My (Kinda) Healthy Thanksgiving

/ Katie P. Tolley, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC / Leave a comment

Hehehe, do you like how I threw in “kinda”? We all have to live a little, right??

Our family does a pretty simple Thanksgiving, but I know some people have an all out smorgasbord. What side of the party does your family fall on?

My family does the traditional turkey thing. We started getting a free-range fresh turkey the past couple years and it’s pretty tasty too! This is the second year I am “brining” the turkey myself. I did a homemade concoction last year and found a great option that was a little simpler this year.

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This is the brine I used this year.

Lucky me, I only have to do the prep part, my mom does the cooking the bird part. At 46, I am still blessed enough to have my mom fixing most of the important holiday meals in my family.

I will be fixing some of the sides to help out though. I’ve finally taught my daughter to eat sweet potatoes, so I get to make more mashed sweet potatoes than I usually do. I’m still working on that picky 15-year old I have upstairs. I will be making regular mashed potatoes for him and my dad, well kinda regular. Don’t tell, but I will be substituting cow’s milk for cashew milk and LOTS of real butter. We love butter and eat lots of it, give me all the good fats to keep me healthy!

We try to avoid dairy (cow’s milk) and as much gluten as possible. Dairy and gluten are inflammatory and my family has major reactions to both. We don’t have the typical “allergic” reactions people think of, ours are more subtle. Stomach aches the next day, unexplained fatigue, constipation, brain fog, vague complaints that are easily overlooked, but we know more now; so, we make accommodations, it’s not as hard as you think.

We will have homemade sweet potatoes biscuits from our local farmer’s market and we will also have pie as well. My mom likes to make sweet potato pie. I am not really a pie person, so I bought apple cobbler, it still has some crumbs (yes, gluten) and such (sugar), but that’s ok. 😉

We will have peas (my dad LOVES frozen peas), and green beans for a real green veggie, and I think I’ll make brussel sprouts too, we love sprouts, but that’s a new thing. If you’re family doesn’t eat sprouts, try a little onion and bacon, they might just change their mind.

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Sprouts w bacon and onions, OH MY!

We don’t do anything extravagant, our family gatherings have dwindled in size as people grow and spread out. I have some of the best memories of Thanksgivings with all my cousins when we were growing up. Games of Trivial Pursuit, chasing each other on trikes and 4 wheelers, driving around the driveway before we were old enough to drive… good stuff.

We will have one dish that is a staple, and yes, we will go all out and splurge, and yes, we will probably pay for it… but we WILL have homemade dumplings like my great-grandmother used to make. We’ve subbed gluten-free flour before, and it’s just not the same. Sometimes, you just have to go for the real thing. We are fortunate that we can splurge, but if we do it too often, we really see health problems. We should avoid it, or those health problems will worsen, but it’s SO HARD to be completely gluten free and dairy free.

cranberry2

Dad’s ole faithful

A couple years in a row, I made some homemade cranberries, but nobody really cares, and my dad IS having his out of a can, (insert eye roll) but what’s it matter, it makes him happy. Now that I’m thinking about it, I’m kinda wishing I did get some fresh cranberries… hum… I think I still have time, so maybe I better cut this off here. 😉 

I’d love to know some of your family’s favorite dishes. It’s always fun to learn new things and other’s family traditions.

I hope you and your family have a happy and healthy day of thanksgiving and gratitude for the goodness in your life.

Be well & Enjoy the Journey!

Gobble, Gobble.

Why I Believe in Functional Fitness

/ Katie P. Tolley, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC / Leave a comment
IMG_0226

NEVER SAY NEVER

Contrary to popular belief, I am not superwoman… I’m soooo far from it.

I AM Katie Pink extraordinaire though… that works for me. It’s taken me a long time to figure that out. My path has had many avenues and many dead ends, paths that were laid out for me, and paths I foraged own my own. I’ve grown from all of it. What I’ve learned is that I need to keep FUNCTIONING at my most extraordinary. I don’t like the alternative.

Life is HARD. Life is always full of stressors. Life is about how we learn to navigate the challenges. I deal with a bad hip and short leg, Fibromyalgia, scoliosis, asthma, irritable bowel, and a few other diagnoses. I’ve lived with pain all my life. Having strong muscles to support my body equates to less pain. When I workout, I feel strong. Not only physically, but mentally and emotionally too. I am better able to “function”.

