1 Dear Diary - food sensitivites can cause inflammation of the reproductive organs, colon or small intestine and can cause bloating within 20 minutes of eating.  keep a food diary and note which days you feel bloated.  

document all your dear diary moments with our chaos & tonic journals.  each journal features hand-written messages to keep you motivated and to remind you of your overall awesomeness

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2 Eat Anti-Inflammatory Foods

 

berries, fatty fish (salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel, anchovies), broccoli, avocados, green tea, peppers, mushrooms, grapes, tumeric, extra virgin olive oil, dark chocolate and cocao, tomatoes and cherries, to name a few, are a natural way to combat inflammation.

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4 The Naughty List - eliminate gluten, dairy, nuts, seeds and processed foods from your diet for two weeks.  if bloating subsides, add these common bloating culprits back into your diet one at a time.  to determine if your bloating comes back.  If so, then keep that food on your naughty list for the next 3-6 months.  

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7 Doctor Doctor Gimme the News- ask your doctor for a food sensitivity test or test yourself in the comfort of your own home with everlywell: https://www.everlywell.com

 8 Warning: Toxic Overload - we are exposed to toxins all day, every day and there is only so much our bodies can handle.  toxic overload syndrome can manifest itself in symptoms such as bloating, constipation and chronic headaches.  reduce your toxic load with a detox or cleanse program.  try our very own super simple and short 5 x day detox or if you are looking for something a little more hardcore, check out: www.allnaturalcleanse.com

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9 Essential Oils - peppermint, ginger or DoTerra's Digest-Zen blend, each have properties to help maintain a healthy gastrointestinal tract. lemon oil can relieve bloating and fennel oil is a good choice to relieve constipation.

how to use?

• place a few drops of essential oil in your hands and breath in through your nose

• alternatively, add a few drops of one of the above-mentioned oils to your water or tea

• use Digest-Zen or peppermint oil with fractionated coconut oil for a soothing abdominal massage

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11 We Can't Stress this Enough -

stress is bad.  we know this.  emotional, physical and mental stress create all sorts of chaos for your nervous system, which in turn, impedes the body’s natural rest and repair function.  this can result in digestive distress. 

• feet before you eat.  try this quick and easy MELT exercise on your feet before you feed.

• MELT that stress with this foam roller technique to rebalance your nervous system

• breathe in goodness, breathe out BS and improve your BMs. these simple breathing techniques work to massage your organs from the inside to help push both figurative and literal crap to the outside

• make an appointment with a trusted reflexologist or acupuncturist to stimulate the liver and intestinal motility

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13 The Mind / Body Connection - i eat my feelings.  they are delicious – until the zombie apocalypse becomes a reality, we are not vacant, emotionless bodies inhabiting the earth.  the mind and body are interconnected.  when we eat, we are not just digesting food, we are digesting our thoughts, emotions and everything going on in our lives.  digestive distress such as constipation or distended lower abs may be the physical embodiment of resisting change, fear of letting go or holding on to old patterns and beliefs that no longer serve your well-being.  so, let that sh*t go.  literally.   try just being present when you feed your body and express a bit of gratitude for the food you are ingesting.  take a little time for yourself at mealtime and allow your food to energize every aspect of yourself:  your body, mind and spirit.

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14 Shock Your Chakra  – life is essentially energy.  according to eastern philosophy, there are 7 energy zones or chakras in the human body, through which information in the form of energy flows.  the flow of energy through each of these 7 chakras helps to regulate the body’s processes and functions.  according to this way of thinking, if the flow of energy through our bodies is blocked, the body’s functionality will be adversely affected.  the chakra associated with our digestive organs is the solar plexus chakra or 3rd chakra.  located between your belly button and the bottom of your rib cage, the 3rd chakra is also the center of your willpower, self-esteem and self-discipline.  an imbalance of the 3rd chakra energy may result in bloating, stomach ulcers, liver issues, eating disorders, procrastination and/or a lack of confidence.  colon issues, lower back pain, varicose veins and emotional issues pertaining to money and security may be the result of an imbalance of the 1st chakra or root chakra. this chakra is located at the tip of the tailbone and is associated with the large intestine, rectum, kidneys and adrenal glands.  it is also the energy zone that helps you feel grounded, safe and secure.  certain foods, color therapy, mantras and movement can be used to balance these energy zones.  the root chakra is closely linked to the color, red whereas the 3rd chakra is associated with the color, yellow.  to balance the root chakra try incorporating red fruits and veggies such as apples or pomegranates, and root vegetables such as beets, parsnips and rutabaga into your diet.  for the 3rd chakra, go for yellow fruits and vegetables, like yellow peppers, yellow lentils and yellow squash.  avoid white sugar.

