Carson Natural

Helping you to live well and be well informed.

NutriFitt Gives You More Energy and Power for Your Workouts

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I am very selective about any products that I endorse, but when Austin Hulsey, Founder/CEO of NutriFitt asked me to try his products, I looked at the ingredients and quickly realized this was something that I had been in search of for a really long time. There are so many sport supplements on the market, and I have had trouble over the years finding one that didn’t have junk in it. I can tell you right now that NutriFitt products don’t have any junk in them. They are quality products without all of the artificial colors and sweeteners that I avoid and encourage my patients to avoid as well. To have something quality like this that I can feel good about taking myself and also recommend to my patients, is a real blessing to me!

I recently had a great talk with Austin on The Feeling Good Podcast and got a behind the scenes look into the birth of NutriFitt and why they exist! Check out episode 66 of the Feeling Good Podcast! While you are there, we would love it if yoHow to Live Until You Die - booksu would rate and review our podcast! If you would be so kind to do that, I would be happy to send you a free copy of my new book, How to Live Until You Die; the 7 Keys to Living Happy, Healthy and Whole. I will also mention your name in one of our future broadcasts. To get your book, please email a screen shot of your review to [email protected] with your mailing address, and I will send your book right away! Also, don’t forget to check us out on facebook and tune into our Feeling Good Friday Facebook Live Broadcasts every Friday during the Noon day hour. 

If you are looking for a product to give you more energy and power for your workouts, then PREFITT by NutriFitt is what you are looking for! Trust me. It’s great tasting and an all around amazing product. I love it and highly recommend it!

If you would like to order your own PREFITT and save 10% on your order, use code DRPHIL10 at checkout! 

If you are looking for something to give you more energy and power for your workouts, then PREFITT by @nutrifittlabs is what you are looking for! It's great tasting and an amazing product. I love it and highly recommend it! ———— If you would like to order your own PREFITT and save 10% on your order, use code DRPHIL10 at checkout! nutrifitt.net ———— #carsonnatural #PREFITT #nutrifitteam #nutrifitt #workout #healthy #healthyliving #holistichealtharchitect #happy #wellnesscoach #naturalmedicine #whole #medicine #stayfit #health #feelinggoodpodcast #preworkout #lovemuch #lovelife #lovethislife #mindsoulbody #soul #livewell #allnatural #youcandoit #dontgiveup #howtoliveuntilyoudie #exercise #neversettle #fit

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Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil

Happy Mother’s Day Weekend

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This weekend is a special weekend for our mothers! It’s time to celebrate Mother’s Day and show love to the special moms in our lives this weekend.

When I was a little boy, I used to love to go outside and play in the woods. I loved roaming around in the woods near our house. One day I found a rose bush growing out in the woods. I dug up this rose bush, took it home and gave it to my mom for Mother’s Day. She planted it outside of our house. She always talked about that rose bush and how much she loved those roses.

For Mother’s Day, plant some kind of flowers in your mom’s yard for her. If she can have something in her yard that she can see year after year, it will be a lasting memory. I’m glad that I did for my mom years ago. My mom is a special lady. She sacrificed a lot for me when I was growing up and still does. She is a giving person, and I am very appreciative of that.

I know there are some people that may not be so happy on Mother’s Day. Maybe they didn’t have a great experience growing up. Maybe their mom wasn’t what she should have been to them. I know that happens and there a lot of situations like that. I have a couple of people that are very dear to me that were abandoned by their mothers. Maybe you can relate. If you didn’t have a great experience with your mom, then there is something that I want you to consider today . . . forgiveness.

How to Live Until You Die - booksI wrote about this in my new book, How to Live Until You Die, The 7 Keys to Living Happy, Healthy & Whole. I’ve got a chapter in there on the health of our souls. It is extremely important that we keep our soul healthy. There are a lot of people right now that are physically sick because they have a wounded soul. They are holding unforgiveness in their hearts. If your mom was not the best mom to you, the best thing you can do is to forgive her. You may think she doesn’t deserve it, but guess what? You do! Forgive your mom. Move on and enjoy your life more. Love people more. This is something that you have got to do. I encourage you to forgive. I know someone who did that and it changed her life. If you haven’t checked out my book, check it out and read that particular chapter on the soul. You can purchase it here on amazon.

Go show some love to your mothers and grandmothers this weekend. Give them a big hug and a big kiss. Buy them a rose bush and plant it in their yard and enjoy this awesome Mother’s Day weekend. I want to give a special thanks to all of you mothers for being such wonderful ladies, and I appreciate all that you do to show love to your kids, your husbands and your communities.

Healthy blessings,
Dr. Phil

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Too Stressed to Sleep

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Are you too stressed to sleep? During the month of April, we have been focusing on sleep and ways to get more of it. Hopefully you have been following along and have implemented Dr. Phil’s Simple Sleep Plan! If not click here to find out more information!

