How is the gut work going? Did you cut out the sugar at least? What about the flour? I’ve cut it out where I can I worked on being intentional when o know I’ll be away from the home. When we head to Gunnison, twice a week, I love getting a mocha at Mocha’s. They are so good, but I’m also fully aware they’re full of sugar. 🫣 I’ve noticed that if I plan ahead in my heart and mind that I’m NOT getting a mocha then it’s easier to resist when I drive by them!
That brings me to another point, meal planning. When we meal plan it makes it easier to stick to our goals. Knowing what we’re eating and for me what I’m feeding the kids and what I’m avoiding when I feed my kids. For example, I make my own whole wheat sour dough bread. That’s what I feed to my kiddos. I’m choosing for this challenge to not eat as much. So, for egg sandwiches the other morning, I planned to just put my fried eggs over the leftover millet, along with some fried onions and peppers. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint in the least!
So, for today let’s do some meal planning! Share what your menu is so we can glean from each other and gather some inspiration! 🙌🏻
Good Saturday Morning! Sorry for the delay in the day 4 blog post. Saturday mornings lately have been slower and focused more on processing the produce we have grown or acquired. I sorted through tomatoes and beans. Saw the bags of amaranth and remembered they needed down as well. Kiddos have been working on their sheep skin rugs that they have big plans for.
These mornings I also enjoy doing a little bit health research. This morning I delved into some research on enzymes! I pulled this article from the lifesteps app. They have a lot of great information on health and supplements.
Before we jump into this article, wanted to share that I have used Detoxzyme on my horse when she was colicing, along with other essential oils and within 15 minutes she relaxed and was able to get back to eating and drinking normally. I was honestly shocked! I didn’t think it would work, but it has, several times.
“We've all heard how important digestive health is for overall wellness, and most recently more information has been discovered about how digestion affects immunity, mood and essentially all body systems. Because it's so important, we want to support digestion well and one way to do that daily is with enzyme supplements.
ENZYMES AT A GLANCE
* Enzymes are involved in all cellular functions in the body.
* Digestion – Enzymes break down food so that the body can digest it.
* Metabolism- Enzymes help properly metabolize the food so that the body can use the nutrients from the food.
* Respiration – Enzymes assist in getting oxygen where it is needed.
* Nutrient absorption and transportation – Enzymes help the nutrients get to where they are needed.
* Detoxification – Enzymes keep toxic sludge from building up in the body.
* Muscle movement – Enzymes assist in helping the brain communicate with the muscles.
* Hormone production – Enzymes assist in helping the body produce hormones that in turn keep the body functioning.
* Cell Repair – Enzymes assist in repairing cells which can lead to youthful skin.
* Cell division – Enzymes help keep cell division at a normal, healthy rate.
Enzymes are protein molecules that are manufactured by all plant and animal cells and are critical for our bodies to function. Enzymes allow the body’s cells to communicate well with each other, help keep cell growth, life and death under control (this is SO important!), are needed for more than 4,000 biochemical reactions in the body, and are responsible for every chemical reaction in our bodies. Also, enzymes are essential for our cells to build up and break down molecules in our bodies.
Young Living has five different enzyme supplements: EssentialZyme, EssentialZyme-4, AllerZyme, DetoxZyme, and MightyZyme. For more on each individual supplement including ingredients and suggested regimens, check out the Supplemental Field Guide (https://growinghealthyhomes.com/supplementfieldguide/).
EssentiaZyme-4 is an enzyme complex aids in the digestion of dietary fats, proteins, fiber, and carbohydrates.
ESSENTIALZYME-4 AT A GLANCE
* Utilizes dual targeted-release technology that releases the animal- and plant-based enzymes at separate times within the digestive tract for optimal nutrient absorption
* Formulated with a unique blend of herbal ingredients
* Infused with Ginger, Fennel, Tarragon, and Anise premium essential oils
The plant-based enzyme capsules contain a mix of enzymes that break down starch, protein, fat, carbohydrates, and minerals and are designed to release immediately upon entering the stomach, where the environment is conducive to the digestion of plant material. These capsules also contain bromelain and papain, plant-based enzymes from pineapple and papaya with wonderful health benefits, and they are infused with digestive-supporting essential oils.
The animal-based enzymes contain pancreatic enzymes, bee pollen and an essential oil blend that supports digestion and are designed to target release in the lower intestine region, where the environment is better suited for the digestion of animal fats and proteins.
