Proven Methods to Avoid Stomach Flu

I do my best to activate ninja action moves when it comes to staying healthy and germ-free. I eat right, diligently research and shop for natural health supplements, self-educate, gather healthy intel, apply what works, and share it with you all. But the stomach flu seems to be a whole ‘nother beast — a higher power of sickness that attacks anyone in its path… or does it?

I didn’t know it was possible to avoid the stomach bug. I thought we were all hopeless and at the mercy of a vomit-fest whenever it felt the whim to grip us. When Greedy Baby started barfing last week, I thought, “How can I avoid catching this? Is there a way, if at all possible, that I can fight back to protect the rest of my family from getting sick?”

It seemed like a lost cause, but after a half-day’s worth of research, what I learned successfully prevented the rest of my family from getting the stomach bug: The key is to keep your body in an alkaline state. There are particular tools to do this.

The stomach flu does NOT like alkaline. The virus thrives in an acidic environment. If you’ve already got the bug you’ll just have deal, but if you’ve been exposed and not yet showing symptoms, you need to get your body into an alkaline state immediately.

WHAT IS ALKALINE VS. ACIDIC? In a nutshell, alkaline foods enable the body’s cell to take in more oxygen, whereas acidic foods do a bang-up job of depriving cells of oxygen, leading to sickness and disease. The key is to keep the body in the proper pH state. This key article provides a thorough explanation of why alkaline is so important, and includes a helpful reference link to alkaline and acidic foods.

When you maintain alkaline as a way of living, you decrease your chances of not only getting the bug, but you also become a heavy-hitter in successfully fighting back against diseases like cancer.

Let’s touch on what to do immediately if you’re at risk for stomach bug. Although nothing in life is guaranteed, these methods are tried and proven by tons of people:

Welch’s 100% Grape Juice: This kept coming up in my Interwebs research — mostly in forums and on parenting websites where moms shared how this particular juice was effective at boosting their family’s resistance against the bug. I had an aha moment when I read this. Why? Because I drank 100% grape juice daily to combat extreme nausea when I was pregnant with Greedy Baby. This may give credence to the idea that keeping your body in an alkaline state also helps to combat morning sickness. >> How to Prevent Stomach Flu: Grape Juice is the Trick

Apple Cider Vinegar: THIS is so important! While I didn’t have Welch’s on hand when Greedy Baby got sick, I did have Apple Cider Vinegar. The Bragg Organic Vinegar Apple Cider is pretty much the most respected brand around, but use whatever you have on hand in a pinch. I gave the vinegar to my family: 2 teaspoons diluted in water for adults; 1 teaspoon diluted in water for the kids. Squeezes of fresh lemon juice in the water as well. It will be extremely bitter, but just do it. Not only does this vinegar promote the proper pH, it also helps control weight and removes toxins.

Probiotics: This helps to put your digestive system into proper balance. There is sooo much info out on there probiotics to prevent stomach flu, so do your Google-ing, sit back and enjoy the educational reading saga. Look into Garden of Life probiotics. Their product line is well-reviewed by consumers and includes probiotics for children.

I’m loving the way natural health alternatives release the choke hold of “no-mercy” and put the power of health back in our hands. We are not at the mercy of Big Pharma in every situation of sickness, nor are we sentenced to an automatic barf-fest just because we’re exposed to the stomach flu. Nature provides what we need to stay well. I encourage you to do your own research and decide what best for you and you family.

Stay well, my friends! Because the stomach flu?? Ain’t nobody got time fo’ that.

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Cyclospora Outbreak: Parasitic Stomach Bug Infects Nearly 300 across 9 States (so far)

Update 7/31/13: The outbreak has infected 372 people across 15 states. It is thought to be linked to bagged salads, but the CDC is still investigating…  

It’s a parasitic stomach bug called Cyclosporiasis (Cyclospora Infection). Although this parasite is typically only found in the tropics, recently (June 2013), two confirmed cases sprung up in an Iowa couple who had not recently traveled internationally. According to CDC data, the infection has now spread to nearly 300 people across 9 states in just a few short weeks, from mid-June 2013 to early July 2013.

But here’s the kicker: Cyclospora is NOT spread by human-to-human contact. It is a foodbourne & waterbourne parasite. In imported food, it’s previously been linked to fruits, veggies and herbs.