We hear a lot of people say they are too stressed to sleep. Stress is a real thing. We get it. We all experience stress in some way in our lives. It is what we do with that stress that makes the difference. Did you know that you can take that stress you are experiencing and turn it into a positive thing? The stressful situation you find yourself in can actually be a growing and learning experience in your life.

We recently read a great article entitled, Harnessing the Upside of Stress by Harvard Health Publications Harvard Medical School. Check it out for yourself and see how you can harness the upside of stress. We particularly like the suggestion it gives to do something nice for someone else when you are experiencing high levels of stress at work or at home. Doing something kind for someone will immediately trigger a positive response in your brain, giving you a mental reward. Try it out for yourself and let us know how it works!

If you’d like to hear more about this then you can also listen to the latest episode of The Feeling Good Podcast by clicking here! 

Healthy Blessings, 

Dr. Phil

 

 

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Five Snacks That Your Children Will Thank You For…Eventually

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junk-foodRight now your family is in danger! They are constantly surrounded by weapons of mass destruction, in fact they are on almost every street corner in our country. I’m not talking about drugs and guns! I’m talking about donuts, cheeseburgers, gummies, and potato chips! Snacks!

 “Our kids are living on a junk food diet” – Dr. Joel Furman

I recently spoke to a couple with four young children that were looking to fill their day with healthy, go-to, simple snacks, and wanted to share with you the same information that I shared with them! As my title implies, I’m gonna give you five snacks that your kids might resist and even be upset about, but they will thank you for eventually. But first, let me step on my soapbox and say a little more about these “Weapons of Mass Destruction” all around us.

Junk food is no longer just an American problem, it has quickly become a global problem. We see it on every street corner and even on television, with commercials advertising so many different types of junk foods! These foods look appealing (think of how many bright colors we see in the candy aisle) and are designed to taste good, but I want to share with you some facts about junk food and hopefully get you to see these foods in a different light.

Are you a junk food junkie? 

Lets start with a proper definition of junk food. When I say junk food, I am referring to food that has little nutritional value but lots of calories. One of the biggest problems with junk food is that they have very low satiation values, which is a medical way to say that you don’t feel full after eating them. This of course leads to overeating. A great example here is a standard bag of potato chips How many times have you or someone you know sat down with a bag of chips and before you know it the bag is over half empty? That is low satiation value in action.

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Another problem is that junk food tends to replace other more nutritious foods. It is quick, convenient, and doesn’t take time prepare. So it replaces healthier foods that take a little bit more time to prepare. Breakfast is a prime example here. Most of us, and especially those with kids, are in a hurry in the morning. So we save time with things like cereal, pop-tarts, and eggo waffles. We may save time, but we are also setting ourselves up for fatigue later in the day. I’ve talked about this issue specifically in a previous blog, so check it out here.

As I’m sure you probably know and have heard before, over consumption of junk food is a major contributor to the overall health problems of our nation and especially our kids, specifically childhood obesity. Before I share my top five snacks, let me tell you an effective way to cut down on your and your children’s desire for junk food. Ready for it?

Limit the amount of advertising you or they see on television!

Billions are spent on market research every year by companies that want to tap into your brain and make you want their product, and we are constantly being bombarded visually with commercials and ads displaying juicy cheeseburgers or snacks that magically turn your kids boredom into a fairy tale. Who doesn’t want those things? Now there are a couple ways you can do this. Obviously cutting tv time is the easiest way, but if you have a DVR where you can pause or record shows and skip commercials that is also an easy way.

And finally here are my top 5 snacks

  1. Fresh Fruit or Frozen Fruit – Nature’s candy! It is naturally sweet, helps keep you hydrated, and it will leave you feeling full and well nourished throughout the day.
  2. Raw Nuts – Excellent natural sources of the omega oils, proteins, and fiber that our bodies need.
  3. Dark Chocolate – Now this isn’t your Hershey’s dark chocolate, this is 70% or higher cacao. It is a powerful source of antioxidants, can improve blood flow and lower blood pressure, and raises HDL cholesterol and prevents LDL from oxidizing. It also mixes excellently with raw nuts!
  4. Natural Peanut Butter – Click here to check out my Feeling Good Friday broadcast from a couple weeks ago for all the info on natural peanut butter! 
  5. Natural low sugar protein bars. Read the labels and be selective and choose the bars with 10 or more grams of protein. These bars are a much healthier alternative to high sugar low protein candy bars.

I want you and your family to be as healthy and well nourished as possible this school year, and I would encourage you to do some research for yourself and find healthy snacks that you can make or buy for you and your family! If you have already ditched junk food, I’d love to hear about your experience, or if you disagree and think junk food isn’t that big of a deal, then leave a comment and lets start a dialogue!

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Be sure to check out my Feeling Good Podcast episode 24 for more on this subject, and to tune in to my Feeling Good Friday every Friday during the noonday hour via Facebook Live. You can like the Carson Natural Facebook Page to get a notification of when we go live!

