How To Test For Candida Overgrowth In The Gut​

Once we’ve established you have a Candida overgrowth, we take a deep breath - because you don’t just want to dive into treating Candida.

I call it the order of operations for treating Candida - but it just means I look for underlying and potentially bigger issues (especially parasites) that need to be treated first.

If you focus on treating Candida before clearing issues like parasites, you’ll wind up spinning your wheels with a really stubborn case of Candida that can even snowball into SIBO and other issues.
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Does that sound familiar?

It’s not uncommon for me to work with patients who have been trying to treat Candida for 5 or 6 years!

They have to be disciplined about what they eat and the supplements they use to keep symptoms under control  - but they never get lasting relief.

It’s always exciting to meet clients who are stuck on this hamster wheel because I know exactly how to get them off :) We find and treat the root causes first, then we can finally get the Candida gone for good. That means they can broaden their diet and enjoy life again.
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If you’re on the Candida hamster wheel and you want off, I’d love to support you. Book your FREE breakthrough session and we'll go over your health history and develop a plan to work together.

Tall, handsome, kind, emotionally available..... Oh, wrong topic!  

That's right, I"m talking about hormonal body types. 

We all store fat, emotions and toxins in different places.  Generally, women store fat around the hips and breast thanks to estrogen, but what happens if you have too much or too little?  Or are you just right?  

Well your body plays the goldilocks part of this story, and will definitely let you know when your hormones are just right, or way off balance.  

Knowing this simple information can help align you with your health goals as well as your physical, hormonal and even emotional needs.  
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Now.... Are you listening?  

Are you empowered or driven erratic by your estrogen levels?

Estrogen is what makes us biologically female.  It's what shapes our curves, plumps our breasts, makes us sharp, witty and sexy.  It's the hallmark of our fertility.  As an added bonus, it helps keep disease causing inflammation at bay.

But, too much of a good thing ain't good, right?  

Estrogen dominance, too much estrogen, is at an all time high.  Women are plagued with estrogen dominant conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, cysts, pcos, pms and thyroid imbalances. 

Much of the excess comes from external environmental factors such as consuming too much animal protein and dairy products, even if it's organic, free-range and antibiotic free.  These products naturally contain steroidal and growth hormones, which add bulk to your body and make "things" grow.  

Along with plastics, heavy metals, medications and other proven chemicals known as estrogen disruptors, the accumulation of "estrogens" cause a lot of disruption and confusion in your hormonal pathways. 

When too much estrogen goes in and not enough comes out, it tends to get stored in the hips, thighs and butt.  Too much estrogen can limit the production of progesterone, which leads to those oh so familiar symptoms of pms, acne, irritability, irregular periods, etc.  

During certain times of the month, too much estrogen can also lead to bloating because of intestinal backup, poor enzyme production and a congested liver.  

​If your estrogen levels don't strike a balance and level out, severe hormonal imbalances such as irregular periods, fibroids, cysts, endometriosis will only get worse.  

Most of us live here!  

Stress comes in different forms: traffic, children, deadlines, love drama, and even too much exercise.  Yes, you read that right, over exercising can give you a belly fat.  

If you're anything like me, stressed, overachieving and busy, I depend on a good dose of endorphins via my workouts to relieve tension. 

But over time, I started to noticed a small flap over my pants, even though I have chiseled obliques.  My abdominal crunches were going nowhere. 

I was tired.  Pushing myself to workout hard.  Exercising at the wrong time throughout the month. 

My body was giving me cues that I needed to slow down and restore.  

See, high amounts of cortisol, the stress hormone, over long periods of time is not sustainable. 

And this happens to everybody.  There's just too much stress and drama to deal with.

But when cortisol is high, insulin (blood sugar) is high.  They are co-dependent hormones, and both promote the storage of fat in the belly.  It's a survival thing from back in the day.....

Fortunately, if you know what phase you are in your cycle, you can combat high cortisol. modify your schedule or workout appropriately during appropriate stages throughout the month. 

It's a hormonal blueprint that's easy to tap into. 

Because... We can't go hard and finish strong everyday of the month, we're not designed for that!  

Do you skip meals, get hangry, love quick carbs and sugar, struggle with PCOS or have noticed some love handles?  

All of these are signs of blood sugar imbalances.   

Although much emphasis gets placed on estrogen when discussing hormonal imbalances, insulin is a major player that needs first hand attention.  

Now, if you've tried Paleo or Keto diets, with less than stellar, sustainable results, it's mostly because animal protein actually increases insulin levels higher than table sugar! 

Yup!  Too much blood sugar is not just about eating those evil processed carbs.  

I know, you've probably been told to eat a high protein and fat diet to balance insulin levels.... 

But.... Results of the Insulin Index of Food Study, revealed meat raised insulin levels higher than an apple, a cup of oatmeal, and even two cups of white pasta.  

