Listen to the Sounds of Life

Last week I made a blog post over on my other blog MaggieHolbikBlog.com sharing  a video with the sounds of frogs and loons at my cottage. Here is the link if you would like to listen, but you might want to listen after reading the entire post so you stay within this blog post for now 🙂  Listen to Frogs & Loons Blog   

There is a little story behind this blog post and it seems timely as May is Hearing Month.

My good friend who was with me at the cottage, is very hard of hearing. I am forever amazed at what I take for granted when it comes to hearing, and what she cannot hear.

I remember the day she got her hearing aids for the first time. We got into the car and her signal light had been left on and was ticking. She was freaked out and did not know what that sound was. Or flushing the toilet was mind blowing for her. And my favorite, the birds. She said “When I hear the birds chirping it’s barely there, but when I turn on and up my hearing aids, millions of birds!” It was truly a delight to ‘hear’ through her experience and to be reminded of the gift of hearing.

So last week at the cottage I thought I would video the sounds in the hopes that she could hear them by listening to the recording and turning it up. We have yet to listen to see if it worked as we have both been busy with other things, but she did go for a hearing appointment and found out that No, she is not able to hear sounds like this due to her range of hearing. 😦

So my message to all of you is that if you have the gift of hearing the birds, the frogs, the loons, children laughing, rivers rushing, rain falling, and all of the wonderful sounds of life, be sure to appreciate it and enjoy it! Know that it is truly a gift and not everyone is that fortunate.

There is so much beauty in sound and let’s not forget music! There is so much beautiful and diverse music to enjoy and in so many ways. Get your happy on with music!

So go today and listen for those things that bring a smile to your face and most of all have deep gratitude within your heart for all of the earthly gifts available for you to enjoy!

MaggieHolbik.com is a Certified Life Coach who looks everyday for things to make her smile and to bring her Joy.  She thinks you should do this also. 🙂 🙂

 

 

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Food * Fun * Health

When you are preparing food make it fun and enjoyable. I have a saying in my house when it comes to preparing food. “Act like your life depends on it because it does”. 🙂

Although I say that lightly, in reality it is the absolute truth! Feeding our body with healthy foods that provide nutrients is of the utmost importance.

Personally, I made a decision not long ago, but a very serious decision…. I decided that I wanted to make changes to my diet and life before life dictated to me that I must make changes. I never wanted to get to the place where I could not eat the things I love.

So now I have fun with food. I delight in preparing food. I also believe that the more you enjoy the process of preparation, the better and more healing the food is for you. It is a reciprocated energy and a force unto its own. We’ve all heard the saying about preparing food with love and there is truth in that.

It is also a great idea to involve other family members or friends. In the picture below, my daughter and I were developing our now go-to recipe for our yummy gluten free muffins. I think I enjoy this activity more than any other… cooking together and developing recipes with her. We are like a team chatting, supporting and encouraging each other in the kitchen. 🙂 I am very happy also, that I am teaching her cooking skills and about how to make nourishing food. I think this is one of the most important skills she will ever learn and it will carry her well throughout her life. She is learning to be very in tune to what is good for her body and also how she feels after eating certain foods.

So go have fun with your food. Try new things. Maybe it’s just one new fruit or vegetable and you find a new way to prepare it. Or you work at making your presentation of the food a little more appealing like in this picture. Whatever it is, do it in love and with love and put your heart into it. The results will be worth it. 🙂

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Cravings? Who would have thought!!!

The more I learn about bananas, the more I am blown away!

Anthony Williams, the Medical Medium, shares a lot about bananas.  If you are like me you will also be impressed with bananas after reading this!

Here is an excerpt, but do yourself a favor and  read the entire post of his (link at bottom of this article):

“Bananas are also an excellent “brain food” great for heavy thinkers and are known to help build strong muscles as well as strengthen the nervous system.

Bananas contain powerful anti-fungal and antibiotic compounds as well as protease inhibitors which can help stop viruses in their tracts. This makes them highly beneficial for chronic illnesses such as shingles, epstein barr, parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and lupus. Bananas are also particularly good for lowering blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, neurological disorders, diarrhea, atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, coronary artery disease, chron’s disease, stroke, and kidney, colon, and lung cancers.

Bananas contain high levels of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) which along with insulin helps to promote nutrient absorption and assimilation. Bananas support the natural acidophilus bacteria in the bowel which helps promote a healthy and functional digestive tract as well as keep the immune system healthy and strong. Bananas can prevent ulcers by strengthening the surface cells of the stomach lining which helps to create a thicker barrier against digestive acid and pepsin-the two main causes of ulcers. Bananas are also an excellent food for athletes as they can help replenish energy and revitalize the body instantly.”