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil

Why Your Spirit is Vital to Your Health

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Last week on Feeling Good Friday, following the shootings in Dallas, Baton Rouge, and Minnesota, I asked that everyone be in prayer for our country, because, just like us, our country needs healing. I’m not going to comment on the shootings or any of the politics surrounding that, however I do want to tell you about the personal benefits of doing what I asked you to do in response to those events. I’m speaking of prayer and meditation.

praying-for-our-nation

If you’ve been following my Feeling Good Podcast then you’ll know that this week I released the seventh and final episode in the Good NEWSSSS Series. The topic was spirit and the health of your spirit man! Now I would venture to say that the majority of people probably give very little thought to the health of their spirit man in regards to their overall health. As you’ve probably heard me say before, I believe we are three part beings, body, soul, and spirit. So if the spirit is part of our being it is essential that we maintain proper health of our spirit man just as we do the body and the soul. Remember that overall health is all about balance! So today I’m going to share with you several reasons that you should place more emphasis on the health of your spirit, if you desire to live a more balanced, healthy, and vibrant life. But first I want to share with you one my favorite passages from my favorite book of the Bible.

Galatians 5:16-18

But I say live by the spirt and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the spirit and the spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh. For these are in opposition to one another so that you cannot do what you want, but if you are led by the spirit you are not under the law.

It is by the spirit that, I believe, we have the power to overcome the very weaknesses that can destroy our body and soul.

Meditation, mentioned in Bible 20 times, is a key component of keeping our spirit man healthy and according to research it can do wonders for your body as well. It can also enhance your immune system and energy levels and reduce feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress!

This is taken from a great article that lays out lots of research (see whole article here)

It has been confirmed through research that what we think and feel impacts our immune system via chemical messages from the brain. Therefore, stress, negative thinking styles, and certain emotional states can have a negative impact upon our immune system, creating an environment increasingly susceptible to disease. Mindfulness’s mechanisms toward greater well-being are complex and multifold, but practice is implicated in decreased stress, decreased rumination, and increased ability to deal with difficult emotions. In this way, practicing mindfulness might stave off impaired immunity.

Fact or Myth: Prayer can heal you?

There are tons of studies that have tried to answer the question of whether or not prayer can heal. Some find it can help and some find that it has no effect, regardless of what clinical studies find there are some scientifically proven benefits of prayer that increase your overall health.

Here is the most important one that Psychology Today outlines (Check out all five here)

deep_breath_of_freedom_fresh_mountains_girl_hd-wallpaper-1857047Prayer offsets the negative health effects of stress

Researchers found that people who prayed for others were less vulnerable to the negative physical health effects associated with financial stress. Also, it was the focus on others that seemed to be contributing to the stress-buffering effects of prayer. Praying for material gain did not counter the effects of stress. So thinking about the welfare of others may be a crucial component of receiving personal benefits from prayer.

Scientists and public intellectuals who are critical of religion, focus on what they believe to be the irrationality of religious belief. Why waste time believing in things that have no supporting scientific evidence? These critics typically fail to consider the fact that scientific studies are finding measureable benefits of religious faith. As I have discussed here and here, religion is complicated. It can be both good and bad for your health depending on a number of variables. However, there is a growing body of evidence indicating that prayer, a behavior often associated with religion, can be beneficial for individuals and society.

If you are trying to get your health back or just maintaining the health that you have, I would encourage you to not neglect your spirit man. To here me talk more on this subject check out the latest episode of the Feeling Good Podcast right here! 

Healthy Blessings, 

Dr. Phil

 

 

 

Beat the Heat Wave This Summer!

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It’s that time of year again! The heat is intense and can be dangerous if you’re not careful!

sidewalk eggsIn the last couple of weeks, it’s been hot enough where I live to cook my breakfast on the street! Last week on my Feeling Good Friday broadcast I talked about ways to beat the summer heat! I wanted to share this blog with everyone as a reminder of ways to take care of yourself this summer. These tips are vital to me as well as summer is one of my favorite times of the year because I love to be outside! Going on walks, working in the yard, barbecuing with friends, and hanging out by the pool are some of my favorite things to do in the summer. I know a lot of you share those same pastimes, and as I get older, I have to remind myself that if I’m going to be outside for a prolonged period of time then I have to take some precautions.

heat wave

Living in the deep south it’s often the combination of heat and humidity that causes the most danger! Unfortunately, there are thousands of people every summer that suffer from heat exhaustion and many deaths are caused by the high temperatures. From 1999 to 2010 an average of 618 people died a year from heat related illness! This sickness and death, for the most part, is totally preventable! If we take proper precautions before getting out into the heat, I believe heat exhaustion and heat related deaths can be prevented. The key word here is prevention, and by following my recommendations, I believe everyone can lower the possibility of heat exhaustion and death!

