Vegans & Deficiencies/ Veganos y Deficiencias

Warning! I’m about to break taboos and hit “ctrl+alt+delete” on some mindsets. At least, I hope so! Let’s talk blood work results of this vegan over here! If you’ve been following me for long enough, you probably already know that I’ve been plant-based for over 10 years. Vegan for the last 6, vegetarian for the years prior to that. And yes, like most human beings I grew up eating meat on the daily. (I’m a Latina. “Arroz con pollo” and “churrascos” were part of my everyday menu). My decision to transition from a regular diet to a plant-based one was mainly driven by my compassion towards animals but slowly transformed -not only into my body’s natural medicine but also- into a lifestyle that has the power to reduce my negative impact on our planet.

This entire week I’ll be talking and responding to your doubts and questions about a plantbased diet. Starting today with the main one: veganism and vitamin deficiencies.

I got my yearly blood work results a little over two weeks ago and everything is in balance for the fifth year in a row! Hence, I decided to share a summary of it with you here and also do an instagram LIVE with my doctor this month.

Cholesterol:

My cholesterol levels are good! I had high cholesterol prior to going plantbased. A combination of genetics and a poor diet. Seeing them in normal levels feels divine!

Sugar:

The question we vegans get a lot because of our daily fruit consumption. My sugar levels are normal!

Thyroid is in balance:

This one is one of the most important results for me. I was diagnosed with HyperThyroidism as a child and took medications for over 20 years until I chose holistic medicine, energy healing (throat chakra), natural supplements, and a vegan diet 6 years ago. My thyroid has been in balance ever since!

Folic Acid is good

Vitamin B12 is good

White Blood count is good

Complete Blood Count (includes Iron) is normal.

According to my doctor, I’m fresh as a lettuce!

My point here? Most of the doubts that prevent us from transitioning into a plantbased diet are created by our lack of information, the noise of our society, and our fear of trying something new that might defy and shake old structures. Trusting nature every day has been my medicine! From a healthy vegan diet full of vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, seeds and superfoods, to vegan and Ayurvedic supplements, and adaptogens. And yes, of course, I also do give in to my human cravings from time to time too and have vegan processed food/ vegan junk food but aim at limiting that consumption as much as possible and cooking more at home.

You know what else changed positively in these 6 years? My skin, my hair, my body, my happiness and the energy flowing within me. I know you guys have a lot of questions so comment away! I’ll focus my next blog and IG posts and stories on answering them.

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(ESPAÑOL)

¡Advertencia! Estoy a punto de romper tabúes y presionar "Ctrl + Alt + Eliminar" a algunas mentalidades. ¡Por lo menos eso espero! ¡Hablemos de los resultados de análisis de sangre de esta vegana por aquí! Si me han estado siguiendo hace un tiempo, probablemente ya saben que mi dieta es a base de plantas hace más de 10 años. Vegana para los últimos 6 años, vegetariana los años anteriores a eso. Y sí, como la mayoría de los seres humanos, crecí comiendo carne a diario. (Soy latina. "Arroz con pollo" y "churrascos" fueron parte de mi menú diario). Mi decisión de pasar de una dieta regular a una basada en plantas fue impulsada principalmente por mi compasión hacia los animales pero lentamente se transformó, no solo en medicina natural para mi cuerpo, sino también en un estilo de vida que tiene el poder de reducir mi impacto negativo en nuestro planeta.

Esta semana entera hablaré y responderé a sus dudas y preguntas sobre una dieta basada en plantas. Comenzando hoy con lo principal: veganismo y deficiencias vitamínicas.

¡Obtuve mis resultados anuales de análisis de sangre hace un poco más de dos semanas y todo está en divino balance por quinto año consecutivo! Por lo tanto, decidí compartir un resumen con ustedes aquí y también hacer un instagram EN VIVO con mi doctora este mes.

Colesterol:

¡Mis niveles de colesterol están bien! Tenía colesterol alto antes de cambiar mi dieta. Una combinación de genética y una dieta pobre. ¡Verlo en niveles normales se siente hermoso!

Azúcar:

La pregunta que a los veganos nos hacen mucho por nuestro consumo diario de frutas. ¡Mis niveles de azúcar son normales!