As a child athlete, I’d always been in decent shape. I didn’t realize all those years of soccer, gymnastics, skating, tennis, biking, hockey, etc. were actually like pain medicine. When I stopped doing all of those activities, the pain increased, I didn’t know why. I was young and didn’t think about how my body worked. I didn’t think about the everyday function of my body. I didn’t think that all those activities were keeping my muscles strong and “functioning”.

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia at 25, just weeks before starting nursing school. I was told to decrease my stress and exercise more. HAHAHA. That was an oxymoron knowing what the demands of nursing school were going to be. I didn’t workout, but I did work, as a waitress, the physical demands of the job helped to keep me strong in some ways but sure didn’t help that back pain. I was functioning, but barely.

I’ve learned a bit since that initial Fibro diagnosis. I’ve struggled with my pain, my sleep, my stomach, my hip, my anxiety, my ADHD, and that little voice in my head that doesn’t always believe in me (she’s not nice). I made sacrifices. I missed opportunities with loved ones. I missed opportunities to learn. I missed opportunities to enjoy my life… because I wasn’t functioning.

I’ve learned that the secret to dealing with chronic disease is maintaining “function”.

So, my goal is “functional fitness”… What does that mean? It means keeping my body functioning the best it can with all the stressors that life brings. Life is not going to stop and allow me to regroup and take breaks, it just keeps on happening. If I’m not happening with it, I’m losing. When I’m losing, I’m not functioning at my best. See the circle there?

So, what do I do? Strength training, core training, yoga, pilates, workouts that keep my body functioning. When I say functioning, I mean, full range of motion in my joints, no pain (or very little), a digestive system that absorbs nutrition and eliminates toxins, a sleep schedule that doesn’t leave me tossing and turning at night, a life that I can enjoy with the people that I love. That isn’t the way it’s always been, and it’s not fun to not function.

Non-functional means pain. Non-functional means sleepless nights. Non-functional means exhausting days. Non-functioning means missing important events and milestones. Non-functioning to me… means not living. It’s depressing and demoralizing, and I didn’t like it. That’s why I speak out about my health and how I’ve started to save myself.

In saving myself, I’ve saved my marriage and my family. In saving myself, I’ve also learned how to make my family healthier and happier. I’ve learned how to help them avoid chronic illness and disease, or at least how to make it more “functional” and that’s not easy.

Today, I wanted to share all this with you. The ones that believe in me. I want you to believe in you too. I’m an example of what you can be. I’m also willing to help you figure out the secrets I needed to figure out. I share a lot of those secrets in my health and wellness articles.  I also share a lot as a Health Coach because I enjoy helping people feel better. It helps me believe there is hope in the world. If I can help one person feel better, I can help two. And, one by one, we can make our world a happier and healthier and more functional place. That works for me, and I think it just might work for you too.

Enjoy the Journey, Friends… that’s what it’s all about!

exceed your limits

 

Dear 17,

/ Katie P. Tolley, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC / Leave a comment

Dear 17,

You will have amazing kids, they need somebody like you. Not you at 17, but you later. The “you” you become. Let me tell you what I mean…

You are clueless. You will go through life that way… not your fault, we all do. We never know if our decisions are right until they are done.

At 17, you don’t even know what life is yet. This, all this life that you’re living at 17, it’s all just part of the lesson, part of learning what life is. All the heartaches, triumphs, anxiety, fears, growing pains, it’s all just a way for you to learn. Learn how to not be quite so clueless.

One of the hardest lessons is learning HOW to make mistakes. Sure it seems easy, but trust me, there’s more to it. You see, those mistakes are the key to NOT being clueless. Without making those mistakes, you WILL be clueless forever. MAKE MISTAKES, lots of them, they are your lessons.

Follow that love of knowledge that you have, that love of helping and giving to others, that love of adventure, and especially whatever that instinct is you have to “try anything once” – that’s a youth thing and one you might not want to outgrow as quickly as I know you will.

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Don’t be afraid. 

What doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger. Won’t seem like it at the time, but truer truths will never be spoken.