Tip 1 – Hydration

The biggest factor contributing to heat related illness is hydration. You must drink water! Preferably mineralized water, which contains the electrolytes that your body is losing as you sweat in the summer heat. Whatever you do, DO NOT drink sodas in the heat because they cause further dehydration! The sugar rich “ade” drinks can help replace some of your electrolytes, but nothing beats electrolyte water! Your body is 60-70% water, so you NEED water to prevent heat exhaustion! If you do not have access to electrolyte water, then you can make your own by adding a small amount of sea salt or Himalayan salt to your water. You can also replace the loss of electrolytes with mineral rich foods such as chia seed, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, and nuts like almonds and walnuts! 

*For further information about hydration check out this episode of my Feeling Good Podcast! 

Tip 2 – Frequent Breaks

You must also take breaks, and frequent breaks at that! Your body needs to get out of the sun momentarily to cool down. If you have a place you can go inside with air conditioning to take your break, please do so, and remember to hydrate while you’re on your break! If you do not have a cool place where you can go inside, try to find an area of shade to relax in. If you are unfortunate enough to not have a place to go inside, I highly recommend as a precaution, you carry a cooler filled with ice and water with you. You should use that cooler only for cooling down.

Tip 3 – Spirit of Ammonia Water

There is a product you need to know about that you can add to the ice and water that will amplify it’s cooling effect dramatically. When my boys were growing up, we played soccer and baseball during the summer, often in extreme heat conditions. So before the games we would prepare our cooler of ice and water, add spirits of ammonia to it and a stack of white hand towels. When the boys would come off the field between innings or quarters, we would take the icy cold towels and wrap them around the back of their neck to cool them down quickly. I have no doubt that this technique protected all the kids that I coached over the years from having heat exhaustion! You can usually find spirits of ammonia at your local independent pharmacy. If you have any trouble finding it, contact me and I will try to help you find some.

Tip 4 – Cataplex F 

Lastly to prevent possible heat exhaustion, I would highly recommend that you have the product Cataplex F on hand! This is the product that I’ve mentioned in a previous blog on sunburn prevention, and it can possibly prevent heat exhaustion as well. It is recommended that you take 7 tablets before getting out into the sun and continue taking 2 tablets every couple of hours that you are in the sun. Cataplex F works by helping your body’s tissues maintain the proper balance of calcium and vitamin D. With these dangerously high temperatures we are experiencing, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of taking the necessary precautions. Don’t let your summer be interrupted by a preventable trip to the hospital. However if you do feel that you are being overcome with heat exhaustion seek medical help immediately! Take the heat advisories seriously and continue to have a safe and happy summer!

I’ll see all of you tomorrow during the noon day hour for Feeling Good Friday on Facebook! Tune in to find out where I’ll be! 

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Be sure to subscribe and leave a review to the Feeling Good Podcast! We’re coming up on our 20th episode soon and every review helps us get more attention and more downloads! 

 

Healthy Blessings, 

Dr. Phil

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Have You Eaten Lunch Naked Lately?

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Even though I’ve been sharing with you the dangers of the sun lately in the blog, I also want to share with you the health benefits of the sun.

Without the sun our bodies cannot produce Vitamin D, a necessary nutrient for our health! Many of us, myself included, have jobs that require us to be inside all day, and because of that we miss being outside in the life giving sun at the optimal time for Vitamin D production. Vitamin D production occurs at an optimum level during the noon day hours, and the more skin you can expose to the sun, the more vitamin D your body will produce. The Vitamin D council suggests that you expose your bare skin to the sun for half the amount of time it would take for your skin to turn pink. Of course that time varies depending on how fair your skin is, a fair skinned person might only have to stay in the sun for 15 minutes, but a dark skinned person might have to stay in the sun for over an hour to get the vitamin D that their body needs. I know that because of where most of us work and the laws that prohibit it, we cannot all eat lunch naked everyday. However I believe we can all do better in exposing more of our skin to the sun and increasing our natural vitamin D production by following these recommendations.

eating

First roll up your sleeves! Something I’ve heard my boys say in the past is “sun’s out, guns out!” Get those arms out there by wearing a sleeveless or short sleeve shirt! Second roll up your pants legs or, if your job allows you, wear shorts. Ladies, skirts and dresses allow you the same opportunity. Exposing those areas of your body to the sun will increase you vitamin D production over 30%!  Thirdly, you could take off your shoes and socks and let your feet bathe in the sunlight. It’s never a bad idea to let your feet air out either!

Some of you may be thinking, “But Dr. Phil, haven’t you been warning us lately about the dangers of the sun and overexposure, what if I’m fair skinned or concerned about melanoma?” Well I would direct you to research done in Norway in 2008 at the Department of Radiation Biology, Institute for Cancer Research. What they found was that the safest time of day for your skin to be exposed to the sun was actually at noon. Although that seems odd and counter-intuitive, their research makes sense. In the noon day hours, the sun is directly over head, and if you are standing or sitting in the sun, like most of us tend to do, the sun’s rays are hitting your skin at sharper angles and therefore the UV rays are not penetrating your skin as deeply as they do during the morning or in the afternoon. 

Here is a quick reminder from the original Eat Lunch Naked post on why vitamin D is an essential nutrient in our bodies!

