Zoe & Christian
I love sharing my before and after photos and lab work. Why? Because I hope it will encourage others to make the same life changing decisions that I have.
I suppose to get to the healthy path I am currently on I should take you through a snapshot of where I came from.
Since I was a child, I have always been the “chubby one” growing up. Friends, relatives, teachers and strangers always let me know in some way or another that I carried a few extra pounds. I was always a good 20-30 pounds heavier than all my peers, even in kindergarten. By the first grade, I was already breaking 100 pounds while most of my friends barely hit 80. My two brothers were also skinny and athletic, so I felt even more of an anomaly.
This is where my self-esteem issues began, honestly when I first started grappling with anxiety and depression. I was ignored and sometimes bullied. I was never included in group activities during recess, and I spent the first few days alone, just kicking the wood chips and hoping recess would end.
When teachers told us to separate into groups for group activities, I was always left behind/forgotten and so always just learned to play by myself. I hated recess ironically because I felt isolated and outcast.
These days I look at the epidemic of overweight Americans and I feel sad, because I remember how being overweight made me feel during my lifelong battle with my weight.
I think about how much healthier I feel now than I did when I was younger. I think about basic movement and ability to do things that I want to do and how at a younger age I was more restricted by weight than I am now at a much older age.
I want to say long story short; I ended up losing weight to gain back confidence and health, but it isn’t that easy.
Both my husband Christian and I spent our entire lives trying drinks and pills and bars and diets and exercise and going to doctors and throwing away thousands and thousands of dollars on weight loss products that just never gave us sustainable results.
And then it really hit us hard when we saw our child going through the same thing we had. At my top weight I had climbed to a whooping 340 pounds, she was nearing 400 pounds.
Our seven-year-old grandsons’ pediatrician had just let us know that his cholesterol had come back in the 400’s during his yearly well check.
Our 9-year-old granddaughter was being seen at a hypertensive clinic.
Our 8-year-old couldn’t even attend school in person because his allergies, asthma and contact dermatitis were so bad. He had eczema on his face and feet that would bleed, get infected and turn into cellulitis, no matter how many prescriptions we used.
We were being given another medication at each doctor’s visit, being referred to specialist after specialist. It was a medical nightmare.
Every single one of our grandchildren were diagnosed with ADHD.
I felt like the more medication I slathered on and the more pills I poured down our throats the more medication we needed. I had to find a way to stop the INSANITY!
OK I got a little ahead of myself there. I wanted to tell you that I have a background in conventional medicine myself. I have worked for over thirty years in an inpatient care setting. I understand the innerworkings of our anatomy. I have an undergrad degree in Biochemistry, so I have some understanding of how chemical substances affect vital processes occurring in our anatomy.
I still felt as if I was missing a piece of the puzzle, so I began perusing Holistic studies and practices in 2017 and what I learned completely changed my family’s life for the better.
Listen, we all know that our modern, convenient diet isn’t good for us, but do you really know how quickly it is sending you and your loved ones to the grave? I was in a unique position, I was a bridge between science, healthcare and agriculture. This was my deep search into fact, fiction and the past and future of nutrition.
We’re all dying. It’s a sobering truth, but one that can spark powerful questions, especially about the food we eat and products we use. Is our diet accelerating our decline, or could it be the key to a longer, healthier life? Shouldn’t we be making the more of the short life we have here on earth.
My husband and I have always had a deep love for food. But that love has evolved into a mission: to understand how food affects our health and to help others make better choices.
One common belief is that food processing strips away nutrients. While that can be true, it’s not the whole picture. Fermentation, for example, can create new health-promoting compounds. Heat-treating rice can lower its glycemic index, helping manage blood sugar. Even roasting faba beans preserve their antioxidant power. Freeze-Drying preserves the majority of nutrients.
We can cook and process our food but when others overprocess it and then filling it with sugars, dyes and preservatives, that’s when it becomes toxic.
We can’t stop aging, but we can influence how we age. By choosing foods rich in natural antioxidants and micronutrients – many of which are found in the products we sale – we can improve our health and extend our lives. The future of food isn’t about fear. It’s about understanding, innovation, and making informed choices. And that’s something worth living for.
