Page 6 – B Better

Say Goodbye to UTIs

Written by b-better on June 22, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health. No Comments on Say Goodbye to UTIs

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve helped clients avoid courses of antibiotics for a brewing urinary tract infection (UTI).⁣⁣⁣⁣I’m not against antibiotics (they can be life-saving) but my goal here is to give you other natural options that are available and explain the rationale.⁣⁣⁣⁣UTIs are typically caused by a specific type of E coli bacteria colonizing the urinary tract.⁣⁣⁣⁣A combination of d-mannose, uva ursi, hydration, and alkalizing the urine can help!⁣⁣⁣⁣1️⃣ D-mannose is a natural sugar that doesn’t get absorbed in the human digestive tract but instead provides...

Liver & Gallbladder Health

Written by b-better on June 22, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health. No Comments on Liver & Gallbladder Health

The gallbladder is NOT an optional organ, and yet gallbladder removal is one of the most common surgeries today.When it’s life threatening, of course surgery is needed. BUT! You don’t wake-up with an infection or a sac filled with gallstones overnight!Knowing the early warning signs is important because hello… the gallbladder is NOT optional.Here’s how it works. The liver makes bile – a soup-like fluid that drips out of the liver and gets stored in the gallbladder – yes, our very own storage tank.When we eat a meal containing fats, the gallbladder contracts and dumps a...

Root Cause of Migraines

Written by b-better on June 22, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health. No Comments on Root Cause of Migraines

I’ve addressed headaches before but migraines are different. They are characterized by throbbing pain on one side of the head, and usually preceded by alterations in vision all of which can cause nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light, noise or smells.⁣ ⁣⁣I think we can all agree – NOT FUN!⁣ ⁣⁣While there are many possible root causes, I’ve learned that the major driver in persistent migraines nearly always has to do with a dysfunction in cellular metabolism.⁣ ⁣⁣What’s that? It’s how well our cells produce or don’t produce energy. What affects cellular...

Estrogen Mimickers

Written by b-better on June 21, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health. No Comments on Estrogen Mimickers

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls – this one’s for all!⁣⁣⁣There’s a disturbing trend in health from something called ‘xenoestrogens’ – compounds that act like estrogens from outside sources.⁣⁣⁣These are human-made chemicals that mimic estrogen, have estrogenic activity in the body and negatively impact hormone balance.⁣⁣⁣⁣Medically these are called “endocrine disruptors”.⁣⁣⁣Estrogen mimickers can lead to:⁣⁣⁣⁣- In men: larger breasts, smaller muscles, larger bellies, lower libido, prostate problems ⁣⁣⁣- In women: rough PMS, increased depression, higher body fat, higher risk of...

Healthy Kitchen Swaps

Written by b-better on June 21, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health, Wellness in Practice. No Comments on Healthy Kitchen Swaps

Autoimmunity is becoming epidemic. The majority of my clients have an autoimmune condition and regardless of their diagnosis, there are always three common factors:1️⃣ Gut dysfunction/ leaky gut2️⃣ An overwrought & weakened immune system3️⃣ Trigger(s)Toxins are often overlooked but are common triggers. And heavy metals in particular are likely lurking in your kitchen! “WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN??⁣”⁣⁣⁣I get this question a lot. And if you’re at the beginning of your health journey, I know how overwhelming it can feel.⁣⁣⁣⁣My suggestion? Pick one item that feels doable....

Is Leaky Gut Real?

Written by b-better on June 21, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health. 2 Comments on Is Leaky Gut Real?

A client sent me this message: I just came back from a talk about allergies… the doctor said “there’s no such thing as leaky gut. It’s just a term used by naturopaths to try and sell you something.”⁣⁣⁣Leaky gut or “intestinal hyper-permeability” is very real and there are numerous studies connecting leaky gut with multiple chronic diseases like celiac, Crohn’s, Type 1 diabetes, and IBS to name a few.⁣⁣⁣⁣So what is leaky gut exactly?⁣⁣⁣Imagine a wooden picket fence.⁣⁣⁣⁣A fence normally has small gaps in between each plank of wood, right? In the GI tract, these are called “tight...

The Importance of Stomach Acid

Written by b-better on June 21, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health. No Comments on The Importance of Stomach Acid

For anyone suffering from heartburn, indigestion, reflux or GERD, there’s a great book called “Why Stomach Acid is Good For You”.In fact, acid reflux is not usually caused by having too much stomach acid, but rather not having enough!!Yes, you read that correctly. It’s usually acid in the wrong place – and is most often triggered by insufficient stomach acid!Without a good amount of stomach acid, your meal just sits there in the stomach; proteins putrefy, fats rancidify, and carbs ferment, which can cause a lot of gas and bubbling.And whatever little stomach acid you...

