That is no way to live.  If you are ready for another option…read on…

Please remember that I am not a health professional, I am merely sharing what has helped other people and made a huge difference in their lives.  I have not personally suffered from migraines or headaches so I cannot speak to the effectiveness of this program.  I can tell you that there is a money-back guarantee, so what have you got to lose?

In the interest of full disclosure I am an Independent Shaklee Distributor and if you choose to order products through me or my website I will receive a commission.  There is a reason I chose to distribute Shaklee products and that is because of their extreme attention to quality, third party testing, and consistent results.

STEP ONE:

To start with, headaches are often tied to a body that is overrun with toxins.  The first step is to detoxify the body by doing the following:

• Consume purified water
• Take DTX to detoxify the liver
• Take Alfalfa to purify the blood
• Take HerbLax to cleanse the colon and bladder
• Take Optiflora to support the digestive tract and to provide good bacteria to support the detox
• Increase fiber consumption (may be able to decrease Herb Lax).

Continue the above program until the body is having two bowel movements per day (no constipation, no diarrhea) and urinating several times per day.

STEP TWO:

The second step is to create a consistent regimen of giving your body what it needs to be strong and healthy.  Don’t be surprised if in addition to decreased headaches you also have more energy and other health complaints may decrease as well.  Make sure you are eating a healthy diet and continuing with purified water.  Take the following:

• VitaLea 3x/day
• B-Complex 6/day
• Herb Lax 2-4/day
• Energizing Soy Protein 3 tablespoons daily
• Vitamin C (sustained release) 6/day
• Calcium/Magnesium 6/day
• Alfalfa 12-15/day
• OmegaGuard 6/day
• GLA (gamma linolenic acid) 6/day
• Optiflora 1 each/day

Investigate if there may be a food you are consuming that is causing the headaches including:

• Chocolate
• Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
• Food colorings
• Fruits such as bananas, plums, or pineapple
• Wheat
• Dairy
• Alcohol (especially red wine)
• Pickled herrings

EMERGENCY RELIEF:

For a migraine that is coming on, have these packets ready to go to take to head it off (take one packet per hour until you experience relief):

• 2 B-Complex
• 2 Cal/Mag
• 2 GLA
• 4-5 Alfalfa
• 2 OmegaGuard
• Drink 1-8 oz. glass of Performance (Shaklee’s sports nutrition rehydration beverage)

If you are a regular reader then you know that I do not usually push Shaklee products on you.  In this case, I need to tell you that if you choose to use other company’s products you will likely not experience the same results.  Shaklee products are consistent quality and tested to make sure they actually get absorbed into your bloodstream.  Take a chance and give it a try.  As I mentioned before there is a money-back guarantee.  Wouldn’t it be great to have had your last headache or migraine?  Please feel free to contact me at: keithdonnacopeland@sbcglobal.net to get more support.  You can place orders at: www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com I am paid by Shaklee for products purchased through me or my site.  Good luck!

I would describe my “normal” menstrual symptoms as moderate.  Prior to doing the tips that I list below I would have cramping that caused me to double over in pain but I was still able to function and work.  I could be quite unreasonably emotional and hard to get along with (so much so that if I could have gotten away from myself, I would have).

The number one thing that has helped my cycle is increasing water consumption.  This month, especially for the last week, I did less well on water intake and I could tell in my feelings of moodiness.

Number two for helping my cycle is listening to my body and making sure that I am paying attention to the signals it gives me (throughout the month).  Instead of blindly popping a pain reliever if I have a headache, I will work backward and do an inventory of my body to identify where the headache might have come from.  If I realize I have been hunched over the computer I will do some stretching and ask my hubby for a back rub or if my water intake has been low I will drink 10 oz of water right away and then make a conscious effort to get another 20 oz into my body in the next hour.

One big piece of this is resolving differences in relationships and not letting bad feelings fester and grow.  For me, it is taking time to grieve losses I have had or they really show up during PMS time.  I also strive to get eight to nine hours of sleep per night because that really makes a difference for me.

To help with my cycle overall, and especially for the emotional side of things, I have added GLA (gamma linolenic acid) which is an omega-6 fatty acid that our bodies use to form prostaglandins (hormone-like substances that our bodies use to regulate processes).  I take two a day and the week to ten days before my period starts I bump it up to three per day. 

The first month I added GLA to my daily routine my period started around my normal timing and I mentioned it casually to my husband that my period had begun.  He looked over at me surprised and said, “I didn’t think it was coming up so quick.”  To which I replied, “I don’t know why you would be surprised, it falls around the same time every month.”  He said, “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I didn’t have any warning this month that it was starting.”  (He meant crankiness and then he asked if he could buy stock in GLA.)

