Holistic Tips for Managing Children’s Weight

Childhood weight issues are an increasing epidemic. More than one third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese and that number continues to rise. (1) Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years and that just accounts for those children classified as obese, and not those who are just overweight. When overweight children are factored into these statistics the percentage of kids who are just plain unhealthy is much greater.

Overweight is defined as having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water, or a combination of these factors. Obesity is defined as having excess body fat. Obesity is a good indicator of something amiss in your child’s diet, specially too much sugar and fat in their diet.

Being overweight and obese in childhood increases the risk of chronic degenerative disease in adulthood as well as impacting overall mood, socialization, self-esteem confidence and the ability to full participate in life. Being overweight and obese in childhood is associated with increased risks for many types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, gall bladder, thyroid, ovary, cervix, and prostate, as well as multiple myeloma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma as your children

Because the habits and patterns your child develops in childhood become the foundation for the rest of their life, those who have weight issues as children are likely to continue that trend and be obese as adults. These individuals are more at risk for adult health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. Children and adolescents who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem.

As a parent it is your job to set the standards and habits of your child. Eating fast, junk and processed foods are all learned and conditioned behaviors children learn from demonstration by their parents. Many parents assert they just can’t keep their kids healthy because of the influences at school, on television and from peers, but if this was a logical argument then as a parent you would never be able to prevent your kids from doing drugs or any other risky and life threatening behaviors. Allowing your child’s eating and lifestyle habits to run out of control are just as harmful, risky and life threatening. Be confident as the parent that you can establish and uphold healthy eating and lifestyle practices for both yourself and your family and raise children who do not have any health symptoms and don’t have to regularly visit with a medical doctor because of sicknesses. You can raise children with strong functioning immune systems, balanced emotions and a healthy body through following some easy to implement, Holistic Tips for Managing Children’s Weight….

What Are You Serving?

The Western diet is mainly to blame for obesity and childhood weight issues. Fast, processed and junk foods high in fats, sugars, salt and toxins while absent of any real nutrients, cause children to be perpetually hungry. Empty calories do not satisfy the body’s needs so the body continues to send hunger signals. Your child could eat 3,000 calories of these types of junk foods and still be hungry. Foods that have been processed in any way lose their nutrients while adding in toxic man-made chemicals. To prevent this from occurring serve only foods that are nutrient dense and absent of man-made chemicals, harmful fats, sugars and salts. These include fresh plant based foods including fruits, vegetables, healthy grains like quinoa and raw nuts and seeds.

 

What Are You Drinking?

Soda pop is the number one culprit for the ridiculous amount of sugar in children’s diets today. Excess sugar = excess body fat! The body can only use so much sugar at one time. When too much sugar floods the body, the liver is required to turn this excess sugar into stored fat. This is also the underlying cause of the sky rocketing rate of diabetes in children. Bottled kids juices are also horrible for little bodies. Most are not even juice, or have less than 5% real juice while the rest is compromised of sugar, flavorings and colorings. Instead opt for bottled organic herbal teas (or better yet make your own), organic lemonade (which will not have high fructose corn syrup, colorings or flavorings), homemade fresh juices (the possibilities are endless) or fun fruit waters. You can make your own fun fruit water by melding your favorite fruits (think raspberries, blueberries, limes) with filtered water! Kids absolutely love these waters and they include NO sugars or additives of any kind.

Make Your Own Meals & Snacks

Pre-packaged, pre-made foods and snacks are most usually high in sugar, fat and salt as well as man-made toxins and have absolutely little to no nutritional value. Making your own meals teaches kids the importance of nourishing your body through how and what you eat and gets them involved in the kitchen. This is a lifelong practice and habit they will repeat. If your children never see you in the kitchen or are never involved in making foods they will have no idea how to nourish themselves as they grow, other than from the corner fast food restaurant or vending machine.

Start the Day Right

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and while that is debatable, the underlying premise remains…breakfast is important! Relevant to our discussion, breakfast balances blood sugar which helps to balance weight. When blood sugar is even and regulated throughout the day, food is not stored as fat and kids are not as hungry. If kids miss breakfast their blood sugar drastically dips, making them cranky, tired, emotional and HUNGRY, making them more likely to binge when they do eat. This creates a vicious cycle throughout the day. Starting breakfast with a balanced, satisfying meal, that is not processed or filled with sugar and junk, helps to prevent this cycle from occurring. 

Fast Food is Out

Fast food is one of the vilest things you can put into you and your child’s body. Fast food is the lowest quality food product on the planet, filled with a plethora of toxins and harmful ingredients and absent of ALL nutrients. You and your child would be better off taking your money and throwing it in the sewer! Taking fast food off the table as an option prevents you from relying on it when you get busy. A “no fast food” household policy ensures your children will never be exposed to such a harmful food choice. Fast food greatly contributes to obesity and being overweight. Toxins found in these foods are harmful to internal organs so the body uses fat to trap and neutralize these toxins. A higher toxic diet equals a higher body fat percentage. These foods also feed the cycle of hunger and over eating. Instead, choose 3-4 quick stand-by recipes you are comfortable making and can make on short notice. These are the recipes you will use on nights when you are out of time and need something quick. Also identify a few local restaurants that offer quick, FRESH, whole foods which can also be used as your stand-by when you are on the run and out of options!

Do Not Use Foods as a Reward

Parents get into a bad habit of offering or bribing kids with sweets or junk foods for “good behavior.” This instills a lifelong habit of reaching for junky foods when under stress or feeling down. It also conveys to children that junk foods are the “best” foods because they can only be eaten when “good.” This is a horrible habit pattern to get in to. Instead offer non-food based rewards, a favorite outing, a long desired new toy or something of real value and importance.

Get Moving 

It is constantly amazing to see kids sitting inside in front of video games or watching TV instead of outside riding books and playing like kids! In less than one generation we have created a generation of almost completely sedentary children. TV and video games should be severally limited and played or watched in only very small and infrequent time limits. If it is nice outside, no one should be inside sitting in front of a TV. Exercise is vital to overall health and well being. Sedentary habits, though, again come from demonstration by the family. Do you sit around and watch TV to escape or to “chill out”? Do you eat meals and spend your weekend’s vegging out in front of the TV? Make it a family priority to Get Moving! Family walks, bike rides, hiking, trips to the lake, roller blading and outdoor sports all help children to stay active and engaged in exercise throughout their lifetime while naturally balancing weight. Check out the First Lady’s Let’s Move campaign for tips on getting your family moving! http://www.letsmove.gov/ 

Candice Marley is a Holistic Health Practitioner, Holistic Nutritionist, Herbalist, Wellness Coach and owner of Align Holistic Health & Well Being who specializes in natural, holistic health care for families and children. She uses a combination of natural ways of eating, balanced lifestyle practices, medicinal herbs, holistic living strategies and wellness coaching to excel at creating vibrant, lasting health. Most people report feeling higher levels of energy and greater health within a week of their first appointment. You can download her free e-book The 5 Key Strategies for Creating Vibrant Health at www.alignholistichealth.com.

