4 Ways to Naturally Increase Your Energy

The Monday blues; waking up feeling tired and groggy, not having enough energy, it's a big complaint for most of us. In fact, the biggest complaint we hear at Raw Vitality is not having enough energy or having inconsistent energy. Clean, true energy is the hallmark of good health. High, consistent energy levels are a prime indication that your health is at its optimum. Unfortunately most of us don't have enough of it! So, we turn to energy products, drinks powders, supplements, caffeine, sugar, anything to help get us up and going. Unfortunately all of these things just continue to cycle of low and inconsistent energy and they do nothing to cure the underlying root cause of low energy levels.

The root causes of low and inconsistent energy are: not enough movement & exercise, too much stress, not enough life balance, adrenal fatigue, too big of burden on digestion, too much toxicity and nutrient deficiencies. To really cure these root causes and create long term sustainable high energy levels you must engage in a total health transformation focusing on all the key areas that contribute to prime health and energy: 1. Nutrient Dense Eating, 2. Balanced Consistent Exercise, 3. Healthy Stress Management, 4. Green Living Practices to reduce your exposure to health harming toxins, the very principals we address and correct in any of our 30-day Raw Vitality programs. However, if you are looking for a quick fix to increase your energy and create sustainable energy levels throughout your day and want to do it naturally, without relying on health and adrenal harming products here are 5 Ways to Naturally Increase Your Energy....

1. Fresh Morning Juice

Two of the biggest contributors to low levels of energy, especially first thing in the morning, are too much toxicity and not enough nutrients!Fresh juicing helps to correct both of these problems. At Raw Vitality we recommend juicing first thing in the morning, in the 1-2 hours after rising. This helps assist the body in naturally cleansing from the day before and infuses the body with a ton of vitamins, minerals, fresh living enzymes and all the other wonderful plant chemicals that help you to get up and moving and feeling great. If you are looking for an easy and inexpensive way to juice fresh each morning check out our quick video:

2. Get Moving!

When you are feeling low in energy the last thing you usually want to do is get up and get moving but that is preciously what will help to boost your energy levels. There is an interesting paradox in health that the more energy you expend the more your body creates so the more you move and exercise the more energetic you will feel. Exercise helps to address all the key areas that contribute to low energy including naturally detoxing the body, increasing oxygen levels, reducing stress and better assimilation of nutrients. In Raw Vitality we teach the importance of daily walking. A quick 15-30 minute walk in the morning will help raise your energy levels and keep them consistent throughout the day. You can also take a quick outdoor walk anytime you eel your energy levels start to dip throughout the day.

3. Take a Deep Breath!

Our breath is key to increasing and maintaining energy levels, that is because our breath is responsible for so much. In fact 80% of toxins are removed from our body through our breath and most of us breathe much too shallow meaning we keep too many toxins trapped inside of our body which saps our energy. Taking 5 minutes each day to focus on the breath and to breathe deeply is key to increasing energy. Deep breathing exercises will help to remove built up toxins, reduce stress and leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

4. Eat with Your Digestive Rythms

Think of how sleepy and groggy you get every time you eat a really big meal. Our digestion processes uses up to 80% of available energy all day every day that is because digestion is one of the most important processes your body engages in. When we eat too much, eat too heavy of foods or eat out of tune with our natural digestive rhythms this puts an even bigger burden on digestion and leaves us feeling sleepy and without much energy. By eating in rhythm your digestion and eating fresh, light foods you free up lots of digestive energy and overall energy increases. In Raw Vitality we engage in a 3 day Digestive Reset process which helps align digestion with its natural rhythms which means more nutrients are absorbed and more toxins removed. To maxamize digestion and icnrease energy eat in the following way:

1. Breakfast - 1-2 hours after rising. Should be satisfying and fresh. No heavy animal products or cooked foods. Keep it light and healthy setting you up for success the rest of the day. 
2. Lunch - Should be the biggest meal of the day when you are putting out the most energy. Smack dab in the middle of your day when digestion is at its peak. 
3. Dinner - 3-4 hours before bedtime. Also should be satisfying and not too heavy. Many people eat the largest meal at dinner, weighing down digestion which is a big contributor to low energy levels in the morning. To help digestion you can also take a 15-30 minute walk after dinner and before bed. 

