Creating A Mindset of Health

So much of health is all about habits and actions, but where do these all stem from? What if we don’t have to make as many changes as we think we do? What if there was one powerful thing that makes a lot of difference?

That thing is mindset.

Mindset is sometimes called “the story we tell ourselves.” It’s our attitude toward things in our life. And we have control over our mindset.  What story are you telling yourself about your health and wellness?

I have told myself many stories such as I can’t run more than one mile and then I shifted my mindset, trained and ran a half of marathon. Or the one where I said I could never give up cheese because it made food taste better. I haven’t had cheese in over 10 years and now without the cheese food makes my taste buds dance.  I also use to tell myself I could never meditate because that was for monks or people who could quiet their minds. Now I meditate everyday for at least 10 minutes. I could go and on and on, but et’s take a look at what research is saying about mindset.

Research is showing that mindset may be far more powerful than we thought.

Very interesting health mindset study

Here’s a quick story about a fascinating study.

Researchers at Stanford University looked at a bunch of people’s health and wellness lifestyle habits, as well as health markers.

What they found was that the people who thought they were a lot less active had a higher risk of death than the general public. And, they also had up to 71% higher risk of death than people who thought they were more active. Even if they actually weren’t less active!

How is this even possible that people who simply thought they were less active had higher risks, even if it wasn’t true?

There are a couple of ideas why. One is that maybe if we feel like we’re less active, it may make us feel more stressed. And stress isn’t good for our mental or physical health. Second, there may be a bit of a mind-body connection where the body embodies what the mind visualizes.

Researchers don’t know why, but what matters is that there is a good mindset. So, let me give you a couple of strategies to boost your mindset for health.

Health mindset strategy 1 – Aim for good enough.

Almost no one eats perfectly seven days a week. It’s inevitable that obsessing over the quality and quantity of everything we eat or drink isn’t necessarily a great mindset to have.

It can bring on binging, shame, and guilt – none of these are great ways to get healthy. We want to get healthier by making better choices and building better habits. And these are usually best done incrementally – one step at a time.

So, instead of having a black and white approach where everything is good or bad, why not try aiming for good enough to empower ourselves to make better choices, instead of perfect choices.

Health mindset strategy 2 – Stop making tradeoffs

When you try to earn a gluttonous weekend by eating clean during the week, you’re making a tradeoff. You’re telling yourself that, as long as you’re good most of the week, you can go wild on the weekend.

And that’s not awesome because the mindset is jumping from one extreme to the other. You’re controlling what you do all week, and possibly thinking about how to indulge over the weekend. Just live as though you’re trying to do well every single day. Like you care about your health and wellness. You’re doing your best, and that’s good enough.

Conclusion

Mindset for health can be a powerful tool for better physical health. There’s a proven mind-body connection that research can measure.

Thinking positively, and dropping the black/white and good/bad labels, can help you reach your health goals.

How is your mindset for health? Which of these tips resonate with you the most? How are you going to implement them in your life? Let me know in the comments below.

References:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/mind-over-matter-how-fit-you-think-you-are-versus-actual-fitness-2017081412282

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/making-health-decisions-mindsets-numbers-and-stories-201112123946

https://www.precisionnutrition.com/weekend-overeating

 

My Essential Oil Blend for 2018 – Grounded and In the Flow

In my previous blog, My Words for 2018, I wrote about the four words I choose to represent my soul desires and how I want to be in 2018. The four words are Purposeful, Presence, Pleasure and Playful. I created the following essential oil blend to go allowing with my words. The essential oils blend has doTERRA Passion blend, Ylang-Ylang, Tangerine and Frankincense.  I named the blend  In The Flow. The oils in this blend represent the following:

doTERRA’s Passion Blend  has  Cardamom, Cinnamon, Ginger, Clove, Sandalwood, Jasmine, Vanilla and Damiana. This blend ignites creativity, vigor and purpose. It helps us to see the possibilities on how our purpose can benefit the collective whole. doTERRA’s Passion will also help ignite feelings of excitement, passion, and joy.

