When it comes to maintaining the ability to do what we love as we age, simple freedom of movement is the single most important contributor to our toolbox.

So, today I want to talk about something that can help you maintain that freedom of movement for the rest of your life.

The freedom of movement that can make the difference between living a life we love vs. just existing.

But first, I have a story for you: A couple of nights ago, listening to The Moth Radio Hour on KCBX, I heard Betty Reid Soskin, a 97-year-old Park Ranger at a California State Park tell the story, live on stage, about defending herself against an intruder just 2 years earlier, at age 95!

I loved her story on several levels: at 97, she was still living her ideal life. She was living independently and doing meaningful work. She was not dependent on others to cook her meals, for transportation, or most other activities of daily life. 

And, when challenged, alone, at night by an intruder in her apartment, she was physically able to defend herself successfully and then had the guts to get on a live stage and tell the world about it. That’s the kind of 97 year old I aspire to be.         

But the main thing that stops most of us is joint pain which restricts our mobility.
Specifically, knee and back pain (spinal pain) are the most common causes of immobility. This leads to a constant and steady downward spiral as people age. It can be a major contributor to depression, overeating, balance issues, and all negative health ramifications that can be associated with those things in older adults.
(You can look up stats if they interest you. I won’t bore you with them since most people reading this don’t care about the stats.)

This is about preventing pain. Later, in another installment, I’ll address pain relief.

I’m interested in helping you prevent pain and immobility simply, effectively, and without medication that can have negative effects.

We’ve mentioned an anti-inflammatory diet and natural anti-inflammatory supplements in another context previously.

But how do we maintain joint health?

As I retired chiropractor, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the power of keeping your spine and joints mobile through regular chiropractic care; something I do at least monthly.

Also, stretching & strengthening exercises are key. Yoga & Tai Chi are ideal for this. They, like chiropractic care, are a necessary part of self-care if you want to age successfully, in my opinion.

Regarding supplements to maintain joint health:

I’ve tried many products throughout the years, and both my clients and I have gotten the best response from blends that combine glucosamine, MSM, cetyl-myristoleate, and Boswellia (AKA Frankincense).

MRM’s Joint Synergy Compound is such a product. 

Glucosamine gives your joints the basic building blocks for cartridge production. There is a small amount of chondroitin in it as well. There is evidence that glucosamine, as a smaller molecule, is absorbed better.

MSM is thought to help with muscle recovery, be anti-inflammatory, and more.

Cetyl-Myristoleate is considered to be a joint lubricant. Research suggests that it may be the compound that is responsible for mice being able to keep their joints free from arthritis.

Boswellia is also anti-inflammatory.

MRM’s Joint Synergy also features several other substances that are anti-inflammatory and useful for joint health.

Give MRM’s Joint Synergy a try by setting up an account in my store now.

Email me for a discount code for your initial order.

The post Lifetime Mobility: What Gets in the Way appeared first on Dr Leslie K. Empowered Wellness.

These and many other non-specific symptoms are sometimes the first signs of a very easily avoided issue. It is a vitamin deficiency that can affect virtually anyone over 50 and those younger too, regardless of how well you eat. Ironically, the healthier your diet, the more likely you are to need a supplement. And we now know those over 65 absorb far less and need a lot more than we once thought.

I can almost guarantee your doctor hasn’t mentioned this and is likely unaware of your propensity toward deficiency.

What IS this vitamin? It’s Vitamin B12. 

It can lead to significant complications, including an increased risk of stroke, and pernicious anemia and ultimately it is capable of killing you. Not to sound melodramatic, but the facts are the facts, uncommon though it may be.

We used to think that B12 deficiency was only a problem for strict vegans but with increased sanitation of our food supply it has become much more of a problem for all.

B12 is made by bacteria. As our food sources are more and more regulated and safe in many other ways, we’re less likely to get enough B12 in our diet. This is especially true if we are vegetarian or vegan, over 50, pregnant, or a child. We get it most readily from animal products because it’s incorporated into their cells.

