Welcome to Your Comfort For Life

Wellness Strategist & LifeStyle Mentor – let’s plan your next steps!

Nourished Festival Education & Sampling

The next six weeks are full of opportunity for us to connect in person at three different Nourished Festivals and a Hacking Your Health event in Denver! Would love your support sharing this information with your friends and family who would be blessed by these events! Here are the dates for your calendar – and watch the events page for virtual classes to follow up each event. Can’t wait to see you!

May 4: 10-4 & 5: 11-4 Nourished Festival – Salt Lake City/Sandy, Utah

              May 4: 12PM – Survival for Sensitive & Autoimmune Skin*

May 5: 11:30AM – Bone Broth Meals – More than a Pot of Bones!*

May 18 & 19 10-3 Nourished Festival – Denver, Colorado

May 18 5-7PM Hacking Your Health – Denver, Colorado

              5:15PM Survival for Sensitive & Autoimmune Skin*

June 1 & 2 10-4 Nourished Festival – Schaumburg/Chicago Area, Illinois

              June 2: 10:30AM Bone Broth Meals – More than a Pot of Bones!*

*Go to my events page for the seminar descriptions and current schedule! elizabethanthonygronert.com/events

Why People Choose Alternate Eating LifeStyles

Starting a new season of classes! Bone Broth Meals!

There are people who follow special meal plans because they saw it in a magazine….and thought it was a way to lose weight or be healthier. And that’s not a bad thing if they are following a healthy wellness plan that improves their quality of life! But many times there was no guidance and they are trying something random with no plan. Unfortunately when something goes wrong, news travels faster. Which results in many receiving the wrong impression and they miss out on how life-changing alternate eating lifestyles really might be for them.

We didn’t wake up one day and say “Hmmm, I think I want to be gluten free!” The people I partner with are affected by allergies, autoimmune disease, cancer, chronic pain, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid conditions. They are on a journey. They get connected to their community. They find out how others have improved how they feel each and every day. Basic stuff that we might not have learned in our home. I know I didn’t. How to nourish, move and care for our one body. Some people may have always lived with pain or discomfort like bloating….but it was their normal. Never realizing that those were symptoms and with a plan that works for them, their new normal could be better not worse.

Today there is a plethora of options. Find someone (like me!) to navigate these choices with you. Help you create a strategy to find what works best for you. Keep you in your budget and accountable to wellness. Has experienced, trustworthy resources and ethical practitioners that will support your goals. I would be honored to meet with you, discuss what well would mean to you and your family….and help you stay the course.

Feeling not alone is a big piece of finding a successful plan….no cost but time to meet and see how I may help!

I can help Your Comfort For Life! Elizabeth Anthony Gronert, LifeStyle Mentor & Wellness Strategist (Liz@ElizabethAnthonyGronert.com)

Are You Really Gluten Free?

What a variety of answers this one gets! I have been privileged to have had this conversation with many people at conferences across the nation. And it breaks my heart how many people believe that they are really gluten free……only after a few questions it becomes clear that they are only having less gluten each week than they used to. Usually, they feel they are living a gluten free diet if they only a sneak a regular flour (wheat, rye, barley or spelt) cookie or slice of bread once a week. Many tell me that they feel a little bit better but get frustrated since still have inflammation or pain even with the “sacrifice” they are making being “almost always” gluten free. I wish I could share that look on their faces when they learn that they have never been gluten free yet in their life. But what great hope if they feel better reducing gluten that they will feel much better when eliminating it completely.

The scientific limit for unacceptable amount of gluten in food is 20 parts per million – just a crumb of gluten….which for a celiac or gluten intolerant person is enough to make them sick for a couple weeks. According to many experts like Dr. Terry Wahls, Dr. David Perlmutter and Dr. Peter Osborne this “crumb of gluten” can cause destructive inflammation and may cause harm for up to a few months. With that said – people are unique. Firstly, the amount of time the gluten ingested may affect each person may vary. Secondly, if you are celiac or gluten intolerant, then being 100% gluten free is required – there is no such thing as being “almost” gluten free.