Anything worth having is worth working for. At 17, I know you already say “anything worth having is worth fighting for”… wait until you really have to mean it. Watch what you fight for vs. what you work for. Hard work will get you further, and build your character. Fighting will do just the opposite. Always choose positivity over negativity. ALWAYS.

Anxiety WILL stop you. It will slow you down sometimes, and it will paralyze you others. It is actually going to change the course of your life. DEAL WITH IT. Once you figure it out, then, you can really deal with it, and really help others. Trust me on this one. 😉

The whole anxiety thing is going to take until your mid-30s for you to even recognize that it is the catalyst for so many of the interferences in your life. Suck it up, buttercup, and keep moving forward. It’s ok. It’s gonna piss you off. Figure out how to deal with it. Anything having is worth fighting for, right? 😉 Then, and only then, will you realize your path…

Greatness isn’t something you are born with (no matter what your bloodline).

Greatness is something you have to discover within yourself. You must be open to it. Seeking. Less afraid to make mistakes. (This is why you have to deal with that anxiety.) You’ll make enough mistakes to start to get over them, trust me. Mistakes are just lessons we haven’t mastered.

NEVER STOP SEEKING YOUR GREATNESS… this is the whole “wisdom with age” thing everyone speaks of. You’ll be in your 40s before you know this truth. Nine years of college and graduate studies will not do it for you, those years will aid you, but the struggle is yours alone.

I have so much more to tell you, but most of it you’re going to have to figure out on your own. DON’T let it scare you. The scared ones are the ones that rarely, if ever, find their greatness.

More later.

Love, Me. fullsizeoutput_38eb

What IS Gluten Anyway?? – Digestive Health Lesson #4

/ Katie P. Tolley, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC / Leave a comment

gluten-freeGluten is the latest buzz word in nutrition.

But, so many people have no idea what it is.

When friends of mine with PhD’s start asking for more info, it’s time for an article about gluten and why it’s a problem.

So, What is Gluten??

Gluten is a the protein found in the seed of wheat, barley, and rye.

the-gluten-protein-is-mainly-found-in-the-endosperm-of-grain-kernel-seedHere is definition from Celiac.org:

Gluten is a general name for the proteins found in wheat (wheatberries, durum, emmer, semolina, spelt, farina, farro, graham, KAMUT® khorasan wheat and einkorn), rye, barley and triticale – a cross between wheat and rye. Gluten helps foods maintain their shape, acting as a glue that holds food together. Gluten can be found in many types of foods, even ones that would not be expected.
Read more here.

Why is it a problem? 

Gluten per se isn’t the problem for everyone (more on that below). It’s the amount of gluten in the standard american diet, and the tampering of the native seed.

When you look at the diets of most Americans, approximately 80% of meals have a gluten component. There is too much bread, breading, pasta, crackers, croutons, tortillas, etc. in our meals.

Gluten can be inflammatory for many people, too much gluten can be inflammatory for anyone. Inflammation can lead to other chronic diseases, I talk more about that in my article explaining how Inflammation is the root of most disease.

Chronic inflammation occurs because of a process called Intestinal Hyperpermeability, aka, Leaky Gut. I explain this process and how it leads to chronic inflammation in my first digestive health article.

The lifelong health issues I have come from being sensitive to gluten and dairy, but I do not have Celiac Disease and my sensitivity does not show up on allergy testing. That means absolutely nothing though. I learned more about Gluten sensitivity from a GI Specialist last spring during a Pediatric Conference at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Here are the numbers he shared…

