depleted, metabolic rate and tissue repair begin to slow allowing more damage to accumulate in every tissue that the alcohol gets to!

Alcohol depletes B1 one of the most important vitamins for cognitive function as well as glucose metabolism.

Plus depleting our vitamin A stores also affects our liver function, which affects our immune system our skin elasticity, hormones synthesis (see above). Plus many other functions.

Alcohol disturbs sleep

While alcohol may help you fall asleep faster, it disrupts sleep patterns, leading to less deep sleep, less REM sleep and a disordered sleep cycle

This will make you more tired in the morning, lead to cognitive impairment & less tissue restoration

Alcohol can cause anxiety

Alcohol initially increases GABA, an inhibitory, anti-anxiety neurotransmitter,
However, over time it reduces the number of GABA receptors, causing overexcitation and anxiety.

Do not drink to destress, it'll backfire

So what to do??

Well, the ideal way of living, is, of course, to not drink on a regular basis. If you are on one of our programmes - Fast Track to Health or our newest programme Ultimate Detox, then you will be off the booze for a while anyway. However, there are times when you are out socially and feel like you would like to join in we have a few suggestions to help with damage limitation.
I would like to say not to make alcohol a mainstay of your life otherwise you will be affected by the above!!

Here are a few suggestions to help limit the damage to your system.

I have a protocol that I have been using with clients on the program, when they have an event where they feel they want to let their hair down and enjoy it, without guilt it is this.

Two products - Milk thistle and charcoal - as a herbalist I tend to recommend liquid Milk thistle but some prefer the caps - the dosage here is for the tincture form.

Before going out take 15 drops of Milk thistle in some water - 30 mins or so before imbibing. Then as close to starting drinking, in fact with your first sip, take 2 charcoal capsules.

Then as close to finishing drinking take 2 charcoal caps. Then approximately 30 mins later take another 15 drops of milk thistle in water.

Milk Thistle helps protect your liver and charcoal helps to limit the amount that is absorbed into your system.

Plus what you eat can really help with mitigating the effects of alcohol too and believe it or not, saturated fat comes to the rescue (I have a blog about this that will be released next week- which can be mind-blowing

So, saturated fats are one of the most effective ways to help the gut and the liver

Studies show that sat fat supplementation completely blocked the negative effects of ethanol to liver & gut, specifically Tallow - Which is basically beef fat, Tallow was the fat that used to be used by fish and chips shops back in the day because it could be used at high heat without it affecting the food cooked in it. Plus it is a delicious way to fry!!

PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids) on the other hand, exacerbate issues and according to this study, linoleic acid is REQUIRED for ethanol to damage your liver, yep that’s right REQUIRED!! Here is a study about this

In this study, it showed that "the tallow ethanol group didn't show any liver damage"

I am not recommending that you have chips cooked in tallow, as this might not help. But you can access tallow capsules which could!! Here is the link for the online shop - Here another plus with this is that it can help reduce abdominal fat - more info for this coming soon!!

On the other hand, the last thing you want is a PUFA-heavy meal with alcohol.

Another option: EAT CHEESE which massively helps you cope with the detoxification effect - The French have definitely got things right with this - think cheese and wine!!

Hope you find this of interest
Let me know if you need more info about this or any other subject

Karen Creighton 10/5/22 Karen Creighton 10/5/22

Lemon Water Benefits - this isn't your usual lemon Water!

There are so many benefits to drinking Lemon water - however, this isn’t your usual lemon water - this uses the whole lemon - yep peel, pith and all!!
It really can help so many more things than what we have included here!!

Why Drink Lemon water

Lemons are packed with a variety of nutrients - they are great sources of Vitamin C, citric acid and small amounts of Some of the B vitamins - riboflavin (B2) , Niacin (B3) Pyridoxine (B6) Folate and vitamin E.

Lemons are also great sources of essential minerals - such as iron, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium potassium and zinc.

Now don’t go and rush out and juice your lemons, most of these wonderful nutrients are in the skin and the pith - I will share the best way of using lemons so you get the full benefits a little later

Lemon water can help in a variety of different ways

It can treat and prevent kidney stones. Normally, kidney stones pass out of the body without much discomfort, but sometimes they can block the urine flow and cause intense pain. Drinking lemon water helps in rehydrating the body and keeping the urine diluted. This, in turn, reduces any risk of kidney stone formation.
Plus it is said that citrate in lemons, helps to bind oxalates so that the stones can be broken down and taken out of your body with ease. - kidney stones are notorious for being excruciatingly painful to eliminate due to the jagged edges of the oxalates.
Fatty liver

In a Japanese study, it has been found that the ingredients in lemons can help with Fatty liver - either reverse it or prevent it in the first place. The symptoms of fatty liver and many and diverse they include.
Inability to sleep
Itchy skin
Yellowing of the whites of the eyes
Memory problems
Fatigue
Unstable weight
Men developing breasts
Edema of legs and ankles
Bruising easily
Bright red palms of your hands
Dark coloured urine
Dry eyes and/or Mouth
Inability to concentrate - Think ADD and ADHD
No appetite
Swollen abdomen

Improves digestion

The chemicals in Lemon water appear to improve digestion. It does this by promoting the production of Hydrochloric acid as well as bile production.
The dear lemon can help reduce acidity and the risk of gout - this is because it can remove the oxalates that are associated with gout! Just like kidney stones!
If you struggle with heartburn or abdominal cramps. Bloating and even burning sensations in the stomach then could be the answer to your prayers.
Also using the whole lemon can stop and prevent constipation.

Boost immunity

Due to the content of not only vitamin C it contains bioflavonoids that help us to uptake vitamin C easier. This as well as the zinc that lemons contain can really help to keep your immune system in tip-top shape.

Rheumatism and Arthritis

Lemon Water is also known to help with Rheumatism and Arthritis. Probably many aches and pains in our body are due to Oxalate accumulation - We will cover Oxalates in another blog.

