Alzheimer's Disease

Exactly one year ago today, my husband and I were flying back to the midwest to attend his grandfather's funeral. Let me just say, it's not the way we wanted to spend the fourth of July. Greg has such fond memories of his grandfather while he was growing up, many that he will never forget. But the one memory that will last for the rest of his life, is the last time he got to see his grandfather before he died.

This picture was taken at Christmas time 2012, roughly six months before his grandfather died. Greg and I went to visit his grandparents (along with our dog) while we were visiting family for the holidays. When we showed up, his grandpa saw him from across the room and immediately his face lit up, and he threw his arms up for a giant bear hug. The reason this memory is so precious, is because the last time Greg saw his grandpa, his grandpa not only recognized him, but he knew exactly who he was. 

Greg's grandfather died of Alzheimer's Disease. He was diagnosed a couple years before that and he responded relatively well to treatment. However, like any other Alzheimers patient, he had his good and bad days. Days that he remembered who he was and who his family was, and days that he didn't. 

In honor of Greg's grandfather, July's prayer topic will focus on Alzheimer's disease and overall brain health. (Check out our 52 weeks, 52 prayers campaign to learn more about our prayer topics). 

A few facts about Alzheimer's Disease:

1. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain's nerve cells resulting in loss of memory, thinking, language, and behavioral skills. There is no cure, and the disease will continue to worsen with time.
2. Alzheimer's disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S. and the number of people dying from Alzheimer's is growing rapidly. Currently, 1 in 3 seniors cause of death is due to Alzheimer's disease.
3. Every 67 seconds, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
4. Women are more at risk than men. At age 60, a woman's odds of developing Alzheimer's disease are 1 in 6. For breast cancer, the odds are 1 in 11.
5. Scientists don't yet fully understand what causes Alzheimer's disease, but it is clear that this disease develops because of a complex series of events that take place in the brain over a long period of time. This means that Alzheimer's disease is not brought on by trauma, but by everyday ordinary factors like genetics, the environment, and one's lifestyle.

Before you write off this month's prayers, thinking that you don't need to pray over your brain health, think again. The things that you are doing right now are greatly affecting your brain and the odds of whether or not you will get Alzheimer's disease someday.

What can you be doing now to prevent Alzheimer's disease?

1. Breathe. Sounds easy enough right? Do this exercise with me. Sit up straight in a chair and jut your chin straight forward as far as you can. (don't jut it up toward the ceiling, jut it straight out). You should feel a strain in the back of your neck as you do this. Now, close your mouth and try to breathe through your nose. Take at least 4 deep breathes. Now bring your chin back and down, so that your head is directly in line with the rest of your spine. If you are sitting against the wall, try to place your entire spine against the wall, and then place your head against the wall as well, with your chin down. Again take 4 deep breathes. Notice how much easier it is to breathe the second time around? Most of us spend long hours of the day with our chins jutted forward. This cuts off oxygen to the brain, which over a long period of time can lead to Alzheimer's. Notice the next time you are working at the computer, or driving your car. These are two areas where we severely jut our chins forward. Make an effort to keep your head back, or take some time each night to pull your chin back and take some deep breathes.
2. Tension. Where do you hold your tension? If you hold your tension in your upper back/shoulders/neck area, you have a greater risk of getting Alzheimer's disease. Why? When your neck and shoulders are tense, blood flow is restricted. Because your body is so tight around your neck, it's hard for the blood to travel through the shoulders and neck and to the brain. This ultimately cuts off oxygen to the brain. Over long periods of time, this can lead to Alzheimer's disease. Also, those who hold tension in their neck/shoulders/upper back are more likely to jut their chins out (see #1) during everyday tasks. When your neck is tight, your entire head will be shifted off balance because your muscles are off balance due to the unnatural tension. Regular stretching, or yoga, works wonders to loosen tight areas and relieve tension. If you carry stress and tension in your upper back, shoulders, or neck, doing regular stretching or yoga will help to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease. 
3. Essential Oils. Because there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, prevention is key. There are some essential oils that have been known to help reduce the risk of getting alzheimer's. These oils help to increase blood flow to the brain, and relieve any neck and shoulder tension (see #1 & #2). These oils can be applied daily, or as needed, directly to the neck, shoulders, and back. For more information on essential oils for Alzheimer's prevention, contact me here.