By making just these few switches in your daily routine you will start to feel your energy levels skyrocket and stay consistent throughout the day. If you need to complete a bigger health overhaul join one of our 30-day Raw Vitality programs which focuses on the 4 Keys to Health, Vitality & Longevity increasing your overall health and energy. Learn more about Raw Vitality and our natural and preventative health care programs at www.rawvitalitytotalhealth.com

Key Components to Look for in a "True Cleanse"

Cleansing has become a clique term at this point. Too many products and programs have used marketing jingles and rhetoric to try to rope people into protocols and procedures to quickly loose weight or feel better in some way that are simply completely unhealthy and downright harmful to the body and mind. Cleansing in its truest sense is time honored health process that removes and cleans the body of built up toxins, releases stored weight, reverses and slows the symptoms of aging, increases energy and vitality and builds overall health. It is also one of the best ways to practice preventative health care. Accomplishing this many goals in one health process can be a difficult task, but if done correctly can be done healthfully and effectively, however cleansing cannot be done by any type of quick fix scheme. 

Why Cleanse

Cleansing is more needed today than at any other time in history. The sheer number of toxic chemicals that are released into our environment and absorbed by our body on a daily basis is staggering. The CDC estimates we each have between 200-400 chemicals lodged in our body tissues and circulating throughout our body, many of which are carcinogenic, or cancer causing. We know this to be true by the dramatic increases of cancer cases in the past several decades with estimates of cancer rising by up to 75% in the next decade. Other health conditions like autoimmune disorders, type 2 diabetes, spectrum disorders like Autism, attention problems like ADD, hormone imbalance and infertility, to just name a few, have all been linked to toxic chemical exposure. It is said that the amount of toxins our grandparents were exposed to in their lifetime we are now exposed to in a single day! This makes sense if we look at how many people where dealing with chronic health conditions and diseases at that time, say 50 years ago, compared to what we see today. The number has increased by staggering amounts. 

Our body is a self-healing and self-regulating intelligent machine! It knows these toxins are toxic to body systems, especially vital organs so traps and stores toxins the body is not able to remove quickly in our fat cells. This ensures they are somewhat neutralized and away from vital organs. The liver and kidneys are most responsible for filtering and removing harmful toxins but after a lifetime of exposure to these toxins, or even say 20 years, both organs are run down, tired and not as easily able to get rid of or deal with the voluminous amounts of toxins being processed through the body, this means more toxins are left to circulate throughout our system or become stuck in our fat cells. 

Health Conditions Reversed, Healed & Prevented Through Cleansing

Health problems, symptoms and many diseases are directly related to toxicity and toxic chemical exposure throughout life. By cleansing, in its true sense, you reduce your exposure to these toxins and support the body in removing the toxins, once and for all, from the body, even those trapped in fat cells. True Cleansing also boosts immunity and all other functions of the body to health and healing happen much more quickly and completely. Once these toxins are removed the body can begin to heal, begin working more efficiently, can regenerate, restore and release excess stored weight. So many times in the Raw Vitality 30-day program we see health symptoms begin to clear up naturally as the body is cleanses. Toxins are also directly related to lower energy levels, crashes throughout the day, foggy brain or not being able to think as clearly, and lowered physical performance in all ways. Once toxins are properly cleansed and eliminated all areas of health begin to improve. 

Cleansing to Lose Weight

Excess weight, especially as we age, that just doesn’t seem to budge is most often related to toxicity. Toxins trapped in fat cells will not be released if the body knows they cannot be flushed from the body permanently. Once the liver and kidneys are supported, new toxic chemical exposure is lessened and the body’s immune system and self-healing mechanisms are supported and functioning at their highest, stored toxins will be released, the excess fat cells will be dissolved and the extra weight will naturally drop. 

Key Components to Look for in a True Cleanse

True cleansing, in its purest form must accomplish several main objectives: 1) Remove Toxicity, 2) Reverse Deficiencies, 3) Increase Immunity, 4) Balance the Body, 5) Release Excess Weight. To accomplish all of those things at the same time may seem like a daunting task but can be done with the 4 main ingredients to a True Cleanse. 