Relieves swollen and bleeding gums

Relieves swollen and bleeding gums - this is due to the vitamin C and the Bioflavonoid content.

Cancer-fighting potential

Cancer-fighting potential - it is said to have anti-cancer components according to the Asian Pacific Journal of cancer prevention lemons have anti-tumour properties. Linked to helping with Breast cancer. Not much more research has been done as yet but definitely worth a try if you want to prevent or treat it.

Lower Stress and Blood Pressure

Lemon Water can help lower stress and therefore can help to lower blood pressure - if yours is elevated (if you are taking medication for this then keep an eye on the symptoms of low blood pressure - like dizzyness and lightheaded, especially when rising. If this happens you might need to reduce your dosage of meds!

Detoxification Support

Lemon water can help cleanse your entire system by reducing toxins in the blood - a great way to easily detoxify and enjoy the effects - which can reduce many symptoms.

Support weight loss and diabetes prevention

Helps you to lose weight - this is a very good reason to drink lemon water on a regular basis as it can help your body reduce insulin resistance and help your body to come to a balanced weight.

The reason for this is that some of the polyphenols in the lemon skin and pith can play a huge role in minimising insulin resistance.
An increase in insulin resistance leads to less responsiveness from the insulin hormone which results in uncontrollable levels of blood sugars.
The polyphenols in Lemon skin/rind have the ability to suppress the accumulation of fat in the abdomen area. Plus the presence of naringin and hesperidin, bioflavonoids, function as dietary antioxidants, which have been shown in mice studies to prevent the progression of hyperglycemia.

Need to know more?

While lemon zest may contain key ingredients in helping one manage their blood glucose levels, the magic lies in the peel. A deeper evaluation of the skin contents shows that key ingredients, flavanones, are found in all citrus peels. Since the peel is separated into different layers, similar to the human skin, the amount of flavones in each layer also varies. The white part of the skin, the pith, has been shown to contain a larger amount of flavones compared to other layers of the peel.

In addition to controlling blood glucose, the antioxidant properties of the flavones have been linked to the management of radical damage and inflammation, both of which are prevalent in type 2 diabetes.

Glycation, the process of binding a sugar molecule, produces end products known as glycation end products (AGEs). Accumulations of AGEs result in browning, or increased amounts of inflammation and free radical damage throughout the body. Furthermore, increased amounts of AGEs can cause blood vessels to lose flexibility, which will lead to other adverse effects.

Lemon peels also contain vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin, beta carotene, folate, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Vitamin C in conjunction with calcium helps with bone health and the prevention of osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory polyarthritis, and other bone conditions. Vitamin C also serves a pivotal role in minimizing free radical damage. Antioxidant properties have been found in vitamin C; hence, the deficiencies of this vitamin in patients with diabetes result in higher inflammation. Along with the flavanones, vitamin C also helps minimize insulin resistance.

Fibre is another ingredient found in lemon peels. Studies have shown that higher fibre can, lower blood pressure. Soluble fibre is the main one that is found in lemon peels. Different from insoluble fibre, soluble fibre dissolves in water and forms a gel-like substance, this is pectin

.
The magical substance that inhibits the breakdown of carbohydrates and the absorption of fat. Therefore, soluble fibre assists in managing diabetes by limiting the amount of carbohydrate that is broken down from food, resulting in a smaller amount of sugar in the blood. Compounds such as salvestrol Q40 and limonene found in lemon peels contain anti-carcinogenic properties.

Please note
If you are intermittent Fasting please have this in your eating window !!

How to take Lemon Water

Recipe Lemon Water

You will need 1 organic Lemon (or unsprayed at least)
700ml of filtred water
Stevia to taste
Blender

Chop up lemons roughly

Blend till smooth - add Stevia to taste (personally I don’t add stevia as I love the taste)
Then drink - drink daily on an empty stomach - to get all the above benefits.

Put in blender and add water

Karen Creighton 9/15/22 Karen Creighton 9/15/22

Dehydration - could your symptoms simply be lack of water

Dehydration - Could all or some of your symptoms are as simple as not having enough water

Are you dehydrated, as you read this? Are you sure, your not? According to research over 75 % of Americans are dehydrated, in fact, they are not just dehydrated they are chronically dehydrated!

Dehydration - Could all or some of your symptoms be as simple as not having enough water?

Are you dehydrated as you read this? Are you sure you are not? According to research, over 75 % of Americans are dehydrated they are not just dehydrated, they are chronically dehydrated!

What this means is that although you might be drinking fluids during the day, your body is still in deficit. Being in deficit is definitely not a good thing as it prevents you from thriving. It is a bit like the cells have forgotten how to absorb this life-giving substance.

In fact, a Chronic deficit of something so vital is so common that your body gets used to it! This is why you don’t feel thirsty even when your cells are literally dying for a drink of the clear beautiful life-giving stuff. Plus, what often happens is that we mistake thrust for hunger - normally out of habit and this begins to be a much bigger problem.

Before I realised this, I spent years searching for solutions to the symptoms below, for myself as well as my clients.

Symptoms of dehydration

Thirst
Headaches
Dizziness
Nausea
Urine is dark in colour
Cramps - in extremities as well as within your body, like period pains
Constipation
Stomach ache
Feeling lethargic
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Cranky attitude
Bad breath
Dry skin
Sudden food cravings

It is so interesting isn’t it that we don’t associate many of these symptoms with lack of water, do we? Could some or all of your symptoms be dehydration?

It starts making more sense when you realise that much of our body comprises water.

Did you know Your muscles are 75% water, Your blood that transports nutrients and oxygen around your body is 82% water Your lungs that provide the above oxygen are 90% water

Your bones, believe it or not, are at 25% water!

Your health is truly dependent on the quantity and quality of water that you drink and what you bathe in - yep we absorb water through our skin too! It is vital, therefore, that you are aware of your body's needs for liquid. Very often people think that they need magnesium or potassium as they are getting cramps. All they need is water.