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15 The Sun, The Moon and The Stars  – whether you believe in astrology or not, chances are you’ve read your horoscope at least once in your life.  we all know that according to astrology, each zodiac sign represents certain traits and characteristics.  the study of astrology is actually uber complex and goes well beyond whether you are characteristically stubborn or independent.  since long before you were born, astrology has been used to analyze health problems.  the abdomen is related to the sign of virgo in your natal chart or astrological blueprint.  virgo is all about serving a purpose in the world that inspires others to serve their purpose.  virgo is characterized by meticulous, self-critical, perfectionist and analytical traits.  abdominal symptoms such as constipation or poor digestion may begin to surface if your virgo nature becomes too compulsive or conversely, too permissive.  here’s how to balance your virgo nature

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3 Lube Up - get things moving with high quality fiber foods like raw veggies, prunes, figs, beans, nuts and seeds.  okra, spinach, asparagus and bananas are great lubricants for your colon. snack and "go" with this quick and easy chia pudding recipe.  your tastebuds and colon will thank you. 

*avoid protein shakes, meal replacement bars, trans-fats (canola, soybean, cottonseed, vegetable oils), alcohol, caffeine, pasteurized dairy, white flour*

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5 Water, Water Everywhere - if you are dehydrated, your colon will squeeze out the water from your, well you know, poop, in order to recycle it into your blood stream and body.  so how much water should you be drinking to keep your blood stream and body well hydrated?  divide your body weight in half - that's the amount of ounces of water you should be drinking.  for example, if you weigh 150 lbs, you should be drinking 75 ounces of filtered water per day.  

stay hydrated and look cool with these functionally stylish water bottles:  

www.corkcicle.com

www.vitajuwel.us

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6 Smooth Operator - try a cup of smooth move herbal tea.  the name says it all:)

https://www.amazon.com/Traditional-Medicinals-Organic-Smooth-Laxative/dp/B0009F3PJE/ref=sr_1_3?crid=29M6KQ22RP5YF&keywords=yogi+smooth+move+tea&qid=1559002113&s=grocery&sprefix=yogi+smo%2Cgrocery%2C473&sr=1-3

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https://www.amazon.com/Yogi-Tea-Stomach-Supports-Digestion/dp/B000CMD63E/ref=sr_1_14_sspa?crid=29M6KQ22RP5YF&keywords=yogi%2Bsmooth%2Bmove%2Btea&qid=1559002207&s=grocery&sprefix=yogi%2Bsmo%2Cgrocery%2C473&sr=1-14-spons&th=1

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10 Supplements  

• magnesium is an essential mineral for our bodies to function properly.  magnesium deficiencies affect your energy level, sleep, and digestive regularity. to combat constipation, take a magnesium citrate supplement before bed; start with 300-400mg and cut back on the dosage if the food gates open and your constipation morphs into diarrhea.

• psyllium – phil collins sang, “Su-Su-Sussudio,” and we’re singing “sy-sy-psyllium” – sounds silly but 1 teaspoon of psyllium fiber two times a day is an effective tonic to relieve con-con-constipation:

  • – amazon link

• probiotics – are made from strains of good bacteria.  not enough good bacteria in your system is bad and can wreak havoc on your intestinal tract, causing constipation or alternatively, diarrhea.  add some probiotics to your diet through kombucha tea, yogurt, kefir or dark chocolate, to name a few.  

• aloe vera juice – green is mean, at least when it comes to reducing inflammation and keeping everything regular.  ¼ cup of aloe vera juice two times a day should do the trick.    

• coconut oil – if you’re old enough, you probably remember your mother or grandmother telling you to take a tablespoon of cod liver oil a day.  disgusting, right?  well, sadly for us, it works!  turn this tried and true remedy into something more palatable by mixing 1 – 3 tablespoons of cod liver or flaxseed oil, or 1 tablespoon of coconut oil with 8 ounces of fresh pressed carrot or green juice. 

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12 Get Moving to Get Things Moving -

human beings are designed to be active, yet for many of us, exercise has become a luxury.  get up off the couch and go bowling for your bowels.  yoga, walking or any form of exercise supports proper bowel function.  remember how much fun just simply jumping up and down used to be?  why not jump up to get down (to business) with a rebounder, aka mini trampoline.  please, please, please consult with your physician first before engaging in any physical activity.

cellucizer rebounder link

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