Recover your body from Hurricane Harvey distress

RECOVER YOUR BODY FROM HURRICANE HARVEY DISTRESS

I am heartbroken to hear, see, and experience the tragedy of Hurricane Harvey.  Having just left Houston myself with a Houston-based office and friends and family this has been a personal hit. The silver lining if anything is the amazing uprise of community and humanity that this natural disaster has brought to light. Following disheartening social declines our country has faced with inhumane treatment towards one another, racism, and intolerance, the hurricane has brought together people of all creeds, ages, races, incomes, locations to serve as humans with love and compassion. THIS is the light that the darkness brings!

I wanted to share below tips I released in a newsletter to Houstonians and beyond to aid them with functional approaches to immune, emotional, and whole body health with a great priority in supporting immune systems to prevent any illness from exposure to flood waters or excessive demand to stress response.

Diarrhea, Bloating, Vomiting, Nausea, Dermatitis, Immune distress, Anxiety, Depression, Panic Attacks, Chronic Fatigue, and Insomnia can all result from post-traumatic stress disorder and exposure to pathogens. Below some risks to avoid, food-as-medicine support, and supplement specials to support your rebound.

Avoid Exposure to Flood Waters!

Please, please, please keep your children out of the flood waters! Stay out of flood waters as much as possible only spend time in them if aiding in rescue or transferring out of home. Flood waters are extremely dangerous and full of contaminants (vehicle exhaust, chemicals, sewage, etc.), sharps (broken glass, needles, etc.) and pathogens (dangerous bacteria)! Please keep your children out of flood waters and wear protective boots wherever possible. When ever possible wash exposed skin and be mindful when returning to your home if you did evacuate to sanitize all items that contacted flood waters even if in containers.

Practice 4-7-8 Breath!

The autonomic nervous system is on overdrive in situations of this magnitude. Even in you are at home safe, likely you had restless sleep and distress for loved ones, neighbors, and the unknown. For those of you that have had to evacuate, I can not imagine the mental distress and can only emphasize with all my heart. Using this type of conscious breath can actually harness the autonomic nervous system and reduce the vagus nerve excitatory output. Implementing 5-6 cycles alone can shift your system back into your Rest and Digest balance which is essential for your metabolic function and health! Try to practice this with family and friends or by yourself for cycles of 15-20 minutes to slow your heart rate, breath, and create whole body balance.

From Dr. Andrew Weil on how to do 4-7-8:
Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four. Hold your breath for a count of seven.
Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of eight.

Focus on Whole Foods wherever possible!

Please practice self care and continue to nourish yourself wherever possible. Be mindful your body is going through a lot of stress. The last thing that it needs is to have to breakdown a bunch of processed ingredients and then have to worry about detoxification of “foods”. Focus on whole, real food, single ingredients where possible! When selecting most nourishing options try to aim for fats and proteins to aid in satiety, hormone balance, immune support and amino acid building blocks.

Ideas for nutrient-dense shelf-stable foods: Nuts, Seeds, Nutbutter packs, Shredded Coconut, Canned SkipJack, Canned Salmon, Jar of olives, coconut milk canned, dried fruit

If at all possible: fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, fish, eggs

Be kind to yourself during this process and if an indulgence is a part of sharing in community allow this and don’t follow with shame or guilt; however, where possible honor your body with whole real foods to provide the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support whole body health!

Food-as-Medicine to Rebound your Immune System!

Bone Broth! Aim to have 6-8oz 5 times/wk to rebound white blood cells, aid as expectorant breaking up phlegm, mucous, and supporting healthy gut function while preventing upper respiratory infections.

If you have access to a kitchen to make bone broth here is a recipe!
If you are unable to make and have lost power to your frozen sources, you can purchase these recommended brands: Epic, Bonified Provisions (if no access or sold out at your stores, consider online shipping)!

Beyond supporting the immune and digestive system, bone broth can also aid in calming your nerves! Glutamine an amino acid that is found widely in bone broth can convert to GABA which aids in relaxation and reduction of anxiety.

Consume Probiotics! Try to include 1source daily rotating cultured vegetables 1/8 cup, keifer/yogurt 6oz, kombucha 6-8oz.

Probiotics play a role in your digestive function, aiding in bowel regularity and excretion, as well as providing metabolic end products from foods that lower the pH of the body and create compounds such as butyrate that are anti-tumorigenic and increase the production of Natural Killer (NK) cells in your body which directly battle foreign invaders bacteria, virus, and disease progression. Take a quality probiotic to support your immune system to rebound from exposure and compete with bad bacteria so you are less prone to immune distress!

Consume Natural Anti-viral and Anti-microbial compounds!
Garlic: Much of the immune-boosting properties of garlic come from its sulfur-containing compounds, which also give the bulb its aroma, particularly one called allicin. These compounds are anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and protect against parasitic infections. They enhance the immune system and provide anti-tumor and antioxidant features, which help guard our cells. Most recipes start with garlic or onions so make sure to get your benefits by bumping up the intake through soup, stew, stir-fry, and salad dressing. Be sure to let garlic sit for about 10 minutes after being chopped as the oxygen activates its compounds!

Oregano: One of the most powerful antifungals can aid in prevention of black mold post exposure to prolonged dampened conditions. It contains two naturally occurring antimicorbial agents carvacrol and thymol. Research suggests these two react with the water in your bloodstream to dehydrate and kill bacteria. Oregano oil as an essential oil compound can also have antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Coconut Oil: containing 3 beneficial fatty acids: caprylic acid, monolaurin, and lauric acid are potent players in supporting healthy gut bacteria and whole body immune health by removing pathogens and fighting infections.

Incorporate Essential Oils!
One final recommendation and admittedly not more forte! I do recommend against consumption of essential oils unless encapsulated in a pharmaceutical-grade product. However, using essential oils as inhalants can be very supportive of immune rebound and antibacterial, antiviral effects.
Tea Tree oil, Thieves Oil, Eucalyptus, Lavender, and Lemon are essentials in my household.

Supplement specials to support you and your family!
I am offering discounts for accessibility to products that are essential in recovery providing immune, detox, and stress support! The products below will be at 30% off using code: HARVEY30 for those effected by the storm.
Please note in your order if you’d like us to delay shipping and we will offer discount through September to support you all getting back to your best health.

For Digestion and Immune! RestoreBaseline Probiotic

Restore Baseline Probiotic: for anyone in the greater Houston area exposed to flood waters especially experiencing: diarrhea, bloating, dermatitis, immune distress

Take 1 at bed and 1 at rise for 30 days if exposed to flood waters to protect you and your family!

 

For Detox! Cellular Antiox
Cellular Antiox: provides glutathione the most potent antioxidant playing a role in chronic fatigue syndrome, inflammation, detoxification, and cellular defense. This is priority for any that were exposed to odors, chemical fumes, air and water pollutants to support detoxification and rebound energy.
Take 1 at rise and 1 at mid-afternoon for 2 months minimum.

For Stress! Calm and Clear
Calm and Clear: this blend of anti-anxiety herbals and nutrients to support adrenal glands is elevated with L-theanine to support alpha brain wave patterns seen during meditation, concentration, focus, REM cycles of sleep. For anyone dealing with panic, anxiety, sleep disorder, fatigue, emotional distress, this formula can reduce excessive fight-or-flight response and help body get back to equilibrium.
Take 1-2 three times daily with or without food.

 

Stay Strong Houston and Texas! We are here for you.

Xo

Ali and Team