Plus when you look at the other symptoms above, we are always looking for solutions to these that can often be complex and often expensive. For example

Are you one of those people who only get cramps during the warm summer months, and you pop to the health shop to purchase some magnesium and/or potassium? When often it isn’t these minerals you need, it is water and lots of it.

I would also suggest that we also need to top up on salt - especially something like sea salt or, optimally, Himalayan salt, as these contain other minerals after all our bodily fluids are salty. More on salt in another of my ramblings.

If you are not in the habit of drinking water, but drink dehydrating drinks like tea, coffee and/or alcohol. Or do a lot of physical exercises or do a physical job, then you will get one or more of the symptoms above at any time of year.

So how much is enough?

The recommendation is for men is 3.4 Litres of water and for women is 3 litres. If you exercise then add another 500ml or so. This is just an average as if you are very light you will need less or heavy then you will need more.

If you get thirsty you are already dehydrated to some extent. It is vital that you sip your water throughout the day. By sipping you are more likely to absorb it than if you skull it down - most of the time it will appear to go straight through you - and it will until your body gets used to you drinking enough to replenish the cells.

Have a glass of water by your bed so that you can have some as soon as you wake up. Drink hot water, cold water, and herbal teas. Plus drink another couple of glasses for every tea or coffee that you drink.

If you do this you will find that many of your symptoms will disappear.

A bit more about the diabetes Link

People with diabetes are extremely prone to daily dehydration. As glucose builds up in the bloodstream, your kidneys are forced to work extra hard to filter out the excess sugar. If they cannot keep up, that sugar is flushed through your system through urine. High blood sugar can also cause your body to pull fluids from important tissues, such as the lenses of your eyes, muscle tissue, and brain tissue.

If left untreated, everyday dehydration can take a pretty serious toll on your blood glucose levels. When your body is lacking fluids, it creates a hormone called vasopressin which causes your kidneys to retain as much fluid as possible. By keeping in those liquids, your kidneys are also hoarding unwanted glucose. On top of that, high levels of vasopressin in your bloodstream can also cause the liver to produce additional blood sugar. Over time, this can lead to consequences like insulin resistance and Chronic Hyperglycemia, metabolic syndrome then potentially diabetes.

The good news is that dehydration is one of the fastest, easiest, and cheapest health problems to overcome: Just drink more water!

Absorption

Three is another way to absorb more water so that you can absorb it into the cells and so can reverse the deficiency symptoms and that is bone broth. Bone broth contains glutamine and glutamine has been shown to help us do many essential things, including regulating water uptake (in other words, absorption) Glutamine is an amino acid that controls the volume of water in the cells as well as regulates the pressure around the cells. Glutamine is the bridge, getting water from the bloodstream and into the cells and then bringing the waste products from the cells into the bloodstream and then out of the body.

The other thing to take note of is the quality of water that you drink, at least getting a simple filter so that you can get the chlorine and other impurities out of the water, there are filters for all budgets and they are more cost-effective than purchasing bottled water.

So the thing to remember is that if you don’t have enough water then the symptoms above could be your reality - plus if you don’t have enough water your cells start to shrivel up and the ability of the body to remove toxins and waste products becomes harder and harder. The opposite happens though, when we start drinking more water (and broth) our cells plump up and the flow of water in and waste out works more efficiently and low and behold your symptoms start becoming a thing of the past, now wouldn’t that be worth doing?

Karen Creighton 9/14/22 Karen Creighton 9/14/22

Niacin Flush for detoxing and so much more!

Niacin is a very underrated B vitamin, that gets put together in a B complex and not many people are aware of how valuable the supplement is, especially the flushing variety. In fact, many people are scared of the fact that it ramps up circulation. Believe it or not, there are Scientifically backed reasons why a Vitamin B3 niacin flush is beneficial for speeding up the process of detoxification.

What is a niacin flush and do you get it even when you aren't taking the supplement?

Niacin Flush- why do this on a detox

Niacin is a very underrated B vitamin that gets put together in a B complex, and not many people are aware of how valuable the supplement is, especially the flushing variety. Many people are scared of the fact that it ramps up circulation. Believe it or not, there are Scientifically backed reasons why a Vitamin B3 niacin flush is beneficial for speeding up the detoxification process.

What is a niacin flush, and do you get it even when you aren't taking the supplement?

This can be experienced when you try a homemade Kombucha for the first time - you can sometimes experience flushed cheeks and get a bit tingly or lightheaded.

This temporary sensation, called a niacin flush, usually lasts less than ten minutes in a food source… It is triggered by the extremely bioavailable and rapidly absorbed niacin (Vitamin B3) into the bloodstream.

It can be exacerbated when you are dehydrated too- you may drink a glass of this beverage and you haven’t drunk enough water, and bam, a flush happens. It isn’t at all dangerous, although it can feel unnerving if you aren’t sure what is happening.

So when you take a supplement of Niacin - the flush type, not the non-flush variety. You will probably experience it a bit more dramatically than a slight tingle.

For me, I go bright red, all over, and to be honest, on cold days it is a very welcome heat. However, there are several health benefits to taking niacin, including helping with detoxification. But first, a bit more about what Niacin is.

Vitamin B3 is one of the eight water-soluble B Vitamins

It is more commonly called niacin or nicotinic acid. This important nutrient facilitates the synthesis of sex and stress-related hormones in the body by the adrenal glands and other parts of the endocrine system.

Niacin is essential for maintaining cell function. It is a component of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) required by over 100 enzymes involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and alcohol, as well as DNA repair and cell signalling. Therefore, tissues with a high energy requirement or cell turnover rate such as the skin, bowel, and brain are those affected by pellagra.

While it is relatively easy to meet the body’s requirements for niacin via diet alone, many people remain at least mildly deficient due to an imbalanced gut environment which impairs absorption from food and limits the synthesis of B3 via beneficial gut microbes.