Notice I didn’t say people who want to lose weight. For the people I serve, being gluten free is a choice to eliminate inflammation or a negative effect from gluten. It’s not a fad diet to lose a few pounds. Actually, the opposite may happen unless one completely eliminates grains. Gluten free grains may have a higher glycemic impact on the body that one will want to monitor.

Lastly, there are those who really intend to be gluten free, feel better when they are but are not celiac. And do not have enough of a violent response to adhere to the 100% gluten free. They request a gluten free menu but grab a cracker or roll from the bread basket. Then they order a meal that “has just a speck of gluten” and they will just take an enzyme to be okay. At first, I earnestly try to educate but over time am learning that it is pointless. Until they decide that they want to feel better and it is a priority, they will remain “almost gluten free.”

I look forward to learning your story of your journey to being gluten, allergen, synthetic ingredient or toxin free. We would love to connect with you online, by phone or at one of our live events. Best ways to connect are by phone at (847) 502-8394, email Liz@elizabethanthonygronert.com or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/elizabethanthonygronert

Upper Arm Skin Bumps & Pimples

People ask almost every week about upper arm skin bumps or pimples. You are not alone – it is a common problem. This is a method that may resolve this annoying and sometimes uncomfortable skin condition.

For most, attention to the upper arm when showering or bathing will improve the appearance and feel of the skin. Generally, it is a buildup of dead skin “glued” in place by oils coming from the pores. The buildup on dry skin may just feel bumpy, even get a little red. Others may experience pimples that get inflamed. Most of these conditions itch which is your body’s way to encourage you to “scratch away” the buildup. Here are the general directions we have found works for many to care for this skin:

  1. First select a gentle, hydrating cleanser or body wash that will aid to soften and cleanse the area. Need a suggestion for products that are effective and affordable – pop me a text or message.
  2. Next use a washcloth or exfoliating cloth/glove with the cleanser or body wash in a circular motion all over the affected area. Some start with the washcloth, then graduate to an exfoliating fabric – the more sensitive the skin, the gentler the fabric you want to use. First time go gentle on the skin. As you continue to do this daily, you can be more firm.
  3. Be sure to rinse the skin thoroughly from any cleanser or body wash.
  4. Some find benefit using their facial toner to normalize the pH of the skin to receive the lotion without further irritation.
  5. Do not dry the skin – rather immediately apply a nourishing lotion to the wet/damp skin to further hydrate and protect the skin.

Within a week or two, you should see the upper arm skin becoming softer and smoother with less upper arm skin bumps & pimples. If the steps above does not get the results desired, we have found applying a pure essential oil like Lavender, Frankincense, or Melaleuca/Tea Tree to the skin before step 5. This can take some experimentation on which essential oil or blend of oils will give you best results. Reach out and take advantage of our experience to help with this! Reminder – sensitive skins may need the essential oil to be diluted by a carrier oil like Sweet Almond Oil. Also, be sure you are using a “real” essential oil and not a synthetic! After you have massaged the essential oil in, massage your lotion over to protect and seal moisture in.

If these skin bumps & pimples appear elsewhere on the body, the condition may be from acne or sport garments which may improve with the technique above but may benefit from different products. You can use the same general treatment as above but using an acne wash for cleansing the face, back, upper legs or buttocks. Then using the acne astringent to follow the cleansing to remove any cleanser residue and gently exfoliate. Then finish with an oil free moisturizer. Melaleuca (also called Tea Tree) oil is an excellent treatment for acneic skin and could be used before the oil free moisturizer. Again if you need help – I have a few lines of products that are clinically proven results and affordable.