La tiroides está en equilibrio:

Este es uno de los resultados más importantes para mí. De niña me diagnosticaron hipertiroidismo y tomé medicamentos durante más de 20 años hasta que elegí la medicina holística, la terapias energéticas (chakra de la garganta), suplementos naturales y una dieta vegana hace 6 años. ¡Mi tiroides ha estado en equilibrio desde entonces!

El ácido fólico está bien.

La vitamina B12 está bien.

Mis glóbulos blancos están bien.

Cuenta completa de glóbulos de Sangre (CBC-incluye hierro) está normal.

Según mi médico, ¡estoy fresca como una lechuga!

Mi punto? La mayoría de las dudas que nos impiden hacer la transición a una dieta basada en plantas son creadas por nuestra falta de información, el ruido de la sociedad y nuestro miedo a probar algo nuevo que pueda desafiar y sacudir estructuras viejas. ¡Confiar en la naturaleza todos los días ha sido mi medicina! Desde una dieta vegana saludable llena de verduras, frutas, granos, legumbres, semillas y superalimentos, hasta suplementos veganos y ayurvédicos, y adaptógenos. Y sí, por supuesto, también cedo a mis antojos humanos de vez en cuando y como comida vegana procesada/comida chatarra vegana, pero mi objetivo diario es limitar ese consumo tanto como sea posible y cocinar más en casa.

¿Sabes qué más cambió positivamente en estos 6 años? Mi piel, mi cabello, mi cuerpo, mi felicidad y la energía que fluye dentro de mí. Sé que ustedes tienen muchas preguntas, así que comenten! Centraré mi próximo blog y publicaciones e historias de IG en responderlas.

waterthruskin valeria hinojosa

Superfoods & a brand making it easier and tastier!

Superfoods have played an important role of my life for years now. But you guys know that already, don't you?! It's been quite an exciting journey these past few years, and sharing my plant-based lifestyle with you made it even more so! Whether you are vegan or non-vegan, getting your daily dose of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and protein is crucial, alongside a healthy diet. A habit that has helped me tremendously and has eased my stress of not getting enough protein or nutrients, is preparing my daily shakes. Every day, before or after yoga or my exercise, I make myself a smoothie with frozen fruits (usually berries and banana), organic almond milk (or coconut milk), peanut butter (or almond butter), a scoop of my favorite protein powder, and a scoop of a new superfood brand I've fallen in love with: Detox Organics. This brand has all the veggies, fruits and superfoods needed to alkalinize (balances your body's pH and prevents diseases) and detoxify your body while aiding your digestive system and boosting your energy. The ingredients will blow  your mind away. Seriously! They range from wheatgrass, chlorella and spirulina to carrots, spinach, pineapple, peppermint, fennel, ginger, coconut water and so many more! 10lbs of superfoods in each scoop! All organic, raw, vegan, non GMO, creamy, and delicious! It tastes like a chocolate milkshake, if you ask me. Yes, transforming to a healthier you is as easy (and yummy) as this guys. Always making sure you choose your supplements, superfoods, and meals wisely! 

If you need a tutorial on how to use Detox Organics, or how to prepare your morning shakes, make sure you watch my Instagram stories. I post new videos and recipes every day! And, if you are ready to get your own Detox Organics products, use code "Waterthruskin" to get 15% off!  They also have To-Go packets! I carry those in my bag 24/7. Especially during the trips I take around the world. I never know if I'll be able to find my superfoods, hence, taking Detox Organics with me is a life-saver!

detox organics

Oh Holi Medicine! The natural way.

Oh, Holi Med!