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Personally, I am an extremely heavy thinker so the part about it being good for heavy thinkers really caught my eye. One of the big things I have noticed both for myself and my clients, is that when we eat more bananas and other fruits of any kind, we no longer crave sweet things. This is due to the fact that our body and brain get the natural sugars that they need to function and that helps to alleviate cravings. Cravings come about for a reason!

I do hope you incorporate more bananas into your daily diet. It’s especially beneficial for the children and the elderly as they are both easy to eat and easy to assimilate.

Here is the link to the full banana article. Enjoy!

http://www.medicalmedium.com/blog/bananas

Maggie Holbik.com is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist and Certified Life Coach who resides in Ontario, Canada. She is enjoying her own personal journey of incorporating more nutrient rich and life giving foods into her own daily routine and has seen remarkable success both in tremendously improved health and in natural weight loss as her body is balancing itself and regaining homeostasis.

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Inflammation & Depression

Depression is a hot topic in the world today and so is inflammation. If you suffer from either of these or both, you are not alone.

Although there are many contributing underlying factors that contribute to depression, science now confirms that inflammation can be correlated to depression.

A study published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry supports the premise that increased inflammation may play a role in depression. The large study examined data from 14,275 people who were interviewed between 2007 and 2012 using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to screen for depression and had blood samples drawn. They found that people who had depression had 46% higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammatory disease, in their blood samples. The study was only able to establish an association between depression and inflammation but not causation, though it confirms the association of depression with high levels of inflammation as measured through CRP.

Finding ways to reduce inflammation in the body is helpful in a myriad of ways and in this case beneficial specifically for depression.

Here are some simple ways to become pro-active in reducing inflammation in general.

1. Choose anti-inflammatory foods and avoid foods that trigger inflammation. Here is a good resource by Dr. Axe https://draxe.com/anti-inflammatory-foods/
2. Exercise is a an excellent way to help with inflammation. Exercise keeps muscles active, moves the lymphatic system and improves circulation as well. It’s an overall win-win when it comes to maintaining your health. A study found that just 20 minutes of exercise a day reduced inflammation. Exercise increases your your serotonin level (that’s the “feel good” neurotransmitter), which helps decrease negative emotions and increase positive ones also. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/315255.php
3. Try taking up yoga and/or meditation. Both of these practices have numerous benefits and help with inflammation and are especially beneficial to help with anxiety and depression. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/yoga-could-slow-the-harmful-effects-of-stress-and-inflammation-2017101912588

There are numerous things one can do to combat inflammatory responses in the body including supplementation which I will discuss in specifics in a future blog post.

Finding out the underlying cause or pathogen that is contributing to the inflammation is most beneficial also, but in the theme of keeping things simple for this blog post, a recap is to work on your diet, incorporate exercise into your daily life, and take up a new practice of yoga, meditation or even walking in nature. All of these things will help with inflammation that may contribute to depression and a host of other conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and more.

MaggieHolbik.com is a Certified Life Coach and a Board Certified Holistic Nutritionist who resides in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. Maggie offers complimentary 15 minute discovery chats via phone, Skype, or Zoom to see if Life or Holistic Nutrition coaching might be a fit for you.

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Transformation is One Step at a Time

Today I want to talk a little bit in regard to our health and implementing new habits. One of the biggest mistakes I often see people making, is not being gentle enough on themselves!!!

Making change is a process. Just like a caterpillar turns into a butterfly one day, healthy changes take time and are based on the whole experience being a journey.  Whether you are adding in more healthy foods, more exercise to your life, or working on changing thought patterns and negative beliefs, keep in mind that when you feel overwhelmed, or that you are struggling, this is just a transitional phase. Just like that butterfly working and growing to get out of that cocoon!

All of the steps and changes are a process that require compassion for your body and for your mental health.  The kinder you can be to yourself, the gentler the transition.

Change often triggers emotions and can bring up emotional ‘stuff’, especially when detoxing happens by adding in more nutrients and removing toxins from the body and mental body. Things can get stirred up both physically and emotionally. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing and it won’t last forever, although it sometimes feels like that. The more challenging it feels, the more you need to be compassionate and empathetic with these changes.

As I have written about frequently in the past, when making changes, it’s always best to focus on where you are heading and what the future will look like. See yourself in that new found healthy and free to be you place just like the butterfly that becomes free to fly and be who they are.