The good news is that balancing insulin can occur in as little as 3 weeks. 

Imagine how your body and wardrobe would transform in just 3 weeks.... 

Aren't you excited just thinking about fitting into those cute skinny jeans, or that tight date night dress without the spanx?  

Do you notice fat stored in your upper arms, low sex drive or fatigue?

If so, it could be a sign of low testosterone. 

While men have more testosterone, women have necessary amounts of testosterone to maintain fertility as well as muscle mass and fat distribution. 

Low testosterone levels also reveal how well your adrenal glands and ovaries are functioning, since those two glands produce testosterone!  

And while High Intensity Interval Training and Bootcamp are all the rage (if you're an athlete), it's not for the fatigued and drained. 

Strength training and weight bearing exercises are a great way to increase lean muscle and testosterone levels, but easy does it.

With low testosterone, you're already using your adrenal reserves.  Include yoga, pilates and booty barre classes into your regime, they're not easy, but provide tons of benefits to reset your hormones while giving your body some nice shape. 

When it all comes down to it, the female body comes in different shapes and forms.  Luckily, our bodies send us messages to check in and confirm how were doing.  

Now, if your quality of life is suffering, constantly in pain or are morphing into a shape that doesn't make you feel like a sexy badass, the good news is: You can fix it.  

With the right guidance and strategy in place you can overcome pain and symptoms and reshape the curves of your body as you realign the balance of hormonal power in as little as 3 weeks.  

Think about it. 

How much more time do you want to spend hiding behind bulky clothes and spanx while your hormones rage and squash your potential?  

To help you get started, I've created the Reset Rescue Program, where I guide you through a 28 day eye-opening, foodie experience where you take control of your hormones so that you can get the body you want. 

After working with hundreds of women battling hormonal challenges, if I know one thing, it’s this:

Synthetic Hormones are NOT the Answer!

It Starts With What You Eat!

I've opened up my calendar to speak to you personally so that you can move forward towards the body you want.  

I'm excited to talk to each and everyone of you!  

In the meantime, join my awesome group of Womb Warriors private group and get your questions answered with
Live Q & A's, and tons more information on hormonal health.

Have you been told by your doctor that your hormone imbalance such as fibroids, PCOS or endometriosis is a result of having bad luck in the gene pool?  
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Thanks Mom!  

Now, the color of your eyes and hair, the structure of your curves are one thing, but your hormonal agony, fibroids or endo ruining your life is ANOTHER!  

After hearing about your destined hormonal fate, has the fear set in?  

Did you start making a mental list of all the women in your life who have had series hormone issues?

Maybe you remember how your mother, sisters, aunts or grandma, suffered, maybe secretly, but you knew something was going on because of the endless medication or doctor’s visits that ultimately ended up in surgery, anyway….

And, maybe you’ve now found yourself on those SAME same birth control pills and hormone medication, with no relief….
But now you know WHY!  

It’s genetic, so what’s the point, it’s set in stone! 
 
Sucks….right?  ​

This list might seem lengthy and overwhelming if you'd like to try it on your own.

But, if you're quality of life is suffering from dealing with growing fibroids, sharp painful cysts, or the agonizing pain of endometriosis, there's really no time to dabble...

TIME is of the essence.  Why go at it alone?  

With the right guidance you can regain your POWER and master the steps needed to  reverse your condition.

It’s time to flip that ill-guided, but well-meaning, statement by your doctor, and start making the transition from hormonal victimhood to the powerhouse you were meant to be…

Many women i've worked this, why can't you?

Imagine being THAT woman who jumps out of bed every morning pain free, with crazy natural energy, that doesn’t take a nose dive in the afternoon binging on a latte and donut to get through the rest of the day...

Or

Being the most radiant woman in the room, kicking butt in the bedroom or boardroom...

Or maybe you want your sexy back so you can make way for baby number 1, 2 or 3…

You know it's time to change things up.  You know it's time to get serious, stop dabbling and trying to do-it-yourself.  This is your body, your health and your future....

To help you transition, I've created the Heal Your Womb program, which I guide you through the reality of your condition, but more importantly, how to overcome the pain and symptoms once and for all, without medication or surgery.  

Whatever your challenges are, I’ve seen them before and I’ve helped many women apply natural solutions, backed by science, to transform their bodies.  

Make the decision NOW to break free of your pain and symptoms TODAY.  

I’ve opened up my calendar to speak to women like you who are READY to move forward, NOW….

I’m excited to talk to each and everyone of you!  
​
Book your FREE Womb Analysis Session now!  

In the meantime, join my awesome group of Womb Warriors private group and get your questions answered with
Live Q & A's, and tons more information on hormonal health.

Similar to synthetic hormones, there are several delivery methods for bioidentical hormones.  They come in the form of pills, injections, patches, gels, vaginal rings and of course the most popular has been creams.  