Please let us know if you found this helpful. we love hearing from you and learning about your testimonials! We are here to discuss essential oils that may work best for your situation. We are not medical doctors or professionals – rather a licensed cosmetologist & esthetician with over 40 years of experience to share! You can call/text at (847) 502-8394, email at Liz@elizabethanthonygronert.com or find me on Facebook (Elizabeth Anthony Gronert). Perhaps we can be Journey Partners!

Don’t Skip Your Skin Care Toner!

Yep – we are moving from discussing healthy meals to healthy skin in this post! I am a licensed cosmetologist and esthetician with over 40 years of experience – I can’t believe I can say that! When I work with people, I find that time is always one of the reasons we don’t do “all of the steps” for an ideal skin care regimen. I totally get that. Too many steps cause people to not follow the program because, let’s face it –  Life is busy! But skipping your skin care toner is a bad choice long term! Here is why:

Since skin care toner will neutralize your skin back to it’s normal pH not only will your skin care products work better, they are less likely to irritate the skin. When the pH is normal, application of serums, lotions and creams are more effectively absorbed. If skin nutrition is applied immediately following cleansing, the skin may react negatively to those ingredients. By not using your skin care toner, applying treatments may cause skin problems instead of helping your skin like they were designed.

Use a cotton pad with your skin care toner to remove missed dirt, cleanser residue and give your skin a gentle exfoliation (dead skin cell removal) – FYI this is better than just misting the toner on your skin (which I know feels like a time saver but it is not a “skin saver!)

When hot outside, you can refrigerate your skin care toner for a cooling treatment after cleansing. But don’t put it in the fridge if that makes it more likely for you to forget or not take the time to get it!

If you found this information helpful, let us know! If you have any medical conditions, please consult your medical professional before following any of my suggestions here.

Questions, thoughts? You can call/text at (847) 502-8394, email at Liz@elizabethanthonygronert.com or find me on Facebook (Elizabeth Anthony Gronert).

Turkey Bone Broth White Chili Recipe

Many of you asked – so here I share one of our favorite nutritious recipes using our Turkey Bone Broth. (Download the “updated & complete” recipe on our website landing page here: www.elizabethanthonygronert.com )

After the bone broth is completed and before making any soups, we fill two old fashioned ice cube trays with the bone broth and put in the freezer. We use these cubes when boiling potatoes, cooking rice or the water when cooking/steaming vegetables! This adds wonderful flavor and loads of nutrition to the meal.

Turkey Bone Broth White Chili Recipe (using Elizabeth’s Turkey Bone Broth)

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 1/2 pounds organic ground turkey (I use organic turkey meat from carcass)
  • 2 (4 ounce) cans canned organic green chili peppers, chopped
  • 1-2 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1-2 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon + 1 tsp Salt
  • ground cayenne pepper to taste (1/2-1 tsp)
  • ground white pepper to taste (1 tsp) (I do ½ black, ½ white)
  • typically, I use 3 beans: cannellini, navy beans, Great Northern white bean 2-3 lbs (soak beans while cooking down the turkey carcass for bone broth)
  • Turkey bone broth from cooking Turkey carcass for 10 hours with vegetables
  • Organic Carrots – food processor
  • Organic Celery – food processor
  • Organic Parsley – chopped/food processor

Follow Turkey Bone Broth directions (download here https://elizabethanthonygronert.com/ ) After removing the carcass and “cook down veggies”, after making the trays described at the top of this post; I usually divide the broth into 2 pots – half for this turkey bone broth white chili recipe and half for turkey bone broth vegetable soup recipe.

Drain the soaked beans. Then cover the beans with the turkey broth – the beans should have 1/3 to ½ more liquid in the pot than beans (liquid to cover additional veggies, and meat.) If you want thicker soup, puree some of the beans with broth to make the soup thicker and creamier. I food process the green chilies, too. Add the processed parsley, carrots, celery and any other veggies you want to the soup (my family prefers just the carrots and celery.) Cook them to the almost desired doneness. Add the reserved turkey meat and seasonings.  Cook for a few minutes to let the flavors brew. Taste and add more seasoning if needed – lately I have been adding in some powdered garlic. This dish always seems to taste best after a day of rest in the refrigerator.