So how important is it to your health, that you have sufficient amounts of vitamin D? It has been well known for many years that vitamin D is essential for healthy bones, but recent research has shown that vitamin D may be important to our health for many other reasons as well. According to the vitamin D Council’s website, some of the functions of the body that vitamin D helps with include:

 1.Immune system, which helps you to fight off infection

2.Muscle function

3.Cardiovascular function, for a healthy heart and circulation

4.Respiratory system, for healthy lungs and clear airways

5.Brain development

6.Cancer prevention

picnic

Now and the coming months are the perfect time to naturally get the vitamin D your body needs! Don’t let the summer and fall months pass by sitting inside in the air conditioning! Do yourself a favor and get out in the beautiful sunshine and get the vitamin D your body is craving! Not only will you feel better, but you’ll likely be happier and more friendly too! Numerous medical studies indicate that our vitamin D levels can have a direct effect on our mental and emotional wellbeing. If getting outside on a regular basis during the noon day hours is not possible, then I suggest you consider taking a vitamin D supplement. If you have any questions for me about optimum vitamin D levels you can check out the chart in the post, It’s Too Cold to Eat Lunch Naked. You can also ask me how to test your levels and what’s the best supplement to take by filling out the contact form or leaving a voice message by clicking on the “Ask Dr. Phil” microphone on CarsonNatural.com!

There is another product I recently discovered that you may be interested in. This product can provide a genetic nutrition and fitness assessment based upon your unique DNA and lifestyle. Click here for a short video detailing the assessment. If you’re interested in achieving a new level of wellness, then please contact me through the channels above! Also just below here is an email signup box to sign up for our monthly newsletter if you haven’t already! All you have to do is enter your email address and press enter. In our newsletter is a recap of selected blogs, a funny story, patient testimonials, product reviews and a money saving coupon code for products in our online store!

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil


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A Matter of Life and Death!!!

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A matter of life and death. I want to inform you about an elemental substance that none of us can live without yet it kills hundreds of thousands of people worldwide every year. I have no doubt that the reason so many people die when exposed to this substance every year is because of their lack of knowledge about, appreciation of, and respect for this powerful substance. I want to tell you briefly my own personal story of escaping death because of my lack of knowledge and respect for this substance. Growing up in rural Mississippi, at the age of nine years old, I had never seen anything like what almost took my life that day in the summer of 1969. Maybe you’ve already figured it out, maybe you’re still wondering what in the world I’m talking about. The substance that I’m referring to is called water, and in this case, a large pool of crystal clear water. Water is something that we certainly can’t live without, but yet, as I said hundreds of thousands die from the exposure to this substance every year. Water is life-giving and live taking. Before I get into my personal story though, the Pharmacist in me has to tell you a few facts about water and the human body. Check out the info-graphic below.

I know you’ve probably heard that our bodies are 60% water, but did you know that the percentage of water in your body decreases as you age? Even at your oldest, water still makes up at least half of your body composition, so doesn’t it make sense that it is essential to your health? As a pharmacist I encounter people every day with all kinds of health problems. I also see many others who come to me seeking what natural supplements they can take as opposed to the side effect prone prescription medications. The first question I always ask them is, “How much water are you drinking every day?” Probably 90% of them tell me they are not drinking anywhere close to enough. If I asked you the same question, what would your answer be? You may need to ask me, “How much water is enough water?” The general rule of thumb for water consumption for human beings is you should be drinking at least half your body weight in ounces a day. For example, if you weight 100 pounds, you should be drinking at least 50 ounces of water a day. Like I said, most people I know do not drink enough water! In fact I believe that the vast majority of people walking around today are suffering from, at least, mild dehydration!

Dehydration-photo

Here are some statements from Dr. Batmanghelidj’s book, “Your Body’s Many Cries for Water: You are not Sick, You are Thirsty.”

  • 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
  • In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.
  • Even MILD dehydration will slow down the body’s metabolism as much as 3%.
  • 1 glass of water will stop midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of dieters – University of Washington study.
  • Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
  • Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
  • A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
  • Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can cut the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and make it 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.
  • Increasing your intake of water during a case of the flu or common cold can reduce the number of sick days by 2-3 days.
Some recent studies have been conducted at UConn’s Human Performance Lab that show even mild dehydration can alter a person’s mood, energy level, and ability to think clearly. I know what some of you may be thinking, “Sounds like my husband or wife is dehydrated all day long! I have got to get them to start drinking more water!!” The next time they are having a bad day, you should offer them a glass of refreshing water, chances are they are probably thirsty and don’t even know it! Because the truth is, once you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Most people only think about drinking when they feel thirst, but by then it is often already too late. Unfortunately, thirst isn’t always a reliable gauge of the body’s need for water, especially in children and older adults. The best indicator of your body’s hydration level is the color of your urine. Clear or light colored urine means you’re well hydrated, whereas a dark yellow or amber color, usually signals dehydration.
 
