Live Long and Prosper

by Carla Atherton, Director of the Healthy Family Formula

 

Watch The Human Longevity project!

Because there has been such a massive buzz about the project, you may have already heard about the new docuseries, The Human Longevity Project hosted by my friend and colleague Jason Prall. If you haven’t yet, let me tell you, it is so good that I have added it to the syllabus for my new HFF Selfcare Coach Practitioner Training program! The film is a revelation, a wake up call, a call to action, and an inspiring celebration of life and our own human potential. So, it’s good.

 

What do I mean by good? Here are some quotes plucked from the series:

 

“The most powerful tool you have in the arsenal of vibrant health is what’s on the end of your fork.” Dr. Tom O’Bryan

 

“It’s how you live your life that is going to dictate your health.” Dr. Pedram Shojai

 

“When you change your diet, and you change your microbiome, that changes all your gene expressions.” Dr. Datis Kharrazian

 

“The basics in life, the foods that you’re eating, the environment that you’re in, the people you’re surrounded with, are way more important than those genetic SNPs that you’re seeing on your lab report.” Dr. Ben Lynch

 

“This is the age of personalized healthcare, moving from the age of the averages, to the age of the individual, to the treatment of a cause and not just the effect.” Dr. Jeffrey Bland

 

“I really believe that people who have lived and lived well and have gotten the lessons from all these experiences can help the younger generation understand that you will get through this…and there is a way you can do it, and with the support of a community of people who have kind of been there, done that, and got the t-shirt.” Dr. Keesha Ewers

 

When you watch the series, at the very least, you will learn all kinds of ways that you can act now to improve your family’s health and ensure longevity for every family member, young and old. You will also find answers to your own family’s health concerns and questions; but what is more, how you view health will be forever changed. You will feel so good and inspired and clear that you will want to share it with everyone you know. Become empowered by the community of health advocates, experts, and elders whose vibrance you can actually feel coming through the beautiful images in the film. I have watched every minute, and you bet I’ll be watching again and again.

 

Well done, Jason Prall, and the HLP team! And thank you for creating an amazingly powerful tool for change so we can all thrive healthy and disease-free, well into our old age.

 

Register FREE Here.

 

Do plan to make the time to watch the series starting May 8th. Join the 85,000 (and counting) people already watching. It is that good and that important for all of us.

 

Fearless Mom Kicks Chronic Disease’s Butt!

 

When Sandy McKee approached me to speak for her online event Healthy, Wealthy, and Slim, I was, of course, honoured and interested in the topics of health, energy, and success, but it was only after speaking to her over the phone that I really GOT what Sandy is all about. Her energy, her exuberant enthusiasm, her passion, her sense of humour, her kind spirit told me that she’s the real deal. I discovered that Sandy is a woman who works from the heart and that anything she does will benefit the many people she touches.

 

When I had my health scare about a month and a half back (occluded carotid artery caused by a dissection – seriously!), I didn’t bat an eye (well, actually I did a bit – look up Horner’s Syndrome) at the prospect of keeping my commitment to speak for Sandy’s event. Her reply to my continued commitment made me laugh out loud! I mean, anyone who says, and I quote: “OMG you’re AMAZING Carla!!! 99.9% of people on this planet would back out gracefully-and understandably!! I can’t WAIT to tap into that genius that is currently struggling for blood flow!” is my kind of woman! And the title she gave our interview?! “Fearless Mom Kicks Chronic Disease’s Butt!”

 

OK, so what is Sandy up to?!  Listen to the interviews she conducted for her Healthy, Wealthy, and Slim online event, and you will be informed AND entertained. It is not a weightloss summit but all about health, energy, and success in all areas of life. Our interview is not one to be missed! So, get your seatbelt on and join us!

 

 

Create a Less Stressful Caregiving Experience

 

I have done my fair stare of caregiving. I am sure most of you reading this have, as well. For my gran, for my children, for my nieces and nephews, for my friends’ children, for my children’s friends, even for my parents at times. You get the picture. Some of us have a talent for caring for others, a gift for caregiving. For some of us, it’s just part of who we are. Sometimes caregiving comes out of necessity, and sometimes it is out of love. But most times it’s both.

But caregiving is a tough job. It can be a monumental task that takes an abundance of energy every single day, and sometimes we don’t want to do it, or at least we don’t want the stress and feelings of obligation that can come with it. How do we do this without burning out, without the stress and the toll it can take on YOU, the caregiver?

I was interviewed by Dr. Diane Darby Beach about these very topics, and I would like to invite you to listen in to hear what I think about this, as well as the many other speakers in this series.