Fresh, Whole, Nutrient Dense Eating & Juicing

To flush toxins, restore deficiencies and accomplish all of the other key aspects of a true cleanse, nutrient dense foods and juices are a must! Nutrient dense foods and juices provide the nutrients the body needs to heal, restore and repair. They also help to reverse deficiencies and help the body start to release excess weight and increase immunity. Whole fresh organic foods and juices need to be at the top of the list if you really want to cleanse your body. Cleanses that focus on not eating, skipping meals and replacing them with processed powders or products will not truly cleanse your body, will add more toxicity and create a state of imbalance. Many times individuals come out of a “Cleanse” more unhealthy then when they started. Fresh foods and juices are key to true cleansing. 

Movement & Exercise

If you want your body to release built of toxins you have to move your body. As toxins are released from storage in the body they must be moved out of the body effectively. Movement and exercise is the best way to do this. The immune system also relies very heavily on the movement of muscles to move lymph, in fact lymph, the fluids that contain our white blood cells, cannot move without muscle movement. Movement will also help your body to release excess weight, reduce stress which causes more toxicity and bring greater balance overall. A cleanse that does not incorporate exercise and movement is not a true cleanse as toxins released they will not be removed quickly or effectively. 

Stress Management

If you are utilizing a cleanse to lose weight or help heal or prevent a health problem, you can’t overlook the role of stress. Stress has been dubbed the silent killer because it plays a main role in most all health conditions, the development of health problems, the worsening of health conditions and increased weight gain. Stress is near the top of the list of weight imbalance. As cortisol levels rise in the body, weight begins to be stored. If you aren’t implementing a way to bring down your stress levels it will be very hard to get rid of excess weight. Stress also created more acidity in the body and increases the rate of aging. Acidity is toxic to the body and when we are stressed the inside of our body can be 30 years beyond our calendar age. Healthy stress management practices like meditation, yoga and deep breathing help to reduce overall stress, increase your immunity, reverse health problems and balance weight. Learning and using healthy stress management practices are key to a true cleanse. 

Reducing Exposure to Toxins

If you focusing on getting rid of built up toxins in the body the first thing you need to do is decrease your exposure to new toxins. There are many toxins you are exposed to that you have little control over, For instance you don’t have any control over the air you breathe, or the environment you live in. However, there are many areas of toxic exposure you have lots of control over. In fact most toxins come into your body through the foods you eat, the products you use on your body and in and around your home. By learning green living practices and beginning to use them in your everyday life you can begin to reduce your exposure to toxins, which means less toxic build up in the body. A true cleanse will teach you how to start reducing your exposure to more toxins. 

Raw Vitality's True Fall Cleanse

Raw Vitality’s True Fall Cleanse begins on Monday September 28, 2015.

The True Fall Cleanse is a 30-day online guided cleanse that focuses on the 4 main ingredients to a true cleanse; Fresh, Nutrient Dense Eating & Juicing, Exercise & Movement, Healthy Stress Management & Green Living Practices. Included in the cleanse is all the materials and education you need to not only cleanse and balance your body, release excess weight, increase energy and vitality but also create practices that keep you your most healthy and toxin free for the rest of your life. The True Fall Cleanse also includes an online health portal to connect with others on their health journey, track your progress, access workout and yoga videos, ask questions, get support and access all of your cleansing materials. Join our Raw Vitality True Fall Cleanse and get your most healthy and balanced naturally!

Register today: http://www.rawvitalitytotalhealth.com/#!holistic-raw-clense-conference/ckvv

Stress, It's Literally Killing You - Here's What You Can Do About It

We often overlook the role stress is playing in our lives, the negative effects it's having on our health and how it is aging us inside and out so much more quickly. We often overlook stress, because we get used to it, we learn to live with it and just keep pushing through. Stress is an inevitable part of life today, especially the Western lifestyle. We work and move through our days at warp speed, having to juggle family issues, work, children, schedules, what we are going to make for dinner and everything else that pops up during the day. Stress is effecting us at higher rates then ever before and even our younger generation is feeling the effects. Time Magazine dubbed this group of teenagers the "Most Stressed Out Generation." Whether you are ignoring it or not Stress is taking a toll on your health and making you age much more quickly.

