BEATING ALLERGIC DISEASES HOLISTICALLY WITH DIET

Your body knows what’s good for you which means it knows plants are good for you. This is how you can beat allergic diseases holistically!

Did you know over 60 million Americans are suffering from allergic diseases? The diseases arise in the body, producing an immune response that includes but is not limited to sneezing, shortness of breath, itchy skin, or watery eyes. On average, people are allergic to two or three different sources, typically from food, grasses, animals, or even dust mites. Lucky for us, research studies are setting the stage for holistic treatment options for these uncomfortable and sometimes deadly conditions.

Twenty patients with skin allergic eczema were placed on a predominantly low-calorie vegetarian diet for two months, and their disease rating drastically cut in half. These results are comparable to the findings after patients in the double-blinded study took 5mg of a skin inflammation drug, cyclosporin. The drug produced quicker results, within two weeks’ time; however, since the main side effect included kidney failure & cancer, the drug was considered a class one carcinogen, the dietary option is absolutely preferable. Adopting a diet limiting meat appeared to show rapid results without the harmful side effects.

Next, researchers studied a vegan regimen with another allergic disease, asthma. The patients of this study included thirty-five men and women with long-established-verified bronchial asthma within the 2–33 year time span (average of 11.9 years). The fairly advanced asthma patients were on an average of four medications, including cortisone, and some were on as many as eight and still not experiencing health improvements even with all their medications. These unhealthy individuals were placed on a vegan diet, and the results speak for themselves. Within the twenty-four patients who were able to complete the study & adhere to the diet, 71% reported improvement at four months and 92% percent at one year. They did all this with diet alone.

According to this study “Concurrently with this improvement, the patients greatly reduced their consumption of medicine. At one year, four patients had completely given up their medication. The majority had reduced their medication by 10%–50% of the original level and only two had an unchanged medicine consumption. Many patients said that their improvement was so considerable that they felt like “they had a new life.” Pretty amazing, right?!

In almost all cases the medication was reduced or decreased completely, and the patients began to regain health through the power of a plant-based diet. In addition to the asthma symptoms dissipating, the inherently healthy lifestyle produced a cascade of additional powerful side effects. Patient’s cholesterol improved, blood pressure stabilized, and they lost an average of 18 pounds per person.

 

O.Lindahl, L.Lindwall, A.Spangberg, A.Stenram, P.A.Ockerman. Vegan regimen with reduced medication in the treatment of bronchial asthma. J Asthma. 1985 22(1):45-55.

T Tanaka, K Kouda, M Kotani, A Takeuchi, T Tabei, Y Masamoto, H Nakamura, M Takigawa, M Suemura, H Takeuchi, M Kouda. Vegetarian diet ameliorates symptoms of atopic dermatitis through reduction of the number of peripheral eosinophils and of PGE2 synthesis by monocytes. J Physiol Anthropol Appl Human Sci. 2001120(6):353 – 361.

J M Sowden, J Berth-Jones, J S Ross, R J Motley, R Marks, A Y Finlay, M S Salek, R A Graham-Brown, B R Allen, R D Camp. Double-blind, controlled, crossover study of cyclosporin in adults with severe refractory atopic dermatitis. Lancet 1991 338(8760):137 – 140.

P Krupp, C Monka. Side-effect profile of cyclosporin A in patients treated for psoriasis. Br J Dermatol. 1990 122 – Suppl – 36:47-56.

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BODY WHEN YOU GO PLANT BASED

The fountain of youth isn’t the myth that people think. It can be found in the healthy, clean eating of a plant-based diet! Your body says thank you!

You Protect Your Heart

In the early 1950’s, heart disease was once thought to be caused by aging; however, research is now clearly defining heart disease to be linked to diet and lifestyle through an abundance of irrefutable research. Research now shows, high cholesterol in persons with atherosclerosis is acquired by choices of the foods they consume. The INTERHEART study revealed that factors such as diet, exercise, and smoking accounted for over 90% of the risk of having a heart attack. This accounts for men and women of all ages from around the world.