In addition, we now know that after 65, we absorb significantly less B12. Therefore seniors need to supplement at a significantly higher level than we once thought.

Several different tests are available. High homocysteine levels, for example, can indicate many things and are considered a good screening tool for inflammation and potential cardiac issues. Increases in homocysteine are also an early sign of B12 deficiency.

The most widely used test and a more direct measure is MMA (methylmalonic acid) levels in the blood.

However, here’s a consideration: B12 is water soluble. Therefore getting too much is not a concern. It’s inexpensive and there are generally accepted guidelines for how much to take. Usually, it’s easier to just supplement than to go to the bother of testing unless you want a homocysteine level for general indications anyway.

Regarding how much to supplement, ALL adults over 50 and pregnant women should take at least 50 mcg/day. For seniors 65 and over, the recommendation is 1,000 mcg/day. There are specific recommendations for infants & children as well. All vegetarians and vegans AND those who don’t commonly eat meat should also supplement 50 mcg/day. Dr. Michael Greger of Nutritionfacts.org has an info sheet I’m attaching for your reference.      

For a reliable source of high-quality B12, check out the favorites in my store.

The post Your Health & the Great Mimicker appeared first on Dr Leslie K. Empowered Wellness.

By the time Monday came around (my birthday was on a Thursday), I was feeling just a bit bloated and sluggish.

So I returned my clean whole food plant-based eating.  In a couple of days I felt much better.

And I realized I should probably do a little cleanse before the holidays.

That got me thinking about you. And getting you to join me.

Many people throw their healthy eating habits out the window over the holidays.

The average American gains 7 or more lbs. Between Thanksgiving and New Years!

All that effort all year, wasted! Back to square #1.

You can change that for yourself this year by joining my 30-Day Wellness Challenge for the month of October.

Up the ‘ante’ on that healthy eating habit. Or, at least, take the first step.

Maybe you want to: 

• get a handle on that salt or sugar craving    
• address the mood swings    
• reduce your blood pressure or HbA1C    
• find simple answers to hot flashes  
• get some resolve with an ever-expanding midline 

The 30-Day Wellness Challenge will help you go into the holiday season with a fresh lease on your health. You’ll have a new level of awareness & confidence. It’ll be far easier to keep a healthy attitude through the holidays.

You’ll be much more likely to bring that yummy but healthy artichoke dip to the party instead of the cheese and mayo one!

And I’ll provide you with the recipe! It’s not on my website. ; )

30 Days of healthy eating. Simple clean whole food, cleansing smoothies, and tasty salad recipes in my e-book.

Learn the basic what and why of cleansing. 4 short lessons (audios) covering food, exercise, gut health, and your environment over the first week.

Get your questions answered. Meet other health conscious women. Live group Zoom meetings in the Facebook private group weekly. 

Challenges! Weekly workout challenges (competitive and noncompetitive divisions)!

Stay motivated. My texting service  will deliver diet, exercise & inspirational messages to you 3 times per week. 

And more.

The program runs October 4-November 3.

Registration starts on September 15, 2021. Guarantee your spot by contacting me now. 

The post Birthday Celebrations followed by Wellness Challenge appeared first on Dr Leslie K. Empowered Wellness.

The three topical applications one can use are: Detox baths, body wraps and massage. Any of these methods are applicable for any of the oils I’ll discuss.

Using oils topically is a great adjunct to your weight loss program as it’s something simple & relaxing that can also help pull toxins out of your tissues, help get rid of cellulite, increase metabolism and more. To use oils in a detox bath, start out by adding Epsom salts to the bath water (start with about 1/4-1/2 cup but you can work up to using up to about 2 cups), add your oils to 1-2 tbsp. of fractionated coconut oil and add that to the bath water. Optionally, you can also add apple cider vinegar (1/3-1 cup). Soak for 20-30 minutes. (Always use caution in how long you stay in if your physical condition warrants it.)

