Alter Life

Many associate Brain and Mind as one and the same.
The brain is the organ that rests inside the skull. It's like a computer made up neurons that wire the entirety of the physical body to control autonomic and somatic functions.
Mind is the universal wisdom, energy, and inspiration that animates all of life. It is the more spiritual essence alive in us all and thriving in every moment.
Of course there is a Brain-Mind connection, as the non-local mind lives in brain cells, as well as every other cell and fragment of the universe.
On Medicinal Monday's Alter Your Health from Head to Toe we discussed optimizing the physiology of the brain addressing the common issues of vascular health, metabolic function, and toxicity associated with such issues like brain fog, stroke, and age related cognitive decline, or dementia.
In today's Wisdom Wednesday where we share Insights from Head to Toe, we draw the connections between Mind and Brain. Of course, the ever-shifting state of the nervous system feeds back to effect neurophysiology. We share our insights around the mindset to optimize cognitive clarity as we age in today's episode.
Join the conversations live on YouTube every Wednesday: https://www.youtube.com/alterhealth
Some highlights from today's WW episode...
⁃How physiologic stress causes a state of confusion or lack of clarity
⁃Chronic stress leads to chronic inflammation (including neuroinflammation), manifesting as symptoms of brain fog, as well as cognitive decline
⁃Chronic stress increase the progression of atherosclerosis and insulin resistance, two of the major risk factors of Alzheimers.
⁃Age-related cognitive decline may be a symptom of our refusal to deal with the world
- Memory issues or brain fog are a way we can distract ourselves from a world we cannot accept
Links to some more good stuff
- Join Alter Health on Locals: https://alterhealth.locals.com
- Stay connected on Telegram: https://t.me/alterhealth
- Cleanse with Us during the next Alter Health Cleanse: https://www.alter.health/cleanse
- Work with us in the Thrive on Plants program: https://www.alter.health/thrive-on-plants
- ATTN Health Practitioners! Learn more and apply to the Plant Based Mind Body Practitioner Program: https://www.alter.health/pbmb-practitioner
Peace and Love.

Links to more good stuff

Work With Me - www.alter.health
- GREEN FORCE! - www.visfoods.co (use the code AlterLife for $10 off)
- Check out my favorite products - www.alter.health/products

No... this is not a commercial for some special new hair product! In fact, quite the contrary...
In this opening episode of Alter Your Health from Head to Toe we are starting our journey on the top of the head to talk about hair.
Of course, we have hair covering our entire body like any other mammal, but it is generally that which is atop our heads that gets most of the attention... especially when it starts to thin, fall, turn gray, or anything else deemed undesirable by our standards.
It may be common to think about hair as some appendage disconnected from the intricate whole of the body. In reality, however, the quality and resilience of hair is a reflection of our inner state of health (along with skin and nails).
For this reason, topical hair products (shampoos, conditioners, etc.) might make hair look nice in the short term, while doing nothing to address true hair health. In fact, oftentimes products can be more damaging in the longterm.
Tune into this week's Alter Your Health from Head to Toe episode and learn much more about the basics for creating and maintaining strong and healthy hair!

As always, you can join us live each Monday at 12 PT / 3 ET on the Alter Health YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/alterhealth
Some highlights from today's episode on HAIR..

• Nutritional deficiencies can be seen in falling or thinning hair as the body's resources are shunted to higher priority organs/systems
• Hair falling is almost always due to stress, but other inflammatory/immune-related conditions also exist, such as alopecia
• Hair products (shampoos, conditioners, hairsprays, etc.) can be toxic and actually cause poor hair health (and other systemic symptoms)
• Our (mainly Dr. Susanna's!) natural hair care routine with apple cider vinegar and baking soda
• Nutritional and lifestyle considerations to optimize hair resilience (minerals, vit C, zinc, cold water, and more)

Links to some more good stuff
- Join Alter Health on Locals: https://alterhealth.locals.com/
- Cleanse with Us during the next Alter Health Cleanse: https://www.alter.health/cleanse
- Work with us in the Thrive on Plants program: https://www.alter.health/thrive-on-plants
- ATTN Health Practitioners! Learn more and apply to the Plant Based Mind Body Practitioner Program: https://www.alter.health/pbmb-practitioner
Peace and Love.

Links to more good stuff

Work With Me - www.alter.health
- GREEN FORCE! - www.visfoods.co (use the code AlterLife for $10 off)
- Check out my favorite products - www.alter.health/products

Cognitive dissonance means "mental stress or discomfort experienced by an individual who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time."
To be honest, I didn't really know what it meant until the last couple of years as I've heard the term used more and more.
It turns out that we all live to preserve our mental wellbeing, and avoid this mental stress. For some, this means avoiding such "contradictory beliefs."
But, we don't need to live in a right or wrong dichotomy. We can live in a way that prioritizes connection, relationship, growth, and learning.

In today's Wisdom Wednesday we explore the human nature of perception and separate realities that always exist and share insights to navigate in the world with a compassionate heart and open mind.

Join the conversations live on YouTube every Wednesday: https://www.youtube.com/alterhealth
For more, deep conversations on the topics of Mind, Thought, and Consciousness come on into Peace on Earth: https://alter.health/peace-on-earth

Some highlights from today's WW episode...