What will we be praying for with regards to Alzheimer's disease?

The weekly prayers for this topic will focus heavily on prevention against Alzheimer's disease, and clarity of mind and spirit throughout our entire lives. We will also touch on genetics, finding a cure, and wisdom with environmental and lifestyle choices. Follow along with us each week to get the updated prayer. Pray these prayers over your own health, your spouse, your children, your parents and grandparents.

To find the weekly prayers, head over to my website, where the weekly prayer is posted each week on the right side bar.

The prayers will all be posted on Instagram as well. Follow me @abbyshroka in order to see the new prayer each week.

The prayers will also be posted to our Facebook page. By liking us on Facebook, you will have access to each week's prayer. Click here to like is us on Facebook.

I want to thank all of you who made the commitment to partner along with us as we pray over our health each week for 52 weeks. I am already so inspired as I hear what God has done in the last four weeks to bring healing to so many suffering from stomach pain and digestive disorders! If you missed those prayers, you can find them here.

I cannot wait to see what God has in store for the next four weeks as we pray over our brain health and against Alzheimer's disease.

Wishing you all Health, Hope, & Happiness
Abby

Prayers for Digestive Disorders & Stomach Pain

If you suffer from digestive disorders and stomach pain, you aren't alone. Statistics show that 48% of people in the U.S. suffer from digestive pain on a regular basis. Below are the four prayers we prayed over digestive pain throughout the month of June.

1. Father God, I ask for discernment for myself and my doctor around my digestive health. That through your wisdom, I would find a correct diagnosis, as well as clarity into the root cause of my digestive issues, so that I can experience absolute healing from my digestive disorder. In Jesus name, amen.

2. Father God, I ask that you would bring healing to my entire GI Tract. That you would reduce inflammation, regulate my digestion, and enable my body to absorb nutrients. In Jesus name, amen.

3. Lord put a hedge of protection around my digestive system against any and all symptoms including cramping, ulcers, acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, gas, & bloating. Should I experience any of these symptoms, please let them pass quickly, and not become a regular issue that interferes with my everyday life. In Jesus name, amen.

4. Lord Jesus I ask for complete freedom and healing from my digestive disorder and stomach pain. In Jesus name, amen.

If you suffer from a digestive disorder or stomach pain, I would encourage you to continue praying these prayers on a regular basis. Print them out and hang them on your fridge, or pray them before each meal.

I pray that these prayers bring you more healing than you even think possible!

The Truth Behind Being Healthy

"Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good. God probes for what IS good." Proverbs 16:2 MSG

When you read this verse, it's easy to see it as a diss to us humans. We are vain and conceited and easily swayed by outward appearance. But, it's more than that.

It's a reminder of God's omnipotence.

It's a reminder that God always sees everything, always knows everything.

That us humans can only ever get a glimpse of the real truth. All we can do is look for what appears to be good. We aren't capable of probing through all the muck to find what actually is good. We must depend on God for this insight. Only he can reveal the TRUTH to us.

And with God, it always circles back to the heart and what's really going on inside. Because God doesn't settle for false pretense and fake motives. No. Instead he continues to push his people toward Him. Toward holiness. Toward freedom. Toward healing. God continues to pierce through every layer, penetrating straight to the heart of the matter, until all that's left is TRUTH. This is the way that we need to start looking at our health.

It's not about what looks healthy, and it's not about what feels health, it's about what actually IS healthy. I STRUGGLED with acne all throughout high school and college before finally going on topical medication at the age of 23. It was like the sky had opened up and the angels were singing. For the first time in 10 years, I looked in the mirror and I liked what I saw! My skin looked SO HEALTHY! My scars started to diminish, my complexion started to even out, and best of all, I could leave the house without any make up at all. I was on that medication for three years. I felt healthy and I looked healthy, but was I actually? Had I cured the problem and found true health? No, I had simply put a band aid on it and covered up my symptoms.

