Heat 1 teaspoon of the sesame oil over medium high heat in a wok pan. Add chicken and cook, stirring often until golden brown and cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from pan, set aside. Wipe pan clean. Add remaining teaspoon of sesame oil. Heat over medium high heat, add all veggies, immediately season with salt. Cook, stirring often until veggies have browned a little and are starting to soften, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add remaining marinade and chicken to veggies. Reduce heat to medium low and cook until veggies are tender, about 3 minutes more. I like to add ½ to 1 cup of chicken bouillon, veggie or miso and let it all cook together. Can be served over brown rice.

February is American Heart Health Month.  At PureBalance we are celebrating the heart all month long and want to share some tips on how to get a head start to a healthier heart!

A healthy heart goes beyond your cholesterol numbers.  Did you know that 50% of all heart attacks occur in people with normal cholesterol levels?  Why do most Americans base their cardiovascular health on a number that at best is relevant only 50% of the time?  At PureBalance we go beyond the lipid panel.  Our Advanced Cardiovascular Health Blood Panel measures other risk factors that give us a much more in depth picture of your cardiovascular health.  This panel will allow us to better understand the specifics of your situation so we can create a customized dietary, lifestyle, exercise, and supplement program to restore health and balance to your cardiovascular system.

The Current state of Cardiovascular testing…

For most people in the US testing for cardiovascular disease consist of a total cholesterol count, triglyceride count, HDL, and LDL values.  Although these are risk factors that we believe everyone should get checked yearly, it is important to understand that cardiovascular disease is not only about blood fats. Our Advanced Cardiovascular Health Blood Panel uncovers information related to inflammation specific to the cardiovascular system.  We look at the size of the lipids because research shows that smaller dense particles are associated with increased heart attacks.  We look for nutrient deficiencies that play a primary role in heart disease such as folic acid and vitamin D, and evaluate other markers associated with arteriosclerosis.

Why doesn’t my Cardiologist offer this test?

Cardiologists are trained to manage heart disease.  The tools they are familiar with consist of drugs and surgery.  The markers in our Advanced Cardiovascular Health Blood Panel are markers that indicate dietary and nutrient deficiencies and chronic inflammation.  They require specific dietary changes and food supplements to correct these imbalances. Some Cardiologists around the country are learning more about these important markers in cardiovascular health and the importance in preventative medicine.  Can you afford to wait for your Cardiologist to jump on board?

Cardiovascular disease is an inflammatory condition, and inflammatory markers can predict cardiovascular stress up to 10 years before a heart attack.  If you can control inflammation now you may be able to prevent a cardiovascular event in the future.  Get started today and get the PureBalance Cardiovascular Health Blood Panel, Your Heart will love you for it!

A cardiovascular health plan will be put together depending on your unique needs based on your blood work results.

4 Heart Friendly Tips:

1) Heart Friendly Product Tip!

Total Omega 3+ our best product for Heart Health!

Total Omega 3+ is the perfect supplement to support a healthy heart.   TO3+ is a combination of pharmaceutical grade Fish Oil, Ubiquinol, Vitamin K2, Vitamin D3, and Vitamin E with Tocotrienols.  This combination works specifically on decreasing inflammation in your cardiovascular system.

Fish oil is one of the most potent anti-inflammatory products available, and crucial to keeping your blood fats balanced.  Ubiquinol is the active form of CoQ10, and the preferred form to use when taking statin medications.  Ubiquinol is one of the most potent antioxidants in the heart tissue.  Vitamin K2 is very important for proper calcium metabolism.  Research shows the K2 transports calcium to the bones, where it belongs, and not to the arteries where it can become part of atherosclerotic plaques! Healthy Vitamin D levels are important for heart and immune health.  Vitamin E with Tocotrienols is one of the most studied natural ingredients for the treatment of heart disease.  Studies show Tocomin softens the arteries and helps with the absorption of fat.

2) Heart Friendly Treatment Tip!