Keep your focus and sights on your healthy future, feel the new feeling as though it were already here, be gentle on yourself always, and be open to the miraculous changes that take place as you become your own butterfly!

Maggie Holbik.com is a butterfly who resides in Ontario, Canada and in the month of June, which is coming up soon, she loves to watch the butterflies as they dance together amidst the lilac bushes.

Maggie coaches individuals to help them make life changes that involve, more peace of mind, more Joy, more nutrition for body and soul, more freedom, and more personal empowerment to be the best version of butterflies that they can be!

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Heavy Metal Detox Smoothie – Day 1

I did it! Today I started my first day of a Heavy Metal Detox protocol that involves using a smoothie that helps to carry the heavy metals out of the body. The select combination of ingredients together, act as a team. Each one holding the metals and passing them along on their way out.

My first sips were hmmm but by the end of the jar I was at mmmmm, which makes me very happy.

Heavy metals, such as mercury lead, cadmium, and aluminum, accumulate in the body over time and are suspected of triggering dangerous conditions like heart disease, thyroid problems, dementia, neurological conditions, autism, infertility, birth defects and even bi-polar!

The more I go down the health and nutrition rabbit hole, the more these heavy metals and their dangers pop up in my radar, so I thought I would bite the bullet and try the detox, and share the recipe! It’s always good to share your recipes. 🙂

One of my favorite sources for stuff like this is Anthony Williams, The Medical Medium.  This was the recipe I did today and here is a link to his blog post on it.

Blog Post Link:

http://www.medicalmedium.com/blog/heavy-metal-detox-smoothie

I really feel this will be easy to add into my daily routine. The most challenging part will be making sure I always have enough cilantro and fresh or frozen WILD blueberries on hand.  The blueberries must be wild. I will touch on that in another blog post in the future but just trust me on this one.

Someone today asked me what lead me to want/need to start doing this? My answer was that I suspect we all have been exposed to these heavy metals and that it is just a good idea to do. 🙂 And you never lose when you are adding in healthy ingredients into your diet, like those that are in this smoothie.

One of the tools I use to assess the presence of heavy metals is hair mineral analysis testing which checks for the presence of heavy metals in the body and brain and also for nutrients deficiencies.  For more info 

MaggieHolbik.com is a Life & Nutrition Coach who is evolving as she goes along her journey…. every day working at adding in more good, learning … always learning, and helping people as much as she can! One of her greatest joys is empowering people to make personal change for betterment of their body, mind and spirit.

Maggie offers individual coaching, group coaching, workshops and also does speaking for organizations and groups interested in offering health information for their members or employees.

 

 

Link for information about hair mineral analysis

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Celebration Time!

One of the best parts of my life’s work is when I get to celebrate in my client’s success and this morning is one of those mornings! One of my client’s sent me this picture of her very first every attempt at overnight oats and look how beautiful they turned out!

The challenge I had originally given her was to add in two servings of fruit into her diet each day. For her this was a big step and she is stepping up to the challenge beautifully! In fact she went above and beyond by trying this for the first time.

Look at those luscious berries and chia seeds packed full of micro-nutrients, phyto-nutrients and living enzymes ready to feed and fuel her body, mind and spirit. Yes all of those things. Make no mistake about it, nature’s food is there to help our entire holistic self, not just the physical body.

It was such an exciting time just now. We were messaging back and forth as she got ready to eat her delightful breakfast that she had prepared with a new found love and excitement for the fruit. Here’s what she said: “I’m going all in ! But it’s not easy for me. But you said think of it as a gift. A way to celebrate health.”

And the report at the end of it all was that it was good!

What about you? What can you celebrate today? What small steps have you or can you take to add in more nutrients and nourishment for your body, mind and soul? Perhaps it’s a short walk, another glass of water, a squeeze of lemon juice into your water, taking your multi-vitamin, a kind word to a friend or co-worker. All of these small steps make huge differences.

I encourage you to embrace the steps and to get excited about each and every one. The more you love them, the more they will love you back!

 

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Vitamin B1

I will be exploring the B Vitamins in detail in some up coming blog posts but today we will start with Vitamin B1, also known as Thiamine.