References:

Centers for Disease Control. Childhood Obesity Facts. Retrieved from:

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm on April 29, 2013

Natural Cold Remedies

Just as Spring begins to spring, so does cold season. Rapid changes in air pressure, temperatures and sun exposure all put extra strain on the immune system making your body more susceptible to colds. Newly growing plant particles can also aggravate your respiratory system, causing inflammation and a greater susceptibility to the bacterias and viruses. Children in particular are more susceptible to colds because of what they eat (more junk), school schedules that cause them to have to get up earlier then their natural cycles (imbalance of their natural internal cycles), greater exposure from peers and lowered immunity from shots, medications and all sorts of other chemicals constantly assaulting their little bodies. It isn't uncommon to see kids with perpetual runny noses until the weather begins to dramatically warm up. Poor little ones! You may be tempted to turn to over the counter medicines to help alleviate symptoms but these medications are not only filled with toxic ingredients (including dyes and high fructose corn syrup) but do not help your body heal, in fact, they actually can inhibit your body's own natural immune response. There are many natural cold remedies you can use that are more effective then OTC's, help to alleviate symptoms better and give your body the support it needs to heal more rapidly. These natural cold remedies also help you to avoid toxins and strengthen, rather then inhibit, your immune system.

The first step is to know what makes you susceptible to colds, which will give you an advantage to take natural precautions and preventative measures to boost your immune system and overall health. It is important to remember, as with any sickness,  it is not the germ causing your body to become sick, rather a weak internal environment. Decreased immunity, increased toxicity and deficiencies in key nutrients creates fertile ground for viruses and bacterias to flourish. The greatest step you can take to prevent colds and other sicknesses is to strengthen your own health and immunity naturally, even once a cold begins. You can read more about how to naturally strengthen your immune system in a previous blog post: Boost Your Immune System Naturally.

If you or your little one/s are suffering from cold symptoms, use these natural cold remedies to help alleviate symptoms while helping your body to heal more rapidly and completely. Not only will these remedies help you heal from a cold they will also help to alleviate symptoms, making you less miserable while you are sick.

Natural Cold Prescription

There is a "standard" natural prescription I give to my clients to beat colds naturally. Take this prescription every 3 hours while symptoms persist and for 2-3 days after your symptoms end.  This Rx helps to kill the invading virus, prevents it from spreading further, while increasing cellular energy production and immune system response.

• 1,000- 3,000 mg of Vitamin C (preferably Vitamin C crystals) (Children take 500 mg)
• 1 B-Complex Vitamin (Children take 1/2)
• 30 minutes of Sunlight or 2,000 IU's of Vitamin D3 (Children take 500 IU's) SUNLIGHT IS BEST!
• 30 mil. Echinacea Liquid Tincture
• 30 mil. Golden Seal Liquid Tincture
• 1 glass of Fresh Cold Virus Killer Juice Recipe here: Spring Cold Virus Killer Juice Recipe
• 15-30 mlg of Zinc lozenge
• Essential Oil & Herb Steam Inhalation
• A cup of Raw Honey & Ginger Tea

Essential Oil & Herb Steam Inhalations 

• 10 drop Eucalyptus Oil
• 2 tbs Fresh Organic Rosemary (Minced)

Fill a bowl or sink with steaming water, add oil & herbs.

Hold your head over the bowl.
Make a tent with a towel and inhale the steam for five minutes, adding more hot water if necessary to keep the steam steady.
Repeat every 3 hours

Natural Cold Remedies

Raw Honey

Raw honey which is made from flower pollen and enzymes in bee saliva, has antioxidants, antiviral and antibacterial properties, all of which make it a top cold virus killer! Honey is very mild so is an ideal cold remedy for children. A 2007 Pennsylvania State University study found that in 105 children with upper respiratory infections, those taking honey had a 40% improvement in their coughs and restless sleep compared to untreated children. To use simply add two tablespoons of raw (uncooked or heated) honey to a cup of warm, ginger tea (see recipe below). Add a squirt of fresh lemon juice for a boost of Vitamin C.
Don’t give honey to infants and very young children because it may have botulism spores and their little immune systems aren’t yet strong enough. 

Ginger Root Tea

The root of the ginger plant contains active plant compounds called gingerols that attack pain, inflammation, germs and viruses. Ginger helps to suppress inflammatory compounds, according to a 2005 study at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, which lessens respiratory and throat inflammation. Ginger is also a powerful immune stimulant. To use simply peel a ginger root, mince 2 tbs and add to a boiling cup of water. Allow tea to cool to drinking temp, add raw honey, lemon and enjoy!

Zinc

Zinc is a powerful immune system supporter and has been show to be very effective in cutting down the duration and symptoms associated with the cold virus. A 1996 study of 100 adults at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, found that people who sucked 6-8 zinc lozenges a day felt relief from their colds in 4.4 days, compared with 7.6 days for those taking a placebo.

Take 15-30 milligrams in lozenge form at the first signs of the cold virus or take as a preventative measure during cold season. 

Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil combats viruses, bacteria and fungi. A 2009 study by the University of Heidelberg in Germany found that eucalyptus oil reduced viral infections  in a test tube by 96% by deactivating virus particles! That's amazing. You can use this oil is lots of ways to help alleviate and even heal cold symptoms. Simply add 10 drops to warm humidifiers, add to a carrier oil (such as coconut or almond oil in a  1:1 ratio) and rub on your chest, throat, feet and under your nose, add 10 drops to a warm bath or simply inhale deeply several times in each nostril to clear respiratory passageways. 