Now back to my story of escaping death as a 9 year old boy. On that hot July day in the summer of 1969, I would quickly learn the life taking effect water can have on a person. Our family was on vacation at a camp in central Mississippi. It was our first day there, and my little brother and I were exploring the property while my dad was out fishing with a friend in one of the camp lakes, and my mom was preparing lunch in the cabin. We spotted a fenced in area and went to see what was behind it. The gate was open so we walked right in and found, to our amazement, a large in-ground swimming pool. We had never seen anything like it! We walked by the diving board and while I peered into the crystal clear water, I said to my brother, “this water isn’t even that deep, I can see the bottom!” You see, prior to that day, the only pools of water I had ever seen were the ponds in my grandfather’s cow pasture, and you could not see the bottom in those muddy ponds. I remember we were always warned, “Don’t get to close to the edge! That water is a deeper than it looks!” So I thought to myself, “I can see the bottom of this water, I’ll just jump in and wade around, (it was July in Mississippi, remember) so in I went. Not being as brave or as stupid as me, thankfully, my little brother didn’t jump in after me.
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There were 3 major problems with me jumping into this crystal-clear pool of water. The first was that the water was actually 12 feet deep where I jumped in. The second and most important problem was that I could not swim. I immediately sank to the bottom, but was able to fight my way back up to the surface and cried help to my little brother. Thankfully he had his wits enough about him to run back up to the cabin to get my mom’s help. Therein lied the third problem, my mother couldn’t swim either and was actually terrified of water. All she could do was stand there and scream. Now remember that my dad was actually across the camp, out in the middle of a lake in a rowboat fishing. When he heard her terrifying screams, he rowed the boat in to the shore, ran across the ranch property and up to the top of a hill where the swimming pool was located. He jumped the fence that was surrounding the pool, but by the time he had reached the pools edge, I had already drowned and was lying on the bottom of the pool. I obviously did not die that day, as I have the ability to tell you about it in this blog post. My dad was able to pull me from the bottom of the pool and resuscitate me. All the events of that day that I just described to you were told to me by my family. The only memory I have of that eventful day besides jumping in and crying for help, as I fought my way back up from the bottom for the last time, was coming back to life on the deck of the pool with my dad kneeling over me pumping the water out of my lungs. Why was my life spared on that hot July day in 1969? Maybe it was so I could inspire you have a healthy respect for water. So I want to ask you again, are you drinking enough water?? Remember by the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated!
drowning-hands
 I hope that you never experience the life taking effects of water, that you will  have a healthier respect and appreciation for water, and that you will make the decision to daily experience its amazing life giving effects. If you have any questions for me about optimum hydration or any other health matter, then please contact me by filling out the contact form or leave a voice message by clicking on the “Ask Dr. Phil” microphone on CarsonNatural.com! There is another product I recently discovered that you may be interested in. This product can provide a genetic nutrition and fitness assessment based upon your unique DNA and lifestyle. Click here for a short video detailing the assessment. If you’re interested in achieving a new level of wellness, then please contact me through the channels above! Also just below here is an email signup box to sign up for our monthly newsletter if you haven’t already! All you have to do is enter your email address and press enter. In our newsletter is a recap of selected blogs, a funny story, patient testimonials, product reviews and a money saving coupon code for products in our online store!

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil


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Sunburn – Summer Fun’s Worst Enemy!

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We’re right in the middle of summer, the season of fun! I love spending time with family and friends at the lake, in the backyard, and at the beach soaking up the sun and having loads of fun!

pool-summer

However, for too many people this summer, all that awesome fun will quickly turn into pure misery, and if you fail to take the necessary precautions to prevent sunburn, you will be miserable right along side them. If you’ve ever had a severe sunburn then you know exactly what I’m talking about. You can’t sit, eat, be active, or even sleep without the constant irritating burn. Beyond the pain of the sunburn, it is extremely inconvenient and annoying! Finding relief and just getting comfortable is next to impossible. Over my life I have experienced that misery several times, and I don’t want to see you experience that pain and misery! I want to share with you today what I have learned and encourage you to keep these products on hand, so that you can enjoy the summertime fun and sun without the pain and misery.

Of course the most obvious way to prevent sunburn is to avoid over exposure to the sun. Sun exposure is good for you. It helps your body to produce vitamin D (check out my previous blog to see the benefits of vitamin D). I know over exposure can’t always be prevented, maybe you work outdoors. When you go to the beach or lake, either you can’t or don’t want to get out of the sun every 3o minutes. Maybe you don’t want to sit around under an umbrella all day long. Well thankfully you don’t have to! There are sunscreens that can block the rays, and if you have super sensitive skin there is protective clothing that you can wear when you’re in the sun for long periods of time. One of the problems with those solutions is that some people are allergic to sunscreens and with the protective clothing you can’t get that sun tan that you want or get the vitamin D that your body needs.