Ylang Ylang – This sweet and tropical oil is known for its aphrodisiac qualities. It stimulates sexual energy and enhances relationships. It has the ability to reunite emotional and sensual aspects of the self, allowing us to experience pleasure and joy. It’s also thought to be the oil of the inner child, helping us connect to our own sense of inner joy and being in the moment. It brings back the child-like wonder of life and opens us up to playfulness

Tangerine –  The fresh, citrusy scent of tangerine uplifts our mood and replenishes our creative juices while bringing qualities of playfulness and cheer to our work. It can help to increase playfulness and happiness. It’s an oil which can get us out of our heads and help us live more spontaneously with light-hardheartedness.Tangerine also nourishes the sacral chakra which is all about pleasure and playfulness.

Frankincense – . This is considered the king of oils and is my favorite oil. Hence why I was drawn to add this to the blend. Frankincense has many physical, emotional and spiritual benefits. This is a high vibrational oil, which is commonly used in meditation and prayer. Frankincense lifts the spirit and focuses the mind, allowing us to find perspective and move into consciousness. In helps ground us and reminds us of our connection to Spirit and to others. Keeping us present.

The roller bottle recipe for In the Flow is

  • 10 drops of doTERRA’s Passion Blend
  • 7 drops of Ylang Ylang
  • 12 drops of Frankincense
  • 15 drops of Tangerine

Place all essential oils in a 10 ml roller bottle and top with fractionated coconut oil.

As you can see these oils are a wonderful combination to energize my 4 words for 2018. I also going to examine what crystals I can add to this blend that will support these words. Stay tuned!

What essential oils go along with your words for 2018?

Want to learn how to create your own special blend to go along with your words for 2018? Email me at cassandra@zestandharmonycounseling.com

 

Where are the feathers?

I am very excited because for the last 9 months I was part of an amazing writing project through Heal My Voice, which was founded and lead by Andrea Hylan.  Today is the release of  the book which I was one of the authors –  Innovative Voices: True Stories by Women Awakening a New World.

The thirteen stories and collection of poems written by the women in this book are about a personal internal awakening. A moment when they had a new awareness and began to make different choices to change the external situations in their lives. Just like peace on earth comes from each of us cultivating peace within ourselves, the innovative ideas and actions the authors are making to awaken a new world, starts with an inner awakening.

Here is an excerpt from my Story:

Where are the Feathers?

Affirmation: I trust that my highest good and greatest joy are unfolding now. #ZestandHarmony

I was in a 4 week, Mindset Makeover class, and as part of that class we were asked to focus on seeing feathers. There were over 4,000 people in this group from around the world. The purpose of the exercise was to show how when we focus on something it expands. Like after you buy a car, you see several of the same car driving on the road. Two weeks into the class I started questioning my ability to manifest because I had not seen any feathers. I started saying to myself, “See, this doesn’t work for me. Why is it sometimes I can manifest, but other times I can’t? I just don’t get it.”

One Saturday night, I listened to the recording for the third week of the class and the leader of this course said, “I know some of you are questioning your ability to manifest. You think you haven’t seen any feathers, yet all of you have seen feathers because you are part of this Facebook group. Everyone is posting pictures of the feathers they are seeing. So, you have seen feathers.”

She challenged us to take a step back and see what our expectation of seeing a feather was. Well my expectation was to see an actual feather, on the ground, from a bird. She encouraged us to look at it differently. That is when the light bulb went off in my head. That morning, while on my deck, I saw a family of geese walking in the distance. I even had taken a picture of them and posted it on Facebook. WOW! There it was! My flock of feathers. Not just one feather, but an abundance of feathers. I laughed because God is always showing me abundance; it was just my expectation that was limiting me. If I limited myself with how a feather should show up in my life, how else have I been limiting myself? This was the start of me taking a step back and looking at how abundance, blessings, creativity and things my heart desired, have shown up in my life. I didn’t always see it because I was looking for a different color wrapping paper. It’s about changing the way I look at things. It was about seeing what has been here all along.

To read the rest of my Story go to Amazon to purchase the book: Innovative Voices: True Stories by Women Awakening a New World. Click here

 

Why I love the oil pack and so should you.