Echinacea

Taking the herb Ecinacea prevents the cold virus from proliferating once it is inside of your body, which cuts down on the time you will be sick. This herb is a powerful cold fighter, according to a 2007 University of Connecticut study. In a review of 14 clinical trials involving about 3,000 people, researchers found that echinacea cut the risk of catching a cold by 58% and reduced the cold’s stay by almost 1-1/2 days. Take it for three weeks, then stop for one week; repeat the cycle during cold and flu season, or when symptoms occur.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an immune system power horse. Vitamin C has been shown to have over 100 known health benefits and many of these benefits come form its antioxidant properties. These properties help protect you from getting the cold and will also help to strengthen your immune system and fight off the virus once inside your body.

Eliminate Sugar

Sugar slows down the immune system and prevents it from doing its job. This is exactly why it contributes to a weakened immune system and prolonged sickness when and if you get sick. While you are sick eliminate all forms of sugar from your diet and be careful to not over in dugle in sugars during cold season.  

Go Raw

Eating raw foods and drinking raw juices helps to cleanse the body, provides the body with a huge amount of living vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals and gives you active enzymes to help the immune system stay strong and fight off nasty bugs. Drink at least 1 glass of fresh veggie juice a day and eat at least 50% of your daily foods raw. If you do get sick, drink a glass of fresh fruit and veggie juice every hour, eat lots of fresh fruits & veggies and eliminate cooked foods except warm nourishing soups.

Eat more Garlic and Onion

Besides being rich in antioxidants and selenium, garlic is a powerful antibacterial and antiviral. Both garlic and onions are part of the Allium family, which is rich in sulfur-containing compounds responsible for many of their health-promoting effects including helping keep the immune system strong. Use lots of fresh garlic and onions in your cooking while you are sick, especially in healing soups.

Cold Healing Soup Recipe

Here is the recipe for my Healing Soup which is perfect for Spring Colds. I get RAVING reviews and feedback from the recipe and just how powerful it is as healing common cold and flu symptoms. Make a big pot and eat whenever you can while you are sick. Candice's Healing Soup Recipe

This year try something new when you get sick, instead of reaching for an over-the-counter medication, try these natural cold remedies and see how much more quickly and better you feel!

Candice Marley is a Holistic Health Practitioner, Holistic Nutritionist, Herbalist, Wellness Coach and owner of Align Holistic Health & Well Being. Candice helps people all over the world create vibrant health, greater energy, radiant beauty and a lifetime of health without disease or pain naturally and holistically. She uses a combination of natural ways of eating, balanced lifestyle practices, medicinal herbs, holistic living strategies and wellness coaching to excel at creating vibrant, lasting health in people just like you! In fact, most people report feeling higher levels of energy and greater health within a week of their first appointment. You can download her free e-book The 5 Key Strategies for Creating Vibrant Health at www.alignholistichealth.com.

Healthy Kids Snacks

We all want our kids to be their most healthy and to do so ensuring that what they eat is healthy is vital. Healthy eating is the number one determinant in children's health yet they are often the most difficult to get to eat healthy. Keeping your kids nutrition on par can be a challenge because kids are exposed to such unhealthiness on a regular and ongoing basis. From the sub-par, low quality school lunch program, to incessant junk food commercials, making sure your kids eat well can seem to be a daunting task.

Little bodies are hungry what may seem all of the time. Kids eat when they want to eat and usually this means every couple hours. Preparing fresh home made meals three times a day for your children is a great foundation, but ensuring their snacks are healthy is just as important. Snacks make up a large portion of your child's nutrition routine. Kids will usually snack anywhere for 3-6 times a day and this is perfectly normal. In fact, kids bodies do best eating small amounts every few hours, just like when they were a baby. Allowing your kids to eat when they are hungry and not forcing large meals only 3 times a day is the most healthy and natural way for your child to eat. Instead of junk food snacks, chips or crackers here are some fresh, easy ideas for healthy kids snacks.

Healthy Kids Snacks

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

These soft, yummy sweet potato fries are healthier than regular french fries and pack a nutritional punch. Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamins including Vitamin D (needed for a strong immune system) and a rich source of magnesium, the relaxation and anti-stress mineral. This recipe uses coconut oil which is an essential fat needed for a healthy nervous system. The rosemary used in this recipe helps to strengthen and clear the respiratory system so is good for kids who have respiratory or allergy issues.

Ingredients

• 4 Organic Sweet Potatoes 
• 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
• 2 tbs. Minced Fresh Organic Rosemary
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Himalayan or Celtic Sea Salt

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Cut each sweet potato in half lengthwise, and place it flat side down on a cutting board. 

Cut the potato halves into 1-inch-wide wedges.

Leave the peel on (where alot of the nutrients reside)
In a small bowl, combine the oil, rosemary, and 1 teaspoon of the salt. 

Place the potatoes on a roasting pan and brush with the oil mixture. Lay the potatoes flesh side down on the pan and put the pan in the oven.
Cook until potatoes, turning once, until soft, about 30 minutes. 

Remove the pan from the oven and season with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. 

Let the wedges cool for a bit, and serve warm.

Kale Chips

If your kids love the crunchy, salty taste of potato chips Kale chips are a healthy, yummy alternative. These are a great way to get more dark green veggies into your child's diet. Kale, a vegetable that is in the same family as cabbage, is full of nutrients, including vitamins A, C, K, and calcium. It is also rich in antioxidants and is a great source of fiber. Flax seed oil is rich in essential fatty acids that help growing nervous systems, brains and emotions be balanced and healthy. Make a big batch and keep on hand for a quick grab-and-go snack. 

Ingredients

• 1 bunch of curly Organic Kale
• 1 tbsp Flax Seed Oil
• 1 tbs. Raw Organic Honey
• Himalayan or Celtic Sea Salt to Taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Wash kale and pat dry with a paper towel. 

 Remove the stems and ribs of the kale. 

 Rip into 2 inch (or larger if you prefer) chunks and place into a bowl. 

Mix oil, honey and seal salt in a separate bowl. 

Drizzle olive mixture on top of the kale and mix, making sure each piece is coated. 

Spread the mixture across baking sheets that have been covered with either parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until each piece has dried up. 

Let cool before eating.

Homemade Granola

Granola is great because you can make a big batch and use for a variety of recipes throughout the week including a great munchy type snack for kids. You can incorporate a wide variety of ingredients into this recipe so be creative and mix your ingredients up with each subsequent batch. The mix of healthy fats, proteins, fiber, complex carbs, minerals, vitamins and antioxidants in this recipe is a nutritional powerhouse for kids. Granola also helps to balance kids blood sugar so helps to balance mood, learning ability and energy levels. Granola can also be eaten with nut milk as a morning cereal or eaten with organic Greek yogurt. 