What are the real feelings caregivers can have?
How to become more accepting and less resentful of the people you care for.
How to empower others so that they rely on you less.
How to care for yourself so that your cup is more full than empty.

Care for yourself by clicking here to gain free access to these interviews!

 

 

Firsts: For My First Daughter

I hope that you are having (or have had) a wonderfully restful, fun, joyful, memorable holiday! I am not sure how much rest we’ve gotten, but we sure have had some fun! Big family gatherings, performances and concerts, and successes such as my own grandmother becoming as close to pain-free as she can be for the first time in decades (I will write about how we accomplished that very soon!).

 

I have spent the last few months (including the holidays) deep within a creative space while finishing my book, Family Health Revolution. This process has taken me places I really needed to go and has allowed me to communicate what I have learned about family health to other parents like me. It has been cathartic, exhausting, daunting, but mostly empowering, and I can’t wait to share it with you within the coming weeks.

 

We tend to reflect and create when we have some space to do so, or when we turn our focus to relationships, start to question why we do what we do, ask ourselves what we want and desire and if we are living the lives we want to live, and the holidays, in particular, are a special time full of possibility for the future. The new year brings with it evolved versions of ourselves. We can try to make sense of what we do and why. We can ask ourselves these questions so we can also guide our families. We can reflect and have a good look in the mirror. With the new year comes the potential for change, for newness, for progress, and for creation. Reflection allows us insight, gives us a map toward the goals we set for our futures.

 

The holidays can be a time of pivotal moments, and one of mine was creating a literary piece I was inspired to write while teaching a creative writing/philosophy class to my small group of lively, inspired and inspirational teens. I wrote a spoken word poem for one of my daughters that is the culmination of everything that has been thrashing, no, rolling, no, splashing around in my head and heart for the last 6 years, or maybe even since her birth 17.5 years ago, about our experiences together. And I feel like this piece is, like her, everything I had hoped for.

 

Many of you are parents and would be able to relate to what I had to sort out, not necessarily because you have a child with a chronic or life-threatening illness, or because your child has grown out of childhood and into teenhood, or because you have had boughts of burnout or pain or because you have come out the other side ready to allow your child to have wings. But you have had unique challenges and triumphs that have led you to your own conclusions about life and love and what this whole parenthood thing means. For me, it is protecting while allowing them to be independent, it is about guidance in order to empower. For example, I don’t want to tell my children what to think, but that they can and should think. I want them to understand that they can always make a situation better and that those solutions are for them to uncover.

 

I am sharing this poem with you, fellow parents and caregivers, fellow sons and daughters, in case you find connection within, in case it sparks some reflection of your own, the reasons for my writing Family Health Revolution folded within the stanzas.

 

Family Health Revolution is not a book of poetry, but a book that expresses, outlines, and demystifies the practicalities and solutions to so many questions I asked and had to answer throughout this on-going journey of parenthood – “how do I raise healthy children so they can have the best life possible when faced with the realities of our often physically, emotionally, and socially toxic environment?”

 

In my own journey, the “why” was easy to figure out.

 

The “how,” not so much.

 

I have spent the last 6 years expanding my own understanding of health. I have spent a great deal of time figuring out how I was going to present the information I wanted to share in this book. And I hope I have done the research of many brilliant family health advocates, researchers, and scientists, my teachers and mentors, my own experience, and the experiences of my family justice.

 

Although Family Health Revolution is not a book of poetry, I cannot introduce the motivation behind it in any other way than in that poem that poured out from me the other day, a poem I called: “Firsts: With My First Daughter.”

 

So, in celebration of newness, of possibility, of a healthy, fresh new year full of health and vitality, I wish you all so many more firsts with your own families; some of them joyful, some of them hard, but all of them beautiful.

 

“Firsts: With My First Daughter.”

Listen to the first take of the audio: (contains mistakes, but you get the idea:)

 

 

 

Read the Text.

Preorder a copy of Family Health Revolution.

 

Happy New year to you and yours.

May you and your family be well,

Revolutionary Mama,

Carla.

Family Health Revolution Podcast Episode #2: The Thriving Child

What does it mean for our children to “thrive?”

Host of The Thriving Child Summit, holistic pediatrician, pediatric functional medicine expert, and mama to 2 crazy fun kids, Elisa Song, MD, discusses powerful, holistic ways to help our children not only thrive but to untangle ilness, malaise, learning disabilities, and more – all conditions within our control.