Far Infrared Sauna

Medical research shows that regular use of a Far Infrared Sauna may be as effective for cardiovascular conditioning as exercise. The cardiovascular cleansing properties of a far infrared sauna allow the circulatory system to have increased circulation and oxygenation while lowering blood pressure. A passive cardiovascular work out!

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that repeated use of a far infrared sauna improved vascular endothelial and cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure.

High daily stress levels put constant strain on the body’s nervous system and can contribute to chronic disease. The far infrared sauna helps to reduce physical stress by boosting circulation and triggering the production of endorphins, the “feel good” hormones. Besides these physiological effects, a sauna session also contributes to stress reduction simply by providing a peaceful and relaxing environment away from it all.  Book your Sauna time today.  Another reason for your heart to love you!

3) Heart Friendly Dietary Tip!

De-junk your diet! Processed foods are rich in one thing and that is trans fats, the worst fat you can consume. Why are trans fats unhealthy?

Trans fat may increase the levels of “bad” cholesterol in your body and decrease your levels of “good” cholesterol doing nothing good for your heart. Small amounts of trans fat occur naturally in foods such as milk, butter and animal meat. But this type of trans fat doesn’t seem to be as harmful to your health as the trans fat found in commercially prepared baked goods, fried foods and snack foods.

Read food labels carefully and check for trans fat. Food labels must list trans fat, total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. Trans fat will appear in the ingredient list as “hydrogenated vegetable oil” or “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.”

When you read a nutrition label, keep in mind that companies are allowed to list the amount of trans fat as “0 grams” if the product contains less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving. This means that your food may still contain some trans fat even if the nutrition label says “0 grams” per serving, be aware of foods that say “trans fat free” on the package. Better yet, eat a diet rich in fruit and veggies…no label to decipher!

Heart Friendly recipe: Basic Chicken Stir Fry

4) Heart Friendly Exercise Tip!

To maximize the benefits of exercise on your heart, mix up what you do. Strength-train a couple of days a week. Walk as much as possible, mix in some jogging, running or uphill walking just to change this up.  Consider taking a yoga class for increased circulation and relaxation. Weight training can help lower high blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels and help control blood sugar levels. By increasing lean muscle tissue and decreasing fat tissue in the body you help boost your metabolism and maintain a healthy weight.  Different exercises have different cardiovascular benefits.  Variety is the key to exercise when it comes to supporting heart health.

The best exercises are the ones you enjoy and that are convenient for you to do. Those are the ones you’ll keep doing. Remember, staying active is vital to a healthy heart!

Get on track to a healthy, happier heart!

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Add garlic and cook for an additional two minutes. Don’t let the garlic brown. Add tomato and the cauliflower “rice”. If you want soup that’s a little less soupy and more like meat and vegetables with a little broth, simply add a few more cups of cauliflower rice.

Enjoy this drink throughout the day!

Remember: Prevention is the key to protecting your health!

The Real Reason You Become Ill

Most people believe they can catch a cold or the flu from other people. However, the truth is only a small percentage of people exposed to a pathogen will become ill. The vast majority will not experience any symptoms at all! That’s because viruses and bacteria are not the only source of colds or the flu. The internal environment of your body is the real reason you’re susceptible to any infection. Germs will only lead to illness when the body is out of balance and the immune system is in a weakened state.

Factors that contribute to the body being out of balance and a weakened immune system include poor nutrition, dehydration, overuse of antibiotics, lack of sleep, excessive environmental toxins, and physical, mental or emotional stress. But, by making a few changes now, it’s possible to strengthen your body’s natural immunity.

At PureBalance Natural Family Health Center, we offer a simple and gentle approach to prevention – the PureBalance Botanical Remedies PureLung and PureLymph. These remedies are the perfect combination of organic or wild-crafted herbs, which work synergistically to boost your body’s immune system and bolster its ability to defend against bacteria and viruses. In addition, this combination actually destroys and eliminates any existing infections in the body. All of the PureBalance Botanicals are the most complete and potent botanical remedies available!