Ingredients

• 4 cups Raw Oats
• 4 tbs. Power Seed Mix (Equal parts chia, ground flax and hemp seeds)
• 1 c Silvered Raw Almonds
• 1 c Chopped Walnuts
• 1/2 c Raw Sunflower Seeds (Shelled)
• 1 c Raw Shredded Coconut
• 1/2 c Goji Berries (Great for energy and stamina, high in antioxidants)
• 3 tbs. Cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. Nutmeg
• 1 c Liquefied Coconut Oil
• 1/4 c Raw Honey
• 2 tbs. Hemp Oil

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Mix together all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. 

Mix together the wet ingredients in a separate bowl. 

Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix. 

Granola should be just barely moist.

Place the granola in a 1/2 inch thick layer on cookie sheets. 

Bake the granola in the oven for 40 – 50 minutes or until just slightly brown, you don't want to overcook.  Mix the granola every ten minutes. This will help the granola to cook evenly, and not burn. 

Remove from the oven and let cool. 

Enjoy. 

Zucchini Cacao Mini-Muffins

These muffins can be baked in a big batch ahead of time and eaten for breakfast or as a snack. They combine a wide variety of health promoting ingredients and include vitamins, minerals, fiber, healthy fats and protein. Cacao is real, unrefined unprocessed chocolate and is rich in minerals and brain balancing neurotransmitters. 

• 2 cups Organic Buckwheat Flour
• 1 c Organic Brown Cane Sugar
• 2 tsp. Baking Soda
• 2 tsp. Cinnamon
• 2 tsps. Power Seed Mix
• 1/2 c Cacao Nibs
• 1/8 tsp. Nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp. Freshly Grated Ginger
• 1/2 tsp. Sea Salt

Stir in:

• 2 cups Grated Organic Zucchini
• 1 Organic Apple (peeled, cored and grated)

In another bowl, beat:

• 1 cup Blended Medjool Dates (soak for 1-2 hours, pit and blend until it makes a goopy, sticky substance)
• 2 tsp. Organic Vanilla
• 1/2 cup unsweetened Organic Apple Sauce
• 1/2 cup Coconut Oil

Directions

Stir into flour mixture until batter is just combined.

Spoon into well greased mini muffin cups, filling to the top.

Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.

Organic Homemade Apple Sauce

Apple sauce is a kid and toddler favorite. It is a great way to get fresh fruit into your child's diet and makes the perfect snack. Make fresh and keep on hand for hungry kids. 

Ingredients

• 10 Organic Apples
• 4 tsps. Organic Cinnamon
• 2 tsp. Nutmeg

Directions

Cut the apples into quarters, remove the cores and any leaves. 

Leave the skins on.
Put all the apples in a crockpot or large pot on the stove with a little bit of water (less than a cup) and cinnamon and nutmeg to taste.
Cook the apples on medium heat until soft. 

Time varies, but expect at least a few hours. 

The house will smell great all day as they cook!
When the apples are soft as to where the skins are starting to fall off, turn off the heat and let the apples cool to room temperature. 

Use a food processor to puree the apples until smooth. 

Enjoy!

Candice Marley is a Holistic Health Practitioner, Holistic Nutritionist, Herbalist, Wellness Coach and owner of Align Holistic Health & Well Being who specializes in natural, holistic health care for families and children. She uses a combination of natural ways of eating, balanced lifestyle practices, medicinal herbs, holistic living strategies and wellness coaching to excel at creating vibrant, lasting health. Most people report feeling higher levels of energy and greater health within a week of their first appointment. You can download her free e-book The 5 Key Strategies for Creating Vibrant Health at www.alignholistichealth.com.

The 4 Factors that Determine Sickness & Disease - The Power of Prevention

Would you be shocked to learn that you have almost complete control over whether or not you ever get disease throughout your lifetime? Would you be shocked to learn you have almost complete control over whether or not you will ever get cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's, arthritis, or any other disease that will eventually take your life? Many of us are still young and do not think about our long term health and whether or not we will be living with a chronic disease 20 years from now. However, it is something worth your time and consideration and that is because everything you are doing now determines if you will get a disease later in life. Statistically speaking, you have more then a 75% chance of contracting, having to live with and eventually dying from a chronic degenerative disease. According to the former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. C. Everett Koop, of the 2.4 million deaths that occur in the United States each year, 75% are the result of avoidable nutritional factor diseases. This means you only have a 25% chance of dying from old age or natural causes, the way most prefer to leave this life. In fact, 7 out of 10 deaths among Americans each year are from chronic diseases. A chronic degenerative disease is a disease that by Western medical terms will never get better, will continue to get worse throughout your lifetime and will eventually kill you. However, it is what your are doing NOW that will determine what your health will be in 20 years. If you are anything like me, disease is not something I want now or at any time throughout my life. I picture my later years of life as beautiful and relaxing, retired, living my life on my own terms, healthy and able to do all I want and desire. However, statistically speaking, unless I take steps NOW this vision of mine will not occur, because I will be limited by the disease/s that continually eat away at my body and will eventually end my life. We often speak of these diseases as effecting us in our later years of life, but we know this is now no longer the case. It used to be you would not encounter a degenerative type disease until retirement age or beyond. However, today we see people in the early 30's, 40's and even some times in their 20's contract the very same diseases that we did not use to see until later on in life. In 2005, 133 million Americans—almost 1 out of every 2 adults—had at least one chronic illness. That means  no matter what the age, you have a 50% chance of contracting a chronic condition as an adult in the U.S.

What is the most interesting about these statistics is that these diseases are the result of AVOIDABLE nutrition and lifestyle factors. That is right. The diseases you may most greatly fear are completely avoidable and within your control. You have complete control over your health, and that is good news! These Chronic Diseases are caused by Four Factors you can easily control through Nutrition and Lifestyle changes.

The Four Factors That Determine Sickness & Disease

#1 Tobacco Use

The CDC reports, "Since 1964, an ongoing series of Surgeon General’s reports on smoking and health has concluded that tobacco use is the single most avoidable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United
States." We know smoking is terrible for our health. We mainly think of the effects smoking has on the lungs and respiratory system but we often neglect to think about is how quickly it ages everything on the inside of the body. Looking at a long term smoker you can see the effects on the outside of the body, aged, weathered skin, deep lines and flat oxygen less skin are all easy to see. This same effect occurs on the inside of the body. Smoking brings in an enormous amount of free radicals that attack healthy cells, cause them to age rapidly and eventually break down and degenerate tissues, organs and entire body systems. Smoking can be one of the most difficult addictions to break but it can be done especially when you are motivated and determined. Align Holistic Health & Well Being uses the methods of Ayurveda to restore balance, create a deeper connection between you and your body's signals, wean the body off the addictive substances while at the same detoxifying and restoring gaps in nutrients which makes cravings less severe and helps to repair some of the damage done by smoking.