Symptoms of chronic stress include irritability, anxiety, depression, headaches and insomnia. Chronic stress is a factor in some behaviors like overeating or not eating enough, alcohol or drug abuse, or social withdrawal. Frequent or chronic stress makes your heart work too hard for too long, raising your risk of hypertension and problems with your blood vessels and heart. You’re at higher risk of having a stroke or heart attack. You might experience nausea, vomiting, or a stomachache. Stress can affect the way food moves through your body, leading to diarrhea or constipation. People under chronic stress are more susceptible to viral illnesses like influenza and the common cold. It increases risk of other diseases and infections. It can also increase the time it takes to recover from illness or injury. There is literally not one part of the body left untouched by stress.

Chronic stress also makes you age much more quickly, decreasing your outward natural beauty. In fact, during stressful periods of time your body may be 32 years older then your calendar age. Stress is one thing you cannot hide externally, it is literally written all over your face.

So we know that stress is inevitable and we know it is ruining our health and our beauty, so what can we do about it?

1. Take a Brisk 30 Minute Walks Outdoors

Taking time away from the busy-ness of your day to get out in nature, breath in fresh air, get a a good dose of sunshine on your skin while getting in some good cardiovascular exercise is one of the best ways to get rid of built up stress, increase the good feeling chemicals in your body and increase your overall health and vitality. Walking also helps increase circulation which improves the youthful look on the outside by getting more nutrients to where they need to be and helping remove toxins and preventing them from building up. Do you have a deep crease in your forehead? Did you know that is caused by toxic build up and not age? Walking can help get rid of these excess lines. 

2. Meditate Daily

Even as little as 5 minutes a day of meditation can do wonders to reduce stresses impact on your life. Meditation is not associated to any one religion and is simply a mind-body therapy that helps you to disconnect from the jumble of constant thoughts in your head and escape to a place of total peace and calm. As you practice meditation you can take that peace into your every day life and feel a greater level of calm during stressful times. 

When you meditate, you clear away the information overload that builds up every day and contributes to your stress.

The emotional benefits of meditation include:

• Gaining a new perspective on stressful situations
• Building skills to manage your stress
• Increasing self-awareness
• Focusing on the present
• Reducing negative emotions

3. Take a Deep Breath

Deep breathing is a great way to center and calm yourself and is also the main way our body detoxifies. 80% of our toxins are released through our breath and most of us breathe much too shallow, especially during stressful times. You may find you even hold your breath at times while you are under stress, which means you are keeping all those toxins in. More toxins, means a higher level of internal acidity which will make you feel even worse, more grumpy and stressed out. If you find yourself in a moment of stress, take a moment to take a time out and focus on your breath. You will find yourself feeling much less stressed and better able to focus and handle the tasks at hand. Plus you will shift some of the stress off of effecting your health negatively. 

4. Get in Touch with Your Inner Yogi

Hitting the mat and giving yoga a try will help you to significantly reduce your overall stress and increase your inner and outer vitality. Yoga is a mind-body practice that combines stretching exercises, controlled breathing and relaxation. It also is a practice that is not tied to any one religion and can simply be used to reduce stress.  Yoga can help lower blood pressure, improve heart function and increase immunity. It will also make you a happier and more pleasant person which makes you much more beautiful in every way!

These are just a few ways you can do something about your stress to prevent it from ruining your health and longevity. In all of our 30-day Raw Vitality programs we teach the effects of stress on your health, vitality and longevity and exactly how to create and use healthy stress management practices in your every day life for the rest of your life. To learn more about how Raw Vitality can increase your health, help you reverse and heal chronic health conditions and prevent them long term visit us at www.rawvitalitytotalhealth.com

4 Steps to Curing Childhood Allergies

Being a parent of a child with allergies can be a difficult and challenging task at times and you feel so bad for your little one! Allergies are simply an overreaction of the immune system. The immune system overreacts when it has been "triggered" too many times, worn down and assaulted over time. Hippocrates, the Father of Modern Medicine told us, "All disease begins in the gut," and this is especially true for allergies. 80% of the immune system resides in the gut, or digestive system and the gut is exactly what is responsible for childhood allergies.