I almost always have a backache the first 24-36 hours of my period.  I have found that Shaklee’s Joint and Muscle Cream really eases my back pain.  If the cat gives me a snuggle too, it is even more effective.

I also take chewable Calcium and Magnesium supplements the first couple days of my period to help relax my muscles. 

I am a big fan of using glad rags or another reusable product for menstrual flow.  You can go to www.gladrags.com and check out what they have for both external and internal use.  The organic cotton is really wonderful feeling and so much better for our bodies than all the synthetics and chemicals in disposables.  Plus, I haven’t had to purchase any supplies in years!  It is an investment initially but then you more than make your money back.

Take care of yourself and honor all parts of you.  Try not to get so caught up in day-to-day tasks that you don’t listen to the messages your body is sending.  We women sometimes get busy and put others ahead of our own needs.  Remember if you aren’t good to yourself, you won’t be able to be good for others.  Take time to nurture YOU.

Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor who prefers to support her body and provide nutrition to give the building blocks for health and happiness.  You can check out the supplements at: www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com  There is a money-back guarantee on all products.  Donna is paid by Shaklee for products purchased through her or her website.  She is not paid or compensated in anyway by gladrags.

Our bodies need sleep to rejuvenate, heal, detox, and grow.  I know there are some people who seem to operate just fine on four, five, or six hours of sleep per day.  That may be true.  However, before you lump yourself into that category…consider the following:

There have been several sleep deprivation studies that have clearly shown that people who are sleepy behind the wheel drive as poorly as people who have had alcohol.

People who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to have heart attacks.

People who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to get sick.

People who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to get headaches.

People who don’t get enough sleep tend to have more mood swings.

So how can you get enough sleep?

It is my opinion that there are two keys to getting enough sleep:

1. Plan to get enough sleep.  Arrange your schedule and your activities so you can get to bed and sleep for a full eight to nine hours.  This means better use of your waking hours so you aren’t up at midnight working on that special project for school or finishing the laundry.
2. Use self-discipline to go to bed.  When we were little our parents (most of our parents) made sure we were in bed by a certain time in order to get enough rest (and give themselves a break).  Now WE need to each take responsibility for ourselves and demonstrate the same self-discipline we use to get to work on time or make sure our bills are paid to get ourselves in bed at a decent hour.

Additional tips for getting enough sleep are:

• If you nap during the day, keep it brief (30 minutes or less)…set an alarm!  Too much sleep during the day will throw off your nightly routine and could set you up for a bad sleep pattern.
• Keep your bedroom dark.  Our brain patterns for sleep work better in the dark.  Plus I read of one study where people who slept in rooms that were not dark were more likely to develop cancer.
• Turn down the lights as you get closer to bedtime.  This helps our bodies natural rhythms to recognize that sleep is coming, sort of like the sun setting.
• Watch how much you eat and drink before going to bed…especially caffiene and alcohol.  Alcohol may make you sleepy initially but the effects can wear off after a couple hours.  If you find yourself awake in the middle of the night and have a hard time going back to sleep, cut out the alcohol or consume it with dinner and not before bed.
• Turn off your brain.  I regularly will read a chapter of a light reading novel before going to sleep.  It helps me put good thoughts in my brain and decrease thoughts about “what I need to do tomorrow” or “what happened today” that may keep me awake and pondering.
• Take “Gentle Sleep Complex” 20-30 minutes before you go to bed.  It has Chamomile and Valerian Root plus a few other herbs, is non-addicting, and doesn’t make you dopey.  I use it on nights that I know I will have a harder time turning my brain off and settling down to sleep.

Consider committing to yourself to set up a good sleep habit for the next month and stick to it.  See how your body feels if you are consistently getting eight hours of sleep per night.

Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor who values a good night of sleep and loves waking up refreshed.  You can find Gentle Sleep Complex at www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com  As a Shaklee Independent Distributor she is compensated if you purchase products from her or her website.

• Get plenty of sleep (7-8 hours each night).  This is critical to keeping your immunity strong.  Studies have also shown you are less likely to have a heart attack and more likely to lose weight if you are getting adequate rest.  This is the time your body needs to slow down and regenerate.
• Drink plenty of water (2-3 liters per day).  Your body is made up of water so it makes sense that you need to add more good, pure water in to keep it healthy.  If your body is fighting being exposed to something you want to give it support by helping to flush out any toxins.  Filtered water is best because truly your body doesn’t need the bleach they put in municipal water systems.  (Reduce caffeine and alcohol intake too.)
• Eat good food and maintain a balanced diet.  Get your fruits and veggies; avoid sugars and high-fat diets (although feel free to be liberal with “cold pressed” fats like many olive oils as long as you are eating them cold, not using them to fry chicken!).  See some of my other posts for more information on good nutrition.

