A good nights sleep was not a common thing for me at the best of times.  Semi-insomniac would be the word.  But this perpetual exhaustion was just ridiculous.  I found it hard to concentrate on what people were saying to me.  I felt like I had the brain of an 80 year old.  I just couldn’t hack it.

After the end of season I left and became a full time belly dance teacher.  I taught one class a day and earned enough money to get me by each month.  All I had to do was save up my energy each day to pull off a good hour and a half class.  It worked well.  Unfortunately the downside was the drastic drop in students during winter.  Winter in Cape Town is very rainy, a good time to hibernate!  And everyone did.  During this time I got into a relationship.  I found myself becoming more and more irrational, not remembering what I had said and constantly contradicting myself.  I remember when I stayed at my partners house I would end up having a panic attack because the sheets weren’t cotton and my skin became uncomfortably sensitive.  It was ridiculous! 

By the next winter I felt stuck in a rut and decided to go and visit my mother overseas and work in Europe for a while.  It was great to have a change of scenery, I have always found travel very regenerating.  I ended up staying with a very kind friend in London and got a job as a secretary for a group of Osteopaths.  Again my energy levels were down, this time worse than ever, we worked in a building with no windows.  Lack of light was clearly a bad thing for me.  I remember sleeping 12 hours a night in UK as a kid, from lack of sunlight.  I couldn’t concentrate on what people were saying to me and kept messing up badly with the computer, even though it was very straight forward.  I got more and more stressed, ending up having panic attacks on the way to work each day.  I new I would get fired, so I found an au-pair job with an English family in the South of France.

It was so beautiful there, but things just got worse.  I had to try and cover up my exhaustion, which led to neurosis and more panic attacks.  I could hardly sleep and my body was rigid with aches and pains.  I could only think of food all the time.  I had not eaten unhealthily at all, no meat, wheat, sugar or dairy, yet I was blowing up like a balloon.  I couldn’t fit into my clothes anymore and I was just eating veggies and salads.  I could not figure out what was going on.  I just wanted to burst into tears and say “can someone please tell me what is wrong with me!”.

The last straw was waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to move my body for a minute.  I had such a huge panic attack.  I phoned my friends in UK and SA and arranged to come home where I had a better chance of getting help.

And I did……..

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Working for Kitya was like plugging into a well-stream of knowledge. I have never met anyone with such strong intuition balanced with such strong logical knowledge.  I saw her reading a huge neurology book one weekend and wondered where on earth she stored all her information.

She taught me what Candida was.  This happened on a first hand level by having to do a gruelling detox for a month.  It was not much fun for the first week, then I became aware of how my energy levels were improving and how clear my mind was.  By the end of the detox I was bounding up to work, instead of dragging myself each morning.  I had no idea that Candida had such a profound effect on one, it is like being in a zombie state.  When it is gone, you feel awake for the first time.

Kitya taught me a lot about nutrition, she told me what books to read and got me making healthy meals for us each lunchtime.

She also sent me off on seminars all over the show including the most fascinating talk on natural progesterone and oestrogen dominance.  My jaw dragged on the floor for a month after that one.

I learned a lot about posture.  Kitya had back classes where she used her physio basis, mixed with Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais to she her clients how to avoid imbalances.  I loved back classes.  Kitya’s guidance completely changed my relationship to my own body and although she was working on my body regularly, she was teaching me how to heal myself and prevent further problems. 

I felt the knowledge that I was learning was so simple and essential, I couldn’t understand why they didn’t teach it in schools.

I ended up staying with her for two years learning every Kinesiology course that I could and studying the beginning of Cranio Sacral Therapy, what a profound healing modality that was!!!

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Obviously the best place to start is at the beginning.

When I was 19 I hit a point of immobilization on many levels.  I had sprained an ankle that wasn’t healing after 3 months.  I was already in constant pain after fracturing two lumbar vertebrae as a teenager.  After being a very hyperactive teenager, life was slowing down to a standstill, fast.  I already had weekly appointments with Chiropractors and Physiotherapists, for the back injury and they hadn’t been able to help my ankle.  I had tried everything and much to my avail I was still hobbling around in pain, hardly able to put my foot on the ground.  Now I was at the end of my tether, exhausted, in more pain than ever and too despondent to focus on my studies at Interior Design College, I was falling into depression. 