If your child is experiencing allergies their digestive system is impaired. Your first area of focus must be to cleanse, detox and heal their digestive system. To naturally heal, reverse and prevent childhood allergies you must heal your child's gut!There are many tips for helping childhood allergies like using honey, or supplements like Quentin, but none of those recommendations get at the root of childhood allergies and to really heal and prevent allergies you must first heal the root problem.

Follow these 4 Steps to begin Healing, Reversing and Preventing Childhood Allergies...

1. Remove Processed Foods

Processed foods, food chemicals and additives all damage and impair the gut. Your first step should be to remove as much of the processed foods from your child's diet as you can. Processed foods are any foods that come in  package, can, box, have a wrapper, a commercial or are a branded food product. This includes foods that say, "Natural" and even now we are seeing food chemicals in processed foods that say, "Organic." Removing these types of foods will get rid of most of the toxic chemicals in your child's diet and also get rid of unhealthy types of foods that slow down and clog the digestive system. Sticky, mushy foods like breads, crackers, muffins and the likes are pasty and cause the digestive system to get clogged and contribute to the cycle of allergies.

2. Remove Food Offenders

This step goes along with removing processed foods. Most processed foods are made with known allergens including wheat, dairy and soy. It is not that these foods are bad in and of themselves but have become bad for the body because of how they are grown and produced coupled with the sheer quantity that most children consume. This causes severe problems in the gut, the immune system and causes allergies. Removing processed foods will remove most of these food offenders but steer clear of wheat, soy and dairy products while healing from allergies.

A special note on dairy: The human body is not designed to ingest or breakdown cow's milk. Many human body's find ways around it and do ok with the breakdown of milk proteins but many, especially sensitive smaller bodies, really struggle with the burden cow's milk can place on their digestive system. Additionally cow's milk creates excess mucus and inflammation in the human body. So when trying to heal and prevent allergies removing dairy is extremely important. If your children love milk, try Almond or Coconut Milk. Many people actually prefer the taste of these over dairy milk anyway and they are higher in protein and calcium.

3. Flood the Body With Healing Nutrients

Once you have removed all food offenders, processed foods and food chemicals you will want to flood the body with nutrients so it can heal and repair. The best way to do this is through fresh, organic foods. Make your meals at home from scratch and use fresh, organic plant based ingredients. For kids, daily fresh morning juicing and morning smoothies can help kids to get more nutrients. Most kids aren't getting enough of the good stuff so focusing on getting more of the good stuff is really important! If your child has been dealing with allergies their body needs to heal and repair and will need more then the standard amount of needed nutrients. We recommend fresh daily juicing to fill in the gaps in nutrition. Juicing is also a great way to detox the digestive tissues and flood them with the nutrients needed to heal and repair.

4. Remove Health Harming Chemicals from Your Home

Once you have cleaned up your child's diet and started giving them all the nutrients they need they are on the road to healing. The next step is to evaluate how many toxic chemicals you are bringing and using in your home. Cleaning products, lawn and garden products, body care and personal care products are all loaded with toxic chemicals that little bodies, especially those healing from allergies, are overly susceptible too. Chemicals found in these products have been linked to childhood allergies and health problems so removing as many as you can from your home is important. Start making the switch to cleaner, greener products as you run out. We like Seventh Generation product line, found in most all grocery stores, for home cleaning and care products. Research clean, green products and find ones you will love to use!

This is just an overview of the steps needed to begin healing, reversing and preventing childhood allergies. We know it takes much more then just reading a blog post to heal your child's allergy problems! That is why we developed our Raw Vitality Naturally Healthy Family Program. Our Naturally Healthy Family Program is a 30-day online guided program that teaches you in depth all of the steps above, how to make fresh, nutrient dense meals in under 30 minutes, how to begin using fresh daily juicing to heal and prevent health problems, how to reduce stress, increase movement and use green living practices to keep you and your family's health safe!