Deficiency symptoms

Deficiency symptoms which most commonly present in those who consume too much alcohol and sugar, plus/or have impaired digestion, include:

Indigestion
Skin sores
Fatigue
Vomiting
Poor circulation
Depression
Helps Decrease LDL Cholesterol and Triglycerides
Can Increase Good Cholesterol
Aids in Reducing the Hardening of the Arteries
Detoxes the Body
Aids Weight Loss
Helps Treat Pellegra

Symptoms of a Niacin Flush

People vary widely in the sensations experienced from including additional niacin in the diet. As little as 50 mg can cause a niacin flush in some people who are mildly deficient, while it may take significantly larger doses in others who maintain good overall Vitamin B3 status to experience the same effect.

For some the symptoms of a niacin flush can include a pleasant warming of the cheeks, prickliness in the extremities and mild light-headedness similar to what is experienced by drinking a glass of wine before dinner.

Hence, some people incorrectly assume that they are buzzed from the minute amount of alcohol in fermented beverages like kombucha, which is responsible for the niacin flush. In actuality, highly bioavailable B3 causes this reaction – not alcohol.

Other niacin flush symptoms for severely deficient patients can be a little problematic. These include mild stomach pain and/or nausea, rapid heartbeat, skin itching, or rash.
If this is you, then drink lots of water when taking it.

Plus, I have found if you struggle with initially taking niacin, have a small amount of milk (if you are not intolerant to it, that is), especially if you get a burning sensation in your gut, much like indigestion - this is often because of not drinking enough water with your tablet!

If the mild vasodilation caused by a niacin flush is uncomfortable, a cold shower will quickly dissipate the sensations, which only lasts a few minutes if nothing is done.

Doing the niacin flush on our journey on the Ultimate Detox not only increases your levels of B3 it aids with our program.

The benefits of a niacin flush to boost detoxification efforts were described and published in 2005 in the Journal of Internal Medicine. Researcher L.A. Carlsen described using nicotinic acid to treat extremely high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia). He found that doses of niacin cause what is termed “rebound lipolysis” This involves initial inhibiting of the breakdown of fats for a short period followed by a detoxification rebound, causing a large and simultaneous release of triglycerides and toxic chemicals from the tissues. These toxins can then be expelled from the body via the gastrointestinal tract or the skin.

This is why taking just before a workout and/or Sauna is great.

Niacin flush is commonly used to help eliminate drugs from your system and so can help with many other toxins within your body, especially the fat cells Much research is underway to substantiate the healing properties of niacin for high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, diabetes, osteoarthritis, cataracts, and burns. Niacin Flush is believed to help with weight loss - although that is not why we are recommending this. So what I am saying is don’t be afraid of the Niacin flush - people may tell you that it lasts for hours - it might in those who are very low in this vital nutrient - if you have lots in your body, you might find that you need to take higher doses to attain the flush effect.

BTW I heard about Niacin Flush in about 1996 and one of the practitioners I trained was using it as an anti-ageing tool - not sure if it worked as we fell out of touch.

However, it makes so much sense as it increases circulation - it has been used topically for this, but it makes sense to take it internally too. The more we detox the more efficiently our body will work, and then we will naturally become younger on the inside first and then gradually, you will appear younger to the outside world - well, this is what makes sense to me anyway.

In conclusion, more research is needed better to understand the physiological benefits of niacin for physical conditions. The future promise of this amazing vitamin is already upon us. Vitamin B3 is considered by most to be the major B vitamin required for a healthy existence.

Karen Creighton 9/1/22 Karen Creighton 9/1/22

Fasting - Why?

Fasting is a fantastic tool to help us detoxify and feel better. Plus, it really can help reduce our biological age. This is pure magic, and all you need to do is follow some simple rules

Now, this happens through a process that includes telomeres.

What is a telomere?

We are replicating our cells all the time and they just keep on reproducing

So how does fasting help with this.

Now when we get to fasting this is so exciting.

The reason for the excitement, is an enzyme called Telomerase, it is a very powerful enzyme. The reason it is so unique, is that it is the only enzyme in our body that can repair Telomeres. This is built into our body – wow isn’t our body amazing?

It can regrow the plastic sheath on our DNA’s shoelaces.

Not all cells create this enzyme, they are very special cells, to add to this as we increase in years these cells decrease in our bodies – Therefore, our bodies ability to protect our DNA as the telomeres decrease in their ability to protect us, we start to age in a variety of different ways. Aches, pains, disease processes.
The cells that produce this magical enzyme are called stem cells which I am sure you have heard of before.

Stem cells are the sentinel cells of our body - when our cells become damaged, stem cells swoop in and secrete proteins that initiate the repair process
When our Stem cells die, they give birth to daughter cells that can replace the cells we lose through a process called differentiation – big word I know !

To recap - The important thing for repair and antiaging where stem cells are concerned, is that they express telomerase, so they tend to maintain long telomeres.
Additionally, cells that are born directly from stem cells likely have longer telomeres than cells that aren’t, based on the simple fact that they’re one cell division away from exposure to high levels of telomerase.
As we lose stem cells as we grow older, we really want to find out how to maintain their replication and make sure that they are looked after.
The other good thing about stem cells is that they aren’t a one-trick pony, they can also duplicate themselves through a process called self-renewal, creating more stem cells These new stem cells also express telomerase, so their daughter cells will also have long telomeres.

Many people go and get stem cell implants – before you book yourself an appointment, there is another way – You can increase your own stem cell production, read on – now we know a little about stem cells and what they can do to help us, what does fasting have to do with it?

When we go through a period of prolonged fasting 48 – 72 hours or more encourages your body to produce more stem cells which in turn produce more Telomerase which will help protect your DNA, enabling true healing to occur.

You are in effect giving yourself your own stem cell implant!!! Turning back time!!