My best friend told me about a special physiotherapist that she encouraged me to try out.  "Trust me Kirst, she will be able to help you".  By this early stage of my life, I was finding hard to trust anyone with my body.  After my back injury the doctor told me my back was just bruised, when it was broken… well, things just went down hill from there.  Since then I had been losing trust in the health profession at a rapid rate.  Anyway, I trusted my best friend and went off to my first appointment. 

I arrived to find wonder-woman.  She was compassionate and very thorough in her evaluation.  She proceeded to do Kinesiology on me and explained that I had sprained my ankle because my body was so out of alignment from my back injury.  She did some Acupuncture, Pressure Points and Deep Tissue release.  She got my up and I walking around with ease within 45 minutes. 

I was blown away. She had really helped me!  I went for two more sessions that month, then I didn’t need to see her for six weeks.  Six weeks!!!  That was the longest I had been without therapy in four years.  I remember the sensation of a pain free body for the first time in so long.  I was sold.  I had to learn this Kinesiology thingy, it had changed my life and I wanted to share it with everyone.

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Insulin resistance is an imbalance whereby the insulin secreted by the pancreas is not able to unlock the cells. It vastly reduces the number of insulin receptor sites or doorways on the walls of your cells. The average healthy person has some 20,000 receptor sites per cell, while insulin resistant people can have as few as 5,000.

What causes it?
Insulin Resistance happens from long term hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia occurs when a person’s blood glucose levels spike they become dangerously high. The pancreas then over secretes insulin in response to this and the blood glucose level drops too low.

The Cause of Insulin Resistance

• A diet high in refined carbohydrates, sugar, trans-fats and low in fresh salads and  vegetables.
• High intake of stimulants
• Gaps of more than 5 hours between eating nutrient rich food.
• Partaking in no exercise.
• Having a nutrient deficiency.

Since all the cells of the body, especially the brain cells, use glucose for fuel, a blood glucose level that is too low starves the cells of needed fuel, causing both physical and emotional symptoms.

Some of the symptoms of hypoglycemia are:

• fatigue
• insomnia
• mental confusion
• nervousness
• mood swings
• faintness
• headaches
• depression
• phobias
• hear palpitations
• a craving for sweets
• cold hands and feet
• forgetfulness
• dizziness
• blurred vision
• inner trembling
• outbursts of temper
• sudden hunger
• allergies

Hypoglycemia triggers the pancreas to overproduce insulin. The cells are overwhelmed by the excess of insulin and consequently reduce the number of active insulin receptors. This leaves too few sites for insulin to carry out its normal function of unlocking the cell for the glucose to pass inside and be converted into energy. The excess insulin is rejected and is left to float freely in the bloodstream.

If you have too few receptor sites, glucose bounces off the cell wall, instead of passing through the insulin door to be burned as energy. With the cell door almost closed to it, glucose remains in the blood stream, causing elevated levels of blood sugar, which are sent to the liver. Once there, the sugar is converted into fat and stored via the blood stream throughout the body. This process can lead to weight gain and obesity, adrenal stress, key factors in creating PCOS.

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1. Hydration – if we drink 1.5 – 2 litres of filtered or good quality mineral water a day (pH above 6) we are giving our brain and all the cells in our body the energy to work properly.
2. Sleep – if we have 7 – 9 hours of sleep a night, we are enabling our body to function at its optimum state, as sleep is essential for cell regeneration.
3. Regular nutrient meals – if we eat a wholesome nutritious meal every 5 hours, we keep our blood sugar level stable. We need high mineral consumption to keep the thyroid healthy, good quality proteins and raw essential fatty acids for the brain, hormone production and general cellular health.
4. Avoiding stimulant foods and drinks – if we use caffeine, alcohol and sugar as special treats and not a normal part of our meals.
5. Regular gentle exercise – is essential to keep the lymphatic system and thyroid functioning properly. A brisk walk three times a week, in fresh air (preferably not on a treadmill in air-conditioned buildings, or inhaling car fumes) is perfect. Too much exercise can be just as harmful, if not more so as too little exercise (depending on the state of your adrenal health and structural health).

These will work at keeping the body functioning at optimum levels and preventing insulin resistance, adrenal stress and promoting high consistent energy levels.

Why is the thyroid so important?
If the thyroid is slow, we will be exhausted most of the time and gain weight and water retention easily. The hands and feet are usually cold. It is a far bigger problem amongst women than men. The thyroid hormones control the health of your organs and the speed at which the body metabolizes food. It is estimated that 50 – 80% of western women suffer from a thyroid imbalance.