TO USE
Take 2 capsules (1 dual-dose blister pack) 2 times daily with the largest meals of the day (4 capsules total).
EssentialZyme is a multienzyme complex formulated to support and balance digestive health and stimulate overall enzyme activity and is best taken an hour before a meal. EssentialZyme contains tarragon, peppermint, anise, fennel, and clove essential oils that help improve enzyme activity, and support healthy pancreatic function.
ESSENTIALZYME AT A GLANCE
* Stimulates overall enzyme activity
* Supports and balances digestive health
* Supports healthy pancreatic function
* Assists the body in breaking down and digesting food
Essentialzyme contains a unique blend of enzymes such as pancrelipase and pancreatin that are known to assist the body in breaking down and digesting food, as well as Tarragon, Peppermint, Anise, Fennel, and Clove premium essential oils to improve overall enzyme activity and support healthy pancreatic function.
TO USE
Take 1 dual time-release caplet 1 hour before your largest meal of the day for best results.
What is the difference between Essentialzyme-4 and Essentialzyme:
Essentialzyme: a unique blend of enzymes such as pancrelipase and pancreatin that are known to assist the body in breaking down and digesting food, as well as Tarragon, Peppermint, Anise, Fennel, and Clove premium essential oils to improve overall enzyme activity and specifically support healthy pancreatic function. These enzymes are to be taken once a day before your largest meal.
Essentialzyme-4: a set of two dual enzyme capsules infused with Ginger, Fennel, Tarragon, and Anise premium essential oils. In combination, these two capsules aid in the digestion of dietary fats, proteins, fiber, and carbohydrates for optimal nutrient absorption. These enzymes are to be taken with your two largest meals of the day.
AllerZyme is a vegetarian enzyme complex that works with your body’s natural systems to promote normal digestive function. AllerZyme is specifically formulated for individuals with dietary and environmental sensitivities and helps provide relief of symptoms such as fullness, pressure, bloating, gas, pain, and/or minor cramping that may occur after eating.
ALLERZYME AT A GLANCE
* Vegetarian enzyme complex that promotes normal digestion
* Works with your body's natural system
* Provides relief of occasional symptoms such as fullness, pressure, bloating, gas, pain, and/or minor cramping that may occur after eating
* Contains plantain leaf, well known for its ability to calm digestive inflammation
* Infused with tarragon and ginger essential oils
Each ingredient in Allerzyme is gentle on the system while also playing a specific support role for nutrient absorption and digestive health. This formulation is specifically designed for vegetarian individuals and those with dietary and environmental sensitivities.
DetoxyZyme is a blend of enzymes and essential oils formulated to promote detoxification and cleansing, which helps support normal digestive function. DetoxZyme contains powerful essential oils like cumin, anise, and fennel that work synergistically with fast acting, powerful enzymes to help break down food and assimilate nutrients and help mitigate symptoms of digestive upset.
DETOXZYME AT A GLANCE
* Promotes detoxification and cleansing
* Vegetarian-friendly formula
* Helps provide relief fullness, pressure, bloating, gas, pain, and/or minor cramping
* Works synergistically with a cleansing program
* Helps the body get rid of toxins, parasites and yeast overgrowth
This formulation works to complete the digestive process, improve mineral absorption from food, improve gallbladder and liver function, prevent yeast overgrowth and detoxify the gastrointestinal tract. DetoxZyme includes enzymes similar to EssentialZyme and EssentialZyme-4, but the formulation in DetoxZyme is specifically geared toward detoxifying the digestive system.
KidScents MightyZyme is a chewable enzyme supplement designed to support and assist the digestive needs of growing bodies and the normal digestion of foods.
MIGHTYZYME AT A GLANCE
* Good for relief of fullness, pressure, bloating, gas, pain or minor cramping that may occur after eating
* Chewable enzyme tablet for children or adults
* Plant-based formula
* Suitable for children age 2 and older
* Contains peppermint essential oil to support healthy digestion
Enzymes are crucial to our health and digestion, and in an ideal world our foods would be rich in natural enzymes. Unfortunately the average diet and even the soil quality of our produce lead us to be sorely depleted in enzymes at an early age. Without these little workers, we are not assimilating the nutrients that we need, and we all know that growing bodies need those nutrients!”