Health-Protecting Tips:

The best offense available for preventing colds or flu is to follow these health-protecting tips:

•   Keep your body well-hydrated
•   Get plenty of rest
•   Eat a balanced diet rich in greens, fruit, lean proteins, nuts, seeds, and limited sprouted grains
•   Be sure to eliminate processed foods, fast foods and refined sugar.
•   Take 30 drops each of PureLung and PureLymph diluted in some water daily

Another way to ensure your immune system is up for the “epidemic” battle is to check your serum vitamin D levels. Low levels of vitamin D are associated with weather-related depression, low immunity and increased risks for infection. Vitamin D should be taken with your heaviest meal to insure the body’s optimal absorption of this essential nutrient. Don’t know your vitamin D levels? Call us we can help!

 Just in case:  The Best Response

Sometimes the levels of stress in your life can deplete the immune system, making an even well-balanced body susceptible to illness. In that case, a swift response to the onset of cold or flu symptoms can greatly shorten the duration and severity of being ill.

The first step is recognizing the changes in your body as soon as they occur:  a runny nose, glassy eyes, sore throat, headache, sinus pain, cough or fatigue are the most common, first signs of a cold or the flu.

When those signs appear, immediately increase the dosage of PureLung and PureLymph to 30 drops, three times per day. These same botanicals serve as both a barrier to entry and the ammunition to eliminate infection.

Also be sure to drink plenty of water, get extra rest, drink immune boosting green drinks, and eat our immune-boosting soup.

If an infection sets in…

If a routine cold turns into full blown sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses) or an upper respiratory infection, consider Neurological Stress Reduction Therapy (NSRT). NSRT will help you better understand the nature of the infection, as well as check the function of all the systems of the body. The subsequent protocols we develop will work specifically against the type of infection your body is experiencing, and work to reverse the organ and gland weaknesses responsible for chronic infection.

A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that antibiotic therapy for sinusitis was ineffective. However, sinusitis does respond very well to acupuncture sessions, which are available at our clinic. The best results are achieved when acupuncture is combined with low level laser for specific anti-inflammatory and immune boosting effects.

Bounce Back Faster with Far-Infrared Sauna

Far-Infrared Sauna (FIR) is an excellent way to boost your immune system and mobilize your body’s defenses against infection. FIR saunas are safer than traditional saunas because there are no hot surfaces or high temperatures. Less than 20 percent of the infrared energy heats the air, leaving 80 percent available to be directly converted to heat within the body.

FIR creates two to three times more sweat volume of the body than conventional saunas. This deep heating, along with sweating, is responsible for the healing effects and the other health benefits associated with FIR, including detoxification, cardiovascular conditioning, and calorie burning.

Research also shows that using the FIR Sauna shortens the duration of colds and the flu. The immune benefits are unsurpassed, and the relaxation effects alone make it worth the time and trip to our office. We provide a rain-shower, organic soap and shampoo and towels to enhance your sauna experience.

PureBalance Natural Family Health Center Is Your Prevention Center

Your best chance for avoiding the “flu epidemic” is to think prevention and take immediate action at the first signs of symptoms. Be sure your family has on hand the supplements needed to stay healthy this winter.

PureBalance Natural Family Health Center is your ultimate resource for maintaining health year-round. Call us today for an appointment or more information: 224.521.1212.

–Louise Hay

With the New Year just around the corner, many people are beginning to think about their annual list of New Year’s Resolutions. You know the list – change the diet, exercise more, drink less, quit smoking, save more money, be kind to the in-laws, etc. For some of us, the effort to change rarely lasts longer than 30 days. However, we want to help you stay on track with your goals by providing specific steps you can take to create lasting changes in 2013.

