ELEMENTS OF RECOVERY

break free from disordered eating, addiction, or destructive cycles — and step into lasting clarity.

Our relationship with food is a gateway drug.

January 13, 2015 by Christina Santini in Binge Eating, Body Image, Eating Disorders, Emotional Management, Self-Worth

One thing that remains constant for every human being is our need for food. The act of eating. Of nourishing ourselves and those we love. Yes, food is an extension of love. How we eat is an expression of nourishment for our body and soul. If we can't master the art of feeding ourselves in a loving manner that meets our individual and ever-changing needs, every other relationship will reflect this dysfunction to some degree. Whether it is overly rigid, controlling and obsessive - or we binge and suppress our needs and emotions.

3 Supplements That Crush Sugar Cravings

January 06, 2015 by Christina Santini in Binge Eating, Biochemistry Balancing, Addictions, Superfoods In Recovery

Today I am going to reveal the top 3 supplements that CRUSH sugar cravings. Especially an issue for anyone coming off drugs, alcohol or binging behaviors.

How to make 2015 AWESOME.

December 30, 2014 by Christina Santini in Emotional Management, Faith, Transformation Keys, Self-Worth

Life is not easy, and that's why the most important thing we can do is to begin mastering our thoughts and our perception. This way we become more resilient and can just go with the flow instead of fight, scream and in vain hang on to toxic things, that are not working for us, even if we feel that we NEED that person, that habit, that food, that drug etc. Sometimes we need to let go of things we love too.

How To Create A New Habit

December 23, 2014 by Christina Santini in Binge Eating, Eating Disorders, Emotional Management, Transformation Keys, Addictions

The biggest downfall when trying to break bad habits is to rely on willpower to carry you through the storms and emotional turmoil that comes with every change. Simply because willpower is fragile and emotions change with the wind. It's only human to give into pleasure as we are hedonistic creatures baseline. You want to understand the WHYs of what it is that is driving your current self-destruction and then create a constructive habit to take over the former destructive - this is the science of neuroplasticity in action.

You will never go any higher than you THINK.

December 16, 2014 by Christina Santini in Emotional Management, Faith, Transformation Keys, Self-Worth

Most of us tend to have these beliefs that we repeat over and over again - in our own heads and in conversations with others. Repeating like a mantra that we want to come true. Well, it just so happens that whatever we think - whether we can or not - we are right.

What is your weakness trying to teach you?

December 09, 2014 by Christina Santini in Addictions, Eating Disorders, Transformation Keys, Self-Worth, Emotional Management

Recovery often feels like two steps forward and one step back - and sometimes one step forward and two steps back. Again and again. We often feel like the world is against us. that we have no willpower. That we are the victim. We just can't go on anymore. We have tried every possible way. We feel weak, exhausted and full of self-pity --- and self-hate. And we often look for something or someone to save us. Someone to save us from ourselves before we drown. Drowning in the rivers we have created with our tears, blood and sweat.

You must do the thing you think you cannot do.

December 03, 2014 by Christina Santini in Addictions, Eating Disorders, Depression, Faith, Transformation Keys, Self-Worth

One of the reasons why we don't change, let go of addictions, stop disordered eating behaviors and just being self-destructive, is that we simply don't believe we can. And whatever we believe, we will act upon. Our actions are a reflection of what we think - the things we tell ourselves day in and day out. If we tell ourselves that we can't, we won't even try - and if we try, we will self-sabotage.

Exercise to Lower Stress: Nose-breathing vs. Mouth-breathing

November 25, 2014 by Christina Santini in Biochemistry Balancing, Emotional Management, Transformation Keys, Addictions

It is well-known in addiction research that exercise can increase endorphins, which help take the edge off withdrawal symptoms and elevate mood. In other words, movement is a core component of every human beings health. When we were kids, we would spill over with energy and zest for life - like we were in a room without ceiling. We needed not be told what was good for us, we were so connected to our body, mind and soul, that we instinctively did what felt good. Addiction is a hunger for happiness, for wholeness, for meaning.... for something more. However, exercise can both REDUCE or INCREASE stress and the risk of relapse - in this article I go through 5 exercise styles that will help you thrive in recovery and actually achieve your body and mind goals faster. And no, the key is not harder, longer, faster.

Top 3 Fats That Heal The Addicted Brain.

November 18, 2014 by Christina Santini in Addictions, Binge Eating, Superfoods In Recovery, Biochemistry Balancing

Addictions - whether food, drug or alcohol - overlap in that they are all based in the brain. Addiction is not a willpower issue - it is a brain disorder. Addicts typically suffer from ragged nerves, anxiety and lack of impulse control. These are all issues tied to a weak brain. Mind you - NOT a stupid brain, or low IQ. Just a brain that doesn't have enough fat to protect the nerves from stress, trauma, toxins and high-sugar diets. Our brain mainly consists of FAT. The types of fats we eat directly impacts our brain health and ability to deal with stress, breaking addictions and minimizing withdrawal symptoms.

Why We Thrive on Different Diets

November 12, 2014 by Christina Santini in Biochemistry Balancing, Superfoods In Recovery, Eating Disorders

The debate of whether raw, vegan, paleo, high fat-low carb, low fat-high carb, Atkin’s, fruititarian, macrobiotic etc. is better, is a complete waste of time at best. Our body is constantly evolving and changing depending on our phase in life, environmental triggers, toxic exposure, stress levels, age – and obviously also our gender.