What looks healthy, is not always healthy. What feels healthy is not always healthy.

Ever wonder how someone can walk around and live their normal everyday life and then one day bam!  they get diagnosed with stage four cancer and are given only months to live? They look perfectly healthy. They had been feeling perfectly healthy. There were no warning signs. Yet, they are filled with poison and are far from healthy.

Because what looks healthy is not always healthy. What feels healthy is not always healthy.

What appears to look good is not always good. I'm so thankful for a God that probes for true goodness, because frankly, we need a WHOLE LOT MORE truth in this area of what we call healthy.

What looks healthy has become a number on a scale, or fitting into those skinny jeans. Eating to be skinny has become synonymous with eating to be healthy, and last time I checked, those were not the same things.

What feels healthy has become medication, procedures, and surgery. Anything to get a quick fix and instant relief. Masking the symptoms has become the goal, instead of diagnosing the problem in order to get to the root cause.

We've settled lackluster health. We've settled for the human version of healthy, instead of a God version of abundantly healthy. Why?

Because truth is scary. Truth looks us in the face with every mistake we've made that has gotten us to this moment. Broken, sick, diseased, and in desperate need of relief. Truth is hard work. It's rising above the patterns of the world. It's rising above the "skinny" trend and living the "healthy" trend instead. It's rising above the "crash diet" and living a healthy lifestyle every.single.day. Truth forces you to stand out in the crowd. Truth touches your heart and says you can do this. Truth says this is the hardest way, but it's the right way.

Why? Because the truth sets us free, and you can't be truly healthy, unless you're truly free.

Wishing you all Health, Hope, & Happiness
Abby

Digestive Disorders & Stomach Pain

I am beyond thrilled to finally start our 52 weeks, 52 prayers campaign!! I want to thank all of you who made the commitment to partner along with us as we pray over our health each week for the next 52 weeks. I cannot wait to see how God is going to heal and transform each of you through this prayer journey!

For the four weeks of June, each of the prayers will be focused around digestive disorders and stomach pain. If you are reading this and you have no idea what the 52 weeks, 52 prayers campaign is, go check that out first, (click here) and then this will make a lot more sense.

To find the weekly prayers, head over to my website, where the weekly prayer is posted each week on the right side bar.

The prayers will all be posted on Instagram as well. Follow me @abbyshroka in order to see the new prayer each week.

The prayers will also be posted to our Facebook page. By liking us on Facebook, you will have access to each week's prayer. Click here to like is us on Facebook.

Why digestive disorders and stomach pain? Statistics show that 48% of Americans suffer from some type of digestive disorder and/or regular stomach pain and this number continues to increase each year. This means that half of you who read this suffer from stomach pain on a consistent basis.

Why is it important for you to pray over your digestive issues? For two reasons. The first is that most digestive disorders go undiagnosed, which is extremely frustrating for both the doctor and the patient. Luckily we have a healer, named Jesus, and He knows exactly what your diagnosis is. (We will be praying for clarity and correct diagnosis this month!) The second reason is that the root cause of digestive disorders varies greatly, so it can be hard to pin point what exactly is causing your symptoms. (We will be praying for discernment to know what triggers stomach pain).

For those of you have undiagnosed digestive pain, a Hope Session may be a great help to you. This is a 90 minute session that is rooted in prayer for healing, discernment, and revelation. We also discuss your health concerns and I provide you with dietary and lifestyle recommendations. Click here for more information about our Hope Sessions.

Digestive Disorders 101

There are many different digestive disorders, but the most common ones include: ulcers, acid reflux or GERD, celiac's disease, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), and diverticulitis. Though these are all different the symptoms of any digestive disorder include:

• stomach pain
• acid reflux
• constipation
• diarrhea
• nausea
• gas
• bloating

These symptoms are painful, embarrassing, and disruptive to your life. Most people believe that there is nothing that can be done to prevent a digestive disorder, mainly because most people are undiagnosed. However, there are some basic nutritional guidelines that will help to reduce, and in many cases eliminate your symptoms.  