Making this soup is a 2 day process for me – bone broth and soak beans on the first day. Then making the soup and storing on the second day.

Enjoy! Let us know how this dish blesses your family! We are here bringing your comfort for life! Kris and Elizabeth Gronert (847) 502-8394 elizabeth@elizabethanthonygronert.com

Turkey Bone Broth – More than “Just Soup!”

(Full “updated” recipe available for free download on our website landing page – download here: https://elizabethanthonygronert.com/)

Thanks to our wellness friends, our soup making skills have moved up a few notches in our home. Grateful for the experience and generosity of my friend Tiffany Hinton, GF Mom Certified. Tiffany has been a valuable health coach and resource for our family. She has introduced me to the world where “food is medicine”. Particularly grateful for learning about Dr. Terry Wahls. I found Dr. Wahls book easy to read and have applied her wisdom to the way we shop and cook for our family’s health.

As a result, it’s not just great soup! We make incredibly nourishing, healing bone broth soups. Bone broth soups help reduce inflammation – an important every day therapy! This tutorial is for our “after Thanksgiving” Turkey Bone Broth Soup. Being an artist – I enjoy instructions so much more if there is a visual to go along. Therefore, photos have been taken at each step of this cooking adventure.

Thanksgiving day we smoked a turkey, baked a turkey and grilled a turkey breast (with the bones of course!) In this photo you will see the start of our Turkey Bone Broth. Here are the three carcasses covered by filtered water.

1128160954 My husband, Kris, installed a grow light by our sliding glass doors. Therefore, we are able to continue to have herbs, greens and tomatoes growing indoors. From this garden, I have added freshly picked organic parsley, thyme, sage along with some chopped garlic, sea salt and organic pepper to the pot.

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Whenever possible, we invest in organic produce. If I see any starting to go soft, where it may not be enjoyed fresh anymore, I place in a freezer bag. In addition, I have collected stems, leaves and even the roots of some of the organic plants we had in our outdoor garden this summer before it got cold and froze them. I use these vegetables in the “cook down” of the carcasses. We add these vegetable right away to enhance the flavor of the remaining meat on the bones. Some may prefer to wait till after the meat is collected (after 2 hours of cooking) which does make the process easier. We feel the flavor and nutrition added to the meat, is worth the extra work later when collecting the meat.

1128161050Because we still have organic Brussel sprout plants outdoors, decided to add some greens. Snipped off the top and added the leaves and stems with some tiny Brussel Sprouts! (I love these fresh leaves cooked in ghee with garlic too!)

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Let everything cook for about two hours.

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At two hours the meat should be starting to fall off the bone. Time to use tongs to grab the carcasses, loose meat and bones to glean the usable meat. I have a plate to collect the cook down veggies, cartilage, skin and bones that will go back into the soup pot to continue cooking for an additional 8 hours.

Most people don’t realize how much meat they throw away with the carcass! Look at all the meat recovered from the turkey carcasses! Place the recovered usable meat (I do not like any fat or chewy meat in my soup!) in a container in the refrigerator to add to the completed soups tomorrow. All scraps, cartilage, bones and cook down veggies go back into the developing broth to cook down for another eight hours. I personally do not cook longer. The broth gets a unique smell after cooking twelve hours. So we stop around ten hours. We love the taste, smell and nutrition after 10 hours of cooking!

Finally, after the eight hours (ten hours total) of cooking has passed, we will prepare to get the wonderful bone broth. You may wish to let the hot pot cool for a bit. Place an empty large pot in the sink with a colander on top. Then pour the contents through the strainer – the remaining bones, meat and vegetable parts will be caught by the colander with the nutrient dense bone broth going through into the pot. Throw the bones and leftover meat and veggies away in a safe container that animals cannot get into. Poultry bones are very dangerous to pets and wild animals!