cataplex fThankfully I have found some natural products that can aid you this summer in preventing and treating sunburns. The product I use for prevention is Standard Process Cataplex F, also known as vitamin F. Cataplex F can help keep vitamin D and calcium at the proper levels in your blood and tissue. When these nutrients get out of balance in your body, it could lead to dehydration and possibly sun stroke. So for prevention I make sure that I stay hydrated and take the Cataplex F. Two tablets every 9o minutes or so that I’m in the sun and prior to getting into the sun I take seven tablets. For children under 12, three tablets are recommended before sun exposure. I don’t personally use sun screens, but if you would prefer a sunscreen and can’t use them because of your sensitivity to them, there are some zinc oxide based sun screens available, however they must be reapplied every two hours to prevent severe sun burn.

willard

In the past when I have been sun burned, I discovered two products that work extremely well for healing the burned skin. Willard Water is my favorite! I put it in a spray bottle and spray it on the burned skin several times a day. It not only provides relief of the pain but helps heal the burn faster.

 

usf ointment

 

For truly severe burns, Standard Process makes an ointment called USF Ointment. It has a mild smell to it, but it works great in promoting the healing of the burned skin.If you really go over board and get toasted this summer, here are my recommendations: stay hydrated and get medical attention. In addition to any medical attention you receive, I would recommend that you take calcium and Cataplex F every couple hours or so and continue to spray on the Willard Water as well.

*You won’t find the Standard Process products in my store. Those have to be ordered directly from me. If you are interested in purchasing any Standard Process products please send a purchase request to me directly at [email protected]*

Hopefully you will take all the necessary precautions and prevent the pain and misery that sunburn can cause. Continue to enjoy the summer and all the fun and sun that goes along with it! If you have any further question’s about sunburn prevention and treatment then contact me by filling out the contact form or clicking the “Ask Dr. Phil” microphone on CarsonNatural.com. There is another product I recently discovered that you may be interested in. This product can provide a genetic nutrition and fitness assessment based upon your unique DNA and lifestyle. Click here for a short video detailing the assessment. If you’re interested in achieving a new level of wellness, then please contact me through the channels above! Also just below here is an email signup box to sign up for our monthly newsletter if you haven’t already! All you have to do is enter your email address and press enter. In our newsletter is a recap of selected blogs, a funny story, patient testimonials, product reviews and a money saving coupon code for products in our online store!

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil


Connect With Me On Social Media


 

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Lessons Learned from the Carson Family 21 Day Challenge

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What started out as a 21 day challenge, turned into a 26 day experience.

We put our 21 day challenge on hold and ate mostly what we wanted to for five days at the beach in Florida. As a result I have spent the last several days, since returning home, reciting these words over and over again from an old commercial that played back in the 70s when I was growing up: “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing!”

I admit, I indulged and ate several things that I normally wouldn’t eat, and I am paying for it today! Proving to myself once again, there is a very good reason why I enjoy eating healthy. As a family we had some similar experiences and some different experiences. I’ve asked my wife and daughters to comment on what they thought about the 21 day challenge/experience.

 

We’ll start with the Queen of the castle…

On the challenge, unlike dieting, I was never hungry. I was basically just replacing unhealthy foods with healthy food. Contrary to what I thought, there were so many good foods I could eat on Phil’s nutrition plan for us. Sure there were times I was tempted, but that only lasted as long as I allowed myself to think on it. The plan was definitely easier with all of us doing it together. One thing I noticed that made me happy, as a mom, was that preparing meals was more fun. The girls and I have so often said, “Let’s just grab a meal out”, but we found during the 21 days that we preferred the food we prepared at home much more than eating out. I think we spent more time in our kitchen together in the last 21 days than we have in the last 21 weeks. Happy! Honestly, our free time at the beach was fun while we ate, but not after the meal. I began to feel “heavy” on the inside, which is the best way I can describe the feeling. I had less energy and missed the “light” feeling I experienced while eating healthy. When we arrived home, I immediately started back on the plan without Phil pushing me or even asking me to. Previously, I had eaten “clean” for a few days here and there, but the 21 uninterrupted days of consistently eating healthier has really made an impact on me and the girls. Thank you Phil for the challenge…I feel a change staying, not just coming then going! — Kim

I want to elaborate on Kim’s comment, “as long as I allowed myself to think on it.” I believe our attitude and perspective on eating healthy is based largely upon what we think and tell ourselves about food. When it comes to changing old habits, the toughest battle is fought between our two ears. Your thoughts and your words have power, so remember what you think and what you say can determine your success.

It wasn’t always easy, but it was definitely worth it, and because we did it together as a family, it made it more fun and not as hard as doing it by yourself. I’m thankful for the guidance from my dad through the 21 days and I know that it will stick with me! – Claire

Claire has a good point here. When you are doing something that is seemingly difficult, having someone to hold you accountable makes a tremendous difference. Yes, doing it together did make it more fun and easier!