• The best way to avoid heart disease:
• Avoid saturated fat (found in meat dairy & eggs)
• Avoid Trans Fat (found mostly in processed junk foods & animal products)

The Intake of Cholesterol Itself (especially found in meat, dairy & eggs)

Did you know our bodies produce cholesterol on its own? Any animal products we consume adds cholesterol to the supply our bodies have already made for us. Over time, this additional cholesterol may lead to an increase in our bad cholesterol, “LDL” levels. Elevated LDL levels have also been shown to be due to a lack of fiber, found in whole plant foods. In general, all animal products seem to raise our risk of dying from America’s number 1 killer, while plant foods, greatly lower that risk.

You Have Less Inflammation & Bloating

Did you know your gut bacteria changes based upon the foods you consume on a daily basis? Intake of plant-based foods (especially fiber) from these foods greatly impacts our health. Meat and dairy contain no fiber and require different types of bacteria to break them down. Our good gut bacteria digestion of fiber yields a short chain fatty acid named butyrate, which research shows, may aid against cancer by slowing the progression of colon cancer cells & programming cancer cell death. Because plant-based diets lead to an increase in butyrate, we are now connecting the dots to why plant-based diets seem to lower inflammation in the gut. Another recent study concluded, butyrate seems to exert anti-inflammatory activities by affecting immune cell migration, adhesion, cytokine expression as well as affecting cellular processes such as proliferation, activation, and apoptosis. Let’s not forget, healthy colons and gut bacteria aid in speedy and efficient digestion, keeping bloating to a minimum!

You May Lose that Last 5–10 Pounds

Plant-based foods are less calorically dense than meat and dairy and are inherently lower in fat. Doctors such as Dr. Neal Barnard, MD, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, took the opportunity to collectively analyze all clinical research studies focusing on plant-based and vegetarian weight loss trials and found that plant-based diets lead to greater weight loss results, whether or not weight loss is intended. Participants lost an average of roughly 7.5 pounds when adopting a plant-based lifestyle. These findings were published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Knowing what a plant-based diet can do for you, it’s time to get started!

 

CHOCOLATE BANANA QUINOA COOKIES

Bite into a warm gooey cookie and then sigh with the satisfaction that there is no guilt with the healthy Ingredients that make up this truly yummy dessert!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup quinoa flour
• ¾ of a spotty mashed banana
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1/3 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ cup agave
• 2 tablespoons softened coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ cup nondairy chocolate chips
• ½ banana sliced into small pieces
• Raisins or dried cranberries

Prep Time

10 min

Total Time

1 hr 10 min

DIRECTIONS

Grab a large mixing bowl and mix in dry ingredients. This will include the cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, flour, raisins. Once everything is mixed well and smooth, set bowl aside.

Mix all wet ingredients in another bowl. This will include the agave, softened coconut oil and vanilla.

Combine both the wet and dry ingredients. Mix until smooth then add in chocolate chips and banana. Chill the batter in the fridge for 40 minutes. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.

Spray your baking pan with coconut oil and drop batter into small balls onto the pan leaving 1 inch in between each cookie.

Bake for 10–15 minutes.

Let the cookies cool for 15 minutes and Enjoy!

FIVE NATURAL FAT BURNERS YOU SHOULD ADD IN YOUR DIET

Clean out the junk in your trunk with these five natural fat burners! Burn it all off before the heat of the summer!

Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne Pepper stimulates the metabolism and creates thermogenesis, meaning the generation of internal heat & caloric burn. This boosts fat burning and increases the amount of calories burned throughout the day. You may use cayenne pepper as a seasoning to your favorite steamed dishes for a delicious spicy kick to boost natural flavor. This pepper also increases the bioavailability of food, helping you to absorb more nutrients in your meal. Remember, you are not what you eat; you are what you absorb!

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is becoming popularized and noted in the holistic health community as one of the world’s top adaptogens, meaning it helps the body adapt to a healthier, balanced state. One of its most valuable properties is its ability to lower and stabilize cortisol, the body’s stress hormones. This helps to reduce insulin and even aids in the reduction of belly fat while improving sleep and dramatically diminishing junk food cravings. Can we get an amen?! High cortisol also raises DHA which is our “youthful” hormone, and by supplementing with ashwagandha, one may slow the aging process. The benefits don’t stop there! This supplement even stabilizes testosterone levels, helping to maintain lean muscle mass. If you want to look younger, stay lean, and feel younger, get some ashwagandha into your regimen!