The Biochemistry of Violence

November 04, 2014 by Christina Santini in Depression, Biochemistry Balancing, Addictions, Eating Disorders, Emotional Management

Did you know that violent behavior whether leading to destruction against others or one-self, such as in addictions, is tied to specific nutrient imbalances that can be traced already in kids? We used to think that violent behavior, addictions, eating disorders and general social dysfunctional behaviors were a result of lack of supportive parental guidance and a good upbringing. Well, it has long been known in nutritional psychiatry, that terrible childhood actually has little to do with where people end up later in life. We are not our trauma, and we can transcend pain of the past, when we are resilient on a biological level.

What does it mean to be recovered from an Eating Disorder?

October 28, 2014 by Christina Santini in Binge Eating, Eating Disorders, Transformation Keys, Body Image

Any type of eating disorder takes your identity. The more you have an eating disorder, the more you lose your identity. There is a fundamental essence of you that is the same, but apart from that eating disordered people are very much alike during their illness.

More water is NOT the cure to dehydration.

October 21, 2014 by Christina Santini in Biochemistry Balancing, Superfoods In Recovery

Show me someone who has struggled with an addiction or eating disorder, and I will show you someone who is severely dehydrated. Dehydration is a major issue that we need to focus on immediately during early phase recovery. No healing can take place on a biochemical level, if we are not properly hydrated. Our cravings intensify, our mood becomes depressed and we just can't function. Our neurotransmitters and hormones require a stable level of hydration to function and communicate messages across the body correctly. Now one would think, well, I'll just gallon up then. No - actually drinking excess amounts of plain water is detrimental to your health. Your urine does not need to be clear for you to be properly hydrated - that is a complete myth.

10 Benefits of Walking Barefoot

October 14, 2014 by Christina Santini in Transformation Keys, Sleep, Biochemistry Balancing

Now you may be thinking what on earth does walking barefoot on the earth have to do with any type of recovery from drugs, alcohol or food. Well, any type of self-destructive behavior is a disconnect from our soul and the most basic things in life that help us to thrive. It is about tapping into our basic instincts. Walking barefoot helps to re-connect us with body-mind-soul in a way that any talk-therapy will not be able to copy. When we connect with nature, a profound level of healing takes place. For every ailment there is already invented a cure in nature - we just need to utilize it.

6 Ways Hugs Make Your Feel Better Biochemically

October 07, 2014 by Christina Santini in Biochemistry Balancing, Addictions, Binge Eating, Transformation Keys, Emotional Management

Hugs are one of the most simple ways to make you body release oxytocin. The more oxytocin your pituitary gland releases, the better you are able to deal with life's stressors.

Top 4 Anti-Anxiety Supplements

September 30, 2014 by Christina Santini in Addictions, Biochemistry Balancing, Superfoods In Recovery

One of the most frequent drug prescriptions today, are anti-anxiety drugs. There are many reasons for that, aside from that every addiction or eating disordered is always related to some sort of anxiety. And this regardless of whether one is aware of it or not. There is always an element of anxiety when we use food, starvation, overexercise or drugs to suppress this inner sense of "unsettleness". When we have an overexcited nervous system, always feel wired, work with technology all day, drink too much black coffee, get too little deep sleep before midnight in order to repair brain cells, and perhaps also struggle with a digestion not functioning due to painkillers and antibiotic popped like candy these day, we will feel anxious - or unable to be calm. Thus we look for an external fix

Are You Living Life As A Junkie?

September 23, 2014 by Christina Santini in Transformation Keys, Addictions, Emotional Management, Binge Eating

Cravings for drugs or out of control carb cravings are very similar in their neuropathway manifestation. This is also why you typically see recovered drug addicts dealing with food issues after they leave rehab. Thriving in recovery is not exchanging one addiction for another. Living a life as a junkie is not limited to those on drugs.

The No. 1 Reason People Fail In Breaking Addictions

September 16, 2014 by Christina Santini in Addictions, Transformation Keys, Eating Disorders, Self-Worth

Do you know WHY you want to change your behavior? This may seem like a ridiculous question. "Of course I know why", you might be thinking, and if so - great. What is your main reason for wanting to change now? Think about it and list your reasons, because if you can't be to-the-point of WHY you want change, you are not going to do what it takes to get there - a lot of us have wishes, but without action, nothing. And if our actions are not driven by emotions, that we can FEEL in our heart, there will be a dissonance between our heart and brain. This means that we will constantly struggle to move forward.

Strategies To Prevent Binge Eating

September 09, 2014 by Christina Santini in Eating Disorders, Transformation Keys, Binge Eating

When we struggle with eating, we experience a disconnect from our body-mind-soul at its most core. Not being able to trust our basic ability to feed ourselves, when we are hungry, and stop when we are not, makes for a deeply painful experience of not being able to trust in ourselves and in life - and this distrust reflects onto every relationship we have in life.

How To Have Faith When It Seems Out Of Reach

September 02, 2014 by Christina Santini in Transformation Keys, Faith, Depression

I want to challenge your perspective about what you consider as "bad" in your life right now. Keeping in mind, that our thoughts are what shape our emotions, and our feelings determine which actions we take - why it is so important to take back control of our mind, if we want to change anything in our life. When we categorize something as "bad" we often wish, that we had never encountered that experience. That life could have held a hand over us, and not allowed us to walk around seemingly alone and cold in the frostbitten storms of life.