Refrigerate the pot of bone broth overnight. Most broths when refrigerated get a layer of heavy fat at the top  – it is especially thick with turkey bone broth. I remove most of this really goopy fat from the broth before continuing.

This turkey bone broth is ready to use for sauces, gravies, cooking vegetables, potatoes, rice or making soups. I made 2 different soups from this pot of broth plus a tray of cubes to use for cooking veggies, potatoes, etc. to boost nutrition! The first soup was a turkey white chili and the second was turkey vegetable! My family raved about both – they keep getting tastier and more nutritious every year!

My goal is to have at least a cup of bone broth soup every day! So nourishing and I can really feel the benefits! Let me know what you think of this tutorial….happy to share the soup recipes with you!

Let’s connect if we haven’t already! Send us an email at elizabeth@elizabethanthonygronert.com or call/text at (847) 502-8394. Elizabeth & Kris Gronert bringing you Comfort For Life!

Hidden Gluten, Allergens, Toxins & Carcinogens in Daily Living

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Where has the time disappeared to? Do you have the same problem? It has been a very full few months since I last wrote you. Some good news – new grandchild, visits with family, speaking at events and online. And some difficult times – loss of my father, continuing health challenges for myself & family members. During this time, we have been actively reaching out and helping people in their quest to be safe in their home. We have received powerful feedback that our Hidden Gluten, Allergens, Toxins & Carcinogens in Daily Living talk has empowered people and their families. The calls, text and emails keep coming for more opportunities to hear our talk. Watch our Event Calendar! There will be new dates consistently added where you and those you invite can attend a virtual presentation of Hidden Gluten, Allergens, Toxins & Carcinogens. Additional topics will be added as we serve others. While serving, we learn more of what we know or contacts we have that may bless you!

Have an event you need a speaker for? Our Talks can be customized  for your audience. Our current talk on Hidden Gluten, Allergens, etc. speaks to the Gluten & Allergy Free Community but can be modified for different groups. We have worked with those affected by cancer, auto-immune disease, autism, other behavioral and health issues. We have an eclectic background in coaching/mentoring small business owners, skin & personal care, personal image/brand, how to sleep more restoratively, and healthy lifestyle choices. We have worked with many other speakers that are advocates in the health and business world that you can trust.

If you found this information helpful, let us know! If you have any medical conditions, please consult your medical professional before following any of my suggestions here.

Questions, thoughts? You can call/text at (847) 502-8394, email at elizabeth@elizabethanthonygronert.com or find me on Facebook (Elizabeth Anthony Gronert). We look forward to helping you and your family have Comfort For Life! Elizabeth & Kris Gronert

Thank You Schaumburg GFAF Expo!

Schaumburg 2016 dates

Wow what a weekend! We want to thank the generosity of the Schaumburg GFAF Expo Vendors, the hard work of Jen Cafferty and Elizabeth Greifenkamp from Gluten Free Media Group (who created the GFAF Expos) and Otis Price from Willow Creek Community Church Care Center, South Barrington Campus. https://www.willowcreek.org/

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Lots of gluten free food was donated to the Willow Creek Care Center along with fresh fruits, vegetables and a wheelbarrow full of sweets – a display from Swerve!

Thank you to Kris Gronert, Tiffany & Will Hinton (gfmomcertified.com) for running around end of the expo to help Mr. Price glean all that was left for our friends this week at the Willow Creek Care Center. https://www.willowcreekcarecenter.org

Mr. Price shared with us that there is a waiting list for those with food allergies or are medically required to be gluten free. They were excited to contact the people who will be blessed by this donation.

Thanks again to everyone for working so hard after a long 3 day event to benefit people in our community!

Please contact us if you would like more information regarding the Care Center at Willow Creek Church (they are always in need of donations – especially special diets), Willow Creek Community Church or learn more about being Gluten free, Allergen friendly, Paleo, Keto or Plant-based at the Nourished Festivals held across the country including Schaumburg/Chicago!