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is delicious and may be easily supplemented by adding it in smoothies, in your coconut or almond milks, oatmeal, cookie recipes, and more! This spice is known to balance insulin levels and keep blood sugar steady throughout the day helping to ensure the body is burning fat fast and efficiently. Adding cinnamon to your breakfast will not only help you feel fuller for longer, but it may also even kill off harmful fungus and bacteria in the body which helps maintain proper gut health and assimilation of nutrients.

Celery

Celery is a low-calorie food that is loaded with fiber! The calorically diluted food is even believed to be a “negative calorie” food, meaning some people say it takes the body more calories to digest and assimilate the nutrients and high fiber constituents of celery than the food actually provides. Though we can safely debunk the myth that celery is a negative calorie food, it is definitely low calorie. Celery provides the body with an abundance of potassium and healthy sodium, helping to regulate water weight and flush out bloating and fat due to its high vitamin and mineral content. Celery juice is used in many healing protocols and, when mixed with lemon, creates a delicious morning green juice!

Green Tea

Green tea leaves contain antioxidants known as catechins, some of which can burn fat. In order to burn fat, it must first be broken down in the fat cell and moved into the bloodstream. The active compounds in green tea may aid in this process by boosting the effects of some fat burning hormones. The master antioxidant in tea, EGCG, can help inhibit an enzyme that breaks down the hormone norepinephrine. When this enzyme is inhibited, the amount of norepinephrine is greatly elevated, signaling to our nervous system to break down fat cells.

In a nutshell, the fat blasting tea increases levels of hormones that tell fat cells to break down fat. This quickly releases fat into the bloodstream and makes it available as energy. Add a cup to your morning breakfast and burn fat first thing in the morning, while providing yourself a healthy dose of natural energy to jumpstart your day!

 

3 EXERCISES TO BLAST FAT FAST!

Hit the Stairs
The stair mill provides an aggressive cardio workout that really targets the legs and glutes. This workout is perfect for when you are short on time and desire to burn major calories while maximizing fat burn.
The stair mill has the ability to take your legs and glutes through a full range of motion as you work to climb what may seem like an endless set of moving stairs. Don’t be intimidated! Hold the rails lightly or aim to balance your body and let go of the handles while allowing your lower body to do most of the work. After warming up, perform 1 minute at level 8, then immediately increase the intensity to level 18 for 30 seconds. Complete 7 rounds of this interval set, back to back. Next move to level 6 and skip steps for more of a “lunge” step. This combination will target your glutes and hamstrings while burning fat and strengthening your core.
Implement Battle Ropes
Ropes give you a fun and challenging workout that seriously lifts your heart rate while ensuring every muscle in your body gets pumped. Battle ropes, also known as heavy ropes, are a great way to send your pulse soaring while increasing core and upper-body strength.
To start, stand with your feet planted shoulder-distance apart, abs engaged.
For the slams, bring the ropes overhead and powerfully smack them to the floor.
For waves, swing arms up and down to create a wavelike motion with the rope.
Keep the intensity strong from start to finish during all of the exercises.

Blast Fat with Plyometrics
A high intensity workout with plyos engages the central nervous system and boosts metabolism for increased fat loss long after your workout is over. For a sample plyo workout, choose 3 plyo exercises such as walking lunges, T push-ups, mountain climbers, jump squats or burpees. Perform each exercise for a minute and then rest 30 seconds in between. Complete 3 rounds total of the plyometric circuit and take 2 minutes of active recover after each round.

 

THE TOP THREE REASONS YOU ARE NOT SEEING RESULTS … YET

 

Are you working out and watching the diet and not seeing the results of weight loss that you’re hoping for? There just might be a reason or three for that.