  • 10% of our population has Celiac Disease
    • These people CANNOT eat gluten without major symptoms.
    • Many people in our population are undiagnosed, continuing to eat gluten will cause multiple health problems. Think ADHD, Thyroid issues, Irritable Bowel, Autism, Epilepsy, and the list goes on.
  • 40% of our population has Gluten Sensitivity
    • Symptoms are more subtle than Celiac Disease; stomach pain, headache, sinus issues, eczema, constipation, brain fog, lethargy, food cravings, mood swings, depression, anxiety, focus issues, etc.
    • It will get worse.
    • It will cause chronic inflammation and intestinal hyperpermeability.
    • It will most likely cause Celiac Disease if gluten is continually consumed, and will definitely lead to a host of other disease processes. (Please refer to the digestive health articles above for more details.)
    • **If you read some research, please note, some people in modern medicine will tell you there is no way to confirm gluten sensitivity. THIS IS NOT TRUE!! There is a way for doctors to check for gluten sensitivity!! It’s as easy as running a simple blood test for gluten immunoglobulins. I know this, because that’s how we found out my son cannot have gluten. When his Holistic Doctor did labs, the antibodies for gluten and wheat were 5-6 times normal. His Celiac tests and allergy tests are negative. I also know this because one of the top specialist in GI Pediatrics told me all the same stuff himself with research and a groovy powerpoint presentation!

One of the biggest reasons we need more awareness and sensitivity is the vast amount of food that contains gluten, and the vast amount of people, especially children that should not be eating it. If we look at the percentages above, 50% of our population should avoid gluten, yet, 80-90% of our public food choices contain gluten.

THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FOR OUR FUTURE!!!brain-fog

If you think it’s hard to function as an adult with stomach pain and headaches and brain fog, try being a kid, sitting in school after eating mostly gluten for breakfast AND lunch and having anxiety and mood swings… Is it the kid? NO, it’s his food! AND IT’S CHANGING HIS FUTURE! And, he’s a problem in class sitting next to your kid, and that’s why you should care!

I could go on about how reducing our gluten intake has changed my family’s health, but I’ll invite you to read through my blog a little more to find that out, there’s plenty of evidence.

If you want to read how gluten breaks down in our system and causes damage, read how “Getting ‘Glutened’ is Drugging My Kid!!”

I share because I care. I want a better world for me and you and our children.

Please, practice wellness so you live a happier and healthier life. Your loved ones will be awfully glad you did! Enjoy the Journey! 🙂

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Photo compliments of glutenfreesociety.org 

 

 

 

My Passion

/ Katie P. Tolley, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC / Leave a comment

I’m a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner turned Holistic Wellness Coach… and there is a HUGE REASON WHY.

I started learning about nutrition before my son was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of cropped-img_62381.jpg8. We knew red dye, yellow dye, and ALL artificial food dye played a part. You should have seen the trash bags that left my house that day! I even did some of my graduate research on it. We made changes in our diet, we saw obvious differences…. my sweet Taz didn’t spin quite as much anymore, fascinating.

Fast forward a few years. More changes were necessary… things were getting worse not better. Mama had to do her research again. I’ve learned a lot. All the details don’t matter, the WHAT TO DO does matter. Without eliminating the toxins, and then cleaning up and detoxing, there was a compound effect, and it would get worse. Heartbreaking, but motivating!

I had read over the years that nutrition played a roll, sugar, gluten, dairy, etc… but those of us in medicine KNOW that food really doesn’t play that big a roll. Everything we were ever taught says so. WE ARE WRONG! (But, that’s for another post.) Let me tell you how I know… reading things I was never taught and observation.

In the past year, I have learned A LOT about holistic nutrition, gut health, brain health, hormone changes, and the epidemic of chronic disease. It goes against so much of what I’ve been taught working in medicine for the past 20 years. I was NOT TAUGHT any of this stuff!

It saddens me, and IT MADDENS ME! All the knowledge I learned in 9 years of college didn’t help me help my child. Sad.

WHAT WE PUT IN OUR BODY MATTERS!!! WE ARE MAKING OURSELVES SICK BY IGNORING THAT ONE SIMPLE FACT!!!

The past 3.5 years I worked in a school, how enlightening. To see what these kids have as food choices in their world (home and school, social events, public events, public gatherings) is so disheartening to me. To see how it affects their daily function is devastating to their future!

I don’t know whether to get mad, sad, speak up, shut up, just worry about my own, or worry about the world. We don’t live alone.

You don’t have to know all the nitty gritty about what I know, you just need to know how you feel, look, and function with good food vs. bad food. It’s that simple. Your body tells you, not medical books!

We are making our society toxic. It doesn’t just affect my family, it affects our communities, our schools, our public events, our travel, our medical system, our doctor’s offices, our hospitals, our philosophies… it’s deadly to a cultured society such as ours. That crushes me. How can we be so blind.