Alrighty! Who’s done no sugar in anything for 2 days? I’ve been doing that until tonight. 🫣 I got a mocha from Mocha’s, and if you know anything about their mochas they are good! However, starting tomorrow, I’ll be back at it. That’s the beauty of these challenges, even if you take a mis-step, don’t stop! Keep doing the work! The next item I want to encourage you to cut out is processed white, bleached flour. I know, I know, it’s the holidays, but there are so many good recipes that use whole wheat or even better einkorn flour! Give it a try. I’ve got some tried and true recipes that don’t use processed white flour or sugar. Hit me up. That’s really all I have for you today. Keep posting on all the posts, even snap some pictures of some yummy good food you made and do the work!
Usually the first several days of an eliminating challenge are the easiest for me. Day 2 and I’m sure we’re feeling pretty good! So, starting tomorrow we should step it up a notch. Let’s plan on eliminating flour. This is probably the hardest for me as I make a lot of flour products from scratch for my kids. Here’s the deal though, I know what it feels like to totally be off flour. It is life changing. I have more energy, less inflammation and a clearer head. Why would I not go back to that??? This is when it hits home. I like that momentary enjoyment of the flavor on my tongue. It’s so fleeting though. I heard some one point out once that being motivated takes you only so far. What needs to happen is consistency. I’ll share a personal story tomorrow about how consistency helped me tremendously to come out of a mild depression. Until then, let’s plan our menu for the next couple of days. What are we going to eat, instead of four and sugar in our meals? Let me know in the comments!Also, make sure you go watch the Gut Health video with Donna: Re-play
I would encourage everyone to take her gut health audit. So worth every penny.
We’ve been through a lot the last several months. From Nadya have tooth pain and eventually spending a night in the ER with IV antibiotics for an infection in her jaw. That was during first rifle season, which was the start of Nadya’s first season. She missed it, but it is a youth tag so she is able to hunt still! Cora had a tag for second season and she tagged out and on the way off the mountain, packing out her elk, I broke my toe! In the midst of this there was also harvesting of crops. Tomatoes yank out of the ground and hung in the house to finish ripening. Zucchini needed processing before it spoiled and I still have apples to process! Those will have to wait for a bit longer though.
After seeing the ortho for my toe, I was told that I would need to stay off of it as much as possible and that healing would take at least 6 weeks, then another 6 weeks to gain back full function. Whew! What about my hunting season??? “Can I hunt 4th rifle?” I asked him. He said I won’t tell you, you can’t, but if you damage it further you could be looking at surgery. So, if I can be careful getting up the mountain, harvest my animal and have others pack it out, then I’ll be good to go! This toe has definitely slowed me down and I could view it as a loss but really it’s allowed me to work more on blog posts and running a gut health challenge. You can check out the challenge at Do The Gut Work.
As everyone knows it was election season and Jordan ran for sheriff. Honestly, we thought he would win as the independent candidate has committed some egregious acts. Jordan and I were committed to running a non smear campaign and we were in a dilemma of what and how to share. We were left to just pray that he would be exposed. He has had several lawsuits brought against him, but now that he is sheriff of Hinsdale county we’re doubtful they’ll go anywhere. It’s unfortunate for the community and we are praying for this community and their protection.
Disappointment, sadness, depression, apathy, all of these emotions have been running up and down in our hearts and minds. Not to negate these emotions, but we do serve a God who gives us solid ground to stand on, in the midst of our emotions. The storm rages, but God is constant. He has been faithful to us. From Redcloud, to Lake City, Russia and back to Lake City. He has always provided and always reassured that we are exactly where we are suppose to be even in what we would call a loss. In Christ, it is always a win. Through the fire, through the flood, through the trials, through the slander. It is sometimes a lonely road to walk when you run for a political office, but God is the constant.
If you are experiencing a loss, let’s re-look at it through God’s eyes. Is He re-directing but wanted you to have that experience? Is He now removing you completely from a situation that’s fixing to go south? Perhaps He wants you serving someplace else. No matter the reason, He is faithful and He loves us. That’s all we need to remember. For our good and His glory.
A quick addendum: Thank you! Thank you to those who support Jordan in his run. Thank you for those who reached out and asked questions. We need more people who are willing to have conversations with the candidates and ask the hard questions. Too many on both sides are just “yes” men and women. They just vote how they’re told to vote. So, thank you to those who dig a little deeper.