#2 Poor Food Choices and Over Sized Food Portions

Currently less then 1/4 of the population gets the "recommended" number of servings of fresh plant based foods. The recommended amount is SIGNIFICANTLY lower then the optimal amount. When taking that into consideration it is probably safe to say less then 5-10% of the population is getting enough plant based foods. Why are plant based foods so important? The body needs vitamins and minerals to restore, repair and grow but it also is highly dependent upon enzymes, water, healthy fats, fiber, antioxidants and phytochemicals. 

Phytochemicals are biologically active chemicals,
naturally occurring chemicals, found in plant foods whose various functions are too numerous to completely know at this point. Their actions range from hormone regulation, to cancer prevention, to immune stimulation, to tumor regression. Phytochemicals functions are diverse and plentiful. They are one of the main reasons why food is able to work as medicine inside the body. Plants are abundant in these chemicals. For instance one apple has more then 10,000 active plant chemicals. Plant foods are the only foods that contain phytochemicals.

Enzymes are active living forces commonly termed "The Power of Life." Enzymes contain energy which directly enhances biochemical reactions within the body. It is fresh plant foods that come "pre-packaged" with these living enzymes, which support every process in your body, helping to keep you vibrant, youthful and at your most healthy. Fresh plant foods, are in fact, the ONLY food group that does contain active enzymes. If your nutrition is primarily cooked, boxed, packaged or canned dead foods, you are taking in no enzymes. Over time your body's own reserve is depleted and body processes slow, become less efficient and eventually disease is given fertile ground to grow.

Antioxidants are also only found in plant foods, Their job is to reverse the damage done by toxins in the foods you eat, products you use and environment in which you live. They also help protect you from having any damage done by these toxins. They are what keep you young on the inside and outside!

There are other problems with our food choices including the two most deadly unhealthy fats and sodium. Sodium destroys cellular balance. In fact, too little potassium (which is plentiful in plant foods) and too much sodium (plentiful in processed foods) is the beginning of all chronic disease.

Why is portion size included in this list? Because of the importance of digestion to your overall health. Your body uses up to 80% of all its energy on the digestive process. When you over tax this system, and more then 80% of your energy is required for digestion, energy is taken away from vital other processes such as healing, cleansing and regenerating. When your body is not able to supply energy for these purposes degeneration begins, immunity decreases and your internal environment becomes fertile ground for disease.

#3 Lack of Exercise

Activity is one of the most important things you can do for your overall health. Exercise and activity help to balance internal processes, cleanse the body regularly and activate important body transmissions. More then 1/3 of all adults do not get enough exercise each day. Physical activity helps control weight, reduce risks for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cancers, strengthen bones and muscles, improve mental health and mood, and improve ability to accomplish your daily activities.

#4 Stress

We often overlook or down play the role stress has in our health and well being. Stress, in fact, is a key factor in determining whether or not you will be plagued by sickness or disease. Biologically stress actually begins to tear apart our body from the inside out. During stressful periods of time, the inside of your body is actually 32 years older then your calendar age! That means if you are 35 years old, your heart, lungs and brain, during stressful periods of time, are close to 70 years old! Stress ages your body rapidly, very rapidly in all ways and in all areas. We know how bad stress if, but what can we do about it? Some stress is inevitable in life, some stress can be down sized and the rest of it must be managed through healthy stress management practices.


By being aware of and controlling these 4 Factors that Determine Sickness & Disease you decrease your risk of getting sick or contracting the most common diseases Americans die from each year. By taking a preventative approach to your health, you ensure your later years of life are filled with happiness and peace and not pain and disease. You also help ensure you are able to accomplish all you want throughout your life and are not limited in any way by your health. What you do NOW determines what your health will be tomorrow, 10, 20 and even 50 years from now. These 4 Factors are not complicated or burdensome. You can take control of your health, you do have control of your health.

Blessings of Radiant Health!



Candice Marley is a Holistic Health Practitioner, Holistic Nutritionist, Herbalist, Wellness Coach and owner of Align Holistic Health & Well Being. Candice helps people all over the world create vibrant health, greater energy, radiant beauty and a lifetime of health without disease or pain naturally and holistically. She uses a combination of natural ways of eating, balanced lifestyle practices, medicinal herbs, holistic living strategies and wellness coaching to excel at creating vibrant, lasting health in people just like you! In fact, most people report feeling higher levels of energy and greater health within a week of their first appointment. You can download her free e-book The 5 Key Strategies for Creating Vibrant Health at www.alignholistichealth.com.

The Female Balancing Act ~ Balancing Hormones Naturally Throughout Your Lifetime

Hormone imbalance is no longer something that just effects women as they approach the menopause years. Hormone imbalance is effecting almost all women at every stage of their lives, from teenagers to women in their 30's. Even those who don't know or think they are experiencing hormone imbalance, often after doing some digging into the underlying cause of health problems, imbalanced hormones are identified as a contributing and often the root cause of many woman's health complaints. Balancing hormones naturally is something that can be done, but first you must understand if you are experiencing hormone imbalance. Here are some common hormone imbalance symptoms:

• Moodiness
• Inability to loose weight
• Weight Gain
• Chronic Tiredness
• Skin Problems
• Health symptoms around the monthly cycle (PMS)
• Reduced sex drive
• Problems with conception 
• Cysts
• Diagnosed female health conditions (i.e. POS)
• Sleep Problems

These are all symptoms of hormone imbalance. In my practice, I would say at least 80-90% of all the women I see are suffering from some type of hormone imbalance. Why is that? A toxic environment, stressful lifestyles, lack of exercise and the food we eat are all the main culprits in hormone imbalance. Most women who are experiencing hormone imbalance are either receiving no treatment at all or are on perpetual prescription drugs including birth control pills. Neither of these address the underlying root cause of hormone imbalance or work to bring hormones back into balance. There are steps you can take to balance hormones naturally and prevent even more severe hormone imbalance from occurring as you age. 

To prevent and reverse any health condition you must first know and understand the cause. If you never look to the cause you will continue in practices that contribute to the original health symptom and continue the cycle. 