I could say so much more, but this isn’t a book, maybe I should write one. As much as I would love to, that terrifies the hell out of me.

So, here’s what I’m gonna say (if you’re still with me), if not, eh, whatev… if you are, LISTEN UP, because you are the ones that are going to #bethechange with me!

We have to start paying attention to what we are eating!! Anyone can learn the basics about how to eat real food… IT’S JUST ABOUT EATING REAL FOOD!

It’s not that difficult to understand: Food is either real or manmade. Food either fuels your body or it makes you toxic.

The REALLY BAD part, it makes your gut toxic, your brain toxic, your skin toxic, your emotions toxic, your attitude toxic, your relationships toxic… your life is toxic, and it SUCKS to live like that!! I know too many that do, and too many are too close, it hurts me to see it.

THAT is Why I share! I don’t just share for me. I share for my health, my kids’ health, my husband’s health, my mom’s health, my dad’s health, my brother’s health, my extended family’s health, my friends’ health, your health and the health of our society.

If we don’t start to change it now, we’re gonna crash (sigh)

That’s Why. Wellness Matters. Thanks for listening… well, reading. #bethechange

Sorry, didn’t meant to word vomit on you… it HAD to come out! #sorrynotsorry

#askmehow #itdoesnttakeanexpert #ittakespassion #wellnessmatters 

find wellness...whole world changes

What is the 3 Day Refresh?

/ Katie P. Tolley, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC / Leave a comment

img_0186When I first started coaching, I thought, I’ll never do that detox stuff, I’ll just exercise and try to eat healthy. I am not one to stick to a plan, so I knew the meal plans would be a challenge, let alone a whole detox.

My lack of planning causes problems when it comes to sticking to the rules. It’s not that I’m some big rebel, although, I prefer to think of it that way. hehe. The truth is I’m just a picky eater that doesn’t have much faith in my ability to follow through on a commitment like a detox. I’ve had doubts for 40+ years, right up until I finished that Hammer and Chisel program last winter. That’s when I proved to myself that I’ve been wrong. I underestimate my abilities because of my fear. Don’t we all. It’s just a little (BIG) thing I call anxiety, we all have our struggles… but this post is about perseverance, so let me move on.

The 3 Day Refresh is actually an amazingly easy to follow plan that helps reset and detox the body in a natural and gentle way. This is not your “run to the bathroom” kind of detox. Well, I did pee a lot, but no explosive bowel issues, if you know what I mean. 😉

So, what is the 3 Day Refresh? It’s 3 days of shakes, veggies, fruits and healthy fats. Oh, and LOTS of water!! I actually found that I was better at eating my veggies and drinking all of my water when I did 3DR, I’ve been slacking on my intake since it was over.

I actually had more energy and felt great on the 3DR. I don’t think I eat enough most days, most of us don’t. I talk to people all the time that tell me they are tired, irritable, have trouble concentrating, etc… then I learn that they skip meals or don’t eat much. THAT’s THE PROBLEM! Most of us actually don’t eat enough, and that is just as serious a health problem as eating too much. Have you ever heard the term “hangry”? Most of us are hangry and malnourished and it’s not a fun way to live.

Nutrition fuels us, it’s what keeps us going. Most of the people that I talk to about weight problems actually eat very little, and that is a problem. If we don’t have fuel, or if we don’t have the proper fuel, our body does not function the way it is supposed to. Period. There is no way around it. I’ve learned that the hard way.

I decided that the 3 Day Refresh was a good way to regroup and start from scratch. Let me give you the details and daily schedule:img_0236

  • Wake up: drink water
  • Breakfast: Shakeology, fruit (can be combined)
  • Mid-morning: Fiber sweep shake
  • Lunch: Fruit, Veggie, Healthy Fat, and Vanilla refresh protein shake (there are lists to follow with lots of options)
  • Afternoon snack: Veggie & Healthy Snack
  • Dinner: Vegan meal and Vanilla refresh protein shake
  • GO TO BED BEFORE YOU GET HUNGRY (I just added that last part. 😉 )
  • You can have herbal tea.
  • You can and should add veggie broth to your dinner menu.
  • There are lots of “free” add ons like spices and fresh squeezed lemon.