You know there is more but you aren’t looking to read “War and Peace” today.  Okay!  Now onto some of the things your mom may not have told you about.  She likely didn’t know this information to share it with you.  She may have encouraged you to take a daily vitamin and that is a good start (as long as the supplement actually breaks down in your body and gets absorbed and isn’t tainted with lead like so many are today).  You want to choose supplements that are based on food, not synthetics.  If the pill is rather small but covers most of the RDA suggestions for a day, it is likely synthetic and packed so tight there is no way your body is going to break it down to take advantage of the nutrients.  Plus, our bodies recognize synthetics differently than “real” food.  Don’t waste your time or money taking a vitamin your body doesn’t want.  Here are some specific “immune system support” supplements:

• B Vitamins: All of them, but especially B6, Folic Acid, and B12.  When our bodies are stressed they really go through the B Vitamins so if you have been under extra pressure, get additional B Vitamins in your diet.
• Vitamin A: Also known as beta carotene.
• Vitamin C: Probably one of the most well-known immune boosters; Very helpful for cell regeneration and healing.
• Vitamin E: Not just for healthy skin, it is good for you inside and out.
• Zinc: You may have become aware of the studies showing that zinc helps lessen a virus’ severity and length;  taken as a precaution it also aids with prevention.
• Echinacea: This is for short-term use only when you think you may have been exposed to illness.  I helps to “supercharge” your immune system but overtime your body adjusts to its use and the affect lessens.  Use for only two to four weeks at a time.
• Resveratrol: This miracle supplement that has been featured by Barbara Walters and separately on 60 Minutes has been shown to increase our body’s immunity at a cellular level, where the battle is being waged.

One last tidbit your mom didn’t know about.  Your body’s immune system is greatly supported by interferon.  Interferon was discovered during the 1950’s in Japan and since then researchers have discovered how to create a drug form that is used commonly for cancer and AIDS patients.  From what I understand the side effects are pretty challenging.  However, the same immunologist who discovered interferon also created a supplement that helps our body’s boost our natural production of interferon for immune support.  I think this is partly responsible for why I didn’t get ill after my dad died last year.  Even with all the stress and the lost sleep, I was able to stay healthy and I credit a lot of that to my supplements.

You can learn more about immune support and interferon at the website www.ImmunityFacts.com.  If you are interested in getting some good, clinically proven (and money-back guaranteed) supplements to boost your immunity, get in touch with me.  I am not into scare tactics but I think there is a lot more we can be doing for our bodies on a regular basis that the media doesn’t tell us about.  They would rather scare us and then hope there is a large enough stockpile of drugs to treat everyone.  Personally, I am looking to avoid Swine Flu and other illness in the first place.  Want to join me?

Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor who enjoys helping people live healthier lives by choosing wisely.  You can visit her website at www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com In case you are curious, the supplements Donna takes each day are: Vitalizer, Vivix, Nutriferon, Osteomatrix (calcium), Alfalfa, GLA (for balancing women’s cycles), Iron, and Liver DTX (for detoxing the liver).  Donna is paid by Shaklee for purchases made through her or her website.

You have probably heard that our cells age overtime and there isn’t much we can do about it. It is a natural process of aging. You may have also heard that once we have damaged our bodies we can’t undo it. That is all true to a certain extent. However, science has made some marvelous breakthroughs in how we can repair our bodies at a cellular level. Here’s the deal…

Our cells age in four ways…
1. DNA damage that creates a “typo” in our cells that then gets duplicated as that cell gets reproduced. This is damage that gets done in part by what we expose ourselves to so we can aid our bodies by reducing what we are exposed to that will harm us.
2. Genetic regulators tell our cells to age. This is a natural process although it does seem to happen more quickly for some than others.
3. Cellular energy production declines. Our cells “power packs”, called mitochondria, keep our cells (and us) active and healthy.
4. AGE proteins (Advanced Glycation Endproducts) accumulate and “muck up” our systems. These end-products (Keith calls them cellular poop) make our cells not be as effective and not live so long.

Here’s the deal. You may have heard the saying, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you’ve always gotten.”