 
You are either eating too much or eating too little
It is imperative to fuel your body with high quality foods to reach your goals, and balance is key. It is next to impossible to out-train a bad diet, meaning you can’t eat a dozen donuts and think it’s okay because you’ll run twenty miles later. On the flip side, believe it or not, your body may actually hold onto fat if you are under eating. To guarantee you’re fueling your body with the appropriate amount of calories, you can use your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) and the Harris Benedict Equation to figure out your specific caloric needs.
Your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) allows you to roughly determine how many calories to eat according to your health goals. Whether you are exercising or inactive, this equation is highly beneficial. Your BMR will provide you with a starting point of how many calories you typically burn per day, and from there, you may adjust your caloric needs to meet your specific activity level.
You can determine how many calories you will need to consume in order to gain weight (muscle) or lose fat, depending on your personal goals. This formula assists in muscle growth while limiting fat gain based upon expenditure on actual individual metrics.
Next, apply your BMR with the Harris Benedict Equation to determine how many calories you burn per day when adding in your daily activities and exercise.
Let’s get started!
Find your BMR using the BMR Formula.
Women: BMR = 655 + (4.35 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) – (4.7 x age in years)
Men: BMR = 66 + (6.23 x weight in pounds) + (12.7 x height in inches) – (6.8 x age in year)
Harris Benedict Formula
To determine your total daily calorie needs, multiply your BMR by the appropriate activity factor, as follows:
If you are sedentary (little or no exercise): Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.2
If you are lightly active (light exercise or sports 1–3 days a week): Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.375
If you are moderately active (moderate exercise or sports 3–5 days a week): Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.55
If you are very active (hard exercise or sports 6–7 days a week): Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.725
If you are extra active (very hard exercise or sports & physical job or 2x training): Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.9
You are over exercising
Over-reaching with exercise may end up burning more muscle long term, which will slowly decrease your BMR. Muscle burns more calories at rest than fat, so when your muscle declines, your overall percentage of calories burned per day through your BMR will slow. Muscle also takes up less space than fat, allowing you to appear slim and toned.
Over-reaching in training may also elevate cortisol, a stress hormone that is famous for storing belly fat. On that note, keep your workouts around 45–60 minutes to avoid over doing and putting too much stress on your body. Exercise is a considered a “good” stress; however, too much of a good thing may have negative consequences. Hours of cardio may actually do more harm than good.

 
You are avoiding resistance training
As mentioned earlier, muscle burns more calories per pound of fat. This not only tones your body and strips fat away, but it also increases your metabolism. Win, win!
Ladies, lifting weights does not make you bulky! Do not be afraid of lifting a challenging weight at the gym. Women do not produce nearly as much testosterone as men do and will not experience negative side effects of bulking up from lifting weights. Paired with moderate cardio, weight lifting is also a great fat burning tool.

3 EXERCISES TO BLAST FAT FAST!

In a hurry but still want to get a killer, fat-burning cardio workout? The stair mill, battle ropes and plyometrics are your new best friends!
Hit the Stairs
The stair mill provides an aggressive cardio workout that really targets the legs and glutes. This workout is perfect for when you are short on time and desire to burn major calories while maximizing fat burn.
The stair mill has the ability to take your legs and glutes through a full range of motion as you work to climb what may seem like an endless set of moving stairs. Don’t be intimidated! Hold the rails lightly or aim to balance your body and let go of the handles while allowing your lower body to do most of the work. After warming up, perform 1 minute at level 8, then immediately increase the intensity to level 18 for 30 seconds. Complete 7 rounds of this interval set, back to back. Next move to level 6 and skip steps for more of a “lunge” step. This combination will target your glutes and hamstrings while burning fat and strengthening your core.
Implement Battle Ropes
Ropes give you a fun and challenging workout that seriously lifts your heart rate while ensuring every muscle in your body gets pumped. Battle ropes, also known as heavy ropes, are a great way to send your pulse soaring while increasing core and upper-body strength.
To start, stand with your feet planted shoulder-distance apart, abs engaged.
For the slams, bring the ropes overhead and powerfully smack them to the floor.
For waves, swing arms up and down to create a wavelike motion with the rope.
Keep the intensity strong from start to finish during all of the exercises.
Blast Fat with Plyometrics

A high intensity workout with plyos engages the central nervous system and boosts metabolism for increased fat loss long after your workout is over. For a sample plyo workout, choose 3 plyo exercises such as walking lunges, T push-ups, mountain climbers, jump squats or burpees. Perform each exercise for a minute and then rest 30 seconds in between. Complete 3 rounds total of the plyometric circuit and take 2 minutes of active recover after each round.

 

Skinny Waffles

Blend 2 (spotty!) bananas

1/4 cup almond or non GMO soy milk

1 cup oats

1 tbsp flax

1 tbsp maca powder

pinch of cinnamon

 

(I use a high speed blender such as a Vitamin)

Place batter in a waffle maker and cook for 2 minutes or until crispy.