I am in love with the castor oil pack. Many years ago I learned about the castor oil pack from one of my amazing Bellydance teacher. I immediately wanted to learn more.  

I began researching about the benefits of the castor pack for eliminating toxins. I was simply hooked. I recommend all my detoxers do this as well as my clients. I love these ancient techniques that can still be used to support the body today. They are super easy, and you can put them together on the cheap.  

While a lymphatic massage or a trip to the sauna might be nice, they can also be costly. I’m telling you – all you really need is to buy castor oil and get an old t-shirt, flannel, or towel. 

Let’s talk simple benefits first. The castor oil pack can flush your lymphatic system {your sewage system}. The lymphatic system must get flushed daily to reduce digestive issues, edema, inflammation, the common cold, weight gain and allergies. This detox tool has been used for centuries.  

This amazing detox tool can support your circulation, remove toxins and help stimulate digestion. I was hesitant to use this pack but ever since I tried it and felt the benefits for my own body, I have never stopped. I could feel my digestion stimulated, decrease abdominal cramps, more relaxed and I had a better sleep.  

I am always on the lookout for natural ways to detox my body in the comfort of my own home. It really is key for my health. I look at the castor oil pack as an awesome detox tool that boosts my immune and is excellent for disease prevention.  

We all have some toxicity – why not support your body to get rid of it? 

How to Make Your Own Castor Oil Pack: 

  • Take an old shirt or flannel and cut it into 12 x 18 inches in size and fold it into 3 thicknesses.  
  • You want it to be about the same size as the heating pad you will be using so that the pad heats the entire pack but does not touch your skin.  
  • Put the shirt in a pan, such as a large disposable baking pan, and pour in enough castor oil to cover.   
  • NOTE: I recommend that you discard of the pack after use because toxins from your body have been eliminated onto the shirt. Some say you can reuse the pack many times. When not in use, store your pack in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. 

 

The Simple Castor Oil Pack:  

You can also put castor oil directly onto your stomach and upper abdomen. Then, wrap your stomach and upper abdomen with saran wrap and sit for 45 minutes. This is a simplified version and quite effective.  

 

Usage Guidelines: 

  • Use the pack in the evening before bed. Fold a towel (dedicate an old towel for this use as the oil is almost impossible to wash out completely). Take the cloth cover off of a heating pad and place the heating pad on top of the towel. It is important to heat the pack before you put it on your body. 
  • Lie down on your back on a towel. Place the pack on your abdomen with the heating pad on top and the towel on top of that. The pack should be on the right side of your body, extending from a little bit above the bottom of your sternum (breastbone) to about 4 inches below your navel. The pack should wrap around the body on the right side, from the navel as far to the side as you can get it. Keep the pack on for 45 minutes. Use the pack for 3 days in a row. Then take a break for 4 days, and repeat. 

Remember, the castor oil pack is a natural and inexpensive way to rid the organs of toxicity and that’s why I love it. Remember the less toxic you are the more Zest and Harmony you will experience in your life.
Please share your experience below regarding the castor oil pack.

If you would like more ways to have improve digestion, boost your immune system,increase your energy and slim your waistline, join me for my upcoming webinar on 10/26 at 7:30 p.m. EST – The Secret to Autumn Wellness.
Register here

 

Spring Into Detox

I don’t know about you, but when spring hits this Busy Professional, Real-Life Superwoman feels energized and ready to start new and exciting projects. I also have a strong desire to clear out clutter not just in my home, but in my mind, body and spirit. For me it’s a time to release limited beliefs and thoughts that no longer serve me from accomplishing my deepest desires.

It’s also a perfect time to do a detox. Every year around this time for the last several years I have done a spring detox. Why? Because in traditional Chinese medicine springtime is associated with the liver and the liver is the powerhouse organ that removes toxins from my body. The less toxins the better I look and feel.

I did a detox, for the first time, over 15 years ago and it changed my life. I felt more energized, less brain fog, more creative and released some weight around my middle. What more could a Real-Life Superwoman ask for. It also help me to explore deeper the root of my sugar addiction.