As you can see there is huge benefits to fasting – so, why do we recommend using the broths?
As civilisations we have been using bone broth for nutrition for thousands of years. And the benefits are huge. Our ancestors really did know a thing or two about healthy living.

Most people know that broths are great for them, but do you know why?
Did you know that 30% of all the protein in your body is collagen protein?? Amazing, isn’t it?
The benefits of collagen are many.
They include: -
Skin
Hair
Nails
Gut Health
Joint Health

Did you know there are 28 types of collagens and 5 are the most common in our food. But 3 types of collagens are the most important for our health – type 1, 2 and 3.

Beef has high levels of type 1 and 3 Collagen and chicken has high levels of type 2. All three are equally important, especially when you are on your fasting journey, after all you are getting more Telomerase so your body is all ready and waiting to repair and by putting this wonderful superfood in your body – which is also delicious – your body can repair with superior nutrition.!!
Type 1 and 3 collagen makes up your skin, hair, nails, bones, discs, plus part of your gut lining.
Type 2 is what makes up your ligaments, tendons, connective tissue, fascia and so many other areas including gut.
In theory type 2 collagen is the most important collagen that would be recommended every day even when you have finished our program as it is quite simply superior nutrition.

Let’s just come off collagen and move onto Hyaluronic Acid – this is our other antiaging nutrient and there it is in Bone broth!!!

Hyaluronic Acid

This nutrient is found in the most absorbable from broth, skins and the meat off the bone of the chicken, beef, Fish, Pork

What is Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid forms a gelatinous fluid that acts as a cushion in the body, allowing it to bare weight, withstand physical tension and endure physical stress. It also helps to produce luscious locks, moisturises the scalp and hydrates your skin. With long term use you can see the difference in your skin and feel the difference in your gut and joints. This substance breaks down very quickly in the body and so needs to be replenished on a very regular basis. If you do this, you are less likely to sustain injuries and if you do get injured you will repair quickly.

Hyaluronic Acid is necessary to keep your eyes moist and operating well, again acting as the eyes shock absorber!! Because of this it can support great vision and eye health.
For example, if you have cartilage problems your body can repair itself if you drink lots of Chicken broth. Add a beef bone broth and you have a magical combination of balance of collagen and hyaluronic acid which are a dynamic duo that work together as a team. To bring about healing, not only for skin, and bones but your whole body if you give it time enough!!
The combination of Collagen and the Hyaluronic acid

Skin isn’t the only are that is helped by this duo of power, if you are regularly having good quality bone broths you can heal almost everything.

If you would rather not have beef bone broth, then you can gain the benefits by making Jelly using good quality beef bone gelatine and using either lemon or grapefruit which is delicious when you are on a fast.
The benefits of gelatine are just like beef bone broth, but you can find it is satisfying when you are fasting as it is a great textural change from liquids.
I have personally found gelatine to be much better for my skin and hair than collagen powders for example.

Two other nutrients that are in bone broths are Glucosamine and Chondroitin
So what are they and what are they helpful for
You have probably heard of these two nutrients, especially if you have suffered from long term joint pain and for very good reason.
Glucosamine is an amino sugar. Your body uses it to build cartilage. When we have enough nutrients, the connective tissue is tougher than muscle but more flexible than bone.
Amongst other things, it pads the end of your long bones. It thereby cushions these bones from impact and plus keeps joint motion flexible.
One mineral that your body needs to build and repair cartilage is sulphur. Glucosamine contains natural sulphur. Sulphur works alongside Glucosamine which helps your cartilage absorb and utilise this nutrient.
Natural glucosamine is found in the shells of shrimp, lobsters, crabs, and other shellfish. It can also be found in corn, wheat, and certain fungi, however, nature made glucosamine is often hard for people to digest. For example, the glucosamine sourced from corn is derived by first fermenting the grain. Since natural sources of glucosamine are hard to find, most people stick to supplements however using broth on a daily basis is a delicious absorbable multi nutrient powerhouse

Glucosamine is used by body builders, Why?
The reason bodybuilders supplement with glucosamine is that it prevents joint deterioration. Most bodybuilders because of the exercise regimes, are hard on their joints. They have to push themselves to get the results. By using supplements such as glucosamine, they can protect their cartilage from breaking down and help it remain flexible

Eat the tough parts of your steak

People love tender, succulent steaks that melt in your mouth. However, a tough steak might be better for you. If it’s got cartilage, instead of cutting it or spitting it out, you might try eating it. The natural cartilage found in meat is a great source of the nutrients you need to make your own cartilage. The easier way is of course to do a long slow cook so that the cartilage/gristle is easy to eat and you will absorb it easier.

Chicken soup made from the whole chicken, including the feet and necks
Oxtail soup – I have very fond memories of delicious oxtail soups on cold winters days, or you could try roasting marrow bones and adding to soups and broths – this really increases the depth of flavour and texture, making the broth silky smooth.

Cook your shellfish with the shells on as some of the nutrients will spread into the cooking liquid and therefore you can drink in the delicious liquid and know that you are getting some amazing benefits – as well as satisfying your tastebuds!
Mussels, especially your green lipped ones are very high in Glucosamine – plus they have an enzyme inhibitor that can be a rescuer for your joints.

Nearly every supplement of glucosamine contains chondroitin – so what is the difference between them?

Like glucosamine Chondroitin is a molecule that occurs naturally within our bodies. It is a major component of cartilage. It is the tough connective tissue that acts as a cushion for our joints. When you purchase this in supplement form it is most often made from shark and bovine cartilage. However it normally comes from synthetic sources and as such is difficult for the body to utilise fully.
Chondroitin helps to keep cartilage health and flexible. It does this by absorbing liquid and acting like a shock absorber.
As well as joint and connective tissue health Chondroitin has been found to help with bladder conditions such as cystitis and overactive bladder. There are many other things that this nutrient is said to help with such as heart disease, some cancers and osteoporosis for example. However, there are no studies to evaluate this.
The only natural sources that I can find so far is bone broth including fish bone.

