There is a Blessing in Every Stressing, by Dr. John Demartini

It has long been said that it’s not what happens to you, but how you react that matters. Over the years, I have gained perspective from living through some very tough times and truly believe this to be true.

My Guest Contributor this month, Dr. John Demartini, a well-known author and one of the leading authorities on human behavior and personal development, wrote a wonderful article about seeing the hidden blessings in challenging situations. I think we can all use a bit of a pep talk now in that area.

With the family, May 2019. Rachel Meyers, Michael Meyers, Alex Meyers

I know this is a stressful time for each and every one of us! In the midst of all the Coronavirus craziness, I am striving to find the positive in all of this. One of the biggest gifts for me is having our family all together again. My nest is temporarily full with both of my adult children home from University for the rest of the school year. Yes, it can get crowded with the four of us all trying to WFH, but on the flip side, we are learning to live together as four adults, to respect each other’s workspace and take turns with the cooking and chores. I am consciously choosing to look at the big picture; at what a gift this unexpected time together is. 

Read Dr. Demartini’s article below for inspiration regarding how to face a crisis. One of my favorite lines from the article is “Nature does not deliver crisis without opportunity, or misfortune without blessing.” What will your hidden blessing be when all of this levels out? 

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Dr. John Demartini

“Pure wisdom is the instantaneous knowing that each crisis in life is indeed a blessing”

When was the last time you experienced a crisis? Did it seem like it was the end of the world? Did you feel helpless, frustrated, burned-out or just down and depressed? Did you say to yourself, “This is the last straw. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired! This has got to stop. I can’t go another day like this.”

Everyone experiences moments where outer circumstances appear to be an overwhelming crisis. For many, these circumstances dominate and rule their lives. These crises leave lasting scars unless they are recognized as truly being blessings. When the worst crisis becomes your greatest blessing, you heal. Nature does not deliver crisis without opportunity or misfortune without blessing.

Some people have crises that drag out for years. Others seem to nip their crises in the bud almost immediately. It’s not the outer circumstances that necessarily create the crises. While they may elicit the crises, it is a person’s reaction that actually turns circumstances into crises.

The length of time it takes for you to recognize your outer crisis as a blessing, correlates with your degree of wisdom.

Some misfortunes don’t reveal their blessing easily, while others are recognized immediately. Hidden within all misfortunes are the seeds of an equal but opposite fortune.

In the mid 1980s, hundreds of thousands of people were let go or laid off from their jobs. Some of these people were left without income, some without other career opportunities and some, ultimately, without their families.

At first sight, this may have been perceived as a crisis, however, today many of those same people have undergone an in-depth soul-searching and re-evaluation of their lives, only to discover that they genuinely had a dream in their hearts to be, do and have something more than what they were previously experiencing and accepting.

Other people have tapped into a more profound purpose for their life than what they were allowing, and are now making their meaningful dreams come true. They are now doing exactly what they always loved to do but never had the guts to do until the crisis occurred.

A crisis is ultimately a blessing.

They are the flip side of the coin of life. Many people have been temporarily devastated by broken relationships only to discover at some later time that their supposed misfortune was a blessing. Their very loss was their ultimate gain.

“Whenever a door shuts, a window opens”

The longer you live, the more this seemingly paradoxical relation becomes evident and the more you see the correlation between past crises and future blessings. Through time and experience, your reactions subside and more patient actions result.

Since blessings are seeded in crisis and it seems quite easy to be thankful for blessings, why not move wisely ahead and assume that any perceived crisis is a blessing? Be thankful for its strengthening qualities. Why not act thankfully instead of reacting pitifully?

As long as outer circumstances run your life, you can expect a life filled with crises. But as soon as you take charge of your reactions and change them into thankful actions, your life will begin to flow.

Be thankful.

You won’t be confronted with a crisis you can’t handle. Be thankful.

The next time you’re confronted with what appears to be a crisis, just ask yourself, “What is the hidden blessing?”

The deeper you look, the easier you will find it. When you do, you can say “good-bye” to its corresponding frustration, anger and depression.

No tree stood strong without the wind.
No group stood strong without its heretic.
No person can be strong without a challenge.

So be thankful for yours!

Click HERE for more information on Dr. Demartini and follow him on Instagram! He is also a best-selling author, so if you’re looking to learn more you can click HERE  for books he’s written on the subject of health and wellness.

Shop Dr. Demartini’s best-sellers below!

