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

The 5 Most Important Holistic Health Strategies to Natural Longevity & Beauty

We all want to stay looking young and vibrant. Many of us go to great lengths to ensure we will beat father time and stay ahead of the ticking clock with expensive lotions, potions, treatments and even surgeries. But the truth is, staying and looking young and vibrant is an inside job, not an outside one. No matter how many expensive creams or lotions you buy, no matter how many beauty treatments or surgeries you subject yourself to, you will continue to age at a very rapid rate unless you attend to your internal health and well being. Nothing you do on the outside will ever be able to cover up the effects of poor health on the outside.

Aging is a natural part of life. There is nothing we can do to escape the natural aging process other then honor and embrace it. However, there are many things we can do to support healthy longevity and decrease the external and internal effects of rapid aging or aging that is happening much too quickly. Here in the West we age much more rapidly then is natural and that is directly caused by our eating and lifestyle practices. Our ways of eating and living cause us to age much more rapidly which decreases our health and vitality, sets the stage for developing chronic diseases and health problems later in life and increases the look of aging on the outside of our body, including deep lines and wrinkles, sagging skin, age spots and all the other unpleasant outward signs of aging we try to avoid.

There are many practices you may be engaging in now that are increasing your rate of aging and look of aging on the outside and they include:

• Poor eating habits including reliance on processed, fast and convenience foods
• Not getting enough nutrients especially antioxidants
• Not getting enough hydration
• Exposing yourself to and taking in too many toxic chemicals
• Too much stress in your life without healthy stress management practices
• Not getting enough exercise or movement
• Getting too much exercise, exercising too intensely or being inconsistent with exercise
• 
  

While the common path in the West is to age rapidly, live with disease and pain in our later years and then most likely die from a chronic health condition, most all of that can be avoided with attention to these 5 most important areas to increasing longevity and natural beauty as we age....

1. Fresh, Whole Nutrient Dense Eating

There are many problems with the way we commonly eat in the West which directly contributes to aging, disease and decreased natural beauty. The most important areas to pay attention to are eating diets made of food products, not real foods, which are low in nutrients and high in toxic health harming chemicals and eating very few fresh plant based foods while eating high amounts of animal based products. By eating food products instead of real foods we are not getting the nutrients we need and are taking in many chemicals and additives that are harming our cells and causing them to age much more quickly. Foods that are not fresh or plant based are also low in water content so contribute to a cycle of dehydration which causes many of the unwanted skin and joint problems we hope to avoid in our later years. Diets that are high in animal products and low in fresh plant based foods are also more demanding on the digestive system, taking energy away from daily repair and healing, and are very acidic, all which contributes to rapid aging and health problems later in life. By making a switch to a diet that is HIGH in plant based foods, is at least 80% fresh and organic we avoid many of the problems common in most of the population later in life. You can also add in daily fresh juicing to increase the amount of fresh whole nutrients you are taking in each day while helping your body to naturally cleanse and detoxify each and every day. You can download 10 Fast, Fresh and Healthy Recipes directly from the Raw Vitality web site or join one of our 30-day online programs to learn how to shop, prepare and eat fresh, whole nutrient dense foods simply and sustainably.

2. Reducing How Much You Eat

It's interesting that in our world we see health problems related to both starvation and deprivation and at the same time problems caused by over consumption. Balance is the key here and reducing the amount of food you eat is a proven method for extending your life span. Since the 1930s, investigators have consistently found that laboratory rats and mice live up to 40 percent longer than usual and also appear to be more resistant to age-related diseases when fed a diet that has at least 30% fewer calories than they would normally consume. The point is not to deprive yourself or allow yourself to feel unsatisfied and hungry but rather to monitor your portion sizes and snacking habits. You should only be eating when you are hungry and only to a point you feel satisfied. You should feel heightened levels of energy and vitality about 30 minutes after eating and not sluggish and tired. This is a good sign you are eating the right amount of calories for your body and decreasing the health problems and increased rate of aging associated with over consumption. 

3. Stay Active, Consistently and in Balance

In the West we have a tendency to live very sedentary lifestyles that include little to no movement especially during the day and then to engage in very strenuous activity several times a week for periods of time and then not at all for other periods of time. We all know or have experienced times when we decide to start working out. We become excited and go into an exercise program our routine with all our might only to all but stop within a month or two. We at the same time mostly work jobs that require us to be inside and sitting most of each day. This is an extremely unhealthy cycle and way of living and being and contributes to rapid aging and decreased vitality and health, especially as we age. A better approach is to engage in exercise or movement that is not as intense but that is consistent, something sustainable that you can do long term without starting and stopping constantly. Taking time for a brisk 30 minute walk each and every day is a great approach as is creating an exercise routine that is balanced by including some cardiovascular exercise, weight bearing exercise and stretching. 

4. Manage Your Stress

Medical research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suggests that up to 90% of all illness and disease is stress-related. It is estimated that 75-90% of all doctor's office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints. Stress costs American industry more than $300 billion annually and more then 43% of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress. Stress is literally tearing our health apart. Stress also ages us much more rapidly, as much as 32 years more internally then your chronological age, during stressful periods of time. Stress is often inevitable in life, how you deal with your stress, however, is completely under your control. Implementing and using daily healthy stress management practices is extremely important. In Raw Vitality we teach the use of yoga, meditation and deep breathing exercises to help manage stress in a healthy way and prevent it from wrecking your health or aging you much more rapidly.