Food as medicine
- Blood pressure: Faba bean extracts and canola peptides have shown promise in lowering blood pressure. Hibiscus tea contains compounds, including anthocyanins and polyphenols, that may help relax blood vessels, leading to a reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels. Mushrooms including Shiitake (Lentinula edodes), Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), and Maitake (Grifola frondosa) have demonstrated antihypertensive effects through mechanisms such as ACE inhibition, vasodilation, and modulation of oxidative stress.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6567086/
https://link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/978-3-031-80050-4_36
- Cancer: Extracts from chickpeas, faba beans, and colored rice varieties have demonstrated anti-cancer properties in vitro. natural compounds have been highlighted as anticancer drugs. Among them, many researchers have focused on mushrooms that have biological activities, including antitumor activity. Green tea because of its higher simple catechin content is greatly popular as an anti-cancer agent which is found to reduce the risks of cancer as well as a range of other diseases.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9504980/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9658101/
- Heart health: Black sorghum can reduce platelet aggregation, a key factor in heart disease. Edible mushrooms have a great nutritional value including high protein, essential amino acids, fiber, vitamins (B1, B2, B12, C, and D), minerals (calcium [Ca], potassium [K], magnesium [Mg], sodium [Na], phosphorus [P], copper [Cu], iron [Fe], manganese [Mn], and selenium [Se]), low fatty foods, and sodium.
Edible mushroom consumption may have favorable effects on lipid profiles by changing some metabolic markers such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. Moreover, edible mushroom consumption is probably associated with reduced mean blood pressure.
Studies suggest that hibiscus could significantly reduce total and LDL (bad) cholesterol. Rooibos tea could also lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Sage may also help lower levels of total and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33309597/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-herbal-teas#hibiscus
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9086798/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5504778/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5125366/
- Diabetes: Colored rice extracts help regulate genes involved in insulin secretion.
Both true teas and herbal teas have been associated with a variety of health benefits due to the powerful plant compounds that they contain, and research has shown that some teas have properties that are particularly beneficial for people with diabetes.
Drinking green tea may help reduce cellular damage, decrease inflammation, and optimize blood sugar control.
What’s more, research also shows that drinking green tea may help reduce the chances of developing diabetes in the first place.
Black tea contains potent plant compounds, including theaflavins and thearubigins, which have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and blood-sugar-lowering properties.
A 2017 study in 24 people, some of whom had prediabetes, demonstrated that consuming black tea beverages alongside a sugary drink significantly decreased blood sugar levels, compared with a control group.
Studies show that hibiscus may help reduce insulin resistance.
A 2015 study in 30 adults with normal blood sugar levels demonstrated that drinking 3.5 ounces (100 mL) of cinnamon tea before ingesting a sugar solution led to decreased blood sugar levels, compared with a control group.
Curcumin, the main active component in turmeric, has been studied for its blood-sugar-lowering properties. Studies suggest that curcumin may promote healthy blood sugar levels by improving insulin sensitivity and increasing glucose uptake in tissues.
There are many more teas, but I will stop here with teas.
The glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) are two classification systems that help evaluate how carb-containing foods affect blood sugar.
They are both popular strategies and widely used in the treatment of chronic diseases like diabetes. The main bioactive compounds in mushrooms —polysaccharides — may have anti-diabetic properties.
Research in animals with type 2 diabetes shows that polysaccharides may lower blood sugar levels, improve insulin resistance, and reduce pancreatic tissue damage.
Plus, the soluble fiber beta glucan — one of the types of polysaccharides found in mushrooms — slows digestion and delays the absorption of sugars, thus controlling your blood sugar levels after a meal. Polysaccharides may also lower blood cholesterol levels, which in turn may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke associated with unmanaged diabetes.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7019668/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4516848/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9319339/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28049262/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28049262/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6617012/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37647847/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6617012/
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.982387/full
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2904878/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19906249/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21776465/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25561108/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28895671/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27596390/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26345165/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31337059/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27083840/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30594618/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20234030/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26160327/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12081851/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16820730/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/glycemic-index
- Weight management: Purple rice inhibits fat cell development, and GABA-enriched rice bran helps reduce weight gain in animal studies.