Doing a holistic detox during this time of year can support your body, mind and spirit in feeling healthy and help you drop  some unwanted weight gain from the winter, which gets you looking fabulous for the summer. I know you’ve got your eye on that sexy swim suit. Here are some quick tips to get you started!

 It all starts with what’s on your fork 

REMOVE processed, packaged foods that contain things such as high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors and flavoring, aspartame, and other chemicals that wrack havoc on your body. Removing these foods from your meal plan is a great way to eliminate toxins in your body. It really helps to eat whole organic foods that are seasonal. You also want to eliminate things like sugar, caffeine, alcohol, dairy, wheat, soy, and eggs while you are on a detox due to the allergens they contain, which leads to inflammation in the body.

Show me the Green

Green foods are some of the best things you can eat. Foods like parsley, spinach, peas, broccoli, watercress, and asparagus. These are all a great source of phytonutrients to help support and nourish your body. You can also eat foods like Swiss Chard, dandelion greens, arugula,  kale, and collards; These dark leafy greens make an excellent addition to any meal. They’re a great way to reduce toxins due to the chlorophyll in the leaves. During this time of year I encourage my clients to RESTORE their nutritional wellness by crowding in the green.

Get up and Get Moving

What you eat is important to your detox, but another is adding daily movement. There are a lot of ways to do this, and it doesn’t have to be extensive. Try nature walks, stretches, light yoga, or even dancing! You don’t need to exhaust yourself by running for 10 miles or long bike rides, this will only hinder your detox. Your body will be working hard to remove toxins, it needs rest to restore, not to be depleted.

Rest and Stress Relief

Speaking of REST. Take time to breathe and relax. Stress is a number one cause of inflammation in the body. 80% of all di “sease” is related to stress. Take time to meditate, take a detox bath or just sit outside and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.
Use essential oils to help support your detox, reduce stress, support restful sleep and shed emotional weight. I highly recommend the following essential oils during a detox.

  • Slim and Sassy by doTerra boosts metabolism and reduces cravings
  • Lavender promotes relaxation and induces sleep
  • Lemon cleanses the lymphatic system
  • Frankincense (my favorite essential oil) reduces inflammation and promotes a sense of peace and relaxation

Set Your Intention and Determine What a Detox will do for You

Remember that a detox is ultimately about you. Think about what your health and wellness goals are as a Busy Professional Woman. What do you want to experience in your life, health, relationships, finances and career? What is blocking you? How will a holistic detox support you in obtaining your goals? Comment below and let me know what steps can you take today to start eliminating toxins?

If you want to learn 3 key ways you can increase your energy, feel great, and of course release weight in a healthy, and natural way without feeling deprived,  join my virtual workshop on May 4 at 7:30 p.m. EST – Spring Detox – The Secret To Weight Loss.


To register click here

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the virtual workshop.

Here’s to looking and feeling great!

Tips to Support Your Sinus and Respiratory System During Pollen Season

It’s springtime in Maryland. The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer and the flowers and trees are blooming . With the blossoming of plants comes along an increase of pollen, which for some of us it leads to a runny nose, runny and itchy eyes, and sneezing., which can really put a damper on things for us Real-Life Superwomen. Who wants to be sneezing when we’ve got a presentation to give or have a runny nose when you are on a date or trying to connect with your beloved.

In this video I share the below tips that have helped lessen my symptoms during the pollen season so I can be healthy, happy and energized.

  1. Change what you are eating. That’s right REMOVE foods that are causing increase inflammation and mucus build up like dairy and sugar. ( I didn’t mention this in the video, but doing a spring cleanse or detox will also help lessen inflammation, remove toxins from your system and help alleviate symptoms caused by pollen)
  2. Add foods rich in vitamin c like lemon, red, yellow and orange peppers as well as broccoli.
  3. The benefits of freeze dried stinging nettle
  4. Why using raw local honey and/or bee pollen can be of support
  5. How effectively use the Neti pot
  6. My top 3 essential oils to support you during pollen season

Lemon essential oil – has anti-histamine properties and helps relieve excess mucus.