Here's a recipe that has earned the name of "skinny dip": 
1-2 cups Epsom salts
7 drops each: Frankincense, grapefruit, peppermint, true lavender, Ameo Trim & Tone
4 drops each orange, tangerine
3 drops Ameo Cell Therapy
Mix oils in 1-2 tbsp. fractionated coconut oil and add to bath.
Follow with internal detox:
Zija Premium Detox tea, add 1 drop peppermint, 3 drops lemon

These oils will help to pull toxins out, decrease cellulite and more. As you can see by the accompanying picture, the results can be quite dramatic. These oils can be purchased at a substantial savings by purchasing the Ameo “Slim &Tranquil” combo pack available here.

Please contact me with questions or comments.

The post Essential Oils for Weight Loss & Detoxification appeared first on Dr Leslie K. Empowered Wellness.

We all know that healthy eating and exercise are long term keys to maintaining weight. Still, as we get older, we find it more & more difficult. Most of us have heard of things like the grapefruit diet and many others; some healthy, others; not so much. Well, it turns out that grapefruit is just one of many essential oils known to have a positive effect on metabolism and therefore, weight loss. Today, I’m going to talk about several of these oils, how they work and how you can incorporate them into a healthy weight loss program. In my next blog, I’ll talk more about detoxification and the use of oils that you can use in a bath or diffuser. While most therapeutic or clinical grade oils should not be consumed orally without proper supervision, these are all food-based substances and are reasonably safe.

Grapefruit Oil:

Grapefruit has long been known for its ability to curb cravings, boost metabolism and reduce abdominal fat. It turns out that it contains a compound (nootkatone) which increases production of AMPK, an enzyme important in homeostasis & energy production. (It also turns out that evidence shows both viruses and cancer cells down-regulate AMPK!) Research shows grapefruit oil increases endurances, decreases weight and body fat and more. Diffuse this oil or add a couple drops to drinking water.

Lemon Oil:

Known for enhancing mood and numerous other functions, lemon oil, when combined with grapefruit oil, has been shown to increase lipolysis (the breakdown of fat). Physiologically, it increases norepinephrine which helps with mood, cognitive function & increases muscle metabolism. Use this similarly to and along with grapefruit oil.

Peppermint Oil:

Peppermint has been shown to increase the flow of bile through the digestive track and decrease tension on abdominal muscles. It has also been shown to decrease appetite and in a study significant decreased caloric intake in a population that inhaled it every 2 hours. Use in a diffuser.

Cinnamon Oil:

Cinnamon has been shown to increase the body’s ability to utilize Insulin, thus helping decrease the tendency to store fat. It also has some anti-inflammatory qualities. Use caution with Cinnamon oil as it can burn mucous membranes. It’s safest to dilute it with olive oil or coconut oil as a carrier or to use it in food.

Sweet Fennel Oil:

Fennel has been shown to enhance Melatonin production and thus help with overall metabolism and with the body’s wake/sleep cycles. It was also used on fasting days in ancient cultures. Modern day animal studies showed that test animals ate less food when given fennel.

Order any of the oils above or get more info on oils by contacting me or clicking here.

Learn more about essential oils including how to make specific sprays, roll-on oils, body butters and more at my “Make & Take” Program at the SLOMakerSpace on August 1st form 7-9PM, SLO MakerSpace is located at 81 Higuera St; Suite 160, in SLO. PLease RSVP by contacting me. ($20 fee covers admission & includes one product; retail value $8-15)

The post Essential oils to aid weight and fat loss appeared first on Dr Leslie K. Empowered Wellness.

Today, I want to tell you a couple of quick stories of people who made small changes that helped address chronic inflammation and how these changes changed their life. (All names have been changed.)