Dr. Joe Dispenza (www.drjoedispenza.com) is a leading brain and change expert, as well as author of several best-selling books, including Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself . Dr. Dispenza’s research has shown that the “brain is the organ of change.” When we learn even one new bit of information, he writes, tiny brain cells make new connections within the brain, a concept in neuroscience referred to as neuroplasticity. To make lasting change, Dr. Dispenza says, “we have to mentally rehearse daily what it would be like to experience the transformation” so that the internal changes necessary to achieve the goals can take place.

One of the most effective ways to create lasting change is to “mentally rehearse” using daily affirmations.

What are Affirmations?

Scientists have now been able to demonstrate that there’s a direct link between our thoughts and our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Thoughts are a form of energy. Every thought you have has either a high vibration of energy (positive thoughts) or a low vibration of energy (negative thoughts). Affirmations are a conscious effort to positively reprogram the subconscious mind (storehouse of thoughts, feelings and beliefs) in order to create lasting change.

Affirmations are positive, present tense statements, which specifically detail what you intend to create in your life. Writing down an affirmation is like planting a seed within the subconscious mind; saying the affirmation aloud is akin to watering it. Change begins to blossom and then flourish in your life. You know an affirmation is effective if it resonates with your heart and gives you goose bumps when you read it or say it aloud.

Tips for Creating Effective Affirmations

The key to creating effective affirmations is beginning with an “attitude of gratitude” for everything that happens. That may be the toughest pill to swallow. However, the truth is every experience we have, both positive and negative, makes us grow. When we respond to every aspect of life with appreciation we open our hearts to all possibilities, and are open to learning the value of everything that happens to us.

You don’t necessarily have to believe your affirmation is possible. But by taking these extra steps, you can expedite change:

• Set an intention: Make sure your affirmation is simple and clear, and includes action words, such as, “I will….” Instead of “I want….”
• Be emotionally connected to the outcome: It’s important that you have an emotional connection to the affirmation – that you feel it in your heart when you read it or say it aloud. As Dr. Dispenza writes, fostering new brain cells creates the internal change necessary to support the external change.
• Be ready to change: It’s hard to lose weight, for example, if you’re doing it because you “should” rather than because you’re passionate about having vibrant health.
• Repeat the affirmation daily: Best-selling author, metaphysical teacher and healer Louise Hay persistently used affirmations and was able to heal from cancer. When reciting affirmations, she recommends looking in the mirror and gazing deeply into your own eyes.
• Imagine the future:  Envision the outcome in your mind’s eye whenever you recite the affirmation. With gratitude, act as if your goal has already been achieved.

Write Your 2013 Affirmations:

1. Begin with “I am happy and grateful for…
2. State your affirmation as if it is already reality.
3. Affirm what you want, rather than what you don’t want. For example: “I am no longer sick,” or “I am no longer in debt.” Instead, affirm: “I am happy and grateful for the perfect health in body, mind and spirit that I am experiencing now,“ or “I am happy and grateful for the financial abundance I am experiencing now.” These statements reinforce your desired goal without confusing your subconscious mind with the mention of your current condition.

We look forward to continuing to support you in your efforts to create vibrant health and well-being in 2013!

Combine all the ingredients in a blender. (I use a Vitamix.) and enjoy!

Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Enjoy!

As you know, too much of a good thing can be detrimental — sugar, alcohol and poor food choices can wreak havoc on the immune system. But you don’t have to crash and burn-out your health during the holidays. Instead, prepare to enjoy all of the fun and celebrations by following these five healthy lifestyle tips, which are both preventative and curative in the event you do overindulge:

1. Eat two servings of organic fruit and seven servings of organic vegetables every single day. The majority of fruit and vegetables are nutrient dense, high in fiber and low in calories. They also contain a number of essential vitamins and minerals that cannot be found in other types of foods.

Two servings of fruit and seven servings of vegetables will help the body maintain the alkaline pH it needs to fight pain, illness and fatigue. Sound like a lot of produce? You can easily achieve these goals by eating soups, salads or by drinking green drinks and smoothies.