So why are creams so popular? 

Topical creams are instantly absorbed into the bloodstream bypassing the stomach and liver detoxification process that usually breaks everything down into smaller dosages.  

Creams instantly infuse your body with an abundant amount of progesterone.

Progesterone cell receptors instantly attract more progesterone and this process helps decrease your symptoms.  

Initially…..​

Progesterone creams need to be used cautiously because your body has a smart and complex protection mechanism that gets triggered.  


The longer you slather on progesterone cream, the cell receptors eventually get numb and will require larger and larger doses to keep symptoms from returning.   

This is a sign that your progesterone receptor cells are rejecting the hormone and in a sense shut their doors, leaving you “progesterone resistant”.  

They just can’t take anymore….

During this time, progesterone tends to build up in your fat tissues increasing your toxic burden and also contributes to disruptions in adrenal hormones such as cortisol, DHEA and testosterone.

You can end up with more hormonal imbalances and toxicity than you even started with.  

And, clearing these toxins from you body can take up to three to six months!  ​

Relying on bio-identical hormones turns a deaf ear to many underlying causes of low progesterone such as trigger foods, sluggish digestion, gut health, irregular sleep patterns, low nutrient and minerals, your toxic and viral load, and of course stress.  

If you suspect progesterone deficiency, you start by making these lifestyle adjustments to consistently boost progesterone naturally.

• Clear excess estrogen: You can decrease you estrogenic load by eating cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts.  Cruciferous veggies contain DIM (diindolylmethane), a food-based compound that has the ability to reduce the risk of certain cancers, especially those influenced by excessive estrogen levels, such as breast, uterine and prostate.  Start by increasing your intake to 3-5 cups (about 1 pound) a day.

 

• Increase your magnesium micro-nutrients: Magnesium helps preserve progesterone levels by keeping you calm, especially when your cortisol (stress hormones) levels start to climb. You can try a magnesium glycinate supplement starting with 300mg, or a topical gel form for instant delivery.    Don’t worry about an upset stomach, magnesium glycinate is easy on the digestion.  

 

• Prioritize stress reduction activities: Stress is a major progesterone thief.  Constant stress increases your adrenaline and cortisol hormones.  Your body will always divert available pregnenolone (building blocks of progesterone) to produce more cortisol to help you get through stressful periods.  While this is happening, your body responds by decreasing progesterone levels because it senses that you’re not in a conception-friendly environment. End your day doing something you enjoy.  Dancing, yoga, hiking, or acupuncture sessions seriously slash stress, increases blood flow in prime tension areas, cleanse the lymph system and boosts immunity.

Casual progesterone cream use comes with a host of potential problems.  A holistic alternative to progesterone cream is to raise the levels naturally.  This ensures that you are addressing root causes for long term solutions.


I believe that there are times when bio-identical hormones are beneficial, but only under the guidance of a functional medicine practitioner who can help address these underlying factors.  


If you’re ready to get your body back in balance and heal from what’s really causing your hormonal imbalance then schedule your FREE 30 minute phone consultation with me.  In our call we will address what’s going on, what you’ve tried and what changes you can make now to start enjoying a body free from pain and discomfort. 

On any given day, you're picking up your favorite drink, putting gas in your car, grabbing some cash from the ATM, shopping for a new pair of shoes or sitting down for a nice lunch at your favorite restaurant. 

What do all these have in common?  

​They all end with sales receipt....

So, where's the danger in that?  

It's actually on your fingertips!  

What consumers don't know is that those receipts contain a heavy dose of BPA (Bisphenol - A)  that can affect hormonal health.

Dr B. loved the 3rd Thursday of the month.  

In fact, we all loved our 3rd Thursdays.

It was Shawna's day.

Shawna was our impeccably dressed pharma rep who walked in smiling, with her pearly whites, perfect hair, designer heels and gourmet lunch.

She was a badass, boss babe. 

Yup, every third Thursday we knew we'd eat a yummy free gourmet lunch and take home 'goodie' bags filled with the latest pastel colored birth control pills samples, pens, notepads and hair scrunchies!  

Who doesn't love a goodie bag, right?  

So, happily ..... I got my monthly birth control and an endless amount of scrunchies that I can never keep track of anyway.  

I was set......  But, more so, I was sold.  

I thought Shawna was brilliant! 

Too many women are affected by menstrual pain and estrogen dominant gynecological problems such as uterine fibroids, cysts and endometriosis.

As a matter of fact, hundreds of thousands of women seek treatment for uterine fibroids each year.  One study found that between 80-90% of African American women and 70% of White women will develop uterine fibroids by age 50.
 
That's almost all of us!

The Endometriosis Organization estimates that 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years may be affected by endometriosis, globally that's 176 million women!