Alter Life

Many associate Brain and Mind as one and the same.

The brain is the organ that rests inside the skull. It's like a computer made up neurons that wire the entirety of the physical body to control autonomic and somatic functions.

Mind is the universal wisdom, energy, and inspiration that animates all of life. It is the more spiritual essence alive in us all and thriving in every moment.

Of course there is a Brain-Mind connection, as the non-local mind lives in brain cells, as well as every other cell and fragment of the universe.

On Medicinal Monday's Alter Your Health from Head to Toe we discussed optimizing the physiology of the brain addressing the common issues of vascular health, metabolic function, and toxicity associated with such issues like brain fog, stroke, and age related cognitive decline, or dementia.

In today's Wisdom Wednesday where we share Insights from Head to Toe, we draw the connections between Mind and Brain. Of course, the ever-shifting state of the nervous system feeds back to effect neurophysiology. We share our insights around the mindset to optimize cognitive clarity as we age in today's episode.

Join the conversations live on YouTube every Wednesday: https://www.youtube.com/alterhealth

Some highlights from today's WW episode...

⁃How physiologic stress causes a state of confusion or lack of clarity
⁃Chronic stress leads to chronic inflammation (including neuroinflammation), manifesting as symptoms of brain fog, as well as cognitive decline
⁃Chronic stress increase the progression of atherosclerosis and insulin resistance, two of the major risk factors of Alzheimers. 
⁃Age-related cognitive decline may be a symptom of our refusal to deal with the world
- Memory issues or brain fog are a way we can distract ourselves from a world we cannot accept

Links to some more good stuff

- Join Alter Health on Locals: https://alterhealth.locals.com
- Stay connected on Telegram: https://t.me/alterhealth
- Cleanse with Us during the next Alter Health Cleanse: https://www.alter.health/cleanse
- Work with us in the Thrive on Plants program: https://www.alter.health/thrive-on-plants
- ATTN Health Practitioners! Learn more and apply to the Plant Based Mind Body Practitioner Program: https://www.alter.health/pbmb-practitioner

Peace and Love.

Links to  more good stuff

- Work With Me - www.alter.health
- GREEN FORCE! - www.visfoods.co (use the code AlterLife for $10 off)
- Check out my favorite products - www.alter.health/products

Sometimes we never realize how important something is until it's gone...

Brain health and cognitive function is certainly a quintessential example of this.

While the acute symptom of brain fog can come and go day to day, it can be super aggravating and frustrating! Of course, conventional medicine has zero answers to address this symptom, though  natural medicine certainly does! We are excited to discuss in today's episode.

When it comes to more chronic conditions like strokes, Alzheimer's disease, and general "age related cognitive decline" are all so sadly normal in today's world. Like so many conditions, they do not need to be normal - they are all optional! Such cognitive issues are generally  preventable, and to some degree reversible with proper nutritional and lifestyle considerations. As the old adage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

As we traverse the body in our Alter Your Health from Head to Toe series of the podcast, we are excited to share the powerful nutritional and lifestyle science that supports optimal brain health and cognitive function.

Today, we discuss reversing brain fog while preventing strokes and maintaining sharp cognition as we age. As you might presume, food and nutritional status is hugely important, but there is so much more to keeping your brain healthy!

SPRING CLEANSE! Starting July 17th - registration deadline July 15th. Love your liver like never before as you take your health and energy to the next level! Register at www.alter.health/cleanse

As always, you can join us live each Monday at 12 PT / 3 ET on the Alter Health YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/alterhealth

Some highlights from today's episode on the BRAIN...