My go to for snack time was roasted green beans (veg) with olive oil (healthy fat) with squeezed lemon (free) and red pepper flakes (free). fullsizeoutput_2f5dI NEVER IN MY LIFE thought I’d eat green beans for a snack, and I’ve done it a couple times after finishing the refresh! They are so good!!!

I’m sure you’re wondering  what kind of results I got? Here ya go:

  • lost 4 pounds
  • lost 3.75 inches total from my waist, thighs, hips and chest
  • slept better
  • had more energy
  • enjoyed learning new recipes
  • felt detoxed (did I mention I peed A LOT!)
  • I felt a little bloated in the evenings and had my fair share of flatulence at night, (LOL) but in the morning, I felt fantastic and ready for the day.

There were 8 different vegan recipes to choose from, some are highlighted as less gas producing than others. 🙂 The first night I chose the Carrot Salad, not sure why because I don’t like carrots. I was feeling adventurous and hopeful though. Needless to say, that didn’t go very well. #failforward

The 2nd and 3rd nights I had the Veggie Stir fry, and it was SO GOOD!! I’ve fixed stir fry in the past, but I’m fixing it differently now, and it’s actually easier! We’ve even had the stir fry veggies as a side for dinner since I finished the Refresh, the whole family likes them! Always a plus with a 10 and 14 year old! #momwin

I learn so much more when I trust myself and don’t let my anxiety stop me. A year ago, I wouldn’t have gone near the 3 Day Refresh, but I’m a different person now.

This coaching thing has helped me build myself up. I’m a lot braver about trying new things and challenging myself. Who’d a thought? This coach thing isn’t a half bad way to take care of myself, and the things I’m learning about me along the way are pretty cool. I’m proud of myself for trying something I NEVER EVER EVER thought I’d have the courage to do it or the perseverance to stick it out. But, I did, and I’m proud of myself. I’m actually planning to do it again. You should join me… for the 3 Day Refresh or for the Coaching thing, they are both life changing! 🙂

This is a different part of the journey, one that I never expected, but WOW, what a great ride!!! Detox is apparently an important part of Enjoying the Journey! 

foundation-of-success

 

Natural Cold (URI) Remedies

/ Katie P. Tolley, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC / Leave a comment

Yesterday, my girl was feeling bad, stuffy, headache, sore throat, a little nausea, and so upset about it all. She is such a healthy child, she doesn’t do sick well, it brings tears. This just means I need to try double hard to make it go away quicker… how do you chase a cold, a virus, away quicker? There aren’t meds for that… are there? Not the traditional medicines people think of, but there are remedies…. Natural URI Remedies Do Work!

honeyWhen Drew complained of a headache and sore throat… I went straight for the honey. Honey is soothing for a sore throat and helps to relieve coughing. The cough may not completely go away, and that’s ok, for good reason. Coughing is our body’s natural defense against foreign invaders in the lungs. Anything solid that starts to enter the airway gets coughed back up. So, the goal is not to suppress the cough, but eliminate the problem that is causing the cough. Easier said than done, you can learn more about coughs here.

I totally believe in herbal throat drops, I’ve used Ricola for years, and now use doTerra’s On Guard Throat drops too. Even before I knew all the good stuff about herbs and holistic health, I was using the Ricola. After 24-48 hours with a Ricola, I always have much less irritation, inflammation and coughing. Drew tried a few different flavors, but it’s not her things, she’s funny about anything minty, spicy, etc., and these fall into that catagory for her. She’s sticking to the honey. 😉

Peppermint_15mlFor headaches, we use peppermint and lavender essential oils. Me, I add a little citrus of some sort too, citrus scents are my fave, they’re uplifting. I used a blend of lavender, peppermint, oregano, eucalyptus, clove, and wild orange on Drew’s feet when she napped. Morgan has been using the same blend this week too. Lavender_15mlIn the past, I’ve used lavender and peppermint for migraines and had some relief, but found the migraine trigger needs to be eliminated before I’m getting complete relief from the migraine no matter how often I use my EOs. If you’re interested in more info about EOs, read my article about EO’s and how my family uses them. 

