Dr. Vivian Holistic Health

01/24/2025

Treating low serotonin holistically is very individual and dependent on the persons health status and other health issues. In general some therapies include:

1. Amino acid therapy including 5-htp, tyrosine, l-Theanine and phenylalanine can help increase your serotonin levels.
2. Daily exercise- walking outdoors and weight training in particular
3. Regulate sleep- go to sleep by 10pm and get 7-9 hours daily
4. Morning sunlight - getting outside within the first hour of waking
5. Addressing negative beliefs through counseling/therapy
6. Eating a whole foods diet avoiding any inflammatory foods or food allergens/intolerances

01/23/2025

If your looking for a better plant milk, with great nutritional value for yourself or your toddler, Kiki milk is the way to go.

Ripple has pro-inflammatory vegetable oils, refined sugar, and gums that may cause digestive distress in sensitive individuals.

Ditch the Ripple and go for a better alternative like Kiki milk or make your own homemade nut milk for a delicious fresh beverage.

01/21/2025

Science still hasn’t figured out everything there is to know about probiotics and their effects on individuals; however, some studies suggest that allergy symptoms can increase with certain strains and others can help relieve those symptoms.

Here’s my 3 tips when it comes to probiotics:

1. Use strains that have been studied to support whatever condition you are trying to treat.

2. Read the back label of your probiotic product to know what strains that product contains.

3. Take a break from probiotics if you are unsure whether or not it is triggering unfavorable symptoms.

01/19/2025

Iodine is an essential mineral most important to glandular tissue such as the thyroid, breast, ovaries, and uterus. If you have signs of deficiency such as

fibroids
fibrocystic breast
ovarian cysts
breast pain
adenomyosis
PMS
thyroid nodules

you may need to supplement.

Like all vitamins and minerals, they should come from our food as much as possible; however, the amount present in your food is dependent on the soils mineral content where your food was produced.

Generally, organic foods will have slightly more vitamins and minerals.

Iodine rich foods include seaweed, seafood, dairy, and egg.

If you still have the above symptoms despite eating foods high in iodine you may need to supplement.

Work with a qualified practitioner to determine the amount that is best for you.

01/12/2025

All feelings are good and can be productive, but when the majority of our thoughts and words are fearful, worry full , and negative , our life also becomes negative .

First become aware of this behavior. Then slowly start to change this habit by restating these thoughts to something more helpful that you also believe to be true.

Example:

Statement: Our world is full of toxins and it’s making us sick.

Reframe: My body is powerful and intelligent and knows how to keep me healthy. I can also choose to do the best I can for my body.

12/23/2024

It’s common to say I’m going to stop doing xyz starting Monday or the new year etc etc only to soon after break your promise and be stuck in the same cycle of claiming to stop a behavior only to find yourself having or doing that same thing!

We say we’ll stop eating sugar entirely or cut out all tv/devices, we’ll work out everyday for 1 hr but find it hard to sustain these new habits.

This year, I want you to take a different approach. Anytime you feel tempted to remove/restrict something, instead, replace this with a new behavior you want to add to your life. Something doable that will help you reach your goals.

The holidays are notorious for throwing us off track, but remember even small habits like having veggies and protein foods with your main meals, getting enough sleep, 15 workout can go a long way to keeping you healthy and making progress in your goals.

Lose the all or nothing mindset and remember that those small habits do matter and are supporting your health. Happy holidays ⭐️

11/16/2024

It’s really important to thoroughly wash all of your produce. Even if it appears clean on the surface, it’s not.

My favorite method is a quick salt of baking soda soak.

Grab a bowl, some baking soda and soak your produce for a few minutes then thoroughly rinse. This helps remove up to 98% of pesticides to greatly minimize your consumption.

11/13/2024

When we treat symptoms, we become dependent on the remedy/medicine for stability and never get better.

When we treat the cause of those symptoms, now healing and symptom regulation can happen.

Explore the cause and heal the symptoms. That’s what a holistic approach is all about.

Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. Please do not let high blood pressure or any diagnoses go untreated. This is meant as a general example to demonstrate a holistic approach to health. See your own physician to determine how to approach your personal health.

08/21/2024

08/15/2024

Children's immune function is naturally very underdeveloped until the age of about 2. Before that, they rely heavily on antibodies found in breast milk, skin-skin contact, outdoor time, and nutrient dense foods for optimal immune function.

Favor whole fresh, and pro/prebiotic rich foods:

🍗animal foods (poultry, beef, seafood, eggs, and dairy, organ meats (few times per month)
🍞whole grains (rice and gluten-free grains are best starting out)
🍛beans (lentils or small split legumes are great
🥜nuts/seed butters
🥦cooked vegetables
🧀fermented food- miso, kefir, yogurt
🍇fruit (in small portions)

Spend as much time in nature as possible. Sunlight, plants, and dirt all benefit immune function.

05/31/2024

These 3 are a great start if you’re experiencing bloating, gas and indigestion and can help your body absorb and digest food more effectively.

01/23/2024

These are signs of digestive issues. You may need dietary changes and digestive support like HCL, enzymes and bitters. H pylori is often a factor too which can be tested with a comprehensive stool test.

Also consider any new stressors? Eating on the run or when stressed out? This can definitely contribute to gut imbalances.

01/20/2024

01/14/2024

The quality of your breast milk depends on the quality of your digestive health and microbiome. Food allergies are on the rise and permeable/leaky gut is what’s creating this issue. What’s causing the leaky gut? The biggest culprit is diet . Over 75% of products sold at groceries are not food! They are processed and ultra processed food like items that ultimately create digestive issues such as leaky gut.

Dietary modifications and the right supplements can correct this issue. DM if you’re interested in learning more!

01/09/2024

Most people know where they need to start when it comes to transforming their health but they keep behaving and making choices that are the same. Self-awareness and self-reflection are what will help you break out of those patterns and finally make a change.

01/03/2024

Crowded teeth, mouth breathing, vision issues? These issues are often a result of poor facial development. The biggest culprit is our modern processed diet. Softer foods, less micronutrients = poor facial development = the issues mentioned above. These specific foods are especially important in pregnancy and early childhood when the facial bones are developing.