2. Decipher and manage cravings. One of the biggest challenges during the holiday season is to manage food cravings. It helps if you know the real message your body is sending, as well as what steps you can take to bring your system back into balance. Here’s a short guide to some of the most common holiday season, food cravings:

Sweet: Can’t get enough of sugar? More than likely, you’re experiencing an imbalance in your blood sugar metabolism. Take PureBalance Chlorella; eat small protein snacks every 2-3 hours of your waking day; be sure to consume high-fiber foods, as well as complex carbohydrates to help stabilize and rebalance your system.

Chocolate: Yes, it’s truly yummy! But craving chocolate often signals that your body is deficient in magnesium. You don’t have to give up chocolate. But eating other foods high in magnesium, such as nuts, seeds, fish and leafy greens, will be beneficial and can help ease the cravings.

Cheese: Macaroni and cheese, scalloped potatoes with cheese, as well as lots of pizza (to go with all that football) will be in heavy rotation this holiday season. If you find yourself dreaming about deep dish pizza, you may have a fatty-acid deficiency. Supplement with PureBalance Total Omega 3+ or Fish Oil, and include wild salmon, raw walnuts and ground flaxseed in your diet.

Salt: Craving salty and crunchy foods like popcorn and tortilla chips often signal an imbalance in the body’s stress hormones. Give yourself a break and take a few deep breaths to reclaim your center before you pop that salty snack in your mouth. You may also need to support your body with extra B-vitamins. A whole food, green supplement, such as PureBalance Chlorella is contains the entire B-complex, which can help your body do a better job of coping with stress.

3. Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! But not with soda, energy drinks, coffee, tea or alcohol. Your body needs and craves water. Every day, do your best to drink 32 ounces (1 quart) of filtered water for every 50 pounds of body weight. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, your goal would be to drink 96 ounces (or three quarts). But if you weigh between 151 and 200 pounds, you should strive to drink four quarts. We’ve got the perfect gift — 40-ounce, stainless steel water bottles – to help you or your loved one stay happily hydrated this holiday season.

4. Move your body – at least every other day for a minimum of 45 minutes. Turn on the radio, watch the news, or open a magazine and you’ll read or hear about a study touting the benefits of exercise. Brisk walking, bicycling, yoga, dancing (NIA or Zumba) contribute to keeping your joints flexible, lowering inflammation, stabilizing your mood, improving the quality of your health and successful aging. There’s no simpler prescription for optimal health and longevity!

5. Probiotics and Vitamin D3 are two of the best supplements for optimal immunity. The beneficial bacteria will help remove the unwanted sugars and refined carbohydrates from the intestinal tract while selectively protecting the intestines from the types of yeast and bacterial infections that foster colds, flu or food poisoning. Vitamin D3 is a major powerhouse, which maintains your body’s calcium balance; aids cell differentiation; boots your immunity, regulates blood pressure, and supports insulin secretion. Not sure about your Vitamin D3 levels? We offer a simple test at PureBalance Health Center that will help you determine your body’s needs. Call the office at 224-521-1212 for details.

In the event that you do party too much, Pure Balance Living Fiber and Florabalance have the added benefit of hangover relief when you drink responsibly! The B-vitamins in Living Fiber help keep the brain hydrated and the probiotic bacteria will consume the sugars before they speed the dehydration process. For best results take 2-3 capsules of Living Fiber and 1 capsule of Florabalance before going out. Upon return, take the same dosage again with at least 12 ounces of filtered water. Be sure to eat a healthy, high protein breakfast, such as eggs, the next morning!

These tips can help you maintain (or restore in the case of overindulgence) your health and keep your spirits bright this holiday season. Of course, your best option is to always think prevention and take immediate action at the first signs of symptoms. PureBalance Natural Family Health Center always has the tools you need to keep you and your family feeling vibrant and healthy throughout the year! Call us today for more information or to make an appointment: 224.521.1212.

Happy Holidays from all the members of the Bayne Family and all of the staff of the PureBalance Natural Family Health Center!

Holiday Hours: In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, we will be closed Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23, 2012.