Hormone imbalance is predominately caused by...

Stress

Stress plays a major role in hormones imbalance. The Franklin Institute explains that stress causes the brain to flood the body with adrenal hormones that are produced in order to help the individual respond to danger. This response is known as the fight-or-flight response. These stress hormones are naturally supposed to subside within a relatively short amount of time (as soon as the perceived danger is gone), but in lifestyles that are perpetually stressful, stress hormones continue to flood the body. The female body uses progesterone to minimize and water down the effects of these powerful stress hormones. As progesterone is used too frequently, estrogen levels begin to rise. This imbalance between progesterone and estrogen is the classic hormone imbalance reaction. When estrogen levels become high, in relation to progesterone, early symptoms of estrogen dominance, such as breast tenderness, anxiety, headaches, weight gain, water retention, and irregular periods can occur. Many other symptoms have been related to abnormally high levels of estrogen, including decreased sex drive, mood swings, fatigue, insomnia, hair loss, and memory loss. A number of more serious health problems, such as cancer of the breast, uterus, and ovaries, infertility, endometriosis, osteoporosis, gallbladder and thyroid disease, unstable blood sugar, mineral deficiencies, PCOS, and stroke have also been linked to estrogen dominance.

Implementing a healthy stress management routine is essential to balancing hormones naturally. By managing stress in a healthy way you prevent and cleanse the body from too many stress hormones. This in turn keeps your progesterone and estrogen levels in balance and avoids all the health symptoms that come along with estrogen dominance. Yoga, exercise and deep breathing are all tools in managing stress. Creating a healthy stress management routine should be an integral part of your treatment protocol when addressing hormone imbalance. 

Blood Sugar Imbalance

More and more women are also experiencing problems related to blood sugar imbalance. If you are experiencing symptoms of hormone imbalance, chances are you are also experiencing blood sugar imbalance from time to time. This usually goes without diagnosis unless it becomes a chronic disease such as Diabetes Type 2. Blood sugar levels skyrocket with the use of stimulants such as caffeine, refined and processed foods (muffins, donuts, bagels pasts, pizza, ect) and eating too many calories. Blood sugar issues come with many of the same symptoms of hormone imbalance tiredness, moodiness, 2pm crashes and weight gain. Insulin is a hormone produces by the body that is responsible for converting blood sugar into cellular energy. When blood sugar is irregularly high, or stays high for too long this causes insulin levels to go up and stay up. The body uses cortisol (the stress hormone) to balance insulin. When insulin stays high for too long, cortisol also stay high for too long and your body cycles into the same situation previously discussed under stress.

Insulin Increase ---> Cortisol Increase ---> Progesterone Decrease ---> Estrogen Increase (Estrogen Dominance)

There is another problem with increased levels of insulin. Insulin is a growth factor, meaning it causes cells to grow. There has been a strong link found between increased insulin levels and breast cancer. This is because cancer is simply the over growth of certain cells. Insulin stimulates the growth of cells and often this means the growth of cancer cells. If you know you have insulin issues or have been diagnosed with diabetes type 2 it is important to take extra caution to prevent the development of breast cancer by balancing hormones naturally. 

Chemicals & Toxins

Some of the chemicals used in foods, food growing, personal care products, cosmetics, the air we breathe, plastics and cleaning products mimic estrogen inside our body. These chemicals are called xeno-estrogens. These synthetic xeno-estorgens are much more powerful than estrogen made inside the human body causing extreme estrogen dominance. Too much estrogen is a problem not only because of the health symptoms we already discussed but because estrogen stimulates cells to grow and divide, which is needed for the development of sex organs, but can spiral out of control. An excess of estrogen in the body has been linked to hormone cancers. Cancer cells continue to grow and divide without any regulation or control. Too much estrogen only feeds this process. BPA, one xeno-estrogen, is mainly found in hard plastics, but residues have been found in virtually all plastic products. In a recent study, scientists conducted lab tests on more than 20 top-brand baby bottles along with more than 450 plastic food and beverage-packages, and found virtually all leached chemicals that acted like the hormone estrogen, even though many were free of BPA. "Baby bottles, plastic bags, plastic wrap, clamshell food containers, stand-up pouches: Just about anything you can think of that's made of plastic that food or beverages are wrapped up in, we found this activity," said study author Stuart Yaniger, vice president of research and product development at PlastiPure. These chemicals are more rapidly leeched out of plastic and into foods when the food is wet. Taking wet store-bought organic produce and placing it in soft plastic bags at the grocery store poses a potentially very serious health risk. Instead, buy reusable fabric mesh produce bags or just throw all your produce into one of your cloth reusable grocery bags.

Other chemicals are endocrine disruptors which mean they disrupt the hormone process. From interfering with the making of hormones, to the process of transporting hormones, these chemicals prevent a healthy hormone cycle.

The best way to eliminate xeno-estrogens and balance hormones naturally is to avoid them all together. You can do this by reducing exposure to toxins, using only organic body care, cosmetic and cleaning products and never heating food in plastic which causes these chemicals to leak into food. 

Weight Imbalance

Carrying excess weight causes hormones to become imbalanced. Fat cells contain an enzyme called armomatase. This enzymes converts testosterone into estrogen. The more fat cells you have, the more of this enzyme your body is producing. Eventually by converting all testosterone into estrogen your body ends up in a state of estrogen dominance. 

There are many important health reasons for finding and staying at your naturally balanced weight. Balancing hormones naturally is one of the most important for women. 

Deficiency

In order for your body to be able to create a healthy supply of hormones, it needs a good supply of nutrients. Minerals, vitamins and healthy fats are all needed for your body to create hormones. Vitamin D, zinc and good fats such as those found in nuts and seeds, coconut and olive oils are used by your body to manufacture hormones. If your body is deficient, depleted or missing some of these key nutrients hormone production slows. Vitamin D, for instance, plays an integral role in the formation of healthy hormones, however it is known more then 80% of the population is deficient in this key nutrient. Nutrients are the foundation and building blocks for all good health including healthy hormone production. Refined foods actually interfere with mineral and nutrient absorption and assimilation eventually creating a nutrient deficient. Addressing deficiencies through cleansing, whole, organic foods and nutrient dense raw foods and juices is vital to assisting your body in balancing hormones naturally. 