By learning and using these principals for Raising a Naturally Healthy Family you will begin to see common ailments naturally clear up, prevent health problems long term, experience more energy, greater balance and higher levels of health and wellbeing as a family.  Learn more about our Naturally Healthy Family Program at http://www.rawvitalitytotalhealth.com/#!naturallyhealthyfamily/cum3

5 Raw Vitality Healthy Snack Recipes for Kids

Getting kids to eat enough of the healthy stuff can be a challenge for parents. If you are one, you know! Making it even more difficult is busy schedules and an on-the-go lifestyle. At the same time getting in enough of the good stuff is critical to preventing and reducing common childhood ailments, boosting immunity, keeping moods stable and making sure your kids grown strong and healthy.

Kids are always eating which is good, they are growing and should eat when they are hungry, even if that is every hour or so! One of the best ways to get in more nutrients is through keeping healthy snacks on hand. Making sure you have healthy snacks on hand when you are out and about will prevent you from having to rely on fast, processed snacks and foods that are low in nutrients and high in toxins.

Raw Vitality makes it easy for you to get more nutrients into your little one's body with these 5 Healthy Snack Recipes for Kids!

Snack Mix

Ingredients:
1/4 c Organic Chopped Walnuts
1/4 c Organic Chopped Almonds or Cashews
1/8 c Organic Sunflower Seeds (Shelled)
1/8 c Organic Pumpkin Seeds (Shelled)

 1/8 c Organic Dried Banana Chips
1/8 c Organic Pineapple Chunks or Chips (Dried)
2 tsps Hemp and Chia Seeds (Mixed)
1/8c Organic Granola Mix

Toss and keep on hand. This is a great nutrient dense, satisfying snack mix that kids love!

Red Pepper Hummus and Veggie Sticks

Ingredients:
 Note: This recipe has to be made the night before.
1 c Organic Garbanzo Beans
2 tbs. Healthy Oil (Flax, Avacado)
1 Organic Red Bell Pepper
Juice of 1 Organic Lemon
Sea Salt
Black Pepper

2 Organic carrots
2 Stalks Organic Celery
1 c Organic Broccoli Flowers
Any of your favorite dipping vegetables can be used


Directions:
Soak garbanzo beans overnight in pure filtered water. To soak cover with water and let sit overnight.
In the morning, drain
Place garbanzo beans, oil, lemon juice, sea salt and black pepper into a high powered food processor.
Remove the seeds and stem from the bell pepper. Chop into smaller pieces and place in food processor.
Mix until nice and creamy.

Slice veggies into bite size sticks.
Serve with hummus. 

Fruit Kabobs

Ingredients:
1 C Organic Fresh Berries (Strawberries, Blueberries and Blackberries)
2 Organic Bananas
1 Cup Organic Melon (Cubed)

Kabob Sticks

Directions:
Slice Bananas
Cube the melon
Thread fruit onto kabob sticks, alternating fruits

Enjoy!

Creamy Almond Butter & Apple Slices

Ingredients:
3 Organic Apples
1/2 c Organic Creamy Almond Butter
1 tsp. Raw Organic Local Honey
1 tsp. Chia & Hemp Seeds (Mixed)


Directions:
SliceApples
Mix nut butter, honey and seeds in small container

Use apples to dip into nut butter mixture

Enjoy!

Raw Vitality Kid Power Smoothie

Ingredients:
1 Organic Banana
1/2 c Organic Mixed Fresh Berries
1 tbs. Organic Nut Butter
2tsp Chia, Hemp & Flax Seeds (Mixed)
1 small handful Organic Spinach
1/2 of an Organic Avacado
Almond or Coconut Milk

Directions:
Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until creamy. This smoothie recipe is high in healthy fats, clean proteins, vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Put the smoothie in a thermos or travel bottle. Perfect recipe for nutrition on the go!