So, if we do nothing, our bodies will continue down their path toward disease because almost all of us have been exposed to unhealthy toxins for years. How many times have you breathed unhealthy exhaust or eaten a poor diet in your lifetime? Those toxins don’t go away unless you go through a detoxification. Most of them get stored in our fat cells (and I was reading they can get released during pregnancy and breastfeeding to go into the newly developing body. YIKES!). So what nutritional supplements are available that are safe AND effective?

Have you heard of resveratrol? It is the substance that has been found in red wine that increases health and longevity. Studies have shown though that you need a lot more resveratrol than what is in a single glass of wine. AND, you probably know, that doctors don’t recommend more than a glass of wine a day (and indeed for women they recommend LESS than a glass of wine per day). They have looked at optimal amounts of resveratrol and have discovered that about the equivalent resveratrol would be found in 100 glass of red wine per day. That would be enough to impact cellular aging.

Resveratrol effectively supports the first three areas of cellular aging AND has been shown time and time again to do so in clinical and laboratory trials.

What about the fourth area? That “cell poop”? Well, it turns out that a polyphenol blend is an excellent addition to resveratrol because it cleans up that cell poop 10 times better than resveratrol alone. Pretty cool.

It turns out that resveratrol is sensitive to light and heat and becomes less effective pretty quickly if it is exposed. So, you want to look for a resveratrol supplement that has been properly processed and packaged to maintain all the good stuff that you are looking for in the first place. Dried or tablet forms are definitely out of the running.

Another consideration is purity. There is a naturally occurring substance in resveratrol called emodum that is a laxative. Make sure that your resveratrol supplement has been properly purified to remove this laxative.

The final consideration is about the polyphenols; are you getting those at the same time?

As you may have guessed, resveratrol is proving itself to be incredibly valuable in treating diseases and illnesses that have been associated with aging. Some of the afflictions that resveratrol is helping are: cancer prevention and treatment, joint health, Alzheimer’s, neurological health, and cardiovascular health to name a few.

For more information about an excellent resveratrol supplement you can go to: http://donnacopeland.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=21200

You can also google “resveratrol” and see how many hits come up. There have been over 2,000 research studies on resveratrol and I think that number may be up over 3,000 now!

It is time for me to take my daily dose of resveratrol and polyphenols. A toast to each of you in the New Year for health and happiness!

Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor who is paid by Shaklee for products purchased through her or her website.  You can learn more by going to: www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com

It was removed under local anesthetic and I watched the procedure in the reflection of the lamp (there is a lot of my dad in me…he watched his biopsy of his liver tumor). The surgeon said he was pretty sure it was benign and the lab results confirmed the informal diagnosis. It got me to thinking about how these “things” start growing uncontrollably, whether they are cancerous or not and what is going on inside our bodies often takes decades to come to fruition. I noodled on that for a while and in the meantime scheduled an appointment with my regular doctor, a holistic M.D.

I asked Dr. Linkner about benign breast lumps and if there was anything he thought could prevent them. (The other doctors had said no, there was nothing to prevent them.) Dr. Linkner said that some of the research coming out appears that we may be missing certain vitamins or minerals in our diet that are causing these mutations. He did some bloodwork and I began taking my vitamins and minerals regularly.

Since then I have continued thinking about our cells and what they need to be healthy and productive. I remember my parents cautioning me against eating “empty calories” like candy and potato chips when I was a child and teenager. Even into my 20’s I remember grappling with the concept of what an “empty calorie” was and why it should be avoided. There was a part of logic in my brain that said, “Your body needs so many calories a day to stay alive, you may as well take in whatever calories are available.”

I’m sure many of you understand the flawed logic that is at work there in the mind of someone who has not fully developed their brain. Part of it was also education. I didn’t yet understand that my body requires certain nutrients and substances to stay healthy and functioning. Things like vitamins, fiber, water, essential fats, minerals; these are all the building blocks of a healthy body.

Conversely, those “empty calories” are more like “toxic calories” because empty makes them sound harmless when in fact they usually add damaging components to our bodies that wreak havoc on everything from our pancreas and blood sugar levels, our digestive system, our heart and cardiovascular health, and pretty much every area of our bodies. They are even linking many behavioral and mental challenges to be at least partially influenced by diet and nutrition.

So consider what you consume. Is this helping your body to be more healthy or less healthy? Is it an empty or toxic calorie or something to really nourish you and create long-term health and wellness? Our cells need good building blocks to help us to each achieve a long and healthy life.

In my next blog I will tell you about a remarkable substance that has been found to REPAIR cells and assist each of us in undoing some of the damage we have done to our bodies.