Hormone Laden Foods

A large portion of our food supply is now contaminated with synthetic hormones. Cows were not created to make gallons of milk each and every day for human consumption. Their bodies do not not naturally produce milk in these quantities. To increase milk production and corresponding profits, the dairy industry regularly gives cows synthetic hormones to increase their milk supply  These hormones are passed along in their milk and end up in your body by consuming in-organic dairy products. This includes refined products that utilize dairy in the food making process. This additional hormone intake, through the consumption of dairy, causes major internal hormone imbalance. Organic dairy does not use hormones, so if you are a dairy consumer, organic is a must. 

Soy

Increased hormone imbalance can also be attributed to the increase of soy in our diets. Soy is a goitrogen, which blocks iodine uptake in the body. In women, iodine is stored in the thyroid gland, the breasts and the ovaries. Iodine deficiency causes thyroid disorders (including goiters, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer), cysts in the breasts and ovaries, and breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

You may think you don't eat much soy if you don’t drink soy milk or eat tofu. But soy is in almost everything. Most restaurants use soybean oil to cook with, and most packaged and processed foods contain soybean oil and/or soy lecithin. Most of the meat and dairy we consume is from animals fed soy. Most mayonnaise and salad dressings contain soybean oil.

It is okay to eat soy in small amounts, everything in balance, and is best when naturally fermented (like naturally fermented soy sauce, miso, tempeh, or natto).

Key Factors in Balancing Hormones Naturally

1. Address Stress - Create Healthy Stress Management Routines. These should be consistent and on going, not just once and awhile. 
2. Clean Up Your Nutrition - Ditch refined and processed foods, sugar and foods with added sugars and include lots of organic, fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains. Fresh juicing is a great way to get a high amount of fresh living nutrients. 
3. Create a Consistent Exercise Routine - Exercise helps in numerous ways to balance hormones. Exercise helps to reduce stress, detoxify additional estrogen, toxins and stress hormones. It also helps to balance blood sugar and regulate internal processes. 
4. Naturally Balance Weight - By implementing a natural weight balancing program, you reduce the build up of excess weight and decrease the amount of estrogen in your body. Even if you are thing, but eating a highly refined and processed diet you may still have toxic fat cells stored in your body. 
5. Go Green & Organic - By committing to buying organic products and foods you not only eliminate synthetic hormones, endocrine disruptors and xeno-estrogens but you also help to decrease the toxicity of the environment  which has additional added benefits for the health of you and your family. 
6. Don't Use Plastics - Better for your health and environment, using glass prevents BPA's and other plastics chemicals for getting into your food. Use reusable cloth bags for groceries and produce and store your foods in glass container, like pyrex, instead of soft plastic wrap or containers. 

Balancing hormones is a highly personalized experience  especially if you have been diagnosed with hormone imbalance related healthy condition. While these general principals are a good tool to utilize in preventing and restoring hormone balance, it is imperative to work hand in hand with a holistic health care provider to ensure complete healing and restoration. 

At Align we offer a free 30-minute holistic health exam which is a great place to start if you are interested in using natural methods to heal and restore hormone balance. 

Please visit our web site to learn more about the free exam and our philosophies toward health and healing. www.alignholistichealth.com

Turning A Picky Eater Into A Vibrant Eater

Being the parent of a picky eater can be challenging and frustrating, but more so downright concerning. You instinctively know something is not right when your child refuses the majority of healthful foods, but if you have asked your medical doctor chances are you have been told it is nothing to worry about and your child will most likely grow out of it. Picky eating IS a significant problem however, and an even bigger problem if your child suffers from any health concerns. Vibrant, healthy children have healthy appetites, so if your child’s appetite is not so vibrant, neither is his/her health. 

Picky eaters usually eat only a very limited number of food items, which are usually high starch, high fat foods and refuse most if not all fresh fruits, whole grains and vegetables. A child who is only eating certain foods is not getting enough nutrients to grow, heal or develop optimally. If your child is facing a health concern, these missing nutrients may be the missing link to why they are not healing completely and continue to suffer from health problems. Picky eaters frequently have inconsistent energy, sleep poorly, are tired, irritable and generally do not perform up to their physical and academic potential. Picky eating can be a sign of a variety of very real health issues, deficiencies, allergies and/or intolerance  Many times if a child is suffering from intolerance or allergies, their entire digestive and respiratory tracts are coated in mucus, making most all foods smell and taste not so appealing. Children who are deficient in zinc can become almost repelled by many foods because they have lost their sense of smell and taste or have their senses altered. As with any health concern, picky eating is highly personalized. There is not a “one reason fits all” approach. It is important to work hand-in-hand with an experienced child nutritionist who can help you unravel all the pieces to your child’s picky eating tendencies and address deficiencies, allergies our other nutritionally related health concerns. Picky eating is a problem that can be addressed and resolved.

Here are a few steps and recommendations to help your picky eater expand his nutrition repertoire:

1. Remove irritating foods. Try a simple elimination diet for 4-6 weeks. Dairy is the most common food irritant. Sugar, gluten, wheat and soy based foods follow, as do food additives and chemicals such as preservatives, colorings, and taste enhancers. Many of these foods may be making your child uncomfortable without your knowledge. Removing common irritants is the should be the first step because children will be more willing to make changes once they are no longer feeling physically uncomfortable.

2. Add the “One Food-One Bite” Plan. For the next 2 weeks add one new food of which your child will take one bite each and every day. Help your child decide on which new food they would like to add. It is a good idea to start with foods that have a similar look, feel and taste to some of their current favorite foods. Let your child know all you would like them to do is to simply try one bite of the new food each day for the next 2 weeks. If at the end of the 2 weeks, your child still hates the food, they don’t have to eat it again. (These would be foods to try again in a year or so.)

3. Add one food at a time. Let your child be involved in the process so your child does not feel forced and is able to retain some sense of personal control.

4. Stay calm and balanced as your child tries new foods. Your child may freak out, gag, cry or otherwise create drama around the new food. It is your job as the parent to stay calm and provide the support your child needs to overcome this personal challenge for them. Becoming upset also only feeds into your child’s fear surrounding food and can sabotage the entire effort. Give them encouragement, loving support and let them know you know they can do it because it is important for their health and well being.

5. Involve your child in the shopping and cooking process. The bigger the variety of foods your child is surrounded by, the more open minded they will become. Have your child pick fruits and veggies they would like to try from the produce section at the grocery store and then have them help in making the food. Talk about the importance of food and the different health benefits of each of the foods. Leave big bowls filled with appealing fruits and veggies out in the open and in your fridge so your child always sees the foods. In the summer plant a garden, even if only a small or window container garden. Teach your children where food comes from and show them how to nurture and grow the plants they will then eat.