1. Eat fiber, fruits, and vegetables at every meal. These three types of foods help to regulate digestion, heal your gut, and reduce inflammation. No matter what type of digestive disorder you suffer from, these foods will help to reduce your pain level.
2. Try an elimination diet to find out if your issues are coming from a certain food source. The most common foods to cause pain and irritation during digestion are dairy, gluten, and sugar. Elimination diets can be tricky. Sign up for a free health history here, so I can help you do it right, so that you will get accurate and effective results.
3. Many digestive disorders are greatly aggravated by processed foods. Stick to "real" food, which is food that is grown out of the ground, not food that is manufactured in a processing plant. Real food is much easier for the body to digest. When the digestive tract is already irritated and sore, eating processed foods that are hard to digest will only aggravate your digestive tract even more, causing a lot more pain.
4. Eating too quickly, skipping meals, and not chewing your food can also aggravate digestive disorders. Make sure to eat your food slowly and chew every bite thoroughly. If you suffer from regular digestive pain, try eating 4-6 smaller meals throughout the day instead of the traditional three. This can help to soothe the stomach and regulate digestion

Statistics show that, of those who suffer with digestive disorders and stomach pain, 78% don't communicate this to their health professional. So, this means that many of you are suffering alone, with no help and no hope. If this is you, please commit to praying everyday! Know that you are not alone. Know that we are joined together with you, specifically praying for your digestive health. Link up with us for the next 52 weeks.


Head over to our website, to see this week's prayer posted on the right side bar.

Follow me on Instagram, @abbyshroka or like us on Facebook by clicking here, to see this week's prayer.

Wishing you all Health, Hope, & Happiness
Abby

Eight Causes for Cravings

Most people think that cravings are some cruel form of punishment that our body's use to torture us. We've been conditioned to ignore cravings and fight them, but this method is doomed for failure. Cravings won't be ignored, and fighting them is a losing battle. The key to cravings is understanding why they are present. When you can find the root cause of a craving, all of a sudden, the craving is no longer a cruel form of punishment, but a warning sign from your body that it needs you to fix a potential problem.

Learning how to decipher your cravings is key to optimal health!

Trying to decipher cravings can sound tricky, but it's actually quite simple. When you have a craving, take some time to stop and ask yourself, what does my body want and why? The "why" is almost always answered in one of these common causes of cravings listed below.

The eight primary causes of cravings are: 

1. Lack of "emotional nutrients." Emotional nutrients include loving relationships, a fulfilling career, a personal relationship with Jesus, a consistent and healthy exercise routine, etc.

When you're dissatisfied in a relationship or have an inappropriate exercise routine (too much, too little or the wrong type), are stressed, uninspired by a job, or lack a close relationship with Jesus, some form of emotional eating will come in to play in order to fill these voids. 

When people are lacking emotional nutrients, most tend to eat as a form of punishment or reward. If you find yourself getting weird cravings that lead to binging episodes, ask yourself what emotional nutrient isn't being met. 

2. Water. When you are dehydrated, the body will send a message that you are thirsty. If this message is ignored, the body will send hunger cravings instead. The reason why you experience hunger cravings is because most of the water we humans consume comes in the form of our food, not in the beverages we drink. So, the body knows that if you eat a meal, you will also rehydrate the body. If you feel hungry shortly after a meal, when you know you shouldn't be hungry, drink a full glass of water, and then wait 20 minutes. If the problem was dehydration, the cravings will go away in that time. Excess water can also cause cravings, so be sure that your water intake is well balanced.

3. Yin/yang imbalance. Yin/yang is the belief that opposites attract because they bring balance. Certain foods have more yin qualities, while other foods have more yang qualities. Eating foods that are either extremely yin or extremely yang causes cravings in order to maintain balance in your body. For example, eating a diet too rich in sugar (yin) may cause a craving for meat (yang) because meat is very bitter when digested. Eating too many raw foods (yin) may cause cravings for extremely cooked (dehydrated) foods or vise versa. Pay attention to a connection between sweet and sour foods and bitter and salty foods.

