If I could go back 10 years (or 20), I would make specific lifestyle changes. These are the things I wish I would have known when I first got sick.

When I first got sick, I relied heavily on doctors to tell me what I need to do to get well. Most doctors don’t teach you how to eat to support your cellular health, how to detox, or how to help your mitochondria. But for me, these are the 3 most important tools to change my health.

1. Diet

The basics for the diet I follow is here – it’s more just a lifestyle than a diet: Perspectives on Food

  • I start with strictly no grains and then add them (sprouted or while only) when I felt a little better.
  • Absolutely no sugar (including fruit) – I started adding berries when I started feeling better. Learn more about sweeteners here.
  • Fats are important – coconut oil and hemp are great (I’m working on more info about fats)
  • Absolutely no alcohol – even in remedies (when I have a remedy that has alcohol, I put the drops in hot water and let it sit to burn off the alcohol).

Fat bombs are my go-to. My favorite recipes can be found here: Shawn’s Recipe Resource

2. PREtox & Detox

I started with helping downstream detox pathways first! If the toxins can’t get out, they recirculate and make me feel sick. The goal with pretox is to ensure your detox system is working effectively.

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

ION gut support has been the best gut changer I have ever taken. It seals the lining (which prevents recirculating of toxins) and rebalances the microbiome.

I take 1 tsp 3x a day.

https://intelligenceofnature.com/

SEED contains both pre & probiotics, which helps to balance the entire digestive system.

https://seed.com/

Body Bio has great products (tudca & butyrate) for the gut and a fb group where you can get expert advice from their doctors and scientists.

https://bodybio.com/collections/gut-health

LIVER – drink water with lemon all the time, milk thistle is great for liver, supplements like these help

Organic Liver Cleanse Loose Leaf Teafullleafteacompany.com

https://www.thorne.com/products/dp/liver-cleanse

Liver Flush – Caution: Any discomfort or nausea means it’s too much for your body and you need a more gentle cleanse first.

Blend the following and drink first a.m. daily for 7 days:

  • 1 orange
  • 1/2 grapefruit
  • 1/2 lemon
  • 2 Tbsp raw ginger or garlic
  • 8 oz water
  • 2 oz pure olive oil (gradually increase to 6 oz)

KIDNEY – dandelion and ginger

Organic Kidney Cleanse – Herbal Tea Blend for Kidney Healthfullleafteacompany.com

LYMPH DRAINAGE: Manual Lymp Massage

DETOX

When I began to feel a little improvement (at least a month) – I started adding in detox supplements (one at a time:

Most binders should be taken at least 2 hours away from food and other supplements so it doesn’t bind to the good stuff.

Additional Detox Tools

  • Far infrared sauna
  • Ionic foot bath
  • Detox bath
  • Castor oil packs

Master Cleanse is a pre-tox protocol that can help your body eliminate toxins better. It’s normally a 10 day diet, but some do it much longer (30-40 days). My doctor recommended 4 days prior to doing the SP detox below.

Lemon is very helpful to liver function.

Maple syrup helps keep your cells energized.

Note: I don’t do sugars so it was way too much syrup for me. However, I have continued to make lemonade using my standard Allulose/coconut sugar blend so I get the benefits of the lemon daily.

https://www.maplevalleysyrup.coop/how-to-do-the-master-cleanse-lemonade-diet/

Standard Process has a detox shake that I did pre-LymeStop. I definitely felt the detox benefits – and may do this protocol several times a year to help my body detox regularly.

https://www.standardprocess.com/programs/detox-cleanse-supplements

3. Hormetic Stressors

Hormetic stressors help our mitochondria (the powerhouses of cells) work better. Breathwork is the single best stressor to help rebuild energy.

Start low and increase very very slow.

  • WimHof has a great breath work protocol which you can learn in his Free Mini Class.
  • Breathing for Energy has a video explaining how Intermittent Hyperpoxic Training can help decrease anxiety and fatigue.

Other stressors:

  • Heat: sauna is great, those who are sensitive may need to start at 100° for 2 minutes and increase either time or temp very slowly. I would always get out if I started to feel poorly.
  • Cold: Ice baths are great but so is just turning the shower to cold for a few seconds (work up to 30).
  • Photochemicals: flavonoids, phenolic acids, isoflavones, curcumin, isothiocyanates, and carotenoids
  • Physical Exercise: Lymies cannot tolerate most forms of exercise initially (it actually makes me much worse). Vibration platforms and Tai Chi are excellent options. Take it at a pace that works for YOU! I can’t do all of the tai chi exercises in this video. Some of them hurt my neck and shoulders. So I stop when I feel like it’s too much. And that’s ok.
  • Fasting: I always listen to what my body needs. If I need food, I eat. But sometimes my body needs a break from food. I intermittent fast several times a week by simply skipping breakfast. Longer fasts (24-72 hours) can really help your cells. Learn more about fasting and how to do it here: How to Fast with Chronic Illness

Watch Limitless with Chris Hemsworth to learn more about how Hormetic Stressors can help you live better – with or without chronic sickness. Limitless Trailer

Note: I am too sick to endure the same extremes as Thor – but working these slowly into life can bring improvement. Healthy people can live better longer by including these.