The challenge was very hard through the process, and I know I didn’t work out enough while I was eating healthy. If I would have, then I could have lost more weight. I feel like it is going to be hard for me to get back on track eating healthy after going to the beach and going back to how I used to eat. — Anna Kat

Anna Kat makes a good point here as well. When we go backwards, it is much more difficult to get going again in the right direction. It’s when we go backwards or slip up that the battle between our ears I spoke of intensifies. You must be strong and tell yourself over and over, I can do it, I will do it!

It was hard and not fun, but it was worth it. — Caroline 

Caroline is young woman of very few words. Four of those words though really sum up the experience for everybody, “it was worth it!

I have to say that this experience was very rewarding for me, in many ways. It was very encouraging, after a few days, seeing my wife and daughters embrace the plan that I laid out for them. It turned into a truly great bonding and learning experience for our family, as I’m sure you can gather from their comments above. Parents, if you are interested in doing something to help your children eat and live healthier, feel free to contact me about Carson Natural’s health coaching services!

If reading this blog inspires you to begin your own 21 day challenge, then you may be interested in a product I recently discovered. This product can provide a genetic nutrition and fitness assessment based upon your unique DNA and lifestyle. Click here for a short video detailing the assessment. If you’re interested in achieving a new level of wellness, then please contact me by filling out the contact form on CarsonNatural.com or by leaving a voice message by clicking the “Ask Dr. Phil” Microphone!

Happy Summer and Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil

 

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Victory Day for the Carson Family 21 Day Challenge

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Well we all made it, the 21 Day Carson Family Challenge is over, and we are at the beach in Florida!

girl scoutThe final week of the 21 Day Challenge was no exception to the previous two. It brought its own set of challenges and temptations. Lets talk about the temptations first. They were mostly similar to the temptations of the first two weeks except for one BIG temptation that presented itself at the beginning of the week. My niece and her daughter came by to visit and brought with them 3 cases of Girl Scout Cookies that Kim had ordered. I know what some of you may be thinking, “Why in the world would a family that tries to eat healthy order 3 cases of Girl Scout Cookies?” Well it’s because my sweet wife has such a generous, giving heart! Although this time she may have gone a little overboard in helping out my grand-niece to meet her goal for selling Girl Scout Cookies. For a couple of days those cookies sat in the kitchen taunting and tempting everyone, except for me. I’m not a big fan of cookies that come in a box! I finally took them and hid them in another room where they could not be seen. Out of sight, out of mind can be a very effective technique when changing your eating habits! I am very proud of the girls for not giving in to the temptation, even though they greatly wanted to have a cookie or seven.

The other challenge that presented itself was the willpower to stick to the daily exercise routine. For various reasons nobody was able to follow through with their exercise plan this week. It would have been great if everybody could have, but I’m really not that disappointed because it helps me prove a point that I often try to make with my patients that I’m working with to help lose weight and become more fit. The total weight loss of the Carson Family was the least it had been out of all three weeks. Further proving my point that it takes the dynamic duo of proper nutrition and exercise to get optimal results when you are trying to lose weight. This is not just an idea that I and many other health care practitioners preach, but an idea that has recently been backed up by studies that were done proving that  either one alone is not nearly as effective as when both are adhered to. I’m glad that these studies were done because there are so many advertisements out there promoting weight loss that say you can eat these certain foods and lose all the weight you want without having to exercise. There are other plans that just say “Exercise! Exercise! eat whatever you want” and you will drop the unwanted pounds. I’m not saying that you wouldn’t lose weight just doing one or the other but it’s obvious, I think, that if you do both, you WILL get better results. So the total weight loss for week three was just a mere five pounds, with two of us not losing any weight, despite us sticking to a strict nutrition plan. Which brings our total weight lost for the three weeks to 36 pounds. Had we all been consistent throughout the 21 days on both eating right and exercising daily what could the number have been, I wonder? 40 pounds? 45 pounds? It’s hard to speculate, but I believe the number would have been much higher.

IMG_2522Regardless of that, I am extremely proud of the results that we all have achieved over the past 21 days. However, what I’m most proud of is that this challenge, I believe, has changed my daughter’s thinking on food and fitness forever. Even though they are living it up on the beach right now and eating whatever they want to, including those Girl Scout Cookies, they are determined that they will stick with the habits of consistently eating right and exercising. They don’t want to stop what they have started or go backwards, because not only have they lost weight but they all feel better as well. One of my daughter’s skin has even cleared up as a result of the sugar fast. So it’s not all about vanity, having a smaller waist line, or that so called beach body. It’s as much about feeling good physically and emotionally as it is about looking good on the outside. It’s all about living a more balanced, healthier, and vibrant life…. What we  encourage and teach daily at Carson Natural Health. 

If reading this blog inspires you to begin your own 21 day challenge, then you may be interested in a product I recently discovered. This product can provide a genetic nutrition and fitness assessment based upon your unique DNA and lifestyle. Click here for a short video detailing the assessment. If you’re interested in achieving a new level of wellness, then please contact me by filling out the contact form on CarsonNatural.com or by leaving a voice message by clicking the “Ask Dr. Phil” Microphone!

Happy Summer and Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil

 

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