Oestrogen dominance, heavy metal toxicity, trans-fats, goitrogen excess, low protein, low minerals and low essential fatty acids interferes with the uptake of thyroid hormones. Unfortunately the medical thyroid tests often fail to pick up an under-active thyroid until it is an extreme problem. Defficiency in Selenium, Glutathione, Iodine, Zinc and probiotics are often a factor in hypothyroidism.
Goitrogens - There are certain foods that slow down and compromise the function of the thyroid. These are called goitrogens and are very common in the average western diet.  Some of which include: - Peanuts / Soya / Crucifferi – Cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts.

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Some main symptoms of Oestrogen Dominance are:

Oestrogen and Progesterone need to be in balance with each other for the reproductive system to stay healthy. If oestrogen levels get to high, oestrogen dominance occurs in the body.

What contains Xenoestrogens:

• Petrochemicals Body Products – Aqueous cream / liquid paraffin / mineral oil / petroleum jelly Petrochemical plastic
• Pollution
• Pesticides
• Poultry / meat / dairy
• Products for cleaning
• Synthetic hormones

Heavy Metals, Adrenal Stress and Toxic Foods are all influences that can strain the endocrine system, which can add to estrogen dominance.

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Some symptoms are:

• spinal pain
• constipation
• pins and needles in hands and feet
• headaches / migraines
• tiredness / exhaustion
• heavy leg syndrome
• water retention / bloating
• cystitis
• tight shoulders

When the body experiences any physical trauma, (falling off a jungle gym when you were 6 or getting whiplash, etc), the muscles in the area contract to protect the adjacent bones, nerves and organs. If we don’t recuperate properly (e.g. take pain killers or just start moving when that area hasn’t healed) then the muscles don’t completely release.

The big problem is that after the message of pain has been sent to the brain continuously for a period of time and nothing is being done about it, the Reticular Activating System (RAS) in the brain, turns this message off. The job of the RAS is to filter information to the brain so that we don’t get overwhelmed by sensory perceptions. When the pain ‘goes away’ the problem is still there, you just can’t feel it anymore. All the other muscles in the area work harder to pick up the slack of the tight protective area.  A domino effect of supportive tension then occurs throughout the body.
The lowerback is a prime problem area. If it is out of balance, the effect on the spine is that the nerves leading from the spinal cord to the body are under constant compression from the inflammed, tight muscles. This will affect the integrity of the legs, buttocks, abdominal and pelvic muscles. Sort of like broken telephone, some messages won’t get through, some may be distorted. This can eventually lead to herniated discs and various other spinal disorders.

So what is the solution? Well firstly it is a good idea to find someone to help them release the trauma that the muscles are holding. Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Bowen Technique, a Chiropractor that uses Kinesiology, any practitioner that can genuinely assist your body to ‘undo’ old trauma, before it creates more trauma!  All of these practitioners are focused on releasing the muscles which automatically align the skeleton.  If one manipulates the skeleton, the muscle programming will just pull the skeleton out of alignment again.

It is wonderful to experience a therapy like Feldenkrais or Alexander Technique, which both train you how to use your body in an efficient and balanced way.  Correcting your posture and preventing further damage.

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You only crave unhealthy food when you have a deficiency!!!

If you crave simple carbohydrates e.g. bread, pasta, sugar, etc - you are most likely lacking some of the amino acids - which are your proteins / your long term energy source. This creates the urge for quick fixes. It is important to get long term energy into your body and keep your blood sugar level stable.

Balancing Tools - carry nuts and seeds around with you, add dried fruit to sweeten if you need to. Eat nuts, seeds, sprouts, olives or avocados.

For pasta cravings - buckwheat pasta is brilliant. It is not a grain it is a seed and it stabilizes your blood sugar level.

If you crave salty things - you most likely have a mineral or trace mineral deficiency. (We will cover this in detail further on) Trace Mineral Concentrace is a brilliant supplement to boost your mineral levels back to normal.

Balancing Tools - Eat Himalayan rock salt or seaweed salt, instead of normal salt, olives, miso soup, sushi, any form of seaweed.

If you crave fatty foods - you are most likely deficient in essential fatty acids / the unheated, untreated, raw plant oils.

Balancing Tools - Eat: avocado / nuts / seeds / dark fish / sushi / extra virgin olive oil / coconut oil / borage oil / cold pressed hempseed oil / cold pressed flaxseed oil / salmon oil, etc.