Frankincense essential oil – my favorite essential oils helps to reduce the inflammatory response of allergens in the body.

Lemongrass essential –Inhaling this clean, refreshing aroma can help reduce inflammatory complications in the respiratory tract.

Here is the science for some of the things mentioned in the video

Stinging Nettle

A randomized, double-blind study using 300 mg freeze-dried Urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis found 69 patients who completed the study rated it higher than placebo in global assessments: 58 percent rated it effective in relieving their symptoms and 48 percent found it to be equally or more effective than their previous medicine. Click here to read more

Vitamin C

A study featured in the Alternative Medicine Review Journal, states that vitamin C supplementation of 2 grams daily reduced the blood histamine levels by 38%.

Lemon E.O

The Journal International Scholarly Research Notices reported that a nasal preparation based on lemon essential oil helped to alleviate the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

Frankincense E.O.

Research indicates frankincense contains a compound called alpha-pinene which reduces allergic symptoms

Lemongrass E.O.

The International Journal of Molecular Medicine discovered that compounds in lemongrass essential oil had an anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effect. Inhaling lemongrass oil can help reduce an overactive immune response in the body.

I would love to hear what natural remedies you use to support your respiratory, sinus and/or immune system during the pollen season.

If you found this information beneficial please

Make a comment below on what you found helpful

Share the video with your peeps on social media

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How to get to the When and Why of your Sugar Cravings

Letting go of sugar is no easy feat, and let’s be honest, it can feel like we’re trying to break up with someone who is gorgeous but totally wrong for you.

Here’s why: Sugar tastes gooooood. Not only that, it FEELS good, too! When sugary foods hit our tongue, it immediately causes a rush of feel-good hormones surging through our body. Think of how you feel when you eat a warm chocolate chip cookie, or glazed donuts. Maybe sweets aren’t your thing, but a bagel with cream cheese or pancakes brings a smile across your face.  Those sugar cravings you experience are not just mental, they’re also physical.  When you eat high-glycemic carbs or sugar your body produces excess insulin, which can lead to hypoglcemia, which leads to cortisol and adrenaline spikes which promotes craving for more sugar and simple carbohydrates.  Overtime your body craves sugar.

The good news is that you can break the cycle and get to the ROOT cause of your cravings. Once you become aware of WHEN and WHY you crave sugar, you can begin to replace sugary foods with healthier alternatives that will provide your body with the same feel-good sensations it’s craving.

Before I cut sugar out of my diet, I noticed that I was craving sugary treats whenever I was tired, unhappy, or just needed a energy boost. For many of us Busy Professional Women our solar plexus chakra is out of harmony. We have soo many things to accomplish on our to do list that we need high glycemic carbs to get us through the day.

Take note of when you reach for sugar-filled snacks or drinks. Grab a pen and a notebook and jot down answers to the following questions to help you create a bigger picture of what’s prompting you to consume sweet foods.

Questions to ask yourself

  • What time of the day are you eating sugar the most?
  • How do you feel when you want to eat sugar?
  • Do you feel fulfilled?
  • Do you feel connected spiritually?
  • Are you satisfied with your relationships? Your career? Your finances?
  • Have you done some type of movement/exercise today?
  • Do you take time for self-care regularly?
  • Are you stressed?
  • Do you feel tired and fatigue?
  • How is your energy level?
  • How many hours of sleep am I getting each night?
  • Do you take time to play and have fun?

Once you’ve taken the time to answer these questions, spend time reflecting on your answers. Which areas would you like to improve in your life?  What intentions do you want to set? Visualize the changes you would like to see manifest in your life and set aside time daily to meditate on and journal about those changes.

My tips for meditating to control sugar cravings:

Establish a quiet place where you can sit quietly, uninterrupted for at least 10 minutes or more.

If you need help meditating, find relaxing music or a guided meditation that will help you drown out noise and stay focused.

Be easy on yourself! It’s OK to let thoughts come and go as you sit quietly. The important thing is to become aware of your thoughts and set your intention on the healthy changes you want in your life. Here is an example of an intention I have used. ” I AM enough”. “I have fun in all I do”.