The great thing about Glucosamine and chondroitin is that they are in our bone broths, and we don’t have to worry about taking pills etc. They have an abundance of nutrients that are bioavailable so that our bodies can enjoy the effects very quickly!!

I am sure you can see by now how beneficial for your whole being it is too fast on these wonderful broths.

Before we move on, I would like to discuss the benefits of fasting on our emotional and spiritual health.

This is a vital part of this program as I feel it is important that we look after us as a whole being, not put into categories.
We are all unique and so your reaction to this program will be a journey that is totally and utterly unique to you. So we may not cover exactly what you are going to go through – but in the client sharing pages you will probably identify with much of what the ladies have experienced.

When we fast, all sorts of things come up as we go through the stages. What I would recommend is that you stick with the process no matter what happens,
For example, if you have been floating along feeling awesome but after 10, 20 or even 30 days on the program you feel awful, this is what we call a healing crisis

Our new Program - Ultimate Detox 12 week Challenge includes Fasting in a very beneficial way + you are supported in a group environment and would love for you to join us - click here to get started

Karen Creighton 7/22/22 Karen Creighton 7/22/22

Vitamin D - where to access and why we need it

As I was outside having a cup of tea, enjoying the suns rays I got to thinking about Vitamin D, as you do......

So I found a bit of writing that I had done a while ago and forgot to post, so here it is - hopefully good timing for someone!!!

For many, winter can be cold with short, dark days. This is the season that often raises concerns about vitamin D, sometimes called the sunshine vitamin.

Interest in vitamin D has exploded in recent years and for very good reason. What is Vitamin D? Vitamin D is technically not a vitamin.

The reason it isn’t is that we as humans can make this ourselves. When we expose our skin to sunlight the vitamin D we absorb is inert. In other words, it needs to be converted.

Going through some chemical processes to activate it. The first occurs in our liver this converts the Vitamin D to a pre hormone called Calcidol.

The second occurs primarily in our kidneys, this forms the physically active hormone called Calcitriol. So, when we don’t get enough sunlight and therefore Vitamin D we will not have enough of the active hormone (Calcitriol) inside our tissues and this can be very bad news.

(As we are talking about absorbing - what I have learnt is that when your skin is exposed to the sun, it is important that you don’t wash that area with soap as it interferes with the absorption - so have a shower or bath but don’t use products on these areas!!)

What a lack of this hormone can cause is a range of symptoms that can be the root of many dis-ease processes. Such as Asthma, Heart failure, and Autoimmune diseases—such as multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease.

This starts to make sense when you think about the action of this hormone. Human DNA contains more than 2,700 binding sites for Calcitriol. Including sites that are involved in every major Dis-ease.

The mere presence of these sites suggests that this hormone, and therefore vitamin D is important for every aspect of our health. As an example Vitamin D is well known for it’s importance in bone health, deficiency is known to be the root cause of rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults.

And as I pointed out that Vitmain D has so much more to do than deal with bone health.

So, In winter how do we manage to get vitamin D and therefore Calcitriol in our system. Many people take vitamin D supplements, however very few are absorbed and converted into this wonderful hormone.

Of course, as nature provides us with everything we need there are some wonderful foods that contain Vitamin D and are known to be easily converted within our bodies, after all we have evolved with them!!

Top foods containing Vitamin D

Surprisingly, the dried versions of shiitake mushrooms are Very high in Vitamin D. This may be due to the fact that these mushrooms are adept at sucking up sunlight. Shiitake is also rich in B Vitamins like B1 & B2. Make sure that you find mushrooms that have been dried in the sun, not by some artificial means, in order to

extract the benefits of high Vitamin D content.

Mackerel A small, 3½ ounce portion of this Omega-3 rich fish will give you 90% of the recommended daily amount. Currently, the FDA recommends that we eat more of these oily fishes to infuse our bodies with the vitamins and omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA’s) that our body cannot produce on its own.

Sockeye Salmon: A small 3½ ounces portion of cooked salmon will give you 90% of the recommended levels of vitamin D (might not be therapeutic levels though) Make sure to purchase salmon that has been caught from the wild, if not, then sustainably farmed.

Salmon eat zooplankton, an excellent source of the important vitamin.

Herring: Fish like herring are so high in vitamin D because they are the part of our food chain that thrive on plankton, which is extremely high in vitamin D.

Sardines: Sardines are one of the best foods containing Vitamin D. One small tin can of sardines will provide you with approximately 70% of your daily needs. These tiny canned fish are also a great source of Vitamin B12, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, protein and selenium.

Tuna fish: Eat 3 ounces of tuna daily for 50% of your Vitamin D needs. Fresh, wild-caught tuna is the most nutritious. Remember, eating oily fish can also lubricate the body with “good fats,” providing a host of health benefits to your body, like better memory and brain function.

Cod Liver Oil: If you can stomach the strong aroma, this oil is super-rich in sunlight Vitamin D. This marvellously golden, yet terrible-tasting oil, is also rich in omega 3. Incorporating this oil into your diet will help you increase your bone's ability to stay strong and healthy. Because of its high Vitamin D content, cod liver oil has also been shown to prevent osteoporosis in adult, it improves brain function and optimize the functioning of the nervous system. What is more, the oil holds 10,000 IUs of vitamin D. One tablespoon of the oil provides more than enough Vitamin D for the day.

Eggs: Eggs are another food containing vitamin D in small amounts. Eating one egg will provide you with approximately 10% of your daily needs. I would personally recommend eating free-range eggs from a local farm, if possible.

Sunshine: Okay, - Just a reminder, if it does come out, treat yourself to having a sun bath.

If you look at the list of foods that are high in Vitamin D, isn't it interesting that they are mostly freely available to those of us in colder, cloudier climates, we can up our intake from the foods we eat. This really does explain why Native Inuit people in Alaska ate so much fish!