Some studies have even found that tea may enhance weight loss and help reduce belly fat. Green tea is one of the most well-known types of tea and is linked with many health benefits.
It’s also one of the most effective teas for weight loss. There is substantial evidence linking green tea to decreases in both weight and body fat.
According to one review of 11 studies, green tea could help reduce body weight, body mass index (BMI), and belly fat in people with type 2 diabetes.
It’s believed that catechins — which are naturally occurring antioxidants found in green tea — could help increase metabolism and fat burning, resulting in weight loss. This same effect also applies to matcha, a highly concentrated type of powdered green tea that contains the same beneficial ingredients as regular green tea.
One 2014 study of 111 people found that drinking 3 cups of black tea each day for 3 months significantly increased weight loss and reduced waist circumference, compared to drinking a caffeine-matched control beverage
Several studies have shown that oolong tea could help enhance weight loss by improving fat burning and speeding up metabolism.
Studies show that white tea is rich in catechins, which may help enhance weight loss.
Adaptogenic mushrooms are mushrooms that may help reduce the effects of stress on your body. The body’s
stress response is complex and involves multiple bodily systems, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA axis). This is the body’s main stress response system. The primary function of the HPA axis is to release glucocorticoids, including cortisol. Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones that activate the stress response.
Adaptogens primarily work by influencing the HPA axis and other key mediators of the stress response. By doing so, they enhance resistance to stress and promote recovery and homeostasis — or stability — in the body.
It’s important to note that the terms medicinal and adaptogenic aren’t the same thing. Many mushrooms have medicinal effects, including anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulating properties.
However, the term adaptogenic refers specifically to how a substance may affect the body’s response to stress.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28640307/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19271168/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24889137/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7796401/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7922336/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33207344/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33207344/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6240259/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6278646/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/adaptogenic-mushrooms#safety
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6240259/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6278646/
I will blog a lot more about foods in the Morelliville Blog on our home page under Health topics and Recipes.
Beyond foods, I want to tell you all what I found when I looked into personal care products, detergents, air-fresheners, hair-products and numerous other under-the-radar products that might be silently posing risks to your health.
Now, listen. There’s no need to lose your mind over this. Take it one swap at a time, starting with the most budget-friendly, say goats milk soap or DIY options like think vinegar and baking soda for cleaning, and your home will be a safe haven soon enough.
While we cannot possibly eliminate every potential risk out there in todays world, we can embrace a holistic approach that prioritizes our health, the health of our family and the health of the planet.
So where to start? My recommendation: The convenience of antibacterial soaps is undeniable, but the active ingredient, triclosan, has been linked to not only antibiotic resistance, which is becoming a huge issue, but also other medical conditions such as hormone disruption.
Purchase a natural made soap, you do not need to kill 99.99% of everything, just lather your hands for 20-45 seconds with soap and water and that’s enough to promoting effective hand hygiene without the unnecessary environmental and health concerns associated with antibacterial agents.
Fragrances in commercial perfumes often contain a mix of synthetic chemicals, including phthalates and allergens.
Prolonged exposure can lead to skin irritation, headaches, and respiratory issues.
Consider natural perfume alternatives like essential oils or choose fragrance-free products to enjoy pleasant scents without compromising your health.
Many beauty products contain preservatives like parabens and formaldehyde-releasing agents to extend shelf life.
However, these compounds may pose health risks, including hormone disruption and skin irritation. This makes them one of the most used yet toxic items in your home.
Choose sustainable beauty products labeled as paraben-free and explore natural alternatives with minimal preservatives to enhance your beauty routine without unnecessary exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.
Traditional deodorants and antiperspirants often contain aluminum compounds and synthetic fragrances, raising concerns about potential health risks.
A recent review of 46 studies looking at aluminum exposure and the risk of developing AD concluded that aluminum is, in fact, a risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Consider aluminum-free deodorants with natural ingredients like baking soda, clay, and essential oils to stay fresh without exposing your skin to unnecessary chemicals.