The Values Factor by Dr. John Demartini

SHOP The Values Factor by Dr. John Demartini

The Breakthrough Experience by Dr. John Demartini

SHOP The Breakthrough Experience by Dr. John Demartini

ABOUT DR JOHN DEMARTINI

Dr. Demartini is considered one of the leading authorities on human behaviour, leadership and wealth building. He has presented along-side Sir Richard Branson, Donald Trump, Stephen Covey, Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Steve  Wosniak and many others. He has been a welcomed guest on Larry King Live, CNN, CNBC, is a contributor to Oprah Magazine and hundreds of other magazines, and featured in the international phenomena The Secret. He has been filmed and appeared in nearly 40 documentaries such The Opus, The Compass, Spirit 2 Power, Overfed and Under Nourished, Leap and Oh My God alongside celebrities such as Hugh Jackman, Seal, Ringo Star, David Copperfield and Bob Geldof, and is the author of 12 books published in 36 different languages. He has produced over 75 CDs and DVDs covering subjects such as personal development, relationships, wealth, education and business. Learn more at his website,  www.drdemartini.com.

Holistic Wellness Tips and Immune-Boosting Supplements to Take from Dr. Lekkos

I recently attended an incredibly informative lecture hosted by SHIFT Mind Body Soul, one of the rising stars in programming in the holistic health and wellness space. With Coronavirus weighing heavy on everyone’s minds, I wanted to share some valuable take-aways I learned so that you can use these extra measures to stay healthy during this stressful time! 

The educational lecture took place in Beverly Hills at Spring Place and featured renowned functional medicine expert and GOOP Contributor Dr. Lekkos, Founder of Bios Functional Medicine, and was moderated by my friend and holistic nutritionist Elissa Goodman. The discussion offered so much timely information regarding wellness and how best to support our immune system.

Below is a list of the wellness supplements that were discussed and some other tips on how to stay healthy and centered. I am currently using all of these, but I’m not a doctor so please do your homework before introducing anything new into your regime; research and talk to your physician if you are unsure of what is best for you. 

I wish you continued well-being during this challenging time. Sending healthy vibes your way!

xx Melissa

“Think from your heart, not your head, soak in life and think about why you are here, experience as many things as you can, and above everything else, do YOU all the time.” -  Dr. Lekkos

Dr. Apostolos Lekkos

Elissa Goodman

Click directly on supplement titles to order my faves!

IMMUNITY SUPPORT

Monolaurin 

Monolaurin is a chemical made from lauric acid; used to build the immune system, it is found in coconut milk and breast milk. It’s recommended for preventing and treating viruses such as the common cold, influenza, swine flu, herpes, shingles, and other infections. Dr. Lekkos recommended this as the best supplement to take if you feel a sore throat or virus coming on. 

L-Lysine (2000 mg per day)

Elissa Goodman recommended this supplement as a good one to take along with Monolaurin. This gem of a supplement offers immune system and respiratory health support.

NAC  (1,500 mg/day and not on an empty stomach)

This important supplement replenishes levels of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant found throughout the body - our levels decrease as we age. Taken together they can help boost immune function. They also help with chronic respiratory conditions and support brain health.

Glutathione

Glutathione is an important antioxidant that declines with age. It is critical for healthy immune system function and is necessary for proper detoxification. Works well in conjunction with vitamin C.

NAD (Take 500 mg plus)

NAD helps fuel many of the body’s essential functions. It’s important for our cells and it gives us energy and a sense of wellbeing, but NAD levels also diminish with age and stress. Taking this supplement can help elevate our own levels with increased and consistent use. Read my blog here on TRU NIAGEN (a unique form of vitamin B3) to see why I love taking this NAD supplement daily!

Vitamin D  (5000i.i. daily)

This familiar vitamin is good for supporting muscle, bone, teeth and immune health. According to ScienceDaily, taking large doses of vitamin D reduces respiratory infections like pneumonia, influenza, and bronchitis. Dr. Lekkos also mentioned to take it in larger doses to cure bronchitis.

Reishi and Other Adaptogenic Mushrooms 

Reishi and other mushrooms are important for immune function support and some also act as natural anxiety relievers that may help calm any angst we are experiencing. I like the delicious powders by Four Sigmatic! 

Probiotic

Taking a probiotic every day to maintain gut health is great for ongoing immune support and a healthy microbiome. But taking a probiotic that has prebiotics blended into the formula makes them even more beneficial since they do a great job of fertilizing the good bacteria you already have in your gut. I also like to get additional probiotics by starting the day with the Hush & Hush PlantYourDay protein powder. Click HERE to order and use discount code MELISSA during check out to get 20% off.

Curcumin 

This herbal supplement is great for reducing inflammation and as an antioxidant. It’s also used for relieving the stiffness and joint pain of arthritis. 

Photo credit: Stefanie Marie Photography

SLEEP EASY

Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together. — Thomas Dekker

Magtein 

A combination of Magnesium and L-Threonate, this can be beneficial for helping you fall asleep. It calms the buzzing in the brain, making it easier to relax and drift off into dreamland.

Charlotte's Web 

Looking to CBD as a way to calm your nerves and help you get some shut-eye? Charlotte’s Web is one of the most respected brands out there. Whether you prefer a flavored oil or a gummy, they’ve got you covered. 