The CDC has yet to pinpoint the exact source of infection, and are currently working with the FDA, as well as state & local health departments to find a common connection between infected people. What did they eat or drink? We don’t know yet.

Cyclospora symptoms include watery diarrhea and/or explosive bowel movements, cramping, bloating, fatigue and weight loss. Less common symptoms are vomiting and low-grade fever. Symptoms can last more than a month and can quite possibly return in a relapse. Anyone seeing a doctor for stomach flu symptoms is encouraged to mention Cyclospora to their physician, as doctors don’t automatically test for the parasite when evaluating a patient for stomach flu. There is a special test to diagnose this particular bug and the CDC hopes to document as many cases as possible.

Here’s a CBS segment that gives additional info, including which states have popped up with cases of the parasite:

Antibiotics are often used in the treatment of Cyclospora. However, this Youtube vid clearly shows colloidal silver in action, killing parasites:

In the past I’ve urged to you to get your hands on colloidal silver because of its many uses. Please do it! Diatomaceous Earth is another natural alternative that is a proven parasitic killer.

Please see your doctor if you have stomach bug symptoms, and keep these recommended Colloidal Silver & Diatomaceous Earth brands on your medicine shelf:

What I intend to do immediately is to slightly “up” my family’s daily dosage of the colloidal silver supplement in an effort to thwart this parasite should it come our way. I will also be washing our fruits & veggies more thoroughly. Stay well, my friends. XO!

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Shrinking Your Stomach

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Weapons of Stomach Fat Destruction

Back when I was toying with the daring idea to be ready for a bikini, Kohy was one of the first to encourage me to go through with it. That’s when the Bikini Body Challenge was born! So I’ve called on the man-blogger that is Kohy to take us to the School of Abs to find out exactly what it takes to make this body-part look sexy in a bikini. Just take a look at his own abs right there in picture. Did I pick right one for this post, ya’ll!? (wink)

How To Get Great Abs

Kohy is showing off his abs, yo!

As a South Floridian, I often forget that this is the time of year to start planning vacations to various sandy destinations across the country. While you may call me me sun- spoiled, I’m forced to forego my winter fattening phase and maintain a lean beach appearance year round. So when I challenged Yum Yucky to commit to the bikini, it was only fitting that I offer my insight on the topic of how to get those abs beach ready.

Before I dig into the meat of the subject at hand, let’s put ourselves in the proper mindset for developing a great pair of abs. If what you desire is a lean, defined, tight midsection…or just a slightly less flabby version of your current gut, we must properly assess all actions involved. Great abs can simply be defined as a midsection that bares very little excess fat. The degree to which one displays a rigid six pack will vary based upon the amount of muscle mass in the abdominal area. Before I get into what goes into getting a great pair of abs, allow me to cover a few things that won’t.

•    No number of crunches is going to burn the fat off your gut. Feeling the burn (in your muscles) should not be confused with burning fat cells. Weighted abdominal exercises may build bigger muscles, but it won’t make your waist smaller.

•    Neoprene waist-belts are often marketed as products that will help you sweat the fat off. While there is some merit behind the practice of removing subcutaneous water, it won’t make a bit of visible difference if your body fat percentage is higher than the number fingers you have…on one hand.

•    If you’re pursuing a workout plan for the sole purpose of obtaining a slimmer waistline you’re setting yourself up for failure. The truth is, getting a great pair of abs is less about the abs themselves, but more about reducing overall body fat. You can’t burn fat from a specific area any more than you can control where you gain it.

Training: The exercises you choose may vary based on body type or desired appearance. A little research on the anatomy of the abdominals and how they function will provide great insight on how to train them effectively. A majority of us want to create the appearance of a narrow waistline. Therefore you should avoid weighted exercises of the obliques, as this may result in a stronger, but wider waistline. Often overlooked is the Transversalis Abdominis that lies underneath the 6 pack region which serves to suck the stomach in. “Sucking it in” will train the inner abdominal muscles which are responsible for giving the appearance of a flat stomach. To get the most bang out of your ab training, inhale deeply at the top of the movement and forcefully exhale and contact your abs as you crunch your knees toward the torso.