• Every human being has a unique perception, always changing from moment to moment
• We, as humans, are not our thoughts or perception, but the consciousness through which we experience our reality
• Freedom doesn't come from isolating in an echo chamber and avoiding contradicting viewpoints, but understanding that we, and perceived others, are not our thinking
• We can get curious about other perspectives rather than close our eyes, ears, heart, and mind
• Life is not about being right or wrong, but connection, relationship, growth, and learning

Links to some more good stuff

- Join weekly Peace on Earth conversations: https://www.alter.health/peace-on-earth
- Join Alter Health on Locals: https://alterhealth.locals.com
- Stay connected on Telegram: https://t.me/alterhealth
- Cleanse with Us during the next Alter Health Cleanse: https://www.alter.health/cleanse
- Work with us in the Thrive on Plants program: https://www.alter.health/thrive-on-plants
- ATTN Health Practitioners! Learn more and apply to the Plant Based Mind Body Practitioner Program: https://www.alter.health/pbmb-practitioner
Peace and Love.

Links to more good stuff

Work With Me - www.alter.health
- GREEN FORCE! - www.visfoods.co (use the code AlterLife for $10 off)
- Check out my favorite products - www.alter.health/products

Ugh... back pain. We've probably all had it, or at least 80% of us will, according to the NIH.
It can be a real pain in the butt! Or sometimes neck.... or hip... or.... you get the idea!
Sadly, over half of the population has back pain that persists for 5+ years with 200 BILLION dollars being spent treating the symptoms... yes, treating symptoms.
In this week's episode, we talk about the root cause of 99.9% of back pain which is almost NEVER addressed by any doctor, chiropractor, physical therapist, or any other well-meaning physical medicine practitioner.
*This topic is very timely for us, Dr. Susanna in particular, as she is right in the midst of Healing Back Pain. She shares a bit of her story and journey today.

If you'd like to join these conversations live, be sure to Subscribe to the Alter Health YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/alterhealth

Some highlights from today's MM episode...

• People are so often told their back pain is due to: Herniated discs, osteoarthritis / degenerated disc disease, “Pinched nerve”, “Sciatica”, osteophytes / bone spurs, spondylolisthesis
• People are told and reaffirmed that their backs are fragile and vulnerable and they must be sure not to "injur" or "aggravate"
• The underlying cause of back pain stress/tension (Tension Myositis Syndrome or TMS) according to the work of Dr. Sarno
• Back pain is a physical symptom with psychological roots
• Most feel it easier and more socially acceptable to deal with physical pain than emotional issues
• The “Goodists” or “Perfectionists” tend to be most vulnerable
• Conventional treatments fail to address the root of the issue: Anti-inflammatories, Physical therapy, Chiropractic, Massage, Spinal Traction, Yoga, Rest, Surgery, Etc, etc, etc.......
• Tensionmyositis is also a probable root cause of many other chronic pain conditions

Books and Resources Referenced in the episode
- Healing Back Pain - https://amzn.to/3sUmac0- The Mind Body Prescription - https://amzn.to/3mTz1aG- The Divided Mind - https://amzn.to/3pOqV4R- All The Rage Documentary - http://alltheragedoc.com- Episode 74 of Alter Your Health - https://podcast.alter.health/74

Links to some more good stuff
- Join Alter Health on Locals: https://alterhealth.locals.com/
- Cleanse with Us during the next Alter Health Cleanse: https://www.alter.health/cleanse
- Work with us in the Thrive on Plants program: https://www.alter.health/thrive-on-plants
- ATTN Health Practitioners! Learn more and apply to the Plant Based Mind Body Practitioner Program: https://www.alter.health/pbmb-practitioner
Peace and Love.

Links to more good stuff

Work With Me - www.alter.health
- GREEN FORCE! - www.visfoods.co (use the code AlterLife for $10 off)
- Check out my favorite products - www.alter.health/products

Let's talk about CRAVINGS. We are told to just "deal with it," "force it" or "harness willpower." But, that only takes us so far. Cravings have a way of persisting despite what we do... up until now!
Here's a new way of thinking of things...
Cravings are messages from the body. The body CRAVES that which it requires for survival; carbohydrates, aka "sugar!" Of course craving an apple is a little different than craving a piece of cheese cake. In this episode we tweeze apart these two distinct circumstances - physiologic cravings vs. psychologic cravings... it is a bit blurry and hard to navigate at times, but this information should help!
If you'd like to join these conversations live, join the Plant Based & Stress Free FB group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/alterhealth

Also, please join us starting next week in the next WFPB Challenge, the Eat More Weigh Less Series! Register at https://www.alter.health/wfpb-challenge-eat-more-weigh-less
Some topics covered include...

- Why sugar cravings are a natural part of being human
- How low carb eating naturally perpetuates sugar cravings
- Physiologic vs Psychologic cravings
- The importance of repleting glycogen in liver and muscle
- Overcoming fruit fear (and potato fear!)
- Ditching beliefs of restriction and indulging in what the body thrives on
Links to some more good stuff

- Join the Plant Based &. Stress Free FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/alterhealth
- Cleanse with Us during the next Alter Health Cleanse: https://www.alter.health/cleanse
- Work with us in the Thrive on Plants program: https://www.alter.health/thrive-on-plants
- Join the WFPB Challenge, the Eat More Weigh Less Series at https://www.alter.health/wfpb-challenge-eat-more-weigh-less
- ATTN Health Practititioners! Learn more and apply to the Plant Base Mind Body Practitioner Program: https://www.alter.health/pbmb-practitioner
Peace and Love.

Links to more good stuff

Work With Me - www.alter.health
- GREEN FORCE! - www.visfoods.co (use the code AlterLife for $10 off)
- Check out my favorite products - www.alter.health/products