• The brain makes up only 2% of body mass, but utilizes ~20% of body's oxygen and energy supply - fuel and circulation are important!
• Neurons are wrapped in fatty acids called the myelin sheath that serves to insulate neurons for optimal conduction - omega-3 status ensures healthy brain insulation.
• Brain cells are fed by an incredibly complex network of thousands of miles of tiny blood vessels - oxidative damage, cholesterol plaques, and suboptimal circulation impede proper blood flow while a complete blockage will cause a (ischemic) stroke
• Brain fog is often a result of systemic inflammation stemming from digestive issues (leaky gut) and/or immune imbalance, but could also be the result of acute low-level toxicity (chemicals in food, air, water)
• Alzheimer's disease and age related cognitive decline are generally due to heavy metal toxicity, micro-infarcts (mini-strokes) over time, insulin resistance (from high dietary saturated fat), and general poor circulation (oxidative damage to blood vessels)
• Human connection, relationships, learning new tasks, puzzles, walking (or other "cross-crawl" activities ) are important on creating neuroplasticity and maintaining cognitive performance

Links to some more good stuff
-  Join Alter Health on Locals: https://alterhealth.locals.com/
- Cleanse with Us during the next Alter Health Cleanse: https://www.alter.health/cleanse
- Work with us in the Thrive on Plants program: https://www.alter.health/thrive-on-plants
- ATTN Health Practitioners! Learn more and apply to the Plant Based Mind Body Practitioner Program: https://www.alter.health/pbmb-practitioner

Peace and Love.

Links to  more good stuff

- Work With Me - www.alter.health
- GREEN FORCE! - www.visfoods.co (use the code AlterLife for $10 off)
- Check out my favorite products - www.alter.health/products

The skeleton provides the structure and support for the body. Muscles and organs are anchored by our bones, held and supported in their functions.

Weakened bones, decreased bone mineral density, and diagnoses like osteopenia or osteoporosis can have energetic/emotional causes in addition to physiologic factors. When we get curious to how we can shift both physiologic and energetic states, we tap more fully into the self-healing and regenerative potential available to us.

On Medicinal Monday (ep #315) we covered essential nutritional and lifestyle knowledge for keeping bones strong and resilient with age to prevent and reverse osteopenia/osteoporosis. Today, we discuss the energetic/emotional cause for decreased bone mineral density - not feeling supported. The bones have everything to do with the "1st Chakra" - the root chakra, an energy center of the body associated with more primal needs, feeling safe and supported.

Join the conversations live on YouTube every Wednesday: https://www.youtube.com/alterhealth

Some highlights from today's WW episode...

- Recap of the physiologic factors leading to decreased bone mineral density with age
- The anatomy of the first chakra and the connection with our skeletal system
- Energetic and emotional themes of 1st Chakra - feeling safe and secure, providing for oneself, standing up for values, honor and loyalty, feeling at home, universal support
- A scarcity state of mind vs trusting and knowing we have exactly what we need
- The lessons offered from the slow and strong growth of bones and the resilience they offer

Links to some more good stuff

- Join Alter Health on Locals: https://alterhealth.locals.com
- Stay connected on Telegram: https://t.me/alterhealth
- Cleanse with Us during the next Alter Health Cleanse: https://www.alter.health/cleanse
- Work with us in the Thrive on Plants program: https://www.alter.health/thrive-on-plants
- ATTN Health Practitioners! Learn more and apply to the Plant Based Mind Body Practitioner Program: https://www.alter.health/pbmb-practitioner

Peace and Love.

Links to  more good stuff

- Work With Me - www.alter.health
- GREEN FORCE! - www.visfoods.co (use the code AlterLife for $10 off)
- Check out my favorite products - www.alter.health/products

Maintaining strong bones with high density is an important part of healthy and resilient aging. It is very common to lose bone mineral density with age, slipping into osteopenia or osteoporosis. These conditions are associated with increased risk of fracture and poorer quality of life - definitely something we should consider preventing or reversing!

Bone health is the topic of today’s Medicinal Monday episode of the Alter Your Health from Head to Toe series of the podcast.

As with just about anything else in the body, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is especially true with bone health and bone mineral density. However, we can always rebuild healthy bone despite our age. This is obvious and evident by merely witnessing the regneneration and healing of a fractured bone. New bone cells are laid down in a mineralized matrix to create what is called a callous, or a healed fused bone.

When it comes to bone health, society has been programmed to believe it all comes down to one mineral - calcium. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Of course when it comes to bone mineralization, calcium is essential, but so are all other minerals, many vitamins, and so much more!

We break it all down today’s episode.

As always, you can join us live each Monday at 12 PT / 3 ET on the Alter Health YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/alterhealth

Some highlights from today's episode on BONES..

