Are Headaches and Migraines Holding Your Life and Performance Hostage?

For 28 million Americans, headaches and migraines can be a debilitating condition.  As many as 40% of migraine patients report intense pain that keeps them from performing routine daily tasks.  

Migraine headaches are a neurological issue that result from a combination of blood vessel enlargements and the release of toxic endocrine chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the blood vessels that cause inflammation and pain.  Lasting a few hours to as long as several days, migraines begin as a dull ache at the front of the head and then intensifies as it shifts positions to other parts of the head.  For many patients the pain is aggravated by physical exertion and can bring about increased sensitivity to sounds and lights, nausea and vomiting. 

Some common triggers for migraine headaches include fatigue, lack of sleep, malnutrition, excess emotional stress.  However, there are a lot of overlooked triggers such as sensitivity to specific chemicals commonly found in processed foods and traditional household cleaners,  high/low blood pressure and low blood sugar. 

There are some natural and "green" solutions to the common problems and triggers!

• Yoga, Chiropractic, exercise, massage and deep breathing/relaxation exercises help calm the mind and reduce stress.
• Ginger intake helps in controlling migraines and even nausea/vomiting completely.
• Eating green leafy vegetables like spinach and carrots helps a lot.
• Sound sleep is very important when trying to minimize a migraine.
• The Digestive System must be in working order to insure that food intake is being digested properly and the Immune System is functioning properly.  Foods rich in fiber must be preferred as fiber helps regulate blood sugar levels and sweeps away waste in the intestines so that nutrient absorption can occur.
• Fried and processed foods must be completely avoided.
• Also avoid vice products like cigarettes, alcohol and drugs.

Because migraine headaches are a neurological issue, neurotoxic chemicals must also be avoided as well (see my link above about traditional household cleaners).  Neurotoxicity can result from exposure to substances used in chemotherapy, radiation treatment, drug therapies, certain drug abuse, and organ transplants, as well as exposure to heavy metals, certain foods and food additives, pesticides, industrial and/or cleaning solvents, cosmetics, and some naturally occurring substances. Symptoms may appear immediately after exposure or be delayed.  These neurotoxins don't necessarily have to be ingested through food.  They are also readily absorbed by your body's largest organ - the skin - and can manifest in a variety of other health issues resulting from the destruction of neurons (nerve cells)!

Can you think of some examples where migraine headaches have affected your life?  They could have been triggered by environmental factors you haven't considered before.

For example...

10 years ago, a good friend of mine's teenage daughter had a migraine headache that lasted for a year and a half!   It turned their family upside down and they tried everything from acupuncture and chiropractic to medication.  Finally, a blood test revealed that she had extremely elevated levels of pesticides in her bloodstream.  

Several traditional household cleaners and solvents contain registered pesticides and neurotoxins, including Clorox Bleach, Formula 409, Lysol/Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, Tide Detergent, Windex Glass Cleaner, Cascade Dish Detergent, Crest/Colgate Toothpaste, and even some cosmetics made here in the United States contain pesticide residue.  Recognize any of those products?

My friend thought she was doing the right thing by keeping a clean home and using these types of products sold on the shelves in our stores.  Little did she know that she was only making her daughter's headaches worse.  When she heard and implemented what I teach in my Nutrition and Detox Workshop, her daughter's headaches went away within 2 weeks!  The only time she gets headaches now is when she either stays at a friend's house or a hotel that uses strong chemicals to clean with.

Migraine headaches are just one health condition triggered by malnutrition and neurotoxicity.  Your body wants to be healthy and in order to achieve that, it needs to be in a healthy environment.  If you are in/near the Charlotte, NC area and would like to book a Nutrition and Detox Workshop for your staff, co-workers, friends or family, contact me at 704-770-8214.  Allow 90 minutes for the entire Workshops to include questions and answers.  I look forward to serving you in the best way I know how - EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT! 

6 Ways to Master Your Metabolism

 1. Remove Toxins:
Cleaners wreak havoc on our system, chemicals over stimulate and mimic hormones.

 2.  Essential Fats:

When we have essential fatty acids, our bodies can get rid of stored fat – Proven to reduce body fat and increase lean muscle mass. EFAs will increase your energy production, boost your metabolism and improve the rate at which the body burns fat. Consumption of essential fatty acids and other good fats such as unsaturated fatty acids also aids in the oxygenation of cells and body tissues, which improves your endurance and the time it takes for tired muscles to recover from exercise.  EFA's are great for heart, cholesterol, immune & reproductive systems, skin conditions such as eczema/psoriasis.

3.  Take a Probiotic:

80% of your immune system is in your digestive track. Things that weaken our immune system are caffeine, sugar, antibiotics, and carbonated drinks.

4. Take a Fiber Supplement:

We need 25-35 grams of fiber per day to remove cholesterol, toxins and fat from our system. If there isn’t enough fiber present or not enough of the right kinds of fiber, the cholesterol, fat and toxins re-enter the blood and are re-circulated and form a dangerous sludge. This thick, junk-filled bile goes back through our system and causes oxidation and free radical generation. It’s like taking multiple baths in the same water. 

5.  Stay Hydrated:

Hydration speeds metabolism = weight loss. Our sports drink has vitamins & electrolytes for optimum hydration.

6.  Eat Every 2-3 Hours:

If we do not eat every 2-3 hrs our body thinks we are starving = fat storage.

Effective Strategies for Building Trust

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending a Toastmasters Conference in Cary, NC.  If you don't know what Toastmasters is, it is an international volunteer organization that teaches public speaking, communication and leadership skills.  If you aren't near a club, start one of your own!

One of the courses taught at the conference was taught by Sandy Costa, Esq., author of Humanity at Work: Encouraging Spirit, Achievement & Truth to Flourish in the Workplace.  His course was called Effective Strategies for Building Trust (in a world where it's fast disappearing).  Here are some notes I made from his course:

• You can't lead other people until you lead yourself.
• Trust is the New Imperative - this means that the relationship is in a safe place.
• Be honest with yourself enough to ask "How am I doing?" and have mercy on yourself - Treat yourself as deserving.

4 Strategies:

1. Recognize that people are complex.  We do not make decisions on a rational or logical plane - most of our decisions are emotional.  At any given moment, WE decided how we act, feel.  Research has shown that people who live a long time already have the expectation of doing so (Law of Attraction)  Take the time to get to know people and don't make them angry!
2. Attributes of Trusted Leaders: Leaders that instill trust are humble (they practice humility), respectful of others (learn names, look people in the eyes), compassionate, servant leaders (as we move up in an organization, we have more responsibility to help others move up), candid (authenticity), competent, and self-aware ("A leader's most compelling leadership tool is who he/she is."
3. Leaders embrace the Great Mysterious - CHANGE!  Don't tell people HOW you will change - tell them WHY!  Trusted leaders don't surrender to the status quo.  Don't ever postpone anything that will bring you JOY!
4. Trusted Leaders CHOOSE Faith Over Fear.  "Faith is radical trust"  "The Opposite of Faith is Certainty."  Recognize the difference in Spiritual Faith and the Faith we have in each other.  Faith spawns hope.

Remember this as you are building your relationships: Nothing ever created by man is ever priceless.  We are all unique creatures! 

Some other good reads:
Your Employees Have Quit: They Just Haven't Left
Emotional Intelligence