What is the Clean Program?

Ok. You guys know how into health I am. My friend and chiropractor-in-training Ariel Provasoli introduced me to The Clean Program. Here's a little intro video:

Hoping that all of you begin to rethink some, if not all, of your food choices. I have. It has made a world of difference!

To better living,

+Erika

Bigger Soft Drinks? Really?!

On my way home yesterday, I saw a couple of ads for soft drinks offering more for the same amount of money. I cringed. It's usually underprivileged families and young students who buy this stuff. It was 1.25 liters for $0.99 or 20oz for the same price. They are addictive, have no nutritional value, and they are horrible for your health! Remember, You Are What You Eat...

Want a few reasons why colas are unsafe? (Full Article: Soft drinks: Unsafe Beverages)
The carbonation in all soft drinks causes calcium loss in the bones through a three-stage process:

1. The carbonation irritates the stomach.
2. The stomach "cures" the irritation the only way it knows how. It adds the only antacid at its disposal: calcium. It gets this from the blood.
3. The blood, now low on calcium, replenishes its supply from the bones. If it did not do this, muscular and brain function would be severely impaired.

This substance also causes a drawdown on the store of calcium. So, soft drinks soften your bones (actually, they make them weak and brittle) in three ways: 

1. Carbonation reduces the calcium in the bones.
2. Phosphoric acid reduces the calcium in the bones.
3. The beverage replaces a calcium-containing alternative, such as milk or water. Milk and water are not excellent calcium sources, but they are sources.

And now you know why bone damage formerly apparent only in the very old is now showing up in teenagers.

The picture gets worse when you add sugar to the soft drink. The sugar, dissolved in liquid, is quickly carried to the bloodstream, where its presence in overload quantities signals the pancreas to go into overdrive. Diet ones are even worse. Those artificial sweeteners are detrimental.
 
Next time your are considering indulging in some soda pop, think. Maybe some iced tea or lemonade would be a better option. Informed decisions, especially about your health, will reap nothing but goodness. Besides, nothing beats good ole, life-giving and life-supporting H2O. Water rules!
 
Here's to staying refreshed and hydrated properly,
+Erika

 

Natural Health

I have been noticing lately how my focus is mostly on the physical body. Don't get me wrong, my fascination with the spirit, mental, and emotional side of our selves is very strong. However, I am finding that the body is the one part that gets very neglected. Either lack of information, or lack of motivation, leaves us in a state of imbalance and at the hands of doctors who do little but prescribe mindlessly.

The more I learn, the more that I realize that the body is one of the easiest things to correct and "make healthy". My approach is one of natural, holistic, organic eating, herbal therapy, vitamin & mineral supplementation, mindful exercise, and energy healing.  The thing is: the body can affect our spirit, our mind, and our emotions. It is our vessel throughout life!

Since I began my Pilates instructor training, I have been more consistent with my workouts, and have noticed an incredible positive difference in my mood. That combined with more nutrition education, convinced me that the body is an incredible powerhouse! What a beautiful physical gift to have. It's design is perfect.

Although we are not given a manual on how to effectively take care of it, to be happy, healthy, and free of disease is possible.

From now on, I'll begin to focus more on this area as a educator and coach. I'm really looking forward helping people transform and improve their well being.


Love yourselves. Love the body that you are in.


You have no idea how blessed you are! (And if you do, stay in gratitude!)

Many Blessings,
+Erika

You Are What You Eat

Heart Disease. Diabetes. Cancer. Obesity. These and many other common ailments are easily prevented with a change in diet. The problem is that people don't know how to eat, how to cook, or read labels. We are suffering from epidemics because of our fast-paced, convenience-driven consumer society. Can you imagine a life without pain or illness?

Here's a video with great information on Raw Living Foods from Chef Matthew Kenney:

Our health is our biggest asset! We need to educate ourselves and take charge of our well being. We have been incorrectly informed by mass media and advertisements for far too long. You know what's right for you. There's no "One Fits All" diet, recipe or prescription, but eating living food reaps nothing but benefits. Enjoying more fresh, raw fruits and vegetables will immediately create positive results.

Get in touch with your body and learn to listen to it. A long, healthy life will be your reward!

Thrive!
+Erika

________________________________________________________
Erika Matos is a transformational agent, a certified health and nutrition educator, intuitive healer, and life coach helping people shift in the right direction by critically rethinking everything assumed to be true about what it means to be a happy, healthy, prosperous being. To learn more about her work visit http://www.realitymanifest.com

Health Blog: Say NO to Soy!

One of my clients was having a hard time. She was on an emotional roller coaster and couldn't understand why. After all, she had changed her diet to exclude red meat, chicken, pork, and dairy. She mostly ate  fruits, vegetables, water, tea, juices, organic and vegan. Yet she was tired and not feeling the health benefits of her lifestyle changes.

On the surface it looked like everything was up to par. But when we analyzed her pantry, we realized that her intake of soy had increased significantly. She believed it was the best substitute for traditional dairy. What she didn't know was that soy was the cause of her emotional imbalance, which was a result of her possible hormonal imbalance.

I had been there. I knew what to do and suggested better alternatives to the soy products she was used to buying, and almost immediately she felt mentally clearer and in more control of her emotions.

It's a wide misconception. Soy is not as healthy as people think. It is also one of the biggest GMO crops and added to almost everything we consume (ex. soy lecithin).

If you'd like to know more information about the real effects of this substance in your body this is a great resource: http://blog.wholesoystory.com/



Knowledge is power!

To your radiant health,
+Erika

_____________________________________________________

Erika Matos is a transformational agent, a certified health and nutrition educator, intuitive healer, and life coach helping people shift in the right direction by critically rethinking everything assumed to be true about what it means to be a happy, healthy, prosperous being. To learn more about her work visit http://www.realitymanifest.com

THE CONTENT PROVIDED ON THIS SITE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT HEALTH MATTERS THAT AFFECT YOU.

Want More Energy? Quit Coffee.

I haven't had a cup of coffee in years! For a while I was suffering from chronic fatigue and depression. No matter what I did, my energy levels were never spectacular. After many tests, and no definitive diagnosis, my doctor at the time suggested that I give up the cup of Joe. I haven't looked back since!

Now, I teach people about healthier lifestyles, and this is usually one of my first suggestions: Quit Drinking Coffee. Here are Five Reasons Why:


1. Causes a disruption of Sleep Patterns:  As a result people experience tremors, nervousness, restlessness, irritability, insomnia and anxiety.

2. Deteriorates Performance:  Worsen performance that involves short-term memory.  Negatively affects fine motor coordination due to an increase in hand and arm tremors.

3. Distresses your Heart:  Elevates blood pressure and/or serum cholesterol levels; increases irregular heartbeats and palpitations, and increases the risk of cardiac arrhythmia and heart attack

4. Upsets your Stomach: Causes higher gastric acid production which aggravates peptic ulcers and heartburn

5. May increase risk of cancer:  Specifically bladder, rectal and/or breast cancer.


In the coming days I'll be offering a list of the best substitutes for coffee, and how to obtain sustainable energy without the mid-day crash. That translates into you doing more of what you love!

No more dragging around! I'm here to help.


Get ready for boundless energy!
+Erika

_______________________________________________________
Erika Matos is a transformational agent, a certified health and nutrition educator, intuitive healer, and life coach helping people shift in the right direction by critically rethinking everything assumed to be true about what it means to be a happy, healthy, prosperous being. To learn more about her work visit http://www.realitymanifest.com/