The Best Forms & Uses of Magnesium

Written by b-better on June 21, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health. No Comments on The Best Forms & Uses of Magnesium

What do headaches, constipation, insomnia, high blood pressure, anxiety, asthma, spasms, muscle cramps, low vitamin D and low energy have in common?⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣Hint: it starts with ‘Mag’ and ends with ‘Nesium’. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣But seriously, we have an epidemic of magnesium deficiency and it’s needed in over a gazillion (yes that’s a real number) functions in the body.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣Think of magnesium as our most powerful relaxation mineral.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣It’s the Yin to our Yang so to speak. Our hearts contract, then relax. Our bowels contract and then relax.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣But thanks to soil erosion and modern-day farming...

Safest Fish Guide

Written by b-better on June 21, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health. No Comments on Safest Fish Guide

In general, choose smaller fish because of their lower concentration of pollutants and heavy metals. The acronym “SMASH” is an easy way to remember the list of least toxic fish. Other helpful seafood tips: ✔️Choose wild caught over farmed fish since these fish are overcrowded, overfed & sickly – therefore given antibiotics. Ask your waiter! ✔️The Environmental Working Group (EWG.org) offers a consumer guide to seafood based on the amount of omega-3 fatty acids and level of mercury contained in fish. ✔️The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA.gov) also shares a...

How Dangerous are Mercury (Silver) Fillings?

Written by b-better on June 21, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health. No Comments on How Dangerous are Mercury (Silver) Fillings?

My PSA for the day: ⁣⁣⁣If you still have those silver-colored amalgam dental fillings in your mouth, please save up and prioritize their removal with a biological dentist who follows the SMART protocol!⁣⁣⁣⁣Why? Because amalgam fillings are roughly 50% mercury and a ticking time bomb – especially if they’re old (and look black)… you can be sure that mercury is off-gassing every time you chew, drink, rub or grind your teeth.⁣⁣⁣⁣Of course we can detoxify mercury BUT the synergistic effect of different toxic metals is huge!⁣⁣⁣⁣You can have mercury body burden for decades without any...

“Normal” Does Not Mean Optimal: How to Find a Good Functional Practitioner

Written by b-better on June 20, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health. No Comments on “Normal” Does Not Mean Optimal: How to Find a Good Functional Practitioner

How many of you have gone to see a doctor with a list of symptoms only to be told after running a bunch of tests that everything looks…. drum roll please…. normal? I know because I’ve experienced it, and hear the same story over and over from friends and clients. Ready to have your mind blown? The reference ranges that medical doctors look at on labwork are statistical ranges that take into account 95% of the population whom doesn’t have a formal disease diagnosis. That’s a VERY large range which means you’ll also find a lot of...

A Headache is a Gift

Written by b-better on June 20, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health. No Comments on A Headache is a Gift

No I haven’t lost my mind. As painful as it might be, a headache truly is a gift. It’s your body’s way of talking to you, telling you that something is off, and that it’s in need of something. Up until recently, I was getting debilitating headaches more and more often. It started out randomly, and then monthly, and then twice per month to the point where I just couldn’t bare the pain and had to take Tylenol or Advil to function normally and be able to fall sleep. I knew I had to get to the bottom of my headaches because:1) regular use of...

Tired of Being Tired? Causes & Solutions for Better Energy

Written by b-better on June 20, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health. No Comments on Tired of Being Tired? Causes & Solutions for Better Energy

I’m not one to flaunt BUT when you’ve passed the 40 mark and have the energy of a 20-year old, you share your energy secrets with the world! Almost every client I work with lists fatigue as one of their top 5 health concerns. I also struggled with low energy at one point – felt like a zombie despite doing all the right things like eating well, exercising moderately, and getting plenty of sleep. So what else could be at play? Well lots to be honest.Energy production is a highly complex process and there are SOO many factors that can get in the way but let’s focus...

Our Skin is the Largest Mouth in Our Body

Written by b-better on June 20, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health. No Comments on Our Skin is the Largest Mouth in Our Body

Think about this for a second. Our skin is the largest organ in our body and is capable of absorbing what we put on it. So wouldn’t it make sense to only put on your skin what you’re actually willing to eat? When we do eat, the defense system in our gut helps protect us by taking toxins to the liver for detoxification, but our skin unfortunately doesn’t really have that same protective mechanism as the gut. What we put on our skin can be absorbed directly into the blood stream where it can wreak a lot of havoc before making its way to the liver for...

Acid Reflux – Root Causes & Solutions

Written by b-better on June 20, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health. No Comments on Acid Reflux – Root Causes & Solutions

Do you suffer from heartburn or acid reflux and blame it on too much stomach acid? Well, get this. Acid reflux is not usually caused by having too much stomach acid, but rather not having enough!! Yes, you read that correctly. It’s usually acid in the wrong place – and is most often triggered by insufficient stomach acid! Without a good amount of stomach acid, your meal just sits there in the stomach; proteins putrefy, fats rancidify, and carbs ferment, which can cause a lot of gas and bubbling. And whatever little stomach acid you do have can bubble up and spill...