Felix Grey Blue Light Blocking Glasses 

These clinically tested blue light blocking glasses can aid in getting your beauty sleep by improving melatonin secretion by 2x. You know what that means? Less chance of dark circles in the morning! 

Gwen Dittmar, Breath Work Coach; Nicole Fogel, Founder of SHIFT Mind Body Soul.
Photo Credit: Kelly Fogel Photography.

Elissa Goodman and Dr. Lekkos.
Photo Credit: Kelly Fogel Photography.

MIND OVER MATTER

It’s your perception and your reaction to life so be aware of how you are thinking. - Anonymous

Wellness isn’t just about taking care of our body, it’s also about managing our minds. Here are a few tips to help turn down the noise and get your head in a better space.

Breathing

Taking deep breaths throughout the day can help calm you down. I personally find box breathing super helpful to manage my adrenaline when it gets ramped up. Simply inhale for five seconds, hold for five seconds, exhale for five seconds and repeat. For some more amazing breathing techniques, check out Breathwork Master and Coach Gwen Dittmar and her step-by-step breathwork class on mindbodygreen. 

Journaling 

Sometimes you’ve got to let it flow! Grab a notebook and pen and just write. It helps to declutter the mind, and things seem to fall into perspective once you read back what you wrote. Keeping a daily gratitude journal is also a great way to shift your thoughts and realize how much you truly have. I believe when you approach life from a place of gratitude there comes even more to be grateful for. 

Meditation 

By now we all know how powerful a meditation practice can be for brain health. From Calm to Headspace, there is no shortage of apps out there that can guide us in taming our monkey-minds. Dr. Lekkos recommended another cool app called Brain.fm. It is basically a streaming music service that produces a continuous loop of computer-generated music that can help you meditate, focus, or sleep, using a combination of bimodal tones. This scientific approach claims to affect your brain differently than any other music.

“If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want.” ~Elbert Hubbard

Photo credit: Stefanie Marie Photography

Why I Recommend Intermittent Fasting and Time-Restricted Eating by Dr. Frank Lipman

There is so much info out there regarding what to eat and what not to. While choosing which foods to put in your body is important in maintaining optimal health and weight levels, did you know that when you eat can also make a difference?

Lately, intermittent fasting (IF) and time-restricted eating (TRE) are super hot topics. I’ve tried both and love how I feel when I practice them regularly. I have more energy, my mind feels clearer and my weight stays stable.

My Guest Contributor this month is the renowned OG in the field of integrative and functional medicine, Dr. Frank Lipman. He is also an advocate of IF and TRE so if you’re curious about these fasting methods, read the article below to help understand how these timed ways of eating work and why they can benefit you while helping to keep weight under control naturally.

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Why I Recommend Intermittent Fasting and Time-Restricted Eating by Dr. Frank Lipman

Every day, we’re bombarded with the message: eat less, lose weight. Too bad, humans aren’t wired to voluntarily feel deprived all the time, which is why standard-issue calorie-counting fails most dieters over the long haul. The truth is, more important than how much we eat is what we eat. If we load up on non-starchy vegetables — high in phytonutrients, fiber and water — and healthy fats — great for keeping hunger at bay — not only will our weight be healthy but so will the rest of us.

But there’s another important factor to consider and that’s when we eat. Of course, ancient cultures have appreciated the healing power of fasting for centuries, but modern research is just now getting a handle on two time-sensitive approaches to eating: intermittent fasting or IF and time-restricted eating or TRE.

In practice, they mostly overlap and I recommend both approaches to many of my patients. Here are a few of my thoughts on why I believe so many people can benefit from IF and TRE:

Reconnect with your inner hunter-gatherer.

We evolved as hunter-gatherers, built to endure periods of food scarcity. So it’s no surprise that in today’s world, where a lot of us are eating three squares without even truly being hungry, we wind up putting on weight, especially as we push into our middle years. What’s happening is our metabolisms are getting flabby. Over time, we have to produce more insulin to get the sugar out of our blood and into our cells. Higher blood sugar and insulin levels mean that more calories get stored as fat instead of being burned as energy. The result is insulin resistance: extra pounds around the middle, system-wide inflammation, faster aging, and increased risk for diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer’s.

Lengthen your fast – and shorten your eating ‘window.’

However, going through regular chunks of time when you’re not bombarding your body with calories, helps reverse that weight and insulin resistance creep-up process – think of it as giving your metabolism a vacation! There are scores of different ways to practice intermittent fasting but in my opinion, the easiest way to do it, without having to go to extremes, is simply to lengthen the day’s natural fast, the time between dinner and the aptly named “break-fast.” A traditional rule of thumb is to allow twelve hours between the two meals, for instance, dinner at 7 p.m. and breakfast at 7 a.m. But that’s really a minimum (even if a lot of you over-scheduled types are eating much later at night). Work towards expanding that daily fast, up to 16 hours, three to four times a week, with an earlier dinner and/or a later breakfast. The pay-off will be a re-set of your now more efficient metabolism. Your body will do more with less of everything – lower blood sugar and insulin levels, less fat build-up and inflammation.