 

Elisa Song, MD: In her integrative pediatric practice, Whole Family Wellness, this holistic mama doc has helped 1000s of kids get to the root causes of their health concerns and helped their parents understand how to help their children thrive – body, mind, and spirit – by integrating conventional pediatrics with functional medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and essential oils. These health concerns have ranged from frequent colds, ear infections, asthma, and eczema; to autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and autoimmune illnesses. Dr. Song is the host of the Thriving Child Summit – a life-changing event for parents to learn how to help their children thrive. Dr. Song created Healthy Kids Happy Kids to share her advice and adventures as a holistic pediatrician and mama. Now everyone can have their very own virtual holistic pediatrician! You can follow her blog at Healthy Kids Happy Kids and get even more tips and inspiration from her on Facebook and Instagram (@healthykids_happykids).

Listen to episode #2 of the Family Health Revolution Podcast: The Thriving Child

Beyond Your Wildest Genes Podcast Interview

I had the honour of being interviewed for The Centre for Epigenetic Expression’s wildly popular podcast, Beyond Your Wildest Genes, and it was just released today!

Description of the interview:

In this interview, we introduce you to our friend, Carla Atherton, Creator and Director of The Healthy Family Formula. She is a family health coach, mother of three teens, and a family health professional and advocate, and has started a Family Health Revolution that we all should be a part of! Here we talk about what we are facing as to the ill state of our children’s health, that childhood chronic illness is on the rise, and how we can use the principles of functional medicine and lifestyle medicine to turn this alarming trend around.

Over the last 5 years, Carla has been working to help reverse this trend and has developed some powerful and effective family health coaching programs that I want you to know about:

  1. Children’s Health Revolution: Raising Whole Healthy Children in Our Ailing, Modern World Family Health Coaching Program (Basic Family Health Coaching Program)
  2. Optimizing the Health of Children with Chronic Illness Program
  3. Optimizing the Health of Children with Type 1 Diabetes Program
  4. Healthy Parent, Healthy Baby Program
  5. Healthy Body, Healthy Mind: Mental Health Program
  6. Untangling Autism and ADHD Program

When Carla’s own daughter received an upsetting diagnosis in 2012, she and her family were launched into a new life of needles and doctors and dead ends. And after experiencing the ups and downs of parenting a child with chronic illness and recognizing what was not available to her and her family, she found the answers, herself. She set out on a mission to make sure that she would be the support she had so much trouble finding and to provide the information she spent years gathering with as many parents who need it. And she has developed a unique, empowering, and life-changing way to help people prevent ill health and regain, recover, and maintain truly good health: The Healthy Family Formula, which is the result of researched, cutting edge information + professional, attentive support, and the online Healthy Family Formula family health coaching programs.

Do you have a child with a diagnosis? Do you have a diagnosis? Or do you simply want to feel better, have your children feel better, to move past ADHD, fatigue, obesity, autoimmunity, and other conditions that are affecting your life? Do you know there is more that you can do but are not sure where to start?

Then listen to this podcast!

 

 

Unbearable Attempts to Sit Still

Guest Blog By Sonia Story

I will always remember Jai.

 

When I met him, Jai was 5 years old and could not sit still. He could not stand still. He could not lie down and be still.

 

He could hardly stop talking.

 

Jai’s mother brought him to me hoping that the neurodevelopmental movements I teach would help him. Her intuition told her it was not normal that Jai often hurt himself. Several times a day Jai would fall, crash into things, hit his head, then cry in pain and frustration.

In our first session, I asked Jai to lie down on his back so I could check for primitive reflexes on his feet. Primitive reflexes are important; they belong to a group of neurodevelopmental movements—the innate movements of infancy required for proper brain, body and sensory development.

 

Jai hesitated, then lay down on his back.

 

In a split second he was up again, motoring through the room. There was absolutely no time to check his feet.

 

 

Feels “like I’m gonna explode”

 

We played some and then I introduced an innate rhythmic movement that was enjoyable and calming. Innate rhythmic movements are another category of neurodevelopmental movement that also fuel brain and body growth. After a minute of gentle rhythmic rocking, Jai seemed slightly more settled. I thought, “Now is my chance to check those feet!”

 

So I asked Jai again if he would lie down.

 

Jai complied and lay down on his back. I looked at Jai’s face and noticed his eyes opening wide—indicating a stress response.

 

So I asked him:

“What does it feel like when you lie on your back like this?”

 

Jai answered immediately: “Like I’m gonna explode”.

 

Wow. I reassured Jai that I would check his feet very quickly and then he could get up and play again.

 

Without even having to think about it, Jai could so clearly feel and express his discomfort. At such a young age he was aware of his body’s intense internal chaos.

 

That was many years ago, but Jai’s words still have meaning for me, because there are so many children like Jai.

 

How can they focus, listen and learn when they cannot be still even when they want to?

 

Is it any wonder they have meltdowns and behavior challenges?