Top with fruit and vegan chocolate chips. I used organic maple syrup for this recipe as well.

Enjoy!

Vegan Stuffed Shells

NOTES

This recipe can easily be made gluten-free using rice pasta shells.

Vegan Stuffed Shells
INGREDIENTS

20 jumbo pasta shells (cook extra in case a few break)
14 ounces extrafirm tofu (1 container, pressed to remove water)
2 cups raw spinach
2 cloves fresh garlic
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
24 ounces marinara sauce (1 jar)

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly oil a glass baking dish.
Cook shells according to package until slightly underdone. Drain and rinse with cool water to prevent sticking.
In a food processor, combine the tofu, spinach, garlic cloves, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
Pour a little sauce in the dish to just cover the bottom (this will keep the pasta shells moist and help prevent them from toppling over). Use a spoon to fill each shell with the tofu spinach ricotta mixture, and lay each shell in the dish. Pour leftover marinara evenly over the shells.
Cover the dish with a piece of tinfoil, poke several air holes, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
Enjoy with a salad, and store any leftovers in the fridge — they’re equally delicious the next day.

BREAST IMPLANTS, THE TRUTH

While not every woman will have the same experience with breast implants, this is the story of one woman’s breast implants and how they affected her life.

Adopting a plant based lifestyle has dramatically changed my way of life. After battling melanoma with a total of eight areas for two and a half years, I was able to finally heal my body through the power of plant based foods. Those foods and supplementation such as B12, D3 supplements and the use of non GMO, organic, raw plant-based Sunwarrior protein supplements for pre and post workouts gave aid in recovery. My health began to increase, and my doctors were astounded at the progress I experienced simply by altering my diet. However, after two years of embracing a plant based diet, I began to notice fatigue, hormonal imbalance, bloating, headaches, digestive issues and inflammation throughout my body and in my lymph nodes which began to greatly debilitate my everyday life.

 
For a plant-based athlete, personal trainer, and health professional, I was concerned at what may be contributing to these issues despite my pristine diet and exercise regimen. A few months after the lymph nodes under my neck began to swell, I noticed a large lump forming in my right breast area. This was quite the concern for me, as my doctors were unable to provide a precise answer of what the lump may be without complete removal of the area.

 
Since my diagnosis of melanoma, I continue to undergo a series of blood work, body mapping and scans performed every three months to monitor the cancer and my lymph system to ensure I have no reoccurring areas. Due to the newfound breast lump at my routine exam, my doctor also put in for a series of ultra sounds on my breast in addition to a MRI to further investigate what the mysterious lump stemmed from. There had been no significant change in my vegan diet or new stressful event that I knew of that may be contributing to the change in my health. The results from the tests were inconclusive and resulted in a surgery for removal.

 

The mysterious lump, which the doctors believed to be a tumor, was in fact an inflamed lymph node. It was removed. However, I was a bit concerned for the next few months as my fatigue, hormone imbalances, and digestive issues continued. This, in turn, led to my estrogen, progesterone and luteinizing hormone plummeting. My menstrual cycle became nonexistent for months on end. At 26 years old, this was a horrific experience. I felt hopeless after visiting several endocrinologists, gastroenterologists and oncologists to help find what could possibly be causing this issues. Finally, after seeking out a Naturopath and researching more on my own, I learned how my breast implants may be the cause of my health issues. My breast implants were holding me back from progressing in my healing journey.

 

I’d had implants in since 2009 and was very happy with them. I had no issues with leaking, pain, or any signs of complications that were physically visible. After my holistic doctor suggested I researched more into health complications that the implants may have contributed to, I was astounded and concerned that this information was not made known to the general public.

 
Breast Implant Health Complications
Each year, roughly 300,000 women and teenagers undergo breast augmentation for various reasons. Worldwide, this number is roughly between 5 to 10 million. The FDA states the surgery is generally safe and with the popularity of the procedure, many women are unaware of the concerns and possible side effects of inserting the silicone and saline implants into the body. In the past few years, thousands of women nationwide have endured health issues and debilitating autoimmune disorders along with endocrine disruptions. After researching, I was able to locate websites and Facebook forums consisting of thousands of women with the same health issues I experienced due to implants.

