My “bounce back” after breast cancer sounded more like a thud. I share my trip after reaching out for help and being considered “suicidal” which was a complete misunderstanding. I was looking for answers for why I felt so bad. I’d been through a lot of devastating life circumstances that I was dealing with. My son’s suicide, breast cancer and losing my father within 8 months was enough for anyone to be struggling, but suicide wasn’t an option for me…never was and never will be.
Episode 005 - Don’t Lose Heart
My strong faith brought me through the hardest times in my life and this was no exception. I learned a lot as I ventured down the mental health path in the medical system. I discovered another way to take my “blues” away. It wasn’t an anti-depressive but something you may never expect.
Did You Know Low Vitamin D can cause Depression?
Do you know what your vitamin D level is? I would venture to guess it’s below the minimum to stay healthy.
Did you know up to 90% of Americans are not getting enough of the nutrients that are critical for healthy functioning?
Over 98% of Americans are deficient in omega three fats,
80% in vitamin D,
50% in magnesium, and
10% in vitamin C at the level that would cause scurvyVitamin D: 80% of Americans are deficient in this vitamin. Why? We are not outside enough! Those who live in the northern part of the country are particularly at risk for deficiency due to the angle of the sun during winter. 10am-2pm are the ideal times to be outside to get sun exposure for vitamin D levels, but most people will also need supplementation to maintain optimal levels. Vitamin D is actually a hormone: it regulates bone density, supports the immune system and has a big impact on our overall health.
Normal: 30-100 ng/mL
Optimal : 50-80 ng/mL— according to Mark Hyman, MD during summit presentation - Commune
Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) - mentioned in the episode
To find a faith based counselor in your area this link might help.
Infrared Sauna
Infrared Sauna is recommended for patients with heart failure and was recommended to me by my integrative cardiologist to help me with energy levels. I explain the connection between EZ Water and the infrared sauna. See my earlier post on EZ Water on how the infrared sauna provides energy. Here’s more about sauna bathing and heart failure patients.
Working in the garden in the summer provides lots of sun and infrared heat that has similar effects to the infrared sauna but not enough for adequate vitamin D levels unless you live south of Atlanta, GA. Test, don’t guess and get your vitamin D levels into the optimum levels to stay healthy and happy!
Letting Go
Fall leaves remind us how we should let go and let God take care of us. We often push ourselves into a direction we think God wants us to go. Stop and talk to Him, pray for His will to be done…and let go and let God give you the guidance you need.
Grab a cup of your favorite fall beverage and enjoy the video!
Books Mentioned on the Podcast Episode
The Whole Heart Solution
by Joel Kahn, MD
In The Whole Heart Solution, America’s Holistic Heart Doc Joel K. Kahn, MD, reveals more than 75 simple, low-cost things you can do right away—from drinking your veggies to opening your windows to walking barefoot—to make yourself heart attack proof.
Cardiovascular disease (CV) is the number one killer in the Western world. But it doesn’t need to be. The truth is that more than 75 percent of cases of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular disease events are preventable.
Here’s what leading physicians and other experts have to say about The Whole Heart Solution:
“If you want to raise your heart energy, keep your heart arteries clean, and identify the root causes of heart disease to avoid stents and bypass surgery, Dr. Kahn has your prescriptions ready to use.
Mast Cells United: A Holistic Approach to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome
by Amber Walker
Two years of full-time research and over 500 pages of information about MCAS!
Faith and Hope
Living for over six decades with these chronic issues that doctors seemed to know little or nothing about often left me feeling defeated and with little hope. I found my courage and my strength through my faith. I found these daily devotionals by Sara such encouraging words that I hope reach out to you too, wherever you are and whatever you’re going through.
A Daily Devotional for Discovering a Meaningful Life in Christ by Sarah Daigle.
Finalist in the 2019 TopShelf Book Awards, Women of Purpose offers 100 days of scripture-based devotions for an intentional and abundant life rooted in Christ.
Music
for The Lone Zebra is provided by my subscription to Epidemic Sound.
Today’s featured song is I Lean on You by the Wildflowers featuring Christine Smit
Musical Interludes that are features for the show are parts of the following songs:
Your Grace by Station Story (Theme Song for the podcast)
Shaving Grace by T. Morri
Come Be With Us by Joyspring
The Paper Birch by Johannes Bornlof
Our Early Years by David Celeste
I hope you enjoyed the show and share it with a friend! I’m not on some of the usual podcast platforms due to censorship that would not allow me to share the truth. I hope you will help me by sharing this podcast with your family and friends that you care about. There are many people out there struggling with chronic illnesses that can benefit by listening to some of the tips I share.
The Lone Zebra can be found here on Substack with no ads and all the links and show notes are here for your reference too. The episodes can also be found on:
Google podcasts, iHeart, Amazon, Audible, Listen Notes, Radio Public, Podcast Addict, Learn Out Loud, Podbean, Pod Chaser, Spreaker, Rumble, Brighteon, YouTube podcast, TuneIn, and Pocket Casts.
Listed platforms without links I have submitted my podcast to but have yet to list the show. This will be updated on future podcast episodes either with links or being removed from this list. Thank you for your patience.
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