It’s a small switch that can make a big difference to your health.
Let’s move on to yet another example of the most toxic things in your home that can cause everything from irritation to severe health issues!
Sulfates, commonly found in shampoos, can strip hair of natural oils and cause scalp irritation.
Additionally, some sulfates may be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a potential carcinogen.
Opt for sulfate-free shampoos, which are gentler on your hair and scalp, promoting healthier locks without the drawbacks associated with sulfates.
Did you know that most traditional tampons and pads contain chlorine, dioxins, and fragrances? Tampons can cause toxic shock syndrome.
Chlorine is used in the bleaching process, and dioxins are harmful by-products.
Fragrances in menstrual products can contain undisclosed chemicals that may cause skin irritation and allergic reactions. Plus, they can take up to 800 years to decompose naturally.
So, what’s the alternative? Choose diva cups, natural material tampons, and period underwear made from organic cotton or silicone without chlorine bleach or synthetic additives!
We don’t particularly like when bugs forcefully take over our home or outdoor time either.
However, conventional bug sprays often contain chemicals like DEET, which can cause skin irritation and, when used excessively, may lead to more severe health issues. Additionally, these chemicals can have environmental implications.
Choose natural bug spray alternatives containing essential oils like citronella, eucalyptus, or tea tree oil for effective insect repellent without the potential risks associated with synthetic chemicals.
That’s why we have “This really works! Bug-Off Soap, Lotion, Spray and a convenient Lotion bar” for easy reapplication. We don’t like bugs or cancer!
Ok, so let me get back to my family. Once we started swapping out the poisons in our home, eating less processed foods, incorporating mushrooms, teas and infused olive oils into our health regimen, we began to see major changes.
First let me say, if we are on a road trip to grandmas we will stop and let the kids get a cheeseburger, it’s just once in a great while. If we are guests at another person’s home, I don’t press my values on them, I eat what I feel comfortable eating and never ask anyone to make anything or do special for me or my family. We are conscious about what we buy, use, and eat at home.
We are not on a diet. We do not watch our calories. We are not vegans or on a keto meal plan. We eat meals that I cook. I grill often. Sometimes I bake or use the crockpot. Occasionally I use the stovetop, or air fryer. I don’t like to use the microwave very often, but my kids wouldn’t be able to live without it, so we have one.
What we do is eat at home 99.9% of the time. We grow a garden, or we buy fresh organic food from other farmers’ markets or from the store. Since 2020 we have slowly ridden our home of the most toxic products, at least the ones that I am aware of, if I come across new information, I will continue to evolve.
We have incorporated powdered herbs and mushrooms into our diet at least 4 times each day because our cells are starved at a very primal level and that is why we are always hungry. We lack nutrients that the body needs, and we no longer get them from our modern diets. These supplements help nourish our body in the way it truly wants, and needs, to be nourished, and it feels satiated, so because we are getting these micronutrients, we are not always hungry and craving “something.”
We drink tea, either iced or hot, several times each day because of the great health benefits teas and the herbs in them provide us that we lack in our diets. This also ensures that we stay hydrated, because hydration is so very important to your health journey.
The human body is water, with an average of roughly 60%. The amount of water in the body can change slightly with age, sex, and hydration levels.
While the average percentage of water in a person’s body is around 60%, the percentage can vary from roughly 45–75%
For example, babies have a high percentage of water in their bodies, which decreases with age.
Also, fatty tissue contains less water than muscle, so the percentage of water can vary with body type.
Water is essential for health and is necessary for numerous bodily functions. These include:
- temperature regulation
- cellular function
- waste removal
People can maintain the balance of water in their bodies by drinking fluids throughout the day. They may need to drink more water after exercise and in hot weather.
Cells contain 60% of all water in the body, with roughly one-third of the remainder, surrounding the cells. Some organs contain much more water than others. The brain and kidneys possess the highest percentage of water; the bones and teeth contain the lowest proportion.