Raw Vitality's Naturally Healthy Family Program will teach you how to make fresh, delicious foods for your kids, balance your lifestyle practices, increase movement and activity, reduce stress and exposure to common health harming toxins and chemicals. By learning and using these principals for Raising a Naturally Healthy Family you will begin to see common ailments naturally clear up, prevent health problems long term, experience more energy, greater balance and higher levels of health and wellbeing as a family. Raw Vitality’s Naturally Healthy Family Program is a 30-day online guided program that teaches you and your family the principals you need to live a naturally healthy life. Learn more about our Naturally Healthy Family Program at http://www.rawvitalitytotalhealth.com/#!naturallyhealthyfamily/cum3

 

4 Ways to Reduce Your Toxic Load

Toxicity is a word that is thrown around far too often without much real meaning put behind it. We use words like "toxic" without knowing what that really means to our health.  The truth is toxic should be a word you become very familiar with and really understand its effect on you and your health.  It is estimated that there are 21,000 toxic chemicals in the water we drink and 4,000 toxic chemicals in the air we breathe. There are 80,000 chemicals currently produced in North America, over 3,000 chemicals that are added to our food supply, over 10,000 chemical solvents, emulsifiers and preservatives used in food processing and 1,000 new chemicals are introduced each year into our lives. Over 4 billion pounds of toxic chemicals are released by industry into the nation's environment each year, including 72 million pounds of recognized carcinogens. Of the top 20 chemicals discharged to the environment, nearly 75% are known or suspected to be toxic to the human body.

These toxic chemicals are found in everything from the foods we eat, to the air we breathe, to the water we drink and the products we use on our body and around our home. The list of health problems associated with these toxins is lengthy and includes:

• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Joint pain
• Sinus congestion
• Excessive sinus problems
• Headaches
• Heartburn
• Sleep problems
• Difficulty concentrating
• Food cravings
• Water retention
• Trouble losing weight
• Skin problems

While these are the small every day health problems we may experience from too many toxins in our body, the bigger diseases like cancer, autoimmune disorders, hormone diseases, spectrum disorders like Autism are all being linked back to toxicity in the body. In fact the root of ALL health problems are found in toxicity and deficiency. Through any of our 30-day Raw Vitality programs we teach how to reverse and prevent both toxicity and deficiency because the effects on health are so severe. 

So what can you do to begin reducing your toxic load on a day-to-day basis? Here are 4 easy ways to reduce your toxic load:

1. Eat and Buy Organic

Many people wonder if buying organic is really that important. Instead of trying to explain it watch this minute and a half video that shows the blood samples of a family before they ate organic and after 2 weeks of only eating organic. 

2. Use Organic Personal Care Products

"The average American woman puts between 12 and 20 chemicals on their skin 365 days a year." Your skin is your largest organ, absorbing up to 60 percent of what you put on it. But even more shocking, is the fact that 80 percent of the ingredients that are used in daily personal care products have never been tested for safety. The laws governing the cosmetics industry date back to 1938 and haven't shifted since. "People are so concerned with avoiding pesticides in their food by eating organic, yet they slather chemical-ridden lotions all over their bodies," Gregg Renfrew, founder of Beauty Counter, a non-toxic beauty care line, says. 

Choosing personal care products that are organic and non-toxic is extremely important to reducing your overall toxic load. 

3. Choose Green Household Products 

The products you use in and around your home have a direct impact on your health. The average american uses about 25 gallons of "TOXIC" or "HAZARDOUS" chemical products per year in their home. A major portion of these can be found in household cleaning products. The most acutely dangerous cleaning products are corrosive drain cleaners, oven cleaners, and acidic toilet bowl cleaners. Labels that come with detailed warnings stating, "Danger" or "Poison" are good indications that these products are not safe. Once used in your home, these products are flushed down the drain and end up in our environment. In a May 2002 study of contaminants in stream water samples across the country, the U.S. Geological Survey found persistent detergent metabolites in 69% of streams tested. Sixty-six percent contained disinfectants. Garden and lawn products also pose a potential risk. A study found children in homes where household and garden pesticides are used, have a sevenfold greater chance of developing childhood leukemia. Look for products that are biodegradable and toxin free. Seventh Generation is a good brand. http://www.seventhgeneration.com/products

4. Juice Fresh Daily

Juicing is one of the best ways to naturally cleanse and detox you body on a daily basis. Juicing fresh organic fruits and vegetables floods your body with the nutrients and enzymes it needs to flush toxins from your cells, carry oxygen and nutrients directly to the cells and tissues, and allow nutrients to be better absorbed. Juicing also increases the amount of fresh, pure water in your body which the body uses to flush toxins. Here is a great natural detoxifying juicing recipe for you to begin using today:

INGREDIENTS:

3-4 Stalks Organic Celery
4-5 Organic Kale leaves 
1 Organic Green Apple
one big handful of Organic flat leaf parsley leaves
1 Organic Lime
1 Organic Lemon
1 inch of fresh Organic Ginger

This juice is a nutritional powerhouse and extremely potent, detoxifying drink. Drink daily to help reduce your toxic load. 