 
Complications with Implants on the Market Today that May Surprise You
Many consumers are unaware that implants have a shelf life anywhere from 7–10 years. Every type of implant, which I will touch base on in this article, is susceptible to leaking, rupturing, fostering mold and systemic fungal growth in the body. While women may be happy with how their breasts may look after surgery, many are unaware that over time, the body may begin to treat the implant as a foreign toxic object and in turn, develop autoimmune responses leading to a host of side effects and illness.

 
Silicone Implants
From recent health investigations, the FDA has informed the public that silicone implants are specifically known to result in many more health issues than saline. However, the FDA fails to mention that, in addition to the possible leaking and rupturing, more dangerous side effects may result in autoimmune disorders over time. In fact, implants were originally placed on the market for a total of forty years without approval from the FDA. With limited monitoring, it is often difficult to guarantee safety.
In the 90’s, 450,000 US women took one of the world’s largest silicone manufacturers to court due to health complications after breast augmentation. Many women lost their lives due to the health complications before the court case was ever resolved. The court found these implants to be toxic. In studies following the lawsuit, research found the silicone was easily absorbed into the body (per animal studies) and resulted in tumors in up to 80 percent of the rats that were tested. After these studies were performed and reviewed by the FDA, the silicone implants were still allowed on the market.
Following the implant case, the media announced a scandal with PIP implants in the UK, which hit nationwide news. The PIP implants were found to contain chemicals that were toxic and normally used in production of mattresses and were not approved for human use. The UK banned the implants and offered free removal to all women involved in purchasing them.
Despite the lawsuit of silicone implants in several companies, silicone implants are currently on the market and still neglect to provide any long-term studies on the safety. Many women believe saline to be a safer option. I personally had saline implants, however all saline implants do contain a silicone shell that begins to break down the moment they are implanted into the body. This is inevitable. While not all women may have complications, new findings illustrate a significant number do.

 

Ingredients Found in some Silicone Implants
Methyl ethyl ketone (neurotoxin)
Cyclohexanone (neurotoxin)
Isopropyl Alcohol
Denatured Alcohol
Acetone (used in nail polish remover and is a neurotoxin)
Urethane
Polyvinyl chloride (neurotoxin)
Amine
Toluene
Dichloromethane (carcinogen)
Chloromethane
Ethyl acetate (neurotoxin)
Silicone
Sodium fluoride
Lead Based Solder
Formaldehyde
Talcum powder
Oakite (cleaning solvent)
Methyl 2- Cyanoacrylate
Ethylene Oxide (Carcinogen)
Xylene (neurotoxin)
Hexon
2-Hedanone
Thixon-OSN-2
Stearic Acid
Zinc Oxide
Naptha (rubber solvent)
Phenol (neurotoxin)
Benzene (carcinogen/neurotoxin)
Lacquer thinner
Epoxy resin
Epoxy hardener
Printing Ink
Metal cleaning acid
Color pigments as release agents
Heavy metals such as aluminum (neurotoxin linked to Alzheimer’s and
auto immune disorders)
Platinum
Silica

 

 

 

 
Possible Side Effects of Saline & Silicone Implants

 

According to Dr. Bruning, many doctors fail to let patients know they may experience the following after surgery over time:
Tenderness, lumpiness, or discomfort around the implants
Change in the shape of your breast(s)
Change in the consistency of your breast, such as increased softness
Change in the way your breast moves – (all of these symptoms may be a sign your implant has ruptured)
Hardening of breast tissue
Muscle pain
Pain and swelling of the joints
Pain in the soft tissues
A burning sensation
Tightness, redness, or swelling of the skin
Swollen glands or lymph nodes
Unusual, extreme, or unexplained fatigue
Swelling of the hands and feet
Unusual hair loss
Rashes
Skin thickening or hardening
Dry eyes, mouth, or vagina
Loss of memory, mental confusion or fogginess
Autoimmune disorders such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, multiple chemical sensitivity disorder, cancer, and bio toxicity problems
Endocrine disruptions
Fatigue

 