Grab a journal and some pretty pens and write down your thoughts everyday. Make it a habit. Don’t overthink what you should or shouldn’t write. Just write down what comes to your mind. Do this for 10 minutes each day to help you dump any negative thoughts that may be blocking you from a healthier lifestyle. Don’t have 10 minutes do it for five minutes in the morning and another 5 minutes in the evening.

When do you crave sugar or carbohydrates?

Want to learn more about how imbalances in your chakras are link to your sugar carvings as well more tips to help you increase your energy and end your sugar addiction once and for all?

Check out my new 7-week Release The Sugar Blues Program. Click here

Top Winter Foods To Boost Your Energy and Immune System

When we adjust our diet and lifestyle to match the season, health promoting digestive microbes dramatically change. Winter microbes support balanced immunity, digestion, mood, energy, blood sugar, weight, sleep – and much more. Winter is also associated with the qualities of ‘Vata’, which are cold, air, dry and light. To stay balanced, focus on food and activities that are warm, moist, heavy and oily.” – John Douillard

Winter is the time to slow down, nourish the soul, and focus on strengthening our immunity. (Which I know can be very challenging for us Real-Life Superwomen). Eating seasonal fruits and vegetables allows us to do this.

By focusing on foods that build a healthy immune system, we create a natural defense against unwanted illness, headaches, digestive issues, and dry skin that can plague us in the winter months. Cold and flu season becomes less of a worry when our immune systems are strong.

In winter we want to focus on cooked foods for their warming effects and eat fewer raw salads, smoothies, and other uncooked dishes.

We want to favor root vegetables (my favorite for nourishing the root chakra), winter fruits, cooked whole grains, and warming spices for their balancing and grounding effects during the colder months.

Here is a list of the top produce for winter to help you easily shift your eating habits to suit the season.

Top Seasonal Vegetables for Winter:

Enjoy these veggies cooked, preferably in a healthy fat like coconut oil, olive oil, or ghee

Acorn squash
Artichoke hearts
Beets
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Leeks
Onions
Pumpkin
Turnips
Winter squash

Top Seasonal Fruits for Winter:

Enjoy these fruits, preferably warmed or cooked.

Apples
Cranberries
Dates
Figs
Grapefruit
Lemons
Limes
Oranges
Pears
Pineapples
Tangerines

Top Seasonal Spices for Winter:

Cinnamon
Clove
Cardamon
Cayenne pepper
Garlic
Ginger
Horseradish
Rosemary
Thyme
Turmeric

John Douillard also recommends eating foods rich in soluble fiber during the winter ” This is one of nature’s strategies to insulate the gut from the coldness and dryness of winter by soothing, warming and lubricating the intestinal walls. So when the cold sets in”  be sure to enjoy a warm bowl of lentil soup. ~ John Douillard

Top Soluble Fiber Foods for Winter:

Almonds
Amaranth
Black beans
Kidney beans
Lentils
Mung beans
Oats
Pecans
Pumpkin seeds
Quinoa
Walnuts

Winter is also the time to add more soups and stews, favor roasting and braising, and focus on warming the cold our bodies can experience when the temperature drops.

Try incorporating more of these foods into your regular eating routine. Look for recipes that feature these ingredients, or swap them out for some of the non-seasonal foods that you might be currently consuming in your favorite meals.

If you need a jump start in adding more seasonal foods into your meal plan, I invite you to join the complimentary 7 Day Chakra Soup Challenge. It starts this Sunday January 22. Click here to learn more and join.

Also I would love to know what your favorite winter foods and why?

The Easiest Way To Get More Energy and It’s Not What You Think

Do you feel tired often? Is getting out of bed in the morning a daily struggle? Does your energy dip every afternoon and the only thing that can bring you back to life is a sweet treat?

I felt this way for years especially in the winter time. I could sleep 10 plus hours and still feel like I needed more sleep. Getting up in the morning was a challenge and the 2 p.m. need for a a couple Reese Peanut Butter Cups was a must.

Well, the secret to more energy isn’t a brand new magic pill or super shake loaded with strange ingredients. In fact, it’s much more simple than you might think.