Eat in sync with your circadian rhythms.

Time-restricted eating shares with intermittent fasting the goal of shrinking the number of hours in the day you’re eating and expanding the hours that you’re not. But with TRE, the emphasis is also on eating most of your calories earlier in the day when your metabolism is peaking and, in particular, having an early and small dinner. So, for instance, having dinner at 10, then skipping breakfast and having lunch at 2, works as a 16-hour IF strategy, but it doesn’t cut it as TRE. The idea here is to eat in sync with your natural circadian rhythms. Besides generally making you feel more energetic during the daylight hours and sleepy at night, those rhythms also regulate your metabolism. Since we burn calories more efficiently, with less insulin, during the day, that’s when we should take in most of our calories, instead of dumping them on the dinner plate just as our calorie-burning machinery is winding down. The late-night noshing means we have to re-prime the insulin pump, but now, since we’re winding down ourselves, those calories are less likely to be burned by our muscles and more likely stored as fat.

Lose weight and keep insulin resistance under control.

When you eat late into the night, you’re overloading your system with calories when it’s least able to process them. Numerous studies have shown that blood sugar control is at its best earlier in the day and worst in the evening. So, when you’re eating later at night, your body has to produce insulin, but now the muscles likely don’t need any more sugar to burn for energy. So those calories get stored as fat, setting the stage for insulin-resistance, weight gain, and diabetes. By restricting feeding hours so you’re done eating by 6 or 7 p.m., your body has plenty of time to burn off calories before bedtime, keeping blood sugar balanced and keeping weight off. In addition, if you’ve finished burning or storing the calories you’ve eaten when you turn in for the night, that’s a cue for the body to produce growth hormone which maintains the muscles and keeps fat in check.

Support gut health – and ward off inflammation.

Maintaining gut health is key to staying healthy, and IF and TRE can be helpful for keeping your microbiome in good shape. Several studies have indicated that when you are not eating, the microbes in your gut get time off from doing their digestive business to work on repairing the gastrointestinal tract, potentially offering protection from ‘leaky gut’ and, ultimately, the kind of systemic inflammation that can trigger chronic disease. Recently researchers showed that after each meal, for around four hours, gut microbes and their components leak into our bloodstream – silently triggering inflammation.

Kick your body’s cellular recycling and anti-aging program into high gear.

The name for that process is autophagy and those generous fasting periods stimulate it to clean house, purging the body of toxins and old, tired cells that gum up the works. That’s another layer of protection from inflammation and it slows down the aging process, at the cellular level and the “looking in the mirror” level.

Put hunger in its place.

The virtue of the IF/TRE approach is that you shouldn’t feel constantly deprived. In fact, my experience has been that most of my patients who do it, seem to gain a sense of control over their food intake without feeling deprived or compromising their nutritional needs. But initially, you may well feel some hunger during that expanded fasting period when you’re accustomed to eating. Don’t worry. Hunger comes and goes in waves, it’s not a constant and in time, the longer periods of fasting become easier. Staying busy with the rest of your life is the best way to keep your mind off food. Exercise normally, and during your eating periods, make sure you’re getting plenty of healthy fats, for satiety and for energy. During the fasting hours, “snack” with liquids like water, tea or even bone broth.

Keep in mind…

Just about anyone can benefit from having a smaller and earlier dinner, but expanding the daily fast period beyond about the 12-hour mark is not for everyone — not for pregnant or trying to get pregnant women, or breastfeeding mothers, children under 18, those with eating disorders or who are below normal body weight or BMI. On prescription meds? Consult with your doctor first.

Click HERE for more information on Dr. Lipman and follow him on Instagram! He is also a best-selling author, so if you’re looking to learn more you can click HERE for books he’s written on the subject of health and wellness.

BIO

Dr. Frank Lipman received his initial medical training in South Africa and emigrated to the United States in 1984. He became board certified in internal medicine after serving as Chief Medical Resident at Lincoln Hospital in New York City. Becoming more and more aware of both the strengths and weaknesses of his training, he began to study acupuncture, Chinese medicine, functional medicine, nutrition, herbal medicine, biofeedback, meditation, and yoga. Now recognized as a vocal pioneer of integrative and functional medicine (or what he calls “good medicine”), Dr. Frank Lipman is the founder of Eleven Eleven Wellness Center and the Chief Medical Officer at The Well, in New York City. He is the best-selling author of five books—How to Be Well, The New Health Rules, Young & Slim for Life, Revive and Total Renewal—as well as a sought-after international speaker.