If you crave stimulants - you are most likely lacking protein and are experiencing adrenal overload. This means the adrenal glands have been under long term stress from physical / mental or emotional stressors. It is important to keep your blood sugar level stable otherwise the adrenal glands kick in and your hunger diminishes. You then start burning your emergency energy.

Balancing Tools - Eat at least three good quality meals a day. Eat nuts, seeds, sprouts, olives, avocados & quinoa. The superfoods will be a huge asset for stabilizing your blood sugar level and providing the essential fuel for your body: - Spiralina / Hemp Protein / Raw Organic Cacao / Organic Goji Berries / Maca powder. Your adrenal and other glands also need good levels of essential fatty acids and high levels of minerals to function well.

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Adrenal overload is the term given to the state of stress in the body.
The body has two parts to its nervous system, the parasympathetic and the sympathetic. When the body is relaxed it is in a parasympathetic state. Here it is able to digest food, absorb nutrients, regenerate and heal damage to cells and the memory is able to work. The sympathetic state is purely designed for emergencies – fight or flight state. Here you are ready to defend or run for your life, the adrenal glands burn the emergency hormones that enable you to do so, which puts a huge amount of strain on your body. In this state you will not have much of an appetite, your mind will be rushing and your reproductive hormone level gets disrupted. Many people spend up to 80% of their waking hours in this state.

As it was only designed for short-term emergencies, the adrenaline eventually runs out, your body does not have the resources to produce it any more and you start living on Cortisol. Here ones immune system and organs become compromised. This is a dangerous state to be in.

Your body is unable to absorb the proper nutrients or regenerate when in a state of stress!

The long term effects are slow deterioration and dis-ease if one does not do what is needed to regenerate. This is one of the most common causes of severe physical and metal imbalances. The common term now is ‘lifestyle diseases’.

In this state one is not able to become healthy. It is time to make a change.

Regeneration tools:

• Drink 2 litres of water a day, even when you don’t feel thirsty
• Eat every 5 hours
• Eat high lots of organic raw food
• Eliminate all stimulants and toxic foods– sugar / caffeine / refined grains / trans-fats
• Get 8 hours of sleep a night
• Eat lots of raw organic oils – coconut / flax / hemp oil
• Eat plant based proteins – olives / spirilina / hemp / bee pollen / avocado’s
• Take a one minute break every 30 mins to do long deep breathing
• Go for at least 2 half hour walks a week in nature
• Eat Adaptogens – heal the adrenals and support in times of stress
• Delegate time each week to doing something relaxing that you love!!!

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It is the bodies search for minerals. If we eat high mineral food, we become full and satisfied a lot easier because our cells have what they need to work. We are then able to have high energy levels and are not too stuffed and lethargic to get on with our day.

Minerals are needed for us to absorb all our other nutrients.

In short it is very easy to over-eat, waste energy, time and money on mineral deficient food. It generally leaves you feeling bloated, tired, and still hungry as you haven’t given your body the minerals it is asking for and therefore cannot absorb the energy from your food properly. Usually we end up eating more of the same thing, especially with sugar and other stimulants, to wake us up. This can create strong blood sugar lows and spikes, especially if we are ingesting a lot of refined sugars and carbohydrates.

Minerals are the foundation for all the major cellular processes in the body. 95% of our bodies activities are dependant on minerals.

If your mineral levels are balanced: - It enables you to absorb your nutrients, proteins and essential fatty acids. - It helps your colon work efficiently - It keeps your metabolism in balance - It feeds your endocrine system to keep your glands producing the right balance of hormones - It helps relieve water retention - It alkalizes your body

Where do we get minerals from? Yes, we all know that we can walk into a pharmacy and pick up a tub of multi-mineral tablets. Well most of the time, it is a waste of time and money. In cases of extreme deficiency it is good to have a three month boost with some chelated, wholefood, organic supplements. You won’t find these in an average pharmacy.

Mineral foods:

- All naturally bitter foods e.g. celery

- Everything out of the ocean especially seaweed. There are many different types of seaweed and many ways of using it. It is a forgotten food that has been eaten by various cultures through the centuries. It is the best source of minerals and all the glyconutrients! You can get seaweed complex powders that are brilliant to take everyday. Just mix them in juice.

- everything dark green, especially leaves: - Rocket / Spinach / Watercress / All herbs

- Himalayan Rock Salt – This tastes exactly like normal salt, but it has an extremely low sodium content and is very high in essential minerals.

- Wheatgrass & Barleygrass

- Spiralina

- Chlorella

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