Beverly is a client that, despite being obese had an active lifestyle that including skiing, tennis and other sports. But throughout the years she had had numerous injuries that resulted in chronic pain. Still, she was committed to maintaining her lifestyle and finding a way to diminish pain & inflammation without the potential negative effects of medication. I suggested a program that included Ameo’s Frankincense Essential Oil, various supplements and detoxification & weight loss. Bev decided to go with the Frankincense alone. (She didn’t want to give up any of her favorite foods & was convinced she actually felt better at her current weight.) Amazingly, just that, by itself made enough of a change that, although she wasn’t able to ski or play tennis, she had less pain and was able to be more active than she had been in the recent past .

Melinda is a young adult (mid-20’s) that was having some health challenges as a result of her poor diet and lack of exercise throughout her teenage years and into young adulthood. Blood tests revealed she was pre-diabetic. She had constant digestive distress, pain in many joints, possible gall bladder issues and knew she had to make a change. Adding Zija’s Smartmix, AGX Digest and making better food choices made an incredible difference. In a matter of just a couple of months, her digestive and gall bladder issue were resolved, her blood tests returned to a healthy range, pain was gone, she had more energy & felt healthier and she lost about 20 lbs.

Michael was a morbidly obese middle aged man who was diabetic, had fatty liver disease and was in constant pain. He knew his very life hinged on the need to make some major changes. He added Zija’s Supermix, Premium Detox tea and more fresh fruits and veggies to his diet. He has eliminated junk food, most dairy and some meat. He has lost almost 60 lbs and is now able to be a little more active. His blood tests have shown improvement after just a few months. Michael still has a long way to go to undo the damage caused by years of toxicity and inflammation. At this writing, he is still, unfortunately, in some pain but as he continues to build muscle, lose fat and decrease inflammation, he is beginning to see more positive changes. He is optimistic that he will be able to resume many activities soon.

These 3 clients illustrate  how making changes that decrease inflammation can result in quick improvements in people’s lives and in their health profiles.

To learn more about any of the products mentioned here or Dr. Leslie’s Lifetime Wellness Coaching Services, contact us.

The post Chronic Inflammation: Stories of Change appeared first on Dr Leslie K. Empowered Wellness.

We now know that chronic inflammation is a contributing part to almost any chronic disease you can name. So squelch chronic inflammation and you will live healthier and pain-free for many more years!

What contributes to Inflammation? The Biggies:

• The 5 white poisons: White flour, white rice, white sugar, dairy, GMO Soy
• Processed foods: food with the above but also artificial colors, preservatives, chemicals and vegetable oils
• Animal foods; especially high animal fat foods

Over the next few blog entries, I’ll be talking about ways to decrease inflammation.

Today we introduce Moringa olifera! Superfood of Superfoods

When I started adding the Moringa found in Zija International’s Smartmix and Supermix, something amazing happened. I found that my nearly 60 year habit of night time munching was getting under control! Many aches & pains disappeared and my energy level improved as well. A few weeks later, I had lost 7lbs without really even trying and went on, using Zija’s additional products, to lose a total of 15lbs. Give the body what it needs & it doesn’t suffer from cravings! I’ve kept that off for an year and recently started working on the last 10lbs!

With 36 different anti-inflammatory compounds; Moringa is a powerhouse when it comes to decreasing inflammation. This 3 minute animated is much easier than reading! :

Moringa Animation from Club Moringa Network on Vimeo.

Email me by June 1st and you can get a $50 sample package plus a wholesale membership to purchase Zija products for just $20.  Just copy “I’m in!” into your email & I’ll contact you! (And if you’re looking for a business or a “Plan B” in case your job goes away, this can offer you a great opportunity. Let’s talk!)

Learn more about Zija’s other products, including Ameo Clinical Grade Essential Oils and Ripstix Fitness products here.

The post Chronic Inflammation 101: What Is It & Why Should I Care? appeared first on Dr Leslie K. Empowered Wellness.