Drinking enough water every day is crucial to health and plays a part in almost all body functions.
- protecting the spinal cord and other sensitive tissues
- removing waste by urination, sweating, and bowel movements
- regulating temperature
- lubricating and cushioning joints
I say all of this because hydrating is one of the most important things you can do for your body. If we aren’t drinking tea, we are drinking lemon, orange or cucumber infused water. Water is crucial to keep the body working correctly. It is present in the blood, skin, organs, and bones. There is water in every cell of the body.
When you are ill, or there is a foreign invader in your body, if you want to help your body flush it out, increase your fluid intake.
So, all of these toxins that we’ve been taking in since childhood, our body has been working hard to remove them, however, our body is getting older, toxins are accumulating and maybe it’s time we actually give our body a bit of help.
We can start eliminating the toxins from our lives, we can start adequately nourishing ourselves with the micronutrients our cellular bodies have been craving since we have move away from farm grown diets to mostly processed foods, we can adequately hydrate ourselves to help our body flush the built up toxins out of our body and increase the fluid percentage in our cells, and we can detox.
In making these small and relatively easy changes you will see big differences in your life and it wont take long.
*Fluid or water retention occurs when the body is unable to maintain fluid levels. It happens for a variety of reasons. Kidney or cardiovascular disease, for instance, may cause the body to retain fluid. The main symptoms are swelling and discomfort. If this occurs you need to seek medical attention from a doctor.
Our daughter, the one who was nearing 400 pounds, is now at 200 pounds. Her Hgb A1C has been back to normal since she started following this plan, it was up to 9.9 at one point.
The PCOS that she has struggled with since she was a teenager has cleared up, she menstruates and ovulates regularly and without pain. She and her husband have decided to try for a family. The workup she just had was stellar, no issues, several mature follicles were seen on both ovaries. The Doctor doesn’t think they will have any issues and so with that we are hoping to have a wonderful announcement to share with everyone sometime in the future!
Our seven-year-old grandson who had a cholesterol reading of over 400 during his yearly well check a few years back. A year after we got him started on clean living and the health regime, his cholesterol looked great and was within normal range.
Our 9-year-old granddaughter who had been seen at a hypertensive clinic for 6 years was discharged after 2 years of being free of hypertension. She also slimmed down significantly.
Our 8-year-old’s eczema and dermatitis on his face and body cleared up completely.
He had been hospitalized, intubated, life flighted to major trauma centers because his asthma attacks were so severe, he spent most of his first 2 ½ years of life in the hospital. The last time he was hospitalized was in 2019. His asthma, even though he does occasionally have exacerbations, come rarely these days and are usually tripped off by bad air quality or a severe virus going around like RSV, which he rarely gets. His use of rescue inhalers isn’t even once a month at this point.
Even his epilepsy is now under control. He might have a seizure once a year, if even.
The eczema on his feet has been a bit more difficult. He’s a child and likes to run around barefoot or wear slides and he hates the medications that were prescribed for his feet. The regimen was complicated, extensive and the medicine actually seemed to dry out his feet and my hands even more than the eczema did.
So, I did some research and put together a triple body butter and we began using it and within ONE WEEK his feet were completely healed for the first time in EIGHT YEARS! We use zero prescription medication for his eczema anymore. We don’t even see a dermatologist any longer.
He will be going back to school this year after four years of at home tutoring and homeschooling. Sure, there are risks involved and toxins he will be exposed to during school hours, but as long as we limit what he is exposed to while at home we are going to see how it works out.
Lastly, I wanted to mention that two children and two adults in our family took ADHD medication, and they have now been weaned completely off, and one of the kids is down to the lowest dose available for his medication. Both children who are completely off the ADHD medications are high honor roll students.
I apologize for this being so lengthy, but there is still so much more I could have talked about or included. However, I didn’t want to make a novel. I just want to get this information out into the world so people can understand why our health, mental and physical, is declining so rapidly. I want people to understand that there is something that they can do about it! I want to give people a map to a healthier, happier, longer life! Because we found the secret to stop the INSANITY! And that is why Morellivillle Farms exist.