I don’t about you guys, but I’ve always been intrigued by holistic medicine. You see, my grandmother, aka my second mother, my psychologist, my confident, my soul-mate and partner in crime got diagnosed with advanced cancer in her early 70s. When the doctors looked at her chest x-rays they told her she had few months to live and would not make it to a year. According to them, it was a miracle she was still alive. Little did they know she would live for another year and half. I think my family and I have natural medicine to thank for that. And of course, my grandmother’s willingness to live. The minute she got diagnosed, we changed her diet to a vegan diet and gave her natural meds, herbs and teas but the doctors suggested chemotherapy and I’m pretty sure that is what took her away from us. The chemo was so strong and toxic it did not only try to kill the cancer but it consumed her immune system completely. There’s no day that passes by that I don’t ask myself what would’ve happened if we had chosen holistic medicine all the way. It’s been two years since she passed away and besides the silence and loneliness she left in me, she also made me start to wonder more and more about holistic medicine. So… I went to a “holi-doc” and to be honest, I was, and still am, completely shocked with the results. Apparently, being vegan and exercising regularly is not enough. We still need to worry about the pH of the foods we eat! I’ve always heard about alkalinity vs acidity but never put too much attention to it. Consequence? My pH is 6.3 when it should be 7.3 or above. You guys might be asking yourselves “Why the hell is pH so important?”. Here’s a great response to that by Dr Sonja Benjamin: “Our bodies live and die at the cellular level. The billions of cells in our bodies must maintain alkalinity, in order to function and stay alive. The first line of defense against disease is a proper pH balance. Disease can only grow in an acidic body, which makes a condition favorable for the growth of bacteria, yeast, fungus, mold, viruses, and any other unwanted organisms. Cancer always strikes those with an over-acidic body. An acidic state causes a lack of oxygenation at the cellular level. When the pH level falls below 7.4, there is less than the maximum oxygen in the blood. Blood carries the maximum oxygen at pH 7.4 (alkaline). Without proper oxygenation, unfriendly bacteria, mold, and viruses will prosper. When the human body is in an acidic state, it will try to shield itself from the damaging acid by storing the acid in fat cells. The body tries to prevent the acid from eating holes in tissues. When the acid level is high in the body, calcium is also depleted. Your body may make fat cells in order to store unwanted acid for its own protection. This process may save your vital organs from severe damage. By returning to a balanced pH level, you may lose unwanted fat cells.Osteoporosis is an acidic problem. As the body becomes more acidic, calcium is depleted. The body will then leach calcium from bones, teeth, and tissue to make up for this loss. One of the first warning signs is calcium deposits in the body, which come from the calcium in our teeth and bones and not from nutritional calcium.”

Now, back to my story. According to my “doc” my pH was the result of the killer combination of my stress level (apparently, abnormal for my age) and acid food choices. I told him there’s not much I could do about the stress since I work in one of the most stressful industries out there, private banking, so until I have the guts to quit and make my passion my bill-payer I would focus on meditating more and definitely taking charge of my eating habits. He laughed and we agreed on the following: 2-3 months healing process to a better me focused on: less carbs, alkaline water ONLY, less coffee (lowering it from 3 to 1 cup a day), a diet based on 2/3 alkaline foods and 1/3 acidic and of course, no wine (told him that would not happen, like EVER! My family produces wine for a living so I’ve been basically a wine-lover since I was tall enough to grab a glass from the table and serve myself! Luckily, the “doc” knew which battles to choose.) and SUPPLEMENTS! Vegans need supplements more than anyone. I’ve hated vitamins and pills since I was a kid so I avoided them as much as I could. Result? I’m deficient in almost every vitamin out there. The supplements he recommended are 100% natural and VEGAN. Here’s the list in case you guys want to give them a try:

-E3Live Renew Me Body Blend (Strengthens immune system, improves attention and energy levels, supports circulation, etc) I add two teaspoons to my morning shake.

-Diatomaceous Earth (root powder that kills all types of bacteria and parasites) I add one teaspoon to my morning shake.

-Moringa (Superfood Miracle aka Botanical Multi-vitamin)

-Clinic’s Choice Optimal Flora (Probiotic to balance digestive bacteria)

-Clinic’s Choice Protosolve (promotes healthy circulation system)

-Clinic’s Choice Digest Plus (enzymes)

-Osteo-Gest (osteoporosis prevention)

I already started this journey and will visit the “doc” in October for a follow up. I’ll let you guys know how it goes. In the meantime, here’s a link to a list of alkaline vs acidic foods. You’ll be amazed by how foods we thought were so healthy (oatmeal and brown rice) turn out to be acidic! At least, I was.

Love you guys!

http://www.rense.com/1.mpicons/acidalka.htm

 

http://www.doctoroz.com/article/25-alkaline-promoting-foods