 
Today, we are unaware of what exactly is in the silicone shell of the saline implants or in the silicone implants on the market. Research has even found significant traces of platinum, a toxic salt in the product. After my removal of the implants, my plastic surgeon was not able to provide me with any information, and it is difficult to find any sources online. Fortunately, many doctors such as Susan Kolb and Dr. Edward Melmed are now helping to spread awareness of the health issues involved in breast augmentation and are openly sharing the experiences of thousands of women dealing with these concerns and their health improvements once they are removed. (Please reference materials below for more on these professionals).
Dr. Susan Kolb, who specializes in health complications of women with breast implants and the removal of implants states, “The above list reflects what was in the silicone implants (ALL silicone). It is still possible that that list is accurate if companies are still manufacturing that silicone.”
Today, despite possibly rupturing in 6–10 years after surgery, silicone implants are still available on the market (according to Nancy Burning, author of Breast Implants-Everything You Need to Know).

 
Saline Implants

 

According to Dr. Susan Kolb, even though saline implants are known to be safer, they do carry a host of health issues. According to Dr. Nancy Bruning, 60% of women will have complications within four years, and 1 out of 5 women will have additional surgery in three years. The average surgeon advises removal every 7–10 years after surgery for proper maintenance as the implant breaks down. Again, this information is inconsistent with normal doctor guidelines and troubling since the FDA fails to regulate the safety and correct protocol for augmentation.

 

 
Mold, Fungus & Biotoxins

 

 
Mold is a concern with saline implants due to many implants containing faulty valves. Over time, valves tend to leak, but the leaking may be difficult to notice, according to Dr. Kolb & Dr. Mercola: “Once the valve is damaged, especially in certain implants, mold and bacteria can grow inside the implant. If the valve damage causes the implant just to deflate, then the woman will go ahead and get it changed out, and she won’t become ill. But in some implants, the valve injury does not cause the fluid to leak out, but can allow bacteria and especially mold and fungus inside the implant. I’ve had patients who have had mold inside the saline in this implant, a mold called penicillium growing. Whenever somebody hugged them too hard or even [due to] breast exams.”
Dr. Mercola goes on to say, “The patient can become very ill, specifically if she was allergic to penicillin. She would have an anaphylactic-type reaction whenever her implant was manipulated. It can be very, very serious. In general, women who have this bacterial and mold infection in their chests are deathly ill. The mold produces a biotoxin that’s also a neurotoxin. Many of my women come in in wheelchairs. They come in with the diagnosis of MS and lupus together. Fortunately, they have neither. But some of them are incredibly ill. They have severe mental clouding. They can’t even have a conversation.”
In 2014, The National Center for Health Research found risks of breast implants including:
Patients being four times more likely to commit suicide
Lowered self esteem
Back and shoulder pain
Memory loss and brain fog
Implant rupture
Cancer
Fatigue
Joint paint
Breast sensitivity and hardness

 

 
Autoimmune symptoms

 

 
In France, officials require a “cancer warning” on all implants, and recently a study conducted by Cambridge University in the UK concluded nearly all ALC (a type of cancer) cases were found in women with implants.
Additional Breast Implant Studies
A study by the National Cancer Institute found women with breast implants (in comparison to other various plastic surgeries) were three times more prone to suffer from cancer. They were also found to be three times more likely to suffer from pneumonia. A few studies have been funded on long term safety of breast implants: one, performed by the FDA, investigated women specifically with ruptured implants and found they were more likely to have fibromyalgia, Hashimoto’s, thyroiditis, and many other autoimmune diseases once silicone chipped off into scar tissues and lymph nodes, poisoning the body over time.
In 2013, Dr. Zuckerman released a statement from the FDA, without the approval from the Public Advisory Committee, regarding a new type of implant. The FDA admitted studies on this new implant were not as effective to safety in comparison to the other previously approved gel implants on the market. Dr. Zuckerman states,” Unfortunately, (the implant manufacturer) has not done a good job of doing post-market studies once their implants have been approved. And, even if they do these studies, by the time these studies are done to find out what the risks are, hundreds of thousands of women could have these inadequately studied devices in their bodies, and could have been harmed by them.”
I personally had the Saline Natrelle brand of implant by this company with a smooth silicone shell and experienced a host of issues from the implants, as mentioned earlier. These side effects were experienced without any leaking or rupturing; the side effects manifested because of my body’s response to the implants over time.