 

Jai’s story helps us understand how unreasonable it is to ask children to be still when they are physically incapable of doing this without great discomfort.

 

While it is true that very young children should not be expected to be still for long periods, it is also important that as they get older, children can be comfortable while being still in order to focus on meaningful activities and play.

 

For children like Jai, stillness is completely inaccessible and when attempted, unbearable.

 

These children need our help.

 

But first we must understand what the root of the problem is.

 

The Real Reason Many Children Cannot Be Still

 

During a training course with Harald Blomberg, MD* he explained that many children cannot sit still because of immaturity in the basal ganglia of the brain. The basal ganglia must be mature in order for us to comfortably be still. But maturity of the basal ganglia does not happen automatically as we get older. It only happens if the neurodevelopmental movements—the primitive reflexes, rhythmic and developmental movements—are not disrupted during womb-life and infancy.

 

The problem is that there are many factors in modern society that combined, prevent our children from receiving full measure of these special movements in infancy, the time when the basal ganglia should be maturing. Left with an immature brain and sensory system, it is impossible to sit still, challenging to focus, and learning and behavioral issues arise as a result.

 

The good news is that we can introduce these movements at any age and the brain will respond just as it does in infancy, with more connectivity, growth and maturity in the basal ganglia. In fact the whole brain, body and sensory systems mature from these unique movements.

 

Jai was sent home with a neurodevelopmental movement program that he did with his mom and dad on a regular basis. When I saw Jai 5 weeks later, he waked purposefully into the session room. He was proud of himself and much more settled. His mom said: “He is not hurting himself any more. He sleeps better, he is eating more, he can sit still and draw, and his drawings are much more complicated. He is much happier.”

 

Jai still had work to do to fully integrate his brain and body. But he was on track and the neurodevelopmental movements continued to help him immensely.

 

Take Away Summary: The ability to be still requires sufficient brain maturity. Brain maturity requires repeated movement, specifically the powerful innate neurodevelopmental movements of infancy that the brain recognizes and requires to develop.

 

Neurodevelopmental movement is a drug-free remedy for challenging behavior, poor focus, sensory processing issues, learning challenges and inability to be still.

 

Learn more about neurodevelopmental movement and the supporting research here:

http://www.moveplaythrive.com/learn-more/?atid=5

 

Join Sonia’s FREE event, Parents Speak. Live, online, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, 5 pm Pacific Time

Hear from parents about how they have helped their children transform with these life-changing movements.

Register to attend. Replay will be provided.

Free gifts for all who register!

 

*Harald Blomberg, MD and Moira Dempsey developed Rhythmic Movement Training and are the co-authors of the book, Movements That Heal. See here.

 

Sonia Story developed the Brain and Sensory Foundations curriculum to meet the enormous need for effective sensory-motor integration tools to help overcome a wide variety of sensory, learning, behavioral, emotional, social, and speech challenges. Sonia Story is certified as an instructor of Rhythmic Movement Training and has been mentored by many leaders in integrative movement including Harald Blomberg, MD and Moira Dempsey developers of Rhythmic Movement Training. Sonia teachers these profound neurodevelopmental movements to parents, OTs, PTs, SLPs, educators, mental health therapists, and caregivers. Her company, Move Play Thrive is an approved provider through the American Occupational Therapy Association. Her Brain and Sensory Foundations course also offers Continuing Competency Units for Physical Therapists through the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Learn more at www.moveplaythrive.com

Dr. Larry Palevsky

Dr. Larry Palevsky, pediatric expert, www.drpalevsky.com

Getting to the Root: Holistic Care for Families

 

 

What You Will Learn:

  • Answers to the top questions people ask about pre-conception
  • How treating children holistically will save lives
  • Nurturing your child’s spirit

To listen to our other CHS experts visit:

AquaTru

AquaTru has produced a wonderful little system that addresses many of the problems folks have with getting quality, clean water for their families: high cost of a whole house system, substandard filters that do not take out bacteria or enough of the chemicals, lack of space for large units, the inconvenience of installing water systems.

Can’t this just be easier?! Well, the folks at AquaTru think so, and they have done their homework to provide a system that actually does what a water system needs to do! Their system is a countertop, no plumbing required, reverse osmosis water purification system that takes out heavy metals, fluoride, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, bacteria and more!

AND for our Healthy Family Formula Community, they are offering $150 off the retail price! Check it out!