Cardio: In order to reveal what you’ve built with your training, you must incorporate sufficient cardio. If you’re one of those people who starts your routine on the treadmill for an hour only to trudge through 20 min of uninspired dumbbell-work, you may want to rethink the order of your routine. The body will burn fat more efficiently while performing aerobic activity (cardio) after glycogen (fuel) stored in the muscles and liver have been depleted. Guess what type of exercise uses glycogen as fuel? Weight-lifting!

Diet: Great abs are a badge of honor reserved for the most disciplined. Your resolve will be put to the test every time you step a foot in the kitchen. Your sworn enemies will be sugar, refined carbs, and junkfood of any kind. Arm yourself with 5-6 meals of lean protein, whole grains, high fiber and you will win the war. There’s saying that “abs are made in the kitchen”, and if you think you’re going to get into that bikini without adhering to a meticulous diet, you might as well start looking for a one-piece.

Kohy Holmes is a Professional Gym Rat and “Transformation Model” for VPX Sports. He blogs as an advocate for weight-training, eating big, and smart-supplementation. For a glimpse into all things cool in the world of fitness, follow him @HDtrainingzone and KohyHD.com.

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This is What My 166-Pound Stomach Looks Like

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Huh? FREE Shakeology from the Yum Yucky?

The requests for free samples has been overwhelming and I want to share with as many people as possible. Soon I will reveal how YOU can get your own free sample, courtesy of the Yum Yucky! (and I am happy that the Shakeology t-shirt makes my boobs look bigger)

90 Days of Shakeology: Days 42-62 It was a rough 20 days. I got super busy with just about everything – work, home, kids, blogging, ebook writing – I’ve been late for work, running on about 4 hours sleep each night, and NOT slurping my Shakeology consistently. In the time when I need it most, I slacked off and made excuses why I couldn’t take 5 dang minutes every day to make the shake that has personally proven itself to give me the energy I so desperately need. In the last 20 days, I’ve had my Shakeology probably 10 times. So that’s basically every other day instead of consistently EVERY day. What’s wrong with that, you say? Welp, I do feel the difference. It’s had a backwards affect and been serious energy drain. I’ve skipped days of Shakeology here and there before with no lost affects, but to skip days for such an extended period of time does not work for me. I’m glad I know this now. I’m listening to my body and back doing what I need to do, so perhaps this was a necessary lesson. I’ve always looked at Shakeology in terms of what it can do for ME and me only, but it’s benefits were actually helping me to also do what I need to do for my family, while giving me the natural boost I need to do everything that my crazy days demand….. Check out what a Twitter bud of mine says about Shakeology. And if you haven’t watched this video yet: See What Doctors Are Saying About Shakeology, do yourself a favor and watch it.

Weight Progress

Day 1: 172.8 pounds

Day 62: 166.4 pounds

I’m not intimidated by slow weight loss, especially since I’m building muscle, and that affects the number on the scale. I’m in a size 6 and have noticed more muscle definition. My abs are especially coming along nicely.

Get the complete details of my 90-Day Shakeology experiment.

Read the Shakeology success stories.

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Fast Food Evolution to Make The Stomach Grow Flatter

Huh? I said flatter, not FAT-er, so please don’t develop a nervous condition with dry itchy rash and chewed nails.

If your hungry eating is still filled with fast food shenanigans, it’s time to cut that sh!t out. Sure, you might be watching what you eat and keeping the fast food choices to the lower caloric selections, but if you’re really going to make serious strides towards your fitness goals, there comes a time when you’ll have to stop immersing yourself in the fast food murky waters.

It doesn’t matter if a McDonald’s cheeseburger is only 300 calories, or if the Arby’s small curly fries (338 calories) are screaming your name. They’re still a piece of crap.

But I’m not forcing asking you to go cold turkey, here. Even my own fast foodie ways was a transition that evolved. I went from chewing on any kinda fast food imaginable, to selecting the low calorie options only (that’s how the cheat sheets were born), to banning entire restaurants altogether (screw you, Burger King!). Until now? I don’t eat from those places at all, except for the rare event of a Wendy’s sour cream & chive baked potato (320 calories). That’s it.

I’d rather put off lunch than go for fast food if that’s the only option available. Yep. I’ve done it before.

Translation? I’d rather starve (temporarily) than eat fast food immediately.

You will NOT reach your fitness goals if fast food is still infesting your weekly eating habits.

So where are YOU at in your fast food evolution? Is it time for you to re-evaluate the situation and take a few more steps away from fast food? Or have you already conquered that bastard?

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