• We are told that bone health has everything to do with CALCIUM which is best sourced from DAIRY - but this is likely due to influence of dairy industry on public health policy, not science-based
• More dairy consumption is associated with weaker bone and fracture risk, along with all sorts of other chronic disease
• To build strong bones we need calcium, but also all other trace minerals, vitamin K, vitamin D, anti-inflammatory/alkaline environment, and weight-bearing activity (maybe most important!)
• Bones grow under stress - using muscles pulls on bones, signaling them to grow stronger
• For people who want to ensure they are getting enough calcium (and other minerals) to grow strong bones, it is best to eat more leafy greens (or consider a marine algae supplement like spirulina or chlorella) 

Links to some more good stuff
-  Join Alter Health on Locals: https://alterhealth.locals.com/
- Cleanse with Us during the next Alter Health Cleanse: https://www.alter.health/cleanse
- Work with us in the Thrive on Plants program: https://www.alter.health/thrive-on-plants
- ATTN Health Practitioners! Learn more and apply to the Plant Based Mind Body Practitioner Program: https://www.alter.health/pbmb-practitioner

Peace and Love.

Links to  more good stuff

- Work With Me - www.alter.health
- GREEN FORCE! - www.visfoods.co (use the code AlterLife for $10 off)
- Check out my favorite products - www.alter.health/products

What does state of mind have to do with state of skin?

A stressful state of mind certainly has direct physiologic consequences on the health of skin. And there is also much more to discuss when it comes to the psycho-spiritual connections with the skin.

On Medicinal Monday (ep #313) we covered the most common causes of chronic skin conditions like  acne and eczema. Here we talk about the the "emotional causes" or at the very least, "spiritual opportunities" when it comes to healing the skin and expressing our innate radiance.

Join the conversations live on YouTube every Wednesday: https://www.youtube.com/alterhealth

Some highlights from today's WW episode...

• How stress hormones cause widespread hormonal imbalance that can cause or exacerbate skin conditions
• Self-criticism can be reflected as skin outbreaks
• Skin blemishes and "imperfections" are an opportunity to see and embrace the totality of our humanness
• We are so much more than the layer of cells that wrap our physical body (and these cells regenerate every month!)
• Peace of mind is not found in having clear skin, but clear skin can be seen from a peaceful mind

Links to some more good stuff

- Join Alter Health on Locals: https://alterhealth.locals.com
- Stay connected on Telegram: https://t.me/alterhealth
- Cleanse with Us during the next Alter Health Cleanse: https://www.alter.health/cleanse
- Work with us in the Thrive on Plants program: https://www.alter.health/thrive-on-plants
- ATTN Health Practitioners! Learn more and apply to the Plant Based Mind Body Practitioner Program: https://www.alter.health/pbmb-practitioner

Peace and Love.

Links to  more good stuff

- Work With Me - www.alter.health
- GREEN FORCE! - www.visfoods.co (use the code AlterLife for $10 off)
- Check out my favorite products - www.alter.health/products

Beauty comes from within. Of course, beauty is more than just skin deep, but the radiance and glow of healthy skin also comes from within.

Chronic or recurrent conditions like acne, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, or just aging and dehydrated skin are exceedingly common. The good news is that radiant skin is much closer than you might realize!

You may have been led to believe that you need some special products or potions to have healthy, ageless skin. The multi-billion dollar beauty industry capitalizes on our culture's vain nature and desire for a quick fix.

Through understanding the intrinsic connections between skin, digestion, liver health, circulation, lymphatics, hormones, etc. it becomes clear that the glowing skin we all seek is a natural consequence of a healthy and balanced internal terrain. 

This is a huge topic, and a powerfully liberating one! Waking up to and revealing our true inner radiance brings deeper confidence, peace, trust, and freedom. The only side effect to natural and radiant skin from within is enhanced all around health and vitality.

Tune into this week's Alter Your Health from Head to Toe episode and learn much more about healing skin issues and popular topics like collagen, antioxidants, liver detox, and much more!

As always, you can join us live each Monday at 12 PT / 3 ET on the Alter Health YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/alterhealth

Some highlights from today's episode on SKIN..