Thrive Market

Thrive Market is an online store carrying natural, organic food and products to further your family along your way to heath! And they are giving our healthy Family Formula community (and that means you!:) a FREE jar of coconut oil for becoming a member! See what Thrive has in store for you! (currently, Thrive can only ship to US residents only)

The Truth About Memory Loss

The Truth About Memory Loss is a fascinating docu-series where you will learn from highly regarded medical professionals, therapists, and caregivers who have used evidence-based treatment and seen success with memory loss disorders.
The producers of The Truth About Memory Loss want to share what they have learned with you!

This series will tell you why you shouldn’t attribute forgetting your keys or mixing up the names of your children to common signs of getting older. It will tell you why you don’t need to accept the decline of your brain as your destiny. This decline may be common, but it doesn’t have to be your destiny, or the destiny of your children. Take a natural, proactive approach to your brain health.

Happy Healthy Child

Happy Healthy Child is a beautiful docu-series by my friend and fellow revolutionary mama, Sarah Kamrath. If you are pregnant, hoping to become pregnant, or work in any capacity with parents-to-be, the highly acclaimed Happy Healthy Child: A Holistic Approach childbirth education DVD series is a must-see!

This four-part series shares the wisdom, expertise and insights of more than 30 world-renowned OB/GYNs, midwives, pediatricians, scientists, psychologists, childbirth educators, sleep experts, lactation specialists and more.

Watch the series for 25% off for our community only!

Liberty Direct

I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to Liberty Direct, a medical cost sharing movement where members share the burden of healthcare costs within a community. Members of the Liberty Direct community are distinguished in that they value and prioritize their health and take personal responsibility for managing that vital asset. Read more about what Liberty Direct has to offer your family.

Beth Lambert

Beth Lambert, author of A Compromised Generation, Executive Director, Epidemic Answers and the Documenting Hope Project, www.documentinghope.com.

 

The “Perfect Storm” That is Creating Childhood Chronic Illness and How We Are Documenting Hope

 

What You Will Learn:

  • What is the perfect storm of childhood illness?
  • How seeing the big picture can help you zero in on your own kids
  • 14 children: The Documenting Hope Project

To listen to our other CHS experts visit:

Sayer Ji

Sayer Ji, researcher, author, and founder of greenmedinfo.com

 

Protect Your Children from Pediatric Cancers and Neurodegenerative Conditions

 

What You Will Learn:

  • What causes pediatric cancer?
  • How to protect your children from cancer and autism
  • Sayer’s research on vaccines

To listen to our other CHS experts visit:

The Documenting Hope Project

The Documenting Hope Project is a science and media initiative started by a pioneering group of scientists, physicians, healers, parents and children’s health advocates who have assembled to scientifically demonstrate that recovery from chronic childhood conditions (even those as complex as autism and autoimmune conditions) is possible. The Documenting Hope Project seeks to inspire parents, physicians, and policy makers to think differently about children’s health and redesign a system that truly understands how to prevent and reverse chronic health conditions.

Click here to browse their research and to read more about the Documenting Hope Project.

Happy, Healthy Kids Motivate with Brenda Wollenberg In Balance Wellness and Weight Release Programs

For the first time in history, today’s children are predicted to have a shorter life-expectancy than their parents. Reasons vary, but include increased rates of disease, increased childhood obesity and increased environmental, emotional and physical toxicity.

Brenda Wollenberg is a 25-year veteran wellness advocate who, along with her Kids in Balance (KIB) partners, helps families minimize excess weight and maximize good energy, concentration and mood. Looking for a little help on the family wellness front? Then click HERE to access KIB’s free “that’s why we can’t lose weight” Veggie Metabolic Quiz, super fun and simple to follow Lickety-Split Lunches Guide and hope-inspiring Live Toxin Free Family Assessment.

Once you’ve checked out KIB’s great gifts, if you know the next step is to discover their safe, simple and sustainable approach to total family wellness and a healthy weight range, then check out details of their online, virtually supported, guaranteed Happy, Healthy Kids program HERE. You’ll find a small sampling of what’s inside their 250 page step-by-step e-Book plus info on the revolutionary BALANCE principles that form the basis for 8 modules of video instruction on safeguarding your family’s health–and even reversing current wellness challenges.

Most wellness and weight release programs advocate less food and more exercise, and follow a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, Kids in Balance’s educational, courage-infusing and support-packed program helps you create a personalized, eat until your comfortably full, and smarter activity inheritance of health.

In the words of KIB dad, Dave: Big shout out to Brenda and her team for being such a great influence and fountain of nutritional knowledge for our family! Making healthier and well-informed choices one day at a time has made a huge positive impact in our family . . . if you and your family haven’t participated in all of the goodies Brenda and her professional team have to offer, I highly recommend you stop procrastinating and get on it!!

View some of brenda’s videos to get a taste of the course.

Register now!