To learn the 4 Keys to Health, Vitality and Longevity including Green Living Practices to reduce your exposure to toxins and learn the most effective natural healing and preventative health tools join one of our 30-day natural healing and preventative health programs. We offer a variety of programs to fit your individual needs. To learn more visit:www.rawvitalitytotalhealth.com

Get a free taste of Raw Vitality with 10 Fresh, Fast & Healthy Raw Vitality Recipes at www.rawvitalitytotalhealth.com

4 Keys to Raising a Naturally Healthy Family

More than ever parents want to raise a naturally healthy family but like never before that is a very difficult task. Families are faced with increasing health problems including allergies, asthma, frequent colds and flus, attention and behavioral problems, ear infections, spectrum disorders like Autism and digestive problems. Parents themselves are plagued with many of the same problems and complain of not having enough energy, feeling irritable and overwhelmed.


Raw Vitality takes the guess work out of raising a naturally healthy family by teaching families the 4 Keys to Raising a Naturally Healthy Family. By learning and using these 4 Keys in your everyday life, you will begin to see common ailments disappear, experience more energy, greater balance and higher levels of health and wellbeing.

Key #1 Fresh, Nutrient Dense Eating

We have strayed from the natural ways we used to eat, where meals were made from scratch and from real, natural ingredients. As our eating habits changed so did our health. Eating out, eating on the run, relying on fast, convenient foods is at the root of all of the common ailments and health problems families face today. By increasing the amount of fresh, nutrient dense foods and juicing fresh daily your family will not only experience greater energy, health problems will become non-existent.

Key #2 Balanced, Consistent Exercise

If you or your children suffer from pesky health symptoms or constantly feel like you are dragging, balanced, consistent exercise is one of your greatest tools. Having the whole family involved in regular movement and exercise consistently will create greater immunity, better well being, stronger immunity and prevention of long term health problems. Finding something the family loves is key so try lots of different things! Consistently being active is key. You can take bike rides, go on outdoor walks and hikes, take a family yoga class, ski or snowboard in the winter, there are so many possibilities! Being active will keep your family naturally healthy.

 

Key #3 Healthy Stress Management

Nothing can wreck you and your family’s health and energy like stress. Families deal with greater levels of stress than ever before. Stress plays a major role in all health problems including increased colds and flus, allergies, digestive problems, weight gain, and low energy. You may not be able to avoid all stress but you can learn how to manage stress so that it doesn’t negatively affect your health. Yoga, meditation, exercise and a low stress diet all help to reduce the impact of stress on your families health.

Key #4 Green Living Practices to Reduce Exposure to Toxins

Did you know the most toxic place on Earth is the inside of your home? That is shocking and disheartening to hear if you want to raise a naturally healthy family. Toxic chemicals found in personal care, home cleaning, lawn, garden and food products have all been linked to the most common ailments families deal with. Choosing to buy cleaner, greener, organic versions of products will help to reduce your family’s exposure to toxic chemicals. Taking time to look at ingredients and finding brands that are committed to purity and sustainability will create higher levels of health and vitality for you and your family.



By learning and using these 4 Keys to Raising a Naturally Healthy Family you will begin to see common ailments naturally clear up, prevent health problems, experience more energy, greater balance and higher levels of health and wellbeing as a family. Raw Vitality’s Naturally Healthy Families Program is a 30-day online guided program that teaches you and your family these 4 Keys in depth so you and your family can live a naturally healthy life. Learn more about our Naturally Healthy Family Program at http://www.rawvitalitytotalhealth.com/#!naturallyhealthyfamily/cum3