368: Three Key Wellness Practices to Embrace Despite Feeling Overscheduled and Busy w/ Jovanka Ciares
Release Date: 05/13/2022
Essentially You: Empowering You On Your Health & Wellness Journey With Safe, Natural & Effective Solutions
As many as 90% of us are on a PERPETUAL blood sugar rollercoaster! These constant spikes and crashes can lead to a seemingly endless cycle of weight gain, mood swings, inflammation, low energy–and ultimately, a chronic illness like diabetes. But it’s not always what you eat… It’s when you eat it and what you eat it with. Tune in to my new podcast mini and learn how to dress up your carbs up with protein and fats, plus 3 snack ideas that will get you feeling SO much better.
info_outlineEssentially You: Empowering You On Your Health & Wellness Journey With Safe, Natural & Effective Solutions
What we eat for breakfast will either make or break our energy and metabolism for the day and YES, I am even talking about the added sugar in your coffee or tea to start your day. It’s important that the first meal you eat to break your fast, on any given day, is a meal that doesn’t cause a blood sugar spike and crash… Because your first meal will set the tone for the rest of your day! It’s the difference-maker between you craving sugary snacks all day long OR you feeling full and energized. Choose your breakfast well and you’ll feel and function...
info_outlineEssentially You: Empowering You On Your Health & Wellness Journey With Safe, Natural & Effective Solutions
If You Want to Get Clear On Healing Your Disease, You Should: Understand and be firmly surrounding your own health and non-negotiables Forgive yourself for past medical gaslighting and explore your options Stop looking for a quick fix by adjusting your mindset to slow thinking Have you ever stopped to ask yourself what are your health non-negotiables? As women, we need to get better at asking ourselves this question, especially when we are dealing with chronic symptoms or diseases. While every woman's approach to healing is different, we all need to get clear on what is 100%...
info_outlineEssentially You: Empowering You On Your Health & Wellness Journey With Safe, Natural & Effective Solutions
Back in spring of 2015, when I was 35 years old, my metabolism, energy, and weight all hit rock bottom… and here's the kicker: I never once thought that I was dealing with insulin resistance and crazy blood sugar issues. Now, I can’t begin to tell you how many women have come to me over the years and shared that they ALSO struggled with weight-loss resistance that seemed to come out of nowhere! If these symptoms have been something you have struggled with as well, you are NOT alone. Tune in to today’s podcast to learn how to stabilize blood sugar levels and...
info_outlineEssentially You: Empowering You On Your Health & Wellness Journey With Safe, Natural & Effective Solutions
Most of us want to experience our emotions in a safe and healthy way without feeling triggered or reactive. However, in a lot of daily situations, this is much easier said than done. Becoming emotionally intelligent, especially during difficult conversations or situations can be scary. But, tapping into your own truth and learning how to show up authentically can open you up to a new way of living that you never thought possible. Helping Women Succeed with Dr. Patty Ann Tublin Dr. Patty Ann Tublin is an internationally recognized emotional intelligence communication and relationship...
info_outlineEssentially You: Empowering You On Your Health & Wellness Journey With Safe, Natural & Effective Solutions
Almost as insidious as chronic stress on the body, is being on a constant blood sugar rollercoaster – because every time we spike our blood sugar, we can create an inflammatory response. And the more often we cause a spike, we begin to raise our fasting blood sugar levels, drive insulin resistance, experience a hot mess of symptoms, and potentially, create serious chronic disease in the body over time. THIS is why I wear a Continuous Glucose Monitor (GCM) now. But for those of you who don’t, there are ways to know when you are on the blood sugar...
info_outlineEssentially You: Empowering You On Your Health & Wellness Journey With Safe, Natural & Effective Solutions
If You Want to Flatten Your Glucose Curve, You Should: Be on the lookout for the most common signs that you are on a glucose rollercoaster Work to understand what is happening in your body and get your blood sugar levels balanced Use Jessie’s 10 simple principles to regulate your plate and regulate your blood sugar Most of us are on a blood sugar rollercoaster but don't even know it. Understanding your blood sugar, and flattening your glucose curve, is one of the most important things you can do for your overall health and longevity. I believe flattening your glucose curve is one of...
info_outlineEssentially You: Empowering You On Your Health & Wellness Journey With Safe, Natural & Effective Solutions
I don’t know about you, but for a long time, I was fooled into believing that honey and maple syrup were better for my blood sugar levels – and my body overall – than the run of the mill brown sugar or raw sugar… But I was SO wrong. All forms of sugar raise your blood sugar the same way every single time – which if left unmanaged, can lead to oxidative stress, fat storage in our liver and adipose cells, insulin resistance, blood vessel dysfunction, high blood pressure, brain fog and mitochondrial dysfunction. But you don’t need to quit sugar...