Donna Copeland is and Independent Shaklee Distributor who is compensated by Shaklee for purchases made through her or her website.  You can find out more about Shaklee’s natural nutrition supplements at www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com

First off, if you will be staying out late you are already putting your body at risk of an “up late hangover” even if you don’t drink a drop of alcohol.  If you normally go to bed at 11 and you don’t go to bed until 2 AM, you will feel it the next day.  So if you are thinking you might be out late, get a nap the day before you go out and plan for a relaxing day the following day.

Dehydration is a huge contributing factor to hangover headaches.  Alcohol is dehydrating anyway plus if you are drinking cocktails or beer you won’t feel the thirst for good old-fashioned water.  I recall my brother giving me advise to “drink a glass of water for every alcoholic drink you have.”  You have two beers, have two glasses of water in the evening.  I know it makes you pee a lot more but it does tremendous good toward reducing a hangover.

B-Vitamins can also do good things for your body.  Take a good B-Complex before you go out, again when you get home (before you go to bed) and when you get up in the morning.  The B-Complex will also help you to have more energy, something we can all use.

Finally, we want to consider what alcohol does to our liver.  You may know that my dad died of liver cancer (not related to alcoholism) but that puts me on extra-alert when it comes to protecting my own liver.  Our livers process pretty much everything that goes through our bodies, especially alcohol so I suggest taking a liver detox to both support your liver and to reduce hangover.  I have heard it suggested to take 1-3 before going out to reduce the effects of alcohol or if you forget, take a couple when you get home or the next day.

I’m not a big fan of drinking excessively. I have been truly drunk once in my life and hated the hangover experience.  I also am not willing to risk driving intoxicated so I rarely drink while out.  A glass of red wine a few times per week at home suits me perfectly.

I also feel compelled to mention briefly the dangers to our health long-term if we make it a habit of over-consumption of alcohol.  Women especially shouldn’t consume more than one drink per day and no more frequently than five days per week (according to my ob-gyn office).  More than that and we are putting ourselves at increased risk for all kinds of health troubles and diseases.  Men can consume slightly more, but not a lot.

Whatever you decide to do about drinking, know that a little planning ahead can go a long way toward preventing a hangover.  Cheers!

Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor who enjoys sharing the tips she picks up in her research to help you and your family to live a healthier life.  You can find more information at her website (she is paid by Shaklee when people purchase products through her or her website): www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com

There are a few things that can get in the way of supplements being fully available to our bodies:

• Synthetic: Supplements that are created by synthetics rather than food sources are believed to be not nearly as effective.  This includes nutrients that are sprayed onto some breakfast cereals or added back in to an “enriched” product.  This also includes many supplements you will find in your neighborhood drug store.  If the supplement is the size of two aspirin and it is designed to give you all your nutrients for the day, it is likely synthetic.  Whole food vitamins tend to be bigger or you need to take more of them to get the benefit.
• Tightly pressed: As was mentioned in the above example of vitamins being the size of two aspirins they are likely not only synthetic but also pressed tightly so they can be that small.  Our bodies need to be able to break down the supplement to be able to utilize it but if it is like swallowing a marble, there will be no nutrients absorbed, synthetic or not.
• Coated: Supplement companies coat pills to make them easier to swallow.  Some coatings dissolve quickly in the stomach while others take longer (sometimes never).  Talk to someone who owns a porta-potty business and ask them about the “looks like new” supplements they find in the bottom of those things.
• Not right combination: It has been learned through the years that some nutrients absorb better when combined with other nutrients.  For example, iron PLUS vitamin C or calcium PLUS vitamin D (and others too).  A reputable company will actually do the research to make sure they are providing the right combination for maximum absorption.
• Not taken properly: Most vitamins have maximum absorption if taken with a meal.  Taking them on an empty stomach will not only likely result in nauseabut reduce absorption.  In addition, calcium and iron should not be consumed at the same time because there is reduced absorption for both of them.

You want to work with a supplement company that you trust is going to look out for you and your family, making sure that what you put in your bodies is not only safe but also will get absorbed so your body can utilize it.  As a friend of mine is fond of saying, “The most expensive supplement is the one that doesn’t work.”  Don’t waste your money on supplements that are passing right through you.  Choose a company that studies supplement bioavailability and provides you with the best possible research and nutrition.

Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor and one of the main reasons she chose Shaklee is because of their extensive research into creating the best supplements and then doing extra testing to make sure those nutrients are bioavailable.  There is a money back guarantee.  Donna will recieve a commission from Shaklee for any purchases made through her or her website.  www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com