4. Inside coming out. Often times, cravings come from foods that we have recently eaten, foods eaten by our ancestors, or foods from our childhood. A clever way to satisfy these cravings is to eat a healthier version of one’s ancestral or childhood foods.

5. Seasons. Often the body craves foods that balance the elements of the season. In the spring, people crave detoxifying foods like leafy greens or citrus foods. In the summer, people crave cooling foods like fruit, raw foods, and ice cream, and in the fall people crave grounding foods like squash, onions and nuts. During winter, many crave hot and heat-producing foods like meat, soup, and oil. Cravings can also be associated around the holidays, with foods like turkey, eggnog, or seasonal desserts.

                                               

6. Lack of nutrients. If the body has inadequate nutrients, it will produce odd cravings. For example, inadequate mineral levels produce salt cravings, and overall inadequate nutrition produces cravings for non-nutritional forms of energy, like caffeine.

7. Hormones. When women experience menstruation, pregnancy or menopause, fluctuating testosterone and estrogen levels may cause unique cravings.

8. De-evolution. When things are going extremely well, sometimes a self-sabotage syndrome happens. We crave foods that throw us off, thus creating more cravings to balance ourselves. This often happens from low blood-sugar and may result in strong mood swings.

The body is amazing. It knows when to go to sleep, wake up, go to the bathroom, maintain 98.6 degrees and tighten the eyes when the light gets bright. It knows the miracle of pregnancy and childbirth. Your heart never misses a beat. Your lungs are always breathing. The body is a super-computer and it never makes mistakes, and this includes odd cravings. Every craving you experience has a purpose. Knowing possible reasons for cravings can open the door to healing underlying problems that have been lingering for years. 

52 Weeks. 52 Prayers.

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been working on new material. With that, I am thrilled to *finally* announce some changes coming to the blog, along with the weekly prayer that will be featured on my website!

The Weekly Prayer: 
This idea actually grew out of a book that I received when I got married titled, "The Power of a Praying Wife," by Stormie Omartian. This is an excellent book that I highly recommend! I love how Stormie breaks down different topics to pray over your husband; i.e. his work, his finances, his fatherhood, his attitude, his affection, etc. As I was (re)reading through this book a couple months ago, I got this idea (or the Holy Spirit gave it to me) about praying over your health. In the same way that Stormie breaks down different topics, what if I broke down different health issues that you could pray over yourself?

Do you pray over your health? If most people are honest, they don't pray over their health until they lose it. The reasons vary from person to person, but many admit that they just don't know what to pray when it comes to their health. Well no more! It's time to commit to being prayer warriors over our health. I'm so excited to announce that I have launched a weekly prayer on my website based solely around common health issues people face.

From now on, I will have a prayer that focuses on some aspect of health on the right side bar of my website. This prayer will change every week, so that throughout the year, you can pray over a wide variety of issues regarding your health. You can also write down the prayers that specifically pertain to your health needs, and pray those over yourself on a daily basis. (this also works for loved ones. I encourage you to pray these weekly prayers over your loved ones as well).

The weekly prayers will have a theme from month to month. A few of the themes include: heart disease, cancer, mental health, hormonal health & fertility, stress, exercise, sleep, energy (or lack there of), etc.

Because I'm a straight to the point kind of pray-er, the weekly prayers on my website will be short and sweet. However, for those of you who want a more detailed prayer, and for those who want background information on the health issue we are praying over, I will be blogging about the monthly theme at the beginning of each month. I will also post a recap at the end of each month sharing the prayers that I've posted over the past four weeks, in case you miss one.

With this, I invite you to plug in with me. For the next 52 weeks, make a commitment to pray over your health. Make a commitment to pray each new prayer over your health. Every. Single. Week. Grab a friend and start praying these prayers over each other. Pray these prayers over your family at the dinner table each week.

Plug in with me! Your health is one of the most precious gifts God has given you. In the next 52 weeks, let's commit to praying 52 different prayers over our health. To stay plugged in, sign up for these blog posts to go directly to your inbox as they are posted. That way, you won't miss one prayer. Enter your email into the box at the top right hand side of this blog. I promise I will never spam you or give your email out!