• The incredible regenerative potential of the skin - we have an entirely new epidermis approximately every month
• How so many topical agents can do more harm than good to this enormous organ covering +/- 20 square feet!
• The underlying features of common conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis, dry skin
• The most common nutritional and lifestyle obstacles that exacerbate skin issues
• How supporting digestion and liver health with nutrient density and hydration are reflected through radiant skin
• The most liberating topical skin routine - the caveman method!

Links to some more good stuff
-  Join Alter Health on Locals: https://alterhealth.locals.com/
- Cleanse with Us during the next Alter Health Cleanse: https://www.alter.health/cleanse
- Work with us in the Thrive on Plants program: https://www.alter.health/thrive-on-plants
- ATTN Health Practitioners! Learn more and apply to the Plant Based Mind Body Practitioner Program: https://www.alter.health/pbmb-practitioner

Peace and Love.

Links to  more good stuff

- Work With Me - www.alter.health
- GREEN FORCE! - www.visfoods.co (use the code AlterLife for $10 off)
- Check out my favorite products - www.alter.health/products

In this episode of the Insight from Head to Toe series we are exploring the connections between mind, body, and HAIR.

We covered common hair complains in Medicinal Monday (ep #311) such as hair thinning, falling, gray hair, and alopecia. We also covered the common causes of such conditions including nutritional deficiencies, topical toxicity, stress, and of course genetics.

Issues with hair can be lessons to deepen into unconditional self-love and recognition of true beauty.

Join the conversations live on YouTube every Wednesday: https://www.youtube.com/alterhealth

Some highlights from today's WW episode...

• The consequences of chronic self-criticism and judgmental thinking
• Seeing innate beauty in every fragment of life, from a cell, to a tree, to a kitty cat, to YOU
• How judging physical beauty can be such a silly act
• The natural human experience of self-critical thinking and why we don't need to weave it into our story
• Dr. Susanna's inspiration to shave her had and tap deeper into beauty and confidence

Links to some more good stuff

- Join Alter Health on Locals: https://alterhealth.locals.com
- Stay connected on Telegram: https://t.me/alterhealth
- Cleanse with Us during the next Alter Health Cleanse: https://www.alter.health/cleanse
- Work with us in the Thrive on Plants program: https://www.alter.health/thrive-on-plants
- ATTN Health Practitioners! Learn more and apply to the Plant Based Mind Body Practitioner Program: https://www.alter.health/pbmb-practitioner

Peace and Love.

Links to  more good stuff

- Work With Me - www.alter.health
- GREEN FORCE! - www.visfoods.co (use the code AlterLife for $10 off)
- Check out my favorite products - www.alter.health/products

No... this is not a commercial for some special new hair product! In fact, quite the contrary...

In this opening episode of Alter Your Health from Head to Toe we are starting our journey on the top of the head to talk about hair.

Of course, we have hair covering our entire body like any other mammal, but it is generally that which is atop our heads that gets most of the attention... especially when it starts to thin, fall, turn gray, or anything else deemed undesirable by our standards.

It may be common to think about hair as some appendage disconnected from the intricate whole of the body. In reality, however, the quality and resilience of hair is a reflection of our inner state of health (along with skin and nails).

For this reason, topical hair products (shampoos, conditioners, etc.) might make hair look nice in the short term, while doing nothing to address true hair health. In fact, oftentimes products can be more damaging in the longterm.

Tune into this week's Alter Your Health from Head to Toe episode and learn much more about the basics for creating and maintaining strong and healthy hair!

As always, you can join us live each Monday at 12 PT / 3 ET on the Alter Health YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/alterhealth

Some highlights from today's episode on HAIR..

• Nutritional deficiencies can be seen in falling or thinning hair as the body's resources are shunted to higher priority organs/systems
• Hair falling is almost always due to stress, but other inflammatory/immune-related conditions also exist, such as alopecia
• Hair products (shampoos, conditioners, hairsprays, etc.) can be toxic and actually cause poor hair health (and other systemic symptoms)
• Our (mainly Dr. Susanna's!) natural hair care routine with apple cider vinegar and baking soda
• Nutritional and lifestyle considerations to optimize hair resilience (minerals, vit C, zinc, cold water, and more)

Links to some more good stuff
-  Join Alter Health on Locals: https://alterhealth.locals.com/
- Cleanse with Us during the next Alter Health Cleanse: https://www.alter.health/cleanse
- Work with us in the Thrive on Plants program: https://www.alter.health/thrive-on-plants
- ATTN Health Practitioners! Learn more and apply to the Plant Based Mind Body Practitioner Program: https://www.alter.health/pbmb-practitioner

Peace and Love.