5. Reduce Your Exposure to Toxins

The most toxic place on Earth is right inside your home. That may be shocking to hear but it makes sense when you begin to understand how many toxic products you are using inside your home, in and around your home like in your garden and lawn and most especially your body and personal care products. Commercial personal care products are loaded with toxic chemicals that have been linked to a variety of health problems and we are slathering them on the largest, most absorbent organ of our body each and every day, our skin! Toxic chemicals found in these products directly harm cells and increase the rate at which we age, they also contribute to the process of chronic diseases and pain as we age. Your best approach is to start using green living practices to reduce your exposure to health harming toxins and moving to using greener cleaner versions of your products as you run out of commercial products. Any of our Raw Vitality 30-day programs teach the most effective green living practices and how to implement them into your daily life so you can decrease your exposure to health harming toxins and increase your natural longevity and vitality.

By following these 5 simple holistic health strategies you can increase your healthy longevity, decrease the problems commonly associated with aging and naturally increase your beauty without having to spend all that money on expensive products and treatments to make you artificially look younger!

To learn the most effective natural strategies for Health, Vitality and Longevity join one of our 30-day holistic health, 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

5 Health Tips for Your Healthiest Summer Ever!

Summer is finally here! One of the most fun and exciting seasons of the year. A season filled with outdoor activities, more time with friends and family, sunshine, BBQ's and so much more! Summer is also a great time to turn your attention to your health. Increasing your overall health can help you fell better in those little summer clothes and give you the energy you need to keep up with the kids busy summer schedule or make all those summer soirees!

This summer you CAN become your most healthy with Raw Vitality. Jump start your Summer with our 7-day Quick Summer Detox and Energizer Program beginning online on June 15th! Still a couple of spots left so get registered today at www.rawvitalitytotalhealth.com/events

In the meantime follow these easy Raw Vitality tips to increase your health, energy and vitality during the summer months!

1. Move Your Exercise Outdoors

Summer is a great time to take your exercise outdoors. By moving your exercise outdoors you can increase your overall health and vitality in a couple of key ways. Exercising outdoors increases your exposure to the sun, thereby increases your levels of Vitamin D. Increased Vitamin D levels means a stronger and more healthy immune system, stronger bones and greater hormone balance, especially important for women. Exercising outdoors also gives you the opportunity to increase your oxygen levels and ability to detox by exposing you to more fresh air and encouraging you to take deeper breaths. If your choice of exercise requires you to be inside, schedule a 20-30 minute outdoor walk each day or if you don't have a solid exercise routine in place begin by walking outdoors each day.

2. Plant A Garden

Gardening is a great way to decrease your stress levels while increasing your health. Reducing the impact of stress on your health is imperative to healing and prevention. Stress reduction techniques like meditation and yoga are taught in our Raw Vitality program but during the summer months you can also incorporate planting a garden! This almost guarantees you will increase the amount of fresh fruits and veggies in your diet and what a great way to begin a daily juicing routine, also a key holistic health strategy of Raw Vitality! Gardening can be a great way to increase your activity levels as well and help you engage in more deeper breathing which we know more quickly detoxes your body and reduces stress!

3. Get More Sun

While the trend and advice over the past years has been to "shun the sun" by encouraging the slathering of layers of sunscreen, wearing clothes and hats that cover all visible skin or staying out of the sun completely this advice has left many Vitamin D deficient, immune deficient and not feeling very vibrant or healthy! The sun is imperative to our health, not only for all the reasons we discussed above but because it brings us greater energy and vitality. The rule of thumb is to not let your skin burn, but anything up to that is great for your overall health and wellbeing. Learn your skin type and allow yourself to get enough of this vital nutrient each and every day, especially during the summer months!

4. Drink Fresh Juice

Fresh daily juicing is one of the key healing and preventative health strategies we teach in all our Raw Vitality programs. Why is fresh juicing so important? Juicing is different then blending or drinking smoothies because it removes the fiber from the plant. Yes you want and need fiber, and should be getting lots of it from a fresh, whole diet, but juicing allows your body to absorb a large amount of fresh nutrients and enzymes without having to digest meaning more of the nutrients are available for your body to use. Juicing also helps to flush toxins and restore balance at the cellular level. Summer is a great time to begin fresh daily juicing because you will have access to so much fresh produce at reduced costs! You can juice each day very simply and inexpensively by following the Raw Vitality 5 ingredient rule. Learn more about how to juice easily and inexpensively by watching our short video.

 

5. Give Your Products a Face Lift 

Do you know where the most toxic place on earth is?  You may be shocked to discover the most toxic place on Earth is right inside your home. That's right, the inside of your home is the most toxic place on Earth and the reason for that is simple, because of all the toxic products we use inside our home, especially our body and personal care products. Commercial personal care products are loaded with toxic chemicals that have been linked to a variety of health problems but most especially weight gain and lowered energy levels. So if you are really wanting to increase your energy and shed some extra pounds this summer cleaning up your products is a MUST! Choose products that are organic and green. Raw Vitality will be offering Beauty Counter products in coming weeks which are toxin free. Check back for details on this amazing product line. In the mean time, as you run out of products make the switch to something that will help you be healthier long term!

This summer you CAN become your most healthy with Raw Vitality. Jump start your Summer with our 7-day Quick Summer Detox and Energizer Program beginning online on June 15th! Still a couple of spots left so get registered today at www.rawvitalitytotalhealth.com/events

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