 

 
Removal of Implants

 

 
Over 97% percent of women who have had their implants removed noted health improvements, and 96% who did not remove the implants noticed their symptoms getting worse. In my opinion, removing my breast implants was a huge step to healing my body, Incorporating a healthy nutrition plan and exercise program adds to that healing. My immune system is no longer compromised, and I am thankful I was able to find doctors to assist in finding the root cause of many of my health issues. Many women are not advised of the harmful side effects implants may cause.

 

 

 
Society’s Standard of Beauty

 

 
“Dr, Frank Vasey suggests that the cosmetic and psychological benefits of implants are so powerful that they keep women in denial, reluctant to even consider the possibility that in order to get healthy, they may have to give up their implants. I find this true even when we experience definite physical symptoms such as pain, tightness, and hardness. Most of us love(d) our implants. We got them because we wanted them; we were willing to undergo surgery for them – some of us many times. Symptoms, no matter how severe, have a tough time outweighing the desire to be whole again or to fulfill our society’s standard of beauty. “– Nancy Bruning
If someone would have told me seven years ago, I would endure health issues or illness due to my implants, I would have never gone through with the surgery. At the time, I was focused on the confidence I would obtain from the change in my body and the “joy” it would bring to my life, or so I thought. To be honest, prior to having the implants and even during the time spent having the implants, I never truly found the sense of accomplishment I was seeking. Now, having them removed and learning to focus on health and loving my body for what it truly is, I have an overall sense of contentment I never dreamed possible.

 
What I have found through my journey, is each and every one of us in beautiful and unique and accepting that is where confidence and happiness lies. Whether you have implants or you do not, you are beautiful. Living in a society where media heavily influences the perception of “beauty” is difficult. When it is all said and done, happiness is not found in a magic weight loss pill, plastic surgery, material items, money, or fancy vacations. It is found simply by knowing you are intrinsically perfect and have so much to offer the world around you by embracing your inner beauty. By feeding your body nutritious foods, engaging in exercise, and learning to appreciate your true authentic self, nothing will compare to the health and vitality that loving your body, mind and spirit will bring you.
I have learned the happiness I was seeking for in an “ideal” body was inside me all along, and I am hoping to share this information with others who may be going through similar complications. We all have flaws and they are what make us beautiful. After all, normal is boring!

 

 
In conclusion, this is my personal experience healing my body of cancer and disease. Not all women who have had plastic surgery may feel the way I do, and even with surgery, many are confident and happy with their decisions and may experience little to no health issues with implants! This article may not pertain to everyone, however, thousands of women are in fact very ill due to toxicity from breast augmentation, and it may benefit consumers to be aware of the pros and cons to undergo such a surgery when many doctors fail to inform clients of the possible long time side effects. I encourage you to please research extensively if breast augmentation is right for you and worth any possible risks. If you do have breast implants, regular checkups may greatly benefit you to avoid any future complications. Remember, you are beautiful just as you are. Whether you decide to go through with surgery or not, happiness is always found within!
Check out our make-over to true beauty!
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References:
Absolutely Safe.” Absolutely Safe. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2016.
Breast Implant Removal Support.” Explant Info. N.p., n.d. Web. 11
Bruning, Nancy. Breast Implants: Everything You Need to Know. Alameda, CA: Hunter House, 1992. Print.
Cool, Lisa. “The Shocking Health Claims Against Saline Implants.”
BREAST IMPLANT HORROR LEAKY. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2016. Kolb, Susan E. The Naked Truth about Breast Implants: From Harm to
Healing: A Spiritual Healer’s Journey as a Plastic Surgeon. Savage, MN: Lone Oak, 2010. Print.
“Kristen Philipkoski .” Breast Implant Awareness. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2016. <Breast Implants: Recovery&Discovery>.
“Problems with Implants.” Breast Implant Information. National Center for Health Research, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2016.
Risks of Breast Implants.” Risks of Breast Implants. U.S. Food and
Drug Administration, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2016.
Zuckerman, Diana, Ph.D. “What You Need to Know about Breast Implants.”What You Need to Know about Breast Implants. National Center For
Health Research, 02 Oct. 2015. Web. 11 Feb. 2016.
For additional references please review:
Breast Implants and Health Causes , Dr. Melmed
Dr. Susan Kolb discusses saline breast implants