Homemade chicken soup with real bone broth is good to help boost the immune system. bone-brothBone broth is healing in so many ways, it’s good for the gut and the immune system. I buy my bone broth online from The Brothery or Thrive Market. Having good nutrition is going to help speed up the recovery process.

Always, always hydrate. The more hydrated, the easier it is for your body to flush the germs out. We prefer Vitamin Water. I like Vitamin Water because of the extra vitamins and minerals along with electrolytes, all necessary to rehydrate. Vitamin Water is made with real cane sugar or stevia instead of High Fructose Corn Syrup or other artificial sweeteners. Don’t forget the benefits of a good cup of hot natural herbal tea too.

Speaking of hydration, it’s really important to stay well hydrated with fevers. This is tough with young kids. Use whatever method you can to get hydration in them. I encourage only treating a fever with medication like motrin or tylenol if it’s high or if the child is really miserable. I usually use the 101s as my tipping point. A fever is the body’s way to fight off germs, so rushing to eliminate the fever isn’t always the best remedy. Read more about fevers in my previous article here.

A warm bath to help with relaxing and fever reduction can be a twofold remedy. 583__44742-1445018174-190-250Your body can rest, and the bath is a great way to help bring down a fever naturally. Rest is the path to healing. We put lavender bath salts and Everyday brand eucalyptus mint bubble bath (from Thrive Market) in the bath to help with relaxation (lavender) and to open the sinuses (eucalyptus and mint). The bath was the most helpful therapy of all, that’s when the tears disappeared and I started to see a twinkle of a tired smile.

How long does a URI last? This really depends on how healthy your immune system is and how capable it is. Most URIs last 7-10 days, peaking on days 2-4. If you are already dealing with other chronic issues, eating poor food, working too much, not getting enough rest, not staying hydrated, and just never take time to catch your breath, you are gonna get sick a little more often, it will probably be worse than in a healthier person, and it’s gonna take longer to recover. Just look around, there are examples of this theory everywhere. This is why wellness matters. 😉

If you want to recover quickly from a cold, you have to be healthy before you catch a cold. If you want to recover from any illness, you have to keep your immune system prepared to fight off whatever it encounters. That’s the most important job you have, taking care of you… That’s why I preach wellness.

Stay Healthy Friends, it’s the best way to Enjoy the Journey!

What are your remedies for a “cold” (aka Upper Respiratory Infection aka URI)??

Be educated. Be well. Kp 🙂

 

My Family’s Grocery List

/ Katie P. Tolley, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC / Leave a comment

I’ve been asked by a few followers if I would write a grocery list of gluten free foods. That’s pretty much all I buy, so I thought it wouldn’t be that hard for me to share my list. Be sure to check back frequently, I’ll be changing it up as I discover more secrets. We still have a few things in the cabinet that we haven’t tried yet, like GF pizza crust. We have frozen, vacuum sealed, and flour/mix to make from scratch…  Update: Bob’s Red Mill and King Arthur both have great bread/pizza crust mix that has been a hit in our house!

Without further ado, here’s my list…

Continue reading →

WTF is a Mom to do….

/ Katie P. Tolley, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC / Leave a comment

There were assignments that had to be done.

There was a long weekend at the beach.

There was a family day when the GF food options just weren’t the most tempting.

That’s where my life as a Mom begins…. over and over and over and over again! (sigh)

Welcome to the world of WHAT. THE. F. IS. A. MOM. TO. DO? I know… the language, but… unless you live it… um…just don’t even. 😉

I have always believed that you have to accomplish your chores, tasks and responsibilities before you get your privileges. It just makes sense.

But, when you have a child that is controlled by the foods that are most of what society eats… and those foods are everywhere…. and those foods completely deteriorate his brilliant cognitive process….

YOU GET A LITTLE PISSED OFF THAT THERE IS NOT MORE AWARENESS! Welcome to my world.

Maybe you know about gluten (and casein) sensitivity, maybe you don’t, but let me tell you, not knowing will be the downfall of our society. I know I sound like a drama queen… But, I’m as serious as I can possibly be. ANYONE that works with kids NEEDS TO KNOW THIS INFO!!