Health Benefits of Vitamin D, in brief, There are many reasons to stock up on foods containing vitamin D. Health benefits of the vitamin include:

The prevention of chronic diseases such as many forms of cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. The protection and lubrication of your bones, teeth and hair. The regulation of cellular growth and healthy cell activity Overall reduction of the inflammatory response, a condition known to cause many chronic diseases, from cancer to diabetes to obesity. Protection against adult osteoporosis

Reduction in the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women Plus a significant reduction in the occurrence of prostate cancer in African-American men

Karen Creighton 1/20/22 Karen Creighton 1/20/22

Heard of the the glymphatic system - this could be a missing part of the puzzle

You have heard of the Lymphatic system but have you heard of the Glymphatic system? No, well I am not surprised as it is a relatively little known drainage system for our brain

You have heard of the Lymphatic system but have you heard of the Glymphatic System? No, well I am not surprised as it is a relatively little known drainage system for our brain

Do you know what the Glymphatic System is and how it can help to Improve Brain Function?

Did you know that The brain never stops working, and its processes generate waste. The body manages its waste via the lymphatic system, but the brain doesn’t use that system. So how does the brain clear waste? Until surprisingly recently, even top neuroscientists couldn’t answer this question.

The brain is largely shut off from the rest of the body via a blood-brain barrier and a blood-cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) barrier. These barriers, when working well, allow only one-way travel of oxygen, nutrients, and chemical messages from the bloodstream and spinal fluid into the brain. Given this is usually a one-way-only system, the mystery of how the waste products were removed was particularly challenging.

Then, in 2012, using fluorescent markers in mice, Maiken Nedergaard and her colleagues at the University of Rochester Medical Centre (URMC) discovered the glymphatic system. They tracked the movement of fluids through special channels from the spinal column to the brain cavity, where they cleared surplus or toxic materials from corresponding brain fluids. The glymphatic system has subsequently been described in detail Many papers and articles

The Glymphatic system is similar to the lymphatic system

Because of its similarity – and, as it turns out, connection – to the lymph system, combined with the role played by glial cells, this brain waste clearance network eventually became known as the “glial-lymphatic,” the “g-lymphatic” and finally the “glymphatic” system.

In the brain and spinal cord, astroglial cells form drainage routes – generally alongside veins and arteries – that eventually connect to the lymphatic system via a complex of nerves, vessels, and the dura (the tough outer membrane covering the brain) at the skull’s entry/exit points. Flow through the glymphatic system is driven by cerebrovascular pulsation and facilitated by changes in glial water as it flows through aquaporins (channels across cell membranes).

But the glymphatic system is more than just the brain’s waste disposal system. Researchers are finding that it also plays roles in the distribution of growth factors, brain function modulators, glucose, lipids, and amino acids. At this point, though, there is understandably a tremendous amount to be explored and clarified. For example, while the glymphatic system does connect downstream to the lymphatic system, little is understood about how these two systems interact.

So, How does the lymph system work?

Lymph is a fluid produced in various organs, including the thymus gland, the tonsils, and the appendix. While its high concentration of white blood cells makes it a major component of the immune system, it also eliminates excess water and other by-products of cellular activity. The lymphatic system is a network of organs, nodes, vessels, and ducts that respectively produce, store, and delivers lymph to the tissues where it is needed, then drain it into the bloodstream. Along with the waste materials, bacteria and toxins it binds to, lymph is eventually filtered out and eliminated with other bodily waste. Again, in the brain, however, these tasks are performed mainly by the glymphatic system.

How was the glymphatic system discovered? This is so interesting

Breakthrough work is done by researchers to understand Alzheimer’s disease led to the discovery of this network. Furthermore, study of the sleep cycles and waste clearance from the brain shed further light on how the glymphatic system works, and scientists started to investigate how maintaining effective brain waste drainage could be influenced by our sleep cycles. So, if we understand and optimize this drainage pathway and use it as a target for medical intervention, we could reduce cognitive decline and other disorders. The huge potential of understanding our glymphatic system to make better health decisions became apparent very rapidly.

Is Our sleep associated with our Glymphatic System?

When it became clear that most glymphatic activities take place during sleep cycles, researchers started to investigate the relationships between sleep and brain waste drainage. While this field of research is still in the early stages, the results-to-date suggest tremendous potential. It is likely, for instance, that maintaining glymphatic processes via targeted interventions will one day slow cognitive decline and related disorders. The brain’s interstitial spaces (that is, the spaces between the various layers of tissue) are where active waste exchange occurs. During sleep cycles, the interstitial volume increases, suggesting that enhanced waste clearance takes place at those times. Increasing evidence supports a theory that neurons actually expel many of their contents during sleep, leading to increases of up to 60% in the interstitial space and necessitating increased clearance of toxins and superfluous materials. If further evidence confirms this relationship, it will work alongside findings on trauma- or age-related sleep disruptions linking inefficient glymphatic processes to abnormal brain functionality.

How is aging-related to brain function and the glymphatic system?

Recent research has revealed how the quality of our sleep can impact the ability of our brain to clear waste and toxins efficiently. As we age, sleep can become disturbed and occur in shorter or lighter phases. Another study investigated and potentially explains the links between aging, sleep deprivation, and heightened risk for Alzheimer’s disease. This study concluded not only that sleep is critical for the normal functioning of the glymphatic system, but also that the deeper the sleep, the more efficient the process of waste removal from the brain. In addition, the same study confirmed a link between poor sleep quality, especially sleep deprivation, and the onset of Alzheimer’s (AD) and dementia. They also found that slow and steady brain function and steady cardiopulmonary activity, both of which are associated with deep non-REM sleep, are conducive to optimal functioning of the glymphatic system. Many studies link environmental toxins including Aluminium and other toxins to Alzheimer’s which makes sense considering what we are learning about the glymphatic system working to remove toxins from the brain.