Like this post, send us an email at Liz@elizabethanthonygronert.com or call/text at (847) 502-8394. Elizabeth & Kris Gronert bringing you Comfort For Life!

Glowing, Nourished Skin Even When Cold & Dry Out!

Want to have glowing, nourished skin even when it is cold and dry out? Here are some “winterizing” tips to prepare your skin:

  1. Use only safe, non-toxic, non-carcinogenic products on your body. Unfortunately, many retail products still contain questionable ingredients. Check your product labels! Just because it is expensive or a “brand name” does not mean it is the best or safe.
  2. I know the air is colder but try not to raise the temperature of the water you use in the bath or shower. The hotter the water, the more it dries out your skin!20160110_105110
  3. Exfoliate and remove the dead skin flakes. This way when you apply moisturizers they will hydrate your living skin – not the skin flakes that are about to fall off! Use a fresh mitt or cloth in the shower with a moisturizing bath bar or body wash. Yep – that means 7 on the shelf  so you can use fresh each day. Used ones can be air dried, then placed in your washer on laundry day – just like you would a washcloth. Warm water wash and air dry – the dryer may get too hot for these fabrics.
  4. For any type of cleaning (personal hygiene or home cleaning) I recommend synthetic since natural fibers are not able to be cleaned effectively and definitely not disinfected. Natural fibers like a loofah take a long time to dry (if ever) and may grow microorganisms that are not good for anyone’s skin but especially bad if you are immunocompromised in any way. If you are not used to exfoliating (physical cloth rubbing skin to remove dead skin cells) you may want to start with a simple fabric washcloth. Some find the loopy soft plastic puffs or washcloths with a loopy plastic side a bit more effective. In a few weeks you may try the exfoliating gloves – caution – they may be too exfoliating for sensitive or thinner over-50 skin. Have thos annoying upper arm bumps? (which can occur on a number of body areas – see article on 3.31.2017 for more info). Exfoliating cloth/mitt is the best treatment for those bumps many people get on the back of their upper arm combined with hydrating body wash, then apply protective lotion/cream/oil over the moist skin.
  5. Another option for exfoliation are some of the wonderful salt, sugar and blend scrubs available. I prefer to use these products in the bath so the wonderful, healing ingredients can absorb nicely into the skin after your scrub. Really wonderful if you can find a kind soul to scrub your back too! There are many D-I-Y recipes online – salt or sugar are excellent exfoliators mixed with a healing oil like coconut or almond. For additional benefits, think about incorporating essential oils that leave skin dewy after the salt polish. To keep jars sanitary, use a spoon or spatula to remove what you need. Wash the spoon between uses to avoid contamination jars. I prefer to make things more liquid and put in a squirt bottle. Keep the nozzle free and clear of the skin. For more ideas on keeping things clean, check out my article “The Hand Towel Did It” on 6.30.2019.
  6. Turn your bath into soothing skin therapy by adding a capful of hydrating, calming bath oil. Add some Epsom salts for a healthy body detox plus the added magnesium and sulfur!
  7. After your bath and shower, best to let yourself air dry and apply your lotion while your skin is still moist. Be sure to use a moisturizer with a protectant so you don’t lose all the moisture in your skin back into the air. During the really cold or dry months, add your favorite essential oils, almond oil or other oils to boost the healing and sealing power! Lots of evidence that a relaxing bath, helps one have a good night’s sleep – proper sleep helps the skin look and feel it’s best too!

Using these tips your skin will be polished and nourished – ready for the cold and dry season. With skin being your largest organ, consider using these tips year round to keep it healthy and protecting you.

If you found this information helpful, let us know! If you have any medical conditions, please consult your medical professional before following any of my suggestions here.

Questions, thoughts? You can call/text at (847) 502-8394, email at Liz@elizabethanthonygronert.com or find me on Facebook (Elizabeth Anthony Gronert). We look forward to helping you and your family have Comfort For Life! Elizabeth & Kris Gronert