Gluten sensitive people (40% of our population) will feel sick when they eat too much gluten. Period. Symptoms include but are not limited to:

  • brain fog (lack of focus and cognitive functioning)
  • spaced out… think “walking dead”
  • unable to accomplish ADLs (activities of daily living)
  • headaches
  • stomach aches
  • constipation
  • rashes
  • aggression
  • anger
  • frustration
  • lethargy, fatigue
  • obesity, edema/swelling
  • joint pain
  • anxious, depressed
  • IS THAT ENOUGH?!?
  • Sound like ADHD?
  • It’s also ANXIETY!!!!!
  • WE NEED TO WAKE UP!!

We need to scream it from the rooftops! I NEED TO SCREAM IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS!! I’ve lived it in the disastrous, whirlwind of gluten life for over a decade with my son. I was absorbed in the world of pediatrics, and I didn’t know, the awareness IS NOT THERE. The knowledge has not been shared with those that need to know. When I think back, it’s been 3+ decades for me and how long I’ve been affected by my personal struggles and symptoms. And, I see it in the majority of the pediatric patients I see (I only see kids).

This is the primary reason I care…

inflammation leads to

WE ALL NEED TO CARE! WE ALL NEED TO KNOW!!! BE EDUCATED!!! IT MATTERS!!!!!!!

If it was your 14 year old, and you’d been living it for over a decade, and you were finally getting answers, and you started seeing all the things our society was ignoring… and that lack of knowledge and ignorance is the reason your kid is getting “toxed”… You’d be fed up too! Try to detox… yup, it’s really like detox, wanna know more about the addiction and cravings, read this.  IT’S REAL!!!!! BELIEVE IT! I BEG OF YOU! PLEASE! Just start paying attention.

This part of the journey needs to be more understood… it’s the least enjoyable part in our family, honestly it sucks… especially when you know how to fix the problem. The disheartening and discouraging part is the blatant ignorance and denial of nutrition and it’s effects on our society, the problem is being ignored.

I’m ready to SCREAM!!!! I’m ready to share! I’m ready to spread the awareness of what is happening to our kids! I figured it out, and I know I can help others! Interested in funding my Awareness Campaign? Let me know… I’VE F’n HAD IT!!!!

 

*Disclaimer: I’m not against gluten, wheat per se, I am against TOO MUCH and OVER CONSUMPTION of wheat and processed foods. As long as you tolerate wheat and gluten products, make them 20-30% of your diet, if not, 0%, yes ZERO PERCENT of your diet! Period!

This journey is hard, but can be fun, but we ALL need to work together for the awareness of our fellow man, woman, child and for a better tomorrow for our communities.

Peace. kp.

 

Getting ‘Glutened’ is Drugging My Kid! I’ve had it!! (Digestive Health Series, Part 3)

/ Katie P. Tolley, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC / Leave a comment

 

So, What does getting ‘glutened’ look like?

A. Laziness, fatigue

B. Anxious, depressed, irritable, angry

C. Disoriented, unaware, spaced out, Cognitive dysfunction

D. Stomach ache, migraine, joint pain

E. All of the above and then some!!!

Anyone that has talked with me knows this is a hot topic for me. What angers me the most is the total disregard of our society for the people that have true dietary issues that are ignored by the general population, including much of the medical population. As a nurse practitioner, I don’t like to say we’re missing things in medicine, but… WE ARE MISSING THINGS!!!!

As a mom, I knew there was more to it, and I knew I needed to keep searching for answers. Never. Give. Up. That’s going to be the name of my book. I’m not really a very good writer, avoided it like the plague in school. I have no idea where to start with a book, but it’s a goal of mine, and I need to share our story with other families. Moms need to know that it is worth every bit of energy you use figuring out how to help your child. 

He is so bright, it puts him on a different level. Friends started noticing it before I did, he put concepts together that 2 year olds just didn’t put together. He was smarter than some of the adults in his world and it caused problems. Problems that gradually got worse as the years went on. There were jokes about Einstein being thrown out of school, he even has a hat with Al on it. But, seriously, it took a decade of lots of struggles and difficulties to realize he wasn’t going to get better with prescriptions or school accommodation or anything else traditionally done for bright, ADHD kids. We’d been trying for years, and things were just getting worse… WHY???  Continue reading →