Before you do that, you might look at some actual mechanisms that occur in the body and think about your ‘diet’ in a new way. Here’s why: The human body is an amazing machine! When we take in toxins that are body can’t readily process, the body stores those toxins in fat so it can deal with them later. So when we release fat by converting into energy during weight loss, we release the toxins into our blood stream! Here’s the thing: that low carb diet and many other similar diets don’t have the bulk necessary for you to be able to pass those toxins out of your system quickly (read: you must poop more to do this!) The result can be that sluggish feeling you get, but also, understand that your body is now effectively CONCENTRATING those toxins! The accompanying picture demonstrates it well. Because your body NEEDS the fat (and the water it accumulates WITH the fat) to keep those toxins out of your blood stream, as soon as go ‘off’ the diet, the protective mechanisms kick in and you gain the weight back, even if you’re not being ‘bad!’

So what IS the answer? The answer lies in DETOXING and Cleansing rather than ‘dieting.’ When you detox, you stick to whole food, predominantly plant-based eating; staying as close to possible to unprocessed, natural & organic foods. These are foods that have little toxins in them. Eliminate processed foods (wheat & corn based), dairy and most (or all) animal products. You then add things that help you detoxify your system such as lemons, beets, parsley and lots of fiber (the kind you find in real food, not Metamucil!) Add LOTS of water (1/2 oz. to 1 oz. per pound of body weight daily). And add a high quality detoxifying tea; ideally one like Zija’s Premium Tea, that contains herbs to detoxify the liver, the colon and the kidneys.  Now you have a way to eliminate the toxins by passing them readily OUT of the body. The result is a healthier you and far less tendency to gain the weight back. This is the diet that I used last year to drop 15 lbs and keep it off for a year after having yo-yo-ed at least 5 times in the past 7-8 years!

For those who want to take action now, for a limited time (till April 4th only!) you can get sample package of Zija products including the Premium Tea and other top shelf nutrition products at a great savings. Email me immediately, I have a limited number of vouchers that will allow you $100 value for just $40.

Also add yourself to the 2017 Natural Health Weight Loss Transformation group and or the Health Revolution Worldwide group on Facebook for support in your healthy weight loss goals!

The post Dieting VS Cleansing & Detox or Why the Yo-Yo Effect Happens appeared first on Dr Leslie K. Empowered Wellness.

Over a period of several months last year, I lost 15 lbs and got down to a weight I was very excited about. Here’s the interesting part, I lost about the first 5-7 lbs. without really even trying! How did that happen?

If there were a single, readily available food source that contained 46 Anti-oxidants, 36 Anti-inflammatory compounds, all 20 amino acids, more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach, more vitamin C than oranges, fat- and water-soluble vitamins, Omega 3-6-9’s AND MORE, do you think there’s a chance that getting all that nutrition daily might help diminish cravings? Well, there is and, at least for me, it did.

Zija International’s Moringa olifera-based mixes are what is making this difference for me and thousands of others world-wide. In just 10 short years in the industry, Zija has had an incredible impact on what it is now calling the Natural Health Revolution. The Revolution is about getting people to eat better, sleep better, move more, diminish stress and turn away form the drugs, chemicals and fast foods that wreaking havoc on our lives and on our health. And it all starts with, believe it or not, something as simple as a powered drink mix.

For me, now that I’ve done that, I see the real possibility of dropping a few more pounds and getting down to what a weighed in college (which was actually less than what I weighed in high school.) Over the next several weeks, I’m going to write more about the additional products I used and the changes I made in hopes of inspiring YOU! “Whatever you desire. . .begin it now.”

Learn more about Zija:  Core Moringa Nutrition & Weight-Loss products or Ripstix Fitness products or call me with your questions. Call me about FREE sample/starter packages (limited offer).

The post Not (Just) Another Super-food! appeared first on Dr Leslie K. Empowered Wellness.