6. Be a good role model. Your child will learn 100 times more from what you do then from what you say. Try new foods, be open minded and excited about nutrition and nourishing not only yourself but your family. So your child you value quality, healthful food and support healthy foods by how and where you shop. 

By implementing these recommendations, you can turn your picky eater into a healthy, vibrant child that enjoys all the foods nature has to offer. For personalized attention and advice please contact me directly through my web site at www.alignholistichealth.com

Candice Marley is a Holistic Health Practitioner, Holistic Nutritionist, Herbalist, Wellness Coach and owner of Align Holistic Health & Well Being who specializes in natural, holistic health care for families and children. She uses a combination of natural ways of eating, balanced lifestyle practices, medicinal herbs, holistic living strategies and wellness coaching to excel at creating vibrant, lasting health. Most people report feeling higher levels of energy and greater health within a week of their first appointment. You can download her free e-book The 5 Key Strategies for Creating Vibrant Health at www.alignholistichealth.com.

What is a Holistic Health Exam? Do I need one?

It's the New Year and we are all working toward bettering our health and meeting our personal New Year's Resolutions, most of which center around getting healthier! Health is a dynamic and very personal process, different for each one of us. Your health is ever changing and what you are doing today, right now, is what will dictate the type of health you will have in the future. Every day and with every action you take you are either contributing to creating strong and lasting health or contributing to decreasing your health. A Holistic Health Exam allows you to understand if what you are doing right now is in fact contributing to higher levels of health in the future, or if you are setting the stage for a lifetime of deteriorating health. 


We know most causes of death in the U.S., 75% of all deaths in fact, are caused by avoidable nutritional and lifestyle factor diseases. While that number is related to deaths, it also indicates 75% of us will get sick, continue to get sicker and eventually die from something that is avoidable. What this tells us is the most commonly accepted ways of eating and living are decreasing our health over time to such a degree that a disease eventually will evolve. Many of us don't regularly think about how we will spend the last years of our lives, but I have personally had to come face to face with it as two of the most important people in my life age and are faced with a myriad of health problems. Nearing 80, they have been plagued over the past few years with a never ending increasing cycle of health problems, doctors visits and prescription drugs. As they continue to increase the frequency with which they visit the doctor, the number of medications they take, and the number of times they must go to the hospital it becomes very clear that how you care for your body over the years dictates if and how sick you will become as you age.  Many people begin seeing their first health symptoms in their late 30's and early 40's. Many of us have health problems we have come to just live with. If you are on any type of prescription drug or regular over-the-counter medicine you are experiencing a health problem, a health problem that will continue to get worse, a health problem you don't have to live with. 

I will give you some examples of common health problems that most of us just resign ourselves to living with:

• Weight issues
• Low energy levels
• Skin problems
• Constipation
• Chronic Headaches
• Anxiety
• Allergies

and there are many more. These health problems are directly related to nutritional and lifestyle practices. Health symptoms such as these, indicate something is wrong with your diet and/or lifestyle practices. These types of health problems can be completely resolved without 

medications, constant doctor visits or over the counter medications. 

What are we currently doing to care for our health and is it working? Most of us try to get in our regular health exams with our medical doctor and some of us try to eat healthy and exercise. Yet, by looking at the statistics we see that whatever it is we are doing, to care for our health, is not working! The U.S. life expectancy is only 42nd in the world among developed countries. The World Health Organization, in 2000, ranked the U.S. health care system as the highest in cost, 37th in overall performance and 72nd by overall level of health. 72nd in overall level of health! Our current health care system is facing major challenges. In no other sector of business do consumers continue to spend their money, massive amounts of money none the less, on a product rated a dismal 72nd in overall production. On top of that low ranking it is estimated that medical doctors now spend less then 10 minutes per patient per visit, due to managed health care rules and the shear number of people in the system. How much information can a doctor gather about the total picture of what is happening in your body in less than 10 minutes? Not much.  Yet with every sneeze, cough and fever we continue to run to our local medical doctors spending thousands of dollars, filling our bodies with overpriced toxic drugs and continuing to stay blind to the fact that although we are one of the most developed and wealthiest nations in the world we are the sickest. We can do better! Better yet, we MUST do better!

Candice Marley has developed a different approach to health. This approach takes into consideration the two most important contributors to your health and well being ~ your diet and lifestyle practices ~ in a convenient twice yearly Holistic Health Exam. By evaluating both diet and lifestyle practices she can determine if what you are currently doing is increasing your health in a way that will lead to a lifetime free of sickness, disease and pain, or if your current diet and lifestyle practices are degrading your body and health while setting the stage for more serious health concerns down the road. Candice's Holistic Health exams include a personal consultation with diet and lifestyle analysis. After your Holistic Health Exam you will receive a report of her findings, listing the areas in need of attention. This allows you to target the exact areas that need to be modified to increase your health and create a lifetime of natural health. This exam is the best place to start if you are interested in learning more about the benefits of natural, holistic health care or if you are interested in bettering your health naturally in 2013. Holistic Health Exams should be done every 6 months to ensure you stay on track and continue building your health. They are perfect for children as well to create a healthy foundation, ensure your child's health stays on track and are a great way to care for your child's health naturally and from a preventative approach. 

A complete Holistic Health Exam takes 60 minutes and is $75. This includes an hour consultation with diet and lifestyle analysis  After your appointment you will receive a report with the findings as well as recommendations in both diet and lifestyle for increasing health. 

Candice also offers a FREE Holistic Health Exam to all new patients. It includes a 30-minute consultation with diet and lifestyle analysis and a report of findings. After that you can continue working with Candice to learn the best strategies and recommendations to increase your health based on your report of findings. 

Make this the year you begin really caring for your health in a complete and natural way. Make this the year you get your Holistic Health Exam!

Candice Marley is a Holistic Health Practitioner, Holistic Nutritionist, Herbalist, Wellness Coach and owner of Align Holistic Health & Well Being. Candice helps people all over the world create vibrant health, greater energy, radiant beauty and a lifetime of health without disease or pain naturally and holistically. She uses a combination of natural ways of eating, balanced lifestyle practices, medicinal herbs, holistic living strategies and wellness coaching to excel at creating vibrant, lasting health in people just like you! In fact, most people report feeling higher levels of energy and greater health within a week of their first appointment. You can download her free e-book The 5 Key Strategies for Creating Vibrant Health at www.alignholistichealth.com.