Links to  more good stuff

- Work With Me - www.alter.health
- GREEN FORCE! - www.visfoods.co (use the code AlterLife for $10 off)
- Check out my favorite products - www.alter.health/products

We are excited about the Wisdom Wednesday counterpart to The Alter Your Health from Head to Toe podcast series starting next week!

While we share essential nutritional and lifestyle considerations to support healing from head to toe on Medicinal Mondays, our Wisdom Wednesday episodes will delve deeper into the realm of consciousness to explore the energetics and spiritual lessons available through the healing journey.

As we traverse each part of the body and organ system we will share Insight from Head to Toe.

In today's episode, we set the stage and share some examples of the fun to come in the Wisdom Wednesdays ahead starting next week.

Join the conversations live on YouTube every Wednesday: https://www.youtube.com/alterhealth

Some highlights from today's WW episode...

• There is ALWAYS a soul opportunity built into every physical symptom
• Sometimes the original cause of physical symptoms is energetic in nature
• Addressing the energetic nature of our being brings grace to the physical healing process
• There is more to emotional and energetic healing than simply stating affirmations
• Some of our favorite spiritual/energetic resources and an example of emotional insight from Dr. Susanna's past healing

Links to some more good stuff

- Join Alter Health on Locals: https://alterhealth.locals.com
- Stay connected on Telegram: https://t.me/alterhealth
- Cleanse with Us during the next Alter Health Cleanse: https://www.alter.health/cleanse
- Work with us in the Thrive on Plants program: https://www.alter.health/thrive-on-plants
- ATTN Health Practitioners! Learn more and apply to the Plant Based Mind Body Practitioner Program: https://www.alter.health/pbmb-practitioner

Peace and Love.

Links to  more good stuff

- Work With Me - www.alter.health
- GREEN FORCE! - www.visfoods.co (use the code AlterLife for $10 off)
- Check out my favorite products - www.alter.health/products

Time to spice up the podcast!

We are starting a "series" called "Alter Your Health from Head to Toe" where each week we will be focusing on a new organ, system, or part of the body. We fill cover essential information around anatomy and physiology as well nutritional and lifestyle considerations to create vibrant health in each part of the body.

Spoiler alert: The way to eat to optimize cardiovascular health is the same way to heal the brain, which is the same way to eat for healthy skin, which is the same way to eat for strong bones, and so on...

Throughout the series we will be connecting the dots to better understand the interconnectedness of the body and systems. Our intention is to support you in more deeply understanding how your food and life choices contribute to health or dis-ease so that you can be most empowered to heal your self!

This series will take at least a few months... we have LOTS to cover and it should be great fun :)

As always, you can join us live each Monday at 12 PT / 3 ET on the Alter Health YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/alterhealth

Some highlights from today's Alter Your Health from Head to Toe episode...

• Each organ, system, and part of the body is interconnected - nourishing one will nourish all
• Understanding how the body works can naturally empower us to take better care of ourselves
• Our bodies heal and balance themselves - all we have to do is create an environment for healing to happen
• Some say "you can heal with food and lifestyle" when in reality it's the only way to truly heal!
• Health is the journey, not a destination - we can enjoy the process :)

Links to some more good stuff
-  Join Alter Health on Locals: https://alterhealth.locals.com/
- Cleanse with Us during the next Alter Health Cleanse: https://www.alter.health/cleanse
- Work with us in the Thrive on Plants program: https://www.alter.health/thrive-on-plants
- ATTN Health Practitioners! Learn more and apply to the Plant Based Mind Body Practitioner Program: https://www.alter.health/pbmb-practitioner

Peace and Love.

Links to  more good stuff

- Work With Me - www.alter.health
- GREEN FORCE! - www.visfoods.co (use the code AlterLife for $10 off)
- Check out my favorite products - www.alter.health/products