I was invited to talk with realtor Faby Gonzalez, the host of Good Day Chula Vista for Episode #18 to talk about my journey with a child with autism and how my son Jovan helped raise my awareness to live a better, healthier life.  Healthy, organic eating habits changed not only my family, but also the lives of many of my loved ones and co-workers. I was thankful for the invitation to talk with my good friend Faby about these important topics. Please view the Facebook live video below. 

Polyphenols are micro nutrients that we get through certain plant-based foods.  They're packed with antioxidants and potential health benefits. It's thought that polyphenols can improve or help treat digestion and weight management issues, diabetes, neurodegenerative disease, and cardiovascular disease.  

70% of your immune system lives in your digestive tract. Your body's naturally-occurring probiotics feed on polyphenols. A polyphenol-rich diet can help you feel better and digest your food better. That's right, eating foods with polyphenols can help fuel our own probiotics, making our own digestive systems healthier. 

It's best to get polyphenols by eating foods containing them rather than via supplements, which can limit iron absorption. There are polyphenol blends available for purchase, but they need to be soy-free, lactose-free and manufactured to cGMP standards and have the same high polyphenol content you'd receive if you simple at the food itself, rather than purchase a supplement. 

The best way we've found to harness the highest nutrient content of these powerful foods is to eat them raw and also blend them to add to our kombucha and daily blended juices.  This has a wonderful effect on my family's health. It helps to detoxify and reduce the inflammation Jovan experiences in his gut.  As I've said before, all health begins in the gut, and that's one of the main places we started to try to heal Jovan with his digestive health.

Here are a few of our favorite organic greens that make healthy, nutrient-dense green juices.  These have greatly helped Jovan on his healing path: 

• Kale - Anti-inflamatory and helps to protect the body against harmful bacteria and viruses.
• Spinach - Powerful antioxidant packed with B vitamins, vitamins A, C, E, and K, trace minerals like copper and magnesium.   
• Watercress - High in calcium, iron, vitamin C, vitamin K, phytonutrients, and antioxidants.
• Parsley -  Known for its ability to draw out toxic heavy metals and expel them from the body. 
• Broccoli - High in folate, phosphorus, choline, potassium and copper.  
• Collard Greens - High in protein, fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. 
• Celery - Rich fiber content, reduces inflammation and very beneficial to the gut.
• Rainbow Chard - Nutritional powerhouse and an excellent source of vitamins K, A and C. Good source of magnesium, potassium, iron, and fiber. 
• Cucumber - Contain multiple B vitamins, including B1, B5 and B7. High water and fiber content to aid in digestion.

We often add lemon and green apples to our juices.   The best thing about these juices is that the ingredients can come from your own organic garden! 

YOU CHANGE FIRST

It starts with you changing first. Who would have thought that I would change first? Well, for your kids, you will do anything. I was, by far, the worst eater in the world. Yes, I ate at McDonald's and I ate fast food. I had no conscience about food. I thought I ate healthy and I had no palate. Well, boy, was I wrong! It took my son to get sick for me to fix myself.

I was always tired, sleepy and moody. I had painful menstruation and I had to take six ibuprofen daily for a week. I had no idea what I was doing to my body. I never ate veggies or fruit. I loved potato chips and french fries.

But why was I always sick? Because my immune syatem was shot. I was sick almost every two months. I once got sick for almost two weeks straight and was exhausted in bed.

In 2011 I started reading about juicing.  Katheryn Reed was writing about MSG and how she cured her daughter's autism. She made videos about juicing. I read the labels on everything I purchased. Katheryn Reed said, "If you don’t understand the label that means it's bad for you, and anything that says NATURAL FLAVORS means you are consuming MSG." I found her info interesting since I had heard diet worked but didn’t have anybody that could confirm that it worked.  I repeatedly heard that changing the diet wasn't proven and doesn't work.  

I'm a very drastic and extreme person. So the night I read up on MSG, it dawned on me that if I ate wrong how could I possibly help my son? I was the one that brought sweets to my kids and thought I was rewarding them. Well I was wrong.

I started juicing in 2011 and was maybe at one juice per day. As I started educating myself, I came across the “Just Juice” website that said the person that started the recipes cured herself from cancer, and that a detox was necessary. So in 2015 I did a juice cleanse. By that time, I was already fermenting my own foods and making my own milk keifers, kambucha and water keiffers. I did the "21 in 21 Just Juice" detox and I lost 30 pounds. I became a blended juice junkie. To this day I drink four juices a day. I make them daily and take them to work.

I also prepare my cucumber water with mint and ginger and consume at least one gallon each day.  I changed my palate. Our family went organic and GMO-free in 2012.  Since then I started choosing where we ate and mostly ate at home. I found research that confirmed it is better to make food at home than to buy pre-made food. To this day I have maintained my weight without even trying. I no longer have heavy periods or menstrual cramps since I made those changes. I have not had any Tylenol or ibuprofen in three years. I'm never tired and I feel well all the time. I have energy to ferment and make our food and I even started growing our garden. We even bought our own chickens and goats! I have my whole family on this healthier lifestyle now! This change would have never happened if it weren’t for Jovan. We changed, and those changes have made Jovan's transition smoother. 

I have had the privilege of getting advice from the best doctor that specializes in detoxification, Dr. Heinz Reinwald. He is an amazing man and doctor. To all the mothers out there that don’t know how important detoxification is, please educate yourselves because this is the one of the most important steps that is helping Jovan continue to recover from his autism.

Dr. Reinwald has a series of supplements that help detoxify and cleanse the metals, toxins and more.  I  am not a doctor, but I have done my research and his supplements have proven worthy!  It has helped my son's progress. It's sad, but nowadays doctors don’t know this. They don’t even try to educate themselves further to understand it. Our health care system is so horrible that we are constantly filled with prescriptions for this and that and instead of healing, we are suppressing our illnesses.

One thing I learned is how BAD acetaminophen is for the body. I will attach a link of articles that are found in regards to the harm acetaminophen does to the body. Did you know that fevers are the best detoxification? Our bodies create fevers to fight the bad bacteria in our gut that causes these ailments. Socrates even states that fevers are a miracle. Obviously, fevers need to be taken seriously and monitored by your trusted physician. Always use Ibuprofen instead of acetaminophen (if you must), but keeping fevers down naturally with your trusted physician is the best way. I have links to trusted physicians who are pediatricians that can help you with detoxification and natural remedies without harming and intoxicating your children.

Always research and don’t believe the first thing you are told! You are the only one that can help your child grow to be a healthy and happy human being. The body is a miracle and it is constantly regenerating! Please click here for a link to Dr. Reinwald's suggested supplements that you can show your trusted physician.  Your physician can communicate with Dr. Reinwald's team for any assistance.

I also recommend blended juicing as huge way to detoxify. Green veggies are great source to help detox. Fermented veggies in your shakes are even better!  Fermenting at home is super easy!

My favorite detox juice cleanse is the "21 in 21."