Vitamin B1 or Thiamine, is a water soluble vitamin,  that helps the body break down and release energy from carbohydrates, proteins and fat in our food and also helps keep our nervous system healthy, which is really important especially when it comes to stress and anxiety. Thiamine is considered a co-enzyme that is used by the body to metabolize food for energy and to maintain proper heart and nerve function. It is especially important for supporting energy levels and a healthy metabolism

A Thiamine deficiency although not common, can occur in cases of excessive alcohol consumption, gastric bypass surgery, Chron’s disease, anorexia, or from a poor diet lacking in nutrients.

Symptoms of deficiency are: muscle, wasting, weight loss, cardiovascular problems, confusion, irritability, poor coordination, lethargy, fatigue,  muscle weakness, and even psychosis.

Some food sources include pork, poultry,  whole grain breads and cereals, soybeans, soy products, dried beans,  green peas, lentils, squash, wheat germ, oatmeal, nuts, rice, yeast, asparagus, potatoes, mushrooms, and sunflower seeds.

One of the best ways to ensure the avoidance of any deficiency is to eat a well balanced dieting consisting of foods packed with both macro and  micro-nutrients and to supplement for added protection.

Maggie Holbik.com is a Board Certified Nutritionist who resides in Canada. Maggie helps people on the path to wellness and vibrancy of body, mind and spirit.

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Pathways to Health

As a person who has been studying health and wellness for most of my adult life and having attained the title of Board Certified Holistic Nutritionist, one of the things that really fires me up and excites me, is that there are indeed many pathways to health.

Oftentimes people feel overwhelmed when they think of making health and lifestyle changes. However, realizing that there are many pathways means that there are truly many things that can make a difference and even small things! This truly is exciting.  At least to me 🙂

As a Life Coach of many years I have come to realize that everyone, including myself is and has been at different stages in our lives when it comes to health and wellness and what we do to improve that area.  Sometimes we are more pro-active then others and sometimes not so much. The good news is that at anytime we can add in more good and it WILL make a difference. All steps start with the first.

For example, I am currently working with someone to help them improve their daily diet in an effort to add in more nourishment. We are working on adding in two servings of fruit per day. Now some of you may eat lots of fruit and others, like my client, not so much. So for her two servings of fruit is going to be a big catalyst in her wellness protocol. It will also be a launching pad to more good things. A new pathway perhaps! 🙂

Just like every body is different and every health challenge is different  so are the roads to wellness. I encourage everyone to just start on the path. Jump on the road to adding more nourishment and vibrancy into your life. Look for ways to add in more…. more goodness, more nutrients, more water, more joy, more walks, more nature, more love, more fruits, more peace…. just MORE! And before you know it you will have created a new pathway to better Health! 🙂

MaggieHolbik.com is a Life Coach and Nutritionist who resides in Northwestern Ontario Canada and did yoga outside in her back yard today for the first time! 🙂  First time outside, that is. See she’s adding in more… more yoga, peace, sunlight, listening to the birds…. What will you add more of?

 

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Are you Withering Away?

I am sure most of us can relate to this. Perhaps you yourself  have cared for a house plant that was struggling or you have seen a withering plant somewhere along the way. Many plants naturally wither and/or close themselves up at night in order to preserve energy, rest, or to protect themselves from predators.  Other times we see plants withering because they lack water or nutrients or even sunlight.  On houseplants you might see spider mites, bugs or other parasites.

When the plant is in this state it becomes lifeless (lacks energy) and is limp and deprived of nutrients, sunlight etc.

We are very much like plants. When our bodies lack nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, sunlight, water etc., we lose our energy, we become lifeless, pale in color and perhaps we are even a host to parasites, bugs and viruses! We become weak and our immune systems become compromised.

There is hope though! When we start to add in nutrition in the way of nutrients that the body so desperately needs, and we start to remove toxins and invaders, we can start to rebound just like plants do! And if you have ever watched a thirsty herb for example, the simple act of watering can make their leaves bounce back in a very short amount of time.

So the minute we start adding in things that are healing for us, they start to work. Even little bits of nutrition, water, sunlight, positive thoughts, can and do make a huge difference and immediately.

When some people think of making health changes, they get overwhelmed and shut down. But just know, that even small kindnesses given to your body, can and do have a huge impact and can help you feel better.  Even just adding in a few more glasses of water in a day, can make a tremendous difference. Who doesn’t want more energy, brighter skin and a happier life? 🙂

As the saying goes, everything starts with baby steps.  Just start taking the steps! You won’t regret it, that’s for certain.

MaggieHolbik.com is a Certified Life Coach & Certified Nutritionist who helps people to start to shift their lives to improve wellness of body, mind and spirit. She believes in helping others to find Joy and Beauty in their lives and work.