Wishing you all Health, Hope, & Happiness
Abby

An Inspiring Story of One Readers Faith Based Journey

Hi Everyone! I'm sorry I have been MIA lately. I've been in the process of re-branding certain aspects of my business (including this blog). I'm really excited about it, and I can't wait to share it with you all soon! Just a little hint: there's going to be a lot more Jesus, and let's face it, we all need more of that! Stay tuned!

In the meantime, I asked my friend Renee to write a guest post. Renee is a Holy Yoga Instructor, Stay at Home Mom, Health Advocate, Dairy Free/Gluten Free Pro, and Blogger. She has inspired me so much lately with her health and weight loss story. More importantly, she has inspired me with the way she has brought Jesus into every aspect of her health. I hope that, after reading her story, she will inspire you as much as she inspires me!

Hello there,

My name is Renee and I am a stay-at-home mom from Wisconsin. Welcome to my health journey! As most things go, my struggles began at a young age. I acquired a serious problem with food. My stay-at-home father was a food addict, and he ingrained his habits and emotional coping skills upon my brother and I. If we were sick, he'd go get us ice cream. If "we were good," he'd treat us to something sweet. Feeling sad? "Let's go get pizza." There was food for every emotion. Whilst I was growing up, it soon became apparent to me that something wasn't right. Children at school made comments to me about my eating habits, my physical being, and how my family looked. Of course though, being so young, I trusted my parents and hadn't thought that their decisions for me were anything but honorable.

These emotional eating habits carried on through my teen years, and into adulthood. In my early teens, the teasing and bullying was at it's highest peak. I decided I needed to start taking these matters into my own hands. So I joined basketball. The following year I added volleyball and softball to my agenda. I was determined to lose the weight and be fit like all the rest of my peers. Little did I know, that I'd have to change so much more than that. It was definitely a stepping stone in the right direction; especially now because I love working out and it's a crucial part in my everyday life. In all of this though, I felt like I was missing a huge part of my life outside of nutrition and fitness.

Over the years, I've tried programs such as Slim Fast, The South Beach Diet, Weight Watchers, Atkins, and many more. Sure, they worked for a certain time, and at times have you doing some crazy things, but they never stuck around long enough to make them into a lifestyle. And in the middle of all this hullabaloo (isn't that a great word?!), I found myself missing something in my life. Something that seemed so significant. After my Holy Yoga Instructor training had finished, it finally hit me. I need Jesus. Jesus was, and is, the only one that was going to truly get me through my rough days and encourage me in my greatest days. He is my greatest cheerleader along my journey. When I have moments of not wanting to workout or am feeling like I haven't done my best, I pray. I pray to God, asking Him to encourage me to do better next time; or to keep going. To have Him help me rely on the skills that I've acquired for me to continue my journey. I pray for grace so that I can pick up the pieces and make it the best of my abilities. Or even to thank Him and praise Him for my accomplishments. "I did it, dad!" And most of all, to not give up. No matter what's going on in my journey to weight loss and increasing my health, He is there for me. The best health coach!

Do I still struggle with particular issues? Sure! Every. Single. Day. But have I given up? Not at all; because he never gives up on me. Ever! Isn't that awesome? How often can you say that about someone? I wake up everyday happier, more confident, and comforted in knowing that God has a whole new and different path for me to follow. Much more grand and adventurous than I could ever imagine, and I have a front row seat!

~ Renee

If you want to follow Renee's progress with reaching her health goals, connect with her on instagram: @nayrobbo

She also has an awesome blog where she discusses how she overcame frequent migraines, clean eating habits, exercise, faith, daily life experiences, and awesome dairy free, gluten free, recipes! You can find her blog here: http://hosannahealth.blogspot.com/

You can also find her on Facebook as well. Her page is called Hosanna Health. You can find it here: https://www.facebook.com/britishwifeamericanmama

For my midwestern readers (or those of you who have friends in Wisconsin), Renee teaches Holy Yoga in Hudson WI! Class is at Bethel Highlands Lutheran Church on Tuesdays at 3:45pm.

Wishing you all Health, Hope, & Happiness
Abby