If you’re ready to increase your energy levels naturally there’s ONE thing you must do is eliminate sugar from your diet in all forms. This might sound dramatic and not at all easy but hear me out. Sugar has ZERO nutritional value yet it still takes a ton of energy to process. It actually TAKES from your body instead of giving to it (like real whole food is supposed to do).

If you’re ready to not feel like you’re completely drained at 2pm. If you want to wake up feeling refreshed. If you’re longing to have the energy to do the things on your “to do list”, or go to a Zumba class after work, then it’s time to give up sugar.

Here are 3 easy ways you can reduce your sugar intake starting NOW…

1. Stop drinking soda or juice, stick to water flavored with slices of citrus, cucumber or enjoy brewed herbal tea cold or hot.
2. Eliminate white flour from your diet. No more bread, pasta, or baked goods that spike your insulin levels like nothing else.
3. Skip dessert and opt for a nourishing herbal tea with licorice root or cinnamon as a naturally sweet addition that also helps curb cravings.

Want even more great tips to help you release weight, improve your digestion, increase your energy and end your sugar addiction once and for all? Stay tuned for my Winter Sugar Detox starting February 16 and/or my Release The Sugar Blues starting February 26.  If you want to be notified once registration is open and receive a discount please email me at cassandra@zestandharmonycounseling.com to get on my VIP list.

Until that time, I would like to know do you struggle with the sugar blues and what are some tips you use to reduce your sugar intake?

 

Stay Grounded and Healthy During The Holidays with Frankincense Essential Oil

Are you feeling the hustle bustle of the holiday season? Are you getting the sleep you need to sustain your energy for the day? Are you feeling out of harmony?

Earlier this week I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and the stress the holiday season can sometimes bring, but instead of riding that frantic energy I paused and did one of my favorite self-nourishing activities.

I mix Frankincense essential oil with avocado oil and rub it on the bottom of my feet. I massage each foot for at least one minute . Oh my goodness!!! you don’t realize how much tension you hold in your feet until you start massaging them. Massaging my feet helps to release tension, improve blood circulation not just in my feet, but other organs in my body as well as ground me.

And did you know using Frankincense essential oil supports your immune system? Just what us Busy Professional, Real-Life Superwomen need during the winter season.

Frankincense oil is one of my favorite essential oils. Each year I choose an essential oil for the year and for 2016 I chose Frankincense because it enhances focus and faith, which were two of my words for 2016. (My words were Focus + Faith = Freedom). I usually will just add Frankincense oil to the palm of my hands prior to meditating and inhale the aroma, but for the past couple of weeks I have used it in my daily foot massage and I believe it’s what has helped me to have sustained, grounded energy and keep from getting the cold and cough people at my nursing job had.

Frankincense oil is known by many as the “king of oils.” In ancient Egypt it was considered more precious than gold. It has been used for thousands of years by the Assyrians, Egyptians, Babylonians, and other ancient cultures for religious ceremonies, perfumes, and healing salves. As an ingredient in holy incenses , it was used anciently during sacrificial ceremonies to help improve communication with the creator
( Source: Modern Essentials Book)

Here are several benefits of Frankincense Essential Oil:

    • Supports a healthy immune system (who doesn’t need that during winter)
    • Helps maintain healthy inflammatory response
    • Antiseptic properties
    • Calming and balancing properties (tree oils are so grounding)
    • Promotes cellular health
    • Supports healthy skin regeneration
    • Emotionally and spiritually, frankincense “helps a person drop out of their mind and Ego and move into presence with their spirit or center of consciousness. It helps a person lean into their own spiritual practice with trust by dropping fear and other barriers to a deeper connection of one’s own understanding”. (Source: SustainableBabySteps.com)
    • Nourishes the root chakra with it’s grounding properties and the the crown by enhancing your connection with the Divine

Please share below what your favorite essential is and why.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of Frankincense essential oil as well as 15 other oils to use during the holiday and winter season, check out my new Essential Oils Holiday Guide. It’s a free guide to help you STAY HEALTHY AND ENERGIZED THIS SEASON.