What are the ways you would target our glymphatic system to ensure we can improve our overall health?

Ensuring high quality of sleep – ideally through non-pharmaceutical means – is crucial. While this includes limiting caffeine and alcohol intake and going to bed at a reasonable hour, these are just the first steps toward better sleep hygiene. Others include establishing a stable routine that prepares you for sleep. For example, particularly in northern areas, where long winter nights can disrupt bodily rhythms, research has shown that exposure to certain wavelengths of blue light that mimics that of the morning sky can have a strong effect on the night-time release of sleep-inducing hormones like melatonin; conversely, evening exposure to a blue computer monitor can suppress the release of those hormones, thereby delaying normal sleep onset.

Nutrition is also an important factor. Diets high in sugar and vegetable fat have been linked with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, by affecting cortisol secretion, certain foods can reduce sleep quality. So, Nutritional and dietary interventions aimed at restoring cortisol balance may also ease sleeping disorders and facilitate brain clearance, thereby reducing the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.

Which nutrients would you recommend for the effective functioning of the glymphatic system?

Given the connection between healthy sleep cycles and glymphatic functions, nutrients that promote sound sleep are an excellent place to start. This would include foods and supplements known to affect cortisol regulation positively.

Supplementation combining the phospholipid phosphatidylserine with omega-3 PUFAs was shown to reduce cortisol concentrations and to help regulate the circadian rhythm of salivary cortisol, reducing symptoms in elderly subjects with major depression. For this reason, phosphatidylserine alone or in combination with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids might positively regulate sleep quality, thereby preserving or improving brain functions.

It is known that magnesium deficiency is strongly correlated with insomnia, and that, coupled with an excess of calcium, magnesium deficits may contribute to major depression and other mental health problems Even studies as short as one week have shown that we need sufficient potassium to guarantee long and peaceful sleep
Get your magnesium click the button below

Magnesium Here

This article was taken from this website - I haven’t put in their links as they didn’t go anywhere - I have changed it slightly but have to give credit - it was so good an explanation that I had to share
https://annshippymd.com/how-to-support-your-glymphatic-system-to-improve-brain-function/

Karen Creighton 11/26/21 Karen Creighton 11/26/21

Magnesium - Insulin, the missing link

Are you struggling with weight, anxiety menopause symptoms?
These are just a few things that can be linked to Insulin resistance - the interesting thing is that magnesium can be the answer to these and many other health symptoms.
What we have found over the last 15 years is that Transdermal (on your skin) can make a huge difference - have a read

I am sure you are aware of how critical magnesium is for our body -
However, do you know that magnesium and insulin is a strong coupling for our well-being?

Insulin - not just for blood sugars!

Insulin, what is it for?

It regulates:-

Keeping blood sugars in balance
Insulin takes excess nutrients (from glucose, carbs and calories) and converts them to fat – this was a necessary function, if we didn’t have this it is unlikely that we as a species would have survived this long!
Helps build muscle
Plus stores protein

lifespan - Lower insulin levels equate to a longer life.
Keeps our magnesium and calcium levels in our body in balance
Retains sodium levels
Vital for healthy cell division
Growth hormone production – this links to longevity
Vital for many liver functions
Partially controls our sex hormones, oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone
Manages cholesterol in the body
Stores fat in our body which again is linked to the storing of excess nutrients

With the above list, you can see how insulin is very important for our wellbeing where does the magnesium come into it?

Without magnesium, insulin doesn’t get utilised as it is believed that without this wonderful mineral our production of insulin is impaired and our insulin receptors don’t function as well, so we get insulin resistance what that means is that we could be on the road to metabolic syndrome, diabetes and heart disease. To name but a few.

When Dr. Jerry Nadler of the Gonda Diabetes Centre at the City of Hope Medical Centre in Duarte, California, and his colleagues placed 16 healthy people on magnesium-deficient diets, their insulin became less effective at getting sugar from their blood into their cells, where it’s burned or stored as fuel.

Insulin is a critical player in life as we can see above, as is magnesium. The task of insulin is to store excess nutritional resources, this we have evolved with for times of starvation. It helps us to save energy in abundance in order to survive times of hunger.
Insulin is not just responsible for regulating sugar entry into the cells but also getting magnesium there too. They work in synergy with one another, so you can see that if you don’t have magnesium all sorts of things start to go wrong.

Magnesium is a cofactor along with insulin for multiple enzyme production and utilisation involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Magnesium deficiency is associated with increased calcium levels, which may lead to insulin resistance. Low magnesium content increases membrane microviscosity, which may impair insulin interaction with its receptor. It has been proven that when we are low in magnesium, our insulin is less than perfect and so our insulin receptors cannot talk to one another and so it is thought that this simple mineral could be a root cause of insulin resistance and therefore diabetes and even heart disease.

What does all this really mean?

After 18 years of working with Transdermal magnesium for myself and my clients, I have noticed a huge improvement in everyone who has used it on a regular and consistent basis. We need magnesium daily, all of our daily processes need magnesium to keep functioning – so I recommend a minimum application of at least twice a day! If you are busy, suffer from depression/anxiety and are very physical then 4-5 times daily will be so beneficial.

You may be wondering why Transdermal (applied to the skin) and not tablets, well I have found that when we are low in magnesium, we don’t make as many digestive enzymes. So when we get low on this vital nutrient, we start to have many other health issues that seem unrelated including malnutrition. Applying good-quality magnesium to your skin bypasses digestion and therefore goes where it is needed!!

All of our magnesium is made with Premium Grade Magnesium Chloride that we source and import ourselves. Plus we add homoeopathic remedies, essential oils and herbs to make them as effective as they can possibly be in one product!!

I do have a few different types of magnesium gel, but now we have the Ultimate Magnesium Gel. This has all the benefits of the other three combined into one product - it makes it so much easier for everyone to choose and use.
The link is below

magnesium here