info_outlineEssentially You: Empowering You On Your Health & Wellness Journey With Safe, Natural & Effective Solutions
IF YOU WANT TO UPGRADE YOUR BRAIN, YOU SHOULD: Focus on high-quality movement, sleep, and nutrition as your three core pillars for health Educate yourself about what is happening with your body and hormones so that you can understand the changes better Stay connected and engaged with your relationships with others and with yourself EPISODE SUMMARY The saying that as we age our brains start to decline is simply not true. Women’s brains are beautiful, complex, and change and upgrade as we go through the different phases of our life. The key is understanding what is going on with your...
info_outlineEssentially You: Empowering You On Your Health & Wellness Journey With Safe, Natural & Effective Solutions
We work so hard to take care of ourselves. We go to the gym, make healthy dinners, and limit treats to only healthy sugars… But metabolic health is directly connected to some of our biggest symptoms.… And even those healthy sugars can lead to blood sugar spikes and crashes… If you want to achieve optimal metabolic wellness, there are three hormones you need to hone in on! Tune in today to hear… How long it took me to recover from a small blood sugar spike The health complications that chronically elevated blood glucose levels can cause Why Syndrome X leads you to more carbs What...
info_outlineCreating sustainable self-care practices involves
- The realization that slowing down is still moving forward
- Replacing the habits you remove with something positive and fulfilling
- Asking for and receiving what you want and need
- Using natural solutions from plants to support your wellness practices
- Spending quality time in nature
Do you find it hard to carve out time for yourself every single day? Like me, I bet there are days when you feel pulled in a million different directions, tending to everyone’s needs but your own. It takes dedication to stick to self-care practices while living a full, and sometimes hectic life. I get how self-care doesn’t always go according to plans. That’s why I brought on today’s guest to share her key wellness practices to embrace despite being overscheduled and busy.
About Jovanka Ciares
Jovanka Ciares is the author of Reclaiming Wellness and several other titles. A certified wellness expert, integrative herbalist, nutrition educator, and coach, she offers lectures and workshops in Spanish and English.
Jovanka studied nutrition with bestselling author T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., at his Center for Nutrition Studies (in partnership with Cornell University) and herbalism/plant medicine with Tieraona Low Dog, MD. A native of Puerto Rico, she lives in Los Angeles.
Slowing Down and Getting Support So You Can Do More For Yourself
Adapting wellness practices to your life, especially when you’re overwhelmed, is no simple task. Yet, as Jovanka explains, transformational habits and rituals can be integrated with ease and grace.
This involves realizing that just because you might be slowing down, you are still moving forward. It also involves replacing the habits you remove with something more fulfilling. You’ll likely need to ask others to support you with this. Don’t be afraid to do so because receiving in itself is an act of generosity as Jovanka explains.
FInding Natural Support from Plants and Herbs
An essential part of Jovanka’s process involves the medicinal nature of plants. Whether you need focus, energy, or relaxation, tapping into the power of plants can go a long way in supporting your wellness practices.
Herbs and supplements can restore your endocrine system, support your body, and give your mind what it needs. Jovanka describes how a number of specific adaptogenic herbs can help support and sustain your self-care rituals.
What can support you on your path to self-care and wellness? Share your thoughts with me in the comments section of the episode page.
Quotes:
“People need to start understanding that they are the experts in their body. The person you look at in the mirror every morning is the expert of you.” [11:19]
“A lot of us, especially women, are very generous with our time and energy, but we don’t want to receive. Nothing could be more detrimental. We have to learn that the act of receiving is also an act of generosity.” [21:27]
“So you find some alternative solutions and, in combination with what your doctor recommends, there is no need for us to struggle through a lot of these hormonal changes.” [29:30]
“We are part of mother nature and we need to reconnect with it. It’s critical to our health and wellbeing.” [33:50]
In This Episode
- Understanding that you are the expert of your own body and advocating for what you need for it [6:30]
- Reclaiming what fulfills you after removing what doesn’t [15:30]
- How adaptogenic plants can help us adapt and reclaim our wellness [22:30]
- Why a connection with nature is an integral part of wellness [31:15]
Resources Mentioned:
Use Promo Code ‘podcast’ for 10% off your order at the Essentially Whole Store Here
Follow Jovanka on Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | Linkedin | Twitter
Other Resources:
Check out the full show notes page
Keep up with everything Dr. Mariza
Follow Dr. Mariza on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube
Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative